Most of the characters within the story are from the Anime Series,
Ranma 1/2 and are property of Rumiko Takahashi, and whoever else may
own the rights. I write this without permission and do so with no
attempt to profit off of the marvelous works. Rather, I do so for
everyone's benefit. Please enjoy and tell me what you think.
In the end, there is often times said to be a bright light at the end
of a narrow tunnel, beckoning the bodiless souls to the afterlife.
For Ranma Saotome of the Saotome School of Anything-Goes Martial
Arts, that is true, but he is not headed towards the afterlife. A
darker, more sinister, fate lies in store for him, one filled with
false promises and double meanings. Everything comes with a price,
and life bears the greatest of them all.
Warning: This fanfiction has adult themes and situations which may be
offensive to some parties. Viewer discretion is advised.
********************************************
*A Ranma 1/2 Fanfiction: Mists of Jusenkyou*
********************************************
Chapter Two of In Search of the South Star
by Ryan Erik
Part Two: Trial by Friendship
"You've got to do better than that, boy!" Genma shouted at his
son, dodging the pig-tailed boy's aerial assault. "You have to
concen-uff!" His last cut off sharply as Ranma's second attack
knocked him back onto the grass near the koi pond.
"Eat that, pops!" he shouted back, landing safely opposite of his
father. "You were saying?"
"You were lucky, boy," Genma retorted. He then stood up, sticking
out his tongue. "Bet you can't do that again!"
"I'll be only too happy to show you," Ranma replied, leaping into
the air as his father did likewise. They traded blows, but this time
Genma took the upper hand and smashed his son into the koi pond below
and then landed safely out of water's reach.
More angry about leaving herself open than at her father, Ranma
emerged from the pool scowling. She quickly dragged herself out of
the pond, plotting to even the score. She quickly rushed her father's
awaiting figure, attacking him with a volley of kicks and punches.
Genma's face darkened, having to double his effort in order to avoid
her attacks. Through the ordeal, Ranma failed to score a single hit
on her him.
"Stop this nonsense, girl," he told her, dodging her attacks with
a strained effort.
"What are ya talkin' about, pop?" Ranma asked, not stopping her
assault.
Genma did not answer as he became completely defensive. Ranma
knew something was wrong as she scored a few hits on her father's
shoulder and yet he only jumped back out of range.
"What's wrong with you?" she asked, frustrated. "Why aren't you
fighting back?" She charged her father again, but this time he leapt
out of the way.
"I don't fight girls," he said solemnly. "Women are fragile
flowers and should be treated accordingly." He crossed his arms over
his chest, scowling at his son, currently daughter.
"Shut up!" Ranma yelled angrily. "I'm a MAN!" She continued to
try and engage him in combat, but all he did in return was evade.
"Fight me, ya old fool!"
"I think it's about time your mother taught you some manners,
daughter," he told her, trying to be as stern as possible while
dodging her continued attacks. "Women have no need for the art; they
are meant to be protected. You need to learn how to become a proper
wife for the man that you will marry."
Something inside Ranma snapped. Coming from anyone else, these
slights against her would have only further enraged her, but this was
her father speaking, her guide and teacher to the realm of manhood.
Though he did not set a good example himself, she certainly knew that
he had the knowledge, even if not the practice. His serious nature
and words sounded honest, something he only rarely became and then
only when he was teaching her. Her father meant what he had said.
She stood there, staring in shocked disbelief, as her father
calmly walked away and into the Tendo home. Blinking away tears of
pain, she looked around the empty yard. She tried to sort through
what had just happened. She could not. The only thing she could focus
on was getting some hot water, and fast.
Entering the house, she dried her feet off on the mat Tendo-san
had placed there for the ever-wet Jusenkyo victims. Gathering her
nerves together, she took a deep breath and walked into the kitchen
to see Kasumi happily preparing dinner for the family.
"Oh, hello, Ranma-chan," she greeted warmly, not even needing to
turn to see her visitor. "Would you like to help with dinner again?"
Still confused by her father's odd behavior, she said, "Why'd you
call me that, Kasumi?"
"Call you what, dear?" Kasumi replied evenly.
"Nothing," Ranma said, disregarding it. "Sure, I'll help ya."
Aiding the oldest Tendo sister with various jobs, she performed
them as if working a kata, clearing her mind. With the redhead's
help, they quickly prepared dinner. Kasumi thanked her, and went
about serving the family.
Grabbing an empty teapot, Ranma filled it with tap water and
placed it on a burner. The chill in the air in combination with her
damp state giving rise to goose bumps, she rubbed her arms. Needing
to beat her father for what he had said earlier, she grumbled,
casting angry glances towards the dinner table. Food would have to
wait; turning back into a male was a more important matter at the
moment.
Turning off the burner, she quickly dumped the contents of the
teapot on her head.
"Yeow!" she cried out, having left the water on too long.
"Huh?" she said, looking at her still-female state. Her knees
buckled, causing her to collapse to the floor.
Kasumi and Akane came rushing into the kitchen, each helping the
baffled redhead to her feet.
"Did you burn yourself?" Kasumi asked, concerned.
"You should know better than to spill boiling water on yourself,
baka," Akane told her sarcastically. "To think you call me a klutz."
"But I-I..." Ranma stuttered.
"You didn't have to boil more water, Ranma-chan," Kasumi said
soothingly. "I already have tea ready on the table. Why don't you go
dry off and have dinner with the rest of us?"
"Come on, Ranma," Akane said, nearly dragging the redhead towards
the stairs. "I'll help you."
"Uh, okay, Akane," she replied, wondering why she had not changed
back.
The couple entered the changing room, shutting the door behind
them. Ranma began to peel her clothes off when she realized that
Akane was still in the room. Having very little, if any, feminine
modesty, Ranma did not mind; however, this was the first time Akane
had ever actively helped without first calling her a pervert on
general principle. Her pause allowed for yet another extremely odd
occurrence.
"Here, let me help you with that," Akane said, and began helping
Ranma out of her shirt. "Really, didn't Auntie Saotome already scold
you for not wearing a bra all the time?"
"What?!" Ranma nearly yelled, falling on her backside as Akane
tugged her shirt off.
"Honestly, Ranma," Akane patronized. "You act like such a child
sometimes. You know, you're a woman now and it's important to wear a
bra, especially a woman of your size. You don't want to end up with a
bad back, do you? Let's not even discuss the perverts who would do
nothing but talk to your breasts all day. You wait here and I'll go
to your room and get you some dry things."
Not even giving Ranma a chance to say anything in her defense,
even if she was able, Akane quickly left the room. Unfortunately,
when she returned, the redhead still listlessly stared in hysterical
disbelief.
"Here you go," Akane smiled, as she brought her an outfit, still
on hangers.
Mechanically taking her clothes, she examined them, a cotton
blouse, skirt, bra and panties. Her hands began to shake, the clothes
falling to the floor.
"Ranma, are you okay?" Akane asked, pressing her hand to Ranma's
forehead. "You've been acting very strange today."
"I'm a guy," she managed to squeak, sounding like nothing more
than a loud whisper. "I'm fine; you're all acting weird, not me!"
"Oh no, not again," Akane said, mostly to herself. More loudly
and with outrage imminent, she asked, "Did Uncle Genma hit you on the
head again? If he did, I'll have father send him away. You're a girl,
Ranma."
