Her room had most of her things in it, her baseball posters, her softball gear. Her clothes and motorcycle gear, though she hadn't given motorcycles a try since her accident. She'd have to eventually of course, but maybe later. Besides, she'd need a helmet that fit over her...tentacles.
One thing that was odd was the utter lack of a mirror in the room.
At least it would be another two classes of normal lessons before going back to another lesson with Fujisawa-sensei, and Fuujin, and Ranma, and Millia...and the resulting loads of stiff muscles and slight bruises.
She reached for the door and frowned as she gripped a little too hard and her nails...claws...sliced the door knob off in her hand as she twisted.
"Great," Megumi said, setting down her books and look at the knob in her hand. "Why can't I get a sliding, mechanical door like in the class rooms?"
She grumbled irritably as she felt this reminder of her changed state close in around her. It just wasn't fair. She shouldn't have to worry about such silly things as accidentally cutting off door knobs and locking herself in her own room. Why did this happen to HER?!
She paused and just closed her eyes, trying to make her mind as blank as her eyes as she leaned back against the wall. She wanted to be calm when she called for help, not panicky, and this trick always worked when she went up to pitch or at bat.
And then, as she was blanking her mind and leaning backward, she fell through the wall. She was on her way to the ground when she looked around and saw the hallway and...
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
****
"Kasumi," Shiro said grimmly. The young Tendo woman looked up from her lesson planning for the next class of power usage to see the look on her employer's face and felt suddenly very concerned.
"Yes, Yashida-san," she asked.
"There's bad news," he said reluctantly. "Come with me." Kasumi nodded, feeling a pit of dread in her stomach, and followed him.
They were soon in Yashida's office, along with a frightened and worried looking Nabiki and Ranma. Moving around and to the back of his desk, Yashida paused a moment to collect his breath.
"Your families were attacked," he said.
"But, the Amazons already came here," Ranma said. "Why would..."
"It wasn't the Amazons," Shiro said. "We're not sure who it is, but it has the earmarks of either Sinister or Apocalypse."
All three of the Nerimans paled. Ranma had done some research at the X-Men's school. Nabiki, as part of the Japanese secondary team, and Kasumi, as faculty, had read the files Yashida's group held. Ranma had encountered Sinister's works once already, though he hadn't met the man face to face, and Apocalypse was supposed to be even worse.
All three felt dismayed. And none of them held any illusions about what would have happened if they had been there. Still, they shared a sense of guilt.
"The Saotomes and Akane are missing," Shiro said. "All my men are dead, as is your father, Nabiki, Kasumi."
Nabiki felt as if a weight had been dropped on her, and judging by Kasumi's reaction her sister felt the same. It was like their mom's death all over again.
"It'll be okay," Ranma said hollowly, obviously trying to be supportive. "We'll figure it out, and Akane's still alive...we can save her."
"We don't even know who did it Ranma!" Nabiki snapped angrily.
She clenched her fist tightly, feeling the nails drive into her flesh. She was itching to blame someone, but she didn't know who had taken Akane and killed her father. And there was no one to blame for the accident of your birth.
"We'll get through this," Kasumi said weakly. "We'll get through this."
****
"What were you doing when you went through the wall?" Yomiko asked carefully, calmly. Some of the other students were further down the hall, watching the proceedings with a mixture of emotions.
"I was just leaning against the wall!" Megumi said. "And suddenly I'm falling through it!"
"Try to calm down, Morisato-san," Readman said insistently, patting the stuck girl's shoulder as she said so. She watched Megumi take a deep breath and attempt to collect her thoughts. "I need you to explain exactly what happened before falling through the wall."
"All right," Megumi said. "I accidentally cut the door knob off and locked myself in my room, then I leaned against the wall and fell through it."
"And what was going on in yoour mind?" Readman asked. "Were you angry or scared or anything?"
"I was trying not to think," Megumi said, fighting back tears. "It helps calm me when I'm playing softball."
"You blanked your mind?" Readman asked, it was a basic meditative technique.
"Yeah..." Megumi drawled out.
"Do it again," she said. "But before you do, get ready to stand up."
"Oh-kay," Megumi said doubtfully.
Then she closed her eyes and swallowed nervously. It was a lot harder to accomplish while stuck in a wall. But eventually she did so, almost falling further down as she turned immaterial again, but she managed to stand up straight and found herself again in her room.
Then the door was opened and Yomiko Readman walked in.
"I think you'll be taking a few extra classes with me," she said.
See other episodes by Thrythlind
(Posted Sun, 22 Dec 2002 23:43)
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