Skuld cried out loud enough for the whole house to hear. “They are doing it again!”
Belldandy and Keichii came out onto the patio. Ranma was laying on her stomach with a study guide in front of her. An arms length way sat a black cat with a star on his face. “Shut up Skuld.”
“Quiet Vanir!” Welsper choked back an insult as it was sure to set Skuld off. He stared at Ranma intently. “Don't mess this up!”
The two continued locking eyes. Urd smirked as she watched the demon and mortal stare each other down. Keichii groaned as their staring contest kicked into high gear. The gear head let out a groan. “I'll get the bucket.”
Ranma growled out, “Don't do it Morisato. I got this.”
Keichii averted his eyes as the two engaged in another staring contest. He's seen how the blond had defeated the demon cat several times now but did not want to risk become collateral damage again. Ranma sat up just a bit her generous breasts pulled dangled between her torso and the floor. “He doesn't have the fortitude to beat me.”
“I'm a cat!” Welsper narrowed his eyes as he bore down on the girl. “We can stare at prey for hours.”
“That might have worked last life.” Ranma shifted a bit and teased, “But, you know you just want to take a nice nap in my warm cleavage.”
Welsper twitched a bit. Even as a female cat the male demon had his weaknesses. Ranma smirked and arched her back slightly. The demon faltered as Ranma tugged her tank top down just a bit. The black cat blinked. Ranma triumphantly smirked. “Yep just a horny little tom cat.”
Skuld dryly commented at the shameless display. “Definitely one of Urd's.”
“Miss Ranma!” Belldandy seemed a bit shocked but also seemed to be paying close attention to Keichii's reaction. Maybe he would like it is she started wearing more tank tops.
Urd laughed and then laughed a bit harder. “What's that make you 8 and 3 now?”
Ranma happily nodded. “Not even a challenge at this point.” She scratched down an answer to the practice test she was taking.
The Goddess of Love rolled her eyes. “Well we know for sure there isn't any extra crazy lurking in that pretty blond head of yours.”
“Oh, I'm sure she has plenty of crazy up there.” Skuld sat on the girl in question.
Ranma let the weight push her to the floor. She tilted slightly and made Skuld roll off her back. Ranma twisted in a cat like motion letting Skuld slide to the floor. She rolled on top of the young goddess and pinned her to the floor. She teased the startled girl. “Crazy is such a relative term.”
Urd and Keichii chuckled at the pun for different reasons. Skuld squeaked a bit as Ranma pinched her sides as she sat up. Ranma began to tickle the youngest norn. “So whats going on now?”
Skuld let out a playful squeel as Ranma tickled her. “Treat your little sister to ice cream with your winnings?” Skuld asked as she was pinned the floor.
The sound of water spraying against something caught their attention. Ranma sniffed the air and the harsh smell of ammonia hit her nose. She watched as Welsper peed on her study guide. “You!”
Welsper back up. “Hey we were sitting there for four hours!”
Ranma lunged at the cat and began chasing it out of the house. Belldandy went to get a towel. Skuld and Urd pinched their noses and walked away. Shouting and stumbling could be heard as the two darted around the house. The two moved at ridiculous speeds but their chase was confined to the temple grounds. They darted around corners, through halls, and over the roof. The case seemed without end until Ranma's temper hit a limit.
“Urd Bolt!”
Skuld looked at Urd who was lounging on the couch. Urd sat straight up. Skuld looked at the direction the thunder had come from then at Urd. “That wasn't you.”
“No.” A pale faced Goddess of the Past replayed the moment in her mind.
Belldandy came into the room looked at her closely. “Urd, you really shouldn't have done that.”
“I didn't!” Urd snapped her mouth shut. She wasn't exactly sure just what happened. “I'll make sure she doesn't do it again.”
Urd stood up and quickly walked out of room to hunt down Ranma.
Belldandy looked at Skuld for a moment. “You haven't given Ranma any bombs have you?”
The younger sister shrank back a bit. “Maybe a small one.”
Urd hurried to the back yard. She looked at their young guest with a bit of worry. Welsper was a bit of a poof ball. The low level shock did little to the demon other than stun him. “Ranma...”
