Ryo Suzaku gazed up at the gunmetal sky, his umbrella soaked from the
curtain of moisture that hung in the air. The lightning had long since
abated, however the weather reports predicted even more rainfall by midnight
at the latest.
Just what I need, he thought, more rain.
With his free hand, Ryo rubbed his bleary eyes while his feet picked their
path through the sea of bodies. The buzz of the city; idling engines,
shouted voices, the drone of quieter voices, all fused into one intangible
mess as he tried to shake the cobwebs free from his head.
He had not gotten any sleep since awakening in a cold sweat at three that
morning. Each time he closed his eyes, that dream would start again, forcing
him awake.
Maybe I need my head examined...
"Yo, Ryo!" shouted a familiar voice from behind. Ryo turned to see Kyle
jogging up to him, juking past the slower-moving pedestrians on the
sidewalk. Ryo stopped to allow his friend to catch up, a small smile playing
on his lips. If Kyle was good at anything, it was making him forget those
nightmares. The American exchange student would never know how much he
appreciated that.
"Hey, Kyle! What kept you?"
"Man, you know how much I hate this weather," he replied, slightly out of
breath from the run. While Kyle was in decent shape, Ryo knew that he could
beat him in any physical contest. Kyle's face took on a look of bemused
puzzlement as he examined his face.
"What?"
"Ryo, you look like pure hell."
"Oh! Sorry, didn't get much sleep last night."
"Uh-huh," Kyle replied in his I-Thought-So voice as they began the trek to
school again. "So, who was she?"
"Damnit, Kyle!" If there was another thing the man was good at, it was
being a first class pervert.
"Don't tell me you were up all night just for the fun of it."
"For your information, Kyle, I was studying for that calc test today."
Well, that sounded good, anyway.
"Are you STILL trippin' over that?" Kyle exclaimed. "Yeesh, man, it's just
a review! It's not even a real test!"
"Still, I don't want to get a bad mark on it," Ryo said matter-of-factly.
"Aw, man, you need to loosen up," Kyle said with a sly grin, "and I got
just the thing." He reached into the pocket of his uniform, pulling out a
small white card bearing the characters for Ryo's name.
"What's this?" Ryo asked as he took the card from Kyle's outstretched hand.
The plain white surface held only his name, and an address.
"THAT, amigo, is your ticket to heaven."
"What?!" Kyle's grin only widened, oblivious to the thought that lanced
Ryo's brain. Ryo didn't know why, but "ticket to heaven" had struck an odd
chord deep within him.
"Nanase Takeuchi, man." Kyle whispered conspiritorially into his ear.
"You're kidding!" Nanase had the classic most-popular-girl-in-school bit;
the center of all attention, captian of the cheerleaders, you name it. The
fact that she was nothing short of a knockout didn't hurt, either. From what
Ryo had heard, she also threw one hell of a party.
"Party of the year, man," Kyle said with barely contained excitement.
"Invitation only."
"So, how did I get an invite?"
"WELL," Kyle began, puffing out his chest, "it wasn't easy, but..."
"You begged?"
"GAH!" Ryo struggled to contain his laughter as Kyle nearly facefaulted.
"REAL funny, Suzaku," Kyle growled as he came up alongside again. "Anyway,
Nanase gave me the invite herself."
"Really?"
"Yep, wanted me to give it to you, since she couldn't seem to find you."
"Well... I wouldn't want to..."
"Go without me? I'm touched. Anyway, I got one, too," Kyle replied, pulling
out a card with his name written in English.
"I don't know..." Ryo was never much on parties.
"Don't give me that," Kyle warned, "I'm not gonna have it. You ARE going,
and you WILL have a good time, understand?!"
"Yes, sir!" Ryo said, snapping off a mock salute.
"That's better." Both friends burst into gales of laughter as they neared
the gates to Taiyo High.
========================================================
"RANMA!" Her voice echoed throughout the barren plains, a feat which didn't
really strike her as all that odd. Her feet pounded against the red,
hard-packed earth as she charged headlong into the shadows, the sound heavy
and loud in her ears.
