PM Productions Presents
A Phillip Masters Fanfic
Life:  Part 2

     I stare at Ryu as he runs away from me, excited to get home and
play the game.  I pondered joining him, if not just to see my father
digitally immortalized.  The thing that keeps me back is the fact that I
have a perfect picture of him, and I don't want to tarnish it in any
way.  Normally I'm not so reflective of my folks, but today just seemed
right.  Perhaps it was the weather?  Autumn is the time of endings after
all.  When everything dies, and only memories are left.  I do like the
season mind you... not too cold, not too hot.  There's also a particular
smell in the air, and a feeling that only this time of year can bring.  
     Kasumi has told me much about Akane and Ranma.  How they saved
lives back in the earthquake of 2004.  How they both ran in the great
NDS race, making more than a billion yen for the research of the horrid
illness.  Even how his mother was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize
for her Senior Essay on Vietnam.  They were very accomplished people,
and I am extremely happy to be their son.  Although it has alienated me
from most others.  They think I see myself as superior to them due to my
heritage.  Hogwash.
     Now, this game thing comes up.  Oh, this is really going to help
me.  It might have been nice to see some royalties or something,
unfortunately I don't have the estate rights.  No, Tendo Soun has that
particular honor.  No one has seen him for five years now, god knows
where he went.  Well, now we know what he's been up to.  Selling out my
father.  I consider hunting him down for a moment to take revenge, like
my father probably would have wanted due to the warrior's code.  The
thing is, I'm just not a warrior, and even in his old age Grandfather
Tendo could most likely rip my ass.  So, I'll grin and bear it, and get
on with my life.
     Sighing, I turn back to head down the street again.  The world
seems unusually quite, as if it's stopping just so I can think.  Rather
nice of it, but I'd rather there be some kind of noise.  I never
realized how erie the lack of rustling leaves can sound in the middle of
Autumn.  I look to the ground curiously.  Nothing seems out of the
ordinary, the wind just stopped blowing.  I turn my gaze to the sky.
It's perfectly clear, a small intense sun casting it's light upon the
otherwise dreary atmosphere.  My search for a cloud, plane, or even a
bird fails.  This is seriously starting to freak me out.
     I drop my head back to level position.  I glance to the right,
noting the lack of people or any sounds.  Something catches my eye,
something that makes me jump back.  Now, it is exceptionally normal to
see leaves falling this time of year.  Though this one before me must be
one of the last, for the tree above it is more or less empty.  What
makes this particular bronze leaf peculiar is the fact that it isn't
actually falling any more.  It has somehow managed to stop its descent
at about the hight of my nose.  I reach out a tentative hand to touch it
lightly.  The rough surface bends slightly under my finger, but holds
steady in place.  What in the hell is going on?
     I bolt down the street at top speed, pushing myself to the limit.
I veer right toward a wall, staring intently at it.  I realize my
mistake a few seconds before plowing into it full throttle.  My head
emmits a sharp crack as it makes contact.  I fall backwards onto my
rear, rubbing my sore forehead and cursing.  I have got to come up with
a better way to test for virtual reality.  If you run toward a solid
object in VR fast enough you'll outpace the redraw and the object will
pixellate.  Also, it doesn't hurt near this much if you run into the
damn thing.  
     My eyes finally uncross, much to my extreme relief.  So, no one is
playing a practical joke on me.  I'm not sure whether this is good or
bad.  A look around shows that time has still not deemed it necessary to
continue forward.  I wonder suddenly if anyone else is in this
situation.  If there's another poor soul elsewhere who is as confused as
I am.  Perhaps, I hope, there is a person out there that may actually
know what is going on.  
     I stand up shakily, touching the soft bump on my head.  I've had a
lot of bad ideas in my time, but this one takes the taco.  Time actually
freezing just seemed too much for me to grasp.  A good knock on the head
does do a decent job of clearing the sinuses.  It also makes things a
little clearer once the initial shock recedes. I figure I should head
into town.  I mean, that's where the most people are.  There's more of a
chance of running into someone in my condition.  
     So, with that in mind, I walk to Tokyo.  Takes a lot longer than I
thought it would.  I'm used to taking a train into town.  A martial
artist I am not, but I am in excellent shape.  The walk barily sets me
breathing hard.  The whole way there I don't run into a single figure.
Even if time up and halted, why would there be no one around?  
     Two hours later, standing under the Tokyo Tower, I am no closer to
an answer.  I stare up into the underside of the enormous structure,
feeling like I'm in some kind of CLAMP manga.  Finally, getting fed up
with my predicament, I yell to the city, "What the hell is going on
here!?"
     Never expected a reply.
END PART TWO
Okay, sorry about the cliffhanger, but I had to stop writing.  Tomorrow
the next part will be worked on and hopefully posted.  I feel like I'm
writing a serial.  Comments, as always, greatly appreciated.  Don't ask
about the plot though, the answer to what's going on should be in the
next part.  
Thanks for reading...
PMasters       

"I'm only holding back the rain.  So many raindrops, so many pains.  I
want to find my train someday.  As seasons go past the station." - Tokyo
Babylon OVA 1
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