He walked slowly into the room; his face covered by a long cloak and pulled the heavy ball off the shelf. It was clear like glass except for a cloud space about the size of a quarter in the center.
"Ran? Ran, are you there?" he said and the ball grew darker and darker until it was pitch black. Then, out of the darkness a face appeared.
"Shinichi!" the face said in delight.
"I can't talk for too long, if anyone found you, I don't know what would happen, but it wouldn't be good for either of us." Shinichi whispered softly.
"I know. Shinichi, it's so cold, please, help." She pleaded, tears gathering in her perfect blue eyes.
"I'm doing all I can, Ran, but this kind of magic is illegal. I can't ask just anybody. Even if it is for you, if I get killed then we're both doomed." Shinichi told her, desperate for her to understand.
"Why have you put me here, Shinichi? Why do you leave me in such a place, where it's always dark and cold?" she asked. "If you love me, Shinichi, please, let me leave, get me out!"
"I can't." he whispered, sounding wounded. "I can't lose you, Ran. I'll get you back, you'll see. I love enough to commit high-treason, don't you see? I need you with me."
"Please, Shinichi. For both of us, let me go. Let me die, Shinichi." Ran begged desperately.
"I can't. You are my everything. I can't let you die." He told her and her eyes saddened.
"Oh." Se said, disappointed and the hurt in her eyes nearly had him on his knees, begging for her to forgive him and promising she could have what ever she wanted. But he couldn't promise that; what she wanted was the one thing he couldn't bring himself to give her. "Okay then."
Her face began to fade back into the darkness.
"Wait, Ran! Don't go yet!" he whispered, his lips brushing the smooth crystal of the ball.
"Goodnight." She whispered and disappeared and he sighed as the black began fading from the ball.
Setting the ball down so that it rolled to the center of the thin tatami he sat upon, Shinichi looked wistfully out the shades, which were still open, even at this time of night. The moon shone above him, full and plump.
"Ran..." he breathed before he standing up and brushing the dust off his thin cotton yukata. Then, replacing the crystal ball on its shelf, he walked silently from the room.