"Hit me on the head?" Ranma wondered aloud. "I'm a man, and I'm
your fiancé! What is going on here?!"
Unshed tears began to build up in Akane's beautiful brown eyes.
"Oh, Ranma. Your father tried to convince you that you were a boy,
but I thought you got over that. Even after he dunked you in the
spring of the drowned boy..." Her cheeks glistening with tears, she
looked at the redhead with pleading eyes. Sincere, sympathetic
compassion radiated from her voice as she began again, "You were okay
for so long, why do you think otherwise?"
"You're lying!" Ranma yelled, backing into the corner of the
changing room. Using the only reaction she knew, her anger and
frustration forced her to yell more loudly, "Why are you all lying to
me?! I'm a man! You hear me? I'M A MAN!"
"Oh, Ranma-chan!" Akane cried out, fleeing the changing room.
Her head spinning, Ranma sat down on the floor, trying to regain
control of her breathing. She looked at her naked breasts, unwanted
physical attributes, and nearly cried out in frustration.
Nodoka picked that moment to walk in on her child. "Daughter,
what is this I hear about you claiming to be a boy again? I thought
we went through this already?"
"Not you too!" Ranma pleaded, her eyes full of misery. "Please,
not you too?!"
"You're not making any sense, Ranma-chan," her mother replied,
kneeling down by her daughter. "You just need a nice, warm bath and
to forget all those tomboy-ish fantasies. I thought the Tendo girls
would be good influences on you, but I see that keeping your father
around has only hampered any affect they might have had." She
lovingly stroked Ranma's hair, a motion that would otherwise have
been soothing, only not so in this circumstance. "Let me help you
into your clothes, and we can show the family that you're all
right...Ranma-chan?"
* * *
A strangled scream sounded from Kimiko's mouth, and she bolted
upright into a sitting position. Sweat dripped down her forehead
while tears streamed down her face. Breathing the warm air
frantically, her heart threatened to burst from her chest. She
clenched the covers of her bed as if they were the ropes that bound
her in the realm of the living. She trembled, still not realizing
that her experience had been nothing more than a dream.
Illumination from the street lamp outside filled her bedroom,
casting shadows upon the floor and walls. Feverishly glancing among
them, the realization of her true location dawned upon her.
Nervously, she closed her eyes and controlled her breathing, thus
calming her. The events of the past month cascading through her mind,
she released her death-grip on the bed sheets and lay back.
Kicking the blankets from her, she sat up again, swinging her
legs over the side of the bed. Wiping the wetness from her eyes, she
stood up suddenly. Her body ached but she felt the need to train, to
take her mind away from reality. She needed escape.
She walked over to her walk-in closet, selecting her gi from one
of the hooks. Quickly shedding her pajamas, she dressed, tying her
black belt around her thin waist. She examined herself in the mirror,
pushing her hands through her tangled red hair.
Closing the door to the house quietly, she used the keys Kiyoshi
had given her and locked it. Walking down the pathway to the
sidewalk, her bare feet passed over the ground making no sound. She
gazed up towards the heavens, dark clouds beginning to gather. She
hurried towards the gym in order to beat the impending downpour.
* * *
A young married couple walked down the shadowed streets, casting
nervous glances around after having realized that they were lost. The
young man, of about twenty years of age, smiled reassuringly at his
partner. He pushed a hand through his black hair, wondering why he
had had not paid any attention to where they were headed.
the girl, of equal age and dark brown hair, asked.
The apprehension easily noticeable in her voice,
he felt a nervous chill run down his body. He asked the same question
himself as they continued their track, slowly down the way.
he responded truthfully. He felt her grip
his arm more tentatively. He knew he could find their way home if
only he saw a familiar location, but he had never been down this part
of town before.
Dan's wife, Jill, pointed out. Being a guy, asking directions was one of
the hardest and most humbling things he could do. At least he was not
on a date trying to impress a girlfriend; that would have looked
really bad. He looked around nervously, hoping he could avoid the
inevitable.
he conceded, realizing that they needed to return home
soon. He looked up at sign of the gym, reading, "The 24-Hour Club."
The building itself was large and had wide glass doors that over
looked the lobby, furnished in blue carpeting and a wooden
receptionists' desk that was currently unoccupied.
Walking up to the glass door, he pulled at the handle, but it was
securely locked. <24-Hour Club my ass,> he muttered to himself.
his wife said to him. She then calmly rapped her knuckles over the
exterior of the glass door.
As they waited for someone to answer, Dan felt several gentle
rain drops land on the back of his neck.
"Who could that be?" Kimiko said, thinking aloud to herself when
she heard someone knocking on the entrance to the gym. Dodging the
work out equipment, she made her way to the lobby, rubbing sleep out
of her eyes.
Upon arriving in the lobby, she looked through the glass. Seeing
a young couple huddled up underneath the eaves of the gym, she
quickly pushed the doors open, allowing their entry.
Wondering how this date could have ended up any worse, Dan stood
patiently at the door of the gym, his wife clinging to him for
warmth. Not expecting to be out so late, neither of them had brought
jackets. He put his arm around her shoulder and made a silent prayer
for the rain to stop.
Bringing his attention to the lobby, he watched as a young girl,
of no more than fifteen years of age and standing a few inches above
five feet, walked to the door, opening it for them. A sigh of relief
escaped his lips.
He ushered his wife in first and followed soon afterward. He
smiled at the girl, whose messy red hair was braided in a ponytail
resting over her right shoulder, strands falling every direction
possible, amplifying her attractiveness. She wore a wrinkled, white
karate gi that did not quite conceal her gray sports-bra, which in
turn did not hide the size of her rather large, shapely breasts
what-so-ever. Her eyes were red with strain, but they still sparkled
with vitality. In other words, she was amazingly beautiful for a girl
of any age. Had he not arrived with his wife, he might have
considered flirting with her.
he greeted, the smile never leaving his face. He
wondered what a girl this young was doing up so late.
Her brows furrowed in concentration, looking as if she was
thinking it over. She put a hand to her head and spoke in heavily
accented English,
Before he could answer, his wife began speaking to her in
Japanese. While he knew no languages other than English, his wife was
fluent in a half dozen. He had trouble with his high school Spanish
course and never even was able to speak much of anything in it, while
his wife learned new languages in under a year. Dan was more than a
little jealous.
The redhead motioned for them to follow her and led them through
a pathway cluttered with every type of exercise machine possible and
into a cafeteria. The room had a few chairs placed near a small
table, which he and his wife took. The girl walked behind the counter
and offered,
his wife said, smiling.
he said, looking around the room. White tiles made
up the floor, sparkling with a recently cleaned luster. Lining the
walls, pictures of various sports athletes, signed by the person
pictured, were addressed Nobukazu Nishiyama. The redhead, standing
behind the glass counter, poured coffee into three red mugs.
Jill took the red mug offered to her with a thank you and looked
at it, letters in white, reading in English, "Nishiyama Inc." She
smiled at the girl taking a seat across from her and her husband.
"I'm Jill McArthur, and this is my husband, Daniel McArthur," she
said, introducing herself.
"I'm Kimiko Nishiyama," the redhead said, pushing her long red
bangs out of her face and behind her ears. "What brings you two out
here so late?"
