January 15. 1940 outskirts of Manchukuo
The once massive, influential and glorious lands of Chinese civilization were now fractured due to infightings amongst its revolutionary leaders over their ideologies allowing the ever growing and ambitious Japanese to expand their territory within the land as many provinces had fell one of which is Manchuria the place of origin for the Qing dynasty(1) last imperial state of China which was incorporated into Japan following the empire of the rising sun victory over Russia(2), however now it's called Manchukuo a puppet state of Japan.
Marching into the night were a group of middle eastern men and some women just as their leader placed his foot on the official border line guns were loaded as many Japanese soldiers surrounded the group in all directions, two older boys smiled as they shot fire into the ground making a dust cloud blinding the Japanese and allow the group to either run or shoot the blinded Japanese dead. Some surviving Japanese rallied as they roared in spirit shooting their own guns at the middle easterners who ducked and shot their guns upwards right into the faces of the Japanese making them drop dead, more Japanese fell when a man snuck behind them like a snake cutting their throats open two more drew their Katana's as they rushed towards the snake man but were caught from behind by a large man who threw them upwards allowing another one of his companions to throw metal rings that dug inside the Japanese throats claiming their lives.
"Circle!" one officer yelled seeing more figures come out of the shadows wearing black cloths as the nearby soldiers made a circle with him, in a flash the black clothed men jumped down impaling the Japanese with metal poles, scratch out their eyes with forks or cut their throats with saws. The officer fell on his knees pale as the group surrounded him as all of his allies were laying on the ground in pools of their own blood the leader grinned as he forced the officer to look him in the eyes before he shoved his gun unto his mouth and pulled the trigger, a clap was heard making the group turn around gripping their weapons as two soldiers approached accompanying a man of high status definitely a marshal "Good show, good show" the man praised.
"Please save the formality we both know you want to kill us but you can't" the middle eastern leader spoke back in retortion.
"Very well I'm glad we understand one another" the marshal spoke dropping any formality "My name is Shunroku Hata(3) field marshal in the Imperial Japanese army, this little fight was a small test to evaluate your quality and you passed. We'll take you with us to meet the Emperor to discuss whatever bill of goods offer you believe can interests him."
"Wait we're going to Japan now?" one of the older boys asked with a cocky smirk.
"Is that Emperor this easily impressed?" asked the other
"No and no" Hata answered "But you'll video phone with him in our capital here."
"Fine by me" the leader said
And so the group began walking towards loading trucks that marshal brought with him but one woman in particular was having difficulty "We said enter the damn vehicle!" a soldier shouted as he booted a woman in her cheek who fell.
"Hey, watch it she's pregnant!" yelled a young girl who was then slapped.
"Didn't your father teach you not to raise your voice on a man!" the same soldier scolded as he raised his boot and stepped on the girl.
"Please have mercy she's still young and lacking in manners" the pregnant woman begged on her knees.
Smiling one soldier decided to raise his boot and place it near the woman's face "Lick it" the woman conceded and licked his boot satisfied with this the men stopped their harassing and made the two enter the vehicle which drove into the borders.
As the two females waited the young girl looked at the pregnant woman with a disapproving look "Why are you like this?"
"Like what Zainab?" the pregnant woman asked.
"Why are you in all of this mess? Why are you lowering yourself like some dirt on the ground? Why did you go with his plan? We could have stayed back and lived normal lives" the girl yelled and wept.
The woman smiled weakly as she approached the girl and was about to caress her face when the girl slapped the hand away before she laid on her side not giving her face to the woman, which made the woman sigh as she watched the starry night sky "God please I seek refuge for my family and to open my daughter Zainab's heart" as the mom spoke her prayer her daughter had a dead gaze on her eyes for the upcoming doom she knew would come one way or another.
