Honolulu, Hawaii
Monday
The summer vacation for Anela had gone by much too quickly if you asked the young girl, and even more so if you were to ask her family in Hawaii. Her adoptive mother’s family and her dad’s had both wanted to see her more often, and while the offer for visits in Las Vegas still remained, it simply wasn’t enough. So Tempest had come up with the solution of bringing Anela home to Hawaii during summer vacation from school and just let both sides of the girl’s families spoil and indulge her to their collective heart’s content. And as summer vacation was quickly coming to an end and the school year in Las Vegas was starting again, it was time for Tempest to take her daughter back and bid farewell to her native Honolulu. But … if you knew anything about her immediate family, you would know that her mother Nalani would not allow her daughter nor adoptive granddaughter to simply leave without the benefit of one of her famous family feasts.
Of course, this afforded the father-daughter tandem of Kaimana and Alleyne aka Tempest to take an extensive walk around the neighborhood where the Mahoe family home was, a rare enough occurrence that they were not able to indulge in as often as they might prefer. As her mother Nalani had often pointed out, both in jest as well as her own brand of wisdom, the surroundings were more nature than neighborhood. True there were the given houses and neighbors both old that they had known since she and her brothers were children, and new - many whom she had laid eyes on during one of her visits but had yet to be introduced to by her parents. All around were palm trees, Tibouchina, Bird of paradise and Ohelo Kau La'au and many other plants and flowers native only to the state of Hawaii. To the common tourist, these were treasures denied them as they could not be brought from Hawaii back to any other state in the nation due to potential invasive pests or viruses, but here to the natives of this paradise, it was a simple indulgence to look at and appreciate.
Kaimana: You know, your mother would have much rather had you helping in the kitchen than taking this walk with your old man.
To which he was gifted with a side-eye from his daughter, one filled with not only bitter sarcasm but a touch of self-deprecating good humor.
Tempest: I’m sure Mom would rather her meal not be ruined by someone that barely knows a pot from a pan. And besides, she has Iolana helping her.
Kaimana: I’m sure you can appreciate the fact that while having your daughter-in-law help, there’s something just a little more special in having your only daughter help out with the family meal.
Tempest: Yeah, well… I stand by what I said. I’m just no good at being in the kitchen. I wasn’t when I was a kid, I wasn’t any better when I married Malulani - and I think I’ve only gotten worse since.
Kaimana: And since getting custody of Anela…?
Tempest: I try, but I think the kid is just too polite to tell me if my cooking sucks so she just eats whatever I put in front of her. To spare her mama’s feelings. It’s either that or a strict diet of McDonalds…
Kaimana hissed a breath in between his teeth, taking in the air at the sheer idea and this time it was his daughter’s turn to smile and nod.
Tempest: I know, I know! Mom would never forgive me for feeding a growing child that junk instead of a ‘good, home cooked meal’.
Her dad turned to her as they walked, an impish and somewhat knowing smile registered on his face.
Kaimana: You still do though, don’t you?
To which his daughter answered by holding up two extended fingers.
Tempest: Twice a week at most. Give the child a break from the disaster which is my kitchen.
The two continued their walk in a comfortable silence as neither father nor daughter were much for idle chit chat or small talk, even when it came to members of the family. Especially when it came to members of the family. After all, family should already know one another well enough than have to kill time by filling an otherwise embarrassed silence between them.
Kaimana: So you have to leave for Las Vegas in the morning…?
Tempest: Just long enough to get Anela settled at Gabriel’s before I hop on the plane to Japan.
Kaimana shook his head and pursed his lips, letting loose with a low, shrill whistle.
Kaimana: Cutting it pretty close.
Tempest: True, but it’s one of the perks I get for being both a mom and a career woman I suppose. Then I leave to get back to Vegas until I have to hop on the next plane for the next tour stop.
Kaimana: I guess that’s one way to rack up the air miles but aren’t you worried about exhausting yourself?
Tempest: I admit it’s not going to be easy but I wouldn’t say I’m worried. Anela is starting school this week and I have to get her back in time for that so I can’t take her with me on the tour. It’d be too much for a little girl to endure on a six week stretch. She went through that enough with her dad when he was touring. She’s not going to go through it with me.
