Kenny is at the curtain waiting for them. His first instinct is to check on his baby sister. Doting on her and making sure that she's alright after taking Nick's crazy dive. When he's convinced that she isn't hurt he moves on to checking on Matt and Nick. They're sore and a little bruised but mostly okay. Before the entrances for the next match begin the Bullet Club, including Skylar, gets together for a quick backstage photo with all of their belts. Tama, Fale and Tanga Loa hold the Never Openweight six man tag titles, Marty carries the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title, Kenny has the United States Title and now the Bucks are the proud owners of the IWGP Junior Tag Titles. Skylar posts the photo to Instagram and captions it "I surround myself with champions. Soon I'll be one too. #drippingwithgold"
Before she can put her phone away a text from Seth appears, "Holy shit, are you okay?"
"Guess you're watching. I'm fine. But not done for the night," she adds a smiley emoji before sending her response.
It takes a few minutes but he sends her another text telling her to stay safe and promises to keep watching. His message makes her smile knowing that he's watching. Soon she's helping Marty into his elaborate entrance costume. His usual trench coat, hat and mask are joined by an enormous pair of black feather wings that will extend well past his shoulders at the touch of a button. She snaps the strap of his title belt on behind him and straightens out the tail of his coat just seconds before his music starts to play.
She finds a monitor just beyond the curtain to watch his four way dance with Will Ospreay, Kushida and Hiromu Takahashi. The four juniors have an insane car crash of a match with high spots galore. In the end Marty loses to Will Ospreay. Skylar sneaks out to ringside to help the fallen villain to the back.
She chats with Seth, Finn and Karl via text until she sees Kenny getting ready for his entrance. Matt and Nick help him into his Anubis shroud and mask while Skylar holds onto the oversized cosplay gun he's going to carry to ringside. Chris Jericho walks past them and nods as his music plays through the forty-three thousand seat arena. This is the match that people have been waiting for. Even though it isn't the main event, this match alone had caused a massive spike in online subscribers. Jericho's return to New Japan has the wrestling community buzzing.
Skylar hands Kenny his weapon once his United States title is secured around his waist. The four of them are quiet, taking a moment to soak in everything happening in the arena. Kenny's music pierces the nearly silent arena making the crowd explode. He emerges from behind the curtain in his Overwatch and Destiny inspired entrance costume. Skylar waits until he's a few feet down the ramp before stepping out herself. She's followed closely by Matt and Nick. The three best friends escort Kenny to the ring as photographers go nuts clicking away on their cameras. Kenny hits his signature pose using the big gun instead of his usual finger gun. He hands Matt and Nick his costume pieces through the ropes before sending them and Skylar to the back.
The three of them watch intently at the monitor backstage as Kenny and Chris absolutely kill each other for the next forty minutes. On more the one occasion they gasp or hold their breath because of a ridiculous spot. In the end though, Kenny is victorious. Skylar and the Bucks rush out to the ring to collect their bloody and battered champion. Skylar throws one of her brother's muscular arms over her shoulder and helps him to the back. While Kenny gets cleaned up she grabs her phone to respond to the plethora of texts from Hunter, Finn and Seth. Soon after, they're back at Kenny's trying to fall asleep. Kenny has a hard time unwinding and fires up his PS4 while Skylar falls asleep easily after sending Seth a goodnight text.
The next day proves to be just as busy as Wrestle Kingdom day. New Japan has their next big event of the year with New Years Dash. The crowd at Korakuen Hall is on fire as the show kicks off the newest storylines for the upcoming year. Skylar stays off of the show since she'll be back in WWE by Monday. Her interest in the New Japan stories has her glued to the monitor as dissension in the ranks of the Bullet Club and the tease of Kenny's reunion with Kota Ibushi play out on the show. By the end of the event she's exhausted just from watching. She soon finds herself at Matt and Nick's favorite Japanese restaurant to celebrate the two amazing shows. Nick films everyone enjoying their meals at TGI Fridays for another Being the Elite episode. As he does, their waiter brings out a couple of free congratulatory desserts for the table.
"This is your last night in Japan huh?" Matt asks Skylar.
She nods, "Yeah, I'm kinda bummed. It's been a blast being here for the last few weeks." She scoops a spoonful of ice cream off of Marty's dessert plate. "And after all this working out I'm in the best shape of my life.."
"As you shovel ice cream into your face hole," Nick snorts.
