Author's Notes:
Italicized quotes = spoken English
Regular quotes = spoken Japanese
Italicized words = thoughts and non-verbal communication
Bold words = Emphasized words
Translations:
Sugoi - Great or Amazing
Nani? - What?
Baka - Idiot
Domo - Thank you (casual)
Three weeks came and went since she allowed Shinsuke back into her life; the night that their embryonic friendship took on a subtle metamorphosis into what Asuka marked as something just a little bit more.
Despite those three weeks passing with the speed of a blinking eye – time flew when one was among enjoyable company – Asuka felt that they came to know each other as though those weeks had been considerably longer.
Her bouts of sadness still came and went. There were days she still resorted to her noh mask out of instinct. But with Shinsuke around, her rain cloud didn't bother quite as intensely or for as long. He was her rock in this windy storm she was enduring.
She was scarcely seen without the man when she was outside the ring. They traveled together, ate together, roomed together (though they kept amongst themselves that they shared rooms), and even introduced each other better to their respective circle of friends.
Most of Shinsuke's friends accepted her without question. The majority of hers did as well, but there were a few that appeared as though they couldn't help themselves in questioning the type of relationship they were carrying on.
One day several of the Smackdown Live women were chatting in the hall. Some just talking about general topics, others going over promos or matches together. Shinsuke was at Asuka's side while she discussed her match with Carmella, acting as a translator between them.
Suddenly Carmella asked a question that caught them both off guard.
"Are you two together or something?"
Most if not all other women also chose that moment to stop what they were doing and stare at them.
Asuka felt like a deer caught in the beam of highlights. Shinsuke coughed in the way she had learned that he was unconsciously indicating that he was feeling uncomfortable.
Frozen as she was, she managed to turn her head to look at him. He mirrored her action.
To one another they both silently said:
What should we do?
It was Naomi that rescued the both of them. "Does it really matter if they are together or not?"
Carmella blinked owlishly at the other woman. For the first time Asuka saw the current SD Women's Champion struck speechless.
"Yeah, they can be whatever they want to be. It's none of our business," Charlotte seconded. Becky nodded vehemently in agreement with her best friend.
Others seemed to find what Naomi and Charlotte said acceptable and the chatter from before started back up again.
Asuka let out an imperceptible sigh of relief and Shinsuke relaxed his stiff posture beside her.
She was immediately thankful for the women that made up her inner circle and made sure to express her feelings of gratitude to each of them.
Then, on their time off, Sin Cara (who Asuka quickly learned was currently one of Shinsuke's closest friends in the WWE) invited both Shinsuke and her to a get together he was holding among co-workers.
This was one of the first of such gatherings Asuka had been asked to attend in The States.
"What should I expect?" she asked Shinsuke helplessly as he had far more experience in the U.S. than she, "What should I do?"
To that he answered with an easy grin. "Just bring a swimsuit, a towel, and be yourself. Everything will be fine."
"What if it won't be fine?"
"It will be, I'm quite sure. If not, I will be right there should you need me."
His reassuring words felt like a soothing blanket to her soul.
She and Shinsuke met Sin Cara at Mustang Island. Their little group consisted of Kalisto, Akira Tozawa, Charlotte, Becky, Naomi and her husband Jimmy, Peyton and Billie Kay, as well as the trio of Kofi, Xavier, and Big E.
The first thing they did once everyone had arrived was to eat some grilled food prepared on a cooking pit Sin Cara had constructed over a securely built fire. They sat in a circle around the fire, the chatter easy and casual. Asuka found their group quite diverse and enjoyable. She surprised herself by joining in conversations without relying so much on Shinsuke for backup.
"Let's go swim!" Billie declared once a bit of silence fell over the collective group.
"Yeah!" Peyton explained, joining her bestie in a race to the ocean.
Charlotte and Becky exchanged looks with each other, shrugged, then followed suit.
"C'mon, boo," Naomi said to her husband.
