As I sat and watched the setting sun Must I always be reminded I noticed you were looking away Wary of the future Caught in a daydream Here's your chance - Tonight I put my arm in yours 'Cause I'm opening my heart - Tonight My head on your shoulder I want to live my life - Tonight You were still so far away I want to break free - Tonight -=- Leave the memories behind +-----------------------------------------------------------+ | Daigakusei no Ranma | | | | Created by David Tai and Paul Gallegos | | | | Based on the characters created by Rumiko Takahashi | +-----------------------------------------------------------+ =============================================================================== -= Episode 12: "Face to Face! Lardizabal Meets His Match!" =- =============================================================================== [A quiet night at the Nekohanten, as Shampoo hustles back and forth between the dining area and the kitchen. Low murmurs are heard...] Lardizabal: [shouting] HEY, WHERE'S THE SERVICE?! Shampoo: Patience! Shampoo coming! [Lardizabal Tanaka is sitting at the bar at the Nekohanten. Shampoo is busy waiting tables, but Mousse is nowhere to be seen.] Lardizabal: Chikusho! At least with Mousse, I had SOMETHING to drink! Even if he kept mixing up the bottles... Shampoo: [muttering in Mandarin Chinese] Lardizabal: [in Mandarin] Shampoo: Lardizabal: [makes sweeping gesture] Shampoo: [yelling] Lardizabal: [As the two of them argue, Makiko Kawamura enters. Shampoo walks up to Makiko, ignoring Lardizabal, who cuts off in mid-insult.] Shampoo: Irasshai mase! What Shampoo do for you? Makiko: Looking for Hito-chan. He here? Shampoo: Who he? Makiko: [looking around] Never mind, he's not here. How about Ukyou-chan? Shampoo: No see either. Makiko: Okay, Guess I'll wait... [walks to and sits down on a stool next to Lardizabal.] Lardizabal: Excuse me, did you say you were looking for Kuonji Ukyou? [Makiko gives Lardizabal a suspicious look.] Makiko: You're not trying to hit on me, are you? Lardizabal: [waving his hands] No, don't get me wrong. I just think I know Ukyou. Makiko: [realization dawns] You're Tanaka Lardizabal, aren't you? Lardizabal: Hai... Makiko: [snapping fingers] Thought so! [beams] Lardizabal: Uh... have we met before? Makiko: Not formally, but I've seen you around before.. Lardizabal: Really? I would've noticed... Makiko: Kawamura Makiko at your service! And you were too busy fighting Ran-chan over... [pointing to an area nearby, at the bar] there. Lardizabal: Ran-chan? Makiko: [giggling] Well, Ukyou-chan always calls Saotome Ranma that, and I sort of picked it up. [glancing at clock] Gee, I wonder where Hito-chan is. If he's ditched me again... Lardizabal: Uh, about that fight... Makiko: Cool trick! How can you manage to drink and fight? Lardizabal: Uh, it's the Drunken-style... it's been practiced among my mother's side of the family for many generations. [Makiko smiles, looking at Lardizabal.] Makiko: [thinking] He IS kinda cute... [to Lardizabal] What do you major in? I'm in Computer Science! Lardizabal: Well, I major in Theater Arts... [Pretty soon, Lardizabal and Makiko are talking and laughing, as Shampoo tries to avoid serving Lardizabal by lavishing attention on each customer at the last populated table. However, fairly soon, Shampoo runs out of customers to serve. Reluctantly, she comes up to the two of them.] Shampoo: [addressing Makiko] Konbanwa! How Shampoo serve you? Lardizabal: [talking to Shampoo's back] How about some attention, for starters? Then you can bring us a bottle of sake! And make it WARM this time! The last one was colder than the peak of Mt. Fuji! [Shampoo's back stiffens.] Shampoo: Hai. [Shampoo walks off to the kitchen, as Makiko gives Lardizabal a disapproving look.] Makiko: Was that necessary? Lardizabal: She's slow, that's all... Makiko: You could get better service if you were nicer... Lardizabal: [eyes narrowing] Girl's got an attitude. Makiko: [cocking an eyebrow] Look who's talking. Lardizabal: You don't know enough about me to say anything like that... Makiko: You have a death wish? From what I've heard about Shampoo, you don't want to make her mad at you. [glancing at Lardizabal] You really are out to test that immovable theory, aren't you? Lardizabal: Nani? What