This post WAS supposed to be the last installment to this huge series of
mine. However, I missed it by around 50+kbs. This update is one of my
more larger updates, coming in at 85+kbs in size. From the way it seems
to be flowing, this fic will end at around the 2.3meg mark, perhaps
around 2.4 megs. 

To anoyone who haven't read this fic, you can find the previous
parts/chapters/updates of it on my website.
http://www.anime.sobhrach.com/~jeffwong/  Plenty of reading ahead of ya
if you do^_^

I'm sorry for any grammar or spelling mistakes. I have yet to edit this.
What I have updated is just the rough draft. Once I'm finished with this
fic, I'll go back and edit it for mistakes.



Jeffrey "OneShot" Wong





<new stuff 8/20>



Maitre 'd: ..................

Shori: (Nervously)Now now, no need for a scene.

Ranma: (To Maitre 'd)Are we going to have another problem like last time?
I'd like to let what happened back then slide.

Maitre 'd: ...................

Ranma: What do you say?

Maitre 'd: Very well.

Ranma: Good. I'm glad we got that cleared up. Now, what is your name?

Maitre 'd: Touyo.

Ranma: (Diplomatic)Okay, it's nice to meetcha, Touyo. I'm Ranma Saotome.
(Gestures)This is Shori Hyusa. 

Maitre 'd: (Bows)Nice to meet you. (Thinking)H-Hyusa? Is she the daughter
of the owner?

Ranma: (Smiles)Now that everything's cleared up, let's get ready to eat.

(The maitre 'd gave them both their menus as as then what they wanted to
drink. They both ordered soda and the maitre 'd excused himself to get
them their drinks, leaving the couple alone once again.)

Shori: (Smiles)I'm so proud, Ranma. You handled that very well.

Ranma: I probably would've felt better decking him, but I guess this is
second to none.

Shori: It was good that you found out what his name is. Whoever you meet,
the first thing you should do as ask for their name. It gives a sense of
familiarity between two people that isn't there when you don't know each
other's names. That's what my father taught me.

Ranma: I dunno why I do it. I guess perhaps it's just that. I never
really thought of it.

Shori: I try to do that too. However, sometimes I forget to do that or am
just too shy initially. My dad has no problem doing that. For instance,
whenever he ever makes a phonecall, he always asks who he's talking to
when he doesn't recognize the voice on the other line.

Ranma: I guess it just takes some time to get used to it.

Shori: I guess.

Ranma: (Opening menu)All right, let's look for what to order.

Shori: Would you like me to help you decide?

Ranma: Sure.

(Shori goes about helping Ranma choosing, explaining each individual dish
and what they consist of.)

Ranma: No burgers on in this menu?

Shori: (Giggles)You asked that last time.

Ranma: I did?

Shori: There was none then, and there's none now.

Ranma: Well, maybe this restaurant could have changed since we were last
here.

Shori: This is the same menu as the last one. For all we know, we could
be looking at the exact same menu as then.

Ranma: That'd be freakishly coincidental.

Shori: So, have you decided?

Ranma: (Points)Yeah, this one you described sounds really good.

Shori: Ah, that's what I was going to pick.

(The maitre 'd comes back with the drinks.)

Maitre 'd: Have you two decided on what you'd like to eat?

(Shori place her order.)

Maitre 'd: Excellent order.

(Ranma, smirking, places his order as well. It's the exact same order.)

Maitre 'd: Excellent order as well.

(The maitre 'd leaves.)

Ranma: Hm, I figured he'd feel embarrassed when he found out that I
ordered the same meal as you.

Shori: (Smirks)I think you're the one that's still dwelling over what had
happened last time here.

Ranma: I guess. That's very childish of me. I'll stop.

Shori: Okay.

Ranma: I have a question. When does your dad plan on retiring?

Shori: I'm not too sure, why?

Ranma: Because, I figure that won't be for a few years.

Shori: Most likely. He's in no rush to retire quite yet, but he does plan
on retiring early. Heck, he can retire tomorrow if he wants to, but
there's still a lot of things he would like to do, business-wise, before
he does so.

Ranma: Any idea what they might be?

Shori: Not really. My dad's a very good businessman and anything he does
is very beneficial to both him and communities. I simply assume that
whatever he does have left to do, it's all for the good of communities as
well as himself as a business man.

Ranma: Oh. It's just that I would love to work as a sensei and was
curious as to when I can beging doing so.

Shori: Probably after college.

Ranma: C-college?

Shori: Yes. Knowing him, he'd purposely continue to work and retire the
very day after you graduate from college.

Ranma: But why college?

Shori: He wouldn't want to be the cause of you not going to college just
so that you can become a sensei at his dojo.

Ranma: ...................

Shori: Why?

Ranma: Um, I didn't even really want to finish high school, but now
college?

Shori: What? You don't want to go to college?

Ranma: N-not really. I ain't cut out for school.

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

Ranma: It took some convincing to get me to finish high school....but now
college?

Shori: How can you not want to finish high school? Collge I kind of
understand, but still-

Ranma: Your dad seems to highly value education.

Shori: That's because he never finished high school, let alone college.

Ranma: H-he didn't?

Shori: No.

Ranma: Seems like your dad is doing fine despite not having finished high
school.

Shori: He got lucky I guess. There are exceptions but few. 

Ranma: ...................

Shori: Look, all I'm saying is that you should go to college.

Ranma: I guess. I guess it would do me any harm to go to college.
However, I still don't think I'm cut out for it.

Shori: Why are you in a rush to start working anyway? 

Ranma: I dunno. I guess I believe I'm more cut out for work anyway, at
least right out of high school.

Shori: You'll be working with my dad. You'll be well off. Just finish off
college first.

Ranma: Hm, I guess it wouldn't hurt. 

Shori: You should talk to my dad about it before making such a big
decision. I mean, what would you do if you're not going to college?

Ranma: That brings up another question. What do you think about me
boxing?

Shori: You? boxing? Why?

Ranma: I wanna become a boxer. The world's greatest actually. 

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

Ranma: What do you think? I'd like to know of your opinion.

Shori: You, boxing? I'm against it.

Ranma: ....................

Shori: You could get hurt.

Ranma: Well, there is a risk, but that's expected.

Shori: Where did this come from? When did you decide this?

Ranma: On the way back home after visiting Sayuri and Kisen.

Shori: So, just like that, you decided you wanted to be a boxer.

Ranma: Um, yeah, in a way.

Shori: What for?

Ranma: I figure it'd be a good experience.

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

Ranma: Plus, when I was on the ship, I've been training almost non-stop
since I got there. I've gotten a lot stronger than when I left. I can
become the best.

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

Ranma: But I would give it up if it upsets you.

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

Ranma: If you don't want me to box, then I won't.

Shori: The decision's mine?

Ranma: Yes.

Shori: W-what does it have to be my decision? That's a lot of pressure. I
feel like you're putting me on the spot here.

Ranma: I don't mean it.

Shori: What do you think? What's your take on it?

Ranma: I'd like to box.

Shori: You have to train, right? Where?

Ranma: On the way home, I stopped by a boxing gym. It's called 'Katsukawa
Gym'. It's located very closeby, only five miles away. It's not like I'd
be far away when I'm there.

Shori: T-that's good to hear.

Ranma: Plus, I've got a lot of martial arts experience. It's kind of a
derivation of what I've already know.

Shori: That's right. You are very good in martial arts.

Ranma: Plus, I train on a regular basis, even before I decided this. If I
do do boxing, it'd be no different. Actually, it'd probably be easier
because the exercises they do seem rather easy compared to what I do.
Rather than train like I usually do, I can train like I usually do and be
considered a boxer. I'd be killing two birds with one stone. However, if
my being a boxer upsets you, then forget everything I said. I don't wanna
upset you and would choose to not become one so that you don't get upset.

Shori: (Short pause)Do you think it'll make you happy?

Ranma: (Smiles)Yes.

Shori: T-then I guess there's nothing to say. If it makes you happy, then
I'd accept it.

Ranma: Really?

Shori: Yes.

Ranma: (Smiles)Thank you. 

Shori: What do you know about it?

Ranma: I really dunno. I do know it takes time to make my way up to being
able to fight the champion, but other than that, nothing much. 

Shori: Um, I'd like to come with you, to see how it is.

Ranma: (Smiles)Okay, you at least deserve that.

(Ranma and Shori's meal arrive. They say their thanks to the maitre 'd
and beging eating.)

Ranma: (Eating)Since it's early in the school year, I can probably make a
name for myself when I graduate high school.

Shori: But what about your college years? You are going to college,
right?

Ranma: Hm, well, I guess I'll go to a college nearby. I'll go to Tokyo
University.

Shori: T-Toyo University?!

Ranma: Yeah, why not?

Shori: Um, that's a very hard university to get in to.
 
Ranma: Hm, then perhaps I'll just study for a bit.

Shori: It's not quite that easy. The test to enter is extremely hard. 

Ranma: How about you, what university do you plan on going to?

Shori: Well, Tokyo University is one of my choices, my first choice
actually.

Ranma: (Smiles)Cool, we can go together.

Shori: I'd really like that. However, I've no idea if I'll get accepted.
Moreso, you. This is a highly academic university. I don't mean to be
mean, but given your mentality toward school, how do you expect to make
it in there? You were just talking not going to college, and now you're
talking about going to Tokyo University.

Ranma: I'll study for the entrance exams. We can study together actually.

Shori: (Blushing)I'd like that. But the amount of stuff you need to know
is a lot. How do you expect to remember so much in so little time. We've
only less than a year left.

Ranma: Um, I'll study.

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

Ranma: Look, we don't really need to worry about that.

(The two of them continue to eat. Before long, they finish their meal.)

Shori: (Very happy)I'm really glad you asked me out. This was a great
meal. Unlike last time, it wasn't suddenly interrupted.

Ranma: (Smiles)Yeah.

Shori: We've been through so much together. I'm so glad that everything
turned out okay.

Ranma: I would have turned out for the better if I hadn't almost screwed
everything up by keeping my curse a secret.

