Vague But Persistent Desire

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Magazine Street was busy at this time of day; but the shuffle of people proved to be the perfect cover for today’s dealings. It had lead James Champ to a pitiful sight; New Orleans. It was almost as if he were rolling down a road of clichés; bouncing over beignets, beads, and brass bands as they waited outside of the Whole Foods Market.

James Champ: People…live here, father? I can’t believe Silver Kazama would choose to live here.

Roman chuckles under his breath.

Roman Quartz: That he does, my son. Fortunately, you and I both know Silver Kazama has yet to make any kind of intelligent decision. He chose to open his mouth and stick his two cents where they didn’t belong…then he had the nerve to win your belt, James. We’re here to find out everything we can about Silver Kazama. Damn…it’s hot out here.

James Champ raises his eyebrow at Roman, who is wearing a full suit, and keeps quiet as group of young girls pass by. Roman looks at his watch and begins tapping his foot.

Roman Quartz: I swear…is he having trouble choosing his maxi pads or something? He’s been in there for almost an hour.

As if on cue, Silver Kazama comes out of the automatic door of the Whole Foods Market, wearing a pair of cargo shorts and a short sleeve shirt, carrying a few full plastic sacks in his right arm. He began to make his way up the street, holding his cell phone to his ear in mid-conversation. Roman tugs on James arm and they start following him at a short distance. About a quarter of a mile up the street, Silver ends his phone conversation. The group of girls that was in front of them was now glancing over their shoulders in semi-excitement. It seems one of them had recognized James and had caused a buzz in the group. One of them turned around and yelled his name.

Girl: JAMES!!!

James and Roman try to duck away from them but to no avail. James looks over towards Silver and see that he had looked over to see what all the yelling was about.

TBC BY: Silver Kazama Only

[Deleted]

It's a hot Mid-Summer day in New Orleans, Louisiana. The city is alive on this fine day. The streets are littered with tourists and community members alike. All along the shops of Magazine Streets, throngs upon throngs of people can be seen bustling in and out of the buildings as if they were a complex maze sequence.

'And to think...all I needed was a few things for the house.'

I stuff my cell phone into my pocket. After all, it's only proper to let your wife know when you're on your way home.

"James!!"

I look over my shoulder to see what the commotion is about. What I see makes me freeze in my tracks. There, no more than two block behind me, is Roman Quartz and James Champ. My eyes widen a faction before narrowing.

'What the hell?'

I turn my body to face the two of them. James looks a tad bored...maybe even repulsed...by the scene unfolding before him. Roman Quartz...well...I can't really tell what he's feeling. All I know is that no man should be sweating that much in a suit like that.

'That's going to be one hefty dry cleaning bill.

I look behind me. St. Charles Street is only another block and a half. I could make it home if I tried, but...how long have they been following me? My fists clench at the thought. I can't stand it. With another side glance to St. Charles Street I let out a huff of air before facing James and Roman.

'Time to see what this is about.'

Slowly I begin to move towards the duo. This...won't end well.

[Deleted]

“Damn dad”, uttered James, “He’s seen us.”

James tugged on Roman’s suit jacket but he seemed to be wrapped up in the attention from the young girls. James pushed passed the crowd of females and walked briskly towards the newly crowned EHWF World Champion, Silver Kazama. The two approached each other and finally came face to face.

“Silver…my main Kazama”, sneered James, “I noticed you were following me and I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out why...Can I help you with something?”

James crossed his arms and awaited Silver’s reply.

[Deleted]

I quirk an eyebrow at James with mock confusion. I turn to Roman Quartz and have to hold back a laugh at the obscene amount of perspiration excreting from his pours. Instead, I turn my attention back to James and shake my head.

"Cut the crap, James. What are you doing here?"

I am not a paranoid man. I am not conceited enough to think that they are here solely because of me. It does, however, seem to be quiet convenient to run into these two, of all people, so close to my home. New Orleans is a big city. On top of that...I'm not one to believe in coincidences.

[Deleted]

“You’re not a paranoid man, are you Silver”, replied James, “You couldn’t be conceited enough to think that I’m here solely because of you? It does, however, seem quite convenient to run into us, of all people, so close to your home here in New Orleans. I mean, after all, New Orleans is a big city and you don’t look like the type of man whom believes in coincidences.”

