Post by JNK on Mar 5, 2024 19:02:47 GMT -5
OOC: This roleplay is a direct continuation of my two previous SEX Cup '24 roleplays ("Killing Moon" and "Killing Moon: Chapter 002") and contains heavy references to "Viciously, Quietly Away."
Morning.
Hanako awakens.
Satori Bando's home is quiet. Sitting up on the mattress on the floor, Hanako shakes her head, an attempt to dispel the fuzziness in her brain. She ignores the stiffness in her neck, a product of sleeping with her head in Satori's lap for several hours before she was offered a bed after their.... conversation. Sitting on the edge of the mattress, Hanako pulls her boots on before approaching the door.
Satori is nowhere to be seen.
She doesn't call out for fear of alerting Satori's father.
As the sense of dread permeates, the scent of food hits her, drifting softly beneath the door, impossibly putting her at ease... despite the night she had. Cracking the door, she peeks into the hallway. The scent becomes stronger, unimpeded.
SATORI: < Hey, you're awake! >
Satori steps around the corner with a spatula, setting her eyes on Hanako through the crack. Satori looks around, an amused expression, gesturing for Hanako to join her.
SATORI: < It's okay... he's gone. >
Hanako doesn't budge, still.
SATORI: < The pachinko parlors... they open early. Father won't be back for hours. If he wins big enough, he might not return until tomorrow morning. >
Reluctantly, Hanako steps out. She pulls her jacket tight around her, not for warmth but a general sense of security.
HANAKO: < Satori, I should go. Thank you for -- >
SATORI: < -- you can do whatever you like, Hanako. >
Satori's smile is sweet, wounded.
SATORI: < Just eat something before you go. >
Hanako nods, walking toward the kitchen. Still holding the jacket tight, she feels the photograph crinkle in her pocket, reminding her of the man she took away from his family --
-- no.
Not a man.
Something else.
SATORI: < Do you want an egg? >
HANAKO: < Sure... >
Satori minds the stovetop as Hanako sits down at the rickety, stained card table that serves as the Bando family's dining room table.
HANAKO: < So, your father... he just... plays pachinko all day? >
SATORI: < Among other things. >
Satori turns and places a steaming bowl of noodles in front of Hanako, a raw egg cracked on top. She sets down a pair of chopsticks next to the bowl and returns to the stove.
SATORI: < I work nights... he plays during the day, usually blacked out by the time I get home. It works out for both of us. Well, it works out for me, at least. >
The front door slams.
Satori turns toward Hanako, sitting bolt upright.
SATORI: < Stay. >
Footsteps.
The man who enters the kitchen is... a sight.
Mid-twenties, slicked back hair... the metal in his face is almost enough to distract from his leopard print shirt. He tilts his head back, smelling the air. He chuckles.
MAN: < Smells good in here. >
He slinks toward the stove, pinning Satori against it as he reaches around her, plucking a fingerful of noodles from the boiling pot behind her. He backs away, tilting his head back, dropping the noodles into his mouth. Hanako stands, watching the man closely.
MAN: < Mmmmm-mmmm! Tastes even better than it smells! Marry me, Sato-chan! >
Her upper lip curls, repulsed.
SATORI: < You're disgusting... what do you want, Daichi? >
Hanako's eyes widen, recognizing the name.
DAICHI: < I'm here to see father. I have... a business opportunity. >
SATORI: < He's not home... so you can leave. >
DAICHI: < Is that any way to treat your brother? Besides, you haven't introduced me to your -- >
He turns to face Hanako, taken aback momentarily.
DAICHI: < -- guest. >
He raises an eyebrow.
DAICHI: < Hanako? >
SATORI: < That's not Hanako... leave, Daichi. >
DAICHI: < Don't lie to me. Even after ten years, this is a face I could never forget... and that color? So much orange. This is definitely Hanako -- >
He sucks the tips of his index and middle fingers one at a time, eyeing her.
DAICHI: < -- you got hot, girl. >
He gestures for her to come closer.
DAICHI: < Come around the table, let me get a better look at you. >
SATORI: < Don't listen to him. He's not a real gangster -- >
He turns and glares at her. She readily meets his gaze, scowling.
