This is my first Non-Ranma fic, so treading into unknown territory
here. Tear it up at will.
Disclaimer: All characters portrayed in this story are the property of
Fujishima Kosuke and co.
This story draws ideas from both the manga and anime continuity. Except
for the intro, it largely takes place before the series begins.
C & C welcomed.
Before Heaven
By
Donny Cheng
"Good evening, Sayoko. How are you tonight?" Belldandy asked.
I grimaced at the cheerful greeting from my rival. Couldn't she even
pretend that I was a rival? Pushing my wounded pride aside, I greeted
her with the same standard words, my voice showing none of the same
warmth even though it was a perfect mimic of her. "I'm fine. And you?
That's good."
The pleasantries done with, I handed her my jacket as if she were a bus
boy. To my annoyance she smiled and said she would put it away. I
wondered then what she would do if I handed her a hundred yen tip. I
thought better of it as I caught sight of my prey. He was again being
picked on by the group of scavengers he called friends.
"You used all the money in the treasury again, Sempai? We had to save
some of it to buy that engine for the next race. We're broke again."
I shook my head as the two co-leaders of the pack just laughed it off.
I almost laughed too at Keiichi's foolishness. It had been one of the
reasons my cousin branched off. The club was well known for its easy
hand with any money they might have. I suppose what prevented me from
standing on his side in this matter was that without these parties, I
would lose quite a bit of my opportunities to be by him.
"Keiichi, I'd think you'd know better by now. Even if they did save
that money, the chances of them buying the engine instead of building
one that'll be more 'acceptable' to them is nil."
"Sayoko! Hi, you made it. I thought you had a date."
I remember a time when just standing in front of him would have reduced
him to a blubbering mass. It seemed having a girlfriend did wonders for
his self-esteem. I missed the old Keiichi. "Oh, he was a bore. Had
some time, so I decided to wing by here."
I began dragging him away from the crowd. It was easier to work over a
boy, one on one, I found in my experience. That and I liked to have him
to myself. I had no sooner than taken a step to the door leading to the
backyard when a shadow fell over us. Shadow may not be the best world
but that's what came to mind at the time. Without even turning my head
I knew who it had to be. "Just invited Keiichi out for a little stroll,
Belldandy. Will have him back soon."
"Oh, that sound nice. I was just going to bring some sake to the
others. Maybe you and Keiichi would like to share?"
Sure enough I turn around and see him take the small bottle of sake and
two ivory white cups from her. The smile on their faces at just the
simple contact of their fingers irritated me. It was also frustrating
how they give me every change in the world to steal him as if knowing I
can't.
With nothing to be done about it, I took my leave of her and brought
Keiichi outside. A sigh of relief escaped me as I shut the doors closed
behind me. However, my hope of using this time to work my charms came
crashing down on me as the idiot fainted on me five minutes into the
small talk. Suspiciously, I turned the bottle of sake around to look at
the label. Sure enough it was the extra strong stuff and combined with
his weak alcohol tolerance it was inevitable. Just my luck to chase
after someone that I could out drink even if I was loaded up with five
bottles of sake.
As much as I would have liked to think that it was Belldandy's jealousy
that caused this situation, I knew she was just not the type to do this
on purpose. It meant of course that it was her sister Urd again. It
did me no good to curse her, so I made the most of this diversion and
decided to look for a wet towel. He hadn't drunk that much so the night
still might be saved. When I came back, the temptation to put his head
on my lap was too hard to resist as I applied the cloth to his forehead.
I smiled victoriously as I noticed his eyes opening. So much for him
sleeping out the party. His face was still flushed a bit though. "You
okay, Keiichi?"
"Yeah," he managed to croak out, "fine like an engine filled with
sugar."
I laughed then as this reminded me of a similar incident in the old
days. "Brings back memories."
"Yeah," he agreed, "back then my life was miserable. Before heaven
came along."
I looked towards him sharply. His eyes were closed again and he was
mumbling. I guess he wasn't as sober as I thought he was. I looked
down at his face. It didn't look much like the face full of worries at
the start of their first year at Nekomi. Still, your life wasn't that
bad, was it, Keiichi? I mean, you still had friends, you grades were
passable, you had your health... and I was there.
