Much Ado About Kasumi

Chapter 10

Disclaimer: I do not own anything Ranma ½, wild horses, or anything even close—apart from a Ford Mustang.

"I hate math."

Kasumi smiled but managed to restrain a giggle as she once again marked an answer of Ranma's incorrect. Thankfully the young man in question was not hopeless, she noted as she finally located the pattern. Just occasionally forgetful it seems, she clucked, getting to use her red pen once again.

It was after dinner, and though the day had been very fun, trying and ultimately tiring all at once, Kasumi honored her promise to help Ranma with his homework. They'd brought the assignment in question to Kasumi's room, where she had to admit to it being the first time she could ever recall having a male that was not her father in her room for social reasons. The thought almost made her smile but she held it back, instead marking the last answer wrong with a slight frown.

"I know, Ranma-kun, but this 'math' that you dislike so much is important in many areas of science, including medicine. Maybe not this particular formula, but remembering them correctly will be key," she intoned, finally setting down the paper onto the desk in front of him, pointing to the answers after about half the page. "See here," she scooted closer to him, enjoying very much as her presence made him tense slightly, "things started going wrong when you forgot to divide everything by 2A. If you don't do that the whole quadratic formula will be off."

"Shit, I forgot. I knew I forgot something," Ranma said, slapping his forehead with the palm of his head. Kasumi glared at him for a moment, then softly sighed, deciding it wasn't worth it. There was worse language after all. Despite Ranma's improved speech patterns it did nothing to remove the roughness of his upbringing.

"Everything was fine until right here, question seven… " she intoned as she leaned forward to point out the mistake again, while looking to his face and found his vision not on the paper in front of him but… ah.

"Ranma-kun, would you be a dear and attend the paper in front of you and not my cleavage?" She grinned as he blushed scarlet and quickly averted his gaze to his answer sheet. Honestly, Kasumi was surprised she wasn't at least slightly annoyed by the attention. Though I suppose it's not like I wore this particular dress for him to not look, to be fair, she mused a little guiltily. Though their relationship was newly formed, Kasumi was becoming quite addicted to the fact Ranma found her pretty, or at least that's what she figured with his frequent appraising looks and stares.

"Sorry," he murmured quietly, still blushing. Kasumi couldn't help but giggle a little, in which he looked up at her.

"It's alright Ranma-kun. I would be honestly be more concerned if you didn't look, but let's focus when I'm trying to help you, ok?" He grinned back, a tad sheepish before nodding, turning back to the work.

After a few more minutes, the correct answers were properly inscribed and Ranma rested his head down on her desk in what she supposed to be mental tiredness. Shaking her head, Kasumi moved toward the bed and sat back stretching out with her arms and legs splayed, suddenly feeling the same exhaustion running through her. Companionable silence echoed in the room for a bit, but finally curiosity won out for Kasumi.

"How did Ukyo take our news?" Kasumi asked, breaking the stillness in her house. Quiet at the Tendo residence was honestly a strange and foreign concept.

Ranma sat up slowly and turned to face her, another grin forming at her splayed out state, which Kasumi realized showed quite a bit of leg as she was still wearing her sun dress from earlier. Too late to change that now, she thought with a small blush as his eyes found hers.

"Better than I expected, really. I thought she'd attack me or something, from the look she was giving me when you kissed me," he intoned seriously, though with a blush forming at the last part. "I took her up to the nurse, where I got to eat your wonderful lunch—thanks for that by the way—and when she woke up we talked a bit more on how it came about. She just kinda nodded and left after that, didn't come to afternoon classes or anything." His mouth upturned and face scrunched up in thought. "She left smiling though and saying she was fine, so I wonder what happened?"

Kasumi shook her head a little at Ranma's cluelessness. The young man could direct an attack on any super powered individual and break a mountain with a chi technique but couldn't realize when a girl was jealous. Which brought Kasumi up short for a moment, blinking a few times. Ukyo's jealous of me?

