Yuki Kazikura & Amano Jaku vs Alaina Sanders & Thereisa Niedermeyer

[winner3]

"Wildcard" Tag Team Match
Both teams have been forced to tag together by decree of LAW's Assistant General Manager Angie Defoe
Willingly Abandoning Your Teammate may Result in being punished by Management
Victory to be awarded via Pinfall, Submission, DQ, or KO. Standard Tag Match rules apply.

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[dlamp]

"Look Runt, in the business world you're always working with folks you hate. The wrestling world's no different. Just take a breath and push forward. That's what we taught you in the dojo, right?"

"While it's difficult to work with those unpleasant to you realize they might feel the same, Rei-chan. So long as you both have a similar goal a truce can be reached."

This was the advice Amano's sisters had given her when she was chosen for the second Wildcard Tag event, and it barely made her feel better. When Amano first heard of the event she had snickered and laughed at the poor saps that had to endure wrestling with their most bitter of rivals and enemies as a team. She thought it was hilarious seeing some clenched-teeth teamwork going on and watching enemies just barely function as a team. Or better, fail at it spectacularly. And after catching some highlights from that event she was very much looking forward to seeing the next one and watching enemies flounder about trying to not trip each other... or do so on purpose.

And then karma decided to curse Amano by putting her in that exact situation.

Needless to say, the Rascal Demon was not happy about this. She tapped her foot impatiently, biting down on her lower lip. They were rare actions of hers, but her body needed something to do in order to work off her nerves. She forced her face into a more neutral expression, as difficult as that was, and right at the first few notes of her theme she trotted out.

Unlike usual there was no black mist, no dazzling spotlights save for the one focused on, and even her usual rowdy methods of coming out were exchanged for a more somber and serious walk down the ramp as she black and yellow eyes glared at those jeering and cheering for her attention, hushing them almost instantly. She forced an exhale that came out more like a growl.

How long had it been since she had even seen Kazikura Yuki? She honestly couldn't say, but time didn't exactly heal the mental wounds and the anger that came with her last memory of her.

"Haah..." But... she suffered through it. She gritted her teeth, forced herself to look forward toward the ring before hopping inside and going to her corner. She didn't give any of her usual sass and flash tonight. She needed every ounce of energy to focus for the match... and then some.

[CaptainL]

Yuki never expected things would turn out this way. The last time she had seen Amano Jaku in the flesh, it had been coming off of a brutal, unsanctioned barbed wire deathmatch - one that saw both of them, by the end of it, covered in blood, aching from head to toe, and passing out from pain and exertion alike. It was a match that had burned itself into Yuki's memory just as it had burned itself into her body from the scars she still had on her arm from where the barbed wire had cut her. She had endured torments greater than anything she could fathom, and she had pushed herself to lengths more extreme than she had ever gone to before - or wanted to go again. Knowing that she was capable of such rage and such aggression had scared Yuki. It was enough to make her shy away from letting herself lose control like that ever again. And it had made her never want to cross paths with Amano any time soon...

But now, it seemed, she had no choice.

LAW's first Wildcard Tag event had been such a success, and the concept of forcing unlikely partners together had proved to have such potential, that the company decided to run it again. And when it came time to select rivals to bring together for the event, Yuki and Amano were quick to jump to anyone's minds. Their death-defying duel had gone down in history as one of the bloodiest matches in the company's history, even if it hadn't been sanctioned by them. With such an iconically bloody feud behind them, the idea of the two girls working together seemed inconceivable...and that was exactly why it would be such a draw.

For her part, though...Yuki still couldn't believe it was really happening. Even when she looked out through the curtains to see Amano in the corner, waiting for her, she could hardly believe she wasn't dreaming. She had a feeling that one day, she and Amano would meet again, but she had been putting the thought off, too afraid to even entertain such a frightful possibility. What she never expected was that, when they reunited, it would be as - ostensibly - allies.

Just looking at Amano sent a shiver down Yuki's spine. She remembered how - on a video call following the match - Amano had revealed the scars Yuki had left on her forehead. She remembered the threats she had made; that she wasn't just going to drag her to hell, but that she had already entered the gates. Yuki had grown a lot since then, constantly improving her skills and reaching to new heights, but the thought of being around Amano again still shook her. She didn't know when she'd be ready to confront her again...but it wasn't now.

Still, Yuki couldn't stand there and do nothing. She still had to attend to the match - and, one way or another, she was going to have to come out there herself.

Compared to Amano, Yuki had always been more stoic, and her entrance had reflected that. But even then, she was noticeably more on edge as she came down to the ring - she bit at her lip, and her hands stayed balled tightly at her sides. Whenever her eyes fell on Amano, a shudder ran through her body, and she looked away. As long as she didn't look at her, she thought, she wouldn't have to remember how terrifying this really was - how she might as well have been walking back into Hell, forced to confront the fears she held not just of Amano, but of herself, should tensions erupt again. When she came to the ring, she hopped up onto the corner, but even as she stood by Amano's side, she looked off into the distance, never making eye contact with the Rascal Demon. It was a long and awkward pause before any words left her mouth - but, still averting eye contact, eventually she spoke.