James grinned wickedly.

“Look, Silver…here’s the deal”, announced James, “I’m not going to make an obscure claim to the belt because that would only exist to serve my ego…but I do know this. You have what I want. You have what I need. You have the only thing that I came back to the wrestling business to claim….you have my World Championship. You’re the one who holds the honor and glory worthy of presentation to my loving Father Roman. That being said…” said James, changing the subject, “I do congratulate you on your victory over my brother, David. He may not be man enough to admit defeat, based solely on the fact that he didn’t get pinned, but I know what’s true in his heart. He is broken and the crushing blow was stricken by you. You will defeat him because he is already defeated…after that, you have another problem on your hands entirely.”

[Deleted]

A small smirk spreads across my face. So...this is what it's about? Nevermind the fact that James Champ has become the next Miss Cleo. We've finally gotten to the nitty gritty of it all.

So...not even a full week into my victory, and the target has been placed.'

The smirks spreads as I gently set my grocery bags down against one of the shop's walls. I stand face to face with James Champ...a man who is claiming to want the EHWF World Championship.

"So...James Champ has his eyes set on the biggest prize in profession wrestling today, does he?"

I turn my attention to the crowd that has assembled around us.

"Take your videos and pictures of this moment, people. This...is the future."

I turn back to James and the smirk fades to a serious expression.

"This...is the future of EHWF, James. At Scars and Stripes I regained a part of my validation. I became the EHWF World Champion for the second time. At Aftermath...KoB...I complete that validation when Silver Kazama does the one thing that he has failed to do; pin David Gideon Smith. When that moment comes, James Champ. You may one day find yourself staring into these eyes one more time...in a ring. If that's our destiny...if that is to be our fate...allow me to be the first to wish you the best of luck."

The grin slowly starts to spread across my face once more.

"Because unlike you, I don't believe that David is a broken man. No, David is a man hell bent on reclaiming what was lost. The EHWF World Championship. He sees himself as the sole reason that the strap has any validity to it...any true worth. If the day comes, James, where Silver Kazama overcomes a man hell bent on vengeance...you'll find yourself face to face...toe to toe...with a one hundred percent focused Silver Kazama. So...with that in mind..."

I take a step forward. Roman's eyes narrow towards me suspiciously. I lean over to James, close to his shoulder. I'm near his head now.

"Good luck."

It comes out in a bare whisper. The close proximity makes it easy for him to register it, but few others. I straighten my stature. I lean over and pick my bags up off the floor, an ever present grin of confidence spread across my face.

[Deleted]

James laughs, leaning closer towards Silver.

“Luck?”, James said, “You may need validation from an unreliable crutch…but I don’t. Luck? What does that even mean? Is – is that how a champion’s supposed to talk? Filled with doubt, talking about IF he can THEN he will be? Hypotheticals are not for champions. There is no hypothetical when it comes to James Champ. There are no IF slash THEN statements. There are only STATEMENTS. So, Silver…IF you somehow manage to keep your title at THEN what are you going to do to make sure you get your big ol’ slice of American pie? IF my brother doesn’t completely push your shit in at King of Bereavement, THEN I will…so, with that, good luck…YOU’RE going to need it.”

I lean away as Roman comes up next to me, planting his hand gently on my shoulder.

[Deleted]

The ever persistent grin stays firmly placed on my face as I listen to James' futile rebuttal. I quirk an eyebrow at him as his tirade grows more and more intense. I watch as Roman puts a hand on his 'son's' shoulder, thus ending the verbal assault. I can't help myself. I snort out a chuckle. It starts low, quiet even. As the seconds tick by it grows louder and louder until I am openly laughing at the two men before me. I place a hand on my forehead as my head leans back. The crowd his looking at us in confusion as I break down into next to hysterical laughter.

It takes a moment longer for my to finally regain some form of control over my laughter. I wipe at my eyes and turn back to James and Roman, only for the laughter to threaten to ring out from my throat. I cough a bit in an attempt to break the laughter. I clear my throat and shake my head in amusement.

"Oh James...don't change. Your narrow mindedness is what will make it so easy to squash you like the annoying little fly that you truly are. You think so...small. I say of only in your favor...to give you that sliver of hope. I say then to remind you that it is only a sliver...nothing more. You're very good at running your mouth...making these...'statements of yours. Your statements, James, are based on falsities. But...since you're so fond of them...allow me to oblige."

