Shampoo quietly crept into the Tendo household.  She 
knew that the family would be eating dinner soon and this
would be the perfect chance to try out the new "Eternal Love"
cooking salt that she had ordered from China.

"Shampoo just need sprinkle little on Airen's food, and he come to me!"
Shampoo whispered gleefully.  

She had thought about just bringing over some Ramen for the family and 
putting the salt in Ranma's portion, but Akane always got suspicious
when Shampoo brought food over.  

*Violent-girl probably knock Airen into orbit before he even taste my food*

She crept into the kitchen and was relieved to find that Kasumi was not there.
She stood in the kitchen and thought about how to get Ranma digest some 
of the salt.  *Let see what Kasumi cook*  She was inspecting the Miso soup
when she heard Kasumi humming to herself as she was entering the kitchen.
Shampoo, tense with the idea of being caught and thrilled that Ranma would be
finally be hers, bolted from the kitchen; leaving the salt on the kitchen
counter
next to the simmering soup.

Kasumi entered the kitchen expecting to see Mr. Saotome or her father trying
to steal some food before dinner.  She looked around the kitchen and blinked
in confusion.  *That's funny... I could have sworn that someone was in here.*

Kasumi dismissed the thought and decided to check on the miso soup.  She noticed
the salt container on the counter immediately.  *Oh my.  I wonder what this is?*
She carefully sprinkled a small bit of the salt on her hand and tasted it.  

"Hmmm.... interesting spice.  I wonder where it came from."  Kasumi said
appreciatively.

She pour some of the Miso soup into a bowl and sprinkled some more of the spice
into it; this time with more vigor.  She slowly lifted the bowl to her lips and
tasted the soup.  As she brought the bowl down from her lips, a beautiful smile
grew on her face.  She looked around the kitchen, almost guiltily, and drank
the rest of the soup.  

				********************

Ranma walked into the house from the dojo, rubbing the side of his face.
"Stupid
tomboy didn't have to hit me, " Ranma mumbled.  "After all, I gave her a
complement;
she should be proud to be as strong as a 200-pound gorilla!"

After a few more depreciating comments about his fiancée', Ranma decided to get
something to eat.  Kasumi's cooking always cheered him up.  He walked into
the kitchen just in time to see Kasumi finish drinking the bowl of soup.  
*Man, if _Akane_ tasted her food before she served it, I'd spend a LOT less
time in the hospital* Ranma thought to himself.  He was very thankful that
Kasumi
was around.  Even with his mom back in his life, Kasumi more than anyone
had made the Tendo Dojo seem like a home for him.  She never blackmailed
him, hit him, or tried to trap him in a marriage.  She just talked, gave gentle
advice, and cooked great meals for him without expecting anything in return.
Yes,
if Ranma had ever had a sister, he would have wanted her to be like Kasumi.
Sweet,
gentle, and a total innocent to the dangers of the world.

"Hey Kasumi, is dinner ready yet?  I'm starved!"

Kasumi turned around an looked at Ranma, "It will be ready in- in....Oh my!"
Kasumi said as her face flushed and the bowl fell to the floor, forgotten.

Ranma, startled by this reaction, walked up to Kasumi and gently took hold
of her shoulders.  "Is something wrong, Kasumi?"  Ranma asked in a concerned
voice.

Kasumi thought her heart was going to explode when Ranma touched her.  *I always
thought he was handsome, but now...*  Kasumi trembled as she took hold of
Ranma's arms.  She needed the support, her knees were weak and they almost
buckled.
She felt the strong muscles under the fabric of his shirt, and this time her
knees did buckle.  Ranma held her up before she could fall.  "Easy Kasumi, you
must need some rest.  Ranma easily picked her up off her feet and slowly
carried her
to the living room sofa.  

Kasumi sighed. *I wish he was taking me to my bedroom..*  She blushed anew when
she completed that thought. As Ranma was laying Kasumi onto the sofa, the rest
of the family came in for dinner.  Seeing Kasumi trembling on the sofa, they
immediately became concerned. 

Soun started crying. "Waah!  My little girl is dying!"  

"Calm down, daddy."  Nabiki said as checked Kasumi.

"What did you do to my sister, you pervert!!!"  Akane demanded of Ranma.

