"Big in Japan" Banzuke Sumo Toshiyori, Part 1

The bus continued on its way, to the airport. As it approached a set of Traffic lights, Morgan steeled himself, resolutely snatched hold of his bag and striding determinedly to the front, stabbed the button to open the door.

"I’m GOING to the Shohoku stable, to be…err…"Train" with Dai’ ….Anyone else, want to join me ?", he announced bravely, still choking back his tears.

"THIS NOT BUS STOP !", Hissed the driver, "Please, be sitting back down, please !?".

A murmur went through the coach full of Wrestlers. They had a minute or less, to make up their minds, as Morgan, no longer caring if he went on his own or not, started walking down the few steps out of the bus, and onto the Japanese pavement, he knew his love for Daikonran had made him, irrational, but……

"I’m with you,…… Max WAS right !", turning around, Morgan could hear, and see Rasputin, coming down the steps after him, closely followed by Valdis obediently carrying both of their bags like a lackey. "Think I’m going to let that, "Yin – Yang", Bear, get all the glory…..??" he added, angrily, "I was a fool to wallow in my self pity like that…..!!"

Dennis hammered on the glass, desperately trying to get their attention.

"Go on, go with them !" muttered Rusty encouragingly, getting up from the outside of the double seat so the Badger could get out.

"You’re sure ??…..Aren’t you coming, too ?".

"NO !, someone has to go back and run, "Thistledown", or we’ll all be livin’ in a box, on Oxford street…Now go ON, before I change my mind !", insisted the Fox, gazing lovingly across at the big dopey Badger, who he loved more than anything, but he knew he couldn’t express his true feelings in front of everyone else, their eyes said more than more words ever could, as Rusty thrust Dennis’s bag into his hands, like a Mother handing a packed lunch to a Cub, on his first day of School.

"Axel…..??", whispered the burly Badger, glancing across that the short but sweet, chubby Racoon, sat opposite.

"Cheers….."Chop Chop"…", Axel shook his head, sadly, biting his lip, as he remained seated. "Look after yourself….".

"You’ll keep an eye, on Rust’ for me, won’t you…..".

"Mmmm.." the trembling figure, squeaked, dramatically turning to gaze out of the window, so the Badger wouldn’t see a tear run down his face.

Swallowing hard, Dennis took his turn to race out of the door, the traffic light was Amber now….

"Count me, "in" on that, too…..", snarled Ralph, as he too, leaped up, and snatched his bag from the overhead rack.

"HUH, well "See you" bet you just want to see that "Hachiko"…Again, Well you’re on your own !!" sneered Colin, his armed folded determinedly across his chest.

"Ok……Well……"Cheers MATE !!". and her name’s NATSUKO !, any of you other guy’s wanna come along…..?"

"Can’t……" shrugged Travis, "I’ve got to go back on lifeguard-ing duty, Rory can’t cover for me, forever….". Bowser glanced at the Otter, and turning back to Ralph, just shook his head, too.

"Just make sure, Jethro’s not wrecked my surf hire, biz…..I’ll be back before too long…….Alright ?", and giving them a brave "Thumbs up", and a wink, he dashed out, after the others who were staying to train at the Japanese "Beya".

"WAIT FOR ME !", hollered Jasper, "No way, I’m letting Dai’ an those other Bear’s have ALL the fun…..".

"Ah can’t……", growled Decker, nodding his head, towards his groin injury, as the Polar bear, looked at him for support, "An ah’ve gut "Things" t’ "DO" back ‘ome.

"Tell "the Boss", not to go advertising my job, just yet’..’cos I’ll be back !…".

"Ah’ll cover, fer ya…", beamed, the Tiger forcing a smile, " ‘Ere, borrow "Toby"…just in case….", and reaching into his Jacket’s inside pocket, he produced his Mobile phone, complete with Leather waistcoat wearing Plush Tiger cover, and handed it to him.

"Thanks…", whispered Jasper, as he gratefully received it, knowing it was a Gift from Nameh, to his beloved, "I’ll look after it !".

As the small group, congregated on the pavement. The bus driver made one final plea with them to get back on the bus, which they all ignored. Before the sound of Car horns behind, as the light had turned Green, forced him to pull away, the door closing with a cold, pneumatic hiss.

