Sorry for lack of spelling or grammar. This is only a rough draft. I'll
edit everything once this series is finished. This fic is now nearing the
1.95meg mark. This is the latest update to said fic. If you haven't read
that parts that lead up to this update, you'll most likely end up
confused....


For previous chapters, just check my webpage^_^

http://www.anime.sobhrach.com/~jeffwong/






<new stuff 8/14>



(Ranma continues to lean against the railing, watching as this tiny boat
comes toward the ship at a rather high speed. Ranma spots from the corner
of )

Frog: A port navigator.

Ranma: Oh?

Frog: We receive a pot navigator to help guide us in to the port. We
usually receive one around a mile away.

Ranma: What does he do?

Frog: We take him in. He goes to the bridge where he helps us guide us
and chart the proper way in to the port.

Ranma: I never knew that. I figure Boon'll probably guide the ship in
himself or something.

Frog: Most civilians not familiar with ships believe that. However, if
Boon did do that, it'll induct a heavy fine.

Ranma: Oh.

Frog: Before you even ask, since I'm taking over Boon's job for now, I do
the same things as him and check around to make sure everyting's okay.

Ranma: Ah.

Frog: I assumed you checked up on Boon.

Ranma: Yeah. He seems to be doing fine.

Frong: I know. I checked.

Ranma: (Thinking)Heh, I guess Marlena's right. Underneath that tough
exeterior, he's not that bad a guy and actually cares.

Frog: Well, I'm off. It was nice talking to you.

Ranma: Um, it was nice talking to you, um, captain.

Frog: Lieutenant.

Ranma: Lieutenant.(Bows)

(Frog walks off toward the port side of the ship. Ranma watches as  the
boat pulls in close by the port side. He walks over to that said and
watches as a person from the boat hops off and on to a ladder that ran up
the hull of the ship.)

Ranma: Wow, I never even noticed that was there. I explored mostly the
interior of the ship, not the exterior.

(Ranma watches as this person climbs up, greeted by Frog and a few others
that he believed to be the officers of the ship. They gave each other a
few words before they all headed toward the bow of the ship, heading for
the bridge. Just as they disappeared, Sayuri emerges from below-deck.)

Ranma: Morning.

Sayuri: Morning.(Thinking)Man, did I sleep well. I wonder when Ranma got
up and left. Probably before dawn like usual. Sleeping by him really made
me sleep easy.

Ranma: Have a good sleep?

Sayuri: Yes. Very.

Ranma: Some guy just hopped on board.

Sayuri: Really? What for?

Ranma: (Jerks thumb)Look.

Sayuri: Oh mean. We've made it to China already.

Ranma: Yeah. The guy seems to be some kinda port navigator or something.
Frog told me he's here to help guide the ship in to port.

Sayuri: I never knew that.

Ranma: Neither did I.

Sayuri: How long before we dock?

Ranma: Probably a half hour.

Sayuri: What do you plan on doing?

Ranma: I'll stay by Boon. I'll probably go with him to the hospital. I
just want to know that he's fine before I leave.

Sayuri: ...................

Ranma: After that, I'll come help you look for a replacement cook. It'd
be a shame if you can't travel China with me or I'd hafta stay around
another six or so days before you're free.

Sayuri: T-thanks.(Thinking)I didn't know if he cared whether not he
wanted me to come after we stop at China. I was bothering me all night.
At least now I know. He expects me to come along and is willing to help
me out so that can happen.(Smiles.)

Ranma: What're you so happy about?

Sayuri: What, am I not allowed to be happy?

Ranma: (Shrugs)Got a point.

Sayuri: Are you excited? We're going to be in China really soon.

Ranma: Yeah. However-

Sayuri: I know. Your thoughts are more on Boon getting the proper medical
treatment first.

Ranma: Right. I'll act excited once I know Boon's okay. Oh yeah, I dunno
if you noticed, but I moved your backpack to my bunk deck.

Sayuri: Really? 

Ranma: Yeah, the ice on the racks in your bunk deck was melting and
there's a puddle of water there. Didn't want your backpack to get wet in
the process.

Sayuri: Thanks.

(Ranma and Sayuri stand around as the ship pulls in to port. The port and
deck became suddenly very busy as people could be seen running about.
Ranam and Sayuri were even asked to stand aside as several crewmen ran
by, almost crashing in to them.)

Ranma: C'mon, let's get outta the way.

(Ranma and Sayuri head below-deck. The head in to Ranma's bunk deck,
figuring that was the best place to hang out until the ship is fully
docked and not that many people are running around that much.)

Sayuri: (Entering bunk deck)Oh, there's my backpack. It was hidden behind
yours. Thanks.

Ranma: No prob.

Sayuri: (Sitting in the chair)So, whatcha wanna talk about?(Thinking)I
like talking to Ranma.

Ranma: Whatever. It doesn't bother me.

(Ranma and Sayuri indulge in conversation. Ranma considers it meaningless
and about nothing, Sayuri considering it a wealth of new information
about what makes Ranma tick. Before long, they realized they had talked
for close to a half hour.)

Ranma: C'mon, let's head topside. I don't sense the ship moving anymore
so we should be fully docked.

(They both head topside. Ranma was right. They docked not one minute ago.
They saw an ambulance by the entrance of the pier leading to the dock.
They glanced aft where they saw Boon being wheeled across the maindeck on
a gurney. Marlena and Frog were walking along side the medical staff
wheeling the giant man. Frog spots Ranma.)

Frog: (Approaching)Just the man I was looking for. 

Ranma: Yes? What can I do for you?

Frog: You may go with Boon to the hospital. I have work to do so I can't
be around to watch over him.

Ranma: Sure.

Frog: (To Sayuri)You may go with him.

Sayuri: T-thanks.

Frog: (Jerking thumb)I've talked to Marlena this morning. You're free to
leave from here on. We will pick up a replacement to help Marlena after
we arrive in Korea.

Sayuri: (Stuned)R-really?

Frog: Yes. Anyway, you two may go.

Ranma: Thanks.

Sayuri: (Hugs Frog)Thank you! Thank you!

(Sayuri quickly releases her embrace.)

Sayuri: (Embarrassed)S-sorry.(Looks down)

Frog: (Slightly flushed)It's not a problem. Anyway. Go on.

(Ranma and Sayuri walk off to meet up with Marlena as she walks alongside
Boon.)

Marlena: There you guys are. I was wondering if I'd end up having to go
with Boon with out you two.

Sayuri: (Very grateful)Thanks, Marlena.

Marlena: (Already knowing)No problem. No problem.

(Ranma, Sayuri, and Marlena climb in to the back of the ambulance after
Boon's gurney was gently slide inside. It proved to be rather cramped by
there, what with Boon's large size taking up much more room than the
average people, but no one seemed to mind. They arrive at the local
hospital where they are asked to wait in the waiting room while Boon was
wheeled in to the emergency room.)

Marlena: Don't worry, Boon'll be fine.

Ranma: Yeah.

