On Thu, 06 Jun 2002 10:20:44 -0500 Donald Lee Granberry <noharness@mac.com> wrote:
Surprise, surprise, surprise! Here is the fifteenth part of _Comes the
Cold Dragon_.
Oh, the word "isha" means "Doctor" in Japanese. I used it in a previous
chapter and carefully made sure the term was understandable from context,
but I am so slow about getting these things out, I don't imagine anyone
will remember.
Remember what? :}b
"You really have got to get better at using words,
Saotome," Ranko said with a giggle as she waded out onto the
bank, "and we have got to do something about that streak of
prudishness you're cursed with."
Words is a gurl thing, ain't they?
A house cat, or rather, a Ranma-sized house cat, a
little over two-and-a-half shaku tall at the shoulder, came
trotting out of the dense under-story that defined the
clearing around Tengu Rock. It had a reddish-brown coat of
hair with black brindled stripes. Muscles rippled beneath the
creature's fur, muscles that Ranma had not realized that cats
possessed. The terrible thing stretched its forelegs out well
forward; then clawed at the grass of the clearing. Ranma
gasped aloud as Ranko buried her face in the hollow of his
right shoulder.
I've usually called that 'under-brush', but that's probably another case of
being divided by a common language.
[Meow!]
I was wondering when his c-c-cat self would chip in.
"Hey, the guy can't handle it. Every time he sees a
pair of breasts, he turns into a complete boob, even when the
breasts are his. How da ya think I whipped him the last
time?"
Were I Haabu, I'd be sure to train to reduce that weakness. Ranma
should realize that.
What on earth could be bothering Akane so much that
Kasumi could be aware of it without being able to see or {here : hear}
Akane at all? Nabiki wondered silently to herself. Had there
been an outbreak of hostility she would have understood
Akane's fear. After all, Haabu was the only man Nabiki knew
of that Ranma had ever admitted to fearing.
"You are quite welcome, M'lady," her escort replied.
"It is time for you to make your entrance, M'lady. Shall we?"
It was very thoughtful of Nabiki's escort to tell her who Kiima was. He
was obviously not picked just for his looks.
Out of the corner of one eye, Nabiki noticed that Akane
was rolling her eyes. Kiima's jaw sagged with surprise, even
as she stared daggers at Nabiki. Kasumi was giving Nabiki
that tight little smile she gave whenever she caught Nabiki
doing something naughty but amusing. Haabu was smiling at her
as though he had just found a chest full of uncut jade.
I had been rather hoping that Haabu and Kiima would find more than a
superior-subordinate relationship and Kiima was too. The big question is
is he the one with the stones for Nabiki's bracelet. This provided a nice
build up to when Haabu reveals that not only does he have the stones and
crafted the bracelet, but he also was given a similar prophesy.
"Only the important parts of it," Nabiki answered,
being careful not to blink. The light of the sinking sun
entangled itself in Haabu's platinum locks, becoming a
whirling dance of red and gold scintillations. Nabiki felt
her heart race.
'Important' fits, but 'useful' might be a little better.
"He taught me how to fashion jewelry," Haabu answered
as his eyes seemed to catch fire. "You are wearing my
masterpiece. It disappeared before I could set its stones."
Poor Kiima.
"I don't know whether to be happy for 'em, or to be
scared spit-less," Ranma said in too loud of a whisper. He
grunted as Akane applied her elbow to his ribs. Tofu chuckled.
Scared would definitely be the smarter idea.
Kiima managed to smile and give Nabiki a polite nod,
not really trusting herself to speak while in her cursed form.
Kiima's self-confidence always seemed to waver rather badly
while in her cursed form. It made Kiima's cursed-self tend
toward volatility, something she could ill afford on this
mission. At least, Kiima noted to herself with pleasure, I
haven't had to listen to my cursed soul bitch tonight. She
hasn't spoken to me in almost a month.
That's an interesting clue for us. It will be interesting when Ranma and
Haabu compare notes.
"Even harder for many to believe, we were originally
ruled by a Queen. Notice, if you will, that the ruler of the
Musk Dynasty, save for my late father, has always been
referred to as a Prince. Only my late father ever claimed the
title of King."
That is an interesting twist that portends much more.
With his cold gaze fixed upon the lovely Atalanta, the
tall man dismounted. Following a respectful bow he asked,
"What is that you carry on your shoulder, M'Lady? Never have
I seen the like of it before."
That's an interesting recasting of the legend.
There were also problems integrating with the peoples
of Atalanta's new husband. Their language and customs were
very similar to our own, but there were problematical
differences that had to be worked out. In the end, nearly a
fourth of our people returned to the sea. They gathered
themselves together under the command of Atalanta's eldest
daughter, Amatarasa, built ships and disappeared down the
Yangtze, never to be heard from again. We have since referred
to them as the Fourth Fleet."
I thnk Chervil was referring to them as the Second Fleet in the version of
Part 3a at Sofaspud's Couch. I also think Nodoka also mentioned the Second
Fleet in one of the chapters I found at
http://www.iamnota.net/fanfics/ctcd/ .
"A pumpkin?" Haabu asked.
"It was a weak joke," Nabiki said giving Haabu a warm
smile. "What about this ancient smith?"
It was a good joke for Nabiki to make even if it did go over Haabu's head,
they have been raised in different cultures after all. That is likely to
be more important as they try to reach an accomodation with each other.
I don't think any of the Chinese contingent realize yet that both the
Saotomes and the Tendous are descended from the Fourth/Second Fleet and
have at least part of that Fleet's archives. It is likely that they
suspect that Fleet settled in Japan though.