Disclaimers:  No, these aren't my characters.  You all know whose they are.
This is a serious work of fiction about a serious subject.  I felt the need
to present it in a serious light, and hope I didn't offend anyone.  Adult
themes enclosed.  Ranma is a bit OOC, but hey, live with it.

			Ranma and Kasumi: Quid Pro Quo
				    by
			      Brett de Jesus

	Ranma stood by the koi pond, practicing his stances.  Flipping
from rock to rock, he took up several different poses, threw a couple punches
and kicks, and then moved to another rock, another pose, and another combo.
Being early in the morning, and with both fathers off trying to bury Happosai,
Ranma was alone in the house with the three Tendo sisters.  Looking inside,
he saw Kasumi at work in the kitchen, practicing her obento skills.
	Her attention seemed as focused as Kasumi normally got, but what
Ranma saw and what Ranma felt seeing this were two different things.  He
really didn't know much about the eldest sister, and hadn't initiated any way
of getting to know her.  She had the image of a perfect motherly influence,
and seemed unaffected by everything.  The shock of losing her mother must
have really affected her, but he wondered if that was all.
	He walked inside, fully awake and invigorated and stood by the kitchen
entryway.  "'Morning, Kasumi."
	"Good morning, Ranma," she replied over her shoulder.
	"Do you need any help with anything?" he offered.
	"No, thank you, Ranma.  I'm not doing anything important."  She 
continued her work on designing another obento.
	He paused, watching her hands deliberate motions before going away.

