“Yeah?” Ranma asked.
“Is it just me, or is there violin music playing in the background?”
“What?” Ranma asked. He strained his ears to listen and frowned. “Oh, great! Here comes another one!”
Blinking her eyes, Tanya asked, “Another one?”
Suddenly, Tanya’s question was answered when a thirty foot, black skinned, four red-eyed Demon Shark suddenly appeared from beneath the waves, its jaws opened wide attacks the boat, going for Tanya. The Krun ex-High Priestess was so scared at the sight that she forgot that she could use magic to defend herself! She raised her hands up to cover her face as she screamed in terror.
*WHAM*! *THUNK*! *SPLURT*!
“Stupid shark,” Tanya heard Ranma call out. “That’s the third time already!”
At that, Tanya lowered her hands to see what happened. There was Ranma, holding the thing up with his hand inside its neck. He had killed it with his claws. Tanya was about to ask how he did then, when she blanched at what he did next. Biting onto the nose, Ranma was starting to eat shark in front of her!!!
Ranma sighed in relief. He was actually thankful that this damn shark through to attack him. He hadn’t eaten all day since he entered Sanctuary, and that invisibility technique left him feeling VERY hungry.
After a few more satisfying bites, Ranma noticed that Tanya was staring at him. Holding up the Demon Shark’s body a bit, Ranma asked, “Want a bite?”
Seeing Tanya just gawk at him, Ranma shrugged his shoulder. “Trust me. The fin’s the best part, though I prefer the eyes. Something about the texture is so good.” So saying, Ranma stuck his tongue into the Demon Shark’s eye socket, prying out the eye. He then started chewing vigorously, alook of enjoyment on his face.
Having watched all this, Tanya was starting to turn a bit green, which showed up from underneath her fur. “Eww...” Tanya grumbled as he stomach grumbled, threatening to let loose what little contents it had in a violent display.
Noticing Tanya looked a little unsettled, Ranma thought that maybe she wasn’t the type to dig into organs. “Oh, wait!” Ranma said as a thought hit him. “You might want the meatier parts.”
“Meatier parts?” Tanya repeated. She watched as Ranma snapped off the Demon Shark’s head.
Using his hand, Ranma tore off a good chunk form inside and offered her the bit of bloody meat. He didn’t mind that it was still dripping. “Here.” He said as his hand was extended, holding the large chunk of shark meat.
Staring at the trail of blood dripping onto the boat, Tanya was now becoming VERY green at the sight. “Um, well, um...” Tanya mumbled, feeling a little unbalanced and disturbed by the sight. However, she did notice, to her horror, that her stomach was hungry... And it was a more pleasant sight than watching the shark’s eye torn out, (if not by much.)
At Tanya’s reluctance, Ranma said, “Oh, don’t worry about it, Tanya. It’s like sushi, only with a texture of raw beef.”
Nodding her head slowly, Tanya took hold of the hunk of meat. She felt her hands most from the blood. Closing her eyes, Tanya lifted it to her lips to take a small bite. Chewing, Tanya blinked her eyes wide in surprise. “Hey! It IS good!” She shouted in utter surprise.
Smirking, Ranma said, “Told you! Here, try one of the eye.” And with that, Ranma used a claw to pry out one of the three remaining eyes.
Tanya looked at Ranma as he offered her the eye. Meat was okay, but an eyeball?
Seeing Tanya reluctant again, Ranma rolled his eyes. “Trust me. It’s VERY tasty,” he said as he held out his extended claw, the red eye on it.
Wincing, Tanya had o admit Ranma hadn’t steered her wrong yet. Daintily pulling the eyeball off of his claw with two fingers, she popped it into her mouth. Surprisingly, it WAS good!
Ranma smiled as he watched Tanya now eating into her large bit of shark meat with gusto. Deciding to let her have the rest of the shark, Ranma took the oars in hand and continued rowing once more. “I take it you haven’t eaten in awhile?”
Looking up at Ranma, Tanya nodded her head and answered after she swallowed. “Yes, We’re given weekly rations. Some of the other inmates tend to take my things.”
At hearing that, Ranma frowned. “Yeesh! What about the cafeteria? Don’t they give you anything there?
Shrugging her shoulder, Tanya answered, “Just a small serving of soup at lunch time; that’s it.” Tanya then sighed. “And I haven’t been allowed out of my cell much these past few months.”
Wincing, Ranma mumbled, “Harsh.” Then, his eyes looked right at Tanya. “And why not? I don’t think they’d want you to starve.”
Sighing, Tanya admitted, “It’s because of how I view the Armsmaster. Weaponsmaster G’Nolga, from what I hear, doesn’t like her either.”
Ranma’s rowing slowed a little at hearing that. “Oh?”
Nodding her head, Tanya answered, “From what I heard, G’Nolga lost her honor to Julia over something and that’s why she’s in prison now. She’s also Julia’s, the Armsmaster, biggest rival,” Looking at Ranma, she said, “She’s the best fighter short of Julia from what I hear.”
“Reallllly?” Ranma said slowly. “So she’s been arrested for speaking out against the Armsmaster?”
“Not sure,” Tanya admitted. “I don’t know the whole story here.”
“Hmm...” Ranma mumbled, his face took on a serious look.
Tanya looked at Ranma, noticing the sudden change in demeanor. “What’s wrong?”
“Well, Tanya...” Ranma started at length. “Looks like I might have been wrong.”
“Oh?” Tanya asked, wondering what Ranma meant.
“Perhaps,” Ranma started, speaking more to himself than Tanya. “I shouldn’t be going out of my way to fight this one...” At noticing Tanya looking at him, Ranma explained, “She might be in the same boat as me.”
At seeing Tanya blink her eyes, Ranma smirked and said, “No pun intended.”
Tanya had a feeling where Ranma was going with this. “Um, are you going to...”
“Maybe...” Was all Ranma said on that.
“Hoo boy...” Tanya mumbled as she rolled her eyes. This was going to be something.
“But first,” Ranma said to change the subject, “I’m getting you back to the city I’m using as a base; Trill.” Ranma smiled a little and said, “We’ll get you a nice meal and warm bed.”
Tanya nodded her head gratefully at hearing that, but she looked a little down. “Someone might recognize me though, if word got out about my escape.” She did manage to smile slightly and say, “And thank you.”
“No problem,” was all Ranma said on that as he reached into a pants’ pocket. One that happened to be a pocket of holding.
Tanya blinked her eyes at the sight. Ranma was sticking his arm farther into his pocket than he should have been able to do. “What’re you doing?” Tanya asked curiously.
The answer Tanya got was Ranma pulling out a nice violet silk cloak from his pocket. “Something I pulled off some snobby hunter that was after me.”
“Pretty,” Tanya mumbled as she stared at the garment.
“Here,” was all Ranma said as he tossed it to Tanya.
Holding up her hands, Tanya managed to catch the cloak on reflex, hoping it wouldn’t smell like fish due to the meal she had on her lap. “T-thank you,” she said.
“You can hide yourself a bit with that,” Ranma said. “I mean, no one would expect a ‘poor prisoner’ to have such expensive clothing.”
“Heh, you’re right,” Tanya said. She gave Ranma a smile. “Thank you so much.”
Seeing the smile on Tanya’s face, Ranma couldn’t help but smile back. That was probably the first genuine smile he received since coming to this damned world. “Look, I’m going to have to be in human form when we get back. But we’re going to arrive after dark, okay?”
“No problem with me,” was all Tanya said as Ranma kept rowing.
Read the comments on this episode
See other episodes by Red Priest of the 17th Order
(Posted Fri, 16 Jan 2004 18:40)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.