To her left she saw an endless sea of brackish water, its surface as
tranquil as any lake. Despite the gentle breeze that carressed her face, the
water remained still and undisturbed. The sky was an infinite black, darker
than any night she had ever beheld.
But none of that mattered. She had to find Ranma. Then she could question
where she was.
A shape formed from the darkness above, a mournful caw filling her ears as
it dove for the ground. The shape manifested itself as it drew nearer, great
obsidian wings catching the currents of air as it gracefully change course
to fly out ahead of her.
Crow, she thought as she watched it glide in front of her. A strange
feeling bloomed inside her chest, as it a tether were being attached to her
from the bird, and with it came the knowledge that Ranma was indeed here.
Follow me, it seemed to say, I shall guide you.
She didn't know how long she ran, all her being focused on the retreating
crow before her as it sailed effortlessly toward the infinite horizon. It
would take her to Ranma, that was all she needed to know.
"RANMA!!"
"AKANE!!" There! Her heart skipped several beats at the sound of his voice
from the distance. The Crow cawed once again as her eyes caught the vague
form of a man running toward her.
Finally, she thought, it's over. We're together now! They drew ever closer,
though his embrace couldn't come soon enough for Akane. Just a few more
meters...
They collided on the shore of the mysterious river, arms wrapping around
each other as Akane felt tears of joy stream down her face.
"Ranma..." she said, her voice muffled by his red Chinese blouse.
"Take it easy, Akane," she heard him say. "We're together now."
She wanted to hold him forever, to never let him go again, and realized
that now she could do that. The thought sent her to new heights of giddy
delight and relief.
"Are we...?"
"Yeah, Akane," Ranma replied, "we are." She reluctantly removed herself
from his powerful arms, gazing out at the impossibly tranquil water.
"Where are we?"
"That's the River Styx. We cross it, and go to the afterlife from there."
Akane paused for a moment, the memories returning in full force. Oh, no,
this can't be!
"Hey! What's the matter!"
Akane dropped to her knees on the hard earth, packed down by the crossing
souls of countless people before, and cried out in despair. No, no, NO!
"Ranma... I'm sorry!"
"For what?"
"I... I... couldn't... I... couldn't save you! It's my fault!"
"Huh?"
"You... and..."
"Akane, you're a stupid, uncute tomboy."
"Ranma?" she asked as she looked up at his face.
"But you're MY stupid, uncute tomboy, and don't you ever forget it." That
lopsided grin appeared on his face, and her heart sang with joy. Yes, that
was the past. Let it go, girl.
Ranma stepped back, eyes falling on the Crow that settled on her shoulder.
His smile vanished, replaced by a look of... fear?
"Ranma, what's wrong?"
"The Crow..." His voice was choked, as if he couldn't believe his eyes.
"Yeah, he lead me to you." What was this about?
"It's a second chance, Akane." The wind began to howl with a fierce
intensity, ripping at her hair as it fought to drown out Ranma's words.
"Ranma!"
"Set things right, Akane!" Ranma began to fade, details becoming lost as
the wind continued to gale.
"RANMA! DON'T LEAVE ME!!"
"WHATEVER IT TAKES," he shouted, his voice barely audible over the wind,
"I'LL FIND YOU!!"
============================================
"NO!" The real world returned in a white hot flash of searing pain, breath
coming ragged into her lungs. The black sky of limbo faded to be replaced by
the ceiling of Ranma's old room, stained by water and mildew. How long had
she been out?
Akane lay spread-eagle on the floor, images of the hereafter still playing
in the theatre of her mind. She didn't know how long she had wandered the
shores of the Styx, lost and alone, suffering a pain that never ceased.
Calling out Ranma's name until her throat refused to work.
Then the Crow had come, and had lead her back to the mortal coil. Lead her
to the path that would lead to Ranma. The path of revenge. She had to set
things right again, to punish those who made her like this.
Akane kippuped to a standing position, the muted light of the sun raidly
giving way to the shadows of the night. The drizzle had abated, thunder
rumbling ominously in the distance.
