Identity Crisis

Another loss.

Since her return, Shiki had not only suffered a defeat at the hands of some forgettable rookie, but, even worse, she had racked up yet another loss to her nemesis--Yasha Love.

Well, maybe two matches didn't necessarily justify the use of the term "nemesis" when it came to wrestling, but whatever!

The eccentric, masked, heroine had once again overcome the punkette and had subjugated her to a particularly humiliating defeat. It had been less than a week, but the battle had gone viral and spread across every kind of entertainment outlet in some shape or form. More specifically, the climatic end of the fight when the rockstar was conquered by Yasha Love depraved submission hold.

"Humped" into submission, Shiki scoffed aloud at the thought as she transverse the halls of the AFW. Of course, she hadn't actually been humped into submission, but the Demon of Love had made the whole ordeal seem entirely convincing--even Shiki had to admit, much to her chagrin, upon reviewing the footage. Of course, the punkette's retaliation during the aftermath hadn't gone completely ignored neither, but it was obvious the scandalous sight of of the famous rockstar debasing herself with an attractive, if completely delusional, superhero was considerably more appealing to the ignorant masses.

Shiki made her best efforts to soothe her own ego, but self-control was hardly something the rebellious youth excelled at.

Yasha Love will get what's coming to her. All of these idiots will! Unfortunately, she wasn't entirely sure how she'd get her revenge. In truth, Shiki's wheels had long been furiously spinning with absolutely no traction; nothing seemed to be working out quite the way she planned these days. However, she at least knew where to start. Shiki rounded the corner and stepped within Hilde's office--the door was already open. "Hilde!"

Notably, there was no response and with good reason; the office was apparently empty and the timid personal assistant was nowhere to be found. Shiki studied the room briefly before an aggravated sigh left the raven-haired girl's lips. Well, she sure in the hell hadn't come all this way to be denied her satisfaction now. With a shrug, she eased over to Hilde's desk with her usual cocky swagger and inconsiderately settled down into Hilde's office chair. Shiki's many-buckled boots swung up to rest atop the nearby desk with a resounding thud. Intent on making herself comfortable while she wait, Shiki craned her head and loungingly cupped her cheek with one hand.

... That was until something peculiar caught her eye. The magazine was tucked haphazardly under a stack of documents--as if temporarily stashed away. Shiki's green eyes narrowed inquisitively. Unable to resist, she pulled the object free before a startled laugh escaped her lips. The eye-catching cover of the magazine sported an alluring and scantily clad image of none other then Shiki herself. A mischievous smile quickly touched the rockstar's visage before she idly began to flip through the pages of her intriguing find.

Hilde was just on her way back to her office after a small break. She had a fresh cup of coffee in her hand and was humming pleasantly to herself. Even though the match between Yasha Love and Shiki had been a few days ago, Hilde still sported a deep black eye from when Shiki clobbered her. Luckily, she was very good at using make up to hide it. It still looked bad, but it looked more like a bruise under her glasses than it did the nasty black eye that it actually was.

Still, Hilde had watched the replay of that match a billion times. She had practically swooned over it. More than she really should have. The way that her and Shiki danced in the ring was something that Hilde just couldn't understand. It gave her such strange feelings and she really tried to explore them. She had felt light on her feet ever since, even though her body had ached afterward. She almost couldn't wait until the next time they met.

She was in the middle of taking a sip of coffee as she came into the door of her office. Her eyes widened as she saw Shiki. It wasn't really that Shiki was there. She probably had good reason to be. It wasn't even that Shiki was lounging on her desk like she owned it. Hilde knew the woman to be very boorish but Hilde had no trouble dealing with those sorts of people. What did it was the girl was flipping through a magazine that had herself on the cover. Hilde knew it was her magazine and instantly her cheeks flushed as she tried not to spit her coffee out.

She cleared her office in a few, long strides and yanked the magazine from Shiki's hand, setting her coffee down, opening a file cabinet and tossing the magazine roughly into it with hurried motions, all while smiling courteously at the punkette.

