Kimagure Orange College [Writers' foreword: This is the forty-second episode of a fan-fiction series based on the characters in Kimagure Orange Road. They are intended to take place after the movie, "I Want to Return to that Day", and follow the characters Kasuga Kyosuke and Ayukawa Madoka as they start the next phase of their lives in college. If you missed the previous episodes, notes about the new characters and previous events are listed after the ending credits. In addition, previous episodes are available at http://www.ujauja.net/kor/koc/ or ftp://ftp.gweep.ca/pub/anime/anime-fan-works/KOR/Kimagure-Orange-College/ We'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their interest in Kimagure Orange College. It's been a long haul, but we are determined to see this series through to completion, and hope you will join us. Doumo arigatou gozaimasu! We thrive on feedback (positive and negative) so mail all letters, praises, or flames to koc_core@yahoogroups.com Enjoy! Sincerely, The Kimagure Orange College Team] ********************************* Episode 42 - Kasuga's Island, Part 2 [A distant view of a speeding power boat slicing through the calm morning waters of Tokyo Bay. A man in his fifties with a grim stony face is on the top deck, steering the boat with an icy sense of purpose. This is Hayashibara Takao. Another man, about ten years younger, thin, with dark hair, climbs up from below decks. This is Kasuga's father, Takashi.] Takashi: Should I take the wheel, Hayashibara-san? Takao: I'm fine. Takashi: Are you sure? Takao: [Barks.] Yes! [Softer.] Don't worry. We'll find your son. I'm sure they'll be fine. Akira is an excellent sailor - I trained him myself. Takashi: I hope so. [Walks over and stands next to Hayashibara.] Are you sure we're headed in the right direction? Takao: We know the Medaka-Maru hasn't shown up on any shore - I have men checking all along the Eastern Coast of Kantou*. If he didn't have time to turn in to port, he would have made for the Izu Islands**. They may have beached on one of the minor islands, without phone service. [He pauses to check the ship's bearing.] That storm came suddenly, so I bet he didn't expect it and was caught too far out to sea. [To himself.] That baka***, if only he had paid more attention to what I taught him! I've been sailing these waters since before he was born.... *Geographical region comprising seven prefectures in the Greater Tokyo Area: Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa. **A group of volcanic islands stretching south and east from the Izu Peninsula near Tokyo. The largest is Ooshima, which is also a popular resort destination. ***idiot Takashi: [Looking out toward the horizon.] I can't help but worry. After all, three days without extra food or water... Takao: [Stiffens.] Hold on, Kasuga. I have twenty other ships in the water. We'll find them. I promise. Takashi: [To himself.] Kyosuke, please be strong! [Cut to Yoko violently slamming Kasuga's arm down on an improvised table made of a large cooler.] Yoko: Bah! Kasuga, you're weak! Kasuga: [Holding his arm gingerly.] Itee*... *Ouch [The others are gathered around on the beach, watching the match. A collective cheer rises up from the men with Kasuga's defeat.] Saito: Yay! Another hundred yen! Kasamatsu: You bet only a hundred?? I bet three hundred! Kimura: Waah! I thought for sure Kyo-chan could do it. Kasamatsu: Your Kyo-chan is an embarrassment to mankind! Kasuga: [Annoyed.] Did anyone bet on me!? Ayukawa: I did, Kasuga-kun. You can pay me back later. Kasuga: A...ayukawa...! Ayukawa: Jooku*! Jooku! *Joke Kasuga Narration: We've been marooned on this island for three days. Although recovering from the storm and then survival occupied our thoughts, we found that we have plenty to eat and drink: the jungle is full of fruit trees, we catch plenty of fish with Katsu's bait, and there's a clear stream right where we're shipwrecked. There hasn't been any rain, and the nights have been warm - just right for sleeping under the stars. Although we still have no idea how we're getting home, spirits are high. Somehow it almost seems like a little vacation. Perhaps we've all been under a lot of stress lately at Waseda. Yoko: All right! Who's next? [Saito, Kasamatsu, and Katsu all hide their arms behind their backs and step away from the cooler.] Yuko: Where's Hayashibara? He should be next. Ayukawa: He's getting something from the ship. [Kneels at the table across from Yoko, with a glint in her eye.] How about I fill in? Kasuga: [To himself.] Ayukawa.... Yoko: [Turning pale.] Oh, er, uh, I... [Sees Hayashibara approaching and rushes over to him.] Hayashibara-san! What's that? Hayashibara: It's my sextant. Kasamatsu: Sex-what? Hayashibara: [Rolls his eyes.] Sextant. I can try to determine our current latitude. [Sees everyone at the table.] Eh? Did I miss something? Arm