"I got something to ask too. How'd the old men take the news? I was out of here early and in somewhat of a hurry as you know," he grinned a little at his own silliness, "so I wasn't able to stick around for the fireworks. They seemed alright at dinner so… " He trailed off, looking to Kasumi, his head listing to one side in curiosity.

"Well, I spoke with Auntie right before dinner and after a small chat with Mr. Saotome he is fully supporting the decision." Ranma snorted, and Kasumi smiled a little, knowing exactly what kind of "chat" Auntie Nodoka probably had with her husband. I'd eat my apron if that sword wasn't out at least once.

"My father was a bit harder to read. It seems like though he's surprised and a bit saddened by a change being necessary, whatever will tie our schools together is worth it in the end." Kasumi leaned her head back down on the pillow, suddenly staring at the ceiling instead of Ranma. "Your mother helped me out in talking with him this morning. You know, when she mentioned she was changing the engagement he swore up and down that you and Nabiki wouldn't work out. He had to actually be reminded that he had a third daughter." A moment later she felt the bed sag a bit and looked over to see Ranma sitting next to her on it, his face blank, but his eyes showing that compassion Kasumi knew was one of his best features.

"It's just hard sometimes, Ranma-kun. It's one thing to be relegated to playing house keeper because no one else will do it, but then to be shunted to the background completely where your own father forgets that you're even there, that you're more than some… some laundry-doing, dinner-cooking robot… " She shuddered lightly as his hand cupped her cheek, and wiped away tears she didn't notice had started falling. Her sight was now slightly obscured by tears, but she could see Ranma was a little unsure of his action, but Kasumi was infinitely glad for it. She leaned into his touch, and smiled at how warm it was.

"Thank you. I suppose that's bothered me for a long time. I love my father very much but to see how he dotes on Akane while leaving my sister and I behind, it can hurt. And it seems at the very least he doesn't have to be reminded of Nabiki… not when most people fear her half the time anyway." Kasumi giggled a little at that, despite her tears. Her sister's ice persona had taken many years careful carving, and it certainly left an impression.

"Well," Ranma started out a little uncertainly, "that's luckily something easily fixed." Kasumi narrowed her eyes a little, but remained silent, willing him to continue. "I mean, if the problem is that you've been shunted to the background because of your previous passive nature on things, then you're about to shake things up, aren't you?"

"You mean… the engagement? He already knows about… " Ranma shook his head at her, grinning a little now.

"Come on Kasumi, there's more than the engagement that's changed with you. You decided to drop the spacey act remember? I'm sure that'll be throwing his game off right there. But what I really meant was your decision to get into a medical program. With your grades I'm sure Tokyo U or Teikyo wouldn't be out of your reach, and trust me there's no way your dad wouldn't notice you gone, and working to be a top class nurse." Ranma's grin slowly eased out to a smile, while nodding a little. "I'm sure once he got over the fact you won't be there to hold his hand anymore he'll be very proud of you."

Kasumi smiled a little at that. Sniffing a bit, she placed her hand over his that was still cupping her cheek. It felt nice, and she didn't want that feeling escaping right now. Mulling over what he'd said, she suddenly looked at him with a little confusion.

"Teikyo?" She asked, unfamiliar with that particular campus. Ranma shrugged before answering.

"I asked Nabiki to help me look up the top medical programs in the country, and then paid her a little extra to not ask why. Teikyo was known for its patient care, which I thought sounded like you," he said with a slight grin.

Kasumi sat up, moving before she realized what she was doing and only just swerved her face in time to catch the corner of his lips in a kiss. I don't think I'm ready for that just yet, but when he's that sweet it makes it hard. When she pulled back she noted the surprised and slightly vacant expression on his face and grinned a little.

"Sorry if I surprised you there Ranma-kun, but that was a very sweet gesture." He shook his head slightly before shaking it harder, attempting to break out of his kiss-induced stupor. "There haven't been many people who went out of their way for me like that."

