[JPA] FLASH BULLETIN 2001.3.3 PART B

[Geoff Wessel -- Japan Puroresu Association]

JAPAN PURORESU ASSOCIATION
FLASH BULLETIN 2001.3.3
PART B

1) MASSIVE Akita / The Great Tokaio
2) Kathakano
3) Corey Hart
4) Kenji Okano
5) Ryo Inoue
6) Shinji Nakata
7) Jack Shaw
8) Tasogare no Prince

----

[Fade into a room. We find the Great Tokaio, dressed in a black, but
formal,
kimono, at one end of a small table. At the other end, the J1 Double
Titles
Champion, "MASSIVE" Masashi Akita, dressed in an equally-large,
design-laden
kimono.]

Akita: Kangei, Tokaio-san. Arigato naru.

Tokaio: Domo arigato for coming. It is not often I am able to share
tea with
a man I respect. Time on the road does not permit me such...
indulgences.

Akita: Ee. Long have I known that, Tokaio-san. Perhaps too long, but
it would seem my longevity is a virtue. It certainly has not harmed my
reputation. [smiles faintly]

Tokaio: Akita-sama, would you like some more tea?

Akita: Hai, if you do not mind.

[Akita moves to give the Great Tokaio his cup, but his finger slips
off the
cup, causing it to tumble towards the floor in a rapid spin. As by
reflex,
the Great Tokaio catches the cup by the base with his one hand and
immediately begins pouring tea, as though it were nothing. Akita,
watching,
nods his head in satisfaction, as though he had dropped the cup on
purpose.]

Tokaio: [Placing the teacup in front of Akita.] Forgive me for
intruding,
Akita-sama, but may I ask you something of this situation with Ryo
Inoue?
Fighters such as Masanobu Akazi have made public support for Strong
Style and
are gathering to smite down Inoue's T. A. P. Do you suggest that the
followers of Tradition war with those who seek to make shooto the way
of the
JPA?

Akita: Ah. Am I a pontiff now? A prophet perhaps? I have many
skills, but making my words move mountains is not one of them, Tokaio.
My suggestions would carry as much weight as anyone's. I have told
Inoue my feelings, nothing more. He antagonizes further, and others
speak in my stead. If he truly believes his is the way, and that he is
being held down due to them, that is between him and his perceived
persecutors. I am merely a wrestler, as I have been for many years. I
have seen all sorts of movements, trends, in puroresu in my time.
Shooto is merely one part of the whole. Yet, if it brings Inoue, and
others, comfort…so be it. For myself, I am far more concerned with
SHOICHI and Deacon. SHOICHI is experienced, true. Deacon…is an
unknown to me. There is the true test. The true unknowns. I would
wager that he could be a surprise in our bout at Korakuen. SHOICHI, I
have fought. Inoue, I have fought. Shaw, I have fought more times than
my son and daughter have had birthdays combined. However, while I am
inexperienced with Deacon…Deacon is inexperienced with myself, and
you, Tokaio. That should be to an advantage, ne? Inoue and his
movements are of no concern to myself, not until he makes a challenge
that he plans to uphold, for my Double Titles…

[Pause]

Akita: What of you? Where do you stand in all of this?

Tokaio: I seek only to perfect my path. No more, no less. Shooto or
Strong
Style, does not matter. The Fight is all that truly remains.

Akita: You're not going to choose a side?

Tokaio: I already have. Indecision is an act of uncertainty, and a
warriormust always be decisive. No, Tradition is where I owe my
allegiance,
and so I will stand with you. For now, at least. [Pause.] Some more
tea?

Akita: Hai.

[Tokaio gets up and moves through a door into another room. There,
Tokaio
takes a broom and wields it above his head.]

Tokaio: Akita-sama, would you come in here, please?

Akita: Eh?

[Akita gets to his feet and moves toward the door... but then stops.]

Akita: [Pauses.] Tokaio-san, no tricks, if you do not mind.