(…)
Present
"In the last show of Girmov Friday Night Xtrema a mysterious woman wearing a red mask resembling that of a demon hijacked the main event and almost killed not only the Wrestlers but both staff and attending fans" an anchor-woman spoke as a picture of Evil Rose was shown beside her "Witnesses claim that this's the work of Mexican con promoter Mammy who had recently also hijacked the main event of Chikara and made an open challenge between her agent Tiger Mask W and Chikara's ace Blast and tried to sabotage Tiger Mask's match last time she was in the country, considering that Springer the ace of Girmov was also in that main event investigators believe that this's also a challenge towards Springer to go toe to toe with that masked devil woman. As of now Mammy is being interrogated by the-"
The tv was shut down by Kazuya Mishima who then looked at Askleadd with narrowed eyes "You know if the society needed proof of my experiments going well I could have shot a video or made a live camera for them to see, rather than make an unnecessary stunt that could put all parties in danger."
"You misunderstand Mr. Mishima the stunt as you call it wasn't an experiment but rather a way to get people talking" Askleadd said which didn't help Kazuya being less frowned "You see since GWM was gone many lost interests in the sport many federations especially New Japan are still struggling to get their viewers back so we need to get their interests back before we go further in with our plans."
"Even though Mr. Mishima didn't approve of it I'm glad to see that Evil Rose is coming to her perfection" Anesthesia spoke in delight and effort to steer the conversation elsewhere carrying a clipboard in her hands as she chuckled.
"You better find a way out of this Askleadd" Kazuya threatened ignoring the nurse.
"I already had."
(…)
Girmov headquarters
Ms. X and Lady watched the footage for what felt like the millionth time but not found how that masked woman came in, no matter which camera they switch to or time they play the masked woman doesn't exist as if she's a ghost that suddenly appeared and disappeared. A knock on the door brought the duo's attention as they looked up "Who is it?" X asked.
"It's us" Springer's voice came as she and the other ladder match combatants came in "You said you got our points?"
"Yes" X stated as she turned to Lady who nodded tabbed a few things on her tablet then showed the girls.
Springer: Offense/18, Defence/26, Accuracy/40, Total points/84. Springer's new point/ 219.
Reiko Hinomouto: Offense/ 19, Defence/22, Accuracy/37, Total points/78. Reiko Hinomouto's new point/78.
Makoto Aihara: Offense/27, Defence/13, Accuracy/36, Total points/76. Makoto Aihara's new point/76.
Aigle: Offense/18, Defence/25, Accuracy/39, Total points/82. Aigle's new point/82.
Harumi Ootaka: Offense/24, Defence/22, Accuracy/42, Total points/88.
Yumi: Offense/11, Defence/0, Accuracy/7, Total points/18. Yumi's new point/18.
Peni Dextra: Offense/26, Defence/24, Accuracy/46, Total points/96. Peni Dextra's new point/ 96.
Blizzard Yuki: Offense/23, Defence/21, Accuracy/40, Total points/84. Blizzard Yuki's new point/84.
"As you guys can see we only evaluated your performance and not chosen a clear winner due to the circumstances" X revealed none protested as they were glad they were still alive and not been crushed by the falling jumbotron "Your free to go" the other's remained silent as they left the office one by one until Springer was going through the door "Springer wait" X called out making Haruna stop and turn around after she closed the door behind her she took her seat.
"Something wrong?" Haruna asked.
"Well seeing your Tiger Mask's original agent I want to know if you could get in contact with him over his new agent almost killing everyone" X spoke with a low tone but rage and mostly stress weighted down on her voice.
Haruna sighed shaking her head "No I didn't talk to him after that and I didn't answer him when he called me since I'm so mad right now" the masked feline looked down clutching her fists.
"I see your free to go" X dismissed as the masked feline left the room.
"Ms. X should I call the cops to see if they got anywhere in their interrogation?" Lady offered.
"No they said they'll contact us."
(…)
Police department
In the busy halls of the city protectors many cops were running across the halls carrying papers some holding people mostly reporters from getting in as they flashed their camera's and asked many questions along with tv trucks and numerous phones rang.
Inside the barely lit interrogation room was a handcuffed Mammy face to face with an officer who took a sip of smoke then looked at the con-woman who was silent for most of her time in here before a knock was heard on the door which was then opened revealing a man in a suit "Finally my lawyer is here" Mammy cheered as the lawyer walked towards the cop.
"Can I speak with my client privately?" the lawyer asked.
"No can do your client is guilty and I have proof" the cop answered.