SATORI: < -- he just thinks he is. >
Turning away from her, he closes the distance between himself and Hanako, circling the table and touching her hair, flicking it before pushing it out of her face. She cuts her eyes toward his hand, sees the tattoos trailing upward from his wrist... and then she looks past him, toward Satori... sees her, concerned.
SATORI: < Don't touch her, Daichi. >
As his hand rises to touch Hanako's cheek, he directs his eyes toward Satori, crying out... spittle flying from his mouth and landing on Hanako's cheek.
DAICHI: < HEY! SHUT THE F*CK UP, OKAY!? >
Hanako's teeth clamp down.
The flesh between his thumb and index finger tears.
He rips his hand free from her, looking down at the wound. She licks her lips, tastes copper... almost giggling aloud, amused.
HANAKO: < She warned you, asshole -- >
The back of his hand sends her into the wall. More startled by the blow than hurt, her eyes widen as he advances, shouting, angry and ashamed.
DAICHI: < B!tch, I'll make you suffer! >
He catches her fist, pins her against the wall, places his hand on her throat. Her eyes widen as his grip tightens. She thinks of King Kota Amasaki. She thinks of that night... his hands closing around her throat, as though she's still there in that moment.
It's like she never left.
Satori screams... and Hanako blacks out.
Just like before.
But this time, she doesn't wake up being pulled from the black water, surrounded by mysterious agents of the Black Company. She wakes up on top of Daichi, raining down heavy blows with both hands... sticky, wet, red. Satori grabs Hanako from behind, pulling her away from her brother. Panicking, Hanako looks down at her hands, horrified. Satori kneels next to Daichi, touching his face.
SATORI: < He's alive... Hanako -- >
She looks over her shoulder at Hanako's blood spattered face.
SATORI: < -- are you okay? >
Hanako reaches up, touching her neck, smearing it with red.
HANAKO: < I'm sorry, Satori... I'm so sorry... I don't know what -- >
SATORI: < -- go get cleaned up. >
HANAKO: < I'm sorry... I'm sorry... >
She scrambles to her feet and backs away, looking over her shoulder, finding an exit. Satori stands, allowing Daichi's head to thump awkwardly onto the floor. He groans.
SATORI: < Hanako, just... calm down. >
Hanako shakes her head and turns, slinging the door open before running, leaving it open behind her. Satori follows her, watching as she escapes, unable to stop her.
SATORI: < HANAKO, PLEASE! >
Tears well up in her eyes as Hanako vanishes in the distance.
SATORI: < Don't do this to me again. >
< / > denotes foreign language translation.
Junko.
Ohba-san's semi-basement apartment.
Sitting on her bed, she's toiled over her mother's file for hours, memorizing every detail, wondering about the man in the photo... but mostly wondering about the smile on her mother's face.
She never saw her mother smile... not like that.
What finally happened that made her happy?
The tapping startles her back to reality. Junko turns, looking up at the window, relieved as she sees Hanako's pale round face peering through the glass. Junko shoves the folder under her pillow and stands on her bed, pushing the window open, a hint of annoyance in her tone.
JUNKO: < It's late, Hana-kun... you know Ohba-san doesn't -- >
HANAKO: < -- can you come out? >
Junko looks over her shoulder at the door behind her.
JUNKO: < Why, what's going on? >
HANAKO: < It's a secret... >
JUNKO: < Hana-kun... >
There's a sad urgency in Hanako's tone.
HANAKO: < Junko-chan, please. >
Sensing something is amiss, Junko sighs, averting her eyes.
JUNKO: < Give me five minutes. >
A pink room.
Not THE pink room... but similar.
Dimly lit, there's a haunting vibe resonating throughout the chamber designed to look like a young girl's bedroom, more accurately the place where they spent the better part of their lives, riddled with anxiety, fear. Junko stands in front of a bunk bed with frilly white sheets. Sitting on the top bunk, legs dangling, Hanako.
She whispers.
Silence.
Together, they walk.
They walk for what feels like hours.
As they draw closer, Junko recognizes the area despite the night and the darkness that comes with it... especially because of the darkness. Hanako is faster, taking the lead, head down... and Junko, despite her heart screaming at her to run the other way, follows.
She knows where they're going.
She feels that fist tighten in her chest.
