I realized that posting the fourth episode first was probably not a good 
idea so I'm posting the first three now.  All my fics are available at 
http://www.geocities.com/violetdimall/fiction.html
These pieces have not changed since they were first posted to the RAAC.  C&C 
are welcome.

-----

The shopkeeper regarded the young man that was approaching his
counter.  The youth was oddly dressed, sporting a flowing,
long-sleeved shirt and coarse black pants that were too short,
exposing half of the boy's calves.  He had heard gaijans dressed
strangely so thought little of it, assuming the young man was part of
a tourist group passing through the village.  All that mattered was
whether or not the boy bought something.  Business was bad this
season.

The boy was shouldering a pack, suggesting he was some sort of
traveler.  The shopkeeper kept an eye on the man's hands and the pack,
to insure none of his wares slipped out of his possession.  He
squinted as he detected a shift in the pack.

He had no time to contemplate what the movement was as the youth was
upon him.

"Good sir," the youth began, " I was hoping you would be able to
direct me to a phone or perhaps be able to tell me of a place where I
can get passage to Japan."

The shop owner was shocked.  This foreigner spoke Chinese very well
for a tourist.  "Well, um," he began nervously.  After a pause the
owner was able to collect his reasoning enough to give the answer
without sounding like a fool.  "If you follow the street past four
intersections and turn towards the ocean you should find yourself at a
pier.  Someone there should be able to help you."

"Thank you, sir," the youth returned.  "Do you have an idea what
currency they'll take?  I'm only asking because I only have Chinese
coin on me presently and as I'm trying to get to Japan they may want
yen instead of yuan."

"They would be better to ask that question," the owner said.  Again
the pack shifted as if on its own.  "Is there something in your pack?"

"Oh.  That's just my pig, Ryouga," the boy said sheepishly.  "I wasn't
certain on your policy on pets in the store so I'm keeping him out of
sight."

The owner smiled slyly.  "I'll let it slip if you buy something."

The boy shrugged nonchalantly.  "Sure thing.  What do you got here?"
The boy gave a cursory glance about the store.

"Trinkets, stones, souvenirs," the owner listed, sweeping an arm out
as if to present the entire store.  "I'm sure you'll find something
for a lovely lady in your life."  'Though you do look like a girl
yourself,' the owner thought.

The boy tugged absently at his ear in thought.  The youth looked up
with a smile.  "You have any earrings?"

"Sure thing," the owner curtly replied.  He led the youth over to a
small table of various types of jewelry.  The youth drummed fingers
absently on the table.

The owner watched the youth peruse the table without showing any real
interest in most of the objects.  After years of watching customers,
usually he could tell if a customer wanted something.  He also could
tell when the more experienced customers wanted something and were
simply not being forward about it.  He saw the signs of the latter in
this one.

"Business is bad," the youth remarked.  "Your prices are quite high."

The owner did his best not to appear surprised by the statement.  "The
prices are the same throughout the village."

"Oh, I have no doubt about that," the boy returned offhandedly.  "I'm
not about to haggle prices with you anyways.  It's just you don't have
anything in particular that I'd want to give to anybody."

"May I ask what type of objects you are interested in buying for this
somebody so I can recommend something?"

"No you may not."  The shopkeeper again did his best not to show any
signs of weakness.  It was quite surprising that one so young seemed
so confident in the process of buying something as harmless as a
trinket.  He wondered vaguely what business would be like with this
boy for a more important investment.

"Ok, I'll tell you this," the youth said with a smug grin.  "I'm not
interested in buying any particular item, but I will buy several items
from you if you promise to make something from them before I depart."

"Sounds interesting," the owner said, trying to remain neutral.

The youth studied him for an instant and flashed the smile again.  "Ok
then," the youth continued.  "You carry paints right?"  The owner
nodded.  "I'll pay full price for three of your trinkets here if you
agree to make a special set of earrings for me.  You can keep the
portions of the objects that I don't want to resell or whatever.  Do
we have a deal?"

The owner thought about it for a moment.  It didn't sound too bad of
an idea and it wasn't like he was too busy to make a special set.
However special craftsmanship customarily is priced higher than
anything he had on the table.  He hated to agree to such a deal if he
could make more, but then again the youth was paying for three items
in full.  "A deal."