"Hey! I didn't do nothing!  She nearly collapsed in the kitchen and
I carried her out here  By the way, did you make the Miso soup, Akane?"  

"No, why?"

"Well, she collapsed just after tasting it so I thought-"

"Ranma no BAKA!" Akane yelled as picked up Ranma and threw him into the kitchen.

A few moments later, Ranma stumbled out of the kitchen, covered in Miso soup.
"Well, the soup tastes fine..."  Ranma said dryly.  "I guess you really didn't
have anything to do with it."

"Ranma-", Akane started but was interrupted by Nodoka.

"Kasumi should all right, she just seems to be bit exhausted.  Ranma, 
please carry her up to her bedroom.  Akane, how would you like to 
help me finish dinner?"

Akane's anger suddenly turned to joy.  "Oh yes!  Auntie, I would love to help!"

Ranma gave his mother a sullen look, which see returned with a knowing smile
and a wink.  Ranma sighed and went over to the sofa to pick up Kasumi.  

"Take off your shirt Ranma, you're cover in soup!"  Nodoka told him.

"Oh... yeah."  Ranma grinned sheepishly and said, "Sorry Kasumi."

Ranma took off his shirt and laid it on the floor.  He walked back towards
Kasumi and gently picked her up.  He nearly dropped her when he noticed
the look in her eyes.  It sent a shiver up his spine.  *Man, maybe there
_is_ something wrong with this soup. Kasumi never looks at me like that;
It something I could I expect from Shampoo, or maybe Ukyo.*

Kasumi was in heaven.  She trembled again as she nestled her head between
Ranma's
shoulder and neck.  The last vestiges of her modesty were slowly slipping away
as Ranma carried her up to her bedroom.  

Ranma reached Kasumi's bedroom, and holding her with one arm, opened the door
with the other.  Kasumi slowly traced the ripple of a muscle on his arm with
a free hand.  An electric shock coursed through Ranma's body at the touch.  
He gulped nervously and decided that the soon he deposited Kasumi in her
room and left, the better.  Facing Akane's cooking would be better than this!
(auth note:  OK, so this might be stretching the limits of imagination a bit)

Ranma quickened his pace into the bedroom and was about to drop Kasumi
into her bed when suddenly felt her lips and tongue against his throat.
Ranma nearly tripped, practically threw Kasumi into her bed, mumbled his
apologies and exited the bedroom, falling twice on his way out.  

Ranma frantically half stumbled, half crawled his way down stairs.  *What
the hell was that!*  Kasumi _definitely_ needed some rest, and perhaps 
a cold shower.  *Hell! I might need one too by the end of the night!*  Ranma
admitted to himself.  He would have to be a blind, dead, eunuch not to attracted
to Kasumi.  It felt... nice carrying her, but the whole situation was just too
weird.  

Ranma sighed as he flopped down on the sofa, not really caring about the 
assault on his stomach that would be called 'dinner'.  

			*************************

Kasumi lay in bed, on her stomach with her hands on her chin.  She was staring
at her closed bedroom door with a small pout on her face.  *Well, the direct
approach didn't work...  I always thought that a young man would enjoy being
seduced*  Kasumi said to herself.  

*Well, Ranma seems to be a more traditional type, full of honor and a sense
of duty*  Kasumi sighed lovingly.  *After all, Akane fights with him all
the time, but he never broke their engagement.  Even after she did several
times.  He even stayed engaged to Nabiki!*  

Kasumi giggled, a predatory gleam in her eye.  She had decided on a course
of action.


Ranma stayed on the sofa, watching TV and pointedly ignoring the sounds of
disaster coming from the kitchen.  He _was_ a little concerned about his mother,
but then figured that she deserved anything that happened to her for asking 
Akane for help.  His thoughts once again returned to Kasumi.  He hoped she
was feeling better.  He kept telling himself that after a good night's sleep,
she would be back to normal.  Ranma heard  fabric rustling at the top of the
stairs and turned his head in that direction.  His mouth nearly dropped.  Kasumi
was walking down the stairs dressed in a beautiful blue kimono.  Her hair
was tied
up and she wore just a hint of makeup.  Just enough to make her look stunning.  
Kasumi had _never_ worn makeup and Ranma had to admit that he liked the results.
He gulped again.  As Kasumi reached the bottom of the stairs, Ranma was able
to smell the perfume she was wearing.  It was light, flowery fragrance that 
slightly disoriented him.

