cocoa: my first GALS! fic! um, though its very different (serious), pls drop a review:D
RAN-witnessed
Ran heard a sound. It wasn't a gentle rusting of leaves nor a slow footsteps of a wandering animal. It was a shout, and whoever it was, was in pain. A loud crashing sound soon accompanied it, and because it was coming from the back alley, Ran figured someone was being kicked towards the rubbish bin.
She walked stealthily forward into the dark lane and saw three guys beating up a smaller guy. There was another just standing there and laughing morbidly. Blood so crimson was oozing out from the injured guy's mouth, bruises covering his face. Besides bleeding profusely from the mouth, his hand was twisted at an unusual manner, but his tormentors never seemed to stop. For once, their cruel behaviour struck Ran frozen. She stood them watching them in stagnant horror. The guy was too injured to beg them to stop, or block for that matter, and resorted to being vulnerably open to their blows. Finally he lay there, eerily motionless.
The one who was laughing scorned, "Dare you refuse us again? What a loser…" The three others nodded uncertainly with him, eyes still glued onto the bruised body. "Let's go."
Ran was still. There wasn't any sound left. Suddenly she recovered from the shock and was aware that only the unmoving guy and her were left in the dark alley. She took one last glance at the body before turning to sprint home.
She was glad Miyu and Aya were not with her, or they would ask why she didn't help to defend the poor boy.
-SCHOOL-
Thick red liquid flowing out, bruises and wounds…
"Ran? Ran!" Miyu's voice broke Ran away from her chain of thoughts. Ran glanced at her, then looked away. "Hey, is anything wrong?" Her friend asked, genuinely concerned. There was a moment of silence before Ran muttered, "Yeah, the society."
The school bell rang, cutting off whatever Miyu was about to say. Ran took her stuff and walked out of the classroom. As if in a daze, she ignored Miyu's plea for her to slow down and continued walking briskly. Aya was there waiting at the gate, and smiled and waved when she saw her.
"Ran?" Ran walked right passed Aya, but stopped when she grabbed her arm. "Are you okay?" There was no response. "RAN! I asked you to wait for me!" Miyu exclaimed. "Sorry," Ran spoke, "Guess I wasn't listening."
"It's okay." Miyu beamed, "Shall we go over to your house now?"
-RAN'S HOME-
While Miyu and Aya were busy chatting, Ran caught sight of the newspaper on the dining table.
'TEENAGE BOY KILLED BY UNKNOWN BULLIES. Late afternoon yesterday, a 13 year old boy was found dead at Shibuya's backstreet alley, with numeral injuries, mainly caused by brutal assaults. With broken ribs, internal bleeding, a fractured hand, he passed away at exactly 4:56pm. Valuables like his mobile phone and money were missing. This should be an act of a few school bullies, authorities are still investigating for the culprits. Witnesses are encouraged to come forward with required information.'
"Ran, aren't you coming up-" Miyu's voice trailed off in Ran's ears as she dashed out of the house.
She was panting by the time she reached there. She stared at the spot, it was exactly the same. Only, it was kept out of bounds by police tape. There were blood splatters that stained the cemented ground, which triggered the scene to replay in Ran's mind. She continued to gaze as various thoughts and emotions came flooding into her mind.
She saw fights before. She saw bullying before. But she had never seen blood, bleeding out so quickly. She saw injuries before. She saw bruises before. But she had never seen wounds so raw, bones fractured so badly. It would be etched in her mind, like a cruel scar that would never leave.
She felt water, and realised that it was drizzling. Ran snapped out of her daze and wondered how long she had been there. The sky was also starting to darken. She trudged away, unlike her usual self.
-RAN'S POV-
Why am I acting like this? I hate it! This is so not me! So what if I were there? So what if I witnessed everything? I was just too.. traumatised to do anything… so I shouldn't feel remorseful or guilty. I should just forget it and go back home, like now. When I go back, everything will be back to-
Ran bumped into someone. She looked up and saw someone who looked so familiar. Or maybe it was some thug she taught a lesson last time… She brushed past him and went back to be oblivious of the surrounding. However, she still managed to discover that people were following her.
She turned around and saw a gang of roughly ten street hoodlums glaring at her. Ran spotted the guy she bumped earlier on in the crowd, and he was the only one grinning. But in a sardonic way. "Hello." Then, as if it were a command, the rest of the gang advanced on her. Ran blocked out their attacks and managed to throw punches to keep them off her. She ducked when they swung at her and soon only two guys were left standing.
She kicked one of them and he went down unconscious. Then she felt vicious, burning agony on her right arm. She saw blood dripping down from a wound, the other guy had slashed her. Exhaustion and pain weakened her, and Ran fell down on her knees. The creepy guy chuckled. He walked forward to her, clapping, "Not bad… but still a loser."
Ran's head jerked up as she had a shocking realisation. She recognised him. "It's you." She whispered with a gasp, thinking about the newspaper report she read this morning. "It's me." The seemingly arrogant leader never stopped grinning.
"Aren't you remorseful?" Ran asked in an disgusted and demanding tone. "That's a funny one, why should I?" He was not just some street thug, he was quick and knew what she was talking about. She glared at him, agitation creepy up her skin.
"You are a murderer!" She burst out, unable to swallow the fact that he was still playing dumb at such at obvious statement. Ran wiped a bit of blood away from her lips and got up, she didn't like literally looking up to a guy like him.
"Murderer?" He echoed, a shadow of innocence over his face. Then, just like the moon during an eclipse, it disappeared "I didn't do anything to him, I did not even lay a finger on him." He chuckled. Ran was appalled at his direct answer. She walked up to him and swept her hand to slap him. However, he caught her arm, "My, you really are interesting." Ran flinched at his comment and pulled her hand back.
Hearing numerous groans, she was then aware of the rest getting back on their feet. The guy also seemed to know and said, "It was fun, but time's up." Showing her his trademark facial expression, he turned around and left with the gang.
"Wait." Ran called. The whole gang looked back except him. "What's your name?" Although she could only see his back profile, Ran knew he was grinning. "Yokocho." He threw at her before walking off.
Everything seemed to fade into darkness around Ran as she stood there, drenched in the rain.
(Yokocho means Alley)