A Rumble to Remember (Tam Nakano)

[Sam L]

Though her big Women's Championship match was merely hours away, Tam had spent the best part of her day pacing back and forth within the waiting room of a nearby hospital - her mind racing with "what ifs". Every minute that passed by felt agonizingly long, and it wasn't until the surgeon emerged from the operating room that Tam's eyes finally left the ground.

Tam Nakano: What is it? Will he be okay? Please tell me he'll be okay!

Doctor Rodgers: Good news, Ms. Nakano. Though it was long and tedious, overall the procedure was a big success. Mr P is currently sitting in recovery, but I estimate that he'll be back on his feet in no time! Would you like to see him?

Tam Nakano: Yes, yes, of course! Oh thank you Doctor! I don't know what I would have done without him!

Doctor Rodgers proceeded to walk Tam through the surgery and guided her towards the room where her friend remained stationed. She thanked the doctor one more time before quietly knocking on the door and allowing herself in, carefully approaching the patient's bed. Holding her breath, Tam slowly drew back the curtains to find P-Chan laying there with stitches sewn all the way around his neck.

P-Chan: T-Tam? Is that... *cough* y-you?

Tam rushed to his side immediately, brushing her fingers over his ears.

Tam Nakano: Don't move, P-Chan. You need to conserve as much energy as possible. Oh P-Chan... I'm so sorry!

P-Chan: S-Sorry? *cough* For what?

Tam Nakano: For this! For letting all of this happen! For ever letting Alexa Bliss put her hands on you in the first place! I never would've forgiven myself if anything happened to you, P-Chan. You've supported me from day one, and I failed you big time.

P-Chan: Don't be s-silly! *cough* You couldn't have known... nobody could have known... *cough*

Tam Nakano: Listen, I'll call Angelina right now and tell her I won't be able to make it to the Rumble tonight. If Alexa wants a shot at the EBWF Women's Championship that badly, she can have it! You're my priority right now.

P-Chan struggled to turn his head towards Tam, glaring at her with those big, beady black eyes.

P-Chan: And let her get away with everything?

Tam Nakano: So be it! She took it too far this time.

P-Chan: And that's why you have to make her pay, but not before you win the EBWF Women's Championship.

Tam paused. Watching P-Chan in this state was like a dagger through her soul.

Tam Nakano: The EBWF Women's Championship is exactly why you're laying in a hospital bed right now, P-Chan. I became so wrapped up in beating Trish Stratus that I didn't realize what I already had. You! I never would have made it this far without you.

P-Chan: Of course ya' would, kid! *cough cough* You've had what it takes to make it in the big leagues all along! All I did was give you a push in the right direction. You're not gonna give up your dream over this silly old panda, are you?

Tam Nakano: Silly old panda!? P-Chan, you and I are bread and butter! We're bacon and eggs! We're cream and sugar! We're meant to be a pair, so what's the point of me being out there without you by my side?

P-Chan: Because this is your dream! EBWF hit a jackpot when they managed to sign you, and that opportunity shouldn't be squandered! You remember what you told me on the flight from Japan, don't you?

She thought to herself briefly.

P-Chan: You told me you were scared to leave the life you knew behind, but you were twice as excited to start the new chapter in your life right here in the land of opportunity! And that new chapter? It begins tonight, by putting away one of the most decorated women's wrestlers of all time and taking home that EBWF Women's Championship. I might not be there to see you win, Tam, but I'll still be cheering you on all the same! You can do it, and you have all of Japan rooting for you. Don't let them down now.

Tam nodded her head before leaning in and wrapping her arms around her best friend, holding him tight.

Tam Nakano: I love you, P-Chan.

P-Chan: Hey! Go easy on me, kiddo! I might pop a stitch!

The pair laughed together, before the scene came to a close.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

As the cameras come online, we find The Cutest Wrestler in the Cosmos, Tam Nakano, standing backstage within the Minute Maid Park arena already sporting her wrestling gear for the night. In tribute to P-Chan, her attire mostly consisted of the colours black and white, with small images of cartoonized pandas printed on both kneepads.

Tam Nakano: Kon'nichiwa EBWF Universe! Junbi wa dekita ka!? Ikimashou!!

Tam raised a fist into the air, visibly excited for the match that awaits her.

Tam Nakano: Tonight's the night. The night I've been waiting for since beating Alexa Bliss at Christmas Eve of Destruction. Better yet, the night I've been waiting for since the day I set foot on EBWF soil! When I scribbled my name on the dotted line, I promised myself I'd fight my way to the EBWF Women's Championship, and now there's only one obstacle left to overcome before my dreams become a reality. Trish, I know that you and I haven't really had the opportunity to get to know one another. At first I thought that maybe I just wasn't a threat to you. You had no reason to get to know who I am, because in your eyes? I was just another rookie who had bitten off more than she could chew and would shortly be sent on her way like all the rest. But then you decided to show your face during my match against Raquel Diaz a few weeks back, and then I knew that that wasn't the case at all. Deep down? I think I've piqued your interest, Trish. I think you see the star in me that everybody else sees, and I also think you're aware that, if you don't play your cards right, the possibility of David beating Goliath tonight is very real.

Tam peered at the camera, narrowing her eyes.

Tam Nakano: But I'm not going to come out here and try to discredit everything you've done, Trish. Regardless of what some of the ladies around here might say? You are the Quintessential Diva. There's a reason why your name springs to mind whenever the topic of "the complete package" comes up... because that's what you are! You're one of the biggest success stories in EBWF history! But even the best stories must come to an end at some point, and that's where I come into the picture.

Tam placed her hands at her hips, pushing out her chest with a knowing grin.

Tam Nakano: When I first appeared on EBWF television, I was the super kawaii new girl who carried around a talking panda for some reason... but as the weeks began to follow, I like to think I proved that I'm not someone to be taken lightly. I'm not just a walking punchline. I'm not just another gimmick. I'm a serious contender for the EBWF Women's Championship, and every woman I defeated along the way can attest to it. You know what that means, don't you Trish? It means it'll take more than a witty one-liner and a roll of your eyes to scare me off. I made my debut in a blaze of glory, turning heads all across the globe... and I'm not slowing down until I have that Women's title in my hands. Becky can have fun with that toy replica. I'm gunning for the real thing.

Tam's smirk quickly began to widen.

Tam Nakano: But then again, perhaps I should cut Becky some slack. I mean, she's showing a lot more passion for this business than you have lately! I watched you lace up your boots and get in the ring a grand total of ONE time since I turned up to EBWF, and even that was following a match that I brutalized your opponent in only one week before! Myself, on the other hand? I'll be a fighting champion that the women around here can look up to. I'll be the mentor the girls can approach without having to fight their way past an entourage just to talk to. I'll be the leader that you failed to be for the past ten months, and I'll take my responsibilies a lot more seriously than you ever did. I can respect everything that the name Trish Stratus used to stand for, but I can't respect the narcissistic, venomous pit viper she turned into. Get ready to rumble, Trish, 'cause I know I am.

Closing her eyes, Tam bowed her head before drawing out a long sigh.

Tam Nakano: P-Chan, I know you'll be watching this. Tonight, this is for you.

Placing her hand over her heart before blowing a kiss at the camera, Tam took her leave and exited the shot, readying herself for the final showdown.

[Ben M]

Me reading that scene with P-Chan in the hospital:



Really enjoyed this RP, excellent work Sam!