TRTSS28: The Most Spirited! – By DSWynne
Disclaimer: R ½, SM, ST and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Special Note: This story takes place somewhere in present time.
Part 2
As the day moves into night, Ranma scopes out of the area, as patrons of the bath house and resort filed into the place.
"Well, so far, no one has seen us," Ranma said.
"Ranma, we can force open a gateway back to Earth," Usagi said, as she comforted the pigs that had been her cousin and her husband.
"True, but that'll do us no good for your Yusako and Takashi," Ranma said. "Remember, the person that controls this realm sets rules."
"And Yubaba is that person."
"Right, I'm afraid," Ranma said with a sigh.
"Okay, what did you do this time?" Usagi asked.
"What?"
"When I mentioned Yubaba's name, you sighed. What gives?"
"Well, back in the old days, I dated her and her sister twin sister Zeniba. Well, this was fine until the sisters wanted a change in the relationship dynamic, and have me choose one over the other."
"Imagine that," Usagi said sarcastically. "A woman wanting a commitment…"
"ANY-way, I chose to have a commitment with Zeniba. Unfortunately, Yubaba didn't take the rejection very well."
"Huh. Well, we'll have to deal with her sooner or later, but we have to protect…the others."
Ranma turns to look at Chihiro and her parents-turned-pigs. They fed some untainted food, of the spirit world, to the child in order to keep her anchored to the Spirit World, rather than fade into nothing. Neither Ranma nor Usagi had any worries about such things, since they were gods, albeit diminished somewhat.
"Hey, kid," Ranma said. "You okay?"
Chihiro looks up from crying.
"Chihiro?"
"Is Mom and Dad going to be okay?" Chihiro asked.
"Yeah, they will be, after we get through this mess," Ranma said with a gentle smile.
"Really?"
"Really. Just you wait…"
Just then, the same kid Ranma and Chihiro saw earlier, arrives. He made sure that no one was watching him go into the tool shed.
"Okay, I can protect the girl's parents, but Yubaba will want something in return," said the boy, whose name is Haku.
"I'll deal with Yubaba, then," Usagi said. "She shouldn't know about my association with Ranma."
"What are you going to say?" Ranma asked.
"Well, the truth, mostly. That my mortal cousin and her husband stumbled into the Spirit World by accident, and that I am willing to trade something for their welfare and freedom. I should have any problems."
"Well, be careful about Yubaba," Ranma said. "She's a bit of a pain when it comes to driving a hard bargain."
"Well, you shouldn't worry about me, Ranma. I was a diplomat, once."
"Yes, once."
"But what about you?" Chihiro asked.
"Well, do you promise to keep a secret?" Ranma asked.
"Um, yes. I can."
"Then, watch," Ranma said, as he shifts into his girl form.
"Oh my gosh!" Chihiro exclaimed. "You turned into a girl?"
"Yep," Ranma-onna said. "When I am like this, my name is 'Ranko Tendo', okay?"
"Um, okay."
"But anyway, I'll protect you directly," Ranko said. "We just need to sneak you into the resort."
"Then follow me, after I present the Moon Princess and your parents to Yubaba. Got it?"
"Uh-huh," Chihiro said, as she nods her head in agreement. She then turns her attention back to Ranko.
"You look pretty," Chihiro said.
"Um, thanks," Ranko said. "Okay, let's do this before the screen that Haku had put up wears off…"
And so, a plan of action commence, one that would take a magical girl, a martial artist, two cursed humans and a little girl deeper into a world steeped in magic…
"So, you wish to cut a deal with me, in exchange for your mortal cousins' lives?" said an old witch with a mal-shaped body: a squat body, short legs, a big head and a big head. Her nose was bird-like, and she dressed like it was still the Victorian Era.
"Yes, Madam Yubaba," Usagi said, as she sipped her tea.
"And do you know that I know that I know that you have others lurking around these premises?"
"I'm sure you do, but I'm here to perform the preliminaries, so to speak. If you will not grant me this request of special dispensation, then I have a back-up plan."
"Arrogant, aren't we?"
"It's called being experienced enough to deal with such things," Usagi said. "You know how it is."
"Of course I do. I will not harm the pigs, in exchange of service…for one Lunar month."
"A month."
"A month is enough. Besides, knowing your reputation, you might break our agreement, if the stipulation requires more time. Or, be forced to do so for other reasons."
"I see…"
"As for the others, they will have to bargain with me personally. But don't worry; the length of time will still be the same."
"I'm sure…"
Meanwhile, down in the boiler room of the resort…
"Thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk," Ranko said, as she continued to pick up the heavy coal, and tosses them easily into the fire of the boiler. The coal was so heavy that a piece of it would have to be carried by two hands.
On the ground, the living dust mites cheered at this display of prowess.
"Wow, that's pretty neat, Ranko!" Chirhiro said, as she clapped her hands.
"Very impressive, young lady," said old man Kamaji, a member of the Kumo clan (or "were-spiders"). Like all Changing Breed, the Kumo could enter the Spirit World and exist there naturally, without suffering the effects of being human. Members of the Kumo are typically born human, although there have been exceptions…
"But you shouldn't do the work of others, 'young lady'. Besides, if they don't work, the spell goes away, reverting them back to their normal state."
"Eh, whatever," Ranko said dismissively. "I prefer making friends in strange places."
"Ah."
Just then, a pleasant-looking woman in a bathhouse attendant's uniform enters Kamaji's domain.
"I mean, really, Kamaji," said the woman, as she sets a new tray of food, while taking a tray of empty bowls and cup. "It'll make things easy for me, you know."
"Ahhh," Kamaji said dismissively, as he picks up a wooden hammer. He then banks on the pipes.
