Post by SHOZO on May 10, 2015 13:47:05 GMT -6
Shozo Arino: Do you think they've abandoned us?
Kiriko sighed. They sat on the fire escape of Shozo's apartment building, taking in the amazing view of disused buildings and homeless people. Shozo leaned his body against the bars, upper body hanging off the fire escape as he looked down at the ground. Kiriko sat with her back against it, not interested in the “view” such as it was. She felt fatigued by this question, feeling like they'd already had this conversation multiple times.
Probably because they had.
Kiriko Miura: No. They went on vacation.
Shozo Arino: Without us.
She sighed again.
Kiriko Miura: It was for the couples to celebrate their happiness. Being eternally alone scratches you and I off the guest list.
Shozo just shrugs.
Shozo Arino: Could have asked....did you know Aries was getting married? I don't remember getting an invitation...
Kiriko waves her hand dismissively.
Kiriko Miura: I barely remember that woman even existing.
Shozo Arino: Yeah....me too....
There is silence for some time, as Shozo stares out while Kiriko examines her hands. Finally, he breaks the silence.
Shozo Arino: Are you sure about today being Sunday?
Her eyes scrunched up involuntarily, one hand coming to rub at them. This question again. Again and again and again, she was ready to scream if screaming wasn't such hard work.
Kiriko Miura: Yes. It's fucking Sunday. It is not Saturday, it is Sunday. Look at your fucking phone and look at the date.
Shozo Arino: ...I can't.
Kiriko Miura: ...why?
Shozo Arino: I dropped it.
Kiriko Miura: Where? And when?
Shozo Arino: I dropped it Thurs...
He pauses, wincing, before correcting himself.
Shozo Arino: Friday.
Kiriko Miura: And where?
Shozo Arino: Oh...off of here. It was telling me it was Friday when it's Thursday, so I tossed it.
Kiriko does not respond with words, only with a low, angry noise in the back of her throat.
Shozo Arino: Stop that.
Kiriko Miura: When you acknowledge what happened to you that Monday I will.
Shozo Arino: That Monday didn't happen!
He slams his hand on the railing, and all this does is cause him pain.
Kiriko Miura: I showed you the video. You went looney on Savannah.
Shozo Arino: Not me. I don't remember doing that.
Kiriko Miura: For fuck's sake...
Shozo stands up, glaring down at Kiriko, who only responds with her own vaguely annoyed look.
Shozo Arino: That was not me. You can show me all the video you like, but I wouldn't do something like that. That's not something Shozo Arino would do. And I don't have time for this.
He turns and walks back into the apartment, grabbing his car keys and his wallet, Kiriko watching on.
Kiriko Miura: Where are you going?
Shozo Arino: To get a drink.
That's all he has to say, as he stomps away and disappears out the door. Kiriko watches him leave before slowly reaching a hand up and rubbing at her forehead, expression suddenly full of worry.
Kiriko Miura: If it's not something Shozo Arino would do...then who's actions are it?
–
The bartender was not amused. You wouldn't be either if a disheveled Japanese man came in, demanding booze, and when he went to pay for it put on a really good show of being surprised his wallet was empty. Even the bartender had to admit it was a good show, him just staring into it with that look of confusion was almost good enough to fool him.
Shozo Arino: Look. I am a big name in wrestling, or will be. So just give me some drinks, and I will return when I'm paid next. I'm paid well. I think. I can't remember how much the last one was.
The bartender did not respond verbally, instead just turning his head in the direction of the door out. This did not help Shozo, who smacked his hands on the bar, leaning in to stare in the bartender's face.
Shozo Arino: Serve me before I bash your head into this fucking wood.
The bartender's jaw sets and he begins to reply, before he hears someone clear their throat. Shozo turns his head to the source of it, finding it to come from one of the booths in the bar, this one being occupied by a man in a black suit, a blue handkerchief poking up from the breast pocket.
The Man in Black: Allow him.
The bartender pauses a moment, seeming to want to refuse, before nodding. Shozo slowly walks over to the booth, keeping his eyes locked with the man's.
Shozo Arino: Who the hell are you?
