Like a House on Fire

It was a really beautiful afternoon all things considered. The sun was out and shining nice and early, brightening the colors of this humble little block of homes. It was a rarity to see much foliage around residential Tokyo, making the gentle hue of lilacs in bloom from the windows seem all the more inviting. Kids rushed by chasing butterflies down the empty street beneath the summer wind. The sounds of the city seemed so far off in these close neighborhood streets, a small world away from the heart of the bustling city just beyond. It was one of the few things that Paulo actually liked about his moving job. Back in Brazil, all he did was tile roofs with his abuelo as he looked out on the dusty and dirty streets below, dreaming of more and that day he could finally drive far away from it all.

He never thought that would bring him to Japan, but he couldn’t have been happier that it did. He was lucky, all things considered. With little education and no merits, he found a job that he was happy with, where he could help others leave behind what they once knew and chase those same fleeting dreams that he had. He crossed his arms and leaned back against his van, breathing in the light air. Life was good.

On most days. 99% of them. Today just so happened to be…

“LOOK OOOOUUUUUUUUTTT!!”

His eyes snapped open.

Oh God, not again.

He couldn’t react fast enough. Nobody could. When a stumbling mess like Chizuru Nagahara was coming your way, the obvious option was to get out of the way and don’t even attempt to help. Let the disaster play out. When said Chizuru Nagahara was carrying a cardboard box with a half-ton air conditioner inside? Pray. And that was Paulo did in the half second he could before the Japanese girl came running out the front door, stumbled over her the front step, and fell facefirst as the conditioners slipped free from her hands and landed right on the mover’s foot. He jumped a mile, clutching his foot and shouting every vulgarity blessed by his native tongue. He hopped down to the front of his van, past he broken window, shattered . He hopped on one foot to the front of his van, past the broken window, cracked windshield, and crooked side mirror that was all intact before he arrived here.

“Puta merda! Again?!”

"Ahh! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Chizuru exclaimed as she quickly stood back up, bowing to him on the spot over and over again. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! It won't happen again!"

Paulo didn't want to hear it. He shook his head as he walked back to her. “You gonna put me in the hospital, huh?! That’s it! I am done!”

Her eyes went wide at that. She didn't have time to find another mover! And everything was almost packed! "Please don't go! M-my friend Blade will be here in a few minutes, and then we'll-!"

“I don’t care!” He jabbed a finger in her face. “Devil! You are the spawn of the devil!”

Equal parts anxious, terrified, and outright excited at the new venture on the horizon. Moving in general always came with a jumbled mishmash of emotions, especially as the big day loomed closer and closer on the horizon. Getting everything packed, cleaning, lifting, planning, planning, and than of course improvising when all of those plans inevitably go up in a plume of billowing smoke. But so far things have been going suspiciously smoothly when it came to getting Chizuru all prepped, packed, and provided for once she officially considers herself a resident of Casa De Blade~...which admittedly makes it sound more palatially opulent than it actually is. But it was more than spacial enough to house two of AFW's more prominent lady grapplers. Blade not usually getting all fidgety and nervous around moving day though, especially after having bunked with her other tag partners in the past, shared crowded sleeping quarters when in her training dojo days, and as a little girl never crying once when being sent to Summer camp. Instead waving her Dad goodbye as the bus carried her off for bug catching adventures off in the wilderness.

But for some reason she'd been having butterflies in her stomach about this whole thing. Weird. But anyway...today was the big day. And the Aerial Artist was already on her way to pick up her suplexing amigo and escort Chizuru home while the moving company did all the heavy lifting. She dressed in her black and purple stripped track suit knowing that there'd be some some box lifting here and there, and opted to play some AC-DC through her car stereo from her MP3 player to help sooth her nerves and work out some of this anxious energy. Singing along, bobbing her, and patting her hands on the steering wheel as she would do when driving alone on the road with the windows open to her SUV gliding down the road. Just than turning around the block to Chizu's house and-

