It had been five years since his Prince and Princess had been murdered, and yet he still couldn't believe it. There were times that he expected Herb to come out and tell him to do something. Or for Ranma to make a comment about how they needed to 'stop being jerks'. For him, it was just like he had just seen them on their way only days earlier.
And then there were the children. He could still remember how proud the Prince had been when his Princess had made him a father. The rather austere figure that he had known had doted on them, caring for his two offspring quite obviously. Enough so that he managed to mock himself a bit.
Not that the tiger-descended man could blame him. Coriander still had a place in his heart, as he could remember the little girl who had never been afraid of him. In fact, she had treated him as if he was some sort of big living teddy bear. Basil had been a little scamp who was always getting into something even when he was told not to.
The Royal Family had appeared to be just that. A truely honest family. Herb had clearly cherished his wife and children, and she returned the feeling. Both children were well loved and cared for and would grow into fine rulers in their own time.
But someone had taken their parents from them and Lime was determined not to allow those who had done so to go unpunished. However his Princess had told him to keep hidden and to be ready because the children would need their people when the time came. It was hard, but he was determined to wait for the time when the Heirs were ready and then he would be ready to help them in anyway that he could.
Just then Mint came running up and slid to a stop. "Everything checks out."
"So there's no change?" Lime asked.
"No sign that they are trying to contact us, or anything else for that matter."
"Then we wait."
"But for long?"
"We were told to wait, so we wait."
"Yeah... I know. It's just that..."
The taller Musk warrior nodded in agreement. He could appreciate the sentiment, but all he could do was stand there and wonder what was happening with Corriander and Basil.
Taro looked at Coriander and couldn't help noticing how she had looked just like her mother when she was determined. At the moment, she was a very pretty girl, but there was no doubt in his mind that she would follow in her footsteps and become a beautiful woman. And she was already showing as take charge and forthright a personality that Ranma had had.
Which was being demonstrated in the same 'not-going-to-back-down' expression he had seen on Ranma's face when they had fought. It told him that the moment that he had been fearing had come, and the girl who he had begun to think of as a daughter had to be told the truth.
So, he took a deap breath and asked, "Do you remember what I told you about your mother and father?"
"Yes," she said carefully, "You said that they died when I was just a little kid."
If it had not been a serious moment, he would have laughed. Instead, he just continued. "That wasn't the whole truth."
"Then what is?"
"The two of them were murdered."
Obvious distress clouded her eyes. "What?"
"They were killed on purpose."
"Who? Why?"
"Now, the authorities don't have any sort of leads still, but from what your mother told me when she left you here, I'm reasonably sure that I know who did it."
"Who did it?"
"I can't tell you at the moment."
"Why not?!" she demanded with tears running down her face.
"Because you're not ready to go after them. Or to have them come after you. When you are, then I'll tell you."
"When's that going to be?"
"When Kiima-sensei and I say so. Not before then."
"Then I guess that I'm going to have to get ready," she told him resolutely."
"I'm sure that you will. But just remember something."
"What?"
"Your mother brought you to us to protect you. She loved you very much and if you do something to hurt yourself, then that would go against what she wanted for you. Not to mention irritating me to no end."
The redhead gave a strangled cross between a sniffle and a giggle. "You don't want that, huh?"
"Not if I can help it. Now come on. We have work to do."
She nodded and they left while:
(Posted Wed, 16 Jul 2003 19:22)
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