"Good," said the youth.  "First, these earrings here.  I want you to
get rid of the trinkets attached to the base.  I like the fitting for
the ear but those hideous things attached to it are simply too gaudy
for me.  Next, I want the pendants for these two chains.  You can keep
the chains.  Those little pigs are sculpted from ivory, right?"  The
owner nodded.  "Good, then you shouldn't have a problem finding a
black paint that will stick to the surface.  I want you to paint them
and affix them to the earrings."

"Have a little something for pigs?" the owner asked curiously.

The boy blushed slightly.  "I'll pay you half now and the other half
when I depart.  Just make sure they're ready when I come back," the
youth demanded, not the least bit flushed.

"I'll be certain it is done within the day," the owner replied.

The boy nodded once and turned out the door.  The owner watched the
youth depart as he picked up the objects he was to modify.  The boy
was at least right about one thing.  His wife's sculpted pandas
affixed to the earrings certainly did look hideous.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Quit it, Ryouga," Cas muttered at his backpack.  "I don't want you
acting up while I'm negotiating a ride back to this Nerima of yours.
They might charge me extra for passage with a pet."  The pig squealed
angrily from the depths of the pack.  Cas staggered a moment.  "How
the hell do you carry all this anyways?" she demands out of
frustration.

It had been fifteen days since she had first met Ryouga.  Two weeks
had come and gone as they had tromped through the countryside till
they had come to the ocean.  In all that time, Cas still felt she
barely knew whom she was traveling with.  What she did know, she
wasn't too fond about.

In her judgment, which she trusted more than anyone else's, Ryouga was
shy, immature and hopelessly without direction.  He was also slow to
catch on to things she talked about and offered very little towards
intelligent conversation.  He was SO not her type.  Not that she
really had a type.  All the boys she knew were all intimidated by her
rough behavior and uncanny intelligence.  One of her tutors, that had
been subsequently fired, had remarked to her father that her lack of
friends was due to her distrustful and superior attitude towards
others.

'So why the earrings,' she demanded of herself.  She already had a
solid argument if Ryouga brought up that question.  If anybody with
more intelligence asked the question though they'd follow it up with a
question about the special request.  That she didn't have much of an
answer for.

'You like him,' her thoughts accused.  She scowled as she made her
turn towards the ocean.  She hated having arguments with herself.  She
could never win with a lie when she was her own opponent.  She was
curious as to why she liked him as nothing logical came to mind.
There was certainly nothing he had to offer her.  She had money,
intelligence and power, though admittingly the money was from her
father instead of her own pursuits.  It didn't matter.  He didn't like
her.  Nobody liked her.

Cas put the topic on hold as she trudged up the wooden planks of the
pier.  She took a cursory glance of the boats docked in the vicinity.
There was nothing available that resembled a boat for tourists, as she
knew she certainly would appear to be to any captain she spoke with.
Instant rate increase unless she happened upon some kind soul that
wasn't out to take advantage of someone else's misfortune.

Cas sighed.  Most of the boats looked like fishermen boats.  She
doubted any of them would enjoy the thought of traveling all the way
to Japan unless they were really hurting for money.  That was a
possibility considering the store she had just come from.  She
breathed deeply and listened to her feet thud heavily on the planks as
she approached the nearest boat.

The first vessel was a sturdy looking tugboat.  From first glance, Cas
guessed there would probably be a storeroom, a cabin, and little else
that would be protected from the weather if a storm rolled through.
Not that the ship looked like it could survive a storm anyways.  A
decent squall could find Cas and Ryouga riding debris to Japan.

She also supposed the crew to be no more than a couple deckhands and a
captain.  Depending on the relationship between the captain and the
deckhands, Cas might have to convince the entire crew to take this
task.  A larger ship would lessen this possibility but as there were
none of those, most on the pier either being the same size or smaller,
she would have to hope for the best.
She stopped alongside the boat, setting down her pack.  "Ryouga, stay
still," she hissed.  It was already enough of an inconvenience that
she was about to ask passage to Japan.  She didn't want to look
overburdened by the pack, as it would make her look even more of a
burden to deal with as a passenger.
She was uncertain of what to do next so she knocked on the side-rail
of the boat.  "Is anyone here?" she called out tentatively.

"What interest do you have in my boat?" a voice declared harshly from
behind her.

Though surprised, Cas turned abruptly to face the man without the
slightest hint of emotion.  The man was huge, easily weighing twice as
much as her and at least half a foot taller.  A ridiculous white hat
with a black bill sat upon his ragged black hair.  His eyes were dark
and intimidating, deepening the weight of the scowl on the unshaven,
tanned face of the speaker.
Despite all this, Cas managed to find her voice.  "I assume you are
the captain of this vessel."

