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Ranma Plus
A Ranma 1/2 and Macross Plus fusion
By Adrian Wong
Characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi and some others. Plotline and song
lyrics were based on those of Macross plus . . . belonging to whoever they
belong. But aside from the straight Translation of Voices, most other
songs have been modified greatly by myself. Note the lyrics J
Many thanks to Chris Willmore for pointers on this, as well as Sean Connor
for grammar checking the early parts!
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PART 1
<< The first word is dream
from my sleep
the darkness within my heart
it gently takes out >>
[Scene opened in a beautiful forest of bamboo poles . . .]
<< The second word is wind
telling me my destination
into the arms of a god
I flap my wings >>
[Two girl, one curvy with long flowing purple hair while the other was
muscular yet petite, were leaping from the tip of one pole to another, as
they engaged in an agile game of combat and dance. Below them, standing on
the ground, a pigtailed boy was smiling with amusement as he studied them .
. .]
<< As if counting sad things
that have melted
a golden apple
falls again >>
[Finally, with a flying kick, the purple-haired girl knocked the
short-haired one off her bamboo pole, sending her tumbling down towards the
glass. In an agile, effortless leap, the pigtail boy leapt over and caught
her in his arms. The short-haired girl blushed, then scowled as she
realized that the boy was staring at the purple-haired girl, now
somersaulting form pole to pole in triumph, with a glimmer of admiration in
his eyes. She proceeded to beat him into the ground.]
<< A view I haven't seen
there I will return
in this one life
I will find my way . . . >>
[ The purple-haired girl leapt down from up high and tackled the
short-haired girl playfully. Soon, all three of them were laughing with
their arms over each others' shoulders as the scene fades out . . .]
Time: 2040
Location: Starlight Stadium, Planet Eden
"We want Shawn! We want Shawn! We want Shawn!"
Stepping out of the limo, a twenty-ish, short-haired man in sunglasses and
business suit surveyed the crowd of frantic fans calling out to their
beloved. Women, and even some men were waving banners around, proclaiming
their undying love for the hottest idol of the galaxy. Closing his eyes
under the guise of his sunglasses, he drowned himself within the cries of
adoration, allowing it to course through his veins like a potent drug . . .
. . . and was gently but firmly pushed aside as the object of the fans'
desire pushed past him to get off the limo.
"SHAWN APPLE MY DARLING!!!!!!" The girls squealed while the boys cheered
as well.
Stretching itself into its full height, the computer hardware with arms
and legs installed slowly turned a full circle, before fixing its red lens
upon the frantic fans calling out its namesake with such desperation.
Grandly, the square-headedu robot by the name of Shawn Apple strode up the
red carpet leading into the Stadium, as the young man composed himself and
followed suit under the company of two other women in business suits. One
of them, a coolly composed woman with a even bowl cut, whispered to the man:
"What's the matter, Ranma-san? Jealous of the attention your own puppet
is getting?"
Stiffening, Ranma Fan Long replied:
"None of your business, Nabiki."
"Hush," the other woman hissed, "can't this petty quarrel wait until
after we're somewhere more private?"
"SHAWN-KUN NO KAWAII!!!" The fans shouted, totally oblivious to anything
other than the robotic being.
"Why bother?" Nabiki Marjie shrugged, "the world hears Shawn and Shawn
alone."
To this, Ranma sulked:
"This ain't fair . . . all these adoration. Shawn Apple is nothing if not
for . . ."
"Don't you dare go into that, PRODUCER Ranma," the other woman hissed,
"the world loves Shawn Apple only because they think its Personality
Microchip had been completed. If they knew that Shawn is still an ordinary
computer . . ."
Ranma sighed, and said nothing more as the group headed towards the
decorative wall of anti-gravitational water and into the back stage of the
stadium to prepare for Shawn Apple's upcoming concert. After all, he did
have a living to make . . . be it a living made on a pride-killing lie.
Pride . . . as if he still has any of that in him.
Sighing, he followed Shawn into the opening water wall, and disappeared
behind it amidst the frantic cries of its fans.
* * * * * *
Location: New Edwards Centre, Planet Eden
"So, the pilot for prototype Valkyrie YF-19 has finally arrived?"
"Yes, the Super Nova Project to decide on the next model to be used by UN
Spacy has finally begun. Akane, it is time for you to go up against the
opposing company's creation. "
The short-haired female pilot by the name of Akane Goa Bowman simply
stretched her arms dismissively after getting off her Valkyrie. She was
attractive in a plain yet non-vulgar way, with not even a tint of makeup
marring her determined but character-filled face. Her body also appeared
well proportioned under her body suit . . . if a hint muscular for that of
a woman. Cracking her knuckled to relax them, she replied:
"Don't worry about it. You know my abilities, and how well it goes with
prototype YF-21. Considering the backwards design of YP-19, the pilot
won't stand a chance against me. So who's she anyway?"
"Shampoo Alva Dyson, one of the most rackless battlecraft pilot from UN
Spacy . . . Akane?"
Akane had grown shock still at hearing that name. After a while, she asked:
"Where is she now?"
"She's in the middle of her first testing drive right now. Is something
the matter?"
"No . . . it's nothing."
* * * * * *
1500 meters above the base, YF- 19 was making seeming impossibly turns ,
with long lines of smoke trailing behind it like ribbons of long, white
pythons . . .
"Aiya, such agility!" the pilot exclaimed, "new things ARE better than the
old after all!"
At the main control center of New Edwards . . .
"WAI!" Kodachi Newman, the young designer of YP-19, practically howled in
rage as she slammed her fists against the viewing screen in front of her.
Even in such a state, the harsh, dramatic beauty of her well-sculptured
profile, as was enhanced by her elegant beehive hairstyle, could not be
undermined, nor could her parting lap coat hide the slender but exciting
curves of her long-legged body. "This ISN'T in the flight plan! WHAT
IS SHE TRYING TO DO WITH MY BABY?!"
"Calm down, Miss Newman," Commander Millard said calmly, "I shall scold
Pilot Shampoo for breaking the rules when she returns."
"SCOLD?!" Kodachi growled as she glared into the screen, "if she makes my
baby suffer even one single scratch, I'd take it out on that puffy face of
hers!"
"Chill, Ko . . . " Mint, a very young-looking officer with his hair done
up in a high ponytail, exclaimed as he stared into his monitor. "Hey
everyone! Turn to View 3 and get a look at this!"
