Ranma 1/2
Altered Destinies: A scary thought
Note, due to the odd filtering of characters here, I'm using italics for anything that is spoken in non-Japanese (well, since this is as if English is Japanese… this is so confusing). I'm sure you'll figure it out.
Chapter 10
Kasumi stood at the door to the vice-principal's home and took in a long, deep breath. Now was as good a time as any. She reached out and lightly knocked then waited. After a moment the vice principal opened the door and looked at Kasumi in mild surprise.
"Oh, hello Kasumi. Is there something I can do for you?" Seeing the grave look on Kasumi's face he added. "Is there something wrong my dear? Why don't you come in and talk about whatever it is," he said.
"Thank you," Kasumi replied and walked in.
The vice-principal led her to the common room. "Please sit down. Is there something you'd like to drink?" He asked as he started to walk to the kitchen.
"A glass of cold water will do, thank you," Kasumi answered.
After a minute he returned from the kitchen with a cup of tea and a glass of water which he handed to Kasumi. Sitting down across from Kasumi he asked. "So, what brings you here? Nothing wrong with Ms. Hinako I hope."
"No, I think she'll do just fine. Actually, I'm here to tell you about something that has come up." Kasumi looked at the glass she was holding and briefly considered just explaining about the curse. However, that just wouldn't do. He'd have to see it and, besides, she might as well change under controlled conditions. Not wasting a second longer Kasumi turned the glass over, and dumped the water over her head.
Kasumi watched as several expressions flashed over the vice-principal's face: shock as her figure began to morph, then incredulity as the transformation ran it's course and finally his face settled into an expression of stunned amazement. He was so stunned, in fact, that his grip on his tea weakened and the cup dropped into his lap. The feeling of scalding hot liquid on his skin quickly brought him out of his catatonic state and caused him to jump to his feet with a yelp of pain.
"Are you all right, sir?" Kasumi asked as the vice-principal started to race from the room. He didn't respond, save to curse the tea, and rushed off into the kitchen. A minute later he returned, drying his pant legs with a dish towel.
"Sorry about that," he said as he sat down again and looked at Kasumi. After a moment he spoke. "How long?"
"A few months now. It happened-"
The vice-principal waved off the explanation. "No, don't bother me with the details of how you got this... condition. They wouldn't change anything. I guess seeing Ms. Hinako's condition you decided to show me yours?"
"That is part of it. In actuality I... have a problem."
"Problem?" The vice principal asked.
Kasumi sighed then began to explain how the curse worked and his present situation, leaving out some of the more messy details that he didn't need to know about.
Once finished, the vice-principal looked at him sympathetically. "So, I can assume you may be trapped like this for some time?"
"Unfortunately it would be best to make that assumption. I hope to clear up matters with this woman but that may take a while. Until then..."
"I see." He took a moment to think. "Are you still capable of working at the school?"
"I suppose. I have no desire to quit if that's what you mean," Kasumi answered.
"Well then, I don't think this will be that great of a problem. I can explain about your condition to the other instructors as necessary. As for the students, they can simply be told you are a substitute while... your other self is on vacation, or something."
Kasumi nodded and smiled in some relief. "That sounds just fine."
"Good. Now, have you an alternate identity of any type? It would be best to remain consistent."
Kasumi nodded. "Akane said that she once introduced me as Kaneda. I'm supposed to be her cousin. Will that do?"
"Fine, just fine. Okay then, if there's nothing else..." Suddenly the vice-principal's face grew thoughtful, after a minute a grin spread across it and he started to chuckle. Seeing Kasumi's puzzled look he said. "I just realized that you must be the man of mystery that all the girls are talking about. I'm afraid you are going to find yourself the center of a great deal of attention your first few days, and not just from the female students either. Some of the young single teachers have been doing a little gossiping as well. Some of the married ones, if it comes to that, but I don't think you have much to worry about regarding them." He grinned at Kasumi. "If you were a real man, I would be giving you a lecture right now on not getting involved with the female students. I can't tell you what a relief it is to have a young male teacher I don't have to worry about that problem with." Not seeing the look of dismay that crossed Kasumi's face the vice-principal said as he started to get up. "Well, if that is all then, you'll have to excuse me while I go get these burns properly treated. Good luck to you in finding a cure."
