H A R D |< O R PRELUDE Edition K i m a g u r e O r a n g e R o a d P r e m i e r F a n f i c t i o n by Robert Kwong completed Nov 30, 1996 ver 1.0 Based on characters from the Kimagure Orange Road Series created by the venerable Matsumoto Izumi. As you can see, this is fanfiction harkening back to the old Kimagure Orange Orange Road Series. In the Prelude edition which precedes the "Book" editions, it outlines the events following the breakup of Hikaru and Kyouske which sets the stage for Shin Kor and HARD Kor series. These stories were written in the attempt to clarify certain details assumed and to provide clues for future Hard Kor episodes. HardKor Web Site (With Disclaimer and back-stories for Prelude, Book A and Book B chapters) http://www-ucsee.eecs.berkeley.edu/~rk/HardKor.html My SuperPage for the General Kimagure Orange Road enthusiast http://www-ucsee.eecs.berkeley.edu/~rk/Kor.html My contact email address for comments or further correspondence: rk@soda.berkeley.edu Feel free to email me your impressions and suggestions for the series. Beta readers always welcome. If you want new stories emailed to you, please e-mail me at the above address. Thanks for reading my stories and making it one the most popular KOR fanfic sites on the web! (10000 can't be wrong!)I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. Thanks again. Robert Kwong Ark Productions -96- []-Indicates scene transitions ()-Indicates special effects, action <>-Indicates character thinking to himself. Legend: H=Hikaru Hiyami Y=Hino, Yuusaku Prelude: Ju: Mixed Signals Part A: [Inside a dream sequence, referring back to a scene in Prelude, Roku edition...] (Medieval Japan. After days of scouring the forbidden forests, he finally has unearthed the hideout of the Goro black ninja clan out the outskirts near the sea cliffs. ) Master Ninja: (cracks evil smile) So you finally found me? Lord Yuusaku: (stern look, blade drawn) Where's Lady Hikaru? Master Ninja: Is that all you can think about? Your lady? I assure you. She has not been been placed under duress,....yet! Lord Yuusaku: I vow that if you laid a hand on her I shall cut you down like the knave you are! Master Ninja: (evil laugh) Strong words ...from a fool! You are in no position to pester me with your weak words. Now give me what I want: my gold and your honor! Lord Yuusaku: (sneer of defiance)I shall never swear allegiance to a dishonorable dog like you! I would rather die than give in to you! Master Ninja: You might get your wish yet. But today, you'll get to see your beloved die in your place instead! (puff of smoke appears) Lord Yuusaku: (waving smoke away) (sound of hoof claps on the ground; we see the Master Ninja ride off with a unconscious Lady Hikaru lying behind him) Lord Yuusaku: That bastard! (hops on horse and chases after him) (The chase eventally ends near some cliffs) Master Ninja: (holding an unconscious Hikaru and moving near the edge of the cliffs) You here eh? Now you can see your beloved die! Lord Yuusaku: WAIT! NO! (pause) I will accede to your demands. Just let her go and I'll agree to anything you have in mind. Master Ninja: (Br-ha-ha-ha-ha HA!) Always a woman to weaken a samurai's heart. Now you are mine! I accept. Now kneel before me and swear an oath of allegiance to me. (Lord Yuusaku kneels down and bows before his new master) Lord Yuusaku: I've done what you asked. Now release her! Master Ninja: I shall release her, but not what you had in mind. Now that you are part of my clan, I don't think it would be proper to keep a woman around. So I shall do you a favor and dispose of her for you. (*Poof*) (flings her across the cliff) Lord Yuusaku: Nooooo! Not again! (jumps off the cliff after her) AAAAAARRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! (Real Yuusaku snaps out of his dream trance) Y: Owww! (rubs back of head) Now I know what a hangover feels like. But this feels ten times worse. Damn Muroke and his blasted pills. But why did I have another dream about samurais and cliffs? And who is that black ninja anyway... [Inside the Hiyama house] (flashback to the party) Y: Hikaru. There's something I need to tell you. I've been waiting my life to tell you this. It expresses exactly what I feel for you since the first time I