Just then, something caught his eye. He looked again and he couldn’t find it. Turning away, he again got a glint of something bright just out of the corner of his eye. He tried facing it again. No good. Eventually he got the idea that whatever object it was he was trying to find was managing to hide itself from direct view. He could see it only in peripheral vision. Ranma did the only thing he could to reach that item: he stalked it.
He wasn’t even sure what it was he was going after, but with all this work, it had better be special. Sneaking up on the shelf, Ranma made an interesting scene in the shop. The wizard, at first amused by his actions, was now intrigued. “Look, see what he’s going after?” He pointed his finger towards the teenager. His assistant’s eyes widened. “Do you think he has any clue what he’s getting into?” The wizard just shook his head.
As he silently approached the area where he had last seen a glimpse of the item, Ranma’s hand slowly reached out toward the shelf, fumbling as it made purchase. He kept looking straight ahead, the object there just in the corner of his eye. Slowly his hand slid towards it…slowly…almost there, yes…was that it his hand was closing around? Could he look now? Yes, he had gotten it!
Ranma took a step back from the shelves and looked down at his tightly closed fist. There was something small and hard inside, and there was what looked like a strand of ancient gold links spilling out of his fist and down his arm. Somewhat unsure, he walked over to the wizard. “What is this?” he asked, thrusting his arm out at the man.
“Go ahead and look, it won’t bite.”
Slowly, Ranma opened his tightly clenched fist and looked at what he had found. “It’s—pretty. Hey, Ucchan will like this, right?” He smiled, looking hopefully at the assistant. “You’re a girl. You think this is pretty, right? Will she?”
Swallowing a laugh, she nodded. The wizard reached under the counter for a box. Here, do you want to put it in this? We also giftwrap.” He said, indicating several rolls behind him, as well as the patterns: snakeskin, cauldron components, faux book leather and bat wings. Ranma eeped and said “No thanks, I’ve got some at home.” He did pick out a complimentary card, “Hope your birthday is bewitching!” and paid his 1500 yen.
Eager to leave, Ranma was bouncing up and down on his toes by the time he got his change and zipped out of the shop. Laughing in earnest this time, the wizard said “Gee, he left so quickly, he didn’t take the booklet that goes with the pendant.” More snickers from the staff. “Oh well. If he really needs it he can come back and get it.”
Outside, Ranma took a huge breath of air and looked around. He was still clutching the stone in one hand, the other had the box for it and the card. What a stupid card! he thought. But it was the best they had out of the selection and it was free. Now in the daylight, the teen decided to look at his purchase a little closer. Hmmm. While I’m holding it, I can look straight at it, no problem. Interesting.
The entire piece was a milky white crystal, about three inches in length. It was attached to the chain by a lightly beaten gold foil cap around the top with a small emerald set in the middle of it. It really is pretty. I wonder if it does anything?
Oh, don’t ask questions, Ranma!
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(Posted Sun, 18 May 2003 16:59)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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