A/N: Okay guys, first of all, I'm really sorry for updating so late. The BIGGEST exam in the history of my school life is coming in November, so I need to concentrate on my study more. (Sigh) But.., BUT.., do you hear me? BUT! I won't stop writing this story or stop writing forever because I really want to be a writer someday. Isn't it nice? (Smile & blush) I will update but maybe once a month or maybe even two.

To Novice91: Thank you for being my pre-reader and helping with my grammars but for the time being, I can't send my story to you first before publishing it because my computer (it's really old) is making havoc by not letting me sending e-mail to you, and I usually send it when I went to the library but now my mom won't let me go there till after exam so… the simple thing is… you just have to bear with my vocabulary until December. That's when I finish my exam. (Sigh & bow) Gomen nasai!

To Akasha-chan: Thank you for helping me with sending this story. My computer is really irritating me! (Bow) thank you very much.

To Mekia: Love you girl. You always review at the end of my story and I really thank you. (Smile) Don't hesitate to ask/critic on something you think I should change. You are a really sweet person.

To ALL readers: Thank you very much for reading my story. I love you all. (bow & smile)

A/N: Mind if I make a little change?

"Talk English"

'Think'

-Talk Japanese-

Chapter 25: Give Him a Chance

Ranma, Resha, and the Minamino's family were at the train station, platform 9 ¾, ready to board the train. Resha hugged her aunt and uncle then turned towards Ranma.

-I'll miss you- Resha whispered quietly, hugging him.

Ranma embraced her tighter. -Resha? Do you… trust me?-

Resha looked up at his hesitant face. -Of course I do. I trust you more than anyone-

Ranma glanced around. He saw Kurama was hugging his mother and she was whispering something to him and he nodded once in a while. Ranma looked back at Resha, who had followed his gaze.

-Resha, please… give him a chance,- he said, looking at her intently. Resha stared at him taken aback.

-He'd never hurt you in a million years… no, forever. Can't you see that? I know our parents were wrong to engage us so… inconsiderately, but Shuichi… Kurama… he's truly a good dem…person. You do understand, ne?-

Resha looked down for a while. -But Akane…?-

-Akane is not for me- Ranma cut in quickly. He looked down, stuttering, -She…she thinks of me as a… as a… 'thing' she… has possession of. The other fiancées… think that way too… I... dunno how I'm gonna get out of this mess… but don't worry, I… I'll think of something… eventually- he finished lamely.

'He doesn't want my help' she thought sadly. 'No, that is wrong… he just don't want me to be worried of him… he wants to do this himself… for the first time,' Resha put her hand on his shoulders.

-I believe you- she smiled gently but believingly. Ranma hugged her again then kissed her forehead.

-Thanks. I'm so lucky to have someone like you for a twin sister. And you are lucky to have someone like Kurama to love you. You will, won't you…? Give him a chance?-

-I… I'll try.- she muttered, averting her eyes from his intense ones.

Ranma sighed. He knew it wasn't easy, but he did try to convince her. He hoped she would have faith in her own self.

After that, Resha, Kurama and Suuichi got on the train.

-Ah, ne-chan! Watch out!- Suuichi warned but, oh well, it was too late, as usual.

SPLASH!

-Aww man!- Resha-chan moaned. Kurama quickly picked her up and went into an empty compartment.

-This is just not my day- she ranted as she dried herself. Kurama and Suuichi sweatdropped.

-Calm down. Here, take this book and read quietly.- Kurama shove her a book.

Resha-chan read the cover. -It's about plants.- she said annoyed. Kurama raised an eyebrow.

-So?-

Resha sweatdropped. He and his addiction to plants…

She took another book on history of magical creatures and flopped down onto the seat opposite them. Hardly two and a quarter pages later, she dozed off.

Kurama and Suuichi both have a huge sweatdrop on the back of their heads.

-I can't believe she fell asleep. She just slept in the airplane, then in the cab, now here?- Suuichi said questioningly.

Kurama smiled. -She tends to sleep in vehicles. A habit I find cute, don't you think?- they both gave a short laugh.

Just then, the door opened and a head popped in.

"Err, hello. Are there anymore seats left?"

"Harry-kun! Sure there are. Come in." Suuichi invited happily. Kurama got to his feet and picked Resha up carefully into his arms. He then sat back and placed her comfortably on his lap. Harry went inside, followed by Hermione and Ron, and they sat in the vacant seat in front of them.

It was the odd silence afterwards that Kurama realized they don't remember him.

"I'm Shuichi. Suuichi's brother. We've met before." He said smiling. This of course, made Hermione turned bright red and the other two gawked.

"I cut my hair." he added simply.

"Bloody hell! It is you. I could hardly recognize you." Ron said in disbelief, his eyes wide.

"You look very… err… different." Hermione said, blushing harder.

Harry was looking elsewhere though. "Excuse me, but who is that?" he pointed to Resha-chan.

"This? It's Resha ne-chan. She's in her cursed form." Suuichi replied.

"Cursed form?" the other three asked in unison.

"Yes. She fell into a cursed spring of Jusenkyo, in China about a few months ago. Cold water turns her little; hot water turns her back to a teenager." Kurama explained.

"Oh…"

"Suu…Shuichi, is it? Do you have a nickname? Because I'm a little confused." Ron frowned.

"Well…" Kurama pondered for a while, wondering if he should let them call him by his youkai name.