Nabiki looked questioningly at Kasumi, "You going somewhere, Sis?"

"No, but I do have an announcement of sorts. If you'll excuse me for a minute."

Kasumi walked into the kitchen for a few moments and walked back out with 
Akane and Nodoka.  

"What's this announcement, Oneechan?"  Akane asked as she removed her apron.

Kasumi looked directly at Akane.  "Akane-chan, do you love Ranma?"  

Akane was shocked by the directness of the question.  Kasumi was never like
this!
*What brought this on?*  Akane felt a blush creeping up her face, but fought it
down.  

"Of COURSE, I don't love that perverted baka!  Who would!"

Before Ranma answered that insult, Kasumi asked Akane another question.

"If you don't love him, are you still planning to marry him?"

*What is with you tonight Kasumi?!*  Akane angrily thought.  

"I've said since the day I met him that I wouldn't!  All he's ever done is
insult me...."

"Who'd wanna marry an uncute tomboy like you anyways?"

"YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN?!"  Akane screamed.  "RANMA NO BAKA!"  

Akane was about to punt Ranma into orbit, but Kasumi interrupted again, this
time talking to her father.

"Father, family honor demands that one of your daughters marry the son
of Saotome Genma, correct?"

"Yes..."  Soun slowly replied.  He really couldn't see where this was going.

"Well since Akane does not wish to fulfill this familial obligation, I volunteer
myself as a fiancée for Ranma, to meet the honor of my family." Saying this, she
bowed in Ranma's direction, a demure look on her face.  

The rest of the family was silent, they could not believe that Kasumi was
doing this!  

"Well, I don't really care which of you marries Ranma, but are you sure about
this Kasumi?  Akane?"

"Yes father, I am."  Kasumi replied.

"How about you, Akane?"  Soun repeated.

Akane was speechless.  Her world was crumbling around her, and the cause of it
all was the LAST person she had ever expected to do something like this.

"If this is what Kasumi wants, its fine with me."  Akane replied in a tight
voice.

She hurried up the stairs as tears formed in her eyes.  Ranma looked at Akane's
retreating form as Nodoka brought him back to the matter at hand.

"I would like to hear what my son thinks of this."  Nodoka asked in a
neutral voice.

Ranma jerked his head back towards his mother, then looked at Kasumi, who gave
him a shy smile.  

"I...I..."  Ranma helplessly replied.  He did not know what to say.  The tension
he felt over Kasumi's earlier actions, coupled with her "proposal", was more
than Ranma could deal with.  He dejectedly sat back down on the sofa, rubbing
his temples.  "Man, have I got a headache!" he mumbled to no one in particular.

"I see..." Kasumi said in a small voice.  Ranma suddenly looked up to
see her start to cry. "I guess I'm too old for you. You.. you wouldn't
want to marry an old hag!"  Kasumi started crying heavily.  

Before Soun could start doing that 'demon thing', Ranma quickly got up and
rushed towards Kasumi, once again gently putting his hands on her shoulders.

"That's not what I meant Kasumi!  I was just surprised!"  Ranma said in a rush.

He really could not stand to see a girl cry. Kasumi looked up at Ranma with 
tear stained eyes.  She artfully lowered her eyelashes and said, "I guess
I _am_ too old for you..."  

Now, Ranma is a pretty dense guy when it comes to women, but even _he_ wasn't
stupid enough to agree with her.  "Oh come on Kasumi, " Ranma gently chided.
"Any guy would be blind not to want to marry you... I mean, you're beautiful,
kind, a good cook-"  Ranma suddenly realized what he was saying and shut his
mouth.  

Kasumi dried her eyes and said, "Really, Ranma?"  She tried to worm her way into
Ranma's embrace.  Ranma suddenly jumped back away from Kasumi, acting like he
had been burnt.  (and maybe he had)  

"Uh... yeah, Kasumi..."  Ranma replied in a resigned voice.  

Kasumi giggled, "I'm so happy Ranma-kun. I promise to be a good wife!"

