"Wild Stallion in the Mist" (Part 1 and a 1/2)

"WILD STALLION IN THE MIST"

(A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic)

>From the Desk of Megane 6.7

This is a work of Fiction.  All Characters and Landmarks, are the 
property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan Video, Kitty Films, 
Viz Video, Shonen Sunday, and anyone else who legally owns the 
rights.  

PART 1:  A BRAND NEW LOVE STORY BETWEEN THEM?

	Soun read the postcard again, tears streaming down his 
face as old memories of his friend raced through his mind.  "At
last!  Ranma is coming!  How I've waited for this day!"

	Soun wasted no time in calling his three daughters Kasumi,
Nabiki and Akane down to the living room.  As they knelt in front of
him, waiting for him to speak, Soun noted that while Nabiki was 
dressed in a kimono, and Kasumi in her usual yellow dress, Akane 
was still in her training gi, fresh from the gym.  He considered 
saying something to her about it but since he himself was wearing a
gi, he supposed it would be alright, after all this was Genma 
Saotome, not the emperor of japan.

 	"Why did you call us here daddy?"  Nabiki asked bluntly.

	"Is something wrong father?  You've been crying!"  Kasumi
said in a worried tone of voice.

	Soun wasted no time in telling them about his lifelong 
friend, about Ranma, and the engagement.

	As he expected, Kasumi seemed concerned about Ranma's
age, Nabiki asked if he was cute and Akane was insulted by the whole
idea.  Soun sighed to himself.  While he was pleased that Akane was 
training hard, to be able to take over his doujou one day, he wished she 
wasn't so....difficult.

	Then Soun heard a noise at the front door.  Nabiki 
immediately got up and rushed towards the front door....

	Only to immediately rush back and hide behind her father as
a large panda carrying an struggling red haired girl over his 
shoulder.  

	"Oh my!"  Kasumi said with surprise.  "Is this the friend 
you've been talking about, father?"

	Soun shook his head violently.

	"Oh so this panda just happened to walked in here?  Nabiki
replied sarcastically.

	Soun shook his head again then cringed in fear as the
panda set the girl down firmly in front of them and waited.  When
the girl said nothing, the panda places a paw down on one of her 
shoulders and growled a warning.  The girl seemed to hesitate and
then she sighed and said in a meek voice....

	"I'm Ranma Saotome....Sorry about this."


*	*	*


THE NEXT MORNING....	

	
	Soun thanked Kasumi as she poured him another bowl of 
miso soup.  He took a long sip and then looked up to see the people
sitting around him.

	He knew that the idea of an arranged marriage might not
go over so well and that's why he was glad he had three daughters to
increase the odds that one of them would accept the idea.  He had 
hoped Kasumi would be the one to accept it since she didn't hate 
boys like Akane and wasn't obsessed with money like Nabiki.  Now it 
seemed she had lost all interest in Ranma and had sided with Nabiki
to recommend Akane for the best choice.  Akane immediately said she
wouldn't do it, especially after the bathtub incident and she had found 
out that Ranma was....that he was in fact a....

	Soun had fainted dead away when he discovered that 
Ranma was in fact a girl.  Luckily the gender problem was fixed with
a little hot water.  Still, to have a son-in-law with a curse that 
changed him into a female with cold water was disconcerting to say 
the least.  Now Ranma sat at the table next to Akane, both of them 
ignoring the other as they ate their breakfast in silence, Soun knew
neither of them wanted anything to do with the other and that a 
possible union between them was now looking very unlikely.

	Then Ranma promptly stood up and left for school, Akane
was about to follow him when Nabiki said in a taunting voice.

	"Shouldn't you walk with Ranma to school?  After all he 
IS your fiancee...."

	"Why should I?  We're not engaged and that's it!"  Akane
snapped as she left the house in a huff.  Soun turned to glare at 
his middle daughter.

	"You're not helping the situation by making her angry."
Soun remarked in a scolding tone.

	"Trust me daddy, Akane would sooner marry a woman than
Ranma....and I don't mean Ranma's girl form either.

	"Perhaps I should engage Ranma to YOU then?"  Soun 
retorted.