"Don't gotta tell me twice," Jimmy grinned, taking her hand.
Before too long almost everyone had trickled in to take a dip in the ocean. Some swam, others simply stood and let the water wash over their feet, while more adventurous members of their party grabbed paddleboards.
Asuka was one of the last to join. She hesitated when she saw that Shinsuke, Sin Cara, and Kofi had remained behind. They didn't look like they were going to join the fray.
When he saw her confusion Shinsuke said in English, "Go ahead. We should be in soon."
Though she was unsure of his reasoning, she felt confident enough to go splashing in the waves with the others.
After some time of her playfully swimming with those that were in the water, Akira asked each of them if they wanted to try paddle boarding. Jimmy and Naomi were already on some boards of their own, but offered to lend them to anyone who wanted to learn.
Peyton and Billie raised their hands enthusiastically. Becky and Charlotte said they would take a rain check as they seemed to be content to float in each other's company. Big E also declined while Xavier chose to try it.
Asuka felt apprehension begin to cloud over her, but ultimately shoved it away. "I would like to."
Naomi took on teaching both Peyton and Billie. Jimmy paired himself with Xavier and Akira coached Asuka.
To her amazement she found the water activity to be pretty easy once she got the hang of it. It was also very relaxing.
"You're a natural," Akira complimented her from his spot in the water, a big smile plastered on his face.
Asuka returned his smile and bowed her head in gratitude.
Just then the wind began to pick up, causing the waves to grow in size and turbulence.
Akira watched as Xavier fell off his board. "The waves are getting too big to continue," he advised, "We should head back and put the boards away."
Mere moments after he made his assessment, the others began to gradually leave the water until only she and Akira remained.
Unlike Xavier, Asuka maintained her balance on her board despite the building waves. "Must we?" she asked. She really wanted to continue for as long as she could.
He nodded, "The wind doesn't look to be dying down and it looks like the waves will probably get bigger. So unless you want to wipe out—"
Just as he was saying this, Asuka sensed some movement zip by behind her. The startling quickness with which it moved elicited a yelp from her. That fast movement, as well as the wave that followed, ultimately caused Asuka to finally fall off her board.
When she resurfaced again she looked about herself frantically, fearful of some scary and dangerous sea creature swimming among them. What she saw instead took her breath away.
Riding on the crests of the waves were several surfers, Sin Cara and Kofi among them.
Shinsuke swam passed her on his surfboard to apparently to catch another wave. He gave her a wink and his mischievous fox grin before continuing on his way.
So it was he who had frightened her, the sneaky little shit.
The longer she observed the surfers, the more she grew to admire their talents. However it quickly became apparent to her that only one surfer in particular kept her attention. The ease with which Shinsuke controlled his board was mesmerizing. He didn't move against the waves but with them in a beautiful harmony of man and nature.
Asuka knew that Shinsuke surfed but this was the first time she had ever seen it in person.
"Sugoi~" she breathed.
The waves finally overtook Shinsuke and after resurfacing, he swam his board over to where she remained in the water. He arrived breathing a little hard from exertion and the thrill of his athletic feat. When he finally caught his breath, he beamed at her.
"Asuka isn't afraid of wiping out," he boldly asserted to Akira's earlier statement.
She could only blink at him as her mind felt like it had fled her. What was Shinsuke talking about?
"The waves are NOT ready for ASUKA!" he coaxed playfully.
"There's no way I could—" she started.
"Balance comes easy to you," Shinsuke disagreed, "I saw you on the paddleboard. How you withstood the larger waves. She could give surfing a try, don't you think Tozawa-san?"
Akira mulled the thought over. "She could definitely have a shot."
"I don't know…"
Shinsuke paddled closer, putting a hand on her shoulder. "If you fall, I will save you before you drown."
"Very reassuring, Nakamura-san," she grumbled.
"I'm only joking," his grin then sobered, "but I do promise I will be right there with you. Besides you won't fall anyway."
She did though. Over and over again.