met you. What I want to tell you is this: Suki..., Suki... What did Yuusaku wanted to tell me? Whatever it was, I didn't want to know. Somehow, in my heart, I already knew what he wanted to tell me, but I didn't want to hear it. It was the first time ever since I met him that he was so bold and audacious in his words and manner towards me. I was glad he didn't utter those 3 dangerous words. Otherwise, I wouldn't know how to cope with the shock. My personal life was already complicated as it is without that bumpkin Yuusaku complicating it even further with his rash thoughts towards me. He knew how I felt towards him. He was my childhood playmate, my pal, my friend, the brother I never had. He knew that, I knew that. And I wanted it to remain just that way. Yet something odd struck me about Yuusaku that night. When I was with him, it wasn't the same feeling I usually had when I was around him. I wasn't bossing him around. Instead, he was the one in control. And he did not appear like the weakling boy he usually was. He was different,...more masculine, more manly-- assertive, stout, strong, and brimming with confidence, something he never really had been before. To tell you the truth, it was the first time I felt weak in the knees in his presence. He never had that effect on me before. Could it be that he was turning me on? Nahh. It couldn't be. It must be my imagination. It was probably from the shock of seeing him acting in a different light, right? But if it was that, then why did I feel so scared? "Hikaru-san? Hikaru-san? Are you paying attention?" H: What? Did I miss something? Ryoga: Yeah. I asked you a question. Did you not understand it? H: Question? What question? I'm sorry, but my mind was wandering. Ryoga: I think it's time we take a break. Cramming 3 hours of English phrases and grammatical rules inside your pretty little head must have gotten to you. H: I'm really sorry I wasn't paying attention. And again, thank you for taking the time to tutor me in my English class. Ryoga: Stop it. That's the 10th time you thanked me already. It's not problem a for me to do this. Say, you haven't told me much about yourself. All I know is that you're a transfer student from Tokyo, is that right? H: Yes. Ryoga: Isn't is strange to be transferring when you're in the last year of high school? I mean, if I had it that good living in Tokyo, I wouldn't dream of moving back to such a backward place like this. So why did you move? H: Me? Mostly because of a new opportunity for my father. Partly, I'm glad to be out here. Ryoga: Why? Trouble back there? H: Yes, to say the least. Running away from my problems, as usual. Ryoga: Would you care to talk about it? H: No, not right now. It's too personal. Ryoga: Sorry for prying. H: No, it's not you. It's my problem and I have to deal with it. Ryoga: Hmmm... H: Anyway, enough about me. What about yourself? You don't seem like the type who likes school that much. Ryoga: No, I'm not, but in your case, I relish the opportunity to tutor a beautiful girl anytime. If you hadn't brought it up, I wouldn't have known you had trouble in that class. Lucky for you that I'm an ace in that language. H: (passes him some coconut cookies) How did you get so good in mastering the language anyway? Did you go to a private school? Ryoga: Nope. Nothing like that. I'm really a goof-off, so spending more time in school is not my idea of a good time. No, I actually lived abroad in the U.S. for about 5 years with my uncle and aunt before coming back to Japan. Since I attended the elementary school system over there and everyone spoke English, I couldn't help but master the language. H: Wow! Really? You were in the U.S.A? You must be very brave. My best friend's parents are living in the U.S. also. You must have had a traumatic experience over there. How did you cope with it? Ryoga: Traumatic? I wouldn't say it was bad living there. Why I miss it! Over there, you only have to go to school 5 days a week. And all the consumer goods such as electronics and CD's are much cheaper than here. That's why I have my friend over there ship classic Rock CD's for me. H: That may be so, but I couldn't live in a place with so much crime and guns. It's dangerous to live there. Ryoga: Is that so? Have