(A good four hours elapse before the three of them are allowed in to the
emergency room, ushered to Boon's hospital room where he will be staying
until his recovery. They end up waiting there for a good hour before a
doctor enters the room.)

Marlena: (Annoyed)About freaking time. Hate how you doctors are always
making people wait. 

Doctor: I'm sorry, but I was making my rounds.

Marlena: Anyway, what's the diagnosis? How's he doing?

Doctor: (Looking at the chart)Keirojin, is a large man, far larger a
patient than I've ever had to doctor before.

Marlena: (Annoyed)Are you saying he has some kinda cholesterol problems
or something?

Doctor: Of course not. Actually, he's in excellent condition despite his
size.

Marlena: That's because I feed him right. I cook for him. All the food I
prepare are good for him. I know he's in good health. However, what I
wanna know is how he he got the heart attack.

Doctor: I was getting to it. Boon's a big guy and his heart is working
twice as hard trying to circulate the blood through his large frame. 

Marlena: Are you saying he has an enlarged heart?

Doctor: No. He had a very mild heart attack. In a sense, a heart attack
that mild usually gets mistaken for heart burn. Because of his size, it
seems much more serious.

Marlena: Okay.

Doctor: He's in his early fifties. He basically had a mild heart attack
around the average age of men have one. For a man of his size, he should
have had a heart attack a long time ago. However, because of his heath
and lifestyle, whatever it is, he's prolonged it until now.

Marlena: Will he get another one?

Doctor: There's no telling when one occurs. However, there are ways of
preventing it.

Marlena: And how does he do that?

Doctor: Doing whatever he does. He's in such good health that he's as far
away from getting a heart attack as one can get. 

Marlena: I still don't understand how he got one.

Doctor: Probably over excitement or something like that. Overly strenuous
workouts can cause that, especially when a person is pushing his or her
body beyond its limit.

Ranma: So perhaps I was the cause of it. He was pushing himself to keep
fighting me.

Doctor: Fight?! You fought this guy?!

Ranma: Yeah.

Doctor: ....................

Marlena: It's not what you think. They were sparring.

Doctor: Okay. Anyway, that's what I believe had caused it, an over
exhertion on his part. Bascially, he didn't know when he was supposed to
slow down and rest.

Ranma: ................(Thinking)But we were only fighting for a short
while.

Marlena: Could it be from perhaps him working out very hard and then
fighting?

Doctor: Yes.

Marlena: Oh, now I see what caused it.

Ranma: Really?

Marlena: Boon must've been working out right before you started fighting.
Keep in mind that while you're eating dinner, Boon's busy training
because he's eaten a couple hours earlier. Therefore, that means he
started fighting you right after working out. 

Ranma: You think so? You think that's why?

Marlena: Yeah. I told the old coot that he should rest a bit before
fighting you. I guess he didn't listen.

Ranma: Why would he do that?

Marlena: He probably forgot and lost track of time. I'm sure you lose
track of time when working out.

Ranma: Yeah.

Marlena: Boon makes mistakes too. Not too often, but he does. He must've
seen you catching up and decided to start working out harder. I guess he
forgot about working out too hard.

Ranma: Yeah, I learned that. I ended up blacking out for half a day.

Marlena: Yeah. The same thing probably happened to him. However, you're
young so your heart's used to it. Boon on the other hand...

Doctor: (Smiles)It seems like you guys are better at diagnosing than our
staff.

Marlena: I know quite a bit of medical procedures. The ship merely
doesn't have the facilities for me to do anything more than some minor
stuff.

Doctor: So was it you that set Keirojin's leg back in its place?

Marlena: Yeah.

Doctor: It was a excellent job. Because of your quick thinking in doing
that, he sustained no damage to the ligaments nor cartilage around his
knee. The area is inflammed so he will have to stay off that leg for a
couple of weeks.

Marlena: (Smirks)What, like ride in a wheelchair? I doubt there're
wheelchairs out there big enough for him.

Doctor: Actually, there are. A request for it has been made. The custom
sized wheelchair will be arriving here in five days. Keirojin will have
to rest here for at least a week for monitoring and checkup before he'll
be released.

Marlena: Okay.

Doctor: Now, is there any other questions?

Marlena: When will he wake up? It looks like he's in a coma or somethin'.

Doctor: No. No coma. Actually, he's sleeping. You can wake him up if you
want, but I don't recommend it. He went through quite an ordeal so it's
best that you let him rest.

Marlena: Hm, I guess I shouldn't be surprised that he is still out of
action. When Ranma over exherted himself, he was out for around twelve
hours also. Boon's been out for about as long too.

Doctor: Any other questions?

(No one seemed to have any questions, the doctor having answered
everything they wanted to ask.)

Doctor: Well, since there's no more questions, if you'll excuse me, I
have some other patients I need to check up on.

Marlena: Thank you. You've been helpful, almost helpful enough that I'd
forgive you for making us wait so long.

Doctor: ....................

(The doctor heads out, leaving Ranma and Sayuri and Marlena alone in the
room with Boon.)

Marlena: (Breaths in relief)I feel so much better now.

Ranma: Same here. Same here.

Sayuri: I agree.

Marlena: Even though I was sure Boon was gonna be fine, receiving
confirmation from a hospital doctor is very reassuring.

Ranma: Yeah.

Marlena: (Smiles)Well, I guess now that you know everything's fine, I
guess you two'll be on your way.

Ranma: We should at least stay until he wakes up.

Marlena: Nah. Get going. I'll tell him you said goodbye.

Ranma: Are you sure?

Marlena: I'm sure.

(Marlena reaches in to one of her pockest and produces a huge wad of
cash. She hands it to Ranma.)

Ranma: (Confused)What's this for?

Marlena: That's the money you gave Boon for passage on this ship.

Ranma: Okay.

Marlena: Boon has no intention of keeping it. He gave it to me on the
night you came on to the ship for safe keeping.

Ranma: Really?

Marlena: Yeah. He knew you were going to need money when you get to
China. That's why he never intended to keep your money. It's not like he
needs it anyway.

Ranma: But this is China and-

Marlena: Just go to the currency exchange bank. I haven't been to this
port in years, but I remember there being one located close by.

Ranma: Um, I-I don't know what to say.

Marlena: Thanks you would be fine.

Ranma: Thank you.

Marlena: (Hands Sayuri some money)Here. Your pay.

Sayuri: ...............b-but I didn't earn it. I didn't stay for the
whole trip like I was supposed to.

Marlena: Doesn't matter. If y'want, consider it a gift.

Sayuri: T-thank you.

Marlena: Go on, kids. Get outta here. Be sure to write.

Ranma: (Smiles)Thanks. We sure will. Thanks for everything.

Sayuri: (Teary eyed)Thank you for everything. 

Marlena: (Smiling)This isn't goodbye. We'll definitely definitely meet
again.

Ranma: Of course. We wouldn't want it any other way.

(Ranma and Sayuri give Marlena a hug and say their goodbyes to the
sleeping giant before leaving. Once they leave, tears trickle down from
Marlena's eyes. She was shedding tears of joy and sadness. She had such a
wonderful time when they were on the ship with her and she knew she was
going to miss them dearly. She turns toward Boon.)

