"Magokoro O, Kimi Ni" Banzuke Sumo Beya, Part 25

Morgan and Daikonran awoke early the next morning to the sound of the alarm clock. Not having anytime for cuddling or sex, they wordlessly staggered out of bed, quickly showered and dressed, and the pair of them hurriedly checked to see they hadn’t forgotten anything. They reached for their luggage that was all packed and ready….It was time to go….

"You haven’t forgotten your toothbrush ?" Morgan reminded Daikonran, who seemed lost in his own thoughts.

"Forgot ?, oh yes, that reminds me, I have a present for you, Morgan…."

Daikonran, who’d hardly spoken, since they’d woke up. Looked his partner up and down as if he had met him for the first time, and then reached for a small bag, which lay behind his suitcase and handed to him.

"A plush toy….Of YOU !", Morgan gasped with delight as he took it out, "I saw a few of them yesterday, amongst the crowd….it’s got it’s own Mawashi and everything…..It’s really sweet, Thanks!!".

"Yeah….", shrugged Daikonran, sadly.

"W….What is it….??", gasped the Light Brown Bear, shuddering, the way the Panda was looking at him, suddenly made him feel…

"I can't think of a simple way to put this, Morgan…… But I'm staying!".

"STAYING !!!" Morgan dropped the toy in surprise, "But…."

"This is probably the best opportunity, I'll EVER have….., You can see that, my friend,…Can't you??….I want you to be happy for me…."

Morgan hadn't seen that facial expression on Daikonran since he'd first begged him to train with him, and Ruffert, all that time ago…..Memories flashed through his mind in seconds, their first night "Training" together in the Kuma Motors Gym, meeting all their other friends, Axel, Dennis, Rusty, Jasper….others too. Rasputin and his side kick Valdis, The other tournaments they'd attended, the time they'd started a …..

"Is it because of the Failure with the "Summer School"……" Pleaded Morgan, desperately seeking an Answer, "What would your Father say, there's NO way, he'd…." He choked, feeling that lurching feeling in his stomach before you start to cry, but he fought it.

"I spoke to my Mother on the phone last night…she said to do what my heart tells me, and not to worry about….."

"IF YOU'RE STAYING!!!, Then I'M STAYING TOO !!" Gushed Morgan.

"I'm afraid it's not as simple as that….I kind of need you to "Cover" for me while….my Father trusts you, you see….." Daikonran sighed, in his ever-calm tone.

"And what if I REFUSE !?!"

"It's a VERY hard life, training here as you know, and there's the language barrier….".

Morgan just cast an angry glare across at him, folding his arms defensively across his chest.

"Please, Morgan, Don't be like that…. After all we've been through together.." Pleaded the Giant Panda.

"I was all alone, at College…friendless…. And then you came along…"

twin tears rolled down the Brown Bear's face, he was unable to keep it "Inside" any longer. "You're asking TOO much…" Breaking down, he bowed his head, as the tears began to flow, and clamped his hands on Dai's broad shoulders to support himself.

"Please Morgan…. Don't make a scene…. you're making it very difficult…."

Looking up, Morgan could see through his bleary eyes that, Daikonran had tears welling in his deep soulful eyes as well. "I DO love you Morgan, but you must remember, I've also loved Sumo all my life….."

"…And If I "Love" you, I'm to let you do this…… I don't want to be left all alone again, Dai'…..Not like this……"

"It won't be forever, perhaps only a few years……I'll get to the point where I'll have to "retire" from the sport, and….."

"Take your Father's place, at Kuma Motors…." Added the Brown Bear, finishing his sentence for him, he'd heard it many a time…. Dai' just nodded, gravely, "But what about all the others you'd be letting down?, every thing you and all the rest of us have worked for, promoting this sport ??"

"What do you mean by that ??" Whispered Dai' gently, wiping the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand.

"How am I supposed to teach new recruits on my own?, Dennis is just muddling through, over in England……".

"Sumo's home, has ALWAYS been here, in Japan, I'm afraid…." Dai' announced in a matter of fact tone, a faraway expression on his face....

Morgan just stood and looked at him, dumbfounded. Unable to compose any more words to express how he felt, he didn't have the heart to argue any longer. Wordlessly he thrust the rest of his belongings in his bag, including the Cuddly toy, a parting gift perhaps?, how he hated it now!. Part of him wanted to sling it back at Dai’ in disgust, but he didn’t have the heart. All the while he hoped that Dai' would say something to break the wretched silence, the minutes ticked by, the bus to the airport would soon be arriving…

"You two, ready yet ??" called Jasper, from outside the room, "Bus'll be here soon…."

