Fox Hunting

[BlackAkuma]

Oh, there was a spark there. As the two of them spoke, Keith zeroed in on what AKANE was saying - or rather, not wanting to say. The two of them had been joined at the hip for nigh on three years now, most people would use the P word for that, but she seemed hesitant about the label. She didn’t get the sense that the redhead was the type to hang around someone she loathed or even had a mild irritation for, so there had to be something there.

”Heh, sounds like love at first sight.” He was quick to tag on a little laugh there, making sure to show that he was joking - or was he? He wouldn’t pry too much in that direction, but he would definitely poke a few more times before they were down. This thread was too intriguing not to.

The stuff about Alaina was interesting, though, and he decided that was a good street to travel down for the time being. ”Yeah, I saw that match.” It was one of a few he’d watched on the LAW Network in preparation for the interview, making sure he had a good idea of their history. The key spots, at least. ”That brainbuster you took? Brutal.” He hissed at the memory of it and rubbed his head in sympathy.

”You gave as good as you got, though. And I feel you about the whole ‘waiting in line’ thing.” He sipped his bottle down to half and set it aside for the time being, as he leaned her way. ”I’ve been getting that a lot since I started, people saying I’m an outsider, I should start with the Young Lions, stuff like that. They say I should wait at the back of the line, but like…what line?” He shrugged and looked about. ”I don’t see a line. I say, if you can hang, take what you can get.”

He tapped his chin, considering for a moment, before he moved on to a dicier subject. ”Speaking of that, though - and stop me if I’m wrong - but you’ve not had a title shot, have you, Tia? AKANE, you actually beat Kyoko Akan, but lost the actual title match. Kind of bullshit in my opinion.” Keith looked between them, judging reactions, before he got a little conspiratorial with his tone. ”You’ve both got the talent for big game, right? You think management is holding you back?”

[Weonna]

Tia let out a sharp laugh at the “love at first sight” comment, but this time… she didn’t shut it down completely.

“Love at first sight, yeah?”

she echoed, smirking as she leaned back.

“Bit dramatic, mate…”

She glanced sideways at Akane—just for a second—but there was something different in it this time. Less teasing. More… knowing.

“…but I did have my eye on her,”

she admitted, casual on the surface, but with a quiet confidence underneath.

“From the jump.”

She shrugged, like it was obvious.

“Not just ‘cause of the kendo stick thing either. Plenty of people can swing a weapon, yeah? But she was different. Didn’t chase attention, didn’t run her mouth… just did what she wanted.”

Tia smirked slightly.

“I respect that. I like that.”

She didn’t elaborate further—just let that sit before shifting gears like it was nothing.


---

Tia let out a sharp laugh at the “love at first sight” comment, but this time… she didn’t shut it down.

“Love at first sight, yeah?” she echoed, smirking as she leaned back. “Bit dramatic, mate…”

Her eyes flicked sideways to Akane—just for a second—but there was something more intentional in it now.

“…but I did have my eye on her,” she admitted, casual but confident. “From the start.”

She rolled one shoulder.

“Not just ‘cause of the kendo stick either. Plenty of people can swing one. But she didn’t care about the spotlight, didn’t talk big—just walked in, did damage, walked out.”

A small grin tugged at her lips.

“I respect that. I like that.”

And just like that—she moved on.


---

When Keith brought up titles? That grin sharpened.

“Oh, I’ve definitely been held back,”

Tia said, leaning forward slightly.

“No question.”

She gestured to herself, completely unapologetic.

“Look at me, yeah? I stand out the second I walk in the room.”

Her hand slid up into her hair, running through those silver strands before flicking them back with deliberate flair—making sure the camera caught it clean.

“Silver hair, Aussie accent, power to back it all up…”

she smirked.

“You don’t just blend in with that.”

A quiet chuckle.

“And let’s be real—half the locker room’s either tryin’ to step up to me… or just straight up simpin’.”

She raised a brow, amused.

“Got girls starin’, actin’ different, suddenly real interested when I’m around… can’t blame ‘em though.”

She leaned back, relaxed, confident.

“Bit hard to ignore, yeah?”

Beside her, Akane said nothing. No snark. No correction. No cold remark.

Just silence.

Her posture was tighter now—arms folded, gaze fixed somewhere off to the side rather than the camera. The earlier composure was still there, but there was something under it now… something heavier.
The mention of titles—of that match—lingered. Her jaw set slightly.

She didn’t interrupt.
Didn’t add to the conversation.
Didn’t even acknowledge it.
But it was clear—
She hadn’t moved on from losing to Kyoko Akan.

Tia glanced at her briefly… just a flicker… before turning back to Keith like nothing had changed.

“So yeah,”

she finished, tone easy again but still carrying that edge,

“if you’re askin’ me if I belong in those big matches?”

A small shrug.

“I already do.”

[BlackAkuma]

”Hey,” He shrugged and leaned back, mirroring her position. ”We’re pro-wrestlers. Drama’s what we do, right?”

While Keith felt he was tiptoeing on dangerous waters, he also felt this was more than worth the risk, too. Talking about wrestling and titles and all that was great stuff, of course, but he knew better than most that the audience was drawn to the juice. They liked to think there was a possibility that they could sink their teeth into some forbidden knowledge and know something they weren’t supposed to know. Even if there wasn’t anything there, really, you could bait them with the promise. You just had to know what buttons to press.

