"What’s that!!…Whatcha saying!?!!" gasped an exasperated Randell, into the telephone receiver. "Umm, yeah sure…course it’ll be great to see you their.. Look you’re gonna WANT me if I win again, right!!" he furrowed his eyebrows "That KUMA motors lot ain’t been sayin’ stuff about me have they??…NO !?! .. You’re introducing a new range of underwear and it requires…" growing impatient the Grey Wolf abruptly ended the conversation, "OK then, we’ll discuss this at the tournament, but if I get ANY other offers before then…" with that he slammed the handset back on it’s base.
"SHIT, Lyro that was my "Boss" from "Sheath briefs".. ’Says his company is launching a new range, more sophisticated or something…"
The Black Wolf’s ears perked up, "Yeah like what?, ‘Reckon that Panda’s been…"
"NO !!" barked Randell, "ANUBIS !!" "Get this, he got the idea, ‘cos their made out of Egyptian cotton, so he wants someone done up like that ancient God guy to sell ‘em"
"You could do that" remarked Lyro.
"Sure thing, dum ass ! Do I look like a Black Jackal to you ??"
"Maybe I could do it ??"
"AH HA HA HA !!" Roared the dominant Grey Wolf, "Don’t make me fuckin’ laugh !!. Anyway we’ve only got the rest of this week to practice, sounds like we’ve got whole load "on our plate" this time around!"
"So, you’ve got the invites then! We’re both going?" chirped Valdis, excitedly.
"Umm, I’m not sure…do you REALLY think you’re good enough? remember we’re representing Russia when we walk into that ring" Muttered Rasputin in a sombre tone.
"You’ve come over all patriotic all of a sudden? Is that the REAL reason..?" questioned the slightly smaller Black Bear, gazing up into the tremendous Grizzlies eyes. "Come on, I know you…"
"OK, JUST DON’T YOU DARE, SHOW ME UP OR DISGRACE US IN ANY WAY…. OR I’LL BEAT YOU TO A PULP!" Roared Rasputin, "Act "Straight" at all times too, unless I say otherwise!" he added in a whisper.
"Err, Sure…Whatever you say…"
"SWEAR IT TO ME !!"
"Yes, I swear it, honestly…" shuddered the Black Bear, his tawny muzzle quavering.
"I hope you two drongo’s can put up a decent fight this time, ‘cos we’ve been invited back to another Sumo tourney" Colin waved the letter in the faces of his two team mates, who were sat at the beach café drinking milkshakes.
"No worries, Col’ we’ve been trainin’ with you every morning ain’t we.."
"YEAH!" Snapped the Koala, wrinkling his large nose, " ‘Cept I’d like us to actually WIN this time!!….Try an’ groom your fur a bit better this time, Sullivan! Maybe we could at least try and land ourselves an’ advertising deal or something…like that lightweight champ who loves himself…"
"Randell" corrected the Dingo, "My sister worships him, cutting his pictures out of all the magazines an’ stuff…"
"I DON’T BLOODY CARE !!!" Spat Colin, "I don’t wanna go all that way again, only to…"
"Hey chill out," advised Ralph, nudging up his sunglasses and leaning his chair back, using his massive kangaroo tail to prevent himself toppling backwards
."Jeez, Have a word!" Snarled Colin catching sight of what the ‘Roo was wearing. "Bermuda shorts went out years back!!"
"Check yourself, Mr "Speedo" king,…"Baywatch" you ain’t…"
"Well, here they are!" announced Dennis, leaning across the breakfast table, showing the contents of the envelope to Rusty.
"Great! Can’t wait to see the lad’s again…"
"An’…the "Bears"…" drooled Dennis.
"Oooh, stop it you smutty Badger, and after all the grief you gave me about Axel…"
"Yeah…I’m sorry, If we have a bunk up in Dai’s room again you can have Axel an’ the lightweights!…’Leave the Heavyweights to me, OK!"
