Sorry this chapter took so long to get out, but you know, life happens.
Remember all the usual stuff that no one reads….I don't own Ranma, and I sure don't make any money off of it. (short, snappish and to the point…)
Starry Night
Chapter Nine
The warm water of the furo swirled around Nabiki's body as she leaned back and closed her eyes. When she had decided to take a hot bath she had hoped that the water would help her to relax, but it just wasn't working. She had an important decision to make by dinner and she just would not be able to relax until she did so. She had been so surprised when Cologne had called her on the phone earlier in the day. Apparently, she and Shampoo were going on an extended trip to China for some village meeting and were leaving Mouse in charge of the restaurant. Nabiki thought it was odd for Cologne to be telling her all of the plans for their trip, it was almost as if the old hag wanted something from her.
Finally, after hearing their itinerary for the next few days, Cologne asked the question that had put Nabiki in the state of mind she was currently in. Would she be willing to stay at the restaurant and help Mousse manage it. Cologne had explained that Mousse knew how to prepare all the food and how to prepare for the customers, but he was no good with numbers. She would need Nabiki to help keep the books and to help order supplies and such. Cologne had even extende1d the use of her room over the restaurant to Nabiki, that way she would not have to walk home late at night. Mousse could handle the lunch crowd by himself as long as he did not accept any takeout orders, that way she could still go to school in the morning. Cologne had even thought about her homework. She could get most of that done during the slow period between the lunch and dinner rush. This opportunity was just too promising for Nabiki to pass-up. She would be getting real hands-on experience managing a business in her first year of college, that would look extremely good on her resume. That decided the whole problem for her, now all she had to do was explain her decision to her dad.
Cologne and Shampoo were sitting on a train heading north. They were heading for the coastal town of Oga, from there they were going to catch a boat for China, and then they were going to meet with the village elders. Shampoo did not understand why this journey was so important, and she did not understand why Cologne felt so strongly about her going along. Truth be known, she would have much rather stayed in Nerima with Ranma. He needed her now that Akane was gone. Even though she may act like an idiot, she was not stupid. Ranma did not love her, she knew this and accepted the fact. He loved Akane. Now that Akane was gone though, she needed to be there to support and comfort him. He would need her to help him through the pain of rejection, and then, when his heart was ready, he would realize that she was the woman for him. The one who would never let him down.
She sighed to herself as she glanced at the sleeping form of her great-grandmother. She had never questioned her grandmother before, but she really didn't belong here. She was needed in other places. If her grandmother had listened to her then she would have seen that she should be running the restaurant, not Nabiki and Mousse. This was one of the things her grandmother had been teaching her to do in Nerima, the other one was how to make Ranma happy. Well, at least she had mastered running the restaurant. What was she going to do with herself while her grandmother was in closed conference with the elders? Maybe if she asked her grandmother nicely enough she could enter the annual tournament to see whom the strongest, most skilled warrior was. She would win this year; there was no doubt of that. After fighting with Ranma, and by his side, she had improved beyond almost every warrior in their tribe. Now all she had to do was convince her grandmother.
The Ono-clinic was dark, except for a few candles burning on the desk in Dr. Tofu's office. The smell of delicious food wafted through the front doors and out onto the street, tempting people with its tantalizing aroma as they walked by. Inside the office, Kasumi's eyes were alive with pleasure as she watched Dr. Tofu enjoy the meal she had prepared earlier in the day. The meal was not a spur of the moment idea; she had been thinking for quite awhile about how she was going to get him alone in a romantic situation. Especially since he was overly pleased that he could now speak to her in a coherent manner and seemed to be making no moves to take their relationship to the next level. Normally Kasumi would have been her passive self and let the situation work itself out, but not this time. Too much time had already passed; too many chances had been given and now she was going to take matters into her own hand. This was her chance for eternal happiness with the man she had been in love with forever, and there was no way she was going to wait anymore.
"How was dinner, Tofu?" Kasumi asked.
A loud gulp could be heard coming from Dr. Tofu's direction as he looked up and noticed that he was now nose to nose with Kasumi. Two big, beautiful, brown eyes starring right into the depths of his very being, tempting him to close the distance between them and do what he had been dreaming of for so long. Slowly he leaned closer to her, watching her intently as her eyelids fluttered closed, and they kissed. The sensation of her soft lips on his sent shivers up and down his spine and left him longing for more. Now was not the time though, they needed to take things more slowly and Kasumi needed to experience life on her own. She needed to be able to do things for herself and not her family for a while, and the first step in that would have to be her moving out of the dojo. He had the perfect idea for that.
"Kasumi, I have been thinking," Tofu said without stuttering, "I need a person who can help me here part of the day. The patient loads in the mornings are light, but the afternoons can get so hectic that I have problems keeping up. The loft above the clinic has been empty since I moved, so whoever fills the position can live there for free as long as they take care of it. This would be an idea opportunity for someone who is in school, or maybe wants to go back to school. Do you know anyone who might be looking for a job?"
Kasumi stared in wonder at Tofu. How had he known that lately she had been thinking about all the sacrifices she had made for her family? She really didn't mind having to give things up, but she had desperately wanted to go to college. That hadn't happened though; her father never fully recovered from the loss of her mother so she had to stay at home and look after everyone. The future seemed to be staring her right in the face. Not only could she go to school, but she would also be able to do things all for herself! She wouldn't even feel guilty either, not with Auntie Nodoka taking care of her father and Akane. She could finally be free to live her life. Then there was Tofu to think about. Their relationship had grown since she had started staying at the clinic that living there permanently should make it bloom even more. There was no way she would pass up this opportunity; she would just have to find a way to make her father understand.
