TRTSS12: The Winged Horse! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST, Sekirei and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Special Note: This story was originally a part of an anthology format found in the Sailor Moon ST story called "Journey to Adventure". While the first two chapters are recaps found in "Journey to Adventure", the tenth chapter begins FRESH (i.e. the plot continues in no other story except in this one). Furthermore, this story takes place before "Ranma's Precious Jewel". As always, C&C are welcomed.
Part 4
The next day…
"There, that ought to do it," Ranma said, as he finishes packing his duffle bag. "I'll have the landlord deliver the rest of my stuff-"
"All packed, Minato!" Musabi said with a bubbly expression, as she wrapped everything else, including the refrigerator, in one extra big knapsack. Essentially, the girl was carrying the equivalent size and weight of a hatchback. It wasn't the fact that she was carrying her knapsack that floored Ranma, but that she would do so nonchalantly.
"…"
Musabi tilts her head slightly.
"Is there something wrong, Minato-kun?" Musabi asked innocently.
"Well, you didn't need to carry THAT much, you know."
"Well, I just wanted to help, that's all."
"Well, okay, but be careful with…that."
Musabi smiles.
"Okay!" Musabi said gleefully.
'Huh,' Ranma thought to himself. 'I should be happy that we were able to find a place in such a short period of time…'
FLASHBACK!
After landing somewhat unceremoniously, Ranma and Musubi picked themselves up.
"Musubi, you okay?" Ranma asked.
"I-" Musubi began to say before someone opened the back door with the lights on.
SHOOP!
"Who are you?" said the young woman with the graying/purple hair.
"Er, sorry about this," Ranma said with a good-natured laugh. "My friend and I were caught up in some nonsense. Yeeeaaaahhhhh…"
"Oh, I see…"
"But we will be on our way-"
"Oh, how terrible!" said the girl, as she runs up towards Musabi.
"Oh?" Musabi asked.
"Your state of dress!"
The woman turns towards Ranma.
"Did you have anything to do with THIS?" the woman said, as she gave off a death aura.
"Ah, no!" Ranma said, as he tried to wave off the situation. "It's not my fault!"
"My clothes are SO easily torn!" Musabi laments. "But that's okay. I don't mind!"
"Well, I do," the woman said, as she helped the girl up. "My name is 'Miya'. Welcome to my home, the 'Izumo Inn'."
Miya gives Ranma a powerful death glare that managed to give HIM pause.
"No peeking!"
"Hey, I'm not TRYING to look!" Ranma protested.
Just then, a gray-haired 'bishonen' steps out on the porch.
"Oy, what's going on here?" the young man said tiredly.
"We have guests tonight," Miya said.
"Ah," the young man replied, as he turns to walk back inside the inn. "Let me know if something more interesting happens…"
"Don't mind Kagari," Miya said. "He tends to be anti-social to a fault."
"Ah," Ranma said.
"By the way, what are your names?" Miya asked.
"My name is 'Musabi!" Musabi said cheerfully.
"Um, I am called 'Minato Sahashi'," Ranma said evenly.
"Oh. For a minute there you remind me of a man I once knew a long time ago…"
"Heh," Ranma said, as he rubbed the back of his head. He really hoped that this wasn't the case, since he had to remain undercover as a part of his investigation of MBI…
"But enough of that," Miya said with a smile. "We can do 'small talk' over a nice meal, no?"
Upon hearing the word 'meal', Musabi's stomach growled.
"M-meal?" Musabi said hopefully.
"Why, yes!" Miya said with a smile.
"Yay!"
Ranma smiles at the innocence of the moment. In spite of having the looks of a sexy woman, she still had the charm of an innocent girl…
"No bad thoughts!" Miya said forcefully.
"Ah!" Ranma said, as he jumps. How is this woman making him jump like a scared rabbit…?
END FLASHBACK!
"At least we got a room and a meal out of all this," Ranma said to himself. "Although, I'm not sure about having Kagari…or that lush Uzume as neighbors-"
BUZZZZ!
"Who could that be Minato-san?" Musabi asked.
"Good question," Ranma said. He then turns towards Musabi.
"You can set that stuff down for a moment," Ranma said.
"Oh, okay," Musabi said, as she drops the knapsack.
BAM!
"Er, thanks," Ranma said, as he goes to the door of his old apartment, and opens it…
CHUNK!
"You!" Ranma exclaimed.
"Of course it's me, 'Minato'," Nabiki said with a smirk. "You DID say you wanted some clothes and things, right?"
"Er, right…"
"Who are you?" Musabi said, as she steps forth.
Nabiki raises an eyebrow.
"Er, this is Nabiki," Ranma said. "She and I are very close."
"Yes, so close that we were 'together'," Nabiki said.
"Um…"
"So you're brother and sister or something?" Musabi said, as she completely missed the point.
