Double or Nothing
Tan Pan Murica, Ryusuke, and Rouge
"Opertunity only knocks once"
This was something Ryu's father had told her over and over as a child.
Little did she know exactly how correct he had been.
---
"About freekin' time!" Ryu shouted twards the french skys. She streached out her arms high above her head and yawned as she waited for her cab to arrive.
The German girl was on vacation and nothing, not no how, could possably ruin this for her.
It almost seemed like yesterday that she graduated with the rest of her class back in Nice. She glanced around the familier scenery and laughed.
"Le Côte d'Azur never changed," she snorted, leaning back against one of the airports' many pillers. Weiry from her travel, she shut her eyes for only a moment, but jumped back to her alert self as a car honked behind her.
With a quick manuvering of her luggage, Ryusuke hopped into the yellow automobile and exclaimed in glee. "Tan-Pan, here I come!!"
---
Not long later, the car pulled up to a small and quiet town nere the edge of one of the numerous volcanic craters. Ryu, with hardly any effort at all, flung herself out of the vehical and ran up to the door, ready to atack her friend at any moment.
Tan Pan Murica sat at a table in her study, awaiting her guest. The study was oddly placed in the small house but she liked it. At the center of the room was a circle which she had drawn strange markings. The Tison House of Murica was famous for several things-lovely and powerful daughters in some way, and a strong connection to the spiritual and deities. What Tan Pan had been up to was trying to get in touch with the Tison Spirits which delivered the new guardians their children to find out things about it-such as why or how some parts of it happened. And to find if she were to be one of the guardians. It would be a supreme honor for the eldest daughter of the House of Murica's current generation to become the guardian of a reborn deity as they had so highly revered them. It was her duty to find out.
However it had seemed that she'd need a partner to help her on this and help her cast the magic. A gaian namely as they seemed to mainly be the only ones chosen for this task. Her friend Ryu was coming over anyway. It was a perfect oppurtunity. The girl had never seemed to disbelieve her when she told her of Tison but then again she had been too naive to realize that no answer doesn't mean they believe you.
Apon reciveing no reply to her knock, Ryu took things apon herself to enter. She let the door creek open a bit and glanced inside.
This house was vaguely similar to thoes she visited and stayed in world 'round, and yet there was an unearthly feel to it. As opposed to the norm, Ryu was expecting just this. "Tanchii", as Ryu often refferd to her as, always was a bit peculer.
The moment her eyes rested on her friend, they "sparkled with joy," so to speek. She carefuly made her way across the floor, of course being sure not to desturb any of the markings on the floor. She set down her bags and held out her arms, smiling an odd sort of smirk. Ryu never was one for physical contact, but for this particular individual-- there was always an exception.
"Ryu!" Tan Pan exclaimed, standing up and rushing to embrace her friend. "It has been forever!" she said, placing a quick kiss on each cheek-a greeting in many places. "How have you been my friend? Please, have a seat I'll get you a refreshment! Is there anything you want?"
Ryu chuckled a bit and shook her head.
"Just a roof over my head and a cabbage in my heart."
Corny? Yes. Truthful? Very much so. Ryu had long since noticed that expressions never translated quite right from one language to another.
She glanced around the room curiously, numerous questions popping into her head; Many of wich begining with the pelude, 'I know you've always been a bit odd, but...'
"So.." she began cautiously. "This-" she motioned twards the floor "- doesn't seem to be a french-in-origin embelishment..."
Tan Pan's eyes furrowed at both her reply and the question. "Of course not. I was not born in france or near here. They are Dahi, that is where I was born and where I first learned. It is a summoning spell for spirits." She said with a nod. "But why do you want a cabbage in your heart?"
"Forgive my fourgetfulness," She sighed, scratching the back of her head uneasily. Ah, Dahi. Since the day she was invited to spend the forign holiday with her friend, Ryu often pondered if this strange topic of long-past would again arise. Often, she had been getting these odd thoughs. Weird questions that she had put off asking now pricked at the back of her mind.
