Post by Masao Akiyama on Jun 15, 2024 22:54:25 GMT
“So the closest you get is Nagano? When’s that show?”
Rini smiled slightly at her cousin’s question. “Ninth of July, at the M-Wave. Are you thinking of catching one of the shows while we’re here?”
“Thinking about it, yeah,” Akira acknowledged sheepishly.
“I think it might be better if you caught one of the Tokyo shows, like when we go to the Budokan on August thirteenth. I know it’s further away, but probably easier to get to, and the Budokan is an amazing venue.”
“But your tournament’ll be over by then,” Akira countered. “I know enough that it’s not likely that you’ll be in a match if you’ve done well in the tournament.”
Rini grimaced. There was truth to that, as evidenced by how booking had kept Charlie’s schedule light between High Stakes and Night of the Immortals. “Alright, well… What about the twenty-fifth this month? It’s still in Tokyo, and it’s almost exactly in the middle of the tournament.”
Akira laughed. “You’re just lucky I'm a junior in the office and have to take my vacation when I can. I think I can manage to get the time off for it, but I’ll have to file for it right now.”
“Then you should go do that, Akira! I’ll have Tsuki send you -” Rini trailed off, her stomach twisting unpleasantly at a thought that had just occurred to her. “It’s just you, right? Or are your parents coming too?”
“They’ll probably come as long as I arrange everything beforehand. Call it four tickets? Just in case one of the cousins wants to tag along for the trip.”
Rini cringed at the idea. “Which cousins?” she asked, her stomach sinking with dread. Most of them weren’t bad, but Midori had been the absolute worst to her. More often than not, Midori had been how her parents found out that tests had been returned since they were in the same year at school.
“Not Midori,” Akira responded firmly, seeming to guess where Rini’s mind had immediately gone. While Akira had never been Midori’s target, he’d heard enough from the other cousins to know what she was up to. If it wasn’t mocking grades, it was clothing, accessories, make-up, hobbies; nothing was out of bounds. However, because she presented the perfect picture of a Japanese daughter to their mutual elders, Midori was still a favorite of the Kato family, so no one could do anything about her.
“Okay… Four tickets for the show at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan on the twenty-fifth. I’ll have Tsuki send you the email for them.”
Rini took a moment to write a note to herself about it. It wasn’t always helpful, but she had arranged with Hannah for her to look through the notebook Rini designated for reminders. “Now go get the time off and arrange your trip!”
“Hey! Respect your elders!”
They both laughed, and that was how the call ended.
Rini frowned, noticing that she had a message from Charlie. ‘119. Return ASAP. Sugioka is here.’
With a panicked exclamation, Rini turned on her heel and pelted back towards their rental property. Keiko Sugioka had been a famous technical wrestler in her own right before her retirement, and a frequent instructor at the Dojo to teach the technical style that Hitasho-sensei did not feel able to teach. While Charlie had picked up bits and pieces from her, Rini had found her style more natural to her than Hitasho’s. Charlie considered Hitasho-sensei her mentor, Sugioka had been Rini’s, with a grateful mention to Hitasho-sensei for employing her as a teacher.
What was she doing here?
“WHAT ON EARTH WERE YOU THINKING?!”
Screaming… That’s what she was doing here.
“YOU DON’T CHANGE STYLES MID-MATCH, ISHIKAWA! YOU HAVE THE STRENGTH TO TAKE ANYTHING THAT TWIG COULD DISH OUT! YOU HAVE THE SKILLS TO GET OUT OF ANYTHING SHE COULD PUT ON YOU! YOU ARE NOT SHIMIZU!”
Charlie had said much the same thing after the match, though in a kinder and a quieter fashion.
“I know, Sugioka-sensei. I’m sorry.” Rini said meekly. She was glad that Charlie, Nat and Hannah had made use of the better part of valor and discretely left the teacher and student alone.
“You should be,” Keiko snapped, seeming to finally calm down.
“Oh come child, do not get watery on me now. You have done well abroad. Do not let your history here taint that.” Rini nodded, but still the rebuke stung.
“Sugioka-sensei… What if I can only be a good tag team wrestler?”
Keiko put a hand lightly on Rini’s shoulder, leaning down to peer intently at her face.
