PRELUDE // A reconstruction of events after the breakup to serve as background and explanation of present and future details in HARD |< O R. by RoK Finished July 7,1996 ver 1.0 Send comments or flames to rk@ucsee.eecs.berkeley.edu []:Scene changes <>: Characters thinking to themselves **: Special sfx Y=Yuusaku, Hino H=Hiyami, Hikaru Roku: Lost again Part A: I was delighted upon hearing the wonderful news until it hit me... <*POW!*> <*ARRRGGHHHHHH*> [Inside the mini-dojo of the school, during karate class, a week after the incident] (Yuusaku, has just been knocked down by a fellow classmate, during sparing) M. Sensei: On your feet again! Now! Y: (rubs sore back) Yes Sensei. That was the third time today that happened. In fact, lately, this past week, I've been suffering dearly from a lack of concentration. But I couldn't help myself; I would just phase out everytime I relived that scene... {Flashback back to scene at end of Prelude 5: The Duel] Y: What's wrong Hikaru? What did they say? H: They're going to have us arranged to be married to each other! (runs off into the garden) Y: Wait Hikaru! Come back! (runs after her) (In the garden) Yuusaku comes across Hikaru, sitting among a bed of chrysanthemums, and sobbing profusely. Y: What's wrong Hikaru? Why are you crying? H: (look exasperated) Why? Why? Why? Are you really that stupid? I don't believe we're getting arranged! Y: Is that it? Actually, I find the whole idea quite neat. H: Are you crazy or something? Why should I be forced to marry a loser in an arranged setup! I was felled by that comment! (falls to the ground besides her) H: Hey! Watch it! You almost landed on top of me! Y: (looks down) Please forgive me Hikaru. I didn't realize I still appeared to you as a loser in your eyes. H: Oh Hino, I'm sorry,...I wasn't actually referring to you,...I was just blasting the old, outdated custom of oimai. Who knows who you might end up with. Times are different now, and I want to be given the freedom to think for myself,...including choosing the one I love and marry. That is the way of the new, liberated woman and that is my way. Y: But... H: And furthermore, it's not like you won't make a good husband, which I trully believe you will make for that lucky woman you should stumble upon. You're kind, devoted, honest, and hard-working. And it wouldn't be the end of the world if I was arranged to someone familiar I knew like you instead of a total stranger. But unbfortunately, we have a different type of relationship -- a special one which I wish to maintain. Bringing love and intimacy into it would just complicate things. I hope you understand what I'm saying. Y: Yes. I think I understand... H: Good! I knew you would. But what can we do about our little problem... Hmm....Say...can you talk to your parents about calling off the whole thing? Y: Me? H; Yep. You're the guy here, right? You're suppose to take charge. Y: But I... H: (pleading) PLEASE! Do it for me? Y: Well if you put it that way, I have but no choice but to accept... H: Yahoo! I knew you would come through! (gets up) Come on! They're going to serve dessert now! [End of flashback] I had promised Hikaru that I would talk to my parents about calling off the arrangement, but a week had already pass, with no peep from me about it. It was eating at me and my performance in school was suffering as a result. And I couldn't get over Hikaru's words, which stilled echoed in my head. Loser... To her, in her eyes, I still couldn't shake my reputation as the periennial loser. She was right. I was a loser and she was right in her objection to marrying one like me. No matter how hard I tried, I was still a complete failure. Unspectacular in school, I naturally turned to athletics and karate. But I blew my one big chance to win a karate tournament when I found out that Hikaru was watching me. Somehow, I could never succeed in her presence. Why? Then I knew. Kyosuke. Kasuga Kyosuke. She still wasn't over him. She was probably still traumatized over the breakup. I was probably even a bigger loser than he is for her to still have feelings for that jerk. <*POW*> Y: (falling to the ground) M Sensei: (Blows whistle) End of session. Everyone can go. Except for Mr Yuusaku. I want to see you afterwards! Ryoga: (waves fist as he passes by) See ya later sucker! You're lucky I wasn't your partner today. I would've knocked your head off! Now you're get it! (inside the empty gym) Y: Now sensei. I know what you're going to say and you're right. I haven't been concentrating on my sparring exercises. Gomen naisai. (bows heavily) M Sensei: No excuses! Must focus on the fight! 100 pushups. Now! Y: But sensei... M Sensei: No buts! Do now! (Yuusaku on the floor at about pushup 60 while sensei is circling around him reciting wise sayings) 'Hard work, rigid ethic, and devotion are the keys.' 'Must block out all distractions' 'Do something well or don't do it at all' 'Jealousy and envy are the paths to ruin.' 