Completed...I think. Slightly revised, too.
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Chapter 2: Into the Pits of Weirdness (or, Let the Sneezing Begin)
"Are...are you all right?" Shiro stood up and walked towards Kodachi.
Fortunately for Kodachi, because of Shiro's altered neurochemistry, he
wasn't going to be all over her like he should have been. No, it was
going to work a little differently. But she didn't know that.
"N-nani?" <Why is he just standing there? Wait. How is he standing?
Did he actually resist my paralysis gas?>
Shiro's altered body chemistry also allowed him to shrug off the
effects of her other roses.
"I asked, are you all right?" He stooped down, proffering a hand.
Kodachi blinked.
"H-hai...." She reached out and took his hand. Shiro, making extra
sure to suppress his energy, gently pulled her up to her feet. "Domo
arigato...tell me, good man, what is your name?"
"Oh...I'm Kurimoto Shiro...I'm new around here." Kodachi nodded.
"I...I am Kunou Kodachi, called 'Kurobara no Kodachi'...." At this
point, she suddenly felt her hair prickle. <What was that!?> She dropped
his hand and backed off a little bit. Shiro seemed not to notice that.
"Kunou? Ku...nou.... Are you related to a Kunou Tatewaki?"
"Brother dear? Yes, Tatewaki is my brother...."
Shiro looked down at the roses in his hand. "Oh, these are yours, I
think...." He held them out to Kodachi. She looked at them a moment, and
carefully took them.
<I suppose that it would be fruitless to continue for now. Hmm.> "I
must be going now.... Many things await me at my home." She turned and
sprinted away, leaving a trail of black petals in her wake.
As she ran back to her house, she thought hard. <What happened there?
The potion didn't work! But--it had to have! It was tested multitudes of
times. And what about my gas? He was still moving normally, after....
Truly, he is a formidable man. Even my Ranma-sama succumbed to its
paralyzing effects! And what was that sensation I felt back there?
Not...not completely unpleasant, however....> She shook herself. <I
suppose I shall have to go and rebreed the roses. Curses! So close.>
However, Shiro's face wouldn't leave her mind. <Who was that, and
how....>
------------------------------------------------
Shiro sat on the piano bench, staring at the keys. He had walked to
the house just to see the piano tuner's van leave. (Also, when he walked
past his parents, Kurimoto-otousan suddenly grabbed Kurimoto-okaasan and
ran upstairs with her--but he hadn't noticed.)
<That was weird. I knocked into her, but I didn't accidentally zap
her. I feel kinda strange, too.> He puzzled over the odd sensations
running through his body and his mind. He called up the mental image of
the girl's face. <Kodachi...she's one of the girls who's chasing after
Ranma, right?> He thought back to that one conversation that he had with
Ranma and Akane. <Yeah, she's one of them, unless there's another
Kodachi around here. Hmm, 'Kodachi, the Black Rose'....> He looked at
one of the petals that he had picked up after her departure.
He shook himself and began warming up with a few scales, but his mind
wasn't into it at all, and his body felt...felt ticklish inside. He
stopped playing. "Dammit, what the hell is that? Is this some sort of
allergy? I _did_ inhale a lot of pollen." He sighed and looked again
down at the piano.
It was one of the few things that he still had from his once-normal
existence. He had played piano since he was 5 years old. Over the years,
he had become very skilled and had placed in many musical competitions,
even winning a few of them. However, he had stopped taking lessons
shortly after _that_ particular day; with all the moving around and his
discomforting presence, it was just too hard to find a sensei who would
teach him.
He certainly couldn't let it go, though, and just decided to keep
playing on his own. Perhaps he couldn't enter any more competitions
without a sensei to sponsor him, but that didn't matter. This was one of
the few things that actually gave him a good measure of peace during the
past 18 months. It turned out, he didn't need someone to teach him. He
got much better on his own. Perhaps, it was partly because he had a lot
more time to practice, since he had nothing else to do....
Shiro started on the scales again, and gradually relaxed into it.
<Ahh...much better.> After a few of those, he launched himself into some
popular songs. One of this talents was to be able to listen to a song a
few times and then play it back, complete with harmonies and even adding
a few of his own embellishments. Although he wasn't quite in tune with
most of society, he still did like popular music. He had just finished
this gaijin song called "Kiss from a Rose" (during which something in
his mind started nagging him, for some reason). Now he was in the middle
of some other song about love that had been playing on the radio a lot
recently, running the lyrics through his head. Suddenly, he froze,
fingers dangling above the keys. His eyes grew very wide.
<Oh...my...God....>
It had indeed been a long, long time since Shiro had thought about
girls. Like he had been thinking a week earlier that one morning, he
wasn't even making any friends; why would he worry about that? It had
been so long, in fact...that he had forgotten what it felt like to fall
in love with a girl.
"Kodachi."
_That_ was why he was feeling so strange inside.
"And she's related to Kunou."
A bit of a problem, perhaps?
