'Poetic Irony'
Nabiki was made to stay at the hospital with Konatsu, while Soun and Genma searched the area for their daughter and wife, respectively, but to no avail. It was with great relief when they came home that night, and found Nodoka waiting anxiously for them.
"Nodoka, have you seen Kasumi?" Soun asked with a trembling voice, Nodoka, much to his relief, nodded.
"She's upstairs in bed, I think she had an exitable night."
"Ah, as long as she's okay.." Soun decided to go check on his daughter, and found her in her room. He sighed at the contentful smile she had on her face, as if recent events had never happened. He brushed his hand against his daughter's bangs, before turning away. "As long as you and Nabiki are safe..." With that, he left the room, and Kasumi to her peaceful sleep.
_____________________
A yawning Nabiki stepped out of the taxi, and narrowed her eyes at the morning sun. She hated being up this early, but she didn't like the idea of having to deal with hospital food. Her father had called her last night to tell her Kasumi was alright, and chose to celebrate it with one of her exellent breakfasts.
"I'm home," Nabiki called out, as she removed her shoes.
"Welcome home, Nabiki," replied Kasumi's voice. Nabiki went to the kitchen to find Kasumi smiling as she worked on the morning meal. Nabiki noticed a little of the vibrancy missing from her sister's smile, and chalked it up to the stress of their missing (she didn't want to think of Akane's fate) sister.
"Where did you dissappear to last night? You had all of us worried sick."
"That's okay," Kasumi replied.
Nabiki blinked, "Uh, are you going to tell me?"
"I saw Ranma," Kasumi replied with an almost dull smile.
Nabiki's face grew serious, as her complextion turned pale, "What do you mean, you saw him, did he do anything to you?" Alarm bells were starting to go off with Nabiki, as she began to note little nuances with Kasumi.
"I saw Ranma, and she told me that everything was fine now." Nabiki searched Kasumi's eyes, finding her sister meeting her glance with passive, dull ones.
"DAD!" Nabiki shouted, grabbing her sister by the arm, "WE NEED TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL! I THINK RANMA DRUGGED KASUMI!"
_____________________
"OH! MY BABY'S DYING!" Soun wailed, as he was being placated by both Nodoka and his best friend. Nabiki was frantically pacing back and forth on the floor, hoping that her concern was invalid, and that it was probably just stress and maybe some depression that she saw in Kasumi earlier. She was still worried about Kasumi's claims of seeing Ranma. If she had, were they also now targets to him? Were they always targets? Just who was safe from Ranma?
The doctor stepped out into the lounge, breaking both Soun's hysterics, and Nabiki's nervous contemplation. He kept a serious, unemotional expression on his face, telling Nabiki and Soun something was wrong.
"Doctor?" Nabiki asked tentatively, as if fearful for the answer.
"Your sister isn't drugged, as you supposed," the doctor stated, his voice sounding far from relieving.
"There's something else, isn't there?" Nodoka asked, extremely worried, herself.
The doctor cleared his throat, and for the first time gave an expression that showed his condolences, "Well, there was extensive and irreperable damage done to the frontal lobes of her brain. A sharp object had been used to enter through the outer corners of her eyes, puncture through the soft bone, and... and then to scratch out the tissue of the frontal lobes of her brain. This barbaric proceedure is medically known as a trans-orbital lobotomy, more commonly known as an-"
"Ice pick lobotomy," Nabiki gasped, beginning to feel nausious. Ranma did that to her sister, no doubt about it. It fit right into the 'peotic irony' theme. Kasumi tended to act vapid to avoid situations, sometimes even ignoring the situation; only giving discerning emotions to more extreme cases when it came to her fancy. An Ice pick lobotomy was made to 'balance' out extreme emotions, any of which Kasumi would probably never express or feel again.
"I would also like to point out that this operation is highly illegal."
"Like it mattered to Ranma," Nabiki growled.
"Nabiki, please," Nodoka urged, incidentally causing Nabiki to snap.
"NO!" she screamed, whirling on the older woman, "RANMA'S BEEN PICKING US OFF, ONE BY ONE! THE POLICE CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO STOP HIM, EVEN *IF* THEY CATCH HIM. YOUR HUSBAND AND DAD ARE JUST AS USELESS! WE HAVE NO IDEA WHO'S SAFE, BUT NOT EVEN KASUMI APPARENTLY WAS! NOT EVEN AKANE, HIS FIANCEE, NOT EVEN UKYO, HIS BEST FRIEND, NOT EVEN..." Nabiki started suddenly, before closing her eyes. After regaining what calmness she could, she opened her now teary eyes, "We're next, aren't we, Auntie Saotome?"
