Post by Raiden Ishimori on Oct 15, 2018 21:49:58 GMT -5
Date: October 14, 2018
Location: Ushioda Family Residence
{Roughly four days had passed since the Alley Incident involving the confrontation between Raiden and the two Yakuza members. Kenzan had been hospitalized following the assault and was placed in intensive care after it was discovered he was suffering from internal bleeding that could’ve very well lead to an unexpected demise had it gone undetected. Under his own judgment, Raiden ordered Reina to stay home for the next few days while telling Toru to ensure him and Sora didn’t go out too often over the next few weeks. The days for Bone Cold ticked by with nervousness filling his mind, making thoughts impossible to process and also preventing him from coming up with a possible solution in order to try and shut the situation down fast. The only other man to know about the incident was, of course, Ebisawa, given the man’s background in Yakuza workings that spanned a solid two decades. Following the idea that Jin had proposed to Raiden, the two ventured out into downtown, seeking out Kohei Ushioda for possible answers as to what was going. Soon enough, they found themselves seated with the head of the Ushioda Family on the top floor of the family’s establishment.}
Kohei (billowing smoke): “So, allow me to get this straight, assuming I’ve understood everything correctly: Your friend, Kenzan, had some business to talk to you about in regards to Reina, according to the note that was in his writing. After Ken didn’t show for some time, you walked around the block to see if he was nearby and ultimately stumbled upon the two Yakuza named Jin and Takuma.”
Raiden (nodding): “Correct.”
Kohei: “After encountering them, they approached and mentioned something about you being in a sticky situation that left their boss unhappy for whatever reason. Afterward, Takuma proceeded to choke you followed by Jin explaining a bit more background before Takuma left you with some omen only for the two to leave right after.”
Raiden: “Also correct.”
Kohei: “And they mentioned the term ‘old friends’ in regards to me but I can’t say I really recall anyone by the name of Jin or Takuma in all honesty.”
Ebisawa: “Not even from recent ventures?”
Kohei (shaking his head): “Not in the slightest. If they were really what they claim to be I would have some kind of memory of them but nothing’s coming to mind. Whether it’s my age or if I simply just don’t know the two men, I don’t think I really have an answer for you, Raiden.”
{He taps the ashes of his cigar into the nearby tray, taking another hit on the cigar. Across from him, Ebisawa sat in silence with his arms over his chest, mulling over the situation. Beside him, Raiden was fidgeting about, finding it difficult to sit still in regards to the pot of hot water they were sitting in since Wednesday night.}
Raiden: “Isn’t there something we can at least try to do? Sitting around like this isn’t going to get us anywhere in our investigation of those two.”
Kohei: “There’s only so much information we have on hand, Raiden. Just having those two names on hand isn’t enough to go snooping around Osaka in an attempt to locate them. Unless there was some identification associated with them, then we’re pretty much looking up at a brick wall. All we can do really is wait and see if they pop their heads out sometime in the near future but in the meantime, you two have to make sure your friends are always in a safe environment otherwise who knows what might happen to them if they were caught in the open.”
Ebisawa: “I know this is gonna sound risky but what about lending some men to act as escorts? They don’t have to be super, super close to the person they’re watching over but at least have the person in their line of sight at all times.”
Kohei: “Ehh...it’s an idea but that would probably make them stand out more than actually benefit. Keep in mind, the gentlemen Raiden described us are of a younger generation so they’re eyes are sharper than those of the men we have today. Most of us aren’t the same compared to what we were like when you first joined, Tenya.”
Raiden (confused): “Tenya?”
Ebisawa: “My legal first name. I’ve kept it off most public records since...y’know...Yakuza past...but anyway, back to the task at hand.”
Kohei: “Right. As stated over the course of this meeting, there isn’t much we can do for the time being other than lie in wait. Tenya, as to be expected of you, just act normally as you would at the gym and Raiden, the same goes for you whenever you’re out and about or training. I know it’s near impossible to shake off the thought but in order to give my associates time to fully assess the situation, we need to act like nothing is wrong.”
{Raiden and Tenya exchange a glance with one another, turning back to Kohei and nodding in agreement.}
Kohei: “Alright then. Probably best you two get home for the evening then. Better to be home before dark otherwise who knows what could occur. We’ll talk again tomorrow.”