"I think I'll go to bed now."
=============================
Now to explain to you readers what exactly has been going on--the
potion didn't work as planned, that's true enough. Instead of making
Shiro temporarily fall madly in love with Kodachi, it merely removed a
few mental blocks and nudged his mind--and heart--forward. And since
those mental blocks were _removed_, this wasn't a temporary effect....
Oh, and my thanks and apologies to Seal. What a setup. ^_^
=============================
------------------------------------------------
"You seem quieter than usual, Shiro--if that's possible." Akane sat
down next to Shiro's desk. She had finally managed to stop shivering
whenever she got within a meter of him.
Shiro didn't say anything at first, but did look up from his book and
shrug a bit. After a few moments, he said, "Went for a walk yesterday.
Bumped into Kunou Kodachi."
Akane blinked. Ranma looked a little stricken. "Gee, I'm sorry...."
"Is she the Kodachi you were talking about earlier? The one chasing
you? And why are you sorry?"
"Yeah, same one. It's a long story.... What happened?"
"Nothing much. I was walking around, and I knocked into her. Strange
thing is I didn't zap her.... She had this bouquet of black roses that
seemed to blow up in my face...."
"Nani? How did you get away from her?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Akane looked very confused "Well...her roses usually have this gas
that paralyzes people when it's inhaled...."
<Why would she do that?> "Now that I think about it, there was this
really weird smell coming from them, and a huge cloud of what I just
thought was pollen did come out of it. But no, I didn't get paralyzed.
You sure about that?"
Ranma answered. "Yeah. She's gotten me with that a few times...."
Shiro rubbed his chin a moment. "Hmm...I do have some strange
biochemistry. Maybe it just didn't affect me." Ranma and Akane nodded.
"So, anything else happen?"
"We introduced ourselves, I gave back her roses, she left, I left, and
I think...." Shiro mumbled something and buried his nose back in his
book.
"What was that?"
"I said that I think I'm strtngtflnlvwthkdchi...." Shiro mumbled
again.
"Come on, speak up...we can't hear you."
"I-said-I-think-I'm-starting-to-fall-in-love-with-Kodachi--!"
Everyone within earshot facefaulted.
"K-ko-k-k-k-ko-ko--KODACHI!?!?"
------------------------------------------------
At St. Hebereke Girls' Academy, on the other side of Nerima, Kunou
Kodachi sneezed several times.
------------------------------------------------
"YEAH, AND WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?!"
Akane blanched at the outburst (and the sparking) from Shiro. "Uh,
anou, it's just that...that...."
"Kodachi's nutty." Ranma's tact is simply legendary, no?
*BZZZZZT*
Ranma stared at the burnt remains of the chair that his head was next
to. "Okay, so maybe I chose the wrong words."
"Explain. Now." They did.
Shiro sat back, blinking. "Well...I'm sure she's not all bad...."
Ranma shrugged. "Hey, whatever you say, pal...." Then his eyes
narrowed. "Uh, you're not...you're not going to try to hurt me 'cos she
likes _me_, are you?"
Shiro looked at Ranma strangely. "N-nani?"
Ranma twiddled his thumbs. "Er...well, Mousse is in love with
Shampoo...and, uh, now he's been trying to kill me because she's chasing
me."
"Uhm...oh, okay. No, no, I wouldn't...there wouldn't be any point in
that. If Kodachi likes you, then it sure wouldn't help my cause if I
hurt you." He sighed and buried his face in his hands. "Not like she
would ever go for me anyway."
Akane walked up to him and cautiously placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Come on, Shiro, you can't assume that automatically...."
"Of course not! She's a little nuts, your brain chemistry's a little
mixed up, you'd make a perfect couple!"
*BZZZZZKRAK* *CRUNCH*
"D-d-don't l-let me s-s-sta-stand in the w-w-way...." Ranma weakly
muttered. He extracted himself from his hole in the wall. "Sh-she's all
y-yours...."
"Ranma, would you just shut up?" Akane turned back to Shiro. "Well,
I...I can't claim to, uh, fully understand, but...why don't you go for
it?" Shiro didn't answer.
"Hey, didn't you say that you weren't going to hurt me?" Ranma brushed
himself off and walked back to Shiro. Shiro glared at him, and raised a
finger crawling with energy at Ranma. "Okay! I guess I deserved that."
An uncomfortable silence followed. The rest of the students turned
back to eating lunch. Akane, wanting to break the silence, asked, "So,
Shiro, which meal _do_ you eat?"
"Oh...I just eat when I get home from school."
Ranma nodded, and then started eating his lunch. He suddenly turned
green and spat out a mouthful. "Yech! Akane, you made lunch again!?" He
was promptly hammered out the door.
Shiro looked on in curiosity. "What was that all about?" He looked at
Ranma's bentou. Some rice, meat, vegetables...at least, it kind of
looked that way to Shiro.
Ranma crawled in through the door. "Akane...can't...cook...."
