A little cloud of smoke figurative came off of Ranma as he slouched back on the couch, arms tightly crossed. He wasn't happy. Every time he thought he could ignore the kuroko, he realized there was little else to look at, because of that stupid, stupid towel held up between him and the most interesting parts of Ryoga's bathing bod. He tapped one foot and bounced his other's knee, waiting for something more dramatic than a girl becoming de-stressed. But it wasn't happening.
He looked over to see how Kuno was enjoying himself. He was sorry he did.
The samurai was enjoying his sword. The literal one. He was rhythmically rubbing his hand up and down his bokken as he stared intently at the half-hidden girl-Ryoga. He seemed in full, dirty pervert mode.
Ranma turned away, muttering to himself. "What's he see that I don't?" It was entirely possible that it was something he couldn't see. He was a Kuno, after all; they were ALL delusional. But accepting that simple truth didn't relieve the martial artist of his growing boredom. His only option was to discover if there was something porn-worthy that his eyes weren't catching. He fine tuned his trained senses.
'...see only a delectable young lady in all her youthful glory caressing her supple body in erotic-'
"HA! Gotya!!" Ranma reached back and grabbed the kuroko whispering in his ear. A neck lock, and the shadow guy was brought crashing to the floor in front of him. His prompter's script fluttered down beside him.
This put a stop to Act II, as those not pulling Ryoga's strings dashed for the woodwork, to disappear between the walls again (and the floorboards below and joists above). Ranma knew they were in big trouble.
For a start, those that were left remained to keep Ryoga hostage.
"Tell me what's going on!"
The reply he got was eerie, a sound he wasn't used to. Ryoga was giggling.
"The Tickling Time Bomb," someone else told him. "Once it takes hold, it's victim is doomed."
Ranma assumed his widest stance, alerting his senses to every possible movement. The stalking kuroko could tickle him from any and every direction. And they could use projectiles from a safe distance to get him to laugh. The feathers from an eider pillow could be the death of him.
"Okay, Sasuke, tell me what's goin' on!"
"You knew it was me?"
"Kuroko aren't supposed to talk. Even when they work puppets, others do the storytellin'. You're the only Kuno servant I ever see."
"A masterful piece of deduction, Master Ranma," the ninja in purple (not black) came out from under the living room couch.
"Speakin' of deduction...." What the little man was holding in his hand attracted Ranma's gaze away from any attack. It was a box of tissues.
"I have a cold?" Sasuke lamely offered.
"Later," he told himself. More importantly, "I want answers. -And stop 'em making Ryoga laugh: 'cuz it's so not like him it's givin' me the creeps."
At a nod from their master's valet, Ryoga was left in some peace.
"Now, tell me: Or I'll make Kuno come outa that trance."
"Master Ranma, you have uncovered the Special Technique of the Babbling Brook School of Stagecraft. Any further divulgence would violate my sacred oath to-"
"How about I tell everybody about that box of tissues."
"The Special Technique is a form of hypnosis. The gas from the ventilators allows the audience to suspend any disbelief and enjoy the show."
"So...THAT'S how the kuroko are able to seem invisible!"
"Well, that the audience knows that they are supposed to be helps greatly. It saves money by reducing the amount of gas that's needed."
(Posted Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:42)
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.