Copyright 2001, 2002
Julian McKenzie
Shenmue: Dragons Forever
by Rising Tiger 187 © 2001
Chapter 3 Act I: Friends
Chapter 3 Act II: Friends
Chapter 3 Act III: Friends
Introduction and Notes
Chapter 1: A New Beginning
Chapter 2: Aftermath...
Chapter 4: The Arrival
Chapter 5: Solo
Chapter 3 Act I: Friends
A few days have passed since the confrontation, and Ryo's wounds are already beginning to heal. Ryo and Joy have spent a lot of time together, and gotten to know each other better, and with every conversation they have, they become closer and closer. The date is February 10, 1987, and Ryo is one step closer to his ultimate destination. Until then, he tries to enjoy his trip while he can...
Ryo took a walk around the ship, gazing at the massive pieces of steel as it floated on the ocean's surface. The sheer weight of an object this size was incredible enough, but the fact that it easily and effortlessly stayed afloat was awe-inspiring. Ryo looked over the ship's railing to watch the dark blue-green deep.
"A boat that can float in water can also sink in it." Ryo said to himself, it was a saying that his dad told him when he was younger. "I could use more of that wisdom father..."
It was 5:49 in the afternoon and the sun began to set. The bright yellow ball of fire shined light over the dark waters. It seemed to complete the picture; the sun setting below the ocean and a loan ship making its way someplace. The scenery was very peaceful and serene.
Only a few other passengers, mainly sailors and harbor workers, walked around the ship. Ryo saw a couple guys from Amihama, but the rest he didn't know. This ship wasn't any luxury cruise, which is why only workers were allowed on. Master Chen pulled a couple strings though, and that allowed Ryo to be on board. That caused Ryo to start thinking.
"If this ship only allows harbor workers, then how did Joy get on board?" he asked himself. "This isn't an ordinary cruise, and it doesn't allow regular passengers on board, so how did Joy get here?" Ryo stared down at his hands; he was thinking really hard, trying to come up with a reasonable explanation.
"That's easy, my dad sent me here."
Ryo spun around to see who was there. It was Joy herself.
"Oh, Joy, what are you doing here?" Ryo asked.
"I went to your cabin, but you weren't there, so I just decided to take a walk like you did." Joy responded while stepping closer to Ryo. "I heard you talking to yourself."
"Yeah, it's a little habit that I have." he said. "So... what did you hear?"
"Nothing much, just the part about how I got on the ship. You know, no REAL important stuff." she said sarcastically.
"I see..." Ryo said. "You said your dad sent you here?"
"Yup, my dad is sending me to live with my mom for a while."
"Why is that?"
"My old man ain't really fond of me right now, I guess I just pissed'em off too much." Joy said while turning her head.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, Joy." Ryo said; he tried to comfort her as much as he could without getting too close.
"Don't worry about it, this sort of thing happens all the time. You know, dad gets mad at me and sends me to Hong Kong. I guess it's our form of bonding. Heh, heh, heh." a little smirk washed over her face.
"Yeah, me and my father used..." Ryo started, but stopped mid-sentence.
"Used to what?"
"Nah, never mind."
"Aw c'mon, Ryo! You haven't told me anything about your family!" Joy grabbed Ryo's arm playfully.
" I don't like talking about this kinda thing. Just pretend I didn't say anything, okay?"
"Why? You hate your dad or something? What is it Ryo?" Joy stopped playing around and started listening.
No, I can't get her involved in my problem
"It's nothing, really." the phrase sounded like a recorded message.
"So you did hate him?"
Ryo turned around and started staring at the ocean again. He felt tears starting to form in his eyes, but he remained strong. "Tears are the symbol of the soul. A warrior who does not shed tears has no soul. A soulless warrior is not a warrior at all..." another saying from his father. Ryo repeated it under his breath.
"Ryo, are you okay? What's wrong?" Joy put her hand on his shoulder.
"My father... he... he's..." Ryo turned around and tried to get the words out. "I honor my father. He is a hero to me. That's why, that's why I'm going to Hong Kong."
"Oh, but if you love your father and family so much, then why aren't you with them?" Joy asked while staring into Ryo's eyes.
"I can't explain now, it's too complicated."
"That's alright. You don't have to tell me." Joy said.
"Thanks." Ryo turned his back to Joy. "It's starting to get dark, you should go get some sleep."
"I was 'bout to tell you the same thing. See ya in the morning Ryo!" Joy slapped him on the shoulder and went off in the opposite direction.
"Yeah, later..." Ryo walked off to his cabin.
Chapter 3 Act II: Friends
Ryo walked back to his cabin by himself. He watched waves roll by on the surface of the ocean, thinking about what would Joy's reaction be if he had told her the truth.
"Maybe it's for the best." he said. "There's no way that I'm gonna lose someone close to me again. Even if that means by telling a lie."
It started to get darker, and the lights on the ship started coming to life. The brightness of one of the lights hit Ryo suddenly, blinding him for a moment.
"Whoa, too bright."
Ryo moved his hand up in front of his face to block the light. Suddenly, he hit the shoulder of a rather lanky man.
"Hey, watch it, kid!" the man said.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Ryo looked up to see whom he had bumped into.