"Cabbage is a french term of endearment, should you refer to the one you love as 'Mon petite chou,' it would be a great compliment. Again, Je regrete!"
It apeared that, even since collage, Ryu's habbit of speeking rappidly when explaining seemed to hold true.
Unable to resist the tempation, she glanced back at the spell once more and smiled.
"Perhaps you can explain this to me, one of these days."
"Silly people." she laughed. Then onto the second note. "Oh I'll have to explain it to you sometime soon. I need your help with it. I'm trying to contact spirits to find out if I can be a guardian of a reborn deity! Most people have to get chosen and die to do that!" she said cheerfully as if that happened every day. Tan Pan was a bit flightly though. Came of being a Murica.
Ryu just... blinked.
Despite being a woman of a million words, she knew not what to say in responce.
"Reincarnation, gods, spirits and extra terrestrials... Sure, I'll help any way I can! Though I beg you forgive my ignorance on the subject at hand," she said with a light laugh. Far be it from her to deny a once in a lifetime cultural expirience. Little did she know what she was getting herself into. Though, takeing into concideration that the circumstances being what they were, she may have had a faint idea. After all, her atention was directed twards the singluar word 'die' in a wrather unsettling manor.
One of her hands slowly crept into her pant pocket, touching something soft and furry. This was nothing more then an instinctive reaction of hers.
You see, ever since she was small, she's had in her posession a teadybear, and-- in doing what all children do -- became quite atached to her security trinket. So as she's never taken a trip without it; Ryusuke Argentina's forever kept it's right ear in her front leftside pocket. ('Tis a strange habit for a luinguist at the age of twenty-three, no?)
Tan Pan thought for a sec. "Hm.........um. You sit there." she said pointing at one of the two small circles which were part of the rim of the larger one making it look like a mickey mouse head with swirlies in the middle. "I sit here." she said pointing at the other. "We hold hands and I can't words you don't understand. Spirits appear. I talk to them. We find out something. They go bye bye. We may have an out of body experience. We go back to hanging out." she said with a nod.
Ryu; not being one to question the religious beliefs and pratices of any culture, human or not; strode over to the circle and knelt down, looking it over. Ryu nodded a bit, listening to the direct-and-to-the-point explanation from her friend; not that she really belived anyhting would happen. For all she knew, Tanchii could have quite easily used the infamous internet to search for 'witchcraft' and congured up this imaginary nonsence.
Not that there was any harm in giveing it a try. After all, it would make her odd little friend quite pleased.
And so thus, she smiled at Tan Pan and sat in the circle. "This sounds fun." Ryu said in a light-hearted tone. "Are there any times of day that the spirits are primarily summon-....-able?"
"Not that I know of. I think now should be a good time. Last person I know who summoned one was my cousin Karyn and she summoned it at 4 in the morning and it was rather annoyed. I think it was trying to get beauty sleep. Now should be fine." Tan Pan repeated with a nod, sitting in her circle and took Ryu's hand. "Just concentrate on the something that you'd use to call someone. Like a megaphone or a telephone." She told the other with a huge grin. "And keep your eyes closed and think of nothing but that while I chant. I'll start when you're ready."
Ryu nodded a little. Telephone, huh? she pondered mentaly. It'd be my luck to be thinking of one right after escapeing THE ROOM.
'The Room' was, of course, a term at her workplace in which reffered to a single ten cubic-foot office filled with telephones and circut breakers. But this was beside the point.
"Okay," she stated, takeing a deep breath. "I'm ready."
And so, she held her friends hand and closed her eyes, thinking intently apon the night her father took her to the Nuremberg sports arena. She rememberd persicely the volume in wich the comentators announced each and every score on the loud speeker system.
She held Tanchii's hand a bit tighter, starting to feel a bit..... Strange.