'Clear head, empty mind, no thought' 'Beware of beautiful woman; muddles the mind of the mighty' 'Difference between a samurai and a ninja is his honor' Samurai. Me, a samurai lord. I could just imagine it now... [Off to daydream land again...] (We back in 15th century Japan, with Yuusaku dressed as a samurai riding horseback with Hikaru dressed up in a kimono) Y Lord: Lady Hikaru. Are you enjoying the hunt? Lady H: Of course, milord. Your skill is exemplified by your excellent marksmanship. But I am feeling a bit tired. Having ridden the whole morning is quite trying for a nubile figure such as mine. Y Lord: Then do please forgive me, milady. Please accept my thanks for your participation in this hunt. I must attribute today's success and catch with your presence. Lady H: (cheerful laugh) How how you try to flatter with your words, milord. Y Lord: (Ahem) Fair Lady. I must tell you that I... Lady H: (rides off) We must hurry now! We're late for the tea ceremony! Y Lord: But Lady! I wanted to tell you... Lady H: (far away and waving back) See you there... [Later, arriving back at the palace...] (Guard runs up to the Lord) Guard: Milord! Milord! A terrible thing has happened today! Y Lord: What guard? Speak up! What is the problem? Guard: (nerved-racked) It's Lady Hikaru! She's been abducted! Y Lord: What? Impossible! I wasn't that far behind... Guard: It was so terrible! She just arrived on the grounds when out of nowhere, a master ninja popped out from the rooftops and neatly landing on her horse, riding off with her. Y Lord: And you peons couldn't stop him!? Guard: (bows head in shame) No, milord. He evaded our attempts. We're now sending a search party after them. He left this ransom note behind: (in blood) Lord Yuusaku, As you can see, your fortress was no match for my prowlness and cunning. Quite a mess explaining it to the powerful Hiyami clan. I predict a full scale conflict over this incident. Ha ha ha ha ha! But I'm a merciful being. If you want to see your beloved Lady Hikaru back again, then here are my terms. 100 talons of gold and the swearing of allegiance to me. No gold, no girl! Master Ninja Y Lord: Curse him to the dogs! I shall hunt him down and slice him up with my katana. I am not going to take any chances. I will lead the search party! I'm not going to let anyone still my lady under my house away from me without having them pay with their life! "And you better stop daydreaming now!" (Yuusaku snaps out of it!) Y: 99..100! M Sensei: Me waste my words! You not listen the whole time. Y: That's not true sensei. I heard the first few... M Sensei: Go now. You've finished. I don't want to hear about it. And don't be late again like you were today. Y: Yes sensei. Again sorry.(walks out of the gym) "Baby! Just the guy I wanted to see!" (looks to see Kaori running up towards him) Y: (brusque manner) It's you again. What do you want from me? Kaori: Gee man, what's up with ya attitude. Gotta wise up man. Y: You've haven't answered my question. And another thing: why are you always following me around? Kaori: I just wanted to see how ya doin', that's all. Didn't know you had a problem with that. Y: Really?...I'm sorry I snapped at you. It's just that being new and all, I have a lot on my mind. Kaori: It sure shows. But don't sweat it man. It's cool. If you like, I'll be happy to show you around the -HOT- spots in town. Y: Thanks but no thanks. I'm quite busy at the moment. Maybe some other time. Kaori: OK. When you clear to go, give me a call. (hands him a piece of paper) I have to be going myself. Catch you later man! Y: Goodbye. "I told you not to hang around that delinquent!" Y: Hey Muroke! How much did you overhear of our conversation? Muroke: (Emerging from the corner) Long enough. Didn't I warn you she was bad news? Y: You sure know a lot for a freshman! Muroke: That's 'cause I keep my head pealed for the latest gossip and rumors in school. Plus she has a police record! Y:Hey! How would you know that? Muroke: Me,...umm,...my dad,...he ahh... works for the police department. Y: Well you seem to be the inside source for information. But she sure doesn't seem that way. And she seems to be extremely nice to me. Are you sure about her? Muroke: I'm positive. And she only acts that way when she wants something. Y: But what would she want from me? I'm not rich or really good at anything at all. Muroke: That's true, but I would still keep a close eye on her. Anyone who related to Ryoga is not to be trusted at all. (looks at watch) Gotta go! Have to go the anime club meeting today. Atikamess! I went home that day, with a heavy heart at hand, knowing what I had to do. To tell my father to call the whole thing off. To make Hikaru hapyy, if that was what she wanted. I would be brave this time, not shying away when I lost my courage to face him. My father was a very fair, but not approachable person. Normally keeping to himself, he focused on doing his work and never complained even though he was constantly being passed up for promotions up until his layoff. He was like a machine, following the same cycle everyday, going to work and coming home. Strong and silent, he prefer to lead by example. And he never yelled at me for my poor grades; rather he left that to my mother. He just told me to just try my best and if that wasn't good enough, -well then maybe I'll find something