"Store Wars" Banzuke Sumo Beya Part 13

"Errmm, We’re here for the Sumo Tournament……. We’re the Australian Team…." Ralph nervously announced to the Feline Receptionist, with a bow of his head.

"Yeah, an this is our "Friend", from "New Zealand". Added Colin, jerking a thumb back in the direction of Rev – Head. Ralph elbowed the Koala to remind him to bow, which he promptly did with a sheepish grin.

"Ah yes, I have reservations for "Team A.S.S", Two Double room’s….." The Female Siamese Cat, replied in a sweet feminine voice. The team in question cringed at the mention of the unfortunate acronym for "Australian Sumo Squad" That Sullivan had invented, purely to get back at Colin…..

"What about ME !?" Quavered Rev-Head, what if his little scheme hadn’t worked?, would they send him home, or….

"Mr …."Rev-Head" ?!?!, you are having to share a room with Mr M. Malakili, he is the Sole representative of his Country, also….."

"Morita ??, From Africa ?!" Asked Ralph, gently.

The Secretary's attention turned to the Kangaroo, "That is correct, Sir…You know him ??"

"Umm, Yes, I fought him, at a previous Tournament…." Ralph felt himself, blush under his Fur, as the Cat gazed admiringly at him.

"Here are your Key’s, Sir’s…..Mr "Rev-Head ?!?!", if you go to room 109, you’ll find Mr Malakili, is already in there, you’ll have to make your own arrangements about the key, as there’s only one per room…."

The Group thanked her, and taking the Key’s headed wearily to the lift,

"I’m sharing with Ralphy !!, So I guess Travis an’ Bowser…….." Sneered Colin, as they stepped inside one, as the doors, opened automatically.

"Won’t THAT be cozy !?" Spat Rev-Head, grudgingly, "What’s this Morita guy, like then, Ralph ????"

"Great Big Silver back Gorilla !!, he speaks English alright, I don’t think you’d want to get "the wrong side" of him, but he seems pleasant enough…"

"Thanks !!" Sighed the Tasmanian Wolf, apprehensively.

"This place has a public bath in the basement!, any of you Guy’s Fancy going there, after we drop our bags off ??" Suggested Travis, hoping to lighten the mood.

"Naw, I was just going to "Crash out" an’ watch telly……" Sighed Colin.

"Yeah, only it'll be "Japanese" you know, "Battling Seizure Robots" an' stuff !!" Quipped Ralph, as the lift stopped at their floor, and they all clambered out.

"See you, "For Practice" tomorrow then ??" Sighed Rev-head, as he headed down the opposite corridor.

"I'm tellin' you Ralph ! Jap' TV is a proper laugh !, they always have these mad-as-fuck game shows, an' besides we all ought to get a decent nights kip, jet lag 'n that….." Continued Colin as he unlocked their Hotel room door.

"Umm, ours is a bit further down here, guess we'll see you tomorrow…."

"Alright, you two !! Eight O'clock in the basement, Don't be late !!!"

After a few minutes, the Dog and Otter, reached there own room, and wandered inside, thankfully chucking their bags on the beds.

"Well !, I'm for that Bath !! " Fawned Travis, dramatically stretching himself, "Do you want to come with me ?!, I'm a bit too excited to go to sleep just yet, an' besides…a nice warm bath'll, help us sleep better…."

"Umm……" Bowser's eyes darted around, unable to make contact with the Otter's, "I…REALLY should try the neighborhood Computer shop's for these games Jethro wanted, He's an Old mate, goin' back years…you understand, don't you ??"

"S..Sure….." a slightly disappointed look spread over Travis's face, then he brightened up a bit, "But there'll be other times….."

"O….Ok, I'll leave the key with you, 'cos I'll probably be awhile…"

"Be careful won't you ??" Travis lent towards him, a concerned look, in his soulful eyes.