And then she sees it in the distance... the remains of the warehouse once owned by King Kota to facilitate his... operation. Inside, the pink room they once called home. Then, a house of horrors... now, a gutted, hollow ruin. From looking at it, Junko surmises it hasn't seen maintenance since Takeshi Endo and Boss Sato brought Amasaki down with Hideo Chiba's help.
The remains of Amasaki's compound jut upward from the earth like a rotten tooth.
Hanako stops, looking up at the building, the moonlight illuminating her face. Junko stops, standing next to her... but she doesn't look up. She looks at Hanako, genuinely concerned.
HANAKO: < Do you remember this place, Junko-chan? >
Junko ignores the question.
Hanako knows the answer anyway.
JUNKO: < Why are we here? >
Hanako's eyes are locked on the structure, glazed over.
Shiny, black, like a doll's eyes.
HANAKO: < I've been here a few times since -- >
She catches herself; some things are better left unsaid.
Things that make Junko uncomfortable.
HANAKO: < -- I returned to Tokyo. >
JUNKO: < Hana-kun... >
HANAKO: < It feels like home, doesn't it? >
Hanako turns her head, facing Junko.
HANAKO: < Almost like we never left. >
There's disbelief in Junko's tone.
JUNKO: < This... isn't home. >
Hanako smiles. She kneels and picks up a large rock, holding it in her fist.
HANAKO: < Maybe not. >
She looks at the building.
JUNKO: < What are you -- >
HANAKO: < -- maybe I'm just f*cked up. >
Hanako sends the rock through one of the windows.
It shatters, echoing in the night.
Junko feels it in her soul.
Hanako sees the look on Junko's face, smiles ear-to-ear, then picks up a second rock, hurling it through another window. She picks up another and tosses it to Junko, who fumbles it, nearly dropping it before gripping it with both hands.
HANAKO: < What are you waiting for? You know you want to. >
Junko looks toward the compound, tests the weight of the rock... and then grits her teeth, throwing it as hard as she can, leaving a dent in the door. Hanako giggles, kneeling to pick up another rock. She feels the photograph crinkle in her pocket and her smile falters.
HANAKO: < Junko, I need to tell you something. >
Junko, kneeling to pick up another rock of her own, looks into Hanako's eyes, sees the pain residing there. Hanako reaches into her pocket, feels the photograph against her fingertips, the dried red smudge...
HANAKO: < Do you remember the men -- >
Suddenly, flashing blue lights. Neither of them saw the police cruiser approaching until it was too late. The officer steps out of the vehicle, hand on his sidearm.
OFFICER: < Both of you, stand with your hands up. You're under arrest for trespassing and vandalism. >
Junko drops her rock and stands, hands raised. Hanako stands with her back to the officer. Junko sees the rock in Hanako's hand --
JUNKO: < Hana-kun, don't -- >
-- a split-second before she turns and throws it as hard as she can at the officer, narrowly missing his face as he ducks away, spider-webbing his windshield. Righting himself, he unholsters his weapon.
HANAKO: < Junko-chan, run! >
She does.
And Hanako follows.
No more running.
Exhaustion sets in.
No police in sight.
For a moment, Junko thinks this might be the same alley where she hid the night she escaped Amasaki's compound but... that would just be too convenient. Hanako can see the frustration on Junko's face before she speaks.
JUNKO: < That was stupid, Hana-kun. >
Hanako smiles.
HANAKO: < But it was fun, right? >
JUNKO: < What was the point of that? To get us both arrested before our match? Hanako, I need you to take this seriously. >
HANAKO: < You got arrested with Joe Montuori before your last big pay-per-view match. What's the big deal? >
JUNKO: < That was different. >
HANAKO: < I am taking it seriously, you know. I promised you I'd win this tournament for you -- >
JUNKO: < -- I don't need you to win it for me. I want you to win it with me. >
They stand silent for a long moment.
JUNKO: < I'm going home. >
She turns, walking away. Hanako remains.
HANAKO: < I saw what you were doing earlier... that file, the photograph. That was your mom, right? >
Junko stops.
JUNKO: < What, are you going to try and convince me not to see her as well? >
HANAKO: < No... not at all. >
JUNKO: < What, then? >
HANAKO: < Your past is yours to deal with... so, handle your sh!t. >
Junko nods.