Shori: It's okay. That's all in the past now. You're now cured.

Ranma: That's true. 

(Ranma gazes toward Shori. Something inside him tells him that the time
was right.)

Ranma: (Softly)Um, there's something I'd like to ask you?

Shori: Sure, what is it?

Ranma: My curse....I know it'll be hard to get over what I've done to
hurt you.....but I swear, all of that is in the past.

Shori: Of course.

Ranma: Um, the past is something we can't change.

Shori: I know.(Thinking)Ranma's sounding kind of funny. 

Ranma: However, I've been thinking of the future a lot.

Shori: You mean with graduating and college and working?

Ranma: Further than that. I've been thinking about our future together.

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

Ranma: Shori, I love you.

Shori: I love you too.

Ranma: Um, all that I've been through, I've been through for you. Ever
since the day I met you, I've been always looking forward to seeing you.
You make me really happy.

Shori: You make me really happy too.

Ranma: Remember what I said back at the hospital? You make me feel whole.

Shori: (Teary eyed).................

Ranma: However, I want it to stay like that.....forever.

Shori: (Fighting back tears).................(Thinking)I-I-Is he going to
ask what I think he's going to ask? 

Ranma: I know, that without a shadow of a doubt, that I love you with all
of my heart and wanna be with you forever.

Shori: (Tears starting to flow)...................

(Ranma gets up to his feet, facing Shori. He reaches in to his pocket and
pulls out a small box.  He got down on one knee, left knee forward.
Perhaps it was he knew the left side of the body represented the heart
and that the left knee forward meant he was pointing his heart toward
her.)

Ranma: Shori, I may be a bit rough on the edges. I may even disappoint
you, even when I try my hardest not too. I may do or say stupid things
that you might find embarrassing when in public with me. But one thing I
do know is that I'll always love you. 

Shori: (Almost sobbing)..............

(Ranma opens the tiny box to reveal a ring. Shori already knew that it
was a proposal the moment she saw him getting down on one knee. Seeing
the ring confirmed her assumptions.)

Ranma: Shori, will you marry-

Shori: Yes!!

(Shori nearly divess out of her seat as she hugs Ranma, wrapping her arms
tightly around him and kissing him. Ranma, on one knee, ended up losing
his balance and falling backwards, Shori falling down on top of him.)

Ranma: (On ground)Y-you'll marry-

Shori: Yes! I'll marry you!








Epilogue:



(Opening scene: It is a beautiful Monday morning. We are in front of
Hyaka High. Over a month have passed since Ranma's proposal to Shori. We
see Ranma and Shori, holding each other's hand, enter the scene from the
right, Akemi and Reia following closely behind.)

Ranma: I've bumped in to Akane the other day.

Shori: Really? When was the last time you saw here?

Ranma: About a month ago.

Shori: Where'd you see her? How's she doing?

Ranma: I was visiting Dr. Tofu. You remember him?

Shori: Yes. He's the guy who has a clinic over in Nerima? A chiropractor,
right?

Ranma: Yes. Anyway, while I was there, Akane came in.

Shori: Did you guys say anything?

Ranma: It was very awkward at first, but after a bit, we finally started
talking.

Shori: How's she doing?(Thinking)I feel so sorry for her. It must've been
devastating for her when Ranma walked out of her life.

Ranma: She's fine. To she doesn't seem to harbor any resentment for what
I have done. She seems to actually be doing okay.

Shori: That's good to hear. 

Ranma: I told her that we're engaged.

Shori: How'd she take it?

Ranma: She seemed hurt, but didn't show it much. I also gave her the
number for the dojo.

Shori: Really?

Ranma: Yeah. Since I'm living there, I figure it's good to at let her
know. Even though I walked out of her life, I don't want it that way. I
betcha given some time, she'll get over me completely and move on.

Shori: You think she and Ryoga will become a couple? 

Ranma: Yeah, if he ever shows up. That guy disappears for weeks at a
time, but he's never been gone for so long. But then again, considering I
no longer live in Nerima, I really dunno if he's come back from where
ever he is, and that I just wasn't around to bump in to him.

Shori: Do you still think he's cursed?

Ranma: Yeah. The bottle of nanichuan I left in the mailbox is still
there.

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

Ranma: He's bound to come back sooner or later.

Shori: Did you two talk a lot, you and Akane?

Ranma: Yeah. I told her that my old man is now living with me in your
dad's dojo. I also mentioned about how I started doing boxing.

Shori: What does she think about that? About everything actually.

Ranma: Well, she was very surprised about my boxing. However, because I
only started a month ago, I'm not even a pro. 

Shori: Your pro test, that's exaclty one month from now, right?

Ranma: Yeah. 

Shori: I'll be there to cheer.

Ranma: Of course.(Smiles)I expect you there.

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

Ranma: I know, you get woozy at the sight of blood. However, this is not
some kinda fight. It's actually just a test. I'm not even considered a
rookie. I fight against people similar to myself. I even wear protective
gear.

Shori: You do?

Ranma: Yeah.

Shori: What's the coach think of your chances?

Ranma: (Smiles)He's pretty sure I'll do okay.

Shori: Um, do you plan on ever coming in contact with Akane and the
others? Or are you going to leave it to chance encounters?

Ranma: I really dunno. Even though it's been a month, I still feel bad
that they're basically not in my life.

Shori: Why not ask them to come watch your pro test?

Ranma: Y-you think I should?

Shori: Sure. Why not?

Ranma: I should. I've never thought of it. Thanks.

(Time passes. A month passes to be exact. We find ourselves in an
auditorium that can probably seat around two thousand people with a
boxing ring in the middle. The seats surrounding it are mostly empty. We
are with Shori, Akemi, and Reia as they sit together, watching the ring.
There is nervous tension in the air.)

Shori: I'm nervous.

Akemi: What's there to be nervous about. This is Ranma we're talking
about.

Reia: You've seen Ranma fight that little guy before he left Japan. No
one hear can fight like that. He'll be fine.

Shori: Still, that doesn't make me feel much better. I guess I'm a
natural worrier.

Akemi: And Ranma a natural warrior.(Laughs)

(Both girls look at Akemi in cringe at the very bad joke. After a moment,
all three laugh. When they stop, the nervous tension seems to have
abated.)

Akane: May we sit here?

(All three girls look up. They immediately recognize Akane, Shampoo, and
Ukyo. All the girls seem to show signs of glee as they greet each other,
glad to see one another once again. It's been over two months since they
were last in contact.)

Shori: Um, I'm sorry about you guys getting hurt over all that's
happened.

Akane: (Smiles slightly)I know. It still hurts, but we're getting over
it.

Akemi: Why, didja find a boyfriend?

Akane: Um, no. 

Reia: What about Ryoga?

Akane: (Blushing)W-w-what about him?

Akemi: (Smirks)Yeah. He has a crush on you, right? Have you seen him
since our trip to China?

Akane: ....................

Shori: Reia, Akemi, it's none of our business.

Akemi: Fine fine.

Akane: I haven't seen him since that day either.

Shampoo: So, how you guys doing?
 
Akemi: We're all doing fine. How goes college entrance exams.

Akane: Ugh, don't remind me of 'em.

Ukyo: I'm not going to college.

Shampoo: Neither will Shampoo.

Shori: That two of you aren't going?

Ukyo: I've got a shop to run.

Shampoo: Same here. It even harder to run restaurant without
great-grandma around, but Shampoo manage.

Reia: Why not hire a few people? It'll help lighten the workload.

Shampoo: Maybe. Right now, Shampoo fine handling store by herself. 

Akane: Didn't you say your store was expanding?

Shampoo: Not yet.

Reia: You're expanding your restaurant?

Shampoo: Yeah, but not any time soon. Store business really picked up
over past couple months. Since Ranma no around, Shampoo been working
around restaurant more often since she now have free time.

Ukyo: Actually, that's the same with me.(Thinking)Hm, my store picked up
in business too. Could it because I'm around more often working isntead
of chasing after Ranma? Should I consider expanding as well?

Reia: (Pointing)Hey, there's Ranma!

(The girls turn their attention toward where Reia was pointing. They spot
Ranma emerging from an entrance by the corner of the auditorium, walking
with a group of people around his age or older. Ranma is dressed in some
sweatpants and sweat shirt and is wearing boxing gloves. They all
approach the ring where they sit by a row of chairs. There is a table
located by the ring where three people are sitting, most likely the
judges to see if they newcomers are good enough to go pro.)

Akemi: (Calling)Go, Ranma!

Ukyo: Go, Ranchan!

Shampoo: Shampoo rooting for Ranma!

(Meanwhile, sitting in his chair, Ranma is blushing. The man sitting next
to Ranma turns around in his chair to look toward where the commotion is
coming from and spot a group of six pretty girls. He turns back, a smirk
on his face.)

Man: Seems like you have a fan following.

Ranma: (Blushing)......................(Thinking)Jeez, I'm not even in
the ring yet and this isn't even a real fight. It's just a test. 

Man: What's your weight class? You look to be a welterweight. How much
you weigh, round one fifty or so?(Thinking)He's around twenty five pounds
heavier than me. Good, we'd never have to fight. He looks really strong.

Ranma: I'm in the heavyweight class. What's your name? I'm Ranma.

Man: (Shocked)What?! How's that possible? I'm Koto by the
way.(Thinking)That's ten weight classes higher than me and seven weight
classes higher than I expected.

Ranma: (Rubbing stomach)Nice meeting ya, Koto. Let's just say I feeling
too good. I weigh one eighty normally. I know, that's much more than what
I look like. I have very dense muscles. Anyway, I ate twenty pounds of
food to make it to the heavyweight class. 

Man: ....................

(Ranma hears his name called. Another name is called. He looks down the
row of of people sitting about and sees a very big man standing up. The
both of them approach the ring and get in.)

Akemi: Ranma has to fight that guy? He's twice as big.

Reia: Man, isn't that unfair, aren't there weight classes or something?
That guy looks to be over two hundred pounds. Ranma looks very small
compared to him.