wrestling? Yoko: We were just finishing. All this male humiliation is getting my appetite up! Come on, Yuko, let's catch us some dinner. Yuko: Sure. [To Saito.] Let's go. Kimura: Mina-san*! Wait for me! *Everyone Yoko: Oh, no, you don't! We can't afford to lose any more fishing gear. Stay here! Kimura: [Disappointed.] But... [Yuko, Yoko, and Saito leave.] Katsu: That's ok, Kimura-san. You can help us with the signal fire! Kimura: [Without much enthusiasm.] Hai*.... *All right Kasamatsu: Yes, apprentice, show the Red Ninja your alchemical tricks! Katsu: If I'm teaching you, doesn't that make me the master and you the apprentice? Kasamatsu: When you can snatch the panties of a beauteous maiden from my very hand... [Their voices fade as they leave. Only Hayashibara, Ayukawa, and Kasuga remain. Ayukawa sits next to Kasuga and starts massaging his arm.] Ayukawa: Are you hurt, Kasuga-kun? Kasuga: Just my dignity. And my arm. [Smiles at her.] Hayashibara: [To Kasuga and Ayukawa.] By the way, you two - I was wondering. Did anything happen on the boat after I was knocked out? Ayukawa: No.... Hayashibara: Hmmmm. I didn't get knocked overboard or anything, did I? Kasuga: Eh? What would give you that idea? Hayashibara: It's just that every time I cough, I taste sea-water. Kasuga: Ah... well, there were a lot of big waves. You probably swallowed some. Hayashibara: Oh... right. Ayukawa: You also knocked your head against the mast. Hayashibara: [Running his hand over his head.] I guess I'm fortunate I didn't get a bruise anywhere. Ayukawa: ... Hayashibara: Oh, well. [Smiles at them.] At least, thanks to you, we are safe. Now we should work on getting rescued. I'd say we'd better start a signal fire. Ayukawa: [Standing up.] Right. Let's go. Kasuga: Where? Ayukawa: To find some firewood. [Later that day, on a rocky rise at the end of the island, Kasuga is struggling to climb the uneven landscape while holding an armload of branches.] Kasuga: Che*, shouldn't Hayashibara be coming down to get another load? *Exclamation of mild irritation [Kasuga pulls himself to the top of the rise. The signal fire, about the size of a small campfire, is sending a nearly vertical column of smoke into the sky. Hayashibara stands by the fire, looking at the sky through his sextant.] Kasuga: You're getting our location? Hayashibara: Yes. Kasuga: How does this thing work? Hayashibara: It merges the view of the horizon with the view of the sun. I adjust the angle of the arms of the sextant until the sun appears to be on the horizon. With the angle from this reading, and the one from this morning, I calculate our latitude. Kasuga: What about the longitude? Hayashibara: That's not so easy. For that, I need a good watch - and stars. Of course, if my sextant is broken, we can't determine anything. Kasuga: Do you think it might be? Hayashibara: [Seriously.] Yes, Kasuga-san, it might be. It tells me our latitude is 22 degrees, 18.2 minutes. That puts us in the tropics. Kasuga: So? Hayashibara: So either my sextant is broken - or... Kasuga: Or...? Hayashibara: Or we are indeed in the tropics. Since this island is covered with coconut palms, I'd guess it's the latter. [Quietly.] Kasuga-kun, do you have any idea how fast the storm would have to be to carry us this far? Kasuga: N-no. Hayashibara: Tokyo is at 35 degrees 41 minutes. This means we covered 12 degrees 13 minutes. One minute is one nautical mile, so this makes it 733 miles. Since we sailed about thirty miles before we were hit, the storm must've dragged us at about 350 knots for two hours. Kasuga: Is that... fast? Hayashibara: The fastest typhoon I've heard of was about half that. Also, typhoons generally blow north, not south. So thank you, Kasuga-san. You must have worked your power really hard to get us here. [Kasuga slowly stands up. Hayashibara keeps looking him straight in the eye.] Kasuga: How long have you known? Hayashibara: For almost two years now. Kasuga: Two years!? Hayashibara: Yes. I saw you teleport at the Waseda baseball game. You didn't see me - I was in the shadows. Kasuga: And you didn't say anything? Hayashibara: [Shrugs.] We all have our private... things we might want to keep... well, private. [Pause.] Does she know? Kasuga: Yes. [Long silence. Hayashibara pokes the fire with the stick, sending a shower of dying sparks into the air.] Hayashibara: There goes that fantasy. [Kasuga looks at him with a question in his eyes.] I thought - once in a while - that maybe she didn't know, and if she knew, she'd... I don't know. Maybe get scared of you? Maybe then I could... well, never mind all that now. You must think pretty badly of me now, Kasuga-kun. Kasuga: [Shakes his head.] No. Hayashibara: You should. I do. Kasuga: Don't. You know, I wondered about that myself - I thought, "Maybe she'd like me less if she knew." [To himself.] Even now I'm not certain. [Hayashibara