"There's a shopping centre/mall "Thing" just down the road, I saw it in the brochure, "Sunshine City"……That's where you can send the search party…" He grinned a nervous toothy smile, as they headed back out of the room.

Once they'd taken the lift back to the ground floor, it was time for them to go their separate ways. Bowser gazed apprehensively at the large glass and steel revolving door, which lead to the outside world, and the strangely inviting "Foreign" shopping experience……

" 'You sure you don't want me to go with you ?, I can put my Bath off for a bit…."

"Nah…I…I'll be fine, 'just get the games, and mooch about the shops for a bit, don't wait up for me or anything, leave the door on the latch, yeah ?"

Travis nodded his understanding, as the Golden Retriever headed towards the door, the Otter watched him walk out of sight, breathed a sight to himself, and turning on his heel. He headed back towards the downstairs "Public bath".

The "Public Bath" was a Japanese Custom, that Travis found intriguing, He'd read about it, and often wanted to try it. Ok, the Hotel one wasn't EXACTLY authentic, but it was Japanese, and "Real" enough, although he expected most of the patrons would be foreign visitors, like himself.

"Umm, "Bath" Kudasai…" Travis bowed, to the clerk behind the desk, {Wondering if he might not be well versed in English, like the Receptionists, etc}

The Bow was duly returned with a polite smile, and the Clerk handed him a locker key, Towel and a small wash bowl, complete with the same complimentary soaps and things you'd find in the Hotel bathrooms.

"Domo Arigato godamasu !!" Travis replied, humbly as he accepted them.

"You're welcome, Sir !!" The Clerk, smirked, as he watched Travis cringe.

"I'm sorry, I didn't think you spoke ……."

"That's alright, Sir, I appreciate your politeness, not all our visitors are as considerate as you……"

Travis nodded another quick bow to him, and headed under the curtain to the changing room. Once he'd found his locker, he eagerly undressed and tossed his clothes inside, remembering to wrap his towel around his waist, as the Japanese were not as extrovert as he was, so he'd read….

Full of trepidation, Travis picked up his wash bowl and headed to the bathing area. He could feel his heart in his mouth, would it be full of Japanese customers?, Business fur's that where using the same Hotel, or maybe it would be a bunch of Foreign Wrestlers like himself……

It seemed deserted, so Travis wandered over to the washing area, and removing his Towel, washed himself, before getting in the bath, as was the custom. Rinsing off the soap, he walked around the room divider to the large ample bath, only two other patrons were already soaking in it, much to the Otter's relief. He smiled a polite but nervous smile to them, as he stepped in, and lowered himself down in the warm water, "Umm, Konban wa ??"

"GUTEN ABEND !!" Sneered the thinner of the two, Canine's.

"We ist GERMAN, !!!!" added the larger one, proudly.

"I…I'm Sorry…I…thought you, might be…" choked Travis, as the Doberman and Rottwiller glared at him, you could cut the atmosphere with a knife, no doubt they'd scared any other customers away….. "I guess you must be here for the Sumo, same as me ??" he added, cautiously.

"Zat ist CORRECT !!" the Doberman leered across lazily at the Otter, who was sat opposite them in the lightly steaming water. "It's MY guess, you are in Light weight class, da same ast ME !!….." He growled, obviously, intending to intimidate him.

"Pleased to meet you, I'm Travis, from the Australian team !!" Quipped the Sea Otter, "and, YES…I AM on the Lightweight team,…I guess "THAT" mean's that we'll confront each other in the ring at some point…."

"Esel loch mannschaft !?!" coughed the burly Rottwiller, who was lounged out, with his muscular arms spread wide across the side of the bath.

Having no knowledge of German, Travis just looked blankly at them.

"You talk big, like your Kapitan, but I've not seen you before, umm, "Triebtater" !?".

"TRAVIS !!" the Sea Otter corrected him, he guessed now, that they obviously using "German", as a private joke to belittle him.

"Just as well, we not da same weight class, Otter.... or maybe I rip off your head, unt spit down your neck !!" Snarled the Rottwiller, growing impatient, and bearing his teeth in a fearsome snarl.

