BLOOMING A GRITpost^H^H^H^Hfic Written December 27, 1998 by Skribulous (aka. MaRaMaLa, D' Fat Dragon Scribe) (Mark Ranel M. Lambo) --- Nerima General Hospital, Early Morning (The morning nurse yawned as she walked her usual rounds in the hospital. It has been several months since there was any sort of excitement around Nerima, and she was getting bored. The last time there was any incident happening was when that time during the celebration in the park with that sword-wielding bishonen maniac was hacking the people and made quite a mess with the festivities.) RL-Note: Rave's intro WAY back... ^_^ (Turning the corner in the corner, she headed towards the nurses' station. She paused as she saw somebody already waiting at the counter.) Nurse: Good Morning. Ah: Good Morning! (The nurse gave this girl a once-over. Arika Sumeragi was dressed in a worn-out boys' school uniform that had seen better days, and this day just wasn't it. She was carrying a bonquet of sunflowers in her arms. The girl also has a tense, or rather anxious look on her face. From the look of things, she must've come a long way to visit whoever she was seeing.) Nurse: You're pretty early today, miss..? Ah: Hai. I'm visiting my friends today, and I want to get here as fast as I could. Nurse: Well, okay. They're... Ah: ...at Room 142, Right Wing. I know. Domo Arigato! Nurse: You're welcome... Hmm. She looks familiar. --- Room 142, NGH (Ah enters the now-familiar room of her two friends and teammates Chris Reed and Tom Cruz. It was empty save for the two bed-ridden occupants who have been staying there for months. The only sounds in the room was the regulated breathing of the two patients and the beeping of the ICU machines they are connected to.) Ah: Oh, no one here... (Ah closes the door behind her, then faces the two comatose invalids.) Ah: Hello again... It has been a while, guys. So, like, how're you two hanging? (Both occupants didn't even stir. All this time, they have never responded to Ah or anyone else.) Ah: Yeah, I know the joke's kinda lame, you know? What's with the outfit? Sorry, didn't have time to change up. Hope you guys don't mind. I was in a hurry getting here. So stupid of me. ^_^ (No response from either Tom and Chris. Ah continues her monologue.) Ah: Shiela's dead, by the way. Who? The ki-vempyre, of course. How? I'm not really sure... the important part is that she is dead. Dead and buried. (Still no response from Tom and Chris. Ah places the sunflowers in a vase placed on a small table between the two beds.) Ah: Like the flowers? Kanzaki gave them to me, for you guys. Yeah, they're nice blooms. bright and sunny, Huh? I don't know why... He just said it'll help us all. Anyway... Shiela won't be harming anyone else again. Ever... Again... (Unnoticed, a tear falls from Chris' eyes...) Ah: Still... I wish... I wish it could have been different... still... (Ah straightens, and takes a deep breath.) Ah: Easy now... don't lose it girl... You're in control... (Ah composes her thoughts, then continues, willing herself not to cry.) Ah: It's so hard... I've tried to get over it, but I can't... I lived, but the others... you guys... (Ah's breathing slows as she calms down and stopped sobbing. She begins berating herself for losing control again.) Ah: Man, I am such an idiot... so stupid... Eh? (Ah notices something on the sunflowers that she was sure wasn't there before.) Ah: What's this? (Ah could see little bright sparking lights, normally too small to be unnoticeable, flittering around the sunflowers. Wondering, she reached out with a hand to touch them. But before she reached the sunflowers, the flowers began to quiver and shake by themselves.) Ah: Wha...? (The sunflowers flashed with bright light. Then room was enveloped with the bright light...) ~~~~~~~~~~ What's goin' on? Light... Bright light... So bright... What's this? What's this? What... ~Flashback? -- Something Wicked This Way Comes Sven: ...Hey, Ah! Get that gear here, on the double! Ah: Lieutenant..? You... Sven: What are you waiting for, girl! Come here! (Ah blinks, and looks around, finding herself back in the dungeon beneath Mystic Manor where everything began...) Ah: This can't be... how could this... this... Tom: Well, Ah? You're gonna just stand