NEW - NOIR EXTREME WRESTLING

(Previously: N.E.W. Lumberjack Match - Princess Misaki vs Hana Jeong)

 

Hana_Jeong: After taking a few quick, bloody photos with weeping, cheering fans at ringside, I finally stagger back through the curtain. The backstage area immediately erupts into applause. Staff, production crew, and fellow wrestlers line the hallway, clapping for the brutal spectacle we just put on. But I bypass all of them. My eyes find Ji-yeon standing nervously near the gorilla position. I walk straight up to her and throw my arms around her neck in a tight, heartfelt embrace. She stiffens in total shock, her cheeks flushing dark red. As a rookie, having the main-event winner and the woman of the night single out her in front of the entire roster clearly overwhelms her. I pull her close, leaning into her ear so my words are lost in Korean, meant strictly for her: "Thank you so much for having my back out there, Ji-yeon. Truly. One day, you're going to shine brighter than I ever could." She nods furiously, her eyes wide and glistening with pride. The medical team quickly pulls me into the trainer's room, stitching and bandaging the gash on my forehead. My eyes keep scanning the hallway, searching for a sign of your black-and-red gear or your bloodied face, but there's no trace of you anywhere. Not even in the locker room.

 

Hana_Jeong: After a long, scalding shower that turns the water pink, I pull on comfy clothes. All I want to do is slip out the back exit and find you. The more I learn about you, the more I realize how deeply frustrating and isolating tonight must feel for you, and I desperately need to process everything that happened between us: the blood, the violence, and that silent, aching embrace on the top rope. But as I reach the rear exit, Ji-yeon and the two westerner girls, British Alisson and German Helga cut me off with huge, eager smiles. "Hana! You're not escaping!" Alisson laughs, swinging an arm around my shoulders. "We reserved a private table at a small traditional restaurant. Celebratory dinner! You have to come!" Helga nods enthusiastically, already holding the door open for me. I smile weakly, unable to say no to the three girls who showed courage to sand on my side. "Lead the way," I say, trying to sound cheerful. But as we step out into the crisp Kyoto night air, my heart stays behind in the dark, wondering where you are and if you're nursing your wounds alone.

Princess_Misaki: I don’t know how the organizers got me backstage. Every muscle in my body felt as if it weren’t where it was supposed to be. In a dim little room, I struggled to slide off the stretcher. “Misaki, no, I think right now you...” “I think I’m fine right now. My mind is clear, and my limbs still work. Thank you. I know this familiar feeling. I know what I can still do tonight. So, my dear, thank you—let me be alone for a while...” I almost rudely cut off what the medical team was saying to try to keep me with them. I rolled off the stretcher in a sorry state, went around the corner to my locker, and sat down on the floor. I was no stranger to this sense of loss and defeat; I had long tried to make peace with these things. I deftly took pain-relief and anti-inflammatory spray from the locker, sprayed it on my ribs and limbs, and used hemostatic patches to cover every wound on my face. “She really left me here tonight, in this ring...” I murmured with my head down. I don’t want to disturb you at a time like this. It’s fair. You need tonight’s unforgettable celebration. Gritting my teeth, I endured the twisting and bursting sensation from my spine, struggled to my feet, changed into my Doc Martens, put on my coat, and slipped quietly out the back door of the locker room. I deliberately avoided the competitors from my camp. My conscience was clear, but I didn’t want to waste time arguing with them, so I chose to leave my car here and get out of here on foot or by taxi. Of course, I would choose places that were less crowded.

 

 

Hana_Jeong: The dinner was amazing, and for a few hours, the genuine warmth from the girls helped ease the dull aching in my body. Seeing the raw pride and admiration in their eyes took me back to my own early days. Over hot tea and steaming food, I ended up telling them stories about Sara Leon and me back when I was just 19 years old rookies in Tokyo, completely lost and trying to navigate the Rising Star program the exact same program they're grinding through right now. I was practically a baby back then, just a young Korean girl who knew almost nothing about the world or how harsh this business could be. "Just work hard, support each other, and put genuine love into everything you do in that ring," I told them softly, watching their faces light up with determined smiles. "Honestly, that's the only real advice I can give you." After plenty of shared laughs and warm goodbyes outside the restaurant, they headed off toward their shared tiny apartment, and I started walking down a different path toward my hotel. As soon as I was alone, the quiet descended, and thoughts of you flooded back into my mind, heavier than before. The crisp Kyoto night breeze swept through my hair, cooling the soreness in my bandaged forehead as I walked slowly under the glowing city lights. I kept wondering where you were in this huge, silent city, holding the memory of your quiet words on the turnbuckle close to my chest while the cold streetlights guided my steps back to the hotel.