"Can't be that bad." Shiro picked up Ranma's chopsticks and snagged a
piece of "meat", bringing it up to his mouth. Akane just looked at him.
"No! Don't--" Ranma shouted, but it was too late. Shiro put it in his
mouth and started chewing. Ranma cringed and closed his eyes, waiting
for an explosion of lightning when Shiro finally reacted to Akane's
death-in-a-lunchbox. It didn't come.
"Hmm. A little salty, maybe, but it's okay. What were you talking
about?" Ranma gaped at Shiro. He looked just fine.
"What?! Here, let me see." Ranma grabbed the chopsticks and shoveled
some of the food into his mouth. Again, he turned green. "What?! But--
but this--it's still terrible!" He ducked a punch from Akane.
Suddenly he brightened. "Of course! Your messed up body chemistry! You
can handle stuff that's normally deadly to humans!" He nodded sagely.
*WHAM* "SHUT UP!!" Akane promptly knocked Ranma right through the door
again.
Shiro looked at Ranma's twitching form. "Actually, he's right. Food
never did quite taste the same for me, and I _can_ handle certain toxins
without negative effects. And I guess it's possible that your cooking--"
"DON'T YOU BE STARTING TOO!!!" This time, Shiro blanched.
At this point, Ukyou entered, dragging Ranma in with her. She stopped
and looked around at the mild carnage. "Dammit, every time I leave the
room, I miss something interesting."
Ranma stirred. He looked at Shiro and grinned. "Ucchan, you have no
idea...." Shiro bristled, knowing what was about to happen.
------------------------------------------------
Kunou Kodachi sneezed again. "Well! I do really hope that I am not
becoming ill...."
------------------------------------------------
"Ryouga?" The bandanna-wearing boy turned around, looking for the
source of that voice.
"Shiro? What are you doing in...."
Shiro had been warned about this. "No, Ryouga, you're back in Nerima."
"Oh...."
"Hey, I've been meaning to talk to you lately, but you're never
around."
"Huh? Why?"
"Dunno, really...just, if you're really as depressed as I am...."
Ryouga nodded. "I see. Right now, though, I'm trying to find the
Tendou Dojo--" Ryouga was cut off by his stomach rumbling. He grimaced.
"But since I haven't eaten for a few days, maybe I'll go stop and get
some food. Uh...do you know if Ucchan's or the Nekohanten is around
here?"
Shiro considered this. Ucchan's was farther away from here...and he
had been meaning to go talk to Mousse and Shampoo. They were Nerima
regulars, and acquaintances (to put it mildly) of Ranma and Akane, after
all; he'd have to bump into them sooner or later. He just didn't want to
go face Shampoo alone, after their first meeting, and Ryouga...well, why
not?
"Nekohanten. This way." They began to walk, at first in silence.
"What's your problem with Ranma, anyway?"
Ryouga started to glow a bit. "Because of that BASTARD, my life has
been HELL!"
"A little more specific, maybe?"
Ryouga glowered, but started talking. "It all began with middle
school...."
------------------------------------------------
"...and that's when I went to Jusenkyou and...." Ryouga stopped.
"You were at Jusenkyou too? Uh...do you...." Ryouga only closed his
eyes tightly and clenched his fists. "I'll...I'll take that as a yes."
Ryouga opened his eyes and kept walking...veering off the wrong way.
"Hold up! _This_ way! Well.... I see how your life's been rough.
Loneliness, eh? I know that one very well."
"You can't imagine it! I've been wandering for--for longer than I can
remember! You, you've only had your 'condition' for a year and half...."
"Hey! At least, you've been able to approach people without making
them nervous just by existing!" That shut Ryouga up for a bit.
"I...I suppose you're right."
"One thing, though...why are you still so angry at Ranma? I mean, you
missing the fight isn't his fault...and you didn't _have_ to go to
Jusenkyou...."
"That bastard knocked me into the spring!"
Shiro blinked. "Oh...."
Ryouga sighed. "Granted, it was an accident...."
"Well...Ranma's a lot nicer than you give him credit for, I think.
Seriously, he's really been trying to help me fit in around here."
Ryouga didn't answer, but only nodded. Finally, then reached the
Nekohanten and entered, taking a seat in a booth.
"Ni hao! Oh.... Sh-Shampoo very, very sorry for what happen. Shampoo
not mean to be unfriendly." The purple-haired girl seemed a little
uncomfortable still, but was rapidly getting used to it.
Shiro blinked. <Maybe this'll be easier than I thought.> "Uh...okay. I
appreciate the apol--" *CRASH*
That would be Mousse making his entrance.
"Stupid Mousse!"
"Mousse, would you keep your glasses on while you're working?" A
short, short woman hopped out on a staff. She looked over at where
Shampoo was standing. "Ah, so you are the one who so easily scared my
great-granddaughter. Impressive." She hopped over and stopped, freezing
up. "I see why...."
Shiro growled. "Well, I sure didn't ask for it!"
