Standard Disclaimer applies here also....
Author's Notes:
I've read all the reviews that you all graciously given me and after giving it some thought I would like to set aside a small section to explain to you all the readers why I included the various parts I did during the whole fic. It will be included during the end of the 3rd chapter in an epilogue yes...there will be a 3rd and final chapter soon after this one...
But right now I am looking for pre-readers...if any of you R+K fans out there who liked my previous work and are willing to spend some time to pre-read for me I am more then willing to send you my draft of that story. Helps me to reduce my own errors and also makes the story more streamlined. Just tell me if your interested in the review section or email me.
Enuf ranting from me...here's the story =) Enjoy.
Caring For Kasumi.
Chapter 2
By Himura Alucard
*Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing*
"Huh ...What the ...Where am I?" exclaimed Ranma as he abruptly awoke from his slumber. Focusing to his left and right he noticed that he wasn't in his room. "That's right I must have fallen asleep in ... Kasumi's room ..." He gulped at that fact. The room was only half lit as Kasumi had drawn half of the curtains of her window leaving where Ranma had slept dark.
Ranma stood up and stretched himself out while looking at Kasumi's bed which had been made up. With a click Ranma switched off the still ringing alarm and noticed the time "8am ...I guess Kasumi set it for me ..." so as he turned and walked out of the room. Kasumi had in fact woken up at her usual time of 5am and had already ironed last night's laundry and finished making Ranma's breakfast. She was currently just enjoying a cup of nice warm tea by herself in the kitchen while staring blankly out of the window. Very few things could affect Kasumi's life, yet she came to learn that Ranma was one of the rare few. It wasn't like anything she could put her hands on. It just has been like this for as long as she could remember but she didn't understand why Ranma had that effect on her though.
She remembered the time when Ranma had inadvertently put on the amorous plaster of Happosai and started to say all those sweet things to her. Kasumi had actually thought for that moment that he was serious and her heart was beating as loud as a herd of raging horses. No one had ever said anything remotely like that to her before and secretly deep inside Kasumi's heart she had cherished that memory very close to her heart. Even afterwards when she was told that Ranma had said those things to her due to the effects of the plaster she still kept dear to that memory.
Unknown to everyone it took Kasumi a week to get herself to even look at Ranma and not turn red in her cheeks. Kasumi quietly beamed as she sipped a little tea, she was enjoying the few memories that she had of Ranma and herself so far. A lot of people ignore the fact that Kasumi is still a young woman. Sure sometimes everyone thinks she had nothing else in her life other then her duties to her home but she is still a woman ... a single and unattached young woman. And it didn't help her that until now the only other men other then her father and Genma that she had constant contact with was a young enigmatic youth named Ranma.
Kasumi was conscious of that her thoughts of the boy had drastically changed since his first arrival. From the initial thoughts of him being a gender changing rude young boy to now a young youth who tried his best to make everything right and tried to make everyone happy no matter how they treated him in return. Thinking back on it Ranma may have 3 fiancées fighting for but how did they see him?
Well Ukyou and Shampoo treat Ranma more like something to fight over, to see who can win him. While Akane just blatantly ignores his existence, except for the times when she calls him a pervert for something he had done or said. For that short time also when Nabiki was engaged to him all she did was try to sell him or sell his companionship by an hourly rate. "I wonder how things would have gone if I didn't push him away that time long ago." Sighed Kasumi as she took another sip of her tea. As fate would have it, right at that particular moment when Kasumi was at her emotional crossroads Ranma walked in.
"Kasumi ... you shouldn't be out of bed walking around! You still need to rest ... I really don't want to see you faint or get your fever back ..." Ranma had reminded Kasumi of that fact but all she did was to simply smile at him. That even after Ranma had tried his best to sound annoyed at Kasumi no less. Ranma was left with nothing but to sit down in front of her at the kitchen counter and stare hard at her trying to look angry. But all Ranma ended up doing in front of Kasumi was instead of looking angry he looked like he was more or less pouting.
Kasumi looked at the boy and started to giggle at him, Ranma could be a little dense when it comes to reading emotions so he took it the wrong way and started to boil. "Kasumi I'm serious! I do not think you should be out of bed! I don't want the rest to return and see you sick in bed or something. I don't want them to think that I didn't take care of you during those days... I have enough problems as it is. I don't want your father and Akane to be chasing me around the house thinking that I didn't do my duties towards you." He said to her, his eyes flaring up for a moment before it died down. His voice was stern but he tried not to raise his voice too much to her.
Kasumi again just stared at him silently, her misty gray eyes never once drifting off from his ocean blue eyes. Well what ever had angered Ranma before after seeing her intense but soft eyes staring into his any anger he held had suddenly disappeared and was replaced by his utter embarrassment. "Why is Kasumi looking at me like that?" he thought to himself. Ranma broke her stare as he decided to look down at his fidgeting feet trying to figure out the situation and how did it ended up like the way it did.
"Ranma ... I'm feeling much better now. You should know better than anyone that I would not let my father or Akane even come close to hurting you. If they did that I would gently refuse to cook anything for them until they apologized to you. If you hadn't stayed by my side when I was sick with fever, things might have gotten worst. Am I right?" Ranma just nodded his head he couldn't refute what Kasumi had said.
"Come ... on Kasumi ... it's not like it wasn't my fault that you got sick in the first place. So even if Soun and Akane want to get back at me for that I'd let them..." said Ranma while hiding his hands that were unconsciously squirming under the table. Ranma really couldn't understand it because deep inside his heart he really felt a strong sense to protect Kasumi no matter what now. Those feelings were just faint in the beginning but had intensified after the recent string of events. "Ranma...I'll go get your breakfast warm up...and I think Nabiki would be the first to return so I better prepare a little lunch for her afterwards while you're eating your breakfast."
Ranma sat there mutely all the while meticulously watching Kasumi taking his breakfast out from the cupboard and gentle warming it up for him. "Now that is a sight for tired eyes...a beautiful sweet girl graciously moving around in the kitchen preparing your breakfast. Wouldn't you want to wake up to that everyday?" asked a voice in Ranma's head. "Yeah...it sure would be nice to have her cooking breakfast everyday..." Ranma answered aloud.
"Did you say something Ranma?" Kasumi asked not turning from the stove. "Huh??? Nothing Kasumi..." Ranma replied her. Glad that she hadn't turn around to notice him blushing. Ranma was hearing 'that' voice more and more again inside his head. The voice was his own but it was talking to him about things that he would never dare think or say out...those things now usually involved Kasumi.
"Ranma's eating breakfast a littler slower then usual this morning I wonder if he's feeling alright?" Kasumi thought as she looked at the boy who was slowly enjoying his meal. "Ranma are you alright?" she asked.
"Yeah...I'm fine Kasumi why do you ask?" Kasumi just nodded her head sideways and let the boy continue on with his breakfast. After Ranma had finished Kasumi was happily washing his plates while Ranma continued his observation of her.
"Kasumi...what time are you going to the market?" he asked.
Kasumi turned around and looked at Ranma for a few seconds.
"I'd like to go after I've finished hanging out the laundry Ranma. Anything the matter?"
Ranma grinned as he stood up and walked to her.
"Have you forgotten my promise to you?"
Kasumi tried to look like she was hearing about the promise thing for the first time. But Ranma raised his brow and looked at her.
