Monday, December 26, 2005

The Christmas Special ‘05 1:45 am Summer: (lying awake in bed) I know Artukei said I don’t owe him anything, but I still feel like I should do something. But Christmas is tomorrow morning. *sigh* Oh c’mon, girl! You’ll think of something. You can always give Artukei a late Christmas present. Yeah. Christmas Day 10:15 am --Artukei and Aisha’s room-- Aisha: Zzzzz... “boing!” Justin: Zzzzz... “boing!” Gumdrop: (jumping on the bed) *boing, boing, boing* Justin: Mmm... Free my men! (wakes up) What the...? Gumdrop: (stops jumping) Uhh! Finally! I’ve been jumping since 7:00 am! Justin: .... Spaz. later... --downstairs-- Kida: Here daddy. (hands Justin a present) Justin: (opens it) Oh Kida. You got me an mp3 player! Kida: Um hm. I already downloaded all your favorite songs on to it. Justin: Aw, sweetie, thank you so much. Kida: I also made some modifications. So it’s also a calculator, a calendar, a cell phone, camera, PDA, GPS, and UMD player. It also has wireless internet so you can check your e-mail, surf the web, and get streaming real-time video and radio. Justin: 0.0 ....... whoa... um.... thank you Kida. You made me an mp3 player that will one day gain sentience, hack into Norad, and conquer the world. Kida: ^_^ *giggle* Felicia: OK. Is that everybody? Giselle: Non. One more. (hands Justin a package) Joyeux Noel, Artukei. Justin: Merci Giselle. (opens it, it’s a wool scarf and a pair of mittens) Giselle, where did you.... did you make these? Giselle: (blushes, nods) Justin: Oh Giselle, these are beautiful. (puts on the scarf) Merci beaucoup! Aisha: (feeling the scarf) That’s exquisite workmanship. And so pretty too. Giselle, you’re a real pro! Justin: I stand by what I said that day, Giselle. You’d make a wonderful designer. Giselle: (blushes furiously, covers her face) Artukei, please. Summer: Hmmm.... *lightbulb*

I know it was short. Looking back I probably should've combined today's and yesterday's. But you know what? I've always wanted to do a Christmas musical. So, if I could, there’d be a big medley of Christmas songs at the end of this. And to give you an idea of what that would be like, here’s a list of the cast’s favorite holiday tunes.


Favorite Christmas Songs

Justin: “Mary Did You Know”

Aisha: “All I Want For Christmas Is You”

Ozz: “Still, Still, Still”

Kida: “The First Noel”

Gumdrop: “Christmas at Ground Zero”

Felicia: “White Christmas”

Giselle: “Cantique de Noel” (Oh Holy Night)

Kanasuki: “Jingle Bells”

Summer: “Santa Baby”



Have yourself a merry little Christmas
May your heart be light
From now on our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the yuletide gay
From now on our troubles will be miles away
Here we are as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
When faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more
Through the years we all will be together ^_~
If the fates allow
So hang a shining star upon the highest bough
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now


MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYBODY!!
(even if it is a day late)


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Sunday, December 25, 2005

Hey guys! I got kinda busy yesterday and I didn't have time to post, so my Christmas Eve and Christmas Day stories are gonna be off by one day. Bear with me. Actually, I might post the Christmas Day story later today.

The $$60,000,000,000 Santa Christmas Eve --kitchen-- Gumdrop: (singing) “It’s Christmas at ground zero There’s music in the air The sleigh bells are ringin’ And the carolers are singin’ While the air-raid sirens blare It’s Christmas at ground zero The button has been pressed The radio just let us know That this is not a test” (jumps onto Justin) Hey! Justin: What? Gumdrop: Will you take me to see Santa? Justin: No way. I don’t go anywhere near the mall after the 20th. It’s suicide! Kanasuki: Santa? (grabs his arm) Artukei-sama, I want to go see Santa! Justin: Um... Kanasuki-chan, it’s almost impossible to get into the mall at this time. Kanasuki: But Artukei-samaaaaaaa. (stares at him with puppy-dog eyes, which is really ironic since she’s a cat-girl) Justin: Oh man. Kanasuki, please don’t give me those eyes. The last thing I want to do on Christmas Eve is get stuck in mall traffic. Felicia: If you’re worried about traffic, Artukei, there is another way. Justin: Huh? Felicia: Why don’t you take the subway? There’s a station right inside the mall. Justin: Really? That might work. There’s a station just a few blocks from our neighborhood. OK, Kanasuki-chan. Go get your coat. Kanasuki: ^_^ YAY! (runs off) Justin: Quick thinking, Felicia. I didn’t know the mall had subway access. Felicia: And how long have you lived here? Justin: I don’t get out and go to the mall much. Gumdrop: You don’t get out, period. Justin: Urusai! --the mall-- Santa: HOHOHO! Justin: (watching from the side as Gumdrop and Kanasuki wait in line to see Santa) Man, God bless mall Santas. They have to put up with whiny kids all day long. And they do it all out of the goodness of their hearts. God bless’em. And God bless anybody who puts up with our shenanigans. I know how hard it can be. *sigh* Just watching it really gets you into the Christmas spirit. Still.... this year’s Santa looks kinda skinny. Gumdrop: (sits on Santa’s lap) Santa: Hohoho! And what do you want for Christmas this year, little one? Gumdrop: I want.... the TRUTH! (pulls down his fake beard) Santa: (quickly pulls it back on) Hoho, little boy. It’s not nice to pull on Santa’s beard. Gumdrop: Come off it. I know you’re not the real Santa. Justin: Aw frak. Not again. Gumdrop: (tugs at his beard some more) C’mon! Come clean! Santa: (pulling on the other end, breaking character) Hey kid, knock it off. Gumdrop: Imposter! Know the truth and the truth shall set yee free! Justin: GUMDROP GREGORY CAT!! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR.... 0.0 huh? (with his beard slipping, Justin actually recognizes the man in the Santa suit) Holy Miyazaki. It can’t be. later... Justin: (sitting in the food court with Gumdrop, Kanasuki, and the Santa) I humbly apologize for the actions of my friend Mr. Vash. He was born with a major glitch. Vash: (with the beard hanging around his neck) It’s OK. I’m just glad none of the other kids could see. So, you’re Artukei. DJ and Ozzy mentioned you. But how’d you know who I was? Justin: Huh? Oh.... Deej and Jonesy talk about you all the time. It’s Vash the Stampede! VASH THE STAMPEDE!! Oh man, I’m totally wiggin’ out! What’re you doing here in Metrolex? Vash: I come here every year. (takes a bite of the donut on his plate) Mmmmm. This place makes the best gingerbread donuts. Justin: Maybe I should be more specific. What are you doing playing Santa? Vash: Well, I came down here first thing in the morning to get a few dozen fresh like I usually do, and I overheard that the man who was supposed to come in and be Santa today had gotten sick. So I volunteered to step in. Justin: Man, that is so Vash. God bless you, Vash. You’re a better man than I am. Gumdrop: I don’t think so. Justin: (flattered) R... really? Gumdrop: You bet. Justin: Wow. Gumdrop: Who ever heard of a skinny Santa? You, however, (taps Justin’s belly) would do much better. Justin: Oh, c’mon. We both know I am not that fat. I’ve just got a little junk in the front, that’s all. Gumdrop: Yeah. Junk in the front... and on the sides. Justin: Hey. With a name like “love handles”, they can’t be all bad. Kanasuki: So, you’ll give my list to the real Santa? Vash: I most certainly will, Kanasuki. Kanasuki: ^_^ Vash: (looks at his watch) 0_0 Yikes! I gotta get back to work in two minutes. Justin: Well it was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Vash. (shakes his hand) Vash: Same here. Where do you live? Justin: 145 Kennedy St SW. Vash: Kennedy, huh? Nice. I might stop by sometime. Justin: Do that. Anytime. Our door’s always open. Vash: (gets up) Catch you later, Artukei. (puts the beard back on) HOHOHO! Merry Christmas to all of you. (walks away) Hohoho! Justin: And a merry Christmas to you too..... Santa Vash. later... --Artukei’s house-- Justin: We’re back! Aisha: Hi guys! How was it? Justin: Aisha. You are not going to believe who we met!