you ever been to the U.S. ever? H: Only on a vacation trip with my friends to Hawaii, and I had an EXTREMELEY bad experience over there. It only confirmed what my parents told me. I would never want to go back to such an unsafe environment like that. //Refer to Hawaiian OAV kidnapping Ryoga: That's too bad. H: What do you mean? Ryoga: Every place has its share of crime and ugliness, but there's an element of beauty there too. Sure, the 'States is not as "sanitized" an environment as good 'ole Japan is, but it sure beats the heck out of the monotonous phonies drones I see here. At least over there, everyone has their own distinct style about them. Sure, you had your conformists, but you also have your healthy share of unique, diverse, cool interesting people . You shouldn't sell America short. Hey, who knows? You might even end up living there. H: Very funny. No, I don't think so. I'm a good Japanese girl, and I doubt I would really want to live in such a disorderly place like that. No, I think I stay in here, the best place on Earth! Ryoga: To each his own. Enough break time now. I think it's time we get back to those lessons now. [Yuusaku Reflection] I still wasn't quite feeling like myself even after those pills. It was three days already, and I still felt like different. By now, the effects of those pills should have worn off. But still, I felt something not quite right about my system. I began to tire more easily and I felt more moody than I've ever been before. What was I to do? What did Muroke give me anyway? Whatever it was, it better not have been some illegal substance, or I'll give him a pounding for causing so much trouble for me. Another November was approaching, and once again, I got Hikaru mad at me again for my antics. I shudder to think how I acted that night at the party when I was with her. The whole affair was a complete blank to me up until where I found myself in the bushes, with a large imprint on my face. But I didn't remember what I did to get her so mad at me. Did I do something so despicable? Could it be that I tried to kiss her? Or did I actually did kiss her? Heaven forbid if I've done that! But it was a strange night, being Halloween and all, and so I was capable of anything, I guess. It would be so terrible, to have kissed her and not remember it at all. But what was I to do? And now with her birthday coming up and all, what was I going to do to make it up to her? Muroke: Hello Sempai. How are you feeling today? Y: (angry tone) Still lousy, thanks to you. Muroke: You're not still sore at me for ingesting too many of those pills, are you? I'm sorry I didn't tell you beforehand the dosage, but I assumed you would ready the instructions before scarfing the whole thing. Y: (crosses arms) Excuses aren't going to help me now! Muroke: I'm afraid I have more bad news for you. Our mortal enemy is now tutoring Hiyama-san. Y: (flaberghasted) W-W-h-h-a-a-t?! Muroke: Yep. That's the rumor circulating around. And I did a little research also and it seems that he a regular katakana kid. Seems like he's taking full advantage of your little "indiscretion" at the party. Y: Why that good for nothing asshole, moving in on my girl... "Who's making the move on me?" Y: (turns around) Huh? Oh Kaori-san. I didn't know you were behind me. Kaori: You're funny! Say, can I come over to your house today? Y: What for? Kaori: To help me study, silly! Y: Study? I didn't know you studied? Kaori: Oh, you can be such a kidder sometimes! See ya after school. (darts off) Muroke: What a lucky guy you are! To have two girls to choose from. Y: What the hell are you talking about? Muroke: I mean, aren't you the least attracted to Kaori-san, goddess of the whole school? Y: Yeah I am, but I can't still figure out why she wants me. I mean, I'm not the heartthrob in school. Muroke: Some girls go for that, but she's not that type of girl. She's more into the power thing. And you seem to be the big guy in school now.You've compiled a reptuation for yourself in the short time with all the fights you've been in so far. Why you're viewed as the bad boy from Tokyo now. Y: Me? Why, I think Ryoga still viewed as the biggest bad boy still. Muroke: Yeah, but he's her cousin. She can't date him. But she can