Ryomou stood in the devastated locker room, the wind rushing in from the window and Kannei's wheezing the only sounds in the room. Her cheeks felt like burning coal, and she knew she was blushing.
Damn that Ranma! When had he stopped being shy and timid and turned into such a cocky bastard? She was never going to wear her battle outfit again, not if people thought she looked cute in it. She was Ryomou Shimei, the strongest of Nanyou Academy's Big Four. People looked at her and saw a powerful fighter they respected and feared, not a cute little girl.
And Ranma thought that he could take her on and win. Hah! What a joke. Ryomou snorted. She was going to give him and Hakufu a day to rest, then she would pay him a visit and beat the shit out of both of them. And she would do it wearing something other than her maid outfit. Then he would stop acting like such an arrogant ass.
But no matter how much Ryomou tried to work herself up over Ranma's behaviour and his outrageous parting shot, she knew she was only trying to distract herself from thinking about what he had said earlier.
The fact of the matter was that she hadn't stopped to think about the order even once. All Saji had needed to do was imply that Kannei was stronger than her and that she was afraid of Sonsaku, and she had charged blindly ahead like an angry bull, interested only in proving herself as the strongest of Nanyou's fighters and showing that she was not afraid.
Was this how she wanted to be seen? As a proud bully who would beat up weaklings to protect her reputation? As someone who went along with highly questionable orders as long as she got to show off her strength as a fighter?
No, Ryomou decided, clenching her hands into fists, this was not how she wanted to be viewed.
The door burst open, and Saji hurried into the room, panting a bit. He took a quick look around, his gaze lingering on Kannei's unconscious form, then visibly calmed himself, pushing one hand through his hair. “Well, this is interesting,” he said, shooting Ryomou a charming smile.
Ryomou stared at him.
Saji crossed the room until he stood at a comfortable speaking distance to Ryomou. “I take it this,” he said, gesturing at Kannei's body, “is your work, Mou-chan?”
Ryomou still didn't answer and continued to stare at him.
“Well,” Saji chuckled, “I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You never tried to hide your dislike for Kannei.”
Ryomou found she had even less patience for Saji's antics than usual. “What do you want?” she snapped.
“As curt as always, Mou-chan,” Saji said, shaking his head. “But that's okay, it's what makes you cute.” He smiled at her. When Ryomou didn't react, he sighed. “I just wanted to see the great Ryomou Shimei fight. But I guess I missed the battle.”
Ryomou snorted. “You didn't miss anything. There was no battle.”
“I figured as much.” Saji said. “I'm just a bit surprised.”
“It's not that hard to understand,” Ryomou said, looking away. “I took out Kannei, but Ranma arrived before I could take out Sonsaku. We talked a bit, and I agreed to let them go.”
“My my,” Saji said, and Ryomou could hear the smirk in his voice. “Ranma must be a real smooth talker if he managed to charm you out of carrying out the imperial order.”
Ryomou jerked her head around to glare at Saji. “Shut your mouth,” she snapped. “It wasn't like that. Ranma just pointed out that this order was strange and unfounded, and I agree with him. Hakufu hasn't done anything that would merit an order like that.”
Saji slung an arm around Ryomou's shoulder, his right hand coming to rest on her breast. “You know how it is, Mou-chan,” he husked into her ear, his hand squeezing her breast. “We're fighters. We don't question our orders, we just fight whomever we're told to fight.”
Ryomou shrugged off Saji's arm, whirling around to glare at him. “Speak for yourself! I'm nothing like that! I don't want to be like that!”
Saji took a step back, staring at Ryomou with wide eyes. “Woah! Easy there, Mou-chan! I didn't mean anything by that.”
“I don't care.” Ryomou turned away. “I'm going home.”
“Just one other thing,” Saji said as Ryomou was about to walk out the door. “The reason you didn't fight Sonsaku, it wasn't because you were scared of her, was it?” he asked, smirking.
Ryomou didn't reply. Balling her hands into fists, she shot Saji a glare before she stomped off down the hall.
That stupid jerk! Where did he get off, asking her stupid questions like that? Ryomou ground her teeth. As if she would be scared by some weakling like Sonsaku. And where did he get the idea that it was all right for him to just fondle her? Stupid, egotistical ass. Acting as if he cared for her one moment, only to turn right around and hook up with some random floozy the next.
And unlike Ranma's earlier remark, Saji didn't even come across as honest. He seemed more like a womaniser who played with her than anything else.
What?! Ryomou almost stumbled. Where did that come from?
Sure, she was aware that she had a bit of a crush on Saji, and until now she had still held out hope that he might reciprocate her feelings, but maybe it was time to face facts. Saji already had a girlfriend, and he also took every opportunity to fool around with other girls. That certainly didn't indicate that he had romantic feelings for her. Rather the opposite.
“Ryomou.”
Blinking, Ryomou stopped. Gakushuu was standing a bit further down the hall, looking at her in his usual earnest manner.
“What do you want?” Ryomou snapped.
Gakushuu frowned. “I just wanted to speak with you for a moment.”
“Make it quick. I'm in no mood for chit-chat.”
“Very well.” Gakushuu nodded. “First, I wanted to tell you that I am glad you did not fight Sonsaku. As I told you before, there is something about her that makes me feel fear. I would not be happy if you were the one to wake up whatever it is in Hakufu that causes me such discomfort and had to suffer for it.”
Ryomou narrowed her eye at him, her anger at his implications that she wouldn't be able to handle Sonsaku growing.
Gakushuu apparently sensed this, as he quickly went on. “There's another thing. I do not believe that the imperial order came from Enjyutsu. I believe that Saji is the one behind the order.”
“What? Why would he do that?”
“I don't know.” Gakushuu shrugged. “But I confronted Saji with my suspicions, and he did not dispute them.”
Ryomou didn't know what to say to that, so she kept silent.
“In any case,” Gakushuu said, “I just wanted you to know that.”
Ryomou nodded at him, then continued on her way, her head spinning from the day's revelations. All she wanted to do now was go home.
She had a lot to think about.
(Posted Thu, 18 Nov 2010 06:45)
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