"What interest do you have in my boat, boy?" the man repeated heavily.

"Passage to Japan," Cas stated evenly.  She measured up the captain.
He was dressed more like an airplane pilot than a captain.  His
clothing was weathered with age but had undeniably been a royal blue
color in some distant past.  The metallic buttons glinted in the light
despite the tarnish that covered much of the surface.  The pants he
wore were faded khakis, held up by a cracked, black leather belt.

"Try Liulishe," the man answered.  "The only thing we transport here
is fish."

"A reasonable answer, assuming I knew who or where Liulishe is," Cas
said.

"South of here," the man explained.  "Just follow the road out of
town."

Cas contemplated the idea of walking to somewhere south and probably
getting the same reaction there.  "I would prefer to do business here
and seeing as yours is the best, I would prefer to business with you,"
Cas stated with a gesture to insinuate she had already taken note of
the competition.  Her father had at least taught her some worthwhile
things such as sucking up to a customer to get them to agree.

"I do not do business with boys," the man said bluntly.

"Neither do I, sir," Cas replied.  "I am willing to pay and even
help."  The burly man began to laugh, nearly sending his silly hat off
his brow.  Cas kept her neutral expression despite her relief.
Laughing was much better than scowling.

"And what could a runt like you do to help?" the man demanded.

"That depends on how long the trip is," Cas answered.

"You don't look strong enough to do half the things necessary on a
ship," the man said.

Cas thought to herself that this wasn't going anywhere.  All he was
doing was making her mad and she was no closer to getting a ride.
Still he might be able to provide some information.  "Humor me for a
moment, please," she asked.  "If you were to give me a ride, how long
would it take?"

The man eyed her curiously.  "To get to Japan's waters it would take
at least two days."

"That's non-stop?" she ventured.  The man gave a single nod.  "At full
speed?"

"At a reasonable speed," the man said with a scowl.  "But it doesn't
matter as I doubt you'll be any help to us in our catch."

"What would be worth four days of your time then?" she asked boldly.

"Four days of a full catch."

"I'll pay five days full catch and you can likely get a sixth day
catch on your return," Cas offered.

"Tempting but I doubt you can afford that."

"Just name the price of a catch."

"800 Yuan."

Cas did the numbers quickly in her head to make sure she had enough
for both the trip and the rest of what she owed to the storekeeper.
She knew she was being taken advantage of, as she doubted this man
made that much on a daily basis given from his appearance.  She barely
had enough, which meant a phone call to father once she got to Japan
for more funds.

"I will give you 800 now and half of the remainder tomorrow before we
depart," Cas stated.

The man's eyes betrayed a hint of surprise.  "I'm sorry, boy, but I
have no intentions of taking you to Japan," the man explained.  "I
didn't think you would have the money."

"But it is worth your time, admit it," she pressed on.  "You can't
make six days full catch in four days.  Judging by the look of this
town, I doubt anybody manages four in that time."  The man paused as
if searching for a rebuttal.  "All I ask is that you take me to
someplace near a city in Japan."

The man's face became stern.  "That is hardly the issue," he began.
"I'd prefer not to deal with the annoyance of depositing foreigners.
I'm put under as much scrutiny as any of my 'cargo'."

Cas thought briefly of something in her little book.  It was a spell
she hadn't tried yet, but involved the manipulation of light so that
an object of choice could not be seen.  "If that is all you're worried
about, I will guarantee that we shall not be detected."  The man made
to speak but she cut him off.  "I promise that if we are I will double
your payment for your inconvenience."

The man scratched absently at his beard.  He sighed, defeated.  "All
right, you got yourself a ship," the man yielded, "but just remember
to stay out of the way during the trip.  I don't need you troubling my
hands."

Cas nodded.  She handed over the money taking care to show him that
she did have more so he wouldn't worry about her trying to con him.
She moved to leave but paused as a thought came to her.  "Where
exactly do you plan on taking me too?"

"If we are undetected," the man stressed the word, "then I plan to
stop at a small village north of Nomozaki."

"I'm not familiar with that name."

"Perhaps you've heard of Nagasaki.  It's south of Nagasaki."