She expected that she would give up after the first few times. Instead, the shortcomings only served to fuel her inner bushido. As well did Shinsuke's patient instruction.
But there came a time when he looked out over the horizon as they bobbed in the water on their boards. His eyes then shifted to her. He seemed to be gauging something that she didn't understand.
"That's enough for now Asuka. Let's head back."
"Just one more," she replied stubbornly.
Before he could stop her, she was already swimming her barrowed board out to meet the next big wave. Faintly she heard him calling after her, but she paid no heed. She was also quite unaware of how much she was panting this time around.
By the time Asuka realized just how large the wave confronting her was it was too late.
The water smacked her down like a steamroller and her powerless body went spinning out of control down beneath the surface.
It was a labor to simply reorient herself. She had to wait until the wave fizzled out before she could do much of anything. Then to make matters worse, despite the safety band around her ankle tying her to the board, her tired limbs and her burning lungs denied her the ability to easily swim back to the surface. She seemed to be moving in slow motion. Panic consumed her then and she flailed frantically. It got her nowhere fast.
I'm going to die…
She was abruptly grabbed from behind and vaguely she registered two powerful legs kicking, propelling her to the surface. The first lungful of air she took upon breaking through the water was both a blessing and a curse. Breathing physically hurt. Nevertheless, she greedily breathed in and out, each exhale punctuated by a wheeze.
Shinsuke turned her in his arms so that she faced him. Absolute terror reflected in his eyes.
He said something, but the blood rushing in her ears and her racing thoughts drowned it out.
I almost died.
I almost died.
Shinsuke looks so afraid.
Could she have almost killed him with her reckless stunt?
"N-Nani? She shivered.
A measure of relief replaced some of the dread written on his face. "Are you okay? Do you feel like you breathed in any water?"
Asuka shook her head numbly. Though she was certain she hadn't, she was also certain that she had gotten away with that by a razor thin margin.
"Good," he breathed. He cupped her face in one hand, thumb brushing back a wet lock of hair. He pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead. "Good…" he repeated against her skin.
She later blamed it on her shell-shocked brain, but at that moment her lips felt very neglected of the attention her forehead was receiving. Whether or not he was able to perceive that little detail, she never knew.
He swiftly maneuvered her again so that her side was against his, one strong arm around her waist. With his free arm he swam for her surfboard. From there he helped her onto the board so that she rested on her back while he remained in the water to keep her steady.
Moments later Sin Cara, Kofi, Jimmy, and Akira were at their sides and Shinsuke – though reluctant to leave her side – was free to climb his own board. It was clear the both of them dearly needed to recover their energy.
Asuka thought she heard Sin Cara say, "She's got some cojones." But she only zeroed in on Shinsuke's response of, "Yes she does."
She didn't know what cojones meant. The only thing she could focus on was her near death experience and the resulting anxiety on Shinsuke's face.
"Baka," she said lowly so only she could hear it.
Once they were closer to the shallows, the remainder of their group helped bring her onto the shore, worry coloring each of their faces. She felt both moved by their concern and even more foolish for instilling it in them in the first place.
Though she said she felt all right, everyone insisted she be taken to the closest hospital for evaluation. She was found to be fatigued, but otherwise in good health. All the doctor recommended she needed was rest. Still that did not stop the overwhelming guilt from flooding her head.
The whole day of fun almost turned into tragedy. Because of her.
Yet, in the end that event only served to strengthen her bonds with everyone involved.
As for Shinsuke, he dismissed her vehement apologies. "You're alive and all right. That is all that matters to me."
"But I—"
Her protest was cut off by him giving her such a hug that she felt that if he held her any closer he would somehow take her into his body.
If it were any other person than Shinsuke embracing her so close she might find it too confining. This, though, felt so very safe and comforting.
Asuka inhaled the clean ocean scent that seemed to cling to him no matter how far he traveled from the sea. Leaning into him, she whispered "Domo" into his shoulder.