nods and pokes the fire again, sending another shower of orange sparks.] Kasuga: Have you told anyone else? Hayashibara: Of course not. Who do you take me for? Kasuga: Gomen*. *I'm sorry [Silence. The fire crackles and pops.] Hayashibara: So, you got us here. Can you get us out? Kasuga: I thought about this. I don't think I can, Hayashibara-san. I can't teleport this far or push the boat for such a distance. Gomen. Hayashibara: [Nods.] I understand. Thank you for talking to me about this, Kasuga-san. And... Kasuga: And? Hayashibara: Take good care of her. [Kasuga nods and climbs down the slope. Hayashibara remains alone by the fire, looking at the darkening evening sky.] [Cut to the sky full of stars. Hayashibara, still by the fire, is looking through the sextant. Next to him are Katsu and Kimura. Katsu is also looking up. Kimura is doodling in the sand. There's an ornate wooden box next to them.] Hayashibara: That looks like Polaris, don't you agree? Katsu: Yes, there's the little dipper. Hayashibara: [Shooting* Polaris with the sextant.] Katsu-san, check the time on the chronometer, please. *Measuring the angle of a heavenly body with a sextant. [Katsu removes the lid of the box, revealing a mahogany wooden panel with three inset clock faces. There is one digital and two analog clock faces, each showing the same time.] Katsu: Eleven-hundred twenty-seven and twenty-four seconds, GMT. Kimura: [To herself, still scribbling in the sand.] Eleven twenty-seven and twenty-four. Hai! Hayashibara: All right... and... the latitude is twenty-two degrees, 18.2 minutes. Kimura: 22 degrees, 18.2 minutes. Hai! [Continues scribbling.] Hayashibara: Now we need another reading. My dad always recommended Jupiter. Let's see.... [Searches along the horizon.] There. [Measures it with the sextant.] Forty-two degrees, 10.2 minutes. [Kimura continues scribbling, not looking up.] Katsu: What are we looking for? Hayashibara: The subpoints of Jupiter and Polaris. Katsu: What are those? Hayashibara: Well... think about it like this. Somewhere on the Earth, Jupiter is directly overhead. That place is called the "subpoint" of Jupiter. Now, if Jupiter is not overhead, we are some distance away from the subpoint - if we measure the angle of Jupiter, we know how far. Kimura: I see! It's like there's a circle on the Earth with the subpoint in the middle! Hayashibara-san isn't just athletic, handsome, and strong - he's smart, too! [Katsu looks at Kimura with his eyes bugging out.] Hayashibara: [Laughs.] I think my father would disagree. Anyway, if we measure two angles - to Jupiter and Polaris, say - then we'll have two such circles, and we'll be in one of the two points where they intersect. Katsu: But how will we know which point is our position? Hayashibara: Usually, when you're done, the two points are far apart, so it's easy to tell which one is correct. So - what we need now is to go back to the boat to get my navigation book with the tables. Kimura: No, we don't! Hayashibara: You brought the book with you? Kimura: No need for the book! I've got all the numbers in my head! Hayashibara: Eh?! There are hundreds of tables in that book! Kimura: Yep - that's why I had to derive the formulas. It's very easy! I mean, our azimuth is simply the arc cosine of the fraction of the sine of our declination minus the sine of our altitude times the sine of latitude, over the cosine of our - what? Did I make a mistake? [Pause, while the two guys look at each other and back at Kimura.] Hayashibara: Ah, ok... so we still need the information in the tables to find the subpoints. Kimura: [Waving at the indecipherable scribbling covering ten meters of sand behind her.] I got the subpoints! Hayashibara: Oh, uh... so all that's left is to calculate the points of intersection... Kimura: Yep! I've got that too! Hayashibara: Kimura-san, I'm very glad you're not in my math class. So... where are we? Kimura: Hmmmm... well, throwing out the answer which would put us in Africa, we are at 22 degrees, 18.2 minutes north latitude, and 141 degrees, 15.6 degrees east longitude. Hayashibara: [To himself.] This is bad. [Out loud.] It's not that bad. We're maybe fifteen hundred kilometers away from Honshu. Kimura: Sugoi*! I've never been to the tropics before... But I always wanted a romantic trip to Hawaii! *Wonderful Hayashibara: Go and tell the others. I wonder how they're going to take the news.... [Katsu and Kimura start going down the slope, when Katsu stops.] Katsu: That must've been one strong typhoon to drive us this far. Hayashibara: It was. Very strong. [Katsu nods, and he and Kimura leave.] Hayashibara: [To himself.] You're welcome, Kasuga-san. [Later, everyone is gathered around the signal fire.] Hayashibara: ...so that's where we are. Yuko: Doomed! We're doomed! Yoko: Sonna baka-na*.... I don't want to die! *No way Kasuga: [To himself.] There's