Kasumi, still giggling, went over to hug her father. Soun, invariably, started
crying.  "My baby girl is getting married!" he cried.


The rest of the evening was spent in celebration of the impending wedding. Akane
never returned from her room.  Later that night, Ranma knocked on her door and
tried to talk to her.  Unfortunately, Akane was in no mood for conversation;
Ranma had the bruises to prove it.  

"Well, THAT didn't work... Let's try the other side..." Ranma said to himself.

After everyone had gone to sleep, Ranma crept out his room, got a glass of
cold water and went up to Kasumi's room.  After a few moments of hesitation
and trepidation, Ranma knocked gently knocked on the door.  Kasumi sleepily
opened the door, but became more alert when she saw Ranma.  

"Ranma-kun..." she purred quietly, "You shouldn't be sneaking into my room
like this... at least until after we're married."

Ranma blushed and said, "It's not like that!  I wanted to talk to you, Kasumi."

Kasumi gave him an arched look, "Just talk?" 

Ranma's blush deepened and he said, "Yes. Just talk."

Kasumi stepped back and let Ranma into her bedroom.  As Ranma passed by her,
she gently hugged his back, caressing his muscles.  

"Now, what did you want to talk about?"

Ranma turned around and disengaged Kasumi's arms from his body.  

"Kasumi,  I... I really can't marry you..."  

Kasumi frowned and her lower lip quivered.  "Then you _do_ think I'm too old!"

"NO!  Its just, that I'm not right for you.  You deserve better than me Kasumi."

Ranma had decided earlier on that 'noble self-sacrifice' might be the best
route to take.

"But I _love_ you Ranma-kun" Kasumi declared in a clear and strong voice.

Ranma forgot his whole rehearsed speech when his mind registered what
Kasumi had just said. 

"You...You..."  Ranma could not finish the sentence.

"Love you." Kasumi completed.  "So, it doesn't really matter what I deserve."

Ranma stepped back, suddenly remembering the glass of water.  He didn't want 
to do this, but it was his last option.

"What about my curse, Kasumi?"  Ranma asked as he poured the water over his
head.

"Remember, I spend half my life as a girl." 

Kasumi studied Ranma-chan for a second before answering.  

"Well, I didn't know your tastes ran this way, but you _are_ a very attractive
woman, and besides, it doesn't change who you are on the inside."

"My tastes do NOT 'run this way'!!!" Ranma-chan practically screamed.  

She calmed herself down before continuing.  "I just..."  Once again Ranma
couldn't
continue.

"It's Akane isn't it?" Kasumi asked.

"Huh?!  No way, what does that tomboy have to do with anything?"

"OK Ranma, if you don't want to marry me that's perfectly fine..." Kasumi said
with a sweet smile.  

"Uh, really?" Ranma asked suspiciously.

"Sure!  Marry Akane if you really want... I'll be content with being your
mistress."

Ranma-chan face-faulted.  Kasumi got on her knees and hugged Ranma's legs.  

"Just as long as I can be with, body and soul..."

Ranma-chan lifted Kasumi to her feet and sighed.  "I don't want you to be my
mistress..."
A blush covered her face again.  "I guess... we're engaged..." she continued
lamely.

She quickly backed away from Kasumi and said, "Well, I gotta go to school
tomorrow, 
so I better get some sleep. G'night!"  

Ranma-chan quickly left the bedroom.  Kasumi laid down on her bed and began to
giggle uncontrollably.  *It worked!  I can't believe it worked!  Now he will 
become my husband*  Kasumi sighed, then started giggling again.  "Wait till he
sees what I have planned for the wedding night!*  After a few minutes, Kasumi
calmed down and finally fell asleep, dreams of Ranma filling her head.

				*******************

The next morning Ranma, took off for school carrying what Kasumi called a
"special"
lunch.  Ranma was sure that the "special" part came more from the letter
attached
to the bento box, than from the food.  He was following Akane instead of walking
on the fence.  She was pointedly ignoring him.  He wanted to make up her.
He really
needed someone's help to deal with Kasumi and he just couldn't afford
Nabiki's rates.

"Akane, wait up for a sec, will ya?  We need to talk!"

Akane quickened her pace but said, "I have nothing to say to you Ranma.
Why don't you go to your _fiancée_ if you need to talk?"

