The cashier eyed the goods while checking a reference book he had out. He was appraising the goods based on the various critique value of the wares.
Ranma smiled as the owner held up the large gold necklace with the ‘Divine Left Eye’ Design, definitely of the ‘Bastet’ region of Rubé . “That one has GOT to be at least two-thousand gold,” Ranma thought in glee. A lot of towns he’d try to pawn it off on just balked and pushed it back at him.
The cashier looked at the item nonchalantly before stating, “One-thousand GP”
“What?” Ranma gasped out. “That has a HUGE FUCKING RUBY in it! The jewel alone is nearly a thousand gold pieces!”
The Relic store-owner nodded his head for a moment. “Okay, how about one-thousand and two hundred GP? And I’m being generous.”
Ranma groaned, but nodded his head. This WAS the first shop in five towns to actually want to accept it.
The store-owner smiled. “Now, let’s see what else you got...”
Ranma watched as the man pulled the large dagger out of the bag on the counter. The blade was sturdy steel, and an average simple hilt. But the scabbard for it was black lacquered wood with a platinum inlay for design.
“...Five hundred GP,” The man stated after a moment.
That wasn’t even HALF the value!
Ranma’s eyes widened. “Aw, come on! The Weapons Shop here sells regular daggers for that! And MINE is longer and of better quality!”
“Hey, five hundred gold pieces, mack...” The store-owner said seriously. “Take or leave it!”
The door to the Relic Shop opened and someone ended. “Sheesh, Ulric... Ripping off a customer again?”
The store-owner eep’d and visibly looked startled. “Uh, no!” Ulric shouted suddenly. “Of course I wasn’t! Honest!”
“Good, if you aren’t, then you should buy this stuff for the proper gold piece value, which is MUCH higher than what you listed.” The person was a woman, tall and wearing a waitress outfit with purplish black hair.
“Uh sure, I’ll re-appraise the wares...” The cashier started to recheck his books for real this time on the proper prices.
Turning around, Ranma looked to see who could have such an effect on such a cheap fucking prick. He looked over the waitress outfit and smiled. “On break from work?”
“Mmmhmm, plus I came to get something I ordered...” The woman looked seriously at the store-owner. “You have it in, Ulric?”
“Its in the back, Luna,” The man said before grumbling lowly to himself about someone getting goods for cheap.
Ranma blinked his eyes. Luna? Luna, Luna... Where did he hear that name before?
And then it hit him.
“Your name wouldn’t happen to be ‘Luna Inverse’, would it?” Ranma asked as subtly as he could... Which was outright asking!
Luna smirked. “I would be, Ranma Saotome... So is my li’l sis causing you any trouble yet?” She asked as if she already knew the question.
Ranma blinked his eyes. “You KNOW me?”
“I happen to be good friends with your Parents, and an even better one of your benefactor,” Luna said very seriously.
Ranma nodded his head. “So you know the Oz Witch?” He smirked. “Didn’t know she had any friends outside of her cronies.”
“Oh she has more than you think, Cockbite.” Luna smirked.
Ranma blinked his eyes. “Well, I AM Surprised.”
Luna chuckled. “So, Wild Stallion... What brings you to this place? I’d thought for sure Lina would have whined and bitched for everyone to go to the next town or camp out.”
“Oh, she did... But the Crypt were going to is practically right outside the city. So it made sense to go here.” Grinning, Ranma added. “And yeah, she did bitch and moan anyway.”
Luna laughed. “Figures...” She then blinked her eyes as she realized where Ranma said his destination was. “Wait... Crypt outside the city?” She looked at him, surprised. “You’re going THERE!?”
Ranma nodded his head. “What about it?”
“...I’m just wondering why you would go to such a Holy and sacred place,” She said in honest surprise.
At the woman’s reaction, Ranma blinked his eyes. He then honestly answered the Knight of Cepheid, “Because we need cash, and the Prophet of Oz wanted us to go there to get her something.”
Luna’s unseen eyes blazed for a moment. “You will NOT loot that place!” She snarled as if he committed the gravest of sins. “And what does Dorothy need you to get from there that requires you and your band of merry morons to go into such a Holy place?”
“Um...” Ranma was stunned for a moment, but shook it off. Him, afraid of a woman? NEVER! “Well, she wanted us to get her a Crystal Orb with a ruby and an emerald in it,” The pigtailed monk answered with less conviction and bravado than he wanted.
The woman considered this for a moment. “...Okay, I can see why she wants that... But why would she send such greedy people into the Temple of the Matrix?”
