----------------------------------------------------------------------------- It's hard to tell +-------------------------------+ If she's in love | Daigakusei no Ranma | She doesn't let it show +-------------------------------+ If that's what she's thinking of +-------------------------------+ She's a tough girl, though | Written by: David Tai | She's got her pride | Paul Gallegos | But she looked so fragile +-------------------------------+ The day I saw her cry | Original Artwork by | | Jong Man Hwang | There was you, you and me +-------------------------------+ And now I know | Based on the characters | Just where I want to be | created by Rumiko Takahashi | +-------------------------------+ I don't want you saying you love me | Copyright (c) 1994 | 'Cause I can't say it, can't you see? | Digital Knight Communications | And I don't want you to change your ways +-------------------------------+ 'Cause I like you just the same | "Ranma 1/2" & its characters | And all I want all this time | Copyright (c) 1994 | All I need is your hand in mine | Viz Communications, Inc. | And all I want all this time | Shogakukan, Kitty Animation | All I need is your hand in mine | and Rumiko Takahashi | All I need... +-------------------------------+ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Episode 10: "Power Drink? Yuriko's Breakthrough!" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Early morning at the new Nekohanten. Shampoo is sweeping the sidewalks. Eventually, she looks up, and sighs.] Shampoo: [speaking in Mandarin] [Shampoo leans on her broom and observes the traffic. Looking from left to right, she sighs again and continues sweeping. A roaring noise forces her to look up quickly. From a distance, she sees a red sports car screeching through traffic, nearly sideswiping a truck.] Shampoo: [shaking her head] [She resumes sweeping the sidewalk... then looks up in alarm as the red car comes careening towards her. Shampoo makes a large jump upwards, landing on top of the restaurant sign. She looks down with no small annoyance, as a brown- haired, pony-tailed girl wearing blue jeans jumps out of the car and looks around.] Woman: Ohayo gozaimasu...? Shampoo: [leaping down] Ni... hao. [glaring with suspicion] What you want? Woman: Er... [bowing] My name is Murata Yuriko. I'm a student at Noumunoikan University. I've created a power drink that will be the best thing for people since Gatorade, but I need to test it. So, I've been stopping by different establishments in the area. Would you be willing to help? Shampoo: Power drink? Yuriko: Hai. It's got twice the potency of adrenaline without the side-effects. Plus, it's supposed to last longer. Shampoo: [blinks] What it do? Yuriko: [pauses] Well, you could easily lift all those crates over there [gestures across street] without help, for example. Shampoo: [smiles] Ah. It like great-grandmother's strength potion! Yuriko: Uh... not exactly. MY potion is completely chemically-balanced... Shampoo: Oh, great-grandmother have great balance! [A bead of sweat forms on Yuriko's forehead.] Shampoo: Proper potion not explode when person drink! Great-grandmother always tell Shampoo. [smiles] Yuriko: [laughs nervously] Yeah, I can see where that could become a problem. Anyway, are you willing to help out? Shampoo: What is cost? Yuriko: It's free to you. I just need you to remember what happens to people when they drink it. You can keep all the money you make off it. Shampoo: [without hesitation] Deal. [Shampoo smiles and grabs Yuriko's hand, shaking it up and down violently.] Yuriko: [sighs and opens her car's trunk] Here's the first case of the stuff. [sets crate down gently] I'll be around later this week to see what's happened. [gets in car] Ja ne! [Shampoo watches Yuriko drive off, then opens the crate and grabs a bottle to examine.] Shampoo: [Shampoo starts to gulp down the drink, and pauses as a strange look comes over her face. She immediately spits out the remainder of her drink.] Shampoo: YUCK! [looks at drink, then looks at the cases next to her.] * * * [Early morning, Room 4, Maison Sabaku. Ranma-chan and Akane