Hi!
Oops, I almost forgot this chapter. Here it is.
Part four is almost done, too (though I'm having a hell of a time
with it.) Part three of 'An Exciting Life' is almost there, too.
Later!
-Mike
***
"A Normal Life..."
A Fanfic by
Michael Noakes.
(March 11th, 1996)
(June 20th, 1996)
Well, my first script-format Fanfic continues. Hope it's
still ok!
***
LEGAL BABBLE:
Ranma and co. owned by Rumiko Takahashi.
Story mine.
Anything else is someone else's stuff.
***
A Normal Life
Chapter Three
Revenge
"Now could I drink hot blood,
And do such bitter business as the day
Would quake to look on."
- Hamlet, III.ii.390
(Ranma is walking aimlessly through the mostly-empty streets
of Nerima. The rain still falls, though it's lost most of the
power of its initial torrent. The rain is cold, the wind biting,
but he doesn't seem to notice.)
(He eventually stops beneath a bridge and leans against the
concrete wall, fingers digging into the stone, head hanging between
his arms.)
Ranma :(muttering) What the hell is wrong with me? I gotta
pull myself together. So what if Akane's seeing someone else! So
what if it's Ryoga! So what if they've been in... in... in love
for awhile! (His voice drops to a whisper.) It... doesn't...
matter.... (His fingers clutch convulsively, tearing gouges in the
wall.)
(His voice starts to rise in volume.) Yes... it... DOES!
Akane's _my_ fiancee! Not Ryoga's! (He punches the wall. The
concrete splinters. His fist sinks an inch into the concrete.
When he pulls it out, blood is dripping from his knuckles. He
winces.) Ouch.
(He flips around and leans against the wall with his back. He
sighs and sinks to the ground. Little puddles of run-off water
gather at his feet.)
Ranma :Ah hell... moping like this ain't gonna help. Heh.
This is the first rainstorm I've been in as a guy for months...
guess I should be happy... somehow, I don't feel it... (He stands
up. Lamp posts flare into life, casting little pools of wavering
light through the rain.) Looks like it's getting late... Pop's
probably getting worried...
And... Mom too, I guess. (He gives a little smile at that.)
I guess... this new life ain't that bad, after all... Akane's still
here, after all... I've got my mom back, no curse, no enemies...
(He starts walking home at a brisk pace. He begins to notice
how cold he is and wraps his arms around his torso as he picks up
the pace.)
Ranma :I mean, just 'cus Ryoga _say's_ they fell in love,
doesn't make it so! She might just be tryin' to spare his
feelings! She was always doing stuff like that!
Yeah, I'll just talk to her at school tomorrow, find out how
she feels. I mean, things here are great... once I get this little
problem straightened out, life'll be perfect!
(He comes running up to the house when he suddenly stops
short. He's standing in front of the Tendo Dojo again.)
Ranma :What? Dammit... I must've come here by instinct. I
definitely _don't_ want to be _here_, of all places... not now,
anyways.
(He turns to leave, but a sudden movement catches his eye.
Two silhouettes are moving in Akane's room. He sighs, turns away,
takes a few steps... then stops, spins again, and bounds up onto
the Tendo Residence wall.)
(Keeping low, moving quickly and stealthily, he runs along the
wall, then with practised ease, jumps from roof to roof, till he's
clinging next to Akane's room.)
Ranma :(thinking) Just like when I used to try and catch
good 'ole P-chan!
(He sidles over next to the windows, gripping the slippery,
wet wall with his hands and feet. Fortunately, the window's open
a crack, presumably for air.)
(Voices can be heard from within.)
Nabiki :You still worried, sis?
Akane :(sounding worried) Of course not! What do I have to be
worried about?
Nabiki :Oh, very convincing, Akane.
Akane :(She sighs.) Ok, fine. I'm worried. I just didn't
need this tonight. First that Ranma guy comes over...
Nabiki :He's kinda cute if you ask me.
Akane :I didn't... And then he starts acting all weird-like
and charges off like a lunatic!
Nabiki :I'm sure he had his reasons.
Akane :Whatever. And then Ryoga just _had_ to go looking for
him!
(Ranma's eyes open wide at that.)
Ranma :(thinking) Ryoga came looking for me? Ryoga was
worried... about _me_?
(The girls continue talking on the other side of the window.)
Nabiki :Well, that boy _is_ navigationaly impaired. I'm
surprised you get to see him as often as you do.
Akane :(sounding annoyed) A couple of times a week isn't all
that often, especially since this is practically his home-away-
from-home. He lives here, Nabiki! But he's never here!
Nabiki :Yeah, I know... must be tough... considering you guys
are practically engaged!
Akane :Nabiki!
Nabiki :Well it's true! Dad wants you to marry a man capable of
running over the dojo... Ryoga's the best martial artist around...
and you love him! Seems pretty obvious to me.
Akane :Yeah, but...
(Ranma isn't listening any longer. He just looks thoroughly
depressed, his eyes squeezed shut, breathing heavily.)
Ranma :(under his breath) I can't believe it. Well, Ryoga, it
looks like you've won. You live here now, not me. She's your
fiancee now, not mine. She loves you now, not me...
...if she ever did love me.
(He goes to turn away, but, lacking concentration, starts to
slip on the slick support he's clinging to. His feet slide out
from beneath him and he plummets.)
Ranma :YEEEAAAAAHHHHHHRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!