	"If you do, I'll simply wait until I'm eighteen, continuing to
date as I please till then and the engagement will be invalid and 
useless since I'll be legally old enough to make my own choices."  
Nabiki said in a bored tone of voice.

	"N...Nabiki....How can you be so cruel to your own father."
Soun sadly asked.

	"I won't have to if you don't force me into an engagement 
against my will."  Nabiki said matter-of-factly.	
 
	Soun sighed as he realized she was right.  Nabiki left for
school and he was left alone with Kasumi as she gathered the 
breakfast dishes for washing.
	
	"Kasumi?"   Soun inquired.

	"Yes, father?"  Kasumi replied, turning to face him as she
continued to gather the dishes.

	"Tell me something....What is your opinion of Ranma?"  
Soun asked cautiously.

	"He seems like a nice person.  It's a little strange that he
changes into a girl but it's not his fault.  Why do you ask?"  Kasumi
replied.

	"Well Kasumi....After what happened to Akane in the 
bathtub....and what Nabiki just made clear to me....I'm considering
engaging you to Ranma."  Soun replied.  

	Kasumi suddenly dropped a dish she had been collecting 
and turned to her father, her eyes wide with shock.

	"W....What?"  She stammered.

	Seeing this, Soun quickly starting talking.  "Now....I don't 
want to scare you or force you into this but I don't know what else
I can do.  Akane and Nabiki want nothing to do with Ranma 
whatsoever.

	"M....Maybe they just need time to get to know each 
other....He just got here yesterday."  Kasumi offered nervously.

	"Perhaps....But in the meantime, engaging them together is
only causing them to hate each other more.  So for the moment, I
want the engagement with Ranma to fall to you.  

	"But....but I...."  Kasumi's voice seemed on the verge of 
panic, which was rare considering how calm and collected she 
usually was.

	"Please Kasumi, for your father's sake and the sake of the
Anything Goes School of Marital Arts...."

	Soun clasped his daughter's hand in his own.  "I know I can't
force you to marry Ranma but please just accept this engagement for 
now until we can see if Nabiki or Akane will change their minds."  
Soun pleaded, tears forming in his eyes.

	"What if they don't change their minds?"  Kasumi asked 
with fear in her eyes.

	Soun gripped her shoulders, his eyes pleading.  "Then I
want you to marry him.  Kasumi, I beg you, for our family, for the 
school, for me...."  Tears poured from his eyes.  "For your mother."
he whispered, sobs wracking his body at mentioning his dearly 
departed wife. 
	
	"I....I...."  Kasumi looked into her father's eyes and then
she knew she couldn't break his heart.  "I....I will do as you ask."

	"Oh thank you!"  Soun rose to embrace his daughter, 
crying tears of joy.  "You make your father proud!  I know you two 
will make a good couple and raise a strong family."

	"Father!"  Kasumi blushed bright pink as Soun released 
his daughter and smiled as she picked up the rest of the dishes and
promptly walked into the kitchen.  A few moments later, Genma 
walked into the living room in panda form and took a seat beside 
Soun.  He noticed Soun's tears and growled inquisitively.

	"Oh, h....hello Saotome, allow me a moment to gather 
myself."  Soun said as he wiped the tears off his face. Genma-Panda 
held up a sign with a "?" on it as Soun turned to face him.

	"Saotome, I've decided to engage your son to my eldest
daughter Kasumi."  Soun said.

	Genma-Panda looked surprised and scribbled on his sign
which read "But what about Akane?  I thought we'd already 
decided?"

	"I know but I think Kasumi is the better choice for him.  
She's sweet, kind, a great cook, good housekeeper and pretty to 
boot.  Nabiki is too selfish for him and Akane....well you remember
what happened in the bath?"  Soun replied.

	Genma scribbled again.  "Is Kasumi okay with it?"

	"Yes, I just had a little talk with her.  She has agreed to marry
Ranma if Nabiki and Akane continue to show no interest in him."

	"But if you've already engaged him to Kasumi...."  Soun 
grabbed his paw, stopping him from writing.

	"I did that to ease off the pressure.  Now that Nabiki and 
Akane are no longer being forced into something, they can get to 
know Ranma and perhaps express an interest to marry him 
themselves."  Soun said.

