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Bride of Kane (LadyAthene & Bibliomania)

B

Bibliomania

Planetoid
Joined
Nov 25, 2017
The summer sun baked the hot asphalt in front of Mohegan Sun Arena. It was a home show, of sorts, for the Connecticut-based WWE. A place where their performers felt comfortable. An event where new blood could get introduced to the fans. That’s why Kane hated it.

He drove into the parking lot in his black sedan, to find that of course some stupid newbie had parked in his space. They always did this, thinking that now they were big shots who didn’t need to bother reading their instructions or looking at the signs. Instead, they threw a finger at the veterans and strutted around like they were Hulk Hogan.

Of course, his broken heart didn’t help his mood. He’d thought Lita and he would continue after the match was over. But no, she had some young guy and Kane was “too creepy”. Nevermind that he’d worked hard to make their love work, even to the point of defeating Matt Hardy for her. No, he was left behind for some young boytoy, while the veteran got jack shit.

He was tired of these newbies taking the spotlight. He’d been jobbing while they were watching cartoons. He’d found his true soul in Kane, but no, each rising star thought they were the next Hulk Hogan. Well, this one wasn’t about to get the better of him.

He parked directly behind the car that occupied his spot and got out. His large frame looked over the rental, blocking out the sun as he went to the window. And to his surprise, the driver was still there. This should prove entertaining. With a scowl on his troll-like face, Kane said, “Open the window. Now.”
 

The two-year mark of Akane working with the WWE was steadily approaching. Granted, it was more akin to an intern position over anything too professional. Nonetheless, it was greatly helping her out. Akane was stil in the midst of studying, hoping to earn a major in Psychology when she finished her university work. Now that she partook in a very 'on-the-move' job, her original college plans had shifted to online.

But that was fine. They really were more convenient for a number of reasons.

Whereas Kane had driven to the Mohegan Sun Arena, Akane opted to take the local bus. She stepped out, clad in her uniform, with a backpack lightly draped over her right shoulder. Her heels would click several times against the concrete ... and come to a stop as she quietly observed the scene briefly from behind a pillar.

Ugh. Not a good way to start this day off, Akane thought, gripping on her lower lip as her mind began to race. Reaching down into the pocket of her coat, she pulled her cell phone out and confirmed a thought the young Asian had been afraid of. She was pressed for time, which meant a move would need to be made, and quickly.

Direct confrontation would be borderline suicidal, especially with someone like Kane. It was no secret the past near - or had it already been a full one? - year had been especially rough for him. From the Matt Hardy and Lita incident to even the recent break-up and everything that had occurred in between, it was laughably simple for Akane to know why it'd be a very, very bad idea for her to take a more direct approach.

... Sill, she had to do something. Whoever was in that car would be in a world of hurt if Akane didn't take action.

Her tongue lightly danced over her lips as the only right solution entered her head. Nodding to herself, Akane pivoted on her feet and resumed walking, keeping her pace normal. As if she'd never stopped and spied in the first place to help keep suspicion off of her. When she was far enough away - preferably inside the arena - she dialed the office.

"Hello? Yeah, you may wanna send some security officers over to the parking lot. Looks like there may be a physical confrontation soon between Kane and an unidentified individual. Yeah. Thank you, appreciate it. I'm already scheduled as it is ... otherwise I would have tried to defuse the situation myself. Thanks again. Bye."

It wasn't necessarily her proudest moment - to opt being a snitch - but it really did feel like the best choice to make. And, sadly, another peek at her phone caused her to jog through the halls. Her phone was put back into her pocket, replaced with a set of keys.

Akane stopped in front of a door - her office one, to be precise - and sighed in relief. At least her patient hadn't been waiting outside. Good. She didn't necessarily make being tardy a habit, but there had been a few times she'd found certain Superstars or Divas that saw her for medical, psychiatric - or both types - of aid waiting for her instead of vice versa.

Hopefully that situation got handled - or will get taken care of soon enough ... she internally prayed, walking inside and sitting down in her chair. Since she doubled in how she could help others, there were several chairs, a sofa, and two cots. Three, unfortunately, would make the already somewhat small office even harder to walk around in.

"Let's see ... " she murmured softly, pulling her planner out and reminding herself how her schedule would look for today.
 
The young man inside of the car turned pale and locked the door. With a quick motion, he backed away from the window, motioning for Kane to go away. It wasn’t far, since the little Mini didn’t exactly have much seating room, but the motion still indicated a desire to avoid the larger wrestler.

Kane growled and said, “Hey. Hey! You’re parked in my space, dumbass.” His teeth grit, and he placed one hand on the mirror. “You hear me! Open this damn window and talk to me!”

The young man just shook his head and made larger motions for Kane to go away.

The Big Red Machine snorted and pushed harder against the mirror, causing it to creak. “Get out of your car right now. You...are...in...my...space.” When nothing happened, Kane snorted, his face turning into a grimace as he pushed down on the mirror. The metal of the car creaked and then screamed as the mirror broke off to dangle from a few wires. “Hope you had renters insurance, asshole.”

Kane went back into his car just as security showed up, driving off as the young driver gestured frantically at him. By the time he made it to the door from the back of the parking lot, the young man was gone, but security simply nodded at Kane. The wrestlers kept their own law at these venues, and security knew better than to get involved.

The wrestler went inside to his locker room, still fuming from the incident outside. He really had no business here, but he wanted to check out some of the competition. There wouldn’t be much time for him to do so on a night he was in a match, but at least now he could take time to see who his next rival might be. Vince McMahon wanted to talk to him about that tonight.
 

Five hours, give or take. That was how long Akane had before filming would begin and the wrestling would begin. Most people didn't know nor tried to guess these fights were filmed earlier in the day and purposely shown later on. It was one of the first 'secrets' she had learned first hand, something that had intrigued her greatly.

Green eyes flipped hastily through her day planner, finally finding the August 1st, 2005 tab and looking for her 1 o'clock client.

.... That's right. Today must be one of those days where Irony had a funny way of showing up. Because, according to this, it should be Lita knocking soon enough.