Marlena: (Wiping tears)Well, Boon, you old coot, it's too bad you weren't
awake to say goodbye because it sure hurt. 

(Marlena is surprised when Ranma comes back in.)

Ranma: Sorry, but I forgot something.

Marlena: What is it?

Ranma: Can you leave Boon a message?

Marlena: Sure.

Ranma: Tell him that last night's match I consider a draw. Tell him that
the next time we meet, I intend to beat him fair and square and teach him
the Mouko Takabisha.

Marlena: (Smiles)All right)I'll do that.

Ranma: Thank you.

(Ranma leaves and catches up to Sayuri as she waits for him by the front
entrance.)

Sayuri: Why'd you go back?

Ranma: Just to leave behind a message about our next rematch.

Sayuri: A rematch?

Ranma: Yeah. I dunno when it'll occur....be it a week, a month, a year,
or even a decade from now. I plan on having a rematch with him.

Sayuri: ..................

Ranma: C'mon, let's go.

(Ranma and Sayuri make their way toward the docks. The hospital was
within walking distance from there.)

Ranma: (Sadly)I'm really going to miss them.

Sayuri: (Brink of tears)Same here. However, it's not like we'll never see
them again.

Ranma: I know. Once I'm cured, I'm going to contact them. I've really
enjoyed being on that ship. Maybe I can give a life on the sea a try.

Sayuri: You mean it?

Ranma: I dunno. Only time'll tell.

(Ranma and Sayuri stop by the ship. The hull stretches up high in to the
air from where they stand, blocking out the sun.)

Ranma: I'll be right back. I'll go fetch our backpacks.

Sayuri: Okay. I'll stay here.

(Sayuri's eyes become with with shock as she sees Ranma leap up in to the
air, landing on the main deck located thirty feet up.)

Sauri: H-h-how the heck did he just do that? He just jumped thirty feet
straight up.

Voice: Um, hey.

(Sayuri turns around and recognizes that it's one of the crew members. It
was the same person that she said hi to that was fixing the broken
railing the other day.)

Sayuri: Oh hi...

Tinkerman: Tinkerman.

Sayuri: Yes. Tinkerman. How're you doing?(Thinking)This is the guy Ranma
was mentioning about.

(Sayuri regards him for a moment. He seems like a nice guy but seemed to
hold himself a bit on the shy side. She could tell he's fighting his
nervousness.)

Tinkerman: I'm fine. And you?(Thinking)Don't be nervous.

Sayuri: I'm fine as well.

Tinkerman: Um, you're leaving, huh?

Sayuri: Yes. Ranma and I are going to be travelling China together. We're
heading toward Joketsuzoku. That's a village where my sister lives and
Ranma's headed.

Tinkerman: You and Ranma.....you're not really together, huh?

Sayuri: ....................

Tinkerman: It was just a ruse you two came up with to keep everyone from
trying to come on to you.

Sayuri: ..........yeah.

Tinkerman: I figured. I kind of figured it out. I've seen you two
together, and you two didn't act like that of a couple.

Sayuri: ................I'm sorry for the deception.

Tinkerman: It's okay. I don't mind.

Sayuri: I'm sorry.

Tinkerman: Look, you're leaving....and there's a chance I'll never see
you again...

Sayuri: .................

Tinkerman: I just want to say that I really like you. I'm not a bad guy.
Of course, I don't have anything I can do to prove to you that I'm a good
one either and not like some of the other people on this ship...

Sayuri: ................

Tinkerman: Anyway, I really like you and I just wanted to tell you that.
I just wanted it known to you. I don't want to go on regretting not
having told you because of my shyness.

Sayuri: .................(Thinking)This guy is really fighting his
natural shyness to tell me this. 

Tinkerman: I don't know if I'll ever see you again, but I'm hoping,
really hoping, that if we ever meet again, that you'd give me a
chance....p-provided that you're still single and all....y-you know what
a mean.(Meek smile)

Sayuri: (Smiles warmly)Tinkerman, you're a very nice guy...

Tinkerman: (Thinking)Here it comes....'but I'm not interested in you like
that'. Oh well, it's worth it to be told that than to just go one
wondering if there was a slight chance that she could have secretly liked
me but my shyness prevented me from finding out.

Sayuri: And I'd love to give you a chance.(Thinking)I like his sincerity.
Just like Ranma, he's nothing like the other guys on the ship. 

Tinkerman: Y-you will?

Sayuri: Sure. 

Tinkerman: Thank you. I'd really like that. If you're ever around the
area, perhaps you can drop me a note in the future. I'll most likely be
on this ship for the rest of my life.

Sayuri: I'll do that.

Tinkerman: My full name's Kyo Tsutsuo

Sayuri: My full name is-

Tinkerman: Sayuri's Mino. I know. 
Sayuri: .................

Tinkerman: (Holds up hands defensively)I-I'm not some stalker or nothing.

Sayuri: (Giggles)I know. I was just a bit surprised that you knew when we
never formally introduced ourselves.

Tinkerman: It's not hard finding out the name of someone on this ship.
Anyway, even though I know your name, I won't come looking for you. I
don't want to scare you or nothing. That's why. Perhaps when you've got
the time, you'll contact me.

Sayuri: (Smiles)I'll be sure to do that.

Tinkerman: Well, it was nice talking to you.

Sayuri: Same here.

Tinkerman: I best be on my way now. Hopefully, we'll see each other
again. Have a good journey.

Sayuri: Likewise. Take care.

(Tinkerman leaves. Sayuri couldn't help but smile. Ranma had been right,
Tinkerman was a nice person. About a minute passes before she almost
falls on to her backside in shock when Ranma jumps over the side of the
ship and lands right next to her, both backpack thrown over her
shoulders.)

Sayuri: .................

Ranma: (Smirks)Hey, I've picked up anchors that weigh more than cars.
Jumping high and landing softly is nothing to be surprised of. Oh yeah,
Frog's been to this port before. I talked to him before I got the
backpacks. That's what took so long.(Points)Anyway, he said to take this
street down two blocks. The bank's on the left.

Sayuri: Okay.

(Together, Ranma and Sayuri head down the street, arriving at the bank in
no time. They go inside and are forced to wait several mintues before a
Japanese speaking Chinese person was able to help them. They exchange
their Japanese currency for Chinese currency.)

Ranma: We are going on a long camping trip, in a sense. Do you know where
we can buy some camping equipement?

Man: Yeah. There's a shop just across the street.

Ranma: Thanks.

(We follow as Ranma and Sayuri cross the street to the other side. They
enter the story and find it replete with camping equipment.)

Ranma: (Grabbing cart)We'll meet back here in half an hour.

Sayuri: What do I do?

Ranma: Just grab a cart and look for proper camping equipment. If you
have any questions, feel free to ask.

Sayuri: Um, okay.(Grabs a cart)

(Ranma and Sayuri go their own way. Ranma goes about collecting proper
camping equipment. Sayuri observes him and emulates him, grabbing similar
equipement. Time pass and the two meet up at the meeting place.)

