[Final chapters] Welcome to the last mile of what has been a long ride. I started writing this story in March 2020, during the first lockdown, and it's been 15 months since then. We are finally down to the final act. I planned to make one single final chapter, but as it turned out to be over 5k words, I thught it would've been better to have part 1 & 2.
So, before I leave you to part 1, I just want to thank all of you for reading and reviewing so far. I hope you'll enjoy the ending.
_
[Part 1]
Here we are.
"She's accepting, isn't she?"
Stupid question. The answer was even too much clear.
Kenny closed the call before Tony could confirm anything. Yeah, you're not supposed to hang up on your boss. Well, he'll come up with something later, if the boss asked.
A glance went in the direction of Riho. It was obvious how the tings would go. Of course she was going to go. Honestly, was he expecting anything different? At best, that may be what he had to find out.
She raised her eyes from the bag and looked at him, questioningly.
He came down there because he wanted to talk. Because he believed it would be a good idea to face Riho and have everything said out in the open. Whatever it was.
But now that he was there, and after Tony's phone call, it was like it wasn't the same.
He had to wonder, was it really worth to have such a conversation? What good could come out of a conversation that he wasn't even sure what it should be about?
Maybe it was just too late, for something like that.
Besides, she wasn't looking all serene. And he wanted her to be.
In the best scenario, he would just give her a new and heavy burden to carry on her shoulders. Whatever would come out of that talking, it could be the hardest thing to bring to Japan. Well, she didn't need and deserve it right now.
Now Riho was definitely staring at him, with an armband in her hand.
- I ask you now: what is going on? –
Sounded fair. He remained silent for almost ten minutes, after all.
It wasn't right. He didn't know what to do or even if he had to do something. All he knew was that he cared too much about her.
They got to face the facts. No matter what Cody or whoever else might say, she wasn't the love of his life. And regarding her… with all the things here and there she had to face, she must be feeling emotional. Probably even too much.
There was not to read something that wasn't really there. They didn't have to face a conversation about a relationship that wasn't planning to change.
But there was one thing that he might want to tell her. He'd been thinking about it for a while, not sure if it was the right call or not. It probably was now.
In about a week, he was going to have his most important and prestigious bout in his AEW career. A 5 stars match. Nothing to face all by himself. He needed to have by his side someone who could give him strength. Someone worth his total trust, someone he could share the occasion with.
Just like when he gave up on the Bucks, after all the Bullet Club war, to have Kota Ibushi on his side the day of his final match against Okada where he won the IWGP championship. It was great to share the winning of the title with his friend.
So here's an idea… it didn't actually matter if she accepted or not.
- Will you be at ringside for my match against Mox? –
###
Good Lord, he had stayed out of the story for the entire time so far, why just he couldn't until the end? Why did he have to feel the need to get in the middle? He should've kept his mouth shut. His mother used to tell him a lot: "you talk too much". He, more than his little brother.
- What's wrong, man? – Nick asked, looking at his brother slapping his own head in despair.
– I think I fucked up. –
Nick raised an eyebrow. – Why, what did you do? Fired someone, booked a place for the wrong day, blacked out a show? –
- Worse, much worse. –
Well, so much for being the one who advised against the most. And instead, he had to give a slip to Riho.
When he met her, he only wanted to ask if Kenny already talked to her. And when she said yes, he had to insist and fire a hail of questions about what she was going to do, their intentions, their decision, their plans. What they wanted to do after the things she revealed to Kenny.
What Matt didn't imagine was that Kenny only talked to her about being on his side in the match against Moxley.
She looked quite shocked.
So now, thanks to Matt, Riho knew that Kenny went through at least some thinking about her. And, in whatever terms, about them. All right before Kenny's big fight.
###
At the Daily's, Kenny was summoned to Tony's office. The boss was sitting behind his desk, staring at the monitor of his computer. He raised his hand as soon as he saw Kenny walking in.
- Please, take a seat. –
- Is everything alright? – Kenny immediately asked, almost in hurry. Trouble with the boss would've been the last thing he needed right now.
Tony calmly smiled. – Funny, that's actually what I wanted to ask you. –
– Why's that? –
- Ah, you wonder? Big match is coming up, maybe the biggest we've put up so far. The whole world is watching. And not just me, but everyone have really high expectations for the two of you. I've recently had the same talk with Jon. Make no mistake, I have no doubt about you, but this may be the most anticipated match in AEW and I just need to make sure everything's at 100%, so... Are you ready? –
Kenny grinned. – You know me, I was born ready. –
- You better be, because I trust you are. You know, we're at a point now where the next months of tv shows may be defined by your match. Eyes on the prize, Kenny. I want to see the Kenny Omega the fans all over the world fell in love with. I want to see the eyes of the tiger. –
Kenny nodded. – Awesome movie. –
- Yes, it is. – Tony said. – And I probably didn't even need to teach you on all of this. You guys will put up a great fight. –
As Kenny nodded again, Tony took a pause and went back to look at the monitor. – By the way, I called you here because I wanted to show you something. – He began to tap on the keyboard and opened an email. – I think you should be the first to be informed. I know how much you guys are close. As of today, Riho has officially accepted the offer from Stardom. –
Kenny stared at Tony silently. In his head, that sounded like a thunder before the storm.
Pretty much what he expected. But now that he heard it there, it sounded different. It sounded like… definitive, now.
He was trying to come to terms with it, because he still wasn't totally on board with letting her go. If he ever will.
