Ginrai wrote:

This 'should' be fast to C&C ^_^;

Over one month later...

  Hey! It's Ginrai! So when can we hope to see more of Crossing the Line?

Earth and Sky -- Twilight

aka EAST

  Bad joke, yessiree!

The most recent fic for Compass Points was WEST.

Will we see one for NORTH and/or SOUTH?  Still hasn't been shown how
Shampoo and Herb got together...

  I have SOUTH and NORTH plotted out, but I'm wondering if a Nabiki/Tofuu story is needed... so it might only be SOUTH.

Legend speaks to us of Shen-Lung, the great dragon that supports the
palace of the gods in the heavens.

Legend also tells of the time that Shen-Lung sneezed, causing one of
the buildings to topple over.

  I was thinking more along the lines of Shen-lung shaking the palace as a practicle joke.

  Shen-Lung: It's just like a Sno-Globe!

  Gods: NOT FUNNY!

She worked the surface before her slowly, scraping it clean, though
her thoughts were elsewhere.

Ukyou

  Yeah.

Her love... was gone. As Nabiki told it, frozen to death along
with... her.

Early on Ukyou wouldn't be able to forgive Akane for having caused all
this.

  Time heals all wounds, thankfully.

  Well. Except maybe radiation poisoning.

She paused, staring at her reflection for a moment. What should she
feel? If he had abandoned her and lived, then it would be anger... but
he loved deeply enough to throw his life away for... her.

The event also tells Ukyou that Ranma did love Akane.

  Ranma: I never said that!

At the Wheel of the Ages turned, Man changed, no longer believing in
the fey as they once had.

Might want to tell what 'fey' means at the end of the story.

  Will consider. :p

But his reflection in pools spoke of something else.

So he's started to change.

  Oh, a bit.

Disbelief in the fey changed them... warped them... and slowly,
unmade them.

So those who were fey started to lose their powers as less people
believed in them?

  Yeah. The fey feed on faith. Of course, the easiest way to convince someone that you're real is to scare them senseless. They'll be too busy panicking to think about the technicalities of weather or not you exist.

For cutting flesh, of course.

Guess Ukyou couldn't handle it in the beginning...

  She could. Contemplating is a far cry from attempting. It just wasn't easy.

But animal, or vegetable, or... her own?

Maybe change it to 'Be it animal,'?

  Will consider.

Ryu glanced about him, ignoring the dragon-shadow that trailed him,

So now his shadow also changed.

  Or at least... he thinks so. ;)

He frowned, wondering where he would go next. He could feel
himself... changing... as time passed. He wasn't certain how, or even
why... but he could feel more.

Which probably happened to all the others as well.

  To a small degree, yes.

He _felt_ his steps on the Earth, not just in his own feet, but in
the soil itself. "Hmm..." he mused, wondering. Hunger no longer touched

So Ryuu's the part associated with Earth.

  Bingo. This ties in with... well, that's in Act Three. :)

him as it had, unless he wanted it to. But he longed to feel that,
sometimes. "Food," he murmured, heading back towards the city. Perhaps a

Thus leading him to his fateful meeting with Ukyou ^_^

  Yep!

time to meet with old acquaintances.

He didn't hear about Ranma, did he?

  Nope.

"And then what happened to the dragon, Daddy?"

So it's being narrated by someone... sort of like a flashback...

  Very experimental piece, trying bits of lots of different styles. The whole project is experimental, really.

"Well, as I remember it, the dragon that the princess so loved
perished... he fell to the ice, and could struggle no more."

Dragon = Ranma, Princess = Ukyou

  In _this_ story, yes.

"Ah, there's another story..."

Ryuu: (Rubbing the bump on his head while glaring at Ukyou) It's still
there, you know.
Ukyou: Is it my fault you were too slow?

  Heheh!

She cocked her head to one side, offering the same smile she always
did for her customer. That he felt more... off... than the normal
customer meant nothing to her. Her own 'otherness' was obvious -- all of

Probably because it's normal for those in Nerima.  Only those who have
the power could notice it in others?

