Post by Nicholas Gray on Jun 6, 2015 21:08:07 GMT -6
26 hours after SHOZO attacks Destiny Starshine
Tom sits on his couch. He sits there, staring at a wall, trying not to think about anything. It hasn’t worked yet, but he continues to try. Someone starts to knock on his door. Tom continues to sit, hoping they’d go away. They do not, the knocking intensifying. Tom groans, standing up and going to his door, opening it, and wincing upon seeing who it was.
Across the threshold stood the person he least wanted to see. His older brother, the Golden Hero of Japan himself, Kintaro Higashikata. Tom winces just seeing him.
Tom Higashikata: ...Kinchan.
Kintaro slowly nods, his expression just worried.
Kintaro Higashikata: You didn’t answer any of my calls before or after I got on the plane, so I took a cab from the airport.
Tom Higashikata: Ah. I turned my phone off. I didn’t need to be looking at Twitter, seeing...everything.
Kintaro nods again.
Kintaro Higashikata: I understand. How are you holding up?
Tom Higashikata: ...I’m holdin’, I guess. Come on in.
Tom steps aside so his brother can enter, Kintaro stepping across the threshold and looking about the apartment.
Kintaro Higashikata: This is nicer than I thought. I guess I couldn’t see it that well in a video chat.
Tom looks around, expression unchanging.
Tom Higashikata: Oh, yeah, this place. I had so much spare cash from getting all those manager contracts at once, plus that one-off appearance I did on the Pretty Boys last CD I decided to just start renting a nicer place. Live the great American life, or somethin’.
Kintaro Higashikata: That makes sense. That extra money doing you good?
Tom Higashikata: Nope! Burning through it quick as I can. Probably only gonna be able to keep this place for a couple more months.
The frankness with which he states this causes Kintaro to frown, a fact Tom ignores as he opens his fridge and starts to rummage around inside.
Tom Higashikata: You want a drink? I got most every type of booze you could want. Gin? Vodka? Tequila? Just say.
Kintaro Higashikata: Tom...do you really need to be drinking now?
Tom Higashikata: Probably not! Vodka it is.
He takes out the bottle and walks to his dining table, which is nothing but a simple wooden table with chairs at either end. And covered in clean glasses, the use of which is obvious. Kintaro sighs but takes a seat, and even takes the glass of vodka when it’s offered to him. The two brothers drink.
Tom Higashikata: How’s mom and dad?
Kintaro Higashikata: The usual. Asking me where Kimiko is.
Tom sighs.
Tom Higashikata: Great. I really wish we could just tell them we know where she is.
Kintaro Higashikata: Do you want to be the one to explain to them that their daughter is permanently on the dick of a cosmic force of blackness?
Tom Higashikata: Nahhhhh….but we could just tell them that wherever she is, she’s really happy.
This gets a chuckle from them both.
Kintaro Higashikata: Well, I guess that counts as being honest.
Tom Higashikata: Riiiiight? Ah well...I haven’t asked yet, what are you going to do now that FIPW’s kinda faded off?
Kintaro Higashikata: Well. I thought about giving KJPW a call…
Tom Higashikata: No!
Tom can’t catch himself before he lets out that small outburst, shouting out the word so passionately he seems to catch himself off-guard. He seems to shrink into his chair, looking down at his lap to avoid his brother’s eye. Kintaro just smiles a bit.
Kintaro Higashikata: I know. Even if they had an interest in me, I know enough about your...issues with them, that I couldn’t bring myself to accept that offer. It wouldn’t sit well in my heart.
Tom Higashikata: No, no! It’s the biggest place in Japan to work for! If they had an interest in you, you should absolutely take it! Don’t let me get in the way of that!
As he yells this he repeatedly shakes his head, trying to put forth just how much he disagreed with what Kintaro’s said. This overactive little tic just makes the older Higashikata smile more.
Kintaro Higashikata: It’s fine. Getting back in the ring over the past few months was great, but I’m starting to feel like there’s a better place for me in the wrestling world...
Tom Higashikata: Eh?
Kintaro leans forward, what he has to say making him perhaps a bit giddy, grinning at Tom.
Kintaro Higashikata: I want to open a wrestling school.
Tom instantly matches his brother’s pose, leaning forward too.
Tom Higashikata: For real!?
Kintaro nods a few times.
Kintaro Higashikata: Yeah! Thinking of everyone I’ve taken under my wing over the years, and all the people I inspired...when I think of you and Shinji...I get this feeling in my gut that it’s time for me to make that my focus. I want to make sure the next generation is a shining one.
Tom sits back in his chair, grinning from ear to ear.
Tom Higashikata: Kinchan that’s great! I think that’s perfect for you. You’ll be a great teacher.
Kintaro smiles.
Kintaro Higashikata: Thank you. Well, I won’t be doing it alone, I’d need some help.
Tom Higashikata: Yeah? What, you thinking of asking Shinji to help you?
Kintaro Higashikata: Not exactly…
Tom raises an eyebrow, and Kintaro smiles a bit wider.
Kintaro Higashikata: I want you to help me sometimes.
The happiness on Tom’s face disappears in a split second, replaced with confusion.
Tom Higashikata: e-eh? Help? With what, setting up the business side? Promoting? I-I can do that, no problem!
Kintaro Higashikata: No, no...I mean with students. I’m not really built for teaching any kind of aerial move you know? That’s what your skill set is skewed towards, so I thought that when you’d have free time you could fly out and help me out.
Confusion turns to panic, Tom reaching his hands up to shake them side to side repeatedly.
Tom Higashikata: Nah man that’s not me! Can’t do it, I never even graduated from a Dojo!
Kintaro Higashikata: So? They won’t have graduated either.
Tom Higashikata: Y-yeah but...look!
He raises his leg, beginning to extend and relax it repeatedly, letting the sound of metal working sound loud. The sound of it, and the thought of what happened to cause it makes Kintaro clench his teeth in anger.
Tom Higashikata: Lost my leg remember? Weird Dr. Kuller prosthetic! Can’t do any teaching on this thing!
This changes Kintaro just a bit. He’s still angry at remembering how his brother was so dedicated to his...thing that it led to losing his leg, but there’s a glint in his eye. Like Tom had just said the words he wanted, seeing this glint causing Tom to abruptly drop his leg back down.