"What proof?" Mammy asked cocking an eyebrow up.
However the cop didn't seem to be stuttering or caught off guard rather he took in another sip "Your boy Tiger Mask spilled the beans."
Mammy's confident cocky smirk of assured victory fell replaced by a paled face "What do you mean?"
The cop opened something in his laptop before showing it to Mammy showing her client in the same position as her "Um listen I admit we did crash into the Chikara show" Tiger admitted.
"Didn't your boss said it was part of an angle?" the cop interrogating him asked.
"Um she likes to paint things in better pictures sir" Tiger admitted "But she's a nice woman believe me."
"Is she not nice enough to stop herself from almost killing people?" the cop asked.
"Um she is but I don't know about that masked devil woman" Tiger answered.
"Have you seen the masked devil woman before?" the cop asked.
"No I haven't and I'm not certain if she's hired by Mammy or not since Mammy likes to keep everyone in the dark including me" Tiger admitted "Rather I didn't know I have to crash an event until we arrived."
An echo rung of Mammy's head being slammed on the confession table at this, the cop took another sip before he closed the video "So if you can't tell even your own partner in crime admits as such. Until then you'll be held here."
Two cops came in and brought the handcuffed Mammy up to her feet before taking her out of the room and bring her inside a cell sitting next to Tiger Mask "Did it go well?" Tiger asked.
He instantly regretted the question when Mammy looked up with a glare "What happened to 'don't say anything and wait for the lawyer'?"
"I-I'm not good at this" Naoto admitted with a sigh "Besides that masked devil woman is someone I never met."
Mammy gritted her teeth at what Tiger was referring to "You think I hired her?"
"Um well-"
"Tiger I swear I had never seen that woman before!" Mammy shouted cutting him off "You got to believe me."
Naoto closed his eyes "I'm sorry."
Mammy didn't respond as silence fell upon the two for their current predicament an unenvied one being accused of nearly killing many people for a promotional stunt the lock opened bringing their attention as a cop came in "You Mister Tiger you got a call."
"From who?" Tiger asked since he had been phoning Haruna before the arrest for help but she didn't answer any of his calls or texts.
"A man named Kentaro" the cop answered.
Naoto looked down the last person he wanted to confront right now is his old coach however this could be a way out "I'll take it."
The cop huffed opening the bar a little as another cop handcuffed the Wrestler from behind and they went down the hallway towards the phone booth "Your only allowed 5 minutes max!" the cop shouted.
Naoto took the phone "Hey coach-"
"YOU IDIOT! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?" Kentaro cut him off yelling.
"Coach listen I don't have much time but Mammy didn't have anything to do with this-"
"How are you certain?"
"Because she told me" Naoto answered uneasily and unsure.
"You're an idiot!"
"3 minutes!" the cop shouted.
"Listen please call Haruna and tell her to get a lawyer right now" Tiger pleaded.
"30 seconds!" the cop shouted lessening the time as another cop came in handcuffing Naoto from behind.
"Just call Haruna and tell her that we're innocent" Tiger pleaded before the cops finished handcuffing him and hanged the phone as they took the masked Wrestler back to his cell.
(…)
Takaoka motors
Kentaro face remained stern as a wall when the phone was hanged sighing the coach hanged his end as he turned around seeing his phone which already had sent texts to Haruna along with failed missed calls the young Tigress remained unresponsive all day long making a defeated sigh escape his lips at the current predicament his apprentice suffers.
(…)
Girmov gym
At a time like this most of the girls would be working out to keep their skills sharp however they all were staring as the only voice that echoed was the beating of a punching bag along with the grunts and screams of Springer who kept attacking the punching bag with so much ferocity that it could no longer stand as it fell and spilled the sands out of it, a funny awful drawing was on the bag which resembled Tiger Mask W and Mammy which was picked up by Springer as she teared the thing in pieces and even began eating it.
"Hey Springer, you got what I asked?" Mint suddenly spoke with a nervous forced laugh and smile as she and Milk escorted Springer away whilst still being looked at by their fellow Wrestlers.
"Please don't mind us" Milk begged as she waved finally taking Springer to the locker and sat her down, the Candy Pair allowed a sigh of relief to escape their lips as they looked at the grumbling Haruna who frowned deeply.
