Whatever version one would care to use, it doesn’t really apply to this situation. In Nerima, a hunt is both all of these things… and none of them. In an area with high-powered martial arts, magic, and extremely long-lived individuals, the very nature of the hunt would be chaotic to begin with. Despite the very nature of the Japanese culture being blind to certain situations, the hunt in Nerima was a milestone for change. Because this hunt was called for love, an emotion that no one would be willing to stand against least they become the target of a very different type of hunt, it would mark a new period in Japanese history. It could be considered a somewhat more militant version of the American sixties decade of peace, love, and rock-and-roll if you will… without the peace and rock-and-roll.
On this particular Saturday morning, as the sun begins to peek over the horizon, the hunters gathered in numbers never before seen. As certain individuals slept, the females of Furinkan united and formed hunting groups on the lawn of their high school. It might have been coincidence, or even a result of careful planning, but the groups of hunters were together to bolster flagging spirits and second thoughts as the rising sun made its appearance. Knowing the symbolism behind this and what it means for the Japanese warrior spirit, one couldn’t help but notice the enthusiasm spread throughout the hunters as they armed for battle.
There were no last minute speeches made. Each group looked over their lists of prey, looked each other in the eye, and nodded. Simple acceptance of a common goal was to be the rule of the day. One by one, the groups hefted weapons and left school grounds. Moving silently, the hunters swept out like a fog bank. They moved forward like a wave and the few regular residents of Nerima who saw them quickly faded back into the woodwork, not wanting to be caught up in the latest craze for the troubled ward.
Across the ward, bedroom windows were slowly and quietly opened if they were left unlocked. Unsuspecting sleepers, still in the safety of their beds, never knew what hit before being accosted… and subdued. Handcuffed and gagged, they were drug from their beds and carefully pulled from their rooms. Under the heavy guard of the hunters, they were marched to the high school, none of them given a chance to dress or escape. Hiroshi and Daisuke were among the first to fall.
For those who had managed to lock their bedroom windows, some other skills came into place. There were a few martial artists among the hunters who could deal with a locked window. Either special techniques or lock-picking skills were employed, giving the hunters the same results as others.
In a very few bedrooms across the ward, mistakes were made. The sleepers had awoken and spotted the hunters. For some, a merry chase ensued. Some escaped their pursuers while many did not. A very select few were able to barricade themselves in a safe place while family members rushed to help.
No matter what the story, the hunters made history this morning. Not for the acquisition of their targets, no. After all, this was Nerima. No, what made history was the hunters processing of their prey. Each and every capture was brought before the Council.
The Council was comprised of some of the more powerful female members of the Furinkan student population. Their job was to note who had been defeated, by whom, and to make a list. It was only then that the hunters were allowed to mark their prey.
Thankfully for the male population of the student body, the mark that they were given was simply a pin to be worn on their clothes. On the pin was the name of the hunter who had defeated and captured them. The pin, of course, was simply a warning to other hunters that stated that this particular prey was off-limits for hunting.
The males were amazed, shocked, and extremely frightened to discover how organized everything was going. Their friends were brought forward and processed and held under guard as some of the victorious hunters left to help their sisters in the struggle.
It was only when the hunters came back that the true nightmare began. The Council of Furinkan, comprised of females only, began to issue the new rules that the student population would live by. As each new rule was explained to the captive audience, they felt hope flee them and despair set in. Some rules were designed just for this purpose, such as the one that set punishment for a male caught wearing a false mark. Others filled them with dread, such as the one that set punishment for ignoring their new ‘girl friends’.
The males sat and watched their doom silently. Each and every one of them held only one small sliver of hope in their hearts. Each prayed for a hero to save them, a hero that had proved to be nigh on invincible in the past. Looking around, they couldn’t see him here, and that kept the hope alive.
Yes, Saotome Ranma was still missing and while he was missing there was still a chance of freedom. Every one knew that Saotome Ranma doesn’t loose. They could only hope that he heard of their desperate plight before it was too late.
In a bed across town, a young man wearing nothing but a pigtail shivered before pulling his wife and slave closer to his nude body.
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(Posted Sat, 07 Aug 2004 16:26)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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