{{Behind the Scenes}} 
{{Akame & Ahklut’s Condo}}
{{Las Vega, Nevada}]

You’d think it was the scene of an old school fantasy novel about kids going to a different world. 

The bedroom had a recent addition, something her cousin had arranged for her to get. It was an antique wardrobe, really old. C.S. Lewis would be proud. 

But this was one of a good number of these wardrobes in the world. This one was serving a purpose. Other than having a bunch of Akame’s clothes in it now, as a wardrobe should have, in the back of it was a mirror. And that mirror had a knob on it, with certain things marked on it. 

Akame, as a member of the Tuahta de Dannan, could use that mirror to travel through the Fae Realm to elsewhere. Her’s only had a handful of predetermined points on it, and of course from there she could then travel elsewhere. 

While some were recently pushing for more terrestrial travel, Akame is more apt to use what she knows. Almost instant, and no fees or carbon emissions. 

Unlike Abby and others, she grew up around all of the fae stuff. Even before she had her mantle, her father had his, and she knew others. She’d known what she was from the time she was a baby.

And tonight, she was returning home from the FWA’s last show in Canada. She stepped out from the wardrobe and looked around her bedroom. The bed was made, and everything was tidy. The way Ahklut kept it… always. 

The clock, which was a google connected device told her local time was just after 9AM. She’d checked out on time, but the time difference to Las Vegas was obvious.

She had to fight her bag, pulling it through the mirror and then the hanging clothes, but it popped out eventually with a sound, and then she put it down onto the ground. 

Hearing that sound, a voice came from the living room area, “That you, Kuʻu ipo?” It was Ahklut, probably sitting in the living room and playing a game. 

“Honey, I’m home!” Akame called out. She didn’t hesitate, and slipped from the bedroom to the small laundry nook in their condo. Stacked washer and dryer, washer on the bottom. She hauled her bag up off the ground, then put it on a small table next to it all. Opening it, she started putting her sweaty clothing, including her wrestling gear she’d used straight into the laundry. 

A habit she’d formed after once leaving one of her sets out for a couple of days before getting to it. 

He didn’t come in to greet her yet. 

She sighed. 

She shouldn’t be noticing such things… he was probably in a raid or something in Wow Forever, with his sister and Miguel. 

When she had the washer going, she took off her jacket and hung it next to the door as she headed into the living room. 

And yes. Ahklut was sitting there, in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, headset on. She saw the screen. He had a full team, and they were doing a raid. She slipped up behind him, and kissed the top of his head, “How many levels you get while I was gone?”

“Only 10. We’re concentrating on faction points mostly. We want to be set once we get to the endgame for the gear.”

She gave half a smile, “Of course. Anything ready for dinner? I’m starved.” 

As he did something, playing a bear form druid on the screen, he turned his head just slightly, “Just after breakfast, wasn’t sure when you were getting back. There is half an IHOP stuffed french toast meal in the fridge from yesterday, and the usual pantry staples of course.”

She nodded and smiled at him, “Okay, quick and easy fix up.” 

She went to the kitchen and pulled the IHOP containers out of the fridge. She noticed that a few things were dwindling in the fridge.. She’d have to go to the store later. 

She separated out what she wanted to, and then slipped things into the microwave that was inside the lower cabinets and the thing opened by sliding out a drawer. 

While she waited, she bent over the counter and put her chin on a fist, while she watched him. 

“How’s Abby?” He called out.

“She’s fine. Won her match against an Elvis Impersonator.”

“Good, good. One or two more defenses to match yours?” 

She sighed at that, “Yeah. You know, damn. Just thought. She should have come here for her promo for that. We have all the other Elvis Impersonators in the world here.”

“Damn, that would have been a good idea!”|

She sighed again, and grabbed her food when the microwave beeped. She put it onto a paper plate, not wanting to dirty a dish for left overs, and then slipped into the living room. She normally didn’t eat on the couch, but she just wanted to this time. 

She turned it on and it came up on a show that sometimes did rumors and stories on wrestling. 

And it went to a story about how Abby and Rayven had been seen together, fueling speculations about things between them. 

She’d change the channel, but how long could this story last? 

She looked over at Ahklut, playing his game, and figured she’d just keep up on the news thing. How much bullshit can they peddle? 

She turned the TV up, so she couldn’t hear too much of the WOW Forever Raid going on at the nearby deck. 

Ahklut noticed, and during a spot he could, “Hey, when you’re done, want to get on yours and join in? We could use a Pally Tank.”

She shook her head, “Maybe a little later. I’m actually exhausted. I might take a nap once I’m done eating.” 

{{Behind the Scenes}}
{{A Couple of Days Later}}
{{Scottsdale, Arizona}}
{{McClancy Training Room}}

Akame had decided to head to Scottsdale for a little bit. So she could get in some training for her next match. She wasn’t going to overestimate Karlie Nash. 