  Mm. Well, it's difficult to say. It's nearly imposible to quantify, but it works out to something along the lines of... if you have it, you can tell more easily, but if you don't, you can still sense it.

  Essentially, whether they realize it or not, everyone has the _potential_ to be fey. They just need to believe.

Also, does this mean that Ukyou knows what her power is or that she
knows that she's different?

  Deliberately vague! :)

She raised an eyebrow at that. "I do," she admitted. "You're...
'Gifted'?"

Ryuu: (Sweeps Ukyou off her feet) In more ways than one, baby.

(Suddenly a huge spatula impacts against the top of Ryuu's head)

  Ryuu: That hurt, you know.

  Hm. The power to channel Kuno's Highschool persona. No, bad, bad...

"Well, then the princess met another dragon, and this one was much
quieter, and still. Not the rushing, raging torrent that her first was,
but a strong, steady presence."

Sounds like Ukyou's narrating this part.

  Or Ryu's got a bit more ego than you thought. ;)

"An uncontrolled storm. And the first dragon loosed his might and
perished because of it."

A mistake! ^_^;

loosed -> lost

  'loosed', here means unleashed. So he unleashed his powers.

  Er... stylistic. But I can tell you're checking this fic with a fine-toothed-comb! :)

She waved dismissively. "It's mostly something they don't like to
talk about, but sometimes... people are starting to change. You know.

Those who change don't like to talk about it?

  Some of them don't. it makes them 'different'.

Develop powers and stuff." She pursed her lips thoughtfully. "I have a
friend who can see with his eyes closed. Things like that?"

So Mousse finally got some sort of sight... unless she's talking about
Konatsu.

Whatever happened to those two anyway?

  Actually, Konatsu got something a little odder. Notice that he's not much _seen_ in this entire fic... ;)

  And yes, Mousse learned to see. In more ways than one.

He nodded slowly. "I suppose. I don't know what it is... just that...
I can hear things. Metal, earth... you know?" She shrugged, handing him
a plate, burdened with its fresh meal. "For example," he said, taking a
bite of the okonomiyaki, "I can tell that you no longer cook with the
same passion you once did."

Is it me or do all the dragons have a common foot in the mouth problem?

  Well, more like they all have somewhat impaired social abilities. But yeah, there's a few common themes to them.

"He was just as much a jackass as the first one."

Hehehe... yup, it's Ukyou ^_^

  Or a rare moment of humility.

Ryu snatched the flung spatula out of the air almost absently, the
blade missing his head by mere inches. "I'm guessing that's a sore spot."

  The girl -- woman, truly -- growled at him. "I don't need to listen

Should be obvious who's narrating this ^_^

  Not entirely. The reality is intermingled with the tale, leaving the child to sift for truth in fantasy.

"Did the princess banish the new dragon?"

Sound like the parents are telling it in the form of a fairy tale.

  It's a great way to entertain your children, at least, I hear. :p

"No, she decided to be patient, and bear with his foolishness."

Child: Why?  Was the princess lovesick?

(Ryuu starts laughing but stops when Ukyou glares back at him)

  Hah!

  "And then what happened?"

  "What do you suppose happened?"

Child: (As innocently as possible) They went to bed and had hot, wild
sex?
Ukyou and Ryuu: Not... quite...

  Ryu: Second date.

  Ukyou: (whacking Ryu with a spatula) _THIRD_ date.

  Ryu: (muffled and whimpering) Third date.

He laughed, not moving in time to avoid being struck over the head
with a much larger spatula, and get knocked to the floor. "Ow!"

Heh

Also: get -> got (?)

  Stylistic.

There was a long moment of silence as he lay on the floor. "So," she
said, finally breaking the stillness. "You going to keep talking?"

Not while he's unconscious...

  Hehe...

[Noon]

Some time later?  Maybe a few months?

  One of those intentional vaguaries.

"So," he said plainly, eating another Okonomiyaki. "This one tastes
like... curiosity, and good will. I suppose you're getting over him?"

  She scowled, but nodded after a moment. "I guess."