[Caught, the Great Tokaio lowers the broom, and appears in the
doorway.]

Tokaio: [Bowing.] Makoto ni domo, menboku shidai mo arimasen.

Akita: It is alright. I understand what you were doing.

Tokaio: [Bowing again.] Moshiwake arimasen. I wanted to know if
Akita-sama
would fall for such an obvious trap. [Bows.] However, it is still
not my
place to test the skill of the Double Titles Champion.

Akita: If my skills are not tested, then how am I truly worthy of
carrying the Double Titles, Tokaio-san. This is the only wisdom I can
impart on anyone. You, Inoue, or otherwise…

Tokaio: Hai. Deacon and Shoichi 13 will be our opponents. They will
know
the power of the Great Tokaio and "MASSIVE" Masashi Akita.

Akita: As we shall know theirs. However…I daresay ours shall
overcome….

[Fade out.]

----

[The scene fades into a serene garden, as the mid-nite hour turns. The
rows
of roses radiate beneath the falling starshower, while the black
thorns
glisten their poison. In the center of this serene setting lies evil
incarnate, one with the most impure of souls. He is Kathakano.]

"Loss is something that no human takes well. It shows weakness, and
destroys
morale."

"I suffered loss at the crushing hands of a man named Keiji Kobe."

"I suffered the stabbing pain of humiliation. The feeling that
eviscerates
you from the depths of your soul."

"Alas, this is not the end of the obsidian caked, brimstone paved,
winding,
treacherous road that this life has given me."

"Like a phoenix, I shalt rise from my ashes, avenging the injustice
committed
against me."

"XYZ. A noble competitor, a man who enjoys seeing a man grimace in
pain as he
contorts their limbs into positions not intended by nature. How
splendid. A
fellow sadist is always a nice thing to find."

[Kathakano lets out a long cackle.]

"You, unfortunately were employed to incur the wrath of my dark hand."

"For, when we clash, it shalt be your limbs that will be compacted!"

"Your face, engrossed tightly in a grimace in the pain of excruciating
hell!"

"And finally, your body, broken, bloody, and bruised shalt lay on the
floor
of the arena, drenched in the artificial fluorescence of the light,
staring
vacantly at someone who will never reach out for you. Then, I shall
stand
above you, and laugh at your ineptitude and feeblemindedness."

[Fade to black.]

----

(The scene opens at the crowded LAX airport on a cool afternoon. There
are
many people hurrying about. Some are carrying bags and dashing to make
their
flights. Others are saying good-byes to departing passengers. Still
others
are waiting
patiently, and some rather impatiently, for their flights.

The camera finally locates "Captivating" Corey Hart among the throng.
He
wears a blue, tank top, "GLCW" emblazoned across the chest, and baggy,
stonewashed, denim shorts. He completes the attire with blue and
white, Nike
tennis shoes, a blue cap perched atop his short, blond mane. Across
his
shoulders is a blue book bag, another sports bag located in his right
hand.
Corey is flanked by Monica Tanaka, reporter for Puroresu Power
Magazine. She
wears a black, business suit, a pad and pen in her hands. Snaking
through the
crowd, the attractive duo soon find themselves seated across from one
another, Corey checking the nearby clock.)

Corey: Well, looks like my flight doesn't leave for a few minutes so
we have
time for a few more questions.

Monica: (smiles) Great! I want to really thank you for giving Puroresu
Power
this exclusive interview. You've been very accommodating and a joy to
talk
with. That's quite rare in this day and age. You will not believe the
amount
of wrestlers that really give us a hard time when all we're trying to
do is
our jobs.

Corey: (grins) Thanks, Monica, but I never mind speaking with the
press. If
it weren't for you guys, most people wouldn't even know who Corey Hart
is.
It's magazines like yours that have helped my face get out there and
helped
me draw the attention of the promoters. And it isn't just the
promotions in
Japan either. There are more than a few U.S. promotions that have
expressed
interest in working with me and that's because of Puroresu Power and
magazines like it. For that, I will forever be grateful.

