In the course of 'improving the plot' for Ashes - A Cinderella Story,
I had to revise this chapter. Only a few lines were altered
(one paragraph in HAINOKO: and the first paragraph
of IN A DARK ALLEY:).
James and the Bluejay
http://www.wanderway.com/cinder/ashes.htm
email to: jeeades@wanderway.com
--------------------------
Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi and Viz and a whole bunch more have
dibs on Ranma et al; Fujishima Kousuke and Animeigo take credit
for associating Urd of Norse mythology with kawaii features and a
computer engineering degree; Cinderella is an old fairy tale,
which leaves me with Hainoko and Kidori, who are derivative and
belong to everyone. Basho belongs to himself. Not to worry,
since I don't figure on making any money off this anyway. No
gerbils were harmed in the writing of this fanfic. Pay no
attention to their protest lines.
ASHES - A Cinderella Story
Chapter Five
A Primrose by Any Other Name
Woven lies take us to task
When we hide behind a mask
Let us jump and let us jive
Here we go with Chapter Five.
NERIMA:
"She isn't really gone, you know."
The man dabbed at his face with a handkerchief and turned his
eyes toward the woman who had fogged into being beside him. "In
your world, perhaps," he said. "Here in mine, where I have chosen
to remain, it gets a little lonely." He nodded his head and
added, "I am honored. I did not expect you to come, yourself."
"For one of our most important - and cutest - mortals? How could
I not?" The woman looked at him more closely and said, "You have
decided!"
He took a deep breath and said, "Yes. One last glimpse. And you
are the only one who can help me see her as she was. That is how
I want to remember her."
There were few people around in the tidy park, with benches
overlooking neatly groomed flowers and bushes. The one exception
was this man sitting on one of the park benches, admiring the
flowers, with a portable television set hissing white static
beside him.
"Soon," she promised. "Right now, I am up to my...armpits...in
work. It seems someone managed to introduce a 'worm' virus into
Yygdrasil."
"Impossible! Can it be?" Any thought he had that she might be
joking vanished at the seriousness of her frown.
"Tensquare on the truthmeter - she wasn't lying. It's there,"
she said through gritted teeth. "I just can't _find_ the blamed
thing."
"Ah," the man ventured a hesitant smile, leaning back to gaze at
the manicured trees around them. "Yygdrasil, the ancient ash
tree."
"Yep," the woman said, leaning forward to rest her elbows on her
knees, taking in the quiet peace of the park. With a sardonic
smile, she added, "Yygdrasil. The original hierarchical
structure."
"As I recall my mythology," he said, "the tree has always been
under some kind of attack. Snakes in the roots, goats in the
branches. A never-ending battle, with the tree refreshing itself
from your well."
The woman stopped as if stunned. "She wouldn't have," she
muttered to herself. "But then - I believe you may have given me
something to think about," she said to the man, as she hastily
rose from the bench. The television set began to sputter again.
"Please forgive me for delaying your wish, and for my abrupt
departure!"
"Oh, do not trouble yourself on my account. I have waited this
long to see her, I can wait awhile longer," the man waved her on,
and the woman vanished. For a while he sat and enjoyed the warm
breeze, then he shut off the television, checked the time, and
left.
FURENKEN:
"Yo, Akane! Why was Mr. Tendo dressed up, last night?" Ranma
coasted into class barely before the bell.
"He just went out, Ranma. Dads do that, sometimes."
"Yeah? Mine don't. He was bored 'cause he didn't have anyone to
play 'go' with, so he tried to pick on me."
"You _were_ a little noiser than usual. Didn't you bring an
umbrella, today?"
Ranma looked back at Akane, who was covering a bookcase with
plastic, and said, "No, why should I? It ain't supposed to rain,
is it?"
"He hasn't heard the announcement," Yuki told Akane, unfolding
her own umbrella. There was a 'whump' sound as other umbrellas
opened about the room.
"What announcement?" Ranma asked. He jerked his head as the fire
alarm sounded and a fine mist briefly clouded the room.
"The principal wanted to test his new sprinkler system," Yuki
explained.
