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 October 10, 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. Note that this story may contain explicit language, adult situations, and graphic violence. If you can't handle this or are underage, then please don't read this. Please read with discretion. 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! 21000 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 JuKuu (19): Dissension [Weekend of March] (It is late morning and we see that Yuusaku is out early working on his motorcycle. He is dressed in a torn black heavy metal t-shirt, listening to the radio.) (Playing on the radio is a jpop song by Maki Ohguro) My very first quiet weekend in a long while since arriving in Hokkaido to live with our grandparents last year. These past few weeks has especially been hard on me, like a roller coaster ride with all the events that transpired with Hikaru, Kaori, and especially Ojiichan's heart attack. Grandfather was feeling much better, much stronger now. Through the hard, arduous efforts of my parents and obassan, they nursed him back to health. Now he was able to walks around the house now. Things were finally beginning to settle down. No more outside distractions for me. No mixed signals from Kaori. No confrontation with Ryoga and his goons. No yakking by Muroke. And no bickering with Hikaru-chan. Each of us seemed engaged in our own busy thing now. Ryoga and Kaori had already transferred out. Muroke seemed edgy and reclusive. And what was Hikaru doing? Putting her nose to the grindstone as usual training up for the big play. It was to open very soon. Me? I was devoting my energies solely towards martial arts. Originally, I thought of quitting altogether; I didn't have the spirit to continue on. By suprisingly, Ojiichan dissuaded me doing that. He told me that I had been in the sport for most of my life now and it would be a pity for me to quit now. Since this was my last year of high school, I figure I'll stick it out and finish it up. After that, I was going to quit. I wiped the sweat from my forehead amid the hot, burning sun as I handled the monkey wrench carefly to fix a gear in my motorcycle engine. My bike. A genuine Yamaha. Thing has been giving me trouble all the way back to last summer while we were still in Tokyo. My mom thought that I was doing all those long summer jobs to earn enough money to get a new motorcycle to replace it. Of course I used it for other purposes. //see prelude p3.txt for more details (Yuusaku turns the key on the ignition to try out his handiwork) (*sputter sputter pop pop POP! whine......*) (turns it off and opens it up to examine it again) (*Sigh*) Back to the drawing board again. I know what everything keeps calling my bike. A pile of junk. But I thought otherwise. I had a special feeling about my bike. This baby and I have been through a lot together, both good times and bad. An uncanny relationship, of man and machine. We have been practically inseparable over the years. Don't ask me to explain it, for I can't. I just know its been my most trustyworthy companion. But now, she was getting old - getting past her prime, breaking down, dying a ever slow smog death, coughing and sputtering every which way, and there was nothing I could do about it. She needed a complete engine overhaul, but I couldn't possibly afford it. My parents originally want me to junk it in Tokyo when we were moving, but I wouldn't let them. She was my lone companion now and I was going to keep her to the bitter end. "Yuu-kun! Come in and wash up" Y: What for, mama? "We're going over to the Hiyama place!" Y: What? "Come on dear. Don't tell me you forgot!" Y: Okaasan! Can you let me off this time? You know how I hate dressing up for special occasions. "No excuses for you now! Today is Girls' Day! So you better be a good boy and listen." Girls' Day. Oh no! I had totally forgot about it! Every March 3 was the day for women. It also meant something else, especially for couples. As a tradition, on Valentine's day, the girls would pass chocolates to boys. And on this day, the boys would pass it back to the girls to complete the ritual. Unfortunately, I didn't get anything from Hikaru. As I got back to my room, I stared at the box of chocolates lying smack square in the middle of my desk, propped up by some books. Funny I got it as a gift from Kaori before she left. An odd women to say the least. One whose mood changed from moment to moment. I never could tell what was her real intention with me. Perhaps she was just playing with me. I guess we won't know now. [At a super-secret