Pfft. I was listening to Saiyuki mp3s while typing this up. I was also
_watching_ Saiyuki videos instead of writting this chapter, and that
would explain why this is late _and_ why I did so poorly on my math
"midterm"...
It's not taken at midterm, so why's it called a midterm?
Well, I can't remember who it was, but they wanted this, so I'm giving
it to them *gringringrin*
False Identity
Chapter Sixteen: Changes
Li Xiang
Ranko ran her fingers through her hair, entering the Koneko from the
back entrance. It was still early, as she entered the kitchen, to the
sight of Aya and Ken seated at the table.
"Morning," she called to them cheerfully, and they raised their heads.
The solemn look on Aya's face was normal-- the one on Ken's was not.
Ranko frowned, "Something wrong?"
It was Ken who spoke, "Omi and Yohji called from the hospital. Nabiki's
sister was nearly killed last night."
"But you already knew that," came Aya's monotone, "You were there, were
you not, Ranma?"
"Whatever are you talking about," Damn. The Twit twins must have told
them. Ranko found herself as _him_self. Ken dropped the glass of hot
water he'd picked up from it's resting place near where his hand had been.
"Damn," Siberian muttered, "I thought I left this shit behind a long
time ago..."
"Why did you keep this from us?" Farfello's words were coming back to
Aya. 'She won't, but he will'. This, obviously, had been what the
sociopath Irishman had meant. Ranma's eyes narrowed.
"Would _you_ tell everyone you've just met that _you_ had a
sex-changing curse?"
"No," Aya conceded defeat after a moment, then scowled, "How did
Farfello know?"
Ranma gave him a flat-eyed stare. Aya found himself, inexplicitly,
blushing. It was a 'what kind of idiot _are_ you' stare. "Schuldich."
"Right in one, Abyssian!" the ebony-haired martial artist grinned
widely. In a moment, the grin became a pout, "You're not going to kick
me out, are you?"
Ken and Aya stared at the pouting sixteen year old, then at each other,
Ken's stare was one of 'what should we do?'. Aya sighed and felt like
sulking. Ranko-- or rather, Ranma-- was doing something to him. He
didn't know what it was, only that it was happening, and he wasn't too
sure if he didn't like it.
"No... we aren't kicking you out."
"Yay!" Ranma did the standard, 'Little Kid Happy Dance' before
beginning a search of the cupboards, "I'm hungry!"
"You're always hungry," Ken muttered, watching the younger teen tear
around the kitchen in search of the ever-elusive food. Aya shook his
head, then stood up.
"We've still got work. Ranko-- uh, Ranma... change back to female, when
you've eaten. You're helping."
Ken, too, stood, and Ranma tried the attack that had always, _always_,
worked on him. The dreaded Puppy-Dog Eyes. Aya _stared_ at the boy,
before turning and exiting. Ranma turned to Ken, "How the hell did he
do that? That one always gets me!"
"Aya's made of sterner stuff," Ken snorted, before following the Weiss
leader out. Ranma was left in the kitchen alone, a bag of store-bought
cookies in hand.
---
Ranma-- Ranko?-- twirled a pen around her fingers as she sat at the
counter. It was midday, and with both Aya and Ken on lunch break-- not
to mention Omi and Yohji were still at Nerima District Hospital-- the
shop was all but empty. Life was boring. She wanted something to do.
"Ask and ye shall receive," came a familiar voice. Ranma looked
up to find Schuldich and Rache standing in front of her. The two
redheaded Germans were wearing identical grins. Rache hopped up on the
counter.
"Schu said you let Jei kill your fiancée."
"Ex-fiancée," Ranma shrugged, "And she's alive, unfortunately. Clinging
to life just barely, though. Kudou and Tsukiyono are with the
Tendou family at the hospital."
Rache nodded, looking faintly relieved, then turned her gaze on the
Koneko, "Nice place. To many plants for my tastes..."
"Still having problems with your landlord?"
She grinned, "At the moment, no. I played a trick on her last night."
"Kleine Schwester[1]..." Schuldich sighed, "Sometimes, Rache, you do
the most despicable things."
She shrugged, then went through her duster's pockets. After a few
minutes of searching, she gave a happy crow, lifting the plastic
card into the air, "One credit card for one Xue Shi, less several
million yen."
"So you bought the warehouse?"
"And furnishings," Schuldich snorted, "Rache decided she was going to
make each room for a specific person. Made me go through all their
minds to find out what they wanted-- and believe me, breaking through
Crawford's shields without him noticing is not the easiest thing to do
in the world."
Ranma hiked a ruby eyebrow, "I'm going to guess on this.. Did you max
out my card?"
Rache blushed, "Uhm... well... yes?"
Ranma had to sigh. She had expected that-- Rache was a woman, after
all, and therefore well verse in the habit of shopping. The martial
artist tapped her pen against the counter, "Don't worry about it, Naru.
In any case, when do you think Schwartz can move in?"
"A week, at least," Rache pulled her legs up to her chin, "While we've
got electricity and running water, nothing else has been hooked up.
Schu and I were wondering if you'd like to come help...?"
"Right now?" the cursed one frowned, "I'm kind of working..."
"The when Abyssian and Siberian return," Schuldich smirked, glancing at
the door to the Koneko's living area, "You're coming with us."