Well, while she had time, Akane began gathering everything that would be needed. Her file, a notepad, pen .... annnnd that should be most of it. Thanks to being organized - to a fault, some had argued - Akane had both paper and electronic version files of any wrestler who saw her. Akane barely finished pulling the one on her laptop up before the knock she had been waiting for caused her to turn her head.

"Doc? It's me, Lita."

"Please. Do come on in."

The red-head cautiously opened her door, glancing nervously from side to side. The anxious expression already give Akane a hint as to why it was there. But she didn't ask about it until Lita shut the door and sat down in the chair across from her.

"Did you stumble across that parking lot incident?" Akane inquired, pushing down on her pen and beginning to jot down notes.

"Y-Yeah."

Akane's lips pursed as she gathered her words, making sure to be careful in their selection. "What exactly is it you're scared of as far as Kane goes? Like ... do you think he'll seek you out again?"

"I ... " Lita frowned, Akane noting how quickly her body visibly tensed up. "It's ... everything, I suppose. The abductions, the forced situations, all of it. Have you ever had anyone try to force them to love you in such a stalkery way?"

Akane gently moved her head from side to side, "The few times I did ever allow myself to go on dates, they never turned into anything serious."

Lita scoffed .... and then sighed. "I ... kinda envy you. Way smarter than me." The reply was mumbled, likely intentionally so only the Asian could hear her answer.

Akane sheepishly grinned, knowing her own confession sounded ... lame, more likely than not. "I don't know if I'd call it that, but .... anyway. Has Edge been able to help you out with any of this trauma?"

Now Lita took her own time to give the same back and forth gesture with her head. "Hmph. If anything, he's ... been distant since Kane intervened with our marriage. Matt wouldn't be a coward! He'd do anything he could to protect me!"

"Do you miss Matt Hardy?"

"I .... I guess so." Litat wouldn't notice until she comprehended her vision had gotten blurry all of a sudden, but a new set off tears formed and had begun streaming down her face. Akane flashed the red-head a small smile and offered a tissue box to the wrestler. "Thank you," she whispered, accepting it and beginning to wipe the tears away.

"Well .... have you spoken to Vince yet? Maybe a vacation to clear your head would do you some good. I'm sure a break from all this scripted drama would really -- "

"Whoa! Excuse me?!"

Akane blinked, not having expected Lita to react in such a harsh way. "Did I say something?"

"Scripted?! Do you think everything you see is fake?!"

"No, no. I didn't mean it that way. Goodness, I know that's not always the case. I've treated enough of the roster - namely superstars - to know the injuries can be real. But ... am I wrong with assuming the arc between you all was planned?"

A cold glare entered Lita's eyes as she slowly stood up. "Maybe you should see for yourself. It'd be the easiest way to dispel any illusions. I'm sorry. I'm gonna go now. Do what you want with the remaining time."

"W-Wait! Lita! I didn't mean -- !!"

SLAM!

Akane sighed as her door roughly opened and shut. "Oh wonderful; that went beautifully," she murmured, sighing as she rose a hand and ran it slowly through her onyx locks. Yet another look gave away she now had twenty minutes to spare and now idea how to use the remaining time.

"Maybe you should see for yourself. It'd be the easiest way to dispel any illusions."

... She had a point. But ... even that made Akane scoff. She had never really been much of a fighter. She couldn't simply join the roster overnight. However ... doing some research? Why not? It wouldn't kill her, and she had been struggling mere moments ago on determining how to pass the time.

So, after some contemplating and hesitation, Akane set the notepad down and pulled up an internet tab.
 
Kane dressed out into his black and red uniform. Yeah, he wasn't slated to wrestle that night, but he usually tried to sign autographs before the show--usually accompanied by a glare for the recipient. Sure, he was the Big Red Machine, but he needed to eat, and kids liked him for some reason. He supposed that he reminded them of the monster in their closet. Of course, he reminded Lita of the same thing, but he had literally been the monster in her closet. WWE management swept that under the rug, of course.

Still, he needed to see the boss before he went to the front, so he found a nearby golf cart and headed toward the staging area, where McMahon could keep close tabs on the show setup. He took a leisurely pace, his methodical nature making each turn and acceleration an exercise in precision. That'd made him a dependable worker in the ring. People didn't get injured when they wrestled him, and he didn't pull ego trips or bother with "creative control".

That'd bought him quite a bit of leniency with the last storyline veering into real life. Lita and the rest in the storyline were the new kids and had been clamoring for a good push since they got into the WWE. That made them undependable, which meant most of their complaints of Kane hiding in her locker room and lingering outside of her hotel went on deaf ears. Of course, Vince had thought the whole thing was hilarious, but he would. For him, the show was what mattered, and Kane, no matter his personal problems, executed the show.

When Kane got to the office, John Cena was just getting out. Not the first time he'd seen that. Cena was in and out of that office constantly, making sure that he had face time with the WWE. Some people didn't do the locker room politics very well--see Lita and crew--while others knew exactly who to talk to and how to talk to them.

Kane got out of the golf cart and headed toward the door. Before he could object, Cena hopped in the cart and took off. The big man glowered. He'd be walking to the front of the arena, then.

In the office, Vince was busy talking into a radio to various production folks. Without their meeting, the boss likely would have been out directing the various stagehands and security teams, but this was kind of important. They needed to work out Kane's next angle.

"Kane, how are you doing?" Vince smiled as one of his most dependable employees walked in. Only Undertaker had out-worked Kane by this point. "That last show was dynamite. I appreciate you doing the job, even if it got a little personal for you."

The wrestler glowered. He'd briefly thought about shooting on Edge and getting Lita, anyway, but Undertaker had talked him out of it. The show was more important than that damn chick, even if Kane missed her warmth next to him at night.

Vince leaned forward. "Now, I think that we should take it slow for now. You've had a lot of exposure, and it's important to leave the people wanting a little every now and then. So I'd like you to help some of our newer employees. Get them used to how we do things." What he meant was, make sure they knew to job correctly. Kane was well known as an enforcer back stage. "I'm thinking of pairing you with one of them. Someone that could do a lot for the company with the right help and the right push. Do well, and you could be in the tag championships."