"Oh, great," growled Ranma, shaking water from her pigtail. "He
did that deliberately!" The instructor nodded wearily as Ranma
signalled for permission to get some hot water, then waited
impatiently as a male Ranma returned to reclaim his seat.
The school room quiet was broken again when Ukyo came to class
late, limping, using her battle spatula as a cane.
The instructor sought to bring order back to the furor as he
said, "Class, Miss Kuonji is quite capable of walking to her seat
without your chatter. Please return to your books and go to page
number forty-three."
Ranma leaned toward Ukyo and whispered, "Yo, wha'happen?"
Ukyo directed a melting glance toward him. Noticing the teacher,
who was watching Ranma's blatant disregard of class-room
discipline with an accelerating tic in his eye, she hissed, "I'll
tell you later, Ranchan!" As the instructor again prepared to
render his assignment, she sat upright and faced the front of the
room, entertaining visions of being comforted by her Ranchan.
-----------
"She got you, too?" Akane asked, unconsciously testing the
tenderness of the purple smudge on her own face.
"Same gal, sounds like," growled Ranma. "She challenged Akane
and Kodachi."
"She didn't say a word, Ranchan. She just hit me. I didn't even
see her, until it was too late." Ukyo reached for the security of
Ranma's strong arms, but he had prowled away from her. She
continued, "I am more worried about Konatsu. He left without
saying a word after he saw what had happened to me. I haven't
seen him since."
"Who's next?" wondered Akane.
Ranma merely opened and closed his fists, his knuckles creaking.
"Only attacks girls, eh?" he said.
"Unless she got Konatsu, too," Akane mused. "Ranma, are you
thinking of doing something dumb?"
"Whaddya mean, 'dumb'?"
"You have that look in your eye."
"What look?"
"The one you get when you are going to do something stupid and
maybe get yourself hurt!"
"Since when do you care if _I_ get hurt? I am supposed to get
myself hurt! That's how I learn!"
"Hummph! I couldn't have said it better, myself!"
"Yeah? And what would you suggest, huh?"
"What kind of plan is that? Go out as a girl and hope someone
attacks you? I've fought this monster! She's powerful! She
scared even me!" Akane stopped abruptly, put her hand over her
face and moaned, "Oh, no. Now I've done it."
"Aw, what d'ya know? Stupid tomboy. I don't care if she's built
like an elephant! I can beat her! She's only a girl!"
"Listen to yourself, Ranma. Whoever she is, she could take you
on right now, and your girl side does not have your strength or
reach."
"Ain't no girl so strong that I gotta be scared of her!" Ranma
snorted. "Except maybe you, that is."
Akane stiffened. "What do you mean by _that_?"
Ranma appeared to actually calculate the result of two plus two
and replied, "Uh, nothin'."
"I was only trying to help, and you start insulting me. And I am
_not_ a gorilla!"
"Well...I wasn't going to say that, exactly."
"That's what you usually call me! And another thing. I am _not_
unsexy and uncute!" Akane's lower lip quivered with building
rage. "I'm not!"
"Heh...one thing ya are, though."
"What is _that_?"
"Loud."
Akane suddenly noticed the circle of interested faces, and she
turned scarlet. Grabbing Ranma, she dragged him back to class,
trying to ignore smiles and laughter from observers.
HAINOKO:
"I, Hainoko, swear that Cinderella is my friend. Furthermore, I
agree to become the personal servant of Deirdre and Deirdrum for
one (1) year if I cannot get Cinderella to perform at the charity
bazaar hosted by their mother. P.S. If Cinderella or her
assigned agent does not appear immediately and agree to this,
then I am a great big liar and a cheat."
"That's not fair!" cried Hainoko. "You didn't let me read all of
this!"
"Too late," sneered Deirdre. "You've already signed it. You
swore that Cinderella was your friend. Now, prove it!"
"Or we'll tell the teacher who really brought that Cinderella
poster to school," piped Deirdrum. "She got very excited when
she found it in the lockers. If we tell, you'll be in big
trouble!"
"I can't help it," sniffled Hainoko. "Somebody told her where it
was." She looked suspiciously at Deirdrum's smug grin.
"You think you are so special!" crowed Deirdre. "We'll see!