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Friday, December 23, 2005

Well, in case any of you are wondering, I had a great Birthday yesterday! Yes, I am now at the old decrepid age of 23. Yesterday was nothing special. My family and I went out to dinner then went and saw "Narnia" (which rocked by the way). Among the annual swag this year was "Ray Charles: The Ultimate Hits Collection", "Seinfeld: Season 5", and the original "Star Wars Trilogy" DVD set. Cool! Now I can't wait to see what Christmas brings.

On the other side of the rift, Artukei had a pretty awesome Birthday too. But something happened last night that he never would've expected.

Gratitude Dec. 22 11:55 pm --Artukei and Aisha’s room-- Aisha: (in bed with Justin) Did you have fun today? Justin: Yeah. Today was a blast. Thank you so much. *kiss* Aisha: Happy Birthday, purram. (goes to sleep) Justin: Indeed. (turns out the light and goes to sleep) 2:05 am Justin: (sound asleep) Zzzzz..... (feels someone nudging him) mmm... (opens his eyes) hmm? Summer: (wearing a bathrobe) Justin: Summer, what’s up? Can’t sleep? Summer: (whispering) I need to talk to you. Justin: Now? Summer: (nods) Justin: (sits up) OK. What is it? Summer: Not here. Justin: ??? (gets up, puts on a shirt and some sweats) Summer: Come with me. (leaves Justin’s room and leads him down the hallway to the small bathroom across from the dojo) Justin: (leans against the sink) So, what’s up? Summer: (closes and locks the door) Justin: o.0 Summer? Summer: Remember that I promised a long time ago that I would make up for jumping you the first time we met? Justin: Mm hm..... Oh! You’ve thought of a way you can make it up? Summer: (nods) Justin: (sits on the toilet) Well, what is it? Summer: (starts nervously playing with her hair) I.... I couldn’t think of anything. I don’t have any money or... anything to give you.... but I wanted to... give you some sort of favor and... and..... Justin: What’s wrong with her? This isn’t like Summer at all. Summer: ... well... I thought about it... and.... this is the best I came up with. Justin: .... (nods) Go ahead. Summer: *deep breath* (removes the shoulders of her robe) Justin: Whoa, whoa! Summer, are you...... o.0 Is this a joke? Summer: (approaches him) It’s no joke. And this is also... my way of thanking you... for everything you’ve done for us. Justin: ...... Wait. Summer... are you saying.... you’d give yourself to me? Summer: (shyly looks away, trembles slightly and nods) ... Yes. I am. I would. Justin: (speechless) ....... uh..... Summer.... I... Summer: I’m ready. Look. (lifts up her robe and shows her bare leg) I even shaved my body fur off. Just for you. Justin: ...... Summer. (puts his hand on her shoulder and makes her kneel in front of him, looks her right in the eye) Are you sure you want to do this? Summer: Yes. I do. Justin: .... Are you really sure? Summer: (opens her mouth slightly, but nothing comes out, then her ears wilt) Justin: (nods) I see. (gets up and walks towards the door) Summer: If you weren’t engaged... would you? Justin: *deep breath* (stops and turns around) Summer... don’t take this personally, but... Summer: (looks down) You wouldn’t. Justin: .... (shakes his head) I wouldn’t. (turns back around and opens the door) Summer: Justin? Justin: (looks back) ...... Summer: .... I love you. Justin: .... Yeah. (under his breath) I know you think you do. Summer: Nya? Justin: (exits the bathroom and starts walking down the hall, is halfway back to his room when he hears...) *sob, sniff, sob, sob* Justin: (looks back) ...... *sigh* (starts walking back to the bathroom) Summer: (sitting on the floor with her face in her hands, crying) *sniff, sob, sob* Justin: (comes over and helps Summer up) Summer: *sniff* (wiping her eyes) I’m sorry, Artukei. *sniff* I’m so stupid. Justin: No. No you’re not. (hugs her gently) It’s alright. Summer: (hugs him back) *sniff* Justin: Summer, you listen to me. You don’t owe me anything. Friends carry no debts. And family certainly doesn’t either. Summer: (looks at him and smiles weakly) Justin: Now c’mon. Let’s get you back to bed. The two walk down the hall back to the guest room. Justin: So... are you really naked under that? Summer: (blushes and looks away) Justin: Well then... (stops and opens the hall closet) ... you’ll be needing this. (hands her an extra blanket) It’s cold tonight. Summer: Yeah, no kidding. My nips have been frozen for hours. Justin: 0_0 (blushes) Summer: *giggle* Justin: (smiles) Heh. That’s the Summer I know.

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Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Don't you just hate it when relatives come over?

Family? Justin: (singing, walking down the hall) “Bye bye loo lee loo lay.” (enters the bathroom) “The little tiny...” AAH! (covers his eyes) Felicia: Oh! (in a towel) Justin: I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to... Felicia: (lets down her towel) Justin: Oh. Phew! I’m sorry. I thought you were naked. Felicia: I am. Justin: ...... (blushes, looks away) That’s right. Yeah, you... th... that’s right. I.... um.... eh.... well, you.... uh.... mmmm...... yeah. Eh... mm... Felicia? Could you do me a favor and never again tell me you’re naked? Felicia: *giggle* later... --kitchen-- Justin: I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to survive having all these cat-women in the house. Aisha: What are you implying? Death by libido? Justin: No. It’s just crowded is all. Not getting as much privacy as I like. Aisha: Well, you did insist on them staying here. Justin: I couldn’t let them stay in that station all winter. It’s freezing! Besides, they’re practically family. I mean, after all, I did legally adopt Felicia. So that would make her like my.... step... sister? Cousin? Aunt?? Aisha: Step-sister? *gasp* If she’s your step-sister, then when you and I get married.... I’ll have the great Felicia for a sister-in-law! Oh! Oh....... oh. *giggle* Justin: What? Aisha: (smiles slyly) Well, Summer, Kanasuki, and Giselle think of Felicia as their mother, right? Justin: Yeah? Aisha: So that would make you their.... step-uncle! *snickers* Justin: Uncle?! No way! I’m too young to be some grey haired uncle. Aisha: Then what’s this? (pulls the patch of white hair on his head) Justin: Ah! Itai! That’s different. That’s my birthmark, aka, my third eye. Aisha: *giggle* So anyway, about tomorrow. Have you thought about what you want to do? Justin: Yes. Yes I have. Aisha: Well? Justin: I’ve decided... we won’t do a thing. Aisha: Nya? Justin: I want to spend my birthday here this year. With my new family. (goes to put a piece of pizza in the microwave) Gumdrop: (in the microwave, takes the pizza) Thanks! I was getting hungry. Justin: What the... ? Gummy, I’ve told you a hundred times. That rotating plate is not your own personal merri-go-round! Gumdrop: But it’s the only place where the red-haired demon won’t find me! Justin: The red-haired...? Kanasuki? Gumdrop: She’s wants me to come to a party with all her other plushies. And I hear she’s gonna teach me to tap dance! I don’t wanna tap dance!! Justin: Well, you can’t hide in the microwave all winter. Gumdrop: Sure I can. Justin: Then how am I gonna warm this? Gumdrop: (sarcastically) Hmm... There’s this marvelous invention I know about that’ll do just the thing. You may have heard of it. It’s called fire. Good day! ^_^ (closes the door) Justin: ...... (taps on the door) Knock knock! Gumdrop: Who’s there? Justin: IRS. Gumdrop: (throws open the door) It’s not mine!! (runs away) Justin: Knew that’d work. later... Justin: (knocks on the guest room door) Giselle: (on the other side) Entrez. Justin: (opens the door) Hi Giselle. I was wondering... Giselle: Eek! (fumbles and quickly puts something behind her back) Justin: o.0 ??? ..... What are you doing? Giselle: N-nothing! Justin: .... (nods) OK. I was just wondering if you wanted to come down and help us decorate the tree. Giselle: (nods) Oui. I’d... I’d love to. Just... in a minute. Justin: Alright. (leaves) Summer: (standing in the hall, snickering) Justin: What’s so funny? Summer: *snicker* Nothing.... Uncle! *giggle* (runs away) Justin: (looking at the ceiling) What’d I just say?! No privacy! later... --living room-- Kida: (with Kanasuki on her shoulders) Careful, Kana-chan! Kanasuki: (hanging an ornament near the top of the tree) Kida: (sets her down) Felicia: It’s beautiful. Justin: It’s not finished yet. *whistles* Ozz: (floats up and puts the star on top) Justin: And now... with a little Christmas magic... (points at the light-switch) “click!” (the lights go out) Aisha: Hey! Summer: What’s going on? (the lights on the Christmas tree slowly fade in and illuminate the entire room, the whole family is awestruck) “Ahh! Ooh! Wow!” Kanasuki: *gasp* Kire! Kida: Hai. So yo. Summer: Cool. Giselle: Que belle. Felicia: Wonderful. Aisha: (to Justin) How’d you do that? Justin: I told you. (wiggles his fingers) Just a little Christmas magic. that night... Kanasuki shares Kida and Ozz’s room. Giselle and Summer are sound asleep in the second guest room. Gumdrop hides in Felix’s house. And Felicia is wide awake, sitting in front of the fire downstairs. Felicia: *sigh* (clutching a rosary in her paws) .... Good evening, Artukei. (without even looking) Justin: (on the other side of the room) Your mother’s? Felicia: (nods) She died around this time many years ago. Justin: I’m sorry. Felicia: ... She found me as a baby on the steps of the convent. She gave me the name Felicia from the word “felicity”. I know it sounds silly, but to this day I still wonder if I’ve lived up to it. If I’ve truly made people happy. Every year,.... I ask her.... Justin: (sits next to her and puts his hand on her shoulder) I’m sure she’d be very proud. Felicia: (blushes slightly) Sister Rose was my whole world. When she left I had no family. Now I not only have one of my own, but I’m welcome in yours. And I don’t think I could be happier. (a tear slides down her cheek) Justin: Felicia. (wipes her tear) Felicia: (hugs him tight) Thank you.... brother.

