"Stupid, filthy perverts." A cute, busty red haired girl grumbled as she walked away from the table of drunken old men after dropping off the last rounds of ale to them. She was wearing a plain dress though it was cut to show plenty of cleavage as the bodice she was forced to wear only enhanced her generous endowments. She was only sixteen, she thought, but after she started developing early on and grew into her figure somewhat she had been promoted from dish washer to barmaid. If she had her choice she's be by the fire playing her violin or flute but she didn't. She sighed as she thought that kitchen duty was a lot better than dealing with old, dirty PERVERTS!
"Hey honey, how about another round?" A man asked from another table as he grabbed her around the waist pulling her close to the table. There was a loud, rowdy group of five men at this table who all were ogling her chest much to her discomfort.
If only Lo Xian was still alive she was sure this wouldn't be happening. It was though and since the older woman died almost seven years ago the redhead's life had went down the drain. Forced to move out with the only place that would offer her a place to stay and work was the only inn in the village.
At first she was forced to sleep out in the barn with the horses, a pile of hay her bed. It provides little protection form the elements though as wind easily slipped through the cracks and every time it rained it leaked badly. And if that wasn't bad enough the smell of the place disgusted her but it was something she grew used to.
At least being a barmaid had some advantages to being stuck in the kitchen. The inn keeper didn't want what he said was his best looking server getting sick so he had gotten an old pallet with a thin, hardly comfortable cushion serving as a mattress as well as a ratty old blanket. It wasn't a whole lot and many would turn up their noses at it but after spending so much time in the barn it was a luxury she was happy to get. The attic that served as a storage room for the inn had a small corner in it where her pallet was and it stayed warm and dry which made it even better.
"Of course, gentlemen, right away." Rin said as she expertly maneuvered out of the man's grasp heading to the bar where Wei was. He was an older man with a rag tied on his head and wearing brown trousers and a white tunic. The man was overweight though he was still very strong. He had a black beard though it was graying and cold, blue eyes that always made Rin nervous. She could take care of herself, she was a great fighter, but this was the only place she had to go. "I need five more ales."
"This is the last round, I'm closing up early." Wei said as he got the mugs Rin requested. "The kitchen and bar is closing up early tonight. After you serve them come to my office I have something I want to talk about with you. The others will worry about the cleanup tonight."
"Of course Sir." Rin said as a cold feeling swept over her. She hardly ever went to the mans office and when she did he always had something to complain about. She carried the tray of mugs to the table and exchanged the fresh ones with the empty ones while trying not to look angry as the men stared down her top at her cleavage as she bent forward to exchange the mugs.
"Here beautiful." One of the men said as he shoved some money into her top getting a feel as he did. It took every ounce of strength she had not to shudder at he touch or slam the man's head into the table for daring to touch her like that but she was already on thin ice as she was she felt.
"Thank you very much Sir." Rin said through gritted teeth, the men too drunk to notice thankfully. She turned and walked back towards the bar where one of the other servers took the tray while they shared a look of sympathy, neither one really enjoying working there. "I have to go see what Weiwants."
"I know, Bao and me are supposed to close up the bar and clean up." Cai said motioning Rin towards the kitchen's door. "Good luck, Rin."
"Thanks Cai, I hate when he does this." Rin said as she pushed her way into the kitchen. The fires were all out except one which was what was keeping the kitchen warm as well as having a small pot hanging over it keeping the servant's stew warm until clean up was done. Rin ignored her stomach growling at the smell of the rich broth made its way to her nose.
A laugh from the sink brought the redhead's attention to the heavy set brunette washing the dishes as they were already shorthanded tonight. Wei should have waited until everything was finished to do this but the man never was one of the smartest people she had ever met.
"There's a few carrots left on the prep table dear, help yourself." Bao said looking over her shoulder, her long hair tied back out of her face in a tight ponytail as her brown eyes danced with mirth.
