SINS OF EDEN
Chapter 19
*****
"Where are you off to?"
Chijaru jumped at the sudden voice. "Ranma, don't do that!"
"Sorry. So, where?"
"Umm, well," she said as she bit her lip. "I- I have some things to
do."
"Are they as important as to not tell me?"
She sighed, approaching him and hugged him. "I'm sorry, but I'm just
getting a little scared. I- I know that while I'm around you, I'm safe,
but I..."
Ranma hugged back. "I understand. Just take care, alright?"
She looked at his eyes and smiled. "Thanks. Be back soon."
With that she left. Ranma looked around the small cottage, sighed and
sat in a small sofa they had. He tilted his head and looked at the ground.
"I hate this."
-----
"Akane?" asked a voice.
Akane turned around to find Nui, standing behind her in a small coffee
house.
"Nui!" she said happily. They both exchanged a friendly hug.
"Well girl, still hard to believe you knew I was here in China."
"Oh, I have my ways of knowing. Well come on! Sit. Let's chat."
They both took a seat in a small booth. After some 'coffee' was ordered,
they began their idle chit-chat.
"You did leave someone managing the dojo, right?"
"Well, duh," Nui responded as she nibbled on a cookie. "You know me."
"Anyway, I called you here for something a little more serious. I was
just wondering, you're here with Shin, right?"
Nui smiled. "Yup, technically, at least."
"Huh?"
"Well, he WAS here to visit a friend, but afterward he started working,
so I've barely seen him; at least only at night. But, he did make
some arrangements, so I really haven't been bored."
"I see... well, as long as you're having fun."
"I doubt that's the important issue you wanted to discuss, so spill it
already."
Akane sighed, summoning up her courage. "I want you to stay away from him."
Nui blinked, raising one eyebrow. "Come again, and what?"
"What I said. Please, just keep away from him."
"But why?" she asked, rather annoyed.
"Look, I hvae reason to believe he's well, not all he seems to be, and
I just want you to be safe."
Nui raised an eyebrow at her, shook her head and sighed. "You're
actually serious."
"Always am," she responded seriously.
Nui shrugged and smiled. "Well, I guess this is the part where I go
all paranoid and blame you for attempting to take him for yourself,
but I'm not THAT obssessed over him yet, so I'll consider your
advice. But, why the suddeness? I mean, why now?"
Akane sighed. "I really can't tell you, since I don't know myself.
It's not that I have anything against him, but I got some info.
on him that doesn't make sense, so I find it wise to stay away
for now."
"Well, it's not like I see him every night, so I hope you got your
plans screwed, 'cause I heard there's a 'Ladies Only Show' tonight
at the theater. Wanna be my date?"
Akane laughed. "You're incorrigable."
-----
*She's been out for a while now...*
Ranma gazed at the beautiful scenery of the setting sun, augmented from
his position at the edge of the cliff, which was quite close to the
house.
"What a lovely view, yes?"
Ranma jumped up and assumed his fighting position as he always did when
surprised. He blinked and inhaled as he saw the familiar face before him.
"Is this any way to greet old aquaintances, Ranma?" Shin said as he circled
Ranma slowly. "Surely even you know I enjoy a drink when in company."
"Shin," he said firmly as he straighten himself up. "How's it going?" he
volunteered his hand.
"Not bad," he responded as he shook Ranma's hand. "I hope you realize that
this is not exactly a social call."
"Of course... I..."
"Spare me Saotome," he said, almost yelling and angry. "I have a lot to share
with you."
"Shin, how 'bout we go inside?"
"No," he answered, "this place will do nicely."
Shin took a few steps away, standing at the edge of the cliff. "Need I say
how upset I am?"
"I..."
"I haven't asked for your opinion," he said. "Need I remind you who has
been the basis for your support? Who has financed this little adventure
of yours? Who has provided almost all vital information?"
Shin turned around and stared Ranma in the eye. "Who has kept you alive
so far? If it were not for me, you know how you would've ended up.
And these are the thanks I get?"
He walked up to him and stood before Ranma, although Ranma was a bit taller.
"Being left completely in the blue? You and that woman escape without
informing me? And to top it all off, do you know how costly it was to
locate you?"
"Shin, I did what I had to do. I'm sorry, but what's done is done."
