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 eighth 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 7
Later…
Ranma was sitting in the back porch of the Izuno Inn, while he looked up at the night sky.
"What have I gotten myself into?" Ranma said to himself.
After returning home, Ranma told Miya the Landlady that Ku-chan needed a place to stay. Without inquiring further, Miya accepts the girl into her household. At the same time, Miya gives Misubi a new outfit, while her usual fighting gear was repaired.
"Big Brother?" said a familiar voice.
Ranma turns towards Ku-chan.
"Oh, you're still up," Ranma said with a smile.
"Uh-huh," Ku-chan nods, as she sits down next to Ranma.
Silence.
"I…heard a voice, and saw you in the skies," Ku-chan said. "When you and Musabi fell, I wanted to save you…"
"And I appreciated it, kiddo," Ranma said. He then turns towards Ku-chan.
"Look, no matter what, I'll be there for you. Even if I am not present in body, I'll find you. Count on it."
Ku-chan smiles, as she blushed. She then gets on her knees, and takes Ranma's face.
"Um…Kuu's Big Brother, please be my Ashikabi."
"Huh-?"
SMOOSH!
As Kuu kisses Ranma on the lips, her power is fully active. Wings of light form behind the girl, as the green energy spreads out into the backyard, causing the flowers to grow and bloom…
"Ahhh!" Musabi said happily, as she sees the sparkling lights danced in the back.
Ranma could only stare in amazement at this display of gentle power…
The next day…
All night and day, a pair of eyes monitored Ranma's actions…
So, you have 'winged' two 'Sekirei' agents, #88 and #108, thus far, 'Minato'…IF that is your real name. I WILL keep an eye on YOU, whoever you are…
"Well, I'm off," Ranma said, as he carried his pack.
"You have a nice day!" Miya the Landlady said pleasantly.
"Take care, Minato-san!" Musubi (Sekirei #88) said, as she bounced happily.
BLOOP!
"Huh," Ranma said. He then glances over toward Kusano, who seemed sad.
"Kuu-chan?"
Kusano turns towards Ranma tearfully, and runs to clutch Ranma.
"Shi-chan," Kusano said.
"'Shi-chan'?" Ranma asked.
"Shi-chan is older…than Kuu-chan. He…he taught me how to grow plants and the trees. But…he…he killed the them!"
Ranma nods his head. While getting ready for the day, he had learned from the morning news the park he and Musubi had rescued Kusano from was killed off rather mysteriously. It was as if the very lifeforce of the natural surroundings was sucked consumed in rapid succession…
"Shi-chan is like Kuu-chan. But what if Kuu-chan becomes like Shi-chan?"
"Kiddo, only YOU can make that choice. No one can make you."
"Really?"
"Really. I learned the hard way by allowing others tell me or manipulate me into doing what they want. And you know what? I ALLOWED them to do that to me because I didn't see the forest for the trees."
"Huh?"
"I'm saying I never bothered to question others, even for clarification sake."
"Oh. So…I can do what I want?"
"Not now because you are young, but if you feel that there is something wrong, you can always come to me or Miya. Okay?"
Kusano smiled.
"I will, Minato-san!" Kusano said. "I want you to stay with me forever…"
As Kusano hugs, Ranma sighs. It's very rare to be a mentor to someone in need, and he especially missed these sorts of things with his own kids…
Later…
"Hey, boss!" Ranma said, as he carried his work tools with him. "Have you seen Seo around?"
"I'm afraid he quit his position of laborer," the stern man said. "Frankly, he was a bit undependable."
"Huh, no kidding…"
Later than evening…
"Hey, I'm home-" Ranma said.
"Hey," Seo said, as he finishes eating his meal. "How was work?"
"…"
"Welcome back, Minato-san," Miya said.
"Hello," Musubi said happily.
"What the hell are YOU doing here?" Ranma said with annoyance. "I had no one to talk to all day."
"Eh," Seo shrugged.
"Seo is here because he was my late husband's friend," Miya said with a pleasant smile. "Under normal circumstances, I would simply throw this…'piece of trash' right out of here…"
As Miya gives Seo the "Death Aura', the Ashikabi slinks back.
"But he has been helpful at times."
"Damn, you're scarier than ever," Seo replied.
"By the way, how did you know where I am staying?" Ranma asked.
"Your lunch reminded me of Miya's cooking," Seo said. "So, I took a chance that you lived here at the Izumo Inn."
"Huh, you don't say…"
"Besides, I wanted check the kid…"
Seo spots Kusano, who was peeking behind the main screen door.
"Ah, there you are kid."
Kusano merely sniffed.
"Why don't you come over," Seo said.
"Uh-uh," Kusano said.
"Humph. Some gratitude you're showing-"
BANG!
"Sorry about that," Miya said, after throwing a pot at Seo's head. "But bullying is NOT allowed."
"Thanks for the reminder…"
"Hey!" said a voice from the outside hallway.
Everyone peeks their heads to see the Lightning Twins Hikari and Hibiki.
"Oh, hello," Miya said.
"We apologize for Seo bothering you…again," Hikari said.
"Well," Seo said, as he nonchalantly starts to leave. "It's time to go-"
"Not so fast, Seo," Hibiki said. "We want to have a word with YOU."
"Oh? Like what-?"
BLAM! POW! SMACK!
