Is It Worth It? (Justice)

[TITANISHA]

After another segment of the show finished, Fabiola stood backstage with another special guest.

Fabiola: Ladies and gentlemen, my guest at this time is one of the new additions to the Diamond Division, Titanisha.

The backstage announcer is dwarfed by the sheer mass of humanity that was this woman. She was already in her new ring gear, same as it was before, but with a black snakeskin pattern.

Fabiola: It was learned early last week of your backstage assault on the Diamond Champion, Jamie Fury. Would you care to explain your actions?

Does it need an explanation? Yes, I attacked Fury. Yes, I will do it again. Not just to her, but to anyone who has the distinction of being an XWA Diamond. I don't care who they are, they are all going to feel my wrath, whether they know it or not, whether they see it or not.

You want to talk about honor and respect? I have none for these women. I have it for this business, but not for these women. Everywhere I've been, all I've heard was girls dreaming to become a "Diamond". Of reaching the "big time" of the XWA. I've built my reputation around the world without setting foot in this company. Without setting foot in this country! But you Americans, you make it so that if one doesn't do anything here on your soil that all that you have done means nothing.

So I am going to do something on your soil. I'm going to break the will and the bodies of all of your precious little Diamonds, one by one. And to you Jamie, whenever you wish for me to finish what I started, then step right up. You know now that I will not show mercy.

Fab: Well speaking of Jamie, a woman who's become a very good friend of hers challenged you to a match, and that match was approved by the President herself. That woman is Justice...

...Asuka. I've heard what she had to say. She brings "justice" with her? What bollocks. There is no justice in this world. Certainly none in this business. It's dog eat dog. There are no laws. There is no order. Only survival. The strong prevail and the weak are crushed.

She believes she's strong. She believes that she will teach me a lesson. Am I a bully in your eyes, Justice? Well, then I graciously accept the role. Why? Because there is something I intend on proving to each and every person in this building, to everyone watching on television and to each Diamond in the XWA...

...That I am the strongest. That I am the master of this domain and you all are nothing but my slaves. There will be many who share your feeling towards me Justice, and all of them...just as you will be tonight...will be crushed.

Suddenly, Fabiola looks over her shoulder. It looked as if Titanisha's challenger had decided to greet her face to face.

[Justice Asuka]

Justice had her working clothes on, just like the mass known as Titanisha had. There was no turning back now. But that didn’t seem like a likely destination choice for Justice as she entered the scene holding a steel chair, cocked and loaded. Fabiola was torn between holding the microphone out for Justice or just getting out of there and letting the cameras do their job. Justice? With a steel chair?? Outside of the ring, it would never happen. But on the clock? Titanisha was lucky Justice didn’t bring a box full of fluorescent light tubes, because that’s the kind of country Justice came from. Fabiola held up the microphone and took a step back, because Justice seemed ready to spring, rocking slight back and forth on the balls of her feet. You don’t come out and face a woman like Titanisha unless you are absolutely ready.

“Were you expecting American justice, Titanisha?”

Justice looked at the steel chair, then back up, over and around to Titanisha’s face. What a face! This woman was not at the photo shoot for several thousand reasons. She doubted Titanisha had smiled from happiness, ever. Justice gave her a matching ‘steely’ look.

“Then let’s clear this up right now. I’m not American, Titanisha and I know exactly what bullies like you need. You need someone to stand up to you face to face. You don’t need to see order. You can’t see it or hear it. You need to feel it. That’s all your kind understands.”

Justice lowered her voice.

“I could have gotten behind you and attacked you. It would have been easy with you standing here talking, and talking, and talking. But like I said, Titanisha.”

Justice swallowed hard, she was dry in the mouth and throat. But her grip on the chair was bonded and pure. Fear? Possibly and mixed with physical energy. Things you can't plan for or script out in your head.

“I’m not another bully. I’m nothing like you. I do bring justice, not more cowardly dogs like you.”

Face to face they stood, and Fabiola didn't dare say a thing as everyone waited to see how Titanisha would respond when she wasn't jumping someone from behind... when someone was ready and waiting for her like Justice was.

[TITANISHA]

Oh, look what we have here? Courageous little girl, aren't we? And smart to go with it, because that's the only way that you can stand a ghost of chance to even do the slightest bit of damage to me, love.

Titanisha was indeed grinning, almost goading Justice on to attack. She slowly backpedaled herself to a safe distance away, to where she'd at least be able to brace herself had Justice did swing. She was more for egging the girl on right now than anything physical...at least for now.

You think you and your "Japanese Steel" is enough? You better save that fighting spirit of yours for later. Don't worry...I'm not going to hurt you, yet. No, I want everyone to see what I'm going to do to you, especially your new friend, inside of the ring.

If you like, I can let you bring out as many chairs as you want if you think it's going to help your cause. Of course, that would mean I can use them too. You know how the saying goes, Justice. "Live by the sword...die by the sword".

She laughs aloud.

Come on, lil' lass! Is that what you want? Is teaching me a lesson worth the risk of your XWA career ending as soon as it begins?

[Justice Asuka]

Justice wasn’t laughing at all, the scene was filled with almost every contrast imaginable: Size, strength, emotion, nationality and the driving force behind each of them. They were opposites and they both knew it.

“You don’t understand do you? This has nothing to do about me or my career. They don’t matter. This is about what’s right. This is about fighting for something bigger than yourself.”

Perhaps Titanisha had problems thinking of things bigger than herself. But that wasn’t an excuse. Jamie Fury was just as big, and she had the heart to match. No, sizes and appearances were not excuses for being an ugly human being.

“You fight for your career, not me. You can break my body. You can beat me. You can destroy my career and I will still fight for my friends. I will still fight for what’s right. Those things don’t end Titanisha, and that makes me a lot more dangerous than you any night!”

Justice slapped the face of the steel chair, cracking the air with the noise. She didn’t care about what kind of match they had. She wasn’t even thinking about her career. She was thinking about all the the ugly monsters on the planet just like Titanisha, like Lilith, like back home. She was going to fight them all tonight with everything she had. Where Titanisha was laughing, Justice was swallowed by the Fighting Spirit. She glowed with it as she backed away, keeping her chair at the ready. She wouldn’t take her eyes off of Titanisha until she was clear of this backstage scene.

Fabiola’s mouth hung slightly open at the raw intensity Justice had just displayed as she slowly looked back to Titanisha and held the microphone back to her.

[TITANISHA]

Fabiola: It doesn't look like Justice is intimidated. Your thoughts?

All Titanisha does is hiss at Fabiola's blatant questioning with a foul grimace on her face. She turns and walks away.

Fabiola: Let's go back to ringside with Matt & Buzz then.

Buzz: It's true what they say...big things do come in small packages. When I heard this match was happening, I thought "David & Goliath". I thought Justice was going to come out here and get killed But now...I think she just might be able to pull off the win!

Matt: That's a fearless young woman for sure, but it's not all mental. Can Justice Asuka physically overcome this monstrous woman called Titanisha? We'll just have to see later on tonight!