* * * * *
I scanned the campus as I got out of my BMW. Sure enough my showy
entrance was a hit if the slack jawed expressions were any indication.
First impressions were important, I knew, and especially so if you
wanted to be at the top of the pecking order. I was determined to
regain that status I enjoyed throughout high school. I arrived
fashionably late for my first class. To the unprepared, arriving late
could be an embarrassing experience if the professor was evil enough to
make a fuss about it. I was counting on that and sure enough, I was
noticed by all as I answered the teacher glibly and made my way slowly
to a seat not far from the top where I entered. Distance and slowness
of my walk to please the professor and to show my profile to the male
student body. I deliberately sat near a bunch of girls that were
attractive themselves, ignoring offers of the more outspoken. I would
get twice as many offers if they were to be forced to only look at me
for an entire class.
The girls nodded at me as I sat down in their midst, each understanding
the rules of the game as I did. The small group of us having already
decided that we would probably be friends or at least acquaintances the
rest of the stay here, establishing a sort of status quo.
Five minutes after my successful entrance came an example of an
unsuccessful one. I participated in the polite giggling of the girls as
the short man scampered into class, apologizing for distracting the
class in the mean time and drawing even more unwanted attention. I
didn't give the late student another thought as I turned my
concentration to the front of the class, knowing in a place filled with
young women, looks alone could not get me the status I desired.
* * * * *
"My, what a nice catch you have there!" one of my new associates said.
We congregated in a small group away from our respective escorts who
hung around the punch bowl as we awaited the beginning of the next song.
"He's not bad. Not too daring, I'm afraid though," I said
dismissively. Once again, I didn't feel that thrill I was searching for
in a man.
"Better than some of those louts that tried to ask us to the welcoming
dance, I'm sure," she laughed.
A chorus of girls joined in, relating the tales of the foolhardy. I
had my own share but didn't really feel like divulging them. One such
scene still left a bad taste in my mouth. I didn't have any choice in
the matter as the girls prodded me on my 'turn'.
They all chuckled at my expense as I told them of the short guy that
had asked me out earlier. I mean even if you had no chance at all of
asking someone like me out, you should still try to put up more of an
effort. Take me out to museum? As if. I instantly recognized the man
as the type to go through life without ever having a date. It was no
surprise to me later when I found out that he was the same guy that made
a fool of himself by entering class late. He was that much of a loser.
* * * * *
"Good morning, Sayoko!" one of my fellow classmates whispered to me as
I sat down at the nearest available seat near the entrance. What was
his name again? Keiichi, I think. I frowned at him for the noise he
was creating as I hadn't planned on being late this time. My father had
insisted I not leave the house until I was immaculately dressed as
always. He had a very strong obsession with me being his perfect little
girl.
Unfortunately the sharp ears of our strict teacher caught the sound of
the stir my entrance caused. While I liked attention, I also craved a
good mark and it would not be smart to get on the professor's bad side
as being late a second time in as many days would most likely do to me.
His head swiveled in to my direction. However, he was not looking at
me.
"Uh, sorry. I had to get up to go the bathroom," Keiichi said, bowing
with comic exaggeration.
I frowned inwardly at the save. I suppose I could go out for coffee if
he asked. He didn't ask me though. The only time he spoke to me again
was to wish me a good day and to apologize for almost getting her into
trouble. I again thought nothing more of the boy as it had been his
fault and I was not at all displeased with having to sacrifice my free
time on him.
* * * * *
Man, my head was killing me. My date last night was one of the best
that I've had in a long time. He was almost as good a drinker as I
was. I reached for my coffee and found the mug to be empty. Damn.
"Sayoko, you don't look so good," what's his face, Keiichi said as he
passed by my table, while walking on the lower row to find an empty
seat.
"No kidding?" I answered more harshly than normal, my hangover
affecting my disposition. I was about to pull my hands back to my face
so I could sink my head into it when I felt something touch my fingers.
"Ah, I didn't drink from it yet. The guys from my new club drank me
under the table last night. It's my own special brew. Guaranteed to
wake you up."
