Once Upon A Dream With Me
Li Cruz
CHAPTER 3: Ranma Meets Kuno I
Some humor. And a cameo appearance or two. Drama goodness. -Li Cruz.
A week later, Ranma was dozing in the sun as Kasumi hung out laundry. Happosia came into the yard. Kasumi shot a hard look at him. Happosia cringed and scuttled into the house. She muttered about freeloading old men and perverts. Ranma opened one eye and snorted softly.
"That isn't any way for a lady to speak."
"Well, I'm not exactly a lady, am I?" She placed a hand on her hip.
"I'm not about to answer that. I know a trap when I see one."
She giggled. "So are you ready for tonight?"
"Gee, I don't know. I have a tux ready; my manners are somewhere around, and a whole bottle of aspirin. Yes, I do believe I'm ready."
She giggled harder. "It isn't going to be that bad."
"Right, we are talking about the ex-poetry spewing, kendo artist here, right? The one who was here a few days ago?"
"Ranma." She still giggled. "Yes, him."
"Hopefully, he won't call me foul wizard or demon. Again."
"Ranma!"
He grinned cheekily. "Yes, Kasumi-chan."
"You're hopeless."
"Yes, dear. I try my best."
Meanwhile a rather jealous Akane and a rather pleased Ryoga watch from the bedroom window. Ryoga manages to keep a relatively neutral expression.
"Why, that perv! What does he think he's doing flirting with Kasumi!"
Ryoga shrugs. 'Actually it is his right. I mean you left him just like the other girls. And second I doubt Ranma realizes what he and Kasumi are doing.'
"Kasumi's only going to get her heart broken by that jerk."
"Akane, beloved. Calm down. Kasumi can handle Ranma fine on her own. I mean it's not like Ranma can do anything to her in his condition."
Akane seemed to lose her envy and brighten. "Of course, P-chan. You're right. He is just a cripple now."
He sighed in relief mentally. 'Good luck, Ranma.'
There was a splash of water and Ranma's yell. Akane and Ryoga rushed to the window. Kasumi was smiling as she held a bucket of water. Ranma was spluttering water and giving Kasumi a glare. Kasumi giggled. The watching pair ignored this as they stared at Ranma. He was still a guy. They looked at each other. There was a gasp and the sound of a bucket dropping. They look back.
"Ranma, your hair!"
"Hair." Ranma looks confused.
"Your bangs... are red!"
Ranma reaches up and pulls down a clump of hair. "So red it is. Isn't this the color of my female form's hair?"
"Yes, but." A long pause as Kasumi thinks. "Um, I think we need to see someone."
"I think you might be right." Ranma frowns for a second. "But not to Cologne. I doubt she knows much about this stuff."
"There's a shrine nearby that might know something," Kasumi hesitantly said. "I had been reading it earlier."
"What is it called?"
"The Sunset Shrine. It's the next district over."
"Well, it's better than nothing."
One Soun Tendo and a bus ride later, our tepid travelers find themselves at the bottom of a long set of stairs.
"Okay, now how do we get to the bloody top of the stairs?" Ranma asked, after a few minutes of Kasumi and him staring.
"You climb, stupid." Someone said from behind.
Both of them turn to see a kid about Ranma's age in a red haroi and a bucket hat. Ranma sighs and gestures.
"Pretty hard when you're a paraplegic."
"What's a para-pel-les-ick?"
Ranma and Kasumi stared the guy. The guy was scratching his head in puzzlement. Ranma sighed. Kasumi explained.
"It means you can't walk."
"InuYasha! Didn't we send thy to get Souta?" A woman said.
"Oh, yeah." InuYasha dashed off.
"I apologized for Yasha's rudeness. The boy never seems to change in manners."
"That's alright, Miss?" Kasumi, remembering her wits.
"Keade. I'm one of the shrine keepers here. Do thy need some help up to the shrine?"
"Yes, Keade-sama." Kasumi said. "Agrigato."
