Well, acting on the C+C I received on the draft of this chapter, I've made a lot of changes (A LOT), enough that I think it warrants a repost. If you all could let me know what you think, I'd be much obliged....
THE BET: A STUDY IN SCARLET PART FOUR
Original Bet Entry "A Study In Scarlet" by Gregg Sharp
Continued (with permission) by Dave Menard
(catthouse@lweb.net)
OBLIGATORY DISCLAIMER: I made them all up! I did! They're all
mine! Moo-hoo ha-ha!!!!
WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?: Toltiir has entered into a side-bet
with a certain Spider-goddess. The rules? The usual. The goal?
The usual. Here's what's goin' on.
16 year old Akane's mind has been replaced with that of a timelost counterpart who spend decades in the far future realm known as Aramar. This Akane was a warrior in that time, but lost her Ranma due to a misspoken wish. She travelled back to the day they met, but her arrival has wrought unforseen changes to the timeline. Now, Ranma is engaged to Kasumi, is terrified of Akane, and Kuno is in love with him, beleiving him to be a Chinese Amazon in disguise.
A jealous Dr. Tofu tagged Ranma's legs with a Shiatsu point, causing a delayed-reaction paralysis that almost resulted in serious harm to Ranma from two separate assailants.
As a result of a remarkably poorly timed Nerima rainstorm, Ranma's secret has been revealed to the entire student body of Furinkan, but he's still in trouble for tardiness.
AND NOW, ON WITH THE SHOW!
(Note: For further details, previous chapters of this story are stored in the Ranma archive at www.fanfiction.net )
***************************
Ranma hobbled down the hallway with the assistance of
Hiroshi and Daisuke, feeling slowly returning to his legs.
"Er, I gotta thank you guys for helpin' me out like this. I
feel like such a dork..."
Hiroshi smiled jovially.
"S'no problem, Saotome! Isn't that right Daisuke?"
"Yeah, yeah! No prob!" He glanced meaningfully at Hiroshi,
who nodded in return.
"Hey, you guys wouldn't happen to know why the heck those
guys were attacking Akane, wouldja? Not that I partic'larly care
'bout what happens to that psycho tomboy, y'understand..."
Daisuke and Hiroshi exchanged glances. Psycho tomboy?
"I guess you wouldn't have heard about it yet, Saotome..."
Daisuke said. "Kunou said that if anyone wanted to take Akane out
on a date, they had to beat her fair 'n square in combat."
"He calls fifty-to-one odds fair? Geez..." Ranma muttered.
"So what is he, Akane's boyfriend of somethin'?"
"Yeah, he WISHES!" Hiroshi laughed. "Hell, _I_ wish I was
her boyfriend. She is so-o hot..."
"Well, she's cute enough, I guess..." Ranma said
contemplatively. "But she ain't right in the head, know what I
mean? Didja see the way she went after Nabiki and Hiroe? The
girl's a nutburger. Either that or she's just plain mean."
"Akane? She's about the nicest person I've ever met..."
Daisuke protested. "She's even nice to us, and we're... Well,
we're not geeks, are we, Hiroshi?"
"Naw. We're iconoclasts."
"Ri-ight. Anyway, she's a sweetie."
Hiroshi agreed."Yeah, unless you try to attack her, like the
hordesmen. Then it's 'POW-BANG-KABOOM!'"
"Nice?!" Ranma blurted. "We talkin' about the same Tendou
Akane?"
Daisuke nodded."Hey, maybe you just push her buttons,
Saotome..." Ranma flashed back to the previous evening, when he'd
received a late night visitor in his room. Push her buttons? SHE
wishes...
"Say, Saotome..." Daisuke ventured.
"Yeah?"
"You're, uh, kinda heavy. Would you mind, uh... "
"Mind what?"
"Maybe, er... Changing back into a girl?"
"No way! I just got back to normal!"
"Aw, c'mon! Your girl-form is so inCREDIBLY-"
"Light! He means your girl-form is incredibly light, right
Daisuke?!" He cuffed his partner upside the head.
"Huh?" Daisuke said, confused. "Oh, RI-IGHT. Yeah. Really...
light."
Ranma blinked, thinking it over. These guys ARE kinda
weedy-lookin'. And I AM sorta dead weight right now... He noticed
with a little alarm the fact that the two boys were gleefully
wringing their hands in anticipation. On second thought..