"Alright, you dustballs!" Kamaji yelled.
The living dust mites gather around the woman to be fed. As the woman tosses pet food to the dust mites, her eyes fall upon Ranko and Chihiro.
"Ahh!" the woman said. "A human!"
"Ahh!" Ranko yelled mockingly. "Run for your lives!"
"I was referring to your little friend, Red," the woman said. "You…there's something different about you…"
"Can we get jobs here?" Chihiro said desperately.
"Huh?"
"These girls need jobs, Lynn," Kamaji said. "I do not need additional help here in the boiler room."
"No way, Kamaji. I'm not risking my neck for these two."
"How about this delicious newt?" Kamaji asked.
"I'll take it for ONE, but not for both," Lynn said, as she snatched the newt from the boiler man.
"Here, then," Ranko said, as she flips a solid gold coin at Lynn, who catches it with ease. "And keep the change."
"Humph…fine," Lynn said, as she pocketed the coin.
"And here, Old Man," Ranko said, as she flips two gold coins at the boilerman, who caught them with ease.
"How come he gets to have two coins?" Lynn asked.
"I'm just compensating Mr. Kamaji from being a gracious host," Ranko said. "And if you're cool about it, I'll do the same before too long."
"Hmmm," Lynn said. "Okay, you're on. But if you're caught, I don't know ya."
"I have a feeling you'd say that…"
"Thank you, Mr. Kamanji!" Chihiro said, as she waved goodbye.
"You're welcome, Chihiro. And thanks for the gold pieces, Ranko."
"Any time, Old Man," Ranko said, as they begin the trip up to see the mistress of the bathhouse and inn…
"Arrrgh!" Ranko said, as she and Chihiro squeezed past "Mr. Radish", a rather rotund radish spirit. "Reminds me of some of my old dating experiences…"
"Ah!" Chihiro said, as she tried to breath. She then turns towards Mr. Radish, who took up most of the elevator.
"Thanks, Mr. Radish!"
Mr. Radish tips his hat towards the two girls, before re-utilizing the elevator for another floor…
"Ranko, do you think we made it to the right floor?" Chihiro asked, as she calmed down a bit.
"Probably," Ranko said, as she notices the large, oak door. She had to be blind not to sense Yubaba's magic.
"Okay, let's check," Chihiro said, as she hesitantly grabbed the door-knocker…
"Hey, let go!" yelled the door knocker.
"Ah!" Chihiro screamed.
"It's okay," Ranko said. "I'm with you…"
"So, you two have a meeting with Lady Yubaba," said the door knocker. "Well, come in…"
The great doors open up, revealing a long hallway.
"That was easy," Ranko said, as she takes a step forward. However, Chihiro was too scared to move.
"Chihiro?" Ranko asked, as he turns to face the scared girl.
"I don't know if I can move!" Chihiro said breathlessly.
"Then, allow me," said a disembodied voice.
Suddenly, Chihiro and Ranko are pulled along by an invisible force at break neck speed.
"Hey!" Ranko said.
"Ah!" Chihiro exclaimed.
In short order, the little girl and the transformed martial artist tumble into a large study, complete with fireplace.
"Oof!" the pair yelped.
As the pair got their heads on straight, they saw jumping heads of bald-headed men jump to them and harass them.
"Ah!" Chihiro said.
"Get out here, ya jerks!"
"Keep it down," said a rotund, older woman, as she was continued to do paper work. "You two are making a racket."
"Um, we were looking for a job from you," Chihiro said.
"Oh, really," said the woman, as she made a hand gesture that caused Chihiro's lips to seal.
"Mmmph?"
"Chihiro!" Ranko said.
"I don't want to hear such a stupid request."
Ranko turns towards the woman.
"Then I'll say it," Ranko said. "To the mistress of the house: You, Yubaba, of the Mistress of the Bathhouse and Inn, of the Chiba Dreamland Park, will grant us a boon, according to the rules."
"What?" Yubaba said, as she gets up. She nearly breathes fire, as a big gust of wind blew her paper work about.
"You dare speak to me thusly?"
"Simply reminding you that a host should respect the presence of others, whether they intend to be present or not," Ranko said.
"By whose authority due you speak for?" Yubaba said, as she stares into Ranko's eyes. "And why do you seem…familiar to me?"
"I speak in the Moon Princess's name, of course," Ranko said, still not wanting to let anyone know of her true identity. "I assume that you and she discuss the matter?"
Yubaba noticeably calmed down.
"Ah, so YOU are the pair that I was expecting," Yubaba said. "Yes, we've discuss matters."
She turns towards another room on the side.
"Oh, Sagi," Yubaba said. "Could you come here for a minute?"
"Coming, mum," said Usagi, who was dressed as a Victorian era nanny.
'Usagi?' Ranko thought.
"How is my son doing, Sagi?" Yubaba said.
"You're son is still resting, mum," Usagi said.
"Thank you, Sagi. You may continue your duties."
"Of course, mum," Usagi said, as she turns to face Ranko and Chihiro. "I hope I have plenty of time to chat with you two later."
"Er, yeah," Ranko said.
After Usagi leaves the room, Yubaba turns towards Ranko and Chihiro.
"You two may work here; that is your right, but if you two want to see the human pigs human again, then you two will have to sign contracts."
"Fine," Ranko said. She then motions towards Chihiro.
"Do you mind?"
"Why, of course," Yubaba said, as she snapped her fingers.
"Thank you Ms. Yubaba!" Chihiro said. "Thank you-"
"Just sign the damn contracts and GO!"
And so that…was that, although the real adventure was about to begin…
Tbc.