Post by Raiden Ishimori on Nov 12, 2018 1:51:35 GMT -5
Date: November 4, 2018
Location: Osaka, Japan
{Defeat. The only thing that rested upon Raiden’s mind was that one word that could rock a whole crowd upon seeing it happen to their favorite wrestler but for him, it was a different tale. Defeat wasn’t an option he could take in his predicament as it spelled certain doom for those around him, and despite having encased himself within the shadowy darkness, he couldn’t escape the hound that was sniffing him out. Over the past few days, he had holed up in the currently closed gym that Tenya had ownership of, aimlessly punching and kicking the bags that were in scattered across the floor, tearing the leather off some of them in the process as he continued to beat them down with aid from the bat he carried around with him. It wasn’t just a tool meant for decompressing but also for the opportunity that an Akagawa yakuza showed up at any given point. The thought had been resting in the back of his mind ever since he returned home to Osaka but at the current moment, he didn’t care. He was more frustrated with the fact that X*Crown had slipped through his fingers just when he thought he had a firm grasp on it but alas, victory had eluded him in Ireland.}
{In the wake of the night, his relentless assault on the punching bags persisted, the bat driving out whatever material laid inside the equipment with some of the fillings even getting torn up even more as Raiden kicked out at the bits and pieces. Soon enough, he chucked the bat in the darkness with a loud clattering noise before rolling into the wall and stopping. The punching continued with each hit being accompanied by a frustrated grunt before he hauled the bag up onto his shoulder before slamming it back down into the ground with as much strength as he could muster. With a vengeful yell, he leaps and stomps down of the bag, the contents seemingly ready to explode at any given moment but alas they don’t budge. Unbeknownst to Raiden, most likely through his blind rage, the door to the gym opens up, footsteps accompanying the beings. Within a minute, the lights suddenly flash on, causing Raiden to whip around in a full one-eighty as he stares down the intruder. To his surprise, it’s Tenya, greatly bruised and now sporting a crutch under his left arm. Looking around, the former Yakuza shakes his head at the carnage, shakily making his way over to Raiden.}
Tenya: “I see you’ve been busy.”
Raiden: “.....”
Tenya: “You didn’t damage my office, did you?”
Raiden: “...No.”
Tenya: “Good. Otherwise, I would’ve beaten you with this crutch.”
{Silence quickly fell over the establishment once more as Tenya continued to draw closer to Raiden. There was a mixed look of anger and confusion donned on Raiden’s face whilst he struggled to comprehend the situation.}
Raiden: “How the hell are you alive? I thought you would’ve been tortured to death by now.”
Tenya: “Well, when someone reveals their true self, it's hard to turn down what they have to offer.”
Raiden: “True self?”
Voice: “He means me.”
{The two turn their attention in the direction of the booming voice. Standing at the entrance, hands tucked into his pockets, is Takuma. Despite the difference in muscle mass, Takuma seems a bit taller than the other two. Slowly, he starts his trek into the building, looking around at the now demolished equipment.}
Raiden (under his breath): “How…”
Tenya (chuckling): “There’s a lot to explain, I know. Come on, let’s chat in the office.”
{The one-eyed owner staggers his way over to the other room but Raiden doesn’t budge, his focus solely trained on the man who he still saw as his enemy. His fists tightened, the urge to start throwing punches began to swell up inside but he holds back, using all the willpower he can gather before following Tenya into the office, Takuma coming in a minute later. Steadily, Tenya sits in his office chair, resting the crutch against the edge of the desk while the other two sit across from him.}
Tenya (adjusting): “Right, where to begin…”
Raiden (irate): “Explain why Takuma is here.”
Takuma (nonchalant): “I left.”
Raiden (flabbergasted): “What?!”
Tenya: “Allow us to start from the top…”
Flashback - Six Days Ago
{The floor laid coated in blood as Tenya hung from the ceiling, chained by his wrists. His chest and back had been sliced up significantly with some deep-lying cuts spread across his torso along with multiple black and blue bruises scattered across his chest and face. He struggles to keep his eyes open, the pain in his arms having been rendered numb due to the restricted blood flow as he casually swayed about. Before him, the door slowly creaks open, Takuma stepping into the room with a blank expression before closing the door. Reaching into his suit pocket, he produces a silver key and strides over to Tenya’s restraints. Despite them being a little higher up than his own height, he manages to unlock both cuffs and lets the one-eyed man drop to the floor in a heap. Tenya sputters on the ground, trying to catch his breath but at the same time struggles to move about having been held captive for so long.}
Tenya (coughing): “W...wh...what are...you...doing?”