"Naw, I don't think so guys. I'd hafta change back before we
get to the vice-principal's office anyway..."
He noted the look of disappointment that crossed their
faces. Yep. Mental note to self: spend as little time around
these two in girl-form as possible. No sense encouraging 'em to
think of him as a chick...
***********************************
Akane walked slowly along the bank of the canal, staring at
her reflection in the glassy waters. For a second, it seemed, the
reflected image of a young girl wavered, to be replaced with the
hard figure of a grown woman, tarnished steel armour glinting
weakly in the sunlight.
She missed that face, that body... She'd grown accustomed to
it over the centuries, and it had served her well, keeping her
alive in an alien world where she was virtually unique, an
atavism, a walking fossil of a vanished species. She had no idea
how she'd managed to stay alive so long, let alone never aging
physically past twenty-five or so. She assumed it had to do
somehow with the fact that she was a woman out of time. Even
Baron, wise as he was, had had no clue...
She'd been a warrior there, she'd built herself no small
amount of fame due to her exploits; The Ardrow had known her as
the Pale Lady, the Goblinkind had feared her as the Scarlet
Maiden. She'd run beneath the moon with the Wolfen packs and been
a HuntSister of the Rakasta clans. Sometimes a heroine, other
times a villainess, but one thing, she'd known, had remained
constant.
She was Akane, and Akane was once, long, long ago, iinazuke
to the bravest, most noble man she'd ever known.
Ranma Saotome. The memory of him had been what sustained her
through the long, dark years as first a prisoner then a disciple
of the Black Rose Assassins. For years, even decades, they'd
tried to break her, reshape her into their image. After a time,
she'd simply given in, performed her duties, made the sacrifices
demanded, all the while holding on to Ranma; he gave her hope
throught the night, allowed her to retain a small scrap of
herself amidst the evil all around her. The Black Rose hadn't
managed to kill her soulself, the one thing that she knew made
her Akane.
For after you peeled away all the layers of her self, in her
heart was the knowledge that she was special, she was someone,
she was The One Ranma Loved.
Only, that wasn't right anymore, was it? The Black Rose HAD
crushed her spirit, after all. They'd reached back across the
millenia, across time, across space, and they'd killed
her, the instant she'd used their Fist on the joyful, confident
boy who had claimed her heart. In that one horrible moment of
faulty judgement, the prideful strike of a foolish old woman,
she'd died, irrevocably, and there was no coming back...
A tear slid down her cheek and struck the glassy surface of
the waters, shattering the image of the woman warrior-born,
leaving only the face of a young girl, crying for the loss of a
love she feared she'd never know again...
"Gaah!" She spat, shaking her head. "What's gotten into me? I'm mooning and moping like some giddy schoolgirl! Of, course, I _am_ a schoolgirl, but really..." Angst ridden introspection was getting her nowhere. If she wanted Ranma, action had to be taken! Yet, how to do it? The timeline seemed far different than the past she remembered. Perhaps, she was still coming on too strong? Yes, that was probably it. She didn't want to come off looking like some Chinese bimbo, now did she?
With a sigh, she resigned herself to abandoning her plan to seduce Ranma tonight in his bed. That was something the bimbo would have tried, and it had never done her any good. There _has_ to be another way...
"Hel's Bells! Why can't I stop crying?!? Stupid pubescent hormones..."
********************************
Nabiki opened her textbook, following the teacher's
instructions by rote. She hated first period. English was a
perverse language, she'd decided, too many exceptions to too many
rules. Language of international business or no, she loathed it.
She glanced across the aisle at Hiroe. Such a schoolgirl...
There she was, reading aloud from the text like a good little
student. Nabiki sighed and began to read as well, the nonsense
syllables tripping off her tongue with difficulty. She was still
more than a little shaken up by Akane's behavior this morning; it
was so unlike her it was scary. Akane had always been the more
aggressive of the three Tendou sisters, but she hadn't lashed out
at any of her family since she was very young, before Mom died...
The recitation (and musing) was cut mercifully short by the
arrival of Kunou in uniform. he presented a note from the nurse
to the scowling teacher and took his seat amidst quiet titters
from the class.
Nabiki spared him a quick glance as he took his usual seat
behind her. A smirk, quickly stifled, crossed her lips. Ah,
Kunou. The numbskull owed her big time. She'd had to refund a lot
of betting slips when he left Akane alone for a change and went
after Ranma instead. Time to break out the verbal thumbscrews...