The man was pretty tall, and from the looks of him, he was an American. He wore a wool knitted sweater that was blue in color and a white T-shirt underneath of it. The man also wore a pair of wrinkled khakis and brown loafers. When Ryo took a closer glance at him, he could see the steady five o'clock shadow on the bottom half of his face. He also had dirty blonde hair to top it off.
"Hey, do I know you from somewhere?" Ryo asked. "Have we met before?"
"How the hell should I know, kid?" the man shouted. "Just don't bump into people you don't know, got it? In the place we're going that kinda thing can get you killed."
"Oh, I see. I'll be on my way then. Sorry to have bumped you." Ryo started walking away towards his cabin.
"Kid!" the man yelled. "MJQ Jazz Bar... in Dobuita."
That's it!
"Uh?" Ryo turned around. "Oh yeah, that's right! Now I remember you!"
"Yeah, you beat me and my buddy at pool that one night, remember? You were pretty good for a little punk like yourself!" the man said.
"Heh, it's nothing." Ryo shook his head.
"Nothing? Hey kid, you got skill. Where'd d'you learn to shoot like that?"
"I just picked it up somewhere. It's nothing special, you know, it was probably just luck." Ryo said while scratching his head.
"Yeah, luck." the man squinted his eyes. "By the way, I didn't catch your name. Mine's Gilbert. Gilbert Flakes.
"I'm Ryo Hazuki from the Hazuki Dojo in Yamanose." Ryo pointed to himself.
"Hazuki... I've heard that name before." Gilbert said while stroking the hair on his chin. "Hey, were you in the paper or something?"
Shit!
Ryo hesitated. "Uh... n-no not me."
"Then a relative of yours?"
"...I-I gotta go. I'll catch you later." Ryo started walking past Gilbert.
"Oh, okay. Later, dude!" Gilbert walked away in the other direction.
Chapter 3 Act III: Friends
The date was February 14, 1987. Ryo walked into his dark cabin after having a late afternoon snack on the upper deck. He flicked the light switch beside him and suddenly the room became brighter. Ryo walked over to his bed and sat down. He bent over and picked up the back with all his stuff in it. He unzipped one of the smaller pockets and saw what was inside. Ryo took out the Hazuki family crest that the owner of the antique shop in Dobuita gave him.
"I know that there's more to this than meets the eye." he said to himself. "But I just have to figure out what connection this has with everything that's going on."
Ryo placed the crest on the nightstand and looked through his back some more. He found a couple trinkets that he had collected since he was a little boy; it seems he was still attached to them. Ryo picked up a Sonic figurine and looked at it thoughtfully.
"I haven't even reached Hong Kong yet and I'm already starting to miss home." Ryo said. "I just hope that I can get this over with and return soon."
There was a knock at the door.
"Ah? Who is it?" Ryo said while walking towards the door.
"It's me, Joy! Let me in will ya!" she pounded on the door a couple more times.
"Yeah, hold on." Ryo opened the door and saw Joy standing there with a big bright smile on her face. She was holding what looked like a pamphlet or brochure.
"Hey Ryo! Look what I got!" she said while displaying the pamphlet.
"What's that?"
"Read it! C'mon read it!" Joy shoved it in his face.
"It says: 'Come stay six days and seven nights in our beautiful luxury rooms in the glorious HONG KONG TOWERS!' ...what about it?" Ryo asked while pushing the pamphlet away.
"Didn't you read it?"
"Yeah, but what does that have anything to do with us?" Ryo asked.
"Oh jeez Ryo! Why are you so dense? I just hooked us up with a radical hotel room in Hong Kong!" Joy said proudly. "This is the most glamorous hotel in the entire city!"
"Really? How d'you manage to do that?"
"It was easy, my dad just pulled some strings with the manager and he's letting us stay there for free! Isn't that awesome?!?"
"Yeah! Wait... your dad? Your dad did that for us? I thought you said you and him weren't getting along? And didn't you say that he was sending you to live with your mom?" Ryo asked. "Why is he in Hong Kong?"
"Oh... yeah." Joy bit the tip of her finger and looked to the ground. "I did say that, didn't I?"
"Uh-huh, I see. So what else are you hiding from me, Joy?"
"Well..." she started. "The truth is my dad is somewhat of a big shot in Hong Kong."
"Yeah? How big of a big shot?"
"He kinda owns the Hong Kong Towers hotel." Joy said, she remained looking at the floor. "I didn't wanna tell ya 'cause I thought I'd scare ya away."
"Joy, scare me away?"
"Y-yeah. Y'see, I like you Ryo... I like you a lot." Joy said.
"Oh..." Ryo started feeling guilty of accusing Joy of lying to him.
"I was afraid that if I told you that my dad was the owner of Hong Kong Towers you'd stop talking to me. Or maybe even get away from me all together"
"W-why is that?"
"Oh! So you don't know?!?" Joy's tone suddenly rose.
"Know what?" Ryo's eyes widened.
"N-nothing, Ryo, it's nothing. Let's do what you did and pretend that I didn't say anything, okay?"
Ryo hesitated. "Uh, sure." he didn't know what else to say.
Chapter 4: The Arrival
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