Rain Dance
by
Matthew Trotter
*********
It was a dark and rainy day. The perfect kind of day to turn a little
bit of melancholy into a good fit of depression. Nabiki watched the rain
in the pond. Something needed to happen. It was far to quiet. Especially
on a depressing day like today. But maybe that was why nothing was
happening. Days like this strangle out everything but a moody kind of
silence. I'm becoming philosophical, this IS bad. I wonder what Ranma
and Akane are doing.
Those two weren't much of a source of entertainment recently. Not
since the school decided to hold a dance today. Both of them had been
really subdued. Apparently everyone except those two knew they would be
going to the dance together. But then they wouldn't be Ranma and Akane
if it didn't take them three days to decide to go to the dance together.
The really scary part was that none of the usual crew of people had showed
up to ask them out yet. No Kodachi, no Shampoo, no Kuno, nobody . . . well,
Moose did show up and ask Mr. Saotome, but that didn't really count.
Well if trouble can't start itself, its about time someone gave it a
kick start. Nabiki stood up and . . . . could hear someone coming up
the walk. There was only one person in the whole world who would go out
in crummy weather like this. Only one person who would risk the heavy
rain starting up and soaking him. And Nabiki was glad to see him.
************
It was a dark and stormy day. Well it was in the mortal realms at
least. The home of the gods was never dark and stormy, or bright and
sunny, in general the home of the gods didn't really have any weather
patterns. Weather was for annoying the mortals, gods could just decide
not to get wet in the rain. This had long ago annoyed rain, so in an
attempt to show its anger at the gods it had quit showing up at their
home. As might be expected, no one noticed. So rain hung around the
mortal realms. And when it was in a really bad mood, it stopped by Tokyo.
There were plenty of people who were afraid of rain there, bwahahaha.
But as that's all realy irrelevant anyway, so we'll move on . . . .
"hey wait I'm scary. wait . . ."
************
It was a dark and stormy day in the mortal realms, the perfect kind of
day to spark a romance. Fellowship hummed to herself as she tweaked the
minds of the mortals to guide their paths. "Oh Miss Tendo won't you be
in for a surprise!"
"Are you sure your name isn't Nievety?"
Sarcasm. Of course. Who else could possibly find flaw with a perfect
plan like this? Fellowship turned toward her older "brother". He was
dressed in the dark colors that reflected his moods. His short black hair
was wild and unruly. His sharp features were good looking, but always seemed
bitter and angry, "Sarcasm, what is that supposed to mean?"
In a voice like an electric current Sarcasm replied, "You are always
cooking up a scheme to unite people. Did it ever occur to you that
these people can manage on their own?"
"Manage on their own? Now look at this," she said pointing to the
table of the gods[1],"How do you think Kuno would get to the dance if he
didn't have Nabiki present to volunteer to take him?"
"I'm supposing, and this is just a logical deduction so stop me if it
introduces to much reality to the fantasy you've walled yourself into,
that he'd get his sister to go. Thus killing two birds with one stone."
"That's stupid. Why . . ."
"Fellowship!"
Emotion, her younger "sister" was rushing in the door. Emotion was
dressed in blue jeans, a pink T-shirt with a heart on it and red tennis
shoes. A sign that she was in a good mood. "Yes?"
Emotion stopped in front of her older sibling. Big yellow bow in the
light brown hair, yellow sun dress, sandals, good natured smile on her
attractive features. Oh man, this was gonna kill her. Emotion hated to
agree with Sarcasm, but he was right. Too bad he can't just say what he
means, "Sarcasm's right. It won't work."
Fellowship fell over, "WHAT? How can you take sides on this?"
Emotion crossed her arms across her chest, "I'm not taking sides! I'm
telling you it won't work. You'll make a mess."
Sarcasm smirked, "Even a twelve year old can see the innate problem."