{Pushing off from the couch, Kohei retreats to his personal quarters while Raiden and Tenya exit out the room toward the elevator. Riding it down, the duo arrive back on the ground floor, pacing themselves as they head for the exit.}
Tenya (looking over): “You feeling alright? You look like you’re gonna puke at any moment.”
Raiden: “.....”
Tenya: “C’mon, don’t try to be secretive at this point in time, Raiden. If we’re gonna make it through this hellhole we’ve fallen into, then communication is going to be vital between all parties.”
Raiden: “.....”
Tenya: “Jesus, this is hitting you harder than I thought…”
{Pushing the door open, he lets Raiden go out first before tailing him as they walk the cobblestone path to the entrance. The rest of the walk is silent, a vibe that resonates from both men as they reach the final door. Tenya reaches for the oversized handle, turning to Raiden.}
Tenya: “Trust me when I say this: We aren’t going to have a repeat of what happened four years ago. I will hold that promise to you until the day I die or until this shit gets sorted at the very least.”
{He pulls the door open and starts to proceed through before he’s suddenly knocked back in a violent fashion, blood spraying up into the air as Tenya stumbles back, clutching at his nose. Raiden rushes to check on him, quickly turning his head towards the perpetrator of the attack. His eyes go wide upon identifying the people who enter the gate: Jin, and Takuma.}
Jin: “You miss me, Raiden? Tenya! Good to see you. I see Kohei hasn’t forgotten about Old Yeller.”
Raiden: “You…”
{He rushes at Jin only for Takuma to step in front of him, launching a low angle uppercut straight into The Lone Wolf’s abdomen. The air in his lungs can be heard exiting as he flies backward, landing on the cobblestone with a hard bounce with a groan of pain. Fury burns in Tenya’s eyes at the sight of it, standing up with his fists clenched and readied into a fighting stance.}
Tenya: “Just who the hell are you?!”
Jin (sneering): “Oh you don’t remember? Shame. No one seems to remember us from days past.”
{He cracks his knuckles with a flashy smile while Takuma remains in place, looking stoic as ever. Behind Tenya, Raiden makes it back to his feet, albeit wheezing from the powerful punch he took moments ago.}
Tenya: “You good to brawl?”
Raiden (wheezing): “I think...ow…”
{In a flash, Jin rushes the wrestler, aiming a flying spin kick at Raiden’s head which he expertly ducks, only to stumble and nearly fall. Immediately, Jin follows through with a straight left, catching Raiden on the side of the chin, only for him to respond with a knee lift to the groin, bringing Jin to his knees. To the side, the brawl between Takuma and Tenya rages on despite the latter landing several successful strikes that should be bringing the giant down with the result being the complete opposite. Launching another right, Takuma easily deflects it, reaching with his other hand and grasping Tenya’s throat. With the former Yakuza’s attention shifted, he lifts the man up, turns, and slams him back first into the stone wall, a roar of pain radiating in the courtyard as he slumps down to the ground, seemingly knocked out. Unsatisfied, Takuma begins stomping him down, malice accompanying each hit as he looks down in disappointment.}
Takuma: “And to think you were Yakuza…”
{Each stomp soon starts to elicit a grunt of pain from Tenya, enduring the assault much in similar fashion to Kenzan. Meanwhile, Raiden punches away at a grounded Jin from a mount position, bloodying the man’s face beneath him with each solid strike. Glancing, Takuma takes note of the situation, placing his boot on Tenya’s neck, effectively trapping the man on the ground.”
Takuma (nonchalant): “Baka.”
{Raiden turns upon hearing the call only to be met with a shot to the throat from the mere distraction, sending him back as he gasps for air. Sitting up, he’s met with a stiff kick square to the face, courtesy of Jin. Blood starts to rush out of Bone Cold’s nose but before he’s even given a chance to worry about it, he’s forcefully pulled up to his feet by Takuma who locks him in a threatening Dragon Sleeper, slowly squeezing Raiden’s windpipe. His eyes dart around for a few seconds until Jin looms over him with a wicked smile, hand clutching at his nose.}
Jin: “Bad move on your end, Raiden. I honestly thought you were a better guy than this but it looks like you really don’t care what happens to your friends, do ya?”
