Friction in MSG: Akashi Tanikaze Vs. Haruna Saito

Match Type: Standard
Winning Condition: Pinfall, Submission or Knockout
Special Conditions: If Akashi loses, she will become Saito's servant for a period of time. If Haruna loses, she will renounce the coalition and join the Higurashi Dojo.

The entrance ramp of Madison Square Garden had been transformed between matches to look like a Japanese style bridge. Replica sakura trees as well as what looked like a hastily thrown together koi pond was underneath the bridge. Despite the speed in which it was thrown together, it seemed to spare no expense and looked quite majestic as the setting for the two competitors who were native daughters to AFW's home soil.

When everything was in place, the lights dimmed and the haunting first notes of a very familiar song began to play. This time, however, instead of waiting for the song to begin in earnest, Akashi Tanikaze stepped from the backstage and was met with a thunderous applause.

She took a moment to bask in the crowd, who had cheered her thoroughly even if she was thousand of miles from home. Akashi was dressed in a pair of black hakama pants and a grey yukata with her family crest emblazoned on her right breast and back. She gripped a kendo stick in one hand and as her music got through the intro, she raised the weapon high into the air.

"AAAAAMMMMEEEERIIIICAAAAAAAA!" She bellowed at the top of her lungs.

She smiled and slipped the kendo stick into her obi sash and looked around. She produced a microphone and stepped towards the bridge. "Arigatou gozaimasu!" She chirped in her native tongue. "Thank you very much for the warm welcome! It's... so wonderful to be here! It truly, truly is. I have been humbled by the warm reception and hope to give you a worthy performance tonight."

Akashi stepped onto the bridge, partially to test it and partially to take her place. "As you may or may not know, where I am from, Japan, is a land of subtleties and nuance. Often times our battles are fought before the first strike of the fist or clash of the sword. Maybe of our great warriors of old lost their lives before they ever drew their katana from their sheathe and there is one thing that matters to us more than anything else and that is honor."

Akashi lowered her head. "Tonight, my opponent has lost her way. She has discarded her honor for selfish reasons and before the end of tonight, I hope to show her the error of her ways. However, before we begin, we will show you a small slice of our country, brought here  to show you and thank you for your support. I ... hope you will enjoy. I am certain you will enjoy the match." She said and then looked at the entrance ramp.

"SAITO HARUNA!" Akashi barked. "FACE ME!"

"Are you done barking, mongrel?" Haruna's voice boomed out from the loudspeakers, just as the lights turned to reveal her atop the far ramp. Dressed in pure black hakama pants, and a black kimono with a purple floral pattern, the shinobi diva stood there with kendo stick in hand. The right side of her kimono was slid completely off, revealing the plain white chest wrappings covering her pert, average-sized breasts, giving her an image that was both sexy and threatening.

A more deep and somber than usual shamisen melody followed her as she strode arrogantly down towards the bridge, stopping to point her weapon at Akashi as she reached the edge. She generally did not care for such theatrics, although it couldn't be said she hated them either. So long as she got another shot at the sumo, it was no more than a minor detail at most.

"Only the strong are allowed to survive in this world. I'll show you just how much you so-called 'honor' shackles you!"

Akashi looked towards the jumbotron when she heard Haruna's barking but remained stoic. Even as Haruna came down dressed in much the same costume, except with her chest taped and exposed, Akashi's eyes widened.

"Saito-san." Akashi said, once Haruna was finished. "If you are going to go for a Yakuza look, then you should have tattoos to complete that mafia style." She said as she brought up her kendo stick.

"But, it suits you and now I'm ready to show you that strength and honor or anything but mutually exclusive! Let's hurry up and get this show over with so that we can give these people what they came for!"

Akashi looked over Haruna and bowed deeply. She then clutched her kendo stick in both hands and marched up the bridge, looking to meet Haruna head on with a mighty clash and a roaring kiai shout.

"Raaaaaahhhhhhrgh!"

Still, Akashi knew that she had very little actual skill in sword fighting, so she definitely wanted to get to the wrestling as quick as possible.

Scoffing at Akashi's remark, Haruna readied herself for battle, firmly grasping the bamboo sword out before her with both hands. She had some knowledge of sword fighting, although most of her training as a youth involved either bare-handed martial arts or use of throwing weapons. Even a knife probably would have been more comfortable to her.

Still, it seemed Akashi was not too proficient either, judging by the way she was lumbering across the bridge. Their last match was more than enough to prove to Haruna she didn't match up well against the sumo in terms of momentum and brute strength, however she thought herself vastly superior in terms of skill.

Calmly standing her ground as Akashi came trampling forward, the purple-haired diva waited until the very last minute before stepping to the right, trying to parry Akashi's sword to the left, and hopefully creating enough of an opening to take a quick retaliatory swing at the sumo's thick neck.

Akashi's kendo stick was parried pretty easily and she found her arms off to the sides with Haruna right in her field of vision. As she was forced to watch Haruna, the stick came up in, and Akashi felt like she was watching it in slow motion. However, the sick crack of the Kendo stick against her neck was anything but a slow process.

"Aaahhckngh!"

Akashi gurgled as a loud "OOOOHH!" came from the crowd. Akashi dropped her stick almost immediately as one hand went to her throat. The hunched over Sumo aimed her shoulder at Haruna just trying to barrel into the lithe shinobi.

A sick, sadistic grin crossed Haruna's face as her sword smacked the sumo right in the throat, hopping back to safety as Akashi tried to fall into her. "I see that shut you up really fast." she taunted, arrogantly brandishing her bamboo sword.

"How's that bushido treating you?" the purple-haired diva continued on, raising her weapon high above her head. "You worthless farm animal!"

With a kiai shout, Haruna swung downwards, aiming a heavy blow at Akashi's head.

Akashi stumbled against the railing as Haruna deftly slipped out of the way. Akashi thought she was rather used to close quarters and confined spaces, but this bridge wasn't quite lending itself how she had hoped. Then again, she wasn't trying to wrestle Haruna either.

Akashi growled as she turned her body and reached out for her sword. She had heard Haruna's words and snorted. She had something to say, but not getting her head caved in was much more important.

She turned her body at the last minute, dropping to her knees as the kendo stick cracked along her back. "Gaaaaaahhh!" She shouted and panted hoarsely, digging her fingers into the wooden bridge as she tried to fight off the pain. "I'll tell you after the match is over!" Akashi barked back. "Don't count your chickens before their hatched, Saito-san!" She said as she reached out for her kendo stick once more.

"As if I'd let you!" Haruna shouted as she made another attack, this time skimming the ground before swinging upwards to try and swat Akashi's outstretched hand away from her weapon.

"Ahhh!"

Akashi retracted her hand as Haruna smacked it with the kendo stick. She closed and opened her fist and pushed up to one knee. "Saito-san, you're not very good at this either." She said with a grin on her face. Though she did not move right away. Haruna still had the advantage even though Akashi was much bigger.

"All the matters is that I'm better than you." Haruna replied coldly, raising her kendo stick once more. Standing right before the downed Akashi, she swung downwards once more, aiming for the sumo's head.