*Uh-oh...* Blade eyed the fuming mover hopping about on one foot besides his banged up truck and a profusely apologizing brunette. Time for that improvising part of the moving experience, Blade reckoned. She'd pulled up behind the moving van and cut the engine to an abrupt halting of Brian Johnson in mid-verse, the Okinawan briskly jogging up to the enraged worker and abruptly stepping between him and Chizuru. Whoa, lo siento por mi amigo. Ella tiene buenas intenciones, a veces puede ser un poco torpe. Aquí está mi tarjeta, envíeme la factura por daños a su camioneta ... y dedo del pie. La llevaré desde aquí, y nos encontraremos en mi apartamento como estaba planeado, ¿de acuerdo? Blade spoke in decent Spanish, slowing down to find certain words she didn't remember off the bat before handing the mover her card with name, address, and contact info...and a few thousand yen slipped in as well.

Translation:

This was going to be the worst day of Chizuru’s life. She could already feel it - no, see it playing out in slow motion. This man was going to leave her on the side of the street, standing there crying in her dirtied Wrestle Angels sweater and billowy skirt with nothing but a packaged, probably ruined air conditioner that she’d have to haul back into the house after Blade finally arrived to see all of her stuff no doubt angrily thrown out of the back of the moving van and deciding then and there with eyes full of regretful disdain that this entire idea was probably the biggest mistake of the Okinawans’ entire-

That was when a tracksuit figure stepped between them. Chizuru took a surprised step back with her hands fidgeting in front of her, lost for only an instant before that familiar voice spoke up for her. At least, that’s what it sounded like through all the Spanish. Her teary eyes grew wide with awe and an elated sigh escaped her lips. Paulo on the other hand looked like the most pissed off man alive. He stood listening with a solid grimace that only seemed to dim when Blade was finally done. The momentary peasantry of being able to speak with someone in his language was far outweighed by the throbbing pain in his big toe.

He swiped the card from her fingers and took a quick look at the details. His Japanese was decent for a guy like him, but being a foreigner had landed him some bad deals now and again. Always paid to double-check. When he was satisfied, he only responded with a scoff before he tucked the card away and looked back to Chizuru.

"Lucky your boyfriend was here." He picked up the box at their feet and dumped it into the back of his van before slamming the door enough to rattle the hinges. As he passed by, he threw a grimace Chizuru’s way before stepping behind the wheel and pulling away down the street. It was pretty clear that Chizuru didn’t notice, though. Probably because her eyes hadn’t left Blade and were full of tears.

“BLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADDDDDE!” A pair of strong arms wrapped around the nubile flyer before Chizuru hugged her close for dear life. Their faces smushed together as she rubbed them up and down with an overwhelming joy that had tears flowing from her eyes. “Thank you! Thank you so much! I thought he was going to leave and there was nothing I could do! You’re amazing! I never want you to stop being my friend! Don’t ever leave! Don’t ever leave!”

Blade certainly hoped she was saying what she thought she was saying, and not inadvertently telling this mover that she had gerbils in her pants or something. It's been close to a year since coming home to her native Japan from Mexico, where'd she'd spent the last few years grappling with some of the most proficient luchadoras she'd ever seen. An excursion not taken by choice, mind you since she'd needed some place to keep wrestling after being ousted out of Wrestle Angels by that pompous butt monkey Beauty Ichigaya. Though once she'd stepped off the airplane she learned quick, fast, and in a hurry that she'd best start learning Spanish if she was going to not only survive, but thrive amongst all that premier high-flying talent. Thankfully a lot of ladies on the roster were patient with her as she struggled to learn as best she could until she'd eventually light the lucha world ablaze under her mysterious masked persona...

For now, though she'd breathe a sigh of relief when the battered mover tucked away her card and cash in a wordless agreement that they were cool...but not without that boyfriend crack. Blade glowered at him with a puckered lip pout as he took the box at his feet and started loading it into the back of his truck, giving him the stink-eye all the while as he turned the corner and out of sight. She was unaware of whether he was being a smart-ass...or earnestly didn't know Blade was a lady. Either result wasn't going to temper Blade's irritation much as she turned to face Chizu while still glaring in the direction of the moving van.