-------------------------------------------------------
"YEAH, TAKE IT, BITCH!" Akane felt the agony as the man took Ranma's
rectum, shame and hate pushing her suffering to new heights as Ranma lay
unable to fight. She saw his face, that hateful, sneering face, as he
invaded her again and again and....
-------------------------------------------------------
The jagged shard of the past vanished, leaving Akane shaking in its wake.
He would pay. Oh, yes, he would pay.
"Tenchi..." His name slithered past her lips like the hiss of the
razor-keen edge of the Reaper's scythe, promising that eternal boon to her
next target.
================================================================
"Wow, Ryo, lookin' sharp!" Ryo looked at himself in the mirror, admiring
the way the simple outfit enhanced his physique. Black polysilk slacks,
creases almost sharp enough to split hair, adorned his legs with an equally
dark turtleneck hugging his athletic torso. A polysilk jacket, the same
shade as the rest, covered the sweater, his brown hair hanging in a ponytail
down the back. Yes, he DID look good...
"You think so?"
"Damn straight!" Kyle wore an outfit similar to his own, only a dark shade
of blue. His unruly blonde hair had apparently decided to behave that night,
falling into a stylish, slicked-back look.
He joined Ryo before the mirror, grinning at their reflections.
"Better than mere mortals deserve," Ryo said, and both burst out laughing.
"C'mon. We don't want to be late."
==================================================================
Naoko Tachibana glanced over at the resting form of her lover, his
breathing coming rhythmically through his nose and out his mouth. He was
asleep, finally. For another night, at least, it was over.
She stared up at the darkened ceiling, fragmented shards of light from the
neon signs outside casting red and green glows on the old plaster, and let
the memories come.
It wasn't always like this, she told herself as she tried to follow the
patterns on the ceiling. Tenchi was a good man at first. He had loved her,
cared for her, shown her the affection she had always longed for. Since she
had left home two years ago, he had been the closest thing she had to a father.
Then it all started. He came home one day to find that dinner wasn't quite
ready, and the next thing she remembered was picking herself up off the tile
floor, her head throbbing and the stench of scorched food hanging in the air.
And it had only gotten worse from there. The beatings grew more severe, and
happened with greater and greater frequency. They no longer made love, each
night in bed was all about his own gratification, no matter what.
It's not lovemaking, you idiot, a voice shouted in her mind, it's rape!
Pure and fucking simple!
She wanted to leave, to just pack up her things and go... anywhere.
Anywhere but home. They wouldn't take her back, she just knew it.
Oh, and what makes you so sure? Huh? Just get dressed and hop the next
train out of here! Get away!
If I leave, he might kill me.
If you DON'T, girlie, he WILL!
Naoko looked over at Tenchi's sleeping form, his now-unruly black hair
spilling onto the pillow. The sheets were twisted around him, the tip of his
boxers peeking out through a gap in the fabric. At that moment, the decision
was made.
She rose from the bed, careful not to squeak the springs as she climbed to
her feet. The cool air brushed against her bare skin, sending a shudder down
her spine. This was it, then. She snuck across the worn carpet, drawing ever
closer to the dresser on which her pants lie discarded.
Don't bother with the underwear, she told herself, just get some clothes on
and GO!
Her hands reached out to the wrinkled fabric, moving as if in a dream. So
close, now. Just a little farther...
"Going somewhere?"
Naoko let out a startled gasp, an electric shock rushing through her body
as she whirled to face the bed. Tenchi sat up on the mattress, leaning
against the headboard and staring right at her. The shadows hid his face,
but she knew the look that was there, a smile on his face that never reached
his cold blue eyes.
"N-no, Tenchi," she stammered, heart triphammering in her chest. So close,
so damn CLOSE!
"You wouldn't be lying to me now, would you?" he asked in that voice that
said he already knew the answer. Tenchi rose from the bed, stopping briefly
to pick up the black tonfa he kept handy at night.
"No!"
