Step Right Up!

Akashi was feeling good. She needed to get back in the ring and she had a pretty good idea on what she should do for it. She was eager to some real, traditional wrestling after enjoying a bit of rough hentai for a while. So when her music started up, the crowd was roaring even before she made her entrance. They were already deafening even from backstage, but as she appeared in a flash of light an pyrotechnics, they seemed to reach even new levels of invigorated cheering.

Akashi looked at the crowd with a big, bright grin on her face and raised her fists in the air. "NIIIIPOOOOOOOOON!" The arena nearly began to rumble as thousands of voices echoed in unison. Akashi quickly ran down the ramp and slid into the ring. She hopped up and looked around before she was passed a microphone.

"I've had a lot on my mind lately, but I won't bore you with the details. I'll just make this nice and simple." She said. "I want a fight and I want it now and I don't care who comes down that ramp, I'll take them on and I'll kick their ass!"

She motioned to the entrance way and grinned. She didn't care if Akashi himself rose from the grave to fight her, she was going to take on anyone and everyone!

"Flashing Lights" by Kanye West began to suddenly play throughout the arena as the crowd leaped to their feet to boo the Champion that made her way onto the entrance stage.



Clad in her wrestling attire and the Friction World Title hanging over her shoulder, lifting it over her head as she stared at Akashi before she put it back down on her shoulder and grabbed a mic.

"A fight you say? Against who? Another no name jobber? A shameless slut? A roided up freak? A washed up mouthy punk that you couldn't even beat!? We've seen it before, Tanikaze... The only thing you haven't conquered... Is a real American Hero... Someone who's been around the block and you haven't had the guts to face one on one... Kelly Conway... Your AFW Friction Champion." Kelly said into her mic as she smiled at Akashi before patting the gold on her shoulder in front of the former champion.

While the crowd booed, Akashi began bouncing back and forth on her feet. A big grin spread over her face. She seemed to be the only one in the arena who was actually happy to see Kelly Conway. She was anxious, even as Kelly spoke. She didn't want to believe that the blonde was as stupid as she sounded, but she definitely took the bait.

"Oh? You're right, we've never faced off one on one. I recall the last time we met, you took a title from me. How about I return the favor?" She nodded at Kelly. "I miss the feeling of having that slung over my shoulder. I promise I'll make it quick, even though you deserve so much more."

She backed up and held out her hands, begging Kelly to step into the ring with her. "I know everyone hear definitely wants to see that." The crowd didn't need the prompt to get loud and the quickly began cheering Akashi's name.

'A-Ka-Shi!! A-Ka-Shi!'

Kelly remained composed atop the entrance stage as Akashi spoke, the crowd getting anxious, roaring when the sumo beckoned the champion to enter the ring, eager to see the two stars finally have a match of their own. Kelly looked around at the cheering crowd around them and took a silent step down the ramp.

"That's right... It's a match that everyone wants! For the first time ever, Akashi Tanikaze, versus Kelly Conway for the Friction world title!" Kelly yelled into mic as she raised the title above her head... Before letting it drop back onto her shoulder.

"...Is NOT happening tonight."

Akashi inhaled along with the crowd as Kelly spoke. She was sure it was too good to be true, but she let Kelly sucker her in. When Kelly finished, Akashi visibly drooped.

"Ooh, wow, didn't see that coming..." Akashi huffed. She then straightened up and held out her hand. "Your World Champion, ladies and gentlemen!" The crowd booed. Akashi shook her head.

"Well, unlike your champion, I'm not here to waste your time. How about someone who actually wants to fight come out? I'll show everyone why Conway-san isn't interested in fighting me!"

Akashi tossed her microphone and crossed her arms under her chest.

Kelly angrily brought the mic back to her lips. "YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH, TANIKAZE!" She spat.

