Survivor's story
by
David (Fido) Lindquist
**********************************
Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 is owned by
Takahashi. Night of the Living Dead is owned
by George Romero. All rights reserved.
My thanks to Gary Kleppe, KaraOhki, and the FFirc
gang for their help with this. I'd also like to thank
Tydripper for his help and permission to use his
likeness in here as well. One last thing, this fic
has NO connection whatsoever with James Epnetts
'Twilight of the dead' fic series. It's just a case
of Great Minds (or Weird Minds...depending on your
POV:)) thinking alike.
WARNING: While it isn't bad now, this fic will get
dark, very dark. Also if you object to a lot of Ranma
1/2 characters dying... don't even start reading this one!:)
You have been warned.
**********************************
Chapter 1
For the archives of the tribe, August 28, 2001
Hi, my name is Ranma Saotome. I was asked by the archive keeper
of the tribe to write about what happened to me during what
they call Jiang shi Xing, Dead men walking, when the dead
started to rise or as I call it, hell on earth. This isn't easy
for me but I have to do it. Better to get it down on paper now
than to lose the story if I die... Heh. Two years ago, that thought
would have never crossed my mind, but I was a much different
person back then too.
Anyway, the first time I heard anything about it was at school. One
of the guys, Shiro, had a satellite dish and was telling us about
what he saw on some of the channels from America. There was mass
rioting along the eastern seaboard. According to the news reports
he saw, some of the rioters were actually eating other people. None
of the people at school believed him, including me. At least, until
that night when the news began airing some of what he had said. By
the next morning, everyone was asking Shiro about it.
I have to say that I didn't pay much attention to it at first. That
was happening a long ways off and I had other problems far closer
to home to worry about. However, by the third night, I couldn't
avoid it...
I had just started an advanced kata in the dojo when, Akane
ran in. She said that Master Happosai (Yes, THAT Happosai!)wanted
me to come into the house immediately. It was very important. I
wasn't going to go at first. At the time, I thought he wanted me
to model a new bra for him or something but Akane said that he
wasn't acting right. He was...serious. He hadn't even attempted to
give her a 'good-bye grope' as she left to get me. I remember
asking her what he was doing and she replied just watching
television.
At that point, curiosity got the better of me and I decided to
see what the little old creep wanted.
Walking into the main room, me and Akane saw everyone huddled
around the TV watching the news. What I heard stopped me
cold. The news anchor said that the dead were returning to
life in North America.
"He's kidding, right?" I said.
Surprisingly, it was the old lecher who responded.
"No, he isn't," Happosai took a puff on his pipe. "Now watch,
boy. They are going to show some footage of one they got from
Canada. I saw it during a news flash."
He then slowly shook his head. "Though why they would have to
interrupt 'Sweet Aerobics for young women' and deny an old man
such a simple pleasure is beyond me."
"Yeah, right, whatever." I muttered then settled down to see
what was going on.
A few minutes later, they showed the footage. It began with
what looked like a city street except there were no people
around. Then I noticed that most of the buildings -- they
appeared to be local shops -- had their display windows
shattered.
Suddenly, someone walked out of a computer shop that was at
the far end of the street. No. He didn't walk; he shambled
out. As the view zoomed in, I could see what the man looked
like. He was big and wore a security guard uniform. At least
that is what it looked like. There was way too much blood on
it to be sure. I remember he had a crewcut, because the first
thing that ran through my head at seeing it was that our school
principal would love this guy. The thing about him that drew
all our attention though, was the knife that stuck out of his
chest. I was stunned.
"T-that's a killing blow," Akane whispered.
"Don't be stupid," I countered." He could still be alive."
The others didn't say anything but I caught a glimpse of
Kasumi, one of Akane's two sisters. Kasumi had always amazed me
with how she could stay calm when everything else was going to
pot. Some of this gift I chalked up to dealing with her family
all the time. The rest to just the way she was but I'd never seen
Kasumi with the look of fear she had now. It put a knot in my
stomach.