That's nice to see.

  Like I said, Time heals all wounds.

She sighed, frowning petulantly. "Now that's just not fair. What was
I given?"

Doesn't seem like she found out even at the end.

  Mm. It gets covered in Act Four, though it's not really very important.

"A really nice --" he cut himself off, coloring, and choked out, "a
really nice sense of humor."

Heh

  She eyes him skeptically, her eyes narrowing as she reached for her
spatula. "Oh?" she asked.

  "Um... yes."

That's gonna hurt ^_^

  Or get him one step closer. ;)

"You come in here all the time. Where do you _live_, anyway?"

Ryuu: Umm... here?
Ukyou: Wrong answer.

  Heh!

He looked away for a moment, digging in his pocket for change.
"Around," he admitted after a moment. "Mostly wherever I can find a spot
to sleep."

  She frowned, wondering at that. "I see," she offered after a moment.

  He smiled genially, something about him shifting and becoming... less
noticeable... as a trio of customers walked in.

Hmm... this the Umi-senken?

  He doesn't have that -- it's just the subtlety of Earth's power. Not the massively blinding power of Fire, or the wily and unpredictable power of Water, or the simply unseen power of air... it's present, yet subtle. Something like that. >_<

The brown-haired woman brushed her hair back, her young daughter
asleep and nestled in her arms. "Pretty good, Ukyou. How has everything
been going for you?"

Hmm... Nabiki's still in High School at the moment?  Or is this a few
years after the incident with Ranma and Akane?

  Well now, that would involve knowing when Ranko was concieved, wouldn't it? ;)

  And then, we'd need to know when Act One took place anyway...

Ukyo's smile widened, turning more sincere. "Fine, fine. Just talking
with Ryu-chan. Who's the kid?"

Nabiki knows that Ryuu's around?

  One of those subtleties. Ukyou mentions Ryu, and they still don't notice him.

Nabiki flushed, handing the sleeping girl to her husband. Tofu
accepted the child, taking a seat near Ryu. "Well," Nabiki explained,
twiddling her thumbs. "Um... after... after the..." Her flush and smile
faded. "Tofu and I... Ukyou, meet our daughter, Ranko."

Seems they both did a few things before coming back to Nerima with the
news ^_^

  Well. Some of the news got back right away -- they knew about Ranma, for example... but not about Nabiki and Tofu.

Ukyou blinked in shock, her mouth falling open. "You..." she managed
after a moment, staring at Tofu incredulously. "And you?"

I'm also shocked ^_^

Hmm... maybe one of the two remaining sidestories could deal with how
they got together?

  That's NORTH.

Nabiki's guilty flush and smile returned. "Um... yes."

Nabiki: Not that I regret it or anything... Though the fact that Tofu-
chan doesn't have anywhere near as much money as Kun... I'm just
kidding!

  Nabiki: It's worth it. Tofu-chan is good with his hands. Really good with them. Very very good with them. Say, can you hold Ranko for me for about an hour, and let me use your room?

  Ukyou: ... No.

Ryu dropped his guise of subtlety, watching the departing trio. Ukyou
sighed, shaking her head. "I want a family like that, someday."

Considering she's let go of Ranma, it should be easier here.

  That would help, yes. ;)

The man rolled his eyes. "That's _easy_," he said. "You just have to
find someone, and go for it."

Comma necessary?

  Technicaly, no. But I like it.

"It's that easy?" she asked, bemused.
"Yep."

Ukyou: Hmm... I know!
Ryuu: (Getting interested) Yes?
Ukyou: I'll ask Shinnosuke!  He's nice enough.

(Ryuu facefaults)

  You read ahead, didn't you?

[Sunset]

Sounds like a few years since their first meeting.

  The sun has more to do with the first stage of the relationship than any other real timable elements.

It was in the news, it was all people would talk about... and it was
probably coming to Japan, soon.

This the war in China that caused it to separate?

  Part of it.

It had already killed her business...

Why would people stop coming if it's not in Japan?

  People afraid to live in the city, afraid of going out during the day...

