Disclaimer: I do not own Rumble Roses or it's characters. This is kind of a filler chapter so bare with it.
Chapter Four: Saturday: 2nd Week
On the bus ride to Boston, Massachusetts, Michiro looked depressingly sad in her pink pajama pants and blue tank top with the words "Rumble RosesTM Rocks!!" on it. She had been thinking of a way to get a hold of Mr. Richards. She had tried to do so ever since Ian said that he was joining Rumble Roses as a 'Thorn'; yet as luck would have it, no one has been able to track Clive or Ian since Wednesday, and neither of them were at the house show in Wichita, Kansas yesterday. However, that was the least of her problems. Then next broadcasted show was tomorrow, but she and Ayake had yet to see which of them was 'stronger'. She looked over at Ayake, who was sitting five seats diagonal of her, and sighed deeply. "I guess it's now or never." She got up and walked over to Ayake. She was trembling as she touched Ayake's shoulder. "Um, Ayake could I talk with you for a sec?"
Ayake turned around and glared at Michiro. She had an aggressive look on her face. "What do you think you're doing right now?"
"Um, yeah… I know. Anyway, so, er… like, what are we gonna do about this whole 'prove who is stronger' thing? I mean… only if you don't want to… I could, give you the opportunity to face Aigle tomorrow." Michiro couldn't face Ayake. She could only imagine the look that her peer had on her face.
"You pompous ass!" Ayake got up and slapped Michiro had in the face. This got the attention of all of the Roses. "I don't need or want you charity! What? You think I can't prove myself against you, some punk who is afraid of clowns, and had a string of luck in her first match!?" Ayake clenched her fists and was ready to fight Michiro right now.
"Afraid of c-clowns, who me? You seem to have me mistaken for someone-"
"I saw that too girl," said Aisha, who was wearing a black T-shirt with her name on it and red basketball shorts. She had lifted her head up from reading the latest pop reviews, and looked keenly at Michiro. "Every time Sebastian was in the ring, you flinched. What you gonna do when you end up having to fight one on one chick?"
"You're also too soft," said Reiko coolly. She was wearing a black leather jacket, and black shorts. She didn't even bother to look at Michiro as she spoke. "I heard that you passed out after your match. Ha, what a wimp." Michiro couldn't even muster up a retort to that. "And, you're too intimidated by everyone else. Heh, I'm glad that you're not aimed for the Tag Team Titles 'cause I'd hate to be partnered up with you."
"Reiko!" Dixie yelled. She couldn't believe that the Zero Fighter would say such things.
"What Clemets? I'm just saying when put side by side, it's plain as day that 'What's her face' should undoubted, out of the two, be the one to face… the Champ." The distain could be heard as Reiko uttered her last words.
"I heard how you said that!" Ayake walked over Reiko and stood right over her. "So what, who do you feel should have a shot at the title? Because it certainly shouldn't be you! When's the last time you had a legitimate win-"
Reiko got up, and punched Ayake in the face, leaving a bruise. "I never lost my Championship!" she yelled. "That bastard Regal stripped me of it for no good reason and never gave me a chance to try and reclaim it!" Tears watered in her eyes as she recalled the event. "So yeah, I might not have the best record, but…" It then hit her, a solution to all her problems, something that she had long forgotten about. She then began laughing hysterically, and everyone looked at her with puzzled looks in their eyes.
"Ms. Hinomoto," said Makoto worriedly. She had thought that her friend had gone insane. "What is it? Are you feeling ok?"
Reiko resigned herself to her seat and put her feet on the back of the chair in front of her. "Makoto, oh little Makoto," she laughed. "I've just come to a great realization. Something that'll change the landscape of Rumble Roses! Listen here 'sheep'," she said mocking Aigle. At the beginning of the show, you two could open up with a match up to see who is going to face that Nomad. Then following the matchup, Aigle could have a match so that she won't have an unfair advantage over her challenger. Put a match or two next, and for the main event have Aigle fight her 'contender'. It's perfect!"
"That's not a bad idea Reiko," proclaimed Candy Cane, who had just begun listening in on the conversation. "But… how in the heck is that supposed to 'change the landscape of Rumble Roses'? Hell, what does that have to do with anyone except for those three!" She pointed toward the three Roses in question, while keeping an eye out to see if Miss Spencer was going to say something, which she didn't. Actually Miss Spencer wasn't bothered with anything that the young girls were talking about.
"You'll see after Aigle's match," said Reiko with an evil grin. "You'll see."
Everyone went back to doing their own thing, partially because Reiko was giving them the creeps. Once Michiro returned to her seat, she sighed again. "It looks like tomorrow is going to begin early for me… not only that, but everyone thinks I'm weak." She glanced out of her window into the dark of the night. That whole ordeal did not go down like she had initially planned. As she watched the scenery go by, Michiro realized something. If she beats both Ayake and Aigle tomorrow, then everyone will have to acknowledge that she is a decent fighter. With this on her mind Michiro put her iPod headphones on, turned to her theme song "Do What U Like," and let the music soothe her to sleep as the Roses continued their journey to the next city.