Hana_Jeong:

Princess_Misaki: In a low state, one is clearly overly confident about certain things. I overestimated my stamina and underestimated the distance from KBS to the hotel. The heaviness of every step was not only because of my frustration over a loss; the actual scars and scrapes on my body were the main reason my steps kept getting heavier. “Damn it, I should have driven back. This is the first time I’ve felt my legs this heavy.” When the hotel we were staying at appeared ahead at the mouth of the alley, I vaguely saw its brilliantly lit outline and at the same time smelled strong liquor—pungent and thick. My hair was suddenly yanked hard, and the strong alcohol fumes exhaled from his mouth and nose overwhelmed me before I had time to think. I was seized tightly in an instant. “Look who it is, Ayako. Isn’t this NOIR’s little bitch? Tonight she just got beaten so badly she couldn’t get up. Then I suppose you don’t mind buying me and my wife Ayako another drink, do you?” A tall drunk growled by my ear. His hand was over my mouth. I wanted to struggle, but my body clearly would not allow me to make such violent movements anymore.

Princess_Misaki: “Dear Otsuji, I think someone will be paying for our credit cards these next few days, right, Miss Misaki? I wanted to be a wrestler when I was little too, but there was no way. Compared with those stupid rules, I prefer beating you in the street. HaiiiHa!” The female thug punched me in the stomach. I whimpered and doubled over, unable even to cry out. I watched helplessly as the bright street grew farther and farther away. I was attacked just a few hundred meters from the security guards, after an exhausting match. Was this my punishment...? The female thug began roughly reaching into my pockets, trying to find my wallet or get some cash. My struggles grew weaker and weaker. The man was dragging me toward a darker alley on one side. “Honey, hurry up. You know, this bitch has something on her more tempting than her wallet.” When I heard this, I suddenly struggled violently. If moments before I hadn’t cared about them taking my money, then what came next—no one knew what these despicable, even terrifying, people were going to do to me. I began to despair. My body grew even heavier with panic, and tears welled up in my eyes.

 

 

Hana_Jeong: The night air grows crisp against my bandaged forehead, but my legs are numb, begging for a bed after the war we just waged in that ring. Still, my mind is far away so consumed by thoughts of you, your voice on the turnbuckle, and the lingering phantom warmth of your breath against my neck that I barely register my own physical exhaustion. Wanting to avoid the late-night crowds, I cut down a narrow, shadowy alley tucked between dark industrial warehouses. The only light comes from the distant, amber glow of the hotel main entrance at the far end of the street. Then I hear it. A muffled, desperate gasp. The slick sound of a violent struggle, accompanied by suppressed, agonized groans. My pulse instantly spikes. I quicken my pace, melting into the deep shadows lining the concrete walls. Through the gloom, I spot two figures pinning someone against the alley wall. One of them, a strange man in a leather jacket reeking of alcohol, fumbles drunkenly to unzip his trousers while a woman holds a victim down. My blood runs cold as the sickening reality of what is about to happen dawns on me and then the dim light catches a strand of dark hair, a familiar profile, a battered body unable to fight back. Misaki. An explosive, white-hot fury ignites in my chest. My mind completely snaps. I hurl my heavy gear bag to the pavement without a second thought and charge straight out of the darkness. I leap into the air and driving a vicious forearm smash directly into the back of the man's neck with all my body weight! The sheer impact slams his face and chest hard against the rough concrete wall. Before he can even process the blow, I vault onto his back, locking my forearms tightly around his throat in a deep rear-naked choke while snapping my legs around his waist in a tight body-scissor.

Hana_Jeong: He thrashes frantically, choking out terrified, drunken gasps as I squeeze with every ounce of rage left in my shattered muscles. Suddenly, a blinding, white-hot agony explodes in my lower back. CLANG! The woman lunges from behind, savagely striking my kidneys with a heavy steel baton. The shockwave of pain instantly severs my grip, forcing my lungs to seize up as I crash hard onto the icy asphalt right next to you. My body convulses from the blow, but I push myself up onto my elbows, spitting directly onto the toes of her boots. "C'mon, bitch!" I roar through grit teeth, my eyes blazing with pure hatred. "Try that again!" The male thug staggers back, wheezing violently as he rubs his bruised throat. He stumbles over to stand beside his girlfriend, his face twisted in a murderous, vengeful sneer. "Look at that... it's the other NOIR bitch!" he spat, reaching inside his jacket and pulling out a heavy, dark metallic revolver. "You think you're a tough hero, huh? You're both going to fucking die tonight but before that, you're going to amuse us, you Korean whore." He raises the weapon, pointing the black barrel straight at my chest. Instinct takes over instantly. I don't think about my torn ribs, my split forehead, or the fact that I can barely stand. I throw my entire body across yours, shielding you completely with my back so you stay behind me. I stare up into the darkness, locking my eyes onto his with terrifying, unyielding coldness, fighting to buy every precious second of time. We made enough noise to awaken the entire block, and the echoing footsteps of approaching security can't be far behind. "Do it, fucker!" I snarl, my voice echoing violently off the alley walls. "Pull the trigger! You'll never get out of this city alive!"