"Easy, Knall…." Warned the Doberman, "Tell us, "Travis?", have you come across pair of American Wolves?, one Grey unt one Black ??"

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

"Ummm, You Dancing ??" questioned the Badger, hesitantly, a little afraid that the Dog, might not speak English.

" ‘You asking ?? " he replied, with a relived smile.

Nodding to himself, confidently. Dennis stepped onto the podium in front of the "Dance Dance Revolution" arcade machine, next to him. Inserting the right money for a two player game.

"You’re asking, I’m Dancin’, it sucks going against a Computer opponent…" muttered the Golden Retriever, as the options screen flashed up.

" ‘You over here from Australia, then….." Replied Dennis, recognizing the Dog’s accent, then mentally hitting himself for saying something SO obvious.

"Yeah, Mate….I’m here for the Sumo comp’…." His eyes narrowed, as they both prepared for the "Dance off" that was to come…

"OH NO…..NOT IN PUBLIC !!" Rusty fawned to Axel, as they both traipsed into the small ground floor arcade in Ikybukuro’s "Sunshine City" Building.

"He’s hustling, him….." Whispered the Raccoon, from behind a cupped hand. "He’s got the Playstation version, of this at home, remember…"

"Oh, is that the one, with the "Twister" like, mat you have to step on all the buttons in a certain order…."

"That’s the one !!" Chirped the Raccoon, "It’s a bit like "Parappa" but instead of button presses, you’ve got to hit those colored circles underneath your feet….."

"He’s good….." commented the Fox, as the Golden retriever, matched Dennis note for note, "Maybe he’s the one getting hustled….??"

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

"I hope you don’t mind this….." Daikonran gazed across at Morgan, who was walking along side him.

"Umm…No, it’s cool…..It’s just that "Mall’s" sort of creep me out a bit, memories of getting dragged around by my Mother, shopping for school clothes, when I was a Cub, and things……"

"Yes, I guess shopping centres, are the same, the World over…." Added the Giant Panda, whimsically. "I just didn’t much feel like waiting around in the Hotel lobby, or training straight away….."

"So what are we shopping for anyway ??" asked the Brown Bear.

"DVD’S, CD’S and stuff, might pop ‘round to "Manga no mori" on the way back too…….We’ll stop off at "Lotteria" too, for a bit…."

"That’s the fast food place we went too, with Rusty and Dennis, last time wasn’t it ??"

"That’s the one !!" Beamed the Panda, "There’s an observation deck on the top floor too, we could go there if you want……this is one of the tallest buildings in Asia, apparently….."

"I think I preferred the top floor of the Hotel, and what we did there with our friends, last year……" Morgan replied with a rye smile.

"OH, we do "that" EVERY year…..Don’t you EVER get bored of that ???"

" AS IF !!!" the two friend’s chorused, in unison, as they wandered into the branch of Tower records.

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

"Phew, you dance real good, for a Badger…."

Dennis looked at him quizzically, as the game ended, and they both stepped back off.

"W..What I mean was, I didn’t think you’d…."

"It’s OK,.." Smiled Dennis, "You just flaked out on those last few moves.."

"I used to kind of play these things all the time, back in OZ, with my mate, Jethro…but kind of stopped, when I took up Sumo…..’name’s Bowser, by the way…"

"No reason you should do that, helps your reaction time, and stuff….."

"Sage advise indeed…..!" mocked a nearby Fox.

"Oh yeah…..These are my friend’s, Rusty he’s on the English team, with me an’ two other’s…an’ this lil’ guy, is Axel….He’s on the American team, but you gotta watch him, cos he’s tougher than he look’s….."

"Bowser…..I’m on the Australian team…." The Golden retriever, shook each of their hand’s in turn as he introduced himself, "Maybe you know my Team mate's, who’ve been here before?, Colin and Ralph….. ??"