"We were on a date, but after dinner this baka decided we should
walk back instead of calling a taxi," she explained, elbowing her
husband softly. A paranoid look crossed his face when they both
turned to him, giggling like school girls. "How about you, dear?"
"Hmm?" the girl responded, her mouth full of coffee.
"How come you're up so late?"
"Oh." The girl rested her head in her hands, her eyes shutting
slowly. "I've just been training." Sitting upright, she rubbed her
eyes, an apparent tactic to stay awake.
Jill smiled at the beautiful girl and asked, "You wouldn't happen
to know where Lighthouse Road is, would you?" Hoping that they were
not too far from home, she waited patiently for the girl's answer.
A thoughtful look crossed the redhead's face before she yawned.
"Hai, you are a long way from home." Looking between the two, she
continued, "It's nearly ten kilometers from here."
Dan tried not to pay attention to the girls speaking in Japanese.
Two girls, speaking in another language and giggling in his
direction, was not a good combination. Wanting to be somewhere else,
he sipped his coffee unenthusiastically.
his wife informed him.
She rested her hand on his shoulder, squeezing it gently.
he asked, not very unenthusiastic to how far
away from home he led them. As his wife
translated his message, he tried remembering where he heard the name
Nishiyama before. Realization came to him and he remembered his
brother's employer.
An indescribable look crossed Kimiko's face from hearing his
question and she nodded, forming her words carefully,
she paused and spoke something to his wife in Japanese.
Jill translated for him.
he asked, his mood becoming more solemn.
He bit his lip and tried not to swear. Bringing up something like
that must have brought up sad memories. he
apologized.
the girl said with a heavy Japanese accent,
standing up and walking around the counter, placing her mug in the
sink. She walked back around and took
their empty mugs.
The cab arrived a few minutes after the call, and the couple
departed, waving to Kimiko. Exhausted, she watched the cab until it
turned a corner out of sight.
"Back to training," she muttered unenthusiastically.
* * *
Two young adults stood across from each other on a grass-covered
ground. The taller, by nearly a foot, casually awaited the other's
attack. His long black hair swayed with the wind as he had his hands
clasped in front of him. He wore a simple white gi, like the other,
clasped together by an unadorned black belt that also felt the wind's
touch. His beautiful, feminine yet strong, face seemed to bear an
impenetrable arrogance. A light smile worn on his face, he casually
explained the problems of his companion.
The girl he stood across from, a beautiful little redhead, had
her fists held out in front of her. A grim mask of determination kept
her features in a scowl. Her bright red hair, tied into a long braid
with a red ribbon, glistened with perspiration, and her posture
visibly slouched. Shallow breathing rocked her tiny frame, though she
seemed ready to run a marathon if he required it of her.
"You're overcompensating again, Kimchan," the black-haired youth
told the redhead, in an even tone. "Try not to overextend your
punches. You have to remember that your arms aren't as long as they
used to be."
Grimacing under the memory, Kimiko struck at her brother with a
series of quick jabs, followed by an extremely quick spin kick.
Unfortunately for her though, the only thing she managed to hit was
the air where the young man had stood. Taking deep slow breaths, she
tried to keep her breathing under control.
"Much better," he told her from behind her.
She spun around, her eyes narrowing in frustration.
"How the hell do you do that, Kiyoshi?" she asked of him,
readying for an attack from his direction.
"Experience," he said, mockingly. "You're almost back up to par."
"Hardly," she quipped, thinking he joked at her expense. "I have
a ways to go before I can even chance a fight with anyone of half-way
decent ability."
"English," he reminded her with an evil grin. "Amanda-san wants
you to keep practicing even while we train."
she told him in the required tongue, spite burning in
her voice.
No more than a second after she issued her warning, Kimiko
attacked with a blurred snap kick, followed by a volley of punches.
Like her earlier offensive, she failed to even touch him, but this
time she felt his counter. Gritting her teeth, she attacked him with
everything she could put out, being poked a dozen times from every
possible angle.
"You get a kick outta that, don't you?" she asked after she
jumped back, too exhausted to continue.
"English!"
she asked again slowly, this time in English.
he replied, an evil smirk on his face.
Sorting through his message, she got the general idea of what he
told her. she admitted to him.
"Tomorrow we will have guests," he told her in Japanese, heading
towards the house. "A friend of mine from work is bringing his family
for dinner." He turned to face her, smirking, "Dress nice."
She glared at his retreating figure until he entered the house.
"Dress nice," she said, mocking his tone. "Kiyoshi-baka."
Walking over to the koi pond, she dragged her feet across the
grass. The koi regarded her curiously as she put her hand in their
cold waters, tracing the name "Kimiko" in Kanji. "Stupid name, stupid
Kiyoshi and STUPID GUESTS!" Angry, she slammed her hand down hard in
the shallow pond, scattering the colorful fish. "Stupid fish."
* * *
"There you go," the blonde said, having finished putting make-up
on the redhead. "Hold still one more second." Amanda picked up the
tube of lipstick, reapplying it on her friend's lips once more.
"Perfect!"
"Great," Kimiko muttered, still shocked at her appearance in the
mirror. Instead of the usual braid, her hair fell freely onto her
shoulders, cascading down her back. As nice as it was that she could
look at a beautiful young woman in the mirror, she would gladly have
traded everything she had and more to once again see the form she had
been born with.
She pursed her lips together, smudging the lipstick a bit. "Who
are we meeting again?"
"Kiyoshi's business partner, Theodore McArthur; his wife, Shanna;
and their daughter, Sally," Amanda replied with a smile. Putting her
hands on the younger girl's shoulders, she gave them a gentle squeeze
before leaving the room.
"Might as well get this over with," Kimiko muttered, her voice
tense. Wondering how Amanda convinced her to dress like this, she
looked down at her red satin dress with a grimace. No matter how hard
she protested, she could never deny the blonde anything. She was in
many ways the mother that she never had. "Kiyoshi-baka never sticks
up for me."
With mild curiosity to see what Kiyoshi's guests would be like,
she stood up and walked out of her room, closing the door behind her.
Hearing the doorbell sound across the house, she slowly walked down
the stairs to *greet* the guests. Pausing to gaze at the dragon
painting, which Kiyoshi had taken time to explain in detail to her,
she felt like burning a few villages herself. Calming herself, she
took a deep breath.
Taking the situation stoically, she calmly walked down the rest
of the stairs. From her vantage point, she watched Amanda open the
door, greeting two women and a man and bringing them into the hall.
When Amanda moved to the side to allow them to enter, Kimiko had an
unobstructed view. The first woman was probably no more than thirty
years of age, having short brown hair and a petite figure. The next
woman who entered couldn't have been more than fifteen or sixteen,
with similar features with whom Kimiko figured to be her mother, but
with long brown hair, ending between her shoulder blades. The man,
around the age of his wife, shook hands with Kiyoshi as he entered.
His head contained patches of jet black hair, but the majority of his
head was bald. Guessing that he was the father, Kimiko watched as the
man pushed his glasses back to the bridge of his nose.
* * *
Sally McArthur had nearly thrown a fit when she was told that she
had to accompany her parents to a dinner they were having with her
father's boss. She had met him a few times before, but he seemed so
boring, one of those all-business types. Her father probably figured
that it would look good on his part if his *well behaved* daughter
attended with him.
