Overcoming Zeal (Hangaku vs. Raina)

[dlamp]

Gekokujo Match
No-DQ Match with Pinfall Victory Only
Hangaku is banned from using Explicit Hentai/Sexual Techniques

One might figure after a few months of silence on the Gekokujo Challenge that the dust had settled. That Himeko's plan to force Hangaku's hand into fighting "properly" was a bust and that the Bewitching Warrior could rest easy. Hangaku herself had to admit she was slowly getting over her grudge toward her Princess and had even relaxed a little in her interactions with both her and Reiko. She had hoped the one attempt, the one single match with those rules and that bounty in place would fade into obscurity, never to be discussed again. And especially with that one idol wrestler the Middleweight Division trying to push a massive 100 million yen prize pot for an open challenge the Warrior figured it'd be enough of a distraction to keep people's eyes away from her.

But there was no such luck.

No, just as Hangaku let her guard down and settled into the role of trainer and advisor of Senso no Hana a random middleweight that met the requirements of the Gekokujo just had to try their hand, and Himeko (the asshole she was) immediately gave it the okay and kickstarted another wave a promotions for the Gekokujo. I take it back, that brat can still go to hell. And like last time, Hangaku's mood was at a rock bottom. Once again her family treasury was being treated like a carrot on a stick, and once again she'd have to fight with all she had to keep her family's finances afloat for the amusement of her damn fickle little heiress. Three more matches... Just three more... It was all she focused on to keep her mind sane. Three more matches and she'd be free of the weight hanging over her. But unfortunately Hangaku didn't have the luxury of knowing too much about her opponent again. It was a debuting newcomer, but that was all she knew. And thankfully unlike Reiko's debutante event she wasn't under too many stipulations save for her inability to use hentai techniques. No, I can do this. I have to do this.

"Tonight! Senso no Hana's Gekokujo Challenge Match! And first to the ring, the Pillar of Senso no Hana! Hangaaaaaaaku! Goooozeeeeeen!"

Spoiler

At the announcement of her name and title the Bewitching Warrior revealed herself on stage, lights flaring behind her silhouette, revealing her in all her glory. And the crowd gave her quite the welcome with their explosion of cheers as her theme played out to its vocals. She only offered the fans a small smile, walking down the ring with elegant steps as she waved and nodded to the crowd. As much as she wanted to play a little more to the crowd she had to focus. She gave them a simple acknowledgement before she calmly climbed into the ring, ducking under the middle rope and making her way to her corner as her theme faded out. She then let out a short breath as her nerves settled. Right. I can do this.

[Rose~Medley]

Of course, Raina didn’t know as much into the details as Hangaku did. The debutant wrestler had her fingers crossed and her hands in her lap, as she’d sip a cup of tea backstage. She seemed surprisingly calm, but the tea was there to calm her nerves and have her not explode like her namesake, a firecracker.

It was ALSO her first time trying tea so it was an interesting experience.

When she had been approached by the agent for her first duel, Raina had found a list of available options. Lots of women and some men lining up to challenge her.. and they all seemed pretty overwhelming. But what caught her eye was the price tag attached to this one.. a hefty sum of 50 million Yen? She’d be loaded!! The girl didn’t look too tough too, although Raina admitted she was in love with the tattoos and the luscious wavy hair. But any further exploration on her opponent could come later.

Now was the time for meeting her face to face. Hangaku had entered, and now it was her turn.

With a devastating BANG, sounding more like an explosive than the guitar riff she had asked for, Raina appeared out of guerrilla position and into the arena lights. She was donning a different attire than usual, and without much fanfare from the crowd, many of which seeming irritated from the shock they had just received, along with the nature of the match painting her out as an aggressor, she’d just walk across the arena and slide into the ring.

Her first match. She couldn’t really believe it, but after taking some quick, short breaths to steady herself, Raina met the eyes of her opponent with a little, wild looking smile on her lips. She’d make a finger gun and fire it off at her.

”You look smaller.. and cuter.. in person. Hope you don’t mind my snatching away the victory.. and getting that sweet sweet money!”

