"I see," said Genma.
"No, I don't think you do," said the tengu. "Mister Saotome, you appeared in the territory of a pretty nasty Lord. One of the enemy who is quite capable of killing me or even yourself literally with a glance. Someone who EATS people and isn't particular about snacking. The local authorities sacrifice ten children a year to this Monster Lord."
"What?" asked Genma, thinking he must have misheard.
"In our fight against such things, there are casualties," said the tengu. "Not only our troops but civilians and support people. Had it just been you and your abilities we wouldn't have risked it. Ranma's power though. When he grows he might be able to restore those slain by dark magic, let the wounded souls find their rest, dispel hungry ghosts. As it is - his healing touch can cause wounds to disappear, strengthen a victim's body to fight off curses or poison or disease."
Genma frowned. "But he can't heal himself, is that what you're saying?"
"Oh, he still has the chi-based healing abilities he had from your training of him," said the tengu, waving that off. "This ability of his though - if he wants training, it will be made available."
"Ah," said Genma. Well, he'd have to see what went on before he pulled Ranma out and went elsewhere but if they were going to teach him new styles and manuevers - it might be worth sticking him here for a little time.
He had many names, but the name he went by here in Southern Japan was "Orochi". He looked like a slightly manic prettyboy, dressed in expensive silk.
In the tales of the West he was known by other names such as Hydra, but he rather fancied Lord Orochi. Unlike the one of legend though, he liked young tender flesh of either gender. As long as it was soft and succulent, fair when wrapped in skin, smoothly unblemished was preferred. When he consumed his prey, he swallowed them like that. Then he'd regurgitate them to chew, drawing more of the sweet pain and suffering as he consumed them, swallowing them again into whichever of the eight stomachs he had stored them in.
Ten children a year, plus snacks whenever he came upon them.
He was quite aware of the disturbance he'd felt, something entering his domain. Something with power. Then his sensitive nose had picked up the scent of a truly mouths-watering prey.
Which had vanished under the scent of crow.
Orochi narrowed his eyes as he drank in the scent of the one that had gotten away. For now. There would always be other chances later.
"Ah," said the assembled group as a child touched another and used his power. Wounds closed, burns healed, labored breathing quieted.
Ranma was unsure of what to make of the reactions. Except this little girl who had been in pain wasn't in pain any longer. So he thought of this as a new martial arts technique he'd somehow invented and thought it had some uses.
"When he gets older, his power will increase," rumbled a big creature that seemed made of rock.
"You have foreseen this?" asked a woman made of wood.
"I have," rumbled the stone man. "More than that, when he reaches adolescence, his kiss will..."
Ranma made a face and missed the rest of that. Kiss a girl? Icky. Didn't sound very manly and his pop was always going on about that.
The little girl seemed to be trying to memorize his face before she fell asleep, but Ranma felt kind of tired himself. The big rock guy had said her name earlier, what had it been? Oh yeah, Ranma remembered, it was-
(Posted Mon, 26 Feb 2007 18:16)
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