Kintaro Higashikata: ...but that’s not stopping you from having this match, is it?
The topic he’d hoped against hope would not come up, and he’d walked right into it. His head drops immediately, no longer wanting to look his brother in the eye.
Tom Higashikata: No. No it’s not.
Kintaro Higashikata: Tom….
Tom Higashikata: Don’t start.
A small pause.
Tom Higashikata: Please don’t start.
Kintaro Higashikata: I just want to understand why you’re doing this.
Tom Higashikata: Because I need to.
Kintaro scowled.
Kintaro Higashikata: That’s not an answer, Tom! Why do you need to do this?! You can’t think you’ll win!
Tom Higashikata: No. No I don’t. But I gotta try.
Kintaro Higashikata: Why?!
Tom Higashikata: So I can look at myself in the mirror!
Kintaro’s face falls while Tom just sags in his seat.
Tom Higashikata: ...right now, I can’t.
Kintaro Higashikata: ...Tom….
Tom’s face scrunches up.
Tom Higashikata: Please don’t call me that.
Kintaro Higashikata: Eh?
Tom Higashikata: Just...I don’t wanna be called that.
Kintaro Higashikata: Okay...you were the one who asked me to only call you Tom, Noriaki…
Tom Higashikata: Not that either. I don’t wanna be called that either.
Kintaro sighs.
Kintaro Higashikata: Then what do you want me to call you?
He continues to look away, and doesn’t answer.
--
The video starts up, showing Tom Higashikata sitting on his couch. Wearing sunglasses, he throws up a “W.”
Tom Higashikata: WASSUP BRUHS HOW YOU DOIN-ugh no.
The video cuts out and then back on, showing him sitting different. This time he doesn’t raise his hand.
Tom Higashikata: YOOOOOOOO IT’S YA FUCKIN BOY TOM AN IT’S TIME TO...TO...fuck.
The video cuts out and then cuts back on, showing him getting close to the camera to greet it.
Tom Higashikata: YO YO SUP MY NI-no. No fuck that, fuck.
The video cuts again. When it comes back he’s just sitting there. Finally he reaches up and tears his sunglasses off, tossing them aside.
Tom Higashikata: Is it okay if I just...don’t do the whole thing right now? I can’t manage it. Let me just talk as me. Uh, so...people keep asking me stuff. Stuff like “why you doing this?” or “the hell you thinking?” or just things like that. Which is reasonable, I guess. And I wish I could just answer that in a sentence or two but it’s gonna take a lot more than that so you can just shut this off if you ain’t got time for that. I won’t blame you. We gotta start way back at the first lesson I learned in life. That being the middle kid is hard. My older brother is this great hero, someone that so many people got inspired by, that look up to him. My little sister’s a social butterfly, able to make friends with anyone despite her foul mouth. And then there was me. Noriaki, who wasn’t much of a hero or a butterfly. I was just...nobody. A face in the crowd, y’know. And I’m not blaming them! Don’t think for a second I’m doing that, I love them. Not their fault I just didn’t have what they did. So I go through life just...not achieving much, not doing that great in school because I’m just...lethargic, and feeling like my future’s getting dimmer and dimmer. Cause you gotta understand that back home? You don’t keep your shit up, that’s it, you’re done. There’s a hard wall so if you ain’t passing shit then you’re out. And that was where I was going. Every day just felt so damn similar. Nothing different, in and out, and I started getting so frustrated, but I didn’t have any way to deal with that. Not until this friend from school invited me over one time.
I get to his room and guy practically is wall to wall with posters from America. Movies, TV shows, games, music...just plastered with them. And he showed me some stuff, and suddenly everything was different. That weekend I consumed so much of what he had. Tarantino movies, 90s cartoons, and so much music. I borrowed a lot of his collection, till I could start one of my own, and props to him for letting me. I fell in love with that stuff. There was a freeness, a fire in it that woke up something in my heart. Suddenly I had an outlet. And I started to really get this love for America in my heart. And that outlet I got kept me going through high school. After high school I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I’d never have thought of wrestling myself, ‘cause I thought I was too short, too thin, too...boring for it. And then I met Shinji.
He smiles at the memory.
Tom Higashikata: I met him ‘cause of Kintaro and even back then, and ya’ll wouldn’t believe the difference between him then and now, you could tell he was gonna be somebody. He had a determination even then that I never had. When he decided he was gonna be a wrestler I got inspired. I told Kintaro I wanted to be one too and he seemed happy. A little apprehensive, but happy. And Kintaro did me the biggest favor he could, he got me into the same Dojo that Shinji was getting into. The Dojo part of Kingdom of Japan. Yeah, I’m fucking...Kazuma Fujita trained. Sorta. Hard to believe, huh? Well...yeah, just wait. So I get there and it’s something else, man. Like there’s real legend here, helping us to maybe become something one day. It was amazing. I was, heh, trying my best, putting in work and maybe I coulda been someone. I showed a bit of promise, I think. But then I fucked it up. Fucked it up so god damn bad.
He stops, biting his lip for a moment as he seems uncertain if he wants to continue. But, finally, he forces himself to.
Tom Higashikata: See, I used to get really into the music I listened to. You know what I’m talking about, right? Where you’re listening to a track you love and you just get so into it that suddenly you’re belting out along with it? I used to get like that. So it’s been another tough day of training, and if you’ve never seen how a puroresu dojo works, then just go see how DEMON tweets. That’s the easiest way to put it, it’s...it’s rough. It cuts you deep to make sure you can handle it. So we’d gotten put through the wringer again and finally got sent to our rooms. And I get back and I’m hurting, I’m frustrated ‘cause I don’t feel like my progress is fuckin’...progressing enough, and I just wanna blow some steam off. And I gotta explain something, I hadn’t really...brought up my interests. Kind of figured if I was in a place called Kingdom of JAPAN, I ought to keep my love for America on the downlow. And...I was right.
He stops to rub at his eyes, not even wanting to bring the memory back up.