Shin looked him over backed away and laughed. "I know, and I do not hold
it against you, but I will not tolerate it once more, understand?"
Ranma smiled, walked to him and shook hands once more.
"You know, I meant it when I said this is not a social call, but something
far more important." He walked back to the edge and stared at the sunset.
"Go to the center district tonight, at 1 a.m. be at the theater entrance."
"Why?" he asked. "What's there to see? It's just a theater."
"Don't question my advice, Saotome." He sighed lightly as he pulled a
cigarrete box from his pocket, took one out and lit it. He blew the smoke
from his lungs, saying: "You'll find someone there."
"Who?"
"..."
Ranma stared at the golden sky. "I won't go if you don't give me more
reason."
"You'll find the answers there."
Ranma took a long look at Shin's back. After, he turned around and walked
down the mountain path, where at the end he found 2 cars, without a
doubt Shin had brought. If he was to get there by one, he had to leave
immediately.
*
Shin took another puff as he smiled.
"Dick," he said softly. "Now it gets fun."
***
"Ranma? I'm home," called Chijaru's soft voice as she entered the house.
She dropped her things all over the floor, and wondered why she hadn't
gotten a response.
"Ranma?" she called again as she checked the rooms, but no one was there.
She sat on the small couch in the living room, and sighed, a little
worried. Just by chance, the corner of her eye caught a figure outside
the window, on the cliff edge. She looked closer, and decided to
go take a look.
"Ranma, is that you?" she asked the figure in the almost dark sky, still
keeping her distance.
"He left a little over a half hour ago," Shin said as he turned around.
Chijaru jumped from the surprise.
"Shin. Yo-you're..."
"Here, as you can see. There is no need to apologise, I have already talked
to Ranma about the matter and we have patched things up."
Chijaru breathed in slowly, but finally seemed to calm down. "How did you
find..."
"Where were you? I was surprised not to find you here when I came earlier."
"Oh, that. Well, I was just..."
"There is no need to be afraid of me," he said as he turned around. "What
were you doing?"
Chijaru sighed, crossed her arms and walked towards him. She stopped right
next to him, on the edge.
"I met with someone today, and I learned more than I had wanted."
"How so?"
"He contacted me by using a dream intrusion spell, and told me where I had
to go. I went and I met him. He told me so much, and I just..."
Shin looked at her curiously, and began walking behind her. "Just what?"
"He said that 'it' was very close, closer than we thought, and that some-
thing was going down. Huge. He said that he worked for him, in exchange
for his own well being."
"I can see this man is most resourcefull. How close is 'it'?"
"'Just near', he said, and that what we knew was nothing compared to 'it's'
real intentions."
"I see. And what else did he tell you?"
"Nothing. He said he needed to talk to both me and Ranma, so I came to get
him, but he's not here. Where is he by the way?"
"I sent to find the same person you're talking about."
"You already knew?" she asked, not surprised.
"Of course. It is my job to know. Tell me, what was the name of this
person?"
Chijaru closed her eyes, tilted her head down and sighed. "Shingo."
Shin threw the cigarrete to the ground and put it out. He placed his hands
on his sides and laughed to himself.
"Do you know what I hate most in the world?"
Chijaru panicked almost instantly, turning to face him quickly...
"Nosy little witches."
...but it was just in time to see his hand fall on her face and one
mighty shove that sent her over the cliffs' edge.
Chijaru screamed loudly as she slid rapidly on the rocky and sharp surface.
She reached to grab onto anything, finally grabbing a root that stuck
out. She shifted hersefl so she could hang on with both hands. Once with
a firm grip, she looked up at the top, finding Shin with a rock in
his hand.
"Shin?" she asked desperately, tears streaming down her battered face.
Shin smiled triumphantly and leveled the rock to hit her directly.
"Please. I prefered to be called 'IT'."
He let the rock go, hitting her directly on the head, knocking her
unconscious and making her fall into the deep night.
Shin laughed and sighed happily to himself. "Oh, how I did love the
Holy Inquisition," he said as he rubbed his chin. "Those were the
good old days. Well," he exclaimed as he turned and walked with his
hands in his pockets, "like I've always said, if you want something,
you have to do it yourself."
End of Chapter 19
'Till next time...