Kane looked at McMahon. Great, now he was being saddled with a newbie. He guessed that Lita's complaints hadn't fallen on deaf ears, after all.
 

Between Lita leaving early plus Akane's next appointment not having been scheduled till two o'clock, she had well over an hour to do some extensive research. In truth, it had been a former wrestler who did inspire her to agree to this internship. No one - not even Vince - knew; though not because she was afraid of telling anyone. Rather, it was simply because no one had asked. The answer was Yokozuna. He had been the first Asian - let alone Japanese - wrestler Akane had ever seen fight in the WWE. Asians were a huge minority, Akane had noticed, in the WWE. So naturally, her interest was piqued.

Apparently, Asians were still a minority it seemed.

Akane's 'research' consisted of watching numerous, old matches from various fighters, alive or deceased. She tried to determine what kind of fighter she'd even be. Aerial? Maybe. Technical? Also a decent possibility.

... You're really thinking about this, huh?

It was equally nerve-wracking as it was exciting to think about. Besides, being a wrestler didn't mean she had to be a Heel. In fact, that was part two of what she was looking up; wrestling terminology. Heels seemed to be way more common than Faces; at least that was what she was noting as per the definitions. An interesting observation, to be sure. While one tab had ongoing matches playing, Akane was going through her music player on her phone. If she was going to really do this, there was a lot she needed to determine.

This included what song would play to signal her arrival.

"Wow. This is far more in-depth than I realized," Akane mused to herself, smiling as she continued jotting down notes and observations on an empty piece of paper. The poor doctor was so focused that she almost didn't hear the knocks on her door after a few more moments.

"Sorry! Please come in!"

Before the door opened, however, she lowered the internet tabs, pausing anything that may have sill been playing. Even though she wasn't doing anything illegal, Akane didn't wish to give off the wrong idea to her next patient. Her focus needed to be on them and nothing else.

Soon, Akane found herself looking at not one, but two figures; Stephanie McMahon and Triple H.
 
The next couple of hours were spent our front signing merch. Not his favorite activity, but quite a few of the fans were very excited to meet a long-time legend. One woman in goth makeup gave him the number for her hotel, but the big man simply accepted it gracefully and then tossed the scrap of paper into the bin as she left. He wasn’t really in the mood for another relationship, and wasn’t the type for a quick fling. Sure, he didn’t have any hesitation once he’d found a woman worthy of his attention, Lita being one, but just a quickie in some random town? He left that for the party crowd. He had a job to do.

When the show started, he received a message to head to the workout room so that he could meet his protégée. The workout room wasn’t much. It served as a practice basketball court most days, but now was full of weights, punching bags, and even a couple wrestling rings. Most people had gone ringside by now, but a few superstars were warming up for their matches. Kane approved of that, better that the show go off without a hitch, but when he saw who was waiting for him, he scowled.

It was that punk that had parked in his space. Great. The young man had bright blue and an overawed expression that was more common in OVW.

“So you’re the one they saddled me with?” Kane shook his head. “C’mon kid. Change into your street clothes. Let’s go fill some seats and watch the show. We can talk about your promising career ringside.”
 

Thankfully, there was a certain benefits to helping a married couple rather than just an individual. Triple H and Stephanie had - discreetly, of course, - paid Akane a very generous sum of money. With this tip came more counseling time; two hours instead of the usual one. Also, it was to help ensure no one aside from Vince knew the two were going to her. Thus far, she had succeeded in achieving both conditions. But .... ugh. Marriage counseling was so very exhausting; it always was. With poor Akane still being a student, the toll tended to be worse. If none of that was annoying enough, having to be the 'neutral' person between the three of them was hands own the most tedious part of talking with a married couple. Some days, it was an easy task to work on. Others - such as today - it was incredibly difficult. But by the end of the session, there were only two or so more hours left.

The last few appointments helped the time tick by. Now that the filming and fights for Monday Night RAW's episode were live and being recorded, Akane could devote even more time to her research she'd had to take a break on.

Her pen would scribble across the same page she started using for notes. For the time being, she was concentrating on determining her fighting style and what she'd wanna use for an entrance song.

About three more hours would pass before she jumped slightly upon hearing a sudden knock.

"You available? I kinda need your expertise."

From behind the door, she heard John Cena. Quickly minimizing everything, she spun around, raising her eyebrows slightly. "I'm assuming this is a more medical-based thing and not for talking, yes?"

"Yeah, you'd be right."

"Alright. Come in and have a seat on one of the cots."

As the door opened, Akane grabbed a pair of gloves. It had been a habit ... but a quick glance revealed they would indeed be needed. More so than usual. His head was busted wide open .... and honestly? Akane wondered why he hadn't simply gone to the local hospital.

Still, she did have enough supplies to properly treat him.

Probably personal preference, Akane decided, nodding as she grabbed her first aid kit, which had the needle, thread, hydrogen peroxide, and cotton balls. "Ready for the fun part?" Akane jested, trying to lighten the mood slightly. "You've probably heard this tons of times, probably, but do try to remain still, okay?" The Asian would then unscrew the cap belonging to the stinging wound cleaner and gently dab it on John's head. As she expected, he winced and grimaced ... but grabbed onto the edges of the cot to help keep himself still.

"Pain killers will have to wait until after, unfortunately. You gonna be fine with that?"

When she saw him give an affirmative nod, Akane returned the gesture with one of her own. The peroxide would be set down, used cotton ball tossed into the nearby trash bin. Now, Akane was carefully working on guiding the slim thread through the eye of the needle.
 
The blue-haired rookie followed Kane cautiously to the arena. The veteran was half tempted to swat him just to spook him, but he decided against it. If he had to work with the guy, there was no point in making it harder than it had to be.

They found open seats next to each other, but both were in the nosebleeds. They looked inconspicuous in their street clothing, although Kane got an odd glance or two. Vince usually liked them to fill seats if they could, to make the show look better, but there weren’t a lot of empty seats at this Raw.


