"Grandfather is expecting you," the priest's granddaughter said. “Do you remember the way?”
Hiroshi nodded, but Sayuri squatted down to look the young girl in the eye. “What's your name?”
“That is a good question,” the girl said, smiling serenely, “but it is not the right question.”
Hiroshi blinked. “Why not?”
“Names are but labels. The wise see deeper,” the girl said, then giggled. “Did that sound wise?”
“You were just practising?” Sayuri said. “I thought for a moment ... Never mind.”
“One day, I shall take my grandfather's place,” the girl said. “Now get going. You don't want to be late.” Then the girl abruptly darted away, disappearing round a corner.
Sayuri smiled. “She'll do her grandfather proud.”
Hiroshi nodded. “She's certainly got the mysterious part down.”
The whole temple did, but then, it was the real thing.
Chatting quietly with Sayuri, Hiroshi walked into the shrine.
Mid-word, he stopped. The priest was there, but he was not alone.
Nabiki looked up at them. “Just the two of you?”
“We thought certain people might notice if we all kept vanishing together,” Hiroshi said. “What are you doing here?”
Nabiki smiled. “I've just had a most interesting conversation with-”
The priest raised one eyebrow.
“I followed your trail,” Nabiki said quickly. “It wasn't easy, but-”
“This place is not easily found,” the priest said smoothly. “Nabiki, you will find the pool in our gardens conducive to meditation.”
Nabiki twitched, but she made no direct response, just stood, bowed, then walked away, just a little faster than was really polite.
Hiroshi and Sayuri bowed respectfully, then sat down.
“Through your own labours, you must earn your freedom,” the priest said, “but if others act at your direction, their deeds shall be as yours, for good or ill.”
“We can get other people to help us, as long as we stay in charge?” Hiroshi said. That would make things much easier. They'd still have to be careful who they told, or events would slip out of their control, but at least they could get Ranma to do the fighting for them.
“To cure a Jusenkyo curse is no minor undertaking, but a challenge as great as that which you face,” the priest said. “If any of the victims should find their way here, I shall gladly set their feet upon the path.”
“Are you going to answer all our questions before we ask them?” Sayuri said, surprise mingling with an hint of fear.
“He didn't with that one,” Hiroshi noted, and they hadn't actually decided to ask about Jusenkyo. They'd talked about it, but in the end they'd agreed to play it by ear.
The priest smiled. “The kami don't tell me everything. Sayuri, if I told you how to help your friends you would fail the test.”
Sayuri sighed. “Might have known.”
“I have told Nabiki nothing of your trial,” the priest said, “but she has learnt all she needs to know from me. I do not believe she will find her way here again.”
Hiroshi looked steadily at the priest, waiting.
“There is help here for all the victims of the Master PC w,” the priest said. “For those who reject mercy, there is justice.”
“We don;t have to kill them,” Sayuri said, smiling broadly. “Great. Um, what about that apartment.”
“For those poor souls, death was a mercy too long delayed,” the priest said. “Nor could you have easily have brought them here.”
“Oh,” Hiroshi said, spotting the catch. “We've got to get them here ourselves.”
The priest nodded. “If the task were easy, the kami would have set a harder challenge. You will find Nabiki waiting by the pool.”
“How much did he tell you?” Hiroshi asked, sitting down next to Nabiki.
“Just enough to know that you're in deep trouble, and trying to do the right thing. I don't want to know any more.”
“Because you might have to do something about it?” Sayuri guessed.
Nabiki winced, then nodded. “That priest knew all about me, and he was very kind ...”
Hiroshi looked away as Nabiki threw a pebble into the pool.
“I'm not coming here again,” she said firmly.
“And the sewing club?” Hiroshi prompted.
“I will help you with your cover stories, and your information gathering,” Nabiki said. “There's no money in it for me but people died in that apartment. I worked that much out for myself. Whatever you're involved in, it's a direct lethal threat to me.”
Sayuri looked thoughtfully at Nabiki. “Hypothetically, if you had to-”
Nabiki shook her head. “We all know that wouldn't be an hypothetical question. Don't try to exploit me.”
“OK,” Hiroshi said. “When can you give us your dossiers?”
Nabiki smiled wanly. “My reputation is partly an act. I'm good, but I'm no professional.”
“You're still better than we are,” Hiroshi said.
“I'll give you the real dossiers tomorrow. Think you can stay out of trouble until then?”
(Posted Sat, 23 Oct 2010 20:55)
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.