date the next best thing which is you. Y: Well, I don't want her getting the wrong idea about me. If she's so attached to me, I don't want her to break her heart. Better if I stop this thing early. Muroke: Gee, I wish I had your problem. Personally, I don't know what you see in Hikaru-san. I mean she's ok, but she clearly not interested in you. Why not go for a sure thing like Kaori? I'm sure she's ready and willing to go all the way with you. Y: Stop it. Enough of this hentai talk. You're only making it harder for me to decide. Muroke: I have an idea. Why don't you peek in on Hikaru and Ryoga studying? Who knows what he might be doing with her? Y: I wish. But how am I suppose to do that? Muroke: Catch in the computer lab tomorrow and I'll flesh out the details for you. Gotta go now to the Anime Club meeting. [At the rival school, inside a secret clubhouse] "You asked for me?" "Yes. Any word on that new figure, a Mr. Hino Yuusaku?" "Not much from what I last told you. He's transferred from Tokyo. He seems to be rather skilled, with rumors being that he attained a 2-dan rank. "Really? Is that so? He could be helpful to us yet. Could he be swayed to join our side?" "I don't see why not. Another thing in our favor is that he and Ryoga are bitter foes. They had several clashes already." "Enemies and on the same team...I like the combination. Still, I would like to see him in action to gage his skill." "That will be hard to do considering he's only an alternate." "That I have you make the arrangements to make sure he competes. Do you understand?" "Yes, Master." "Good. Both of us have the same goal in mind...to bring down Ryoga Kinsu no matter what it takes." "Understood." [At Yuusaku's house] Y: So this is my house. You see, nothing special. Kaori: Oh, I just love the look of this place. So classical. "So who's that pretty woman we have in our humble house?" "Ojiichan! This is my Kaori Kinsu-san. She's a schoolmate." Ojiichan: Is so? Kaori: I honored to meet you. (curtseys) Ojiichan: Very polite too. Becoming a ladies' man, aren't you, Yuu-kun? Y: Ojiichan! Where's okaasan anyway? Ojiichan: She's with your obaasan shopping. I'd better let you two kiddies alone. (snicker) Y: Don't mind him. He sometimes get hentai tendencies. Kaori: I'm sorry if I embarrassed you wearing this skimpy waitress outfit. Y: No, no...it looks nice on you. This is the living room. We can study here. Kaori: Umm...can we go someplace more private? Like upstairs to your bedroom. (winks at him) Y: My bedroom? (*Gulp!*) Uhh,...you wouldn't want to go there,...it's not cleaned and all and I... Kaori: Why not? It'll be easier to study there. Let's go. (drags him by the arm) Y: Hey, wait... (upstairs...) Kaori: This must be your room. Y: Yes, how did you guess? Kaori: Just a feeling, that's all. Y: (clearing some clothes and papers away) Please excuse the mess. I've been meaning to clean it up for a while. (pulls a chair here) Please sit down. Kaori: (sits on the edge of his bed) I prefer to sit here. Y: Uhh...ok. So what do you need help in studying? Kaori: Biology. Y: I'm not taking that, so I don't see how I could be of much help. Where's your book? Kaori: Oops, I forgot to bring it. Y: How are we suppose to study when you don't have a book. Kaori: (edges closer to him) I thought you could give me some "hands on" experience. Y: What do you mean? Kaori: (puts her hands around his neck) We're studying anatomy of a man and a woman. Maybe you can enlighten me more on the male anatomy. (starts to kiss him) Y: Woah! (pushes her away towards the center of the bed) I think we take a break from all this studying. I need some air. You wait here while get bring up some tea and cookies, ok? bye. (rushes out the door and closes it) (outside downstairs, Yuusaku hyperventilating...) Y: Ojiichan: What's wrong Yuusaku? You look shakened up? Y: (mubmle jumble starts to spew from his mouth) Ojiichan: Easy boy. I know what it is. Girl trouble, isn't it? Oh how envy you young folks. You certainly suprised me when you brought home this beautiful girl here. I was sure you were still holding out for kawaii Hikaru-chan. But you're becoming a big boy now. Looking for the more mature girlfriend, aren't you? Y: It's not like it seems! She's the one