Chapter 20
It was early the next day when Tempest and Garou went to speak with Oni. He didn't mind the least bit sitting down with him, however, he appeared uncertain to the sight of Garou.
They spoke in private in his office, he sat them down and offered green tea as he spoke. "I wish you would reconsider joining the stable, Tempest. It's not likely a good move for you that you are not with a strong teacher or have been training among other Rikishi like yourself."
Garou sneered. "Tch, he doesn't need to be trained among those who won't treat him like an equal. I get it, you got to earn your place here among the others, but going to the extent of starving him. I draw the line!"
Onimaru paused to the news. "Starving him?" he asked. "Did you not eat well enough here?"
Tempest shook his head. "No, there was hardly anything left for me when it came to be my turn. I was the one who cooked the meal too, I always make sure there is plenty to go around and leftovers when I cook at home… here, they didn't want to see me eat as well as they do. Also, they never trained me seriously. I was hazed, I admit that, but I wanted to learn more than anything. They wouldn't allow it."
There came a look of concern over Onimaru, he began to think things over before nodding his head. He paused however as he noticed Tempest's arms bandaged up. "What happened?" he asked.
He smiled politely. "A test of strength… and it went a little too far." He said.
"He got into a fight with Amai Mask and held his ground." Garou said rather carelessly. "Look, I am not going to beat around the bush here. I will train him, that's no issue. The problem is, I cannot train him on the tradition of sumo. You know me, and know how I work. I could give a shit about it all, however… I will not hinder my son in his dream. Which means he has to have an understanding of what is expected of him as a sumo wrestler, and when he becomes Yokozuna."
Oni was stunned to how blunt Garou was, however he didn't try to lie or hide anything from him on the matter. He gave but a nod in understanding. His arms crossed as he pondered over the notion. "In Sumo, one normally has to be part of a stable. However, rules do not dictate it is mandatory, it's just traditional as to how sumos are raised for they learn from their elders on the matter. I will take Tempest to get registered and will explain it all to the board. Traditions, you are correct about, Garou. He must learn them for they are part of the culture and ways of the sport. But I will say this. That fight you had with Amai Mask… had you been registered at the time, your career would have ended that moment!"
Tempest froze in fear. Garou sneered at the thought of it. "That serious?" he muttered.
"Indeed. As a sumo, one must conduct themselves in a proper manner. We are considered a branch of samurai warrior, and one needs to carry themselves properly. No fighting outside of the ring, you speak gently even if others speak brashly about you. You must maintain composure at all times and be calm."
Tempest gulped his pride a little. "I am still a little nervous around people…" he said offhandedly.
"You need to get over that. Tempest, understand me when I say this." Onimaru leaned in over his desk, looked him in the eyes and stated. "You need to be more than who you are now to carry yourself as a Yokozuna."
He timidly nodded to the news.
Garou was already going over new ideas to break Tempest of his shyness, one already worked so far. "If I continue to train him, will you teach him the tradition and customs he needs to know?" Garou questioned.
Onimaru smiled proudly. "When I am through with him, he will know everything that is expected of him! I promise you. Your son is a very quick learner and I have little doubt in my mind that he will adjust and adapt to what is required of him to become a true Rikishi." He paused and stared at the robe Tempest wore. "Your garment is very close to what you should be wearing. However it is too thick, you need to be presented with proper garment, it is thin and you cannot wear anything else with it until you have earn your rank!" Onimaru warned.
Tempest nodded his head in understanding. "My sister made this for me." He explained with a blush.
"She is very talented,"
Garou was getting rather antsy to say the least. "So in a few days, you will take him to register?" he asked.
"Yes, and if he is well enough, there are tournaments coming up. He is free to enter but before that, there is one that I strongly feel he needs to in." Oni explained that there was a testing tournament for newcomers into the sumo world. However this tournament helps the federation gauge its wrestlers. For some can come in with remarkable talent and boost their rankings. Some who claim to have fantastic talent to gain a high rank only to be unable to prove it must start at the bottom. "But, I think there will be an exception made for you, Tempest. You have a natural ability, and I can't see you starting low in the ranks. You have too much talent and ability, I am certain you will be getting an instant boost in your rank the moment they see what I have seen in you."
A grin came over his face. Garou smiled wickedly, as he said aloud. "Sounds like a good deal…" he paused for a moment. "Rank depends on victories and how they are won, correct?" he asked.
This made the veteran sumo wrestler pause. "Yes…" he said rather nervously.
The smile only grew on Garou. "Just making sure." He turned to Tempest and gave a nod. "Let's get you home to rest up for tomorrow. Your arms should be healed by tonight."
With that, they walked out of the office. Tempest paused as he watched the others train but sighed aloud to it. The older guys there smirked and snickered towards him, yet when Garou caught their gaze, they froze in fear of him. On the way out, he turned to Tempest and said. "I will make you so strong, that they will fear your gaze as much as mine!"
#
First thing's first.
Garou took Tempest to see Genus to check on his arms. He did a quick x-ray once more of them and nodded his head. "The bandages can come off, he's all healed up." Genus announced.