	"But what about the pressure on Ranma to marry 
Kasumi?  Isn't that unfair to my son?"  Genma noted on his sign.

	 "I have no doubt your son will like my Kasumi.  She is the
sweetest person on the planet."  Soun replied.

	"But she doesn't know martial arts....does she?" 
Genma-Panda wrote.  "Ranma's been on the road with me for a very 
long time and is all that he really knows."

	"So he's uncivilized?"  Soun asked.

	The panda nodded solemnly.

	"Well I'm sure Kasumi can help him with his manners.  In 
the meantime, Akane will be taking over the doujou.  She has been 
training constantly for the last few years and I think she'll be the
best choice as my heir."  Soun said.

	"Then why are you engaging Kasumi to Ranma?  
Shouldn't it be Akane and Ranma since there're the martial artists?"  
Genma scribbled furiously on his signs.  "Kasumi is unsuited for 
Ranma."

	"What do you suggest Saotome?!"  Soun said, a note of 
anger growing in his voice.  "Akane doesn't want to marry him!
If I force her they'll only bicker and hurt each other!  Akane and 
Ranma can still carry on the school as partners and not as husband 
and wife."  he finished, trying to be logical.

	"Anger might turn into love eventually, Tendo."  Genma 
wrote.

	"I'm not willing to take that chance.  We've waited too 
long for this moment to allow it to slip through our fingers.  We
have to push for Kasumi and Ranma from this point on or wait until
Akane or Nabiki change their minds."  Soun said as he stood up.  
"Are you with me Saotome?"  He reached out with his hand to 
Genma.

	Genma looked at the hand for a moment and then placed 
his own paw on top on it and nodded.

	"Thank you Saotome, you won't be disappointed."  Soun 
promised with a smile as he walked towards the closet and opened 
it.  He searched through it briefly before pulling out an old shogi 
board.  He blew some dust off the board and walked back over to
Genma with a smile on his face.  "Remember this old friend?"  he
said as he began to set up the board while Genma's face lighted up,
obscured by his panda fur as he eagerly prepared to play the first 
game of shogi with his friend in ten years.


*	*	*


LATER THAT AFTERNOON....	
	
	Ranma lay on the floor of the gym, his arms and legs 
outstretched as he recalled today's events.

	He had met Tatewaki Kunou for the first time today and 
was not impressed.  She was even less impressed when Kunou had 
grabbed her breast in the pool, and her opinion of him dropped 
drastically when he had declared her 'worthy' to date with him.

	Then he remembered Akane and how she had come to her 
aid with a kettle of hot water and even squared off against Kunou to 
buy her the time she needed to change.  Although the end result 
wasn't what she hoped for, Akane had tried to help him.

	Ranma sat up and muttered to himself.  "Guess I should go
thank her for helping me."   He rose to his feet, walked out of the gym
and headed upstairs to Akane's room.  He was about to knock on the
door when he heard Akane's voice loudly exclaim from within....
	
	"I'M ENGAGED TO MY WORSE NIGHTMARE!!!"

	Ranma froze.  Then he glared at the closed door, spun on his
heel and walked away angrily.  "And the old man calls me rude!"  he
muttered under his breath as he leapt over the rail to land on the 
stairs, failing to see Kasumi walking up the stairs with a tub of water, 
until it was too late.

	"Ahhh!"  Kasumi yelped in surprise as Ranma tried to stop 
his descent only to end up hugging her tightly as he tries to regain his 
balance.  Kasumi waved her arms helplessly as Ranma braced himself
against her and pulled back to look at her.

	"I'm sorry...."  he began.

	Kasumi looked up and their eyes locked.  A jolt of electricity 
seemed to pass through him as he looked into Kasumi's eyes.  He had
never really looked deeply into a woman's eyes before, having spent 
most of his life on the road with his father and never having a chance 
to get to know anyone for a long period of time.  Now as he stared into 
them, he couldn't help but notice how different they were from his 
own, they seemed to sparkle and shine with a light of their own.  
They made him feel funny inside, funny in a way he couldn't put into
words but one thing he knew for sure, it was a nice feeling.  One he
didn't want to lose....