Tom Higashikata: So I get back to my room, and I wanna get some outlet for all that, so I put my headphones on and I start listening to some music that spits the fire I can’t let out. And so I start listening to fucking Hit ‘Em Up. I’m into it, I’m feeling it, and before I’m really aware of it I’m shouting the lyrics out along with it and guess who’s luck was in the shitter? Mine, cause by some cosmic coincidence the big man himself was in earshot. Imagine it. Kazuma Fujita, biggest name in puroresu takes a leisurely stroll through the halls of his kingdom’s dojo and he suddenly hears one of his students shouting out all these hate-filled words. Like a crappy comedy. So suddenly I got the big guy coming through my door, yelling. First he thinks I was actually shouting at someone, and I had to explain it was just a song. He basically kept asking me why the hell I’d listen to something like that and I tried to explain. That I loved the fire songs like that had, how free and open they were. And I kinda went off-track a bit, and explained how all these things from America made me feel the same way, unlike things from my own country. I guess I just wanted to let all that out, since I never really had before and...that was fucking stupid of me. I got told to go the hell to bed and I did. And next day I get sat down and told, in a bit of a different way, that KJPW doesn’t think the dojo is a good fit for me, but they think I could get some valuable learning experiences from America, and they’d get me on a plane over. I got the hint. And next thing I know, my ass is on a plane bound for California. Finally landing in the place I loved!
He sits back, and forces a smile on his face.
Tom Higashikata: And guess what? It wasn’t what I was expecting. I had this ideal in my head and it’s just...not what you get. I was in the airport and there’s just people screamin’ everywhere. So much noise, so much traffic going here and there, and I was completely lost in it. I tried to ask people for help but they couldn’t hear me or just ignored me because I’m a tiny foreign kid speaking just sorta okay English and it was like I was invisible. It was like I hadn’t left home at all. So I’m there, in my ideal place that ain’t an ideal, and I don’t know what to do. And I end up thinking of the last person I shoulda thought about. I thought about my cousin. His name’s Hitoshi and he’s loud, he’s boisterous, he’s dim, and he’s always hustling for a bigger perch for himself. If that sounds familiar then you’ve already figured out the ending. So I’m thinking about my cousin, and I think about how no one could ignore him. Even in the thickest crowd, he’d be able to get anyone to listen to him. By being loud, by talking to everyone like he’s already at the top of the mountain, by being confident. And I start to think how I could just...take that. Adapt that to all the stuff I’ve seen from all this American media, and I could use that to just...be seen, you know. And that sounded so good to me, it seemed like the fucking greatest idea. Where the shy Noriaki had only failed, someone else could succeed. Become everything he’d dreamed of. I decided on Tom because, y’know, I love the Mission:Impossible movies. And there was Tom. I found a dude who seemed well off, let out my first “YOOOOOOOO!” and that was it. Managed to bum a ride off the guy, find out where some parties were happening so I could start building some connections and I was in business. And that was how the last two years of my life started.
Tom Higashikata: I drank, I smoked, I partied, I lived it up like I thought I should. Never once thought of wrestling, just ‘cause...I figured they was right to kick me out, and that I was right all along when I didn’t want to get into wrestling. I mean, I tried to do college. Enrolled into UCSD but...shit, I figured Tom wouldn’t do well in college so I dropped out. First time I used Tom as an excuse to do something stupid. Even then though it was good times. Started meeting people I’m still friends with today then ‘cause of that college, started dealing which let me meet Carey, and I was just...content. And then things got better. I found out that my boy was coming over: they was sending Shinji on an excursion. And unlike mine, it was for real. And so I just...put myself right into his life. Moved in without his permission and started managing him despite the fact he clearly wasn’t comfortable with Tom. I got Chris Strike to throw him into me and all our friends ‘cause of my mouth. Great friend, right? But even then it didn’t matter to me. I was still having the time of my life. Even when being Tom got me in trouble with Meta, took my...took my leg...I still thought Tom was the best thing to be. I thought I was happy. And one day my cousin was suddenly here, and it hit me. I started thinking about me. About Noriaki. About Tom. And I started having doubts.
He sighs.
Tom Higashikata: Suddenly I found it harder to just be Tom, to be that guy anymore. But at the same time my head got full of all these doubts about my whole life. Like, I got all these friends but they’re friends with this...this character, not with me. They don’t know who Noriaki is, they just know Tom. And what if Noriaki isn’t good enough? If Tom suddenly went away and they saw who I really am then they might just vanish. Tom’s larger than life, it’s easy for people to want to like him. But Noriaki’s just...introverted, shy, boring. What’s to like there? I couldn’t tell you. I don’t know if they could either.
Tom Higashikata: But at the same time I just can’t stand being Tom anymore. I look back at what I’ve said and done when I’m like that, and I hate it more and more. I’ve alienated people, I’ve made people beat on Shinji, I started a race war, I lost a fucking leg! I didn’t think of how fucking awful I was until Hitoshi showed back up. And suddenly I realized that I hadn’t taken how Hitoshi was and made it better, nah, I managed to be a shittier person. And by then it was too late, you know? In too deep, Tom’s too fucking...in, with everything. Like I said, everyone’s here for Tom, not for Noriaki.
He sniffs a bit.
Tom Higashikata: And instead of trying to actually work through my shit and try to get better or whatever I’m just...not. ‘Cause I know what’s gonna happen in this match. SHOZO wants to kill me, really end my life...and I knew that when I asked for it. I don’t think I’m gonna win, I don’t even think I’ll survive it. But I got to do this. I gotta step in there with a dude that wants to kill me. People need to see that SHOZO’s entirely irredeemable. After what happened to Destiny most everyone should know that but I still have this awful feeling that people aren’t realizing just how gone he is. Maybe even Shinji. Because Shinji’s a good person, too good, and I’m sure there’s still a part of him that thinks there’s something in that lunatic that’s worth anything, because that’s the kind of person he is. And if he focuses on that, then SHOZO could...could do to him what he did to Destiny and what he’ll do to me. So this will happen, and maybe Shinji will understand And then he can do what he always does. Stop the darkness, be the great hero. And I’ll...I’ll be remembered, I guess. Maybe.
He shrugs.
Tom Higashikata: ...or maybe not. So now that I got all that...worthless information out of the way, I just wanna say some stuff to my friend and then I’m gonna...go.
He pauses a moment, gathering himself before starting.
