Author's Notes: I'm so incredibly sorry for the late updates these past few months, been really busy, and I've been really getting into the InoxAoi pairing of Demon Slayer (so have been writing for that too :S) So to make up for that, have two chapters!
Translations:
Gaman - a societal principle that is taught to the Japanese people from a very early age, it means to persevere through hardships even when you want to give up or quit. It has it's pros and cons though.(pros: they have used this spirit to endure great tragedies and move forward. The cons: most notably causing many Japanese to internalize their negative thoughts sometimes causing violent outbursts, to stay at jobs they don't enjoy, for women in particular to endure harassment at work or unhappy marriages), and younger generations are starting to rebel against it.
Zara soba - cold soba noodles served with a dipping sauce, common for Japanese to eat during the summer to cool down.
Unagi - eel, usually grilled and seasoned with sauces and topped on rice. Also eaten during the summer as it is believed the unagi possesses nutrition that can help recover from the heat of a summer day.
Kansai-ben - The dialect that Asuka speaks, also called Osaka dialect. It can be a little hard for even other Japanese to understand Kansai-ben sometimes.
Dialogue in regular font=Spoken Japanese
Dialogue in italics=Spoken English
Text in italics outside of quotes=Shinsuke's inner thoughts
Dialogue/text in bold=Emphasis on word(s)
Dialogue/text that is italicized and centered inside "-"=Shinsuke's flashbacks
Italicized text inside "/"=Shinsuke and Asuka's inner souls talking to each other.
Centered "..."=A time jump of less than a day
Centered ":::"=A time jump of about a day or more
Inside Vince's makeshift office for the night, Shinsuke found not only Vince behind a desk, but his son, daughter, and son-in-law were seated inside as well. This was the typical setup when Vince asked to speak with the talent. And though the other three in the McMahon family were almost always present, it was usually the patriarch who did the majority of the talking. Shane, Stephanie, and Hunter's presences were mostly there so they could get the details of how a storyline was going to be played out, that way no one was left in the dark.
"Please, have a seat." Vince gestured to two chairs placed in front of his desk once greetings were out of the way.
Shinsuke sat down and casually ran his slightly sweaty hands on his trousers. Even with his earlier bravado, he felt a twinge of nervousness at what was in store for them. Asuka sat at the right of him, reflecting a sense of calm, yet he could sense her unease in the tenseness of her grip on the armrests. He instantly wished he could reach over and take her hand in his, murmur more words of comfort, but it wouldn't do to show weakness while infiltrating the wolves' den.
"Asuka, thank you for coming on such short notice," Vince said. "How are you feeling since we last talked?"
"Good." Asuka smiled widely. "Very good."
"Glad to hear it." Vince returned her smile, though he showed no teeth. "And I hear your training has been going well. Your arm is holding up to more advanced moves."
"Yes," she nodded.
Vince turned to Shinsuke. "And what do you think?"
"Asuka looks good in the ring," he replied honestly, glancing at his fiancée. "Hardly rusty after time off, maybe tougher and sharper than before. She'll be ready to return as planned, I'm sure of this."
"So around the end of September as was discussed, after your wedding?" Vince requested clarification.
"Yes," Shinsuke answered.
"Sounds promising, which is why I've called you both here," the Chairman explained. "The time frame for her return is getting closer and closer so it is time to talk about plans for her return and we do believe it would be fruitful for the two of you to be paired up for the Mixed Match Challenge."
Beside him, Asuka shifted to the edge of her seat. Her anticipation was palpable. "Tell us, please," she said.
Vince also moved forward in his nice and comfortable-looking chair, his lips pulling up into another smile. But his eyes were more scheming than kind. "Very well."
Shinsuke didn't like those eyes. He pursed his lips though and waited for Vince to go on.
"For your return, you will be put back into the title picture with Charlotte at Evolution after taking down other potential contenders. You will feud for a few weeks leading up to the pay-per-view. You will lose."
Asuka seemed to wilt just a little at that news.
