- Ranma - Tapestry of magic - 
^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^
Ryouga isn't honest,
he is a vile disgusting freak,
if he ever takes advantage of Akane,
I will kick him into next weak.

Akane is too trusting,
picks up every stray,
I wish she didn't do that,
it brings me trouble every day. 

Ryouga and Akane,
Both have the shortest fuse,
and if Akane ever knew what p-chan is...
                   ...all four of us would lose.
^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^

-What is this?
Ranma pointed towards a square object, pinkish in color and fuzzy around 
the edges.

-Have you ever used a rubrics cube?

Ranma looked at him puzzled.
-What's a rubrics cube?

-Well, I guess that answers my question.
The shopowner said and moved the lights away from it.

--

-Are you sure Nabiki?
Kuno lowered his head to get a better look.
It wasn't an environment he was very fond of.
And with all the raining, it was sure to be very wet.

-Sure I'm sure. Have you ever had a reason to doubt me?
She said. raising her umbrella so that he could look into her big brown 
eyes

-We'll... He began.
He had had a lot of reasons to doubt her, he just couldn't remember them 
more than vaguely at the moment.

-Haven't I been selling you those pictures of your two goddesses at fare 
prices?

He shrugged, the pictures were priceless, he wouldn't know.
-Fine then, You have made your point. I, Tatewaki Kuno, shall stride 
forth in my endeavor to free the pigtailed goddess and to bring the vile 
saotome before true justice.

He jumped down the hole and shook of his umbrella while looking around 
for any sign of recent goings on.
There wasn't any footprint anywhere, but there was pawprints of some 
sort leading down a tunnel in a direction away from his estate.

-Have you found anything? Nabiki called down from up above.

-Fare not. I, Tatewaki Kuno, have found a trail. I shall hound the 
origin of said trail until the end of time unless the pigtailed goddess 
is freed!

-Oh, just go. He heard from the hole above him.
 If you find anything feel free to tell me.

And so he was off, bokken held high, umbrella held low, hunting the 
thing that had made those tracks.
After all, who knew what a sorcerer like Saotome had in his employee.

--

The lights centered on a bracelet.

It was slender and was composed of two dragons, a silver and a
gold one, uncoiling from each others grip, both biting their own tail. 
In their eyes were rubies the size of peas.

-This is the prize of my possessions, the red dragon bracelet!
I got it from the last red, who died while fighting of musk soldiers 
making possible the escape of his charges so that they could continue on 
their journey.

Ranma glanced at the greyclad man, finding to his surprise that a small 
tear was working it's way down the mans cheeks.

-If I were him I wouldn't have died. Ranma stated.

-No, I'm sure you wouldn't. The shopowner said with a slightly hurt look 
on his face.

A moment passed as the owner looked at the bracelet and then at Ranma. A 
speculating look shot across his face and as quickly as it had appeared 
it went away, replaced instead with a frown.

-Nothing for you to worry about though, is it?
He said as he again moved the spotlights.

--

A limousine screeched to a halt.

-It's time Master! A voice from the front seat boomed.

A roof slid out of the limousine to cover a part of the sidewalk.
The backdoor opened and the backseat tilted so that the bundle of 
clothes on it slid out.

*Yawn* 
-Can't I sleep a little while more?

The bundle unwrapped itself, Two hands shot out on the top, a sneaker 
untangled itself from the mess a little further down and then one hand 
pulled back into the bundle.

-Darn clothes, they always do this when I sleep.

There was a whir and a burr and the bundle of clothes shrank back in on 
itself showing a little boy, sitting on his behind, legs out in front of 
him.

-Right, are we here? He asked a bit annoyed.

-We have arrived at the requested destination! The voice from the car 
boomed back.

The boy stood up and walked up to the door.
He paused in midstep and turned around.

 -You can go back now. He ushered.

-Right! The voice replied.

When the car speeded off the boy walked up to the door and sneezed 
before he knocked on it.
(Next time, check for rain) He noted to himself.

--

This time a katana fell under the bright lights.