View 3 was immediately shown upon the main panel of the control center,
featuring a perfect, smoke-sculpture of a phoenix lingering like an
ethereal giant in the sky. Popping out of its eye, YF-19 did a couple more
flips in the air, flaunting itself before the stunned officers of New Edwards.
Kodachi's jaw hit the floor as she and the rest of the officers stared at
the scene in awe. Meanwhile, unnoticed by them all, Akane had entered the
control center, and was taking in the sight with a hard frown on her face.
"So, she's gotten better through the years . . ." she muttered to herself.
* * * * * *
As soon as YF-19 had landed on the track, Kodachi was already there
stomping up towards it with Mint right behind her.
"You irresponsible maniac," she screeched, "how dare you show off at the
risk of damaging my-"
Her screech was immediately cut off by having a high-heeled boot landing
right on top of her immaculately styled beehive hairstyle. Using that
immaculately styled head as a springboard, a leggy, curvy woman in
body-suit and helmet leapt up into midair, somersaulted, and landed right
in front of a startled Mint. Taking off the helmet, and shaking lose the
almost endless waves of violet framing her glamorous, yet strangely playful
face, Shampoo purred, "Aiya, what a cute officer they have here at New
Edwards. What's your name, pretty?"
Mint, who was blushing bright red, replied. "M-Mint. Umm, Pilot Shampoo -"
"How cute!" Shampoo chuckled and advanced upon the boy, "I always do like
Chinese spices . . . and I think I'm gonna like you a lot."
"The Commander wants to see you . . ." the poor boy managed to get out
while backing meekly away from the sultry, shamelessly straight forward
woman whose chest was almost touching his.
"Ah ha, a scolding to try and keep my impudence in check, I see," Shampoo
said with playful amusement, "I had it coming, I guess., but the fun was
worth it. BTW, you got the rest of your day off now that it is the
weekend, don't you?"
"Yes . . ."
"Then meet me outside the parking lot by my bike and you got yourself a
date . . ." lowering her voice, she whispered playfully, "I'll make a man
of you yet, little boy."
"Little boy!" Mint exclaimed, insulted, "I'll be twenty one next month!"
"Really?" Shampoo purred wickedly. "All the more reason for you to shape
up then. See ya at the parking lot!"
With that, she bounded towards the main building in twenty feet leaps, as
Mint stared after her looking flustered. Kodachi, meanwhile, was steaming
as she fixed her hair.
"Insolent girl!" she spat.
* * * * * *
Inside a dark, computer stacked room at the back stage of Starlight
Stadium, a computer generated wireframe of a humanoid holographic image was
doing a complex kata in midair as Ranma and a few other techs watched on.
A rather powerful, rapid beat was playing in the background, as the image
danced according to the beat.
"What do you think of Shawn's performance, Producer?"
Taking off his sunglasses, Ranma studied the holographic image with a
light frown.
"I want his spinning kick to go 15 degrees further: it'll make his dance
look a lot more dramatic during the concert."
"15 degrees further during the spin!"
The image's movement was adjusted, looking a lot for fluid than before.
The techs hi-fived each other as Ranma continued to study it critically.
"Ranma-san."
Looking up, Ranma's eyes narrowed at the sight of Nabiki, who was smiling
an unreadable smile down at him from a higher bridge.
"The press conference is about to begin: please prepare yourself."
"Hai, hai." Ranma replied joylessly as he exited the room. Watching the
spinning, abstract humanoid image in the room, Nabiki's smile turned a
little crafty as her lips moved wordlessly.
* * * * * *
"AIYAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"WAHHHH!!!!!!!!! STOP!!!!! STOPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!"
Speeding through the vehicle-studded highway, Shampoo was clearly having
fun as a green-faced Mint hung on to her narrow waist for dear life.
"There's nothing like driving in the wrong lane, is there?" Shampoo
yelled in pure bliss.
"YOU"RE CRAZY!" the boy screamed, "LET ME OFF- <<LOOK OUT!!!!>>!!!!!!!!"
A giant robotic bus suddenly came right in front of the tiny motorcycle.
Anticipating this, Shampoo kicked down on the brakes, causing her bike to
fly right over the seemingly endless length of the bus before landed back
onto the right lane and sailing on smoothly. Mint was almost in tears at
this point.
"You- you . . ."
"I know, I know," Shampoo sighed with a dismissive attitude, "but can you
SERIOUSLY tell me that you aren't having fun?"
"Well . . ." Mint blushed and attempted a cocky smile, "I guess it was
kinda exciting . . ."
"Good for you, pretty boy. You're learning how to have fun like a man."
Mint chuckled at hearing that. "You're weird, Shampoo, but I like you."
The woman simply shrugged as she took in the wide stretch of greenery at
either sides of the highway.
"Say," Mint said while observing Shampoo's quietness, "do you know that
around 7 years ago, people around this area of the Bamboo Hill had
reported seeing a girl . . ."
". . . who was riding a Galaxy Phoenix on the back as it soared above
the area??
"You know that?"
"Of course," Shampoo smiled smugly, "that was me."
"HOLY!" The boy exclaimed excitedly. "Why didn't you say so earlier!?
You're my childhood heroine then!"
Shampoo chuckled, and was just about to reply when a vital reality sign
featuring a Ying-Yang symbol flashing by over them, followed by an eerie
stretch of a song:
<< What? What?
What's at the corner of your lips?
No, no more fiancees
Past, past time
Like the past
No, no more bone-headed women . . . >>
Sobering up, Shampoo frowned as the hypnotic voice lingered in her head.
"That singing voice . . ."
"It's Shawn Apple," Mint told her, "the coolest martial-arts-singing idol
of the entire galaxy! Why," he asked mischievously, "you're so cool and
yet you've never heard his songs before?"
"I'm not really interested in idols, " Shampoo replied with a snort, "it's
just that the voice reminds me of that of my friend some years ago . . ."
"Then I'm afraid you're mistaken, " Mint laughed.
"Eh?"
"Shawn isn't even human," Mint explained, finally getting a chance to
out-knowing the volatile woman, "he is a virtual idol."
"A virtual idol . . . cute." Shampoo mused, then noticed something, "Aiya!
That jerk had just cut in front of me! We'll see about that!!"
"Sh-Shampoo? Now lets not get hast-YAAAAA!!!!!! "
The bike soared through the highway and towards the city, leaving behind a
trail of high-pitched screams and irritated horns. Right above the
skyscrapers, an enormous, 3-D Yin Yang sign unfolds itself from out of
nowhere, the virtual reality "chains" outlining it rotated in a criss-cross
pattern, dividing the blue and red "flames" within it into two conflicting
"splashes" of light. Floating in midair, the computer generated sign of
the cosmos flared up in all its post-modern glory, igniting the city below
with its ethereal twilight.