there, or what? Ah: I... sorry. Here. Chris: About time. You're really slowing down, girl. (Everyone else begins reloading their weapons. Ah turns to Chris.) Ah: Chris... (Ah could hear the other mercs snickering, just like that time.) Corey: What Chris was meaning to say is that that you could get a good job as a seiyuu for a hentai project, with all that heavy breathing you were doing. (Automatically, a gun appears in Ah's hands. She looks down at it, surprised.) Ah: Huh? I... remember this. (She looks up... to see Chris pointing a gun at her as well.) Chris: What is that for, huh? Go for it, sweetcheeks. I dare you. (Ah could see the others edge away from them as the group fell silent. Some were reaching for their weapons, ready for a fight to break out at any moment.) Ah: Look... Chris... I... I'm sorry about this. I didn't mean to do anything... You were right. I shouldn't be getting soft. Chris: Huh? What do you mean? (Suddenly, their squad leader interrupts the exchange, seemingly oblivious to what could potentially deteriorate into a full-scale free-for-all.) Sven: Alright, rest is over. Let's move it!!! (The rest of the Blazing Crescents quickly fell in line, following their leader's commands. They cautiously marched down the corridor.) Sven: Ah, come on! Ah: I... Hey! Wait up! Mike: Well, you shouldn't have carried all that with you, you know. Ah: Well, I have to... Well, I didn't hear YOU volunteer. Mike: I... (Tom slows down his pace, letting the others overtake him until he is at Ah's side. He follows her speed and gets closer to her.) Tom: What's happening, Ah? This is most unlike you. Ah: Tom... I... it's a long story... Corey: You're showing your age, Ah. Ah: WHAT! Chris: Corey, stop embarrassing the sourpuss, man. (Everyone laughs as the last remark, embarrassing Ah even further.) Ah: Why you two... What's your problem, huh? Why are you guys picking on me so damn hard? Corey: Nothing better to do, I guess. Ah: That's it... (Ah begins to take out an even bigger gun, but Tom reaches out and grasps her hand, stopping her.) Tom: Ah. Don't let them get to you. Ah: Tom... Ah: This is different... he didn't do this then... Tom: Ah, the reason is really obvious. You're a girl. We're all guys. You're just... different. We feel threatened by that. Ah: But Sven, and Mike... and you... you don't treat me like that... Tom: Well, I... Sven: TOM! WHAT ARE YOU DOING BACK THERE! GET BACK HERE! Tom: Sorry sir. Corey: Sir, please don't disturb the lovebirds. (Tom blushes fiercely, turning away from the others. Ah finally loses it.) Ah: TAKE. THAT. BACK. Corey: Take what back? I don't seem to recall... Ah: DOES THIS JOG YOUR MEMORY!?! Corey: Take a jog? Sorry, you're not my type... Tom: Corey, shut up. Ah, put that down... (Ah fires at Corey, who simply moves a fraction of an inch away. Fortunately, in her anger her aim was so bad she totally missed him and blasted the wall in the distance instead. A distant rumbling could be heard as the whole place began to shake and crumble.) Sven: AH! Watch where you... Huh? (Ah drops the gun in shock as she realizes what is happening.) Ah: Ohmygod... this is happening all over again... Chris: What the hfil... (The wall collapses.) Sven: Whoa! Tom: What is it, sir? Sven: Hmm... a passageway. Tom, Chu... get in there and check it out. The rest of you, gather 'round. This could get dangerous. Tom: Yes, sir. Chu: I'm on it. Ah: NO! (Everyone turns to Ah.) Sven: What is it, Ah? Ah: DON'T GO IN THERE! Sven: And why not? Ah: There's... ... Sven: Hmmm? Tom, Chu, get going. (The two recon experts took out their flashlights. Chu entered the passageway first, followed by Tom, who glanced back at Ah with a questioning look on his face before continuing. Everyone else moved closer and formed a semi-circle behind Lieutenant Sven, name-calling and making faces good-naturedly all the while, except for Ah, who was quietly thinking.) Ah: Forgive me, everyone... It's my fault... I should have realized it, and accepted the fact. I shouldn't have turned away from this, and I could have moved on... Jingai(voice): It's not your fault, Ah. ~Suspend Flashback Ah: Huh? (Ah looks around to see that everyone is gone. Her former teammates, the equipment she was carrying, even the sewers