(He slams into the ground, and lies there dazed for a second.
He hears the window above him slide open.)
Nabiki :What was that? It sounded like it was right outside
your window!
Akane :I dunno! A prowler... a... wait! There! I see
someone!
Ranma :(thinking) Oh, great!
(Ranma dives for the wall, pressing himself flat against it.
He's directly beneath the window.)
Akane :Dammit! I can't see him any more!
Ranma :(thinking) Damn. Alright, I've gotta get out of here
before she sees me... wouldn't want her to think I'm some kinda
pervert or nothin'. Although... it might be kinda neat to hear her
call me that again...
(Ranma starts sidling along the wall, towards the nearest
corner. Just as he's nearing it, he catches a movement out of the
corner of his eye.)
(Another figure hopes over the wall, landing easily on the
other side. The rain obscures most details, but it's obvious the
individual is hauling a big back-pack... and holding an umbrella.)
Ranma :(thinking) So, looks like pig-boy made it home after
all...
Nabiki :(calling out from above) Ryoga! Yo, Ryoga! Be
careful! We think there's a prowler wandering about!
Ranma :(muttering) Oh, great...
(Ranma freezes, and Ryoga stops as well. He seems to slowly
look around the yard, finally ending by staring right in Ranma's
direction. Ryoga begins trotting directly towards him.)
Ryoga :Hey, you! Don't move, or you'll regret it!
(Ryoga obviously pulls back with his umbrella. The rain
splashes on him, but there's no P-chan this time. Ryoga continues
to draw closer to Ranma.)
Ranma :(thinking) Damn! He's gonna see me any moment. Sure
could use my curse right about now... or better yet, have him turn
into a pig...
I could run... (He shakes his head.) Run? From Ryoga? Not
likely! (His fists clench at his side.) In fact, giving him a
pounding would probably feel good about now...
(Ryoga draws close. He's fairly distinguishable through the
rain at this distance. Before he can catch a clear look of Ranma,
though, Ranma leaps forward, facing up, skimming over Ryoga's
head.)
Ryoga :Hey!
(Ryoga spins, but Ranma's already moving, dropping and
sweeping Ryoga's legs out from beneath him. Ryoga recovers easily,
rolling backwards and beginning to stand, but Ranma's already
moving it.)
Ranma :KACHU TENSHIN AMAGURI-KEN!
(Ranma's fists smash into Ryoga's skull at blinding speed. It
only takes a moment for Ryoga to start slumping to the ground, but
Ranma continues pounding away. First one second, then another,
then another... He begins to yell as he punches, louder and
louder...
(He suddenly stops, a look of horror on his face. Blood drips
from his torn knuckles... fortunately, it's mostly his; Ryoga's
head seems as hard as ever.)
(Ryoga's lying face down in the mud. He twitches slightly,
one hand scrabbling feebly, trying to rise up.)
Ryoga :I... I... I'm not... done... yet...
Ranma :You've never been able to beat me, Ryoga...
Ryoga :You... won't... won't... touch... Akane...
(Ranma's hand snaps down and grabs Ryoga by the bandanna and
hauls his head up, though he's still facing the ground.)
Ranma :(yelling) Damn you, you pig! She... was... MINE!
(whispering) She was mine.
Ryoga :Never...
(Ranma's other hand pulls back. He goes to smash it down...
but doesn't. His arm remains cocked, muscles clenched, arm
trembling. He holds the position for several moments, while Ryoga
remains motionless.)
Ranma :What have I done? What am I doing? This isn't like
me... I'm not a bully... I'm not a... killer!
(His arm relaxes, and he releases Ryoga. Ryoga's head sags
back into the mud with a wet thud. Ranma begins to stand, when a
voice ring out above him.)
(Ranma spins, gazing up at the open window above. A figure is
silhouetted by the light within. Akane.)
Akane :(screaming) Get away from him, you bastard!
(A dumbbell comes hurtling towards him. For some reason he's
unable to dodge, and it smashes into Ranma's skull. He staggers
back, reeling.)
Ranma :Argh! You kawaikunai tomboy! That hurt!
Akane :I've got more where that came from!
(Akane tosses another dumbbell, and another, and soon follows
with a whole slew of assorted items: chairs, bokkens, textbooks,
kettles, etc...)
(Ranma, this time, dodges. He hops and leaps around, till he
bounds up onto the wall. The barrage has stopped. He stops and
turns, facing the window one last time.)
Ranma :(whispering) Goodbye, Akane.
(He hops down off the wall, and runs into the darkness,
heading for his new home. Behind him, a door is thrown open, and
figures run out to check on the fallen Ryoga. One of them slumps
to her knees, cradling the bruised head in her lap, crying.)
(The rain continues unabated.)
*** To be continued... ***
AUTHOR'S BABBLE (Again!)
Alrighty then...
Well, there's part three. Considerably shorter then the first
two. I was going to continue, but it seemed like an excellent spot
to end this chapter. Didn't even have to change it much to have
it fit alongside 'An Exciting Life'.
Still a bit more serious then I ever intended this Fanfic to
be, but what the hell, I'll let it go wherever it goes. I write
each chapter in a single sitting, so much of it isn't all that
thought out. As long as somebody, anybody, out there likes it, it
was worth it.
Hoping to have part four done soon. (I mean it this time...)
- Mike
- Send nifty comments/flames to s669330@aix2.uottawa.ca