Mother is going to be _so_ disappointed when Cinderlla does not
show up. She's going to hate you! And, you are going to have to
apologize to everyone at her bazaar, because you told a lie!"
Hainoko folded the paper and hid it in her backpack, aghast.
She was trapped. A whole year as personal servant to those
slobs. She'd die!
She would have to ask Hiroshi to give the message to Cinderella.
She would have to humble herself and be _nice_ to him, and he
hated her. What if Hiroshi refused? What if Cinderella refused?
So Cinderella had come to see Hiroshi once. That did not mean
they were great friends.
"Still," she sniffed, wiping her nose, "At least she came to
_our_ house. She hasn't gone to visit any one of them!"
IN A DARK ALLEY:
I tried to talk to Daisuke again, but it was no use. He was
acting peculiarly. He shut the door in my face, saying that he
could not face me without cold water. I said, 'Fine! I wish
you'd forget about it!' It was only later that I thought about
whether or not it had been a real wish.
I didn't know what he was so upset about. Several girls were
hanging around his house waiting for him to come out and say
'hi.' I wasn't jealous, or anything. Why should I be?
So I went out to spread my own somber mood around. No way I was
going to sit at home and brood, merely because I was stuck with
an alter ego that threatened my manhood.
I sought companionship with someone I figured could identify with
my problem. I was ready to confess all and tell him what had
happened. However, he was not at home, so I never got the chance
to discuss it. She was 'out', according to Kasumi. I found her
acting preoccupied, prowling about the streets near the Cat Cafe.
"Hey, Ranma!" I said. "Why are you sneaking around like that?"
"Shhh!!" she hissed, "I'm trying to catch someone!"
"Who? I don't see anything."
"Listen!"
I stopped and strained my ears, which was a strange feeling, but
the sum total of my hearing was the whir of tires from a passing
bicycle and a distant clatter, perhaps a stray dog knocking over
a trash can.
Ranma tilted her head slightly. She must have heard something
because she turned and said, "See ya." Then she left at a dead
run.
I was curious. I followed, as best as I could, which was not
very fast. Before I got so tired that I was gasping my lungs out
I came upon Ranma again, standing in a posture of alertness
outside an alley.
>From within the alleyway I heard a thump, then an angry voice,
"Aiyah! You think you fool Shampoo with ugly mask! You will
die!" Then another thump, the rattle of a loose bonbori and a
crash, followed by a groan of pain from Shampoo.
"She's getting killed!" I panted.
"Not if I can help it," Ranma muttered as she stepped away from
the corner and leaped into the alley. In the darkness all I
could see was Shampoo facing shadows, some of which were moving,
until Ranma barreled into the middle of them. Something hit
something else very hard and very fast - blows, counterblows,
blocks and above it all the gasps and yells of three girls in
mortal combat.
Excitement drew me closer, until, suddenly, the air was filled
with howling projectiles, blowing a trash can beside me into
tatters. The flurry of pointy things whining past reminded me of
a fact of great import - I was a coward. I scrambled away from
more flying splinters and watched the scuffling shadows from the
shelter of the alley entrance.
Then I heard a sound that sent chills down my spine. Several
sounds, in fact - a splash, a yowl, and Ranma's voice saying,
"Ca...ca...ca...."
I did what any sensible person would have done. I ran like hell.
Somebody sped past me like I was standing still, except she did
not duck around the electrical utility poles at the end of the
street. She hit one dead center and knocked herself silly.
I found Ranma lying flat on her back, with Shampoo nosing her
face to comfort her.
I picked Shampoo up off Ranma, getting several scratches in the
process, and carried her away from the spot, cautioning her to go
back to the Cat Cafe. The thought occurred to me that I could
probably dump some hot water on Shampoo and bring her back to
human form, but since she would be unclothed and not in a very
civil mood, logic and self-preservation dictated that I merely
get her out of Ranma's sight. I was _not_ going back into that
alley to retrieve her clothes. Shampoo wanted to stay but she
finally thought better of it and limped stiffly home.
I never did see who they had been fighting, though I saw a darker
portion of the shadows move once, out of the corner of my eye.