They looked up as their friends and team mates, waved and cheered goodbyes and good luck, to them. Tonneau and Syd, Rusty, Axel, Decker, Colin, Rev head, Travis, Bowser, Morita, Mush ……The last thing they saw was Randell leering over the back seat, giving them all the middle finger.

"Fuck you !, Yankee Blue Jeans….!!" Roared Rasputin, promptly returning the guesture. "I wonder what ever happened to that "Sidekick" of his ?", he spat, as the bus drove away out of sight, "He wasn’t even on the bus ?".

"Maybe he caught an earlier flight, they had a bit of a major bust up, apparently……"

"RUFFERT ???", spinning round, the small band noticed Ruffert standing there, with his rucksack, hung casually over one shoulder.

"Ve all used back door unt da Omnibus, vhilst you all deciding vether to get off, or not !!", added Knall, the German pair, appeared from behind the Alsatian.

"Perhaps it iz for best, now I ist Lightweight Champion !" announced Shlank, Proudly, "Vasn’t sure, unt first, but now…Zeeing as rest of you, brave enough…..".

"Herr Yamamoto, ist VERY, Strict, let me be telling you !!" Warned Knall, a slight look of fear washing over his face, as he interrupted his Wrestling partner.

"WELL, We’ve got the Panda’s original "Buddies", here now !", snarled Rasputin, glaring pointedly at Morgan and Ruffert, each in turn "How about, the pair of "YOU" pick up the scent of his sweaty Mawashi….AND LEAD US TO HIM !?!!".

"YEAH !!" Chorused the others, who’d more or less scrambled off the bus, in the heat of the moment, without really giving it much thought.

Morgan leaned against a nearby lamp post for support. Right now, he just wanted to break down and cry, his love for Dai’ had ruled his heart, and now all these others had followed him……Almost as blindly.

"R….Right, the Shohoku stable…….", quavered Ruffert, speaking on Morgan’s behalf, desperately stalling for time…..

"Ist on outskirts of "Town"…..", suggested Knall, in his deep voice.

"Right….RIGHT !", beamed the German Shepherd, his ears perking with interest, "You’ve both BEEN there, haven’t you ??……..".

"Yesssss, but NOT remember, vitch vay it ist ?…..".

The Group, collectively sighed, and most of them slumped to the ground in exasperation.

"Why not ASK someone, for directions ?" suggested Dennis.

"Oh, GOOD ONE, "MATE", snorted Ralph, "And HOW much Japanese do you know, EX-ACT-LY ??".

"I know a little !!", the Badger snapped back, defensively.

"Well, if we can’t find it, we’d BETTER at least find the Airport…otherwise……..", added Jasper.

"LOOK….."Fighting" amongst ourselves ISN’T going to get us anywhere…..", sighed Morgan, swallowing hard, and putting on a brave face.

"Oh, RIGHT, so NOW you’re in charge…..", sneered Rasputin, then he turned to a Japanese Monkey, dressed in a smart business suit, who was wandering by.

" Ummm….Otazune itashimasu….. Errr….Shohoku Beya wa doko ni arimasu ka ?", asked the formidable Russian Grizzly, with a polite bow of his head. The Monkey just looked terrified, and blurted out what they assumed was a series of directions, in {Very quickly spoken} Japanese.

Rasputin scratched his head, his knowledge of phrasebook Japanese had deserted him, "Ummm…."We"….." he gestured to himself, and the others.

"Foreign Sumo Wrestlers"….ummm, "Gaijin Sumotori ?", he mimed a quick shiko and bout, against an imaginary opponent, "and….WE…..looking for….. Shohoku stable, SU-MO stable ?!?".

"Umm….Ohairi Kudasai ?!", interrupted Valdis, producing a "Programme" from the Sumo basho, they’d just competed in from his bag, and pointing to an advertisement, for the Shar- pei’s "Stable", repeated Rasputin’s earlier line, "….Shohoku Beya wa doko ni arimasu ka ?", with a polite nod of his head.

"I…not..speaking…Englisssh, very good !?", Quavered the Monkey, producing a pen, from his jacket, "But I can be showing you…. you here…you need go down this road……." aided by the map, pointing with his pen and aided by some more mime from Rasputin. They eventually settled upon directions. The group bowed, gratefully to the bemused Primate, and gathering up their belonging’s headed off, down the road.

