Disclaimer: Ranma ½ and Dead or Alive do not belong to me. I don't make a cent and I don't claim them as my own, so there.

The entire household was silent, everything was silent, even the crickets were silent. I was like time decided to stand still. Soun was the first to break the silence.

"D-Dead? My Kasumi, my eldest child is dead?" Soun's voice was cracked like at the edge of breaking.

Kasumi lowered her eyes. "Yes, I'm sorry."

"But how? How did she die? When did she die?" Soun asked the desperation and sorrow made the poor patriarch look like he was going to snap at any second, which wouldn't be far from the truth.

Kasumi took a deep breath before replying. "One year ago… I was escaping my pursuers, my clan. I had come to Nerima to try stock up on food supplies before I had to head back into the wilderness. But they found me, Kasumi was returning from a shopping trip when she saw me under attack by six of my pursuers."

(Flash back)

'This is not good.' Kasumi thought as she kneeled on the ground, it had been three days without a wink of sleep, she hadn't eaten in two days and in the same two days she had fought off two attacks. She was weak and the ninja knew it. As they closed in on all sides something flew through the air at high speeds. It knocked one of the ninja upside the head and knocked him out. When the object fell to the ground, it revealed itself to be… a feather duster?

The ninja and one Kasumi looked with sweatdrops at the duster. Unfortunately for the ninja, this provided the necessary time for the attacker to sneak up on one of the ninja and knock him out. The ninja whirled to see a young woman in a conservative dress and apron holding a rolling pin. "Oh my I seemed to have ruined my new rolling pin." Kasumi Tendo said.

The ninja did double takes as they looked between one Kasumi and the other. The two looked very similar except one wore the distinct kunoichi outfit. Also the innocence in the stranger's voice almost convinced them that she was innocent. Once again their distraction cost them. The Tendo matriarch threw another object. This ninja however managed to raise an arm to block it, than he screamed in pain as the object shredded his sleeve and a good section of his arm as it past. The object fell and revealed it-self to be a shiny new grater... formerly a shiny new grater. By now the ninja realized the young woman that just arrived was an enemy. They began to move to cover both Kasumi's

However the ninja didn't have any idea of the style that the Tendo matriarch used. They didn't stand a chance. "Are you all right?" Kasumi Tendo asked.

"What was that?" Kasumi asked, in total disbelief, the young woman had taken out six ninja of the Mugen Tenshin and she could tell they were no slouches.

"Oh that, that was martial arts housekeeping and cooking." The Tendo matriarch replied.

Kasumi couldn't help but sweatdrop on hearing that. "M-Martial arts housekeeping?" She said in disbelief.

"Yes it is, my mother developed it in secret, you poor thing you look tired and famished. Come, I'll take you home and get you cleaned up." Kasumi could only nod as the eldest Tendo helped her up. "First you should get a bath, than we should get some nice clothes for you. Oh my you're quite a healthy young thing aren't you? How old are you?"

"Uh, sixteen." Kasumi meekly replied.

"Oh dear, you are a well-developed girl, you could give Shampoo a run for her money. You wouldn't happen to have an engagement to a Ranma Saotome do you?"

"Um, not that I've heard of." Kasumi replied.

"Oh that's a relief, well then let's get you home and…" The Tendo matriarch tensed and the next second Kasumi felt herself being twisted around and embraced by the other woman.

"What are you…" Kasumi managed to get out before she felt the woman jerk. She recognized what it meant. It was a spasm of pain, Kasumi felt the young woman slump and she caught sight of the ninja that had regained consciousness, a kodachi dripped with blood. Before the ninja could raise the kodachi again Kasumi was in motion her tanto whipped out and the ninja dropped his kodachi and clutched at his throat in a futile attempt to stop the blood and soon fell to the ground giving a final spasm before laying still. Kasumi laid the woman down on her side. "Hold on, I'll get help."

The Tendo matriarch shook her head she could feel it within her, the cut was serious and she knew a few vitals had been hit, she was dying. "No there's no help for me now."

"Don't say that." Kasumi said the tears were coming back like the time when she left the clan and her brother.

"I won't make it to any hospital in time, I think I only have a few minutes left. I used my skills to save another person's life. My only regret is that my family won't have me to take care of them anymore."

"You still can, just hold on." Kasumi said she looked around for a pay phone and spotted one nearby, she started toward it but the eldest Tendo sister grabbed her and held her back.