Ranma: Okay, let's see whatcha got.

(Ranma searchs through Sayuri's cart. After a minute, he gives a
satisfactory nod.)

Ranma: Good choices. You've bascially go everything that I got, some
smaller than the ones I got, but fine nonetheless.

Sayuri: Thanks.(Smiles)

Ranma: Okay, now we need to get some group equipment.

Sayuri: Like what?

Ranma: Stuff we'll use together. Like a stove and pots and stuff like
that.

Sayuri: Okay. I can get find the pots and stove. I noticed them while I
was looking around. There a good set to pick up that'll be perfect for
this trip.

Ranma: All right. I'll go find us a tent. You want to share tents or use
separate tents?

Sayuri: Um..............

Ranma: You know how to pitch a tent?

Sayuri: Never pitched a tent in my life.

Ranma: (Thinking)I can always teach her how to pitch one, but that could
be trouble. However, if we share a tent, that could be trouble as well.

(Ranma checks over the selections of tents.)

Sayuri: (Showing selection)Got it.

Ranma: Cool.

Sayuri: Um, so, have you decided what tent to get?(Thinking)Please be
sharing a tent.

Ranma: What do you prefer?

Sayuri: (Blushing).................

Ranma: (Sighs)How come I'm not surprised. Look, can you please get it
through your head that I only see you as a friend. Even if we share a
tent, there's going to be no funny business or anything.

Sayuri: ....................

Ranma: So I assume you want to share tents?

Sayuri: I'd prefer sharing. I've never camped out before, and I'd be more
comfortable with it.

Ranma: Okay, fine. I guess we'll get a tent we can share.(Jerks to
cart)However, you see that sleeping bag? That's big enough for one
person. You get the picture?

Sayuri: (Happily)I understand. I've got my own.

Ranma: Oh. Okay.

Sayuri: Is there anything else we need to get?

Ranma: (Thinks for a moment)No. I think that's it.

Sayuri: Okay.

Ranma: Let's go pay for our stuff and be on our way.

(Ranma and Sayuri pay for their stuff. Once outside the store, Ranma goes
about packing the equipment in to his backpack. He stuffed it with most
of the heavy equipment like the stove and pots and tent. He stuffed as
much of the heavy equipment the backpack would allow. Once done, he
stuffs the other backpack with the remaining equipment. He hands Sayuri
the backpack with the remain equpiment.)

Ranma: Take this. This is yours. I've got there rest.

Sayuri: But you're carrying so much more.

Ranma: Don't worry about it.

(Sayuri places on her backpack. It only weighs around twenty pounds at
most. She watches Ranma strap her other backpack, the backpack she had
with her on the ship on to his own, making sure it was on securely. Once
he was satisfied, he strapped is own original backpack, the one he
brought on the ship, on to the top of the backpack as well, strapping it
in tightly.)

Ranma: All right. Let's get going.

(Ranma picks the backpack, all five hundred plus pounds of it and straps
it over his shoulders. He shows no strain from handling the heavy
weight.)

Sayuri: .................

Ranma: Don't worry. It's not heavy for me. Keep in mind I'm used to
having an entire anchor on my back.(Thinking)Thank goodness for my
working out so much. If I hadn't worked out so much on the ship, I'd
probably consider this heavy.

Sayuri: Are you sure?

Ranma: Light as a feather. Anyway, let's go.

Sayuri: O-okay.

Ranma: (Smirks)Get a good look at this city. This'll be the last time
you'll probably see civilization for probably at least a month.

Sayuri: .................

Ranma: I know. But that's probably how long it'll take us to get to
Joketsuzoku.

Sayuri: .................

Ranma: Ready to go?

Sayuri: Yes. I'm ready. Let's go.

(Together, Ranma and Sayuri head toward the outskirts of the busy city.)

Ranma: Let's have one last meal before we leave

Sayuri: Okay.

(The scene changes on to Frog as he finishes up with his work on the
bridge. He is facing three officers.)

Frog: We depart tomorrow at oh nine hundred hours. Have the crew here no
later than oh eight hundred. In the meanwhile, they are free for the rest
of the day. Tell them, if any of them get arrested, that I'll bail them
out....after we come back from Korea.

Officers: Yes, sir.

Frog: You guy are now relieved of duty.

Officers: Thank you, sir.

(The three officers leave, leaving Frog by his lones.)

Frog: (Looking at watch)Damn, it's almost seventeen hundred hours now. I
can't believe it took that long to get everything squared away. Well, it
doesn't matter. I'm off to visit Boon and see how he's doing.

(Frog was just about to exit the bridge when the radio came to life. The
person on the other side is obviously not accustomed to radio protocol.
The person on the other side is asking for Boon by his full name,
something he isn't used to hearing.)

Radio: Message for Keirojin. This is Tsuki. Come in. 

(The lack of protocal annoys Frog. He walks over to the radio and picks
up the receiver.)

Frog: This is senior lieutenant Fune, who is speaking?

Radio: Lieutenant Fune? How do you do. This is Tsuki. 

(Frog thinks for a moment, wondering where he heard that name before.)

Radio: Is Keirojin there please?

Frog: Not until I know who this is.(Thinking)That name is familiar.

Radio: I'm a friend of his. We travelled China together around twenty
years ago.

(The name suddenly clicks. Tsuki Joji is the name of the man Boon talks
about, a long time friend from when he was young. Frog has heard stories
about him and his friend and Marlena traveling the world together.)

Frog: Tsuki. Tsuki Joji, right?

Radio: Right. But Joji is no longer my family name. It's Hyusa.

Frog: Hyusa? Um, okay.

Radio: I took my wife's family name. It's a long sorry.

Frog: Okay.

Radio: Is Keirojin there?

Frog: I'm sorry, Tsuki, but Boon, I mean Keirojin suffered a heart
attack.

Radio: W-what? Is he okay?

Frog: Yes. He's fine. We docked several hours ago. If anything bad had
been diagnosed, Marlena would have contacted me.

Radio: Is Marlena there?

Frog: No. She's with Keirojin. They are at Quindao Hospital.

Radio: Quindao Hospital? That's in China. Are you docked in China?

Frog: Yes. We made a change in course last night. 

Radio: Please tell me Ranma is still there.

Frog: No. He left to accompany Keirojin to the hospital.

Radio: Do you know if he's still there?

Frog: I'm not too sure. He might, but then again, he might have went his
own path. May I ask what's the significance of all the
questiions?(Thinking)I know this guy is Boon's good friend but I don't
understand why he's asking me these questions.

Radio: Due to a horrible misunderstanding, Ranma left Japan under the
notion that my daughter hates him. We have been searching for him several
days before it was determined that he was on your ship.

Frog: That's correct.

Radio: My daughter has been an emotional wreck since he left, believing
it was her fault. They are very much in love, but due to a horrible
misunderstanding, they ended up going separate ways the night before
Ranma boarded your boat.

Frog: ...................