"Huh…Baka Gaijins ?", breathed the Monkey, as the band, swaggered out of site.

"You know, we could have always, "Phoned", Dai’s mobile number is programmed into this thing……" mumbled Jasper, as he pulled Decker’s mobile phone from his pocket, and idly turned it over in his hands.

"YOU MEAN TO SAY, YOU LET ME MAKE A TOTAL FOOL OF MYSELF, WHEN……." Snarled Rasputin, grinding his teeth and fiercely spinning around on his heel, to confront the startled Polar Bear.

"Hey !, Decker only just loaned it to me, I’d only this second thought of it".

"There’s NO Guarantee, he’d answer, anyway….." Morgan muttered to himself, under his breath.

"Hey, look…..Here’s a bunch of those Japanese vending machines !", cooed Ralph as they all walked past a few of the brightly lit machines, "Anyone fancy a Tinnie, ‘Cos I’m getting one…..".

"Maybe ve should be saving, our money, int case, ve ‘ave to buy our own food ?", Suggested Shlank, sensibly.

"Aww, it’s only a Hundred and Ten Yen, … ‘Sure I can stretch to that……", Blustered the Kangeroo, producing two coins from his pocket and put them in the slot, he contemplated what to choose for a second, then pressed one of the buttons, and a chilled can of Boss Coffee clattered to the drawer at the base of the cabinet.

"Y’now, I "Conned", Colin into drinking a can of Grape Fanta from one of these, the other day…. Normally he hates Fanta with a passion, Drinks Lilt nearly all the time for some reason….. But I had him going that Grape Fanta was a lot different, you should have seen his face when he spat it out…IT’S WELL HARSH !!", reminisced the ‘Roo, as he opened his Coffee and took a sip.

"Spare us, your stories…let’s get a MOVE ON !", insisted Valdis.

"Dai’ would always drink Peach juice……", murmured Morgan.

"Yeah…..", added Ruffert, flashing the Light Brown Bear a sad, but knowing smile, each lost in their private recollections of the Giant Panda, who’d brought them together, and whom they both adored.

"Mush not want to come with you then…..??" Whispered Morgan

Ruffert forced another smile, and just shook his head, "I think its over between us, He wanted me to choose…so….".

"Vhat happen, vith your Koala "Friend", anyhow ?", asked Knall, to Ralph as the group continued on there way, "Vhy ist he not vith you ??".

"Dunno, Mate….Stubborn pride, he’d funny like that, but he’s still me, Mate….. We’ve been friends as long as we can both remember….".

"Doesn’t zound like much of unt friend, to be leaving you like zhat ?".

"Yeah…..Well……", The tall Kangaroo, finished his can, with a heartfelt sigh and tossed it into a nearby bin, where it fell with a metallic clatter, "He’s got all jealous an’ Shit, since I started talking to Natsuko, the Receptionist, back at the Hotel…….".

"Are we there, yet ??", Whined Dennis, after they’d been walking for quite awhile.

"I don’t think… its much further….." murmured Valdis, his eyes fixed intently on the map.

"BE PACIENT !!" Snarled Rasputin, his own patience wearing thinner and thinner, his faith in the Black Bears ability to map-read was all that was keeping him from losing his temper completely.

"Vhy you keep LOOKING at ve, like ZHAT !!" snarled Shlank, noticing how Ruffert was surreptitiously glancing at his T –shirt.

"Ummm, do….you like….the group.. "Scooter" ??", the Alsatian replied, a little shy for having been snapped at.

"Yah, Very much so !!" The Doberman grinned a Crocodile smile back at him, puffing up his chest proudly to display the "Age of Love" Black T shirt, with a picture of the German group wearing futuristic outfits printed on the front.

"Phantastish !!, Ve both have ALL of zere Compact discs !!", interrupted Knall in his deep baritone voice, suddenly becoming very interested.

"Did you guys say y’ liked "Scooter"…. Hey, we listen to them in Oz, too….." Cut in Ralph, " The Video to "Age of Love" is well cool….".

"As ist "Let me be your Valentine…..", added the Doberman

"Unt, "Our Happy Hardcore"…….". beamed Knall.