	Then time resumed and a loud crash was heard.  Ranma and 
Kasumi turned towards the sound to see Mr. Tendo and Genma-Panda
looking annoyed as the water from Kasumi's washtub had soaked 
them both.  Ranma felt his face flush red and Kasumi said nothing as 
she blushed furiously as well and looked away from him and turned 
towards the drenched pair.

	"Oh father!  I'm so sorry!"  Kasumi went in search for a towel
as Ranma tried not to laugh at the expression on his father's furry face.

	"Son...."  Soun began.  "As proud as I am for you taking the 
initiative with Kasumi, could you wait until she DOESN'T have water
in her hands?"

	"It was my fault.  I didn't....what?"  Ranma paused in 
mid-explanation.

	"Father, please."  Kasumi blushed deeper and looked like she
was about to die of embarrassment.

	"I was going to tell you at dinner Ranma but I guess there's no
reason not to tell you now."  Soun took a deep breath as he continued.
"Ranma, since you and Akane got off on the wrong foot, we've decided
to engage you to Kasumi instead."

	"YOU DID WHAT?!?"  Ranma angrily shouted as he stalked
down the stairs towards his father.  "Hey, I already told you I don't need
no fiancee!  I just want to go back to China and find a cure to this curse!"

	"Don't talk back to me boy!  I brought you here to marry one of
Tendo's daughters and that's what you're going to do, period!"  
Genma-Panda sign read as he shoved it into Ranma's face.

	"Yeah?  You and what army, old man?"  Ranma challenged.

	Ranma and Genma-Panda glared daggers at one another as 
they prepared to fight when suddenly.

	"Please stop!  I don't want anyone to fight over me!"  Kasumi
exclaimed as she placed herself between them and turned to face 
Ranma.  "If you really don't want to marry me, I won't force you to.  
I'm old enough to make my own choice and father can't force me into
an engagement with you.

	"Kasumi....You break your father's heart!"  Soun sobbed as 
he burst into a stormcloud of tears.

	"Kasumi....I...."  Ranma paused for a moment and turned to
face his father and the sobbing Mr. Tendo.  "Could you leave us 
alone for a minute?  I have to talk this over with her."

	Genma-Panda stared at him for a moment before nodding 
his assent.  He then lead his crying friend away from the stairs and 
allowed Ranma and Kasumi some privacy.

	"Kasumi, I don't want you to think I don't like you or 
nothing.  I just don't know you well enough to marry you yet, that's all.
I just wanted you to know, I'm not mad at you, okay?"  Ranma said
sincerely as he looked on Kasumi.

	"I....I believe you....It's just that....father's been waiting for 
this moment for so long, I couldn't bear to see him hurt.  That's why
I agreed to be your fiancee....If it makes you unhappy though, I won't
be upset if you back out.  It's up to you."  Kasumi said as she 
lowered her eyes, unwilling to meet his gaze.

	Ranma thought it over.  While his top priority was finding a 
cure to his curse and becoming a full man again, he knew even if he
did manage to find a cure that this engagement would eventually be 
shoved back into his face and that unless he was willing to be 
disowned by his father and left alone, he was going to have to marry 
one of the three Tendo girls.

	Akane, who had seemed like a nice person at first, had proven
to be a violent person who hated boys and seemed to have a personal 
grudge against him for some reason.  That opinion had changed slightly
when Akane helped him out earlier, but after he overheard what 
Akane had said in her room, he realized that she wasn't going to 
change her opinion of him any time soon."

	Then there was Nabiki.  He hadn't had a chance to get to 
know her yet and he wanted to keep his options open in case it didn't
work out with Kasumi.  But now, as she gave him the chance to back 
out, he wondered if he should take the offer or not.  Kasumi was 
beautiful and serene, if a bit timid compared to most of the people he 
had encountered in his life thus far and he supposed he could do far 
worse than her, although he had yet to encounter any other women to 
compare her to....

	"Ranma?"

	Ranma's train of thought was interrupted as he blinked and
noticed Kasumi peering at him curiously.  Ranma blushed again.  
How long had he been standing there lost in thought?  He decided he
didn't want to know as he finally broke the silence.  "I'm sorry.  This
whole engagement thing just caught me off guard.  I....I just need time
to get to know you....for you to get to know me....you know what I 
mean?"  Ranma asked.

