Requiem for the Wrestling Few

By Son Rhandi

Chapter 10: 'Someone's Gonna Cry'

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"Woah… I'm not touching this. I'm not even going on with this. We need to just stay away from this one, Mac."

"But, Doc, look at all the calls coming in! It'd be a crime not to broadcast this!"

"It is a crime. It's one thing to announce a death in the ring, but according to all these calls on what that Animus fellow said, this was flat-out murder. I am not touching this one. Let the local news take it."

"But what'll the higher-ups say?"

"Let them say what they want," Doc pulled on his overcoat and hat. "I'm going to get some breakfast."

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Gazelle Man awoke to the sky so blue, beautiful, life-giving sunlight warming his body. He hadn't realized the room was on the outer rim of the ship where egg-shaped windows were placed. He took care to fix the disheveled sheets of Minotoro into a worthy display of a bed, then took it upon himself to straighten up the rest of the room. When it was to his liking, he left, its automatic door giving a little whoosh as it permitted him to exit.

The ship was strangely quiet. It was his notion that the others may have been asleep, so he figured he'd explore a bit, his feet taking him to the control room. The ship's console was remarkably similar to the Hercules crafts. With a bit of luck, he could get a channel to watch until Tamerlion was ready to resume his training. A little button crunching here, a few flipped switches there, and he got himself a news station. The blood-red buck took a seat in the pilot's chair and settled himself for the morning report.

"In today's news, there's trouble brewing in the IWF. In the past two weeks, the representatives of the Animus School of Wrestling have taken the wrestling world by storm, most notably so in a match pitting their top super heavyweight, Minotoro, against American Chôjin, Terry the Kid. Well, last night, in a pirate broadcast airing at about 2 a.m. this morning, the head rep, Tamerlion, declared that he and Minotoro were attacked by Muscle League, resulting in the murder of Minotoro. Here's that clip."

Gazelle Man shot up from the chair. He couldn't believe what he'd just heard. Members of the Muscle League as murderers?! No way. There was just no way…

"Citizens of Japan--no, of Earth! I am disgusted, dismayed!! We were attacked, savagely attacked by members of the Muscle League! They fought not as wrestlers, but as members of a street gang, those Gen-EXers!! I tried to try and save him, but they took my right eye..! This blood on my body, it's not just mine..! He died in my arms! They… They killed him! They killed Minotoro and stole his body! The Muscle League has taken our gifts of love and peace… and threw them back in our faces!! This is to Harabote Muscle, director of the Muscle League! Your boys took one of Animus' best students, so I demand you give us one of yours to compensate! Deliver us Seiuchin or this place, this entire nation, it's all going to Hell!!"

"In related news, Harabote Muscle, director of the Muscle League, was rushed to emergency care early this morning. Apparently, the director suffered a stroke and--"

He didn't stick around to hear the rest. Muscle Leaguers… murderers?! Even if it was Generation-EX, they were still Seigi Chôjin and as such, would never kill under any circumstance. Even if Scar Face-- No, Mars was still hidden in their ranks, it wouldn't make sense. He wouldn't get revenge for Terry, none of them would. Terry wasn't one of them. Even if they were all Muscle League, New was New and EX was EX. This just wasn't coming together… Then in a flash, the last words of Tamerlion's broadcast came to mind.

Your boys took one of Animus' best students, so I demand you give us one of yours to compensate! Deliver us Seiuchin or this place, this entire nation, it's all going to Hell!!

He slowly began to understand. Minotoro's murder, it wasn't Muscle League's doing… If he was indeed killed, it certainly had to have been Tamerlion..! It was all a ploy, a ploy to finally get both him and Seiuchin! Gazelle Man mentally kicked himself for not listening to the others. Wait… Didn't the newscaster mention something about Harabote being in the hospital? He'd catch the next shuttle to see him, then, before the remaining kids awakened.

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They almost didn't get him to the hospital in time. By some God-given grace, Meat happened to be up at that time of night and decided to give a final check on Harabote before he turned in. Well, such a fortunate break for the old man, who had a mild stroke… They couldn't all go in at once, so they agreed that Seiuchin and Mantaro would be the first to visit, Jade, Crione Man, and Dead Signal next to follow. The old man was stable--confused, but stable--and could leave in two days. All five left the hospital in low spirits.

"Man, this is getting ridiculous…" Mantaro put his hands behind his head and sighed. "As soon as Gazelle Man comes back, he leaves for good! Now Harabote's in the hospital..? Who's gonna be in charge until then?"

"IWF can get along just fine for two days. This allegation against Gen-EX, though…" Seiuchin shook his head.

"This is ridiculous!" Crione Man vented, crossing his arms in a huff. "We've never even heard of this Animus place! And how did he know we were here on Earth?"

"Probably saw your ship come in, recognized it as Hercules…"

"What're you gonna do, Seiuchin?" Mantaro inquired. "I mean, it's you they want…"

"I know. I just hope we don't run into any more unexpected trou--"

"Left Turn Only!!"

