(Note - Since this takes place in the world of SM Redux, it's officially out of canon. Well, mostly. This is just to fuck around with various things therein.)
---
Tokyo, the foreign capital of the nation of Japan. A faraway fairyland of different customs and bright lights, or so one might imagine. Did one exchange student from the United States of America see it as such?
If Sarah Lockheart did, it's perhaps a small dissapointment. While there are lights and oddites about in spades, it's also still reality. School is still held in session, the foods aren't that crazy once you get used to them, and friends are still made and lost. Heck, she even has a sort of brother that annoys her now!
(Albiet by hitting on her...)
So, even in Tokyo, life goes on.
---
A small house in Tokyo. There are numerous examples of these, but the one that concerns us is a small one story house in Juuban Ward. It's not so big by American standards, a small front 'living' room, a kitchen without al ot of size, then small rooms in the back. Four in total, which is a blessing. This means Sarah gets her own room in this house - the house where she lives as an exchange student.
It is in this room, decorated with bubbly images of 'anime' characters(Cartoons, an American mind may insist), idol singers and other things thought pleasing by your host family, that Sarah sits. Namely at her small desk as homework is assaulted and battered into submission, as her futon isn't quite comfortable enough to do homework on.
Lost in thought as she works with these strange, squiggly and annoying kanji characters for homework, it's perhaps not a surprise that Sarah doesn't note her door - a real door, a small mercy, but no lock - open softly. This doesn't stay for long, though...
"Sarah-chan!" The son of the family you live with pokes his head in, black Japanese hair falling, short but with long enough bangs to cover his eyes. His head is in sideways, a comfortable smile on his face. A social type, moreso around Sarah. If it wasn't for one thing, you may just think he's really trying to be 'American' and be welcoming.
Sarah stifles a groan; when Ranma poked his head in through the door, it could only mean one of three things, and none of them good.
The first was that he was here to ask her out again. This usually sent her into a stuttering fit, as she tried to remember the correct words (which almost constantly escaped her), and usually involved some kind of thrown object. This would inevitably lead to a lecture with Ranma's father, who, whilst he appreciated that his son could be a handful, would nonetheless have a few things to say about such actions in his house.
The second was that he was here to get help in his schoolwork. Sarah usually gave it to him- to a point; after all, he was the only person she really knew and, to a point, trusted at school, so she did sort of have to rely on him to show her around, translate when her mind failed, and the like. Usually, he'd work in some flirting somewhere within the help- especially during English class.
The third was that he wanted to play some chess. Sarah always thought she was rather good at chess, but Ranma had trumped her in every game thus far. Quite aside from being the last person she'd expect to be any good at the game, he had an annoying habit of deciding bets halfway through the game (If I win, you buy me a milkshake!), and was by no means a gracious winner. Well, perhaps that was her fault- the first time they played, she wasn't exactly complimentary before the game.
"Ranma-kun!" says Sarah, anyhow, wondering which it is this time, and pushing some hair out of her kind-of-tired eyes. "What is it? Sorry, but I'm kind of busy..."
"Oh, oh," he nods understandingly, niceness and diplomacy coming. Uh oh...that probably narrows the field already, his brown eyes interested. "Mom and Dad want me to go to the corner store for," A word you can't quite understand yet, a unique one. A food name, maybe? "and noodles. Wanna come," Ranma smiles winsomely, in that way when he wants something and isn't being a pest or a loudmouth.
It is a nice day in very late May, the heat having taken a vacation today. Earlier in the month the weather was miserable, summer making an early entry into your life.
Sarah pondered for a moment. There *was* some stuff she needed from the store; energy drinks, for one thing, and she really needed some more gum (a bad habit of hers was to chew gum, especially where she shouldn't,).
And her dratted pen had run out of ink. On the other hand, she'd have to go.. with Ranma.
Well, just this once couldn't hurt.
"Um... yes, yes I do," she says, haltingly. "Let me get my things.. I'll come in soon. I mean, I'll come out soon. Is that right?"
A winning smile there, Ranma nodding. "Yeah, that's it," he answers, talking so much faster than you. Easily talking, no hesitation with the Japanese words at all. Giving you a large wink - a bad habit he got watching an old movie from America, one your adopted family rented to try and help you settle in - "It's a date!"
With that the door is slid shut, Ranma's protruding head vanishing. For Sarah, his last words were easy to understand. He's used them a few other times, after all.
"Right," mutters Sarah, switching back to her own tounge. Nice guy, sure, but.. ugh. Maybe he'd be more attractive if she wasn't *living* with him, or something.
Closing her notebook for now, Sarah grabs her favourite jacket- the one she's had for years, now- and takes a quick look at herself.
Sneakers- check.
Jeans- check.
Long-sleeved shirt and denim jacket- check.
Grabbing a baseball cap from her futon, Sarah quickly shoves her long hair through it, grabs her wallet, and sets off, outside her room!
"I'm going, now!" she announces to the rest of the family. That was one thing she could say smoothly, mainly because she used it every day, without fail.
Out to the family room you go. A large room, with couches, a few chairs, a very large TV(48 inches! Woooooow.), a VCR, and a few other odds and ends. IT also serves as where the family often eats, a circular table there as well for sitting on the floor and eating off of it. Your host father isn't here, but your host mother is.
You don't see her - she's in the kitchen, but you hear her reply. "Have a good trip out!" Another familiar phrase, this one a daily reply whenever she's around. Outside you go, to a tiny porch that leads right to the road. No lawn, onto the sidewalk almost immediately. Ranma waits there, leaning against a lightpost and giving you a cocky, relaxed grin.
Adjusting her cap slightly, Sarah nods, smiling brightly- nice day out, to be sure. "Let's go!" she says, cheerily, (in English), and starts walking towards the store.
