Ranma entered the store. It was stuffed with all kinds of weird items, gizmos and rummage. He assumed this had to be some sort of gift shop, or a second-hand shop, maybe...
In front of him stood a big counter, but there was no one behind it. Next to the cash register just stood a small sign with the words: 'Be right back'.
Curiously, Ranma rummaged through all the flasks, masks, toys, candles, books, magazines and tools, sometimes taking one of the items in his hand to have a better look at it.
Then his gaze fell on a shelf that was filled with loads of games... Board games, dice games, card games, video games, role-playing-game boxes...
And among those games he saw a big, colorful box that was showing the picture of a big dragon with spread wings. Obviously some kind of fantasy board game...
He read the title: 'Talisman: The Magical Quest'.
He wondered if Kasumi had ever played a board game before... Ranma, for that matter, was remembered of his early childhood, before he and his father had started the training journey. He had a big collection of board games like this... he almost forgot how fun it had been to play with them. Whatever had happened to them, he wondered...
He shrugged. Maybe his mother had thrown them all away in the meantime...
But he knew that Kasumi was fascinated by the concepts of fantasy novels... Her all-time favorite was 'Lord of the Rings'. At one weekend, when the fathers were away in their favorite pub, Akane visited friends and Nabiki was also out for the evening, Ranma and Kasumi had rented a video, so the evening wouldn't be too boring. It was then when Ranma learned about her interests.
They had watched 'Dragonheart' that day... and while Ranma was not as much of a fan as Kasumi was herself, he had enjoyed the movie.
Perhaps this board game was just the right thing for the oldest Tendo sister...
"Ah, I see you found something, Ranma? Good to have a customer who knows what he wants."
Startled, Ranma turned around. Directly next to him, an old man wearing a bathrobe was standing. How did he get there so fast? The pig-tailed boy surely hadn't noticed his presence before he had spoken.
"I'm a wizard, Ranma," the old man said. "Also, that's how I know your name!"
"Uh... right!" Ranma's experiences with magic certainly weren't the best, but he knew better than to protest against the words of a man who claimed to be a wizard.
"Um... how much for this game?" he asked and pointed at 'Talisman'.
The old man grinned. "1200 yen... that's a special price."
Ranma grinned back. "Okay, that's fair enough."
"You made a wise purchase, my boy," the man said as Ranma paid the price. "But keep in mind that this is a magical game... remember to read the instructions well!"
"Sure, I'll try to remember it. Have a nice day!"
----
On his way back to the Tendo's, he realized that he forgot to ask the old man to wrap his present for Kasumi. He decided to ask his mother to do it.
Nodoka was more than happy to help her son. "A present for Kasumi-chan? My, what a great idea, son! After all, she is your fiancee's sister."
"Thanks, Mom! I just believe she has earned it... she always works so hard in this house, cooking and cleaning, and never asks for something in return."
"You're a sweet boy, Ranma... now, what kind of wrapping would be best for this present? Something in green, maybe?"
Just then, unexpectedly, Kasumi came in, as she returned from the market.
"Tadaima... oh, Ranma-kun, Auntie... what do you have there?"
Ranma tried hiding the game behind his back, but it was no use, the box was just too big. "Well... you know... this is..."
Before he or Nodoka could come up with something, Kasumi walked up to him and took a good look at the cover of the game. "Oooooh, a board game! And it's a fantasy game, right? Oh..." Realization came... "You bought this for my birthday, right..."
Ranma simply couldn't lie when seeing such a nice face. "You... you're right, Kasumi... I wanted to give it to you later, after wrapping it nicely... but I guess you can have it either way." He smiled.
Kasumi took the present and smiled. "Thank you, Ranma-kun! That's so considerate of you..."
She then took the game into the living room and opened the box. After a quick glance at the instruction manual, she nodded. "Well, those rules certainly don't sound too difficult..."
Nodoka was intrigued as well. She saw the various cards and plastic figurines (only in this special edition, like the box said). "Well, how about trying it out, Kasumi-chan?"
"Huh? Right now?" Kasumi thought about it. Then she shrugged. "Sure, why not? I'll just put away my shoppings... Although I still have to cook dinner..."
"Nonsense," Nodoka objected. "It's your birthday, Kasumi-chan. Of course you don't have to cook... I'll do it. Besides, it's still early, so we have enough time for a quick testing game."
"I guess you're right... but wait, shouldn't we ask the others if they want to play as well?"
"Pops and your father are out with the old freak," Ranma grumbled. "He said something about getting a 'fitting present' for you..."
Nodoka frowned. "Knowing Happosai, it probably will be some see-through undies..."
"Nabiki is upstairs, studying for an important test... we better not bother her," Kasumi explained. "And Akane... well, you see: Shampoo-san was here earlier and paid us a visit. And I'm afraid she and Akane started a little fight... Shampoo left through the wall, and Akane ran after her... That's the last time I saw her." She smiled. "But I'm sure she will be back for dinner."
"Then I guess it's just the three of us, huh...?" Ranma asked. "Oh, why not? It certainly looks like it's gonna be fun."
"Okay, then let's unpack everything first..."
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(Posted Thu, 26 Oct 2006 17:03)
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