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Not A Dirty Word
Chapter Three - Letting Things out To Dry
By Michael Fetter
"Oh my." Though Kasumi would rather be swearing a blue streak she didn't want to blow her cover completely. She woke up half an hour later with a washcloth on her forehead. Nabiki sat to her side with an amused looking smirk and Akane was pacing by her feet with an angry scowl. Playing innocent, Kasumi turned to Nabiki, "Did something happen?"
"You seemed to have gotten yourself a fiancé," Nabiki replied.
"I can't believe him," Akane growled as she made another circuit. "Trying to marry you off to that pervert and calling you his heir like all of my hard work meant nothing."
"Did father say that?" Kasumi asked nervously. She didn't want anyone to know about that. Martial artists seemed to get drawn into Ranma's fights in one way or another. While the Art can be fun, having it also be dangerous was not a part of Kasumi's plan. "But why would father say that?"
Nabiki shrugged, honestly not knowing the reason behind her father's words. The idea of sweet, gentle Kasumi being a powerful martial artist was just preposterous.
"He should have picked me if he wanted to have the heir marry Ranma." Akane continued to stomp and Kasumi noted that the tea had spilled onto the floor. She'd have to clean that up later. Glaring into a corner of the room, Akane growled, "Baka."
Following her little sister's gaze, Kasumi found the three men cowering or unconscious in the corner of the room. Her father seemed to have designed a fort made of the couch cushions and was waving a little white flag. "Don't forget to put those back when you're done playing, father."
Soun instantly jumped to his feet, the bruises covering his face turning it into a lumpy, purple mass. "You really must tell your sister's the truth now, Kasumi. You do make the best choice for a fiancée since you would make a good housewife and hold the highest rank in our school."
Akane stopped, her eye twitching, and stared hard at her father. She'd worked each of the men over pretty good and was considering perfecting the down stroke with her mallet. "What do you mean, daddy?! I'm the only one who practices our style anymore."
"Please, any decent martial artist could tell Kasumi's better'n you are, ya stupid tomboy," said Ranma. He was currently 'resting' half-embedded in the floor. "I could tell just by the way she moves."
Frowning, Kasumi picked herself up and arranged her fallen cup back on the table. "I'm not sure I know what you mean, Ranma-kun. Akane is much better than I am." Kasumi pinched herself to hold off the sarcasm. She really didn't want to get engaged to a guy.
"Yeah- . . You train, Kasumi?" Akane suddenly asked.
Big, shiny eyes, Kasumi blinked innocently at her sister. "Well, I do have some free time while you and Nabiki are at school, Akane."
"Oh," Akane responded lamely. "I always thought you sat around and baked or something."
Cheery, inane smile. "I do that too. And read some of Tofu-sensei's books and do the chores and shopping. I'm sure you train much more than I do."
It was meant to sound encouraging for Akane, instead Kasumi saw the girl cringe away guiltily.
"Actually," Soun interjected, "You're the only one who trains in the Tendou School of Anything Goes, Kasumi. Akane only bothered to learn some kempo and a few weapon styles on her own."
Akane's shame doubled as her face turned crimson. Nabiki sat quietly as she watched the struggle twist within Akane and Kasumi. While she knew that Kasumi was a smart enough person to graduate high school near the top of her class, she always thought it had been suppressed by her older sister's innocence. Could it be that her sweet, gentle, caring older sister was a master of deception the likes of which even the Ice Queen of Furinkan could not compete against?
Firming her jaw, Akane turned on Kasumi and pointed a finger. "I challenge you to see who is the best!"
Nabiki face-faulted to the floor. Even if Kasumi had deceived them she still knew not to take it out on her older sister. Kasumi had been nothing but a saint since mother died. "Akane . . ."
"Oh my," Kasumi put a hand to her cheek, "are you sure we should do this, Akane?"
Akane's resolve began to falter as she looked at her sister. Kasumi didn't look strong enough to battle a kitten. The three men remained in the corner watching the proceedings calmly. She wouldn't lose face in front of two masters of Anything Goes and it's heir. "If you practice Anything Goes then you know you can't back out of a challenge!"