Also, I think someone followed us while I helped Ranma back to
her feet. Ranma in girl form was small but solid - I did not get
to carry her or even support her, and I was too scared to try to
get a feel anyway. She decided that she had skulked enough and
headed for the Tendo dojo, while I headed for home. I kept
hearing noises, but nothing more happened.
PRACTICE STUDIO:
The next evening I went to practice with Primrose.
The Primrose Path had found an empty practice hall close to
Ucchan's, somehow, and they were using it for their rehearsals.
The band greeted me enthusiastically and introduced themselves -
Juupooku on the bass, Sakku-chan on the sax, Guapo on the drums,
and Michiro on the synthesizer. They gave me a round of applause
when I took off the trench coat, but then went back to tuning
their instruments and wisecracking back and forth about baseball
and rollerblading.
Heaven. I was definitely in heaven. Kidori and I rehearsed
songs that I know that I did not know that I knew. I heard
nothing different about my voice, but for once no one cringed or
turned the TV louder when I sang. Primrose seemed to glow with
happiness when our voices blended, and she praised my footwork.
We danced, each with our own routine, and I could dance beyond my
most outragous fantasies.
Before each number, Kidori would go centerstage and do a kind of
dance routine I did not recognize. I asked Guapo and she said
Kidori was practicing a kata, because martial arts forms limbered
her up for the dancing she had to do during a live performance.
She seemed to be somewhat stiff as she moved, however.
When she finished the song which was to be the finale, Kidori
reached into a pocket somewhere and tossed flower petals onto the
bare floor which represented the audience. I asked her where she
hid the flowers, since, like me, she had only the barest
essentials of a costume...although, in all honesty, her costume
had more places to hide stuff than did mine. She would not
divulge her secret.
"I wish I could do something like that," I said, and I snapped
thumb and forefinger. There was a -zap- and a tingle.
-poof-
A sparkling blue ribbon appeared in mid-air above the 'audience
floor' and fluttered down.
"How did you do that?" she asked, wide-eyed, while Guapo
retrieved the ribbon.
"It's a secret," I replied smugly, even as I searched the shadows
for Ryoga. My thumb was stinging from snapping my fingers. I
truly did not know where the ribbon had 'appeared' from. I had
my suspicions, but how could I have a wish answered without Ryoga
nearby?
"Look at this!" called Guapo. "It says, 'From Cinderella to
Guapo-chan'. Can you beat that? Instant autograph!"
"Who belongs to this oinker?" Juupooku laughed, holding up a
struggling black pig. "If no one claims it, I oughta invite him
for lunch."
"I think that's Akane's pet," I said. "Hang onto him and I'll
take him back home."
"Never mind, I couldn't hold onto him. He lit out when I
mentioned 'lunch'," Juupooku said, leaning forward over his
guitar. "Pop out another ribbon. I want one."
Snapping out the ribbons became easier after a little practice.
Each band member got one, plus a few extra, with names I did not
recognize. They assured me that the names were of friends, and
not a ribbon went unclaimed. One final ribbon fluttered down,
and Kidori grabbed it.
Her legs seemed to give out and she sat flat on the floor. "I
don't understand," she said with a puzzled frown. "This one says
'Hiroshi loves Kidori.'"
I almost freaked out. "Throw it away!" I blurted. "I'll try to
make another one!"
"No. I think I'll keep it," she said, very softly, folding the
ribbon away. A tiny glimmer appeared in her eyes, and I thought
I saw something like loneliness shining through, before she shook
herself and called, "Okay, break time. Let's go get some food."
After I helped her to her feet, I checked the time. For once the
clock was good to me. I still had over a half hour before I
would have to run away from the ball.
While the band opened their bentos, Kidori and I went to
Ucchan's. We went in disguise - that is, we dressed up in the
latest fad - boy's clothes - which felt weird, since mine did not
fit me. She borrowed some clothes from the band - Michiro's
silver moon suit and space boots, since he was about the right
height.
I did not explain why I happened to be carrying a pair of pants
and a shirt along - let them wonder. Every time I changed to
Cinderella my clothes had changed, too, but I was wary lest I get
stuck as a boy wearing my blue scanty outfit. Go ahead and
laugh. It has happened to Ranma.
"Oh!" Kidori exclaimed, "You look so cute in boy's clothes!"