Princess_Misaki: That filthy posture is something I will never be able to forget for the rest of my life. I was drowning in endless despair. If that damned bastard had succeeded in doing what he wanted, then the only thing waiting for me next would have been death. I do not have the courage to face something like that. Two degenerates who had already given up on themselves would have destroyed everything I have. But suddenly the pressure on my body disappeared. I collapsed to the ground in an instant. This could not be a dream, because my abdomen was swollen again, and there was still the pungent smell of tobacco left by a man’s fingers at my lips. A familiar figure had choked that man from behind like a wild wolf. “Watch out... Han...” Because of the pain, I did not finish my sentence. The steel pipe landed heavily across your back. You fell down in front of me, your back pressing tightly against me, not letting me be exposed to danger again. “My God, a gun...” When I clearly saw the dangerous thing in that man’s hand, I realized we could not provoke him any further. I struggled, trying to stand up, and grabbed the hem of your clothes. “No... please... don’t shoot. You just want money, right... Take it all, that’s not a problem....” I stared at the pistol in the man’s hand. My hand secretly scratched your palm once, and I hoped you would notice what I was doing. I staggered forward slightly, watching that man’s finger. “Please, don’t..... Run, Hana! Get past that bitch!” I suddenly grabbed the wrist holding the pistol, and with the last of my fighting spirit I drove my knee into that bastard’s crotch. Then I forced his wrist upward, trying to pin him against the wall on one side, while hoping you could use this little bit of time left to break through Ayako’s encirclement.

 

Hana_Jeong: The terrifying sight of you throwing your battered body into the armed bastard snaps every remaining instinct I have into absolute overdrive. As you drive your knee into his crotch and force the gun upward, I throw my entire body straight at the female thug, Ayako. The sudden, violent force of my tackle catches her completely off guard; her high heels buckle on the uneven alley concrete, and we crash down hard together in a chaotic heap. I immediately mount her, driving a heavy fist straight into her cheekbone but in the dim light, a sudden silver flash catches my eye. A heavy hunting knife! She slashes wildly up at my chest. Reflexes born of pure survival kick in, and I jerk my upper body backward just enough to avoid a lethal blow the tip of the blade only grazing a thin, stinging scratch across my chest tearing the t-shirt. Before she can slash again, I throw both my hands over her wrist, pinning her forearm down and brutally slamming her knuckles face-first into the rough coal tar floor! THACK! The searing pain forces her fingers to pop open, and the knife clatters onto the pavement. I snatch the weapon instantly, wrenching her up by her hair and dragging her onto her knees in front of me. I wrap my arm around her neck, pressing the cold steel of the blade tight against her throat, using her trembling body as a human shield between us and the gunman. "STAY BACK OR SHE DIES!" I roar, my voice echoing like a bloodthirsty monster through the narrow alleyway.

Hana_Jeong: The man freezes, his face twisted in a mixture of rage and panic, but his eyes tell me he thinks a professional athlete a famous babyface is bluffing. He lifts the revolver again, trying to aim around us. "You're full of shit, bitch!" he screams "Don't test the "korean whore"!" I snarl. I press the razor-sharp edge deeper into her neck until a thin, crimson trickle of blood oozes over the steel. Ayako lets out a blood-curdling shriek, her confidence instantly evaporating as she begins to weep and thrash in total terror. "OTSUI! OTSUJI, DROP IT! SHE'S CRAZY, SHE'S FUCKING CRAZY! DROP THE GUN!" she wails, her voice cracking in pure panic. I stare straight into the bastard's trembling eyes over her shoulder, my grip on the knife like iron, my own blood dripping from my jaw onto her jacket. "You think this Korean girl gives a damn about your pathetic lives after what you just tried to do to her?!" I growl through bared, bloody teeth, stepping forward with her in my grip to cover Misaki completely. "DROP THE GUN NOW OR I SLIT HER THROAT RIGHT HERE ON THE STREET!"

