Post by Ishikawa Rini on Oct 21, 2024 6:57:32 GMT
Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Saturday, 9 July, 2016
Rini knew she was staring, just like everyone else, at the newcomer to the class. Given how selective Hitasho-sensei was about his students, anyone new would cause a stir, but this newcomer was a girl - tall and slender and with skin that was just a little too dark to be from Japan. If not for the fact that her nose was too sharply defined, Rini might’ve guessed that this new girl were related to the sensei somehow, an Ainu or Okinawan. The rest of the class seemed to decide to ignore the foreigner, but Rini made her own choice.
There was a cloud of sadness that hung around the girl. Ever compassionate, Rini silently made the decision to lift that melancholy. It wouldn’t matter if the others in the class would dislike her for it. The girls had already decided that Rini was too much of a teacher’s pet, and the boys didn’t like pairing with her because she was so small. That had left her with a partner that didn’t like her, or pairing with Hitasho-sensei or his assistant, Sugioka-sensei, for the two months she’d been enrolled at Hachimangū Dojo.
So of course Rini extended her hand when the class broke into pairs for practice.
“Hello! I’m Ishikawa Rini! It would be my privilege to practice with you.”
The girl regarded her with wary brown eyes that were almost black. Rini just smiled and grabbed the girl’s hand. “Come! We must practice!”
It was with no small hesitation that the girl followed Rini to a place on the mats.
As the practice went on, Rini learned several new things and most of them were not about how to be a professional wrestler and not kill herself in the process.
She had learned the girl’s name was Shimizu Una. She was from America, but her father was Japanese. Rini had also figured out from a couple comments made by Hitasho that Una was staying at the temple as a shrine maiden, and she had asked to join the class so she would have something to do during that time.
Rini had also learned that trying to hold Una was like trying to trap the wind. Somehow, some way, there was an arm free, or some range of motion in a leg that wasn’t supposed to be available to her. In frustration, Rini had even gone to Sugioka to watch to make sure she wasn’t doing anything wrong.
The answer? No, Rini wasn’t doing anything wrong… But Rini didn’t get that answer until after Sugioka had watched Rini try to pin down Una twice, and had Hitasho summoned to watch another attempt as well.
And so they switched, and then it was Una’s turn to be frustrated. Rini knew Una was trying to move her into the right spot… But part of the practice was trying to stay out of it too. Even when Una backed up a couple paces, which wasn’t strictly part of the exercise, but Rini didn’t see the harm in it, Una still couldn’t get her to move.
“Ishikawa,” Hitasho’s voice was firm, but not unkind, “if you do not let Shimizu start, how can she practice?”
Rini nodded solemnly to their teacher as they moved back to starting positions. Una moved, reaching out to start the lock-up, and Rini let it start, but then twisted Una’s arm into a wrist lock. Or at least that’s what Rini had intended to do, but Una suddenly flipped over her arm and dropped down. Then Una’s arm was around Rini’s leg, pulling it up, and Una tripped Rini’s free leg out from under her.
Rini stared up at her for a moment before bouncing back to her feet and squealing. “That was so cool! How did you know to do that?! Have you done this before? Are there schools for wrestling in America?”
Una looked uncomfortable so Rini trailed off, which was beneficial since Hitasho and Sugioka were approaching. Hitasho looked pensive, but Sugioka-
“Ishikawa! That was not the dri-” Sugioka started at full bellow, but she stopped mid-word when Hitasho raised a hand to silence her. His gaze, however, never left Una.
“Shimizu… Where did you learn this?” he asked. Rini thought she could hear the smallest tone of surprised respect, but his expression was so bland, she wasn’t sure.
Una only shrugged, seeming almost helpless in that moment. “Felt right,” she murmured, her eyes averted. At Sugioka’s sharp bark of laughter, Una’s head snapped up to look at the instructor. Rini couldn’t hazard a guess what amused Sugioka so, or why Hitasho had a small smile on his face.
“Very well then.” And that seemed to be all Hitasho was going to say about the matter. “Stick to the drill this time, Ishikawa. You will need to know how to escape should someone overpower you.”