"Oh, my hero" muttered the Fox, sarcastically. "Seriously though, it’ll be well good, if we have another pre fight orgy won’t it ??"
"Yeah, reckon so, only…. it makes it harder if we get paired off against one of our friends in the bouts" Sighed Dennis.
"…It’s just the luck of the draw, I guess" Whispered Rusty gazing down into his bowl of Cinnamon toast crunch, "Remind me to E-mail Axel later, won’t you?" Dennis just nodded, and busied himself with his meal.
"WOW, you’re both really going" gasped Nameh, "Who’s gonna cover for you while your away?"
Jasper looked shocked upon hearing his.
"Relax, I’m joking!, Place’ll be really quiet without you two around, you go an’ have a good time!. Never saw you as the wrestling type though, Mush"
"Oh Yeah!, It’s dead sexy, wearing those skimpy mawashi’s an’ when your opponent grabs it roughly…."
"I’m starting to think I’ve been missing out on something here!. Soon as you both get back you’re kiting me out in one of those lengths of Cotton an’ showing me what "All the Fuss" is about…"
"Sure thing, Boss! it’s a deal!!" Smiled Jasper, delighted that his employer was starting to take more of an interest.
"I know just who you can go up against too" Grinned "Mush". The Polar Bear and Lion both looked at him in complete surprise.
"Well…he’s about your age, and build…I guess, He harbours a secret desire to try Sumo as well…"
"Really!! Who is it?!?" Yelped Nameh, wide eyed.
"I’ll make all the arrangements when we get back, assuming you’re still interested…" Teased "Mush".
"A..All right then, I’ll be sure to watch the whole contest when it airs…Darn you Jasper! This is all your fault, playing that tape of yours, you’ve even mindwashed me into liking it now!!" Nameh scowled at the muscular Polar Bear. Then mischievously winked to let him know he was joking.
"Well, I expect you all know why you’re here…" Started Mr Kuma, walking around his massive desk to where his Son and his fellow team mates stood.
"The first international tournament was such a success, that we’re doing it again! Theirs almost twice as many Wrestlers taking part. Some representing countries that haven’t competed before…Although I can’t comment on their skill or experience…there is one team…" Adjusting his half moon glasses he picked up a photo and papers from where they lay on the desktop and handed it to his son. Morgan, Ruffert and Axel huddled around to see. "They’re from Germany!, The Rottwiller is a Heavyweight and the Doberman’s a lightweight of course, They’re TV personalities back in their homeland…"
"Really…how so?, Sir ?" Questioned Morgan, looking up from the picture.
"Well… both of them are Wrestlers on one of those "Sports entertainment" shows whose ratings are failing…"
Daikonran screwed his face up in apprehension of what he was going to hear next.
"So..The Wrestling show they’re from, has put up part sponsorship on the condition there allowed….."
"WHAT!! To win??" Corused the startled group.
"Father, we don’t need their money!..We can.." Protested Dai’
"You didn’t let me finish!! "Ham it up" is the right term I think, And as to the money…Well, depending on how well it goes, we’ll sell them the rights to televise their own "Sumo league" show…"
"..To replace their failing, gimmicky Wrestling show…" Muttered Axel, thinking out loud.
"Exactly!!" Smiled the much older Panda, "Who knows, maybe others will follow their example and it’ll go world-wide!…then we’ll have a truly great tournament every year!"
"…Great,.." sighed Dai’, unconvinced. His Father then snapped back at him in Japanese, and they proceeded to argue in their native language.
Morgan, Ruffert and Axel, looked at each other, but before any of them could contemplate what to do next, the two Pandas stopped squabbling. Without another word Dai’ headed for the door, and beckoned his friends to follow him. Once they where in the lift, Morgan was the first to speak.
"UMM, what was that all about then??"
"NOTHING, MORGAN!! IT’S NONE OF YOUR CONCERN!! "
"Hey, I was only asking! If it affects us, I think we’ve got a right to know" Defended the Brown Bear. Ruff’ and Axel nodded in agreement.
