Bringing you up to date on what I've written for the series so far,
here's the last ep that I recently finished. Part 9, despite some rather
silly requests to this list, hasn't even been finished yet. :)
I'm working on it though... Honest!
Anyways, here it is... Flame to your hearts content... ^_^
---------------------------
(a television is on, with a reporter on screen, looking extremely
serious.)
Reporter: This is the third incident this week alone at the Kolkhoz
high school skating rinks... It seems that many females have been
knocked unconscious lately, either by mysterious gasses, or by unseen,
quick blows to the head. The only linking factor of all these
incidents is the fact that all the victims were fans of the popular
skater, Mikado Sazenin. They all claimed to be looking for him when
they were knocked unconscious..
(the TV is turned off, and the camera turns to show Chance sitting at
his couch. He adjusts the uniform he is wearing, and starts to leave
the room.)
Chance: <thought, while smiling lightly.> Damn I love my job.
------------------------------------------------------------------
(scene fades to black, theme music starts playing.)
(An series of images flash (to the drum beat of the theme song) on the
screen: first one of Mikado, then one of Azusa, followed by a group
picture of Phrank, Josie, Mikami, and Ryuuken. It flashes one more
time, showing a picture of Mikado being hounded by a short,
brown-haired girl as Chance looks on in the background. It is replaced
with a slow pan of Kolkhoz High School, the sun sparkling in the
background. Mikado skates by, graceful and calm as a horde of females
follow him. Josie is cheering in the background, while Phank is
sitting down, looking at her wistfully. The scene changes to an ice
rink, where Mikado and Azusa are fighting against a large group of
people. Noticeable characters are Ranma, Ryuuken, and a boyish-looking
teenager wearing a jacket with the letters 'SC' emblazed on them. Azusa
breaks off from the fight to pick up a coin that was dropped on the
ice, and all of the skaters descend upon Mikado. This scene ends, and
the camera opens on Mikado posing. Azusa jumps onscreen, hugging on to
him tightly. The animation stops with Mikado trying to get away from
Azusa, who is pulling at the tie he is wearing. The music stops, and
the screen fades to black.)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Mikado Ichiban- Zembun Otoko! Episode 8 - A Chance to Explain Things
(The camera fades in to an image of Chance, in some casual clothing,
writing in the dark on some portable computer. There is an ice pack on
his head. He types away with a blank look on his face, his mouth a
thin, ponderous line.)
Chance: (voice over, speaking what he's typing) Copral Chance,
Operation Heaven�s Denial, log 1. It's been almost 5 months on the job
now, so I guess it's time I started appeasing the pencil-pushers up at
Lazarus. Not that a job this simple requires a log, mind you, but if
it keeps the big boys happy, it helps keep me employed, and this is a
Good Thing.
(Chance sits back, and looks over his typing)
Chance: Hmm, maybe this isn't the kind of thing I should be sending
back to them.. (deletes the file. He starts typing again. Another
voice over) Copral Chance, Operation Heaven�s Denial, log 1. Five
months in, and the mission continues on relatively successfully. Our
client has remained in far better health since obtaining our services,
and in far less danger than before. Client's name: Mikado Sanzenin.
Age 17, grade 11. Occupation: student, and part-time professional
skater. I must point out that it's really unusual for us to be hired
out to civilians, though I like to think I have respected this mission
as much as I would any other.
(Chance stops typing, and looks up at the screen)
Chance: Or at least, that's what the paperwork will say..
(Chance pauses, looking pensive. The scene fades to black. Chance is
walking alongside Mikado down a hotel hallway. They both look a little
younger- Chance's hair is shorter, and Mikado looks more visibly
nervous than he does now.)
Mikado: I can understand your disliking this assignment Chance, but
you're on it, so you might as well get used to it.. (His eyes dart
left and right) I need all the help I can get..
(Chance gives an aknowleding grunt, scanning around the hall himself.)
Chance: Agreed. But to be perfectly blunt, and off the record, this
job is hardly what I hoped to get as a first assignment.
(Mikado blinks a few times, then looks around some more.)
Mikado: Wait a second, this is your first assignment?
Chance: Live assigment, yes.
Mikado: (swallows hard) Great. A rookie. I'm doomed.
(Chance is about to respond, when he hears something from a ways off.
He grabs Mikado, and pushes him through some doors into a study. He
slams the door behind him, and moments later, the trampling noise of
dozens of feet are heard. Chance keeps a hand to Mikado's mouth. As
soon as they pass, their cries of "Mikado!!!" falling off into the
distance, he lets go.)
Chance: (his mouth almost curving up into a smile.) Well, I suppose it
won't be boring, at least..
Mikado: (looking dumbfounded) How... How did you hear them?
Chance: (shrugs) Just call it training.
Mikado: (silent a few moments, looking down. He looks back up, and
nods) Even I haven�t caught onto them that quickly. Perhaps you'll be
of some use after all.
Chance: Perhaps.
(Fade back into Chance at the computer. He broods for a few more
moments, and then starts typing again.)
Chance: Mikado has turned out to be a client with worthy needs. (Chance
smirks as he types this down) The operation began as a simple escorting
service, making sure he had safe passage wherever he went, but as I saw
his situation, a higher level of protection was needed. The main reason
being summed up in one word: Azusa.