around them have disappeared, leaving only a dark space where she founnd herself floating.) Ah: What's going on? Why am I here. What am I supposed to do anyway? Jingai(voice): Do what you have to do. Ah: Then what? This is too hard... the memories are too painful to remember. Jingai(voice): The day you buried your heart was the day you lost everyone back at Nox. (Ah cups her hands to her ears to block out the words being spoken sound.) Ah: NO! I DO NOT BELIEVE YOU! THAT IS A LIE! They are dead, don't you get it? DEAD! Why don't you get the fuck out of my head and leave me alone? Or if you want something from me, just... just take it and get the hell out of here! Jingai(voice): That's quite a tempting idea, Arika. Pity I could not go through with the task you suggested. So instead let your full powers be released, so the easier they will be to reclaim and gain control of in the long run. Ah: Full powers? Jingai(voice): Yes. Ah: And those things... Shiela... Jingai(voice): Stop them. For everyone's sake. Ah: You mean... ~Return Flashback? -- Something Wicked This Way Comes Ah: ...there's more of them? Sven: Ah. Ah: Huh... Yes, Lieutenant? Sven: Are you feeling well? Ah: I'm all right, sir. No, I'm not all right. In fact, I'm pretty whacked out here in the head, not to worry though, it's nothing that a few drops of vinegar and some duct tape can solve, ahahahaha... Sven: Ah? Ah: OF COURSE I'M ALL RIGHT, SIR! Sven: You don't sound so good. You look pale. Are you sure you're all right? Corey: Must be that time of the month. Mike: Most likely. Chris: I won't be surprised. Sven: You three quit that! (The trio shrugs as Tom emerges from the hole.) Tom: Hey, Lieutenant, it's the sewers. Chu: It's clear. Sven: Alright, then. The rest of you, begin moving in. Ah: But, sir... Sven: Yes, Ah? Ah: The sewers aren't part of our mission. Sven: They are now. Look, it's our responsibility if we let any of the monsters run loose in the city through the breach, so we must secure every possible area of exit so that nothing horrorific like that will happen. (With a clearer head, Ah could see that the glare she remembered that Sven directed at her was actually a look of genuine concern, which in the dimness of the dungeon, wasn't so obviously clear then, but now is.) Ah: Lieutenant... Gomen. Chris: Man, you suck. Corey: Yeah. Lousy shot. (Ah feels herself seething with anger again, and stops herself.) Ah: Control yourself, don't let your anger get to you, girl... Mike: Ah? Ah: Yes, Mike? Mike: Look... I'm sorry about the others. Don't take them seriously. We mean well, just that we're not good at expressing ourselves, you know? (Ah smiles, understanding everything completely.) Ah: Don't worry, Mike. I understand. Mike: Yeah. Ah: Oh, and Mike? Mike: Huh? Ah: Thank you. Mike: Really? You're... you're welcome, Ah. (Mike gets back in line with a silly expression on his face.) Ah: Mike... What are you staring at me for? Jealous or something? Chris: ... Hmph. (Without looking at where she was going, Ah slipped on -- something -- slippery on the floor. She landed butt-first on the ground.) Ah: OW! Sven: AH! WILL YOU LOOK MORE CLOSELY WHERE YOU ARE GOING! Ah: Sorry, sir... (Ah looks up -- and sees Chris, being the closest one, giving her a hand.) Chris: Need help? Ah: ... (Ah studies Chris face, looking for any sign of scorn or amusement, and felt ashamed of herself at finding none at all. Chris seemed genuinely concerned about her, his expression almost matching that of the Lieuenant Svens' a while ago. After a moment's hesitation, Ah accepts, slowly standing up.) Ah: Chris... Chris: Don't thank me. Let's go. (Ah sees Chris' expression turn back to the stony, arrogant look he always bore, a stark contrast to the one he gave her a few moments ago. Thinking about the look he gave her a while ago, she realizes that his sardonic attitude might be just a mask, after all, and wishes that the other Chris was the real one.) Corey: Ah, please stop screwing up. Ah: Shut up, jerk. Corey: Same to you, bitch. Ah: Know what? You ARE going to die, a slow, horrible death. Corey: Heh, don't worry. I'll let you keep my stuff when I go. If I go. (Ah gasps, realizing what she just said.) Ah: No, that's not it... Corey: Or would you like _something