	"I....I think so....You know....Just because you're engaged to
me right now doesn't mean you can't get to know Nabiki and Akane
as well.  You might find them more to your liking...."  Kasumi replied.

	"No!  I didn't....I mean....I'm not saying I don't like 
you....In fact, I think you're pretty nice to be honest...."  Ranma said
as Kasumi blushed again.   "But then I've never been around girls 
so I don't know how I should feel around you or your sisters.  It's 
really....weird."

	 "I know what you mean....I haven't been around boys very
much either."  Kasumi said as she sat down on the steps.   "I went to
an all girls junior-high school and I didn't know how to act around 
boys by the time I went to Furinkan so I stayed around girls all the 
time.  A lot of boys asked me out but I kept turning them down until
they stopped asking.  So this engagement feels weird to me as well."

	"Well....maybe we should give it a try for a while....Just to 
see how it goes.  If it doesn't work out, we'll call it quits.  No 
pressure, no regrets.  Is that okay with you?"  Ranma asked.

	Kasumi thought it over for a few moments and then replied.
"Yes.  I think I'd like that."

	"Uh....Okay then!  I guess....we're engaged."  Ranma said
awkwardly as he tried to make sense of the deal he just made.

	"O....Okay.  Should we tell Akane and Nabiki then?"  
Kasumi wondered.

	"I guess.  Pop's gonna tell them about it anyway if he hasn't 
already."  Ranma replied.  "Let's go."

	Kasumi rose to her feet and followed Ranma as he walked
into the living room where a still tearful Soun and Genma, once again
in human form, sat at their Shogi board with worried looks on their 
faces.  They looked up upon hearing Ranma enter and Genma asked.  
"Have you two made a decision yet?"

	Ranma glanced back at Kasumi who smiled and nodded.
"We've decided to accept the engagement...."

	"YES!!!"  Genma and Soun simultaneously exclaimed with
joy.

	"....for the moment...."  Ranma finished.

	Soun and Genma's happiness abruptly subsided.  Soun 
swallowed hard while Genma glared at his son.  "Meaning what 
exactly....?"

	""Meaning we're going to get to know each other better 
first. Then we'll see if we want to formalize the engagement or 
break it off, depending on how things work out."  Ranma firmly 
replied.  "You got it?!"

	Soun mulled it over.  On one hand he was determined to
see Genma's son marry one of his daughters even if it meant 
dragging him to the altar by his pigtail.  Genma was still convinced 
Akane was the best choice for Ranma but Soun had pushed for 
Kasumi because he felt she was their best hope.  Now Genma's son 
was willing to give the relationship a try....

	"Agreed!"  Soun quickly replied.  "We agree to your terms 
provided you both try your best to make the engagement work."  he
added in a serious tone.

	"We will father.  If you'll excuse me now, I have to make 
dinner." Kasumi said in a quiet voice as she slowly walked into the
kitchen.  She could still hear Ranma and his father arguing in the
living room, along with an occasional sob of joy from her father as
she placed a pot of water on the stove and walked over to the 
cupboard to get a box of soba....

	
(Fade to Black)


PART 2: A COLD WIND BLEW TOWARDS THE EAST AS THE 
WILD STALLION FELL.  THE SCARLET CLOUD THEN DID 
FLOAT BY, AND WITH IT CAME THE CALM.

	
	The entire doujou seemed to shake for a moment as Ranma 
slammed the door shut and stormed into the living room.  "Violent 
tomboy." Ranma muttered angrily to himself as he continued to eat 
handful after handful of chips, spilling them all over the floor until 
he choked and had to drink some tea.

	Things had not improved much with Akane since he and 
Kasumi were formally engaged yesterday.  Kunou had declared his 
love for Ranma's female half, which upset him to say the least.  
Ranma-Chan had gone out yesterday at sunset, expecting to fight 
Kunou only to have him throw a bouquet of roses at her and tell her 
"I love you."

	The next morning, Ranma woke up from a horrible 
nightmare involving Kunou and him in girl form.  This did little to 
improve his mood as Kunou confronted him again, this time thanks 
to lies and certain photographs spread around by Nabiki Tendo.  "So 
much for a relationship with HER."  Ranma somberly thought to 
himself.    

