As the two rode on the bus Ranma looked at her watch. Belldandy pulled on the bell and the driver stopped the bus at the next corner. Ranma followed her companion out of the bus. The two sat down at on a bench several blocks away from the stop. As the two sat in silence she wondered just what strange task they were up to. Ranma's head turned as Belldandy's cheerful voice started to speak. “Want to help me again?”
Ranma paused for a moment. She looked around for ghosts and such not finding anything out of place Ranma replied. “I guess so. I'm not going to end up covered in goo?”
Belldandy shook her head. “No, no more goo today.”
Ranma asked as she looked around the busy street wondering just what a goddess needed to do in a place like this. “Alright, what do you need me to do.”
“Just smile and be yourself.” Belldandy stood up and they walked over to a street vendor. A line of people in business suits and and work clothes crowed the street corner. Ranma checked her watch as they stood in line. The tiny device read one ten. “Don't we have to be some where at one twenty?”
Belldandy nodded. “Just across the street two meters from that statue.” The goddesses tone changed ever so slightly. “This is your last chance to back out. You'll have to do three things once you take up this assignment.”
“Uh... is it that serious?” Ranma paused as the warning hit her ears.
“It's nothing you can't handle but it is a commitment.” The two moved forward slowly as the street vendor filled the lunch rush orders. “I'll tell you that you'll be helping a person that needs it.”
Ranma nodded she was filled with an odd sensation of pride. Belldandy was trusting her with something important. Part of her could feel the tiny call as she resolved herself. “Tell me what I need to do.”
“Three slices of veggie and three bottles of water.” Belldandy ordered as she winked at Ranma.
The goddess handed over a bit of money and received her change. The two stepped to the side as they waited for their order.
“Bell... what's going on?” Ranma asked curiously as she looked around the street.
The goddess smiled. “With a little help from us, nothing. Check your watch.”
Ranma looked down at the small clock. “One thirteen.”
Belldandy took the bottles of water. She placed two in her purse and kept one in her hand. She took a slice of pizza and motioned for Ranma to take the other. “Timing is key on an assignment like this.”
“Hey wait where are we going?” Ranma stood beside Belldandy as they waited for the cross walk. “What's with the pizza?”
Belldandy dropped one bottle of water into her bag. She pulled a business card out of her purse and handed it to Ranma. “You'll need that.”
Ranma looked at the card with her name embossed across the top. It was a plain piece of paper with her phone number embossed on it. “Bell what's going on.”
Belldandy smiled as she looked the blond girl over. “You'll find out soon enough!”
The bewildered girl stumbled into a bench as the pies and water were shoved into her arms. She looked up at her sister-figure and asked, “What kind of errand is this?”
“An important one!” Belldandy walked gave her a little wave. “Now, be nice! Wait here!”
“Nice? This isn't another ghost is it?” Ranma sat on the stone seat beside the bit of modern art. The occasional drop from the modern water feature hit her in the back of her head. The goddess disappeared into the crowd. Ranma looked at the fountain then at the slick concrete around her. Another drop of cold water hit her in the back of her head and she stood up. Ranma took two steps forward paying more attention to the urban art than the people around her. Yet again Ranma found herself completely baffled by the actions of a goddess. She could tell Belldandy was close but not too close. Ranma's head swiveled around as she tried to find Belldandy in the crowd. “Bell!”
“Oof!” A woman squeaked as she walked into the pony-tailed blond.
Ranma looked down at the short woman and blinked. A box lunch sprawled across the ground and her tea cup poured all over the concrete patio. “Oh I'm so sorry.” Ranma quickly moved to help the woman up.
The girl stood up on her own and all Ranma managed to do was grope her breast. An embarrassed cry came from the office girl as she slipped back down onto the ground.
On the ground the girl mumbled something incoherently. She pushed the hair back out of her eyes. This time she looked up and took Ranma's extended hand. Ranma noticed the crop of bright pink hair. The blond girl rubbed the back of her head. “Sorry, I kinda ruined your lunch didn't I.”
“It's alright... I should be on a diet anyway.” The girl meekly offered trying to avoid confrontation.
Ranma looked the skinny girl over and laughed. “Cute girl like you on a diet. Nah! Here I have an extra slice of pizza.”
The woman looked oddly at Ranma for a moment then spoke up. “I couldn't I mean... You really don't need to worry about it.”
“I insist you should join me!” Ranma grabbed up the slices of pie from where she was sitting. Before she knew it the office girl was sharing lunch with an extremely talkative girl.
Ranma looked at Belldandy then at the business card in her hand. Then at her sister-figure again. “So if I hadn't said yes would you have done that?”
“Of course.” Belldandy smiled as she watched Ranma's expression twist and turn.
The resurrected girl scrutinized her friend's face. “But you and Keichii...”
The impish goddess teased. “There were many ways to handle that situation. Flirting with her was simply the one you picked.”
“I picked!” Ranma blushed brightly as she tried to escape the argument. “Masami and I were just talking there was no flirting!”
“And you picked well!” A lyrical laugh came from the goddess. She caressed Ranma's face and honestly stated, “You saved six lives today.”
Ranma blinked in disbelief. How did spilling a girl's lunch and sharing a slice of pizza save lives. Saving lives usually meant beating up monsters, epic quests to kill phoenix kings and giant ghost cats.
Belldandy's smile dimmed slightly as she repeated some of the details from the file to Ranma. “She was supposed to walk out in front of a car she didn't see because she was distracted and depressed about her life. Today she got a date with a cute girl and the world is looking up for her. Tomorrow you'll go out and see a movie with her. After that well you'd have to ask Skuld.”
“Wait what, I mean how do you get six?” Ranma blinked as she tried to wrap her head around the numbers.
“You saved her, the man who ran that red light that would have injured her, his wife and son, her ex-boyfriend and her mother.” Belldandy grinned as she pointed out the ripples of a simple accident.
Ranma took a breath as she felt slightly light headed. The power of a first class goddess in even the simplest things affected so many people.
“Every thing is connected Ranma.” The bus came to a stop and the two headed towards the temple. “That was one of the first things I ever learned.”
She scratched her head and pondered the wisdom. “Bet you could have probably done it with just a smile.”
“Perhaps.” Belldandy tilted her head to the side as a finger came to her lips. “Then again, this was far more interesting.”
Ranma grimaced as she realized she was going on a date, with a girl. A cute girl with basically no strings attached. A small smile crept onto her face. Then she frowned. “You better not tell Urd about this.”
“About what?” Asked the cupid of love.
Belldandy smiled at Ranma then at her sister. “That Ms. Ranma did very well helping me with a 601-C case.”
“Oh?” Urd seemed positively interested in the news. “How did she do?”
The middle sister smiled as she said. “Six of six souls saved and she has a cute date tomorrow night! With a little work she she might affect another few souls for the better.”
Urd's eyes narrowed as she looked at Ranma and then at Belldandy. “A date you say.”
“Oh, have you decided what movie you're going to see?” Belldandy gave her the I'm your best friend and you better tell me all the details look.
Ranma flinched as the two girls poked her for details. “I don't know yet! She's just a friend!”
Ranma slipped away from the sisters and into her room. She shut the door behind her. Part of her didn't know what to make of what happened this after noon. A 601-C, helping a mortal in need, it was a typical assignment. Ranma wondered how was she supposed to guide some shy girl. She thumbed the slip of paper as she starred at the ceiling. What was going on with her. Was Masami flirting with her or was she just trying to make a friend.
A small groan escaped the girl. She realized Belldanday said she needed to do three things. Ranma had a good feeling that today only counted as one.
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(Posted Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:25)
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