are asleep in a futon, as the alarm goes off. Casually leaning over, Ranma-chan hits the alarm with her hand. Yawning loudly, Ranma-chan gets up, and sleepily begins doing push-ups. Akane wakes at the sound of Ranma-chan crashing to the floor snoring loudly.] Akane: [sleepily rubbing her eyes] Ranma? What are you doing? Ranma-chan: [face on floor] Mphrefb... Akane: [poking Ranma] What are you doing? Ranma-chan: [turning her head toward Akane] Exercise, then go to school. Akane: School? It's Saturday. We don't have class on Saturdays. Ranma-chan: Oh... [turns over and goes back to sleep] Akane: Good thing you woke up... today's the day Kasumi invited us to breakfast. Ranma-chan: [sitting straight up] Breakfast? At Kasumi's? Akane: Hai. Now, let's get... [Akane cuts off, as Ranma-chan jumps up and run into the bathroom. Soon, showering sounds can be heard.] Akane: ... dressed. [Akane sighs, stands up, and adjust her pajamas. She starts walking to the kitchen, yawning loudly, then turns around in alarm, as Ranma comes running out, garbed in his usual red and black clothes. He quickly grabs Akane's hand, and yanks her out with him, slamming the apartment door behind him.] Akane's voice: RANMA NO BAKA!!! I'm not dressed!!! Choji's voice: Sweet!!! Toshi's voice: Get some clothes on, young lady! * * * [At a health club. Yuriko is arguing with a well-dressed secretary who is busy polishing her nails.] Yuriko: ... And so, if I can just test my power drink on your clients, we could have a mutually beneficial association. Secretary: [yawning] And just why do you expect us to test your potions on our clients? Yuriko: Well, I'm sure that your cliente would find my power potion useful. It's perfectly chemically-balanced! Secretary: Chemically balanced? Yuriko: [nodding her head rapidly] Hai! Secretary: Our cliente don't need chemicals to maintain themselves here! [rising] You have insulted our honor! [The secretary pushes a button on her desk. Alarms go off, and two hulking giants come running out of a side door.] Secretary: [pointing at Yuriko] Escort her out. [Outside the club, the door opens. Two pairs of hands drop Yuriko casually on the sidewalk, and closes the door after her. Yuriko stands up, and brushes herself off.] Yuriko: Your steroid-loaded muscle-brained oafs probably would have screwed up my results anyway! [She pulls down an eyelid and sticks her tongue out, then jumps into her car in a huff. Her red car comes roaring out of her parking spot, and nearly sideswipes a truck. The truck driver sticks out his head and shakes a fist at the rapidly receding car...] * * * [Kasumi's apartment. Ranma and Akane are kneeling at a table eating while Kasumi is beaming at Ranma's hearty appetite.] Ranma: Mmmm. I haven't had food like this since... Shampoo's restaurant. Kasumi: Arigato, Ranma-kun! Ranma: [thinking] Or maybe Ukyou's apartment... or Chez Funsui... or... [Akane glares at Ranma. Ranma notices in mid-swallow, and a look of panic appears on his face.] Akane: What's wrong with my cooking? Ranma: It... it's ok. Akane: It's not good enough? [starting to steam up] Kasumi: Have more food, Ranma-kun! [waves at the various dishes] [As Akane is about to stand up to slap Ranma, Yuriko opens the door and walks in.] Yuriko: Tadaima! Kasumi: [cheerfully] Ohayo, Yuriko! Ranma: Hi, Yuriko! [looks nervously at Akane] You're just in time for breakfast! Have a seat! [gestures to a spot between himself and Akane] Yuriko: Arigato! [sits down between Ranma and Akane] Whew! I'm glad to be home. Carrying all that stuff around is really tiring! Akane: [blinks] What stuff? Kasumi: [handing Yuriko a bowl of rice porridge] Her latest experiment - power drinks. Ranma: Oh? What kind of power drink? Yuriko: Well, mostly for sports, but I'm sure it'll have other uses. [picks up chopsticks] Akane: So, what were you doing carrying it around? Yuriko: Well, I was stopping at the local establishments and asking if they wouldn't mind trying it on their customers to see what they think. Ranma: Does it work? Yuriko: [happily] It's perfectly chemically-balanced! [reaches out for the soy sauce] Akane: