<Standard Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 characters belong to Takahashi, Strictly
Fragile Clay Characters are mine, ask permission before plaigarising
them.>
<Comments and Criticism are welcome. So are spelling corrections and
story suggestions. I would really love to hear anything anyone has to
say about this story....>
<Warning: The Character Kappa is not speaking Japanese or Any form of
Chinese, any resemblances are simply in the Reader's minds.>
"FINE THEN, AKANE!! HIROSHI WILL BE MY DATE THEN!!" Ranma
shouted.
His heart stopped.
His Breath stopped.
He stared at her, as if she had grown wings and fangs. He could
feel the eyes on him as Ranma laughed maniacally. *Hoh boy....* He
quoted Sam Beckett, from that show on television late night.
Could his timing have been any worse??? He had come home to talk
to his Sister, only to find her not there and the house locked up.... so
he had decided to try the Tendo Household.... where Memeko stopped by on
occasion to talk to Kasumi.
He looked around at the surrounding people.... Nabiki looking at
him with a
murderous glare.... as if accusing him of Ranma's outburst. *Am I
completely innocent?* He wondered. His Sister's words about Ranma coming
back to him suddenly.
Memeko looked at Ranma, quite possibly hurt that Ranma had made
the statement without knowing how much it would mean to her Brother. How
much it would mean to Him.
*Hiroshi.... welcome to Nerima.* He chided himself.
"You can't be serious, Ranma... that's the dumbest Idea you've
ever come up with!!!" Akane said as she noticed Ranma's possibly Mad
laughter. *How could he possibly think of going to the Prom with another
guy?? That would be just plain silly.*
"No, Stupid Akane!!! It's the best one I've ever had!!!" She
said, slowly relaxing from her adrenaline high. She wanted to slap
herself, for thinking so two dimensionally.... for discounting an obvious
out, as Hiroshi would put it. Why COULDN'T she go as a woman??? Besides,
it would be with Hiroshi. Some other guy might make her too nervous to
concentrate.
"Uhhhh.... I missed something, didn't I Oneechan?" Hiroshi
inquired, his face quite red from Ranma's statement and his heart
thumping madly in his chest.
Memeko looked up at Hiroshi, a slight glimmer in her eyes.
Hiroshi blinked, confused at the strong emotion of sadness in his
Sister's gaze.
"Nah, Hiroshi! I need a date, and you're jus' the guy!!" Ranma
said, walking over and taking his arms, giggling girlishly.
Ryouga crossed his arms, closing his eyes. "Hmph.... now I've
seen everything, Ranma's lost his marbles Akane." Ryouga had seen Ranma
do some odd things, once or twice Ranma had even kissed HIM as an act to
torment him, But this took the cake for insane ideas.
Ranma scowled, hugging Hiroshi's arm. "I have not, Ryouga! I'm
jus' doing what I hafta to get into that contest!! If I can't go with any
of my fiancee's, then I've gotta go with SOMEONE, and I was jus' thinkin'
about goin' as a guy.... discounting a very obvious choice." Hiroshi was
as tense as a board, which Ranma noted and puzzled at.
Nodoka blinked in Shock. Something very odd was going on, and
her mind was screaming at her again.... telling her to pull the Katana...
but why??? It didn't make sense.... this was her Son!! She had to have
faith in his choices.
"Oh my...." Kasumi said quietly from behind Hiroshi and Ranma....
she had noted before Ranma's almost giddy attitude lately around
Hiroshi.... and the soft smile whenever his name was mentioned. She
suddenly remembered why she was so worried about Ranma.... and her brow
creased slightly. Should she talk to the red headed Saotome child??? Or
was it only her imagination?
Akane sighed. "While that was very funny, Ranma, I think we've
all had a good laugh at your joke." She shook her head. *Honestly, to
think he thought that was funny. Ranma no Baka....*
Ranma's blue eyes danced as she gritted her teeth, glaring at
Akane. "I was very serious, Akane..... I'm goin' with Hiroshi. He's my
friend, and he'll be just as good as anyone else at that Martial Arts
Dance Contest.... you remember, I'm sure. He's the ONLY Guy Iwould ever
consider goin' with....." Ranma said with finality.
