The pitter-patter of the rain sounding off the rooftops echoed throughout the dark, quiet house. It was around midnight, not a single being in the house stirring.
Dominic Pericolo, lying in bed, watched as the raindrops fell on the window with a tired look in his eye. They were rolling down it and combining together, all making that same tap-tapping noise as the other. He wondered when Suki would be coming to bed, facing an unusual predicament where the tides were turned and it was instead him waiting for her to return. If she was here right now though, sleeping beside him...he knew she'd be sound asleep and undisturbed--she was quite the deep sleeper.
Unfortunately, Dominic was not that deep a sleeper. Ever since his teenaged years he'd been curiously alert whilst he slept. His body would react to certain sounds...but never the rain. Not until the night that had changed his life forever. It was raining then, much like now and yet...different. The rain seemed to carry with it a dark glow, a coldness that would send chills running down your spine...a black rain.
Dominic, for over a week now, was trying to supress the memories of his past...to bring about change. However, when you fight the past for the first time, it's always the hardest. To bring about change, he would have to fight that hard mental and emotional fight. However, it was anytime that rain came when he would fight the hardest...and even at that moment, he was trying to push the memories back down in his mind, trying not to let them consume him. It had been how long since that night? And yet he still couldn't get it out of his mind...he was only now finally taking the steps to set himself free.
It haunted him. It plagued him. It made him feel as though he should have died all those years ago and Crystal, the one he loved, should be enjoying life to it's fullest. It would be hard to enjoy life, however, without him. Crystal cared just as much for Dominic as he had her, it would have crushed her if Dominic was the one to go.
And yet...Dominic just didn't want to see her have to go for that. God spared his life, and for that...he found Suki. Suki was the greatest thing to happen to him, but he wouldn't say it was for her that Crystal died. Hindsight of course is a beautiful thing, because long ago Dominic always blamed Crystal's death on a multitude of things...always blaming, never thinking that perhaps it just happened due to the mistakes made by one man, and not by God himself.
Even as deeply in-love with Suki as he was...Dominic knew he'd be a fool to say it was 'destiny'. Had Crystal and he both survived that night he'd never know his relationship with Suki now, and that's what troubled him...that's what the past was using to silence his efforts with.
Would he rather be with Crystal now, both their lives spared...or keep what he currently has?
The soft sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway. Suki was back, Dominic realized...and could only hope she didn't get drenched by the torrent. He could hear her walk by outside of the door, her footsteps stopping. Dominic stared at the door, half expecting that it open at any moment, half hoping that it would as well. He didn't understand why he wanted to see Suki so badly right now--aside from the obvious, of course...but for some reason, it felt as though he truly wanted to see her for comfort, reassurance...a helping hand to get him through these troubling times of battle in his mind.
The sounds of the footsteps started up again, slightly dissapointing Dominic. He let out a sigh, resigning to lie back on the bed and stare at the ceiling, the pitter-patter still echoing from the roof. She probably just set something outside the door to leave her hands empty...there wasn't a doubt in Dominic's mind she had more to bring in--and though he truly wanted to help her...if Suki didn't ask it, chances are she didn't need it.
He'd learnt that much over time.
'Fucking rain...' he thought to himself, sighing once again. His mind was a jumble of thoughts now as he tried to block out the memories. He tried pushing new thoughts into his mind, thoughts regarding the NLCW. He tried to think of it's roster, of how many people--how many truly skilled wrestlers he'd yet to face...
And Violent A was one of them--the only man in the NLCW to beat Chris Champion, and he was having to prepare to go up against him.
Of course, Dominic's record against Chris was better then anyone's in the NLCW...but that was outside this place--this place that Chris calls his real, true home away from home.
Violent A though...what was there to think of this man? He really was the stuff made of nightmares--a demented clown. Seriously, how many people have not feared evil clowns in their life? It sounds funny as hell, but really...it's the truth, because an evil clown is the exact opposite of what we should see when we see one.
And yet despite this 'evil clown' reputation, Violent A was also a well-liked and respected person. He wasn't like Sean Galen, he wasn't in it for the glory, he was in it for the business. The business he loved...and in a sense, he was in it for the same reasons Dominic was. The only difference was Violent A had climbed mountains Dominic had never reached the peak of...and A was coming back for another climb.
Avulsion, however...would be the hardest obstacle he'd face for awhile scaling the peaks again. Dominic had a burden unlike any he'd ever carried before--he was fighting his past just as he did opponents in the ring, and with every passing hour grew more determined to end it all. Gone were the days of honor, where Dominic would come to the ring to give the fans their money's worth and get one more step closer to his dreams...and it only took a matter of weeks for those days to leave.
