A Tweet Between Rabbits and Dragons

^{By KiraYamato74 & YuukiMMD}


A few hours earlier in the day:

“Avez-vous quelques moments? I wanna chat for a bit after training, onegai shimaaaasu.”

“Gads, Tama-chan.  You know French isn’t my strong point,” Ryoko mumbled after putting her phone away.  She wondered what it could be that Tamao would want to chat about the night before their big tussle under the lights of the Mandalay Bay Casino & Resort.

“It can’t be like her debut, so it must be something else.  I’ll be there, Tama-chan.”

-------------------------------------------------------

Evening, 6:00PM

Ryoko opened the door to a locker room in a quiet gym situated near the main venue for the following evening’s huge event featuring herself and one particular silver-haired Energizer battery of a girl.

She looked over to the far end of the rows of glum, steel lockers pinpointing where a pre-occupied Tamao sat, tapping away on her smart phone.

She looked resigned, if not slightly irritated at what she was seeing, “Mmmm, so it’s really like that.  Bien sûr it would be.  Je serais that it would be..,”

Ryoko leans over, addressing the phone wielding bunny girl, “Did you want to talk, Tama-chan?”

Tamao looked up for a moment to properly address Ryoko, “Un...chotto ne. If it's okay, Ryo-chan,”

A few more taps and another set of Twitter feeds load up on her phone. For a second she’s silent.  In another, she starts to get irritated...

“Eh, w-what is all of---??” Her eyes light up as she looks at the series of messages and hashtags.

Ryoko looks over her shoulder, curious to see what’s bothering Tamao so much.  “Hmmmm?”

She can see the phone’s screen and scrolling Twitter feed slowly moving upward.  A series of tweets rolls up her eyes, and obviously they’re not from any of Tamao’s fans…

------------------------------------

Twitter feed: "Silver's gonna be schooled in 2. #ProfRyokoinclass.  

"Grandma Girl's gonna get thumped in 3.  See ya! #GrandmaGoesDown.  

"Silver has a few fights, then thinks she has what it takes to take down Takeda? PFFFFT! #pffffft!  

"Sorry Tamao, but you're gonna get pounded. It's Ryoko.  1 and done."  #doneinone,

"Ryoko leaves Silver a bloody mess on the canvas in 4, # TamaCrimsonMask,"

“Silver think’s she can take a legend like Ryoko down? Takeda flattens her.  Back to start for the bunny. #NoWayTamaBye.”

"Silver's a wannabe.  She'll never be as awesome as Ryo-sama.  Ryo in 2. #Ryo's the best."

"Ryoko's gonna dominate her like she's never been dominated before. Ryoko in 1 round TKO. #SorryTamaTKObyRyoko"

------------------------------------

“KeepittogetherKeepittogether….. Na....RRRRRR!!!!  BAKA SMART PHONE!!!! Baka Twitter! Gimme a break!!!!!!” Tamao shoots to her feet, ready to smash her phone on the ground!

Ryoko watches with slight confusion, not knowing just what the big deal is, but when Tamao is about to smash her phone, she grabs her by the wrist.

“S-stop, Tama-chan! What's the matter?” Ryoko calls out to her bitter friend.

Tamao stops, feeling her wrist in restraint, "AH,"

She looks at Ryoko, then slackens her arm,"G-gomen ne...I-I'm having trouble following my own advice that I gave to Lilly back then. Seems doctors really are their own worst patients.  This stupid Twitter feed...,"

"It looks like I found out who all of the fans are cheering for in our match, Ryo-san.  It's kind of lonely on my side, though."

Ryoko turns the Energizer Bunny around to properly face her,  "I… see. But you don't need them! You don't need their support."

“Eh?” Tamao’s taken aback for a moment.

"Tama-chan, they may accompany you in spirit, but... in the ring, it's all about you and me. Whatever happens outside of the ring, it’s a whole other world.  There are always haters out there.  Just listen to yourself, how much you believe in you!"  Ryoko said.

Tamao’s calmed down, though she’s still irritated by the vitriol directed at her.  It’s the first time seeing this in her boxing career.  She knew she’d have to contend with it considering whom she’s facing, and it’s easier said than done to ignore it at times.

“I-I know, Ryo-chan.  It just makes me feel like I'm fighting you alone, like nobody believes I should be fighting the legendary Takeda Ryoko.  Like I don't belong in the same ring as you,” Tamao said.

"So, don't depend on them. Believe in yourself, and fight with your best,” Ryoko says, placing her hands on Tamao's shoulders.


“Haaahhh.  You know...I saw your fight with Kisaragi Reika. She bombed you like I've never seen anyone do to you before," She holds onto Ryoko's arms,

"…And you still came out on top. It’s like you’re able to take anything and get back up.   I’ve got that same beating heart, don’t I?  Will these hands feel like flyswatters to you?  Am I just another overeager newcomer in your eyes, or will you see something else when you look at me in the ring?"