Tom Higashikata: My Idol boys, Sugata and Shindo. You guys have been so much better to me than I ever deserved. I mean, ya’ll got me put on one of your CDs! And that’s just...that’s just amazing to me. Like, music’s always been a comfort to me, and my whole life I’d have never imagined I’d actually end up on a real release. Never would have been able to say that without you two. Thank you. But I really didn’t deserve it. Do you guys remember when you first showed up? Ya’ll and Rush Hour started gettin’ into it and you had me translate your stuff so they could understand it and I intentionally translated them wrong so Rush Hour and the GPB would have beef. Cause that’d make Revo money, and more importantly it’d get eyes on me. And that was fucked up, and I don’t know if ya’ll just forgot or if you remembered but decided to roll with me anyway. If it’s the latter then...damn, man, I’d never be that good to someone. And what’s happened to you guys lately, it breaks my heart. Neither of you deserve that. Takuto getting shelved, getting dropped by your label...fuck the world that’d let that happen. But please don’t let this awful shit stop you guys. You two are amazing...I know you’ll find some way to keep shining.
Tom Higashikata: Black. Man, you were just about the first one who wasn’t Shinji to join my stupid ass Empire, so you were one of the first real friends I made here that wasn’t Shinji. And being there with you when you got the callup to the main roster, seeing you become tag champ, that was a highlight of this whole thing. I was so happy for you ‘cause you deserve it and so much more. And I can’t lie, I was scared when you disappeared. Not a day didn’t go by that I didn’t worry if I was gonna see you again and if I did what the shit that happened to you would’ve affected you. So seeing you come back and you seem like you ain’t let it change you, I was so happy. Keep on going, my man, you’re gonna be on top of the world.
Tom Higashikata: Ophelia.
He smiles, genuinely.
Tom Higashikata: I feel really lucky to have met you. I mean, in a way I guess you made things harder for me by making it a real choice, but this is the only time I’m happy about that. You showed me that maybe being Noriaki wasn’t the worst thing, after I spent years thinking he was the thing I wanted the least. When I was having all these doubts about Tom with no alternative, you showed me that maybe just me was an alternative, after years of not. I could never thank you enough for that. And I’m worried sick right now, with you being put up with these headaches. Combined with the weird things you seem to be involved in and I’m just kind of...scared for you, and I’m sorry that I am. I wish I had the time so I coulda come and visited you but you probably had other things to worry about. So this will have to do. I believe you’ll come through this and you’ll soar again. Be well.
He sighs and reaches up to rub at his eyes before he continues.
Tom Higashikata: Carey. Us being friends was pretty inevitable. Two fuck-ups, right? But you did what I couldn’t, and you proved you were more than a fuck-up. You’re a legitimate force for good now, man, and that’s...that’s fucking amazing! You’re an inspiration, man, and I still don’t know if you see it. I get mad whenever I see you post shit like “I ain’t got no future” ‘cause you got a bright one. Please start to see that. And thank you for being my friend.
He takes a long, deep breath before moving on to the next one, the hardest one.
Tom Higashikata: Destiny. We’ve never gotten along, we’ve always just...sniped and snipped and snapped at each other. Throwing potshots at each other, and whenever we’d get like that I’d be the one making it worse. And I know why that is. I was jealous. Jealous from the first time I saw you and Shinji together cause man even then it was obvious how that was ending. And I was jealous because I was suppose to be Shinji’s best friend. I’d known him longer, he was the one who was okay with me no matter who I was, and I...I just thought you and him would somehow negate that. So I’d always try and just annoy you and fuck with you and that shit with Carey just...that was me. I could spend time trying to blame it on being Tom but...nah. That was me. And I’m...I’m just so sorry.
He’s silent a moment as he looks away from the camera, a hand coming up to scratch at his head before looking back.
Tom Higashikata: Just...be happy, okay? Out of everyone, after all that’s happened, you deserve it the most. Don’t let anyone get in your way. Be happy.
He takes a deep breath, needing it for the next one.
Tom Higashikata: Shinji. I...I’m sorry I couldn’t live up to what you expected. I wish I could have turned out different.
He goes silent again, looking away from the camera again as he quickly wiped at his eyes before looking back.
Tom Higashikata: Kinchan.
Another bout of silence, as his head hangs.
Tom Higashikata: ...I can’t. I’m sorry.
He takes a deep breath and looks back at the camera.
Tom Higashikata: Which means there’s only one left.
Tom Higashikata: SHOZO.
He lets the name itself hang in the air, his expression getting even more regretful.
Tom Higashikata: I look at you, and all I see is the guy I helped make. What you did to Destiny...that’s on me, partly. Shinji and Destiny don’t think so but you and me, we know better. Cause it was the same thing as Destiny. I saw how you and Shinji was, saw him calling you his brother and I was just so jealous. I’d been his friend so long but I’d never gotten called that, while you got it in no time. So I started trying to bring you down, just a bit. All it took was those three little words. “And Shozo tried.” All it took. Suddenly anyone wanting to talk shit to you’s using it, and I guess every time they did it chipped a little part of you away. And that’s my fault. You’re a fucking lunatic, and maybe all this woulda happened anyway but I can’t know that for sure and so...I’m sorry for what I did to you. Maybe things’d be different. Maybe we’d all be friends right now, having dinner, looking forward to the future. Instead we’re all apart, looking at the mess we all made, and the blood that’s pouring. And I made sure that that moment of friendship would never happen, that this present of violence would happen, with just three words. So here’s three more, SHOZO.
Tom Higashikata: I mean it. When we go out there Monday, I expect you to come at me with all your fury and hatred for what I did to you. And at the same time, I’m going to try. I’m gonna try to get some measure of revenge for what you’ve done to me and mine. Even if me and Destiny never got along, she never deserved what you did. And I’ll try to get a little back for her. But it’s true though, I’m not gonna be able to beat you. I might not even be able to stay alive. But if I’m going out…
A small pause, as a sad smile comes to his face.
Tom Higashikata: And I know deep down that I’m going out...then I’m gonna go out clawing your fucking eyes out, you son of a bitch.
He lets out a sigh before looking to the camera again.
Tom Higashikata: Well...that’s that, then. Not much left for me to say. I got to go get ready for...this. So, everyone...
He does his best to smile.
Tom Higashikata: Goodbye.