The two men spent their time talking about the show and about gimmicks. The young man wanted to “just be himself”, like a typical entitled rookie. Kane explained that even the wrestlers who played themselves had to push the more interesting parts to the front and leave the boring parts behind. He, himself, drew far more interest when he accepted and pushed his tragic backstory, instead of pretending to be some big shot.

After the main event came to a close, the young man seemed a lot more comfortable with what the back office was asking of him. It wasn’t too bad having to talk to him, but Kane still thought he was an idiot. The rookie promised to work on his persona and they’d revisit at the next Raw.

Once the crowds had filtered out, they went back to their cars to go. Kane didn’t bother to pay for the mirror. Next time, the kid would respect the veterans.
 

Fortunately for John, he didn't need many stitches. Still, he had to get them. Even if the duration was brief, he wasn't immune from the agony that he had to endure. Nonetheless, when Akane finished with the stitches, she was able to put everything away and produce two Aspirin. She smiled gently at him, placing the pills in his palm.

"If it keeps getting too persistent or worsens, I'd administer yourself to a hospital. Until then, take it easy. You should be well enough to fight next time you're booked."

"Perfect. Thanks, doc." Bowing his head politely, John strode out of Akane's office, closing the door behind him. Likely going to the nearest fountain to take the pills, if she had to guess.

While he left, Akane remained silent for a few minutes. If there were any more last minute patients, she wasn't hearing them. Taking advantage of her solitude, she sat back in front of her laptop, placing her first aid kit on one of the few shelves attached to her desk. Emerald eyes scanned what she'd come up with for her notes thus far .... and resulted in her sighing. "I don't know what I'm doiiiiiiiiig. Ugh!" Her arms crossed over her chest as she leaned back in the leather chair. This whole working on become a wrestler task was far more complicated tan any type of math she'd taken back in high school. Considering how evil she viewed geometry, that was saying something.

Hmm ....

The idea that entered Akane's head would require a bit of luck. However ... it was one of the best plans that entered her mind. She may not know what she was doing, but she did know people who held such knowledge.

Feeling confident on what she wished to do by next week, Akane gathered her things, clutching them against her chest. A muffled yawn passed her lips as she re-locked her office and walked to the hotel she was temporarily residing at.
8th August, 2005
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Mellon Arena
12:45 PM

Akane was strolling confidently through the streets of Pittsburgh, making her way eagerly to the arena for the next RAW show. Her wrist turned every so slightly, the time revealing she was still early. Good.

With any luck, should arrive in about five or so ... she mentally planned ... quickening her pace just in case her calculations may be wrong.

She was, once again, clad in her uniform -- which easily earned her quite a few stares from many people she walked by. But honestly? That wasn't new to Akane. It was something she learned to get used to. If it wasn't her attire, it tended to be her eyes or even the red streaks mingled in with her onyx locks. There was always something that caused heads to turn. But they were just that; glances at her. At least no one ever resorted to any ... hasty measures.

Or, for the few that did try to be that foolish ... well .... she took care of those culprits. Courtesy of some years in learning Aikido while she'd still lived in Kyoto.

"Stupid alarm," she muttered in annoyance to herself.

Were it not for the fact she damn well nearly over-slept, Akane would have hailed a cab or taken the bus. Alas, her alarm she set on her phone failed to wake her up. It'd only been her internal alarm which allowed her to wake up at all.

It was exactly why she was here in the streets, hurrying frantically to the Mellon Stadium.

... Should she be late, however, she opted to give Lita fair warning. She deserved that much. Pulling her cell phone out, she began quickly entering the following text.

Lita,

Sorry! Heading over now! Should arrive soon, but may be a bit late. I really am sorry. I promise though, we're otherwise still on for today's meeting.

-Dr. Imatsu

Her eyes did a swift scan before hitting "Send" when she felt satisfied with what Akane had put in. Her head quickly lifted as she concentrated on making her way to her destination - preferably on time, too.
 
The workout room was far busier today than it had been last time. Part of that was because Kane arrived a bit earlier in the day. The other part was that word had gotten around that he was breaking in a new rookie. Plenty turned out just to watch that.

“You’ve got to sell. I don’t care how tough you think you are.” Kane gave the kid another chop across the chest. It took a full five seconds before the younger wrestler made an odd spasm like he’d been keistered by a broomhandle. “Sell. I said sell!”

He unleashed a flurry of chops, each stiffer than the last. It wasn’t long before the blue-haired kid’s chest had become a red and white mess. Even with the pain, he flopped around at odd times and at odd angles.

“Time out for a second.” Kane grabbed the new wrestler in a headlock, bringing him closer so that the veteran could whisper. “Look out there, kid.”

The young man looked up to see the superstars lining the ring. Some laughed at the punishment being given. Others shook their heads. A few just rolled their eyes.

Kane whispered. “You want to be a smart ass? Look tough? You think any of that will make them want to wrestle you?”The large man wrenched his trainees neck painfully, not hurting his joints, but using large muscles to painfully squeeze his head. “All they see is some yo-yo that can’t even make Godzilla look good. You think they want to include you? You think they even want to lose to you? When you won’t even give them the dignity of a sell? You’re destined for school gyms and bingo halls if you keep this up, kid. Now sell.”

Kane released the rookie, and then made a chop that was far softer than before. The young man jerked, as if slightly stunned by the move. “Excellent,” said Kane, “now it’s time to do the fun stuff.”
 

It was close, almost insanely so. But luckily, Akane arrived on time .... although not alone. Lita was waiting beside her door, smirking slyly as the Asian came running frantically over.

"Remind me, why don't you drive again?" Lita teased.

"Because I'm with a company that moves around on a weekly basis, and --- "

Lita chuckled softly, quickly shaking her head from side to side. "It's fine. Really, it was just rhetorical."

Only after Akane opened and closed the door did Lita sigh softly. Her head briefly bowed before lifting up, flashing her counselor an awkward smile. "So ... I wanted to start with an apology. I shouldn't have snapped. It's not your fault you misunderstand things. But ... there really are some parts of that last 'arc' that weren't scripted, so it infuriated me."

Akane leaned down, opening a small mini-fridge and pulling out two water bottles. "Want one?" she offered.

"Yeah, sure. That'd be appreciated."