"Calm down! I never accused you of anything. Besides, it's not so bad,
once you get used to it. I am Cologne."
<Ah.... Wait, this little troll--> "Er, Ranma tells me that you'r a
powerful fighter...."
She laughed a bit. "I know what you're thinking, sonny. I sure don't
look like it, but yes, I am. I taught Ranma a few of his moves."
Ryouga was getting impatient. "Say, I'm kind of hungry...."
"Oh! Gomen! What would customer like?" Shampoo waited on Ryouga while
Shiro continued to speak to Shiro.
"I'm very interested in your...talent of manipulating electricity."
Shiro frowned. "I'd rather that I never gained it...."
"But it is a very powerful ability!"
"And because of it, I can't have a normal life!! I HATE IT!" Cologne
looked at him intently. Shiro calmed down. "Gomen. But I really don't
like this...."
"Cheer up, sonny. There are worse things, such as changing forms when
splashed with cold water." Shiro sighed, then nodded. "Tell me, though,
how did it all happen? Is there maybe some sort of training technique?"
"If you'll consider being struck by lightning three times in 5
seconds, then sure, there's a training technique."
Cologne looked a little flustered. "Well, so much for that idea."
"Huh?" Cologne waved a hand.
"You know how full of martial arts this place is. It is always an
advantage to learn new techniques to have with you in case of a fight."
"Fight? Oh. Of course. Not that I really know how to fight.... Never
needed to before I got all of this, and now that I do, well, the shocks
by themselves are usually enough to end it. Someone hits me, I zap him
at the contact area."
"What about projectiles?"
Shiro frowned. "It's never come to that before. Although...if
something that's not moving too fast comes at me, I can blast it away
when I touch it." Ryouga glanced over, remembering his umbrella.
"You still owe me for that, you know."
"Well, you shouldn't have been throwing it at me anyway!"
"I was trying to hit Ran--"
"Please! Enough." Cologne waved her staff between the two. She turned
back to Shiro. Ryouga was about to continue arguing when Shampoo brought
over his bowl of ramen. He dug in.
"Shiro want anything?"
"Uh, no. I only eat one meal a day." Shampoo looked puzzled, but said
nothing and moved away.
Cologne looked again at Shiro. "Where was I...ah, yes. So, I assume
that you also wouldn't know how to deal with ki blasts?"
"Ki blasts? Hell no. The only times I've ever thought about ki is in
respect to how out of balance my own is."
"Shampoo! I--"
*SLAM* "Stop talking to floor lamp!"
"Eh? Say, why does Mousse--"
"Even with his glasses on, he can't see a thing."
"Oh. Er...he has a Jusenkyou curse, doesn't he?" Ryouga choked on a
noodle.
"Yes, and so does Shampoo. She turns into a cat. That, in fact, is why
this place is called the Nekohanten. Mousse! Get off the floor and start
cleaning those tables!"
"You seem to push Mousse really hard."
"Oh. He's used to it. Hey, Mr. Part-Time! Get moving!" Mousse growled
something about shriveled old ghouls. Cologne decided to let that one
pass. "I hate interruptions. Anyway, Shiro. What are your abilities,
exactly, though?"
"Uh.... I can absorb a lot of electricity, I can call it up and focus
it to a particular spot on my body...I can make lightning fire between
my hands and arms...."
"Can you shoot it at a target?"
Shiro shook his head. "The only time it ever comes off of me through
the air is if I get too much charge, and it has to bleed off. I've tried
to, believe me, but...actually, one time, I was able to zap something
like that...but it took so much concentration, a huge metal target, and
what I shot off was so little, it's just not worth it."
At that point in time, more customers came in. "Excuse me. Looks like
I'll have to get back to the cooking. Please, stop by and chat any
time." Cologne left for the kitchen, and Shampoo went over to wait on
the new customers.
"So, Ryouga, tell me a little about this bunch. Cologne sure bled me
dry of facts, but I didn't find out much." Ryouga told him much of their
background. He was interrupted by a hakama-clad man striding in the
front door.
"Where is the proprietor of this establishment? I, the Blue Thunder,
ask to be seated...oh, it is you again." Kunou looked over at Shiro, who
had started to hum louder again with Kunou's introduction.
Cologne called from the kitchen. "Seat yourself!" Kunou obliged...
surprisingly, he chose to sit in the chair across the table from Shiro.
"What do you want?"
"I know not what you have done, sorceror, but somehow, because of you,
my sister has become yet more...er, driven."
Ryouga whispered, "He means more insane." Kunou pretended not to
notice.
Shiro blinked. "Nani?"
"She claims that you were able to ignore the effects of her flowers,
and has been continuously mixing...well, something in her laboratory.
The smells have become so noxious that I have even been forced out of
mine own abode!"
"What? Oh. That paralysis gas thing, huh?" He shrugged. "What am I
supposed to do about it?"