"Tch...you believe that jerk?! Lucky he left when he did. Remind me to downvote him on-YELP!!!!" Blade yelped from being caught unawares at that heartfelt hugging affection, immediately forgetting what she was even bitter about or even what she was just saying. The plump swell of their breasts mashed and rubbing together, the tender softness that came with nuzzling their cheeks upon the other, the subtle warmth of Chizu's breath whisking against Blade's lips, all along with the passionate words referring to undying companionship...all kind of took precedent in Blade's mind at the moment. Hence why she was stiffened straight with a scarlet red blush thankfully going unnoticed by suplexing roommate, blathering gibberish being babbled out of Blade's mouth..."...HuMMauMMauMMaUmmUmmUhhhh..."...before she gulped and settled down. Gradually...finding a peaceful serenity that came with being this close to Chizu' warmth. Eventually her stance slackened and arms started arising slowly to reciprocate the embrace with one across her waist and upper back. "...y-yeah. It's alright, s'gonna be ok....I...I promise to...never...leave you..."

Chizuru could feel a cool calm start or wash over her as Blade gently returned her hug. It was so stupid. Here she was on the verge of ruining everything she’d been looking forward to for over a week now and all she could was sob and cry like some big dumb baby. She shouldn’t have been surprised if Blade up and walked away from the sight altogether. If this whole arraignment was blown away with a simple text and change of plans with one of her other million non-accident prone roommates.

But she didn’t. All Chizuru heard in her ears was a promise. A promise that stunned her for one moment, but brought an overwhelming smile from ear to ear in the next.

The dejected state she found herself in only made Blade shine all the brighter in the young German Suplex artist’s eyes. It was always the same even back in their Wrestle Angel days. The feisty Okinawan driving herself headfirst into any confrontation with that ‘first one in, last one out’ attitude of hers. She’d seen it a million times and here she was, doing it for her sake. It was something so small and meaningless for the day ahead, and yet Chizuru could only feel her arms wrap a bit tighter.

“You’re seriously so unbelievably cool!” Their faces squished even closer together as she hugged Blade tighter and tighter. Listen close enough and it was possible to hear someone’s bones creaking. After a couple moments, she let her back down and stepped away. A finger came to her eye to flick away a tear welling up.

“I…*sniff*...I still have a couple of...*sniff*...boxes in my room.” She pointed back over her shoulder to the open door behind her. Her parents were still helping with the final arrangements, but she was sure they wouldn’t mind actually seeing her new living partner. “Wanna...*sniff*...help me with them?”

Blade...may have underestimated just how significant this day was to Chizuru. So often she'd bunk-up with fellow wrestlers in Mexico, and the day she'd herself moved out of her Father's house back when she was nineteen seemed like a lifetime ago. But this was all happening right now for Chizuru, and the psychological stresses that came with leaving the nest, coupled with Blade remembering how multiple people Chizu had considered to be best friends had outright abandoned her over the years for one reason or the other...it was starting to become that much clearer where all of this was coming from. Blade...didn't know if she'd be any good at being someone's "rock", so to speak. But she quietly reassured Chizu as best she could, with a tender embrace that had their cheeks nestled against eachothers and only got warmer with time, and with words she didn't think of. Stuff that just...came from the heart, she guessed. Blade really...didn't want this moment to-...


