Blood and Honor

[Seito Risa]

Risa climbs the turnbuckle. The crowd is stunned and buzzing, however it is merely a background noise to the thoughts in her mind. Her breath begins to come in short spurts as she perches atop the turnbuckles, crouched and waiting. Her eyes are focused on Daisuke as he peels himself from the mat where he had just been flattened. As she had hoped, he staggered and spun around wildly. Her moment was at hand. As she felt her leg muscles compact like springs, she had a thought...

Here we go, Grandfather...

For a split second as she went airborne, Daisuke's eyes lit on her and she feared he would hit the deck. His mind still not quite unscrambled, she felt her chest slam into his and heard the wind gush from both of their aching lungs. Out of instinct, she grabbed the far leg and held on for what seemed like an eternity. Having herself lost a bit of blood, it once again getting into her eyes, Risa heard the official say something involving her name. She rolled painfully from atop Daisuke and came to a stop on her side. Her eyes fluttered open, through the crimson haze she thought she heard her Grandfather's voice.

You have done your famliy well!

She smiled and tried to sit up. She felt wobbly, she felt sick to her stomach. The ring spun around her. She braced herself on her hands and only then realized the official was kneeling next to her, checking her forehead, the belt Daisuke had carried to the ring with him draped across her legs. She eyed the official with a glazed look.

SR: "I won?"

The official smiled at her and nodded. He stood up and stepped away, taking the belt with him. She tried to reach for the belt but her attempt was pitiful at best.

Ref: "I'll bring this back to you. Don't worry."

She mumbled an okay and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. When she opened them, EMTs were there, two stretchers at ringside. One team was checking her opponent. The other wouldn't get out of her face. It wasn't until Ichiro told her in Japanese that she was hurt and to let them help that her fuzzed brain grasped what was going on. Her eyes locked on Ichiro and his on her, his stoic look on his face not hiding the raw concern and possibly fear in his eyes.

EMT: "Miss Seito, just lay back, take it easy. We want to take you to the back on a stretcher."

SR: "No. I...can walk. At least to the back. Let me."

The EMT's looked at one another. Ichiro stepped forward.

I: "I can help you."

Risa looked at him, the concern in his eyes now spreading across his face.

SR: "Such a handsome face. I can't let it be so distorted...."

Ichiro's eyebrow raised, but he slid from the ring and she rolled slowly to the apron, leaving a thin trail of blood oozing from her forehead. She dropped to her feet and wobbled. A hand on her shoulder steadied her. Ichiro. She nodded slowly to him and they began their walk toward the back, an EMT on each side.

EMT: "Mister Ichiro, we need to get her to the trainer."

I: "Just Ichiro. I will go there with her."

EMT: "Okay by me."

Slowly the group of four made their way up the ramp. What the crowd was doing or what was going on around her Risa had no clue. The instincts ground into her by her Grandfather and Ichiro had kicked in. That is all she could think. As they passed through the curtain, one of the trainers was there to meet her, quickly using a disinfecting pad to clear the wound itself. The trainer winced as if she had cut herself.

SR: "Careful. Don't hurt."

She found it difficult to compose a full sentence in English, though she tried to stir her brain. The walking was slow, she thought they must be halfway to Okinawa by the time she settled onto the bed. She glanced over at a full length mirror on the wall and sighed.

SR: "My outfit. Why is it covered in ketchup?"

Ichiro loomed into her vision again.

I: "They have a few questions for you. You are hurt. Do not give them trouble. Answer them in Japanese if you must, I will translate."

Risa gave a slow, stiff nod.

SR: "Hai."

========Time Marches On========

Risa's eyes fluttered open. She felt sore. She felt stiff. She felt like someone had dropped the Yamato on her head. She reached up and touched a bandage wrapped around her forehead. With a groan she tried to sit up.

I: "Be careful, Phoenix Princess. You lost a lot of blood from a bad spot. You are thought to have signs of a concussion as well. The Doctor wants you to remain in bed. I will be here, as I always will be."

SR: "I--Ichrio?"

I: "Hai, Risa-chan."

She lowered herself back onto the bed.

SR: "What happened?"

Ichiro approached and sat on the side of her bed so she could see him. He looked tired and worried. He wasn't even dressed his usually sharp self, a pair of old shorts and matching t-shirt looking out of place on him to her.

I: "You fought valiantly, and defended the Family honor. You won. Champ."

She blinked at him. His head turned and looked in front of her. She redirected her own eyes, not without a wince, to see the UGWC Chaos Championship propped on the chair in the corner of the room.

I: "You bled heavily, as did your opponent. I have asked how he fairs but have not received a reply yet. They are not required to tell us, as you know."

SR: "He fought valiantly, Ichi-kun."

Ichiro smiled.

I: "He did indeed. But he met his match in you."

SR: "This time."

Ichiro leaned back, pulling a leg onto the bed, making it jiggle. The pillow beneath her head held it comfortably.

SR: "Tell me what happened?"

Ichiro went into a full account of the match, the arrival of the other two men and the bokken string multiple targets. As he explained the walk to the back she blushed.

SR: "I don't know what to say."

Ichrio patted her leg gently.

I: "Do not worry, Phoenix Princess. When one has a concussion one can say and do things that are out of the ordinary for them."

Ichiro got to his feet.

I: "I will see about getting you some broth. Not sure you can keep down solid yet. Your stomach has not been happy. You will have to be careful of the stitches."

SR: "What about my ring attaire?"

Ichiro paused.

I: "UGWC had the foresight to make arrangements with half a dozen professional cleaners in the area. The blood will come out. I must say, you did look very much the professional in them. Your Grandfather's dragon patch held up well."

SR: "If only my skull had."

She sighed and reached under the covers to scratch, finding bare flesh in a spot she normally would have expected to find cloth.

SR: "My clothes?"

I: "What you wore to the arena you refused to wear home. You wore your ring gear home. A symbol of being a warrior you said. A badge of honor. When we got you back to the hotel, you asked me to take them to the cleaners and to get you into bed. I offered to let you change and to step out, you declined, stripped and eased into the bed. After that I made the call to find out if there was a recommended cleaner. UGWC is actually picking up the tab."

Risa nodded.

SR: "I am glad you are here, ichi-kun. And about what I said in the ring about you..."

He smiled back at her as she smiled at him.

SR: "It is true. You are a very handsome man."

Ichiro looked truly surprised. He bowed.

I: "Thank you. You are, I do have to admit, a very beautiful woman. Whatever lucky man wins your heart will have an Angel for life."

She smiled, blushing. He straightened and turned stepping out and closing the door behind him. Risa rolled her head slowly, eyes locking on the glittering belt in the corner. In her eyes at that moment, it shone brighter than the sun.

SR: "I have done it, Grandfather. And I hope this is just the beginning."

She turned her head back and settled into her pillow. Ichiro returned a few minutes later, a steaming cup in hand, but once he assured himself she was sleeping soundly, he sipped the cup himself and let the wounded warrior rest.

I: "The Phoenix Princess has had her first battle. She has proved herself worthy."

With that musing, Ichiro again did a short bow, careful not to spill the broth, and departed the room.

=======End=======