Shori: Um, remember Boon? He's almost triple the size of that guy and
Ranma says he fights Boon.

Akane: Who's Boon?

Shori: A friend of my dad's. He was the captain of the ship that Ranma
was on.

Akane: Really? I didn't know that.

Shori: I'll tell you later. Let's cheer Ranma on.

(Ranma steps in to the ring. Someone helps him in to his head gear. There
seems to be a rukus when everyone notices the size different between
Ranma and his opponent. The burly man in front of him has a smug look.)

Ranma: (Thinking)I must only jab. Anything more than that can seriously
harm the guy. Coach says that if I wanna have matches, I need to make
myself seem beatable.

(A bell rings. The guy charges Ranma, intent on knocking him out with a
single punch. Before he can get in close, Ranma reacts and give his a
quick jab, hitting the guy in the face, sending him staggering
backwards.)

Guy: W-w-what the hell was that?

Ranma: .................(Thinking)That guy's slow as hell. He looks like
he's moving in slow motion compared to Boon. Man, I gotta lighten up on
the jab. 

(The guy charges, getting jabbed right out of his charge.)

Ranma: (Thinking)This is boring.

(The guy throws a few punches, Ranma choosing to block them rather than
dodge. After a moment, Ranma pretends to lose his guard, allowing for the
guy to get a free shot in, only to be jabbed one again. The man falls to
his knees. The referree runs forward and stops the fight. Ranma wins the
match.)

Ranma: .................

(Time passes. We find ourselves in front of an event stadium where we see
the six girls gathered about, indulged in conversation.)

Akane: It just seems odd that he's doing boxing. He's a martial artist.
If he boxes, it's as if he can only use half his potential when fighting.

Shori: At first, I had assumed he wanted to make a name for himself for
when he teaches, but that kind of seems a bit odd too.

Akane: What do you mean?

Shori: I figured that when he graduates from college and helps run my
father dojo, his name would bring in a lot of students. However, I don't
know how well a well known name in the boxing world would carry in the
martial arts world.

Akane: H-help run your father's dojo?

Shori: Yes. However, that won't be for at least four years, after we
graduate college. However, we still have almost two years left for high
school.

Shampoo: Ranma going to college?

Shori: Yes. My father and I managed to convince him to go to college.

Akane: .....................

(The girls' conversation was broken when they catch sight of Ranma
emerging from the building behind them, a duffle bag slung over his
shoulder.)

Ranma: (Smiles)Hey everyone.

Everyone: Ranma.

(Ranma noticing Akane, Ukyo, and Shampoo.)

Ranma: I'm glad you guys made it.

Akane: N-no problem.

Ranma: I was kinda worried that none of you would show.

Shampoo: Really?

Ranma: Because of the way I just hurt you guys when I just walked out
like that. It was wrong and I regret having done that.

(All girls were silent.)

Ranma: Can we let bygones be bygones and remain friends?

(There a long pause as the girls all look at one another. Before long,
they all reply in unison, 'Yes'.)

(A year passes. It is a random weekday afternoon where find ourselves in
the dojo that Ranma now calls his home, Ranma's dojo. The dojo had
changed slightly, having had an addition added to it to accommodate
Ranma's father, so that he would have a room of his own. For the time
being, Genma was actually teaching private lessons there, with the
consent of Mr. Hyusa. He used the money earned from private lessons to
pay for rent on his and Ranma's behalf, much to Mr. Hyusa's protest, so
that they would not seem like they were freeloaders. Ranma is alone in
the dojo, doing katas, when Shori entered.)

Ranma: Hey.

Shori: (Holding letter)Guess what?

Ranma: What?

Shori: You've got a letter from Tokyo University.

Ranma: Really?!

Shori: Yes.(Hands letter over)Come on, open it.

(We watch as Ranma quickly open the letter. Shori crosses her fingers,
holding her breath, praying that it would be good news. She watches his
exprssion as it remains neutral.)

Shori: (Eager)Well? Do all that hard studying we did together work?

Ranma: .................

(Ranma drops to his knees on the floor, looking down at the floor.)

Shori: (Heart skipping beat)D-don't tell me......

Ranma: (Teary eyed)...................

(Shori sees the top of his head as it hangs low. She sees one of his arms
reach up to rub his eyes, as if rubbing away tears. The problem was that
she didn't know if they were tears of joy or tears of sadness.)

Ranma: (Sadly)I-I didn't make it......

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

Ranma: Tokyo University doesn't want me. I guess I'm too stupid for 'em.

Shori: Don't say that, Ranma.

(Shori kneels by Ranma's side and embraces him. She can feel that he is
very tense, as if trying to keep back his emotions.)

Ranma: I tried. I really tried hard....but I guess my best wasn't good
enough.

Shori: (Softly)It's okay. It's okay.

Ranma: I-it looks like I won't be going with you to Tokyo University like
we first planned.

Shori: That's not true. We'll go together.

Ranma: But you've already been accepted. I haven't. There's no way I can
go to that school with you if I haven't been acepted. And no, I don't
want your father to help me get in. I don't want his help anymore. I want
to stand on my own two feet.

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

Ranma: E-even if it means having to tumble like this.

Shori: Don't worry, we'll go through college together.

Ranma: How?

Shori: (Sure of her decision)I won't go this year. I'll wait for you to
get accepted.

Ranma: ...................

Shori: Don't try and convince me otherwise. You'll be a ronin, but only
for a year. We'll definitely get you in to Tokyo University next year.

Ranma: ...................

(A few months pass. We find ourselves at Furinkan High, in the backfield
where we see it full of people. The field was full of neatly placed
chair, friends and family members all there to observe such a momentous
occasion. It was graduation day. There was a huge dias with a tiny podium
by the front where the graduating students are gathered. Spanning from
the podium and back was a sea of people, there to watch their friends or
family members graduating from high school, closing off a chapter of
their life. Among the sea of people, we see a row of familiar faces.)

Soun: (Crying)I'm so happy, my little girl is graduating.

Nabiki: (Smirking)Was he like this for my own graduation?

Kasumi: (Smiles)Yes he was.

Akemi: (Looking forward)Where's Akane? I don't see here.

Shori: (Pointing)There she is.

(Everyone spots Akane and Ukyo sitting by the front podium, partially
hidden among the group of graduating students.)

Ranma: (Waving arms)Akane! Ukyo!

Nabiki: (Smirking)It doesn't help since you're bascially waving your arms
around like everyone else surrounding us trying to get the attention of
whoever else is in that group.

Ranma: True.

Shori: How can we get her attention?

Ranma: Wait, I know of an easy way of signalling here.

(Ranma raises one hand in the sky.)

Ranma: Mouko Takabisha!

(A massive ki-blast erupts from Ranma's skyward arm, disappearing high in
to the air, disipitating the single cloud that was in an otherwise
cloudless sky. The whole field became silent after having witness
something like that.)

Ranma: (Waving)Akane!! Ukyo!!

(Akane easily spots him. Actually, she had spotted him when she saw the
ki-blast. She give him and the group he was with a wave. Ukyo, sitting in
a different section of the group, also spots him, she waves as well.)

Ranma: (Sitting down)Good, she sees us. Now she knows where we're
sitting.

Akemi: Man, even though I've seen him do that before, it's still
surprising seeing him do that.

Shori: (Embarrassed)Was it a good idea to do that?

Ranma: (Grins)Yeah. This is Nerima afterall. Everyone here already know
about me and some of the stuff I can do. This town's residents have
already seen ki-blasts of mine. They're used to seeing giant pandas and
massive battle auras and giant flying pheonix birds. Something like this
won't bother 'em at all.

(As if predicted, before long, everyone return to trying to get the
students' attention. The whole stunt Ranma did seemed like a simple
momentary interruption before everyone resumed on with whatever they were
doing.)

Ranma: Told ya.

(The whole audience become quiet as they see the Principal step in front
of the podium.)

Ranma: (Annoyed)Principal Kuno.(Pointing open palm toward him)Who wants
to bet that I can incinerate that stupid palm tree off the top of his
head from this distance?

Nabiki: (Smirks)You're on. I bet you your next fight's winnings that you
can't incinerate it.

Ranma: And if I do?

Nabiki: (Grinning)I won't tell Shori what your weakness is.

Ranma: (Narrowing eyes)Ooh, that's low.

Nabiki: We have a deal?

Ranma: (Laughs)Nope. They already know.

Shori: Yes, he's scared of cats.

Nabiki: (Smiles)You two keep no secrets from each other, huh?

Ranma: Not if I can help it.

Shori: I think it's kind of cute. I'm alergic to cats too.

Ranma: Thanks goodness Shampoo accepted the nyanichuan I brought back. It
would've been really complicated if she hung around me and Shori. Imagine
if it rained and she gets turned in to a cat. I'd have a fit and Shori'll
have a alergic attack. 

Nabiki: Okay, how about if you win, I'll give you one day's worth of my
earnings?

Ranma: Um, no. I make more than you with a single fight win than you in a
week working at that business firm. You get paid every two weeks right?
How about I get half your paycheck if I win and you'll get my next
fight's winnings if you win?

Nabiki: Hm, that seems to be a rather balanced wager.

Akemi: (To Shori)Seems like your father's business sense is rubbing off
on Ranma.

Shori: I think so too.

(Ranma holds a hand forward, palm facing Principal Kuno.)

Ranma: (Smirking)This was for all the time you tried cutting my hair and
tormented me before I transferred...

Kasumi: I don't recommend you doing this. This is Akane's graduation.

Ranma: ................

Nabiki: ................

Kasumi: It'd be a real shame if it gets ruin because of something like
this.

Ranma: Well, I guess you've gotta point.(Thinking)I'dve probably lost
too.

Nabiki: That's true. All right, let's just call it off.

(Everyone notices the student in the front standing up, the students
making a pre-determined line in front of the side of the dias, right by
the tiny staircase leading up to it. One by one, each student is called
by their name where they walk on to the dias and are given their
diploma.)

Ranma: Aw man, they're saying it in alphebetical order.