*
[1] The Table of The Gods: This is a large, long table. The main
portion of it is recessed to a depth of about three inches. The
non-recessed sides are normally cluttered with figurines, artifacts,
scripts, visions, and other tools of manipulation. The recessed area
shows the mortal realms in a four dimensional[2] holograph , and is in
fact a portal to them. It is the main way in which the gods control the
actions of mortals.
[2] For the purpose of this and other stories, consider the fourth
dimension as time.
************
"Akane! You have a visitor," Nabiki turned back to Kuno, "so Kuno
baby, what brings you out in this kind of weather?"
"Only my desire to be with the lovely Akane Tendo could draw me from
the clutch of my family and home. For I have been negligent, these past
few days, in asking my love if she will accompany me to the dance. So
least she die of heart ache, I Tatewake Kuno shall take her to the dance."
Nabiki noticed Ranma and Akane walking in on the end of the schpeal,
"Oh Kuno, that's too bad. I think Ranma already asked her."
"WHAT," cried Kuno dropping the bouquet of roses.
"Uh that's right," began Akane, "Uh, Ranma already asked me."
"I did?"<elbow>huf,"I mean I did."
There was a little voice in the back of his mind. He usually ignored
it. Normally because it said things like, "its not Ranma's fault Akane
hates you." Today all it said was <how convenient[1]> How convenient
indeed. It was obvious that Ranma hadn't asked out Akane, yet she said
he had. And why . . . Nabiki. <No moron its 'cause she doesn't even
like you, Nabiki just gave her an easy out.> Shut up, Akane loves me.
Its the influence of that traitor Nabiki. Always pretending to help out,
and then the knife in the back. <Um, I think your over reacting.>
Kuno looked pissed. She could see he was about to kill Ranma. He was
shaking the tiniest bit, he was about to explode. Now for the kicker,
"Don't worry Kuno baby, you can go with me," Ranma and Akane fell over,
"for a fee."
Deep, deep in the back of his mind there was a little place. It was
almost gone, almost choked out by his refusal to be profane[2] . . . but now
it was screaming at him. It was supplying a non-stop line of spiteful,
hateful, cruel words. He turned back to Nabiki.
Kuno put his face about an inch from hers. There was something not
right. Kuno still looked mad. And now he was looking at her. Maybe she
should waive the fee, just this once.
"Nabiki Tendo, I would not take you to a dance if you were the last
person on earth,"
Yes Kuno was pretty pissed. Well he'll get over it . . .
"you bitch."
Her heart stopped beating. Her bones turned to lead. Her tongue
turned to stone. Her stomach was a pit of acid.
Ranma felt like time must have stopped. He had fought with Kuno
hundreds of times. He had watched Kuno loose his temper so many times
he'd lost track. Kuno never, never, NEVER said anything as vulgar and as
hateful as what he had just said to Nabiki. It felt as if his life had
ended and he was just a ghost watching someone else's life. Like a 3D
TV. It didn't feel real. As Kuno turned to go Ranma saw his face, it
was a mask of anger, pain and bitterness. I wish there was something to
say.
If felt like winter. She thought she could see her breath. Of all
the things Ranma had called her, not even one was as cold. And Ranma
never sounded so . . . so . . . so painfully bitter. As Akane watched,
Kuno turned and stepped on the roses he'd brought as he walked out the
door. He didn't even pick up his umbrella. He just walked out into the
rain. She turned back to Nabiki, there was the faintest glimmer of
something, but then it was gone. Nabiki was her old smug, sarcastic self.
"I guess Kuno baby isn't planning on going to the dance, oh well his
loss."
Can she really not feel anything? "Nabiki, are you OK?"
"I'm fine Akane. Why don't you and Ranma go to the dance, I'm sure
everyone will be expecting you now."
It was a strange off hand comment, like Nabiki was thinking hard or
something. Akane watched her wander upstairs and then turned to Ranma.
He looked at her helplessly. They sat and watched the rain, not because
it was interesting, but because they needed someone to be with. Someone
to keep them from thinking about Kuno.