"Ranma about the promise you made...I think it's sweet but really totally unnecessary. I'm sure you have better things with your time than to spend it with me." Kasumi hoped that Ranma would understand that she had his best interest in mind when she said that. Kasumi felt that Ranma needn't worry about her anymore as she had since a long time ago accepted the fact that her life was just an endless repetition of chores and more chores that she would have to handle by herself.
Ranma looked at her again but this time his eyes were gentler. "Kasumi...I have nothing better to do...I don't like hanging out...I don't even like to go out much even. The truth is Kasumi I didn't hang around much while we were alone because..." Ranma stopped for a while. He knew that he had to make the words come out right.
"Kasumi the truth is I am scared to be around you okay...I feel too calm and comfortable when I'm around you...if I was left with Akane or Nabiki I wouldn't care much. But left alone with you I might accidentally do something or cause something to happen to you...my life isn't exactly normal Kasumi. I have fiancées who think other girls who are close to me are to be removed. If I was left with Akane they would all rush down here and just fight among themselves but I think they left us alone only because it was you. But when I'm with you all I feel is that the need to protect you. And I failed miserably at that even...so please Kasumi let me do something right for once and let me help you..."
Kasumi stood there in front of him her face emotionless she wasn't in shock or anything she just didn't know what to do next. Ranma had just confessed to her of his reasons for leaving her alone and she felt relief at hearing it but also kept traces of concern. "Alright Ranma...I'd keep you to your promise..." said Kasumi finally after giving it some thought. Ranma just smiled "So let's start off with me helping you out with the laundry." grinned Ranma.
Kasumi had to admit that having Ranma help her out was something enjoyable not only to feel but to see. You see Kasumi used to have to use a hook pole to lift up the laundry pole up to its highest perch but with Ranma all he needed to do was just take the laundry pole and leap upwards to the perch and gently laid it on its stand. Kasumi couldn't help but feel that maybe it wouldn't be so bad having Ranma help her after all. The chore of doing the laundry had finished faster then expected so Kasumi decided to go to the market a little earlier then usual that morning.
Ranma and Kasumi gently walked down the road heading to the market. Kasumi had changed into something a little more appropriate for outside wear. She wore a nice long green off white sundress with her usual apron draped over the front. She hoped that Ranma hadn't notice but she wore a dash of her favorite perfume. It was after all the first time that any young man would be accompanying her on this mundane chore. Ranma of course carried with him her basket and was gently hummed a tune as they walked on.
"That's a nice tune Ranma..." Kasumi said noticing the tune.
"Oh...it was something that my mother used to sing to me every night before I would go to bed when I was a small kid. But all I could remember now is the tune but I can't seem to remember the words..."
"Do you miss your mother...Ranma?" asked a now forlorn looking Kasumi.
"Sometimes...some days when it really gets bad for me I just wish that I had someone to go to and just pour my heart out..." Ranma sighed a little as he kicked a small peddle from his path.
Kasumi then had wanted to say something but stopped as she realized what she was about to say. And what Kasumi had wanted to say to him was that she could be that someone that he could talk to when he needed to talk and pour out his emotions. But she kept that thought deep inside of her afraid of how he might react.
The shop owners whom Kasumi regularly visited were rather surprised to see a young man accompanying Kasumi this time around as she shopped around. Some of them especially the male shop owners were staring at Ranma almost like challenging his mere presence beside her. Ranma sensed that and not wanting to bow down he stared back at them as if stating his right to be by Kasumi's side.
While the older shop owners were more gentle towards him and kept on saying to Kasumi out of Ranma's hearing how they looked good together as a couple. Kasumi blushed but she stated that he was Akane's fiancé and he was just here to help her carry her groceries. After having finished her usual round of shopping Kasumi found that she had some spare time. Kasumi would always spend those few extra minutes she had looking around the few small shops that sold the knick-knacks that she loved to collect.
For the past few days now Kasumi had always kept her eyes locked on one particular knick-knack. It was a necklace with a simple hearted shape pendant. She liked it a lot because it was almost an exact replica of the one her mother used to wear when she was alive and still wore around her neck till this day. Ranma noticed this standing beside her and looked at the thing that had Kasumi so enticed and saw her staring at the pendant. He saw how Kasumi's eyes sparkled when she looked at the pendant and how she let a small sigh escape her lips as she continued to walk on. But this time she wouldn't walk off very far...
"Kasumi....wait up...I thought you liked the pendant back there?" asked Ranma as he lightly pulled back on Kasumi's hand.
"It's nothing Ranma...it's something nice that's all..." she answered hesitantly. Kasumi didn't want Ranma to know her real reasons fearing that he may inadvertently miss his own mother because of her.
Contrary to people's belief Ranma could sometimes read a girl's mind perfectly and this was one of those times. He quickly took Kasumi's hand and led her back to the shop where the pendant was being displayed. Kasumi had tried her best to persuade Ranma otherwise but she soon found herself looking around in the shop trying not to think of the obvious. A little old man came up to them and asked if he could be of service.
"I'd like to see that silver pendant by the window...please" said Ranma.
Kasumi who was standing on the next aisle of the shop overheard what Ranma had said... "He even said please..." she thought. Which was a rarity for Ranma but he was on his top gentlemanly behavior mode for the next few minutes. As the shopkeeper brought the pendant out for him Ranma took it into his hands and studied it. It was indeed a beautiful piece of jewelry it wasn't extravagant or anything. But he knew that it suited her.
"I'd take it...sir" As Ranma handed it back to the shopkeeper. Kasumi felt her heart going into a spin as she saw Ranma taking out from his shirt a small black pouch that contained a few bank notes that he counted and handed over to the old shop keeper that thanked him. Kasumi didn't say anything on their way back she didn't want to believe what she saw Ranma do. "Maybe he bought it for Akane..." Kasumi kept on thinking that to stay off the idea that Ranma might have bought the pendant for her. They finally arrived home and after thanking Ranma for carrying her groceries Kasumi rushed off into the kitchen.
Inside the kitchen Kasumi was relieved that Ranma had not followed her in as she needed time to calm her frantic heart. "Kasumi...don't even think about it. He bought it for Akane..." she kept whispering to herself. And it worked for the moment as she managed to get lunch prepared without much hassle. After lunch was prepared Kasumi thought that a nice walk by the garden might do some good to calm her jittery nerves.
"Oh my...the flowers need a little water..." gasped Kasumi as she noticed how her delicate flowers were beginning to wilt under the hot afternoon sun. As Kasumi went off and soon returned with the small garden hose she started to water the flowers. She would have finished watering the flowers too if a certain voice didn't startled her. "Kasumi...after you've finished watering the garden I would like to talk you for a bit I'd be here waiting for you..." Ranma's voice echoed as he walked out of the Dojo and sat down by the walkway.
Kasumi didn't respond she didn't know how to, her heart had once again started to race and her mind became awash again with endless thoughts. The hose that was once held in her hands suddenly came loose and slowly landed to the ground. It began to spray wildly about like a snake. As the water wildly sprayed around the wild spray of water managed to wet half her dress and also some part of her face. The cold spray of the water woke Kasumi out of her daze and as she hurryingly bent down to try and catch the run away hose but as she caught hold of it, it just suddenly went limp.
