Kick in the pants
Oct 23, 2020 1:52:42 GMT -5
Post by OrochiGeese on Oct 23, 2020 1:52:42 GMT -5
*We fade into the UBL Dojo a few days after Continuum II. It's 6 PM and most wrestlers are packing up. However, we see Tetsu Gushiken working the heavy bag with kicks. He does not appear to be strength training but rather focusing on the placement of his strikes. After three hard kicks in the row to the middle of the bag, he aims high, winces, then has a visible expression of frustration. He then hears a voice coming from behind.*
"I wasn't a good enough tenant?"
*Tetsu turns around to see JET Hamada smiling at him. Tetsu looks confused.*
[JET:] "Sanders is living rent free in your head. Just wondering why I didn't qualify for the same lease."
*Tetsu 'hmphs' to himself in a way that almost sounds like a laugh. JET looks surprised*
[JET:] "Wow, did I just make the stoic Tetsu Gushiken laugh? Maybe there's hope for me yet. So tell me, what does Kurt have that I don't?"
[Tetsu:] "It's not Kurt this time."
[JET:] "It's always been Kurt. Charles is the mentor, Jasper is the muscle, but Kurt is the one who chooses the targets. You don't think that I see what's going on? I had a front row seat to watch Sanders and Langford psychologically destroy Yoshiro. The only difference between the two of you is that I thought you had beaten them."
[Tetsu:] "I don't know that I beat them the first time. I just survived."
[JET:] "No, you did beat them. Because now they are trying something new with you. They started with the guilt grift against Yoshiro and it worked. But they wanted to come up with a different angle of attack on you so they stole your Circuit Title. That and a cheap win by Kurt in a tag match got in your head. Then THRASH, of all people, helped you see that you could win against Kurt and you got a little confidence back. And even though you lost that Title to THRASH, it looked like the old Tetsu was back at the start of this year! I was happy, man. I can't have my number one rival-"
[Tetsu:] "Why do you want to be my number one rival?"
[JET:] "Because you and I are cut from the same cloth and that cloth is supposed to be fabric of this promotion. We're both about the technique, both about the sport, both about the 闘魂 (toukon), man - we live for that fighting spirit. We do our talking in the ring and respect our rivals. And why? Because we define ourselves by beating the best. Just imagine how great this place would be if others around here felt that same way?
Take Kurt out of the equation and we were both part of a Basic Training class that was poised to put the competition back in this promotion. Too bad UBL still can't finish the wars that the older generation got us all into. It's unfair but it's reality. The thing is, Tetsu, I also know that we can outlast them. And when we do, I want to measure myself by the success I have against my greatest competitor. And that's you. Not only have you beaten me twice but you've done it the right way. As far as I'm concerned, you're the only one in this promotion who can legitimately defeat me at my own game."
*Tetsu is silent for a moment and then quickly bows to JET.*
[JET:] "That respect is paid right back to you in full. And I'm trading on it when I say - you gotta stop pulling your punches *looks at the dent in the heavy bag* er, kicks. So I need you to listen to me, Tetsu. Cause I respected the hell out of Yoshiro too. And I don't blame him for breaking even though I hate the man who he thought he had to become to rebuild himself. That whole process started when Kurt pretended to be critically injured from Yoshiro's Sumoshiro slam."
[Tetsu:] "Are you saying that Kurt intentionally took the Sumoshiro slam?"
[JET:] "Yes, and I'm certain of it. I was at ringside and saw it in his eyes during the match. He intentionally lost the battle but used the loss to help him win the war. His plan from the start was to make Yoshiro feel guilty. Kurt played up his injury as more than it actually was. Yoshiro took the guilt bait and began pulling back in his matches. The more he pulled back, the more he lost. That led up to his disastrous defeat to Joachim which Kurt then used to rally the locker room against him. Next thing you know, Yoshiro walked out those doors, never to truly return. That was all Kurt's plan. But it's different this time. They switched the strategy and they are making the most of a bad situation by manipulating you."