* * * * * *
Seated below the Ying Yang sign along with his colleagues, Ranma smiled at
the sea of flashing cameras in front of him and said:
"Welcome to this press conference. My name is Ranma Fang Long, the
Producer of Mr. Shawn Apple's Galaxy Tour. I will be happy to answer any
questions that you might have regarding his upcoming concert."
"MAY WE SEE APPLE_SAMA TODAY?!" A dozen female reporters asked at the
same time. Smiling thinly, Ranma replied:
"I'm sorry, but the big boy is resting right now . . . to build up his
stamina for his upcoming challenge."
A chorus of laughter could be heard in return. More questions were asked.
"Hey, rumor has it that famous child star, Hinako Ninomiya, has wanted to
purchase him as her fiance. What do you think of that?"
Laughing, Ranma replied, "She'd have to go through my boss first: he's
just legally adopted Shawn as his son a few weeks ago."
More laughter . . . then the reporters dived into the deadier questions.
"Some music critic has denounced the concept of 'Virtual Idolization',
saying that songs and dances without emotions are cheap and insincere.
What do you think about that?"
"I disagree," Nabiki cut in evenly, "anyone who has listened to his songs
can feel the emotions steaming from them. Shawn is even more complex than
a human . . .
* * * * * *
" . . . as could be proven by the erotic feeling he is capable of inducing
in his loyal fans. Can just any computer program do the same thing?"
At the cafeteria of New Edwards, the large-screen TV was showing the
entire press conference live. Akane, meanwhile had just settled down to
eat as one of her teammates came up to sit beside her.
"Heh, the new pilot for YF-19 had really pissed off the Commander with her
little display. At the rate things are going, our side will win for sure!"
"Don't underestimate her . . ." Akane replied evenly before trailing off
as she took a good look at the screen.
"Thank you all for coming today," Ranma smiled somewhat superficially as
Akane's eyes widened.
< RANMA?! >
"I'll be expecting you all at the concert!"
< Finally . . . you've come back. >
* * * * * *
Drenched by the golden sunset, the little trail along the hillside
overlooking a forest of bamboo poles had a certain grace that made it look
almost ethereal. Leaning against the edge, Ranma looked down at the bamboo
forest with a nostalgic look on his face.
Just then, a little galaxy phoenix landed right on the bench beside his
hand. Smiling at its white, raw purity, Ranma reached out a hand for it . . .
"Just as I expected . . . you've come back to this place."
The little phoenix flew away as the man turned around to stare at the
woman that he had been running away from for 7 years in shock.
"A-Akane? How did you know I will be here?"
"I saw you on T.V.," Akane replied as she held his gaze with hers, "And I
know this is the place to find you if you ever come back to Eden."
Not knowing what to say to that, Ranma turned away and laughed in the way
a man whistled at night.
"Yep! I'm finally back . . . not for long though. This place still hadn't
changed a bit . . . it's still a sparse, boring little place with nothing
really going on. I was smart to have left."
Akane's lips tightened at hearing that.
"Hey, you know what?" Turning back to Akane, Ranma attempted a proud
smile: a poor imitation of the one he had in his youth. "I am now the
manager of Shawn Apple: the # 1 Idol of the entire galaxy! Neat eh? See
this suit: it's CKK. You'd never imagine I'd be able to afford something
like this, eh? With me being a lower class, lazy delinquent who's always
at the back of the class, but I've CHANGED, HA! And for the better! So,
tell me, Akane, what are you up to now? Still managing the dojo?"
"I'm a test pilot for the YF-21 prototype Valkerine at the New Edwards
Military Centre: my martial arts had caught the eye of the UN Spacy. As a
martial artist, Father said it was an honor for me to serve the government,
and passed on the dojo to one of his students."
"Whoa, that's great! That's what you've always wanted to do, isn't it? To
combat up high in the sky against the evil the threatens justice . . .
we've both got what we wished for, haven't we?"
" . . . What about your martial arts?"
The question knifed right into his heart, causing his smile to disappear .
Forcing it back on with renewed vigor, the man replied:
"I gave it up. I'm have a busy work schedule now. I no longer have
energy for such . . . juvenile stuff."
"And your singing?"
Biting down on his lower lip, Ranma turned away from her, and continued on
in a slightly wavering voice:
"What about it? I stopped after growing up and realizing that it don't
put food on the table. Besides, Shawn is now the only singer still managing
to survive in the decaying music industry, its voice being flawlessly
computed and all . . ." turning around with a bright smile, Ranma went on,
"it can even fight, you know, to allow it to perform martial art dances
during its concerts. It's called martial-arts-singing, you know, bet you
haven't seen anything like that before eh? Know what, I can get you the
best seat in the upcoming concert: I have the power , you see. Hahaha . .
. it's really cool, isn't -"
Ranma's sentence was cut off as Akane embraced him abruptly, crushing the
breath out of him.
"Stop it," the woman whispered, looking very vulnerable for a second,
"stop pretending that leaving me hadn't hurt you as bad as it had hurt me.
I KNOW it had . . . it's gotto have hurt . . ."
"Akane . . ." Ranma whispered as his false bravado was replaced by
melancholy.
"Even though the past has gone wrong, we can start over again, can't we?"
Akane pleaded as she gently trailed her fingers along his chest, "There's
still enough of your heart remaining for you to love again . . . isn't there?"
Ranma didn't . . . couldn't give any reply to that.
"Now this is a romantic spot to make out . . . don't you agree?"
"Aiya, you're learning fast, little boy. Keep this up, and you just might
turn into a man for real before hitting the old age of 21 . . ."
Looking up, Ranma and Akane saw the other couple arrive on their bike, and
stiffened. Ranma's eyes looked a hint teary for a spit second, before they
were hardened once again.
" Shampoo, long time no see."
Shampoo, noticing him and Akane for the first time, stiffened for a while
as well, before she put an arm around Mint's shoulder and purred.
"Aiya . . . long time no see, Ranma. I didn't know you are now Akane's
man." Smiling coyly, she continued on, "Congratulations, mallet girl, hope
you can tie him up tight enough around yourself this time."
Ranma turned his gaze away melancholically, as Akane stomped up towards
Shampoo with death in her eyes. Frowning, Shampoo shoved a startled Mint
aside and got into a defensive stance.