So now half soaked and half dazed Kasumi looked behind her and saw Ranma's figure slowly approaching behind her. He smiled at her and took the towel around his neck and oblivious to what was right or wrong he gently dabbed her wet dripping face. As they stood there in the middle of the garden...Kasumi half wet and was being gently toweled dry by Ranma. "Err...Ranma...I can do this by myself..." stammered Kasumi as she took the towel from his hands. "Oh...ya...sorry. Why don't we sit by the walkway I have something to give you"
Kasumi dreaded each step she took with him as he led her to the walkway landing and sat down. Kasumi didn't dare to even look at Ranma as she kept on staring at her dirtied slippers. "Here Kasumi...I got this for you...I kept on noticing how your eyes kept looking at it..." Ranma then took out a small paper package from his pocket and opened it to reveal the pendant.
"Please Kami....help me...I'm going to break down..." Kasumi whispered to herself. She was shaking...her hands were trembling and her lips were dry. Kasumi thought that she might faint at any moment. She slowly raised her hands and accepted the gift that Ranma held out to her. She looked at it and knew that Ranma would like to see her put it on. As Kasumi undid the pendant's catch and shakily brought it around her neck to fasten it. Kasumi would normally have the pendant fasten in no time but in her current state of mind she couldn't even find her other hand that held the other side of the pendant.
And then she felt it. A sensation Kasumi never felt before in her whole life...someone else's touch on her skin. She didn't even want to open her eyes when she had closed them on feeling his touch. She knew who it was and that fact alone made it harder for her to open her eyes. Ranma had seen how Kasumi was struggling to get the necklace on so he had gotten up and taking the necklace from Kasumi's hand he helped her put it on. The sensation soon disappeared as Kasumi felt his touch slip away from her neck. After opening her eyes she came straight face to face with Ranma who was staring at her.
"It looks nice on you Kasumi...really" Ranma commented.
Kasumi looked down at the silver heart that now hung around her neck and at that moment she lost all control of herself. Her eyes began to uncontrollably tear up, her heart just couldn't take it anymore the swell of emotions that she was feeling all day finally overcame the young woman which then caused her to do something very un-Kasumi like. Kasumi swiftly rose up to her knees from her sitting position and slowly flung herself into Ranma's chest. "Ranma...why...you shouldn't have you know that...this is plain torture...for me!" she cried into his chest.
Ranma was so stunned silly as he thought Kasumi would like the pendant but seeing her breakdown like that was too much even for him. "Kasumi don't cry if you don't like the pendant...I'd just take it back and get you something else...please Kasumi don't cry..." he stuttered. Ranma was trying his utter best to comfort her and for the next few moments Kasumi was silent but what happened next totally blew his mind to kingdom come.
Kasumi in a blur of slow motioned movements had moved her face up level to level with Ranma's face and kissed him right on the lips. Ranma didn't even catch it all for all he knew now was that Kasumi had gotten up and was now kissing him. He felt inside himself that he didn't felt like breaking it but he knew that if he didn't it would look bad for them. So he gently removed his lips from hers and looked at her teary face. Gently with his thumbs he rubbed away the tears from under her eyes.
"I'm sorry...Ranma I didn't mean to..." Kasumi uttered looking utterly guilty.
"Shhhhh...it's alright...just let it all out. I'd understand..."
After some time with Ranma's tender words and gentle caress on her back Kasumi's tears began to quiet down while she laid her head on his shoulders. Kasumi wished that she could stay like this until the days end but her impending family's return and Ranma being Akane's fiancé forced her to remove herself slowly from his side. Ranma looked up to Kasumi who was about to walk back into the house "Kasumi...are you feeling better?" Looking back down at him she mustered her best smile and showed it to him.
Ranma stood up as well he saw through Kasumi's rather forced smile and he automatically went to her side and taking her hand in his he gently walked her back into the house. All the while unknowing to the two of them that a certain member of the Tendo family had just returned earlier then planned.
Akane had returned back to the Dojo on the first morning train and was rather surprised to find the whole house so quiet. After putting her bags into her room she had knocked on Kasumi's door but found it empty. "Wonder if Kasumi's in the kitchen making lunch?" she said aloud while walking down the stairs.
Back in the kitchen Ranma had just managed to sit Kasumi down on and was making her a warm cup of tea to calm her nerves down a bit. "Here Kasumi..." Ranma gently handed her the cup which Kasumi slowly took into her hand. Kasumi felt Ranma's warm rough hands brushing past hers as he withdrew them. "These same rough hands felt so smooth a while ago when Ranma wiped away my tears..." as Kasumi thought back to that memory still fresh in her mind.
Ranma took a seat beside Kasumi and carefully studied her ready to react if needed. She sipped the tea and placed the cup down by the table causing Ranma to worry once more. He stood up from his stool and leaned forward "Is there something wrong with the tea?" he asked. Kasumi could feel his presence near her once more as he innocently took the cup to taste the tea fearing that he might have made it too bitter for her.
Kasumi couldn't help it she wanted to feel Ranma's warm presence for one last time and she slowly leaned over onto his chest and hugged him. "Kasumi..." he stuttered "Just let me be like this for a while..." Kasumi whispered up to him. Ranma by now had given up even trying to digest why Kasumi was doing all this. But he hoped that when the rest of her family had returned she would return back to her normal cheery self. Just about then the kitchen door parted.
"Kasumi...are you her....?" greeted Akane as she pushed the door open.
"SAOTOME RANMA WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY SISTER!!!" Akane's voice trembled across the kitchen and echoed out throughout the house as she stared on the scene playing right before her eyes.
"Oh shit..." Ranma cursed as he stepped back. "Oh Kami..." he cursed again as he had to rush forward to catch Kasumi's falling figure. Kasumi had neglected to adjust to his sudden back step and was in danger of now falling over.
"RANMA!!! Get your no good filthy hands off my sister!!" she shouted once again this time with more added venom.
"Akane...I can explain...it's not what you think really...please let me explain..." By now Ranma had started to backtrack and was stuttering excuses and apologies but he could still see the now very red aura emitting Akane stomping her way towards him.
"What have you done to my sister you pervert!?" Akane demanded after glancing to her oldest sister and her slightly puffy eyes.
"Nothing...Akane I swear I did nothing...." Ranma had now backtracked until his back was being pinned by the stove and he knew he was now trapped and no possible way out from being confronted by an irate Akane.
Akane's clenched fist rose up into the air and like a cocked gun aimed ready she fired. But instead of hitting her target she felt her hands being blocked. Ranma had for once and for the first time had blocked Akane's punch and while in her state of confusion he leapt out of the kitchen window and disappeared into thin air.
"I'd get him when he comes back he always does...that baka pervert" she cursed while walking back to her older sister's side.
"Kasumi are you alright...?" Akane tired to look at her sister's face but Kasumi wouldn't lift it up to her. Without a word she just got up and walked out of the kitchen in silence. She left behind her in the kitchen a very confused looking Akane.
Kasumi was walking up to her room and having heard all the things that just went on in the kitchen she felt something she never felt before...anger. She was angry at a lot of things now one she was angry with herself for not even saying anything to defend Ranma it wouldn't have mattered an angry Akane wouldn't have listened anyhow and secondly she was angry at her sister Akane for throwing all those accusations at Ranma without even listening to his explanation.