Cas didn't need to answer that.  She was quite familiar with that
name.  "I thank you, sir."  She then picked up the pack and staggered
her way back into town.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

"That water's scalding!" Ryouga shouted at his companion.  Cas
shrugged and tossed his clothes at him.  Ryouga blushed.  He quickly
dressed himself as Cas pointedly looked away.  He pulled up his
trousers.  "Couldn't you test it first?"

Cas turned, her face visibly red.  "I tripped into it earlier," Cas
snapped angrily.  "You don't think my face is this red normally?"

"Well, um no," Ryouga replied.  In a single motion he pulled the shirt
over his head.

Cas crossed her arms with a look of annoyance on her face.  "Look,
Ryouga," she began.  "I've had a long day of toting around the dead
weight you call a pack.  I've got us arrangements to get to Japan so
show some gratitude for a change."

"Ok," Ryouga said feebly.  "Um thanks."

"Ryouga, you have an interesting way of making a girl feel better."

Ryouga threw his hands up, frustrated.  "What do you want from me?" he
demanded.

Cas grabbed onto his pack and heaved it up out of the crater it had
made on the beach when she had set it down earlier.  She only managed
to move it a foot away from the spot before setting it down gently.
She sat down on the pack, able to do so comfortably now that the pack
wasn't half a foot below beach level.

"Information," she stated.  "I'd like to know what exactly I'm getting
myself into here.  You've mentioned several people from Nerima, but
short of Ranma, you haven't really given me any idea of who these
people are.  And I'd really like to know why this pack is so heavy."

Ryouga scratched the back of his head with a puzzled look.  "It's
barely got anything in it, Cas," Ryouga said.  "Usually I have . . ."
A hand cut him off.  "I normally carry food and . . ."

Cas cut him off again.  "Just stop," she ordered him.  "You're making
me feel like a weakling here.  It's bad enough that I had to leave
your umbrella here.  What the hell is that thing made out of?  Lead?"

Ryouga shrugged.  "The pack isn't heavy to me."

Cas bolted to her feet and shoved him with a hand to each of his
shoulders.  Ryouga didn't budge due to his stance.  "You want a fight,
then?" she said harshly.  Ryouga backed off not understanding what her
problem was.  She pressed after him.  "You think I'm not strong
enough?  Well I have some news for ya.  I'm not a helpless little
girl.  Or do I need to prove that to you?"

Ryouga didn't know what to say.  He'd stammer something.  Of that he
was certain.  "I-I-I d-d-didn't m-mean . . ."

Cas's lips became a grim line, without emotion.  Her blue eyes shone
with a familiar intensity he had seen with his battles against Ranma.
He staggered back, not knowing what to do.  'Is she going to fight
me?'  He asked himself.  'She can't be serious.'

Then without warning, a chord of resonance stabbed through the night
air.  It ended just as abruptly.  Ryouga suspected Cas had just used
some sort of spell and was about to hurl destructive energy his way.
He didn't know what to do.  He couldn't hurt her.  She was just a
girl.

A single glance at the resolve on her face didn't assure him that she
held any such reservations against him.  He dove aside and twisted
into a roll.  His movement carried him towards his umbrella, which he
deftly snatched up.  He pulled out of his roll to stand up and face
Cas, brandishing his umbrella towards her.

She stood where she had been, wearing a slightly amused look.  Ryouga
looked about nervously.  "What did you just do?" he demanded.  She
answered in a buzz that was incomprehensible.  "What?"

In very slow and deliberate articulation, Cas reiterated,
"Haisupo-do."

Ryouga frowned.  "What does it do?"

"This."

She charged at him with a speed he could barely follow.  In a flash
she was upon him, striking out with a fist he only glimpsed before it
connected.  He felt something against his shoulder, then his stomach,
then his side and numerous other places.  Ryouga supposed she was
hitting him several times but that taps she was dealing out were not
even close to the punishment Ranma subjected him to.

Next thing he knew, Cas was panting hard a few meters away at an
unnatural pace.  It was similar to watching a movie of someone panting
in fast forward.  She said something incomprehensible in between
ragged breaths.

Ryouga flashed her a wicked grin.  "I'm sorry," he started, "you said
you were going to show me something.  I was distracted by a fly."  She
glowered at him.  Abruptly Cas's body slowed to a regular rhythm.
Ryouga arched a brow.  "Doesn't last long, huh?"