(Chance pauses and shudders. There's a knock at his door. He shuts
off his monitor quickly, and stands up, straightening his clothes.)
Chance: Enter.
(The door is opened slowly by a kindly-looking elderly lady. She's
carrying a bundle of towels and blankets. When Chance sees who it is,
he strides towards her.)
Lady: Here's your laundry dear, (She hands over the towels to Chance,
then begins rummaging through her purse.) and the asprin you asked
for.. (She looks up at Chance, specificallly a bruise on his forehead.
She has a mischevious glint in her eye.) A little too 'active' last
night?
Chance: (Visibly flinches) You.. Could say that. (starts to close the
door) Thanks.
Lady: (her voice muffled by the now-closed door) I'm here to help my
tennants in any way!
Chance: (mumbling) Spy on them, more likely..
(Chance stands there, just staring at the door for a while, then puts
his laundry neatly down on his bed, and quickly opens the pack of
asprin, downing two without even bothering with water. He closes his
eyes, and rubs his temples. A smile comes almost immediately over his
face.)
Chance: (mutterring) Much better.. (He wanders back over to his
computer, and turns the monitor back on. He begins typing.)
Chance: (voice over) Personal note- if we have to temorarily move our
base of operations again, make sure it's somewhere that isn't owned by
the world's nosiest landlady..
(Chance sits back, and recaps what he had written so far.)
Chance: (voice over) Azusa Shiratori. Age 15, grade 10. Apparently an
extraordinary skater. She became Mikado's skating partner the summer
before she entered Kolkhoz High. Aside from being a talented skater,
this girl is also, unfortunately, a class one neurotic, with a severe
kleptomania problem..
(Chance's voice trails off, as we drift back in time once more....)
(Chance is standing with Mikado in the same hallway as before, only
they are standing in front of the doorways to a large banquet hall.
Mikado is checking his watch constantly.)
Mikado: (tapping his foot) She should be here by now..
Chance: Who?
Mikado: My partner. (pause) She's not usually late..
(From off-screen, there's a massive cry of 'San-Chan!!', and onto the
scene comes Azusa, who barrels straight into Mikado, knocking him flat
on his feet. Chance takes a quick step forward, but Mikado dazedly
gestures to him that it's fine.)
Mikado: It's fine Chance, this is my partner..
(Azusa turns to look up at Chance, and beams cutely. She takes a
second look, and her eyes get a slightly glazed look to them...)
Azusa: Oooh, Gerald! You're such a cuuuute medal!
(Azusa gets up off Mikado, and leaps onto Chance, she dangles from his
chest, tugging at the badge that�s on his chest. Chance goes wide-eyed
for the first time, and tries to pry Azusa off.)
Mikado: Did I mention that she had a few.. Peculiarities?
(The scene fades out with Chance staring at Mikado, who is grinning
while Azusa still works at getting the badge. Back in real time, he
shakes himself out of his reverie.)
Chance: Feh. Sadistic, that Mikado. (Pause) No wonder I respect him.
(Time passes, and eventually, Chance is finishing up his report. There
is another knock at his door. A few muffled phrases can be heard from
outside, and Chance goes up to answer the door. Drake is standing in
front of the door.)
Drake: (salutes) Good to see you up and about, sir.
Chance: (nods) It's good to be up.
(The camera does a slow pan of Drake, who walks through the door,
holding a large folder.)
Chance: (voice over) It seemed Mikado had far more problems than he had
let on. To handle the lot of them, and to keep his rather large bank
account on our payroll, I had to find some suitable men to work under
me. Drake was my first choice.
Drake: (holds up the folder) Here's the files you requested on last
week. It's quite a mess. Guess I picked the exact wrong time to make
my report back to HQ...
(Drake drones on about nothing terribly important. He looks rather
apologetic.)
Chance: (voice over) At 24, Drake is the oldest member of our group,
and also one of the most useful. Having had the most experience with
Lazarus, he serves as our liason, obtaining supplies, etc., and is an
excellent all-round agent. If anyone was to be protecting my back, I'd
want it would be him.
(Chance takes the folder from Drake, and makes a quick nod.)
Chance: It's fine Drake, last week was an all-around failure on
everyone's part. I just want to get to the bottom of it all, so it
won�t happen again..
Drake: (salutes) Sir.
(Chance salutes back, and watches as Drake leaves.)
Chance: Oh, Drake..
Drake: (turns around) Sir?
Chance: How long until our standard base is back to running order?
Drake: (pauses) It�s hard to say sir, the electrical system really took
a beating...
Chance: Hudson?
Drake: Hudson.
Chance: (mouth twitches slightly) Right.
(Drake smiles sympathetically, and leaves, shutting the door behind
him. Chance gazes through the folder given to him.)
Chance: (voice-over) The other two weren't choices of my own, but they
both have their.. Talents. Hudson, I might note, is doing a
particularly good job, a chip off the old block, some might say..
(Chance shakes his head as he leafs through some papers in the folder.)
Chance: (muttering) be far easier to deal with that boy if he wasn't
the commander's nephew..
(Chance finishes up with his papers, and puts them down beside his
computer. He checks his watch, and gets up.)
Chance: Just about time for school.. Time to rock..
(Chance walks into a closet, and moments later, walks out, wearing
casual wear- jeans, a t-shirt, and a trenchcoat. He puts on a pair of
mirror shades, and walks out.)