no way I can teleport that far. I hope he's not relying on me.... Kasamatsu: Is this where the Red Ninja comes to an end?! It can't be! Waaaaa! I haven't gotten to first base yet! Saito: [Putting a hand on Yoko's shoulder.] Don't worry. I'm sure we'll make it. Yoko: [Blushes, then looks away.] Baka! I'm not your girlfriend! Yuko: Saito no baka*, I'd think you could tell us apart by now. *Saito, you idiot Saito: Ah, sorry! [To himself.] Actually, I think I knew that was Yoko-san... so what was I trying to do just now? Ayukawa: Wait, wait - how did we end up so far south? Kasuga-kun and I were headed for some islands to the east. Right, Kasuga-kun? Kasuga: Erm... ah... well... Ayukawa: [More intensely.] Right, Kasuga-kun? Kasuga: Well, um, you see, it was very rough... very difficult... I was having trouble just keeping the ship under control... so I'm not... entirely sure... we were headed east... we... could have been headed south... maybe... I... Gomen! [Bows quickly.] Yoko: Kasuga no BAKA! Kasamatsu: You've marooned us in the middle of nowhere! Saito: How could you confuse them?! East isn't South! It has fewer brushstrokes!!!* *Saito is referring to the kanji for East (higashi, 8 strokes) and South (minami, 9 strokes). [Ayukawa shocks everyone by laughing out loud.] Ayukawa: It's ok. Mina-san, relax. Kasuga: [Looking up in surprise.] Ayukawa.... Ayukawa: Kasuga-kun has always been mistake-prone. I speak from personal experience. [She smiles at Kasuga.] But he's a good guy to have along in a crisis. When he's involved, things seem to always work themselves out. Who knows what might have happened if we had continued to go east? We might have wrecked on one of the islands, or missed them all and ended up in the open Pacific. Hayashibara: Ayukawa-san's right. We should be thankful that they were able to keep the ship in one piece and steer us safely to land. If not for the courage of this fearless crew, we all would be lost. Yuko: I suppose you're right.... Yoko: Yeah, okay.... Thanks, you two. Kasamatsu: All right, all right.... Although I'd be more thankful if there was a tribe of sex-crazed virgin native girls on this island. Katsu: Baka. How would the tribe of virgins survive without any men? Kasamatsu: They'd prey on shipwrecked sailors, ruthlessly savaging them with their nubile... Hayashibara: [Cutting him off.] I think our best chance at getting off this island is the ship we came in on. So I'm going to assess the damage. But we should continue to explore the island - we may be able to find something to help us. [Kimura is unable to hold back a sleepy yawn. Everyone laughs.] Hayashibara: [Smiling.] For now, let's get some sleep. [COMMERCIAL BREAK.] [The interior of a Volkswagen Touareg. A car salesman is showing off the features to the test driver: a beautiful young woman with dark hair.] Salesman: The Touareg's cabin is designed to wrap around you. This is walnut inlay. The trim is chrome. Godai Kyouko: It's great. Salesman: It's got twelve-way adjustable seats. Kyouko: [In a hushed tone.] Get down! Could you please get down in your seat?! Salesman: What? Kyouko: [Motioning with her hands.] Down! Please! [The car slows down and pulls over, the salesman crouching out of sight. A very handsome young man, dressed for the tennis court and carrying an athletic bag, looks to the car and smiles. His teeth gleam.] Kyouko: Mitaka-san, how are you? Mitaka Shun: Otona- Godai-san, looks like you're doing... well. Kyouko: Thank you. See you. Mitaka: See you. Announcer: The elegant, capable Touareg. Salesman: [Pulling himself back into his seat.] Ex-boyfriend? Kyouko: Yeah. Announcer: Come drive it, you'll get it. Right now, get a great deal on a Volkswagen Touareg. [Writers' note: Standard Disclaimer.] [END COMMERCIAL BREAK.] Kasuga Narration: It's been a week since we've been marooned on this island, and we've seen no sign of rescuers. We have set up a signal fire, but as we might be here for some time, we started to think of this place as our home. We have worked at creating shelter and further exploring the island. Although things were looking pretty bleak when we first got here, we've actually been quite lucky in many ways. There is no shortage of food or water, and the climate has been comfortable. The island is pristine and beautiful; in many ways, it's almost a paradise... Kimura: [Excited as she pulls out a bamboo cage out of the water with a pair of crabs inside.] Waah...! Kani*-chan! *Crab Yoko: [Tiredly.] You don't ever get tired of anything, do you? Kimura: [Pulls one of the crabs out of the cage.] You are such a cute thing! Don't you think so? [Holds the crab up to Yoko. The crab proceeds to pinch Yoko on the nose with one of its pincers.] Yoko: Ite...! [Swats at it and drops it into a bucket.] It's ugly and you shouldn't get attached to it, anyway. I'll be glad to see it in a