do you mean? Makiko: You know... it's where an irresistible force meets... Lardizabal: [snorts] Her? Irresistible?? [Shampoo walks up, carrying a tray with a large steaming bottle and two cups.] Lardizabal: That bimbo is an insult to any decent waitress out there! [Without breaking stride, Shampoo smashes the bottle across Lardizabal's head, and walks back into the kitchen. Lardizabal passes out. His last sight is of a shocked Makiko.] * * * Man's voice: [echoing] Hey, little brother, wake up! Lardizabal: [muttering] Go away... put the drinks on my tab... Man's voice: C'mon, little one, wake up...! [Feeling slaps on his cheeks, Lardizabal blinks, and opens his eyes... to see the face of a lanky, handsome man, looking very much like himself.] Man: Hey, Lard-chan! [striking dramatic pose] Your big brother, Tanaka Yenter, is here! [beams] Lardizabal: Yen-kun?! [groggily] What hit me? [Lardizabal rubs the back of his head, while his brother Yenter glances across the room.] Yenter: Looks like a cute purple-haired girl in a red Mandarin dress. Lardizabal: [blinking] Yen-kun... what are you doing here? Yenter: I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd stop by. Took me a while to find you, too... so, this is the new bar where you hang out, eh? Lardizabal: [looking around] Where's... Makiko? Yenter: Makiko? Cute girl, pale skin, wide eyes, sorta peppy-looking? Lardizabal: Hai... Yenter: Hold on. [yelling] Maki-chan! Lover-boy wants you! Lardizabal: Yen-kun!? [Lardizabal sits up quickly, then groans and collapses as dizziness overcomes him. Makiko pops into the view of Lardizabal's vision and puts a wet towel on Lardizabal's head.] Makiko: You okay? Lardizabal: I'll be fine... what did she hit me with, anyway? [Lardizabal sits up slowly and glances around. Ukyou waves from a nearby table, where she has been talking to Shampoo. Shampoo sniffs at Lardizabal. Lardizabal groans and turns back to see Yenter pick up a bottle, examining it.] Yenter: Looks like unbreakable plastic. So much for that immovable object theory. [Yenter pockets the bottle as Makiko giggles. Lardizabal shoots her a puzzled look.] Makiko: You know. What'd happen if an irresistible force met an immovable object...? Yenter: [looking at Makiko] You realize, of course, that the whole premise is impossible. [examining Lardizabal's head] This means, of course, that his head isn't immovable. [pats Lardizabal's head] Looks fine, little one. You'll be okay. Lardizabal: Har har. Now answer my question... WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?! Yenter: [making calming gestures] Hey, chill out! Just visiting my brother! Makiko: Your twin brother is sooooo cool! Yenter: Heh. Anyway, Maki-chan, I think Lard-chan's fine. You can go now. Makiko: Arigato gozaimasu! See you tomorrow, Yen-kun! Bye, Tanaka-san! Ukyou: Take care, Tanaka-san... See you around, Yen-kun! [beams] Yenter: [waving] Bye, girls! See you around! Makiko: Don't forget to call me! [waving] [Lardizabal blinks, as Makiko and Ukyou leave the restaurant.] Lardizabal: Yen-kun? Maki-chan? Already? Yenter: [grins as he shrugs his shoulders] What can I say? Lardizabal: [rubbing head] How long have I been out? Yenter: Hm, hard to say. Um... Shampoo: [walking up] <3 hours.> Yenter: . Shampoo: [Lardizabal gives Yenter another one of those looks.] Yenter: [bowing] Shampoo: [smiling] Lardizabal: Uh... zai jian... [Lardizabal grabs Yenter and walks out. Outside, Lardizabal spins Yenter around.] Lardizabal: Okay, brother... what the hell are you doing here? Yenter: [looking around] Is there an echo here? [grins] Just checking up on you... how're those theater arts studies of yours coming? Lardizabal: Pretty good... why? Yenter: [sly look] And how's that Akane of yours? Lardizabal: [eyes narrowing] None of your business. Yenter: [wounded look] This is big brother you're speaking to here! Lardizabal: [bitterly] Yeah, Yen-kun. The good son, the perfect gentleman, the one everyone falls in love with. [clenches fists] And cut it out with that big brother act! We were born only 10 minutes apart! Yenter: [grinning] C'mon, little brother... lemme take you back to your apartment. We can talk over a bottle of wine... Lardizabal: [shrugging off Yenter's outreached hand] Leave me alone! I don't need to be condescended