Nabiki sat in her room, wearing her usual workout clothes, as she prepared to enjoy a new music CD she had purchased. After all, she did need to workout, but she would prefer if the music wouldn’t be stale. A stale beat, or music one became too accustomed to, would often serve more to drive one away from a workout, rather than induce them to continue.
“Time to get started,” she muttered, observing the clock. In an hour, Kasumi would be letting everyone know dinner was ready. And the food tasted so much better after a nice workout.
Sadly, her workout was cute short, as she spied an image on her CD, that of a fanged blond with red eyes.
“Where are the old farts at?” asked Ranma as he munched on a cracker, watching TV.
“Grandfather Happosai took them on a short training trip,” said Kasumi. “They’ll be back sometime next week.”
“He can stay gone for all I care,” grumbled Akane. “I don’t know why Daddy doesn’t kick him out at times.”
“Cause they’re scared of the Old Letch,” said Ranma.
“Maybe we can finally get some peace and quiet here,” he finished.
“Um, guys,” came Nabiki’s voice.
The three turned to the doorway, spotting the middle Tendo sister, standing beside a woman whose aura screamed darkness to their senses.
“It seems we have a bit of a problem,” said Nabiki, holding up a piece of paper with writing on it.
“I don’t believe it!” yelled Akane, wanting to tear the paper before her.
Well, she had done it before, but the paper had repaired itself and then produced a copy for everyone.
“Your files say you should have expected it,” amused Marller. “Didn’t he sell you once before for a meal?”
All of the people aside from Marller shivered at the reminder of the Chardin family.
“So, aside from the gender changer here,” she said, pointing at Ranma, “which one of you is coming with me?”
“Clearly, he meant Akane,” said Nabiki.
“WHAT?”
“Oh my, poor father, making deals with demons,” said Kasumi, a bit of a tear in her eye.
Ranma simply stared at the paper. It even said that any and all engagements using him, both before the contract and after, were null and void. In essence, it had freed him from his father’s stupidity. On the downside, he was now some demon’s plaything, or whatever they planned for him. Marller had just said that it was up the ‘Boss’.
Though he didn’t know how some American singer was involved with demons.
“Do something!” yelled Akane.
“Oh, he can’t,” said Marller. “You see, his honor demands he follow the contract. And even if he were somehow stupid enough to fight me,” she added, glaring directly at Akane, “he’d lose. I am far past that stupid little pigeon you faced in China.” It was true. Even though he was a God, Saffron was Fifth Class, not even included in the doublet system. Only that rebirth factor kept him from being a target of demons. It just wasn’t fun to blast someone who kept coming back. Besides, any demon above Third Class was banned from messing with Gods below Third Class.
“Then I challenge you!” declared Akane.
Marller smirked at the girl. Like Ranma, the girl was mostly one for action, and would reflect on it later. “Why would I accept?”
“What are you, chicken?” smirked Akane.
“No,” smirked Marller. “But from where I stand, I have nothing to gain. I know what you get from winning, but what do I get for winning?”
“So what do you want?” she asked.
Marller looked over at the other sisters. “If I win, I get all three Tendo girls, not just one.”
“You can’t Akane,” said Kasumi, seeing it finally as a situation neither martial artist could win, Ranma resigned to fulfilling honor and doing what the contract said. “I ... I shall go.”
“Deal!” yelled Akane. After all, she couldn’t let Kasumi sacrifice herself. And she’d beat this demon ... somehow. There was no way she was stronger than Saffron. She could at least feel his power, even with her limited senses. And this so-called demon wasn’t even radiating any power.
The fact that she hadn’t really sensed any power coming from the demons she had faced before then, had failed to register.
“Damn it, Akane!” yelled Nabiki, not wanting to go to Hell.
Ranma finally snapped to attention, seeing Akane take a ready stance. He wanted to move and help her, but found himself frozen, Marller’s voice speaking in his mind.
No you don’t, boy. She made a deal and has to deal with the consequences and the price. That means no help from the peanut gallery.
Besides, Hild-sama might not like you bruised up.
“Remember,” smirked Marller, dark energy gathering in her hand behind her back, “Anything Goes.”
Akane was barely able to dodge the ball as Marller launched it at her.
She didn’t even have time to see the second, and much larger, ball.
Nor could she hear the screams of her sisters as she was hit.
“Stop whining,” said Marller. “She’s alive, maybe a little toasty, but she’ll live. I was told to bring you back alive, after all.”
She felt their anger rise, even from Kasumi, switching between her and Ranma, no doubt upset that the pigtailed boy hadn’t protected the girl once again. “Oh, and I froze him before she agreed to the fight. Can’t have the merchandise being ruined, now can we.”
Kasumi had moved over to her injured sister, being quite thankful that the wounds were merely first degree burns.
“I am also wasting some energy healing her ungrateful ass,” snarled Marller, somewhat amazed at how much energy was also being sapped by the spell on Ranma. Such energy reserves; Hild-sama will definitely like his potential.
“By the way ... I win.”
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(Posted Fri, 05 Jan 2007 22:55)
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