"I think you are, Naoko." He rounded the bed, tonfa dangling lazily in his
hand. Naoko knew only too well how good he was with that, and felt her
stomach knot up in fear. "You know what happens when you lie to me, don't you?"
"Tenchi, I swear! I wasn't going anywhere!"
"Stop lying, bitch!" he screamed, all traces of calmness gone. Naoko shut
her eyes, awaiting the first blow.
"AH! SON OF A BITCH!" She heard the door fly open, the fluttering of wings
filling the air as Tenchi screamed in surprise and pain. She slowly opened
her eyes, and saw him holding his face with one hand, angry cawing coming
from the bed. She looked over, seeing the huge black crow perched on the
headboard. Its wings were stretched to their limits, looking as if it were
about to attack.
Hey, wait, how did a bird open the bedroom door?
Don't think about that now, girl, RUN! Naoko heeded the voice, turning on
her heel and starting for the door.
She took her second step when she felt the murderously hard impact to her
kidney. Her vision went grey as she sailed through the air, landing hard on
the dresser as pain throbbed throughout her being. God, she pleaded, please
don't let him kill me! The flapping of wings filled her ears again as the
crow retreated back into the hall, then Tenchi's voice telling her not to
move a fucking muscle before he got back. Lastly, she heard the door latch
shut and the lock turn, sealing her inside her own chamber of horrors while
she fought to remain conscious.
Tenchi Takamatsu was not having a good night. He had heard Naoko getting up
from the bed, disturbing his rest in the process. He had always been a light
sleeper, and years of training in the martial arts had really honed his senses.
He had followed her movements straight to the dresser, where he knew her
clothes to be, and an alarm had went off in his head. Now, she wouldn't put
on clothes just to go to the kitchen or the bathroom. As such, his mind made
the leap to one conclusion; she was trying to leave him. Oh good friends and
oh good neighbors, Naoko had the guts to try and leave HIM! Well, we just
couldn't have that, could we? No.
Tenchi stalked through the dark, narrow hallways of the apartment, moving
with the grace of a cat on the hunt as he sought out that damn bird. he had
been about to... correct her... when that damn thing had busted in. The
scratches left by its talons still stung his face, the blood having stopped
oozing from the wounds. Nobody did that to him, especially not some damn
garbage bird. First, he'd take care of the little, or in this case big,
pest, and then he'd take care of Naoko. It wasn't as if she could go
anywhere now, not with that shot to the kidney she'd had. She wasn't exactly
what one could call sturdy.
"C'mere, birdy, birdy, birdy," Tenchi crooned as he neared the archway to
the foyer. "Uncle Tenchi's got a cracker for ya."
"Not hungry." The form swooped from the top of the archway, hanging
upside-down in the small space. For a split second, Tenchi stared at the
shape that vaguely looked human, too stunned to act. before he could
recover, a hand closed around his face. The fingers dug into his flesh,
intense pressure threatening to crack the bones of his face as he felt
himself flung forward.
Tenchi came to a stop halfway across the room, easily regaining his feet as
the shape hit the floor. He raised his tonfa, surprised when the intruder
assumed a stance as well. So, he wanted a fight, huh?
With a savage yell Tenchi lunged forward, his tonfa coming down in a
viscious diagonal swing. The shadow, easily dodged, then stepped easily back
out of his followup strike. He felt a small seed of fear plant itself in his
chest as the fight continued, growing with each missed attack. The guy
easily avoided every swing and thrust, moving with fluid grace across the floor.
He brought the baton down onece more, and the intruder didn't dodge.
Tenchi's rush of exhilaration turned to terror when the shadow raised its
arm, the blocking move shattering the reinforced wood of the tonfa.
What the?! he thought in horror as he stared stupidly at his ruined weapon.
That should have broken the guy's fucking arm! He didn't have time to ponder
the matter further when the series of kicks slammed into his torso with
inhuman speed and strength, doubling him over as the fierce uppercut sailed
him back into the old couch which occupied the far corner of the room.
The seed had grown into a full-blown beanstalk of fear as the stranger
leapt the distance between them, landing lightly on the couch on top of him.