	Finally Kunou tried to attack Ranma for supposingly 
sleeping with his girl half.  Ranma had made short work of Kunou, 
taking only one hit and that was only because he was momentarily 
distracted by Kunou's photos flying up into the air.  Then Akane 
accused Ranma of having the photos.  Ranma proclaimed his 
innocence only to have Akane smash him in the face with Kunou's 
bokken after Ranma told her she needed to be sexier to catch a 
husband or so he personally thought after seeing the rather bland 
photos of Akane in her training gi.

	"What's her problem anyway?!  Why does she always assume 
the worst about me?!"  Ranma growled loudly to the empty room.  "I 
was just trying to be honest!  She doesn't act like any girl I ever heard 
about!  Not to mention she's a tomboy!  Why can't she be nice and
 stuff....like Kasumi?!"  Ranma wondered aloud.  
          
	As Ranma fumed over Akane and Nabiki's actions, Genma 
was hiding behind the screen.  As he skillfully retrieved one of 
Ranma's potato chips from the floor between his toes and ate it, he 
wondered if Soun had made the correct choice after all by engaging 
Ranma to Kasumi.  It seemed Ranma preferred Kasumi because she 
wasn't violent like Akane, although violence was a part of every 
martial artist's life, especially when it came to his own marriage.  He 
briefly shuddered as a vision of Nodoka with her katana gleaming 
came to mind.  If she ever found out about Ranma's curse....  

	Then Ranma suddenly walked out into the hall and Genma 
immediately flattened his body against the wall.  Ranma walked right 
past him as if he were invisible.  After he was out of sight, Genma 
relaxed and couldn't help but feel some pride at managing to elude his 
son.  "Fade into the woodwork, that's the ticket."  Genma thought to 
himself as he patted himself on the shoulder.

	Unfortunately his victory was short lived as Ranma came up 
from behind his father and threw him into the Tendo's pond.  "Ain't
you got nothing better to do than spy on me?!?  Idiot."  Ranma spun on 
his heel and walked away.  A moment later, Genma-Panda emerged 
from the pond.  Instead of being angry, he had a look of deep concern 
on his fur-covered face.  "I hope Soun knows what's he doing." 
Genma-Panda though to himself as he watched his only son depart.


*	*	*


	Kasumi knelt by her father as she gently placed a icepack 
on his forehead.  She could see the slight scar Akane had left when 
she hit him.

	Kasumi was surprised when she felt anger welling up inside
her.  She had always been very protective of her father and now as 
she saw him lying unconscious on the dining room floor, she knew 
she had to say something.

	"Akane."  Kasumi said without looking away from Soun.

	Akane turned to face her.  "Yes?"

	Kasumi then turned to face Akane and Akane flinched 
slightly as she saw the look of disappointment in her elder sister's 
eyes.  Then Kasumi slowly reached for Akane's hand and firmly 
grasped it while looking straight into Akane's eyes.

	"K....Kasumi?"  Akane inquired nervously.  	      

	"Akane, I want to listen to me, not as your sister, but as our 
dearly departed mother for a moment, may she rest in peace."  
Kasumi said in a serious tone.

	"W....What do you mean?"  Akane asked.

	"Akane, I want you to promise me that you'll never strike out 
against anyone in anger again.  Okay?"

	"But I didn't mean...."  Akane tried to explain.

	"Promise me Akane!"  Kasumi raised her voice a notch.

	Akane was taken aback, not used to Kasumi raising her voice
about anything.  She hadn't meant to punch her dad like that.  She 
had been so mad at Ranma over him calling her unattractive earlier 
that she had lashed out at the Ranma taunting her in her mind and 
unfortunately, Soun had been on the receiving end at the time in the 
real world.

	She tried to hold in her temper but with boys attacking her 
every morning for the past few months thanks to Kunou's speech, she 
had developed an intense dislike for all males, with the exception of 
Dr. Tofu and until now her dad.  As Soun slowly opened his eyes and 
looked up at her, Akane felt a wave of guilt wash over her.  

	"O....Okay.  I promise."  Akane said softly.