pot of boiling water. Kimura: [Nods sadly.] Un... but we don't have to be mean to them before that.... Yoko: [Mostly to herself.] So silly.... [Looks at the crab trap dubiously.] I still wonder how Kasuga-san managed to cut this bamboo so evenly.... Kimura: [Confidently.] Kyo-chan is a great wizard! He used his "power"! Yoko: Oh, don't get started with that nonsense again...! [Cut to the interior of the island. Katsu, Kasamatsu, and Saito are picking their way through dense vegetation, searching the island.] Kasamatsu: [Winces as a branch scrapes his arm.] Itee! The Red Ninja was never meant to be a jungle explorer! Katsu: You could have chosen to collect firewood, but you wanted to search the island instead. Kasamatsu: What I want most of all is to find a hermit living here, with a radio and a fully fueled motorboat. But no matter how thoroughly we search the island, we're not going to find him... because he doesn't exist. Saito: Look, I agree this is a fruitless task. But we don't know how long we're going to be here. We need to catalog all the resources this island has. Kasamatsu: Ah, but there you're wrong, Saito-kun. This isn't a fruitless task! [Kasamatsu points. The others look up and see he is pointing at a mango tree.] Saito: [Glaring at Kasamatsu.] That's not funny - but it's a good find, in either case. Let's collect some of the ripe fruit and bring it back. Katsu, can we have your backpack? Katsu: Hold on, let me get my notebook out of here. I don't want to get mango pulp on these. [Katsu removes a pen and notebook from his backpack and hands the backpack to Saito. Opening his notebook, Katsu scratches some notes on a rough map while Saito and Kasamatsu shake the mango tree. A few fruits fall to the ground.] Kasamatsu: Oi, Katsu, how about helping us? Katsu: I'll be there soon, once I finish this. [The other two give him a look.] We need an accurate map of this island and its resources. Look, you can see we've explored most of it, except for these central parts. [Back on the beach, Hayashibara, Ayukawa, and Kasuga are struggling to lift the furled sail out of the boat. Kimura and the Miyasato twins are watching them.] Hayashibara: Now ease up a bit, Kasuga. I don't want to stumble off the ramp. [With Hayashibara leading the way, they lift the sail and carry it to the beach.] Ayukawa: We're past the high water mark. Hayashibara: All right, set the sail down. Let's hope there's not too much damage. Without fuel, wind power is our only hope. [To the twins.] Would you please hold the spar while we unroll the sail? Yuko and Yoko: Hai! [Hayashibara and Ayukawa grab the ends of the sail, with Kasuga holding the middle. It is soon apparent that the sail is badly torn: they hold three separate pieces, with strips of canvas flopping between them. Once unrolled, several large horizontal tears are visible at the edge, and a vertical gash creates a sizable hole near the base of the sail.] Yoko: [Staring at the unrolled sail stretched along the sand.] We're doomed. Ayukawa: We could fix it. Yuko: With what? Hayashibara: Actually, the sail looks better than I thought. It's the worst in this section; the canvas looks more like bandages than a sail. But if we remove this part, the canvas strips can be used to patch that large tear. Then we patch that section, and reinforce the edge with the remaining canvas. It won't survive another storm, but it should hold long enough to sail north, if we don't get rescued first. Kasuga: Then we'll need to collect vines, fashion an awl out of flint, and - Kimura: Or you could use my sewing kit. [Everyone stares at Kimura.] Kimura: My mother says a lady should always carry a sewing kit, since she never knows when her dress might tear. Yuko: There's still a problem. Where are you going to find enough canvas to patch every tear? Hayashibara: Good question. Maybe we can use a double layer of cloth. Kasuga: Cloth? Where can we find cloth on this island? Kimura: Right here. [They all turn and look at Kimura. She smiles at them, grabs hold of the hem of her t-shirt, and pulls it off. Her bra provides some coverage, but everybody - especially Kasuga and Hayashibara - opens their eyes really wide.] Kimura: [Offering the shirt to Hayashibara.] Here you go, Hayashibara-san. Ayukawa: [Whispers to Kasuga.] Good thing Katsu isn't here. If he saw this, he'd DIE. And don't stare, Kasuga-kun. Kasuga: [Eloquent as always.] Unhmhh. [Hayashibara mechanically takes the t-shirt, still staring at Kimura.] Kimura: Oh! This isn't enough? Hmmm... maybe... [Hayashibara snaps from his paralysis when Kimura reaches for the top button of her shorts.] Hayashibara: Nonononono, Kimura-san, this is, uh, plenty! Thank you! Kimura: [Confused.] Plenty? But this won't be enough for the sail. Ayukawa: You're right, Kimura-san. Here you go, Hayashibara-san. [With this, Ayukawa whips off her shirt