A forearm braced itself against his neck, applying enough pressure to make
breathing difficult as the shadowed face moved to within millimeters of his own.
"Tenchi..."
This was a woman? He had been beaten by a WOMAN?! The flare of indignation
dimmed next to the terror that tried to consume him as she spoke again.
"I want you to do something for me, Tenchi."
"What... the fuck..."
"LISTEN!" Silence descended on the world for a brief moment as he waited
for her to start again. "I want you to deliver a message for me. Can you do
that?"
"gah..." She was starting to press much harder, his arms stubbornly
refusing to move.
"I'll take that as a yes," she said, her breath washing against his face.
"Tell Yusaku and Kazuo that I'm coming for them. Very soon."
Kazuo? Yusaku? Was this...
"Do you know a man named Gensao? How about Yoshi?" She asked, her voice now
laced with madness. "They both had a habit of sticking things where they
don't belong. Like the coat?"
Her? THIS was the one who killed Gensao and Yoshi? Tenchi nearly lost
control of his bladder as the ice cold terror reached deeper within him. He
had never been this afraid before.
"Now, what do I want you to do?" The pressure eased from his throat,
allowing him to breathe freely again as his lips moved of their own accord.
"T... tell Kazuo a-a-and Yusaku that you're coming for them."
"Good boy. Tell them I'm an old friend of theirs." She climbed off the
couch, nearly melting into the shadows. "Now I think you should run for your
life. While you still have it."
Tenchi felt his arms and legs come to life, raising him from the couch and
propelling him toward the door.
"Tenchi!"
He froze in place, too afraid to turn around.
"Don't try to skip out on me. I'll find you, and I'll hurt you. Very much.
And very slowly." Those words haunted the dark recesses of Tenchi's mind as
he charged out the door, unmindful of his state of dress as panic ate away
at his sanity.
Akane watched him run like the coward he was, the coward that all men like
him were. She still felt the taint of him on her body, a sickening presence
that made her want to shower and vomit at once. She suddenly found it
amazing that God would waste His most precious gift on trash like Tenchi
Takamatsu.
He would deliver her message, Akane had no doubts about that. She was also
sure he would try to run. That was of no consequence to her. She would find
him, and make good on her promise. She wanted the others to know she was
coming, to feel the fear before she made them feel the pain.
The Crow landed on her shoulder with a quick flutter of its wings as she
made her way to the bedroom. There was other business to attend to before
she left, and it would be best to do it quickly.
Naoko Tachibana fought to ignore the stabbing pain in her right side,
breathing in deep gulps as she hid beside the door. The empty bottle of sake
shook in her unsteady hand, held up beside her head as she nervously awaited
Tenchi's return.
Leaving was no longer an option, the bars on the window preventing use of
the fire escape. This was it, the final showdown. She had no illusions about
her chances, Tenchi was an eigth degree black belt, but she would no longer
cower in fear of him. If she was going to go out, she would go out fighting.
Her heart skipped a beat when the knob began to turn, the lock holding the
door shut. The incessant rattle sounded like fireworks in the otherwise
still silence of the bedroom, setting her teeth further on edge. Why didn't
he just get on with it?!
A fist rammed through the door just beside the knob, the sound piercing her
eardrums like a gunshot and nearly causing her to drop the bottle. The hand
reached around, turning the lock on the door before retreating back through
the splintered hole. Tenchi must be pissed!
The door slowly opened, and Naoko let fly with the bottle.
Akane felt the attack coming long before the other girl had launched it.
Before the bottle had come anywhere near her head, her right hand lashed out
and caught the girl's wrist, holding it firmly. With a gentle squeeze in the
right spot, the weapon fell harmlessly to the floor with a muffled thump.
"I'm not going to hurt you," Akane said, turning her head to face the girl.
She could feel the confusion radiating from her, the fear charging the air,
and Akane's heart went out to her. "Tenchi's gone. He'll never bother you
again." She released the other girl's hand and flipped the light switch.