Nabiki: It's probably going to be a good ten minutes before Akane's name
is called.

(Ranma stretches in his chair. As he does so, he notices a lone figure
standing by the shade of a tree way in the back of the field.)

Ranma: Well I'll be damned.

Shori: What is it?

Ranma: it's Ryoga.

Everyone but Kasumi: (Surprised)What?!

(Ranma quickly excuses himself. He makes his way to one of the open isles
and head away from everything and toward the tree. He stops as he reaches
Ryoga. Ryoga looks te exact same as when they last seen each other over a
year ago.)

Ranma: Yo.

Ryoga: Hey.

Ranma: It's nice to see you again.

Ryoga: Likewise I guess.

Ranma: Where've you been for the past, what, year and three-quarters?

Ryoga: Lost.

Ranma: ....................

Ryoga: Did I miss much?

Ranma: Um, kinda.

Ryoga: Like what?

Ranma: Shori and I are engaged to be married for one thing.

Ryoga: R-really?

Ranma: Yeah. I proposed to her over a year ago. 

Ryoga: Congratulations.

Ranma: Thanks. Lettme, what else happened? Shampoo expanded her
restaurant. It's now twice as big as usual. So did Ucchan's. I now live
in the dojo at Shori's place. So does my old man.

Ryoga: And you've become a rising star in the boxing world...

Ranma: (Smiles)That too.

Ryoga: I've read about you. Why are you boxing?

Ranma: (Grins)I have my reasons.

Ryoga: (Shrugs)Okay.

Ranma: Also, Tendo-san's now teaching classes in his own dojo.

Ryoga: Really? I never seen him teaching before.

Ranma: It seems like Shori's dad and him partnered up and combined both
schools. When I graduate from college, provided I get in to college, I'll
be teaching along with Mr. Hyusa at the dojo where I now live.

Ryoga: Won't if you and Mr. Hyusa teaches at one dojo, wouldn't that be
competing against Tendo-san's own dojo?

Ranma: No. That's the whole point behind Mr. Hyusa and Tendo-san
combining schools and becoming partners, so they're no longer competing
against one another for business. There are going to be two dojo's, the
Hyusa Dojo and the Tendo Dojo, both teaching the same discipline.

Ryoga: Wow.

Ranma: Yeah. My old man is teaching private lessons at the Hyusa Dojo
right now, but a few years from now, he'll be teaching at the Tendo Dojo,
when I get out of college and Mr. Hyusa retires, so we can teach at the
Hyusa Dojo. Basically, when I get outta college, the school of Anything
Goes Martial Arts will be revealled to the world because a chain of 'em
will actually open up simultaneously. 

Ryoga: Sounds like a huge project.

Ranma: I know, but it seems really easy for Mr. Hyusa. He's actually
really eager for this. He believes this is his greatest business move
yet.

Ryoga: So bascially, even though you left and severed your ties with the
Tendo's officially in terms of your engagment with Akane, you never
really severed your ties.

Ranma: No. I never wanted to severe my ties with them, not if it could be
helped. This way, both the Saotomes and Tendos remain friends while the
Hyusas become a new addition to this circle.

Ryoga: Man, I've missed so much.

Ranma: I've also got good news for you.

Ryoga: What?

Ranma: I've found the nanichuan.

Ryoga: Really?

Ranma: Yeah.

Ryoga: (Shrugs)Well, it doesn't matter now.

Ranma: (Surprised)W-what?

Ryoga: I'm no longer cursed.

Ranma: (Smirks)Lettme guess, you found the nanichuan in your mailbox.

Ryoga: My mailbox? No. I've yet to visit my house.

Ranma: ................

Ryoga: I've been cured since around the time you left Japan.

Ranma: That was a long time ago. How'd that happen?

Ryoga: I dunno. I was wandering around after I got home from China.

Ranma: When'd you go to China?

Ryoga: When everyone and I were looking for you. This was before we found
out you were going to land in Korea.

Ranma: Oh. I'll tell you about that. It's a long story.

Ryoga: Of course. I'm looking forward to hearing it. Anyway, after I got
back from China, I ended up getting lost, ending up in China not too long
after.

Ranma: Wow. I know you get lost, but that's what I call getting really
lost.

Ryoga: Ha ha. Anyway, I wandered around China and ended up in none other
than Jusenkyo.

Ranma: Talk about luck.

Ryoga: I recognized the area. However, there were thousands of springs.

Ranma: How'd you find the right one?

Ryoga: I asked one of the villagers.

Ranma: Villagers? You mean one that was training there? Joketsuzoku is
closeby.

Ryoga: No. I saw two people there. It was around dawn. They looked like
sisters. One of them were scooping up spring water from one srping in to
one bottle and another one was doing the same for another spring.

Ranma: Why were they doing that?

Ryoga: I dunno. I asked one if she knew which one was the nanichuan and
she pointed to the one the other one was at. I was really shocked that
she spoke Japanese because whoever I talked to in China spoke Chinese.

Ranma: Spoke Japanese? Looked like sisters? Do you mean Ling-Ling and
Lung-Lung?

Ryoga: No. Anyway, I asked them what they were doing and they said they
were collecting spring water for a friend who had gone on to fight this
person one of them called the Village Elder. I didn't pay much particular
mind. I jumped in to the spring and bascially went merrily on my way. It
took me this long to find my way home though.

Ranma: Strange. You kinda described the time when I might've been there.
I remember asking these two girls, Sayuri and Kisen to do just that,
scoop up some spring water from the nyanichuan and nanichuan.

Ryoga: I never bothered to ask them for their names.

Ranma: And the part about the person going to fight the village elder
sounds like it might have been me. When I was there, I fought and
defeated the old ghoul.

Ryoga: Why'd you fight her?

Ranma: Some nonsense about how I was supposed to beat her in one-on-one
battle to null the engagment to Shampoo. If you remember that night when
I first fought against her, you and Akane and others joined in the fight.
I'll explain that another time.

Ryoga: Anyway, I'm just glad to be back in time for Akane's graudation.

Ranma: I swear, it seems like you show up at perfect times at times. It's
like you show up, get the ball rolling, and then disappear.

Ryoga: What the hell's that mean?

Ranma: Hey, it means nothing. It's just a harmless comment.(Thinking)Hm,
I wonder if it'd be fun to fight Ryoga. I've gotten a lot more powerful
since I came back. I wonder if Ryoga is even a worthy opponent nowadays.
Probably not if he doesn't train.(Begins to talk)You still train?

Ryoga: Yeah, why?

Ranma: Just curious. Hey, didja ever get around to telling Akane that you
loved her?

Ryoga: Um, actually, yeah, I did.

Ranma: How'd she react?(Thinking)She probably declined him since she
seemed to heartbroken when I told her how much I loved Shori.

Ryoga: She was bascially shocked. She never gave me a response. I just
told her. I asked her to just think about it.

Ranma: Wait, you told her that you loved her over a year ago and still
dunno what she thinks of you?

Ryoga: No. I'm kinda worried that her answer will turn out to be what I
fear it to be.

Ranma: Um, it's been over a year since then. Her feelings are different
now. She, as well as everyone else, have gotten over me and moved on. 

Ryoga: Really?

Ranma: Yeah. 

Ryoga: Y-you think I mist still have a chance?

Ranma: Dunno. Perhaps you gave her too long a time to thing about what
you said that she forgot about you.

Ryoga: .....................

Ranma: Lighten up a bit. I was just joking with you. Anyway, I still keep
in contact with Akane, even though I don't see her every day. Heck, it's
the same with everyone from this town for that matter. She's not seeing
someone so there's still a chance.

Ryoga: .....................

Ranma: It doesn't hurt to ask. Of course, that is, if you can get over
your natural shyness and come out and actually ask her.

Ryoga: I-I can try. One more thing, now that I'm cured, what is Akane's
take on P-chan?

Ranma: Oh. Well, she thought P-chan ran away for good.

Ryoga: ....................

Ranma: It can't be helped. You can choose to tell her or keep it a
secret. It's all up to you. She doesn't know about you being P-chan,
that's for sure. She still hasn't made the connection that P-chan
disappeared at the exact same time as you disappeared.

(Ranma hears the name for student with a last name close to Ukyo's.)

Ranma: I'm gonna go. They're gonna call Ukyo's name in a bit. I wanna be
there to cheer for her as well as Akane. You wanna come join us?

Ryoga: ....................

Ranma: After the ceremony, we're all going out to get a celebration
dinner. I doubt Akane would mind you coming along.

Ryoga: You think?

Ranma: Um, considering you've been gone for over a year, I think she'd be
glad to see you. Besides, after the dinner, if you want we can try and
help you out by getting you and Akane alone together. Shori, Akemi, and
Reia are coming along. When those three work together, they can set plans
in to motion that you think would never work.

Ryoga: ..................

Ranma: That is, if you want.(Shrugs)It's all up to you. You've been away
for so long. A lot's changed over time. 

Ryoga: I'll do it. I'll come along.

Ranma: (Smiles)Okay. That's good to hear. Follow me.

(A week passes since Akane's graduation. We are in the back field of
Hyaka High School where we see a scene similar to the one a week earlier
at Furinkan High. However, this time around, friends and family are
looking for Ranma, Akemi, Reia, and Shori.)

Akane: I'm glad we came. I'm surprised to actually bump in to you on the
way here.

Ryoga: Y-yeah.

Akane: It's a shame that we got separated from sitting with Shori's mom
and dad and everyone else.

Ryoga: Yeah.

(Ryoga looks toward the side where he actually notices Mr. And Mrs. Hyusa
sitting elsewhere in the sea of people. Mr. Hyusa gives him a thumbs up
and mouths 'Go for it'. Sitting by them were everyone else.)

Ryoga: ...................(Thinking)I can't believe Shori got her father
in to this. I thought only she and Reia and Akemi do that.

Akane: You see them?

Ryoga: Yeah, I see all of them. Ranma doesn't seem to see us though. He's
still looking around for us.

Akane: Hey, you were at my graduation. Ranma mentioned that you were
there. Why not do what Ranma did to get me to spot him easily?