Nodoka was in the kitchen preparing a special tray of tea for Soun and Genma to drink while she put the finishing touches on dinner. She knew that Soun and Genma would never leave their game to come into the kitchen, but her heart raced anyways as she measured a tiny amount of white powder into the bottom of one cup. The white powder was not poisonous; even though Nodoka had wished it was the first time she had heard Soun wail over Akane's leaving. No, this was merely a medication given to her by Dr. Tofu to help Soun ease into his daughter's adulthood. He had explained to her that the medication would help Soun to control his emotions so he wouldn't be so weepy all the time. She didn't mind giving Soun his medicine; she rather liked his quiet, gentle manner. What she didn't like was the fact that Kasumi and Nabiki insisted she not tell him. They told her that the less their daddy knew the better because they did not want him to break down emotionally again. She wasn't sure what had happened to Soun in the past, but if sitting in the corner and crying until he sat in a puddle was normal, then she didn't want to see a breakdown.
She had contemplated giving him more than the normal amount tonight because the girls had some big news that she was certain would upset him, but she didn't want to take the chance of overdosing him. Besides, if she overdosed him she would have to start making mop water instead of just cleaning up after him, and she rather liked not having to carry a heavy bucket around the house. Now if she could only get him to cry in the kitchen and the dojo once a week, then her life would be so much easier.
"Soun, Genma dear, come and have some tea to help you relax before dinner," Nodoka said as she set the cups in their respective places at the table.
"Thank you dear," Genma said with a smile and started to get up from the game. He winced a little and had to put a hand down to help push himself the rest of the way up. He thought he was in good shape from sparring with Ranma, boy was he wrong. The rigorous schedule he followed now was a lot more demanding that a half hour sparring session every morning and then lazing around the rest of the day. He was sure his body would adjust with time. Hopefully Kasumi would come back home before then and save him from his wife.
Genma looked at his life-long friend after he had stood-up and chuckled, Soun was having just as many problems getting off the floor as he had. He obviously wasn't the only out-of-shape martial artist around the house.
"Need some help, Tendo?"
"No Saotome, I think I can manage it. I haven't been this sore since we trained with the master."
"Maybe we should talk to Nodoka and let her know that she is expecting to much out of us."
"You know what Saotome? I haven't felt this good in ages! Helping around the house, teaching classes, taking care of my girls. I feel useful again."
Genma sighed as he sat down. He was counting on Soun to have his back when he went to talk to Nodoka. He was tired of working, tired of helping, tired of not being able to do what he wanted to do when he wanted to do it. That was the main reason behind him taking Ranma on the extended training trip. No one would bother him, he was free to do as he pleased. Maybe he should leave on another trip soon, maybe Ranma needed help finding Akane and who could give better support than him. A scheme started to form in his mind about how he could get him way. He would be extremely loving to Nodoka, he would romance her and make her pliable, then he would explain that his son needed him now and that he would return as soon as possible. Yes, that is what he would do! He would find a way out of the house and then he would only have to worry about himself again.
Little golden beams of sunlight shone through the brown and green dappled leaves of the forest canopy. They tried desperately to illuminate the dim landscape, but only succeeded in leaving behind tiny pools of light amid the darkness. Akane knew that night was fast approaching just by looking at the growing shadows all around her. Darkness would soon be upon her and she still had not found a suitable clearing to set up camp in. She would have to find a spot quickly so she could finish all of the chores that needed to be done yet. She needed to set up her tent, find firewood and make something to eat. Hopefully she would be done before the night got too dark; she did not relish the idea of spending the night without a fire. The chill in the air at this time of the year was not bad, in fact she was pretty sure the night would prove to be fairly warm. What she was worried about were the things lurking in the forest at night, especially since her dreams had started. The fire would help her see what was around her and hopefully help her feel safe.
A sudden noise to her left caused Akane to look quickly in that direction. A flock of birds had taken flight from a clearing not more than twenty yards away from her, it was almost as if they were trying to lead her in the right direction. The grass covered clearing was very lovely with flowers growing randomly and a brook bubbling softly in the background. This was the perfect place for her to set camp up at. She was planning on staying her for a few days so she could rest and train. Even though she was enchanted with the spot and water was plentiful here, she didn't want to stay in one spot for too long. Knowing Ranma he was probably out somewhere looking for her, and she didn't want to be found. She didn't think that he would follow her to China, but you could never be too sure with Ranma. There was also Ryoga to think about. He had been with her just this morning before he got lost again, and there was no telling where or when he would turn up. She needed to remember that just in case Ranma ran across him before she did.
The campsite was easier to set up than Akane had anticipated. Recently every time she had gone camping Ranma had gone with her and had been in charge of setting up the tents while she had been in charge of gathering firewood. That had seemed like a good idea at the time, but now that she had to put up her own tent she wasn't sure if she would remember how. Luckily this task seemed to be riding a bike, you just instinctively remembered how it was done. When she was finished with the tent, Akane quickly gathered enough firewood for the night and started a fire. She desperately wanted to get to the brook so she could take a quick bath to wash the stench of all the fish out of her hair and clothes; she would need the fire to warm her when she returned.
Just as soon as the dark haired girl let left the campsite for the brook, stealthy shadows slinked out of the surrounding foliage. Each shape was careful to remain in the shadows of the trees, carefully hidden from roaming eyes. Slowly they encircled the area and watched. Off in the distance the call of a lone bird could be heard; it was the signal they had been waiting for. Without making a sound four beautiful, muscular women emerged from the shadows. The fading sunlight in the clearing was just bright enough to accentuate the highlights in their brown hair. They were all dressed in shorts and skin tight t-shirts that showed off their ample curves. A type of camouflage matching the colors of the forest had been painted on each of their faces; only their weapons seemed to be different. One girl was carrying a crossbow and had a quiver on her back, the second had a short sword strapped to her waist, the third was carrying what looked like a morning star, and the fourth had a pair of bonbori.
