The characters of Ranma 1/2 Universe is the sole creation of Rumiko Takahashi
and various companies.  I am using them without prior permission from the
creator.  Hopefully I will not be sued.

Special thanks to Octavian for helping this poor story teller with his
grammar.

Ranma 1/2 : Kasumi's Wish Chapter Four
Created by Long Ngo
Started March 28, 1998
Finished April 5, 1998 
Http://members.aol.com/ShortYes/FanficHomepage.com

Chapter Four

         The silence of the night was broken by a shout emanating close by.
Suddenly a red-headed young girl with a pigtail slid into view from around the
corner followed by a large panda.  The encounter between girl and panda
attracted a crowd of viewers.  Rumors soon started flying around as to who
these two were, why the panda was picking on the young lady......  A few young
men even thought about helping the cute redhead.  That was until the panda
ripped a sign from the ground, bashed the young girl and carried her off.

Tendou Residence

         "Do you think Kasumi is all right Nabiki?" A worried expression could
be seen on Akane's face.

          "I'm not sure Akane." Nabiki was also worried.  "Ever since she
heard father's announcement, I've noticed that Kasumi has been acting
strangely," Nabiki replied.  *Could it be that Kasumi wants this engagement?
How does she know this boy?  Hmmm, If this is true then I think Kasumi was
blushing* Nabiki smiled inward.  She just had to find out if it was true or
not. 

          Akane could not understand it, one moment Nabiki was really worried
then the next she seems to be a little more relaxed and had that predatorial
look on her face like she was planning something.  "Nabiki, what is it?  Is
Kasumi going to be all right?" 

          "I'm not sure yet but I think so." Nabiki smiled for a second.

          As for Soun, he was just looking at the kitchen door.  Unaware of
the conversation between his two daughters, he had lost all his prior
excitement on meeting his best friend and was lost in worry for his eldest
daughter.  Of all his daughters, Kasumi would be the one he would miss the
most, if he ever lost her.  She reminded him of a time when laughter could be
heard from the backyard.  A time when the Tendous were truly a family.  A time
which seems so long ago.  A time when his loving wife was still breathing and
enjoying life.  Kasumi reminded him of Kimiko.  Kasumi was everything his wife
used to be and more so.  To Soun, when Kimiko died, the Kasumi that he knew
also died that day.  Gone was the carefree child who would laugh and play
games with her sisters, now there was only a motherly figure.  All too often,
Soun would be depressed at how things turned out in life.  He would hide
himself behind a newspaper in hopes that all the problems of the outside world
would help cover up the problems he had at home.  They were not physical
problems or financial ones, but emotional ones.  The ones that seem so hard to
remedy.

          All three Tendous were suddenly interrupted from their deep thoughts
by a loud commotion at the entrance to their home.  Nabiki, remembering the
postcard and the supposed arrival of Tousan's friend and his son, shot to her
feet and ran to the door.  Seconds later, Soun and Akane could see Nabiki
running back through the hall with a look of fright upon her face.  Following
the fleeing Tendou was a large panda carrying an uncooperative passenger upon
its shoulder.  Upon facing the Tendous the huge panda deposited its struggling
luggage.

          Looking at their new guest, Nabiki could not figure out if the red-
haired stranger was a he or a she.  Looking at Soun, "Are these friends of
yours Tousan?" Nabiki asked.

          Turning his attention away from the huge panda, Soun unable to say
anything due to the shock of the unexpected arrival of their two guests, could
only shake his head vigorously. 

          After a few moments their guest stepped forward, "I'm Saotome Ranma,
sorry about this."

          *So this is Ranma,* Nabiki thought.  "He is cute," she exclaimed.
*Might this be the boy Kasumi is interested in.  She has some good taste.  I
didn't know you had it in you sis.* Nabiki thought.

