Realities Cubed
By Jim Robert Bader
(Inspired by Rumiko Takahashi, Buronsan, Tsutomu Isomata, Hiroki Hayashi, Ryde Tsukimono With ideas and characters supplied by Trella and Others)
Chapter Thirteen.
Triskadecaphobia
Continuum # 32145896
"How nice of you to pay me a visit," said the very tall hostess of one of Nerima's leading art clinics, "But I take it that this is not a social visit and you have serious business for which you want my assistance?"
"Your help would be appreciated," Nabiki replied, "If it's not too much trouble."
"Oh please," Ganglot smiled, "You knew before you came that I would be only to glad to help out. After all, your children are very near and dear to my heart, especially that charming Kachima, who dear, sweet Kokaku is missing right now very much...am I right, darling?"
"Please Great Godmother," Kokaku herself implored, "I have to know what became of sister. With Kachima gone...it's like a part of myself is missing. I need to know that she's all right..."
"Never fear, my Dear," Ganglot said in a soothing voice, "I would never dream of abandoning such a promising crop of warriors to the whim of He who defies the Fates. I'll do everything within my power to help out, which-as you all have reason to know-is a lot more than you could ask of your average art teacher."
"Average my ass," Ranma sniffed, "You're about as average as I'm a walrus."
"Ah!" Shampoo hastily intervened before the Oni Princess could give in to her whimsical nature, "He didn't mean it like that, and I'm sure our husband is just as grateful as Nabiki and I that you are willing to help us locate our missing children."
"Sure," Ranma said, "Whatever."
"Tut-tut," Ganglot waved her hand, "Never forget that your daughter, like you, is a Temporal Nexus, literally a magnet for troubles and the hope of her generation. I'd never abandon such an important asset for the future of humankind, not even if I was the sort to be inclined to indifference."
"Like many other beings of your class," Nabiki noted, "But lucky for us you happen to be on our side."
"I always was a softie, especially where it involves family," Ganglot mused, "Now...let's see what can be determined about the current location of your missing children. I'm sure Kuonji and her wife would be just as anxious to know their whereabouts..."
"Ucchan," Ranma winced, "I forgot to tell her what was happening. She'll be worried sick about Ganymede...but..."
"There's someone else who appeared at the start of this who also claimed to be her daughter," Shampoo finished for him, "Only she said her mother was Akane..."
"Now that is an amusing twist, is it not?" Ganglot mused, "I always thought those three would wind up taking your path in a threesome, but...well...the road not taken and all that. Peorth certainly gave it her best collage try, but some things are just not meant to be in certain timelines..."
"That's what this is about, isn't it?" Nabiki asked, "Other worlds, other versions of Nerima, like that one I briefly visited before our wedding, right?"
"Something like that, only many, many steps further removed from this Timeline," Ganglot replied as she lead the way into her gallery, past many examples of her artwork on display, coming to a halt before a large crystal sphere that stood mounted upon an iron tripod or elaborate and ornate design. The sphere was nearly perfect in shape and had a faintly blue-white translucency that made it seem faintly hypnotic.
"Nice piece you've got there," Ranma noted as he nodded at the tripod.
"Why thank you, Saotome-san," Ganglot leered at him in coy, suggestive manner and made a point of wiggling her bottom in his direction, "A little late, but nice of your to notice."
"Ah..." Ranma became aware of the double-glares he was receiving from both of his wives and knew beyond doubt that his incurable case of "Foot-in-the-mouth" disease had tripped him up again...like always!"
"Oh father," Kokaku sighed in mild distress, causing her mother to glance at her in a more-than-perturbed manner.
"I wouldn't worry about it," a pleasant voice noted as a beautiful bronze-haired girl in Amazon attire came into the room bearing a tray upon which rested an ornate tea set and a plate full of rice cakes, "Uncle Saotome is no match for Lady Ganglot when it comes to the wits department."
"Titania-san!" Kokaku said in evident delight, "When did you move back into Nerima."
"I'm not, actually," said the radiant golden beauty, "I'm spending school break visiting with Lady Ganglot on the insistence of my parents who...ah...had other plans for their vacation."
"Romeo and Julian on a vacation?" Ranma replied, "What exactly are they doing that they need a vacation for?"
"Ranma," Shampoo growled in a low voice.
"Oh, it's quite all right," Titania replied, "Mother works as Security for the Museum where father is employed as a research assistant. I know we haven't exactly been in touch of late, but I'm learning so much from Lady Ganglot here in her institute of fine arts."
"A very promising young child," Ganglot said with a pleasant grin, "Combining the best in both of her parents, who were so naturally gifted when they were in my employ. Ah well..." she returned her attention to the blue-white sphere, "Let's tune in the channel and see what's playing on the net, shall we?"
She extended her arms and made a mild gesture, causing the sphere to rise from its tripod stand and hover in mid-air, glowing all the more brightly as the surrounding lights slowly faded to nothing. An image appeared like a glimpse of the Milky Way galaxy forming in the space above the sphere, then formed an after-image as the starscape appeared to expand both inward and out, forming a curious cloud-like image that seemed to stretch forward and backwards in time as well as in dimensions.