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Thursday, December 15, 2005

Happy Birthday Kida!!

Metamorphosis Justin: (walking around upstairs) Aisha! Hey babe, where are you? (looks in the bathroom) 0.0 (sly smile) Oooh. (sees a sexy feminine silhouette in the shower) Heh heh. Think I’ll play a little joke on her. (quietly walks up to the shower, taps on the door) “tap tap tap” Justin: Need any help in there, baby? ???: AAH!! DADDY!! Justin: 0//0 KIDA?!?!? Kida: What are you doing?! Get out!! Justin: Sorry! Gomenasai! Hontoni gomenasai! (leaves, his face is beet red) Kida? THAT was KIDA?!? That curvaceous, gorgeous, voluptu... 0.0 AAAAAH!! NO NO NO!! WRONG!! SO WRONG!! Aah! Oh geez. Now I know how Bill Engvall feels. (looks to the side, sees Aisha) HmmWHAha! Aisha: You didn’t. Justin: .... (nods) Yeah. I did. Aisha: (rolls her eyes) *sigh* Justin: (smiles sheepishly) *weak laugh* Heh. They grow up so fast. (smile fades) Ridiculously fast. later... --downstairs-- Justin: (setting a table with snacks and decorations) Ozz, is she ready? We’re almost done down here. Ozz: All set. Shall I bring her down? Justin: Yeah, go ahead. Ozz says they’re coming down. Aisha: OK. Justin: Man. 15. I can’t believe it. It doesn’t seem that long ago that Kida only came up to my waist. Aisha: That’s because it wasn’t that long ago. That was back in April. Justin: Now she’s a mechanical genius, a skillfully trained warrior, and a musical prodigy. Did you know she’s already playing Mozart? And I just got finished teaching her key signatures. Aisha: She has natural talent. (winks at Justin) Justin: (blushes slightly) Ozz: (floats in with Kida behind him) Zz zz zooo! Ta-da! ^.^ Justin: There’s the birthday girl! (hugs Kida) Kida: Thank you daddy. Thank you mommy. Aisha: (hugs Kida) Anything for my little cub. Justin: (looks at his watch) Let’s see. Our friends should be here any minute now. “ding dong!” Justin: I am friggin’ psychic! later... “Bye Kida! Happy Birthday!” Kida: (waving good-bye) Matta ne! Domo arigato gozaimasu! (I got too lazy to write the actual party. So sue me. It’s not relevant anyway.) Aisha: Happy birthday, Kida. (hugs her) Kida: Thank you so much, mommy. ^_^ Aisha: You’re becoming a fine young lady, Kida. A lot of things are going to change as you get older. I remember I went through a lot of changes when I was your age. But since you’re only half C’tarl, I’m not really sure what to expect. But whatever happens, your father and I will be there to help you through. Kida: (embarrassed) Moooom. I already know about puberty. Aisha: Well,... this is a little different from that. Kida: Hey. (looks around) Where’s daddy and Ozzy? Aisha: Oh. They must be upstairs getting one more birthday present ready. Kida: Nya? (runs upstairs) Aisha: (follows her) Kida: (runs to her room) Gumdrop: (guarding the door) Halt! Nobody gets in to see the Wizard! Justin: (pokes his head out) It’s OK, Gummy. We’re ready. Come on in guys. Kida and Aisha: (step inside) Kida: (sees a large sheet covering something on her desk) ??? Justin: Ozz, if you’d be so kind. Ozz: (levitates the sheet off her desk) Kida: 0.0 *gasp* (sees a brand new computer on her desk) Justin: Happy birthday, sweet heart. Kida: Aaah! (runs over and starts reading the tower) 3.1 Ghz processor! 350 GB hard drive! 1185 MB DDR SDRAM! DVD burner! Justin: I don’t even understand what half that meant. Kida: Oh daddy, it’s perfect!! (latches on to Justin’s neck) Justin: You’re welcome, Ki-... uh *gag* Gah! Itai! Kida: (kisses his cheek) Arigato, otosan! I’m gonna boot it up right now! Justin: (rubs his neck) ..... Ozz? I think I just realized something. Ozz: Zzz? Justin: .... I think my daughter’s a nerd. Kida: *gasp* I came pre-installed with EverQuest!?! Sugoi!! Justin: 0.0 ..... Yep. She’s a nerd. --downstairs-- Aisha and Justin: (cleaning up the kitchen) Justin: Well, that’s the last of it. Aisha: Finally! *yawn* I’m going to bed. (smiles) You coming? Justin: Nah, I’ll stay down here a little while longer. Think I’ll help finish off some of that cake. Aisha: OK. Goodnight. *kiss* Mmmm. *kiss, kiss, kiss* Justin: (pushes her away) OK, OK. I love you too. Goodnight. later... Justin, Ozz, and Gumdrop: (sitting on the couch eating cake) Gumdrop: (gets up) Anybody want a drink? Justin: Sure. Why not? Gumdrop: (runs into the kitchen) Heads up! (tosses a can of soda) Justin: (catches it) Thanks man! Gumdrop: Hey Ozz! Hot stuff comin’ at’cha! (tosses another soda) Justin: 0.0 Hey. Whoa! (catches the can mid-air) Mountain Dew? Gummy, you know what’ll happen if Ozz drinks caffeine! Gumdrop: (walks back in with another plate of cake) Exactly. ^_^ Justin: (rolls his eyes) *groan* Hey, wait. You’ve already had four pieces of cake! Gumdrop: I know. (starts eating) Bud I godda keeb going or Ozz’ll win. Justin: What? (looks at Ozz) Ozz: (holding his tummy) Uhhhhh... Justin: Ozz, you OK? Ozz: Ooooh. Too... much... cake. Uhh. (falls down) Justin: Ozz! Gumdrop: Woo hoo! I win! Justin: Are you trying to kill my friend?! --Kida’s room-- Kida: (asleep in bed) Zzzzz... (starts tossing) mmm.... aah... uhh... (kicks her sheets off) mmm... *pant, pant* (wakes up) uhh. (starts sweating and pulling at her collar) *pant* Atsui. *pant* Too hot. (gets up) Need a... drink of... aah! (collapses) “WHUMP!” Justin: Hmm? (looks at the ceiling, gets up) What was that? (looks back) Ozz did you hear... Ozz: (still out) ...... Justin: Oh man. (looks on the other side) Gummy, did you... Gumdrop: (asleep with frosting on his face) Uhhh... Justin: Nice job, Capt. Spaz. Gumdrop: mmm.... sea monkey has my money... Justin: Gah! (walks into the foyer, starts walking up the stairs) Aisha? Kida? “... d... daddy!” Justin: Kida! (runs up the stairs and into Kida’s room) Kida-chan. Dai jobu desu ka? Kida: (on her knees, doubled