"Shut up" she laughs. "I was going to say how much I enjoyed this time with friends, old and new. But I think the new friends are nicer to me!"
"He just doesn't know you well enough yet," Matt and Kenny chuckle.
She sticks her tongue out as Marty defends her, "Oh come on guys. She's not that bad!"
The rest of the guys laugh as she rolls her eyes at them. They try not to stay out too late celebrating as Skylar has a long day of flying back to the United States coming up. She soon remembers that saying goodbye to her brother is one of the hardest things she has to do. He drops her off late the next morning at the airport where he insists she tell him when she's landed safely. She hugs him as though she'll never let go, until he starts laughing and tells her she needs to check in for her flight.
Her plane touches down in Houston on Sunday night. Exhausted, she texts Finn and Karl to see if they'd already left the airport. She groans when they confirm that they're already checked into the hotel. Baggage claim is fairly busy for a Sunday night. She pulls her giant suitcase from the conveyor belt and starts to wander the airport in search of a shop to get a drink before hailing a cab. As she's paying for her beverage someone clears their throat behind her. She turns around to see Seth Rollins grinning like the Cheshire Cat.
"Did you just get back from Tokyo?" He asks. Before answering she rushes in for a hug. He's surprised at first but is soon returning her tight squeeze. "I missed you too," he laughs huskily.
"I just landed," she confirms when she finally lets him go. "Now I'm just trying to get to the hotel. Finn and the Good Brothers are already there."
"Ride with me," he says matter of factly. "I'm about to grab my rental and head there."
"You sure?" She asks hopefully. Luckily he just nods and looks at her as if there isn't even a question. "You're my knight in shining armor tonight."
He smirks at her declaration, "I'd be a fool not to take you with me. Besides, if I leave you behind I won't be able to grill you about your trip."
And does he ever. The thirty minute trip to their hotel is filled with him asking for every detail about New Japan and the Bullet Club. Including details on her relationship with Marty. Which makes her giggle thinking back to her shared kiss with The Villain. He walks her to her room where she barely manages to change into pajamas before passing out on the bed.
She meets up with the boys the next day to get a ride to the arena with them. They hurry to get a solid workout in before the show starts. Skylar enters the women's locker room to a crowd of very unhappy faces. Their glaring eyes feel like they're burning holes right through her.
"What are you doing here?" Dana Brooke sneers as Skylar rolls her bag into the corner.
"I work here," Skylar says bluntly.
Charlotte puts her hands on her hips as she stares at the dark haired girl, "Could have fooled me. I thought you were staying in Japan with that new boyfriend of yours."
Skylar just rolls her eyes, not even justifying the remark with a response.
"She SHOULD have stayed in Japan," Dana quips. "Lord knows she's not welcome here."
Before she can get into it with the blonde duo Stephanie McMahon pops her head into the room and calls her to her office. As the show begins Skylar and Stephanie go over every minute detail of her debut. Entrances, gear, colors, music and every other thing that may come up. When they're finally done the show is coming to a close. She goes to grab her bag from the locker room to find that her bag is covered in a pile of trash. She locates the upturned garbage can next to it and grumbles to herself as she brushes the mess onto the floor.
Still suffering immensely from jet lag she meets the boys at the car. Her general look of displeasure let's them know she's not in the mood for chit chat. They climb into their usual spots in the car and start the long drive through Texas.
"You okay?" Finn asks carefully a short while later.
Hiding a tear as she pushes the incident from the locker room aside, Skylar nods, "I just haven't caught up to Central time since being in Tokyo two days ago."
"I hear that Hoot," Karl recalls all of his trips to and from Japan over the years.
"I do have good news though," she tells them.
"Well don't leave us hanging Hoot!" Gallows hollers excitedly. "Spill it!"
Skylar grins, "I'm debuting with you guys next week." Their stunned silence encourages her to keep talking. "I'll just valet you next week. Then I'll get into a backstage altercation the week after, leading into the rumble," She yawns.
They talk about the possibilities and her upcoming debut until Skylar starts to nod off. She slowly sinks down across the bench seat until her head is resting on Finn's thigh. Karl looks over his shoulder and 'awws' at her sleeping form. Finn signals for his best friend to turn the dome light on. He slips his phone from the pocket of his coat and snaps a picture of himself holding up a Too Sweet with Skylar sleeping on him. In just a few minutes the photo is on Instagram and Twitter with the caption "Take note Villain. Sleeping Beauty, safe in the arms of the Prince."