"Well, they should. Especially after all the times you have for them," Ranma stated stubbornly, his face slightly heated from their close proximity. She nodded at this, it was true after all. Kasumi was done being all give and no receive.

"So," he continued, "when are you going to tell him?" Ranma tilted his head some as Kasumi bit her lower lip. Honestly, she wanted to tell her father everything, her plans, her dreams, what her dream wedding was like, where she'd love to live eventually—but fear always stopped that. What if he didn't approve, what if he—stop that right now. Kasumi shook her head as Ranma had done moments earlier, trying to shake away the bad thoughts that seemed to have invaded her momentarily. You can't lay about in fear, Ranma's right about that much. Sometimes you just have to push forward with what you want and hope for the best.

"Kasumi? Is something wrong?" Ranma asked, concerned. He reached out a hand and hesitantly put it on her arm. She stopped worrying her lower lip and looked into Ranma's slate blue eyes, laced with concern.

"For a long time Father's approval has meant everything to me. I was very close with my mother—when we lost her I'm afraid I leaned on him for that even when he was suffering from her loss. At some point I didn't want to risk losing that approval, so I stopped trying to expand my boundaries."

"Which is why you never went to college?" Ranma asked, genuinely curious. Kasumi nodded, sitting up a little better in bed, her back now resting against the headboard. At some point Ranma's hand began rubbing her arm, it was very comforting Kasumi found, closing her eyes to his touch.

"Yes, like I said I didn't want to do anything to lose that approval. I didn't want to be alone, shunted to the side." Kasumi chuckled darkly, and leaned her head back onto the headboard as well, a sigh nearly escaping from her lips. "And in never becoming anything more I got shunted to the side anyway. My family started just expecting things to get handled, and somehow that's when I became the full-time maid." She looked over at Ranma, who wore a sympathetic face but thankfully was not pitying. "I told you before, I don't mind taking care of people, making others happy makes me happy. It's just I want more than simply cooking and cleaning. I'd love to help someone who was sick get better, or at least be there to comfort them when in pain. I want to make a difference, a real difference in the world." She realized she'd been rambling a little bit and grinned a little sheepishly in apology.

"Well then Kasumi, I think you found your answer," Ranma grinned back, pulling his arm back and gesturing his hands in a "there-you-have-it-then" mannerism. Kasumi blinked at him and then answered as eloquently as she could manage.

"Huh?"

"Seriously," Ranma's grin faded to a soft smile, "tell him that. Maybe not exactly if you don't want to own up to certain parts of what you said there, but tell him that you want to make a difference in that way. Kasumi, if I may say so, you're the sweetest woman I know. You care about people and how they feel, physically and emotionally. I think this career you want would fit perfectly, and anyone who knows you would be able to see that too." Ranma pointed toward the door, gesturing outside. "Like I said earlier, I'd be willing to bet once Mr. Tendo got over the fact you won't be there waiting on him hand and foot like you used to be he'd be very proud of you, and happy you found something enjoyable as a career."

"He does need to get over that laziness streak in him, doesn't he?" Kasumi laughed, honestly feeling much better than moments prior.

"Yes, he does. I mean it's been how long since he taught, or did anything other than play shogi with Pop? And oh man, don't even let me get started on Pop. Panada fits him too perfectly, almost makes me wonder if somehow the springs knew what to turn him into. Fits the lazy bastard to a tee, in fact."

Kasumi's eyes narrowed a bit at the language but let it slide, after all the statement was true. Both fathers really needed to get in gear. Kasumi had no qualms that Nodoka could handle her own husband, if tonight's dinner was any example. He'd been positively meek, though the looks Nodoka was shooting him would make anyone fear for their life. Which leaves me with father, since no one else will talk to him.

