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 ver 1.0 Completed August 29, 1997 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 Road Series. In the Prelude edition, it outlines the events following the breakup of Hikaru and Kyousuke 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: 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 on the web! 20000 visitors can't be wrong! I am just grateful that I have an audience to write for. It just goes to show you how entensible and how endearing the story of KOR is and the lasting impact it has. I just hope that I managed to capture that special "essence" which pervades KOR as I narrate the turn of events in their lives. Hope you appreciate my efforts and happy reading! Robert Kwong Ark Productions -97- Legend: H=Hikaru Hiyami Y=Hino, Yuusaku <> Indicates characters thinking to themselves * Denotes action [] Denotes change of events or next scene Prelude - Chapter JuShiChi (17): Goodbyes [At the school RPG club] (We see various sorts of people hear in several small groups huddled over various board games and spinning multi-faceted dice and mumuring among the "combatants".) "Klingon Bird of Prey just decloaked off starboard bow!" //star trek board game "Valkerie VF-11 advances 4 spaces to mothership." //robotech board game "My wizard zaps Mine Orc for +6 damage!" (guy in lab coat bursts in holding a beaker) "Eureka! I finally discovered the solution." (People keep on playing, oblivious to the interruption) "Oh there you are." Muroke: (shaking dice in his hands) What is it Shijama? I happen to be in a life and death situation here. If I don't spin a 12, I'll die! (throws dice) (*Clatter Clatter*) "13! You're out!" Muroke: Damn! Shijama: Better luck next time. Muroke: I guess I have time now. What is it? Shijama: Wonderful news! I finally found the antidote to that special formula which your friend unfortunately consumed. Muroke: Really? That's great. But how do you know it works? Shijama: Well, my lab results are very thorough and concluseive. On injesting the formula, the subjects become bolder but forgetful. After much tries, this "anti-forumla" I've concocted undoes the effect. Muroke: Which means what? Shijama: Which means that before, my rats began to interact more, but totally forgot their skills in navigating the maze. With the solution in this beaker, they returned back to their anti-social ways and were able to traverse the maze again. Muroke: That's fine for rats. But is it safe for human consumption? Shijama: That, I don't know. I would have to do more studies on it. But I would need a test subject. Muroke: Fine! I caused the problem, so it would be only right that I undo it. Shijama: Seriously? You want to try. Muroke: Of course. But first, you need something to undo. Give me the original formula first. Shijama: Whatever you say, my friend. Step this way. [Gym] (At the gym, where Yuusaku is the only person who is the only person there with Master Matsumoto) Y: Sensei! I appreciate you organizing and supervising me for these extra practice sessions from the regular meetings to allow me to catch up with what I have missed, but why must we continue with this exercise? What's the purpose anyway. Sensei: To see you fall down. Y: I don't understand. What am I going to learn if all I do is just fall? Sensei: Nonsense. Don't talk back. Continue. (swipes and topples Yuusaku's legs) Y: (* BUNK! *) Urgh....my poor back... Sensei: Get up! Quickly! Y; But... Sensei: No but! Just Do! Again! (*swipe*) (Half an hour later) Y: (rubbing his sore behind) Owwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! Oooooh! Awwwwwwww! ARGH! I'M IN AGONY! IT FEELS LIKE MY BACK IS GOING TO BREAK! Sensei: You're in great pain, no? Y: Hai sensei. The hurt I'm feeling is unbearable. Sensei: (folds arms together) Good. Y: Oi? Sensei: Trouble with young people you are today is lack of discipline. (helps Yuusaku up from the canvas and onto a gym bench) Sensei: Me explain you this because you loook like you need guidance. Remember pain you're feeling now. Improve your karate knowledge it will. Y; I don't understand. All this philosophical mumbo-jumbo is confusing me. As you should be. Does baby know how to walk when he first tries. Y: Of course not. He'll stumble and fall the first time. Sensei: Correct. Before he learns how to walk, he learns how to fall. Only then will he succeed. Now do you understand? Y: That you have to endure a lot of pain and suffering before you can hope to suceed? Sensei: Your case, yes. Memory of pain will force body to perfect technique subconsciously. Go now and rest up for tomorrow. Y: Hai Sensei. Thanks, I guess. (hobbles off) [In the chemistry lab] Shijama: So? Do you feel different? Muroke: No, course not! Just a tingling sensation. Gotta go now. Shijama: Hey wait! Don't you want to try the antidote now? Muroke: No, why? I'm not affected. But I'm going to get my friend in