Tending to the War Garden

[dlamp]

With Estrella's willingness to her hear out, Himeko nodded before taking a breath. And the moment she exhaled some of the tension in her body faded. Her shoulders drooped to a much more relaxed posture, her stiffened featured relaxed to a more casual, somewhat tired expression, and her stance went from its more rigid posture to a looser, more casual disposition. When she looked back to Aurora her eyes softened eyes, but more than that she made sure her face was completely turned away from Reiko. "Right,"

The next words that came from the Princess's mouth were void of her usual callousness, deepening to a more conversation, quiet tone, practically a low hum. "I know I'm here now helping you, and given my recent actions you probably have some idea of what I'm about, but I was completely against joining LAW at first." She started. "My father saw the changing winds of sports entertainment and I wanted to ignore it until I was pushed to at least get on the ground see what this scene was all about. Too many people from our gyms and dojos were using our good reputation and training regiments as a point in their resume to join up with some indie league or LAW itself. Not having a piece of that pie bugged our shareholders, so we joined in. I'll be frank, partnering with LAW has been it's own bitch of an experience. If you read even half the contracts some of the managers get those Young Lioness to sign you'd wonder if this was a wrestling circuit or a sex club. But my father is happy with the profits and what little we can touch and manipulate has been promising." She closed her eyes, her mind seeming to move else. "I hate this business, Estrella. I really do. Everytime I see the Runt get caught in another match she's made to look like cannon fodder in I feel my blood boil a little, but I own her and her family a few favors and I need to be the Taishuya's eyes and ears on the ground so I'm stuck where I am for the moment. I'd kill for this place to have an MMA side branch instead of making MMA matches a side-show novelty match, but..." She paused, shaking her head.

"Well, I'm done complaining."

With that, her back straightened , her face stiffened, and her tone went right back to its usual nonchalant, blunt inflection. "Anyway," She turned around, gesturing over to Nanase who had brought out four pad poles with turnbuckles and hooks attached to them, along with a series of elastic-looking ropes next to an elevated platform of tatami mats. "It took a few months to work out the blueprints for it, but we've got our own little wrestling ring here in the works here." She said, the smug pride clear in her voice. "I didn't really want to make a Japanese-styled ring, but I had a feeling the Runt would lose her mind if she had to train on anything other than tatami outside of LAW." She shrugged. "Plus..." She turned to Aurora, giving a sly smirk. "If a certain SWAT Cat tells the press how fun and exciting it was to throw down with the Rascal Demon in her dojo and maybe post a few post-workout selfies to Twitter and tag LAW's PR then maybe DeFranco'll want to make the LAW x Taishuya Partnership a little more... lucrative for everyone. I'm sure some folks would love to see a Japanese-style wrestling ring. If they got the supplies from us and we got a cut of the profits for those matches who's really gonna' know?"

[winner3]

Aurora's eyes widened as she took in what she was seeing and hearing. Himeko was always so calculating, so staunchly pragmatic that she came across as cold to many. Of course, Aurora hardly knew the real Himeko, about the things that drove the leader of the SnH stable. But it warmed her heart to see Taishuya be so vulnerable in front of her. When Himeko turned away from Reiko and loosened her disposition, Estrella knew she was about to hear something heartfelt- something of great significance.

"Taishuya-san..." Aurora whispered softly under her breath as Himeko went on.

The masked girl brought her hand to her chest. She could feel the fatigued, almost defeated tone that the brunette spoke with. She took these feelings in as her heterochromatic eyes met Taishuya's own eyes. Himeko let the moment hang there. Aurora digested it. But very quickly, Himeko found her own spirit and disposition. And evoked feelings of concern from The Galaxy Cat.

As Himeko directed Nanase through the task of setting up the Japanese-style ring, Aurora continued to listen. She smiled warmly at Himeko's not-so-subtle hinting.

"Taishuya-san, you really are a woman of the business, hehe~" The luchadora giggled.

She'd reach for Himeko's hands and look to take them in her own. Holding onto them tightly and lifting them a bit, Aurora would reciprocate Taishuya's earlier feelings.

"I'll do all that and then some. I'll endorse this dojo in my tweets and on other social media. I'll attribute some of my future wins and career highlights to my time training with each of you here if you'll let me. I'll even put in a good word with DeFranco. The champions, the stars you see featured on the posters, the commercials, the shirts, the mugs, we get more access to key people in upper management than you'd think, DeFranco, included. Well, if interpersonal difficulties aren't a factor that is..." Estrella trailed off, referencing the success stories at LAW that you'd file under "difficult to work with" due to their strong personalities. Ladies like Lilian Byrne, Rei Tachibana, and so on.

