~Electric Love: A Collection of Ataru and Lum Stories~

Story Two: Errand-boy

*Based on Mendou's post-apocalyptic dream world in "Lum The Forever"


Stumbling through the trash covered streets, Ataru saw the briefest glimpse of ocean-green disappear around a far corner. He grit his teeth, pushing his tired legs onward until he'd rounded the building and saw the swish of white fabric in the distance. "Aw c'mon!" Arms pumping and feet aching, Ataru cursed his employer in his head as he once again lost sight of his quarry. Just what was it about this girl that had 'The Great Shutaro' in such a funk? It wasn't like he didn't have enough brides as it was!

A frustrated huff left the young man's lips as he turned his head this way and that trying to find where the mystery girl had run off to. His mind flittered briefly to the thought that this girl was behaving in the oddest way: in all his years under Mendou's employ, he'd never met a girl who didn't swoon on the spot over the wealthy fighter. The idea that a girl would not only avoid, but actively run from the city's heart-throb was not only ridiculous, but completely unheard of. Ataru had seen girls 'playing hard to get' to gain Shutaro's interest – this was on another level altogether. Not that it mattered; once Shutaro had set his mind to something, there was no dissuading him. And for Ataru, that meant he'd be out of a job if he didn't catch up to the green-haired nymph and convince her to become wife number thirty-four to the retired fighter.

His breath came in heavy pants, but he didn't dare stop for fear of losing the mystery girl's trail. Readjusting his cap so it wouldn't fly off, he raced through the neon-lit city streets overshadowed by crumbling ruins of the metropolis. The city-wide speakers announced curfew, and Ataru bit back a growl. He had to find her and fast, or he'd be locked in this sector until dawn. A few unconcerned residents still loitered by the food stands, but Ataru breezed past them as a flash of long white-clad legs registered in his peripheral. Following it led him to a fenced off reservoir lined by a narrow alley – and there she was. Allowing himself a moment to breathe, Ataru watched as she stood silently at the dead-end of the alleyway, her back to him and green hair glistening in the false lights surrounding them in the night.

Swallowing and straightening his cap, Ataru approached the girl on careful feet, trying his hardest not to spook her. The last thing he needed now was her pulling a magic trick and running away again! She stayed perfectly still as he crept closer and closer, an obvious tension in her shoulders as he closed in. A wave of sympathy swept over the young man, and he cleared his throat before saying in a kind, hesitant voice, "Hey there miss." His hand stretched out in a friendly gesture, suddenly wanting to reassure the girl he'd been chasing around the backstreets of the city. The moment his hand met her bare shoulder, she whirled… and Ataru was stunned by a wide gaze of the brightest blue he'd ever seen in his life.

His jaw dropped at those shining eyes, set in a heart-shaped face and framed by waves of seafoam. It was no wonder his master was so enamored of the girl: she was beautiful! No, not just beautiful, but gorgeous, striking… ethereal. There was something so otherworldly about her that Ataru wouldn't have been surprised to see her suddenly sprout wings and fly off. He knew better than to flirt with a girl once Shutaro took interest in her, but… damn was it tempting!

Snapping out of his stupor, Ataru realized the girl hadn't sprouted wings or disappeared into the night. She was still and silent, and staring at him expectantly. He watched as her berry-blue eyes scanned him from head to toe, and his mind boggled at the small smile that twitched her lovely bow lips. He wasn't sure what he'd done, but somehow he'd calmed her unease. In spite of her apparent comfort, Ataru couldn't beat back a sudden flutter of nerves. What was he supposed to say now?

"Uh, miss… I've come to tell you –"

"I'm glad you weren't the other man." Her voice was like honeyed lemon tea, slipping past Ataru's defenses and warming him from the inside out. It was a moment before he could move past the sound and actually understand what it was she'd said to him.

"Wh-what? Whaddaya mean? What other man?" The smile spread further across her face, and Ataru smiled in response without realizing.

"The black-haired one" she said softly, and Ataru nearly melted at the sound. "The one always surrounded by cameras and women. I've seen him watching me before." That frightened glimmer was back in her eyes, confusing the man before her more than ever. "I thought you were him… so I ran."

Gaping, unable to believe that a girl could be so desperate to escape the mighty Shutaro, Ataru wracked his brain for some kind of response. "But… why aren't you running from me?"

She laughed, and Ataru's confusion deepened. "Because you're not him!" Leaning back against the brick wall of the alley, the mystery girl regarded him beneath long dark lashes and added in a sultry voice "Even though you chased me… I'm not afraid of you. I like you."

His eyes flew wide, a surprising warmness springing onto his cheeks. "But you don't even know me!" He took a step closer to her without a second thought, her blue eyes drawing him closer. "No one knows me. I'm a nobody! I mean…" he faltered, searching for some way to make this beautiful girl understand that she definitely, undeniably, could not like someone like him! He was just the errand-boy!

"I don't care" she replied, stepping closer to him as well. He jumped slightly when small hands skimmed up his arms to settle on his shoulders. She pressed closer to him still, sending a buzz through his whole body as their clothing brushed. "I think you're kind… and cute too!"

It was useless now, trying to keep the silly grin from his face. Was this really happening? Was this green-haired angel turning down the famed Shutaro for his lowly assistant? … Was he dreaming? "This is unreal…" he whispered, though not low enough to escape the ears of the beauty staring dreamily up at him.

"What's so strange about it?" She answered back, giggling slightly. "You're the one who chased me. What were you planning to do if you caught me?"

He was speechless, unable to even fake an answer. What indeed? He'd planned to beg her to marry his arrogant employer… but with the way her eyes sparkled as she looked at him, and the warmth of her frail hands on his shoulders… there was no way in hell he'd be handing her over to be part of the Mendou horde.

Ataru was saved from answering by the sudden beeping of warning alarms over the city intercom: curfew had come. And now they were stuck.

Biting his tongue, Ataru looked down at the mystery girl and offered a shaky smile. He hoped her home was in this sector; if not, they were in for a long night. "Care for some food? I spotted a ramen stand back there. My treat!"

She looked puzzled for a moment, as though she had expected something else, but after a moment her head dipped in a nod. Ataru turned away from her, hoping she'd catch his hint and follow, but he stopped with a gasp as a thin hand grasped one of his. Even when he turned to meet her bold gaze, she didn't let go.

"My name is Lum" she said, and stepped up to walk beside him. Shaking off his stupor, he managed to reply without stuttering "Moroboshi Ataru." She hummed, squeezing his hand a little tighter.

"Ataru…" Lum mused, her blue eyes hooded as she regarded the gritty street beneath them. "I like it. And I like you."

He couldn't respond, and she didn't seem to need a response. Curling his fingers ever so slightly around hers, Ataru silenced the little voice in the back of his head that sounded an awful lot like and angry Shutaro, and guided the green-haired girl out of the alley.


*Author's Note:

Urusei Yatsura Movie 4 is probably my favorite of all the UY movies, on terms of aesthetic and bizzareness alone. The dream world sequences are some of my favorite moments, and I love love LOVE the idea of taking those dreams and expanding them into their own au worlds - with the very important exception that Lum is her normal self and is just as obsessed with Ataru as ever. I'm hoping to write a little oneshot based on Shinobu's dream at some point too, following along this same vein!