Irony.

[Gjenrei]

"Now will you listen to me!"

{Shortly after the Tag Team title match at Lineage, Amber Richards was standing in the doorway of the locker room, hands on her hips, her pretty face twisted in an expression of frustrated anger. Cable and Gjenrei again came up empty handed, and she was convinced that this whole team idea was still bad.}

Cable: "I listen to every word you say, it's whether I obey them or not is what your concern is."

"You guys lost AGAIN! Don't you think it's high time you say sayonara to the masked buffoon and get back to that Imperial Championship? You know, the thing you nearly had in your hands before you got sidetracked with this honor business?"

{Cable sighed heavily, sitting down. This wasn't the first time they'd been in this situation. They'd had more than a few of these conversations. Amber tried all sorts of tactics, cajoling, pleading, demanding, accusing, but Cable stood firm in his convictions. He knew that she wasn't picking fights, she wanted him to succeed, and felt he was doing it all wrong. Here she was, a champion, and here he was, wasting his potential.}

Cable: "..You do realize we've never been beaten by them, right?"

"I realize that Infamous has thumped you twice now, that's called losing, even if you don't take the fall."

Cable: "You're right. Except in both situations we were never defeated, specifically, us, and I know for a fact that they want to have put one of us down for the three before they'll ultimately declare it over, even if they won't admit it out loud. We have one more chance, and in a straight up fight, I think we can win."

"And if you don't?"

{He exhaled slowly, averting his eyes for a long moment, then looking back.}

Cable: "Then maybe I'll consider this idea of yours, deal?"

{Amber hesitated, unsure whether to believe what he said. She was hoping for a more concrete promise. Sometimes, you just have to take what you can get.}

"Deal."

Cable: "Ok, this is a men's locker room, so skedaddle for a few and I'll catch up with you in a bit."

"Ok."

{She gave him a quick kiss, and departed back through the door. As the door closed, it revealed the man in the mask standing behind it.}

Gjenrei: "Last chances.."

{Cable didn't have to turn to look. When you spend so much time with a person, you learn to feel their presence.}

Cable: "To be honest, I don't know."

Gjenrei: "You have doubts?"

Cable: "What human being doesn't?"

Gjenrei: "I'd wager there is not one. All humans doubt if they will, the hopelessness comes from doubting if we can.

Cable: "I don't doubt that we can. But.. sometimes.. doesn't it feel like we're wasting time? There's other things we could be doing."

Gjenrei: "Our goal was to be the best team we can be. It matters not if they best us once or a hundred times, as long as we have the strength to stand and continue fighting, we have not failed in our endeavor. A man is measured by the strength of his enemies."

Cable: "Is that a testament to us or them, I wonder..."

Gjenrei: "I don't think it matters. But I'll walk this road, until the end. Hopefully, not alone."

Cable: "No. Of course not."

Gjenrei: "Good."

{Gjenrei turned and exited the room, unconcerned with a female form followed him down the hall.}

-------------------------

"I find it sort of humorous really, the things you put emphasis on when the world as you know fades from black to white and back again. If your victories, your accomplishments, the lives you've ruined, the careers you've ended, if this wasn't stated to try to intimidate or impress me, why bother stating it at all? If you can look into the mirror, with a clear concience and say that you're happy with how things have turned out, then why rehash it to me? Why waste your breath on the lowly, lesser man?

Because you're still in the process of convincing yourself that everything you've done was for reasons that you can accept.

I could go through your entire career history, it's all recorded and categorized at the school, you are, after all, one of it's most current and top students to date. There are things in there I know you aren't proud of, things you'd rather nobody would ever mention again. But that's simply not how I do things. It wasn't then, and it isn't now. I don't need to tell you, your life, because you were there.

Those are your demons. The ones you have purged, and the ones you will have to deal with, sooner or later.

It's funny, really. I've never given either of you anything but credit, for the things you've done, and the things you are capable of. I've stood here, in a place where pride and ego control more than their fair share of the words spoken, and stated that I believe you two to be as good as the hype states. I've never needed a laundry list of career accomplishments and victories to tell me any of that. I've seen it in your eyes, even when you're trying to hide the things you're ashamed to admit. The way you move, the very posture of your person, I've seen it all. And admitted that it was every bit as impressive as you've stated.

So why now, after two matches of stating that you held nothing but respect for us, you'd feel the need to tear me down?

Because any predator knows, when the prey he chases is just as deadly as himself.

The things in Japan, aren't secrets. But nor were they done for your benefit. Had I had the slightest interest in using them to intimidate or frighten someone, I would have stood, full front, and said look at what I am capable of. But my ego is not that fragile, my pedastal is not that shakey. The actions of my past will not win me a match, nor does the opposite hold true. The fact that Kei Mizuno no longer wrestles because of what was done at my hands will not affect you in any way. The same way that the list of people you've retired has no bearing on me. You are not him, I am not them.

Once you understand that, maybe then you can let go of regret. And bear the scars you have proudly. You know of what I speak.

You can use the fact that I am no longer in Japan however you want. Label me a coward or a failure, use the names handed to me against me like they stain my soul. But your words are empty, and fill only your need for self gratification, the same as all your past accomplishments. Frankly, the speeches about ending careers and lives has become quite tiresome, after you've heard it a dozen times.

You think you can end me? Don't just say it. Do it. I dare you to. I dare you to stand over my broken body, and when you know I can fight no longer, you have the strength to finish the job. It takes a strength greater than you can ever imagine. You may think you have done so. You have not. You may think you possess it.

You do not.

The first time I appeared on your television screen, I was already wearing this mask. This mask that has it's own standard. It's own rules. The path that I follow was ordained the moment I put this on my head. I care not whether you care or understand the why, for it doesn't concern you at all. The man who last wore this mask, gave and sacrificed for you, personally, even though you betrayed him countless times. Would you say all those same words to him? The man before that stared death in the face, and do the bitter end never gave up fighting, even after he found the odds to be impossible to fight against. Would you spit this same venom at him?

Answering to me, matters not, these you must answer on your own.

We all have our burdens to bear. I simply know the weight of my own, while you flounder trying to figure it all out.

I'll see you in the ring, where your pretty dolled up words won't matter anymore. And you'll have to look me dead in the eyes as you try to do what you spent so long telling me you'll do.

Hopefully there, you'll finally find something worth holding onto. When you finally learn to let go."

-----------------------------

{Two running strides and Amber caught up with the man in the mask.}

Gjenrei: "What do you want?"

"Look, I know we got off on the wrong foot and everything, but I was hoping that maybe we could just move past all that."

Gjenrei: "Possible."

"What do you think that would take?"

Gjenrei: "If you have to ask that, then maybe you aren't ready for what you're asking."

{Amber stopped dead, and looked away as the wheels in her mind turned.}

"Maybe. Accept a word of advice then? As a token of good faith?"

Gjenrei: "....Fine."

"The men you hurt, deserved what they got, didn't they?"

{It was the masked man's turn to stop, but he spoke without turning around.}

Gjenrei: "In my eyes, and my heart, yes."

"Look around yourself, and tell me you don't see the same now."

{He didn't blink or change expressions, but neither did he speak. Amber took this to mean that he couldn't in good faith say that.}

"Maybe it's time, you did it all again..."

Gjenrei: ".......Good night, Amber."

{The masked man walked off, leaving Amber by herself. She allowed a small smile of satisfaction to pass her lips, before turning back to meet with Cable.}