"Oops," said Artemis, grinning sheepishly. "Would you believe I was just warming the room up for our distinguished guest?"
Hai Pahn frowned.
"I believe I hear Rei calling," said Phobos, her cheeks flushed as she ducked her head and fled the room.
"Ah heh," offered Artemis.
"Don't bother or I'll tell Luna," said Hai Pahn. "Report to Sensei Muni Shaht for extra duties if you have that much energy!"
The white haired boy vanished so quickly that Genma wondered if they had a special martial arts sprint technique.
"Damn tomcattery," grumbled Hai Pahn. "In any case this room will be yours. Don't open the window if you can help it. It gets damn cold."
"Why even have a window that can open?" asked Genma.
"When this place was originally built, it was a damn sight lower. Shangri-la is very old," said Hai Pahn. "My predecessor boasted that Shangri-la was built when the Himalayas were still a flat plain surrounded by scrub forest. I'm not completely sure that was a joke."
Genma made an uncommitted noise as he checked out the European-style bed. Hardly what he was used to.
"The hot springs and our Arts keep some parts of the Valley more conducive to farming, the areas we don't need to keep at such temperatures we let settle at a more natural climate," explained the senseschal. "We'll see what develops in the morning and what skills you can employ while here at our retreat. I'll send Luna by later with a light dinner."
"He's pretty badly mauled," admitted the young healer. "I don't even know where to start."
"Here and here," suggested her mother, a more experienced practitioner. "We'll fix a hot tea for him later. To truly heal though, we'll have to put him through the Trial."
"We're going to do that?" The little blue-haired girl looked over the boy. "Will it fix him?"
"If he survives. Not all outsiders do. If he does though - he'll have to complete training." The older woman rumpled her daughter's hair affectionately. "Fate is not always kind."
Her face screwed up, little Ami considered the boy.
The silent girl in black looked over the boy as well. "He gonna be my boyfriend."
"You're a little young to decide that," said the older healer. "Besides, he might make a good choice for my Ami."
Ami turned bright red in response.
"Now here are the pressure points to accelerate healing," said Ami's mother, demonstrating the technique.
"The Trial?" Muni Shaht asked.
Hai Pahn nodded. "It is not without precedent, and it is the only way the boy will be completely healed from his ordeal."
"It is not done lightly," pointed out Lo Pahn, Hai Pahn's brother.
"In this case it is necessary," countered Ami's mother. "The boy has old injuries, infections, and frostbite. Only by the Trial Of Placement can he be renewed into a whole body."
"In favor," said Hai Pahn, raising his own hand. After counting he nodded. "Thank you. Opposed?"
Lo Pahn raised his own hand.
Hai Pahn nodded. "Motion carries. Ranma Saotome will be renewed in the Trial Of Placement and then learn the appropriate school so that he can survive whatever awakened in his spirit."
"Most unfortunate," said Lo Pahn. "My three disciples, return with me to our own citadel. Let these fools come to regret their foolishness."
"Sometimes I think your brother's pagoda is missing a few levels," said Muni Shaht. "If the boy survives, he will have to learn that style or the beast within will consume him."
"So it is," agreed Hai Pahn.
(Posted Fri, 14 May 2004 10:23)
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