"...I'm not going to say anything," Yuki said, still skirting the very thought of a confrontation. She bit at her lip again - that sort of aloof indifference had been what drew Amano's hate in the first place, making her feel that Yuki didn't care, or that she looked down on her even. Yuki didn't want to make matters worse now, and potentially threaten herself even more in the future. At the same time, if she said anything to Amano, it could be inviting even more trouble. She didn't want to risk it.

[The Riders]

Coming off another title loss—one that sent the older woman's confidence into the gutter.

Thereisa had been watching the match tape over and over, trying to find out what had gone wrong after she had just gotten control of the match, and with the snap of a finger, she lost it just as quickly due to one Amabomb that somehow sent her through the mat, leaving her laying in a hole, unable to try and kick out or even try to move her body.

So imagine her surprise when she was told that she would be taking part in the wildcard tag match—teaming up with the woman who just beat her and left her laying in a crater in the middle of the ring for everyone to see—and finding out that she would be teaming up with Alaina to take on Yuki—someone she lost to—and that smaller woman Amano, who after seeing some of her matches is one screw loose from being a hardcore death wrestler with skills in strikes and grapples.

Even though they have a disadvantage height-wise and more strength, both opponents are tested and proven in their own right, and she is not going into this match overlooking both of them at this point in her career, since right now she is at her lowest and she will be damned if she loses again and brings a loss to Alaina.

That is something she refuses to allow to happen, and this will send a message that she is still a threat for the title.

She decided to put on an outfit she had custom made for when she was to challenge Alaina for the title, but the outfit didn't arrive in time.

But now it is here, and as she puts it in, she feels some of that old swagger coming back as she even flexes her muscles, showing off her figure in front of the mirror. "Oh yeah, I'm ready for this one... I'm probably going to deal with Alaina and some trademark infringement, but whatever for now, this is what I'm going to wear, and Alaina is going to flip when she sees me in this." Thereisa says she is laughing as she makes her way backstage, waiting for her cue to come out on stage.

As music plays, giving her the cue to go out... Thereisa pushes the curtain aside, wearing an outfit that brings the crowd to their feet as she is flexing her muscles for the crowd, walking down the ramp, and standing in the ring before pointing behind her, waiting for her partner to come out.

[Highfly]

Alaina was ready in her two piece tiger print attire as she paced backstage. After their initial meetings in LAW Alaina and Thereisa had come to a sort of understanding with one another despite how much of a heel Thereisa could be at times.... not to mention the downfall of her daughters. However Alaina wanted to win tonight, as did her partner. They would push all that aside and focus on victory. The amazon walked through the halls backstage and heard her music playing with her bursting out into the arena!

Alaina flexed and posed at the top of the ramp as the crowd roared and she began walking down the ramp, high fiving fans along the way. It was when she made it to the ring, climbing up onto the apron then through the ropes that the attire choice of Thereisa finally hit her. Alaina stood with her hands on her hips smiling. "Well well.... I like it. I see you went to the Underarmor womens wrestling attire and got an outfight from the section I helped them design." Alaina said with a shrug. "I am ready to see what we can do as a team, lets make a good show for the cameras eh?" Alaina said inviting Theresa to pose with her in the middle of the ring. A bit of team building along with hopefully intimidating the smaller team a bit would do them some good or so Alaina thought.



After they posed Alaina looked over at Thereisa. "Okay, who is gonna kick things off for us?" Alaina asked wondering if she was going to start things off in the ring or on the apron at the ropes.

[dlamp]

Amano watched as Yuki approach, an even more somber arrival than how she usually came onto stage. It looked like she was feeling the same about this as Amano. Her balled fists, her sharper expression. And... her refusal to meet Amano's eyes as she moved closer and closer toward her. Amano could feel an eyebrow twitch. Was Yuki just outright ignoring her now? Granted, Amano didn't exactly want to be in Yuki's vicinity either, but she wasn't just... pretending Yuki wasn't there. Even as they were next to each other Yuki refused to look Amano's way.

Then, she finally spoke.

"...I'm not going to say anything,"

And Amano's eyes black and yellow eyes practically glowed in rage. She pivoted on her heel, looking directly at Yuki with a piercing gaze, baring her teeth at the girl and opening her mouth to outright snap at Yuki. Even now she was brushing her off. In a situation like that where it was do or die Yuki still chose her pride and appearance above everything else. Amano's hand move to snatch Yuki by the hair and force her look in the Demon's eyes, to make her hear the snarls and razor tones that were nearly spilling out of her mouth.

But... she stopped. Her hand just an inch from Yuki's face, she stopped herself, and her shoulders and body visibly relaxed.