"Yeah, just a sec'….." Morgan called back, he knew the tremor in his voice would probably make the Polar Bear suspicious…

"Don't tell them…just yet…Go and throw some water on your face first, eh ??" Dai' whispered, from where he sat cross-legged on the other side of the room in a kind of meditation.

"You want me to LIE for you…." Spat Morgan, angrily, his feelings of betrayal bursting to the surface.

"I just don't want them coming in here, making a fuss as well, just tell them, I'm catching a later flight back or something……"

Morgan walked over to the bathroom door, then turned, and threw himself at the Giant Pandas feet, "Don't stay, Dai'….I don't know how I'm going to manage without you in my life, please, please, PLEASE!!, Don't do this…."

"I'm Sorry,…I truly am !!" the Giant Panda tenderly stroked his partners headfur, as he buried his face, mournfully in his lap. Morgan knew their paths would be different now, what had brought them together in the first place, had now forced them apart. They probably would meet again, at some point, but each time a little more as strangers. Until perhaps eventually they’d meet up many years from now, with only memories left and they'd sit together and try to share them. Bitterly, Morgan swallowed hard, tore himself away and snatched up his bag, striding determinedly towards the door.

" ‘You alright, Morgan ??" Questioned Jasper, who stood waiting for the lift, along with a few other Wrestlers.

"Yeah….’Just a bit upset to be going,…I guess…." He choked, "Dai's….."

"Oh, I want a "Word" with him, before we go….." Announced Rasputin, who stood with a bag laden Valdis nearby.

Morgan looked on in Horror, but knew he could do nothing to dissuade the grim faced Russian.

The Formidable Grizzly rapped on the wooden door with a powerful fist, "Come in…." Sighed a voice from within….

"Just want to say goodbye, you're STAYING aren’t you ??" Breathed Rasputin in an icy tone, "I could see it in, Morgan’s eyes…"

"Yes, Rasputin!!, I'm staying!!….You've been a worthy opponent…." The Panda stood up to confront him.

"Bah!, save it…..Look, I just wanted to say goodbye, I know I act like a real rough Bastard a lot of the time, but it’s a bit of an act…you understand??"

Daikonran forced a smile, and offered out his hand to shake the Grizzlies hand.

"You're sure you're not afraid I'm going to crush it, in a vice like grip ??" Rasputin joked, light heatedly as he extended his in return.

"No, I sense the good in you….." the two Bears heartily shook hands.

"I was offered the opportunity to stay on too, you know, but I had to refuse.."

"Why ??"

"Oh, I don't know…." Sighed the Grizzly, his massive chest heaving up and down as he did so, and his eyes darted upwards, "Various commitments at home…..and stuff….. DON’T think I'm giving up on "Sumo" though…..".

Dai' smiled once again, "Well, you might as well take over from where I'm leaving off……"

"DON'T COUNT ON IT!!" the Russian Bear sneered, "I'm making sure a Japanese verses international Sumo bout or two will go on again, next year….. Even if it's just a "Rematch" between the pair of us, just to make sure I get another chance at kicking your ass again, like I did that time before….."

"Maybe I let you win, because I felt sorry for you…" teased Daikonran.

Suddenly the faint sound of a bus horn, from outside, snapped them from their thoughts.

"That'll be the coach to the Airport…." Announced, Rasputin as he turned for the door, stopping momentarily, then span back, and saluted Daikonran, as though he was a Sergeant in the Army. "I've never been very good at Good-byes…..".

"Me, neither…..You can tell the others, but only when their well away from here, alright!!".

"Yes, Comrade!!" Rasputin, barked, thickening his slight Russian accent for effect, "But just you remember…I'll be back!!!"

"I don't doubt that…." The Panda waved one hand as what could be the last English speaking Fur he'd see in a long time, wandered out of the room, and shut the door behind him.

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"Where's Daikonran then ??" Questioned Valdis, sat in the front row of coach seats, a space beside him for his Wrestling partner, before the Grizzly could mouth a reply the Bus driver replied in pigeon English. "Panda..he catching later flight, apparently!! his friend, tell me…Hurry up and sit down, please, we not wish to be late!!".

Rasputin did as he was told, his bulky frame, forcing Valdis up against the window, quickly they swapped places and the buses engine roared to life, and began to pull away.

"Vhere ist your "Little friend ?"…….", Sneered, Knall, feigning concern as he glanced back to where Randell was sat, on his own a few seats back.

"I woke up this morning and he’d pissed off, left a note saying he’d gone to catch an earlier flight……’Like YOU, give a shit !".