Or, at least, where she *thinks* the store is. On the way to school, right?
Ranma takes the lead easily, going in the direction you started in. Good...you think. To the streets with people, the only greenery an occasional tree in a circle inside of the sidewalk. High fences border off many areas, the sun shining down. Amid a sea of people, many of the familiar 'Sailor uniforms' seen, Ranma leads the way. The shop in question is only a block or two away, a short walk. Ranma also stays rather close, "So do you wanna play chess when we get back," he offers easily, slowing to line up perfectly with you.
"Not really. There's a test tomorrow which I need to do well on," replies Sarah, honestly. "I'd like to play tomorrow very mu- I mean, maybe tomorrow? Unless you're doing something after school." Worth hoping, perhaps. Sarah wasn't sure if Ranma would cancel his.. what *did* he do after school, anyway? Whatever it was, Sarah figured there was a 50/50 chance of having to play chess.
Not that she minded, that much. Sarah looked down a bit, her cap obscuring her eyes.
Walking along, the corner store not far - "Ayoba's Rosa" the name, a bad mash of Europeanish and Japanese for the title. As you approach it, it's just a little nook of a corner store, shoved between a currently for rent apartment/restaurant and a barbershop.
"Aaaw, I can't," Ranma makes a face. "Damn." That word is in English, anoter caveat to you. Choosing an English swear word to impress was an oddity, but whatever. Shoving his hands into the pocket of his school uniform that he still wears, "Make the most of the time we have," he smiles, inching a little closer as the store in question is just ahead.
Sarah shook her head, slightly. No matter how you wore it, a school uniform was just *not cool*.
"It's not like an experience I'll have once," replies Sarah, shrugging, and picking up her pace a little, heading inside the store.
Your almost sort of brother blinks at your odd Japanese as you enter. He seems to mentally try to put it in a more coherent order, and as he does so? Tight, narrow and tall shelves are lined up all over, goods stacked on top of goods, with advertisements about. A chaotic quality is to this place, moreso since the color motif tries to favor rose pink. A few people weave between the aisles, going past everything from instant curry to a month out of date 'manga' to all sorts of odd presonal products.
Ranma isn't fazed by this, however, easily taking the lead. "I'll get the milk," he nods, close to you again a moment. Waaay too close, personal space not really being respected as per you'd like. He's not touching, though, something he doesn't really go as far as to do. "Go get the-" That word again, still not quite caught by poor Sarah.
Not to worry. Sarah *thinks* she heard the word right, even if she's not sure what it means, and heads up to the clerk. "Hello. Can you please tell me where the.. um..."
Did she get the pronounciation right? It was always the worst when you missed some 'i' or didn't extend a consonant. Even when she knew exactly what she wanted to say, she still had accent issues...
An older man is at the counter, grey-white hair and a polite, perhaps daft smile usually on his face. 'Yes, yes. You mean," he gently corrects you, having before shown a good ear for the languague. Oooooh, a specific brand of rice. Nice enough guy, really, it seems.
"Ah, thanks!" replies Sarah, heading to the aisles. "Let's see.. here we go. Rice.. and gum.. and V. Can't go wrong!" she continues, mumbling to herself in English. "Ranma? Were you paying?" she asks, sweetly, adding another couple of packets of gum to her pile.
Ranma's not nearby, as he went off to get something or other as he said. In fact, you haven't seen him for a little bit, as you get your last item. You hope he's paying, since -
A crash, the sound of things hitting the floor from a few aisles over. Mmmm? You suppose it's not impossible that something was knocked over. With the design used, spills probably come with the territory.
Ugh. That was probably where the idiot was. He isn't that coordinated, really. "Ranma, I'm not gonna help you pick that stuff up, if it's you," she says, walking around the admittedly thin aisle to check it out.
It's two aisles down, actually. A stack of boxes of instant noodles have been knocked over, Ranma closer to you, on one side of the spill. On the other side is a young woman, short brown hair and an average face and body. Pretty unremarkable, wearing a simple pair of cloth shorts and a Tshirt. Not very feminine, as "Oh...sorry," she apologizes quickly. "But watch where you're going! You nearly plowed into me," the girl grouses.
"Oh, man.." says Sarah, shaking her head. "While you're helping her, Ranma, I'll go and pay for the stuff."
"Hey, it wasn't-" Ranma begins to protest, but turns and hands you a few other things, along with some money. Annoyed, he turns back as he bends over to start stacking. My, he looks rather steamed, both parties not thrilled over the accident.
Wow, Ranma almost totally ignored you except to hand things over. He really must be irritated.
Sarah bites back a giggle as she heads to the counter. "Ah.. just these, thanks," she tells the assistant, counting out some change.
As the goods are purchased, "Was there a spill back there," he asks kindly, looking over and peering, squinting. As he does, a louder voice, "Well, as I said, if you hadn't TRIPPED," the woman insists, sounding more and more annoyed.
"Hm," he leans forward, as if to hear.
"There was," replies Sarah, nodding. "But they're cleaning it up.. I think. They might start making a new one in a moment..."
Shrugging, she calls out for Ranma. "I'm going now!"
"Oh dear," the old man goes back, as Sarah retreats with her two bags of groceries. What got into Ranma there, anyway, as you head back outside to the streets.
As you do, of note - an absolute mammoth of a man is waiting, easily scraping to seven feet tall. Not quite Japanese in skin tone, he's as tall as the tallest 'basketball' players you're familiar with back home. Older fellow, somewhat dead faced and with a long, grey haired ponytail. He quietly waits outside the story, some of the passing people paying him a fair bit of attention.