Yeah, Karlie was maybe the bottom performing member of the Eternal Grove, but she was still someone who had, in a tag team, beaten her and Abby before. 

She had the whole setup going: TV monitor, her laptop, going over Karlie Nash matches from the past and current. And of course the ring, and gym equipment. 

She had a compilation of matches she’d stitched together on her computer going, as she ran on the treadmill. She was watching ways Karlie hit a lot of her moves, looking for the physical ticks and cues. 

The move in question for this 20 minutes was her headbutt, the same move that had taken Abby out in that tag match. 
She heard a voice behind her, “She’s 4 or 5 inches taller than you. She can’t hit it on you as easy as she did Abby. She’s same height as her. She has to overextend for you, throws her center of balance off. Take her over in a an Uchi Mata from the side stance, or Harai Goshi? If you are in front, use your leg and fall back into a Sumi Gaeshi.”

Akame turned to see her mother had come in. The 48 year old was dressed for working out as well. 

“What I was thinking. The problem is, she’s chaotic. I’m not seeing a pattern at all.”

Yukio Kushinaga-McClancy, at one time one of the premier women in wrestling scoffed at that, “You’re looking for wrong patterns. She’s got classical American style wrestling training, but think other sport. 

Look at Abby. Luchadore training from her mother, yes. Classic British Strong Style of course… but a lot of her football training comes through with her kicks and guards.”

Akame kept her run going. She wasn’t running to tire, but endurance training, so it was slow and methodical, “Okay, so she played Hockey. Not something I watch a lot.”

Yukio grinned, “But you are smart.” Then her mother froze the screen hitting the space bar on the laptop, and pointed at the screen, “She can’t skate in the ring, but she takes small steps like she was on skates at times. Keeps traction, slow methodical like your training today. No wasted movement, and keeps her balanced on ice, or in the ring. 

She doesn’t run, she glides. Even when coming in for a clothesline or that knee trembler. She’s not fast, but still hits like your father’s pickup.” 

Akame narrowed her eyes, looking at it all. 

“Okay, she fights like a guy… I mean we know she’s pretty butch.” 

Yukio let out a light nervous chuckle there, “That is not quite the best way to put it. She’s bigger than most of the women. Only Apathy and Kara Reinhardt are bigger in the experienced range. Apathy’s Daughter is also bigger, but greener than the plantains I brought home from the store. 

But she has a woman’s body, lower center of gravity, tighter springs in her tendons. Gives her more power, pound for pound than a man. If she moves too fast, she’s burning energy. She does not waste it. Even in tag team matches with Vespertine, she is not the one to take risks and chances. 

She’s a hunter, a planner.”

“The opposite of me being reckless,” Akame blurted out. 

“Hai,” Her mother added, slipping to Japanese, “That is why I’m offering to come out here with you. I am an inch taller, and about the same size. You have worked with your father for a while…”

Akame smiled at that, “You sure? You’re not quite up for doing big high flying moves anymore.”

Yukio narrowed her eyes, “Akame-chan, I’m not coming out here to mimic the style you have, but to mimic hers. She probably has 15 lbs on me, and I’m an inch taller. But all of that size is in her chest. I may not fly off the turnbuckle anymore, but I can throw your little rear end around the ring a bit… “

Yukio, even after 30 years living in the states, still had a thicker accent than many expected, especially when speaking casually.

That got Akame laughing, “I’ll take it, Okan-san. But, can I… ask you a question?” 

“Of course, you can Akame-chan. I am always here for you, even when we are not near.”

Akame hit some buttons to slow the treadmill down, “The recent months… I’ve become more accepting of… me. I’ve removed more than the Tetsuo Oni mask.”

“Yes, you have. And you have not made me prouder in doing so. Becoming your own person. What is your question though?”

“It’s about the press. I avoided a lot of the bullshit when I was hiding. Even right after taking the mask off when I was still using the contacts and glamouring my hair.. But, now… especially now that we have a couple members down. 

With Akhlut not traveling with me much anymore, there are rumors forming of things between me and Abby. How do you stop it?”

Yukio gave a nervous chuckle, “You can’t. Especially today’s social media stuff. I see stuff about Abby all the time. Like her current rumored girlfriend, who would be in another stable.”

“Not exactly false though… Abby’s confirmed it with me.”

“How does this make you feel?”

Akame shrugged, “Not sure. But I don’t want her to end up hurt. If we ever start battling Bad Company…”

Yukio now fully laughed, “Too many others fuck around and find out and keep making enemies of both. You both, team wide have similar moral grounds. I doubt you would fight.”

Akame shrugged again, “Just… I don’t…”

Yukio smiled, “Akame-chan, you are so much like your father… You should have seen the magazines and that back then when we were a tag team, when he took Kenji’s spot being my partner when my brother got injured. 

