The Ace and The Sumo

Haley nervously made her way down the Frictions arena's halls, looking for a certain stars locker room.

She had good reason to be nervous, now that she had recovered from her match with Taylor, she had decided that she was going to challenge the absolute best wrestler Friction had to offer: Akashi Tanikaze. Former Friction and Entropy Champion. Considered by many to be the "Queen of AFW", even without a title. Haley's reason was a simple one, now that she had faced one half of Kamikaze, she wanted to face the other, to put her skills to the ultimate test.

The issue, in Haley's mind, was that even if she challenged Akashi right to the sumo's face, there was no guarantee she would accept a match offer, not from a 2 match rookie like Silver Ace, without a win to her name yet. Feeling she needed an edge, a way to up the ante a bit, Haley had prepared.

Part of that was her outfit, the girl dressed in a tight pair of short shorts, blue jean style, that stopped at the top of her thighs and clung tightly to her tight ass. Accompanying the shorts was a small tank top that cut off halfway to show off her lightly defined abs and cute belly, with tennis shoes to ensure she showed as much of her tan legs as possible, leaving her hair in its natural blonde state and her eyes blue. It was a good look, as proven by the turning of many heads as she made her way down Frictions halls.

If alluring the sexual sumo with her looks didn't get her what she wanted, then Haley had another tactic, carrying a bag in one hand, while a long package was under her other arm, gifts that the rich blonde had spared no expense for. Mostly to impress Akashi and make her open to speaking to Ace, but also partly as legit gifts. Haley had seen many of Akashi's matches since joining AFW, and considered herself to be a big fan of the former champion.

Finally ending up outside Akashi's locker room door, Haley stopped, taking a deep breath and calming herself. This was meant to be a friendly offer that the older veteran might refuse, not the kind of pissed off challenge she had made to Taylor in her mothers home a month or so back. It helped then, that she hadn't come as Ace, where she might not have been as friendly in her attempts.

Finally, Ace reached out, knocking on the door.

Akashi was resting after a long workout and a long bath. She was propped up against the couch with a book in one hand, flipping through it as she was winding down. After that, she'd grab something to eat and maybe head home. She really wasn't sure what she could be doing, so when the knock came, she was pleasantly surprised. She set her book down, hopped off the couch and took a look at herself. She adjusted the dark green yukata, that left her ample chest nearly spilling out, making sure it wasn't actually spilling out and then opened the door.

"Ahhh, Kon... banwa... Esu-san?" Akashi questioned, looking over the girl and down at the bag. She knew who the girl was because she had seen her fight at the PPV as well as against Taylor. She may not have known otherwise but the girl already had a few high profile matches. "How may I help you?" She asked. She couldn't figure out why the girl wanted to talk to her of all people.

Ace had a polite greeting ready as the door opened, only to be surprised as she stared at the extreme amount of cleavage Akashi's robe was showing. She stared for a few seconds before realizing what she was doing and snapping her head up, blushing as she bowed towards the sumo.

"Uhh...G-Greetings Akashi-San! Sorry to bother you like this..."

She stood up, rubbing the back of her head and giggling a little.

"I uh, I guess you already know who I am. Silver Ace, though you can just call me Ace. Heh. Well, the thing is, I'm still new around here, and after I found out your friends with Taylor, I couldn't resist the urge to challenge the other half of Kamikaze to a match!"

She said proudly, before raising the bag and package up.

"But uh..well, it didn't feel right to just demand a match with a former champion without even meeting you first, I mean...I'm not that arrogant..."

She blushed again, giggling out of nerves at the situation.

"So uh....could I maybe come in annnd...chill for a bit? I brought gifts of respect!"

She said, offering said gifts.

Akashi's brow raised and her eyes widened. "I have seen you wrestle." She said. But that was it. She didn't really know the girl too well. Akashi watched Ace curiously and as she lifted the bag, her brow furrowed in confusion. She understood the challenge but the rest of it? She'd never really had that happen before from another wrestler.

Akashi stared at her for a moment before turning and glancing back at her dressign room. "Oh! Uh, sure, come on in!" She said, stepping aside. "You brought me gifts?" She questioned as she let ace in and shut the door. "Y-You didn't need to do that! I'm honored, but..." Akashi turned her head. "I'm also not so arrogant as to belive there are people beneath me." She paused. "As far as, who I can wrestle against, I mean." Of course she thought she was better at wrestling than most of the girls, but she never thought she was too big to accept a challenge like some girls in the league.