"It’s good that you’ve found something you’re all interested in, I like "Scooter" too, but I think we should concentrate on FINDING the Beya…." Sighed Morgan, wearily.

"Me too", added Jasper, heaving the single strap of his rucksack back up as it kept slipping from his shoulder.

"ME THREE !!!" breathed Dennis, comically.

Vait a minute….." the Doberman suddenly squinted his eyes, and looked around intently.

"Vhat is it ??" Hissed Knall.

"Zhink I recognising, surroundings……..?!?".

"That Japanese Guy we spoke to, did say….." started Valdis, with a growing sense of elation.

"YAH….YAH…HERE VE ARE !!!".

As they turned the corner of the street, there was the simple, traditional Sumo stable…….

The relived gang all let out a collective sigh at having reached their objective, but then the next monumentous task entered their minds.

"Who’s going to knock on the door ??".

***********************************************************

"I…..I can’t come with you……" whimpered the crest fallen Racoon, as they wandered inside the airport.

"Why ?…..Why not?, Dennis’ll be OK, you know he’s tough as nails, really, besides Dai’ Morgan and Jasper, are sure to look after him…."

"It’s not that.." Axel whimpered, shaking his head sadly, "I’m kinda obligated to go back to America, and help out Mr Kuma, while Daikonran AND now Morgan, are away".

"Can’t anyone else do it ??" Questioned Rusty.

"Well, he’s pretty particular about his employees, and who he trusts… If it wasn’t for him, I’d have never got over to England, {See pt ??} You DO understand don’t you ?, Plus, I haven’t seen my parents in quite awhile too…and…." he pleaded. A heartfelt goodbye wasn’t easy, with Tonneau and Syd stood just behind the Fox he loved so much.

"Yeah, it won’t be "Forever" will it?, you know you’re welcome back, anytime you want….", and the pair of them embraced, hugging each other warmly

"T’ke care, "Boss", but wot about the "Sumo", back in Blighty….while you an’ Mr Brock are "away"…..", mused Syd, the lanky, swaggering Weasel, as the Fox and Racoon broke away from their hug.

"I’m sure the pair of you, could look after it, until Dennis gets back……" quavered Axel, choking back tears, "Rusty will be busy with his work…and…..Look I gotta go…..". Spinning on his heel, Axel ran away in the direction of the terminal, the Kuma Motors private jet was due to depart from.

*********************************************************************************

" ‘Guess dis is g’bye, then ?" mumbled Morita, as he wandered along, looking for where he was due to depart from, along with the Tasmanian Wolf. The lumbering Gorilla, glanced down at his feet, as he spoke, he never found "Goodbyes" easy.

"Yeah, ….Cheers, "Roomie" coughed Rev –head, reaching out and giving the Apes large hand, a hearty shake, "Neither of us, did to badly, did we ?". he added, unable to think of anything better to say.

" ‘ Guess n’t….Hey, wanna give me, your address in New Zea’ den I can send you a postcard…..".

"Nah, don’t worry about it, I ain’t got a pen an paper on me, an’ I’m from OZ, remember…..".

"Oh yea’……", muttered Morita, " Y’ did that so you c’d get back at dat Otter guy, didn’t you……".

"That’s right……" breathed the Tasmanian Wolf, "Makes me wonder if I should just jack this "Sumo" lark in…you know, give it up……".

"I gets like dat, s’times……" mused the Silver back Gorilla, "Then I get all patriotic, rememberin’ I’m da sole representative of ma Country, an’ that kinda makes me proud an’ stuff……".

*********************************************************************************

"You do it, Morgan !" urged Ruffert, "Go on….. Knock on the door !"

"Why ?, why have I got to…." Moaned the Light Brown Bear, sounding like a frightened Cub all of a sudden.

"Because it was YOUR idea !!" Snarled Rasputin, stepping menacingly towards him. The others all voiced their agreement, and drawing breath sharply in through clenched teeth, Morgan wandered bravely up to the wooden door, and firmly rapped on it with his knuckle.

There was a sound of plodding feet, and then the heavy door creaked open. Filling the gap was the Akita.

"So you’ve changed mind, you wish to see Oyakata ?", he sighed, dryly.

"YES !!", demanded Rasputin, determinedly stepping out from amongst the group, huddled behind Morgan, to confront him.

The Japanese Dog gave him one of his usual, withering stares "Very well, wait here…I go get him !".