	"Good."  Kasumi said, satisfied that she had gotten through 
to Akane.  "Now if you're finished training for the day, I need you to 
do some shopping for me in a little while, okay?"

	"Okay Kasumi."  Akane replied as she walked upstairs to 
shower after her workout.  As she walked into the change room 
Akane wondered why Kasumi would ask her to do the shopping since 
Kasumi was usually the one who did it.  "Maybe it has something to 
do with Ranma."  Akane wondered to herself as she undid the ribbon 
around her long flowing hair and then she knocked on the door to the 
bathroom to make sure it was unoccupied this time.  When there was 
no answer, Akane undid the belt of her training gi and allowed it to 
fall to the floor as she grabbed a towel and slid the door open.

	As she showered, she couldn't help but wonder why her sister 
was willing to throw her life away by marrying a jerk like Ranma.  
She hated to think that Kasumi was doing it against her will just to 
appease her dad and Mr. Saotome.  "Promise or no promise Ranma, 
if you ever do anything to hurt Kasumi...."  Akane muttered under her
breath as she let the threat hang in the air for a moment before she 
finished washing and rinsed the soap off her body.  

	As she did so, she looked down at her naked body.   "Better 
built to boot huh?  I'm just as attractive as any other girl!  Not that I 
care what that pervert thinks!"  Akane thought to herself as she 
walked over to the bath and slowly lowered herself into it, a contented 
sigh escaping her lips.  "I wonder if Dr. Tofu thinks I'm attractive?  
Akane sighed to herself.  "If only he'd look at me like he does Kasumi, 
just once.  He's so nice and kind, not like any of the other boys at all."  
Akane leaned back against the side of the tub and closed her eyes, 
allowing herself to sink lower into the tub as romantic fantasies 
involving herself and Dr. Tofu raced through her mind, causing her 
to smile and forget her troubles, even if only for a little while....


*	*	*
	
	
	The sun was slowly beginning to set as Genma-Panda and 
Soun sat on the back porch staring up at the sky.  Soun seemed to be 
in a good mood for once as Kasumi approached them with a kettle.

	"Here's the hot water you asked for father."  Kasumi said as 
she placed the kettle beside him.  Soun nodded his thanks as she left 
and then poured it over his friend's head, changing him back into a 
human.  By the time the steam from the hot water had faded away, 
Genma was once again wearing his gi.

	"Things seem to be getting worse between Ranma and 
Akane."  Genma noted somberly.

	"Which just proves that putting my Kasumi with your son 
was the right choice after all."  Soun replied with a smile.

	"But Tendo, shouldn't we at least try to get Akane to like 
Ranma?  I still think the martial artist should marry the martial 
artist."  Genma noted with concern in his voice.

	"Nonsense, Saotome!  Don't fix what isn't broken!  Our 
legacies are secure now and that's what matters most!  Don't worry 
so much about nothing."  Soun said as he looked back at the sky.

	Genma sighed.  He wished he could share his friend's 
optimism but something continued to nag at him, as if somehow this 
wasn't how things were supposed to happen.  He couldn't figure out 
why he felt this way and that bothered him more than he cared to 
admit....  

	But when saw how happy Soun looked, he didn't want to 
ruin his good mood.  "Maybe you're right Tendo."  Genma said as he 
pasted a smile on his face.

	"Good!  Now what's say we play a game of shogi while we 
wait for dinner?"  Soun said enthusiastically.

	"I'm game."  Genma joked as they walked back into the 
house, Genma putting his fears aside for the moment....


TO BE CONTINUED....


Author's Notes:  How do you like it so far?  I wrote this 
when I realized that, at the time, aside from lemon fanfics, no one 
had ever, to my knowledge, done a serious fanfic on Ranma and 
Kasumi as a possible couple.  This is probably because Ranma and 
Kasumi are almost complete opposite in personality and style.  
You've have to be crazy to put them together, hence this fanfic was 
born!  :)

	I realize Soun is a bit too thoughtful in this fic but I 
thought taking this from his point of view at first would be an 
interesting change.  His emotional state and stubbornness to see the 
engagement work will remain the same.

Special Thanks to Webdragon and Yong W Moon for their detailed 
C&C as well as everyone else who sent me feedback.  

Additional C&C is welcome as always.  :)