Chance: (pauses at a mirror by the door.) First day as an actual
student. I should try to make a good impression..
(Chance grins, and fixes his hair a bit. Once he's happy with it, he
leaves the room.)
(After Chance has left, a barely audible squeaking sound is made. The
camera pans over to the wall behind Chance's bed, where a small
indentation is being made. Seconds later, the end of a small drill
punches through. The drill is removed, and in its place, a small piece
of plastic colored the same as the wall is pushed in the hole. It's
hard to tell the plastic from the wall.)
(in a dark hallway, the landlady has just finished some wiring. The
same drill is in her hand. She is smiling triumphantly.)
Landlady: Now we�ll see what Mr. Bruised gets up to at nights. (She
grins in hentai delight, and sneaks off down the hall.)
---------
(Cut to a scene of Kolkhoz High. Chance stands at the gates of the
school, with Ferro standing beside him. Ferro looks the same as
always, but Chance is wearing a raven-black wig.)
Chance: (voice-over) After the escapades of the last few days, the boss
has decided we need a more defined presence at this school.
Consequently, we'll be posing as students, blend in, so that we can
find out about problems _before_ they happen.
(Ferro looks at his school uniform with mild distaste, shifting
uncomfortably)
Ferro: (snorts) Acting as students. This job gets more Mickey Mouse by
the minute.
Chance: (coldly) If it was so easy, then you wouldn't have screwed up
so badly this last week.
(Chance trails off as the pair of them walk towards the school, milling
about with other students, who look at the new pair with mild
curiosity.)
Ferro: (stares straight ahead, his mouth twiching ever so slightly)
That was not my fault.
Chance: Right. (voice-over) Ferro, a fresh recruit suggested by some
of my superiors, has done his job reasonably, but has not embraced it.
He wants jobs with more glory.. Apparently he hasn't heard of the
phrase, 'starting at the bottom'. Despite his lack of disipline, he
has potential. I�m only slightly more experienced than he is, but I
think his working with me will help him a great deal..
(The pair walk into the school's front doors, and head off towards
class. Most of the other students are already in their classes when
the pair of them stop in a shaded corner.)
Chance: (whispering) Do you still have a bead on your target?
Voice: Off in class, as usual. I don't think he�s aware of me yet.
Chance: (nods) Be sure it stays that way. (Chance walks off with
Drake, leaving the voice behind.) (voice-over) There is one other
member of the group, Deitrich. He has a special job, though possibly a
useless one. One wild card in Mikado�s life is his younger brother,
Hikaru, the scientific genius of the family. We tried to keep tabs on
him via video, but the kid can sniff out tech a mile away. Deitrich is
assigned to follow Hikaru around specifically, and make sure that he
doesn�t become a problem. I can't really say how well Deitrich is
doing his job. To be honest, I haven't even seen his face yet..
(Chance and Ferro stop at a classroom door - 4-2. They knock lightly,
and wait. A few moments later, the door opens, revealing a
thinly-built teacher staring at the pair of them impatiently behind
thick-rimmed glasses.)
Teacher: You�re late. I don't tolerate this kind of imputence in my
class!
(The teacher pauses, and blinks at the pair of them.)
Teacher: Who are you?
(Chance and Ferro bow simutaneously.)
Chance: This is Kimatsu Ferro, and I'm.. Clark.
Teacher: (taps a pencil to his lips meditatively, and goes and checks a
sheet on his desk.) Ah yes, the new students. I suppose I can overlook
your tardiness, this -once-. (Glares at them suspiciously, causing
even Chance to flinch a bit)
Ferro & Chance: Y.. Yes sensei.
(They both bow again, and walk quickly over to a pair of unoccupied
desks.)
Teacher: (speaking to the class) Class, I'd like to welcome two new
students to our class.. (Chance and Ferro stand back up) This is
Kimatsu Ferro, and Clark... I�m sorry, your first name is..?
Chance: It�s just Clark.
Teacher: (looks unimpressed.) I see. (Makes a note on the piece of
paper. He looks up to the class, and starts talking to them as a group
again.) Last day we were talking about the basic principles of
Steamology...
(The teacher drones on. Ferro scribbles down notes, Chance thinks
meditatively while he copies the teacher's lecture on a mini tape
recorder.)
Chance: (Voice over) Clark. There's a funny story behind the choice of
that name. I've kept tabs on the Tendo girl- Nabiki, the one
responsible for the 'blanket incident'... It seems she's quite the Tom
Clancy fan...
(Flashback. Nabiki is sitting outside the dojo, taking in the sun, and
reading- a Tom Clancy novel, of course. She drops it suddenly, and
gasps.)
Nabiki: Clark... It has to be him!
(Cut back to the classroom. Chance has a bemused smile on his face,
which falters after a few moments.)
Chance: (voice-over) Of course, the way the boss would have it, that
little problem is not going away..
(Another flashback. Chance is standing beside Mikado, who is sitting
at a desk in his room, playing with a pencil, with a dreamy-eyed look
on his face.)
Mikado: Chance.. I want you to do an information run.. There was a
girl at the competition with Saotome.. She had dark brown hair, long
at the back, with short bangs..
Chance: (reciting from memory) 5'6" or so, thin, no make-up or
jewellry?
Mikado: Well, yes.. Do you know her?
