Once Upon A Dream With Me
Li Cruz
CHAPTER 1: My Traveler Returned
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Yes this is a semi-AU. After the last volume of the manga series. We are all going to pretend Ranma would often talk to Kasumi about things.-Li Cruz.
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Kasumi Tendo was no longer the calm housekeeper she was before the Accident. These days she rarely wore her dresses and skirts, preferring jeans and sweatshirts. She no longer cleaned and cooked daily. She also began practicing martial arts in the dojo during the evenings before dinner. Every day between ten o'clock and two, she'd leave the house and then come back.
The reason for her change lay in the hospital for six months. The unmoving form of a young man who should have been by all rights about, not in a deep coma where he may never return to the living.
Today Kasumi stalked into the hospital room and began talking. Her anger dimmed upon watching his chest raise and fall with his breath.
"Sometimes, they make me so frustrated. Shampoo and Uykou finally announced their engagement with you off, Ranma. It's sad that they only broke it off because you were no 'longer' fit to be theirs. Your parents decided to disinherit you because they both said your baby brother should be able to carry on the school since even if you wake, you would be unable to." Kasumi patted his hand that she held. "Akane and Ryoga as I've told you before are going out ever since your engagement to her was called off. They are going to the school dance in a few days. Your lazy baka of a father finally moved out. Tofu's back."
Kasumi smiled sadly before continuing. "He's marrying a woman from Okinawa. I guess she was the one. Oh, before I forget Kuno finally asked Nabiki out."
She trailed off, running out of things to say. She stroke Ranma's cool cheek. She remembered when she finally realized she had feelings for the young martial artist. It had been the day the Accident happened. She sighed as tears threaten to run down her face. She wasn't about to cry now or relive the accident now. She closed her eyes, trying to ward away the tears.
She was unaware of a set of dimmed purple-blue eyes staring at her. Ranma reached over with his free hand and stroke her cheek. She stiffened and opened her eyes in surprise.
Ranma smiled softly, the breather mask nearly hiding the action. He asked his voice quite hoarse. "Kasumi?"
Kasumi nodded, her tear now of joy running down her face.
Then his brow furrowed his thought and smoothed. "Is my name Ranma?"
Kasumi nodded, as she mentally went over what the doctor said about most likely Ranma have amnesia. She smiled sweetly at him. "Do you want me to get a nurse?"
Ranma shook his head. "Stay please." His voice was timid and pleading.
Luckily a nurse that normal came in walked in. Her eyes widened at the site of Ranma being up. She gracefully back up and went for the doctor.
"What do you remember Ranma?"
"Being trapped by stone and metal. You, digging me out and crying for help. You stopped after a while, crying for help as you tried to make me comfortable. You were crying. I told you not to cry and that it would be alright. I think I fell asleep after that.
The doctor and nurses came in. Kasumi allowed them to examine Ranma. The doctor when he was finished took Kasumi aside.
"It is as we suspect, he'll be in a wheelchair for a few years. His body is healing very slowly. Not to mention the illness he suffer from and the massive physical damage has weaken his body to a point that it'll take a full year before he can consider trying to walk. The amnesia may remain with his for the rest of his life because of the slight brain damage."
Kasumi nodded. The doctor steeled himself for the next part.
"We'd like to keep him another few days, just to make sure." The doctor had seen what she had done to her sister's boyfriend when he said something negative.
Kasumi nodded and smiled graciously. "I understand completely. It'll give me a few days to prepare his room at least and talk to the others."
She spent another hour with Ranma before he drifted off to sleep. She walked home with an extra skip to her step. Soun Tendo watched his eldest daughter walking in and head to her room. Within moments she came down and headed to the guest room in the new addition. He followed her as close as he dare.
She started cleaning the room aware of her father watching her. She smiled sweetly.
"Ranma's up and tomorrow he'll be coming home."
Soun smiled nervously. Kasumi had made clear that Ranma upon waking would be staying with them. He could still remember the look of anger on her face. He slowly back up and then running went to spread the news.
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Akane and Ryoga were sitting on the roof of the high school. Ryoga finally manage to learn how not to get lost. His only regret though was his part in the Accident, but he rarely dwelled upon it. Akane was probably right when she said it was Ranma's fault for being stupid that day. He leaned in for a kiss.
Soun Tendo panted as he reached the high school roof. His daughter and her boyfriend looked at him curiously.
"Ranma...up...beware...Kasumi." He panted, trying to catch his breath.