Raiden: “Fuck y--”
{Takuma wrenches on the hold, forcing a muffled yell from Raiden as Jin laughs sadistically.}
Jin: “I’d be watching your tongue right now if I were you, buddy boy. We may be on Ushioda turf but it’s the Akagawa family controlling shit right now.”
Takuma: “Jin…”
Jin (jokingly): “Shit, I let that slip didn’t I? Guess we’ll have to kill him now won’t we?”
Tenya: “As if you will…”
{Tenya forces himself up to a seated position against the fall, blood evidently pouring from the side of his head. Jin shoots him a cocky grin while Takuma shifts Raiden around and holds him in a side headlock cinched in deep.}
Jin (to Raiden): “Oh look at that, you got your big bro standing up for you. Isn’t that just the cutest thing?”
Raiden: “You’ll pay for this, Jin.”
Jin: “Don’t make me laugh, kid. How about this: We take you hostage and if you want to be freed from that position, get Kohei to hand over some money and women and call it even? How’s that sound?”
Tenya: “Not...happening…”
{The two Akagawa family members turn their attention over to Tenya, who’s somehow managed to make it up to his feet albeit using the wall for assistance.}
Tenya: “If you’re taking anyone hostage, it’s gonna be me. You know that by taking Raiden with you, you’d only be sabotaging your plan that involves him. You do want him to win that match don’t you?”
Jin: “Damn, forgot about that part…...well, that works for me.”
{Raiden looks over to Tenya with worried eyes but is only met with a shake of the head.}
Tenya (whispering): “Just trust me.”
Jin: “Alright enough chit-chat fellas, we got places to be.”
{Slowly, Takuma releases the hold on Raiden only to swing a massive knee strike under his jaw. He wobbles for a second before collapsing onto the cobblestone path, blood pooling beneath him while Tenya calls out to his fallen friend.}
Tenya (shocked): “Raiden! God damn it…”
{He drops to his knees, slamming the side of his fist into the ground before the two Akagawa members wrestle him into a hold and drag him out of the estate. Only moments later do some of Kohei’s men rush out to inspect the disturbance, only to find blood splattered across the yard and an unconscious Raiden lying face down on the path. Hurriedly, they rush down and team lift the man up and back into the estate, brushing past Kohei who continues to linger outside, assessing the scene.}
Kohei: “Tenya you crazy bastard…the boy’s fate is now in your hands as well. Don’t fail the family now…”
{Turning, he returns to the interior, slamming the door behind him. Amidst the disturbing silence and carnage that sits in the courtyard, leaving a feeling of dread and anguish hanging over the estate for those inside. While the shot zooms out, the feed apparently starts to become static, fizzling out every once and while before resuming as usual only to start going haywire again.}
{Ultimately, the screen goes dark for a second only to return to a shot of Raiden sat in a chair in the middle of a dark, empty room, a dim light hanging over him. His elbows are resting on his knees while his hands are clasped in front of him. The same eerie silence from before continues to linger in the air, with only the sounds of Raiden clearing his throat providing audio.}
Raiden: “Video Entry Number One, October 15, 2018. Today marks the fifth day since my world was plunged into chaos once more at the hands of Yakuza and not only was it just some random family that decided to bully me but the same family that took away five of my closest friends nearly four years ago. The Akagawa Family, headed by Otojiro Akagawa, or supposedly still headed by him. I don’t even care if he’s the one still running that joint or if someone else took over, the point of the matter is that you’ve prodded the wolf enough times to righteously piss it the hell off. Twice now, cronies have been dispatched to torment me and my friends in an attempt to annihilate what I have left. Is it so hard as to ask for a normal life? I guess so…”
{A sigh emits from him as he shifts in the chair.}
Raiden: “Roughly five months ago, I became a professional wrestler in order to distance myself from what happened those four years ago. It was meant to be my healing process, my way to cope with the reality I was living in, and ultimate, have things turn out not so bad in the end. I started out with the GWA because I heard that was the lowest tier company to start out with in order to get your feet wet. Jostle with old-timers, some fellow rookies...it was more a wrestling school than an actual company but given its status these days, who cares. After that fiasco, I pondered on where to go and that’s when I heard about the XHF. I came on board, did one singles match, and next thing I knew I was thrown into the main event at Night of Champions without question. I didn’t complain about the opportunity but I was more concerned about my performance. A rookie being thrown in with people who’ve done this for years? With the likes of Hardcore Harry and Steve Awesome? It seemed like I was bound to fail and be eliminated within the first ten minutes of the opening bell.”