It was ornamented with an amethyst in the base of the hilt.
Beginning at the jewel the metal that made up the hilt segregated into 
five threads, knotting themselves around each other all the way up to 
the start of the blade.
The blade itself was filled with miniscule kanji, names of owners past.

-Wow!
(I've never seen such a blade before)
-How much? He waved his left hand out towards the shopowner, 
gesticulating as if he had a wad  of money in it.

The owner looked on astonished but with amusement slowly creeping into 
his face.

-How much do you think it's worth?

Ranma cringed and let his hand fall to his side.
-Much more than I can afford. He said hollowly.

-How much CAN you afford? The shopkeeper asked jovially.

Ranma looked at his hand long enough to notice that he in fact didn't 
have any money in it.
After quick search in his pockets he produced a small wad of yen

-Great, now I have to start all over again. The greyclothed shopkeeper 
mumbled while shacking his head.

-You DO know that that sword was practically MADE for you?
He said annoyedly as the lights moved again.

--

Akane pulled her hand back to her front and opened the note she had been 
given.

^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^

       Contest for Ranchan.

       You decide the type.

       Interested?                       Ukyou.

^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^

We'll NOW she knew what Ukyou was up to.
NO, she wrote and handed the note back

--

The lights moved around form item to item, always to dim to make out 
what those items were.
Then the lights converged on the same item and stopped there.

It was a dark oblong object, totally devoid of color and the substance 
it was made from seemed unrecognizable.
The object throbbed with a lively...     ...something.
It was almost as if it was alive. 

-So, meboy how do you feel about curses? The shopkeeper asked.

-I wish I never went to jusenkhyo. came the sullen reply.

-Jusenkhyo, a curse? The shopowner sounded astonished.

-That's a funny way to put it. He continued under is breath.
Waving his arms around in the air as if to clear up some smoke, he began 
the tale of what the thing was.

-This little trinket once belonged to a powerful magician.
He had decided to leave something of himself to his heirs, so that they 
would have the wisdom that he felt he had always carried with him.
As is the case with most such things, something went wrong and not in 
such a little way either. 

He chuckled and looked at the boy he was talking to, blinked his eyes 
and smacked the boy on the head.

-Wake up, you never know when information like this might come in handy.

Rubbing his head the boy turned to leave.

-Are you still sleeping kid? You haven't bought anything yet.

Not finding a door to walk out of, the boy turned to face him.

-Let me out, I don't have to take this crap! He said as he weaved around 
in the air to form a fireball.
-Witches and warlocks deserve to burn in hell! He screamed as he let the 
fireball fly.

The grey target simply stood his ground, letting the fireball envelop 
him. 
-I see! He said as the color drained away from the fire on him, leaving 
grey bits of smoke behind.

-This object was obviously never meant for use by you! He said hotly.

*Fzzt*

The lights turned off.

--

Yellowish light cowered the everything in the cafe.
The rain was beating down hard outside which filled the cafe with cozy 
feeling of sorts.
She sipped her cup of tea and made her way towards her and her brothers 
booth. The both was small, but they didn't mind.
It had been ages since they had last seen each other.

-How has it been? She asked while she sat down.

-So, so. He answered.

She slurped a bit on her tea and started again.
-Did you ever catch up to that Saotome you were talking so much about. 
(I don't understand you, big brother. First you were so happy about 
having met a potential friend with the same interests. Despite the 
constant jabbering about our sense of direction, and then you got so 
riled up just because you missed him by a day. No, I don't understand 
you at all)

-Yes, I found Ranma and I shall make him pay.
He answered, fire gleaming in his eyes.

-So, he isn't your friend anymore? She cocked her head.

-Friend? Since when was he ever my friend?

-Since YOU left to try to find him. She said jabbing her finger gently 
into his ribs.

-That wasn't friendship, that was because he ran from our fight.
He almost jumped up on the table in frustration.

(As I recall, dear brother, you were mostly mad at his father for 
dragging him away)
-That's an awful excuse and you know it. She said frowning while she 
waved for a waitress to come.