BlackDragon
Chapter 19
*****
"Where are you off to?"
Chijaru jumped at the sudden voice. "Ranma, don't do that!"
"Sorry. So, where?"
"Umm, well," she said as she bit her lip. "I- I have some things to
do."
"Are they as important as to not tell me?"
She sighed, approaching him and hugged him. "I'm sorry, but I'm just
getting a little scared. I- I know that while I'm around you, I'm safe,
but I..."
Ranma hugged back. "I understand. Just take care, alright?"
She looked at his eyes and smiled. "Thanks. Be back soon."
With that she left. Ranma looked around the small cottage, sighed and
sat in a small sofa they had. He tilted his head and looked at the ground.
"I hate this."
-----
"Akane?" asked a voice.
Akane turned around to find Nui, standing behind her in a small coffee
house.
"Nui!" she said happily. They both exchanged a friendly hug.
"Well girl, still hard to believe you knew I was here in China."
"Oh, I have my ways of knowing. Well come on! Sit. Let's chat."
They both took a seat in a small booth. After some 'coffee' was ordered,
they began their idle chit-chat.
"You did leave someone managing the dojo, right?"
"Well, duh," Nui responded as she nibbled on a cookie. "You know me."
"Anyway, I called you here for something a little more serious. I was
just wondering, you're here with Shin, right?"
Nui smiled. "Yup, technically, at least."
"Huh?"
"Well, he WAS here to visit a friend, but afterward he started working,
so I've barely seen him; at least only at night. But, he did make
some arrangements, so I really haven't been bored."
"I see... well, as long as you're having fun."
"I doubt that's the important issue you wanted to discuss, so spill it
already."
Akane sighed, summoning up her courage. "I want you to stay away from him."
Nui blinked, raising one eyebrow. "Come again, and what?"
"What I said. Please, just keep away from him."
"But why?" she asked, rather annoyed.
"Look, I hvae reason to believe he's well, not all he seems to be, and
I just want you to be safe."
Nui raised an eyebrow at her, shook her head and sighed. "You're
actually serious."
"Always am," she responded seriously.
Nui shrugged and smiled. "Well, I guess this is the part where I go
all paranoid and blame you for attempting to take him for yourself,
but I'm not THAT obssessed over him yet, so I'll consider your
advice. But, why the suddeness? I mean, why now?"
Akane sighed. "I really can't tell you, since I don't know myself.
It's not that I have anything against him, but I got some info.
on him that doesn't make sense, so I find it wise to stay away
for now."
"Well, it's not like I see him every night, so I hope you got your
plans screwed, 'cause I heard there's a 'Ladies Only Show' tonight
at the theater. Wanna be my date?"
Akane laughed. "You're incorrigable."
-----
*She's been out for a while now...*
Ranma gazed at the beautiful scenery of the setting sun, augmented from
his position at the edge of the cliff, which was quite close to the
house.
"What a lovely view, yes?"
Ranma jumped up and assumed his fighting position as he always did when
surprised. He blinked and inhaled as he saw the familiar face before him.
"Is this any way to greet old aquaintances, Ranma?" Shin said as he circled
Ranma slowly. "Surely even you know I enjoy a drink when in company."
"Shin," he said firmly as he straighten himself up. "How's it going?" he
volunteered his hand.
"Not bad," he responded as he shook Ranma's hand. "I hope you realize that
this is not exactly a social call."
"Of course... I..."
"Spare me Saotome," he said, almost yelling and angry. "I have a lot to share
with you."
"Shin, how 'bout we go inside?"
"No," he answered, "this place will do nicely."
Shin took a few steps away, standing at the edge of the cliff. "Need I say
how upset I am?"
"I..."
"I haven't asked for your opinion," he said. "Need I remind you who has
been the basis for your support? Who has financed this little adventure
of yours? Who has provided almost all vital information?"
Shin turned around and stared Ranma in the eye. "Who has kept you alive
so far? If it were not for me, you know how you would've ended up.
And these are the thanks I get?"
He walked up to him and stood before Ranma, although Ranma was a bit taller.
"Being left completely in the blue? You and that woman escape without
informing me? And to top it all off, do you know how costly it was to
locate you?"
"Shin, I did what I had to do. I'm sorry, but what's done is done."