else to try. As long I didn't stop trying, that it was ok with him. I found him as usual, sitting in his favorite chair, reading the paper, with the evening news blaring in the background. I said to myself that today was the day, and I threw down my backpack by the stairs with authority, trying to inject some resolve into me. Y: "Father!" Y Father: (Not looking up from his newspaper) Yes Hino? Y: There's something I need to discuss with you. Y Father:Yes, what is it? Y: I,...I-I-I'm totally against the arrangement. Y Father:(Lowers his paper slowly) Ah, so you know about it. Y:(lowers head) Yes I do father. Y Father: I'm sorry you had to know. I know what shame it must bring on our entire family, especially me. I'm a proud man, but even I must make sacrifices for the sake of my family. Y: (amazed) Huh? What do you mean dad? Y Father: I know. I didn't want to do it. But I had to make the arrangement. But at least it was with my best friend, so that made the situation better. Y: So you were against it all along...But it still doesn't make it right! I want you to call it off! Y Father: What? But I can't back out now! It will look bad, refusing what they're offering us; we're lose face. Y: Now father, I have no problem with what they're offering us. And I know how much of a traditionalist you are. But sometimes you have to buck tradition and go with the new way. Y Father: And what new way do you suggest I can get the money to pay off the debts if I don't accept the loan from the Hiyami family? Y: Loan? What loan? Y Father: The loan arrangement between me and Henry. He was gracious enough to lend me the 1 million yen to tie me over until I can pay him back again. Y: Ohhh! So that's what you were talking about! Y Father: Yes. What else were you thinking? Y: So there's nothing regarding me and Hikaru, is there? Y Father: No,...I don't believe so. Should there? Y: Yes. I mean NO, of course not. Sorry about troubling you over the subject. I'm going upstairs to do my homework now. I plopped on my bed and let out a colllective sigh of relief. Whew! That was easy! I was in a wreck all week over this! Nothing had been arranged at all between me and Hikaru! She must have heard wrong and then got all the facts twisted up like usual. She does tend to misinterprets things a lot. Especially when the weasel Kyosuke manages to worm his way out of uncompromising situations with Madoka-san in front of her. Boy will Hikaru be relieved to hear this. I bet she'll feel silly when she finds out about it. [The next day...] I had a good rest last night, with my mind clear and my heart free. I was actually glad the arranged marriage thing didn't come to past. It allowed me the chance to win Hikaru's heart the fair way, ...the right way. At least now she wasn't seeing anyone and the way I figured it, I had this whole school year to make her forget her past flame. It was the shot I was waiting for in a long tim, and I didn't want to blow it. As I was about to make my way into the school building,... "Hey sucker! Get ready to be flattened again today!" It was Ryoga. I looked back to utter and retort, but instead I stood amazed. Riding up behind his motocycle was Hikaru behind him! I hurried quickly into the building in order to conceal my shock. I couldn't believe it. What was Hikaru doing riding with such an unsavory character as Ryoga? Didn't she know his reputation? Or had she just lost it and reverted back to her ice-picking, bad girl days? I could just picture it now as he rode off around the courtyard with her behind him... [Flashes back to a medieval scene again...] (The motocycle is replaced by a horse, and Ryoga by ninja's clothing) "Ha Ha Ha! See how easily I snared your woman, Lord Yuusaku. You will pay for not bringing my ransom. Now she will be mine!" "No! I can't let another take away my beloved again!" "Hey daydreamer! Stop talking nonsense! You're going to be late for calculus class again. Let's go!" It was Muroke, as usual, bringing me back to the real world. I never felt so angry before as the first time I saw her with Kyosuke. Why did she have to betray me again? Why must she always do this to me? Why? Why? Why? "Why is what?" Y: (shakes off trance and remains in confused state) What is what? Calculus teacher: I said if I give you the slope m and the x intercept b, then line Y is equal to what? Y: Umm,... Muroke: (whispers) mx +b Calculus teacher: Mr Koji-san. Are you passing the answer to Mr Yuusaku-san? Muroke: No sensei, of course not. I'm just leaning over to pick up a piece of paper I dropped. I repeated the answer Muroke gave me, but as you can tell, my mind wasn't really keen on academics that day. I spent most of the time punching my fists into my hand. I couldn't wait for karate class... [In the gym] (reading the sparring partner assignments for today) Sensei: ...Last group: Kinsu-kun and Yuusaku-kun. Ryoga: Good! Nice day to inflict pain on a no-nothing like you! Y: You asshole! I'm gonna kick your ass today! Ryoga: Come on! Bring me down man! Give me your best shot! (Swings a mighty side chop and misses) Ryoga: What's wrong? Can't get over the fact that I'm your 'sister's' new boyfriend? Y: (another mighty slice and miss) Baka! She's not my sister! Ryoga: (easily dodging another blow) Oh yeah? That's not what she tells me. During our little ride together, she told me a lot of things about you. Like how you two use to play tea party when you two were little kids. Y: Why you,...how dare you! (Unleashes a mighty dragon punching action and catches air instead, causing him to lose his balance and land on his tush on the mat) (*WHOMP!