"This business is monstrous. LAW can be monstrous. But this company is malleable, if nothing else, isn't it? A major championship was defended in the main event of a pay-per-view in an MMA-style match, was it not? I know it feels like these things are just done for novelty around here but that match would not have taken place if not your Reiko-chan, if not for Senso no Hana." Aurora exclaimed, passing glances to all 3 women. The petite luchadora returned her focus back to Taishuya.

"I'm not going to pretend to be an expert in business optics and management. And I'm not going to pretend that I'm not hopelessly outclassed by all three of you when it comes to mixed martial arts. But I am going to encourage you- to urge you to make the changes in this company and in this sport."

"If Rei can lobby for a name change from hentai wrestling to sex fighting in the name of respect....if The SWAT Cats can build the tag division up from zero into what it is now....if this company can accommodate us in any number of gym facilities and arenas anywhere in the world to wrestle through the behemoth that is Apex in the name of becoming the best fighter in this company and in the world, then I don't think there's really all that much to stop us from making the changes we wish to see. Whether it's bringing MMA to LAW as a regular form of competition or whether it's pushing Reiko-chan to the very top, plant your flag down! And plant it hard! Ruffle the right people's feathers and win the right matches and I'm certain that we can change this entire industry for the better! I truly believe that. And I'll help you in any way that I can." Estrella smiled and nodded assuringly, inadvertently bouncing the afro poof above her head.

"Ah! I got distracted! But you get the point." Aurora directed her attention to Reiko.

"Reiko-chan, Taishuya-san, Nanase-chan. I thank all of you again for giving me a chance to spar, today. But I should be forthright with you all. Truth be told, I do quite a bit of homework on my opponents when I know who they are beforehand. Without a shadow of a doubt, I am fully confident that I can defeat Rose in a wrestling match. I am not here to get a feel for Rei-chan's approximation of how Rose fights." Aurora would begin pacing, slowly approaching Amano.

"Rei-chan, tell me. Between yourself, Rose, and myself, Taishuya-san and I both came to the conclusion that you and Rose have some overlap with each other, but not with me. Tell me, Rei-chan, what do you feel you and Rose have that I do not? Where do we differ?" Estrella mused as she tried to guide the conversation toward her point.

[dlamp]

"Hm?" It took some willpower to not snatch her hand away at the sudden touch, but looking back and seeing Aurora's face caused Himeko to pause in her step. Her eyes went to their joined hands, then back to Aurora. The woman's encourage words had softened her expression more than she was ready for. Her venting rant wasn't exactly meant to garner sympathy or even some form of understanding. She just... vented, laid some of her cards out toward someone she knew wouldn't use it against her or try and twist the story into something that could damage her later. She knew Aurora might want to pry deeper, might even say something nice afterwards, but...

"Huh..." She was silent for a moment, her face conflicted before returning to its usual expression. "Heh," She shrugged, pulling her hand away and placing it at her hip. "Yeah, I will plant that flag. We will." Her eyes went to her teammates, now finishing up the ring as Aurora approached Reiko next with the full reason to her arrival. She gave the basic spiel and left it to Reiko to interpret the rest.

And Reiko... fidgeted in place at the attention.

"Ah, well..." She looked around the room, as if looking for the answer within it.

Himeko only rolled her eyes. Oh right, forgot about that little quirk of hers. Not to say Reiko was a shy person, but for as wild as she acted in the ring she sure was an introvert outside of a fight and especially outside of dealing with people outside her usual circle, especially when came to talking about her hentai engagements. Maybe we should just give her the mask as a security blanket next time... Well, that was for the future, and this was the present.

"You know this, runt." Himeko stated. "Say it, or I'll say it."

The implication immediately had Reiko stand at attention, looking to Himeko, then Aurora. Her cheeked turned red, then she fidgeted again. "I, uh..." She started, watching as Himeko impatiently gestured her to go on. "I... me and Rose, we, uh..."

"Runt,"

Himeko's sharp tone had Reiko at attention again.

"H-Hai! Rose and I are both martial artists and hentai fighters! We both use sensuality and sneak in sexual attacks if we're able!"

The room was silent after that. The answer finally out in the open, Reiko continued, speaking in a softer tone. "But I... don't use it that often."

"True, but the moments you use sex tactics in standard fights are pretty similar to Rose. It's often when you're either on the back foot and sneak in a move, or when you're already on your momentum and want to gain a further psychological edge." Nanase added.

"Right," Himeko stated. "And Estella needs some honest experience against someone like that since even the rougher opponents she's had tend to be pretty straitlaced. That's where you come in. You're gonna' go a few rounds with Aurora using those tactics. Just do you're usual thing and it'll be fine."