to! [Lardizabal sticks his hands in his pockets and walks off angrily into the darkness. Yenter just stands there under the street light and looks after him.] * * * [Morning, Ukyou and Makiko's apartment. Ukyou is in the kitchen cooking breakfast, as Makiko, dressed in her pajamas, sits at her computer.] Makiko: [whistling] Hey, Ukyou-chan, It's amazing! Hito-chan says that the new Pentium 100's with 32 Megs RAM is about as fast as a Sparc 5! I may have to trade in my Quadra! Ukyou: [bland tone] Very nice... come get breakfast. Makiko: Okay... [Makiko logs off her internet account and then kneels at the table. Just as Ukyou plops down a plate of steamed pork buns in front of Makiko, the phone rings.] Makiko: [bouncing up] It's for me! [Makiko dashes over to the phone and picks it up.] Makiko: Moshi moshi! Yenter's voice: Ohayo, Maki-chan! Makiko: Oh, Yen-kun! [Behind her, Ukyou gives a sad smile, kneels at the table, and munches on a pork bun.] Yenter's voice: Sorry, I was trying to call you for a while, but the phone was busy. Makiko: Oh, that's my fault. I swear, I don't know where the time went! [giggles] Yenter's voice: That's okay... listen, I was wondering if you wanted to meet for lunch or something...? Makiko: Oh, make it dinner. Is that okay? Yenter's voice: Sure. Sounds wonderful. Your wish is my command. Makiko: [beams] That's sweet. So, where to? Yenter's voice: [hesitatingly] Uh, know any good places to eat around here? Makiko: Sure, how about the Nekohanten...? Yenter's voice: Uh... no. Shampoo... is scary. Makiko: [beaming] That's all right! After some of the tales Ukyou-chan told me, I can understand how you feel! Umm... [covers the mouthpiece with her hand.] Makiko: Ukyou-chan... think Yenter can come here for dinner? Ukyou: Sure... but you'll have to cook yourself. I'm busy tonight. Makiko: Aw, come on, Ukyou-chan... Ukyou: Gomen. Makiko: But I can't cook! Ukyou: [sighs] I'd really rather not cook tonight, okay? [A guilty look comes over Ukyou's face. Makiko shrugs and uncovers the phone.] Makiko: Um... how about... Ukyou: [suddenly] Hey... why not try Chez Funsui? [Makiko gives Ukyou a surprised look.] Makiko: [to Ukyou] Chez Funsui? [Ukyou nods.] Yenter's voice: Sure... sounds good. Makiko: [blinking at the phone, then talks into it] Okay... what time should I meet you there? Yenter's voice: Meet me there? No! I shall personally escort you from your apartment to the restaurant, fair maiden! Makiko: [grinning] All right. Here's where I live... * * * Akane: Wow, your brother is back in town? [beams] [Looking into Akane's smiling face, Lardizabal gulps.] Lardizabal: Y-yeah. [thinking] She's talking to me! Director: Places, everyone! Akane: Talk to you in a bit! You have to tell me all about what your brother has been doing! Lardizabal: [frowning] Damn. Yen-kun... [As the rehearsal drags on, Lardizabal sighs and sits down in a nearby wooden prop chair, watching Akane. She moves lithely across the stage, reciting her lines perfectly, each word full of emotion. Lardizabal smiles softly and runs his hand through his hair absentmindedly as he watches her character interact with the rest on the stage. Suddenly, however, a large shadow looms over him.] Director: Are you going to sit there all day or join the rest of us? Lardizabal: [sheepish grin] Uh...h-hai! Director: [peers at Lardizabal] What is it you're looking at, anyway? Lardizabal: [blinks] N-nothing! [stands up quickly] Director: Hmmm. [Lardizabal joins his fellow actors on stage, and the rehearsal continues on. Halfway through, however, Lardizabal forgets where he's supposed to be and stops awkwardly in the middle of the stage.] Director: Ok, hold on a second here! Tanaka! You're supposed to be over there by Tendo! Lardizabal: [stammers] H-hai! Director: And Tanaka... try to have more emotion in your lines. Remember, you aren't just reading words off the paper, you ARE the character! Take what you know about the character and BECOME that character! Don't be afraid to show some emotion! [points to Akane] Like Tendo does! Lardizabal: [nods] Hai! [Lardizabal walks over to Akane and stands directly behind her. She turns slightly and winks at him, causing him to blush.] Akane: [whispers] Don't worry, Tanaka-san. You're doing a fine job. Just keep it up. Lardizabal: [thinking] Akane... Akane: [whispers] Tanaka-san? [elbows Lardizabal softly] Tanaka-san? It's your line... Lardizabal: [out loud] Oh! Um.. [to Akane] Why do you scorn me? Don't you know how I feel about you? [Akane turns to face Lardizabal with tears in her eyes.] Akane: [sniffs slightly] No, Michael, I don't. [looks down] You've always been so distant, like you're keeping me away and not letting me in. Lardizabal: [turns around and takes a couple of steps] But... I've tried so hard to be open, to be myself... I love everything about you... your hair, your eyes, the way you smile... the way you make me feel when I'm around you... I can't just let go... Akane: [sadly] Oh, Michael. I love you too, but I just can't go on like this. I need someone who's going to take care of me, who'll love me just as much as I love them... Lardizabal: [whirls around] Is it because I'm a drunk? That I'm not as smart or as handsome or as witty as Yen-kun? [angrily] Tell me why! Why do you like him more than me? I love you more than he ever could! [waves arms] First Saotome, then Yen-kun! Why can't it be me for once? [At this point, the entire cast has stopped and stared at Lardizabal. Akane has dropped out of character and simply stares at Lardizabal, slack-jawed. The Director is even speechless. Lardizabal looks at Akane for a long moment, then slowly turns to look around, seeing everyone watch him. Very slowly, he turns back to face Akane, who still hasn't moved in several minutes. He then turns a bright shade of red.] Director: Are you quite through, Tanaka? Lardizabal: [meekly] Hai. Director: Ok then, ONE MORE TIME! From the beginning! Lardizabal: [sighs] ... * * * [Lardizabal is sitting in the school cafeteria, trying to eat lunch while being pestered by a crowd of girls.] Girls: Your brother's here?... Why didn't you tell us?... Where did your brother arrive from?... Umao-san, wherefore art thou Umao-san?... Is he single?... Such a NICE guy!... He's so cute!... Lardizabal: Enough, already!!! [He gets up and walks off, sulking. Ranma, Akane, Ukyou, and Makiko, who are sitting nearby, watch him go.] Ranma: Hey, Akane... what's with him? [sticking thumb at a retreating Lardizabal] Akane: [dreamy look] Yenter's here... Ranma: [waving a hand in Akane's face] Akane! Akane: [shakened] What? Ranma: What's with Lardizabal? Akane: [shrugs] How should I know? Ranma: [sarcastic] Well, you only work with him in those plays... Akane: [sticks tongue out] That's just acting. Besides, I think he's just being himself. Ukyou: No, he seems more... irritable recently. Makiko: Hard to believe two twins could be so different. Akane: Yeah. [dreamy look] Yenter's such a gentleman, quite polite and respectful. Not at all like Lardizabal. Ranma: [lifts chopsticks to his mouth] You mean this Yenter guy you're gushing over now is Lardy's twin brother? Makiko: Yeah, he's cute, too. Ukyou: So is Tanaka-san, but he's... Akane: [interrupts] ... a rude, obnoxious [glares at Ranma] jerk! Ranma: [frowns] This Yenter guy sounds like a wimp! Ukyou: [frowns] Ran-chan! Makiko: Hey! Yenter's pretty nice! Akane: Yeah. Girls look for that in guys... Ranma: [miffed] So what are YOU looking for, Akane? Akane: Someone like... [eyes narrow] hey, what are you implying? Ranma: [sniffs] As if Yenter would want a kawaikune tomboy like you, anyway... [Ukyou sighs and gives a "Here we go again" look to Makiko. Makiko smiles, picks up her tray, and motions to Ukyou, who picks up her own tray and follows Makiko. The two of them walk off rapidly, closing their ears to the ensuing argument.] Ukyou: So, ready to meet Tanaka-san? Makiko: Hai! I'm looking forward to seeing him again! Ukyou: [beaming] I'm happy for you! [pauses. A melancholy look flashes by her face] Makiko: Ukyou-chan? Ukyou: [changing subject] You know... I wonder how Lardizabal is taking this. Makiko: [shrugging] I dunno. [smiles] Probably laughing and swapping stories with his brother. * * * Lardizabal: [slurring] ... and so, there my dear brother is, being all full of himself. Just because he helped an old lady across the street, got a cat out of a tree, and stopped a bank robbery by wandering in like a drunken sod and then pulling out all the moves... everybody falls all over him. Mom, Dad, Grandpa... [Lardizabal is sitting at the