{He lets out a faint chuckle at the thought.}
Raiden: “How I proved the critics wrong. Finished third in that match after Steele decided to nearly cave my skull in with a peg leg that he just found laying around. This time around, I’ll make sure Jackson is paid back in full for what he did to me at Night of Champions. The man who has taken more man meat up the wazoo than championships he has won in his career will suffer along with five other men in that torturous Annihilation Complex. Price...Akeed...Charlie...Ember...Jack...this time around is going to be a different outcome. Last time out we saw Diamond and Steele be the last two warriors still standing with the former winning back his championship. Congrats on making history there, Jack. You became part of the two-time X*Crown Champion Club with that win and at End of Days, you’ll be part of my history when I make you scream for mercy in that hellish structure and take that coveted prize from your hands. Wealth doesn’t mix well with the hardcore, Jack, so you can #FuckMoney all you want but it the memes going around from that won’t save you from the torture I’ll put you through.”
{Slowly, Raiden’s head peels back, looking up at the camera. His face is mostly shrouded in the obscure darkness except for part of the left side of his face. A visible scratch rests just beneath his eye while the end of medical beside his nose can also be seen.}
Raiden: “End of Days is all about bringing everything to a grinding halt. Both in terms of that tournament but also in the sense of yanking champions off their high horses. In order to keep up with the theme, I’m gonna ensure that I’m the one to take down the top Icon and give him an overdue reality check. Enjoy your view from the mountaintop while you still can Jack because while this wolf may be wounded as of late...it’s more bloodthirsty than ever.”
{Looking away from the camera, Raiden claps his hands twice, effectively turning off the light. The sounds of footsteps echo in the room, becoming fainter as they progress only to be followed by the sound of an old metallic door opening and closing. The feed starts to turn into static again only to abruptly fade to black.}
Location: Ushioda Family Residence
{Roughly four days had passed since the Alley Incident involving the confrontation between Raiden and the two Yakuza members. Kenzan had been hospitalized following the assault and was placed in intensive care after it was discovered he was suffering from internal bleeding that could’ve very well lead to an unexpected demise had it gone undetected. Under his own judgment, Raiden ordered Reina to stay home for the next few days while telling Toru to ensure him and Sora didn’t go out too often over the next few weeks. The days for Bone Cold ticked by with nervousness filling his mind, making thoughts impossible to process and also preventing him from coming up with a possible solution in order to try and shut the situation down fast. The only other man to know about the incident was, of course, Ebisawa, given the man’s background in Yakuza workings that spanned a solid two decades. Following the idea that Jin had proposed to Raiden, the two ventured out into downtown, seeking out Kohei Ushioda for possible answers as to what was going. Soon enough, they found themselves seated with the head of the Ushioda Family on the top floor of the family’s establishment.}
Kohei (billowing smoke): “So, allow me to get this straight, assuming I’ve understood everything correctly: Your friend, Kenzan, had some business to talk to you about in regards to Reina, according to the note that was in his writing. After Ken didn’t show for some time, you walked around the block to see if he was nearby and ultimately stumbled upon the two Yakuza named Jin and Takuma.”
Raiden (nodding): “Correct.”
Kohei: “After encountering them, they approached and mentioned something about you being in a sticky situation that left their boss unhappy for whatever reason. Afterward, Takuma proceeded to choke you followed by Jin explaining a bit more background before Takuma left you with some omen only for the two to leave right after.”
Raiden: “Also correct.”
Kohei: “And they mentioned the term ‘old friends’ in regards to me but I can’t say I really recall anyone by the name of Jin or Takuma in all honesty.”
Ebisawa: “Not even from recent ventures?”
Kohei (shaking his head): “Not in the slightest. If they were really what they claim to be I would have some kind of memory of them but nothing’s coming to mind. Whether it’s my age or if I simply just don’t know the two men, I don’t think I really have an answer for you, Raiden.”