Takuma (nonchalant): “Doing a favor for someone.”
Tenya: “A favor...to kill me?”
Takuma: “The opposite, and I’m doing it on my own terms.”
{Reaching down, Takuma pulls Tenya up to his side, draping one arm around his shoulder as he adjusts his grip on him.}
Tenya: “Don’t you know what happens when you go against your own Yakuza family?”
Takuma: “I don’t care. In the end, I know what I’m doing and I don’t plan on winding up like the fools that Satoshi has had killed off.”
Tenya (faintly chuckling): “Who knew that the Akagawa Family’s ‘Big Tiger’ had such a soft spot…”
Takuma: “Shush. We need to move quietly otherwise the alarm is going to be raised.”
{With a bit of struggle, the two reach the door, Takuma practically dragging Tenya with him in order to squeeze through with as little noise as possible. Fast forwarding, the shot transitions to night time with the two resting in an alley: Tenya seated against one of the concrete walls while Takuma leans against the one across from the one-eyed man.}
Tenya: “You’re a crazy bastard for this stunt.”
Takuma: “As to be expected of Yakuza. We’re always unpredictable.”
Tenya: “Fair point.”
{A moment of silence blows through the two men.}
Takuma: “Hey, that friend of yours…”
Tenya: “Who?”
Takuma: “The one that was with you when Jin and I found you guys.”
Tenya: “You mean...Raiden?”
Takuma (nodding): “Yeah.”
Tenya: “...you’re not planning on killing him are you?”
Takuma: “If I have no intentions of killing you, then I have no plot to kill him, Tenya.”
{Silence quickly refills the space between the two as a slow-moving car drives by. Soon enough, it disappears, earning a sigh of relief from both men.}
Tenya: “What do you want with him?”
Takuma: “Help. I want to help him.”
Tenya: “What?! Why do you want to defect to the enemy side?”
Takuma: “Reasons.”
Tenya: “I guess I can’t ask much else in this scenario…”
Takuma: “He’s losing hope, Tenya. You heard from some of the men about what happened on Sunday. He failed to capture the X*Crown and now they’re planning to headhunt everyone around him...including you.”
Tenya (confused): “Then why help?”
Takuma: “He got rid of Jin for me. Believe it or not, he left him in a coma with a bat to the head. Doctors have said that he’s stable but are unsure of when he’ll wake up.”
{Tenya’s jaw drops at the revelation.}
Tenya: “I don’t understand…”
Takuma: “Neither did I but I think it’s because he has another personal battle to deal with. He said he blames himself for the deaths of Jotaro and the others and that it will be his fault once the others get killed.”
Tenya: “Raiden…”
Takuma: “He needs help. You know that for a fact.”
Tenya (solemnly nodding): “He does...but we need to get the others to safety first. Send them out of the city, no, the province.”
Takuma: “I have relatives who still live in Koga. They can watch over them.”
Tenya: “But wouldn’t Satoshi just track them down through you?”
Takuma (smirking): “He can’t if I’m not around.”
{Tenya gently nods his head in acknowledgment and satisfaction.}
Tenya: “Right then, let’s move while we can. If we’re going to get them out though, we need to speak to Kohei.”
Takuma: “Not a problem.”
{Pushing off the wall, Takuma walks over and helps Tenya back up to his feet again. Slowly, the duo makes its way to the far end, with Tenya using the wall beside him for added guidance and assistance in staying on his feet. Eventually, they reach the end of the alley and steadily make their way around the corner, disappearing from the line of sight.}
Back In The Present
Raiden (processing): “So…”
Tenya: “That’s really the main thing to share, Raiden.”
Raiden: “What’s the status on the others then?”
Takuma: “They’re safe with my relatives. Kohei managed to sneak them out in the days that followed me freeing Tenya.”
Raiden: “All of them? Reina, Gempachi-”
Tenya: “They’re safe and in good health. From what Kohei passed onto me, Gempachi phoned him saying they’ve been doing their best to lay low but Toru is making it difficult sometimes.”
Raiden (shaking his head): “No surprise there.”
{Turning from Tenya, he directs his attention over to Takuma, discontent still resting in his eyes.}
Raiden: “There’s still something about you that I don’t trust.”
Takuma: “That being…?”
Raiden: “You defected so easily from the Yakuza despite knowing what backlash you might face if you’re caught. Our friends did exactly the same thing and wound up dead and for all I know that could happen to you followed by the rest of us being murdered right after. How do I know that this isn’t some sort of trap?”
Tenya (interjecting): “I can vouch for him.”
Takuma (brushing it off): “No, this is between us.”
