Half of What I Used to Be Chapter 7: Nightmare, a ranma fanfic

Half of What I Used to Be

Shadow Knight

Chapter 7: Nightmare

Disclaimer: Nope, no ownership. Belongs to the ingenious Rumiko Takahashi

Drip. . . .

I watched the warm drops slide along the metal surface. . . . I wonder. . .

Drip. . . .

Propping the blade above my face, I closed my eyes and stuck my tongue out.

Drip. . . .

Mmmm. . . tasted sweet. It was like sticking my tongue out for gumdrops when it rained. But not nearly as tasty.

Licking my lips, I looked down at the body on the floor. It writhed and shook a bit before it finally stayed still. A lake of crimson engulfed the ground around the carcass, seeping around the snapped limbs. Reaching down, I let my fingers swirl about in the pool. Bringing my fingers to my lips, I licked some off slowly.

How exquisite. Sweeter than I had ever imagined. Much sweeter.

I looked at the clock nearby. Oh my, time to go. I cast a quick glance to the right. A beast glared back at me, cautious and weary, scarlet dropping from its grinning lips. The eyes flickered, pupils small and indiscreet in the pool of the iris. Reaching a hand out to the beast, my bloody fingers streaked against the image before I realized that it was. . . a mirror.

A truly terrifying beast, hungry for flesh.

I shuddered as I saw the beast. . .the creature. . . laugh at me. As I turned away from the mirror, a shiver ran down my spine.

"Don't you dare turn away from me you piece of shit."

My hands convulsed at my sides. I quickly spun around, my knife in hand, hissing out, half wild and half scared, "Who said that?!"

"Me," came the caustic reply.

I turned, and my hand went limp, the knife clacking to the ground below me. I shook and edged myself closer. I stared at the cruel eyes, dark and smoldering. Was I seeing right? Was this-

"That's right. . . I'm. . . . you."

There was a face. . . . . sneering at me. . . . from a mirror.

My fingers shook. That wasn't me! That couldn't be my face!!! Those cold eyes. . . no. . no!!! That was not me! It looked like a melted image of myself, twisted and distorted from all reality. The skin seemed to melt and reform at a second's passing. Unwillingly, I reached out and let my fingers stray against the cold glass surface. I shivered and jerked away as if burned.

It had felt like flesh under my touch. . .

As I tried to maintain my shivering, I had looked down. Now as I looked up, I felt a scream of terror rip past my lips.

The person was crawling. . . crawling out of the mirror.

I jerked backwards, away from the smiling creature. This creature with my face. I stumbled suddenly and fell backwards. My breath escaped me as I hit the ground roughly. Coughing spasmodically, I fervently tried to ease myself from the pool I had slipped in. Crimson stained my hands and splashed in thick waves. I looked up quickly to see the creature had completely climbed out of the mirror. . . . and it was slowly dragging itself toward me.

"S-s-Stay back!" I brought my knife toward the thing crawling, reaching out for my feet.

"Didn't you want power? Didn't you want strength to cut down all those you despise? All those that made us feel weak before?" A wet hissing issued from those cruel black lips.

Suddenly a slimy hand clasped my ankle, dragging itself closer. I slashed, hacked and ripped feverishly away at that abominable hand. But it was no use. Nothing affected it. I tried to stand but the creature had dragged itself half way up my torso, the black eyes boring into mine.

"I can help you. We can beat them all. You know that! Deep down, you know that I'm the only way. . . I've always been here, waiting for you to approach me. And now you cringe! Such insolence! Say the word and we can kill any person who gets in our way, and we can obtain anything. . ."

My neck felt swollen and thick as I tried to gasp for breath. Were the slick hands on my neck, or could I just not breathe? I couldn't decide. My body felt paralyzed and cold as the scarlet beneath me soaked my clothes and caked my hair.

Suddenly the lips turned into a frown, a deep, deep frown that spoke of evils I had not even dreamed of. "If you don't, you can die, worthless and alone in a pool of your own blood. . . or this one. I don't care. Either way, you'll be humiliated and broken."

The smile reappeared, a pseudo look of caring crossing the melting face. "Come on. Just let me take over for a while. Everything you ever dreamed of will be yours."

