Well, here's the second part!

Enjoy some more!

***

Kasumi looked up from the table in surprise.

�Oh good, I�m glad you decided to join us Kodachi,� Kasumi said, placing a
pot of soup on the table.

Kodachi kneeled next to her brother and accepted the bowl of rice from
Tatewaki. She stopped. Looking up, she noticed that breakfast had stopped
and all eyes, except for Tatewaki, were on her.

�Is it not proper for me to join in breakfast once in a while?� She asked.

�You haven�t in the past, so they are unsure,� Tatewaki said.

Nodoka smiled and picked up the teapot to pour for Kodachi. Kodachi accepted
it, if somewhat surprised.

�Your brother is right about that,� Nodoka said, �But we�re all very glad
you joined us.�

The breakfast went along smoothly. Nabiki and Sukido went off to the local
gym to rehabilitate his leg. Kasumi and Nodoka cleaned up the meal and
Kasumi began to sweep off the patio.

�Tatewaki?� Kodachi asked of her brother, �Can we talk?�

�Spar with me,� He said, appraising his sister.

Kodachi sighed and reluctantly joined him in the dojo after changing.

Tatewaki bowed and brought his bokken to bear. Kodachi had brought her hoop,
which she thought would be best for blocking her brother's attacks, while
allowing her to speak to him. He began to attack and she defended. Kodachi
could immediately tell that her brother was not really thinking about what
he was doing. She even got in a few good hits, which focused him back to
reality.

�What is it you wished of me?� He asked.

Kodachi ducked low and swung the hoop close, which he blocked.

�I may have...emotion for Dr.Tofu,� She said, immediately regretting saying
it.

He stopped and stepped back. He looked down, somewhat confused. Kodachi
stood and walked to her brother.

�He...already...� Tatewaki stumbled over his words.

�I know,� Kodachi said, nodding, �And I don�t know what to do about it.�

�I really don�t see what the problem is,� Tatewaki said finally, �He can
date with you both.�

�I have a problem with two timing, brother dear,� Kodachi smirked.

�He doesn�t,� A voice said from the doorway.

�He never has,� Another voice said next to the first.

It was Sukido and Nabiki respectively. They had come from the gym

�Call it what you will but I never heard either of them complain too
 loudly,� Tatewaki said.

�No, they just knocked you out,� Nabiki said, helping Sukido to his seat.

Sukido looked as though the workout put him through some serious pain, but
then the old adage is about gain and pain and their relationships. Kodachi
smiled. She felt the workout the she performed yesterday and was going to
try to slow down some. It almost felt like she pulled something in her
abdomen.

�So what are you two discussing?� Sukido asked.

Tatewaki looked back at his sister who just shrugged. Nabiki wondered at
this but said nothing.

�She is...enamored of a certain gentleman,� Tatewaki said tentatively.

�Wonderful!� Sukido said, sitting up, �Who�s the lucky man?�

�He�s-�

�He�s someone I met at school,� Kodachi quickly cut off her brother.

Again they exchanged glances but Nabiki couldn�t read it.

�So he�s college educated?� Sukido asked.

�Oh, very much so-oof!� Tatewaki was cut short by a hoop to his middle.

Nabiki glanced back at Sukido, who just shrugged and turned back to his
siblings. Kodachi had her brother in a headlock and was enjoying watching
Tatewaki turn a lovely shade of red.

�It�s a wonder you haven�t tried capturing him yet,� Sukido said, looking up
at the ceiling.

An interesting thing happened then, that Sukido and Tatewaki would have both
seen, if they had bothered to look, or rather, if they could. Nabiki saw the
conflict roll across Kodachi�s face as she tried to decide what to do or
say. Finally she just dropped Tatewaki and pulled Sukido to his feet.

�What do you mean by that crack?� Kodachi shouted.

As Sukido stammered, Nabiki was caught in a wave of nostalgia that flowed
through her. Hearing the sounds of conflict and shouting reminded her so
much of the way Ranma and Akane never left the eardrums of those near them
silent. Nabiki also quickly stifled a short sob that was threatening to
release itself. She turned her head and noticed that Kasumi had wandered in
and was standing in the doorway. She smiled a knowing smile at her younger
sister and walked over to Nabiki. She began to say something, but stopped as
Sukido was thrown onto the bench as Kodachi stormed off. Kasumi rushed to
him to make sure his bandages were all still relatively intact. Tatewaki was
still out.

�I was just coming to see if you and Sukido had any preferences toward
dinner tonight,� Kasumi said, straightening the remainder of the bandages.

Sukido tried to mentally pull himself together and was not entirely
successful.

�I really hadn�t given it much thought actually,� Nabiki said, having
regained her composure.

Kasumi looked up at her and shook her head, sighing.