Quickly, the girls entered the dark haired girl's tent and started to look through her stuff. They searched for anything that might be used to harm their tribe; except for a knife, their search was fruitless. This was a good sign though, the girls had been following the dark haired one since she entered the woods and they knew that she was alone. The fact that she carried no weapons of potential threat further proved her to be of no harm, but they would still watch her for a few days. Their tribe had been in many battles over the centuries, and they had acquired so many enemies that they had to be cautious. Guards were constantly patrolling the woods around their village. They were the first line of defense against all of the enemies that threatened the sanctity of their way of life. If this dark haired girl turned out to know the ways of magic or potion making then they would have stop her before she could destroy their home. They would gladly give their lives to preserve their traditions.
A shrill whistle sounding in the woods alerted the girls that the dark haired girl was returning to the area. They quickly put her belongings back in her pack and sprinted for the trees, there they concealed themselves from sight once again. The leader of the guards made several quick movements with her hands and set everyone in motion. For a few seconds there was a flurry of silent movement in the trees as the orders were efficiently carried out. In the end only four guards left on the perimeter of the clearing, the four that had searched the tent. They were the honored ones that were chosen to stand watch and report any questionable activities to their leader. Before anything else could be accomplished they would need to decide which of them was going to watch the dark haired girl for the first part of the night; the girl with the bonbori quickly volunteered for the honor. The other three soon faded back into the woods to settle down for the night while their comrade found a spot from which she could see the entire camp. She then wrapped herself in a cloak and waited.
A cooling breeze blew down through the trees and across the koi pond, marring the lucid surface with tiny ripples and obscuring the face of the person who was gazing into its depths. He could sense a change coming; not just in the air, but in his life. The air around him seemed to resonate with change, almost as if there was no stopping it. Akane had left, Kasumi was staying at the clinic, Ranma went after Akane, the only one remaining was Nabiki. She would leave too though; he had known all along that she would leave. Nabiki had always been the brains of the family, the performer; so much like her mother. Soun had know from her first achievements at school that she would definitely go to college and master an art besides the art. That had to be the change he was sensing, Nabiki was going to head off to college. This line of thinking helped Soun to feel more secure for the moment, but deep down he knew that this was just the tip of the iceberg.
"I'm home!" could be heard all throughout the house as Nabiki stepped through the front door. She had gone over the Nekohatten earlier in the day to try and get a feel for the establishment, and was now returning with an uncomfortable looking Mousse in tow. After closing the door, she pointed out a pair of house shoes to Mousse, quickly she realized her mistake when he tried to put on a pair of her heels. Rolling her eyes in disbelief, she quickly took his glasses off the top of his head and put them on this face so he could correct his mistake before changing into her own house shoes.
"Nabiki, are you sure this is a good idea? I've seen how your father gets over you girls, and I am not sure I want to be here." Mousse said after he stood back up.
"Yeah, its bound to be a good show. I need you to reassure my dad that Cologne said this is all right." Nabiki replied.
"I know it's just that after everything Shampoo did to your family I didn't think I would be welcome here. She did things that are going to be pretty hard to forgive."
"We had always let bygones be bygones until she bombed the wedding. That was completely unacceptable, and I don't think my family will ever forgive her for that. I take that back, they may forgive her but I probably never will."
Mousse glanced at Nabiki for just a second and was completely shocked by what he saw there. The ice queen façade had slipped, if just for the briefest of seconds, and emotion flooded her eyes. Pain, anger and love all swirled to the surface of the mask she continuously wore and made her seem more human than the people he lived with. He had always thought that Nabiki was just like Cologne and Shampoo, only looking out for herself and what she wanted. Evidently he had been wrong. Self-seeking people would never be able to express the emotions that she had unless they themselves had been hurt. Maybe he should get to know her better.
"I'm home!" Kasumi said as she opened the front door. "Hello Nabiki. Mousse, I haven't seen you in a while."
Mousse studied Kasumi's face for any sign of anger before answering, "I've been staying close to the restaurant lately."
"Well, you should come around more often. You are always welcome here!" Kasumi said with a very sincere smile.
Nabiki stood back and watched the whole exchange with interest. She needed to know where her family stood with Mousse before she started working with him. Their support meant more than anything to her and she didn't want to lose it. Kasumi didn't seem to be flustered by Mousse's presence in the least, for that matter she seemed to literally be floating across the floor. There was also a glow about her that Nabiki couldn't quite put her fingers on. Maybe the good doctor was being very good to her.
The door opened again and, to Nabiki's amazement, Dr. Tofu stepped into the house. He looked down at Kasumi and smiled at her in a way that made Nabiki's knees weak. She had never in her life witnessed such an intense intimacy that was expressed without touching, and the look in Kasumi's eyes was no less intense. There was a hunger there, a raw unveiled passion that was almost embarrassing to look at. Then, before Nabiki knew it, the moment was gone. The new couple turned their eyes towards Nabiki and Mousse and gave them a bashful smile as they reached for each other's hands. Their smiles grew brighter as their hands clasped, almost as if they were drawing strength from each other. Nabiki found herself growing slightly jealous over the entire scene; she never had anyone to share such deep feelings with. She would have to talk with Mousse later; he might be able to introduce her to someone.
"Welcome home, Kasumi! I trust you are feeling well," Nodoka said with a smile on her face. She had just witnessed everything that had happened in the last few minutes and approved of Kasumi's choice. "Come sit in the living room, your father is waiting for you."
