(Thank you so much for the review antihero32. Hope everyone reading this is enjoying.)

02/20/10

Jade got back into her apartment about midmorning just wanting to fall into bed hoping it was a bad dream even though she knew it wasn't. Getting up a few hours later she felt filthy. She stripped the bed down bagging it all for wash including her blanket. She just wanted to scrub the whole place if she could. Deep down she knows she was over reacting but at the set moment in time she didn't care as she also set to take a nice long shower herself. Going through the case she threw out the nightgown not wishing to ever see it again. It was going on twelve hours without a single attempted phone call. Did he actually listen to her or did he not even care, he had someone else to keep his bed warm.

She went on her laptop checking messages on different emails before logging into one she had not used for about six months. It was one she set up back when she was still Shadow & used it to send a reply to a letter she had gotten through channels from Keiji Mutoh. She looked it over knowing once she set this good chance there was no turning back.

Dear Master Mutoh
I know I have not been in correspondence for quite some time. My situation has changed here in the states if you are still interested in testing my skills against those of AJP caliber. I will be free after the 15th of March. I await your reply
Shadow

She hit send before shutting the computer down she knew she had a lot of work ahead of her the next few weeks incase the letter came back favorable. She would set her trip for her other business for the same time. After she called a laundry service to clean her bedding she packed a gear bag heading for the offices. Reaching the front desk she headed down for the training grounds. She started wit the weighted bag to work on her kicks & strikes. What little she knows of Japanese wrestling compared to their own was they worked a lot stiffer. She knew it would be hard work, but she was willing. She only hoped her body would hold up to that abuse. Her other problem would be her requirements for work.

After the bags she slid into the ring to work on some of her moves. At least those that could be done solo. She was running herself for about an hour before she stopped leaning on the ropes for some air. She was thrown off guard when she heard clapping from the door way. She lifted her head looking towards it see Paul & Shawn. She saw they both had gear bags with them.
"Sorry if I'm cutting into you boys work time." She laid down to roll under the bottom rope.
"Hey not a problem Jade." Commented Paul. "Been a while since I saw you down here. From the looks of it working it pretty good."
"Thanks." She walked to the bench grabbing her towel & a bottle of water near by. "Just kicking some dust off."
"Isn't that a term for an in-ring guy?" Joked Shawn.
"Could be fitness in general. What you two clowns up to anyways?"
"Just wanted to shoot a few things off each other before flying out for the show tomorrow." Gruffed Paul.
"Oh yeah Mikey her is set to screw the Deadman right."
"Don't remind me." Joke Shawn. "I can always hide behind you after it though right?" He chuckled yet gave puppy eyes.
"Nope sorry Shawn, not planning on being there."

Both guys fell silent looked at each other, then her, then each other again she had to fight not to laugh reminding her of one of their bad DX skits.
"Um…I'll bite." Started Shawn.
"Watch it I bite back." She commented back which Shawn's eyes got big & Paul started to laugh.
"Anyways. As I was saying, why were you not planning on being there. I thought Pay per views were one of the few times they let you out of this stuffy place."
"I just don't want to." She sighed trying to change the subject. "So you guys working or just flapping."
"Well we didn't have to work out if you still want to work what ever out." commented Paul.
"Yeah but you got a match tomorrow I don't."
"True. Well if you can handle it…" He closed his eyes a moment shaking his head. "You know what forget it."
"If I can handle what Paul?" She already had a clue, she just wanted to hear him say it."
"No forget it."

Her eyes narrowed at him. "What worried you'll look foolish being bested by a woman?"
"She did not just go there." Ribbed Shawn. Paul lowered his head some his eyes looking at her still.
"Excuse me?" He lightly sucked his teeth.
"You heard me, you were going to challenge me weren't you, but you got cold feet last minute."
"ooooo" Chimed Shawn which cause Paul to look at him.
"Will you just can it." Shawn couldn't help but laugh he was glad to see Jade not shying from Paul anymore. He then looked back to Jade lifting his head back to a normal position the Triple H attitude fading back away. "You're right I was thinking it I don't know why. It would have been Shawn here, but you looked so intense in there working out your kinks. I didn't want to take away from that. I just don't want you feeling weird or anything."