Nodoka looked away, the nervousness about her easily palpable. That did nothing to comfort Nabiki, as she turned, and furiously stormed away, pushing the unfortunate doctor out of her way.
"NABIKI!" Soun shouted out, "DON'T!" Genma put a hand on his shoulder, forestalling his best friend from saying any more, and followed after Nabiki.
_____________________
Genma found Nabiki standing in front of a plate glass window, overlooking some of the city from the fourth floor, "Nabiki."
"Leave me alone," Nabiki mumbled, not turning to look at the man.
"I won't do that, the Saotome Honor is now at stake here."
"*What* Honor?" Nabiki almost growled, still not looking at Genma, "I think Ranma just burned whatever was left of it to the ground."
"Trust me, the boy will be stopped," Genma stated firmly, "But, if that's to be done, we will need your cooperation with this."
Nabiki finally relented, "Kasumi was supposed to be safe. No one would harm Kasumi! I guess Ranma just got really fed up with the placid attitude of hers, whenever he was in the thick of it, but it wasn't her fault! He didn't have to take it out on her!" Nabiki dragged herself to the seats opposite of the window, and slumped into them, "Kasumi's never going to be the same, I'm pretty sure if we ever find Akane, it'll probably be floating and bloated from an impromptu crash course in swimming," Nabiki snorted softly, "I wonder what he has in store for me?"
"You know, Nodoka's not taking this any easier than you," Genma started, "Between this whole thing, and the hospital here bringing back some bad memories... she's on pretty shaky ground."
Nabiki sighed, "So, what happens now?"
"We wait for Ranma to make a mistake, and we resolve this," Genma stated with utter solumnity, "Now, let's return back to your father and Nodoka."
_____________________
A weary Nodoka, and morose Nabiki lead the two men into the Tendou home. Nabiki barely remembered to take her shoes off, and walked into the living room, followed closely by her father. She would have to remember to be extra careful around the house right now; Kasumi was being held for observation by the doctors to ensure no infection develops, and to also establish the extent of her psychological damage.
"I'll go start dinner," Nodoka stated with a quiet voice. Everyone nodded in response, not really paying attention to the Saotome Matriarch.
Genma settled down in front of the shougi table, "How about a game to help calm your nerves, Tendou?"
"How can you think about playing games at a time like this?" Soun asked in a serious voice.
Genma shrugged, "Can't think of anything else to do right now."
"You selfish, cowardly..."
"Shouldn't be casting stones, Tendou ol' 'Pal'," Genma interjected, coming to standing.
"My daughters' lives have been in jeapordy because of your insane son, and what have you shown to do about it?" Soun growled through gritted teeth, his face right in Genma's.
"About as much as you've shown in protecting your daughters!"
Soun's eyes flashed violently, as he threw the first punch. Genma managed to parry it away, and then jump back into stance, "Wanna take this outside, Tendou, my dear 'friend'?"
"We'll settle this wherever and now!" Soun challenged, also in stance.
"BOTH OF YOU, STOP THIS AT ONCE!" Nodoka shouted, drying her hands with a dishtowel.
"My heros," Nabiki stated with a cold voice dripping with sarcasm, "I'm going upstairs, so I won't have to watch you two act like idiots."
As Nabiki climbed the stairs, Genma and Soun continued to stare at each other. "Don't ever comment about my ability to protect my baby girls, or you'll find out just how 'inadequate' my ability is," Soun challenged, slowly relaxing from his stance.
"Just as long as you don't say anything about my control over my son," Genma retorted, relaxing also. Though they were no longer in aggressive positions, they continued to glare at each other...
...until they heard Nabiki's scream.
Within less than an instant, Genma, Soun, and Nodoka were in Nabiki's doorway, finding the girl staring fearfully at her vanity mirror. All three entered fully, to find what had shaken Nabiki so...
"Eenie, meenie, minie, mo.
Akane, Shampoo, Kasumi, Kodachi, Ukyo,
I think Nabiki will be the next to go!"
The message was written in Ranma's messy sprawl, in Nabiki's favorite lipstick color. The one that she had put on this morning, and carried around with her with a few others all day in case it needed to be reapplied...
