Justice [Kanae/Open]

There was something even worse about her sudden tone shift. Yes, it sounded upbeat and almost friendly, but that was the scariest part of it all… how the fuck did she just change her tone like that? And she even used his own argument against him – I mean, she had a point, after all! He did not like this place nor its people, despite himself coming from nearby this place and being from these losers! Yes, losers! That was… what he genuinely thought them as.

“… They may be losers, sure-“ Ranma spoke, uncertain as to whether the Captain was on to him, knew the truth, or was just playing a fucking prank on him due to how terrified he felt, “-B-But, mhhm, mng, makes me wanna puke a bit, but… those losers gave birth to me, in the end. I mean, I could just go on a k-killing spree, no fucks given, but I’d still be a loser’s kid. Ain’t nothing changing about that.”

Maybe her upbeat tone actually helped him clear his throat and speak clearer, instead of- well, okay, he was still shivering, her blade was still touching his neck, and she had all the power in the world to literally end his life if she wished. Why would she, a Captain, just murder another Shinigami out here? Who the fuck knew?! Apparently, Ranma had convinced himself she would!

“D-Do you have to hate this shithole to murder people? I mean, Armi- sorry, Miss Wilsaam-“

Ain’t no way he was about to use the first name for a Seated member of her Division… walking on paper-thin ice, Ranma…

“… M-Miss Wilsaam, I don’t think she hates people here. N-Not that I think she’s the killer or anything… probably has better things to do…”

That… just reminded him of something. “She did invite me to visit your Division… no, for real, pinky promise.”

”Friends…” For a brief moment, he actually felt like she was starting to understand his thought process – that all went up in smoke when she now suspected both him and Armina of killing people out here…

…

… Shit, last time he tried to visit his parents, Armina was kind of on a roll, but he mostly remembered when she turned her bloodlust at him. Ironically, it was the start of… a… friendship? Maybe? The fact she not only let him be back in the 8th, but invited him to the 4th, kind of eluded to the start of something less murderous and more… I don’t know? Camaraderie?

“Enemies… I-“

Something cut his ear. He felt a cut, but there was no cut – he felt pain, but there was no pain. Did he just imagine himself getting cut so unbelievably hard that his body actually reacted to it? His ear was burning in pain, but nothing happened. Did she still think he was a murderer out here?! And now, Armina was drawn into the fray too?!

“*gulp* I haven’t killed anybody out here…” Ranma was pleading his innocence, his face whitened in an attempt to stop stuttering. He could tell she hated that, and it frightened him all the way down to his toes! “And I… don’t know if Miss Wilsaam sees me as a ‘friend’ or… I don’t know, a useful punching bag, or whatever the fuck… but I’m not the killer you’re searching for. Yes, I don’t like this place – or my parents – but I’m… not going to them just to kill them.”

Perhaps, if he detailed his intentions with traveling out here, she’d believe him. “I just… wanted to tell them I’m being promoted soon.”

There was no convincing her. Captain Nagoshi could really just frame him as the killer here, no witnesses in sight, and just… no… no… n-no…

His whole body was turning grey with grim doom. What the hell could he do in such a fucked up situation? Plead? Would this woman even tolerate such a thing? Or would she sadistically let him run off for 5 minutes before chasing him down? Wait, also- HE WAS A SHINIGAMI! WHY WAS SHE SO EAGER TO KILL ANOTHER SHINIGAMI?!

…

H-Huh? She was in front of him again… wait, her Zanpakutō, it wasn’t- what happened? Oh, wait, I know… Ranma was having a trip, somehow. Maybe the stress had caused hallucinations, and maybe he had just been acting a fool in front of her this entire ti-

“E-Eh…?” His hand slowly reached up to touch the warm drop of liquid that trickled down his neck. Did he get cut there? Ah… so it was already too late. Without a doubt, his fortune had brought him this far, and now his misfortune had ended his strea-

“… Nh?” was all he could muster out in surprise – she verbally believed him, as unpleasant as his name somehow was to her mouth. She even further warned him of the dangers in these zones, that even an experienced Shinigami could be felled if they lowered their guard. For some otherworldly reason, her going off like that… like the strictest teacher you’ve ever met…

Was kind of cool… and that worried him. Blinking twice, he shook his head in agreement with her – he wouldn’t want any of that, precisely. “… That Kusajishi killer doesn’t know what’s coming to them…” If someone like Captain Nagoshi was tracking them down, hell was awaiting them. No doubt about it.