In the beginning....
Sep. 9th, 2003 01:07 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sakon76I figure, though the stories are being written out of order, this is the beginning of the "Tales from a Ramen Stand" universe. IE, the first meeting between series. No title yet.
Subaru decided, with the detached part of his mind that was still capable of thought, that he reminded himself of the mountain crone of the Noh play. His feet dragged, weary against the pavement and he felt as though he carried all the good and evil of the world heaped upon his back. Grief and anger and broken things burned at the backs of his eyes, and he was far more dangerous than he looked.
This Tokyo, this unbroken city... it glowed around him, neon signs and voices. He shied away from the whispers, seeking the quieter back streets and the comforting darkness held there.
As if from a far-off dream he spotted a small stall and the lettered curtains that read "ramen." Subaru's stomach clenched, reminding him that he hadn't had anything to eat that day or the day before either. He patted a pocket and discovered his wallet. Taking the train that morning had been a small last pleasure, using his subway pass to ride to Tokyo Tower like any other human being might. Somehow his wallet had stayed with him through it all.
He ambled forward toward that welcoming light. Two of the seated figures got up and left, the owner clearing away theirbowls, wiping down the counter with a cloth. Subaru pushed aside a curtain and sat down inside the light, drained to the bone.
"Hello," the owner greeted him, and as Subaru looked up to see the dark-haired young man clearly for the first time all he could feel was despair draining through his bones.
He absolutely had no strength left to deal with this situation.
Subaru decided, with the detached part of his mind that was still capable of thought, that he reminded himself of the mountain crone of the Noh play. His feet dragged, weary against the pavement and he felt as though he carried all the good and evil of the world heaped upon his back. Grief and anger and broken things burned at the backs of his eyes, and he was far more dangerous than he looked.
This Tokyo, this unbroken city... it glowed around him, neon signs and voices. He shied away from the whispers, seeking the quieter back streets and the comforting darkness held there.
As if from a far-off dream he spotted a small stall and the lettered curtains that read "ramen." Subaru's stomach clenched, reminding him that he hadn't had anything to eat that day or the day before either. He patted a pocket and discovered his wallet. Taking the train that morning had been a small last pleasure, using his subway pass to ride to Tokyo Tower like any other human being might. Somehow his wallet had stayed with him through it all.
He ambled forward toward that welcoming light. Two of the seated figures got up and left, the owner clearing away theirbowls, wiping down the counter with a cloth. Subaru pushed aside a curtain and sat down inside the light, drained to the bone.
"Hello," the owner greeted him, and as Subaru looked up to see the dark-haired young man clearly for the first time all he could feel was despair draining through his bones.
He absolutely had no strength left to deal with this situation.