Softly Tan Pan Murica began to say words. They started in her soft accented voice and then seemed to float out of her and fill the room. A strange unintenligible chant that encircled them and suddenly it was as if their souls were being freed from their bodies-as if they were floating, being pulled far from there and into something they'd never before experienced.
When they opened their eyes they were standing in what looked like a city. All around where glowing ghosty figures that they couldn't see very clearly. A small thin one with horns and cloven hooves walked up to Ryu and poked her. "A foomfin?" she said with a slight accent-different from Tan Pan's but similar. Tan Pan had more french, this was more russian. She poked Ryu again. "Hoomin?" she asked. A pretty female surely for her kind. Horns, tail and all she was definately lovely.
Tan Pan's soft words relaxed the uneasy feelings. She smiled a little and awaited the nonsence to end.
But apon opening her eyes, Ryu was in complete and utter shock.
Not only had she expected nothing to happen, but was looking forward to a perfectly normal day of relaxation and reflection along side her comerad.
Needless to say, this wasn't at all how she planned it.
Studdering slightly in her state of astonishment and surprise, she gave a reply to this strange looking newcomber.
"H... Human? Y...Yes, I am...?"
Despite the queery not being retorhicle, her responce was quite unstable enough to be presumed a question of it's own.
Her shakey hand groped in her pocket for the fragment of her teadybear. If there was a time for comfort, it was now.
The young female smiled broadly and hugged Ryu. "I like you!" she said as if this were a very important revolation. With this young woman clinging to her she felt a strange connection with her suddenly as if they were bonding.
Nearby Tan Pan was talking to a leafy haired young woman who appeared to have six arms-2 of which were tree branches and 2 of which were tentacles- and a roots for legs. The woman hugged Tan Pan similarly and there seemed to be a glowing between them as if the leafy woman were sinking into Tan Pan's soul. The same seemed to be happening with Ryu and the goat girl.
Ryu's eyes darted franticly for Tanchii as she hesitantly hugged onto the stranger. Apon spotting her, she realized how normal it appeared to Tanchii and should be for herself as well. Suddenly, the words from earlier that evening echoed in her mind.
'Most people have to get chosen and die to do that!'
Ryu's heart seemed to beat a little faster and she actually smiled. Her arms stretched around the young woman and hugged her back, accepting this in it's entirety*. Compelled to give a reply, she said quietly to the girl; "I like you, too. I do hope this is only the first meeting of many others."
It was the truth. She never had truly been one for companion ship, Her friendship with one 'Tan Pan Murica' was a rarity unto it's own. And yet this stranger from a land yet to be discovered by human scientists, had taken hold of her heart and coddled it as if were a presicous comodity; metaphorically speaking, naturally.
The girl smiled and nodded, hugging Ryu tightly before vanishing. All that was left in her wake was a strangely glowing necklace. The necklace was a gold chain with a curled horn on it-much like the girls. It had a feeling as if that girl had changed form. Standing next to her Tan Pan was smiling, wearing a necklace with a leaf on it which glowed similarly. "We have been chosen to be guardians of reborn deities. She may not remember this meeting but she will live again because of you." she explained to Ryu with a smile before taking her hand.
Again there was that floating feeling and Ryusuke woke up in a bed with the necklace around her neck. Next to her in another bed was Tan Pan Murica. And standing before them, a chain bearing a red flame around her neck and a smile on her face, was a young blonde haired woman who Ryu had seen in Tan Pan's pictures of her friends. This woman's name was Rouge and she was captain of the "space ship" that Tan Pan usually resided on.
"Hallo there you two. How did it go?"
Ryu sat up quietly, laying a hand on her head. She gave the woman a short glance, briefly registering her existence.
"Mal au tette..." Ryu murmured under her breath. Her head hurt something fierce, and the recent confusion made it none the less painful.
"Cranium aching... Frontal lobes throbbing... Ryusuke you idiot... First step is to admit you have a problem..!"