Compared to the normal Japanese height, he just TOWERS. Eeep. He doesn't seem to pay you any particular mind, though.
Sarah blinks, following that usual process that teenage girls go through when they see strange, scary men- she gives him a fairly wide berth, and tries to pay attention to him without visibly paying attention.
Mentally, she berates herself. It's kinda late; everyone looks a little suspcious when you're a little tired and it's not that bright.
It really does seem to be nothing - he pays you no particular attention at all. Strange fellow in fit in Japan, maybe, but so it goes. Walking a block away, most of the way home, Ranma still hasn't caught up.
Did he get himself in trouble, or are you just a faster walker? A glance back doesn't show any sign of him, yet.
"Oh, man," mutters Sarah, turning about and walking back. "Ranma! What's taking so long?" she shouts, sparing another uneasy glance with that man.
Maybe that girl was holding him up, or something..
That man isn't there to glance at, surprisingly. Heading back, you don't see Ranma about outside of the store. Either he's inside the rose shop, or he's gone off to do goodness only knows what.
That wasn't really quite right, though. Sarah knew Ranma to be an irritating dork at times, but he was a responsible one at least, and didn't *usually* run off without telling her (unless he was playing some kind of joke. Sarah still hadn't completely forgiven him for abandoning her whilst shopping in the middle of Shinjuku.)
Sarah takes a quick peek back in the corner store, to see if he's still there.
A quick peek is needed - Ranma's up front now, along with that woman - and the man you say before, too. The tall one, as Ranma kind of stares. "Um, yeah, yeah," he says, nodding up and down quickly. You're not sure if he sounds respectful or a little afraid, but either probably works at the moment. He certainly doesn't look disrespectful, either.
Seeing you out of the corner of his eye and turning, "Yes, I must go now." So saying, Ranma quickly moves to join you.
"Ranma? What was that all about?" asks Sarah, looking him up and down. "Carry one of these, would you?"
Damn that halting accent, she thinks, holding out a plastic bag.
He takes it, more interested in in fleeing or commenting on your almost childlike Japanese. Outside you go, Ranma's eyes just a little wide. When he finally does speak again, though, he turns to you, speaking very fast.
"Did you see him, Sarah? I thought it was just a rumor, but there really is a giant in Juuban." This comes out just a little q uick for Sarah to understand right, rushed out in a spurt of surprised enthusiasm.
"I never heard that," sulks Sarah. "Looks true, though. I wonder where he's from? Maybe he's.. Russian?
"I heard he's from America or Europe," Ranma nods, as you head towards home. HIs voice is a little higher, his speech faster. Blargh, hard to keep up with him.
"He could be from South Africa," muses Sarah, shrugging. "But really, who can tell? You were talking to him, though, why didn't you ask?"
"He's...well..." Ranma looks down. "He knew that girl I bumped into, so..." Stumbling along, slower now, "I couldn't just ask him!"
"I suppose," muses Sarah, shrugging. "Well, it's a mystery that will have to wait, I guess."
Heading home, Ranma just agrees quietly. The entire experience has thrown him a little off, it appears, as he actually leaves you alone once you get home.
This leaves you back to where you were. H omework, maybe?
Sarah doffs her cap, and hangs it on her doorknob.
She takes a seat back down at her desk, kicks off her shoes, and puts her feet up on it, wondering why some people were so *weird* at times. Honestly...
A break from Ranma was a welcome relief, though, but she didn't really feel like studying any further. Fairly confident that she'd pass the test tomorrow, Sarah puts on some music, and picks up a book. Sherlock Holmes, it was, one of those hacks produced by those who tried to emulate Doyle. But it was good relaxation reading; very easy to slog through.
The day passes well enough this way. Ranma stays quiet and dinner is without incident. Soon sleep comes, and the day fades into memory.
---
"Lockheart!" Your Japanese teacher in first period looks to you, the man giving you a critical eye. He's scruffy today, unshaven and a little loose. "It's your turn, repeat off answer 12." Not unusual, he likes going over the homework in class aloud.
"Ah, yes!" says Sarah, checking her paper. "There are 19 and three-quarter apples remaining, sir."
Math, at least, didn't change much between langauges. It's like.. music! Another universal langauge.
Nodding, "That's correct," he notes, letting you off the hook. Phew. "Good job, Miss Lockheart." At least he doesn't call you 'That American', a mixed blessing nickname. Often said with either faint scorn or open admiration and wonder, it always carries a connotation.
As in this case, as the chatty, slender girl in front of you leans to your side, as your teacher goes to the blackboard. "Good one, American," she says, "You're too good at this class."
Sarah takes the nickname wearily. Her first week here, she had taken quite some offense to it, but it wasn't really meant that way.. usually. For a culture that often relied on polite niceties, the average Japanese person could sometimes be awfully blunt.
"Oh, not really," she replies, shrugging. "Math is.. you need to do all the parts in between, otherwise you'll get caught up. If I start making mistakes here, next class will only get harder.."
"You make it sound so easy, American," Megumi grumps, perhaps treading a line between a jest of humor and real annoyance.
Sarah holds her head in her hands. "Well, I have to be good at *something*. You've seen me in Japanese... it's not pretty." This last part she mutters in English, momentarily forgetting the proper words for it.
A momentary pause, before, "Huh?" A blushing giggle, "Say that again, American," is asked, as Megumi leans even closer in, red faced.
"You know what I meant," grouses Sarah, rolling her eyes. "Honestly."
Still, she *thought* she'd go that right. But it wouldn't be the only time she'd forgotten some obscure syllable or particle, and morphed a sentence into something else entirely.
"Whatever, American," Some humor there, as class goes on. HONESTLY.
What DID she think you said?
In some ways, schools were the same the world over.