Reiko didn't stop fidget it in place, looking between Himeko and Aurora, her eyes settling on the SWAT Cat. "Is that... okay?"

[winner3]

It was nice to see a little bit of venting do the Steel Princess some good. Though, Aurora was smart enough not to comment on that, lest she be subject to the same discipline and the same commands that Nakano and Reiko were so used to from her. Rather, the luchadora exercised empathy and understanding. Even if it wasn't asked for, she'd offer her support. SnH were friends, after all. And just as they invited her over so that they could be there for her, Aurora wanted to be there for them to help however she could. Business would pick up, however. There was an agenda, after all.

Aurora had expressed interest in Reiko. She tried to broach the subject by inquiring about any overlap between herself, Rei-chan, and Rose Gold. The prompt caught Reiko off guard, of course. But Himeko was more than happy to nudge her along in this discussion. And after some blushing, some struggling, and some cuteness, Reiko found the words. And after doing so, Hangaku and Himeko went back and forth with her, helping establish precisely what it was they were there to do.

Amano seemed to go along with it. But she also seemed to look for reassurance and consent by checking in with Aurora.

"Mhmm!" Aurora smiled warmly and nodded to Reiko.

"That's quite alright, Reiko-chan. Thank you, Taishuya-san, Nana-chan...." Aurora's gaze drifted downward.

The feel of the tatami mats below her bare feet was something she'd need to quickly grow accustomed to for this spar. She looked at the impromptu ring with a sense of purpose. Not in anticipation of what was to come, but with resolve in her eyes. Resolve to be just as open with Senso no Hana as they had been with her.

"Ah, excuse me. Before we begin, there's something I need to tell you all. Please let me bend your ears one more time. I promise this'll be the last long spiel from me. I also promise that Taishuya-san will be particularly interested in what I have to say here." Estrella raised her index finger, hoping to draw everyone's attention.

"Please, won't you join me down here for a moment?" Aurora would kneel down and sit on her calves and ankles. She'd rest her hands on her thighs. She would implore Himeko, Hangaku, and Amano to get comfortable as well. If they obliged The Galaxy Cat, she would close her eyes and take a deep breath before jumping into it.

"Taishuya-san... everyone..." The petite masked woman began.

"You've all been very kind and open with me. You've laid your cards on the table and shared with me your goals and how I can help with them." Aurora smiled warmly at each of them as she spoke.

"I value the bond I have with each of you. You guys are my friends and as your friend, it's time that I do the same for Senso no Hana. Please allow me to be fully transparent with you all."

"I am not here to get an idea of how Rose fights. I know her type well enough, I feel. And truth be told, I'm actually entirely confident that I can defeat Rose for her title in a standard one on one wrestling match. To be that's a non-issue. What is an issue, however, is that when it does come time for me to face her...it won't be your usual wrestling contest." Aurora would wink at Himeko.

"I mentioned that it's not that hard to access key people in upper management if you know where to look and if they take a liking to you. The truth is that I've been meeting with the CEO DeFranco, himself, many times now. And after strong-arming him enough, he's agreed to allow me to do a contract signing with our Lightweight Champion..." Aurora gestured as she spoke.

"I'm sure you have many thoughts buzzing about in your heads right now. But please, for my sake, do hear out my whole story and digest it."

"DeFranco has allowed me to set the terms of the contract for my match with Rose.....and my terms are....that I'm going to let Rose choose the type of match we have. I know it sounds crazy, at first. But I have my reasons." Estrella spoke confidently and firmly.

"When the contract signing does take place, when Rose signs, I want you all to watch closely if you're available. I'm going to bring that vile woman's entire world crashing down all around her. I'm going to get expose her for precisely what she is. When I take her title from her, I'm not going to give her any wriggle room. There will be no scapegoats, no excuses, no one for her to blame...except herself. And I'll do that by beating her in a match of her own design....as you've probably pieced together by now, given my match history, I'm confident that Rose won't want a standard match with me. And that's precisely why I need your help...Rei-chan."

"Earlier I asked you what qualities you and Rose had in common that I didn't share. And while Taishuya-san and Nana-chan are right about your preferred tactics, I think it's important to abstract that a bit. Whether it's sensual tactics, outright violence, sheer athleticism, impressive speed, and beyond, many of the fighters in our wrestling league boast remarkable talents. But just as remarkable as those talents are the spirits of the ones that wield them. When you get into the thick of a match, when you're trading blows, holds, and more, when you feel like you're the most alive in your fights, that's probably when you're the most dominant and when you're at your most dangerous." Aurora looked intently at Reiko.

"Rei-chan, to me, what you and Rose both have, what I lack in comparison to you two is....a killer instinct!"