"No.  I can keep it up as long as I want to," she informed him.
"There's just no point in doing so, seeing as my hands now ache and
you don't look the least bothered.  How did you just stand there and
take that?  I had to have hit you hundreds of times."

"You may be fast, but Ranma is faster, and hits harder too," Ryouga
explained.  "I did much training that helped me grow accustom to a lot
of pain."

Cas crossed her arms over her chest, tilting her head to the side.
"How much do you think you weigh?"  Ryouga tossed her a puzzled look.
"I'm just curious."

"I dunno," he said with a shrug.  "Roughly seventy kilos, I guess."

Cas whistled.  "Well, scratch that idea," she said.  "So, you trained
to withstand pain?"

"Well, um ... ha ha ha ha."  She frowned at him.  Her hands went
to her hips, and she tapped her foot impatiently.  Ryouga stopped his
embarrassed laughter and thought about what to say.  "I was um
actually trying to learn a technique to defeat Ranma.  It didn't work
though."

"And you built up a tolerance for pain because of it?"

"Well it was a painful experience."

"Show this 'technique'," she said in a daring voice.

"Ha, that's easy," Ryouga proclaimed proudly.  Ryouga checked the
landscape.  Satisfied, he cleared his mind, searching for the breaking
point.  A calm overcame him as a beacon of light called out to him
from nearby.

"Bakusai-ten-ketsu," he cried out as he smashed a finger into the
light.  Debris flung out in a large radius from the point, lifting an
unsuspecting Cas of her feet.  Ryouga didn't feel much of the damage
inflicted upon himself from the blast.

In the dust cloud, Ryouga looked about confused.  He could have sworn
Cas had been nearby.  "Cas?" he asked to the haze of the aftermath.
"Where are you?"  He stepped on something soft.  Some cursing loudly
objected to his position.  "Oh, what are you doing underneath this
rubble?"

"Oh you're dead," she demanded, flinging him off her.  He quickly
recovered, landing on his feet nearby.  He offered a smile.  She
offered a swift kick to his groin.  "And you do have a soft spot," she
declared as he dropped to his knees in pain.

He felt her hands pull on him.  His head was forced between her legs.
Ryouga was too embarrassed and confused to respond.  Her hands slipped
around his torso and then the world began to spin.  He was dimly aware
that he was lifted up off his feet and then spun up.  His hands were
still at his groin when she shoved him back down.  His back smashed
the rock, but the pain it may have caused was unnoticed by Ryouga.

"Sheesh, you're heavy," Cas declared, giving him a kick to the side
for no apparent reason.  "I think I threw my back out."  His vision
cleared to reveal Cas staring down at him.  "By the way, you're little
stunt destroyed camp.  Thank goodness I had all my valuables on me."

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

The captain regarded the pair approaching his boat.  He recognized the
first one as the smart kid that had talked him into giving this ferry
to Japan.  The boy was dressed the same as yesterday.  The youth still
struck him as being strangely dressed, even for a foreigner.  Perhaps
it was the undeniably feminine way the boy wore his bangs.

The other boy looked a lot stronger than his companion.  The black
haired boy was carrying the pack that the captain had noticed the
other boy struggling with yesterday.  This young man wore a sleeveless
yellow shirt and green pants.  The boy also sported a yellow bandana
with black spots and a red umbrella.

The captain turned his attention back to his original customer as they
closed in on him.  He noted that the boy was now sporting a pair of
earrings.  'How did I let this guy talk me into this?'

"Good morning, captain," the blond called out to him.  "Are we ready
to depart?"

The captain pointed at the youth's companion.  "Who is he?"

"Oh him?" the youth thumbed at the other.  "He's Ryouga.  He's my
insurance that we get you a full day's catch."

The captain sniggered at the thought.  "I should charge you more," he
declared.

"Another body won't change anything," the boy returned.

"He'll take space," the captain explained.  "If you hadn't noticed, my
boat can carry at best four people.  I'm already sacrificing one of my
crew for this trip.  It will be impossible to get a full day catch
when I'm down two."

"Ryouga, hand the man your umbrella," the boy suggested.

"Um okay," Ryouga said hadn't the item out to the captain.

The captain snorted and took hold of the umbrella.  The effect was
like tying a lead weight to a swimmer.  He dropped the umbrella with a
curse.  The pier shook under the weight of the dropped object.  "What
the hell is that thing made of?"

The youth shrugged.  "Regardless of that, you can clearly see that his
strength would be a tremendous asset to you in your hunt."