location in town] Hunada: Are you sure its safe? Toro: Yes, you dumb oaf. Everyone's taken care of. I have driven out my rival Ryoga and disbanded his worthless pack. Hunada: But what about the spy guy? Toro: Him? You forgotten already? Since I was no longer in need of his services, I saw fit to take care of that leeching agent with that unfortunate accident. Too bad. Hunada: Heh, heh, good one boss. Where do we get the goods? Toro: We here already. See. (points to inside of building) Now hear this carefully. Only you and I know the location of this secret area. That's where we get to pick up our stash. I need someone big and strong to carry back this stuff, I took you along. Today's a big payload to pick up. Hunada: Thanks boss. I'm glad to be of service. Toro: Now understand this. Don't tell anyone of this place, including any of our hired hands. I assured my uncle's lieutenant that I would only skim off a little off his main operation. Every Shimazaki has to establish his name and what better way than through cheating and deceit. (*echos out an evil emanating laugh*) Hunada: Uhh...I didn't quite get that. What was that again? Toro: Forget it. Which is what you do naturally. Hunada: Ok. Toro: Now to intiiate Operation Divide and Conquer. [At the Hiyama house] (*Ding Dong*) "H i k a r u! Go answer that! I'm still busy in the kitchen." H: You know I hate dressing up! "You know that the Hinos are coming over for our get-together. Hino Ojiisan is just recovering from his medical condition. We should do our best to welcome them. And Yuusaku would be coming over also." H: Frankly, I don't care. (*Ding Dong*) "No time to complain. Now don't keep our guests waiting!" (*Hikaru opens up the door*) H: Irraishaime! Please come in! "Hi Hikaru! You look lovely today!" H: Thank you. Please make yourself at home. (last to come in is Yuusaku) (*a slight tense moment as their eyes meet each other*) H: Hi Yuusaku. How are you? Y: Me? Not feeling that great today. But don't worry about me. (hesitates) Let's go join our folks now. They probably have tons of things to say to each other. (At the eating table, Hikaru and Yuusaku are paired together. Everyone is talking and chattering except them. Finally, one of them speaks up) H: Well? Y: (looks up surprised) Well what? H: Are you going on the senior class trip? Y: Senior class trip? What is that? H: You didn't learn about it? They announced it in my homeroom. Y: They did? I guess I must have missed it. Daydreaming as usual in class. H: Well, since you weren't paying attention, I guess I have to tell you. It starts out near the end of April. It is a week long scenic tour of the treasures of Hokkaido. It is suppose to be a final get-together among our schoolmates. And it makes a nice segway into Golden Week. Just before finals. Signups begin this month. So are you going? Y: Dunno. Maybe. Maybe not. How about you? H: Yeah, I am. My whole dancing troupe pressured me into going. Y: Luckily I don't have that kind of peer pressure on me. Not really close with any of my fellow senior classmates, being the new guy and all. And my folks probably couldn't afford it. They probably want to save the money to put me through some study cram school. H: Sad to hear that. Y: You are? H: Speaking as a fellow friend of course. Y: I see...Excuse me. I have to go to the restroom. Be back in a moment. (5 minutes later) H: You're back. Must have been a big one. Are you feeling well? Y: Fine, fine. Sorry for the long delay. Just had to do it right. Did you miss me? H: Baka! Don't be silly. Just concerned that's all. (Afternoon whizzes by and dusk comes around. Soon, it is time for everyone to leave.) H: Whew! I'm glad that's over with, entertaining guests. I just want to lie on my bed and just flop. (*Bark, Bark, Bark*) H: Toto! I wonder what mischief he's been up to? (As she enters her room, she is surprised to see Toto clawing at her beloved bear, Kumagorou-kun. And wrapped in between the teddy bear's arms is...) H: ...my chocolate box! How did it get there? [The following week] [At the chemistry lab] "How are you feeling?" Muroke: You've been asking me that question every time you see me. How many times do I have to tell you that I've recovered from that experimental "trip" of your formula. Shijama: No need to get testy! Don't blame me for flunking your calculus quiz! Muroke: Sorry. I just lost my temper. Shijama: Good thing you're well now man. Otherwise, you're be even crankier. Muroke: So what do you find? Shijama: First, tell me this! Did you take any of this stuff at all? (lifts up white powder specimen) Muroke: 'course