DISCLAIMER:I don't own with Ranma 1/2 or it's characters

"..." - talking

'...' - thoughts

Italics - dreams or emphasized word

Last time

Nabiki and Akane left for school. They left Ranma at home, thinking it was a better idea to leave him there. Soun and Genma went to see about a cure, then went to a bar to drink away their troubles. And Happosai ran off to do some serious panty thieving.

At School

"Akane! Akane over here!" Sayuri and Yuka called as they saw their friend walk through the front gates.

"Oh. Hi guys." Akane said dejectedly.

"What's the matter Akane? You sound depressed. And Ranma-kun isn't with you. Did you two have another fight or something?" Yuka asked before thinking about who she was talking to.

"Never talk about him in my presence again!" Akane screamed making them cringe in fear. "I don't care where he is! Even though the pervert is probably under Kasumi's bed again!"

"What do you mean? Why would he be under your sister's bed?" Sayuri asked.

"Never mind! I don't want to talk about, think about, hear about, or even acknowledge his god-damned existence!" Akane took the chance to escape and stormed off to her home room.

After Akane was out of ear shot, a conversation began with her as the center of it.

"So Yuka, do think Ranma really did something? Or do think she's just overreacting again?"

"I don't know. With Akane it's impossible to tell." Yuka responded to Sayuri's question. "Although, I still don't get why Akane won't just take the engagement. I know at least four hundred people that would gladly take her place. Myself included." Yuka sighed longingly as she imagined Ranma picking her up into his arms... her thoughts were interuppted when Sayuri started speaking.

"I know. He's such a hunk. Strong, handsome, fast, athletic, flexible, caring, honorable, loyal, and that curse of his gives him and understanding that no man in the world has." Sayuri listed off as she held a hand on her chin.

"Tell me something that I don't already know." Yuka mumbled as she looked around the yard

"I bought a picture of him naked from Nabiki for 5000 yen." Sayuri muttered as she looked around trying to make sure no one heard her.

"What?" Yuka asked as she had a hard time believing what she had just heard.

Any conversation after that was ended as the warning bell rang, and the girls ran off to class.

11:00 in the morning

Kasumi walked through the open market with Neko-Ranma at her heels. Usually it wasn't uncommon to see the girl walk down this particular street. But being close to Ranma meant that today everyone she passed was starring at her. And the raven haired youth down on all fours.

"Hello Tendo-san. How are you today?" Asked the man that ran the produce stand.

"I'm doing fine today. How are you?" She gave him one of her famous smiles, which just so happened to make him a lot happier that he had inherited this stand from his father all those years ago.

"Oh, I'm just f-" His friendly smile turned into a confused look as he saw Ranma rubbing against Kasumi's legs, letting off soft growls at the merchant. "What's the problem with your friend? Is he sick? Or did he hit his head?"

"Oh! Err. . . well, you see. . ." A small blush ran over her face as she remembered how he acted earlier, and the dream she had about him the night before. "He's been. . . acting like this all day. . . and nobody has been able to snap him out of it. So I decided to watch over him instead of sending him into town like this."

"Well. . .I hope he gets better soon." The merchant laughed nervously, feeling a little jealous of the youth that was so openly being affectionate with Kasumi. "Was there any thing you need Tendo-san?"

"Oh yes." Kasumi bought the groceries she needed, and then went home. Ranma following her, of course.

Kasumi and Ranma ate a fresh vegetable for lunch on the way home. When they got back though, no one was home.

"Hmm. . . Akane-chan and Nabiki-chan will still be a few hours. I wonder how long Otou-sama and Genma-Oji-sama will be. They left quite a wile ago." Kasumi was talking to herself again. Not that anyone noticed. No one noticed her, except... But he was a very silly man, and she needed someone that she could rely on to be all there when she needed help, or comforting, or being near. Although, this time Kasumi actually had a response. In the form of a 'Meow' from Ranma.

Kasumi bent down and began to scratch Ranma behind the ears. "You know Ranma-kun, I should start some supper right about now. We're having fish tonight."

Ranma gave a soft 'mew' and rubbed his head against her legs again.

"Ha, ha! It's almost like you understand me Ranma-kun!" Kasumi sent him one of her genuinely amused smiles. "It would be so nice if you could really under stand me. I do get lonely being by myself all the time."

"Meow. Meow, meow mew." 'Almost like he's trying to talk, could it be?' she thought to herself

"Hmmm? Ranma-kun, meow twice if you understand me." Kasumi still had her smile beaming beautifully at Ranma

"Meow. Meow." Ranma had his happy kitty face on as he thought he was doing good.

Kasumi's face lit-up as she thought that she would be able to talk to Ranma again. Even if it was him just meowing at her in response. "Ranma-kun, do you know why you transformed all of a sudden?"

"Meow." Ranma sadly shook his head from side to side.

"Does this mean that you are controlling the Neko-ken?" She tilted her head to one side and looked thoughtfully at the young man in front of her.

"Meow, meow." Ranma looked off to one side and shrugged his shoulders. But he didn't look back into her eyes.

"Hmmm. I see." Kasumi thought for a minute. It was obvious that this was Ranma, not too straight forward, kind of bashful, terrible liar. Yes it was a lie. How else could he understand, and respond, if he wasn't in control? "I see. So you have no idea what you were doing this morning?"

Ranma froze, blushed, shook his head like crazy, then started to meow in denial, and look as innocent as possible.