Within fifteen minutes, Kasumi and Ranma found themselves inside enjoying tea. Keade called someone and a tall man came in. It was clear he was related to the Yasha kid they had met earlier.
"Why are they here?"
"They have a problem with a curse. I need thine help for thy know more about curses than I."
"Indeed." He took a seat next to Keade. "Speak."
Kasumi quickly told their story and their problem. Keade blinked as the guy calmly nodded.
"The Junskyeno curse. This Sesshoumaru has heard of such a curse. Never have this Sesshoumaru heard of one being cured of such curse. But this Sesshoumaru has several possible reasons why Ranma's hair color has changed."
He took a sip of tea and closed his eyes. "Perhaps curse had been cancelled out by the illness. Another possible reason is this Sesshoumaru can sense Ranma's spirit is centered. Yin and Yang is in balance. Another is the brain damage was to areas that control the transformation. Lastly someone or something else has broken it." He trailed off.
Silence descended on the room. Ranma mulled over what he was told. Kasumi looks at her wristwatch.
"So, you're saying that my bang's now being red is a result of the curse being broken somehow." Ranma asked critically.
"Yes. This Sesshoumaru suspects. But only time will tell."
"Thank you. We would stay longer but we have a dinner to attend." Kasumi bowed. "We are grateful."
"You are welcome." Sesshoumaru replied.
Sesshoumaru and Keade watched the pair with the help of InuYasha make it down the stairs. Once out of sight, Keade turns to Sesshoumaru.
"There is more than what thy have said." Keade accused.
"Yes. Could you not feel his power? It's sleeping now."
"I have felt it." She relented. "Why not tell the lad?"
"This Sesshoumaru is not sure. Something prevent me from saying."
"Ah." She turns away. "Hope that naught will come of this."
"Indeed."
Later that hour, Ranma wheeled down the sidewalk with Kasumi sitting on his lap. Kasumi buries her head in his neck. Ranma enjoyed the wind in his face and Kasumi in his lap. He dimly remembered being able to travel by roof hopping. He sighed softly. Kasumi looked up a bit as they sped down the sidewalk.
"Nothing, Kasumi. Just a memory."
It was time to move forward. He knew in his heart that he'd never recapture the past. And now, he knew he definitely didn't want to.
Kuno could feel it gently surge around Ranma. It was stronger now, quite like that time when he went to one of the other kendo tournaments in Otaku district two years back. He believed that redhead kid, Minso or something was the source. He watched Ranma from across the table.
This Ranma was apparently more intelligent, sensitive, and polite. Kuno winced at that. It was his fault to some extent. His other self helped to create the mayhem that nearly killed Ranma. His other self cringed at the reminder.
He had half-expected Ranma to be his old self. He'd give anything to have the old brash martial artist he so much admired. Granted without that gender-bender curse. And without all the finances.
He glanced down the table at Akane. Akane glared murderously at Kasumi. Ryoga was nervously picking at his food. Kuno sat back.
'Who would have thought Akane would still have feelings for Ranma?'
'Mm? Considering how quick she was to snap up Ryoga, very.' His other half replied. 'She is truly the vixen, the sorcerer pegged her for. Not satisfied with what she has.'
'Why do you insist on calling Ranma, a sorcerer?'
'... I'm not quite sure.'
Kuno slammed his head into his plate in a facefault. Nabika whispered to him.
"So who's in control?"
"I'm still in control, Nabika. He just said something stupid." He whispered back.
Kasumi giggled at something Ranma said. Kuno studied Ranma's new appearance. It didn't even look like Ranma had ever been a well-built martial artist he was many months ago. Actually his body was more along the lines the slender build of his female form, just less curves. His hair, quite longer, was no longer bounded in his trademark braid and then the color, which shocked Kuno. His bangs were the brilliant flame red and his blue-black hair had a reddish taint to it. Then Ranma's eyes, softer and seemingly larger, were sometimes piercing. Kuno shuttered at the memory when the Blue Thunder began calling him demon and such.
'Wait...feminine build and red bangs...What in the world is going on?'
To Be Contined....