Ranma pouted, "So I'm just unpaid muscle to you?"
"Un," Rache giggled, "Just a pack mule for us to burden with menial,
physical labor." She patted the other girl on the head, patronizing
smirk spreading across her features, as Ranma caught the offending hand.
"Schuldich!" the trio of redheads turned to see Ken standing in the
door. The assassin felt suddenly uneasy as the German man's gaze fell
on him. There was something in those jade eyes that creped him out.
Hidaka took a step back, before steeling his nerve. It was just a side
effect of Schuldich's mind games. He _wasn't_ scared of him! The fact
that Schuldich had suddenly smirked didn't really register-- mostly due
to the telepathic voice echoing in the back of his mind, /Definitely
_not_ afraid of me, hmm...?/
Smirk firmly in place, Schuldich sidled up to his quarry's side.
Rache-- hand still in Ranma's grip-- frowned, and the gender shifter
snickered. Ken suddenly looked like a deer caught in the headlights.
Schuldich had draped his arm over the teenager's shoulders, leaning
close enough to breath into his ear.
No words made their way out of Schuldich's mouth, before Ken had shot
away from him, and was hiding behind both counter and Ranma. The
martial artist looked at the boy using her as a shield, "What _are_ you
doing?"
Ken blinked a few times. He was... hiding behind Ranma as Schuldich
padded forwards, pouting. Pouting?! Why in the world was Schuldich
_pouting_ at him?
"I think you made großer Bruder[2] upset," Rache snickered, "He looks
about to cry!"
"Why are _you_ here?" Aya's chilling monotone cut through the air, and
again, they looked up. His violet eyes were locked on Schuldich, but it
was Rache who answered.
"Just returning Kitty's credit card," she shrugged, "and visiting."
Aya glared, and Ranma rolled her eyes, "Cool off, Aya. Or have you
forgotten that only a few _days_ ago, you were goofing off with him in
the park?"
Ken _stared_ at his leader. Apparently Omi and Yohji had failed to tell
him what their leader had been doing the night of his kidnapping, "You
were _what_?"
Aya had the grace to look ashamed, although it was offset a moment
later via a sharp glare in Ranma's direction. The redhead gave him her
'infuriating asshole' smirk, in return.
The sound of Aya's teeth grinding was almost loud enough to be heard in
Eastern Canada.
Schuldich snickered a bit, folding hi hands behind his head and leaning
on the counter, "Anyways, Katzchen, we're taking bishoujo to be our
labour-slave for awhile."
Ranma made a face, "I'm no one's slave."
"Oh? Rache hiked an eyebrow, "You sure _act_ like Irish's slave."
"Whatever" Ranma snorted, flipping over the counter, and depriving Ken
of his shield. The assassin 'eeped', ducking behind the counter, in an
attempt to hide from his (German) redheaded tormentor. Kitty turned the
'kawaii' factor on full, turning to face Aya. As she happened to be
female at that moment, he had a smaller resistance to The Look, "Come
with us? We could use some extra hands..."
"Aya, don't!" Ken whined from where he was hiding. Aya was frowning--
since Ranma had let Jei maul Akane and injure Nabiki, their tentative
contract with the middle Tendou had been voided. That meant he didn't
have to watch over 'Ranko' anymore. However, Ranma was still _living_
with Weiss, and therefore, capable of getting Schwartz hard copies of
information. As well, this was a chance for Aya to find out where
Schwartz lived.
Besides, he'd had fun when he was goofing around with Schuldich and
Ranma. He hadn't had fun like that sine Aya-chan's accident.
His voice was still rather icy, although Ranma could swear she saw his
eyes light up at the prospect, when he answered, "The Koneko won't run
efficiently with just the two of us, Ken. We might as well go."
"B... but Aya!" Ken hopped to his feet, "It's probably a trap and...
and..." Ken's voice trailed off as he was subjected to Ranma's
Puppy-Dog eyes. Even though he _knew_ Ranma was in reality, _male_, the
marital artist was, at least in this form, undeniably female at the
moment. Many a man has tried to overpower the kawaii-girl puppy-dog
look with sheer willpower. Many a man has failed.
Ken was no exception as he found himself facing the Puppy-Dog look at
full power.
---
Yohji winced as he dropped into the chair, across from Omi. He was
_really_ feeling the pain of duking it out with Ranma. Black and blue
all over from the blows he'd been dealt, not to mention the broken arm
he bore. His ribs _hadn't_ been cracked, thank-god, but they'd been
close. Right now, they were taped with infinite care.
"Did you get a hold of them?"
The playboy shook his head, "Nothing. Either they're ignoring the
phone-- which I _doubt_ Ken would do-- or they're not at the Koneko. I
called Manx and asked if she could go over and check," he paused,
"How's Akai or whatever her name is...?"
"Akane," came Nabiki's dull, lifeless voice, "is currently in intensive
care. Despite all odds, she survived the night, but she'd in a coma."
The words of Tendou Soun's wailing suddenly made perfect sense.
---
Five hours of back breaking labor is a pair in the ass, Ranma growled
to himself, stretching and popping his pine back in place. While he and
Aya had ended up hauling boxes of shit around the warehouse, and in
the process put an extreme amount of stress on their bones, Schuldich
and Ken had been playing. The game had been, apparently,
hide-and-go-seek, Ken was always hiding, and Schuldich always seeking.