He reaches forward, hand fumbling at the side of the camera for a moment before the video cuts out.
Tom sits on his couch. He sits there, staring at a wall, trying not to think about anything. It hasn’t worked yet, but he continues to try. Someone starts to knock on his door. Tom continues to sit, hoping they’d go away. They do not, the knocking intensifying. Tom groans, standing up and going to his door, opening it, and wincing upon seeing who it was.
Across the threshold stood the person he least wanted to see. His older brother, the Golden Hero of Japan himself, Kintaro Higashikata. Tom winces just seeing him.
Tom Higashikata: ...Kinchan.
Kintaro slowly nods, his expression just worried.
Kintaro Higashikata: You didn’t answer any of my calls before or after I got on the plane, so I took a cab from the airport.
Tom Higashikata: Ah. I turned my phone off. I didn’t need to be looking at Twitter, seeing...everything.
Kintaro nods again.
Kintaro Higashikata: I understand. How are you holding up?
Tom Higashikata: ...I’m holdin’, I guess. Come on in.
Tom steps aside so his brother can enter, Kintaro stepping across the threshold and looking about the apartment.
Kintaro Higashikata: This is nicer than I thought. I guess I couldn’t see it that well in a video chat.
Tom looks around, expression unchanging.
Tom Higashikata: Oh, yeah, this place. I had so much spare cash from getting all those manager contracts at once, plus that one-off appearance I did on the Pretty Boys last CD I decided to just start renting a nicer place. Live the great American life, or somethin’.
Kintaro Higashikata: That makes sense. That extra money doing you good?
Tom Higashikata: Nope! Burning through it quick as I can. Probably only gonna be able to keep this place for a couple more months.
The frankness with which he states this causes Kintaro to frown, a fact Tom ignores as he opens his fridge and starts to rummage around inside.
Tom Higashikata: You want a drink? I got most every type of booze you could want. Gin? Vodka? Tequila? Just say.
Kintaro Higashikata: Tom...do you really need to be drinking now?
Tom Higashikata: Probably not! Vodka it is.
He takes out the bottle and walks to his dining table, which is nothing but a simple wooden table with chairs at either end. And covered in clean glasses, the use of which is obvious. Kintaro sighs but takes a seat, and even takes the glass of vodka when it’s offered to him. The two brothers drink.
Tom Higashikata: How’s mom and dad?
Kintaro Higashikata: The usual. Asking me where Kimiko is.
Tom sighs.
Tom Higashikata: Great. I really wish we could just tell them we know where she is.
Kintaro Higashikata: Do you want to be the one to explain to them that their daughter is permanently on the dick of a cosmic force of blackness?
Tom Higashikata: Nahhhhh….but we could just tell them that wherever she is, she’s really happy.
This gets a chuckle from them both.
Kintaro Higashikata: Well, I guess that counts as being honest.
Tom Higashikata: Riiiiight? Ah well...I haven’t asked yet, what are you going to do now that FIPW’s kinda faded off?
Kintaro Higashikata: Well. I thought about giving KJPW a call…
Tom Higashikata: No!
Tom can’t catch himself before he lets out that small outburst, shouting out the word so passionately he seems to catch himself off-guard. He seems to shrink into his chair, looking down at his lap to avoid his brother’s eye. Kintaro just smiles a bit.
Kintaro Higashikata: I know. Even if they had an interest in me, I know enough about your...issues with them, that I couldn’t bring myself to accept that offer. It wouldn’t sit well in my heart.
Tom Higashikata: No, no! It’s the biggest place in Japan to work for! If they had an interest in you, you should absolutely take it! Don’t let me get in the way of that!
As he yells this he repeatedly shakes his head, trying to put forth just how much he disagreed with what Kintaro’s said. This overactive little tic just makes the older Higashikata smile more.
Kintaro Higashikata: It’s fine. Getting back in the ring over the past few months was great, but I’m starting to feel like there’s a better place for me in the wrestling world...
Tom Higashikata: Eh?
Kintaro leans forward, what he has to say making him perhaps a bit giddy, grinning at Tom.
Kintaro Higashikata: I want to open a wrestling school.
Tom instantly matches his brother’s pose, leaning forward too.
Tom Higashikata: For real!?
Kintaro nods a few times.
Kintaro Higashikata: Yeah! Thinking of everyone I’ve taken under my wing over the years, and all the people I inspired...when I think of you and Shinji...I get this feeling in my gut that it’s time for me to make that my focus. I want to make sure the next generation is a shining one.
Tom sits back in his chair, grinning from ear to ear.
Tom Higashikata: Kinchan that’s great! I think that’s perfect for you. You’ll be a great teacher.
Kintaro smiles.
Kintaro Higashikata: Thank you. Well, I won’t be doing it alone, I’d need some help.
Tom Higashikata: Yeah? What, you thinking of asking Shinji to help you?
Kintaro Higashikata: Not exactly…
Tom raises an eyebrow, and Kintaro smiles a bit wider.
Kintaro Higashikata: I want you to help me sometimes.
The happiness on Tom’s face disappears in a split second, replaced with confusion.
Tom Higashikata: e-eh? Help? With what, setting up the business side? Promoting? I-I can do that, no problem!
Kintaro Higashikata: No, no...I mean with students. I’m not really built for teaching any kind of aerial move you know? That’s what your skill set is skewed towards, so I thought that when you’d have free time you could fly out and help me out.
Confusion turns to panic, Tom reaching his hands up to shake them side to side repeatedly.
Tom Higashikata: Nah man that’s not me! Can’t do it, I never even graduated from a Dojo!
Kintaro Higashikata: So? They won’t have graduated either.
Tom Higashikata: Y-yeah but...look!
He raises his leg, beginning to extend and relax it repeatedly, letting the sound of metal working sound loud. The sound of it, and the thought of what happened to cause it makes Kintaro clench his teeth in anger.
Tom Higashikata: Lost my leg remember? Weird Dr. Kuller prosthetic! Can’t do any teaching on this thing!
This changes Kintaro just a bit. He’s still angry at remembering how his brother was so dedicated to his...thing that it led to losing his leg, but there’s a glint in his eye. Like Tom had just said the words he wanted, seeing this glint causing Tom to abruptly drop his leg back down.
