More than meets the eye (11 July 2007)
Author's note
To all Kasumi lovers, I hope you'll forgive me when you finish reading this.
Chapter 4: True colours
The day zoomed by and before Kasumi knew it, six pm arrived. She was dressed in the most scandalous clothes she had laid her eyes on, which by Kasumi's standard wasn't really bad, it merely consisted of a white shoulderless dress, the length of which started at covering her breasts and ending only a few centimetres below her hips. The dress hugged the length of her near perfect body and left nothing to imagination regarding her shape. A white and slightly translucent shawl was draped over her shoulders and she wore white high heels. She had earlier been taken to the hair saloon where her hair had been permed and were now pretty curls whereas before it had been relatively straight. It was now deftly held back with a hair pin.
Her face had just a hint of make up in them and she wore some of her mother's jewellery, which consisted of a pair of emerald earrings and a necklace which had a pearl at the end. Nabiki even made her go through a facial to clean up whatever dirt that could be stuck to her face.
The result was a beautiful maiden waiting to be taken by her prince charming. Except as far as Kasumi was concerned, Dr. Tofu wasn't her Prince Charming yet.
"ONE-CHAN! DR. TOFU IS HERE!" her youngest sister shouted from downstairs.
Kasumi took a deep breath and took her handbag, which was also newly bought, a white Prada. As she put her keys into her bag, her eyes lingered on Bumblebee's key.
"Well old friend, it's now or never," she said then she exited her room to go down the stairs.
Everyone who saw her descending the stairs thought that she was the very vision of loveliness. Ranma's draw literally dropped as did P-Chan's when they saw her. Her father started crying buckets of tears because of how his little girl had grown up and Genma also shared his friend's tears. Saotome Nodoka, who had dropped by once she had heard the news, as well as Akane both sighed as Kasumi revealed herself. Nabiki smiled with satisfaction at her investment, which she planned to be reimbursed one way or another from Dr. Tofu when he married Kasumi. She proceeded to take pictures of Kasumi.
The doctor seemed to have frozen in sight of Kasumi, as though he had been petrified into becoming stone. Kasumi sighed, wondering if the doctor would ever recover from that one kiss she had graced him when she was sixteen years old as an additional thank you for helping Akane out after the little girl had gotten into a scuffle with three boys bigger than her. She mentally slapped herself and resolved to give Dr. Tofu a chance. The doctor was dressed in a sleek black tuxedo with a bowtie. He would have looked rather dashing if not for the perpetual nervous look he was wearing.
"Kasumi……" the doctor finally managed to mouth after Kasumi stood in front of him for awhile. "You are tru-tru-tru-ly lo-lo-look like an angel," she blushed as he said that.
"You don't look so bad yourself doctor. Shall we get going?" she smiled sweetly offering her arm.
The doctor slowly reached out his arm, and then, as though being very reluctant, linked his arm through hers. Kasumi's smile faltered as she could feel his sweat penetrate his jacket. She also suddenly realised that yesterday and today, Tofu did not smile even once. Everything that the doctor seemed forced, as if he was constantly fighting the urge to dance with his skeleton Betty whenever he was in Kasumi's presence. Her heart suddenly began to have misgivings.
Tofu seemed to have noticed her feelings as he then said, "Please Kasumi, I know I'm not exactly myself now but I really need you by my side tonight. You're the key to my happiness now and I don't know what I will do without you." He then clasped both her hands in his and gulped once more. "Let's go out now."
Kasumi was slightly suspicious but put it aside when Tofu finally smiled. It was a nervous smile but a smile nevertheless. He then took her arm and led her to the taxi that was waiting outside.
Xxxxxxxxxx
As the Tendo house grew farther and farther away, Kasumi then turned her attention to Dr. Tofu. "So Doctor, may I know where we will be spending this evening?"
The nervous man merely loosened his bowtie which was thoroughly drenched. "Somewhere that's very important to me," he said.
Her heart skipped a beat. He can't be thinking of bringing me to see his mother now, can he? But we haven't even had our date!
"Uhm, we're not going to see our mother are we?" she asked.
His next answer was confusing. "I certainly hope so," he replied as he took off his glasses and started wiping them with a handkerchief.
The elder Tendo begin to feel uneasy again but decided to wait until they arrived at their destination to further talk about their relationship. However she became increasingly alarmed when the taxi did not stop for ten minutes and that they were now on a freeway heading out of the city.