"PLEASE don’t be rude or confrontational……" Morgan whined to the rugged Grizzly, "It’s probably better if we’re very humble, bow and…".

"YOU SEEM TO FORGET……" sneered Rasputin, "Some" of "Us", already have what it takes, I don’t expect either of the Germans or myself will have a problem getting in….".

"I think he might have a point, though….." suggested Valdis. Rasputin’s jaw gapped, he’d forgotten about his partner, in a brief instance of self- importance.

"Konnichi wa ?" hissed Mr Yamamoto dryly, as he re-opened the door to the sight of the nine Wrestlers, who just gazed blankly back at him with expectant faces.

"Ve humbly requesting, zat you be training us, unt your Beya…" Shlank rumbled in his deep voice, as he bowed low to him, the others followed his example, and also humbly bowed to both the Shar – pei, and the Akita that had reappeared behind him, in the doorway.

"Of course, I offered place to you, American Wolf, and big Russian here….". started the wrinkly Oyakata.

"IF I’M TO TRAIN HERE, MY "TEAM MATE" GETS TO TRAIN WITH ME TOO", demanded Rasputin, the Shar – pei, just looked back at him, unblinking, as though the Grizzly was no more than an insect.

Swallowing hard, he realised raising his voice was getting him nowhere. "Please !!" he added, dropping to his knees, Rasputin prostrated himself into the deepest bow he possibly could, touching his forehead to the ground.

"Very well, It pleases me that your trainer, Max taught you some manners, I was under impression you very arrogant and fiery tempered….". Daring to look up, the Russian Grizzly caught a knowing smirk, on the face of the senior Akita stood beside him. Who stood proudly with his arms folded, he obviously knew what was coming next….

"However there is condition…..", continued the Oyakata, as Rasputin, rose from his Zarei Bow, "Your partner is bit lower ranking, he would have to become your Tsukebito……".

"YES, YES !", Bleated Valdis, surging forward, "Whatever it……".

Rasputin flashed a pleading expression, at the Black Bear, did he know what he was letting himself in for ??.

"And that going for Knall too……You have to becoming Tsukebito, to Shlank…". Continued the Akita, addressing the two Germans. The Rottwiller nodded his agreement, without hesitation.

"Umm, I humbly request, that you allow me……", began Morgan, lowering himself to his knees, ready to perform the most humbling bow possible, as the Russian had just done….

"MORGAN !?!".

The Surprised voice, made every strand of fur on the Light Brown Bears body shudder, as if he’d just experienced freezing cold or an electric shock.

"DAI’ …..DAIKONRAN…..!!!".

Appearing behind the Oyakata and senior was the Panda he adored, no longer caring for etiquette Morgan dashed forward, "Dai’…Please let me stay and be your "Tsukebito"….", he pleaded, "Please, I’ll do ANYTHING….".

"Morgan !, just WHAT are you doing here ??", hissed the Panda, a little angered by the Bears impolite brashness, "It’s not my decision to make, Only Yamamoto Sensei can decide !, it’s HIS Stable remember !!".

"Yes, rest of you ranked in middle somewhere", added the Oyakata, giving Morgan, and the others a scornful look. Morgan’s jaw quavered, at the frosty reception he’d got from the Giant Panda. "I thought you were going to go home and help my Father, run Kuma Motors while I was here…I was depending on you !, that’s pretty selfish……", Hissed Daikonran, pointedly to the other Bear. Morgan just gazed back at him, in bewilderment, had he really paid THAT little attention to him, before they’d parted that morning ?.

"It’s OK, because Axel said he’d cover for us……" Morgan answered simply.

"WHAT !" Spat Dennis scornfully, from where he stood amongst the other Wrestlers.

"Very well, Daikonran, I letting you decide, if you wanting American Bear be your Tsukebito…… Otherwise send him away……!", hastened the Oyakata, impatiently.

Morgan swallowed hard, he could feel his heart thumping in his chest…. He was totally at the whim of his friend, hardly daring to breath the Brown Bear just looked pleadingly up at the Panda. To Morgan’s relief, Dai’s angry expression had melted away, into his usual serene smile.