"Akane, I don't want to marry Kasumi!"  

Akane stopped in tracks and turned around, "Then what was all that last night
about her being a good wife, being beautiful, and a good cook?"  

*Hey! she was up in her room when that happened?  How did she....Nabiki.* 

"Look Akane, regardless of what Nabiki told you, I was just saying that to
get her to stop crying..." 

Akane's mood lightened a little, but not much.  *Why did have to lose his
backbone when it came to women!  Still... I don't like seeing Kasumi hurt
either.*

"What did you want to talk about, Ranma?"

"Well, I want your help... to get out my engagement to Kasumi, but
I don't want to hurt her.  She's been kinder to me than any person
I've ever met, and I _would_ marry her before I'd do anything to hurt
her.  So whaddya say?  Will you help me?"

The amount of gratitude Ranma had for Kasumi surprised Akane, *He's still
a jerk, but maybe he _isn't_ an insensitive one.*

"OK Ranma, I'll help you... Let's talk about it at lunch."

The whole morning flew by for Ranma, he was feeling a lot better
about his whole situation since Akane was helping him.  He figured 
that Akane loved Kasumi more than anyone and that she would figure
out a way to get out of the engagement without hurting her.

The had not turned out as well for Akane.  Nabiki had already sold
the inside story to the whole school about how Akane was now
unattached.  Rumors and stories were flying everywhere. Surprisingly,
not too many boys approached Akane now that she was "free".  Most of
the student body was used to Ranma's and Akane's ups and downs and no
longer felt that she was worth the effort.  

Lunch finally came and Akane and Ranma sat together in their classroom.
Ranma opened the bento Kasumi had given him and put the letter aside.
He was not quite ready to read it yet.  What he saw in the bento box
made him grimace.  Kasumi had arranged the pickles, meat, and ginger
in the shape of a heart embedded in the rice.  Of course, the quickest
way to get rid of the evidence was to eat it. Ranma really didn't
need much encouragement in that respect, but he still did not want
Akane to see Kasumi's sign of affection.

While eating her lunch, Akane glanced at the letter Kasumi had given Ranma.  

"Aren't you going to read that?"  Akane asked nodding at the letter.

With a mouth full of food, he answered, "Uh... maybe later."  

"Why don't you read it _now_ Ranma."  It was not a question; or a request.

Ranma swallowed his food and picked up the letter.  He slowly tore
open one end and took out the folded piece of paper that was inside.  
He could immediately smell the same flowery perfume that Kasumi had
worn the previous night.  He inhaled deeply, enjoying the heady feelings
the scent was causing.  Akane cleared her throat meaningfully and Ranma
quickly unfolded the paper. He studied it for a few minutes then started
to blush.  "Oh my!" he said out loud.  

Akane, burning with curiosity, and not a little anger, grabbed the letter
out of Ranma's hand before he could react.  Akane's face turned crimson
as she read the letter.  The veins in her neck started to bulge and her
whole body was surrounded by a blue aura.

"YOU PERVERT!"  she exploded, "WHAT WERE YOU DOING IN MY SISTER'S ROOM LAST
NIGHT?!"

Ranma held his hands in front of his face, a weak defense.  "Nothing! I
swear! I didn't
do nothing!"

Just as Akane was about to give Ranma the beating of his life, the wall at the
front of the classroom exploded and Shampoo walked in.  

"Hello Ranma!  Shampoo happy to see!  But no can talk right now, where
Nabiki Tendo
at? "

"Uh...around the hall and two doors down on the right." Ranma replied, wondering
what Shampoo wanted with Nabiki.

"Shampoo thank you Airen, Shampoo come back later and we go on date, yes?"

With out waiting for an answer Shampoo crashed through another wall in the
classroom
in pursuit of Nabiki.

Akane stared after her, then remembered that she was in the middle of something.

"Oh yeah, where were we?"  she asked Ranma as she cracked her knuckles.

				******************

Nabiki sighed as she watched Shampoo come crashing into her classroom.  

"Ranma's not in this class Shampoo.  But for 5000 yen, I can point you in
the right direction."

"Shampoo not here to see husband.  Is here to see you."

"Oh?" Nabiki asked, interested.  "What can I do for you?"