I looked at the dark eyes as the last of my oxygen was squeezed from my lungs. I knew that if I refused, I'd die here on the spot. Grimly, with the last of my breath, I managed to breathe out a small, "yes."

The evil creature smiled darkly and I lost consciousness.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

A flickering light seared through my closed lids and forced me awake. I rose a hand to block it out, but it continued to blink erratically.

Suddenly, an anger overtook me. A blinding rage. What was this?! With the new found energy coursing, bursting, pumping in my veins I rose up and threw a fist toward the incessant light. In a burst of light, glass shattered and rained down on my head. I gave a small fit of pleasurable screams.

How exhilarating! I felt on top of the world. Nothing was left for me to conquer! There was no one. This power. . . this slow starving madness. . . had caught up with me and left me empowered.

My skin seemed to tremble and I looked about. I had moved. . . . I don't remember how I had gotten here. The last time I had been awake was at that bastard's place where I had encountered the sickening creature that granted me this power.

I dusted myself off and brushed some broken pieces of glass from my shoulder. I suddenly froze when I saw a person rush past in front of me. A look of irritation passed my face. I had seen that black and yellow bandanna before. The beast within me craved for more blood, but I held the creature back.

I had more important things to do.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

I was finally here. After a night out, I was back. I could finally leave this wretched town, my victories and my last conquest waiting to be taken held of. I smiled and pushed open the door.

Only the sound of running water filled the air as I stepped inside. I walked quietly to the source of the water. My eyes roamed quickly about, surveying every detail about the room. Quiet. . . . empty. . . no witnesses. . .

There. . . there was my last conquest. Washing a large amount of dishes, the pale hands worked efficiently and mindlessly. I stepped silently behind this treasure. "Hello," I spoke with gentleness in my voice I didn't recognize.

A gasp permeated the silence between us. The plate in the pale hands dropped to the bottom of the sink and sunk beneath a tomb of foam. The water shut off and a shiver shook the body in front of me. Whipping around, two dark eyes looked at me with flickering emotions: hate, disgust, wonder,. . . but most of all. . . .fear.

"What are you doing here?"

The voice sounded sweet, cleansing a small part within me. I suppose it was my heart. I sighed and stepped closer. "I only came to say hello. No need to be. . . frightened."

The eyes narrowed and glared. "I'm not scared. Especially of you! You just startled me with your quiet entrance. . . I didn't notice you had come in. . . . Different from your normal noisy clamoring."

I smiled tersely. How we danced around this subject so much. "You know. . . there's been something I've wanted to tell you for some time now."

"W. . . What is that?" How defensive my little prize was!

I slid closer. "I wanted to tell you. . . . I love you."

The look of surprise made me laugh. I reached out to my love. The look of surprise was violently killed and replaced by an almighty fear. My love backed away, bumping against the sink. I looked inquisitively. "What makes you fear me so much, my love?"

"Y-y-Your hands are blood red!. . . They're covered in blood!"

I looked down to my outstretched hands. Indeed, they were still stained red from my last. . .encounter. I smiled and wiped my hands calmly on my clothes. Strange. . . . it didn't come off. The blood must have dried and dyed my hands. I shrugged. No big deal.

"It's of no real consequence," I spoke calmly, closing the gap between us.

Looking at me with unbelief, a half scream passed by the quivering lips, "No real consequence?! What are you talking about?! There's blood on your hands! Blood!"

"They were just obstacles in my way. . . they were asking to die."

The statement was blank. I felt nothing behind it except a bit of pride. But it had quiet the opposite on the one in front of me. A convulsion shook the tiny body so much. I heard a struggle for breath in that pale throat. Those same pale hands that had moved like graceful butterflies before, shook and quivered as they held back a spasm of vomit.

"Don't be scared, my love. . . . No one will find out it was me. We can run away from this wretched town now. I will be yours, and you will be mine. ."

Suddenly the fear dissolved at my last words. Anger, born from stubbornness of years, broke through and ran rampant on the beautiful face. "I will never be yours. I belong to nobody. Especially a disgusting sicko like you. Get away from me!" A hand was planted in my chest, forcing me back roughly.

The anger and hate in the voice made me shake. My love. . . had rejected me? And what was this violence shoved my way?

No. . . this couldn't be right. This wasn't the way it was supposed to be.