Kasumi frowned in front of her family for maybe the first time since she got there. Akane cringed at the terrible onslaught of any dark emotion, but held firm. Kasumi was not going to get engaged to Ranma. She could probably get Nabiki to help her out of this rather quickly. It would also do Kasumi some good to beat the snot out of her little sister after holding back for so long. Even after living with the Tendou's for a year, Kasumi still held some resentment for the hypocritical man-hater. "I suppose you're right, but we should take care of this now before dinner burns."
Blinking, Akane nodded and swallowed hard. Could she really fight her older sister? Kasumi had taken care of Nabiki and herself for so long. To actually fight with Kasumi felt like breaking some holy law. Thou shalt not smite thy eldest sister. "R-Right."
Kasumi wasn't exactly wearing something fit for fighting in, but it would have to do. Akane was still in her gi. Kasumi could get hers, but the fight wasn't likely to last long and if the fish cooked for much longer it would dry out. So standing in the dojo in her simple, blue housedress and apron, Kasumi assumed a fighting stance against her aggressive little sister.
Akane swallowed the huge amount of self-loathing she felt when facing against Kasumi. All her older sister had to do was concede and it would be over. So why didn't she? Kasumi couldn't really be planning to face her, could she? Akane dropped back into a fighting stance as well.
The two fathers stood silently, though Soun had tears running down his eyes as he watched. Ranma tried to look bored about all of this, but he was also concerned that if either girl got hurt it would be his fault for starting it. The worst part was trying to decide whom he wanted to win.
Nabiki stood in the center and raised her arm. "Ready?"
"Just concede, Kasumi," Akane pleaded.
Cocking her head and loosening her stance a little more, Kasumi said, "But a student of Anything Goes never gives up."
Grimacing, Nabiki dropped her hand. "Fight!"
Hoping to finish this quickly, without hurting Kasumi too much, Akane rushed forward.
Relaxed and ready, Kasumi slapped Akane's fist to one side and slammed her palm into her sister's forehead with a loud smack.
Akane fell back, unconscious, a second later.
Astonished, Kasumi stared at her sister for a long time. She knew she was good, but she didn't think she could beat Akane that easily even if Akane had been holding back. "Oh my."
Nabiki boggled at the sight and was understandably unable to remove her jaw from the floor.
Bending down, Kasumi put two fingers against Akane's neck and waited for a moment before heading back for the house. "I should get back to dinner. It should be ready in a little while everyone."
"Not bad," Ranma remarked as he trotted into the house after Kasumi.
Soun still stood in the same place with tears rushing down his cheeks. He wasn't sure whether he should be happy for Kasumi or wailing over his hurt baby girl. He settled for doing impressions of lawn ornaments.
"Quite a girl you got there, Tendou." Genma followed his son. That Kasumi girl was skilled and should be quite a cook. A perfect match for his worthless son!
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She said nothing, saw nothing, heard nothing. Akane had cut herself off almost completely. Her world had been shattered. The carefully constructed image she had of herself had been torn down by someone she had trusted more than anyone else. The one who had taken care of her, made her bentos for school, cleaned her room, who couldn't harm a spider, had utterly betrayed her.
How long had Kasumi been training? Was it true that she was the only real student? Akane had taught herself and learned from fights she got into at school, but she'd always thought she been using Anything Goes. Her father was a crybaby so she'd simply assumed . . .
Kasumi watched her little sister from across the table. Akane had gone straight to bed after the match and refused to speak with her about it. Beating the girl was one thing, but Kasumi was going to be in this universe for a while it seemed, and losing Akane so early would make problems. Would this mean all of those princes would come after her instead?
Refilling Ranma's rice bowl, Kasumi set it down in front of her fiancé. She was seated by her father as always, but now Ranma sat beside her and Genma further down. The two Saotomes sparred over breakfast so they sat together, but the father's also wanted Kasumi to be comfortable next to Ranma.
Glancing down at her own bowl, Kasumi noticed Ranma had been defending her against Genma's attempts to steal something. "Mr. Saotome, would you please mind your manners at this table."
