[Episode 109891] [Episode 109891]Ranma face bore a glum expression as he counted out the money to pay the fine. Their nice walk had turned out to be pretty expensive. Akane, Shampoo, and Ukyou had pretty much wrecked the poor guy’s cart during their brawl. And all over who got to sit next to him on the bench in the park.
Paying to have the cart fixed had taken a large chunk of change, and the fine had pretty much wiped out their finances for the next month. They were going to have to really scrimp and save till the next check arrived.
Thank goodness the town paid the dojo’s upkeep in return for Ranma being on call as an officer of the court.
“Ranma, I’ve got some bad news,” Dr Tofu said as he took the money from Ranma. He was currently acting in his position as elected ward keeper.
“Well, that pretty much fits the rest of the day,” Ranma said with a sigh. “What’s up Doc?”
“A motion has been but forward at the council to remove your status as a peace-officer.”
“They can’t do that!” Ranma blurted out. “We need that money! Why would they do that. I took out a Werefox, just the other day?”
“I know Ranma, and they don’t have any problem with your skill. But they feel it sets a bad example having the town peace-keeper unable to maintain order in his own home.”
Ranma flushed, but could hardly argue. With the brawls between Akane, and the other two, and Nabiki’s petty cons and insubordination toward Kuno and other ranking town members, it was miracle it hadn’t become an issue before.
“It gets worse I’m afraid,” Tofu said. “A motion has been put forward that you are an unfit slave owner.”
Ranma blanched, if he was judged unfit, the girls would be taken from him, even Kasumi, who had never caused a bit of problem. That was because slaves were not held at fault for misbehaving in public, the owner was. It was his responsibility to see that they conducted themselves in a proper manner in public. And if he could not do that, he was unfit to own slaves.
It made him burn. “This sucks. A bastard like Kuno treats his slaves like they’re animals, and that’s ok, but just because my girls get a bit rowdy, I’m unfit.”
Tofu shook his head, he didn’t disagree with Ranma, he was far from fond of the way Kuno treated his property. But . . . “I’m sorry, Ranma. I know what you mean, but Kuno does not abuse his slaves within the letter of the law. And the council does not accuse you of such abuse either. Tofu grimaced. The charge is that you do not control them, not that you abuse them. Mind you. There are some, such as Kuno, who do claim the way you treat them is abuse, as you give them ideas far above their station, and encourage behavior that shows them in a bad light.
Tofu next said, in as casual a voice as he could. “You know, if you would bed them, they might not be so high strung.
Ranma blushed. “I can’t do that. They’re slaves, my property. They don’t got the right to say no. It would be like rape.”
Tofu sighed. He was a kind and gentle man, but also a man of his culture. Ranma’s slaves were all full usage slaves. It was his right to use them sexually.
He couldn’t rape them. There were laws protecting slaves from physical abuse, how thick a switch could be, how heavy a whip, but there was no law that gave them the right to refuse their masters’s sexual advances.
But, Ranma seemed to have some sort of phobia about the subject, and no matter how Tofu argued, he would not be swayed on that point. What was worse, Tofu knew that the girls wanted Ranma that way, and he sensed that Ranma deep down, wanted to be the sort of master the girls wanted as well, but just could not bring himself to be that person. And if Ranma would not control his slaves the old fashioned way, that only left . . . He sighed, it was another brick wall, but he had to try, for Ranma’s sake, and the girls.
Tofu’s face took on a fatherly look, and he leaned forward and put a hand on Ranma’s shoulder. “Ranma, I know we’ve had this discussion before, but . . .”
“No! I ain’t going to get their brains adjusted!” Ranma yelled. His face was flushed with anger. “It wouldn’t be them anymore!”
Tofu shook his head in resignation, but continued the old argument in the hope that this time Ranma would listen. “Ranma, it doesn’t change who they are, it just makes them happier, more well adjusted. Think of it as way of teaching them very quickly. They spend a day under the hood, and they emerge mentally adjusted, with all the knowledge they need to make them happy and contented slaves.
“That’s bullshit right there!” Ranma growled. He knew it was a waste of time to say it to Tofu, but he did anyway. “Don’t you get it. The way they are, that’s what makes them who they are. A Nabiki who wasn’t trying to get around the rules wouldn’t be Nabiki. An Akane who didn’t blow her top when she’s pissed wouldn’t be Akane. A Ukyou . . .”
Ranma trailed off as Tofu held up a hand in surrender. “You’re going to lose them, then, Ranma. And whoever buys them, will adjust them.” He paused, and then said. “Kuno has offered to take them off the councils hands, for a very good price, despite their flaws. His words, not mine.”
“I’ll kill him first.”
“I think he’s hoping you’ll try, so he can buy you at auction, and have you neutered and adjusted.”
Ranma barely avoided cupping his hands over himself.
“Think about it, Ranma,” Tofu urged. “Just try a simple training program. It won’t affect the girl’s personality, it will just make them better slaves.”
Ranma leaned forward, holding his head in his hands. “They don’t need to be better slaves. I need to be a better master,” He said in dejection. “Pop and Mr Tendo keep telling me I need to take them in hand, teach them to respect me. But I just can’t seem to bring myself to do it. I wish I could get adjusted so I’d be a better master.”
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(Posted Tue, 13 Jul 2004 16:49)
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