"I would much rather assist you in the kitchen," Kasumi said with conflicting emotions. Part of her felt the need to take care of her family, but another part of her wanted to break free and take care of herself. This did not escape Nodoka's keen eye.
"I thank you for the kind offer dear, but I am almost finished with the dinner preparations, besides you are still recovering. Go and relax, I will take care of all of this." Nodoka said with a motherly smile that spoke of her concern for the girl's welfare, physical and emotional.
Kasumi was going to insist that she help, but then thought better of it and instead made her way to the living room with Dr. Tofu. Everyone in the living room turned and watched the couple as they walked over to the couch hand-in-hand, wondering what was going on. Kasumi never noticed this though, she was too busy worrying over how her father was going to react to her moving out and how she was going to handle him. She was sure that he was going to cry; he cried over every little thing anymore. What she didn't want was for him to disapprove, she needed his approval just as much as she craved his praise. That was probably why she had taken care of her family for as long as she had. She could not think of a way to leave and please him at the same time. Things would have probably been different if her mother were still alive then her father would not have been so dependent on her, she probably could have found different ways to please him them, but that was not meant to be. Instead here she was a housemaid to her father; a young woman with tremendous potential that wanted more for herself, but wasn't quite sure how to achieve it. Hopefully, with Auntie Nodoka living in the house, things would change for the better. There were already signs of improvement in the household. All the little odd jobs around the house were being done, and her father was teaching classes again. His whole demeanor was improving also; he seemed to be finding his confidence once again. This was a very good thing, he had been so unsure of himself since their mother had died, it was almost as if a part of him died also and now it seemed as if it were being reborn. Maybe tonight would go smoothly after all.
Dinner was a very solemn affair. Everyone there seemed to know that something big was about to happen, everyone except for Genma who seemed oblivious to the world as he chomped down on his food. No words were spoken by anyone present as the meal progressed; each person was lost in their own thoughts about what the future held for them. After he was sure everyone was finished eating, he broached the subject that both girls had been dreading.
"So girls, what are you planning on doing the next few weeks?" Soun asked with a weak smile on his face. He had been hoping for good news, Nabiki would tell him that she was going to go to a college close to home and Kasumi would be healthy enough to return to him. He knew better though, he could tell by the look on their faces. Nabiki looked at him defiantly as if she were steeling herself for a confrontation with an uncertain outcome. Kasumi's face looked ashen, and he was certain she was clutching Tofu's hand under the table. This couldn't be good.
"Well daddy," Nabiki started after a nod from Kasumi, "as you know I am going to start college next week. I went ahead and chose the college close to home so I stay with the family, but things have changed since then."
Soun looked at his daughter with a fear growing in his heart. His glance went back and forth between Mousse and Nabiki as his mind started to go over several different things that could be wrong. He did not like the outcome of any of them.
"Daddy, I'm shocked!" Nabiki said as she guessed at her father's thoughts. "Mousse is just my friend and nothing more! Now, if you'd listen to me I could tell you about the offer I received from Cologne."
Nabiki watched the expression on her father's face change from anger to pride as she told him about running the restaurant while Cologne was gone on her trip. The whole thing was going better than she thought it would, her dad wasn't crying yet and he seemed to be considering what she was saying. As she finished the carefully prepared speech, Soun crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes. He stayed this way for several minutes before he began to speak.
"Nabiki, you have always been the most independent of my children. You have always wanted to do everything on your own, to take care of yourself, and to make something of yourself. I have never worried about you because I knew how responsible you were. Even though you are very responsible, you have never thought much about you reputation. What will people think about you if you are living with a man you are not married to?"
"Gee Daddy, you let Ranma live here with Akane and didn't worry about her reputation," Nabiki replied with a hurt tone in her voice.
"There is no need to worry, sir" Mousse said when he noticed Nabiki falter. "I have already thought about that. My room is on the bottom floor of the restaurant by the storeroom and Nabiki's room is upstairs, so I installed a locking door at the top of the stairs. The only person who will have the keys to that door is Nabiki."
"Good thinking, son!" Soun said with a note of respect in his voice. "In that case, I have no problems with my daughter helping you. I trust you to continue to take care of her."
Soun noticed Mousse blush at his last comment, but said nothing of it as he turned his attention to Kasumi. "What do you have to tell me daughter?"
"I want to go to school. You don't have to worry about the cost; Tofu and I have an agreement. He needs someone to help him around the clinic and I am going to take that job." Kasumi stopped there to see what her father's reaction was going to be. When he just sat there and looked at her she continued. "He said that I can stay in the empty apartment over the clinic that way I can study in quiet, and I can save my pay for class expenses."
Soun felt the tears start to build in his chest; all of his girls were gone. This was all happening so fast that he wasn't sure what to do. He had hoped that they would stay with him until they were married or at least established, but here they were, all grown-up and ready to face the world on their own. There was nothing left for him to do now but let them go and hope he had done a good job raising them. All the eyes in the room were resting on him waiting for an answer, but he knew if he were to talk he would break out in tears. He didn't want to do that; he wanted this to be a happy occasion! His girls were all grown-up! He couldn't do it though. He couldn't deny what had become second nature to him and just let the tears start to freely flow.
"Do good girls, do good and make me proud!" Soun managed to choke out before he started to sob.
Nodoka had been sitting silently by her husband's side the entire night not wanting to interfere with the family discussion. Now, however, she raised her hand to stop the girls as they started to rise to go to their father. He needed to learn how to live without them and she needed to mop the dojo. She simply smiled sweetly at all the shocked faces as she said,
"Soun, will you please go cry in the dojo for me?"
@ ------
I know this chapter doesn't say much in the way of Akane and Ranma, but I am trying to set up the background information for future chapters. Please bear with me…and enjoy the ride!