Monica: Well, I was really hoping to talk with you again, mainly about
some
of your work in the JPA.

Corey: Sure thing! I'm really excited to get back on tour there. I
haven't
been at the last few shows which allowed me to spend a little time
back home
in Malibu. But I hope that my opponents don't just think I've been
soaking in
the sun and working on my tan while I've been away. If so, they would
be in
for a rude awakening! I've been working my butt off to get ready for
my next
set of matches.

Monica: Speaking of your upcoming opponents, what do you think of
Tasogare no
Prince & Ketiak, the men that you will be facing at the next JPA
tapings?

Corey: Well, I would be lying if I said that I wasn't a little
nervous. After
all, they're both pretty well known, talented wrestlers and quite
intimidating. I know Ketiak from his work in UEW while I've seen tapes
of
some of no Prince's matches. I think they're both awesome! To be
completely
honest with you, if I were going into this match all alone, I would
probably
be petrified. I mean, I'm still a rookie while those two are
practically main
eventers in any fed that they step foot! But I'm not going into this
alone.
I'll have my good friend, "Iron Chef" Keiji Kobe, by my side. Knowing
that
he's got my back helps alleviate a lot of the nervousness and makes
the
butterflies in my stomach disappear.

Monica: You, Keiji, and We Hyun Bae have been friends and tag partners
for
some time now, wrestling a number of opponents and competing in a
number of
matches from straight tags to trios. Do you think this will serve as
an
advantage?

Corey: (nods) Certainly. In addition to tagging together, we also
train
together and we've been doing that since the JPA has been in
existence. We
know each other very well and almost think of each other like
brothers. So, I
would definitely think that we would have an advantage over a team
like no
Prince and Ketiak that are basically tagging for maybe their first or
second
time together.

Monica: Also, Keiji and no Prince battled to a no-contest at a recent
Battle
Start program. How will this influence your strategy, if at all?

Corey: Well, I know that Keiji learned a lot from that match and is
looking
to modify his strategy accordingly. Personally, I think that he would
have
walked away with the victory if the time hadn't expired. I'm not
taking
anything away from no Prince. As I stated, he's a great wrestler. But
I've
watched that tape over and over again and I know that Keiji had that
thing
won. All he needed was a little extra time. Well, we both plan on
making up
for that with this tag match. I know that Keiji is looking forward to
showing
no Prince who the better wrestler is and I look forward to helping him
do
just that.

Monica: It should be interesting to see you and Keiji tagging together
again.
I know that many of the fans enjoy your work together.

Corey: Yeah, there's just something about Keiji that helps keep me
motivated
and helps me push myself as a wrestler. (shakes his head) I can't
explain it.
I just know that I've changed a lot since aligning myself with him and
We
Hyun. Not to say that I was a necessarily bad wrestler but they have
both
helped me learn a lot about discipline and training.

Monica: Switching gears a bit, I'm also curious to know your thoughts
on the
Alliance, the team formed by Billy Fairchild, Rick Taylor and some of
the
other gaijins in the JPA. Do you think it's a good idea?

Corey: Well, I think it's an awesome idea, especially with some of the
stuff
that goes on in the JPA.

Monica: Meaning?

Corey: Well, it really doesn't pertain to the administration. I'm
talking
about the attitudes of some of the wrestlers, men like Kenji Okano and
XYZ.
They think that they're better than the American wrestlers because we
weren't
born in Japan. It's people like them, with their superior attitudes,
that can
make the JPA locker room feel like a lonely, divided place. If Billy
and the
others are trying to combat stuff like that then I applaud their
efforts.

Monica: Interesting. So, do you have any last words for your
opponents?

