"Call me Mamoru? What's your name, pigtail-head?"
Ranma frowned. "I'm Ranma!"
Mamoru grinned. "Well, nice to meet you then, Ranma! Just arrived in Tokyo, eh? Welcome!"
"But why did you help me in the first place?"
"Let's say the cops and I aren't really close friends. I saw that you were in trouble, so I thought, hey, why not help her!"
"Is the police looking for you? What did you do?"
Mamoru leaned back against the wall. "Nothing, really! I just want to be free. I guess that's not allowed in this country."
"But... do you live here?"
"Here, there... My home is where I want. But I like the airport. Many people and many places where I can get what I want."
"Do you work here?"
"Well, not really. But I don't need to. You wouldn't believe what some people are willing to give to you if you just sob a little and play the role of a "poor, helpless boy with no home".
Ranma sighed. "You're a beggar, right?"
"Well, if I have to. Most of the time I can get everything I need by myself. Works just fine!"
Ranma instantly knew what he meant. "You're stealing?!"
"Hey, that's a harsh word. I like to see myself like some kind of modern Robin Hood: I take from the rich and give it to the poor."
"But most of the time, you're the poor guy, right?"
Mamoru shrugged. "Hey, it worked pretty good until now. And the cops will never catch me. They're mostly stupid goons, easily tricked. So, no problem!"
Something pulled on Ranma's pants. He looked down and saw Shampoo. She was making urgent moves with her head. Ranma knew what she meant: They had to hurry up.
"You know, it was nice and all, but I really have to go know! I have to find someone!"
"And who would this 'someone' be, if I may ask?"
"I'm looking for my... grandfather! I got a letter from... my mother in which she tells me to find him. There's also an address on the backside of the letter. There should be his house."
"And how did you plan to get there? Tokyo is pretty big, you know?"
"I dunno... I thought I could maybe catch a cab..."
"Whoa, a cab? Your mother must have given you pretty much money, eh? And where is this house?" Ranma showed him the address. "Whoa, that's in Juuban! That's almost on the other half of the world!"
"Aren't you exaggerating a little bit?"
"Well, maybe, but I still don't think you can find your grampa's house that easily if you've never been in Juuban before." He grinned. "But don't worry! I'm not letting a cute girl run around a strange city on her own... even if it's a pigtail-head like you. I think I'll help you find it."
Ranma sighed. "All right, if you insist..."
----
"So, this is the right street?"
"Now we only have to find the correct house."
It was the thirteenth house on the right side.
Mamoru scratched his head. "Well, I really don't know your grandfather, but I can say one thing: He lives in a pretty creepy house!"
After waiting half an hour to avoid unnecessary police contact, they had left the airport. They used the train for most of the way, although Ranma didn't like it a bit that Mamoru preferred not to pay for their short trip. But it worked out in the end and they managed to reach their destination just before sunset: The outskirts of Juuban, where Amnar's grandfather was supposed to live.
The house was standing on top of a small hill and was pretty big, but couldn't have more than two floors. It was an old house, built in an old European style, with a tapered roof. It was surrounded by a rampant garden and a metal fence. In front of the dark evening sky, it sure looked kinda spooky.
After looking at the house for a while, Mamoru nodded and said: "Well, it was fun, but... I gotta go! See ya!"
He turned to leave, but Ranma grabbed his arm. "Just wait a minute. Where do you think you're going?"
"Back to the airport, of course," Mamoru said. "This doesn't concern me any more. I helped you reach your grampa's house, well that's that! I have my own business to take care of."
"Don't be stupid. It's already getting dark, you would never reach the airport before sunset. Come on, I'm sure my grandfather would never let a nice boy like you sleep outside. The very least you could was is asking."
Mamoru sighed. "I know I'm going to regret this, but... I'm coming. But I better hope dinner is included."
Ranma grinned while Shampoo shook her head. They opened the (creaking) front gate and made their way through the big garden.
----
The garden was certainly bigger than it looked, because after they walked for several minutes, they still hadn't reached the front door.
"Man," Mamoru said. "This garden sure is wicked. I mean, how big is this thing? Seriously!"
Ranma took a look around. Most of the trees didn't have any leaves, and the grass next to the path was growing up to their knees. "Perhaps he's just an old man who can't look after his garden any more..." She shook her head. "I don't know, but something is..."
"Gyaah!" Mamoru's surprised shout interrupted Ranma's thoughts.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"O-o-over there!" Mamoru's finger pointed right into the bushes to their left.
At first, Ranma thought she was trapped in a nightmare. What she was seeing couldn't be real. It was a dark shape with glowing, demonic eyes, a monster lurking in the shadows to prey on them. And it was coming closer!
"YEEEAAAARRRGHH!" Mamoru yelled and ran for his life. Ranma herself didn't want to wait for this monster to catch up with her, turned around as well and ran after Mamoru.
The idea of using his martial arts skills to fight the monster didn't even cross his mind!
See other episodes by Shritistrang
(Posted Wed, 05 Jul 2006 11:31)
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