Wanderer D wrote:
War of the Gods Chapter 5
By Wanderer D
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Ranma followed Nodoka to the back of the house as everyone noticed
the new arrivals.
"Who are these?" Akane asked Ukyo, as she motioned in Shaina's and
Sorrento's direction.
"I, am Sorrento. One of the Shogun's of my Lord Poseidon, ruler of the
seas."
"I am Sorrento" or "I...am Sorrento", if he feels like posturing.
"Shoguns". Either "my lord" or "My Lord".
Sorrento finished his introduction with a small bow, which would have
been returned if everyone who didn't know him wasn't gaping at him.
"And I'm Ophiuchus Shaina."
'Ophiuchus... the snake...' Akane thought to herself.
"Welcome to my home! I am Soun Tendo, and any friend of Ranma's is
welcome here!"
"Not when you hear what's gonna happen to Ran-chan." Ukyo muttered
to herself.
Akane heard her, however. "What do you mean, Ukyo?"
"You'll hear soon enough..."
Kasumi asked everyone to be seated and shortly after brought them tea
and cookies.
Everyone sipped at the tea, except for Shaina who was staring at Sorrento
through her mask.
Sorrento quietly sipped his tea until he had finished, and thanked Kasumi
for it.
When the hostility from Shaina towards Sorrento was becoming almost
tangible, Ranma stepped into the room. Completely pale.
"Completely pale" doesn't work for me, certainly not as a stand-alone sentence.
Nodoka followed after, wiping the tears from her face.
Ranma looked at everyone present, then turned towards Sorrento.
"I'm ready... let's go."
Ranma's voice cracked at the last words, but Sorrento was happily getting
up.
"WHAT? Where are you going?! Ranma!" Akane asked hurriedly.
"Ranma is coming with me." Sorrento stated. "We agreed that I would train
him if he happened to lose in a battle with me, since he lost..."
Everyone stopped short at that. Ranma had lost?
Geez, it's not unprecedented.
"You will not train Ranma, Sorrento!" Shaina stated, getting between Ranma
and her enemy.
Sorrento frowned. "Shaina..."
Shaina shook her head. "I don't care! You won't train Ranma in your evil
ways! Ranma was destined to become a Saint for Athena!"
"Destiny has nothing to do with it. You just want to train him because of
Seiya... isn't that right, Shaina?"
The masked Amazon had become silent, and had turned her face, unable to
face Sorrento.
"That's what Seiya would've wanted."
Sorrento seemed to consider. "Seiya would've wanted the best for Ranma,
and this seems to be the best solution. Ranma has to be ready for what's
coming."
At Shaina's silence Sorrento continued. "Ranma is training with me and
Poseidon. As was agreed. You can't change that Shaina... but I will do
something for you."
Shaina looked up at Sorrento, her expression unreadable behind her mask.
"You will be able to check on Ranma's training, but you'll have to help
with Thetys training too."
Funny way to spell "Thetis" but...
Shaina reluctantly nodded.
"And I will go too." Ryouga stated, cleaning his brow from the warm water
that had cascaded from his hair.
"Who are you?" Shaina asked the eternally lost boy.
"I'm Ryouga, and I am Ranma's equal in fighting skills."
A snort made Ryouga turn. "You've got something to add, Ghoul?!"
Cologne watched Ryouga for a moment. "Nothing much, boy, but do you
think you're ready for whatever our esteemed guests are going to use
for training?"
"OF COURSE I AM!!" Ryouga shouted.
Well, at least as much as Ranma is.
Shaina stood silent, considering Ryouga for a moment. He reminded her a lot
of Casious... she finally nodded.
"Very well, you shall become my apprentice." She turned towards Sorrento.
"We'll be seeing each other soon. Sorrento." When the later nodded, she turned
around and dragged Ryouga behind her. "Come on!"
"Well, thanks for everything," Sorrento said smiling, and placing a hand on
Ranma's shoulder. The pig-tailed martial artist didn't even react. "So long!"
With a whistling noise, both were gone before the astonished eyes of all
present.
Akane looked around. "Ranma?"
***
Far away, a cloaked figure was slowly walking up the steps of a giant
Greek-looking palace.
When it had reached the end of the stairs, it promptly knelt without looking
up.
"The vase containing Hades' soul has been hidden, master. What are your
orders?"
A booming voice came from deeper within the temple. "You will travel the
human world and find out all you can about our enemies. But don't let them
see you or feel you. Our time is yet to come, and patience will win this
battle."
The figure nodded and disappeared immediately.
"Patience," Said the voice. "That is why you lost, my brother."
***
Hylda looked up from her worshiping at the armor clad figure that approached
her.
"I-it can't be! You're dead!"
"I got better!"