Corey: Well, I would like to wish them good luck because they're going
to
need it. I may have missed the last few tours but that only means that
I am
suitably rested and energized to handle any threat that is thrown my
way.
Those guys may be stars and "proven talents" but the "Iron Chef" and I
are
going to show them the meaning of team work, determination, and
fighting
spirit. Anything else I have to say will be said in the ring.

Monica: (extends her hand) Thank you for your time, Corey. It has been
a
pleasure.

Corey: (smiles, accepting her hand.) Same here, Monica. Thanks for
giving me
the chance to vent a little.

Monica: That's my job. (smiles) You just make sure you do your job and
take
care of no Prince and Ketiak at the JPA tapings.

Corey: You won't have to worry about that. With a talent like Keiji
Kobe by
my side, how could we possibly lose?

(The scene fades to black.)

----

[The familiar logo and music of the GAORA sports network appears
onscreen,
showing a montage of short clips from the various sports showcased on
the
programming schedule. After a brief fade to black, the sound of a
guitar
playing over a crowd chanting in unison comes over the speakers and we
see a
soccer ball rocketing towards the screen on a red background, with the
words
STRIKER TALK in bold above and below the ball. The camera slowly
zooms out
and we see noted soccer analyst Kenichiro Hirase sitting with the
JPA's own
Kenji "KAYO" Okano, chatting briefly until the music dies down.
Hirase and
Okano look toward the camera.]

Hirase: Welcome to another edition of STRIKER TALK, soccer fans!
Today we
have a star-packed lineup, starting off with the man sitting to my
left,
former J-League Young Player of the Year Kenji Okano! [Okano nods.]
Next,
we'll have a special rundown of all of Japan's upcoming international
matches in preparation for World Cup 2002 with our reporter Masayuki
Sakagawa! And finally, we will talk via-satellite with Kyoto Purple
Sanga
striker Kazyushi Miura! All on this edition of STRIKER TALK!

[commercials]

Hirase: We're back, and I'm here with former Nagoya Grampus Eight
player
Kenji Okano! Now today we're going to do something a little different
on
STRIKER TALK, as instead of solely discussing soccer, we're also going
to be
discussing puroresu. Okano-san, tell us about your new field of
competition.

Okano: As you probably already know, I'm now the top star in the
Japanese
Puroresu Association. Everyone is coming to the shows for the
specific
purpose of seeing me defeat my opponents with ease. Oh, and there are
some
other kind of big names as well, like Ryo Inoue from Shooto, Tasogare
no
Prince, MASSIVE Akita, and Jack Shaw, but I'm still the main
attraction.

Hirase: Those are some big names indeed! Let me shift the focus back
to
soccer for a moment...a little over a month ago, you crashed a banquet
honoring the Japanese National Team and their French coach, Phillippe
Troussier. Much attention was given to your criticism of Troussier as
being
"a gaijin meddler". Is there anything you'd like to address about
these
comments?

Okano: Hai! Everyone is thinking I'm opposed to Troussier solely
because
he's a gaijin, but my main thing against him is that he sucks! The
fact
that he is a gaijin only compounds that matter. Troussier has very
little
credibility, but because he was French and France won the last World
Cup,
everybody is praising him even though he had nothing to do with that.
I'm
just saying, if we were going to hire a mediocre coach, we should have
just
hired a native Nihonjin. There's no point in importing substandard
talent!

Hirase: Hasn't this controversial philosophy of yours stirred some
controversy in the Japan Puroresu Association as well?

Okano: Hai...but mainly just with two idiots. We Hyun Bae and Corey
Hart.
Bae is a beat up garbage wrestler, and Hart is a wannabe luchador with
no
real talent. Every interview Hart appears in, he's always crying like
a
little girl about how my partner EIYUU and I are racist, boo-hoo
[Okano
simulates a baby wiping his eyes]. He seems unable to grasp the
concept
that the fact that he is a poor wrestler is the main reason we
disrespect
him. Does he see me making the same comments about Jack Shaw? No.
[looks
directly at the camera and smiles] So go ahead Hart, cry about racism
being
the obstacle that holds you back instead of your lack of skill.