*
[1] The little voice belonged to Doubt, who was playing cards at the
time. The full house was indeed convenient, as it kept him from
completely looseing the game to Dispair.
[2] Profanity was, if nothing else, persistant.
************
The rain beat down on Kuno. It knew when someone was worse off than
it was. It could feel the struggle going on in his mind. He needed to
be cold, and wet. He needed to step in puddles, to stub his toes. He
needed to slip and fall, and skin his knee. He needed a diversion. And
after a while it worked.
************
He looked at his sister. She looked like she was about to burst into
tears. It amazed him that she never saw these things coming. How could
she remain so oblivious to reality. It takes a real master to properly
manipulate people without screwing up the continuity of the future. Kuno
and Nabiki would probably never get together now. Just perfect.
"Yea, you got that right man."
Sarcasm didn't bother to turn, he knew that voice, and that smell.
Cigarettes. Only three gods smoked. Anger (if he was in a good mood),
Luck (but only around Dispair), and Joe. Joe Cool, god of time, smoking
and being cool. Some guys get all the easy jobs.
Fellowship let out a sob and ran out of the room. Emotion shook her
head and went after her.
"Things in the future that bleak Joe?"
"Hey man," puff, "The futures so bright, I gotta wear shades."
"Any pointers on fixing it?"
"Now come on, how come you wanna make a camels life so hard," long drag.
Sarcasm looked at Joe, loafers, slacks, button down shirt, shades.
The ultra laid back look. Its amazing how laid back a camel can
look. Joe usually sported the kinda casual look, this had to be bad.
Figures.
"Naw man, bad ain't the word for it, try catastrophe."
If your gonna keep reading my mind, I'm not gonna bother to talk.
"Hey man, be cool. The readers will get lost if you don't talk."
"So what happens."
"Well, you want the synopsis, or the full blown future vision?"
"Is it long and boring?"
"There's not much action, and it ends in tragedy."
"That'll depress the readers. I guess we better have the synopsis."
Joe took a long drag, letting it out in a sigh before starting, "To
make it short, from today on, Nabiki is gonna blame herself for
everything that goes wrong for Akane and Ranma, you dig? In the end she
commits suicide because Ranma leaves Akane. Kodachi goes mad[1] and kills
Akane for driving away Ranma, and Kuno takes both there lives for the dishonor."
"What happens to Ranma?"
"He marries Ukio and they have three children. They name their
youngest daughter Akane, both out of guilt and because she has no talent
in the kitchen."
"That's pretty depressing. I guess someone will have to fix it."
A red tennis shoe zipped around the door frame into the room. It
smacked into Sarcasm's forehead. "OK, OK already."
Joe took out another cigarette and lit it, "See you later man."
As Joe started to fade from sight Sarcasm headed out of the room. I'm
gonna need some help on this one . . . I wonder where Doubt is.
*
[1] make that madder.
************
Kuno had told her he hated her before, but it wasn't as serious. It
was just a side bar comment. This was just purely hateful. Nabiki took out
her little black book. It wasn't full of just phone numbers, it also had
her prize Akane/Ranma pictures. She took out the crowning picture. She was
saving this for a special occasion. It was from about two months back.
It had been raining all day, and Akane and Ranma had been fighting all
day. Ranma was already in girl form after having been chased into the
rain once so far. They were yelling out on the porch, when she heard the
fatal words, "at least I can cook," Nabiki knew a Kodak moment was close
at hand. It turned out to be even better than she had anticipated. Just
as she rounded the corner Akane charged at Ranma, and then slipped on the
wet porch. She fell right on top of Ranma, who slipped and fell on her
back. <snap> A picture of the pig tailed girl and Akane in each others
arms. Made even more perfect by the fact that they both looked so
astonished. Naturally Akane clobbered Ranma, but little did they know the
damage was done.