Chance: (pursing his lips) I already have a significant file on her.
Mikado: I can't blame you, I suppose. (Sighs) She is beautiful, isn't
she?
Chance: Yes, we'll get right on to.. (turns to Mikado, trying to keep
a straight face) Excuse me?
Mikado: (determinedly) She will be mine Chance. I just need to know
some info first- tastes, likes, etc...
(Fade-out from the flashback, focusing on Chance�s bewildered face as
Mikado lists on.. Back in the classroom, Chance shakes himself out of
his reverie.)
Chance: (thought) As if he didn't have enough problems already.
(Meanwhile, near the back of the class, Hojo, Makimura, and Gato are
mumbling to each other, as usual.)
Hojo: Coolness. Fresh blood.
Makimura: They're pretty big dudes. They might have potential..
Gato: Like they'd go along with us..
Hojo: (sighs) You never give up, do you?
Makimura: C'mon, this has potential..
Gato: I dunno...
Hojo: (scoffs) Stop being such a pessimist. I mean really, who doesn�t
want to take Mikado down?
(The pair of them start nodding, while Gato just shakes his head. The
camera pulls over to Chance, who was paying attention to their
conversation.)
Chance: (thought) This place definately needs my help.. (Chance grins,
and lays back in his chair. Screen fades to black.)
---------
(Cut scene. Hojo and Makimura drag Gato down a hallway. A target
forms around the three of them, and the scene turns around, to reveal
Chance, holding a sniper rifle. He gives a thumbs up.)
---------
(Scene opens up on the schoolyard behind Kolkhoz High. Students are
milling about, talking, chasing each other, and enjoying the sunny
weather. All except for one, that is..)
Ryuuken: (thought) She's right there....
(Ryuuken is hiding behind a bush, holding a bouquet of flowers. He has
a nervous grin on his face as he grips the flowers, almost wilting them
in his hands. Along a path, Azusa walks by, skipping merrily. Ryuuken
rushes up to her.)
Ryuuken: Azusa! Uhh, these are for you.. (He pushes the flowers
towards Azusa)
Azusa: (turns away) Hmph. I don�t want any kawaiikune flowers from
*you* Ryuu-kun.
Ryuuken: (gasps, flower petals fall in the background, as he talks to
himself dreamily.) She called me by her old nickname... She still has
some feelings for me.. (Cries out) Azusa-chan!! (He looks about, and
realizes that she�s already left.) Azusa-chan? (Ryuuken starts popping
around, looking for her in different bushes and trees.) Azusa-chan? (He
punches a nearby tree, crushing the flowers he was holding.) Damn!
(Ryuuken storms off, and leaves the school grounds. Hudson, Chance and
Drake come out of some bushes, looking at each other.)
Drake: I think this is the perfect time to use the drone.
Chance: (nods) Get to it. Knowing his residence will help us keep
track of him. (Voice-over) As previously mentioned, Mikado has his
fair share of enemies. One of the most persistent is Ryuuken. Ryuuken
was Azusa�s former skating partner before coming to High School.
Ryuuken also seems to have feelings for Azusa, both of which add up to
no end of hostility towards Mikado. While he's not terribly effective,
he has been able to cause his fair share of trouble. What makes him
more dangerous is his sheer strength. We have recorded instances of
him punching through brick on more than one occasion.. Another problem
is his apparent lack of directional ability. Either he doesn't have a
home, or he keeps it well hidden. I've assigned that mission to Drake
and Hudson just recently..
(Chance walks off towards Kolkhoz High, leaving Hudson and Drake to
themselves. They follow Ryuuken for a few blocks, and then duck down a
convenient alleyway. They pull out some equipment.)
Drake: Is it all here?
Hudson: Uhh, yeah. Yeah it is.
Drake: (looks over everything sceptically, and then nods) Looks like
she�s ready. Let's get this puppy going.
(Hudson nods, and puts the parts together. They form a small robotic
device. Hudson punches in a code on a controller, and the device
starts levitating.)
Hudson: Woah, it actually works!
Drake: Of course it does. Only the best for Mikado.
Hudson: (sniggers) And the most expensive. (Punches in another code,
and the device floats off. Drake pulls out a laptop computer, and
turns it on.)
Drake: The video feed should come through to this computer.. (Opens up
a program) There we go.. (The computer screen comes to life with full
video of Ryuuken, walking down a road.) Now all we do is wait....
---------
(Change of scenes, back to Kolkhoz High. Behind the school, Ferro is
surrounded by Hojo, Gato, and Makimura.)
Hojo: So whattya say? Want to open up the path to free dating in this
school? All you got to do is help us take out.. (Pulls a picture out
of his pocket. It�s of Mikado.) This guy.
Ferro: You've got to be kidding..
(Ferro gets cut off as Chance jumps into the scene, silencing Ferro by
slapping a hand over his mouth.)
Chance: Exactly what I was thinking. Who wouldn�t want to help? (Ferro
struggles and grunts under Chance's grip) And Ferro here would just
love to help too, wouldn't you? (Chance lets go of Ferro, who jumps
back, looking agitated. He nods affirmative after thinking about it
for a few moments.)
Ferro: Yeah, sure.. (Whispers to Chance) I hope you know what you're
doing..
Chance: (whipsering back) Watch and learn.. (Voice over) There are
other opposing factions, but they're too many and not really
significant enough to mention in detail. Though they are fun to deal
with...