Between her Barking of The Orders to "her slaves", Rache found the
game absolutely hilarious.
Ken popped up from nowhere-- only Ranma noting that he'd phased through
a wall to escape Schuldich. His arms wrapped around Aya's legs, "Aya!
Can we leave, yet?!" he'd whined this question at every chance he got,
but _this_ time he tagged something else on the end, "It's eight
o'clock! C'mon!"
"Eight?" Ranma's face paled, "Have I been working for _seven_ hours?!"
"Yeah," Rache's teasing grin vanished as Ranma began to curse-- rather
fluently-- in English, Gaelic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Polish, Russian,
German, French, Spanish, Italian and Japanese. Schuldich sidled up next
to his sister.
"Don't be surprised. The swears are pretty much all he knows of most
languages-- he's been called all of them, after all."
"Schuldich!" Ranma pounced on the redhead and Aya felt an inexplicable
surge of jealousy, "You've got a car, right? You can get me to Tamachi
in twenty minutes, right?"
"What's the deal, Ranma?" Rache turned a curious eye on her ally, "Why
Tamachi?"
"Xue Shi has a performance in twenty," he stated as way of explanation.
The two German nodded in understand, but Ken and Aya were confused.
"I didn't figure you for a groupie," Ken muttered, eyeing Ranma.
Groupies tended to dress in _normal_ clothing, not silk. The redheaded
siblings wore matching smirks, and Ranma snorted.
"We can explain on the way if you want to come. Right now, we have to
_go!_"
---
The band refused to play concerts. They _never_ played for anything
large than a club. Akira was trying to fix that, but it was a hard job.
It was quite literally, a miracle that he'd even convinced Xue Shi to
record-- and she kept finding ways to skip out on it. It was enough to
make a manager rip out his hair.
And now, she was nowhere to be seen. Those who'd managed to get
tickets to the gig were getting antsy. Xue Shi was ten minutes overdue.
In the two years he'd been managing her and the bad, she had never been
late to a gig. Practices, sure, but never a gig. He was biting his
nails and praying to a god he doubted would listen, that a miracle
would happen.
With a muffled wail of despair, he sent the band out. Hopefully a few
minutes of grace would be bought as they set up.
Fei Li's fingers twitched on the strings of his bass guitar. His head
was bowed, so silken black hair fell into his face, and hid the
panicked look in his eyes. He'd always felt like the only reason the
fans tolerated him was because of Xue Shi. He hated the feeling of
being unwanted, and most of Xue Shi's fans made him feel like that.
Nobuyuki sat stiffly in his seat, the drumsticks twirling around deft
fingers. The only hint of his nervousness was his bouncing leg, and the
fact he was practically chewing through his bottom lip.
Oz didn't really look nervous. Although, that might have something to
do with his eternal laid-back look. Some critics assumed he was stoned
99% of the time. But Oz was nervous. The entire time he'd been in Japan
had been spent playing guitar in one band or another, having only
recently joined up with Xue Shi. And there had always, _always_ been a
singer to take the attention off of him.
Oz didn't play so well when he thought everyone was watching him, and
him alone.
His head snapped up as the overhead fans brought a familiar-- and very
welcome-- scent to his nose. Sharp eyes peered out from under neon blue
bangs, searching the crowd for a familiar head of blood red hair.
This wasn't so easy-- a lot of Xue Shi's fans had dyed their hair red
for the gig. He was searching for a particular shade when a hand shot
out of the crowd. Around it were three other redheads-- apparently
natural, seeing as their eyebrows were red, too. One man had deep
crimson hair, the other an orangish flame red, and a woman with a shade
of red that looked to be only a few shades closer to brown. Xue Shi
stood in front of them, and the brunette to her left looked...
familiar, but Oz couldn't place him.
With a wild grin, Xue Shi used her fingers as a count down. Five...
four... three... two... one...
Oz started the opening riff to "By Myself"
It was almost automatic for the boys to start in with him at their
"proper" place. Xue Shi's voice rang out.
"What do I do to ignore them behind me?
Do I/follow my instincts blindly?
Do I hide my pride/from these bad dreams
And give into sad thoughts that are maddening?"
The crowd seemed to turn in on itself, looking for Xue Shi-- and she
crouched, then pushed off, flipping over their heads to land elegantly
on the stage, singing all the while.
"Do I/sit here and try to stand it?
Or do I/try to catch them red handed?
Do I trust some and get fooled by phoniness
or do I trust nobody and live in loneliness?"
Xue Shi's grin split her face in half as she picked up the mike, and
the nervousness seemed to flow out of her band-mates. Fei Li began to
sing along with her.
"Because I can't hold on
When I'm stretched so thin
I make the right moves but I'm lost within
I put on my daily facade but then
I just end up getting hurt again
By Myself"
Nobuyuki: Myself!
Xue Shi: I ask Why
Oz: But in my Mind
I find
Xue Shi: I can't rely on myself!
Nobuyuki: Myself!
Xue Shi: I ask Why
Oz: But in my Mind
I find
Xue Shi: I can't rely on myself!
Fei Li: I can't hold on
Xue Shi: To what I want when I'm stretched so thin
Fei Li: It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on
Xue Shi: To anything watching everything spin
Fei Li: With thoughts of failure sinking in.
