[ranma][songfic] Death Is Not the End

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Death Is Not the End

Adapted by Sean Gaffney
Based on events in James Bateman's The Bitter End
Based on Ranma 1/2 by Rumiko Takahashi
Music and Lyrics by Bob Dylan
Mood and Cover Version Inspiration by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Thanks to Zen for letting me do this, and to Zen and Nicholas Leifker
for their C&C.

[We cut to a hospital room. Lying on a bed, sleeping peacefully, is a
young woman that we all recognize as AKANE. The camera begins to zoom
in on her, defocusing as it does so. As Akane blurs, we cut to an
interior shot - the inside of her head - where we see her wandering a
white void. She seems to be searching for something.]

Suddenly, she can hear music coming from the east. She turns, and sees
TOFU coming towards her. He stops a little ways off, though, not coming
any closer.]

AKANE: Sensei! Have you seen Ranma? I've been looking for him
everywhere!

[Tofu does not answer, but instead begins to sing along to the sad,
rather frightening music.]

TOFU: (singing) When you're sad and when you're lonely
And you haven't got a friend
Just remember that death is not the end

[Suddenly KASUMI appears beside him. Akane is about to greet her sister
when she notes the haunted look in Kasumi's eyes. No matter how hard
Akane tries, she can't get Kasumi to look at her.]

KASUMI: And all that you hold sacred
Falls down and does not mend
Just remember that death is not the end

[Tofu attempts to get Kasumi to look at Akane. She refuses.]

TOFU AND KASUMI: Not the end, not the end
Just remember that death is not the end

[Akane has started to become angry. She yells at the two of them.]

AKANE: (speaking) Stop singing and tell me where Ranma is!

[Suddenly she hears a frightened cry from behind her. She turns, to
see KUNO and NABIKI. They are far away from her, yet Nabiki wants to
run even further. Akane notes with growing horror that Nabiki is
absolutely terrified - terrified of *her*. She reaches out, and
Nabiki screams. Kuno attempts to comfort her.]

KUNO: (singing) When you're standing on the crossroads
That you cannot comprehend
Just remember that death is not the end

[Muffled, we can barely hear Nabiki's small, quiet reply.]

NABIKI: And all your dreams have vanished
And you don't know what's up the bend
Just remember that death is not the end

KUNO AND NABIKI: Not the end, not the end
Just remember that death is not the end

[Akane has started to get scared. She tries to run towards the others,
but they back away from her. In desperation, she spins around, looking
for anyone with a sympathetic eye. And then she sees RYOUGA and AKARI,
standing off to one side, looking at her. Ryouga seems pained, and both
of them are very sad.]

RYOUGA: When the storm clouds gather round you
And heavy rains descend
Just remember that death is not the end

[Ryouga starts to break down, but Akari grasps his hand.]

AKARI: And there's no one there to comfort you
With a helping hand to lend
Just remember that death is not the end

[Both of them look directly at Akane, pity and sorrow in their eyes.
This, to Akane, is worse than the others avoiding her gaze.]

RYOUGA AND AKARI: Not the end, not the end
Just remember that death is not the end

[Akane begins to realize that the couples are all moving towards her,
and she backs away in the only direction left. They are still singing,
getting louder.]

TOFU, KUNO, AND RYOUGA: For the tree of life is growing
Where the spirit never dies

KASUMI, NABIKI, AND AKARI: And the bright light of salvation
Up in dark and empty skies

[Akane continues to back up in horror. Suddenly, she stops and turns,
as if some instinct warned her. Standing there, right next to her, are
RANMA and UKYOU. They are dressed in white robes, and look peaceful
and serene. Despite that, there is something wrong with them. Perhaps
it is the fact that they hold their hands tightly to their chests.
When they sing, their voices sound bubbly and choked, as if the effort
is costing them.]

UKYOU: When the cities are on fire
With the burning flesh of men
Just remember that death is not the end

[Suddenly, with a loud shriek, Akane remembers everything. She tries
to back away from the sight before her, but the others will not let
her pass.]

RANMA: When you search in vain to find
Some law-abiding citizen
Just remember that death is not the end

[Akane is forced to look into their eyes, and sees her greatest fear.
There is nothing but love and forgiveness in both of their faces. They
smile, and move awkwardly towards her.]

ALL (except Akane): Not the end, not the end
Just remember that death is not the end
Not the end, not the end
Just remember that death is not the end

[Ranma and Ukyou attempt to gether Akane in a hug. As they do so, the
wounds they have been covering open up, drenching Akane in blood. She
shrieks, trying to get away from the blood and the pain and those loving
eyes, why, why do they love me, I killed them, NO!]

[Interior, HOSPITAL. Akane wakes up, in a cold sweat. It must have
been a nightmare, she thinks. Settling back into bed, she feels a
chill run down her spine, and wished she could remember what the
nightmare was.]

[She wished she could remember who she was.]

[She wished she could remember anything.]

THE END

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