Radio: I want to make things right. Tellme, are you a father?

Frog: I don't see that how it's any of your business, but yes, I am.

Radio: Do you have a daughter?

Frog: Yes. 

Radio: So that means you'll know where I'm coming from. I don't want to
see my daughter in pain. I'm going to do everything in my power to make
things all better.

Frog: I understand.

Radio: Can you please find Ranma? When you do, please don't let him leave
the city. Please keep him on the ship. I will tell my daughter and we
will be flying our way up there within the hour. If Ranma leaves, there
is a chance we will not find him for months on end. We will not be able
to clear this misunderstanding.

Frog: If I recall correctly, it was mentiond that he was heading for some
village named Joket-something.

Radio: Joketsuzoku. I know of where he is headed. However, I have no idea
exactly where it is or exactly when he would show up there. I want to
find him right away so this can be ended now instead of months from now.

Frog: I understand. I'll send the ship crew out to search for him, just
in case. I'll have the message relayed to him that he is being sought.

Radio: Thank you. Relay the message that my daughter, Shori, loves him
very much and never stopped loving him. And that she is looking for him.

Frog: Will do.

Radio: Thank you, lieutenant.

Frog: A friend of Keirojin's is a friend of mine.

(Frog places the radio receiver away and quickly rushes out of the
bridge. He runs across the main deck to the side railing and looked down
toward the piere where he manages to spot the three officers talking to
the ship crew members. He sighs, glad that no one had dispersed yet. He
brings two fingers to his mouth and makes a very loud whistling noise.
The entire ship crew turn their attention upward and toward Frog.)

Frog: Change in plans. There is extra work to do.

(A bunch of crew members groan. They had just been relieved of duty when
Frog suddenly told them they had more work.)

Frog: (Angrily)Deal with it!

(Everyone quickly becomes silent.)

Frog: Ranma! Go find him! Bring him back to this ship. To anyone who
finds him, relay the message that 'Shori' loves him and never stopped
loving him and that she is looking for him. Do you understand?

Everyone: Yes, sir.
 
Frog: If any of you guys are found 'searching' for Ranma in the local
pubs and drinking while there, you will have to deal with me. Do I make
myself clear?

Everyone: (Nervously)Yes, sir.

Frog: You may go.

(The crew disperses. Frog sighs.)

Frog: I don't want to be the hard ass of this ship, but I guess someone
has to do it. Besides, I do it so well.(Smirks)

(The scene changes on to Shori. She is in the limo with Akemi and Reia,
on their way to Shori's house from school. Shori seems depressed.)

Reia: Shori, you have to brighten up.

Shori: I know. It's just that Friday is such a long way away.

Akemi: That's true. However, if you look at it the other way, Friday is
also the day when you can finally see Ranma again.

Shori: (Smiles slightly)You've got a point there.(Becomes sad again)It's
just that I miss him so much.

Reia: It's effecting your school performance. You always seemed spaced
out.

Shori: I-I can't help it. The longer I'm away from Ranma, the more and
more I'm thinking about him and missing him.

Akemi: We all miss him. However, everything'll be fine come this Friday.

Shori: I know.(Sighs)

Akemi: You have to be patient.

Shori: I know.(Sighs)

(The phone within the limo rings. Akemi is closest so she picks it up.)

Akemi: Hello?

Mr. Hyusa: (Recognizing voice)Akemi, may I speak to Shori please?

Akemi: She seems a bit depressed. Is it good news?

Mr. Hyusa: Yes.

Akemi: Really? What is it?

Mr. Hyusa: C'mon. Please let me talk to her. It's urgent.

Akemi: Okay. Okay, Mr. H. I'll do it.

Mr. Hyusa: Can you please not call-

(Akemi hands the phone over to Shori.)

Akemi: It's your old man. Says there's good news.

Shori: (Perking up)What is it?

Mr. Hyusa: I've found Ranma.

Shori: I know. He's expected to land in Korea this Friday.

Mr. Hyusa: No. He already landed.

Shori: (Surprised)R-really? Where?

Mr. Hyusa: Yes. He's already landed in China....

Shori: How? Why? I thought he was supposed to be on his way to Korea.

Mr. Hyusa: Yes, initially. However, a change in plans lead him to China
early.

Shori: ....................

Mr. Hyusa: However, I asked that the crew have him relayed that we're
looking for him and how everything's a big understanding.

Shori: Really? How did he react?

Mr. Hyusa: I'm not too sure. I figure we'd find out in person. I've
readied a flight to China, rather than coming home, go straight to the
airport.

Shori: O-okay.

Mr. Hyusa: We're going to go there, get Ranma, explain things to him, and
bring him back.

Shori: Okay.

Mr. Hyusa: Okay, honey. I'll see you shortly.

Shori: Bye.

(Shori hands up the phone. We watch as she crawls forward to say
something to the driver. The driver nods and changes his destination from
the house to the airport. Shori has this happy look on her face.)

Akemi: What's the good news?

Shori: We're leaving for China now. Ranma's already landed there. We're
on our way to get things cleared up and pick him up.

Akemi: Why's he in China? I thought-

Shori: My dad'll explain. I don't really know the details.

Akemi: Okay.

(The scene changes on to Mr. Hyusa as he hangs up the phone he had just
made to Shori. He is in his home office and has this stressed out look on
his face as he pinches the bridge of his nose.)

Mr. Hyusa: (To self)I'm such an idiot. When I found out Ranma was
actually on Keirijin's boat, why didn't I have him relay that message
right away? Why did I only request that Keirojin separate Ranma and
whoever that girl was that Keirojin was playing matchmaker with? Why did
I assume that the trip would be uneventful and we would inevitably meet
in Korea? Why did I want it to be a pleasant surprise for Ranma when he
sees Shori as he gets off that ship. 

(Mr. Hyusa shakes his head in annoyance at himself. He sighs, knowing
that he did wrong in having gone with such a decision. He prayed that he
would not regret it, that there was still a chance that Ranma hadn't left
yet. After a few moments, he gets up up out of his seat, heading for the
door.)

Mr. Hyusa: I have to worry about this later. First, I have to get to the
airport.

(The scene changes on to Boon as he slowly wakes up from his sleep. He
looks around, a bit disoriented and wondering where he was. It takes him
a moment to realize he was in a hospital. The beeping noise emanating
from the heart machine attached to his chest to monitor his hearbeats
could be heard increasing in frequency.)

Marlena: Relax.

Boon: What happened? I hate hospitals.

Marlena: You had a heart attack.

Boon: .................

Marlena: You also blew your knee out in the process.

Boon: .................

Marlena: Do you remember?

Boon: Yeah. I do. At least now I do. I was fighting against Ranma when it
occurred.

Marlena: Right.

Boon: How long was I out?

Marlena: (Looks at clock on wall)Been close to twenty hours since it
happened.

Boon: Where are we?

Marlena: Quindao Hospital. 

Boon: Quindao Hospital? We're in China?

Marlena: Yeah. We were closer to China when your heart attack occurred.
We deviated from our course to get you here. We were all worried.

