Angels Among Us

PLAGIARISM: The act of taking the words or ideas of another and claiming them as one's own.

I am STRONGLY against the use of other artist/authors' work without their permission.It's quite illegal and you WILL do jail/juvenile hall time if turned in.If ANYONE steals and/or uses my work or any part of my work (this includes titles, chapter titles, original names, place-names, original themes, and all other content) without my consent, I WILL take legal action. Also, my work, like all work on fictionpress, is copyrighted, all rights reserved, so don't think I'm bluffing when I say that I will take legal action. Do NOT take me lightly. I am being dead serious.

This is the SCRIPT version of my manga, Angels Among Us. It will in no way be written in story format. If the wording or actions seem odd to you, it is because it is meant to be viewed, not read. The drawn out manga version is available at my deviantART account. If you are interested in reading that version, the link is on my fictionpress user profile. (Be warned however that the first chapter-and-a-half are poorly drawn and inconsistent, as I was still developing the style at the time; it gets better later, I promise. : ) )

Read and review please. Enjoy!

(c)Half-Elf/ Arowen Half-Elven

(a girl of 16 dressed in black “warrior-type” clothing, as though coming home from training, walks alone down the sidewalk; she has long black hair, and a traditional style katana hangs from her belt; she is clutching her house key to her chest, as though afraid to lose it)

OVERVOICE: My name is Rin Kisagi.

(Rin approaches one of the houses lining the street and unlocks the door, stepping inside with a sigh)

RIN OVERVOICE: I’ve lived in this house since before I can remember. But I’ve been here by myself, since...since my brother died a few months ago. This sword...(grasping the hilt of the katana) ...is all I have left of my family. I keep it with me always. (Rin unties the sword from her belt and leans it against her bed; she sits down with a sigh, staring at a photograph sitting on her bedside table; it features a young man grinning widely) Sometimes I forget...I think they’re still here. (she lays down) But then I remeber...THEY’RE GONE.

(Rin rolls over and apparently falls asleep, still in her clothes; in the next scene, it is obviously morning; Rin sleepily rubs her eyes, and turns off her alarm clock which is loudly beeping 11 o’clock a.m.; Rin gasps, and suddenly looks exageratedly (manga-style) alarmed)

RIN: I WAS SUPPOSED TO MEET AI-CHAN AND JIRO-NII AN HOUR AGO!!! (there is a “slam” affect as Rin runs out the door, the precious katana accidentally forgotten at her bedside; Rin runs through town to a nearby ice cream parlor and pushes the door open hurriedly; she looks very distressed, and very out of place in her training gear with everyone else wearing street clothes) I’M SORRY I’M LATE! (this is said to a girl and young man sitting at the counter; the boy has shaggy black hair, and the girl, dark brown hair tied in a ponytail)

JIRO (the boy): Rin, where’ve you been? We’ve been waiting around for you for an hour!

AI (the girl): Rin, did you fall asleep in your clothes again?

JIRO: (under his breath) You look terrible.

RIN: (appologetically, agitated) Yes. she suddenly notices that every one in the ice cream shop seems to be crowded around the counter, watching the news on a TV hanging overhead Hey...What’s everyone watching?

AI: (sighing and closing her eyes momentarily) There was another raid last night...(exchanging a look with Jiro)...Same group as before.

JIRO: The people they attacked got roughed up pretty bad...couple of them died.

RIN: (Rin looks shocked and there is a quick flashback shot of the boy from the photograph) How many did the Invaders lose?

AI: (reluctant pause) None.

RIN: (thinking) None? Again? This is the third time in the last month...and they haven’t lost a man. (tears come to her eyes) Who are they? Why are they attacking us? (there is another flashback shot of the young man from the photograph) Why do they take everything away from me?

AI: Rin...are you crying?

JIRO: (under his breath) Again...?