HANAKO: < Just be careful... I can't win this thing by myself. >
JUNKO: < Hana-kun... what did you want to tell me earlier? >
HANAKO: < Don't worry about it. >
Hanako turns, walking the opposite direction.
HANAKO: < You've got enough going on. >
JUNKO: < Yeah... another time, maybe. >
Junko cuts her eyes in Hanako's direction.
Hanako smiles.
Junko points into the camera.
Junko raises her chin, staring down her nose.
Hanako nods.
Junko breathes heavily, her voice rising.
She looks at Hanako.
Elegance.
Soft piano music soothes her.
Everything is heavenly, white with gold trim.
The obnoxious ringtone shatters Kumiko Kuronaga's calm, drawing her to a small video screen mounted on the wall. Clad in a beautiful black and white dress, she answers the call from front gate security with the swipe of one black-gloved hand. Botan's fat face greets her.
KUMIKO: < To what do I owe this annoyance, Botan? >
BOTAN: < I apologize, Kumi-sama. There is a visitor here for you... a girl. >
Her upper lip curls.
KUMIKO: < I'm not expecting guests. >
BOTAN: < She says she is your daughter. >
Kumiko stands silent, expression unchanging.
BOTAN: < She says her name is -- >
KUMIKO: < Souma Junko. >
BOTAN: < Correct, Kumi-sama. Shall I send her away? >
KUMIKO: < No... grant her entry. >
BOTAN: < Are you sure? Would you like me to accompany -- >
KUMIKO: < Does my husband pay you to question me? Of course I'm sure. >
The corner of her mouth twitches, a smile.
KUMIKO: < I've waited ten years for this. >
Hanako awakens.
Satori Bando's home is quiet. Sitting up on the mattress on the floor, Hanako shakes her head, an attempt to dispel the fuzziness in her brain. She ignores the stiffness in her neck, a product of sleeping with her head in Satori's lap for several hours before she was offered a bed after their.... conversation. Sitting on the edge of the mattress, Hanako pulls her boots on before approaching the door.
Satori is nowhere to be seen.
She doesn't call out for fear of alerting Satori's father.
As the sense of dread permeates, the scent of food hits her, drifting softly beneath the door, impossibly putting her at ease... despite the night she had. Cracking the door, she peeks into the hallway. The scent becomes stronger, unimpeded.
SATORI: < Hey, you're awake! >
Satori steps around the corner with a spatula, setting her eyes on Hanako through the crack. Satori looks around, an amused expression, gesturing for Hanako to join her.
SATORI: < It's okay... he's gone. >
Hanako doesn't budge, still.
SATORI: < The pachinko parlors... they open early. Father won't be back for hours. If he wins big enough, he might not return until tomorrow morning. >
Reluctantly, Hanako steps out. She pulls her jacket tight around her, not for warmth but a general sense of security.
HANAKO: < Satori, I should go. Thank you for -- >
SATORI: < -- you can do whatever you like, Hanako. >
Satori's smile is sweet, wounded.
SATORI: < Just eat something before you go. >
Hanako nods, walking toward the kitchen. Still holding the jacket tight, she feels the photograph crinkle in her pocket, reminding her of the man she took away from his family --
-- no.
Not a man.
Something else.
SATORI: < Do you want an egg? >
HANAKO: < Sure... >
Satori minds the stovetop as Hanako sits down at the rickety, stained card table that serves as the Bando family's dining room table.
HANAKO: < So, your father... he just... plays pachinko all day? >
SATORI: < Among other things. >
Satori turns and places a steaming bowl of noodles in front of Hanako, a raw egg cracked on top. She sets down a pair of chopsticks next to the bowl and returns to the stove.
SATORI: < I work nights... he plays during the day, usually blacked out by the time I get home. It works out for both of us. Well, it works out for me, at least. >
The front door slams.
Satori turns toward Hanako, sitting bolt upright.
SATORI: < Stay. >
Footsteps.
The man who enters the kitchen is... a sight.
Mid-twenties, slicked back hair... the metal in his face is almost enough to distract from his leopard print shirt. He tilts his head back, smelling the air. He chuckles.
MAN: < Smells good in here. >
He slinks toward the stove, pinning Satori against it as he reaches around her, plucking a fingerful of noodles from the boiling pot behind her. He backs away, tilting his head back, dropping the noodles into his mouth. Hanako stands, watching the man closely.
