Hidden Weapons United CH 9

[tyrsol]

^^^=Flashback / "Japanese" / ' Thought ' / :Chinese: / {English} / [written]

Mousse looked up from his soup and sighed. "Same here." Suddenly he froze.

"Mousse, what’s wrong?" Tide leaned over and touched his shoulder. "Mousse? Are you all right?"

Destine stood up and walked to the back door. "Is anyone else hearing that noise?"

Ryoga looked up and nodded. "Yeah, what is it?"

Destine grabbed the door handle and was about to open the door when Mousse jumped up and pulled her back. "Don’t open that door Des-chan!" He wrapped his arms around her waist to keep her from moving.

"And why shouldn’t I?" Destine rapped him on the wrists and spun around so she was facing him. "Well?"

"Take a look out the window." Mousse let Destine go and rubbed his wrists.

"And what will I see?" Destine walked over to the window and looked outside. "Mousse, it’s just your sister Gel."

"That’s what I was afraid of." Mousse grabbed a bowl of water from the sink and poured it on himself. He disappeared and in his place stood a duck. He waddled over to Destine and looked up at her.

"All right, you win. Ryoga, could you stash Mousse’s clothes under the table and put his dishes in the sink?" She reached down and picked up Mumu-chan. "Better take those glasses of yours, you don’t want her to see through your disguise do you?" Destine took Mousse’s glasses and placed them in her pocket. She opened the door and smiled. "Gel, what a surprise. What brings you here?"

"My no good brother Mousse that’s what. He hasn’t been keeping in touch and now his sensei has sent ME of all people to find him and take him back to the village. Now where is he?"

"Mousse isn’t here at the moment. But would you care to step inside?" Destine stepped back so Gel could come inside.

Gel looked down at the duck lying in Destine’s arms. "And who’s your friend Destine? Could it be, Mousse?!" She made a lunge for the duck.

Destine carefully sidestepped the lunge and caught Gel by the back of her shirt to keep her from falling. "And just what was that about? Why did you attack my pet duck?"

Gel looked at destine and smirked. "Your ‘pet’? So what’s his name?"

"I’ve named him Mumu-chan." Destine looked down and stroked Mumu-chan’s neck. "I found him just before lunch." She smiled. "I know what you’re thinking, but Mousse didn’t leave until after lunch. By the way, there’s still some soup on the stove, you hungry?"

"I’ll have a bit." Gel sat down next to Ryoga. "So when do you expect Mousse to return?"

"I never know with him. He tends to Disappear every now and then." Destine set Mumu-chan on the ground and dished up some soup. She walked over to the table and handed the bowl to Gel. Turning to Tide she signed. "Got any ideas?"

"None yet. Why not let Gel sleep in your room tonight and Ryoga can watch over Mousse."

"No that would make her suspicious. Mousse can sleep with me for the night and I’ll figure out something in the morning." Destine walked back over to the stove and picked up Mumu-chan. "I’m going to go take a nap. If anyone needs me I’ll be in my room." She turned and walked off down the hall.

Destine reached her room and locked the door. She grabbed a few towels from the bathroom and stuffed the cracks around the door. Then she walked into the bathroom and set Mumu-chan down. "What am I going to do with you?"

Mumu-chan looked up at her and started quaking. He flapped his wings and flew up onto the counter. He continued quacking as he used his wing to point at Destine’s pocket.

"Oh right sorry about that." Destine reached into her pocket and pulled out Mousse’s glasses. She leaned over and placed them on his head. "Better?" Mumu-chan nodded and craned his head back. Destine laughed and scratched his neck. "I really wish I could change you back Mumu-chan, but if she finds out she’ll take you away. Look, tonight you can sleep on my bed so we make her think you’re really my pet. I’ll have to come up with a plan for tomorrow." Destine snapped her fingers. "I’ll just talk it out with her. She wasn’t too hard to reason with last time." Destine walked back into the bedroom and, taking the box off her bed and setting it on the floor, lay down on her bed. She crawled under the top blanket, took off her glasses and fell asleep.

