"Beautiful Monsters" - Katsumi Oshiro and Chiyo Hamamoto

[PuroQueen]

Continued from here...

This was not at all how Chiyo envisioned herself following her debut. She hadn't even bothered to changed out of her match attire yet as she sat hunched over the locker room bench, her body aching from the brutal match she had just endured.

Chiyo

She pressed one ice pack against her sore abdominals, while the other lay sandwiched against her back, right on the epicenter of where Katsumi's grueling Nightmare Fuel had finished her off. The warm towel draped over her head provided some relief from the searing pain pulsing through her temples, but she could feel every throb in her body, a constant reminder of her defeat.

As she sat there, trying to find solace in the silence, her phone buzzed incessantly by her side. Her heart sank as she saw the notifications flooding in about her humiliating loss, picture after picture consuming her once vibrant feed with humiliating captures of her limp body in comprising angles and positions. She flipped the phone over on the bench, it's screen still emitting a mocking glowing from underneath.

Chiyo let out a deep sigh and leaned her head back against the cold metal locker. The tears that had flowed so freely on the mat had now dried up, leaving behind a numbness that seemed to engulf her entire existence. She couldn't shake the feeling of humiliation that lingered, haunting her like a ghost. Her mind was in turmoil, replaying the match over and over again. She couldn't help but wonder where she had gone wrong. Had she not trained hard enough? Was she not strong enough? Had she made a mistake that cost her everything?

The sound of her own thoughts was deafening. Chiyo tried to push them aside, but they refused to budge. She felt trapped, suffocated by her own doubts and fears. The locker room was quiet except for the occasional sound of footsteps echoing in the hallway. It was as if the world had moved on without her, leaving her behind to wallow in her own misery.

Chiyo closed her eyes and let out a deep breath. She knew she had to pull herself together, to get up and face the world. But the thought of stepping outside that locker room, of facing the people who had witnessed her downfall, was almost too much to bear. The weight of her defeat was heavy, crushing, and it seemed to grow heavier with each passing moment. But Chiyo refused to let it break her. She would find a way to rise again, to fight again. She would find her way back to the top, no matter how long it took.

For now, she would sit there, in her locker room, in silence. She would let herself feel the pain, the humiliation, the defeat. And when she was ready, she would pick herself up and begin again.

[CyanDimitrik]

MEANWHILE...

Katsumi Oshiro is nearly the polar opposite. Her body has come down from the adrenaline rush enough that the aches and throbbing pains of the match have begun to really sink in. But she'll worry about that later. One arm lightly wrapped around her midsection, the other occupied by hooking a finger into the collar of her leather jacket, draping it over her shoulder, the girl has been reluctant to change out of her attire just yet. She didn't want to waste any more time than she absolutely had to. See, she was on a mission.

Katsumi

Now that she'd had her way and proven to everyone in the arena why she deserves better than to be the newbie meatgrinder, she wants to find her opponent. Because that was a good match, and she deserves to know it, and it might serve as a nice welcome to the federation. Now that she's in a fabulous mood, she bears the girl absolutely no ill will. She sees absolutely no impending danger in this course of action.

The two of them had been the main event. Chiyo was bumped into a main event on her first night against the Punk Princess, and it went... well, the way it went. But that's not what's on Oshiro-senpai's mind. No, she's just trying to catch a worker while they're still in the backstage area.

"Hey, where's the new girl's room?," she asks, smile bright, but tired.

"It's... the one over there... on the left. You probably shouldn't-"

"Much obliged, minion!," chirps Katsumi as she cuts him off and flounces her way down the corridor.

Finding the door in question, she takes a quick breath. Inhale. Exhale. She's not accustomed to being a welcome wagon, much less to someone who earned her admiration. And she's so cute, too.

She takes a moment to swat herself on the cheek. "Get ahold of yourself," she mutters. Then that fist lifts...

Inside the locker room, Chiyo will first hear it. A series of fluttery knocks.

Knockity-knock-knock!

And on the other side of the door waits the sweetly smiling face of her tormentor, bright green eyes asparkle.

[PuroQueen]

With the memory of the match still fresh in her mind, Chiyo flinched at the sound of knuckles rapping the metal door. She tilted her head, curious as to who it was that was bothering her now. First it had been her manager, telling her that this loss wasn't such a big deal, and how she would make sure to book her against some other babyface dweeb next time and blah blah blah. Yeah right - she wasn't the one being tossed around the ring like a ragdoll in front of thousands of people!

Not a big deal - Pffft!

Then it was the medical staff, asking her a zillion questions and trying to make her do all sorts of tests when all she needed was an ice pack and a towel. With a loud grunt of exertion and an eye roll, Chiyo slowly picked herself up, hobbling to the locker room door. She didn't know why, but for some reason, her heart was racing, and her palms began to sweat as they hovered around the brass knob. It was as if her body was trying to warn her of something, or someone...

With a trembling hand, she slowly turned the handle, opening the door just a crack, peering out at Katsumi's beaming face.