and hands it to him. His and Kasuga's eyes open even wider.] Ayukawa: Kasuga-kun? Kasuga: Ehhnhmh? Uhnhmhnh? Oh! [Kasuga adds his shirt to the pile in Hayashibara's hands. Hayashibara looks at him, laughs, and adds his own shirt to the pile. Then they all turn around and look at the Miyasato twins.] Yuko: [A look of horror shows on her face. She crosses her arms over her shirt.] There is NO WAY.... Yoko: [Likewise.] If you think I'm taking my clothes off.... [Cut to later time, same day. Hayashibara, Kimura, and Ayukawa are struggling with attaching a multicolored swatch of fabric to the sail. Yoko and Yuko are looking at each other.] Yuko: [She is wearing the same shirt, but it is cut off just below her chest and the sleeves are torn off.] I look like some actress on a bad late-night movie. Yoko: [Similarly attired.] Or a bad television series. What do they call this? Yuko: Fan service. [At this point, three guys with backpacks - Katsu, Saito, and Kasamatsu - appear on the scene. Kasamatsu gets one look at the Miyasato twins and freezes in his tracks.] Kasamatsu: [All agog.] We found them! We found the nubile natives! Yoko: Very funny. Take off your shirt. Kasamatsu: [Breathlessly, while stripping.] Red Ninja will always obey when a beauteous female - [Yuko and Yoko roll their eyes. Kasamatsu with his shirt off is not exactly an awe-inspiring sight.] Yuko: Baka, we need it to fix the sail. You too, guys. [Cut to later. Everyone is working on the sail. Katsu keeps dropping things because he's busy staring at Kimura.] Kasamatsu: [In cutoff shorts.] How will the Red Ninja withstand this indignation? Saito: [Similar attire.] Like all your other indignations, I think. Kasamatsu: [Ogling the girls.] But such a reward...! [Later, in the interior of the island, Yuko and Yoko are leading the way through the dense foliage, following the stream. Katsu and Kasamatsu are right behind; Katsu is looking at his map.] Katsu: [Shaking his head.] Well, this is the very last part of the island to map. Along the stream and into the center. Yuko: This old tree is a good landmark. Look, it's lost most of the branches on that side. [Katsu nods and makes a notation on his map.] Yoko: It must be an old wound. You can see the newer branches growing from it. Katsu: [Pointing ahead.] Look: there's a small hill ahead. [Adds it to his map.] Kasamatsu: [Rushed ahead and climbs onto the mossy hill.] I declare this Mt. Kasamaaaaaaah! Katsu: [Looks up from his map.] Kasamaaaaah? [Kasamatsu is sprawled on his butt at the base of the hill. A path has been cut in the moss, showing where he slid down.] Kasamatsu: [Stands up.] The only thing hurting is my pride. Yuko: If you had any. Yoko: Wait, what's that? [Yoko goes up and looks closer at the hill underneath the moss. She runs her hand over it, then raps it with her knuckles. A metallic sound is heard.] Yuko: That's not a normal hill, is it? Yoko: Let's see what it is. [The four castaways use branches and leaves to scrape away the moss. Underneath the moss and rotted vegetation is the ruin of what appears to be an old fighter plane.] Yuko: Stop! Stop! Katsu: Why? Yuko: What if there's a skeleton in there?! Katsu: [Points.] I don't think so. Look, the cockpit canopy is gone. The pilot must have ejected. [They finish cleaning off the plane. Its nose is crushed and the wings are missing, but otherwise the plane is surprisingly intact.] Yuko: [Shaking her head.] Now we have a plane that doesn't fly to go with our boat that doesn't sail. Katsu: None of us can fly a plane, anyway, but... [He looks over the plane. Suddenly, he starts kicking away the vegetation around it.] Wings! We need to find the wings! Yoko: Why? Katsu: That's where the fuel tanks are! [The others stare at him for a second, and then all join in clearing off leaves and branches around the plane.] Kasamatsu: [Stopping suddenly.] Wait. The Red Ninja's superior detecting skills could be useful here! [The Miyasato twins roll their eyes.] No, listen! The tree! Yuko: What tree? Kasamatsu: The one that's missing branches! I bet it was this plane that hit it! Maybe that's how it lost at least one wing! Katsu: [Grins.] Good call, ninja. [Together, they rush back to the tree, and, after some work, clean the undergrowth around the trunk. A gleam of metal shines from the grass.] Katsu: Here it is! [Working as a team, they pull the wing out. Katsu gives it a shake. There's a sound of liquid sloshing around inside.] Katsu: There's still fuel in the tank! We need to get the others and drag this wing back to the beach! [Later, on the beach, everyone is gathered around, looking at the wing. The crowd is visibly excited.] Katsu: Now, to siphon the fuel. Yuko: Tell me again how this is going to work? I mean, this is jet fuel, right? Can we use it in the boat engine? Katsu: True, it's too high an octane to normally use in a diesel. But