Despite how unwell the red-head currently in the midst of bed rest was, she was having a surprisingly pleasant conversation experience with the magic prince that had apparently decided she was a better choice than the violent tomboy. Still though, that did bring to mind a new concern for Ranma to voice. "Uhm, so uh, why am I here?"
Pausing thoughtfully, Arturia pursed his lips in distaste at the idea. "Your... companion... she left you lying in the walkway despite your injuries. As I was unfamiliar with your world, I returned with you so that I could care for you."
The reply was mind boggling to Ranma on a number of levels. "Wait, you mean I haven't been kidnapped to be your princess bride or something? You're just being nice? So I can just leave when I'm ready to go?"
The blond prince blinked as he otherwise took the unintentional accusations in a calm manner. "Ah, but of course Mi'Lady. What sort of uncouth barbarian would leave you in such a condition, much less abduct you?"
Ranma in turn bore an expression of pleasant surprise tinged with a bit of peevishness. "I could name a lot of uncouth barbarian types apparently. So, uh, why were you there looking for a princess?"
Nodding in her favor as she took the topic to something of personal interest for him, he straightened up to a more formal posture. "Ah, I needed to find a princess for the sword-binding ceremony. When the need arises and there is not a suitable princess here, it is tradition to travel to your world and perhaps find a maiden in need."
None of that made any particular sense to Ranma, though she did file away the knowledge for later. Instead the red-head concentrated on the part that would matter to her. "Right, but I'm not the type right? So I can just go home?"
Unfortunately for Ranma, the prince only seemed thoughtful as he considered her. "I would not know until you have been tested for the ceremony. Even if you were chosen, it does not require marriage. In the sword-binding ceremony, the princess produces a magical artifact which her chosen might wield in her name. I am hoping to perhaps acquire a holy sword to use in our war against the dark armies."
Ranma mostly understood that, as it was reasonable that a magic princess would somehow have the magical sword for the magic prince to wield. No worries there however as she was obviously no where close to being a magical princess. It did sound like he needed such a weapon for a good cause though, so it couldn't hurt to make sure. "So, if I'm not chosen, I go home. What happens if I am chosen? Can I just give you the sword and go home?"
The prince was of course thrown for a loop on that one. She was willing to just give the sword away and leave without receiving anything in return? "Forgive me, but I am not sure. I see no reason other than yours is a different world. I would have to inquire into such, but you would of course be very well treated here if you were chosen."
Ranma attempted come up with a way of saying she wouldn't be chosen that didn't sound like she'd somehow be losing some sort of contest or something. The last thing she needed at this point was to lose her head and actually try to prove herself as a magical princess. Fortunately though her biological alarm clock interrupted, letting her know it was apparently rather late in the night.
Prince Arturia looked startled as the petite red-head had an impressive stomach growl. "Ah, where are my manners. I should be seeing to your wellness first. Shall I order some dinner brought up now?"
Ranma had the good grace to blush while rubbing her belly. "Uhm yeah. I have a pretty healthy appetite, so some extra would be good."
Nodding in acceptance to her, the prince got up and sketched a brief bow in her direction before moving over to the old fashioned fancy phone sitting on a nearby desk. "Yes, I would like some dinner brought up for our guest. To be on the safe side, make it enough for three people. If Fuu could deliver it, I believe that would be for the best as our guest will require a handmaiden for her stay."
For her part Ranma sat up and moved as far as the edge of the bed. Her body ached all over and a slight headache kept disrupting her attention every so often, so she wasn't in a hurry to push herself. Instead she settled for having a leisurely look around the room she was in. About three to four times bigger than Kasumi's bedroom, the fourposter bed she was in was nestled in one corner. Desks, tables, chairs and a dividing screen separated the larger room into separate areas. Decoration was something like old Europe around about the time electricity was invented and kind of neutral as far as male or female went. "So, uhm, is this where I'm sleeping, or your room?"
Arturia merely glanced her way, letting the unvoiced accusation slide by. It would seem she had suffered a number of unpleasant encounters in the past. "This shall be your room for as long as you wish to stay."
Hearing the smooth reply of the young man, Ranma didn't have much left to protest or question. "Well, it's kinda big isn't it?"
Having a slightly larger suite of rooms for a bedroom, Arturia didn't quite see the point. "Is that a problem?"
Ranma also had some problem with addressing the unease in being in such a large and fancy room. "Uhm, well, I guess I'm just not used to it. I spent most of my life training on the road with Pops until about a year ago I started staying with the Tendous. Even then I was sharing a room with the old man and just had a bedroll to sleep on. Heck, half the time I was still sleeping outside or in the dojo for some stupid reason or another."
The prince frowned as more unpleasant treatment was casually mentioned. "Perhaps you might feel more comfortable if Fuu or another girl was to stay with you in here. It would make the room less overly large and perhaps more friendly."
