Bob Headed Girls and the Rich Boys Who Love Them

Night 5: Living Nightmare

Kuno's dream began with him walking his sister down the aisle. She was dressed in her wedding kimono, arm intertwined with Kuno's. Kodachi was perfectly poised. She almost looked serene with her eyes closed. Kuno was proud to marry off his sister.

However, when the groom turned around and revealed his face it was none other than... Ranma Saotome. Dream Kuno screamed, releasing himself from Kodachi's clutches. He pulled out his bokken to defeat this enemy but like always, Ranma had beaten him to a pulp. Only in the dream, Ranma didn't have to lift a finger. Together he and Kodachi were laughing at him as he laid there at their feet... And at their mercy.

"This is no dream!" Kuno protested. "This is a nightmare!" His face was beet red with embarrassment. He has been made a fool tonight.

Besides him, Nabiki's breath caught in her throat. She actually felt pity for him. Kuno loved his sister very much, he actually worried for her future. For all the things he does for her, he fears she'd leave him behind. Nabiki could relate a little.

Aime turned towards Kuno, wind whipping her hair about. "Dreams and nightmares are one in the same. Now... Nabiki."

Nabiki's gulped. It took a lot to make her afraid. But these strange things usually happen to Akane. Without her here, it made it a lot harder to face.

Nabiki's dream began rather pleasantly. She was a kid again. Akane was just a baby in her mother's arms. The whole family was on a picnic. Kasumi and their father were off somewhere picking flowers.

Nabiki had stayed close to their mother, brandishing a coin that she had found in the dirt. "Look mommy! Do you think it's real gold?"

Her mother takes the coin and looks at it closely. Little Nabiki waited with bated breath. "Hmm. Why, I think it is. Good job!"

While the dream lacked any nightmarish qualities, being forced to relive this moment with everyone watching was horrid. Nabiki quivered where she stood, unable to move. Unable to say... Anything. Her mouth was wide open in shock.

"Look what you've done!" Kuno was staring at Aime as he swiftly went to Nabiki's side. In one motion he had wrapped his arm around her, holding her close to his chest. "You fiendish woman... You'll curse the day you sent Nabiki that blasted pamphlet!"

Aime threw her head back and began laughing. Shinobu and Shuutaro glanced at each other in fear. They were next. Despite being an agent of love and passion, Aime had a twisted way of going about it.

"You..." Aime pointed a finger at the other couple. "Who's next?"

Shuutaro grabbed Shinobu's hands in his, wordlessly telling her that everything would be okay.

"Took too long. Shinobu," Aime reached her hands towards the sky again. "You're next."

Shinobu's dream opened up on an older version of herself. She was in a drab looking apartment with a baby sling on. Complete with the actual baby. In fact, there were a lot of babies.

Shinobu was ironing some clothes as Ataru enters the apartment. "Hello Darling!" came a voice that wasn't Shinobu's. It was none other than Lum. The alien flew towards Ataru as they shared a kiss.

It became very apparent that these children were Ataru, Lum's and Shinobu's. Making Shinobu the mistress in this scenario. Lum and Ataru had rings on their fingers, Shinobu did not. Shinobu continued ironing clothes as the baby she carried wailed and wailed.

The cries echoed in her ears. What Shinobu feared most is a wasted life at the behest of her ex and the one who stole him from her. She almost felt like throwing up.

Shinobu turned her back on the dream, letting go of Shuutaro's hands. Her face was paler than usual.

"Ooh, interesting." Aime stroked her chin as she watched the scene before her. "I hadn't expected that. What do you think this means Shuutaro?"

Shuutaro clenched his fists. "I'm going to kill you."

Aime cackled. Her laugh that once sounded like twinkling bells now sounded more like thunder. "I'd like to see you try little boy. Now where was I..." She grinned toothily. "Oh yeah."

In Shuutaro's dream, he was nowhere to be found. A funeral scene began playing. His funeral. His parents and grandfather were present along with his sister and every woman he's ever loved. Or rather, those who had loved him.

Except for one. Shinobu hadn't attended. Even Ataru was there with shocking restraint. For as much as their rivalry prevented them from being true friends, the boys had cared for each other in a sense.

There was a hushed air as everyone whispered about Shinobu, where she had gone, what she was doing to not show up. Shuutaro's ghost watched with an air or sorrow. Not even for his own life, but for the one person he would hope to be there to watch his spirit pass on.

The real Shinobu was watching from the corner of her eye, still feeling sick from seeing her nightmare played out. The morbidity of Shuutaro's dream made her feel even more ill.

Shuutaro drew his blade, his eyes on the pink haired woman. If he could even call her that anymore. Kuno was at his side with his bokken. "You're a monster!" Shuutaro shouted.

"Of course I am sweetie." Aime was using her soft and playful voice again. "I'm a dream demon after all."

Nabiki and Shinobu were behind the boys, unable to find their words. However, there was something that they had to know.

"Why do you do this?" Nabiki asked, her voice hoarse. Kuno was shocked to hear it like that. He whipped around to see her, his eyes full of concern. "Why?" Nabiki echoed.

Aime clasped her hands together and drew them in towards her cheek. Nuzzling her own hands she says, "My specialty is love!"

"No." Shinobu now spoke. "The real reason. Show us your nightmare."

The evil woman bristled. Her hair fluffed out like an angry cat's. "No!"

Nabiki backed up Shinobu. "Show us!" Soon all four teens were chanting.

"Show us!"

"Show us!"

The sky began changing and Some appeared afraid. "N-no! Don't show them... Please!" Beads of sweat formed on her forehead. Thunder cracked as Aime's dream began to form before them.

Panicked, Aime had a running start and jumped off the side of the ship into the sea. The sea was no longer normal by any means. It was black and murky with tons of tiny stars. A sea of memories.

With Aime gone, the ship rocked back and forth. The teens gripped onto each other and whatever else they could to stay afloat.

All the while, Aime's dream played for all to see.

The sequence of events portrays were simple and short. Aime would do a romantic act of service. Buy flowers, buy chocolates, write a letter. All for someone who wouldn't even notice she was there.

This someone was Mujaki, a fellow dream demon of short stature. Mujaki would wallow about all depressed, his passion for dreams and nightmares gone. This state of being caused him to block out Aime's attempts to woo him.

The dream faded out on Aime on her hands and knees, silently sobbing.

As the dream closed, the waves grew even stronger and eventually overtook the S.S. Dreamboat.