I stepped closer and grabbed my love gently. Some struggling ensued. I was growing frustrated with this behavior. I squeezed the squirming mass in my arms tightly for a moment. A small yelp of pain burst forth. I relaxed my grip a little and felt a small euphoric sigh escape from my lips. But no. . . . no. . . I wouldn't hurt my love. No, no. . . .

"You must understand my love," I whispered gently into the small ear, "I love you. I just want you to understand that. I want to be with you forever. Forever. . . . can't you do just that?"

The fighting grew worse and a sharp retort bit back like acid, scalding my insides, "You bastard! Get your filthy hands off me! Don't touch me you psychotic murderer!"

I felt an anger broil through me, firing at every nerve in my brain. It picked and scratched. It hurt so much. Why did it hurt so much? I didn't like this, it hurt so badly! My eyes turned toward the struggling figure in my arms, the pain in my head increased until I was squinting. I wanted to fall over and die, it hurt so much!

"I'm NOT psychotic. I did all I did, murdered all of them for a reason! I did everything for you. I wouldn't let those pigs get in the way of our love. Can't you see I did it all for you?! That I killed for you?!" I screamed at the shaking bundle of limbs, my voice cracking and high.

My words fell on deft ears as the struggling only grew worse. A sudden madness possessed me, a devil!, a darkness! The undying love I had felt for so long wilted before the power of the beast inside me. I didn't resist it though. I wished for it to consume me until it filled ever part of my being.

My lips pulled back over my lips in a snarl, disrupted with a moan of satisfaction as the madness rushed through me, eating into my brain like a million worms. I felt an ineffable power surge into my limbs, everything becoming clear as I stared down at the source from which this power was born.

Everything was clear now! I saw everything as it was supposed to be! The love that had blinded me before was diminished and flushed out from my mind. Only fury burned like the flames of the underworld, fueled by the undying hatred I had for this insignificant person. . . . That was it! I peered down with my new found sight and saw that everything I had ever loved, cherished, and obsessed after was only a pest, nothing to be sought after. . . . What a fool I had been!

Feeling angered even more at such my stupid pursuit of this worthless idiot, I smacked the worthless scum away. "I was wrong about you. . . oh yes. . . . I was so wrong. You aren't worth my time. I wasted years of my life on you. . . and for what? NOTHING!"

A knife suddenly appeared in my hand. I turned and smiled. "Naughty, naughty," I chastised to my hand. "Nevertheless. . . . ," I quickly grabbed the knife with my right hand, "I do need a blade at the moment."

I looked down at the figure on the floor. Shaking like a child. Where had the intrepid warrior fled to now? I leaned down. The fool started to scoot back, but I was faster, the clumsy idiot. Snatching up a handful of hair, I yanked the coward back towards me. A screech filled the air, and I grinned. What music these panicked screams bring!

Looking at the handful of hair, I held my demon aside for just a moment. I brought the lavender strands to my face and breathed. A stifled moan escaped my lips and I fought the anger down for another moment longer. It was just as I imagined, smelling of jasmine and –

"Get your hands off me!"

A fist rushed by my cheek, grazing it. I slid backwards and yanked at the silken strands roughly. Another tortured scream ripped through the air. I grasped the swinging fist in mine and clenched it tightly. Breath from pale lips suddenly became tight and short as the simpering pest tried to breathe. Oh how fun this was! This was much better than I had imagined!

I enjoyed this pain much more than any silly love.

Another scream! Another note to the symphony I was about to conduct! The fist in my hand became smaller as I felt a crack splinter under the flesh and bone break jaggedly out of the skin. "Yes, scream! Scream until I hear your screams no more! I want to enjoy this moment forever!"

A laugh shook my frame. What a performance! What a sound! If only I could record it! I- The screams suddenly came short. I looked down. "Now why did you have to go and do that? You were doing so wonderfully. Shall we try an encore?"

My prey's eyes were wide and bright. As I stared more deeply into them, I saw a relief flow through my personal music box. What could be-

I was thrown off from my thoughts when a heavy object contacted with my skull. I gave a shout and fell to the ground, my head aching. I turned over, looking in front of me blearily, my teeth clenched in an angry snarl. Suddenly, the knobby end of a large stick met my vision before contacting crushingly with the side of my head.