Princess_Misaki: "What are you doing! Run, Hana!" My intention was for you to get away from this dangerous place quickly, but you clearly had your own plans. You launched an attack on that female thug without hesitation. I wasn't sure how long I could keep this big guy under control. I was so terrified I screamed when I saw that gleaming knife swing toward your chest. Just as this man was about to regain control, you had already gained the upper hand on that woman. You threatened this guy named Otsuji with that sharp weapon. Obviously, this man hadn't expected you to be so crazy. They had taken us completely for pampered idol stars and never imagined they'd face such fierce resistance. After this man heard his partner's pleading, he was caught in a dilemma and froze in place. I stepped forward and gave him a clean slap across the face this time. Then I drove my knee hard into his balls again. "I really should make these two things permanently useless!" Then I seized his pistol, walked over to your side, and held down your arm that was holding the knife, so you wouldn't actually lose control and end up charged with involuntary manslaughter. "All right, Hana, we... let's call the police, okay... These two weapons, I don't think I'm good at handling these things." "Your name is Ayako, right, bitch? You'll have to spend next Christmas in prison!" I smashed the butt of the pistol hard against her head. Even if I would be charged with excessive self-defense, if Hana hadn't been here, maybe I wouldn't even have had the right to be charged.

Hana_Jeong: The moment the butt of the heavy gun crashes against Ayako's head, the woman goes limp and collapses in a heap directly at Otsuji's feet. The drunken thug, completely emasculated and clutching his groin in agony, drops to his knees beside her, whimpering like a coward with his hands in the air. My breathing comes in heavy, ragged gasps, my knuckles white as I slowly lower the knife under your gentle pressure. The adrenaline that kept us upright finally begins to ebb, leaving my torn ribs and throbbing forehead screaming in agony. I pull out my phone with trembling, blood-stained fingers and dial the emergency number. But as the line rings, we can already hear the faint, echoing wail of sirens cutting through the Kyoto night neighbors in the adjacent apartment buildings had clearly called the police long before the final confrontation. Within minutes, red lights flood the mouth of the alley. 2 patrol cars pull up, their doors flying open as officers rush in with flashlights drawn. The procedure is swift, meticulous, and strictly professional. The officers immediately disarm the scene, kicking away the knife and securing the revolver while pinning Otsuji to the pavement and cuffing the half-conscious Ayako. Once the immediate threat is contained, the atmosphere shifts completely as they recognize who we are two dazed, battered women covered in fresh cuts and blood. While forensics document the alleyway, taking photos of the weapons, bloodstains, and skid marks, a senior officer gently guides us away from the commotion to take our initial statements. In quiet, respectful tones, they record everything: the ambush, the attempted assault, and the desperate self-defense. They take down our names and hotel details with visible sympathy and concern. An ambulance arrives shortly after, but after a quick check of our vital signs by the paramedics, we firmly decline being taken to the hospital. We've both had enough of emergency rooms for one night. A kind senior officer insist

Hana_Jeong: A kind senior officer insists on personally escorting us on foot back to the hotel lobby, keeping a respectful distance to shield us from any stray passersby. "Are you sure you ladies don't require an ER visit?" the officer asks softly in Japanese as we reach the warmly lit sliding glass doors of the hotel lobby. "We can easily arrange transport." I offer him a tired, polite bow, wrapping an arm around your waist to support your weight as you lean heavily against me. "Thank you so much, officer," I say softly, my voice hoarse. "I think... we just really need to rest."

Princess_Misaki: The instant the sirens sounded, I went completely limp. When the sheriff took the pistol out of my hand, I realized that it was the first time in my life I had ever come into contact with such a dangerous weapon. All the routine procedures were carried out while my mind was in a haze. Hana and I held each other up, but I was clearly terrified by the scene. This was different from fighting in the ring; there was no rehearsal, not even any room for error. A polite, gentle police officer insisted on taking us back to the hotel. He repeatedly asked whether we needed medical personnel. Hana politely declined everything, and I was grateful to her for that. I straightened up as much as I could and thanked the officer. "Thank you, Officer. I don't know why someone like that would target me. If I'm needed to cooperate with the follow-up investigation, I'll spare no effort, but please let us rest tonight. Hana has been through a huge emotional roller coaster, and I even more so... If you're a wrestling fan, you should know what happened tonight. Thank you. Can we go back to our room now?" After the officer gave his permission, I almost immediately took your arm and walked toward the room. The moment the key card unlocked the door, I staggered and collapsed onto the sofa. "Hana, my God, did I see that right? Someone pointed a gun at us tonight, and you actually stood in front of me and defied him. That... that's insane..."