"Ms. Shiki, to what I owe the pleasure?" She said, looking down at Shiki from her position, smiling ever so brightly at Shiki as she tried to turn her complete embarrassment into gracious accommodation though she was genuinely happy to see the girl even though she was certain Shiki could hear her heart beating at a million miles an hour.

When the magazine was snatched from her grasp--and hastily shoved out of view--Shiki couldn't help but raise a single, teasing, eyebrow. "That's some interesting reading material you've got there," she didn't miss a beat with her sly remark. A smug, if attractive, smirk slowly crept across the punkette's glossed lips.

It was brief, but it was hard to mistake the reappraising look that Shiki set on Hilde in that moment; as if seeing the woman in a new, revealing, light. Oddly enough, Shiki found herself still capable of being flattered at times despite her colorful ego. Admittedly, it was a rare occurrence and something the jaded youth easily buried behind her heavily refined, nonchalant, facade. Regardless, the entirety of Hilde's flustered gesture had tickled the punkette in a surprisingly delightful way.

The moment was short-lived, unfortunately, as Hilde reminded the punkette of the business at hand. Shiki's demeanor soured harshly, "Gee, why do you think I'm here?" She practically snapped the sarcastic, undeserving, remark at the poor blonde and, to her credit, immediately regret it. Her features softened and she adverted her eyes from Hilde with a soft and clearly frustrated sigh.

Unless the timid blonde truly did live under a rock, Shiki found it hard to believe that Hilde hadn't caught a glimpse of the seemingly endless amount of footage of Shiki's latest and most humiliating loss.

... Of course, in reality, Shiki wasn't even slightly aware of the truly ironic scope of those precise sentiments.

Hilde gasped at Shiki's words. Her mouth opened and her eyes doed into an almost offended look at Shiki's words. Trying to fight off a blush, the blonde shook her head just to give her a moment to think. "I-I subscribe!" She said. In reality, if Shiki had questioned her in that moment, she wouldn't even have been able to remember the NAME of that magazine. Needless to say, despite the harshness of Shiki's reaction, Hilde was thankful for the subject change, even if it lead to, perhaps, more dangerous waters.

"I-I just assumed that you were hear on business, Ms. Shiki." She said letting her genuine thoughts on the matter mingle with an almost hurt notion that Shiki could have come just to socialize and then chose not to.

"I-I'm sorry that your comeback didn't go the way you planned." She said bowing deeply. "Y-you almost had Ms. Love though. The performance was certainly nothing to be ashamed of." In the very, very strict definition of the fighting sense. As a match, Shiki put up a hell of a fight. However, there was definitely plenty for Shiki to be ashamed of, taking away just the spirit of competition.

"I'm certain that she's still feeling the effects of your ..." Hilde searched for a word to describe Shiki's skills but as her mouth slowly opened, the wrong word leaked out. "... passion in the ring."

"Oh! I... I mean, your skill and determination!" She said, covering her mouth.

Shiki's eyes shot back on the blonde, "Passion!? I-It wasn't anything even like that! Don't be stupid! It was her fault, she--..."

Despite Hilde's attempt to tactfully reword her praise, it seemed she had inadvertently turned the tables on the punkette in one fell swoop. Shiki's cheeks flushed deeply, easily betraying the fierce denial in her words. The punkette bristled uncomfortably, clearly looking for the proper explanation to put Hilde's words and her own doubts to rest. Instead, a sigh left the young girls lips, "... Ugh, I don't even know."

The rest of Hilde's words hadn't completely fallen on deaf ears. Deep down, Shiki knew it had been a thrilling fight. In truth, the match as a whole had hardly portrayed Shiki in a completely negative light. Her rematch with Yasha Love had been a resounding success from an entertainment perspective. Even if Shiki had lost both matches against the Demon of Love, the rivalry between them was very much becoming a widely anticipated reality.

Unfortunately, none of that changed the fact that she had been suggestively dominated during the spectacular climax of the match. Nor did it change the fact that the match had been full of personal and conflicting revelations. Given the outcome of the battle, Shiki bitterly resented herself for every last one of them.