"As you can see," the Oni Princess resumed, "The problem with finding someone lost in the timestream is the fact that space and time are near infinite, extending outwards in more than four directions. To trace Kachima and the others will require that we home in on their unique bio-signature from all the discordant noise that would baffle and confuse our senses. Fortunately we do have a localized area in which to scan, and with the resources I have to tap into it is a simple enough matter to confine our search to a given area, using Kachima as our living beacon. That is where you come in, Kokaku-chan...your link to your twin sister will be the anchor by which we find our missing prodigal young ones."
"I'll do whatever I can to help, of course," Kokaku affirmed, "Just tell me what to do and I'll do it, Great-Godmother."
"I know you will, dear," Ganglot murmured, "Now...stare into the space before you and let your mind drift free...I'll do all the important work, you just serve as a lifeline and we'll find your wayward twin from among these constellations..."
"Oh my," Kokaku remarked, "So many stars...but why are they not all in the same places?"
"It might take too long to explain all of the mechanics involved, Dear," Ganglot replied, "Suffice to say that this relief is expanded temporally as well as physically so as to showcase the range between the overlapping universes that comprise the Multiverse. In order to see time itself you would need perceptions as advanced as mine, your mother or your sister...ordinary human brains are not hard-wired in such a way as to view things in five of the basic twenty-two dimensions."
"Twenty-two?" Ranma arched an eyebrow and glanced at Nabiki, "Are you following any of this, Nab-chan?"
"Somewhat," Nabiki replied, "If I do understand what you are saying, this is a holographic relief that can be used to locate in time as well as in the regular three dimensions, the fifth dimension being the loop that can bring us closer in contact with our daughter."
"Precisely," Ganglot grinned her way, "Have I ever told you that you might well have made a promising Oni?"
"Not lately, no," Nabiki replied, "But I'll take that as a compliment."
"Me, I'd prefer to keep my thinking on just three dimensions, thank you," Shampoo assured, "That's all I need for most situations."
"Oh, I don't know," Titania mused, "It never hurts to expand your horizons...and speaking of which, does anyone want some tea and crackers?"
"Oh sure," Ranma smiled, "Those look good and I'm starving."
"Ranma," Nabiki growled.
"Well, I'm hungry!" Ranma winced, "I always get real famished during a crisis."
"A man who keeps his priorities straight," Ganglot mused, "That's another thing I've always liked about you, Saotome, something you share in common with my son, Razor."
Shampoo and Nabiki exchanged looks then shrugged their slender shoulders as if to silently agree, "What can you do about him?"
"Now then," Ganglot addressed herself back to Kokaku, "Just keep staring at the starfield while I make a few adjustments to refine the picture, and gradually we'll zero in on where Kachima-san had gotten herself off too, and then we may even have some idea at the sort of power that could move so many promising youths so effortlessly through the timefield."
She made a complex weaving with her hands as the tattoo marks upon her face began to glow, and then the image expanded rapidly, enlarging one portion of the overall field until it gradually resolved upon the Earth Solar system...and then upon the lovely blue marble that was the life-giving source of all humanity within that portion of the Multiversal timefield. A few more adjustments and the Earth's image was overlaid with a series of "shadow" images that trailed off into infinite spaces.
"Oh my," Kokaku observed, "The Earth looks like a string of pearls overlapping each other..."
"An apt analogy," Ganglot explained, "Each parallel earth is separated from the others by a mere heartbeat in time, a vibrational quantum flux particular to each and every timeframe. These alternate versions are not just separated in time but in space as well, and since the Earth is moving rather than standing still in space those alternate shadow worlds trail off like the tail end of a comet. That pattern this forms is an exaggeration, of course, but it should help us narrow down which of these worlds have been visited, and from there estimate the coordinates for the appropriate destination."
"Oh, I see," Kokaku replied, "So...which one is my sister visiting at the moment?
"Hmm..." Ganglot inclined her head, "I seem to notice a trace shadow...as if she were at the same location in different moment. This model is far too linear for our needs...I'm expanding it out to include seven dimensions."
"Seven Dimensions?" Ranma repeated, "I thought they were supposed to be infinite?"
"Continuums, not dimensions," Nabiki corrected, "A dimension literally means an expansion in a given direction...three dimensions of space, one of time, and the fifth dimension forms a Torus that allows for the exchange of energies that we know of as magic...and the sixth dimension is a Hyperbolic curve that allows for a curved universe through which matter as we know it can flow, a kind of a flat plane shaped roughly like a horse saddle..."
"Precisely," Ganglot noted, "While the Seventh Dimension is truly more of a Tachyon space that projects through a Hyperbola that separates matter and anti-
matter into two separate mirror realms, and from there we can project the Eighth dimension...which projects to infinity the mirror-refraction of existence."
"All these realms simultaneously coexist in the vastness of infinity," Nabiki noted, "Yet all of them are projections of a single reality, a kind of Super-
dimension that is at the core of all existence. My mentor used to tell me about how our world is but a shadow of the real space at the center of time...but the central existence isn't really a place as we can understand it...it's more like the theoretical hub at the center of a wheel, the wheel being the reality that we know..."