Nekohanten, telling Mousse his woes.] Mousse: [drying the inside of a glass] Go on. [Lardizabal takes a large swig of sake.] Lardizabal: Well, that do-gooder butts his nose in everything I do. I can't even do anything without being compared to that goody-goody brother of mine! * * * Yenter: ... and so, Lard-chan had enough of Mom nagging him about why he wasn't more like me. So he went off, shouting about how Theater Arts would make him better at disguising his moves, so that he could kick, as he puts it, "my goody-goody ass" from here to Beijing. I've been visiting him as often as I can, but... Makiko: Your brother sounds kind of stressed out. [The two of them are walking on a street. Yenter, dressed in a shirt and tie, is walking casually, while Makiko, wearing a white blouse and purple skirt, wobbles a bit on her high heels.] Yenter: Yeah. He was never a good student, anyway. The only thing he ever took seriously was his martial arts, and... I was just better at it than he was. Makiko: [looking thoughtful] Yeah. Must have been hard on him dealing with a brother who was better at everything... Yenter: Our parents had high standards... and he had a hard time living up to them. Makiko: I can understand how he feels... Yenter: Enough about Lard-chan. Why are you so interested in him, anyway? Makiko: [blushing] I... Oh, here's Chez Funsui! [Makiko walks in. Yenter gives a bemused smile and follows.] Hitomi: Irasshai mase! Yenter: Table for two, please... [smiles at Hitomi] [Hitomi smiles, picks up two menus, and leads Makiko and Yenter to a table near the window. Yenter pulls out a seat and allows Makiko to sit down before taking his own seat.] Hitomi: [putting menus on table] I'll be back to take your order, all right? [beams at Yenter] Yenter: Hai! Arigato! Hitomi: No problem! Anytime you need something, let me know! [walks off] Yenter: Anyway... where was I? Makiko: [cupping her chin in her hands] I think we were talking about how Tanaka-san is lucky to have a brother like you... * * * Lardizabal: How DID I have the bad luck to have a brother like him??? [Lardizabal takes a swig from a large jug of wine, as Mousse dries off another glass.] Mousse: [putting away glass] Perhaps you had very bad karma in a previous life. Lardizabal: [giving Mousse a sour look] Arigato. Arigato gozaimasu, you blind bat. Mousse: [unperturbed] No problem. [Lardizabal gets up and leaves, sticking the jug under his arm. Mousse shrugs, and starts trying to polish the inside of an ashtray.] * * * Yenter: ... and so there Lard-chan is, realizing that he's been drinking water the whole time! Makiko: [laughing] You mean, he actually thought that water was sake? Yenter: Yeah. He wanted soooo much to learn Drunken-style kung fu, Grandpa decided to teach him. Mom, though, just switched all the sake with water because she didn't want four year-old children drinking! [laughing] [Makiko smiles. Yenter grins back, and then leans over.] Yenter: So... why are you asking so many questions about Lard-chan? Makiko: Eh? I wasn't... Yenter: [grinning] Now I know it isn't the pleasure of my company that's distracting you. Makiko: Uh... I was just... curious. It's not like... Yenter: ... there's something wrong with me? Makiko: Uh... well... no. You're perfect. Just perfect. Yenter: But... Makiko: I dunno... I just can't explain it. Yenter: [leaning back] You're a computer science major, right? Makiko: Yes... so? Yenter: Concentration on programming, right? Makiko: No, actually, software engineering. Yenter: As in debugging and quality assurance, right? Makiko: Hai! Yenter: Well, then, you're the kind of person who likes bugs, right? Makiko: NO! My programs have to be PERFECT! Yenter: Maki-chan... think about it. You're probably not happy unless you have major problems to fix, right? Otherwise, there's no fun in it for you... ne? Makiko: ... What has this got to do with Tanaka-kun? [Yenter starts laughing.] Yenter: [grins] Well, you HAVE to admit... my brother is... um... a problem child. [Makiko smiles, a faint blush on her face.] * * * Lardizabal: Yen-kun... no baka. Baka... baka... [swigging from jug] Gotta be perfect, gotta be perfect... just like Mom wants... just like Yen-kun. Whee... [Lardizabal is stumbling down the street, cradling the jug under one arm, while shoving