Lost Soul – Part Twelve
By Seed
In a quiet little café to far off the main routes to be regularly frequented by more people than just the locals a young man was sitting at one of the tables in the corner. He stared into his drink as if searching for some answers to a question only he knew. His name wouldn't make any difference because no one around here did know him anyway and no one cared enough to take notice of his existence.
He was a stranger, a drifter. He came from nowhere and would soon be going, continuing on his way to god only knew where. He liked it that way, the solitude, the wandering without aim or purpose. He could be sure not to get bothered by anyone and he didn't care for anything in the world but himself. He was just another stranger in another unfamiliar place.
He watched his face mirrored in the empty glass, half hidden by dark bangs of hair falling down above his left eye. Darkness surrounded him as night had already fallen and he didn't feel like telling the waitress to lit the candle on his table.
He didn't mind the darkness, he embraced her, she was another shield another layer of protection, like an invisible armour. A defence against what you might ask, but the man sitting in the darkness wouldn't know an answer to that. He was so used to hiding inside his shell and keeping others away that he didn't even think about a specific reason for it anymore.
The man looked up and took in the scenery unfolding before him. The faint rustling rattle of a train going by could be heard in the distance. A few people talked about tonight's game, a kid was crying in the neighbourhood, some tomcats were singing their mistuned serenades in the next alley. He looked back at his glass again wondering if he should go north or south next, not that it really mattered of course.
And then all of a sudden silence.
Not a single sound could be heard, the man raised his head again and looked around but everyone seemed to be gone. He stood up and walked outside looking for someone to explain to him what had happened. He kept going, slowly at first than faster until he was running down the street as fast as he could.
Nothing, not one person was on the streets. The lights were on inside the houses but he couldn't make out any silhouettes. He ran further and further frantically searching his eyes wide and his heart racing. He ran through the whole town and back again.
Where had they all gone to? The man stopped inside a small park, resting and trying to catch his breath. The he sensed something, a humming sound apparently coming from inside a very old tree. He walked towards the source of the strange sound but suddenly he couldn't move anymore he wanted to but his feet were stuck his entire body was hold by some overwhelming force. He was forced to his knees and the humming became louder and louder until it was almost unbearable.
He wanted to cover his ears but couldn't even raise his arms. A strange dark purple light started to flow around him and with the light came a voice so unspeakable inhuman he found no words to describe it. But the voice, it talked to him, it echoed inside his head only saying one word.
"Choose".
That single word sent s shiver down his spine and before he could begin to form a single thought he suddenly felt a strange empty void inside. A feeling as if something had left him. And then as sudden as they had come the light and voice vanished and everything changed back to normal. He could move again but at what cost, what had he chosen?
He didn't know. He ran out of the park and into the streets. He watched amazed the people going by enjoying a late walk out or going to see a movie just like normal. Everything seem to be okay, had he just hallucinated?
He stepped in front of a young pair asking them if the had seen what had happened here but they walked right through him not even aware of his presence. He tried several more times all with the same result. No one heard him, no one saw him. Then it hit him. He had chosen and they had taken something away from him. And now he was doomed to be alone forever. He would be alone for ever…
Ryoga awoke with a scream, bathed in sweat his heart almost bursting out of his chest, his hands balled to fists clutching his blanket. He breathed heavily in sharp gasps sucking in the cool night's air coming in from outside.
He jerked up and stumbled out of his tent sinking to his knees a few feet away still not understanding what he had just experienced. Was it just a nightmare or maybe something more, maybe a premonition. A dark warning of things yet to come?
His eyes flew around searching for some proof that he was still were he had set up his camp a few hours ago and finally he calmed down somewhat. He looked down at his still shaking hands. He sighed pressing his hand tighter together to suppress his trembling.
Finally the trembling subsided and Ryoga returned to his tent but sleep wouldn't come again for him that night.
Lying awake he stared upwards where his small petroleum lamp was hanging down from a hook swinging a bit from side to side.
"What's going on with me?"
In a town not too far away another person had trouble sleeping or to be more precisely she had given up on the attempt to find any sleep a few hours ago. Now she was sitting inside her darkened restaurant sipping at some hot chocolate and just thinking.
The stupid jerk. Why do I even bother. It's not that it is any of my business. I mean I shouldn't be surprised that he is gone. When was the last time the jackass was in one place for more than three days in a row, right after his birth? And how can someone be so ridiculously disorientated as him and still find his way back to "oh my sweet Akane" time and time again. I've taken him in and helped him out at least he could have sent a card or something.
Ukyo angrily slapped her flat hand on the counter of the cold metal grill. But hen her features softened and she became more worried than angry.