She turned to face him and opened her mouth to speak, only
to let her jaw drop in astonishment.
"Why dost thou stare at mine august visage, Nabiki Tendou?"
Nabiki wordlessly produced her compact and held the mirror
to Kunou's face. His eyes widened. A wordless, strangled gargle
escaped his lips as he took in the phrase "baka" imprinted on his
forehead in sloppy kanji.
"Looks like Ranma-baby gotcha good, Kunou."
Kunou stood up, striking a pose.
"Oh woe! Oh misery! My beloved Amazon Goddess scorns me! I
must convince her of my worthiness..."
A blackboard eraser stuck him between the eyes, snapping him
out of his dramatic monologue. A matching one bounced off
Nabiki's shoulder.
"Kunou! Tendou! Go stand in the hall!"
Thus it came to pass that Nabiki found herself, for the
first time in her scholastic career, on bucket duty. To make
matters worse, she was stuck listening to Kunou rant. After five
breathless minutes he turned to face his partner in punishment,
eyes wild.
"Nabiki Tendou, you seemed most familiar with my beloved
Ranma Saotome... Tell me, how may I prove my worthiness?"
Nabiki blinked once. Beloved Ranma? This is unexpected...
"Wow, Kunou, I had no idea you were gay..."
"Pish-posh! The Blue Thunder is no lover of men, Nabiki
Tendou." Kunou said dismissively. "Surely a woman possessed of
your low animal cunning was not fooled by the lovely Ranma's
paltry disguise? She is a woman! A woman most fair!"
Low animal cunning?! Nabiki thought incredulously. That
PRICK! See if _you_ ever get another discount rate on Akane
photos, you arrogant buffoon!
"I assure you Kunou," Nabiki stated icily. "Ranma is a guy."
Her cold, dismissive tone went unnoticed by the besotted
kendoist. "Stuff and nonsense, Nabiki Tendou. She is a fair
flower of China, here to gauge the worthiness of the Blue
Thunder."
"China? Where do you GET this stuff, Kunou?"
His reply died on his lips as a trio of figures rounded the
corner. Hiroshi and Daisuke, two losers from Akane's class,
seemed to be carrying Ranma between them. Kunou immediately
charged the three boys like a french skunk, arms outstretched, a
bucket of water still splooshing merrily away in each hand.
"Ranma Saotome! I would date with you!!!!"
Ranma looked up with a horrified expression. Hiroshi and
Daisuke started, almost dropping Ranma to the floor at the sight
of the love-crazed fool rushing towards them.
"Huh? What are you TALKIN' about, you fruitcake?! I ain't
like that!" Kunou showed no signs of slowing. Ranma looked
around, seeking a means of defense. He essayed his legs, but they
were still too weak to support him. Stymied, he realized he'd
have to rely on the Saotome Secret Technique, and yelled at his
companions, "Run, you fools!"
Hiroshi and Daisuke complied, dragging the terrified
Ranma back down the hall as fast as they could carry him.
"Aha! My beloved dost seek to lead me on a lover's chase!
Very well, I accept!!!" Kunou pranced off down the hall after his
quarry, still swinging the buckets.
Nabiki stood shocked for a moment, staring after the strange
procession.
"Sorry, Ranma-baby. You're on your own this time..."
Hiroshi and Daisuke dragged their burden around the corner
as fast as their scrawny legs would carry them. Ranma's legs,
still numb, flopped uselessly in their wake, bouncing off the
fire door frames. Ranma spared a glace over his shoulder.
"I love you!! I would date with you!!!" Kunou continued to
gain on the trio, the water in his buckets splashing dangerously.
A wayward splash hit the floor centimeters from Ranma's flailing
legs.
"Oh, man!!! Faster, you fools, he ain't givin' up!!"
"Geez-" Hiroshi wheezed. "I can't keep this up much- gasp!
Longer..."
"Me... neither..." Daisuke panted.
Ranma cudgled his brain, trying to think of a way, ANY way,
to escape the love-crazed fool on his tail. With an almost
audible pop, an idea hit him square between the eyes.
"Alright! Let me go!"
Hiroshi and Daisuke complied, collapsing to the ground in
exhaustion. Ranma toppled forwards, only to catch himself at the
last minute on his hands. With a grunt, he lifted his numb lower
body off the floor into a handstand position, stomach muscles
straining to maintain verticality.