"Haruna want to talk about it?" Mint asked but the only answer she received was a deepened frown.
"Well he finally showed his true colors" spoke a familiar voice as the trio looked at the direction seeing Bunny Bomber with a smug smile as she raised her nose "Turns out he's evil after all."
Springer stood up and glared "He's not like that" she spoke in a low tone rather than her supposedly loud shout.
"Stop lying to yourself girl."
"I-I'm honest with myself" Haruna then laughed forcefully "After all that no good con-woman probably played him into obeying her like an animal. Yeah of course-"
"Please stop" Bunny said in a deadpan tone accompanied by a dirty look "You aren't even trying to convince me as much as your trying to convince yourself, like some child who just found out that their heroes aren't that graceful at all."
"Are you calling me a kid?" Haruna clutched her fist.
"I'm older than you so yes you're a kid to me" Bunny answered flatly.
"Why you" Haruna tried to get her hands on the former model but was held back by the Candy Pair "I'll show you who's a kid."
"Springer please stop" Mint pleaded as she struggled holding her friend down.
"Um please take back that kid comment we can't hold her back much longer" Milk pleaded with a strained voice from the struggle of stopping the fiery teen from going after Bunny.
"Well it's not just kids that act like that but people that have crushes too" Bunny spoke not willing to take back the kid comment but also not willing to start a fight and instead made an alternative which seemed to work in a weird sense as Haruna ceased her lunging attempts and instead looked down her drive of anger being replaced by a shaking nervous body, Bunny looked confused but it didn't take long for her to figure out "He's your boyfriend?"
"NO!" Haruna shouted with the mask covering her crimson face which didn't have an effect on Bunny rather than go on some weak arguing the playgirl turned her back on the trio and walked off, once she was out of sight Haruna breathed a sigh of relief "What's with her am I right?" instead of getting support Haruna instead was met by stone faces from the Candy Pair "Guys?"
The two looked at one another they nodded gave Haruna a few light pats on the shoulders and left.
In other parts of the locker room the toilet flushing was heard but it kept coming turns out Mewlie had her own daughter and tag team partner Neko girl head pinned down on the toilet flushing her face in it before she lifted her head up allowing her to breath in right before Mewlie placed her head inside the toilet again and flushed before Neko had enough and elbowed her mother back followed by a back kick, Neko shook her head as she glared anger and murder at her mother "That's the weakest glare I had seen" Mewlie scolded.
"What is wrong with you?" Neko asked baffled.
"You should ask yourself that" Mewlie countered "Ever since you forfeited the match not only did you cost us a win but also lost your killer instincts."
"I-I'm perfectly fine n-never better" Neko stuttered trying to seem tough but Mewlie wasn't amused.
"Last night you slept with the lights on."
"Um the darkness was hurting my eyes you know" Neko lied as she looked away not even able to meet her mother's gaze.
Mewlie sighed as she slapped her face "Great I have to start drilling you again scaredy cat."
"I'm not a scaredy cat!" Neko defended "Heck I was thinking of paying that Selena a visit and give her a piece of my mind."
"Then let's go to her" Mewlie spoke making Neko girl pale.
"What?"
"Well I managed to get my hands on this ticket where these Hardkor people at and that goth Selena actually lives there" Mewlie answered.
"How did you get these?" Neko asked internally wishing it's another one of her mother's lies and deceptions.
"Well mommy got to know this sweet guy that happens to work there" Mewlie fluttered her eyelashes "And he told me-"
"Eww I don't need to know that besides this ticket is probably dirty from what you have been doing" Neko excused "And I'm not touching it."
"You don't need to touch it rather you can come with me to them."
"We would be intruding in their business" Neko said which made a disgusted look appear on Mewlie's face "What?"
"You have turned into a scaredy cat" Mewlie answered with a disgusted tone.
"You know what I don't care anymore!" Neko girl stormed off.
(…)
Sparta gym
One never is unable to see the Spartans doing their regular hard drills whenever they enter since the women here are ferocious and hard as iron, Hibiki was pushing her dumbbell up and down breathing heavily until she felt the dumbbell being carried off of her taking in a few much needed breaths the blonde looked up seeing her fellow members Sayaka and Anna "Hey guys."
