(scene:  SKJAM's den.  Yes, he and Kira are still there.  He's 
had hot chocolate brought in.)

Kira:  But doesn't Ranma telling Hikaru about Ryouga's curse violate his 
oath?  

SKJAM!:  Technically, yes.  But since Hikaru is a part of his mind, he's 
essentially telling her something she'd learn by reading his thoughts 
anyways.  And it's important to remember that Ranma made that vow 
*silently* when he thought Ryouga turned into a dog.

Kira:  So Ryouga doesn't know that Ranma can't tell?

SKJAM!:  Right.  From his perspective, all of Ranma's hinting and 
near-exposures are some kind of twisted game the pig-tailed boy is 
playing on poor Akane.  He fully expects Ranma to tell people "Ryouga is 
really P-chan," even though that's the one thing Ranma *won't* do.  

Kira:  I notice that by making the "girl side" a known character, it 
makes her more sympathetic.

SKJAM!:  Yes.  Tragic as some random Chinese girl drowning 1500 years ago 
is, she wouldn't be able to function in modern Japan, and so her taking 
over Ranma's mind would be seen as an imposition at best.  But Hikaru is 
only "recently" dead by our standards, and shouldn't have died in the 
first place, so our sympathies are at least partially with her.  

Kira:  On with the show!

On Sun, 13 Jul 1997, KOUMA RYODACHI wrote:

First, a few notes:

1. I decided to rethink the act boundaries. The first seven chapters 
comprise act one, and chapter 8 begins the second act.
2. I realize I wasn't clear about the joke tallies and what jokes 
count. Amazon and Musk names do not count toward the tally as they 
are part of Ranma continuity. The same goes for any naming 
conventions in Cephiro.
The jokes mainly concentrate on anime series-related jokes, and bad 
Japanese puns and anagrams.

SKJAM!:  ...I see.

That having been said, here is the rough draft of chapter 8. C&C!

Kira:  Okay!

   ACT TWO: Tomaranai mirai o mezashite...

   Chapter 8: Mahon no usagi da? Mokona makes the scene!

SKJAM!:  Think that's "Is that a magic rabbit?"

   Everyone watched Hikaru worriedly as she cried herself to sleep in 
the corner of the Nekohanten. As much as everyone wanted to comfort 
her, Cologne suggested that with what she'd endured, Hikaru needed to 
be left alone for a few moments, to release her agony. Quietly, she 
summed up for the other two Magic Knights just exactly what had 
happened to Hikaru in China.
   Needless to say, Umi and Fuu were *very* angry about it.
   "Too bad she didn't get a chance to barbecue the bastards," Umi 
commented, scowling.

Kira:  And this Umi is not at all averse to killing...

   Fuu nodded. "Yes, if they were still around, I would not be 
opposed to extracting a bit of payback."
   Murmurs of assent ringed the cafe.

SKJAM!:  Something of the sort may come up...(indicates past notes)

Kira:  Chapter 20?  You signed us up for something that runs twenty 
chapters!? 
 > 

   Hikaru finally cried herself to sleep, and almost immediately, the 
redhead rose from the corner, blinking and rubbing at her now blue 
eyes, which were nevertheless red from crying.

SKJAM!:  Ouch.

   Everyone turned to her, saw that it was Ranma, and made room for 
her in the group.
   Ranma frowned thoughtfully. He'd been privy to Hikaru's tale, and 
to her anguish, as well as the tale of the other Knights. He wasn't 
in a particularly pleasant mood after all that. This girl, who he'd 
barely even realized existed, already felt like a sister, or...or 
something else to him. He wished he could *do* something, some 
reimbursement for her pain.
   "Old ghoul," Ranma mused, after receiving some hot water, "Those 
guys who did that to Hikaru...do you know if they're really the 
ancestors of Herb and his two boneheaded flunkies?"
   Cologne rubbed her chin thoughtfully, and pogoed over to a cabinet 
in the back of the restaurant. She produced an ancient scroll, and 
examined it for a moment. "Yes," she said. "It shows it right here in 
this scroll. The Musk prince of that time was Rhi Fa," she said, 
tapping the scroll, "And all rulers of the Musk are produced from the 
same lineage, given their draconic blood."

Kira:  Umm, small problem here.  The Musk Dynasty created their brides 
using the Spring of Drowned Girl, right?

SKJAM!:  Right.

Kira:  But the spring didn't come into existence until *after* Hikaru 
drowned, so how could Rhi Fa already have draconic blood?

SKJAM!:  Good point.  One possible solution...the original Musk Dynasty 
founders used a *different* Nyanniichuan, one which was destroyed by the 
time Hikaru came along.  Thus there was a template needing to be 
filled... 

Kira:  And that brings up the question of whether the monkey-girl that 
cursed Herb was just a coincidence after all.
 

   Ranma made a small noise of comprehension. "I had forgotten about 
that."
   "And," Cologne continued, "It seems the same two families have 
been producing warriors to serve the rulers personally for hundreds 
of years. One family adopts the mantle of the wolf, the other of the 
tiger. Rhi Fa's warriors were..." She paused to examine the slightly 
faded writing, and then continued, frowning slightly, "Kho Kain and 
Ghun Xia." Blinking at that, she muttered, "Where on earth did they 
come up with names like that?"
   Ranma frowned. "So, Lime and Mint are their descendants?"