"Thank you sir. Good bye then." Kasumi responded, and with a troubled look on her face got up and started to leave.
"Good bye."
Kasumi headed off for home, a great sense of burden lifted from his shoulders, and another potential burden taking its place. He never really gave it much thought but now he realized that it had been worrying him that his fellow instructors at the school might react badly to the curse. He had not stopped to consider how some of his fellow female teachers might react to his physical form. He hoped the vice-principal would tell them the truth before something embarrassing happened. Once that was no longer a concern he could concentrate on his work and hopefully find some way to deal with this newest problem.
XXXXX
A short distance from the Tendo home a figure sat on a rooftop waiting for her darling Kaneda's arrival. That figure was one Kodachi Kuno. For the last several days she had somehow missed Kasumi, or Kaneda as she knew him, on his way home from where ever he went during the day. Little did she know that the person she was searching for passed by her each day, yet in his female form. Akane, of course, was getting a good amount of amusement out of Kodachi's confusion at this.
However, today Kodachi spotted her target. Finally, she thought as she readied herself. Kaneda walked by the building Kodachi was waiting on, unaware of his audience. Kodachi waited till just the right moment then dropped down to the ground in front of him.
For Kasumi this was quite the surprise. He had sensed something and was expecting to encounter one of three people: Ukyo, the old woman... or possibly even Shampoo. However, Kodachi was not someone he was prepared for.
"Hello... lover," Kodachi said as she walked slowly up to the shocked Kaneda. "Do you know how difficult it is to catch you?"
Kasumi blinked in confusion at the unexpected form of address then noticed Kodachi's attire. She was dressed in a form fitting black gown that hugged her figure, accentuating every curve, and dropped to just above her ankles. As Kodachi moved towards him, Kasumi could not help but notice her long trim legs flashing in and out of sight showing that the dress was slit up each side as high as her hips. When she was close enough Kasumi noticed that the dress was not solid black. There was a pattern of roses worked in the material, picked out in black thread so it was almost invisible, and as a result could not help but draw the eye. It ran in a spiral pattern that started at the hem and ran around her body until it ended in a single open blossom at the bottom of her cleavage. The effect that this created made Kasumi suddenly nervous. For some reason he suddenly had a vision of another woman, much lusher, and older but in a similar provocative dress. As quickly as it came it went, leaving Kasumi with a vague feeling of familiarity he could not place. Needing some distance, Kasumi started to back away as Kodachi continued to approach.
"Hello... Kodachi." Kasumi managed to say then bumped into something. Without knowing it he had allowed her to back him up against one of the street walls and Kodachi quickly took advantage of this. She pressed up close to him and laid a hand to either side, allowing no room for an easy escape.
"I never did get to properly thank you for catching me," she said, passion and seduction all too plain in her voice.
Kasumi rarely felt as nervous as he did now. He was used to facing battles and on very rare occasions men who behaved in much the manner that Kodachi was now, but not this... For a second the image of the lush woman once again flashed across his mind and disappeared. Disregarding the puzzling image as irrelevant at the moment he tried to bring his mind back to his current dilemma. "It was nothing," he stammered out.
"Oh, but you deserve a reward for such a heroic act," Kodachi said as she brought her face within an inch of Kasumi's.
"That's really not necessary," Kasumi replied quickly, ducking his head to the side to avoid Kodachi.
Kodachi blinked then moved her own head to meet Kasumi's once more. "You're not shy, are you?"
"Umm, well..." Kasumi again dodged Kodachi and this time used his hand to move one of Kodachi's. He escaped and quickly put several feet between them. "You have the wrong idea. I couldn't..."
Kodachi looked at him, slightly dejected. "You already have a girlfriend?"
"No!" Kasumi responded automatically and Kodachi's face lit up once again and she quickly closed the gap between them.
"Then what's the problem?" She asked with a smile but then frowned. "Is it that you don't like me?"
"No, that's not it. You're just fine..." Kasumi replied as he backed into another wall. Kodachi's smile returned and she grabbed Kasumi by the shoulders then lay herself against him, pinning him against the wall with her body weight. Kodachi looked up into Kasumi's eyes with passionate fire in her eyes. The combined factors of that look and a woman's body pressed so close to him caused Kasumi's mind to fumble.