{He taps the ashes of his cigar into the nearby tray, taking another hit on the cigar. Across from him, Ebisawa sat in silence with his arms over his chest, mulling over the situation. Beside him, Raiden was fidgeting about, finding it difficult to sit still in regards to the pot of hot water they were sitting in since Wednesday night.}
Raiden: “Isn’t there something we can at least try to do? Sitting around like this isn’t going to get us anywhere in our investigation of those two.”
Kohei: “There’s only so much information we have on hand, Raiden. Just having those two names on hand isn’t enough to go snooping around Osaka in an attempt to locate them. Unless there was some identification associated with them, then we’re pretty much looking up at a brick wall. All we can do really is wait and see if they pop their heads out sometime in the near future but in the meantime, you two have to make sure your friends are always in a safe environment otherwise who knows what might happen to them if they were caught in the open.”
Ebisawa: “I know this is gonna sound risky but what about lending some men to act as escorts? They don’t have to be super, super close to the person they’re watching over but at least have the person in their line of sight at all times.”
Kohei: “Ehh...it’s an idea but that would probably make them stand out more than actually benefit. Keep in mind, the gentlemen Raiden described us are of a younger generation so they’re eyes are sharper than those of the men we have today. Most of us aren’t the same compared to what we were like when you first joined, Tenya.”
Raiden (confused): “Tenya?”
Ebisawa: “My legal first name. I’ve kept it off most public records since...y’know...Yakuza past...but anyway, back to the task at hand.”
Kohei: “Right. As stated over the course of this meeting, there isn’t much we can do for the time being other than lie in wait. Tenya, as to be expected of you, just act normally as you would at the gym and Raiden, the same goes for you whenever you’re out and about or training. I know it’s near impossible to shake off the thought but in order to give my associates time to fully assess the situation, we need to act like nothing is wrong.”
{Raiden and Tenya exchange a glance with one another, turning back to Kohei and nodding in agreement.}
Kohei: “Alright then. Probably best you two get home for the evening then. Better to be home before dark otherwise who knows what could occur. We’ll talk again tomorrow.”
{Pushing off from the couch, Kohei retreats to his personal quarters while Raiden and Tenya exit out the room toward the elevator. Riding it down, the duo arrive back on the ground floor, pacing themselves as they head for the exit.}
Tenya (looking over): “You feeling alright? You look like you’re gonna puke at any moment.”
Raiden: “.....”
Tenya: “C’mon, don’t try to be secretive at this point in time, Raiden. If we’re gonna make it through this hellhole we’ve fallen into, then communication is going to be vital between all parties.”
Raiden: “.....”
Tenya: “Jesus, this is hitting you harder than I thought…”
{Pushing the door open, he lets Raiden go out first before tailing him as they walk the cobblestone path to the entrance. The rest of the walk is silent, a vibe that resonates from both men as they reach the final door. Tenya reaches for the oversized handle, turning to Raiden.}
Tenya: “Trust me when I say this: We aren’t going to have a repeat of what happened four years ago. I will hold that promise to you until the day I die or until this shit gets sorted at the very least.”
{He pulls the door open and starts to proceed through before he’s suddenly knocked back in a violent fashion, blood spraying up into the air as Tenya stumbles back, clutching at his nose. Raiden rushes to check on him, quickly turning his head towards the perpetrator of the attack. His eyes go wide upon identifying the people who enter the gate: Jin, and Takuma.}
Jin: “You miss me, Raiden? Tenya! Good to see you. I see Kohei hasn’t forgotten about Old Yeller.”
Raiden: “You…”
{He rushes at Jin only for Takuma to step in front of him, launching a low angle uppercut straight into The Lone Wolf’s abdomen. The air in his lungs can be heard exiting as he flies backward, landing on the cobblestone with a hard bounce with a groan of pain. Fury burns in Tenya’s eyes at the sight of it, standing up with his fists clenched and readied into a fighting stance.}
Tenya: “Just who the hell are you?!”
Jin (sneering): “Oh you don’t remember? Shame. No one seems to remember us from days past.”
{He cracks his knuckles with a flashy smile while Takuma remains in place, looking stoic as ever. Behind Tenya, Raiden makes it back to his feet, albeit wheezing from the powerful punch he took moments ago.}
Tenya: “You good to brawl?”