"I "vunder" vhy…..", hissed Shlank, dryly, "Maybe he not like company, of LOSER !".

"Why, you fucking……", started the Grey Wolf.

Morgan looked dejectedly out of the window, hoping and praying to see Dai' running up, having changed his mind…..His wish went ungranted as the bus pulled out onto the main road, and began to accelerate. Morgan desperately blinked his eyes again, fearful that tears might flow once again. For no adequately explored reason, he remembered the time when he’d watched Anime DVDs with Dai’ on the flight over here. They where both exuberant and happy about the upcoming tournament back then. As they sat close together, watching the screen set in the back of the seat in front of them. Daikonran had fallen asleep, was it tiredness?, or boredom?, at having to watch something he'd probably seen several times before, but he was too polite to complain …..

As the blissful Panda, slumbered softly, Morgan took a moment to gaze at the sleeping Bear, he'd have loved to have stolen a kiss from him, but……

Just then, the films melancholy {Subtitled} End theme started, a ballad sang in Japanese, with the English subtitled words appearing on screen…..

{Song}

The Buildings that rise up in front of you cast a shadow onto your Heart, when you have no place to go.

Don’t try to hide the tears when they finally come, soon the sun will rise, and drive away the night.

And wipe away the sorrow you can’t face alone.

Until your dreams can reach that distant morning glow.

Hold on to those far off thoughts, never let them go,

Keep them safe inside your heart.

You look up to face the sky, you see it start to blur.

You’re like a breeze, just newly born.

The love you knows inside, that you can barely feel, it turns to courage when you can’t run anymore.

And even when you can’t voice that secret prayer, just know that soon the sun will rise, and drive away the night.

Time flows gently on and on, now and forever, and until your dreams can reach that distant morning glow.

Hold on to those far off thoughts, never let them go,

keep them safe inside your heart........

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Back in the Hotel room, Daikonran heard the bus vanish amongst the other traffic, making its way towards the Airport to where his friends and adversaries would fly back to their respective countries.

{In Japanese} "Your Friends have gone now!, it’s time we headed back to my Beya..…" called Mr Yamamoto, as he rapped his knuckle on the door.

Daikonran slowly got to his feet from where he’d been sat, mornfully alone. He cast a sorrowful eye, around the room, which he’d shared with Morgan, these last few days, the unmade bed they’d shared, the small waste basket full of wrappers and cartons of junk food, they’d enjoyed together……

{In Japanese} "Come ALONG !!", called the Oyakata, impatiently.

Hurriedly, the Giant Panda snatched up his case, the empty bag which had once contained the Plush toy he had given to Morgan fluttered to the floor, from where it had rested against it. Chewing his lip, Daikonran opened the door and after bowing deeply to the Shar-pei. Obediently followed him down the corridor, into the lift, and back into the lobby.

{In Japanese} "HIKARI !, has no one else, accepted our offer to train at my Beya ??".

{In Japanese} "No Oyakata !", the Akita replied, bowing in reverence to him, "They’ve not long, left on the bus, I thought maybe the Germans or Russian would stay, perhaps even that American Wolf, but…..".

{In Japanese}"Well, I guess it’s not to be.… Never mind though, because Daikonran Kuma, is willing to stay on and become part of the Shohoku stable !". The Akita, was obviously hoping some Canine’s would have stayed, and the slight disappointment, at having someone who was not in his weight class as an apprentice showed, even though the Giant Panda was the current "International" Heavy Weight Champion, which would bring the Beya some prestige.

{In Japanese} "Very well ! are you ready, Daikonran ??". asked the Oyakata in a gentle tone, wondering if the Panda might have a last minute "Change of Heart", seeing as he was the only new recruit from the Basho…..

As the Shar-pei spoke, Dai’ caught sight of the traditional "Banzuke" {Rankings sheet} neatly written in Japanese with a calligraphy brush, displayed on its own wooden easel in the reception area. His wandering eye noticed the "Wish", which always appeared on the bottom-line of every, Banzuke…..

{In Japanese} "MAY SUMO CONTINUE TO DRAW AUDIENCES YET ANOTHER THOUSAND AND TEN THOUSAND YEARS".

{In Japanese} "YES OYAKATA !", announced Daikonran, bowing humbly and deeply. The line of text reminded him, that he was to become part of Japan’s rich cultural heritage, and couldn’t help but feel pride at the thought.

Silently, the trio headed outside, towards a Taxi which was waiting there ready to take them all the way across town, to the Oyakata’s Beya.