"I appreciate it Paul I really do. Tell you what, get in the ring. If I get uncomfortable I'll let you know or if you read my body language as being such. It was almost two years ago. We both need to move past it."
He lightly nodded "OK Deal."
"Good" She head back to the ring sitting on the apron before rolling back in. Paul put his bag down following in after her.
"Ok so half or full speed?"
"Might as well go all out." Paul took a deep breath stretching himself out quickly before he called the first string of moves. Shawn made his way over to one of the benches just to watch them. In the next lock up she continued to allow Paul to call the match for them. He called it like a real match giving them both a few up & down points. There was a few moves she had to motion a no to unsure if she could still execute them, more so on a guy his size. They wrapped it after about five minutes Paul actually give her a win with a school boy. She laughed as she stood up looking at him. "A schoolboy roll up really Paul?"
He stood up dusting himself off with that goofy grin he gets at times. "Well I was not going to see if you could lock that Call of Shadows or what ever the hell it is call on me."

"Chicken, but no your right I don't know if I would have been able to pull that move anymore. & think I need to work on my flexibility more to pull it off without harming my opponent too much or myself."
"Call of Shadows? What is that?" Asked Shawn walking over to the ring.
"A move I used in ECW picture a more…hmm…intense version of The Scorpion hold."
Shawn raised an eye brow & a chuckle. "A more intense version of the Sharpshooter. Yeah right Jade. I been in that hold by Bret quite a few times. How can it be more intense?"
Jade looked at Paul a lightly shrugged "Might as well explain it to him."
"Well I may need to modify it again but the original hold picture having your opponent in the scorpion hold then arching your back so you can try to hook a hand under their chin & pulling up." She thinks she actually saw Shawn gulp & look a little green. "As I said I don't know if I am that flexible anymore."
"Good & remind me never to piss you off in a shoot match."

Jade laughed at Shawn. "Don't worry I would never do the full move on someone with back issues like you do. I wouldn't want to be blamed for shelfing you."
"Shelfing me? Oh come on the showstoppa?"
"Jade what you talking like you really think you getting back in a ring? You know your dad will never do for it." asked Paul
"Yeah I know…but you never know." With that she rolled out of the ring getting some water.
"Jade something you not telling us?" Asked Paul
"It's not confirmed."
"What Vince might bring you back into the Divas division?"
"Nope. I can't go more into it."
Shawn half joking. "Come on girl don't tell us because Daddy Vinnie isn't giving you want you want you jumping down to Jeff's group?"
"I am not jumping down to Florida."
"Well that a relief he would skin ya."
"So what if he did I am a grown woman that can make her own choices."
"Jade you kidding us right?" As Paul coming out the ring grabbing some water from his bag. "You planning on competing somewhere else because Vince won't bring Shadow back? 'He' has been on the self how long now?"
"About six years, that is besides the point. That is not my only reason, I just need time away from here. Yeah I have not competed in front of fans for going on 18 months or so…but Paul you just saw yourself I can still carry a match."

"What about your health?" Asked Paul
"I'll deal with it like I always did."
"OK so this change of venue you or Shadow?"
"Shadow."
"How you going to pull that off?"
"I did it in OVW for almost two years & even here for almost a year. Only a few people knew it at the time."
"Ok so even if not confirmed where might you be so we can try to keep an eye on ya?" Joked Shawn.
"I doubt you guys will be able to keep an eye on me much there. I'll tell ya two, but you better keep it zipped you know if my dad finds out he will blow a fuse. You both swear?" The guys nodded. "I received a letter from Master Mutoh a little before the holidays. At the time I declined the offer. The path of communication was opened though & I was told to keep an open mind if my situation over here had changed."