Ranma tried to get his breath back, his activities finished for the moment. The woman currently on top of him was doing the same.
It was a weird relationship between the two; neither admitting it might be more, and teasing the other with the possibility. Now, they were meeting at an old cottage, using the bed to ... talk.
“I love these debriefing sessions,” smirked Nabiki.
Ranma nodded. “Now; can we talk about what I requested.”
“That is pretty lame pillow talk, Ranma.”
“Well, we could discuss your guards, or that large crystal you brought with you that is laying in the living room.”
Nabiki smiled. “Those guards are Haruka and Michiru; and they won’t betray my trust. They love each other and I brought them along so they could enjoy their own company. You know how my little sister is about such things.”
“Yeah,” mumbled Ranma, having had the sad luck of having run into the dark princess of Nerima. She once tried to have a man hanged for holding a woman’s hand. “So they won’t tell your father you’re talking to me?”
“No,” said Nabiki. “In a way, they are supporting my ascension to the throne over my sisters. I just have to get Daddy to drop his ideas about marrying me off like he’s going to do to Kasumi.”
Ranma nodded, knowing how well Kasumi was playing the “good obedient daughter” role.
“So, what can you tell me?”
Sighing at the fact Ranma was racing their interlude, she rolled off of him, turning her head slightly. “Daddy signed a peace agreement with the Dark Kingdom a few months ago, in secret. In fact, the plan calls for it to be solidified with Kasumi marrying their prince; Prince Jadeite.”
“Were they the ones that attacked Silvermoon?”
“Looks like it. They are lead by Queen Beryl, and are said to be supported by the Demon Queen Metallia.”
Ranma blinked. “And your father signed that peace treaty with them ... why?”
“Because Daddy is a coward. They promised him greatness, so he promised them his support and Kasumi. Odds are if the wedding goes through, me and Akane will soon be disappearing without a trace. I have no doubt they will use the marriage to gain control of Nerima.”
“No wonder you are picking your guards carefully.”
Nabiki nodded. “Odds are I will have to be disappearing before the wedding. Now; if I only had some safe place to go, with a nice strong wild horse to keep me company on those lonely and cold nights.”
Ranma sighed. “I can’t tell you yet, you know that.”
“But you can keep Princess Serenity there, but not little old me?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Please don’t take me for a fool, Ranma. I know she’s alive and you’re protecting her,” said Nabiki. “How else could you have such inside information of their royal crystal?”
Ranma stayed silent.
“Are you doing her as well.”
Ranma stayed silent for a moment. “No.”
“Not using me for a substitution, are you?”
“I’m not that type of guy.”
“I know; that’s why I love you,” said Nabiki. “Besides, she’s cute, I wouldn’t mind if she joined us.”
“Is everything about sex with you?”
“Just the fun stuff. There is a reason I am called the Ice Princess on the battlefield.”
Ranma nodded. He remembered the stories he had heard about the battles the army of Nerima had fought, with Nabiki leading the charge. “If it came down to it...”
“The Army is loyal to the kingdom and Daddy, not me. I might have a few platoons, but no more than that, and not nearly enough to take on Beryl.”
Ranma made no outward expression. He had hoped, but he knew the fine line Nabiki was walking.
The future Queen of Nerima was hardly up for debate. Kasumi would get first crack, unless something disqualified her. And the sometimes mad ravings of “Mad Akane” didn’t gain support from the military. There was a reason she was also called Bloody Akane; having fought one campaign and lost nearly all the forces on the first assault.
Though she disputed it, many knew it was because she had no grace or style on the battlefield. She also had no gift for commanding, having sent her entire force against a citadel filled with archers. Her forces had no protection, and were thus open to massive attack and magic spells.
But while they would follow Nabiki, many were too loyal to the crown, and thus to the whims of King Soun.
“And the crystal?”
“That holds a young girl, the daughter of Tomoe the Black.”
Ranma blinked. There was a mage’s daughter in the crystal. “What?”
“He asked me to get her out. He knew what I knew before he passed, and knew what Beryl’s’ forces would do to any person of a mage’s family not trained by her own elite. I promised to protect her.”
“You want me to take her with me.”
“She’d be safer with you than back in Nerima with me. If it will convince you, Tomoe said Hotaru has more talent and power at her age now than he had when he was three times as old.”
Ranma looked towards the crystal. “Will she be safe with us?”
Nabiki smirked, knowing he couldn’t refuse a defenseless girl, and that he as much as admitted he had the Princess of Silvermoon hidden with himself. “Safer than with me.”
Outside, the two females lay together on the blanket. “Are you certain we can trust Princess Nabiki?” asked Haruka.
Michiru nodded, rubbing the back of her lover. “We have as much to lose as she does if we squeal. And besides, would you rather have those Dark Kingdom fools in charge, or Bloody Akane?”
Haruka shivered. She had been at that battle; she at times still heard the Princess’s screams of frustrations that the citadel was “not playing fair”. “I never want that bitch in charge of my ranks. That’s why she doesn’t have an army to command. Better she bug males in the capital than have my men slaughtered in the field by her stupid plans.”
Michiru smiled, kissing Haruka lightly on the lips. “We have cast our lot, and let our fortunes flow true. The seas are restless, and we both know the time is coming where we will have to put all of our faith in her.”
“What the hell is it with you and the “seas are restless” crap?”
Michiru glared at her, before standing up and getting dressed. “Well if that’s how you feel...”
Haruka paled. Women; she doubted she’d ever understand them.
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(Posted Thu, 03 Aug 2006 04:15)
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