For instance, Sarah just *knew* that someone was going to, by the end of the day, make some joke in front of her that she wouldn't get until *after* they'd explained what she'd really said.
But she wouldn't validate it by asking, oh no!
Still, this was a battle she was setting herself up to lose. It's hard to be witty when so much wit depends on the subtleties of a langauge.
So Sarah just groaned again, and concentrated on finishing off her dependable math problems.
Math goes by, then into Japanese class. As it's getting started, the teacher giving a lecture and blackboard examples at first, a note is passed to you. Hm, wonder what this is about?
Sarah dreads opening the note, and opens it under cover of a textbook anyhow, expecting the worst.
It's not addressed to you, and the creases are deep. This looks like it's done the rounds of the room. The writing isn't familiar, either, someone not close to you.
"Did you hear? There were pictures in the paper today of something really funny. There are these girls that runa round in weird outfits in some sort of live action fighting! It's in the Tokyo times, page C4! Check it out, they look our age. Do you think it's someone you know?"
Sarah blinks at that, and passes the note on, taking it with a grain of salt. Weird stuff seemed to be the norm in Japan. It was really strange, at times. The newspapers were filled with more 'strange occurences' and 'comical capers' than actual news. Or so it seemed to her. Markedly different from the litany of political scandals and doom'n'gloom columns from back home.
A few minutes after that, as the story fades into your half daydream, "Miss Lockheart! Could you repeat question 1 from the homework?" Again? This is really not your lucky day for being called on, is it?
"Ah, yes!" says Sarah, checking her paper. "Ganasawa-san's article relies on satire and conveyance to his sarcasmed already-compared Uchiha-san's book to the earlier works of the derision, thus deriding his Senshu as a mere art, as opposed to a serious joke."
As soon as she's done talking, she blushes, and starts stammering over her answer. "I mean, I mean, he derides the work of *Senshu* as a joke by comparing it to *Uchiha's* works, and he relies on *sarcasm*, not *conveyance*, and.."
She hastily sits down and tries to look far smaller than she is, wishing she could pick up these mistakes *before* she made them.
There are a few snickers here and there at your performance, but the teacher just nods and accepts it. At least he's not mean about it at all. Once he's past, "Good job, American," Megumi adds, not as complimentary this time.
"I'm sure you'll do much better, Megumi-chan," simpers Sarah, idly contemplating an image of Megumi in English. Pity she had a free period in that class, really.
Indeed, this means your next period is free! A period of freedom in Juuban Middle, Sarah able to leave the classroom and do whatever. As she heads out, a familiar sight - a blonde girl with twin ponytails standing outside. Poor girl, one that seems to get into trouble a lot. It's a shame she's not supposed to talk to anyone when out here, too.
It's not a terribly nasty day, so you could go outside, walk around, or even just sit in class and kill time during English.
Despite the possibility of seeing Megumi get flustered, Sarah decides to head outside, where things were pleasant, and there wasn't an abundance of noticeboards, filled with things she couldn't read. Irritating, that.
Finding a bench or some such to sit down on, she takes out some manga, and starts flipping through it. Ah, simple pleasures.
Sitting outside, you begin to read your manga! This is peaceful and pleasant in the morning, a class time going by excellently. The time begins to creep by, as you lose yourself!
OOC - Mind check, Sarah.
OOC: I have much hate! <@C-Rat> : 2d6, 6, 6 , Total: 12
OOC -
Oi. Dicebots are just evil bitches full of hate, only wanting PCs to perish and suffer. Suffer, I say!
IC -
Lost in her own world, Sarah fails to notice someone watching her discreetly, a short boy with messy brown hair and glasses taking a snapshot as well. She doesn't even notice when he half trips into the open, so absorbing is the tale of Lina and her friends. He even spills a notebook widely into the open, having to get it, but nope! Wow, that Dragon Slave is cool!
Thus, finally, chimes. One more period, then lunch. Time to go back.
Stuffing her manga into a bag, Sarah cheerily heads back to class. What was her next period in? Ah, it was nothing awful, whatever it was. She thinks.
It isn't. In fact, next period is a formless blur of boredom, having no redeeming value possible. Oh well, at least it's over very quickly, perhaps a miracle of time.
Aaah, lunch. A strange mix - sometimes you're accosted and asked all sorts of questions about America, and some days you're just left alone. Today looks like more of the latter, however - to do what you want if you wish. Huh.
Sarah yawns, slightly, and decides to spend some of lunchtime eating lunch. Akari, her foster mother, made the most excellent lunchboxes; by her estimation, far better than the ones most of the other kids had.
Then again, plenty of the other kids went to the cafateria, a building Sarah really didn't want to go near. It was like a constant battle just to get the good food...
At any rate, this lunch looked to be shaping up much like her free period.. except this time around, there were loads of other people wandering about, talking, eating, laughing... ah well.
Outside you go! Mmm, plenty of people are out. A not seen boy with messy brown hair is eating with a girl with longer, c urly and lighter brown hair, the latter exapserated with the former. Three girls and a black cat are a ways off, under a tree and talking quietly - one is the girl with twin ponytails, laughing with her mouth open full of food.
Your friend Megumi is eating with Ranma(A slight surprise, though they know each other, sorta.), the latter talking away. Also, your bench has been left alone, too.
Sarah decides to postphone reading more Slayers for a moment, and instead strides over to Megumi and Ranma, plastering a smile on her face. "What's up?" she asks, cheerily.
"Hey," Ranma nods, as Megumi speaks, "Ranma says you met the Juuban Giant yesterday," she adds, sounding somewhat enthused. "I haven't seen him, but I heard he exists...and he really does, now?"