"We’ve wrestled them before….anyone else new on your team this year ??"

"Well, just me, and there’s Travis too…but he’s back at the Hotel at the moment, with the others….."

"Jet lag ??"

"Not really…we all slept on the plane pretty well, Trav’ is checking out the Hotel’s Public Bath, and the others are either hanging around the lobby, training or crashed out…Look, do you know any of the shops around here, I’ve got to get a few thing’s then head back….."

"A few of them, from the time we’ve been before. Why?, what are you after ??"

"Computer games….’promised Jeff’, I’d get them for him……"

Rusty and Axel comically rolled their eyes in disbelief.

"SURE !!, theirs a "Softmap" on the second floor, as I remember, and there’s a few other good places on the way back to the Hotel, "Liberty" and stuff. Dennis gushed eagerly, delighted to find a kindred spirit.

"Come on then,…..Maybe we’ll find some decent clothes shops on the way, and maybe Syd and Tonneau too……". Beckoned Rusty as they headed out of the bustling arcade.

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

"Look at all these idol singer, CD’S an’ Shit…..!" scoffed Syd, as he casually flipped through the discs in the shop. " ‘wouldn’t know a decent tune if it bit ‘em in the arse !!"

"STOP THAT !!" Hissed Tonneau, in an icy tone. "Be more respectful !"

"Shit, Bitch…whatcha’ talking about ??" rebuked the Weasel.

"I mean, be more polite!!, this is a polite society, AND I don’t want them thinking we’re representative of ALL English Fur’s……" the St Bernard hissed, wearily.

"Yeah, only there’s a language difference you know……"

"Humor me, alright!, or do you want me to tell Mr Brock, how you’re behaving ??"

"SORRY MUM!!" was the sarcastic reply, "Shall I go through the ABBA CD’S and find the one with "When I kissed the Teacher" on it, for you ?"

"Some of us DO, speak English, you know……"

Syd’s jaw dropped, as he practically bumped into the chest of a Giant Panda, who seemingly appeared out of nowhere, "OH SH…."

"You should listen to what your friend tells you…." The stranger advised the dumb struck Weasel.

Tonneau bowed politely, and tapped Syd between the shoulders, reminding him to do the same. "You’re……." Croaked the Weasel.

"Daikonran Kuma !" Breathed the virtuous Bear, nodding a bow back to them, "By, "Mr Brock", I take it you mean, Dennis the Badger….?"

"YES SIR !!, He’s our instructor, in fact we’re to meet him, in the downstairs fast food restaurant, in an hour….." Cut in, Tonneau.

"You mean, Lotteria ??, Very well, we’ll be there too, enjoy your shopping until then…."

"Y….Yeah…." gasped the Weasel, as the Panda span on his heel and headed back down the shop to rejoin his partner.

"That was that American Kuma Motors Guy !!" Hissed Syd, ducking behind one of the CD Display racks, "An’ that’s one of his other team mates !!"

"WHAT DID I TELL YOU, YOU……" Snarled the St Bernard, angrily.

"He probably considers us, too rude to be worth introducing himself too"

"Nah, he’s prob’ going to do it, when we meet Mr Brock later, all formal like…" quipped the Weasel, hoping it would calm him down.

"BLOODY IDIOT !!" Spat Tonneau, completing his original sentence, indignantly.

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

"Ha ha ha ha…Did you see the look on his face !!" Chuckled Morgan. As he left the shop with Dai’ and decided they were out of earshot.

"We’ll get to meet them properly in about an Hour, apparently they’re meeting Dennis and the others in Lotteria, then….."

"Oh, Cool !!" Whispered Morgan, "Do you think they’d have both "come down" by then ??"

"I guess so, my Friend…." Beamed the Panda, "Look…..!!"

pointing a black finger in the direction of a department store across the other side of the shopping centre.

"Quick!, Duck out of sight !!, Don’t let him see us !! " Gushed the Brown Bear, tugging at the Giant Panda’s arm.