Sure Akane did that a lot but this time it had really pained Kasumi to see Ranma being accused for the Nth time and not been given a chance to speak out in his own defense. By now Ranma was probably running all the way to China and it was her fault, now Kasumi was the one feeling guilty. As Kasumi entered her room she noticed something different about it...it felt cold and empty. Kasumi sighed at this thought and having sat down on her bed for a moment before she leaned down and rested her head on the mattress instead of her pillow.
Her hands then began to absentmindedly play at the wooden frame of her bed where Ranma had slept just the night before. Kasumi felt as if her world had collapsed on her once again. She was feeling the same emotions she had when she came to know of her mother's death. Kasumi's fingers went to her neck and brought up to her eyes the silver heart that so reminded her of her mother but now it reminded her more of a certain boy who had his hair tied up in a pigtail and who always tried to make everyone around him happy even if by doing so made him so miserable.
Kasumi just decided to close her eyes, she felt so weak and tired from it all. Below her room in the kitchen Akane had sat herself down on the stool vacated by Kasumi and tried to think of what had just happened. All she knew was that after two days she came back to find Ranma having his hands all over Kasumi and then when she tried to whack the boy he blocked her punch. Then Kasumi left her without even saying a word...all these added up in Akane's mind that Ranma had done something perverted to her older sister.
It was almost evening time when the rest of the household returned and were now gathered at the dinning room expecting to have dinner served to them. When they saw what they were supposed to have for dinner each one for their faces sweat dropped. Dinner was made up black charred remains of something, a bubbling bowl of yellowish brown liquid and a mound of green goo that wobbled along with the breeze. Everyone knew whose cooking it was but they didn't want to incur Akane's wrath so soon from returning. "Well everyone welcome home so let's eat shall we?" smiled Akane.
"Akane...where is Kasumi?" asked her father rather tentatively.
"I think she's sick or something she stayed in her room all afternoon and you know what when I came back this afternoon I saw Ranma doing something perverted to her and when I tried to punch him he had the guts to block my punch. He then ran off somewhere but I'd get him when he comes back." Akane's veins were popping up in her head just thinking about the boy.
And just after she finished saying that everyone left the dinning table in a rush leaving her all alone with her Special stir fried radish, Special herbed miso soup and Special peppered casserole. Everyone was rushing up the stairs the most audible person was Soun who had his patented Soun waterworks running full flow. "Kasumi...my baby girl is dying..." he wailed. The only person who made any sense talking was Nabiki. "Kasumi...it's me Nabiki...are you feeling alright?" *No reply* "Kasumi...are you okay in there? I'm coming in..." Still no reply came and when Nabiki turned the knob of Kasumi's door it was locked.
Kasumi was currently sitting down on her bed, her body half covered by her blanket and she stared down blankly at the heart shape object that hung from her neck. She wondered where he was now and hoping he wasn't too angry with what had happened in the kitchen a few hours ago. "He always has such a big appetite when he comes back from being hit by Akane..." she smiled a little while she thought about it but her smile quickly faded away.
Kasumi had spent the entire afternoon trying to understand why she felt like the way she did. She was upset at how Akane treated Ranma that afternoon and she always would be but this time it felt like she was really upset almost angry at her little sister. Kasumi's heart pained when she saw her sister raising her fists up ready to hit the boy but her heart felt relief when see saw Ranma blocked her sister's punch. She just couldn't understand it "Why am I feeling like this? I felt like just going over to Akane and giving her a slap on the face. She has always treated Ranma so badly and the poor boy just keeps on coming back for more...sometimes I wish that Ranma was engaged to me..." and with those words it hit her.
"Oh my...Kasumi don't tell me you've fallen for the boy" she said to herself. She couldn't deny it the signs were all there. Since the time Ranma told her that he had at that time kissed her as Ranma-chan to all the time they spent in between the two days. The pendant gift he gave her just added more fuel to the fire that was already burning albeit secretly inside her heart. And when Kasumi had lost control of her emotions and started to cry into Ranma's chest he didn't run...for the first time she knew that Ranma didn't run away from being in close contact with a female. And for the finale it was the kiss they shared a gentle and loving kiss.
"I've fallen in love with Ranma..." Kasumi finally admitted it to herself and she knew that she wasn't lying about it. By now the knocking on her door grew louder and she knew that her family might resort to breaking her door down so she got up got a piece of paper and started to write something. After she had finished her note she slid it under her door.
The crowd camped outside her room saw the note and picking it up it read.
To all,
I am fine but I don't feel like speaking to anyone except Ranma. So when he comes back please ask him to come up to my room. I want you all to know that each one of you have done the poor boy wrong and if you don't realize what you have done to him then I am disappointed in you all. And tell Akane that if she harms Ranma when he or she comes back I shall be very very cross with her.
Kasumi
P.S Nabiki Ranma might be hiding under the bridge of the river...
The note left each one of them with big gaping jaws. It was the first time that Kasumi had ever done anything so direct and blatant before. "Ah...my baby girl has rebelled against me..." cried Soun who once again began his water works. "This is serious...I better try and find Ranma quick he has a lot of explaining to do when I do find him..." said Nabiki.
Meanwhile under a certain bridge of the river not far away from the Tendo dojo sat a rather forlorn looking Ranma... He wasn't so upset that Akane had thought that he had done something to Kasumi but it was more of why did he had raised his hand to block her punch. He usually would take it as he had always thought that he had done something wrong each previous time but at that time in the kitchen he was truly confident with himself that he didn't do anything wrong to Kasumi so why would he accept being sent to orbit by Akane's punch.
A lot of things were going in his head at the moment, first was when did he start to get so sentimental and protective with Kasumi. He never had once gotten so worked up with any girl before not even his fiancées. That fact alone made him even more confused and then he heard it again the voice talking inside of him
"Come on Ranma you not as dumb as they say you are now are you. You of all people should know what's going on here...you just aren't looking hard enough inside of yourself." said the voice. Ranma listen hard and thought hard about it...he asked himself these questions.
Why did I feel so guilty about leaving Kasumi alone? Why did I confess to her about how I really feel when I'm with her? Why did I buy that pendant for her with the money I was saving up? Why did I feel so sad when I saw Kasumi crying? Why did I not push Kasumi away when she kissed me? Why did I never tell her how pretty she looks?
The last question hit his gut real hard..."Wait where did that come from!?" he shouted silently to himself. He then stared quietly at the river water that trickled along...then after a few more deep thoughts he finally figured it out "Oh my...It can't be...it has to be...right?" And with the said Ranma stood up and started to walk out from under the bridge and half-way climbing up the river bank he saw Nabiki walking towards him.
"Saotome Ranma...you have a lot of explaining to do" Nabiki smirked.
"I know...just let me get home in one piece while I'm still thinking straight..."
As Ranma entered the living room he was met with cold hard stares...from Soun to his own father and worst off Akane whom he knew was ready to smash him into the ground and maybe more. As a very pissed Akane stood up and started to walk to the boy all the while rolling up her sleeves her eyes were burning into him. Nabiki suddenly stepped in between the two and showed Akane Kasumi's letter. As Akane read it her eyes almost popped out but she reluctantly stepped back and sat back down her rage still visible but controlled. "Okay Ranma...someone wants to see you..." Nabiki reminded Ranma. "I know...just don't wait on us okay...it might take the whole night to talk things out between us and I also would appreciate it if any of you wouldn't eavesdrop on us." Nabiki just smiled at him as he slowly walked up the stairs.