================================================
Next Chapter: Meeting Kuno II
Li Cruz
CHAPTER 3: Ranma Meets Kuno I
Some humor. And a cameo appearance or two. Drama goodness. -Li Cruz.
A week later, Ranma was dozing in the sun as Kasumi hung out laundry. Happosia came into the yard. Kasumi shot a hard look at him. Happosia cringed and scuttled into the house. She muttered about freeloading old men and perverts. Ranma opened one eye and snorted softly.
"That isn't any way for a lady to speak."
"Well, I'm not exactly a lady, am I?" She placed a hand on her hip.
"I'm not about to answer that. I know a trap when I see one."
She giggled. "So are you ready for tonight?"
"Gee, I don't know. I have a tux ready; my manners are somewhere around, and a whole bottle of aspirin. Yes, I do believe I'm ready."
She giggled harder. "It isn't going to be that bad."
"Right, we are talking about the ex-poetry spewing, kendo artist here, right? The one who was here a few days ago?"
"Ranma." She still giggled. "Yes, him."
"Hopefully, he won't call me foul wizard or demon. Again."
"Ranma!"
He grinned cheekily. "Yes, Kasumi-chan."
"You're hopeless."
"Yes, dear. I try my best."
Meanwhile a rather jealous Akane and a rather pleased Ryoga watch from the bedroom window. Ryoga manages to keep a relatively neutral expression.
"Why, that perv! What does he think he's doing flirting with Kasumi!"
Ryoga shrugs. 'Actually it is his right. I mean you left him just like the other girls. And second I doubt Ranma realizes what he and Kasumi are doing.'
"Kasumi's only going to get her heart broken by that jerk."
"Akane, beloved. Calm down. Kasumi can handle Ranma fine on her own. I mean it's not like Ranma can do anything to her in his condition."
Akane seemed to lose her envy and brighten. "Of course, P-chan. You're right. He is just a cripple now."
He sighed in relief mentally. 'Good luck, Ranma.'
There was a splash of water and Ranma's yell. Akane and Ryoga rushed to the window. Kasumi was smiling as she held a bucket of water. Ranma was spluttering water and giving Kasumi a glare. Kasumi giggled. The watching pair ignored this as they stared at Ranma. He was still a guy. They looked at each other. There was a gasp and the sound of a bucket dropping. They look back.
"Ranma, your hair!"
"Hair." Ranma looks confused.
"Your bangs... are red!"
Ranma reaches up and pulls down a clump of hair. "So red it is. Isn't this the color of my female form's hair?"
"Yes, but." A long pause as Kasumi thinks. "Um, I think we need to see someone."
"I think you might be right." Ranma frowns for a second. "But not to Cologne. I doubt she knows much about this stuff."
"There's a shrine nearby that might know something," Kasumi hesitantly said. "I had been reading it earlier."
"What is it called?"
"The Sunset Shrine. It's the next district over."
"Well, it's better than nothing."
One Soun Tendo and a bus ride later, our tepid travelers find themselves at the bottom of a long set of stairs.
"Okay, now how do we get to the bloody top of the stairs?" Ranma asked, after a few minutes of Kasumi and him staring.
"You climb, stupid." Someone said from behind.
Both of them turn to see a kid about Ranma's age in a red haroi and a bucket hat. Ranma sighs and gestures.
"Pretty hard when you're a paraplegic."
"What's a para-pel-les-ick?"
Ranma and Kasumi stared the guy. The guy was scratching his head in puzzlement. Ranma sighed. Kasumi explained.
"It means you can't walk."
"InuYasha! Didn't we send thy to get Souta?" A woman said.
"Oh, yeah." InuYasha dashed off.
"I apologized for Yasha's rudeness. The boy never seems to change in manners."
"That's alright, Miss?" Kasumi, remembering her wits.
"Keade. I'm one of the shrine keepers here. Do thy need some help up to the shrine?"
"Yes, Keade-sama." Kasumi said. "Agrigato."
Within fifteen minutes, Kasumi and Ranma found themselves inside enjoying tea. Keade called someone and a tall man came in. It was clear he was related to the Yasha kid they had met earlier.