           The tension, broken by Ranma's statement, shook Soun out of his
daze as he gave Ranma a joyous hug.  Now after so long, the Saotome and Tendou
clan would soon be united.  Into the hug, a part of Soun's subconscious was
starting to tell him something was amiss.  As Soun's mind tried to contemplate
this train of thought, while hugging Ranma, he felt two foreign pieces of
anatomy a man should not have pressing against his chest.  Finally, reality
hit him.  Soun was hugging a young girl and not a young man.  Disengaging him
quickly, Soun again went into a state of shock.

           "What a disappointment.  What were you thinking Tousan?  Does this
look like something a man would have?" Nabiki, all the while poking Ranma's
ample chest.  *Was I wrong?  This can't be the boy that Kasumi was blushing
over.  Does this mean that Kasumi is a les.. No!!  I will not accept this.
Something is wrong with this situation.*  Nabiki's mind was in hyperdrive
trying to figure out what was going on.    

           Soun couldn't handle being in shock twice on the same day shook his
head before fainting.  

           "Would you please stop that?" Ranma asked Nabiki through clenched
teeth.  He was so embarrassed.  First, he was dragged to the Tendous kicking
and screaming like a child.  Then to top it off, their first impression of him
was of a girl and not a guy.  Finally, Mr. Tendou had to faint right in front
of him and a girl poking his chest.  *Could the day get any worse?* Ranma
thought to himself.

             *Ranma is here.* Kasumi smiled and started coming out of the
kitchen.  Suddenly she heard a thump sound.  She had forgotten about Otousan
fainting.

           Nabiki was thinking too deeply to have noticed Ranma's request.
Every few seconds, Nabiki absentmindedly squeezed one of Ranma's breast.
Something was missing but Nabiki did not know what.  *Arggggg!!!!* Nabiki
racked her brain for a plausible answer.  This did not make any sense and the
only one that did was absurd.

           Ranma noticed the new girl that had just entered the hallway and
could not help but notice the air of calmness that surrounded her.  She had
long brown hair and looked great wearing a light blue casual dress.  What
surprised him was that, she was heading his way with a kettle in one hand and
a towel in the other.  She was the only one that did not show any kind of
negative expression toward him since he arrived, although he just met her.
Suddenly Ranma was as shocked as Soun when this strange girl poured the
content of the kettle on him.  He felt the change take place.  He grew taller
and the clothing that was loose before now fitted him perfectly.  *How did
this girl know about his curse?* every fiber of Ranma's mind shouted at him.
All he could do was stare at her with his mouth hanging.  What was more
surprising, though Ranma could not see it, was Genma's expression.  It was the
look of a deer caught in the headlight of an oncoming car.  "How...how..how
did you know about my curse?" Ranma stuttered.

            Kasumi hated lying and knew that they would not believe her even
if she told them the truth so she avoided the question.  "Oh my, Otousan
fainted!!"  Inward Kasumi was smiling to herself.  To everyone, she was acting
like the same old Kasumi they knew but deep down, she had changed.  Ever since
the kiss on New Years Eve, she realized what she was missing out on life and
could not bear to return to just being the Kasumi of before.  Hopefully she
could change that.  She wanted a happier life, a life where her smiles came
from her heart and her laughs were one of joy.  Looking down at her father,
Kasumi smiled.  Since Ranma entered their lives, Otousan had not been the
same.  The depression that had gripped his very being since Okaasan died had
slowly vanished.  Throughout all the fiancee problems, kidnapping and rivals,
those had been one of the happiest times the Tendous had experienced.  Looking
down at Soun, Kasumi was glad Ranma had entered their lives.  Maybe this time,
she could repay Ranma for his deeds which he had yet to accomplish and make
him happy.

          Nabiki had face faulted at the transformation.  *Curse?  What curse?
Where was the red head girl?  Where did this boy come from?*  These thoughts
were whirling around Nabiki's mind as she went into shock.  The day had not
been going well for her.  To top it off where once she was holding a very
ample breast, now was replaced by a muscular chest of a very handsome man.
Like Soun, Nabiki could not handle the shock and fainted as well.

To be continued