The End
How did it go...better or worst? Just be honest...=)
Author's Notes:
I've read all the reviews that you all graciously given me and after giving it some thought I would like to set aside a small section to explain to you all the readers why I included the various parts I did during the whole fic. It will be included during the end of the 3rd chapter in an epilogue yes...there will be a 3rd and final chapter soon after this one...
But right now I am looking for pre-readers...if any of you R+K fans out there who liked my previous work and are willing to spend some time to pre-read for me I am more then willing to send you my draft of that story. Helps me to reduce my own errors and also makes the story more streamlined. Just tell me if your interested in the review section or email me.
Enuf ranting from me...here's the story =) Enjoy.
Caring For Kasumi.
Chapter 2
By Himura Alucard
*Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing*
"Huh ...What the ...Where am I?" exclaimed Ranma as he abruptly awoke from his slumber. Focusing to his left and right he noticed that he wasn't in his room. "That's right I must have fallen asleep in ... Kasumi's room ..." He gulped at that fact. The room was only half lit as Kasumi had drawn half of the curtains of her window leaving where Ranma had slept dark.
Ranma stood up and stretched himself out while looking at Kasumi's bed which had been made up. With a click Ranma switched off the still ringing alarm and noticed the time "8am ...I guess Kasumi set it for me ..." so as he turned and walked out of the room. Kasumi had in fact woken up at her usual time of 5am and had already ironed last night's laundry and finished making Ranma's breakfast. She was currently just enjoying a cup of nice warm tea by herself in the kitchen while staring blankly out of the window. Very few things could affect Kasumi's life, yet she came to learn that Ranma was one of the rare few. It wasn't like anything she could put her hands on. It just has been like this for as long as she could remember but she didn't understand why Ranma had that effect on her though.
She remembered the time when Ranma had inadvertently put on the amorous plaster of Happosai and started to say all those sweet things to her. Kasumi had actually thought for that moment that he was serious and her heart was beating as loud as a herd of raging horses. No one had ever said anything remotely like that to her before and secretly deep inside Kasumi's heart she had cherished that memory very close to her heart. Even afterwards when she was told that Ranma had said those things to her due to the effects of the plaster she still kept dear to that memory.
Unknown to everyone it took Kasumi a week to get herself to even look at Ranma and not turn red in her cheeks. Kasumi quietly beamed as she sipped a little tea, she was enjoying the few memories that she had of Ranma and herself so far. A lot of people ignore the fact that Kasumi is still a young woman. Sure sometimes everyone thinks she had nothing else in her life other then her duties to her home but she is still a woman ... a single and unattached young woman. And it didn't help her that until now the only other men other then her father and Genma that she had constant contact with was a young enigmatic youth named Ranma.
Kasumi was conscious of that her thoughts of the boy had drastically changed since his first arrival. From the initial thoughts of him being a gender changing rude young boy to now a young youth who tried his best to make everything right and tried to make everyone happy no matter how they treated him in return. Thinking back on it Ranma may have 3 fiancées fighting for but how did they see him?
Well Ukyou and Shampoo treat Ranma more like something to fight over, to see who can win him. While Akane just blatantly ignores his existence, except for the times when she calls him a pervert for something he had done or said. For that short time also when Nabiki was engaged to him all she did was try to sell him or sell his companionship by an hourly rate. "I wonder how things would have gone if I didn't push him away that time long ago." Sighed Kasumi as she took another sip of her tea. As fate would have it, right at that particular moment when Kasumi was at her emotional crossroads Ranma walked in.
"Kasumi ... you shouldn't be out of bed walking around! You still need to rest ... I really don't want to see you faint or get your fever back ..." Ranma had reminded Kasumi of that fact but all she did was to simply smile at him. That even after Ranma had tried his best to sound annoyed at Kasumi no less. Ranma was left with nothing but to sit down in front of her at the kitchen counter and stare hard at her trying to look angry. But all Ranma ended up doing in front of Kasumi was instead of looking angry he looked like he was more or less pouting.
Kasumi looked at the boy and started to giggle at him, Ranma could be a little dense when it comes to reading emotions so he took it the wrong way and started to boil. "Kasumi I'm serious! I do not think you should be out of bed! I don't want the rest to return and see you sick in bed or something. I don't want them to think that I didn't take care of you during those days... I have enough problems as it is. I don't want your father and Akane to be chasing me around the house thinking that I didn't do my duties towards you." He said to her, his eyes flaring up for a moment before it died down. His voice was stern but he tried not to raise his voice too much to her.
Kasumi again just stared at him silently, her misty gray eyes never once drifting off from his ocean blue eyes. Well what ever had angered Ranma before after seeing her intense but soft eyes staring into his any anger he held had suddenly disappeared and was replaced by his utter embarrassment. "Why is Kasumi looking at me like that?" he thought to himself. Ranma broke her stare as he decided to look down at his fidgeting feet trying to figure out the situation and how did it ended up like the way it did.
"Ranma ... I'm feeling much better now. You should know better than anyone that I would not let my father or Akane even come close to hurting you. If they did that I would gently refuse to cook anything for them until they apologized to you. If you hadn't stayed by my side when I was sick with fever, things might have gotten worst. Am I right?" Ranma just nodded his head he couldn't refute what Kasumi had said.
"Come ... on Kasumi ... it's not like it wasn't my fault that you got sick in the first place. So even if Soun and Akane want to get back at me for that I'd let them..." said Ranma while hiding his hands that were unconsciously squirming under the table. Ranma really couldn't understand it because deep inside his heart he really felt a strong sense to protect Kasumi no matter what now. Those feelings were just faint in the beginning but had intensified after the recent string of events. "Ranma...I'll go get your breakfast warm up...and I think Nabiki would be the first to return so I better prepare a little lunch for her afterwards while you're eating your breakfast."
Ranma sat there mutely all the while meticulously watching Kasumi taking his breakfast out from the cupboard and gentle warming it up for him. "Now that is a sight for tired eyes...a beautiful sweet girl graciously moving around in the kitchen preparing your breakfast. Wouldn't you want to wake up to that everyday?" asked a voice in Ranma's head. "Yeah...it sure would be nice to have her cooking breakfast everyday..." Ranma answered aloud.
"Did you say something Ranma?" Kasumi asked not turning from the stove. "Huh??? Nothing Kasumi..." Ranma replied her. Glad that she hadn't turn around to notice him blushing. Ranma was hearing 'that' voice more and more again inside his head. The voice was his own but it was talking to him about things that he would never dare think or say out...those things now usually involved Kasumi.
"Ranma's eating breakfast a littler slower then usual this morning I wonder if he's feeling alright?" Kasumi thought as she looked at the boy who was slowly enjoying his meal. "Ranma are you alright?" she asked.
"Yeah...I'm fine Kasumi why do you ask?" Kasumi just nodded her head sideways and let the boy continue on with his breakfast. After Ranma had finished Kasumi was happily washing his plates while Ranma continued his observation of her.
"Kasumi...what time are you going to the market?" he asked.
Kasumi turned around and looked at Ranma for a few seconds.
"I'd like to go after I've finished hanging out the laundry Ranma. Anything the matter?"
Ranma grinned as he stood up and walked to her.
"Have you forgotten my promise to you?"
Kasumi tried to look like she was hearing about the promise thing for the first time. But Ranma raised his brow and looked at her.