"Ranma talked to him, I just saw him," notes Sarah, shrugging. "He was rather tall, though. I wonder what he's doing around here? He looked like a villian from a movie or something."
"Maybe he's a spy or a secret agent," Megumi considers a moment, looking to Sarah. "Aren't they all from America or Russia, American?" Deference there, as if coming from the US of A magically lets you know everything from there.
This isn't an unusual attitude when America has come up, mind.
"The Cold War ended already, Megumi-chan," replies Sarah, blinking. "And honestly, if he was a spy, he wouldn't stand out like that. They are supposed to be.. um..."
Sarah racks her brains for the word for 'inconspicuous'.
"...not seen," she comes out with, shrugging.
"That's the trick, though," Ranma nods sagely, "Since he's seen, no one looks at him." Nodding to his own circular logic, the boy seems quite content. Megumi nods agreement, "That makes sense, American."
As you chatter away, the group of three girls off well to the side rise, all darting behind the the school building as if in a hurry. Odd ones, really.
"Not really," replies Sarah, blinking at the girls across from her. "He's easy to remember, so if he does some.. I don't know, spy stuff, and gets spotted, anyone can identify him. It doesn't seem like a reliable cover to me.
Not that there's anything around Juuban that anyone would want to spy on."
OOC - Sarah, another Mind check.
OOC: <@C-Rat> : 2d6, 5, 2 , Total: 7: Carthrat PASSING
As the three of you chat, Sarah notices something. The boy with amazingly messy hair keeps shooting looks back your way, adjusting his glasses when he does so. Odd.
"I dunno...there have been some weird things lately," Megumi considers. "Did you hear about those weird cosplayers that are running around?"
"There was a note about that," says Sarah, standing up. "Excuse me, I'm just going to the bathroom."
Sarah heads off towards the bathroom, but checks to see if the boy is following her when she's about halfway there.
Heading off, you see the boy give you a few more looks, but he holds his position. Off you go to the bathroom, catching him giving you a last look as you head inside.
Sarah quickly does her business in the bathroom, but when she comes out, she looks around for the boy again, and if he's there, look right back at him, this time.
In the afterglow of a good bathroom trip, Sarah emerges out. Walking back, the boy does indeed look back. However, when Sarah returns that look, he looks away quickly, engaging in conversation with his female friend(Girlfriend? Sister? Shopping partner?)
Sarah makes a note to confront this kid.. later. Possibly after school, if she could catch him alone.
She checks him out with her peripheral vision as she walks past, though, and tries to listen for something obvious in his conversation, like a name.
After that, she heads back to Ranma and Megumi.
OOC - CarthRat, would you make a Body check, say?
OOC: : 2d6, 4, 5 , Total: 9 (Grr! Much hate!)
Walking past, you don't get much - he's kinda hiding back a bit, his friend talking quietly, with a look of mild exasperation. Heading back with nothing of note, Sarah returns to her two friends.
"Anyway, do you think he's maybe related to any of that? He looks like an actor, maybe?" So asking, Ranma looks to Sarah. "Hallawood?" Wow, he manged that word badly.
"Ho-li-wu-do," replies Sarah, clearly, in an accent Megumi can reproduce. "I suppose he could be. He might be tired of being followed by fans, and came to Japan, where nobody knew him, to get some rest."
"That makes sense, sort of," Ranma nods, "Ho Li Wo Do...say, Sarah, ever been there? I heard there are stars in the sidewalk!"
Megumi giggles at that, gently slapping Ranma's head. "No, it's called the Walk of Fame. There are stars drawn into the sidewalk."
"No, but I've seen a lot of movies," replies Sarah, giggling.
That gets more giggles, as the conversation of the lunch period wears on. Near the end, you note those strange three girls return to where they were, looking tired and worn out. The cat is still with them, one of the girls - blue hair, quiet looking - talking to the other two. Oddballs?
As you note this, "What about Bluce Willis?" Ranma asks. "That movie was really, really, really cool."
Probably played some sport or something, assumes Sarah, though they didn't really look the sporting type.
"He's been in a few movies," replies Sarah. "I havn't liked most of them, though."
"What about Die Hard?" Megumi speaks up, getting the r right this time. Go her. "That's the movie Ranma was talking about...since he went to see it every day for a week."
Hum. As you talk, you also notice that cat do a backflip. Strange feline, as Sarah just happens to have a good view of those girls from here.
"Hey, look at that cat!" says Sarah, diverting everyones attention from one of her least-liked movies. (Well, it was actually pretty cool, the first time, but after Ranma's little marathon...)
"I swear it did a somersault! Man, those girls must be lucky to have an acrobatic cat.
An acrocat?"
"Huh," Both turn in interest, Ranma peering, "Hey, isn't that Mizuno, the girl with a 300 IQ," he asks, pointing to the blue haired one. (You think.) The girls are quietly discussing something amid themselves at the moment, as, "The other one's Makoto Kino - tallest girl in the school! She's like an adult."
Sarah blinks for a moment, then nods. "The brightest and the tallest. What about that other one- hey, she's blonde! That's unusual," she says, curling a lock of her own, similar hair. "Are you allowed to dye at this school?"
"No...I think it's natural. She's..." Megumi trails off. "Tsukino, but I forget her first name. She's a sweet girl," So suppling, Megumi gives her a little look of jealousy, so far away. "She's lucky to have such wonderful hair."
"It's not that great," mutters Sarah. "In America, some people think you're an airhead if you're blonde."
"I don't know...besides Tsukino, the two blondes I know are both kinda smart," Ranma scratches his head, as chimes sound from above. The sound of the period change, nicely broadcast outside during the lunch hour in particular. The sign that causes all to begin the treck back to class, to begin learning anew.
