Sakoku

The crowd was murmuring as they waited for what they thought was the next match. However, when the lights dimmed and the crowd was shrouded in black, they began to flash their phones and flick their lighters. The soft chattering grew louder as the silence remained and only shadow washed over the ring.

After nearly a full minute of silence, the [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29FFHC2D12Q:3af5382h]Japanese national anthem[/url:3af5382h] began to play though the lights did not turn on.

once the last note had finished, the lights flashed on and in the ring was a figure that needed no introduction. She was clad in a stunning red leopard print mawashi and red sports bra with a stylized shide on her left breast. On her right arm was an arm band with the Japanese emblem on it. Her arms were raised above her and she was squat. She had a bright grin on her face and the crowd exploded with cheers.

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Resting in the corner on a holder was the Japanese flag and Akashi rushed over and grabbed it. She waved it high in the air after stepping onto the turn buckle. "NIPPOOOOOOOOOOON!" She screamed at the top of her lungs. The roaring crowd cheered back. After basking in the applause, she holstered the flag and grabbed a microphone, walking to the center of the ring.

"As much as I love green, I feel like this suits me much better." She said and bowed deeply. "She then smiled and looked over the sea of people. AFW was an international company and dozens of countries were always represented at the shows but there was no mistaking that the vast majority of the crowd were Japanese and many of them came for her. "Now that Summer Splash has come and gone, things are getting back to normal, and Friction World Cup has concluded, please let me say one thing before I begin. Although I did not represent Japan, I believe that Takiyama Miyabi honored all of us greatly with her performance. With my help and her skills, I know she'll represent Japan proudly and could perhaps even succeed me when i finally decide to retire," Akashi paused, "In the far, far future, of course. I'm just getting started here!" The crowd cheered.

"But let us speak of honor and of the Friction World Cup." Akashi looked down. "Thinking about it now makes me long for a wakazashi so that I may show everyone here how deeply red my blood runs. We were not only beaten by the yankees but we were humiliated! A growing trend, I am starting to think." Akashi paused. "Now, don't get me wrong, I have no personal grudge against the gaijin. My imouto, who I consider to have the strongest bond with is American. This is not directed at her. No, this is directed inwardly. The shame is ours for not stepping up! The yankee took advantage of a perceived weakness as is their nature!"

Akashi was starting to pace.

"Our polite ways and humble attitude is taken as THAT! And that is WRONG! If the rest of my countrywomen will not stand up for the sake of their pride, the thing that matters most to us, then I will carry the responsibility alone!" Akashi lifted and stomped her foot down, making the ring shake. "I am Tanikaze Akashi! I am one half of Kamikaze, the divine wind! Taylor-san is the wind, the air, the style and the manner. So what am I? I am the righteous fury! And I will show everyone what the Khans bore witness to!"

Akashi was pumped and threw her fist int he air to the roar of the crowd. "Anyone who wishes to dispute that, show yourself! I am going to show any yankee out there that their World Cup win was a matter of quantity, statistics. I will beat FIFTY of your girls! One for each of your states one for each of the stars on your flag. One rising sun against fifty setting stars! if there are even that many who would dare to face me!" Akashi smugly puffed out her chest. "I'm ready to show you what happens when Japan gets serious."

Valley wasn't sure what the crowd was expecting next, but she seriously doubted it was Journey.

Her new [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LatorN4P9aA:335lke6w]music[/url:335lke6w] started up, a tune she'd chosen after Summer Splash. Valley had been considering a change up, anyway, and after she and Ace 'broke up', it was only fitting that she do it now, get away from the Van Halen they both loved. This was the perfect song for it, a way to remind her what she was missing, maybe speed up the time it would take before she realized her mistakes and came back. On top of that, Journey was awesome and this was a good song.

The second she came out with a microphone in hand, Valley was met with an invisible wall of boos, slamming right into it. She wasn't even entirely sure what the heat was for, but she did expect it, for two reasons. It was for what happened at Summer Splash, where she went a bit overboard in the tag match and had a heel moment she'd probably regret for the rest of her life, or it was just for the fact that the only way she could have been more stereotypical American was if she came out wrapped in a flag. Beach-blond hair, subtly tanned skin, blue eyes, wearing her denim blue jeans and rocking a Back in Black AC/DC hoodie. When they thought 'obnoxious American', it was probably something like her that popped into their heads.

Well, she'd own up to the former reason, but if it was the latter reason than they'd just have to learn to deal with it. Valley wasn't going anywhere and neither was her country.

She brought the microphone up to her face, opened her mouth to speak, but stopped when the boos started to reach a crescendo. She shook her head. "Get it out of your system. I'll wait." She rolled her hand around while they went through it, took them a good thirty seconds, and while she certainly didn't like being on the receiving end of this kind of attention, she was reasonably sure she would pull out eventually. Just not today. Probably not for a month or two after this.

"Are you good?" She blinked, looking out to the audience as the taunting started to ebb, dying down to a low rumble. "Okay. Now. You." She looked to Akashi right on for the first time and sized her up. "First, let me say this. I've been wrestling for a good, long while, Akashi. I know who you are, and I know what you're capable of. You probably never even heard of it, but I used to wrestle with a little outfit called the Slamazons, back in California. It's gone now, but when it was on, me and the other girls would watch AFW matches after our own shows. We saw lots of good talent, here - you, Parker, Angel, Gatt, Kytes, I don't have to go through the list. But you." She stopped pacing and pointed Akashi's way. "You always stood out, Akashi. Your skill, your strength, your dedication were always a shining example of the best this business could offer. So before I say anything else, let me say that. It really is an honor."