[dlamp]

Hangaku watched her opponent with a curious eyes, scanning her up and down as she made her way to the ring. There was no fanfare, no celebration, no playing to the crowd, and for as bombastic as the music was she didn't do much to emphasis it with her entrance. She was... truly new in almost every sense of the word. And the way simply climbed into the ring without much more flair had Hangaku pause for a moment. She seemed... normal. A little clueless and definitely unrefined, but she didn't seem like a bad person. And as Hangaku made her way forward she found her expression softening a little. Come to think of it, it's possible she just saw this match as a unique way to debut herself. She probably just saw this is a novelty match against a wrestling currently being pushed and decided to-

”You look smaller... and cuter... in person. Hope you don’t mind my snatching away the victory... and getting that sweet sweet money!”

And just like that Hangaku's eyes lost the little bit of soul, life and mercy they had in them. Nevermind. This person is garbage after all.

Almost immediately Hangaku's face shifted from a soft, neutral expression to a smile. A small, mirthless smile that it didn't reach her eyes... or even her soul. She simply looked up at the taller woman and canted her head as the Warrior stared at her like an object. "You'll need to win first, Firecracker-san."

*DING*

And Hangaku immediately moved as the bell rang, thrusting her arm out for a straight punch aimed right at Raina's stomach to start things off.

[Rose~Medley]

“That’s the plan, Kuku san. I’m going to win.. and get that money.”

Even if greed was her motive, it wasn’t like Raina was any less fired up when it came to it. Her face lit up into a bright grin, a stark contrast to Hangaku’s absolutely furious, but well hidden temperament that was threatening to consume her all. But of course, this didn’t mean Raina didn’t take Hangaku seriously. No, all her years on living on the street had attuned her to have a basic assessment of threat levels..

And boy, was Hangaku giving her danger signs even for her stature. Raina had already fixated it in her mind that she’d need to bring her down quickly and not let this battle drag on for more than it has to. So once the bell rang, she was in motion already, lashing her leg out with a kick! Her foot didn’t hit the intended target of her opponents waist, instead doing just as good a job of intercepting Hangaku’s initial punch! The kick flung her opponents striking arm sideways, and Raina still kept her offence up! She’d lash out even before she was steady enough to stand, aiming a powerful drop kick with her other foot right at “Kuku’s” chest to topple the lightweight!

[dlamp]

Raina moved just as fast as Hangaku once the bell rang, throwing out her leg and knocking the Warrior's fist off course. Hangaku winced at the impact, the sting in her wrist and arm forcing her eye to squint. The crowd gasped at the small crack in the air before Raina immediately followed up, taking to the air before her feet touched the ground and slammed them forward hard into Hangaku's chest.

"Gugh!" And Hangaku found herself staggering back, all the way to the ropes as she coughed and hunched over, clutching her chest tight with one arm as the other clung to the ropes. She let out a pained, vicious hiss as eyes narrowed toward Raina. The crowd was in a wave of whispers and murmur, almost as if Hangaku's glare was holding back their volume. "Oh my..." She hissed out. "I though 'Nanana' was a rather silly nickname for me, and yet here we are..." It was all she said before sucking in a sharp breath and launching herself forward, going for a low tackle toward Raina's legs.

[Rose~Medley]

”Hey, I take offence to that.. Kuku is much better than Nanana!”

She’d stick out her tongue childishly, when hers was addressed as a silly nickname. Almost tempted to say something else, when she caught Hangaku’s gaze. Malicious. Angry. Furious even. What she had been about to say died in her throat, a quick little chill down her spine, leaving her to adapt a more serious stance and fiery determination. She’d take a step back, but like an animal, Hangaku lashed out at her! Raina’s eyes widened and arms rose to protect her face, but that wasn’t the target! holy shit she’s getting wild!