Raiden (wheezing): “I think...ow…”
{In a flash, Jin rushes the wrestler, aiming a flying spin kick at Raiden’s head which he expertly ducks, only to stumble and nearly fall. Immediately, Jin follows through with a straight left, catching Raiden on the side of the chin, only for him to respond with a knee lift to the groin, bringing Jin to his knees. To the side, the brawl between Takuma and Tenya rages on despite the latter landing several successful strikes that should be bringing the giant down with the result being the complete opposite. Launching another right, Takuma easily deflects it, reaching with his other hand and grasping Tenya’s throat. With the former Yakuza’s attention shifted, he lifts the man up, turns, and slams him back first into the stone wall, a roar of pain radiating in the courtyard as he slumps down to the ground, seemingly knocked out. Unsatisfied, Takuma begins stomping him down, malice accompanying each hit as he looks down in disappointment.}
Takuma: “And to think you were Yakuza…”
{Each stomp soon starts to elicit a grunt of pain from Tenya, enduring the assault much in similar fashion to Kenzan. Meanwhile, Raiden punches away at a grounded Jin from a mount position, bloodying the man’s face beneath him with each solid strike. Glancing, Takuma takes note of the situation, placing his boot on Tenya’s neck, effectively trapping the man on the ground.”
Takuma (nonchalant): “Baka.”
{Raiden turns upon hearing the call only to be met with a shot to the throat from the mere distraction, sending him back as he gasps for air. Sitting up, he’s met with a stiff kick square to the face, courtesy of Jin. Blood starts to rush out of Bone Cold’s nose but before he’s even given a chance to worry about it, he’s forcefully pulled up to his feet by Takuma who locks him in a threatening Dragon Sleeper, slowly squeezing Raiden’s windpipe. His eyes dart around for a few seconds until Jin looms over him with a wicked smile, hand clutching at his nose.}
Jin: “Bad move on your end, Raiden. I honestly thought you were a better guy than this but it looks like you really don’t care what happens to your friends, do ya?”
Raiden: “Fuck y--”
{Takuma wrenches on the hold, forcing a muffled yell from Raiden as Jin laughs sadistically.}
Jin: “I’d be watching your tongue right now if I were you, buddy boy. We may be on Ushioda turf but it’s the Akagawa family controlling shit right now.”
Takuma: “Jin…”
Jin (jokingly): “Shit, I let that slip didn’t I? Guess we’ll have to kill him now won’t we?”
Tenya: “As if you will…”
{Tenya forces himself up to a seated position against the fall, blood evidently pouring from the side of his head. Jin shoots him a cocky grin while Takuma shifts Raiden around and holds him in a side headlock cinched in deep.}
Jin (to Raiden): “Oh look at that, you got your big bro standing up for you. Isn’t that just the cutest thing?”
Raiden: “You’ll pay for this, Jin.”
Jin: “Don’t make me laugh, kid. How about this: We take you hostage and if you want to be freed from that position, get Kohei to hand over some money and women and call it even? How’s that sound?”
Tenya: “Not...happening…”
{The two Akagawa family members turn their attention over to Tenya, who’s somehow managed to make it up to his feet albeit using the wall for assistance.}
Tenya: “If you’re taking anyone hostage, it’s gonna be me. You know that by taking Raiden with you, you’d only be sabotaging your plan that involves him. You do want him to win that match don’t you?”
Jin: “Damn, forgot about that part…...well, that works for me.”
{Raiden looks over to Tenya with worried eyes but is only met with a shake of the head.}
Tenya (whispering): “Just trust me.”
Jin: “Alright enough chit-chat fellas, we got places to be.”
