Soudouki (Part One)

My hometown. I’ve spent a lot of time here, especially over the past few years. I do so love this place. It may be run-down anywhere outside of the tourist-focused areas, it may have a population of seagulls that is as inconvenient as it is annoying, and it even may be home to some of the worst human beings I’ve ever encountered, but it’s my home. I’ll always have not just nostalgia for this place, but an unbreakable connection to it. Wherever I go, my heart will yearn for this oft-gloomy town in the less-than-aptly named English Riviera. Memories fill my mind wherever I go here.

Both good and bad.

And those in between. It was where I met her, a long time ago. I was still a teenager, filled to the brim with ambition, dreams and hormones. I was convinced that I was going to be the greatest professional wrestler of all time; that I’d drive crowds wild all across the world. It was at college, during a time where I learned how to wrestle at Dan’s gym on the side, that we first laid eyes on one another. That girl always was quite alluring. It became even more so when I discovered that she was a Kobayashi.

I’m of course talking about Teresa. Not Soudouki, but she was there too. At the time, though I got along with her, she never really attracted me in the way her sister did. It’s understandable; she was clearly a spoiled brat. Whenever she didn’t get her way, she would complain to her father over the phone to get it sorted. Whenever she did get her way, she made sure everybody knew about it. I didn’t dislike her, but the way she acted prevented us from getting close.

Right now I stand on the former grounds of that college. These days it’s accommodation, just like everything else that falls in this town. Humanity moves on, builds another bunch of housing, and lets the past be just that. My memories still remain though, and while I’m here I recall them clearer than ever...

It’s night time; I’m staying behind late in our large classroom to put the finishing touches on my painting. I’m being a total perfectionist about this and thankfully the college lets me stay behind to do this providing I lock up.

I turn from my work for a moment upon hearing a sound, and the sight of a woman in the doorway causes me to jump. I wasn’t expecting anybody else to be here. The artificial light of the room contrasted with the darkness of the halls outside makes her stand out all the more.

“Can’t you finish that tomorrow?” she asks with a chuckle.

“Certainly not, Teresa,” I reply, regaining my composure, “That would be far too sensible for Chris Reto.”

“Well that’s just the peskiest thing,” she mock-grumbles, leaning against the door frame, her raven-esque hair trailing after her movement, “Because I’ve got nobody to walk me home.”
 
I give her the kind of look usually reserved for charity workers with clipboards; one of annoyed bemusement, “Are you honestly claiming that the great Teresa Kobayashi needs help walking home? And here I thought you were an adult.”

“Oh, don’t confuse me with a damsel in distress, Reto,” she narrows her eyes and gives a thin smile, “I can handle myself out there; it’s just a long walk back and I get bored easily.”

I groan over-dramatically and start to put my painting paraphernalia away, “Oh if you absolutely insist. Jeez, can’t even paint in peace.”

“I think you’d have to be able to paint first if you wanted to pull that off,” she mockingly comments, gesturing towards my admittedly less-than-stellar portrait, the quality of which being the reason I’m spending so long working on it.

“Hmph, no appreciation for art,” I huff, and smirk right back at her as I head to the doorway and produce the keys to lock up.

Fifteen minutes later and we’re halfway through the journey to her place, the Kobayashi residence that is also home to the Pain Camp wrestling school. I’ve been there a few times, and even sparred with her brothers on occasion.

“Hey, Chris,” she begins, cutting off the silence that fell upon us just a few minutes prior, “What do you think of my family?”

I give her as wide-eyed an expression as I’m able to muster, “What do I think of them?”

“Yeah. Be honest with me.”

“Teresa, they’re the Kobayashi family. If I’d realised they were based in Torquay before recently, I’d have gone there to worship under your father. You already know I’m a huge fan.”

“Not as wrestlers, dumbass,” she frowns at me, “As people. I mean, you’ve spent time with them personally now. What do you think?”

I had to think about that for a moment, “They’re great. The fact that your dad and brothers let me screw around in the ring is pretty much as awesome as can possibly be. Plus your mum’s always been nice. I dunno; I just really like them.”