To that, Kaimana could only nod with appreciation; respecting the fact that his daughter was more worried about the effects of her daughter being separated from her mom for an extended period of time as opposed to worrying about the effects such travel would have on her own mind and body.
Kaimana: Well, you know what a good solution for that would be…?
And the moment he said that, Tempest stopped walking and closed her eyes, head tilted back and she drew in a deep breath. She opened her eyes and she met the own unwavering stare of her dad in reciprocation.
Tempest: Please… do not tell me things would be much simpler if I were to just move back home. Because it’s like I told Mama, that would not help matters. If anything, it would cause me more issues that it would solve.
Her father frowned, not understanding. Clearly this was one of those times it would have been better had his wife and he had one of those rare chats.
Kaimana: How do you mean?
Tempest: These tours happen only twice a year in SCW so that is simple enough to handle. I can outlast the stress. But if I had to fly back and forth between Hawaii and Nevada or wherever every week? That would do me in even quicker! Plus, it’s like I told Mama. I’m still being watched by the courts as far as Anela goes. My only source of income here is my bonds business and I already know that it would be seen as a detriment in their eyes for the time being.
Kaimana: Well… you can’t blame a dad for trying.
Tempest scoffed.
Tempest: Yes I can! You let Mama get you to try and do her dirty work for her! The woman doesn’t know how to take no for an answer.
Kaimana: Part of her charm.
But of course, as the afternoon moved on, it was time for the Mahoe family feast to commence and all so that they could say goodbye for now to not just Tempest, but the newest and youngest addition to their already extensive family; namely young Anela. And Nalani’s reputation for cooking and knowing how to lay out a feast was very well deserved as along with her daughter-in-law’s help, the dining room table was covered in various traditional Hawaiian dishes such as Poke, Lami Lami Salmon, Huli Huli Chicken and several others. And in the Mahoe family tradition, it was basically every person for themselves when it came to laying hands on the dishes - save for Tempest commandeering the offered plates and bowls for Anela’s benefit and her older brother Konane doing the same for his wife.
All in all a pleasant way for the family to celebrate their daughter and granddaughter when Konane stood up from his seat and picked up a glass. Her turned his head to his wife - Iolana - and she soon joined him in standing, her complexion taking on a slight blush behind her smile.
Konane: Alleyne, I know this meal is mom’s way to say goodbye for now to you and Anela, but I spoke with her and Dad and told them that Iolana and I had something we needed to say and I hope you don’t mind our stealing a bit of the spotlight?
Tempest just waved off his concern.
Tempest: Steal away.
Her brother smiled with gratitude and he draped an arm around Iolana’s shoulder and drew her in close. Their eyes roamed about the gathered room.
Konane: Well, there’s no other way to say it but Iolana and I have been trying to start a family for about a year now and … She’s pregnant.
Nalani gasped, dropping her silverware to the plate in front of her and she covered her mouth with her fingers.
Nalani: You-you’re…
Konane: We’re having a baby, Mama!
The room lit up with cheers and a collective symphony of good wishes and words of congratulations. Practically everyone was now on their feet and many made their way over to the happy couple to embrace them and give them their best wishes; chief among them - the Matriarch, Nalani herself. She bugged her oldest son tightly and kissed him on his cheek before moving over to her daughter-in-law and she cupped her face in her hands.
Nalani: I can’t tell you how happy I am! Oh I think I’m going to cry!
She drew Iolana into her arms for a big hug, the tears falling freely down Nalani’s face.
Nalani: Our first grandbaby!
Tempest simply froze from where she had just placed a hand on her brother’s shoulder and she turned and stared at her mother and what she had just said. Her youngest brother, Nohea, even frowned. Her father noticed and looked at his daughter, then at his wife who remained oblivious to the sudden swell of tension that quickly had filled the room. Tempest cast a quick look to where Anela still remained in her seat and her heart broke at her daughter’s pained expression, avoiding all eye contact…
To Be Continued…
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden -
Tokyo, Japan
One of Tokyo’s largest and most popular parks, Shinjuku Gyoen is a paradise filled with spacious lawns, walking paths and some of the most delightful and tranquil scenery offered. It is a literal oasis away from the sprawling suburban life that surrounds it which is Tokyo itself. And within this natural botanical gardens there are no less than three gardens made famous; the oldest in the nation featuring a landscape of gardens, large ponds and bridges.