�Nabiki...If you are going to be a good wife for Sukido, then you have to
learn how to prepare and cook a decent meal. And no, the last time didn�t
count because Sukido did the cooking for you,� Kasumi explained, �Sukido,
can you make it around by yourself? Nabiki and I have to plan.�

�I think...I�ll make it up to bed and pass out again, thanks anyway. Just
come and get me when dinner is ready okay?� He asked.

�Of course,� Kasumi said, as she tilted her head and smiled.

***

�Why do you have to pick out the most complex dishes for a beginner to fix?�
Nabiki asked of her sister, looking through the pantry.

�They just look complex, really. Once you get the hang of it, its no big
deal,� Kasumi replied.

Nabiki just humphed and continued to rummage. There was a long pause, then
Nabiki could hear the big questions start to come out of her sister. Akane
used to be that way too, especially when asking for money.

�Nabiki. I think that it might do well for both of you if you take Kodachi
along to help.�

Nabiki stopped rummaging and turned to look at her sister. Kasumi looked
serious. But she couldn�t be, not about taking Kodachi...shopping?

�Don�t give me that look,� Kasumi said, the smile eerily disappearing from
her face.

Nabiki blushed and looked down. She hadn�t realized her cover had slipped so
badly. She silently cursed herself for letting something so basic slip. She
turned back to Kasumi, who still had a not-smiling-anymore face on.

�Onee-chan,� Nabiki began, not being able to look at her, �Kodachi may be a
part of this family, but she hasn�t made any effort to become part of the
family either. I think we shouldn�t try to force something like this on her,
especially since...well, the past between her and Ranma-�

�I already spoke with her about this and she agreed that the two of you
needed to talk.�

Nabiki�s cover slipped again as her heart dropped.

�You...what?�

�She talked to me about it Nabiki,� A voice said from the doorway.

�Yes, and this will do you both a world of good,� Kasumi said, the smile
returning to her face.

Nabiki just had to chew on it. Kasumi had outflanked her. Nabiki sighed and
slumped where she stood. She laughed slightly and looked back at her older
sister. The smile on Kasumi�s face wasn�t only warm, but also cunning.
Nabiki mouthed the words �I�ll get you for this� to her, to which Kasumi
just continued to smile and tilt her head.

***

Nabiki didn�t mind the market anymore. She wouldn�t ever spend as much time
down here as Kasumi, but she wasn�t averse to the kind of shopping she was
doing now. Nabiki looked down the line of baskets she was in front of and
shook her head. She wouldn�t mind shopping so long as it wasn�t with
Kodachi.

Nabiki had to amend her decision some. The prejudice that she felt against
Kodachi was because of the things she always did to try and get Ranma or to
try and either hurt or get Akane out of the way. Nabiki realized that she
might be jealous. This gave her slight pause.

Jealous? Why?

She knew why. Kodachi was doing the things that she always thought were too
underhanded, even for her. The pictures? Okay, so Nabiki could be just as
dirty sometimes, but those were pictures...They didn�t really hurt anyone.
But then, Kodachi tried that picture trick herself one time. Nabiki told
herself that she never tried to poison either Akane or Ranma. No answer to
that. Why would she? Because maybe she wasn�t jealous of Kodachi.
Then...who...?

The answer came to her slowly, as she looked over the endive.

�Miss? Are you all right?� The merchant in front of her asked.

Bringing herself around, she realized that a tear had escaped from her eye.
She cursed her slip again. She�d been doing that too much lately. Probably
Sukido�s fault. She�d have to �punish� him somehow when she got home. She
smiled as she wiped the tear from her eye and looked up at the merchant.

�No, thank you. How much?� She asked.

�450.�

�For how much?�

�One bundle.�

�A fair price. Sold,� Nabiki said, handing over the yen.

�Do we have everything we need?� Kodachi snapped from Nabiki�s right.

Nabiki pulled out her list and tried to ignore Kodachi�s attitude. She
nodded and both turned to leave.  The walk home was tense. Nabiki tried to
think of something neutral that she could discuss, but her knowledge of
small talk failed her.

�Can I ask you something?� Kodachi finally asked.

�S-Sure,� Nabiki said softly, out of shock.

�When you met my brother, Sukido, what was your first reaction?�

�Well, I first thought that, while he was very cute, the financial prospects
of tagging along with a Kuno are quite...intriguing,� Nabiki said, after
some thought.

�But there was no...?�

The middle Tendo daughter stopped and looked at the youngest Kuno sibling.
What was she getting at?

�Fireworks?� Kodachi finished quietly.

Nabiki burst into laughter.

�Kodachi, there usually isn�t fireworks between two people who are truly
compatible. They are usually too close in personality to know it. They end
up driving each other crazy,� Nabiki said, laughing.

