Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction, I do not claim any rights to any of the characters or
concepts created or owned by Viz Video or Rumiko Takahashi. This is just the work of one fan to the others. The only characters or concepts that i claim are the ones I created or introduced. That said, I bring you:
The Annals of the Heroine Akane, and the Dreaded Demon King. A Tale of the Mirrorverse.
Chapter 14: United we stand.
Akane had been practicing that morning when she felt Robin's eyes on her. She had noticed that for whatever reason she was particularly aware of when that happened. It was something she hadn't quite figured out yet, but it was oddly comforting. It was strange, just how relaxed she felt in the other woman's presence. It was something she hadn't really felt in years with anyone who wasn't family. And, if she was going to be honest with herself, the night she had slept next to Robin was one of the most restful nights she had had since she was chosen.
The mental state she had been in after that was another factor. One that she was not quite ready to really look at herself.
As Akane went through her forms, she was struck by a whim and turned to look at Robin. When their eyes met, they both looked away and blushed. Akane cleaned her throat as she looked once more at Robin.
"Would you like to join me? I might be able to show you a few things with your dagger." Akane said as she fiddled with her own blade.
Robin blinked and regarded Akane for a moment, before she smiled. "How lucky I would be, a lowly traveling bard to be instructed by the Heroine herself."
Akane narrowed her eyes as she looked at Robin. "You're teasing me again, aren't you?"
Robin blinked innocently as she rested her hand on the swell of her chest and gave Akane an affronted look. "Me? Tease the noble personage of the Heroine? Perhaps." Robin held that pose for a moment before her peaks of musical laughter filled the air, soon joined by Akane. "I would be honored, so please teach this lowly commoner."
Akane snorted and shook her head. "You do know I'm not of any high birth, right? I'm just a girl from a common house that was chosen by the Goddess. If not for divine providence, I would still be just working on my father's training hall and tending the garden."
"Okay, then. I gladly and humbly accept on one condition." Robin said.
"You? Humble? Doubtful. What's your condition, Robin?" Akane asked.
The bard known as Robin took a breath and looked at the Heroine Akane and said her peace. "Robin is my performing name. I'm Ranko. To my friends, I am Ranko."
"Ranko, then? I can accept that, Ranko." Akane said with a fond little smile.
Ranko smiled back as she rose to her feet and stretched. "Well, where should we start, then?"
Akane grinned as she pulled out her own dagger. "We see what you know, and go from there."
"Alright, I'm in your care, Akane." Ranko said.
Akane grinned happily as she set to work with Ranko on her knife work.
It was about two hours later that Kasumi and Ryouga returned with a full basket of herbs and mushrooms, once again thanks to the aid of Ryouga and his sensitive snout. Kaumi had found herself resting her hand on the massive shoulder of the strange being who walked at her side, and wondered at the fondness she felt. Ryouga was a good person to talk to, and a reliable companion that she enjoyed speaking to greatly. He was also an odd if intriguing individual. His thick shoulders and broad back would have been attractive in any human man, but one only had to follow his rugged, heavily muscled form up past his shoulders to see how inhuman he actually was. Yet, Kasumi found it easy to forget that fact when they were talking, or standing side by side observing the world around them.
It was yet another puzzle to try and solve.
The sight that greeted them when they returned to the camp almost made her start laughing. Akane and Ranma were practicing, of all things. The two were working on knife work, since that was what the bard Robin carried on her person for defense. Kasumi figured that it must be for show, since she knew how physically formidable the Demon King was, yet as she watched Robin she found that hard to believe. He really did seem like he was just a normal human woman as he moved.
The other sight that greeted them was even more preposterous. The two most dangerous beings in this bloody war, the ruthless killers who had lain to rest many of the mighty on both sides of the war. There they sat in the morning sunlight, asleep. Nabiki had her head laid back and her eyes closed as her hand rested lightly on Xian Pu. Xian Pu was curled up in Nabiki's lap and twisted just a bit in a way that could only be described as adorable. It drew a quiet giggle from Kasumi who shared a look with Ryouga. Ryouga just shook his heavy head with a look that begged Kasumi not to say what they both knew was on her mind.
"But she is so adorable…." Kasumi said as Ryouga just sighed
Kasumi glanced at Ryouga and smiled sadly. She already wished they could talk more. She knelt down to start getting things ready since they would be continuing on soon, but she would let Nabiki and Xian Pu rest a bit longer. She knew that Nabiki spent most of the night making sure they were safe, and she suspected that Xian Pu did the same. Let them rest as long as possible.
Still, it gave her a sense of hope, seeing them like that.
Shortly after Kasumi and Ryouga had returned, Akane and Ranko finished their training and finished packing up before Kasumi gently woke up the other two. She was unsure who looked more annoyed with being woken up. Nabiki never had been a morning person, and it would seem that Xian Pu was not particularly fond of waking up either. Or perhaps it was just that the two of them had been particularly comfortable.
Still, all good things, and naps, had to come to an end. Kasumi had been prepared for this, and had a bit of kaffee ready for the middle sister. The mildly bitter warm drink seemed to do the trick in fully rousing Nabiki back into the waking world.
Nabiki wrapped one hand around the mug, the other stroking Xian Pu's fur gently as the vain little furball glared at Nabiki for a moment, then huffed and rolled over to let Nabiki pet the other side. That drew an amused laugh from Nabiki who finished her drink and gently sat Xian Pu down.