Ryoga: You mean use a ki-blast?

Akane: Yeah.

Ryoga: Um, I don't think I should. It'll probably freak people out.

Akane: Oh. I guess you have a point.

Ryoga: (Blushing)Besides, um, my Shi Shi Hakodan is based on negative
energy and feelings of depression and angst....um....I'm not feeling that
right now.(Thinking)Quite the opposite. I'm feeling very good with myself
that I can probably shoot a Mouko Takabisha instead.

Akane: How are we to get Ranma's attention?

Ryoga: Oh, I've thought of something.

Akane: What is it?

(Ryoga looks down by his feet. The chairs were all laid out on the back
field so there were bound to be some rocks around. After a minutes of
searching, he finds one.)

Ryoga: (Picking up rock)Found one.

Akane: What's that for?

Ryoga: (Grinning)Getting Ranma's attention.

(Ranma jerks his arm back and throws the rock with pinpoint precision. It
hits Ranma in the side of his head, causing him to yelp in pain, the
force so hard that the rock turned to dust upon impact.)

Ranma: Ow!! Who the hell did that?!(Looks around)

(Ranma spots Ryoga and Akane. He sees Akane waving happily at him. Ryoga
is also doing the same, a big smirk on his face.)

Ranma: Why you!(Sighs)I guess that was a good way to get my attention,
even though it hurt like crazy.(Waves back)

Ryoga: (To Akane)Um, I'm glad you're not all w-weirded out with me
popping back up last week.

Akane: Not at all. I was really wondering where you were. It was too bad
you disappeared after the graduation. We all went and got dinner. It
would have been nice if you came along.

Ryoga: Um, thanks. It was my own fault. I got lost when I went looking
for the bathroom.

Akane: (Giggles)You should try and take care of that.

Ryoga: How?

Akane: I don't know. Why not use reference points for one? Try and
memorize your surrounding areas and remember which direction you went
based on those reference points.

Ryoga: Wow, that's a good idea. I should try that.

Akane: .................

Ryoga: I usually never check out my surroundings let alone taking care to
see if things look familiar.

Akane: Y-you've never used r-reference points before?

Ryoga: No. I recognize places, but I never really did take care to think
of the direction I went in in reference to it.

Akane: .................um, perhaps you won't get lost if you did that.
You should give it a try.(Thinking)It's insane if that's the case, that
he gets lost because he doesn't bother to remember exactly which
direction he was headed.

Ryoga: Um, d-do you think there'll be a celebration dinner?

Akane: Yeah. Are you going to come?

Ryoga: I'd like to.

Akane: (Smiles)That's good to hear.

(There is a long pause. Akane, sensing the tension of the situation,
looks forward to watch Ranma as he continues to rub at the side of his
head.)

Ryoga: Um, d-do you remember w-what I said to you over a year
ago....um.....in China.

Akane: .....................(Thinking)I guess this was inevitable. Sooner
or later, this subject was going to be brought up.

Ryoga: Um.......I-I still.......I still love you.

Akane: .....................

Ryoga: I feel bad for not having been around for so long to get a
response from you...

Akane: Um.....can we n-not talk about this?

Ryoga: .....................(Depressed)Okay.

Akane: No, it's not that. I've had a lot of time to think about what you
said.

Ryoga: Myabe too much, huh? I never meant to be gone those long.

Akane: Not at all. Um, it's just that I kinda feel awkward about it.

Ryoga: ....................

Akane: .............(Thinking)I'm making a fool outta myself. I'm
stumbling with words.

(Akane stops to take several deep breaths.)

Akane: I do like you, Ryoga.

Ryoga: R-really?

Akane: Y-yes. As a friend.

Ryoga: Oh...........

Akane: (Blushing)B-but I'm w-willing to give it a try.....b-being more
than friends.(Thinkging)Being away from Ryoga for so long's made me
actually miss him and realize that I liked him much more that I believed.

Ryoga: R-really?

Akane: Um, yeah.

Ryoga: Y-you're not kidding? 

Akane: No.(Thinking)I've gotten over Ranma. It's time to move on. Ryoga's
actually a good guy, a far better guy than anyone I'll probably ever meet
again.

Ryoga: (Crying)I'm so happy.

Akane: (Blushing)N-not here.....

Ryoga: (Wiping eyes)I-I'm sorry.

Akane: How about this? After the celebration dinner, we'll walk home
together, just you and me? (Thinking)I notice I've gotta give Ryoga a bit
of a push before he gets past his shyness.

Ryoga: That'd be great. I've got a lot of stuff to talk about too. Like
the places I've been too during the time I was gone.

Akane: (Smiles)I'd like that.(Thinking)I guess I'm lucky. I already
consider Ryoga a very good friend. It probably won't be much of a problem
to consider him more than a good friend given some
times.(Blushing).....................

(Akane and Ryoga notice all the Hyaka students standing up and forming a
line by the dias.)

Ryoga: Look, they're gonna start calling out the names.

Akane: Good. Graduations are kind of boring if you think about it.
However, I guess seeing everyone getting their diplomas makes it worth
sitting through around three hours of stuff.

Ryoga: (Blushing)I don't mind. I-I'm w-with you afterall.

Akane: (Blushing...................

(In the far off distance, way in the back of the field, we catch sight of
Boon and Marlena and Sayuri. They cheer as they hear Ranma's name called
and watch as he walks across the dias to get his diploma.)

Boon: (Softly)Congradulations, boy. Well done. 

Marlena: (Smiling)I'm proud of you, Ranma.

Sayuri: How come we can't stay for after-graduation?

Boon: (Turning around)We have no time. Dontcha realize we're supposed to
be halfway to China by now isntead of docked in Tokyo Bay and here
watching Ranma's graduation?

Sayuri: Still.

Boon: Don't worry, we'll see him soon enough. Let's get going.

Marlena: Take care, Ranma.

Sayuri: See you later, Ranma.

Boon: See y'later, boy. We'll be seeing you soon enough.

(Almost a year passes. We find ourselve in Katsukawa Gym where we see
Ranma jabbing at a giant sized punching bag. The gym had been renovated
and now had new equpiment. There are also around a dozen female in there
training as well. We see posters of Ranma posted by the wall near the
entrance. It shows of Ranma in a boxing pose. Under his picture was his
name as well as his ring name, Ranma "Widowmaker" Saotome. On the right
it gave some information about him. The door open and in comes a cool
gust of wind. The people, including Ranma, working the punching bag turn
their attention toward person that just entered. The four guys by
punching bag, although older, drool at sight of Shori.)

Man1: H-hi, Shori.

Man2: Good afternoon, Shori.

Man3: Long time no see, Shor.

Man4: It's good to see you again, Shori.

Shori: (Smiles)Hi, guys.

Ranma: Yo. 

(Ranma stops what he's doing and approaches Shori. In her hands she has
an envelope.)

Shori: Guess what this is.

Ranma: Is it-

Shori: A letter from Tokyo University.

Ranma: ..................

Shori: (Eager)C'mon, open it.

Ranma: (Smirks)Um, I kinda can't since I'm wearing boxing gloves.

Shori: Oh.

(Shori helps untie the strings to Ranma's gloves. Once his hands are
free, he takes the letter and looks at it nervously.)

Ranma: ..................

Shori: Something the matter?

Ranma: Um, w-what if it turns out like last year?

Shori: There is a chance...

Ranma: ..................

Shori: But considering how much I've been helping you study and those
college entrance classes you've been going to after your training, you
should have gotten in with no problem.

Ranma: I dunno. I know messed up pretty badly on some parts of the test.

Shori: Perhaps, but you're also very strong with other parts, like the
math part. Even if you do badly in one part, your math abilities will
compensate for it.

Ranma: Okay.(Takes deep breath)

Man1: (Approaching)What's that?

Man2: (Approaching)Yeah, what's that?

Ranma: (Smirks)If you wanna find out, spar me.

Man1: Nevermind.(Walks off)

Man2: Yeah, what he said.(Walks off)

Shori: (Giggles)They're funny.(Looks around)Wow, I haven't been here in a
few weeks and this place looks totally different.

Ranma: The place got finished renovating yesterday. I invested all my
earnings back in to this place. (Jerking thumb over shouder)Now, this
place has punching bags that can actually sustain punches other than my
jabs.

Shori: They look different.

Ranma: Yeah. They're filled with water. It doesn't hurt the hand as much
and distributes the impact of the blow more so it can take more
punishment.

Shori: Anyway, let's see what their answer is.

Ranma: Right.

(Like last time, Shori crosses her fingers while holding her breath,
praying that it's good. She watches as Ranma opens the envelope and takes
out a letter and begin reading it.)

Shori: (Nervously).....................(Thinking)Please plase please let
it be good news.

Ranma: (Cheers)Yes!! I made it!!

(Shori cheers as she jumps in to Ranma's arms as they give each other a
great big hug, Ranma bringing her around off her feet for a few
revolutions before putting her back down.)

Ranma: We did it! We did!

Shori: (Almost crying)No, you did it. I just helped out. You getting it
was due to all that hard work. You never gave up.

Ranma: Yes!! 

(In a fit of joy, Ranma turns around and delivers a playful hook punch to
the punching bag. A chain reaction occurs as Ranma forgets that he wasn't
supposed to punch so hard. The chain holding the bag snaps as the bag is
set flying to the left, slamming in to the next bag, snapping its chain,
both bags going flying. This happens for all five bags where it ends up
crashing in to officer door and through it. A loud splash could be heard
as the watery contents of the bag rupture outward.)

Ranma: (Laughs)Oops.

Coach's voice: Ranma!!!!!

Ranma: (Grabs Shori)C'mon, let's get outta here before he rips me a new
one.

Shori: A new what?

Ranma: (Smiles)Nevermind.

(Coach emerges from the office, soaking wet, just as Ranma and Shori
disappear out of the building.)

Coach: (Fuming)Where's Ranma?!? I'm gonna kill him!!

