Trials and Tribulations VI


Ranma felt the sweat slide down his back as they walked further into the 
city. He felt eyes on them,demon eyes he suspected as he remembered the 
youko he had encountered earlier that afternoon. The memory of it’s hard 
golden stare still sent shivers up his spine. < What are they looking at 
us for? > He asked himself nervously, < Do they wanna eat us or 
something?> 

“ No, I don’t think so.” 

Ranma turned around quickly to see Ryouga coming up close behind him. 
< He heard what I said? No, what I thought?! > 

“We need to stay close.” Ryouga whispered into Ranma’s ear. Eliciting 
shivers down the latter boy’s spine. This time a different type of 
shiver. 

“ But, what’s going on?” Ranma asked in confusion,” Why are they staring 
at us?” 

“ They’ve probably never seen humans before.” Ryouga said as he looked 
down at Ranma’s hand, swaying scant inches away from his own. On impulse 
he grabbed it, bringing out of Ranma a startled yelp. 

“ Let’s go in here!” Ryouga said quickly in order to cover his 
embarrassment.< Oh,no. This is like a...a.. > Ryouga sweatdropped, 
< I really could use some first aid, but I guess sake would work... > 

Ranma looked up quickly from where their hands joined and focused on the 
place in front of them, willing the blush on his cheeks to fade away. 
As Ryouga led him to the ramshackle building, he gave his hand a short 
squeeze.< I wonder where we’re going? > 


`````````````````````````````

< I wonder where we’re going? > Ryouga thought worriedly as they walked 
into the hut. Loud noises where booming from inside as if from some sort 
of party. He looked over at Ranma to see he also had a slightly worried 
expression on his face.< Everything will be fine, > he thought to himself,
< We just need to come in here for a bit of information... > 

“Hey, you!” 

Ryouga looked up, his hackles rising as he faced the demon before him. 
Long ears reached from it’s head to his knees, and it’s one eye gleamed 
red under it’s bushy white hair. Ryouga gulped, sweat forming on his brow. 
“ I...” 

Suddenly a soothing coolness settled on Ryouga’s shoulder and he relaxed 
realizing it was Ranma’s hand. “ We want no trouble. “ 

“ Oh, I wasn’t about to give you trouble,” The demon said with a show of 
fang,” I wanted to welcome you to my fine establishment.” 

Ranma and Ryouga both looked at each other with raised eyebrows, and 
then reluctantly followed the demon in. 


````````````````````````````````

“ So, what do think about this whole thing?” Ryouga whispered over to 
Ranma as they huddled over their sake. 

“I don’t know what to think,” Ranma said, leaning over to Ryouga so he 
could be heard,” They seem pretty nice, but...” 

“Yeah, I know what you mean.” 

Ranma and Ryouga had been sitting at that table for over an hour, trying 
to think of a way to get information about a cure. The noise, the heat, 
and their nervousness though ,wasn’t helping. 

“ So, sherlock, any bright ideas?” 

“I don’t see you spinning ‘em out!” Ryouga snapped. He instantly 
regretted it though when he saw Ranma’s eyes widen in shock. 

“Well, I do!” 

Ryouga looked over at Ranma’s smirking face suspiciously,” What?” 

“See those tough guys over there? Look like they’ve been in the army?” 

Ryouga nodded his head. 

“ Well,” Ranma said with a smirk,” I bet they’ve been just about 
everywhere in the Makai. For the right price, they’ll probably tell us 
anything!” 

“We don’t have any money! Ranma, what are you thinking?” 

Ranma just smiled,” We’ll think of something.” 

Ryouga just sighed and took a long swig of his sake,” Let’s go and get 
it over with.” 

The two boys pushed back their chairs slowly, ignoring the stares of the 
other customers and the sly grins and whispers of the people they were 
about to approach. 

“What are these?” One of the demons at the table asked roughly as he put 
down his cards with a bang. 

“Oh, just some stupid humans acting stupid is all. Don’t mind them 
Techi.” Another demon responded, it’s long red hair trailing down it’s 
neck like a mane. 

Ranma felt his blood boil as he and Ryouga were being slighted. 
He calmed himself down with difficulty though, knowing that the 
slightest mistake could cost them their lives. 

“We...” 

“We wanna ask you a few questions, if you don’t mind of course.” 

Ranma’s eyebrows went up in surprise.< Now this is different. A 
courteous Ryouga-kun... > 

“We don’t mind! Of course not!” 

Ranma and Ryouga looked over at the other side of the table to see a 
very familiar youko smirking at them with glee. Ranma’s blood froze,
< Oh no, not him! > 

“One condition though!” 

Ryouga turned toward the youko, a tight lipped expression on his face.” 
Name your condition.” 

“We play a game of cards!” The youko yelled, loud enough for the entire 
room to hear,” And the stakes, shall be your freedom!” 

Ranma and Ryouga cringed as the noise grew in volume. Cheers filled the 
room and catcalls as well.< We might be put up for auction! But...
for the cure... > Ranma scowled, < Kami-sama knows I suck at cards! > 

“Well! Is it a deal? We musn’t keep the crowd waiting!” 

Ranma looked at Ryouga. Ryouga looked at Ranma. They both sighed. 
This wouldn’t be the first stupid thing they’ve ever done. 

“Deal!” 



To Be Continued....