[Tetsu:] "So you don't think Charles wanted to get hurt like Kurt did?"
[JET:] "Hell no! That's why it's even worse for you to feel guilty than it was for Yoshiro."
[Tetsu:] "How so?"
[JET:] "First off, Langford's practically a retiree. There's no way he was going to intentionally take that shot, even for Kurt. But come on, you probably watched that tape fifty times now. Charles didn't just find himself in that position, he was clearly trying to hurt you...and badly. He had no idea how you'd react unlike Kurt opening himself up for Yoshiro. Also, Charles had a reason to try to eliminate you because of your presence in his block.
Luckily, you were quicker than him and did exactly what you had to do to avoid getting injured. That is nothing to feel guilty about. Not only did you act in self-defense, but you did it in a match. Do you remember last year when Thunder Strike knocked out Barton? I was steamed at Thunder but he and Barton told me I was wrong. It took me a while to see it but I get it now. It's like what Geese was saying about thresholds. You can't be so afraid of hurting someone else that you lose a match. And you damn sure as hell can't hold back your best shot if it saves you from injury. That goes double when your opponent is actually trying to hurt you. There's no guilt in defending yourself, there's just honor."
*Tetsu takes a few seconds to think about this. JET smiles.*
[JET:] "But most of all, you can't lose trust in yourself and end up the next Tetsuzuna."
[Tetsu:] "Kazuo would have nightmares."
*This time JET laughs and does so uproariously*
[JET:] "Is that the first time you ever told a joke? Maybe Sanders should be jealous rather than just scared."
[Tetsu:] "So what do I do now?"
[JET:] "The fact that they all got in your head last year meant they were confident that they could do it again. But this time they pivoted to the Yoshiro strategy. The good news is - we know how to beat it. Just ignore it. Let them talk all they want but everyone in that arena saw Charles trying to injure you and you defending yourself. So if they want to play to everyone's sympathies, it's just going to look pathetic and manipulative on their part."
[Tetsu:] "But if Charles is okay, why wouldn't he come forward and show how resilient he is?"
[JET:] "That's what you and I would do, right? We revel in taking our opponent's best shot and coming back from it. But Kurt and Charles live by a code of cowardice and chicanery. Charles has no reason to come out in public now and ease your guilt because he's not booked until Continuum IV. So, going by his own code, why would he prematurely give up his psychological advantage over you? If he can make this guilt fester in you for long enough, you won't be able to ever shake it. You already suffered a loss because of it. It's clear what happened against THRASH."
[Tetsu:] "THRASH has beaten me before legitimately."
[JET:] "Yes and no. It's true that you have never intentionally held back against him like you did last week. There's no doubt that the main reason you lost that match was because of the guilt you felt for hurting Langford. But you can't look back at your matches with THRASH last year and act like you were your usual self. Kurt was working you for that entire year. When THRASH beat you for the Title, you had already fallen so far below the level that you initially won the Circuit Title at.
Look - THRASH is one of the best fighters here. I respect him and train with him regularly. He never holds back and his style is one I need to improve against. But Kurt deserves a lot of the credit for your two losses against THRASH last year. And he and Charles deserve even more of the credit for your loss against THRASH last week. And guess what? THRASH knows it which is why he's been furious lately. The only thing he hates more than waiting months for a fight is fighting someone who holds back their best. You got off easy with just that slap after the match."
*Tetsu is once again contemplative.*
[JET:] "And I get where he's coming from, especially about you. I saw that match and just felt disappointment. That is because the day before Naja and I won the Universal Battalion Championships, I created a plan for the second we finally lose them. And that's to challenge you. Hopefully that will be for your eventual Universal Continuum Championship but even if it's for a stick of gum, I'm in it 100%. I just want to know that all of you will be too."
[Tetsu:] "I...will."
[JET:] "You better because I have a suspicion, Tetsu. The only way I'm going to be the best in the world is if you're the one pushing against me to claim that Title for yourself. I'm not a superstitious guy, but our fates are entwined. Don't let me or yourself down. Stop letting guilt, or anything, hold you back and start kicking for those f'n skies again."