Seong Mi
Remember all the usual stuff that no one reads….I don't own Ranma, and I sure don't make any money off of it. (short, snappish and to the point…)
Starry Night
Chapter Nine
The warm water of the furo swirled around Nabiki's body as she leaned back and closed her eyes. When she had decided to take a hot bath she had hoped that the water would help her to relax, but it just wasn't working. She had an important decision to make by dinner and she just would not be able to relax until she did so. She had been so surprised when Cologne had called her on the phone earlier in the day. Apparently, she and Shampoo were going on an extended trip to China for some village meeting and were leaving Mouse in charge of the restaurant. Nabiki thought it was odd for Cologne to be telling her all of the plans for their trip, it was almost as if the old hag wanted something from her.
Finally, after hearing their itinerary for the next few days, Cologne asked the question that had put Nabiki in the state of mind she was currently in. Would she be willing to stay at the restaurant and help Mousse manage it. Cologne had explained that Mousse knew how to prepare all the food and how to prepare for the customers, but he was no good with numbers. She would need Nabiki to help keep the books and to help order supplies and such. Cologne had even extende1d the use of her room over the restaurant to Nabiki, that way she would not have to walk home late at night. Mousse could handle the lunch crowd by himself as long as he did not accept any takeout orders, that way she could still go to school in the morning. Cologne had even thought about her homework. She could get most of that done during the slow period between the lunch and dinner rush. This opportunity was just too promising for Nabiki to pass-up. She would be getting real hands-on experience managing a business in her first year of college, that would look extremely good on her resume. That decided the whole problem for her, now all she had to do was explain her decision to her dad.
Cologne and Shampoo were sitting on a train heading north. They were heading for the coastal town of Oga, from there they were going to catch a boat for China, and then they were going to meet with the village elders. Shampoo did not understand why this journey was so important, and she did not understand why Cologne felt so strongly about her going along. Truth be known, she would have much rather stayed in Nerima with Ranma. He needed her now that Akane was gone. Even though she may act like an idiot, she was not stupid. Ranma did not love her, she knew this and accepted the fact. He loved Akane. Now that Akane was gone though, she needed to be there to support and comfort him. He would need her to help him through the pain of rejection, and then, when his heart was ready, he would realize that she was the woman for him. The one who would never let him down.
She sighed to herself as she glanced at the sleeping form of her great-grandmother. She had never questioned her grandmother before, but she really didn't belong here. She was needed in other places. If her grandmother had listened to her then she would have seen that she should be running the restaurant, not Nabiki and Mousse. This was one of the things her grandmother had been teaching her to do in Nerima, the other one was how to make Ranma happy. Well, at least she had mastered running the restaurant. What was she going to do with herself while her grandmother was in closed conference with the elders? Maybe if she asked her grandmother nicely enough she could enter the annual tournament to see whom the strongest, most skilled warrior was. She would win this year; there was no doubt of that. After fighting with Ranma, and by his side, she had improved beyond almost every warrior in their tribe. Now all she had to do was convince her grandmother.
The Ono-clinic was dark, except for a few candles burning on the desk in Dr. Tofu's office. The smell of delicious food wafted through the front doors and out onto the street, tempting people with its tantalizing aroma as they walked by. Inside the office, Kasumi's eyes were alive with pleasure as she watched Dr. Tofu enjoy the meal she had prepared earlier in the day. The meal was not a spur of the moment idea; she had been thinking for quite awhile about how she was going to get him alone in a romantic situation. Especially since he was overly pleased that he could now speak to her in a coherent manner and seemed to be making no moves to take their relationship to the next level. Normally Kasumi would have been her passive self and let the situation work itself out, but not this time. Too much time had already passed; too many chances had been given and now she was going to take matters into her own hand. This was her chance for eternal happiness with the man she had been in love with forever, and there was no way she was going to wait anymore.
"How was dinner, Tofu?" Kasumi asked.
A loud gulp could be heard coming from Dr. Tofu's direction as he looked up and noticed that he was now nose to nose with Kasumi. Two big, beautiful, brown eyes starring right into the depths of his very being, tempting him to close the distance between them and do what he had been dreaming of for so long. Slowly he leaned closer to her, watching her intently as her eyelids fluttered closed, and they kissed. The sensation of her soft lips on his sent shivers up and down his spine and left him longing for more. Now was not the time though, they needed to take things more slowly and Kasumi needed to experience life on her own. She needed to be able to do things for herself and not her family for a while, and the first step in that would have to be her moving out of the dojo. He had the perfect idea for that.
"Kasumi, I have been thinking," Tofu said without stuttering, "I need a person who can help me here part of the day. The patient loads in the mornings are light, but the afternoons can get so hectic that I have problems keeping up. The loft above the clinic has been empty since I moved, so whoever fills the position can live there for free as long as they take care of it. This would be an idea opportunity for someone who is in school, or maybe wants to go back to school. Do you know anyone who might be looking for a job?"
Kasumi stared in wonder at Tofu. How had he known that lately she had been thinking about all the sacrifices she had made for her family? She really didn't mind having to give things up, but she had desperately wanted to go to college. That hadn't happened though; her father never fully recovered from the loss of her mother so she had to stay at home and look after everyone. The future seemed to be staring her right in the face. Not only could she go to school, but she would also be able to do things all for herself! She wouldn't even feel guilty either, not with Auntie Nodoka taking care of her father and Akane. She could finally be free to live her life. Then there was Tofu to think about. Their relationship had grown since she had started staying at the clinic that living there permanently should make it bloom even more. There was no way she would pass up this opportunity; she would just have to find a way to make her father understand.