"Why are they here?"
"They have a problem with a curse. I need thine help for thy know more about curses than I."
"Indeed." He took a seat next to Keade. "Speak."
Kasumi quickly told their story and their problem. Keade blinked as the guy calmly nodded.
"The Junskyeno curse. This Sesshoumaru has heard of such a curse. Never have this Sesshoumaru heard of one being cured of such curse. But this Sesshoumaru has several possible reasons why Ranma's hair color has changed."
He took a sip of tea and closed his eyes. "Perhaps curse had been cancelled out by the illness. Another possible reason is this Sesshoumaru can sense Ranma's spirit is centered. Yin and Yang is in balance. Another is the brain damage was to areas that control the transformation. Lastly someone or something else has broken it." He trailed off.
Silence descended on the room. Ranma mulled over what he was told. Kasumi looks at her wristwatch.
"So, you're saying that my bang's now being red is a result of the curse being broken somehow." Ranma asked critically.
"Yes. This Sesshoumaru suspects. But only time will tell."
"Thank you. We would stay longer but we have a dinner to attend." Kasumi bowed. "We are grateful."
"You are welcome." Sesshoumaru replied.
Sesshoumaru and Keade watched the pair with the help of InuYasha make it down the stairs. Once out of sight, Keade turns to Sesshoumaru.
"There is more than what thy have said." Keade accused.
"Yes. Could you not feel his power? It's sleeping now."
"I have felt it." She relented. "Why not tell the lad?"
"This Sesshoumaru is not sure. Something prevent me from saying."
"Ah." She turns away. "Hope that naught will come of this."
"Indeed."
Later that hour, Ranma wheeled down the sidewalk with Kasumi sitting on his lap. Kasumi buries her head in his neck. Ranma enjoyed the wind in his face and Kasumi in his lap. He dimly remembered being able to travel by roof hopping. He sighed softly. Kasumi looked up a bit as they sped down the sidewalk.
"Nothing, Kasumi. Just a memory."
It was time to move forward. He knew in his heart that he'd never recapture the past. And now, he knew he definitely didn't want to.
Kuno could feel it gently surge around Ranma. It was stronger now, quite like that time when he went to one of the other kendo tournaments in Otaku district two years back. He believed that redhead kid, Minso or something was the source. He watched Ranma from across the table.
This Ranma was apparently more intelligent, sensitive, and polite. Kuno winced at that. It was his fault to some extent. His other self helped to create the mayhem that nearly killed Ranma. His other self cringed at the reminder.
He had half-expected Ranma to be his old self. He'd give anything to have the old brash martial artist he so much admired. Granted without that gender-bender curse. And without all the finances.
He glanced down the table at Akane. Akane glared murderously at Kasumi. Ryoga was nervously picking at his food. Kuno sat back.
'Who would have thought Akane would still have feelings for Ranma?'
'Mm? Considering how quick she was to snap up Ryoga, very.' His other half replied. 'She is truly the vixen, the sorcerer pegged her for. Not satisfied with what she has.'
'Why do you insist on calling Ranma, a sorcerer?'
'... I'm not quite sure.'
Kuno slammed his head into his plate in a facefault. Nabika whispered to him.
"So who's in control?"
"I'm still in control, Nabika. He just said something stupid." He whispered back.
Kasumi giggled at something Ranma said. Kuno studied Ranma's new appearance. It didn't even look like Ranma had ever been a well-built martial artist he was many months ago. Actually his body was more along the lines the slender build of his female form, just less curves. His hair, quite longer, was no longer bounded in his trademark braid and then the color, which shocked Kuno. His bangs were the brilliant flame red and his blue-black hair had a reddish taint to it. Then Ranma's eyes, softer and seemingly larger, were sometimes piercing. Kuno shuttered at the memory when the Blue Thunder began calling him demon and such.
'Wait...feminine build and red bangs...What in the world is going on?'
To Be Contined....
================================================
Next Chapter: Meeting Kuno II