Authors Notes:
This is the pre-reader version of the fic and is a very _rough_ draft.
What it is, to be like you
By Kahlil Noriega
Standard Disclaimer:
All characters and settings belong to the creators of Ranma 1/2, except
Ranka who is my own creation and character.
Chapter 3 - The Third Day
Darkness...
All she could see was darkness...
She could hear her hollow footsteps ring through the empty and narrow
corridor she walked in. Glowing circular lights on the floor ran parallel
along the walls in a straight line as somewhere a silent and cold breeze
blew by, she could feel it, crawling underneath her skin, making her shiver
in the dark as she tried to warm them by rubbing her arms.
"Mama..." she heard herself whisper in the dark, desperately wanting not to
be alone...
No reply came, only the emptiness of the hall returned her frightened cry.
"Where are you? Mama!" she called out, a voice of a child weeping in the
darkness of the long hall and still no reply came...
"Mama..."she whispered again...
Feeling cold from the wind.
"Don't worry, child, I'm here..." a voice answered from the dark, though
where it came from, she didn't knew.
"I'm scared mama..." she whispered in the dark, looking for the source of
the voice.
"Don't be frightened, my child. They won't hurt you..." the voice returned,
eerily soft and cold...
"Mama..." she heard herself whisper in fear as a cold chill ran down her
spine at the sounds of huge doors that banged open in the darkness as it
reverberated within the darkened halls she walked in.
"Don't worry my child..." the voice tried to assure.
"Soon, it will be over..."
The glint of metal shining in the dark can be briefly seen as the object
moved in the dark and slightly outlined by the glowing circles on the
floor...
"There is nothing to fear..."
The sounds of machines echoing in the dark as she started to run...
"Mama..." she heard herself whisper breathlessly in the dark. Unshed tears
streaming down her young cheeks as she ran.
Silence - only the dull rumbling noise of machines.
She gasped as she ran,
Looks back but can't see anything...Bump. She staggers back and turns to
see her mother, her face is shrouded in darkness, but her arms are open and
calling out to her, she got up and ran to them. Encircling her small arms
around her mothers thighs as she buried her face, weeping in her skirt
Noise growing stronger, getting closer...
"Mama, I'm scared...there's something moving in the dark."
Noise getting louder as Ranka tightened her grip on her mother's thighs and
buried her head deeper within the folds of her dress.
"Mama? Please, don't let the bad men get me..."
Her mother just looked down at her, her eyes covered in darkness as she
looked down at the child bracing her legs. She placed a comforting hand on
the child's shoulders, and the child shivered at the touch, feeling her
cold touch, yet the child refused to let go...
"Mama..."
Footsteps getting closer, louder...She refused to look... closing her eyes
shut...
"Mama..."
A hand on her shoulder as shadowed face looked at her...
"NO!"
***
Ranka shot awake on top of her bed...
"Uhh, huh?"
Ranka leaned on her left elbows as she rubbed her head with her hand; she
felt pain in her head as she clenched her teeth in a grimace. She felt like
she wanted to topple over but slowly, determinedly she pushed herself to
sit upright as the pain in her head subsided.
"Just a dream..." she tried to tell herself.
"It's just a dream..."
Ranka was still dressed in the uniform Ukyou lent her. She didn't realise
that she fell asleep.
It was still dark outside, she saw; night had finally arrived. Yet she
didn't feel like sleeping as sat there silently thinking...
***
The first few minutes seemed unreal like it were all some sort of crazy
dream. Touching and feeling, it was all real then she remembered denying
that it was that she was all dreaming this. Then anger; lost and
self-loathing then finally accepting though resigned.
She felt lost...
She then remembered looking through 'her' stuff, she half wanted to cry
then or maybe curse the fates, why couldn't she have been given a male body
instead? But no, and somehow she felt that the fates where laughing at
'her' misery.
She remembered looking through her drawers, and window, looking for things
that might shed some answers. But it wasn't that easy. No clues at all...
She remembered stepping outside, taking in the view of the city from her
high perch on top of a five story apartment building. The sun was setting
then, like it always had. Oranges and red, bright yellows and gold, the
almost empty streets at that time, and the fear she had felt when she had
to cross them. She remembered seeing the school, so familiar yet alien now
that she stood in its almost empty yard. She could still feel their stares
on her skin as she entered the building. Registering, she had a hard time
doing that, but she got in.
After that she, began exploring her surroundings, the shops and streets,
the parks...
And it was time to go back home...
"This isn't my home..."
***
It was still dark outside she thought, though not as dark as it was before;
it would be morning soon. And somehow she wished it would never come.
Another day, she wanted to go home...
But there was no use in crying...
She got up from the bed. Steadying herself as she stood up, her head was
still a little fuzzy as she leaned her hand on the wall. She felt like
throwing up as her body began sending unfamiliar and painful sensations to
her mind. She denied herself the luxury of emptying her stomach as she
staggered over to her desk as she opened her drawer and looked inside at
its meagre contents. Inside were a few bills and coins, she would need to
get a job soon she thought...
She sighed in resignation as she began to prepare for school.
***
Walking to school quietly, both hands clutching her bag tightly to her
chest. Eyes stared at the ground blankly as the clouds drifted slowly
overhead. She ignored the stares she drew as cars quickly passed by her on
the streets. The glint of the morning sun, glew in the glass of the tall
buildings she passed by.
Mother's held their child's hands as they crossed the streets and shops.
She looked at them longingly, remembering her own mother.
A group of guys were looking at her and she shied away to avoid them.
She noticed a wanted poster on a nearby shop, a restaurant she thought. It
said that this restaurant needed a new waitress.
A friendly voice called out to her from behind. Startled she pressed
herself back onto the window as she turned her eyes on a bearded middle
aged man standing before her in mild shock and an apologetic smile.
He seemed nice, and his smile made her relax a bit as he began to apologise
for sneaking up behind her and startling her.
He then asked her if she was interested for the job to which she replied
that she was. He was happy to hear that she was interested
"Well I'm glad to know that. Having such a pretty waitress I'm sure I'll
draw more customers in!"
Ranka grimaced a little at the idea of attracting more men and if she
could, she'd avoid them at first chance but the man's happy smile. She gave
her thanks to the man, telling him that she'll have to think about it.
"Fine, fine, take all the time you need. But not too much though" he smiled
again. This time Ranka returned his smile, glad at the prospect of finding
a new job so quickly. And she left promising to return once she thought
about it and waved good bye.
***
School was its usual mess, and she smiled at the familiarity of it all, it
brought an almost welcome distraction. As always, Ranma got what he
deserved, and she smiled at the familiarity. And somehow, she found class
and lectures to be interesting and funny. Even the usual hormonal boy
trouble mildly lowered her spirits.
That's why she found herself sitting on top of the roof of the school
building. Looking at the setting sun in the horizon, sinking over the city.
It might not be so bad after all she thought.
~ To be continued...
Explanations:
Anyway, I hope you like the story. And if there's anything you wish to say
to me about this fic or any other work I've done, please tell me. Even a
short reply would be nice. In fact, I implore you to do so. Please send all
C&C, MST or even flames to the address below or to the FFML if you feel
bold enough to do so.
E-mail: Becknkal@addax.bc.ca
And if you're curious as to what other stories I've done. Please don't
hesitate to visit my sister's Web Page at:
The anything goes Ranma 1/2 fanfic page
http://www.geocities.com/tokyo/temple/9371
Anyway, that's that for my rant. ^_^
Sincerely
~ Kahlil Noriega