Having joined him in what looked to be a fair-sized cafateria were Lain and Shinobu, along with Mutsumi, though the latter walked with slowly deliberate steps, obviously still recovering from the ordeal. It must have taken nearly everything she had in order to do what she'd done to rescue... well, all of them, honestly.
"That's right," she said, nodding at him weakly, and extending a hand towards him.
He blinked, remembering her powers, then grinned ruefully, and scratched the back of his neck nervously. After a second, he approached, and she took his arm, using his help to move to a seat at one of the tables. "Thanks," he said, shaking his head. "I don't even want to think about what would have happened if you weren't there."
"I don't think anyone does," she whispered, shaking her head.
Lain and Shinobu trotted off, and returned a hearbeat later with twin trays laden with fruits and other breakfast goodies. Mutsumi took a slice of melon, then turned her head to face Ranma again curiously. "I think, though, that I owe you more thanks than you owe me, Ranma."
Ranma frowned thoughtfully at that. Given what would have happened to him had the woman not helped him, he suspected that he disagreed. Shaking his head, he offered a smile, and took a piece of toast from one of the trays, while both of the younger girls watched curiously.
"I hate to say it, 'cause I hate losing fights, but I don't think we coulda made it if we didn't work together." He sighed, unable to meet the woman's eyes. "But, uh, anyway, I don't remember how I got into that cell -- just a bunch of freaky dreams before I woke up there."
Mutsumi winced, and sighed apologetically. "I'm sorry, Ranma. You were... drugged... for quite some time before you came to your senses. At least two weeks, possibly longer before you were close enough for me to feel you. I'm afraid I couldn't guess at the details."
"Well," Ranma mumbled, trying to shrug off the fear of what might have happened during that time. "It probably doesn't matter much, really. I mean...." He cleared his throat nervously, meeting the woman's eyes. Can you hear me?
"I think I understand," she said, nodding, and offering a sympathetic smile, reaching across the table to pat his hand comfortingly. Is there something you don't wish them to hear?
Uh, actually, that's it exactly. But, um, I figure I was nabbed right out of my-- that is, the place I was staying. I'm bettin' I could go back, but if I did, they'd just nab me again, and probably hurt the people I was staying with. If they don't see me for a while... it's probably safest for my friends and my... my mom, I guess.
Mutsumi didn't quite meet his eyes, but nodded slightly. Ranma wondered briefly if she had seen what he was thinking before he'd projected 'mother'....
You could be right. Shinobu... might not take it very well... but at least you are here for her -- she thinks very highly of you, Ranma. As do I, she didn't send, though she still thought it privately. I think this is something you should discuss with our saviors, though.
He nodded in response, furrowing his brow slightly.
"I like this place," Lain announced suddenly, breaking the vocal silence. "I think I want to stay."
"You don't want to go home?" Shinobu asked, surprised.
"It is safer for everyone if I stay here," Lain returned. "My family...." She shrugged indifferently. "They will be happier thinking that I've run away, than the knowing that I'm not a normal, human little girl."
Shinobu winced at that, slumping in her seat.
"Uh, hey, you know, even normal kids can be wierd," Ranma interjected. "I mean, my pops trained me in martial arts all my life, pretty much, so I don't really know what 'normal' is anyway. Heck, if anyone thinks that 'normal' is that important, then they're probably not someone I'd want to hang around anyway."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Lain asked, her eyes flicking from Shinobu's to his own.
"I think that Ranma's saying that if your parents love you... they won't care," Mutsumi said softly.
"And if they did care... then maybe they didn't love me," Shinobu mumbled, folding her hands in her lap and staring at them fixedly.
"Precisely," Lain announced, nodding. "And if that is the case, then I won't waste my time on them."
Shinobu blinked at that, raising her head to meet Lain's expression, and blinking in surprise. "Oh," she said softly. "But... don't you feel lonely?"
"Why should I?" Lain asked. "I have many friends. Computers speak to me, and are better company than my parents anyway. Don't you have friends?"
Shinobu turned to regard Mutsumi and Ranma, and a smile bloomed on her face. "Yeah," she said softly. "I guess I do."
"But, uh, it never hurts to have more friends," Ranma said, remembering how sadly few he had in Nerima. "You two could be friends, too, you know."
"Friends?" Shinobu asked, offering a hand to Lain.
Lain eyed the hand speculatively, and for a moment it seemed she would shake her head, but then she nodded, and placed her hand in Shinobu's. "Friends."
After the pleasant meal and conversations, however....
See other episodes by Brian Randall
(Posted Mon, 28 Oct 2002 12:48)
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