over, shakes her head) Uh uh. Justin: (kneels down in front of her) What’s wrong? Kida: (in tears) I hurt! Justin: Where? Kida: Everywhere! Aah! (grabs Justin, hyperventilating) *pant, pant* Daddy. *pant, pant* I’m scared. Justin: Don’t worry. Maybe we should get you to Washu. Kida: *pant, pant, pant* It hurts! I... AAAAH! Justin: Kida! Are you OK? Kida: Itai! ITAI YO!! (a tail sprouts from behind her) Justin: *gasp* 0.0 Holy Miyamoto. Kida: (her hands turn into claws and her muscles start to bulge) *pant, pant* Otosan! Kowai! Aah! (her teeth turn into fangs) Justin: Aisha! AISHA!! Kida: Daddy! Aah.... aah.... aah...... aaarrrroooooooooooooo!! Kida slowly starts to transform. Brown fur grows out all over her body. Her hands and feet distort into paws. Soon she becomes so big that her clothes rip off. In a few seconds, she’s turned into a creature that resembles a cross between a wolf and a tiger. Justin: 0.0 Oh my god. Oh my poor baby girl. (reaches towards her) Kida: Grrrrrrr. (snaps at Justin) Justin: Aah! (stands up) Kida, it’s me! It’s daddy! Kida: RRRAAAR!! (lunges at Justin) Justin: Waaah!! (runs outside and closes the door) Holy crap! What in the name of Miyazaki’s going on?! *pant, pant*...... Wait a minute. Aisha said that she didn’t gain her beast abilities until she was about Kida’s age. Damn! Those powers don’t miss a beat! But why did Kida go full beast right away? Unless..... it is! Tonight’s a full moon! But if tonight’s a full moon, then... ???: Yoo hoo! Justin: (looks down the hall and sees...) Aisha: (wearing only panties and a t-shirt, sexily beckoning him with her finger) Justin: 0.0 ...... oh no. Not again. Not now. (Kida bangs against her door) “BANG!!” Justin: GIYAAHA! (backs away from the door) Aisha: (grabs the back of his collar...) Justin: WAAAAA!! Aisha: (and pulls him onto the floor) Justin: Oof! Aisha: (straddles Justin, starts kissing him all over his face) *kiss, kiss* Meow! Purr! *kiss, kiss, kiss* I’m gonna make you howl like the dirty dog you are. Justin: Aisha! Snap out of it! This is not the time! You....... Are you even wearing a bra under that? Aisha: *kiss* Nope. Justin: Woof! I... I mean, cut it out! “CRASH!!” Justin: Huh? (looks behind Aisha and sees Kida on top of her door) Kida: Grrrrrr! Justin: 0_0 Oh mommy. Aisha: Mmm. Oh daddy. Justin: Knock it off! (pushes her off and gets up) C’mon! (grabs her and runs down the hall) Kida: ARROOOOOO!! (chases them) Justin: (runs down the hall to the dojo, slides open the door) Get in. (ushers Aisha inside, then enters himself and closes the door, sits down next to Aisha) Aisha: (cuddles up to Justin) Mmm. (starts nibbling his ear) Justin: Aisha, do something! Aisha: Yes, my master. (grabs his crotch) Justin: Yow! (swats her hand away) You brainless nympho! Aisha: Oh yeah. Dirty talk. Justin: Aisha, I didn’t want to do this, but.... SNAP OUT OF IT! (slaps her) “SLAP!” Aisha: 0.0 .... (in a state of shock she feels her cheek where Justin slapped her, she looks at him for a second, then scowls, and then slaps him back) “SLAP!” Justin: (slapped so hard he hits the floor) Son of a... Aisha: (gets on top of him and holds down his wrists) I can play rough too, lover. “BOOM!... BOOM!... BOOM!... CRASH!!” Kida: (bursts through the door and into the dojo) Grrrrrr! Justin: Aisha! Aisha: Nya? Justin: Stop screwing around and help you daughter! Aisha: Huh? Justin: Kida! That’s Kida! Aisha: (looks behind her) Kida: Grrrrr. Aisha: (blinks as if coming out of a trance) ... ki... Kida? My little cub? Kida: (slowly approaches them) Grrrr. Aisha: ..... Alright! That’s my girl! Justin: Hey! Is this really the time to be impressed?! Aisha: Well, what do you want me to do? Justin: Help her. Tell her how to control it. Aisha: (looks back at Kida) ...... (looks at Justin) I can’t. Justin: What?! Aisha: It’s C’tarl tradition. The father is supposed to teach his cubs about their beast forms. Justin: Hang tradition! I’m no C’tarl! Aisha: But you are her father! Justin: ...... (looks at Kida, gets up and cautiously inches towards her) Kida. I know you’re in there. You’ve got to control this. o.0 This is all seeming very familiar. Aisha: Reach out your hand. Let her smell you. She has to recognize you as her father. Justin: (timidly reaches out his hand) Aisha: Slowly. Kida: Grrrrr! Raar! (snaps at him) Justin: (recoils) Yaa! It’s not working. Aisha: Of course it’s not. You’re scared. Justin: What? Aisha: You should never be scared of your own daughter. Justin: ...... (nods, extends his arm more confidently this time) Aisha: Easy. Slowly. Kida: *sniff, sniff* .... (licks his fingers) Aisha: Good. She recognizes you. Now talk to her. Justin: Kida. You have to control this. I know you can do it. (smiles) C’mon kiddo. You can do this. Kida: ...... (sits) *whimper* Justin: (pats her head) Shh. It’s OK. It’s OK. (hugs her) I know you’re scared, but it’s OK. Mommy and daddy are here. You can do it, baby girl. I know you can. Kida: *whimper* (slowly starts to transform back) Justin: That’s it. That’s it, Kida. Come all the way. You can do it. Kida: (halfway there) Justin: Good, Kida. You’re doin’ gre-..... 0_0 Uh oh. (quickly takes off his shirt and puts it on her) Aisha: You can do it, Kida. C’mon. Kida: (almost there) Uhh... aah... nnnn... *sigh* (collapses onto Justin, back to normal) Justin: (hugs Kida) Iko ne. Good girl. Kida: (exhausted) Otosan. I did it. Justin: Well.... almost. Kida: Huh? (looks behind her, she still has a tail) 0.0 Nya! (tries to shrink it) Hnnnn! Errrrrr! Grrrrrrrrr! *pant, pant, pant* How do I make it go away? Aisha: Sorry, Kida. For now, you’re stuck with that part. Kida: Nyani?! But... but... how can I...? Aisha: Don’t worry. In time you’ll learn how to hide it. Kida: (holds her tail) Hmmm. This is going to take some getting used to.