we can dilute it with another form of petrol or oil to make it work. It'll run a little rough, but it should last long enough to get us back to civilization. Hayashibara: I can get you the motor specifications. But where are we going to get another form of petrol? Katsu: Coconuts. Yoko: [Disbelief.] Hah...? Kasuga: [Dubiously.] Um... as in these? [Holds up a coconut.] Katsu: Exactly. We can extract coconut oil, and it should work just fine. Saito: Can we do that? With the equipment we have here? Katsu: Well, we'll need heat, some pots, something to trap the vapor... cloth should do... Yuko: I am SO NOT taking off more clothes! Hayashibara: [Laughs.] I think by now we've got plenty to spare. Katsu: I'll also need some tubes and jars to collect the oils... yeah, we should be able to. We'll also have to run the fuel itself through a distiller to get the water out of it. I can improvise one with some large hollow bamboo tubes and some moss. Kimura: Sugoi! Katsu-san is so smart! [Katsu blushes.] Hayashibara: Let's get to work. Ayukawa: We'll get the coconuts. Ne, Kasuga-kun? Kasuga: Oh, sure. Katsu: [Handing Kasuga his notebook.] This should make it easier for you. I'd imagine there're more coconut palms in the middle of the island, along the stream. Kasuga: Hai! [The group gets to work.] [Cut to the middle of the island. Ayukawa is making her way next to the stream with Kasuga right behind her.] Ayukawa: Hello? Anyone out there? [Waits for a minute, then nods.] Ok, it's clear. Kasuga: [Concentrates.] Right.... [Above them, several coconuts high in the trees begin to shake and twitch.] Here they come...! [The coconuts began to drop to the ground as Ayukawa takes cover. After a short windfall, Kasuga relaxes as Ayukawa starts to gather them into a large bag.] Kasuga: Haha... nothing to it! [The last coconut falls from the tree and drops onto his head.] Ite...! [Rubs his head.] Ayukawa: [After seeing that Kasuga is none the worse for wear.] At least some things haven't changed... [Laughs.] Kasuga: A...ayukawa! Ayukawa: [Stops laughing.] Let's get more coconuts before it's too late. [Looks at Katsu's map.] There should be more palms further upstream. [For a while, they walk along the stream, Ayukawa leading the way and Kasuga following. Then Ayukawa stops suddenly.] Ayukawa: [Quietly.] This is so... perfect. [Kasuga catches up with her and also stops in awe. The source of the stream is ahead of them: it's a lake, surrounded by swaying palm trees. At the far end, a waterfall descends into the lake from a rocky outcropping twenty feet overhead.] Ayukawa: This is just like on that deserted island... remember?* *KOR Manga Volume 3, Chapter 5; KOR TV ep. 19. Kasuga: Yeah.... [For a minute, they watch the waterfall sparkle in the afternoon sun.] Ayukawa: Turn away. Kasuga: Uh... why? Ayukawa: Because I'm asking you? [Kasuga turns away. In a minute, there's a splash behind him.] Ayukawa: [Yells.] You can turn back! [Kasuga turns back. Ayukawa is swimming in the lake.] Ayukawa: Dive in! The water's great! [Kasuga looks down and sees Ayukawa's clothes piled on the grass next to him. He does a double take as he realizes that all her clothes are on the ground. He looks up. She waves at him from the middle of the lake, laughing.] Ayukawa: Kasuga-kun! Race you to the waterfall! Kasuga: What- Ayukawa: No whats! Onetwothreego! [Cut to two piles of clothes next to each other. Pan to Kasuga, who is in the middle of the lake, swimming toward Ayukawa. She is headed toward the waterfall, and he speeds up to catch up with her. The afternoon sun shines through the palm leaves, and the water is full of bright orange sparkles.] Ayukawa: This is great! Kasuga: [Yells over the noise of falling water.] WHAT? Ayukawa: THIS IS GREAT! Kasuga: IT IS! Ayukawa: KYOSUKE! Kasuga: WHAT?! [They are almost under the waterfall. Ayukawa takes a deep breath, turns, and waits until Kasuga catches up. For a moment, they float face to face.] Ayukawa: Kiss me. Kasuga: CAN'T HEAR YOU! Ayukawa: KISS ME! [In front of the wall of falling water, Kasuga and Ayukawa float, holding each other, and the kiss lasts a long time before Ayukawa breaks away, and takes a deep breath, and brushes her wet hair out of her eyes, and laughs as the water splashes her in the face.] Ayukawa: YOU'RE BLUSHING! Kasuga: YOU TOO! Ayukawa: [Laughs.] FOLLOW ME! [She dives into the waterfall. Kasuga follows her, and they glide underneath and surface behind it. The world around them is full of bright lights and tumbling water.] [Outside, the waterfall rushes down in a cascade of colors, and the couple floating behind appears blurry and indistinct.] Ayukawa: Wait - Kyousuke - wait - [The waterfall roars and the lights sparkle orange.] Ayukawa: I can't - not here - not on this island - not all the way - wait. Where are you going? Kasuga: Uh - you said no - so... Ayukawa: I