"Hello? Is anyone home?" a voice called out from the entryway.
"We're in here, Ms. Kuno," Akane called back.
Ranma sighed and steeled himself for the worst. He didn't know what to expect really; all he remembered was telling Mihoshi that Kodachi used poisons, was nuts, and was somewhat mean. He had no idea how that ditzy genie would have 'fixed' that problem.
After all, she'd changed Ukyo to a boy without touching Ukyo's feelings for him, and turned Kasumi into chain-smoking jailbait.
The figure entering the room drew Ranma's attention, and he blinked a couple of times.
It was definitely Kodachi Kuno, looking very similar to what she had before his poorly timed wish. But whereas she would normally show up in either the school uniform of St. Hebereke's or in a gymnastics leotard, she was dressed in Shinto robes.
"Good day, everyone," she greeted everyone with a smiled until her eyes landed on him. For a moment it felt like she was staring through him, like she was peering into his very soul. Then the moment passed, and Kodachi's eyes grew sad. "You don't remember me. Something happened and you only remember mockeries." Kodachi then tilted her head. "Or, I suppose, we are the mockeries to the people you remember."
"Uh... yeah. Something like that," Ranma admitted softly, growing slightly spooked by the new Kodachi.
"It's alright," Kodachi soothed. "You'll adapt as you always have, this life or that." She then turned back to the others. "I felt a disturbance while I was meditating in my garden. Knowing how Ranma attracts trouble, I thought I'd bring some freshly made wards over, just in case." She pulled a stack of Shinto wards out from her sleeves.
Akane accepted the wards. "Thank you. Ranma has been acting oddly."
Kodachi shrugged. "Is it Ranma acting strangely, or us?" She turned to Nabiki and asked, "May I speak to your fiancé for a moment?"
Nabiki waved off the question. "Sure, no problem, Ms Kuno. I'm going to go get cleaned up anyway."
"If you would, Ranma," Kodachi prompted.
Ranma nodded. "We'll be in the dojo, okay?"
Getting no objection from anyone, Ranma led Kodachi to the dojo. Once they were situated, he asked, "So, uh... what's up?"
Kodachi fixed him with that soul-piercing stare once more before responding with a soft smile, "I am not my mockery. So, how much do you know about me?"
"Nothing," Ranma responded, figuring it was the truth. Priestess Kodachi was likely nothing like the borderline insane rhythmic gymnast he'd known and loathed.
Kodachi nodded, "Then I shall endeavor to correct that. I am Kodachi Kuno, priestess in training. When I was about seven, several of the priests who had visited after my mother had passed discovered I was spiritually gifted. They managed to convince my father that I needed their training, and I must confess I've enjoyed it so far. When not working at one of the nearby shrines or being tutored at home, I enjoy gardening, flower arranging, and gymnastics. I dislike violence, in general, though I respect artists such as yourself, Mr. Kuonji and Nabiki.
"We've been acquaintances since you arrived at one of the shrines I was working at looking for a cure to your curse. It was through you that I met the Tendos and Mr. Kuonji, even though they've had the... displeasure of knowing my brother Tatewaki since he attends Furinkan. I dare say we've become friends - not close friends perhaps, but friends - over your stay thanks to the peculiarities of your life."
Ranma missed the tone of Kodachi's voice which clearly implied she'd prefer to be a lot closer friends with him, but then he had assumed that anyway. After all, none of the genie's other changes had made any of his fiancée problems easier, so he had no reason to believe Kodachi would be any different.
"So what happened this time?" Kodachi asked calmly.
Ranma sighed but began explaining the wish again.
Read the comments on this episode
See other episodes by Brian Drozd
(Posted Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:04)
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.