A roar tore from my throat in rage and confusion as I was struck down once again. I put up my hands to block the assault, but the stick continued to make contact with my flesh. Blood welled up in my mouth. How bitter it tasted! It was choking me! Pain wracked my body as the barrage continued.

"Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, the demon fighting to keep me strong.

The stick was relentless and continued to beat on my skull. The sound began to vibrate into my body, resonating in my ears. thump. . . thump. . . thump. . . thump. . .

It was getting louder and louder! Would this pain ever end?! The demon had left me howling in pain as I clutched at my face.

Thump. . . Thump. . . . Thump. . . Thump

So incessant! "Damn you! Stop it!"

THUMP. . . THUMP. . . THUMP. . . THUMP

The noise consumed everything about me. Even the pain began to fade as the noise reigned. What madness had fallen upon me now?! I. . . . .

. . . . . . and suddenly, my eyes fluttered open.

I was in my room. I stared about me shocked at the sight. Glancing at my hands, my eyes widened. They were not dirty! They were clean as they had been before! I shook my head and pinched my cheek. No. . . no . . . it was all real.

THUMP

That noise. . . .it still persisted. . . was I still. . . I let my curiosity take hold and I ventured out with a simple, "Yes?"

"You have a phone call. Hurry and pick it up," came the voice from the other side of the door.

As steps tottered away from my door, I stared. The voice was normal, not shaken with fear. . . . I stared down at my clothes. They were not bloody or disheveled. They were crisp and clean as they had always been. I opened the door and made my way down to the phone.

Had it all been a dream? Everything? The murders, the fear, the blood. . . . all a fabricated dream? But how did I feel such pleasure, such bliss? Such pain and misery? Pondering these thoughts, I saw that I had reached the phone. I picked it up and let my mind focus on the telephone call.

"Yes, may I help you?"

"You damn well may. You can start by paying me my money. I've waited two weeks for that money, and I'm not going to wait a day longer, you hear me?" The voice was sharp and piercing in my ear.

I winced as the reality of life had sunk in. "Yes, I hear you. I just. . . I just don't have the money right now. You must understand don't you?"

A snicker crept through the phone, making me suddenly cold. "Oh I understand perfectly. I understand about that money you've been stealing from the place. And that you've been buying other crap with it. Oh yes, I understand perfectly well about your darker side."

My body was rigid. "What do you mean," I demanded, trying not to let my voice shake.

"I've seen you on your late night excursions. I've seen you creep into you-know-who's room and watch. Oh, believe me, I know about your little act, you disgusting little pervert. I know all about it," the voice was filled with loathing.

"That's not tru-"

The voice was cold as it cut me off. Cold and heartless. "I don't give a shit whether you deny it or not. I just want my money. And if you just 'don't have any money' from your latest of 'pilfering rendezvous', then I think I'll make a trip over there and detail just what you've been doing."

I tried to resist the fear dwelling in my heart, "You have no proof."

"Oh, I've got plenty of proof. Pictures say a thousand words after all. And who wouldn't believe me? Why would I give out false information? That's not my style."

A spurt of anger spilled past my lips, "Now you just listen here!-"

"NO!, You listen here! I'm tired of waiting for my money. If you don't bring it to me tonight, I'll expose you tomorrow. I'm sure that stealing money would get you kicked out of a home, but sneaking into rooms, would surely get you booted off the island, never to see your beloved once again."

My breath stopped in my lungs. I could never see my love again? No! I couldn't do that! There was no way I could leave! My beloved was the only thing that kept me alive every day. I would have no purpose without my love. I. . . .

"I don't care what you do from now on, but bring me my money. Consider it a punishment for you filthy games. Ugh. . . you disgusting maggot! You're not a man, not even half a man! Your just a perverted beast in a human disguise. . . . tch. . .Any ways, bring me the money near the river, under the bridge tonight at 10. You know the consequences if you don't, so be there!"

The dial tone rang in my ears for a full minute before I placed it gently in its cradle. A smile grew on my face as I stood there, staring into space. My mind was whirling as thoughts raced around in my brain. Quickly, I slipped back to my room and let a small laugh escape my lips. It was an unusual laugh, filled with something I couldn't describe, yet was all too familiar at the same time.

Pausing, I reached into my sleeve, and pulled out a knife. A very unique blade that I used only when for the most special occasions. . . . Polishing the surface lightly, I murmured to myself with a wicked grin, "I may not be half the man, I was Nabiki. . . . . .