Hirase: You are as outspoken as ever, Okano-san. Is there anything
else
you'd like to say before we head to commercial?

Okano: Yeah...EIYUU and I will be taking on Bae and Shiro Oodora this
Sunday in Tokyo Korakuen Hall. I don't have anything against Oodora
in
particular, aside from his poor taste in partners, but everyone knows
how I
dislike Bae. I promise to my legion of fans that we'll put on a good
show
embarrassing them!

Hirase: Thank you for your time, Okano-san. [Okano nods.] We will
have
Masayuki Sakagawa here in the studio when we return! [Okano smiles
and
flashes a peace sign, then turns it into the middle finger.]

----

[open camera shot, the slow motion capture sshows a black gloved fist
connect with a heavy sand bag. As the fist lands dust rises off the
bag and the fist retracts. One by one the letters we have become
familiar with appear...]

T.

A.

P.

Voice Over: Total Attack Puroresu, the war for respect is on. Fear
The Violence...

[Slowly the fist connects again and the dust flies again]

Voice of Ryo Inoue: I dream of the things I can do to people just to
make them scream for me to stop. Sometimes I go over them in my head
just to make myself crazy...

[The camera pulls back and we see Ryo at the heavy back as he
concetrates his blows. A kick is thrown, connects and dust flies]

Voice of Ryo Inoue: The men Iface, they mock me behind my back. They
miss the point and fail to understand my "Guze". They mistakenly
believe my calling out Genji Yamato is a matter of pride.

[Ryo sets in his stance and stands, maintaining his cat-like
readiness]

Voice of Ryo Inoue: It is not pride. It is about freedom. It is about
being the fighter I need to be in a world filled with pretenders.
"Strong Style" mocks the real fighters. It robs them of their need to
strike clean and hard, to kick crisp and deadly. I will not bend to
Strong Style. Rick Taylor, Yuzo Moriboshi and Yamato, they are slaves
to their myth of Strong Style. Let Tokaio and Akita bring their pride
to the ring. Let Keiji Kobe, a man lacking so much as a shred of
dignity he needs a mask to hide his shortcomings, taunt me while he
forgets his humiliation at my hands.

[Ryo continues to stand before the bag, his fists clenched tight, his
face emotionless. All there is is his sweat]

Voice of Ryo Inoue: Let my Violence trample over you. The Pure Fight
continues to call me. They forget that when my "Pure Sweat" flows I
am a predator like few others. I look forward to teaching Moroboshi
the meaning of "Respect". I crave to bring my Violence down upon Rick
Taylor. I long to strangle the last breath out of Tokaio. My soul
screams to make Kobe bleed like one giant gaping wound. I want all
these things so badly.

[Ryo stands before the bag a moment longer before letting a kick fly]

Voice of Ryo Inoue: I think of these things I will do to Yamato's
thugs...

[The leg connects with the bag and the bag bursts open at the front.
The sand pours out]

Voice of Ryo Inoue: and I smile...

[The last of the sand dumps as Ryo stands before the empty bag, still
in his ready stance]

[fade out]

----

[The camera opens up to a black and white footage of a thunderstorm
with a
coastal backdrop. Lightning flashes and we see the name "RIKIDOZAN."
appear
and fade, then "ANTONIO INOKI.", and finally "SHINJI NAKATA?". The
scene
cuts to a pair of boots standing on top of a rock, and slowly scales
up so
that we see Shinji Nakata with his arms crossed, his face etched in
determination. Suddenly, the words "Leading Strong Style In The New
Millenium" appear on the screen, and the camera fades into a new
scene, this
one in color. Shinji Nakata is sitting on a cluster of rocks by the
beach,
in deep thought.]

