Wounded Phoenix

[Seito Risa]

Risa exits the trainer's room, her left arm in a cloth sling, her title belt over her right. She looks at the sling with a smirk. She turns and walks down the corridor toward the locker rooms. She stops suddenly in the middle of the hallway and closes her eyes.

SR: "It isn't necessary for you to do that here, you know."

Ichiro's voice responds.

I: "Perhaps. But you were so disturbed by the lack of action by the Consortium, and rightly so, that it seemed that some extra precaution was in order. Ooley came to the ring alone. He returned to his office. Somers had left there a few moments earlier. Ooley screamed like a man obsessed not long after he went in. I'm not sure what Somers did, but whatever it is, it was quite effective."

Risa turns and leans against the wall, her right hand cupping her left arm.

SR: "Good. The bastard deserves it. Somers is an important part of whatever is going on here. Unless I miss my guess, Pierce is as well."

Ichiro steps out of a nearby patch of shadows, lowering the shades from his eyes.

I: "That sidewalk slam?"

Risa looks at her arm a nods.

SR: "Trainer wants it protected for a couple of days as a precaution. Nothing broken."

I: "Good. I was worried."

Risa smiles.

SR: "You worry too much, Ichi-kun. Thank you for that."

Ichiro nods, walking over and taking the title belt from her shoulder. She gives him a grateful nod as he places it over his own left shoulder.

SR: "Did you hear or see anything else?"

Ichiro shakes his head.

I: "Not much. Apparently the main event is going about as you had thought."

Risa lowers her head, closing her eyes.

SR: "I'm sorry, Eden. I tried."

Ichiro's hand on her shoulder, normally a comforting gesture, doesn't seem to comfort her this time.

SR: "There has to be something I'm missing, Ichi-kun. If Grandmother were here she'd probably be throwing riceballs at me right now for missing it."

Ichiro nods.

I: "Likely so. I do not know what it is. Anything I can do to help you figure it out, you just tell me. No need to ask."

Risa sighs.

SR: "Right now, I just want to go home."

The two turn as they hear the announcement of the new Co-operative champions.

SR: "Oh, Hell."

She physically slumps. Ichiro wraps an arm around her, holding her up almost.

I: "Come on. Let me drive you home."

SR: "No. Take me by the gym first. I need a hot tub."

Ichiro nods.

I: "Want me there?"

Risa nods.

SR: "I need you there. There's no way I'll be able to tie that bikini top with my arm slung."

Ichiro nods.

I: "Good point."

The two head off toward her locker room.

=====LATER=====

The dark green bikini looks right at home on Risa's slight form. The only problem is the amount of old, recent and new bruises that it reveals on her body. Ichiro, in a Phollow the Phoenix tank top and a pair of white shorts, sits with his legs dangling into the hot tub. Next to him Risa's gear bag sits, atop it the cloth sling. The bruise on her arm goes from just above her elbow to the middle of her forearm. She first tries to settle into the tub with this arm included, but the heat of the water is uncomfortable. Ichiro pulls his legs from the water and pads over, folding up two towels and making a soft resting place for the arm at the edge of the tub. He gets an appreciative smile.

SR: "Arigato."

Ichiro bows to her and returns to where he was sitting, opposite side of the tub and goes back to dangling his legs in.

I: "I'm surprised that it isn't broken. It doesn't look good."

Risa looks at her arm, leaning her head back and closing her eyes, letting the jets nearby caress her wounded body.

SR: "It looked even worse right after it happened. You are one of the few who probably saw me wrap myself around my arm for a minute right after I kicked out."

I: "There is much I see and hear that others don't."

Risa nods.

SR: "Your own training, of course."

He nods.

I: "Hai."

The mood is solemn, tense and business like. The usual by play, joking and attempts to make one another smile not present.

SR: "I'm hurting, my dear friend. Physically and spiritually."

Ichiro is kicking playfully in the water, an act that stops when Risa speaks.

I: "You have not been quite yourself for sure, but I was going to wait a little longer before I pried."

Risa sighs, easing herself a little lower into the tub, still careful of her arm.

SR: "I know what I need to do, but not how to do it. And every time I try something, it blows up in my face. No way I can do anything with Zane Scott. The Consortium has made one really bad mistake tonight, but I still have no progress with them. I still have the Title Belt, but I get the feeling that I won't be given much rest."

