>From Andrew <akunz@CCTR.UMKC.EDU>
1) "The Cabbit That Knew a Darling." (Tenchi and Ryo-oh-ki investigate the
murder of Lum. Needless to say, Ataru is partying like it's 1999...)
Now the proper way to react to such slander is to post a Spamfic, t'cha?
[Spamfic] [Dark] [UY] "Dramatic Escape"
By Henry J. Cobb
$Id: dramatic_escape.txt,v 1.1 1997/06/17 06:42:59 hcobb Exp $
The Urusei Yatsura characters and situations are the creation of Rumiko
Takahashi. No infringement of her copyrights is intended.
This is another story not to show her.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Damn you! I've warned you to stay away from my sister!"
He looks serious this time, and drunk. He's waving a pistol instead of
his sword. I think I'll just sneak around the woods and get to the
Mendo mansion by another route.
"No, you won't get away this time!"
"Darling!"
I hear Lum's levitation noise, a shot, a body falling to the ground and
then silence.
I stop and listen, nothing.
No, I don't believe it. It's not true. It hasn't happened.
I turn around.
Lum is lying there with half her head blown off, her blood has
splattered over the snow. Shutaro is standing there with his mouth
open, saying nothing.
"Lum!" I run to her and hold the still body.
Another shot rings out. Fine, have it that way. I don't care anymore.
Another body falls to the snow and it isn't mine.
I look up and Shutaro has taken his own life too. I guess he couldn't
live with it. I don't blame him.
I sit at my desk and study her picture. Has it only been a week?
A knock at my door, I ignore it.
Mother opens the door anyway. "Ataru, supper is ready..."
I think she wants to say something else, but somehow she holds it back
and goes away.
The distraction wakes up Ten, sitting in my lap. He beats at my ribs
with his fists. "Damn you! This is all your fault! You bastard! you
idiot! You fool! You killed her! You, you..." He goes back to
wordless sobbing against me while I pat his head.
Somehow it's comforting to have somebody else say that. In a way, I
really need the company and the abuse right now.
A while later and a huge shadow falls on the curtain at my balcony door.
I don't move, it doesn't matter.
Mr Invader opens the glass door and pushes the curtain aside.
"Son."
How ironic for him to call me that. I look up. He doesn't seem to have
been sleeping well lately. That seems to be going around.
"Son, we haven't decided whether to burn the planet or just the Mendo
empire. It seems best to leave the choice up to you."
"Yes!" Ten flies up to him, "Burn them all Uncle, starting with this
idiot!"
"No, she wouldn't have wanted the Earth turned into her funeral pyre. I
can't think of a quicker way to desecrate her memory. And as for the
Mendos, my family has sacrificed a lot to keep the peace between your
two. Let this be our final payment. Just go, and take your nephew. I
think this planet reminds him too much of her."
"Yes, that would be best. And you? Will you come with us? I would
still have you as my adoptive son. Your determination has the mark of a
great warrior."
"No, my place is on Earth. I think that was the problem."
"No! No! No! Kill them all!"
"Nephew be quiet. Remember that she watches."
They leave. It grows dark. I don't bother to turn on the light. I've
memorised every line on that picture long ago.
The next day I set out walking. I pass by the park, but I don't step in
to visit with Cherry. I've heard enough about fate already.
Finally I look out over the bay. I hear footsteps behind me, but don't
turn. Whatever it is, just do it. I don't care.
"She awaits your pleasure."
I turn around. A pair of kuroko stand there. I know who they mean.
Fine, she can blame me for killing her brother. I need to hear it.
I follow them back to the mansion. Everyone is in black. I walk slowly
up the stairs to her room, a condemned man.
She is there, dressed as Peter Pan, her long hair pinned up under her
cap.
"Ryouko, I'm sorry about your brother."
"Don't be, he died a fool. It's my fault really. I should have sensed
his mood and not sent that invitation. The important thing is you now."
"Me? What am I?"
"You're a nothing of course. Ataru Moroboshi's life will always be full
of pain. Why continue to live it?"
"You're asking me to kill myself?"
"No, I'm asking you to live a thousand other lives. Be my Anthony, my
Romeo, my Puck, my Captain Hook."
"But what about?"
"I gave Ton-chan one last chance last night. He refuses to play. He
just mourns in the standard boring way. You see the importance of
distraction. Ataru Moroboshi can continue to remain faithful to the
memory forever while you become everything else."
"I'll have to think about it."
"Very well, I'll send for you in one week. Make up your mind by then.
If you come, arrive in costume."
Henry J. Cobb hcobb@slip.net http://www.io.com/~hcobb