She crossed her arms below her breasts in protest, not paying
attention to her father's last minute instructions. He always worried
about other's opinions more than his own. Though he had made his way
high up the corporate ladder in a short amount of time, she could
hardly feel any respect for how he accomplished such a feat.
The door opened to the Nishiyama household opened, a beautiful
blonde woman greeting them. She seemed overly energetic in her
welcoming, but that was not necessarily a bad thing.
she whispered to herself.
Her father ushered her mother in, then her, before entering
himself. She gave the hostess an appreciative glance before noticing
whom she figured to be her father's boss, Kiyoshi. He was quite tall,
probably an inch over six foot, and very handsome, but she had little
interest in him.
Kiyoshi greeted warmly, shaking her
father's hand. He bowed deeply.
she said unenthusiastically.
Her father glared at her disapprovingly, but Kiyoshi only smiled
and said, The blonde woman smiled and bowed.
The rest of the introductions and small talk was completely
blocked when turned to see the redhead, dressed in a red satin dress,
slowly walk down the stairs. Sally had to pinch herself to make sure
that this was not a dream. She was nothing short of stunning.
she murmured under her breath.
* * *
With dinner served, the adults engaged themselves into a
conversation about something or another, which completely went over
her head. The whole situation put her in an uncomfortable position.
From the moment Kiyoshi had introduced her to the McArthurs, the
daughter had been paying her an overwhelming amount of attention.
Kimiko did not know what to think of anything anymore.
Sally asked her, scooting her chair closer and
leaning towards her.
she replied slowly, remembering the correct age
she was assumed to be.
the brunette told her.
she said evenly.
Sally said, fumbling with her chopsticks.
* * *
The door to Kimiko's room opened, allowing the two girls to
enter. The shades had been drawn shut earlier, what little light
visible from the outside being shut out. The redhead's hand slid up
and down the wall, searching for the light switch. With a click, her
ceiling lamp turned on, shedding light into the room.
she told the brunette, closing the door.
Sally took a seat on the foot of the redhead's bed, smoothing out
her dress. The light green color scheme gave the room a pleasant
atmosphere, more so than hers, which was mostly white. The amount of
empty space within it, though, almost made it feel lonely, since the
only objects inside were the bed, a vanity mirror and an unused desk.
Her eyes glancing up Kimiko's body slowly, she faced her.
she told
Sally, turning to open the closet.
The brunette sighed regretfully upon Kimiko's exit into her
walk-in closet. The redhead had such a beautiful figure; Sally could
only wonder if her bountiful proportions were real. From the signals
Kimiko had been sending her all night long, she figured that the
attraction was mutual, or it could have just been wishful thinking.
Kimiko emerged from the closet moments later, wearing a
loose-fitting, red shirt and a pair of black shorts. She left a few
of her shirt buttons near her breasts unused, giving Sally quite an
eyeful.
she muttered very softly to herself.
Kimiko asked, letting her hair fall to her shoulders.
she replied, smiling.
the redhead answered, buttoning her shirt to the collar.
She then sat across from the brunette on the other side of the bed.
Her eyes downcast, she relaxed her back against the head of the bed
and sighed deeply.
Kimiko shifted to sit cross-legged,
avoiding the girl's gaze.
the older girl complimented, smiling.
the redhead responded, a small smile forming on her
face.
"Hello, I am called Sally. How are you?" Sally replied in heavily
accented Japanese.
Kimiko inquired, her obvious
tension beginning to fade into curiosity.
Sally smiled, happy that girl was opening up to her.
the redhead told her, her eyes meeting
Sally's the first time since they had come up here.
she said honestly.
A quarter of an hour passed, the two girls talking about nothing
in particular, ranging from music to sports. Apparently, Sally had a
knack for basketball, but did not follow through with it. Kimiko
truly enjoyed their conversation, until it came around to
uncomfortable subjects.
Sally adjusted the top of her dress to her shoulders, a bit lower
than she had it before. She had begun talking about a few outfits she
had seen at the local mall that she liked, but Kimiko definitely had
a hard time following. Not only did she not particularly care for the
subject, but the brunette's constant adjusting of her clothes made
gave her cheeks a reddish tinge.
Kimiko said, her meaning
getting scrambled in the confines of her limited English speaking
abilities, but Sally seemed to understand.
she replied, shrugging.
the redhead remarked
vehemently.
Sally told her
solemnly.
Kimiko shot back, confused. This girl seemed to
have a low opinion of herself. She needed cheering up.
Sally looked at the redhead curiously, her brows furrowing in
curiosity. Smiling back, Kimiko's mood dramatically changed since
they began talking freely. Just being able to talk about stupid
subjects released much of her tension.
Kimiko answered truthfully.
The brunette's face lightened, her mouth forming a broad smile.
She roughly pulled the much smaller redhead into a hug, practically
pushing the girl's face into her breasts.
Kimiko's cheeks burned bright red, her eyes opening wide. Though
she was quite used to her own body, other females' made her extremely
nervous. Amanda was around enough to prove that point since she
dressed so freely in front of her. This whole situation reminded her
of plenty she had been in, in the past; though, the intentions were
quite different now.
Only now, something about it felt different. Instead of the
muscle-stiffening, eye-bulging, impossible to explain sensation that
she expected, this felt pleasant, a hug between sisters. Something
about the situation felt disturbingly wrong. She should have either
been nervous or in position, ready for Akane to smack her into orbit.
She recognized the missing sensation, the rush between male to female
contact called sexual attraction.
Never before did she feel more helpless in losing another part of
herself, a part she could no longer replace with a splash of warm
water. What other changes had she yet to realize that would surprise
her in the worst situations? Did she even want to know?
Tentatively putting her arms around the brunette, Kimiko sighed.
The close embrace felt entirely too good, an offer of comfort from an
impartial friend. Potential friendship, a beacon in the storm of her
life, shined out to her and all she had to do was reach out and grasp
it firmly.
A knock on the door caused the two girls to separate, Kimiko
sliding to her feet to answer it. She opened the door wide, Amanda's
ever-cheerful figure in the doorway.
the blonde informed them,
leaving the direction she had arrived.
Sally said, walking towards
Kimiko. The new friends said their good-byes and Sally planted a
quick kiss on Kimiko's cheek before rushing to join her parents.
Kimiko stood in the doorway to her room, facing the hall but
staring straight through. Nothing making sense to her anymore, she
tried to understand what had happened, but too much had hit her, too
fast. The future she had planned was nothing more than an old
newspaper carried away by the wind.
All she desired was to have a stable life, and the quicker she
chased it, the faster it became, eluding her. She had nothing, no
plans, no friends, no future, and no life. The hug she had shared
with Sally was the first offer of true friendship that she had
received since her awakening, a friendship between peers. The warmth
it left behind was more addicting than any drug. She wanted more. She
needed more. But most of all, she needed a friend.
"Kimchan?"
Kiyoshi's concern evident in his voice, brought her back to
reality.
"Are you all right, sugar?" Amanda asked, just as concerned as
Kiyoshi had been.
"I'm fine," Kimiko replied quickly, the scowl on her face
betraying her words. "I'm just tired, that's all."
"If you're sure..." Amanda started. "If you need to talk about
anything, don't hesitate to wake me up, okay love?"
"Hai."