here. I'll let him try it. Shijama: Wait! You don't sound like yourself. (door slams) Shijama: (*sighs*) He doesn't even know what's gotten into him. (looks a the container) Only a little bit left. Maybe I'll try it later. But only after I verify that the antidote is safe. [Inside the girls lockeroom] H: That was a tough workout that Director put us through today! Saeko: Same goes for me. My feet is killing me. Why does he have to be such a tyrant! The play is months away! Ako: Well, I think he doesn't want us slacking off. Just because we were lucky to get parts for the play doesn't mean we stop trying to do our best. Sario. What do you think? Sario: Oh, I don't know. Saeko: You seem to be down lately. What's wrong? Sario: It's about my boyfriend, Futaro. I'm worried about him. Ako: Really? You're lucky to have a boyfriend. Especially for Valentine's day tomorrow. I don't have time for a boyfriend with dance class and all the other activities. How about you Hikaru? H: What about me? Ako: Do you have a boyfriend? H: Of course not! What are you saying? Saeko: But you've been hanging around that dangerous guy in school, Ryoga! Ako: I even hear he's in a gang! H: Well you're wrong about him. And it's not like that anyway. Saeko: Whatever. Just be careful. H: Why the focus shift to me? We were talking about Sario's problem. Ako: That's right. What's wrong with your boyfriend? Has he been mistreating you? Sario: No. It's not like that. In fact, I wish he would pay more attention to me. I know with my busy schedule that its hard for us to meet. But it looks like he's trying to push me away. Saeko: Well you know how macho guys are, especially those involved with the karate club. You're sure he wasn't trying to dump you? Sario: Oh, that would be dreadful! Ako: Wasn't he injured for a long time? Sario: Yes. That's why he couldn't compete in the inter-school invitationals. Saeko: Yeah, I remember. Someone told me that the new transfer kid filled in his spot at the last minute. I think he came in the same time as you did, Hikaru. Do you know him? H: Yes. I do. But I rather not get into it. Ako: Come on girl! Spill the juicy details on him. H: There's really not much to say. He and I used to go to the same junior high in Tokyo. That's it. Saeko: Oh, is that all. I was hoping for something more interesting between you and him. H: [In the school hallway] (A more confident Muroke walks boldy along. A girl is walking along the other side.) Muroke: Hey, isn't your name Kaori Kinsu, cousin of Ryoga? Kaori: Yeah, what is it to you? Do I know you? Muroke: Gee, funny seeing you here afterschool. You're certainly not the type for that. Kaori: What type of crack is that? Get the hell out of my way! Muroke: Wow! I love it when you talk rough! You're going to the administrative office, aren't you? Kaori: How did you know? Muroke: Well, you would have to if you're going to transfer out again. Too bad you're going. I'm going to miss you. Did you know I had a crush on you all along? Kaori: Listen nerd boy. I don't know if this is some kind of prank, but get the hell out of my way. (shoves him out of the way) Muroke: (hearts floating above his head) I think she likes me! [Yuusaku walking along the hallway also] Y: Damn it! I can't go home just yet. Got to let my butt rest before I can mount my bike. Where's is the nurse's office anyway? "Sempai! There you are. I finally gotten a hold of you." Y: Muroke-chan. What are you still doing here? Muroke: (gives Yuusaku a good, hard slap on the back causing him to wheeze) I was about to ask you the same thing myself. Say, you don't look well. Y: You're right! I don't feel well. Muroke: Well ok then. I know just the cure. We're going to see my friend. (tugs at Yuusaku's arm) Y: Hey! Where are you taking me? (A few minutes later...) Muroke: Here we are. Shijama! I'm back with our "patient". Shijama: So this is the guy who has devoted his body to science? I'm so honored to meet him finally. Allow me to introudce myself. My name is Shijama Izumi. Biochemist extradoinaire. At your service. (shakes hands) Y: Uhh..Hi there. Now what is this all about? Muroke: My friend here has an ailement we need to fix pronto. Y; It's really not that bad. Nothing an hour's rest will take care of. Muroke: Nonsense. It's something much better. Right? Shijama: Of course. Now, if you will, Yuusaku-san, please drink this mixture I've created. You would feel much better if you did. (pours mixture from beaker into a cup) Y: (to Muroke) Are you sure this stuff is safe for me? Muroke: Of course, of course. I did my research. Shijama: Actually I did all the work! Muroke: It doesn't matter now. Here. Drink up! Y: Ok. Here goes! (gulps it down) Muroke: Well? How do you feel now? Y: I don't know... Shijama: Oh darn! Muroke: Now what? Shijama: I only made one batch. I don't have a solution for you yet Muroke. You'll have to wait until tomorrow for you to recover. Muroke: Me? Ha! There's nothing wrong with me. This formula obviously doesn't work for intellectual types like me. Isn't that right sempai? Sempai? Y: (eyes staring straight) Blurred images...everywhere, so fast.... (Inside Yuusaku's head) I was in some dark warehouse and I was lying among cardboard boxes with someone else. I think it was a girl since I heard some murmuring. As I turned over to see who it was beside me... //Refer to p7.txt (*Flash!