people out of the way with the other arm.] Lardizabal: Perfect gentleman, hah... ain't possible. Except Yen-kun does it... [As he walks past Chez Funsui, Lardizabal suddenly spies Yenter in the window talking to Makiko.] Lardizabal: ... [He turns around and enters the restaurant.] * * * Yenter: Well? Admit it! [laughing] Makiko: Noooo! [has a goofy smile on her face] [A shadow falls over Yenter. Makiko stops smiling. Yenter continues to laugh, until he realizes he's the only one laughing. Slowly turning around, Yenter looks up at Lardizabal's face.] Lardizabal: [slurring] Talking about me again, big brother? Yenter: [look of concern] Are you okay, little one? Lardizabal: I'm getting SICK of you! Every time you come here, everyone immediately starts comparing me to you, and act like I'm the the... the... Yenter: Black sheep of the family? Lardizabal: Y-yeah, dat's it! And... [takes a swig from the jug from] I'm sick of it! It's like every time you're around, you have to tell those stories all about me, just so you can show how... PERFECT you are! Yenter: [holding up hands] Hey, uh... sorry, little one... I didn't mean to... Lardizabal: Shut up! [Lardizabal cups his thumbs and index fingers (as if holding sake cups) and shoots out his right arm at Yenter. However, Yenter isn't there, having pushed himself backwards over the chair. On his way down, Yenter pulls the table with him. Diving under the geyser of wine just falling under the table, Yenter quickly drinks, shudders, and lies motionless on the floor.] Makiko: Wha... [She starts to stand up to go to Yenter, but Lardizabal pushes her back into her seat, and puts the jug in her lap] Lardizabal: Sit down, Maki-chan. He's a Drunken-style martial artist too. Isn't that right... Yen-kun?! [bitterly] He's better than me at everything... Well, not today! [Lardizabal turns his back on Yenter and falls over backwards on him as if taking an off-balance drink... but Yenter isn't there anymore, having rolled over. Yenter quickly does a handstand, and tries to plant his butt on Lardizabal's chest... only to land on the floor, as Lardizabal pushes off on his feet and slides across the floor...] Hitomi: Eeeek! [pulls her skirt closer to her] Lardizabal: Oops. [Yenter slowly stands up, rubbing his butt, as Lardizabal, blushing, sits up.] Hitomi: Nooo! [tries to grab Lardizabal] Don't fight in here! [Lardizabal shrugs off Hitomi, makes a beckoning motion, then starts swaying from side to side, holding out cupped fingers in front of him. Yenter matches him, move for move, as they slowly approach each other. At around 3 meters apart, they start circling each other.] Yenter: [slurring] Chill out, little one. It's not like you have anything to prove... Lardizabal: Oh... sure. You're the honor student, the class president, the popular one... [he leaps and does a flying kick at Yenter.] Yenter: [ducking] If you put in the effort... Lardizabal: [somersaults on the floor and turns to face Yenter] EVERYBODY expects me to be like you! And I'm... I'm NOT you! Yenter: Nobody ever asked you to be... Lardizabal: Shut up! [Lardizabal swings at Yenter, forcing him to duck, then swings back, and connects with his elbow just as Yenter straightens up, sending him flying past a shocked Makiko. Lardizabal approaches Makiko, and picks up the jug on her lap.] Lardizabal: All that piety and charity and politeness... you make me SICK, Yen-kun! [Lardizabal takes a large swig, and then wipes his mouth with his sleeve... and gets hit with a large bottle of sake, currently held in Yenter's hand.] Yenter: Little one... [takes a swig] Lardizabal: DON'T CALL ME LITTLE ONE! [Lardizabal lashes out, but Yenter ducks. Lardizabal uses his knee to try to keep Yenter at bay, while he tries to chug from his jug. Yenter, however, spins around the knee, and shoots up between Lardizabal and the jug, intercepting the flow of wine. Lardizabal quickly swings at Yenter with the jug, but Yenter spins sideways, separates Lardizabal from the jug, and swigs from it. Furious, Lardizabal grabs the bottle, but Yenter stubbornly holds on.] Ranma: [entering the restaurant] Konbanwa, Hito... [Yenter lets go of the bottle. Taken by surprise, Lardizabal loses control of the bottle and lets it fly... into Ranma's face. The bottle shatters on Ranma's