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Destine awoke to a knocking sound on her door. She made a grab for her glasses and put them on. "I’m coming." She crawled out of bed and stretched. She turned around and was about to make her bed when she saw Mousse (in his regular form) curled up on the bed. He was sound asleep and had a yukata robe wrapped around himself. The knocking got louder and Destine could hear Gel shouting through the door. She shook Mousse and woke him up. "I’m sorry." Destine grabbed the glass on her nightstand and poured the water on Mousse. She picked him up and set him on the floor. Grabbing the towels away from the door she was about to open it when Mumu-chan started quacking. She turned around and saw that his glasses were on her nightstand. Destine unlocked the door and headed towards the bathroom. On her way she grabbed up Mousse’s glasses and quietly slipped them into her pocket. "Come on in Gel."

Gel stepped in and sat down on Destine’s bed. "I was told I’m sleeping in here for the night."

"Your bed’s over there against the wall. The bathroom’s in here. We have hot and cold running water and plenty of towels. If you need a robe I have plenty in my closet." Destine leaned out through the doorframe and smiled. "Sorry it took me so long to get to the door. I couldn’t wake up."

"Fine with me. Tell me is it true that there’s a hot spring around here?" Gel walked over to the window.

"Yeah but you’re looking in the wrong direction. It’s behind the house." Destine stepped out of the bathroom and walked over to the closet. "Now where did I put that box?" She turned around and almost tripped on it. "Oh right, I set it on the floor." She picked up the box and set it on her bed.

"What’s in there Destine?"

"My master robe and final attack technique." Destine pried open the box and pulled out a long flowing robe. It was pure white except for the sleeve cuffs, collar and the bottom edge of the robe, which were gold. Embroidered on the chest was a gold bird with its wings curved towards the sky. "Wow." Destine pulled out a pair of pitch-black pants and sash. She lay them down on the bed and pulled out a small package. While she was opening it two small discs fell out and embedded themselves in the floor. Destine looked down and then at Gel. "That would have been painful." She finished opening the package and found ten more discs identical to the ones in the floor. Destine reached down and with a slight tug, pulled the discs out. "Hmm, razor sharp." She set the discs in a pile and unfolded a piece of paper. "Dearest Mekana, Now that you have decided to learn the final technique you are ready to become a master. The final technique is known as ‘flash blade’, the discs are razor sharp and can cut through stainless steel so be careful. In your new robe there is a place to store these discs so that the fabric won’t get ruined. To use the technique, simply take one of the discs, hold it like a throwing star, yet launch it like a dart. The technique takes a bit of getting used to, but once mastered, it is more effective than throwing knives and stars combined. I’m sure you’ll make me proud. Tide."

Destine picked up the robe, pants and sash and walked into the bathroom. She took off her old robe and slipped the new one on. It felt to her like she was wearing absolutely nothing, then she remembered that all her equipment was in the old robe. ‘I’ll put the stuff away later.’ She slipped out of her pants and into the new pair. "So what do you think?" Destine stepped out of the bathroom and tied her sash around her waist.

"You look like a true master now. If only Mousse were here to see this."

"Oh he’ll show up sometime." Destine bent down and picked up Mumu-chan. "Huh Mumu-chan? Man, it feels weird not having all my weapons on me." Destine set Mousse on the bed and picked up the discs. She looked them over and hid them away in her sleeves. "You needed to talk to me?"

"Do you know why Mousse hasn’t contacted the village?" Gel leaned forward and stared at Destine.

"I don’t know why aside from the fact that you guys have made him into an outcast. He’s told me that no one was ever nice to him, that the girls used him as the village punching bag." Destine sat down and scratched Mumu-chan’s back.

"They were trying to get him to defeat them so they could marry him. Is it true that he has grown up to be very handsome?"

Destine nodded and smiled. "That would explain a lot."

"The women are wondering when he’ll return, they are all of marrying age now and they want to get married to him." Gel stood up and walked over to the window. "And his sensei is worried that he will never give up Shampoo. If he doesn’t he can never learn the final technique."

"As far as I know he’s given her up." Destine leaned back on her bed and sighed. Mumu-chan flapped his wings and flew onto her stomach. "Stop it Mumu-chan, that tickles." Destine laughed and looked over at Gel.

"You don’t have to lie to me any more Destine. You know where Mousse is, please tell me." Gel walked over an took Destine’s hand. "Please, I miss him so much." She lowered her head and a single tear fell from her face.