"Lotion was a very wise woman indeed," Ganglot mused, "And she taught you well indeed to be her successor."
"Oh, I get it now," Kokaku said brightly, "It's like our world is part of a merry-go-round, like they have at the carnival last year. I liked riding the pony, you get such a feeling of freedom riding around and around in a circle."
Ganglot eyed the girl sidelong, then leaned closer to Nabiki and said, "You know...sometimes that girl reminds me so much of your sister that it's almost scary."
"You find it scary?" Nabiki replied with an arched eyebrow.
"I think what Lady Ganglot is suggesting is that our reality expands outward in all directions and that no one Shadow-Earth can claim any greater significance than another," Titania suggested, "Also to explain for Uncle Ranma's benefit, a Dimension isn't the same thing as an Alternate Universe since we all live within the same finite number of Dimensional constants...three of space and one of time and the rest existing beyond the scope of our physical senses."
"Didn't I tell you that she's a brilliant and gifted young child?" Ganglot beamed proudly, "I almost feel as if she were my own granddaughter."
"But what does all of this have to do with finding our children?" Shampoo demanded a bit impatiently, "If you know how to find this...place that they've gone too..."
"That's very odd..." Ganglot's tone implied a shift of interest, "There is something not quite right in these calculation. I'm picking up a disturbance in the timefield...it's shielded from my perceptions, but I can definitely make it out to be a shadow."
"Huh?" Ranma said, by now thoroughly bewildered but not wanting to admit it.
"There!" Nabiki pointed, "What is that thing...looks a little like a speck on the map..."
"Not just a speck, dear..." Ganglot narrowed her eyes, "It has a reading much too strong for its size...it's orbiting that world, but it's surrounded by a fold in timespace. Earth coordinates 87219654, according to the Yggdrasil database..."
"What is it?" Shampoo asked as the Oni Princess magnified the image.
"I don't quite know," Ganglot frowned, "It has a gravitational field nearly equal to that of the Earth itself, yet it's orbiting the planet like a moon...curious...I'm detecting a very disturbing feeling about it..."
Kokaku suddenly shivered and Titania, who was standing next to her, took notice, "Are you all right?"
"Cold...so cold..." Kokaku's voice trembled, "Such an evil presence...I can feel it...stretching out from that place...how horrible...and Kachima is there..."
"What?" Ranma turned to regard his daughter.
"Are you sure, Kokaku-chan?" Shampoo asked as she touched the girl on her arms to offer her support.
"Yes, Momma," Kokaku replied, "I can feel Kachima...surrounded by this evil! It's so intense and cold...on, Mother!"
"Easy, Dear," Nabiki joined Shampoo at the side of their one remaining child, "Don't let it draw you in...relax and breathe easy...remember your training."
"Yes Mother," Kokaku agreed and closed her eyes so that she could relax and use her medication-relaxation techniques to calm her mind, which was less of an effort for her than it might be for another, "I feel better now...but Father...what about Kachima?"
"If she's there then we're going to go get her," Ranma avowed, "Right?"
"Wrong," Ganglot contradicted, "According to these readings...you're there already."
"Eh?" Nabiki narrowed her eyes, "What do you mean?"
"See for yourself," Ganglot indicated a pattern of energy that was winding its way into the envelope surrounding the object, "That's your unique Bio-signature, and that of your husband...but...it's not quite the same...the quantum flux of these two readings implies that they are a different pair of Ranma and Nabiki...very different if I make these out. Oh my...the power level readings of both exceed your own by a substantial margin!"
"What?" Ranma declared, "You've got to be kidding!"
"I kid you not, Kid," Ganglot assured, "On a universal scale you have a Power reading of roughly twelve hundred...but this guy's reading at well over eight thousand...and I'm getting a strong indication that this is just his 'at-rest' power levels...his actual upper limit could be a whole lot higher than that!"
"Oh my..." Nabiki stared at the two energy ribbons winding their way into the cloud-like envelope, "And what's my reading, by the way?"
"You normally rank at five hundred, while hers at rest...three thousand," Ganglot replied, "She's a full fledged Lore Master, there's no doubt about it"
"A Nabiki more powerful than Nabiki?" Shampoo blinked her eyes, "Is such a thing possible?"
"Obviously it is," Ganglot replied, "The only question is...will it be enough against what I'm sensing is behind that dimensional curtain? I can't get an accurate reading on the power level...but I can tell it's well in excess of a hundred thousand!"
"Oh my," Kokaku reacted, "And my sister is going up against that?"
"Lady Ganglot," Titania spoke up, "Is there anything you can do to help?"
"Not a thing from here, I'm afraid," Ganglot replied, "I can't even penetrate to get a good image of this place...however...I am sensing a great convergence of energies focused upon these coordinates, multiple readings, and some of them quite potent."
"What kind of gathering?" Shampoo asked, "And are they friends or foes of our children?"
"Only time will tell, I'm afraid," Ganglot replied, "But I'm getting the very strong feeling that someone else is on this job...someone a lot more powerful than me, and the best we can do is to sit still and wait for things to happen."
