And even then, there was no small degree of risk involved. Getting Ranma to teach Hotaru martial arts would almost guarantee that the other senshi would meet Ranma, and likely long before Hotaru could lay claim to him.
Minako was a threat only in that she might scare Hotaru off from trying to attract Ranma's interest - she'd come on far too strong to get any favorable reaction from Ranma. Usagi wasn't likely to pursue Ranma in the first place. Ami, Makoto, and Rei were all far more dangerous to her plans, however. Each of them understood loneliness and could correspondingly worm their way into Ranma's heart.
If it weren't for Neo-Serenity's instructions, she would have been tempted to let the three each have a shot at wooing the martial artist. Heck, if it didn't work out between Hotaru and Ranma, she'd still probably direct the three his way. He didn't deserve the death she'd learned would befall him and any one of them could be happy with him.
But if Hotaru's death was to be avoided, she had to have the first shot.
It was too much to worry about now. First, she had to get Ranma. Then she could figure out how to run interference for Hotaru.
Steeling herself, she briskly entered the compound, approached the front door, and knocked.
The eldest Tendo daughter soon opened the door, "Oh, hello. Welcome to the Tendo dojo. How may we help you?"
"Hello. I am in need of a good instructor of the martial arts, one used to dealing with odd situations. May I come in and speak to the head of the dojo?" Ideally, she'd be able to present her case to the adults in the household before Ranma returned.
"Yes, of course. Come in." Kasumi turned and led Setsuna in to where her father was sitting.
"That is part of it, yes," came Setsuna's cool response. Just sitting here talking to Nodoka, Genma, and Soun made her want to go take a shower and cleanse herself of their taint. They might as well have been personifications of Lust, Gluttony, and Sloth for all she could tell.
"But the frequent occurrence of 'youma' in the area means you must find someone familiar with those types of creatures as well?" Nodoka asked to clarify.
"Exactly, ma'am."
"And while teaching your ward, you wish for him or her to live in the same building? With three other women residing there?"
Setsuna nodded, "Yes." She figured that the easiest way to garner Nodoka's support was to suggest this was an opportunity for her son to be 'manly', whatever warped definition she used. The fact that two of his future roommates had no use for 'manly' men was not something the Saotome matron needed to know.
As she suspected, Nodoka was soon lost in her own little world filled with grandchildren.
As if she'd let someone as twisted as Nodoka anywhere near any of her grandkids.
Genma had already gotten lost in his own little world ever since she mentioned how much she was willing to pay.
"Very well," Soun concluded, "We shall send both Ranma and Akane..."
Having expected this, Setsuna cut him off. "Two instructors? The price I agreed to was for only one instructor. Two instructors are likely to confuse my ward more than help her. There is to be only one student after all. I shall not pay for two instructors when I only want one.
"Besides, as I mentioned we will be in a very dangerous area. If Ranma is spending the proper amount of time instructing my daughter, he will have little time to protect yours. And do they not say absence makes the heart grow fonder?"
That was enough to bring the Tendo patriarch around. At least she assumed so, from what she could tell of his weeping.
"I'm home," Ranma called out from the entryway.
And yet here she was, standing on the street with her back to the closed Tendo gate. Ranma was beside her, fully packed backpack at his feet, and blinking in confusion.
"Um, what's going on?" Ranma asked, pleadingly.
Setsuna gave him a small smile. "I've hired your services. Come, I will explain on the way."
"What kind of services?" Ranma wearily asked.
"My daughter, a couple of years younger than yourself, needs to learn martial arts. You are the best, so I hired you to teach her. Is that acceptable?"
"Uh, yeah, I guess..."
"Well, then," Setsuna commanded, "come along. We'll get you settled in tonight and then you can meet your new student."
With a sigh and a glance back at the place he'd called home for the last two years, Ranma hefted his pack and followed Setsuna.
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(Posted Tue, 29 Jul 2003 04:21)
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