Shampoo stood in front of Nabiki and laid 10000 yen on her desk.

"No bargaining. Is all Shampoo has, OK?"

"What do you want Shampoo?"  Nabiki was feeling suspicious now, _no_ one
ever just laid that kind of money in front of her without her asking.

"Last night Shampoo leave special salt at Tendo dojo, want you to retrieve
for me. No tell husband."

"What does this salt do?"  Nabiki asked, already knowing the answer.

"It special 'Fall in Love' salt.  Wanted to use on husband.  Accidentally left
in kitchen."

*Ah.  Now things are starting to fit together*  Nabiki thought.  She was
worried about Kasumi ever since she announced her engagement to Ranma.  
Kasumi might have been oblivious to certain things, but she was not _that_
stupid.

"OK Shampoo, I accept... on one condition."

				
				*****************

Akane was still pounding on Ranma when Nabiki walked into the classroom.  
She walked up to the couple and said, "I think you should stop that now
Akane, I have some information you might need."  

Akane stopped hitting Ranma, roughly picked his body up off the floor
and slammed him into his desk.  She slapped him a couple of times
to wake him up.   As Ranma started to open his eyes, Akane said,
"Ok, Nabiki, what do you want to sell?"

"Well, I found out why Kasumi's got the hots for Ranma."

"What?!" both Ranma and Akane yelled.

"Shampoo sneaked in the house last night with some kind of 'love potion'
meant for Ranma and apparently Kasumi took it by mistake."

"Why the little, no good..."  Akane fumed.

"Calm down Akane, anyways Shampoo gave me the antidote so we can reverse
the affects."

"She just gave it to you? No arguments?"  Ranma asked, amazed.

"Ranma-kun, she doesn't exactly WANT another girl to be in love with you,
but besides that she gave it to as part of our deal."

"OK, how much is this going to cost me."  Ranma asked.

"It's completely free, Ranma.  Kasumi, at least, deserves better than you."
Nabiki said, smiling as she walked out of the classroom.


			****************************

Later that evening, Kasumi was sitting on the back yard porch staring out 
at the pond.  Ranma walked up behind her and cleared his throat. Kasumi
turned around, smiled at him, at motioned for him to sit next to her. 
Hesitantly, Ranma walked up to her and sat down.  After a few moments, as
the two of them sat in silence, Ranma cleared his throat again and asked,
"So, are you feeling alright?  No side affects from the antidote?"

Kasumi smiled at Ranma and replied, "I feel fine Ranma-kun."

They sat in silence for a few more moments and then Kasumi spoke up.

"Ranma-kun?"

"Hai?"

"Arigato."

"For what, Kasumi?"  

"For not taking advantage of me...of the situation we were in."

"I would NEVER do anything like that to you Kasumi!"

"I know Ranma, I know... but my mother always said, 'A good man is still a
man.'"

"Heh.  So,  I guess we're not engaged anymore, huh?"  Ranma asked in a
joking manner.

Kasumi sighed, "No, I guess not."  She sounded almost regretful.

"I better get dinner ready."  She stood up and Ranma stood with her.  Kasumi
stared into his eyes for a few moments then leaned over and passionately kissed
him.  

"Kasumi???"  Ranma reeled back in shock.

Kasumi leaned forward towards him again and whispered, "I'm making all your
favorite meals tonight Ranma."  Then she started walking off into the kitchen.

"Kasumi!"  Ranma called to her, "You _are_ cured... aren't you?"

Kasumi just smiled mysteriously as she entered the kitchen.

***************
THE END
***************

WOW. I've never turned out a story in 24hrs before.  I have a LOT
of respect for you '1hr' guys....  I just could not do that.
This story came from an idea from Carol Hull and my mind just 
took off with it.  Actually, although its pretty short, it was 
a lot longer than I had expected.  

Kasumi is my favorite female character in Ranma 1/2.  I just 
love her.  So this story was easy to write.  I am thinking
of following up with a 'Lemon'  nothing too graphic, just
building up the sexual tension between Ranma and Kasumi until
it explodes into something...  Oh, let's see....

C&C is appreciated please send to anandr@earthlink.net.

P.S.  anyone interested in being a pre-reader for a Loddoss Wars
story?  It's no where near complete, only about 40k so far...