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Sunday, December 11, 2005

And now.... The (very long) Conclusion!

The Rage Cage part 9 Ravage: (lying on a cot in the athlete’s room) *sigh* (mulls over the words of last night’s conversation) “Do you believe in destiny, Mr. Ravage?” “To an extent.” “You believe you are in charge of your own destiny. Then I guess you also believe in the second chance.” Ravage: She doesn’t know what she’s talking about. I’m not meant to be a hero. Not if this is all my powers are good for. (stares into space some more) “That part of me went away along with my childish dream..... This is the life my actions have brought me to.” Ravage: ..... I didn’t kiss her. I should’ve kissed Aisha one last time. “knock knock knock!” Ravage: WHAT!?! Derrick: (on the other side) Twenty minutes, big guy. Ravage: Yeah yeah! I know! (gets up) I’m gonna be so glad when this is over. This shit-hole tournament’s just the beginning. After I win this thing, the name of Ravage will spread through the underground like wild fire. Then I’ll get out of here and start building a reputation; start having some real fun. I’m gonna take the entire globe and I won’t be under the heel of nobody. It’s gonna be awesome!........ Then why do I feel like puking? later... Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the final match of the Underground Championship!! The arena is packed to the brim with spectators. Ravage: (waiting in the fighters’ corridor with Derrick) Alright, who we got? Derrick: Tonight’s unlucky SOB is a man named Paul Deedrik. But everyone calls him “The Bear.” Ravage: And why’s that? Derrick: Cuz he killed one with his bare hands. Ravage: Oh. (grins) This should be fun. Announcer: In the red corner, representing The Cage, the Wild Dog of Dueling! The undefeated King of the Cage! The Menace of Metrolex! rrrrrrrrrrRAVAAAAAAGE!!! Derrick: Go get’em man! It’s in the bag! Ravage: (steps into the arena and the audience goes ballistic, steps into the cage) Announcer: And in the blue corner, representing The Pit... Ravage: (the announcer’s voice trails off as Ravage looks at the thunderous crowd) ........ “I believe that we have multiple destinies..... We just need to pick the right path in order to get to the destiny we want.” Is this what you want? Ravage: ..... I don’t know. “Daddy?” Ravage: Kida-chan? “Ding!” Ravage: Huh? (looks across the ring and sees his opponent rushing towards him, Ravage jumps up, somersaulting over him, and comes down behind him) Bear: (turns around) YAAA!! Ravage: HAAAA!! In a blind rage, the two start punching and kicking each other like mad. Ravage: (gives him a right square across the jaw) Bear: Uh! Ravage: *pant, pant* (prepares for a left) “You’ve always been there for me, daddy.” Ravage: What? AAH!! *gag, choke* Bear: (now is choking Ravage with his bare hands and pushes him down onto the canvas) “Get’em Ravage!” “C’mon!” “Kill him!!” Ravage: *gag, wheeze* (struggles to get free, he can’t breathe and his vision is starting to get blurry) *cough* GRRRRR!! (unsheathes his talons, in a raspy voice) Get the hell off of me!! (cuts into The Bear’s chest spraying blood everywhere) Bear: Uhhh!! (grunts in pain but doesn’t let up) Ravage: (sinks his talons into his arms and grows them until they pierce his flesh all the way through) Bear: AAAAAAAHH!!! (lets go of Ravage) Ravage: (retracts his talons, holds his throat) *cough, cough, cough, pant, pant* Bear: (on his knees, doubled over in pain) Ravage: (stands up) HRRRRRR!! (grabs The Bear and sends him flying into a corner of the cage) “CLANG!” The crowd screams even louder. Ravage: RAAAR!! (barrages his face with punches, then spin kicks him in the head, sending him down) Bear: Uhhh.... Ravage: *pant, pant* (waits for the bell to ring, but instead hears a chant rising from the crowd) “Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!” Derrick: (ringside) What’re you waitin’ for?! Ravage: What’s going on?! Derrick: The final match is a little different from all the others! Ravage: How’s that?! Derrick: It’s a fight to the death! Ravage: Huh? (looks back at his beaten adversary who’s bleeding all over) ...... (grins, cracks his knuckles) Easy. (walks over to his kill and gets down on one knee, looks around at the audience) ...... (raises his paw in the air, unleashes his talons) The crowd explodes with noise. “KILL HIM!! KILL HIM!! KILL HIM!!” Ravage: (looks back at his prey, draws his arm back preparing to plunge his claws right into his heart) Bear: uhh... Ravage: *deep breath* .... RRAAAAAAR!!! (thrusts him arm forward) “You’re my hero, daddy.” Ravage: 0.0 (stops just a hair away from his chest) ........ “You’ve always been my hero.” Ravage: (stares wide eyed at the half-dead man) ........ The audience gets restless. “Cut him to pieces!” “Shred the bastard!” “Tear him apart!” Ravage: (an image of Kida smiling flashes in his mind) “I love you, daddy. I love you so much.” Ravage: ...... (slowly puts away his talons, shakes The Bear) Get up. C’mon, get up. Bear: (lies there motionless) Ravage: Damn. (gets up and marches towards the cage door) The crowd reacts unanimously. “BOOOOOOOO!!!” Ravage: (rips the cage door off and marches up to Derrick) Derrick: What the hell are you doin’, man!?! Ravage: Get that man to Metrolex General immediately. He’s lost a lot of blood. Derrick: WHAT?!?! Ravage: (picks him up) GET HIM TO A HOS-PI-TAL! (sets him back down) Derrick: ........ Ravage: F*ck it. (runs back into the cage and picks The Bear up) Derrick: Now what’re you doin’!? Ravage: Calling it a draw. The crowd starts to get really ugly. “What the hell is this?!” “Pussy!” “I say we kill’em both!!” The audience turns into a lynch mob and starts spilling out of the stands and into the arena. Ravage: Well, that’s not good. (sets him down) *deep breath* RAGE WAVE!! (a wave of energy emits from around Ravage and spreads out into the crowd like the wake of an explosion, knocking the entire populace of the arena onto their asses, then Ravage picks his injured friend back up and puts him over his shoulder) Let’s get outta here. (races out of the cage, into the fighters’ corridor, and towards the surface) later... --Metrolex General Hospital-- A shadowy figure descends from the sky un-noticed and lands in the alley. Ravage: (sets his friend down, peeks outside at the doors to the emergency ward) C’mon, c’mon. A few people come out of the ward. Ravage: Yes. HELP!!! OH GOD!!! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!!! The people start running towards the scream. Ravage: HELP!!! PLEASE HELP!!! The people run into the alley and see a man bruised and bloodied. Luckily, one of them is a nurse. Nurse: Oh my god! (kneels down) Sir? Sir, can you hear me? Bear: Uhhh.... Nurse: He’s still breathing. Get a stretcher, quick! Ravage: (watching from the roof as they get him into the hospital) *sigh of relief* ...... (looks at his blood stained claws) What the hell am I? Who am I supposed to be?