"Thanks Bao, I'll be back out in a few minutes hopefully to help finish cleaning up." Rin said snatching a carrot and munching on it as she made her way to the other side of the sizable kitchen and knocked on the door that was Wei's office.
"No hurry dear." The older woman said as a male voice boomed out. It was muffled by the heavy door but it was still easy enough to make out as it bid her to enter. Sighing for the umpteenth time that night Rin pushed the door open and closed it behind her.
The office wasn't very large, mostly Spartan in decorations. There was a fireplace though it wasn't lit as well as a desk with two chairs on Rin's side where she now stood and one on the other side where the large inn keeper sat counting out the money they took in today. There were a few candles providing light around the room as well but it still seemed kind of dim in there.
"Have a seat girl, I have a few things I want to talk about." Wei said motioning toward a chair. Rin nervously straightened out her skirt as she sat down and crossed her legs, playing with the wrinkles in it. "Rin, you are more than old enough to take on more adult responsibilities around here."
Rin sighed as she knew what was coming, the fat bastard was pulling this more and more as of late trying to get her to do more work around the inn yet still get paid the same. He knew better than to go through this as Rin absolutely refused to do more than what was already agreed unless it was helping one of her friends out. She knew the man needed her now more than ever because a majority of the male clientele that came in on a regular basis to drink came to se her.
"I'm prepared to offer you one of the rooms in the inn on a permanent basis if you take this new job offer." The man said, the look in his face worrying Rin a bit. This was a little new so far and had really peaked her interest. "You need to stop playing around with that martial arts nonsense those Amazon bitches fills your head with and put those toys away."
Said toys were very important to her, her flute and violin was gifts from Lo Xian for the redhead's birthday. Of course her birthday was actually unknown but they went with the day that the redhead had fallen into the older woman's life literally. As for the art, it was a part of her, the first time she saw Lo Xian doing kata as a little girl Rin had mirrored her getting it perfect after the third try. It turned out that the redhead was a natural at the art and absorbed any new techniques like a sponge.
"If you work after closing for awhile you can sleep in during the mornings." The man explained, "And the work would be very easy, natural for you."
Natural? After they closed down for the night no one hung around the bar so she knew that there wasn't really any work that needed to be done. Unless maybe, just maybe he might have finally caved in and decided to let her play her music but why so late? That couldn't be it though…Just moments ago he said that she needed to stop playing with them like he always did.
"All you have to do is entertain some men who are willing to pay high for a pretty young thing like you." Wei said as he smiled a little wider. "In fact I'm going to go ahead and give you the room and one week to decide and try out the room."
"So I just have to entertain them?" Rin asked cocking her head slightly. Honestly that didn't sound all that bad. So what, she had to hang around some guys and chat or maybe play a game or two. She wasn't very good at shogi or the card games the men around here often played but she'd do it in exchange for a real room and real privacy.
"Yes, but you can't start until next week. I have a very important guest coming and he usually spends his time with Cai but he had specifically asked for you when he found out that you are still a virgin." Wei said, "He said he will be bringing his son with him and you are to be a surprise for him."
The redhead's face turned bright red when the man said that she was still a virgin. Of course she was but what business was it of his or this guest that was coming? After a few seconds of thinking it finally clicked into place as she felt like someone poured a bucket of ice water over her. He was talking about prostituting her!
"I'm not a whore!" Rin snapped angrily.
"I'm not asking you to make a decision now Rin and I won't take one either." Wei said as his gaze hardened slightly. "You will move your things first thing in the morning in the suite at the end of the hallway on the second floor or I will be throwing them out with you."
"Y-Yes sir." Rin said as she looked down at the floor not wanting to let the man see her anger or forming tears in her eyes.
"Good now get your lazy ass back out there and help with the clean up." Wei snapped slamming his fist down on the table.
333
The room was much nicer than Rin thought it was going to be, in fact it was actually more modern than most of the village. It was a large room with its own furo, a large comfortable queen size bed with a red comforter and red silk sheets, a large window with a nice view and instead of candles it had crystals that absorbed the light during the day and glowed at night unless covered. A large wardrobe, desk and bench at the window finished out the decorations.
