Post by Masao Akiyama on Nov 1, 2024 9:40:47 GMT
The camera fades into Masao dressed in track pants, sneakers, a Rini Ishikawa T-shirt and a Varsity jacket. His hair tied up and a travel bag over one shoulder as he gives a slight smirk at the camera before he drops the bag down and nods.
“Nice to see you again.”
He moves to the edge of the shot to pull a chair into shot even as he keeps talking.
“My Exodus has ended and the Odyssey begins anew. Will you wonder where I have been and what I have been up to? Will you even care? Or will it all cease to matter once I step between the ropes and lay flesh to face once more?”
He manages a small smirk and a chuckle.
“I have noticed who has and hasn’t missed me, and I say now, I am eager to return,Eager to show what it is the missing months have brought out of me, what fire and strength is waiting to be unleashed on my opponents, or if this is just my last chance to make an impression.”
He wrinkled his nose considering his next words.
“It would be all too easy to be bitter and uncertain , but I I know my merits I have always known my merits even if those around me feel it better or easy to attack what they perceive as flaws, I won’t debase myself so easily, but I have to walk the road I have been set, So it begins again with Dark Tiger.”
He tapped a pair of fingers at his lips as he looks at the chair he pulled into but hasn’t sat in, instead leaning down to pick up the travel bag and drop it in his seat.
“Neither of us has graced the ring in a while, and some would expect this would be our swansong, a congratulatory handshake as we are wished well on our future endeavors but they could not and will not be more wrong in my case, I have found a renewed purpose after being reminded how precious a life well lived can be, as a blossom in the breeze and I will not wilt so easily away.”
Another huff of breath.
“Even if I fall, I will not be denied, I will fight, because I must fight, I will shout as I must shout I will withstand your storms, I will stand under a rain of ash with the fires of the volcano raging around me if I should. But never will I give in.”
He points at the camera.
“Bring everything you can muster Tiger, all your strength, all your power and I will laugh ... ." I will stand before the crowd and I will show them …”
He manages a wry grin.
“This is not an unstoppable force meets an immovable object or any such cliché, this week marks an eager return to action, I show…”
He nods.
“..That I never gave up and that I never will.”
Fade out.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport — Houston, Texas, USA
He rubbed his eyes after the long flight, rocking his neck as he wheeled his suitcase behind him, idly holding his documents in one hand as the departure gate slowly loomed towards him.
It had been so long, he’d spent some months back home helping clean up after Sakurajima had blown its top, family had gotten sick and not in a good way.
It had almost been too much, unsure of when he’d return,or even if he’d return.
And now that uncertainty was over, but he would be starting afresh, cast back into the wilderness with only failure left behind him.
His distraction was cut off by what could only be described as an ungodly cheer of joy.
And then she was on him, emerging into a leaping pounce that connected with his chest as arms wrapped about him and he almost fell over as he grabbed the bag and had to support and not drop an incoming Rini Ishikawa.
He couldn't process what she was saying, a jumble of excitable and now muffled Japanese running at speeds that even the Bullet train would have trouble catching up as she held onto him so tight he felt like his ribs might crack, every breath shortening as Ishikawa became a boa constrictor.
“I missed…you… too”
This did not help. This was how he died.
“Rini, let the poor guy get a second yeah?”
Of all the voices to come to his aid, it was Natasha Walker’s, or at least he thought so.. Until she hugged him too.
Treachery came in all forms, he found his eyes landing on Charlie as he searched for the words she was just laughing brightly.
What the actual fuck.
“Thank you for the greeting..Thank you can I…Please breathe?”
The hugs unwound, all but Rini’s which simply became lighter even as Masao let loose a joking breath, maybe it wasn’t so much joking but he felt it added to his own sense of comfort as one arm went around Rini even as he spoke..Or tried to.
“Don’t even think about saying we didn’t have to be here, you know better Masao.”
Walker had a point if the tables were reversed he would be here, waiting, it was good to know the feelings were mutual on both slides, and as he looked at Natasha he’d glance between her and Rini as if asking quietly and silently.
Nat just gave a little smile and then looked at Rini and himself , not a question this time but well Nat was a smart enough girl it seems to notice the issue was still a little pressing.
But he knew where they both Stood, Natasha did not hate him for this, or Rini.
That was something he could work with.
The awkwardness faded just a bit, but he knew there would be conversations. Rini took Nat’s hand even as he was hugging him, still speaking at a million miles an hour as he picked up his case and laughed just a bit, speaking in Japanese.
“Ishikawa-san, slow down …I’m back we’ll have time it’s ok.”