"Kurama" Resha muttered in her sleep.

Everyone turned their attention to her.

"Is she asleep?" Harry asked.

"Yes. Must be dreaming." Kurama paused for a while. "Kurama. You can call me that." He said finally.

"Kurama? Yeah, now I remember, Resha ne-chan sometimes calls you that. Is she dreaming about you?" Suuichi asked, poking the sleeping girl tenderly.

Kurama turned slightly pink. The others noticed this.

"Don't be silly. She's probably dreaming something else." He voiced calmly. "And don't poke her like that, she might wake…" Kurama need not finish his sentence as Resha-chan slowly opened her eyes and gave a cute yawn.

-Huh? What happen?- she asked drowsily, not taking in her surrounding.

-You fell asleep… as usual. Go and freshen up- Kurama urged, lifting her to the floor. Resha-chan gave another yawn then padded to the door and went outside.

"Is she alright?" Harry asked.

Kurama smiled. "She's fine. Just a little… hazy."

"Very funny" a female voice said sarcastically. It was Resha, standing on the doorway, looking at Kurama annoyed, slightly embarrassed.

'Wow that was fast.' The other four thought.

Kurama smiled at her and indicated her to sit next to him. She snorted but did as she was told.

"Hey guys. Long time no see." She beamed at the other three. They exchange smiles then she started a conversation about Hogwarts. They all had a nice long chat and somewhere in the talk, Resha and Kurama cleverly changed the topic to the adventures of the three of them had all these years. The two expertly avoid questions about themselves, only telling the exterior.

Hermione looked at her watch suddenly. "Well, we're almost there. You should wear your robes now. Ron and I need to take care of the first years. We'll see you in school." After that, Hermione and Ron left.

The others started wearing their robes.

"Darn, I hate this thing." Resha cursed bluntly.

"You'll get used to it." Kurama replied smiling. Resha pouted cutely.

"You always say that," she argued. The train had stopped and they were going out.

"Well, you are already used to dresses, hmm?" he smirked. She blushed slightly.

"I still hate them."

Kurama rolled his eyes only.

Harry, watching this, turned to Suuichi beside him and mouthed: Are those two together?

Suuichi looked at his brother and sister-in-law-to-be still arguing and hadn't notice Harry's silent question. He grinned at Harry and nodded.

Harry smiled. Well, it is quite obvious, especially the way Kurama talk to her and the way his eyes soften when he look at her. He suddenly saw Suuichi made a silent gesture to him not to tell anybody. Harry nodded, grinning.

At Hogwarts

Resha and Kurama were taken to see Dumbledore first. The old man told them to wait until their names were called then warned them about the mission again. Kurama and Resha nodded in understanding.

"As now the sorting of first years are done, I would like to announce that we'll be having two new students as well going to the seventh years." Resha frowned when she heard the headmaster said that. She knew they had mistaken her for being the same age as Kurama. She sighed. Oh well, she'll be here for just a year only. Who cares!

"Let the sorting continues!"

"MINAMINO, SHUICHI!" Immediately, the hall became silent and gasps were heard as Kurama entered the hall. He sat on the chair and hesitantly put on the hat.

"Hmm, my, my, a very unique person you are. Oh… you were a demon hmm? Oh! The famous Youko Kurama. How interesting." The hat muttered to itself.

"Just get on with it!" Youko interrupted irritably.

"My, what a temper. Oh, you are very loyal to friends and families and… what's this? ho, ho, you're in love, huh?" the hat asked slyly.

"My personal life is not for your concern. Please hurry. I do wish though that you will put me with Harry Potter." Kurama said calmly, though he was feeling quite as irritated as Youko.

"Hmm… well, you do have the intelligence fit for Ravenclaw, and the kindness and effort adequate for Hufflepuff, of course that temper and past life suits Slytherin, but… yes, the bravery and loyalty is strong, so… GRYFFINDOR!"

Immediately, there were booming claps and happy shrieks from the Gryffindor table. Kurama saw Harry waving at him so he went up and sat beside him, smiling a little, making all the girls who saw it has dreamy faces. Girls…

"And now the second person: SAOTOME, RESHA!" Resha sighed a little then entered slowly, making the noisy hall went silent again. She sat on the chair, and like Kurama, was hesitant of putting the hat on.

"A demon too, hmm? Dear girl, do not block your mind. How am I suppose to know what house is best for you?" the hat complained.

She snorted disdainfully but then she let it in.

"Oh my, what a sad and painful journey you've been through. You've seen so many cruel things…"

"Just get on with it!" Resha interrupted, irritated.

"Oh, yes of course. Hmm… yes like the boy just now you have the intellect good for Ravenclaw, yes, hard-working like Hufflepuff, my, my, crafty like Slytherin, and yes, brave like Gryffindor. So…"

"Not Gryffindor." She whispered quickly.

"Why?" the hat asked curiously.

She wasn't sure why. Ranma's plea to give Kurama a chance still rang in her mind. But she was uneasy. She was still... uncomfortable.

"I see. So you are confused and need more time to think it through, hmm? Well then, the best would be… what do you want?"

Slowly, a sly smirk formed on her lips.

The hat was quiet for a short second before shouting:

"SLYTHERIN!"

A/N: MUAHAHAAA! I'm so evil! So, do you like how I turn this out? REVIEW OF YOUR OPINION!