Destine picked up Mumu-chan and set him next to her. "Wait a moment. Just a few hours ago you were ranting and raving about how you were being forced to come here to find your ‘stupid’ brother, and now you’re putting on a crying show for me." Destine grabbed Gel by the chin and tilted her face up. "Don’t try to out trick the trickster. I know that you are faking that emotion. I’ve used it enough times to recognize it anywhere. Remember I am a stage magician. I know how to put on an act."

Gel pushed away. "Fine then just tell me where he is and I’ll deal with him. He’s going back whether intact or in a dozen pieces."

Destine jumped up. "You’ll do nothing of the sort Gel."

"And why not?" Gel punched Destine. "You going to stop me?" Gel sneered and pointed to the bathroom. "Your weapons are in there. You’re useless without.."

Gel was cut short as Destine kicked her to the floor. "I’ve also learned unarmed combat. Now listen, I have been nice and allowed you to stay here for the night, but you try anything stupid," Destine’s voice trailed off as she adjusted her glasses. "Tell the village that Mousse will come when he feels like it. And I give you my word, I’ll be there at his side."

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ONE WEEK LATER

Destine woke up in the middle of the night and stifled a scream. She sat up and looked around. ‘It was just a dream.’

"Des-chan, what’s wrong?" Mousse sat up and turned on the light. "Another dream?"

Destine nodded and curled up into a ball. "It’s the same one as before. Why won’t it go away?"

Mousse got up and walked over to Destine’s bed. "I’m not sure. You say that they started the night Gel arrived?" He sat down on the bed and took Destine in his arms.

"Yes. And they have been repeating over and over every night since then." Destine buried her face in Mousse’s chest.

Mousse had moved into the same room with her on the third night of her nightmares. Since he was the lightest sleeper, it had been decided that he should watch over Destine. "What’s the dream about Des-chan?"

"I’m standing alone under a tree watching the sun rise when suddenly hundreds of weapons come flying out of nowhere straight towards me. I don’t even have time to react before they embed themselves in my body, I scream and scream but no one comes to my aid. Finally I see your face looking down at me. I smile through the pain and reach my hand up to you. But you turn away and leave me behind. About that time I wake up." Destine wrapped her arms around Mousse and started crying. "Why do I keep having this dream?"

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Mousse woke up at the crack of dawn and slipped on his glasses. "Destine you up yet?" He looked over at her bed and saw that it was empty. ‘I wonder where she disappeared to?’ He got out of bed and slipped on his robe. ‘Guess I should start breakfast.’ He walked into the bathroom and started to brush his hair and wash his face.

There was a noise from inside the shower and Destine stepped out. Mousse turned to the sound of the noise. Destine was standing next to the shower wringing out her hair. On her stomach was a large red scar. Mousse looked at her and his face turned bright red. "Umm, Des-chan."

Destine looked over and screamed. She made a wild grab for a towel and wrapped it around herself. "Why couldn’t you have let me know you were in here!?"

Mousse turned away. "I-I-I thought that you were already out in the kitchen. I didn’t know you were in here."

Destine sighed. "Could you please step outside for a bit Mousse? I would like to get dressed."

Mousse nodded and rushed for the bedroom. ‘Now I’ve really blown it. She’s never going to forgive me for that.’ He sat down on the bed and picked up one of the pillows. ‘I’m so STUPID!’ He started to rock back and forth. ‘STUPID, STUPID, STUPID, STUPID!!’

"Mousse?" Destine walked over to him and sat down. "What’s wrong?"

"I know that you’re never going to forgive me for seeing you naked. I may as well go drown myself in one of the springs at Jusenkyo. That way they can have the spring of the drowned idiot!" Mousse put his head in his hands and started to cry.

To his surprise he felt Destine’s arms go around his shoulders. "Look, it was an accident. It’s not your fault." She turned his face so he was looking at her. "You got that?" She leaned forward and kissed him. "It’s not your fault." She laughed. "So are you going to ask me about the scar on my stomach? I know you saw it."

"Well, umm, what happened?"

"I’ve fought your sister twice. The first time was when I got this scar. I was fighting your sister when a group of girls started throwing different types of weapons at me. I managed to dodge most of them but one of the girls threw a scimitar at me. I used my chain shield to block, but the sword cut straight through the chains and slashed my stomach. I started screaming and just before I blacked out I saw your face sneering at me. I awoke a week later and learned that Cologne had stopped the fight and had me taken to her house. She stitched me back up and gave me herbs to make the wound heal clean. The girls were caught and punished. From what I was able to gather in the state I was in, the girls had the idea that if Gel could remain the village champion, then you would return to congratulate her." Destine sighed and leaned against Mousse’s shoulder. "Later I figured out that it wasn’t your face I saw but your sister’s."