{He turns to Raiden with a blank look.}
Takuma: “It’s needless to say I’ve effectively become a ronin after what I’ve pulled. Doing what I did would effectively kick me out of the Akagawa Family but I couldn’t care less. Jin may have been a higher power compared to me but he wasn’t worth shit in the hierarchy so if he dies, no big loss for them and no big loss for me because you did do me a favor by cleaning his clock. If anything, that was probably the biggest reality check I ever got in terms of someone willing to sacrifice their life for the dark evils that rule the streets at night. I was one but I no longer want to be one so therefore I’m choosing to be a ronin Yakuza. I don’t care what comes my way because I know I’ll just send those fuckers running with their tails between their legs if they tried to come at me full force.”
Raiden: “...then explain why you want to help me, personally.”
Takuma: “You don’t exactly have a sparring partner, do you?”
{He jerks his head towards Tenya, mainly pointing out the crutch.}
Raiden (sighing): “I guess not.”
Takuma: “Let me work with you then.”
Raiden (puzzled): “Why though?”
Tenya: “It’d be a wise move to take, Raiden. I don’t know if I’ll really be able to function the same once I’m off this crutch and unless you want to be stuck with Saburo…”
Raiden (shaking his head): “Whatever. I’ll take the offer.”
{Takuma stands from his seat, bowing before Raiden.}
Takuma: “I appreciate it.”
Raiden: “Don’t mention it. Like seriously, don’t. The last thing they need to hear is a wolf dancing with the infamous ‘Big Tiger’ in Osaka.”
Tenya: “Well, with that squared away, I’ll start ordering new equipment in order to replace what was destroyed.”
Raiden: “How are you going to explain that one?”
Tenya: “Hooligans. Now go, I’m expecting you two to start working together two days from now. You’re gonna need at least a full rest day before you even think about trying to fight Big Tiger again, Raiden.”
Raiden: “Yeah, yeah…”
{Standing up from his seat, he strides out of the office, slamming the door behind him with a shake of his head as he heads out.}
Raiden: “I swear if he tries anything…”
{With a scowl, he exits the establishment but not before giving the interior one last look over, assessing the carnage he had spread across the interior. Shrugging, Raiden continues on his way, bound for home. Despite becoming friends with a tiger, the question as to whether or not the animals could co-exist still remained in the balance.}
{Fade to black.}
Location: Osaka, Japan
{Defeat. The only thing that rested upon Raiden’s mind was that one word that could rock a whole crowd upon seeing it happen to their favorite wrestler but for him, it was a different tale. Defeat wasn’t an option he could take in his predicament as it spelled certain doom for those around him, and despite having encased himself within the shadowy darkness, he couldn’t escape the hound that was sniffing him out. Over the past few days, he had holed up in the currently closed gym that Tenya had ownership of, aimlessly punching and kicking the bags that were in scattered across the floor, tearing the leather off some of them in the process as he continued to beat them down with aid from the bat he carried around with him. It wasn’t just a tool meant for decompressing but also for the opportunity that an Akagawa yakuza showed up at any given point. The thought had been resting in the back of his mind ever since he returned home to Osaka but at the current moment, he didn’t care. He was more frustrated with the fact that X*Crown had slipped through his fingers just when he thought he had a firm grasp on it but alas, victory had eluded him in Ireland.}
{In the wake of the night, his relentless assault on the punching bags persisted, the bat driving out whatever material laid inside the equipment with some of the fillings even getting torn up even more as Raiden kicked out at the bits and pieces. Soon enough, he chucked the bat in the darkness with a loud clattering noise before rolling into the wall and stopping. The punching continued with each hit being accompanied by a frustrated grunt before he hauled the bag up onto his shoulder before slamming it back down into the ground with as much strength as he could muster. With a vengeful yell, he leaps and stomps down of the bag, the contents seemingly ready to explode at any given moment but alas they don’t budge. Unbeknownst to Raiden, most likely through his blind rage, the door to the gym opens up, footsteps accompanying the beings. Within a minute, the lights suddenly flash on, causing Raiden to whip around in a full one-eighty as he stares down the intruder. To his surprise, it’s Tenya, greatly bruised and now sporting a crutch under his left arm. Looking around, the former Yakuza shakes his head at the carnage, shakily making his way over to Raiden.}
Tenya: “I see you’ve been busy.”
Raiden: “.....”
Tenya: “You didn’t damage my office, did you?”
Raiden: “...No.”
Tenya: “Good. Otherwise, I would’ve beaten you with this crutch.”