Hana_Jeong: The moment I kick off my shoes and press my aching bare feet onto the soft carpet, an enormous wave of relief washes over me, loosening the tight, agonizing knots in my chest. I turn to look at you sprawled across the sofa, trembling, completely exhausted, and looking so deeply vulnerable and terrified. Seeing you like this, stripped of your fierce, unyielding ring persona, breaks my heart into a thousand pieces. I walk over with slow, tired steps, dropping down onto the cushion right beside you. I wrap my arms gently around your shoulders, pulling you close against my chest in a soft, protective embrace, as if holding a scared child who just survived a nightmare. "Come here..." I whisper softly, burying my face into your hair and letting out a long, shuddering breath. "It's over, Misaki... it's completely over. We're safe now."

Princess_Misaki: The fear has now been completely stripped from my body. What I feel now is more like doubt about everything—doubting their reality, their reasonableness. I can’t help but wrap my arms around you. “Hana, I—I don’t know now whether I’m dreaming. No more than half a month ago, we… couldn’t even agree on a single sentence. On the first day we met, we mocked and attacked each other; after that, we broke the company’s rules and fought wildly, becoming a laughingstock in public; then we actually had to live in the same room; afterward we faced off in the ring; after that we could even sit in the same car, sleep together, eat together, joke together, without it affecting how we went all out in the ring to drive each other to despair… And now, to this moment, we’re being held at gunpoint, you’re holding a knife to those thugs’ throats, and I’m trying to shield you from the gun muzzle. My God, Hana, I mean, is all of this real? Is all of this something a tiny wrestler should have to go through? Right now, even if James Bond knocked on the door and told me this building would explode in a few dozen seconds, I’d believe it. I mean, these past ten-odd days of my life have been full of struggle and excitement; the adrenaline has spoiled me, and I’ve even become a little obsessed with this kind of life. And I’ve realized I know why Sara finds it so hard to let go of you. You’re a… one-of-a-kind girl—not just in the literal sense. I know what I’m saying. Being your competitor is also something worth being happy about, you know?” I almost blurted out the words in my head word for word. My thoughts no longer needed any restraint, and I couldn’t hold them back anymore. Life is changeable; I will not hesitate to make this sentence my motto. I slowly stand up, slip out of your embrace, and begin tearing off my awful wrestling outfit piece by piece, telling myself that the performance that belonged to tonight—our performance together—is over.

Hana_Jeong: I look down, my cheeks flushing with a warm, sudden blush despite the exhaustion weighing down my entire body. It’s completely true. Just a month ago, I couldn't stand the sight of you; all I wanted was to pull your hair, tear you apart in the ring, and beat you into the mat. But the more time we spent forced into each other's orbits, the more we exposed our deepest vulnerabilities, our true feelings, and our unguarded hearts to one another. Inside that ring, we might be two fierce, terrifying competitors but outside of it, we're just two fragile young women, each carrying our own scars and traumas. Maybe you just hide yours better than I do. As you stand up and begin stripping away your battered wrestling gear piece by piece, my eyes naturally follow your movement, taking in the raw, unfiltered reality of the woman standing in front of me. "I just did what anyone would do, Misaki," I say softly, my voice quiet in the still room. I stand up slowly, stepping over to stand directly behind you. Reaching out, I place my hand gently over your bare, bruised shoulder, my fingers warm against your skin. "I can't deny it, though... my heart almost exploded the second I realized it was you in danger."

 

Princess_Misaki: "Maybe I should learn to use some weapons, not just in the ring—like how you just pointed a knife at Ayako. I mean, at a time like this, I could learn to protect myself. Or protect you..." I gently brushed my hair aside. My face was still badly swollen from the match, and the incident in the alley just now made me realize what true violence is. It was absolutely different from everything in the ring; it was unrestrained cruelty. It wasn't until today that I realized that all the cruel and vicious fighting I once pursued was just a sport, a game. True violence has no prelude or buildup; in an instant it can even kill me. How could I bring something like that into the ring? "You always make the people around you better and better," I said to you in a low voice. Only I knew what I meant. You've made me understand so many things, both in and out of the arena. I turned around and extended my right hand to you. "I think I now have the right and the courage to get to know you all over again. My name is Misaki. I'm a Brazilian jiu-jitsu athlete, a member of a girls' idol group, an MMA fighter, and currently active in NOIR as a FACE wrestler. Nice to meet you." I think I need this formal reconciliation—not just with you, but even more so with myself. I stood barefoot on the hotel floor, waiting for your response—a response different from the one at our first meeting.