Oh, my God... Most of the bruises on the girl's exposed flesh had faded to
an ugly yellow, a few still fresh and black. In that instant, Akane
regretted letting Tenchi live to deliver the message. She should have killed
the bastard when she had the chance.
Akane squelched the rage that bubbled up within her. What was done was
done, and could not be undone. She would get another chance.
Naoko rubbed her eyes, fear taking a back seat to confusion at the sight of
the girl in front of her. Her hair was matted and filthy, beaten down around
her head. A new black trenchcoat fell to her knees, hiding most of the
tattered clothing beneath it. Her face was pale and dirty, tracks of tears
cutting through the grime.
"Tenchi?"
"He's gone." Her voice, it was filled with pain and anger, the twin
emotions dancing in her brown eyes. For the first time, Naoko was more
afraid of someone than Tenchi.
"My name's Akane," she said, moving closer while Naoko backed away. She let
out a startled gasp when her back hit the wall, the certainty that escape
was impossible reasserting itself. "What's yours?"
"N... Naoko..." The crow returned, perching once more on the headboard and
staring at them with its beady eyes.
"Naoko," Akane said, a smile forming on her lips. "That's a pretty name."
"Just take what you want," Naoko pleaded weakly, sperading her weary legs
slightly. "But please don't hurt me."
"I won't, Naoko. I promise."
Naoko flinched as Akane's hands came up beside her head, gently grasping
each side.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"I HATE YOU!"
"GET OUT!" Her father, such a stern and imposing figure, stood before her
with an expression of intense anger on his rugged face as she turned and
walked out the door.
NO! PLEASE!
"My name's Tenchi."
"Naoko."
DON'T GO WITH HIM! RUN AWAY! RUN, YOU STUPID BITCH! The parade of memories
continued as Naoko shouted in vain at the images of herself, trying to tell
her not to go with Tenchi.
"Naoko..." Her mother, sitting on the couch, crying over a picture from
high school, her father draping an arm around the woman's delicate
shoulders, were those tears in his eyes, too?
I don't remember this!
She felt their pain, their fear as day after day went past, worrying about
the welfare of their little Naoko-chan.
NO! DAD! MOM! I'M HERE!
------------------------------------------------------------
The flood of memories and images ceased as abruptly as it had begun,
Akane's hands vanishing from her head. Naoko stood against the wall, tears
flowing from her eyes to soak her cheeks. What had she done? What hell had
she put her own parents through for two long years? She sank to her knees, a
low wail escaing her lips as she squeezed her eyes shut from the pain.
"It's not too late." Akane's voice cut through the haze of pain, both
physical and emotional, and seized her calm. "You can still go home again."
"I... I..."
"Your mom and dad just want their little girl back. Don't worry about
Tenchi, or what you've done. They'll forgive you. Just go home."
Naoko seized those last three words, repeating them over and over again
until she found the strength to rise to her feet and open her eyes.
"What?" The room was empty, both Akane and the crow gone. Had it all been
some weird dream? Had she just imagined it all? Shaking, Naoko stepped over
to the dresser and donned the pants and shirt that lay on the surface. Dream
or no, she was going home.
A she passed the bedroom door, she spotted the hole left behind from
Akane's punch, jagged edges jutting out into the empty space. She felt a
shudder of fear run through her before she bolted for the door to the
hallway outside.
============================================================
Akane watched from the rooftop across the street as Naoko Tachibana stepped
out of the dingy apartment building she had called home for far too long.
The girl below cast furtive glances left and right, as if searching for her
former lover before flagging down a passing taxi. Akane watched as the beat
up yellow cab carried Naoko out of view, and hopefully to a new life.
"Think she'll make it?"
[Her time has not come yet.]
Akane merely nodded toward the Crow on her shoulder, knowing she had gotten
the closest thing to an affirmative she would from the supernatural bird.
She let a small smile lay across her lips as she turned away from the
building across the way. Helping Naoko like that, making her realize that
she COULD go home again, had made her feel more alive. Mission or no, she
could never have left the girl to suffer in that prison any more than she
could cut off her own head.
I may be dead, she thought as she neared the edge of the roof, but I'm
still human.