My Hate, Your Hate (Reiko and Yuki)

[dlamp]

Okay, there was the heated retort Reiko was expecting. It seemed all Yuki needed was a reminder of their relationship. Though... seeing that scar definitely had Reiko's face soften a little. Yuki ranting about herself (again) aside, at least she was back in some sort of high spirit, even if it was tear down Reiko's own comeback and shoot back with her own venom.

And speaking of... jeez, did Yuki know how to cut with words.

"Tch," Reiko scowled, clicking her tongue. Yeah. I definitely regret saying all that shit. She didn't even have a comeback for any of it. Yuki was unfortunately right. Reiko was still a rookie with only that one win to her name, and it was honestly a luck one at that. Granted, she had more than just her match with Yuki, but she couldn't see her other wins as points of pride or true accomplishments. None of them were as hellish, attention-grabbing, or against someone as well-known as Yuki, and her first match against her was a clear lost compare to her lucky victory. There was... just nothing she had that she could shoot back at Yuki with. Not without losing face anyway. So as much as hated to admit (and she hated to admit it):

"Fine." She spat out the word like it was poison.

"I just wanna' hit the dojo now so I can train and shut you up in my next few fights, but..." She groaned, leaning back. "Yeah, I'm still a rookie. Not much I can do about that except fight more people..." She narrowed her eyes at Yuki. "But I don't exactly sit on my ass and start shit online all night like half the other damn wrestlers in this league, so watch your fucking tone." She sighed, sitting back up. "Just... sucks knowing I don't have experience in all the shit I wanna' do..." She gritted her teeth, looking down and away from the monitor. "Long did it take you? To get where you are?"

[CaptainL]

As she spoke, Yuki felt herself grasped by some strange energy. Her confidence was growing with each word; her heart beat faster and her muscles tensed as though she was ready to strike, even when there was nothing to strike at, nor any reason to. She realized what this felt like - it was the same feeling that had gripped her back in the ring, when she had let all her inhibitions and self-restraints loose and rose to Amano's challenge, bringing the fury she had wanted to see in her with no concern to if it was right.

A moment ago, when Yuki had looked back on her match, she had been frightened by what she saw. Now, though, she welcomed it. She didn't have to be afraid any more. She didn't have to hold back any more. Reiko wanted someone who could stand up to her, who wouldn't mince words. And Yuki was ready to rise to that challenge. She wasn't trying to make peace any more. She was here to stand up for herself. And when she saw the tension cross Reiko's face, Yuki couldn't help but be just a little proud of her efforts.

She sat in silence as Reiko retorted. Yuki could see that the damage had been done, and the pride had faded from the girl's words. But she was still committed to growing stronger and improving. As much as the two of them were different, that was something they had in common. To this, Yuki only had to nod her head in recognition.

"How long? Well...I've been wrestling for three years, now. Going on four. When I first challenged for the title, I'd been wrestling for two years prior. But I wouldn't say I'm done, either. I'm always growing and getting stronger, every day. I'm always chasing something greater. It's what drives me, and I don't think I'll ever be done until I retire."

After the words had left her, Yuki paused for a moment, in thought. Had it really only been three years? She had been called a prodigy. But even she, looking back on it, felt the realization set in that she hadn't been quite so ordinary as she always thought she was.

[dlamp]

"Okay, I take back what I said. We're at the same level then." Reiko leaned back, her back fully on the bed and her face out of view of the camera to hide the scowl on her face. She didn't know what to expect from Yuki's answer, but hearing it only left her bitter. Four years... assuming her and Yuki were the same age then they both got into martial arts at the same time. Yuki had accomplished a lot in her short career if that was the case, probably worked her ass off for that shot at the title too.

Reiko herself wasn't too interested in the belt, she already ranted on twitter enough about that, but even she knew her accomplishment in the league were small compare to Yuki's, and that realization only stung more. Maybe it was because she got into LAW later, maybe it was because she didn't specifically have a wrestling background, but... it really felt like Yuki just had an advantage over her in experience.

However... the way was talking about her experiences...

"Kazikura, do I look like an interviewer? Didn't ask about your life plans and I don't care about them either." She sat up, now facing Yuki again. "Alright I got all the answers I needed, so your turn. Ask me anything you want."

[CaptainL]

Yuki huffed, rolling her eyes as she settled back against the bed. As far as she was concerned, she was just relating the facts; hadn't that been what Reiko wanted from her? But whatever she said, one way or another, Reiko would always find some way to turn this back on her, and to make her look like the one in the wrong. It didn't matter what it was; she would always make Yuki into the villain. Now she was starting to see what she meant earlier. There was no way they could ever make peace, or become friends. Frankly, she felt foolish for even thinking that possible.

"Well, then, Maizono," Yuki continued, putting extra emphasis on how Reiko had insisted she address her. "I can't help but feel like things aren't quite over between us." Her eyes narrowed into a glare as she folded her arms. There was a sting in her voice; Yuki wasn't used to being this outwardly hostile toward anyone. But if there was anyone who warranted it, it was Reiko; she didn't think she'd be able to reach her any other way. It felt strangely freeing to act this aggressively; even if she wasn't sure it should have, she still couldn't help but let it come to her so freely and so naturally.

"I have no intention of letting this injury keep me down for long, and if I know anything about you, you wouldn't either. What do you say about a rematch once we can get back in the ring? I don't mean to boast, but...you only beat me out because you got lucky. I think if we really want to figure out which one of us is the best, that's a question that hasn't been answered."

[dlamp]

Reiko narrowed her eyes, letting out a loud scoff. Again, Yuki had a point, as much as her last little comment stung. They were technically tied now in terms of wins over each other. And even if Reiko's last win was a lucky one, it was clear that Yuki wanted some revenge of her own. And a tiebreaker was the fairest way to decide things. It wouldn't end Reiko's hatred of the girl, but... it'd give her a little closure. One more match now that they (sort of) hashed out all their issues and could fight each other as equals and rivals.