"You . . ." Akane growled, "you will NOT show your face in front of
Ranma again, you traitor!"
Shampoo looked hurt for a while, before putting on a sneer:
"What, are you trying to scare me away with your muscles? Make. My. Day."
"Why you-"
"STOP IT!!"
The shout from Ranma froze them both, as the women turned towards the
enraged man, startled.
"Just . . . stop it," Ranma gritted out between his teeth, "stop fighting
on my behalf. I . . . I am not the same person that you two knew anymore!"
With that, he quickly strode away from the scene, leaving Shampoo and
Akane staring after all. Turning towards Shampoo with hatred, the muscular
woman growled, "You won't have him, Shampoo. Ranma and the project are
both mine: I won't let a traitor like you to lay a finger on either one of
them!"
Shampoo's reply was to turn away from her. Leaning against a confused
Mint, she purred.
"Aiya, this place sucks. Let's go somewhere else."
"Whatever you say . . .you're the boss."
"Glad I've made this clear, pretty boy."
With that, the two of them zoomed away via Shampoo's bike, leaving Akane to
glare after the purple-haired woman as she disappeared down the road..
< Shampoo . . . you won't touch him . . . >
[Flashback]
[Ranma falling down onto the ground . . .]
[. . . a katana sticking out of his chest . . .]
[ . . . Shampoo holding the bloodied katana in her hand, a wide-eyed look
in her eyes . . .]
[End Flashback]
< You won't touch him . . . ever again. >
* * * * * *
[The next night, at Starlight Stadium]
"SHAWN! SHAWN! SHAWN!"
Squeezing their way through the crowd, Shampoo and Mint were both
starry-eyed as they took in the amazing play of laser beams on the main
stage area. Turning towards their third companion for the night, Mint
said, "Wow, this is cooler than can be expected. But really, I didn't
know YOU'D be a fan of something this trendy, Kodachi."
"Are you crazy?!" The computer exclaimed with a scandalized look on her
face. Her hair was now braided to one side in a high-ponytail, which made
her look years younger than she usually did with the beehive-do. In fact,
the stylish back bra-top and matching shorts had flaunt off her body so
well that a few men near by gave her a series of whistles, which she
ignored coyly. "How can anyone who like computers NOT like Shawn-sama? He
is the most amazing thing ever to be created by human hands!"
"I'm still skeptical about this," Shampoo said half-heartly, "all these
graphics and lasers and all are very impressive. How can a virtual image
EVER be more seductive than a real man with all the right . . . assets?"
"Thus speaks the uneducated bimbo," Kodachi snorted, causing Shampoo to
glower at her. Sensing tension in the air, Mint hastily placed himself
between them and said:
"Now, ladies . . .here are our seats. Let's just settle down and enjoy the
show, why don't we?"
Shampoo was about to say something more, but a loud blast of music drowned
out whatever she was about to say. Looking at the main stage area, her
eyes widened as she took in the incredible sight in front of her . . .
* * * * * *
At the backstage area, Ranma was lying flat on a complex device with his
eyes closed. A red beam of laser was project onto his forehead, as
brainwave patterns flashed across the various computer screens in the room.
Standing over him, Nabiki smiled and whispered:
"It's time, Ranma-san. Focus your mind, and let this machine feed Shawn
all the naughtiness that he will need in dazzling the masses out there . .
. give him all of your inner emotions . . . give him all of your deepest
fantasies . . . "
* * * * * *
A slow, eerie music permeated the stadium, as countless 3D projectors
turned the entire area into a luscious entanglement of giant, thorny vines
spouting crimson blossoms. Large, ghostly butterflies flew all over the
stage and above the audiences' seats, causing them to scream out in rapture
as the first song began. . .
<< Listen up, ya lustful children . . .>>
A ghost of a man, with miles and miles of long hair flaring around him,
appeared on the center of the stage. Lying flat on his stomach, his face
obscured by ethereal tresses, he grounds his pelvis into the heart of the
large flower beneath him, deflowering it in shattered pieced of crimson
petals that float up and around the stage in a thousand pieces of drifting
red. The female audiences, however, were more concerned with his
well-shaped behind than the 3D-graphics, which was flexing with almost
impossible seductiveness for a virtual image . . .
<< Listen up, whores with respectability . . . >>
A serpent swimming through the dim lights, passing through the drifting
flower petals . . . slowly, its devilish, ugly head transformed into the
head and torso of a devilish but breath-taking man, whose beautiful,
impossibly long lashed eyes were narrowing in a smile as he reached out a
hand to offer a bleeding apple to the audiences . . .
<< The secret temple of love is within your own body . . .>>
Arching back in a dance like motion that had somehow got the drama of a
martial arts stance, the serpent-man flaunted his incredible "virtual
assets" at the audiences, as screams and hoots filled the stadium,
threatening to down out the eerie song . . .
<< So let's indulge it till you find enlightenment . . . >>
"Aiya . . . I guess I have to admit that in some areas, a fake is much
better than the real thing . . . Huh?"
Looking beside her, Shampoo saw Mint and Kodachi moving to the music with a
trance-like expression on their faces. In fact, all around her, everybody
had looked to be trance-induced as the serpent of a virtual idol began to
flex himself in a complex arm kata . . .
* * * * * *
"Incredible, " one of the techs at backstage exclaimed, "the excitement
rate of the audiences had risen to 83 %!!"
Nabiki merely smiled as she continued to study Ranma's brainwaves on the
monitor.
* * * * * *
<< A little pink
For the fur on your mink
A little violet
And you're just like a cat . . . >>
Shawn Apple, now having transformed into a short-haired teenage boy in a
kawaii dogi, was merrily going through a series of playful but shockingly
difficult katas as he sang on cutely, all traces of his devilish
seductiveness from the previous song having been replaced by an air of
boyish innocence . . .
<< Like a lucky day in a life
a strike in a weak-point
It's too much! On top of the desk
The shade of a tree, a storm, oh, oh
It's a love letter, oh no >>
Shawn is now clad only in a skimpy underwear, as he read the "letter" with
a light smile on his face . . .
Noticing the way Kodachi was toying with her on-line computer watch,
Shampoo raised an eyebrow and asked:
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing you'll understand," the woman replied with an obsessed smile on
her face, "just watch . . . NOW!"
<< What? What?
What's at the corner of your lips?
No, no more fiancees
Past, past time
Like the past
No, no more bone-headed women . . . >>
Abruptly, Shawn, who was facing away from them, began to turn around with a
slightly strained look on his still smiling face . . .
