[Episode 209867] [Episode 209867]“It looks like Ryouga’s blasting off again,” Rei commented, looking out a window.
“Does… does this sort of thing happen often?” Setsuna demanded, peering out at the debris caused by the unnatural disaster.
“Not too often,” Ami admitted, “but there are always challengers for the Master’s position. It goes with the territory.”
“Feh,” Rei snorted. “It’s not usually this bad. Hibiki is too careless. He causes too much collateral damage in his rampages, and can’t be bothered to show for a civilised duel.” She sniffed derisively. “Master Ranma should just slay him and be done with it!”
“Well, anyway,” Ami sighed, “we’d better hurry to get this slave processed so I can get back to see how many servants were killed and treat the injured.”
“Wait, what?” Setsuna asked, tearing her eyes away from the window.
“Right,” Rei nodded and took hold of Setsuna’s forearm. “Come along now, girl; don’t daudle.”
“What’s going on?” asked a sleepy voice as Setsuna was lead into some luxurious chambers. “What’s with the racket. I need my beauty sleep, you know.”
“Good evening, Lady Saotome,” Ami bowed. “It seems Lord Hibiki paid us another unexpected visit. Your husband has seen to it.”
“How nice,” Lady Saotome yawned sarcastically. “So who’s this?”
“Just a runaway who thought she could worm her way into the harem, Milady,” Rei explained dismissively.
“Isn’t she a little long in the tooth?” the girl demanded with haughty derision. “And she doesn’t look too bright? Why is she standing there with her mouth open? Rude, much.”
“She’s medicated of course,” Ami remarked. “Hilsom powder dulls the wits a little, I’m afraid. Anyway, Lord Ranma is giving her to his father as a gift, milady.”
“What a splendid idea,” the Lady Saotome beamed. “Oh, do you want me to collar her now?”
“That would be best, milady,” Ami agreed. “If you’re feeling up to it?”
“Oh, very well. But… could you get me some ice-cream first,” the Lady Saotome waved imperiously. “I’m famished.”
“Of course, milady, at once,” Rei bowed. “Anything else?”
“Uhm, oh, could you have the servants put some pickles on it?” the Lady asked, and eased herself down onto a comfortable cushion and glanced at Ami. “Are you certain she’s alright? She looks like a stunned carp. You didn’t use too much of that horrid stuff, did you?”
“I’m quite sure I know my apothecary, milady Usagi,” Ami answered primly. “How’s the baby doing?”
“Oh, he’s a healthy brat,” Lady Usagi complained, patting her belly affectionately. “Kicks like a champion though! Ow! See? I swear, I’m not letting My Honey touch me again until you’ve all borne him children!”
Setsuna nearly fainted dead away.
The ice-cream was served by maids under Rei’s direction. Setsuna noted that the servants served Usagi and the others with extreme deference. Their position in Ranma’s harem was apparently one of station, at least. Yet, despite her being naked, they served Setsuna with politely averted gazes, as if it were not so remarkable a sight.
Setsuna accepted her confectionary in embarrased silence, and digested that observations sourly. The soothing, creamy goodness did little to settle her nerves.
Usagi devoured her pickles and ice-cream with typical gusto; about the only thing Setsuna found familiar about her. Other than the relish with which she ingested food, the girl carried herself in a haughtily aloft manner. She was wearing a regal gown, her hair was elegantly coifed and held in place with jeweled pins, her fingers were bejeweled with diamonds and gold, and beyond that she totally carried herself like a princess - haughty, aloff, and totally spoiled, but completely confident and self-assured.
Setsuna wondered if she should consider that a good or bad sign, but was far less ambivalent over the fact that this Usagi was heavily pregnant by, and apparently married to, that Saotome boy.
“Alright, girl, just sit back and relax,” Lady Usagi advised as she set aside her emptied bowl, hefted herself onto her feet, and waddled over to unlock a cabinet.
“Just what are you going to do?” Setsuna demanded, as Usagi carried a sinister looking case towards her, the alarm washing away shock at finding Usagi so different.
“Oh, don’t worry,” Lady Saotome smiled unassuringly, opening the case to reveal a silvery band. “I’m just going to bond a discipline collar around your neck, and imprint your aura with Lord Genma’s personal sigil.”
Setsuna glanced at looked at the collars about Rei and Ami’s necks, and faint tattoo on each of the girls’ forehead: a stylised horse head, rather like a chess piece, with smaller, hieroglyphic markings circled around it. The glyph presumably denoted their rank within the clan structure –partly a brand of ownership, partly tribal markings– but Setsuna had no clue how to read the difference. Like the senshi’s sometimes-apparent planetary symbols, the patterns seemed to glow, though that may simply have been a trick of the gas lights on the ink.
“Uh, do you know what you’re doing?” Setsuna asked, as Usagi fit the band around her throat.
“Be still. It’s a simple procedure. It won’t harm my baby at all.”
“What about me?”
“Oh, you?” Lady Usagi asked dismissively as she lay her palm against Setsuna’s brow. “Oh well, yes, this is going to hurt, alright.” -Her voice grew viscously amused- “It will hurt a lot!”
Silvery moonlight flared around Usagi’s hand, and Setsuna screamed as the girl’s aura invaded her mind and began to twist.
“What did you expect?” Lady Usagi sniffed without a trace of empathy. “Fool woman. Of course hacking your aura codes is going to hurt!”
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(Posted Fri, 15 Aug 2008 02:41)
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