"That not name," said the girl in the leather and fur bikini. "Am Akani Of Cloud Dragon Clan. Come from Argonnessen. Am good tracker and scout. You pay tavern bill, Akani join up with you. Is good deal, yes?"
Ranma got his heart rate back under control. Akane wasn't that tanned - as if she spent long hours in the sun. Akane had some baby fat remaining on her, helping her cuteness factor. Akani was not only tanned as if she had spent long hours in the sun, she had darn little body fat. She managed to look feminine-slender, but had a wiry muscular development that showed even as she fidgeted in place.
Akane also, as far as Ranma knew, would never ever ever be caught in public in an outfit like that. Or TATTOOS.
"Why for you stare like that?" asked Akani. "You never see shaman from Argonnessen before?"
"Nope, never have," admitted Ranma as soon as his mouth got working again.
"It was my understanding that Argonnessen was a closed society, and that the tribes there rarely left that land," said Tao, his face lacking in moving parts that could display emotion - so his voice merely sounded speculative.
"Is so," admitted Akani. "So - can pay or not?"
"You handle it, Tao," said Ranma, his eye drawn again to those tattoos of some dragon winding its way along her right arm. Nope, he sure couldn't picture Akane Tendo having one of those.
Akani was actually a little put off. This guy wouldn't even stare at her breasts. Oh, wait a minute. He was one of those 'monk' types - self-discipline or some such thing. How unnatural - but then civilization was like that.
"What's this 'Argon' place?" asked Ranma of Tao, who'd been a good tour guide so far.
"Argonnessen, the land of dragons, guarded by fierce barbarian tribes. Few venture there, and fewer return," said Tao. "Akani's tattoo indicates her tribe has a totem dragon that serves as her patron."
"Is so," said Akani. "You know much."
"I get around," admitted Tao. He knew one of his 'brothers' who'd decided to try the barbarian warrior route. It hadn't sounded like his style though. "It doesn't explain why a barbarian from a tribe in that far off land is in Sharn seeking passage to Xen'drik or has a bar tab picked up."
"Akani need eat and drink, so run up bar tab, no hunting in Sharn - money ran out," explained the barbarian. "Get kinda hungry. You come - pay bill?"
"One thing, if I may, Master Ranma?" asked Tao.
Ranma nodded. "Yeah. Go ahead. Why is a gal from so far away here in Sharn, eh?"
"Is private," hedged Akani.
"We need to know before you're put on our roster, just so we know you aren't some murderess going to get us in trouble with the local guard," pointed out Tao.
Akani sighed. "Okay. Akani okay hunter. Okay tracker. Speak much with spirits. Just not good... make cook."
Ranma stiffened at this further resemblence.
"Then father get stupid head idea," complained Akani. "Make marriage arrangement son of chief of Swamp Dragon tribe. STUPIDHEAD!"
"So you're fleeing a marriage arrangement," said Tao.
"Is so," said Akani. "No can stand stupid Hedawacki. So Akani leave. Is better than make nookie-nookie with man all talk and no stick."
"Huh?" asked Ranma.
"Akani no understand monk lifestyle," admitted Akani. "Not know how explain."
"A barbarian's skills in surviving the wilderness and hand-to-hand fighting could be useful, Sensei," said Tao, looking to Ranma.
"Ah," said Ranma, coming to a decision.
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(Posted Sat, 05 Mar 2005 23:39)
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