"Ah, it's good to see someone ELSE go through this for a change," Ranma said with a smirk, as Seo gets beaten up by the Lightning Twins. He then turns towards Miya.
"Aren't you going to stop this?" Ranma asked.
"And missed this? Pity the thought."
"Huh. Well, as much as I would like to agree with you, I consider Seo my friend."
"A pity."
"Really?" Seo said, as the Lightning Twins stopped beaten on him. "I'm flattered."
"Well, I had WORSE acquaintances."
"Well, in that case, my card," Seo said, as he presents his business card to Ranma.
Ranma accepts it, and reads it.
"Ah, an entrepreneur."
"Indeed," Seo said. "Call me anytime if want anything."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"And just to let YOU know, that doesn't mean US," Hikari said.
"Yeah!" Hibiki said.
"Um, okay. I wasn't planning on anything perverted, but point taken."
"See?" Miya said. "I already told you that Seo was trash."
"I see…"
Later that night…
"Minato!" Kusano screeched, as she jumped into Ranma's bed.
THAK!
"Ow!" Ranma said, as he awakens. He turns to see the intruder.
"Kuu-chan?"
"I…I saw a ghost!"
"'Ghost'?" Musubi said, as she crawls out of her bed, which was next to Ranma. Thankfully, Musubi hadn't tried anything while she was in Ranma's room.
"Hmmm," Ranma mused. He didn't sense any ghost in the house…
"Well, you can stay in my room tonight," Ranma said.
Kusano said with a smile.
"Thank you, Big Brother!" Kusano said with a hug.
The next day…
"This ghost had long hair and glasses," Kusano said, as she sniffed.
"Huh?" Uzume said. "That sounds like-"
"Nothing," Miya said. "Right, Uzume?"
Enter: "Death Aura".
"Er, right," Uzume said nervously.
"But-"
"It'll be okay," Miya said pleasantly. "But in the meantime, I will visit my husband today. Until I return, I want this place spotless."
"Eh, no problem," Ranma said. "You've done so much for us, it's the least we can do."
"I appreciate that, Minato-san."
"And we'll help Minato-san!" Musubi said.
"Yeah!" Kusano interjects excitedly.
"Eh, I'm going back to bed," Uzume said.
"Fingers," Ranma said.
During the day, Ranma, Musabi and Kusano do their best to clean the inn…
"Hey, guys, check this out," Ranma said, as he slips on some cleaning on his feet.
"What are you doing, Minato-san?" Musubi said out.
"Making chores fun," Ranma said, as he stands up. "Now, watch…and learn…"
With the floors wet and soapy, Ranma began to skate back and forth, while humming a "skater's tune", using the brushes to scrub the floors clean of dirt.
"Woooo," Kusano said excitedly.
"And now, the triple axe finisher," Ranma said, as he leaps, hops and spins to a stop.
"Ta-da!"
"Oh, that's fun, Minato-san!" Musubi said, as she and Kusano clapped their hands.
"Let me try it!"
Ranma smiles.
No matter how dangerous I think you are, stranger with a pigtail, I can't help but think about how much I want to open myself to your manly embrace. Be still, my beating heart…
Meanwhile…
"Okay, according to that nice girl I spoke to, the Izumo Inn should be in the north quadrant of the city," said Hikari "Kari" Kamiya, an eighteen year-old from the City of Tokyo. She arrived at Shintou Taito with the express purposes of finding the one she had a crush on for many years:
Ranma Saotome.
Back when they were children, they and several others were temporarily trapped in a virtual realm known as the Digital World. It was there that Kari met Young Ranma, when he was actually young, and it was there that they had found and trained "familiars" known as "Digimon" (or "Digital Monsters"). She thought that it was cute that Ranma was afraid of cats, like her Digimon named "Gatomon". Gatomon could "Digivolve" to "Angewomon" (The Angel of Mercy), while Ranma's Digimon, "Ponimon", could Digivolve to "Centaurwomon" (The Huntress). Sadly, everyone went his or her separate ways, but Kari never forgot her crush…
Now, wanting to move on with her life, Kari wanted to see Ranma again, if for the very last time, though she doesn't know what Ranma has been up to since then.
"Now, let's see- Oof!" Kari said, as she fell down. Someone had bumped into her…
"I'm sorry," said the boy with the gray hair. "I wasn't paying attention."
Kari took a look at the boy, and saw Ranma in him.
"Aw, it's okay," said Kari. "But, are you?"
Before the boy could answer-
"Why are you running away like that?" said a sexily clad girl, as with blond-hair shaped like oz horns. "You KNOW I have to take you back with us."
"No!" said the boy. "I'm NOT going with anyone who bullied Kuu-chan like that!"
"Huh," the girl said, as she took out her whip. "Well, then I will have to discipline you-!"
CRACK!
"Look out-!" Kari said.
BAM!
Kari moves the strange boy away, just as the whip destroys a part of the pavement. She then looks up.
"I don't know what's going on, but I will protect you!" Kari replied.
"Wow," the boy said in amazement.
"Move aside, girl," the strange girl said. "I don't want pedestrians to get hurt."
"Don't worry, because we're running away!" Kari said. She then grabs the boy's hand and took off with him.
"Huh?" the boy replied.
"Come back here-!" the strange girl said, as she took off after them…
Tbc.