This would really floor Kuno. He'd really loose his mind when he found
out that his two loves were . . . how to put it. Nabiki noticed a drop
of water on the photo and quickly wiped it off. Where did that come
from? She looked around, and then hesitantly reached up and touched
her cheek. Wet. Why am I crying?
From the very back of her mind she could here a small little voice.
It sounded frightened and upset, like it was crying, <because kuno hates
me. because he really hates me. because . .. because . . . because
everything i do hurts someone. and i didn't cry for mom and because
akane and ranma are so happyandi'mnotanithurtssomuchtobealoneand.. .>
************
"Hey Dispair! Have you seen Doubt?"
Despair pointed out the northern door.
"Thanks," Sarcasm nodded to Hope as he walked by.
Hope held up a rose.
"No thanks, its not my style."
Hope's eyes closed to near slits.
"Oh, right," said Sarcasm taking the rose, "Thanks."
************
"Id d Blue Thuder one do be daunded by a mear code? Doe! I Tad<cof
cof cof> I Tadew<cof cof cof>" Kuno sat down. What was he thinking,
walking home in the rain. Now I have a cold. How can I go to a dance
when I sound like a buffoon. How did I get a cold in three hours[1]?
Damn the luck that brought him to this. It was that nefarious Nabiki Tendo
who was responsible. Still, how could he have let himself say THAT to her.
No matter how sinister she might be, one should never say something like that
to a lady.
*
[1] Its never a good idea to upset the plans of gods. Its realy bad if
they gang up on you for revenge. Fortunately for Kuno there was someone
who was watching out for him[2].
[2] Well not in the sence that he had some guardian angel, just that
right now the flow of continuity around him was screwed up and someone had
to fix it.
************
"You two make such a cute couple," crooned Kasumi, "We should take a
picture. Has any one seen Nabiki?"
"Oh no! Nabiki," Soun began to cry. Why oh why must cruel fate take
his daughter from him again?
"Its ok father"
Akane folded her arms, "Dad, she's up in her room. She probably went
to bed!"
"oh."
Genma put a hand on Soun's shoulder, "We should go out tonight Tendo. It
may be our last chance before it begins to rain again. Ranma, Akane you
make your fathers proud. You will be married before you know it."
Ranma and Akane started to sweat.
"Kasumi, what do you say to your father treating us to a movie."
"Oh father that's so kind of you."
"WHAT!"
************
He found Doubt shooting baskets with Anger. Anger had a big cigar in
his mouth so it was a safe bet he wasn't in a really bad mood. "Hey Doubt!"
"PULL!" BRRRrrratttatat
The basket was blown to smithereens.
"I'm busy Sarcasm, go away."
"Throwing baskets?"
"Its got to be better than talking to you."
"Heh. PULL!" BRRRRRAATTTatatat
Sarcasm gave a side long look at Anger, "Nice shooting Tex. Think you
can hit it with a missile? How about a grenade? Or do you need a nuke?"
Anger looked at Sarcasm, he knew when he was being taunted. He also
knew how to shut him up, "PULL," He watched the baskets trajectory and
BANG!
"What was that, off by say a yard or so? Call in the marines, Captain
Chaos is on the loose! My grandmother is more dangerous than you."
"Awright. That's it," growled Anger dropping his cigar.
"uh, Anger, I uh gotta, uh, uh, I gotta talk to Sarcasm before you
kill him," stuttered Doubt.
************
"I hope your happy now Sarcasm."
"I'm rarely happy Doubt. I need you to help me fix one of Fellowships
screw ups." Just as he finished saying this a red tennis shoe dropped out
of the sky, hitting him in the head.
Doubt looked wearily at the shoe, he'd been hit with his fair share of
shoes, "Well what does this involve."
"I need you to make Kuno feel guilty."
"Would you care to explain?"
"Bla.[1]"
"I don't know how much help I'll be, Kuno never listens to me anyway."
Sarcasm leaned forward toward Doubt, the shoe fell off his head.