Realizing that she was receiving strange looks, she stopped her blabbering and glanced upwards at the woman. "Er..... Hello to you, too," she said in a sheepish tone (no pun intended). As she pushed some of bangs from her face, she examined the woman carefully-- not sure as to weather she be friend or foe.
After finally settling that the apparent Authoritative Figure was of no threat, Ryu's eyes again surveyed her surroundings, her attention resting exclusively on Tan Pan.
Somehow, Ryu had the feeling that her schoolmate would be quite comfortable in this sort of setting.
"I beg your forgiveness," she said calmly, now realiseing that this was more then likely not the most surpriseing thing that could have happened today. "But do you mind telling me where I am at the current place in time?"
Rouge cracked up and sat on the edge of the bed. "Yes. You are on a a space ship which is headed back to Tan Pan's home. I am her friend Rouge Remika, and you are on my ship. I'm amazed Tan Pan hasn't mentioned me or the ship considering how much she talks." she answered.
Tan Pan laughed. "I did tell her and showed her a picture of you when you had long hair. She did not believe me."
Ryu stared blankly at the women, thinking over the conversations they had shared in the past.
"It's been a long time, Tanchii. I'm afraid that my mind hasn't retained that much information involveing our few semesters togeather. Though..." she glanced back twards the woman of the flame. "You look nice with your hair shorter. It's more fitting for a woman of your position, Miss Remika."
Compliments, Ryu had long since learned, were always the most gentile way to obtain information. True, her company seemed complyant enough, but this still was no reason to let her guard down in such a strange place.
She held her relic a bit tighter, very careful not to harm it in any way.
Rouge laughed. "Oh I just cut it short cause it was too hot. Anyway, is there anything you need to know? I havent' got a clue what deities you got but I could try to explain stuff better then Tan Pan has."
The redhead looked up. "I thought I explained good. I have Kyindera but I didn't see who chose Ryu."
Ryu gave a light sigh and nodded. "I see... If by 'chose' you mean 'declared war against my bubble territory,' then it was a very affectionate petite young woman with black hair, horns and a distinctly Russian accent, with a touch of French Polynesian."
She sighed shuffled the chains around her neck for a bit more comfortable arrangement.
"Unfortunately, ma capitainne, I fear I do not fully understand the circumstances at hand. I'm aware that the woman I encountered was a 'God' of sorts. And by inferences, I can presume that I am now responsibly for her wellbeing. Beyond this, I fear that my duty to this deity is unknown."
Ryu pushed some hair from her face with her hand, calmly analyzing her possible course of action. Needless to say, she decided that information gathering was the most important task at the moment.
Rouge thought for a moment. "weeeeeeell so far as we know they turn into babies at some point in about 2 days. They don't seem to have powers or memories. They're just babies really. After that we haven't got a clue. The oldest ones are babies so far. But I think you just have to raise them and keep them safe. Jujike can't get to gaia to kill them so they should be fine there." the blonde said. She really didnt' have a clue about what would happen.
"So, for near all intents and purposes, I'm the soon-to-be adoptive mother of the goat girl?"
This was bad.
This was very bad.
Not only had Ryusuke never had a single desire for offspring, but she had ensured she could never be burdened in the most scientific way possible.
Okay, Ryu. Breathe. Perhaps this isn't what it seems. Tan Pan seems more then happy to be an overseer. This obviously must be a good thing.
Aber warum muss ich eine mutter werden?!
Ryu scowled a bit to herself. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she calmly quoteded something her father told her often as a child.
"Opportunity only knocks once," she nodded. "So this 'Jujike' of which you speak shan't lay a hand on her."
Rouge nodded. "If you need we can provide cash so you can afford the care for both of you. I have no idea how she'll behave or what will happen but it will happen in a few days probably. Anyway, Tan Pan, take her to the transporter room. You two can go back to your place. I need a nap." and with that the blonde walked out and the redhead took Ryu back to her house to continue their holiday.
And with that another guardian had their charge. Congrats Roze you are now a guardian.