"If you want to wrestle me, that's fine." Akashi said puffing out her chest a bit. "But, I don't go easy on people, no matter how new they are, so, if you step into the ring with me, be prepared for that." She then looked at the gifts. She felt uncomfortable opening accepting them and lowered her head. "You did not need to bring any gifts. I cannot accept them." She said politely bowing her head.

Ace stepped into Akashi's dressing room, looking around in curiosity at the room before turning back to the sumo and shaking her head.

"Oh, no no no, I didn't mean it like that, I never meant to imply you were arrogant or anything like that! I just thought I'd make a friendly gesture, ya know? Something to show my respect."

She said awkwardly, watching as Akashi puffed her chest out, almost distracted by her breasts again.

"Right, I know what to expect. I wouldn't be dumb enough to challenge a former Friction Champion without doing my research. Besides, I don't go easy on people either..." She said with a wink.

Bowing back, She held up her gifts again.

"Oh come on...please? I'd really appreciate if you did, you'd like them!"

She said, though in her mind she admitted that she was less bothered about appreciation for the gifts and more concerned about just how much the gifts cost. Both had been bought at auctions. Neither could be returned and both had cost an amount that fell into the range of "Fuck-load of money", which would be wasted if Akashi didn't accept them.

Akashi blushed as Ace nervously pushed back, continuing to offer the gifts and trying to correct Akashi's assumptions. "Ahh..." The Sumo said and lowered her head. "I-If you insist." She said taking the gifts. She set them down and then picked up the first gift and inspected it, trying to open it and seeing what it was.

"Arigatou gozaimasu." She said and nodded her head again. "Really, this is just too much though. For a fight, for a fan, for anything!" She said. Ace clearly did not understand Japanese etiquette very well. "Now I am indebted to you." Akashi added.

The first gift would be a small yet wide box, just undero2 feet long. Inside would be a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wakizashi_with_koshirae_and_related_parts.jpg:3ca8onzc]wakizashi[/url:3ca8onzc] blade, with accompanying hilt and sheath. The hilt and guard had been removed from the blade, placed next to it in parts to be assembled. While the bottom of the blade, usually covered by the hilt, was rusted and brown, the actual blade was shined and oiled, well taken care of and measured at 19 inches. Ace had won it at auction a month back, having to pay a very hefty sum for it.

Ace's eyes widened as Akashi claimed she was indebted to her, truth be told, the girl knew little of actual Japanese customs, etiquette, or traditions. Her main "culture guide" so far had been Tai, and he embraced American culture and attitude completely, despite being a native. All she had learned about Akashi she had learned from reading up on AFW's surprisingly in depth bios and fan interviews, and so she got gifts she thought the sumo would like. Now she was concerned her ignorance might be offensive, her nervousness obvious as she rubbed the back of her head and avoided eye contact.

"Oh...uh...you don't owe me, really...I'm uh...just sucking up is all, ya know?....whaddya think?"

Akashi opened the box and looked at the wakazashi. She blinked, wondering if it was real and knew that it was. Akashi turned her head and bowed deeply. "It is too much." She said. "Now I owe a lofty obligation." She said, staring at the floor. How was she supposed to accept something like this from a stranger? The worst part was, there was another gift. "This is not gift giving." Akashi said, raising her head. Her cheeks were pale.

"You have done too much."

Akashi glanced towards the other bag. Now she just dreaded opening it. Though Akashi had money, she could figure out the rough cost of just what was in front of her. To be able to repay Ace back would cost a considerable amount, even with her own hefty bank account. She tried to tell herself that this woman knew nothing. That she was just trying to be friendly but she couldn't imagine even Westerners allowing this to be acceptable.

Akashi kept her head lowered as she reached for the next bag, almost ashamed to open it.

Ace gulped at Akashi's reaction, clearly having offended or upset the older woman, Ace stammering as Akashi reached for the other gift.

"Uh, M-maybe this was a bad idea huh? I don't really know your guys customs over here... I...well...I've seen my parents give lavish gifts to people they like, so I-I thought it was normal! You don't have to open that one..."

She said in a fast pace, waving her hands in front of her before bowing low, one of the few Japanese gestures she did know. She had only met the woman 5 minutes ago and may have already offended the most respected wrestler in AFW.

"Nice going Ace..." She mentally criticized herself.

"I'm reallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreally sorry if I offended you! You don't have to keep them if you don't want too!"

Akashi groaned as Ace tried to plead with Akashi. She really didn't know what to do and finally broke down and sighed. "It's fine!" She said, waving her hand again. "I appreciate the gifts." She said. "Really." Akashi didn't know what else to say. "Well... I guess I might as well open up the other one." She added and grabbed for the next gift. "No sense in both of us losing our honor" She muttered.