"What?!" Shampoo exclaimed in awe, as beside her, Mint's eye doubled in size.
* * * * * *
"An overpowering signal is interrupting us!" the techs shouted.
"Pin it down at once!" Nabiki commanded.
Fusing his mind with the hidden recorders in the building, Ranma saw a
beautiful, yet obsessed looking woman typing into her watch, before
shooting the camera a look and quickly logging off the device.
And beside her, a luscious purple-haired woman was looking on curiously . . .
< Shampoo . . .>
* * * * * *
"Now THAT'S hacking for you," The computer nut exclaimed proudly, "pretty
impressive, huh?"
"You're insane, Ko!" Mint exclaimed to the smug looking woman, "If you get
caught, you'll . . ."
"Don't worry about it," Kodachi waved her hand, "I'm using top secret
Military device based on the Macross' technologies . . . even if I am
caught, I won't be fined or the technology will be exposed to the world."
"Clever thinking," Shampoo muttered sarcastically.
* * * * * *
< Shampoo . . . why are you here . . . and with that boy's arm around your
waist?"
"What's the matter, Ranma-san?" Nabiki's stern voice entered his mind.
"Your heart rate is becoming unstable!"
Frowning, Ranma focused harder on the task at hand . . .
* * * * * *
<< Cats, and Kittens . . .
Claws, and Fangs . . . >>
Adult and long-haired once more, countless suit clad Shawns drifted around
the sea of frantic people, all reaching out for him desperately. Smiling
sultrily, Shawn reached down to caress their faces, the virtual image of
such sent them reeling with pleasure.
<< Springs, and magic,
Blood, and tears . . . >>
A middle-aged woman practically launched out of her seat in an attempt to
"catch" the virtual idol, while some distance away, a young boy was smiling
dreamily while Shawn caressed his cheeks . . . then quickly backing away as
he realized what he had just done. That particular Shawn smiled playfully
and drifted away to touch the blushing girl seated behind him . . .
Looking around to make sure that no cameras were on her, Kodachi was
trying to hack into Shawn's system once mroe as Shampoo and Mint watched on
curiously. She smiled in triumph as the multiple images of the dazzling
man began to recombine together at the center of the stage, forming one
single Shawn, now drifting towards them with pursing lips still singing . . .
<<Twist & slip
Kill & Feel >>
"AIYA!" Shampoo exclaimed as Kodachi reached out her arms for the virtual
idol.
"Come to me, Shawn-sama . . ."
<< Waters & the curses
Are on the brink . . .>>
Agilely dodging Kodachi's arm, Shawn went right up to Shampoo instead, his
long fingers sliding through Shampoo's fountain of violet hair . . .
<< The borderline . . . >>
Smiling devilishly, Shawn closed in on the trance-induced Shampoo, and gave
her a stunningly deep kiss while the latter's eyes widened in shock.
<< The borderline . . . >>
* * * * * *
Ranma' eyes snapped open as he gasped.
< Why? Why did you have to do that . . . >
* * * * * *
<< The borderline . . . >>
As Shawn began to drift up and away from her, Shampoo found herself almost
reaching up for him . . . before stopping herself just in time.
<< The borderline . . . >>
< What am I doing?! He's just a virtual doll . . . But his emotions . . .
those emotions can't really be computer generated, can they? In fact . . . >
Shawn smiled down at her with seductive longing . . . before melting
completely into the dark . . .
<< The borderline . . . >>
< . . . I'd say he kissed just like - >
"YOU WICKED GIRL!"
Shocked out of her train of thoughts , Shampoo found herself face to face
with an enraged Kodachi.
"Wha . . . What?!"
"What did you do?" Kodachi demanded while grabbing onto the front of
Shampoo's blouse, "What did you do to steal away my Shawn-sama?!"
"What do you mean, you geek?" Shampoo snapped as she pused her back.
"Don't blame me if your hacking skills aren't good enough to control the
damned doll!"
"What do you say?!"
The two began to bicker as Mint tried desperately to stop them. The
people around them, all annoyed at being distracted from Shawn's heavenly
song by their shrill screams, began to shower them with garbage while
hurling obscenities in their direction.
Unaware to her, the red lens of Shawn's hardware began to flash in
Shampoo's direction with an eerie glimmer of light that would have been
more than a hint obsessive had it been human instead of a mere computer.
< Shampoo . . . >
End part 1
PART 2
"It is done, Nabiki-san."
"Good. I can take care of the rest. You may all leave now."
Inside the dark room housing Shawn's hardware, Nabiki waited until all the
maintenance techs of the idol had left, before slipping out a tiny chip
from within her lab-coat. Slipping it into the opened hardware, the woman
smiled with satisfaction as vicious, vibrant waves began to flash across
the machines monitoring the complex computer's signals.
< With this, dear Shawn, you shall be granted eternal life . . . and the
world shall be ours. >
Over the skies of the New Edwards base, YF-19 and YF-21 were soaring above
the clouds side by side. Both Valkyries were generating a deadly aura
around themselves, as their owners glared at each other's faces through the
Visual Comm. Panel.
"Give it up," Akane's mind sent out a voice message to YF-19 through its
mental-linkage with the hardware of YF 21 itself, "YF-19 is just too
backwards in design when compared to the mental-linkage automatic system
of YF-21. This is a fight you're bond to lose."
"That's what you've been saying to me every day before I left Eden . . . "
Shampoo smirked, "remember who always ended up crying in Ranma's arms in
defeat back then?"
"After your defeat, you won't be crying in Ranma arms . . ." Akane's
voice message growled, "I'd kill you before I'd let you near him again!"
"We'll see about that . . . huh?"
The radar screen showed a series of missiles rapidly heading their way from
every possible direction, causing Shampoo's eyes to widen.
"Attention, pilots!" Mint's voice came as he got connected into their
systems, "The first level of the Super Nova Competition is about to begin.
Advancing upon you two are the 100 empty missiles being launched by our
base. Whoever can dodge them all shall win the first round."
"Aiya! At the speed they're coming -"
"A piece of cake."
"What?!"
With a deafening roar, YF-21 tripled in speed, escaping the incoming
missiles by mere meters as they all whizzed by it in impressive arcs of
smoke, leaving it virtually untouched. Having missed their first target,
they were now closing in on their second prey . . .
"Dammit!" Shampoo too pushed her Valkerine to its limit . . . which was no
where as fast YF-21 still. Already, the missiles were sweeping by closer
and closer . . . almost too close for her comfort . . .
