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.
Ranma fell back on his butt as he rubbed his nose. Kasumi had bopped it good when he attempted a punch and stopped short when she screamed. "That was a dirty trick Kasumi." He muttered.
Kasumi sighed and placed her hands on her hips. "Ranma it's legal that's why you're going to have a hard time when you enter the Dead or Alive tournament. Us girls will use everything to our advantage." She leaned down and slightly pulled on one of the flaps of her outfit. Ranma blushed and looked away and realized his mistake just as Kasumi elbow-bashed him in his cheek. "See what I mean?" She said.
"Yeah I get it." Ranma said rubbing his cheek. "All right, do your worst Kasumi."
"Good then let's… Ow! My ankle." Kasumi kneeled down and held her ankle with a pained expression.
Ranma rushed over and bent down to look. "Kasumi are you…" He stopped when he realized it was a trick and saw Kasumi grin. "Damn." He muttered, before he received a perfectly executed somersault kick square in his chin.
Two hours later…
"Ah I'm beat… up." Ranma said as he laid down on his sleeping bag the bruises covering his body showed how much of Genma's stupid no hitting girls nonsense effected him.
"We may take a break tomorrow Ranma." Kasumi rubbed her right fist and winced. "I have to say Ranma, if your opponent doesn't knock you out with the all those head blows they'll probably quit because of all the pain of hitting you cast-iron skull."
"Hey, you okay?" Ranma asked.
"Truthfully no, I think I bruised my fist on your head." Kasumi blew on her fist.
Ranma sat up and gently took her hand. "Here let me see." He began to examine her hand not noticing the kunoichi blush. "Hmm, a little bruise but I think you sprained it a bit, hold on." The charts and books that Ranma read at doctor Tofu's clinic were quickly recalled and he began to apply pressure to certain points in Kasumi's hand. "One more and… done." Ranma said but still didn't let go. "You're hands are small."
"Well thank you for pointing that out. You know these small hands tenderized you not too long ago." Kasumi said.
"I didn't mean it as an insult. Ranma said. "It's just they're so small and soft, it makes ya wonder how did these gentle-looking hands did all this." Ranma pointed at himself.
"Well… thank you." Kasumi said. "Can I… can I have my hand back now?"
Ranma blushed. "Oh! Sorry." He quickly let go.
"It's all right." Kasumi said pulling back her hand. "G-Good night." She quickly settled into her sleeping bag.
"Uh yeah, night." Ranma said turning around. "Why was I saying all that stuff." He muttered.
5 o' clock A.M.
"Ranma… Ranma?" Kasumi waved a hand in front of his face. "Wake up Ranma." She sighed when he let off another light snore. "The same as always." She smiled as she went outside picked up a bucket and filled it in the nearby stream he walked back lifted the bucket pulled back the tent flap, and Ranma was changing.
"Ah! Kasumi!" He yelled out, Kasumi blushed, dropped the bucket and turned around only to realize her back was to him. Turning back she saw Ranma's fist heading straight toward her face, it halted just an inch of hitting her and she felt the wind of the force of the punch blow the loose strands of her hair back. "Like you said Kasumi it's legal." Ranma said with a triumphant grin as he lowered his fist.
"I guess Akane was right, you do learn quick." Kasumi giggled then stopped as she blushed while looking down at something. "Uh… Ranma you're barn door's open."
Ranma chuckled as he crossed his arms. "Oh yeah like I'm gonna fall for that."
Kasumi blushed even harder as she brought a hand up to cover her mouth. "No Ranma really… you're hanging out."
"Oh yeah right, and when I look down you're gonna do another one of those somersault kicks." Ranma started to laugh. "Well guess what Kasumi you ain't fooling me."
Kasumi's face resembled a tomato Ranma's laughing was shaking his body thus… "Oh my god." She squeaked, "He's huge."
Ranma began getting confused. Wasn't Kasumi convinced that wouldn't fall for that? Actually she looked like she really was embarrassed, and man there was a draft here. Suddenly Ranma had a bad feeling about this. He slowly looked down and saw something that should have been behind closed doors. "Ah!" Ranma turned and began stuffing himself back into his boxers. "S-Sorry Kasumi."