Kunou smiled slightly, and said, in jest, "For one thing, I suggest
that you go seek an audience with her. She has also been continuously
rambling on about who you are."
Shiro's heart leapt. His eyes glazed over. His brain fizzled. The
cynic in him whispered, <Heh. She only wants to talk to you because
she's curious about you resisting her chemicals!> but he managed to
somehow squelch it. "S-sure, I'll do that...." Ryouga looked very
surprised.
Kunou blinked. He never thought that.... <Well, the man has asked for
it of his own volition.> "Very well. I shall tell her that you wish to
speak with her. You will be contacted when the arrangements have been
made." He left to sit at his own booth. "I demand service!"
Ryouga looked at Shiro. "You're actually willing to see Kodachi?"
Shiro opened his mouth, stopped, and looked around. "Let's talk
outside. I don't want to be this close to her brother." Ryouga paid his
bill and joined Shiro out the door.
"Er....uh...come on, let's go farther away." Ryouga was getting puzzled.
"No, farther."
"Keep going."
"Okay, already! Far enough? We've passed...er...I dunno, ten city
blocks?"
"I guess. Er, uhm, the truth is...."
------------------------------------------------
Kodachi held a pipet, carefully adding the tiniest bit of sodium
formate (.01 molar solution) to a beaker. It had to be exact, or--
*waCHOO* *splash*
"DAMNATION!! IT'S RUINED!!!" She wiped her nose.
------------------------------------------------
Kunou ate his noodles, deep in contemplation of both his Osage no onna
and Tendou Akane. He suddenly started and looked up.
"Did mine ears just hear someone accusing another of having some
manner of affection for my _sister_?" He paused. "Nah."
------------------------------------------------
Ryouga stared at Shiro in total shock. Shiro looked back, annoyed.
"Dammit, why do you guys all have to react like that? Is it really so
weird?!" Ryouga only nodded. Shiro's right eye twitched.
------------------------------------------------
Shiro was in a bad mood, as was natural for him. "Why is it so damn
freaking strange that I like Kodachi?! She's beautiful, she was really
nice when I was talking to her...." His eyes glazed over slightly as he
pictured her in that leotard. He shook himself. "But no, everytime I
tell someone, they have to act like I'm crazy...." His eyes narrowed.
"So, I'm crazy, am I?!?! AAARGH!!"
He grabbed a metal-link fence and pounded about a hundred amperes
through it. As he was doing that, a wrinkled little lecher hopped on top
of the fence. The resulting discharge of energy sent Happi fliyng again,
as well as his sack.
"YEEAAARGH!!!! It's him again!? I'm gonna get yoouuuuuu...."
Shiro looked around. "Huh? Did I hear--hey, what...what's with this
underwear again?" Aaaaand...cue the obligatory horde of women.
"Where...you again! Where is that pervert? And why is our underwear
falling out of the sky again?" The lead woman narrowed her eyes. "What
is your involvement with the lech?"
"What are you talking about? I don't understand this." He turned
around and left. <Well.... This is getting really strange.> He then
shrugged. <Hell. I kinda like it.>
------------------------------------------------
*THUMP*
Shiro stared at the arrow that had struck the tree not twenty-five
centimeters from his head. "Ah...."
Akane rolled her eyes. "Why doesn't Kunou just use a normal way of
sending messages?" She grabbed the paper attached, then handed it to
Shiro. "For you."
Shiro managed to shake it off, and took the paper, opening it and
reading the message. His eyes glazed a bit, and a rare smile came to his
lips. "Heheh...." Akane looked at him inquiringly. "Gonna meet with
Kodachi later today."
Akane still couldn't quite believe it. <What does he _see_ in her!?>
------------------------------------------------
Shiro stood in front of the Kunou mansion. <Damn...big place.> He
knocked hesitantly on the door, which quickly swung open.
"Huh? I don't see any...."
"Ah, you must be Kurimoto Shiro-san."
Shiro looked down, to see a short man dressed like a ninja. <Umm.>
"Er, hai.... Anou, where is K-Kodachi-san?"
Sasuke was slightly surprised. No one ever referred to Mistress as
"Kodachi-san." <Well, no one ever comes here looking for her, either. I
wonder what this man has in mind....> "I am her servant, Sasuke. Please,
follow me, Master Shiro. And pardon the smell...."
Shiro followed the small ninja. Sure enough, there was an odd aroma
hanging in the air. He didn't mind...but Sasuke seemed to have a little
trouble breathing normally. They walked down winding hallways, finally
stopping in front of a metal door. <Eh? Metal....> Sasuke pressed a
button on the wall, and spoke into what Shiro assumed to be a intercom
system.
"Mistress...your, ah, guest has arrived." A pause.
"Good, Sasuke. Now, leave us." Sasuke hurriedly backed away.
The door opened, revealing a biochemical laboratory. There was a
wastebasket overflowing with tissue paper.... "Enter." Shiro came in,
finding Kodachi wearing a labcoat. Without warning, she tossed a bouquet
of roses at him, which he caught. Of course, it let loose a blast of gas
into his face, and Shiro suffered no adverse effects. "So, that was no
simple fluke, then."