"Uh, but it might be different this time, all I can do is try right,"
babbled Doubt. All he needed was for Sarcasm to follow him around
irritating everyone.
*
[1] Bla: a long drawn out story that you don't want to retell, and that
the readers already know.
************
She didn't remember crawling into bed, but then she didn't remember
falling asleep either. Well at least nobody had seen her crying her eyes
out. Why do I care if Kuno hates me? Its not like he's my boy friend.
<probably never will be now,> said that little voice, sulking. Nabiki
rubbed her eyes, she wasn't going to start crying again. This was something
that she would have to deal with. She looked at the photo on the desk, her
heart sank. It wasn't really Kuno's fault . . . he didn't deserve to have
his heart broken . . . What am I thinking? You couldn't break Kuno's
heart with a hammer. He'd probably just blame Ranma. Ranma, he and
Akane were so stupid. Why couldn't they just get along? Still, they
seemed to care about one another in the end. I wonder if its right for
me to give them a hard time. Is it right to . . . to ruin my sisters
first love? Even if she doesn't know about it? Nabiki closed her eyes.
Maybe it was time to stop setting them up.
************
Kuno got dressed. It was time to go to the dance. He immediately
wished he could forget that, because the nagging voice started up again.
<Kuno, Kuno. Hey! Are you listening to me? Why are you going to this
dance. Your sick. Stay home and take some Nyquil.> I can not leave
poor Akane with that cretin Ranma Saotome! <Why? She ditched you for
him didn't she?> Never! <Oh? Lets have a pop quiz. True or false,
Akane said she was going to the dance with Ranma.> Yes, but it was only
because that villain Nabiki told her to. <Really?> Of course, Akane would
never refuse me of her own free will! <Question two. When anyone asks
her out, what does Akane always say?> I can not betray my true love,
Kuno! <WRONG! Try again.> You must defeat me in combat? <Not Even
close. You've got one more guess.> I can not for I am a slave to the
evil Ranma? <Sigh, no. Try I'm engaged. I have a fiancee. I'm with
Ranma. Sound familiar?> What is your point insolent fool! <Hey, I'm
you, so watch it.> That is true . . . why am I wasting my time talking
to myself. <Maybe its because you might, just for once, find it in your
big, vacuous head, to show some insight!> WHAT? <Akane wants Ranma not
you! You just verbally "beat up" her sister. You'll be lucky if both she
and Ranma don't kill you!> But what can I do about it now? <DO I HAVE
TO SPELL IT OUT TO YOU!?!?!?!?> I should apologize to Nabiki. <Oh
finally. Are you happy now?> What? <Opps, I wasn't talking to you.> I
must be going insane.
************
"I hope your satisfied, was it sarcastic and mean enough for you?"
"He finally listened to you didn't he."
"SO whaaa.... hey your right, he did listen to me."
Sarcasm took out the rose, "Here give this to him when you see him."
Thud. A red shoe landed on Sarcasm's head. Sarcasm scowled, "Fine,
fine, I'll do it myself."
Doubt looked at the shoe, "Hmmm, Nike. Must be running out of shoes."
THWACK!
************
As he walked a heavy fog began to roll in. Kuno tried to think of some
manly way to tell Nabiki he was sorry. He didn't notice the way the fog
only covered the streets he walked on, or that his cold had gone. How
was a man known as Blue Thunder to ask forgiveness. What could he say
that would not seem inappropriate. For once in his life Kuno could think
of nothing to say.
************
Nabiki woke up again. It seemed kind of cold, and quiet. She pulled on
her slippers. The house was silent, yet there was the strange impression
of creaking, like an old wooden boat. There was also the sensation of
motion. It was creepy. Nabiki opened the door to her room and a cloud
of fog rolled in to the room. Beyond the fact that the house was filled
with it, there was something else weird about the fog . . . she couldn't
place it though. The fog in the hallway was about waist high. As she
walked down the hall it came to her, the fog wasn't wet. It seemed
almost insubstantial. As she moved down the stairs she could make out a
figure approaching the house. It was moving slowly as if in deep
thought.