"I've come to realize this. That I'm fundamentally different from most of the top talent at LAW because of it. Rei-chan, when you step into a ring, there are probably many thoughts and many objectives running through your head. I've seen you fight. As your matches escalate, I'm sure you're goals do, too."

"How can I dominate this person? How can I subjugate them completely and bend them to my will? Force them to submit to me with every fiber of their being? Make them regret looking down on me and underestimating me. What should I do to them next to use them for my own ends? I'm sure all these thoughts and more cross your mind as your fighting spirit takes over completely. And I'm sure Rose is much the same way." Aurora looked at her hands and balled her fists.

"When fight night comes for me, when I'm in the heat of the battle, I'm never fixated on such things. For me, from the time the opening bell rings to the moment the contest is over, there's only ever one goal on my mind: "how can I end the match?". It harkens back to how we approach wrestling and LAW differently, but for me, 3 seconds with your shoulders against the mat or a quick tap out are all I'm there for. I don't delight in the carnage. I'm not trying to violate anyone or have my way with them. I don't have it in me to mercilessly beat someone into oblivion while making them experience ecstasy like you do. I don't have that killer instinct in me. But almost all of the best LAW has to offer do."

"Many of the top talents at this company have that same killer instinct. I should know. I've only wrestled only about ten-some odd matches, but I've fought many of them...."

"Against Dana Ashford, I wasn't able to do anything. She completely dominated me in our first tag title defense. All I could do was buy some time for my teammates to recover. I was basically her sandbag."

"It was even worse against Alaina. In the main event of the last We Are LAW, Alaina choked me out entirely. If she wasn't thrown for a loop by her own injuries, if she had the wherewithal at the time to simply let the referee check on me, I wouldn't be a tag team champion right now." Aurora looked across the room at her bag, which had one of the tag belts draped over her belongings.

"Amano Jaku, Dana Ashford, Alaina Sanders, Tina Armstrong, even my partners Kat and Tracy when they're backed into a corner and pushed hard enough, you all have this third or fourth gear in you. This aura with which you practically ooze strong personality whether it be lust, bloodlust, or just the general will to win."

"Please make no mistake. I intend to go the distance with Rose and I will defeat her. I've faced opponents with this same killer instinct before one-on-one and I have won, just barely. But it was scary....just thinking back and recounting these experiences with you all makes me tremble a bit." Aurora's hands shook as they rested on her thighs. She'd bend forward and bow her head, resting her forehead in her hands as she bowed prostrate towards Reiko!

"And that is why....that is why I need your help! I need The Rascal Demoness! I need Amano Jaku! And I need her to come at me with everything she's got until this fear no longer stifles me! I need to be adequately prepared for one of the biggest matches of my career!"

[dlamp]

Reiko found herself shuddering as Aurora replied to her explanation, even more so as she called the group over for deeper discussion. Reiko moved forward almost absentmindedly, seating in the familiar seiza position she was used to. Meanwhile, Nanase only took a few steps forward before seating in the same fashion, keeping a short distance from Himeko who merely leaned herself against a nearby pole and gestured for the SWAT Cat to go on with her statements.

And the next words that came out from Aurora's mouth had Reiko captured.

Reiko knew Aurora was confident in her skills, the air she gave about and the way she carried herself, not to mention her strong record, was already enough proof she could handle Rose in a match. But more than that... she wanted to truly take down Rose, to show the world the kind of person Lightweight Champion was when stripped down to her bare essence. To back her into a corner where the only one she had to blame was herself.

But this wasn't what stole Reiko's attention.

No, Reiko had frankly heard enough of that kind of talk from Twitter and bad promo reels after every Midas Touch segment that riled up some newbie Lightweight into taking the bait. What got Reiko's eyes focused on the SWAT Cat was what came after, the key thing that she, Rose, and several other people in LAW had that Aurora didn't. Then... it truly clicked.

Aurora wasn't here for a spar, she was here a fight.

Aurora didn't need someone that fought like Rose, she had already said so. No, she wanted to fight someone that would be just was wild, violent, and desperate as Rose would be in the heat of things. To fight someone that wasn't fighting a wrestling match, but an earnest fight between athletes to the finish. She wanted the kind of experience that could only be gained in a truly bloody battle between equals. Just hearing Aurora's past experiences had Reiko's mind flash back to some of her own close calls and rough losses, and the reminder of the kinds of experiences she had went through in all her matches, the mindset she had in them, the goals she made... she could feel fire burning in her stomach.

"... ... ..." And Reiko's hands started to ball into small fists as her green eyes nearly flashed looking into Aurora's lowered position.

This was the first time someone had ever bowed so low to her.

Can I... really... do that?