Nabiki was made to stay at the hospital with Konatsu, while Soun and Genma searched the area for their daughter and wife, respectively, but to no avail. It was with great relief when they came home that night, and found Nodoka waiting anxiously for them.
"Nodoka, have you seen Kasumi?" Soun asked with a trembling voice, Nodoka, much to his relief, nodded.
"She's upstairs in bed, I think she had an exitable night."
"Ah, as long as she's okay.." Soun decided to go check on his daughter, and found her in her room. He sighed at the contentful smile she had on her face, as if recent events had never happened. He brushed his hand against his daughter's bangs, before turning away. "As long as you and Nabiki are safe..." With that, he left the room, and Kasumi to her peaceful sleep.
_____________________
A yawning Nabiki stepped out of the taxi, and narrowed her eyes at the morning sun. She hated being up this early, but she didn't like the idea of having to deal with hospital food. Her father had called her last night to tell her Kasumi was alright, and chose to celebrate it with one of her exellent breakfasts.
"I'm home," Nabiki called out, as she removed her shoes.
"Welcome home, Nabiki," replied Kasumi's voice. Nabiki went to the kitchen to find Kasumi smiling as she worked on the morning meal. Nabiki noticed a little of the vibrancy missing from her sister's smile, and chalked it up to the stress of their missing (she didn't want to think of Akane's fate) sister.
"Where did you dissappear to last night? You had all of us worried sick."
"That's okay," Kasumi replied.
Nabiki blinked, "Uh, are you going to tell me?"
"I saw Ranma," Kasumi replied with an almost dull smile.
Nabiki's face grew serious, as her complextion turned pale, "What do you mean, you saw him, did he do anything to you?" Alarm bells were starting to go off with Nabiki, as she began to note little nuances with Kasumi.
"I saw Ranma, and she told me that everything was fine now." Nabiki searched Kasumi's eyes, finding her sister meeting her glance with passive, dull ones.
"DAD!" Nabiki shouted, grabbing her sister by the arm, "WE NEED TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL! I THINK RANMA DRUGGED KASUMI!"
_____________________
"OH! MY BABY'S DYING!" Soun wailed, as he was being placated by both Nodoka and his best friend. Nabiki was frantically pacing back and forth on the floor, hoping that her concern was invalid, and that it was probably just stress and maybe some depression that she saw in Kasumi earlier. She was still worried about Kasumi's claims of seeing Ranma. If she had, were they also now targets to him? Were they always targets? Just who was safe from Ranma?
The doctor stepped out into the lounge, breaking both Soun's hysterics, and Nabiki's nervous contemplation. He kept a serious, unemotional expression on his face, telling Nabiki and Soun something was wrong.
"Doctor?" Nabiki asked tentatively, as if fearful for the answer.
"Your sister isn't drugged, as you supposed," the doctor stated, his voice sounding far from relieving.
"There's something else, isn't there?" Nodoka asked, extremely worried, herself.
The doctor cleared his throat, and for the first time gave an expression that showed his condolences, "Well, there was extensive and irreperable damage done to the frontal lobes of her brain. A sharp object had been used to enter through the outer corners of her eyes, puncture through the soft bone, and... and then to scratch out the tissue of the frontal lobes of her brain. This barbaric proceedure is medically known as a trans-orbital lobotomy, more commonly known as an-"
"Ice pick lobotomy," Nabiki gasped, beginning to feel nausious. Ranma did that to her sister, no doubt about it. It fit right into the 'peotic irony' theme. Kasumi tended to act vapid to avoid situations, sometimes even ignoring the situation; only giving discerning emotions to more extreme cases when it came to her fancy. An Ice pick lobotomy was made to 'balance' out extreme emotions, any of which Kasumi would probably never express or feel again.
"I would also like to point out that this operation is highly illegal."
"Like it mattered to Ranma," Nabiki growled.
"Nabiki, please," Nodoka urged, incidentally causing Nabiki to snap.
"NO!" she screamed, whirling on the older woman, "RANMA'S BEEN PICKING US OFF, ONE BY ONE! THE POLICE CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO STOP HIM, EVEN *IF* THEY CATCH HIM. YOUR HUSBAND AND DAD ARE JUST AS USELESS! WE HAVE NO IDEA WHO'S SAFE, BUT NOT EVEN KASUMI APPARENTLY WAS! NOT EVEN AKANE, HIS FIANCEE, NOT EVEN UKYO, HIS BEST FRIEND, NOT EVEN..." Nabiki started suddenly, before closing her eyes. After regaining what calmness she could, she opened her now teary eyes, "We're next, aren't we, Auntie Saotome?"