(Several months pass. We are in a jam-packed stadium. There was somewhere
within the vicinity of fifty thousand people in the stadium. This doesn't
count the millions watching the broadcast on pay televion. Amongst the
sea of people, we see Shori and a bunch of friends and family sitting in
the front row closest to the ring by what would be considered Ranma's
corner. Bascially, everyone was there, even Mousse and Kodachi and Kuno.)

Genma: My boy, a world champion contender. Who'd have thought?

Nabiki: (Smiles)Ranma, most likely.

Akane: So, how much have you bet on this fight?

Nabiki: (Grinning)A good sum. It's an easy win.

Reia: What makes you think that? Sure, Ranma wins all his fights, but
it's usually an uphill climb for him all the way. His opponent's remained
champion for close to three years and is undefeated.

Shampoo: That right. He also have three times more wins than Ranma.

Ukyo: This is so exciting. I can feel the excitement in the air.

Kodachi: Even though this sport is barbaric and nowhere near as poised
and graceful as gymnastics, it is kind of exciting I must conclude.

Ryoga: I'm gonna root for Ranma's opponent.

All females: Don't you dare.

Ryoga: ....................

Akemi: (Smirking)What's funny is how much we know about boxing. None of
us knew anything about it before long.

Soun: Girls, it's only natural to start understanding more and more about
it as time goes on. Afterall, Ranma is now a professional boxer. Heck,
I've even grown a deep appreciation for it.

Mr. Hyusa: Likewise.

Mrs. Hyusa: Even I'm starting to understand more and more about it. Even
I feel the excitement.

Akemi: It'd be even more exciting if you come to more matches. It's
really exciting watch as Ranma fights progressively stronger opponents
and eventually overcome them.

Mrs. Hyusa: I would come, but I've been busy lately.

Akemi: (Smirking)You think? We barely ever see you, except perhaps during
the times when you and Mr. H. are throwing those parties.

Mr. Hyusa: Can you please stop calling me-

Akemi: And every now and then we see you home when we visit.

Mrs. Hyusa: Well, dear, that's because I'm usually not even in the
country. Sometimes I'm overseas on business. I'm not home nearly as much
as my husband. However, it would have been nice to have been home more
often.(To Shori)I would have loved to have seen yours and Ranma's
relationship blossom in to what it is now.

Shori: (Looking at ring)We've had our ups and downs at the beginning, but
everything's fine now. I'm looking forward to going to Tokyo University
come this fall.

Akemi: I still think that ring looks ugly.

Shori: Akemi, you've been saying that for over the past two years. I get
your point.

Akemi: I don't get it. Ranma makes bundles of cash from boxing and he
doesn't buy you a new ring.

Shori: That's because I don't want him to.

Akemi: Still...

Mrs. Hyusa: Don't worry, Akemi, you'll understand soon enough.

Akemi: I guess.

Mrs. Hyusa: How are you and that young man you are seeing doing?

Akemi: Were. We're no longer seeing each other.

Mrs. Hyusa: Why?

Akemi: Cause it's Shori's fault. She introduced me to him. I found out
how awesome boyfriend material he is, and now I'm doomed to constantly
compared all potential boyfriends to him. It's really frustrating
actually.

Reia: Tell me about it.

Shori: (Blushing)......................

Akemi: Don't worry, there's someone other there.

Reia: Yeah.

Akemi: (To Genma)Are you sure you don't have another son, peferrably one
that looks and acts exactly like Rama?

Genma: .....................

Kuno: I'll have you know that I am far more handsome and better boyfriend
material than that rogue, Ranma Saotome. I'm free also.

Akemi: (Giggle)No way, Kuno-chan. I'm too much woman for you.

Kuno: What?!

Nabiki: All right, enough with teasing Kuno-chan here.

Shampoo: (To Akemi)How 'bout you take Mousse?

Akemi: Mousse? Sorry, man, you're cute and all, but I don't like the fact
that you have some statue fetish.

Mousse: (Blushing)I thought it was Shampoo! My glasses were off!

Akemi: Really? So you say.

Mousse: ..................

Mr. Hyusa: (To Kuno)Don't you hate it when they call you 'Kuno-chan'?

Kuno: Quite, but what can I do about it?

Mr. Hyusa: That's the same with me being called Mr. H. it seems.(Sighs)

(The stadium crowd erupts in cheer as they hear the name of the champion.
The group, though, boo toward the champion as he makes his way toward the
ring. Shampoo hisses though.)

Akemi: Um, you're not a cat anymore, y'know. You were cured of that years
ago.

Shampoo: Oh yeah, Shampoo sometime forget.

(Before long, Ranma's name is called. The group starts cheering. Half the
stadium erupts in cheering, the other half booing. Ranma was the
challenger afterall.)

Kuno: Boo!!

Females: Kuno!!!

Kuno: ..................

Ryoga: ............(Thinking)I better not say anything either.

(Mr. Hyusa reaches in to his pocket and pull up an earphone and brings it
up to one ear, so he could listen to the live play-by-play broadcast of
the fight. Mr. Hyusa couldn't tell whose voice belonged to.)

Voice1: And here comes our challenger, Ranma "Widowmaker" Saotome. Can
you believe it? This guy's a heavy weight.

Voice2: Not at all. It shocked the boxing world when it was discovered
that he actually eats an exuberant amoung of food before stepping in to
the ring.

Voice1: I don't get it. Why would he do that? Who would possibly want to
move up several weightclasses. To this day, no one, not even the owner of
Katsukawa Gym where Ranma trains know.

Voice2: Right. There is speculation that he feels it unchallengign to
fight people of his same weightclass. We've seen him getting hit with
heavyweight punches in many fights yet he doesn't seem to get all that
bothered by it.

Voice1: This could be because in lower weightclasses, although the
opponents are faster, the power behind their punches are significantly
less. Ranma here moves at the speed of a lightweight, a person fifty
pounds lighter than his opponent, if not faster.

Voice2: It seems like the extra food he carries in his stomach doesn't
effect his agility one bit.

Voice1: To this day, not a single opponent had been able to land a blow
to Ranma's stomach. It must frustrate them so much to not be able to get
in close and constantly getting countered whenever they try.

Voice2: All his opponents know that a single punch to Ranma's stomach
would send him wretch. It would be an embarrassment to him if that were
to ever happen, to collapse in the middle of the ring and losing your
dinner like so.

Voice1: I wonder if Ranma will continue to use the 'Widowmaker' of his.

Voice2: We will see. He might have to adopt a different style to break
past the champion's seemingly unbreakeable guard. To everyone listening
tuning in, I'd like to give you a bit of information about that. The
widowmaker was a punch developed by Ranma and possess unbelieveable
power. To this day, even looking at video of his fights in slow motion,
no one can quite tell how he managed to execut such a punch.

Voice1: Right. The punch is significantly quicker than a standard jab.
There have been many instances where not even the cameras could capture
the speed of his punches. Many times referrees have actually thought
Ranma's opponents accidentally slipped and fallen to their knees when in
reality, they had actually been hit by the widow maker.

Voice2: Now where did that name for that punch come from? 

Voice1: It was an arbitrary name. However, it seems very fitting for
every guy in the boxing circuit, every single one of 'em, fear this
punch. That is because it kills, figuratively not literally mind you, his
opponents. To this day, only two guys had been able to sustain more than
ten blows of the widowmaker.

Voice2: I shudder to think what other arsenal Ranma has up his sleeve. 

Voice1: We might never knew for he needs none other. Until someone can
get past that widomaker, they don't stand a chance. Even if the
champion's guard is strong enough to block the widowmaker, I doubt he'd
be able to withstand one of Ranma's strong punches or even punch him
enough times to do damage. It has been rumored that Ranma actually allows
himself to be hit by the opponents. What's your take on it.

Voice2: If it is, then I guess I can understand why. It would be awefully
hard scheduling matches with opponents that would fight him if they know
that they can't hit him.

Voice1: All of this is speculation of course.

Voice2: Of course.

Voice1: What do you think of Ranma's workout regimen? Do you think anyone
can remotely emulate it to become as formidable as him?

Voice2: I doubt it. I've heard some rather ridiculous rumors but his
training is by far the most ridiculous rumor I've heard yet. There are
many rumors that when this guy goes jogging, he can't cross bridges.

Voice1: Oh?

Voice2: That is because bridges have weight limits and he actually wears
weights so much weights around his body that he can not cross them for
fear of being beyond the bridges weight capacity.

Voice1: You're right, that is one ridiculous rumor.

Voice2: And other rumors of him actually being some kind of machine or
something because he never get tired. This might more believeable since
in all the fights, he never been seen to even breath hard.

Voice1: That rumor actually seems more plausible. This whole world knows
there are researches being made this very moment in developing humaniod
machines. For all we know, Ranma could be the prototype.

Voice2: (Laughs)That would explain his power.

Voice1: (Laughs)Yes, that most would. People, don't take our comments
serious. We are merely relaying rumors, not truths. Ah, it seems like we
are about to start.

(Meanwhile, at his seat.)

Mr. Hyusa: (Thinking)What kinds of commentary is that? 

(The bell rings. Ranma and the Champion circle one another. Unlike most
opponents, Ranma's opponent doesn't charge in attacking.)

Ranma: (Thinking)Man...........this is the champion. Everyone's watching.
There's no one higher on the ladder to fight. Once I beat this guy,
that's it...then I'll become the chapion where everyone will be coming
after me, to try and knocked me off the throne. However, they're going to
be in for a surprise.(Begins to talk)You should feel honored....

(The Champion narrows his eyes, wondering if this was some kind of
distraction tactic. He stays cautious as the two of them circle each
other.)

Ranma: (Smiles)I've only used jabs as I fought my way up the ladder to
get up here. I was scared that if I displayed what I was really capable
of, no one would fight me and it would take forever for me to become
champion. By sticking with jabs and even allowing people to actually hit
me, everyone thought I was very gifted but beateable.

Champion: ....................(Thinking)What's this guy spouting about?

Ranma: However, since this is the final match and there's no one higher
than you, I can go all-out. Actually, I don't think I can because if I
did, it would kill you. At least now, I can throw in an occasional
straight.

