[Episode 209857] [Episode 209857]“She’s awake now,” Ami observed.
“Quickly, Ami,” Ranma commanded, “restrain her!”
Setsuna’s eyes flickered open in time to see a spray of mist and bubbles erupt from Ami’s palm. She barely had time to note the gauzy nothing the girls were wearing, before a sudden chill shocked her wide awake. The spray coated her nude body with a layer of cold, hard ice.
Just like that! With no command words, or kiai, did Ami manifest her power; just with one casual guesture and a practiced ease.
“She’s safely bound now, Master,” Ami reported camly, “but there’s little need. I sedated her with Hilsom powder earlier, so she won’t be able to use her aura powers for a while.”
“Oh, fine, but actually, I mean restrain little miss executioner, here,” Ranma drawled, barely holding Hotaru at bay by the collar. “Hotaru, put that shadow blade away now!”
Setsuna wondered what was more chilling: the frosty layer binding her in helplessly place, or the cold obsidian glaive pressed against her throat.
“I don’t trust her,” Hotaru growled. “She’s a threat, somehow, I just know it.”
“Yes, yes, you’re a good, loyal, blood-thirsty, ninja bodyguard,” Ranma patted the deadly girl’s head affectionately, “but she’s medicated now and we’ll soon have her properly broken in for Pops.”
“Humph,” Hotaru fumed, but obligingly let the blade melt away into shadowy nothingness. “You’re making a big mistake letting her live, Master.”
“Hey now, where would you be if I killed every pretty assassin that came my way? But, you have my word, Hotchan, if she tries to escape or harm anyone, then you can execute her for me.”
Setsuna gulped, certain somehow that he meant it and chilled to the bone by the way Hotaru beamed excitedly at the prospect. These definitely weren’t the senshi she knew.
“You won’t cause trouble, will you?” the Ranma demanded. He was well dressed in old fashioned clothes, and had an air of calm authority. The carefree veneer had been eroded away, to expose his diamond hard will. “It takes ages to calm her down after a killing.”
“Not to mention getting the bloodstains out of the furniture,” Ami added coolly.
“N… no problem,” Setsuna stammered.
“Right,” Ranma pressed on. “Now for some answers. First… what’s that?”
“An earthquake,” Setsuna answered obligingly, glad for the convenient distraction. “Maybe thunder…”
“Makoto!” Ranma yelled and vanished. Just like that, he vanished into thin air with a small thundercrack of his own, clear enough over the background rumbles, leaving a shocked Setsuna staring at the vacancy.
“Don’t try anything,” Hotaru warned, and faded into the shadows in the corner. A Cheshire grin remained. “Well, actually, do try something… I love a hunt.” The smile gleamed, then vanished into darkness.
“Well,” Ami mussed. She passed her hand over Setsuna and the ice melted and sublimed into vapour. “Let’s get you into some clothes.”
“Here, warm up before you catch a chill,” Rei suggested, and held out a blaze cupped between her hands.
Setsuna stared at the blaze in momentary disbelief, but the warmth flooding her tentatively outstretched hands told her that however comfortable Rei seemed holding it, the fire was realistically hot. It wasn’t the existence of their abilities that shocked her the most, but the casual ease at which the girls handled them; and apparently in what passed for civilian guise.
“Uh, shouldn’t you be helping…” Setsuna began, her voice almost lost beneath the roar of thunder and wind.
“Oh, don’t worry, we’re not going to leave you alone,” Rei threatened sweetly.
“The young master can handle whatever the situation is,” Ami promised confidently. “Now, I don’t suppose your clothes are close at hand, and they’re probably not suitable anyway. Let’s get you into something presentable.”
Setsuna eyed their flimsy harem outfits critically. “Hmm, suitable for what?”
“To present you to the elder master, of course,” Rei said smugly. “I know it’s not what you hoped for, but the elder lord is strong and… well he’s strong.”
“Mother has no complaints,” Ami said primly. “And we know he produces strongly talented children.”
“Your mother … his father … children … you?…” Setsuna babbled at the image.
“Of course not,” Ami snorted. “I’d hardly be Master Ranma’s slave if I was his sister, now, would I? No, Mother was just a low talented healer, but when I turned out to have a strong aura she immediately presented me to the young master as a birthday present. Pretty smart thinking, huh?”
“… Smart,” Setsuna echoed, quite at a loss for words.
“Of course,” Rei answered for her. “It placed Ami under our Master’s protection before someone else could think of ‘marrying up’, and immediately improved her mother’s status. That let Ami’s mom catch the elder master’s eye; and, after all if she could produce one talented child, well… She probably figured that would happen anyway. … You know, she was pretty smart to put her daughter in a different harem to the one she plan on joining. Prevented all sorts of problem!”
“Uhm… right…” was all Setsuna could think to say.
(Posted Fri, 15 Aug 2008 02:26)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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