Okay, so I'm kinda sorta maybe a little cheating here. I'm writing this the night of 7/3 and I'm going to upload it 7/4 because there's going to be a BIG Independence Day celebration here in LA and I'll be way too busy to write. I might have to start writing these at night, but that's okay since it's always daytime somewhere, right? I'm really sorry.

Today's article is "Japan finds rare earths in Pacific seabed" with no author given seen on the BBC website at www(dot)bbc(dot)co(dot)uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14009910 on July 3rd, 2011 (July 4th in the UK).

I need to become much more fluent in Japanese to even claim owning something.

Japan watched bubbles float out of his air tank. Normal humans wouldn't be able to survive at 18,000 feet underwater with just a modified swimsuit, much less humans with heavily bandaged shoulders and a minor painkiller high.

He was most definitely not a normal human.

And he had most definitely found the rare earth metals his scientists were talking about.

Allow me to take a small sample . . .

Japan tugged on the cable attached to his swimsuit to begin his ascent.

Finally, he could see light again; he switched off his flashlight. More bubbles floated up to the surface. This is amazing, he thought. I could potentially break China's monopoly on rare earths.

It was very common knowledge that Japan took his electronics very seriously. It was also common knowledge that he and China were not on very good terms.

Unfortunately, "rare earth metals" also happened to be the power behind electronics such as smartphones. And when in the hands of someone like China . . .

Scene: One year ago. A territorial dispute has arisen between JAPAN and CHINA.

JAPAN and CHINA used BICKER!

CHINA used RESTRAIN SUPPLY! It's super effective!

JAPAN used LOOK ELSEWHERE!

. . . which brought Japan to the present day.

Of course, he knew he shouldn't get his hopes up. He was already a little nervous about the environment. Mining for what he'd found today would probably disrupt animals on the ocean floor.

He just needed his phones, computers, billboards . . .

Japan found himself wishing for his phone, but he was still a good way underwater. It was a little rough of a day at sea, so they had to reel him back up to the boat slowly.

He felt like a puppet on a string. One wrong move by the scientists and he was as dead as a roll of sushi. Well, not dead, but certainly with more serious wounds to fuss over.

Sigh. An old man wasn't supposed to be this impatient- could America have finally gotten to him? Gah.

He looked around again. It was unnaturally quiet and peaceful in the waters west of Hawaii. Colorful fish swam all around in huge schools. The vivid coral was something out of a dream. He would close his eyes and meditiate, but he was still a little too nervous about being tugged off by the waters.

「今、大丈夫ですか。」 Finally, the scientists' radios were in range with his. Someone had asked if he was all right.

「はい、いいです。」 Yes, I'm fine.

「見つけたのですか。」 Did you find it?

「はい、見つけました。」 Yes, I found it.

「すばらしいね! じゃ、少々待って下さいね。まだまだ...」 That's great! Well, please wait just a little bit. Not yet...

Ten more seconds and his head broke water. The sudden switch to the world above water was so shocking! He gasped for air like a newborn.

The two scientists helped him onto the boat, handing him a towel and clothes. He handed them the sample and went to go sit down.

The boat wasn't small, but it was nowhere near expansive. Scientific-looking machines took over half of the main area. There was a small restroom, but not a very good one-it was mostly used for changing into swim gear. There was also a very, very comfortable couch.

Shakily, he sat down on it, not really minding that he was getting it all wet.

Who would have thought keeping up with China, of all people, would exhaust this old man the most . . .

Okay, so it wasn't totally cheating since I'm writing this part at 8 on 7/4. And since I wrote the Japanese while half-asleep, correct my idiocy if I made an error . . . heh, those scientists were kinda sorta casual with him. Guess they know each other pretty well after a year.

Happy Fourth of July! Thanks for the reviews/faves/etc., too! :3