"OH, it’s just my Father doing what he always does…." Grumbled Dai’ throwing his hands up in despair. The anger starting to show on his face again. Morgan and the others took that as their cue not to press the point any further, as the lift lurched to a halt.
"No practice tonight, you’d be better off packing, or contacting your friends…" Muttered Dai’ "I’m in no mood to practice…’before any of you ask why not!!" he growled.
"Umm, tomorrow then? Theirs only about a week to go now!" asked Ruffert innocently.
"I suppose so!" sighed the Panda, suppressing his anger. "Look, I’m sorry I snapped at all of you, it’s just my father…."
"We’re your friends, you can tell us.." persuaded Axel, scenting Dai’ had cut his sentence short.
"Oh very well!. Look, my fathers got it into his head that if this "Sumo thing" takes off, I’ll become more involved in that and not want to take over from him when he retires"
Dumfounded, Morgan, Ruffert and Axel silently nodded their understanding.
The week passed quickly, and the four friends found themselves seated on the Kuma motors plane.
"I can’t believe it’s been a year…" Quavered Axel, nervously fidgeting in his seat.
"It certainly has!" announced Dai’ in a fatherly tone, "You’re not still nervous about flying are you?…maybe we should do what we did last time to take your mind off it!" he added with a wink.
"I..It’s the taking off an’ landing that bothers me more than the actual flying…"
"Don’t worry, Axel…" cooed Morgan leaning over from the seat behind him and placed a comforting hand on the Racoon’s shoulder.
"You’d better sit back down, and buckle up!. We’ll be taking off soon" Advised the Giant Panda sat next to him.
"Ve’ve got to do, vhat??" Snarled the burly Rottweiler.
"Zere’s a Sumo tournament being held over in Japan!. You and Schlank will both be expected to attend"
"Ve’re Wrestlers, but if you think ve’ll do it in Windel ,you’re sadly mistaken.." Protested the Doberman stood next to him.
"UND YOU’LL BOTH VE OUT OF A JOB!!" Roared their Boss, leaning across his desk.
Both looked shocked, and the Great Dane thrust a pair of plane tickets into Knall’s hands.
"I know how you must both feel, but if za TV rating fall any lower..anyway go home und pack quickly! You fly out in a vew hours. Here’s vhat you’ll be expected to vear und vritten instructions" and he passed a small bag to Schlank.
" Windel, Great!! Guess ve’ll learn the scripts on the plane…"
"I vish you wouldn’t refer to them as zhat! You’re in the "Sports entertainment business, remember!!"
"Knall und Schank, Sumo Wrestlers…" grumbled the pair in stereo, as they swaggered out of the office.
"Ve’ve not even had a chance to rehearse or "practice" as the Geschaftsfuhrer calls it…" Complained Schank as they bustled out of the office building.
"Ggaahh!! Ve’ve no time to worry about zhat now, you heard Vhat he said!! Ve must pack….and HURRY!!" Snarled the Rottweiler, to his team-mate.
"Well, here we are … again!" announced Dai’ as he clambered off the coach outside the Hotel Metropolitan, closely followed by Morgan, Ruffert and Axel.
"Yeah, that flights a real bitch though, let’s get our stuff upto our room eh?"
Sighed Morgan, impatiently waiting for the baggage handler to open the side of the bus.
"Never mind that! That’s the Porters job!!" Snapped Dai’ "We have OTHER things to attend too first !!"
"HEY, don’t get your Mawashi in a twist…."
"This is NO joking matter, Morgan! We’ve got to meet with those German TV wrestlers remember!….I’m going to check at reception to see if they’ve arrived…you all hang around reception, alright!!" the Bear, Dog, and Racoon nodded their understanding.
"I wonder if Rusty and Dennis are here yet ??" sighed Axel.
"Or Jasper…"
"….and "Mush", assuming he’s upto it! " Growled Morgan, completing Ruffert’s sentence for him.