(Ferro looks unconvinced as Hojo eagerly wraps his arms around Ferro
and Chance. He grins at the both of them.)
Hojo: Boys, this could be the start of something wonderful. Just
follow me...
(All five of them walk off, and the area is quiet for a few moments.
The silence is disturbed by Hikaru, who pops his head around the corner
of the school, and glances about curiously.)
Hikaru: I could've sworn someone was following me..
(HIkaru shrugs, and walks down a path, heading towards the front of the
school. A pair of eyes can be seen watching him..)
Voice (Deitrich): From the darkness unconcealed, special agent Deitrich
watches his unsuspecting victim. Unknowing, unassuming, he carries out
his regular schedule...
(We can now see from Deitrich's eyes, and we see him follow Hikaru's
path. Hikaru quickly jumps into a side door into the school.)
Deitrich: Well, not completely unknowing.. Damn, he's good.
(A side view of the school, a vague shadow leaps from a tree, to the
roof of the school. It slips down a ventilation shaft, into the
school.)
(Cutting to a view inside the school, Hikaru walks down a hall, his
head swinging every which way.)
Hikaru: I could swear someone is watching me.. Almost as bad as that
weird week at home...
(We see the same pair of eyes, watching from a vent duct. His eyes
narrow.)
Deitrich: C'mon kid, prove your danger. Let me take you out...
(Deitrich gasps as Hikaru walks forward without looking, and collides
head on with a tall teenager with slicked-back hair. He is wearing a
leather jacket with the letters 'SC' imprinted on the back. He looks
generally irritated.)
SC: Watch it boy. (Pushes Hikaru aside, and strides on by. Hikaru
looks frustrated, gripping his books)
(Hikaru sneers, and looks about to say something, but he thinks better
of it, and walks off in the other direction.)
(From Deitrich's viewpoint, we can see him looking from Hikaru, to the
SC teen, and back to Hikaru.)
Deitrich: Hum. The evil we suspect, or an evil we know.. (pauses a
few moments) Hell, anythings better than watching someone hacking for
hours on end...)
(Scurrying sounds are heard, after the eyes finally focus on the SC
guy. Moments later, he walks in to a conference room.)
Deitrich: Now hello, what could this be? (Deitrich scurries down some
vents, until he comes to a grate that he can see the boy again. He is
adressing a group of half a dozen teens, all with the same SC on
their jackets.) SC.. A swimming club meeting, eh? This could be
interesting..
(In the conference room, the SC boy clears his throat, and begins to
talk.)
SC boy: Right. Now, I think we all know why I called this meeting.
Boy #1: To prove that we still existed?
SC boy: (throws a pencil at the person) No!!! We still exist!! (Calms
himself, he smiles cooly.) I have called you together, because.. I
have a plan... (Cackles evilly) A plan that will finally get the rink
back to it's rightful use!!
(The crowd groans.)
Boy #2: Not this again...
Girl #1: Kazue, get a grip! Everybody knows that the rink is Skating
Club territory. Every time we try to claim it, Mikado beats us in a
contest, or the principal vetos us...
Boy #3: Everybody knows a cute guy like Mikado rakes in more cash for
this school than any of us could..
Kazue: Quiet!!! (Glares at them all) What kind of swimming club are
we? We�ve been quiet for too long.. Even in the summer, the skating
club -steals- our rink from us! We must take it back!! It's a
swimming pool, yet we haven't swum in it for over three years. What kind
of swimming club are we?
Boy #1: A very bad one?
(Kazue grits his teeth, grabs boy #1 by his collar, and tosses him
through the door. A crash is heard in the hall, and everyone in the
room cringes in unison.)
Kazue: Any more objections?
(Nobody talks, as big sweat beads form at the back of everyone's
head..)
Kazue: Good, now here's what needs to be done...
(In the shadows of the vent, a pair of eyes watch intently..)
Deitrich: Mikado warned that these jokers might flare up again. Good
thing my keen instincts brought me here, or I wouldn't have been able
to uncover their dasterous deeds! Now, under the cloak of shadow, I
will..... (He would have continued, if he didn't notice that everyone
was already filling out.) Oh. Damn.. (We hear more scurrying sounds.
Looking out a vent, we can see the quickly dissapearing figure of
Kazue.) The boss is gonna kill me about this one.. If I mention it to
him, that is.. Hmm...
(Deitrich starts scurrying down the vent. Students in the halls are
beginning to look curiously at these vents, but most just shrug, and
walk off. The scurrying continues down past one classroom, but the
camera stays. It looks like a computer room. Not surprisingly, Hikaru
is sitting at one of the terminals.)
Hikaru: Hmm, who�s on the e-mail today.. Boris.. He never gives up,
does he? (Sighs) And from Juyza? Haven't heard from him since he left
Kolkhoz..
(A head turns around at the muttered mention of the name Juyza. It is
Chance, who was also seated at a terminal. Conveniently, close to
Hikaru's own.)
Chance: (raising an eyebrow, he peers discreetly at Hikaru's screen) So
that's his address.. (Turns back to his own screen.) (voice over)
While Mikado has his share of enemies, the opposite is also true. For
the right price, Mikado has a surprising number of allies. One of the
most useful of these, is a unexpected source- Azusa�s older brother
Juyza..