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

"Hello, Softmap World !!" announced Dennis, with an almost religious awe, as they approached the small, but well stocked computer shop.

"Now I know he’s Crazy!!" Axel announced, in a joking, sarcastic tone, "He’s talking to the Shop !!…."

"Nah….." scoffed the Badger, "it’s the shops multi language "Jingle", you’ll hear it playing in there, it’s funny at first, then it gets mega irritating, I’ll never know how the shop staff get immune to it…."

"Take a look at ALL these games !!" Breathed Bowser, "I never knew SO many even existed !!, look at THIS one, "Hit by a Car!"….."

"My kingdom for a Clothes shop !!" Pouted Rusty, with a light hearted smirk at the others delight, "I’m going across to "Fashionable Male" over there!!, I’ll see you two in an hour, downstairs then !?……Make sure he keeps an eye on his watch !!" The Fox, suggested to Bowser, "He’s like a Cub in a Toy store, when he’s over here, and is bound to loose track of time !!"

"Will do, umm… Rusty !!" Smiled the Golden Retriever, with a casual wave, and a smile as the Fox wandered out of the small shop.

"Hold on…..I’ll come with you…." Gasped Axel. "I’m sure "The Expert" won’t need my help…."

"Yeah, it’s cool !,…See you both in a bit then…" the gazed Badger, breathed, a Rhythm / Action game clutched in each hand, eyes greedily examining the pictures on the back of each box, simutainiously.

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

"RASPUTIN !!" whispered Daikonran.

"Look, look !!, I bet that’s his Mother, with him !!" the equally surprised Morgan added.

"One of those two older Bears has to be his "Trainer" then….." surmised the Panda, as they peeped at the Russian troupe, from behind a phone booth.

"Yeah…an’ look….There’s Valdis too…..dragging his heels !!"

"I guess the other one, could always be his Father, I suppose….Wait a minute!!, why are we hiding ??, let’s go and "Introduce" ourselves.."

"WHA….You’re joking, aren’t you !!, Have some mercy !! " yelped Morgan. "Quick, get behind his Bill board, I think they’re all coming this way !!"

"NONSENSE!, what possible reason do we have to hide from….."

"Look, he’s out shopping with his "Parents", Imagine how embarrassed you’d be in HIS place….He’s got a real temper on him as well remember "

"Oh…Very well !!" Harrumphed the Panda.

"SSSSSSHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" Morgan hissed, putting his finger to his lips.

"These Headscarves are LOVELY !!" cooed the delighted Female Bear, admiring her purchases, inside their posh string handled paper carrier bag. "The shops over here are MUCH better than back home….Oh that reminds me, I’ve got to check the Hotel gift shop when we get back, I promised a friend at work, I’d get her a souvenir Tea Towel….make sure one of you remind me, alright……"

"Yes, Mother….." Rasputin, sighed wearily, rolling his eyes.

"Are we going to go up to see the view from the top floor observation deck, now then ? My Sweet ?!?….." Fawned Rasputin’s Father, Ivan.

"Oh…..Alright then !!, if that’s what the rest of you all want !"

Max, Valdis and Rasputin all nodded their silent agreement.

"I don’t know…it doesn’t take much to keep you all happy doesn’t it ?!"

"But it’s one of the highest buildings in this continent, Sweet Heart…we have to get tickets from downstairs and take a special lift….." insisted Ivan. "Your ears pop just like in a plane on the way up….." he added excitedly.

Daikonran and Morgan waited until the group had wandered off deeper into the shopping centre, then crept back out.

"Yes Mother…." Morgan comically imitated the Grizzly, then fell about, laughing "I…Haven’t been shopping with MY mother since I was a Cub !!"

"You’re acting like a CUB, now !!" Daikonran reminded him, sternly.

"Yeah, but YOU hid, too !!…."

"It WAS a little…bit, Funny…" admitted the Panda, grudgingly, with a nervous smile.