{Silence quickly fell over the establishment once more as Tenya continued to draw closer to Raiden. There was a mixed look of anger and confusion donned on Raiden’s face whilst he struggled to comprehend the situation.}
Raiden: “How the hell are you alive? I thought you would’ve been tortured to death by now.”
Tenya: “Well, when someone reveals their true self, it's hard to turn down what they have to offer.”
Raiden: “True self?”
Voice: “He means me.”
{The two turn their attention in the direction of the booming voice. Standing at the entrance, hands tucked into his pockets, is Takuma. Despite the difference in muscle mass, Takuma seems a bit taller than the other two. Slowly, he starts his trek into the building, looking around at the now demolished equipment.}
Raiden (under his breath): “How…”
Tenya (chuckling): “There’s a lot to explain, I know. Come on, let’s chat in the office.”
{The one-eyed owner staggers his way over to the other room but Raiden doesn’t budge, his focus solely trained on the man who he still saw as his enemy. His fists tightened, the urge to start throwing punches began to swell up inside but he holds back, using all the willpower he can gather before following Tenya into the office, Takuma coming in a minute later. Steadily, Tenya sits in his office chair, resting the crutch against the edge of the desk while the other two sit across from him.}
Tenya (adjusting): “Right, where to begin…”
Raiden (irate): “Explain why Takuma is here.”
Takuma (nonchalant): “I left.”
Raiden (flabbergasted): “What?!”
Tenya: “Allow us to start from the top…”
Flashback - Six Days Ago
{The floor laid coated in blood as Tenya hung from the ceiling, chained by his wrists. His chest and back had been sliced up significantly with some deep-lying cuts spread across his torso along with multiple black and blue bruises scattered across his chest and face. He struggles to keep his eyes open, the pain in his arms having been rendered numb due to the restricted blood flow as he casually swayed about. Before him, the door slowly creaks open, Takuma stepping into the room with a blank expression before closing the door. Reaching into his suit pocket, he produces a silver key and strides over to Tenya’s restraints. Despite them being a little higher up than his own height, he manages to unlock both cuffs and lets the one-eyed man drop to the floor in a heap. Tenya sputters on the ground, trying to catch his breath but at the same time struggles to move about having been held captive for so long.}
Tenya (coughing): “W...wh...what are...you...doing?”
Takuma (nonchalant): “Doing a favor for someone.”
Tenya: “A favor...to kill me?”
Takuma: “The opposite, and I’m doing it on my own terms.”
{Reaching down, Takuma pulls Tenya up to his side, draping one arm around his shoulder as he adjusts his grip on him.}
Tenya: “Don’t you know what happens when you go against your own Yakuza family?”
Takuma: “I don’t care. In the end, I know what I’m doing and I don’t plan on winding up like the fools that Satoshi has had killed off.”
Tenya (faintly chuckling): “Who knew that the Akagawa Family’s ‘Big Tiger’ had such a soft spot…”
Takuma: “Shush. We need to move quietly otherwise the alarm is going to be raised.”
{With a bit of struggle, the two reach the door, Takuma practically dragging Tenya with him in order to squeeze through with as little noise as possible. Fast forwarding, the shot transitions to night time with the two resting in an alley: Tenya seated against one of the concrete walls while Takuma leans against the one across from the one-eyed man.}
Tenya: “You’re a crazy bastard for this stunt.”
Takuma: “As to be expected of Yakuza. We’re always unpredictable.”
Tenya: “Fair point.”
{A moment of silence blows through the two men.}
Takuma: “Hey, that friend of yours…”
Tenya: “Who?”
Takuma: “The one that was with you when Jin and I found you guys.”
Tenya: “You mean...Raiden?”
Takuma (nodding): “Yeah.”
Tenya: “...you’re not planning on killing him are you?”
Takuma: “If I have no intentions of killing you, then I have no plot to kill him, Tenya.”
{Silence quickly refills the space between the two as a slow-moving car drives by. Soon enough, it disappears, earning a sigh of relief from both men.}
Tenya: “What do you want with him?”
Takuma: “Help. I want to help him.”
Tenya: “What?! Why do you want to defect to the enemy side?”
Takuma: “Reasons.”
Tenya: “I guess I can’t ask much else in this scenario…”
Takuma: “He’s losing hope, Tenya. You heard from some of the men about what happened on Sunday. He failed to capture the X*Crown and now they’re planning to headhunt everyone around him...including you.”
Tenya (confused): “Then why help?”
Takuma: “He got rid of Jin for me. Believe it or not, he left him in a coma with a bat to the head. Doctors have said that he’s stable but are unsure of when he’ll wake up.”