SKJAM!:  Judging by the names, the Musk Dynasty has really cleaned up 
their act in the past millenium.

   Cologne nodded.
   Ranma slammed his fist into his open palm. "It's settled then. If 
I see any of them again, when I get through with 'em, they'll make 
roadkill look pleasant."
   That sentiment was heartily echoed by many of those present.
   Fuu frowned. "I don't mind the idea of vengeance, but is it really 
fair to take something that happened fifteen centuries ago out on the 
descendants of the people who did it?"
   Shampoo nodded. "It too too fair. Is warrior code."
   "Yeah," Umi nodded. "It's one of those samurai things."

Kira:  But it's only fair to tell them *why* you're doing it.

   The group continued to talk for a while, Umi and Fuu getting to 
know everyone, and vice versa. 
   "Well," Umi said, "I'm afraid Fuu and I probably need to be 
getting home now."  
   Fuu nodded. "It is getting rather late."
   The girls said their goodbyes, and left Nekohanten, promising to 
return after school the next day and check in on Hikaru.

SKJAM!:  Should be "the Nekohanten".  Trivial correction, but there it 
is... 

   On the bus ride home, Umi was staring out the window, and thought 
she saw something bizarre on the sidewalk. "Nah," she thought, 
"Couldn't be...could it?"
   She decided to dismiss the thought that she'd seen a fat white 
rabbit creature bouncing along the sidewalk as excitement over seeing 
Hikaru again.

Kira:  Not to mention the eight pink elephants and the Gundam MS 
Synchronized Swimming Squad...

   The Nekohanten began to clear out, as the Tendous, Ranma, Genma, 
Tofuu, Ukyou, and Ryouga all went their separate ways. 
   On the walk home, Ranma suddenly froze, and stumbled slightly. 
Akane, concerned, rushed up to him. She stopped in shock when she saw 
his eyes were red.
   Hikaru blinked, and looked down at...himself? "What the--?"
   Akane stared. "Hikaru? How--?"
   Hikaru frowned. "I don't know. I'm...this is Ranma's real form, 
isn't it?" Akane nodded. Hikaru looked upset. "How did I wake up in 
this body? If what Cologne-san said is right, this shouldn't happen...

SKJAM!:  The glove jewel should flare here, as that's what seems to cause 
Hikaru's involuntary takeovers.
 > "

   A thoughtful, troublesome silence ensued. After a moment, it was 
shattered by a frantic and insistent sound, which was coming closer.
   Akane frowned. "What on earth is that sound?"
   Hikaru's head snapped up, and he looked around. "It can't be..."
   Suddenly, a fat, white rabbit with a jewel on its forehead bounced 
around the corner, headed right for them. Akane looked at it, and 
smiled. "How kawaii! I wonder who it belongs to?"
   Hikaru's reaction was completely different. At first he was 
shocked, then he grinned happily. "Mokona!"
   Mokona bounced in front of them. "Puu?" it asked.
   Hikaru frowned. "You don't recognize me, do you, Mokona?"
   "Puu..."
   Akane blinked. "THAT...is Mokona?"
   Hikaru nodded. "Hai."
   "What's it doing here in Tokyo?"
   Hikaru shrugged. "I dunno. Why don't we ask it?"
   Mokona looked back and forth between them, puzzled. "Puu puu?"
   Hikaru grinned. "Mokona, it's me! Hikaru!"
   "PUU!?" 

Kira:  For as smart as Mokona is (according to what we've read), it's 
nice to know the little pudgeball can still be surprised.

   At that moment, as if by some grand design, someone's sprinklers 
went off, spraying Hikaru. Mokona hopped backwards a couple paces, 
and shook itself. 
   Hikaru smiled, and willed her armor into existence.
   Mokona bounced up high in surprise, then bounced toward Hikaru 
excitedly. "PUU! PUUPUUPUU!!!!"
   Hikaru giggled. "I'm happy to see you too, Mokona!"
   Akane smiled at the happy scene.
   "So, Mokona, what are you doing here in Tokyo, hmm?"
   "Puu! Puupuupuu! Puu..."
   Akane frowned. "Doesn't make much sense, does it."
   "Puu!" Mokona told Akane crossly. Akane backed up a step 
involuntarily.
   "I think it's upset about something. Something's wrong in Cephiro?
" Hikaru mused.
   "Puu!" Mokona hopped out of Hikaru's arms. "Puu, puu! Puu puu!"
   "I think," Hikaru said slowly, "It wants the Magic Knights to come 
back to Cephiro."
   "Puu," Mokona announced satisfactorily.
   "Alright...it must be pretty important, if you came all the way 
here, but everyone is very tired. Can we find the others in the 
morning? And maybe we can get our new friends to help out," Hikaru 
offered. While she was concerned, she was a bit apprehensive about 
going back to Cephiro.

SKJAM!:  Understandably, given the last trip.

   Mokona considered this for a moment, then finally bounced once in 
a bizarre approximation of a solemn nod. "Puu," it agreed.
   "Okay then," Hikaru said. "Come on with us, and in the morning 
we'll get the others and go back to Cephiro."
   "Puu!" Mokona bounced into Hikaru's arms, and the trio continued 
on to the Tendou dojo. Akane silently shook her head, wondering if 
things were destined to get stranger than they'd ever been...

Kira:  Yes.  As always.

SKJAM!:  And that's it for this chapter...


SKJAM!