The redhead didn't like this situation one bit and didn't want to take the room because the bastard would try to use it to pressure her further into giving in to what he wanted. That or he was hoping that this luxury would cause Rin to cave not wanting to go back to the stalls or small storage room with no privacy or worse of all back on the streets.
The worry over her future was already bad enough and was weighing heavily on the red head but what made it even worse was that SHE arrived earlier while Rin was busy moving stuff. Lin, Wei's daughter and the reason the man more or less hated the amazons, had came for her visit. Lin was the offspring of a tryst between Wei and a drunk at the time Amazon and the Amazon hated the man for daring to touch her. Lin was raised in the Amazon village near here but when she turned twelve Wei had learned that he had a daughter and though he tried to get the girl away from there he failed miserably. Lin's mother had let the girl come for two weeks to visit every six months which wasn't long enough away from the man in Lin's opinion.
The reason behind Rin not exactly liking the purple haired girl wasn't because the girl was a bitch or anything, she was actually far from that. Lin was a nice, gentle girl though she was exceptional in the art much to the disappointment of her father. No, Rin actually would have loved to be friends with the girl like some of the other amazons she met. Lin just seemed to refuse to have anything to do with the redhead, barely saying anything near the redhead and always made excuses to be somewhere else whenever Rin came close. It was as if Lin thought she was better than Rin but the purple haired girl always treated the other workers with kindness. The only thing Rin could figure was that Lo Xian being her adopted mother was the cause of the tension being an Amazon exile.
Sighing as she put her violin back in the case on her bed she closed it up and stuck it in her wardrobe which was pretty much bare. She had a couple simple outfits including slacks and a tunic, an Amazon cheongsam Lo Xian left her and her server outfit in there as she was now wearing a simple blue dress which came down almost to her ankles and black three inch heeled boots. Her hair was tied back in a simple ponytail though it didn't stop some bangs hanging in her face.
Deciding to go out she grabbed her change pouch which held maybe enough for a decent meal and that was all. Most of the money she had managed to hide back from her tips was hidden in the storage room behind a loose board that she turned into a hiding spot for that reason alone.
Exiting the room and heading toward the steps she heard arguing downstairs between what sounded like Lin and Wei but she couldn't make out what was being said. The voices quieted down as Rin started down the steps, her boots making noise as she slowly descended to find the father and daughter pair in the serving room which was closed at he moment with the chairs up on the tables.
"Perfect timing," Wei said walking toward Lin and shoving a large pouch full of money into the redhead's shocked hands. "Hua is expecting you this morning to get your measurements to make some outfits for you when you meet our guests."
"I'm not doing IT so why bother?" Rin said, her face turning a hint of red as she blushed a little thinking about 'it.' She prayed the man didn't tell his daughter about what he wanted the redhead to do much less the older woman who was the only tailor in town much less anyone else.
"Even if you don't I expect everyone to look their best while they are here and I know for a fact you have nothing remotely resembling dignified." Wei grumbled before pulling his daughter by her shoulder and shoving her towards Rin. "Lin, make sure she gets there and pays for the clothes. I'd go myself but I need to go over some scrolls that they sent."
"Why don't you do it yourself?" Lin asked her father with a glare.
"Because I told you to do it, those Amazon bitches fill your head too full of that shit. You are MY daughter and will do what I say, is that understood?" Wei demanded crossing his arms angrily.
"Yes father." Lin said with a sigh.
Rin had heard the man speak to Lin like that a few times which always pissed off the redhead. A part of her wanted nothing more to kick the man's ass but that led back to one thing, she would be homeless and she didn't much like that prospect.
"Come on." Lin grumbled taking Rin's hand and pulling her out of the Inn's front door.
