Of course, that didn't exactly mean that she was going to be aiming to be doing all as her grandfather had asked. Sure, she could see that this boy was going to need help, but as she straightened up and turned away from the funeral pyre, she recognized that it was a bit much for her to be asked to produce grandchildren for her grandfather with him. Just joining him as an advisor would be a leap, as she didn't really know if he was going to be the sort of leader that she would want to support. What she did know was that a lot of rulers had spiritual advisors at their side, and that he was a prince, while she was a priestess. Of course, she didn't even know if he would want her to counsel, as she knew that she wouldn't have liked to have someone pointing out what they thought that she should be doing.
Not that she found what she saw of him as being unappealing. Sure, he was a bit rough, and not exactly the stately image of a prince, but he had shown the respect and generosity to try to give the others from the temple a proper funeral. Being his significant other wouldn't exactly be a hardship either, as he was truly a handsome young man, with a nice form, and an outfit that didn't detract from his looks. In fact, she could admit to at least some attraction to him, which was perfectly understandable, as he was not some ignorant backhills woodsman with less teeth than fingers. And she was a young woman who had needs and desires, who desired to eventually be with someone, who could certainly be this boy who she could see herself sharing a bed with.
"What is with the blush?" Ranma asked, blinking at her in clear confusion.
Averting her heated face from his gaze, she sniffed as she tried to regain control from the direction that her idle thoughts had taken her in. "Nothing. It must be... from the heat of the fire, or something...."
"Oh.... Well, is everything okay with you?"
"Yes. Why wouldn't it be?"
"You just lost everything, remember?" he reluctantly reminded her. "Your home, your belongings... your friends...."
"How nice of you for bringing that up."
"I didn't mean to get you all... emotional. Actually, I was wondering if you had managed to get some... comfort from this...."
"Oh. I'm fine with it. Everything was done right," she told him, with an absence of stress on her features.
"Is it that important for the 'rules' to be followed?"
"Don't be silly," the priestess scoffed, waving a hand in dismissal of rituals. "What we did had little to do with the formalities. The important thing was to free them from the last bonds holding them to this spot."
"You're sure that they... you know...."
"I'm not just 'sure'. I know that they moved on."
Ranma's eyes widened a bit as he looked to her. "What? Did you get a feeling, or something?"
"To tell the truth, I had a vision of my grandfather."
"Whoa. Did he say something?"
"You don't doubt me?"
"If you'd seen some of the things that I have...." He grinned and rubbed the back of his head. "It'd be kind of dumb to be deciding to not believe you after that."
"I see...."
"Then...."
"What?"
"Did your grandfather tell you anything?"
She considered her options for a long moment, and decided that she'd play it safe and tell him only one part of the message. "He pointed out that someone would need our help."
"He did? Which way?"
"The west."
"Great.... Looks like we have to go that way now."
"You don't mind going that way?"
"If someone needs our help, then we can't just ignore it. Not with what's going on. And isn't this a place where the people were supposed to talk to spirits and stuff."
"That's true."
"Then it's settled. We collect what you can bring with you, and start heading west."
He looked so sure of his course that she couldn't help but be impressed by him. Perhaps he really was going to be the sort of leader that she would wish to support, especially if he acted like this. To tell the truth, she started to find him more appealing, as she'd always found a strength of spirit appealing. Being his partner in life didn't seem quite as questionable, and she could take a moment to see the possibilities in that sort of future for herself. She could eventually be a leader in the spiritual matters of their land, as he would be the ruler of the secular matters. Together, they would be a ruling couple with much to give their subjects once he got a chance to take his place as king.
Seeing his companion stumble, Ranma reached around her waist and held her steady. "Did you trip or something?"
"No, just an odd thought," Rei answered as the implications of following her grandfather's desires to the fullest hit her. If she did all that he had asked of her, once all their current problems were finished, she'd be his queen. It might not be a major kingdom, but it was still a major leap from being a shrine priestess to being the life partner of the ruling king.
"Distracted you?"
"Something like that. Though...."
"What?"
"You mind letting me go?" she murmured, surprised by the part of her that was desiring to stay like that. "I can stand on my own."
"Ah! Right! Sorry about that."
"Don't worry about it."
"Okay...."
"Thanks. And let's get going, alright?" Rei asked, steadying herself with the knowledge that it was not at all certain that she'd actually be this guy's wife.
"Sure thing," Ranma agreed, rubbing his arm where her slim waist had fit so easily only a few moments earlier, while:
(Posted Mon, 25 Dec 2006 22:09)
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