"Come on !! you wanted to go and "Introduce" yourself, that would have been Heartless….."

"I’ll have to do it at some point anyway, it’s only polite……"

"Maybe so…

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

The hour soon passed, and the two Bear’s wandered downstairs to the Lotteria, fast food restaurant.

"I’ve have…….Giant spicy fries, a Giant Frosty..and a Cherry pie……" called Dennis, to Rusty who was at the counter, ready to order for all of them.

"Oh, "HA HA" Pj Berri !! {Parappa} that's a "New" one…!!" Rusty snarled impatiently, "What do want…REALLY !!"

"C'mon, see if they "really" DO that stuff,… they MUST do by now !! " was the innocent reply. Axel and Bowser sighed wearily.

"It’s a Miracle he never took up "In-Line skating" because of "Jet Set Radio", I was only saying it to Rusty, the other day….." chattered the Raccoon, from where he sat along with Dennis and their new friend.

"Doesn’t EVERYBODY !?" Breathed the Golden Retriever, sounding surprised, then broke in to a broad grin, to let him know he was joking.

"Tell you what !!, I CAN'T wait to get this lil' Beauty home !!" Dennis, tapped the large "Softmap" bag which contained "Samba De Amigo",

"You get a floor mat AND Maracas to SHAKE to this game !"

"Is this guy, "Badgering" you ?!"

"Morgan !!!, an’ Daikonran !!" Squealed Axel, spinning around on the plastic stool, at the sound of the Brown Bears voice.

"Hey, this is Bowser!, he’s one of the New Australian team, members…."

At the mention of his name, the Golden Retriever got up, and politely bowed to the two Bear's, "Umm, it's a..a..honor to meet…." He spluttered.

"Daikonran Kuma !" The smiling Panda reached out to shake his hand, which the slightly over come Dog, did. "And this is my Team mate, Morgan…."

"Don't FORGET me !!" Called Axel " as the Golden Retriever, shook the Brown Bears hand.

"Yeah, an' the little wizard right there, Axel, is on the "KM" team too !!" added Morgan, "He's just been over in England for a bit…"

"Ruffert used to be on our team as well, he's an Alsatian! But he's since gone over to the Canadian team……" He added with a sigh.

"Why's that ?!"

"He…umm,…errr…"Relocated", y'know…"Moved away…."

"Prepare for trouble……" Whispered Rusty. As he returned, placing the food-laden tray down on the Formica covered table, and caught sight of who was coming through the doors.

"Make it double !!" Dennis muttered back, as a Swaggering Weasel and a stocky St Bernard wandered into the small fast food restaurant.

"I'll have a large Chocolate shake, and a Veggie Burger meal !!" the St Bernard, glared at the Weasel, "So "POLITE" of you to offer !!.."

Gazing up at the ceiling and heaving a heavy sigh, the Weasel didn't put up any argument !. As he self conisously adjusted his oversized "View Askew" Hockey Jersey and vastly oversized Baggy Levi's and shuffled over to the counter to place his order.

"The pair of you didn't get lost then ??" Questioned Rusty, "I'd like to introduce you to….."

"Umm, We've "Kind of" met !" the massive Dog, interrupted, feeling a little ashamed. He looked humbly at Daikonran, "I'd like to apologize, Sir…for my Team mate's behavior….."

"GRASS !!!" called out the nearby Weasel, who'd overheard him, "How's about you stop kissin' Butt, an' 'elp me with the lingo, 'ere !!!"

"Gaahhh !!" spat Rusty, angrily getting up, after he'd only just sat down.

"It's alright, I'LL do it !!" Daikonran gestured for the Fox to remain seated.

Syd swallowed hard, as the Giant Panda, wandered across to him, "You so eloquently expressed your difficulty, that I thought I'd better come over here and " 'elp" you……

"Err, yeah, thanks…"Sir", it's just that I'm not much good at da lingo, an' don't wan' ta look a proper twat !!"

To Be Continued….