So what'd your test subject say about it? [Yuriko freezes, hand above the soy sauce bottle.] Yuriko: [blinks] Test subject? Ranma: Yeah, you know... the person who tried it out for you the first time? Yuriko: [blinks] Test subject? Akane: You mean you haven't tried it yet? Yuriko: Uh... well, now that you mention it... only on mice... [At that moment, Kasumi gets up to go back into the kitchen.] Kasumi: Would you like another helping, Ranma? Ranma: [turns to Kasumi] Un. Kasumi: And some more toast? Ranma: [nods] Hai! Kasumi: How about some biscuits? Ranma: [nods] Hai Hai! Yuriko: [seizing a golden opportunity] And some power drink? Ranma: [nods] Ha... [blinks] Waitasec... Akane: [grins] Oh come on Ranma, it can't be that bad. Ranma: No way. It's almost as bad as eating... [catches himself in mid- sentence as Akane starts to turn red] Pop's fishcakes. Akane: Oh, don't be such a sissy. I'll be right here with you the entire time. Yuriko: [smiles] Great! Two test subjects! [Both Ranma and Akane face-fault as Yuriko whips out a notebook and starts scribbling.] * * * [Shampoo is ringing up a purchase at the cash register when Lardizabal comes in and sits down at the bar.] Shampoo: [glaring at Lardizabal] Lardizabal pay now? [Lardizabal sighs and pulls out a big piggy bank. He turns it upside down and shakes out all the money in it, leaving a big pile on the counter. Shampoo glances, reaches out, and, with a sweep of her arm, pulls all the money behind the counter.] Lardizabal: There. That's all the money I have. My tab is now settled, ne? Shampoo: [squinting at pile] Iie. You still owe 10 yen. [Lardizabal sighs, turns over his piggy bank, and hits it hard, dropping a coin.] Shampoo: [smiling broadly] Nihao! Want try special? Only 100 yen! Lardizabal: Can I put that on the tab? Shampoo: No. [Lardizabal face-faults.] * * * [Yuriko's "room" - actually, a lab with a bed and dresser in one corner.] Yuriko: Okay, now then, I expect you to drink it all... it won't do if both of you don't drink the same amount. [Both Ranma and Akane look dubiously at the _large_ beverages in front of them. Ranma glances at Akane, who seems to be regarding the beverage as something not-of-this-world. He then shrugs and gulps down his drink. Akane looks at him bewildered for a moment, then downs hers as well.] Ranma: [sticking out tongue] Bleah. What's in this?? Yuriko: [whips out notebook and scribbles] "First reaction - tastes bad." Akane: [looking at glass] Would you have any water to help get rid of this taste? Yuriko: [scribbling quickly] "Second reaction - need for more liquids." Ranma: Murata-san? [waves hand near Yuriko's face] Yuriko: [scribbling furiously] "Third reaction - loss of selective memory." [looks up to see Ranma and Akane looking curiously at her] What's wrong? Ranma: [getting up] Never mind. I'll go get some water. Yuriko: [jumping up] No! You'll ruin the experiment. We need to test your strength first before you dilute the solution with anything else. [Yuriko produces several construction-type bricks from under the table.] Yuriko: [to Ranma] How many of these do you think you can lift? Ranma: [shrugs] How many do you have? Yuriko: [shakes head] No time for machismo. Just lift the first six. [Ranma easily lifts six bricks with one hand and looks questioningly at Yuriko, before setting them back down.] Yuriko: Sugoi... [scribbles away in notebook] How about you, Akane? [Akane lifts four, and Ranma to tries to suppress a laugh. Akane notices this and, while looking directly at Ranma, smashes the top three bricks without flinching. Ranma's smile fades quickly.] Yuriko: U-uso! This is incredible!!! [flips page and begins to write more] Ranma: [interrupting] Uh.. she's always been able to do that. Yuriko: [stops writing and looks at Akane] Really? Akane: [nods] Un. Yuriko: [sighs] Ah well. Let me go get my other notebook. I've got some more things for you to try... [Yuriko dashes out of the room, bumping Ranma into a cabinet containing several flasks marked "Distilled Water". Ranma looks up to see the containers falling over...] * * * Shampoo: Nihao! Come try the