"Don't, there's no need for it now." Kasumi looked back to see that in the within that one minute the young woman had gotten even paler and her breathing was becoming erratic. "What is your name?" The Tendo matriarch asked.

"My name is Kasumi." Kasumi replied.

"Oh my, that's my name as well." She tried to smile but it was strained, shaky.

"Ms. Kasumi, what do you want me to do? I owe you my life but now it's too late to even give that to save you." Kasumi asked now kneeling on both knees.

"You're a runaway ninja aren't you?" The eldest Tendo girl said.

"Yes…" Kasumi replied.

Kasumi Tendo was silent for a few seconds before she spoke again. "I can help you one more time."

"But you've done so much already." Kasumi said in disbelief.

"This is only because I wish to throw your pursuers off you. You saw that earlier that those ninja were confused when I appeared, they thought they were seeing double. When I'm gone, switch your clothing with mine, cut a slash in your outfit and leave me here. My final request is for you to take care of my family. The youngest is Akane, the middle child is Nabiki my father's name is Soun. We have two guests, Genma Saotome and his son Ranma. I…" The Tendo matriarch paused as she tried to regain breath she was ghostly pale and he breathing bordered beyond hyperventilation her time was running out. "I'm the typical obedient housewife type, never say ill things in public, and don't interfere with the course of Ranma's life although by Kami-sama's grace I wish I could. Swear whatever you like in the shadows but not in front of others and as much as possible please keep Akane away from the kitchen." She felt dizzy her vision was blurring and she could feel a sense of peace flowing through her. "That's all I can say, I wish I could tell you more but I don't have the time, please take care of my family."

"I will, I promise." Kasumi said. The eldest Tendo sister nodded before closing her eyes her chest expanded once more before her whole body relaxed. With tears flowing down her face Kasumi began the process of exchanging clothes, she picked up the bags that the former matriarch of the Tendos dropped in her haste to save her and grimly walked off leaving the scene wishing all the time that her savior didn't have to pay such a heavy price for her. She was found a few minutes later by Ranma who was sent out to look for her, when he asked why she was crying, she replied that it was just dust.

(End flashback)

"That's how it was." Kasumi finished, all around everyone was shocked, the death of Kasumi the revelation that she was a very competent martial artist. Nabiki couldn't stop the tears from flowing. Soun was a fountain, Genma was now a panda and crying not wanting to be seen crying as a man. Ranma had a single tear making it's way down his cheek. He was fighting hard not to cry, but it was so very difficult. Akane's tears were flowing but as everyone knows when Akane is sad anger soon follows.

"You… you… BITCH!" Akane shouted standing straight up. "Kasumi's dead because of you! My sister is gone and it's your fault!"

"Akane calm down remember…" Ranma attempted move to calm Akane down failed as she glared at him.

"Shut up Ranma!" She pointed at Kasumi. "This murderous skank got my sister killed. We couldn't even say good-bye to her body because she left it there in the streets!"

"Akane!" Ranma stood up the anger was building within him. Didn't she realize what the Kasumi they knew sacrificed? What she wished for this person that was beside him to do and possibly for the remainder of her days.

"Out of my way Ranma!" Akane's mallet was out and raised high. "She's dead!" Akane brought the mallet down toward Kasumi's head but the mallet was halted in mid-swing. Akane glared angrily at Ranma, his hand was firmly gripping the handle at the base of the business end. "Ranma you better let go." She growled.

"Have you not been listening? Kasumi gave her life willingly to save this girl and her last request was for her to take care of us, take care of you, people who she didn't know but she did anyway for a year now." Ranma said.

"Why would I want the care of this slut who had my sister murdered?" Akane yelled out. At those words the anger building within Ranma reached its peak. Wood cracked as he squeezed the handle and with a sharp (crack) the heavy mallet head fell to the table.

"Akane… I won't let you hurt her." Ranma said in an even tone.

"So you're siding with that murdering bitch. Ranma as far as I'm concerned the engagement is off!" Akane swung a fist and was shocked when Ranma caught the punch.

"I couldn't agree more." Ranma said in that same even tone and with that his other arm lashed out and sent Akane spinning to the ground as he slapped her, hard.

Akane could only look at Ranma with wide eyes as she held her cheek but anger quickly replaced the shock. "Get out… GET OUT OF THIS HOUSE!" She screamed.

Ranma stared at her for a few seconds before he helped Kasumi to her feet and led her upstairs so he could grab his pack and help Kasumi pack a few things. The other occupants were just too stunned with all the events that occurred currently they all just remained frozen and wallowed in shock and sorrow.