The Rage Cage part 9b a few days later... --Artukei’s House-- Kida: (sitting on her bed) Try again. Ozz: (closes his eyes for a moment, then opens them and shakes his head) Kida: Try harder. Ozz: (his antennae wilt) Kida: I guess you already are, huh? Ozz: This isn’t good. If I can’t contact Justin, that means one of only two things. Either he’s in another dimension or he’s..... oh, I hope not. Why would he do this? Why would he just up and leave his family like this? Kida: I knew something was wrong. I did all I could. What else was I supposed to do? --downstairs-- Aisha: (sitting in the kitchen, sipping tea) Thanks for your company, Felix. I appreciate it. Felix: (finishing off his drink) No problem. Hey, if you ever need me, you know where to find me. Aisha: How’s Gumdrop doing? Felix: Who can tell? But ever since Artukei left, he just hasn’t been himself. Gumdrop: (lying on the couch in the living room, deadpan) William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in the town of Stratford upon Avon. Considered to be one of the greatest literary geniuses in history, he wrote over 30 plays and over 150 sonnets. Some of his most famous works include Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Julius Caesar.... Felix: (gets up) Well I’m gonna go now. You sure you’ll be OK? Aisha: (nods) Thanks. Felix: Any time. (leaves) Aisha: (sips her tea) *sigh* Purram. What’s happening to you? Where are you? Are you ever coming back? *sip* Ahh. You told me to be strong. I will be. I just need to have faith that... (sound of the front door opening) Aisha: Nya? (gets up and walks to the foyer) 0.0 *gasp* Aisha beholds what looks like a homeless man. He has bushy brown hair, wearing a dirty brown trench coat, and no shoes. Aisha: ... p... purram? The man looks up with tired hazel-brown eyes. Aisha: Justin. JUSTIN! Justin: (nods) Aisha: (furiously marching up to him) Where the hell have you... !?! Justin: (gets on one knee with his head down) Aisha: Huh? Justin: (quiet and somber) Go ahead. Beat me. I deserve it. Aisha: (shocked) ........ Justin: Slap me. Pummel me. Kick me in the teeth. All I ask... is that afterwards.... you’ll forgive me. Aisha: ... w... wha... Justin: I’m sorry I left you all. I was wrong to do that. I just... I was just so confused about who I was. I didn’t know where I belonged...... I was so stupid. This. This home.... filled with people that I love.... and would do anything for. This is where I belong. Aisha: (tears welling up) Justin: (looks up) Isn’t it? Aisha: (nods) “DADDY!!” Aisha and Justin: (look to see Kida running down the stairs) Kida: Daddy!! (races to Justin) Justin: (stands up and hugs his daughter) Kida-chan. Kida: (crying and hugging him tight) Are you alright? Justin: I’m fine, Kida. (glances at Aisha) In fact I never felt better. Aisha: (comes in and hugs Justin from behind, crying) *sniff* (kisses his cheek) Justin: You forgive me? Aisha: *sniff* I’m mad as hell at you,... but yes. *kiss* “WHEEEEEEEE!!” Justin: (looks up) Hey buddy. Ozz: (zips down and wraps himself around Justin’s leg, it’s the only part of him left to hug) Justin: (smiles, starts to cry as well) Kida: Where were you, daddy? Justin: I just needed to figure out who I was, Kida. Kida: And did you? Justin: .... (nods) Yes. I did. My heart wouldn’t allow myself to become a villain, yet I’m still convinced that I’m no hero. So what am I? I am a protector. I am a nurturer. I am a teacher. I am a father. And my duty is to my family. And to them.... I will always be a hero. See you in the black...

Phew! After months of conceiving, plotting, writing, and listening to Linkin Park and Doom remixes, another chapter in “The Legacy of Artukei” is finished. And not too soon. I wanted to get this finished before Kida’s birthday, which is this Thursday! Also I couldn’t think evil and dark for much longer, especially now with Christmas coming. I’m now relieved that I can go back to writing happy and funny!

So, now that Artukei finally understands his role in the Anime Universe, what’s next for our beloved rifter? Is there a possibility he can tame Ravage? Will Aisha find out the truth of his identity? And what will happen if she does? Who or what has been giving Kida these visions? And what of the mysterious Miss Xiang? Tut tut tut. All will be answered in time, my friends. And remember Artukei. You still have a wedding to attend.

‘Til our next adventure: Reunion.
Ja ne! L8R!


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Friday, December 9, 2005

The Rage Cage part 8 a couple weeks later... Ravage: RAAAAAR!!! Back in The Cage, Ravage rushes his opponent, punching him in the gut and then elbowing him in the back, knocking him down. “Ding Ding Ding!” Announcer: And the winner! The undisputed King of the Cage! The Menace of Metrolex! RAVAGE!!! Ravage: HAAROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! The crowd cheers and screams Ravage’s name. But someone near the back is not cheering. ???: It’s him alright. “Shall we intercept?” ???: .... No. Not yet. “What?! What’re you talking about?! That thing is a public menace!” ???: That hair sample we got from the crime scene was human, right? If he is human... then we might have a chance. Ravage: THIS IS MY WORLD!!! THESE ARE MY PEOPLE!!! AND I AM THEIR KING!!!! later... Derrick: (walking down a corridor with Ravage) It’s in the bag, baby! You’re practically untouchable out there! The final match is tomorrow. And the way you’ve been fightin’, it’ll be a cinch to win this thing! (goes to pat him on the shoulder) Ravage: DON’T.... touch me. Derrick: (backs off) Sorry man. Ravage: I’m gettin’ outta here. (turns down a separate hallway) Derrick: Where you goin’ tonight, big guy? Ravage: Same place as always. None of your f*ckin’ business! --the athlete’s room-- Ravage: (steps in, closes the door and looks around) ...... (morphs into Justin) Justin: *sigh* (he now has a full beard and multiple scars and bruises on his body, starts putting clothes on and getting ready to go to the surface, he just starts to button up his coat when...) “clack!” Justin: 0.0 .... Who’s there? (glances behind him and sees someone standing in the doorway) Who are you?! An Asian woman wearing a red sleeveless dress steps forward. She has brown eyes and long black hair tied back in a bun with chop-sticks. She’s also wearing narrow shades with red lenses. Woman: Mr. “Ravage”, I presume? Justin: ...... (takes off his glasses and pulls a ski mask out of his pocket) Yeah that’s me. (puts it on and turns around) Who are you? Woman: Just a fan. You fought very well out there tonight. Justin: What do you want? Woman: ... Well, I can see you’re one who doesn’t like to beat around the bush. I was wondering if I could talk to you for a moment. Justin: Sorry babe. But I’m not much of a talker. “grrrrmmm” Justin: Uh! (looks down) Woman: (smiles slyly) How about dinner then? Justin: (walks past her) I dine alone. Woman: My treat. Justin: (stops) ........ later... --a nearby café-- Justin: (eating a large piece of apple pie) Woman: How is it? Justin: Not bad. So what did you want to talk about Miss....? Woman: Xiang. Justin: ....Well Miss Xiang, what’s on your mind? (resumes eating intently) Miss Xiang: You like to come right to the point. Good. So do I. (leans in close) I know what you are, Mr. Ravage. Justin: (glances up at her) ...... Do you now? Miss Xiang: I know you’re the one who terrorized downtown Metrolex almost a month ago. Yet there were no casualties or major injuries. Justin: So you are a cop. Miss Xiang: If I were just some cop, I would’ve had you arrested an hour ago. Justin: So what are you? Miss Xiang: I’m not at liberty to name the organization I work for. Justin: Oh! So now I’m government business. Miss Xiang: You’ve done some very bad things, Mr. Ravage. Cost about a million dollars in damage. Put an entire city in a state of paranoia. And I have over 50 unhappy national guardsmen waiting for my signal and ready to capture you. So what do you say? Justin: ..... (smiles) I say you’re lying. Miss Xiang: Try me. Justin: You cut off communication with them when we left the ring. Why? Miss Xiang: .... I by no means approve of your actions Mr. Ravage. And you are nonetheless a criminal. But I don’t think you should go to jail. Justin: And why’s that? Miss Xiang: *deep breath* Mr. Ravage, allow me to make a proposition. If you’re willing to turn yourself in, I can have you work off your dept to the city by enrolling you in a special branch of my organization. Justin: What ‘special branch’? Miss Xiang: I’m not at liberty to say that either. All I can say is that it’s a branch that recruits special individuals to become operatives in international defense. Justin: o.0 ....Wha... You mean you want me to be a special op? Miss Xiang: You have phenomenal powers and skill Mr. Ravage. Pointed in the right direction, you could do a lot for this country. For this world. Justin: .... (scowls) You’re a little late, Miss Xiang. I gave up the hero dream a long time ago. Miss Xiang: (a glint of intrigue flashes in her eyes) Justin: This is the life my actions have brought me to. You don’t go making a saint out of a sinner. Especially not someone like Ravage. Miss Xiang: ........ Justin: ........ Miss Xiang: .... Do you believe in destiny, Mr. Ravage? Justin: To an extent. Miss Xiang: How do you mean? Justin: I believe that we have multiple destinies. Our lives and all the possibilities are laid out like a flow chart that forks at certain points in our lives. We just need to pick the right path in order to get to the destiny we want. Miss Xiang: (now even more intrigued) Justin: (looks up at her) Does that surprise you? Miss Xiang: Actually it does. You believe you’re in charge of your own destiny. Then I guess you also believe in the second chance. You said you wanted to be a hero long ago. I’m offering you that chance. Justin: Like I said, you’re too late. That part of me went away along with my childish dream. Miss Xiang: Well, in case that child ever comes back, be sure and let me know. (takes a card out of her dress and slides it towards him) Justin: (looks at the card) ...... (looks at Miss Xiang) You’re wasting your time. (stands up, starts to walk out) Miss Xiang: How do you know I won’t call them after you leave? Justin: Easy. Cuz you’re holding out for a hero. (gets to the door then stops) .... um (looks back) Thanks for the pie. (leaves) Miss Xiang: .... (smiles) We’ll meet again, Mr. Ravage.