head, knocking him unconscious.] Yenter: Uh... wasn't that bottle unbreakable? Makiko: Yeah. But Ran-chan's head is a lot harder than Lardizabal's... [giggles] [Ignoring the two of them, Lardizabal tries to snatch the jug away from Yenter. Yenter ducks and weaves around Lardizabal's increasingly desperate attempts to grab the jug. Lardizabal feints one way and manages to snatch the jug as Yenter attempts to dodge the wrong way. Lardizabal quickly lifts the jug to his lips...] Yenter: [grinning] Problem, little one? Lardizabal: Y-you drank it all?! [Desperately, Lardizabal looks around. Hitomi shrieks as Lardizabal runs up to her, and clutches desperately at her.] Lardizabal: [wild look in his eyes] Drink! Drink! Hitomi: [flustered] C-coffee, tea, soda, or water? Lardizabal: N-noooo! Alcohol! Hitomi: H-here?? Lardizabal: CHIKUSHO! [He releases Hitomi, who dashes for the safety of the kitchen. Looking around wildly, he sees the soaking wet Ranma. He runs to Ranma, rolls him over, and tries to cup the sake off the floor, attempting to drink.] Makiko: [gagging] Gross! Yenter: [disgusted look] Oh man... [Yenter reaches out, grabs Lardizabal and starts shaking him.] Yenter: Are you THAT desperate to show me something? Lardizabal: [teeth rattling] B-but I... I... Yenter: [shaking Lardizabal harder] Chikusho, little one! If you wanted people to like you... just be NICE to people, Lard-chan! Lardizabal: [vision dimming] L-l-let go! Yenter: Not till you get some sense rattled into your brain, little one! Don't you get it? If you don't chill out... you're going to drive away everyone who might actually LIKE you! [glancing at Makiko] Makiko: Tanaka-san! [trying to calm down Yenter] [Lardizabal feels his vision going, as Yenter shakes him back and forth...] * * * Makiko's voice: Tanaka-san! Tanaka-san! Lardizabal: [waving arms] Let go, let go! AND DON'T CALL ME LITTLE ONE! Makiko's voice: Whoa! Get back! [Lardizabal groggily sits up. He blinks his eyes, and sees Makiko, Ukyou, Mousse, and Shampoo looking at him. Mousse is holding a bottle of smelling salts, which he puts away. Makiko lets go of Lardizabal.] Lardizabal: Where's Yen-kun? Makiko: [puzzled] Who? Lardizabal: My brother! Yenter! I was just fighting him a minute ago! Ukyou: Uh...? Shampoo: Maybe Shampoo hit too hard? Makiko: You're not helping... yiii! Lardizabal: [grabbing Makiko] When an irresistable object meets an immovable force... what happens? Nothing!? Makiko: [eyes widening] H-hai! Lardizabal: B-but... my brother! It was all so real... you were dating Yenter, and he was beating me up and everyone was gushing about what a wonderful nice guy he is and... wait. [shaking head] I don't have a twin brother. Shampoo: [bored look] Look ok. Shampoo work now. [wanders off.] Makiko: You sure you're okay? Lardizabal: So... it was... a dream? Yen-kun and Maki-chan... Makiko: [blushing] Tanaka-kun... it's nice of you to call me that... but can you let go of me? [Lardizabal looks at Makiko, eyes wide open. Then he slowly releases her and just stares, trying to gather his thoughts.] Ukyou: [grinning, whispers to Makiko] Maki-chan...! Makiko: [blushing, hisses at Ukyou] Shut up! Ukyou: [laughing, grabs Makiko's arm] Let's go! [drags Makiko off behind her] Makiko's voice: [trailing as she exits the door] See you later, Tanaka-kun! Mousse: You all right, Tanaka-san? Lardizabal: Hai. [rubbing the back of his head.] Thought you were off tonight. Mousse: Hai... but I live here. Upstairs, actually. Lardizabal: [pauses] So then where were you? Mousse: ... Out for dinner with ... a friend. Lardizabal: Oh. [has a "Sorry I asked" look on his face] [Lardizabal starts to turn around in order to leave... then pauses, noticing the unbreakable bottle on the floor. An image of Yenter's grinning face comes to mind. Slowly, Lardizabal turns to Mousse.] Lardizabal: [hesitatingly] T-thank you for your concern... Mousse. [Mousse, who has started to head to the kitchen, turns around and looks at Lardizabal in surprise. Then he smiles.] Mousse: No problem. [Mousse heads into the kitchen. Lardizabal looks after Mousse, then turns back to the bottle, and picks it up. As he exits the restaurant, he contemplates the bottle.] Lardizabal: [thinking] I wonder what that weird dream was all about? Being nice and all...? Is