"Well then," Himeko said at last, pushing herself off the wall. "Looks like I actually made a mistake for once."

Reiko canted her head. For once? She thought.

"For once?" Nanase said, repeating Reiko's inner thoughts.

"Hush you." Himeko gave Nanase a dismissive wave and turned her gaze to Aurora, then Reiko. "Ain't it something, runt? Not everyday we see an American bowing their head this low for something so simple." She started, walking behind Reiko and placing a hand over her head. "She's right though. You're probably the only person in all of LAW that can do something like this for her. I can't think of anyone else that'd have an all-or-nothing spar for the sake of mental training. Plus... you've been in the same spot before, right?"

Reiko's eyes went to her clenched, shaking fists. Fighting... killer instinct... The desire to hurt, demean, humiliate, and even kill her opponent. The drive to see blood spill, to break bones, and see a face in pain and anguish while enjoying it. She could do that in the ring with enough intensity, but... "Aurora... chan..." No, I... I have to do this. She couldn't refuse this request. "O... Okay." She whispered. "I'll do it." She too lowered her head, forehead to the floor over her hands. "I'll face you with all I have Aurora-chan! Until you can conquer your fear!"

[winner3]

Aurora was confident that if anyone across all of LAW could understand her and what she needed going into her big match, it was this group and Reiko in particular. The masked lightweight laid it all out there, and her friends listened. It brought a smile to Aurora's face. She lifted her head and showed off her thankful expression. Though she made sure to stifle any and all chuckling when Nana and Reiko expressed doubt about how frequently Himeko makes mistakes.

Her gaze shifted towards Himeko, who made some very poignant remarks. It amazed Aurora how simple a matter this was for SnH. Aurora had never explained this dilemma to anyone besides Katherine and Tracy. It took a lot for her to be this vulnerable with Reiko, Nanase, and Taishuya. Yet they welcomed her with open arms! In fact, they seemed about ready to get right down to business! At least, it read that way to Estrella at first. Though Reiko agreed, Aurora could see the apprehension in the brunette's body language.

Aurora would reach out to Reiko. Having her gesture reciprocated and being bowed to like this made her feel acknowledged, but she didn't see it coming at all.

"Now, now, Rei-chan. I know I did the same, but there's no need for all that." Aurora would say as she reached for Rei's shoulders and tried to get her to raise her head.

"I'm the one that needs the favor from you, not the other way around. Though...I must confess.... Taishuya-san..." Estrella directed her attention to Himeko.

"I didn't really have a game plan for this part. It's easy to get right into the swing of things when it's fight night. But doing it on command is new territory to me, heheh." The luchadora chuckled nervously.

"May I lean on you for assistance? I tried thinking of what the best way might be to go about this. Should I try to impersonate someone that you dislike, Rei-chan?" Aurora would stand up on her feet and bring her hands to the back of her hair to fluff her hair up a bit.

"Shall I try my best Rose Gold impression for you? I think I could pull off the blonde look a lot better than she does, in my opinion." Estrella would finish with a playful wink after proposing her silly approach.

[dlamp]

Reiko's body slowly moved up at both Aurora's urging and her help, her face red at the action. "Ehehehe... right." As tempting as it was to apologize for making a scene she held back. There were more important things to discuss, such how the actual spar would go. And Aurora brought up a decent point. It was one thing to say they'd have an all-out battle, it was another to actually do it. As tender as this moment was it'd be difficult to break into making outright war on each other at the drop of a hat. And while SnH -Amano and Himeko specifically- might have more experience with hard fights and ruthless tactics, this was a different situation, at least on the surface. Though at Aurora's suggestion to imitate Rose to ease into things-

"Please don't do that." All three spoke at once, their tones a mix of deadpanned, annoyed, and outright fearful both the group all each other, expressing a silent conversation between them before Himeko cleared her throat to give an answer.

"This might be new territory for you, Estrella, but we're all use to this situation." Himeko started. "I'll spare you sales pitch, but at the Taishuya-ryu Dojo -my family's dojo- we follow a handful philosophies and creeds. One of them is accepting that sometimes fights are gonna' get ugly and that sometimes you just have to go all out to find yourself. If you and your opponent know what's at stake there's no need to hold back. She canted her head at Nanase to continue.

"While we can't fully speak for the world of professional wrestling, the world of martial arts that Hime-chan, I, and even Rei-chan come from are far from the clean and sanitized very of sports combat you might be familiar with. I won't say have death matches for fun or have harsh hazing rituals, but without going into too much detail serious duels and grudge matches are... hm, the norm within the Taishuya-ryu dojo. Certain belt promotions require the promoting student to defeat or defend themselves in a match against a student of the belt they're promoting to for example. And specifically our self-defense course has a certain level of danger once you get to a high enough level." Nanase looked to Reiko with a sly smile. "In fact, our little Rei-chan had survived a ten-minute punch-out with Hime-chan a few months back."