"Wait?" Ranma fumed impotently, staring at a ruby ribbon that he sensed held a kinship to himself and softly murmured aloud, "You'd better know what you're doing, Bro...you bring my kids back or I'll kick your ass!"
"Who are you talking to, Airen?" Shampoo asked.
"Himself I imagine," Nabiki replied, "But...somehow I sense this other version of you takes his job very seriously...and if anyone can do it, then he's the Ranma we must rely upon."
"The me who what?" Ranma blinked.
"Why don't we watch and see what happens, father?" Kokaku suggested, "I'm sure everything will turn out for the better."
Shampoo, Nabiki and Ganglot all exchanged looks, then Ganglot leaned closer to the latter and said, "Are you sure Ranma's her father and not Kasumi?"
"Sometimes even I wonder," Nabiki murmured at the same level, then turned attention to the silver chord that she knew intuitively was herself in another version and silently repeated Ranma's invective to bring her daughters home safe and sound...or else one Lord Master would have words with her "sister"...
Continuum # 62491378
Roll Call:
Wanda Kenshiro -Daughter of Ranma and Aila, Fist of the Northstar Ryoma Saotome -Son/Daughter of Ranma and Ukyo, Musubetsu Kakuto Ryu Tachi Kuno -Son of Tatewaki and Nabiki, Nampo Kendo Ryu Carmine Hitomabori -Daughter of Mosquiton and Inaho, Vampyr in training Efreet Mitsuhara -Adopted daughter of Makoto and Ifurita, Demon-Goddess Tarot Kenzan -Daughter of Konatsu and Shampoo, Apprentice Mage/Wicca Minos Taro -Son of Pantsaru and Kasumi, Shotokan Master
Ryonosuke Senzenen -Captain of the Guard, Castle Kuno Touga Kuno -Son of Tatewaki, Lord of Castle Kuno Xandar Kurunei -Son of Sasuke and Kaori, Ninja, Family retainer Yoriko Kuonji -Daughter of Ukyo and an Unknown Father, Ninja Retainer
"My lord," Ryonosuke bowed on one knee before the raised dais upon which sat a man dressed in the formal robes of a feudal-era Daimyo, "These are the people we encountered upon your lands. They say they arrived here by mistake, yet they wear no formal colors and clearly are warriors of unusual distinction."
"Intruders on my lands, you say?" replied the young man waving a fan as if to cool himself down in the heat, eyeing the strangers with cool dispassion, "And yet you did not bring them here under arms but rather bestow upon them the courtesy normally afforded to a guest within my castle?"
"My lord..." Ryonosuke visibly swallowed before continuing, "They were not easily subdued...in fact the large woman dispatched twelve of my best men with great ease. I believe that the dark haired woman with the staff is a Sorceress, while the others...I am even less certain. But the one over there claims to be a distant kinsman of yours...a Kuno by name. I believe it more prudent to consult with you before taking hasty action..."
There was an audible snap as the fan in the Daimyo's hand folded, then with a sharpening of his gaze he focused his attention towards Tachi and said, "You claim to be of the noble house of Kuno?"
"My lord," Tachi spoke up, "I am Kuno Tachi, a student who has been traveling abroad, and this is my man-servant, Minos Taro, and my lady companions and cousin..."
"Man-servant?" Minos grumbled under his breath, but a sharp glance from Tachi convinced him to keep his peace and say nothing. The others likewise held their peace, having agreed in advance to let the clever and smooth-tongued Tachi do most of the talking (though some clearly had their reservations).
"Ah yes," Touga's eyes roved over the five oddly dressed and very colorful women, taking each one in the embrace of his sharp-eyed scrutiny before moving on to the next before returning with almost lethal intensity back to Tachi as he said, "To claim to be of noble birth is a crime for anyone who cannot prove their bold statement...to claim to be of the house of Kuno is an automatic death sentence unless you can prove your worth to my satisfaction."
Tachi noted the way the Daimyo held himself while making a subtle gesture with one hand that was instantly followed by movement from both sides. He silently made out four armed men drawing their katanas and converging upon his position but gave no indication that he was aware of this until the very last second.
Efreet, however, also detected the motion and started to cry out a warning when Tachi moved in a roll to kick backwards at the two men seeking to stab him from behind. In the same swift motion he drew a bokken from the concealment of his shirt-collar and stood erect as the other two men rushed him. With as much ease as to seem completely effortless he dispatched these men and calmly finished off the two others. He then stood with his sword raised high and summoned up his power, causing the wood to glow an intense blue-white light, and then with a single word he gestured with the sword and projected a wave of force outward that struck the floor in the center of the room and caused a mild explosion.
"Impressive," Touga remarked as he studied the other young man with no sense of undue worry, "You have obviously studied Nampo and have mastered the initiatory forms of Spiritual Kendo. You are indeed knowledgeable of our family Ryu, but I am curious as to your claims of being a Kuno as I had thought myself knowledgeable on every branch of our family's illustrious lineage."
"Perhaps it would help to explain that my mother was a woman of the clan known as Tendo," Tachi inclined his head, "Would that be a problem for you?"