Now he was fighting for much, much more...not just his dreams, not just the fans...but for his mental well-being. For his future, for his very life...Dominic was fighting to overcome his nightmare of a past.
A nightmare that Dominic hasn't woken up from for nearly a decade now.
A nightmare that's taunted him, mocked him. Consumed him as he prepared for the worst, laughed as he told himself that he could one day accomplish his dreams. Dominic was growing tired of it...it seemed as though the only way to put a stop to the voices in his head holding him down was to overcome his past...and as he'd quickly found, that would be much harder then he originally thought. However, the benefits were great--for if he fought through his past, he could shape a better future.
Dominic rolled onto his opposite side, his back now turned to the source of the tapping against the glass, the crystal clear droplets of water rolling down the window...
'I just wish this could all be over...that I'd know for certain these dreams would come true...' Dominic thought bitterly, a light scowl forming upon his face.
But he knew that would never happen, for nothing of the future was ever certain.
In no state of condition to compete as he once did...perhaps it was time to rethink what he was to do. Now it had became all or nothing, it was more then just a risk now. Going against Violent A at Avulsion during a time like this would make the match much harder then it ever should be, and Dominic knew that. If he couldn't get his head into the game...the psychotic clown of a wrestler would walk all over him. He could just ask for the week off, really...the management would understand given his current mental situation...
...but Dominic? He didn't care. He was not raised a quitter. He wouldn't let the hauntings of his past silence his relentless thirst for success. Dominic just simply couldn't give up until he'd accomplished everything he wanted to or simply drew his final breaths in this world. He wanted to accomplish those dreams...he could not let opportunity pass him by.
'I'm too proud...I refuse to give up, I want to show these fans that even the underdog can show his strengths in the worst of times one more time...just one more time is all I really want...'
Dominic sighed, throwing back the covers and climbing out of bed. He walked to the window, pressing his hand gently to the cold glass. The moon was shining lightly in the sky, somewhat blocked by the clouds but still allowing the reflection of sunlight off of it to pass through. Dominic stared at it, remembering all the times where he'd stand by her side.
"Come on Dominic..." he whispered, "It's been so many years now...you should have learnt by now to push these things back and move on...think about Suki, just think about Suki...."
His fist slowly clenched as he pulled it back and punched the wall--not hard enough to damage to himself or the wall-- before lowering his head and clenching his eyes shut, a single tear falling down his cheek. He was tired, so tired of anger..of sadness, of pain. He wanted an escape, he wanted a path to shine through...but each time he searched it out a cloud would be darkening the path, rendering him blind.
'It shouldn't be hurting me like this...not now, not when I have Suki...I should be over my past, Crystal's memory shouldn't still be plaguing me...'
Dominic stepped back, slowly sitting down upon his bed. The pitter-patter rain had began to slow, a mere drizzle soon replacing the formerly relentless rain droplets which fell upon the Earth. Falling...falling from grace, one might say.
A raindrop is immortal...wrestlers are not. A raindrop leaves the Earth, ascending to the sky to slowly become collected amongst others such as itself, only to ultimately fall from grace and return to it's roots to start again, perhaps they won't get as far the next time they ascend, or perhaps they'll just go higher. When a wrestler falls from grace, it isn't as easy for them to ascend again...and they certainly can't repeat the cycle time and time again. A raindrop has longevity, a wrestler only has the rest of their lifetime.
In this business...the world title has always been the brightest shining star in the sky. It represents hope, it represents success...and it represents our dreams. Yet, despite all it's greatness...there's an inherent downside to the world title as well. Not only is it the brightest star...but it is also the darkest. For to hold that title brings about more stress then trying to reach it--because once your time is up...it's either start over or throw in the towel.
It's almost scary in a way, knowing that you may very well fall with that which holds your dreams...and there's virtually nothing you can do. You can hold the world title, you can accomplish all of your dreams...and you can lose that all in three little seconds.
A rapping at the door jarred Dominic free from his thoughts, causing him to turn his head towards the door as he walked over slowly, placing his hand on the doorknob.
Why was it so hard? Suki...Suki was his everything now--he loved her more then anyone in his entire life. Yet the past...the past was preventing him from truly showing her the love he wanted to, simply because he was putting up a fight for the first time since that night. Even when he wished for her to enter before...he was still afraid to see her now. Why was it so damn difficult to just let her in and let her know that he was okay? That everything was alright?