"Er, no...."
Kodachi moved up swiftly to him, looking him up and down. He noticed
her blink a little when she got within a meter. <That's my aura, isn't
it?> However, she seemed not to show any other signs of discomfort. That
surprised Shiro a bit.
"Tell me, how is it that you are able to ignore my paralysis gas?"
<Oh, that.> "Well, you see...my body chemistry is kind of odd...a lot
of toxins and stuff that normally affect humans don't do anything to
me." Kodachi visibly brightened. <Eh?>
"Ah! That means, then.... Arigato. That will be all. Good day." She
turned around and headed back to another part of the lab.
"But...but...." Shiro slumped. <Kuso.> His cynical side had just
kicked in with the killing strength of Akane's non-curry cooking (well,
the strength it had on non-Shiro life forms) and set off the depression.
He turned around and walked out the door. He walked a distance down the
hall, ignoring Sasuke, who attempted to get his attention.
"What the hell was I thinking, falling in love with Kodachi?" Sasuke
suddenly stopped trying to get Shiro's attention, and simply hid. Shiro
managed to find his way to the front door, and left quietly.
Meanwhile, Sasuke was about to explode. <Th-th-that guy f-f-falling
in-in-in _LOVE_ with Mistress Kodachi!?> Sasuke was put in a very bad
spot.
This was strange news. Very strange news, indeed. It would probably be
a Bad Thing if Mistress Kodachi found out. And yet, for an equally
strange reason, he just had to blab. He couldn't contain himself....
"Sasuke! Has Shiro left?" Kunou's voice boomed through the halls.
Sasuke brightened. He was supposed to report to Master Kunou
anyways.... "Master! Yes, he has gone...."
"So, then, Sasuke, what have you heard?"
------------------------------------------------
Now, when Shiro was talking to Cologne earlier about his abilities to
"cast" lightning, he was a little incorrect.
*eh*
There was another time that he could shoot off electricity, other than
having to bleed off excess charge (but it was equally involuntary).
*eH*
You see, whenever his body spasmed particularly strongly in a certain
fashion,
*EH*
he was known to toss off a significant amount of charge.
*WAAA-*
He just never noticed, because he was too busy recovering from the
sneeze and wiping his nose to realize it.
*CHOOOO* *ZOTKRAK* *sniff*
And today, it would have been even more difficult for him to do so
"Yeeeargh.... That's strike three, sonny boyyyyyyy...."
because he was too depressed to notice much of anything at all,
*flutter* *flutter*
including the floating underwear
"Where'd he go this time!?"
and the rampaging women, let alone what he hit.
"Hey, I see him! Flying that way.... I think this guy here has
something to do with this. Wait up! We want to talk to you...."
------------------------------------------------
Kodachi was delighted. That would mean the potion still worked!
But.... <Hmm. How remarkable, that he is able to...to simply _ignore_ my
chemicals...and what was that...interesting sensation I felt? Just like
I did the first time I met him.> She shrugged, and turned back to her
work.
Unfortunately, she had wasted all of her previously mixed potions, as
well as the carrier roses, in her attempts to rework them, so she had to
mix up some more. She reached for the notes--
*WACHOO*
--and stumbled, knocking a beaker of 12M sulfuric acid onto them.
"AAAAAARGH!!!!!"
------------------------------------------------
Kunou was stunned. <Shiro--? My sister--?! How--!? Why--!?!?>
Sasuke was both covering his ears in pain and frantically trying to
shush his master so that Kodachi wouldn't hear it. "*gaah* Master Kunou!
Please, not so loud! It might upset your sister!"
Kunou ignored him, and started thinking (for once) about the
implications. Well, he was first trying to recover from the shock. But
once he did get the gears turning....
<Shiro wishes to date with my sister? However...has my sister not
chosen that cur Saotome? Hmm. And...if Saotome does date with my sister,
would that not then leave Tendou Akane and my Osage no onna free for me?
But if Shiro.... Then-->
"Never! No, this will not come to pass...Sasuke! Retrieve the
telephone. I am required to make some calls...."
------------------------------------------------
"Hey, Shiro...ah, never mind." Akane was about to continue with, "You
look pretty bummed," but that probably was a bad idea.
"'S hopeless...." Shiro mumbled.
Ranma was under no restraints like Akane. "She didn't go for ya, eh?"
Fortunately for him, Shiro had become too depressed for the moment that
he couldn't summon the appropriate amount of enthusiasm to do anything
to Ranma, and instead merely sighed.
Akane first glared at Ranma, then turned back to Shiro. "Come on...you
can't give up. Really, it's only the second time that you've spoken to
her."
"Say, what was yesterday about, anyway?"
"Oh. She was just curious about how come I wasn't affected by her
roses. I didn't even get a chance--"
"KURIMOTO SHIRO!! PREPARE TO DIE!!!!!"