The others turned to Signal, bearing his head as the left turn only sign. A figure, black as night, tattered streamers flowing from his limbs, was thrown to the left and onto the barren sidewalk. It recomposed itself, posting its weight on all fours and growling at the animated traffic sign. "What's your problem?" Dead Signal asked in a huff. "Assault is a crime punishable by jail time, you know!"

The other wrestlers positioned themselves at the ready, their eyes fixated on the strange creature. Only when it bore its teeth could they tell it was some sort of animal they were dealing with. "Return him……" It snarled.

The Muscle Leaguers exchanged glances. "Why did you attack?" Jade asked. "We've never seen you before… And what are you talking about? Return who?"

"Return his body!!" The creature leapt at blurring speed, slamming a fist into Jade's helmet. The German fell over, his helmet totally shattered at the point of impact, his golden locks flowing freely from the area. The others could only look on in shock as his body hit the concrete.

"Why, you…!!" Crione Man drew a fist back, ready to put the beast in place.

"No, wait!" Seiuchin intervened. "…It's you, isn't it..?" The walrus addressed the black monster. "Your eyes look familiar. You're that other Animus kid, aren't you?"

"Huskitooth!" The dog stood erect. "Were you in on this, too, Seiuchin?! Was this getting back at us for the match with the Kid?!"

"Muscle League had nothing to do with your classmate's murder!" Crione declared. "Gen-EX knew nothing of Animus, nor cared to!"

"LIES!!!" Huskitooth went on the attack once again, this time lashing out at Crione Man. With speed not granted to larger animals, the black dog shot his paw to the protozoa's neck and executed a choke slam, sending him to join Jade. Mantaro jumped him from behind, setting up a choke sleeper, but its result was unsuccessful. The enraged canine flipped forward, crashing onto his back, the Kinnikuman taking all the damage.

With the dog's underside exposed, Dead Signal took advantage of the situation. Returning his head to the standard yield sign, he leapt high and the air and dove head first to Huskitooth, rotating his head at cutting speed to execute Dead Circular Saw. This did not go unnoticed by the beast, however, and timing it just right, hopped to his feet and jumped to meet the descending traffic sign, cutting the air with an aerial back flip, then bringing to him a kick, sending Signal veering off course and tumbling to the ground with the other Gen-EXers.

Still in a high state of excitement, the dog began to pace about, going back and forth from each of the downed wrestlers. "Where is he?" He kicked Jade in the side. "Where's his body?" Two more times to make a point. "Return him!" The beast moved to Mantaro, driving a foot into his abdomen.

"Huskitooth, calm down…" Seiuchin approached with caution. "Think about it. The Muscle League stands for principles like truth, honor, justice… Is it in its members to even consider cold murder?"

The dog turned an ear to the words of the walrus. "I can see why Gazelle wanted to learn from you guys… You were just a little thing when we saw you at the match, but now look at you. You're bigger than any one of us here..!

Huskitooth covered his ears. "Don't lecture me… I'm not buying it…"

"Your talents, they're incredible, but are you sure this is the kind of thing you learned them for? Revenge?" The pinniped continued, moving closer still. "Believe me, Minotoro's murder was not Muscle League's doing. Come on…"

"You're lying…" Growled the dog, his clawed fingers twitching. "Even if it's coming from you, I won't believe it…. I WON'T!!"

A buckling of both legs put a cancellation on any attack he might have carried out. As the dog's knees fell to the ground, he felt his arms being painfully wrenched back and the weight of a good 280-something bearing on his calves. It was Gazelle Man, and not a moment too soon…

"Calm down, moron!" The crimson stag snarled, keeping steadfast to his grip as the man-beast struggled.

"Let… go!!!"

"You're a dog, so think like one! The Gen-EXers, did any of them smell like Minotoro? Did they smell like blood?"

He hadn't noticed his friend's scent on them at all. Even if they had washed, if they had gotten his blood on their bodies, it would linger for days… "And what about Tamerlion?" Gazelle Man continued. "Did he appear sluggish when he returned? Did he look well-fed?"

Huskitooth's eyes widened, his combative behavior suddenly washing away, along with his transformed state. His ferocious form of the black beast melted away to reveal the dog that so many found appealing cloaked in Goth fashion. When he sensed it safe, the gazelle took his weight and grips from the young mutt, who stared ahead blankly. Thinking back, when Tamerlion came in all battered and beaten, as he spoke, he continually belched, a nasty thing that only occurred when he gorged himself.

"It… It wasn't Muscle League……" He spoke in a choked, little voice. "Was it Tamerlion..? But why would…? 'Toro was… my friend……"

The tears started flowing and wouldn't stop. Crying turned to sobbing, sobbing to howling. Gazelle Man lowered his head, feeling somewhat responsible for this. No, Minotoro's murder had nothing to do with him. This was all that feral cat's doing. He couldn't believe… he wanted to be associated with that kind of person, a man who would kill his own student. The blood-red buck knelt with the sorrowful canine, placing a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to comfort. Seiuchin came forward, too, ready to say a few words.

"Look out!!"