"Give it up, Shampoo!" Akane's voice taunted. "Your toy is just no match
for mine!"
"Oh yeah?!" Shampoo scowled. "We'll see about that."
"With that, she used each and every trick that she knew to dodge the
missiles . . . but there were just too many of them for her to dodge
easily. Seeing this on her Viewing Panel, Akane smiled.
< Soon . . . traitor, soon you will lose, and I shall finally win over you
once and for all - >
[Ranma falling down onto the ground . . .]
Akane's eyes widened in shock.
< . . . no, not now . . .>
On the monitors, Akane's brainwave began to turn volatile as more images
assaulted her mind . . .
[. . . a katana sticking out of his chest . . .]
< . . . no . . . not when I am synchronized with YF-21!>
"Pilot Akane?! What's going on?!" Mint asked as he received the unstable
signals from the station. YF-21 continued to speed on blindly . . .
< Ba- Bastard!!. >
[ . . . Shampoo holding the bloodied katana in her hand, a wide-eyed look
in her eyes . . .]
< SHAMPOO!!!!!!!! >
A painful seizure took over her brain as abruptly, the mental link
shattered, and YF-21's engine exploded from over heat. Watching this from
her YF-19, Shampoo whistled as she finished dodging the last of the missiles.
"Aiya . . .it is an advanced type mecha alright. It even burns prettier
than the old ones . . ."
< Stupid tomboy . . . why don't you ever admit your limitations? >
"Pilot Shampoo, what are waiting for" The Commander bellowed, "RESCUE HER!!"
Shampoo simply kept on whistling in a nonchalant manner.
"Pilot Shampoo: THIS IS AN ORDER!"
"Well . . . since you asked 'nicely'" Shampoo chuckled before giving a
battle cry, "SO BE IT!!!"
With a piercing roar, YF- 19 dodged the last of the missiles and dived
underneath YF 21, hooking its base onto its own back with a pair of
metallic arms. The two soared downward at a rather sharp angle, until
they've reached a hillside and YF-19 extended its wheeled 'legs', thus
allowing it to sail smoothly down the slope with the other Valkyrie on its
back.
"Akane, " Shampoo said smugly over the Comm. Link, "you own me big time
for this."
"You . . . you . . ." Akane glowered helplessly as she slowly regained
control o f her body and re-established the mental link . < How dare she
mock me like this . . . wait a minute, at the speed we're going down this
slope, if my YF-21 suddenly launch itself off YF-19's back, the downward
force will surely cause the latter to topple over and roll off the slope .
. .>
Before the thought was even completed, the ultra-sensitive mental link of
YF-21 took the command and launched off YF-19's back with its backup motor
. . .
"No, wait-"
"AKANE, WHAT ARE YOU - ?!"
Too late, just as Akane had previously predicted, the downward force did
cause YF-19 to topple over and roll off the slope, and with a dramatic
burst of frame too . . . right in front of the detection of the entire
control center.
"NO!!!" Kodachi shrieked as Mint too sprang up from his seat.
"SHAMPOO!!!"
"Who cares about the Bimbo?! I'm talking about YF-19!"
His expression darkening, the Commander ordered, "Sent out the medic team
at once! Pilot Akane, report back at once. I need an explanation for this
immediately!"
Akane, who was watching the destruction of YF-19 with a confused, but
slightly guilty expression, hardened her eyes and replied through the link:
"Hai, Commander."
* * * * * *
Meanwhile, in the now empty room housing the hardware of Shawn Apple, Ranma
was pacing back and forth restlessly while shooting an agitated glare at
the square-headed idol once in a while.
"WHY on earth did you have to kiss her, you stupid machine?" He muttered,
"I did not, I DID NOT give you the command to do that!" Grabbing the
box-between his hands, he growled, "You're just a MACHINE! A toy made to
amuse people with and to bring in the bucks . . . " he broke down in tears
while sinking to his knees, " a toy that has stolen all my dreams from me,
and is now admired by the entire galaxy . . . even Shampoo . . . while I'm
here stuck in this soul-selling, cover up of a job! BASTARD!"
RINGGG!!!!!
Wiping off his tears, Ranma breathed deeply before picking up his mobile
caller, and heard following computer generated words:
# SHAMPOO.IS.NOW.IN.ROOM.413.AT.NEW.EDWARDS'.MILITARY.HOSPITAL
<beep!><human voice> this has been a recording. Thank you for using AATT.#
"WHAT?!"
Too stunned to even bother to wonder about who it was that sent him the
message, Ranma immediately left the room in a hurry, while missing the
subtle flick of red light in Shawn's lens.
* * * * * *
"Pilot Akane, explain yourself."
Standing in front of the Commander's desk, Akane spoke up evenly, "The
mental link of YF-21 had broken down during the last testing. As such, it
was impossible for me to control its movements."
"Not even after the mental link had been re-established?" the man asked.
"The re-establishment of the mental link had proven to be unstable . . . "
"According to the checkup of YF-21, the mental link has been working with
full accuracy since it had been re-established. The only thing that was
unstable at the point, Pilot Akane, seemed to be in your brain."
"Commander - "
"Listen to me, Pilot," the man spoke gravely, "humans of he planet earth
cannot revive from death."
Akane's lips tightened. Sparing her a look, the Commander continued on.
"You may leave."
Giving him a stiff salute, Akane strode out of the room as the Commander
dialed on his phone.
"Doc. Roderick, I shall expect Pilot Akane's brain wave report by the
latest tonight . . ."
* * * * * *
"Shampoo . . . Shampoo!"
< Where am I . . . >
Struggling, the woman opened her incredibly heavy eyes, and saw Ranma
staring down at her with a worried look on his pale face.
"AI . . . ya . . .Ranma . . . "
"You've been unconscious in here for two days already, I . . . I'm glad
that you've finally come out of it. What happened?! Can a cat fall of a
railing?"
Looking up the mirror above her, Shampoo saw that she was immersed in a
healing medium form the neck down, with countless tubes connected to her
bandaged body. Turning back to Ranma, she asked: "Wha . . . how did you
get here?"
Ranma sighed and replied, "I got a strange, anonymous call saying that you
would be here."
"An anonymous call . . ." Shampoo mulled over this for a while, then
shrugged as she began to get up, much to Ranma's horror.
"Sh-Shampoo! Don't move yourself -"
"Oh please, " Shampoo gritted her teeth while tearing the life-support
tubes off her body, "did you think I'm really just gonna lay back in this
disgusting pile of water now that I've woke up? Here, make yourself useful
and give me a hand, will you?"