"Yes, I suppose it rather does. Can't say I can see how "girl" would fit you though Ranma, unless of course it was trying to balance out your extreme male centric view established by your father—and cool some of that arrogance of yours." She smiled a little as he spluttered a little bit before settling for a glare, which lacked any kind of heat.

"Sorry Ranma-kun, but it's true. You had a bit of a chip on your shoulder when you first showed up," Kasumi reached out and patted said shoulder in a comforting gesture. "You've come quite a long ways from there if I do say so myself. " Finally Ranma's glare broke and he laughed shaking his head.

"Well, what can I say, crazy tends to do that. Only so many times I can fight dragon princes and phoenix lords before I realize I'm not the only one who knows a thing or two about the Art. Not to mention Nabiki swindling me at nearly every turn has helped take me down a few pegs."

"Yes, well, she does that to everyone, so don't feel too bad there," Kasumi grinned, watching Ranma pout a little.

"Not to you she doesn't," he replied petulantly, though Kasumi could tell he was joking.

"No, not to me. Though she doesn't seem to hold Akane in the same light," Kasumi replied, wincing a little as Akane's name came up. At the moment, mentioning her was like throwing a bucket of water on a conversation. At dinner, she'd been silent, avoiding everyone's gaze and left as quickly as possible. When Kasumi checked on her before moving to her own room to help Ranma with his homework, her lights were out and was already in bed. She didn't know what was going through the youngest Tendo's mind, but figured all she could have done was to lay it out there as best she could. It was up to Akane from there.

Ranma's jovial mood took a dive too, but not as far down as Kasumi seemed to go. He looked at her a moment before pressing on.

"I'm curious. I know you said you'd talk to her, but what did you say to her? I don't think I've ever seen her like that before." Kasumi closed her eyes momentarily, reflecting on how hard that conversation had been for her. In truth, this situation really wasn't fair to Akane as despite Kasumi promising not to lord her relationship with Ranma over Akane there was simply no way to hide it completely. Though if she'd been able to contain herself we wouldn't be having this problem. Ranma would happily be with her and I…

"Kasumi-chan?" Ranma questioned, now with a hint of concern. Her eyes opened and she met his with a sad smile.

"I simply told her that she had a choice. I left it at that, though I made sure she understood the consequences if she continued on the path she was on. Everything else was strictly between sisters," Kasumi intoned solemnly, though her smile brightened a little, hopefully showing Ranma she was being humorous. It seemed to work as he nodded with a slight upturn on his lips.

"I understand, I shant try to force the issue. I'm glad my very capable fiancée handled the matter." Kasumi narrowed her eyes slightly at this, but her smile didn't lessen. Resisting a laugh, she stood and walked past him, gathering his books.

"Excellent, now that that's over with I think we're done for the night. Time for you to head to your own room before someone comes to check on us, or worse." Ranma's face scrunched up in confusion.

"What would the 'worse' part of that be?" Ranma asked, taking the proffered books from Kasumi. Her smile continued as before but her eyes glittered dangerously.

"Simple, the worse would be your mother telling everyone she'll be a grandmother soon." Kasumi did now laugh at the face Ranma was now sporting as his shock molded into embarrassed annoyance, not to mention sharing the coloring of a ripe strawberry.

"Thank you for that reminder of my mother's obsession," he attempted to reply casually, but the volume couldn't quite match over Kasumi's laughter. Ranma faced the door, but as his free hand settled on the handle, he turned back.

"Kasumi, would you be free this Sunday?"

She blinked, and then she blinked again before slowly nodding. Is he asking what I think he's asking?

"That's good," Ranma answered in reply. The silence stretched in which neither of them spoke or moved. Though it felt like several minutes (it'd probably only been ten seconds or so) Ranma finally took in a deep breath and plunged forward.

"Do… do you want to… ya know, go somewhere then? Together?" While already delighted by the idea, Kasumi internally giggled at the fact he avoided using the dreaded "D" word.

"Yes Ranma, I'd love to go on a date with you. Is there anything I should prepare for, or wear?" She attempted to hold in her excitement, but she could tell Ranma picked up on it as he smiled a little.