"Heh," I blushed. "It's something in the jeans."
Our disguises got us into Ucchan's without mishap, except for a
couple of sharp-eyed urchins who stopped us and demanded
autographs. Primrose smiled graciously and complied, and I found
myself so enraptured by her grace that I signed 'Cinderella,'
without complaining, on the notepads the kids held out to us. It
felt odd, suppressing the twinge of irritation, remembering that
at one time I had actually wanted to be a rock star.
At Ucchan's I surprised her by holding her stool. She hesitated
as she sat, easing into the chair as though in pain. "I helped
move furniture last night," she explained.
[Oh. That would explain the scratches on her arm, as well,] I
thought. Seemed perfectly logical to me. "The katas didn't help
loosen you up?"
"Katas?" Her gaze was blank for a second, then she smiled, "Oh,
you mean the exercises. No. Those are Mother's idea of
relaxation. They really don't seem to ease the stiffness."
I looked around. "Where's Ukyo or Konatsu? They usually wait on
customers by this time."
"Right here, Sugar. What'll you have?" Ukyo limped up behind the
counter. Kidori jerked about at her voice, knocking over a
condiment tray, scattering bottles, shakers and sauce.
"Oh, I am sorry!" cried Kidori, gazing in horror at Ukyo's
scrapes and bruises, "I am so terribly, terribly sorry!"
"It's all right, Sugar," said Ukyo tiredly. "No problem. I'll
get another tray."
UCCHAN'S:
At the far end of the counter, a conference of war was going on -
five heads with but one thought, five hearts with but one
ambition: vengeance.
"Only an uncultured barbarian would waste their strength on
direct blows when a sophisticated twist would be so much more
effective," Kodachi spoke, imperiously. She shifted her body
into a more stylish posture, then slumped back on her stool to
brood. "For that reason, I suspected this peasant Akane, because
of the forceful attack the masked girl used."
Akane sat with her eyes fixed straight ahead, though the
countertop she was gripping began to bend. "I thought we weren't
going to get into personalities!" she said, "Or is this more of
the 'revenge of the Kunos'?"
"We all got hit, and hit hard," Ranma said, for once the
arbitrator. "Can ya think of anything that might help us figure
out who it was? I remember seeing someone sneaking about just
seconds before I went into the alley."
"And what about _you_?" Akane asked, "I thought you were above
hitting girls!"
"I didn't exactly hit anyone," Ranma replied stiffly, setting
aside his third okonomyaki only half-eaten. "I blocked."
"Airen block very good," Shampoo added with a smirk. "Shampoo
have scar to prove it, from time we fight. Macho girl want to
see?"
"Keep your clothes on, Hot Stuff," Ukyo ordered. "Let's
concentrate on the problem at hand."
"Well, I believe you, Ranma-sama," purred Kodachi.
"Since when do I gotta defend myself?" demanded Ranma. "We got
ourselves a problem!"
"Shampoo puzzled," the purple-haired girl said, "Why mask girl
attack spatula girl without warning, but challenge rest of us?"
Ukyo shook her head. "She never said a word," she said. "I also
remember seeing someone skulking about in the shadows. When I
stepped out the door to investigate, I was hit from another
direction. Then I saw that hideous mask. Afterwards, I found
flower petals scattered about." She propped her chin on her hand
and frowned in reflection.
"What sort of flowers are these?" Akane asked, "I didn't even
notice them until Nabiki pointed them out."
Kodachi fingered the petals disdainfully. "Common field flowers.
I would not even allow them into my yard. The tramp is an
uncultured boor."
Ukyo lifted her head to growl, "All you grow are black roses,
Kuno. What would you know?"
Kodachi laughed, which made everyone shift uneasily, then she
said, "I chortle at your ignorance! I know all about flowers,
Merchant. This is cowslip, an ugly plant which grows wild in the
fields or alongside the road. Another name for it is the
European Primrose."
Ranma's eyes shot wide open. "What did you say?" he yelped.
"Primrose?" Akane answered.
"But she's...." Ukyo began, and five heads turned toward the far
end of the room, where Kidori and Cinderella were attacking their
respective dishes, as they liked them.
END: CHAPTER FIVE
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