FALLEN ANGEL Chapter 3: Reunion

Angel took a taxi from the airport. She enjoyed the view of her hometown as she passed by familiar spots she used to frequent. Perhaps she’d hit them up while she was here. First thing’s first: getting settled in. The yellow cab parked along the curb in the bustling district. Angel paid, got out and retrieved her bag from the trunk. She looked up at the dingy apartment building she was dropped off at. It was noon. Someone had to be home. She climbed the stairs to the second floor and stood in front of the door. Angel knocked and held her breath. She looked up when she heard the door open and stared back at the surprised, middle aged woman that stood before her.

“Yukichan?” The woman said in disbelief.

“Okaasan.” Angel bowed respectfully and smiled. “Told you I’d be here.”

Fumiko Kusanagi took her daughter by her arms and pulled her into a tight, warm hug. Fighting back tears, she squeezed her daughter tight. Angel squeezed her mother back until she let go of her. Fumiko beckoned her inside. Angel entered and left her shoes at the door. “You’re here for a match?”

“Tournament.”


Angel smiled and sat down as her mother made the tea. When it was ready, they sat and talked about Angel’s time in America over hot cups. The tea reminded Angel of times that, frankly, were better. Even though she was living her dream as a wrestler, life wasn’t as glamorous as everyone tried to make it out to be. It certainly paid well but Angel wasn’t seeing that part. She didn’t want to think about it and being home didn’t make it any easier.

“So.” Fumiko sipped her tea and looked at her daughter. “You won your last match? “Johnnu Brradu?”

Angel stifled a laugh into her cup as she was sipping. Her mother giggled apologetically as the platinum haired woman set her cup down and dug into her bag for her cigarettes. “Yeah. About that.” Angel rolled her eyes as she found her pack and held it up, silently asking her mother if she minded. Fumiko nodded and pulled out her own pack. Angel stuck one of hers in her mouth and paused. “You started?”

Fumiko lit her cigarette and gave a sad, sheepish smile as she nodded. “Your father doesn’t like it. It’s just...you know. Everything. The stress.” She sighed.

Angel lit hers with her zippo and leaned back in her chair, fully relaxed. “It’ll be fine, mom. I’m gonna do what I can. While I’m here, maybe I can talk to Yamamoto.”

“No!” Her mother snapped, surprising both of them. She stopped herself and took a deep breath. “Forgive me. But no. Let your father handle that part of it. It’s bad enough you’re doing what you’re doing now.”

Before Angel could respond, they both turned as the front door opened and a young voice called out. “Okaasan! Tadaima!”

Fumiko smiled. “Yujirokun! Look who else is here!”

Angel felt a tug at her heart as she stood up to face the teenager that entered the apartment. Yujiro looked up and froze. “Oneechan?” He said with disbelief and ran into the woman’s arms. There was a time when Angel could lift the boy up. Now he was taller than her, by several inches.

“You’re home!” Yujiro said at his now shorter, older sister.

“For a little while.” Angel nodded with a smile as she tried not to cry at seeing her little brother for the first time in over a year.

“Are you competing?!” His face lit up with excitement.

“Yes. And….” Angel dug into her bag again for an envelope. She smirked at Yujiro. “I got you this.”

Yujiro opened the envelope, pulling out two passes. The boy’s eyes widened in surprise. “Are these…? I get to watch you wrestle?!”

Angel nodded and pointed to notice on the passes. “See here? You have access to the entire tournament.”

“Sugoi! Arigatougozaimasu!” Yujiro exclaimed as his sister pointed it out. He looked back up towards her and gave her another hug.

Angel gave her brother a squeeze before bringing attention that there were two tickets she’d given. “You have two there, so you should bring someone, Yujikun.”

Yujiro looked at the pair of tickets in his hand before lifting his gaze towards their mother with a suggestive grin on his face but Fumiko brought up a hand and smiled softly. “Oh, no. I support what you choose to do, Yukichan, even if I don’t like it. I don’t want to bear witness to my daughter enduring any kind of violence, even if she’s reciprocating and being paid for it.”

Yujiro rolled his eyes, figuring she would have said no, anyway. His expression turned grim and less enthusiastic, then. “And dad’ll probably have to work.” His eyes light up and he lifted his head, again. “Ah! I could see if Natsumi wants to come! She loves wrestling!”

“Ah! Sore wa subarashī kotodarou!” Their mother exclaimed. “She’s a very nice girl, Yujikun! And she comes from a good family.”

Angel’s eyebrows raised with interest and she did a dramatic turn towards her brother with an intrigued smirk on her lips. “Girl? Is my baby brother growing up, already?”

“It’s not like that. She’s just a friend.” Yujiro rolled his eyes but Angel saw his cheeks change shades.

“Well, now!” Fumiko said, standing from her chair and collecting the tea cups and dishes. “I’m going to start preparing dinner. Your father should be home soon. Yujikun, why don’t you go help your sister unpack?”

