Ever been really depressed? Of course you have. We all have at 
one time or another. It hurt, and you felt so helpless to do anything 
about it -and for some of you that helplessness might have been the 
hardest part about it. 
     Most of us have friends. Another fact that’s hard to argue. (At 
least I hope you have some friends!) Friends are your strength when 
you’ve given all you had and it wasn’t enough.
     But what if your name was Ryoga Hibiki?
     Friends are hard to come by when you’re lost in the darkest wilds 
of Japan.
     Then again, maybe not...


     Ryoga was lost again.
     He had long since passed the point where anger and confusion had 
driven him on blindly, he was now in that lowest groove of the soul’s 
LP. Depression was an old friend to Ryoga Hibiki. He was never a 
very hospitable traveling companion, but Ryoga at least knew he was 
wandering with familiar company. 
     The old jibes decided to tag along and mock him, too.
     Lost Boy came first and his taunts always stung, even if he
hadn’t learned any new ones in years.
     P-Chan hurt pretty bad, because it’s hard to be a man when you’re 
a little black pig.
     But P-Chan also liked to tag team with Akane, whom Ryoga 
loved with all his heart, except that she didn’t love him back. She 
loved Ranma, whom Ryoga despised.
     And that was perhaps the hardest blow of all.
     So he wandered on.
     Knowing that he would never get where he was going save for pure 
chance at the behest of Lady Luck. 
     (And because he knew he was never very lucky around ladies,)
     He was lost again.
     But that was okay.
     Because Ryoga had a few friends with him along for the walk.
     Friends who knew all about what it was like to be angry and 
depressed. Who could tell him just what it meant to be a loser and to 
feel the pain tearing at your heart. (And most importantly how to let 
it all out.)
     With music.
     And so he reached into his traveling pack and pulled out his 
Walkman. The tape was already inside. Waiting. His four friends 
took him by the hand, put their arms around his shoulders, and 
they steadied him on.
     Their names were Osbourne, Iommi, Ward, and Butler.
     
     Better known as Black Sabbath...



      J. Austin Wilde and Fission Park Press proudly present:

                       Ryoga’s Depression 

    Sung to the tune of “Wheels of Confusion,” By Black Sabbath.
             From the album "Black Sabbath Volume 4."

“Wheels of Confusion,” by Ozzy Osbourne, Tommy Iommi, and 
Bill Ward, (C) 1972, Warner Brothers Records, inc.

_____________________________________________________________

Long ago I wandered from my home.
Searching for my long lost way and vengeance,
For my honor I would shed no tears.
The way was hard and that was all I knew,
(Where the hell am I?)

Soon the days were passing into years.
Happiness would always slip right by me,
Can’t my life be more than getting lost?
Directions home just seemed to get confused,
(Where the hell am I?)

(Insert Soul-Crushing Bridge)

Lost while I’m walking through China,
Falling in pools of drowned pigs,
I can’t deny misdirection,
But why can’t I ever stay dry?

Talk about your life not being easy,
Why can’t I ever get Akane?
I try my hardest, I still end up losing.
The world will still be turning while I’m lost,
Yeah while I’m lost!

(Fade into "The Straightener")

___________________________________________________________


                       THE END.

[Hey, I could've done "Solitude," but that's depressing enough
without any help from me. Where do you think he got his first
inspiration for the old SHI SHI HOKODAN, anyways? ;) ]

My thanks to Black Sabbath, who have carried me through
a few dark nights of my own. (And to Jaymz and the others
who support Kasumi as one of the Metal Militia!)

What's that noise? It could only be...

                  THE SABBATH SOUND.