"Good," replies Sarah, nodding. "Anyhow, I'll see you after class, Ranma. We better hurry, Megumi." At that, she starts hurring off to her room herself.
Off to class you go! The afternoon weans and warps by, PE coming. This means you get to dress in a white T shirt(Too tight, you swear) and tiny, near panty like bloomers. Really, parents in America would either throwa fit at this uniform, or think it's good because it's a uniform. Either or, but...off to the fields you go. A lot of girls are gathered on your side of the gym, the boys off for something unrelated. Megumi's nearby, on your squad, as the PE teacher - manly woman, subject of certain jokes from time to time - begins. "Softball today, girls."
Naming off a few sqauds including your own, "That'll be team A, and team B will be the remainder."
Sarah mutters something about 'exposure' and 'trackpants', but when she turns to Megumi again, she's all smiles. "We're *so* going to win," she comments.
"I hope so, but..." Looking over at the other side, the opposite squads formed, "That Kino girl's on that team," Pointing at one of the girls you saw at lunch, you can see her. Her outfit is the same(Damn, she looks at least 16, developed and tall.), her hair in a ponytail. "She's one of the best athletes in the school."
"Maybe, but softball isn't a game about individuals," replies Sarah, nodding. "It's a team game, and we've got the winning team! Just hit the ball where she's not."
"Right, but...she's still really good," Megumi pauses, as the squads are sent outside. Outside you go, into the warmth and the baseball/softball field. Into the bright sunlight, your PE teacher yelling out, "Squad A takes the field!" So saying, Megumi shrugs and heads for the outfield - like about ten other people do. The fun of overcrowded gym classes rears it's head again.
"Just hope she's not pitching when we're up, then!" replies Sarah, taking the pitcher position herself, and juggling the ball a bit, and hoping that nobody assumed that she was really good, or anything.
This swift action works! No one had gone to the lauded and hated spot, Sarah getting it by default! With that...the game begins! The first batter is this bigger girl, some bulk and muscle. Not cute at all (Oh God, she'll probably marry the ugly class guy or shack up with another girl.), but she's strong!
OOC - Body check, Sarah. Opposing with the other girl, whom I give an arbitrary value of six to. We'll roll, then I'll post again after you post your result.
[22:20] * +Rei-chan --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 10."
[22:20] <@C-Rat> Might opposed body check!
[22:20] <@C-Rat> roll 2d6
[22:20] * +Rei-chan --> "C-Rat rolls 2d6 and gets 7."
[22:20] <@C-Rat> haha! Victory is me!
* Rei-chan --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 10."
* Rei-chan --> "C-Rat rolls 2d6 and gets 7."
--
Pitching as students sitting on the bench cheer, "C'mon, Megiddo! Get'em," is the call, as the battle goes! A good underhanded throw by Sarah, but it hangs a little! Swing goes the bat, a crack of metal sending the ball flying...almost straight up, an easy pop fly the catcher gets! Out!
"Good job, American!" Someone calls that from just a little behind you, second base. "Go get 'em!"
Sarah catches the ball as it returns to her, and swivels to face her next opponent. She wishes she was allowed to wear her cap, though. They never had an issue with that at *American* schools.
It's a shame this isn't an American school, but at least the uniform keeps the heat to a bearable level. Sorta.
The next girl comes up...that Kino girl! She smiles a little, a menace as she takes a practice swing! Uh oh! She looks dead at you, focused and ready to hit one outta the park.
OOC - As last time, Sarah, with rolling. Mako's Body stat is as on her sheet. <_<
[22:30] <@C-Rat> roll 2d6
[22:30] * +Rei-chan --> "C-Rat rolls 2d6 and gets 2."
[22:30] <@C-Rat> ZOMG
[22:30] <@Anastasia> roll 2d6
[22:30] * +Rei-chan --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 10."
* Rei-chan --> "C-Rat rolls 2d6 and gets 2."
* Rei-chan --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 10."
* Rei-chan --> "C-Rat rolls 1d6 and gets 4."
Rei-chan still hates Mako-chan.
----
Wow! Not hestiting at all, Sarah throws a vicious pitch! Kino misses her first swing, then the second! Two strikes already, a call of, "Strike her out," from the outfield. That one is more familiar, Megumi's voice carrying. Rearing up, the third pitch!
Kino sees it coming, smiling in intense concentration as she swings! Yet it's both too late and too strong, causing her to miss fairly badly, and nearly spin around completely! Strike out! The former batter sighs a moment, before shuffling back to the bench where players sit.
"I was worried there for a sec," says Sarah, to the nearest fielder. "If she'd hit that pitch, it'dve been a home run for sure." Spinning the ball on one finger, Sarah shrugs. "Lucked out, I guess."
The vaguely cute but normal girl you talked to nods back, "No kidding...I haven't seen Kino strike out ever! But you really showed her!" Approval is there, warm and assuring. Respect, too. "She didn't hit a home run today."
So saying, the third batter - a skinny girl, but quite tall. Not as tall as Makoto or as developed, but she looks to be okay. One more out and you're out of the inning!
OOC - Skinny girl gets a body of 5.
[22:39] <@Anastasia> roll 2d6
[22:39] * +Rei-chan --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 5."
[22:39] <@Anastasia> Even pass for her.
[22:40] <@C-Rat> roll 2d6
[22:40] * +Rei-chan --> "C-Rat rolls 2d6 and gets 7."
[22:40] <@C-Rat> Fail 2!
But misfortune strikes! She swings at the first pitch, managing to knock it between two outfielders! A single, the girl at first! "Way to go, Ulala," one of the benchwarmers cries in approval, the next girl coming up. A small and normal Japanese girl, though she has a fiesty expression and waves her bat with menace!