I nodded as I took the offered mug from him. Whatever it was, the
bitter concoction did its job and woke me up fast. Just in time for the
class to begin.
Halfway through the class, Keiichi was kicked out of the lecture for
snoring loudly. I gave him my notes the next day. He didn't ask me
out. Apparently, he really knew how to take 'no' for an answer.
* * * * *
Stupid jerks. They were all jerks, I thought to myself as I staggered
away from the bar. The one guy I found to be 'not bad' in a long time
turned out to be such a no good bastard. Not in a good way too. I
don't know how far I wandered from the campus bar, but I somehow made my
way to the dorms. I blinked in confusion as I looked this way and that
way, wondering how to get out of this place to my car. I must have
cried out really loud as suddenly lights went up all around me and
curses were thrown. I don't think they noticed it was me, Queen of
Nekomi. I burped.
"Sayoko, it is you. Aw, man. You're hammered. Come on, I've go to
get you out of sight. I don't think they noticed it was you."
I tried looking at the face the friendly sounding voice belonged to.
But, I could not make out his face very well. The motion of moving
forward to look at him closer caused me to trip and I found myself
draped along his chest. He's not so short when my head is down on his
shoulder like this, I found myself thinking for no particular reason as
I drifted off to sleep...
* * * * *
I endured my father's crying session as he lectured on about how I
behaved last night. Jeez, you'd think whoever knew me well enough take
the effort to bring me home would know not to bring me to my parent's
home. Fortunately, I was able to explain to my father that the guy that
brought me home, I had designated as my driver for such occasions so
that there was no chance of anything untoward happening to me.
"I suppose that's alright then. But, I hope you would find a tougher
looking guy next time. He was so short and skinny he could barely carry
you into the house."
"Ah, yeah, I remember to tell... him next time? Uh, who was my driver
again? I never seem to remember the names of the guys that I hire." I
guess it was my own fault then for being taken home to my parents as I
carried both addresses in my purse in case of emergencies.
"Keiichi, I think. Polite lad. You might give me the number of this
agency next time. Good service."
"Ah, I'll do that," I said. While the guy was not the evil sort, I
knew he was far from innocent. The Auto Club was notorious for sharing
X rated movies, one of the reasons many joined it. However, I could not
shake the feeling that absolutely nothing had happened. No, he must
have at least copped a feel, I decided.
I was prepared for the inevitable leering in school that day. When I
saw him in school, he asked me how I was and I said fine. And that was
that. He didn't ask me out again.
* * * * *
"This seat taken?" I asked, but sat down anyway when the sputtering boy
failed to answer. Most of my friends had either dropped out of this
class or now sat with the boyfriends they had found. I had no desire to
sit alone and really preferred not to sit with some guy I know I'll dump
in a week or less.
"Oh, I heard the Art Club and the Auto Club are both participating in
the dance next week," I said, seemingly out of the blue, at him.
"Oh, that's right, you're in the Art Club. Yeah, it was Tamiya and
Otaki's idea to join in... for the food!"
Oh spare me. The only reason those two would join in was because they
sorely lacked girls in their club. Food and drink was the norm in their
bashes, girls were not. I could tell by the way he was drooling out the
word food, he was looking forward to all that the various clubs had to
offer. "I'm probably going to go alone. I'm a volunteer and I won't
have a chance to get a date until the last minute," I hinted not so
subtly.
"Nah, you'll find someone to take you," Keiichi said confidently in
support.
Stupid.
* * * * *
I shot a quick glance at the comatose boy lying with his face flat on
the table. Ick. I looked at the various handsome boys surrounding me
after I won the crown as Queen of this dance. Much better.
When the dance was finally over with, being a member of the hosts, the
Art Club, I was forced to stay and help. From the longing looks from
the guys, I knew it would only make my desirability tomorrow even
stronger. I noticed that Keiichi was still at the table passed out.
The girls were shaking him as he was the one of the few men left to help
out. Most of the Auto Club skipped out of the cleaning duty.
I told them I would take care of it as I walked up to his body. He was
not that heavy and a managed to move him so that he now sat with his
back against the chair. A glass of cold water later and he was awake.