I turned back to the TV just in time to see the man start
to move towards the camera. He kinda looked like Hikaru Gosunkugi,
a...rival for Akane's affection, except for the foaming at the
mouth. Every movement was jerky, like he couldn't completely
control his body. There was something else though. A wrongness
that I couldn't figure out at first. Then I saw it. The same thing
I suspect Happosai saw that made him believe what they were
saying. It was at that moment I believed it too.
There were two other puncture wounds on his chest, apparently
from the same knife. He had so much blood on his shirt that
they were almost completely hidden. If it wasn't for my level
of skill I would have missed it also. The placement of both
wounds would have caused both of his lungs to collapse. The
pinkish foam that came from his mouth was the final sign. There
was no way possible he could still be breathing.
As the footage ended, we all stared at the screen. The news
people continued on a few minutes more about how far it had
spread. They said something about the dead starting to rise
in Texas, wherever that was, how the Diet was calling a special
session to discus it. They then went to a commercial break. I
don't think any of us really paid much attention to what they
said though.
Happosai broke the silence.
"In a situation like this," he solomly said, "there is only
thing we can do."
"What is that Master?" my father asked.
Happosai started to answer then stopped and scratched his
head.
"Umm, I forgot. Oh well, time for my nightly rounds!"
He then hopped over my father, who had facefaulted, and left
to go steal some more underwear from the neighborhood
women. After that, we all pretty much went back to what we
were doing. I don't think any of us wanted to talk about it
but the mood of the household changed. It became more
tense. More like when you can feel something bad is about
to happen but you aren't sure what. It definitely wore on our
nerves. Especially Akane's.
For example, later on that night, I had just finished
my bath. While on my way from there to bed, I noticed as I
walked by the back door that she was sitting in front of the
koi pond, watching the fish. Figuring that I should say good
night to her, I walked over. All I said was "Hey Akane" and
she jumped four feet in the air then spun around. She looked
terrified...then Akane saw it was me.
"Ranma! Why the hell did you sneak up on me!?!?"
"I didn't sneak up on you! I just came here to say
goodnight!"
"Well, be louder next time!!"
As we argued, I noticed that something was wrong. Given all
the times we had fought, the two of us kinda got into a rhythm
about how it would go, but this time it was off.
"You're worried about that thing we saw on TV ain't
ya?" I replied.
"Of course I am!" I could see the tears beginning to
form in her eyes. There was always something about her
crying that upset me. I didn't care if the reason for it
was my fault or not. I just couldn't stand to see her
cry.
"Well, don't," I said, cutting her off before she could say
anything else. "It isn't happening here and if it does..."
I put my hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes.
"They won't touch you..."
"Ranma..." she replied as she stared back with those
brown eyes.
" 'cause why would any zombie want to eat a uncute, muscle-bound
tomboy like you anyway?"
You know, I think I really did deserve the pounding she gave
me for that remark.
Eventually, we all did go to bed but none of us, except
for Pop, slept that good. However, things did get a little
better the next morning. We saw something that none of us
had ever seen before, Pop and Akane's dad actually sparring!
Me and Akane found them in the dojo. They weren't that good
but from the way Akane cheered Soun on, it didn't matter. Pop
won by the way.
The rest of the morning went along just like always except for
Nabiki, Akane's other sister, wanting to walk with us when we
left for school. She said it was 'probably the safest place to
be'. You know, to this day I still don't understand why Akane
spent most of our walk to school laughing her head off.
Next chapter; It begins...
AFTERTHOUGHTS: This idea had it's beginnings about a
year ago. After my first time watching Dawn of the Dead
(scariest zombie movie around, period). I got to thinking
about how various anime series would cope with the a 'NotLD'
type scenario. Though I hashed out a few ideas, I couldn't
get any farther so I left it and moved on to other things. That
was until a month ago when someone mentioned a Night of the
Living Dead fanfic archive. A week (and a LOT of reading) later,
I was able to get one or them going again. This is the first
chapter in that effort.