This caused everyone to pause and look blankly at Kasumi. She flushed at the attention and forgetting her role. She thought the food fighting was funny in the manga, but it was not so in real life. And well . . . if she was getting stuck in the middle of Ranma's adventures then she was going to take some control. "You and Ranma-kun can play your game when no one else is eating at the table."
Coughing politely into his fist, Genma nodded his head to Kasumi. It was best not to anger such a good cook. "Yes, you're quite right, Kasumi. Ranma has already mastered this technique anyway." With that he went to consuming his own breakfast.
Ranma looked confused for a while, not quite sure how to continue. He and Kasumi hadn't talked much yesterday, and while she had a lot of nice qualities, he wasn't sure how he felt about her and could not figure out how to start a conversation with her. So he remained quiet as well.
Lost in thought, Kasumi picked at her breakfast slowly. The only one who had shown her any support was Nabiki. Her sister had wanted to know everything Kasumi had been doing during her days and for once had paid attention.
Soun just seemed pleased with things and buried himself in his paper.
Akane and Nabiki finally stood up and got ready for school.
"Shouldn't you be getting ready, Ranma?" Kasumi asked.
Ranma stared at her blankly. "For what?"
"School, boy! I can't have my heir becoming an ignorant martial artist!" Genma bellowed and shoved a book bag into Ranma's arms. The boy stared at it and shrugged indifferently. He gobbled down the rest of his breakfast and stood up.
Turning to her sisters, Kasumi looked to Nabiki, "Would you-?"
Nabiki smirked and followed her little sister out the front door. "C'mon, Ranma-kun, you're going to the same school as Akane and me. We'll show you the way."
Thinking for a moment, Kasumi started picking up dishes and carrying them to the kitchen. "Father, would you be ready when I'm done cleaning up?"
"Of course, Kasumi," said Soun as he began folding up his paper. Smiling at his friend, "How about a quick spar before my daughter is ready to continue her training, Saotome?"
Nodding, Saotome patted his full belly and grinned. "After you, Tendou."
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It shouldn't have happened.
Michael had gone over it in his head again and again. No matter how much skill he might've learned during the past year, there was no way he should have been able to beat Akane that easily. The girl had been training since she was kid. Her brute strength and battle ready reflexes should have kept the fight going.
This just wasn't adding up in Michael's head. He was fairly certain of his strength in this form and that shouldn't be at all comparable to Akane's. So how?
Resting on his back in the dojo, Michael raised his head to see his father waiting patiently for him to stand up again. Genma was over to the side, sometimes adding his own advice to help her training since there was nothing else to do.
"Father?" Soun wasn't really his father, but in a way he was at the same time. Michael chose to think of this as an apprenticeship, where he worked off his training and lodging with chores. Taking advantage of the Kasumi persona also had its added benefits, but continuing in this way might be unnecessary, even dangerous if he wasn't ready for what was to come. Somehow Michael knew the chaos normally surrounding Ranma and Akane would be coming after him now. "How did I beat Akane? She is still much stronger than I am, isn't she?"
Soun raised an eyebrow at her and looked to Saotome then back. "You know the answer to that, Kasumi. I have been attempting to guide you in your pursuit for some months now with the help of Dr. Tofu's books."
Michael sat up and puzzled that over. The books? His eyes shot open and he stared at Soun. "Was I using my ki to increase my speed and strength?"
Smiling, Soun nodded. "Yes, you've done very well in gaining control of your ki in only a year of training."
"A year?" Genma sounded surprised. How long did this usually take? Resetting his glasses on his nose, Genma stared at Kasumi a little harder. He blinked a few times at what he found and offered a bemused smile. "I did not know you can build an effective aura with a core of serenity. It is quite strong for only a year."
Michael stared at Genma with shock. Her aura . . . was noteworthy? The man could be just trying to play nice with the chef, but Michael actually believed Genma's words. Despite his idiocy, Genma did take the Art seriously.