{Tenya’s jaw drops at the revelation.}
Tenya: “I don’t understand…”
Takuma: “Neither did I but I think it’s because he has another personal battle to deal with. He said he blames himself for the deaths of Jotaro and the others and that it will be his fault once the others get killed.”
Tenya: “Raiden…”
Takuma: “He needs help. You know that for a fact.”
Tenya (solemnly nodding): “He does...but we need to get the others to safety first. Send them out of the city, no, the province.”
Takuma: “I have relatives who still live in Koga. They can watch over them.”
Tenya: “But wouldn’t Satoshi just track them down through you?”
Takuma (smirking): “He can’t if I’m not around.”
{Tenya gently nods his head in acknowledgment and satisfaction.}
Tenya: “Right then, let’s move while we can. If we’re going to get them out though, we need to speak to Kohei.”
Takuma: “Not a problem.”
{Pushing off the wall, Takuma walks over and helps Tenya back up to his feet again. Slowly, the duo makes its way to the far end, with Tenya using the wall beside him for added guidance and assistance in staying on his feet. Eventually, they reach the end of the alley and steadily make their way around the corner, disappearing from the line of sight.}
Back In The Present
Raiden (processing): “So…”
Tenya: “That’s really the main thing to share, Raiden.”
Raiden: “What’s the status on the others then?”
Takuma: “They’re safe with my relatives. Kohei managed to sneak them out in the days that followed me freeing Tenya.”
Raiden: “All of them? Reina, Gempachi-”
Tenya: “They’re safe and in good health. From what Kohei passed onto me, Gempachi phoned him saying they’ve been doing their best to lay low but Toru is making it difficult sometimes.”
Raiden (shaking his head): “No surprise there.”
{Turning from Tenya, he directs his attention over to Takuma, discontent still resting in his eyes.}
Raiden: “There’s still something about you that I don’t trust.”
Takuma: “That being…?”
Raiden: “You defected so easily from the Yakuza despite knowing what backlash you might face if you’re caught. Our friends did exactly the same thing and wound up dead and for all I know that could happen to you followed by the rest of us being murdered right after. How do I know that this isn’t some sort of trap?”
Tenya (interjecting): “I can vouch for him.”
Takuma (brushing it off): “No, this is between us.”
{He turns to Raiden with a blank look.}
Takuma: “It’s needless to say I’ve effectively become a ronin after what I’ve pulled. Doing what I did would effectively kick me out of the Akagawa Family but I couldn’t care less. Jin may have been a higher power compared to me but he wasn’t worth shit in the hierarchy so if he dies, no big loss for them and no big loss for me because you did do me a favor by cleaning his clock. If anything, that was probably the biggest reality check I ever got in terms of someone willing to sacrifice their life for the dark evils that rule the streets at night. I was one but I no longer want to be one so therefore I’m choosing to be a ronin Yakuza. I don’t care what comes my way because I know I’ll just send those fuckers running with their tails between their legs if they tried to come at me full force.”
Raiden: “...then explain why you want to help me, personally.”
Takuma: “You don’t exactly have a sparring partner, do you?”
{He jerks his head towards Tenya, mainly pointing out the crutch.}
Raiden (sighing): “I guess not.”
Takuma: “Let me work with you then.”
Raiden (puzzled): “Why though?”
Tenya: “It’d be a wise move to take, Raiden. I don’t know if I’ll really be able to function the same once I’m off this crutch and unless you want to be stuck with Saburo…”
Raiden (shaking his head): “Whatever. I’ll take the offer.”
{Takuma stands from his seat, bowing before Raiden.}
Takuma: “I appreciate it.”
Raiden: “Don’t mention it. Like seriously, don’t. The last thing they need to hear is a wolf dancing with the infamous ‘Big Tiger’ in Osaka.”
Tenya: “Well, with that squared away, I’ll start ordering new equipment in order to replace what was destroyed.”
Raiden: “How are you going to explain that one?”
Tenya: “Hooligans. Now go, I’m expecting you two to start working together two days from now. You’re gonna need at least a full rest day before you even think about trying to fight Big Tiger again, Raiden.”
Raiden: “Yeah, yeah…”
{Standing up from his seat, he strides out of the office, slamming the door behind him with a shake of his head as he heads out.}
Raiden: “I swear if he tries anything…”
{With a scowl, he exits the establishment but not before giving the interior one last look over, assessing the carnage he had spread across the interior. Shrugging, Raiden continues on his way, bound for home. Despite becoming friends with a tiger, the question as to whether or not the animals could co-exist still remained in the balance.}
{Fade to black.}