“Rini-chan… You can do whatever you want. If you do not want to stand alone, you do not have to, but do not try to be anyone else. You did not compromise your integrity for years. Do not start now.”
Masao had been on the phone with Kimura-sensei when of course the subject of the latest series of promos was coming up.
“It’s a joke, Kimura-sensei. You said it yourself that I should lighten up some…”
Satoru Kimura was not a man of tact, if he had an opinion, he was going to share it. He was capable, wise, tough and covered for any of these features with an attitude that could best be described as… Acerbic.
“Lighten up, not drop gasoline on the fire of every internet forum from here to the International Space Station, Akiyama-san! Oi, do I have to be your parent as well as your sensei?”
It might have been a joke, but Kimura Sensei practically had been a father to him for those years of molding him into the competitor he would become, though not nearly as savage or technically skilled. Sensei had a way of finding and helping mold a wrestler out of you, though principally a striker and technical wizard himself, he had extensive knowledge of every style under the sun, and maybe a few that hid from Ameterasu’s gaze.
“Yes, whatever you say, Otōsan.”
A short, derisive snort was the reply to Masao’s dry attempt at humor.
A short, derisive snort was the reply to Masao’s dry attempt at humor.
“Do not make me come there and instruct you and the Ishikawa girl on how to do business. What was that nonsense with Daniels? And Holmes as well?!”
Oh, wonderful another lecture, how many more of these would Masao have to suffer through?
Oh, wonderful another lecture, how many more of these would Masao have to suffer through?
“I a… I don’t know, Sensei I am as… Annoyed by it as you are.”
Kimura’s tone turned something between fatherly and cruel, a cold, icy tone that really didn’t suit him yet had been practiced to a razor’s edge.
Kimura’s tone turned something between fatherly and cruel, a cold, icy tone that really didn’t suit him yet had been practiced to a razor’s edge.
“As you should. So far you are naught but the rack of meat they present to be carved up by the sharks.. Drop the nonsense.. Break someone’s arm then they will know…”
Masao let loose an exasperated sigh.
Masao let loose an exasperated sigh.
“I’m not going to do that. You are lucky I know you are joking… I will find my feet, or I will simply resign and return somewhere I am… more than meat.”
Kimura’s little chuckle gave his next line away.
Kimura’s little chuckle gave his next line away.
“You think it's so easy now the West has its claws in you, neh?”
Masao’s defensiveness was starting to match Kimura-sensei’s tone, pessimism and his own assessment of reality easing out.
“They only care about the money. Expensive meat is usually disposed of.”
Masao’s defensiveness was starting to match Kimura-sensei’s tone, pessimism and his own assessment of reality easing out.
“They only care about the money. Expensive meat is usually disposed of.”
The next line sent a bolt of cold reality through Masao.
“Ah, Akiyama… I will see you both in Okayama, Verona-san was keen to invite your respective mentors, did you know?”
Oh, that wasn’t a threat anymore. Kimura-sensei was coming.
Oh, that wasn’t a threat anymore. Kimura-sensei was coming.
“What…”
Masao did not like the laughing that came from his mentor after that, because well, Masao’s gym choices were mostly cribbed from his Sensei’s recommendations, which meant he’d be at a training session.
“I said…”
The older man started to repeat himself as if talking to a child.
“I heard you sensei. Why?”
Kimura-sensei was still laughing a bit as he kept going.
“Humour an old man. At least I will not have to deal with the witch alone!”
Masao rubbed just above his eye as he sighed and, feeling the touches of a headache at his periphery he pushed it to one side. Was this for his benefit or Rini’s?
Wait, what was the witch doing here? He knew it was an old flame of his sensei and things had not ended well, at all. But why would she be here?
Either way, he started to get ready. A text from Rini was promising a time and place to meet up and he was feeling a bit eager to do that, Kimura-sensei or not.
The next text from her made him slow up.
“Who is the “old man” to you? How does he know my sensei?!”
Oh… Gods above... Kimura wasn’t coming. He was here and how could he know Ishikawa’s sensei…?
Cue the drop of the metaphorical pachinko ball.
Oh no… She must be the witch.
Masao picked up his speed a little faster, by faster he was now running. He just hoped he’d be there in time to stop the fireworks.
