Haganehime vs Chika - Women of Steel

[Vc0m]

Standard Match
Winning Conditions: Pinfall, Submission, KO, DQ, Count Out

When Thirteen said the name of her opponent tonight when they were going over the match the previous day, she didn't think much of it...though her manager did make sure to leave a profile with her the previous night for Chika to read over.

The real name on top of it make her heart stop.

She was more than familiar with Taishuya Family, as they were one of the most common of her employers during the days she worked as a "Carrier Pidgeon". Passing along threats of extortions, stealing important items from particular opponents of the family...though they were one client that requested her a particular request.

The heiress of the family, Himeko, actively trained in a variety of combat styles, and her dad frequently required proof of the matter, and for a fee, requested for Chika to be her opponent in spars with her. However, at the time, she was just a homeless street urchin, with none of the professional training Himeko had. To say that the younger girl wiped the floor with her would've been an understatement. It was one thing to lose to her this badly...another was her brattish, superior attitude. The anger at those memories actually caused her daughter to wake up in the night, which lead Chika to immediately calm down and get her young daughter back to bed. She won't let anger towards Himeko cloud her mind...or so she would tell herself.

Thirteen could tell something was off the next day:

"Are you...feeling ok?", she'd ask her in the locker room.

"Hm? Oh...it's nothing, don't worry about it...", she'd try to tell her and smile towards her, though the blonde would be able to tell there was something behind that smile...but couldn't pursue the matter further. The time for her match had come.

Chika entered the arena in her usual manner, wearing her Raven armor all the way to the ring, keeping things focused on the ring, as Thirteen was all smiles towards the crowd, trying to get them excited for the match ahead.

Chika would calmly enter the ring, before taking off her Raven armor in the middle of the ring, and lifting it up over her head in confidence. She passed the armor onto her manager, before going straight back to her corner, on the upper right side from the entrance ramp. She did a few stretches, unable to contain her anticipation for the match ahead. She wondered whether the yakuza heiress changed at all in the meantime...but considering she started doing wrestling, it was obvious that she at the very least didn't lose her fighting spirit. In truth, a small part of her wished for a regular encounter...but her own bad memories, experiences and biases made it unable for her to feel anything but hate for Haganehime in the rest of her body...

[dlamp]

Igarashi Chika. Himeko had recognized the name of her opponent. A famed wrestler that took a bunch of awards and belts in the indy scene in her childhood before taking a break for some reason or another and coming back later on to LAW. An accomplished woman who had an almost comically cliche story of being adopted by a gym and training her ass off in the sport. On its face, there was nothing wrong with this woman. Himeko might not care much for wrestling or LAW as a whole, but she could at least respect effort when it was give and the climb to the top.

But when she actually looked at the photo on the profile... Himeko recognized her specific. She aged a bit and filled out more, but that vicious look on her face immediately brought back memories. It was that same messenger girl from when Himeko was a little kid. She remembered using her as a training dummy for judo and kickboxing back when she was first starting her martial arts training. She remembered her father wanting to make sure she could fight a real person actively trying to attack her, to see if Himeko had the stones to really hurt someone in an actual fight and not a sparring session. And every time Himeko would kick her ass. It was a memorable experience, taking on a girl much larger than her and winning time and time again. But back then she was just some street punk with no name worth remember. And now...

"I feel like someone dug into my past and dragged out a ghost." She mused aloud, finishing her stretching. "But maybe I'll get a decent fight out of this. Not everyday you get to fight someone you kicked around as a brat."

"Pride comes before a fall, Hime-chan."

Himeko turned back, narrowing her eyes at Nanase. "It's not pride, it's a fact, Nanana." She huffed out. "I'm here to make a point, not get buddy-buddy with some street punk turned wrestler."

Nanase just giggled, finishing Himeko's topknot. "Yes, Princess. As you command~"

Himeko rolled her eyes, waiting as Nanase finished tying her sash before heading out to the ring.

It was honestly a short and quick affair. As Himeko took to the ramp she immediately walked down it with little fanfare or attention given to the audience, Nanase behind her as a second. She would likely have Reiko here as well, but... the brat was in timeout for a while. Still, at least Nanase seemed happy, waving to the crowd and celebrating her Princess's arrival to the ring. She even lifted the ropes for Himeko to climb into.

And once in Himeko's steely eyes focused on Chika, giving quick look over. She was... different. Not only older and a bit taller, but... there was an honest warrior aura about her. Though... she also looked distracted. No, maybe that wasn't the right word. Conflicted would be a better one. "Hey." She called out. "You gonna' stand there with that resting bitch face on all match?"

Spoiler

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As Himeko walked out, Chika could feel her blood begin to boil. She tried to put the anger for her foe behind her, trying to remain professional at least for the moment, and not letting her disdain for her opponent bother her.

She walked onto the entrance ramp with her stablemate, but Chika wasn't worried. Even if Nanase were to interfere, Thirteen was there for quickly pointing ref's attention...or if need be, get her away from interfering. She didn't expect there to be any chance of what happened against Chelsea repeating.

