A Gift for Kasumi
By Dojo-Ranma
Disclaimer- I don't make any money off this (though I wish I could) so just enjoy the story and don't sue me.
Thank you to everyone who responded, here's chapter 2 for you.
Thoughts
Chinese
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Chapter 2 - A Party Prelude
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Dinner the night before finished quite solemnly. Ranma stomped outside and snuck off for the last night shift before the holidays. The rest of the family attempted to continue on normally. Akane removed herself from the table shortly after Ranma and could be heard screaming as sounds of breaking bricks echoed in the yard. Genma and Soun settled in for another round of Go, Nabiki sauntered over to the TV and flipped it to the business channel to check on her stocks, and Kasumi retired to the kitchen to clean up dinner.
Christmas Eve Morning...
Ranma awoke in a rather good mood. This year will be different, He thought as he slid on his black slacks, Everything will go well without any hitches, I hope...
He shook the thought from his head, There is no way that anything bad will happen, if it does... He looked down as his hand patted his left pocket, smiling, I always have plan B.
He grabbed his white chinese-style shirt with the gold ties and put it on. He reached up and ran his hand through his hair and flicked his pigtail off his shoulder. He turned around and walked downstairs.
He walked into the kitchen and was startled. A very girlly figure stood by the stove stirring a pot. Her back was facing him and she was humming cheerfully. This girl was dressed in a very flattering Santa-like coat with white faux fur and a simple white skirt that extended down just past her knees, the ensemble was completed with a Santa hat that made the whole outfit seem like the girl jumped right out of a magazine.
"Oh, Good morning Ranma," Kasumi said as she turned around and noticed Ranma standing in the doorway. Ranma's eyes bugged out as his jaw hit the floor, soon to be followed by the rest of his body. "What do you think of my outfit?" She asked coyly.
Ranma stood back up and walked over to Kasumi. She twirled around once showing the entire outfit to him. Ranma tapped his finger to his lips as inspected her attire, his expression was stern and straight faced.
"Hmmmm." He muttered as crouched down to examine the dress. He looked up at her face showing absolutely no expression.
"Kasumi, I have to be quite honest with you," Ranma stated matter-of-factly.
"Yes?" Kasumi inquired, beginning to sound a little nervous. 'What? What am I missing? Did I put something on wrong?' Her mind began freaking out.
"Kasumi, if you are deciding to wear this at the party tonight..."
"Yes?" Her voice slightly trembling with fear.
"...Then, you'd better save me a dance right now because I'm going to probably fight off about 20-30 guys just to get to you." He smiled slyly.
Kasumi blushed furiously, she was absolutely speechless by what he just said. She put her hand to cover her mouth politely, absolutely flabbergasted. 'Oh my! What do I say to that? I don't remember anyone paying me a compliment like that since... since ever. I mean I get compliments for dinner and such, but on my looks, never in my wildest dreams did I think someone would ever say something like that to me.' A tear slipped out past her guard and rolled down her cheek.
Seeing this, Ranma's cheerful smile dampered slightly, noticing the girl's emotional pain after his last statement. Damn it! I made her cry, he kicked himself mentally. He stood up and stepped towards her, his gaze not leaving her eyes. He reached up tentatively and touched her cheek gently with his hand. Her heart jumped slightly by the contact, like a spark sending a tingling sensation throughout her body. His thumb reached up and wiped the tear away.
"I'm sorry, Kasumi," he apologized as he removed his hand, "I shouldn't have said that." He stepped back.
Kasumi looked up at him, "Ranma?"
"Yeah?"
"Did you mean what you said?" She asked, feeling like an emotional wreck.
"Umm... yeah." Ranma replied, curious as to why she would ask such a question. He watched as Kasumi turned around and shut the stove burner off, and then dry her eyes with her apron. Kasumi then removed the apron and walked back towards him, mixed emotions swirling in her eyes, as she walked right up to him. 'Can I trust him with this? I know me and him have become friends since he returned from China, but can I tell him this? My personal life is something that I don't think I have ever talked with anyone about. Is this the right time for this?'
"Could I talk with you in private?" She asked nervously, as she lightly tugged on his arm trying to indicate the importance of this, "Please! I need to tell you something." He looked at her pleading eyes and immediately he stopped resisting.
"Okay." He replied reflexively as she pulled him out of the kitchen. What is going on? Ranma thought bewilderedly, Could it? No, she couldn't be... She wouldn't wouldn't want that, she couldn't! She's just my friend, I couldn't have her as anything more. She's been so nice to me, and she... His mind froze up.