-That's not everything he's done to me, HE MADE MY LIFE INTO A LIVING 
HELL!

Naoko blushed as she realized everyone were looking at them.

-I'd love to hear more of your life's tale Ryouga but, could we continue 
this somewhere else?

Ryouga looked around fuming with anger.
Everyone shrank away when his gaze fell on them.

-Your right, let's go.

--

(Thank the lords for that safety-clock I installed)
He steadied the young boy that had recently attacked him.
-You alright boy?

-Maybe I better go. The words came shakily as if he was in shock.

(Not surprising, my first reaction to it wasn't much different)
-I'm sorry but you can't leave yet.

-Wh -why? The boy frowned.

-*sigh* Simply put, this isn't your average curio-shop.
You can't leave until you've bought something.

The lights went on again.
This time they settled on a silverpendant, shaped like a heart.

(That could be useful) The owner thought with hope.
-Having any problems with alternate realities or other dimensions?

-No. 
The boy answered despairingly.

(Marvelous! Hooray for blues computers and his darn predictions.) He 
rolled his eyes. (Better be quick if I want him too get anything before 
he totally falls to pieces) He thought determinedly.

-Kid, he began, do you have any problems?

--

Green ooze filtered by as the sound of shoes sloshing about in it came 
around the corner.

-To think that the mighty Tatewaki Kuno has fallen to this!
Stated the looming figure.
-Mayhaps I wouldst gain the glance of the glorious goddess afore I fall 
prey to whatever lurks these corridors.
Though it would be true bliss to see my love, It would be cruelty unto 
her to let her gaze met this visage.
SAOTOME thou art a cowardly cur! Met me where I stand or I will consider 
this as your defeat!

Kuno waited in the sewer for quite some time before he rose his voice 
again.

-Fine then I will consent your defeat. A word of warning, if you do not 
deliver the pigtailed goddess to me, she will be in greate trouble.

He thought for a little while (will wonders never cease) and continued:

-AND SO WILL YOU, FOR IF YOU EVER LET THE PIGTAILED GODDESS COME TO 
HARM, I WILL KILL YOU. 

Then he stomped back the way he came.

--

As the lights circled about searching for another trinket too light up. 
The greyclothed man tried to weasel some useful information out of 
Ranma.

-So this Fianc�e you didn't want is sleeping with someone?

-What! N -no that's not what I meant. She only sleeps with her pet, 
P-chan. 
Ranma almost seemed to wake up from his thoughts, he actually managed to 
sound angry while spitting out the name.

The lights settled on a rod with the mark for earth depicted at the top.

The man continued, unawares of the object or uncaring of it's existence.
(That isn't what your bodylanguage is saying)
-What kind of pet is this p-chan? He said and pressing and holding down 
on a spot on Ranma's shoulder.

-Ryouga, p-chan is Ryouga. Ranma answered, eyes glazed.

(finally, some progress)
-Jusenkyo? He asked.

-Unh. Ranma could only nod.

The shopowner released his hold on Ranma.
-Kid, you in luck. I have a few furballs that could clear up your bigger 
problems. Just follow me.
He said and moved behind a curtain that appeared out of thin air.

Ranma followed.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
              ---
  Can you see the red thread,
  the yellow or the blue?

  Can you see the green one
  inbetween the two?

  Take a look at all of it.
  Can you see it too?

  It all forms a tapestry.
  A tapestry for you

              <Dewin Duvae>
              ---
Authors notes:
Regrettably todays guest could not make an appearance. He was struck 
with cold water and turned into a panda. As we all know pandas can't 
speak, what I dind't know was that they can't write with a keyboard that 
well. (too much fur to see the buttons you're pushing) At least you know 
who he was anyway.

Dewin@hotmail.com
(this is what happens when you don't have any prereaders that know 
anything about anime, don't ask!)

Second notes:
Largely this is the same as the last time I sent it. (I took out the 
questions about the color of Nabiki's eyes since that has been answered, 
BTW Thank you again for the answer) If anyone can notice a spelling 
misstake, please inform me. As before, Enjoy!

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com