Ranma blinked his eyes. “Temple of the Matrix? I thought it was a Crypt.”
“It is, but it’s also a temple...” Luna blinked her eyes. “...Wait a minute... Do you even know of the Temple?”
Ranma shook his head. “Neither did any of my teammates,” He said, hoping to shift blame off his own stupidity.
Luna groaned irritably. “...Great... Dorothy fucked up the vision... She must have told you of another temple’s layout... She’s obviously getting senile...”
Not sure what to make of that comment, Ranma just blinked his eyes. “Well... Is there a sort of treasure she wants in this Temple of the Matrix?”
“Yes, the Orb she told you of... But, well... Not here. Ulric I’ll pick up my parcel later and have this man’s money ready when we return!” Luna took Ranma’s arm and took him out of the building and into an ally.
“Woah!” Ranma gasped as he was pulled by a strength much greater than he expected from the woman. Looking around to make sure no one was around to listen besides Ranma, Luna told the pigtailed monk, “Listen here. The Temple of the Matrix is a temple... And a crypt... Because housed in it are the remains of the ancient Machine-Golems from the stars that aided the Three Legendary Heroes in the great wars eons ago... The Autobots. It’s full of traps, and has a few guardians. One in particular who will skewer you alive if he catches you running around...” Luna warned Ranma seriously. “Also there are ancient weapon defense systems that will cut you to ribbons if you are not careful to evade or disable them... That place was made so NOBODY save those who are privileged to it may enter... Intruders are dealt with harshly.”
Ranma nodded his head slowly, his face a blank page to that info. History was never his best subject...
Still, Ranma smirked cockily. “Well, we ain’t no ordinary intruders! We’re the best of the best!” He frowned and allowed, “Minus Gourry... Damn Jackalopes...”
Luna noticed the blank look and frowned. “You have no clue what I’m talking about, do you?”
Slowly, Ranma shook his head. “Nnnope...” The pigtailed monk then did a dramatic pose for effect. “But we ARE the best!”
Groaning, Luna face-palmed. “Ranma, the damn place was designed so Solid Snake would have trouble sneaking in! And he was the best at that!” She stared at Ranma seriously. “And you don’t have a fraction of Snakes skills in stealth.”
Still, Ranma smirked at Luna. “Well, I got a few tricks up my sleeve. And even better, I got friends!” And friends meant cannon-fodder!
Luna deadpanned, “It was designed with that in mind... The place is run by an automated computer with super genius intelligence and advanced military and tactical espionage data...”
Ranma frowned but seriously said. “Be that as it may, we’re still going!” Hey, he needed the cash. And if he wasn’t getting any pussy, he wanted to get some major loot!
“I know. I’m trying to warn you since Dorothy probably told you to be prepared for a different set of traps,” Luna sighed.
“Yeah...” Ranma sighed. “So you’re saying we won’t need to use those BC Potions, and STD Wards?”
“Yes. You won’t need them. No living organic beings exist in the crypt.” Luna said.
Ranma’s eyes widened. It was bad enough that there was going to be major danger, but now NO POSSIBLE chance of sex!? “WHAT!? I WON’T GET LAID!?”
“I doubt giant sentient machines can get laid, plus they’re all male in design and orientation.” Luna deadpanned again.
Ranma’s eyes widened further. “DAMN IT!”
“Gutterbrain... Listen, I’m trying to keep you and your team from dying.” Luna then stuck a hand into her shirt and dug around for something. “Oh, don’t tell me my shirt pocket ripped again and it fell in my cleavage...”
Ranma grinned and leaned forward to try and get a look at her cleavage.
*KER-SMACK*!
And Ranma became an imprint on the side of a building.
“Don’t even try, idiot!” Luna hissed as she took out the item she wanted.
“...Wow...” Ranma said from his indentation. “THAT was some strength behind that.” He said as he rubbed his jaw.
Luna took his hand and slammed a multi-colored jewel of red and purple into his hand. “Here! This should help you in the crypt.”
Tearing himself off of the wall, Ranma took a good look at the item Luna gave him. “What is it?”
“It’s a key of sorts... It won’t get you everywhere but it should make disabling traps and getting into some rooms easier.”
Ranma smiled. “THANKS!” He gave the woman a kiss on the cheek.
*KER-WHAMMO*!
And Ranma was back in the wall again. “...You don’t like me very much...”
Growling, Luna held up her shaking fist, a pulsing vein on it. “You need to keep your hands and lips to yourself, boy! I dislike womanizers like you...” She huffed. “Had a boyfriend like that and... Grrrr...”
