In The Garden

For the first time since waking from her pre-match nap, Taylor was still. She fixed her fierce blue eyes on Akashi and put a hand on her to ensure that she had her full attention.

<I'm not just going to be a wrestler, onee-san,> she said. <I'm going to change the world.>

Her gaze lingered in silence for a moment, and then she stepped back and her lips curled into a hint of a mischievous smile. "Careful, Kashi. We have stronger stuff here than just sake."

Akashi stared back at Taylor and kept their gaze. She replied and then grinned as well.

"And who said I have only drank sake?! I've been out of Japan, I have tasted the best liquor! I won't back down!"

"Akashi Tanikaze versus the bars of New York, hashtag against all odds!" Taylor chortled, and went to the couch against one wall of the dressing room.

She flumped face first onto it like a fish out of water and sunk into the soft cushions. "Kashi I might take a nap," she said, her voice muffled. "I just don't wanna muss up mah hair." She wriggled her head side to side to let hair dangle down.

"Yosh!"

Akashi pumped her fist and watched Taylor crawl to the couch. She smiled and followed her, leaning over and kissing Taylor's forehead. "I'll wake you up when the matches are starting, Imouto-chan."

She sat down near Taylor and quietly went back to meditating.

The tingly feeling Taylor had had since arriving at Madison Square Garden came up from her fingertips and down the back of her neck, it welled up in her belly and poured down her legs and left through her toes, and in seconds she was snoring softly into the couch.