Ryoko’s tone becomes more serious, gazing into Tamao’s bright emeralds,

“Tamao, listen to me. You're no overeager newcomer, or just another opponent. You're my friend, Tamao-chan. I can tell you're very strong. And I strongly believe that you wont disappoint me. I saw you fight Ma-chan and take her atomic berries for 12 rounds. Two more than a normal match, even! I know how hard she hits, and it’s stiffer than pile drivers. You’re smaller than her, but you fight like you’re a dozen weight classes higher! Your heart’s just as big as mine!”

Tamao looks up and gently grabs Ryoko by the shoulders. She stares into the Lightning Dragon’s eyes for a moment before replying.

"Doumo, Ryo-chan.  I'm glad you think of me that way, and even more as my friend.  I need you to answer something for me though, because I never did get one from you."

“Ask away, Tama-chan. I'm listening,” Ryoko nodded her head, looking into Tamao's eyes.

Tamao tightens her grip on Ryo's shoulders, "I asked you how you think I would do against you, but you threw that back at me. I want to hear it from your own mouth, Ryoko-san.  Just say it.  Say it to my face."

Ryoko didn’t back down from the question, “I don't know. I will give it my all, though. And as long as I can fight, I won’t give you a break. You’ll give me all I can handle in one night, Tama-chan.”

Hearing that fueled a flame in Tamao’s burning emeralds, “もちろん ^{(Tamao subtitle: “Of course.”)}.  I always knew that about you, Ryo-chan.  Remember when I said that it might take a few tries to beat you?"

“I do,” Ryoko replies, smiling.

“Quelle stupidité....Selling myself short like that,” Tamao continues, staring straight into Ryoko’s bright blues.

“Hahah... that's the spirit, Tama-chan!  You’re gonna be the toughest gal I’ll ever come face to face with in----“

“Ryo-chan, I’m thinking differently,” Tamao interjected,

“If I'm going to fight you, I’m going to get it right the first time.  More than fighting hardest to just win,” She takes a step back, rips her hair tie off and throws it down in front of Ryoko. -Pafft!-

“Takeda Ryoko!  私の名前はTamao Silver! ^{(Tamao subtitle: “My name is..”)}   I'm throwing my entire life right in front of you right now!  I'm not only fighting to win, but to earn your respect.  I don't care what you do to me in that ring.  I'll be there right to the end.  I don't care if we draw, we go to the scorecards, or we knock each other down and I beat the count by one second, I'm going to win.  Because je sais that I can do it.  And if you knock me down.... Well, then I'm taking you with me.  There's plenty of room on the canvas for two to be comfortable.”

“Tama-chan,” Ryoko’s taken in by Tamao’s fiery monologue.  Her hands rest on her hips, striking a competitive pose.

“ All I want to know by the end of the fight is if I’ve EARNED your respect more than anything else, Ryo-chan. I want to win, but I want that more.” Tamao says, clasping her hands together.

Ryoko smirks a little bit and brings up her fist, “Heheheh. I'm glad to hear, Tama-chan. I’m expecting a lot from you!”

Tamao bumps fists with Ryoko's curled hand,  “Vous ne serez pas disappointed in what you’ll get from me, Ryoko-chan.  I'll live up to my nickname...Energizer Bunny. And not only will I take your breath away..,”

Tamao starts giggling slightly.

“Hmmm?” Ryoko looks on a bit bemused by the change in Tamao.

“I’ll win over so many of your fans, you'll have me arrested for illegal poaching!” Tamao replies, trying to stifle her snickering.  It’s beginning to be infectious.

“Hahahahah! Well, lets see you try!” Ryoko shouts out, patting the Bunny’s shoulders.

Tamao’s spirits have done a complete 180-degree turn from the start of this little encounter,

‘Hahahahaha!!!!  私は確かでしょう！^{(Tamao Subtitle: I certainly will!)}  Ahhh....I feel better now. Maybe I should just shut off this phone and-*Beep*  “Hmmm… One more.... Okay.”

Twitter Feed: "Tama-chan's not alone!  She can take Ryoko by the end of the last round!  Go, Tama-chan! #DarkHaloRoots4Tama

Tamao smiles warmly, "Hmmm, maybe I will keep this phone after all.  Hey, wanna get something to eat? Let's ask Ma-chan if she wants to come along!”

Ryoko wraps her arm around Tamao’s shoulder, leading the two out of the locker room, ‘Heheheh, all right then! Lets go, Tama-chan! Sky’s the limit, right?  RIGHT?”

Tamao bumps fists with the Lightning Dragon once more, “Un!  Sky's the Limit!  Here’s to la plus grande battaille en histoire!!”

“Ah…Tama-chan…French.  I don’t do French, remember?”

Tamao blushes slightly, “EH… Ah, excusez-m----I mean…gomen, Ryo-chan.”


End... Until bell time!

---------------------------------------------------------------

Wherever those two decide to eat, it’ll be a bonanza for the restaurant manager, much like the following evening will be once they’re sharing a boxing ring.  RIGHT HERE, in Las Vegas, Nevada.  ^{(Cheap Mick Foley pop.^^)}


The fight's official promo poster: fav.me/d79tl53