"Wait, she will lose?" Shinsuke spoke up. It was odd for the outcome of a title match at a pay-per-view to be disclosed so soon. "Why tell us now?"
"Now just hold your horses there." Vince's eyes flickered over to Shinsuke and one gnarled hand was raised to quiet him. "Her loss is to facilitate your Mixed Match Challenge storyline. May I explain?"
Shinsuke forced himself to breathe calmly and relax his tense shoulders. He nodded his head. "Please."
"This year for the Mixed Match Challenge, we've decided to raise the stakes." Vince's beady eyes gleamed. "The winners of the round-robin tournament will have title opportunities at the following pay per view, a Universal or WWE Championship match for the winning man and a RAW or Smackdown Women's Championship match for the winning woman. Sound thrilling doesn't it?"
"Oh yes!" Asuka was the first to answer, some life returning to her withered posture. Her bright eyes met Shinsuke's and they said to him, /We could both be champions!/
/Could be,/ he told her with a replying look. /Let's not get too ahead of ourselves before we hear everything./ He turned back to Vince. "You've gotten our attention."
"I knew it would," the Chairman chuckled. "You Shinsuke will approach Asuka with the offer to be her partner in the Mixed Match Challenge. But she will refuse you because she is still a babyface, thus you will have to try and win her over."
"How will I do that?" Shinsuke asked.
"How does a man win over a woman?" Vince shot back.
Shinsuke gave the old man a blank stare. As much as he loved Asuka, he didn't want their on-screen alliance to be a romantic one, at least not yet and not how Vince likely wanted it to play out. He exchanged another look with Asuka and could see she also appeared less than enthused.
When neither he nor Asuka said a word, Vince's exuberant expression lessoned. "Ya know, you've got to warm a woman up to you." When their expressions didn't change, the old man asked, "Did I lose something in translation or something?"
"Like saving a damsel in distress," Stephanie offered in her father's place.
Hunter cleared his throat, looking a little awkward next to his wife. Did he maybe want to laugh?
"We understand," Asuka said, looking at each of the four people in front of them in turn. "I don't get distressed and I don't need saved."
"Very true, she doesn't," Shinsuke concurred, proud of his fiancée for having the courage to speak on her own.
"Now wait a minute," Vince picked up the conversation again. "Everyone gets in distress and everyone needs to be saved every once in a while."
"Maybe him," Asuka shoved her thumb in Shinsuke's direction, which caused him to grin uncontrollably. "I can save him."
"Maybe we can work something like that in there. But first, we need him to save you so that she will trust you to be her partner," Vince argued.
"Trust can be earned other ways," Shinsuke countered.
"I know," Vince nodded, and Shinsuke sensed the "but" coming. "But, this way it involves someone else I want to introduce into the Mixed Match Challenge."
"Who?" Shinsuke asked unable to contain his curiosity.
"Randy Orton. He will also be pursuing Asuka to be his partner. Asuka will tell him no and he will menace her, leading you to save her."
Shinsuke's body became taut as his blood suddenly started to crackle with a barely contained energy: anger. It took him gripping his own hands together, crossing his legs at the ankles, and taking in a shaky breath in order to reign in his stormy emotions regarding the aforementioned man. He managed to remain calm on the surface, but below he was a tempest.
Asuka, on the other hand, exploded out of her chair, a vehement "No," on her lips.
"No? Why not?" Vince asked.
Asuka lapsed into a furious string of Japanese.
Vince raised one perturbed brow, looking from Asuka to him. Shinsuke tightened his grip on his intertwined fingers until the joints popped noisily under the pressure. He fixed his boss with a piercing gaze before speaking, "Randy was…unprofessional to Asuka."
"Unprofessional how?"
Shinsuke's jaw tightened, teeth grinding as he recounted the incident in his mind. "He asked certain favors from Asuka last year…I was United States Champion first time and Randy kept coming out during my matches. He said to Asuka he would bury my career unless she slept with him."