Mexico City, Mexico
Saturday, 19 October, 2024
“Rini, are you sure about this?”
It was possibly the tenth time Charlie had asked Rini that and it made her want to scream. It hadn’t gotten through to Charlie with the actual reasons, or even playing the “want to share in the fun” card. So now Rini would play to her friend’s competitive nature.
“Do you think I cannot take it?” Rini taunted, taking a page from Nat’s book.
Charlie grimaced even as Nat ruffled Rini’s hair with an affectionate laugh. “She got ya there, your majesty.”
Charlie threw her hands up. “Fine! But if you want out, just tag Nat in.”
“I will not.”
Rini’s flat response made both women look at her, but Rini got herself into the ring without any further comment. She watched as Charlie and Nat exchanged silent looks that spoke louder than words. It was clear they didn’t know how to handle this reaction from her. Rini wasn’t sure she understood it herself, but she knew this was something she needed to do.
Nat shrugged and took up a post by the turnbuckles near Rini and Charlie slipped into the ring.
It was like training all over again. No matter how she tried, Rini couldn’t pin down Charlie, but Charlie couldn’t get Rini to move unless she had some serious momentum built up.
It was after such an incident that Rini found herself about to take Charlie’s preferred sunset flip piledriver, but just before Charlie would to flip over her, the world seemed to slow down to a crawl.
Rini leaned into Charlie and pushed with her toes, tipping forward and sending both of them rolling. Rini saw the look of surprise in Charlie’s eyes, but she felt oddly detached from it. She knew surprising a sparring partner with this wasn’t the best idea; either of them could be seriously hurt… but Rini knew it would be okay.
They landed, Charlie on her back and Rini on her chest, but Rini was already moving again. She pulled Charlie up by the neck, first sitting her up and then into a straight suplex lift. Rini felt Charlie trying to check the movement, trying to tip Rini’s balance so she could drop to her feet, heard the muttered protest and curses, but nothing could stop Rini now, not even Rini herself.
Fire Arrow.
The landing reverberated though the gym, and through Rini, sending time back to its normal speed. She scrambled up to check on Charlie, who was already on her side holding her neck and cursing up a storm.
“Jesus fuckin’ Christ, Rini…” Charlie swore, accepting Rini’s offer of assistance to her feet. “Warn a girl, will ya?!”
“Forgive me, Kaguya-hime, for my trespass. I ignored your wishes, and I only desire to atone for my sin. I swear to you, Princess, that I shall serve you faithfully, and strive with each day, every match, to be worthy of your favor. Please restore your blessing to me.”
“A new star has emerged from the Galactic Cauldron. I welcome you Hayleigh-san to the Imperial constellation of stars.”
“This gauntlet you now face will be the first of many… and you may find that your light pale in comparison to those you have yet to face. Take heart, for the smallest star today may shine as a whole galaxy tomorrow.”
“Why do you still hide in the shadows, Mai-san? Do you fear the light? Do you fear that the world will shun you if you show your true self? Or is it that you fear the jealousy that comes when you outshine those you surround yourself with?”
“You know it need not be that way. Somewhere in this world, there are people who will not demand your conformity for their acceptance. Spread your wings and break your self-imposed prison. Let the shadows fall away like a bad dream and have no shame in your dark beauty.”
“Regardless, I will not see the darkness advance. Itami-sama, you have allowed yourself to be no more than a puppet. You have abandoned what it means to be a Joshi, to be Japanese. There is no honor left in you; only a craving for power that is not even yours.”
“Is there nothing left of your true self? Do you truly desire a place among the elite of Imperial? Or is it just one other thing you have been told you must want? I may not be the one to defeat you, but you shall not succeed. No one who is not true to themselves will win in the end.”
“There shall always be chaos and evil to fight. It is inevitable that they will seek the light, to see it cast down. But just as that is true, hope and light will always return and defeat those forces that would make us forget our dreams and succumb to despair.
“I will never give up. Nothing will make me lose my faith. Every match is a chance and I will take every single one. 月 に かわって、倒せ よ。”
Well howdy there pardner.