*JET nods to Tetsu and begins walking away as Tetsu eyes the bag again. As he starts to kick, we fade out.*
"I wasn't a good enough tenant?"
*Tetsu turns around to see JET Hamada smiling at him. Tetsu looks confused.*
[JET:] "Sanders is living rent free in your head. Just wondering why I didn't qualify for the same lease."
*Tetsu 'hmphs' to himself in a way that almost sounds like a laugh. JET looks surprised*
[JET:] "Wow, did I just make the stoic Tetsu Gushiken laugh? Maybe there's hope for me yet. So tell me, what does Kurt have that I don't?"
[Tetsu:] "It's not Kurt this time."
[JET:] "It's always been Kurt. Charles is the mentor, Jasper is the muscle, but Kurt is the one who chooses the targets. You don't think that I see what's going on? I had a front row seat to watch Sanders and Langford psychologically destroy Yoshiro. The only difference between the two of you is that I thought you had beaten them."
[Tetsu:] "I don't know that I beat them the first time. I just survived."
[JET:] "No, you did beat them. Because now they are trying something new with you. They started with the guilt grift against Yoshiro and it worked. But they wanted to come up with a different angle of attack on you so they stole your Circuit Title. That and a cheap win by Kurt in a tag match got in your head. Then THRASH, of all people, helped you see that you could win against Kurt and you got a little confidence back. And even though you lost that Title to THRASH, it looked like the old Tetsu was back at the start of this year! I was happy, man. I can't have my number one rival-"
[Tetsu:] "Why do you want to be my number one rival?"
[JET:] "Because you and I are cut from the same cloth and that cloth is supposed to be fabric of this promotion. We're both about the technique, both about the sport, both about the 闘魂 (toukon), man - we live for that fighting spirit. We do our talking in the ring and respect our rivals. And why? Because we define ourselves by beating the best. Just imagine how great this place would be if others around here felt that same way?
Take Kurt out of the equation and we were both part of a Basic Training class that was poised to put the competition back in this promotion. Too bad UBL still can't finish the wars that the older generation got us all into. It's unfair but it's reality. The thing is, Tetsu, I also know that we can outlast them. And when we do, I want to measure myself by the success I have against my greatest competitor. And that's you. Not only have you beaten me twice but you've done it the right way. As far as I'm concerned, you're the only one in this promotion who can legitimately defeat me at my own game."
*Tetsu is silent for a moment and then quickly bows to JET.*
[JET:] "That respect is paid right back to you in full. And I'm trading on it when I say - you gotta stop pulling your punches *looks at the dent in the heavy bag* er, kicks. So I need you to listen to me, Tetsu. Cause I respected the hell out of Yoshiro too. And I don't blame him for breaking even though I hate the man who he thought he had to become to rebuild himself. That whole process started when Kurt pretended to be critically injured from Yoshiro's Sumoshiro slam."
[Tetsu:] "Are you saying that Kurt intentionally took the Sumoshiro slam?"
[JET:] "Yes, and I'm certain of it. I was at ringside and saw it in his eyes during the match. He intentionally lost the battle but used the loss to help him win the war. His plan from the start was to make Yoshiro feel guilty. Kurt played up his injury as more than it actually was. Yoshiro took the guilt bait and began pulling back in his matches. The more he pulled back, the more he lost. That led up to his disastrous defeat to Joachim which Kurt then used to rally the locker room against him. Next thing you know, Yoshiro walked out those doors, never to truly return. That was all Kurt's plan. But it's different this time. They switched the strategy and they are making the most of a bad situation by manipulating you."
[Tetsu:] "So you don't think Charles wanted to get hurt like Kurt did?"
[JET:] "Hell no! That's why it's even worse for you to feel guilty than it was for Yoshiro."
[Tetsu:] "How so?"