Boon: I guess that's understandable. (Realizes something)W-where's Ranma?

Marlena: He left already.

Boon: He left?

Marlena: Yeah. 

Boon: No.

Marlena: What's wrong?

Boon: He wasn't supposed to leave.

Marlena: He wasn't? That's news to me. Last I remember, he was supposed
to go his separate way after he got to China. Because we didn't go to
Korea before coming here, he basically ended up hear about a week earlier
than expected. That's good for him.

Boon: Damn. This isn't good. When did he leave?

Marlena: Bout an hour and a half ago. Why? What do you mean by this isn't
good?

Boon: He wasn't supposed to leave.

Marlena: You said that already. Why?

Boon: Damn, sometimes I wish we talked more often, then you would have
been in the know about what's going on.

Marlena: (Narrowing eyes)What? What going ons?

Boon: Remember Tsuki? Tsuki Joji? He was supposed to meet us at Korea.

Marlena: R-really? Why didn't you tell me?

Boon: Yeah. I wanted it to be a surprise.

Marlena: Jeez. Anyway, how's he doing?

Boon: He has a daughter.

Marlena: Really? How old?(Scratches chin)Then again, I wouldn�t be
surprised. It has been around twenty years since we last talked to one
another.

Boon: His daughter and Ranma are in love.

Marelena: Really?

Boon: That's why Ranam left Japan. He believed Shori, Tsuki's dauther,
hated him. It turns out it was one huge misunderstanding. Tsuki's been
searching for him for several days before he found out that Ranma was
actually on our ship.

Marlena: (Annoyed)You mean to tell me you've spoken to Tsuki before and
didn't tell me? He's my friend too, y'know.

Boon: I'm sorry. I wanted it to be a surprise.

Marlena: So what's the deal?

Boon: I don't know the details. Tsuki doesn't even know. Something happen
between Shori and Ranma and Ranma left Japan thinking she hates him...

Marlena: ....................(Thinking)It's gotta be related to his
curse.

Boon: Anyway, they wanna clear thinks up before he disappears off
somewhere in China...

Marlena: Damn. Well, if that's the case, they why did Ranma leave? Didn't
you tell him?

Boon: No. I was simply asked to separate him and Sayuri.

Marlena: Him and Sayuri? Why?

Boon: Well, you know how I like playing matchmaker. 

Marlena: Yeah. I know.

Boon: Well, when Tsuki found out about my just trying to play matchmaker
between Ranma and Sayuri, he asked that I separate them, which I did.

Marlena: Hm, I guess that explains it. It did seem odd why they were
separated in the first place, especially by your own order.

Boon: He didn't bother telling me to relay what he's told me so I left it
as that.

Marlena: Damn, things just got real screwed up because Ranma's probably
long gone now.

Boon: And what about Sayuri?

Marlena: She's with him.

Boon: Goddamn. We hafta fine 'em and tell 'em what's up. Ranma believes
that Tsuki's girl hates him. That's not the case. However, with Sayuri
around, he might go for her.

Marlena: .....................

Boon: They look good together, but I didn't know that Ranma's past was
like that, that he actually had someone desperately trying to find him
back home...and that that person was Tsuki's girl, Shori.

Marlena: Damn. This is bad. God, none of this would have happened if we
simply chatted more often and you told me about this.

Boon: I know. I'm sorry. However, that's not what we should be bickering
about right now. Anyway, where's Frog? We need to find him and have him
relay the message. He doesn't know about this. I was the only one on the
ship who talked to Tsuki. He can set the crew to look for Ranma. Perhaps
Ranma's still around and hasn't left. For all we know, he could be busy
buying camping equpiment.

Marlena: Okay. I'll go look for him and relay the message.

Frog: (Entering the room)Don�t worry, I'm already way ahead of you. I
overheard everything.

Boon: Frog! I'm glad you're here.

Frog: How're you doing?

Boon: That's besides the point. Where's Ranma?

Frog: I don't know. However, I've sent the entire ship crew looking for
him. And if they find him, to relay the message out this girl Shori
looking for him.

Boon: I really hope we find him.

Marlena: I'm going to go out and look for him. 

Boon: Where do you think he could be?

Marlena: Sayuri know's where Joketsuzoku is. So do I. They're probably
heading in the same direction as I would if I was heading there from
here.

Boon: Really? You think it'll work?

Marlena: It's better than just waiting around waiting and hoping. At
least this way, I feel like I'm doing something. Who knows, I may get
lucky.

Boon: (Smiles)Good luck.

Marlena: Thanks.

(Marlena quickly runs out of the hospital. She walks up to a random
Chinese resident of the bustling port city, talking to them in her native
language.)

Marlena: Do you know where I can find an equipment shop?(Thinking)These
are the two most logical place where they would head to before they head
out for their trip to Joketsusoku.

Man: Yes. There's one right across the bank.

Marlena: Bank? You mean the one were foreign currency can be exchanged?

Man: Yes.

Marlena: Thank you.

(Marlena takes off running in that direction, her speed shocking
especially for a woman her age and build. She was a stocky, short,
middle-aged woman but ran with the litheness of Shampoo and the dashing
speed of Ranma. She can even be seen skillfully avoiding bumping in to
pedestrians walking about, her agility also unbelieveable.)

Marlena: (Grinning)Heh, you still got it girl. You can take a girl out of
the Amazon, but you can't take the Amazon out of a girl.(Laughs)

(Marlena comes to a sliding halt when she notices the equipment store.
She enters and looks around, seeing neither Ranma nor Sayuri. She walks
up to a clerk, cutting in front of a snobby looking woman that was
waiting on line.)

Marlena: (To clerk)Excuse me, but-

Woman: Excuse me, but you just cut in front of me.

Marlena: So?

Woman: ................

Marlena: (To clerk)Excuse me, but have you happen to seen a young man
with black hair wearing a chinese clothes?

Clerk: Um, you're going to have to be more specific. You bascially
described ever guy in this store.

(Marlena gives Ranma and Sayuri's description in detail.)

Clerk: Yes. I saw them. They bought quite a bit of equipment about forty
minutes ago.

Marlena: You know which way they headed?

Clerk: That way.(Points)

Marlena: (To self)Okay, they're definitely heading in the right direction
for Joketsuzoku.(To clerk)Thanks.

(Marlena leaves the shop, continuing on with her quest to catching up to
Ranma, continuing down the road that leads out of town. She runs past the
final restaurant found before the end of town. Unfortunately, she never
bothered looking in. A minute after passing, Ranma and Sayuri could be
seen emerging from that restaurant.)

Ranma: Okay. Now that we've eaten, that's going to be the last civilized
food we'll be eating for a while.

Sayuri: Okay.

(Ranma and Sayuri continue down the same road Marlena had ran past a few
minutes ago, heading in the same direction. The scene changes. We find
ourselves observing Ryoga as he walks down a non-descript dirt trail.)

Ryoga: Now where am I?

(Ryoga walks up to a random person. He gets a bad feeling that he already
knows where he is when he notices that the random man was not Japanese
but Chinese.)