Kodachi looked to the ground and blushed, which made Nabiki stop laughing.

�Wait a minute,� Nabiki began, �What are you asking? Have you found someone
THAT special? Is it that guy you and Tatewaki were talking about earlier?
What-�

�Yes, yes and yes!� Kodachi broke in, �Nabiki Tendo, what I need to talk
with you about have so far eluded both of my brothers. They are imbeciles in
their own ways. What can you give me in regards to...Oh, how can I say
 it...�

�Pointers?�

�Yes, pointers,� Kodachi said, smiling.

Nabiki raised an eyebrow at Kodachi. The smile seemed forced and was very
much in contrast to the nervousness that Nabiki knew she felt. Nabiki took a
breath and began.

�Okay. First off, have you ever liked anyone before...Aside from Ranma.�

�No.�

�Okay, next, who is it that you like now?� Nabiki asked.

�I can�t tell you.�

�Well, if you can�t tell me, then I can�t help,� Nabiki sat on the nearest
bench, �You see, I can get information about your new beau and help with any
little tidbit that might help.�

Kodachi shook her head.

�I can�t tell you because I want to do this by myself,� Kodachi said,
seating herself next to Nabiki, �You see, I haven�t been grieving in that
room above Ranma�s tomb. I have been thinking...And
considering...And-grieving. I�ve been thinking about all the things that I
had done wrong through the years to try and get Ranma. I�ve realized that I
can live like that anymore-�

Nabiki began to say something, but Kodachi put her hand on Nabiki�s
shoulder.

�Please, this is very hard for me, so let me finish,� Kodachi said, �I�ve
been considering moving on in my search for the perfect man, but I also
realized that my standards were set far too high because of Ranma. That�s my
own fault, but just when I thought about lowering myself, a man comes along
who quite literally swept me off my feet.�

A blush rose to her cheeks at the remembrance. Nabiki watched her with
fascination. She�d seen Ukyou like this over Ranma, but she�d never seen
anything like this in Kodachi. No one had, as far as she knew, except for
poor Sasuke perhaps.

�So, that�s why I can�t tell you who he is, because I don�t want to make the
same mistakes in moving too quickly for him,� Kodachi said, �Plus there�s
another problem.�

�There�s another woman.�

Kodachi blushed again and looked down.

�I seem to have that problem,� She stammered.

�Is he rich?� Nabiki asked.

Kodachi stopped and thought about it.

�No, I don�t think so. Not really.�

�Then it�s pretty simple,� Nabiki said, smiling the first genuine smile she
could record for Kodachi, �There�s an old adage that goes something like
�The quickest way to a man�s heart is through his stomach�. I�ve found that
actually, it�s through his pants.�

Kodachi looked wide eyed at the prospect that somewhat even shocked her.

�No, not that,� Nabiki said, waving a hand at her, �Well, not always like
that. What I mean is through his wallet. If he�s not rich, then there must
be something he needs. Normally, I wouldn�t give this advice as people
wouldn�t be able to follow up on it, but since you�re a Kuno, you can. Get
him what he needs. It�s the quickest way to get him to notice you. After
that, you�re on your own.�

Kodachi thought on this as they both got up and walked quietly back to the
house.

***

Kasumi awoke the next day and stretched in the morning sun. It always felt
wonderful this time of day. The world was beginning again and she was-

Kasumi stopped as she heard some clanging about downstairs. It was slowly
moving towards the kitchen area. The dojo was beyond, with Tofu-chan�s
clinic to the other side of that. It sounded like it was moving towards the
clinic. Then it stopped. Kasumi waited for it to start up again, but it
remained silent. How odd.

She gathered her unmentionables together and headed for the bathroom. The
water had the smooth, subtle warmth that was so prominent in the late summer
weather. Kasumi looked out the window as she settled into the hot bath. The
weather would quickly turn to the changing colors and crispness that
characterized the fall in Nerima. Kasumi loved the trees as they changed for
the varied greens of spring and summer, to the browns and reds and golds of
fall. It was always so pretty.

Kasumi turned in the bath and rested her head on her folded arms. Ranma had
been...gone for about four months now. Since early June. She wanted to feel
bad for Akane for her loss, but Kasumi was embarrassed and ashamed that the
only thoughts that came about were for herself. When she first met Ranma,
the only things she had been interested in were taking care of the family
and Ranma and his father were nothing more than a joyous, but added burden.
They were more than welcome, especially with Akane engaged to Ranma, but it
was hard enough for the family as it was.