This was . . . This was fantastic! She'd actually begun to use her aura for real! She wanted to become strong to see what it would be like, but dreaming and holding this reality in her hands were different things. She felt a great sense of accomplishment and smiled broadly at the two men.
Floating on a cloud of pride, Michael jumped back up to her feet and took a ready stance for her father to continue the training. Soun nodded with a grin and the day went on.
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Kasumi floated as she went through her day's chores. Her father didn't cry once the entire time as she glided into the room to take care of their needs and then move on to some cleaning or cooking. She was feeling so good in fact that by the time everyone was returning home that Kasumi was just pulling out a sheet of chocolate chip cookies.
Nabiki and Ranma followed their noses right to the snacks and dropped one each in their mouths before Kasumi had a chance to warn them. Waving their hands, both teens took turns fixing their lips to the running faucet.
Smiling with amusement, Kasumi said, "You may want to wait a few minutes since the cookies just came out of the oven."
"I suppose so," Nabiki commented dryly while scooping a few onto a plate and then grabbing a glass of milk. Ranma promptly followed suit and hesitated at the door to the kitchen.
He looked at her, the cookies, then the floor with his face flushed. "Uh, thanks."
"You're welcome, Ranma."
Nodding shyly, Ranma rushed out of the kitchen to do his homework.
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Standing in the park after dinner, Kasumi watched the setting sun reflecting against the small lake. There weren't many people out now so she could have time to herself. Her family respected her privacy and accepted any excuse she made to leave the house on her own.
"So, I'm gaining control of my ki?" Kasumi liked that, but where would she go with it?
The bushes behind her rustled a bit.
"I wonder if I could become as good as Ranma and his little friends. I'd have to train even harder and focus on my ki." Kasumi did have knowledge in all of those pressure points and if her ki was manifesting then the meditation exercises might start getting easier. What she really needed to do was flex her ki like a muscle. In the manga, Ranma's ki grew stronger by actively using it so maybe that would be a better way to go.
"It might have just been a fluke though," Kasumi considered. "Akane is certainly an above average fighter. Maybe I did just get lucky. I'll have to test myself then."
Now what was she going to do with this power? "I can't just end up some housewife and I haven't gone to college so I can't get a very decent career." Well, maybe she could join some branch of the military, but that didn't sound too appealing. Taking orders had never been her thing and it would remove her from the excitement in Nerima.
"Excitement?" she ran the word around in her head. Yes, the adventures Ranma would be having would be exciting. "If I'm caught in the middle of it now like I think I am then I want to enjoy it too."
Smiling, Kasumi started to stroll towards one of the larger shadows. "Yes, I'll train to become the best martial artist I can be."
"That isn't going to help you now, lady," stated a voice from the trees. A man came out holding a knife in one hand. "Scream and you're dead."
Looking cheery and innocent, Kasumi nodded her head. "Hello Scumbag-san, I've been waiting for you."
"Huh?" The man lunged at her.
A few minutes later Kasumi was finishing up her story for the police officer that had arrived at the scene of the attack. Kasumi's assailant was resting on the ground with a web of cracks surrounding his face on the sidewalk.
The officer stared lamely at Kasumi. He knew her, like almost everyone did, and knew she was a gentle creature. Looking at the thief, the officer shrugged his shoulders finally. "Well, it was very fortunate that he 'tripped' before reaching you. Can I escort you home, Kasumi-san?"
"No, I'm sure you're very busy, Officer Higashi. Have a nice night."
"And you." Grinning absently, the officer pulled the criminal to his feet, hands cuffed behind his back. "You shouldn't have messed with Kasumi. A number of the guys at the station are friends of hers and they won't like this very much." The man shuddered and the officer patted him on the back. "Start screaming early and you might walk away from it."
Kasumi strolled home with determination in her eyes. Things were going to change and she knew just where to start.
End Chapter Three
* * *
Ok, I'll have you know that I'm a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. So I could probably get this good with a year of heavy training. Maybe. . . . Shut up! I'm trying to feel good about myself! Where's my mirror? I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and, gosh darn it, people like me. Twinkle.
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Ja ne.