Fantastic Adventure of Whales Whales' Ocean Written by Kame-Kujira-Neko Published by Hyoron-sha 1995, Japan Outline Table of Contents An Excerpt from Chapter 4: "Assembly"
	Love Story of a Cat and a Girl Rhui, Forever Written by K-K-Neko Published by Bungei-sha 2006, Japan Japanese only

- Outline -

  Claire is a 15 year old minke whale and devoted mother of her twin children. She is busy bringing up her twins in the Fertile Sea of the Antarctic. One day she loses her twin boy, Joy, when an unknown group of killer whales orcas abduct him. Unable to get much help from her group, she makes up her mind to set off on a long journey to search for her son by herself.

  During her long hazardous journey she meets some interesting dolphins and whales: Cherokee, a coward humpback; Douglas, an aged historian blue whale; and Jensen, a blunt yet strong sperm whale. They are suddenly attacked by the abductors and get involved in other unexpected events they could never foresee at the onset.

  The journey, some twenty thousand miles long, originating at the Antarctic Sea and reaching across the equator to the north Pacific Ocean, ends in an unknown ocean they have never seen.

  What surprises are lying in wait for them?

  Can she find and get her lovely son back safely?

- Table of Contents -

- Volume I: The Antarctic Sea, Chapter 4: Assembly (an Excerpt) -

  … "Now, all of you in the audience are invited to voice your opinions. Please step forward if you'd like to speak with the Governor," the coordinator yelled at the audience. The on-lookers moved back to the outer circle, while those who wanted to make some requests came forward. The speakers were picked one by one clockwise just like a whirlpool forms its center at the epicenter of the Antarctic. The first speaker, an elderly male, swam halfway in front.
  "Dear Governor, Mores", a little older male bowed spreading his breast fins sideways as if to show his respect to her. I am a biologist by profession, keen on observing living organisms. Lately, however, I have become more interested in arithmetic. The new applied theory you just presented has impressed me a lot, your Honor. Please allow me, M'aam, however, to present my humble opinion on the decimal system currently employed, in which I find some flaws."
  " There are at present no creatures with seven or nine legs. We, the whales, not to mention the inferior squids, no longer need to base counting on the number of legs. First of all, the number system was advocated by the sperm whales who ate squids. It's wrong for us minke whales to use such a system. Therefore, I have developed a new number system after researching for many years. Please let me present my newly developed theory. Among all, our whales …", he spoke with eloquence and a pompous gesture of flipping up and down his breast fins.
  "He may be cut out better as a flipper, rather than as a mathematician," Rex whispered in Claire's ear.
  " … I have come to a conclusion that two fins are sufficient for counting. I repeat, two. The number two is in fact the basis of all numbers. Look at us: we have the right fin and left fin - which keep us in balance. We need just one more fin to propel us in swimming freely in the water. Left and right. Two is enough. Please think that too many numbers, like squids and sea anemones, make things complicated. The world in which we live consists of the base number of two. Left and right fins, head and tail fins, air and water, day and night, life and death … all things exist in pairs. Don't forget us, male and female. We travel back and forth between the Fertile Sea and Child-bearing Sea. Our groups also consist of "yin and yang" though the yin group has seven counties among them, which I consider minor. As I just now explained, the whole universe is based on the number two. Therefore, the binary system is the true and correct counting system. It is easy to remember and will become a handy tool for all of us. Left and right … fins of ours suffice for all, even simpletons. Governor Mores, my Honor, I earnestly make a request now to adopt the binary number system in the next year's census. In addition, I hope you approve a new profession who engage in number theories. I have no doubt, my Honor, that the new profession will be an asset to your administration, your Honor."
  Mores, unable to break her promise she had earlier made not to interrupt others while they talked, listened patiently, but the moment he finished his speech, she promptly asked him a question: " The way you count, is it not hard to count large numbers? Your proposal is interesting, but your method may not be fit for counting large whales heads. However, you are free to do research on numbers, and I encourage you to do so. When you come up with a more practical idea next time, I would be happy if we could utilize it. Regarding the new profession you proposed, I approve a new "measuring" occupation, that is, counting whale heads in "county" censuses. Naturally, you are gifted and knowledgeable in number theories. Though we lose one "bio-observer", I don't think that will affect much on their job if they restrict their observation mainly to crustaceans and grampuses."
  The elderly bio-observer, now newly appointed measurer, seemed unconvinced with her reply and, muttering and blinking his eyes, retreated. Through the end of the assembly he had no inkling that his proposal had been rejected.
  In the same manner, Mores and her administrators processed participants' requests and appeals very efficiently. A majority of them were more detailed matters to Mores. One of them asked her to name her new born baby because she could not think of any better names, another asked a question about education and another complained about the trouble he was having with someone of the opposite sex. Mores had only to say a few words in each case as she delegated most cases to her administrators. There was one dispute, however, that astonished Mores. Two females engaged in their claims for the maternal parent of a newly born whale.
At any rate, Mores and her administrators handled each case, some quite intricate ones, speedily and smoothly. As Mores, patient and efficient, though, started feeling fatigued, there came Claire's turn to speak at last …

Translated by Tad Iwanaga
Revised by Nora Iwanaga