"If I/Turn my back I'm defenseless
And to Go blindly seems senseless
If I hide My pride and let it all go on
Then they'll/take from me till everything is gone
If I/let them go I'll be outdone
But If I/try to catch them I'll be outrun."
"If I'm killed by the questions like a cancer
Then I'll be buried in the Silence of the Answer"
Nobuyuki: Myself!
Xue Shi: I ask Why
Oz: But in my Mind
I find
Xue Shi: I can't rely on myself!
Nobuyuki: Myself!
Xue Shi: I ask Why
Oz: But in my Mind
I find
Xue Shi: I can't rely on myself!
Fei Li: I can't hold on
Xue Shi: To what I want when I'm stretched so thin
Fei Li: It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on
Xue Shi: To anything watching everything spin
Fei Li: With thoughts of failure sinking in.
Fei Li, again, sung along with Xue Shi.
"How do you think/I've lost so much
I'm so afraid/I'm out of touch
How do you expect/I will know what to do
When all I know/Is what you tell me to.
Don't you [Nobuyuki: Know!]
I can't tell you how to make it [Nobuyuki: Go!]
No matter what I do. How hard I [Nobuyuki: Try!]
I can't seem to convince myself [Nobuyuki: Why!]
I'm stuck on the outside.
Don't you [Nobuyuki: Know!]
I can't tell you how to make it [Nobuyuki: Go!]
No matter what I do. How hard I [Nobuyuki: Try!]
I can't seem to convince myself [Nobuyuki: Why!]
I'm stuck on the outside."
Fei Li: I can't hold on
Xue Shi: To what I want when I'm stretched so thin
Fei Li: It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on
Xue Shi: To anything watching everything spin
Fei Li: With thoughts of failure sinking in.
Fei Li: I can't hold on
Xue Shi: To what I want when I'm stretched so thin
Fei Li: It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on
Xue Shi: To anything watching everything spin
Fei Li: With thoughts of failure sinking...
As the song came to a close, Xue Shi signaled for the band to quiet,
"Sorry for the gig starting late. So... anyone up for some reaaaally
sappy songs?"
There were a number of boos -- Xue Shi normally didn't play
that sort of music, and had quite often rebuffed such styles in the
rare interviews she did-- and one loud, derisive laugh. The martial
artist-come-singer rolled her eyes, "I get it, I get it. Would the one
who laughed, come here?"
Schuldich chuckled again, pushing others out of the way and making a
show of it as he approached the stage. Rache, Aya and Ken followed at a
more sedate pace, "Hello bishoujo."
"Schuldich..." she was smiling cheerfully, even as her leg snapped out
to knock him in the chin. The German merely tipped his head to one
side, and the kick simply stirred his hair, "... be a dear and keep
your mouth shut."
"The sklave is giving _me_ orders now?"
Xue Shi had to laugh, "I belong to no one, Schuldich, you _know_ that!"
"You sure took orders well this afternoon," Rache smirked. Xue Shi was
mature. She didn't stick her tongue out, or give Rache the red eye. The
singer fingered the German girl.
Turning her attention back to the crowd in general, Xue Shi grinned,
"Here's a new one for me...
Tachidomatte'ru
Kimi no senaka wa
Sabishige na mama
Boku wo toraeru
Kimagure na ai de tsutsumitai
Shinjirarenai
Kotoba bakari ga
Egao no naka de
Kiba wo muite'ru
Sono kakera ni ai wo sagashite'ru
Itsuka wagamama na
Utagoe ga kimi ni todoite
Sonna shunkan ni
Kono sekai wa kawatte yuku
Nani wo mitsukete yukou
Jikan wo kirisaite
Kimi no soba ni iru yo
Sore ga yasashisa nara
Nani wo mitsumete iyou
Sono te wo sashidashite
Tsukanda genjitsu wo
Let it go
Shinjiyou
Tooku wo mite'ru
Sono manazashi wa
Kokoro no naka no
Koe wo kiite'ru
Mada aoi tsuki wo dakishimete
Hashiri tsudzukeru
Kimi no tsuyosa ga
Mata atarashii
Tobira wo hiraku
Sugu akeru yoru wo terashidase
Tatoe hitori demo
Kimi no koto shinjite itai
Sonna shunkan ni
Kono sekai wa ugokidasu
Nani wo mitsukete yukou
Kokoro wo hakidashite
Mata koko deaeru yo
Sore ga shinjitsu nara
Nani wo mitsumete iyou
Sono te wo sashidashite
Tsunkanda genjitsu wo
Let it go
Shinjiyou
Nani wo mitsukete yukou
Jikan wo kirisaite
Kimi no soba ni iru yo
Sore ga yasashisa nara
Nani wo mitsumete iyou
Sono te wo sashidashite
Tsukanda genjitsu wo
Let it go
Shinjiyou..."
END
[1]Little Sister
[2]Big Brother
Big thanks to Aquila for the help with the German ^-^V
"By Myself" was the hardest part of the chapter.
The other song is "For Real" by Tokuyama Hidenori. It's the opening
theme to Saiyuki.
Here's a question, next time Xue Shi shows up... should I have her sing
a Project Wyze song? *grins* Now _that_ would be interesting...