The Man in Black: Just a man wanting a drink only to almost get a free fight to watch with it. Care to join me?
Shozo Arino: You paying?
The Man in Black: Of course.
Shozo looks at him questioningly before shrugging his shoulders and taking a seat across from him.
Shozo Arino: Gin.
The man nods and raises a hand to the bartender, communicating the order quickly before looking back to him.
Shozo Arino: Have I seen you somewhere before?
The man smiles.
The Man in Black: I've been told I have one of those faces.
Shozo Arino: Of course....
The Man in Black: You do too. You're on TV, aren't you?
Shozo's eye twitches.
Shozo Arino: I am a wrestler. I appear on TV because of that. But I am not a TV star, I am a wrestler.
The Man in Black: I didn't say you weren't.
Shozo winced a bit.
Shozo Arino: Of course...I'm sorry. I'm...touchy, lately.
The Man in Black: I noticed. I saw your last match. You really did unload on that woman.
Shozo Arino: That wasn't me!
The man raises an eyebrow.
Shozo Arino: It wasn't...I know what I'm capable of...that might have been my face but it wasn't Shozo Arino. That was some...phantom. Or something. I don't know...I can't remember Monday...but it wasn't me.
The Man in Black: I understand. Don't worry, I'm not judging. That was not you then, clearly.
Shozo nods his head in thanks, as the bartender brings over two glasses and a bottle of gin. The man pops the bottle open and pours them both glasses. Shozo immediately downs his.
The Man in Black: Thirsty.
Shozo Arino: I haven't drunken any booze in a while...my friend, she's been trying to cut me back. I guess she thinks it's affecting my in-ring work. But that's not what's hurting me.
The Man in Black: Of course not. You're talking about Shinji.
Shozo's jaw sets, anger flaring up in his eyes.
Shozo Arino: Yessssss. My “closest friend” my “brother”...
He spits out the last one, like referring to Shinji with that word is the most disgusting thing.
Shozo Arino: Everything is coming together for him, isn't it. He's become a champion, successfully returned to Japan and then chose to leave there to come back for his true love! What a heartwarming story! What a fucking fairy tale he is! He gets all of this as a REWARD for leaving me behind, like life itself wants to see me ruined, and anyone who helps that gets set for life! He abandoned me so he could get everything he ever wanted.
The Man in Black: And you feel hurt.
Shozo Arino: I feel BETRAYED!
His fists slam into the table, knocking their glasses over and spilling the drinks onto the floor. The bartender starts to walk over, but a look from the man sends him back behind the bar. He looks back to Shozo, who is stewing in his anger.
The Man in Black: I understand. For a third time, someone's put a knife into your back.
Shozo Arino: Exactly! People keep betraying me and twisting knives in me and then they wonder why I've turned out like this and they....wait, hang on hang on...how did you know it's the third time?
The man smiles.
The Man in Black: I follow you on Twitter. You mention it often.
Shozo Arino: Oh...right, yes. That's true.
And then, without missing a beat and instantly seeming to forget the interruption, he resumes his tirade.
Shozo Arino: And then they wonder why I've turned out like this when it's THEIR faults! I am what they made me, and it's left me alone!
The Man in Black: Alone? But what about your comrades?
Shozo Arino: Haaaah...they're my family, I love them, but they'll betray me too. I know it, deep down. All of them will drive their fucking daggers into my body just like everyone else! They'll leave me alone...
He blinks suddenly, a look of confusion coming over his face before his hands reach up to rub at his eyes. When they pull away, he looks sad.
Shozo Arino: No...that's not true. My family is my family, we are all committed to one another. We are all we have, after all the betrayals. I don't know why I said that, I'm sorry, my thoughts get...get wrong when I drink.
The Man in Black: It's fine. Everyone gets like that sometimes. Focusing on the negative possibilities is easy, yes?
Shozo Arino: Yes...very.
The Man in Black: Don't worry about it.
He up righted the glass Shozo had been drinking from and refilled it.
The Man in Black: Please, continue. You were talking about the so-called Sentinel.
His face contorted in anger again.