else_ from me for you to remember me by? I won't mind... Mike: Will you people stop that! You're giving me a damn big headache. Sheesh... Chris: Then don't think so hard, Mike. You'll damage your fragile little brain. (Everyone else laughs at someone else besides Ah for a change. Even Mike takes it in stride and laughs along with the others. They are all now in the sewers, which was a small passageway, although the ceiling was high enough for all of them to stand. Still, they could only walk in a single file one merc at a time, as the tunnel was small.) Corey: Man, it's so friggin' dark in here... At least we have these. Mike: Yuck, this is disgusting... like the stew Chu cooked last time. Chu: You like it, don't you? Well, if you don't mind... ALL: NO! Chu: Darn it... no appreciation for gourmet cooking, nowadays... (Ah could see a trace of sadness in Chu's eyes from their usual rejection of the very thing he does with a passion, a skill not related to the war and killing.) Ah: Chu... Mike: Eww... what the hfil's that smell? Chris: Don't tell me you haven't been to the sewers before. Ah: This is the smell... of Death. Tom: Getting morbid thoughts today, Ah? Corey: Nahh... I've smelled worse. Chris: What could be worse that a smelly sewer? Corey: Ah's underwear during her period. (Everyone laughs again at Ah's expense.) Ah: Well... how would YOU know? Mike: Yeah, how would you know?.. smells kinda fine to me. Tom: The sewers? Mike: No. Tom: You don't mean... (Ah baps Tom and Mike playfully on the head with the butt end of her gun.) Ah: Will you two perverts just DROP the subject? Besides, I prefer boxer shorts. (Everyone else sweatdropps. Ah congratulates herself on that small victory. Besides, she finds boxer shorts too chafing if worn as underpants.) Ah: No comeback for that, huh? Chu: Shhh... be quiet. Sven: What's wrong Chu? You hear something? (At that sentence everyone fell silent, listening expectantly for something. Ah could hear something sloshing in shallow muck towards them. She begins trembling uncontrollably.) Ah: Oh, no... she's coming... Tom: Ah? (In the distant darkness, they could see... something... approach them. Everyone went tense as they felt the menace and danger, as if a cold wind suddenly blew over them.) Sven: YOU! Who's there? (The strange figure was finally close enough that they could finally hear the sound of it's voice. Ah felt her knees going weak.) Figure: Hello... (All the mercs save Ah relaxed as the figure was merely some human, probably lost and found it's way underground. Then Sven and Chu stepped forward, lowering their weapons.) Sven: Hey, you should come with us. It's dangerous to stay around here. There are monsters everywhere in the whole place. Ah: LIEUTENANT! CHU! LOOK OUT! Chu: Huh? Figure: I... hunger... (Everything went crazy as the figure suddenly lunged towards Chu and Sven, who were in the front and taken completely by surprise. Guns quickly opened fire, and energy blasts and otherpsionic attacks flew left and right in the small area. The lights went out, and the mercs began screaming... Ah, who was in the rear, dropped the gear she was carrying.) Ah: No... no... no... this is all wrong... (A flash of light revealed the face of their attacker... looking straight at her. Ah froze.) Ah: You... (The face disappeared as the flash of light ended. She could hear Mike's strangled cry as Chris kept screaming and firing at something. Ah looks down at the discarded unsure of what to do.) Mike: AAAAAAAAAA!!! Chris: SHIT! SHIT! DIE DAMN YOU! DIE! (Ah looks up to see the shadow proceed towards her. She froze in fear, unable to move.) (The shadow moves closer... Ah begins to sob.) Ah: No... no... don't... (The shadow reaches out to grab her... only to be blocked aside by Corey, who interposed himself between Ah and the monster.) Ah: Corey? Corey: AH! GET OUT OF HERE! NOW! Ah: But... Corey: GO! NOW!... YAAAAAAA... (Ah, shocked, couldn't do anything else but watch as Corey was slowly cut to ribbons.) (Ah finally wills her left leg to move.) (Blood splatters everywhere.) (Ah's right leg follows her left.) (Pieces of weaponry and... other things... fly out everywhere.) (Ah begins to turn away.) (A meaty slapping sound can be heard from behind her.) (Ah begins