special! Makiko: Oh, I couldn't possibly... I'm waiting for Hito-chan... Shampoo: Try! Makiko: Well... what's the special? Shampoo: Power Potion! Makiko: Power Potion? [raises an eyebrow] Shampoo: Have plenty! Only 100 yen! [casts anxious glance at the crate with the power potions on floor.] Makiko: Okay. [Makiko deposits several coins on the bar, and Shampoo slides a glass filled with Yuriko's power drink towards her. Makiko drinks part of the beverage, then stops.] Shampoo: What wrong? Makiko: [mumbles] I'll be... [pauses] right back... [gets off barstool] have to use the... [swallows] ladies' room... [Makiko quickly makes a beeline for the bathroom as Shampoo watches her with a quizzical look on her face. Shampoo sighs, then jumps at the sound of a crash. She turns to see that Mousse has tripped over the crate. Shampoo gives an exasperated sigh.] * * * Ranma-chan: [loudly] Now what?? If she catches me like this, she'll turn me into one of her experiments! Akane: Quiet! I need to think. [Akane looks around the room, then grabs a beaker, fills it with water, and sticks it on a bunsen burner. Ranma-chan smiles and nods while watching this. Unfortunately, the beaker shatters almost immediately. Both Ranma-chan and Akane look at the pieces of glass everywhere in amazement, then Ranma-chan grabs another beaker and hands it to Akane, who repeats the same sequence of events and shatters another beaker.] Ranma-chan: [to herself] I always knew Akane was a bad cook, but not being able to make hot water? This is too much... Akane: [snaps fingers] Aha! I forgot to warm up the beaker first! [Akane finds yet another beaker and warms it slightly before adding water. This time the beaker doesn't shatter, and the water starts to boil. Akane smiles triumphantly at Ranma-chan, who only looks amusedly at her as she tries to pick up the now boiling beakerful of water and immediately drops it.] Akane: Ite!! Hot!! [Ranma-chan notices a pair of forceps next to the burner and hands them to Akane.] Ranma-chan: Maybe you should use these next time? [Akane snatches the forceps from Ranma-chan with a glare, and grabs another beaker to start over again. This time, she gets the water good and hot and uses the forceps to maneuver the beaker over Ranma-chan's head, who immediately tries to get out of the way.] Akane: Stand still! Ranma-chan: No way! That's BOILING water!!! Akane: Raaannnmmmmaaaaa!!!! [Both girls freeze, however, as the door slides open.] * * * [The door to the Nekohanten opens, and a figure enters, hanging his jacket on one of the pegs next to the door.] Figure: Hello, everyone! Patrons: [loudly] Choji!!! Shampoo: Try special? Only 75 yen. Choji: Every glass of sake's special. Especially at that price. [grins] Shampoo: No, no. New power drink, only 75 yen. Choji: In that case, bring it over here. Shampoo: Mousse! Special! [Mousse grabs a bottle of power potion, and slides it down the bar... away from Choji.] Shampoo: [banging on bar] Over here, baka! Choji: [looking bored] Sometime today, please? [Mousse slides another bottle towards Choji, but it starts to slide off the bar. Choji plucks it out of the air, flips off the top, and takes a swig.] Shampoo: Tastes great? [Choji looks at Shampoo blank-facedly, then puts the bottle down, and slides it hard back towards Mousse. The bottle hits a railing and goes flying into the air, smashing into the back of an unsuspecting Mousse's head. Mousse goes down hard.] Choji: [grimacing] Less filling. * * * [Yuriko enters the room and sees Ranma-chan cowering in a corner with Akane standing over her. She slowly closes the door behind her, staring quizzically at Ranma-chan.] Ranma-chan: What are you looking at?? Yuriko: ... [sits down] Ranma? Ranma-chan: [sighs] Hai. Yuriko: I don't believe it. I do not believe it. Akane: [setting beaker of hot water back on burner] Well... Yuriko, I guess I should tell you... Yuriko: [interrupting] I can't believe I forgot to double-check the mice's genders when I was testing it on them!! [Both Akane and Ranma-chan face-fault.] Yuriko: [grabs notebook, flips through pages] How could I be so careless... [looks