Her boots came to slump down from their perch along the desk. The punkette rose listlessly from her seat before demurely offering to return the chair to its rightful owner--it was an uncharacteristic display from the typically haughty youth. Meandering her way to the chair on the other side of Hilde's desk, Shiki soon slumped and sagged into the seat almost childishly. She complimented the exaggerated gesture with a pout that was entirely cuter than it had any right of being.

"I need a rematch, Hilde. I have to beat her..."

"Uhhh....."

Hilde stumbled as Shiki focused on her one embarrassing choice of words. Her blushed matched the pale skin punkette and she fidgeted nervously. She was glad that Shiki let it drop and surprised when the girl even gave her her seat back. Hilde took it and slipped into her comfortable office chair and smiled softly, nodding at Shiki until her next words made her frown visibly.

"Ms. Shiki..." She said, turning her head. "I... I don't advise fighting Ms. Love so soon after your match! You're clearly worked up over it but if I drew up that contract, then wouldn't you be playing into her hands? She knows how to bend your emotions to her whim. I don't want to see you conquered for a third time. Who knows how far she might go if she wins once more!"

Hilde blushed, thinking of all the things she might do to Shiki if she won. It was hard for her to hold herself back right now, though she remained quite professional, Hilde couldn't deny her infatuation with Shiki. She was almost embarrassed by how school girlish it was. She couldn't say for sure that as Yasha Love, she would hold back if she beat Shiki again. She might just strip the girl right in the middle of the ring and ravage her passionately. Hilde was already starting to feel it and tugged at her shirt collar and crossed her legs under her desk.

"Ms. Shiki, I am only looking out for you! If you take some time to get your head straight and have a few more matches, then you can be victorious on your own terms! Wouldn't that be much more satisfying for you?" She asked, leaning forward, not realizing that tugging on her collar had revealed the faintest hint of her buxom chest. She was dressed for business but Lukretia always made sure that skin was shown on Hilde. She knew how reserved her sister was and knew how to get away with sexy AND business on the blonde.

The conceited punkette felt her frustration begin to well up inside of her. She had not come to Hilde expecting to be persuaded out of her vengeance. Before she even knew it, the temperamental youth found herself lashing out at the blonde with open contempt.

"You think I'm afraid of her, don't you?" Shiki sneered and sat up sharply, "Well, you're wrong! I won't lose! I'll destroy her, it won't be like--... like last time..."

For a moment, the punkette was reliving her recent battle with Yasha Love. Shiki had came at the Demon of Love with everything she had, but where exactly had it gotten her in the end? All of her thoughts from that night led her to the same place; the moment she lay sprawled along the mat, utterly crushed, as Yasha Love forced her into submission. Hilde's words suddenly echoed in the back of Shiki's mind with a undeniable ring of truth.

She's right. What the hell would she even do if she beat me again? Shiki nibbled at her bottom lip softly and fought the urge to allow her imagination to run rampant. Regardless, the thought gave her a strange mixture of emotions--none of which she was actually prepared to deal with at the moment.

Her hostility inevitably faded away and, after a brief pause, Shiki spoke once more, "She's all I've been thinking about since the fight. I can't get her out my head," she gave her confession abruptly and ruefully. However, a sheepish expression quickly flashed across her pretty face, "I-I don't mean it like that though! I-I'm just trying to say you're right..."

Slouching once more, Shiki buried her face into the palm of her hands and huffed an exasperated sigh, "God, I sound like a fucking idiot... Sorry."

"What? No! Of course not!"

Hilde shook her head and held out her hands in front of her as Shiki accused her of being afraid. Hilde wished Shiki wouldn't twist her words like that! She fretted and fumbled for words to say to try and defend her words without giving herself away.

Thankfully Shiki changed the subject. Unfortunately, she changed it in a different way. Hilde's heart beat quickly at Shiki's confession. It was like Shiki was saying she only thought about Hilde. What was it like to be thought of like that?

"R-Really!?"

Hilde's voice cracked and she covered her mouth and blushed furiously.