“I see,” comes her quiet response.

I turn to her, “Why?”

“Hm?”

“Why do you want to know what I think about them?”

She shakes her head, “I suppose I didn’t put it direct enough. I was hoping you’d make mention of another member of that family.”

“What, you?” I grin, “Honestly, you and your ego...”

“No,” she sighs, and I’m taken aback by her seriousness, “I meant Soudouki.”

I stop in my tracks, and she turns back to me upon noticing.

“Soudouki?” I ask, bewildered.

“What; is there something wrong with me asking that? I just want to know what you think about her.”

“No offence, Teresa,” I do my best to put this as nicely as I can, “But your sister... well, I don’t hate her per se...”

Teresa gives me a look so harsh I can practically feel it, “What are you trying to say?”

“She’s... well...” I’m struggling to find the right words; I’ve obviously really stepped in it now, “I don’t think we could ever be close friends, I’ll put it like that.”

“Why not?” She’s pretty much scowling at me by this point.

“I... don’t know if you’ve noticed at all, Teresa, but she’s pretty spoiled.”

Teresa is quiet for a moment, “I guess it might look that way.”

“Look that way?” I burst out, “Whenever the tutor sets her some homework, she throws a hissy fit in the middle of the class, and calls her dad to come and set everything straight.”

“Perhaps she has some issues,” Teresa admits with a low tone, obviously not appreciating my choice of words, “But I think you should give her a chance.”

“What?”

“I’m serious, Chris. She’s my sister, and if you’re going to be friends with me you need to be fair to my whole family.”

“But Soudouki is...”

“No, Chris,” Teresa stares at me, before sighing and putting a palm to her face, “Sorry, sorry. I shouldn’t be like this. I didn’t plan on doing this. I appreciate all you do for me, honestly. It’s just... it may surprise you, but there’s a wonderful side to my sister. Most people just don’t get to see it.”

I move in closer to her, “Teresa, what brought this on?”

She lets out another sigh, apparently having many of them pent up, “She came home today rather upset, according to Mum. Not because of the usual stuff, but something serious. One of her classmates used a racial slur and called her the ‘daughter of a phoney’. It really hurt her. There’s lots of people out there who still hold grudges, both against people of our race and of wrestlers. It’s hard for both of us, only Soudouki’s not as used to it as I am.”

My eyebrows practically meet my hairline at this point, “I had no idea...”

“People like you make everything worth it, Chris,” she smiles at me, “You treat us right regardless of our race and you love pro wrestling. That means a lot to us; we wish more people around here were like you.”

She straightens herself up and clears her throat, and I just notice that she was becoming a bit emotional, “That’s why you should give her a chance. Soudouki needs real friends. Not just those bitchy girls she hangs around with that say horrible things behind her back. She needs somebody like you.”

I take a deep breath, and as I inhale I let these new facts really sink in. As I exhale, I give her a response.

“I’ll see what I can do, Teresa.”

As that memory comes to a close, I notice that I’m steadily approaching my destination. I’m down town at this point, the shopping hub of the tiny bubble I inhabited in my childhood. This was the place to go when I was young; these days it still evokes that feeling, but with what I’ve seen in my life it seems like a model replica of the town I knew. Castle Circus seems so much smaller now my horizons have expanded. I’ll always have a fondness for it though.

My eyes briefly wander to the side, where work is being done on a recently-closed Tex-Mex restaurant. The beaten wooden sign has been removed, the charming double doors discarded for a more modern setup, and the tunnel that leads to it – formerly decorated with a colourful desert design – has been painted over like graffiti. Yet another location from my past seemingly being replaced by housing. I can’t suppress the memories this place calls up, one stronger and more vivid than the rest...

We sit opposite one another in that restaurant. A wooden table with in-built seating holds two massive laminated menus and a needlessly large candle that drips melting wax. Spanish music crackles out of the old speakers. The air is filled with the smell of spicy food. I think that this place is trying to be romantic but isn’t doing the best job of it.

