Shōwa no Hi
[Showa Day]
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April 29, 2013
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As the scene slowly fades in, we see a temporary tower in the design of a traditional Japanese temple. Thick guy ropes stem from each corner of the temple and to disguise them somewhat red and white lanterns hang swaying slightly at their elevated height. The flickering of flames inside the lanterns gives the night sky an elegant tranquility, the illuminated red emitting a golden-like glow, as the hustle and bustle of a festival like atmosphere is in full swing below.
The camera pans back and away from the festivities, into a dark alley where three men stand watching. They are instantly recognisable as 'The Shadow Warrior' Atsushi Kiriyama, the former leader of the Lone Wolf Club Takuma Hashikori, and Shiro Kazama. It looks as if they have forsaken the public festivities and have continued teaching Kiriyama the ways of the Lone Wolf Club. All three men are wearing white t-shirts, black sweatpants and black training shoes.
Why tonight?
Kiriyamas tone is inquisitive but not disrespectful to his mentors.
Because it will anger Hayata, you aren't ready, but it gives us almost five months to drill you further and for these skills to become second nature.
Five months? Why so long?
Kiriyamas inquisitive tone continues as he retorts instantly to Hashikoris response.
It will let Hayata stew, something that he cannot control, something he will not forget and something that will remind people of Hashikori.
Kazama is slightly subdued with his response as if he is nervous, about to re-enter the pack of the Lone Wolf Club, from which he was banished mere weeks ago.
Showa No Hi has gained increased importance for the Lone Wolf Club under Hayata. The day is no longer a mere celebration of Emperor Hirohitos birthday, it is a celebration of Hayatas ascension to power.
There is disdain in the voice of Hashikori having been overthrown as the leader of the Lone Wolf Club by Yosuke Hayata, some seven years previously. Kazama picks up on this and continues since he has been part of the pack until recently.
This is a chance to rub the nose in the dirt of any member that may still hold allegiance Hashikori, even though seven years have passed, these people do not forgot the past.
So even if he uses violence we cannot defend ourselves
Hashikori holds his hand up to stop Kiriyama in his tracks and allow him to know what is likely just about to happen.
Hayata is calculated, he doesnt do anything unless he sees personal gain, the things we have in our favour are that he knows who you are, and he will see you as weak. Hold your tongue and only step forth when Kazama allows you too.
In the distance, as the sounds of a clock tolling eight bells, Hashikori and Kazama turn into the darkness of the alley. Nervously Kiriyama follows his two mentors shadows in the poor light as they turn a corner at the end of the alley.
What we see next is an opening of a yard, where a line of 15 or so figures have their backs facing Atsushi's vantage point. They have their attention placed upon a man, who is flanked by four oil drums with flames rising from them for light.
The man taking centre stage has a slender build but has good muscle tone, several scars adorn his bear torso. He has short bleach blonde hair and is obviously a naturalised Japanese national, he seems to strike fear over his followers as he begins to speak.
Today is a day of celebration for our former Emperor Hirohito, the day of Showa marks another milestone in the history of the Lone Wolf Club. This is the day that the Lone Wolf Club was brought into the twenty-first century. A day that we confined Takuma Hashikori to history, so that in his old age he could do no damage to the very institute he made so glorious. I Yoskuke Hayata banished the old man from our pack and now we have an elite group of members where the strong have survived and the weak have died in our midst.
The majority of the figures stood in front of Hayata seem to be drinking in his every word, although there are noticeably two men at the end of line that have their heads bowed and do not react to the Lone Wolf Club leaders words.
Personal gain? Elitism? This is not what the Lone Wolf Club was intended for Yosuke!
Out of the shadows steps Takuma Hashikori followed by Shiro Kazama, who blocks the path of Kiriyama so he cannot step into Hayatas sight. The members of the Lone Wolf Club in front of Yosuke Hayata turn quickly to see who spoke the words, the majority of them looking ready to fight. The two men who had their heads bowed fall to one knee seemingly in subservience to their former leader.
Ah Hashikori after seven longs years you come back into our midst! I expected it sooner and look you brought a straggler and servant of your ways with you! A man that I left to die only a few weeks ago. Is this a challenge?