Akane and Ryoga stared before the word sunk in. Both of them went rather white. Kasumi had literally kicked their butts after Ranma had been stabilized. She had been on the warpath and all the Nerima Wreckers who were there during the Accident suffered Kasumi's wrath.
"I...warned...everyone I...found." Soun Tendo panted. "You are the...last."
The trio took their time getting back. They, surprised, found dinner ready. As they sat down, Kasumi stood up. Nabiki even watched Kasumi nervously.
"There are a few rules that need to be in effect before Ranma come home. One, you will not I repeat will not hit him, kick him, punch him, or any other bodily harm. Ranma's body is now very weak and will not stand under attack. Second you will treat him nicely. Thirdly, you will not bring your fight or start fights near or in the house; Ranma hasn't the ability to protect himself. Am I clear?"
The whole Tendo family nodded rather meekly. Ryoga nodded when Kasumi narrowed her eyes at him. So he couldn't pick fights or tease him, what fun is that?
"Also you will have to keep in mind he doesn't remember any of you." Kasumi said as if reading his mind.
Ah, Ryoga realized why Kasumi said what she said about being nice. Ryoga mentally sighed at that.
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Every one of the Nerima Wreckers stood around the entrance of the Tendo Household. None of them had visited Ranma after the second month of his coma. Tofu stood with his fiancée with them. They all had been informed of Ranma's condition.
Kasumi's voice was heard from the corner. She was laughing. A softer voice spoke with humor in it. The pair turned the corner. And the Nerima Wreckers, Tofu, and the Tendo family stared.
Ranma sat back in a wheelchair, no longer the muscular martial artist. His pig-tail now a dragon-tail draped over his thinned shoulders. His laughter was carefree but soft. A small scar rest right under his eye. His eyes seemed larger and a bit child-like. He stopped laughing feeling the eyes of the Nerima Wreckers and looked at them mildly curious.
Kasumi stopped his wheelchair in front of the gate. The silence seemed to stretch on. Surprisingly Ranma broke it.
"Hello." His voice was soft and even-toned.
Tofu was the first to snap out of his surprise. "Hello, Ranma. I'm Ono Tofu and this is my fiancée, Sakura. So how have you been?"
Ranma considered this for a moment. "Better, Tofu-san."
"Well, I and Sakura need to get going. I'm glad to see you up and around, Ranma. Sayonara." Tofu and his fiancée left gracefully. The tension in the air was thick.
"Kasumi-chan, is he always that odd?" He asked her innocently.
"Yes, I believe so." Kasumi raised an eyebrow at the retreating pair.
Nabiki was next. "Hey, Ranma. Welcome home. I'm Nabiki. Kasumi's sister."
She points to Akane and then Soun. "That is our baby sister, Akane, and that man over there is our father, Soun."
Ranma nodded as he put names to faces. Ryoga walked up and looked at Ranma. Ranma tried not to fidget as Ryoga stared at him. Ryoga snorted in amusement before speaking.
"I'm Habiki Ryoga, Akane's boyfriend." Ryoga stepped closer.
Not knowing why, Ranma tried to place some distance from Ryoga. Unfortunately the back of his head ended up against Kasumi, who was glaring at Ryoga. Akane, upon seeing Ranma back up against Kasumi, called forth her mallet. She forgot for a moment about Ranma's conditions and Kasumi's warnings. She attacked Ranma only to find out that Kasumi caught it easily and twisted it out of her hands. Akane cowered under Kasumi's gaze. There was no need for words.
Ranma was doing his best to cower in his wheelchair. For some odd reason, he feared these martial artists and he dimly wondered why. Meanwhile the rest of the Nerima Wreckers made a discreet getaway.
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Dinner was a bit of a tight affair. Akane didn't look at Kasumi one during the whole time. Nabiki and Soun watched as Ranma happily drank the broth even though he had earlier eyed the dinner they were having. Ryoga shot glares in Ranma's direction. Kasumi was quiet as she ate.
Ryoga found Akane doing katas in the dojo. Ryoga joined her silently. Soon she stopped like he knew she would and began talking.
"What does Kasumi see in that perverted no-name jerk? He has nothing. His health is gone, he can't walk, he has no memories, he's dishonored and he's a pervert! Why keep him here?"
Ryoga, who had been thinking about the why, wrapped his arms around her and breathed in her scent.
"Because we own it to him." Ryoga sighed into her hair.
"What?!" Came the credulous question.
"Kasumi was the only one to go and try to help Ranma. Even if he deserved the attack, we should have been the better than him and not attacked."
Akane dropped her head slightly. "It's still his fault."
