The Heir and the Heiress

[Fairy Dragon]

In her spare time Ayane could always enjoy some light reading about articles or interviews in wrestling. Usually about her but she sometimes used them to keep her eye on competition or people she should look out for when she was competing or who was worth watching now that she was retired. Such texts that insulted her often amused her, she cared little for the opinion of others and she often found herself enjoying the clear resentment from peasants that thought they could speak about Ayane or her style. The many people that cited her as an inspiration or someone they would love to beat only made her happy, the more people talked about her the more her point felt made by her influence on these people. So it was rare to see her ever bothered or angry by anything that came from them.

Spoiler

"And it is with great pride that I dedicate my rise to the top to my father...Denji Akan...Denji...Akan." Ayane muttered angrily. The interview wasn't about her and she wasn't mentioned at all by name by the one being interviewed. That was the problem, Kyoko Akan her own granddaughter was treating the years of training Ayane had put her through as nothing while giving most of her respect for her rise to Denji. "I was the one who actually made something of you and instead of a simple thank you because of our differences you give credit to your late father who never put you through one training session?!" Ayane huffed and threw the paper down while doing so. The Empress never thought Kyoko would actually win a championship the way she was going and she knew that the smug bitch would never let her hear the end of it now. Ayane looked up at Piper Sherwood, who was training in her private dojo and certainly heard the outburst. Ayane coughed and bowed to her latest student. "My apologies for the disturbance. Don't let this interfere with your training." Ayane told her. They both knew Piper needed to improve faster now, not only did she have to make sure she was ready for LAW after Apex where she could either be the new Lightweight or Openweight champion, Ayane had a few concerns about this Miranda Tomi Piper had been fighting in the past. The dancer had been making improvements to her style and impressing many, Ayane couldn't let her catch up to Piper and risk surpassing her which meant the blonde had to be in top shape to defeat the opponents above her and the ones coming after her. It was a situation that would test Piper like never before, and Ayane could only guide her through it.

[Bare]

Standing not too far off from where Ayane was Piper was on the mats of the woman's dojo, throwing punches, elbows, kicks and knees at varying speeds. Ever since her brawl with Mira, and further motivated by a new friend, Piper was starting to take up martial arts, specifically Muay Thai since she and Ayane both agreed it'd likely be the most beneficial to their plans. Still every path started off small, and right now Piper was just going through the basic moves wearing a rather simple gym outfit of a black sports bra and loose fitting green shorts while barefoot. Naturally building up a bit of a sweat Piper would only look up once she heard her mentor snap. A really rare sight from the woman.

Spoiler

Looking up with her body glistening in sweat Piper raised an eyebrow before reevaluating what she just heard and nodding. Kyoko won the middleweight title, a very unwelcome wrinkle to their plans, and especially stinging for Ayane. Not that Piper could blame her. Nor could she of all people really give the woman grief for losing her temper. "Eh I needed a water break anyways." Piper said with a shrug, walking towards Ayane and grabbing a bottle of water, swigging some down before pouring some more on her face and chest to cool off. "Don't worry though, we'll make that bitch pay by making her waist one belt lighter." Piper promised while clenching her fist in determination, already dead set on punishing Kyoko's stomach once she got her hands on her.

[Fairy Dragon]

Piper's training had progressed extremely well, no longer seen as a weakling even though she was still being molded and had room to grow. It was the potential that excited Ayane in this project, she could've started with someone already stronger and made an impressive few years of it, but those people only had so much left to improve before they reached their limit. If she could help Piper find her way, she'd make a star for the next 20 years and bask in it even after she stopped accompanying her around. It made the little talks like this with Piper boasting of what she would soon do feel special, she knew that eventually she'd be able to do it if she stuck with the plan.

"Your heart is in the right place, taking that belt from her would crush her. If I didn't know a better way I'd say we go for it, In a few months you might be ready for it. I do know a better way, with the only downside to us being how much slower it is to get her." Ayane said turning the pages and ending it on the articles about championships she would fold it down and show it to Piper before pointing to two of them, the Lightweight and Openweight. "I understand you'd want one of these two right? Fortunately for you acquiring either one of them wouldn't be a problem for us. One thing my granddaughter hates more than being insulted directly is being treated as if she's already surpassed. If we challenge her indirectly and go for prizes we deem bigger than her 'belt' she'll come running to us to defend herself, and if you take what she covets from her then...That's how you destroy someone like her." Ayane said. With Ayane's vision and Piper's grand ambitions she knew they could make a fearsome team, one that could capture any gold Piper desired.