MAN: < Mmmmm-mmmm! Tastes even better than it smells! Marry me, Sato-chan! >
Her upper lip curls, repulsed.
SATORI: < You're disgusting... what do you want, Daichi? >
Hanako's eyes widen, recognizing the name.
DAICHI: < I'm here to see father. I have... a business opportunity. >
SATORI: < He's not home... so you can leave. >
DAICHI: < Is that any way to treat your brother? Besides, you haven't introduced me to your -- >
He turns to face Hanako, taken aback momentarily.
DAICHI: < -- guest. >
He raises an eyebrow.
DAICHI: < Hanako? >
SATORI: < That's not Hanako... leave, Daichi. >
DAICHI: < Don't lie to me. Even after ten years, this is a face I could never forget... and that color? So much orange. This is definitely Hanako -- >
He sucks the tips of his index and middle fingers one at a time, eyeing her.
DAICHI: < -- you got hot, girl. >
He gestures for her to come closer.
DAICHI: < Come around the table, let me get a better look at you. >
SATORI: < Don't listen to him. He's not a real gangster -- >
He turns and glares at her. She readily meets his gaze, scowling.
SATORI: < -- he just thinks he is. >
Turning away from her, he closes the distance between himself and Hanako, circling the table and touching her hair, flicking it before pushing it out of her face. She cuts her eyes toward his hand, sees the tattoos trailing upward from his wrist... and then she looks past him, toward Satori... sees her, concerned.
SATORI: < Don't touch her, Daichi. >
As his hand rises to touch Hanako's cheek, he directs his eyes toward Satori, crying out... spittle flying from his mouth and landing on Hanako's cheek.
DAICHI: < HEY! SHUT THE F*CK UP, OKAY!? >
Hanako's teeth clamp down.
The flesh between his thumb and index finger tears.
He rips his hand free from her, looking down at the wound. She licks her lips, tastes copper... almost giggling aloud, amused.
HANAKO: < She warned you, asshole -- >
The back of his hand sends her into the wall. More startled by the blow than hurt, her eyes widen as he advances, shouting, angry and ashamed.
DAICHI: < B!tch, I'll make you suffer! >
He catches her fist, pins her against the wall, places his hand on her throat. Her eyes widen as his grip tightens. She thinks of King Kota Amasaki. She thinks of that night... his hands closing around her throat, as though she's still there in that moment.
It's like she never left.
Satori screams... and Hanako blacks out.
Just like before.
But this time, she doesn't wake up being pulled from the black water, surrounded by mysterious agents of the Black Company. She wakes up on top of Daichi, raining down heavy blows with both hands... sticky, wet, red. Satori grabs Hanako from behind, pulling her away from her brother. Panicking, Hanako looks down at her hands, horrified. Satori kneels next to Daichi, touching his face.
SATORI: < He's alive... Hanako -- >
She looks over her shoulder at Hanako's blood spattered face.
SATORI: < -- are you okay? >
Hanako reaches up, touching her neck, smearing it with red.
HANAKO: < I'm sorry, Satori... I'm so sorry... I don't know what -- >
SATORI: < -- go get cleaned up. >
HANAKO: < I'm sorry... I'm sorry... >
She scrambles to her feet and backs away, looking over her shoulder, finding an exit. Satori stands, allowing Daichi's head to thump awkwardly onto the floor. He groans.
SATORI: < Hanako, just... calm down. >
Hanako shakes her head and turns, slinging the door open before running, leaving it open behind her. Satori follows her, watching as she escapes, unable to stop her.
SATORI: < HANAKO, PLEASE! >
Tears well up in her eyes as Hanako vanishes in the distance.
SATORI: < Don't do this to me again. >
Junko.
Ohba-san's semi-basement apartment.
Sitting on her bed, she's toiled over her mother's file for hours, memorizing every detail, wondering about the man in the photo... but mostly wondering about the smile on her mother's face.
She never saw her mother smile... not like that.
What finally happened that made her happy?
The tapping startles her back to reality. Junko turns, looking up at the window, relieved as she sees Hanako's pale round face peering through the glass. Junko shoves the folder under her pillow and stands on her bed, pushing the window open, a hint of annoyance in her tone.