The blond headed girl turned to Urd then back to the cat. She poked the black fuzz ball a few times. “Yea?”
The black poof ball twitched a bit on the ground. He let out a groan and rolled over. “Come on we need to talk.”
“Um, what about that...” Ranma poked the twitching creature again.
Urd grabbed Ranma by the hand and pulled. “He's fine...”
Ranma followed Urd back into her room. The Goddess pulled a small stiletto out of her desk drawer. She looked Ranma over for a moment. Urd took a deep breath as if steadying herself for something. “Give me your hand.”
She looked at the Goddess, with knife in hand, hesitantly. “What's wrong?”
“I need to know something.” She motioned for Ranma's hand. “I just need a drop of blood.”
She held out her hand to the older woman. “If it's important sure.”
Urd pricked Ranma's finger then squeezed a bit of blood onto the metal length. Ranma could see the blade shake slightly as Urd brought it to her lips. The goddess mockingly teased. “No Urd bolts in the temple now!”
Ranma did her best to look scorned. “I'm sorry it just kinda happened.”
The Goddess pushed her tongue into the tiny pool of blood. She savored the sweet metallic taste, her demonic heritage craved the sweet red liquid. Then the spiritual bits began to filter in. The fresh blood told her all about Ranma's fear that this was something bad, the satisfaction of having blasted the demon cat, and the strong under current of happiness she had from being accepted into this place. Hints of magic from Laverna lingering on her body played across her pallet. The taste of her own power in the new vessel caressed her senses. Ranma's old self splashed across her tongue with a subtle hint. The pushed further into the tiny drop of blood and asked the tiny drop of Ranma, “How did you cast that spell?”
Urd came out of her trance and favored Ranma with a smile as she stepped back. She went over to a jewelry box and pulled out a silver bangle. “Can you wear this on your wrist for a few days? I need some information.”
“Uh, sure. Look if it's about the cat.” Ranma nervously shifted on her weight as she pinched her pricked finger.
Urd waved her hand. “It's nothing like that kiddo. Calling down a little Ol' Urd bolt on him was nothing. Now scoot, I need to figure out this little twist Laverna left us. Just have some fun on that date tonight!”
“It's night a date!” Ranma blushed at the small bit of teasing. “Masami is just a friend.”
“Sure thing kiddo!” Urd giggled a bit as she teased. “Don't give her too much tongue on the first kiss it leaves a bad impression.”
Ranma rolled her eyes and left the room. Urd shut the door and walked right over to a cheep bottle of sake. She flopped down on her bed as her fingers undid the screw cap. She raised her bottle and mockingly saluted the wall. “To changes.”
Lind frowned as she read off the final lines in the report. “A net loss of happiness in the area is expected to linger for the next thirty-six to forty-eight months. Motivation by darker emotions is expected to rise for the next eighteen months. It is still unknown how the underworld Goddess Laverna was involved with the situation. Second Class Death Goddess Botan reports that the name and contact information came with the file. She contacted the high risk agent per normal procedures.”
“We have all read the report. Thank you.” A calm voice stopped Lind's verbatim report. “What are your thoughts on the matter.”
She closed the folder. “Just enough went wrong and right for this to be ignored. The Goddess of Thieves entertaining the case is unsettling.”
“Your old sparring partner getting you nervous?” A different voice asked. “Do you have any thoughts on the goal she is working towards.”
Lind shook her head. “No, but from the sample of magic Urd saved from the potion we can say this plan has been in the works for a while. She identified it as water drawn from her well almost thirty five years ago.”
A voice challenged from the table. “She is an unpredictable element. What's to say she didn't just get tired of keeping the magic and decided to use it.”
“My reasoning is in another clue we have been given.” Lind placed the ax she had been given on the table. “She returned this to me during my investigation.”
The weapon was passed around the council chamber. Many comments floated around as the individual divinities inspected it. “A fine weapon. Fitting considering the demon that set in motion these events.”
Listened as the council made several comments. Her eyes did not leave the weapon once. “I have no doubt that it could cut down Rothgan's tree.”
“Limiters should be placed on it then.” Many voices in the council seconded the concern.
The Valkyrie nodded in agreement. She did not want to be responsible for the death of a god because of an unsealed weapon used on a demon.