Nor is this get-together with Soudouki. I had no intention of this being romantic at all. To be honest, I’d rather be here with her sister; I get along with her considerably better.

Unfortunately, the already tarted-up Soudouki was preparing for a date tonight with another suitor, but he cancelled at the last minute. She apparently took it quite personally, having shown concern about the guy’s very traditional family. I suppose being an 18-year-old lad still living with those overprotective parents might cause problems if you’re planning on going out with a Japanese wrestler.

So as a gesture of good will forced upon me by Teresa, I offered to take her out. Soudouki angrily declined, refusing to go on a “pity date”, but eventually her mother talked her into it. So here we are. The best place I could afford was this Tex-Mex place that I liked to go to from time to time. Soudouki doesn’t seem very happy about all of this, and I can’t say I blame her.

“I don’t think I can stomach any of this,” she grimaces beneath all that make-up, “I bet Mexican food is awful. Have you seen how they live in Mexico?”

“Oh, give it a go,” I insist, trying my best to at least appear positive, “You won’t know until you try it.”

“Ugh, I should be partaking in ridiculously expensive Italian cuisine right now,” she grumbles, lost in a high-class fantasy as per usual, “Instead I have to sacrifice my figure to the burrito gods.”

“Suck it up,” I tell her, my positivity waning, “At least you’re out tonight. Isn’t that better than being stuck indoors on your own?”

She mumbles unintelligibly and disappears behind her menu. I take a sip of my cola, hoping that this “date” goes by quickly. I could be hanging out with Teresa right now, or practicing some new moves with Yenkei.

“I suppose if I must eat then I’ll have the garden salad,” she eventually says.

I peer down at my own menu, “Sorry to say, but they don’t have that on here.”

“They don’t?!” she shrieks, garnering a few stares from other customers, “What kind of insufferable excuse for an eatery is this?”

“Calm down, would you?” I plead, and eye over the menu some more, “They’ve got to have something mild on here...”

Soudouki crosses her arms and huffs loudly, “I don’t believe this. Couldn’t you have taken me somewhere that serves edible substances?”

I glare back at her, “Hey, consider yourself lucky I even took you out.”

Her eyebrows arch downwards and she proceeds to give me the dirtiest of looks, “And just what is that supposed to mean, Christopher?”

I sigh deeply, “Nothing.” Infuriating though she is, I don’t want to hurt her feelings by letting on as to why I even offered to do this.

“They’d better have some damn good drinks here,” Soudouki growls, “Why hasn’t anybody asked me if I want one?”

“They did, when we sat down,” I remind her, “You were just ignoring them because you ‘didn’t like their face’. Remember?”

“Oh yes,” smiles Soudouki, “That’s right. It was rather hideous, as I recall.”

I can scarcely believe that she and Teresa are related. They couldn’t be less alike.

“Well, if I’m going to make it through this night I’ll need to be suitably addled by booze,” she announced, and gave a shrill whistle in the direction of the female waiter, “Hey! Over here! I demand alcohol!”

The waiter walks over, not looking terribly pleased but trying to bury those feelings for the sake of professionalism, “Yes, ma’am?”

“Yes, I’d like a...” Soudouki ponders the menu for a moment, “Oh good, you do those. Yes, a piña colada with no ice,” she turns to me, “And what will you have, Christopher?”

I lift up my glass, “I already have a drink, thanks.”

Soudouki rolls her eyes so much it looks as though they’ll fall out, “That’s not a drink. Honestly, you teetotallers are totally terrible.” She snickers at what she believes to be a clever turn of phrase and then shoos the waiter away.

“Well, this night has officially gotten better!” Soudouki declares at far too high a volume.

“I suppose we’ll get to ordering food around the time of the apocalypse, then,” I comment wryly.

“Oh, hush,” she tells me, “The prospect of my drink has improved my mood, so keep your sarcasm to a minimum and I might just let you pay for this meal.”

“You are so generous, Soudouki.”

