“You look tired, Yashida-san.”
Shiro turned from the custom workstation he’d had installed after taking on this assignment, and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Xavier made this look easy, Kasumi-san.” He looked at the tea tray offered, and accepted a cup. “Thank you. You know, you should have the servants take care of things like this.”
Kasumi giggled softly. “Sorry, Yashida-san; old habits die hard. Besides, Mutsumi-chan said you needed it.”
Shiro rubbed his eyes. “More than you know.” He took a sip fo the tea, and smiled; his best servants couldn’t come close to this taste. “Excellent tea. If I’d known you could make tea like this, I would have sought your services back then rather than cut a deal.”
Kasumi tilted her head to the side. “You aren’t still bitter about that, are you?”
Shiro chuckled. “No, Kasumi-san. A good businessman knows how to get the best value out of something. Helping people like yourself, Nabiki, and Ranma... the likely value of that will be far more to me in the long run than any business venture in Nerima.” His smile faded. “Especially considering what we may be up against.”
Kasumi nodded. “I’ve studied the files on Sinister-san... but why do I sense that there’s more to your words than him?”
Shiro pursed his lips, and exhaled strongly through his nose. “Sinister is only one of several possible threats Japan - and the world - faces.” He pushed a button; instantly, a half-dozen faces popped up. “Our ideology has rivals. Sinister you know about. Magneto believes that mutancy must rule over humanity, that peaceful coexistence is impossible. Apocalypse is the embodiment of ‘survival of the fittest’; he believes in a kill-or-be-killed philosophy - convenient, considering he’s immortal.” He drummed his fingers against the desk. “Besides those major threats, a number of secondary threats to our culture and way of life are out there, ranging from a slowly-rising anti-mutant movement to startup megalomaniacs to kids who just can’t take being different.” He took another sip of tea, then set the cup and saucer down. “Besides this, we have to help a dozen young men and women with the fact that they aren’t exactly who they thought they were, and are in danger of going to the other side because of it.” He shook his head. “This job isn’t easy, Kasumi-san. Not easy at all.”
A small red dot began flashing on one of the screens; in a heartbeat, Shiro pushed a button. Pictures and reports began to come in of a massacre; he heard the gasp behind him, and the small clink of a tray being set down. He scrolled through the information, caught the basics of it, and sighed.
“Twenty-two dead. No survivors. It would seem that Ranma’s past doesn’t quite want to let go.” He turned back to Kasumi, who held a hand over her mouth in horror. “Kasumi-san, you know these two better than anyone - except perhaps Ranma. What do you think we should do?”
Kasumi shuddered for a moment, then smoothed out her skirt; her hands trembled slightly with the movement. “Well... first of all, could you please call my family and tell them to go on a vacation for a little while?”
Shiro nodded as he typed in commands. “I can do better than that. I can get protection for them within ten minutes, safe transportation out of the house within thirty, and a flight out of the country within two hours. That should alleviate that problem. What else?”
Kasumi thought about it for a moment. “The more I think about this, the more I wonder if we’ve been handling it the wrong way. All our negotiations have been with Shampoo or Cologne.” She smiled demurely. “Perhaps a lesson in negotiation from Admiral Perry is applicable here.”
Shiro smiled at the reference. “You’re suggesting we go back to their village to negotiate - with our mutant powers as our gunboats.”
Kasumi nodded. “I find it difficult to believe that the entire village is as dogmatic as Cologne. Perhaps we can get the village to pressure Cologne to relent.”
Shiro frowned. “And if not?”
Kasumi sighed. “Then we state to them the consequences if any of our children are harmed. Even without an official agreement, it will give them much to think about.”
Shiro sat back for a minute, then nodded. “Understood.” He sat back. “I’m thinking we should send some of the mutant faculty - specifically you, me, Readman, and Fujisawa - on this trip for face-to-face negotiations. As for the students... Mutsumi, Nabiki, and Ranma would be valuable in negotiations assistance, and Fuujin and Millia can help protect them in case something goes wrong. Fortunately, none of the students need to leave the plane to help in that regard. Lain and Shinobu can monitor events from here, just in case things get out of hand and the Americans need to be called. It'll be a good beginning exercise in teamwork - and, if all goes as planned, it'll be a peaceful example of how to use our abilities to solve problems.” He turned toward her. “Do you see anything wrong?”
Kasumi thought about it for a moment. “How well can the jet handle ki discharges?”
Shiro blinked. He hadn’t quite thought of that possibility...
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(Posted Sat, 14 Dec 2002 06:41)
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