JUNKO: < It's late, Hana-kun... you know Ohba-san doesn't -- >
HANAKO: < -- can you come out? >
Junko looks over her shoulder at the door behind her.
JUNKO: < Why, what's going on? >
HANAKO: < It's a secret... >
JUNKO: < Hana-kun... >
There's a sad urgency in Hanako's tone.
HANAKO: < Junko-chan, please. >
Sensing something is amiss, Junko sighs, averting her eyes.
JUNKO: < Give me five minutes. >
A pink room.
Not THE pink room... but similar.
Dimly lit, there's a haunting vibe resonating throughout the chamber designed to look like a young girl's bedroom, more accurately the place where they spent the better part of their lives, riddled with anxiety, fear. Junko stands in front of a bunk bed with frilly white sheets. Sitting on the top bunk, legs dangling, Hanako.
< This is it... the finals of the SEX Cup Tournament. We're only one match away from doing what I failed to do last year... achieving the greatest success of my career by overcoming fifteen teams and standing among the greatest duos of this era... one of only three teams to have achieved such an honor across TPW's history. >
< Only three left to go... isn't that nuts? >
< Three teams, all with their own accomplishments, their own goals. Perhaps none more desperate to prove they belong than Lights Out... Ava Arthur and Alessia Angelo, who came into the company and made an immediate impact by defeating the unbeatable Malvados before Ava went on to win the Bohemian Bash herself. >
< And then it all came crashing down! PSSSSSSSSH! >
< As quickly as success came... it went... and you two need this win to prove you still belong at the top... that none of it was a fluke. Ava Arthur, you and I were on the same team at Uncivil War. We were victorious together. I have nothing but respect for you... but, please understand that this tournament means something to me, too. We cannot take your needs into consideration on our path to victory. >
< Beating Montuori and Vaughn was real impressive... shame it doesn't matter if you don't stick the landing. >
She whispers.
< You're not gonna stick the landing. >
< Perhaps fate will favor Lights Out another night... unfortunately for you, Thunder in Paradise 3 already belongs to the Flowers of Carnage. >
Together, they walk.
They walk for what feels like hours.
As they draw closer, Junko recognizes the area despite the night and the darkness that comes with it... especially because of the darkness. Hanako is faster, taking the lead, head down... and Junko, despite her heart screaming at her to run the other way, follows.
She knows where they're going.
She feels that fist tighten in her chest.
And then she sees it in the distance... the remains of the warehouse once owned by King Kota to facilitate his... operation. Inside, the pink room they once called home. Then, a house of horrors... now, a gutted, hollow ruin. From looking at it, Junko surmises it hasn't seen maintenance since Takeshi Endo and Boss Sato brought Amasaki down with Hideo Chiba's help.
The remains of Amasaki's compound jut upward from the earth like a rotten tooth.
Hanako stops, looking up at the building, the moonlight illuminating her face. Junko stops, standing next to her... but she doesn't look up. She looks at Hanako, genuinely concerned.
HANAKO: < Do you remember this place, Junko-chan? >
Junko ignores the question.
Hanako knows the answer anyway.
JUNKO: < Why are we here? >
Hanako's eyes are locked on the structure, glazed over.
Shiny, black, like a doll's eyes.
HANAKO: < I've been here a few times since -- >
She catches herself; some things are better left unsaid.
Things that make Junko uncomfortable.
HANAKO: < -- I returned to Tokyo. >
JUNKO: < Hana-kun... >
HANAKO: < It feels like home, doesn't it? >
Hanako turns her head, facing Junko.
HANAKO: < Almost like we never left. >
There's disbelief in Junko's tone.
JUNKO: < This... isn't home. >
Hanako smiles. She kneels and picks up a large rock, holding it in her fist.
HANAKO: < Maybe not. >
She looks at the building.
JUNKO: < What are you -- >
HANAKO: < -- maybe I'm just f*cked up. >
Hanako sends the rock through one of the windows.
It shatters, echoing in the night.
Junko feels it in her soul.
Hanako sees the look on Junko's face, smiles ear-to-ear, then picks up a second rock, hurling it through another window. She picks up another and tosses it to Junko, who fumbles it, nearly dropping it before gripping it with both hands.