“What did I tell you about that?” she narrows her eyes at me, but they widen with joy as her cocktail arrives in a goblet, “Ahh, excellent!” She nabs it from the waitress and shoos her again.

“I’ll give them one thing; they certainly are quick,” Soudouki takes a sip from one of its straws, “And this is actually not bad!”

“Well since we’re not going to be eating any time soon, why don’t we have ourselves a good old-fashioned conversation,” I begin, trying to pass the time here however I can.

Soudouki raises an eyebrow, “What?”

“You know, a conversation? Talking? Discussing our lives? Hell, even chatting about the weather will do.”

She shakes her head, “Oh Christopher, just how many dates have you been on?”

“Uh, what do you mean?” I dodge the question; truth be told I don’t have much to boast about in that department.

“Nobody has ‘conversations’ during dates. No, the art of dating consists of body language, eye contact and blatant, horrendous lies.”

“Come again?” I ask, taken quite firmly aback by that statement.

Soudouki takes a deep sip of her drink, “Seriously, I’ve only been at this for a few years now and I’ve already got it down to a science. The moment you talk about your real self is the moment the whole arrangement falls apart like a house of cards. Lie like a dog, my friend. If you absolutely must talk during a date, build yourself up to be a freaking angel. Put on a façade. Say whatever it takes to keep their interest, lest they receive a rescue call and excuse themselves.”

I’m actually surprised. From this sudden frankness I wonder just how much alcohol has reached her bloodstream already.

“Are you trying to say you’ve actually had dates pull the old ‘Sorry, something just came up’ routine on you?”

“Is it that unbelievable?” Soudouki eyes me, “I’ve had my fair share of mid-date cancellations. Mostly after I made mention of my career.”

I nod slowly. Soudouki’s already a wrestler, despite being at college. Granted, she just performs for the small promotion owned by her father, but she takes it very seriously. Both she and Teresa are stars of that tiny group. At this point I’ve made my debut too, for another independent group situated in Paignton.

“Come to think of it, the same thing has happened to me,” I chime in.

“Well that’s no surprise; you’re a total dork,” Soudouki laughs, and it doesn’t sound like a good-natured one.

“No, I mean... when the subject of wrestling pops up,” I point out, “There seems to be such a negative stigma about that world.”

Soudouki’s laugh dies as quickly as it blurted out. She looks momentarily lost in thought after hearing that.

“I don’t understand why,” she says, her voice lowering a little, “So many people love our sport. I’ve seen it; all the fans queuing up for the shows; cheering us on.”

“Not everybody gets it, I’m afraid,” I shrug, “Wrestling can be quite polarising.”

“Still though, some respect would be appreciated,” she scowls, “It’s not easy, going out there and entertaining people. Certainly not competing against my sister,” she lets out a dry chuckle, “That girl is tough.”

“That much I’ve noticed,” I grin.

She takes a long sip before continuing, “I hate having to lie. Hell, whenever I’m set up on blind dates I make sure my friends don’t fill the other party in as to my race. I’ve had more rejections than I can remember based solely on that.”

“What?! Are you sure that was why...?”

Soudouki shrugs, looking more despondent now, “That was the impression I got, anyway. What’s with that? I’m only half Japanese anyway. English is my native language. Hell, I can barely read kanji. Isn’t that enough for people?”

I lean forward sympathetically, “Why should you feel ashamed of your ethnicity?”

“Because it ruins everything,” she sighs, “I mean, I’ve been to my Dad’s old home. I love Osaka. But being descended from there means people cast me out. Even my friends; I’ve heard what they’ve had to say about me when they think I’m out of earshot.”

I don’t know what to say. I remember Teresa telling me about how this bothered Soudouki, but it’s my first time seeing it. She’s typically a lot stronger and confident than the girl I’m seeing here.

“Hell, why are you even here?”

I’m about to answer when she cuts me off, “Don’t worry, I know. I was just messing with you before. I know that Teresa made you do this.”

Damn, she pays more attention than I gave her credit for.

