Disclaimer: I do not own any of Rumiko Takahashi's characters, which means everyone mentioned here. I do not own the song "Eventually" by Pink from the album Missundaztood. I am not making any money. At all. From anything. Gah.
Song lyrics are in italic.
*Kasumi's POV*
She slowly stepped into the room. A fight had broken out only moments ago. Nothing new. Ryouga had shown up shouting out his usual catch phrase. Akane had followed, enraged that Ranma would dare to "pick on poor Ryouga." Shampoo and Mousse had shown up soon after that and Ranma had moved the fight away from the house, subtly leading everyone to the park nearby.
He could be so thoughtful...she shook her head. Ranma was Akane's. Or possibly Ukyo's. Or Shampoo's? Not Kodachi's...
Suddenly, she noticed a notebook lying on the floor, its pages crumpled and dirty. She picked it up, intending to put it away, but the handwriting caught her eye. It was his.
She knew she shouldn't read it. It would be a violation of his privacy. But...she was so worried about him. The look in his eyes lately...
Feeling guilty, she went into her room, sat down on her bed, and opened the notebook.
I'm an opportunity
And I knock so softly
She smiled. Everything about him was so loud, it seemed funny to imagine him knocking softly. Although, he could be very quiet sometimes. He was always so happy and it seemed like he was always in motion, but she had seen him sit so quietly, so incredibly still, just looking out at the world. And he seemed as content to be still as to be in motion. Just as happy in either state.
Sometimes I get loud
When I wish everybody'd just get off me
Now, she giggled softly. She could remember so many times when people had been literally standing on him. How they didn't notice that they were standing on a person and not the ground, she would never understand.
So many players
You'd think I was a board game
This time, she sighed. It was true, there were so many people around him, so many people involved in the chaos of his life.
It's every man for themselves
There are no teammates
This life gets lonely
She paused in her reading. This struck a chord with her. She...she was lonely too. She spent so much time unacknowledged, unseen, taking care of everyone else. She had no one to talk to. No one to be with. She hadn't thought it would be that way for him. He had so many people surrounding him, it was hard to imagine him ever being lonely. But she had heard someone say once that it was worse to be alone in a crowd than to be alone by yourself. Maybe that was how he felt.
When everybody wants something
They'll smile up in your face
This also hit home.
"Kasumi, I'm having friends over tonight, could you cook a big dinner?"
"Kasumi, could you hem my dress for me?"
"Kasumi, would you do the laundry? The cooking? The shopping? The cleaning?"
All asked with an accompanying smile. Eventually, the questions mostly disappeared. They just expected her to do it all. But they still smiled those empty smiles at her.
But they'll get theirs eventually
And I hope I'm there
Yes...No!!! She had forgotten that this wasn't hers. It was Ranma's. He had written this. She thought she should be worried about her family and the others. But she wasn't. She was worried about him. What was happening to push him so far? It wasn't like him, this vague threat. He was really such a gentle boy. He always held back against everyone, he always did his best not to really hurt anyone. Even when they attacked him first, he still held back and didn't hurt them anymore than they could easily handle.
Surrounded by familiar faces with no name
None of them know me
Or want to share my pain
Her heart hurt for him. And for herself. Because it was as true for her as it was for him. They wanted her to smile, be serene and happy, and take care of them. They didn't want to hear that she was unhappy, or lonely, or that she didn't want to this, to be that. She was supposed to be the perfect lady, the perfect daughter, and the perfect big sister.
They only wish to bask in my light
Then fade away
To win my love, to them a game
To watch me live my life in vain
"Oh, Ranma..."
When all is done and the glitter fades, fades away
They'll get theirs eventually
And I hope I'm there
Suddenly, she hoped so too. She didn't really believe he'd ever hurt them. But she wanted to be there when they finally lost him. She wanted to see them realize exactly how much they had lost.
I drank your poison
'Cause you told me it's wine
Shame on you if you fooled me once
Shame on me if you fooled me twice
She had the feeling that he meant this metaphorically, but it was also true in a very literal sense. He ran from Akane's food and she had seen him secretly check his food to make sure there was nothing *wrong* with it. But...he was never quite so wary with her food...She smiled.
I didn't know the price
You'll get yours eventually
So what good am I to you
If I can't be broken
He wouldn't be broken. She was determined. She wouldn't let them do that to him! And... she wouldn't let them do that to herself anymore either.
She glanced down at the last words on the page.
You'll get yours, yes
You'll get yours eventually
This time, it seemed more like a promise than a threat. Everybody would get what they deserved. And if what you deserved was something good?
She smiled--a real smile, not her normal plastic smile.