"Nanda?!"
It was a scene from days of old. Most of the male population of
Furinkan, dressed in sports gear and armed, swarmed across the school
grounds towards the gate, except that the target now was Shiro,
apparently. Suddenly, a pendulum swung within Shiro's head (okay, maybe
one didn't, but that's the most accurate description of what _was_ going
on in his head) and he decided to vent a little. He gained an expression
on his face that, when looked upon, had the same effects as having
Kodachi's laugh beamed directly into one's brain. He pulled an alarming
amount of electricity from his reserves, and before Ranma or Akane had a
chance to even say anything, he charged into the mob.
*BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNK*
The next two minutes was filled with what seemed to be a sort of
continuous explosion, with charred and twisted things (including pieces
of clothing, equipment, and students) flying through the air in all
directions. Most notable was Kunou sailing towards the swimming pool. He
never even had the chance to start on his tirades, assuming that Shiro
would first pause after defeating all the others (if he made it that
far) before challenging himself. After all, Akane always did that....
Ranma stared at the carnage. He looked around for Shiro, but couldn't
find him. He did, however, spot Nabiki collecting money from the
bystanders. She had, through her extensive network, caught wind of
Kunou's plans for Shiro.
"Where'd Shiro go?" Akane was also scanning the area. "Shiro!"
A figure near the doors stirred and attempted to pick himself up.
"Urk." Ranma ran over to him.
"Shiro! That was amazing...but why are you so bruised?"
"Grblach."
"Nani?"
"Ranma, leave him alone for now, and help him get to the nurse." Both
took an arm and put it over their shoulders, supporting Shiro between
them.
Shiro slowly regained his ability to talk. "ArghlnnrrghITE!" Slowly.
"That was really cool, what you did...."
"Haiurgh." Ranma decided to let it go for a little bit.
Finally, Shiro was able to answer Ranma's question earlier. "The *ugh*
reason I'm so *nrgh* beat is because *urf* I had to let them hit me to
zap them...."
"Oh, yeah...."
"Felt good, though...ufffff."
"What was that all about, anyway?"
"Dunnoargh."
Akane spoke. "Well, it had to be Kunou, somehow. He's the only one
who's ever been able to pull off something like that." She paused.
"Er...probably has something to do with you and his sister...."
"*gasp* In-indeed, Tennndou Akannnne...." *drip* The three turned to
look at a slightly burnt and very wet Kunou. *drip* "I will nnnnot
allowww--allow this sorcerrrrror to c-c-c-come near my sisterrr. Y-y-you
are as intelllll-intelligent as you are powerrrrrr...ful." He collapsed
to the floor. Nabiki, purse filled with yen, walked up behind him and
looked at him in disgust.
"Looks like you need to visit the nurse too, Kunou-chan. Oh, Shiro,
you'll get your cut later today."
"Say, Oneechan, what exactly were the terms of those bets placed
today?"
"Well, some were of whether or not Shiro would make it through to
Kunou. But most were about how long it would take him."
------------------------------------------------
Unfortunately for Ranma, Akane, and Shiro, they were resultantly late.
Tanaka-sensei would not accept their excuse of having to stop at the
nurse's office (he had heard that one enough), and they all were out in
the hall with the buckets. Shiro, who still was somewhat weak, was very
displeased.
"Dammitdammitdammitdammit.... Sumimasen, guys.... Didn't mean to get
you in trouble too."
Ranma shrugged. He was used to this. Akane said, "I guess that's all
right.... Are you okay?"
"No. And these buckets are so heavy...." His face lit up suddenly.
"Well, who said they had to be filled?" He touched the two together and
ran a slow current through the metal buckets, heating them up
tremendously. The water was boiling in a few minutes...but too slowly to
really make a difference.
"Argh!" He then decided to just drop them. He was surprised by a
childlike voice suddenly ringing out.
"Hey! Pick those back up, you delinquent!" Ranma groaned. Miss
Hinako....
Shiro saw the minute disciplinarian, and simply gaped, not answering
or moving--it wasn't everyday that a twelve year old started calling you
a delinquent. This, of course, riled up Miss Hinako.
"Why! Such a lack of respect!" She pulled out her everpresent 5-yen
piece. "Happo-go-yen-satsu!" Ranma and Akane dove out of the way, so as
not to be caught in the drain.
Sure enough, Shiro weakened further as his ki was drawn out from him.
Suddenly, though, a thin ribbon of lightning lanced through the hole in
coin, following Shiro's ki. It struck Miss Hinako....
*ZZZZOT* *BANG*
...and knocked her out the window. Shiro slumped to the ground.
The other two stared. Then Ranma ran to look out the window to see Miss
Hinako, still in her child form (strangely enough), somewhat battered
one story down on the ground. Akane moved to check on Shiro, also
unconscious. She remarked, "This sure isn't a good start of a day for
him, is it?" Ranma nodded. Then something occurred to him.