"WAGH!" Chiyo yelped, the sight of her opponent's shimmering green eyes causing her to shriek and abruptly shut the door square in Katsumi's face! The poor pinkette's eyes widening in shock as she stumbled backwards, tripping over the low bench behind her before crashing down onto the cold tile floor in a loud heap. All the commotion would almost certainly be heard from the outside.

Chiyo groaned, quickly trying to recover as she kneeled behind the bench, using it as a measly barrier between her and the monster that lay just outside those doors. "W-What do you want...!? Get out of here, before I call security!" Chiyo yelled through the closed door. Her heart was pounding at a million miles per minute, her muscles tensing in preparation for a potential backstage scuffle!

[CyanDimitrik]

Katsumi got as far as to inhale to speak, when- WHAM! The door slams shut in her face with enough force to feather her bangs. Katsumi stands there, wide-eyed non-plussed stare, mouth still open in pre-speech.

"Um.."

She perks with alarm when the sound of crashing can be heard on the other side of the door. "Chiyo!" She places a hand flat against the door. "What hap- ah, fuck this."

She grabs the door handle and promptly lets herself in, completely disregarding the warning about security. And the sight before her is an increasingly familiar one this evening: Red Hot Chiyo, sprawled out before her. The punkette hoods her gaze with a smile and teases, "We've gotta stop meeting like this."

Into the room she goes, fully shutting it behind her. She hurriedly lowers to a kneel beside her, her head tilting. Her hair, still slickened with the sweat of their match, partly clings to her shoulders and brow. "What happened? You okay?," she asks, leaning forward and propping an arm over her knee.

[PuroQueen]

Like a girl who had just seen a ghost, Chiyo sat cowering behind the bench, silently wondering if that really was Katsumi behind that door, or if her weary mind was just playing tricks on her. That question was answered soon enough as the Punk Princess marched right on in without invitation, living, breathing, and in the flesh! Chiyo stared at her former opponent with a mixture of disbelief and fear, unable to comprehend why she would be here, of all places. Her eyes flicker over Katsumi's face before trailing down her body, taking in the bruises and marks that scarred her gentle features. She knew that she's responsible for some of those injuries, but the thought only brought her satisfaction and a confidence boost.

"I said what are you doing here!?" Chiyo managed to ask again, her voice no longer trembling. "You beat me up in front of everyone, and now you're just... visiting me? What is this, some kind of sick joke?"

She tries to push herself up from the floor, wincing at the pain that shoots through her body. Her muscles ache, her ribs throb, and she can feel the bruises blooming across her skin. But she can't let Katsumi see her weakness. If there were any attempts to help her up, Chiyo would wave them, forcing a smirk onto her face as she tries to play it cool.

"I'm fine by the way," she says, even as she winces at the pain. "Just a little banged up, that's all, but I'm sure you know all about that. Nothing I can't handle though."

Chiyo had a hard time trying to decipher whether Katsumi's expression was one of genuine concern or mockery. Based on how she had acted in the ring, Chiyo was inclined to think the latter, even if her gentle eyes and soft gaze gave a very convincing appeal to the former.

"Look, I don't know what you want from me," Chiyo admits, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I don't think I can handle any more surprises tonight. So you better lay it on me quick, or else you and I are going to have a serious problem" Chiyo's threatened with a stern look, hands curled up into fists by her side. She wasn't normally like this to a fellow competitor, but after what'd she'd been through at the hands of Katsumi, she had a hard time believing that the punk could be here for any other reason than to pick a fight!

[CyanDimitrik]

Indeed, abrasions can be found all along her skin, particularly focused around her cheeks from those punches and around her ribs. A few rough areas along the chest are peeking through along her cleavage from those kicks, as well. And yet, Katsumi has nothing but a smiling face to offer Chiyo.

"Of course I beat ya up. We were wrestling. It's, like, part of the job," she chides. And here and now, somehow, her perky voice has more effervescence, more girlish pep.

When prompted for what she wants, Katsumi starts to speak, only to pause when Chiyo suggests there may be a problem. Blood in the water. The human shark that is Oshiro cannot help herself. She leans a little closer to her, smile widening with a slightly predatory quality. "What, ya think you could take me now? Like you want me to think you were holding back in front'a the cameras?"

She bobs an eyebrow at her. Bob. Bob.

[PuroQueen]

Chiyo's eyes widened at Katsumi's words, her jaw dropping in disbelief. Was this woman serious? Did she not realize the beating she had just delivered? Chiyo could still feel the sting of her injuries, the pain pulsing through her body, yet Katsumi stood before her, as if their body-bending-bout had been nothing more than a playground scrap!

"You've gotta be kidding me," Chiyo muttered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Of course, I want to fight you right now. Because getting my ass kicked wasn't enough for one night."

Katsumi's predatory grin sent shivers down Chiyo's spine, and she shifted slightly, feeling vulnerable under her opponent's gaze. But there was something exciting about the challenge, even if it seemed impossible.

Yet a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips despite herself. There was something about Katsumi's brazen attitude that was almost charming in its own way. "But I'm not stupid enough to think I can take you right now. Look at me," Chiyo gestured to her bruised and battered body. "I'm a mess. And I have you to thank for that. You went too far!" Chiyo chided, jabbing her finger right into Katsumi's chest.