"The only thing I ask is that you tell me something you've always wanted to do, however small or big a thing that is, ok? Think about it." And with an embarrassed grin he exited her room, leaving her alone with her thoughts running amok.

It was after dinner on Saturday when Nabiki knocked on her elder sister's door. She had hoped that Kasumi would come to her at some point, but it seemed she was either unsure to or had other things on her mind. Not surprising with what happened with Akane and the fathers. Still, Nabiki hadn't failed to notice Kasumi appearing to float on air today, and her curiosity was biting deep gouges into her for not knowing. Finally she decided to bite the bullet and do something they hadn't done in years. A sister/sister talk.

"Come in!"Kasumi's voice sounded from behind the door. Nabiki opened the door and entered before freezing as she entered a realm she wasn't prepared for. Kasumi had all kinds of clothes cast around on the bed, like she'd been trying them on… and was wearing one at the moment. This shirt and skirt combination was quite flattering, but what stunned Nabiki was that this was Kasumi!

"Uh, hey sis. What's the occasion?" Finding Kasumi's desk chair unoccupied, Nabiki sat in it reverse style, her arms resting on the back while watching Kasumi look at the combination.

"I have a date tomorrow! So I was, er, sampling some of the things Auntie and I bought." Kasumi blushed at this but didn't stop her mirror prancing. It wasn't quite full length, but it caught enough of her to do the job. Nabiki thought about closing the closet door so they could talk uninterrupted, but decided against it. Look how much fun she's having, after all.

"I like the blue skirt, might want to pick a different style top though, something to match it and your hair," Nabiki suggested honestly, looking at the amount of new clothes laid out. There was certainly more here than she thought Kasumi had the money for. Nodoka must have convinced her somehow to accept a few of these.

"Hmm, you're right." She reached for another top, and didn't seem to be stopping anytime soon, so Nabiki pressed on.

"I wanted to talk a little, sis. Lots of things have happened in a short amount of time. I mean, if you really think about it, last week was when you got sick, and now… hell, now you're trying on clothes like a giddy school girl for Ranma. Ranma, of all people!" Kasumi had turned to her now and had dropped the smile, her eyes narrowed a little. "I'm not saying anything is wrong with him, not my cup of tea but… anyway I'm happy your happy. I wanted to talk a little, see how you were feeling." She paused again as Kasumi's eyebrow raised a touch, and Nabiki added her last statement. "I just wanted to make sure you weren't getting in over your head."

"What are you talking about Nabiki-chan?" Kasumi's full focus was on her now, and ever since she'd dropped the spacey act, (which Nabiki had already known about) having her eldest sister stare at her intently was unnerving.

"Like I said Kasumi, things around here are happening so fast. You and Ranma, you're already going on a date tomorrow, and from what I can see really excited about it. I just thought I'd talk to you about what's going on. To me things seem fast, but maybe things are going on under the surface here I'm not aware of. Come on Kasumi, it's been a week!" Sighing, Kasumi collapsed onto the bed, ignoring the clothes that she sat on.

"I know. Trust me, that hasn't escaped my attention," she chuckled humorlessly, not looking at Nabiki but eyeing the floor instead. Her hands were in her lap, suddenly looking like Nabiki had popped her balloon. "It's just… have you ever known someone who was there for you when you needed them, and then when you needed advice would say the exact thing that you needed to hear? I hadn't, until Ranma-kun and I had started talking recently, beginning when I was sick, yes."

"What do you mean by that?" Nabiki's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"I mean that Ranma's a smart young man, and speaks from his heart, whatever the discussion. After I pushed him about his future, he pushed me about mine. I'm sure you don't think I want to be here taking care of my father and sister's for the rest of my life?"

"Uh, no. No more than I want to be here scheming with schoolyard bets and selling photos to make a living, I'd wager," Nabiki grinned a little at that. Kasumi looked up and nodded, returning a small smile.