Kasumi had her back turned trying to think of other things and not the thing that she just saw. 'Okay calm down Kasumi, remember you are a ninja and things like this don't get to you.' She thought. Of course this was Ranma a person she had been in contact with for an entire year, she's seen his cons and his pros. She knew he was honorable, compassionate, and brave. He'd jump in to save someone's life over his own, and when he gave his word it was absolute. Despite the times he stuck his foot in his mouth she always knew he was a good person, also add to the fact he was quite handsome. And now he got thrown out of the home he had stayed in for years to go with her. Man was it getting hot here or what?
"Hey Kasumi are you okay?" Ranma just finished putting on his clothes and was looking at her worried.
Kasumi jumped slightly and turned around still a bit red in the face. "I'm fine, I'm fine!"
"Okay, so we still training?" Ranma asked.
Kasumi nodded, "Yes we train." She began walking in one direction.
"Wait Kasumi watch out for the…" Ranma began but was too late and he quickly rushed forward.
Kasumi was still so enwrapped with the recent events that she didn't even see the bucket she had dropped from before and when she stepped on it, up an over she went. But instead of hard ground she was caught in strong arms.
"You all right?" Ranma asked his worried expression was cute.
'What have I been putting off for the past year? Oh, cut it out Kasumi you're acting like a lovesick high-school girl.' She thought. "Although at my age I should still be in high school so maybe, no he's engaged remember? Maybe not to Akane but all those other girls, but he always said he didn't want them, but what if he says the same thing to me?'
"Kasumi?" Ranma asked, 'She looks so fragile like this.' He thought.
"Oh I'm sorry Ranma." She stood up blushing again but not as much as before. "I don't know what's wrong with me today."
"Well we all have our days right?" Ranma said with a smile, Kasumi could only nod in reply afraid of things she might say if she opened her mouth.
Three days later…
"Well it's seems like you're finally ready." Kasumi said as she stood back up, Ranma had landed a palm strike on her one of his stronger blows she knew right away he should be all right in the tournament.
"I'm ready huh? All right! I'm gonna be in a tournament, I'm gonna fight strong opponents, I'm gonna help you see your brother, Then I'm gonna win that tournament." Ranma danced around ranting on and on making Kasumi giggle at his antics.
"Indeed you will." She giggled than on impulse she sidled up to him, rose up on her toes, and kissed him on the cheek. Ranma froze where he stood a full body blush covering every inch of his body. Kasumi pulled back a light pink tinge on her face. "Let's go break down camp Ranma." She started giggling again when Ranma did so but in a very mechanical sort of way but it wore off after he finally packed his bag.
"Hey Kasumi why'd you kiss me for?" Ranma asked.
Kasumi looked at his eager face and smiled. "Now that is a secret."
"Ah c'mon tell me." Ranma whined as he slung his pack.
"Hmmm, okay I will, but first…" Ranma tensed at her words. "But first you have to catch me!" Kasumi took off her feet barely touching the ground as she left a dust cloud where she was. Ranma blinked then a smirk crossed his face.
"Catch you huh? Well then I will." Ranma took off after her. "Just you wait Kasumi! I'll catch you, and I'll make you tell me why you kissed me!"
Kasumi laughed as she kept up the pace as Ranma gained. 'This feeling, welling up inside me, it's making me feel whole and wonderful. Ranma chase me, chase me Ranma and please don't stop because you're that feeling. I know it now, for the past year when you talked to me about your problems that feeling started there. These past few days although short has made that feeling grow in leaps and bounds, please Ranma keep chasing me, because when you do finally catch me then I can finally say… I love you.'
"You better be ready to talk Kasumi!" Ranma yelled out, as he got closer. "Because I'm gonna catch you real soon."
"When you do, I'll be ready to tell Ranma!" Kasumi replied and put on another burst of speed leaving Ranma behind.
"Man she's even faster than me." Ranma said as he tried to push himself to go faster.
Dead or Alive Tournament
"Welcome to the Dead or Alive Tournament registry, your name please?" The clerk asked.
"Kasumi." The kunoichi replied.
"Ah, you're returnee welcome back." The clerk looked at Ranma. "And you sir?"