"It would be if it were a mere matter of hauling in nets," the captain
admitted.  "However, we of the Shark's Eye are no mere fishermen."

"Shark's Eye?" the boy said querulously.

"The name of the boat," the captain explained.  "We hunt sharks."

The boy offered a faint smile.  "Well, um, I'm sure you're man will be
able to handle on his own, right?"

"With two crew, yes," the captain said.  "The problem is I don't have
the money to be wasting it on bait."

The boy frowned.  "You're joking."

"So," the captain continued heedlessly, "we being real men of the sea
do our shark hunting as taught by my forefathers.  It is an ancient
art.  One man lures the shark out while his companions wrestle the
beast into submission.  I have only lost a few apprentices over the
years."

The boy whistled in awe.  "How can you wrestle a shark?  Those things
are like pure muscle."

"Aw that is a secret of my students," the captain answered.  "So you
see by depriving me of another crew member, you or your friend will
have to be the bait."

The boy paled but quickly recovered with a smile.  "Oh that's no big
deal," the boy said.  "Ryouga here isn't afraid of anything.  Right
Ryouga?"

The black haired boy looked at them as if he wasn't sure of what had
been said.  "Um, well, sure," Ryouga offered.

The captain laughed heartily.  "Well, I guess if it's okay with you
two I can spare another man.  Shiang," he barked at the boat.  A thin
man appeared on deck.  "You won't need to take a dive on this trip.
This young lad will be taking your place."

The man sprinted off deck and ran happily off the pier.  The captain
snaked an arm around both of his passengers and laughed again.
"Welcome aboard the Shark's Eye."

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ryouga could tell something was up by the way Cas was acting.  She was
avoiding his eyes and was pointedly looking everywhere else.  His
instincts told him that she had gotten him into something back at the
pier.  He wasn't sure about how to confront her to get her to spill
the beans.  He couldn't beat the truth out of her.  After all, she was
still a girl even if she was a boy at the moment.

He had caught very little of the conversation between Cas and the
captain earlier.  His Chinese wasn't good enough but he had caught on
to the umbrella part.  He had also been asked if something was correct
which he had automatically responded with the affirmative.

Ryouga had stayed below deck since departure.  He didn't want to
chance a wave coming over the rail and sending him on another journey.
He wasn't sure how many hours had passed when Cas finally came down
to join him.

"What's going on," he said, trying the direct approach.  "Are we
slowing?"

"Yes," she answered.  "Time to make the catch of the day."

"Really?" he said.  "Well, have fun fishing then."

"What?" she returned, disappointed.  "You're not coming to help."

"I can't chance it," Ryouga admitted.  "In a matter of seconds a wave
could send me off into the sea, and as a pig.  I don't want to get
lost."

Cas swore colorfully.  "I can't believe I forgot about that," she
berated herself.  She sighed.  "Well I guess I get to be the bait
then."

"Bait?" he asked.

"Yea, we're hunting sharks," Cas told him matter-of-factly.

Ryouga's jaw dropped.  "You can't be serious."

"Well, I had volunteered you for the job but your curse slipped my
mind at that moment," Cas admitted.  "Guess I'll have to do it in your
stead."

Ryouga got to his feet, his face hardening.  "I can't let you do
this," he declared.

"Ryouga," Cas said, placing a hand on his arm.  "I made a bargain to
do this.  I have to keep my word."

"This is foolish," he stated evenly.  "If something goes wrong you
could die."

"Oh I see," Cas said in a sarcastic voice.  "If I bite the big one, or
in this case get bitten by the big one, you won't be able to find your
way back home."

Ryouga was flustered.  "No, that's not what I'm thinking," he said in
defense.  "I don't want you throwing your life away for nothing.  Just
use one of your spells."

Cas frowned.  "Well, I assure you I will if things get too close," she
promised.  "I don't want to make my magic public knowledge yet."

Ryouga dropped a hand on her shoulder, concerned.  "I really don't
want you to do this."

"I will do as I please," she said icily.  She pushed his hand aside
and made her way to the stair.

"Cas, let me help you," he requested.

She turned with an angry glare.  "You've already said you can't do
anything."

"Can't you do something to keep me away from the water?" Ryouga asked
exasperated.

Cas cupped her chin with her hand, pausing in thought.  Her other hand
cupped her elbow.  Ryouga had seen this stance of Cas before.  He knew
better not to talk while she was 'thinking'.

