Episode 4 : 


	Pearl Garden was a sumptuously decorated airport restaurant, with window 
walls, crystal chandeliers, lit candles and an exquisite atmosphere. Near a 
secluded corner of the restaurant, a couple sat there with adoring eyes while 
a lifeless pianist performed his art soullessly in the background. Shinnosuke 
and Akari sat cross the table, their eyes never taking off each other. Shinnosuke 
had been on an assignment for a fortnight and the two lovers had too much too 
say to one another which could not be expressed in simple words. Instead, they 
simply locked eyes with one another. Just as Shinnosuke started to reach out 
and take her hand, a waiter appeared and the romantic moment was abruptly broken 
up. Both flushed in embarrassment and Shinnosuke feigned a look of helplessness 
and said, " Why do waiters always choose the wrong time to serve?"                                                  
	Akari stifled a giggle. 
	" Are you getting along fine with your studies at University?" Shinnosuke 
downed his cup of iced coffee.
	" Oh, it's fine. The lecturers are really friendly and the people there 
are nice too. How's your assignment?"
	" Everything went as planned," Shinnosuke shrugged, " But it's highly 
classified."
	" Mmm" Akari pouted a little. Although she understand her boyfriend was 
uncomfortable with disclosing anything about his mission, she could not curb 
her curiosity. " Oh, I also invited a friend along for the dinner, she should 
be here soon."
`	"A girl?"
	" Hai, but don't get any funny ideas!" Akari gave him a warningly look. 
" She's a friend from Hokkaido. We were in the same grade school before my family 
came to Tokyo. She came to Tokyo to further studies."
	" I won't dare!" Shinnosuke grinned wickedly and sipped his coffee. 
	" Oh, don't tell her you work as a police."
	" Police?" He looked offended. " I'm a GHOST agent!"
	" Hai! O mighty agent!" Akari could not resist giggling. " She is ... 
prejudice against police officers, especially those working in secret government 
agencies.
        Shinnosuke shrugged indifferently, muttering dark thoughts to himself. 
" Just say I'm your boyfriend."
	" And, I also invited Ranma-kun to join us."
  	Shinnosuke raised his eyebrows, taken by the sudden news. " Nani?"
	"Why?" Akari asked in a plaintive voice. 
	" Nothing." Shinnosuke smiled faintly. I wonder would he make it, he 
thought silently, taking another sip. 
 _______________________________________________________________________

	Ranma drove his gleaming silver McLaren through the lighted streets of 
New Tokyo City, immersed in his thoughts. As the McLaren skidded to the right 
and turned a corner, a girl suddenly appeared out of nowhere in front of the 
vehicle's path. Ranma wrenched the steering wheel and stomped the brakes, bringing 
his automobile several inches before the girl. Ranma anxiously stepped out of 
his vehicle and found himself facing an outraged young lady.  " Gomen! Are you 
alright?"
	" Don't you know how to drive?" She retorted angrily, her back facing 
him. 
	" Of course I know how to drive! I..." Ranma caught his breath as the 
angry lady turned to face him. " Aya?" 
	Akane gave him a queer look. " What are you muttering about!" She exploded. 
" You better be more careful next time you drive on the road!" With a disdainful 
sniff, Akane began to walk off. 
	" Wait!" Ranma called out suddenly, not knowing why.
	" What do you want?" She asked warily. 
	" Uh, can you tell me where's the Pearl Garden?"
	" It's around the corner, down the street."
	" And where can I find a car park?" 
 	" Can't you see the sign?" Akane pointed to a neon-lit board which said 
free parking space. " Do you live in Tokyo or not?"
	Ranma smiled disarmingly. " Arigato gozaimasu!" 
________________________________________________________________________
	
	" I wonder where's Ranma-kun?" Akari looked anxiously at her watch for 
the sixth time. 
	" He's always late; that's no big surprise," Shinnosuke muttered, finishing 
his fourth cup of cappuccino. " And it seems your friend is also absent. . ."
	Akari made a face and peered at the glass entrance . " He's here!"
	A familiar gentleman with long black ponytail, in a silver coat over 
a black T-shirt, waved to Akari and quickly made his way to their table. 
	"Gomen, I'm late." He apologised as he sat down, ordering a drink. 
	" It's alright, you just get to foot the bill." Shinnosuke grinned, 
punching Ranma's shoulder. 
	" No problem," Ranma smiled, then he noticed Akari was still looking 
around. " Is there someone else?" 
	" Hai. She's probably lost her way . . ." 
	Then a lithe girl with long hair abruptly popped into existence beside 
the thrio. " Gomen Nasai! I'm late!" Then she saw Ranma. " It's you!" 
	" Konbanwa," Ranma faked a salute. 
	" You know her?" Akari asked.
	" He almost knocked me down!" Akane place her hands on her hips, her 
tone filled with daggers. 
	Ranma shrugged with an impudent grin. " It was an accident. Besides, 
you are still in one piece, right?" 
	Shinnosuke groaned. Somewhere along the line, Ranma had learnt exactly 
how to antagonise beautiful young women.  
	" Why you arrogant! Pig-headed!  ..." 