"Ranma about the promise you made...I think it's sweet but really totally unnecessary. I'm sure you have better things with your time than to spend it with me." Kasumi hoped that Ranma would understand that she had his best interest in mind when she said that. Kasumi felt that Ranma needn't worry about her anymore as she had since a long time ago accepted the fact that her life was just an endless repetition of chores and more chores that she would have to handle by herself.
Ranma looked at her again but this time his eyes were gentler. "Kasumi...I have nothing better to do...I don't like hanging out...I don't even like to go out much even. The truth is Kasumi I didn't hang around much while we were alone because..." Ranma stopped for a while. He knew that he had to make the words come out right.
"Kasumi the truth is I am scared to be around you okay...I feel too calm and comfortable when I'm around you...if I was left with Akane or Nabiki I wouldn't care much. But left alone with you I might accidentally do something or cause something to happen to you...my life isn't exactly normal Kasumi. I have fiancées who think other girls who are close to me are to be removed. If I was left with Akane they would all rush down here and just fight among themselves but I think they left us alone only because it was you. But when I'm with you all I feel is that the need to protect you. And I failed miserably at that even...so please Kasumi let me do something right for once and let me help you..."
Kasumi stood there in front of him her face emotionless she wasn't in shock or anything she just didn't know what to do next. Ranma had just confessed to her of his reasons for leaving her alone and she felt relief at hearing it but also kept traces of concern. "Alright Ranma...I'd keep you to your promise..." said Kasumi finally after giving it some thought. Ranma just smiled "So let's start off with me helping you out with the laundry." grinned Ranma.
Kasumi had to admit that having Ranma help her out was something enjoyable not only to feel but to see. You see Kasumi used to have to use a hook pole to lift up the laundry pole up to its highest perch but with Ranma all he needed to do was just take the laundry pole and leap upwards to the perch and gently laid it on its stand. Kasumi couldn't help but feel that maybe it wouldn't be so bad having Ranma help her after all. The chore of doing the laundry had finished faster then expected so Kasumi decided to go to the market a little earlier then usual that morning.
Ranma and Kasumi gently walked down the road heading to the market. Kasumi had changed into something a little more appropriate for outside wear. She wore a nice long green off white sundress with her usual apron draped over the front. She hoped that Ranma hadn't notice but she wore a dash of her favorite perfume. It was after all the first time that any young man would be accompanying her on this mundane chore. Ranma of course carried with him her basket and was gently hummed a tune as they walked on.
"That's a nice tune Ranma..." Kasumi said noticing the tune.
"Oh...it was something that my mother used to sing to me every night before I would go to bed when I was a small kid. But all I could remember now is the tune but I can't seem to remember the words..."
"Do you miss your mother...Ranma?" asked a now forlorn looking Kasumi.
"Sometimes...some days when it really gets bad for me I just wish that I had someone to go to and just pour my heart out..." Ranma sighed a little as he kicked a small peddle from his path.
Kasumi then had wanted to say something but stopped as she realized what she was about to say. And what Kasumi had wanted to say to him was that she could be that someone that he could talk to when he needed to talk and pour out his emotions. But she kept that thought deep inside of her afraid of how he might react.
The shop owners whom Kasumi regularly visited were rather surprised to see a young man accompanying Kasumi this time around as she shopped around. Some of them especially the male shop owners were staring at Ranma almost like challenging his mere presence beside her. Ranma sensed that and not wanting to bow down he stared back at them as if stating his right to be by Kasumi's side.
While the older shop owners were more gentle towards him and kept on saying to Kasumi out of Ranma's hearing how they looked good together as a couple. Kasumi blushed but she stated that he was Akane's fiancé and he was just here to help her carry her groceries. After having finished her usual round of shopping Kasumi found that she had some spare time. Kasumi would always spend those few extra minutes she had looking around the few small shops that sold the knick-knacks that she loved to collect.
For the past few days now Kasumi had always kept her eyes locked on one particular knick-knack. It was a necklace with a simple hearted shape pendant. She liked it a lot because it was almost an exact replica of the one her mother used to wear when she was alive and still wore around her neck till this day. Ranma noticed this standing beside her and looked at the thing that had Kasumi so enticed and saw her staring at the pendant. He saw how Kasumi's eyes sparkled when she looked at the pendant and how she let a small sigh escape her lips as she continued to walk on. But this time she wouldn't walk off very far...
"Kasumi....wait up...I thought you liked the pendant back there?" asked Ranma as he lightly pulled back on Kasumi's hand.
"It's nothing Ranma...it's something nice that's all..." she answered hesitantly. Kasumi didn't want Ranma to know her real reasons fearing that he may inadvertently miss his own mother because of her.
Contrary to people's belief Ranma could sometimes read a girl's mind perfectly and this was one of those times. He quickly took Kasumi's hand and led her back to the shop where the pendant was being displayed. Kasumi had tried her best to persuade Ranma otherwise but she soon found herself looking around in the shop trying not to think of the obvious. A little old man came up to them and asked if he could be of service.
"I'd like to see that silver pendant by the window...please" said Ranma.
Kasumi who was standing on the next aisle of the shop overheard what Ranma had said... "He even said please..." she thought. Which was a rarity for Ranma but he was on his top gentlemanly behavior mode for the next few minutes. As the shopkeeper brought the pendant out for him Ranma took it into his hands and studied it. It was indeed a beautiful piece of jewelry it wasn't extravagant or anything. But he knew that it suited her.
"I'd take it...sir" As Ranma handed it back to the shopkeeper. Kasumi felt her heart going into a spin as she saw Ranma taking out from his shirt a small black pouch that contained a few bank notes that he counted and handed over to the old shop keeper that thanked him. Kasumi didn't say anything on their way back she didn't want to believe what she saw Ranma do. "Maybe he bought it for Akane..." Kasumi kept on thinking that to stay off the idea that Ranma might have bought the pendant for her. They finally arrived home and after thanking Ranma for carrying her groceries Kasumi rushed off into the kitchen.
Inside the kitchen Kasumi was relieved that Ranma had not followed her in as she needed time to calm her frantic heart. "Kasumi...don't even think about it. He bought it for Akane..." she kept whispering to herself. And it worked for the moment as she managed to get lunch prepared without much hassle. After lunch was prepared Kasumi thought that a nice walk by the garden might do some good to calm her jittery nerves.
"Oh my...the flowers need a little water..." gasped Kasumi as she noticed how her delicate flowers were beginning to wilt under the hot afternoon sun. As Kasumi went off and soon returned with the small garden hose she started to water the flowers. She would have finished watering the flowers too if a certain voice didn't startled her. "Kasumi...after you've finished watering the garden I would like to talk you for a bit I'd be here waiting for you..." Ranma's voice echoed as he walked out of the Dojo and sat down by the walkway.
Kasumi didn't respond she didn't know how to, her heart had once again started to race and her mind became awash again with endless thoughts. The hose that was once held in her hands suddenly came loose and slowly landed to the ground. It began to spray wildly about like a snake. As the water wildly sprayed around the wild spray of water managed to wet half her dress and also some part of her face. The cold spray of the water woke Kasumi out of her daze and as she hurryingly bent down to try and catch the run away hose but as she caught hold of it, it just suddenly went limp.
