Red
You know how uncomfy it is, trying to fall asleep on a desk? I bet you do. Everyone tries it at some point in their lives. So you should know the feeling. Desks are always hard and cold, and after a while they just seem to press up against your skull, so even the slightest vibration will make your head buzz. God help you if it has wobbly legs, because every time you think you can relax a little, it'll all shift under you and jolt you back up to full alertness. Then you only have a minuet or two before your stomach starts to cramp up on you, and if you're still going after that you should have never left your bed that morning.
It's really a difficult thing to do, that's what I'm trying to say. So here's the thing; I'm a master at it. There's a few tricks to it, you know, stick you feet like so, lay your head on your arms like so, arrange your body sorta' slumpy like, and then you just close your eyes, and...
“Asuna-kun.”
Ah. Yes. The most important trick of all. I open my eyes again, blinking up blearily.
“Hai Takamichi-sensei?”
Make sure your teacher is busy doing something else where he can't see you.
“Falling asleep in class? Again?”
I don't know why he's so surprised, I'm doing this pretty much every day now.
I open my mouth to respond, but I yawn instead. I didn't mean to, honest, I'm just really, really tired. Takamichi just sighs.
“Asuna-kun, these theories are important. If you don't learn them, you'll never pass the end of year exam.” He sounds concerned. He's a good guy. I just wish he would give up on me, like all the other teachers. I'm a baka ranger, passing exams is for other people. If I'm lucky I might just manage to cram enough the night before to scrape the bottom grade. The others will help there, they're in the same boat as me, after all. But I don't say that.
“I'm sorry Sensei. I'll try to pay attention.” And I'll try. I always try. But the desk looks so tempting. I just barely manage to stifle another yawn. Takamichi gives me a comforting smile, and then goes back up to the front of the class and begins explaining the next theory. His voice is fuzzy in my head, as if it's coming from a long way away. I make a few half hearted attempts at scribbling some notes before I give up and start looking around, trying to keep awake.
Ah. He hasn't noticed Kaede yet. She was always the stealthy one. Looks like she's managed to fall asleep while sitting up. I guess the fact that you can never tell when her eyes are open or closed helped out there. Ku Fei is making a good attempt at staying awake. She notices me looking and gives me a weary thumbs up. I return it with a decent attempt at a smile.
Makie's completely out of it. Takamichi's still trying to find a way to wake her up when she conks out in class, but it's been half a year already and he still hasn't found one. He hasn't noticed her yet. I wonder what he'll try today once he does. Might as well stay awake for that.
And how's the genius doing? No, that wasn't sarcastic, Yue is honestly the smartest person I've ever met. And right now she's drooling on an open text book. Yes, she's smart, but you'd never know it to look at her. I try to catch her eye and point it out to her, but she doesn't notice. Actually, her eyes are kinda glassy. I guess she's trying to focus everything she's got on the lesson. Good for her, that's what I should be doing. But it's sooo haaaard...
I hope we get a quiet night tonight. That desk is beginning to look awfully comfy again...
It's nice to feel the night air after a hot day. To feel it all blowing around you, it really makes me feel alive. It was nice to have the reminder as I was slammed through 5 feet of solid concrete. I'll bet that was a shock to anyone walking down the street, me crashing through the wall like that. It certainly was for the guy driving the car coming at me.
I flip out of the way with plenty of time to spare. The car keeps on going, swerving about the street as he tries to avoid me, then fights to get control back. He'll probably be ok. I have bigger concerns, aka: The thing that just tossed me out here. Big, scaly. It has horns. Looks a little like a rhino standing up.
It's pretty big for a Minor Core Beast. If I hadn't seen a real Pure Core, I'd say it had no business being a minor anything. It's at least a three times my size. Yeah, you don't want to meet a Pure Core, not ever. This guy's a picnic compared. Pretty tough all the same though. I'd better call it in.
“Red here. I think I'm gunna need some back up.” I mutter into my collar. The mike picks it up and sends the signal off. Shouldn't be long...
“Black here. Call acknowledged, the team's coming in. Stay alive Red.” Great, I'm the only one that ran into trouble. Maybe I'll get that quiet night after all.
Ordering me to stay alive sounds cheesy, but that's just her way of showing she cares. She does it to all of us. I actually appreciate it, we all do. I don't know what we'd do if anything happened to one of us.
A clawed hand smashes the pavement where I was just standing to pieces. Oh good, I was wondering when he'd come after me. Can't have him getting distracted now. He's fast for something so big. It took me by surprise the first few Cores I fought. Not anymore though, those scars have long since healed, and I'm faster than they are. Still, that's not to say they don't get lucky. If that weren't the case, this fight would still be inside.