She got to know Ranma. She got to know Genma. She learned to not like Genma
for his actions. He was a good man, of sorts. And he meant well. But the
road to someplace very, very bad is paved with good intentions. And Genma
seemed to be a road worker. Ranma, on the other hand, seemed to be very much
a creature of fate. Nearly everything that had ever happened to him was
either caused by fate or Genma. So Kasumi could never fault him for that.
Ranma truly tried, but he lacked the social graces that would have been
taught to him by his mother. Being so long on the road did nothing for
this...Kasumi sighed and rose from the bath. Time to get the day started.

***

�Kasumi?� Tofu said from the doorway of the kitchen.

Kasumi jumped as she had not heard him. Not many people could hear him when
he didn�t want to be heard. Even Ranma.

�Sorry, didn�t mean to startle you, but did you move a pair of permanent
beds into my clinic last night?� He asked.

Kasumi placed the spoon back into the soup and shook her head.

�Hmm, that�s truly odd,� He continued, �Someone did. I�m not complaining,
they�re both extremely nice and must have cost a lot of money. I just want
to thank whoever it was.�

�I�m sorry Tofu-chan, I don�t know,� Kasumi said.

She noticed the blush begin to rise on him at the use of the familiar.
Kasumi smiled. He was even cuter when it happened.

�I-I�ll go ask the others,� Tofu stammered, as he left.

***

Kasumi walked into Tofu�s office with a tray for his afternoon tea. Her
father was there as well, she was glad that she thought to bring extra cups.

�Oh, Kasumi, come in and listen to this. It�s wonderful news,� Soun said.

�Yes Kasumi. I found out who brought these beds in here. Apparently, it was
Kodachi. She came by a little after the office opened and told me, she wants
me to help her with her biology homework,� He said.

�Oh my,� Kasumi said, overcome by all this, �But why would she-?�

�I wondered that myself. She said that since we were all family, she�d try
and help any way she could. She also asked me if there were anything else I
might want, so I gave her a small list of herbs. She should be back anytime
now,� Tofu said.

�Yes, it certainly is a turnaround for the best. Perhaps this is a good
omen,� Soun said.

Kodachi landed in the yard beyond the clinic a moment later.

�Ah, you�re back. Were you able to find everything?� Tofu asked.

�Hai, Tofu-sam...Uh, Tofu-san,� Kodachi said.

�I certainly hope this means that you�ll be at dinner again tonight
 Kodachi,� Kasumi said.

Kodachi looked at the eldest Tendo daughter as if she�d suddenly grown horns
and started to prance around. She recovered herself and waved Kasumi off.

�No, I need to train...And I was hoping that Tofu-san could join me,� She
said.

�No thank you Kodachi, it was kind of you to ask though,� Tofu said, taking
some herbs containers down and beginning to work on his table.

Kodachi slumped her shoulders and walked back out towards the course. Kasumi
looked around. Soun had left, probably to get ready for dinner. Tofu-chan
was working on his herbs, which he probably would work on for the rest of
the night. Kodachi looked so sad. Perhaps it was because of the boyfriend
that Nabiki was telling her about earlier.

Kasumi realized that Kodachi really didn�t have much in the way of social sk
ills either and perhaps that is the reason she identified with Ranma the way
she did. They were two sides of some coin. And idea flashed quickly through
her head, not stopping for directions on the way out again. Kasumi walked
into the yard after Kodachi.

�Kodachi, can we talk?� Kasumi asked.

�About?� The gymnast said, not taking her eyes from the sunset.

Kasumi looked at the sunset. It was one that reminded her why she chose to
stay in Nerima rather than follow her longing to go to college and finish
her education.

�When you want to follow your heart, you sometimes have to look at how that
will affect the ones you love,� Kasumi began.

Kodachi turned to her, a disdainful look on her face. Kasumi continued,
oblivious.

�I know now that you really want to be an active member of this family, and
that�s good, I�m glad. But you have to remember that you have to take it
slowly in all that you do,� Kasumi said.

�But if you love someone, shouldn�t you try and get their attention quickly,
then work on them afterwards?� Kodachi ventured.

Kasumi laughed slightly.

�You sound like you�ve been talking with Nabiki. Let me just remind you that
for the longest time, she didn�t even have a boyfriend. Just be nice to him.
He�ll see how lovely you can be and he�ll want you to be that nice to him,
so the attention will come on it�s own,� Kasumi said, clueless.

Kodachi realized, slowly, that Kasumi had no idea who Kodachi was talking
about. Time to push a little.

�What if the man has another woman?� Kodachi asked, cautiously.

Kasumi thought on this a while, then turned to her.

�Do you love him?�

�Yes, I think so,� Kodachi answered.

�Does he love you?�

�Well,� Kodachi thought before she answered, �I know that, at least, he
cares.�

�Then the kindness you show should outshine whatever the other woman can
provide,� Kasumi said, resolutely.