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Next Chapter: Letting Go
Li Cruz
CHAPTER 1: My Traveler Returned
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Yes this is a semi-AU. After the last volume of the manga series. We are all going to pretend Ranma would often talk to Kasumi about things.-Li Cruz.
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kasumi Tendo was no longer the calm housekeeper she was before the Accident. These days she rarely wore her dresses and skirts, preferring jeans and sweatshirts. She no longer cleaned and cooked daily. She also began practicing martial arts in the dojo during the evenings before dinner. Every day between ten o'clock and two, she'd leave the house and then come back.
The reason for her change lay in the hospital for six months. The unmoving form of a young man who should have been by all rights about, not in a deep coma where he may never return to the living.
Today Kasumi stalked into the hospital room and began talking. Her anger dimmed upon watching his chest raise and fall with his breath.
"Sometimes, they make me so frustrated. Shampoo and Uykou finally announced their engagement with you off, Ranma. It's sad that they only broke it off because you were no 'longer' fit to be theirs. Your parents decided to disinherit you because they both said your baby brother should be able to carry on the school since even if you wake, you would be unable to." Kasumi patted his hand that she held. "Akane and Ryoga as I've told you before are going out ever since your engagement to her was called off. They are going to the school dance in a few days. Your lazy baka of a father finally moved out. Tofu's back."
Kasumi smiled sadly before continuing. "He's marrying a woman from Okinawa. I guess she was the one. Oh, before I forget Kuno finally asked Nabiki out."
She trailed off, running out of things to say. She stroke Ranma's cool cheek. She remembered when she finally realized she had feelings for the young martial artist. It had been the day the Accident happened. She sighed as tears threaten to run down her face. She wasn't about to cry now or relive the accident now. She closed her eyes, trying to ward away the tears.
She was unaware of a set of dimmed purple-blue eyes staring at her. Ranma reached over with his free hand and stroke her cheek. She stiffened and opened her eyes in surprise.
Ranma smiled softly, the breather mask nearly hiding the action. He asked his voice quite hoarse. "Kasumi?"
Kasumi nodded, her tear now of joy running down her face.
Then his brow furrowed his thought and smoothed. "Is my name Ranma?"
Kasumi nodded, as she mentally went over what the doctor said about most likely Ranma have amnesia. She smiled sweetly at him. "Do you want me to get a nurse?"
Ranma shook his head. "Stay please." His voice was timid and pleading.
Luckily a nurse that normal came in walked in. Her eyes widened at the site of Ranma being up. She gracefully back up and went for the doctor.
"What do you remember Ranma?"
"Being trapped by stone and metal. You, digging me out and crying for help. You stopped after a while, crying for help as you tried to make me comfortable. You were crying. I told you not to cry and that it would be alright. I think I fell asleep after that.
The doctor and nurses came in. Kasumi allowed them to examine Ranma. The doctor when he was finished took Kasumi aside.
"It is as we suspect, he'll be in a wheelchair for a few years. His body is healing very slowly. Not to mention the illness he suffer from and the massive physical damage has weaken his body to a point that it'll take a full year before he can consider trying to walk. The amnesia may remain with his for the rest of his life because of the slight brain damage."
Kasumi nodded. The doctor steeled himself for the next part.
"We'd like to keep him another few days, just to make sure." The doctor had seen what she had done to her sister's boyfriend when he said something negative.
Kasumi nodded and smiled graciously. "I understand completely. It'll give me a few days to prepare his room at least and talk to the others."
She spent another hour with Ranma before he drifted off to sleep. She walked home with an extra skip to her step. Soun Tendo watched his eldest daughter walking in and head to her room. Within moments she came down and headed to the guest room in the new addition. He followed her as close as he dare.
She started cleaning the room aware of her father watching her. She smiled sweetly.
"Ranma's up and tomorrow he'll be coming home."
Soun smiled nervously. Kasumi had made clear that Ranma upon waking would be staying with them. He could still remember the look of anger on her face. He slowly back up and then running went to spread the news.
================================================
Akane and Ryoga were sitting on the roof of the high school. Ryoga finally manage to learn how not to get lost. His only regret though was his part in the Accident, but he rarely dwelled upon it. Akane was probably right when she said it was Ranma's fault for being stupid that day. He leaned in for a kiss.
Soun Tendo panted as he reached the high school roof. His daughter and her boyfriend looked at him curiously.
"Ranma...up...beware...Kasumi." He panted, trying to catch his breath.