{Slowly, Takuma releases the hold on Raiden only to swing a massive knee strike under his jaw. He wobbles for a second before collapsing onto the cobblestone path, blood pooling beneath him while Tenya calls out to his fallen friend.}
Tenya (shocked): “Raiden! God damn it…”
{He drops to his knees, slamming the side of his fist into the ground before the two Akagawa members wrestle him into a hold and drag him out of the estate. Only moments later do some of Kohei’s men rush out to inspect the disturbance, only to find blood splattered across the yard and an unconscious Raiden lying face down on the path. Hurriedly, they rush down and team lift the man up and back into the estate, brushing past Kohei who continues to linger outside, assessing the scene.}
Kohei: “Tenya you crazy bastard…the boy’s fate is now in your hands as well. Don’t fail the family now…”
{Turning, he returns to the interior, slamming the door behind him. Amidst the disturbing silence and carnage that sits in the courtyard, leaving a feeling of dread and anguish hanging over the estate for those inside. While the shot zooms out, the feed apparently starts to become static, fizzling out every once and while before resuming as usual only to start going haywire again.}
{Ultimately, the screen goes dark for a second only to return to a shot of Raiden sat in a chair in the middle of a dark, empty room, a dim light hanging over him. His elbows are resting on his knees while his hands are clasped in front of him. The same eerie silence from before continues to linger in the air, with only the sounds of Raiden clearing his throat providing audio.}
Raiden: “Video Entry Number One, October 15, 2018. Today marks the fifth day since my world was plunged into chaos once more at the hands of Yakuza and not only was it just some random family that decided to bully me but the same family that took away five of my closest friends nearly four years ago. The Akagawa Family, headed by Otojiro Akagawa, or supposedly still headed by him. I don’t even care if he’s the one still running that joint or if someone else took over, the point of the matter is that you’ve prodded the wolf enough times to righteously piss it the hell off. Twice now, cronies have been dispatched to torment me and my friends in an attempt to annihilate what I have left. Is it so hard as to ask for a normal life? I guess so…”
{A sigh emits from him as he shifts in the chair.}
Raiden: “Roughly five months ago, I became a professional wrestler in order to distance myself from what happened those four years ago. It was meant to be my healing process, my way to cope with the reality I was living in, and ultimate, have things turn out not so bad in the end. I started out with the GWA because I heard that was the lowest tier company to start out with in order to get your feet wet. Jostle with old-timers, some fellow rookies...it was more a wrestling school than an actual company but given its status these days, who cares. After that fiasco, I pondered on where to go and that’s when I heard about the XHF. I came on board, did one singles match, and next thing I knew I was thrown into the main event at Night of Champions without question. I didn’t complain about the opportunity but I was more concerned about my performance. A rookie being thrown in with people who’ve done this for years? With the likes of Hardcore Harry and Steve Awesome? It seemed like I was bound to fail and be eliminated within the first ten minutes of the opening bell.”
{He lets out a faint chuckle at the thought.}
Raiden: “How I proved the critics wrong. Finished third in that match after Steele decided to nearly cave my skull in with a peg leg that he just found laying around. This time around, I’ll make sure Jackson is paid back in full for what he did to me at Night of Champions. The man who has taken more man meat up the wazoo than championships he has won in his career will suffer along with five other men in that torturous Annihilation Complex. Price...Akeed...Charlie...Ember...Jack...this time around is going to be a different outcome. Last time out we saw Diamond and Steele be the last two warriors still standing with the former winning back his championship. Congrats on making history there, Jack. You became part of the two-time X*Crown Champion Club with that win and at End of Days, you’ll be part of my history when I make you scream for mercy in that hellish structure and take that coveted prize from your hands. Wealth doesn’t mix well with the hardcore, Jack, so you can #FuckMoney all you want but it the memes going around from that won’t save you from the torture I’ll put you through.”
{Slowly, Raiden’s head peels back, looking up at the camera. His face is mostly shrouded in the obscure darkness except for part of the left side of his face. A visible scratch rests just beneath his eye while the end of medical beside his nose can also be seen.}
Raiden: “End of Days is all about bringing everything to a grinding halt. Both in terms of that tournament but also in the sense of yanking champions off their high horses. In order to keep up with the theme, I’m gonna ensure that I’m the one to take down the top Icon and give him an overdue reality check. Enjoy your view from the mountaintop while you still can Jack because while this wolf may be wounded as of late...it’s more bloodthirsty than ever.”
{Looking away from the camera, Raiden claps his hands twice, effectively turning off the light. The sounds of footsteps echo in the room, becoming fainter as they progress only to be followed by the sound of an old metallic door opening and closing. The feed starts to turn into static again only to abruptly fade to black.}