"Doctor Tofu, where are we go…" she never finished her question as she gasped when Tofu, who had been constantly wiping his glasses eventually pressed his glasses so hard that ot cracked and broke, cutting his hands. He looked at the blood in his hands and merely dropped the glasses then wiped his hands of the blood.
"Oh my, Doctor please let me look at your hands," Kasumi said as she reached for his hands with both arms. The doctor then used his good right arm to grip both of Kasumi's wrists in an iron grip that hurt her. Kasumi cried in pain and then looked into the Tofu's eyes for the first time. His eyes were tearful and filled with regret.
"I'm so sorry Kasumi, I have to do this," he croaked then reached into his jacket and extracted a plastic bag which contained a cloth soaked in some sort of liquid. When he unsealed the bag, a strong smell which Kasumi realised was chloroform filled the taxi.
"DRIVER HELP….." she managed to scream before Tofu shifted his entire weight on her and covered her nose and mouth with the chloroform soaked rag. A gray mist began clouding her mind as she was forced to inhale the sleep inducing smell. She struggled desperately but the doctor was a martial artist as well and she was no match for his strength. Her heart froze as a familiar laugh sounded from the driver's seat.
"Sweeto, now I have the best catch of all!" an unholy voice cackled before she slid into unconsciousness.
Xxxxxxxxxx
………………
………………
…………. "that………not………………..deal………….mother…………. give ……………… back………………….. how…………….."
Kasumi faded in and out of consciousness. Her entire head felt woozy and her entire body ached, especially her arms and legs. Her mouth was dry and she felt dehydrated. Any attempt to form a coherent thought resulted in hammers and tongs pounding in her head and she groaned as she tried to focus on consciousness.
"Ah such a sweet noise you make my dear Kasumi, I only hope you will continue to make such music tonight," the words sounded as though loudspeakers had been put directly in her ear on the loudest volume and she groaned even more. It was then she realised that there was something in her mouth preventing her from screaming.
"Oh dear, it appears that Kasumi isn't feeling too well. Doctor, why don't you help Kasumi get better?"
Kasumi tried to open her eyes but was blinded when she did, unable to focus on any object. She barely managed to make out a dark silhouette that eventually filled her entire vision. All of a sudden, a repugnant smell assaulted her nostrils and the wooziness was cleared and she became fully conscious.
Fear gripped her heart as she saw Dr. Tofu in front of her, holding some sort of jar from which the foul smell emanated from. Her aching arms prompted her to look up and she saw both her wrists were tied and the rope was attached to an overhead beam in what seemed to be an abandoned house, resulting in her body hanging from her arms. She tried to speak but felt something gagging her and realised that her shawl had been tied around her mouth. To her horror, her feet had been spread wide apart, each leg tied to a wooden pillar from opposite ends of the room.
"Mmmmmppphhh!" she muffled, her eyes pleading to Tofu to release her. She was shocked when she saw the doctor's face. His face was lifeless, devoid of emotion but what struck her was the tear streaks on his face. It was as though the man's will had been completely broken.
"Stand aside Doctor, I may be many things but I always keep my word. Your mother will be safe as long as you and Kasumi both do as I say."
Tofu's mother? What is going on? What did you do to her Happosai! For once, fear was replaced by rage as her mind gradually began to piece together the reasons for Tofu's strange behaviour and motives for bringing her to such a state.
Happosai cackled as he started circling Kasumi, taking special delight in walking between her legs and looking up. "Ah, I see that you have been a very naughty girl, pretending to be daft and clueless than you truly let on," he said as he noticed her angry eyes on him. "Don't blame the good doctor, he's only doing what's right. After all, family comes first don't they good doctor?"
Doctor Tofu merely looked away and stared at the wall.
"I thought so. Anyway my sweet Kasumi, in the end you were not so important to the doctor after all. His dear mother came first and now her life is in your hands as well," this shocked Kasumi and Tofu who turned back to face Happosai.
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT! YOU SAID ALL I HAD TO DO BRING KASUMI HERE AND HELP YOU DO WHATEVER YOU WANT BUT ONLY FOR TONIGHT!" the doctor lost all his composure and screamed hysterically.
"Change of plans my good doctor. You don't really expect me to just kidnap Kasumi, have my way with her then return to living to the Tendo house like nothing happened don't you?" Happosai said.