AI: (hugging a crying Rin and looking irritably at her brother) Have a heart, Jiro. (she stands at arms length from Rin, forcing Rin to look at her) Rin...Jiro and I have been talking...and we don’t like you staying by yourself. It’s just not safe anymore, y’know? So...we were wondering...if you’d come stay with us?

JIRO: Yeah...we already ran it by our folks...they said it was fine.

RIN: (looking very grateful) Thank you...guys...Thank you so much. But...I couldn’t. (thinking) I couldn’t leave my house. It’s where I lived with them. (wiping the tears from her eyes) Ai-chan...Jiro-nii...They really are...the best friends in the world. (Rin smiles suddenly, and speaks aloud) Hey, since I made you guys wait, ice cream’s on me. (she walks over to the counter to order, leaving Ai and Jiro alone)

AI: (sighing and looking exasperated) Jiro?

JIRO: Eh?

AI: You really shouldn’t...say things like that to her, y’know? About her crying. She’s been through a lot. More than you or I could handle. Let her cry if she wants to.

JIRO: (looking more concerned than he had before) Hey. I know that. (he scratches the back of his head, as though he’s nervous) She’s my friend too, y’know. I just...want her to go back...to the way she was before. l(ooking over at Rin) I just wanna get her mind and your mind off this crap.

AI: (she grins and suddenly hugs him)

JIRO: (looking annoyed) Uhh...Do you have to do this in public...?

AI: (she smiles and looks up at him) You have a real brother complex, y’know that?

JIRO: Yeah, well...(he teasingly knocks her forehead with his knuckles) Just be a good girl for me, kay?

(Rin appears suddenly, carrying three ice creams)

RIN: Hey guys! I got the ice cream. Chocolate for Jiro-nii...fruit pop for Ai-chan...and vanilla for me. (they all sit down at a booth, Rin being unusually quiet, and Ai looking distractedly out the window)

JIRO: Hey, Rin. You been kinda quiet lately. How come? (she seems not to hear him, and continues thoughtfully licking her ice cream cone) Rin? Rin!

RIN: (just taking notice of him )Hmm? Oh! Am I? I’m sorry. I guess I’m just thinking, that’s all.

AI: (concernedly) Well, stop it. You’re acting worried. If fact...we all are.

RIN: All?

AI: Y’know. Everyone. The whole city’s on edge.

JIRO: (leaning back against his chair and looking not at all concerned) Whadda you expect with all these raids going on?

AI: (angrily) JIRO!!!

JIRO: (Pfft.) What?

RIN: (smile) It’s all right. It doesn’t bother me.

JIRO: (Seemingly oblivious to Ai’s anger) I just don’t see why no one’s doing anything about this.

AI: (looking exageratedly (manga style) furious; thinking) Why you ignorant, ARROGANT...

JIRO: (slightly disturbed as Ai goes off on a rant) Uhh...

AI: Oh, excuse us, please, but we aren’t all gifted with the great warrior skills that you have, Jiro.

RIN: (there is a tense silence) Uhh...Ai-chan...? Jiro-nii...?

JIRO: (grinning as though thoroughly enjoying himself) Excuse, me, Ai-chan, but was that a compliment?

AI: (exegeratedly angry) YOU!!

RIN: (smiling and laughing softly to herself; thinking )Heh. Even when they’re fighting...you can tell...they love each other. But sometimes I think...they have sun hating each other. They’re so different...but I can’t imagine them...not being together.

(a new scene picks up with Ai, Rin, and Jiro walking down the sidewalk together, the wind blowing roughly; now that they are outside, Jiro is carrying a large sword on his back, and Ai wears a dirk at her waist; Rin still has not realized that she forgot her sword at home)

RIN: So whadda ya wanna do now?

AI: You guys wanna see a movie?

JIRO: I dunno. What playing? (he stops suddenly) Hey. Stop a second. (the girls stop and regard him curisouly)

RIN: What is it, Jiro-nii? Did you hear something?