Cas's lips turned up into a sly grin.  "Ryouga," she began in a
soothing voice.  "Do you have anything against flying?"

"I don't know," he said, confused.  "I usually don't have the money
for air trips."

"This one won't cost you a thing," she said with a grin.

Ryouga pondered what she was talking about as she propelled him
towards the stair.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Cas shielded her eyes as light assaulted her.  She pushed Ryouga
further along the deck so she could stand clear of the stair down.
There honestly wasn't much room on the deck with all four people
about.  Thankfully the other crewhand, she hadn't caught the name, was
busy on the top looking for quarry.

"I see you are ready to help," the captain guffawed.  The captain was
still decked out in the same comical manner as the day before.  She
noted that it was the wings on the hat that really made him look
ridiculous.  It was as if he had cut them off a live bird and pasted
them onto the sides of his hat.

"Of course," she answered curtly.  "Just tell me what to do."

The captain slapped Ryouga heavily on the back, nearly sending the
unsteady youth over the rail.  "Quite simple, really," the captain
declared.  "As soon as Zhou spots one, simply jump off the boat.
We'll take care of the rest."

"Captain!" shouted Zhou from above them.  "One to starboard!"  Cas
looked up, shielding her eyes.  Zhou was a fairly non-descript man,
with shaggy black hair that was short and dull brown eyes.  He looked
so much like any other china man with the exception that he was
dressed in a suit that looked like a hand-me-down from Popeye.  All he
needed was a pipe for Cas to believe she was starring in a cartoon.

The captain zipped to the helm with an uncanny speed.  The burly man
whipped the ship to the right, causing the vessel to lurch.  Cas
staggered from the sudden jerk.  Ryouga was not so lucky.  He flipped
over the rail but his luck let him catch hold of it.

"Ryouga!" Cas shouted, pouncing to his side.  She leaned over to give
him a hand.  He took and swung back over the rail.  Ryouga panted
heavily in relief, his hands grasping the deck in an iron grip.

"Cas," he said grimly, staring at the wooden deck.  "Whatever you had
in mind, you best do it quickly before this madman sends me over the
rail."

She knelt down beside him and hissed into his ear.  "This will be like
the speed spell," she told him, "so I can only keep it up as long as I
want it to.  However I'm still not practiced enough to cast another
spell while holding a first one."  Ryouga frowned, giving his usual
puzzled look.  "I mean that I can't protect myself with spells if I'm
keeping you afloat."

"Huh?"

Cas put a hand to over her face, twitching with a mixture of disbelief
and rage at his ignorance.  "Nevermind," she said with a sigh.  "I'm
leaving my life in your hands."

"Um ... okay."

Ryouga stood up and looked out to the sea.  Cas joined him, realizing
the boat had stopped.  That could only mean one thing.  It was time to
get that spell ready.

Cas closed her eyes and breathed deeply.  She reached out to the
vaporous energy that surrounded them.  She shuddered slightly at the
rush of energy that coursed around her.  Then with her will, she asked
the energy to buoy her companion.  It acknowledged her, making her
wonder again as to whether or not energy was a living entity.

"Feza-nagasu," she whispered for no particular reason.  The words were
not necessary, but she wanted to say them.  It was her way of saying
it was complete, and she took pride in naming these 'spells'.  Plus
she liked the dramatic effect it seemed to have on Ryouga.

"What the ...?" he began.  Ryouga was now hovering an inch off the
wooden planks.  Cas held a finger up to her lips to silence any
further comment.  Her concentration was still heavily taxed as it took
much energy to keep the lost boy afloat.

"Captain," Zhou hissed down to them.  "I've lost sight of the catch."

"Zhou, take the helm," the captain barked.  Zhou hopped off the roof
of the cabin and promptly took over.  The captain walked over to the
rail, peering out to starboard.  "Boy, take a look out to port."

Cas vaguely was aware that the captain meant her.  She nodded to
Ryouga and walked over to the opposite rail.  Ryouga followed
dutifully, his feet moving but having nothing to do with his progress.
Cas was almost in complete control of his body with this spell, but
it was best not to let him know that.

The boat lurched violently, causing Cas to stumble.  The captain swore
colorfully.  "Zhou!  Steady with the ship," he reprimanded.

"It wasn't me, captain."  The boat lurched again as if to call Zhou a
liar.
Cas threw a questioning glance to the captain.  The heavy man was
notably worried.  "What's going on?" she demanded.

