It didn't make sense, none of it did. The only thing he knew for certain was that, wherever this was, it wasn't Japan. Or Earth for that matter. So the question was...
How did I get here?
After taking his surroundings for the umpteeth time that day, Ryoga shrugged, Wherever "here" is. Granted, he'd seen his share of forests, but this one was downright alien to him. There was no other way to describe it. Trees and plants like these... they were like a cross between something from a sci-fi movie and something out of a fairytale at the same time. No doubt about it: he'd outdone himself this time.
I mean, how was he supposed to find his way out of someplace he didn't know he'd wandered into? Especially when that place happened to be ten thousand years in the past, not that Ryoga knew about that part yet. And he'd done it on foot!
Even Ripley's would've been stomped by that one.
Despite all this, he wasn't the least bit tired. At least, not like he should've been considering. Ryoga chalked it up to being pumped on adrenaline. Winding up in strange places and attacked by strange things tended to effect people that way.
For now, what he needed most -scratch that- what "they" needed most was a place to bed down for the night. And maybe a place to hide. Those things had seemed pretty intent on going after her, whatever they were. Ryoga was sure they hadn't been followed. Still, he wasn't taking any chances.
Kalia shifted in his arms, making him uncomfortably aware of her closeness again; particullarly the way she was nuzzling his chest. She was murmering in her sleep though he couldn't make out any of it. Ryoga could feel the contours of her short, curvaceous form against him which, when combined with that cute face of hers, put him in the mind of Andrea Spinks. All of this served to remind him that he needed to find a place to camp so he could put her down. It was a miracle that he'd held out this long without fainting.
It was awhile longer before he found a suitable place. Years of experience and life on the road had taught him how to rough it. In moments, Ryoga turned what'd been a simple clearing into a campsite. The fire was going and Kalia was sleeping soundly in his tent. And while he was no Kasumi, Ryoga could whip up a pretty mean stew if he said so himself. After dropping in a bullion cube, he took a taste and smiled in approval.
'Still got it.'
While it simmered, he tried to make sense of things. Ryoga had been lost before, but never like this. For some reason, he had this niggling feeling that it might be for good this time. God, he hoped he was wrong but, the longer he looked, the more permanent it all felt; causing an unsettling feeling in the pit of his stomach. Like butterflies only worse.
It that was true, he had a lot to think about and no idea where to start. Frustrated, he ran a hand through his hair. Argh! strange place, strange people... this should've been familiar territory for him. Only nothing "felt" familiar about it. It was like a nightmare except it wasn't ugly and horrid like it should've been. It had the gal to be beautiful and lush instead.
Damn it all, why'd the weird shit always have to happen to him?!
A sense of direction he couldn't fix. The stigma of being cursed as a pig, a pet besides. Guillable, inept at everything, it seemed, except martial arts and even then he was only second best. Now this. Where did it all end? It was times like thses he felt like the cosmic joke of the universe.
He hated feeling this way; wallowing in self pity. It made him feel weak. Childish. And yet.... Gently biting down on his lower lip, he snapped a twig he'd been fiddling with and tossed it into the fire. Get ahold of yourself, Hibiki. You're better than this. he told himself, Ranma'd laugh if he could see you now.
Glancing over at the tent, he couldn't help wondering what her story was. She was pretty good, whoever she was. Strong too from what little he'd seen of her in action. She was curled on her side in a near fetal position, with her back turned toward him. The tent was only big enough for one, which meant he'd be sleeping outside. It was the honorable thing to do.
Ryoga checked on the stew again, saw that it was done, and removed the pot from the fire. Granted, he didn't feel much like eating, but starving himself wasn't going to help either. He had to keep up his stength.
If only he knew....
___________________________________________________________________
Inside the tent, Kalia's power cells were slowly recharging themselves, causing the foliage around her to wither in relation to the amount of life energy she was unconsciuously siphoning from the surrounding environment. Though it was hardly anywhere near what she was capable of and not nearly enough to sustain her.
The mighty had fallen, leaving her a shell of her former self. But it was more than her power that'd been effected. It was her memory too. Bits of it anyway though she retained the important parts.
She was aware of the nature of her existence, in that she was a Doll. And, for the most part, she remebered her reason for being: revenge. Revenge for those who felt they'd been wronged by the Eye of God.
Like herself, it was an abomination. The people of El Hazard regarded it as the ultimate weapon. To Kalia, it was an eyesore. It simply existed to be used by fools who barely understood it and only imagined that they did. Or that they could control it. It was laughable really, 'cuz if they knew the true nature of that thing floating above their heads, they'd fear it as much as they did Ifurita. The fact was, it neither knew right or wrong and didn't care. How could it? It had no mind, no will of its own. It was just there. It's only purpose being to destroy.
That said, who needed it when she offered all that it had and more? Only in a cuter, smaller, form and was much more efficient to boot. And they said bigger was supposed to be better. Psh!
Yet something had changed. Problem was, she didn't know what that something was or how it was effecting her. But she knew had to find out how to fix it. And then... and then... and then what? Do as instructed? Erase it all? Herself included?
An unconscious whimper escaped her at the thought of it. Had she been awake, she'd have scowled at sounding so weak. She was a Doll. She existed to wipe out all existence. It was that simple. So what were these... feelings? For that matter, where had they come from and why were they causing her to question her directive?
Her eyes fluttered beneath their lids and she tossed lightly in her sleep. Yet showed no signs of waking anytime soon. It would be awhile yet before she recovered enough for that. By then, she hoped to have a better handle on things.
But first we....
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(Posted Mon, 24 Sep 2007 07:15)
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