Meanwhile, back in the hospital's elevator, Mint and Kodachi both had a
bundle of flowers in hand as they converse tensely:
"I can't believe that the Commander is letting Akane off the off with just
ONE questioning session!" Mint growled, "I mean, the woman practically
tried and murder Shampoo in front of our very eyes?"
"This is unusual indeed," Kodachi gritted her teeth, "the Commander has
never been lenient to any of our offenses in the past . . . why start now?!
Especially when YF-19 was destroyed and the pilot is in critical
conditions . . . it's almost like . . . he doesn't really care about
Project Nova at all."
The elevator doors opened, and at once they're greeted with the sight of
worried looking nursing racing towards the report counter. Looking inside
Shampoo's room, they found to their shock an empty life-support machine
with its tubes floating over the murky liquid . . .
* * * * * *
"Aiya . . . this is just like the old times, isn't it - OUCH!"
"Careful, Shamp, your leg wounds hadn't heal completely yet."
Walking through a luxuriant growth of bamboos, Ranma and Shampoo both had
nostalgic looks on their faces, whereas the latter winced ever so often
with pain. Picking two red fruits off a tree, Shampoo tossed one of them
over to Ranma.
"Here have one."
The moment she sank her teeth into it, however, she immediately spit it out
while making a face. Turning towards Ranma, who was now looking doubtfully
at his own fruit, she asked, "What are you waiting for? Try it."
"But it taste disgusting, doesn't it?"
"How would you know, without trying it yourself? I dare you."
Ranma frowned and popped it into his mouth . . . and immediately spit it
out in disgust.
"See," she laughed, "you have to experience it for yourself to see how
BITTER it really is."
Wiping his mouth, Ranma glared back at her.
"You still haven't changed a bit, always daring me to do thing while
knowing full well what the consequences will be. What a sick persona!
Like that time when you dared me go into the swamp area to steal some
galaxy phoenix's eggs?"
"Was I the one who make that dare?" Shampoo asked curiously.
"IT WAS!" Ranma replied agitatedly, "You knew it all along that the waters
in the swamp were mutative, but didn't tell me a word about it! Thank GOD
Akane was there to pull me back in time, or I'd be some terrible mutant by
now!"
"No you won't," Shampoo smiled, "you'd get your gender switched for a month
before the mutation water's effects wear off."
"But STILL, if only you weren't such a crazy bimbo . . ." Ranma trailed
off as he saw how Shampoo's smile had turned melancholic.
"You always used to call me that . . . a crazy bimbo. Well, that I am, and
more. I'm crafty, irresponsible, slutty, and arrogant. I am no dorky,
meek, kawaii woman that men want for wives. I fight sneaky when I have to,
and I love flirting around. I'd be damned if I'm gonna go through the
downsides of life without getting my own share of fun out of it."
Shampoo's eyes became a hint bitter as she went on. "Knowing what I am all
this time, and knowing that you can have, sweet, sensible, CHASTE Akane
anytime since your parents engaged you two . . . why did you ever bother
giving me false hopes for a whole year before . . . the accident happened?
All those times you came to Hiba-chan's restaurant to have me serve you
food . . . all those times when you interfered whenever other guys tried
and date me . . . why?"
"What . .. what do mean?" Ranma looked uneasy, "Kirin, Saffron . . . all
those guys that you came on to you back then were even worse delinquents
than I was! All that they've ever wanted was to take advantage of your
body -"
"And I theirs," Shampoo replied evenly. "You knew me better than to think
that I won't enjoy their . . . attentions. Why did you even bother beating
them away like you were my lover, all the time making Akane more and more
jealous and angry until . . ."
"I DON'T KNOW!" Ranma yelled before turning away. " I don't . . . know.
Just . . . just go ahead and blame me . . . it's all my fault."
Shampoo stared at his stiff back for a while with a sad look on her face,
before changing the subject.
"I saw it on the TV news that you've become Shawn Apple's producer, you know."
Ranma was startled at the abrupt change of subject. Turning around, he saw
a look of disapproval on Shampoo's face.
"This isn't you . . . this is SO not you. What about the martial arts that
allowed you to be engaged to Akane as an inheritor of her Dojo in the first
place? What about that incredible singing that had first caught my ear at
the schoolyard?" Agitatedly, she demanded,"Where had they gone?"
"Down the drains," Ranma ran a hand through his hair . . . a habit that had
stayed with him back when the dark tresses were shoulder length instead of
short. "One needs to make sacrifices in order to survive, you know."
"I'm still a martial artist, using my skill to pilot my Valkyrin," Shampoo
shrugged, "and I've just survived the worst flight accident in my life. If
you think you can't do something, it's only because you've stopped trying."
Ranma stared at her for a while, before shaking his head. "It's been seven
years since you've taken on my dare and rode on the back of that galaxy
phoenix . . . all these years, and your feet have never once touched the
ground since . . . it's amazing."
Looking up into the sky, Shampoo retorted regretfully, " . . . you could
have came up onto the phoenix with me on that day: you were so very
skillful in the air back then, but you made your choice and stayed on the
ground. It is your own fault that you can't fly up high and towards your
dreams."
"I stayed on the ground . . ." Ranma said as he looked away from her, "only
because my dreams ARE on the ground."
A long moment of silence ensued, as no more words could be exchanged.
* * * * * *
"Commander, according to the recording of the mental link of YF-21, it
would appear that Pilot Akane had been taking certain medication meant to
repress part of her memories . . . thus causing the mental lapse that she
suffered at the previous flight test."
"Well done . . ." taking the doctor's report, the Commander casually
tossed it into a paper-cutting machine, and replied. "Keep this info
confidential."
". . . H-hai."
* * * * * *
"What are you doing here?"
Entering the waiting area of the Hospital, Akane held up her flowers and
replied evenly to Mint's question, "to pay her a visit, what do you think?"
Mint was seething with anger as she glared at the woman, causing even
Kodachi to back away from him in awe.
"You won't win against her," the boy spat, "from the moment that you've
lost your honor, you're not liable in winning anything anymore!"
Akane simply stared back into his heated eyes with a stone-like expression,
unyielding yet unoffending. Looking between the two, Kodachi was just
about to speak up when she saw something through the glass window.
"There she is!"
Following her finger, Akane's eyes widened as she saw Shampoo returning on
her bike . . . with Ranma sitting being her. Immediately, she stormed out
while Mint and Kodachi quickly follow suit.
"Shampoo," Akane growled as she advanced upon her rival, "I thought I told
you never to touch Ranma again."
