Shampoo sank into her daily routine. Her regular customers knew something had changed. There was a hardness and sorrow that the normally bubbly delivery girl lacked. The more lecherous customers noted that her skirt had been covering more and more and the sleeves on her dress were past her elbows now. The summer was rapidly coming to a close but it was still uncharacteristic for her to wear such things. The Chinese group had been told to remain in the country until the matter was officially closed. Despite his father's dubious name, cops didn't like it when kids turned up stabbed to death. Even if it was a training accident. A local paper had written an article on the incident and public opinion kept the matter an open case.
Nabiki glared across the street as the Amazon as she rode off. She she watched the purple dress as it fluttered down the street until she turned a corner. The cover story of the local tabloids almost brought a smile to her face. Apparently an election year had made Ranma's death a bit of a controversy. The Police Prefecture General was up for election and the challenger made an issue of the situation. Nabiki was more than happy to help the challenger considering just how much she gained on several 'exclusive' interviews. She made brief appearances in Nermia to check on her father and retrieve a few personal things. She did what she could to help beat the war drums hoping there was a few more paid interview to be sold.
Nabiki Slipped inside of Ukyo's restaurant and sat down at the far end of the counter. It was a spot that offered a a clear view of the door and a wall to her back. She leaned back into the chair and let out a sigh.
“How's Chiba treating you sugar?” Ukyo offered her a civil greeting as she came up to the opposite side of the counter.
Nabiki shrugged then thumbed the menu a bit even though she knew what was on it. “Not bad its the first semester. They are going pretty easy on us since I'm in a two year track.”
Uyko nodded as she poured her a water and waited. The two were on almost civil terms these days. A shared animosity for Genma had gone a long way in building their relationship. “I saw your interview. Thanks.”
“For?” Nabiki seemed a bit confused by the remark.
“Not letting them call it an accident.” Ukyo looked away. Her hands slid into her apron. “I know you're family is having a bad time and it's hard doing this.”
She reluctantly nodded. It was hard being the one in the spot light. Even if there was compensation to be had. It made her feel small and out of control. “You do know they are paying rather well for me to play it up.”
Uyko nodded again. “I know but, it keeps them squirming and when the time is right I'll get my revenge. They killed my best friend. Do you really think I'm going to let that stand.”
“No, knowing your family you probably already have orders.” Nabiki looked at the chef as critically. She had learned enough about the girl to know Genma's punishment was far from over. Uyko looked leaner, she had definitely traded some curves for more muscle. “You've been training in something.”
A small nod came from Uyko.
Nabiki shook her head. She wouldn't dirty her hands with that spineless lump, but she might just help the girl that would. “Crazy martial artists jocks. Do what you want with the Saotomes, put their heads on a pike for all I care. Same for the damn Amazons. I'll even give you a call if I stumble across the pig. Just leave Akane out of it and I might even help you get away with it.”
Uyko ground her teeth for a moment. It had been a dirty habit she picked up after Ranma's death. The chef quickly recognized the threat and the offer. She didn't want to pull any punches with Akane. The way the girl had been acting had really pushed her buttons. “If she keeps rubbing the fact that she's having Ranma's kid in my face I'm not going to make any promises.”
Nabiki laughed, she knew the truth. The bits and pieces that she put together. She manged to ply facts out of her father once she had gotten him out of the house. The true nature of Genma's injuries and the demon that attacked them gave her all the clues she needed. “Uyko, I don't think it's Ranma's.”
The chef blinked slowly. It was as if something shifted in her mind when Nabiki spoke about the child now. She drawled out, “Really?”
“Think about it.” Nabiki looked around nervously as she let the idea slip from her lips. “You know the truth. Going from barely able to be in the same room for five minutes to sleeping together, yea right.”
Ukyo nodded slowly. She had her suspicions, but confirming them when the press was printing things they could sell to the masses it was hard to remember there was another truth. Beneath the sordid lies Nabiki was selling, stories about triads and torture, there was a demon to be blamed for this.
“Focus child!” Cologne thumbed the two marks left in her cane from Konatsu's shuriken. She watched her young charge focus on the young Tendo sitting in their dining room.