"You see my dear Kasumi, as perverse as this may seem, I think I may have fallen in love with you," the words revolted Kasumi and she really felt her stomach churning at those words. "All the panties and bras in the world seem so empty when it comes to you. Mind you, I've lived a long time now and have been sampling the pleasures of women long before you were born, including more than a few Amazons. Oh don't look so surprise Kasumi, Cologne may not want to remember it but she was once a conquest of mine, granted a very painful one but well worth the effort," he licked his lips as he remembered Cologne in her prime two hundred years ago.
"So believe me when I say that none of their beauty comes close to yours. Especially your inner beauty. It revolts me actually, which is what makes you even more enticing. Unfortunately, having you for myself isn't a simple task especially since that idiot student of mine, Genma Saotome trained his son to be so much better than himself. That Ranma has become more than a match for me especially since Cologne added her own training. Sad to say, I'm not too sure of my chances of retaining my title of Grandmaster of the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts if Ranma ever gets the sense to challenge me. Not to mention that fool's misguided sense of honour to protect those weaker than himself. Touching you is therefore tantamount to suicide for my part."
"Therefore I decided to make the good doctor my pawn. Dr. Tofu, would you be as kind as to turn on that television?" he said. Tofu reluctantly turned and went to a TV in the room and turned it on. The TV showed a picture of an old woman she recognised as Tofu's mother tied to a chair. But even more disturbing was the shadowy figure holding a gun to her head.
"You may be able to make Tofu go insane in your presence Kasumi but I'm delighted to say that I was able to cure his insanity via his mother. After all, family comes first don't they?" he said, motioning at the TV.
"You miserable bastard, when I free my mother…" Tofu growled.
"… I will be long gone with Kasumi by my side. Remember Tofu that my henchmen are observing us at every minute. I can kill your mother with just a gesture," he said, emphasising on the implication by pretending to cut his own throat with a finger.
"No no, please, just don't hurt her," Tofu pleaded.
"Then you're going to have to humour me. At least for the next three months. More than enough time for the two of you to supposedly fall in love and elope."
Both Kasumi and Tofu looked confused at Happosai's comment. The lecher grinned maliciously then he started climbing Kasumi. She screamed and struggled but couldn't do anything as the diminutive old man climbed to Kasumi's shoulder and held on to it, putting his face right next to Kasumi's.
"Yes Kasumi, you and Tofu are going to go out every weekend for the next few months. Only your date will take you to my little private sanctuary where I will have to train you to be more… lady like for my taste. Oh yes, I sense a wild spirit in you Kasumi, and I will take great delight in training it. And at the end of every date, you will go home and act like you had a good time with Tofu. And in three months time, you and Tofu are going to elope and run away from your home forever. Your family will be happy for you and not interfere since you've been head over heels over Tofu ever since he proposed to you tonight. Except you will in fact, be following me overseas where your family will never find you again once."
He grinned evilly at Tofu. "Only then will I release your mother."
To say that they were horrified was an understatement. Tofu looked green and ill at the thought of Happosai having his way with Kasumi for three months, all the while being helpless to do anything without threatening his mother. Kasumi was nearly frozen with fear and had broken out in a cold sweat.
"Don't look at me like that Kasumi, it doesn't have to be painful you know. In fact, I'm going to make sure that you enjoy every moment of it. And best part of all, the good doctor can participate as well. I'm not so heartless as to deny the good doctor some pleasure as well," Happosai said as he ran a finger down Kasumi's face.
"Do I make myself clear then Kasumi dear? You will go out with Tofu every night of the weekend and you will come here and submit to my authority. And in case you decide that one day, Tofu's mother isn't worth your silence," he snapped his fingers and another figure stepped from the shadows. Kasumi flinched not at the identity of the latest participant to Happosai's twisted scheme but to the digital camera in his hand.
Hikaru Gosunkugi licked his lips as he saw Kasumi's tied form. "Ready when you are, Master Happosai."
"Yes Kasumi. Reveal our secret and the entire Japan will know about Nerima's most debaunched housewife slut. And believe me, I will make you enjoy yourself for the whole of Japan to see. Imagine the dishonour it would bring to the Tendo family, to see their own daughter in every pornography site in the country," he said.
"So what say you? I'm not entirely without a heart. I would prefer this to be consensual for your own good. Do you understand what you have to do? Come on, a single nod will suffice," he said as he used his hand to move Kasumi's head to face his.
