With the hectic and chaotic day over, I can now relax and let the tension leave me. It must be surprising to hear me say that, considering my reputation. Most people in this hellhole called Nerima-cho think I never get tense or even bothered by the insanity that characterizes it, but they're so wrong. I'm human. Even I get upset and close to losing it. I guess I'm just much more patient and tolerant than most Nerimans.

Perhaps I should explain why I'm in this situation. My name is Tendou Kasumi, eldest daughter of Tendou Soun, and caretaker of the Tendou Doujou. Our home must be the bulls-eye for the chaos in our district, and has been that way ever since the Saotome family moved in. Everyone blames Ranma-kun for the chaos here, especially my two sisters, but not me. The way I see it, the blame is more on the short-sightedness and violent tendencies of those that want a piece of him, one way or another.

Things were bad before though, although not nearly to the present degree. Okaa-san died when I was still young and it changed us forever. Otou-san lost the will to teach and became overprotective of us three, like he was afraid we'd die too. Nabiki-imouto developed her infamous Ice Queen persona and became only interested in things that benefitted or pleased her immediately, most likely out of fear of developing an attachment that was doomed to end in sadness. At least that's what I suspect. Akane-imouto simply lost her control over her anger, as if she wanted to be angry at someone for Okaa-san's death but never bothered to aim it. So instead it just radiates off her like body heat.

You might think I feel I got off easily in the wake of the funeral. I disagree. With everyone being the emotional wreck they were, and often still are, there was no one else left to tend to the house. All the responsibility of a parent had been forced onto me, a 9-year-old girl. And I did it because it had to be done. It wasn't long until they all became dependent on me.

Should have seen that coming, huh?

So now, over a decade later, nothing has changed except our ages. I still do all the work, except reconstruction sometimes, and no one gives it a second thought. Nabiki-imouto at least has the burden of managing the use of the budget, but acts like that's all the burden she can handle. Although I think it's more of a hobby than a helping hand really. Otou-san does nothing but play go or shogi with Saotome-san and drink. Akane-imouto at least tries to help me sometimes but usually makes things worse since she's so impatient, as if she tries to do it faster than me if not better. As for Ranma-kun, well, he's got enough to deal with so I don't hold it against him. Don't ask about Saotome-san. He's worse than Otou-san, and I wish that was only regarding housework.

As much as I love my family, there are days I wish I could disappear like that Hibiki boy. They have taken my life from me. Or had I simply surrendered it long ago? I have so few friends I can keep in touch with now, which doesn't help. Most have college and tend to stay out of touch, as if chaos was contagious. My duties prevent me from getting a job or a lovelife. So what life I have is spent tending to whoever happens to be under this roof. Does that really even count as a life?

And the worst part is that I can't change it. Everyone is so dependent on me that if I tried to stop they'd practically starve and live in squalor. They can't tend to themselves anymore it seems, outside of cleaning their rooms. Thank the kami they all at least do that chore on their own without prompting, except Saotome-san at times. Otou-san's hopeless, Nabiki-imouto avoids housework like the plague, and Akane-imouto...well...let's just say that Kuno Kodachi's poisons are less cruel to give than her cooking. There are times all this seems rather pathetic for them, being so completely dependent on me for so long.

But I can't act like it bothers me. Last time I did, about a month after Okaa-san's funeral, I sorely regretted it. Otou-san only actually took care of the doujou part itself and the family shrine; apparently he forgot the rest. Or so he claimed. Nabiki-imouto said that without an allowance she had no motivation, and I sure as hell couldn't give her one. And Akane-imouto, being young, tempermental, and impatient, accidentally made the messes worse in the process. Afterwards, it was silently agreed that everything worked out best if I did it all myself.

So that's why I do everything in that house. No, that's why I do everything in MY house. It may be in Otou-san's name, and others may live there too, but that place runs on MY sweat and blood. I run it, and anyone who disagrees is a huge baka. The downside is that I don't or can't have a life of my own outside of it. Maybe inside it too. Sadly I can't find time to be with a certain doctor, although his comical antics in my presence are to blame too. I also have to permanently smile for others and act content to keep things going smoothly.

You'd be surprised how often I've silently wished for someone to take my place for just one night.

Now at night, I sneak out and head out for a moment and place of privacy. I don't worry about followers; no one would want to follow me. After all, everyone assumes I can't feel anything but joy and serenity. Bakas. I'm a human, not a goddess.

I find an empty lot that has seen a lot of martial arts spars and damage. More couldn't possibly hurt. I stand in the center and perform a kata to ease myself and meditate. I may not be a practicing martial artist myself, but I am a dojo child and I see a lot of fights and spars. Plus I am the first born and Otou-san, being the traditionalist he is, wanted his first born to know a few skills. I do know a few things about the arts.

With the kata complete, I extend my arms outward and form a dark purple ball of chi between my hands. I point up and cry "Juushi Kanwa" as the tension-based chi leaves my body and shoots upwards like a firework. Under the black of night, none would see my attack. Appropriate, since no one saw the stress that caused it.

Relieved now that I literally got the stress out of my system, I return home. MY home. And to more chaos that will inevitably start up again. This wasn't the first time I used the Juushi Kanwa, and with all that happens in the devil's playground called Nerima-cho, it surely wouldn't be the last time.

Ever hear the phrase "It's always the quiet ones" ? Well, it's true.

Juushi Kanwa=Stress Relief