He took a second to replace the spit in his suddenly dry mouth then spoke. "Ahh. You see... I'm a g..." Kasumi trailed off. Not right now I'm not and I'm stuck this way, he thought with a wince.
"What were you saying lover?" Kodachi asked, moving her face within striking distance of Kasumi's. Kasumi quickly turned his face to the side to avoid anything further.
"I'm really not... I really don't think... I should..." Kasumi paused to collect himself then continued. "I'm just not ready to start that kind of relationship right now." He said then, getting up his nerve, removed himself gently from Kodachi. "It's nothing to do with you." Kodachi look down at the ground, apparently disappointed. Kasumi breathed a quiet sigh of relief then started back on his way. "I'm sorry." He said as he walked off.
Kodachi stood silent for a moment then looked up with a smile at the departing figure. "I guess I'll just have to work a little harder," she said and then walked off in the opposite direction.
XXXXX
Haruka, Michiru and Hotaru stood in front of the restaurant that Setsuna had recommended, having just exited from Haruka's car. After a minute spent looking over the front of the establishment, Michiru and Hotaru started up the steps to the entrance. Haruka lagged behind, however, looking over her shoulder at the parking valet driving her car around to the back of the restaurant. Michiru sighed, and walked back down the steps. Linking her arm into Haruka's she steered her friend around and up the stairs.
"I am sure they will take good care of your baby, dear."
Haruka sniffed skeptically. "They had better," she said, "or else."
Michiru merely smiled and the two of them joined Hotaru who was hopping from foot to foot in impatience at the slowness of grownups.
Stepping through the door they entered a cool dark entrance way lined with wood paneling that glowed with a deep brown finish. At the end of the short hallway was a podium attended by a man of Chinese ancestry.
As they walked up to the Maitre Dee, Michiru made noises of approval regarding the understated, but attractive decor. "This is a very nice place. But still, I seriously doubt that Setsuna sent us here because it is a fine dining establishment."
"Maybe it has a fine wine cellar as well," Haruka joked. "I imagine Setsuna has an appreciation of fine old vintages. She was likely there when they were bottled."
Ahead of them the Maitre Dee was politely but firmly informing a well to do couple that it would be quite impossible to seat them. There was a three month waiting period for a reservation.
"O well, I guess that lets us out." Haruka said in mock resignation. Turning she had taken a step back the way they had come before Michiru caught her arm and turned her back around.
"Don't be ridiculous," Michiru said. "Remember who told us to come here." Haruka sighed in resignation and allowed Michiru to lead her back to the Maitre Dee's podium.
"I just wish she could have picked a night there was not a major F1 event on," Haruka muttered to herself.
"Michiru Kaiou, Haruka Tenoh and Hotaru Tomoe, I believe you have a table for us," Michiru said.
The man did not even look at his book, instead he beamed at them in delight and said. "But of course we do. I have long been waiting to meet the people who had such foresight. You are so young! In truth I had expected someone much older. Still it makes it even more remarkable that you had the wisdom to make your reservations on the day we opened two years ago. If you would please follow me I will take you to your table."
As they followed the effusive Maitre Dee Haruka leaned over and whispered in Michiru's ear. "I really, really hate it when she does that."
Michiru merely smiled and said. "Serves you right for doubting her."
"There sure are a lot of beautiful ladies here," Hotaru, who up to now had been on her best behavior, was looking around the room in amazement. Every where they looked there was an attractive young girl in a scarlet dress.
"Aa yes, our hostesses," the Maitre Dee said. "We are famous for our girls. You will not find lovelier hostesses in any other establishment. Not only that, but each table has a single girl assigned to it, and they will be devoted to you and you alone for the duration of your meal."
"That is most considerate of you. I always enjoy having an attractive girl at my beck and call," Haruka said, giving a wink to one of the girls in question as they passed by her assigned table. The girl blushed, and lowered her eyes demurely. She continued to watch Haruka out of the corner of her eye as Haruka walked away from her duty station.
Michiru noted the byplay with amusement, wondering what the girl's reaction would be if she were to find that what she was currently so avidly focusing her eyes on belonged to another girl.
Reaching their table the Maitre Dee seated the ladies himself. Turning and snapping his fingers he held up three fingers as he signaled to one of the Hostesses and she came over to them carrying three menus. Taking them from her the Maitre Dee handed one each to the three girls. "It will be my pleasure to serve you personally this evening," he said.
