There were a lot of familiar faces at the party, and with all the talking she was matching names to a lot of them. And, finding their buddies as well, though that didn't concern her as much. She was looking for the pricks that had frequented her business. Especially the cops.
And then she caught sight of another familiar face, but unlike the others, she couldn't place him immediately. Of course, there had been many, many men, and some she had only caught a glimpse of, or else they come only once or twice. There was one way to find out, though.
****
Gordon kept his eye on Dent and Flass as the party continued, noting that several among Flass's group were doing the same.
"Can't you relax for a moment, James?" his wife asked. "It's a party, not a stakeout."
Gordon laughed slightly in a grim tone before nodding.
"I'm sorry, Barbara," he said. "I'm just a little cautious is all."
****
"So, what are you?" a woman's voice asked.
Ryouga turned to see a Japanese woman with blonde hair, a wig or bleached hair of course. There was something familiar about her, but he couldn't catch quite what it was at first.
"Excuse me?" he asked, cautiously.
She moved closer and looked him over, speaking in a sultry manner.
"Most men are either pigs or sheep," she said, circling him and trailing a light finger about him that rose a faint flush to his cheeks. "With a few tigers and wolves scattered throughout. So what are you? A pig? A sheep? Or something more worthwhile?"
A flash of recognition went through Ryouga's head then as the woman stopped in front of him again. This woman was the Catwoman, he could tell from her manner even without the cat-like features.
"Well, I'm sorta a company guy so," he paused, acting rather naive and befuddled. "A pig I guess."
"A virgin pig at that," the woman said noting the behavior, looking him over another time and then almost dismissing him. She started to turn around and then stopped. "Still, there is something about you. Maybe a turn on the dance floor will help me remember."
"Fine," Ryouga said. "If you like."
He held out his hands and let her step into them, almost immediately she was leading the dance. It was expected, the Catwoman did like to have her way.
"I'm afraid I didn't catch your name," Ryouga said uncertainly as the woman continued to lead the dance.
"I hadn't given it," she said. "Yet."
"And will you give it now?" Ryouga asked.
"Maybe," she said. "That boon has a price."
"And what's the price?" Ranma asked.
"A name in return," she answered through narrowed eyes.
"That's easy enough," Ryouga said. "But ladies first." The comment was accompanied by a desolate laughter.
"That's a title I don't claim," the thief said disdainfully. "But if you must be so traditional, my name is Ranma Saotome."
Ryouga frowned at the name as it recalled something to him, but the what exactly escaped his grasp.
"Now, I believe it is time for your part of the bargain," Ranma said. "Mr."
"Hibiki," Ryouga said. The woman's body immediately turned a little tenser.
"Hibiki?" she repeated, leaning straight back.
"Ryouga Hibiki," he repeated. Ranma frowned and stepped away from him, releasing him from the dance's embrace. "Is something wrong?"
"Not a thing," Ranma said. "I just remembered that have an appointment to keep. Sorry to cut this short, but I don't have time for little pigs." She smirked and turned a graceful twist as she floated off the dance floor. "Don't get lost now."
Ryouga frowned at sudden end to the dancing and the parting comment. Of course, it couldn't have meant anything. Who did he know named Ranma?
****
Ranma came to a stop in the woman's restroom and starting chattering to herself in Japanese.
"Ryouga Hibiki," she repeated. "Why it couldn't have been someone else, anyone else. At least the dunce didn't seem to remember me."
She sighed. Ryouga Hibiki the famed retard of her junior high, he was there, and he was dressed like he had planned to be here tonight. She swallowed and considered that, hoping nothing would come to mind about her in his memories now.
Again, it was time for work. She'd show this papers just who was a common thief.
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(Posted Sat, 16 Aug 2003 10:33)
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