*wanders off* You want a city apocolpyse, then turn my mic on...
_watching_ Saiyuki videos instead of writting this chapter, and that
would explain why this is late _and_ why I did so poorly on my math
"midterm"...
It's not taken at midterm, so why's it called a midterm?
Well, I can't remember who it was, but they wanted this, so I'm giving
it to them *gringringrin*
False Identity
Chapter Sixteen: Changes
Li Xiang
Ranko ran her fingers through her hair, entering the Koneko from the
back entrance. It was still early, as she entered the kitchen, to the
sight of Aya and Ken seated at the table.
"Morning," she called to them cheerfully, and they raised their heads.
The solemn look on Aya's face was normal-- the one on Ken's was not.
Ranko frowned, "Something wrong?"
It was Ken who spoke, "Omi and Yohji called from the hospital. Nabiki's
sister was nearly killed last night."
"But you already knew that," came Aya's monotone, "You were there, were
you not, Ranma?"
"Whatever are you talking about," Damn. The Twit twins must have told
them. Ranko found herself as _him_self. Ken dropped the glass of hot
water he'd picked up from it's resting place near where his hand had been.
"Damn," Siberian muttered, "I thought I left this shit behind a long
time ago..."
"Why did you keep this from us?" Farfello's words were coming back to
Aya. 'She won't, but he will'. This, obviously, had been what the
sociopath Irishman had meant. Ranma's eyes narrowed.
"Would _you_ tell everyone you've just met that _you_ had a
sex-changing curse?"
"No," Aya conceded defeat after a moment, then scowled, "How did
Farfello know?"
Ranma gave him a flat-eyed stare. Aya found himself, inexplicitly,
blushing. It was a 'what kind of idiot _are_ you' stare. "Schuldich."
"Right in one, Abyssian!" the ebony-haired martial artist grinned
widely. In a moment, the grin became a pout, "You're not going to kick
me out, are you?"
Ken and Aya stared at the pouting sixteen year old, then at each other,
Ken's stare was one of 'what should we do?'. Aya sighed and felt like
sulking. Ranko-- or rather, Ranma-- was doing something to him. He
didn't know what it was, only that it was happening, and he wasn't too
sure if he didn't like it.
"No... we aren't kicking you out."
"Yay!" Ranma did the standard, 'Little Kid Happy Dance' before
beginning a search of the cupboards, "I'm hungry!"
"You're always hungry," Ken muttered, watching the younger teen tear
around the kitchen in search of the ever-elusive food. Aya shook his
head, then stood up.
"We've still got work. Ranko-- uh, Ranma... change back to female, when
you've eaten. You're helping."
Ken, too, stood, and Ranma tried the attack that had always, _always_,
worked on him. The dreaded Puppy-Dog Eyes. Aya _stared_ at the boy,
before turning and exiting. Ranma turned to Ken, "How the hell did he
do that? That one always gets me!"
"Aya's made of sterner stuff," Ken snorted, before following the Weiss
leader out. Ranma was left in the kitchen alone, a bag of store-bought
cookies in hand.
---
Ranma-- Ranko?-- twirled a pen around her fingers as she sat at the
counter. It was midday, and with both Aya and Ken on lunch break-- not
to mention Omi and Yohji were still at Nerima District Hospital-- the
shop was all but empty. Life was boring. She wanted something to do.
"Ask and ye shall receive," came a familiar voice. Ranma looked
up to find Schuldich and Rache standing in front of her. The two
redheaded Germans were wearing identical grins. Rache hopped up on the
counter.
"Schu said you let Jei kill your fiancée."
"Ex-fiancée," Ranma shrugged, "And she's alive, unfortunately. Clinging
to life just barely, though. Kudou and Tsukiyono are with the
Tendou family at the hospital."
Rache nodded, looking faintly relieved, then turned her gaze on the
Koneko, "Nice place. To many plants for my tastes..."
"Still having problems with your landlord?"
She grinned, "At the moment, no. I played a trick on her last night."
"Kleine Schwester[1]..." Schuldich sighed, "Sometimes, Rache, you do
the most despicable things."
She shrugged, then went through her duster's pockets. After a few
minutes of searching, she gave a happy crow, lifting the plastic
card into the air, "One credit card for one Xue Shi, less several
million yen."
"So you bought the warehouse?"
"And furnishings," Schuldich snorted, "Rache decided she was going to
make each room for a specific person. Made me go through all their
minds to find out what they wanted-- and believe me, breaking through
Crawford's shields without him noticing is not the easiest thing to do
in the world."
Ranma hiked a ruby eyebrow, "I'm going to guess on this.. Did you max
out my card?"
Rache blushed, "Uhm... well... yes?"
Ranma had to sigh. She had expected that-- Rache was a woman, after
all, and therefore well verse in the habit of shopping. The martial
artist tapped her pen against the counter, "Don't worry about it, Naru.
In any case, when do you think Schwartz can move in?"
"A week, at least," Rache pulled her legs up to her chin, "While we've
got electricity and running water, nothing else has been hooked up.
Schu and I were wondering if you'd like to come help...?"
"Right now?" the cursed one frowned, "I'm kind of working..."
"The when Abyssian and Siberian return," Schuldich smirked, glancing at
the door to the Koneko's living area, "You're coming with us."
Ranma pouted, "So I'm just unpaid muscle to you?"