"I'd like to become a nurse, eventually. Ranma has supported me on this, in fact is pressing me to tell father and look for a way to start attending school. I… I don't think I would have been able to even consider the idea without his pushing the issue," Kasumi noted sadly as Nabiki's eyes widened.

"That'swhy he had me look up medical colleges? I thought he was looking for himself!" I also enjoyed sniggering at the idea of Ranma trying to attend any kind of university, Nabiki allowed with a resigned smile. Seems I'm the one who got played.

"Oh, Ranma's informed me he'd like to do something along the lines of what Dr. Tofu does, so I'm working with him on pulling his grades up. I'm sure Dr. Tofu would be able to recommend a few good places to go." Kasumi smiled seeming in response to Nabiki's thunderstruck face. Kami save us, what's been happening while I've been buried in my ledgers?

"So… you decided this when?" Nabiki asked, trying to ignore the pit growing in her stomach. Kasumi huffed and looked away.

"Don't make it sound like we're getting that caught up in everything. We discussed this way before anything about the engagement was changed. Ranma's studying harder in school now, not pretending to slack off, I'm helping with his math and he's looking into colleges for me it seems. I'd say we make a good team."

"Never said you didn't, sis. I… look I'm sorry, I'm just trying to protect you the only way I know how, and that's making sure you know what you're doing." Kasumi's anger seemed to break there, and she nodded, her shoulders visibly relaxing. Nabiki decided it was time to play hard ball.

"So, you two kiss yet?" She grinned, though her eyes widened significantly as Kasumi blushed scarlet. No way!

"No way, you didn't?" Nabiki intoned, her voice becoming more of a squeak than she could ever remember.

"No, but it was close. It was when he told me he was looking into colleges for me, and it was just so sweet I almost kissed him right there. I managed to arc it to hit his cheek, but I don't know Nabiki, I just couldn't help it. There's definitely something there," Kasumi said still looking away.

"Something like attraction, you mean?" Nabiki queried, noticing the unfading blush on her elder sister's face. Kasumi simply nodded.

"Well, I can't say I'm not surprised, but I'm glad for you two." Kasumi looked up shocked, and Nabiki actually laughed at the expression on her face. "What, you didn't think I approved or something? I'm all for whatever makes my big sis happy. I only wanted to check on you, make sure you knew what was going on and it wasn't moving too fast." Kasumi nodded at this and smiled.

"Being around him makes me happy. I feel needed, wanted, and I think we mesh well. I'll tell you how our first fight goes." Nabiki laughed at that and Kasumi grinned a little. If the Tendo's were anything they were a stubborn bunch. Ranma doesn't stand a chance.

"So, where are you two going tomorrow? Park, mall?" Nabiki asked, thinking of where she'd like to go. Kasumi simply shook her head and grinned a little sheepishly.

"Actually I asked if he'd come with me shopping tomorrow," she said, while Nabiki looked at her askance, confusion written on her face.

"He asked me to give him an idea, something I've always wanted, and one of those things is to have my boyfriend or in this case fiancé come shopping with me. You know, simply see where I go, help carry and meet the stall owners, just be there for this thing I've always done alone. That's something I'd really like," Kasumi finished, as Nabiki was shaking her head with a small grin.

"And then if he asked you to dinner after that?" Nabiki laughed as Kasumi flushed.

"Well, I'd probably go if he offered, but he doesn't have to do that. It'd just be nice to have the company, you know. " Kasumi answered, still blushing but with a soft smile lighting up her face.

Nabiki nodded, though she was quickly thinking through all the restaurants that owed her. I'm not doing this for Ranma, I'm doing this for Kasumi. She's well past deserving a night out that's not Ukyo's or the Neko Hanten. With that, she nodded again and got up from the chair.

"Well, again, I'm happy for ya sis. Just take it slow and I'm sure you can mold him into a proper fiancé," Nabiki grinned and headed toward the door before Kasumi stopped her.