	Later, Akane and Nabiki had gone out shopping, and Ranma was unusually
not hungry.  Walking by the dining room, he saw Kasumi going through the
motions of a tea ceremony.
	He sat down opposite her and watched her perform it flawlessly.  He
smiled at her weakly, and waited until she was done, and starting to clean up.
"Kasumi, is everything all right?"
	"What ever do you mean, Ranma?  Everything is fine.  No fiances you
don't know about, no monsters demanding your attention, and no parties coming
up that I don't know about."
	"No, Kasumi.  Is everything all right with you?  I mean, we all come
to you with our problems, I was just wondering if you had any?"
	Her face seemed to pause a moment longer than was typical, and
her hands stopped their motion for a moment.  "No, Ranma.  I don't have any
problems, really."  She didn't make eye contact, nor did she seem as cheerful
as normal.
	Ranma looked at her closely, noting the fracture in her facade.
"Kasumi, who did you get to talk to about your mother's death?"
	"Well, both Akane and Nabiki were supportive, as was father..."
	"Not the way I heard it.  I heard that you supported all of them.  Who
did you turn to?"
	She looked at him, her emotions present, though not uncontrolled.
"I had the memory of my mother, and I felt better helping everyone else."
	"And you were comfortable with that?"
	"I had no choice.  If our family was to survive, someone had to be
strong, and no one else could.  Mother talked to me, gave me strength to take
care of the household in her place."  She was definite in her answer, though
was a little shaken at the memories coming back to her.
	"I'm sorry I brought it up."  He put a hand over hers, "I just thought
you seemed so sad sometimes.  Do you ever feel really sad?"
	She looked at the the teapot and accessories for the ceremony, in a
far-away stare, "Sometimes, but then I see that I belong here and am needed to
keep the family going."
	"Yes, you do that well.  I just don't want you to think that you can't
go to anyone.  When I was on the road with Pop, the once or twice I went to
him with anything, he'd just comment on it as a weakness, and since then, I
didn't go to him for anything.  I'd like it if you would talk to me, or
someone else, just so you don't have to keep it bottled up.  I won't tell
anyone else if you don't want me to, I promise."
	She looked at him, "That's sweet, but I don't think I really have
anything to tell."
	"So then nothing has happened since your mother's death?" he pried
further.
	She seemed rather shaken now, all of her strength was gone.  Her
hands went to rearranging the teacups, but Ranma's stopped hers.
	"Please, Kasumi.  It doesn't help to keep it inside."
	She didn't say a word, unwilling to lose the impecable image she had
maintained all these years.
	In the most serious tone, Ranma posed a most specific question.
"Kasumi, when were you raped?"  His monotone question was the only thing that
echoed for a few minutes in Kasumi's mind.
	"Wha- How...?" Kasumi stammered.
	"I wasn't sure, but of all the things in the world, I wanted to start
at the worst.  I'm sorry it had to be that."
	She looked at him, tears streaming from her eyes, her world breaking
apart.  After a final moment of imaginary support, she put her face into her
hands.
	Ranma moved around beside her, "I'm so sorry, Kasumi."  She let her
tears fall, though kept herself from sobbing aloud.  He held her close, hoping
that he did the right thing.
	After several minutes, she pulled away.  "I'm sorry, Ranma.  I 
appreciate what you are trying to do, but you really wouldn't understand..."
	He looked at her sternly, "No, Kasumi, you don't really understand.
You aren't the only victim in the household..."
	"Ranma..."
	"I told you, I couldn't go to my father, and my mother would have to
understand the curse if I told her, and of all of you, I'd only really feel
comfortable telling you.  I could see it in your eyes, the way you moved, and
everything about you.  Kasumi, it's a pain that I got over eventually, and I
want to help you get past it as well."  Tears formed in Ranma's eyes as well.
	"Ranma, I'm so sorry."  She hugged him close.
	"Please, Kasumi, tell me something, anything.  You have to let
someone know.  It's too great a burden to carry alone."
	"Oh, Ranma, it was horrible.  I-It was during my junior year at
Furinkan...  I was in a chemistry class and had a partner assigned to me, and
he seemed so nice at the start..."  She developed a distant look again, right
over Ranma's shoulder.  "Near the end of the year, he asked me to a dance,
and I said 'no'.  He seemed only a little disappointed, but a week later, I
found out why.  During the time of the dance, he left early, and found me
at the library.  He was a little drunk, and with everyone else at the dance,
the library was pretty empty.  I was in a study room and he had locked the
door."
	"You don't need to tell me any more, Kasumi."  He stroked her hair.
	"No, I really do.  After he was done with me, I was crying, and my
dress was torn.  He left me his sweatshirt, and I had to wear it, or else
anyone could have seen what had happened."
	"And you didn't tell anyone, did you."
	"No.  Everyone else just thought I had a boyfriend when I wore that
sweatshirt home, and I burned everything I wore that night."
	"What happened to the guy?"
	"All through my senior year, he kept on asking me out.  I ignored him
and ran away any time I saw him.  I never went out with any boys after that
one night.  I wasn't sure if he told anyone, because I got some strange looks
from some people.  After I graduated, I decided not to take any tests.  I 
didn't want to go to college and risk ever seeing him again.  I saw that the 
house and family needed me more than I wanted to go out."  She had calmed 
down, and had clumps of Ranma's shirt in her fists.
	"I'm sorry you had to go through this."  He took her hands in his and
let her squeeze as hard as she could.
	Kasumi had gathered herself together before asking, "How about you,
Ranma?"  She noticed the strain on his face.
	"I guess you deserve to know.  It was in China, and we were looking
for some supper.  Being broke, it was hard to get meals, so we had resorted
to begging.  Also, being broke, it was hard to get hot water, so I was a girl
much of the time.  Pop was off in a forest eating bamboo, while I was in the
city.  Usually, after a couple hours, someone would stop and buy me supper,
since I didn't look that bad.  Anyways, once, a guy offered me some food, and
I never had a second thought about it, until I was in a dark alleyway behind
a restraunt.  I was too hungry to fight, and it happened so fast.  A waiter
saw me on the ground, and I thought it was going to get better.  He was worse
than the first.  Of the few words I knew in chinese, 'food' was the one that
he understood and actually got right.  I thought I knew the word for 'no'
but I just figured that I was saying it wrong."
	"Oh, Ranma.  That's terrible."  She hugged him close again.
	"That's why I intend to be the best martial artist in the world,
because no one can misunderstand a fist in the face."  He seemed to flare with
anger.
	"Thank you for confiding in me, Ranma.  I won't tell anyone."  She had
reacquired some of her strength.  Her demeanor calmed him somewhat.
	"Me, neither.  Thanks for trusting me."  He gave her a kiss on the
cheek, and brushed away another tear.
	Hearing footsteps on the front walk, Kasumi swept up the tray with
the tea ceremony setting, and pulled Ranma with her into the kitchen.
	Akane and Nabiki found Ranma and Kasumi in the kitchen cutting onions.

C&C, opinions, and suggestions wanted.
mailto: deje0002@itlabs.umn.edu
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