"Hey" they replied weakly.
Hibiki sat up cracking her back a little as she turned to the duo "Something the matter?"
"Hibiki have you seen Aoi today?" Sayaka asked in a worried tone.
"No" Hibiki replied "Isn't she normally with you guys?"
"We haven't seen or heard from her all day" Anna admitted "Once she was treated after our squash by those women from Hardkor she ran off crying and we didn't see her."
"We tried calling her and she didn't answer or even look at our texts" Sayaka followed "When we went to visit her she wasn't there."
"I'm sorry" Hibiki whispered looking down.
"Don't be" Anna assured as she and Sayaka left.
(…)
The park
Neko girl walked gloomily with her head hanged low when she closed her eyes a quick flash of Selena's face in the darkness appeared forcing her to open her eyes, she yelled out in frustration as she kicked the ground around her until she hit a giant rock which made her scream and eventually fall next to a pound. Neko sighed in depression as she laid down "What's wrong with me?" Neko asked in a defeated desperate tone.
"Wanna talk about it?" asked a voice in the same tone of defeat and desperation, looking up Neko girl saw Aoi Kanda who looked terrible with her hair being unkept and messy along with marks on her eyes indicating a waterfall of tears ran down her face.
"You're that girl in the Cheerleading six woman team from Sparta that was squashed by Hardkor right?" Neko asked normally she would use a mocking tone when talking down to losers however she wasn't much better now.
"Yeah" Aoi answered weakly "At least you put on more of a fight than I did."
"I wouldn't call that a fight I was weak and I got scared into forfeiting" Neko spoke holding herself back from crying.
"It's alright to cry."
"I-I'm so pathetic" Neko cried "My old woman is right I'm nothing but a scaredy cat."
"A scaredy cat is better than a weakling who couldn't hold a candle to her opponent" Aoi tried to comfort as she too began to cry.
"I think both of you were great" a voice called out making both girls look up and see Kaito.
"Your Kaito Marx?" Aoi asked wiping a few tears off.
"Yeah it's me."
"What are you doing here loser?" Neko asked in saddened anger.
"I was jogging and I saw you guys and heard what you were talking about" Kaito admitted which got Neko to throw pebbles at him "Ouch!"
"Mind your own business!" Neko demanded angrily
"Would please just listen?" Kaito asked as the younger kitten kept throwing pebbles at him but came to a stop not by reason bus since she ran out of pebbles to throw "Okay listen I will admit that I'm the biggest loser that I know."
"How did you figure that out?" Neko asked in a supposedly sarcastic tone but it was tough to tell due to her depression.
"I figured it out from day 1 when I entered the Wrestling dojo of AJPW everyone assumed the best of me being the son of a runner up for the four pillars of that promotion and his wife a key player in Shanri-La" Kaito chuckled sadly for the memory "They were all disappointed they told me to go get a regular job and that I'll never make it, but I ignored them and joined a company owned by my then girlfriend parents and I was completely at the bottom. For their part the higher ups did try to put me in tag teams but even then I was just a bag of potatoes for my teammates everyone laughed at me fans, Wrestlers and executives it was so shameful that she finally dumped me."
"Your girlfriend?" Aoi asked.
"Yeah she was really beautiful but now that I think about it that's all what attracted me to her" Kaito answered solemnly "When I couldn't deliver her more than my parents reputation she kicked me in the balls and left me hanging in front of everyone, I was so broke I thought I might end up killing myself especially since the executives were looking to get rid of me but couldn't since well I was a future son in law for the owner but when his princess didn't want me anymore they quickly gave me my release."
"What of your family?" Aoi asked.
"Mom was there for me always been even now but dad on the other hand lost faith in me especially after my last stint before Girmov actually mom got me into Girmov and I got beat by women the first wasn't a good Wrestler herself and the latter two rubbed their asses in my face the second loss even brought my older sister out to beat me up."
"Your sister beated you up?" Neko girl asked astonished at the prospect her relationship with her mother isn't good so she always fantasized about having a sister or brother to outnumber her.