"Her name?" Touga said a bit sharply.
"Tendo Nabiki, before she married my father," Tachi replied.
"Interesting," Touga remarked, "I have heard of the lady you mention...but why do you avoid mentioning the name of your father?"
"Because...there might be a bit of controversy on that," Tachi replied delicately, "I would not wish to deceive a kinsman by lying."
"Admirable in itself," Touga replied, "But I grow more intrigued to hear the rest of your story."
"I would be honored to share with you, Kinsman," Tachi replied as he put his bokken away and resumed sitting by the others, "But perhaps you may indulge me with a minor favor. I have been away for some years and am not privy to what has been transpiring in the Home Islands during my absence. Perhaps you might care to enlighten me? I would be ever so grateful."
"Fair enough," Touga replied, "What would you wish to know?"
"For beginners, my Lord," Tachi replied, "How fares house Kuno? Are our lands safe and secure or are there tensions with our neighbors, and why must travelers through these lands be accosted by soldiers? I could understand your precautions if we are at war or..."
"We have had...difficulties with a certain rival faction, but that is of no consequence," Touga waved his fan to indicate that the subject was of only minor relevance, "I rule the land and our people in the name of the Shogun, and by his favor I have kept our clan well and alive in these difficult times. My father was a great man of renown and good repute and I try to act as I know would bring his memory honor...unlike my Aunt Kodachi, who of late has been the source of much controversy."
"How so?" Tachi asked with a raised eyebrow.
"You have no doubt heard...rumors concerning her husband's recent untimely demise," Touga replied, "And that she may have acted to hasten his departure..."
"I know that Lady Kodachi is reputed to be an excellent apothecary," Tachi continued as he felt his way along in this conversation, "But that some believe her knowledge of poisons is far greater."
"It would explain much, would it not?" Touga slowly nodded, "So subtle is her art that it is said that a man could be dead and not know it for a month. It is but one of several reasons why I practice the utmost caution whenever she visits this castle. It is also said that she is a fine chef, but that her meals are to die for."
"An excellent policy, Kinsman," Tachi slowly nodded, "One can never be too careful in seeking a long life through a careful and balanced diet."
"Quite," Touga seemed genuinely amused as he said this, but then he resumed his serious manner, "I would invite you and your companions to stay and share a meal while you enlighten me about your travels to foreign parts. Tell me...are the Dutch still rattling their sabers and demanding to be allowed to sell their wares in our ports?"
"Have you ever known a European who didn't complain about something?" Tachi replied with a slight grin, "Tell me truthfully, Kinsman...who would you rather trade with, an Englishman or some other type of Gaijin?"
"The English have been our allies for more years than I like to count," Touga responded, "They can almost seem honorable, after a fashion, not like their colonies in the Americas, or those stuck-up, officious Germans."
"And what of the Russians?" Tachi asked, "Would you consider them better than, say...the French or the Spanish?"
"Tsar Alexander IV is an old man, dying without an heir," Touga snorted, "His dynasty is crumbling all around him, and the other European powers are salivating to pick up the pieces. King Ferdinand is a wily fox who may one day regain his long-lost empire...but as for the French..." Touga spat to express his displeasure.
"It is good to know that you are so knowledgeable about the world beyond the seas," Tachi remarked, "I have been to France, Germany, England and the Americas, and someday I may well travel to Russia, though there is no foreign land that compares with the Home Islands."
"Oh brother," Ryoma rolled her eyes, only to wince as Tarot squeezed her knee to gain her attention, then signified with her eyes that the auburn-haired Saotome was to hold her tongue and not make a louder protestation.
"Then I envy you for having the freedom to travel," Touga replied, "But I must insist on matters a little more immediate to hand. You have not yet introduced these visions of radiant glory who accompany you."
"You are quite right, Kinsman," Tachi replied, "I have been remiss. This is my cousin, Ryoma, who accompanies me in my adventures, and these are my ladies, Efreet, Carmine and Tarot. As for the very tall lady who rounds out the set, she is...my manservant's woman, a half-Gaijin who bears the name of Kenshiro Wanda."
"Kenshiro?" Touga frowned, "I recall that name from somewhere..."
"Perhaps you know my Uncle," Wanda spoke up, "He is known as Kenshiro, otherwise called the Fist of the Northstar."
"I know of him by reputation," Touga said evenly, then added, "You practice his Ryu?"
"I am a master of the Ryu," Wanda explained softly, "He who stands against me shall not long stand at all...that is the creed of our Ryu."
"An admirable philosophy," Touga noted, "Worthy of a Samurai. I shall have rooms assigned to you where you may refresh yourselves...and as I am given to understand that you did not bring any other personal belongings besides your traveling clothes, I will even have appropriate garments sent your way. That is all."
"My lord," Ryonosuke bowed as his lord made a short hand gesture, then he urged the others to follow his example as he backed away to the ricepaper doors at the rear of the chamber, never rising to his feet and always facing towards his Master. With a few awkward moments Tachi persuaded his companions to do likewise, only rising to their feet again once they were safely out in the hallways.