Akane and Ryoga stared before the word sunk in. Both of them went rather white. Kasumi had literally kicked their butts after Ranma had been stabilized. She had been on the warpath and all the Nerima Wreckers who were there during the Accident suffered Kasumi's wrath.
"I...warned...everyone I...found." Soun Tendo panted. "You are the...last."
The trio took their time getting back. They, surprised, found dinner ready. As they sat down, Kasumi stood up. Nabiki even watched Kasumi nervously.
"There are a few rules that need to be in effect before Ranma come home. One, you will not I repeat will not hit him, kick him, punch him, or any other bodily harm. Ranma's body is now very weak and will not stand under attack. Second you will treat him nicely. Thirdly, you will not bring your fight or start fights near or in the house; Ranma hasn't the ability to protect himself. Am I clear?"
The whole Tendo family nodded rather meekly. Ryoga nodded when Kasumi narrowed her eyes at him. So he couldn't pick fights or tease him, what fun is that?
"Also you will have to keep in mind he doesn't remember any of you." Kasumi said as if reading his mind.
Ah, Ryoga realized why Kasumi said what she said about being nice. Ryoga mentally sighed at that.
================================================
Every one of the Nerima Wreckers stood around the entrance of the Tendo Household. None of them had visited Ranma after the second month of his coma. Tofu stood with his fiancée with them. They all had been informed of Ranma's condition.
Kasumi's voice was heard from the corner. She was laughing. A softer voice spoke with humor in it. The pair turned the corner. And the Nerima Wreckers, Tofu, and the Tendo family stared.
Ranma sat back in a wheelchair, no longer the muscular martial artist. His pig-tail now a dragon-tail draped over his thinned shoulders. His laughter was carefree but soft. A small scar rest right under his eye. His eyes seemed larger and a bit child-like. He stopped laughing feeling the eyes of the Nerima Wreckers and looked at them mildly curious.
Kasumi stopped his wheelchair in front of the gate. The silence seemed to stretch on. Surprisingly Ranma broke it.
"Hello." His voice was soft and even-toned.
Tofu was the first to snap out of his surprise. "Hello, Ranma. I'm Ono Tofu and this is my fiancée, Sakura. So how have you been?"
Ranma considered this for a moment. "Better, Tofu-san."
"Well, I and Sakura need to get going. I'm glad to see you up and around, Ranma. Sayonara." Tofu and his fiancée left gracefully. The tension in the air was thick.
"Kasumi-chan, is he always that odd?" He asked her innocently.
"Yes, I believe so." Kasumi raised an eyebrow at the retreating pair.
Nabiki was next. "Hey, Ranma. Welcome home. I'm Nabiki. Kasumi's sister."
She points to Akane and then Soun. "That is our baby sister, Akane, and that man over there is our father, Soun."
Ranma nodded as he put names to faces. Ryoga walked up and looked at Ranma. Ranma tried not to fidget as Ryoga stared at him. Ryoga snorted in amusement before speaking.
"I'm Habiki Ryoga, Akane's boyfriend." Ryoga stepped closer.
Not knowing why, Ranma tried to place some distance from Ryoga. Unfortunately the back of his head ended up against Kasumi, who was glaring at Ryoga. Akane, upon seeing Ranma back up against Kasumi, called forth her mallet. She forgot for a moment about Ranma's conditions and Kasumi's warnings. She attacked Ranma only to find out that Kasumi caught it easily and twisted it out of her hands. Akane cowered under Kasumi's gaze. There was no need for words.
Ranma was doing his best to cower in his wheelchair. For some odd reason, he feared these martial artists and he dimly wondered why. Meanwhile the rest of the Nerima Wreckers made a discreet getaway.
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Dinner was a bit of a tight affair. Akane didn't look at Kasumi one during the whole time. Nabiki and Soun watched as Ranma happily drank the broth even though he had earlier eyed the dinner they were having. Ryoga shot glares in Ranma's direction. Kasumi was quiet as she ate.
Ryoga found Akane doing katas in the dojo. Ryoga joined her silently. Soon she stopped like he knew she would and began talking.
"What does Kasumi see in that perverted no-name jerk? He has nothing. His health is gone, he can't walk, he has no memories, he's dishonored and he's a pervert! Why keep him here?"
Ryoga, who had been thinking about the why, wrapped his arms around her and breathed in her scent.
"Because we own it to him." Ryoga sighed into her hair.
"What?!" Came the credulous question.
"Kasumi was the only one to go and try to help Ranma. Even if he deserved the attack, we should have been the better than him and not attacked."
Akane dropped her head slightly. "It's still his fault."
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Next Chapter: Letting Go