[Bare]

Deciding to go in on her break from training Piper took a seat next to Ayane as the woman spoke, making Piper nod along as she laid out their change in plans before handing Piper the folded over magazine. Looking at the lightweight and openweight titles she smirked softly as she overlooked them while taking in what Ayane said about her winning one of these would likely drive Kyoko batty and come to her for a fight. It was clever but Piper did have a concern. "Heh I know I'll win one of these sooner rather than later, especially the openweight." Piper said with a smirk before getting slightly more serious as she looked up at her mentor. "I can definitely how it'd drive Kyoko crazy, but after the whole Astrid and Rose thing last year you think management would let two champs go at it again?" Piper asked, not wanting to miss out on the opportunity to beat down Kyoko due to management getting involved.

[Fairy Dragon]

Her prodigy was usually so confident that seeing some concern and doubt on her face was becoming rarer and rarer. It was good that she was finding herself and the confidence that would boost her to new heights, ones that only Ayane could take her such as either of the belts she desired most. To remind her that such confidence was needed all the time Ayane laughed off her question. "Don't speak like you're one of the masses around us, we are better than that. The wrestlers live in hope that the people who make the real decisions care about them because they're foolish, promoters follow the money and nothing else. LAW made profits and continue to make profits off matches like those, so long as you continue to make them money you will be rewarded anyway you want, the fans don't care about any concerns of non-title matches if they're being entertained." Ayane said. The Empress convinced herself long ago that she had everything figured out and was happy to show off her understanding of it to any of her students.

"If that answer fails to satisfy you consider this. The only concern is that in champion vs champion matches, no prize is won because neither can compete for the other's title without changing weight. This is different, we're not fighting the Middleweight champion for that title we're fighting her for the Belly Queen Belt she parades with her, in that there is a prize to be obtained from doing it. To her credit she has managed to make that dreadful thing a prized possession, even if the most memorable part of it was when she was chasing it. That means that such a match would be seen as profitable and meaningful since it's no different than a title match, just with bigger stars on both sides." Ayane concluded, hoping Piper could understand it better after that.

[Bare]

It was pretty rare for Piper to express doubt or worry for much of anything, at least outwardly, but especially now after joining up with Ayane. So the odds would have to be pretty stacked for her to be even remotely worried about something. This was one such case. Afterall for her it was a rock and a hard place having to choose between humiliating Kyoko and taking her belly queen title, or going for the lightweight or openweight titles. Honestly if she had to choose she didn't know which she'd honestly go for. However that was why when Ayane began to explain Piper was quick to shut up and listen, this woman being one of the few that could get such a reaction from Piper as she nodded along.

Still even as she all she did was listen, Piper couldn't help the look of genuine excitement and joy that caused her to smile. It wasn't just from the plan. It was from the way Ayane spoke of her, We are better, not part of the masses. In a way it almost felt like Ayane considered her family, and considering what Piper knew of the woman's actual thoughts for most of her family she didn't think that was too far off and Piper loved it. "I see." Piper said with a nod before smirking evilly once more. "I like the sound of it, its quite the exploitable loophole after all, that and now that I think about it, its not like Defranco will wanna protect Kyoko at all... Honestly its kinda obvious in hindsight." Piper said before chuckling. "God I can't wait to have all that gold in my hands.. and to make Kyoko crawl.." Piper said just imagining how satisfying it would all be for her.

[Fairy Dragon]

Piper had much of the curiosity that Touka had growing up, it was refreshing to be able to teach a student who was so attentive to everything she was saying. "I'm glad to see that helped. Be aware that this is just the beginning, I'm not sure how far you will go but by the end no one will remember those early years where LAW left you to suffer. Who knows, you might even be able to make them pay soon enough." Ayane said as she took the newspaper back now that the blonde was confident again, sounding like a true student of hers. The moment between them was cut off by a soft knocking at the door behind them.