Akane glared at Ranma and Hiroshi.... something edging it's way
into her mind.... *Why is she standing so close to him??* She wondered,
looking at how affectionately Ranma clung to Hiroshi's arm.... She
gritted her teeth. *NO..... Ranma isn't that way.... he... he could
never..... never....*
Akane stood up, looking slightly shocked, and ran upstairs.
"Akane!!" Ryouga called out, stretching a hand towards the
departing woman. He growled, turning back to Ranma and rising from his
seat. "Don't you think your little joke has gone far enough, Ranma???"
Ranma stared back at him in unwavering consternation. "Ryouga.
I am going to the Prom with Hiroshi, and I'm gonna win that Contest." She
looked up at Hiroshi, who had a slightly shocked look to his face.
*Why is she doing this?* Hiroshi wondered. His heart sounded
like a fury of small explosions in his head, wanting to leap out of his
mouth if he opened it. He had wished, and hoped that Ranma could return
his feelings.... but this wasn't about feelings, this was about Ranma
winning.
Why did it have to be that??? Why was it the only time he could
actually be with Ranma ALONE in public was when she needed his help for a
fight??? He so longed to hold her, to tell her how he felt.... if only
she would accept that truth when he said it, when he knew she would never
do such a thing.
Hiroshi sighed sadly. *At least I could be happy..... I mean,
I'll be with Ranma. Even if.... if it's not the way I want.*
Ryouga laughed, somewhat uneasily. "Ranma, in all the times I've
known you, you've never been so serious about going out with a guy.....
you enjoy it, don't you??" Ryouga tried to rationalize why his rival and
erstwhile friend would do this to Akane.... it wasn't funny in the least,
in Ryouga's opinion.
Ranma looked up at Hiroshi... then blushed as she realized her
hand was against his chest. *Geeze.... that must've looked really
bad...* She stepped away slightly, looking down at her feet and gathering
herself, then raising her eyes to glare fire at Ryouga. "Enjoy WHAT
Ryouga???"
Hiroshi touched his chest slightly..... where Ranma's hand had
been. A sad glimmer reflecting in his soft brown eyes. *...yet she's
always so close..... but so far, far away.... Oh, it's such a cruel
fate..... an unfair price to pay.... my delicate soul weeps.... forged of
Fragile Clay....* The words seemed to flow in his mind, along with the
pain.
Ryouga smirked, his stoic surety in his own self-righteous ideals
faltering for a moment as he see's a familiar glint in Hiroshi's eyes.
*....I....have seen that.... many times before... but where??* He
couldn't fathom that the lonely glimmer of loss and anguish in Hiroshi's
eyes matched his own soul, par for par.
".....Being with a Guy, Ranma.... you obviously like it, if this
isn't a joke." Ryouga chuckled, but it sounded more forced than to his
liking.
Nodoka looked up at Hiroshi, who was standing stunned staring at
Ryouga. *What is in that boy's mind??? ...no.... Better question....
what is in my own Boy's mind??* She looked at Ranma fearfully as she saw
the anger building within her blue eyes.
"....I'll do anything to win this contest..... I've gotta prove
to Akane..... Show her I can take care of her...." Ranma's fists were
clenched. How *DARE* Ryouga even suggest a thing!!! Especially of
Hiroshi, who had been there when nobody else was! She needed him now,
and he was there for her.....
"This was NEVER about Akane, Ranma!!! This is all about your
foolish pride!" Ryouga growled, his eyes narrowing to a dangerous glare.
Ranma was trying to rationalize the arrogant and self-serving attitude
she always had!!! Ryouga was getting sick and tired of his Rival's
flippant ways, and immature excuses for her actions.
Ranma clenched a fist, knuckles popping. "...Take that back,
Ryouga.... Or I'll shove those words down your throat." Ryouga had NO
right to say that....
Hiroshi put a hand on Ranma's shoulder, and she instantly
eased..... ".....Ranma....." His soft voice crashed against the walls of
anger, washing them away as if a wall of mud in a rainstorm.
