Contradiction of Terms

[Kaji Fireson]

June 15th, 2011
Exercise Room
Days Inn Inner Harbor
Baltimore, Maryland

You have to focus, Isamu.

David Fireson and the APW Suicidal Champion Isamu Suzuki are sitting on a bench on the outer perimeter of the local hotel's workout facility. Isamu still has the Suicidal Title, which is right now folded up and draped across his lap, but he looks significantly less thrilled than the last time he was recording a promo, and the reason for this lack of enthusiasm is obvious.

I'm sorry, Sensei. I'm trying, but--

Trying isn't good enough, kid.

David sighs, then pushes himself up off the bench and paces a few moments before turning to face Isamu again, gesticulating wildly as he speaks.

You're the Suicidal Champion, now. People are going to be coming at you from every direction. Shane Borderland was only the first, and Roxy Raynor is not going to be the last.

Did you think I was lying when I told you you'd have a target on your back?

Isamu shakes his head, still subdued.

I did not think you were lying, but I don't think I truly understood what it meant to be a target, or how being a champion could change things.

Is it, though?

Isamu looks up at David, brow furrowed as David ponders something. From the look on his face, Isamu's concerned that David's about to start railing again.

You've only won three matches out of nine, Isamu.

But I've proven that I can win the big one when it counts.

Yes you have. Tell me how you managed to win the Suicidal Title in that two-fall match at Mayhem.

Well, I was facing Rico and James, easily the two toughest competitors I've ever been in the ring with, so I knew I had to step up my game.

And how, exactly, did you do that?

Well, you increased our training regimen for that match to make sure I was ready. We did some mental exercises to help keep me focused--

That's the key word right there. You won the Suicidal Title because you were focused. You are a threat to anyone in this company when you are focused. You can beat anyone on any given day in this business when you are focused.

You were not focused on Shane Borderland.

Isamu lowers his head in shame.

You're also not focused on Roxy Rayner.

Isamu's head raises back up as he prepares to protest, but David raises a hand and cuts him off.

"But why should I focus on her if she isn't focused on me?" That's the question on your mind, and the answer is "Because she's just asking to be easy pickings." As long as she's more focused on getting into Kash's pants, though god only knows why she'd want to, that means you're more focused on the match, which is a proven recipe for success, is it not?

Isamu looks like he's trying to come up with a way to respond, but after a few seconds, it's clear that he can't, as his head drops back down. David shakes his head and pulls Isamu's chin back up.

Look kid, you've got it in you. You proved that at Mayhem. Now what you need to do is figure out how to bring that same level of competition every single week, not just the weeks when titles are up for grabs.

Isamu is looking up at David with sorrowful eyes as he responds.

I don't know if I can do that this week, Sensei.

Well you don't have a choice. This business doesn't take breaks just because you're having trouble with something outside of work.

I don't know how well I'm going to be able to focus this Sunday, Sensei. My whole life, I've thought that I was a member of the greatest nation in the world, and that I was representing that nation in everything I do. Now I come to find out that representing that country might be the worst thing I've ever done.

For the last time, Japan is hardly the worst country ever. There may be skeletons in your closet, but there are skeletons in every country's closet. Now give it a rest, alright? You've got more important things to worry about than what some of your ancestor's ancestor's cousins did hundreds of years ago. Am I clear?

Isamu pauses, having to steel himself against what he's being told. He still desperately wants to find out just what Japan has done to make everyone so wary of them as a nation, but there's a reason David is referred to as Sensei.

Hai...

David nods, accepting the response and turning away from Isamu, looking out at the equipment set-up courtesy of the hotel.

You know what often cheers me up when I'm down? Hitting the gym extra hard. There's only a few days until your match with Roxy, but I think one last, intense training session is just what the doctor ordered.

Isamu nods a bit before both men stand up and head out into the room proper.

June 16th, 2011
Catering Area
1st Mariner Arena
Baltimore, Maryland

It looks like David and Isamu have just finished up a less strenuous workout than the one they would have had in the hotel. Either way, David has to keep Isamu in shape for the match to come, and part of that includes keeping your strength up, hence why David, dressed in a windbreaker and jogging pants, and Isamu, dressed in a windbreaker and his wrestling tights, have taken a break at the catering table. David has a few sandwich wedges and a bottle of water. Isamu has a couple spring rolls and a six-inch sub to go with his water. Both men trek over to a seating area where they can sit down and eat their lunch in peace.

Only one of them is truly eating in peace, though.

Have you even thought about Roxy since the talk we had yesterday?

Isamu pauses in the middle of a bite of his sandwich.