Kasumi giggled and scratched Ranma behind the ear. "You still can't lie even when under the Neko-ken." She giggled again as he embarrassedly looked away. "It's ok. If Ryouga can take advantage of becoming P-chan and do perverted things, you should have every right to take a vacation of sorts and act a little lewd as well."

Ranma still didn't respond. The fact that he was caught by the only non martial artist that he respected to a degree of rivaling his love for his own mother. 'Wait a minute, that means that I love Kasumi! I can't possibly love Kasumi! She deserves better than me! Wait, I just said that I love someone without stuttering. Usually I even stutter that word in my head. But it just feels right saying that I love Kasumi.' Ranma's thoughts were interrupted in the form of Kasumi asking a question.

"Ranma-kun, did you enjoy yourself this morning?" 'I hope he did.' She had a huge blush on her face, it was even bigger than the one Ukyo had gotten when Ranma had said she was cute. if Ranma's memory was right that is.

Ranma shook his head up and down enthusiastically. "Meow." 'Uh- oh. That was the wrong thing to say.' Ranma thought as he realized what he had actually agreed to.

"You dirty boy, Ranma-kun. I bet that you're going to sneak into my bed tonight, under the guise of an innocent little kitten." She giggled at the horrified expression on his face. "That's okay, I wont mind." She reached out and started to pet him behind the ears. "Ranma, you should know that I think I'm falling in love with you. It's wrong of me, because Akane-chan is your fiancé. But I just can't help but be attracted to you. I mean, you're so strong, honorable, and you have a sexy body... Oh my! Did I just say that out loud?" She couldn't believe the things she just said to him. But she just couldn't stop talking. "I want to kiss you, Ranma-kun." She slowly leaned down, until her lips were mere centimeters from his. "I'm taking you from every one else." She whispered to him as their lips touched on a gentle kiss.

Ranma simply froze in shock as Kasumi's words and actions began to ring in his head.

Now... this is Ranma we're talking about. Having Kasumi this close to him made him immobile. And you can't give Ranma something that tastes good, and not give him more.

So, when Kasumi pulled away from him, he put his hand on her shoulder, and lightly pushed her over. She let out a little eep when she fell, but not another word as Ranma leaned over her. Ranma leaned down, meowed in Kasumi's ear, and began to lick her cheeks and lips.

She started giggling at the feeling of his rough tongue on her cheek, and when it passed over her lips for the second time, she opened her mouth and caught it between her lips. She tugged playfully, and licked the tip of his tongue with hers. 'It tastes like love.'

Kasumi finally let go of his tongue, and sat up, as she heard their fathers sing their way through the front door.

Ranma vanished, and reappeared next to the koi pond. And Kasumi went to the kitchen.

As she cooked, she wondered when exactly she started having feelings for Ranma. 'I guess when he first came here. I said I didn't like younger men, but now I know better, they're so fun! When they get all flustered if they try to talk to you it just makes you want to laugh. Ranma is the worst though. Then when I was possessed, I felt like ripping him out of his clothes!' She sighed as she thought of her only obstacles. 'Akane will be the most difficult. She's so stubborn. And she's been following Nabiki around lately. The others will be easy to get rid of. None of them have Nabiki for a sister. Oh! I know. I'll just pay Nabiki to not help Akane!' And with her now in a happier mood, she hummed and continued to cook supper.

As Ranma laid next to the koi pond, a girl, covered in shadows, approached him silently a smirk playing across her lips.

"I'm home!" Akane yelled irritably as she walked through the front gate. Every one had been harassing her about Ranma all day. She had her mallet ready to crush Ranma's head if he did just the slightest little insignificant thing wrong.

Akane walked through the house like usual. First she went to her room to drop off her stuff, and change into her gi. Next the dojo for a work out. After an hour of failing to break her bricks and messing up katas, she was in an even worse mood than before. She went back to her room to get a new change of clothes, then walked to the furo for a bath.

On her way, she walked into the kitchen to say hi to Nabiki. She paused as her actions finally registered in her brain "What are you doing here? You're not cooking tonight are you?" She asked the younger of her two older sisters in disbelief.

"No." Nabiki asked coolly. "Onee-chan asked me to stir this for a wile." She then continued her work.

"Why? Where did Kasumi-nee-chan go?" Akane was confused on why Kasumi didn't ask her to help with supper.

Nabiki smirked at Akane. She had watched her younger sister abuse, threaten, and nearly kill poor Ranma for almost two years now. She felt sorry for him, if nothing else. And, being the all-seeing mercenary she was, watched her dear older sister become infatuated with him.

"Well . . ." Nabiki started off slowly. "I accidentally knocked Ranma into the koi pond. He was all covered in mud. So Kasumi took him, or rather her, into the furo to get clean. As punishment, I have to endlessly stir this, until Kasumi gets done." She hung her head in a dramatic way, making it seem like the most horrible punishment ever. And just to piss Akane off more, she laughed in her ice-queen way. "I wonder just what kind of FUN they're having in there."

Akane had a horrified expression, mixed with worry, and pure unadulterated rage. "That damned HENTAI BAKA! He's going to die this time!" Akane was fuming as she ran off towards the bathroom.

So consumed by her anger she never noticed Nabiki whistling innocently as she continued to stir the pot in front of her. 'This will help Onee-chan knock Akane off the compitition's list. She and Ranma-kun need a little happiness in thier lives'

End

Okay after this it's all me though I cut the figure following Kasumi and Ranma through the shopping district out seeing as i wasn't sure who it was. My guess was Nabiki but i couldn't be sure.