From Another Point of View

[Seito Risa]

Devil's Most Wanted, Zane Scott and his goons. The odds were stacked. The farce that was Chadwick T. Chaos finally had broken. That was the only good news. As he sat there in the back by the sound truck, watching the extra monitor located there, it was all he could do not to bolt into the building and throw himself into that mass of humanity. Thankfully, when the massive crowd departed, seemingly very pleased with itself, he wasn't around. The destruction of their dressing room left him with very few places to be. Thankfully Erika had agreed to allow Risa to shower, which at least prevented him from dealing with lukewarm jell-o smell. Frustration furrowed his usually unflappable brow. He hung out near the trainers doors. A large crowd approached and he assumed Eden Morgan and the rest of PMN were in the middle, headed once again for the trainers. As the crowd turned to enter, Risa paused, exchanging thank yous with Erika and JK before stepping away to join the worried Icihro.

I: "How is she?"

Risa turned, the look of worry on her face plain as she watched her new allies, Jet and Travis stopping to do crowd control at the door to the Trainers Room.

SR: "I think her spirit is far more wounded than her body at this point, Ichi-kun."

He nods.

SR: "I'm going to go get my things from Erika's room and I'll meet you in back."

Ichiro nodded again and took up watch clear of the press of reporters and others concerned with Eden's condition, both physically and mentally. Ichiro considered the situation carefully. His best friend was now in over her head. It was what had had to be done, he knew, but that didn't mean he didn't want to be involved. The deception had been very well done, he had even been a little incredulous when he got the call from Jet Somers. Now he understood even better than he had about how these that they faced now had no honor, no morals at all. For those from a culture where honor is important and family is nearly everything, to have been forced to sit back and watch had nearly torn his heart asunder. Yet his faith, belief and love in his friend had steeled him. She was in danger, he knew. He also knew that even his own skills would be sadly inadequate where Zane Scott and especially David Damarest were concerned. Evening the odds was no longer the issue, it was now about survival. Ichiro slipped away from the crowd, pausing long enough to ensure that Travis Pierce saw his departure and respectful bow. He turned and walked down the hallway, turned a corner and walked to the dressing room. It still stood empty, the walls still being scrubbed. The smell of cleaning chemicals strong enough to make him cough.

I: "What will we do now?"

Ichiro asked aloud to no one. To the universe perhaps. It didn't feel like giving an answer. He entered the room and stepped to the side, kneeling down, hands joined before him, resting on his legs. He lowered his head.

I: "Please give me guidance. Watch over her and do not let her come to any harm. For her, please give her calmness of spirit. She, of all, needs it."

Risa had arrived and stood quietly in the doorway, her own head bowed. He didn't know exactly when she arrived, but he had felt her presence.

SR: "This next week will be dangerous for us all, Ichi-kun."

I: "Hai, Risa-chan."

Risa looked back over her shoulder.

SR: "When we get back to the apartment, you'd better call home and ask grandfather to send you a, as the American's call it, care package."

Ichiro rose to his feet. He knew how much that cost her to say just now. Her determination to keep him safe, to do this the right way, now had become the determination for one simple thing. Survival. And not surprisingly, it wasn't herself that she was worried for.

I: "I will. Is there anything you need?"

Risa shook her head.

SR: "Right now, I have the two things I need most."

She pulled her lucky lego from her pocket.

SR: "My lucky lego, and you, my best friend."

Ichiro quirked an eyebrow at her.

I: "Isn't the term a little faux pax right now?"

Risa shook her head.

SR: "They work by fear and terror, Ichi-kun. I, for one, am going to stand my ground. Come what may, I have chosen my path."

Ichiro looked uncertain, but stepped forward and pulled Risa in tightly for a hug.

I: "Where you walk, I will follow. If it be into Hell itself we will make sure they have no question we were there."

Risa held onto him. He found himself oddly wanting to keep holding her. For some odd reason, this hug felt different than others. Could it be he was starting to develop deeper feelings for her? He knew this to be foolish. He knew it was because she was now in mortal danger, and he would give his own life to protect her. She knew this, and that is why the embrace.

SR: "Before we walk out that door, there's one thing I want to tell you."

Ichiro let her go, stepping back. There was a real emotion in her voice, and in her eyes. Tears?

SR: "I truly love you, Ichi-kun."

This caught him by surprise. He felt a lump form in his throat, his own emotions beginning to rise within him. He fought them down.

I: "I love you, too, Risa..kun."

She smiled, she seemed happy to hear that.

SR: "I have this weird feeling that one of us may not come out of this. I wanted to make sure that was said."

Ichiro bowed his head.

I: "We will both survive this. I will accept nothing less."

Risa nodded to him and hitched her bag up on her shoulder. He noticed how her curves came out from under the t-shirt and, with the light striking her from behind, at that moment she almost looked to be an angel. He smiled.

SR: "Let's go, my friend."

Ichiro nodded and stepped out into the hallway, escorting Risa from the building.

[Eden Morgan]

You get these up with a quickness and they're always so relevant and poignant. Not gonna lie, some sadness there when Risa says she has a weird feeling one of them may not come out of this. Fantastic work, Jim.

[Seito Risa]

I figured it was time to see things through Ichiro's point of view. Considering the opposition, there is a real possibility someone may not emerge alive from this. Besides, it builds good drama.