*) M Sensei: Yuusaku-kun! Stop wasting your motion! You're not even giving our champ a challenge. Y: Sensei. I don't feel like practicing today. Forget it. I'm going. (gets up and starts to leave) M Sensei: You can't leave now! You must stay and practice. Come back! Ryoga: What are you chicken? Come back for another beating, fool! I ignored both of there comments and quickly exited the gym. (*BANG!*) "Hey buster! Watch where you're going. Oh it's you Yuusaku!" Y: (cross) Yeah, it's me Hikaru. What's it to you? H: (retorts back) Boy, you're in a foul mood today! Y: So what if I am? And another thing: I talked to my otou-san about the oimai business. It turns out you were dead wrong! They weren't talking about arranged marriages. They were just dicussing a stinking loan! H: Well S-O-R-R-Y! Sue me if I overheard wrong. Y: You tend to do that a lot, misinterpreting a lot of situations, y'know? Why don't you wise up to the situation more? Bet you must be happy now. H: I'm sure am! And to think I almost got stuck with a idiotic, ungentlemanly-like bumpkin like you! Y: Yeah, I know. I wouldn't want to be stuck with a whining, immature brat myself. H: Why you...!! (steam rising from her head) Y: (sees Kaori) You can just wait for your loverboy if you want. I'm going to see my GIRLFRIEND. See Ya! (leaves off in a puff) Y: Hi Kaori. Kaori: (looking up from doing her nails) Oh hi Yuu-baby! How ya doin'? Y: I wonder if the offer still holds. To show me around to the interesting places and stuff. Kaori: Really? You wanna go? But don't cha need to go to karate class? Y: No need. I'm skipping out of it for today. Kaori: Way cool! But I was waiting up for Ryoga,... Y: Ditch him. I'm sure he has other plans. Kaori: Well alright then! If you say so. (leads her to his motorcycle) Y: Here. Hop on behind me. Kaori: Gotcha man. I'll lead the way and you drive. It would be totally A-W-E-S-O-M-E, just the two of us taking on the world. Y: Yeah, sure. I didn't know what I was getting myself into, but I didn't care. It's true what they say: you tend to do stupid things when you're angry and I was going to get myself into big trouble as I later found out. (Riding into a seedy part of town) Y: Where are we now? This looks like a dump! Kaori: Hey, watch what ya sayin' man! I happen to work around here. Stop over there into the alley. (exiting out of the alley) Y: Where are we going now? Kaori: To my workplace, of course! Yoshida's. The best place for high spirits and exotic entertainment. Y: I'm not so sure about entering such an establishment,...I'm still underaged. Kaori: Come on! Don't be such a prude! I'll get you in! You don't need ID around here. It'll be fun! Y: But,... Kaori: (drags his hand and leads him in) You just need some encouragement, that's all. I was led into one of the seediest cease pits in my life. Pornography of all types adorned the walls of this smoke-filled bar as roughnecks and punks played pool and darts and busty waitresses waited on the patrons. I was totally disguested by the whole place and wanted to leave immediately. Y: Maybe we should call the whole thing off. It's getting late and all and I have to get home soon. Kaori: Listen darling,...it's still early and the fun and action is just about to start. You just to loosen up from all the day's tensions. Sit down at the stools. Lemme order you some strong sake for you to start you off. Y: But I really shouldn't imbibe,... Kaori: (roaring out) Yoshi dear! One sake and one whiskey! Barkeep: Are you suppose to work now? Kaori: No silly! I'm come on later. Now be a dear and get our drinks here pronto! And you can put it on my tab. As she got our drinks,she made herself comfortable, sitting on my lap. Kaori: A toast! Here's to a great day ahead of us. (empties shot) Y: (emptying glass and getting overwhelmed by the strong drink) (*Cough* Cough*) Kaori: What's the matter? Too diluted for you? Y: (clearing throat) No, no. It's fine. I'm not use to this brand, that's all. Four menancing looking delinquents entered the bar. It was then I realized trouble was about to brew when they came towards our way and surrounded us. Punk #1: Hello stranger. I haven't seen you in these parts before. Kaori: Leave us alone! He's with me. Punk #2: Is that so? Well we don't take too kindly to foreigners in our territory, do we boys? Punk #3: No we don't. (takes out some chains) Y: (whispers to Kaori) Who the hell are these goons anyway? Kaori: They're part of the Black Dragons, the major gang around here. I don't think they like us around tarrying around in their zone. Punk #4: (flashes a butterfly knife) Now boys...let's show 'em how we treat our 'guests' here. Y: Uh-oh! [End of Chapter 6]