I'm going to take that as a no, then.

Isamu decides it's better to fess up than lie and shakes his head.

Well now's as good a time as ever, especially since I did a little research.

So you looked at Roxy's roster page on APW.com.

David chuckles, not deterred.

Well yes, but that's all I really needed, and that's all you really need, yourself. I mean, listen.

David puts his plate down so he can pull some papers out of his jacket. Isamu raises an eyebrow, but remains silent while his trainer sets himself for what's to come.

So what do you know about Roxy?

I know she's ruthless, teaming with Tyler Vaughn...she assaulted Jason Kash last show after his match with her tag team partner.

Yeah, but everyone that watched Asylum knows that. Do you know anything else?

...I know that she'd never be able to get away with looking the way she does in Japan.

David chuckles a bit.

You'd be surprised, but no, that's not what I'm going for. Have you seen her promotional video yet?

You, uh...usually bring those to me so we can watch them together. I wasn't even aware she'd done one.

Hm? Oh, I guess we never did watch her promo. I guess I got caught up in the training and forgot to go grab it. We can watch it later, the important parts are that she hardly focuses on you, and for the little time she does, she makes some very alarming mistakes.

Like...?

Well, she makes the remark that you are, and I quote, "some guy from Japan or Korea or some crap like that."

I don't understand why that's significant. Many Americans and Europeans have a hard time telling a Korean person apart from a Japanese person, or a Chinese person apart from either a Korean or a Japanese person. She might be crude, but she's hardly a unique specimen.

She also decided that pairing random Japanese car manufacturers' names together was a suitable replacement for actually learning your name, probably because your last name is Suzuki.

Why is my name--?

David raises an eyebrow, then just shakes his head.

Just trust me, it's a play on your name. It's a typical strategy taken by someone that doesn't know anything about Japanese language or culture, just spouting random Japanese words that have pervaded western culture. But here's the thing.

David hands Isamu the other piece of paper and points to a specific point on the printout, which he directs Isamu to read.

Hmm, small town in New Mexico...trouble in school...

I wanted you to skip to the end.

Mother working extra jobs, martial arts...ran away to Las Vegas...wrestled to escape humble beginnings...Sensei, that sounds a lot like me, except for the trouble in school.

Read the last bit.

Humble beginnings...dates in New Mexico, Nevada, California...East coast, Mexico, Canada...a tour in Japan. Roxy wrestled in Japan?

Yes, she did. It doesn't say how long she was there, but no one that goes to wrestle in Japan just stays there for a week or two; that's too expensive. They go for months, maybe years at a time.

I don't follow you.

Roxy had plenty of time to familiarize herself with Japan, the same way I did. Either she's pointedly avoiding using your proper name to try (poorly) to prove a point, or she spent years in Japan without learning a damn thing, and if that's the case, then she probably hasn't learned too much about wrestling.

Yes, but it says she already knew martial arts before finding professional wrestling, which means the wrestling is something she took naturally to, even if our language was not. Either way, I can't afford to underestimate her, or my match this week will go the way of last week's with Shane Borderland.

David nods a bit, taking the paperwork and stashing it back in his jacket.

And I never said you should underestimate her. All I'm trying to say is that this is a match you can easily win, if you've got your head on straight. You can't let this match get away from you. You need momentum heading in to Test for the Best, not to mention the fact that this is a Test for the Best qualifier.

Meaning?

Meaning that if you focus on this match, you'll prove you deserve to be Suicidal Champion and earn yourself a spot in the tournament that will result in a number one contender for one of the top titles.

So if I win the tournament, I could get another shot at wrestling Rico and proving that I can beat him one-on-one, rather than being opportunistic like I was at Mayhem?

And depending on how things go between now and then, you might turn out to be a double champion.

Isamu's gaze brightens up, but then darkens as he furrows his brow.

But then I'd be twice as hunted as I already am. I think I'd rather defend the Suicidal Title until I lose it, then go after the World Heavyweight Championship.

Be that as it may, you won't get that chance unless you focus on your match this week. Got it?

Isamu nods.

Yes, Fireson-sensei.

Tell me what you're going to do.

I'm going to focus my energy on defeating Roxy Rayner this Sunday.

And why are you going to do it?

Because winning the Test for the Best tournament may be my only chance to prove, once and for all, that I can beat Rico Casteel on an even playing field, and that goal will be over before it even begins if I don't even qualify to enter the tournament.

Good. Now finish eating; you've got more cardio before the match.

Isamu nods, taking a drink of water before returning to his sandwich. David just sips his water as he waits for Isamu to finish, the scene fading to black before he does.