Spoiler

"Sorry to interrupt, I wanted to let you know I was here before I started grandmother." Hideo Akan spoke behind them. Ayane turned her attention to the young man by the door, the only male of her grandkids and she motioned for him to enter. "Forgive me, I lost track of the time. I was planning to meet you by the entrance but you can come in." Ayane said, which Hideo nodded and entered to greet Ayane closely. Once he entered he took a seat next to Ayane and embraced the elderly woman. "I was worried I was going to be late, I'll try to be quick about it so your new girl doesn't have to worry about it much longer. Nice to meet you miss." Hideo said, turning his attention from Ayane to Piper by giving her a respectful bow and a smile. Ayane realized the two hadn't properly met. "Oh that's a poor introduction, allow me. Hideo this is my brightest student Piper Sherwood. Piper, this is my grandson Hideo. He'll be taking over this gym soon and has agreed to keep it clean himself." Ayane introduced the two of them, she didn't expect trouble from either of them, Hideo was a polite and respectful young man unlike his siblings and she wasn't worried about Piper misbehaving.

[Bare]

Piper nodded at what Ayane said and smiled, never before having a teacher she respected, let alone admired like Ayane, and truth be told it was nice, it showed the level at which the two gelled and how much Piper felt she could rely on the woman to do what she said she would. "Of course, I'm looking to not just make them pay, but to feel sorry as well, and I know that day will come, especially with you in my corner." Piper said with a nod of respect before looking up at the knock and raising an eyebrow at the unfamiliar voice..

Only for her demeanor to change completely once the tall, muscular boy her age came through and immediately Piper felt her interest piqued in a... much more different way. "Well helloooo ~" Piper said in basically a purr as the now named Hideo was introduced by Ayane and vice versa, the brightest student bit being news to Piper, but welcome news, especially given the newfound interest she had in the boy. 'Thank you Ayane.' Piper thought to herself with a nod, a playful smirk on her face as she reached forward and extended her hand to him. "Nice to meet a grandkid of Ayane's that actually seems to know what's up, and please, just call me Piper, after all, seems like we'll be... seeing a lot of each other." She said flirtily with a wink towards Hideo as she waited to see if he'd shake her hand or not.

[Fairy Dragon]

Hideo looked at Piper and nodded before she offered a hand and a flirty wink. It was a little surprising to see the blonde acting polite, like the woman she was working with she wasn't known for being kind. Of course, he knew by experience that people were more complex than how they acted around wrestling, his sister and grandmother being two examples he had seen by living around them were far more than whatever the people thought and he wasn't going to turn down a chance to greet someone. Hideo took her hand and smiled back. "Nice to meet you Piper. I didn't know my Grandmother was taking new students, but
I know she has an eye for good students." Hideo said. He knew that if Ayane was calling Piper her best student it was high praise given the number of stars she trained.

"Where do you want me to start so I'm not in your way?" Hideo asked Ayane, figuring he could still start since Ayane hadn't said otherwise. Ayane quickly pointed to the equipment outside and around the ring. "We're done with everything besides the ring, Piper's been working hard so today was a workout to help her get a better feel for the ring with her new techniques.." Ayane said, she noticed the way Piper spoke to Hideo, she was certain Hideo noticed it too but was too polite to say anything before he actually knew Piper better. She decided for now it was best not to interfere as Hideo went to go get what he needed. "Not to worry Piper, I'll try to be quick about it and hopefully leave you with a much cleaner room to train in by the time I'm done." He said as he walked, not wanting to bother them too much and risk disturbing anything.

[Bare]

Piper chuckled slightly while continuing to meet Hideo's eyes as she introduced herself to him. It wasn't hidden at all how she was speaking to him or that it expressed interest towards him, quite the contrary in fact since it was rather obvious. That's just how Piper liked it though cause when Piper Sherwood was interested in you, she made damn sure you knew and that nothing would stop her from getting what she wanted. Hearing him compliment her, and technically Ayane at once Piper would just chuckle softly again. "That she does, hopefully you'll see what makes me so great too." She said with another flirty wink towards the boy as he started to get to work before flashing a wink to Ayane before pushing herself up.

"Thanks, but no need to worry about leaving whenever you're done, I can always use a strong training partner." She said with another wink before heading back into the ring... Very intentionally doing so by dropping into a perfect split before sliding her way under and popping up to her feet before tossing her hair back and smiling at him. "That or I can at least thank you for cleaning this place up." She said flirtily with a suggest glint in her eyes before starting to resume her muay thai poses, throwing punches, elbows, knees and kicks in succession, partially out of legit practice, and partially to show off a bit.