"Nabiki-chan?" Her voice sounded hesitant but hopeful. She half turned her head to listen.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks. We should talk like this more often," Kasumi said softly, and Nabiki could hear the gratitude in her voice. She smiled widely, and was happy no one could see that break in her armor.

"We will. And you're welcome." A hand raised up in parting, and with that Nabiki was off to her room. She wasn't expecting her guest.

"Hello Nabiki-chan, how are you?" Nodoka Saotome smiled brightly as the young conniver entered her room, utterly shocked to see her sitting there on her bed. She patted the space next to her, indicating that she should sit. Not one to simply follow suggestion, Nabiki quickly regained her usual mask of cool detachment and sat down at her desk. She spun her chair around and faced her, an eyebrow quirked.

"I'm doing pretty good, Auntie, considering everything that's been going on around here lately. How about yourself?" Nodoka noticed her tone was mostly light, though there were hints of chill in it. Most likely annoyance for being caught off guard, she reflected.

"Not bad at all, my dear, quite happy with the way things are proceeding. Your meeting with your sister go ok?" Nodoka smiled watching Nabiki's eye twitch a moment.

"It wasn't a meeting. I was just… checking on her." Nodoka nodded sagely at this.

"True, true. She did seem to be a little lighter than air today. Any particular reason for that?" Nodoka threw out casually, but she was sure Nabiki was more than aware of what she was doing. That thought cemented into fact when Nabiki's eyes narrowed slightly, then rolled up into her head as if to ponder how much to say. A moment later, she shrugged.

"Kasumi's got a date tomorrow, with whom I'm sure I need not specify. She's excited; this'll be her first date after all."

"Ah, excellent! I'm glad to see they are getting along so well," Nodoka said brightly. "I must admit, when I switched the engagement I thought things would be rougher for a while with Ranma. Yet things seem to be moving a pace quite well. Tomorrow will be a great way to see how they're doing." Nodoka left that statement out there as innocently as she could, and let Nabiki make the connection.

"I'm sorry, did you say 'see how they're doing?' Are you going to spy on them or something?" Nabiki's eyes were nearing slits, seemingly trying to read her intentions. Nodoka simply raised her head a bit for her best haughty pose.

"Of course. This is my son's first date with his fiancée, I'm not about to miss this. I lost him for 10 years, I'm going to catch every second of his life that I can." Nabiki blinked several times, before grinning and shaking her head that seemed to say, I can't believe the balls on this woman.

"So! Where are they going? I might need to prepare." Nodoka herself raised an eyebrow when Nabiki's grin simply got bigger.
"You mean we might need to prepare. I don't want to miss this either." Nodoka's eyebrows shot up, but inwardly she was smiling. Of course you're coming, Nabiki-chan. Your approval would be most helpful in time.

"As for where they're going… shopping."

Akane flopped back onto the bed again. She'd thought about getting up and watching some TV but a weight seemed to settle on her chest whenever she was up and about anymore. She knew part of it was losing Ranma, and another was what Kasumi had said.

It hurts… a lot. More than I thought it would, she thought sadly. Why couldn't she have just been nicer? Let some of that stupider shit go? Maybe the whole engagement had been a bad idea. A second later, a memory flashed into her mind like it was yesterday.

"Hi, my name's Akane. Want to be friends?" The red-headed girl's smile lit up like a candle in the dark, bright and hopeful.

A pillow moved from behind her head to on top in a vain attempt to block out the memory, yet there's no cover to stop a memory, Akane knew.

"UGH! This is dumb. I'm gonna call Yuka and Sayuri. I need to get out of here for a while." She bit her lip slightly, thinking. "I guess we could go shopping down the main strip tomorrow." With that, she went downstairs to make the necessary calls.

Shampoo groaned as her target left the room after laying around most of the day. Akane had been so out of it she hadn't even noticed the cat sitting on her window sill. Hopping down, she attempted to follow without having to breech the inside of the house.