to walk away.) Jingai(voice): So you are just going to run away again. ~Suspend Flashback Ah: Huh? (Ah looks around to see that everyone is gone again. This time she could see something else with her in the void.) Ah: Is that you? Jingai(voice): No, just a part of me with you. Ah: What am I supposed to do? Jingai(voice): Fulfill your wish. Ah: WHAT WISH! I DON'T UNDERSTAND! Jingai(voice): You should know... ~Return Flashback? -- Something Wicked This Way Comes (Ah returns back to the sewers. The sounds of battle could be heard from behind here. And her teammates are losing.) Jingai(voice): ...since this is what you wanted. Ah: (murmuring) What... I... wanted... (Ah then feels something cold and metallic press into her hands. She looks down to see her combat knife, drawn and ready for action.) (Ah frowns. She knows that she didn't draw the knife then.) Ah: This is it? This... (Ah hears herself, speaking her own words from the hospital.) Ah(voice): Still... I wish... I wish it could have been different... still... (Ah's expression changes from fear, unease, and indecision into a look of determination... and acceptance.) Ah: Yes. I will make this different. This time... (Ah turns around, facing the ki-vempyre.) Ah: ...I WILL NOT RUN AWAY! (Ah dashes towards the shadows, swinging her knife in several criss-cross arcs in front of her. She screams her warcry, slicing into the form before her. The ki-vempyre was busy finishing off one of her teammates -- Ah wasn't sure who, but whatever's left of him wasn't pretty -- that it never saw her coming. The small but durable blade in her hand hums a song of death as she hacks into the flesh, of the monster before her.) (The ki-vempyre whips out her free hand and grabs at Ah.) Ah: You... you... you... Shiela: Stupid, vicious little girl. The vicious ones should taste good. (Ah feels herself getting weaker.) Ah: ... Shiela: Odd. You show no fear, only hate. Why? You do not fear? Do not hate me. Ah: ... (From the corner of her eye, she could see Chris move, raising his hand as if to throw something at her. She could see it as he released the gun from his hand... coming towards her... Her sight grows dim... she could barely struggle to lift her hands anymore... lift them so she can catch the gun... catch... catch.. catch... caught it.) Ah: SHI-NE, MAMONO NO BUSAIKU! ========== (Ah opens her eyes, and sees blood everywhere. She tries to move, and pain rewards her efforts. She finds herself lying faceup, seeing the sewer ceiling, stained with blood. Blood everywhere...) Ah: This is it... I am going... to die... Jingai(voice): Is this what you want? ~Suspend Flashback Ah: Kanzaki. (For the third time, Ah finds herself transported to the void. But this time, Jingai is beside her, wearing his monk garb and seated in a lotus position.) Jingai: You will throw your own life for your friends? They will die anyway. Ah: I just can't abandon them. Jingai: You abandoned them before. Ah: And I will never abandon them again. Jingai: And you will die with them. Ah: I don't care. If they die, then I will join them. Jingai: There is another way. If you wish... Ah: I wish it. ========== "Ah?" Ah groans. "What?" She blinks, trying to adjust her eyes to the bright light. Funny... "I never knew you like sleeping on tile floors." The voice snickered, the way someone she knew dearly used to do. "I must remember that next time..." "Huh..? Chris? Tom?" Tom turns around and smiles at her. "Sumeragi." Ah cries. "You... you're alive." "'Course we are." Chris retorted, insulted. "Do you honestly believe I'd go away without seeing you get pregnant, preferrably with multiple children?" Ah baps him on the head, mostly on reflex. "Jerk." "You're crying." Tom asks, concerned. "What's wrong?" "N-nothing." Ah replies. "Just... happy." "Huh?" Unnoticed, the sunflowers continue to bloom, the ki-energies stored in them now expended. ========== Prologue: So all this was just a dream? Whatever you believe in. I believe... it is all true. Fine. Wait... Yes? What was it you said about the others? Others? You said there were more! Whatever... maybe... You'll never know. What can I do? Be prepared. How? You have friends now. You'll just have to find out by living one day at a time. Living... Yes. Living.