"Then don't. Just. Listen." Amano took a breath, pulling her hand back and collecting herself before speaking again. "I don't like you." Might as well state the obvious first. "And I don't give a damn how you feel about me anymore. But we're here together. So... let's just deal with each other."

She looked over to their approaching opponents, seeing them decked out in matching outfits, doing matching poses, and surprisingly seeming to have good coordination. Amano didn't pay too much attention to things outside of the lightweight division, but she knew of Alaina and Thereisa, it was impossible not to know about them. Two contenders for the heavyweight title belt that had some legacy behind them. Women that probably had experience both as allies and rivals... and despite the theme of this event being to put clashing wrestlers together they seemed to have pushed past that to make a good show.

"Actually, look at them." Amano said, gesturing to the two larger women. "If you think you can take them on without any help then I'll step off the ring let you do whatever the hell you want, Kazikura." She stated. "But... if you can't..." She looked Yuki in the eyes, her expression now a little softer, if still stern. "Then say it now and work with me. We don't have to like each other. We just have to deal with each other and win. I'll settle things with you later, so... for now..." She took another breath. "I'll consider this a truce if you will."

[CaptainL]

Yuki wasn't looking at Amano. Even when she hadn't said anything, somehow, she just knew that if she did she'd be inviting trouble. The very thought of the two of them working together, after their last meeting face to face had seen them do just about everything short of tearing each other limb from limb, was almost impossible to believe - and knowing Amano, Yuki was sure that one wrong word could well be all it took to set off a disaster. But even when she was consciously averting her gaze, she could feel the anger and the disgust radiating off of her would-be partner - and that thought was enough to make her body grow stiff, her hands balling up into tightly-clenched fists as she tried to stem the urge to tremble, not wanting to show her any sign of weakness. She didn't need to say a word, and she didn't need to look at Amano. She could already tell that she was one step away from a volcanic eruption - and if she attracted the Rascal Demon's ire again, Yuki was just as terrified of what she might do as she was of what Amano would. Their last match had driven Yuki to a rage she had never seen coming from her before - and one she was in no hurry to have to deal with again. Her greatest strength came from her focus and attention - and if Amano's presence clouded her thoughts like this, it already meant trouble. To say nothing of how terrified she'd been of herself.

But then, Amano said something else. Had she just...proposed a truce? That was enough to get Yuki to look back at her - and that was out of disbelief more than anything else. She faced the Demon with a look of absolute bewilderment on her face, blinking a couple of times as though trying to convince herself she had really just heard that right. "Huh? You're..!?" It seemed that up until this point, it had always been Yuki who was trying to talk Amano down, and to contain her more destructive outbursts. Yuki had even tried to make peace with Amano multiple times by now, but every time, it was Amano who had been the one to throw the olive branch back in her face. She would have never expected her to be the one pushing for them to work together.

But when Yuki looked back at the opposing team, she gulped, and a chill ran down her spine. Even across the arena from one another, Alaina and Thereisa cut a threatening presence that was hard to ignore. Not only was each of them bigger than Yuki and Amano put together, but they both had far more experience as well, and they knew their way around the ring better than the two lightweights, even with their accomplishments behind them, could ever hope to claim. Yuki had witnessed Thereisa's aggression and brutality first-hand, and Alaina's name was inescapable when discussing the greatest achievers of LAW.

But what scared Yuki most of all wasn't their physiques, or their pasts, or their reputation. It was that, unlike herself and Amano, they had come in coordinated outfits. They had planned this. They had agreed to set aside their differences long before Yuki and Amano had, and even in an event designed to limit the advantageous effects of team cohesion, that would already give them a leg up. Yuki and Amano were already squabbling. But Thereisa and Alaina...they didn't even seem bothered by being brought together.

Yuki had to concede - Amano had a point. Against an effective team of two veteran heavyweights, they wouldn't stand a chance if they threatened each other more than they did their opponents. She sucked in a long, deep breath - the thought of teaming up with Amano was an uncomfortable one, and one that seemed to invite a host of dangers too terrible to contemplate. But whatever tension that might bring...was nothing compared to taking on Thereisa and Alaina at once.

At last, the dark-haired girl sucked in a breath, standing a little taller, before she turned to face Amano. Her eyelid still twitched with the lingering tension in her body as she looked the Demon in the eye...but she nodded her head. "You're...right," she muttered, even if she had to bite her lip just saying that. "Against them, we're not going to stand a chance unless we do this together. That...we can agree on." The note about settling things later did make Yuki a little tense, but she planted her fist against her palm and cracked her knuckles before taking another deep breath to clear her head. "I'm willing to work with you. As long as we can make things work. I just..." Yuki grit her teeth. Even as she took a step forward, she watched Amano out of the corner of her eye, just in case she was going to stab her in the back. Literally or figuratively.

"...I just don't want anything funny from you, either."