(Chance begins typing away, reading as he types)
Chance: Juyza, this is Chance, how goes the fund re-allocation job?
Last I heard, there still was a small siphon off of his account to some
unknown source... (Stops typing, back to voice over) Juyza is a bona
fide hacker, and he works for dirt cheap. Give him a few rare LDs, and
he�s a happy camper. Especially if NIN albums are thrown in as a
bonus...
(The scene changes, over to a messy, thrown-together patchwork of a
room. It looks like it used to be a dining room, but now serves as a
bedroom, entertainment room, and just about everything else. Sitting
in front of a computer, his face being soley illuminated by it's glow,
it a tall, gangly, blonde teenager. He mulls over the screen for a few
moments.)
Juyza: (quietly) So the genius finally caught on, did he? (Grunts)
Chance smart like rug rat, I'm surprised it took so little time...
(Sighs) Well, guess this month's food bill comes out of someone else's
account..
(A few keystrokes, and a message flashes on the screen. 'Connection to
M. Sanzenin bank account cut'. A resentful sigh is heard.)
Juyza: Too good to last..
---------
(Meanwhile, in an abandoned building somewhere in Kolkhoz, Hudson and
Drake are watching a computer screen intently.)
Hudson: What the heck is that?
Drake: Oh man, I did *not* want to know about this...
(On the screen, we can see Ryuuken, who has pulled a few objects out of
a backpack. Pictures of Azusa, small cute objects, and a few candles
have been organized in something vaguely resembling a shrine.)
Ryuuken: (his voice cracked through the microphone) Oh my goddess
Azusa, please give me guidance.. Let your shining beauty show me the
way!
Hudson: I think I'm going to be sick....
---------
(Scene change. Chance and Ferro are leaning against a tree, looking
carefully in all directions, except right behind them. Moments later,
Mikado emerges from one side of the tree, and an incredibly shocked,
and happy female, emerges from the other. They meet together in front
of Chance and Ferro, who discreetly decide to walk off.)
Girl: Oh, Mikado, you're so...
Voice: So what?
(The girl gasps, and turns around. Mikado looks over curiously, and
then a nervous expression crosses his face.)
Girl: J..Jodan!
(A tall, musclar teen stands in front of them, looking despondant..)
Jodan: I.. I thought I meant more to you than that, Serina..
(At this point, Chance and Ferro have stood up not-so-discreetly from a
bush.)
Ferro: God, soap opera time.. Should we interfere?
Chance: No, it'd incriminate us if the Hojo and his moron men saw us.
Besides, Jodan's a mouse.
(Meanwhile, Jodan's eyes are nearly brimming with tears. He wipes his
eyes, and turns away.)
Jodan: I.. I hope he makes you happy. (Runs off)
Serina: Jodan! Jodan!! Don't leave..(She takes a step forward, then
stops. She smiles, turning back to Mikado.) But at least I still have
you..
Mikado: (distractedly, while brushing his hair back into place) Beg
pardon?
Serina: Jodan was my boyfriend, but that's all right, I have you now!
Mikado: (laughs) What? Us dating? My dear, I merely wished to show
you what true beauty was, the meeting of two, too great to last, too
grand to resist..
Serina:(incredulously) So that was it? ..Didn't it mean anything to
you?
Mikado: It did... At the time. (Sighs) Alas, that time is over... (He
stares around the school, his eyes setting on yet another female) Love
is so fleeting, one must rush to keep up with it...
Serina: (getting extordinarly peeved) I.. Let.. My boyfriend walk
away... For a 'fleeting moment'?! (Pulls a hammer out of nowhere,
looking like she knows well how to weild it.) You arrogant..!!
(Cut back to Chance and Ferro, who flinch with each crunch of the
hammer..)
Chance: (conversationally) Serina, on the other hand, is quite a piece
of work.
Ferro: (looks pained) Man, he's going to feel that in the morning..
---------
(Ad break. Mikado is shaking Juyza's hand. Mikado looks happy and
trusting, while Juyza has a sadistic grin on his face, and Mikado�s
wallet in his other hand.)
---------
(Open to a familliar scene- the Kolkhoz high infirmary. Also familliar
is Mikado�s position - on the sick bed, with far too many bruises to be
healthy. Slowly, painfully, he cracks his eyes open. Prince-I-Pal,
Chance, and Phrank are all in the room, looking concerned. Mikami is
also there, holding a damp cloth, and smiling wryly.)
Mikami: Well well, the dead awake. (She turns) I told you people
before, he�s going to be fine. Now go on, I don't need you all in here
while I look after him..
Prince-I-Pal: (soothingly) Just wanted to make sure my favourite
asse... Student! Yes, student, was still intact.. (Walks out)
Phrank: (walks up to the bed) Hey Mikado, you okay? Took quite a
beating there...
Mikado: (weakly) To be pefectly frank...
Phrank: (grins) Hey, that's my job!! (Winks) Don't do a bad Mikado
either!
(Mikado glares, as does Chance, who nods to Mikado, and then grabs
Phrank by the arm, dragging him outside.)
Chance: (whispering) Don't forget the contract, *friend*....
Phrank: (suddenly not as happy) How could I forget...