not! I just found it lying inside my gym locker. Shijama: Thank goodness! Muroke: Why? Shijama: Well, after doing careful analysis of this sample you provided to me for over two weeks, I can safely conclude that the preponderance of the substance that lies before you is a derivative of the opiate family. Muroke: Which means.... Shijama: In plain words, we have a highly concentrated narcotic on our hands! Muroke: What?! Shijama: That's not the worst of it. This sample we have here have been laced or mixed with slight traces of highly potent stimulants whose names I care not to go into details now. Muroke: (jaw drops) Wow! Shijama: Wow is right! My hypothesis concludes that the aforementioned substances mixed together form a negatively adverse synergistic effect on the body and lead to severe bodily disorders including psychosis, neurosis, or even paralysis. Muroke: Oh my, oh my, oh my. What are we going to do? Shijama: I don't know about you, but I don't want to get involved with whatever you're involved with. Muroke: Hey! What do you mean? You don't actually think I'm actually engaged using this illegal drug, do you? Shijama: I don't know what to believe anymore. But from your recent display of rash and crazy behavior last week, I'll say you'll not in the proper mental state. Caused by what, I don't know and I don't want to know. What you do is your own business. Muroke: I can't believe I'm hearing this from you... Shijama: Here! (places remaining pouch of powder in Muroke's hand ) Do what you want with this. I know enough about it already. I keep my hands clear of this. It was fun being your friend but now I don't think it would be prudent to be assoicated with you anymore. Muroke: But... Shijama: I think you should be leaving now. Sayonara! Muroke: [At the dance studio] Ako: You look out of it girl. Saeko: You must still be very depressed, aren't you? Sario: I sorry everybody! I let you all down with my performance. Especially so near the debut of the play. Gomen nasai. (hands head down as a tear trickles down her cheek) Hikaru: Sario-san! We're not blaming you at all. We symphasize with your plight. It must be tragic to have your boyfriend get into that vehicle accident. Ako: Yeah. Any boyfriend would be so lucky to have such a loyal girlfriend as you. Saeko: How is Futaro-san anyway? Sario: I visited just yesterday. He's still in the same still state. I just felt so sad seeing there, lying still and silent, unable to communicate at all with the outside world. I...I.... (breaks down and bursts out crying) Hikaru: (pats her back) There, there. That's right. Let it all out. [In Tokyo, at a shooting range] (A strong, rugged looking man wearing a white t-shirt and jeans walks over to the shooting area. He is wearing no protective ear covering. We see him hold up two guns, one in each hand. He holds up both and aims it at the paper target. He starts shooting one after the other in unison, seemingly forming its own beat. This continues for about 24 rounds. When the smoke clears, we see a well-worn, punctured bullet hole through the direct center of the target.) (We hear clapping from behind) "Nice shootin' Ryo!" Ryoga: Hardly. My left hand was off the target by about 2 millimeters. More practice will do me good. Kaori: Still your own cocky self. Ryoga: Nothing you haven't heard before. Kaori: That looks like fun. Lemme try it. Ryoga: No way! You're not ready yet! Kaori: That's no fair! You always say that! How how am I going to catch the bad guys if I don't have a chance to practice myself? Ryoga: Just let me do the crook catching. Kaori: Pig! (sticks tongue at him) Ryoga: You didn't come all this way to just to make faces at me? Kaori: No. Even better! There's been a change of plans. Ryoga: Change? What change? Kaori: We're back on the job again. They want us to follow up on the Futaro lead. Ryoga: Ha! Kaori: What do you mean ha? Ryoga: No way. I'm not going back there. I'm not a person to be jerked around like that. They can find another man to take the case. Kaori: Now's not the time to let your pride get in the way! Ryoga: Sometimes, that's all we have to fight for. Our own pride. Kaori: How selfish you can be! And to think that I thought you actually cared for the victims. Ryoga: Victims? Ha! After that incident, it opened my eyes. I realize one thing. The problem is not the dealers or the pushers. We're the ones who bring the problem among ourselves. Kaori: What!? You're not making sense at all! Ryoga: Listen. The so called victims are the ones funding this disease. There's nothing you or I or anyone else can do about that. How can we