Escalation

[Yeh Ren]

☼Fade in on Yeh Ren and Kagrra walking down a hall backstage. Yeh Ren is favoring his left arm from the post-match attack a few days ago☼

Kagrra: Are you sure you’re alright?

Yeh Ren: I’m fine enough. I’d be lying if I said I was at 100%, but I’ll be fine in time for Revolution. I’d rather be fine in time for a match at the show Saturday, but apparently I don’t warrant a match.

Kagrra: Yeh R-

Yeh Ren: Nah, I’m just…I dunno. You sure YOU’RE alright? I was out of it by the time you got into the ring, you know I don’t like you getting involved-

Kagrra: I’m fine. He didn’t lay a hand on me.

Yeh Ren: Good. This thing with Gone isn’t over, but I’m letting it go for now. This match with Windsor is what I have my sights set on. He’s one of the main guys here from what I can tell. I beat him, and I bet that the next time they have a Supershow they find room for me.

☼Kagrra smiles and looks down at the floor as they walk☼

Yeh Ren: I mean I’m not expecting a win; his running buddy is the referee. I’m probably just supposed to be fodder…just like freakin’ always.

☼Kagrra looks up at him☼

Kagrra: Fodder?

☼Yeh Ren says something in Japanese and Kagrra nods her head☼

Kagrra: Oh.

Yeh Ren: But I intend for Windsor to use every bit of that advantage he has over me. And-

☼A loud noise is heard just off camera. Yeh Ren looks over to the right at the hallway intersection. A big cart of folding chairs is rolling right at them☼

Yeh Ren: The hell?!

☼He shoves Kagrra out of the way but gets sandwiched in between the wall and the cart of chairs. A second later the camera gets knocked to the ground. John Gone walks into the frame and crouches down next to Yeh Ren just before the feed cuts out☼

[John Gone]

John Gone walks determinedly down the halls backstage. He passes by locker room after locker room, not giving them so much as a glance. He passes a hallway intersection on his right. One. He pauses for a moment, eyes closed, working something out in his head. He walks on. He passes another intersection. Two. He walks on, briskly paced. He passes another intersection. Three. As he counts it, Yeh Ren and Kagrra pass it on the other side talking. He quickly darts forward out of their line of sight. He continues on at still a faster pace. He passes by two more intersections Four. Five. Then he stops. Sitting in the hall connecting Gone’s to the one across is a cart of chairs, filled from end to end. A faint smile escapes one corner of his mouth. He walks casually up to the cart. He pulls it far back to one end of the hall. He shuts his eyes. One…two… He pauses, opening his eyes. Three. With all his might he shoves forward on the cart. It flies down the short hall, coming out the other end just as Yeh Ren and Kagrra cross the intersection. Yeh Ren shoves Kagrra out of the way just in time but the cart rams into him. Gone puts his hands in his pockets and coyly walks up. He sees a cameraman shooting Yeh Ren and casually bats the camera out of his hands on his way to Yeh Ren. He crouches down next to Yeh Ren and sighs.

I’m curious… He pulls out a cigarette, taking it up to his mouth but not taking it between his lips. His hand lingers in front of his face, as if his talk with Yeh Ren were a secret. How exactly do you think this is going to end? This…issue between us. Kagrra picks herself up and sees what’s happened. Yeh Ren! Gone holds up a finger to his lips. I’m talking. He takes his cigarette in his hand, concealing it in his fist. He stares straight ahead as he talks, never making eye contact with Yeh Ren or Kagrra. I ask because it seems to me that you don’t have a clue just what your situation is. I may be wrong, and I want you to let me know if I am, but it appears that you think this is some…feud. Me vs. Yeh Ren. It isn’t. That’s not how this is going to play out. Oh, there will no doubt be wrestling matches, it would be odd if there weren’t. But the fact that this started in the ring, after a match, seems to have… he takes the cigarette out of his hand and puts it in his mouth. He strikes a match. Distorted your perception. He holds the flame to the tip of his cigarette and inhales. It’s given you the wrong impression. Any place besides in a wrestling ring, and you’d see this for what it is. He exhales smoke.

Yeh Ren, coughing, regains consciousness. He sees Gone and starts to make a move for him. You son of a- Gone puts his hand flat on Yeh Ren’s chest and shoves him back against the wall. Not now. Kagrra runs to Yeh Ren. Leave him alone! She reaches for Yeh Ren but Gone gets up and grabs her by the wrists, putting them together and grasping them with one hand. Yeh Ren tries to get up to protect Kagrra but Gone puts the heel of his boot against the bottom of Yeh Ren’s throat, holding him tight against the wall. He sighs, pulling his cigarette out of his mouth with his free hand, Kagrra struggling against him. You people.He holds the cigarette between his thumb and middle finger and presses the tip into the back of Kagrra’s hand. She cries out. Gone presses harder, forcing it against her hand with his forefinger, grinding it out against her skin. Yeh Ren pushes Gone’s foot away but Gone kicks him in the neck. Kagrra tries to get away from Gone but he has her wrists held tightly. His cigarette is out. He sighs, with a hint of disappointment, and discards the cigarette on the floor at his feet. He throws Kagrra down at Yeh Ren’s feet.

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out another cigarette, seeming to pay no mind at all to either Kagrra or Yeh Ren. This talk was a courtesy.He strikes a match against the wall and lights the cigarette. Of sorts. He turns to face the couple, Yeh Ren holding Kagrra in his arms, glaring up at Gone seething. You won’t get another. With a sigh, he leaves the scene, tapping some ashes onto Kagrra as he passes. Next time you see me it won’t go so well.