“You’d rather be somewhere else, wouldn’t you?” she hunches her shoulders in a manner I’m not used to seeing from her, “Let’s face it, you don’t like me.”

“That’s not entirely true,” I correct her, “I like you just fine.”

“Oh piss off, don’t say that for my sake.”

“No really, I do,” I say with a smirk, “I don’t think you’re particularly special, but you’re alright I suppose.”

Her face shoots up suddenly and she fixes me with a deathglare.

“Al...right... you suppose?”

“If you really want me to be perfectly frank with you, Soudouki, I think you’re a self-absorbed, egotistical little child with all the charm of a verruca.”

Her eyes almost bulge out of her head with fury, “What did you say?!”

“I mean I still think you’re alright, but because of all that I’d never be able to call you a friend,” I tell her, “It has nothing to do with your race. After all, I get along with the rest of your family.”

She looks as though she’s just about to burst from rage, when suddenly it subsides as a thought seems to register in her mind.

“Oh. I see what you’re doing. Very sly, Christopher,” she announces while staring at me, “So you’re saying the problem is my personality, right? That which I can change is the cause of my failed love-life thus far, rather than that which I can’t?”

“I don’t know, what do you think?” I reply, still smirking.

“Well you’re certainly paying for this meal now,” she can’t help but grin.

There’s a silence between us, and we sip from our respective beverages.

“Hey, Chris,” she says after a minute, actually using the shortening of my name for a change.

“What’s up?”

“T-Thanks,” she stutters, her eyes darting to the side, “For taking me out tonight.”

“No problem.”

“This doesn’t mean I think you’re any less of a dork, mind,” she’s quick to add.

I chuckle loudly. She glares at me, confounded.

“What is so funny?!”

“Oh, it’s just...” I have to stop to compose myself, “...It’s just, you’re such a tsundere.”

“I’m a what?!”

I blink a few times, “Wow, you really don’t know much about Japanese after all.”

She gives me the strangest look, before huffing and looking around restlessly.

“I think I’m ready to order now.”

My recollection of that night fades, and by now I am walking along the harbour area of Torquay. This is one part of town that will always remain the same; its maintenance is a priority since it comes under the tourist region. I approach the lengthy pier that stands besides Princess Theatre, and take a long look at it. Boy, I’ve had some good times here.

Wouldn’t you know it? A very specific one jumps up and takes centre stage in my mind. I replay it as I steadily head along the walkway...

We’d been living in Sacramento for what must have been a year now. Soudouki adored the nearly-permanent sunshine and frantic pace, but it was a bit much for me. This holiday to our home was much needed. It only made sense that while we were visiting like all these other tourists that we’d go to the pier. I’d bought us both a 99 ice cream cone and we’ve taken to the walkway. Why not?

I never would have imagined the two of us becoming an item. I can’t help but note that as we walk on this pier for the first time in years. She was always so different. Then again, we always did have our common ground, wrestling being one of them. When we finally laid eyes on each other again in the CWA, there was another thing; we both held grudges against people and needed to get even.

We did just that. We put that behind us. Coming back here was almost a way of saying; “We can move on now”.

Our free hands are linked, and we both feel so peaceful. We haven’t felt this way in a while.

Well, I know I am; I can’t say for sure in regards to her. She tells me she’s doing a lot better now, anyway. I’ll admit, I’m not always too certain about how she feels, despite how she tends to let everybody know when she has a problem. Still, I’m doing my best.

My best for her. I really never saw this coming. Tell me over a year ago that I was going to end up with Soudouki Kobayashi and I’d be convinced you were loopy. Not just because of how we varied, and I can assure you that it was in many ways. If anything, it’s because she was, well, out of my league. She always has been, but this was especially evident when she started getting a following in the wrestling business, and her confidence ballooned.

We had a connection, I’ll admit that much. Back when we were college students we had our moments. We even hung out from time to time. I never seriously saw her as a romantic prospect though; I was attracted to Teresa after all, and Soudouki was more likely to date a very certain breed of guy. As she put it, her prerequisites were “a fat wallet and a tight ass”, so how things went this way, I’ll never work out.