Huffing and puffing, he tore down the stairwell on his hands
at a remarkable speed, springing down to the ground level one
flight at at time, Kunou no more than two meters behind him.
As they hit the ground floor, Ranma spun on one palm,
cornering sharply and tearing off to the left. Kunou lunged
around the corner behind him, buckets flailing as he skidded on
the newly washed floor. Ranma looked up, only to see a gout of
water arc upwards in a graceful trajectory straight towards him.
He scurried backwards on his hands, narrowly dodging the
spray with a sigh of premature relief. Premature, since he failed
to take into account the slipperiness of the newly-wet floor as
his hands slipped, toppling him face-first into the puddle.
Kunou's eyes widened with glee as his Amazon Goddess
revealed herself.
"At last! You shed your pitiful disguise at stand revealed
before me!!! To me, my love!!!!"
He sprang forward, enveloping onna-Ranma in a full body
glomp, being sure to cop a good feel while he was at it.
"Aaauugh! Get offa me!!!!" Onna-Ranma flailed her arms,
sending blow after blow raining down apon Kunou's head.
"Never my lov-oouf!" Kunou exclaimed tearfully as several
punches hit home. He redoubled his squeezing. "For your blows are
mere love-taps to one such as I-Ergh!" Another strike connected.
Kunou continued woozily. "For the Blue Thunder has heard your cry
for his love, and he shall not disappoint thee!!!" He squeezed
Ranma again for good measure.
A red aura burst into being around Ranma's prone form, the
heat causing Kunou to loosen his grip somewhat. Ranma reached
behind and over her shoulders and took a firm grip on Kuno's
shirt. With a snarl, she tossed him halfway down the hallway into
a row of lockers.
Kunou crumpled to the floor, arms outstretched, several
bright purple bruises decorating his already-grafittied features.
He managed to gargle out a last endearment before slipping into
unconciousness. Ranma dragged herself over to the wall and began
to massage her legs.
"T-that guy is just... Scary!" Her legs were all pins and
needles as feeling returned to the recalcitrant limbs. Staggering
to her feet, she took off down the hallway, casting little
glances back over her shoulder to assure herself that the pervert
was indeed still unconcious. Oh MAN, she thought. Me an' Tofu're
gonna have words over THIS...
***********************************
Kasumi felt her muscles relax as she moved through her kata,
her arms gliding gracefully through the air as she rocked back on
the balls of her feet. Tai Chi was so very soothing...
The groceries had been squared away, and Father was
installed in front of the shogi board across from Mr. Saotome.
She'd served them tea and a light snack, knowing the two would be
fine until late afternoon, then retired to the dojo, where she
began the intricate, dance-like Art that her mother had taught
within these very walls while she lived.
Kasumi had always preferred Tai Chi to the more violent arts
of her Father's school. Kimiko Tendou, nee Kimiko Masaki, was
also heir to her own family's school, though she'd never taught
Masaki style Kendo to anyone but Father. Soun had passed a little
of the Art on to Akane along with the Tendou Ryuu, but he'd only
had a rudimentiary grasp of the style himself.
A fine sweat broke out across Kasumi's skin as she completed
her kata, bowing to the Dojo shrine then picking up her towel and
gently mopping her brow. A quick shower to rinse off the grime,
to be followed by a nice long soak before her younger siblings
returned from school, and all would once again be right with the
world.
A soft sound, almost a sob reached her ears. Kasumi turned,
only to find Akane watching her, a strange, almost nostalgic look
on her face. Her eyes were slightly puffy, and it looked like
she'd been crying. Kasumi walked over, alarmed.
"Akane? Shouldn't you been in class?"
"I...kind of didn't go in, today..."
"Do you feel ill? What happened?" Kasumi sat down and took
her little sister's hand, drawing her down to sit alongside her.
"I got in a fight again. It's nothing. I don't understand
why I'm crying, actually..." She attempted a laugh but it became
instead another sob. Akane wiped her eyes angrily, trying to
regain control of her emotions.
"Oh my! It was with one of those boys who were bothering you
wasn't it? I'm sure they deserved to be taught a lesson..."
"No, not them..."
A suspicion crossed Kasumi's mind. Hesistantly, she gave
voice to her fears.
"Was it Ranma?"
"No... Yes... Not really... Gods, I'm confused... I almost
swung at Nabiki..." Kasumi stifled a gasp. "I lost my temper, and
I don't know why... I haven't snapped at someone like that in
ages and ages..."