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Thursday, December 8, 2005

Special Tribute
We interrupt our current story, "The Rage Cage", so that we may pay tribute to a great man and artist who died 25 years ago to the day: John Lennon.

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No Hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no country
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

Imagine no possesions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed, no hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the the world

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one




John Lennon
Oct. 9, 1940 - Dec. 8, 1980

Musician, Artist, Visionary




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Tuesday, December 6, 2005

The Rage Cage part 7 Ravage: (lying on the floor) Uhh. Boss: You’re my dog now. Dukes, get the sedative. Ravage: Sedative? Oh no you don’t! (with lightning speed, flips himself over and kicks the tasers out of the guards’ hands, then leaps onto the desk, picks Boss up by the neck and holds him against the wall) Derrick and the guards pull out their guns. Ravage: Either I go.... or he goes! (presses his claws into Boss’s throat) Derrick: ........ Boss: ...... Put’em down. Do it. Derrick and the guards put their guns away. Ravage: (sets Boss back down in his chair and jumps off the desk) Later. (turns around, walks up to the guards) The guards move out of the way. Ravage: That’s better. But if either of you ever try to use those things on me again, you’ll have to take off your shoes in order to count to ten. (leaves) --Kennedy St.-- Justin: (walking down the sidewalk) So that’s it then. I’ve made my decision. (stops and looks up at his house) *deep breath* --Living room-- Kida: (playing Gamecube) C’mon, c’mon! Aw man!! Justin: Kida-chan? Kida: Daddy. Justin: It’s getting late. You should go to bed. Kida: Oh c’mon! Justin: Now now. I want you to be up early. You have class tomorrow. Kida: (smiles, nods) Hai, sensei. --Artukei and Aisha’s room-- Aisha: (on the bed) Justin: (steps in) Hi. Aisha: (gets up) Don’t you “hi” me, damn it. (hugs him, kisses his cheek) Where did you go? Justin: I just needed to blow off some steam, that’s all. I’m sorry, babe. I didn’t mean to make you worry. (kisses her forehead) Aisha: You know you scare me when you do things like that. Justin: Well, you won’t have to worry about that much longer. I’ve done some thinking. Felix did have a point. Something must be done. But right now, I’m beat. (lies on the bed) Aisha: (lies down next to him) Justin: *sigh* (puts his arms around Aisha) Aisha: (does the same and rests her head on Justin’s chest) Justin: *whispers* Aisha.... I love you.... so much. Aisha: (nuzzles his chest) I love you, Justin. Justin: (tilts her head up and kisses her) Aisha: *purr, purr* Justin: (holds her tight) I can feel your heart. Aisha: I can feel yours too. Justin: (smiles) *sigh* I wish I could hold you like this forever. (closes his eyes) the next day... --the dojo-- Kida: (holding her bastard) Justin: (holding a claymore, puts it up) Once more. Kida: ...... Justin: ..... YAAA!! Justin charges at Kida and launches an offensive of slashes and thrusts. Each of which Kida expertly dodges or blocks with her bastard. Finally, Justin presses his sword against hers, locking their blades. Justin: Grrrr. Kida: Uhh! *ear twitch* 0.0 Nya? (pushes Justin back, whips around and slashes three flying sandbags) Justin: (prepares to take a slash at Kida) Kida: (without even looking, points her sword behind her and comes within an inch of Justin’s nose) Justin: *pant, pant* (smiles) Good control. Excellent blocking. Superb reflexes. You’re practically better than your old man. Ozz: (clapping) ^.^ Kida: (turns around, bows) Arigato, sensei. Justin: (lays down his claymore) Kida, you’ve learned wonderfully and very quickly. You’ve been an excellent gakuse. You’re as strong and as fierce as your mother, and as quick and as skilled as your father. And there’s nothing else I can teach you. Kida: Nya? Justin: That’s right, Kida. This is your last lesson. You’ve been a model pupil, and I couldn’t be prouder of you. Kida: (smiles and blushes) Justin: I’ve taught you all I know. The rest is up to you. Kida: And not too soon. Justin: Hmm? Kida: Sensei, I wanted to tell you something. I’ve named my sword. Justin: Well, let’s hear it. Kida: (looks at her bastard) .... Jinketsu. Justin: “Jinketsu”? I’m unfamiliar with that word. Kida: It means ‘hero’. Because it’s strong, fast, and it’ll never let me down. (looks at Justin) Just like my daddy. Justin: (taken aback) Wh... what? Kida: You’ve always been there for me, daddy. When I was little, whenever I tripped or fell you rushed to my side. And whenever I had a bad dream, the first thing I saw when I woke up was your face. (her eyes are starting to well up) Daddy... Justin: Kida, don’t. Please don’t. Kida: (hugs Justin, smiling and crying silently) You’re my hero, daddy. You’ve always been my hero. Justin: (eyes moistening) Kida, stop. Please. Kida: I love you, daddy. I love you a lot. Justin: (fights back his own tears) *deep breath* (pushes Kida away slightly) Kida.... recite the “knight’s code” for me one more time. Kida: (nods) Honor.... Justice.... Truth.... Righteousness... and..... loyalty. Justin: (on the verge of crying) Don’t you ever forget those words and what they mean. Ever. And never forget what I’ve taught you. You are a knight. And you will not use these skills boastfully, but to defend, to enforce peace, and to uphold the code. Do you understand? Kida: (nods) Hai, sensei. Justin: (shakes his head) I’m not your sensei any more. Kida: Yes you are. You will always be my sensei. As long as you’re my father. (hugs him) Justin: ...... (hugs her tight, cries) Iko ne. I love you, baby girl. (kisses her head) later... Aisha: (sitting on the couch) Justin: Purrar? Aisha: Purram. Justin: (sits next to her, hugs her) I love you Aisha. And I want you to know that no matter what happens, I will never love anyone as much as I love you. Aisha: What? Justin, what’re you saying? You’re... you’re scaring me. Justin: Don’t be scared. You’ve got to be strong now. Aisha: Now you’re really scaring me. (pushes away and looks in his eyes) Justin, what’s going on? Justin: ...... *deep breath* I’m leaving. Aisha: 0.0 Wh-wh.... what? Justin: I’m going away and I’m not sure when I’ll.... if I’ll be coming back. (gets up) Aisha: What? Going? (stands up) Going where? Justin: .... Someplace where you won’t find me. (starts to walk away) Aisha: Justin, wait. Stop! Why are you doing this? Justin: I said I was going to do something about Ravage. Aisha: (angrily) So this is what you’re doing? Running away? Just disappear and hope that the past disappears with you?! Justin: Nothing is going to disappear! I know that now. These are the choices I’ve made and I have to live with them! And the best I can do... is put enough space between Ravage... and the ones I love. Even if I have to go with him. It’s for the best... for all of us. Aisha: (starting to tear up) “The best”? Justin, what’s best for all of us is that you stay here! (grabs his arm) With your family! With me. Justin: (gently pries his arm away) I’m sorry, Aisha. But I’ve made my decision. (puts on his browncoat and opens the door) .... Good-bye. (steps outside and closes the door) Aisha: Justin. (opens the door) Justi... *gasp* (he’s gone) .... Justin? Justin! (runs outside looking up and down the street) JUSTIN! JUSTIN! (starts crying) JUSTIN!!! *sniff* ... Purram! *sob* (slowly walks back into the house sobbing) Justin: (on the roof) I’m sorry Aisha. You can’t be a part of my world anymore. I don’t want you to get mixed up in this again. I don’t want you to be a part of... this. (morphs his hand into Ravage’s claw) You deserve better than that. You deserve better than me. (morphs completely into Ravage) Ravage: And Ozz, old buddy,... I’m sorry, but... this is for you. (takes a chip out of his pocket and puts it in his ear) This will disrupt our link and keep you from finding me. (looks down at his house one last time) .....Good-bye.... my beloved. (takes off towards the city) later... --The Cage-- Boss: (looking out a window at the arena below) I can’t believe this. The fight’s in just a few hours and we don’t have our champion! Why the hell did I ever listen to Derrick’s stupid-ass idea? (turns around, sees a dark figure in the doorway) 0.0 Wha? Ravage: Alright. I’m in. Boss: Glad you finally came to you senses. Ravage: (walks up to him and gets in his grill) Now let’s get one thing straight here. I may be an animal, but I will not be treated as such. I’m free to come and go as I please. Got it? Boss: (nods) You get your privacy. Ravage: Good. (starts to walk away) Oh yeah. One more thing. (turns back around) Tell your cornball announcer to introduce me.... as Ravage... “The Menace of Metrolex”.