"Fresh from my win off that has-been, Parker. I tried to give opportunity to a new contender and celebrate my title win, only for it all to get interrupted by Parker and Tessla! People seem to forget, that as long as I have THIS! I call the shots! Friction is MY show! An American Show! It's already an insult for me to have to FIGHT people that I've already beaten before! AND YOU ARE AMONG THEM! You're beneath me! Japan is beneath me!" Kelly growled into the mic in front of booing public.

"I'll do something I find far more important... As soon as someone comes down here to show you that your prime has long since passed..."

Though this hadn't been planned, it seemed to be to Haruna's great fortune that such an opportunity had suddenly arisen, and just as she happened to be nearby 'gathering information' about some other fighters. It was already tempting enough to face off against a big shot like Akashi without having to work her way slowly up the ladder, but now that the AFW champion was present as well... This was a damn near perfect for Haruna to take a shortcut to the top where she deserved.

As her speedy shamisen music started to play, Haruna appeared at the top of the ramp, wearing a red tank top and black shorts. With a suitably diva-like flourish of her long, violet hair, she pulled the microphone up looking first towards Kelly Conway. "Well Miss World Champion... she spoke with a veiled malice in her voice, "If it's a new face and a challenge you want, I would be more than happy to provide that. Japan is a bigger country than you think." She began to strut her way down the ramp to where Kelly stood, looking her face-to-face with a venomous smile. "Of course, you don't have to take my word for it... I'll prove it to you and everyone else first by taking care of that old cow in the ring.

Haruna had only faced off against small fry so far in the AFW. Going straight for the top right now would only place doubts about her. When the time finally came for her to take the crown, she wanted there to be no question of her superiority. Akashi Tanikaze here would serve as that first pebble on that path.

Akashi certainly had no clue who Haruna was as she strolled down the ramp, but anyone who had the balls to come down and stand in front of Akashi certainly earned the girl a modicum of respect in the eyes of the big sumo.

However, the words that came out of the girl's mouth left quite the bad taste. Akashi furrowed her brow and finally gave Haruna a looking over. She stood about the same height but looked half the size.

Akashi took a step forward towards the ropes and leaned out. "Very well." She said. "Tell me, what is the name of the disrespectful whelp who wants to step into my ring?" She said, tilting her head as her eyes settled on Haruna. She expected the baiting from Kelly, but Haruna seemed of the same stock as Akashi. A native unlike the many gaijin who were in the league. There was a part of her that was disappointed in the disrespect that she seemed to show to her fellow countrywoman and elder. Worse yet, she showed a faint bit of reverence to Kelly, even if it seemed to have a only the pretense of it.

Kelly's eyes would widen as she joined on stage by someone she didn't recognize. Instinctively, she backed up and hugged the World Title that rested upon her shoulder. Another one of the Higurashi Dojo Body Shields no doubt. But it turned out that Kelly was thankfully wrong. She saw this woman speak to her about a challenge before declaring that she would take care of the wily Veteran.

Kelly smiled devilishly at Haruna.

"Go on! Fight Tanikaze! Win and I promise to take your career to great heights with whatever you desire!" Kelly barked eagerly into the ear of the purple haired woman as she pointed at Akashi, like she was trying to sick the newcomer onto the sumo.

"Crush this has been! Show me how a real Japanese Wrestler fights!"

"Oh don't worry, I'll win..." Haruna replied with a thinly veiled malice, a bit irritated that the American acted a little too friendly with her, though still maintaining her composure. Conway's time would come soon enough, but first, Akashi would have to be put down. Briskly strutting past the champion and down towards the ring, Haruna very agilely sprung herself up onto the canvas. Still holding her microphone, she stepped through the ropes and approached the fellow Japanese woman in the ring.

"My name is Haruna Saitou. A name I'm sure everyone will remember soon enough." She answered arrogantly, stopping right in front of Akashi. Even at her rather distinct size disadvantage, her cold and menacing aura appeared to give her a much larger presence that would seem. "And I will show you exactly why."