"Did you... Akane, is Nabiki all right?"
"Yes, she's fine. I managed to pull my punch away at the
last minute... Ranma helped, although I don't think he realized
what he was doing..."
Kasumi exhaled in relief as Akane continued, almost
mumbling.
"... I don't understand why I'm losing control like this...
I'm usually calm under pressure; it must be these thrice-damned
teenage hormones wreaking havoc with my thought processes..."
Kasumi pulled her sister in to a hug, gently stroking her
hair. Inwardly, she was very worried. Akane had always been...
Well, a little rough and tumble. However, her recent behavior...
One of the books Tofu-Sensei had lent her mentioned several
stress-related illnesses and disorders that were really quite
common in this day and age. Perhaps all the unwanted attention
from the Horde at school...
"Akane... I've been meaning to ask you something. Yesterday,
when you were sparring in the Dojo with Ranma... Why did you do
that to her, er... him?"
"I was just trying to make him respect me! He always- _They_
always, men I mean, they always look down on women, make us feel
smaller than we are, even unintentionally. Daddy does it to you
all the time... I don't think he's being deliberately mean, but I
can tell it still hurts your feelings, right?"
"Akane..." This was treading dangerously close to ground Kasumi wasn't comfortable traversing. "I don't think-"
"No, let me finish. I wanted to show him that this time, I
wasn't weak, that I don't need to be 'protected'. I wanted him to
treat me like an equal, the way I want to do with him. It
backfired horribly, I know this now. He's too insecure about his
curse at the moment. He'll need time to get used to the idea that
women have power too. THEN he'll understand..."
"Akane, why are you telling me all this?"
"You asked, oneechan."
"No, I mean, you should be discussing this with Ranma. He's
a bright young man, he'll understand..." Akane snorted
derisively.
"That baka? No, I don't think he'd understand words alone. I
tried to explain it to him this morning, but he didn't get it."
"Was this before or after the... incident?"
"Before... Although that dolt Kunou interrupted us..."
"Well, I think you should try again. Trust me on this,
imotochan. If there's one thing I've learned in the past few
years, it's that dirty laundry needs to be aired right away..."
Akane blinked twice and stared at her sister.
"Kasumi? Did you just make a joke?"
"Well, maybe I did." She smiled.
"Wow, Kasumi the jokester. Who would've thought?" Akane
chuckled, then sighed. "Kasumi, I need to know something."
"What?"
"Why... Why did you take Ranma away from me?"
"Well, I... That is... Oh, Akane, I was just so worried! You
frightened the poor thing out of his wits, and you were being so
aggressive... "
"Is _that_ why? Oh, thank the gods!" Akane said, relief
tinging her voice. "It's just that... Well, I..." She paused for
thought. How to cast her actions in the best possible light in
Kasumi's eyes? "Kasumi, do you believe in love at first sight?"
Kasumi restrained herself from answering "yes I'm sure it
happens all the time" and simply nodded. "Although many people
confuse infatuation with love..."
"Yes, that's true. But I don't think that's the case here,
oneechan. You see, I know Ranma. Really. In here." She tapped her
chest over her heart. "He's brave, and honest, and caring..." She
smiled teasingly for effect. "And handsome... I can't think of
ANYone I'd rather marry."
Kasumi looked a little skeptical. "You've decided on this
very quickly, Akane. Just the other day I heard you yell at
Nabiki that you hated boys. Why the sudden change?"
Akane cursed mentally. Her younger self had some odd
opinions... Still, maybe she could play on the rumors that had
swirled around her back then, er... back _now_.
"Well, you see, Kasumi..." Akane lowered her voice, as
though she were slightly ashamed of herself. "Ranma is half
GIRL..." She watched Kasumi's eyes widen through her bangs as she
made the expected assumption. She didn't particularly care if her
family thought she was a lesbian; after all, she loved Ranma no
matter what form he was wearing.
Kasumi didn't quite know what to say, so she settled for a
perennial favorite. "Oh my..."
"Kasumi, you won't tell Father, will you? He'd be so
upset..." She put a little catch in her voice for effect.
"Of course not! Oh, Akane... How long have you known you
were... like that?"
This was going a little further than she'd expected, Akane
thought, feeling more than a little uncomfortable lying to Kasumi
again. Still, she had no choice anymore, the die was cast...
