Chapter 35

In the days that followed. Tempest as asked to go to the next arena where they would be having another tournament. Despite his battle against Raiden, he offered to participate, but the chairman refused. "You wait in the locker room for now." He insisted.

Tempest dreaded the suggestion, knowing how the other sumos felt about him. He never felt welcomed to say the least. Yet with no other choice he agreed to wait for the moment and ventured towards it. He held his breath for a moment as he pushed open the door. The moment he stepped in, the banter, talk, and laughter all came to a dramatic pause.

He was use to this, no one ever talks around him anyways. He was just an up star kid that got lucky according to many. Yet as he walked in, he found everyone, staring at him with great amazement, until…

"WELCOME BACK TEMPEST!" and they bowed!

He froze to their action, he didn't quite understand it. "What's this?" he asked gently.

They raised their heads, but they were all smiling. "You… You went toe to toe against Raiden… and forced a draw… NO ONE has ever forced a draw!"

"I still didn't beat him," Tempest muttered.

"Shit man, who cares! You brought him to the brink!" said another sumo. "You took the fight to him, and you aren't a super sumo!"

He never did consider that before. "That's right… they are vastly different from us aren't they?"

"Don't sell yourself short! Look, we're sorry for how we acted. We also know you never meant to step on our toes, you truly do have a love and respect for this sport…"

"It has helped me through some difficult times. It gave me meaning."

They nodded with respect until someone peered into the locker room. "We are requesting all sumos to came to the dohyo. All but Tempest please."

He was stunned, but nodded as he took a seat on the bench. The other sumos excused themselves as they left the room, leaving him alone. "I wonder what this is about…" he muttered.

Yet before he could even get comfortable, the door opened once more. "Tempest?"

He peered up and saw Oni!

"What are you doing here?"

Oni merely smiled as he waved him over. "You need to come with me,"

Gulping his nerves, Tempest rose up and followed Oni out of the room. He was silent, but smiling a wicked grin. "Uh… where are we going?" he asked.

Oni didn't say. They continued to walk until they were on the other side of the arena, there was another locker room and yet no one was inside of it. There stood though, other sumo wrestlers and those far older than Tempest realized but they also didn't look like sumos anymore. "Tempest. Before you are the Yokozuna of the past. They are here to assist you in this time." Oni explained.

Tempest did a nervous yet gracious bow to them. "I will be in your care," he said gently.

Then, they converged on him, smiling proudly, and yet, Tempest had no idea why…

#

Misty was in the audience, waiting as usual alongside Akira, Draven and Goliath. Garou couldn't make it due to a monster attack, and yet, just arriving was Amai Mask! He took a seat near them, but didn't say a word. "It's strange, why are all the sumos out here?" muttered Akira. "This isn't right, and they aren't doing their ceremonial dance before the event…"

The lights suddenly dimmed. The chairman stood in the dohyo and called for silence. "Ladies and gentlemen, due to the unprecedented performance and skills of Tempest, it is my great privilege and honor tonight to welcome him back to our league, as well, as properly give him his rank!"

The crowd was on their feet, it was then, Misty stood and saw him coming out from the West of the arena. He dressed differently, and was also accompanied by past Yokozuna. "What… is this?" Amai whispered.

Tempest couldn't contain his smile, he was so proud of himself as he came down the ramp and stepped into the dohyo where the chairman was waiting, there, he disrobed and revealed the tsuna. The knotted belt only worn by a Yokozuna!

"Oh my God, he did it!" Misty squealed with delight.

With that, he entered the ring. Tempest then preformed a different dance than the other sumos. Akira smirked as he leaned back. "He got it huh? That's the Yokozuna dance, only he does it!"

"Wait, he got the rank of Yokozuna?!" Amai demanded. "That's amazing!"

"Figures, he deserved it, as well, considering he went up against Raiden, not even in the same league as these guys and held his own. Of course he would be given that rank!" said Draven.

When he finished his dance, Tempest stood and then bowed to the other sumo who stood around the ring from him. He was also given a sword as proof of his title, with that, he held it up over his head proudly as the crowd cheered aloud!

Yokozuna Tempest, his reign has just begun!

#

He didn't wrestle that day.

Despite his appearance, Tempest sighed on as he merely watched the others continue on with the tournament. "Yokozuna Tempest…" he paused as he turned to see Amai lingering behind him.

"How did you get back here?"

"I'm still remarkably nimble, no one saw me if that has you concerned." He said, but the smile he had couldn't be contained. He looked Tempest over before nodding his approval. "You carry yourself remarkably well." He said with great sincerity. "I'm proud of you,"

He felt his heart skip a beat for a moment. Amai just said he was proud of him? Normally, such words from him wouldn't mean anything, yet, why did it make his heart pause for a moment? What was this tightness in his chest? Did… did he seek his approval?

Tempest shook his head of the thought, that couldn't be it. "Thank you," he said graciously. "I hope to display the respect and dignity of this title to the world. I worked hard for this,"

Amai nodded his head in agreement. "You did fantastic by the way, but… answer me this… you could have beaten Raiden, could you?" he asked.

Tempest was silent on the matter. There were moment he could have capitalized on Raiden, but he also knows the consequences should he had done so. "He had moment of weakness where I may have been able to defeat him. However, with everything going on right now, I am pleased with the end result. A draw wouldn't allow him to lose face, but also wouldn't have made me appear weak and unworthy of this title I have."

He merely got a nod from Amai Mask. "Wise choice of action I would say. I couldn't say if I would have done the same as you. I would have gone for complete and utter victory. Yet, my hindsight isn't all that great now is it?" he asked and laughed it off. "You are truly remarkable. And I look forward to seeing you wrestle again… if you will have me."

Tempest paused to the notion, so far according to his siblings, Amai is really trying his best to connect with everyone. He shouldn't shoot down his attempt too soon or brashly to say the least. "Okay, if you want to come see me wrestle. I would be happy to have you,"

Amai's eyes lit up, his smile grew as Tempest swore there were tears coming from them. "Thank you," he whispered.

He regained his composure and excused himself, but he turned back and said. "You are so much stronger than I could ever be,"

His words struck him hard. Tempest could only watch on as Amai Mask left. Yet there was a part of him he resisted, he nearly called out to him, but, he wanted to call him dad…