Ryoga: Excuse me, but do you know which way to Japan?

(The man responds in Chinese, which is unfamiliar to Ryoga. Ryoga walks
down the road a good mile before he finds yet another man walking. He
approaches him and asks for directions, receiving the same result.)

Ryoga: I'm sorry I bothered you.(Walks off)That's Chinese. I'm sure of
it. It sounds much like Shampoo when she speaks to Mousse and Cologne
every here and there.

(Ryoga does this for four encounters, resulting in the same results. By
then Ryoga realizes where he is.)

Ryoga: How the heck did I end up in China?! I don't remember crossing any
body of water!!

(The scene changes back on to Boon and Marlena and Frog. Boon is
explaining to Frog about his life before they took to the sea life.)

Boon: Tsuki and I used to travel China. This was before I became new
recruit on the ship where'd I'd eventually work my way up to captain.
We've known each other since kindergarten. When we were both in college,
we dropped out to travel the world together and train. We didn't travel
for long before we ended up getting separated. We were crossing a river
and I slipped on a loose rock and ended up falling in to the river where
I was carried down.

Frog: How far down the river did you get taken? If you split up, you
should wait by the rivebank to meet up.

Boon: I was taken down a good mile or so. I can swim, but not quite that
well.

Frog: Oh. Oh yeah.

Boon: It also didn't help that I ended up falling off a waterfall and
then another and then another. When I finally ended up by the riverbank,
I was probably a good five miles and six or seven hunred feet in altitude
from where Tsuki was. Rather than wait for Tsuki to come to me, I headed
toward him, figurign to meet him halfway. After days of hiking, I was
getting exhausted but continued going. Eventually, I stummbled upon a
village, that being the village where Marlena lives. I was actually added
back to health by none other than Marlena hereself.

Frog: Go on.(Thinking)That explains Marlena's knowledge of medicine and
such. 

Boon: While I was being nursed by here, we talked and I found out about
how she wanted to leave so we came up with the plan that I would defeat
her and she would be allowed to leave her village to come with me.

Frog: Ah, I understand. I remember you mentioning about there being an
Amazon law that once defeated-

Boon: Right. Everything else you've heard. I got my bum leg fighting the
village matriarch because I didn't want it to seem totally planned. The
matriarch is smart and would have suspected something if I didn't protest
against such an Amazon law. Of course, when I kept fighting her and she
kept beating me, it made me want to continue fighting, which eventually
resulted in my leaving with injuries that would eventually be this bum
leg. Had I realized that I just wasn't good enough to beat her after the
first two or three fights, I would have walked away fine. Of course, I
continued fighting. Anyway, that's basically everything about me and
Marlena. We were probably around Ranma's age when all of this happened. 

Frog: How good was Marlena then, when you fought.

Boon: Not significantly worse than me that time. It's much bigger of a
gap now. She taught me that technique I used against Ranma. The one that
stunned him.

Frog: ...................

Boon: (Laughing)She can kick anyone on the ship's ass. All except mine.
Don't judge her by her looks. It would've been fun watching you two go at
it when you came aboard many years ago. I heard Frogmen are really good
people and very well trained. It would have been fun watching militarily
and Amazonian trained fighters fight. Of course, I never bothered to find
out since you're prideful and all.

Frog: I would've outright refused to fight her.(Thinking)Boon's very
private about his past but I never knew about him learning from Marlena.
I know Marlena is a tough woman, but to be the one to have actually
taught Boon one of his techniques.

Boon: (Smiles)I guess you first came on board those many years ago, you
wanted to test out how good you are by going after the top dog, me.

Frog: (Laughs)As prideful as I am, I knew I picked the wrong fight with
the wrong person when you hit me with that first punch. It was a quick
jab and I remember thinking to myself that that was the hardest punch I
had ever felt in my life.

Boon: (Laughs)I'm sorry about that. Never meant to hit you that hard. I
figured you would have been able to take the blow. No hard feelings.

Frog: I know. It was a friendly fight. I don't hold grudges.

Boon: (Laughs)Lucky me. Otherwise, I'd be all worried about sleeping at
night for fear that you would sneak in to my bunk rack and perform one of
your stealth kills or wait until I was off the ship to shoot me in the
head with a sniper rifle.

(Boon and Frog laugh. They really don't know when they became friend but
they acted as if they had been friends all their lives.)

Boon: Anyway, back on to the subject of Tsuki, after Marlena and I left
the village, we met up with each other a day or so later. I explained to
him my situation. He accepted it at face value and the three of us ended
up travelling together training for the next ten or so years.

Frog: Traveling the world, right?

Boon: Yes. We went everywhere, even to the States. We ended up going our
separate way after ten great years of travelling and training. Tsuki fell
in love with the person that would eventually be his wife.

Frog: A woman from where he'd take his family name?

Boon: Why yes. How'd you-

Frog: I spoke with him on the radio. He mentioned that.

Boon: Ah. Anyway, we were travelling through Japan when he met her and
fell in love and and decided settle down with her. Marlena and I went
down the path of the sea.(Thinks for a moment)Wait, that's not right. We
actually went are separate way at the same time. I took to the sea life,
Tsuki stayed behind in Japan, and Marlena continued travelling. Well I'll
be, here I thought Marlena's been with me since we left the village but
she actually went her own way for a good year or so before we met up in
the sea. Well, that's besides that point.

Frog: Have you seen your friend in a while?

Boon: Not since we left. We only spoke once on the radio. We talked for a
while. It was a very pleasant surprise too. I was out on the main deck
talking to Ranma when I heard a message on the 1MC that there was an
urgent message for me. I go to the bridge to find out what is going on
and what do I find, an old friend from kindergarten contacting me.

Frog: Oh. I remember. I was there. You seemed very surprised and happy to
hear from him.(Thinking)At least now I know who was on the other side of
the radio when Boon was talking on it.

Boon: We catch up on some old times before he gets down to business. To
my surprise, I find out he has a daughter approximately Ranma's age and
that he was searching for none other than Ranma. What are the chance,
that the man his daughter loves ends up on our ship. Such a coincidence
that it's scary. I say, some higher entity must've been at work there to
get something like that to happen.

Frog: That is quite a coincidence. A lucky one as well.

Boon: After talking to him and explaining to him that I was playing
matchmaker with Ranma and Sayuri, he asks that I separated them.
Naturally, I did. Had I known in the first place, I would have kept them
apart right from the beginning.

Frog: Okay.

Boon: The problem was that it seems Sayuri had taken a liking to Ranma,
probably because I did put them so close together. I should have noticed
it at first when I was observing the two of them from the bridge and
noticing that Ranma was keeping himself distant yet she seemed to be
going after him. That's why I tried to separate 'em myself.

Frog: What did you do?(Thinking)Jeez, what's wrong with me? I feel like
I'm a nosy neighbor wanting to know what happened next. I usually don't
care about stuff like this and believe that if I am to know about it, it
would be told to me, not because I asked that it be told.