Nodoka was in the kitchen preparing a special tray of tea for Soun and Genma to drink while she put the finishing touches on dinner. She knew that Soun and Genma would never leave their game to come into the kitchen, but her heart raced anyways as she measured a tiny amount of white powder into the bottom of one cup. The white powder was not poisonous; even though Nodoka had wished it was the first time she had heard Soun wail over Akane's leaving. No, this was merely a medication given to her by Dr. Tofu to help Soun ease into his daughter's adulthood. He had explained to her that the medication would help Soun to control his emotions so he wouldn't be so weepy all the time. She didn't mind giving Soun his medicine; she rather liked his quiet, gentle manner. What she didn't like was the fact that Kasumi and Nabiki insisted she not tell him. They told her that the less their daddy knew the better because they did not want him to break down emotionally again. She wasn't sure what had happened to Soun in the past, but if sitting in the corner and crying until he sat in a puddle was normal, then she didn't want to see a breakdown.
She had contemplated giving him more than the normal amount tonight because the girls had some big news that she was certain would upset him, but she didn't want to take the chance of overdosing him. Besides, if she overdosed him she would have to start making mop water instead of just cleaning up after him, and she rather liked not having to carry a heavy bucket around the house. Now if she could only get him to cry in the kitchen and the dojo once a week, then her life would be so much easier.
"Soun, Genma dear, come and have some tea to help you relax before dinner," Nodoka said as she set the cups in their respective places at the table.
"Thank you dear," Genma said with a smile and started to get up from the game. He winced a little and had to put a hand down to help push himself the rest of the way up. He thought he was in good shape from sparring with Ranma, boy was he wrong. The rigorous schedule he followed now was a lot more demanding that a half hour sparring session every morning and then lazing around the rest of the day. He was sure his body would adjust with time. Hopefully Kasumi would come back home before then and save him from his wife.
Genma looked at his life-long friend after he had stood-up and chuckled, Soun was having just as many problems getting off the floor as he had. He obviously wasn't the only out-of-shape martial artist around the house.
"Need some help, Tendo?"
"No Saotome, I think I can manage it. I haven't been this sore since we trained with the master."
"Maybe we should talk to Nodoka and let her know that she is expecting to much out of us."
"You know what Saotome? I haven't felt this good in ages! Helping around the house, teaching classes, taking care of my girls. I feel useful again."
Genma sighed as he sat down. He was counting on Soun to have his back when he went to talk to Nodoka. He was tired of working, tired of helping, tired of not being able to do what he wanted to do when he wanted to do it. That was the main reason behind him taking Ranma on the extended training trip. No one would bother him, he was free to do as he pleased. Maybe he should leave on another trip soon, maybe Ranma needed help finding Akane and who could give better support than him. A scheme started to form in his mind about how he could get him way. He would be extremely loving to Nodoka, he would romance her and make her pliable, then he would explain that his son needed him now and that he would return as soon as possible. Yes, that is what he would do! He would find a way out of the house and then he would only have to worry about himself again.
Little golden beams of sunlight shone through the brown and green dappled leaves of the forest canopy. They tried desperately to illuminate the dim landscape, but only succeeded in leaving behind tiny pools of light amid the darkness. Akane knew that night was fast approaching just by looking at the growing shadows all around her. Darkness would soon be upon her and she still had not found a suitable clearing to set up camp in. She would have to find a spot quickly so she could finish all of the chores that needed to be done yet. She needed to set up her tent, find firewood and make something to eat. Hopefully she would be done before the night got too dark; she did not relish the idea of spending the night without a fire. The chill in the air at this time of the year was not bad, in fact she was pretty sure the night would prove to be fairly warm. What she was worried about were the things lurking in the forest at night, especially since her dreams had started. The fire would help her see what was around her and hopefully help her feel safe.
A sudden noise to her left caused Akane to look quickly in that direction. A flock of birds had taken flight from a clearing not more than twenty yards away from her, it was almost as if they were trying to lead her in the right direction. The grass covered clearing was very lovely with flowers growing randomly and a brook bubbling softly in the background. This was the perfect place for her to set camp up at. She was planning on staying her for a few days so she could rest and train. Even though she was enchanted with the spot and water was plentiful here, she didn't want to stay in one spot for too long. Knowing Ranma he was probably out somewhere looking for her, and she didn't want to be found. She didn't think that he would follow her to China, but you could never be too sure with Ranma. There was also Ryoga to think about. He had been with her just this morning before he got lost again, and there was no telling where or when he would turn up. She needed to remember that just in case Ranma ran across him before she did.
The campsite was easier to set up than Akane had anticipated. Recently every time she had gone camping Ranma had gone with her and had been in charge of setting up the tents while she had been in charge of gathering firewood. That had seemed like a good idea at the time, but now that she had to put up her own tent she wasn't sure if she would remember how. Luckily this task seemed to be riding a bike, you just instinctively remembered how it was done. When she was finished with the tent, Akane quickly gathered enough firewood for the night and started a fire. She desperately wanted to get to the brook so she could take a quick bath to wash the stench of all the fish out of her hair and clothes; she would need the fire to warm her when she returned.
Just as soon as the dark haired girl let left the campsite for the brook, stealthy shadows slinked out of the surrounding foliage. Each shape was careful to remain in the shadows of the trees, carefully hidden from roaming eyes. Slowly they encircled the area and watched. Off in the distance the call of a lone bird could be heard; it was the signal they had been waiting for. Without making a sound four beautiful, muscular women emerged from the shadows. The fading sunlight in the clearing was just bright enough to accentuate the highlights in their brown hair. They were all dressed in shorts and skin tight t-shirts that showed off their ample curves. A type of camouflage matching the colors of the forest had been painted on each of their faces; only their weapons seemed to be different. One girl was carrying a crossbow and had a quiver on her back, the second had a short sword strapped to her waist, the third was carrying what looked like a morning star, and the fourth had a pair of bonbori.