Perhaps it was the seeds laid during our adolescence. Perhaps she looked past the fact that I was ugly as sin and didn’t have much money to my name, even in wrestling. Whatever the case, it somehow happened. We bonded. I saw something in her that I never saw before now, and it must have been the same for her.

Her long, blue-dyed locks shift wildly in the wind, and she leans into me. I feel a warmth spread inside me that is oft the norm when she does that. What can I say? I’m a sucker for cute little gestures like that.

The boards underneath us creak slightly as we walk out further into the murky day. Not the best weather for a holiday, but it’s the Torquay that I know and love. Specks of rain flick against our waterproof coats and we aren’t bothered in the least. I turn to the side and notice all the boats bobbing around in the harbour. I never saw myself as a sailor, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t find at least some of these sea vehicles attractive.

“Hey Sou,” I gesture to the boats and she follows my lead, “Check these beauties out.”

“I had a boat once,” she comments, clearly awed by the size of them, “Wasn’t a huge one, but I loved it.”

“I didn’t know that,” I raised both eyebrows, “Another gift from daddy?”

“Yeah,” she replies in a lighter tone, on the recollection of her late father.

“I guess I wasn’t cool enough to get to ride it,” I mock-sniff, using humour to try and take her mind off that uncomfortable subject.

“Oh you certainly weren’t,” she laughs, “Imagine what my friends would think if I invited a dork like you on board?”

“That you have impeccable taste in passengers?”

“Guess again, loser,” she smirks, “Yeah, I was a bitch back then. I know.”

“Back then?” I nudge her. Her eyes widen and mouth gapes in an incredulous manner.

“Oh, you are so sleeping in the lobby tonight, Chris.”

She always calls me Chris these days. She seems more comfortable with it. I’m not complaining, it always unsettles me when people call me ‘Christopher’. Makes me feel like I’m being told off.

“We should get a boat,” she suddenly announces.

I look at her oddly, “Seriously?”

“Why not? We have the money,” she shrugs with a smile.

“We have the money to buy elaborate Bigfoot costumes too but you don’t see us doing that,” I point out.

“I don’t know; I just think it might be fun,” she tries to explain, “Just being able to take a boat out to wherever we want. That sort of freedom appeals to me.”

“Well, I understand that, but I’m fairly certain we couldn’t just take it wherever we want.”

“Where’s your sense of adventure?” she huffs.

“Dead, along with my self-esteem. You saw to that.”

“You’re such a dick,” she can’t help but chuckle.

“Evidently.”

We continue our walk along the pier, the wind and rain starting to increase in ferocity. We huddle together even more.

“This is just atrocious,” I point out, the gusts beginning to drown out my speech, “Maybe we should head back.”

“Are you crazy?” she asks, raising the volume of her voice to combat the wind, “I love this stuff.”

“Then I believe you’re in no position to question my sanity.”

We try to continue onwards, for what purpose I can’t begin to comprehend, when suddenly her hand slips from my grip and I hear a thud.

“OWWW! Damn it!”

I glance down and see her in a crouched position. Seems she slipped in a small puddle of rainwater.

“Jeez, are you alright there, you big klutz?” I ask, offering a hand. She grasps it in return.

“I’m fine, just landed on my arse,” she rubs it gingerly as I hoist her back to her feet. Clearly laughing is unavoidable for me right now.

“Oh, stop that,” she tries to command me, my laughter infecting her as well, “Damn it, that really hurt!”

My laughing then comes to a halt. As I turn to her to see how pained she actually is, I finally take notice of her hair. It’s been soaked by the rainwater to the point of looking sleek and not retaining any of the blue that I’m used to seeing in it. It looks black, and with that there’s a striking resemblance to her sister. Of course, that goes without saying and it’s not the first time I’ve noticed it, but it still throws me off.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, puzzled.

“Oh, nothing really. Just taken aback by your looks,” I joke.