Nakata: Rick Taylor...your words trouble me. They seem to suggest
that
Yuzo Moriboshi and I are mere sacrifices to you and Jack Shaw, in
order for
you to send a message to our common rival Ryo Inoue. Nothing could be
further from the truth. While I respect your eagerness and
determination,
I'm not about to allow you to derail me from my path to being the
leader of
Strong Style Puroresu against Inoue's Shooto revolution. This is
destiny...

[Nakata stands up, and takes a deep breath of the salty air. He turns
and
looks into the camera, his eyes burning with a desire to overcome and
defeat
his opponents.]

Nakata: Rick Taylor, I know that you are a valiant competitor. And I
also
revere your partner for Jack Shaw for being a legend in the sport.
However,
it will not be easy for you this Sunday in Korakuen Hall as you may
think.
Moriboshi and I will fight with honor and determination, looking to
achieve
nothing short of total victory. This is what puroresu is all about,
Taylor.
Warriors locked in battle to prove who is the strongest. Not about
"sending
messages" to those with whom we have quarrels. I look forward to
competing
against you and Shaw. Bring your best, I will be expecting nothing
less...

[Nakata turns and walks away, and the scene fades out.]

----

[We see the huge form of Jack Shaw on the screen. Standing at 6'10" in
height, he is a testament to just how large a human being can get. His
massive shoulders and chest stick out proudly, and the blond hair
peeking out from underneath his orange and brown Grain Grower's cap
has
time tested gray. He is the living history of gaijin in Japan, and his
proud, yet down to earth demeanor is nearly as legendary as the
stiffness of his blows. Dressed down in just his brown USMC logoed
wrestling trucks, and weathered brown duster, Shaw spits some stray
tobacco in anticipation of discussing just what has been going on with
him recently.]

Jack Shaw: I've been silent lately. I could give you some bullsquash
about me resting my back or taking some time out to handle affairs
back
at the ranch. Truth of the matter is that I simply wanted to see how
things would unfold.

Shaw: Seems to me there is a good deal of confusion on how things are
going. You got this Inoue guy flapping his gums about how his style is
better than the style of the one that that thorn in my side Akita
uses.
Way I see it is like this: if Akita can hand me my ass then obviously
there ain't nothing wrong with his technique.

[The giant gaijin smiles, his tobacco filled mouth looking a bit
unnerving, but the relic from times past only allows the smile a few
seconds of time before his trademarked scowl returns.]

Shaw: Well I guess I had been too silent for too long. My thinking
helped me miss an opportunity to join up with some of them younger
fellas that started their own camp within these here walls. I tip my
hat
to them three. Heck, if I was only a couple of years younger, I may
have
joined them, but they don't need no old man like me slowing them down.
Their the future of us Westerners wrestling here in Japan. If they
need
an old rancher like me to lend them a helping hand, I'll be more than
welcome to. Hell, they even got my part-time tag team partner, so they
can't be all that bad.

[Rolling his massive shoulders, Jack thinks to himself.]

Shaw: But for now, there ain't nothing on my mind but the finale of
this
tour. I know most folks want to see Inoue versus Akita, hell, I'm one
of
them. But we gotta make due with me and MASSIVE going one more round.
Enjoy it while you can folks, cuz there ain't too many matches left in
these old bones. I promise y'all I'll give you every last bit of fight
left in my body, because the JPA needs someone to step into that match
that can challenge Akita. Mister Yamato-san figured I fit that bill,
letting the younger folk develope more. It feels like United Japan all
over again. 1987 all over again. I betcha y'all remember that match.
Akita busted me open like a stuck pig. heh I can laugh about it now,
but
I was so Gawddern pissed about it I broke my hand about 10 minutes
afterward.

[Shaw slowly nods his head, letting the past come back to him. Chewing
slowly, Shaw focuses one last time for the camera.]

Shaw: It's memories like that that fuel me. They keep this old ticker
of
mine going. I ain't done just yet, and that ain't no bull from me,
it's
a Gawddamn promise.