...-okay maybe it could start to end a little. That was definitely her spine she'd heard pop back there, and her years being treated to by Doctor's clued her in to the fact she was having her spine straightened. Not a bad thing...but it would become one if not released soon. Rib-cage too. Getting a little tight-*Phew*-Blade huffed out under breath once her new roommate unlatched herself. The Okinawan trying not to worry Chizu or make her feel bad, so she'd play off the grateful breath and back stretching as best she could like it was nothing to worry about. Blade was just yawning and stretching from staying up late last night, she's fine. "Well of course I'll help ya out, but hey..." Blade stepped up to Chizu and pulled a tissue out of her pocket and started blotching and drying up those teary eyes of hers. "...try to hold back on the waterworks, alright? Cause if you cry, than you're Mom's gonna cry, and than your Dad, Me, the cat, the mailman...and than your folks are not gonna want ya to leave. So come on...buck up, today's a happy day, alright? C'mon, I'll be right beside ya the whole way." Blade began walking beside Chizu back inside the house, arm around the suplexer's shoulder's as she went inside to...meet the parents.

Darn it, she was such a crybaby. Chizuru never felt so pathetic since...well, since the last time she’d done this in front of a friend.

Her mother had always said she had a really tender heart. Pressure, stress, intimacy. It didn’t seem to matter what kind of situation it was when the tension gripped her it just seemed like too much. The thought of disappointing Blade and everyone else. What could she do besides sniffle like a big little baby?

Thankfully there was a certain Okinawan that could point her in the right direction. Her eyes rose to meet the steel pair across from her, shining with that subtle warmth she was really coming to like. She hadn’t heard words that comfort in a long time, not since Kanai’s morning cartoons and Rei’s homemade honey buns. She smiled softly as she took the tissue in her hand and cooly wiped the moisture from her eyes.

”Okay!” She nodded as they turned to walk towards the house. “But we don’t have a cat…”

Stepping through the door, Chizuru kicked off her sandals to let her bare soles kiss the hardwood linoleum lining the floor as she led Blade into the middle of the atrium. At first glance, the house appeared wildly different from a typical Tokyo residence. The whole atrium looked well out of the 19th century. The mahogany walls and chandelier shining delicately above was a deep and almost foreboding contrast to the simple bricks and roof tiles outside. Just to the right of the staircase that led to the rooms upstairs was a side path that presumably led to more of the house. A grandfather clock stood boldly in that space against the wall, ticking its metronome away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Durer's Judgment etched in oak hung above the open doorway at the end, beyond which was a room with an open window and fine linens drifting in the wind.

And yet to the immediate right of the foyer was a fully modern and comforting-looking living room. A flat-screen TV, leather couches, surround sound. You could even peek at the kitchen just beyond the granite counter at the other side. The layout itself was quite similar to any Japanese home, but it was as if two different eras had smashed themselves together into an oddly appealing whole.

Chizuru brought her head to her mouth and called out into the emptiness. “Mom! Dad! Blade is here!”

“Oh! Oh good! One moment, dearie!” A genteel voice came from the kitchen.

Out from around the corner popped a second Chizuru. From a distance, that was. As the Japanese woman stepped around the couch and approached the pair, the few wrinkles of weathered age upon her enchanting countenance became visible. Her hair was kept to shoulder-length, yet the color was almost identical to her daughter’s. What it had lost in its radiance it had gained in subtle curls at the tail ends, adding to this noble air about her. Her mother had an additional inch or so above the two of them, but it was impossible for her to appear as though she were looking down on them. That warm smile and dimples dotting each cheek did her too much justice. She rolled back the sleeves on her cardigan sweater as she walked, extending a hand out to the Okinawan.

“Nagahara Akiko. It’s so very nice to finally meet you.” Her smile brightened as she looked Blade straight on. “Chizuru hasn’t stopped talking about this day since she brought home the news. I have to admit it was a shock, but let me say that we cannot thank you enough for being so willing to take her into your home like this.” She withdrew her hands to clasp them together in front of her as if she were about to offer a prayer above. “Are you absolutely certain my daughter won't be intruding?”