She tackled her legs, slamming the middleweight newbie to the ground in a rush. Raina met the canvas, but her street instincts took over almost immediately, overpowering her admitted bit of anxiety she seemed to be getting when facing the figure of Hangaku! She lashed out, getting Hangaku’s hand in a vice grip and pulling it forwards, immediately locking her thighs around the chest of her opponent, snapping them in with a vice grip and starting to choke her and stretch out her arm in a clinch like submission!

[dlamp]

The moment Hangaku felt Raina's back slam into the mat her red eyes glowed with bloodlust and malice. She immediately lashed out further, her body moving to set up a mount position and really let this upstart felt her wrath-

"!!!"

That... was the plan, but Hangaku's body stopped cooperating. Before she could even follow up Raina's instincts kicked in just as fast as Hangaku's takedown as she wrapped her legs around Hangaku's chest before the Warrior could get in a mounting position. Her already narrowed eyes shrank into red slits, but Raina's movements immediately shifted to a chokehold, her hand tightly a clutching onto Hangaku's wrist and legs tightening around her chest and throat for a makeshift triangle choke. Raina might had been rough about it, but this opponent wasn't just an arrogant newcomer. She had some skills to back up her confidence and cocky attitude. And in any other situation Hangaku might had even praised the woman for her deft movements and quick-thinking.

But this wasn't match. Not to Hangaku.

The moment the choke started to tighten Hangaku's started pushing up on her legs, trying to force both her and Raina into an awkward angle before starting to lift her upper torso and Raina both off the mat. It was a bit of a gambit, but if Raina's technique was as rough as it felt, she might be able to at least get her off the Warrior for a bit.

[Rose~Medley]

Having locked Hangaku in a pincer like hold, Raina still knew she wasn’t in the best position she could be. Hangaku still had too much leverage for this to be what she wanted, a clean and easy finish. And her words were being proven right as Hangaku started to gain some leverage, Raina starting to feel herself being lifted

But one of the aspects of a wrestler, other than using moves and holds.. was how to maximise their impact. And damn if she didn’t have some good ways to do so. She’d lightly, lightly shift her weight and loosen the hold a bit, trying to get Hangaku to think she was gonna drop it.

“Don’t think just cuz I’m a rookie.. I’m easy to beat!” Raina snarled.

Wrapping her thighs around Hangakus waistline now, she’d torque her body to slam her down into the ground sideways and similar to leave a nasty impact onto her head. Only then did she release her hold, taking a bit to get back and free herself from the close quarters combat she had been locked in!

[dlamp]

The weight on Hangaku's body slowly started to dye down a little. The grip Raina had on the Warrior's body seemed to be loosening as Hangaku forced the two at an odd angle. Raina couldn't keep this up for long, and Hangaku could already feel her throat loosen up as her opponent's legs started to give out. Just a moment longer and she'd be safe to counterattack in full.

And then gravity shifted.

With a bitter retort from Raina she twisted her body and forced Hangaku to follow. Already lulled by the false sense of stability, the Warrior was quickly thrown off balance and slammed into the mat hard. "Grugh!" The loud thud along with her cry of pain had the crowd wincing. The ring even shook a little at the total weight being dropped down. And as Raina dragged herself off the Warrior remained on the ground, groaning from the impact, trying to shaking the throbbing and dizziness from her head as she laid there.

[Rose~Medley]

Raina rubbed at her lips gently, as she rested in a new crouching position. She’d narrow her eyes after executing her move, locking eyes with her. With a small sigh, Raina walked over to her.. and clasped Hangaku’s palm. She’d gently, as one would to a significant other help her to her feet, steadying Hangaku’s probably shaky feet with her. She’d grin a bit when she met her gaze, teasingly.

Raina pressed a kiss to her opponents nose.

“You’re cute when you’re not glaring murder at me.. and cuter still when you’ll be under me!”

Letting go of Hangaku’s body, but keeping a firm grip on her hand, she’d drag the warrior towards her! Outstretching and shoving forwards her arm, she’d bash Hangaku with a clothesline, literally lifting her up and slamming her down to the ground! If working as planned, Rai flopped her body down across Hangaku’s, lifting up her thigh with her hand and.. going for a pinfall!