Nodoka looked away, the nervousness about her easily palpable. That did nothing to comfort Nabiki, as she turned, and furiously stormed away, pushing the unfortunate doctor out of her way.
"NABIKI!" Soun shouted out, "DON'T!" Genma put a hand on his shoulder, forestalling his best friend from saying any more, and followed after Nabiki.
_____________________
Genma found Nabiki standing in front of a plate glass window, overlooking some of the city from the fourth floor, "Nabiki."
"Leave me alone," Nabiki mumbled, not turning to look at the man.
"I won't do that, the Saotome Honor is now at stake here."
"*What* Honor?" Nabiki almost growled, still not looking at Genma, "I think Ranma just burned whatever was left of it to the ground."
"Trust me, the boy will be stopped," Genma stated firmly, "But, if that's to be done, we will need your cooperation with this."
Nabiki finally relented, "Kasumi was supposed to be safe. No one would harm Kasumi! I guess Ranma just got really fed up with the placid attitude of hers, whenever he was in the thick of it, but it wasn't her fault! He didn't have to take it out on her!" Nabiki dragged herself to the seats opposite of the window, and slumped into them, "Kasumi's never going to be the same, I'm pretty sure if we ever find Akane, it'll probably be floating and bloated from an impromptu crash course in swimming," Nabiki snorted softly, "I wonder what he has in store for me?"
"You know, Nodoka's not taking this any easier than you," Genma started, "Between this whole thing, and the hospital here bringing back some bad memories... she's on pretty shaky ground."
Nabiki sighed, "So, what happens now?"
"We wait for Ranma to make a mistake, and we resolve this," Genma stated with utter solumnity, "Now, let's return back to your father and Nodoka."
_____________________
A weary Nodoka, and morose Nabiki lead the two men into the Tendou home. Nabiki barely remembered to take her shoes off, and walked into the living room, followed closely by her father. She would have to remember to be extra careful around the house right now; Kasumi was being held for observation by the doctors to ensure no infection develops, and to also establish the extent of her psychological damage.
"I'll go start dinner," Nodoka stated with a quiet voice. Everyone nodded in response, not really paying attention to the Saotome Matriarch.
Genma settled down in front of the shougi table, "How about a game to help calm your nerves, Tendou?"
"How can you think about playing games at a time like this?" Soun asked in a serious voice.
Genma shrugged, "Can't think of anything else to do right now."
"You selfish, cowardly..."
"Shouldn't be casting stones, Tendou ol' 'Pal'," Genma interjected, coming to standing.
"My daughters' lives have been in jeapordy because of your insane son, and what have you shown to do about it?" Soun growled through gritted teeth, his face right in Genma's.
"About as much as you've shown in protecting your daughters!"
Soun's eyes flashed violently, as he threw the first punch. Genma managed to parry it away, and then jump back into stance, "Wanna take this outside, Tendou, my dear 'friend'?"
"We'll settle this wherever and now!" Soun challenged, also in stance.
"BOTH OF YOU, STOP THIS AT ONCE!" Nodoka shouted, drying her hands with a dishtowel.
"My heros," Nabiki stated with a cold voice dripping with sarcasm, "I'm going upstairs, so I won't have to watch you two act like idiots."
As Nabiki climbed the stairs, Genma and Soun continued to stare at each other. "Don't ever comment about my ability to protect my baby girls, or you'll find out just how 'inadequate' my ability is," Soun challenged, slowly relaxing from his stance.
"Just as long as you don't say anything about my control over my son," Genma retorted, relaxing also. Though they were no longer in aggressive positions, they continued to glare at each other...
...until they heard Nabiki's scream.
Within less than an instant, Genma, Soun, and Nodoka were in Nabiki's doorway, finding the girl staring fearfully at her vanity mirror. All three entered fully, to find what had shaken Nabiki so...
"Eenie, meenie, minie, mo.
Akane, Shampoo, Kasumi, Kodachi, Ukyo,
I think Nabiki will be the next to go!"
The message was written in Ranma's messy sprawl, in Nabiki's favorite lipstick color. The one that she had put on this morning, and carried around with her with a few others all day in case it needed to be reapplied...