So now half soaked and half dazed Kasumi looked behind her and saw Ranma's figure slowly approaching behind her. He smiled at her and took the towel around his neck and oblivious to what was right or wrong he gently dabbed her wet dripping face. As they stood there in the middle of the garden...Kasumi half wet and was being gently toweled dry by Ranma. "Err...Ranma...I can do this by myself..." stammered Kasumi as she took the towel from his hands. "Oh...ya...sorry. Why don't we sit by the walkway I have something to give you"
Kasumi dreaded each step she took with him as he led her to the walkway landing and sat down. Kasumi didn't dare to even look at Ranma as she kept on staring at her dirtied slippers. "Here Kasumi...I got this for you...I kept on noticing how your eyes kept looking at it..." Ranma then took out a small paper package from his pocket and opened it to reveal the pendant.
"Please Kami....help me...I'm going to break down..." Kasumi whispered to herself. She was shaking...her hands were trembling and her lips were dry. Kasumi thought that she might faint at any moment. She slowly raised her hands and accepted the gift that Ranma held out to her. She looked at it and knew that Ranma would like to see her put it on. As Kasumi undid the pendant's catch and shakily brought it around her neck to fasten it. Kasumi would normally have the pendant fasten in no time but in her current state of mind she couldn't even find her other hand that held the other side of the pendant.
And then she felt it. A sensation Kasumi never felt before in her whole life...someone else's touch on her skin. She didn't even want to open her eyes when she had closed them on feeling his touch. She knew who it was and that fact alone made it harder for her to open her eyes. Ranma had seen how Kasumi was struggling to get the necklace on so he had gotten up and taking the necklace from Kasumi's hand he helped her put it on. The sensation soon disappeared as Kasumi felt his touch slip away from her neck. After opening her eyes she came straight face to face with Ranma who was staring at her.
"It looks nice on you Kasumi...really" Ranma commented.
Kasumi looked down at the silver heart that now hung around her neck and at that moment she lost all control of herself. Her eyes began to uncontrollably tear up, her heart just couldn't take it anymore the swell of emotions that she was feeling all day finally overcame the young woman which then caused her to do something very un-Kasumi like. Kasumi swiftly rose up to her knees from her sitting position and slowly flung herself into Ranma's chest. "Ranma...why...you shouldn't have you know that...this is plain torture...for me!" she cried into his chest.
Ranma was so stunned silly as he thought Kasumi would like the pendant but seeing her breakdown like that was too much even for him. "Kasumi don't cry if you don't like the pendant...I'd just take it back and get you something else...please Kasumi don't cry..." he stuttered. Ranma was trying his utter best to comfort her and for the next few moments Kasumi was silent but what happened next totally blew his mind to kingdom come.
Kasumi in a blur of slow motioned movements had moved her face up level to level with Ranma's face and kissed him right on the lips. Ranma didn't even catch it all for all he knew now was that Kasumi had gotten up and was now kissing him. He felt inside himself that he didn't felt like breaking it but he knew that if he didn't it would look bad for them. So he gently removed his lips from hers and looked at her teary face. Gently with his thumbs he rubbed away the tears from under her eyes.
"I'm sorry...Ranma I didn't mean to..." Kasumi uttered looking utterly guilty.
"Shhhhh...it's alright...just let it all out. I'd understand..."
After some time with Ranma's tender words and gentle caress on her back Kasumi's tears began to quiet down while she laid her head on his shoulders. Kasumi wished that she could stay like this until the days end but her impending family's return and Ranma being Akane's fiancé forced her to remove herself slowly from his side. Ranma looked up to Kasumi who was about to walk back into the house "Kasumi...are you feeling better?" Looking back down at him she mustered her best smile and showed it to him.
Ranma stood up as well he saw through Kasumi's rather forced smile and he automatically went to her side and taking her hand in his he gently walked her back into the house. All the while unknowing to the two of them that a certain member of the Tendo family had just returned earlier then planned.
Akane had returned back to the Dojo on the first morning train and was rather surprised to find the whole house so quiet. After putting her bags into her room she had knocked on Kasumi's door but found it empty. "Wonder if Kasumi's in the kitchen making lunch?" she said aloud while walking down the stairs.
Back in the kitchen Ranma had just managed to sit Kasumi down on and was making her a warm cup of tea to calm her nerves down a bit. "Here Kasumi..." Ranma gently handed her the cup which Kasumi slowly took into her hand. Kasumi felt Ranma's warm rough hands brushing past hers as he withdrew them. "These same rough hands felt so smooth a while ago when Ranma wiped away my tears..." as Kasumi thought back to that memory still fresh in her mind.
Ranma took a seat beside Kasumi and carefully studied her ready to react if needed. She sipped the tea and placed the cup down by the table causing Ranma to worry once more. He stood up from his stool and leaned forward "Is there something wrong with the tea?" he asked. Kasumi could feel his presence near her once more as he innocently took the cup to taste the tea fearing that he might have made it too bitter for her.
Kasumi couldn't help it she wanted to feel Ranma's warm presence for one last time and she slowly leaned over onto his chest and hugged him. "Kasumi..." he stuttered "Just let me be like this for a while..." Kasumi whispered up to him. Ranma by now had given up even trying to digest why Kasumi was doing all this. But he hoped that when the rest of her family had returned she would return back to her normal cheery self. Just about then the kitchen door parted.
"Kasumi...are you her....?" greeted Akane as she pushed the door open.
"SAOTOME RANMA WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY SISTER!!!" Akane's voice trembled across the kitchen and echoed out throughout the house as she stared on the scene playing right before her eyes.
"Oh shit..." Ranma cursed as he stepped back. "Oh Kami..." he cursed again as he had to rush forward to catch Kasumi's falling figure. Kasumi had neglected to adjust to his sudden back step and was in danger of now falling over.
"RANMA!!! Get your no good filthy hands off my sister!!" she shouted once again this time with more added venom.
"Akane...I can explain...it's not what you think really...please let me explain..." By now Ranma had started to backtrack and was stuttering excuses and apologies but he could still see the now very red aura emitting Akane stomping her way towards him.
"What have you done to my sister you pervert!?" Akane demanded after glancing to her oldest sister and her slightly puffy eyes.
"Nothing...Akane I swear I did nothing...." Ranma had now backtracked until his back was being pinned by the stove and he knew he was now trapped and no possible way out from being confronted by an irate Akane.
Akane's clenched fist rose up into the air and like a cocked gun aimed ready she fired. But instead of hitting her target she felt her hands being blocked. Ranma had for once and for the first time had blocked Akane's punch and while in her state of confusion he leapt out of the kitchen window and disappeared into thin air.
"I'd get him when he comes back he always does...that baka pervert" she cursed while walking back to her older sister's side.
"Kasumi are you alright...?" Akane tired to look at her sister's face but Kasumi wouldn't lift it up to her. Without a word she just got up and walked out of the kitchen in silence. She left behind her in the kitchen a very confused looking Akane.
Kasumi was walking up to her room and having heard all the things that just went on in the kitchen she felt something she never felt before...anger. She was angry at a lot of things now one she was angry with herself for not even saying anything to defend Ranma it wouldn't have mattered an angry Akane wouldn't have listened anyhow and secondly she was angry at her sister Akane for throwing all those accusations at Ranma without even listening to his explanation.