A smile slowly spread across Kodachi�s face. This might work. She looked
back up to Kasumi, who just tilted her head and smiled. She still had no clu
e.

�Thank you Kasumi, thank you,� Kodachi said, springing off to the roof.

�Strange girl,� Kasumi said, looking after.

***

Tofu adjusted his glasses and tried not to look too surprised. He had come
to the dojo that day so he could run the course early and perhaps be able to
get in a few items that he needed to catalogue. Things didn�t look like they
were going to get done at this rate.

Kodachi looked back at him and smiled an unusually warm smile. Tofu smiled
back uneasily. It was almost spooky. She set his tea down and walked briskly
back into the kitchen.

At this time of morning, the sun showing through the doorway glittered off
the water in the pond. Tofu lost himself, trying not to think about
the...well, about Kodachi, in the other room. He remembered the first time
he saw Kasumi. He remembered the first time he saw Kasumi as more than just
a friend. He never thought, even for an instant, that he�d ever actually
have a chance to marry her. He was only a few years older than he, but he
had gone into practice in Nerima for no more of a reason than he liked the
atmosphere. Kasumi only made his decision to stay that much better.

There was a noise in the kitchen that brought his attention back around.
Kodachi was fixing breakfast.

She had very nearly met him at the door to his office that morning. He tried
to beg off her cooking, having remembered the times he helped Ranma recover
from the poisons, but she insisted. Almost as if she knew what he was
thinking, she promised to make it without the poisons. He had to relent.

A line of sweat formed suddenly on his forehead, though the morning was
slightly breezy and cool. He wondered silently what Kodachi was up to, but
scolded himself immediately for doubting her. He knew that she sat all day
in her room in the house, doing nothing but staring at Ranma�s tomb, crying.
She had great pain that Tofu wished she would somehow release. He would even
spar with her if that would make her feel better. He doubted it would.

�Oh, Doctor Tofu,� Kasumi chimed from behind him, �Good morning.�

Tofu turned.

And his glasses promptly fogged over. He shook his head and removed his
glasses for cleaning. It was Kasumi. She smiled and tilted her head. Taking
a seat next to Tofu, she smoothed the folds in her dress and noticed that
someone had already fixed his tea. Her brow ruffled ever so slightly at
this, but quickly smoothed again as Tofu put his glasses back on.

�Kasumi. You look lovely this morning-� Tofu began.

�Uh, I don�t mean to pry, but who�s in the kitchen?� Kasumi asked.

�Kodachi.�

Kasumi almost put a hand to her mouth in surprise at that point. Realizing
how that would look, she kept herself under control and just breathed in
sharply.

�It�s okay Kasumi, she promised not to use any poisons in the dishes.�

�Perhaps I can help?� Kasumi asked.

�Not necessary Kasumi-san. I�ve got everything under control,� Kodachi said,
walking into the room with a tray.

She placed the tray in front of Tofu and sat herself down to his right and
waited. To her credit, Tofu thought that it looked quite good, though
noodles weren�t his usual morning fare. He brought the noodles to his mouth
and chewed.

Kasumi watched him carefully. She had read enough about poison to know some
of the signs. He seemed to enjoy it. Tofu finished and looked back down into
his bowl. A look of confusion passed over his face.

�It�s...good.�

Kodachi smiled and raced back into the kitchen. She began to bring multiple
bowls out and began to set the table for the morning meal. Kasumi made her
way into the kitchen, but Kodachi shooed her out, proclaiming that she had
it covered. Kasumi resumed her seat next to Tofu, who was still looking into
his bowl. Kasumi blushed slightly. She didn�t know any other way to put it.
She felt naked without her apron.

The family made it�s way down. First Soun, who didn�t know whether he could
trust Kodachi�s cooking any more than his youngest daughter�s. Then Nodoka,
who had a concerned look, but seemed to set it aside. Finally Tatewaki. At
the sight of his sister preparing breakfast, Tatewaki excused himself and
began to leave the table. Kasumi jumped at the snapping sound as a ribbon
whipped out from the kitchen and wrapped itself around Tatewaki�s neck,
dragging him back to the table. Kodachi laughed softly and gently scolded
her brother for trying to leave without breakfast. Tatewaki was visibly
nervous on his sister�s apparent change in attitude.

***

Lunch was equally good, the nap that Soun let himself take wasn�t drug
induced was proof of that. At least, after Nabiki put a mirror under his
nose.

Kodachi was pleased with her work, but beginning to wonder if it had any
effect. After she cleaned the dishes, she moved on the sweep the floor and
lost herself in her thoughts.