"Dominic...?" her gentle voice sounded from the other side of the door, "Are you okay honey?"
Why...why was it so difficult?
'Because you're in love,' a voice sounded in his head, 'And love is always a difficult thing.'
'Every beginning has an end...' Dominic heard another voice within him--the voice of his past. The voice was, of course, referring to his relationship with Crystal...and how all it took was one night to end something beautiful between the two of them. The other unseen voice within his mind, however, had more to add on to that.
'And all ends lead to a beginning.'
Checkmate.
In one simple, solid line...the past had failed to stop him. A small victory in his battle to overcome his past, but a victory nevertheless...because Dominic, in one simple line, was able to find the strength he couldn't before see.
Dominic sighed softly, looking at the doorknob before slowly turning it, pulling it open slowly. A thunderclap sounded in the distance as the door fully opened, and there stood Suki Minamoto. The two locked eyes for a breif moment before Dominic was the first to turn away. Suki smiled softly, trying to get a topic started, obviously seeing the distress in Dominic's eyes.
"Hey...how are ya'?" she asked, tilting her head to the side gently. Dominic smiled, motioning for her to come in and talk. She trudged quietly into the room as Dominic stepped towards his bed and sat at the foot of it, sitting down beside him as he sighed lightly and looked towards her. For a moment the two simply stared at one another, the silence in the room hanging ominously overhead as she gently leaned forward, giving him a kiss on the cheek to help try to ease him. Moments passed after, but it seemed her kiss had met it's goal.
"I'm...fairly good, you?" he said after a moments hesitance, breaking the unnerving silence.
Why did he feel so strange? For some reason, it was as if this room was surreal, nothing made sense. Everything seemed as though it were nothing at all, as if his mind were trapped within a dream-like state. And yet he knew it was more then just that, his mind was in shambles, plunged into a deep abyss of thoughts and confusion. To his left there lay his past, continuosly trying to hold him back. To his left ran a constantly flowing river, a river of jumbled thoughts and ideas, of beliefs and facts...all of which, no matter how confusing they were, still led him to a brighter future.
"You sure you're okay, Dominic?" a voice called, snapping him out of his thoughts and causing him to jump in suprise when he saw Suki in front of him now, looking at him in concern.
"Y-yeah...perfectly fine." Dominic spoke in return.
He was always a horrible liar.
Suki shook her head, gently wrapping her arms around him and leaning her head against his shoulder as she had done so many times in the past for comfort. Dominic smiled softly and carefully wrapped his arms around her, holding her close and feeling her heart beating against him. She whispered softly into his ear, her voice filled with concern as she continued to hold him, trying to comfort him as much as she could.
"Dominic...I'm worried about you. Ever since you told me you were trying to overcome that night...you've been constantly having nightmares, and I know it. I thought...that they were gone, but there are nights when I'll wake up and see you crying, or sleeping so restlessly and mumbling that I just know that's what it is. You don't tell me because you love me and dont' want me to worry, I know...but can't you see that despite that, I still care for you too much to be left in the dark? Dominic...I love you, I truly love you, and I'm not going to leave your side...I'm not going to let you go through this alone, you understand me? If you have to, just take the week off...but please, Dominic...don't leave me out of this." Suki whispered out in a flowing stream of words, each carefully thought out and performed much like a musician composes his masterpeices, or a singer performs each fluid note as if to say that that spotlight was meant for them, that this is what they were born to do.
A soft sigh from her signalled that she had gotten what she wanted across without fully knowing what else she could say. She was thinking, trying to come up with something, anything to make Dominic reconsider fighting Violent A that week...even after Dominic had thought of that exact thing. Dominic had already made his decision, and despite his condition...he knew he wouldn't step down.
He will always fight with everything in him to accomplish those dreams. No matter what the cost on his body--or his mind--that it had.
"Suki...I'm not changing my mind. I have to do this...I simply can't back down now, not when I've came this far..." Dominic whispered.
Suki stared up at him, her lips moving softly as she spoke out once more.
"But hey...does it have to be so soon? You're still trying to overcome this...maybe if..."
"No, Suki..." Dominic gently cut her off, "I have to do this, I have to know that even when that night still haunts me...I can overcome it now. Even though it hurts, I know that if I fight and fight well...that I really can overcome this all soon. I have to, Suki...I have to."
"I understand..." she whispered, pulling away and gently kissing him on the lips. Dominic held her close, returning the kiss as the two embraced for many moments, simply enjoying the company and comfort of the other. Even through all the hell in his mind...Dominic had found his moment of peace.