Sure Akane did that a lot but this time it had really pained Kasumi to see Ranma being accused for the Nth time and not been given a chance to speak out in his own defense. By now Ranma was probably running all the way to China and it was her fault, now Kasumi was the one feeling guilty. As Kasumi entered her room she noticed something different about it...it felt cold and empty. Kasumi sighed at this thought and having sat down on her bed for a moment before she leaned down and rested her head on the mattress instead of her pillow.
Her hands then began to absentmindedly play at the wooden frame of her bed where Ranma had slept just the night before. Kasumi felt as if her world had collapsed on her once again. She was feeling the same emotions she had when she came to know of her mother's death. Kasumi's fingers went to her neck and brought up to her eyes the silver heart that so reminded her of her mother but now it reminded her more of a certain boy who had his hair tied up in a pigtail and who always tried to make everyone around him happy even if by doing so made him so miserable.
Kasumi just decided to close her eyes, she felt so weak and tired from it all. Below her room in the kitchen Akane had sat herself down on the stool vacated by Kasumi and tried to think of what had just happened. All she knew was that after two days she came back to find Ranma having his hands all over Kasumi and then when she tried to whack the boy he blocked her punch. Then Kasumi left her without even saying a word...all these added up in Akane's mind that Ranma had done something perverted to her older sister.
It was almost evening time when the rest of the household returned and were now gathered at the dinning room expecting to have dinner served to them. When they saw what they were supposed to have for dinner each one for their faces sweat dropped. Dinner was made up black charred remains of something, a bubbling bowl of yellowish brown liquid and a mound of green goo that wobbled along with the breeze. Everyone knew whose cooking it was but they didn't want to incur Akane's wrath so soon from returning. "Well everyone welcome home so let's eat shall we?" smiled Akane.
"Akane...where is Kasumi?" asked her father rather tentatively.
"I think she's sick or something she stayed in her room all afternoon and you know what when I came back this afternoon I saw Ranma doing something perverted to her and when I tried to punch him he had the guts to block my punch. He then ran off somewhere but I'd get him when he comes back." Akane's veins were popping up in her head just thinking about the boy.
And just after she finished saying that everyone left the dinning table in a rush leaving her all alone with her Special stir fried radish, Special herbed miso soup and Special peppered casserole. Everyone was rushing up the stairs the most audible person was Soun who had his patented Soun waterworks running full flow. "Kasumi...my baby girl is dying..." he wailed. The only person who made any sense talking was Nabiki. "Kasumi...it's me Nabiki...are you feeling alright?" *No reply* "Kasumi...are you okay in there? I'm coming in..." Still no reply came and when Nabiki turned the knob of Kasumi's door it was locked.
Kasumi was currently sitting down on her bed, her body half covered by her blanket and she stared down blankly at the heart shape object that hung from her neck. She wondered where he was now and hoping he wasn't too angry with what had happened in the kitchen a few hours ago. "He always has such a big appetite when he comes back from being hit by Akane..." she smiled a little while she thought about it but her smile quickly faded away.
Kasumi had spent the entire afternoon trying to understand why she felt like the way she did. She was upset at how Akane treated Ranma that afternoon and she always would be but this time it felt like she was really upset almost angry at her little sister. Kasumi's heart pained when she saw her sister raising her fists up ready to hit the boy but her heart felt relief when see saw Ranma blocked her sister's punch. She just couldn't understand it "Why am I feeling like this? I felt like just going over to Akane and giving her a slap on the face. She has always treated Ranma so badly and the poor boy just keeps on coming back for more...sometimes I wish that Ranma was engaged to me..." and with those words it hit her.
"Oh my...Kasumi don't tell me you've fallen for the boy" she said to herself. She couldn't deny it the signs were all there. Since the time Ranma told her that he had at that time kissed her as Ranma-chan to all the time they spent in between the two days. The pendant gift he gave her just added more fuel to the fire that was already burning albeit secretly inside her heart. And when Kasumi had lost control of her emotions and started to cry into Ranma's chest he didn't run...for the first time she knew that Ranma didn't run away from being in close contact with a female. And for the finale it was the kiss they shared a gentle and loving kiss.
"I've fallen in love with Ranma..." Kasumi finally admitted it to herself and she knew that she wasn't lying about it. By now the knocking on her door grew louder and she knew that her family might resort to breaking her door down so she got up got a piece of paper and started to write something. After she had finished her note she slid it under her door.
The crowd camped outside her room saw the note and picking it up it read.
To all,
I am fine but I don't feel like speaking to anyone except Ranma. So when he comes back please ask him to come up to my room. I want you all to know that each one of you have done the poor boy wrong and if you don't realize what you have done to him then I am disappointed in you all. And tell Akane that if she harms Ranma when he or she comes back I shall be very very cross with her.
Kasumi
P.S Nabiki Ranma might be hiding under the bridge of the river...
The note left each one of them with big gaping jaws. It was the first time that Kasumi had ever done anything so direct and blatant before. "Ah...my baby girl has rebelled against me..." cried Soun who once again began his water works. "This is serious...I better try and find Ranma quick he has a lot of explaining to do when I do find him..." said Nabiki.
Meanwhile under a certain bridge of the river not far away from the Tendo dojo sat a rather forlorn looking Ranma... He wasn't so upset that Akane had thought that he had done something to Kasumi but it was more of why did he had raised his hand to block her punch. He usually would take it as he had always thought that he had done something wrong each previous time but at that time in the kitchen he was truly confident with himself that he didn't do anything wrong to Kasumi so why would he accept being sent to orbit by Akane's punch.
A lot of things were going in his head at the moment, first was when did he start to get so sentimental and protective with Kasumi. He never had once gotten so worked up with any girl before not even his fiancées. That fact alone made him even more confused and then he heard it again the voice talking inside of him
"Come on Ranma you not as dumb as they say you are now are you. You of all people should know what's going on here...you just aren't looking hard enough inside of yourself." said the voice. Ranma listen hard and thought hard about it...he asked himself these questions.
Why did I feel so guilty about leaving Kasumi alone? Why did I confess to her about how I really feel when I'm with her? Why did I buy that pendant for her with the money I was saving up? Why did I feel so sad when I saw Kasumi crying? Why did I not push Kasumi away when she kissed me? Why did I never tell her how pretty she looks?
The last question hit his gut real hard..."Wait where did that come from!?" he shouted silently to himself. He then stared quietly at the river water that trickled along...then after a few more deep thoughts he finally figured it out "Oh my...It can't be...it has to be...right?" And with the said Ranma stood up and started to walk out from under the bridge and half-way climbing up the river bank he saw Nabiki walking towards him.
"Saotome Ranma...you have a lot of explaining to do" Nabiki smirked.
"I know...just let me get home in one piece while I'm still thinking straight..."
As Ranma entered the living room he was met with cold hard stares...from Soun to his own father and worst off Akane whom he knew was ready to smash him into the ground and maybe more. As a very pissed Akane stood up and started to walk to the boy all the while rolling up her sleeves her eyes were burning into him. Nabiki suddenly stepped in between the two and showed Akane Kasumi's letter. As Akane read it her eyes almost popped out but she reluctantly stepped back and sat back down her rage still visible but controlled. "Okay Ranma...someone wants to see you..." Nabiki reminded Ranma. "I know...just don't wait on us okay...it might take the whole night to talk things out between us and I also would appreciate it if any of you wouldn't eavesdrop on us." Nabiki just smiled at him as he slowly walked up the stairs.
The End
How did it go...better or worst? Just be honest...=)