Hashikori smiles gently and steps forward a few more steps. The warriors in front of him look cautious as there former leader shows no fear walking back into the pack he used to lead.
Ah I see you have lost little confidence since you dislodged me As you rightly say, you have banished me and defeated Shiro. I do have a challenge for you though.
Hashikori motions to Kazama, who takes Kiriyamas shoulder and brings him into the sight of Hayata. Hayatas confidence floods into a sneering laughter at the sight of Kiriyama.
You come to into my pack and challenge me with a puroresu competitor? Fine I accept!
Hayata motions to the Lone Wolf Club to move aside, Kiriyama goes to pass Kazama but Kazama does not let him pass. Hashikori chuckles at Hayatas response before politely replying to his former charge.
Thats excellent, we shall see you on Keirō no Hi
Hayata stops dead in his tracks and his look of euphoria changes to that of disappointment.
That is almost five months away, now or never Hashikori!
Hashikori turns his back on Hayata and starts walking back towards the alley where Kazama and Kiriyama await.
But youve already accepted Yosuke
Kazama pushes Kiriyama back into the darkness and follows The Shadow Warrior. Hashikori takes one last look back at a furious Yosuke Hayata as he himself disappears back down the alley...
**SCENE FADES TO BLACK**
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время уходит!
A stinging silence echoes following the harsh Russian words, as the scene fades in and we see Aleksandr Cuba pacing around the viewing enclosure. Cubas breathing is distinctly ragged as a tidal wave of emotion has spilled forth breaking his usually calm exterior. Takuma Hashikori and Atsushi Kiriyama stand in an archway with a sign over head saying Sacramento Zoo Reptile House
Talk is cheap Aleksandr, what you need to realise is that these words you speak are true. Not something that can change with a click of your fingers, or a surviving a few short minutes of physical pain.
Hashikoris words offer no warmth to Cuba who slows down to gaze Hashikori straight in the eye as if he had been awaiting words of praise. Kiriyama stands cautiously awaiting a retort from his tag team partner, directed towards his mentor.
What you fail to realise Cuba is that the test is not a black and white pass and fail. This is not a right and wrong, good or evil. This is a way of life that requires strength of body, strength of mind.
Kiriyamas words are clear and concise each syllable he moves closer to Aleksandr until they are eye to eye, each man staring unblinkingly at the other, in an unspoken game of one-upmanship, trying not to give away any trace of weakness.
You have to make yourself surrender and embrace the weakness like a wound that will cut deep and true, that will sting and leave a scar that you will remember forever. A wound that once healed makes each sinew of your being stronger than it was before.
Cuba bows his head away from the gaze of The Shadow Warrior. Kiriyama steps away from his tag team partner and looks upon one of the close habitats, where a plaque emblazoning the name..
Jumping Pit Viper Porthidium Nummifer.
Kiriyama becomes lost in his thoughts watching the inhabitant of the glassed encasement. The snake which Kiriyama is viewing is thickset, its triangular head seems to be sniffing out prey in the undergrowth of its home, its greyish brown body semi camouflaged within its surroundings.
The Jumping Pit Viper slithers predatorily towards a large rat, seemingly unaware of its impending doom. Slowly the jumping pit viper opens its mouth, fangs unfurling waiting to strike and in a wildly flailing attack, piercing the rats body before hovering the remains up.
Kiriyama moves away from viewing the snake and back towards Hashikori who himself moves towards Cuba having retrieved Cubas trademark scarf from a nearby bench.
Place this around your eyes. Sight is a strength that invokes ones reflexes to prevent attack. Snakes and serpents thrive upon their other senses as much as sight, you need to learn this.
Cuba follows the instruction of Hashikori and prepares to block any strikes that may be coming his way. Hashikori circles Aleksandr as if he is going to strike his new protégé, as somewhat of a surprise Hashikori stops in front of the soviet born warrior.
I stand before you Aleksandr Cuba, strike me now.
