Trapped
By Shona - Slayer of Five
-------------------------
That bitch! She thinks it's going to be _easier_ this way. She gave up
on
him! She
doesn't know how good she had it...
Dammit. There I go again. Not even smiling at a customer...
"Enjoy your meal, sir!"
Lying with your emotions again. It comes so easy doesn't it? Trying to
sound
happy
when I'm so worried inside. What will he do now?
"Konatsu? Please handle the grill for a moment? I'll be in the back."
Just going. Ignoring his reply.
Ranchan hates his curse. He's afraid that he's becomeing another
person...
Loosing
what makes him Ranma.
"DAMN!"
Stupid flour. Now where's that broom?
'Sigh...' Bloody curse... Poor pampered Akane can't deal with it being
stuck.
Shampoo even taking off like that.
"Yes, I heard you. i'll be out in a minute."
God I would kill to go soak in a hot tub right now... I wonder if
Ranchan's
going
to stop by to talk. He allways talks to me. I wish I was more than his
buddy
though... Why can't he see that... I'll tell him! No... It's too
soon... He
loved
Akane but she's all but thrown him out of her life.
I'll help him find a cure. There has to be one right? There's allways a
cure
or
something and then Ranma will be himself again.
"YES! I'm fine..."
Damn... I shouldn't have snapped at Konatsu like that.. I'll make it up
to
him later.
Where is my mind today? Too much sauce on this okonomiyaki... Father
would
have
sent me out of the kitchen in disgust by now with how I'm cooking.
"Yes sir, just a moment please."
Smiling now. It all an act today. I want to go find Ranma so badly.
Noone's
heard
from him in two days. He wouldn't just run away. Would he?
There. Another happy customer. The customers are usually happy. They
don't
have a
father who you dissapointed just by being born, magic curses and angry
pigs
to deal
with. On top of it all, a fiancee who's stuck as the wrong gender.
It's not fair! I just wanted a normal life with Ranma... Not 17 years
of
hell and
dissapointmet! I have to go find Ranma...
Oh no! Did I say that out loud? How much did I say?? The customers are
staring.
"Sorry, just thinking out loud!"
Forcing a laugh to sooth the customers and keep them from thinking a
mad
woman is
serving them food. Have to focus! Today's okonomiyaki isn't impressing
anyone!
****
Finally... Closed now.
"No Konatsu. Would you please clean up? I need to go have a long
shower."
I know he will... Konatsu would anything for me.. I'm not like
Ranchan... I
can see how he feels about me.. I just wish he would move on. I can't give up on Ranma for him. I'll wait
for
him to get over Akane! ... maybe he's waiting for me to get over
Ranma...
I really need to do some cleaning up here. Clothes everywhere in my
room and
here I am adding
to the mess on the floor. I wonder where Ranma's hiding... If anyone's
heard
from
him in the last few days noone's talking. Maybe if I gave Nabiki some
free
meals..
nah.. I should be able to find him myself.
"Mmmmnnnnn..."
God this feels good. I'm so glad i found a place with strong water
pressure
for the
shower... It's like a shoulderrub.... I wish it was Ranchan's hands...
I
hope he
hasn't left town... if Akane's driven him away completely I'll go over
there
and...
No!.. no... just think about the water's massage.... Closing my eyes to
let
the
sensation fill my mind... don't wanna think.....
****
Note to self; Pay more attention in the shower... Bloody small hot
water
tank...
never lasts as long as I want it to... I'm glad I have some good warm
blankets to warm back up in... What should I do now?
It's clear out... The stars are so bright! Even the city lights aren't
washing them out.
"It's going to be cold out." mumbling to myself.. wonderful. Maybe I am
loosing it.
Grab some jeans and a sweater... I'll leave my hair down for now. Hey,
there's my
heavy jacket! perfect. Gloves, spatula.. Ready to go.
Always feels so strange to go out dressed as a girl... So much time
pretending to
be a guy... I can relate to Ranma's curse I guess. he's stuck as a
woman. I
was
trapped in a lie of being a guy. Stupid fathers all around...
"Konatsu? I'm heading out for a while. I don't know how late I'll be
out."
That worried puppy dog expression. heh.. He's pretty cute sometimes.
Bishounen
pretty boy. Living life appearing as a woman. The opposite of my own
lie.
Don't even think about Tsubasa! Ranchan. have to find Ranchan.
"See you..." I'm not even walking very quickly... I really don't know
where
I
should start. Everyone's probably combed his usual brooding spots.
The school was deserted... But I call to him anyways. Listning for any
sign
of his
presance. Searching the bridge across the river and down the banks.
Ryouga
was
camped under the bridge but he hasn't seen Ranma anywhere.
Where could he be hiding? Where would no one think to look for him? Wait
a
minute...!
The Nekohanten's lights were off. It looks like the building had simply
been
abandoned when Shampoo when back to China. Everything was still there
from
the signs
to the food in the pantry.
Breaking the lock on the backdoor might not have been the wisest thing
to
do, but I
have to be sure... There's no sound from the front of the resteraunt...
but
maybe
upstairs...
"Ranchan...? Ranma?" Gotta be quiet.. Breaking and entering now huh?
Desperation is
making me do odd things. Besides, if he's here He'll hear me.
Nothing in Shampoos room... What's next.. Bathroom... Mirror's broken.
It's
been
swept into the corner but not picked up. Maybe Shampoo threw a temper
tantrum before
they left. But nothing useful here... What's behind door number three?
"Ranma!"
He's.. what happened? his hands are covered in rags..
"Are you okay?? No, no one knows you're here! let me see your..."
Oh god, the mirror....
"Baka... I know... Ranchan.. I know... I heard what happened..."
Gotta get him to the bathroom to wash off his hands. He hates his body
so
much? He
couldn't stand to look at it in the mirror... ?
"I know... Ranchan... Ranma!"
He... he looks _scared_!
"I'm not going anywhere Ranma. I want to help... We'll find a cure for
you."
God he can be pessimistic when he's in a mood like this. I can't
abandon
him. He's
lost everything else in his life over this. He will _not_ loose me!
"I'll help Ranma! We'll go wherever you want. We will find a way to
turn you
ba...
No! Ranchan! You are you! no matter what you look like and I'm not
going to
give up
on you! Snap out of it and let's figure out where we're going to go
first."
He still looks so sullen. There has to be a way to snap him out of
this.
"Think of it as a challenge if you have to. The curse is _taunting_
you!"
Wrong thing to say? he froze up... He's angry. I should apologize...
No.
He's
grinning!
"Right? You'll beat the curse! I know it! I won't abandon you Ranchan.
I'll
help
you!."
****
Thank god Konatsu was gone. I have to get my own things... He'll take
good
care of
the place while I'm away. he'll understand. i only hope he forgives me.
I don't know how long I'll be travelling for this time, but I will be
with
Ranchan
every step of the way this time. Maybe he'll start to see me as more
than a
friend.
As long as he doesn't give up I won't give up!
"Let's go Ranchan!"