What if this didn�t work? What would she do then? She didn�t know. Making
things that didn�t cause paralysis or pain were new to her. She had to
actually make sure that the ingredients were correct and fresh. She had to
make sure they were prepared correctly. These type of things had never
bothered her before. They took time and effort. If it didn�t work, what
would the effort be for? So what if something wasn�t cooked properly? So
long as it knocked the intended victim out...Then what�s the problem? She
couldn�t do that now.

Ichi-ni-Ichi-ni. Back and forth. Back and forth. The strokes of the broom
kept stiff time in her mind.

She had tried bribes and presents. She had tried kindness. She couldn�t try
fighting. It hadn�t worked with Ranma, there�s no reason it would work with
Tofu. She stopped sweeping and thought for a moment. Not with Tofu...but
maybe...

Nah.

Ichi-ni-Ichi-ni. Back and forth. Back and forth.

Maybe she just had to work at this a little longer. She smiled slightly.
Perhaps that was it...But he still stayed, for the most part, around Kasumi.
Her smile vanished and the darkness crept forward again. Kodachi shook her
head. She wasn�t going to cry, not now.

Ichi-ni-Ich-

�At least it wasn�t poisoned.�

That brought Kodachi up short. Poison? It sounded like Tatewaki.

Kodachi came back to herself and found that she had swept her way down the
hall to the dojo. She could tell that her brother was in the dojo sparring
with Tofu. Neither seemed to notice that she was there, so she stopped
sweeping and set herself against the near wall, trying to keep to the
shadows. She cursed herself silently for not keeping up on her training. In
her prime, she could have walked into the dojo and not have been noticed.

Tatewaki swung his bokken in an arc and brought it down, missing Tofu as he
shifted his weight.

�C�mon Kuno-san, even you have to admit that breakfast was pretty good,�
Tofu said.

Kodachi felt the blood rush to her cheeks. Tofu had liked her food. He
thought it was good. It had an effect all ready. Kodachi calmed herself and
listened more.

Tatewaki seemed to chew on what Tofu had said a bit.

�Yes, that I will admit that breakfast was good.�

Kodachi held her breath. Tatewaki? Her own brother liked her food?

�I prefer Tendo Kasumi�s food better, though.�

The bottom fell out. She would have to deal with her DEAR brother later.

�Well, she�s just not used to being nice. Give her a chance, maybe even she�
ll take over some of Kasumi�s work. Kasumi does do everything you know,�
Tofu said, continuing to avoid the attack.

***

Her fingers tightened around the broom. A small tear rolled down her cheek.

So, Tofu only thinks that I am trying to be like Kasumi...

Aren�t you?

Kodachi shook her head. She would not let the voices come back. They had
left her alone since she had gone away to college and she was thankful for
it.

Well? Aren�t you just trying to be Kasumi?

No. I am myself and...and...

�Kodachi?� A soft voice said behind her.

She jumped slightly, but didn�t turn around.

�Yes?�

�Are you all right? I thought-� Nodoka began.

�I�m sorry, Saotome-san, I�ll finish up here.� Kodachi said, returning to
her broom.

Nodoka placed a hand on her shoulder and gently turned the girl around.

�I would like to get a cup of coffee,� The elder Saotome said gently, �And I
think you do too.�

Kodachi began to beg off, but her heart wasn�t in it. She lowered her eyes
and nodded slightly.

�Good.�

***

�There you go, ma�am,� The young girl said brightly.

Kodachi thought she looked too cute for her own good. Someone she would have
probably attacked earlier. The other her. The her that changed after Ranma
died.

Did you REALLY change?

Shut up.

This girl was odd not for the way she looked, but for the fact that she
acted like a cat. Good thing Ranma wasn�t here. She drooped into her seat
more. He wouldn�t be anywhere now.

But you said he was still alive...

Kodachi lifted a hand to her temple and mentally dispelled the voices. She
would not deal with them in her everyday life, she would not let them come
back to deal with now.

The red-haired cat girl bowed and bounded off to the kitchen.

�I like this place,� Nodoka said, sipping her coffee, �It reminds me of
home.�

Kodachi looked questioningly, but let it drop. She lifted to cup to her lips
and blew the steam from the hot liquid. It was good coffee. She knew that
Nodoka had brought her out for a specific reason. She also probably knew
about her activities towards Tofu.

�You seem tense,� Nodoka said, folding her hands in front of her, �I don�t
mean to pry, but is there something you�d like to talk about?�

Kodachi remained silent. Nodoka put her cup down and added some sugar from
the dispenser on the table.

�I know that you�ve been trying to change yourself in the past few days.
While I encourage change, I wonder what your motives are,� Nodoka continued,
�Are you doing this for a...relationship?�

She was done. Kodachi knew that Nodoka had figured out the whole mess. She
couldn�t hide it anymore. Tears began to well in her eyes as the heartache
spread from under her frilly apron. She wiped a tear that had escaped. She
also silently cursed herself for the lack of control. Maybe being around her
college friends had changed her more than she thought...She felt a gentle
hand placed on her arm. It was Nodoka, smiling in a motherly way that
Kodachi felt like she�d never seen before.

