Misato passed her fingers through her hair, her mind lifting from the fog of fatigue as she stared at the roof. She had seen a lot of it recently, ever since she had moved here, the old picture of a cold beer tacked up to the ceiling brought a smile to her lips. Rising in her bed, her sheets falling from her chest to rest in her lap as she stretched her arms overhead, "Mmmm." she sighed happily, contentment settling over as she lowered her arms. The blaring of her alarm clock a cruel reminder she couldn't stay here and enjoy herself, she had to rise and meet the challenges the day held for her. Her mood soured a little at that, she leaned over and switched it off.
Tentatively throwing the blankets off, a shiver traveled up her legs, tiny goose bumps prickling across her skin as a cold air swept in. "Ooh!" she shivered, "Cold." Rubbing her arms for warmth, she rose to her feet, tentatively tip toeing across her messy room. She stopped as she caught sight of a plain vanilla folder laying haphazardly by the door, some of it's contents spilling out just enough for her to recognize what it was, and to remind her of all that had happened yesterday. Kneeling down, she grabbed the top sheet and stared at the picture pressed against the top left corner. Her room mate, a young man with bushy long hair pulled back into a pigtail. His hair reminded her of something familiar, but the remembrance slipped through the fingers. Shaking her head, she stuffed the photograph back into the folder before moving it to the side, she had to get ready for work. Hope Ranma isn't using the shower.
Pulling her door open, a jarring feeling of surprise greeted her. "What the.." Her living room was clean, every spot of trash had been gathered up into white trash bags and set to the side. Not a beer can or liquor bottle in sight.
"Morning, Misato." he gruffed, voice raspy and fatigued.
His voice caught her attention, purple eyes tracing across the room to where he was sitting at the table. "Ranma?"
"Yeah?" he grunted, rubbing his eye lids with one hand. "Somethin wrong?"
"Oh.." she shook her head, tresses of purple falling in front of her face, serving as a reminder she had to get into the shower if she wanted to get to work on time. "No, just.. it was my turn to clean, wasn't it?"
"Heh." he breathed, shoulders rising in response. "Couldn't sleep, y'know, too excited." he gazed at her, his piercing blue eyes unfocused and a little red. "You ain't complainin bout me helpin, are ya?" he teased, a small smile growing on his lips.
"No no!" she shook her head quickly. She was grateful he had decided to help, and didn't want him to think she wasn't. Sighing a little, "Thank you."
He waved her thanks off, stepping up from the chair. "I'm gonna go shoppin, wondered if ya needed anythin before I go?"
"No." she walked around the living room, admiring the job her new room mate had managed to accomplish. "I need to get ready for work." she smiled then, tilting her head, "The place looks wonderful, you did a good job."
"Glad ya like it." he grunted a bit, patting down his pockets before nodding. "I cooked up some miso soup and rice for breakfast. Soup's on the stove, rice in the warmer." he pointed to the kitchen, before motioning to a small container propped up on the table. He waved to her, opening and closing the door as he stepped out, offering a tired "Bye." before leaving.
"Bye." she mumbled after he had shit the door, weakly waving even though he had already left. She shook her head, "Well.. least he's thoughtful." she spared the clock over looking the living room a glance, startling at the time, "Oh! I'm going to be late!" she yelled while running to the bathroom.
---
Ranma sighed, staring at the long line of people between him and the check out line, aggravation born from his fatigue just further upset him. He sighed, shaking his head tiredly. He had been so excited after discovering his curse had been lifted that not even hours of working out had tired him. Rather, his body was tired, but his mind felt like a live wire. Now though, he just wanted to get home and sleep for a month.
"Excuse me." a tired, if insistent voice pierced the haze of his mind. He noticed the familiar woman trying to get past the huge line. Her hair was short, if a little unkempt, alabaster skin framed in a heart shape face with thin eyebrows and thinner lips. She was slender, a fact framed nicely in her tight NERV Uniform, only her top had a few buttons undone giving clear view to her simple undershirt. "Ranma, right?"
He blinked, rubbing his eyes again. "'scuse me?"
"I'm sorry, we've never really met before, have we." she pressed her hand to her chest, "I'm one of the Bridge Operators for NERV."
"Oh.." he nodded. So that's where he knew her from. "Uh, fancy meetin ya here."
She looked up, eyes wincing just a little from the over head lights as she spoke, "I come here all the time, it's the only place in town that still sells Pochy." she held up a rather large box of the candy sticks, "Didn't expect to see you here, but since I did, I thought I'd introduce myself."
"Uh, yeah." he held out his hand, "Ikari Ranma."
"Ibuki, Maya." she took his hand, shaking it softly, before letting go. She noticed the redness in his eyes, how they would droop closed every now and then before snapping awake. "Rough night?"
"Sorta." he grunted, rubbing his eyes again. "Didn't get much sleep, too much happenin at once." he spared her a quick glance, "You?"
"Sempai and I worked late, I didn't get out till just an hour ago." she finished in a yawn, tiredly shaking her head.
Moving up in the line, he tilted his head curiously, "Sempai?"
"Ah." she blushed a little, "Sorry! I meant Dr. Akagi."
"Akagi.. oh!" he snapped his fingers, "Ritsuko. I get ya. She's a nice lady."
