Standard Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma or anything remotely having to do with Ranma. This is a fan fiction created for my own enjoyment and for the enjoyment of others. Also, feel free to review, ask questions, or even flame the story if you don't like it. At least have a point when you review though. Saying it sucks doesn't really do anything other than waste my time. Tell me WHY it sucks and help me to change it. To everyone else, enjoy my first attempt at Fanfiction.
A resounding crash filled the air and Kasumi could only sigh. Seems Akane had sent her wayward fiancée sailing over the horizon again. Shaking her head in exasperation, she continued preparing dinner and put a kettle on the burner, knowing that by the time Ranma returned he would have need of the hot water. How Akane could aim for a body of water at that distance, she wasn't sure, but Kasumi wasn't one to question to strangeness that was Nerima, only learned to accept it.
Gazing out the window at the slowly setting sun, Kasumi pondered over the activities of the past few weeks. Ever since the destroyed wedding, Akane's anger seemed to escalate, soaring out of control to the point that she woke Ranma up with her mallet and sent him to bed the same way. Everything that went wrong with her life instantly became Ranma's fault and the girl would take her anger out on the boy at every opportunity. At least Ranma had improved his abilities enough that he could avoid breaking through the roof and walls with his impromptu flights. Somehow he always sailed through the open windows or doors. Then Akane would scowl and go to the dojo and start yelling. There were no bricks anymore as Nabiki told Akane that the budget would no longer support the constant destruction. Akane glared at her older sister for a moment, then hit Ranma the moment he entered the room, embedding him in the floor. As soon as Akane left the room, Ranma picked himself out of the hole and bounded across the rooftops into the distance. That was last week.
This past week, Ranma seemed to spend almost no time at home. He woke up early, before his father could throw him out the window, then head to the dojo to practice. Kasumi would watch him as she started getting the house ready for the day, glancing through the doors of the dojo as Ranma flowed from kata to kata. After breakfast or sometimes during, Akane would mallet Ranma out of the house. Ranma would even have kept his mouth closed the entire meal and Akane would still hit him. He'd then go to school, not speaking to anyone, avoiding his friends and barely talking to anyone other than the teachers. Ms. Hinako had even called the household to discuss Ranma's behavior with Kasumi.
The quiet strains of a violin broke Kasumi from her thoughts, drawing her attention to the window where the notes of music drifted into the kitchen on a gentle breeze. Who could that be? It sounded like it was coming from the roof. Putting down the food she slowly made her way to the back door and looked up to the roof. A shadowed figure was perched upon the peak of the roof, the small form of a violin held in his hands, the sweet music emanating from them both. She paused to listen, her eyes slowly drifting closed as the music swirled around her.
A soft whimper spilled past her lips as the music stilled, leaving a sense of longing for the peace the simple song brought to her soul, something so absent amongst the chaos of Nerima. As Kasumi opened her eyes, she cast them back towards the rooftops, looking for the source of the soulful music. When she caught the sight of the man on the roof when he stepped from the shadows, her heart nearly stopped. Ranma? But how could that be? He was just malleted to the stratosphere and shouldn't be back for at least another half hour.
With an easy leap, Ranma left his place on the roof and landed lightly beside Kasumi, the violin vanishing from sight. His baritone voice was as full of mischief as his smile. "Hello Kasumi. It's been a long time."
Kasumi finally got a good look at the boy and wondered what had happened. This wasn't the same Ranma who was here this morning. For one, this Ranma was much taller, easily six feet in height and his body had filled out from the lithe form of the pigtailed martial artist. And that was another change. Gone was the pigtail and in its place was a long ponytail that swept over his shoulder down to the middle of his back, the long silken threads bound by a rope of silver that was woven into the hair.
Ranma's words finally registered. "Oh my. What do you mean, Ranma? I just saw you this morning during breakfast and I know I was going to see you at dinner, which I really need to check on." She looked from him to her kitchen then back again, struggling between looking for answers to her questions and preparing the meal for her beloved family.