Ukyou really that sad? Do Ranma and Akane fight all the... [Lardizabal's thoughts are interrupted by the arrival of Ranma and Akane.] Akane: ... but you HAVE to help me with the play for class! You still owe me one more favor! Look, all you have to do is rehearse lines with me... Ranma: [bored look, hands behind head] I'm studying, and I need my energy... Akane: [sarcastically] Oh, you need your energy for studying? YOU? The Great Brain does it again... Ranma: [interrupting] Shut up! [Ignoring Lardizabal, the two of them walk into the Nekohanten. Holding the bottle, Lardizabal glances after them, watching Akane. An image of the Director appears in his mind.] Director's voice: Remember, you aren't just reading words off the paper, you ARE the character! Take what you know about the character and BECOME that character! Don't be afraid to show some emotion. Lardizabal: [thinking] Do I really know these people well enough...? Ukyou, Ranma, Mousse... Akane... and Makiko. Hmm... Would I be better off being... like Yenter? [pauses] Is everyone really like that in real life? [Lardizabal looks at the bottle...] Lardizabal: [shaking head] Nah. I'm not that good. [Smiling sardonically, Lardizabal tosses the bottle over his shoulder and starts to walk home. The bottle sails through the air...] * * * [Ukyou and Makiko's apartment. As the door to the apartment opens...] Makiko: He's kinda cute... and he's actually nicer than I thought. Ukyou: Lardizabal? That arrogant drunken slob? Hard to believe. After what he did to Ran-chan... [frowns] Makiko: Well, he's not so bad once you get to know him... he's smarter than he lets on. [beaming] Ukyou: What about Hito-chan? Makiko: He stood me up again. [waves hand] He's probably still moonstruck over that girl at Noumunoikan... Ukyou: [raises an eyebrow] ... [smiles] All right. Good luck with Tanaka-san... _Maki-chan_. Makiko: [blushing] Oh stop it! I don't think he's my type! [Ukyou raises an eyebrow] Makiko: Er... um... be right back! Ukyou: [grins] Graceful, _Maki-chan_, really graceful. [Makiko pulls an eyelid down, sticks out her tongue, and then heads into the bathroom. As the bathroom door closes, Ukyou's smile fades away. She closes and locks the front door, then looks at the bathroom door, and sighs. She turns and walks slowly into the bedroom to her bed. Ukyou flings herself on her bed and curls up, looking out through the bedroom window...] Ukyou: [sadly] Good luck, Maki-chan... * * * [The bottle bounces on the ground several times, skids, and rattles around for a bit before finally coming to a stop in the middle of the street. Moments later, Ranma goes flying out of the Nekohanten and lands in the street.] Akane: [from inside] RANMA NO BAKA! Ranma: [yelling] KAWAIKUNE! [Ranma jumps to his feet and runs into the Nekohanten. Behind him, the shattered remains of the bottle lie in the street.] =============================================================================== finis. =============================================================================== Credits : Writers..............: David Tai Paul Gallegos John Walter Biles Story Artists........: Anastasia Moreno Kimberly Cambridge Story Advisors.......: Jeremy Blackman Jon Hayashi Jong Man Hwang Jim Miller Cris "AlberCrombie" Snyder Chi M. Truong Special Thanks to....: Robert DeLoura Tanya Mundy J. The Tucson Animation Screening Society (TASS) Denver Anime International And of course Rumiko Takahashi =============================================================================== On a warm summer's eve Looking at the sky There was you and me Could this be love Watching clouds roll by When we're together it seems like forever Could this be love I wonder if you knew I need to know 'cus it's now or never What I'm thinking of Could this be love And if you thought too Could this be love +---------------------------------------------------------------+ | Copyright (c) 1995 Digital Knight Communications | +---------------------------------------------------------------+ | "Ranma 1/2" and its characters Copyright (c) 1995 | | Viz Communications, Inc., Shogakukan, Kitty Animation | | and Rumiko Takahashi | +---------------------------------------------------------------+ ===============================================================================