[JET:] "First off, Langford's practically a retiree. There's no way he was going to intentionally take that shot, even for Kurt. But come on, you probably watched that tape fifty times now. Charles didn't just find himself in that position, he was clearly trying to hurt you...and badly. He had no idea how you'd react unlike Kurt opening himself up for Yoshiro. Also, Charles had a reason to try to eliminate you because of your presence in his block.
Luckily, you were quicker than him and did exactly what you had to do to avoid getting injured. That is nothing to feel guilty about. Not only did you act in self-defense, but you did it in a match. Do you remember last year when Thunder Strike knocked out Barton? I was steamed at Thunder but he and Barton told me I was wrong. It took me a while to see it but I get it now. It's like what Geese was saying about thresholds. You can't be so afraid of hurting someone else that you lose a match. And you damn sure as hell can't hold back your best shot if it saves you from injury. That goes double when your opponent is actually trying to hurt you. There's no guilt in defending yourself, there's just honor."
*Tetsu takes a few seconds to think about this. JET smiles.*
[JET:] "But most of all, you can't lose trust in yourself and end up the next Tetsuzuna."
[Tetsu:] "Kazuo would have nightmares."
*This time JET laughs and does so uproariously*
[JET:] "Is that the first time you ever told a joke? Maybe Sanders should be jealous rather than just scared."
[Tetsu:] "So what do I do now?"
[JET:] "The fact that they all got in your head last year meant they were confident that they could do it again. But this time they pivoted to the Yoshiro strategy. The good news is - we know how to beat it. Just ignore it. Let them talk all they want but everyone in that arena saw Charles trying to injure you and you defending yourself. So if they want to play to everyone's sympathies, it's just going to look pathetic and manipulative on their part."
[Tetsu:] "But if Charles is okay, why wouldn't he come forward and show how resilient he is?"
[JET:] "That's what you and I would do, right? We revel in taking our opponent's best shot and coming back from it. But Kurt and Charles live by a code of cowardice and chicanery. Charles has no reason to come out in public now and ease your guilt because he's not booked until Continuum IV. So, going by his own code, why would he prematurely give up his psychological advantage over you? If he can make this guilt fester in you for long enough, you won't be able to ever shake it. You already suffered a loss because of it. It's clear what happened against THRASH."
[Tetsu:] "THRASH has beaten me before legitimately."
[JET:] "Yes and no. It's true that you have never intentionally held back against him like you did last week. There's no doubt that the main reason you lost that match was because of the guilt you felt for hurting Langford. But you can't look back at your matches with THRASH last year and act like you were your usual self. Kurt was working you for that entire year. When THRASH beat you for the Title, you had already fallen so far below the level that you initially won the Circuit Title at.
Look - THRASH is one of the best fighters here. I respect him and train with him regularly. He never holds back and his style is one I need to improve against. But Kurt deserves a lot of the credit for your two losses against THRASH last year. And he and Charles deserve even more of the credit for your loss against THRASH last week. And guess what? THRASH knows it which is why he's been furious lately. The only thing he hates more than waiting months for a fight is fighting someone who holds back their best. You got off easy with just that slap after the match."
*Tetsu is once again contemplative.*
[JET:] "And I get where he's coming from, especially about you. I saw that match and just felt disappointment. That is because the day before Naja and I won the Universal Battalion Championships, I created a plan for the second we finally lose them. And that's to challenge you. Hopefully that will be for your eventual Universal Continuum Championship but even if it's for a stick of gum, I'm in it 100%. I just want to know that all of you will be too."
[Tetsu:] "I...will."
[JET:] "You better because I have a suspicion, Tetsu. The only way I'm going to be the best in the world is if you're the one pushing against me to claim that Title for yourself. I'm not a superstitious guy, but our fates are entwined. Don't let me or yourself down. Stop letting guilt, or anything, hold you back and start kicking for those f'n skies again."
*JET nods to Tetsu and begins walking away as Tetsu eyes the bag again. As he starts to kick, we fade out.*