"Ranma Saotome." Ranma replied.
"A newcomer eh? Your style of combat?" The clerk asked.
"Saotome Anything-Goes." Ranma replied.
"Strange name oh well, welcome to the tournament Ranma Saotome. The draws will be posted tomorrow for your first fight do check often." The clerk said and then pointed at a door. "You may enter now."
Ranma followed Kasumi in and was shocked at how fancy the place was. "Man the hosts of this tournament sure give you guys the best."
"DOATEC is the host for the tournament however as much as the accommodations are nice behind the scenes they are rotten to the core." Kasumi frowned as she remembered the previous tournament.
"Did something happen?" Ranma asked worried at Kasumi's colder tone when she talked about DOATEC.
"Let's just say they did something to me that I didn't like back in the previous tournament." She said in a dark tone. Ranma reached a hand out but was unsure what to do. Kasumi turned toward him and smiled. "Well then shall we be going?" She asked.
Ranma was about to say yes but stopped. "Not quite yet. First let me drop my stuff off at my room, then I'm gonna go register."
"But you already registered." Kasumi said, confused.
"My sister hasn't registered." Ranma said with a grin.
Kasumi looked confused for a second before he eyes widened. "Oh."
"I'll be with you in a second Kasumi." Ranma rushed off leaving Kasumi with her feelings.
"Ranma…" She whispered watching him move away.
"Hey what's with the look of longing? Did you get yourself a man?" A voice asked. Kasumi gasped and turned around to be greeted by the blonde pro-wrestling femme from America.
"Tina." Kasumi said with a smile.
"How are you Kasumi?" The two girls hugged. "So who was that guy you were watching so intently?"
Kasumi blushed, "He's a friend." She replied meekly.
"Friend as in 'friend' or boyfriend?" Tina said and ducked to avoid Kasumi's playful slap.
Back in the front a petite pigtailed redhead walked up to the clerk. "Hi I'm here to register."
The clerk looked at her. "Okay, name?"
"Ranko Saotome." She replied. The clerk looked up at her and back at the sheet. "Are you related to a Ranma Saotome?"
The girl nodded. "Yep he's my brother."
The clerk nodded. "Style of fighting?" He asked.
"Same as my bro." She replied.
"Thank you miss Saotome Welcome to the Dead or Alive tournament, we shall assign you a room near your…"
"That ain't necessary I'll stay with my brother gotta keep an eye on him." Ranko said.
"Okay… Very well, you may enter." Ranko walked in and found that Kasumi was talking to someone. 'I better change and come back.' She thought and rushed to get back to her room.
"Oh c'mon Kasumi he's your boyfriend isn't he?" Tina said.
"Tina! He isn't my boyfriend." Kasumi said.
"Then why are you blushing so much?" Tina asked.
"Hey what's going on here?" Ranma came walking up in male form.
"Nothing at all Ranma. Just Tina trying to push my buttons again." Kasumi said.
"Wow Kasumi he's a cutie, you're so lucky." Tina said.
"I told you he's not my boyfriend." Kasumi said.
"Are you sure? If he's available I might take him." Tina said and winked at Ranma before positioning herself in a very alluring pose. In her blue cut-off t-shirt and tight white tiger striped pants hugged her figure and made Ranma blush. But quickly tried to suppress it remembering what Kasumi told him about the girls using every advantage.
Kasumi coughed and grabbed Ranma's hand. "Excuse me Tina, we have to be going now." Kasumi led Ranma while Tina smiled mischievously.
'Can't deny it girl, you have it bad for him.' Tina thought. 'Hmm I wonder if I should help it along a bit?"
"What was up with that Kasumi? She kept going on and on that I'm your boyfriend." Ranma said.
"That's Tina Armstrong she can be a bit weird at times. But she's a good friend." Kasumi said.
"Girl-talk huh? So I guess she was just teasing you huh? I mean there's no way you'd have me as a boyfriend right?" Ranma asked, just as they arrived at Kasumi's room. The kunoichi froze where she was her mouth tightened as her lips trembled. "Kasumi?" Ranma asked getting worried.
"It's okay Ranma, you're right it is kinda silly." Kasumi she smiled at him but he saw the tears forming at the edges of her eyes.