Akane nodded, handing the red-haired Diva one before sitting across from her. "Actually ... I thought about your words. But, before I elaborate ... go on with your normal session. I ... wanna ask a favor when you're done though."

Lita's smirk widened, her curiosity easily piqued. "Nope. I don't really have much to relay. I'm working my emotions out ... but that'll take time. Suffice to say, you've grabbed my attention. So, even though this is probably very odd for you, why not voice whatever's on your mind to me?"

"Well then .... " Akane felt her heart begin to race as she shook her legs nervously. "As I hinted, I thought about your words. And ... I'm seriously contemplating becoming a Diva. I suppose my main question --- "

"No way!" Lita exclaimed, chuckling softly.

" ... You think so too, huh? Yeah. I know I'm not a fighter and all, but .... "

"No, no! That's .... that's really cool, actually. Do it!"

Akane felt her face burn, both happy and slightly embarrassed to hear the encouragement. Although her occupation insisted she maintain a more professional relationship with her clients, Lita had been one of her most frequently seen - and thus closest - patients. "You really think I'd be alright?"

"Hell yeah! You are right though, you're not a fighter. Not yet. Buuuut if that's what the favor was about, definitely. I'll help you out. So ... " Lita leaned closer, her grin widening. "Do you even know what you wanna do, as far as style and everything goes?"

"N-Not exactly. I've been trying to research all of this."

"Tell ya what; after RAW airs, let's make some gym dates. What say you?"

Akane now took her turn to laugh gently. "That's an interesting way to word it but ... sure. I really appreciate this."

"Do you know anything? Nickname? Entrance theme? Stuff like that?" When she saw Akane move her head from side to side again, Lita sighed. "Hmm. I got a lot of work, don't I?"

"Afraid so. If it's too much, you can bail now while the chance remains."

"Pfft. Please. I've had a lot worse to tolerate than helping a newbie out. You know that. Anyway, if you're for real, we can start tonight. In fact ... we can leave after your last appointment, if doable."

"Hmmm. I wouldn't mind, except ... well, sometimes I get medical-based emergencies. It'd be bad not to be available. So I'd rather wait until after RAW's finished being aired."

Lita nodded, figuring that was a fair enough response. "Alright. But we otherwise have an agreement?"

"Most definitely!" Akane smiled, taking a moment to open her water bottle and down some of the contents. "So ... I know you said you don't have much to talk about. But ... it did seem like you had a few things. Am I right?"

"Stubborn," Lita murmured, slowly nodding, "But ... you are correct nonetheless. So ... I suppose I can humor you. No sense in making you feel as if you're wasting your time and such."
 
Kane lifted the man by the throat, although most of the weight was on the big man's hand at his back. It looked impressive, got the pops, and more importantly, the kid had no choice but to sell it. It was hard to look like anything except a ragdoll when you hit on your back from eight feet up.

The other wrestlers had largely lost interest in the pair by now, focusing on their own matches. Kane forced the kid to take two hours of bumps, not even letting him get a strike across. It wasn't until the other man was tired and gasping before Kane clapped him on the back and said, "Alright, kid, that'll do for now." They went over to the snack table, getting some electrolyte drinks and fruit to rehydrate.

"You've got potential," said Kane. "So what were you thinking?"

The new wrestler thought for a moment and said, "I was thinking something punk. Like the NWO or D Generation-X." He rubbed his bright blue hair, making sweat scatter everywhere. "But, you know, current."

Kane scowled at him. The sweat had gotten all over Kane, and the veteran was sure that it had gotten all over the food as well. "Punk is out at the moment. Even Triple-H has moved on. I don't know how we'd ever work that into an angle. Hmmm." He thought for a moment. "Maybe if you're wanting to provoke outcry, we could do the Golddust thing. He's lasted a long time making people uncomfortable. What do you think about that?"

The man thought for a moment, and then nodded. "I could work with that. What are you thinking? It'd have to be something pretty major to make a big impression."

It took a long moment of thought before the veteran answered. "Hmm. Maybe you could insist on competing in the Diva division. Women have taken on the men's division. This would be the reverse and make you a major heel, as well as work out fan's discomfort with the concept of a man equating himself with a woman."

The new wrestler frowned. "I don't really like that. Doesn't it make me look weak?"

Kane shook his head. "You're underestimating some of the Divas. And, I'd imagine that it'd get you so much heat that the male roster would get involved. Plus, any women wrestling you would get major pops if they ever got rid of you. Do it for a few years, and then switch back to the men's division. You get a lot of people over, get a reputation as a good worker, and learn how to sell. All things that'll get you into the main event one day."
 

The rest of Lita's session - as well as anyone else seeing her for the day - went by very quickly. Maybe it was because Akane actually had plans tonight; ones she was very excited about. But something helped the seconds tick away quicker than usual. By the time 8:45 PM rolled around ad no one had knocked, she fairly assumed it was safe for her to change. She'd come prepared, of course, and revealed this by opening her backpack and pulling a set of work-out clothes out.

... Just in case anyone tried to stop by, however, Akane closed the door, finally proceeding to change out of her work uniform and get into the new one.

At exactly nine o'clock, a knock was heard. Akane took a slight breath before answering.

"So, are you -- ??" Lita stopped, chuckling as she found herself staring at the outfit Akane was now clad in. "Well, that's a strong-ass 'yes' if I ever saw one. Good, good. I think you'll do well in this industry. We've needed a new Diva for a while anyway. Alright! Let's head out! My treat, my car!"

Akane would remain silent. They were already getting odd looks from the few Superstars still lingering around - and likely giving a few the very wrong impression as it was. She didn't want to risk making it worse, especially while no one had immediately recognized who she was. "So," the Asian slowly began to inquire after they stepped into Lita's car, "What exactly is on the agenda?"

"Simple. I'm gonna help you do some normal exercises and note which you seem to be better at or which you struggle at. Afterwards, we'll go into an empty ring ad have a spar. Put you to a more real test." Lita grabbed her keys and started up the engine to her rental car, carefully pulling out and exiting the lot. "You were thinking aerial or technical fighter, right?"