It... actually sounded kind of cool now that she thought about it.

Like those yakuza films of rival gangsters agreeing to settle things in a duel to decide who got who's territory and money. The idea had Reiko smirking as she thought it over. "Alright." Reiko leaned forward, looking at Yuki with an almost twisted gleam in her eyes. "You're on, Kazikura. But..." She leaned back. "On three conditions."

She rose up one finger. "First: You decide the match. Since you didn't back out of the death match and took it seriously, it's only fair I let you choose this time, especially since I won last time, luck or not. I won't back down of anything you chose. Standard match, hentai match, some weird chocolate-eating hardcore death match, whatever you want." She rose a second finger. "Second: I... need time." She practically hissed out the words. "You're... You're right. I got lucky in our fight. As catty as we got, I know it was down to the wire. And... I'm not experienced enough yet, as a martial artist or a wrestler. So... I don't want to fight you again until I've gotten more matches under my belt had have more time in the ring. Give me at least two months after we recover before we have our rematch." She rose a third finger. "And third... well, I already told you this before, but I'll say it again." She gave Yuki a hard look through the screen. "Come at me like you wanna' kill me, Kazikura. My fists still have a lot of rage to give you and my new red kimono still has white spots I wanna' fill out." She flipped her bang up, fully showing the large scar on her forehead. "Oh, I need to give you another scar so that we match afterwards." She let her bang fall, shaking it back into place. "So... we got a deal?"

[CaptainL]

Yuki's face remained stern and focused. She didn't twitch or move a muscle; she didn't even blink, lest it break her concentration. This was a moment of utmost importance, and she wanted to hold her composure, to give it the dignity such a moment deserved. The whole time Reiko explained her terms, Yuki watched her with an unwavering eye, only moving enough to nod her head in agreement.

It all seemed fair enough, anyway. Reiko had been the one to decide the match last time, so it was only fitting that Yuki would have the chance to do that next. She nodded. It didn't surprise her that Reiko felt she would need more time to prepare, to make sure that she would face Yuki on her level. Again, Yuki nodded. She could tell that Reiko was taking this seriously if she wanted to commit herself to being in the best position she could be in, and she would honor such a choice. Besides, Yuki herself was wounded from what she'd been through, and she would need the time to recover - particularly if the match came anywhere close to the level of violence their last encounter had. And Yuki could only imagine how far she would need to go to top herself.

But it was Reiko's third point that finally broke Yuki's composure. As the girl on the other side of her screen lifted up her bangs, Yuki got a look at what she had done - and it was enough to make her stop, her eyes growing wider as she sat up in her seat. Her lips pursed, where a moment ago they had formed her cold and emotionless stare as she focused on her rival. Now, all she saw was the wicked scar that crossed her brow. Had...she really done that? The mark on Reiko's head stood as a reminder of what sort of brutality Yuki could invoke when she was pushed to the brink - brutality that was enough to scare even her.

She reminded herself, all the same, that she couldn't run away scared now. She was facing perhaps her most deadly opponent yet eye to eye, and any sign of weakness would be seized upon. Any sign of weakness would be to concede her ground, and to prove she wasn't worthy of the seat she sat in right now. She'd already opened up too much. Now, she had to show Reiko what she really felt. Or, at least, what she wanted to really feel.

"Then...it's agreed." Yuki nodded her head, folding her arms as she settled back into her seat. "I'll face you on my own terms. When we're both ready, and when we've both had time to train. And make no mistake, Maizono," she added, the hostility in her voice rising as she addressed Reiko as she would her worst enemy, "I...will not hold back. I owe that to myself." Yuki almost had a hard time convincing herself she really believed that. But she had to. It was what something like this deserved. "By the end of it, I'll see to it that that isn't the only scar you'll have to remember me by."

"So. Do we have a deal?"

[dlamp]

"... ... ..." For a moment, Reiko flinched. That... wasn't a reaction she was expecting. Yuki's hard and cold stare didn't seem like something that'd break so easily, not without an actual strike to the face anyway. She's scared. It was more a realization on Reiko's end than observation. For all of Yuki's cold glares and stoic words it seemed she still had some cracks in that icy shell of hers. And as tempting as it was to call it out again, to rebuke her for again showing weakness, Yuki almost immediately steeled herself and accepted Reiko's terms.

Reiko met Yuki's hard stare with her own, taking in every word of her rival. She was serious. The hatred in her voice, the conviction she spoke with, the cold threats that followed, Yuki made her convictions known loud and clear. Next time they met in the ring, neither of them would be walking away without another scar. Neither would hold back, neither would show mercy.

And Reiko wouldn't have it any other way.

She could at least respect Yuki's drive, one of the few positive points about the woman she could acknowledge. And... Reiko found herself smile. Not the pleasant smile of agreeing with a rival, not an excited smile of the match to come. No, Reiko's grin was the smirk of a demon hearing a death knell. And she look at her rival- No, her nemesis, with as sharp a glare as she could manage and nodded.

"Deal,"

Reiko leaned back. "And you don't owe it yourself to fight seriously. You owe it to me." She brushed her bang. "When this is over, Kazikura..." She looked at her with a hard expression. "You will never look at me with that cold, icy stare again." With that, she end the call, closing her laptop.

And almost immediately fell back into bed.

"Ugh... that was rough. How's Ane-san keep up this hard and stoic stuff? Shit's tiring..." But despite that, Reiko found herself laughing. "Hehehe... Guess I got a nemesis now... feels kinda' weird, but kinda' cool too..."

End...