Hunter shifted in his seat then so that his full attention was on Shinsuke and Asuka, studying them. His green gaze then flickered over to his father-in-law, but Vince said nothing or looked at him.
"And why wasn't this reported?" Shane asked skeptically.
"Because…Randy said we wouldn't be believed," he replied. "He harassed Asuka until she bit his left hand."
Once again Hunter's countenance became thoughtful and he stroked his beard.
"We will not work with Randy," Asuka finished resolutely.
Shinsuke finally took her hand in his but made no move to make her sit down. Maintaining appearances no longer mattered to him.
"So let me get this straight…" Vince began again. "You didn't report this incident that supposedly happened over a year ago. You continue to work on the same company, and more so, the same show as the man that supposedly sexually harassed your now fiancée. Why?"
"Gaman," Asuka said.
The Chairman looked confused. "What?"
"Gaman," Shinsuke picked up where Asuka left off. "I see you are not familiar. I will try to explain. Gaman means endure problems, stay strong when faced with things that make life hard. To be patient. We Japanese learn this when children, so it is hard habit to break." With his hand still linked with Asuka's, he rose to his feet. "But Asuka and I, we will only gaman so much." He looked down at Asuka and she nodded. She led him quietly towards the door.
"Wait—" Hunter spoke for the first time, but Vince cut him off before he could say more.
Shinsuke heard the old man's hands slamming on his desk like thunder.
"Where do you think you're going?" His voice sounded a touch menacing.
Asuka and Shinsuke paused before the door. Shinsuke looked over his shoulder at his four bosses. Vince was standing now too, hands splayed aggressively over the surface of his desk. His weathered face was twisted with hideous anger.
Shinsuke regarded Vince with an impassive visage, holding a lid over the resentment and ire roiling inside of him. His voice was even when he said, "You do not believe us. Randy knew that. We knew that. We endured Randy because he finally left us alone. We endured many things here. But we will not work with Randy. If you cannot understand, then no more gaman. Asuka and I will leave."
Vince yelled something else as he and Asuka left the office, but Shinsuke honestly didn't hear a word of it. Vince would just have to sit and stew with that. Either his boss would come to the right decision or he and Asuka's journey in WWE would end soon.
"Wanna do some warm-ups with me?" he asked Asuka as they headed towards the locker rooms. He had some pent-up energy and hostility that needed to be worked out of him before his match. He didn't want to hurt Aleister Black accidentally because his head was elsewhere other than wrestling.
"Sure, I could use a warm-up myself." She beamed up at him.
Her smile eased the harshest edge of his tumultuous feelings and he knew soon he would be sailing on calmer waters again.
Shinsuke raised her hand to his lips. "Thank you, Niji."
...
Later on, during his match, the referee counted much faster when Aleister rolled him up than either he or the Dutchman had planned for – his opponent didn't even get to land his Black Mass.
Yet it didn't surprise Shinsuke that he was being punished in such a fashion after walking out of a meeting with Vince McMahon. He merely sucked it up and went to the back, saying not a word of it to anyone but Asuka.
"I think it's time to move to plan B," Asuka told him on the way to the rental after the show.
"Agreed," he said while loading up his baggage.
"Now we just need to find access to a ring." She bit her lower lip and averted her eyes in thought; her hands perched on her hips.
Shinsuke leaned his arm on the rental car, his brain also scanning through potential resolutions to that particular problem. He shifted so his back rested against the side of the car, putting him face to face with one of WWE's production trucks. A huge graphic of Seth Rollins stared back at him from the trailer.
Slowly a smile crept over Shinsuke's features. "Don't worry. I have an idea."
"What is it?" Asuka asked, eagerly tugging at the sleeve of his hoodie.
"You'll see." He winked down at her.
"You and your surprises!" she protested with a pronounced pout. "You know saying "you'll see," kills me with curiosity…I'd rather you just surprise me without me expecting it."
"I know." He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her into a kiss. "But you're cute when you're flustered with curiosity."
