Note:  This isn't your usual songfic, as no words are changed to
make them more anime-ish.  This is more of a music video that
leaped into my head.  I'm also working on ABBA's "The Winner Takes
It All" for Ukyou.

Note to CORML:  Obviously, this sin't my view of what will happen
to Ryouga.  Everyone knows Ryouga will marry Akari-chan and live
happily ever after.  It's just an image I had.  Chill...

"Old Red Eyes Is Back" was written by Paul Heaton and David
Rotheray, performed by The Beautiful South, and is available
on the utterly gorgeous album _Carry On Up the Charts_.


"Old Red Eyes Is Back"
an interpolation by Sean Gaffney

(Scene opens on pouring rain.  Several people attempt to take
refuge in a local bar.  One of them seems to be slightly familiar...
he appears to be consulting a map.)

Old Red Eyes is back
Red from the night before the night before

(We see the figure attempt to leave, heading out towards the street.
For some reason, this doesn't work, and we see him cannon into the
bar.  He hits the door with a thunk.)

Walked into the wrong bar, walked into a door

(The figure looks around, his shoulders slump, and he goes over to
the bar.  The light reveals a bandanna tied around his head, and
we realize that this is Ryouga Hibiki.  However, this Ryouga appears
to be in his 60s, and the light that was once in his eyes has long
since gone out.)

Old Red's in town
He's sitting late at night, he doesn't make a sound
Just adding to the wrinkles on his deathly frown

(We slowly come to a close-up of Ryouga's face.  It is truly
saddening, the face of a man who has just been going through the
motions of life for the past 40 or so years.  We come closer, and
begin to fade to Ryouga's thoughts, memories of his youth.)

They're only red from all the tears that I should've shed
They're only red from all the women that I should've wed

(Camera shots of Ryouga fighting to protect Ranma when he was 
weakened by Happosai, of sleeping next to Akane as P-chan, 
watching over her, of finding Akari after looking for several
weeks.)

So if you look into these eyes, I hope you realize
They could never be blue, they could never be blue
They could never be blue, they could never be blue

(Ryouga orders another drink, and, after giving Ryouga a long look,
the barman reluctantly gives it to him.  Ryouga takes a drink,
and begins to think of more recent memories.)

Listen up Old Red
You never listened to a word the doctor said
He told you if you drink another you'd be dead

(We see Ryouga at Doctor Tofu's, getting a long and worried lecture
from the doctor.  It looks as if Ryouga is only half listening.)

Old Red Eyes is back
His shoulders ache all over and his brain is sore
He pours a drink and listens to his body thaw

(Ryouga takes another drink, and begins to drift back into
memories once again.  This time, however, they are much less
pleasant.)

They're only red from all the thoughts unused inside my head
They're only red from all the things I could've done instead

(Shot of Ryouga falling into the pond, right in front of Akane and
Akari.  Akane's angered shouts of betrayal, Akari's growing horror,
the moment when they both abandon him...)

So if you look into these eyes, I hope you realize
They could never be blue, they could never be blue
They could never be blue, they could never be blue

(Ryouga's vision is beginning to fuzz a little around the edges,
and we can vaguely hear someone asking if he's OK.  Inside
Ryouga's head, we can see that he is once again looking at Akane
and Akari, but they are smiling, as if they have finally forgiven 
him.)

Blue is a street without an end
Red is the colour of my hell

(Ryouga looks joyously at Akane and Akari, and the noises from 
outside begin to diminish.  He sees them beckoning him, telling
hin that if he follows them the pain will end.)

Blue is a greeting from a friend
Red is the colour of farewell

(We see tears of joy spring from Ryouga's eyes.  He begins to run
towards Akane and Akari, seeking solace and respite.  The scene
gradually fades back to the bar.  Ryouga's glassy stare finally
clouds over, and he falls on to the floor.)

Old Red he died
And every single landlord in the district cried
An empty bottle of whisky laying by his side
A lazy little tear running from each eye

(Cut to Ryouga's face.  It seems content, and we see, for the first 
and last time in his life, a peaceful smile on Ryouga's face.)

They could never be blue, they could never be blue
they could never be blue, they could never be blue


Thoughts?

--Sean Gaffney
--vicious bastard