even hope to succeed if we're our own worst enemy? Kaori: I can't believe I'm hearing such a defeatist type of attitude from you. Ryoga: Well you better believe it. Man, I wasted all that time and effort for nothing. Kaori: Well I know this much. I'm going back. Since I screwed up the operation in the first place, I feel responsible. At least I will do something to make a difference. //refer to HardKor Prelude P13.txt Ryoga: You can do what you want. All I know is that I'm staying back. Kaori: Fine! If that's the way you're going to be, then so be it. And you can mind that mangy mutt yourself, I'm sick of scooping up his shit. Ryoga: Fine then. Ja. (walks past her) Kaori: Where the hell are you going now? Ryoga: To get more rounds. I plan to practice until nightfall. [At the gym] (Yuusaku is in the gym again practicing with the sensei) Sensei: (deep sigh) No, no, no! You doing all wrong again! All wrong! What is matter with you!? Y: Sorry sensei! I thought I was doing better. Sensei: No good still! No heart you fight with. Too much wasted motion. Y: I'm trying the best I can! Why are you getting on my case for? Sensei: Gomen. I didn't realize this was too tough for you. We can quit now. (starts to walk away) Y: Matte! Don't go. Sensei: Why not? Too tough for you. Y: No; I was just speaking from frustration, that's all. Sensei: Are you sure you want to continue? Y: Yes; absolutely. Sensei: If so, then follow my instructions precisely. Look! Focus! Concentrate! That is all you need to do. Now watch me! See this! (performs a sequence of moves) Y: I've seen how you did it. And I'm mimicing your exact motions. I don't see what I'm doing wrong. Sensei: This technique very simplistic, yet very deceptive. That is why you must master the first step before you can go on. That is the Kyushin Ryu way. Y: Kyushin Ryu? Sensei: The karate you see now. Each step of technique must be mastered. Only when you are in the proper frame of mind and heart will you progress. Y: How come I never heard of it before? Sensei: Name does not matter. What matter is I'm teaching you it. Y: Why me? Why not the rest of the guys. Sensei: You ask too many questions. Just go. Y: Ok! I'm ready. Let me try again. Sensei: Do not try. Just do. Good. A little better. Block better! Fight as if your last fight. Fight for what you believe in! You need purpose in your movements. [Downtown at Yoshida's...] (Aki, Bento, Chiko, and Daisuke at a table) Daisuke: This past week has been eeriely quiet since the boss left. Chiko: Yeah. I thought Toro's goons would have moved in on our territory by now. Bento: 'course they're not bothering us! Boss left me in charge now of our elite gang. Toro knows better than to mess with me! (points to himself with his thumb) Daisuke: So whadda ya gonna to do? Sit on 'em? Bento: Listen bone-face! I'm the new appointed leader and I'm not gonna take any cracks about my weight, you understand? Aki: Don't kid yourself. Ryo was gonna make Futaro the leader once he left. Bento: Yeah right. But who cares now. He's in the hospital and I'm not. Not my problem. Chiko: Don't be so cold about the situation. Bento: Don't be so envious baka fool! Daisuke: You and your crazy talk. If you think you're such hot shit, you can rung the gang by youself. Bento: Fine with me. You were just cramping our style. Aki: Hey now! Cool it guys! This is a very difficult situation we're all going through. The reason why Toro probably hasn't acted yet is to wait for us to self-destruct and divide ourselves. And look at us now! Bickering like a bunch of fools. Chiko: Aki speaks the truth, y'know. Daisuke: (crosses arms) I'm stay as soon as he stops abusing his position. Man thinks he's the second coming. Bento: And I'll only go along as long as I get a little respect here and less lip. Aki: Both of you have to give in a little. Most important thing is we stick together and face the what comes along head on. Come on. Let's do the salute to show our unity. (Everyone at the table goes through a series of complicated, odd bar gestures as some sort of initiation salute or something) Chiko: Oh shit! The beast and his pet has come in. (In enters Toro and his main hit guy, Hunada) Bento: (growls) It's you! What the hell are you doing here in our turf? Toro: Why to welcome the new leader of course? What else do you think? Daisuke: Then why you bring along that big ape of yours? (Hunada grows menacing, causing Daisuke to flinch) Toro: (evil laugh) Just in case. You never know around in unfriendly territory. Bento: You said what you wanted. Now get out. Before we change our mind about busting you up! Toro: Pity. Bento: About what? Toro: I was about to intoduce to you an opportunity of a lifetime. Bento: What the fuck are you talking about? Toro: The privledge for our two sides to join forces. Chiko: Say what? Aki: No way! Toro: You heard right fellas. Call it a peace offering on my part. Bento: Why should we be interested? Toro: There's already a great deal of friction between our 2 sides. Senseless displays of violence. All caused by the grudge I had with your dearly departed leader, Ryoga Kinsu. But now he's gone, ditching you guys like the punk he is. Daisuke: Why you....