The humor fades from my face for a moment as I narrows my eyes slightly.

"You want a statement...you've got one. You don't deserve jack shit. You're practically three weeks into a beginners run in this company. You haven't earned a damn thing. You've been fed jobbers for the last two weeks. You want a shot? You want to play with the big boys? Take a less on from the last five people who tried that. Ryan Morgan. Eli Sykes. Chris DeAngelo. Alex. Dawson Hayes. All of them were tired of the status quo. Wanna know where they ended up? Defeated. Proven Wrong. Massacred by David Gideon Smith and Silver Kazama."

A slow smirk spreads onto my face again.

"When you can beat more than just Anderson and Maddox...you can talk about coming for my EHWF World Championship. Until that time, James, you are nothing more than a flash in the pan riding on daddy's coat tail."

[Deleted]

"Don't mistake my goal orientation for narrow mindedness, Kazama", said James, "Just because Rissi has only deemed me fit to face the bottom of the barrel doesn't mean you don't face the same fate they do. Sometimes, when I step in to the ring with a jobber, I put on the kiddie gloves to give them a small sliver of hope, only just so I can see that light of hope, that small shimmer, leave their eyes when I leave them Distorted. I promise you - and oh do I make good on my promises - that you will suffer the same fate. That's The Rea..."

A cough; an interruption. It was his turn.

"Silver...oh Silver", Roman announced, "You have no idea who my son is, do you? This man that stands before you is a born champion. While you're busy playing to the fans, my son is busy winning. Jack Anderson and Mike Maddox were only the beginning, the beginning of Evil...and the end of Silver Kazama. The end of all that is inherently Good, the end of all that makes Silver - Silver. You think your little program with my son David made you anything? No, you haven't yet faced true Evil and yet haven't faced your true test..."

Roman began circling Silver, leaning in close, almost as if he was catching a scent of something emmanating from Silver.

"I can see IT in your eyes. I can feel IT under your skin. IT is there, lying deep underneath the Devil's trench of your soul. It's there everytime you step in the ring...a red flash in your eyes, hotter than the pan, like something out of a Wes Craven nightmare. I can feel it, surging inside of you. You try to hide it away Kazama, hide it under your friends and family...but it's there Silver, always hungry...and always consuming. It controls you, like a puppeteer to a marionette. One day, you will succumb to it. You will give in to pure Evil."

Roman rests a hand gently on Silver's shoulder.

[Deleted]

Silver's eyes widen marginally at Roman's words.

'How?'

The more his words string along, the wider Silver's eyes become.

'How does he know?!'

Evil...yes...there's an Evil inside Silver Kazama. The Devil himself. The feel of Roman's hand touching his shoulder causes Silver to snap out of his thoughts. A low, primal growl escapes the lips of the EHWF Champion. His eyes flash dangerously in a glare before he swats Roman's hand away. A low gust of wind passes through Magazine Street as 'Father' and Kazama stand face to face. A low, dangerously angry voice escapes from Silver's lips. A tone that is uncommon on the usual chipper Champion.

"I have lost more in one day than your 'son' has obtained in a lifetime, Quartz. Allow me to remind you that I was the beginning of David's reign, and I was his end. At Aftermath I put the final nail into that coffin. From then on...well...I continue to forge my own fate...my own destiny."

Another low growl escapes from Silver's lips.

"And there are some things...Roman...That you could not even begin to comprehend. Evil may be coming...Evil may be in the form of James Champ...but I've danced with the Devil. I've flown with a God, and at Aftermath I'll bring an end to the self-proclaimed Sovereign. With that in mind, I ask you this...What the fuck have you done lately?"

[Deleted]

Roman heard IT inside of Silver. He heard it roar from somewhere dark; somewhere cold. It was time to leave.

"Come, James...", said Roman, "For now we part ways with Mr. Kazama. One day you two will meet...and that will be when Evil meets Evil. Time will stop, for all intents and purposes, and the world...will stand still. Goodbye, Silver. See you two later."

Roman whisked around and started walking down the street. James just stood staring at Silver in confusion, having no idea what his father was talking about.