Katsuhito had trained his grandson extensively combat. As the primary enemies/rivals of Japan were the Amazons of China, a portion of that training had dealt specifically with how to subdue a strong warrior-woman who might have unusual powers. Natsume’s garden, filled with devices for restraining supernatural beings, was a battleground made for such techniques. Tenchi scrambled to his feet, still surrounded by a swarm of red lights, as Ryoko looked inward. “It was dark and cold in there,” she said, hugging herself for warmth against the remembered cold. Tenchi picked the equipment that provided the best chances of getting her into the restraints and the best chance of actually holding her. “More than 700 years have passed since I was trapped in that cave,” she said with her eyes closed, lost in her pain for the moment.
The pain in her voice was raw and tangible, urging Tenchi to take her in his arms and offer comfort. However, he also remembered another piece of advice from his grandfather for dealing with Amazons. “Offer kindness after you have secured safety for those you protect. It is very difficult to be kind when you’ve been gutted or beaten senseless.” Tenchi figured this also applied to legendary demons. Right now he was primarily protecting himself, but there were others in the house to worry about as well. He edged around to put Ryoko in front of him and his chosen device behind him as she continued speaking. “You’ll never know…” her eyes opened and she took a step towards Tenchi, “how much pain I had to suffer.”
Tenchi didn’t want to do this if he didn’t have to. Both his father and grandfather had worked hard to instill a desire to help women in distress. His grandfather had also used the help of his slaves and tales of Amazons to drive home that women could be very dangerous. Tenchi didn’t have to fake nervousness regarding this woman as he retreated. “And why are you here now?” he asked. “For revenge!” she cried joyfully as she rushed forward. Glowing lights began to gather in her hands. That decided things for Tenchi.
Tenchi’s chosen device was a massive wooden X leaning back at an angle on equally heavy supports. The chains were thick and he hoped the runes engraved in the wood and metal would deal with any special surprises she had. He leaped between the upper arms of the X and swung from one of the heavy shackles. He almost let go to run as a sword of red light appeared in the hand she held overhead, but as she followed and reached for him with the other hand, he snapped the shackle closed around her wrist. He ran around the side of the frame as she screamed in outrage and hovered in the air. As she brought the sword in her other hand towards the chain, the runes on the fastened shackle and portions of the wooden frame began to glow with the same sort of light. The sword flickered out of existence before it reached the chain. Tenchi crouched by the arm farthest from Ryoko’s secured wrist and feinted a lunge at her. He had been hoping she would kick at him so he could get at her ankle, but instead she floated higher, hanging upside down as the shackle tethered her like a balloon. The runes in the shackle shifted to a soft white light and she became a balloon with a slow leak, drifting downward. Tenchi lunged for real this time and received a kick that plowed him into the sand surrounding the frame.
Ryoko stood on the frame and pulled on the chain with both hands as the frame groaned and popped. Tenchi pulled himself from the sand and ran around to that side of the frame. She watched him with caution as he crouched, then leapt at her. He caught hold of her free arm as she tried to fend him off with it and used all the weight and momentum of his body to force that arm toward the chain hanging on the other side. Despite his mass and the speed of his leap, Ryoko halted her arm with Tenchi hanging off it and started to bring it back. She probably would have thrown him across the garden, but her arm had gone just far enough for Tenchi to grab the shackle he had been aiming for and snap it in place. He dropped to the ground and managed to snag an ankle as well while she screamed and struggled with the wrist restraints.
Tenchi circled warily towards the last open fetter. Ryoko was wary as well, keeping her last free limb pulled up and well away from the restraint waiting for it. She kicked at Tenchi as he approached, but was careful not to kick downward towards the chain. Then she brought her foot up and slammed it into the surface of the frame. Tenchi watched as the entire frame shuddered and shifted slightly. She did it again and again, but runes in all three cuffs were glowing, along with most of the frame, and each kick came with less force than the one before. Tenchi waited until it looked like her strength was down to something that he had a hope of dealing with then dived forward. He had misgauged her remaining strength slightly and was slammed into the frame a couple of times before he wrestled her leg down and secured it.
He lay panting on the ground, pleased with his victory and starting to feel the injuries, as the demon growled, roared, and rattled its chains. Then he rolled away as lightning began arcing over her body. A grazing hit left his leg numb briefly and he had to crawl for the last few feet of needed distance. She rose again, pulling against the chains and being pulled into a bow by those chains. An animal howl came from the back of Ryoko’s throat as both she and the frame holding her blazed in the afternoon sunlight. And then she fell back and slumped downward, only held up by the chains on her wrists. Wisps of smoke drifted around her. Tenchi stood, clapped twice, and gave thanks for Natsume-sensei really knowing how to build them.
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(Posted Fri, 01 Oct 2004 18:29)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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