Trying to pull himself free of the deeper indentation he was in this time, Ranma frowned. “Yeesh! And here I thought Lina was exaggerating...” His eyes widened. “You did? What happened?”
Luna grinned evilly. “Oh, I found out I wasn’t the only one he saw... So I... ‘Took care’ of him.” She chuckled rather menacingly. “I hope he finds Monster Island cozy.”
Ranma blinked his eyes. “What ‘Monster Island’?” He’d been to most of and heard of all the islands... But NOT that one.
“Ever heard of Gojira, or ‘Godzilla’ as some call him?” Luna asked. “That’s HIS home... And some of his pals.”
Ranma blinked his eyes yet again. “Didn’t know they had their own island...” He mumbled.
“To quote an annoying ass I know...” Luna grinned. “Sore wa himetsu desu.” She giggled.
“Stop stealing my lines!” Came a male voice from seemingly nowhere, yet everywhere.
“It’s too good to not use, baka!” Luna grinned.
Ranma blinked his eyes, having got out of the wall again. “This is TOO strange. And no wonder Lina ran away from home. She complains you hurt her often physically and verbally, and I think I can believe it.”
“Yeah, we roughed each other up... Only I was rougher.” Luna chuckled.
Ranma frowned. “According to Lina, she never roughed you up. If anything, you totally ruined her childhood.” He shook his head. “Why am I even telling you this?” He started walking out of the alley.
“I wasn’t trying to be a total bitch. My doing that had some reason... And it was also orders from Cepheid,” Luna said.
Ranma stopped, but did not turn back to look at Luna. “And people wonder why I’m mostly an Atheist.”
“Lina has a destiny and what I did was to make her self-reliant and strong.” Luna frowned a little. “Hate me if you will Saotome, but I do love my sister... I just have my path, and she hers.”
Ranma rolled her eyes. “Don’t give me that, ‘love her’ crap. My dad always said he loved me, and he made my life hell and worse.”
“While Genma was a bastard, he did love you... In his own warped way...” Luna said seriously. “You’re just too simple... Unless its in plain ’black and white’, it escapes you Ranma... Look beyond the picture and words.”
“Oh, he loved me all right...” Ranma growled. “Loved me as a meal ticket. And you only loved to beat her down.” He turned to Luna, rage in his eyes; a passionate fire of all monk’s ready for battle. “So the reason he threw me to the Neko-Ken was because he loved me? Because he loved me is why he got me engaged to so many fucking plain-ass, prude girls so he could fill his stomach? And because he oh-so loved me, he made my childhood a total fucking living hell with constant training, barely any food, and no friends! Oh yes, he must love me the most!” Ranma spat out hatefully, and still looked at Luna. “And you must certainly love Lina. Making her deathly afraid of Slime Slugs, getting her expelled from Magic for five years because of what you did and let her take the blame for it. Picking on and beating on her constantly. And when she doesn’t want to be with you, you blame it on your god. Oh yeah, you must certainly love her!”
And even then, Luna just smirked. “I admire your compassion and conviction... But like I said, you’re not seeing the whole picture... But I will concede that Genma and I fucked up on some things. That I will give you.”
Ranma rolled his eyes. “A ‘few’? Try the whole fucking relationship. Lina is deathly afraid of you. We had to tie her up and drag her here for crying out loud! And frankly, after the brute strength and the slight intimidation factor you‘ve been passing off onto me, I can understand why. I do thank you for helping me get the cash from that cheapass, but what's been going on here... It ain’t seeming to be worth it.”
“Ranma, Ranma...” Luna shook her head and cupped his cheek. ”Tell me... Have you ever read the book of Fate by Kismet?”
Ranma shook his head seriously. “No.”
“Well, in the book Kismet wrote that ‘In life, things happen for a reason. For good or ill... It’s up to us to interpret the meanings... And if we understand them’. In short, right now things are not clear but trust me... Your answers will be found. It’s up to you if they come fast... Or take forever.”
Stepping back from Luna so her hand fell from his cheek, Ranma crossed his arms over his chest, still pretty unconvinced.
Ignoring how Ranma was being an adamant asshole, she continued. “Take your meeting Dorothy... Church... Britanny and the others... Wouldn’t that be considered a twist of ironic fate?” Luna asked him. “There’s a reason you all came to be in the same party... The same reasons your pasts were harsh or weird in some way... Trust me. It all has a reason and purpose.”
Ranma rolled his eyes. “Why do I get the feeling you’re trying to feed me bullshit like Pops used to?”
Luna smirked. “Call it ‘bullshit’ if you will...”