[His bright blue eyes staring directly into the camera, the subtitles
at
the bottom of the screen beging to fade away, as does the image of the
old man of JPA: Jack Shaw.]

----

[The sun sinks slowly below the distant horizon,
streaking the dark blue sky over head with brilliant
orange, pink and purple highlights as it does so. The
tall grass that covers the rolling hills moves back in
forth in waves as a light wind blows across the
blades, making the vast plain look almost like the
surface of a vast lake which ripples from the force of
far distant waves. Standing upon a slight rise
amongst the nearly waist-high grass, is Tasogare no
Prince -- the Prince of Twilight.

The loose edges of his purple trenchcoat flutter
lightly in the breeze, revealing his thin, muscular
frame clad entirely in black. In his right hand is a
single white orchid, which he lifts upwards to his
pale, handsome face and smells. His large violet eyes
close in apparant pleasure at the flower's fragrance,
as his very long, silver hair flows all about his head
and shoulders, seemingly given life by the light wind
which blows around him.

After a moment of enjoying the orchid's scent,
Tasogare no Prince lowers the flower from his slightly
upturned nose, and stares directly into the camera
wiht his piercing violet eyes as he speaks...]

Once more it seems Destiny has seen fit that you and I
should face one another, "Iron Chef." And once again,
it seems you have doubts as to that self-same Destiny.

[He smiles slightly, once more smelling of the white
orchid in his hand...]

You are not the only one to express such doubts,
Kobe-san. All men who face me initially share those
same feelings, though I daresay, few do _afterwards_.
I imagine that already you are beginning to have some
grasp of what fate holds in store for you, ne? After
all, you have yet to answer the question I put to you,
Kobe. Could you last more than 30 minutes against the
Prince of Twilight? Could you?

[The Prince of Twilight takes another whiff of the
flower he grasps...]

You put a great stock, Kobe-san, in your dedication to
your career. You claim that it is your drive, and not
Destiny that has led you to become "the greatest
middleweight in the world." A claim that I personally
can not understand your making, since you have yet to
prove that you are capable of defeating me, by the
way. But I ask you, can you be absolutely certain?

Do you truly believe that you possess more drive and
ability than hundreds of other men who struggle to
succeed in this way of life? Surely there are others
just as dedicated and talented as you, yet they will
never even get to the point you have thus far. What
makes you more worthy than they, I ask you?

Perhaps you have gotten where you are now, Kobe-san,
not because of your dedication, but _despite_ it?
Perhaps it was your Destiny to reach this point in
your career, ne? Again, can you be absolutely certain
it was not?

[Another whiff of the white orchid...]

Like so many others, Kobe-san, you like to fancy
yourself beyond the grasp of fate. Ketiak, too, once
thought as you do. He believed himself to be above
Destiny. But as you can see, he has learned
otherwise. Like you, he had to be shown the error of
his thinking. But now he has embraced Destiny, just
as you should Kobe-san. Just as you _will_. And how
do I know this?

[The Prince of Twilight smells the white orchid in his
hand and smiles knowingly...]

I know because that too, is your Destiny.

Kore wa sakete toore me, anata no unmei. You cannot
avoid your Destiny, Kobe-san. This weekend, you will
enter into the Twilight for the second time, and you
will leave it, perhaps not fully transformed, but
nonetheless...

[Once more the orchid is lifted upwards to his
nose...]

Forever changed.

[With that, Tasogare no Prince turns his back to the
camera, and begins to walk away through the gently
waving grass, leaving the camera to pan slowly back
towards the distant horizon, where the last bit of the
sun is disappearing below the edge of the Earth,
plunging the world -- and the scene -- into
darkness...]

----

http://jpapuroresu.hypermart.net/

--- Geoff
- Handler: The Rottweiler, GD West [NWC]
- Formerly of The Westsiders [#28, RSPWF 2000 Year End Awards Top 50 Tag Teams]
- Japan Puroresu Association
- http://jpapuroresu.hypermart.net/