Hana_Jeong: "Do you think I knew what I was doing? I was scared to death," I murmur, a small, breathy laugh escaping my lips as the ridiculous, terrifying reality of the night settles over us. I look at your outstretched hand, then up into your eyes past the swelling, past the bruises, seeing the brilliant, resilient woman beneath it all. "Real violence... it's cold and empty, Misaki," I say softly, my voice rich with quiet emotion. "No matter how dark or cruel the world out there gets, we don't have to face it alone. We can protect each other. We can choose to bring warmth into the dark." I step closer, closing the distance between us, and wrap my fingers gently around your hand. Instead of a stiff handshake, my grip is warm, holding on a little longer than necessary as I pull you just an inch nearer. "Nice to meet you, Misaki," I say softly, a tender, slightly flirty smile breaking through my fatigue. "I'm Hana, your opponent... and apparently, the woman who gets to share your bed, get a beating alongside you by some thugs, and fall completely under your spell. Though I think 'co-worker' works, too."

Princess_Misaki: 'It was quite a bargain—getting beaten up in the ring a few times, having a gun pointed at me, having a knife held to my throat, and finally meeting a co-worker. Apparently, this co-worker initially tried to attack me without any restraint; she even threw me around in front of thousands of people just a few hours ago...' After the sincere respect and thanks, I'm used to wrapping things up in this kind of bantering way. I was never a rule-abiding good student to begin with. 'I hope tonight's incident won't affect me. We still have one last match. God knows what new ways the higher-ups at NOIR are cooking up to torture us now. But this time I hope we'll have a security team when we make our exit. After all, I don't know if my success rate at disarming a gun and kicking someone in the groin is 100 percent.' I turn and sit right down on the sofa, spread my arms along the armrests, and look up at you from below

Hana_Jeong: I can't help but smile, hearing the dry, sharp banter cut through the heavy air. We are so clearly different: your cold, rational, almost methodical way of processing chaos against my raw, emotional, heart-first way of taking on the world. But somehow, in the wreckage of tonight, those two opposite sides fit together perfectly. I walk over and sit down on the sofa right next to you, sinking into the soft cushions. "You forgot to mention the part where you busted my nose wide open and made me tap out in front of everyone," I murmur, my lips curving into a gentle, fond smile as I look at you. "Look... we still have one final match ahead of us, but we can worry about NOIR and their crazy stipulations later." I pause, taking a deep breath as a sudden wave of quiet courage washes over me. Reaching out, I slide my fingers gently into yours, holding your hand warmly against the sofa cushion. "What happened was horrible," I say softly, my eyes locking onto yours with total sincerity. "But the only thing that matters to me right now is that you're safe, and that we made it through together. So... what do you say? Can we call a truce for the next few days? Just you and me, no rivalries, no wrestling. just enjoying the days off we had until the next show...."

Princess_Misaki: “Of course—but you didn’t spare me either. Look here, and… here…” I showed you the bruises on my ribs and thighs from repeatedly falling from high places. Of course, I knew I wasn’t bickering with you; after the high-pressure situations of the past few days—filled with violence and even gang fights—we both needed a relaxed environment to feel lively again. I stood up, faced you, swung my legs over both sides of you, and knelt on the couch so that you were surrounded by my petite body as much as possible. Above you, I cupped your face. “Yes—once we return to Tokyo, this series will be over. We shouldn’t waste the remaining days. I promise that after we get back to New York, no matter what path I take next, you’ll always have one steadfast girl by your side. Hana, your performance won me over completely. I finally understand why you and Sara are so hard to separate.” I stroked your smooth skin and murmured in your ear in a lazy, soft voice.

Hana_Jeong: My breath hitches in my throat, completely caught by surprise as you climb over me, kneeling on the couch and enclosing me in your warmth. Being held like this, surrounded by your frame while your soft fingers gently cup my bruised, aching cheeks, makes my chest swell with an overwhelming, almost terrifying rush of emotion. My heart races wildly, pounding violently against my ribs. Tears prick at the corners of my eyes again, not from pain or fear, but from a profound, radiant affection that I can't hold back anymore. I reach up with trembling, delicate hands, placing my palms over yours to hold them tightly against my face, refusing to let you pull away. "You really know how to make me submit, don't you?" I whisper a bit playful. I look up into your eyes, completely exposed, leaning into your soft touch as if my life depends on it. "You are an amazing wrestler... much better than me," I murmur, my chest heaving with deep, ragged breaths as I pull your hands down slightly to press a soft, lingering squeeze against your fingers. "You're so strong, so disciplined... but outside the ring, I can feel it. You carry this heavy inner pain, a quiet burden you try so hard to hide from the rest of the world." I gently stroke the back of your hand, looking at you with total vulnerability. "You don't have to carry it alone anymore, Misaki. I care about you...It's sad that we had to share this awful moment one hour ago but... here we are"