making all the move on me, not I! Ojiichan: (bursts out laughing) You very funny! You should make up a better story than that. Y: (under his breath) Silly old man. Ojiichan: Oi! I heard that! Don't think that because I'm old that my hearing's gone too. Y: Gomen Ojiichan, but you're being so mean! And I'm telling the truth! Ojiichan: So she's that type of girl, isn't she? Way back in the old days, we had a word to describe such a woman: Floosy. Y: Floosy? Ojiichan: That's right. Good to be around with, but definitely not the marrying type. Likes to play around. Nah, you should stick with someone more reliable like Hikaru-san. Y: I wish! But I have my own problems with her. Ojiichan: It looks like we need to have a serious talk. But later. Y: Where are you going? Ojiichan: Off to my 'Go' club with the rest of my cronies. //Go is an ancient Chinese strategy game composed of a playing grid, with the playing pieces being black and white stones. Y: (*sigh*) Well,...I guess I'm on my own on this one. What to do, what to do...(enters kitchen to make tea) (10 minutes later) Y: (walking upstairs with tray of tea and food) I hope she's not too peeved at me for my actions. Huh? (looks around to an empty room) Y: Where'd she go? Eh? (sees note on table) To my special someone, Sorry if I was coming on too strong for you. I didn't know you were still a "beginner". My pager went off and it turns out the big boss needs an extra hand at the bar. So I have to go. Hope you don't miss me too much. I'll catch you next time! Kaori [Evening time. Back at some seedy apartment downtown] (*Dog barking*) Ryoga: Easy Taki! What's up boy? Company? Kaori: I'm home! Ryoga: Oh, I thought you were the the pizza boy. Kaori: Very funny. Taki: (*Bow Wow!*) (licks Kaori and starts pawing on her leg) Kaori: Would you get this mangy mutt off me! I don't want him giving me fleas! And can he stop licking me!? Ryoga: (broad grin) He takes after me. Kaori: Drooling sons of bitches, aren't you? Ryoga: Alright, alright. Enough with the wisecracks. What did you find out? Kaori: Not much Ryo. I did as you said and I managed to get myself into his room using my feminine charms. Ryoga: What feminine charms? You're a brusque tomboy most of the time. Kaori: Only on this mission did I change my whole persona. You're just jealous, aren't you? Ryoga: Why should I when I could have any girl, like Hikaru? Kaori: You better have screwed around with her! Ryoga: Easy. I haven't done anything with her...yet. Besides, she's too young for me. Kaori: Good. You know I have my hammer ready and waiting. Ryoga: Yeah, don't remind me. Now what else did you find? Kaori: I scoped out his entire room and find nothing. Nada. No trace of illegal substances anywhere. Just stupid pictures of that girl all around. Ryoga: Oh, you mean Hikaru? Yeah, I have a cute picture of her here. (flashes wallet) But I don't know about that guy...maybe he's not hiding it there. He could be stashing it in some secret location. I think I'll have someone tail him. Kaori: Well I tell you he's clean. You're on the wrong track by probing him so much. Ryoga: My informant hasn't been wrong yet. He told me that me that the new guy in town would be the one to track. I still have my eye out on him. Kaori: You haven't told me what you did with that girl during your supposed "tutoring" session with her. Ryoga: Don't worry. We just went through a list of boring exercises. Did manage to extract some info from her. It seems she left Tokyo in a rush like our friend Hino. I'm going to a further check on her family. Now I'm not so sure about her as I used to be. Kaori: I told you she was the innocent plum as she appeared to be. Ryoga: Just covering my bases, that's all. Probably won't turn up anything at all. Kaori: Oh yeah? I'll bet you dinner. Ryoga: I take that bet. And you get to make it! Kaori: Sure. But you have to eat it! Part B: [At the computer club] Y: What the hell are you doing, goofing around playing computer games. You missed judo practice. Muroke: But I am practicing. See. (2 characters fighting on screen) Y: You call this practicing? Muroke: Yeah. It's the best way to practice. Through simulation. The game is called Budokan. Very realistic. You want to try it? Y: I don't know