OOC - Body of 4. Try and get out of the inning, Sarah-chan! For mighty baseball!
[22:45] <@Anastasia> roll 2d6
[22:45] * +Rei-chan --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 10."
[22:45] <@C-Rat> roll 2d6
[22:45] * +Rei-chan --> "C-Rat rolls 2d6 and gets 12."
Uh oh.
Your second pitch goes wild, beaning the poor wild girl in the arm! A soft cry and whimper, rubbing her arm. "Watch it," the couch calls in remonistration, as the beanee heads to first. Two on, two outs. "C'mon, get'em out like you got the first two," your third basemen calls. "Hey, batter batter batter!"
The next girl is another typical girl, slight but not of note. Her mousy brown hair hides her face, bangs falling over it.
OOC - Body of 3.
[22:49] * +Rei-chan --> "C-Rat rolls 2d6 and gets 3."
[22:49] <@C-Rat> I rolled *her* body.
[22:49] <@Anastasia> roll 2d6
[22:50] * +Rei-chan --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 8."
Whoo! Another pop fly, caugh in th einfield! Free! "Not too bad! Good job, American! You got that Makoto girl good!" The comments of your teammates on the bench are nice, mostly, as you sit. You end up in the fourth position, Megumi right behind you.
"How'd you get Kino out and not get that other girl out," she asks, in some amazement.
Sarah just gives a shrug. "Well, I was a little overconfident after taking down Kino," she replies. "I guess I got what I paid for, huh?"
"Laid for," Megumi stops and looks at you, before shaking her head. "Well, it's still strange." So saying, the first batter on your team reaches base, the second striking out. 1 out, two to go..you're the second, too.
Sarah takes a look at who's pitching, intensly curious.
Makoto Kino is, as the batter just before you strikes out! Your turn, with a runner on first. "Go get her again, Sarah-chan," Megumi calls, less personal calls from your teammates. Eeep?
Kino eyes you from the bench, smiling intensely again. She looks quite interested at pitching to you, fingering the softball as she leans in a little, waiting.
Sarah shies away slightly from Kino's look, concentrating far more on inspecting her bat.
Yep, looks pretty good.
She holds it up over her shoulder, and prepares to swing!
* Rei-chan --> "C-Rat rolls 2d6 and gets 3."
> roll 2d6
* Rei-chan --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 6."
---
Bracing in, Sarah swings! A first miss, narrowly! Then a second, two strikes! Kino's smile is even hotter as she focuses, the third pitch coming! Sarah swings at it with mighty contention, going for it...and just missing. Strike 3, Makoto grinning as the side is retired.
Sarah shrugs as she drops the bat and heads to infield. In all honesty, she hadn't expected to do that well as pitcher. Then again, she didn't expect to do horribly, so.. not a bad game, so far, all in all.
Thus, the game goes on! From here, it's kind of boring, actually. In a rarity, it ends a scoreless time when the period is over, the girls heading back to the locker room. After your shower, as you dress back in your uniform, "Hey!"
A call, to your attention, someone approaching from behind.
Sarah looks over her shoulder curiously, wondering who'd want to speak to her.
It's Kino, the girl you struck out. She's smiling a little, either nervous or a hair on the friendly side. "Hi...you're the American transfer student, aren't you," the question is posed by her, the questioner at least a good head and shoulders over you.
Taken aback by Kino's height (dammit, Sarah was used to being taller, here), Sarah nods. "That's right, and you're.. Kino?"
"Yup, Makoto Kino," Makoto confirms, smiling just a little bit. "IDid you learn to throw like that in America?"
"Sarah Lockheart," replies Sarah, emphasizing her name.Yeah, I played some baseball there. Well, when I was in middle school. I don't play so much anymore, though."
A nod, then, "I'll just have to get you next time," Makoto adds, before chimes sound. Time to get back. "Well, next time," Makoto agrees, before heading off alone.
"Cool, I'll see you later, too," replies Sarah to her retreating figure, before getting changed and heading out herself. Fun times.
Hereon, the school day finishes without incident. Off Sarah goes to the wild and conflicting streets of Tokyo, narrow walks and masses of people between her and home.
On reaching home, a note on the door refrigerator door - "Ranma, Sarah - went out for a few hours. Dinner's in the oven, turn it down to 200 degrees when you get here."
Ranma tarried at school a little, so Sarah has a few peaceful moments at least before anything else, being alone a rarity.
Sarah drops her bag in her room, then starts kitchening, both setting up the oven and pouring herself a drink. "Thirsty, Ranma?" she calls, getting a second glass out (he's so predictable).
Sarah drops her bag in her room, then starts kitchening, both setting up the oven and pouring herself a drink. "Thirsty, Ranma?" she calls, getting a second glass out (he's so predictable).
No reply from Ranma, as you get yourself your juice. You do know he was a little bit behind you, so it's really no surprise.
Sarah leaves a glass of juice out for Ranma, and heads up to her room with hers, getting changed into some slacks and a t-shirt before heading to the TV, intent on watching the news.
The news isn't quite on yet, though sitting in front of the TV is quite a good thing. Restful and refreshing, putting your feet up to rest. A few minutes pass in peace and harmony, before your 'brother' returns. He looks mildly excitied, interested and worked up. "Sarah," he calls, coming into the room, his broad yet lean face nearly glowing.
"Hey, Ranma," calls Sarah. "There's some juice in the kitchen for you, if you're thirsty. "What's up, though? You look.. excited."
"Yeah," he nods quickly, speaking so very fast and gesturing with his hands. "One of my friends knows where the giant lives, or thinks he does. We're going to go this evening. Wanna come," he asks, rapid fire.
"Not really," replies Sarah, shaking her head. "I mean, think about it, Ranma. How would you like it if people started.. spying on you, just because you looked a little different? It just doesn't seem very nice."