"Un," Rache giggled, "Just a pack mule for us to burden with menial,
physical labor." She patted the other girl on the head, patronizing
smirk spreading across her features, as Ranma caught the offending hand.
"Schuldich!" the trio of redheads turned to see Ken standing in the
door. The assassin felt suddenly uneasy as the German man's gaze fell
on him. There was something in those jade eyes that creped him out.
Hidaka took a step back, before steeling his nerve. It was just a side
effect of Schuldich's mind games. He _wasn't_ scared of him! The fact
that Schuldich had suddenly smirked didn't really register-- mostly due
to the telepathic voice echoing in the back of his mind, /Definitely
_not_ afraid of me, hmm...?/
Smirk firmly in place, Schuldich sidled up to his quarry's side.
Rache-- hand still in Ranma's grip-- frowned, and the gender shifter
snickered. Ken suddenly looked like a deer caught in the headlights.
Schuldich had draped his arm over the teenager's shoulders, leaning
close enough to breath into his ear.
No words made their way out of Schuldich's mouth, before Ken had shot
away from him, and was hiding behind both counter and Ranma. The
martial artist looked at the boy using her as a shield, "What _are_ you
doing?"
Ken blinked a few times. He was... hiding behind Ranma as Schuldich
padded forwards, pouting. Pouting?! Why in the world was Schuldich
_pouting_ at him?
"I think you made großer Bruder[2] upset," Rache snickered, "He looks
about to cry!"
"Why are _you_ here?" Aya's chilling monotone cut through the air, and
again, they looked up. His violet eyes were locked on Schuldich, but it
was Rache who answered.
"Just returning Kitty's credit card," she shrugged, "and visiting."
Aya glared, and Ranma rolled her eyes, "Cool off, Aya. Or have you
forgotten that only a few _days_ ago, you were goofing off with him in
the park?"
Ken _stared_ at his leader. Apparently Omi and Yohji had failed to tell
him what their leader had been doing the night of his kidnapping, "You
were _what_?"
Aya had the grace to look ashamed, although it was offset a moment
later via a sharp glare in Ranma's direction. The redhead gave him her
'infuriating asshole' smirk, in return.
The sound of Aya's teeth grinding was almost loud enough to be heard in
Eastern Canada.
Schuldich snickered a bit, folding hi hands behind his head and leaning
on the counter, "Anyways, Katzchen, we're taking bishoujo to be our
labour-slave for awhile."
Ranma made a face, "I'm no one's slave."
"Oh? Rache hiked an eyebrow, "You sure _act_ like Irish's slave."
"Whatever" Ranma snorted, flipping over the counter, and depriving Ken
of his shield. The assassin 'eeped', ducking behind the counter, in an
attempt to hide from his (German) redheaded tormentor. Kitty turned the
'kawaii' factor on full, turning to face Aya. As she happened to be
female at that moment, he had a smaller resistance to The Look, "Come
with us? We could use some extra hands..."
"Aya, don't!" Ken whined from where he was hiding. Aya was frowning--
since Ranma had let Jei maul Akane and injure Nabiki, their tentative
contract with the middle Tendou had been voided. That meant he didn't
have to watch over 'Ranko' anymore. However, Ranma was still _living_
with Weiss, and therefore, capable of getting Schwartz hard copies of
information. As well, this was a chance for Aya to find out where
Schwartz lived.
Besides, he'd had fun when he was goofing around with Schuldich and
Ranma. He hadn't had fun like that sine Aya-chan's accident.
His voice was still rather icy, although Ranma could swear she saw his
eyes light up at the prospect, when he answered, "The Koneko won't run
efficiently with just the two of us, Ken. We might as well go."
"B... but Aya!" Ken hopped to his feet, "It's probably a trap and...
and..." Ken's voice trailed off as he was subjected to Ranma's
Puppy-Dog eyes. Even though he _knew_ Ranma was in reality, _male_, the
marital artist was, at least in this form, undeniably female at the
moment. Many a man has tried to overpower the kawaii-girl puppy-dog
look with sheer willpower. Many a man has failed.
Ken was no exception as he found himself facing the Puppy-Dog look at
full power.
---
Yohji winced as he dropped into the chair, across from Omi. He was
_really_ feeling the pain of duking it out with Ranma. Black and blue
all over from the blows he'd been dealt, not to mention the broken arm
he bore. His ribs _hadn't_ been cracked, thank-god, but they'd been
close. Right now, they were taped with infinite care.
"Did you get a hold of them?"
The playboy shook his head, "Nothing. Either they're ignoring the
phone-- which I _doubt_ Ken would do-- or they're not at the Koneko. I
called Manx and asked if she could go over and check," he paused,
"How's Akai or whatever her name is...?"
"Akane," came Nabiki's dull, lifeless voice, "is currently in intensive
care. Despite all odds, she survived the night, but she'd in a coma."
The words of Tendou Soun's wailing suddenly made perfect sense.
---
Five hours of back breaking labor is a pair in the ass, Ranma growled
to himself, stretching and popping his pine back in place. While he and
Aya had ended up hauling boxes of shit around the warehouse, and in
the process put an extreme amount of stress on their bones, Schuldich
and Ken had been playing. The game had been, apparently,
hide-and-go-seek, Ken was always hiding, and Schuldich always seeking.