�It�s all right dear,� Nodoka said softly, �You can tell me about it. Who�s
the lucky man?�

What?!?!

�Huh?� Was all that Kodachi could spill out.

�Well-I assumed it was a man. I�m sorry if-�

�No. It�s okay. Yes, it is a man,� Kodachi quickly said, �Yes and I don�t
know what to do.�

�Oh good. I hoped it was something this simple.�

What a break! Talk about simple. She didn�t have a clue! Kodachi wiped her
eyes and gathered her shattered thoughts back together. Nodoka had no clue
that it was Tofu that she was after. Kodachi formed a quick plan to poke at
the ideas that Nodoka might have on the subject. It hadn�t worked with
Nabiki or that meddling and oh-so-dense Kasumi, but Nodoka had been married
for twenty plus years now and might have a different view.

�You would love him,� Kodachi began, �He�s kind and gentle and strong.
College educated. But also shy and that�s what is bothering me. Because of
the problems I had with Ranma, I don�t want to make the same mistake again
with him.�

Nodoka nodded, satisfied in the thought that the conversation was actually
helping Kodachi.

�I was trying different things that I thought would perhaps be of interest
to him,� Kodachi continued cautiously, �I just try so hard, but it doesn�t
seemed to have worked.�

Nodoka shook her head and seemed to set herself.

�I do believe that is the reason that none of these things worked,� Nodoka
smiled at her reaction, �I know it sounds odd, but hear me out. Have you
tried being yourself? I can tell from your expression that you want to say
yes, but then you have doubts about that. Let me tell you a little story.�

�Long ago, really when I was your age, a young man came to my town by the
name of Genma. He was a smooth talker and something of a scoundrel, but I
could also see that something bothered him, like the weight of the world
suddenly hoist on his shoulders,� Nodoka said, �I didn�t know until much
later that it was the fact that it was the day after he and Soun buried
Happosai alive.�

Kodachi was confused at this point as she had seen the old pervert alive not
three days ago. Nodoka read the confusion and answered her.

�They didn�t really bury him. It was more like they stuffed him in a cave
and shoved a boulder in front of the entrance,� Nodoka said, �Anyway, I
shortly began to fall in love with Genma. My family was not wealthy, not by
any stretch of the imagination, but we were well off. I could only see the
future that was offered by Genma. I couldn�t even begin to see what was
ahead. My father, though, saw through Genma like rice paper.�

�He thought that Genma was only interested in my families money, so he made
a challenge. Genma would go and train until my nineteenth birthday, when he
would return and challenge a representative of my family in combat. If Genma
wins, then I would get to marry him and we would inherit my families� money.
If the champion would win, then Genma would move on and forget about my
family.�

�Genma won?!� Kodachi exclaimed, amazed.

�Oh don�t sound so surprised Kodachi. I was the champion of my family,�
Nodoka laughed lightly.

�I didn�t realize you were a martial artist,� Kodachi said, gaining
something like respect for the elder Saotome.

If his mother and father were both martial artists, then the chances that
Ranma grew up the way he did heightened greatly.

�Well, not a great one, like Genma or Ranma,� Nodoka said modestly, �Or even
a good one, like Kasumi. No, I was trained from my eighteenth to nineteenth
birthday to use the katana well enough to scare him off. Needless to say,
once he got into the fight, it was easy enough for him to disarm me and
win...Not that I minded much.�

Kasumi? A good martial artist? Since when?

�Why were you the champion then, rather than someone else?� Kodachi asked.

Nodoka smiled and sipped more of her coffee.

�I wanted to make him love me like I loved him. The way I thought to do this
was to defeat him in battle. The more I trained, the more I realized that I
couldn�t beat him without many years training,� Nodoka continued, �But by
then it was too late. I couldn�t give up or else he would win by default. I
hadn�t realized that, just by trying to defeat him, I had captured his
heart. Oh no Kodachi, I�m sorry, I can�t explain it better than that, it�s
not much more than an emotion.�

�Is that when you two got married?�

�Yes,� Nodoka sighed, �The whole battle ran to almost sunset of that day.
Both of us were exhausted, but happy. Well, perhaps I shouldn�t refer to it
as a battle since it was little more than he taking about ten minutes to
disarm me then ten hours trying to find me.�

� �The Saotome Final Attack�?�

Nodoka giggled slightly.

�It really worked,� Nodoka laughed, �It was finally when I fell out of a
tree on top of him that he was able to catch me. We had a good laugh over
it.�

�I�m sorry Nodoka, but I still don�t-�

�Be yourself.� Nodoka said.

