Kumori Mizuno considered the request of young Usagi. She had to put it aside for work, but took the idea up again periodically in the day as her schedule allowed.
The idea of fixing Ami up with a fiance had some merit actually. She would have preferred a physician, scientist, or someone similarly gifted in either the intellectual or artistic pursuits. A martial artist seemed rather brutal and an ill match, at least at first.
The Service, which was short for the governmental branch dealing with slaves but more often referred to as the Service or the Guild, got back in touch with her around five hours later.
Hiroyuki, who turned out to be a freeman in the Advocacy sub-branch, informed her of the legal tangle. It could go in a number of ways, he told her in Legalese hedging, but there had been a case some years ago establishing a precedent. If the doctor contacted Ranma's father and arranged an omiai - then Ami would indeed be able to meet with her friends more freely and would be considered the Mistress over the slavegirls. Ranma would naturally have more authority and responsibility as regarded the three, but it was felt that the Master could play chaperone over the group of friends.
The possibility of Ami joining the three as a slave was also brought up. While it was seen as the loss of a promising young student, the advocate pointed out that there really was nothing keeping her from becoming a doctor - there were even scholarships specifically available for those who were slaves themselves such as the Weingard Foundation's program. She would, if successful, merely go from being a full-use to professional grade and eventually buy out her freedom if she so chose.
That gave more fuel for the fire, more data to crunch as Ami's mother tried to figure out the angles of what was clearly an important decision. Ami had already endangered her status twice now, and if she committed a third foul might take the decision from her mother's hands entirely.
In which case, if they didn't automatically place Ami with her friends, the doctor might well use her own money and connections to ensure it happened.
The informtion broker's package arrived near the end of the day and contained two folders. The one on Ranma was brief. Uninspired scholastic record, a tendency to speak first and regret later, but a fair amount of talent in his chosen Art. The folder on Genma was thicker and much complimentary, though the love of the Art was seen repeatedly.
The tournaments that Ranma had won seemed to indicate that he did have a fair amount of skill in his chosen profession, and apparently he was registered in the Nerima Big Brawl. Doctor Mizuno checked her calendar and found that while she was on-call, she had that day off. Good enough, she'd at least watch and if she had a chance would talk to this Ranma personally.
Genma sparred with Ranma. At first the attacks and defenses were rudimentry, Ranma's exhaustion slowly giving way to full wakefulness. Genma not sure how the slaves might have worn Ranma out, and he needed to judge Ranma's combat potential for the tournament.
Then they got more serious.
"Whoa," said Usagi from where she watched.
"Damn," said Makoto with some feeling.
"This stuff isn't getting done on its own," pointed out Rei as she tried to straighten out the camp. "Oh my."
"How are they staying up in the air that long?" asked Usagi.
"Optical illusion?" asked Rei. She noticed the shiny look in Makoto's eyes. "You want to learn to do that, Mako-chan?"
"More than you can possibly imagine," said Makoto as she tried to drink in every detail of the fight.
Combinations were exchanged. A series of kicks chained into nearly boneless evasive manuevers which were replaced by a complicated set of blocks and punches and counterpunches.
Genma might have been married, in another world, and old, but having a rapt audience of the female variety made him pull out some flashier moves.
Ranma figured that this was because of the tournament, and that his father wanted him to look especially impressive and skilled. He was also quite aware of the three girls watching him and looking good was DEFINITELY a consideration.
That only lasted long enough for Genma to land the first real contact. After that all thoughts about the audience was gone as Ranma sought to beat his father to a pulp and said father tried to teach his stupid son a lesson.
Well mostly. They still wanted to look good while doing it.
Minako tried. Really she did.
She couldn't help it. Late for class. Fell asleep in first period. Chalk bouncing off her head when her attention wandered in second period.
She could practically hear the click of a collar around her neck.
There was only one thing to do - and as soon as she could figure out what it was she was doing it!
If only she knew what was going on with Usagi and the others.
"Did you hear what happened to Usagi Tsukino?"
"She went to the Center for processing as a slave didn't she?"
"Yeah, but take a look at what her Master looks like."
Minako stopped. Naru Osaka and Umino?
"WHOA!" said Naru, staring at a photograph. "How did you get this?"
Slowly Minako edged closer and closer to the two.
"You know Chitose in group 5? She's a slave, limited-use, of some guy connected with the Center. She was keeping track of Usagi and Makoto because they came from our school." Umino did his best Gendo Ikari imitation. Which wasn't very good as one might imagine.
Minako peeked over Naru's shoulder now that she'd manuevered into position. Her eyes got wide and her jaw dropped as she saw the photo.
"So who is he?" asked Naru, making sure the photo was held so that Minako could see. Why did she have a furoshiki tied thief-style on her head anyway?
"Ranma Saotome," said Umino, flipping open a notebook. "First time owner. Supposed to be really good at some kind of martial arts thing. He's entered in the Nerima Big Brawl."
"What?! Didn't he read the rules?!" Naru asked.
"What's the Nerima Big Brawl?" asked Minako.
"The Nerima Big Brawl is a BIG event," explained Naru. "They've been hyping it for months, gotten special permission from the Center and government. One of the prizes is 'slave pick' - where the winner can choose one individual from a lower rank and take them as a slave! That was originally supposed to be the slave of someone at least two ranks lower, but the wording got messed up in one of the edits and they got stuck with it as is."
Minako twitched.
"So Usagi could end up with some old martial arts sensei as her owner if this Ranma guy does poorly in the contest and she gets chosen?" asked Umino. "Wow. Her bad luck keeps going."
Three heads nodded.
"Hey, you want to go visit after school? Chitose got the address?" said Umino, ignoring the way Minako was scribbling things down.
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(Posted Tue, 05 Oct 2004 08:47)
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