XXXXX
Kasumi sat the edge of his bed staring at the floor. He had walked in and gone straight here to think. He'd inevitably have to tell everyone about being trapped as a boy. That wasn't really that much of a concern. What was the concern is that everyone would want to know why. He could almost hear the tea kettle whistling right now.
Kasumi rubbed his eyes as he cast his mind back to that day several months ago. It had been just after they had left the springs. They had reached a village that had turned out to be inhabited by a tribe of Amazons. Thanks to Genma he had ended up fighting the village champion. Fortunately he had won and equally fortunately the village appreciated skilled fighters. There had been a festival after his fight and he had spent an enjoyable evening with the girl he had defeated, an Amazon named Shampoo. The problems had started the next day when he had to reveal the truth to Shampoo. The girl had almost killed her before relenting and revealing the law of the village regarding outsider women who defeated an Amazon. It was barbaric, if an Amazon was defeated by an outsider female she had to give her the kiss of death and then kill without delay. Fortunately she had revealed her secret to Shampoo in private and after the girl got over her anger she had let Kasumi escape. She had never thought to hear from Shampoo again, and now it would seem her grandmother had some peculiar notion of what had happened between her and Shampoo. Well, once she realized the truth, she would hopefully reverse the Cat Tongue pressure point.
Kasumi shook himself out of the past, and sighed. Such things were behind him and unchangeable. Right now he had to figure out how to tell the others about this.
XXXXX
Ryouko looked into the dojo and winced as Ranma smashed into the dojo wall. He slid to the ground, moaning in pain. "This sucks! Why do I have to help you with this anyway?" He asked as he started getting back to his feet.
Akane tossed her gymnastic clubs into the air with a smile. "Because Kodachi had something to do, that's why. Now stop whining. The tournament is tomorrow and I need to practice." Akane caught the clubs without even looking.
"Yeah, yeah. Why bother anyway? Kodachi is going to win," he said and set himself into a ready stance.
"We'll see about that." Akane dashed forward and began a quick set of strikes with her clubs. Ranma blocked each then stepped off to the side. Akane spun about to meet him.
Ryouko watched the bout for a moment longer then turned and walked off for the yard. She was so close to telling him, so close... Damn that Kasumi! Well, she'd get hers, and Kasumi couldn't keep Ranma away from her forever. Next chance she got she'd tell him how she felt.
"Charolette!" A girl's voice rang out as she grabbed Ryouko in a powerful hug. Ryouko not only was taken totally off guard by the sudden hug but was also completely stunned. Who the hell is this, she thought, half panicked. "You have been a bad doggy, running away, but now you're coming home with Azusa."
Ryouko tried to shake herself free from Azusa but found the girl's grip to be like a vice. Her struggles suddenly ceased, however, when she felt a slight pin prink near her neck where Azusa was holding her. Within seconds she felt woozy and weak.
Just then Genma stepped out onto the walkway. "Oh, hello miss. Is that your dog?"
"Oh yes! This is my little Charolette." Azusa said as she waved one of the signs Ranma had put up to Genma. "Azusa is so happy to have found her. Aren't you happy too Charolette?" Azusa gave Ryouko a big smile and hug. Ryouko wanted to growl, snap at her or something to tell Ranma's father this wasn't right but she could barely keep her eyelids open. "See, she's so happy to see me. Thank you for finding her. Can I take her home now?"
"Well, I guess so." Genma answered with a shrug. "She's your dog after all."
Great, I'm being kidnapped in plain sight and what's he do about it, Ryouko thought angrily, nothing. She desperately wanted to do anything to stop this but she was just too weak. She felt Azusa wrap a choke chain around her neck then begin to lead her off. Ryouko tried to just drop to the ground but the sudden lack of oxygen quickly quashed that idea. All she could do was stumble along behind the girl, trying to keep up. The worst thing about it was she had an overwhelming feeling that this would only get worse.
XXXXX
Haruka sighed and pushed herself back from the table. "Now that was a meal!" She exclaimed.
"It was very good." Michiru agreed. Hotaru nodded her head in affirmation, but was too busy trying to clean the last of the dessert from her plate to talk. Finally deciding that all that was left on her plate was the pattern, she sighed in resignation. Looking around the restaurant she noticed one of the other hostesses walking by with a tray of desserts for her table.