Between her Barking of The Orders to "her slaves", Rache found the
game absolutely hilarious.
Ken popped up from nowhere-- only Ranma noting that he'd phased through
a wall to escape Schuldich. His arms wrapped around Aya's legs, "Aya!
Can we leave, yet?!" he'd whined this question at every chance he got,
but _this_ time he tagged something else on the end, "It's eight
o'clock! C'mon!"
"Eight?" Ranma's face paled, "Have I been working for _seven_ hours?!"
"Yeah," Rache's teasing grin vanished as Ranma began to curse-- rather
fluently-- in English, Gaelic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Polish, Russian,
German, French, Spanish, Italian and Japanese. Schuldich sidled up next
to his sister.
"Don't be surprised. The swears are pretty much all he knows of most
languages-- he's been called all of them, after all."
"Schuldich!" Ranma pounced on the redhead and Aya felt an inexplicable
surge of jealousy, "You've got a car, right? You can get me to Tamachi
in twenty minutes, right?"
"What's the deal, Ranma?" Rache turned a curious eye on her ally, "Why
Tamachi?"
"Xue Shi has a performance in twenty," he stated as way of explanation.
The two German nodded in understand, but Ken and Aya were confused.
"I didn't figure you for a groupie," Ken muttered, eyeing Ranma.
Groupies tended to dress in _normal_ clothing, not silk. The redheaded
siblings wore matching smirks, and Ranma snorted.
"We can explain on the way if you want to come. Right now, we have to
_go!_"
---
The band refused to play concerts. They _never_ played for anything
large than a club. Akira was trying to fix that, but it was a hard job.
It was quite literally, a miracle that he'd even convinced Xue Shi to
record-- and she kept finding ways to skip out on it. It was enough to
make a manager rip out his hair.
And now, she was nowhere to be seen. Those who'd managed to get
tickets to the gig were getting antsy. Xue Shi was ten minutes overdue.
In the two years he'd been managing her and the bad, she had never been
late to a gig. Practices, sure, but never a gig. He was biting his
nails and praying to a god he doubted would listen, that a miracle
would happen.
With a muffled wail of despair, he sent the band out. Hopefully a few
minutes of grace would be bought as they set up.
Fei Li's fingers twitched on the strings of his bass guitar. His head
was bowed, so silken black hair fell into his face, and hid the
panicked look in his eyes. He'd always felt like the only reason the
fans tolerated him was because of Xue Shi. He hated the feeling of
being unwanted, and most of Xue Shi's fans made him feel like that.
Nobuyuki sat stiffly in his seat, the drumsticks twirling around deft
fingers. The only hint of his nervousness was his bouncing leg, and the
fact he was practically chewing through his bottom lip.
Oz didn't really look nervous. Although, that might have something to
do with his eternal laid-back look. Some critics assumed he was stoned
99% of the time. But Oz was nervous. The entire time he'd been in Japan
had been spent playing guitar in one band or another, having only
recently joined up with Xue Shi. And there had always, _always_ been a
singer to take the attention off of him.
Oz didn't play so well when he thought everyone was watching him, and
him alone.
His head snapped up as the overhead fans brought a familiar-- and very
welcome-- scent to his nose. Sharp eyes peered out from under neon blue
bangs, searching the crowd for a familiar head of blood red hair.
This wasn't so easy-- a lot of Xue Shi's fans had dyed their hair red
for the gig. He was searching for a particular shade when a hand shot
out of the crowd. Around it were three other redheads-- apparently
natural, seeing as their eyebrows were red, too. One man had deep
crimson hair, the other an orangish flame red, and a woman with a shade
of red that looked to be only a few shades closer to brown. Xue Shi
stood in front of them, and the brunette to her left looked...
familiar, but Oz couldn't place him.
With a wild grin, Xue Shi used her fingers as a count down. Five...
four... three... two... one...
Oz started the opening riff to "By Myself"
It was almost automatic for the boys to start in with him at their
"proper" place. Xue Shi's voice rang out.
"What do I do to ignore them behind me?
Do I/follow my instincts blindly?
Do I hide my pride/from these bad dreams
And give into sad thoughts that are maddening?"
The crowd seemed to turn in on itself, looking for Xue Shi-- and she
crouched, then pushed off, flipping over their heads to land elegantly
on the stage, singing all the while.
"Do I/sit here and try to stand it?
Or do I/try to catch them red handed?
Do I trust some and get fooled by phoniness
or do I trust nobody and live in loneliness?"
Xue Shi's grin split her face in half as she picked up the mike, and
the nervousness seemed to flow out of her band-mates. Fei Li began to
sing along with her.
"Because I can't hold on
When I'm stretched so thin
I make the right moves but I'm lost within
I put on my daily facade but then
I just end up getting hurt again
By Myself"
Nobuyuki: Myself!
Xue Shi: I ask Why
Oz: But in my Mind
I find
Xue Shi: I can't rely on myself!
Nobuyuki: Myself!
Xue Shi: I ask Why
Oz: But in my Mind
I find
Xue Shi: I can't rely on myself!
Fei Li: I can't hold on
Xue Shi: To what I want when I'm stretched so thin
Fei Li: It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on
Xue Shi: To anything watching everything spin
Fei Li: With thoughts of failure sinking in.