(A scene passes by in the background- Chance, Ferro, Drake, Josie, and
Mikado all surrounding Phrank, forcing a pen into his hands. That
background fades out, replaced by the contract itself, which scrolls
by. The part that can be made out reads: 'I, Phrank Neryu, do sollemly
swear, upon pain of death, to never, ever impersonate Mikado again,
unless he so asks me.')
(The two exit, leaving Mikado and Mikami together in the room. Mikami
shakes her head in disbelief. )
Mikami: It's a good thing we don't charge by the case Sanzenin. We
could probably run a hospital on your bill alone..
Mikado: (groans) Believe me, I'd rather not be here so much.. (Manages
a weak smile) Though the company almost makes it worthwhile..
Mikami: (rolls her eyes) Please Mikado, spare me. I already said no
once..
Mikado: (pushing on, weakly.) But I can always hope you will see the
light some day..
Mikami: (disaprovingly) The only lights you seem to be seeing lately is
the constant green light of your levido, and those stars that keep
circling over your head.
Mikado: (almost going delerious- it�s obvious the blow(s ?) to the head
have affected him somewhat..) The only stars I see are those of your
shining brightness.. (He tries to reach towards her, but falls off the
side of the bed instead.)
Mikami: (smirks) Cute, but not enough to outshadow the ego.. (Sighs a
I've-done-this-too-many-times sigh, and picks Mikado off the floor. A
hand reaches out of instinct, but Mikami swats it away, followed by a
smack to the head.) Just how long do you want to be in here for?
---
(Outside the school, Chance had converged with Hojo.)
Hojo: So how did plan A work?
Chance: Well, not exactly as planned, but the same effect might take
place..
Hojo: Huh?
Chance: Jodan saw it all, but didn't lay a finger on him. Serina,
however, was a little less... Subtle. If he isn't afraid of women by
now, he definately has a severe masochistic streak.
Hojo: Sweet. Hopefully that solves that. (Walks off) I call you if I
need your help?
Chance: Oh yes, keep me informed of any plots you have against him..
(Thought) I'll be glad to 'help'.
(Hojo leaves off-screen, giving high-fives to Makimura and Gato. Chance
tweaks a little smile.)
Chance: Bleed once to control the flow.. Hopefully it was worth it in
the boss� eyes...
(Chance puts his hands behind his head, walking down a hall, and then
backing into a corner. When he steps forward again, he has a note in
his hand.)
Chance: (musing) The swimming club is actually going to be a problem?
The boss just has a talent for enemies...
(Chance is distracted by the ringing of a bell. Students start milling
out, and leaving the school. Chance waits around, until Josie shows
up.)
Chance: (to Josie) Mik seems to have met with another of his
�accidents�.. Do you think you can help him get home?
Josie: (smiles) Sure, always glad to help Mikado-kun! Same place as
always?
Chance: (nods) Infirmirary. You should be used to it by now.
Josie: (giggles) Don't I know it.. (Walks off, meeting up with Phrank,
who carefully avoids Chance.)
(Chance waits around for a while longer, and Ferro shows up.)
Chance: (to Ferro) Did you find anything else of interest?
Ferro: School food is worse than military rations?
Chance: (shrugs) It�s something I guess.
Ferro: This sucks man, it's so boring...
Chance: Oh, don't worry, somehow I get the feeling, things are going to
just get better and better as things go on..
(The two of them walk out of the school, Chance patting Ferro's
shoulder encouragingly. The head off out of the school gates, the sun
just starting to set on the horizon.)
---------
(Mikado, Phrank and Josie all leave by the same exit moments later.
Hikaru trudges along a few feet behind them. Mikado is being carried
along by Phrank and Josie. Mikado, for some reason, looks more bruised
and battered than when he got to the infirmary....)
Mikado: (coming to, possibly) What's the frequency Kenneth?
Josie: (shaking her head) I really worry about the abuse his head takes
sometimes.
Hikaru: (mutters) You should try checking his homework daily for a
while, now that�s abuse..
Josie: (turns back and -looks- at Hikaru, but doesn't say anything)
Well, at least Azusa was quiet today..
Azusa: (from off-screen) Oh San-chann!!!
(Momentarily, we see things from Mikado�s view: upside-down, Azusa runs
along towards him, jumping up (down?) towards him.. Cut the scene just
before the screaming starts.)
Hikaru: (sagely) Ask, and ye shall receive.
---------
(Back to Chance�s apartment. The door opens, and Chance strides in.
Almost immediately, he seems uncomfortable about something. He stares
over by his bed, and smiles slightly, he gives a wave, then stands up,
going over to his closet. He pulls out a poster to the movie 'Aliens',
which he starts to hang up, exactly where the landlady had set up her
equipment.)
Chance: That ought to stop her... For a while.. (Looks around) Hope I
can move out of here quick..
(Chance looks back at his computer, pondering a few seconds, rubs his
forehead gently, pulling out a few more tylenol. He sighs, sets down,
and starts typing.)
Chance: (voice over) Operation Heaven's Denial, log 2. This is
actually an addition to the last log. I said 'relatively successful'
was the status of the mission, but I didn't elaborate. I feel it
necessary to mention one particular botch-up, the one responsible for
Mikado�s recent letter of complaint. I detail this, if only to serve
as a warning to others..
(Another flashback... This time, to the darkened grounds of some
household. Chance is crouched in some bushes, wearing full combat
fatigues, including some fancy- looking equipment.)