(clenches fist) Bento: Hold it Daisuke! Let him finish. Toro: As I was saying, I could have easily moved in and just wasted you guys, but I didn't. That would be a such a miserable waste of talent and bodies here. Instead, I decided to be a "good guy" for a change. That's why I'm offering you the opportunity to join up with my gang. We're control this whole area together. Think of the possiblities. Bento: And why should I care? Toro: We can end the violent clashes between our two sides. Chiko: (mockingly) What are you? Scared now? Toro: If fighting's what you want, that can be easily arranged. But why fight when you can be part of the action. Bento: I'm sick of your talk. Get out now! Toro: Not before I leave a little token. (flips a package to him) Bento: (stares at it wide-eyed) Is this what I think it is? Toro: Of course. What every stressed out student around here is dying for. The chance to boost his energy and feel real good. Free sample. Bento: (eyes rolling) God damn! Toro: No need to say anymore. I'll be back in a week. I'll have your answer by them. What I do next will depend on what you decide, so choose carefully. Or you'll be disappointed. Real disappointed. (motions to Hunada to go who gives a dirty look and growls menacingly before leaving) [Inside the gym] Y: (sweating all over and worned out) Woah! What a workout today. Sensei Matsumoto is sure a slave driver! (sees a sullen Muroke sitting on one of the benches) Y: Muroke! What are you doing here? Muroke: I don't know. I don't care. Everything is over for me. Y: What? That's nonsense! You're the smartest person I know. Muroke: Ah hell! Brains does me a lot of good. Y: I never seen you so down before. I mean you were acting strangely, but in a very assertive way. But now you sound so depressing. Muroke: You would feel the same way too if your best friend just dumped you. Y: What? I find that hard to believe. Why? Muroke: Because of this. (shows him the plastic pouch of powder) Y: Because of some sugar? Muroke: This isn't sugar; it's something much worse. Y: (starts to realize) Don't tell me that's... Muroke: Yes. Exactly. Y: But,...how could that be. You're not... Muroke: Of course not! You believe me don't you? Y: Hmmm... Muroke: What? Y: You have been acting strangely lately... Muroke: (groans) Not you too...(buries his face in his hands) Y: (pats him on the back) Come on. Just kidding. Of course I believe you. Muroke: (looks up) You do? Y: Yeah. I do. Even though you do fit the profile to use the stuff being an demure, overstressed out academic work-aholic, my gut feelings says otherwise. And I always trust my gut feeling. Muroke: Thanks. Thanks for believing in me. Y: Now you have to tell me more details on how you found this stuff. [Back to the boys at the bar] Daisuke: Boy, would you believe the nerve of that guy, coming into our territory and acting as if he owned the place. What a punk! I want to knock his head off. Ako: Easy now. Don't let your temper get the better of you. Chiko: And for him to threaten us like that. I'll say we fight him now rather than wait a week to see his ugly face. Bento: Hold it guys. I don't think taking any action now is the way to go. Chiko: Wait a moment! What are you talking about? Yo're not actually gonna buy into what he said. Bento: You don't know, do you? I don't know about you guys, but I sick of hauling my ass around just to pick a fight for kicks. If there's a way to end this rival gang warfare, then I'm going to listen to the possibilities. Daisuke: Listen to yourself. You sound like you're going to give in. Bento: It's not giving in at all! Our two groups will share the power. Chiko: You don't believe that crap, do you? Bento: And we should not be in a rush to kill the deal. We have a week to think about it. We'll have a vote on it just before. Daisuke: I don't need a week to think about it! Bento: I made the decision already! Case closed! Daisuke: Have it your way. I'm not going to stay here and hear this. (Daisuke storms out) [End of Prelude Chapter]