Shampoo let out a cry of frustration. She couldn't feel anything unusual about the girl. Cologne let out an exasperated breath as every bit of focus drained out of her formerly bubble protege. Her hands moved over the parallel scars on her cane one more time. “You must open up your senses. You must look beyond what you know.”
The purple haired teen glared at her ancient mentor. Her Japanese broke into angry Chinese. “Why can't we just go home.”
“Because you killed the boy.” Cologne responded with equal volume in the same dialect. “Because, the police said to stay here. Do you need any more reasons child?”
Shampoo slammed her fist on the table. “This is a matter for Amazons not those animals!”
Cologne narrowed her old eyes as she leaned in. She knew Shampoo still believed that the tribal laws mattered. She tried to break the girl of that delusion but failed miserably. “Welcome to the real world. You will not take that tone again with me if you know what's good for you.”
Shampoo shivered as her Great-grandmother cooled the air to a crisp frost. The ancient matriarch had never taken such an approach with her before. Her head spun with the change of attitude. Even as she had tossed her into the cursed pools she had a friendlier attitude.
Cologne bore down on the girl, her chilly voice ordered, “Now, go give the Tendo girl her lunch and take a good look her.”
Shampoo silently nodded and obeyed. Cologne watched as her great-granddaughter walked into into the dining room. She never wanted to go down this path. However, with or without Ranma there was never any going back. Her family's fall from grace was a long time coming. She could only take bitter solace in the fact that their family tree was just another dying plant in an abandoned garden.
Mara tapped on her terminal screen as she looked over Nermia. From her vantage point just outside of town she could see almost every building in the district. The screen detailed much information about the general mood of the small area.
“It smell's delicious Mistress.” Sembei almost bounced up and down as it looked over the simmering prefecture.
The Demon of Strife nodded as she looked over the data. “Mhmm... That's an election year for you.”
“What is this election you speak of? Is it tasty?” Sembei practically vibrated with anticipation.
Mara shook her head. “It does involve a lot of arguing and fighting. Yet some how they avoid killing each other. Did you do as I asked?”
The Dijinn of Bad Luck nodded eagerly. “The Tendo girl is eager to please! She even cried for me. Please, please, please let me grant her a wish!”
She looked at her pet Djinn and gave it a smile. “If you can fill four vials of sorrow by the time this is over you may. Do not reveal yourself until then.”
With a poof of smoke the creature was back to work stirring up all the negative feelings it could. “Oh, her greedy heart will produce the most wonderful strife.”
“Rather impressive work.” Hild joined her favorite minion atop the building once the lesser creature had left.
Mara only frowned. “It's too easy. This much agitation within such an insular culture isn't right.”
In return the Grand Demoness nodded only slightly. “Your thoughts on the matter?”
“Somebody put down a lot of ground work for me.” Mara pointed at several blips on the screen. “The timing on this election is just too perfect. I could be reaping the anger from a full blown riot in just a few weeks if I can keep this up.”
“Rothgan's curse, how is that coming along?” Hild asked with particular interest. She had a feeling that those two children were the key to something much bigger.
Mara nodded as she pulled up the information. “Two healthy baby girls. Isn't all that surprising considering. Tendo tried the morning after and an abortion pill, both failed. She's taken to calling it Ranma's child now that she's showing.”
“My, my. That will not end well.” Hild's smile grew as she considered the situation. “A sister and a half sister. Does Rothgan know what Welsper told you?”
Mara shrugged, it wasn't like the corrupt tree had anything to offer for that kind of information. “No idea. Don't think he's thinking much further ahead than paying off his debts to the hoard.”
“True.” Hild considered the sequence of events. Rothgan had raped the two women long before Welsper had reported the temple had a new resident. “So many possibilities here.”
“All far too subtle for a fertility demon.” Mara closed the file once Hild had her fill of it. “If anything...”
Hild looked at her subordinate as she stopped. “Well?”
Mara closed the floating console. “My honest opinion is this is someone else has been meddling here. At least a class two or better.”
A small smile crossed Hild's perfect lips. She disappeared without a word leaving Mara alone on the roof once again. She was sure someone was stirring the pot the question was who.
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(Posted Sun, 23 Oct 2011 07:43)
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