It was all about stealth.

Fuse quietly crept in the darkness outside of the Tano, Japan home. He concentrated to ensure that his body didn’t come into contact with the short bushes which hid his approach. If it did, the rustling shrubbery might alarm the Yakuza security guards who stood like sentinels in front of the house.

His reconnaissance and fact findings over the past few days about the Yakuza had led him here, to this home. From what Fuse had gathered, the leader of the local Yakuza syndicate lived here, and it was his mission to find him and eliminate him.

If the leader of Yakuza was gone, Fuse hoped that their interest in him and his family would dissipate. His mission was risky, but he had little options at this point; Yakuza’s continued harassment would only derail his career and cause dishonor to Fuse’s family.

The former Pure Gold Champion tiptoed around the bushes and up a small flight of outdoor stairs, and then he quickly rolled across a small patch of grass to the outside corner of the house. He peered around the edge of the home back at the security men who seemed completely unaware of his maneuvers.

Keeping his body flat against the side of the home, Fuse shuffled discretely toward a window, which he pleasantly found to be open. In a moment, he climbed and snuck his athletic frame through the window.

The room was empty and dark, which Fuse felt played to his advantage. Fortunately, Japanese homes were built sturdy and proudly, and floors rarely creaked or groaned from pressure. This advantage allowed him to slowly open the door and assess the situation of the hallway.

The hallway was also dark, but Fuse could tell that there was activity in a room toward the far end of the house. It sounded as if a television was on.

Perfect, a distraction, Fuse thought to himself.

He slyly moved down the hallway and peered into the main room where the television was on.

“Fuse isn’t done yet!” yelled a voice from the TV with a southern drawl.

The sound of a slam and fans screaming emanated from the television.

“Kick out, Fuse!” exclaimed another excited voice.

Three distinct slaps of a hand against a wrestling mat could be heard, and Fuse easily perceived it was a playback of his loss against Shotcaller as the Season 4 finale, Allegiance.

This told Fuse that he was at the right place.

Fuse scanned the room and realized nobody was in it, so he continued his hunt of the local Yakuza leader. As he made his way through the living room toward another open door, the lights flicked on.

“Fuse-san,” said a confident voice. “We are honored by your presence.”

His head snapped to the other side of the room where an intelligent looking older Japanese man stood with the two security guards behind him. The man’s bodyguards held pistols in their hands, which rendered Fuse helpless.

Fuse instantly recognized this man who grinned from across the room.

It was the father of his sweetheart, Aiko.

“It is such an honor to have you here, Fuse,” said Aiko’s father as he gestured toward the couch, but Fuse hesitated which caused a frown from the older man. “Please sit down. I insist, Fuse.”

After a brief moment, Fuse obliged and took a seat on the couch. Aiko’s father, Daichi Tanaka, sat down in a chair next to the couch, and then turned to the television. At this point in the Allegiance telecast, Flip Costa was being transformed into Flip Draco by the Draconium Queen Solis.

Daichi grinned as he looked over at the television.

“That was quite a night for your Golden Pro Wrestling, eh? Perhaps tonight is even stranger?”

Fuse stayed speechless in shock that it was Aiko’s father he had been hunting all along.

“Your silence is understandable, Fuse,” Daichi continued, and the bodyguards seemed to relax with confidence that the situation was under control. “Aiko never told you about the family business. But here we are, and perhaps the pieces are starting to fit together?”

Indeed, Fuse came to realize that the reason the Yakuza had taken such an acute interest in him was because of how closely they knew him.

Fuse felt helpless.

“Okay, Fuse, if you’re not going to partake in this conversation, then I’ll just tell you what is going to happen,” the Yakuza leader flatly stated. “First, I am going to forgive your attempt to find and harm me. I understand it wasn’t personal.”

Fuse stayed mute and motionless, but Aiko’s father leaned in from his seat toward the former Pure Gold Champion.

“Second, you are going to marry my sweet Aiko.”

This caused a reaction from Fuse; his eyes went wide with surprise and his heart skipped a beat. Then a door to the room slid open and Fuse’s shock continued when he saw Aiko standing and smiling toward him.

She walked forward and took a seat next to Fuse on the couch and placed her hand on his knee.

“Sweet, Fuse,” Aiko said sweetly. “You didn’t expect that I wasn’t a part of my family’s enterprise? Who do you think encouraged my father to take such a vested interest in you?”

Daichi continued.

“Third, you will return to America with Aiko and continue your career with Golden Pro Wrestling. And while there, you will do exactly what Aiko tells you, including regular deliveries of autographed merchandise and facilitation of our American operations.”

Fuse bowed his head, ashamed and defeated.

The leader of Yakuza spoke once more, this time in a more serious tone.

“You belong to Yakuza now.”