. . . . but I can still make my dreams come true."

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

THE END!!!!!. . . . OR IS IT?

Okay, so it is. :P Anwyho, glad that people still read and kept up with it. I know it took me forever. Well, did you guess who it was? If you didn't by now, I'll let you know. Ready?

. . . . . . . . . . Mousse.

Yup, the killer was Mousse the whole time. I know that transforming stuff (or non-existent really) threw a lot of people off. And to be honest, I totally forgot about that when I wrote it. I just thought it was kind of cool scene. So, that's how it ended. Still got questions? Well, I'll try to answer a few:

1-Why didn't Mousse transform when he was hit by the rain?

/Well, for one, he was dreaming the whole time. When you have dreams I suppose things like transforming really don't conflict with dreams. Sure, he could have, but would it really have mattered to him?

2-Who was the victim?

/If you didn't figure this out, it was Nabiki. I know that a lot of people thought it wouldn't be her (though there were a few who did) because of the whole "pure and innocent soul" bit at the funeral, but wouldn't a priest say that anyways? Perhaps not, but I would hope so for the most part. Because deep down I think she cares (even if microscopically) a little bit for her sisters and others.

3-What was up with the clacking shoes at the funeral?

/Well, I know most of the martial artists (including Mousse) wear soft padded shoes or slippers, but I figured that most people at a funeral would wear nice looking and neat shoes. And I figured, most nice look shoes are such that they clack (at least with men's).

4-What was up with Mousse getting the knife out of his pocket and not his sleeve?

/Well (I say that a lot don't I?), that was kind of a screw up to be honest. I didn't want to give a dead give away either though. I mean I think EVERYONE (or just about) would know who it was then. So in a way I spoke figuratively. I suppose one can think of a pocket as in a pocket of space or such.

5-What was the creature in the mirror? Or what was that about?

/Basically throughout this whole story, Mousse is slowly turning crazy (though he certainly wont admit it!). He doesn't realize it, but sees things differently. He's paranoid and believes everyone is against him. That's why he's commonly nervous and such. The creature he sees in the mirror is an outward expression of the madness growing in him. He doesn't realize it, but he let his madness slowly eat away at his brain. So basically, it was a personification of his madness which eventually, COMPLETELY took over him.

6-Why did he kill Nabiki?

/That's basically answered at the end. He was doing bad stuff like stealing money from the restaurant and sneaking into Shampoo's room to watch her (CREEPY!!!). When Nabiki threatened him (and in his dream she did the same if you're wondering) about exposing Mousse's antics, he did the only thing possible for a desperate man: killed her. And the reason why Kasumi acted normally was because she didn't know her sister was dead then. They found out that night/next day.

7-So what happens in the end, after the dream?

/Since his whole "killing spree" was a dream, he might do it and know what to do right this time. It's really up to you. Personally I'd hope he'd find some way to give Nabiki the money and stop stealing and being plain creepy. --

LIST OF SUSPECTS SCRATCHED OFF LIST (in order of appearance):

-Kasumi (buying veggies at the market)

-Hikaru (driving doll to tree-pining for Akane to come to him for comfort)

-Kuno (drops bokken on coffin-thanks her 4 the pics; & respects her for being able to get his money, in a way)

-Soun (Running after Happosai-mustached man)

-Happosai (Bombing place and steals Kodachi's undies)

-Kodachi (Accuses Mousse of stealing her undies)

-Nodoka (Carrying large bundle pass TV's in begging of chap)

-Ukyo (One with the "blinding piece of metal")

-Akane (Crying on roof; comforted by Ranma)

-Ranma (Comforts Akane)

-Dr. Tofu (Killed by Mousse when trying to help him out of nasty clothes)

-Ryoga (One with black and yellow bandanna)

-Shampoo (Mousse's loved one-as if you didn't know)

-Cologne (The one with the battering stick who saves Shampoo)

-Nabiki (One on the telephone threatening Mousse)

If you have any more questions or inquiries, just ask them in your review and if need be, I'll put up another chap just to answer questions about the story. Thank you all for reading this demented piece of junk. Please review and tell me how you liked the ending. Even flames are accepted. :P

HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Ciao. :o)