Hey all,
Here's a draft of the prologue (my fic doesn't have a title yet). There's
no character development yet; it's just to describe Misaru and to give him
a reason to be in Nerima.
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Prologue
The tall, lean figure of a young man walked noiselessly along a Nerima
sidewalk as the sun hung low in the periwinkle sky. He was dressed in a
solid midnight blue karate gi without a belt, while socks, and black
slippers. He carried a leather backpack containing nothing but four more
such outfits, a toothbrush, and a comb. His short, dark brown hair was
neatly combed and parted at the right, and his eyes of matching hue
glistened in the waning sunlight. The youth's person was devoid of any
filth or grime that might mar his pristine appearance. He stopped by the
door of Ucchan's.
"Ucchan's... Mmmmm. Smells of okonomiyaki," the young man paused. "Wait,
is this it...? More than likely. Let's have a look." He went in.
The restaurant was empty, except for a lone girl vigorously wiping the
tables with a washcloth. She wore a bandoleer in which were stashed a
number of small spatulas akin to the much larger one upon her back.
"Ukyou???" whispered the youth to himself. He walked over her and
inquired, "Ukyou? Is that you?"
Startled, the girl looked up. "Hmm?" She studied his face for a moment,
and her eyes widened with recognition. "Yeah, I'm Ukyou...Misaru?"
"Yes," Misaru's lips curled into a half-smile. "And you're looking cute
as always, I see."
Ukyou blushed a mild crimson. "Oh, Misaru..." She quickly changed the
subject. "Anyway, what brings you here after all this time?"
"Please, Ukyou, it's only been a few months. Well..."
"Wait, I'll make us some tea. Hold on." Ukyou walked over to the
kitchen, got out two teacups from a cupboard, poured water into the
teakettle that was on the stove, and ignited the burner. "Okay, go on."
"Well, a few days ago, Father told me to go and earn a living for myself.
You had said when you visited our noodle shop that you were headed for
Nerima, looking for a Ranma Saotome. So, I decided to go there. And here
I am."
"But where were you planning to work once you got here?" asked Ukyou as
she sat down at the nearest table. Misaru joined her.
"Wherever you were. Do you have an opening?"
"Um, you can cook all sorts of noodles, right?"
"Of course. I was raised in a noodle shop..."
"Yeah. So, maybe this place could diversify its menu a little to include
whatever you can cook."
"Oh, that's right. You only make okonomiyaki. Sounds good. When do I
start?"
"Tomorrow will be fine. Do you have anywhere to spend the night?"
"Uh, no, not really..."
"Well then, it's settled. You'll sleep here for however long you'll be
staying. There's a spare room next to mine in the back."
Taken aback by the generous offer, Misaru hesitated before thanking Ukyou.
"Thanks. That's very nice of you."
"Don't mention it. Anything for a friend."
They were interrupted by the sudden whistling of the teakettle. "Oh, the
tea's ready," said Ukyou. She went over to the stove, turned off the
burner, and poured the now boiling water from the kettle into the two
cups. Two teabags were submerged beneath the liquid, and she returned to
the table at which the two friends had been sitting. Ukyou handed Misaru
his cup, and she again sat down as the two friends resumed their
discussion. It lasted until well after the sky had darkened and the
moonlight had begun to stream in through the windows.
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So there it is. C&C expected. Tear it apart if need be.
Aemilius Vagus Aeternus
aemilius7@mail.com
IM: aemilius7
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