Shin looked him over backed away and laughed. "I know, and I do not hold
it against you, but I will not tolerate it once more, understand?"
Ranma smiled, walked to him and shook hands once more.
"You know, I meant it when I said this is not a social call, but something
far more important." He walked back to the edge and stared at the sunset.
"Go to the center district tonight, at 1 a.m. be at the theater entrance."
"Why?" he asked. "What's there to see? It's just a theater."
"Don't question my advice, Saotome." He sighed lightly as he pulled a
cigarrete box from his pocket, took one out and lit it. He blew the smoke
from his lungs, saying: "You'll find someone there."
"Who?"
"..."
Ranma stared at the golden sky. "I won't go if you don't give me more
reason."
"You'll find the answers there."
Ranma took a long look at Shin's back. After, he turned around and walked
down the mountain path, where at the end he found 2 cars, without a
doubt Shin had brought. If he was to get there by one, he had to leave
immediately.
*
Shin took another puff as he smiled.
"Dick," he said softly. "Now it gets fun."
***
"Ranma? I'm home," called Chijaru's soft voice as she entered the house.
She dropped her things all over the floor, and wondered why she hadn't
gotten a response.
"Ranma?" she called again as she checked the rooms, but no one was there.
She sat on the small couch in the living room, and sighed, a little
worried. Just by chance, the corner of her eye caught a figure outside
the window, on the cliff edge. She looked closer, and decided to
go take a look.
"Ranma, is that you?" she asked the figure in the almost dark sky, still
keeping her distance.
"He left a little over a half hour ago," Shin said as he turned around.
Chijaru jumped from the surprise.
"Shin. Yo-you're..."
"Here, as you can see. There is no need to apologise, I have already talked
to Ranma about the matter and we have patched things up."
Chijaru breathed in slowly, but finally seemed to calm down. "How did you
find..."
"Where were you? I was surprised not to find you here when I came earlier."
"Oh, that. Well, I was just..."
"There is no need to be afraid of me," he said as he turned around. "What
were you doing?"
Chijaru sighed, crossed her arms and walked towards him. She stopped right
next to him, on the edge.
"I met with someone today, and I learned more than I had wanted."
"How so?"
"He contacted me by using a dream intrusion spell, and told me where I had
to go. I went and I met him. He told me so much, and I just..."
Shin looked at her curiously, and began walking behind her. "Just what?"
"He said that 'it' was very close, closer than we thought, and that some-
thing was going down. Huge. He said that he worked for him, in exchange
for his own well being."
"I can see this man is most resourcefull. How close is 'it'?"
"'Just near', he said, and that what we knew was nothing compared to 'it's'
real intentions."
"I see. And what else did he tell you?"
"Nothing. He said he needed to talk to both me and Ranma, so I came to get
him, but he's not here. Where is he by the way?"
"I sent to find the same person you're talking about."
"You already knew?" she asked, not surprised.
"Of course. It is my job to know. Tell me, what was the name of this
person?"
Chijaru closed her eyes, tilted her head down and sighed. "Shingo."
Shin threw the cigarrete to the ground and put it out. He placed his hands
on his sides and laughed to himself.
"Do you know what I hate most in the world?"
Chijaru panicked almost instantly, turning to face him quickly...
"Nosy little witches."
...but it was just in time to see his hand fall on her face and one
mighty shove that sent her over the cliffs' edge.
Chijaru screamed loudly as she slid rapidly on the rocky and sharp surface.
She reached to grab onto anything, finally grabbing a root that stuck
out. She shifted hersefl so she could hang on with both hands. Once with
a firm grip, she looked up at the top, finding Shin with a rock in
his hand.
"Shin?" she asked desperately, tears streaming down her battered face.
Shin smiled triumphantly and leveled the rock to hit her directly.
"Please. I prefered to be called 'IT'."
He let the rock go, hitting her directly on the head, knocking her
unconscious and making her fall into the deep night.
Shin laughed and sighed happily to himself. "Oh, how I did love the
Holy Inquisition," he said as he rubbed his chin. "Those were the
good old days. Well," he exclaimed as he turned and walked with his
hands in his pockets, "like I've always said, if you want something,
you have to do it yourself."
End of Chapter 19
'Till next time...
BlackDragon