“On it!” Yujiro replied, reaching down and grabbing up Angel’s bag and slinging it over his shoulder. “Let’s get you settled, Oneechan!” He added, leading the way towards her old room.

Angel’s room was just how she remembered it, down to every detail. It almost felt like she had never even left home, permanently. Just gone on an extended vacation. Then again, perhaps that’s what her time in America was when it all came down to it. She folded her jacket over the back of the chair in front of her computer desk and sat down by her futon. Yujiro plopped her bag down and joined her on the floor. Her brother watched as she unzipped her bag and opened it up to reveal the contents. First came the outfits she’d picked out for off time between shows. Next, she reached in and pulled her pads and boots out. Her brother watched with the interest and curiosity of a child who was witnessing something extraordinary. He’d never seen ‘wrestling gear’ up close before.

“Whoa.” He said, reaching out to pick up one of her boots for a closer look. He looked at the soles and heels, chuckling. “So do these make you look taller than you really are, Oneechan?”

Angel reached out and took the boot from him. “Ugh. Shut up!” She said but did so with a smile. She missed his humorous teasing and began tucking away her clothes into her dresser.

“You wrestle in this?” Yujiro said behind her, as she was placing skirts, pants and tops inside the appropriate drawers.

Angel looked over her shoulder to see the teenager looking wide eyed, almost shocked, as he held up her unfolded singlet. A backless piece with a low neckline that ran to her waist. Angel rolled her eyes and crawled over to snatch the gear from him. “Yes, dork. With this.” She said, reaching into her bag and pulled out the strapless bra-like piece that matched the singlet in pattern and color. “So don’t worry. I know that protective look in your eyes.”

“Hey, sorry! You’re my sister, after all.” Yujiro said, raising his hands in submission.

Angel put her bra and singlet with the rest of her gear, back into her bag by itself. “So, then. Tell me about these guys you’ve been hanging out with.”

“Huh?” Yujiro looked up at her like a deer in headlights.

“Don’t ‘huh’. Mom says you’ve been hanging out with some shady boys.” Angel said sternly, watching Yujiro carefully for any odd body language. Her brother just shrugged, however and looked down, shyly.

“They’re just some kids I met and started hanging out with after school. Mom just doesn’t like the way they joke around with each other. You know how some kids are.” Yujiro said. “And you know how mom can be.”

Angel thought for a second and nodded. “Yes and yes. Just be careful, alright?” She said sincerely, watching her brother. “I don’t want anything happening to you, too.” She added with sadness in her voice.

“I’ll be fine, Oneechan. Promise.” Yujiro managed a smile before a picture on Angel’s desk caught his eye. He stared at the young woman displayed by herself, standing outside their apartment building. “We’re gonna see her again. Right?”

“Yes we will.” Angel said, staring at the picture with him. “That’s the whole reason I’m doing this. Surprised I haven’t broken a bone yet.”

Yujiro nodded and looked back towards her, managing a small smile again. “So, Mom said you’re working for two companies now?” He asked with an interested grin.

Angel nodded and pulled her pack back out and stuck a cigarette in her mouth, lighting the end of it. “Yeah. NFW and the Sanatorium.”

“Sanatorium?” Yujiro made a face.

Angel waved her cigarette hand dismissively as it hung off her knee while she sat. “It’s a gimmick thing.” She lied. “It’s the one I’m here for. You’ll see. It looks like an old grungy nuthouse. We’re the inmates.” She made quotation marks with her fingers.

Yujiro nodded. “Gotcha, gotcha. Sounds kinda neat. Different, for sure. Who’s your first opponent?” Angel held up two fingers. “Triple threat?” Yujiro raised his eyebrows.

Angel nodded. “Chrissu Matthewssu and Dasshu.” She said their Western names in her heavy accent.

“Do you think you can beat them?” Yujiro asked, leaning forward a little with interest in his eyes before he realized something. “Wait, you’re fighting a man? Isn’t Chrissu a guy’s name? What about Dasshu?”

Angel shook her head, not even worried about her opponents. “They’re both a couple of gaijin with their heads up their asses. Matthewssu loses his cool at the drop of a hat and doesn’t know how to control it. He’s also got stuff going on up here.” Angel moved her finger in a circle around up beside her head. “Dasshu?” Angel let out a ‘pfft.’ “She can’t even wrestle. I don’t even know how she made it into this tournament.” The truth, Angel knew, was that Dash was in the Sanatorium for street scams and boosting cars on top of being fucked in the head and not taking her meds. Angel couldn’t knock either opponent for their mental issues. She was confident, though, that she was going to be the one to score the victory in the first block match for the Shogun tournament.

She was drawn from her thoughts when Yujiro spoke up. “Dad’s home. Come say hi!” He said, jumping up and running out the door.