	Both Shinnosuke and Akari looked back and forth as the newly acquitted 
pair started bickering and screeching at each other ( although it was Akane who 
did most of it) , trading insults with one another. Their little exchange caused 
quite a commotion as soon the whole restaurant was silent save the enraged 
remarks of these two. Everyone was staring imperceptibly, or openly at them, 
wondering whether had the ceiling had just collapsed on them. The fight ended 
with Akane sitting down, fuming in anger. 
	" Well, I'm glad that's over." Shinnosuke whispered to the nodding Akari. 
He raised his hand and snapped his fingers.  "Menu please!" 
	After their orders were taken,  Akari began to introduce her friend to 
Shinnosuke and Ranma. " Guys, this is Akane Tendo. She's from Hokkaido and 
currently studying in New Tokyo University."
	" Onegai shimasu," Akane inclined his head. 
	" Onegai shimasu," Ranma and Shinnosuke did the same. 
	" And this is Shinnosuke-san and Ranma-san," Akari pointed out. 
	Akane gave Akari's boyfriend a friendly smile and bestowed Ranma with 
a contemptuous glare as he pretended to look away. 
	" Oh, dinner's here!" 
	As everybody began their meal , Akane asked, " Shinnosuke-san, what is 
your current occupation?" 
	" Oh, I'm a GHOS ... ST!!!" He stammered as Akari suddenly stepped on 
his foot. 
	" Huh?"
	" I'm a . . . . teacher." Shinnosuke winced slightly, staring ominously 
at Akari.  
	"  Oh, and that baka ?" 
	" Same." Ranma answered without hesitation. 
	" A teacher?" Akane stared in disbelief. " I never heard of a teacher 
keeping long hair!" 
	" Oh, he's a University sports teacher!" Akari said hurriedly, "They 
don't care much about appearances there," She cast a warning look to Ranma to 
keep quiet. 
	" Is it?" Akane gave Ranma a disdainful sniff, as he answered with a 
silent toast. 
	" Ah, Akane, are you going back to the Tenth Avenue later?" 
	" Hai." 
	" Good! Ranma-san can give you a ride home!" Akari suggested cheerfully. 
	" Nani?!" Akane stood up suddenly while Ranma nearly choked on his drink. 
__________________________________________________________________

	The ride back was silent. The unlikely pair were both unusually quiet 
and introspective. Her cheek resting on her left palm, Akane stared pensively 
at the night scenery of the gleaming city.  
	" I'm sorry for what happened just now." 
	" For the dinner or the accident?" 
	Ranma grinned. "Both, if you find the food terrible." 
	" No, it was wonderful," Akane smiled, having second thoughts about this 
impudent rascal. " Arigato." 
	There was a brief pause. " Are you really a teacher?" 
	" Hai."
	" Does Tokyo University allow their lecturers to keep long hair?" Akane 
inquired innocently. 
	" I'm only work as a relief." Ranma laughed. " Besides, you also keep 
long hair."
	Akane smiled. This baka is not so bad after all, she thought to herself. 
	" Where do you live?" She asked again.
	" Fifth Avenue, Daily Estates." 
	" Oh? Isn't that supposed to be a private estate?" 
	Ranma shrugged. " I didn't notice. It does have a great view of the 
Tokyo park though. Besides, I don't get to live there often." 
	"Why?"
	" I hate to be alone." Ranma replied silently, his face a sudden mixture 
of loneliness and perhaps, a little sadness.  For the briefest moment, Akane 
felt this familiar feeling, as she knew this man was hiding his pain and loneliness 
beneath his arrogant and indifference manner. She felt that in some other time, 
some other place, she had once heard the same words.
	" We're here."
	The car pulled over and Ranma pressed a button and the door opened for 
Akane.
	" Thank you for sending me back." Akane alighted and stood beside the 
car. 
	" Anytime," Ranma nodded. " Turn in early." 
	" Oyasumi," Akane turned and ran upstairs. 

	Ranma drove his car slowly down and pulled over at the end of the lane. 
He stepped out of his McLaren and looked upwards. He could see the lights of 
Akane's apartment was on and her silhouette pass briefly behind the tinted glass 
window. Ranma folded his arms and sat on the boot of his car, thinking to himself 
" What am I doing here?" 
 	Ranma gave a bemused smile, slid into his car and started cruising through 
the streets of Tokyo.

TO BE CONTINUED  . . .