And it was on one of these very bridges that overlooked the largest pond dotted by manicured shrubs and majestic swans swimming along in the waters that had fallen blossom petals of many colors cascading from overlapping branches into the waters below - here stood none other than Tempest who sought a much needed respite from the surrounding public and her assigned duties for this the Royal Pain tour of 2024.
Ever since she stepped off of the plane at Tokyo's Haneda Airport, she had been besieged by fans who anxiously awaited a chance to meet her. They refrained from troubling her in the airport itself nor in the hotel lobby, simply because that was how such things were handled with celebrities in the Land of the Rising Sun. And when professional wrestling was involved, things could be even more hectic. All around the world, pro wrestling was popular. In Japan, it was considered art. And it’s wrestlers?
Artists.
In Japan, more so than perhaps anywhere else in the world, professional wrestling and the men and women who made it their life’s craft - they were both respected and revered. Even those seen as ‘heels’ were widely revered and sought after and Tempest simply needed to get away. A woman of her own imposing physical stature was a natural phenom in Japan, and she could not step outside of the hotel without fans rushing her or taking snapshots from afar.
Here at the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden? She was offered a brief respite. Her forearms rested on the rail of the perfectly crafted wooden bridge and her amber eyes watched the swans at play as she spoke.
“So, Summer XXXTreme XII is over and so is my reign as the Internet Champion and the one constant that I’ve had to endure since is a simple question - but one that so far remains unanswered is … ‘Where do I go from here?’ And I have to be honest and tell everyone out there right now that’s watching and listening the very same thing I told the first reporter that cornered my onboard of that blasted ship. And that is simply…”
She shrugged.
“I don’t know. I have barely had time to think since I dropped the championship to Julianna in what had to be one of my hardest fought losses since I first came to SCW. Aside from dealing with personal issues and then traveling here to Japan for commitments to this tour, I have barely had time to breathe - let alone figure out where I stand in the grand scheme of things. I’ve been asked time and again if I intended to challenge Julianna DiMaria to a rematch to try and get the Internet Championship back, given I was guaranteed a rematch clause in my contract. Right now…”
Her hands on the railing, she fully extended her arms outstretched and she looked around.
“I think I’m fairly content to let Julianna have her time in the sun while I think about where I want to go next. This was, after all. My first singles run and I think I did so fairly impressively if I do say so myself - which I just did. But do I want to cut her reign short and take the title back…? Do I want to make a run at the Roulette or World title or do I just want to sit back and see where things fall into place on their own…?”
She shrugged her shoulders and lowered herself back down to her previous position.
“Personally I’d love to drag Austin’s ass back to sign a contract and go after the tag team titles again. Finn and Kayla have gotten way too comfortable with those titles and I would love to end that run but that’s neither here nor there. I think for the time being I am pretty content where I am right now. Take a breather and just wait and see what Mark Ward might have in store for me in the coming weeks. ”
“And right now… where I stand is apparently going to be across the ring from the ‘other’ Lukas sister - and probably one of the best SCW has ever signed to either division - namely Alicia Lukas. And the moment I got the text, telling me to be in Japan and who I was going to be up against in the first show back since Summer XXXTreme XII, all I could do was smile. Seriously … I smiled. Because when you go on a big tour like this, and when you go to Japan of all places where professional wrestling is one of the biggest forms of both sport and art, you want a show that is going to create a lasting impression for all of these Japanese fans. Mark Ward hit things just right when he signed a match between Alicia Lukas and myself! This… this is going to be the match that steals the show!”
“Sorry and all due respect to the Main Event and the men but I hope the lot of you don’t get your hopes up on this one. Oh I know every one of you is going to do your best and put on a show that is going to burn itself into the minds and memories of every person in attendance and watching from around the world but ladies? Gents?”
Tempest smirked and shook her head.
“Alicia and I have this one in the bag.”
Tempest stood upright on the bridge and turned and she started to walk to the other side.
“This isn’t even the first time that I’ve been in the ring with one of the Lukas sisters. Zoey gave me the fight of my life almost two years ago at High Stakes XII. And if I am going to be entirely honest? I would have to name Zoey right up there as one of my top five toughest opponents. The only two I would even bother to rank over her would be Bobbie Dahl – number one, and Julianna DiMaria, number two. Bobbie is the first chick that gave me as good as she got and … she beat me! Julianna for obvious reasons because the bitch is half my size and she was still woman enough to take my championship away!”