"This way, follow me," Ryonosuke urged them, and without further qualms the party continued to follow him, Wanda ducking often every time they passed a low-
hanging doorframe or rafter. It was only after they were shown to a rather spacious room and left to their own devices that the party began to breathe easy, but even then there was a note of wary caution as they scanned their elegant surroundings, all too aware that they were effectively prisoners within the gilded cage provided by his lordship.
"Laying it on a little thick back there, weren't you?" Ryoma asked as she leaned close to her nominal "cousin."
"I was winging it mostly," Tachi turned to regard his companions then added, "[Does everyone here speak English?]"
There were several nods of ascent, including from Wanda, who signified that she at least could understand the language, if not speak fluently, so Tachi took this as his cue to continue.
"[Since we are allegedly tourists on a pilgrimage it would make sense for us to speak in a foreign language,]" the suave boy continued, "[In a place like this the walls definitely have ears, so what I want to say had best be spoken at the level of normal conversation. We are in a great deal of difficulty here, and I don't believe for a minute that our host was taken in by my explanations.]"
"[You think he's onto us?]" Ryoma asked.
"[Possibly,]" Tachi replied, "[But the impression that I gathered was that he is sufficiently intrigued by the novelty we present and is thus willing to play along to see what he can learn about us.]"
"[Makes sense,]" Minos grumbled, "[You could tell that guy had a lot more on the ball than your old man, though he's just as snooty.]"
"Ahem," Tachi eyed the larger boy with a distinctive hint of displeasure.
"[What I don't understand is why he's treating us so nice if he suspects us of being something other than your consorts,]" Carmine remarked with just a hint of genuine resentment.
"[Obviously his lordship takes great pleasure in flaunting his wealth while playing the part of the generous hostess,]" Tarot reasoned with a jaunty little smile, "[And he shares Tachi-san's father's roving eye and is no doubt intrigued with having such ladies of quality as ourselves as his guests.]"
"You mean he's a real playboy?" Efreet asked, then noticed the looks turned her way and said, "What?"
"[Honey,]" Carmine sighed, "[We're trying to speak in English here so that nobody who can't speak the language will be able to understand us.]"
"Oh," Efreet demurred shyly, "[Sorry about that.]"
"[What I don't understand is what we're doing here in the first place,]" Ryoma noted, "[Can't be a coincidence that we got plopped down on the edge of Kuno-
san's doorstep, and just how long are we gonna be staying this time?]"
"[I have no idea,]" Tachi remarked, "[But I suggest we keep only playing it by ear until the time comes to be moving on. Good thing these people only have a faint inkling of what we can do in a fight, which is just enough to make them edgy but not enough to help them prepare effective counter measures.]"
"[Then perhaps it would be wisest for us to fathom what we have learned about our present circumstances,]" Tarot reasoned, "[I must say that I was impressed with the way you got him to open up about current events...though I have a sense that it was two-way probing matter.]"
"[You're definitely right about that,]" Tachi sighed, "[Because I'm sure I gave myself away at least a couple times back there. My kinsman can obviously assume a good poker face, but I could tell by the crinkling around the edges of his eyes that one or two of my responses were way off the mark and betrayed my ignorance about the culture.]"
"[So what do we know about this place, other than the fact that it looks like the set of a Kurosawa movie?]" Minos wondered.
"[For one thing,]" Tarot responded, "[They are obviously at a more primitive state of technological advancement. Those firearms they displayed were about a century out of date, if not longer.]"
"[Yeah,]" Carmine reasoned, "[And everything's a lot more traditional around here, like the Meiji Restoration never happened.]"
"[America is still a British Colony,]" Tachi mused, "[And Admiral Perry never paid us that visit. The European powers are still ruled by the Hapsburg aristocracy and Democracy appears to be only a footnote in their textbooks. Japan appears to be a lot more isolated, too, so my guess is that the Tokugawa Shoganate is still in power, but maybe not quite so insular since they appear to know about the world outside Japan's boundaries.]"
"[That Kuno guy also didn't flinch a muscle when you put on that display of Nampo,]" Ryoma added, "[I'm betting he's got some fancy moves of his own but didn't want to tip his hand about it.]"
"[So I think it would be safe to say that the history of this world is very different from what we remember,]" Tarot mused, "[And as such the status of women in this society is secondary to that of the men, so...for the sake of appearances I suppose we should continue with the pretence of being your concubines, Tachi-chan...which I'm sure your present lady love will not mind all that much. May I take it the same holds true for you, Carmine-san?]"
"Huh?" Carmine reacted, then narrowed her eyes and grumbled, "[Okay...just don't push your luck or expect anything from me, you got that?]"
"[Perfectly acceptable,]" Tachi reassured her with an affable smile, "[I happen to like my neck in the shape it is in, thank you.]"
"[In the meantime,]" Tarot grinned with a salty look in both Ryoma and Carmine's direction, "I'm for investigating what sort of attire his Lordship deems proper for a lady of breeding. Care to try out some traditional kimonos, Ryo-chan? Or perhaps you might like to show off for our benefit, Carmine-chan?]"
Carmine glared at the blue haired Sorceress and grumbled, "[Don't you push it, lady...]"