In truth, he evaded answering because his idea might still prove to be a long shot and he didn't want to get her hopes up on that front until he had time to think of alternative options. Asuka's adorably flustered response was just a bonus.
"Trying to earn points back with me?"
He rested his forehead against hers. "Is it working?"
"Maybe…" She canted her head and pressed her lips to his, drinking him in deeply.
Shinsuke sighed into the kiss and encircled her with both arms. He felt the last bit of stubborn tension he had held onto from earlier leave him as she cradled his face, caressing him, both body and soul.
When she pulled away Asuka smiled up at him with rosy cheeks. "Yes, it is working."
His returning smile was a gentle curl of his mouth. "You're earning your own points as well, Asuka."
"Oh?" her lips formed a small "o" and he wanted to kiss her all over again.
He hummed with a nod, closing his eyes briefly. "You never cease to make me fall even more in love with you."
There was a small pause before Asuka's body crashed against his, and Shinsuke couldn't stop himself from laughing as his little ball of energy attempted to hug him with all her might.
"You might be the death of me, quite literally," he wheezed out a chuckle.
"Oh!…I…I-I'm sorry," she apologized as she loosened her grip. Her voice sounded mildly weepy.
"Ah, but that would be okay with me." He gathered her up close and kissed the top of her head.
Small delicate hands fisted the material at his back. "S-Shinsuke…" she murmured mistily. "I love you, s-so much."
"And I love you, Asuka." He rested his cheek against her head, smoothing one hand repeatedly through her soft bright locks.
/No matter what, I will stay by your side,/ her soul whispered to his.
/And I will go to hell and back for you,/ his soul vowed in kind.
A small epoch passed before they disengaged completely again.
"We better go," Shinsuke suggested. "We've got a plane to catch yet."
Asuka nodded in agreement. "Let's go home."
:::
Another set of footsteps compelled Shinsuke to scan his surroundings for the thousandth time. His search turned up Titus O'Neil, Apollo Crews, Dana Brook, and the Usos – who were all already nearby for some time now – and Road Dogg, who had just arrived only to walk by. People had been milling about and walking this way and that for some time now but Shinsuke still had yet to catch a glimpse of the man he was hoping to speak to.
It was Sunday, August 21st, the night of SummerSlam. His and Asuka's wedding was just under three weeks away and Asuka's scheduled return was only a little further along than that. Though he wasn't having a match at all on the card, Shinsuke was asked to show up. That didn't bother him in the slightest. In fact, it gave him plenty of time to look for RAW's Seth Rollins about making use of one of the younger man's wrestling academy rings. He expected Rollins to turn him down but he had to try.
Otherwise, he'd have to go buy his own ring from HighSpots – as renting a ring from the company – which he would've preferred – was currently unavailable. That would sink him well over $5,000 once the shipping was added. The cost wasn't so much of a bother for Shinsuke as how long it would take for the ring to be shipped and where the hell they would put it once it arrived. He and Asuka lived in a well-off residential area of Orlando. However, their walled-off backyard space was at a premium, and to make room for the ring, Asuka's beloved flowers and zen garden would have to be upheaved. Besides that, Shinsuke didn't want their video to look like a backyard wrestling match.
Shinsuke pinched the bridge of his nose irritably. The plan had sounded nice until he really dug into the meat of the situation. He should have listened more to Inoki or Sugabayashi. Maybe then he could have gleaned some tidbit of important information on organizing events.
His only other option, and last resort, was to snoop around the indy scene in hopes a promoter might lend him a ring. But that would cause quite a stir.
As if you aren't already on Vince's shit list as it is, Shinsuke thought wryly to himself. A crooked smile made itself at home on his lips as he imagined the tirade the old man would work himself into. It was at that moment while he was picturing Vince having an aneurysm that a cackling male laugh grabbed his attention.
Shinsuke didn't know Seth well, but he doubted anyone in the company could mistake that that laughter for someone else's.
Seth was sandwiched between Dean and Roman as they made their way towards where Shinsuke stood sentry against the wall.