"Do you-" she began.
"No, I do not," Michiru said. "You have had far more than enough sweets for one day." She looked down and started to go through her dress purse. She and Haruka had bet on how long it would be before whatever Setsuna wanted them here to see happened. She had lost. She had been sure it would happen soon after their arrival. She should have known better. Setsuna would not be so impolite as to interrupt their meal. In hindsight she realized that Setsuna had more than likely scheduled their reservation in order that they might enjoy their dinner in comfort before anything else happened. Frowning she thought, if that is the case then it is likely that we will soon witness whatever we are here to see.
Of course, that all assumed Setsuna actually knew what was going to happen. However, she had shown a strange lack of knowledge about the reasoning behind previous strange requests, almost as if she was in the dark as much as they were. Neither Haruka nor Michiru knew if she was feigning her lack of knowledge or whether she was being truthful. Of course, they never pried very deep. The reclusive Senshi would likely not tell them much anyway when it came to her duties.
Haruka smiled and winked at Hotaru. While Michiru's attention was elsewhere she slid her own half finished dessert over to Hotaru.
Hotaru immediately dug in, in an effort to finish it before Michiru looked up from her purse. It melted away like a snow ball in a blast furnace. And, just before Michiru looked up after locating her wallet Hotaru slid the now empty bowl back to Haruka. She began to look around the restaurant in a nonchalant manner, the very epitome of innocence. Suddenly something at another table caught her eye.
"Wow," Hotaru shouted, simultaneous with a loud crash and a great deal of yelling and screaming. The other two girls turned, and saw an amazing sight. An attractive hostess was holding a steak knife under the quivering double chin of an executive type middle aged man. Another man was flailing his arms and blowing bubbles as the girl held him face down in a bowl of soup. While she was doing this she kept up a steady stream of what must have been fairly pungent invective judging by the flushes that were rising on the faces of several of the other Hostesses.
With a yell of outrage the Maitre Dee charged across the room to confront the angry girl. He skidded to a halt quickly when she swung the steak knife around from the man she had been threatening and directed it at Maitre Dee. He started yelling in the same language she was using and gestured at the man with his face in the soup. The other man had fainted dead away when she had withdrawn the knife from under his chin. The man with his face in the soup had stopped his frantic motions and was now weakly trying to push himself away from the bowl.
With an angry shout the girl used the drowning man's hair as a handle and pulled his face up and out. Before he could even so much as draw a much needed breath of air she pulled his head to one side and slammed it down on to the top of the table. Once, twice and a third time, then with one final imprecation at the Maitre Dee she let go of her handhold and stalked out of the room. The gentleman whose head she had used for a hammer slowly slid off of the table and fell to the floor.
The Maitre Dee yelled something out at her just before she reached the door. She whirled and in the same motion threw the steak knife she still held in one hand. It flashed through the air and thunked into the floor between the Maitre Dee's feet. He paled and stepped backwards. The girl, with a flip of her hair, disappeared out the door.
"O good, a floor show," Haruka said. Michiru directed a withering look at her, and tried to pull Hotaru's attention away from the other table.
"Wow," Hotaru repeated. "She sure showed that pervert."
"Hotaru!" Michiru exclaimed.
"Well he was, I saw it all. She leaned over to clear the dishes and he reached out and grabbed her right on the-"
"Thank you Hotaru, we get the idea. Well Haruka, I guess you're going to get to watch your race after all."
"Eh?" Haruka pulled her attention back from the amusing scene on the other side of the restaurant.
"Unless you don't think that is why Setsuna sent us here." Michiru explained.
Haruka grew thoughtful. "Well she did give us a specific time to be here and I can't see anything else as spectacular happening. I have to say, however, that it seems an awfully strange thing for her to arrange for us to see. Why do you suppose she wanted us to witness it?"
"I have no idea. We may never have any idea. Maybe our being in these seats at this particular time was necessary to something that will happen two hundred years from now."
A half an hour later the three of them were motoring down the road towards home. A sudden unexpected storm had blown in, but Haruka had put the top up on the convertible before they left the restaurant.
Suddenly Hotaru yelled out to Haruka to stop, pointing at a figure trudging through the rain along the shoulder of the road. The scarlet dress she was wearing left little doubt in any of their minds that this was the same girl they had seen in the restaurant. Bringing the car to a stop a hundred feet past the girl, Haruka put it into reverse and backed up till she was next to the soaking wet girl. The girl did not even lift her head in acknowledgment of their presence. She did speak however.