Kasumi was in turmoil. It seemed that her luck had run out at last. Ranma did indeed cursed everyone around him with chaos and now it had come to claim Tendo Kasumi. In an instant, her world had collapsed and her innocence was no longer her shield. Happosai had shown her that nobody, not even her was exempt from his pursuit. And now she found herself cornered, not only was the life of someone she knew placed in her hands, but the honour of her entire family. Fate had determined that she spend the rest of her life as Happosai's slave.
For the first time in her life, an unforgiving rage ignited in her mind. Fate? Did this mean she had to accept all of this? That she had no choice? Tofu had betrayed her trust in the most unimaginable way, even if it was under duress. Despite Tofu's mother's life hanging in her hand, she was not truly obligated to save her as Tofu's friendship had just been shot out of the window, rendering her friendship with his mother void. And even if Happosai exposed Kasumi's acts to the entire world, at least Kasumi would have the pleasure of asking Ranma to kill Happosai for her, which she knew Ranma would immediately comply once the depth of Happosai's evil was laid bare for all to see. And to hell with her family who had done nothing to her but treat her like free labour ever since her mother died.
She lifted her head back as though to nod her agreement. She took grim pleasure in seeing Happosai smile at what he thought was her surrender before knocking her head into his with all of her strength.
The force of the knock not to mention it being totally unexpected succeeded in sending the diminutive man tumbling to the floor in pain. Tofu winced and gave a hateful stare to Kasumi. He moved to Kasumi and slapped her, which shocked her and dispelled the moment of hateful rage. "You stupid girl, my mother's life is on the line and you want to defy the master?"
The force of the slap, as well as Tofu's harshness snapped Kasumi back to reality. Except now she felt ashamed for thinking those thoughts even if they were logical.
Happosai arose from the floor, and would have looked most comical with the bump on his head if it weren't for the malicious grin he wore now. "Don't worry Tofu, I'll forgive that little spat. I will however, enforce our agreement right now." In a flash, Happosai undressed Kasumi and removed her underwear, leaving her naked and shivering in the cold. He then extracted a syringe, showing the long needle to Kasumi which magnified her fear.
"Since you're so defiant, this little formula will be added insurance. Once you've taken this, you'll come back to me begging for more," he said as he plunged the end of the syringe into her right arm. NNNOOOOOOOOO! She screamed into the gag.
"Untie her legs and bring her outside. Oh and Gosukugi, you can start your job now," Kasumi screamed and struggled as Tofu released the ropes spreading her legs and the one attaching her tied wrists to the overhead beam but kept her wrists tied. He then dragged Kasumi outside. All the while, Gosunkugi kept snapping away with his camera.
Once outside, Kasumi saw only countryside, and that Happosai's hideout seemed to be an abandoned inn from long ago. A little dirt road was visible where the taxi was located but apart from the inn, there was no sign of civilisation. Thick woods grew on the other side of the inn.
"Charming isn't it? A little home away from home especially when stealing underwear isn't enough and the real thing is in order," Happosai cackled. He then motioned to the taxi. "Lay her on the hood, face first. And tie her elbows backwards together." The doctor did so, untying her wrists only to force her arms backwards and tying them together then. He then pushed her unto the hood of the taxi. Her eyes were tearful and pleaded with him but the man was now emotionally dead. He then took of her gag. "Screaming will do you no good now," he said.
Happosai reached into his pocket and put on a pair of plastic gloves. "Safety first Kasumi. It's time for your medical check-up," he said sinisterly, flexing his fingers for emphasis. As the demented master drew nearer to her exposed back, she closed her eyes and there was only one thing in her mind.
I'm sorry mother.
Bright light suddenly illuminated the entire party. Happosai, Gosunkugi and Tofu was blinded by the light which appeared from the woods and at the next moment, all were deafened by an extremely loud song.
I'm a take you with me
I wanna to fight you, I'll fuckin'
bite you
Can't stand nobody like you,
You can't run, you
can't hide
No surprise, close your eyes
Come with me!!!
I'm a take you with me
I'm here to stay forever
And
ever and a day, that's never
Come with me
This song played and deafened everyone including Kasumi. All three men tried to concentrate on the distraction but in the next second, a certain yellow car had crashed into all three of them, first Gosunkugi, then Tofu who had let go of Kasumi and wandered towards the light when it first started, and lastly Happosai. Gosunkugi and Tofu were rammed at the left and right side of the car's front but Happosai met the impact dead centre, propelling him a hundred metres across the field. The other two dropped off the sides, unconscious.