Ichiro nods.

I: "You will get some rest. I will see to that. But as far as the in ring action goes, I think you are quite right. It would seem that attempting to deal with this situation will require you to take a different approach, one you don't usually care for."

Risa's eyes slowly close as she begins to relax and the aches and pains numb from the tub's hard work.

SR: "What do you mean?"

I: "I know you find meddling in the affairs of others distasteful. And that you have never been one who likes...gang fighting. But in this circumstance, you may have to go beyond your comfort limits. You might also have to let me be a little more involved, for a time."

Risa sighs softly.

SR: "I have thought about that. It isn't an option I relish. I would much rather you get to stay clear of this."

I: "Need I remind you I have already been dragged into this? By none other than Damarest himself?"

Risa's eyes open.

SR: "No. I wish you wouldn't remind me of that."

I: "it is an example of the kind of people you are dealing with. No morals and very little sense of honor. More like a group of rather large and powerful bullies let loose upon the world."

Risa smirks, though she does have a slight smile to it.

SR: "If only it were that simple. Particularly with Zane Scott, Damarest and that crew. There is something far deeper and more sinister to them than simply a play for power. What they are doing to Eden is inhumane. I just wish there were a way to stop it."

Ichiro shrugs.

I: "Eden must find her own strength, her own starlight, or she will be lost in the dark void of Zane Scott. You cannot make her choices for her."


Risa shakes her head.

SR: "Maybe not. But I can offer her strength and what guidance I can. Mother had no problem making that second charm for me. It at least seemed to have helped somewhat."

Ichiro nods and the pair sit in silence for a few minutes. Ichiro looks over at Risa as she is quiet for an unusually long time for her. Her head has rolled back against the edge of the tub. Her breathing is regular and easy.

I: "For the first time in weeks, my friend, sleep well."

He leans back, reflecting on the conversation. Risa moans softly as she awakes.

SR: "Nani? Oh. Ichiro. Did I drift off to sleep on you? I'm sorry."

He smiles, waving a dismissive hand.

I: "That is the first time I have seen you relaxed and in a natural sleeping state since I got out of the Hospital. I was going to wake you before the water would have left you prunificated."

Risa moves, forgetting for a moment about the state of her bruised arm, the sudden motion causing her to cry out in pain. Ichiro leaps from the water and is halfway around the pool by the time she eases up from the water, cradling her arm.

SR: "Dammit!"

Ichiro grabs the towels and wraps them around her arm, then helps her ease herself out of the water and to her feet.

I: "You shouldn't do that."

Risa looks like she is going to throw up. But she gives a weak smile at Ichiro.

SR: "Now he tells me."

She says. She slowly gets upright and starts to get her color back. When she looks more stable, Ichiro lets go and takes a step back.

SR: "My shorts and hoodie. Thankfully this one isn't pullover."

Ichiro nods, walking over and handing Risa her jogging shorts. She doesn't even bother drying off. instead she steps into the shorts and, with one hand and a cautious approach, pulls the shorts up her legs a little at a time until she settles them into place just above the waistline of her bikini brief. Ichiro hangs the hoodie over her shoulders and she sighs. He returns a moment later with the sling, which he helps her get on, moving the hoodie for a moment then returning it. Risa sighs.

SR: "i don't know how much help I will be moving."

Ichiro snorts as he zips up Risa's bag.

I: "Considering all we have is your car and a handful of suitcases I do not think this will be difficult. It will be nice to have an actual apartment, no more hotels."

Risa nods.

SR: "At least I am doing something right. We've made that much progress."

Ichiro slings the bag over his shoulder and walks over to stand beside his friend.

I: "Your spirit is more wounded than your body if you are saying something like that. Come. I think you should get to bed and I will read to you. Something to help you clear and ease your mind."

Risa nods. Suddenly the weeks of running, fighting and emotional support of others seem to catch up to her.

SR: "Okay, Ichi-kun. You drive."

Ichiro nods.

I: "Okay."

The two pause long enough to shut down the hot tub and leave a note that it should be drained, and then head out into the cool but humid Atlanta air.

[Eden Morgan]

It's going to be very interesting to see exactly what sort of tactics Risa employs now. And Itchy in on it too? Very nice.