*) All of a sudden. I find myself sitting on a bench in the evening. I was dressed up in a costume. The lady sitting besides me had her face partially covered. I was leaning in closer and closer and I didn't know why I was doing this. Right when our lips were about to meet... //Refer to p9.txt (*Flash!*) Now I found myself in the bushes, lying on my back, my head a little woosy. Someone was lying on top of me. As I opened up my eyes, I saw the face gazing back at me was... //Refer to p13.txt Y: Kaori! Muroke: Kaori? You mean Kaori Kinsu? Hey! What about her? You'd better not think of my girl. Y: It's all coming back to me now. The repressed memories of my blackouts. That mysterious girl whom I never see. It had to be Kaori! Muroke: Hey, where are you going? Are you alright? Wait for me! (As Yuusaku rushes out the door, he knocks into Kaori walking by) (This time, he's on top of her; more specifically, his face is wedged between her ample bosom.) Kaori: (pulls Yuusaku up by the hair) You creep! Why don't you watch where you're going! Y: Gomen. Gomen nasai. Kaori: Hino-san. I didn't know it was you. Y: Sorry for crashing into you like that. We always seem to be ending up in this sort of position. Kaori: Yes. Too bad it would be for the last time. Y: What do you mean? Muroke: (interrupting) Hey sempai! (drags Yuusaku up and off Kaori) What's the big idea buster? You're trying to steal my girl? Kaori: Me your girl!? Ha! You make me puke, geek boy! Muroke: Trying to play hard to get, aren't you? Y: Will you two cool it!? Kaori: Well I'm gotta go! By the way Hino. Drop by Yoshida's if you get a chance. Ja! Y: What's the big idea, talking to me and her like that? Muroke: Hey, you were makin the moves on my girl and I just had to defend my turf. Y: Your girl? What are you talking about? You're not acting like yourself lately. Are you sure you're feeling well? Muroke: If you're referring to the old typical me - my shy, nerdy, introverted self, then no! I'm not going to be the whipping boy for you macho guys anymore! And why do I even hang out with you? You're dragging me down. Y: (shocked) Muroke-chan! Muroke: And another thing. You can study for the calculus test all by yourself. See how far you can do! (walks off) Y: Where are you going? Muroke: That's for me and my cool self to decide. Ciao! Y: Ciao? What word is that? (Before that, from the other side of the hallway) (Hikaru walking with the rest of the girls from the girls lockerroom) Ako: Hey! Look at that. Isn't that the Kaori? The one who always cuts school? Saeko: Yeah. Look at that skimpy outfit. And whose the guy on top of her? Ako: Why I think it's Hikaru's old school chum! That Hino guy. Sario: My! How scandalous. Doing this sort of thing in the middle of the hallway! H: (sneer of defiance and walks away) I have nothing to say. He's not my boyfriend, so why should I care. Let's go. It's rude to gawk. [Back to Ryoga's apartment] (We see some packing bags lying about) (Kaori enters) Ryoga: About time you came back. Kaori: I was hung up at school. Finally got the transfer paperwork finished. Ryoga: At least you managed to get something done right. (leans back on the couch chewing on something in his mouth) And you don't have to worry about the packing. I've done it already. Kaori: I've "bumped" into that Hino guy again. Ryoga: So what? I can't monitor him anymore. I don't care anymore. Kaori: You're still bitter, aren't you? Ryoga: Damn right I am! (gruffly) I don't like to do things halfway. Pulling me and you in the prime of the "season" is sheer stupidity. But the decision at the top has already been made. And a good "soldier" always has to obey the chain of command. Kaori: What about the good 'ole gang? What will become of them? Ryoga: We're going to have a final meeting with me as the leader at the end of the week. We're meeting at the same old haunts. It's there where I transfer leadership to 'Flamingo Kid'. Kaori: Are you sure that's a good idea? Don't you think he still has hard feelings? The way you defeated him to become leader? Ryoga: Nah. You don't know how we males operate. We have to prove ourselves through a display of manliness and physicality. If another guy beat me, I'll take it, as a man. We don't dwell on "sensitive" stuff like you woman. Kaori: But you broke his arm and his leg! I don't know if anyone could just forget that. Especially the humilation in front of his friends. Ryoga: I had no choice. He just wouldn't stop coming after me. Even