The two women's harsh gazes clashed as they saw one another for the first time in...what honestly felt like a lifetime to Chika. She looked as tough as she ever were, meaning she wasn't just in LAW on her family's infamy. She could respect that fact about Himeko at least.

But the moment she spoke, the memories came rushing back. Chika bit her lip, and exhaled:

"Wait until the bell", she would think to herself.

"Just to let you know...you are not fighting the same training dummy from your childhood.", she would tell her, just to make sure she knew she recognized her, even if Himeko herself didn't.

Once both women were ready:

DING DING DING!

The match was on!

Chika would carefully move in to the middle of the ring. Even if she toughened up since she was a child, Himeko's fighting styles were focused on grappling specifically - meaning Chika had to choose her strikes carefully to not get caught. For now, she started simple, trying to launch her leg into Himeko's side once her opponent got close enough, trying to pull her leg away before it got caught!

[dlamp]

"Hn?" Well that was a surprise. Chika remembered Himeko after all. It might had been ten years or so, but getting your ass handed to you by a ten-year-old Yakuza Heiress in your teens was probably a stronger memory than said Yakuza Heiress offhandedly remembering some street punk's face from her childhood. Still, the sharp look in her eye and flat words given meant this was technically a rematch of sorts. A rematch ten-years coming in a way.

"And you're not fighting the same brat that only knew a basic shoulder throw and left hook." It was all she said back before the bell rang out and the match began.

Himeko was slow to approach, watching her opponent's movements. Chika's words implied a bit of an offensive, but... she was cautious. Either from Himeko's low judo stance or the reminders of their past bouts, this wasn't someone that was going to just come at her.

And when Chika did launch a kick for Himeko to try to tank and catch, she backed off just as the Heiress started prepping herself. "Tch," This girl had gotten smarter, but Himeko could play the fake-out game too. And once Chika pulled her leg back Himeko rushed forward, at first ducking low to give the impression of a tackle, but springing up to snatch up Chika's shirt and yank her to the canvas bellow.

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Chika couldn't help but crack a smile as Himeko recognized her back. She found something likable about her at least - she didn't forget a random street punk who was her training dummy.

As the match started, and Chika was able to hit and run, Himeko wouldn't let the Raven Knight's success matter for long. Himeko would move in, Chika putting her arms in front of her in response...only for Himeko to suddenly grab her t-shirt, and drag Chika to the floor!

"Ungh!", Chika would let out towards the sudden move and dissatisfaction that she was already caught by her foe's attack, trying to rise as quickly as she could before Himeko followed up!

[dlamp]

"Heh," There was a small smirk on Himeko's face. The faekout worked and Chika took a hard slam to the ground. Not exactly damaging, the she getting a good throw in did help with morale a little. But just as Himeko was going to back down to try and got for a submission Chika started scrambling up to her feet. "Tch," No you don't-

Just as Chika was getting up, Himeko's eyes went to the woman's legs and feet still getting their bearings. Not gonna' let you! And with Himeko still lower in her stance she rushed forward, hoping snatch up Chika by the the back of her ankles and drag her back to the ground on her back.

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Himeko was relentless. The moment Chika found her way to her feet, she was already down low, grasping her ankles, and taking her feet from under her!

"AAAGH!!!"

Chika impacted the canvas much more painfully this time...causing delay in her actions. She tried to scurry to the ropes for safety...but Himeko could easily chase her down if she so wished...

[dlamp]

The crowd was wincing at the sharp drop Chika took. Not in the exact position Himeko wanted, but it was workable... provided she didn't let Chika get away. And the Steel Princess was far from ready to give the Raven Knight the time or space to fly away from her. She refused to give Chika a moment to breathe, moving after her with hardened focus. Her hands moved fast to try and grab Chika's legs again to set up a submission.

A rather simple but effective one, like most of her judo repertoire. To try and grab one of Chika's feet, pull it and the ankle back and wretch it hard while pulling at the leg. In Judo it was called Ashi-hishigi, but in wrestling... it had the long-ass name of the Single-Leg Boston Crab.

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Himeko wouldn't release Chika's legs, instead turning her on her stomach...and bending on one of her trapped legs while being right on top of her, trapping her with a Single Leg Boston Crab!

Chika groaned as her spine was bent the wrong way into a C shape, pounding the canvas, before trying to drag both women towards the ropes, desperately reaching for a rope break!

[dlamp]

Himeko's lips curled into a smirk. Chika's groans and pounding made for some sweet music, but the song only lasted a moment before she started to drag both herself and Himeko toward the ropes. "Tch," Okay, Chika was right, this wasn't the same punk that'd be tapping out by now. No, this was a woman that could take some punishment.

Okay then... Himeko increased the grip on Chika's ankle, giving it a good twist as the two approached the ropes. If Chika wanted that rope break, Himeko would make her work for it. She'd make that journey to freedom was painful as possible.