up] Wait a minute... how come you're not affected, Akane? Akane: [bead of sweat appears] Uh... Yuriko: [grabs pencil] I guess we should check you out to see if it will affect you after all. Come over here and sit on the table. [Ranma-chan stifles a giggle, and Akane flashes her a glare.] Yuriko: You too, Ranma. [Ranma-chan's smile fades quickly while Akane sticks out her tongue at her with a smile.] Ranma-chan: Why me? Yuriko: [putting on a stethoscope] Physical exam. Take off your clothes. Ranma-chan: NANI??? [Ranma-chan starts backing away from Yuriko. Soon, Yuriko is chasing Ranma-chan around her lab, smashing beakers and scattering papers in the process...] * * * Mousse: Nihao! Try the special for 50 yen! Ukyou: No thanks. [sits down, pulling her dress under her] Have you seen Makiko? Mousse: I think so. She was waiting for someone, but got tired of waiting and left. Ukyou: Oh. I wanted to see how she got along with this guy Hito-chan. [sighs and looks around at the crowded restaurant] Well, looks like you're doing all right. Mousse: Business has been good. And you? Ukyou: [sigh] It's been hard so far. School is easy, but... Mousse: Are you happy here? Ukyou: [looks away] I... I don't know. Mousse: It's always hard to get used to a new environment. You can take care of yourself, right? Ukyou: Hm... I guess so. Mousse: [reaching out to take hand] Trust me, if anyone can survive this, you can. Ukyou: [eyes widening] ... [Pull back to see that Mousse is holding the frond of a nearby fern.] * * * Yuriko: [tightening strap] There we go. [looks down at Ranma-chan] Look, don't be upset. The sedative was the only way to get you to calm down... [glances at Akane] ne, Akane? Ranma-chan: [furiously shouting] You wouldn't have caught me if Akane didn't get in my way! That clumsy kawaikune tomboy! Akane: [glaring at Ranma-chan] Hai, Murata-san. [shaking her head, talking to herself] Why didn't I think of that sooner? [Ranma-chan is tied down to the table with heavy leather straps and buckles. Akane keeps an eye on her, while Yuriko scurries around the room trying to pick up her notes.] Yuriko: [from behind a cabinet] Akane, are you sure Ranma wasn't like this before? His mental state may also be affected by the power drink. Akane: What mental state? [grins at Ranma-chan, who only glares silently in return] Yuriko: [reappearing from cabinet] Well, your husband's sex change doesn't seem to be bothering YOU too badly... maybe your mind is affected by all of this as well? [looks curiously at Akane] Ranma-chan: [muttering] What mind? Akane: Why you... [raises fist to pound Ranma-chan] Yuriko: Akane? Akane: [blinks, then drops fist] No, really, I'm fine. [smiles at Yuriko] Yuriko: [nods] Hmmm. [walks over to counter top] Tell me something, Akane... is your husband eating ok? [gets out paper and starts writing] Akane: [pauses] Hai. He eats quite a bit. Yuriko: [nods] How about school? Does he follow you around a lot or go to classes? Akane: [shakes head] He doesn't follow me around, and I don't know about his attendance. Yuriko: [nods] Hmm. Does he ever wear your clothing? Akane: [blinks] ... Ranma-chan: NANI??? Yuriko: [seriously] What about your sex life? Is it satisfying? Ranma-chan: HEY!!! THAT'S NONE OF YOUR *mmph!* [Akane blushes a bright red and claps a hand over Ranma-chan's mouth. Yuriko looks at the two for a moment, then shuts her notebook.] Yuriko: Maybe we should continue this discussion outside? [Akane nods, still bright red, and follows Yuriko out of the room (giving Ranma-chan a thwap on the head on her way out), while Ranma-chan silently glares at the two.] Ranma-chan: [to herself] What the heck does that have to do with anything?! Chikusho... [looks at beaker of water across the counter from her] * * * Shampoo: [crying out to everyone in the bar] Special! Try Special! Lardizabal: [raising his hand] Can I put THAT on my tab? Shampoo: [looks at the crate and sighs] It on house. Take it. Just take it. [She grabs a bottle and flips it at Lardizabal, who catches it.] Lardizabal: [in Mandarin] [opens bottle and lifts it] Banzai! [gulps down the drink] Shampoo: ... [trying to sneak off] Lardizabal: [smacking his lips] It's good! [Shampoo somehow trips, and falls flat on her face. Lardizabal continues drinking, and rapidly finishes the bottle.] Lardizabal: Aaah, that hit the spot! Shampoo: W-was it good? [A small frown crosses Lardizabal's face.] Lardizabal: Che... What kind of dishwater is this? Shampoo: Power potion. Lardizabal: Is it non-alcoholic? Shampoo: Uh... [shrugs] Lardizabal: You call THIS a bar?! This is NON-ALCOHOLIC!!! [Lardizabal leaves in a huff.] Shampoo: Well, that one way to get rid of non-paying customer. * * * [Yuriko shuts the door behind her as Akane leans against the wall.] Yuriko: Gomen... I didn't mean to ask such personal questions. Akane: [looks at floor] Th.. that's ok. Yuriko: Seriously, though... is your marriage all right? Are there any problems? Maybe some clue as to why he's reacting strangely to the power drink? Perhaps his mental state is causing such a strange reaction. [whipping out a notebook] Is Ranma sexually deviant? Akane: [eyes widening] Uh...[flashbacks to Ranma's water transformations]... No! Not at all! Yuriko: Hmm-mmm. [scribbles in notebook.] Does he like to dress up as a woman? Akane: [several flashbacks of Ranma-chan wearing Akane's clothes] No. He doesn't like to dress up as a woman... Yuriko: [furiously scribbling in her notebook] Has he been satisfactory in bed? Akane: [flashbacks to Ranma-chan sound asleep, snoring] H-hai! Yuriko: [nodding] Hmm. So you say Ranma is a perfectly normal human male? Akane: [several flashbacks of Ranma-chan acting cute, being kissed by Mikado Sanzenin, and hitting his head on a rock and believing he's a girl] H-hai! Yuriko: Hmm. I had thought that a latent desire to be female might have affected the results, but... Pooh! Freud is outdated, anyway. [tosses her notebook aside in disgust] Akane: [nervously twisting ring] H-hai! Yuriko: Are you sure that there's NOTHING wrong with him? Has he been a romantic husband? Akane: [flashbacks to Ranma sticking his tongue out at Akane] H-hai! Very r-romantic! Yuriko: [on the verge of desperation] Any unusual food cravings? Akane: [flashbacks to Ranma's frequent meals] N-no! He eats perfectly well! [thinking] For a horse... Yuriko: Well, that eliminates that possibility. [picking up her notebook] [Akane sighs in relief and slumps back against the wall. Yuriko briefly chews on her pencil as she thinks, then opens her notebook.] Yuriko: [writing in notebook] No psychological causes for sexual transmutation found. [looks up] Well, you seem perfectly normal. Hm... [writing in notebook] Too much testosterone in test subject 1 affecting results? Akane: [trying to stifle laughter] ... Yuriko: [looking up] Oh! Gomen, gomen! This must be tremendously upsetting for you! [gestures] Let's go downstairs and have some tea, ok? Akane: [nods] U-Un! * * * [As the door shuts completely, Ranma-chan slowly slides out of the straps and onto the floor.] Ranma-chan: [to herself] Che... they would have to make things difficult. [Ranma-chan walks over to the counter. She lifts the beaker of water off of the bunsen burner and puts a finger in the water. Sighing, she sets it back on the burner and turns it on, intending to warm up the water. However, she knocks over the beaker, spilling its contents all over the counter. She curses silently and picks up the beaker again, only to drop it on the floor. She slaps her forehead and then looks around for another beaker. Finding only a very large one, she fills it with water and sets it on the burner, carefully turning on the burner. Just as she does so, footsteps are heard outside the door. Panicking, she slides back under the straps.] Ranma-chan: [quietly] Chikusho... [glances at beaker] Well at least I'll have warm water... [suddenly remembers rule about warming beakers] AAAAAAAAAAA!!!! * * * [Downstairs, as Akane, Yuriko, and Kasumi talk over a cup of black tea, a tinkle of shattered glass can be heard. All three look at each other and then slowly get up.] Yuriko: You don't think... Akane: He might've... Kasumi: I'll clean up here. [Yuriko and Akane head upstairs towards