It was reasonable to hang on some hope. Although, coming to face the facts, honestly there was a very tiny chance that she would say no.
- And apparently, they're in some kind of rush. – Tony resumed and explained. – Stardom's board has requested Riho to fly over there next week, to put the sign on the contract. –
Kenny furrowed his eyebrows. – Isn't this something that you can print, sign here and email them back? –
Tony slowly waved his head from one side to the other. – They want her physically there. –
- When? – Kenny mumbled.
Tony took another look at the email. – They'd like to have her there… for Thursday. –
Still frowning, Kenny nodded. – Ok… so even considering the hours of flight… yeah, she gets the time to be at our Dynamite. -
- No. – Tony interrupted him. – I meant "their" Thursday. One day ahead. –
Suddenly Kenny's eyes got wide open. An exclamation slipped out of his mouth, louder than he expected.
So… she won't even be by his side when he'll face Mox?
###
Emi was extremely happy that Riho accepted the offer from Stardom. Her little girl was going to be back home soon, to her family and roots.
Former master and student had a pretty long talk on the phone. There were a few things for Riho to take care of, before her departure, and time was not exactly on her side. One thing in particular had suddenly skyrocketed to the top of her list.
- Are you sure of what you're doing? – Emi asked.
A tender smile appeared on Riho's lips. – Yes, I am. –
###
She needed to have another talk with Kenny. Some things couldn't be left unsaid. And as her leaving to Stardom was coming closer day after day, she couldn't leave such unfinished business. It wasn't about something like a house duty or an electrical bill. This was something personal, very important.
The day before, Riho spoke to Emi asking for advices, and shared with her the latest news: what she said to Kenny, what Kenny asked her, the hint Matt dropped. In reply, Emi was surprised that Kenny didn't say anything more, one way or the other. Not only he could've, but mostly he should've.
And Riho could understand why. She exposed herself, in a way she thought she never would. But didn't get anything in turn. Not a word, not a reaction, literally nothing.
Well, she needed to figure out how things really. She deserved at least an answer. She didn't want to go and leave this hanging in the air of nothing. She knew Kenny thought about it too. Even though, apparently, whatever she may feel, it wasn't the same for him. It was already hard enough to understand what she was feeling right now. Frankly, she didn't even know how or when things have changed between them. He was always there, she was always there. Everything kept looking the same. There wasn't anything that actually seemed different.
But yet, somehow it was. Well, things were about to change one more time. And the bottom line was that taking off to Japan was the right thing.
This time, it was Riho who caught Kenny walking out of his locker room.
- Hey. – he mumbled, looking slightly surprised to find her there. He realized she was staring at him.
Riho smiled. A bitter smile that served her well to hide the hurdle of finding the right words. After all, how you begin such a conversation with your best friend?
While Kenny was questioningly waiting for her, she eventually found a starting point.
- You know about Stardom? –
Kenny nodded. It was a pill hard to swallow. – Yes. –
- Ok… and that is it? I expected you had something to say about it. –
Kenny tenderly furrowed his forehead. He could understand it wasn't easy for her as well. Her voice has begun to stir.
- You expected… or you hoped it? –
That question flipped her out for a moment, like a stick of dynamite. – I thought that… after what happened with us… I mean, I did not tell you, but you did not tell me what you think too. Am I doing the right thing? Are you ok with me to go? –
Kenny stared at her. The answer was no.
- It's not up to me. It's your decision. If you're happy with it, then I'm with you. But I don't want to say only what you want to hear. –
- So say what you want to say. – she hissed. – Come on, Kenny. After all this time, we can still say everything to each other. Be honest with us. Are you ok with this? –
He preferred not to answer. Which make clear to both that he wasn't.
She kept looking for a word in his eyes. – Ask me to stay, and I will. –
In his deep silence, he suppressed a sigh. He knew she would. She was feeling something, and he was hating himself to that. He tried to smiled, but without success.
- No. I can't ask you to give up on your dreams. Not for me. –
And it was in that moment, staring at each other's eyes, that all came rushing back. All the years spent together, in and outside of a wrestling ring. What they've done, what they've learned. Their friendship. Things around there really have changed somehow.
- Maybe we should have talked about this in the past. But we have never done it. – she murmured, drifting the look away. – And I understand that we are not talking about it now either. You do not want it, I see. –
Again, the silence dropping down after her sentence, pretty much spoke for itself.
She eventually sighed and put up a weary smile. And she said one thing that, up to short time ago, she never thought she would. – I know myself and I think I know you by now. Probably there is no need to talk about it. After all, you and I never actually searched for a romance or a relationship. –
Something like a lighting struck at Kenny. What she just said, the disappointed and deluded look in her eyes. That specific choice of words. He was looking at Riho not only walking away to Stardom. She was walking away on him.
Maybe it didn't have to end like this. She was right, there wasn't anything he could say right now. But perhaps they could talk again in another moment. She couldn't leave right after this.
He asked her to wait. He couldn't ask her to not go. But he could at least ask her to stay until the end of the show.
- Postpone your leaving of a couple of hours. Stay for the night. –
- I cannot. I have to take the flight. –
- Take the one after that. –
- I will be late. –
- No you won't. –
- Oh Kenny, I do not know… -
- Come on, don't make me beg. Stay at least for the show. We'll celebrate after that. You know I need you with me down there. –
She eventually gave up to a smirk. – Ok. –
[to be continued]