"Oh, for a while now, I guess..." That was true, she
thought. Ever since she realized that she loved Ranma despite his
curse... That had to be, what? Two centuries? "I just don't want
to miss out on my chance for a semi-normal life, you know?"
Kasumi nodded slowly. She could follow the logic. She felt
she was missing something, but she couldn't quite put her finger
on what... "Akane, it's not my place to approve or condemn
your... sexual preferences, and I can see that you feel very
strongly about Ranma, but... Well, I'll leave it up to him. I
like him, but if he wants to pursue a relationship with you, I
won't stand between you." Akane smiled happily. "But, I insist
you apologize to Nabiki and Ranma. You need to control your
temper, imotochan. You can't go flying off the handle at the drop
of a hat," Kasumi finished firmly.
Akane nodded gravely. "I will, oneechan. Thank you for being
so understanding."
"Akane, are you sure you wouldn't like to talk to someone
about your feelings? About your anger, I mean." Kasumi clarified
quickly.
"Like who?" Akane asked warily.
"Like a doctor, maybe?" Kasumi said, keeping her voice
level.
"Ah, no, no oneechan, that's all right. I don't think that
will be necessary..." Akane said, tying to sound reassuring. The
_last_ thing she needed was to get talking to a shrink. If she
slipped up once and talked about Aramar, she'd be in a rubber
room faster than she could blink.
"Are you sure? Because it's nothing to be ashamed of... You
have been under a lot of stress, lately..."
You don't know the HALF of it, sister, Akane thought.
"Kasumi, I'm _fine_. Like you said, I've just been under a
bit of stress. I just need to apologize to Ranma, make sure he
understands, and I'm sure everthing will work itself out in good
order..."
"Well, if you change your mind..."
"I'll be sure to let you know." Akane hugged Kasumi
reassuringly. She stood and walked towards the house. "As a
matter of fact, I think I'll go lie down for a while and take a
nap. Wake me for dinner, okay?"
"Of course, imotochan...
She entered the house, leaving a very concerned Kasumi
behind her. Perhaps... Perhaps i'd best go have a word with Tofu-
sensei all the same, Kasumi thought. Sometime soon...
********************************
Ranma slumped wetly back down in her seat. Her visit to the vice-principal's office had been just as miserable as she'd figured; the VP had gone on for the better part of an hour about scholastic duty and responsibility. Ranma'd barely managed to stay awake and remember to nod at all the right places.
She spared a glance to the rear of the room, flashing Hiroshi and Daisuke a friendly smile. Those two were all right, she decided. A little weird, but who was she to talk? The duo smiled back, maybe a bit too affectionately for Ranma's tastes. Ugh. That's gonna stop, and soon.
The rest of the day passed mercifully without incident, although Ranma had fallen asleep several times during various classes. Fortunately, his other teachers either didn't notice or didn't care, so she was spared bucket duty or another trip to the office.
He'd eaten lunch with Hiroshi and Daisuke, taking advantage of the free period to visit the showers and change back to guy-form, then visited with Nabiki and Hiroe, trying to ignore the whispers and poorly-hidden stares he drew from the student body. all in all, school was proving to be about as much fun as he'd figured, which was to say not in the least. And he still had to have a little chat with Tofu-sensei after school...
*****************************
"Heya, doc." Ranma said neutrally, sitting down across the desk from his soon-to-be employer. "Funny prank, with the numb legs and all."
Tofu had the good grace to look embarassed. "Er, yes... I'm really very sorry about that Ranma, it's just, where Kasumi is concerned, I don't really behave like myself..."
"Yeah, well, thanks to your little ha-ha, I ended up being molested by a crazy fruitcake today. Hope that tickles your funny bone..." He glanced around the room. "Say, what happened to your skeleton?" He pointed at the empty hook where the bones had hung. "Sent it out to be cleaned?"
"Betty-chan? Oh, I'm afraid she, er... Met with an accident. I'm having a replacement shipped in this evening." He coughed nervously. "I really can't apologize enough for my behavior this morning, Ranma. It was inexcusable of me."
"Look doc, I realize you're sweet on Kasumi. And I already told ya I ain't interested in her that way. You ain't got no competition from me, I don't think I'm really her speed..." He sighed. "It looks like I'm gonna have a rough enough time of it in school anyway. I don't need no feuds makin' my life more complicated. Can't we bury the hatchet?"
