It was also really darn hot and humid and the aforementioned breeze was the only thing keeping this from that oppressively still and miserable summer heat.
The hareem of Lord Ranma were wearing their hareem clothes as none of them planned on spending a lot of time out of the inner keep at present. Even the yukata tended to be stifling in the current temperatures, and nobody gave them much of an eye anyway...
"So Hotaru remembers her real past, but views it mainly as a dream and her life here is the real one?" Michiru frowned at that. That Hotaru seemed so chipper and upbeat about the whole thing was kind of strange though...
"Yes, she obviously has a crush on him," agreed Setsuna.
"She also mentioned 'powers', so we still have our Sailor identities?" Michiru speculated. "Yet when I tried to transform, nothing happened."
"I haven't looked into that yet," admitted Setsuna.
"There's a rider approaching," called out Hotaru from the tower she'd apparently chosen.
Everyone except the apparently still comatose Ranma came out to look.
Setsuna's jaw dropped as she realized who it was, and how much he'd changed.
"I'm too damn old for this," grumbled Genma. "Two days in the saddle to the nearest depot, two days by train to the capitol, four days of hard wooden floors and boring political speeches. Then repeat in reverse. Isn't the life of an old warrior supposed to be where he takes up bonsai or something while sipping cold brew and talking about how they keep changing things too much?"
The breeze and the crows didn't seem inclined to argue.
"You love it and you know it," said the horse with a splutter. "Besides, who had to haul your lard ass all the way from here to the mountains?"
"Hmph," said Genma. "No respect. Even from my horse."
"Not everyone has a horse smarter than they are," pointed out the horse. "Be grateful for what you've got. Though I'm looking forward to when they extend that rail line all the way down."
"Bah. Then you'll get fat and lazy, won't you?" asked Genma. "Like I was saying - a proper fate for old warriors who have survived their generation's battles. Far better than dying in battle, at least that's my look on it."
"Hmmm, you just might have a point there," said the horse. "Place has calmed down a lot. I remember when you riding alone from the village would have brought bandits eager for an easy kill."
"Maybe we killed them all?" Genma suggested hopefully. "Whoa. Why are you stopping?"
"I smell... magic. Not those concubines of your son's either." The horse, whose name was Horse, snorted.
"The Sorceress?" Genma put his hand to the grip of his katana and looked about. "It is about that time, isn't it?"
"The Prophesy states she'll go after your son. Only he can save the Empire, and only one of his bed-mates can save him," said Horse thoughtfully. "Which I suspect was a major reason for one of your little deals."
"Well, it certainly pleased Nodoka," said Genma. "Should I draw..."
"No. You know how irritable HE can be, besides, the scent isn't that strong. She might have been trying to spy on us," said Horse. "Let's get going again. I'll feel better with some weight off my back."
"Hah!" Genma grinned and slapped the side of Horse's neck. "You think you'll be grateful? With your gait I need a couple of pillows.... wait no don't gallop! Ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow!"
The young samurai, boys really, rushed to respectfully lead the horse and its rider in.
The inner gates crashed open as Genma limped his way up the stairs. "Damn uppity horse."
"Lord Genma," said Hotaru, leaping from tower to gate to stairs to bow as he entered. "I hope your trip went well."
Genma himself grinned and winked, and tousled young Hotaru's hair as he passed her by. "Where is that disrespectful and lazy boy of mine?! Doesn't he know to greet his father better than that!"
"Errr. That is, he..." Usagi wasn't handling the explanation very well.
"Well, that is one of the duties of the position, isn't it?" growled Genma. "Ahhh! There you are Ranma!"
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(Posted Sat, 13 Sep 2003 13:23)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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