It seemed an odd but understandable option to Ranma. As it made some sense she had trouble coming up with an objection despite how dangerous it seemed to have girls in the room for too long. "Uhm, I guess."
The prince merely nodded in acceptance and pulled out a chair from the nearby desk sit upon.
After a moment of silence, Ranma thought of something. "Is there a bathroom around here?"
With Arturia pointing at one of the doors, Ranma opened it to find something along the lines of an old fashioned western bathroom. There was a claw foot tub under the large window, with a large vanity area with a sink across from it. In the back corner the toilet was almost separated from the rest of the room. A linen closet in the opposite corner of the toilet completed the room.
Checking the sink revealed one final surprise. While they apparently had plumbing and running water, there was no hot water. This wasn't the first time Ranma had been to a place without running hot water, as a lot of older Japanese residences lacked both hot water and baths, hence the numerous bath houses in Tokyo.
Shrugging as she didn't intend to turn male until the need to make an exit if need be, the red-head set about using the sink to freshen up a bit. Besides looking a little more presentable, it helped clear her head, which was an even more important consideration.
A polite girl's voice just outside the door brought her attention back from trying to figure something out while looking in the mirror. "The first course is ready Lady Saotome."
Smacking a little more cold water onto her face as it was odd to be treated like a lady of all things by apparently genuinely polite people, Ranma toweled her face dry. Putting the troubled thoughts out of mind, she stepped back into the main room to find a short haired blond maid in a green dress standing beside a service cart. The cart proved to be empty while the round dining table at the center of the room was set out with pitchers of drink, bread, cheese, fruits and a large bowl of salad.
Walking over to the table, she found only one place set in the western style, including western silverware. "Uhm, is this all for me? I don't have to share?"
Fuu bore a confused look as the orders were a bit confusing to serve three settings of food to one person, so she turned to Arturia in askance. The prince in turn spoke up to the red-headed reluctant maiden while transferring over to a seat at her table. "Of course, eat as much as you wish."
Looking at the repast, Ranma snagged the knife from the serving cart. Then grabbing a hunk of bread in her other hand, she tossed the loaf up into the air, with her knife wielding arm dissolving briefly into a blur. Then as fresh croûtons raining down on her salad, Ranma smiled, pleased with her performance.
Doing the same with a hunk of cheese, Ranma had to stop almost immediately. The reason became obvious as the hunk of cheese was revealed to be stuck to the blade before the knife had made it halfway through. "Wow, never had that happen before. I must be out of it." Shrugging briefly the delicate red-head removed the cheese from the knife and simply crushed and rolled it between her palms until her salad was littered with crumbled cheese.
As Ranma picked up a fork and spoon and held them as if they were merely metal chopsticks, the prince recovered his facilities enough to form a thought. "I... your speed is astounding. Was that some sort of mystical technique?"
Pausing between large bites of salad, Ranma finished chewing before speaking to the young man. "Nah, that's how I make salad. Don't make salads very often though. If ya thought that was something, you should see me fight."
Since she was paused in eating and trying to stick to at least normal person type table manners, Ranma turned her gaze to the maid-type girl standing at her side. "What's there to drink?"
She presented a bottle and said something, but Ranma tuned it out when it began with white wine. Why would she need to know where and when it was from? "Uh, I try to avoid alcohol. I prefer water or tea if ya have that."
Getting a nod from the maid, Ranma resumed eating her salad from the large preparation bowl with bites three times the size of what a normal person would take. Of course, for her this was considered excellent manners as her hand could actually be seen moving. Indeed, she was actually taking it rather slow and enjoying the chance to chew and taste the food.
Once the salad was finished, the red-head took a moment to use half a bread loaf to scrape the bowl clean of tasty dressing. Once that was finished, she set the bowl aside and began the sampling of the fruits. With the initial pangs of hunger satisfied, she took her time and enjoyed each piece, switching frequently between types.
Then to her pleasant surprise, the far door opened and a red-head in a red blouse and black pleated skirt came in with another serving cart that was also apparently loaded with the food. Stopping the cart beside the table, the newly arrived red-head chirped happily, "The second course is here!"
With the covers removed, Ranma salivated anew at the sight of seared fish and various dishes of vegetables.
The prince however was ready to enact a slight change of dinner plans. "Fraulein Fuu, if you would gather your friends after dinner, Lady Ranma might enjoy some friendly companionship tonight."
Fuu merely stared at Ranma for a moment before bowing deeply. "Of course Sir."
The recently arrived red-head had reason to join in too as she introduced herself excitedly to Ranma. "Oh! I'm Hikaru Shidou. It would be nice if we could be friends!"
Somewhat distracted by the fresh and tasty looking dishes, the seated red-head glanced over to the excitable one with a slight look of surprise. "Friends? Well... sure, that does sound nice. I'm Ranma Saotome. Pleased ta meet ya."
Read the comments on this episode
See other episodes by Valor Phoenix
(Posted Tue, 27 May 2008 10:26)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.