Ranma lowered his eyes. Ticked off by Akane's tone of voice, Shampoo
narrowed her eyes and replied somewhat tauntingly
"But I HAD touch him . . . and he was the one who came to me first. What
are you going to do about that, huh?"
"Shampoo!" Ranma scolded, but was too late as the fight was already on.
Both women leapt towards each other, immediately exchanging a series of
bows upon contact. Mint gasped as he saw that.
"STOP IT!" he yelled, "SHAMPOO'S HURT!"
And indeed, the purple-haired woman's agility had droppped drastically,
allowing Akane to land a couple of good blows on her. Just before Mint was
about to jump in, another figure leap up and got between them . . .
. . . and got hit right on his stomach by Shampoo's blow that was meant for
Akane. Immediately, he collapsed to the ground in pain. Stunned, Shampoo
froze while Akane got all the more enraged.
"Why YOU -"
"STOP IT!!!"
Ranma's shout stopped the enraged Akane instantly, as she quickly knelt
down and held him upright in an embrace. Holding onto his stomach, he
gasped, "It has been too long since I've practiced . . . I . . . "
"Shh," Akane whispered gently, "It's alright -"
"NO IT ISN'T!" Ranma snapped. "Why do you two STILL have to use me as an
excuse in your stupid fights?! I . . . I'm not worthy anymore! Back then,
in the old days, I was alive! I dreamt that I would one day become a
martial arts idol, like one of those that we've seen in the virtual
theatres. I thought that I would one day become some . . . someone that
people LOOK UP to . . . someone that is honorable and manly, a hero in the
minds of zillions . . . it was so stupid. After arriving on Earth, it took
me 45 failed screen tests to make me realize that I don't have the physical
appeal of a martial arts idol . . . that I can't even hold a candle to
those damned pretty boys being bred by Studio CLAMP! But I HAD the skill
then, and eventually found my way into the Project Apple. The company was
experimenting with the concept of a virtual idol then . . . and had see in
me the potential as the puppet master to control their creation from behind
the scenes!"
Kodachi's eyes widened at hearing that, "No . . . you don't mean . . ."
"I am NOT some stinking producer! The idol admired by zillions is merely
an ordinary computer, but everybody was fooled! I am the one controlling
SHAWN APPLE behind the stage through a mental link! At first, I still HAD
some hopes that through Shawn, I could still become a martial arts hero in
some way. But even that was crushed, as the company saw it fit to use Shawn
in performing those perverse songs that had set Shawn up as a demonic
sex-toy instead of a straight hero. My dreams, my dreams had STABBED me in
the back, turning my hopes into ashes!" Turning away from the stunned
women in the eyes, he gritted from between his teeth, "I wish you two would
grown up to become normal, sold out people like everybody else . . . I wish
I haven't seen you two again."
"Ranma," Akane sobbed as tears sprang from her eyes, "I . . ."
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Shampoo snapped, glaring down at the man on the ground,
"Stop feeling so damned sorry for yourself!"
"SHAMPOO!" Akane growled while clamping a hand onto the other woman's
shoulder, but was shrugged off by a slap.
"I don't buy these . . ." Shampoo growled, "I don't buy all this talk of
selling out and not being able to reach our dreams! I WON'T LISTEN TO THIS
ANYMORE!"
With that, Shampoo leapt back onto her bike, stepped down on the gas, and
disappeared into the night in a desperate roar of engine. Mint, finally
understanding what had been going on all this time, glared down at Ranma.
"So . . . that was why Shawn had kissed Shampoo in the concert. The look
on her face then . . . she knew . .. she knew it was you kissing him all
along!"
Ranma kept his face turned away from the younger man. Finally, Mint
relaxed his anger and turned back to Kodachi, "C'mon, Ko, let's get back to
the base."
Kodachi noted mutely and followed him. Turning back to Ranma, now standing
up, Akane said hesitantly, "Ranma, let me walk you home."
"No," Ranma replied, "I want to be alone right now."
With that, he too disappeared into the night, leaving Akane standing in
front of the hospital with a lost look on her face.
* * * * * *
<< Cats and Kittens . . .
Claws and fangs . . . >>
Opening up his room, Ranma was unpleasantly surprised by the sight of
Nabiki lying on her couch while watching a video of Shawn's performance on
the screen wall. Before Ranma could demand what she was doing there,
Nabiki spoke up and said:
"We're leaving for earth tomorrow: Macross city was going to celebrate the
30th anniversary of the end of the space wall. Please prepare yourself."
" . . . Hai."
So, he was leaving Eden again. But what does it matter? There was nothing
he has to stay for anymore . . . not since the incident from 7 years ago.
* * * * * *
Sitting in front of her computer, Kodachi, sighed to herself as she turned
on the secret program that she had been working on for 3 months: the
"Project Kidnap Shawn" that was intended to link up the virtual idol's
"emotions" a program that she had created so as to make him fall under her
will. But now . . .
"So, Shawn is but a normal program after all, oh well. Time to delete this
time consuming junk -"
Just then, however, the screen abruplty flashed wildly, displaying the
"emotions" that Kodachi had been looking for all this time:
# SHAMPOO.SHAMPOO.SHAMPOO.SHAMPOO . . . #
"What?!"
* * * * * *
The next day, at the spaceport . . .
"You really shouldn't have come," Ranma said as he stared out at the
spacecraft through the glass wall of the terminal. "I'm now a despicable
man who isn't anything like the boy that you knew."
"Ranma . . ." Akane signed, and handed a mini-tape to him, "at least take
this with you on your next concert, please. This is my good-luck charm."
"Akane . . ."
"The Super Nova shall come to a conclusion soon. After winning that, I'm
going to come to Earth for you." She stated with determination in her
voice. "Please, Ranma, give me a chance to heal the wound on your heart."
" . . . thank you," he smiled and took the mini-tape, "for being foolish
enough to chase after someone like me."
On the plane, he put the mini-tape into the CD-player on his ear, and heard
his own song from so long ago, frozen in time in this tape:
<< The first word is dream
from my sleep
the darkness within my heart
it gently takes out >>
<< The second word is wind
telling me my destination
into the arms of a god
I flap my wings >>
<< As if counting sad things
that have melted
a golden apple
falls again >>
<< A view I haven't seen
there I will return
in this one life
I will find my way . . . >>
Slowly, tears trailed down Ranma's cheeks, as the plane finally take off
away from Eden and into the star filled, tranquil space.
End part 2
Only one more chapter to go, wai!! J