"You have to promise me, and that goes for the rest of you too….", announced Daikonran, addressing the others as well, "You’ll treat Yamamoto – Oyakata with the utmost respect, while you train here, under his instruction…..". Morgan just nodded his head, frantically!, he just wanted to be with Dai’…..he didn’t want to face the others wrath if…

"I believe they knowing that, Daikonran !, but thank you for remind them", beamed the Shar-pei proudly, interrupting the Pandas speech.

"I guess rest of you wishing to stay and train, also ?!" continued Mr Yamamoto, casting a suspicious glance over the other expectant Wrestlers. "Very well, as I’ve seen you all Wrestle at Training and Basho, I interviewing you all here…. But if myself and Hikari, not think any of you worthy or have right spirit….HOME YOU GO !"

"No argument !", added the Akita, sternly.

"Well, here goes, nothing….." Jasper whispered to Ruff’ as he was the first to step forward, bowing humbly as he did so. Ruffert did the same, bowing mechanically from the waist, like a puppet whose strings had been cut.

"I’m the head of the "Canadian Rockies" team……" announced the Polar Bear, "And this is one of my team mates, Ruffert…..".

"YES, we know….." snarled Hikari, impatiently, folding his arms defencifully in front of his Yukata.

"…And we would both consider it a very great honour, if you were to consider us……for training at your Beya……" continued Jasper.

"Dog not able to speak for himself ?" hissed Mr Yamamoto, glaring intently at the nervous German shepherd.

"Umm, yes…..it would….make us both VERY proud, if you considered us worthy of training at your Beya….." spluttered Ruffert.

"We’d work and train VERY hard, as we wouldn’t wish to disappoint you !!" added the Polar Bear, backing his friend up, even though they must have sounded like king sized crawlers.

"Well, there is just you two, left….." snorted the Shar-pei, turning his attentions to Dennis and Ralph.

"They both fight very well…..", suggested the Akita.

"Brock !, Dennis Brock !!!", spat Dennis, giving his chest a hearty slap, as he once again, bowed deeply to the formidable duo. "I more of less, run the "Sumo", back in London, England….. I am lucky enough to run a small "Beya" of sorts back there, too….., and if you where to grant me the opportunity to learn from you, I’m sure I’d be able to become a better Teacher to my own students……".

"You have good argument….." mused the Shar-pei, thoughtfully rubbing his chin, "Tonneau and Syd are your most new students, are they not ?".

"Y…Yes…. , obviously I could only bring two along, besides Rusty and myself……".

"WHERE FOX THEN ?" hissed the Akita, in an icy tone.

"He…he had…. to go back to London, because of his work….." Quavered Dennis, the Akita’s abruptness making him suddenly feel like a School Cub, being scolded. Then something Rusty had said as they parted, suddenly set off alarm bells in his head, "Otherwise we’ll all be living in a box, on Oxford Street", Hadn’t that designer "Fop", Lawrence, once said that….??.

"Very well, ‘Roo, why you think we should letting you stay here and train, also ?", snarled the Shar –pei, furrowing his brow, turning his attention to the Australian.

Ralph knew that what he would say, would pretty much sound like a repeat of what the English Badger had just said, chewing his lip as he composed the words in his head. His mind drifted to thoughts of Natsuko Staying here, in Japan might mean he’d have a chance to see her again. And Colin, the way he just left him…. Letting him go like that…. Some friend !!, although he wished the cocky, loudmouth Koala was here right now, backing him up…..

"We are WAITING !!" Hissed the Akita, his arms still folded lazily and impatiently in front of his Yukata.

"Uuummmm", Ralph nervously scratched himself, behind his large ears, and then bowed deeply from the waist, "I….er…..that is….I’m the "Captain" of the Australian team, and….".

"YOU ?, Captain ?, I thought it was Koala……!". Spat the Akita, interrupting him, but the Shar-pei raised a hand for him to be quiet, obediently the other Japanese Dog fell silent, and Ralph continued.

"…..Yes,….Well, I have a similar request to the English Badger, I’ve been training Wrestlers, "Down under", in Australia, and I would very much appreciate the opportunity to train here at your stable, and learn from you.

"Bah, very well!, you getting stay too…..But, you have be Tsukebito to Badger, though !!".

"WHAT !!!" shrieked Ralph, wide eyed with surprise.

TO BE CONTINUED……..

*********************************************************************************