I offered to drive him home in repayment for how he helped me last
time. But he insisted on doing my share of the work for helping him
wake up, along with the work left behind by his, lack of a better term,
friends.
I found out later that the rest of the girls took my cue and heaped the
rest of the workload on him. The next day we found him asleep in a
spotless dancehall. He didn't blame me for what happened and said 'told
you so' when I was mobbed by a group of guys the moment I hit the
campus. "See? I doubt you'll ever have a problem with finding a date
no matter how late it is."
When a girl says that she won't go out with you, it doesn't mean it
lasts forever, I was tempted to say just then. But my eyes were already
roaming the crowd of boys for my next date. I forgot all about Keiichi.
* * * * *
This cycle of me finding a perfect male to date and dump a week later
lasted for a couple of months. Each time, I would get plastered and
find myself wandering through the campus in search of my short 'hero'.
He would invariable ask me what's wrong and then take me home. I would
forget about him the next day as I caught sight of someone else that
drew my fancy. In the back of my mind, I always felt that he would be
there waiting I guess and if he was too much of a wimp to do anything
about it, I wouldn't either.
It was during one of my less drunk nights that I found myself sitting
in a park bench with him. I scrunched my nose as smoke from his
cigarettes hit my face. I don't know when he had taken up smoking, but
it didn't suit him in the least bit. I noticed other changes in him as
I looked at him, really looked at him. He was dressed shabbily, almost
like a parody of a 'bad boy' on his short frame.
I don't know what possessed me to take his cigarette from his mouth and
throw it to the floor. I stomped on it a few times for good measure
with my heel. "It stunts your growth."
He looked at me with a sort of pained expression just then, but it was
quickly gone as concern replaced it. He obviously thought I was not
sober yet as he helped me to my feet and took me the rest of the way
home. I got a sudden insight as I slept in my warm bed thinking of that
look of pain. Could it be that he changed because of me? Why?
He still liked me, I answered the question myself.
The next day as I caught sight of him walking across the campus. I
took a step towards him, but I didn't get too far before I was again
mobbed by various guys. Oh well, I know he'll always be there for me.
Meanwhile, I'll just take a few more samples.
* * * * *
"What!?" I turned my attention to the gossipy girls in the bathroom.
"Yeah, this Belldandy is causing quite a stir. I don't see how she can
get so much attention even when she has a boyfriend."
"Well, when your boyfriend is someone like him..."
How dare someone take my place as Queen of Nekomi, I thought angrily.
When I saw who her boyfriend was, the rest is history as they say. I no
longer had anyone waiting for me at end of the long tunnel.
Somehow I became that same type of person that waited. I waited for
when she would dump him, as any attractive girl in their right mind
would do. Someone like me. However, Belldandy never let go of her hold
on him like I did.
* * * * *
I gazed down at him. He was not that far removed from the pervert that
watched X rated movies that none would believe me if I were to claim he
took advantage of me in his drunken stupor. It would be so easy. A few
of the top buttons of my blouse undone, his shirt open, and his body
sprawled on top of me. I don't do that though.
Instead, I left him outside as I went in search of Belldandy and asked
her to help me put him to bed. I found myself reluctant to leave the
doorway as light from the hallway shone into his room, giving me a nice
look at his cute face. "Take care of him."
"I will."
When I look at Belldandy this time, I don't get the feeling that she
doesn't care what I am to Keiichi. She is worried about me as a rival
for him, but seems to also be concerned for my welfare at the same
time. She seems to know what might have been if she hadn't shown up and
is making up for it by letting me see him when I want to. It would be
just like her. One reason, I wouldn't mind it if Keiichi _did_ marry
her. Or it could be I'm drunk again and I'm imagining things.
I finally leave the temple, but I know I'll be back when the next
chance presents itself. In some ways I hope that Keiichi would marry
her then I would no longer have to wake up knowing that he was still
around for the taking. And in some way, I don't because then my one ray
of hope would be gone. In the end though, I'll wait until the last
moment, as I could only be me, Mishima Sayoko.
* * * * *
The End. (maybe)