"Herb, why are we going back to Japan?" Mint asks me, seeming eager to turn around and go home. We are about an hour out from Japan on the fishing boat whose services we acquired, and will hopefully arrive there in time to prevent anything from going wrong. "Why can't we just stay back in the kingdom?" Lime is apparently curious as well, but is silent, apparently preferring to trust in my judgment.
"We are returning to Japan to prevent Saotome from having any reason to return to China. Kiima was spotted heading towards Japan, remember. If she angers him, it is possible he may decide to simply avenge any attack she makes by returning to China to destroy the Phoenix people, and his wrath may stretch to older foes as well. We are far from him normally, but if he should be nearby and in a mood to avenge any slights against him..." I trail off, letting them fill in the blanks. I have to assume what Saotome might do from what observations I have made of him. A warrior like he is, able to defeat both myself, and later, Saffron, will almost surely have the temper of a dragon. Slow to anger, but once his wrath is drawn forth, volcanic and unstoppable, which I do not wish to face. Saffron, an immortal Phoenix, was very nearly snuffed out by Saotome Ranma, and he would defeat me should we ever fight.
"I get it," Mint says, going pale at the thought of facing Saotome Ranma. Saffron was using his full power in the fight with Saotome, which he has not done in several generations. Originally, Saffron was a mere spirit of fire, a Greater Phoenix, one whose power was exceptional among his kind. Later, as he grew stronger and other Greater Phoenix were ended or decided to sleep in their eggs for centuries at a time, his people began to revere him as a god. This worship changed his nature, slowly turning him from a nature spirit, as he is still regarded by most, to a full fledged divine being, who rapidly grew stronger. That strength was unleashed, and Saotome defeated it. I could not defeat him now, and thus my mission is two fold. Find some way to make myself into one of Saotome's friends, and prevent Kiima from doing anything stupid. She is one of the many who do not know about Saffron's ascension to divinity, one of his most carefully kept secrets.
"Good. Now, the first place we need to look, according to the Amazons, are two shops which they provided directions to, luckily. Once we land, you two are not only my guards, you are Saotome's guards as well," I say. "Prevent Kiima from striking at him at all costs, as we cannot afford to incur his wrath before he know what shape it may take," I continue, then go to grab my belongings which are belowdecks, while the conversation was held at the bow. Among my belongings, I am carrying armor and weapons for Saotome, magical blades of all types which may provide sufficient tribute to convince him not to consider me an enemy. I was instructed by my father to treat this mission as if I was acting as envoy to a greater king, who is owed service and tribute.
I am hoping that the Musk females who were removed from their usual seclusion solely to join the tribute, will manage to convince him to consider me an ally. Two women of the Tiger clan, roughly his age, as well as another female of the Mantis Clan.
The first two are strong and have excellent endurance, as well as being attractive. Twin sisters, amber eyes slitted like a cat's, long red hair, and a figure quite attractive, even with their tails, claws, and cat ears added into the mix. Both are skilled in the arts of chi manipulation, and should add something to his art.
The Mantis clan female is largely normal by current human standards in terms of appearance, and should blend in well. Black hair, a figure that will likely distract any male except Saotome, and extensive mastery of a blade, she has been interested in creating an armed branch of his style for some time now, and looks forward to working with him.
Perhaps they will keep Saotome from paying attention to old foes like myself, which could be bad if he thinks that all the kingdom should pay for my offenses against his pride when we first met. I silently gather my belongings, and before I know it, we're docking, having arrived in Japan. I silently send a prayer to the heavens and hope for the best, as that being achieved is likely the only way I will leave this island with the goodwill of Saotome.
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(Posted Mon, 19 Aug 2013 11:13)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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