Kodachi waited for the rest.

�That�s it?�

�That�s it.�

�I tried that with Ranma and look where-�

�I have to ask you something,� Nodoka asked, leaning forward, �If you tried
being yourself, then did he really like you for who you were? Be yourself
and if he likes you for who you are, then nothing you change will ever be
better.�

Kodachi sat back in her seat and thought for a moment on this. Did Ranma
ever like her for who she was?

Did Ranma ever like you?

She swallowed a drink of coffee and shook her head slightly. Nodoka took it
that Kodachi still had doubts.

�Kodachi, if you change something in yourself, yes you may change some of
your bad qualities to something he likes. But in the process, you�ll
invariably destroy some qualities that he does like,� Nodoka said softly.

Kodachi looked up at this.

Of course.

It was so easy...All she had to do was-

�Be myself...�

***

�But did she really take it to heart?� Nabiki asked.

Nodoka just shrugged her shoulders. She had no better clue than when she
asked Tatewaki about it. He simply shook his head and sighed, without
answering.

�Where is Kodachi, this morning?� Kasumi asked from the other end of the
table.

�Here, Tendo Kasumi. As soon as breakfast is over, would you all please
gather in the dojo. I have something to say to all of you,� Kodachi said
from the doorway.

Everyone nodded in turn. Before Nodoka could ask her what it was about,
Kodachi turned quickly and left.

***

Kodachi had, quite literally, gathered everyone together. Nodoka looked
around the dojo. Soun looked like he was going to cry. Tofu and Kasumi were
there to help him in case he did. Nabiki was talking into her new cell
phone. Sukido was seated to her left and Tatewaki was conversing with him
quietly.

�Ahem.� Kodachi cleared her throat to the dojo ahead of them.

The general reaction was a sharp breath on seeing her. She was dressed in a
black velvet leotard that had a gold stripe woven across her lower abdomen,
stretching around her. She was idlely twirling a red ribbon and had a
dangerous, but familiar look on her face. Nabiki had not noticed her.
Kodachi changed this by whipping her ribbon forward and wrapping it around
the phone.

The phone flew from Nabiki�s hand to Kodachi�s in one fluid motion. She
gently placed the phone to her ear.

�She�ll call you back,� Kodachi told the person on the other line.

Kodachi hung up the phone, folded the cover over and flipped it back at
Nabiki, who gave her a very cold stare.

�Now that I have your undivided attention,� Kodachi began, �Something has
come to my attention. I am getting no younger and my efforts for
companionship have been less than...successful. This I need to change for
the future.�

She stopped twirling her ribbon and bowed her head. A strange silence blew
through the dojo. Kodachi held a hand to her face. Wet? Tears. She laughed
slightly to herself.

�I have held my emotions in check for too long,� Kodachi said, not looking
up from her hand.

She brought her head up sharply and looked to Tofu.

�Tofu-san. I love you. But I know that you have a...problem keeping you from
fulfilling your dreams. I am here to relieve you of that problem,� Kodachi
said coldly.

�Kodachi,� Tofu thought he might be able to diffuse the situation, �If you
need to fight me to release some of your frustration, then I�ll fight-�

�No. Tofu-san, I am here to challenge the one obstacle between myself and
your love...�

My God, Nodoka thought, She couldn�t mean-

�I am here for you Tendo Kasumi.�

***

(Ending music begins)

(End credits fade in)

�Can�t Stop Me�
                                                                    Ending
Theme for
                                                                    With
Wings to Carry Them
You left me on that day,
Gone but not forgotten,
Nothing but for me to say,
I love you...

Now I search the land,
For the parts of your soul,
To once again have your hand,
To be mine forever!

Can�t Stop Me
 (Can�t stop me in this fight)
Just Can�t Stop Me
 (Can�t stop when I know I�m right)
No Can�t Stop Me
 (Can�t stop this love tonight)
(Single voice): You can�t stop me.

You know I won�t give up on you,
Until you�re whole again,
To the end I�ll see this through,
For my love for you.

Can�t Stop Me
 (Can�t stop me in this fight)
Just Can�t Stop Me
 (Can�t stop when I know I�m right)
No Can�t Stop Me
 (Can�t stop this love tonight)
Can�t Stop Me
 (Can�t stop me in this fight)
Just Can�t Stop Me
 (Can�t stop when I know I�m right)
No Can�t Stop Me
 (Can�t stop this love tonight)
(Single voice): You can�t stop me.

(Music ends)

(End credits fade)

***

Joshua �Gargoyle� Trujillo
�Stone Cold Protector of the Righteous�
�Owner of The Anime Bar and Grille - New and Delicious�

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