"[Oh pooh,]" Tarot pouted, "[You're not still upset about what happened at the bath? I should think we were both adult enough to be able to put aside any mutual misunderstandings for the sake of the greater good, ne?]"
Carmine was about to give an acid retort when Wanda suddenly moved a hand and struck one of the floorboards, then withdrew her hand dragging a costumed figure out into the open, which she held at arms length and displayed to the others. The figure was dressed as a Ninja, only smaller and more slender than a normal human build, and writhing up a storm like a wild, untamed thing that snarled and spat in the white haired woman's direction.
"I thought so," Wanda remarked matter-of-factly as she reached out to remove the mask of the struggling Ninja, "I dislike unwelcome ears intruding upon a private conversation."
The mask fell away, revealing an almost feline face of elfin beauty beneath a shock of bristly hair that shimmered in the light of the room like an iridescent rainbow of colors. A pair of eyes much larger than an ordinary girl's fixed on Wanda as the form briefly ceased its struggles, and then a sly grin crept upon the young girl's face as those eyes took upon a feral, almost predatory look of calculation.
"You..." Ryoma blurted out, forgetting to speak English, "You're one of those Ninja we met before in the forest..."
The girl ignored Ryoma entirely and instead twisted her body with almost impossible dexterity, wrapping herself around the arm of the giant Wanda and slipping out from her robe like an eel shedding an outer layer of skin. Too fast for Wanda to react the girl moved like a scampering creature to latch herself onto Wanda's back and hold herself there in such a way that the larger woman could not reach her.
"Is Pretty white-thing, clever-clever to sense Minx when she is prowling," the girl spoke in a rapid, clipped tone of voice, "Impress his Lordship you will, much delight your body."
"Let me go!" Wanda declared, finding it all but impossible to get a grip on the slender girl who shifted about her position and easily avoided the giant's girl's attempts to dislodge her.
"Wanda-san!" Minos declared as he tried to come to the aid of his lady, only to find that the swift moving Minx was even harder for him to grip than a shadow.
"Boyo want save Big Stuff, is very heroic, big romance stuff," Minx chirruped like a delighted chipmunk, "No catch Minx, but you try harder!"
Minos tried to do exactly that but instead he found himself stumbling forward into Wanda, whom Minx had suddenly let go of after pushing in his direction. The large boy and larger woman fell to the floor together while the multi-hued girl nimbly landed on her feet and poised herself above them.
"Now you make nice-nice together," Minx declared, "Is fitting for a couple."
"What the heck is she?" Ryoma gasped, spotting a girl who was even shorter in stature than her own cursed form.
"She's toast, that's what!" Efreet declared as she leveled her key-staff at the Ninja, only to find Carmine's hand gripping her shoulder.
"No wait!" Carmine hastily declared, "You want to take out half the castle? We have to do this without resorting to overkill."
"I wasn't going to fire full-force on her," Efreet pouted.
"No," Tachi stepped forward, "But there's no need for us to resort to violence. She's obviously working for my kinsman and the last thing we need to do is tick him off any more than we already have!"
"So you think we should try diplomacy instead?" Ryoma asked.
"Couldn't hurt," Tarot shrugged, "But keep in mind that exposing the face of a Ninja is-in certain circles-considered a dishonor. Her clan might not approve of our choice of tactics."
"Minx no care about that," the strange girl now wearing nothing besides a wrap about her upper body and groin area, "Just want to have fun, and you look like you fun to play with."
"Fun?" Wanda reared up to her feet again, gently setting a stunned Minos to one side, "I'll show you what fun is!"
The giant girl took a swing in Minx's direction, but again the smaller girl easily side-stepped the lunge and with an ease that would do credit to a contortionist and wove her body around Wanda and got in close to where their faces were almost touching.
"You cute," Minx chuckled with pixie-like glee then tapped Wanda between the eyes with the tip of a long-clawed finger and stood pleasantly waiting as the giantess rolled up her eyes and tumbled backwards.
"What the hell...?" Ryoma unslung her battle-spatula.
"She took her down like she was nothing," Tachi sounded no less appalled by this than his "nominal cousin."
"Indeed," Tarot considered the point carefully, "There is much more about her than meets with a cursory examination."
"Is she dead?" Carmine blinked, then answered her own question as she sensed the heartbeat of the giant woman still beating like a hammer, "No...she stunned her somehow...but...?"
"You want play with Minx?" the girl jauntily smiled in their direction, "This fun..."
"MINX!" a voice barked sharply, causing heads to turn in time to see a pair of shadows detaching themselves from one of the wall-panels, "That is enough mischief out of you! You bring shame to our Lordship by your actions."
"And who are you?" Ryoma asked as she studied one of the two black-clad Ninja-
like figures.
"I am a servant of my Lordship," the man replied, and undid the mask concealing his features, "My name is Kurunei Xandar, son of Sasuke and Master of the Odata Turtle Clan...and this is my lieutenant, Kuonji Yuriko, at your service."
The other figure undid her mask and revealed a face of surprising beauty beneath long brown hair done up in a ponytail. The young woman bowed her head and said, "Please forgive my clan sister...she means well but is not very disciplined in her behavior."