HANAKO: < What are you waiting for? You know you want to. >
Junko looks toward the compound, tests the weight of the rock... and then grits her teeth, throwing it as hard as she can, leaving a dent in the door. Hanako giggles, kneeling to pick up another rock. She feels the photograph crinkle in her pocket and her smile falters.
HANAKO: < Junko, I need to tell you something. >
Junko, kneeling to pick up another rock of her own, looks into Hanako's eyes, sees the pain residing there. Hanako reaches into her pocket, feels the photograph against her fingertips, the dried red smudge...
HANAKO: < Do you remember the men -- >
Suddenly, flashing blue lights. Neither of them saw the police cruiser approaching until it was too late. The officer steps out of the vehicle, hand on his sidearm.
OFFICER: < Both of you, stand with your hands up. You're under arrest for trespassing and vandalism. >
Junko drops her rock and stands, hands raised. Hanako stands with her back to the officer. Junko sees the rock in Hanako's hand --
JUNKO: < Hana-kun, don't -- >
-- a split-second before she turns and throws it as hard as she can at the officer, narrowly missing his face as he ducks away, spider-webbing his windshield. Righting himself, he unholsters his weapon.
HANAKO: < Junko-chan, run! >
She does.
And Hanako follows.
< How did the Rogues' Gallery even win the Duos belts anyway, huh? Did they challenge Lights Out to an ugly contest and blow them out of the water? >
< They're ruthless fighters, Hana-kun -- >
< -- and for that matter, how did they get past Devlin Knight and Max Stone? I thought they were supposed to be good... like good-good, not pretend-good like that Clyde Newton goober. >
< I have a lot of respect for Devlin and Max... you should, too. One day, we may stand across the ring from them. The Rogues' Gallery's victory is a testament to how far they're willing to go to win. Jeremy the Wicked lives up to his name and... Superunknown is simply on another level. >
< Yeah, but... you're known to go all out, too. >
< I'll do what must be done to win. The Hurricane Hustle stipulation will afford us many opportunities to inflict damage beyond a traditional match. That might be what it takes to stop the Rogues' Gallery. Even if they use underhanded tactics, their talent can't be denied... and we will use everything in our arsenal to combat them. >
< I wanna take Superunknown's mask off so bad. >
< As the reigning Duos champions, special attention must be paid to them. If we win this match, we'll face them again at RetroMania in a stipulation of our choosing. >
< I wanna see his ugly face SO BAD! >
< Jeremy... Superunknown... we'll learn your strengths and weaknesses during this encounter. We'll figure out the best way to exploit them. That's what it means to be a number one pro-wrestling tag team. I warn you... I would do the same if I were in your shoes because I promise you, it will be the Flowers of Carnage who stand across the ring from you at RetroMania... and on that night, we will call ourselves the new Duos Champions. >
< Seriously, though... what's he hiding under there? >
Exhaustion sets in.
No police in sight.
For a moment, Junko thinks this might be the same alley where she hid the night she escaped Amasaki's compound but... that would just be too convenient. Hanako can see the frustration on Junko's face before she speaks.
JUNKO: < That was stupid, Hana-kun. >
Hanako smiles.
HANAKO: < But it was fun, right? >
JUNKO: < What was the point of that? To get us both arrested before our match? Hanako, I need you to take this seriously. >
HANAKO: < You got arrested with Joe Montuori before your last big pay-per-view match. What's the big deal? >
JUNKO: < That was different. >
HANAKO: < I am taking it seriously, you know. I promised you I'd win this tournament for you -- >
JUNKO: < -- I don't need you to win it for me. I want you to win it with me. >
They stand silent for a long moment.
JUNKO: < I'm going home. >
She turns, walking away. Hanako remains.
HANAKO: < I saw what you were doing earlier... that file, the photograph. That was your mom, right? >
Junko stops.
JUNKO: < What, are you going to try and convince me not to see her as well? >
HANAKO: < No... not at all. >
JUNKO: < What, then? >
HANAKO: < Your past is yours to deal with... so, handle your sh!t. >
Junko nods.
HANAKO: < Just be careful... I can't win this thing by myself. >
JUNKO: < Hana-kun... what did you want to tell me earlier? >
HANAKO: < Don't worry about it. >
Hanako turns, walking the opposite direction.