Princess_Misaki: By now I know exactly where the crux of my inability to let go of this Korean girl lies. When she feels a natural dislike and resentment toward me, and when she also sees me as someone important in her life, she is always candid and direct. She is different from Chanyota, my sister’s innocence—this is a kind of purity that disregards everything. The first time we met, she could stand up for Sara purely because of the old grudge between me and Sara. After she learned what kind of person Misaki was, she could help Misaki block a gun muzzle, even do extremely dangerous things with a knife. And now, she is tender as water. Compared with the cookie-cutter Misaki—someone who has always had to hide herself and make herself look respectable—Hana is simply unimaginably sincere. “Finally I hear a compliment. Usually I only hear that after I’m standing on top of them and the referee announces I’ve won.” I lower my head, our foreheads touching. “I think tonight we finally don’t have to fight anymore. Even two black-market slaves should stop and eat some forage to replenish themselves. Hana... I’ve never been attracted to anyone like this. I mean attracted—you seem to give off something I can’t resist, a scent or a way of acting. I’m full of anticipation for everything you do in the ring, even if your next move will hurt me, and outside the ring...” I lean forward slightly and press you against the back of the couch, our chests pressed tightly together, both hearts pounding hard, and inadvertently they even reach the same frequency... “Hana, tonight I have no alcohol in me, but I’m crazier than ever...” I pull out my hands and stroke lightly from your ribs to your armpits, as if appraising a treasure, letting my fingers roam over your body. “No one will ever know the reason, but we already belong to each other, right...?”

Hana_Jeong: As our foreheads rest against each other, the heat and adrenaline of surviving the thugs melt into a soft, dizzying surrender. When your body presses me back against the soft cushions of the couch, your weight over mine feels like the safest place in the world. I'm surrendered to you like when you tamed me in the ring in Osaka. Your fingers trace gently over my ribs and toward my armpits, a touch so delicate, so reverent, that every nerve ending in my battered body shivers. I close my eyes. This time I'm not drunk and I don't want to fight back. I don't want to think about the same feelings I had with Lauren James. I want to yield to you. I look up at you through heavy, glistening eyes, completely submissive and hungry for love, letting all my pride and remaining defenses drop away. My breathing is shallow, ragged, and hot against your lips. "Yes..." I whisper, my voice barely a thread, trembling with pure longing and need. I tilt my head back slightly, exposing the fragile curve of my throat to you, delivering myself completely into your hands. I reach up weakly, hooking my fingers into the hem of your brasserie, pulling you down just an inch closer so not even air can separate our pounding chests. "I'm yours, Misaki... I'm completely yours tonight. Please... just hold me, love me... but please... don't be another Lauren James."

Princess_Misaki: “I should be sorry that you can think of Lauren. If I really do give you the same feeling, and if one day I show any tendency to become like that, I won’t hesitate to ask you to end me on the canvas...” As the words fall, I have already removed your jacket. We are on the couch in nothing but our underwear, almost zero distance between us. Our gazes interlock for a few seconds, and then I move quickly, kissing you madly—from your neck to behind your ear—and press you down onto the couch. Every scent on your body reawakens my memories and tells me how precious you are. My hands gradually explore upward from your ribs and press against your beautifully shaped chest. The tight sports bra tells me you are not some delicate little girl, but the proud Hana Jeong. “Mmm... if I am, Lauren, ahhh... Hanny, come on. If you need to vent, treat me as that girl who once drove you crazy and made you afraid, and take your revenge on me to your heart’s content. Emm, Hanny, I’m willing to do these things for you...”

 

Hana_Jeong: My breath catches in my throat as your lips trace a trail of fire from my neck to behind my ear, sending a deep, shiver straight down my spine. Surrendering to you like this feeling the raw heat of your body pressed flush against mine in nothing but our underwear feels like the sweetest release after all the pain we've endured tonight. As your hands map out every curve of my body, pressing against my sports bra, a soft, trembling moan escapes my lips. I arch into your touch, completely unraveling beneath you. "She isn't even one-tenth of the woman you are, Misaki..." I whisper breathlessly, my hands trailing up your back, pulling you down until our lips almost touch. "She doesn't matter anymore. She's done for good... I just wish I had crossed paths with you back then instead of her." I look up into your eyes, my gaze glistening, brimming with unshielded warmth and deep affection. Biting my lower lip, I cup the back of your neck, pulling you down for a deep, lingering kiss before whispering against your mouth: "Let's go to the bed..."