Shozo Arino: How dare he call himself that. He says he wants to protect people from us but all he's doing is sheltering them! He's keeping them from hearing a dissenting opinion and what does that sound like? It sounds like Ryoma. For all he talks about me being his brother, about caring about me, he sure seems fine with standing with a fucking MURDERER!
He pauses long enough to take a long pull from his glass.
Shozo Arino: And it's not just him. It's never just him, it's everything...the whole world feels like it's breaking apart to fight us.
The Man in Black: You're referring to these new groups rising from the ground?
Shozo Arino: Yes, them...the Family...this new beast Strike has created, that seems to have robbed us of someone who understood us....and this Storm that assaulted that phantom image of me....
He takes another drink, as the man nods.
The Man in Black: All of them have appeared, and all of them seem ready to fight your small group of idealistic young lions.
Shozo Arino: Yes. Yes....all they want is our heads on sticks. There's so many of them. Enemiesonallsides and nothing wecando.
His speech going so fast that some words stick together does not seem to bother the man, who merely smiles.
The Man in Black: But isn't there something you can do? Instead of worrying about them.
Shozo Arino: What? What can we do against an army?
The Man in Black: If they are warriors, grouping together, seeking a fight with you and yours...then why not give them just what they want?
Shozo's eyes widen, looking down briefly at his drink as he considers this. Absentmindedly, one hand reaches up and begins to play with a lock of his hair. A smile slowly crosses his face.
Shozo Arino: Yes...yes that's what we should do. We can't let them think we'reweak. We can't let them stomp on us. They have more but wearestronger than them. We can destroy them if they try and attack us again. We willnotbe trampled.
He stands up quickly, eyes no longer focusing on the bar around him.
Shozo Arino: Needtotalk to my comrades. Need toplan for this. We will overcome. We
will stand on top. I will finally beincontrol again.
He pauses, a smile coming to his face.
Shozo Arino: Once I have that...I'll be able to grasp my fated Evolution.
And he walked away, brushing past the bartender as he did.
The man watched him go, a smile on the face of the Seer of the Paths.
Shinji Oshima: And won't that new form be something to see?
His chuckling remains in the air long after he vanishes.
End.
Kiriko sighed. They sat on the fire escape of Shozo's apartment building, taking in the amazing view of disused buildings and homeless people. Shozo leaned his body against the bars, upper body hanging off the fire escape as he looked down at the ground. Kiriko sat with her back against it, not interested in the “view” such as it was. She felt fatigued by this question, feeling like they'd already had this conversation multiple times.
Probably because they had.
Kiriko Miura: No. They went on vacation.
Shozo Arino: Without us.
She sighed again.
Kiriko Miura: It was for the couples to celebrate their happiness. Being eternally alone scratches you and I off the guest list.
Shozo just shrugs.
Shozo Arino: Could have asked....did you know Aries was getting married? I don't remember getting an invitation...
Kiriko waves her hand dismissively.
Kiriko Miura: I barely remember that woman even existing.
Shozo Arino: Yeah....me too....
There is silence for some time, as Shozo stares out while Kiriko examines her hands. Finally, he breaks the silence.
Shozo Arino: Are you sure about today being Sunday?
Her eyes scrunched up involuntarily, one hand coming to rub at them. This question again. Again and again and again, she was ready to scream if screaming wasn't such hard work.
Kiriko Miura: Yes. It's fucking Sunday. It is not Saturday, it is Sunday. Look at your fucking phone and look at the date.
Shozo Arino: ...I can't.
Kiriko Miura: ...why?
Shozo Arino: I dropped it.
Kiriko Miura: Where? And when?
Shozo Arino: I dropped it Thurs...
He pauses, wincing, before correcting himself.
Shozo Arino: Friday.
Kiriko Miura: And where?
Shozo Arino: Oh...off of here. It was telling me it was Friday when it's Thursday, so I tossed it.
Kiriko does not respond with words, only with a low, angry noise in the back of her throat.
Shozo Arino: Stop that.
Kiriko Miura: When you acknowledge what happened to you that Monday I will.
Shozo Arino: That Monday didn't happen!
He slams his hand on the railing, and all this does is cause him pain.