The fog seemed thinner down stairs. The figure came closer, it looked
somehow familiar . . . Then as if out of thin air another figure
appeared, walking next to the first. It was creepy, like being in a John
Carpenter movie.
************
He could see her. She was wearing sweat pants and a T-shirt. It was
strange, but of all the times they had met, all the cloths she'd worn,
this outfit was probably the most attractive she had ever worn. How
could I not have noticed that she was this attractive? Is it just the
strangeness of the night? She was watching him, he needed to think of
something to say. But what?
"Try, I'm sorry."
Kuno looked to his left. There was a man, all in black, with pale
skin and unruly black hair. There was a red shoe on top of his head.
Kuno decided that this would be a good time to start accepting weird
things and pretending they were normal, "Who are you to tell me how to
address the lady I . . .," Kuno wasn't sure what her should call Nabiki.
"Call her your date for this evening."
"How do you come to know that I . . ." How did he know what I was
thinking?
"Call it a lucky guess. Here, give her this," said Sarcasm handing
Kuno Hope's rose.
Kuno looked at the rose and then at the man. Perhaps this is a
hallucination I'm having? It would not hurt to take the rose then would
it. Besides, he could tell her the rose was his apology to her . . .
"I'd stick to I'm sorry, its more sincere."
************
She could hear the figures talking. The newcomer sounded like, like .
. . like electricity. That was the only word that seemed to fit him
right. The first one sounded like . . . Kuno? What was Kuno doing in
the garden? Shouldn't he be at the dance? Their words seemed twisted
and distorted by the fog. Kuno was saying something about his lady or
something like that. I must be dreaming, this is all way to strange.
Then Kuno(?) moved forward, until he finally stepped out of the fog. It
was Kuno all right. It was strange, he looked different. He had always
been handsome, but here, in the fog, he looked . . . almost gallant.
Maybe it was the look in his eyes, it was far less boisterous than the
Kuno she knew. Oh this is definitely a dream. Kuno walked up to her and
handed her a rose. He just stared at her for a few moments and then said
very quietly, "Nabiki, I am sorry."
She stared at him. Kuno? Sorry? This was a sad reflection of how
hurt she felt. It was her subcontious trying to "make it all better".
It was. . . The thought broke off as Kuno put an arm around her waist and
took her hand in his. "May I have this dance Nabiki Tendo?"
She looked into his eyes. There was nothing there but a strange warm,
almost nervous look. A look that said, he wasn't sure if she would
accept or just walk away. Maybe, just for a little while, it would be OK
if things were "all better".
************
It was the strangest night of his life. Kuno found himself saying
things he would never have said, except . . . it was all so strange
anyway. Why not ask Nabiki to dance, she seemed so . . . so different
tonight. She hadn't said a word to him so far, but when he had asked her
to dance she had put her arm around his waist, and her head on his
shoulder. It was strange that the first woman to actually choose to come
into his arms would be Nabiki. Still, he could feel her heart beating as
they moved slowly in the fog. And somehow it seemed right.
************
He put on his black leather jacket, and put his hands in the pockets.
The world had a disjoint and out of focus melancholy feel to it. He
smiled, it was as close as he ever came to happiness.
************
Nabiki woke up to the sun streaming in the window. She yawned. She
remembered the dream about Kuno and smiled. I guess its OK to let your
mind wander sometimes, I'll just have to remember that it . . . was . . .
a . . . dream? There on her desk, next to the black book was a small
vase containing a red rose. She was so astonished that she didn't even
notice the missing picture.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
12-18-95
I hope you enjoy this story. If you see any mistakes in spelling
grammer or whatever, lemme know. Lemme what you think of it.
-MJT (trotter@bobcat.etsu.edu)