"What you want?" She continued to walk, and Haruka kept the car level with her.
"We just wanted-" Michiru started to say but was interrupted by Hotaru.
"You were great. You really showed that pervert he had better keep his hands to himself," she enthused.
"I agree," Haruka said. "I doubt that either of them will be quite so free with there hands in the future." At the sound of Haruka's voice the girl raised her head, and turning gave Haruka a hard searching look. She then looked at Michiru and finally at Hotaru, who she smiled at.
"Thank you. I no like grabby men."
"Can we offer you a lift home?" Michiru asked. "It is a filthy night out and you will catch your death of cold if you have to go far in this."
"I no cold," the girl said. A bout of shivering showed that statement to be the merest bravado.
"Really, please let us drive you home," Haruka said. "In payment for a wonderful floor show if nothing else. A pretty girl like you should not have to travel unescorted. You should go everywhere in the company of fine young men."
At this statement the girl gave bitter laugh. "I no have boy, I no have home, I no have nothing."
"No home?" Michiru asked.
"Restaurant have rooms for girls in back. No job, no room."
Haruka stopped the car. Getting out, she placed herself in front of the former hostess and pulled the seat forward. "Please get in," she said to the girl. "We can go to a tea house and discuss this in comfort." For a minute she thought the girl would refuse, but finally she heaved a resigned sigh and climbed into the back seat with Hotaru.
A little later they were all seated around a table and each of them was cupping a warm bowl of tea in their hands. The former Hostess had a warm towel wrapped around her shoulders, courtesy of the old lady who ran the tea shop. Haruka was flirting outrageously with the pretty granddaughter of the owner. Michiru was attempting to draw out their guest, every now and then exchanging glances with Haruka. There was an entire conversation in their glances. Michiru was saying that they would have to take this girl in until they could find her a place. Haruka was saying, what about our secrets. Michiru's return glance replied that something could be worked out, and that this was more than likely the reason Setsuna had wanted them at the restaurant. Haruka's eyes agreed and she looked over at Hotaru. Hotaru looked up at both of them and with her eyes said that she thought the girl very nice and that she thought they should help her, especially after that pervert had gotten her fired. She needed to know that there were good people in the world. Suddenly her glance started to tell a different story, as did the fact that her face was turning a little green.
Haruka said, "I think that last dessert was just a little too much of a good thing." Extending her hand she helped Hotaru up from the floor. She then gently picked up the little girl and carried her off to the ladies room. She returned about five minutes later with a now pale faced Hotaru. "I think we had best get this one back to her own bed." Looking around in puzzlement she said. "Where is our warrior waitress?"
Michiru looked up from where she had knelt down beside Hotaru to feel her head, and said. "She said she had to go home."
"Home?" Haruka asked. "I thought she had no home."
"I guess she found one," Michiru shrugged. "In any event we can't go looking for her. We need to get Hotaru home and in a warm bath. Her face is ice cold." There was nothing Haruka could say to that, and the three of them left the tea house. As their car pulled out into the street a shadowy figure emerged from the nearby alley.
"Shampoo thank you for showing her." Then she turned and started lopping down the street. After a block she bounded to the roof of a nearby home and then leapt to its neighbor. In seconds she disappeared into the darkness.
XXXXX
"Okay, okay, I take it back. Maybe you do have a chance." Ranma said as he stepped into the common room, rubbing the side of his chest. Akane followed close behind him.
"Maybe you should go get Dr. Tofu-" Akane began to suggest.
"I'm fine. It's just a stupid bruise," Ranma replied.
"Okay. I'm going to go take a bath," Akane headed off to the bathroom.
Ranma slumped down next to the table where Nabiki was concentrating on a book. He tried to rub away the pain for a moment longer then gave up and looked at what Nabiki was reading. It was a psychology manual and Nabiki was presently looking over the chapter on sex related disorders. "What are you reading that for?"
Nabiki suddenly slammed the book shut and looked up at Ranma in surprise. "Nothing... No reason... Where the hell did you come from?"
"I was right here. Gees, that must be one interesting book."