“Ha, like that’s going to work on me,” she smiles, and it’s one of those smiles she gives when she’s legitimately happy, which I’ve only seen since we’ve been together...

...And it too reminds me of her sister.

It’s my turn to trip on the rainwater, as I stumble backwards in shock.

Her hand goes out, “Whoa, you okay there? Jeez, it really is wet out here, huh?”

I’m speechless. This can’t be. Tell me it can’t be. Is the whole reason I ever asked her out... no. Please let that not be the case. I really thought I had something here.

Then I’m reminded. Of all those little times over the past year. All those chinks in her armour. Today was a good day, but there were others where I was reminded of that childish Soudouki from when I was a teen...

“Christopher!” she barks at me, and I jump involuntarily, “Get up already, would you? We really should get back; it’s dangerous here in this weather.”

“Oh, right. Sorry.” I force myself upwards, as she retracted her hand out of impatience.

She sighs loudly. “Me too, sorry, sorry. I’m getting a little on-edge now. Let’s go.”

“Alright,” I simply respond, and we turn the opposite way we came.

“What was bothering you though, seriously?” she asks, and I can hear some concern in her voice.

“Ah, d-don’t worry about it,” I stammer, my mind still clouded by my horrifying realisation, “It wasn’t a big deal.”

Except it was. Except I think I’ve screwed everything up. I’d had similar thoughts before, wondering about whether the two of us were really right for one another, and whether the Soudouki I saw in my mind was as same as the real person, but... have I been holding her up to the standard set by Teresa? God, I hope not.

Soudouki sighs deeply, and wraps her arm around mine, leaning in close.

“If you say so, Chris.”

I’m back on that walkway. The place where it first hit me. This is the same place I’m meeting her today.

I’m now approaching the very end of it, leading onto the rocky surface where people usually fish, and just a metre away I can see her; facing out to the sea. Today is neither windy nor rainy; in fact the sun shines brightly down upon me, but it doesn’t make a difference to my mood. That creeping feeling in my gut is back in full force. I’m more anxious and uncomfortable than I’ve been in months.

Today it happens. Today we try to talk like adults, here in the town where it all began.

I step forward. Let’s get this over with.

“Hello, Sou.”

ooc: whoa... A few notes on this. First, yeah I loved every bit of that.

I think it really puts more depth into the perspective of Chio, Soudouki, and all of this story that's been developing lately. This has truly been a gripping, and at times, touching story between all parties concerned.

Secondly, wow... I had forgotten that Reto wasn't finished yet with this, and still wanted to see Sou one more time to try and smooth out all the wrinkles of this thing and put everything into some kind of harmony by the end. Who knows if it'lll work, though. But i'm loving reading about it.

For that reason, I think people are going to be interested about Sou and Melanie's interaction in my match. I already mentioned to Chio my plans for that, so he knows.

And also one other thing that this makes me think. It's interesting that Soudouki and Julie have such a friendship as well. They both have a very similar quality that they see in each other, even though with the two of them, it's kinda interesting how it's like a mirror reversal.

Still the same type of person, just with the left and right exchanged. Since Sou grew up with a good deal of racism from others growing up in the west, and Julie being mercilessly bullied a lot in her childhood in Japan for her features looking too western. No wonder they'd sympathize with each other, just with the same issue with the locations generally switched around.

Anyway, that's just stuff that this RP brought to mind, is all. This is good stuff.

Although also, as I'm writing my women's match with those two in it right now, some questions of come up that I also probably should have asked you about, for it, that I might soon.

Anyway, man, can't wait for Part 2 of this. Every little thing I see of this story makes me want to keep including little nods to it in their match when I can.

ooc: Its getting repetitive to keep telling you how fantastic this stuff is, but I can't do anything else. Its great. I love reading your stuff.

ooc: "You teetotallers are totally terrible.” That's got to be my favourite line from Soudouki XD

Really great stuff, it's quite a shock to see a somewhat amiable and sympathetic side to Sou 'the tsundere', hehe.