Yeah, like Blade had any right to talk about waterworks. She herself was somewhat on the verge of getting all misty-eyed and junk just from witnessing Chizuru get all blubbery on her. She didn't quite know what it was, but there was just something about seeing her future roommate fight back teardrops that had Blade on the verge of being right there with her. Thankfully though, they were tears of joyous elation...which complimented that soft smile of Chizuru's...beautifully. Blade blinked at that particular sight...it was just one of those picturesque flashes in time that'd be ingrained in Blade's memories for some time to come. Whenever she thought back to this day in fleeting moments of recollection, or let her mind wander back to Chizuru again. Whenever that happens, she just hopes it isn't while she's driving. Blade's been known to lose track of whatever she's doing at the time whenever she ponders about Chizu...

But Blade steeled herself regardless and stepped inside the Nagahara domicile, slipping off her running sneakers by the doorway alongside Chizu and striding onward. Hands in her pockets as she drank it all in with a of bit wide-eyed wonderment, spinning in place while walking forward to really admire the decor and sparkling chandelier overhead. Even though this was her first time stepping inside, the Okinawan couldn't help but feel right at home. The wholesome warmth of a loving family emanated from every cursory glance throughout the house bathed in sunshine, portraits chronicling Chizuru's childhood dotting the halls of the major hallway Blade passed by. The Grandfather Clock making her balk before she honed in on it with a focused stride to stop right in front of it. She was stunned that this place had such a quaint conversational piece, and wondered if this place could feel any more homey if it tried.

...this was such a diametric contrast to her own humble abode, including the one she'd grown up in as a rambunctious, knee-scrapping youth. Her own mother never having the opportunity to spruce it up, make it a beacon of cleanliness, or just add a certain special something that only Mom's could. Blade's father doing his best given what he remembered from his wife when she was alive, and Blade helped alongside him always. Shoulder to shoulder doing the dishes...taking out the trash when she was a tyke as he slumbered on the coach from a long day at the construction yard...but Blade's memory bubble popped from the courteous and soft-spoken voice behind her. The Okinawan spinning about and repressing her astonishment at how much Chizuru looks straight up like her Mom, but aged accordingly. She approached and bowed respectfully after reciprocating the handshake. Nervously...yet diligently.

"Uh...K-Kyouku Uehara, ma'am. It's a pleasure to meet you as well, N-Nagahara-san." Blade straightened herself and patted out the wrinkles in track jacket, still taken aback by the un...canny likeness...*...straight up...JUST like her...*...before clearing her throat with a balled fist to her mouth and proceeding to not let this become a dumpster fire of a first impression. "Oh, I'm flattered she's been chatting it up about me. Nothing but good stuff, I hope. Hehe...heh..." Blade chuckled emphatically while jokingly nudging her elbow in Chizu's arm. Another few seconds of awkward silence passing to confirm that the joke bombed horribly before Kyouko would slump her shoulders and sigh, rubbing one of her elbows with her free hand. "...S-Sorry. You just have such a beautiful house and...I don't know if my place could ever hope to compare. You're daughter wouldn't be intruding in the slightest, in fact I'd reckon she'd do nothing but make the place cozier, honestly. But um, I do kinda feel like I should apologize to you...again. A-About our match, I mean. Chizu walked away from that one with a few bumps and bruises I absolutely did not intend on doling out..."

Chizuru looked all excited and smiley on the outside - and she had every right to be on this incredibly awesome day of all days. She was getting out of her parents house. She was moving in with the super cool and super strong Blade Uehara.

But that meant today was also the day she finally had to meet her parents. Soooo embarrassing!

Look at Blade, she was even blushing at how lame this entire thing was! She should have thought about this! Why in her right mind did she ever think it would be a good idea to put someone so cool and someone so old-fashioned in the same place together? Ahhh!

While her daughter had her little internal cataclysm, Akiko couldn't help but feel caught off guard by such a pleasant first impression. All she had ever heard about Ms. 'Blade' Uehara painted a rather brusque spitting image for a Japanese professional wrestler. Faintly she could recall the stories of the daring aerialist with bark as fierce as her bite, or the tale of the fearless Okinawan that threw herself countless times into the mits of a blonde behemoth that never seemed to fail in stirring her daughter's heart. Where was this proud and outspoken rebel girl? Who was this kind and courteous young thing that stepped into her home?