Quickly, the girls entered the dark haired girl's tent and started to look through her stuff. They searched for anything that might be used to harm their tribe; except for a knife, their search was fruitless. This was a good sign though, the girls had been following the dark haired one since she entered the woods and they knew that she was alone. The fact that she carried no weapons of potential threat further proved her to be of no harm, but they would still watch her for a few days. Their tribe had been in many battles over the centuries, and they had acquired so many enemies that they had to be cautious. Guards were constantly patrolling the woods around their village. They were the first line of defense against all of the enemies that threatened the sanctity of their way of life. If this dark haired girl turned out to know the ways of magic or potion making then they would have stop her before she could destroy their home. They would gladly give their lives to preserve their traditions.
A shrill whistle sounding in the woods alerted the girls that the dark haired girl was returning to the area. They quickly put her belongings back in her pack and sprinted for the trees, there they concealed themselves from sight once again. The leader of the guards made several quick movements with her hands and set everyone in motion. For a few seconds there was a flurry of silent movement in the trees as the orders were efficiently carried out. In the end only four guards left on the perimeter of the clearing, the four that had searched the tent. They were the honored ones that were chosen to stand watch and report any questionable activities to their leader. Before anything else could be accomplished they would need to decide which of them was going to watch the dark haired girl for the first part of the night; the girl with the bonbori quickly volunteered for the honor. The other three soon faded back into the woods to settle down for the night while their comrade found a spot from which she could see the entire camp. She then wrapped herself in a cloak and waited.
A cooling breeze blew down through the trees and across the koi pond, marring the lucid surface with tiny ripples and obscuring the face of the person who was gazing into its depths. He could sense a change coming; not just in the air, but in his life. The air around him seemed to resonate with change, almost as if there was no stopping it. Akane had left, Kasumi was staying at the clinic, Ranma went after Akane, the only one remaining was Nabiki. She would leave too though; he had known all along that she would leave. Nabiki had always been the brains of the family, the performer; so much like her mother. Soun had know from her first achievements at school that she would definitely go to college and master an art besides the art. That had to be the change he was sensing, Nabiki was going to head off to college. This line of thinking helped Soun to feel more secure for the moment, but deep down he knew that this was just the tip of the iceberg.
"I'm home!" could be heard all throughout the house as Nabiki stepped through the front door. She had gone over the Nekohatten earlier in the day to try and get a feel for the establishment, and was now returning with an uncomfortable looking Mousse in tow. After closing the door, she pointed out a pair of house shoes to Mousse, quickly she realized her mistake when he tried to put on a pair of her heels. Rolling her eyes in disbelief, she quickly took his glasses off the top of his head and put them on this face so he could correct his mistake before changing into her own house shoes.
"Nabiki, are you sure this is a good idea? I've seen how your father gets over you girls, and I am not sure I want to be here." Mousse said after he stood back up.
"Yeah, its bound to be a good show. I need you to reassure my dad that Cologne said this is all right." Nabiki replied.
"I know it's just that after everything Shampoo did to your family I didn't think I would be welcome here. She did things that are going to be pretty hard to forgive."
"We had always let bygones be bygones until she bombed the wedding. That was completely unacceptable, and I don't think my family will ever forgive her for that. I take that back, they may forgive her but I probably never will."
Mousse glanced at Nabiki for just a second and was completely shocked by what he saw there. The ice queen façade had slipped, if just for the briefest of seconds, and emotion flooded her eyes. Pain, anger and love all swirled to the surface of the mask she continuously wore and made her seem more human than the people he lived with. He had always thought that Nabiki was just like Cologne and Shampoo, only looking out for herself and what she wanted. Evidently he had been wrong. Self-seeking people would never be able to express the emotions that she had unless they themselves had been hurt. Maybe he should get to know her better.
"I'm home!" Kasumi said as she opened the front door. "Hello Nabiki. Mousse, I haven't seen you in a while."
Mousse studied Kasumi's face for any sign of anger before answering, "I've been staying close to the restaurant lately."
"Well, you should come around more often. You are always welcome here!" Kasumi said with a very sincere smile.
Nabiki stood back and watched the whole exchange with interest. She needed to know where her family stood with Mousse before she started working with him. Their support meant more than anything to her and she didn't want to lose it. Kasumi didn't seem to be flustered by Mousse's presence in the least, for that matter she seemed to literally be floating across the floor. There was also a glow about her that Nabiki couldn't quite put her fingers on. Maybe the good doctor was being very good to her.
The door opened again and, to Nabiki's amazement, Dr. Tofu stepped into the house. He looked down at Kasumi and smiled at her in a way that made Nabiki's knees weak. She had never in her life witnessed such an intense intimacy that was expressed without touching, and the look in Kasumi's eyes was no less intense. There was a hunger there, a raw unveiled passion that was almost embarrassing to look at. Then, before Nabiki knew it, the moment was gone. The new couple turned their eyes towards Nabiki and Mousse and gave them a bashful smile as they reached for each other's hands. Their smiles grew brighter as their hands clasped, almost as if they were drawing strength from each other. Nabiki found herself growing slightly jealous over the entire scene; she never had anyone to share such deep feelings with. She would have to talk with Mousse later; he might be able to introduce her to someone.
"Welcome home, Kasumi! I trust you are feeling well," Nodoka said with a smile on her face. She had just witnessed everything that had happened in the last few minutes and approved of Kasumi's choice. "Come sit in the living room, your father is waiting for you."