"Yeah, yeah I was. Or .... some mixture of both."

Lita's head shook. "Mixtures are seldom, if ever, smart ideas in this industry. So think for a moment; if you had to favor one of those styles, which would it be and why?"

Oddly, the answer came quicker than even Akane expected. "Technical. More diversity. Aerial would mean a lot of flips and such which, while cool, isn't going to work against everyone."

"Good answer, good answer. That brain of yours is really gonna help you out. You've got an edge despite being a newbie." Lita pulled her right hand temporarily off the wheel and gestured tto Akane's head. "You know how the human mind tends to work. I'm sure you also know anatomy decently, considering you are a doctor of sorts, yes?"

"Well ... that first one's a wild card. I mean, I do know both, yes. But the mind for every single person ends up functioning in different ways. I wouldn't say I'd know exactly what to expect --- "

"But," Lita interrupted, "The fact of the matter is, you sill do have this knowledge. Use it. Step two - be more confident in yourself! If you're serious about wanting to do this and making a positive impact, then stop fretting over the small stuff. It'll really kick your ass in the ring."

Akane sighed softly, slowly nodding. "You're right. Fair enough. Sorry."

The rest of the drive would be back and forth exchanges, stopping as the car arrived at its destination. A simple glance would show Lita had parked in front of a Planet Fitness. "I'm assuming this is one of the 24 hour gyms?"

"Mhm, which means we don't have to be rushed. Come on! Let's see what you can do, huh?"
 
The two men ate from the snack table, something to make up for all of the damage that they were getting. Kane was used to it, but the young wrestler was visibly sore from their workout. It hadn’t seemed like a lot to Kane and was barely what the young man had better get used to. But it was a stay.

Kane just took an apple and a few peanuts. He didn’t eat a lot during workouts or shows, but understood the need to. The blue-haired rookie, however, demolished watermelon, apples, almonds, and beef jerky. Kane chuckled to himself, knowing that the man would likely eat fast food and pass out later. Always happened when someone increase their exercise routine.

“Well,” said Kane, “I suppose you should think about your outfit. I don’t think that it’s necessary to go full Golddust on this, but it should be something ambiguous. Maybe we can die that ridiculous hair black, paint your nails black, and just go with some sort of Goth look. It’ll have to be something unusual, otherwise it isn’t believable. Or maybe...” He looked over the other wrestler. “Have you ever tried growing out your hair? Maybe trying for a Marilyn Manson look? Not exactly pure punk, but nonconformist and definitely believable with getting into the Diva division.”

The other man looked shocked. “Marilyn Manson is kinda cool, but I just never thought of that as me, you know. Still, it’d be cool to ruffle feathers, especially of the rednecks that end up watching. There’d be heart attacks from here to Florida. Yeah, let’s work it like that.”

Kane smirked. Now he had his way to get back at Lita and get her back in his arms. This idiot would make her come crying back to the Big Red Machine.
 

The first five machines revealed Akane had more upper body strength. However, unlike most of the other Divas, she truly was at a 50-50 ratio with her legs and arms being matched in strength pretty well. Which was good. It meant she should be able to pull the Technical Diva off.

"So, Face, right? No way someone like you's a Heel. Unless ... you wanna play sweet and innocent, only to reveal that's not you?"

Akane half-chuckled, half-panted while continuing to walk on the treadmill. "Nope. You're .... you're right. Very much a Baby Face here."

Lita grinned, walking on her own treadmill as she gave a nod of approval. "Okay. Know what kind of Face?"

" ... Kind?" Akane repeated, having seemed to answer the question.

"Pause your music and use your phone to look it up. You'll see what I mean. If I had to designate the type of Heel I am, it's primarily Delinquent."

Keeping one hand on the treadmill, her other began swiping and moving along her phone. Her eyes widened a she literally saw what Lita was talking about. There were literally tons of different Faces and Heels. "Sweet!" she whispered, a grin spreading over her face. "So cool! Hmmm .... " Akane took a moment to raise her arm, wiping some brows of sweat off her face before studying the list carefully. "Probably a Revolutionist-Technician Hybrid."

" ... Seriously? There's a Face known as a Technician?" Lita mused, smirking slightly as Akane held her phone up, allowing her to see she wasn't simply making it up. "Hah! And the description's perfect for you! Okay then! After we finish up here, we're gonna grab a ring and see how you do in it. It's good that you've done your homework and watched a bunch of matches. But ... whew! .... you're definitely gonna need to have actual experience."

Akane's head tilted. "I'm ... excuse me? Did I relay to you I looked stuff up?"

"Not directly. That was just an assumption. Was I wrong?"

"No, no. On the contrary, you were dead right; however, I have seen some matches on the TV, not just YouTube."

Lita nodded, acknowledging her words before slowly asking, "Any ... specific matches or eras you loved watching?"

"I ... thought the Ministry of Darkness ...was really interesting."

Lita tilted her head, raising an eyebrow as she attempted to do some quick match. "How .. old were you during then?"

"Sixteen," Akane replied, "My dad didn't care about me watching with him. Anyway, some of those rituals ... they looked real. I'm almost positive a few were, so I know not all wrestling is fake."

"What ... makes you think they could have been real?"

"If you look at the one for Dennis Knight becoming Mideon .... the dagger Undertaker used. It did give actual glints. And after cutting himself and carving the symbol?" Akane's head moved from side to side. "There wouldn't have been a way to use fake blood without it being obvious. Plus, as a doctor, the appearance of Mideon's body after the knife finished its work ... it looked very legit to me. Of course, I didn't have that proof or observation back then. But now .... hindsight is 20/20 and all that jazz."

"Huh. I'd ... have to re-watch that myself. For now, I'll take your word on it. Alright! Five minute mark, sweetie! Save some of your energy; you're gonna need it."

Both would step off the treadmills panting. Luckily, each had gotten a bottle of water inside the gym, and were able to use it to calm their throats and simultaneously regain their breath. "Okay, so ... it's gonna be a brief, mock match. Not a full-fledged real deal, buuuuutt I can ... talk to some of the other Divas about helping you in the ring later this week. Text me what days would work best and I'll give you times, and everything you need to know, okay? For now ... come at me! After you set your water and stuff down, of course."