Xian Pu glared at Nabiki again then stalked over to Ranko who picked her up and set her on her shoulder. A few minutes later and the group was ready to set out for the day. Ranko took Ryouga's rope in hand and they began their trek for the day. Nabiki vanished into the woods and wilds ahead of them as she led the way, and the others followed behind her.
Ranko and AKane were engaged in an animated discussion, as seemed to be the routine now. Xian Pu watched them with a calculated disinterest from where she was perched on Ranko's shoulder, and Ryouga walked alongside Ranko, while Kasumi followed slightly behind, as she observed them. Kasumi had to admit, it was nice to have traveling companions. The fact that their companions happened to be the Demon King (Who she thought wanted to kill them.) The felinoid demon (Who certainly tried to kill Nabiki) and the enigma that was Ryouga (Who saved Kasumi from the Demon King's own army) certainly did add some confusing elements to it all. Why were they traveling with them? Any of them. Sure, Kasumi was the only one of the sisters that knew, so why hadn't she told the others? Would the demons turn on them at an opportune moment, or were they planning something more nefarious? Kasumi found that last thought hard to swallow. Ryouga could have dealt with her any number of times, and hadn't. Ranko, or Ranma, could have wiped them out in their sleep from within the town. The felinoid, Xian Pu, could have certainly killed any of them in an ambush, except for Nabiki perhaps.
It just didn't make sense, if you considered what they had all been taught their entire lives. But if you started to doubt that, didn't you have to start to doubt everything? It all made her head hurt, and made her want to talk to Ryouga even more. Just to clarify her thoughts. Certainly not because she had started to enjoy his presence more as they spent time together.
Oh, how the abbess at the High Temple would scold her and yell at her if she knew what was happening, and how conflicted Kasumi had started to feel about everything. Her faith was being questioned on a daily basis. She was being tested, and she was not sure she was capable of emerging unscathed from this.
Regardless, she would do her best to take care of those closest to her, and to always have a warm, loving smile for them.
Even for those that made her question everything.
As Nabiki scouted ahead, she couldn't stop feeling that gnawing in her gut that told her there was something wrong. Just like when that feline demon had been stalking her. There was something wrong, and tonight she would backtrack a bit and see if her gut was right once again. She honestly hoped it wasn't, but she knew better. Best not to worry the others, though. Akane was sure to go charging into whatever was back there, and sometimes that just wasn't the best way to handle things. And… If it was that demon again, it would be better if she handled it on her own. Right, better.
When the group stopped to make camp that night, Nabiki arranged the watches as she usually did. She put Kasumi on the first watch, since that would let her rest the most. Next, Akane and Ranko were on the second watch. She was counting on the fact that the two of them would distract each other, thus making it easier for her to slip away unseen. She should be back in time to take the third watch, after having seen what was back there and dealing with it, if needed.
A solid plan, if she did say so herself.
That evening went pretty much as Nabiki had scripted. Kasumi fixed them supper, and Nabiki laid down for just a bit. She knew that she would be awake by the time the watch changed. As planned, Nabiki was awake and laying still as Kasumi smiled and went to sleep after giving Rnako's boar a good pet. Akane and Ranko were soon lost in their own little world as Ranko told the awestruck Akane one story after another. Nabiki waited til both were engrossed in the third tale before she silently rolled over in the shadow she had chosen to start her planned sneak out of the camp. When she looked, she was face to face with Ranko's little hellion of a cat. Without thinking about it, she petted the little terror and scratched it behind the ear.
"Be a good little monster and stay here with your mistress. I have to go see what is following us, then I will be right back." She told the cat quietly, then sneaked out of the camp.
Xian Pu had graciously accepted the humans attention, as was only correct after all. She had listened to her, and watched her go. After she was gone, she slinked after her as silent as a shadow. It was a sure bet that wherever that sneaky human was going, there was bound to be fun to have. Either in pouncing on her once more, or seeing what trouble she had found. Either was sure to be exciting. With a feline grin and a subtly swaying tail, Xian Pu stalked after her playmate.
In the camp, Ranko had noticed the absence of Xian Pu, and sighed inwardly as she hoped that her little terror hadn't found anything too important to play with. She trusted Xian Pu to always take care of the missions she was given, but it was when she decided to humor her own whims and act on her one that things went badly. Still, nothing to do until she came back and she could figure out what Xian Pu had found to play with.
Best to keep the Heroine entertained until then.
Nabiki stalked along, crouched low with one hand trailing over the ground in front of her. Not a sound slipped from her as she moved with slow precision, invisible to any eye that didn't know what to look for. Eyes like the cat that followed her at a slight distance, sure of her own abilities to go unseen, especially in this smaller form.
Nabiki nodded once as she moved farther away from the camp, and Xian Pu stopped where she had been. Her sensitive nose had already told her what she was likely to find, but it was always best to confirm it. As expected, in the damp mulch was the small footprint of a goblin. It must have moved up close enough to see the low fire from the watch fire, then went back to wherever it had come to.
Xian Pu grinned a feline grin as she stalked onwards. It would seem that her human playmate had found them some entertainment for the night. Perhaps she would even join in on the fun? The look on the human's face would be priceless. And, if she happened to get a chance to nibble on the human again? Well, wouldn't that make tonight perfect?
Xian Pu continued to move after Nabiki, as she stayed in her smaller form for now. She had a hunch that as long as she wasn't an overt threat, she would probably not set off whatever kind of danger sense Nabiki must have. Plus, the act of popping out of someplace someone of her magnificent bearing and stature should not fit always amused her.
After quietly thanking the Goddess for the gifts she had been given that night, Xian Pu skulked silently after Nabiki, sure that the entertainment would make all this sneaking more than worth it.