Nabiki scowled and quickly hid the book under the table and replaced it with a math text. "I don't know. It's not my type of book."
"Certainly had you engrossed though," Ranma replied with a teasing smile. Nabiki turned her attention to the text and ignored him but he caught a slight embarrassed blush on her face. Ranma let the subject drop and looked around. "Hey, you seen Ryouko."
"Nope," Nabiki replied simply. Ranma frowned at that. Ryouko was always around. Usually she'd hang so close to him he thought they were connected by a rope. He got up to go look for her.
As soon as Ranma left the room Nabiki immediately switched back to the psychology manual.
XXXXX
A short time later Ranma was getting worried. He'd looked through the whole house and couldn't find Ryouko anywhere. Then he ran into his father as he came in from a walk.
"Hey Pop, have you seen Ryouko? I can't find her."
"Oh, some girl came to pick her up earlier." He replied absently and started walking towards the common room.
"What do you mean 'some girl'?" Ranma exclaimed.
"She must have been the owner."
"Why didn't you tell me she was here? I at least wanted to meet the... Wait a minute, you didn't just let her take Ryouko did you?"
"Yeah, so?"
"Did you even bother checking to see if she was the real owner?"
Genma stopped dead in his tracks and looked at his son with a nervous grin. "Well... ahhhhh, ummm..."
"Pop, you are by far the most irresponsible person I know!" Ranma yelled out just as Akane walked up, drying her hair with a towel.
"Now what?" She asked.
"He went and gave away Ryouko to some girl without even checking out who she was!" Ranma answered and glared at his father angrily.
Akane looked between the two, sympathizing with Ranma's anger. If someone had given C-chan away without checking on the person she'd probably be a little peeved herself. "Did you get her name?" She asked Genma, a scowl on her face.
"Ahh... ahhh... oh yeah, she called herself Azusa I think." Genma responded.
Azusa, where have I heard that name before, Akane thought to herself then suddenly the answer came to her. "Oh brother, I know her. Mai warned me about her. She's supposed to be a bit weird or something."
"Great, you gave Ryouko away to some nutcase!" Ranma yelled out causing Genma to hide behind Akane. Ranma stared daggers at his father then turned his attention to Akane. "Do you know where she lives?"
"No, but Mai might. We can go ask." Akane replied and Ranma was already leaving. Akane gave Genma a disapproving shake of her head and chased after Ranma.
Genma watched them leave then sighed in relief. He then turned and ran right into Kasumi-kun and from the expression on Kasumi's face he knew his trouble had just increased.
"We have to talk," Kasumi said.
"About?" Genma asked, fearing the answer.
"I can explain that to everyone at once." Kasumi replied. Genma had a bad feeling...
XXXXX
Shampoo landed nimbly on the roof of the house across from the Tendos'. She had scouted it out once before but couldn't go through with it. Now she had seen something that made her reconsider.
She had been of a split mind. Her great grand mother had assured her that it would all work out. Who was she to disbelieve her? Her great grand mother was older, wiser and vastly more experience in matters of the heart than Shampoo. Yet, despite all her assurances, it seemed so hopeless.
How could she live out her life with another woman, half man or not? It was not like she was unaware of such relationships. The village had a few such matches, but that simply wasn't her. She couldn't see herself with a woman and having anything meaningful.
When it came to love, Shampoo had to admit, her knowledge was horribly limited. Her only real gauge on the matter was Mousse and his overbearing torrential outpouring of 'love'. She'd never seen such a thing between other women and without it those relationships seemed so... shallow in comparison. However, she saw now that she had been horribly mistaken. Such outpouring 'love' was merely window-dressing. Much more powerful connections were made than that and in much more subtle ways.
The looks that she had noticed being exchanged by those two women this afternoon carried a great impact. She had noticed them in the restaurant and thought them a married couple. It was not until she heard the 'man' speak that she realized the truth. Then she had thought she had misread their relationship, but the small amount of time she had spent with them had shown that they were indeed in love. When she thought about how they behaved she was reminded of how her own parents sometimes looked at each other. In the end, that's really what she had wanted without even knowing it.