The pony-tailed boy, no, man, smiled in reply. "Let's just say that I'm not quite the Ranma you know anymore and leave it at that, alright?" He beamed a winning smile at her and Kasumi felt her heart flutter slightly. Wow, Ranma had never had this effect on her before. Sure she'd noticed him during his katas but never had she found herself attracted to him as anything more than a loving younger brother. She mechanically followed him inside towards the kitchen, where he silently began helping her prepare dinner. She tried to protest but he would just smile and turn her back to her work and continue on whatever he was working on.
It was at that moment that Akane decided to join Kasumi in the kitchen to 'help' with dinner. As soon as she spotted Ranma her rage exploded. "What are you doing with my sister, you pervert!" With a cry of rage, she leaped across the kitchen, mallet swinging unerringly for Ranma's head. For his part, Ranma just watched the incoming mallet than caught it in one hand, stopping the weapon completely with only the slightest tremor of his arm. Akane however couldn't stop her own momentum and crashed into the head of her own mallet, dazing her but not quite knocking her out. After throwing the mallet out the open window, Ranma went back helping make dinner.
When Akane recovered from her daze, she glared murderous daggers at Ranma back and immediately lunged for him. He spun in place, catching arm and swinging it up behind her back in a simple hold, easily immobilizing the irate girl. "What do you think you're doing Akane? Can't you see I'm cooking with Kasumi? Why don't you go out to the dojo and practice?" With those words he pushed her towards the door before releasing her.
"Why should I leave? So you can continue taking advantage of my sister while I'm away? As a martial artist it's my duty to protect Kasumi from a pervert like you."
Ranma couldn't help himself and busted out laughing, holding his side as the rich laughter filled the room, stunning both the oldest and youngest Tendos. It stunned Akane enough that she cut off her tirade. When Ranma could finally control his laughter, he just looked at Akane, still stifling a few chuckles. "You? A martial artist? Since when? When was the last time you practiced the art? Breaking bricks doesn't count. Who was the last person you protected and why? Anyone? Oh wait, you're always protecting your sisters from me, is that it? Lets think about this. If I really wanted to do something to your sisters, do you really think you could stop me? I'm the one protecting this family, not you, little miss princess. All you do is break your bricks and whine when you don't get your way, or blame me."
Akane blinked as she nearly wilted under the onslaught, then her rage came back in force. How DARE he question her status as a martial artist? How DARE he say those things? That pervert was going to get what was coming to him. She charged him again, conveniently forgetting the uselessness of her previous two attacks. She was stopped in mid charge by a rock hard fist implanting itself in her gut.
Ranma's eyes smoldered in a barely contained rage, battle aura flickering along his skin, a faint blue tinged with red. "You say you're a martial artist, so be it. I'll treat you like one. Which means when you attack me, I'll stop you. When you attack an innocent, I'll stop you. If you keep pressing, I'll stop you harder."
Akane staggered back from the fist, clutching her stomach and glaring at Ranma. Tears in her eyes, she turned around and fled the kitchen, running up the stairs to her room and slamming the door.
Kasumi watched the entire scene play out and wondered who was this man who had taken the place of the Ranma she had come to know over the past year. She was about to ask him when she felt his finger across her lips, silencing her. She looked up into the deep blue eyes of Ranma and say him slowly shake his head. "I know you have questions, but I can't really answer them right now. Come outside after dinner and I'll explain everything. I have to go now. I'll be back for dinner, but don't worry if I act a little differently during the meal. Just trust me and meet me outside."
With those final words he seems to shimmer and vanish. Kasumi watched him for a moment and wondered what the future would bring. What happened to Ranma to make him change like that. Turning back to the kitchen, she focused on completing the final preparations for dinner.
Author's Notes:
Not really sure why I wrote this. Just an idea floating in my mind really. Any guesses as to the changes to Ranma and why they may have occurred? I hope to keep working on this story if there is enough interest.