"Why do you keep coming back to that?" Rin asked as Lin let go of her arm after they got a little way from the Inn. What hurt the redhead was the way Lin practically shoved the arm away as if it burnt her.
"Because he is my father and though he has different beliefs…Oh screw it, I do it because my mom wants me to all about my heritage from both sides." Lin grumbled quietly as she started walking again toward where Rin knew the tailor's was. "Personally I hate the man and the only reason I haven't slit his throat is because of my mom. She must have loved him on some level and I keep trying to se it."
Rin couldn't figure out what exactly to say in response to that as they continued walking, nothing else coming from the Amazon girl for a few minutes. The silence was starting to get to the redhead as she realized this was the first time they were alone together like this which brought an idea to the redhead.
"Lin, can I ask you something a little personal?" Rin asked softly trying to see the other girl's face who after a few moments finally nodded. "Why do you hate me so much, is it because of Lo Xian?"
"What?" Lin demanded as she stopped and whirled around to face the redhead with what looked like anger, "Why the hell do you think I hate you for?"
"Well, you always seem to want nothing to do with me." Rin said mentally berating herself for bringing up the topic.
"Have you ever thought that my idiot of a father might have just kept me busy?" Lin asked huffing a little as she planted her hands on her hips. "You shouldn't jump to conclusions about anything. Have you ever thought that maybe I do like you but haven't had much time to hang out or anything?"
"I'm sorry." Rin said looking down. It sounded true but there was something in the purple haired girl's eyes that the redhead couldn't quite pinpoint, it made what the Amazon said seem like a lie though. Well not totally a lie but definitely not completely true.
"Whatever, just lets get his over with." Lin said, "I have stuff to do and I don't need to deal with this right now."
"O-Okay." Rin gulped as she started following the other girl who swirled back around and walked angrily forward again.
In only just a few more minutes the pair arrived at an old but maintained building with a faded sign out front saying Hua's with a picture of a dress under the name. Lin slowly pushed the door open and held it for the redhead to enter the store. On the outside walls of the room the entered had shelves stocked full of rolls of fabric while on the floor were multiple racks of clothes from simple dresses to even some light leather armor. There was also a selection of men's clothes but is didn't seem to be much.
"Just in time ladies." Hua said, a small forced smile on her lips and what looked like disappointment in her eyes. Did Wei tell the older woman about what he wanted Rin to do? "I've been expecting you. You can wait out here Lin, it'll only take a few minutes to get your friend's measurements."
"Fine." Lin grumbled as she reluctantly started browsing through the clothes as the older woman led the redhead to a backroom.
The next fifteen minutes was very embarrassing for the redhead as she normally never let anyone see her in any state of undress. If that wasn't bad enough as it was the way the older woman took her bust measurement several times while mumbling about how unfair it was that a teenage jezebel had a better figure than an honest hardworking woman. The icing on the cake was that Rin wasn't even sure if the woman was measuring or fondling due to the amount of time the woman spent doing it.
"Okay, all done." Hua said patting Rin on the head, "Get dressed and meet me back in the showroom, I'll be writing up the bill."
With a flush the redhead hurried and redressed without replying, her emotions all over the place from anger to annoyance to embarrassment. A part of her wanted to tell the woman off and deny being a jezebel but knew it was useless. Who was going to believe her over Wei?
Finally finished and back out on the floor Rin was digging through the pouch counting up the money Wei had given her and was shocked. It wasn't a lot but it was still more than she ever managed to save up with her tips over a month's period.
"So which of you ladies are paying?" Hua asked from the counter was writing something down in a large leather-bound book and a smaller one that looked like receipts.
"I am I guess." Rin said walking to the counter and placing the bag of coins on the counter. After a few moments of the older woman counting through them Hua looked up with a frown on her face.
"Is this some kind of joke, I told Wei it would come up to more that this." Hua grumbled causing the redhead to sigh, there went her spending money. Of course she could just say that was all she had but decided it wasn't worth having to make any more trips here than necessary.