Gazing idly from the window, as it drove out from the Taxi rank and onto the busy road, Daikonran watched a plane trace its way through the clear blue sky climbing higher and higher into the atmosphere, leaving only a vapor trail, in its wake. He couldn’t help but wonder to himself if it was carrying some of his friends back to their native lands?. It was probably TOO soon, as theres NO way, they could have got their so quickly, and boarded a plane…... But the image was harrowing enough, and it made him shudder, as the finality of it sunk in. Maybe he’d see them at a Future Basho?, but as of now, he was more or less the property of the Oyakata. He would teach him all the ways and disciplines of Sumo, whist he lived at his Beya. In return, Dai’ knew he would receive the basics of life, food and shelter, in return for his unquestioning loyalty and obedience. The Panda then felt a single tear, collect in the corner of one eye, and it streaked down his cheek before he could wipe it away. He was glad he was facing the window, so neither Mr Yamamoto or Hikari could have seen it, possibly seeing it as a sign of weakness ?. Daikonran’s thoughts then drifted back to a much simpler, happier time. When he had first met Morgan, not long after they had both started college. He was starting a Sumo club, and had happened upon the Brown Bear in the dining room…..

"Alone and friendless", Morgan’s own words, from when he had pleaded with him not to accept the Oyakata’s offer, reverberated through his mind, and he winced, screwing his eyes shut trying to force it away, and overwriting with his original thought pattern…… He’d met Morgan, then shortly after, Ruffert…..They’d all had a lot of fun times together, training, and spending many a happy weekend in each others company, sleeping at the Kuma Motors private Gym, they’d eat Pizza, Wrestle, have Sex…. But things took a dramatic turn, when Ruffert got involved with Randell and Lyro, driving a wedge between them, until finally he moved away to Canada. Morgan never really got over it, as he always "Carried a torch", for the German Shepherd. Later on, Axel had joined them too, filling the gap, left by Ruffert when he went away, but never entirely……The Chubby Raccoon, practically lived with the English Wrestlers, Dennis and Rusty now…….

"Are you staying ?"……."You’re staying, aren’t you ??", Rasputin’s gruff voice reverberated in his mind, along with a stark image of the imposing Russian Grizzly, who’d been his one true rival since the start, but at the end, when they parted…. They had an almost unspoken respect for each other!. Dai’ stayed lost in his thoughts, his mind drifted endlessly, thinking of the friends and rival’s he’d made through Sumo. Some of the others treated it as almost a social or swingers club, but the Giant Panda, knew if he wanted to be truly serious about Sumo, he’d have to do this. Parting with Morgan weighted heavily on his heart, and telling his Father and Mother, wasn’t easy either…… His Father, almost wanted him NOT to have a life of his own!. Be the perfect Son, who’d study diligently, take over the Family firm, marry, and have a Son, who in turn would do the same……. Only that last Part was unlikely EVER to happen, as he was Gay !, he’d often wondered how his parents had never figured it out for themselves…But they where always too busy with work, or one thing and another, to really take notice. They’d always left him alone, to his Sumo…….

"Please, please, PLEASE !, don’t do this !!", Morgan’s wailing plea came back to haunt him, along with an image of the adoring Brown Bear weeping piteously into his lap. Dai’ felt his stomach tighten and lurch, he knew Morgan would have happily followed him to the ends of the Earth. But it wasn’t fair to let him endure life at the Beya along with him. It would put an inevitable strain on their relationship to begin with, due to the lack of privacy, they’d not be able to sleep together, or be intimate. There was the "Language barrier" as well, and Morgan wasn’t exactly overly keen on Japanese food either…… Dai’ knew deep down, that he could console himself with endless reasons, forever. But he had to make the heart breaking decision, to end it like that. It would have been very easy to just let Morgan follow him, in blind faith. But he’d not have wished to see his partner’s spirit crushed, under the strict heirarcal regime of the Shohoku Beya, and for them to part then… When the Brown Bear could no longer withstand the harsh training………

{In Japanese} "Here we are…your "New home" !!", announced the Shar-pei proudly, abruptly bringing Daikonran to his senses with his booming, authoritarian voice as the Taxi pulled up outside the Beya. Before the Panda had a chance to gather his thoughts, they all had to clamber out of the vehicle, as the driver opened the doors automatically. The Taxi fare was paid, and the cab drove away, leaving the three of them stood outside the simple Sumo stable, on the very outskirts of town.

{In Japanese} "You’re lucky you’ve attained such a high rank, you’ll be getting your own room at least, Most apprentices get to sleep on the floor…." Muttered Hikari. As the three of them wandered inside…..

THE END ....... {Or is it ??}

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