JIRO: You two are gonna laugh, but...it sounds like...horses.

AI: Jiro, you’re crazy, there’re no horses in the ci–

JIRO: Shhh...Can’t you...hear it?

RIN: Jiro-nii...What...? (pause)

JIRO: Shhh...(there is a loud crash as a window nearby is broken; Ai looks horrified as they hear the hard beat of horse hooves and see the shadowy figure of an “Invader” drawing close; Jiro draws his sword and takes a fighting stance) Ai, Rin! Go! (Ai immediately turns to flee, but Rin stops and stares at Jiro’s back for a moment)

AI: Rin, come on!

JIRO: Rin, get outta here!

RIN: (determinedly) NO! (she reaches to draw her sword only to realize that is not at her side as it should be) H-huh? (horrified) M-my sword!? It’s gone!! (frantic) I-I-I have to go get it! I– (she stops and looks again at Jiro, who is ready to face the Invader alone)

JIRO: Rin, GO!

(Rin turns and runs, as Jiro attacks the oncoming Invader, realizing she cannot help him; Rin runs through the city while fires and breaking glass surround her; she sees one of the Invaders on a horse, and she spins around with a terrified gasp, scurrying away in the other direction; she runs through a back ally and skids to a stop as she hears the sound of footsteps; she hides behind the wall, holding her knees and trying to catch her breath; the footsteps draw nearer, and she gasps when she looks up to see one of the Invaders (dressed in the traditional “ninja” gear) staring down at her; Rin stares at him for a moment, then drops to her knees, trembling; the Invader stoops and reaches out his hand as though to touch her, but withdraws it at the last minute; Rin raises her head and watches confusedly as the Invader walks away without harming her)

RIN: H-huh? (thinking) Wh-what? He didn’t do a THING. I know he saw me...He looked right at me. aloud I...I’ve got to get of here. (she stands, and begins to run again) I’ve got to go home. (overvoice) I didn’t know why that man decided to spare me...but I got the distinct feeling that it wasn’t out of kindness. And that terrified me...all the more.

(the scene cuts to Rin sighing as her house comes into view

RIN: Home. (Rin stops as the distinct sound of approaching horse hooves hits her ears, and her eyes widen) No... (there is a loud crash as a passing Invaders throws a torch through one of the windows, and Rin’s house quickly catches fire) NO!!! (Rin collapses against the door in emotional agony) No! No, my sword!! (over Rin’s shoulder, two mysterious figures can be seen watching from the shadows across the street; the two exchange concerned looks when Rin begins to ram her shoulder against the door in an effort to knock it down; she tries and fails several times before the door shudders and breaks in, revealing an inferno inside; Rin staggers, coughing, down the hall toward her room; she staggers through the doorway and sees her sword leaning against the bed where she left it; she snatches is up, and is about to leave when she notices her brother’s picture sitting on the nightstand; she quickly removes it from the frame and, coughing, lurches to her feet; she is nearly out of the house when she staggers in a fit of coughing, and sinking against the wall, passes out; she opens her eyes briefly, and through the haze, distinguishes someone (one of the mysterious figure from outside) leaning over her; the person leans down to pic her up, but Rin blacks out just then)

End of Chapter One

AAU takes place in an alternate universe version of Japan. The culture is essentially the same, but the landscape (including the plants that grow there and the animals that live there) is a little different. I did this mainly so I could have a modern day element as far as technology goes, but it still has that secret, ancient feel, and it isn’t at all uncommon for people to walk around with swords or daggers. It’s kinda a mix of old world and new.

By the bye...this probably won’t be updated often, because I have to go a chapter at a time, and it takes longer to draw and ink it than to write out the script. I won’t be posting anything here that isn’t already on dA, so if you are interested in keeping up with the story, I suggest you read the dA manga version, where it’s posted page by page rather than chapter by chapter.

God bless!

Half-Elf