"Oh… so soon?" he asked, Tempest appeared worried. "Isn't that…"
"Yeah, but you just got hurt for the first time. It's going to take a while before you heal automatically. Don't be ashamed of this, if anything I got this too. So you can say you got my healing abilities." Garou said with a wink of his eye.
Tempest smiled and nodded, as Genus took the bandages off, Tempest sheepishly asked. "Dr. Genus, is there anyone at the association that could help be gauge my strength? I want to be sure I use enough of my power to win, but not hurt anyone." He asked.
He bit his lip a little. There appears to be one person in mind, but didn't know if he should mention his name. "Uh… you may want to ask 66…"
"66?" Tempest asked.
"Why didn't I think of that… but he's no sumo wrestler…"
"Whose 66?" Tempest asked again.
"Zombieman." Said Garou
"He's not and he prefers spying and investigating than physical work," Genus said. However in Garou's mind there was no one better. He's human, and he can heal fast if he is struck too hard, but it would also give a good indication as to how much force is needed for Tempest to participate in sumo matches.
"We need to ask a favor of him then…"
"Good luck with that," Genus muttered. "Do take into consideration 66… is a very serious man. He isn't one to play sumo here. Not to mention he's not the proper weight, one would have to make him a suit to be that of a sumo wrestler!" he protested.
Garou suddenly had grin on his face. "I already spoke to Alley about that, and she already made the suit for him… I got it, now, to just convince him…"
"Where's Zombieman anyway?" Tempest asked.
"Last I checked he was with Yuki, apparently he's taken an interest in the gadgets he has been making. So, construction lab, down the hall."
Garou nodded as he excused himself from the room.
He ventured down to the lab and there he was, just as Genus said. Yuki was going over a belt and was explaining the compartments. As he walked in, Zombieman placed on the belt and nodded to the fit. "Perfect kid, well done."
"Hey dad!"
Garou paused as he saw Hunter and Jag in the room as well. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, Yuki made Tank Top Tiger these metal rings, yet you push the center and they become claws. Covering your finger tips in long, sharp metal talons… Jag wants some too." He explained with a grin.
"I'm working on those next… why are you here dad?" Yuki asked.
"Came to talk to the Deadman about a favor."
There was already a look of reluctance on Zombieman. "Do I even want to know?" he demanded carelessly. "I don't unless it's anything about spying or intelligence gathering to say the least."
"Yeah, it's awkward, but Tempest needs help gauge his strength… he wants to be a sumo wrestler…"
Suddenly, Zombieman glared at him with a rather annoyed look. "You want me to sumo wrestle your son?" he demanded.
"Not really sumo wrestle with him… just help him indicate how much strength he needs to knock someone out of the ring. Alley made a suit for you…"
"Pass," he said instantly.
"My kid needs help!" Garou said as his voice began to growl. "You are the only one…"
"I said, Pass… HARD PASS"
"What do you want?" Garou demanded. "What would you want that I could give you that would allow Tempest to know his true strength?"
A snort of a laugh came out of the former S Class hero. "You got nothing I want, for there is nothing I need from you." He said and took a cigarette out of his jacket.
Suddenly a look of intrigue came over Jag. "What about something… good?" asked Jag.
Everyone turned and stared at him oddly. Jag excused himself from the room, only to return a short time later with a small snuffbox. A look of curiosity came over everyone as Jag opened the box to Zombieman. "These are the finest, hand rolled cigarettes made in my village, they are only made in limited amounts, numbers and given to gifts of those with great influence in other villages, peace offerings and wedding gifts."
There came a look of interest, Zombieman took one from the box and smelt it. He appeared curious. "Doesn't smell like a cigarette." He said.
Placing it into his mouth, he lit it up and took one drag.
He froze, his hand trembled as he found himself savoring the taste, aroma and even the expelled smoke itself! "What… the hell… is this?" he demanded.
"Artisan crafted, as I said rare in my village, used for only special occasions and ceremonies, as well, only people of power are privileged to these." He closed the snuffbox as Zombieman was tempted to take one more, cutting him off from doing so. Jag held them rather carelessly in his hand, teasing them before the S Class hero. "These… are yours… if you help Tempest."
Hunter was even taken aback by Jag's offer. "Dude, if they are that high end, you sure you want to use them for this?"
Jag laughed. "This was a bribe from my father to give to you. You don't smoke so they would have been useless either way. Father doesn't want them back, it's insulting if they do return to the village untouched." He explained.
In no time, Zombieman was done with this cigarette. However the taste of it must have been something new and interesting for him to be tempted by the offer. Garou thought cigarettes are all the same, but apparently these were not ordinary to say the least.
A sour look came over him, Zombieman struggled before his glare came upon Garou. "No cameras. None what so ever if I am to wear this contraption of a suit, not a word is to be spoke of it, not ONE WORD." He warned.
Garou nodded. "I will have Yuki disable all electronic devices in the facility of the training session. No one will record you in the suit, I will even have Tempest come here when you are ready to train with him. We will merely test you for various, average weights of sumos to know the extend needed to win a match."
He sneered at it all, but as the snuffbox was offered to him, he snatched it out of Jag's hands. "Not… one… word…" he muttered.
He left shortly after, but Garou was grinning from ear to ear.