Rini’s blush was affirmed by a Bnid even as He found himself with Rini and Nat on one sidie as he gave a little shrug to Charlie and smiled.
“So…Where are we staying…?”
Time to start over.
“Nice to see you again.”
He moves to the edge of the shot to pull a chair into shot even as he keeps talking.
“My Exodus has ended and the Odyssey begins anew. Will you wonder where I have been and what I have been up to? Will you even care? Or will it all cease to matter once I step between the ropes and lay flesh to face once more?”
He manages a small smirk and a chuckle.
“I have noticed who has and hasn’t missed me, and I say now, I am eager to return,Eager to show what it is the missing months have brought out of me, what fire and strength is waiting to be unleashed on my opponents, or if this is just my last chance to make an impression.”
He wrinkled his nose considering his next words.
“It would be all too easy to be bitter and uncertain , but I I know my merits I have always known my merits even if those around me feel it better or easy to attack what they perceive as flaws, I won’t debase myself so easily, but I have to walk the road I have been set, So it begins again with Dark Tiger.”
He tapped a pair of fingers at his lips as he looks at the chair he pulled into but hasn’t sat in, instead leaning down to pick up the travel bag and drop it in his seat.
“Neither of us has graced the ring in a while, and some would expect this would be our swansong, a congratulatory handshake as we are wished well on our future endeavors but they could not and will not be more wrong in my case, I have found a renewed purpose after being reminded how precious a life well lived can be, as a blossom in the breeze and I will not wilt so easily away.”
Another huff of breath.
“Even if I fall, I will not be denied, I will fight, because I must fight, I will shout as I must shout I will withstand your storms, I will stand under a rain of ash with the fires of the volcano raging around me if I should. But never will I give in.”
He points at the camera.
“Bring everything you can muster Tiger, all your strength, all your power and I will laugh ... ." I will stand before the crowd and I will show them …”
He manages a wry grin.
“This is not an unstoppable force meets an immovable object or any such cliché, this week marks an eager return to action, I show…”
He nods.
“..That I never gave up and that I never will.”
Fade out.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport — Houston, Texas, USA
He rubbed his eyes after the long flight, rocking his neck as he wheeled his suitcase behind him, idly holding his documents in one hand as the departure gate slowly loomed towards him.
It had been so long, he’d spent some months back home helping clean up after Sakurajima had blown its top, family had gotten sick and not in a good way.
It had almost been too much, unsure of when he’d return,or even if he’d return.
And now that uncertainty was over, but he would be starting afresh, cast back into the wilderness with only failure left behind him.
His distraction was cut off by what could only be described as an ungodly cheer of joy.
And then she was on him, emerging into a leaping pounce that connected with his chest as arms wrapped about him and he almost fell over as he grabbed the bag and had to support and not drop an incoming Rini Ishikawa.
He couldn't process what she was saying, a jumble of excitable and now muffled Japanese running at speeds that even the Bullet train would have trouble catching up as she held onto him so tight he felt like his ribs might crack, every breath shortening as Ishikawa became a boa constrictor.
“I missed…you… too”
This did not help. This was how he died.
“Rini, let the poor guy get a second yeah?”
Of all the voices to come to his aid, it was Natasha Walker’s, or at least he thought so.. Until she hugged him too.
Treachery came in all forms, he found his eyes landing on Charlie as he searched for the words she was just laughing brightly.
What the actual fuck.
“Thank you for the greeting..Thank you can I…Please breathe?”
The hugs unwound, all but Rini’s which simply became lighter even as Masao let loose a joking breath, maybe it wasn’t so much joking but he felt it added to his own sense of comfort as one arm went around Rini even as he spoke..Or tried to.
“Don’t even think about saying we didn’t have to be here, you know better Masao.”
Walker had a point if the tables were reversed he would be here, waiting, it was good to know the feelings were mutual on both slides, and as he looked at Natasha he’d glance between her and Rini as if asking quietly and silently.
Nat just gave a little smile and then looked at Rini and himself , not a question this time but well Nat was a smart enough girl it seems to notice the issue was still a little pressing.
But he knew where they both Stood, Natasha did not hate him for this, or Rini.
That was something he could work with.
The awkwardness faded just a bit, but he knew there would be conversations. Rini took Nat’s hand even as he was hugging him, still speaking at a million miles an hour as he picked up his case and laughed just a bit, speaking in Japanese.
“Ishikawa-san, slow down …I’m back we’ll have time it’s ok.”
Rini’s blush was affirmed by a Bnid even as He found himself with Rini and Nat on one sidie as he gave a little shrug to Charlie and smiled.
“So…Where are we staying…?”
Time to start over.
Well howdy there pardner.