only said not all the way. Get yourself back here, Kasuga Kyousuke. Kiss me again. [Lights and noise.] [Darkness.] [Cut back to the beach. Kasuga and Ayukawa appear from the jungle, carrying a large bag of coconuts between them.] Katsu: Excellent! This should be plenty. Had a good time in the jungle? Kasuga: [Glancing at Ayukawa.] Yes. Yes. Oh yes. Katsu: [Too busy cracking coconuts in half with a rock to notice anything out of the ordinary.] Good for you! How are you doing, Kasamatsu-kun? Kasamatsu: [Struggling to balance bamboo tubes while tying them with vines.] Almost got it.... [The bamboo tubes collapse.] [With some more help, they manage to finish the setup for the oil extraction. A large metal drum from the Medaka-maru sits over a fire, and Katsu is filling it up with cracked coconuts. After the drum is full, he pokes a bamboo tube into it and connects the tube to a jar. As the last step, he covers the drum with a piece of cloth.] Kasamatsu: Is that my t-shirt? Katsu: It was. Kasamatsu: [Thinks for a while.] Well, you're welcome, mina-san. [Katsu, then Yuko and Yoko, then eventually everyone gathers around the fire to watch. Finally, a single drop of oil collects at the end of the bamboo pipe and drips into the jar.] Kimura: Hooray! Yuko and Yoko: It's working! [Both sigh in relief.] Katsu: Good. Now I just hope the water I used didn't have too much sulfur in it. Saito: Why? Katsu: I might have synthesized some nitroglycerin by mistake. [Everyone takes a big step backwards.] Katsu: Jooku! [Cut to two days later. Katsu is carefully mixing the distilled oil with the jet fuel. Hayashibara is by the boat, directing the castaways.] Hayashibara: Let's gather our food and water and collect all these tools. If this fuel works and the engine turns over, we should get moving as soon as possible. Kasuga-san, Ayukawa-san, can you help me with the sails? Ayukawa: Hai. Katsu: Hayashibara-san! I'm done! According to my calculations, this mix should have the right octane number! Hayashibara: Then let's refuel the Medaka-maru. [Katsu carefully pours the fuel to the boat's fuel tank. Then he and the other men push the boat into the water. All of them climb onto the boat and Hayashibara turns the key in the ignition.] Kimura: [Clenches her fists.] Please.... [Soon, everyone else is imitating her.] [After grinding for some time, the engine turns over and settles into a rumble, intermittently sputtering.] All: Yatta*! *Yes [The boat crosses the harbor and heads into the calm ocean. Almost everyone is gathered on the prow, looking ahead. Kasuga and Ayukawa are alone on the stern.] Kasuga: [Quietly.] I'll miss this place. Ayukawa: Me too. This is a great island. Kasuga: This is the best island ever. [The two of them stand on the stern and watch Kasuga's Island fade from view.] [Cut to Kasuga household. Takashi, Kurumi, and Manami sit around the living room, all exhausted from worry and lack of sleep. A phone rings.] Manami: Otousan*, shall I get it? *Father [Takashi nods. Manami picks up the receiver and listens. In a moment, her face lights up, and everything around her - table, chairs, the phone, window curtains, Jingoro the cat - flies up in a burst of ESP.] Manami: They've been found! Jingoro: [Hovering.] MEEEYAAAAAWWWRRR! [Cut to the port, two days later. A crowd is gathered on the pier. In the front row are Takashi, Kurumi, and Manami. Next to them are Hayashibara Takao and Kimura's parents, Masaki and Akiko. A tugboat pulls alongside the pier with the Medaka-maru in tow. The castaways appear on the deck. They look quite rugged in what's left of their clothing.] Kurumi: [Wide-eyed.] I'm SO getting lost at sea as soon as I can! Kimura Masaki: M-m-my p-p-p-poor b-baby g-g... [Kimura waves at him from the deck. She is glowing with suntan. Her shorts have been turned into cutoffs, and one of her bra straps is off her shoulder. Her father sees her. His jaw drops, and he does not finish the last word. Then he manages to close his mouth. He looks at his daughter again, waves at her, and smiles.] [Onboard the Medaka-maru, the gang looks around.] Katsu: I guess we are home. Kimura: Un! Kasuga: [To Hayashibara.] Arigatou, Hayashibara-sencho*. *Captain Hayashibara: [Smiles back.] You're welcome. Now, go. I'm leaving last. [The gang, one after another, walks down the gangplank onto the pier. Kasuga and Ayukawa are holding hands. Hayashibara is the last to leave the boat. When he steps onto the pier, his father starts first walking and then running toward him.] Hayashibara: Otousan - Takao: Okaerinasai. *Welcome home [Freeze frame as they embrace.] END CREDITS New Character Designer / Writer Stephen Tsai Writers Rob Cabacungan Greg Dreher Vladimir Zelevinsky Pre-readers Robert Carragher Herbert Fung Very special thanks to Hitoshi Doi A tip of the hat and a deep bow to Matsumoto Izumi for starting the whole thing.