Shampoo hope Great-grandmother really appreciates this. Shampoo miss her airen. Landing on the ground, she wound around the house until she saw Akane using the phone in the hall through a window, and could hear her confirming her plans with Yuka.

Looks like Shampoo is shopping tomorrow as well. One more day of watching and Shampoo will report back to Great-grandmother when she go by the Neko Hanten. This certainly thankless job.

She watched Akane trek back upstairs after another call, and resignedly made her way back up to the at least still comfortable window sill.

Ukyo Kuonji sighed again for what felt like the thousandth time since "the incident." To her, the fact that Ran-chan was now in the devious and evil hands of one Kasumi Tendo was an affront to all that she knew and cared for.

"Ugh, it's just not fair!" She yelled, bringing her battle spatula down on a pair of okonomiyaki that suddenly more resembled pieces of round thin paper than a meal. How can one person be that perfect? How could she compete?

"What is the trouble, mistress? You have seemed upset for a couple of days now." Ukyo barely managed to cover her mouth in time to prevent the shriek her part-time co-worker and full-time kunoichi induced with his sudden appearance behind her.

"Konatsu, don't do that!" Growled Ukyo venomously, and with a flick of her wrist the two destroyed orders disappeared, only to be replaced by two fresh batters.

"I am sorry, Ukyo-sama. I simply wanted to inquire what is the matter. What exactly is 'not fair' as you put it?" Uyko watched him out of the corner of her eyes, noticing the expression that faced the floor and sighed. He was just trying to help. And with that, she told him everything that had happened in the school yard, including the revelation that had haunted her nightmares ever sense.

"I mean, how am I supposed to compete with Kasumi of all people? She's like… perfect," Ukyo finished sadly, her fire disappearing faster than if doused with a bucket of ice water.

"It is simple, Ukyo-sama. You must change to fit the change," the kunoichi said simply, removing the orders from the grill for her.
"Huzzawah?" Ukyo unintelligibly questioned, confusion etched all over her face.

"I know Kasumi Tendo is an amazing woman, but so too are you mistress. Everyone has their own way about them, but it's obvious that something has caused her to change her outlook. Even her clothing, as you related to me in your tale. So too must you change, or you risk being left behind in the wake." In the blink of an eye, both the kunoichi and the orders disappeared, only to reappear near a table in the back, far from the grill. Seconds later, Konatsu once again stood beside her.

"So I, in essence, have to roll with the punches?" Ukyo queried, her eyebrows climbing.

"It is how battles are fought. If a strategy changes, so too must the opponent change to match or be defeated. Would you like some advice, Ukyo-sama?" Konatsu asked, his eyes bright but sharp. Ukyo was tempted to roll her eyes, but held back. I'm pretty sure you've been unloading some already, but why not?

"Sure, go for it," Ukyo shrugged.

"Go shopping tomorrow. The clothing thing is easiest to fix now. If Kasumi Tendo is now going for a more womanly look than her previous appearance, so too should you combat this with your own. Mistress is a beautiful woman, and if you showed it a little more, I doubt Ranma-kun would be able to resist," the kunoichi responded. Ukyo heard him mutter something under his breath after that but couldn't make it out, though if the blush was any indication she wasn't sure she wanted to know.

Still, it's not a bad idea. Fight fire with fire and all that, right?

"Alright, Konatsu. We're going shopping tomorrow, and you're going to help me, alright?"

Konatsu smiled brightly, and Ukyo once again felt slight pangs of jealousy. Why does this boy have to look prettier than me!

"It's a date then, Ukyo-sama."

AN: Whew, sorry about the delay there. Had some personal thingys come up, you all know how that is of course! And yup, next time is the date. I haven't decided if there will be two or three more chapters but the end be coming soon. Stay tuned 'til next time and to all those who review, praise or criticism both, thank you in advance!