"I would much rather assist you in the kitchen," Kasumi said with conflicting emotions. Part of her felt the need to take care of her family, but another part of her wanted to break free and take care of herself. This did not escape Nodoka's keen eye.
"I thank you for the kind offer dear, but I am almost finished with the dinner preparations, besides you are still recovering. Go and relax, I will take care of all of this." Nodoka said with a motherly smile that spoke of her concern for the girl's welfare, physical and emotional.
Kasumi was going to insist that she help, but then thought better of it and instead made her way to the living room with Dr. Tofu. Everyone in the living room turned and watched the couple as they walked over to the couch hand-in-hand, wondering what was going on. Kasumi never noticed this though, she was too busy worrying over how her father was going to react to her moving out and how she was going to handle him. She was sure that he was going to cry; he cried over every little thing anymore. What she didn't want was for him to disapprove, she needed his approval just as much as she craved his praise. That was probably why she had taken care of her family for as long as she had. She could not think of a way to leave and please him at the same time. Things would have probably been different if her mother were still alive then her father would not have been so dependent on her, she probably could have found different ways to please him them, but that was not meant to be. Instead here she was a housemaid to her father; a young woman with tremendous potential that wanted more for herself, but wasn't quite sure how to achieve it. Hopefully, with Auntie Nodoka living in the house, things would change for the better. There were already signs of improvement in the household. All the little odd jobs around the house were being done, and her father was teaching classes again. His whole demeanor was improving also; he seemed to be finding his confidence once again. This was a very good thing, he had been so unsure of himself since their mother had died, it was almost as if a part of him died also and now it seemed as if it were being reborn. Maybe tonight would go smoothly after all.
Dinner was a very solemn affair. Everyone there seemed to know that something big was about to happen, everyone except for Genma who seemed oblivious to the world as he chomped down on his food. No words were spoken by anyone present as the meal progressed; each person was lost in their own thoughts about what the future held for them. After he was sure everyone was finished eating, he broached the subject that both girls had been dreading.
"So girls, what are you planning on doing the next few weeks?" Soun asked with a weak smile on his face. He had been hoping for good news, Nabiki would tell him that she was going to go to a college close to home and Kasumi would be healthy enough to return to him. He knew better though, he could tell by the look on their faces. Nabiki looked at him defiantly as if she were steeling herself for a confrontation with an uncertain outcome. Kasumi's face looked ashen, and he was certain she was clutching Tofu's hand under the table. This couldn't be good.
"Well daddy," Nabiki started after a nod from Kasumi, "as you know I am going to start college next week. I went ahead and chose the college close to home so I stay with the family, but things have changed since then."
Soun looked at his daughter with a fear growing in his heart. His glance went back and forth between Mousse and Nabiki as his mind started to go over several different things that could be wrong. He did not like the outcome of any of them.
"Daddy, I'm shocked!" Nabiki said as she guessed at her father's thoughts. "Mousse is just my friend and nothing more! Now, if you'd listen to me I could tell you about the offer I received from Cologne."
Nabiki watched the expression on her father's face change from anger to pride as she told him about running the restaurant while Cologne was gone on her trip. The whole thing was going better than she thought it would, her dad wasn't crying yet and he seemed to be considering what she was saying. As she finished the carefully prepared speech, Soun crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes. He stayed this way for several minutes before he began to speak.
"Nabiki, you have always been the most independent of my children. You have always wanted to do everything on your own, to take care of yourself, and to make something of yourself. I have never worried about you because I knew how responsible you were. Even though you are very responsible, you have never thought much about you reputation. What will people think about you if you are living with a man you are not married to?"
"Gee Daddy, you let Ranma live here with Akane and didn't worry about her reputation," Nabiki replied with a hurt tone in her voice.
"There is no need to worry, sir" Mousse said when he noticed Nabiki falter. "I have already thought about that. My room is on the bottom floor of the restaurant by the storeroom and Nabiki's room is upstairs, so I installed a locking door at the top of the stairs. The only person who will have the keys to that door is Nabiki."
"Good thinking, son!" Soun said with a note of respect in his voice. "In that case, I have no problems with my daughter helping you. I trust you to continue to take care of her."
Soun noticed Mousse blush at his last comment, but said nothing of it as he turned his attention to Kasumi. "What do you have to tell me daughter?"
"I want to go to school. You don't have to worry about the cost; Tofu and I have an agreement. He needs someone to help him around the clinic and I am going to take that job." Kasumi stopped there to see what her father's reaction was going to be. When he just sat there and looked at her she continued. "He said that I can stay in the empty apartment over the clinic that way I can study in quiet, and I can save my pay for class expenses."
Soun felt the tears start to build in his chest; all of his girls were gone. This was all happening so fast that he wasn't sure what to do. He had hoped that they would stay with him until they were married or at least established, but here they were, all grown-up and ready to face the world on their own. There was nothing left for him to do now but let them go and hope he had done a good job raising them. All the eyes in the room were resting on him waiting for an answer, but he knew if he were to talk he would break out in tears. He didn't want to do that; he wanted this to be a happy occasion! His girls were all grown-up! He couldn't do it though. He couldn't deny what had become second nature to him and just let the tears start to freely flow.
"Do good girls, do good and make me proud!" Soun managed to choke out before he started to sob.
Nodoka had been sitting silently by her husband's side the entire night not wanting to interfere with the family discussion. Now, however, she raised her hand to stop the girls as they started to rise to go to their father. He needed to learn how to live without them and she needed to mop the dojo. She simply smiled sweetly at all the shocked faces as she said,
"Soun, will you please go cry in the dojo for me?"
@ ------
I know this chapter doesn't say much in the way of Akane and Ranma, but I am trying to set up the background information for future chapters. Please bear with me…and enjoy the ride!
Seong Mi