"Of course, of course. My offer still stands, you know. I could use an extra pair of hands around here. My assistant _is_ getting on in years, and I'm afraid she's not in the best of health. Would you at least consider my offer?"
"Hey, yeah, I could really use the job. I'll take it on two conditions..."
Tofu raised an eyebrow. "And they are..?"
"One, no more 'pranks'."
"Of course. And the second?"
"You teach me how to do that pressure point trick you pulled on me. Pop neglected that part of my training. Deal?"
"Deal. I'm glad we could work this out, Ranma." Tofu smiled reassuringly. "Shall we begin Saturday? I open the clinic at nine, so I'll need you here for eight..."
"No problem. Thanks again!"
"Thank _you_, Ranma. I mean that."
****************************************
_/Aramar, the 7th Age of Man\_
They'd flown for several hours, stopping now and again on
top of the odd rocky promontory to allow Akane to rub some
feeling back into her cold-numbed limbs. Despite herself, she had
begun to enjoy flying with the massive red-gold dragon. If it
wasn't for the sheer bizarre unreality of this whole situation,
Akane might have simply curled up in a ball and hid. That, or
start breaking things... As it was, though, Aramar, this world,
this time, they were like some fever dream from which she
couldn't wake. It was so deeply foreign, on so many levels, that
the best thing she could think of to allow her to cope, was to
simply go along for the ride.
"Baron? How much further do we have to go?"
*Not far, Akane-chan. The Western Magus' citadel is only a
few hours away...*
"Okay... Baron? How long did you know... her? My
counterpart?"
*Oh, a short time only. Perhaps a century, maybe two.*
Akane goggled. "A century?! B-but... This body, it's barely
older than Kasumi! How..?" She looked down at the wiry, sinewy
frame her counterpart had left behind. It was strong, almost
bursting with barely restrained power. No wrinkles marred the
sleek perfection of her skin, yet scars from old wounds
crisscrossed her frame. Except for the scarring, and the short
hair, it was the type of body she'd long fantasized about having,
and it was hers! Well, sort-of... "Is it... magic? Am I... Is my
counterpart some kind of sorceress?"
*Ha ha ha! No, no... I'm afraid your counterpart was not
fond of magic at all! It was due to a misspoken spell that she
ended up here in Aramar in the first place! No, she was no
sorceress, child. She, too wondered why she never aged beyond
young adulthood, but it was a mystery she never solved. I myself
never realized it was unusual until she pointed it out, since I
had never seen a hu-man before meeting your counterpart...*
"Are people really that rare here?"
*Oh, there are many peoples in Aramar, child. Just not many
hu-mans. You are something of a curiosity, my dear. I had long
believed that hu-mans were a myth, something to frighten young
drakes into remaining in the nest at night... My own Dam would
warn me that if I didn't behave, the hu-man knights would come
and get me!*
"Well, where _I_ come from, it's dragons that are
imaginary. Er, I think..."
*Well spoken, child.* Baron chuckled. *Dragons have existed
since the beginning of time, and we shall be there when the
universe ends, and we'll turn out the lights as we leave.*
"This Western Magus... Is he a dragon too?"
*No, of course not. Mages _use_ magic, dragons _are_ magic.
The Magus is an Ardrow.*
"What's an _Ardrow_?"
*They are a people superficially similar to your own, but
with dusky skin and pointed ears. I think they must be related to
your race somehow, just as I am related to my chromatic brethren.
Your counterpart knew many of his race, both as friends and
foes.*
"And which was the Magus? Friend or foe?"
*Both, at different times.*
"Oh, terrific..." She sighed mournfully. "Well, I'm ready,
Baron. Let's go."
*Very well, child. Climb aboard!"
They flew on westward, making but one more stop before the
tall spire of the Magekeep came into view. The structure seemed
as through it had been grown from the rock rather than hewn, the
jutting, clawlike towers possessing an almost organic quality.
The vast structure was perched high atop a pillar of weathered
rock, the ground on which it rested lost in the mist. Akane
swallowed hard as she looked down. She could barely see the tops
of trees, some species of evergreen, poking through the thick
pale fog.
As they approached, two winged forms detached themselves
from the spires and flew towards them. Akane noted with shock
that they resembled nothing so much as carrion birds with the
heads of human women!
"Baron! What ARE those things?!"
*Harpies, child. Do not fear, we are well known to them.*
"Skraawk!" One of the harpies screeched, "Who comes?!"
