Only to be faced by the epitome of why she hated most Japanese bureaucracy.. the polite bigotry, this time in the form of the desk sergeant. She had actually been explained to the Capt. as part of her cover, but she had to get TO him to hand over the immaculate papers devised by Walter! Unfortunately...
"This is not a costume party, *miss*. Please leave." The man didn't even ask her her business or her name, undoubtedly not fond of Gaijin (which she frankly did look like), or women officers for that matter. Ranma snorted mentally, then pressed on. Life under Koucho kuno taught her a long time ago to simply ignore the officious officialdom, after all.
She didn't speak, just stood there, but she let her poise pose her ever-so-teasingly. Predictably, the sucker rose to the bait like a brook trout. "I said leave, this is a place of business, unless you want to be arrested for soliciting." His voice remained stern and stonelike, but the anger and insult shone in his eyes. Finally he snarled "Alright, miss.."
That of course was what Ranma had waited for, and she moved in like a cobra with the folder, still tied for when this doofus crossed the line, and Ranma was certain he was gonna. "Lieutenant Ranma Soatome, I've been accepted by Capt. Torin due to my experience as a officer overseas. i am returning to Japan to live, and to settle issues of my past life." *Former* Life, really, but he doesn't need to know that! was the amused thought the No life King had, while the low-level paperpushing type went pale, then reddened.
Ranma's read on the man's character was confrmed as the man grabbed the folder and threw it back at the former male. "I have no time for fantasies and lies! You had a chance to leave, now I am going to--" Ranma had been paying attention to this dcweeb and to anything unnatural her preternatural senses might detect during the confrontation. It therefore was a mild, but oddly pleasant surprise when a older but still familiar voice was heard from the police personnel observing. "R.. Ranma? That you, old buddy?" A beat cop came over, standing behind Ranma in respect to the Sergeant, but definately supporting his friend.
Before the Sergeant could be even more of a ass, Ranma simply said "Hello, Hiroshi, been a few years. Didn't expect you to get into police work." Then she turned her eyes back onto the gaze of the fuming 'crat. "Sergeant, I'm not reporting to you, and I don't have time *for* you and your idiotic prejudices, which are I might add fully invalid. I am going to the Captain's office *right* *now* and when I return, it will be with your reprimand. For too long, things have been left to slide along in this precinct and this Ward. My hiring is part of the response to it. It Ends Here. It Ends Now. Get in the way, and your career does too."
She then slid thru the futile effort to block that the admittedly strong desk sergeant made. It's just that strength didn't faze her much as a tennaged living guy, much less as she was now! "I'll catch up with you over lunch, okay, Hiroshi? I'm gonna be busy for a bit!" She kept her usual sex-goddess slink to a minimum from repect for Hiroshi, then went back to Full Deadly Tease on the gals she passed once out of her former classmate's sight. I caused him enough hormonal fits in high school! was about all she could think for a bit. Then she settled down and got directions from a blushing cutie. Mutsumi, eh? Thought Ranma, as she kept her interest from physically showing by a effort of will. I may just have to check that scene out.. later. She entered Capt. Torin's office and came to attention. As she did, an aide left, doubtless having relayed the incident at the Reception desk. That was proven admirably by Capt. Torin's choice of words.
The stocky, but in no way figure of the Captain reminded Ranma of Genma, although his eyes showed far FAR greater integrity and intellectual drive, as he sighed. "Saotome. Already you pick a argument. Still, it was a proper one, and one you handled with a LOT more.. aplomb then I was led to expect from your files before you left the country. You really ARE that Ranma my younger officers from Furinkin rave over, aren't you?"
The somewhat taller and far curvier redhead raised a eyebrow. "Actually, yes. I wasn't certain that the police of the time even knew their asses from their elbows, let alone ammassed decent files.. no offense." She meant it too, which was why the Captain of the squad didn't blow a fuse. He even chuckled as he confessed "My predecessor? He didn't. Still doesn't, given the non-reports we keep gettuing from Juuban where he transferred to. But i think you aren't quite aware of how thoroughly those records and investigations were quashed. Seems that the Kuno have connections in the Zaibatsu--" He didn't even bother to finish the sentence. Ranma growled in response, as the rich getting away with murder was old hat to him, and frankly something of a sore point. "Yes, like that. I'll admit, the records you had sent ahead are excellent, but why Female? I mean, i don't know if i believe in curses, but if it's real, then why?"
Ranma smiled a bit. NOT showing the fangs yet, mind you. "Because the stupid thing's locked, this time forever. I'm adjusting though. Besides, that's not all you got from my previous job you find hard to believe, now is it?" She settled back against the wall, as the Captain thought about, shuddered, then sighed.
"It's more like I don't want to believe it, Saotome. I'll be blunt, I know that these forces are real. I've even got a report from a Psychic the Dept. uses from time to time, passed down from a source she'll only name as Miyu. Says you're about the best thing to happen in terms of the police taking a stand against critters most unearthly. Thing is, when you step beyond human limitations, things get.. ugh. I believe your prior experience..?" He shrugged helplessly, and Ranma sighed in turn, with a sad smile all her own.
"Count your blessings, Captain Torin. You at least haven't had to kick yourself for losing track of that which is beyond the norm until you were literally dying. I'm okay with it--now--but overall, I hope you'll understand my wish you never have to get to where I stand on these matters." This time, the fangs showed.. until Ranma made them settle back into her jaw mostly. After that it just looked like a Hibiki smile. "Look, all I need is a rationale to be out at night for the most part and Police powers. The higher powers are going to be reserved for fullblown operations like dealing with a demon assault or the like. ..I *will* need blood as well. Prefeably a pint every other night or so, more often if I have to crank it to 11 or higher, as it were."
The Captain said "I'm your contact, but your supplies are already accounted for. when you set up your living quarters, they have the fridge all stocked and ready to install, along with a encrypted cellphone hookup--just in case." He stood and stepped over to Ranma, bowing a bit in respect--a odd move for one's superior. "Welcome to the Nerima Police force. Oh.. you think you can maybe do something about those martial artist maniacs while your here?"
As Ranma sweatdropped and thought Oh My GOD!! WHY did I not see this one coming?..
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(Posted Wed, 13 Oct 2004 21:07)
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