Boon: Whenever I see Ranma and Sayuri together, I would separate them.
For instance, when I saw her with Ranma in the galley, I shooed her away.
She was angry at me because she wanted to stay with Ranma and I was
preventing her from, but it didn't bother me. Another time I saw Ranma
training her so I walked over and offered to train her myself, so I can
drag her off and away from him.

Frog: That's rather underhanded. But if it couldn't be helped.

Boon: (Grins)They probably didn't suspect that I really did it to keep
'em separated and though that I was merely just acting like my usual
self.(Laughs)

Frog: So I guess you had ulterior motives. Had you told me, I could have
helped out. But then again, I know how you like to deal with things in
your own special way by yourself.

Boon: (Smiles)Right. It was my was my way of righting things that I
messed up. I know everyone's past is their own business but perhaps I
should take care to at least find out some more about them. Had I know
that he was here because of what happened, I woudln'tve tried playing
matchmaker.

Frog: (Smirks)And here I thought you were just doing what you did
normally. I never suspected that you were doing it for other reasons,
that being upon the request of your friend.

Boon: I know. Heck, after the call, I even made sure I knocked Ranma out
at the end of each match. That way, he'd be out for a good portion of the
evenining....

Frog: A time when Sayuri is free after work and would most likely spend
talking to him and them getting to know each other better.

Boon: (Grins)Right, friend. However, it was doubly beneficial. My
original plan is to knock him out so Ranma and Sayuri would not spend
time together while Ranma was recovering had he not been knocked out. The
other was that I didn't want it to be a repeat of the first battle. He
did knock me out in the first match afterall. I didn't want that to
happen again because I didn't take the precaution of making sure he was
out.

Frog: (Smiles)Your actions stretch back to even that? You sure surprise
me.

Boon: Yep. I'm big, but I ain't stupid.(Laughs like a manic)Mwahahaha!

Frog: ................

Boon: Of course, now's not the time to be laughing. My heart attack
knocked me out so I wasn't around to get things squared away. It was
totally unexpected. Because of it, we ended up in China wehre Ranma can
resume his journey, Sayuri also going along with him. Neither of them
suspect what's going on.

Frog: Hopefully, the crew or Marlena will find him.

Boon: Yes. Hopefully.

(The scene switches back on to Shori and Akemi and Reia as they are now
on the plane on their way toward Quindao region of China. Mr. Hyusa was
in the cabin as well, having set the plane on autopilot for the time
being. They were all in the plane cabin.)

Akemi: So, Mr. H., who is this friend of yours?

Mr. Hyusa: I've known him since kindergarten, much like how you and Reia
and Shori know each other. However, I haven't seen him in twenty years.

Reia: Don't you guys keep in touch?

Mr. Hyusa: No.

Reia: Why not?

Mr. Hyusa: No real reason. 

Akemi: Won't it be a bit strange seeing you friend again after not having
been in contact after so long?

Mr. Hyusa: Not at all. We'll probably spend a few hours or so just
talking and catching up. After that, it'll be as if we've never been
apart.
 
Shori: How can you do that, just see someone you haven't seen for twenty
years and take over from where you last left off?

Akemi: I think it's a guy thing. They can be out of touch for years, or
decades as with your old man, and be as if no time had passed once they
see each other.

Shori: I guess so.

Mr. Hyusa: He's my best friend from my childhood. 

Shori: I've never met him before, right?

Mr. Hyusa: No, honey. I haven't seen him in twenty years afterall. You
weren't born before we went our separate way.

Akemi: So what did you do when you travelled together?

Mr. Hyusa: Train. 

Akemi: You took the train a lot?

Mr. Hyusa: (Chuckles)No. Not the train. Train as in working out and
training, in martial arts that is.

Akemi: Whoa.

Mr. Hyusa: (Smirks)When I was young, I did used to do something other
than work.

Akemi: I never knew. 

Mr. Hyusa: I'm sure you know that I've always have a love for martial
arts, so much that I plan to teach it once again. That's because when I
was young, my life revolved around martial arts as we travelled the world
training. However, while travelling, I ended up meeting Shori's mother
where I decided to give it up to settle down and raise a family.

Reia: Wow, that's kind of romantic if you think about it, giving up one
love for another.

Mr. Hyusa: (Chuckles)I guess. However, now that Shori's older and we are
very well off financially, I can retire from my job to do what I've
always loved, martial arts.

Shori: Thus, the dojo in the backyard.

Mr. Hyusa: Right. Anyway, we've all trained together. What I mean by we
is Keirojin, Marlena, and I. Marlena joined the trip shortly after we
forcebly separated while travelling in China.

Shori: Who is Marlena:

Mr. Hyusa: A woman that my friend helped out. She used to live in an
Amazon village...

Akemi: Just like Shampoo?

Mr. Hyusa: I guess. Well, we travelled together since then for around ten
years where we separated.

Akemi: Why did you guys separate?

Mr. Hyusa: Like I mentioned, I met Shori's mom and settled down. They
went their own way. Surprisingly, when I talked to my friend, he and
Marlena are still together.

Shori: Are they married?

Mr. Hyusa: By now, most likely. I never pressed the question. They've
been together since bascially the day they've met so it's natural to
assume.

Reia: They're most likely married.

Shori: What does your friend look like?

Mr. Hyusa: Not to sure now. If he looks anything like what he used to
twenty years ago, then he's almost a good head taller than me and
probably weighs around two hundred pounds. He probably walks with a limp
now because he hurt his leg while we were traveling.

Shori: What happened? How did he hurt it.

Mr. Hyusa: Fighting.

Shori: Against you?

Mr. Hyusa: No. Against someone else. It's a long story. We're going to be
seeing him real soon so I'm sure he's better at explaining
it.(Smiles)Wow, it's going to be nice seeing him again. You girls are
going to like him. He's a really nice guy, very laid back.

Akemi: Since you guys trained together, does that mean you and him have
similar fighting styles? Whatever style it is?

Mr. Hyusa: Um, yes. To an extent. We used to be at the same level when
travelling together. However, I stopped training when I settled down
while he continued on.

Akemi: So he'll probably kick your butt in a match, huh?

Mr. Hyusa: (Meek smile)Um........perhaps.

Akemi: How about this Marlena person? What's she like?

Mr. Hyusa: Very nice woman. She's also a martial artist. Heck, if you
really think about it, our styles is partially derived from her.

Shori: What do you mean?

Mr. Hyusa: Focusing on reversals and counter attacks.

Akemi: Hey, you think she's from the same Amazon village as Shampoo?

Mr. Hyusa: I don't know.

Akemi: I remember Shampoo mention about how that style you described is
efficient. Maybe it's because you use the same style as she does. That's
why she thinks well of the style you use.

Mr. Hyusa: (Laughs)Perhaps, but that's probably just coincidence.

Shori: Perhaps.

Mr. Hyusa: Anyway, we'll know more about this when we land in China and
meet up with my friend.

Shori: Okay.


<all ive got so far>


-OneShot
Jeffrey "OneShot" Wong
http://www.anime.sobhrach.com/~jeffwong/index.html



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