The next text from her made him slow up.
“Who is the “old man” to you? How does he know my sensei?!”
Oh… Gods above... Kimura wasn’t coming. He was here and how could he know Ishikawa’s sensei…?
Cue the drop of the metaphorical pachinko ball.
Oh no… She must be the witch.
Masao picked up his speed a little faster, by faster he was now running. He just hoped he’d be there in time to stop the fireworks.
Fade in once more to a scattering of rose petals on wind that defies logic, swirling around the Tuxedo clad form of Masao, hot hat on and unfurling a cape dramatically as he turns.
“Behold, oh evil doers, for it is I, Tuxedo-Akiyama! Though I fell once to the clutches of the evil Prince this week, things will change! Facing the okuriōkami himself, chosen messenger, guardian of the ways and devourer of the unwary…Yes I know your ways little wolf.”
Rini seems to rise from under the camera shot in front of Masao posing herself.
“It is said the meaning of insanity is doing the same thing over and again, expecting a new result. I can think of no other way to describe Dean Harper and April Madrox. You both continue your self-destructive ways, expecting things to change, but are surprised or disappointed when they do not.”
Masao nods as he gives a slight smile, looking once more at the camera.
“Those who watch will say aloud, ‘but you met defeat at the hands of your opponents last week, what are you going to do against a former world champion?’ One whose strength, tenacity and viciousness are well documented, one who throws himself at the fires that burn at every given opportunity. Dean Harper is a man seeking defeat and it eludes him.”
A small sigh as he rubs his nose, tone almost disappointed.
“He is a man who has been broken and reformed by others for years now, forever molded by their desires. First it was the Oni, now it is Warren. A puppet who lives only to sit at the end of a leash and then bite the hand that feeds when he grows weary only to miss the petting. A wolf who would rather be a dog, but cannot deny his nature.”
A small nod, his voice gathering a mote of fire behind it as he speaks.
“But a wolf still has fangs to bear and claws to rake. I wonder perhaps how he will fare against the Volcano? Against the will of the mountain itself?”
“Tin Nyanko, you have been told so many times what you must do, so I shall not repeat words already better spoken better by others… I am happy you seem to at least be starting that road… But you are still a mere shadow. One does not best a shadow. One simply turns on a light.”
“I have seen the way to defeat you, even if I must do it my own way. Little belled kitten, you cannot do what needs to be done. You want so badly to be a true star… but you have taken the shortcut to that goal, accepting the tainted gift of light shone by others. You are a poor reflection of those greater than you. Until you take off your shackles, you will never win against those who are true to themselves.”
“You follow others, taking their scraps. You use them to prop yourself up, to make yourself look more than you are. I am blessed by the moon, but I shine with my own star. I need no one else to give me my glory.”
Masao makes another grand gesture, seemingly pulling a rose from nowhere as he smells it and then casts it aside.
“I hold the strength of the earth, and the will of the heavens, our duty will not know defeat all who bear witness will lend us their strength! We will prevail! I will give you the defeat that you crave so badly. The defeat that only gets given to those who tame you, but I will not tame you Dean Harper… I will just beat you.”
Masao takes a moment to center himself and Rini before he nods.
“We are in our homeland, and weary of defeat, weary of the titles and insults you put on us, weary of being told we are not good enough, an empty throne awaits to be claimed and I…we will not be stymied.”
Rini steps forward, her tone mirroring Masao’s.
“I am not the same as Natasha or Charlotte, but I am no easier to beat. As they fly, I shall not be moved. I may have left Japan to join my friend, but do not mistake that for a need to leave, for needing my friend’s help in pursuit of victory. I am stronger than any joshi, and just as the avalanche that comes down the mountain will not be turned from its path, neither will we. A shining moment awaits us, and we will not be denied.”
The two sway back to back with each other and pose for the camera before facing each other to take up an almost waltz position and then Rini looks to the camera.
“In the name of the moon…”
Masao spins with Rini just so and ends up gazing into the camera himself.
“With the strength of the Earth…”
Their waltz comes to a slow winging close and they both point at the camera and flex.
“We will defeat you!”
Fade out to the pair of them chuckling at and with each other.
Well howdy there pardner.