Lita wouldn't have to wait in the ring for long before Akane slid in via the middle and top ropes. The green-eyed Asian stared intently at Lita, working on coming up with something to use. She gave a confident nod ... and hunched down just a bit.

Oh shit!

By the time Lita had realized what Akane was going for, the younger woman slammed right into her, knocking her down with a much more powerful Spear than she'd expected. "Hah! N-Not bad at all! You're definitely doing the right thing. You're ... you're gonna fit in beautifully here. But ... you still got a shit ton of work to do." To help emphasize her point, she wrapped her arms around Akane's head, trapping her in a headlock.

What had started out as a 'brief mock fight' turned into looking as if it were real; lasting a full eleven minutes.

Who would have won?

Even Lita couldn't determine that. It actually had been much closer than she'd figured. "Damn, girl! You ... are .... a ... natural! Fuck!"

Akane chuckled, flushing slightly as she wearily nodded.

"You are gonna sleep really well. I know I will. This ... was the most fun workout I've had in some time. So ... homework. Text me like I said and keep up with your own appointments. For now? Think you can make it back to the car?"

"Mhmm .... " Akane sleepily murmured.

With how exhausted she not only looked, but felt, it was a miracle for even Akane that she managed to successfully walk back into Lita's car. Upon arriving at the hotel, the two would part ways. It would take little more than for Akane's head to plop on her pillow before, sure enough, she promptly fell asleep. Ah well. She'd get a shower in the morning, she subconsciously decided.
 
Kane took the kid out drinking with the other veterans. It was your prototypical dive bar, something that the Undertaker seemed to have a knack for finding one in every city that they visited. They passed the bouncer--who was looking increasingly nervous at all the large, muscled men making their way into his bar. Kane gave the guy a twenty-dollar tip that the guy would earn by the end of the night.

They went over to a few tables taken over by other veterans of the WWE. Kane showed the rookie to everyone, introducing him and explaining his gimmick. Most laughed and patted the rookie on the back. A few chuckled and shook their head. One or two looked genuinely offended. About what Kane had hoped for.

The veteran stuck to beer--only an idiot would try to keep up with JBL and Bradshaw--but he smiled wanly as the rookie kept taking round after round of shots. What the kid didn't know was that all of those shots were being put on his tab. Fairly mild for hazing, but Kane snuck a card for the WWE's legal counsel into his pocket. The guy had gotten Kane out of trouble with the Lita storyline.

It wasn't too long before the kid had been absorbed into Undertaker's orbit, so Kane took the opportunity to finally relax. He'd done a lot today, even if he wasn't on TV. The kid still had to finalize things with McMahon, but Kane was sure the gimmick was crazy enough for the boss to go for it. He was always looking for ways to antagonize the rednecks of the crowd, and some punk beating up on women in the name of equality would do it. The rookie would likely never outgrow the angle, but it'd be a good gig while it lasted.

Once they all were really getting rowdy, Kane left. He wasn't interested in the late nights and talks to police officers. All he really wanted to do was go back to his hotel room, sleep, and make his flight back to his Kentucky home the next day. Harmless shenanigans didn't appeal to him. Not when he had another plan to put into place: finding indirect ways to terrorize Lita for dropping him.
 

Almost every other day after the first work out session, Akane would find herself back at the gym. Typically with only Lita, though a few other Divas helpd out. Namely Trish Stratus and Jillian Hall. Still, the support and assistance was far more than the young woman would have ever expected. Apparently, though, they had a siilar train of thought Lita did, and those opininons strengthened after each mock match; she would do well. Lita, among some of the others, were direly hoping for a chanage of pace. And hat would come in a better representative for the Divas. Even wtih all the talent RAW did hae, the ffct was men still got more attention. Granted, it as true there were far more Superstars than Divas.

Nonetheless, they wanted changes.

To prove, for example, that women could handle Hell In A Cell - and other specialized matches - as well as anyone in the men's locker room.

"So, ladies? What do you think?" Lita would ask on the evening of August 12th.

All four females were panting, having finished partaking in a make-shift 4 woman battle royale. Jillian was the first to offer a smile of approval. Her head slowly nodded as she grabbed her water bottle, taking a long swig before replying. "You ... sure you started training her Monday? She's a damn natural."

"Indeed. How'd you find her?" Trish added.

Lita briefly grimaced. The look all but revealed she hadn't told any of the others she went to one of the counselors. "Well ... she's been helping me out. So ... I just decided to return the favor."

The looks on both Trish and Jillian's faces revealed neither believed it was that easy. But, for the time being, they accepted what they were hearing. "And .... she wanted this? To wrestle?"

All eyes went to Akane, who took her turn to firmly nod. "I ... I did - do - yes."

That was more than fine enough for all the women. The other Divas grinned among themselves, looking contently with Lita's choice of an apprentice of sorts.

"Well, welcome, sweetie," Trish stated in a sweet tone, "Just don't expect me to hand the WWE Women's Championship Belt. Nah. You're gonna have to earn that ... though you seem to have a really good head on your shoulders. You probably knew that, huh?"

"So," Jillian asked, "You gonna become official next week and sign a contract with Vince?"

Akane paused, seeming to contemplate the answer. Even snuck a sideways glance towards Lita. After quietly thinking and weighing whether she was ready or not, however, she gave another silent nod, confirming it with the simple reply of, "I will."

Everyone cheered, seeming ecstatic to hear the news.

"Let's go celebrate! Rounds will be on me!" Lita declared.

"Rounds? You mean .... drinks?"

"Aww. Are you a lightweight?" Jillian teased.

"N-No! I don't know. I don't usually indulge in alcohol." Akane replied, her voice lowering with each retort that passed her lips.

"Come on. It's just one night. And hey, you'll have the whole weekend to recover if you realize that alcohol hates you," Trish insisted.

In the end, Akane agreed.
15th August, 2005
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Bell Centre
12:06 PM

Oddly, Akane handled the liquor better than even she guessed. Not perfectly, mind you. She woke up Saturday with the worst headache. But she didn't puke like she partially expected.