"Yeah, but it's worth it," Ranma nods quickly to your scolding. "This is really interesting, isn't it? You sure," he asks again, excitement not really dented by your words. Siiigh.
"I know how it feels, Ranma," snaps Sarah. "Do you think I *like* getting gawked at by half a street when I walk down? It must be even worse for him!"
Normally, she wouldn't be so snappy, or abrupt, but having had the same sort of 'outsider' treatment since she came to Japan, it's become an issue that Sarah isn't terribly fond of, and somewhat adamant towards.
Not that her words ever seemed to garner anything but the occasional insincere apology...
"Yeah, yeah..." Ranma nods along, the motions being gone through. He easily weathers the storm of Sarah, "But it's worth it," he answers simply, as if that's everything. "I mean...aren't you curious, too?"
"He deserves to be left alone," replies Sarah, sighing. "I'll stay, thanks."
"No fun," Ranma grumps, turning away with an almost cute pout. "Tell Mom I'll be late for dinner, okay?" With that, Ranma turns and goes off, for whatever strange person hunt h as gripped his fancy.
"Right," replies Sarah. "But you so owe me for not telling her what you're doing," she adds, returning to the TV.
A grunt in reply, as you are left alone again. How quaint.
It's a half of an hour or so later when your adoptive Japanese 'mother' returns. A rather short lady, slender and nice enough. Very stereotypical, though she stops to smile to you as she passes to the kitchen. "How was school, Sara?" she speaks a little slowly, something she settled into for you quickly.
"Educational," replies Sarah, wittily. "Ranma's gone out, by the way. He claims he'll be late for dinner, but I'm not sure where he's gone exactly."
That wasn't a lie. Sarah didn't know where the 'giant' lived!
"That's nice, dear," she begins, but pauses, "Wait...I'm sorry, say that again," A minor doubletake, the request for a repeat coming slow.
"Ranma has gone out," says Sarah, slowly, making sure she doesn't get any words wrong. "He has said he will be late for dinner."
"Ooooh," So saying, 'Mom' starts to head back to the kitchen. "I thought you said he way staying for something educational." It's said lightly enough, as if it's an amusing possibility, but not very accurate.
"Yeah.. something like that," mutters Sarah, deciding to head up to her room. "Call me when dinner's ready!" [/i]
Thus, time begins to pass. Sure enough, a knock on your door a little later. "Sarah, dinner," Mom calls, "In the living room."
"Right, coming!" replies Sarah, heading downstairs, freshly changed and half-way through a letter back home to her parents.
Into the sitting room Sarah goes, dinner in small bowls sitting on the table in front of the TV. Watching the news, it's just you and Ranma's mother.
"Go ahead," she says, waving a bowl and pair of chopsticks. It's a noodle broth sort of affair, pretty simple.
"Is Hiroshi late, too?" asks Sarah, not seeing her pseudo-father at the table. Not terribly unusual, really, but worth mentioning.
"He is - he's going out to drink with friends," so told, she doesn't elaborate. Instead she turns to the news, which is just starting now. Something about the US and the Arabic Gulf, yet again.
"Oh," replies Sarah, starting to slowly eat her meal.
"How was your day?"
"It was....difficult," her words are chosen carefully, slowly. A mercy, really. "The store was too expensive, so we're just having noodles tonight. The meat was all overpriced." As she speaks, the next story - something about a murder in Osaka. Something about a young woman, Michisomething, found brutually slain amid a sea of unconcious people.
It's a quirky story, and it's being played as such.
Sarah takes an intrest in the murder story, raising an eyebrow. "That's.. terrible," she comments. "I wonder what happened?"
Then she realises that murder isn't generally a good dinner-talk topic, in any culture.
Her name - Michiru - was found in a water park, amid a lot of other people strangely unconcious. NO reasons are known, other than that she was 'burnt with strange, ultraviolet light'.
"How...bizzare," the word seems to fit, as the news is watched.
"And they have no idea why," comments Sarah, slurping down some more noodles. "Strange..."
She checks her watch for the time, too, wondering exactly how late Ranma will be.
It's past six. He's late going on very late.
"It's a mystery," so agreeing, she settles in to watch more news. "So very unusual."
Sarah shortly finishes her noodles and returns to the kitchen. "I'll wash up," she graciously offers, taking advantage of the fact that there's really very little to do.
The night wears on, with Ranma not coming home immediately. In fact, it's not until past 8 when he does, fortune having you hear him come in when you're in the bathroom near the front. While currently preoccupied for a few moments at least, you can overhear.
"Ranma, it's past 8!" That's his father, not sounding that thrilled. "It's rather late to be out with no reason."
Sarah quickly finishes her business, eager to come out and interrogate/chastise Ranma. Even if she shouldn't, it's still fun to gossip about.. well, other people in general.
You miss a small segment as you come out, flushing and getting prepared. On coming out, you find Ranma standing in front of his father, who looks both tired and out of patience. "Went out with friends?" So repeating, his father shakes his head. "You're old enough to, but don't make your mother worry like that."
Ranma nods up and down quickly, almost breathless. "OkayIpromisebye!" Blurting that all out in aline, he turns, seeing you as he starts to head back. "Sarah-chan! You wouldn't believe it!"
"You don't say," replies Sarah, moving to head upstairs. "Was is *really* that great?"
"Ooooooh yeah," Ranma nods even quicker, taking your arm and dragging you back! (Or trying to, if Sarah is going to resist and react.)
Sarah lets Ranma drag her around the house, mainly because she wasn't going anywhere else, anyway. "Huh. So what happened? I figured you'd get bored and leave sooner," she confesses.