I didn't take long for Ranma to get packed. His things were in his pack always fully ready for a training trip. He stood outside of the room that the late Kasumi Tendo used and waited for the Kasumi who took care of them so well for the past year prepare to leave. "Ranma I'm sorry, you're getting kicked out because you were trying to help me." Kasumi said through the door.

"No, what I did was right, Akane was in the wrong you were honoring the last wishes of someone very dear to us. Akane had no reason to blow up like that, what Kasumi did was honorable you can't be blamed for what happened to her."

"But still I was there…"

"Don't go blaming yourself, I don't like it! Kasumi saved your life end of story." Ranma turned away and muttered to himself. "If anyone's to be blamed it should be me. I should have been there, I failed in my duty."

"Ranma I'm ready." Kasumi said.

"Good let's… whoa." Ranma gaped at the outfit Kasumi was wearing. Since the kunoichi had gotten rid of her old blue kunoichi outfit when she dressed the dead Kasumi in it she had to use her other outfit, the pink and white one." Ranma was used to seeing a lot of girls in less then what Kasumi was wearing now yet the outfit she had on made her look 'really' good. A sense of calm that masked a storm, it was scary yet very alluring.

"Is there something wrong?" Kasumi asked as she slipped her tanto in her sash and lifted the small tote bag.

"Uh, nothing let's get going." Ranma threw on his pack and led Kasumi out the door and out into the streets without so much as a glance back.

By now the occupants had finally started coming back to reality. A fuming Akane was currently in her gi and bashing a straw dummy. "Kasumi's gone." Nabiki said, without another word she left for her room leaving everyone to their own thoughts.

"Akane threw out Ranma…" Soun said.

"Tendo, Kasumi is gone we can't change the past, but we still have the pledge, for the sake of the schools and Kasumi's soul we must get Ranma back with Akane." Genma said.

Soun nodded. "You're right Saotome, first we'll do a funeral for Kasumi, then after we'll find Ranma and make him marry Akane, and Kasumi's soul can rest in peace." Soun said.

In heaven, former Kasumi Tendo, now goddess of tranquility frowned and politely asked her newly made friend Urd to launch a couple Urd bolts at the baka pair.

Two lightning bolts stabbed down through the roof and hit both Genma and Soun frying them to the spot and leaving them as charred statues in their silly poses.

"Uh Kasumi you sure you should be walking around in the open like this?" Ranma asked, walking around in public wasn't his main concern, neither was the ninja at the moment. It was the fact that Kasumi's outfit seemed to attract a lot of attention.

"I'm more than sure, I know my clan if there are other people around they'll avoid us until we're in a more secluded area." Kasumi replied.

"Oh okay… Uh Kasumi." Ranma said nervously.

"Yes?" She asked.

"Uh Kasumi is your… well, you know your… um your baggage is it… are you wearing some support?" Ranma asked in a quiet tone, he hadn't noticed it at first but now that they were walking he noticed that Kasumi seemed to bounce around like he did when he was in girl form.

Kasumi blushed at the question. "Oh… um, no. Is there something wrong? I didn't think you'd ask about something like that." She asked.

"No, nothing's wrong it's just that well, you bouncing around and how the guys are around here." Ranma said sheepishly.

Kasumi smiled at his concern. "It's all right Ranma, I can deal with that…" Suddenly her hand whipped out and a cry of pain and surprise was heard. Kasumi held up a hand of a teenager in a painful lock, obviously the teen tried to feel up Kasumi's butt when they passed by. "Quite effectively I might add." She finished and let the hand go.

"I see." Ranma replied in obvious respect. "So where do we go from here?"

Kasumi looked around before siding up to Ranma and signaling him to bend down to her level. At 5,3 Kasumi was six inches shorter then Ranma and Ranma had to bend slightly to let her whisper in his ear. "Ranma, before this I resolved that I would take care of the household till the end of my days. However since I have been prevented in performing that task I wish to do something before we move on."

"What's that?" Ranma asked.

"You see I've been in a participant for a tournament called the Dead or Alive tournament. I've been a participant for two years now. Ranma I wish to see my brother one last time, entering the tournament is my best chance to see him."

Ranma nodded. "Well then I'll help ya, I'll enter the tournament myself, I can even enter my girl form so we have an even better chance."

Kasumi shook her head. "Ranma there's no need for that this is my…" Ranma placed a finger on Kasumi's lips and silenced her.