"Hey," Both girls visibly bristled at that, and Nanase only smiled and continued.

"But back to the point." Nanase said. "I believe Rei-chan should explain this considering she's the one you'll be facing." Nanase gestured to Reiko, who fidgeted once on the spot, but nodded.

"Um... well..." Reiko scratched the back of her head, taking a quick breath. It was her turn now. Himeko explained the philosophy of their group, Nanase explained the situations they could be in, now it was up to Reiko be the one to explain her own mindset. When she spoke again, it was with confidence. "Aurora-chan... If you're worried about me hesitating or being afraid to really fight you, I won't." She had to say this right. Say it right and with assurance. She kept her tone firm. "You came here because you wanted to experience killing intent and to face it without fear. You want to fight against someone that isn't afraid to go all out and actually hurt you like it was a real fight. It... might take me some time to get into it, but I won't insult your resolve by holding back. And I know you won't insult mine by going easy on me. And since we both know the risks a fight like that will bring there'll be no hard feelings on how the fight turns out." Reiko clenched her fists tight. "I don't know if I can really go crazy from the get-go, but if you're serious, then I'll be serious. And if things get too crazy Onee-san and Ane-san will stop us before one of us gets seriously hurt." She looked Aurora in the eyes, jaw tight as she continued. "So... I'll fight you. And I'll come at you as hard as I can. I'll punch you, kick you, disable you, and hurt you as if we were in a LAW stadium." As if her own words flipped a switch, her eyes flashed a dangerous glint. "I... I'm a demon, Aurora-chan. I'm LAW's demon. Even without my kimono and twintails, even while I'm Maizono Reiko, Amano-Jaku is still here, and I'll treat you like all my other opponents. If you're ready to face me with all you have, then don't look me like I'm a human." Reiko bit her lip, forcing some edge and venom into her voice as her octave rose higher. "I... I fought Rose to a standstill and traded punches, honest punches with her. I torment and humiliate newcomers in Kimodameshi matches. I brutalized Kazikura Yuki on barbed wires because I can't stand how she looks at me. And I asked the everyone how I should treat my P.O.W. online because I could. I mock the audience as I humiliate my opponent. I'm... I'm not a good person." She looked Aurora in the eye, nearly glaring. "That's who you're facing, Aurora-chan. You don't have to be someone I dislike. You're Aurora Estrella, the Galaxy Cat of the Lightweight Division that fights to bring this division back to its glory and professionalism. I'm Amano-Jaku, the demon that pushes people to their lowest and revels in them desperately clawing back up to humanity. You should already hate me, Ginga Neko."

With all that said, there was a few seconds of silence before Himeko spoke up. "Well, and think that's everything that needs to be said. So long as both parties agree to the level of intensity you'll get what you ask for. That's how it works for us." Himeko then took a step toward the ring, testing the tautness of the rope. "Anyway, if you two are ready, the ring's waiting."

[winner3]

The group's collective reaction to Aurora gearing up to imitate the lightweight champion got a small chuckle out of her. The urgency and wide range of emotions in their responses was practically something out of a sitcom. Thankfully, before there was any further derailment, Himeko was quick to offer her guidance, per Aurora's request.

Aurora nodded and followed along as Taishuya and Nanase explained the guiding tenets of the Taishuya-ryu Dojo and the norms and practices they followed. It was new territory for Aurora. In a past life, The Galaxy Cat had served as a round girl at the odd MMA or boxing event. She was familiar enough with some of the rules for some martial arts competitions. But she had never done a deep dive into the feelings that go into preparing for and seeing through a genuine fight.

From Aurora's perspective, she simply had to work within the boundaries of the rules to find a way to win her matches efficiently. That's what wrestling was to her. Preparation, studying up on the opponent, pinning shoulders to mats or finding a quick tap out - earnest competition with rules that were enforced. It was a far cry away from simply swinging your fist at an individual you had an agenda against them.

Aurora contemplated Nanase's and Taishuya's words. She curled her index finger over the bottom of her chin. As the perky ebony lightweight thought this over, Reiko was prompted to share her own feelings. And they were illuminating, to say the least.

In much the same way that Aurora had done moments ago, Reiko's words had the luchadora captivated with intrigue and even awe!