Kasumi curled herself into a ball on the ground, crying at her weakness and her near-rape. She hardly noticed a yellow car driving back to her and then maneuvering itself in a way that its driver's seat door was facing her and it promptly opened.
"No, don't look at me, I'm a dirty slut," Kasumi cried as she turned her face away from the car seat.
The radio then started to go haywire again, like the first time the radio actually said Kasumi's name. After awhile, she heard the same croaking voice again.
"No Kasumi you are not. You are the best friend anyone could have and a truly wonderful human being. Tonight's events are not your fault. Don't even dare to think that you brought this on yourself by being who you are. Now come, we must find Tofu's mother now."
Kasumi heard a little mechanical sound behind her and then suddenly her bonds were cut. She looked back, fearful of someone else seeing her like this but there was no one except the still bodies of Tofu and Gosunkugi. She gazed at the open driver's seat.
"I'm not a wonderful person. For a moment there, I was willing to let Tofu's mother die and my family dishonoured," she said quietly.
"All of us have such dark sides. They are a part of us that cannot be denied but it does not define us. It is there for our self-defence but are not our true selves. In any case, languishing in self pity is not the way to absolve your guilt. Deeds will do so and we must go now."
The comforting words of the car finally snapped Kasumi out of her depression. She finally stood up and removed the leg ropes that still bound her ankles. "Wait a moment Bumblebee, I'll go get my clothes."
She went back into the inn and despite feeling that they were tainted, dressed back into her underwear and dress. Her shoes were nowhere to be found so she quickly made way back to the car.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" an ear piercing shriek pierced the night and suddenly Kasumi was tackled from behind. Rough hands started groping and trying to rip her dress off. Kasumi screamed and fought back against Happosai, who had a huge gash on his head and was bleeding profusely, some of the blood was already dripping on Kasumi. The old man was half crazed and seemed determined to rape Kasumi now. She did her best to fight him off, scratching and even biting at him but knew that she was overpowered.
Suddenly Happosai stopped as his eyes went wide open staring at something in front of him. Kasumi heard a series of loud mechanical crunches and suddenly, the lights were on them again whereas previously the car had been facing away from the inn. Even odder, the lights seemed to be shining on them from an odd angle, almost from above. And then the earth shook as something big and heavy took two steps towards them. Kasumi lifted her head upwards and sucked the wind through her teeth.
Seeing from an upside down angle as she was currently lying on her back with Happosai on top of her did not lessen her amazement at the eighteen foot giant in her sights. The giant was definitely mechanical and parts of its outer hull were the same colour as Bumblebee's yellow exterior. Kasumi knew then and there that it was Bumblebee. The head had a yellow dome on the upper part of its skull and blue lights illuminated two spots on its head which she deduced to be the eyes. Despite its mechanical nature, part of the face moved giving the facial appearance of a VERY PISSED OFF robot. The giant robot then lifted its left leg back.
"What the hell are…" Happosai never finished his sentence before Bumblebee kicked the grandmaster of Anything Goes Martial Arts off Kasumi into kingdom come.
Bumblebee then lifted his hands upwards with both hands showing two fingers up as a sound emanated from his radio.
'And Giggs dodges Lilian Thuram, beautifully side steps Owen, he kicks, Seaman misses, HE SCORES!' followed by the sounds of applause.
For the first time that evening, Kasumi laughed.
To be continued:
Author's notes
Author gulps at the millions of Ranma ½ readers surrounding him with murder in their eyes. Looks at Jedi Lord Andy Wong for protection. The Jedi Lord shrugs and shouts: "JEDI GUARD PROTECT! SHIELD WALL! Three thousand Jedi Guards drops from dropships above and form a ring of adamantium shields around the Jedi Lord and the author. The Jedi Captains and their respective command squads form an inner ring. 4th Jedi Captain Saotome Ranma looks at author.
'Isn't this the part where you promise your readers something?'
As the million hostiles yell battle cries and start to converge on the ring of Jedi Guards, the author finally remembers.
'PLEASE EVERYONE! I PROMISE A HAPPY ENDING' he screams before the first wave clashes into the shield wall.
For those who are wondering what the hell are the Jedi Guards, read my other fic "Forging our own destinies".
Seriously speaking, if some of you are repelled by my story at this point, please flame me before you stop reading at least.
Thanks for your time reading this.