"And another thing - Red Hot Chiyo doesn't hold back. Not tonight, not now, not ever! What you saw out there was my best, and if you weren't such a jerk in the ring, it would have been enough to beat you too!" Chiyo's finger dug deeper between the crevice of Katsumi's cleavage, her forehead now pressed tightly against her rival's as she did her best to maintain a serious demeanor. "Maybe someday, when I'm not covered in bruises and limping like a wounded animal, I can properly get that point across your thick skull," Chiyo said, unable to deliver the threat without a hint of a smile.

[CyanDimitrik]

Despite the heat, the tension, the the craving for vindication against Chiyo, against the audience, against LAW itself, Katsumi still maintains that spunk and pluck. Perhaps even moreso, after having earned that aforementioned vindication. Her heart is free as a bird. And the pain she wears now is a badge of honor. She was in the ring. She fought against another woman for supremacy. And she won in the end. She's wearing her roughed-up body and disheveled hair with pride.

The smile tilts a little at her sarcasm, rather enjoying it. After all, it's complimentary towards her. But it also shows Chiyo's spirit hasn't faltered or been diminished. At least not that she can see! And as the finger jabs at her chest, the generously open space of her bralette displaying her cleavage, her gaze flicks downwards, then back up to the other girl. She starts to protest the idea that she went too far, but Chiyo's quick to continue! Face invades face, brow touching to brow, Katsumi keenly aware of the sensation of Chiyo's finger probing at her. She draws her bottom lip between her teeth, nibbling it as those vivid green eyes study the big doe browns. There's no shying back, no retreat. She'd eagerly face her again for a quick rematch right now, consequences be damned.

She hears the smile. She can kind've see it. But she doesn't take her eyes off of the other girl.

What she wants to say is an argument against her being a jerk in the ring, and it somehow effecting the outcome. But what comes out is, "God, you're beautiful."

[PuroQueen]

Wha- Did she just hear that right? Katsumi thought she was... beautiful?

Chiyo's cheeks flushed, the heat of the locker room amplifying her embarrassment. She knew she should be angry, indignant even, but instead, her heart beats a little faster at Katsumi's compliment. The woman who had ruthlessly beaten her was standing right there, her breath hot against her face. She took a step back, her eyes still locked on Katsumi's, not knowing what to say or think. But she can certainly remember. She remembers the fight, every last detail of it, the way Katsumi had toyed with her like a cat would a mouse. She can feel the bruises on her body, the soreness in her limbs. Katsumi was right, it was all right there in the job description, but in the ring, with her, it had all felt so...personal.

But the way Katsumi was looking at her now, her eyes burning with something like admiration, Chiyo couldn't help but feel a little flattered. She brushed a strand of hair out of her face and glanced down at her boots. Maybe Katsumi was right, maybe she had gone too easy on her in the ring. After all, Chiyo had thought the very same thing about her opponent when she first saw her. Her tender, toned figure, her dark mystique, it had all entranced Chiyo from the very start. But she wasn't about to let the other woman know that, not yet anyways.

Instead, Chiyo tried to act tough, to maintain some sense of control. She scoffs, rolling her eyes. "Please, spare me. You're not fooling anyone, Katsumi. I know why you're here - you're here to mock me aren't you? To see what's left of the little rookie you left crying on the mat! Well guess what Katsumi - I'm still standing. I'll always be standing, no matter how many times you or anybody else tries to knock me down!" Chiyo wailed, doing her best to stifle the emotion beginning to creep up in her voice.

[CyanDimitrik]

Katsumi's focus was enraptured with Chiyo, possibly not even realizing she'd made that statement. In fact, she's pretty sure she said 'What's the worst I did, mouth off to a ref'?' But that's most assuredly not what the diva said. Chiyo wasn't wrong - there was admiration behind those eyes. Not just for the physical specimen before her, it went deeper than that. And listening to her boast now, even when she'd been so thoroughly thrashed, and wearing the painful proof that she'd fought the entire way with, as Katsumi believes, everything she had to come out on top... her heart can't help but flutter a little.

Though listening to what Chiyo says, a giggle bubbles up from her. "Yeah?," she asks. There's no mockery in her voice, just a vested interest. An eagerness. Encouragement, perhaps. She lifts to her full height, finally, along with her. Her hands, still bare, clasp together before herself. Those audience members have definitely made off with her gloves, alas. "I- I didn't come here to mock you, though. Just for the record. I kicked your ass pretty hard back there, but... you were perfect."

She's not quite cognizant of the swoon risking her voice. But it's there. And all at once, she seems to realize just how heart-shaped her eyes had become watching and listening to her. In a fluster, she turns her head away, wide eyes staring down at the gold toebox of her boots.

"You didn't... like... I mean... your parents... they're not, like.. mad at you for losing or anything, right?," she asks awkwardly, fumbling the question she didn't really mean. Why parents would be angry at their kid for losing a match, she couldn't be sure. But asking the direct question of 'did I hurt your family' felt too vulnerable.