She squatted down to the ground and clasped her hands to her knees. Even the change of posture didn’t help, so she fell over the side with a thunk, almost like a falling marble sculpture. The pigeons thought so too, because they started roosting on the top of her head.
Her thoughts turned to her master. Why didn’t he want her to go with him? She played back the scene at the breakfast table, the way he quickly left…”
Kurumi gasped, jerking up into a sitting position, startling the pigeons.
“Could he be afraid of Kurumi?”? That must be it. Come to think of it…” She replayed their conversation in her head. Kurumi stood up, horrified.
“He must have been afraid when he said that.” Her cute face took on a confused expression.
“But Why? Why? Why!? Did Kurumi did something wrong?” She shook her pink-maned head violently.
“No, Kurumi was only doing what was best for her Master!”
Suddenly, Kurumi clutched one hand to her chest and faced the temple entrance.
“What? I feel something strange.”
A female figure, dressed in a dark navy and white maid’s uniform, was slowly walking up the temple stairs. In measured steps, she slowly ascended and finally came to a stop on the right side of the temple torii, right next to the post. It was a six-foot oak post, well seasoned and had been part of the original temple construction, which dated back since the Tokugawa period. It has withstood the elements and earthquakes. It would have taken a person with an axe the better part of an hour to chop it down. Less, if they used a chainsaw, faster still, if they used explosives.
With a gunshot crack, Saki chopped a huge wedge into the ancient wood. The right post leaned to the right, straining the other post. The entire torii started leaning to the right side. The same exact blow was executed to the left post with the same exact sound, matching the cut created on the right.
The entire structure swiftly dropped to the temple roof with a resounding crash. Kurumi shielded her face from the broken roof tiles and wood splinters that came down from the temple roof. The startled individuals who were inside the compound rushed to the outer courtyard to investigate. What they saw startled them: the torii was leaning against the temple.
Kamahito looked on with an expression of shock, Nakahito just stood there mouth wide open and Dr. Ajanokoji, right behind the others, took one looked and asked, “Kamahito, what in the world happened?”
Nakhito (Nakahito) glanced at the outer courtyard entrance and gasped in shock, drawing the others attention in that direction. There was Saki, standing nonchalantly. She faced the trio and asked “Where is Kurumi?” in a mechanical tone of voice.
“Saki” blurted out a shocked Dr. Ayanokoji. To say that Dr. Ayanokoji was stunned at finding his missing creation up and about was an understatement. “Who? Who activated her?” The doctor knew he was babbling, but he couldn’t help himself.
“Where is Kurumi?” Saki repeated, walking towards the trio. When there was no answer she repeated her question, “Where is Kurumi?” in an irritated tone.
“Kurumi is right here!” Kurumi replied as she leaped into the outer courtyard.
Saki observed the pink-hair Steel Angel landing on the ground then made her move. She ran up to Kurumi and launched a right cross to her face. Despite taken off guard, by the sudden attack, Kurumi evaded the blow.
“Who are you? Why are you doing this all of a sudden?” Kurumi was confused at having a complete stranger attacking her out of the blue. It would have been a normal state of affair for Ranma, but Kurumi was fairly new at this.
Kurumi got into an offensive stance and was preparing to counterattack when her eyes suddenly widened. She dropped her guard and just stood there, lost in thought.
Saki, seizing the opportunity, rushed into her and attacked with a spin kick to her temples followed by a jumping side kick to her midsection. The attack broke Kurumi out of her reverie and barely dodged both blows.
Saki continued on and impacted into a side of the temple. The damage done, plus the weight of the torii on the roof, caused the temple to crash to the ground. Kurumi, in the meantime, had jumped clear. Saki followed in pursuit.
“ Stop it, stop doing this!” pleaded Kurumi.
Silence was Saki’s answer as the battle raged on. The pair bounded like a pair jumping jackrabbits all over the courtyard, the sound of Saki’s blows impacting on Kurumi’s flesh ringing loudly. She could not avoid dodge or block the blows forever. Kurumi took hits, weakening her, until Saki finally caught up to Kurumi in the air.
“Stop it! You’re wrecking the master’s house!” Kurumi pleaded.
Saki said nothing as she pitched Kurumi into the temple roof. The pink-haired Steel Angel crashed through the roof. Saki landed on the roof, watching impassively.
“Saki, stop it please!” Kurumi pleaded once more, as she climbed out of the rubble.
“I must destroy you.” Saki answered, as she leapt down from the roof.
Right cross…
Axe kick…
Sliding back kick…
Spinning back fist…
Right cross…
Left jab…
Right hook…
Saki was unrelenting as she continued to rain blows on Kurumi. Eventually a blow got through her guard, smashing her into a post on the courtyard wooden wall. Kurumi slumped down.
“Please…stop”, Kurumi whispered as Saki drew near. Saki’s answer, as always, was the same.
“I must destroy you.” Saki grabbed Kurumi by the throat, hauled her up, and began brutally pounding Kurumi in the stomach. The vibrations rattled the tiles on the roof amid Kurumi’s cries of pain echoing in the courtyard.
Nakahito, Kamahito and Dr. Ayanokoji were appalled at scene being played before them. They longed to help Kurumi, but they knew that interfering would be suicide. They all had the same thought. Why won’t she fight!?
The last punch that Saki landed on Kurumi’s stomach broke the post and hurtled Kurumi in the middle of courtyard. The temple finally was reduced to a pile of rubble. Kurumi struggled up to a sitting position. Saki casually picked up a broken post; it’s broken edges jagged. With a great thrust, she speared Kurumi in the stomach, still holding on to the post. She then heaved and threw the post at a courtyard wall, with Kurumi gaffed on the end. The impact created a spider web of cracks around Kurumi, who is barely conscious from the pain.
Saki landed a punch on Kurumi that finally broke the post, hurtling Kurumi into the middle of the courtyard while reducing the temple to ruble. Saki casually picked up a broken post with jagged edges while Kurumi struggled to sit up. She speared Kurumi in the stomach with a great thrust, holding on to one end. With a great heave, she lifted and threw the post at courtyard wall, Kurumi gaffed on the end. The impact shook the wall and created a spider web of cracks around Kurumi, who is barely conscious from the pain.
Dr. Amagi was watching as Saki speared Kurumi from a hill over looking the temple with an impassive expression. She took no pleasure in the events, but duty was duty. Soon Dr. Ayanokoji would be brought back under the Army’s control. She had started coming down the hill when she observed a black and red object rapidly approaching the temple. The scientist frowned. She had forgotten there were two Steel Angels. She turned back to observe events.
Kamahito watched in horror as Saki speared Kurumi. The priest prayed fervently. He prayed for a miracle that can save Kurumi. The miracle came in a form of a black and red blur dropping out of the sky.
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(Posted Tue, 27 May 2003 08:23)
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