“If you have nothing more to add then the council thanks you for your briefing.” The speaker pulled out the agenda detailing the next item on the agenda.
Lind spoke up quickly. “The two children Rothgan cursed. Has a protection detail been established?”
“Local agents have been allocated should Tendo or Saotome seek them out.” The councilor looked at the report. “The matter will be revisited when the souls reach self awareness.”
She gave a stiff bow as the council moved on to other business. Lind could not fault them. Their actions were well within the playbook. No effort was being held back but no special interest was being given. She nervously chewed on her lip. The young Valkyrie couldn't shake that uneasy feeling.
Peroth joined her in the hallway. The French Goddess walked quickly beside her. “You seemed unsettled by the council.”
Lind nodded as she kept a brisk pace. “She told me it was a game to be played with Goddesses and Heroes.”
“Who, what.” Peroth grabbed Lind by the wrist. “I'm not sure I follow you.”
The blue haired Goddess motioned to a place to sit down. “I spoke the Morrigan. She told me that I should have drawn that protection detail. Anann said that it should have been my name attached to Ranma's file. Instead I'm off fighting Reavers in South America so they can't drag away a pair of virgins.”
“Ok, so what? It was an inside job?” Peroth looked more confused than when she began the conversation.
Lind rubbed her forehead. “Alright
look at it this way. A death file comes out. It goes to analysis.
They decided who needs to be present for the soul in question.
Usually it's just a minor death god. They also decide if the soul in
question is worthy for intervention. If they qualify or need
intervention, a Valkyrie or Einherjar is sent in as well. Ranma
qualified on the basis that his father was the one offering up the
soul not himself. The catch is, Ranma would have have to ask for
intervention.”
Peroth nodded. “So, what if you were
there? You wouldn't have helped?”
“Only if he asked for it.” Lind looked down at the floor.
Peroth spun the situation. “Ok, so if you were there would you have stopped her from helping?”
Lind grimaced as she realized that her absence might not have been a good thing. “I don't know.”
“Don't lie.” The system administrator gave her a harsh look. “You would have only slowed Laverna down. Possibly giving Rothgan a window to actually collect the soul.”
Lind gripped her old ax tightly. She knew in her heart in a gray situation like this she would have probably errored on the sided of caution and possibly doomed Saotome.
Peroth tried to get more out of the agitated Valkyrie. “Let's take a look at the death file and find out who's pulling strings.”
Lind shook her head. “It doesn't exist anymore. It poofed the moment Urd brought her back to life. In fact Ranma's whole file is being reorganized under her new name.”
“Wait, what, no terminus for his file?” Peroth seemed slightly confused. “He died as Ranma Saotome.”
“Yea, and the file got its terminal entry.” Lind handed Peroth the new file. “Resurrection via rebirth. Meet Toshiko Wodandoitir A.K.A. Toshiko Morisato.”
Peroth let out a long whistle. “Urd is going to be pissed.” Her lips curled into a cute smile. “Can we give her a baby shower?”
Lind chuckled a bit as Peroth skimmed over the short file. “We should. You realize now just how bent the rules got.”
“Bent right over the bed frame.” Peroth closed the file. Her musical voice laughing at the thought. “Tricking Urd into conceiving a child. It's a dirty joke but to what end? I mean she's already seventeen. It's not like Urd actually has to take care of her.”
“I don't know.” Lind hung her head she looked tired. “This is all probably one big distraction. Come on let me check this at the armory. The sooner the limiter is on it the better I'll feel.”
Eventually arrived at and finished their business at the armory. Lind's gift was secured so that no unintentional harm could come from it. Peroth hurried the girl along “Come, come. We need gifts for young Toshiko and Urd.”
Lind smiled at the thought of going to earth and having a little fun.
Hild smiled as she received the news. Her minion retreated from her office as her pink lips curled into a smile. Her daughter had a daughter. It pleased her even more that her child wasn't with that Trubadore. Her smile wavered as she read the father was human. The name however drew her in. She tried to open the file of Urd's lover but found it pointed straight to Urd's daughter. “My, my daughter. Just what have you created.”
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(Posted Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:36)
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