"Two wayfarers, caw caw! Seeking the Magus!" The other
squawked.
*Greetings, Pinfeather, Talongleam. You know us, do you
not?* Baron sent telepathically.
"Awk!" Cawed Pinfeather, the one on the right. "The
half-breed lizard and the Pale Lady! Do you come for battle?"
*Here's your part, Akane. Remember what I told you...* Baron
sent along the private link between them. Akane nodded,
swallowing hard.
"We come arms outstretched, holding only goodwill!"
The harpies laughed raucously. Talongleam shouted. "Begging
favours from Our Lord again? Too rich, too rich! Go away! The
Magus is indisposed, and will see no one!"
*Baron, what now?*
*They merely toy with us, child. Speak the words I taught
you.*
"By blood and fire, we claim our debt owed! Do you dispute
this?" Akane placed he hand on the pommel of her sword, hoping
the harpies wouldn't notice the way her hand was shaking.
As it happened, the bird-women seemed to nod. "Aye, 'tis
tryly spoken. Very well, descend to the keephouse, the Magus will
see you when he finds it convenient. Scrawwk!"
The two creatures flapped away, descending in great circles
to the largest of the towers, Baron following in their wake.
*Well done, Akane. For a moment, I thought you were my old
friend returned to me...*
*I'll try to take that as a complement, Baron...*
They landed in a small (by dragonish standards, anyway)
courtyard, and Akane climbed down from Baron's forepaw, rubbing
and flapping her arms to restore circulation. She looked around,
trying to seem nonchalant. Warm light flickered in small windows,
candles, she assumed. No movement came, though. No one looking
curiously at the dragon and human that had appeared on their
doorstep. Perhaps the inhabitants of this place were used to such
strange comings and goings...
After a long while of pacing, punctuated by occasional
frustrated kicks at pebbles, Akane saw a door open at the
base of the large structure at the south end of the courtyard.
She glanced worriedly up at Baron, but he merely nodded his great
head and approximated a smile.
*Go on, child. I shall watch through your eyes...*
Akane nodded and gulped air, before walking through the door
with what she hoped was a purposeful stride.
Akane's eyes went wide as she took in the interior of the
vast room. Tapestries woven from cloth-of-gold adorned the walls,
thick rich carpeting muffling her footsteps. The hall was lit by
warmn torchlight, and a cheerful fire blazed in a vast hearth.
The very brilliance, the _sumptuousness_ of the room took her
breath away. Suddenly, she felt very out-of-place in her steel
armor and rough leathers, even more awkward than she had felt
when she first appeared in her counterpart's body. This was the
home of a prince, or an Emperor, she was sure!
In a shower of sparkling light, a tall figure materialized
in front of the fireplace, tucking his flapping shirttails into
his suede trews. He wore deep purple robes, and golden plates
accentuated the broadness of his shoulders. And his face
was so... so _handsome_! Long white hair swept back in a widow's
peak from his high forehead, hanging down beyond his shoulders.
Golden eyes glinted in a face that could have been sculpted from
purest obsidian by a master artisan. Long, delicately pointed
ears jutted out at right angles to the planes of his face. A
warn, pearlescent smile spread on his features as a took in
Akane's appreciative stare.
"Akane, my Pale Lady! So nice to see you again! Forgive me
for making you wait, but I was temporarily indisposed..." As he
said that, he set a small loosely bound text bearing the legend
"Poor Wizard's Alamanac" down on the mantle.
He moved towards her, not so much walking as _flowing_, and
swept her up in his arms. She let out a startled squeak as he
tilted her backwards, his face descending to her own.
"Now hey! Wait just a minute-"
Her protest was cut short by the press of warm, soft lips
against her own...
*********************************
*********************************
END OF CHAPTER FOUR
NEXT TIME: Will Tofu put the moves on Kasumi? Will Kunou molest
Ranma? Will Akane quit smooching the elf? Who knows? Tune in next
time...
All C+C is gratefully received, either public or private, at
catthouse@lweb.net or on the FFML!
Here Endeth The Lesson.
Spa Fon!
-------------------------------------------
Dave Menard
Keeper of Pink's Hammer of Vengeance
Knight of the Combat Fiancees
Member of the Space Pirates Guild
http://matrix.crosswinds.net/~ksna/
"I would not, could not kill the King... I would not poison Anything!"
--Green Eggs and Hamlet