So many rumors… I was dumb, he was dumb. Then a certain woman, little blonde girl tried to get between us. Your father at the time was quite oblivious to my desires. Took me almost beating his head in for him to finally get the hint. 

You bring this up after mentioning becoming yourself… any connection?” 

Akame tried not to blush a bit, maybe she was successful. Maybe not. 

“No, nothing like that. Just not something I'm used to. I will say Dad was right though. Soon as the mask came off, everyone seems to bring up how I’m handed stuff. Assholes…”

Yukio grabbed one of the towels that hung in the gym area, “Come, enough running. To face Karlie Nash you will need to be prepared. More than the ring and the endurance. You’ve been slacking on your weights work. She’s bigger… you may need to surprise her with some power to get out of things. 

Bench press? You just worked legs. Now arms, then break. We will work in the ring later. You don’t want to tear or injure anything before the match.”

Akame nodded to her, “Hai, Okasan.” And she hit the button to put the treadmill in a cool down mode. 

{{The Promo}}

Akame was standing in a ring, quite possibly the ring in the McClancy training area. 

She’s leaning on the ropes, wearing her training gear, her bright red hair slick with sweat. 

“Karlie fucking Nash… we meet once again. This time, you’re after another of my titles. Trying to take something I worked hard to get. Trying to end a reign before it truly gets started. 

But, even now, so many months later, you find yourself facing someone… different in the same body. I didn’t win the tourney because I was doing things the same old ways. I’m still adapting, evolving. 

Yeah, you can do a pokemon or digimon joke in there, if you know what those are. But, to do a quote… “this isn’t even my final form.”

You see over the last few months since I’ve lost my mask, I’ve been going through a bit of a journey to find myself. My true self. Who I am. 

And I’m getting closer and closer. 

I actually did something when I won the skirmish championship that only a handful of people have done… I beat my best friend, Abby Dresden. 

You have done that too, although you didn’t get the pin… Dixie did. 

But we know your headbutt helped secure that win.”

She shifts, and takes a towel and dabs her forehead. 

“I am the Anti-Karlie Nash. Openly a pagan of sorts. I follow the old ways. Ways that in my own heart are true. I’ve never met your god, but I’ve met the things I have faith in. 

You are full of yourself Karlie, and that could be ego, arrogance, or just confidence. 

But in the past, I’ve have said things like… maybe you can beat me, and so on and so forth. But I’m not going to do that today. I … owe you a karma debt. 

IT should be returned upon you three fold. 

You say I’m against the Eternal Grove because of some moral high ground. I’ve got news for you. I’m not quite invited the party here. Eoin and Apathy haven’t asked anyone to join in, and they’re doing GREAT on their own. 

They’ve lost the plot, lost their matches, and lost their daughter. 

I’m not helping them. I did ONE rescue mission before… for someone I care about. Someone I have sworn my life to protect. I don’t care about them. And I don’t give freebies, so if the O’Rourkes want some help they can fucking ask for it… nicely.”

She smirks at the camera, “No… you ever think that some don’t like the Eternal Grove because you’re just all assholes? Cause you’re the ultimate asshats? Because you’re not real competitors? 

This isn’t the Valor title this time. So I know you’re going to cheat. And I’m going to warn you… I’m about done with assholes like you. There is something I’m going to tell you all, a little open secret. If we declare that we’re against you, that means all things are on the table. 

After how many times you fucks have cheated, and interfered in matches, maybe it’s time someone did it back to you? It would be so worth it to fight fire with fire. But also that would mean we’d be on the fast track to doing things your way, the shitty way.”

She steps through the ring ropes, and hopes down to the ground. 

“This is you and me in a submissions match up. Your submissions against mine. And you do have to worry. I mean, I’m a certified bad ass in two martial arts that are all about locking and breaking joints. You’re not so much an Amazon that I can’t separate your knee in my main finisher, or your shoulder in my secondary. 

And then  you have all the other ways I know how to bend and twist your fucking body around. 

This isn’t about you being in the Eternal Grove. This isn’t about you being a member of eNVy. This isn’t about you being the Premier Athlete. 

This is purely about you being a horrid human being and an asshole. 

I’d follow a good McClancy family tradition and call you a euphemism for the genitalia you and I both have… you know the one, starts with a C and ends with an unt… 

But just look at you Karlie, listen to you. You lack both the warmth and depth to be compared to one.”

She reaches a table, and pulls up the Skimmish championship with one hand, “This… this is also what this is about. This is MINE… until someone better prys it away from me. And if you think that’s you, Ms. Nash… you’d better think again. 

Face it… compared to me, you should be maybe coaching the little leagues of hockey in Minnesota.

I’m coming to you to fight. And fight we shall. 15 minutes, no more. And you can only win by a submission in this match up. 

Fucking bring it.”

{{End}}