Okay, he'd managed to survive Beryl's punishment and instead of being withered and frozen in crystal, she'd stripped him of much of his power and sold him.
The Dark Kingdom could use cash as well as energy.
Of course, Beryl had had a few chuckles - with Zoicite coming up with suggestions on the fly. Which explained how Jedite was now Jadeite - instead of a bishonen sort of Dark General in a spiffy Dark General uniform...
Clenching a fist and snarling, Jadeite caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror and shuddered at the image.
She was six feet tall, and had breasts that were unnaturally firm and full. Every detail of her new form had been developed to twist the knife and get a really good price on the block. From her dainty (relatively) feet and long lithe legs to the thick mane of blonde curls that extended from the top of her head to nearly her ankles - to the compulsions and behavioral modifications - she had been put in the worst hell she could imagine. Being withered and bound in crystal would have been preferable!
However, the Nerima Big Brawl was something she was going to enter, and she was going to WIN her freedom damn it!
"Something wrong, Jadeite?" asked the aged master, glancing at his slave.
"No, nothing, Master-sama," said Jadeite in her default "cute" voice. "Jadeite so happy Master-sama give permission to little Jadeite."
"Well, it is your day off," said the master. "Maybe you'll get that out of your system at least."
Jadeite growled within the cage of her mind. The compulsory cute was bad enough, but now her eyes caught sight of something else. Now she could really get into her role!
Zoicite smirked at the image of 'Jadeite' over there. You could see it in the twitching and the look of hatred in her eyes. This would make an unexpected bonus in the energy harvest to be taken here.
"Zoicite-sama," said a soft voice.
Zoicite regarded his "tout" - a professional slave whose job was sort of a combination of courier and general flunky. A difference between a typical tout and, for example, a skilled butler was the term of service (butlers were by contract) and that touts were typically eunuchs. On finding the plump flunky, Zoicite had been initially amused by the concept and had planned on simply buying the convict-slave and then eventually draining the energy from him. To Zoicite's great surprise, he'd found the tout nearly indispensible thereafter. If he needed something, the tout was quickly there with it or would find out where it was and how to get it. On finding out that teenage girls were the main opponent, and energy harvesting was the main goal at the moment - the tout had come up with a plan that had staggered Zoicite with its effectiveness.
Which was why brutal sports stadiums were now something of great interest to the Dark Kingdom, after the success of their energy-draining porn films, they needed to branch out some.
So when his tout cleared his throat and addressed him, however deferentially, Zoicite listened to his slave.
"You may speak, Reiji."
The tout inclined his head. "Thank you, Master. I have gone over the records and there are many opportunities here before you. Many very highly placed individuals with a great deal of energy will be competing. An idea on how to gather energy unnoticed has occurred to your humble slave, if he might suggest it."
Zoicite listened and smiled. Bets were being exchanged? Certain people were being favored. Take energy from a few specific individuals, enough that they'd lose to a credible threat, and they'd simply have had a bad day or a touch of some illness. In the meantime, bet on someone who wouldn't get drained and was that credible threat - not only would they gain energy but money for the Dark Kingdom.
"Who should we bet on then?" Zoicite asked.
"This Ranma Saotome is a fan favorite, young wandering boy martial artist type, looks good on camera," said Reiji. "You can always drain him later, after this tournament and you bet against him."
Zoicite's smile increased. Reiji was delightfully sneaky and underhanded. "You have my permission to do so, however my yoma-soldiers will be doing their best."
Reiji looked over the buxom young women, knowing what they were. "Stacked young women in combat, always a good draw."
Zoicite nodded. Beneath his own standards, but then this WAS bread and circuses.
Nerima Big Brawl was still a few days away. That meant remaining in the area as the various fighters arrived.
The more well-to-do got rooms at hotels and the like, or else they'd be flying in on the day of the tournament itself. Famous fighters, people with major reputations, mamluk-yojimbo who were between contracts - they were arriving daily.
Genma knew the drill and pitched a tent quickly about an hour's walk and a short train trip from the arena. More inexperienced people would get closer, but then there were problems with water and sewage and other things that occurred when you crammed people in too tight.
Ranma looked over the few supplies they had and quickly set Makoto to seeing what she could do with the foodstuffs, though she'd have to stretch it out for three days.
Soon enough, the odors from the cookpot decided him that at least one of the purchases had been a wise one.
Genma considered the odors himself and nodded approvingly. Cup ramen, instant miso paste, a few dried herbs. Something that could be simmered and reboiled without much waste. One out of three.
"Ouch!" Rei said, waving her fingers. "I'm trying to patch these clothes but..."
Genma raised an eyebrow. That could be useful too. If she could embroider - all the better. Hmmm. "Son. You need some time before it gets too crowded here. I'll be gone most of the night."
"Huh?" asked Ranma, not immediately understanding.
Three girls turned beet red though, knowing exactly what their Master's father was saying.
Genma nodded. He wanted his son to do really well at that tournament, so giving him tonight to get those frustrations off his plate and then they could start some intense training tomorrow. Especially as things were going to get dicey if he didn't win something.
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(Posted Mon, 06 Sep 2004 09:59)
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