"How much more?" Rin asked pulling her much smaller pouch out which the older woman grabbed almost greedily.
"This will just about cover it." Hua said after counting it.
"Now wait a second!" Lin snapped from over Rin's shoulder startling the redhead. "The money my father sent was more than enough to cover the quote you gave him. I saw the write up!"
"Your little friend there made it harder than necessary to get proper measurements so there is extra." Hua said airily. Hua never acted like this before, true Rin didn't knew her well as she never really had any money to spend a lot of time at the woman's shop but they've met on several occasions. "Plus, the alterations on one of the gowns Wei wanted will cost more than the one quoted originally. He knew that, he requested it after I gave him that quote."
"It's okay Lin, let's just go." Rin sighed pulling the angry Amazon girl away from the counter.
"I'll have everything delivered as soon as it's done." Hua said waving good-bye while giving Rin a strange look..
Rin couldn't understand why the purple haired girl would stand up for her like she did and while confusing it also felt good.
"Why did you let her rip you off like that?" Lin almost growled causing the redhead to shrink in on herself a little. She normally would stand up for herself on most things as long as it didn't cause her to lose her only home that she had. She hated to admit it to anyone, even herself, but she was afraid of what laid outside the village. She had strange and often disturbing dreams that seemed almost like memories but she also knew that they were impossible.
"It doesn't matter," Rin sighed softly, "I'm sure your dad will pay me back."
"As if," Lin snorted as the two began walking back toward the inn. It didn't mater now that Rin was broke so getting a bite to eat was out of the question. "You don't know my dad very well if you believe that."
"I just want to get this week over with." Rin said.
"Rin…Why stay here?" Lin asked, a sad look in her eyes as she stopped and turned to look at the redhead. "Why not go somewhere else…Your Japanese right? Why not go there?"
"And do what? I don't know anyone there and…I wasn't really wanted anyways." Rin said, a little fire returning before it went out just as quickly to be replaced by sadness. "I'm not really wanted anywhere around here either."
"Rin…" Lin said softly reaching out to caress the redhead's cheek. "You are wanted, people do care about you."
"Like you?" Rin asked stiffly before pulling away and storming off from the purple haired girl.
"Like me." Lin agreed softly but her voice never reached the redhead who was too angry and too far away to hear the almost whisper by the time it left he Amazon girl's lips.
333
"Dear, I wouldn't go in there right now if I was you." Bao said as Lin stormed through the kitchen to her father's office. "Your father has a guest."
"Like I care." Lin grumbled as she kicked the door open angrily.
"You will get the other half when my master arrives to pick up the girl." A man wearing leather armor said. He was a tall lanky man with long dark hair in a ponytail and he seemed to radiate darkness about him.
"What's going on?" Lin asked suspiciously while glaring at the man and her father.
"That is none of your business girl," The stranger said snidely, "It would be best if you teach the girl her place."
"Don't worry, I'll have a long talk with her." Wei said glaring at the purple haired girl Lin returned it angrily. There was something going on and frankly she didn't like it. Of course she was used to her father dealing with shady men but there was something very wrong here. Neither father nor daughter noticed the man leave with an almost amused look on his face.
"How dare you barge in here like this?" Wei demanded when he noticed his guest was gone.
"Well excuse me father for going somewhere in my own home!" Lin spat at he older man hatefully. She was sorely tempted to beat some sense into the older man but that wouldn't be fair picking on someone as weak as the pitiful man standing there.
"This is MY home and you will do what you are told while you are staying here!" Wei shouted as his face turned red in rage. Lin fought hard to suppress a smirk as she noticed the vein on his forehead throbbing. For a moment she entertained the possibility of the old fool having a heart attack which wouldn't really sadden her in the least.
"You know what father, you can have this dump I'm going home!" Lin snarled as she turned on her heel and stormed out of the office not caring to look back and see her father's face who was spiting and sputtering trying to think of something to say.
"Bao, tell Rin I went back to my village please." Lin said as the older woman nodded partly in shock though a hint of pride showed through her eyes.