“And I do,” Ranma said seriously. He then turned from her and started walking away. “What can I say? If you hurt me more than once, I ain’t gonna stick around.” He waved a finger at her. “And you hurt me twice physically in the span of three minutes.”
“Yes but you were acting like a pervert,” Luna deadpanned.
Ranma face-faulted to the ground. Crap! He had to give her that one...
Luna sighed, shaking her head. “You’re still a child... Only simplicity catches your gaze... And only is it simplicity your mind can grasp... When you want to know the truth, come seek me out.” With that Luna just... Vanished.
Ranma shook his head and mumbled, “What a cock-tease.”
“You are an idiot, aren’t you?” Came a familiar voice in his head. “And by the way... Sorry I screwed up on my reading...”
Ranma frowned. “Damn it, Dorothy! You owe me some action!” He growled. “You promised lots of booty, and instead it’ll be near-death and traps to get you that damn treasure you want.”
“I know, I know cockbite... Would it help I foresee much nookie in your very near future? And I don’t mean your werecat cunt either.”
Ranma grinned. “Well, THAT is good...” He said seriously.
“And there will be booty to be had as well... But as to how that happens... Sore wa himetsu desu...” Dorothy giggled.
Ranma rolled his eyes and groaned. “You’re all out against me!”
“No moron, you’re just a simpleton who can’t see past a pussy to fuck and the nearest sack of gold and gems.”
Ranma nodded his head. “I do like those things...” He then frowned. “But what’s so wrong with them?”
“That they’re ALL you see, Saotome... That’s all you ever see... Every small hint or subtle glimpse of the big picture or your destiny escapes you...Nno wonder I was asked to help you.”
Ranma blinked his eyes. “What is this about a big picture? If it’s there than why doesn’t anyone just tell me what I’m supposed to do, huh?”
“If you can’t see it for yourself Ranma... Or have an inkling of what’s going on... Then you've failed.”
Ranma frowned. “Damn it. So far, all I’ve done is go on quests for you, get booty... And on average, keep going back to Brit for nookie.”
“Ranma, you never send a hero on a quest without training, not unless you want him to get wasted by a mere Jackalope... As I said, keep your mind open past booty and pussy and your brain will begin to assemble the pieces.”
Ranma nodded his head slowly to that. He certainly didn’t want to die because of a Jackalope like Gourry did. That was just plain embarrassing!
“Ranma I think after you visit the Temple of the Matrix... Things will start to become clear...”
“I hope so,” Ranma grumbled. “This’s just getting too confusing...”
“That’s because you’re not focusing seriously on anything anyone says that isn’t about sex or money... Oh, and Ranma.”
“Yeah?” Ranma asked of the Prophet.
“More than half your memories of Genma mistreating you were falsified so you’d resent him on purpose... Same with some of Lina’s memories of Luna... And some of the stories are exaggerated... Like they say look deeper between the lines, boy.”
And as usual Dorothy left after her cryptic spiel was said.
Ranma blinked his eyes. “Falsified memories?” He was confused. “Why would someone falsify our memories? And WHO would do such a thing...”
“Just go to the damn temple, Cockbite! You’ll get some answers!” Dorothy yelled before cutting off again.
Ranma blinked his eyes. “Yeesh! She didn’t have to be so bitchy at the end.” He wondered for a moment, “Maybe it’s that time of the month?”
(------)
While Ranma contemplated up on a roof, Luna watched him and sighed. “They’re doomed... Aren’t they Xellos?” She asked, knowing he was behind her even though he totally wasn’t.
“Not necessarily... They could just be in for an ass-kicking...” Answered the male voice.
Again, Luna sighed. “You know, he was right the stuff I DID do to Lina that wasn’t fabrication in her head... I was pretty mean, even if it was under orders for some of it.”
“The key-word being ‘some’.” Xellos chuckled. “You have to admit, the fear you made her hold for you was absolutely delicious for my kind.”
Luna grumbled. “Yeah, yeah... Push the knife in deeper. I didn’t totally enjoy making my sister fear me, and ‘Genma’ sure as hell didn’t like pretending to be a fat-balding idiot... I swear, you’d think he would have chosen a pretty disguise...”
“On the contrary, ‘Genma’ loved his role.” Xellos said. “It was simply amazing how easily he got into it.”
Lowering her head at that answer, Luna face-palmed. “I think living so long has partially warped his mind... That or it could be some of the sadistic side of his ‘Father’s’ genes finally kicking in.”
Xellos chuckled. “Maybe, maybe...”
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(Posted Sat, 16 Apr 2005 01:55)
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