Ranma Saotome had always had a problem with matter of the intellect. This was due by in large to the training trip he had endured for ten years. For the majority of these ten years Ranma's focus had been on training in the martial arts, strictly enforced by his father. Not much attention had been paid to Ranma's education.
Certainly he had attended school, but he was rarely encouraged by his father to ever pursue any academic interest. Because of this Ranma, though a martial genius, was a bit hazy whenb conversation turned to matters of the mind and sometimes even common sense.
This was very unfortunate for this master of martial arts, since regardless that he alwasy triumphed in the end, some his adversaries outsmarted him, at crucial points in a fight. In other words, Ranma's education was a weak point that left him wide open for attack, whether in battle or in conversation.
Ranma Saotome had always sought to correct his weak points, though before these spots of weakness had mostly been seen in physical confrontation. Up until this point he had, for the most part ingored his intellectual weakness, however he was coming to realize that if he was to be the greatest martial artist in the world and a "man among men" he would have to eliminate all of his weaknesses.
Even after this realization however, he did not openly seek to fix it. This reavealed(to us, but not to him) a sort of indolence when it came to furthering his intellectual knowledge. It was only one day, when he was walking down the street, that he, perhaps by chance, or perhaps what some would call fate, Ranma Saotome came into contact with a strange sort of traveling salesman.
This man was among the ranks of those who sold fishing rods of love, instant jusenkyo water, magic paper dolls, and the like. He sold a myriad of strange and rare products, some one of a kind, to be found nowhere else in the world.
It was among these strange objects that Ranma Saotome found an object to help him increase his intellectual knowledge.
"This ring will help to boost your intellectual prowess more and more the longer you wear it,"the salesman stated matter-of-factly to the young martial artist. "The likes of this ring have helped many before you to become truly intelli-"
"Yeah yeah! Exactly what I'm looking for!"Ranma interjected. Thanks man! How much?"
"Uh...Two-thousand yen,"he replied, taken a bit aback by the young man's eagerness. Ranma gave the man the correct number of bills and put on the ring.
"Well...I don't feel any smarter,"he said.
"As I said it works over time. It shouldn't take too long to begin to take effect."
"Oh alright... Well thanks again!"Ranma said with a smile before bounding off.
To the salesman's alarm he looked on the ground to see the warning albel that went with the ring. "Oh dear. Wait a moment young man! You forgot this!"he yelled after Ranma in vain. The pig-tailed boy was already out of earshot. "Well this could cause some strange problems,"he said, looking over the warning label.
It read: "WARNING: When wearing this ring do not come into physical contact with others. Only wear when the customer(hereafter known as the first party) will likely not come into physical contact with others(hereafter known as the second party). Physical contact with others can have several unfortunate side effects. When the second party should come into contact with the first party, the knowledge and intellect of the second party will begin to be drained out of them and given to the first party. The process is gradual and how dramatic the effect on the second party depends on the length of time that they remain in contact with the first party. Please heed this warning and enjoy this product in a safe way. "
It now becomes clear to the audience that Ranma Saotome had unknowinngly donned a ring that allowed him, when in physical contact with others to absorb, as he might have then called it 'their smarts." What sort of strange effects would this have on he and those he knew? Only time could tell us.
We now look to Ranma who was now on his way-
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(Posted Sat, 16 Oct 2004 05:13)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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