But what if he isn't just lost at usual what if something really bad happened to him? It's been a whole week now. And even for him that's a bit much. I mean if this was the usual Hibiki routine, coming to town, babbling something about revenge and love, fighting Ranma, loosing, standing in front of Akane and not bringing out one single intelligent sentence, loading off some souvenirs at the Tendos and disappearing again.
But this time was different, he told me stuff he surely hasn't told anyone before and he wanted to change his life for real, he seemed so sincere. Or did he get scared?
Maybe he didn't get lost but just ran away. Perhaps it was all a bit much for him, living here, going to school and all. But when he really felt uncomfortable why didn't he tell me so. I thought we were friends and that he trusted me. I know how impulsive and overreacting he can get, he is like piece of black and yellow dynamite with a very short fuse.
And somehow I have a nasty suspicion that Ran-chan knows more about Ryoga's sudden departure the he is willing to let on. When I asked him at school he became all jittery all of a sudden and just told me a load off bull how they just talked and not even fought the last time when they had been together.
"I should have dragged him back with me by his stupid bandanna if necessary instead off letting him drool over Akane and then disappearing to heaven knows where. Tomorrow I will grill Ran-chan once more there is definitely more to this and I want to know just what that is."
With newfound vigour and her mind set on the upcoming task Ukyo finally decided to give sleep one more chance to embrace her and ascended to her living quarters on the first floor of Ucchans.
If one martial arts experienced okonomiyaki chef with a gigantic spatula has set her mind of something, boy then you know what determination really looks like. It wears a dark brown ponytail and black leggings.
Before she went to bed Ukyo took one last look out of her window.
"What's going on in that thick head of yours sugar?"
In yet another part of town a familiar figure was still up and busy, hopping from roof to roof, carrying a sack with the silky, lacy prey of this night's raid. After a last jump, the small troll like creature landed on top of his base of operations, the Tendo dojo famous for a great martial arts tradition and, and as magnet for property destroying weirdoes.
Nearby the koi pound stood the resident heir of the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts, silently watching the stars above him. Ranma didn't usually mind all the chaos and hectic in his life even if he had never asked for it, but all the more he appreciated these rare moments of tranquillity. Nobody who knew him better would have guesses that the feisty cocky, loudmouthed and overly active boy also had a calmer more introspective side to him. But then again they never asked did they?
They just tossed everything at him accusations and demands, challenge letters and love potions. Ranma sometimes believed his life was never about what he wanted but what every one else around expected him or forced him to do or feel. Why couldn't he just live without all this pressure and make his own decisions without always getting pushed into one direction or the other. Everyone seemed to be centred around him and all of them wanted him to fulfil their expectations or to kill him in order to pursue their own purposes.
Starting with his father and Tendo-san, going on with Ukyo, Shampoo, the Old Ghoul and not to forget his set of rivals, Mousse, Kuno and of course Ryoga, not to mention all the other people who had wanted to mop the floor with him in the past.
Ranma sat down at one of the big rocks at the edge of the pond.
And on top off it all hovered Akane, the girl which he still hadn't figured out yet even after all that time. Sometimes he believed she loved him and sometimes she seemed to just not even give him the least bit of credit. Always expecting the worst of him, never letting him explain things.
But when she smiled he felt light and warm inside and when she was in danger he would tear the world apart to get her back to safety. Was that love?
"Man if I wasn't so damn good and handsome I would have snapped by now."
Ranma smiled and turned to walk back to the house when his eyes fell on something lying in the grass. It was one of Ryoga's bandannas.
He must have forgotten it after one of our last duels.
He picked the soft silky cloth up and rubbed the texture between his fingers.
Still have no idea how he's doing that. Making them razor sharp and all. Have to ask him next time he comes around.
"If he comes back."
He didn't even notice that he had spoken that out loud but continued to look at the small headband.
Ranma bit back down his frustration. He hadn't want to let Ryoga run off like that after their argument. But when he was all upset and angry like that it was not much use talking to the guy.
More to assure himself he said:
"Ah he will be around soon. Couldn't stay away long from this place before."
But somehow Ranma doubted his own confident words. He remembered that last look Ryoga had given him. Full of pain and hurt and almost betrayal. It was more than just the usual doze of angst and depression Ryoga carried with him almost every day since Ranma knew the Lost Boy. Maybe this time it had gone too far. Maybe this time Ryoga had gone over the edge and decided to really never return again, like he had promised countless times before.
This was a thought that really scared Ranma. Ryoga was his friend and Ranma Saotome had never had that much friends to begin with, so that the ones he had were all the more important to him. And especially Ryoga. The big oaf with fists that could punch through a tank but a heart that was so fragile like it was made of glass.
Before entering the house Ranma stopped to look at the sky once more.
"Where are you Ryoga?"
PS:
Thank you everyone for your great feedback. I have decided to continue with this story because of it and because I felt I wasn't quite done with Ryoga yet. Next chapter will have a bit more action, promise.