"I will child, safe journey." Bao said as Lin grabbed an apple and walked out of the kitchen toward her room to grab the few things she brought with her. The thing with the old bastard trying to set Rin up with some high ranking man was fishy enough as Wei would never do anything without benefiting himself. That man in the office with her father though, the way he said what she overheard…There was more to what Wei was letting on and Lin didn't like it.
Someone was going to have to find out what was going on but it couldn't be her, she wouldn't be able to get the redhead to listen to her if what the Amazon girl suspected was happening was true. She truly hoped it wasn't though, as much as she denied it there was a small part of her that did care for her father, maybe even loved him. If the man was dealing in something like this then there would be nothing here for her anymore.
Well, not exactly nothing, there would always be something here that Lin wanted but knew she could never have. Something that she would do anything for…anything at all even if it meant…
333
Rin sighed as she sat on the bench below her window clutching her flute trying to calm herself enough to play but she couldn't. It was kind of ironic that the one of the few things that usually calmed her down was something she couldn't do because she couldn't calm down enough to do it.
She wanted so much to talk to Lin, the purple haired girl weighing heavily on her mind. Rin wanted so much to be friends with the girl. The redhead thought of another Amazon that she knew but haven't seen much of lately as the patrols that passed through the village haven't included Xian Pu for some time now. Xian Pu was always fun to hang out with and talk to and Rin slightly wondered if that Amazon was the reason the redhead wanted to be friends with Lin so much as the two Amazon girls looked very much alike.
It wasn't a surprise that the two Amazon girls were actually cousins though they weren't exactly close from what Xian Pu had once told Lin. It wasn't a surprise that the two Amazon girls were actually cousins though they weren't exactly close from what Xian Pu had once told Lin. With Lin's mother not bringing back her husband her branch of the clan suffered great dishonor while Xian Pu's branch was very honored as the young girl had won many tournaments and defeated many outsiders that challenged her or trespassed on Amazon land.
Shaking her head Rin put her flute away realizing she wouldn't be able to play any and decided to just get ready for her shift downstairs. Hopefully she would make a lot of tips that she could hide tonight.
333
Wow, eleven pages before author notes, over five thousand words. HA, TAKE THAT MUSE OF PROSCRASTINATION! BWA-HA-HA!
Anyways, I have several paths I can take this in when Rin (Ranma) returns to Japan in the next few chapters. I would love to hear what one everyone would like to see more.
First, Ranma could find Doc Tofu and after he finds out she doesn't have a place to stay he offers her a place for helping in his office to clean up after school. While there Rin will scope out he Tendo Dojo and try to get close to Genma and see what he is like and try to find out if he could be her father.
Second, Rin could seek shelter at a shrine in Juban where Rei lives. She is allowed to stay in exchange for helping Rei with her duties. Rin will travel back and forth between Juban and Nerima on weekends to take classes at he dojo to find out more about Genma and the Tendo's. Rin may or may not get involved in senshi business and if she does she may be Sailer Earth, Terra, Geo or whatever the earth's senshi should be named. She may even meet Nodoka this way.
Please let me know what you think as well as review people, lots and lots of reviews.
On another note, I will be moving shortly so will be busy and packing for the next few days and then moving so the next update won't be for another couple weeks at least. On the plus side I won't have to depend on a library's computers to upload and have to work around their constant two week shutdowns for remodeling since we will have our own internet access.
I also want to thank Dumbledork for suggesting using normal Chinese names, Scourgeofthegalaxy for the suggestion of mixing names, and totally Ranma-sama for the websites, they helped BIG time. Also thanks griffenvamp and Edrik as well as Dumbledork, Scourgeofthegalaxy and Ranma-sama for their reviews.
griffenvamp, I'm glad you like so far but it would be impossible for Lo Xian to be Kun Lon's rival because of certain elements that will be used later but thanks for the suggestion anyways.
Ciao for now.