Everything from Rei-chan's body language to the tone with which she spoke exuded the aura of a woman who was unapologetically proud of who she was. In the blink of an eye, she had flipped the switch! She put the full spectrum of her personality and thoughts on display, both the good and the bad! Right before her heterochromatic eyes, Aurora watched Maizono Reiko channel her inner demon and become Amano Jaku! Seeing the look in her eyes in match tapes and video packages did her no justice. Being in the same room as the Amano was a whole different experience entirely. Aurora had seen her in action in recordings but this was something else....this...was who she'd be fighting. This was what Aurora had asked for!

"Rei..chan..." Aurora responded meekly with an audible gasp. Her fingertips trailed down from her chin as she placed her hand over her own heart. A moment of silence followed before Himeko prompted them to get ready.

Aurora's face was the picture of ambivalence. She silently and slowly stepped towards the ring. Each step of her bare feet hitting the mats beneath her made nary a sound. She stepped lightly, not with efficacy or stealth, but with concern. Aurora had always excelled at analysis. She was resourceful both inside the ring and out. She studied her opponents when she could. She practiced nearly daily, running drills with her fellow SWAT Cats, working out, etc. Aurora was diligent and meticulous. So was it so hard to grasp the idea of hardening and evolving her resolve?

As she rolled under the ropes and found her way to her corner, her mind flashed back to all the big moments in her career and go all the work that she had put into getting to where she was today. Aurora loved wrestling. The sport helped her become a confident, capable person. She had come a long way as a wrestler in the few years that she was at LAW, but she had also become almost a whole new person. She was doing her best in the sport in order to find the best version of herself. She wanted to encourage others to do the same, and to find the best versions of themselves.

Aurora gripped the ropes in her corner and pressed her forward against the post. Everyone was different. Everyone at LAW was fighting for their own reasons. Everyone had their own resolve and their own goals that motivated them but....

"Can I really face down opponents like her with current resolve...?" Estrella thought to herself aloud. It took her a moment to catch herself.

"Oh! Sorry." Aurora would turn around to look across the ring, presumably at Amano, who was set to join her.

"Reiko-chan....Amano Jaku...I don't hate you. You're Maizono Reiko...you're Amano...you are human....you are my friend....but at the same time, you're also so much more than that...." Aurora struggled to find her words.

"Please bear with me." Estrella closed her eyes and composed herself.

"I'll try not to violate any more of tenets of your culture and your philosophies than I have already. If I do make mistakes, please know that they're accidents and not intentional." Her gaze would peer between the ropes as she glanced at Himeko.

"At this risk of making one now, I feel compelled to ask a question as a formality...."

"Taishuya-san, you've explained the safety measures, but are there any rules we need to adhere to for this sparring contest? Does it work like your standard LAW match? Will you be playing referee?"

"Or are there simply just no rules?"

[dlamp]

... ... ...

Fuck.

Shit.

Goddammit.

It didn't work.

As Aurora approached the ring, as she got into her corner and seemed to be prepared the woman was still hesitant. And even worse, so was Reiko. She bit her bottom lip, trying to force a glare at the SWAT Cat's response, trying to look annoyed at Aurora's hesitation as she asked for rules and regulations, trying to become the demon that Aurora was seeing in front of her. But...

But...

AAAAAAAAHHHH! Dammit Aurora-chan! Why can't you just hate me, get mad, and PUNCH MEEEEEE! Stop being nice and responsible for once and just be mean! I can't keep doing thiiiiiiiiisssss!

Being a rowdy, rude, in-your-face demon when the outfit and mask was on? Pretty easy, she did it all the time. Going at someone full throttle when they actively wanted to hurt Reiko and the violence was equal on both sides? Simple, her match with Kazikura, Rose, and many others were a testament to that.

Fighting someone that was hesitant toward that? Yeah. No. Even Reiko had some difficult fighting someone so... fair and honest. She was hoping that Aurora would accept Reiko's past cruelties and face her as the Galaxy Cat without any regrets or hesitation, but along with being the only logical person in LAW, she was also immune to Reiko's usual dark charisma that worked on Gil, Kazikura, and others. And Reiko couldn't keep the act up forever. Even the heat of combat might not be enough. But... there was hope. As Aurora asked her question toward the other War Flowers Reiko could only hope her sisters-in-arms would give their youngest advice as well with their words. Reiko's eyes darted to Himeko, hoping for some words of encouragement, some of her typical steely words to set the atmosphere for the fight to come.

Himeko, her elder sister and the most intelligent of Senso no Hana, gave a contemplative look, glanced to Reiko for a moment, then shrugged.

"Oh, Nanana'll be ref for this. She's better with the overseeing stuff than me. As for rules, just go nuts. I think your big match is No DQ so we'll simulate that." And then said most intelligent member gave an almost dismissive wave and walked off toward the edge of the room. "Don't worry about mistakes or anything. It's training after all, the Runt'll show you how we do things here so you get a feel for it."