"Interesting," Tachi mused, "Sasuke...I remember your father...from when I was a boy. He was kind to me...once."
"Indeed," Xandar replied somberly, "He was."
"Kuonji?" Carmine looked from the Ninja girl to Ryoma and back again.
"Heh, small universe I guess," Ryoma noted.
"Tell me something," Tachi spoke as if resuming his role as a visiting noble, "Is it customary in this castle to have House retainers spy upon your guests?"
"Forgive us," Xandar said, "But these are difficult times, we must take every precaution for both the safety of our lord and for you, his guests."
"Believe that it was never our intention to intrude," Yoriko added, "We meant you no harm...but Minx...well...curiosity has always been one of her strongest virtues."
"Minx." Carmine murmured, "Somehow that fits her."
"I could think of a few other words myself," Efreet noted in a soft grumble.
"I suspect that she is a foundling," Tarot mused as she regarded Minx, "Though I have my suspicions as to the nature of her actual ancestry..."
"No harm was done, other than to the dignity of my companions," Tachi noted, "Provided they recover in good health, I see no reason to further pursue the matter."
"We thank you for your indulgence," Xandar bowed, "We will trouble you no further. I will have a servant attend you and fix the damage to the floor, and then you will not be further troubled until such time as you are summoned by my Lord, the Daimyo."
"Come Minx," Yoriko urged, extending her hand in the rainbow-haired girl's direction.
"Aw...it was just getting fun," Minx grumbled, but skittered across the floor and joined the other two Ninja, who then departed as silently as they had entered.
"Well," Ryoma remarked, "That sure proves this place is as weird as the Nerima we know."
"Wanda-san?" Minos asked as he recovered at that moment, then he hastily took her by one hand and patted her wrist, "Wanda-san, are you all-URK?"
The woman's other hand had automatically shot out to grip him by the windpipe, but then recognition came back into Wanda's eyes and she relaxed her hold, "Sorry about that...it was reflex."
"No problem," Minos wheezed as he massaged his throat to insure it was still intact and his larynx was not broken.
Wanda sat up and looked around then said, "Where did she go?'
"Never mind that," Tachi hastily urged, "The fact is that she is gone and won't be soon returning...I hope."
"Pretty formidable for a little thing like that," Ryoma noted, "Got some pretty good moves if she could take down the Fist lady."
"If I see her again...we will see about that," Wanda rumbled darkly.
"I'm sure we are all very impressed that you are not a woman with whom to be trifled," Tarot murmured soothingly, "But for now...I think another bath would be in order...and a hot one this time."
"Yeah!" Ryoma said with enthusiasm, "I can sure go for that!"
"I...think for the sake of diplomacy...that you had better remain female for the present, 'Cousin,'" Tachi urged.
"Oh man...do I have to?" Ryoma winced, "I didn't like the way that Kuno guy was looking at me..."
"You think I did?" Carmine countered.
"Ah...well, no..." Ryoma blinked her eyes then frowned, "He was looking at YOU? That pervert...!"
"I think we should continue to act as if nothing were untowards until further notice," Tarot counseled, "At least until we have a better sense of our terrain...or we warp out of here like the last time."
"Makes sense to me," Minos shrugged, "But I ain't letting my guard down as long as we're in this stupid castle."
"A sensible precaution," Wanda averred, then smiled as she added, "But...perhaps there are advantages to this situation...and we could perchance pick things up where we left off?"
"Ah...hah?" Minos blinked his eyes and adopted an almost comical expression.
"You can have the first bath," Tachi noted, "The girls can have it after you...all save you, Ryo-san."
"Huh?" Ryoma blinked, "Why me?"
"You're a guy when you take a hot bath, stupid," Minos growled, "And I'm sure your lady friends would just love that!"
"I have a better idea," Tarot suggested slyly, "Minos and Wanda will bathe together, and then the rest of us will do so as a group so that Tachi may chaperone the rest of us in order to keep things peaceful. By mutual consent we will all remain civil while you other two stand guard for our sakes and see that we have no more...unwanted intrusions."
"That almost makes sense," Carmine grumbled, "Why am I worried...?"
"Hey, C'mon guys," Ryoma urged, "We're mature Martial Artists, right? What could go wrong if we bathe together?"
There was an uncomfortable silence as everyone glanced her way, and then Ryoma herself winced and looked away before saying, "Okay...so it was a dumb question..."
"My mother always said that there are no stupid questions," Tachi reasoned, "Only stupid people who have to ask them and thus tempt the wrath of the heavens."
Perhaps those words would not have been quite so unsettling or disturbing for the group if it had not been for the rumble of thunder heard faintly in the distance...
Continued.
Comments/Criticisms/Views from the 13th Level: shadowmane
What could go wrong? (Only a Saotome would ask that!) The other timelost youth currently staging a rage on a certain dark citadel are asking themselves that selfsame thing even as the dark hordes close about them and they grow ever nearer to the heart of the present crisis. Be with us next time for, "Raid upon My Parade," or "The Skies are the Outer Limits!" Be there!
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