"Same goes for me too," Kiyoshi said, turning to leave towards
his room. "I don't sleep much anyway."
Kimiko nodded, closing the door to her room. She quickly changed
into pajamas and jumped into her bed, falling asleep almost
immediately.
* * *
Standing in an unfamiliar atmosphere, sudden awareness confused
Kimiko. A deep fog obscured her sight, only further making her
situation impossible to sort. The air she breathed, though moist,
refreshed her senses. Something about her surroundings cried out to
be remembered, but she could see so little of it to distinguish it
from on place or another.
Her face creased in a smile, realizing her current state of
dress. She wore a turquoise-green, long-sleeved, Chinese tunic with a
yellow ribbon tied around her thin waist, a pair of pink trousers
that cuffed off at the ankle and a pair of comfortable, black
slippers. A pair of yellow bracers covered her wrists, offering
protection when blocking attacks. Though her outfit was colorful, it
was just shy of gaudy, resembling an outfit that she pictured an
Amazon might wear.
She decided to start walking, picking a random direction to
travel. Her feet carried her gracefully over the misty expanses of
her location, and she noted the soft soil beneath her feet. Carefully
planning each step, she was ready for any danger that could rear its
head. Her ears ringing, she felt as if the silence slowly enveloped
her being. Her imagination began creating illusions of what her
present location might look like. The dense fog could conceal
anything from an immense clearing to a dimly lit forest. The later
seemed unlikely considering she had yet to run into a tree.
Nearly losing her balance, she quickly recoiled her left foot
when it met thin air instead of solid earth. Cautiously planting it
next to her other foot, she knelt, left knee in dirt. With her hands,
she felt the surface; she had found a cliff, by nearly falling over
it herself, the length of the drop unknown. Sucking in a deep breath,
she silently thanked whichever god was looking out for her that she
did not plummet to her death.
Wondering what she should do next, she stood and waited for what
could have been an hour or less than a minute. With no desire to know
the length of the cliff from first-hand experience, she began to turn
around, but the sudden clearing of the fog prompted her to stay a
moment longer.
Carefully standing on the ledge, she gazed down over the valley
which she had seen in nightmares for several years. She stood on the
last obstacle blocking Jusenkyo from the knowledge of mainstream
China. The valley of the hundred springs had been aptly named as its
waters occupied nearly all of its territory. This cliff held more
meaning for her than any other part of Jusenkyo's surroundings for
this happened to be the exact spot where she accidentally knocked
Ryouga into the spring of the drowned black piglet.
"Hello, Kimchan," a voice warmly greeted from behind her. Kimiko
had no need of sight to recognize the speaker.
"Your suffering tears at me deeply," Lillith told her, pressing
her hand to the redhead's shoulder. "I only wish that I could help
you, but you have yet to ask."
Kimiko did not know what to think, say, or do. She had hoped
against reason that Lillith was nothing more than a figment of her
over-active imagination, or even a voice in her head, but she knew
differently. Hope and reality were two very different things.
"I understand your protest of my existence within you," the
spirit empathized. "I promise that I will not force you to do
anything that you have no wish to do."
"What about Happosai's change?" she demanded, more scared than
angry. She continued, her back still to the apparition. "Though I
agree he needed it, how do I know you won't do the same thing to me?
How can I trust you?"
"Trust is not something easily gained," Lillith agreed. "I can
only hope that you grow to trust me over time. Please give me a
chance to earn yours. I swear that I will not do anything you do not
wish me to do. I care for your well-being more so than my own."
The spirit quickly spoke again, leaving no time for reply,
"Before you decide, there is someone here who wants to spend some
time with you."
Kimiko turned to question the spirit further, but no sight met
her eyes. She looked around seeing only the nearby forest and the
various plant-life. She gazed out among the numerous trees, gently
swaying in the wind. Something caught her attention towards the
entrance of the woods, a figure approaching her from the distance of
about thirty-five meters.
She waited patiently, wondering if she should meet the person
half-way. Something inside kept her from doing so, maintaining her
position instead. The figure quickly closed the distance between
them, becoming easily recognizable, a face that she had not seen in a
long time.
As he approached Kimiko, her heart quickened, threatening to
burst out of her chest. This was the man whom she wanted to see more
than anything, but not like this. This was the face she had seen in
the mirror for the majority of her life; Ranma Saotome, a faint white
light surrounding him, walked towards her, and this time she did not
gaze into the depths of a mirror. He wore her favorite red Chinese
shirt with black trousers, the style mirrored by her own.
Her legs threatened to give out from underneath her; he was less
than ten meters from her now. As the distance between them narrowed,
she began to sense energy radiating from him. For an instant, his
brilliant blue aura shined bright, only to vanish the next. She could
feel the strength and confidence that he emanated, and feel herself
being drawn to it, like a moth to the flame.
She took a few steps forward, close enough to touch him. They
stood apart a moment, staring at one another. Kimiko held her hand
out tentatively, the confidence he projected becoming her strength,
and he reached out also, taking her hand in his. His touch shot
warmth up her arm, a feeling of wholeness encompassing her for the
briefest of seconds.
His mouth formed a slight frown and he spoke, "Ya know, pink just
isn't your color. You're way too much of a tomboy for it. Purple
maybe, but definitely not pink."
Her mouth still slack-jawed from seeing herself, rather *her old
self*, his remark lingered in her head as she tried to pull sense out
of it.
Her eyes narrowed in anger and she tugged her hand from his
grasp. As she pulled her hand back and attempted to slap him across
the face, she replied, "You baka! I'm not a tomboy; I'm a guy!"
Dodging her strike, he laughed apologetically, "Hold on, I was
only teasing, all right? Sheesh, you're acting like Akane."
"Humph," she said, crossing her arms under her breasts and
turning her head. "So, what did you want? You didn't just come her to
insult me, did you?"
The mirth on his face quickly became serious, his eyebrows
furrowing in thought. "No, I didn't." She looked into his eyes,
filled with a childish maturity, having been through so much yet so
little. He looked just as scared as she felt, inwardly.
"So then, why?" she snapped, still angry over his insult.
"I came to remind you who we are, and who we aren't anymore."
"What do you mean *we*?" she asked. "I'm Ranma Saotome, not you."
Though she said the words, she did not mean them. In her heart, she
knew that he was more than a dream, more than a fantasy. All the
emotions rushing through her felt too real, too genuine to be false.
"You know as well as I, that we are one and the same." His eyes
gazing back at her, she knew and believed it. "Kimchan, we have a
problem. You want to be Ranma Saotome because that is who you were."
"I still am," she reminded him with more than an edge of
hostility.
"You were partially right, thinking that Ranma died when you
awoke in the hospital, but then again, very wrong. You've been
through so much pain and suffering, losing your family and your
identity, that you've changed. You went through it. I didn't. I
couldn't."
Confusion raced through her mind, understanding most of his
words, but unable to see the distinction between her and Ranma.
"I-I'm still a guy!" she said, mostly to herself. "I just can't
change back, right now." A tear begin to trickle down her cheek, but
she quickly wiped it away, not wanting to show her weakness.
"I know," he responded softly, then repeated. "I know."
He stepped towards her, removing all space between them. Her
heart begin to flutter nervously as he wrapped his arms around her
small frame. The warmth of their bodies created a feeling of unease
within her, but she tentatively put her arms around his waist anyway,
holding him tightly.