Chance: (muttering) The boss is so bloody paranoid... 'Check and see
there isn�t a pedastal with my name on it' he says.. She's not *that*
psycho..
(Chance slips some weird goggles over his head, and flips a switch.)
Chance: Low light.. On. Time to appease the money god.
(Leaping quickly between bushes, Chance advances towards the house at
the middle of the grounds. Once he reaches the wall, he pulls out a
spray can, and applies it to his clothes. Testing, he puts his hand to
the wall, and pulls, hard, and his hand comes off.)
Chance: Adhesive spray works too.. (Begins crawling up the wall) Who
needs radioactive spiders...
(Chance actually manages to get up to the second floor of the building,
peering into the closest window. He gingerly pushes at it, and it
slides open. Quickly, quietly, he slips inside. The room inside is a
kawaii heaven, or hell, depending on your point of view. Dolls, fire
hydrants, stop signs, and various other objects are lined up around the
room, each with a name tag on the pedastal beneath each of them.
Chance shudders.)
Chance: Well, maybe she is psycho enough...
(Peering around the room, Chance can make out a bed, and a vague shape
inside it.)
Chance: (thought) Asleep and innocent. This should be quick work.
(Chance starts moving over towards the lines upon lines of dolls,
signs, and other curious items..)
Chance: (thought) She even orders them by object? Hmm.. Marker,
medical kit, porcelain monk... Nope, no Mikado.. Thank god..
(Chance is distracted by a noise coming from the hallway. Feet shuffle
towards the door, and it is slowly being opened... Chance takes a
quick look at the bed..)
Chance: Only pillows? Oh no...
(Because it�s closer, Chance dives for the closet. He hides among a
sea of cute, frilly dresses.)
Chance: This hugs face.
(The door now opens completely, and a little yawn escapes little lips.)
Azusa: All my widdle pets have had their good night.. Now it's your
turn!!
Chance: (thought) This *really* hugs face.
(Realization hits Chance suddenly, and the scene opens up to the room,
where Azusa�s hands are just reaching for the light switch..)
Chance: (thought) Low-light goggles....
(*Click*, and the lights are on, followed by a scream of pain. Chance
bursts from the closet, to Azusa's extreme surprise. Tossing the
low-light goggles aside, Chance jumps for the window, hitting his
shoulder on the way out, and falling the rest of the distance, and
then, of course, landing, hard.)
Azusa: Oohh!!! Geraldine!!
(Chance lays in a heap, below the window.)
Chance: Yeah, that went real well....
(End of flashback. Chance's headache is back, no matter how much he
rubs his temples. He finishes up his typing.)
Chance: morale of the story- get some heat sensors or infra-red modes
to those goggles as well... End transmission, Chekov Chance, Operation
Heaven�s Denial, log 2.
(Chance walks over to his bed, laying down, rubbing his temples once
more. The image lays back, the color distorting, as we see the image
through a camera. The landlady is watching, impatiently tapping a
pencil.)
Landlady: Is this all he does? Type on his computer, and sleep? And
the work I went through too.. (Muses) Still, I get the idea it might
be worthwhile in the end..
(The door to the landlady's room opens up. Kureena pokes her head
through.)
Kureena: I�m home mom! (Peers over at her set up of television and
video equipment.) Oh geez, who�re you spying on now?
Landlady: (shoos her out of the room) Never mind that dear, just start
supper.
---------
(Back at the warehouse, a progressively more and more tired Hudson and
Drake are still monitoring the screen. Drake stifles a yawn, and goes
to sleep by a box. Ryuuken is still on the screen wandering about
aimlessly.)
Hudson: The drone's almost reached the Bingo Fuel station.. Where the
heck does this guy live?
----------
(Cut to commercial. When the show comes back on, the credits roll.
Mikado is roller-blading along a road, images of all the other
characters from the show fading in and out from the image. Time
passes, and the sky slowly gets darker as he skates along. As the song
comes to a close, Mikado stops skating, and stares out across a bay,
moon reflecting off the water. The camera rises up, showing Mikado's
face as a constellation in the stars.)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Mikado Ichiban: Zembun Otoko! Episode 8 - A Chance to explain things
Written by - Eric Jones
Based on characters created by - Rumiko Takahashi
- myself (gasp!)
- too many other people to really
credit :)
------------------------------------------------------------------
I really must give my thanks to Arthur Harvey Edwards, AKA Chance, for
insisting on certain changes, most noticeably the titles for Chance's
missions. :) The Tom Clancy reference was also his idea, as well as
Boris. (a character from a Hollywood movie, about as much a compugeek as
Hikaru is....) Hope you enjoyed it, and if not, let me know why. :)
Ep. 9 should be out soon, an episode far too inspired by my recent
30-episode,.1 day KOR marathon... o.O
==============================================================================
|
-Eric "Mikado" Jones | ejones@FineArts.uvic.ca
| http://kafka.uvic.ca/~ejones/home.html
Unwilling Arch-Deacon of the |----------------------------------------
Church of Azusa, Keeper of the |
Bruises, and head of the "kawaii | "No Azusa, those pants are *not* cute!"
people!" department. | -Mikado
-----------------------------------------
Join now, and you get to give up a treasured object of your very own to
the Goddess Azusa! Or she'll kill you!
==============================================================================
----------End Forwarded Message----------