"Des-chan, I think I know why you’ve been having those nightmares. When Gel came here it caused you to remember the fight. Yet you kept it bottled in and just pushed it away to the back of your mind. But when you fell asleep, you let your guard down and the memory was able to come through at full force." He stood up and helped Destine to her feet. "I’m going to go fix breakfast, why don’t you try to get some sleep? Now that you understand the dream you should be able to sleep just fine." He kissed her on the forehead and walked out the door.

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Mousse stepped into the kitchen and was greeted by a punch in the face. He staggered back and looked up to see Ryoga standing over him battle aura flaring. Ryoga grabbed Mousse by the collar and pulled him up. "Why did Destine scream? You hurt her didn’t you?" He drew back his fist and punched Mousse again.

"Wait! Let me explain!" Mousse put his arms over his face to block the punches.

"There’s no explaining what you’ve done Duck-boy!" Ryoga grabbed Mousse and started thrashing. "I warned you that if you hurt her you’d suffer my wrath."

"Stop. Let me explain. It’s all a mist.." Mousse was cut off as Ryoga’s foot connected with his stomach. Mousse fell down in a crumpled heap and tried to breathe. As Ryoga kept kicking and punching away, it was all Mousse could do to withstand the blows. ‘I can’t even get a chance to fight back!’

"I will never forgive you for dishonoring her!"

"Brother stop!" Destine ran into the room and placed herself between Mousse and Ryoga. She bent down and rested her hands on Mousse. "Are you all right?"

Ryoga stared down at her. "Why are you standing up for him when he has dishonored you?!"

"He hasn’t! There was a little mix up and he startled me. Since I haven’t had much sleep for the past week, I have become extra jumpy." She grabbed a towel and wet it down. "I came out here for a drink of water and what do I find? I find my brother beating the crap out of the one I love!" Destine knelt down beside Mousse and started to clean up his face.

"You mean you love him?" Ryoga jumped back and stared at Destine.

"Yes I do. Why is that so hard to believe?"

Mousse looked up. "You do?" He smiled faintly.

"Of course I do. I wouldn’t have kissed you if I didn’t. Damn brother, you did a number on him." She walked to the sink and rinsed out the towel. "And you also broke his glasses."

Ryoga looked over at her and bowed his head. "I apologize."

Destine turned around and walked back over to Mousse. "I’ll have to wrap you up. Ryoga, call Dr. Li, his number is on the wall next to the phone." She knelt down beside Mousse and lifted his face towards hers. "You OK?"

Mousse nodded and glared at Ryoga. "Dishonoring Destine, heh. That’s a new one. I have too much respect for her to even think of doing that." He wiped the blood from his lips and sneered. "I told you if I did that I wouldn’t have to worry about you Ryoga. There wouldn’t be anything left of me."

Destine took of Mousse’s glasses and inspected them. "You’re lucky. The only thing broken is the frame. I can fix that up in five minutes." She looked over at Ryoga. "Well?"

Ryoga hung up the phone and sighed. "I set up an appointment for 10:00. How’s he faring?" Ryoga knelt down next to Destine. "Mousse, I’m sorry."

Mousse looked up and smirked. "Yeah." He pushed himself up and tried to stand. "Man my head hurts."

Destine slipped herself under his arm and helped him up. "I’m surprised you’re not unconscious." There was a knock at the front door. "Ryoga could you go and get that?"

"Sure sis." Ryoga stood up and headed for the door. He opened it and smiled. "Gel, what brings you back here?"

"I’ve come to get Mousse and Destine. They are needed along with Destine’s sensei in the village." Gel stepped inside and walked to the kitchen. She looked at the rag on the floor and stopped dead in her tracks. "Why’s there a bloody rag on the floor?"

"Um, well you see, I thought Mousse had hurt my sister and so I started to beat the crap out of him." Ryoga put his hand behind his head and gave a nervous laugh.

"Then where is he?"

Destine walked into the kitchen. "He’s in my room sleeping. What brings you back here?"