Before Cuba has to be asked twice he draws back his right arm and goes to strike Hashikori, before Cuba can cause damage to Gekitotsu! Satsujin Ken he is thrown over the shoulders of Hashikori by his right arm. Cuba crashes into the concrete floor but quickly returns to his feet circling, awaiting an attack from Hashikori.
STOP!!!! You cannot act in the way you would usually with a missing sense from your arsenal.
Cuba stops dead awaiting further instruction. Kiriyama intently watches Cubas reactions to the tutelage of Hashikori. Atsushi moves back towards his mentor and tag team partner and faces him dead on. Kiriyama inhales deeply before screaming at the top of his lungs.
ATTACK!
As Kiriyama bellows the command, Cuba sweeps his leg, which Kiriyama leaps without a seconds notice. Cuba follows up going for a fist strike, but his arm is once again caught by Hashikori and he crashes back to the concrete floor. Cuba rolls off his back and springing to his feet, sends out a spinning kick. Kiriyama catches the leg of Cuba and slams him back to the concrete.
Constant movement is not the way to succeed, use your remaining senses to listen, smell, feel, taste the fear from what is about to attack you.
When violence occurs against you, it is as a result of the fear of what you can do as a fighter, a defence mechanism. Return to your feet and maximise your other senses.
Aleksandr slowly returns to his feet, but before he is at his full height he sends out another fist strike. Hashikori grabs his arm and is once again thrown over the shoulder of Hashikori slamming into the concrete for the third time. Cuba with lightning reactions rips his blindfold off, the eyes of Hashikori filled with rage. Before Cuba can return to his feet he receives a swift kick to his right knee and it is immediately followed up with a kick to the side of Aleksandrs neck. Cubas gaze is frozen from the kick and he slumps forward and his face smashes into the concrete.
When he is ready to listen bring him to me. His pride is his downfall. He will learn from this he took more punishment from having all five senses intact, than trying to fight with four.
Hashikoris voice is vitriolic with rage. He turns from Kiriyama and leaves the reptile house without a downward glance at Aleksandr. Kiriyama slumps on to a bench running his right hand through his mangled black hair
**A few minutes later**
Cuba groans as if he is overcoming a vodka induced hangover. He rolls over on to his back and sits up. Kiriyamas eyes are almost as vindictively malicious as his mentors actions were a short while earlier.
Your pride is your undoing, you live to understand and seek knowledge, but you cannot understand that others have knowledge that may help you.
Cuba is holding the side of his neck, his eyes still glazed as he takes a sharp intake of breath and goes to speak. But before he can utter a word in response to Kiriyamas damning report, Atsushi cuts him off.
This is your time to listen to reason Aleksandr, see if you can deduce your mistake from your asinine actions. You talk about burning down the façade of WZCW, strip away the masks of the snakes and serpents that you fear.
Kiriyama rises to his feet and begins to circle around the drowsy Cuba who doesnt seem to have the attention span currently to follow his tag team partners movement. Despite the previous malice in Kiriyamas eyes and voice, his tone eases and becomes more impassioned.
Dragones breathe fire, there is no way to defy the machine they have built themselves into! So the way to overcome their biggest weapons is to fight fire with fire. Why do you think we are in the reptile house of Sacramento Zoo? This is a place you fear, this is a place of the nearest resemblance of Dragones.
Kiriyama kneels down by Cuba and removes a match from his inside pocket. He offfers his hand to Aleksandr and pulls him up to his feet and hands him the match. Kiriyama leads Cuba to the exit of the reptile house.
It is time to unleash the fire of The Demon Foreigners. We may be the underdogs, we maybe the weaker duo, there should be no fear when we use the strength of the Dragones against themselves. Strike the match and drop it where we stand.
Cuba strikes the red headed match against the wall of the reptile house and drops it on the floor. Immediately rivers of fire spread away from the Demon Foreigners. Kiriyama grasps Cuba by the shoulder and takes him away from the viewing area. The flames lick higher and higher. Before the ear deafening shattering of the glass that contains the snakes within their habitats.
Slowly the inhabitants of the captive wildlife areas begin to slither into the fire, lost from our eyesight and into the flames.
**SCENE FADES TO BLACK**
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