"Or something," Nabiki said, as she nods her head.
"Oh, yes," Musabi said, as she bows. "It is nice to meet you."
"I bet…"
Nabiki turns towards Ranma.
"She's healthy, to say the least."
"You don't think I noticed that?" Ranma said.
After one last inspection of the old apartment, everyone prepares to depart.
"It is nice to meet you," Nabiki said with a bow.
"Same here," Musabi replied, as she bows her head likewise.
Nabiki then turns towards Ranma.
"Have fun," Nabiki said with wink.
"It ain't like that at ALL…this time."
"We'll see. Ta."
And, with that, Nabiki walks off.
"Well, we better get going," Ranma said, as he slings his duffle bag.
CLATTER!
"Yes!" Musabi said, as she slings her pack, which was the size of a small car.
"…"
Soon, Ranma and Musabi are settled in their new place.
"Well, at least we have a nice view of the park from here," Ranma said with a sense a satisfaction.
"Yes, it's SO beautiful," Musabi said, as she leans over and looks outside Ranma's window.
Now, such a position would be enticing to any healthy, heterosexual male, and Ranma was no exception to this. However, the sheer innocence of Musabi's demeanor pushed all consideration from Ranma's thoughts.
Ranma sighed with a smile, as he leans on a nearby vertical support beam.
Musabi then stands up, and turns towards Ranma.
"Minato-san?"
"Yes?"
"I make this promise to you that as my Ashikabi: I, as your Sekirei will do my best to please YOU," Musabi said solemnly.
"Huh, I see…"
"But let me thank you by washing your back?" Musabi asked.
"Um, that's okay," Ranma said. "I'm not in the mood just yet. Why don't you take a bath, while I take one later?"
"Okay," Musabi replied. "I'll see you in a bit."
And with that, Musabi leaves Ranma's room.
"Man, that was interesting," Ranma said, as he looks outside the window. He then sees the tree that he and Musabi fell on the night before. Something was bugging him…
"Oh, well," Ranma said, as he leaps out of the house through to window. "Time to figure this thing out…"
Unknown to Ranma, someone was watching his every move in secret…
THAK!
Ranma, having landed outside, rose to his feet. He goes to the tree that had captured his imagination…
"Doesn't seem particularly interesting, other than an ordinary tree-" Ranma said, as he touches the trunk.
FLASH!
Ranma was surrounded by something bright, green and forest-like. For some reason, the sensation felt familiar.
"Please-!"
Ranma realized that he was clutching a little blond girl's hand.
"Huh?" Ranma replied.
"Please help me-!"
FLASH!
Ranma stumbles back.
"What the heck was that-?"
KRISH!
Ranma turns around to see a brown-hair girl, sporting a side-ways ponytail, burst through the bathroom window wearing only a towel. She performs a somersault and lands on top of the fence.
"Uzume!" Ranma calls out. "Why-?"
Uzume looks down at Ranma from her position. She wondered why the sight of a nearly naked girl being outside didn't faze him…
"Hey, you're Musabi's Ashikabi, right?" Uzume asked.
"How did you know THAT?" Ranma replied.
Uzume leaps down, and wraps her arms around Ranma.
"Hey!" Ranma yells.
"I don't feel like fighting, so can you PLEASE tell Musabi that I DON'T want to fight-?"
KRISH!
Musubi lands in the backyard, where she could confront Uzume.
"Let go of Minato-san!" Musabi said.
"I will, if you stop trying to fight me," Uzume said slyly.
"If you won't, then I'll make you!" Musabi said, as she threw a punch.
"Musabi, calm down-!" Ranma said, as he moves to intercept the attack. However-
THWANG!
Apparently, Miya did so with her frying pan.
"Miya?" Musabi said with surprise. And then-
WHACK!
Miya hits Musabi on the head with a ladle.
"You shouldn't be indecent, Musabi," Miya said gently.
"Ha-HA!" Uzume chortled. "You got hit by Miya-!"
WHACK!
"Ow!"
"You, too, Uzume. Also, NO fighting IN the Inn, okay?"
"Yes, Miya," Uzume and Musabi said in unison.
"Good, because I'm holding Minato responsible."
"Me?" Ranma said. "What did I do?"
"You're Musubi's friend, correct?"
"Well, yes, but-"
"So, you make sure Musubi minds the rules, okay?"
"Yes, Miya…"
"Good. You wouldn't want me to be disappointed in you all, right?"
Miya displays her death aura to prove a point…
"Okay, okay!" Ranma yells.
"Good," Miya said with a pleasant smile. "Dinner will be ready soon. Ta!"
After Miya walks back inside the house, Ranma turns to the girls.
"Passive aggressive, isn't she?" Ranma said.
Uzume and Musabi could only nod their head in reply.
Tbc.