Kiriko Miura: I showed you the video. You went looney on Savannah.
Shozo Arino: Not me. I don't remember doing that.
Kiriko Miura: For fuck's sake...
Shozo stands up, glaring down at Kiriko, who only responds with her own vaguely annoyed look.
Shozo Arino: That was not me. You can show me all the video you like, but I wouldn't do something like that. That's not something Shozo Arino would do. And I don't have time for this.
He turns and walks back into the apartment, grabbing his car keys and his wallet, Kiriko watching on.
Kiriko Miura: Where are you going?
Shozo Arino: To get a drink.
That's all he has to say, as he stomps away and disappears out the door. Kiriko watches him leave before slowly reaching a hand up and rubbing at her forehead, expression suddenly full of worry.
Kiriko Miura: If it's not something Shozo Arino would do...then who's actions are it?
–
The bartender was not amused. You wouldn't be either if a disheveled Japanese man came in, demanding booze, and when he went to pay for it put on a really good show of being surprised his wallet was empty. Even the bartender had to admit it was a good show, him just staring into it with that look of confusion was almost good enough to fool him.
Shozo Arino: Look. I am a big name in wrestling, or will be. So just give me some drinks, and I will return when I'm paid next. I'm paid well. I think. I can't remember how much the last one was.
The bartender did not respond verbally, instead just turning his head in the direction of the door out. This did not help Shozo, who smacked his hands on the bar, leaning in to stare in the bartender's face.
Shozo Arino: Serve me before I bash your head into this fucking wood.
The bartender's jaw sets and he begins to reply, before he hears someone clear their throat. Shozo turns his head to the source of it, finding it to come from one of the booths in the bar, this one being occupied by a man in a black suit, a blue handkerchief poking up from the breast pocket.
The Man in Black: Allow him.
The bartender pauses a moment, seeming to want to refuse, before nodding. Shozo slowly walks over to the booth, keeping his eyes locked with the man's.
Shozo Arino: Who the hell are you?
The Man in Black: Just a man wanting a drink only to almost get a free fight to watch with it. Care to join me?
Shozo Arino: You paying?
The Man in Black: Of course.
Shozo looks at him questioningly before shrugging his shoulders and taking a seat across from him.
Shozo Arino: Gin.
The man nods and raises a hand to the bartender, communicating the order quickly before looking back to him.
Shozo Arino: Have I seen you somewhere before?
The man smiles.
The Man in Black: I've been told I have one of those faces.
Shozo Arino: Of course....
The Man in Black: You do too. You're on TV, aren't you?
Shozo's eye twitches.
Shozo Arino: I am a wrestler. I appear on TV because of that. But I am not a TV star, I am a wrestler.
The Man in Black: I didn't say you weren't.
Shozo winced a bit.
Shozo Arino: Of course...I'm sorry. I'm...touchy, lately.
The Man in Black: I noticed. I saw your last match. You really did unload on that woman.
Shozo Arino: That wasn't me!
The man raises an eyebrow.
Shozo Arino: It wasn't...I know what I'm capable of...that might have been my face but it wasn't Shozo Arino. That was some...phantom. Or something. I don't know...I can't remember Monday...but it wasn't me.
The Man in Black: I understand. Don't worry, I'm not judging. That was not you then, clearly.
Shozo nods his head in thanks, as the bartender brings over two glasses and a bottle of gin. The man pops the bottle open and pours them both glasses. Shozo immediately downs his.
The Man in Black: Thirsty.
Shozo Arino: I haven't drunken any booze in a while...my friend, she's been trying to cut me back. I guess she thinks it's affecting my in-ring work. But that's not what's hurting me.
The Man in Black: Of course not. You're talking about Shinji.
Shozo's jaw sets, anger flaring up in his eyes.
Shozo Arino: Yessssss. My “closest friend” my “brother”...
He spits out the last one, like referring to Shinji with that word is the most disgusting thing.
Shozo Arino: Everything is coming together for him, isn't it. He's become a champion, successfully returned to Japan and then chose to leave there to come back for his true love! What a heartwarming story! What a fucking fairy tale he is! He gets all of this as a REWARD for leaving me behind, like life itself wants to see me ruined, and anyone who helps that gets set for life! He abandoned me so he could get everything he ever wanted.