after he was beaten. Kaori: Yeah, that's for sure. Still, you didn't see the vengeful look in his eyes. Even though he reluctantly agreed to join up with you, I just don't feel right about him. Ryoga: Ah, you worry too much. I'm sure he be all right. Just don't know how he would deal with Toro Ishizaki. Kaori: Why did you want to mess with him? You know how ugly turf wars between rival high schools would be. Ryoga: He is just a small worm who uses other people to do his dirty work. It was the only way to stop his "infestation". If I didn't draw the line, he would have controlled the whole area. Then this place would be really screwed up. Still, the world's screwed up as it is. I guess there nothing anyone can do. Kaori: Come on with me to the bar. You look like you could use a drink. Ryoga: Babe. You always know how to cheer me up. [Back at Hino's house] (Yuusaku is sitting out front by himself on his motorcycle) "Yuu-kun. there you are. You started to worry me." Y: Ojiichan. You shouldn't be out in this cold air. You must go inside quickly. Ojichan: Actually, a little fresh air would help my heart more. You look more like the one who needs help. What is troubling you? Y: I just found out something today that I didn't realize before. Ojiichan: Something serious? Life-threatening? Y: Now. Not that serious. But just as bad. It involves a girl. Ojiichan: Oh a woman, you say? Don't tell me. You did "C" with her and now she is "D". //Refers to Japanese sexual metaphors: A=kiss B=Petting C=Sex D=Pregancy Y: Ojiichan! This is not something you should be kidding about! Ojiichan: I wasn't! I saw it on a talk show! Y: Talk show? You watch talk shows now? Ojiichan: Only recently. Since I'm confined inside most of the time, I watch the shows your obaasan sees with her. It comes after that soap opera with that romantic comedic couple, Ushiko and Umao. (He he) They're sure are stupid but VERY funny. //refer back to anime: Ushiko and Umao. Y: You do need to get out then! Ojiichan: So if she's not "D", then what's wrong with her? Y: Nothing. It's just that I didn't know my standing with a new girl in school. Whether I have feelings for her and the other way around. Ojiichan: Very odd statement you make, my grandson. Either you know it or you don't. Have you asked her how she feels about you? Y: No, not exactly. Ojiichan: Then go do it then. Y: But ojiichan! You don't understand! Ojiichan: I see. You're afraid Hikaru-chan would slap you if you brought it up. Y: No, no you got it wrong! It's not Hikaru I'm talking about! It's someone else. Ojiichan: Someone else? Who? How come I didn't know about this? Y: Well I didn't know about it myself until recently. It seems I was repressing them for some reason. Ojiichan: Hmmm. So it's another girl. Tell me. Is she pretty? Y: Yes she is. But that's besides the point. Ojiichan: Another girl, eh? Good for you. Have you told her how you felt? Y: No. I haven't. But that's becuase I don't ... Ojiichan: (interrupts) You're afraid of hurting poor Hikaru's heart, aren't you? What a considerate boy you are. Y: No, that's not it either. Ojiichan: Then you unkind, inconsiderate boy then! How did your parents raise you anyway, hurting her poor feelings. Y: Ojiichan! Stop twisting it around. You know how she feels about me. Ojiichan: Ah too bad. I had high hopes for you two... Y: What about my problem? OJiichan: Oh, yes. with that other girl. What of it? Y: It's just that I'm not sure how I feel about her. Ojiichan: It seems, my grandson that you need to have a long talk with this girl once and for all to get things straighten out. Y: You think that's a good idea? Ojiichan: Certainly. Better than you agonzing over it the whole night. It's like an open wound. Treat it too late and it would fester and sting more. Y; I think I understand, grandpa. Thanks. Ojiichan: I'm good for something after all, eh? Y: Indeed you are. Now let's get back inside before you catch a chill. [At Hikaru's house] (Hikaru playing with her bear, Kumagourankan) (Hikaru whispering to herself) So you finally decided who you want to be with. I'm happy for you Hino Yuusaku. I'm glad I know today instead of waiting till tomorrow. I guess it was never meant to be between the two of us. (laugh) I never really did give you a chance, did I? Mistreating you and taking you for granted, as usual. But I enjoyed and treasured the memories we had together. And I'm glad you put up with me and my temper tantrums. You have been a good and loyal friend for all the years I've known you and I wish you well on your new relationship. Seems I don't have the luck with any man who enters my life. First Kasuga, then Ryoga, and now you. But that's ok. I'll be strong. Don't worry about me anymore. I can take care of myself. I guess I don't have to keep that silly promise I made to you after all. (A lone, solitary tear streams down Hikaru's right cheek and onto the teddy bear) [end of p17.txt]