After a few moments, he released his hold on her, a slight smile
on his face. She let go of him, but did not back away.
"Let's walk," he suggested, offering his arm to her, which she
took with no visible hesitation.
They walked together in silence, arm in arm, through the forest
surrounding Jusenkyo. Though not a single creature stirred, life
seemed to seep from every pore of this strange land. A very slight
breeze washed over them, rustling the forest, but it still made no
sound.
"You remember when we were ten and pop had us training in the
mountains?" Ranma asked, breaking the silence.
"I think so," Kimiko replied.
"Well in late spring, we saw that rock landslide. Remember that?"
"Yeah, get to the point."
"Well, after we watched it, pop told us something that I still
remember. He said to look closely and tell him what happened. We
told'em that a buncha rocks had fallen from the cliff into the woods.
He cuffed us and called us, stupid boy. Still following?"
"Sure," she replied, the memory as clear as day. "He told me to
look at the grass and trees that had been knocked over. When I did, I
saw that the grass had bent and stood back up, but the trees had
fallen over."
"That's right, Kim. He told us that a martial artist should
always bend when changes in our lives happen that we cannot change.
If you can't, then you're like the mountain tree and break." He
paused, taking his arm from her and resting it around her shoulders.
"I don't want us to be broken. Keep me in your heart, but bend. If
you bend enough, you'll find you're still Ranma inside, but if you'll
also find that you can be Kim too. If you don't, we'll break like the
trees."
She put her arm around his waist, continuing to walk by his side.
His words sank into her conscious, their meaning clear as the blue
sky. Her mood became more solemn than ever, her features devoid of
emotion. She did not want bend, but even less did she want to break.
"I want a cure," she said faintly. "I don't want to bend. I want
to be a man again."
"So do I," he replied, sighing. "Though pop wasn't a wise man, he
knew what he was talking about. Remember to bend with the wind so
that you can stand once more."
He slowed their pace, stopping and turning to her, his hands on
her shoulders. "We'll make it out okay, Kimchan. I trust you." He
pulled her into a hug for a moment again before releasing her.
"Goodbye, I'll always be a part of you."
Stepping forward, he walked straight into her, his warmth
becoming hers, his strength becoming hers. She closed her eyes and
they became one once more, to walk together side by side, forever.
"Thank you, Lilly," she said, hoping that the spirit could hear
her.
* * *
Kimiko's eyes opened slowly, taking in her new location. She
stood wearing her pajamas in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at
Ranma's reflection, surrounded by a bright white glow. She watched in
paralyzed awe as he grinned, his image slowly fading into her own.
When the illusion ended, she smiled, pressing her hand to the mirror.
"I was Ranma and always will be," she said to herself, the words
meaning more. "I am Kimiko and will be from now on." Her voice
carried well, though she merely whispered the words.
Understanding that finding a cure for her curse had a poor
outlook, she did not lose hope. She took hold of that hope, a shining
light to guide her through the darkness. Though she may never be able
to become a man again, she would pull through, defeating any
obstacles in her path to self-discovery. Ranma Saotome was a
survivor, and so now would Kimiko Nishiyama be.
* * *
After washing and dressing in her underwear, Kimiko stood inside
of her large walk-in closet, her hands passing over the many outfits
Amanda had purchased for her. The smooth silks and soft cottons felt
cool on her warm, damp hands. Remembering the comfortable feeling of
the blouse they stopped over, she removed it from its hanger.
After pulling it over her head, she began again, searching for a
bottom to go with the blouse. A part of her screamed that this is
what girls do, but she did not want to listen today. She would dress
solely for comfort today, and no comments from any party would cause
her to change her mind. Once more, her hands stopped over another
garment, this time a skirt that matched well with the blouse.
Her heart fluttered when she realized that she just had chosen a
skirt without being forced. Could this be the change that she so
dreaded the whole of her life since she traveled to Jusenkyo? Some
part of her wanted to listen and toss the offending garment onto the
floor, away from her in denial. Though, something stopped her from
doing just that. She in no way had to wear a skirt, or even anything
remotely feminine, yet she lifted one of her legs and slipped into
it.
Her heart was still pounding quickly, but this oddly felt right.
She was going to prove to herself that she could wear whatever the
hell she wanted to wear, and damn the consequences. Girls wear
dresses, and she just happened to physically be one, but did she want
to wear one?
Looking in the mirror within the large closet, she examined her
reflection closely, not missing a detail. Strangely, a faint trace of
pure white clung to her aura. She shrugged the thought off as nothing
and further examined her clothing. The white blouse and light red
skirt looked good on her body, or so she had to admit to herself. Any
thoughts of taking them off slowly faded from her mind.
"Uncute tomboy," she said, teasing herself.
In a sudden flash of motion, she brought her right leg up in a
quick, thrusting kick, stopping less than an inch from the surface of
the mirror. She stood there, balanced upon one foot with the other
outstretched. Pivoting on her left heel, she lowered her back
bringing it parallel with her right leg, stretching as far as she was
able without falling over.
Then, she brought her leg down to stand straight once more. She
blinked, watching every motion that her reflection made. Bringing her
hands up in front of her, she dropped into a kenpo defensive stance.
She shot her left arm out many times in rapid succession, slashing
thin air with her punches. Bringing her right arm into the action,
she nearly tripled the amount of punches her Chestnut fist unleashed
upon the empty space.
Just as suddenly, she stopped her motion and examined her
reflection again. She had yet to break into a sweat, something that
less than a week ago would not have been possible. She had restored a
great deal of her abilities in her training with Kiyoshi, the master
and founder of the Anything-Goes style of martial arts.
She stared at her clothing in awe as it had been undamaged by her
activity. Not having much experience with skirts and other feminine
clothing before, she had always figured it would be useless for any
combat, but then again she had never given it a second thought
before. Akane had often times fought him and others in her school
clothes without damaging them. The thought made her feel a little bit
more comfortable, if not completely with herself. So, what was it
that had scared her, she wondered. She felt the same within, though
not outwardly. Pushing aside all the doubts that had been assailing
her recently, she strolled out of the closet with renewed confidence,
not caring what others might think or feel about her. Today, she
would visit her new friend, and no one would stop her. No one could
stop Ranma Saotome - no, Kimiko Nishiyama.
* * *
Kimiko's knuckles rapped against the door of the address she was
given by Sally over the phone. She stood there patiently, her braid
swaying in the strong Monterey winds. Pushing her long red bangs
behind her ears, she tried to stop herself from tapping her foot
anxiously, but failed.
The door opened slowly, a groggy figure with short black hair
answering. He immediately livened when he recognized her.
she responded, recognizing the man.
he said coyly. He stood back, allowing her entry.
She took a few steps into the house, the smell of eggs and bacon
frying assaulting her senses. A repetitive bass sound echoed
throughout the house, the sounds of a stereo. She looked around the
cozily furnished living area, scattered chairs and a couch set around
a black coffee table. The mantle, equipped with a fireplace, lay
behind the table, a beautiful painting of a scenic area hung above.
he pointed out, walking
down a well-lit hall. She followed him down it, glancing at the
family pictures. He paused in front of a door, knocking.