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Sunday, December 4, 2005

The Rage Cage part 6 Announcer: Round three begins, gentlemen! In the blue corner, representing The Boiler, Mike... “The Mutilator”.... MacKenzieeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! “Yeah!” “Alright!” “Go Mutilator!” Announcer: And in the red corner, representing the home team, Leon.... no. Wait a minute folks. There’s been a roster change. Now fighting for The Cage.... The Wiiiiiiiiild Dog!!! Ravage: (wearing nothing but black shorts, in the corridor) The what?! Derrick: Hey, I had to tell’em something. Now get out there. Ravage: Grrrr. (walks down the corridor towards the sound of the cheering throngs, as he steps into the arena the crowd hushes and falls silent at the sight of him, the crowd murmurs amongst themselves) “What the hell is that?” “I’ve never seen him before.” “That’s one hell of a costume.” An attendant opens the door to the cage and Ravage steps inside. Both opponents are in the ring, the doors are locked, and the crowd is still silent. Then a nameless spectator jumps up and screams... “GO WILD DOG!!” The crowd is rejuvinated and their thunderous cheering resumes. Announcer: Gentlemen, are you ready? FIGHT!! “Ding!” MacKenzie: (approaches Ravage) Is this all they’ve got left? Some joker in a costume? Ravage: This ain’t no costume, bub! (rushes at MacKenzie) RAAAR!! (prepares a right hook) MacKenzie: (ducks down and does a foot sweep, sending Ravage to the canvas) Ravage: Oof! MacKenzie: (grabs Ravage’s right foot and puts him into a leg lock) Ravage: Arg! (grits his teeth and pounds his fist) “Yeah Mutilator!” “C’mon Wild Dog!” MacKenzie: (sitting on Ravage with his back to him) Is that all you’ve got, pal? Ravage: GRRRRR! (reaches back with his left arm, grabs MacKenzie’s left shoulder then grabs his neck, choking him) MacKenzie: *gag, wheeze* Ravage: (starts pulling MacKenzie down so that he’s nearly horizontal, then in an amazing move, pushes with his right arm, flipping them both over so that he’s on top and MacKenzie’s face is in the canvas) (the crowd erupts) Ravage: (frees himself from the leg lock and stands up) MacKenzie: (gets up, rubbing his throat) Nice move for an ameture. Ravage: I’m full of surprises. (does a high kick right in his face) MacKenzie: Oh! Ravage: (unleashes a fury of punches and kicks) MacKenzie: (blocks or dodges most of them, then sees an opening and punches Ravage in the gut) Ravage: Ooh! (doubles over) MacKenzie: (kicks him in the head and sends him staggering back) Ravage: (steps back and regains his composure) That’s it. MacKenzie: (launches a strong punch right at his face) Ravage: (dodges it, and quickly, before it can recoil, sinks his fangs into MacKenzie’s arm) MacKenzie: AAAAAAAAHH!!! (the crowd reacts) “Holy shit!” “Did you see that?” Ravage: (grabs him by the shirt and swings him into the bars of the cage) “CLANG!” MacKenzie: (on the floor, watching the blood flow from his arm) Aah! Oh my god! (looks up at Ravage, his eyes wide with fear) Oh god, what the hell are you?! Ravage: (picks him up by the collar, smiles) You know, I never get tired of hearing that. (then holds him up high, and as if he were a football, throws him into the canvas) “SLAM!” MacKenzie: Uhhh.... (passes out) “Ding Ding Ding!” Announcer: And MacKenzie is down! Wild Dog wins! The Cage advances! (the crowd erupts) Ravage: *pant, pant* (looks around at the crowd) “Wild Dog! Wild Dog! Wild Dog! Wild Dog!” Ravage: (smiles) Yes. This is it. The adrenaline. The fear in my oponent’s eyes. The roar of a croud screaming my name. This is it. This is my destiny. (thrusts his arms up and the crowd cheers even louder) HAAROOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! later... Boss: Nice job, pal. Don’t know who you are, but you came through in the clutch. (holds out his hand) Ravage: .... (looks at his hand) ....whatever. Boss: (puts his hand down) Thanks to you we’re back on top of the game. Derrick, for once I’m surprised. Derrick: Ain’t no thang. Ravage: Yeah yeah, that’s great. I’m outta here. (turns around) Boss: Where are you goin’? Ravage: (looks back) I’d love to be a part of your little game. I really would. But I’ve got business elsewhere. Boss: No. You got business here. You got us into the finals. And you’re gonna take us all the way to the end. Ravage: ..... Heh! Don’t think so, fat-ass. (heads towards the door, but two big bodyguards block his way) *sigh* Tell Moe and Curly to get outta my way or I’ll do to them what I did to MacKenzie. Boss: Just what business does someone like you have, anyway? Ravage: (turns around) Look, I may be a monster, but I’ve got a life just like everyone else. I have a home. (turns back around) Outta my wa- “BZZZZT!” Ravage: YAA!! (falls on the floor, the two bodyguards are brandishing tasers) Boss: Not anymore, you wild dog. This is your home now.

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