The tense stress of the surrounding world seemed to drain away.
"Let it Go, Ranma..." Hiroshi whispered in a soothing tone. "...Ryouga
is right, in part, but so are you.... just let it go."
Ranma looked angry for a moment, then hurt.... then infinitely
weary as she nodded with a sigh. "...yeah....I guess you're right,
Hiroshi." However much she hated to admit it, whenever Hiroshi had that
serious tone in his voice, she always had to look back at what she had
said, and what she had meant.
"...w...w...what?" Ryouga stuttered. He looked at the red-head
with her eyes
downcast for a long moment. Maybe Ranma really WAS losing it..... she'd
never admitted she was wrong before. Not openly, and NEVER to Ryouga.
"Sorry, Ryouga.... you're right, I should be more considerate
about Akane and her feelings. I guess I've been a bit absent lately.....
we've been avoiding eachother, I guess you could say."
Nodoka smiled softly at the admission. It took a lot for Ranma
to admit she was wrong..... and usually, it never happened without a long
and painful argument on Ranma's part.
There was a sort of easing presence to Hiroshi's company....
Nodoka noted. It.... disturbed her to no end, a screaming thought in the
back of her mind telling her the boy's considerate attitude was a danger
for some reason.
She looked at Hiroshi with her own soft blue/grey eyes.... and
the boy looked back for a moment.
She flinched at what she saw. There was a battle being waged in
the boy's soul..... that she was sure of by the agony of conflicting
emotions in his eyes. His smile.... just did not touch that soft brown
gaze.
*Miramoto Hiroshi.... why are you so unhappy, child??? What
woman, if any, could cause such a kind soul to quiver in such anguish???*
Hiroshi returned his gaze to Ryouga, who had a confused look on
his face. He suspected that the lost-boy was surprised Ranma had
admitted to error..... Ranma, Hiroshi had come to find, had trouble
admitting when she was wrong.
Strangely.... his presence seemed to lessen that fact, make her
more insightful and accepting of her own flaws. As if.....
As if her problems didn't matter as much.
Ryouga growled, clenching his fists. "I don't know what the heck
happened to you, Ranma.... but.... but.... You had better not hurt Akane
again!" Was that what he had meant to say? Ryouga's eye twitched for a
moment.
It was not entirely what he was worried about. There was
something VERY wrong here.... Ranma's actions had proven that to him, and
regardless to what Ranma would believe, Ryouga was more observant than
she gave him credit for.
With that said.... Ryouga turned, fists still clenched, and
walked out the back door.....
"Oh my, Ranma.... are you sure you know what you are doing??
Akane seemed very shocked at your choice of Partners." Kasumi uttered
softly as she looked up again with Ryouga's departure.
"Sure I'm sure!! Besides, Akane'll get over it.... she's a strong
girl." Ranma smiled, and looked at Hiroshi. "Besides..... Hiroshi is
better than nobody at this point.... and I *NEEDED* a partner for the
duel. I can't throw a fight like that.... jus' isn't my style."
Kasumi looked worriedly at Ranma. Perhaps she SHOULD talk to
Ranma..... "...Ranma-Kun, would you step upstairs with me for a moment? I
think we should talk about something." She couldn't put it off.... there
was a flush on Ranma's face as the red-head looked at Hiroshi, then back
at her.... she HAD to know.
Ranma blinked, looking at Kasumi, then back at Hiroshi. She
smiled again. "Sure thing, Kasumi."
Kasumi rose. "Pardon me, Memeko-Chan..... I will only be a
second."
Memeko smiled, if a bit uneasily. Ranma had definitely been
acting flirtatious with Hiroshi, even if the sex-changing girl didn't
notice. *Gods, How can she not notice how..... BOY crazy she is acting??
For that fact, how can nobody ELSE around here not notice??*
"It's okay, Kasumi-Chan..... I'll wait here for you. I'm in no
hurry." Memeko looked at Nodoka, who, instead of making eyecontact, was
staring at Hiroshi with a confused expression on her face. *....or maybe
they are putting things together. Kami.... Hiroshi, please be careful.*
Kasumi smiled happily, and walked to the stairs... Ranma on her
heels. "Be back in a minute, Hi...."
