Ranma and Co. is Copyright Rumiko Takahashi/Shogakukan, Inc. 1993
Ranma ½ is a trademark of Viz Communications, Inc.
A Ranma ½ Fan Fiction by S³ - "Forever and a Day"
Chapter Three: Floating
Was it reasonable to believe that he was a fool? For once, it would've been nice for something to go the way he planned. Obviously, that was too much to ask for. After the wasted argument with Akane, Kasumi had made it plain she wanted to talk to him about something, but Ranma hadn't much felt like having another conversation. Oh, he did promise to speak of things before he left. But still Kasumi had seemed disappointed. Whether it was directed toward him, or something else, he wasn't sure.
At the moment, Ranma was reviewing the past thirty minutes in his mind's eye, determined to figure out what he had done or said to upset Kasumi. After all, when things went wrong, who was usually caught up in the middle? If Saotome Ranma had learned one thing during the latest journey, it was to be responsible for his actions. It simply wouldn't do to leave Kasumi saddened, knowing there might be a way to fix it. So he made himself comfortable on the porch, since he had no idea when a solution might present itself.
Three hours and a short nap later, Ranma was brought back to the waking world as someone gently nudged his shoulders.
"Ranma-kun, it is a little past lunchtime, but I thought you might still want something to eat," came the soft voice of the eldest Tendou daughter.
"Hn," Ranma yawned as he rose to his feet. "I appreciate it Kasumi. Sorry if I fell asleep like that. I walked pretty far this morning to get here."
"That's quite all right Ranma-kun. You can finish your nap in the guest room after you eat, if you want," Kasumi politely informed.
"Thanks, but I slept enough already. Anyway, what's for lunch?"
Kasumi nodded assent, gesturing to the table inside on which there was a bowl of rice and a small platter of broiled fish. "I know it is not much. But, please help yourself."
Through the open patio door, faint tinkling of chimes could be heard as the wind picked up. Ranma looked out at the sky, the small hairs on the back of his neck prickling, and could see storm clouds gathering on the horizon. A breeze wafted through the house, bearing the faint scent of rain fast approaching. Letting out a breath, Ranma finished eating his meal before rising to take the dishes into the kitchen.
Thoughtfully Kasumi approached the kitchen entryway, meaning to check and see how Ranma was managing. She watched as he cleaned and shelved the dishes, only interjecting once, when he was about to place them in the wrong cabinet. Inwardly, she was glad for the rain, because that would mean that the two of them would have the opportunity to just sit and talk. Even with her Father and Akane home most of the time, Kasumi still felt a little lonely around the house. It was good that Ranma had come back. Just maybe, things might liven up again.
As soon as he heard her indicate where the bowl he had in his hands was supposed to go, Ranma sighed. Even thought this was her house, he felt that he could do all right for himself. Didn't anyone have faith in him anymore? Ranma shook his head, that hadn't been a fair question. When had anyone ever really believed him? Or, believed in him, for that matter? Reflecting on that last train of thought, he decided that it wasn't what he really thought. "It must just be the weather."
"I'm sorry Ranma-kun, what did you say," Kasumi asked, unsure if the young man had directed his comment towards herself.
"It was nothing Kasumi. Just thinking, that's all." Ranma scratched the back of his neck as he replied. Some old habits were harder to break than others.
"I was wondering if we could talk for a bit. That is, if you don't mind telling me a little about your trip. Nothing much happens around here, not since…" Kasumi broke off her train of thought when she realized that she had nearly said, "Since you left us." That was most definitely the wrong thing to start a conversation with.
For his part, Ranma merely blinked, wondering why Kasumi trailed off like she had. He was further confused when she wouldn't meet his eyes when he tried asking what the matter was. He decided that today was most likely going to be filed under the 'could have gone better' category. He'd had far too many of these kinds of days for his liking.
"Er, the rain is going to start coming in if we don't go close the door," he said, hoping to distract his hostess from whatever was bothering her. A masterful speaker he was not, though it was enough. Kasumi turned to close the door and make sure the windows were shut. There was little use in letting the rain get into the house.
For her part, Kasumi welcomed the task, as it gave her a respite from conversation even if that's what she wanted in the first place. All too soon the job was done and the interior of the house proof against the elements. Surely there was something else to delay the inevitable, just a moment longer. Unfortunately, there wasn't. And she could tell that Ranma was anxious to hear what she had to say.
Sitting back down at the table, Kasumi started once more, "Your trip, did it go well?"
"I'd like to think so. I mean, sure things were rough at the start, but I managed to get out of Japan a few days after I left," Ranma shrugged.
"Oh, we really had no idea where you went off to. I'm sure everyone is curious where you ended up. After all, two years is a long time to be gone."
"I never really had any destination in mind, not at first anyway. Not after Jusendo," said Ranma.
Kasumi nodded, she knew the details. Well, what little she had gathered from Akane anyway. "You said you almost made it to the Himalayas?"
Ranma nodded, "A couple o' other areas too. I wanted to check out India. I heard there were some great places to train."
"Why didn't you make it there?"
Chuckling lightly he replied, "It was the wrong season to go traveling across the mountains. Got kinda cold there for a while; I was gonna try for it anyway, but the guide I hired wouldn't budge. Called me a few names too."
"What did you end up doing then?" Kasumi asked curiously.
"Well, with no guide, it woulda been pretty easy to get myself lost in the mountains. That would be stupid on my part. I just went back to the guide's village. Figured I'd wait out the weather, and start over when things looked better."
"I see. But, you never tried to go back did you. Why?"
"Uh, like I wrote in my letters, I felt that I'd accomplished what I set out to, and wanted to stop by someplace where there were people I knew. For a little while anyway."
Kasumi thought this over, decided that maybe he had been feeling lonely with no one to talk to. She wondered if he had become fluent in Chinese during his stay there. Remembering that the language barrier had caused most of his problems before, she inquired about it. Asking if he'd learned Chinese, or any other languages, Kasumi thought that it would be interesting if he had.