Valley gave a slow clap and leaned forward with a slight smile, as she started to make her way down to the ring. "Now. With that being said. What is all this nonsense?" She tossed her hair back as the boos started up once again, but she kept on right through them. "You say you're the righteous fury of Kamaikaze? That might be true, but I think that's not the whole story. Because from where I'm standing?" She stopped in front of the ring and looked up, brows furrowing at the sumo. "Right now, it looks like you're full of wind. Hot air, to be specific."

She slid on in the ring and made her way over to Akashi's side, putting their profiles together. They were about the same height, but even a blind man could tell who had the weight advantage - he'd be able to hear the different sounds they made with each footfall. Akashi was a little hulk, and her bulk belied the sort of power that made her more than a match for even a giantess like Rebecca Tomko, enough power to deal with Chris Morgan or Death Bunny or any power wrestler you could care to name in the company. Tension included.

But Valley never let size dictate her opponents before, and she wasn't about to start. "You bring up the Khans. You want to talk about history? I'm not an expert, but I passed the class, and you and I both know that 'attacking perceived weaknesses' isn't exactly something that this island is a stranger to, either. I really don't think you want to have that discussion, Akashi, but we can go down that road if you want. We can dig up those coffins all day long."

She started to walk around Akashi, circling her like a shark in bloody waters. "But this is a wrestling ring, so let's talk wrestling. You're mad about losing the Cup. You feel it was stolen from you. Fair enough, but what are you complaining about? There are a lot of Americans in the AFW who do a lot of wrestling, what did you expect? It's like complaining that a basketball game goes to whoever scored the most points. Yeah. So? Don't hate the player. Hate the game."

She made her way over to the corner and leaned back against it, propping her elbow up as she sighed, calm confidence on her face. She had missed a step at Summer Splash, but she was going too get her groove back, starting now. "The States aren't perfect, Akashi, but I love my country. I'm a patriot. I will bleed on the flag if that's it takes to keep the stripes red. The sun can rise, sure. But the stars always come back. Always. And one day, long from now, when the sun burns away, guess what? The stars will still be there."

She made the 'rock on' sign with her fingers and held the horns high. "I accept your challenge."

Akashi raised her eyebrow when Valley came down the ring and started to talk. Akashi had said a lot but it seemed like Valley was trying to beat her in word count. The sumo listened attentively though, keeping one crooked eyebrow up and and a neutral face otherwise.

Once valley was finished and she was trying to fire up the foreign contingent, Akashi lowered her head. "Your example is a little off base." Akashi said. "It would be more like complaining if the winning team had more players on the field and half the other team did not show at all." Akashi shook her head. "But I am NOT whining!" Akashi said and swung her hand in front of her.

"What's done is done. All I intend to do is prove that score does not properly reflect the situation. We'll have a match soon enough but you were the first one down here. Is it REALLY because you love your country as much as you say?" Akashi tilted her head. "Or because you're representing your girlfriend's honor? I'll acknowledge any reason but please be truthful with the audience!" Akashi said and waved her hand at the crowd.

Valley closed her eyes and let out a long sigh. Yep. Akashi went there.

She took a moment before considering how to proceed. She didn't like airing her dirty laundry out to the world, but people were going start suspecting things when Valley and Ace stopped accompanying each other to the ring so soon after Summer Splash. It was probably best just to get the truth out and shutdown the rumor mill before it started up.

"I don't see why there has to be an 'or' there. It is possible to do something for two reasons. But to answer your question..." She folded her arms up, the hoodie bunching around her chest. "If I were interested in that sort of thing, I would be the one challenging you. And Iron Maiden. And Taylor Parker. And all the other people who've treated Ace like dirt since she came to this country. You'll note that I haven't done any of that." She gave Akashi a sidelong glance, then stepped back. "I know how these things go, and I didn't want to drag Ace through the drama. She was fine with it, so I let it be. But now, we're on a temporary hiatus." Her voice cracked for a moment, but she brought it back, confident as ever. "So that's not an issue. Now I can give you the kicking you deserve, and this is one more good reason to do it."

She cleared her throat and took a few steps towards Akashi, facing off with her head-on. "So, yes, it has something to do with you and my..." She put the brakes on, stopping the word 'girlfriend' dean in its tracks. "...Ace. But it also does have to with everything I said. Every word. God's honest truth."

Akashi listened. She hadn't known about Ace and Valley's break up. If she had, she wouldn't have brought it up. However, there was something Valley said that made Akashi narrow her eyes.

"Taylor Parker never treated Ace badly."

All she had done was stick up for her sister when her sister was being a total bitch. That was all she was going to say about that though. "Very well." She said after a long pause. "Let's see how well you represent your honor. All of it."

Akashi bowed to Valley and then spun on her heels. She handed the microphone off and grabbed the Japanese flag from the corner and began to wave it high above her.

"NIPOOOOOOOON!"

"That's not the way I heard it." Admittedly, Valley was mostly going off Ace's testimony, but she didn't see much reason to give any of them the benefit of a doubt. Ace was many things, but dishonest wasn't one of them.

She wasn't going to fight the point, though, and she returned the bow. For all the trash talk, she had meant what she said starting out. She didn't like Akashi, but she had to respect her.

Since Valley wasn't in the habit of walking around with the American flag tucked up her shirt, she was left a little uneven when Akashi did her parting shot, leaving her with nothing to wave around. Instead, she just threw up a peace sign. "America! Fuck yeah!"

She got some desperate cheers from a handful of her vacationing countrymen. Not much, but it would do.

Akashi didn't even hear Valley's comment as she hopped up on the turnbuckle to elevate herself higher. She waved the flag with all of her might and basked in the cheers, not stopping until Valley had exited. She'd seen enough of the girl until their match ad was far more interested in rallying her countrymen and engulfing the AFWdome with the loud rumbling of nationalistic fervor.