Lita and Akane had agreed to make the process of debuting happen sooner than later, their session would be skipped. This way, she could give Vince her full, undivided attention.

Besides, she's probably right; most of the other Superstars or Divas won't likely see him till the evening, she thought, taking a long, deep breath as the Asian wandered through the halls of the stadium. Lita had agreed to accompany her .... for morale support, of course.

"Don't worry. You're gonna fit right in no problem! By the way, did you figure an outfit out?"

"Yeah. Yeah, luckily, I did. I bought it yesterday. It's in my backpack. I'll show you when I finish crossing my Ts and dotting my Is."

Lita giggled, looking absolutely giddy. "I know I suggested you become one of us out of anger originally, but we really are glad you're doing this. It's not an act or some shit."

"Well ... that actually is appreciated. Very much so."

Soon, the two would arrive outside Vince's office. Akane stared a the sign labeling his office before hesitantly stepping forward. Subconsciously, she clenched her right fist and knocked three times on the door. "It's ... It's Ms. Imatsu. I'd like to speak with you, if you have a moment?"
 
The next RAW seemed to come far too soon. And not soon enough. Most of the time had been spent planning, determining the likely reactions of the different wrestlers and factions in the WWE. While Kane was hardly the mastermind that Undertaker or the McMahons were, he still had to make sure that what he was about to do wouldn't end with him forced to retire. After all, it would be borderline insubordination after direct orders to avoid Lita.

His rookie had spent most of the week in jail back in Connecticut. Not exactly an auspicious start to his career, but it was common for new wrestlers to be dragged into trouble by veterans. While this didn't bode well for his training, it had given Kane time to more fully develop a gimmick and pitch that would suit the McMahon's.

The new wrestler would be known as C.B. or "Code Blue", a macho and punk reference that'd also suit the kid's style. They could still twist it to him shocking the audience by demanding entrance into the Diva's division. He still had to put some thought into the rivalry. He couldn't put the rookie directly against Lita--that'd be too obvious. Something would have to be developed among her associates, but he didn't know just who, yet. It'd have to be somebody she had close ties with.

He got to the training gym and smirked when he saw C.B. practicing falls in the corner. The kid had a mean tint in his eye. Obviously, he'd been treated rough by the cops and in the prison.

"Hey, kid. I've got your gimmick." Kane walked over, watching with disinterest as the rookie continued to throw himself to the floor. "Code Blue. Shocking, meaningful, and it'll give you an excuse to get into the Divas division. Sure, you'll come across as a little of a creep, but in this business, it's better to be ANYTHING other than boring. Besides, not like Triple-H hasn't done this thing before. Just be more...tasteful about it."
 

For a few seconds, neither Lita nor Akane heard a reply from Vince. Both of them glanced at one another, looking slightly confused.

"Is he out?" Akane inquired.

"Shouldn't be. I mean, that's not an impossible guess, but .... it's odd. He's around, more often than not."

"That's what I thought," Akane muttered, taking a deep breath as she looked back at the door. She waited another thirty or so seconds before liftting her fist once more. Before it could find the door, however, the wooden panel suddenly opened, revealing why they hadn't gotten an immediate reply.

Vince was inside -- but on his cell phone. Given he had yet to speak, it was easy to assume whoever was on the line was really speaking constantly. Possibly, if not very likely, in quite the pissed off tone. He flashed a quick grin towards both the women before making a 'come in' gesture.

"Look. I get where you're coming from and all, but --- "

An exasperated sigh passed the CEO's lips as he got cut off. Again. And when his hand moved away, Akane and Lita could see a very annoyed expression on his face.

"If you think you're the only one with problems, wrong. Now look. Last I checked, I'm in charge of RAW, like it or not. I got some people who need me. We'll discuss this further later." Without offering the other voice any warning, he roughly pushed on the "End" button, looking very relieved to have terminated the call. "Ugh. People nowadays, I swear."

Vince took a few moments to regain his composure before looking back up to the two ladies in his office. "Lita! Dr. Imatsu! I hope our lovely red-head didn't suggest I need help or anything. That's not true; not completely, anyway."

All three chuckled, with the two Divas managing to crack a smile at the jest.

"No, no," Akane finally reassured, her grin spreading as she cleared her throat, subconsciously straightening her back in the process. "I'm not here for medical business, in fact. I'm here ... for, well, wrestling."

And in case it hadn't become obvious yet, it would soon enough. Akane gulped, her hands resting atop her lap as she finally uttered her true reason for being here.

"I want to sign my own contract."

Out of habit, she rose her right index finger, "I am, by no means, intending to quit being one of your medical staff. I'm just ... branching out. Trying something new."

"Well, well, well ... this is quite the surprise. No offense, Akane - hope you don't mind the first name basis - but I never thought of you as a fighter."

"None taken. You're correct; normally, I'm not. I ... accidentally ended up insulting Lita during one of our sessions. Before she left, she suggested I should walk in her shoes. What better way to make myself official?"

Vince chuckled, his own smile widening. Just as Lita had expected, he was already loving the prospect of a fresh, new Diva, it seemed.

"I'll figure a way to thank you more properly for this, Lita. Very well then! I say if you're completely sure you wanna do this, why the hell not?!" After seeing an affirmative nod from Akane, he began eagerly rummaging through his files. "Perfect! I can't wait to see what you'll bring to RAW's Diva Division." Soon, he pulled a blank contract ou and placed it in front of Akane.

Akane fel her pulse quicken. This was it; the do or die moment. Hesitantly, she grabbed a pen, clicked it, and began filling out all of the fields. A lightt pat on her back from Lita helped calm her nerves, making it easier to continue.

" .... I'm not one to judge or anything, but I am curious. Are you two ... an item now?"

Lita merely smirked, seeming to find the thought amusing - certainly more appealing than her last several lovers had been. Akane's face, on the other hand, quickly flushed as her head moved from side to side. "No, no. That would be incredibly unprofessional - for an array of reasons. No sir. She has, however, helped me immensely. She trained me, in fact. So ... hopefully I can enter the ring and avoid looking like a complete fool."
 
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