"You, Mousse, and your sensei are needed in the village. You can’t skirt this one Destine. We need you there." She rushed over to Destine and started crying. "The village is under attack and you three are the only fighters left. Mousse’s sensei was killed in the last battle before I ran away to here."

Destine looked at Gel and smiled faintly. "Part of your story is true Gel, but you’re lying about the village being under attack. Mousse’s sensei was old and he did die in battle. Mousse got a letter from the elders telling him that. But if this means so much to you, we’ll go."

"You mean it?" Gel hugged Destine and smiled. "Oh thank you. Is there any way to get elder Cologne and Shampoo as well?"

Destine patted Gel’s shoulders and motioned to Ryoga. "Go get Tide. I’m going to call up Shampoo and Cologne. Gel, sit down." She helped Gel sit down on one of the stools beside the counter and grabbed the phone. "Now what was that number again? Oh right." She dialed the number and waited for someone to answer.

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*Back in Nerima*

Shampoo awoke to Cologne standing over her. "Morning Grandmother what time is it?"

"Time for us to travel. I just got a call from Destine. She says she just bought us two tickets to go with her, Mousse, Tide, Ryoga, and Gel to China. I’ve already packed your backpack and it is sitting by the door. Son-in-law has promised to watch over the cafe while we’re away." Cologne walked over to the door. "Let’s get going, we leave in thirty minutes."

"But Shampoo no want to go. Mousse bug her as soon as she arrive." Shampoo walked into the bathroom and washed her face.

"Destine told me that Mousse will be doing nothing of the sort. Now hurry up."

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*Back in Yokohama*

Destine reached into the cupboard and grabbed some rice. She threw it into a pot along with some water and set it on the stove. ‘I’ll be back to check on it in ten minutes.’ She grabbed Mousse’s glasses and walked outside.

"Destine, wait up." Gel ran up next to her and matched her pace. "Where are you going?"

"To fix Mousse’s glasses. You can come too if you want." Destine turned the corner and walked over to a small building. She stepped inside and turned on the light. "Watch for the cobwebs. I haven’t been in here for a while." She grabbed a broom and started sweeping the cobwebs from the ceiling.

"What is this place?"

"My shop. This is where I created most of the weapons I use. I also built my truck in here." She pointed to a large door on the side. "That’s where it came out." Destine walked over to a bench and set down Mousse’s glasses. "Now all I need is that darn mask." She bent over and started rummaging through the drawers. "Here it is." She pulled out a large mask and slipped it on. "I’d suggest you turn around Gel. I don’t want you going blind."

"What are you going to do?" Gel walked over to the bench and looked around.

"I’ve got to fuse these two pieces back together. Without breaking the glass." She reached down and picked up a small acetylene torch in one hand and a starter in the other. Turning on the gas she started scraping the two pieces of the started together near the mouth of the torch. It came to life with a popping sound. Destine adjusted the flame and slipped the mask down over her eyes. "You need to turn around now Gel." She picked up the glasses and set them in a clamp. "Now I just need the flame to be at the right temp." She adjusted the flame again so there was only a small blue flame. She set the flame near the glasses and moved the broken piece to fit.

TWO MINUTES LATER

"Finished. Now let’s get back inside." Destine picked up the glasses and inspected them. "I’ve outdone myself again." She smiled and grabbed a polishing cloth. "Here Gel could you clean these up for me? I need to wash up and check on the rice."

"Don’t worry about the rice, I’ll take care of it." Gel stood up and walked for the door.

"Just turn off the heat and cover the pot with a lid."

"I will." Gel walked in the house and turned off the stove. She grabbed the lid and set it on top of the pot. ‘Now to go check on big brother.’

Destine was standing out in the shop polishing up Mousse’s glasses. ‘Can’t even tell they were broken.’ She smiled and tucked them away in her pocket. She was just closing the door to the shop when a scream came from the house. ‘That sounds like Mousse!’ Destine grabbed an iron staff that was propped up against the wall and ran for the house. She ran inside and rushed to her room. ‘I wonder what’s happened?’ Destine opened the door to her room and looked around. Mousse was nowhere in sight. "Mousse? Gel? Ryoga?" She gripped the staff and walked to the bathroom. Inside she found P-chan standing over a passed out Mousse and Gel practically climbing the walls. "OK, what’s going on in here?"