He just had to make sure he didn’t press them too hard. But so far, so good, he judged. At the least, Akane hadn't erupted on him just yet. In fact, she was being oddly quiet. Not that she had been talkative from the start, but now she was outright frozen.

He would poke that bear a bit more, sooner rather than later. For now, though, Tia was proving to be a goldmine, and he might as well get the most out of her.

The topic title interested him, too, though he acknowledged it was one he had to be smart about, lest he step on any landmines. He nodded along as she propped herself up and showed off, paying extra attention to that shimmering, silver hair she was so proud of. She cut a sharp figure, stood out in a crowd; no one could say any different. At least, he doubted anyone would be stupid enough to do so while in her earshot.

”You definitely have the look of a champion, no denying that.” He put a little extra oomph on the ‘look’ part, though he decided against working that angle too hard. For now. He needed to build up some rapport before he went swimming in the more treacherous waters.

”That reminds me,” He leaned over to look Akane’s way, then back to the Aussie. ”Tia, you were a powerlifter before you came into the business, right? But Akane, you’ve got some family history. I’m sure your father casts a big shadow, being a successor to the ‘Strong Style’.” He made sure to put some respect on that, too, and it was genuine. He’d come across no shortage of Haruto Yamaguchi’s matches when he was training, and the man impressed him.

”I know some second-generation wrestlers can see that sort of thing as a burden, something they need to live up to. How’s it been for you?”

[Weonna]

Tia perked right up at that, happy to take the first part.

“Yeah, that’s right,”

she said, nodding.

“Powerlifting was my main thing—but before that?”

She smirked.

“Rugby.”

She tapped her chest proudly.

“Proper contact sport, yeah? None of that soft stuff. Grew up runnin’ through people, not around ‘em. That’s where I got the taste for it—hit hard, keep goin’, don’t back down.”

She rolled her shoulders slightly.

“Powerlifting just made it worse. Stronger, heavier… more dangerous.”

A grin.

“Then wrestling? Best of both worlds. I get to throw people and make it look good.”


---

Keith’s attention shifted.

And so did the air.

When he mentioned her father—Haruto Yamaguchi, Akane didn’t respond immediately.

Her posture didn’t change much on the surface… but something underneath it did.

Her fingers tightened slightly against her arm. Her gaze dropped. Then slowly lifted again—but it wasn’t calm anymore.

"It is not a burden,”

she said quietly.

Her tone was controlled. Too controlled.

“It is… expectation.”

Her jaw tightened.

“…He had high standards.”

That was all she said at first—but the silence after it stretched just a bit too long.

Because there was more there. A lot more....

Her eyes shifted slightly, unfocused for just a second.

“…My sister met them...and I did not”

That was where the edge came in.

More Sharp and bitter

“…She was the one he paid attention to.”


Her voice didn’t raise—but it hardened.

“…She was the one he praised.”

Her fingers curled slightly.

“…So I fought her.”

Flat.

Matter-of-fact.

“…And I lost everything after that.”

No emotion in the delivery...Which somehow made it heavier.

“…I was removed.”

Not “left.” Not “walked away” but "Removed" being the key word.

Her eyes flicked away again.

“…So no.”

Her voice dropped just slightly.

“…It is not a burden.”

Another pause.

“…It is a reminder.”


---

The room felt a little heavier now.

Tia glanced at her for just for a moment and for once—she didn’t joke nor teased.

She leaned back, arm still resting behind Akane like before… but this time, there was a bit more intention to it.

Support not even spoken.


---

Akane’s gaze lowered again for a second.

“I was supposed to take that title,”

She added quietly. She didn’t say Kyoko’s name this time as she felt like she didn't need to.

“…I failed.”

And just like that—

Silence again...

[BlackAkuma]

Yeah, he could’ve figured Tia for a rugby player, even if he hadn't known that from his research going in. She had the build for it - tall, solid, thick, but looked like she could put some speed on if she needed to. He wasn’t a super big fan of the sport, but he’d seen a couple of matches growing up and it looked fun enough. He’d thought about joining a team, but other callings pulled him in, first.

”You don’t gotta sell me on contact, believe me. I grew up with hockey, got a lot of that same energy.” He had the chipped tooth to prove it, too, and he pointed to the back of his mouth. ”Got smacked with a puck here when I was about ten, nearly took out my jaw.”

Fun memories.

Keith would’ve loved to explore this more, too, but he got the impression he was onto something better with Akane at the moment. He’d been worried that touching on the family might make her clam up, but it actually had the opposite effect, making her chatty - or, at least, chatty by her standards.

He leaned forward as the cameras closed in on her, and the moment became quieter. More intimate. Personal. It felt like the redhead was baring some emotional stuff, but thankfully she wasn’t alone. Tia seemed to support her, in a small way, letting her get that all out without interruption. It made for a strangely touching moment.

”A reminder’. He repeated with a solemn nod. ”But one loss isn’t the end of the world. Yeah, you lost to Kyoko, but you can get back on the horse, right? There are other titles. The Openweight, LAWless. Hell, you two would be great for the tag titles, once they get that sorted out.” He looked between them and pictured it easily. They were an established pair in the league, it made sense.

”You two’ve gotta be gunning for something, don’t tell me different. I heard you had some interacting with Black Severin, so maybe you’re making moves in the mixed division, looking for that new Opengender Belt?”