"Nonono, I completely understand! I .. I certainly didn't think you meant it like that!" She protested, blushing even more.

Hilde stood up and slipped around her desk. She walked behind Shiki and set her hands on the girl's shoulders. "Ms. Shiki..." She said. "I know you just want to win." She said in a kind tone. "I know I'm supposed to remain neutral but... I do admire your spirit. I want to see you shine brightly." She said. "That's part of my duties but it's also a personal desire. I hope that you can understand."

Hilde's hands began to softly massage Shiki's shoulders. "I know I'm just some boring old desk jockey, but I always try to be as sincere as possible. Is it wrong for me to look out for you? I'll... stop if it is."

As hard as it was to believe, the rebellious youth found herself admiring Hilde's attempts at consoling her. Admittedly, it was also a little awkward. Her abrasive and independent nature made moments like these elusive and not necessarily welcomed. In her vulnerable state, the words of encouragement managed to punch through the raven-haired girl's fiercely guarded emotions. Shiki couldn't help but feel a soothing sense of appreciation for her newly, self-confessed, fan.

"You're alright, Hilde. I knew I liked you for a reason," the punkette offered the concession approvingly, "And, besides, you have fabulous taste, I could hardly hold that against you." She tilted her head back and flashed Hilde with a roguish smile to go along with the self-indulgent compliment. Obviously, the blonde's words had returned some of rockstar's fathomless pomp; for better or worse.

As Hilde's hands went to work on her shoulders, Shiki made no indication to dissuade the girl's efforts. In fact, she did quite the opposite; the punkette eased willing into the pleasing touch and became visibly relaxed. As usual, Shiki was adorned in full, punk, regalia; a white tank top covered her breast, heavily stylized with black and pink designs that gave the impression they had been messily spray painted across the fabric. The collar of the garment was deliberately widened and meant to expose and cling precariously from the shoulders. The thin, black, straps of her bra would be the only minor thing between Hilde's massaging hands and the soft, naked, flesh of Shiki's shoulders.

"You really need to stop with this Ms. Shiki crap though. You're going to drive me nuts. Just call me by my name, 'kay?" Despite the the blunt remark, the punkette murmured pleasantly.

Hilde's fingers pushed earnestly into Shiki's shoulders as the young punkette complimented her in her own way. Hilde smiled warmly and wanted to go further with the massage as her hands continued to brush over the bra strap. Would it be a big deal if she pushed them aside just so she could give a better massage?

She couldn't help but admire the girl's petite frame. As bodies went, Shiki didn't have much. She was practically a rake. Especially compared to Hilde who was a large, full bodied woman. She was tall, buxom and statuesque. In her home country of Germany, she was almost the quintessential German Frau. Something that had not gone unnoticed by her own sister who, while beautiful, was short and lacked the classic German flaxoned hair

Still, Hilde found herself being drawn to Shiki's physical beauty along with her complicated and childish personality. The small, budding breasts were perky and just enough to cup in a hand. Her hair was straight and stringy but also silky and well taken care of. Her hips and butt were flat, but Shiki knew how to maximize what little curve was there. She had taken some coal and turned it into diamonds. At least, in Hilde's eyes.

Hilde was busy day dreaming when Shiki told her to knock off her politeness. "Oh... oh! Umm... OK, Ch-Chastity." She said, stumbling over the girl's real name.

At that moment, the office door behind Hilde's desk opened up and out stepped Lukretia Von Creuzfeldt, Friction General Manager. At first, she hadn't noticed the scene, though she HAD heard the noise outside of her office.

"Frau Von Creuzfeldt," she began, continuing in German, <I have the reports for you to->

She paused in mid sentence and looked over the scene. She raised her eyebrow and then furrowed it instantly. "I vould hope you of all people vould understand zis is not a place for you to try und zuhälter yourself."

Hilde's hands slipped off Shiki's hands and crossed them under her chest as she lowered her head. Even though Lukretia's own office was quite the den of iniquity. "Jawhol, Mätress." She said quietly.