Hiroshi smiled back, the gentle expression still not touching the
cold anguish that he could not seem to wash away. *....always walking
away..... and she doesn't even know she makes my heart ache.* "Sure
thing, Ranma.... Not Like I'm goin' anywhere without Memeko and Kaehmi."
"Kay!" Ranma said in a positively Kawaii tone as she smiled and
walked up after Kasumi.
Hiroshi felt like she was walking away from him forever..... and
wondered if it was not for the best.
* * * * *
<<Dark...>>
*<Cold....>*
<<So....Dark...>>
**How long... How long....**
<<Lonely....>>
*<A thousand Years.....>*
<<Where am I>>
^^You're in Limbo.^^
<<Where's Okaasan....>>
@She is gone...... we got lost.... There was a fight....@
<<...yes....Akuma... there was an Akuma.....>>
*<We will be free soon..... I know it.>*
A faint glimmer of light..... and a figure, small, lithe, and
lanky...... floats through the darkness..... the cold, huddled form of a
creature draws it's attention. The form was trying to escape within
itself... the harsh cold of the vast abyss seeming to seep into his
flesh....
Seeming to seep into his very soul, trying to fill it with the
same emptiness around it.
<<...why am I so Alone??>>
@You have us, K-chan.....@
*<You'll always have us, Weakling.>*
**We will always stand by you, K-Chan.**
^^We are your strength.....^^
!!We are what makes you whole!!
The figure floats closer.... a halberd strapped to it's back and
a metallic Chinese style hat sitting upon it's head..... It looked at the
pale body of the floating creature....
It took in the condition of the lost figure.... the vacant blue
eyes that dance with chaos, the flesh that seems unnaturally cold and
rigid, the wild mop of flame red hair and a green streak running down the
center.
Whatever it was, it was curled into a fetal position.... floating
in the midst of
nothingness....
"....Lin ma Jin Pai....?? Oratta Xing Mao Xei?? Who are you...
Rei??" Kappa
mutters, grinning impishly.
The figure emits no response for several long moments. Kappa
began wondering if the figure was actually still alive. Just a brief
glance into the vacant eyes and he could see something that disturbed
him, something that normal beings might have nightmares about. Insanity.
<<...who....who are you???>>
@We're your friends... *Giggles*@
*<That is debatable....>*
**We are a part of you now.... as well as your
past.**
^^We are your brethren...^^
!!You should Probably answer
Imp-boy.!!
"Lali Na???? You awake, Sim Pa???" Kappa poked the prone figure
with his halberd, and the deep blue eyes seemed to glow with life for a
moment. If only but a moment, before the shattered, lost look returned
to the gaunt face of the lost soul.
".....kaoru.....shimitsu....." Then lifelessness again. Kappa
wondered if it had taken a great feat of willpower to focus the soul's
fractured pieces close enough to say those two words.
The Imp tapped his hat, making a metallic ring throughout the
empty void, a special resonance echoing in the empty space of Limbo, a
tone that rang out and summoned forth a gate into being.
After what seemed an eternal moment, a sliver of light burst into
existance... something Kaoru had not seen in 1000 years, something his
shattered mind only half recognized from the abysmal depths of the dark
aeon he had spent in the cold prison.
"...lamma Zin tei, you need return to life, Lali Na....." The Imp
picked up the prone form of Kaoru... and dragged him towards the light.
"I take you mountains, Zhim Pa Li Na.... It Dragon live there, who name
Shimitsu, Maeri Na la...."
A tear escaped Kaoru's eye, rolling down his cheek. *.....I'm
going home...
Okaasan.... I'm coming home....* Some memories seemed to flash in his
mind, of a laughing girl, a woman who embraced him.... a man with a
smile.
The Tear drifted off of Kaoru's face, and floated lifelessly in
the prison of Limbo, freezing moments later. It was a part of him he
could not take from the void, a symbol that he could never take himself
back from this abyss of torture.
And with that... the darkness of insanity returned.... the voices
keeping him pleasant company.
* * * * *
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