Sally's voice asked, the thump of music silencing.
he replied, winking at Kimiko as
the door opened.
the brunette greeted, bowing to the redhead.
Kimiko smiled, returning the bow as the man walked past her, down
the hall.
she asked, walking back into he room,
motioning for Kimiko to follow.
she replied, closing the door as she entered the
older girl's room.
The sweet smell of potpourri filling her nostrils, Kimiko slid
into the center of the guest room. Her eyes opened wide, taking in
the unusual decoration. From top to bottom, the walls had been
completely covered with posters of manga characters, none of which
Kimiko recognized. Against the far corner, a neatly made bed lay out
of the way. Across from the bed, a desk sat with a computer and
monitor resting on its surface. The monitor's display pictured a
scenic bay, quickly fading into a mountainous scene. A dresser, next
to the door, lay to her right, occupying nearly all of the remaining
space the room offered. If this was a guest room, they must have had
one particular guest in mind when they furnished and decorated it.
Sally beckoned, pushing the chair from
her desk towards Kimiko.
the redhead asked, sitting in the offered seat.
Sally replied nonchalantly.
Shrugging, Sally replied,
Sally paused,
stood up and walked to her dresser. Opening one of the drawers, she
procured a pair of socks.
Sally said,
sliding a pair of tennis-shoes from under her bed.
Kimiko asked curiously while patiently waiting.
Sally explained. Tying up the lace on her left foot, she smiled sweetly.
Kimiko paused for a moment. She had absolutely no idea about
Japan now that she had been away for nearly two decades.
the redhead responded, her cheeks becoming a
red hue.
Sally replied, fitting her right foot into its shoe.
She blanched slightly at the thought of being stuck in a love
movie without being forced by Akane.
Sally exclaimed, jumping to her feet. Grabbing a set
of keys from the top of her stereo, she vaulted for the door.
Kimiko stood there for a moment, blinking in confusion. "I wonder
if all Americans are like her," she thought aloud in Japanese.
Shrugging, she sprinted to catch up with her brunette friend.
Sally cried, flooring her Porsche convertible.
Kimiko's eyes widened in horror as the little black car swerved
through traffic. Holding the door handle tightly, she gritted her
teeth wondering if she had a prayer for survival.
Sally cast her a glance, patting the redhead on the shoulder.
she said, not watching the road.
"Like that makes it safer?" Kimiko asked her in Japanese, too
scared to respond in English.
the brunette asked, shifting into cruise control at about
ninety miles per hour.
Only a few times had Kimiko been on a roller coaster in her life,
and now she knew that there was simply nothing left to fear from
them. After the dozen near fatal crashes from this short drive,
Kimiko knew that some god or another was watching out for her. Her
hands still clutched the door handle as if it were her lifeline.
Sally said, smiling.
Kimiko said, beginning to giggle hysterically.
Joining her friends apparent mirth, Sally laughed a bit before
dragging the smaller girl towards a small cafe with a bright pink
sign. Kimiko could not make out the cursive script, but she figured
that it was the pop bar that Sally had told her about.
The interior of the bar had the same color scheme as the
exterior, solely consisting of excessively bright, fluorescent
colors. The bar itself was long, stretching over the length of the
building, stools lined up along it. There were just as many tables in
the back, if not more. Half-filled with people, Sally literally mowed
through the crowd finding them two seats at the bar. Surprisingly, no
one minded. She unceremoniously plopped herself onto the far stool,
finally releasing Kimiko's hand.
the bartender greeted, grinning broadly. He had
shoulder-length blonde hair, high cheek bones and excessively tanned
skin. His oval brown eyes hinted at some Asian ancestry, but the rest
of his features were definitely of European descent. His too-cute
face reminded Kimiko of quite a few pretty boys she had taught a
lesson through her life. She resisted the urge to crack her knuckles.
Sally replied, not nearly as enthusiastic as he.
he said, reaching underneath the bar and
bring up two glasses. With quick, practiced motions he twirled the
thin glasses in his hands and filled them with a carbonated, pink
liquid from the fountain behind the bar.
Sally
responded deadpan.
Serving the strawberry soda pop to the girls, Johnny smirked and
leaned over the bar. Kimiko definitely knew his type all too well.
he said, inching closer to the brunette. His proposition sounded
more like an insult than asking a girl out.
she responded evenly,
sipping at her soda.
Kimiko lifted her drink, taking a sip. Albeit a bit sweet, the
soda tasted delicious.
Johnny slid over a few feet to stand right in front of the
redhead, his smirk still adamant on his face. He leaned over towards
her, his eyelids no more than slits.
Placing her glass down carefully with a neutral expression on her
face, she returned his challenge of nerves. she
told him coolly. Fighting her poor grammar, she asked, She cracked her knuckles loudly, enhancing the
effect.
His eyes opening wide in feigned fear, he took a small step back,
raising his hands. His smirk
reappeared on his face, but he did not lean over the counter again.
He then strolled down
the bar to tend a few other customers.
Sally told her after he left ears
reach.
Kimiko replied, chugging her glass of pop.
Sally said with a wink.
she said, shaking her glass for effect.
<'Course, *babe*,> Sally giggled, mimicking Johnny's tone.
Barely holding back fits of laughter, Sally exited the pop bar
with Kimiko in tow. She barely managed to cool her down after Johnny
pinched her butt as he walked past. If she had not of been there, she
was sure that Johnny would be nothing more than a stain on the floor.
Kimiko's temper matched her crimson hair in every way possible. It
would have been a shame if the redhead messed up her cute outfit with
a bloodstain.
They leapt into Sally's Porsche and as soon as they settled, the
brunette fixed the radio till it played a heavy metal song. With a
wry grin, she peeled out of the parking lot and into the street, car
horns shrieking at every turn. Driving towards the movie theater, the
grin on her face disappeared. She bit her lip sharply while turning a
corner, drops of blood mixing with her saliva.
Kimiko told her, her voice shaky.
Sally did as she was told, though she did not concentrate on
driving; rather, she wondered what the redhead planned. Her heart
rate increasing drastically, she tried to hold back a smile.
As she had said, Kimiko yanked a few tissues from the box at her
feet and dabbed Sally's lip and the surrounding facial area, removing
the blood that dripped down her chin.
the brunette said, her heart still pounding. She had
expected something kinky, like licking the blood, but that was more
wishful thinking than anything.
Kimiko replied, evenly.
Sally said, turning to her friend with a wink.
As Sally had promised, they arrived at the mall safely, if one
can call four near-collisions "safe." Sally watched Kimiko curiously,
observing the redhead's shudder as they passed a few salons and
fashion stores, making their way through the crowds.
The ticket booth had a short line and since Kimiko knew nothing
about any of the movies present, Sally chose one. Of course, she
chose "Orion's Belt, Revisited," the sequel to a psychological
thriller that had come out two years ago. The original movie included
plenty of blood and gore, a truck load of female nudity and enough
shocks to make people, who had seen the movie previously, jump out of
their seats. Naturally, it became a popular flick with young men,
enough so to create the movie they were about to see.
Sally
began as they took their seats in the front row,
Making herself comfortable, she remembered what she had forgotten
to buy, though she felt rather bloated. she asked Kimiko.
the girl answered, pressing her right hand to
her stomach.
Sally agreed sheepishly.
Kimiko replied, smiling.