"Kasumi you've been living with us for the past year, you know how I am. I striving to be the best martial artist in the world and after seeing how you fight I know there is going to be a lot of great fighters in that tournament, and I'm always ready for a fight." Ranma said with his trademark smirk.

Kasumi gently grabbed Ranma's hand and smiled. "Yes I know I half expected you to say all that." She looked at Ranma with a serious expression. "However we have to train you in one thing first."

"Train for what, you've seen me fight what do I need to train in?" He asked.

Kasumi smiled and led him into an alley before suddenly siding up close to him, 'really' close to him. "First of all Ranma." She said in a very seductive tone she grabbed the front of his shirt and began to rise up on her toes. Ranma blushed as Kasumi's face drew nearer to his. Then suddenly her weight dropped and he found himself on his back looking up at Kasumi who bent down with her hands on her knees seemingly oblivious to the fact her arms were crushing her assets together giving him an even bigger view of her cleavage as she smiled mischievously down at him. "First of all, we have to get rid of that "I don't hit girls" nonsense that your idiot father drilled in you. There is a lot of women fighters like me in that tournament and every one of them can give me a run for my money, and they hit Ranma, hit really hard."

"I'll say." Ranma said, Kasumi extended a hand and he took it, pulling himself up. "So where do we head to first?"

"First we should find a place to train yourself in actually hitting back against a girl. Then I guess we head for the tournament." Kasumi said.

"Sounds like a plan, I think I know a good spot." Ranma took Kasumi's hand and leapt for the roofs.

Back at the Tendo's, things had gone from bad to worse. Not too long after Ranma and Kasumi left they were paid a visit by a violet haired ninja. As soon as she mentioned her clan was after Kasumi Akane exploded and attacked. Now the youngest Tendo sported a broken right arm and a kunai in her left thigh the kunoichi stood over her with a foot firmly planted on her neck, any more weight and Akane's neck would snap.

"So I ask again, where is Kasumi?" Ayane asked.

"Like we said before, we don't know where she went. She and Ranma took off somewhere after Akane threw them out." Nabiki said, her cool demeanor was gone everything was happening so fast that it left her confused and vulnerable.

"Let go of my daughter!" Soun demanded in his best defiant tone that he could muster.

"On what accounts? She attacked me, by all rights of my clan I can kill her." Ayane already knew that the occupants told the truth, they were too afraid to lie, but she wanted some amusement especially since the one under her heel attacked her. None of the occupants would be of great challenge the most skilled occupant had left after coming in. Happosai had entered and almost goosed Ayane until he realized she was a ninja. Happosai had many encounters with ninja after a single event of feeling up a kunoichi a couple centuries back he had the entire clan hunting him for the past two hundred years and it finally stopped when the Meiji era began to take in effect. He wasn't about to go through it again. With Happosai gone Genma was now the most skilled in the room and he sensed that he might be able to take her but his senses also told him that at least a half dozen more ninja were nearby and hidden, this was a fight he could not win

'Curse you boy, running away like that.' He thought.

"I wonder what I should do with her? Should I snap her neck here? Or maybe I should use a poisoned kunai on a shallow cut, let her die slowly and in pain. Or maybe I could…" Ayane stopped as a ninja appeared nearby. "What is it? I'm busy." The ninja approached near Ayane and whispered in her ear. Ayane's eyes shot wide open as the ninja pulled back. "I see, you're dismissed." The ninja bowed and left as swiftly as he came. Ayane lifted her foot of Akane and kicked her so she rolled over to her father's embrace. "It looks like something came up. You're a very lucky girl, now if you excuse me I must be going." She turned and left leaving the occupants to crowd around Akane. As she exited the gate her gaze softened as sorrow took over. "Father." She whispered.

Author notes: Yep that's right people this is just before the third Dead or Alive tournament where Genra is kidnapped by DOATECH. To JSB: Sorry about that message it was actually meant for Onikami-no-Shinobi, who's criticizing me on being unimaginative in using Kasumi for Ranma. Truly though if that guy wants a different pairing he better write one himself. Also for his information I found a fic in Media Miner that is DOA/Yu-Gi-Oh/Ranma and Ranma is hooked up with Tina, although the fic is probably at best third-rate, no offense to the author. So my word to all is if you want Ranma with some other girl from DOA go write one yourself because other than a few of the usual sudden crushes and Genma related incidents the pairing isn't going to change.