"Oh my god..." Roman rolled his eyes in exasperation. "That wasn't even funny. I swear you will laugh at any of his jokes." He jerked a thumb at Dean.
"You're just jealous because you don't have any jokes at all," Dean tossed the accusation teasingly at his older brother.
"I have jokes," Roman retorted.
"Alright, give us one then." Dean crossed his arms smugly. When Roman took too long to answer, Dean barked out a laugh. "Ha! What'd I tell you?" he asked, rapping on Seth's chest with the back of his hand.
"You put me on the spot…" Roman grumbled.
"You both suck at jokes," Seth intervened, then looked at Dean. There was a warm sort of fondness there in his eyes for the scruffy man that seemed to go beyond that of friendship and brotherhood.
It was the same look Asuka often gave him. Shinsuke blinked. Are they—?
"The only reason I laugh is that, as horrendous as your jokes are, I love you and it's kind of adorable actually." Seth's hand brushed Dean's with a subtle but undeniably intimate touch.
Dean's face broke into a goofy smile and the two men gazed dreamy-eyed at each other with faint blushes tinting their cheeks.
Oh my, they are…Shinsuke tried not to stare as the realization sank in – not that he had anything against them. He just didn't expect such a revelation going into this "mission".
Oh no the mission! He had lost track of it altogether while observing The Shield; Dean and Seth in particular.
The three men had already passed him, continuing their animated chit-chat, and Shinsuke felt his window of opportunity at talking to Seth closing.
"Seth!" he shouted, a desperate impulse.
Everyone in the immediate vicinity looked up from what they were doing. Seth turned around as did his two Shieldmates, eyes darting to discern who had called him. Shinsuke jogged over, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
"Seth," he tried again in a more level voice. "Can I ask you something…in private?" As an afterthought, then tacked on a "please."
Seth blinked owlishly, looking a little stunned. "Well sure. I can spare some time," he replied after a few moments. He told Dean and Roman that he would catch up with them then followed Shinsuke into a more secluded part of the hallway. "What's up?"
"First, promise this stays between us," Shinsuke said, his gaze pinning down the younger man's doe eyes with a stoic seriousness.
He was met with a moment's hesitation before Seth answered, "Yeah man, I promise."
"Good." Shinsuke took a deep breath then began describing his and Asuka's situation. He started with their initial ideas – their feud and desire for Mixed Match Championships – and the way Vince received it, barring them from practicing together at the PC. Next, he talked about Vince's vision for them, how it included Randy and that they did not want to work with him. He then explained Asuka's idea of filming their own match as a means of showing that they could fight responsibly in the ring and hopefully change the Chairman's mind. "For that, we need a ring. So I'm asking for a favor that I will repay. Would you let us use your ring?"
Another, longer pause from the other wrestler. Shinsuke shoved his hands in his pockets so that they wouldn't visibly shake.
"Wow…that's…" Seth started, he seemed to be once again struck nearly speechless. "I dunno, man. I mean a match with you and Asuka does sound like it could be something special. But to go behind Vince's back like this? I dunno…sounds a little sketchy…for you guys and for me."
"I understand your feelings," Shinsuke said. "But Asuka and I…there is nothing left to lose. We are not sure how much longer we will stay here. I want to one day return to New Japan before retiring. If neither of us become champion here, no matter. The most important thing is to make a mark, show our passion. If we are not allowed that, why stay?"
"Why is it so important for you to do this here?" Seth asked. "Surely you could pitch this idea with another promotion with much more ease."
"The same reason I first came to WWE, to show to the world," Shinsuke said. "In Japan, men and women are separated into different companies. It might be difficult for Asuka and me to have a match this way. If companies decide they don't want us to fight, we can't. We have a better chance here in America, in the same company. I am also not young. Wrestling is not my only dream. There are many other things I want to do in my life. This match with Asuka…one of my last dreams in wrestling. If I cannot accomplish it soon here, I will look elsewhere."