about that...I prefer the real thing. Murke: Oh, come on. Just try one game. You just need to develop the knack for it, that's all. Here. You sit down and watch me. Now here. The trick to this game is not how fast you can strike your opponent, though that's important too. There's more strategy involved. You have to conserve your energy wisely and not waste it through random movements. See the 'Ki' setting? It determines how fast and powerful a blow you can deliver. Stamina is of course your health indicator. The key thing to remember is defense. The ability to parry combo attacks is key to suriving in the tournament mode. Y: Maybe later. What this "secret" thing you talked about yesterday? Muroke: Oh that. See this. (takes out a small object the size of a dime) Y: Yeah, what is it? Muroke: It's a listening device. Are we need to do is attach it and we can listen in on anyone's conversations. Y: Pretty sneaky. But isn't this stuff illegal? Muroke: Not if you make it youself. And not if no one finds out. And besides, we're doing it to make sure that Ryoga punk is not having his way with your lady, Hikaru-san. Problem is how are we going to attach the device anyway? Y: Leave that to me. I know the perfect place to put it. [At the Hiyama House...] Ryoga: Today, we're going to try something different. Instead of going over the same old drills and exercises, let's instead try to converse totally in English. H: But it won't make sense, would it, with my limited vocabulary and all. Ryoga: I know. That's why I brought this book along. We're start off my reading passages from it. H: Ok, that sounds fun. (We see the two misfits, Muroke and Yuusaku hiding in the bushes near the house. Muroke, wearing headphones is busy tuning his transmitter.) Y: Have you got it yet? Muroke: Be patient! These electronic devices are tricky to work with. One slight jerk and I could lose the signal. Y: Well make it quick. The suspense is killing me. Muroke: Wait. Here we go. H: (in English) Oh dear. Why must you act this way with me? Ryoga: Because you have been unfaithful to me, that's why? Muroke: Geez. Sounds like they're having some lover's quarrel. Y: Really? Muroke: Wait, there's more. H: Oh please let me make it up to you. Please come closer. Ryoga: That is not going to work this time. Your feminine wiles have lost its effect on me. Muroke: Wow! Sounds like Hikaru is trying to make the moves on him. Y: What? That can't be! Let me listen! Muroke: But you won't be able to understand it all. They're speaking English. Y: I don't care. I want to hear. (grabs headphones and plops it on his head) H: You mean you can resist me touching you here. And there. Ryoga: Oh, I cannot resist you. I was wrong. Kiss me now. Y: (eyes bug out) They're doing 'B'! Wait! I can't hear anthing! Muroke: The reception must have gone kaput. Something must be interfering. Y: (growls) Yeah, I know what. (Rushes over to the door) Muroke: Wait! You don't know what you're doing! You'll ruin the whole operation! (Yuusaku pounds door) H: (opens door) Oh, Yuusaku, it's you. What are you doing... Y: (pushes door aside and strides in) Where is that lecherous hentai? H: What are you talking about? Y: I know what you two are up to. Thought you could hide it from me. Ah, there he is. Ryoga: Oh, it's you again. Y: Yeah, I know what you've been up to, trying to seduce poor Hikaru. Now I'm going to make you pay! Hikaru: What nonsense are you talking about? Y: Wasn't he trying to kiss you? Hikaru: No! He was helping me with English lessons. We were just reading a passage from this week. See for yourself. (shoves book in his hand) (Yuusaku scans the pages and a embarrased look pops up on his face) Y: Oops. H: And did you know what was going on anywhere? Y: Uhh...I was kind of spying on you from the outside. H: (angel of death stare) Not only are you a busy-body, but you don't even trust me at all! I want you out of here! NOW! I DON'T EVER WANT TO SEE YOU SET FOOT IN THIS HOUSE EVER AGAIN! Y: Please Hikaru. Let me explain... H: OUT! (Yuusaku is rudely escorted to the door by Ryoga) H: AND STAY OUT! (*SLAMS DOOR*) Muroke: Uh-oh. You really done it this time. Y: (slaps hand to his face) What have I done? Now things will never be the same again. [End of chapter]