There was a sense of uneasiness in the atmosphere, and he was reluctant to say anything to lessen it. Awkward silence reigned between them as the line moved closer to the cashier, he was content to just let the rest of their time together go that way.
---
Ranma shut the door to his room, happy there was nothing present to disturb the lonely oppressive silence of the Condo. Tossing his bags to the side he lumbered to the bed, shoes being kicked off and socks removed before his shirt and pants met with the same fate. A brief chill settled over him, clad only in a muscle shirt and boxers, but it was a relaxing chill, one that seemed to sooth the tension from his tired mind. Crawling under the covers, he laid there a moment, staring at the ceiling as his thoughts wandered for a time.
"Blue." he mumbled as oblivion took his tired mind to the land of dreams.
---
Misato grinned, crossing her arms and standing tall as she overlooked the Bridge and all the busy bodies under her command. It was an invigorating and slightly maniacal look she held. "They left me in charge?"
Ritsuko looked up, rolling her eyes. "Don't let it get to your head. The commanders had some business to take care of, they'll be back before we know it."
"Until then." she ran her fingers through her hair, tilting it to the side. She snapped her fingers, "Get me some coffee!" she chirruped.
The doctor rolled her eyes, shaking her head sadly as Makoto practically leapt from his station to do as ordered. She wondered if Misato knew just how far she had her subordinate wrapped around her little finger. "That's childish."
"Yep!" her friend grinned, falling into the commanders chair, the soft leather hugging her body comfortable. She frowned a bit at that, a sense of jealousy rising up within.
"Well.." Ritsuko clucked her tongue, tossing a portfolio up on top the Commanders podium. "Speaking of children, here's the Third Child's school transcript. He can begin school as early as tomorrow."
She thumbed through the document, only briefly reading the relevant information. "Thanks." she snapped her fingers then, "Ritsuko! Back rub!"
---
Blood. It tasted like blood. A warm coppery taste that wrapped around his tongue before delving into his throat. All around him black skies rumbled, arcs of lightning flashing in to dark sky. He could feel the beast within the machine, a raw animalism that traveled through the cold metal surrounding living flesh directly into him. It was alive. It was awake.
Surrounded by the soup of life, Ranma watched as the end of all humanity would be decided by his own hands. The 05 series had latched on to his energy wings, were pulling him to the heavens were the final conflict would take place. Not a conflict of fists or mettle, but one of mind and soul. Soon, he knew, soon Lilith would come, and it would mark the End.
---
Misato peeked inside, purple eyes tracking the line of discarded clothes to the slumbering boy huddled protectively under the blankets and sheets. Easing her way in, she spared a glance at the white bags near the door, before passing on them to stand next to him. He looked peaceful in sleep, his glare and frowns not present to mar the child like innocence of the peacefully slumbering. It was almost a shame to her, to have to awaken him like this. Tentatively leaning down, she touched his shoulder, the bare skin warming her hand as she shook him. "Ranma, time to wake up."
Blue eyes flared open, unfocused, lost. She almost fell back from that look, but quickly found his hand wrapped around her own, the one touching his person, her balance lost as he pulled her forward harshly. In moments she found herself in a headlock, the flat end of his hand pressed against the side of her head. "Ranma!" she hissed, struggling against the strong arm that had captured her.
Panting breath, she could feel his body tensing beneath her own, an eternal moment of confusing danger saw his hold on her relax subtly, voice harsh and raspy from long disuse but filled with that confusion reaching her ears, "Misato?"
Pulling against the arm that held her pinned to his chest, she snapped in heated anger, "Let me go!"
He did just that, allowing the woman to slide to the ground before bringing herself back up to face him, one hand held against her neck where he had held her, "What's wrong with you! You attacked me!"
"I.." he sighed, shaking his head. "Bad dream, ya startled me." he looked up from the bed, meeting her purple eyes with his own blue. "Sorry, didn't mean ta scare you." he said subdued, though sincere.
"Whatever." she scowled, leaning down and recovering the folder she had dropped. "Here! School transcript! You start tomorrow." she tossed it in his lap before stomping out the door, anger clear and evident, before slamming it shut.
He watched her go a little sadly. He hadn't meant to scare her, or hurt her. Sighing, he picked up the little folder "School.." he mumbled, closing the little folder and setting it aside. He was still tired.
---
Misato pressed her hand against her chest, cursing herself for getting so worked up like that. He had startled her, scared her when he had grabbed hold of her like that. Taking in a deep breath, she exhaled slowly, tension easing out of her with the act.
"Squawk!"
She stiffened at the sound, eyes tracking to it's owner. "Penpen." she sighed, berating herself for getting scared like that. "Jumpy, jumpy."
Penpen spared his owner a curious look, head tilted to the side in quite contemplation. She certainly wasn't acting normal. Perhaps a hug to cheer her up? So thinking, he wobbled over and wrapped his flippers along one slender leg. "Squawk!"
"Awww." Misato chirruped, leaning down and picking up the little bird, "You saw mommy and thought she needed a hug? That's sooo sweet." she gushed, crushing him to her chest and feeling infinitely better by the act.
Penpen was glad his owner felt better, but he'd feel better if she'd let him breath!
---
Tomorrow brings new challenges, for instance..
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(Posted Wed, 05 Jan 2005 23:44)
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