Princess_Misaki: “It’s a pity that the person beside you back then wasn’t me—or rather, that I wasn’t there when you needed me most. Otherwise, that girl would definitely regret every vile scheme she pulled. I’d make her cry and beg you to let her go right in front of you—otherwise she’d spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair. Ugh... hold me tight, baby...” I stand up, stepping onto the soft felt rug laid over the hotel floor. I hook one arm around your neck, while my other hand playfully catches the elastic band of your shorts. “Come on, darling, this way...” I pull you over, then fall back onto the soft mattress without any warning. “Damn, I need to take off this outfit first—otherwise these clothes really make me feel like I’ve started another match in bed.” I laugh softly and toss my wrestling performance outfit onto the floor, revealing the sports bra underneath, letting you look down at me from above and smile to your heart’s content.

 

Hana_Jeong: "We don't care about her... right now, all I want is you," I whisper, my voice thick with an overwhelming, desperate longing. Since I left Madrid to New York, I starved myself of a gentle, loving touch, letting my toughness and competitive fire shield me from how lonely I really was. But all that isolation has culminated into this fierce, consuming devotion for you. After the blood we shed together on that canvas tonight, and after nearly losing you in the dark to those monsters in the alley, nothing else in the world exists. I just want us to heal each other's wounds, inside and out. With a trembling hand, I quickly pull my short hair back, twisting it into a loose, messy knot and securing it out of my face. Then, with a soft, shuddering breath, I let my body slide down over yours, pressing my full warmth against your frame. My lips press tender kisses against your collarbone, tracing the delicate curve of your neck, and drifting downward over your bruised, aching torso. My hands roam softly across your skin, mapping every contour, tracing every mark left by the world with infinite care, as if my touch alone could magic away your pain. Slowly, deliberately, I continue downward, my breath hitching hot against your skin. A soft, breathless smile touches my lips full of tender, willing submission as I look up at you. "I'm all yours." Slowly, gently, my hands hook into the elastic band, pulling the fabric down to expose you to the dim light. I bury my face between your warm thighs, my tongue tracing a slow, hot, exquisite path to taste your sweetness.

Princess_Misaki: 'Oh...uh...' My spine arched like an electric shock, and your lips left a trajectory on my body, an increasingly fascinating trajectory that made me unable to control myself. I exclaimed, moaned, and roared with satisfaction... My fingers grabbed your hair, without the violence of a duel, just to make You know I like this... I quickly put my legs on your shoulders so that I wouldn't feel suffocated. I need you to keep such agility and agile. I just don't want your head to leave there again... I shouted your name again and again in the tide-like euphoria, and my hands touched yourss. Lips, your neck, your throat... Then rubbing your breast, and the hard nipples on it, this moment is back.' I promise Hana, you will do better than last time, oh...ah!'

Hana_Jeong: What followed was a long, tender night of sex. After everything all the violence we finally chose to hold each other instead of fight. I surrendered myself to you. By the time my eyes opened slowly, the first soft golden rays of the morning sun were filtering through the curtains. I was curled snugly against you, my head resting over your chest, listening to the steady, comforting rhythm of your breathing while our legs remained gently entangled beneath the sheets. I propped my head up on one hand, resting my elbow on the bed, just watching you sleep so deeply and peacefully. Careful not to wake you, I quietly sneaked out of bed and ordered room service, asking for the rich breakfast spread you love so much to be delivered straight to our room. While waiting, I wrapped a robe around myself, stepped out onto the private balcony, and lit a cigarette. I stood at the railing in the crisp morning air, thoughtfully admiring the rising sun as its warm light embraced the rooftops of Kyoto. My mind drifted back. The last time I had shared a moment of intimacy with a woman, it was with Lauren James. Months had passed since I last saw her lying broken in that hospital room, unsure if she would ever walk again. That ghost had haunted me for so long. A single tear slipped down my cheek, catching the morning light. But as I looked back through the open glass door toward the bed where you slept, the cold knot in my chest finally loosened. What I felt for you tonight was not comming from fear, manipulation, or rivalry. It was real and it made me want to be closer to you.

 

 

(TO BE CONTINUED)