Champion: ....................(Thinking)The kid's gotta point. I've seen
his matches and he only does jabs.

Ranma: Ready?(Smirks)

Champion: Let's see whatcha got.

(Ranma brings his hands down to his side and proceeds to walk straight
toward the Champion. This confuses the man.)

Champion: What the?(Thinking)What kind of stance is that?

(Ranma continues to walk straight twoard the Champion, getting within
punching distance. The Champion does a jab, which Ranma easily dodges and
continues walking. The speed surprises the Champion as he beging
backpedalling to get out of the way. However, Ranma continues to walks
straight toward him, causing him to constantly backpedal.)

Champion: ............(Thinking)W-w-what the hell's going on here?!?

(The Champion throws a series of punches, all of the dodges, Ranma all
the while continuing to walk. The Champion stumbles, tripping over his
own feet and falls to the ring floor. The stadium roars. From his seat,
Mr. Hyusa is able to hear the commentary.)

Voice1: Oh my god!! The Champion's down!! The Champion's down!! I didn't
see it but I think he was just hit with the widomaker punch. Such
devastating effect! Unbelieveable!

Voice2: I couldn't even see it! It's as if he got faster, like all of his
previous punches before this match was purposely slowed down by him!

Voice1: What kind of stance did he adopt right before the knockdown? It
looked like he was actually inviting the Champion to attack and countered
with the widowmaker, sending him to the floor.

Voice2: I hope all you viewers are recording this match because you're
going to have to use slow-mo to see what happened.

(Back in the ring, the Champion feels embarrassed. He is back on his
feet, the referree standing in front of him. Ranma is grinning.)

Champion: H-he's making a fool out of me.

Referree: Can you continue?

Champion: In case you're wondering, I tripped.

Referree: I'm sorry, but that's considered a knockdown.

Champion: What?!

Referree: Fight!!

(The referree steps back as Ranma walks toward the Champion in the same
fashion as before.)

Ranma: .....................(Thinking)Damn, I wish I was fighting Boon
again. This isn't even fun anymore. Sure, the money's good, but that's
not the point.

(The Champion throws several punches. Ranma seems a bit more distracted
than usual as he easily dodges them, continuing to walk forward.)

Ranma: (Thinking)This guy moves so slow compared to Boon. You'd think a
guy only half the size of Boon would be able to move twice as fast. Boon
moves around four times faster than this guy. His punches is so slow I
can even read the brandname of his boxing gloves is it passes by me. 

(The Champion slips again, falling down to his backside. The stadium
erupts in to cheering.)

Ranma: ..................(Thinking)Damn, he slipped again.

(Ranma heads toward a neutral corner.)

Ranma: Should I just end it or let it go on? Around two and a half
minutes have passed so that means there's about thirty second left to
round one.

(Ranma watches as the Champion gets back to his feet. The referree says
something to him. The Champion seems to get angry at whatever the guy
said and yells something at him.)

Ranma: What's he angry about?

Referree: Fight!!

Ranma: I guess I'll finish him off later. Need to give everyone a show,
though. They paid good money to watch. I can at least give them that.

(Ranma approaches the Champion. He stops in front of him and gets in to a
boxing stance. The Champion gulps. Ranma slowly inches forward. The
Champion tries to counter, missing him. He quickly assumes a defensive
posture.)

Ranma: (Thinking)Let's see if he can block a quick jab.

(Ranma jabs at the Champion. The punch is blocked by the Champion's
forearms by bolts of pain shoot through the man. He grimaces at how much
block such a punch hurts.)

Ranma: (Thinking)Not bad. He blocked it.

(Ranma jabs again, with the same results. The Champion seems to get hurt
even though he blocks.)

Ranma: (Thinking)I'll letcha land a couple of blows on me. Hm, let's
really surprise the hell outta ya.

(Ranma cocks his right arm back in a really slow fashion. The Champion's
eyes widen at the sight. He had never seen Ranma ever use his right arm
in a fight before. He watches as Ranma throws hook punch. To his
surprise, it's really slow, just slow enough for him to duck and land a
counter.)

Champion: Gotcha!

(The Champion hits Ranma in the stomach with devastating force, enough
that it actually sent Ranma slightly off the ring floor where he landed a
few inches from where he was originally standing. The crowd roars again.
Mr. Hyusa has a smirk on his face.)

Mr. Hyusa: Quite a show.

Voice1: Oh my god!! The critical bolow!! For the first time since his pro
debut, he was finally hit in the stomach!! Look at Ranma!! He's stunned!!
Is he going wretch? That blow was right on the solar plexus with enough
power to knocked down anyone.

Voice2: What the hell?!? He looks unaffected!! Wait, that's not the case.
He's rubbing his stomach.

Ranma: Hm.........not bad.(Thinking)That guy's got a good punch. I weigh
around two hundred pounds considering how much I ate. However, he was
able to punch me hard enough to actually lift me slightly off the ground.
That's a damn good punch. Kinda caught me off course.

(Ranma rubs his stomach where he had been hit.)

Ranma: I think he hit me in the solar plexus. I feel kinda tingly right
now.(Looks up)Ah, here he comes. Should I stand here and let him hit me?
The crowd would like that. I'll defend for a bit though.

(Ranma puts up a guard. The Champion throws out a series of wickedly
powerful blows toward Ranma's head, the forearms of Ranma's guard feeling
like punching a brick wall for the Champion.)

Champion: (Continues punching)..................(Thinking)I have to break
that guard of his. Now's my chance while he's stunned.

(The Champion continues punching and punching. After a moment, to his
surprise, Ranma's guard falls as if he is unable to block against such
powerful blows.)

Champion: Gotcha!!

(The Champion his Ranma right in the face have a dozen times as Ranma
seemingly staggers backward from being hit so hard. Just as the bell
rings, Ranma's hit with the Champion's most powerful stright punch,
sending Ranma's head cocking backwards as he is sent flying through the
air where he lands on the ring floor. Mr. Hyusa is shaking his head.)

Mr. Hyusa: What are you doing, Ranma?

Voice1: Oh my god! He's down! He's down! Ranma's down! This is the first
time he was ever knocked down!

Voice2: This is an incredible fight. The Champion landed vicious body
blow which had stunned Ranma leaving him open for attack. As the Champion
had rushed in, all Ranma could do was try and block. After a series of
nine blows, his guard feel where he was then punched fourteen times over
the course of five seconds, the final blow landing the moment before the
bell ring.

Voice1: There's no way someone can get up from a series of blows like
that! Ranma is a very gifted boxer, but even gifted boxers have their
limits and this seems to be it. It was all because Ranma tried to change
his strategy in mid-fight, throwing out a right hook instead of sticking
with his tried-and-true widwomaker punches. That had been the changing
point in the match. The Champion dodged it and it had left Ranma open for
that fight altering body blow.

Voice2: What the hell? Ranma's laughing!!

Voice1: What? He isn't knocked out?! How's that possible?

Voice2: Wait, oh my god! He's getting back up! Ranma's getting back up!

(Meanwhile, down in the seats, all the girls are holding their breath,
wondering if Ranma was all right. The sigh in relief when they see him
get up. He walks up to his corner and sits down. Coach is there talking
to him while two other guys are there to rub him with a wet towel to cool
him off.)

Coach: Are you okay, kid? You took a series of sharp blows. It's no
wonder how you could get up from that.

Ranma: I'm fine.

Coach: What were you doing there, kid? 

Ranma: I'm just prolonging the match. The crowd seems to be really
getting in to it. This is a champion match. It would seem bad if I won in
the first round. The crowd would think they wasted their money on
something that was so short.

Coach: It don't matter, kid. They should know by now that if they're
going to watch one of your matches, that the fights short. None of your
matches lasted past the second round.

Ranma: I know. I think I'll just drag it out to like the fourth or so
match. Whatcha think?

Coach: Jeez, kid, what d'ya wanna do, gimme a heart attack? This is the
championship match. You can joke around like you do other matches.

Ranma: Um, actually, I can. Also, he's doing more damage to himself
punching me than I am. His hands probably killing him.

Coach: .......................

Ranma: If I just let him keep hitting me, his hands will go numb and he
won't be able to punch that much any more. Whatcha think?

Coach: You're crazy, kid. Get hit enough time and the ref'll stop the
match.

Ranma: Really? Why?

Coach: The ref is there to protect the fighters. If you get hit enough
time, the ref'll stop the match, thinking you're going to suffer serious
brain damage if you continue getting hit.

Ranma: Oh, I didn't know that.

Coach: Argh!! This is a championship!! How the hell do you make it this
far without knowing anything about boxing?!?

Ranma: You want me to just finishing off?

Coach: Yes, right away!

Ranma: (Shrugs)Fine. You're kinda no fun...

Coach: This isn't supposed to be fun!

Ranma: Um......what the heck are you talking about?

Coach: Huh?

Ranma: In case you're wondering, I'm doing this because I happen to find
it fun. I have another reason, but that's besides the point. If I didn't
have fun doing this, I would have stopped a long time ago.

Coach: ....................

Ranma: (Shrugs)However, I guess I'll go end it.

Coach: ....................

(The bell rings. Ranma gets up from his seat in the corner as does the
Champion. Ranma walks toward the Champion once again in the same fashion.
To everyone's surprise, Ranma walks right in to the punches. Even as he
gets punched, he cocks his right arm back.)

Ranma: (Smiles)Goodnight.

(Ranma punches at the Champion. The Champion tries to block but his guard
is demolished by the intensity of Ranma's punch. Ranma's gloved fist
breaks through the guard and hits the Championg in the face. The impact
sends him flying backwards in to the rope where staggers forward, barely
able to stand. He staggers for several seconds before he falls forward
right on to his stomach, unconscious. The referree begins to count. After
counting to two, he realizes it's useless and signals the end of the
fight. The crowd erupts in to cheers.)

Akane: Ranma did it! He won!

Kodachi: That is expected.

Ryoga: Whoa, Ranma's the world champion now.