"Hey Kasumi are you crying?" Ranma moved to get a closer look but Kasumi swiftly opened, stepped through and closed the door behind her. "Kasumi." Ranma walked up to the door but stopped as Kasumi's trickled through.
"Ranma… I need some time alone… please."
Ranma simply nodded and turned around and walked away as soon as he rounded the corner he stopped and banged his head against the wall. "Damn it! I did it again I hurt a girls feelings somehow! Ranma you idiot!"
Sitting with her back to the door Kasumi pulled her legs to her chest and rested her head on her thighs as she let her tears flow. "Please no… Ranma please. Please don't stop chasing… me." She continued to cry and would cry for the better part of the hour.
Meanwhile Ranma was busy walking muttering miserably to himself. "I don't know what I said to hurt her feelings, okay think Ranma what did you say before she began crying?" Ranma thought hard and the words surprisingly came back. (Flashback) "There's no way you'd have me as your boyfriend right?" (End flashback) "No way." Ranma said with wide eyes. "Does she like me that much? I didn't think that she'd… want me like that I…" Ranma mentally cursed. 'Of course you didn't think you always open your mouth before you think, now what are you going to do about it?' He mentally argued to himself. Ranma stood up straight. "I'm gonna go apologize and…" Ranma thought of the past few days and how patient and kind Kasumi was to him. "And considering what my previous options were, yeah I'll give a shot." Ranma looked around. "First I'll get her a gift. I know I'll get her something to eat we didn't have anything since breakfast." Ranma began walking to a restaurant that he saw and stopped. "Ah man I don't know what's her favorite food is." Ranma began to pace back and forth in his dilemma. "Man this sucks, I can't ask her what she likes it'll defeat the purpose, maybe something else. Damn I don't know anything about her. Okay Ranma calm down and let's review everything you know of about Kasumi. She does housekeeping and cooking and… Damn wrong one, okay she's a runaway ninja, can't do nothing about that except protect her, She's very good at her style of ninjustu, she's got a great figure and a bust size that could give my girl form a run for my money." Ranma sweatdropped and sighed. "Man I think I'm starting to pick up stuff from the old geezer." As Ranma thought furiously on what to get Kasumi he didn't see another figure rounding a corner and bumped into him since he stood in the path.
"Ow!" It was a girls' voice.
"Oh I'm sorry." Ranma turned and helped her up.
"It's all right." The girl looked up and him and her eyes widened, Ranma mirrored the expression. "No way… Ranma-san?"
"Hitomi-chan?" Ranma said in disbelief. The girl smiled and nearly tackled him over in a hug.
"Ranma-san it's been ages!" She yelled out.
To be continued.
Yeah I'm evil I stopped it before it was getting good again. Some people may think that the relationship between Ranma and Kasumi may be developing a little fast. However the fact is Kasumi has been attracted to Ranma when she first met him the previous year and time just makes the feelings grow, and for Ranma considering his other fiancées and the fact that he's traveling with Kasumi a girl who's been kind and patient with him and also has a genuine interest in him, who in their right mind would not give it a shot? The issue of Ranma and Hitomi's past will be revealed in the next chapter.
For all those people who are waiting patiently for the other stories to update, I'm sorry to say it will be kinda slow. Since all the work material has only recently come back I've have to review and watch all the anime again to get a refresher to my ideas. Also add to the fact that all this time I only managed to get one more GD manga to add to my collection. Now I have volumes 1 and 5 not a very good thing. I may have to wing it, which means skipping several volumes to get to what I want. Truly sorry people, on the bright side the DOA and Goddess of Mine are still quite fresh and I'm more than sure I can write the entire tournament for the DOA series if anything else. Although if I am going to continue onto DOA 4 I'll have to wait since the X-box 360 is quite expensive right now. If I wait about a year they usually take off about a hundred or so from the price. Goddess of Mine is iffy I have several Manga but they all are mostly in the later stages like when Banpei gets a girlfriend and Peorth gets turned kid again because of Velsper. I only have volume one of the tv series so at least expect three more chapters coming. Well that's my update on the situation enjoy people, and hopefully one day I shall finally get to write what I always wanted to for all this time.