“I know you’re watching this right now Alicia, and you are probably asking why Zoey isn’t higher than Julianna or Bobbie. Family loyalty and all that, but the truth of the matter is pretty simple. After that match, Zoey went public and called me out for ending her unbeaten streak and not taking advantage of the momentum that the win gave me. Well, on the flip side, I have a question for you Alicia. Well, actually, it’s for your sister but if you could do me the favor and pass it along to her, I’d really appreciate it.”
She turned to face the camera directly.
“I didn’t take advantage of that win or the momentum behind it, I admit that. I was dealing with injuries and personal issues and I had to start over from practically the very beginning. But if I didn’t take advantage and I’m still here - now a former Internet Champion ready for god knows what … where is your sister? Where is Zoey? That chick had a couple of great opportunities placed at her feet and now she just vanished in the wind. She had all of the god damned potential to be the top thing in this business! She has the size! She had the look! She had the talent! And she just up and left, flushing all of that wasted potential down the toilet like a snotty ball of Kleenex! But then there’s you…”
Tempest arrived at the edge of the pond, kicking off her slip on shoes to allow her bare toes to enjoy the tickling sensation of the freshly manicured grass. The smile was self evident on her face, and it was genuine.
“Let’s face facts, the better of the Lukas sisters. That’s not my saying something to spark jealousy or dissent between the two of you. It’s just a simple fact. You are a three time World Bombshell Champion. You are the first woman to ever receive the Wrestler of the Year accolade in the year-end awards! Your reputation from before you ever signed to SCW, to your previous run right up to your current, has been hard fought and well-earned! To put it bluntly…”
“Everything that you earned and accomplished, your sister strived to match. She wanted that world championship. She wants the world to look at her the way they look at you. But for God's sake! Zoey needs nothing more than to be seen as her own woman! That's all she needs! Her own title reigns! Her own accomplishments! I'm more than anyone else, aside from possibly you, want to see that bad ass bitch BACK in SCW so she can show the world she is one person only! Herself!”
“But the here and Now is not about her. It's about you, Alicia. It's about you and me being backed into something of a corner given our personal situations with one person. And you know who I'm talking about. The man that captured your heart, it's the very same man prove to me that not all people suck someone who is the first person that I truly opened up to and became my best friend.”
“I can remember it clear as day, Alicia. When you were Queen and you booked that Mixed Tag Team Championship match. You didn't do it to give me or your teammate some opportunity. You did it as a joke at Austin's expense at the time. Will lo and behold, he and I took advantage of that opportunity and ran with it! And while we started off as tag team partners, thanks to you, I made one of the closest friends of my entire life. That I have to thank you for. That I owe you.”
“But you bringing Austin into my life is not in any way going to save your ass come Sunday. Don't get me wrong. I've talked big before and ended up falling flat on my face. It happened with Mercedes. It happened with Julianna. Hell! It even happened against Seleana once!”
“Before your hiatus, whether it be from lack of booking on the part of the powers that be or whatever, before you were a force of nature. And that's coming from a woman literally named after one! But since your return? You've changed. And not for the worst, but for the better. There's a difference in your style now that I've watched and oh my god! I have come to appreciate! I wondered at one point what it would be like to step in the ring against you, well let's just say Christmas has come early this year for the both of us.”
“And before you or anyone else out there bothers to ask…”
She shook her head in the negative.
“No. I am not at all concerned about the elephant in the room. I might have been caught by surprise with the jokester who named Austin as the guest referee to our match, but I'm not worried about it. I'm not worried about him taking sides or calling things down the middle. Dividing his loyalties between his friend and his girlfriend. Not an issue in my mind. And why is that?”
“Because the man is smart enough to know that if he were to call it any other way other than down the middle, he would get the ever-loving crap kicked out of him by the both of us!”
Tempest nodded her head at the camera it acknowledgment, the corner of her lips turned upwards in a wry smile.
“So whatever happens, Alicia. Let's just kick the living shit out of one another and give these fans in Tokyo a reason to acknowledge the Bombshell division as the best that SCW has to offer!”