Setting her seat back until she practically looked straight up,
Sally patiently waited for the movie to begin. A cool,
air-conditioned breeze brushed over them, sending a shiver up her
spine. She looked over to her friend, currently rubbing her arms. She
was not the only one with goose bumps.
she asked, sparking
conversation.
Kimiko answered in an embarrassed tone.
Sally asked, receiving a nod.
the redhead admitted.
she explained.
Kimiko replied.
she told her friend.
Kimiko asked, not understanding.
she explained,
putting her hands behind her head.
The lights dimmed and a strangled hush loomed over the audience,
which consisted of no more than the two girls and a couple groups of
teenagers near to the back of the theater. A low hum, barely audible
to them, rumbled ominously once the illumination of the lamps above
them ceased. The floor in front of the girls opened, revealing the
projector's lens.
Sally warned, grabbing Kimiko's hand in hers. The
redhead looked over to her in question, and she whispered to her,
Uriah Cinemas, the company behind "Orion's Belt, Revisited" and
quite a few other big movies, was notorious for creating the mood
before the movie actually began. Apparently, Kimiko knew nothing
about this and was in for quite a shock.
A loud sound wave cascaded over them, an explosion of huge
proportion erupting in front of them. Sally strained to keep Kimiko
from literally jumping out of her seat.
Kimiko stuttered as the remains of a large
spacecraft drifted in the temporal space.
Sally replied, grinning.
Kimiko whispered fervently.
Sally asked, confused.
she muttered, her eyes not leaving the floating,
three-dimensional picture.
Sally gave the redhead's hand a reassuring squeeze before
releasing it, and returning her attention to the movie.
Kimiko could only watch in silenced awe as the movie
transgressed. Used to corny Chinese flicks and other low-budget
martial art films, she simply marveled the visuals presented to her.
The unrealistic fighting choreography did nothing for her, but the
amazing special effects kept her on the edge of her seat.
Quite a few explosions, gunshots and dead bodies later, the two
stars of the film practically eliminated all of their opposition. In
a tender moment, their clothes seemed to have been misplaced. Sally
chose that second to startle the redhead by putting her arm around
her.
She turned her head to the brunette, confused towards her
intentions. Sally, both arms stretched around the chairs to her
flanks, smiled back. Kimiko bit her lip, not used to such close
behavior between friends.
Quickly removing her arm from Kimiko's shoulders, Sally mouthed,
and continued watching the movie, and Kimiko did likewise.
Cursing silently, Sally grimaced at her bad luck. Apparently all
of the *signals* she had received, she perceived wrong. She shrugged
internally, guessing she could work within the realm of friendship.
Not having many plain friends, the notion did not lack merit.
* * *
Striding confidently towards her front door, Kimiko waved to her
friend who had already sped half-way down the street. Reaching it,
she turned the knob, but it refused to turn. She blinked, not knowing
any reason why it should have been locked.
A creak from the roof-tiles was all the notice she received
before a dark figure descended upon her. Quickly rolling to her left,
she stood quickly, squaring off with her opponent. Almost as suddenly
as the initial attack, the figure continued its assault, redirecting
its trajectory and flying towards her position.
Darting out of its path, she stifled a panicked yelp, nearly
being struck. In mid-air, it quickly landed on its feet charging her.
The shadow of a man unleashed a flurry of punches upon her. Though
not quite Chestnut fist speed, a few managed to break through her
defenses.
The figure drove its head down into head-butt, forcing her to
jump out of its range. Knowing the time for defense had passed, she
countered the attack with a leaping jump-kick, barely missing it's
covered head. With a rock-steady smirk rooted firmly on her face, she
decided that she had enough. It was time for her to lead this dance
of combat.
With the cry of "Kachuu Tenshin Amaguriken," she leveled nearly
two-hundred quick blasts towards her opponent. She had to admit that
the man had extreme skill since he did manage to block nearly all of
them, but against a Chestnut fist, nearly all did not cut it.
Falling back a few steps to recover, the man prepared for her
next assault with barely enough time to not lose his head from her
violent spin kick. He pressed her back, nearly striking her with a
few quick punches.
"What the hell is that?!" Kimiko yelled, pointing over the man's
shoulder. Trying to catch him off guard as he turned to look, she
attacked him with a lunge kick. Unfortunately for her, he caught her
foot and twisted it, the sudden change of momentum flipping her off
of her stable leg and onto the ground with a thud.
Rolling out of the way, she narrowly dodged his foot-stomp, and
quickly stood. Having to dodge another series of combos from her
ruthless attacker, she realized he was purposefully leading her
towards the side of the house. In an attempt to change their path,
she darted towards him, still parrying his attacks.
Taking two strikes on the right shoulder and one in the gut, she
blasted the side of her opponent's face with an open-hand palm
strike, practically ripping his cheek open. He leapt back out of the
rest of her attack, but she did not give up her advantage, pressing
him further.
Gasping for breath, she leapt at him again, catching his left
shoulder and knocking him to the grass. Charging for the kill, she
brought her foot down hard, but that was when everything went wrong.
The next thing she realized was that she lay flat on her back, the
dark figure over her, pressing her arms and legs down, hard. She
strained against his impressive strength but to no avail. She could
only imagine the placid grin on his face.
"I...never lose," she whispered, drawing upon her internal
energy. The exquisitely calm chi hit her with a rush, filling her
every pore. She felt nothing physical, readying to blast her offender
to hell.
"Kimchan!"
Her meditative state shattered, she looked closely at the figure
on top of her. Having shed his face mask, the blood from his cheek
dripped down on her.
"Ki-Kiyoshi?" she whispered in shock, the strain of channeling
her chi exhausting her. "I don't understand."
"You are getting very good," he told her, coughing over his right
to his right side. "You really got me good."
The shock on her face turning to mild anger, she tried to knee
him in the stomach, but he still had her pinned down.
"Mind getting off of me?" she asked, annoyed. "You're getting
blood all over me!"
"Actually, I do mind," he retorted, grinning. "I'm very
comfortable where I am." To prove his point, he rested most of his
weight on her.
An uncomfortable warmth blossomed from her stomach, spreading
over her entire body. Stifling the urge to cry out, she concentrated
her still present chi energy in order to counter his pin. Not nearly
using as much power as her initial blast would have, she broke
Kiyoshi's lock and rolled out from underneath him onto her feet.
"Amanda left some dinner out for you," he casually told her,
dusting himself off. "It's in the fridge. I really did mean what I
said earlier, Kimchan. You are easily as good as you were before the
coma, if still as overly-confident."
She walked over to him, all of her aggression burnt. The day
having been spent well, she smiled at its interesting, if fruitful,
closing. A bit of her good cheer darkened when she saw the long cut
along the side of his face.
"Sorry," she muttered, barely audible to his ears.
"It's my fault for being so careless," he replied, grinning. "It
won't scar, if that's what your feeling down about. Like you, I heal
perfectly."
"Oh yeah," she muttered, not quite sure of his meaning.
"Well," he sighed, closing the gap between them. "I believe I can
say that was a draw." Wrapping his arm around her shoulder, he
started walking with her towards the front door.
"Thanks," she whispered, wrapping her arm around his waist.
"Older brother."
He paused slightly, mirroring her smile, and then attempted to
turn the knob. "Uh, you wouldn't happen to have the key?"