Kintaro Higashikata: ...but that’s not stopping you from having this match, is it?
The topic he’d hoped against hope would not come up, and he’d walked right into it. His head drops immediately, no longer wanting to look his brother in the eye.
Tom Higashikata: No. No it’s not.
Kintaro Higashikata: Tom….
Tom Higashikata: Don’t start.
A small pause.
Tom Higashikata: Please don’t start.
Kintaro Higashikata: I just want to understand why you’re doing this.
Tom Higashikata: Because I need to.
Kintaro scowled.
Kintaro Higashikata: That’s not an answer, Tom! Why do you need to do this?! You can’t think you’ll win!
Tom Higashikata: No. No I don’t. But I gotta try.
Kintaro Higashikata: Why?!
Tom Higashikata: So I can look at myself in the mirror!
Kintaro’s face falls while Tom just sags in his seat.
Tom Higashikata: ...right now, I can’t.
Kintaro Higashikata: ...Tom….
Tom’s face scrunches up.
Tom Higashikata: Please don’t call me that.
Kintaro Higashikata: Eh?
Tom Higashikata: Just...I don’t wanna be called that.
Kintaro Higashikata: Okay...you were the one who asked me to only call you Tom, Noriaki…
Tom Higashikata: Not that either. I don’t wanna be called that either.
Kintaro sighs.
Kintaro Higashikata: Then what do you want me to call you?
He continues to look away, and doesn’t answer.
--
The video starts up, showing Tom Higashikata sitting on his couch. Wearing sunglasses, he throws up a “W.”
Tom Higashikata: WASSUP BRUHS HOW YOU DOIN-ugh no.
The video cuts out and then back on, showing him sitting different. This time he doesn’t raise his hand.
Tom Higashikata: YOOOOOOOO IT’S YA FUCKIN BOY TOM AN IT’S TIME TO...TO...fuck.
The video cuts out and then cuts back on, showing him getting close to the camera to greet it.
Tom Higashikata: YO YO SUP MY NI-no. No fuck that, fuck.
The video cuts again. When it comes back he’s just sitting there. Finally he reaches up and tears his sunglasses off, tossing them aside.
Tom Higashikata: Is it okay if I just...don’t do the whole thing right now? I can’t manage it. Let me just talk as me. Uh, so...people keep asking me stuff. Stuff like “why you doing this?” or “the hell you thinking?” or just things like that. Which is reasonable, I guess. And I wish I could just answer that in a sentence or two but it’s gonna take a lot more than that so you can just shut this off if you ain’t got time for that. I won’t blame you. We gotta start way back at the first lesson I learned in life. That being the middle kid is hard. My older brother is this great hero, someone that so many people got inspired by, that look up to him. My little sister’s a social butterfly, able to make friends with anyone despite her foul mouth. And then there was me. Noriaki, who wasn’t much of a hero or a butterfly. I was just...nobody. A face in the crowd, y’know. And I’m not blaming them! Don’t think for a second I’m doing that, I love them. Not their fault I just didn’t have what they did. So I go through life just...not achieving much, not doing that great in school because I’m just...lethargic, and feeling like my future’s getting dimmer and dimmer. Cause you gotta understand that back home? You don’t keep your shit up, that’s it, you’re done. There’s a hard wall so if you ain’t passing shit then you’re out. And that was where I was going. Every day just felt so damn similar. Nothing different, in and out, and I started getting so frustrated, but I didn’t have any way to deal with that. Not until this friend from school invited me over one time.
I get to his room and guy practically is wall to wall with posters from America. Movies, TV shows, games, music...just plastered with them. And he showed me some stuff, and suddenly everything was different. That weekend I consumed so much of what he had. Tarantino movies, 90s cartoons, and so much music. I borrowed a lot of his collection, till I could start one of my own, and props to him for letting me. I fell in love with that stuff. There was a freeness, a fire in it that woke up something in my heart. Suddenly I had an outlet. And I started to really get this love for America in my heart. And that outlet I got kept me going through high school. After high school I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I’d never have thought of wrestling myself, ‘cause I thought I was too short, too thin, too...boring for it. And then I met Shinji.
He smiles at the memory.
Tom Higashikata: I met him ‘cause of Kintaro and even back then, and ya’ll wouldn’t believe the difference between him then and now, you could tell he was gonna be somebody. He had a determination even then that I never had. When he decided he was gonna be a wrestler I got inspired. I told Kintaro I wanted to be one too and he seemed happy. A little apprehensive, but happy. And Kintaro did me the biggest favor he could, he got me into the same Dojo that Shinji was getting into. The Dojo part of Kingdom of Japan. Yeah, I’m fucking...Kazuma Fujita trained. Sorta. Hard to believe, huh? Well...yeah, just wait. So I get there and it’s something else, man. Like there’s real legend here, helping us to maybe become something one day. It was amazing. I was, heh, trying my best, putting in work and maybe I coulda been someone. I showed a bit of promise, I think. But then I fucked it up. Fucked it up so god damn bad.
He stops, biting his lip for a moment as he seems uncertain if he wants to continue. But, finally, he forces himself to.
Tom Higashikata: See, I used to get really into the music I listened to. You know what I’m talking about, right? Where you’re listening to a track you love and you just get so into it that suddenly you’re belting out along with it? I used to get like that. So it’s been another tough day of training, and if you’ve never seen how a puroresu dojo works, then just go see how DEMON tweets. That’s the easiest way to put it, it’s...it’s rough. It cuts you deep to make sure you can handle it. So we’d gotten put through the wringer again and finally got sent to our rooms. And I get back and I’m hurting, I’m frustrated ‘cause I don’t feel like my progress is fuckin’...progressing enough, and I just wanna blow some steam off. And I gotta explain something, I hadn’t really...brought up my interests. Kind of figured if I was in a place called Kingdom of JAPAN, I ought to keep my love for America on the downlow. And...I was right.
He stops to rub at his eyes, not even wanting to bring the memory back up.