"This is quite bizarre," the captain announced.  "Zhou, get in
position.  I want you to get a good look at this fish before we commit
'bait' to it."

Cas chased after the captain into the cabin with Ryouga in tow,
careful not to lose her calm.  If she lost her calm, her spell would
fail.  She stepped into the cabin, leaving Ryouga to hover outside.
She poked the captain in the shoulder.  "What is going on?" she
reiterated.

The captain glowered at her.  "I'm not certain," he admitted.  "But
I'm having Zhou take a look before I have your friend jump overboard.
There are rumors that speak of some sharks that are quite fearless.
These babies will attack boats."

"So you think this may be one of those?" Cas ventured.

"Zhou will be able to tell us if it is one of 'them'," the captain
assured her.  "The description is vague but we'll know for certain by
its trademark."

"So ..." Cas drawled, "If it is one of these 'babies' then we'll
turn back."

"Are you kidding?" the captain said with a childish glint in his eye.
"This is a chance of a lifetime to catch a man-eater."  Cas
face-faulted.  She recovered quickly before she lost complete control
of her spell.  "I'll be famous.  Now if your friend is as ..."

The boat suddenly lurched again.  There was a cry, followed by a
splash.  The captain and Cas darted out of the cabin towards the cry.
Ryouga was pulled along.  There was nothing in the water.

The captain turned on Ryouga, fuming.  "What happened?"

"Zhou fell over the side," Ryouga said in what could have been
mistaken as Chinese.  After a quick translation from Cas, the captain
continued his interrogation.

"Why didn't you help him?"

"Captain," Cas said.  "My friend can barely understand your questions.
However I doubt anything could have been done.  Ryouga isn't very
fast on his feet."

The captain eyed Ryouga with scrutiny.  Then a look of puzzlement came
over the man's face.  "Did you get taller?"

The boat lurched again, this time sending both the captain and Cas
into the waters.  Cas splashed about in the water, none too happy to
be thoroughly soaked and in shark-infested waters.  The captain
immediately dove under, disappearing from view.

"Cas are you ok?" Ryouga called down to her.

Cas didn't bother to answer.  She looked about for a sign of the
captain.  The man wasn't resurfacing.  She treaded water for several
seconds, thinking only of the spell on Ryouga and every Jaws movie she
had seen.  She knew she should get out of the water very quickly but
she saw no signs of the trademark dorsal that heralded the monster's
approach.

The captain didn't resurface, not even in grisly pieces like she half
expected.  There was only the sound of the waves lapping against the
boat.  She shivered from a chill that swept through her.

Then she saw it coming towards her.  A sleek black monster moved at
breakneck speed towards her.  Ryouga cried out from above her in
alarm.  Cas calmed herself, hoping that what she did wouldn't get them
both killed.  She closed her eyes with a single demand.

Ryouga gave a startled yelp as his body rose off the boat.  Cas gauged
the distance.  "Get ready to punch really hard, Ryouga," Cas shouted
up to him.  Then with a command she shot Ryouga into an intercepting
path with his head leading.

She watched as Ryouga caught on and brought both fists up.  She could
see his fangs in a wicked grin.  The waters parted in front of Ryouga
due to the speed at which he was rushing at the beast.  There was a
sickening thud.  Then Cas pulled Ryouga out of danger before any water
could take advantage of his curse.  The shark had stopped dead in its
tracks.

Ryouga came back under her guidance to hover over her.  "That was
amazing, Cas!" he cried excitedly.  She shook water off her hand and
held it up to him.  He took hold and soon the pair was back on deck
safely.  Cas dismissed the spell and promptly collapsed in exhaustion.

"Well done!" proclaimed a voice through the darkness that had began
closing in.  It sounded familiar.  "Why I couldn't have done better
myself.  You were simply amazing, Ryouga, my boy.  You must teach me
that technique someday.  It would prove invaluable to my art of shark
hunting.  Zhou, make a pass by the catch.  I still can't believe you
killed it with a single blow.  Our techniques only disable them so we
can capture them.  Then after safely on board we slay the beasts.
Your method would save us the trouble.  Please, join me, Ryouga, and
together we can go down in history as the best shark hunters in all of
China."

"Um Cas, what is he talking about?" Ryouga asked.

Cas smiled as she let herself drift to sleep.

-----

Thank you again.

Ciaow


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