The Man in Black: And you feel hurt.
Shozo Arino: I feel BETRAYED!
His fists slam into the table, knocking their glasses over and spilling the drinks onto the floor. The bartender starts to walk over, but a look from the man sends him back behind the bar. He looks back to Shozo, who is stewing in his anger.
The Man in Black: I understand. For a third time, someone's put a knife into your back.
Shozo Arino: Exactly! People keep betraying me and twisting knives in me and then they wonder why I've turned out like this and they....wait, hang on hang on...how did you know it's the third time?
The man smiles.
The Man in Black: I follow you on Twitter. You mention it often.
Shozo Arino: Oh...right, yes. That's true.
And then, without missing a beat and instantly seeming to forget the interruption, he resumes his tirade.
Shozo Arino: And then they wonder why I've turned out like this when it's THEIR faults! I am what they made me, and it's left me alone!
The Man in Black: Alone? But what about your comrades?
Shozo Arino: Haaaah...they're my family, I love them, but they'll betray me too. I know it, deep down. All of them will drive their fucking daggers into my body just like everyone else! They'll leave me alone...
He blinks suddenly, a look of confusion coming over his face before his hands reach up to rub at his eyes. When they pull away, he looks sad.
Shozo Arino: No...that's not true. My family is my family, we are all committed to one another. We are all we have, after all the betrayals. I don't know why I said that, I'm sorry, my thoughts get...get wrong when I drink.
The Man in Black: It's fine. Everyone gets like that sometimes. Focusing on the negative possibilities is easy, yes?
Shozo Arino: Yes...very.
The Man in Black: Don't worry about it.
He up righted the glass Shozo had been drinking from and refilled it.
The Man in Black: Please, continue. You were talking about the so-called Sentinel.
His face contorted in anger again.
Shozo Arino: How dare he call himself that. He says he wants to protect people from us but all he's doing is sheltering them! He's keeping them from hearing a dissenting opinion and what does that sound like? It sounds like Ryoma. For all he talks about me being his brother, about caring about me, he sure seems fine with standing with a fucking MURDERER!
He pauses long enough to take a long pull from his glass.
Shozo Arino: And it's not just him. It's never just him, it's everything...the whole world feels like it's breaking apart to fight us.
The Man in Black: You're referring to these new groups rising from the ground?
Shozo Arino: Yes, them...the Family...this new beast Strike has created, that seems to have robbed us of someone who understood us....and this Storm that assaulted that phantom image of me....
He takes another drink, as the man nods.
The Man in Black: All of them have appeared, and all of them seem ready to fight your small group of idealistic young lions.
Shozo Arino: Yes. Yes....all they want is our heads on sticks. There's so many of them. Enemiesonallsides and nothing wecando.
His speech going so fast that some words stick together does not seem to bother the man, who merely smiles.
The Man in Black: But isn't there something you can do? Instead of worrying about them.
Shozo Arino: What? What can we do against an army?
The Man in Black: If they are warriors, grouping together, seeking a fight with you and yours...then why not give them just what they want?
Shozo's eyes widen, looking down briefly at his drink as he considers this. Absentmindedly, one hand reaches up and begins to play with a lock of his hair. A smile slowly crosses his face.
Shozo Arino: Yes...yes that's what we should do. We can't let them think we'reweak. We can't let them stomp on us. They have more but wearestronger than them. We can destroy them if they try and attack us again. We willnotbe trampled.
He stands up quickly, eyes no longer focusing on the bar around him.
Shozo Arino: Needtotalk to my comrades. Need toplan for this. We will overcome. We
will stand on top. I will finally beincontrol again.
He pauses, a smile coming to his face.
Shozo Arino: Once I have that...I'll be able to grasp my fated Evolution.
And he walked away, brushing past the bartender as he did.
The man watched him go, a smile on the face of the Seer of the Paths.
Shinji Oshima: And won't that new form be something to see?
His chuckling remains in the air long after he vanishes.
End.