Sighing, she took a seat at one of the stools opposite the grill.
Konatsu had taken his leave earlier, and Ukyou hadn't minded, since
business was so slow.

Guess that partly answers my earlier question.  So Konatsu was around
for the initial Ukyou/Ryuu meeting.

  He's a very minor player, really.

Someone plodded in to her restaurant, and she raised an eyebrow in
response. "Was wondering when you'd come."

So he hasn't been around there for some time?

  Nope.

He gestured to the small radio that Ukyou had turned off to save
electricity, and explained, as the radio seemed to tune itself, "They
are using nuclear weapons."

Ryuu's able to control it?

  Yep.

He opened his eyes, seeing the dim light of the fading sun against
the ceiling. "The hurt..." he began, his tongue feeling thick, almost as
though it were trying to keep him from speaking, "is lessened..."

How long after the previous scene?

  Intentionaly vague. How long does it take for the hurt of a war to fade?

Ryu idled, lounging against the far wall of the restaurant, still
suffering momentary bouts of dizziness.

I guess this means the war is over.

  But the Earth is scarred. Not nearly as bad as the Air, though...

"Oh," he said, confused. "That's... good." After a moment, he
frowned. "With who?"

Showing a bit of jealousy there...

  Wasn't intentional, but yeah, that works. :p

Rolling her eyes, she looked out at the sky, already darkening from
the onset of the nuclear winter that the wars had promised. "You,

jackass."

That's... a different way of telling someone that you love them.

  Thank you. ^_^

[Twilight]

Nice touch with labeling each part with different times of the day.

  Seems to be more popular than 'Chime'. �_�

In a forest north and east of Tokyo, one ravaged by the wars opened
his eyes, and saw. "Brothers?" he whispered.

... Right before the Dragon's mouth swallowed him whole.

  ... and spat him right out again. "Good LORD," it grumbled, spitting, "don't you people _ever_ bathe?"

So this was when Shinnosuke started to change?  Don't know if the four
changed at the same time or not.  Though if that was the case, it would
be impossible for Ranma since he's still frozen (I'm guessing he
changed some time before his final confrontation).

  The world changed slowly, and technicaly, Ranma started to change before he died, but the WORLD hadn't changed enough to make a difference until later.

The animals of the forest responded to his bidding, as he rose,
riding an errant gust of wind across the lake that housed a... cousin...
to him.

So that means that the Orachi aren't one of the four.

  Nope. Not part of Shen-Lung.

And in the end, Shen-Lung unmade himself, casting himself into four
pillars, which would maintain and fulfill his function when it was
needed. No longer the dragon, he was...

From what Ryuu said earlier, obvious that he's one of them.  And since
Ranma was referred to as a dragon, he's another.

  Yep. Though Act Three draws on this more than One or Two.

"Yes... " he said slowly, as sixteen bright eyes watched him
fearfully from beneath the water. "You are only my cousin. You are not
my brother."

Sounds like Shinnosuke's the third dragon.

  Fourth. Ryu's the first.

The King of Cups, of Swords, of Coins, of Staves...

Four dragons.  Probably obvious who the fourth is.

  Maaaaaaybe.

----------------------------
  Author's notes:

  Though it's not likely that anyone remembers, this was written at Mr.
Sommer's request/suggestion. :p

Hmm... I think it was Bjorn who asked about Ukyou/Ryuu.

  ...

  Um.

  Uh.

  I knew that, really!

  >_<

  Sorry. Next time I'll check my notes.

Probably a bit too surreal, but it helps explain some elements that
are helpful towards understanding act three and four of Compass Points.

Overall, a very nice story.  Not many mistakes.  Gave a believable way
for Ukyou and Ryuu to get together (and was different from 'Saido').
Also it's nice to read Ukyou stories now and then ^_^

  Hey, she's my favorite character! Three cheer for Ucchan! Wai! Wai! Wai!

  ;)

  Thanks for taking the time to C&C, Gin! Looking forward to C&Cing more of Crossing the Line for you!

Ginrai