I can't believe I'm actually going to do this, she thought as they moved upstairs, Can I really go through telling him this?
She pulled him into her room and closed the door behind her. He stood in the center of her room looking at her. She leaned against the door, her head bowed so her mocha brown locks covered her eyes from view. She sighed, trying to put her thoughts into coherent words in her head.
"Kasumi," Ranma asked looking a little perplexed, "Why are we talking in your room?"
"Because it is the only room in the house that isn't bugged by Nabiki," Kasumi explained her head still bowed.
There was a brief pause, as each collected their thoughts together. Ranma was desperately trying to think of a way to talk her out of it without hurting her feelings. Kasumi was trying to summon up the courage to tell Ranma.
The silence was finally broken by Ranma inhaling and exhaling a deep breath and then asked her the question that played on his mind, "So... What did you want to talk to me about?" He tried to keep his voice from sounding nervous, but was a little scared by what she was going to say.
She lifted her head and looked directly at Ranma, wells of tears began forming in her eyes. "Oh Ranma!" She cried as she lunged at him.
Ranma was completely flat-footed, he had no chance to get out of the way as the twenty-two year old collided into him and knocked him into the ground. She grabbed at his shirt and wept into his shoulder, quickly leaving a damp mark on the white chinese silk.
Ranma, for his part, was absolutely stunned. He had been paralysed in place as he lay there feeling his fiancee's oldest sister lying on top of him crying into his shoulder. For some unknown reason, Ranma arms slowly and almost reflexively reached up and placed one arm on her back and the other ran its fingers through her hair soothingly.
Everything she felt, hidden away over twelve years, came out in one flood of emotion as all of the emotional barriers were crushed in an instant. All the fear, the anger, the sadness, and frustration poured out of her. All of it being replaced by the comfort of her only real friend she had since she was in school, making her feel safe and not so alone. They had spent so much time together since he returned from China, he was always so helpful and the small chit-chat was a little breather from all the chaos that went on everyday.
How long has it been since she last cried like that? Ranma thought to himself, Has she EVER cried like that?
They remained like that for a little while, Kasumi's sobs began to disappate and she relaxed in his embrace. Finally, she sat up her, legs bent up over Ranma's, and wiped the remaining tears from her eyes as Ranma sat up.
"So, was there anything else you needed to talk to me about?" Ranma asked with a little smirk, trying in his own way to lighten the mood. Kasumi smiled genuinely at Ranma.
"I'm just really worried about the party tonight." She replied.
"Kasumi, you have nothing to worry about. It's going to be terrific, you've done a wonderful job with the party the past few years and this year won't be any different. Trust me." He winked slyly, "And if something does, I beat up anyone who complains." As he smacked his fist into his palm.
Kasumi giggled at that, then she got a little more serious. "That wasn't what I meant Ranma."
"Then what?"
"I'm planning to ask Dr. Tofu out at the party tonight."
"Really?" Ranma asked, surprised by the startling confession.
"Yeah, I know it's a little silly but I really like him, I just feel that he'll never ask me out. He acts really silly sometimes."
Ranma fell over backwards. Oh boy! he mentally groaned. He sat back up, "Don't worry Kasumi. I know things'll go well for you."
"Do you really think so Ranma?" She asked glumly, "I'm scared he'll say no."
"Kasumi Tendo," Ranma stared in disbelief, "You keep this up and he will."
Kasumi looked at him, seriously wondering who this Ranma was and what happened to the normal Ranma. He was acting way to different to be him.
"Now, Kasumi. I think we should go downstairs and get breakfast out cause I'm almost sure it's cold now."
"But I'm so comfortable here," she said dreamily as she leaned her body into Ranma and pushed him back on to the floor and pretended to fall asleep on his chest.
"Kasumi, what happens if Akane wakes up and finds no one in the kitchen?"
Kasumi bolted upright, wideeyed, and was gone before Ranma could blink. Ranma lay his head back down on the floor and smirked. This is going to be a good Christmas.
"RraannMMAA!" Akane growled, "What are you doing in my SISTER'S ROOM!" As she malleted him into the ground and stormed off.
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End Chapter 2
Wow! Thanks to everyone for reading. Please R&R if you have any questions, comments or concerns. I love to hear from you guys (and girls). I would love some more prereaders, if anyone is interested.