"If I/Turn my back I'm defenseless
And to Go blindly seems senseless
If I hide My pride and let it all go on
Then they'll/take from me till everything is gone
If I/let them go I'll be outdone
But If I/try to catch them I'll be outrun."
"If I'm killed by the questions like a cancer
Then I'll be buried in the Silence of the Answer"
Nobuyuki: Myself!
Xue Shi: I ask Why
Oz: But in my Mind
I find
Xue Shi: I can't rely on myself!
Nobuyuki: Myself!
Xue Shi: I ask Why
Oz: But in my Mind
I find
Xue Shi: I can't rely on myself!
Fei Li: I can't hold on
Xue Shi: To what I want when I'm stretched so thin
Fei Li: It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on
Xue Shi: To anything watching everything spin
Fei Li: With thoughts of failure sinking in.
Fei Li, again, sung along with Xue Shi.
"How do you think/I've lost so much
I'm so afraid/I'm out of touch
How do you expect/I will know what to do
When all I know/Is what you tell me to.
Don't you [Nobuyuki: Know!]
I can't tell you how to make it [Nobuyuki: Go!]
No matter what I do. How hard I [Nobuyuki: Try!]
I can't seem to convince myself [Nobuyuki: Why!]
I'm stuck on the outside.
Don't you [Nobuyuki: Know!]
I can't tell you how to make it [Nobuyuki: Go!]
No matter what I do. How hard I [Nobuyuki: Try!]
I can't seem to convince myself [Nobuyuki: Why!]
I'm stuck on the outside."
Fei Li: I can't hold on
Xue Shi: To what I want when I'm stretched so thin
Fei Li: It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on
Xue Shi: To anything watching everything spin
Fei Li: With thoughts of failure sinking in.
Fei Li: I can't hold on
Xue Shi: To what I want when I'm stretched so thin
Fei Li: It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on
Xue Shi: To anything watching everything spin
Fei Li: With thoughts of failure sinking...
As the song came to a close, Xue Shi signaled for the band to quiet,
"Sorry for the gig starting late. So... anyone up for some reaaaally
sappy songs?"
There were a number of boos -- Xue Shi normally didn't play
that sort of music, and had quite often rebuffed such styles in the
rare interviews she did-- and one loud, derisive laugh. The martial
artist-come-singer rolled her eyes, "I get it, I get it. Would the one
who laughed, come here?"
Schuldich chuckled again, pushing others out of the way and making a
show of it as he approached the stage. Rache, Aya and Ken followed at a
more sedate pace, "Hello bishoujo."
"Schuldich..." she was smiling cheerfully, even as her leg snapped out
to knock him in the chin. The German merely tipped his head to one
side, and the kick simply stirred his hair, "... be a dear and keep
your mouth shut."
"The sklave is giving _me_ orders now?"
Xue Shi had to laugh, "I belong to no one, Schuldich, you _know_ that!"
"You sure took orders well this afternoon," Rache smirked. Xue Shi was
mature. She didn't stick her tongue out, or give Rache the red eye. The
singer fingered the German girl.
Turning her attention back to the crowd in general, Xue Shi grinned,
"Here's a new one for me...
Tachidomatte'ru
Kimi no senaka wa
Sabishige na mama
Boku wo toraeru
Kimagure na ai de tsutsumitai
Shinjirarenai
Kotoba bakari ga
Egao no naka de
Kiba wo muite'ru
Sono kakera ni ai wo sagashite'ru
Itsuka wagamama na
Utagoe ga kimi ni todoite
Sonna shunkan ni
Kono sekai wa kawatte yuku
Nani wo mitsukete yukou
Jikan wo kirisaite
Kimi no soba ni iru yo
Sore ga yasashisa nara
Nani wo mitsumete iyou
Sono te wo sashidashite
Tsukanda genjitsu wo
Let it go
Shinjiyou
Tooku wo mite'ru
Sono manazashi wa
Kokoro no naka no
Koe wo kiite'ru
Mada aoi tsuki wo dakishimete
Hashiri tsudzukeru
Kimi no tsuyosa ga
Mata atarashii
Tobira wo hiraku
Sugu akeru yoru wo terashidase
Tatoe hitori demo
Kimi no koto shinjite itai
Sonna shunkan ni
Kono sekai wa ugokidasu
Nani wo mitsukete yukou
Kokoro wo hakidashite
Mata koko deaeru yo
Sore ga shinjitsu nara
Nani wo mitsumete iyou
Sono te wo sashidashite
Tsunkanda genjitsu wo
Let it go
Shinjiyou
Nani wo mitsukete yukou
Jikan wo kirisaite
Kimi no soba ni iru yo
Sore ga yasashisa nara
Nani wo mitsumete iyou
Sono te wo sashidashite
Tsukanda genjitsu wo
Let it go
Shinjiyou..."
END
[1]Little Sister
[2]Big Brother
Big thanks to Aquila for the help with the German ^-^V
"By Myself" was the hardest part of the chapter.
The other song is "For Real" by Tokuyama Hidenori. It's the opening
theme to Saiyuki.
Here's a question, next time Xue Shi shows up... should I have her sing
a Project Wyze song? *grins* Now _that_ would be interesting...
*wanders off* You want a city apocolpyse, then turn my mic on...