Yuriko's room. As they approach the door, they hear Ranma-chan's scream, followed by a loud explosion. Quickly Yuriko opens the door to a lab with glass everywhere around the burner and floor, papers strewn about, and a very male Ranma strapped tightly to the observation table soaking wet.] Ranma: [loudly] Get me out of this thing!! Akane: [loosening straps] What happened?? Ranma: You left the beaker on the burner! Yuriko: [shutting off burner] Akane, didn't you know you're supposed to warm a beaker before trying to heat a liquid? [looks over at Ranma] Well, it looks like you're back to normal again. I guess the change must be temporary. Ranma: [gets off of table] I guess it's back to the drawing board, ne? Yuriko: [nods] Hai. I wonder what went wrong... [realization dawns] Oh my! What happens if others drink it?? I have to get the drinks back!! [Yuriko rushes out the door, as Akane and Ranma stare in amusement.] Akane: Guess your secret's still safe. Ranma: [nods] Un. [looks around room] Oh, uh... by the way... arigato. Akane: [blinks] Hmmm? Ranma: You left some of the straps loose so I could get out and distracted Yuriko. Arigato gozaimasu. [Akane slowly smiles, then turns toward the door.] Akane: Forget it. [opens door] Let's go home, ok? Ranma: [nods] Hai. * * * [Nightfall. Akane and Ranma walk home in silence.] Akane: [thinking about earlier conversation with Yuriko] Ranma... Ranma: Hm. Akane: I wanted to ... apologize for what happened today. Ranma: [puzzled] Apologize for what? Akane: For... everything. Ranma: [shrugs] Forget it. It happens, I guess. Akane: Really, I mean it... gomen. [Ranma just nods and keeps walking. Akane falls silent and continues to walk with him. Soon Ranma starts chuckling.] Akane: What's so funny? Ranma: Yuriko. She's crazy. Akane: She's not. Smart, but... Ranma: Absent-minded, ne? Hey, do you realize that she forgot to give me a checkup? Akane: ... [realization dawns] You're right! After she strapped you down, she started asking all those questions and... [claps hand over mouth] Ranma: [blinks] Hey... what _were_ you two talking about anyway? Akane: N-nothing. [Ranma starts to open his mouth to say something, but reconsiders.] Ranma: [sticking hands in pockets] Whatever you say... [Akane looks hurt as Ranma falls silent. As the two walk under a tree, several birds fly out into the night sky, screeching loudly. Startled, Akane immediately latches onto Ranma's arm. Ranma winces, then calmly unclamps Akane's fingers from him. Leaving Akane's arm on his arm, Ranma sticks his hands back in his pockets. Akane smiles to herself as the two continue their walk home.] * * * [Yuriko drives around the corner on two wheels, cutting off two others and almost running down a bicyclist.] Yuriko: One last stop: The Nekohanten! [She screeches to a stop in front of the building and rushes toward the door.] Shampoo's voice: [in Mandarin] Mousse's voice: [brief pause] Shampoo's voice: [*SPLASH*] [Yuriko yanks the door open and runs inside.] Yuriko's voice: Shampoo, don't sell the power potion! It's... Voices: AAAAA!! *MEOW*!! *QUACK*!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ finis. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ For the first time today I saw in your eyes The beauty that hides within +-----------------------------------------+ Shining bright through the skies | All episodes can be found via anonymous | | ftp at Komodo.HACKS.Arizona.EDU | For the first time tonight | in normal text and PostScript forms | I saw in your soul +-----------------------------------------+ The love that drives you | Artist Jon Man Hwang's drawings of the | And the gentleness that you hold |DnR characters can be found at the Komodo| | FTP site in the /pub/sketches directory | As long as the sun sets +-----------------------------------------+ As long as the stars shine | For more information on DnR via WWW | We'll be together | http://www.hacks.arizona.edu/dnr.html | Until the end of time +-----------------------------------------+ (Forever) (and ever) Until... the end of time. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------