Tom Higashikata: So I get back to my room, and I wanna get some outlet for all that, so I put my headphones on and I start listening to some music that spits the fire I can’t let out. And so I start listening to fucking Hit ‘Em Up. I’m into it, I’m feeling it, and before I’m really aware of it I’m shouting the lyrics out along with it and guess who’s luck was in the shitter? Mine, cause by some cosmic coincidence the big man himself was in earshot. Imagine it. Kazuma Fujita, biggest name in puroresu takes a leisurely stroll through the halls of his kingdom’s dojo and he suddenly hears one of his students shouting out all these hate-filled words. Like a crappy comedy. So suddenly I got the big guy coming through my door, yelling. First he thinks I was actually shouting at someone, and I had to explain it was just a song. He basically kept asking me why the hell I’d listen to something like that and I tried to explain. That I loved the fire songs like that had, how free and open they were. And I kinda went off-track a bit, and explained how all these things from America made me feel the same way, unlike things from my own country. I guess I just wanted to let all that out, since I never really had before and...that was fucking stupid of me. I got told to go the hell to bed and I did. And next day I get sat down and told, in a bit of a different way, that KJPW doesn’t think the dojo is a good fit for me, but they think I could get some valuable learning experiences from America, and they’d get me on a plane over. I got the hint. And next thing I know, my ass is on a plane bound for California. Finally landing in the place I loved!
He sits back, and forces a smile on his face.
Tom Higashikata: And guess what? It wasn’t what I was expecting. I had this ideal in my head and it’s just...not what you get. I was in the airport and there’s just people screamin’ everywhere. So much noise, so much traffic going here and there, and I was completely lost in it. I tried to ask people for help but they couldn’t hear me or just ignored me because I’m a tiny foreign kid speaking just sorta okay English and it was like I was invisible. It was like I hadn’t left home at all. So I’m there, in my ideal place that ain’t an ideal, and I don’t know what to do. And I end up thinking of the last person I shoulda thought about. I thought about my cousin. His name’s Hitoshi and he’s loud, he’s boisterous, he’s dim, and he’s always hustling for a bigger perch for himself. If that sounds familiar then you’ve already figured out the ending. So I’m thinking about my cousin, and I think about how no one could ignore him. Even in the thickest crowd, he’d be able to get anyone to listen to him. By being loud, by talking to everyone like he’s already at the top of the mountain, by being confident. And I start to think how I could just...take that. Adapt that to all the stuff I’ve seen from all this American media, and I could use that to just...be seen, you know. And that sounded so good to me, it seemed like the fucking greatest idea. Where the shy Noriaki had only failed, someone else could succeed. Become everything he’d dreamed of. I decided on Tom because, y’know, I love the Mission:Impossible movies. And there was Tom. I found a dude who seemed well off, let out my first “YOOOOOOOO!” and that was it. Managed to bum a ride off the guy, find out where some parties were happening so I could start building some connections and I was in business. And that was how the last two years of my life started.
Tom Higashikata: I drank, I smoked, I partied, I lived it up like I thought I should. Never once thought of wrestling, just ‘cause...I figured they was right to kick me out, and that I was right all along when I didn’t want to get into wrestling. I mean, I tried to do college. Enrolled into UCSD but...shit, I figured Tom wouldn’t do well in college so I dropped out. First time I used Tom as an excuse to do something stupid. Even then though it was good times. Started meeting people I’m still friends with today then ‘cause of that college, started dealing which let me meet Carey, and I was just...content. And then things got better. I found out that my boy was coming over: they was sending Shinji on an excursion. And unlike mine, it was for real. And so I just...put myself right into his life. Moved in without his permission and started managing him despite the fact he clearly wasn’t comfortable with Tom. I got Chris Strike to throw him into me and all our friends ‘cause of my mouth. Great friend, right? But even then it didn’t matter to me. I was still having the time of my life. Even when being Tom got me in trouble with Meta, took my...took my leg...I still thought Tom was the best thing to be. I thought I was happy. And one day my cousin was suddenly here, and it hit me. I started thinking about me. About Noriaki. About Tom. And I started having doubts.
He sighs.
Tom Higashikata: Suddenly I found it harder to just be Tom, to be that guy anymore. But at the same time my head got full of all these doubts about my whole life. Like, I got all these friends but they’re friends with this...this character, not with me. They don’t know who Noriaki is, they just know Tom. And what if Noriaki isn’t good enough? If Tom suddenly went away and they saw who I really am then they might just vanish. Tom’s larger than life, it’s easy for people to want to like him. But Noriaki’s just...introverted, shy, boring. What’s to like there? I couldn’t tell you. I don’t know if they could either.
Tom Higashikata: But at the same time I just can’t stand being Tom anymore. I look back at what I’ve said and done when I’m like that, and I hate it more and more. I’ve alienated people, I’ve made people beat on Shinji, I started a race war, I lost a fucking leg! I didn’t think of how fucking awful I was until Hitoshi showed back up. And suddenly I realized that I hadn’t taken how Hitoshi was and made it better, nah, I managed to be a shittier person. And by then it was too late, you know? In too deep, Tom’s too fucking...in, with everything. Like I said, everyone’s here for Tom, not for Noriaki.
He sniffs a bit.
Tom Higashikata: And instead of trying to actually work through my shit and try to get better or whatever I’m just...not. ‘Cause I know what’s gonna happen in this match. SHOZO wants to kill me, really end my life...and I knew that when I asked for it. I don’t think I’m gonna win, I don’t even think I’ll survive it. But I got to do this. I gotta step in there with a dude that wants to kill me. People need to see that SHOZO’s entirely irredeemable. After what happened to Destiny most everyone should know that but I still have this awful feeling that people aren’t realizing just how gone he is. Maybe even Shinji. Because Shinji’s a good person, too good, and I’m sure there’s still a part of him that thinks there’s something in that lunatic that’s worth anything, because that’s the kind of person he is. And if he focuses on that, then SHOZO could...could do to him what he did to Destiny and what he’ll do to me. So this will happen, and maybe Shinji will understand And then he can do what he always does. Stop the darkness, be the great hero. And I’ll...I’ll be remembered, I guess. Maybe.
He shrugs.
Tom Higashikata: ...or maybe not. So now that I got all that...worthless information out of the way, I just wanna say some stuff to my friend and then I’m gonna...go.
He pauses a moment, gathering himself before starting.
