Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2010 11:14:30 GMT -5
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
- Matthew 6:33
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Fade in to the night lights of some city between Bangor, Maine and Providence, Rhode Island, possibly including them. Mikami enters from the left side, dressed, unusually, in jeans and a hooded sweatshirt. There are no doubt several layers on under this exterior, given the below freezing temperature. His breath is clearly visible when he speaks.
Mikami: Walk with me.
He pulls up fabric from somewhere inside and beneath the hood to cover his mouth and nose before slowly trudging down the sidewalk away from the camera, which then follows him.
Mikami: I would be lying if I said there was any part of me that expected Steve Carr to ever appear again. Like everyone else, I assumed he would keep his word and never bother any of us again. The obvious question, which interviewer types like Hank Brown feel the need to ask - as if the average wrestler is too brain dead to inform viewers without some sort of prompt – is, what does Mikami do now? The same thing as always. Be patient. Do not act unnecessarily. The opportunity to act will always present itself.
Mikami stops suddenly, pulling his bare hands out of the hoodie's pockets. He pulls a pair of black gloves from his jeans and puts them on, and then replaces his hands.
Mikami: Of course, that does not mean just sitting around and twiddling my thumbs. Because, speaking of perfect opportunities presenting themselves, I have a match this week to focus all of my attention on. There is a rumor going around that I am looking forward to this match because I hate Torture for some reason. Presumably for disbanding the Team of Torture, or because I look back on my time with the ToT as a diversion from my own career for Torture's gain. But as I said last week, I am not angry at being “used”, I am angry because I was not. Or perhaps “misused” is the right word. Torture never believed in me, or anyone else in the Team of Torture. One needs only look at Greenfever to see an example of someone fulfilling their purpose. A man who took orders from Seth Lerch, and yet is considered one of WCF's top competitors, despite his...quirks.
He stops next to a dark alley and turns around to face the camera, pulling down the cover from his mouth.
Mikami: This alley could be the site of a hundred crimes that no one will ever know of. Any city has spots like this. From petty crimes like fraud and forgery to theft, rape and murder. It was foolish of me to think that one person could make a difference. But there is one kind of justice I still believe in: poetic justice. Arguably the sweetest kind of justice, it will be served when I defeat Torture for the World Title. The man who Torture did not believe was capable of anything worthwhile, taking away his championship. First, of course, I have to win the title shot at Slam. But that will prove nothing. I have earned the status of contender before. No, I must finally beat Torture, once and for all. And now is the perfect opportunity to do it.
He pulls up his mask and walks towards a row of stores. Despite them all being closed for the night, various products can still be seen displayed through the windows. Mikami slows down in this area as if window shopping, appraising all the goods for their relative strengths and weaknesses and comparing that to their price tags.
Mikami: Yes, now is as good a chance as I have gotten in a long time, if not better, and it may never come again. I will face a group of opponents who individually would pose a threat, but I know just how to approach this sort of situation. They are all just strong enough to wear each other down. Johnny Reb I have beaten before, twice at least. Rick Mad is washed up, as his last match with Steve Carr proved. Dake Ken?
He laughs.
Mikami: Dake Ken has not seen in quite a long time the level of competition that we at WCF face on a weekly basis. He cannot possibly be in any sort of shape for a match of this magnitude. I would not be surprised if he thought better of this buffoonery and withdrew his name from the fight before Slam. He has nothing to gain. By participating in this match, he will only look weak in the end.
He stops outside a window, taking his hands from his pocket and rubbing them together to warm them up.
Mikami: Brad Kane is in almost exactly the same situation, except that he already embarrassed himself with a loss to Seth Lerch. That sort of failure should automatically disqualify you from getting anywhere near the World Title for six months at least, but, as always happens in this sort of situation, he used his position to screw over someone more deserving. What a shame.
Something catches Mikami's eye. He moves over to another window and sees an expensive-looking watch in a glass case.
Mikami: And that just leaves Slickie T. The glittering Rolex among all the cheap knock-offs. He came close to defeating Torture. And yet, that actually makes him easier to beat. I do not necessarily think that he is still physically hurting from that match, but after losing, he has plunged himself into such a state of denial that he thinks he is predestined to win. That sort of attitude leads to failure more often than not. Still, I must be on my guard. The people that buy the fake watches, the ones that get scammed the most...are the ones that think they are too smart for it.
He rubs his hands together again.
Mikami: I do have one advantage over the man who always has to stay in his casino...getting beaten down in the WCF ring will feel like relief after being in this cold. Time to get inside.
He pulls out a cell phone and calls the cab company. Fade out.