HANAKO: < You've got enough going on. >
JUNKO: < Yeah... another time, maybe. >
< The final team... is the most important. >
< Here we go. >
< For two reasons... first, Matt Knox and Amber Bane-Ryan won the first-ever SEX Cup Tournament... and did so in the Hurricane Hustle match. That means they have an advantage. They know what to expect -- >
< -- and the other reason is that old man Raven lit poor Junko-chan on fire and gave her the big sad. >
< That's not -- I mean, it is... but... >
< Waaah. >
Junko cuts her eyes in Hanako's direction.
< Don't make fun of me. >
Hanako smiles.
< Those words aren't... ideal... but Hana-kun's right. Knox is a fighter who I've come to respect inside the ring and out since our first encounter... the inferno battle royal. However, we've never had the opportunity to challenge one another since. I've learned so much since that match... I've become stronger. >
Junko points into the camera.
< I'm no longer the scared little girl making her first appearances stateside! Matt, I respect you as a friend and fighter. The fact that you were cheated out of your International Championship is not lost on me. Above all others, not just in this match, but in this company... you're the one to beat. >
Junko raises her chin, staring down her nose.
< No amount of cowardice on behalf of Peter Vaughn will change that. >
< B!tch ass janitor looking guy. >
< With all respect to Lights Out, the Rogues' Gallery, and Amber... I'm coming for you, Matt. Like myself, I know you're willing to go as far as it takes to win this match. I know it means as much to you to become the first-ever two-time SEX Cup winner as it does to me to win my first... that is why I must put you in my crosshairs and take you down! >
< You're kinda' firing me up, Junko-chan. >
< Don't forget... I originally came to TPW to win this tournament. Winning the SEX Cup is a loose end and I cannot call my career complete until I've tied it off! Last year, my ignorance cost me... this year, I won't be denied. I need to win this tournament... I need to hold that trophy over my head in Aloha Stadium! >
Hanako nods.
< As I entered 2024, I made three resolutions... win the SEX Cup, defeat Joe Montuori, and challenge for the International Championship. So far, I've been on the run of my career... we defeated the New Breed, the D&L Connection, and Cataclysm! I stood side-by-side with Tact, Arthur, and Lux, helping TPW triumph over WGWF despite Joe Montuori's betrayal! And I defeated former Action Wrestling Champion Tatiana Jolee during the Denzel Porter Invitational! >
Junko breathes heavily, her voice rising.
< To those who have fallen before us, do not mistake my next words for disrespect... but without the SEX Cup trophy, all of those victories are meaningless! >
< Damn. My pin on Robert Main still counts, though. >
< With the SEX Cup final and a deathmatch against Joe Montuori on the same night, I have incredible odds against me... some might even say impossible... but I -- >
She looks at Hanako.
< -- we have battled against impossible odds all our lives. >
< Started at the bottom, now we're here. >
< Try your hardest... do your best... I promise you, it will not be enough to stop us. Come at us with everything you have... we have no choice but to resist you. >
< You're looking at the winners of the SEX Cup... and there's nothing anyone can do about it. >
< Please understand. >
Elegance.
Soft piano music soothes her.
Everything is heavenly, white with gold trim.
The obnoxious ringtone shatters Kumiko Kuronaga's calm, drawing her to a small video screen mounted on the wall. Clad in a beautiful black and white dress, she answers the call from front gate security with the swipe of one black-gloved hand. Botan's fat face greets her.
KUMIKO: < To what do I owe this annoyance, Botan? >
BOTAN: < I apologize, Kumi-sama. There is a visitor here for you... a girl. >
Her upper lip curls.
KUMIKO: < I'm not expecting guests. >
BOTAN: < She says she is your daughter. >
Kumiko stands silent, expression unchanging.
BOTAN: < She says her name is -- >
KUMIKO: < Souma Junko. >
BOTAN: < Correct, Kumi-sama. Shall I send her away? >
KUMIKO: < No... grant her entry. >
BOTAN: < Are you sure? Would you like me to accompany -- >
KUMIKO: < Does my husband pay you to question me? Of course I'm sure. >
The corner of her mouth twitches, a smile.
KUMIKO: < I've waited ten years for this. >