Tom Higashikata: My Idol boys, Sugata and Shindo. You guys have been so much better to me than I ever deserved. I mean, ya’ll got me put on one of your CDs! And that’s just...that’s just amazing to me. Like, music’s always been a comfort to me, and my whole life I’d have never imagined I’d actually end up on a real release. Never would have been able to say that without you two. Thank you. But I really didn’t deserve it. Do you guys remember when you first showed up? Ya’ll and Rush Hour started gettin’ into it and you had me translate your stuff so they could understand it and I intentionally translated them wrong so Rush Hour and the GPB would have beef. Cause that’d make Revo money, and more importantly it’d get eyes on me. And that was fucked up, and I don’t know if ya’ll just forgot or if you remembered but decided to roll with me anyway. If it’s the latter then...damn, man, I’d never be that good to someone. And what’s happened to you guys lately, it breaks my heart. Neither of you deserve that. Takuto getting shelved, getting dropped by your label...fuck the world that’d let that happen. But please don’t let this awful shit stop you guys. You two are amazing...I know you’ll find some way to keep shining.
Tom Higashikata: Black. Man, you were just about the first one who wasn’t Shinji to join my stupid ass Empire, so you were one of the first real friends I made here that wasn’t Shinji. And being there with you when you got the callup to the main roster, seeing you become tag champ, that was a highlight of this whole thing. I was so happy for you ‘cause you deserve it and so much more. And I can’t lie, I was scared when you disappeared. Not a day didn’t go by that I didn’t worry if I was gonna see you again and if I did what the shit that happened to you would’ve affected you. So seeing you come back and you seem like you ain’t let it change you, I was so happy. Keep on going, my man, you’re gonna be on top of the world.
Tom Higashikata: Ophelia.
He smiles, genuinely.
Tom Higashikata: I feel really lucky to have met you. I mean, in a way I guess you made things harder for me by making it a real choice, but this is the only time I’m happy about that. You showed me that maybe being Noriaki wasn’t the worst thing, after I spent years thinking he was the thing I wanted the least. When I was having all these doubts about Tom with no alternative, you showed me that maybe just me was an alternative, after years of not. I could never thank you enough for that. And I’m worried sick right now, with you being put up with these headaches. Combined with the weird things you seem to be involved in and I’m just kind of...scared for you, and I’m sorry that I am. I wish I had the time so I coulda come and visited you but you probably had other things to worry about. So this will have to do. I believe you’ll come through this and you’ll soar again. Be well.
He sighs and reaches up to rub at his eyes before he continues.
Tom Higashikata: Carey. Us being friends was pretty inevitable. Two fuck-ups, right? But you did what I couldn’t, and you proved you were more than a fuck-up. You’re a legitimate force for good now, man, and that’s...that’s fucking amazing! You’re an inspiration, man, and I still don’t know if you see it. I get mad whenever I see you post shit like “I ain’t got no future” ‘cause you got a bright one. Please start to see that. And thank you for being my friend.
He takes a long, deep breath before moving on to the next one, the hardest one.
Tom Higashikata: Destiny. We’ve never gotten along, we’ve always just...sniped and snipped and snapped at each other. Throwing potshots at each other, and whenever we’d get like that I’d be the one making it worse. And I know why that is. I was jealous. Jealous from the first time I saw you and Shinji together cause man even then it was obvious how that was ending. And I was jealous because I was suppose to be Shinji’s best friend. I’d known him longer, he was the one who was okay with me no matter who I was, and I...I just thought you and him would somehow negate that. So I’d always try and just annoy you and fuck with you and that shit with Carey just...that was me. I could spend time trying to blame it on being Tom but...nah. That was me. And I’m...I’m just so sorry.
He’s silent a moment as he looks away from the camera, a hand coming up to scratch at his head before looking back.
Tom Higashikata: Just...be happy, okay? Out of everyone, after all that’s happened, you deserve it the most. Don’t let anyone get in your way. Be happy.
He takes a deep breath, needing it for the next one.
Tom Higashikata: Shinji. I...I’m sorry I couldn’t live up to what you expected. I wish I could have turned out different.
He goes silent again, looking away from the camera again as he quickly wiped at his eyes before looking back.
Tom Higashikata: Kinchan.
Another bout of silence, as his head hangs.
Tom Higashikata: ...I can’t. I’m sorry.
He takes a deep breath and looks back at the camera.
Tom Higashikata: Which means there’s only one left.
Tom Higashikata: SHOZO.
He lets the name itself hang in the air, his expression getting even more regretful.
Tom Higashikata: I look at you, and all I see is the guy I helped make. What you did to Destiny...that’s on me, partly. Shinji and Destiny don’t think so but you and me, we know better. Cause it was the same thing as Destiny. I saw how you and Shinji was, saw him calling you his brother and I was just so jealous. I’d been his friend so long but I’d never gotten called that, while you got it in no time. So I started trying to bring you down, just a bit. All it took was those three little words. “And Shozo tried.” All it took. Suddenly anyone wanting to talk shit to you’s using it, and I guess every time they did it chipped a little part of you away. And that’s my fault. You’re a fucking lunatic, and maybe all this woulda happened anyway but I can’t know that for sure and so...I’m sorry for what I did to you. Maybe things’d be different. Maybe we’d all be friends right now, having dinner, looking forward to the future. Instead we’re all apart, looking at the mess we all made, and the blood that’s pouring. And I made sure that that moment of friendship would never happen, that this present of violence would happen, with just three words. So here’s three more, SHOZO.
”Get your revenge.”
Tom Higashikata: I mean it. When we go out there Monday, I expect you to come at me with all your fury and hatred for what I did to you. And at the same time, I’m going to try. I’m gonna try to get some measure of revenge for what you’ve done to me and mine. Even if me and Destiny never got along, she never deserved what you did. And I’ll try to get a little back for her. But it’s true though, I’m not gonna be able to beat you. I might not even be able to stay alive. But if I’m going out…
A small pause, as a sad smile comes to his face.
Tom Higashikata: And I know deep down that I’m going out...then I’m gonna go out clawing your fucking eyes out, you son of a bitch.
He lets out a sigh before looking to the camera again.
Tom Higashikata: Well...that’s that, then. Not much left for me to say. I got to go get ready for...this. So, everyone...
He does his best to smile.
Tom Higashikata: Goodbye.
He reaches forward, hand fumbling at the side of the camera for a moment before the video cuts out.