She spotted the family gathering in the common room and then she saw Kasumi-kun. Seeing him caused her to waver. How could she talk with him? She felt such a mix of emotions that she couldn't even be sure how she would act when they were face to face. This woman had tricked her, made a mockery of her, and torn up Shampoo whole self image in the process. Perhaps she hadn't intended the deception but it still hurt. Still, she felt there was something there and she had to see what it truly was, and if Kasumi-
"There you are child. I knew you'd show up eventually." Shampoo turned in surprise to see her great grand mother behind her, addressing her in their native tongue and balancing on her staff as usual. "Where have you been?" She asked, a slight touch of concern in her voice.
"I needed to think," Shampoo answered and turned back to look at Kasumi.
"Well, it is time we got this settled. I have already set a plan in motion. Come." Shampoo nodded and followed her great grand mother.
XXXXX
"What's this all about Kasumi?" Soun asked as he sat down by the table, next to Nabiki who looking off into the yard away from Kasumi.
"A bit of a problem has come up," Kasumi answered then noticed two absences. "Where are Ranma and Akane?"
"They had... a pressing matter to attend to," Genma answered nervously. Nodoka gave him a sideward suspicious glance but then turned back to Kasumi.
"Oh well, I suppose they'll have to hear about this later," Kasumi said then sat down next to the table. She took a moment to gather himself then looked up to address the others.
"Earlier today a woman confronted me in the street. We fought briefly and she managed to ably the cat-tongue pressure point on me."
"What's that supposed to do?" Nabiki asked, giving Kasumi only a quick glance then looking down at the table.
"Basically it-"
"It leaves him unable to change forms." Everyone turned to the yard to see the old woman hopping into the room on her staff. A second later Shampoo landed in the yard. Kasumi found herself paralyzed with shock at seeing the Amazon again.
"Who are you?" Nodoka asked, not noticing Kasumi's condition.
"I am this one's great grand mother." The old woman responded, gesturing to Shampoo.
"And what business have you with my daughter?" Soun asked, his tone strict and challenging.
"The business we have is to make Kasumi return with us back to China and fulfill his obligations to my great grand daughter."
"What obligations are those?" Nodoka asked.
Before the old woman could respond Kasumi spoke. "Wait a moment, please. You have the wrong idea. Nothing happened between us. I'm sure Shampoo can confirm that." Everyone looked at Kasumi in confusion, including Shampoo, which shocked Kasumi. Kasumi felt a sudden sense of panic overwhelm him. I know nothing happened, I know it, he thought as he stood up and quickly walked over to Shampoo. "Shampoo?"
Shampoo continued to look at Kasumi in confusion. "What you... Shampoo no understand."
"I-" Kasumi began but got cut off by his father who had just put together what was going on.
"Wait, am I to understand that you want my daughter and your great grand daughter... That's insane!"
"It is his obligation." Shampoo's great grand mother responded. "He cannot simply ignore it."
"But they're both girls!" Soun exclaimed. At this moment Nabiki and Nodoka finally picked up on what the situation was and looked at Kasumi and Shampoo in shock.
Nodoka then turned to ask for confirmation from her husband and noticed him making for the door. "Genma, where are you going?" Genma turned back to look at his wife like he was facing his executioner. However, Nodoka's stare destroyed his will and he came back to sit at the table.
Kasumi noticed none of this. He was simply trying to understand why Shampoo was acting this way. Nothing could have happened, he was sure of it. Despite this could she still want...? No, that could not be. Her great grand mother must have forced this on her, but he couldn't let this continue.
"Shampoo, this is not right. I can't marry you. It would be..." Kasumi trailed off when he noticed the look of complete shock on Shampoo's face. Then, laughter filled his ears and he turned to look at the old woman. "What are you laughing about?"
She continued to laugh a moment longer then pulled a document from her shirt and handed it to Kasumi. Kasumi took it and looked over the Chinese writing to no avail. Then he spotted two things that made sense, his and Mr. Saotome's names in Mr. Saotome's handwriting. There was what looked like a fingerprint beneath his. "What is this? I don't remember this."
"Perhaps you should ask him." The old woman responded and pointed to Genma.
Kasumi turned to Genma. "Mr. Saotome, do you know what this is?"
Genma was sweating buckets by this point. He could lie but what good would it do. He was a dead man anyway he looked at it. He might as well spill it. "Well... it's... kind of... a... ahh... well... marriage license."
Kasumi blinked once, twice, then when the implications fully hit him he fainted.
End Chapter 10
Finally got to Shampoo...
Bye for now.