Akemi: He beat that guy senseless. He only punched that guy once and
knocked him out.

Kuno: Hmph. It is no feat to be awed about. I can do that easily.

Akemi: Ypu mean get knocked out with one punch?

Kuno: No! Not that!

Genma: Wow, my boy's the world champion.

Mr. Hyusa: (Taking earphones out)Good job, Ranma. Good job.

Reia: That was such a cool fight.

Shampoo: Shampoo agree. Shampoo wonder how Ranma got hit by those punches
at end of last round though.

Ukyo: This is Ranma we're talking about. He let the guy hit him. A guy
moving that slow can't hit Ranma.

Soun: You think he did it for show?

Ukyo: Most likely. And it was a pretty good show too, even though it was
short.

Shori: I'm so happy for Ranma.

Mrs. Hyusa: My, that was rather exciting I must say.

Mousse: I didn't see a thing. What happened?

Akane: (Smirks)You would have seen more if you kept your glasses on.

(Everyone gaze forward to see Ranma as his arms are raised in triumph.
After a short moment, an announcer enters the ring with a microphone. He
speaks in to the mircophone.)

Announcer: Ranma Saotome, how do you feel?

Ranma: Fine.

Announcer: Congradulations. You're now that world heavyweight champion.
Do you have any worlds for the millions and million of people watching?

Ranma: (Grinning)Yeah. Boon, come and take this title from me! I dare
you! All of this, I did so that it would give you incentive to train
harder than you've ever trained before, so that we can have a rematch
where nothing's held back!

Announcer: Boon? Who is this Boon person you speak of?

Ranma: A good friend. That's all.

Announcer: Well there you have it everyone, words from the new world
heavyweight champion.

(Back at their seats, everyone seems to be in a state of shock.)

Akane: Boon? You mean that friend of his on the ship?

Shori: Yes. I don't know much about the details, but Ranma considered him
his sparring partner.

Mr. Hyusa: (Smirks)Ah, I get it. So that's why he got in to boxing in the
first place, not to make a name for himself, not to be recognized, not
for the money, not for any of that.

Shori: What for?

Mr. Hyusa: Boon likes to fight champions. He comes out of hiding to fight
number ranked fighters. Not too long ago, he fought the number one ranked
fighter in the world and basically won. He must've told this to Ranma so
rather than become the number one ranked fighter, he chose to become a
number one ranked boxer.

(Everyone seemed to be shocked upon hearing the news.)

Mr. Hyusa: I was curious about his hidden agenda behind doing this. It
seemed very odd that he would pick up boxing. I guess now I know.

Akane: Can you explain more about it?

Mr. Hyusa: Boon undergone knee surgery a couple of years ago. However,
one of the things I forgot to mention that it usually takes years for
someone to fully recover. Boon's had a bad knee for around thirty plus
years. However, it became a problem only around ten years ago. Recovering
from ten years worth of injury takes a long time. Ranma knew this and
wanted to do this as a driving force for Boon to get better and train
harder so that he can one day come back good as new and beat him.

Akane: Boon? This guy can beat Ranma?

Mr. Hyusa: Yes, easily as a matter of fact. However, because of the
surgery, he won't be quite the same as he used to be and it would take
years for him to reach the level he used to be. I guess this is incentive
for him to hurry up.

Akane: Boon must be really strong.

Mr. Hyusa: Quite. I've never seen Ranma or Boon fight, but I've heard
from Marlena that they're spectacular and very intense. I can't help but
wonder how a fight between the two of them will be.

Akane: Who do you think will win?

Mr. Hyusa: (No hesitation)Boon. Ranma's gotten very good over the years,
better than he probably ever was, but where he is now is nowhere near
where Boon, even when he had that knee injury. When he comes back, he
won't have a knee injury handicappping him. Boon's a big guy, around five
hundred pounds but he moves probably around four to five times faster
than that world champion Ranma just beat.

Shampoo: Aiya, Boon guys sound like cursed Taro.

Akemi: Cursed Taro?

Ryoga: Taro? I remember him. He's that guy that turns in to that huge
bull-like monster when he gets wet.

Mousse: Guy, that guy's one monster.

Reia: Cursed Taro? That's his name? Kinda odd.

Akane: No, it's not 'Cursed Taro'. It's a name he's really embarrassed
about.

Akemi: (Curious)What name is that?

Akane: Pansuto Taro.

Reia: Really?

Akemi: Wow. Must be hard on him growing up.

Genma: No it isn't.

Akane: Huh?

Genma: That isn't his name anymore.

Soun: Right. It was finally changed.

Akane: What was it changed to? 

Genma: Ryu.

Akane: Ryu Taro? Really?

Genma: Yep.

Akane: How'd you find this out?

Soun: He stopped by the house about a year ago. He was looking for the
old Master, but when he noticed that he was gone, he left. We only
chatted for a short while.

Genma: He hasn't changed at all since we last met him. Pretty mean, if
not meaner. His dry sense of humor is also pretty bad and he swore a lot.


Nabiki: By the way, whatever happened to the old lech?

Genma: Beats me. We haven't seen him in years and it's been great like
that.

Soun: I agree, friend.

Akemi: Um, you do know you just jinxed it right? Seeing whoever this old
Master of yours is. If you say something about how you're glad that
someone's not around, then they're bound to show up.

Genma: .......................

Soun: .......................

Reia: You read too much manga, Akemi.

Akemi: (Smiles)As much as I can get my hands on, yes.

(Time passes. Before we know it, close to four and a half years pass. We
find ourselves with Ranma and Shori as they're standing in front of a
concert hall building, a bit excited about the upcoming graduation. There
are many fellow undergraduates by them, all of them chatting. Right
behind them is the concert hall where their graduation would take place.
We notice that both Ranma and Shori look a bit older and more mature.
Despite this, they look much the same. Ranma seems annoyed by the tassle
haning from his graduation cap that keeps brushing against his face.)

Ranma: (Annoyed)Damn tassle. It bugs the hell outta me.

Shori: Just try and ignore it.

Ranma: I can't. I keep tickling my nose and making me wanna sneeze.
Whatever, I'll just ignore it if I can.

Shori: You need to keep the tassle on the right side of the cap. You move
it over to the left upon completion of graduation.

Ranma: I can't believe it, we're going to graduate.

Shori: (Smiles)Yeah, we are.

Ranma: You would have actually graduated a year earlier if you hadn't
decided to wait for me to get accepted.

Shori: Don't worry. It was worth it.

Ranma: I really dunno what I'm going to do with a degree in mathematics
though. However, I do feel good knowing that I accomplished a task that I
originally thought impossible for someone like myself.

Shori: (Smiles)You see? I told you you can do it if you only put your
mind in to it.

Ranma: You're right. What are you going to do? You're gonna graduate with
a degree in business.

Shori: I'll be learning the ropes from my dad. When he feels the time is
right, I'll be taking over his business.

Ranma: Um, I thought he was retiring from being CEO of Aido Airlines.

Shori: Come on, you've known him for over five years now. That's not all
he is. He's only retiring from working as CEO, the nine-to-five
forty-hours-a-week job of his. He also owns many of businesses. Someone
has to take over when my dad retires from the business world.

Ranma: Man, I can't believe your dad's gonna retire, and today of all
days.

Shori: (Blushing)Well, everything is set and planned out. We marry the
day after we graduate. 

Ranma: (Smiles)I know.

Shori: My dad had been waiting for this day for basically six years.
We've been waiting for this day for six years as well.

Ranma: (Kisses Shori)I would have married you sooner, but your dad can be
scary at times. He and your mom told me to wait, and I guess I folded. It
was a good choice.

Shori: Your dad agreed too.

Ranma: True.
 
Guy1: (Calling out)Hey, Champ, Shori, can you join us in a group picture?

(Ranma and Shori look over where they see a group of people standing
together, a teacher holding a camera ready to take their picture. There
is an open space right in the frong center of the group for Ranma and
Shori to stand.)

Ranma: Sure.

Shori: Okay.

(They both go to the opening and stand and get their pictures taken.)

Guy2: Hey, Champ, congrats on your title defend last night.

Ranma: Thanks.

Guy3: (Smirks)Why bother congratulating him? Champ's been undefeated
since he first started. Seeing him defend yet another title match is
about as expected as seeing the sun rise in the morning.

Guy4: Champ, what's your record now? 

Ranma: a hundred fifteen and zero, all of 'em knockouts.

Guy4: That's insane. To get a record of that and only boxing for around
six years, that's almost twenty matches a year. Most people only have
around five a year.

Ranma: (Shrugs)Hey, if I get challeged that often, then so be it.

Guy4: There should be something against a guy fighting so much so many
times in a year.

Ranma: They boxing organization don't seem to mind. They know that I
don't risk a breakdown from fighting so many time because I have they to
get hit since I became champion.

Guy4: Well, I'll continue to cheer for you, Champ.

Guy1: Same here.

Guy2: Me too.

Guy3: Me too.

Ranma: Thanks, guys.

Guy4: Hey, everyone's lining up. Graduation is gonna start.

Ranma: 'Bout time.

(Ranma stands in front of Shori as they wait on one of the four lines
that are being formed.)

Ranma: Here we go.

Shori: I hope we find everyone.

Ranma: It shouldn't be too hard. There's a group of, what, around twenty
people sitting together. I'm sure they're gonna make enough noise and
ruckus that they'll be able to drown out the other thousands or so people
there that they'd be able to get our attention.

Shori: Hopefully.

Ranma: How come we don't walk on the dias to get our diplomas? We all
graduate as a class?

Shori: Yes. That's because unlike high school, there's a couple thousand
people graduating today. It'd take forever to read everyone's names. No
one wants to sit through that, not the friends and families, and I'm sure
neither would any of us as well.

Ranma: You've got a point. Are we supposed to throw our cap in to the air
like I've seen on television?

Shori: Yes. Just remember to take off your tassle. That's what you keep
as a souvenir.

Ranma: Gotcha.




<all ive got so far...>





Note: fanfic jokes on webpage version of update.







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



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