Oh, okay. Himeko was just a bitch then.

Reiko's eyes then turned to Nanase, the eldest sister and most thoughtful of Senso no Hana, who also gave a contemplative look. Mind you, Aurora-chan, this is mostly to put you in an environment that would mimic your upcoming match. Rei-chan can be a little wild under these looser restrictions, but she knows how to prep you. Just take a deep breath, settle your nerves, and don't be afraid to strike with all your might. I'll stop and advise you if things get dicey, but for now you're in Rei-chan's hands."

Oh, okay. Nanase was a bitch too.

"There you go." Himeko said, leaning against a wall. "I'm gonna' be ring side watching things play out. Nanana'll ref for this. Well, as much as a ref is relevant anyway." She gave another dismissive wave. "Just don't kill each other. Or do, Nanana's there to keep you guys from really doing each other in."

Reiko's eye twitch. She couldn't even hide the snarl under her breath, and her eyes narrowed into slits. I'm going to dropkick you two when this is over.

"Aaaand, begin!"

"Hyaaaah!" The moment word was given, Reiko charged toward a Aurora with a fierce headbutt to start the match off.

[winner3]

Aurora could feel her heart pounding as the moment drew near. The Galaxy Cat was no stranger to being put on the spot. She knew well the feeling of being made to deliver at a moment's notice. It wasn't a comfortable feeling. It was never easy for anyone to do. But Aurora was confident that she could get it done, just as she has so many times throughout her LAW career! And yet, the feeling of needing to fight like everything was on the line- the very idea of going all out against a friend, sowed seeds of doubt in the back of her mind.

Aurora's toes curled slightly as she found her footing in the makeshift ring. She composed herself and pushed all her concerns out of her mind. The luchadora let out one last brief exhale. The fact that there were no rules, Taishuya and SnH's desire to see the dojo prosper, and the upcoming bout with Rose, all these would need to take a backseat to the pressing matter of learning how to combat the demoness before her! And that demoness....was way more out of sorts than Estrella could have possibly imagined!

Aurora was certainly feeling conflicted. But she had been contemplating these feelings for months on end. It was the entire reason she was here training with the group instead of with The SWAT Cats! Rei's feelings, however, seemed to hit her all at once! And it was apparent in her body language! Aurora's eyes followed Reiko's as Rei looked to Himeko for words of encouragement. She could feel the disappointment in the air around Reiko when Himeko responded to her silent plea with the most "Himeko" response possible. Even Aurora looked deflated for a second when Steel Princess quite literally waved them off!

But then Reiko turned to Nanase! Surely, her less pointed remarks would lift Estrella's and Rei's spirits! And she was....for Aurora, at least!

"Mmm! Thank you, Nanase-chan!" Estrella would say with a firm nod. Her afro poof bounced as she gestured to heed the girl's words.

Aurora took this chance to study her sparring partner's body language. There was clear ambivalence, and clear conflicting emotions. If anything, to Aurora, it felt like the situation had become reversed! She was here with SnH to learn how to fight against the crippling pressure of standing across the ring from someone with a killer instinct! And absolutely nothing about what Reiko was radiating right now embodied the Amano Jaku!

"?!" A focused expression formed on Aurora's face when Reiko opened up this contest by rushing at her straight out of the gate!

Aurora parsed the situation quickly! Her painted toes slid a small distance across the canvas as she motioned back slightly! She was still near her corner! She could use that!

The tag team champion would look to drop low as her friend approached! The luchadora would duck to the side and swing her legs towards Reiko's own in an attempt to capture the brunette's ankles with a Drop Toe Hold! If Aurora succeeded, she'd trip up Reiko and have her headbutt, not Aurora herself, but the middle turnbuckle as she fell onto it! But Aurora wouldn't stop there!

Should things go Aurora's way, she'd quickly follow up by positioning herself behind Reiko and hugging her around the waist from behind! Aurora would look to follow up by pulling backward and folding Rei up into an O'Connor Roll to try and capture a fall within seconds of this spar starting! Despite having some conflicting feelings, herself, Aurora would choose to honor SnH and the time they chose to invest in her by competing seriously! Even if The Galaxy Cat managed to fold Reiko up and sit on the backs of her thighs, even with weight bearing down on her sparring partner, Aurora fully expected Reiko to kick out!

"It seems we both have things we need to work on this spar....Rei-chan...." Aurora would collect herself and stand if things unfolded the way she expected.

"Amano Jaku might be a bad person....but I believe with every fiber of my being that Maizono Reiko is good person and that she is my friend!"

"If you want both of us to improve, if you want to stand a chance of defeating me, you're going to have to learn to channel Amano on command..."