"Nothing new Miyako was always a monster and she unlike me was an accomplished Wrestler but it's her monstrosity that forbade her from finding work in any federation, actually in my last gym one joked that Miyako took too much talent from our parents genes she ended up being a psychopath and left me with no genes and made me a weak pathetic jobber" Kaito breathed in before looking up with determination "But I didn't go down then nor am I going down now, I'll never allow the word die come out as long as I draw breath."
The two girls had their eyes widened as they chuckled with red faces "Thanks Kaito I needed that" Aoi spoke giving a sincere smile to the jobber making him blush in return.
"W-welcome I was just looking out for my fellow Wrestlers is all" Kaito answered nervously.
Neko left without saying a word but she did have a small smile with red cheeks as she mouthed 'Thank you' to the jobber filled with determination she knew what she wanted to do.
"Aoi there you are!" called the voice of Sayaka as she and Anna approached her Aoi reached out to them immediately the former wrapped her arms around Aoi in a tight embrace "I was so worried about you."
"Sorry I was just going through a breakdown is all" Aoi answered with a smiled as she returned the hard embrace Sayaka gave her, they stopped as they all shared a laugh.
"C'mon let's go for ice-cream girls" Anna suggested as the trio left, once they were far a bit Anna with a coo smirk leaned to Aoi's face "So when did you start dating?"
"W-what are you talking about?" Aoi asked shocked.
"That guy looks familiar" Sayaka added making Aoi look back at her.
"He's Kaito Marx the only male in Girmov and no we're not dating he just talked with me and I feel better now" Aoi defended.
Anna and Sayaka laughed as they patted Aoi's shoulders "Calm it we were just joking Aoi" Sayaka assured.
"Yeah besides if I'm not wrong he's dating the younger Sniper Cory, right?" Anna asked.
"Yeah he does" Aoi answered as she grumbled internally 'Lucky girl.'
(…)
Haruna's apartment
The teen's mood didn't improve as she kept working out like a mad woman that she distracted everyone to the point Lady politely asked her to go home, so here she was laying on her bed which was messy from her tantrum and her pillow was smashed from the punching she gave it. "Damn" Haruna cursed in a whisper as she took her phone seeing Kentaro's unread messages along with missing calls sighing in defeat she clicked on call and waited after three rings before she heard.
"FINALLY WHAT WERE YOU DOING ALL DAY?" Kentaro asked in panic that Haruna had to distance the phone from her ear before pulling it back.
"I was just frustrated is all" Haruna answered shamefully "I was so mad at Mammy that some of it went to Naoto."
Kentaro sighed on his end "Yeah I called the police station and had him on the phone with me-"
"Is he okay? Did they sentence him yet?" Haruna cut her uncle off asking the rabid questions.
"Actually he wanted me to call you to get him a lawyer-"
"I'm on it there's that friend of mine back in business school that entered the law profession-"
"There's no need for that" Kentaro cut her off with a sigh of defeat, Haruna's heart sunk at the tone of her uncle fearing to speak.
"Why?"
"Check the news" her uncle simply answered before he cut the line.
Haruna stood there before finally putting the phone down she grabbed her remote and opened the news channel upon seeing it a fearful gasp escaped her lips dropping her remote down on the ground, the tv screen showed the police station which had both Tiger Mask W and Mammy being broken the white lines red in bolds the following: 'TIGER MASK W AND MAMMY ESCAPE!'
(…)
*Business talk*
In the cartoony office of Chibi Ms. X was the Kirby avatar of the author and Chibi Ms. X herself as they reviewed papers together "So the Chinese new year is not getting a special treatment?"
"Yes I decided to keep three chapters like the previous specials" Awesome answered "So any Wrestlers you got your eye on recently?"
"Well your Gabriella roster looks promising especially with the additions you gave me on it and I would like more information regarding Sparta and Pacific Lamia as soon as possible" Chibi X replied.
"They would get their bio's in Girmov BIO in the first patch of hiatus break from Girmov" Awesome assured then looked to the readers "Sorry but business talks shouldn't be public so we're closing this short early, hope this chapter was to your excitement and would follow it up next Tuesday hopefully until then Thank you for reading and have a nice day."
