The Nekohanten is dark and silent as a weary tricentenarian, elder of her people, tried to meditate. Four days after the mass slaughter at the Tendou dojo hadn't done anything to alieviate Cologne's pain and confusion. That Ranma was out there somewhere was a given. That he was now trying to locate those who slaughtered the people he cared for, the woman he might have called wife...!
Her eyes snap open as a disturbance in the local chi fields causes her to look at the door just as a ringing noise heralds the appearance of two columns of sparkling energy. Seeing who appears, Cologne tries desperately not to grin, then she boggles on seeing his companion. "Ranma...?" she whispers, then gazes on the girl beside him as the transporter effect fades. "And Ranko?"
"Kikuko, Elder Cologne," the redhead gives her an even stare, her icy voice surprising Cologne. "I refuse to go by a name that signifies some of the many problems that hurt Nii-chan because of Genma's and Nodoka's stupidity."
Ranma notes the elder's accepting nod, then sighs. "Sorry about that," he rubs the side of his head. "When Kikuko-chan and I got split, any good feelings she might've had for Akane, Shampoo and everyone else got flushed out of her. We..." he shrugs. "We just don't know why."
"So I noticed," Cologne nods, then blinks as Ranma walks up to her, then places a kiss on her forehead. "Ranma...?"
"Elder," he backs away, then bows low. "On behalf of the surviving members of the Saotome Clan of Nerima, please accept my deepest and sincerest condolences for the tragic death of your great-granddaughter. While she and I had our many differences in the past, she was a good and decent person. And she certainly did not deserve the face she received."
Kikuko replicates his bow, but stays silent. While she did feel some pity for the aged elder before her, her own feelings for the lost Shampoo were not for public consumption. Sensing his sincerity, Cologne nods. "I accept your words with thanks, Saotome-dono," she addresses him as head-of-family, which was now VERY true. "It's been four days. How long have you been in your new bodies?"
Ranma and Kikuko exchange a look, then sigh. "We woke up two days ago aboard an alien starship way out by Pluto," the former begins as they move to sit close to the Nyu-che-zuu elder. "Here's what happened to us..."
"It's been quite a while since I saw a transporter beam THAT sophisticated before," Tampopo Kamekichi, owner and operator of Tampopo's Ramen and Beefbowl Bar in Tomobiki's small Ginza, places the bowls of hot ttoukkuk -- Korean rice cake soup -- before Ataru and Tariko. "And the ship you two woke up on didn't have any idea of why this all happened to you?"
"Not a one, Tampopo-chan," Ataru shales his head, then digs into the flavoured stew. "I mean, they're way above the Onis when it comes to technology, so if Lum wanted to push a fight, they could've beat them easily. Why go all the way to KILLING all those people? It makes no sense at all. It..." he squints his eyes closed, then sighs. "Damn it all..."
A hand squeezes his shoulder. "It'll be okay, Nii-chan," Tariko whispers.
"I hope so," Ataru pats her hand, then stares at the ramen stand cook, a stocky woman appearing to be Kinshou Moroboshi's age. "So what's the reaction been from everyone in town? We saw the Oni ships in orbit and all that."
"Well," Tampopo turns back to her stove. "Most of the folks here in town just turned around and blamed the whole mess on you."
"Typical," Tariko mutters.
"But a surprising number of people have actually spoken out against assigning blame until all the facts are known," the chef finishes. "That includes the contingent from Lum's homeworld, which is now being led by her adopted sister Negau."
"'Negau?!'" Tariko blinks.
"Never heard of her. What's she like?" Ataru asks.
"Pretty decent girl," Tampopo admits. "She learned of me through Lum, so she was on her best behaviour when she came to talk to me about you," she winks at the Moroboshis. "As far as she's concerned, she's going to recommend to the Oni President that her people withdraw from this solar system right away. You know, keep an eye out for whoever it was that killed Lum and her family and all that. Negau told me that Lana -- that's the President's name -- will go for it."
"That's good," Ataru crosses his arms...
"Elder, if you want to come with us, you can, you know..."
Cologne chuckles, then shakes her head. "No thank you, Ranma. Much that I appreciate your desire to allow us all to gain some justice from this, I've a village back in China to worry about, especially now that Saffron has been done away with." She then bows her head. "And speaking of which, I would like to thank you personally for what you did concerning him."
Ranma returns her look, then nods. "I just wish it didn't have to go that far," he whispers.
"I know, child, I know," the elder nods. "So, I assume you'll want to be on your way soon enough to trace down whoever started all this?"
"Hai," Kikuko nods. "We just want to collect our things at the dojo, then head out."
"Would you desire someone to come with you, still?"
The Saotomes exchange a look, then...
(Posted Sun, 19 Jan 2003 03:13)
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