"Wait. He says that his ki is 'unbalanced'. Umm...."
------------------------------------------------
Dark. Empty. Void. (Where prohibited by law.)
Shiro raised his right hand high above his head, holding a globe of
crackling energy, to light up this...space, as best he could. Nothing.
No, maybe not. There was...writing, on the ground. A number, then the
name of a month...and another number. It was a date.
_That_ day.
Shiro snarled. <Dammit. What is going on here?> Suddenly, the date
winked out, and somehow, the surroundings seemed to get even darker.
Walking forward, he continued to look around, straining to glimpse
something. Anything. Slowly, the anger fizzled into a heavy blanket of
lethal depression. For some reason, seeing that date reminded him of all
the schools he got kicked out of, the people....
There was a glimmer of light, out of nowhere. <I...nani?> Something in
the air...changed. There was a breeze blowing, and it smelled like he
was suddenly standing deep in some woods. The sound of leaves rustled on
either side of him, as if he were standing in a corridor of trees.
<Hmm. I sense a blatant attempt at symbolism here.>
=============================
Yeah, so? Sue me! ^_^;;
=============================
He sent more energy to his hand, in an attempt to brighten the area at
least a little bit more...and saw a black rose in front of him.
He stopped and looked at it. "Where...."
Suddenly, there was a voice.
"Shiro-sama! I've been looking for you! I was so scared!"
Shiro was startled, but only for a second. The darkness vanished, as
his face lit up. "Ko-Kodachi!" *glomp* Shiro hugged the leotard-clad
girl who had just fastened herself onto him.
Life was gooooood.
Kodachi looked lovingly into his eyes. "Oh, Shiro-sama...WAKE UP!!!"
Shiro's eyes flew open. "Huh!?" He found Ranma's face hovering over
him. Suddenly, Ranma's face disappeared as Akane yanked him backwar by
his pigtail.
"Hey! What did you do that for?" *SMACK* "*Ite--*"
"Toufu-sensei told you not to do that!"
"Well, he's been out for so long! I was getting worried. And I also
saw him move a little...."
"Ah, is our patient awake?" A new voice.
Shiro would have sat up, if he had the energy to. Another face
appeared over him, a kind one, wearing glasses. "Aw...awake? I've been
asleep?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes. Oh, where are my manners? My name is
Ono Toufu, a friend of the Tendous and Saotomes. I'm their doctor."
Shiro nodded.
"What did you mean, 'in a manner of speaking'?"
Toufu paused a moment, unsure. "Well...I do not mean to alarm you,
but...you were in a quasi-comatose state for the past nine hours."
"NANI?!"
Toufu held up a hand to calm him down. "Ranma and Akane brought you
here during school. I decided against taking you to the hospital, due to
your...anou, unique nature. I don't think you would have mixed well with
their electronic equipment or the other patients. Don't worry. You're
all right now." He chuckled. "Normally, I wouldn't say that, considering
the aura that I've been sensing from you, as well as the state of your
ki, but Ranma and Akane have already explained that."
"Toufu-sensei says that Miss Hinako's ki drain reacted kinda badly
with your ki, and as a result, it also drew some lightning with it. Miss
Hinako's also out. She won't be back for a week." Ranma laughed.
"Thanks, buddy! You have no idea how grateful Furinkan students are."
Shiro was confused, but decided not to bother. His head hurt, bad.
And.... "You know, I think this may be lowest energy level I've ever
been at for a long time. With that fight, first of all, and then...."
Toufu helped Shiro up. "Yes, you'll need your rest. Here, take this.
You will sleep better after drinking a cup of this tea." He pressed a
packet into Shiro's hand.
"Uh...arigato."
"I must ask though, do you remember dreaming anything while you were
unconscious? I've never observed a case quite like this."
Ranma interposed. "Well, he did seem to start smiling just before I
woke him up."
Naturally, Shiro's eyes glazed over, and he smiled. "Kodachi...."
Toufu blinked, then looked over at Ranma and Akane, mouthing "Kunou
Kodachi" with a puzzled expression on his face. They nodded back, and
shrugged. Toufu decided not to pursue this any further.
"Well, then...you should go home, I think." Toufu shuddered a bit.
<Kodachi?!>
------------------------------------------------
Kodachi's nose itched strongly as she leaned over a bouquet of her
flowers. A sudden though struck her. "No! Could I...I...be allergic to
my precious roses!?" she nearly shrieked in dismay. Quickly, she grabbed
a handful and inhaled deeply. No sneeze.
"What a reli--" she was cut off as her muscles seized up on her,
making her fall backwards with a crash.
<Aaack! Chikusho! That was rather foolish of me....> "S-sas-uk-k...."
>From the desktop of the Taiwanese-American-German-Scot,
Wakko "Andrew" Huang
Brought to you by his computer, Oddzilla
Oddzilla says, "Ryouga and Ukyou! Ukyou and Ryouga!"
http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~alhuang