Her heartfelt plea brought a warmth to the woman’s heart. There was a delicate, momentary silence to the room as Akiko looked her up and down and let time pass effortlessly between them. Finally, she could size of this stranger she’d heard so much about over the dinner table, in those long evenings tending to her daughter’s injuries, neither of them unable to stop smiling the whole way through.

Chizuru just stared at her, digging a pinky into her ear. “Wow, Blade. You’re a real sissy around moms, huh?”

Akiko felt a warm wind at the back of her ear. Her smile seemed to soften with Blade's words even as they ran thick with uncertainty. A light chuckle filled the room. Akiko’s eyes seemed to grow soft as they looked at her daughter’s newfound friend and put a hand to her own cheek.  She shook her head in a minor effort toward dispelling the Eagle's fears.

"You will have to forgive me, Uehara-san. I stopped collecting those kinds of apologies years ago. I care for our daughter deeply, but wrestling is what makes her happy. Therefore I am happy. But if you must insist, you can repay your debt to us by giving my daughter a warm bed, a clean home, and a caring friend. And thankfully, I can see now that one of those has already been provided for." Akiko folded her arms over her waist and bent forward with a slow, proper bow.

"I have my own faults with an organization such as AFW, but at the very least it is somewhere where Chizuru can meet such supportive people like yourself. Finding proper housing in Tokyo has been such a hellish endeavor. It’s unbelievable that you happen to have such a conveniently spacious loft so close to the center city. You and your landlord must be well acquainted."

Oh good. Blade breathed a sigh of relief from now knowing that Chizuru's mother wasn't the passive aggressive type who'd assuredly hold grudges for popping her daughter in the eye that left a shiner that wasn't worth the cringe of seeing it to believe it. Her new roommate had long since forgiven Blade for what was merely an occupational hazard, but Blade still harbored some regret over that particular bit of ugliness stemming from what was otherwise a damn fantastic match. But clearing the air with Chizu's mother had really lifted a guilt-laden weight off of her shoulders to the point where she felt she could finally move on from that sore subject. Blade thinking to herself that she handled that introduction fairly competently. Fumbled the ball at the beginning there but than recovered it for some decent yardage...until Chizuru just up and blurted out what everyone else was already thinking in a, at this point typical, showcasing of a lack of filter over that mouth of hers.

"...Yes...Thank you for that, Chizu~..." Blade uttered with a deadpan stare and a nettled undertone to her voice. Chizu's name being muffled through the Okinawan's gnashed teeth. Her roomie bringing to light what was evident from the word go by the other two people in the room who knew better than to outright blab it out and bring it right in the center of the conversation. The reason behind Blade's lack of motherly know-how obviously being that her own had passed away long ago, but she wasn't about to broach that subject unless straight up asked...but this did compel Blade to remind Chizu that their time together won't be all sunshine and rainbows. "Oh, don't you worry Nagahara-san. I'll be providing all of that and more..." Blade strolling towards Chizuru and and raising her hand for a slapping thwat of her hand on her roomie's shoulder, than clenching tightly onto it while sporting an oddly ominous smile...

"...including rigorous training schedules I've been taught from the most ruthless of wrestling coaches from around the world, and my own personal method of getting Chizuru accustomed to being in the most arduous of submissions..." Darkened malice shadowed Blade's expression as she honed her devious eyesight on her new roomie...before turning back to face Akiko with hospitable kindness and no sign of the look she just directed at Chizu. "But yeah...I can understand how tough it can be finding affordable housing out here. My place is somewhere I've been shackin up in since I first started wrestling and the landlord and I are good friends. They're kinda used to me bunking up with buddies from work...but it's got an awesome view of the ocean, and it's the closest thing I got to a home since moving out of my Dad's place. Speaking of, is Chizu's Father around? I'd kinda like to meet him too before we both head out."