I can see people running away in the corner of my eye. Good, for the next few minuets the place'll be evacuated. Then all the idiots will show up trying to take pictures or get an interview. The police sometimes arrive before them, but they're hardly any better. Really, the only ones who can handle a Core are us. Lucky, lucky.
I get out my weapon and try to attack, but whatever it's skin is made of is to tough for my sword to penetrate. Typical. Hopefully Black'll be here soon and she'll tell me where to stab it. I can't do much more than guess. The eyes are a good bet. It doesn't like it when I try that though, and I have to go on the defensive again. Oh dear, it just realised it can pick up cars. Time to move.
I'm in luck. Just as it leans back to throw, Blue's giant shuriken slams into it's arm. No damage, but it dropped the car. I glance up. There's Blue on the roof of the building I was just thrown out of. She smiles and salutes at me before leaping down to the ground, grabbing her shuriken out of the air on the way.
“Ah, big one then?” She asks. I fold my arms.
“You think I'd call for backup for a normal core?”
She rubs her chin. “I don't know, you looked pretty out of it after school today.”
“Well not all of us can sleep sitting up. How'd you do that anyway?” I ask curiously.
“Creatively placed pencils.” She shrugs cheerfully. I give her a weird look before continuing.
“Besides, you know none of that matters after dark. Once the power kicks in who needs sleep?”
“True.” She concedes.
The Core has been trying to get our attention for some time. Honestly we should make it try harder, but then people might get hurt. Oh wait, never mind, it has a new playmate now. Yellow has decided to make an appearance, wrist blades and all. She's actually quite impressive to watch like that. All that martial arts training she has paid off nicely. I've been looking into it myself, but I never have the time. Maybe she'll give me a few tips if I ask her?
Blue and I eventually decide to help her out. All three of us are able to keep it contained, but still no sign of a weakness. I'm beginning to get annoyed when Pink finally shows her face and binds the thing up in her ribbon. It should hold a Minor Core indefinitely, but I don't want to take any chances with one this big.
“Black, will you get here soon?” I speak into my collar.
“I've been here for some time. Forgive me for not joining the fight, you seemed to have it under control,” Black's voice crackles through my speakers. I groan and put my hand to my head. I should have expected that, it's Black all over. It still bugs me a little though. “It took me some time to locate a weak point.”
“And?” I ask, glancing around to see if I can spot her. Ah, there she is, watching from the roof of a nearby car wash. I think I can see the juice carton. I wonder what strange concoction she's managed to dig up today?
“Just under the upper left arm, I believe. I'm afraid Pink will have to release the ribbon if you want to hit it.”
Pink gives us a fake little cheerful smile. “Yeah, I kinda figured. Guess I'm pretty useless, huh?”
No, don't say that Pink. You could never be useless. We need you. But instead of telling you that, and telling you why, I just say, “Don't be ridiculous. Now let it go.”
Pink obliges, and it charges at us again. Blue darts in, knocking it off balance. Yellow forces it's arm up, making the weak spot vulnerable, and then I send my sword plunging into it, finally breaking through the beasts skin. It goes through the usual song and dance routine, roaring, rolling about and trying to take one of us out in it's death throws as it disintegrates, but once a weapon imbued by the power has pierced a Minor Core's skin, it's all over. Soon it's just dust on the wind.
“Good work guys.” Now Black's right next to us. She's fast when she wants to be. “I take it none of you spotted any more readings?” There's a big group negative. Whoo! Looks like I will get that quiet night! It's about time. I'm not the only one to realise it either, everyone else starts smiling uncontrollably to.
“Finally. I wondered if we'd ever get a break again,” Yellow grins
“Real sleep would be nice. The pencils are quite distracting y'know,” Blue might have winked, but with her squinty eyes it's hard to tell.
“Get some rest guys. We've all earned it.” Black nods, still taking sips from her drink carton. I glance at the box. 'Toffee mint'? Well, I've seen weirder.
I'm still smiling as we head back to the Mahora Dorms. Maybe I'll actually be able to stay awake during Takamichi-Sensei's lesson tomorrow. I hate disappointing him when he tries so hard. The other teachers can go to hell though.
Outside the dorm entrance I give myself a moment to prepare. I glance down at my uniform as it begins to fade. It's weird, it's just a silly little red costume, it doesn't hide my face or anything, but when I'm wearing it no one recognises me. They told me about it when I was given the power, but I don't really remember the meeting that well. Once the thing fades I'm back in my normal clothes. Now I'm ready.
It's not hard to sneak into my room. My room-mate, Konoka, thinks I have a late night job. She gets worried about me some times, but she doesn't ask to much, which is nice. Really, I wish I could get to know her better, but my list of friends has pretty much shrunk down to four names. I guess that's what a life like mine does to you.
My name is Asuna Kagurazaka, and I'm a Ranger. Lucky me.
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(Posted Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:05)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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