Those were not his planned words, but the situation had changed. Something caught the walrus's eye, and when that something came toward them, he knew there would be trouble. As fast as he could, he pushed the two aside, rushing his broad body in from to protect them. He screamed as something shear-like cut across his eyes, Gazelle Man's hissing as that same something clipped his left ear. Seiuchin fell over, his hands covering his bloodied face, his body writhing on the sidewalk.

"Seiuchin!!" The buck rushed to the pinniped's side, hardly considering his own wound.

"Damned idiot walrus…" The attacker smoothed out his mane. "I wasn't expecting you of all people to catch me…"

"Tamerlion?!" Huskitooth exclaimed, still teary-eyed. "You were trying to attack me?!"

"Hah! Don't sound so surprised! I thought for sure I'd get you with my Smilodon Strike. Most people don't even see it coming! And in case you're wondering: Yes, I did kill Minotoro! Gazelle Man will make an excellent replacement for him!"

The dog gaped. All this was a set-up..? "What do you think you're doing, anyway?" The lion continued. "Exacting revenge for that stupid piece of meat? You've ruined my entire plan! This was supposed to prompt Harabote to deliver Seiuchin into our arms, not kill off all these other guys, moron! Take your punishment!!"

Tamerlion unsheathed his blade-like claws and rushed Huskitooth, positioning his hand and swinging it outward, cutting across the dog's neck Red Rain of Berlin-style. The young man-beast clasped his neck at the injury site, giving sputtering coughs and stumbling back a bit before falling to his back. The lion beast had slit his windpipe nearly in two, deciding to finish up by morphing his index and middle fingers into actual sabre-teeth. With great speed, he plunged the makeshift weapons into the fallen Huskitooth's chest, its owner spitting up blood and breathing as best he could. Gazelle Man could only look on as the witness to Animus's carnage…

"Ga…elle…" That young dog managed in a hushed voice. "Tell Sei…in… I …ar…bored… no… hate… for man…only…wanted……to…reat… wrestler……like… im…………."

Gazelle, tell Seiuchin that I harbored no hate for man. I only wanted to be a great wrestler, like him…

"Ha ha ha! He fought like a dog… and died like one, too!" The degenerate lion laughed it up, not only having the blood of Minotoro on his hands, but now Huskitooth's stained his skin, as well. The lion approached the crimson stag. "Come on, Gazelle Man. Let's go back to the ship. May as well bring Seiuchin along, too. He won't be able to do anything the way he is now."

"You killed your own students and you expect me to go anywhere with you?! Take your punishment!"

In his rage, Gazelle Man smashed a fist, once again changing into the hoof of a gazelle, into Tamerlion's face. The lion stumbled back a bit and covered the damaged area with his hands. When the pain subsided, he spit into his palms, eyes widening to see his two front teeth in them. He looked back to the buck, his eyes twitching with ultimate ire.

"Dead!!" He roared. "You're all dead!!!"

He retreated, hopping the hospital building to make his getaway. That over, he looked to the freshly killed body of Huskitooth and sighed, wondering how it had come to this. He then turned his attentions to the Gen-EXers and Mantaro. They'd all be fine, just a little roughed up, was all. But Seiuchin…Gazelle Man returned to his teammate's side once more, helping him to get to his feet, then moving forward to re-enter the hospital. The staff got that old pinniped checked in and did the whole run through to see what they could do. He'd have to stay indefinitely. A doctor asked him--that is, Gazelle Man--if he wanted his wounded ear stitched up. A saline solution would do to clean it, but nothing else was requested by the blood-red buck.

A day later and he got to see his walrus friend. It was only proper that his family be there for him first. He felt his heart sink as he watched Seiuchin's mother cry, his sister right along side. He came in next, that old, gazelle, his heart a nervous panic. The pinniped's eyes were bandaged up, not a part to peek through, his body sitting up in bed. "Seiuchin..?" The stag spoke softly.

"Hmm? Oh, Gazelle Man…" He smiled.

"How're you feeling?"

"Oh, I'm good, but are you okay? I noticed you cried out, too, when Tamerlion attacked."

Gazelle Man took his right ear between his thumb and forefinger. "My ear was split…"

The walrus lowered his head. "I'm sorry. Maybe if I had been a little quicker, I could have protected everyone a little better."

"Seiuchin, you may have been blinded!" The crimson stag shouted. "I'm the one who brought this on all of us! Aren't you the least bit mad?"

He shook his head. "No. It would have escalated to a state of near-gang violence, regardless…"

… "Why do you always have to be like that..?" The buck's voice quivered. "Because of me, my actions… You may never see again…… Why don't you hate me..? Get angry… or something……"

"Gazelle..? Are you crying..?"

"I'm sorry… Seiu, I'm so sorry……" Gazelle Man approached, hot tears streaming down his face. He threw his arms around the wounded walrus, embracing him with all the love and grief for his in his heart.

His right eye was shot. It would have to be removed. The left one took less damage and was expected to heal nicely with help from a daily saline solution. However, he'd eventually go blind in the remaining eye over the course of several years… Seiuchin kept that information to himself and returned the blood-red buck's embrace, the only sounds between them being the gazelle's soft sobs.