"well, they’re not due to arrive for a few hours yet" breathed Dai’ rejoining his friends, "I suggest we go to the nearest Lottaria to re fuel on fast food for a bit, then we could "crash out" in our room …"
"No! lets wait for our friends to arrive down here….after we’ve eaten of course" Interrupted Axel.
"What friends might you be referring too? Our German ones perhaps??" Dai’ tossed his head back in suspicion. "Don’t worry my friend, the group from England won’t be here for a few hours…I checked!" The Giant Panda then beckoned his friends to follow him as he headed back out of the entrance and onto Ikybukuro’s busy street.
Time passed slowly, and the group of friends waited, nervously and impatiently in the hotel reception area, each lost in their individual thoughts.
"Hey, isn’t anyone gonna help us with our baggage??"
"Rusty and Dennis!!" shrieked Axel, leaping from his seat.
"Uh oh, look who it is…" hissed Ruffert to the two Bears, "That "Sheath Briefs ad’ guy" as he noticed him walk in behind the others.
"..And that looks like the two Germans, Knall and Schlack! We’d better go and welcome them" Sighed Dai’ reluctantly getting up from his chair.
"You must be Daumenlutscher ?!" Sneered the stocky Rottweiler as Dai’ bowed politely and was about to introduce himself.
"Daikonran!! Yes…and I’m supposed to discuss what your manager and my Father have agreed upon"
The two fierce looking Dog’s look bemused, "Yah, you must mean "work out our routine" snarled the Doberman after an agonising short silence
"I’m Schlack, und zis is Knall, by the way"
Dai’ nodded another quick bow to him, and gestured for his friends to come over, "This is the rest of my team, Morgan…Ruffert…and the Rac.."
"Are you German, also?!?" Snapped Schlack, glaring at the other Dog.
"Umm, well, I’m a German Shepherd…b.but I’m not FROM Germany, although I must have some distant relative…"
"Huh, I vhought not…you’re no pure breed !!" harrumphed the Doberman, distastefully. "are ve going to rehearse now, zhen ?!?"
Dai’ quickly glanced at his two friends and rolled his eyes to signify "Let’s get this over with as quickly as possible" he then returned his attention to the German Wrestlers. "Why don’t you check in first, then we’ll all go to the "Practice room" together?"
Once they were out of earshot Dai’ Morgan and Ruffert huddled back around their English friends and greeted them warmly.
"Hey, who where those guys?" Questioned Dennis, breaking away from his second Bear hug.
"OH, just the German team, pretty obnoxious by the looks of it!" hissed Dai’ "You wouldn’t believe what they said to Ruff’.."
"Ahh, don’t worry about it!" interrupted Ruffert, "They’re probably being all showbiz…"
"I can’t believe you’re defending them!. DON’T let me catch you chasing after them, dick in hand…" spat Morgan.
Ruffert bowed his head and shrugged, " ‘Be interesting to see them square off against Randell and Lyro wouldn’t it ??" he muttered.
"SSSHH, now! They’re coming back! Axel you might as well stay here with these two, wait for Jasper n’ Mush to arrive? And we’ll catch you in an hour or so, Yeah?" Ordered Dai’
"Then..maybe we could all go upstairs and get…"better aquained" leered Dennis with a broad grin, Rusty just nudged him in the ribs.
"Ist time we rehearsed, yah?!" Boomed Knall, "You’ll have to zhow us, how to put zhese, Windel on! Ve normally vear Leather shorts!…"
"You must mean "Mawashi’s" corrected the Giant Panda.
"Vhatever, zere like saugling vere!!" the Rottweiler then mimicked a baby crying to express what he meant.
"Well, if you’d like to follow me…." Sighed Dai’
"Schlack!!, you’ve got da script, yah?!?" Snarled the formidable Rottweiler to the Doberman who was just behind him.
"Let’s get on vith it!! Of all the ideas the geschaftfuhrer has had…." He complained bitterly.
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