When Seth said nothing, Shinsuke allowed him a moment to mull everything over. He then added, "You do not have to do this, but it would make things easier. No one has to know you provided the facility or ring. We can be sneaky, like ninja." He made creeping motions with his hands. "Asuka and I, we are good at sneaking. Before you know we are around, we are gone. No longer a bother for you."
Despite outward reluctance, Seth chuckled and shook his head ruefully at his exaggerated gestures and persuasive wording. Seth looked down and blew air through pursed lips. "I'll do my best to think it over and have an answer by the end of Summerslam, alright?"
Shinsuke nodded. "Of course. If not tonight, please call me. No matter yes or no. Okay?"
"That much I can promise you," Seth acquiesced. They shook hands and swiftly exchanged numbers.
"Good luck in your match, Seth," Shinsuke told the RAW superstar before he left to find his friend and likely lover.
"Thanks, Shinsuke," Seth said, giving him a gap-toothed smile. "I hope we get to lock up in the ring again one day."
Shinsuke grinned affably. "Yes, I would like that."
At the other man's departure, Shinsuke let out a long breath and tried to relax his overwrought mind. So he stretched. Then he conducted a short session of shadow punches and kicks.
Once the worse of it was gone he spent the next few hours finding ways to keep himself busy. He talked with Sin Cara and Akira for a while, watched some matches, played Candy Crush, ate some food at catering, did some more warm-ups, played more Candy Crush. He thought about napping, then decided against it. He needed to be awake if Seth approached him. So he went back to pacing the halls, alone with his thoughts. The silent contemplation gave him some solace, allowing him to think of a few more solutions for space should he be forced to purchase his own ring. But there was still a buzz in his head that wouldn't quite silence itself. He took out his cell and called Asuka.
"Bored already, Shinsuke?" she asked.
"Yes, so very bored." He was after all, with little else to do but haunt the hallways, boxing shadows. "Please talk to me."
"Oh, my poor Kitsune. Alright~" she cooed. She began talking about what she was up to that evening. She had only then just finished eating dinner – some zaru soba and unagi she made to cool off from Florida's late summer heat – when Shinsuke had called her. She had streamed We Bare Bears and she described the episode for him. Ranger Tabes and her newfound ranger friends had rescued the bears and the forest from an imposter ranger who wanted to tear down the forest to make way for a golf course.
Shinsuke sat and listened. Sometimes he laughed, sometimes adding small, but meaningful responses here and there. But mostly he savored her voice. It was like a balm, healing his weariness and uplifting his spirits.
"What about you, have you been up to anything unscrupulous tonight?" Asuka asked.
"Maybe…depending on who you ask." he grinned and it seemed that she had picked up on his puckish expression.
"Details, Shin."
"Can't~" he sing-songed. "It's part of your surprise. Just know that I'm working very hard on it."
"You…" she rolled in her Kansai-ben.
"I'm sorry, what was that, Niji?" he joked.
"You…I can't tell if you're insufferable or wonderful with your damn surprises. Just tell me already!"
"I'm sorry, the reception must be bad, you're breaking up. All I could make out was wonderful," he answered cheekily.
"You just edged closer to insufferable."
Shinsuke was about to retort when he saw Seth heading his way. "Sorry, gotta go, work to do and all."
"Tch…definitely insufferable…" Her tone softened. "I love you."
"I love you too." He smiled to himself and ended the call.
To Seth, he said, "I did not expect you to take this long and I did not expect you so soon either." Shinsuke had imagined a quick no or a lengthy period of consideration before receiving a no. Seth's approach fell in somewhere in between. "So you have an answer?"
Though Seth carried with him an air of confliction, he bobbed his head twice.
A.N.: I wrote the scene with Vince before I got more of the inside scoop of how talent interacts with him. Basically, they just get handed a script by one of the writers or producers. I think they only talk to Vince if they have their own idea to pitch, etc. And as far as I know, Shinsuke doesn't do that. So, I really didn't want to have to rewrite that scene... The perks of being a member of Shinsuke Nakamura Secret.
And of course I had to have some Ambrollins in there, I still love them so much~