PM Productions Presents
A Phillip Masters Fanfic
Another Life 
Chapter 6

     Ranma found himself looking at trees, shrubs, houses, his feet, and
anything else that wasn't Kasumi.  He was worried if he saw her again he
wouldn't be able to keep from staring for the rest of the date.  It
would probably be considered complimentary, but he didn't want to come
across as some mindless zombie.  "So... where do you want to go?" he
asked finally, after they had been walking for about ten minutes
aimlessly.
     "I thought we had agreed on the park?" Kasumi replied, her voice
sounding soft and unsure.  She was having her doubts, as Ranma seemed to
not want to look at her.  It had taken her two hours to finally settle
on the dress she wore, and spent a half hour on her hair.  The way he
had reacted to her at the door at pleased her, but now he just avoided
her entirely.  
     "Oh, yeah," Ranma returned, feeling sheepish that he had forgotten.
He looked down at his feet again, and noticed Kasumi's farther away than
he thought.  He quickly stepped over closer to her, not wanting her to
think he was avoiding her.  His hand, carried by his momentum, briefly
brushed her hand.  Goosebumps raised on his skin and he marveled at how
soft even the slight contact had been.  
     Kasumi found herself blushing at the touch.  She had never been
this close to a man before, and to be engaged to him as well... it was
both unnerving and exciting at the same time.  In a sudden moment of
uncharacteristic boldness, she reached out and took Ranma's hand.  
     Ranma nearly whipped his arm back when he felt Kasumi's hand grasp
his own.  However, he quelled the response and applied a small amount of
pressure in return to hers.  He could feel his heart in his chest, and a
pain... something he couldn't explain.  He had never been this close to
a woman before, not in a romantic context.  People didn't fall in love
at first sight, did they?  
     A small jolt of electricity shot through Kasumi's chest as she felt
Ranma's hand respond to hers.  His was so powerful, and yet, at the same
time, so gentle.  She felt light-headed, as if she could pass out at the
drop of a hat.  She narrowly avoided running her right arm into a
mailbox, moving at the last minute to her left.  While this shook her
back into reality, it also brought the realization that she was right up
against Ranma.  She could feel the heat coming from him, comforting,
even in the late Spring weather.  
     Ranma could feel the sweat beading on his forehead as his arm
wrapped slightly around Kasumi's.  He had been about to pull her away
form the approaching mailbox, but she had taken it upon herself to move
out of its way, bringing her right up against him.  He found the
closeness... enticing.
     "Kasumi!"
     The couple turned their heads toward the cry.  Across the street on
their left was standing a young man in a gi.  He was wearing glasses and
an incredibly shocked expression.
     A hand went to Kasumi's mouth, and she whispered, "Oh, my."
     Ranma's brow furrowed.  "Who is that, Kasumi?"
     Kasumi looked at Ranma, her face going through emotions he couldn't
decifer.  "He's Dr. Tofu, our family's physician."
     Dr. Tofu, for his part, was crossing the street.  His eyes were
glued soley on Kasumi though, so his trip was rather unsettling to the
two observers.  Not to mention to the four drivers who just barely
missed him.  When he finally made it to their side of the street he gave
Ranma a look that spoke volumes.  Volumes such as The Divine Comedy and
Dante's Inferno.  "So, who is this, Kasumi?" he asked, still glaring at
Ranma.
     Kasumi didn't answer for a moment, then said, "Hello, Dr. Tofu.
This is Saotome Ranma, my... fiancee."
     Ranma didn't miss the look he was getting, or the pause in Kasumi's
introduction.  He also didn't miss the fist that suddenly laid him down
on the sidewalk.  As he came up to his knees, rubbing his cheek, he
yelled, "What in the hell was that for?!"
     Kasumi looked shocked, and Dr. Tofu didn't look much different.  He
stared down at his hand as though it were an alien creature.  "I... I
don't know," he stuttered.  Taking a look at Kasumi, he quickly averted
his gaze and ran off down the sidewalk.
     Kasumi watched as he ran off, then down at Ranma.  She extended a
hand to him, which he ignored as he stood up.  "Are you okay?" she
asked, concern marring her pretty features.
     Ranma nodded quickly while brushing himself off.  "It wasn't that
hard a punch, just took me by surprise is all."  
     "It knocked you off your feet!" Kasumi protested.  She gingerly
placed a hand on his cheek, already feeling it swelling slightly.  
     At first Ranma wanted to pull his face away from her touch, but
found it too comforting.  "He loves you, doesn't he?" Ranma questioned
after a moment of silence.  At Kasumi's nod he asked, "And do you love
him?"
     This seemed to bring her up short.  She looked into his eyes, and
her heart skipped a beat.  "I thought I did... once.  Now, I don't think
so anymore."  Her reply was hesitant, as if she were thinking out every
word carefully.
     "Why don't you anymore?"  Ranma found himself both elated and
worried by the answer.  He wasn't sure he wanted her to dislike Dr. Tofu
simply because of the punch.
     Kasumi pondered the question for a moment.  She found herself
unable to just say the truth as to why she didn't love Ono anymore.
Because her heart had been stolen from him by someone else.  "I don't
know, Ranma.  It just happens sometime."
     Ranma looked troubled, but let the subject drop.  He took her hand
once more and began to walk toward the park again.  "Come on, we have a
date to go on."
     Kasumi smiled, but then looked worried again.  "Don't you want to
stop somewhere... for an ice pack?"  
     He shook his head and grinned.  "Nah... this happens all the time.
It'll go away soon enough.  All part of being a Marital Artist"  
     "About that, Ranma.  Do you suppose you could teach me?"
     Ranma looked startled.  "You... want to learn Martial Arts?"
     Kasumi nodded.  "Father taught me when I was younger, but I stopped
when mother died.  I was only nine at the time, so I didn't get very
good.  Now, I can barely remember anything."
     "So, why do you want to learn again now?" Ranma inquired.
     "I don't know... maybe because you like it so much.  Maybe because
I feel obligated, now that Father wants me to be the one to carry on the
Dojo."  She looked over at Ranma.  "I had always thought Akane would be
the one to inherit it."
     Ranma looked back at her, noting how the rest of the world seemed
to make more sense when he looked into her eyes.  Even if he had to bend
his neck slightly to do so.  "If my father hadn't died, I probably would
have been betrothed to Akane."  
     Kasumi nodded in agreement.  Looking back, she found herself glad
things had worked out the way they did.  Though she wished Ranma's
father hadn't had to die to make it happen.  She looked up to find the
park enterance before them.  "We're here," she announced.  
     Ranma followed her gaze and swallowed.  Even though it wasn't
really changing anything, it was still like the date was really just
beginning.  Given all that had happened before, he wasn't sure he wanted
to know what would happen *during*.  "I suppose this is where it starts
then."
     He felt more than saw Kasumi's nod, and they both started into the
park together.  Even though it was roughly a six foot walk from the
road, the interior of the park was an entirely different place than the
world outside.  The ground was just about blanketed entirely with
sakura, and the air held a sweet odor, almost intoxicating.  
     After a few minutes of walking in silence, they came to a bench and
Kasumi figured they should sit down.  Ranma agreed and they situated
themselves so that they were as close together as possible while still
being able to talk face to face comfortably.  
     They sat and watched as people walked by, some with pets, some with
children.  Another couple passed, looking oblivious to the outside
world.  The boy turned the the girl and whispered something in her ear.
She giggled and they both ran off to parts unknown.  
     After smiling at the retreating pair, Kasumi turned to Ranma.  She
noticed he was staring at her, and blushed.  She took one of his hands
into both of hers and smiled at him.  "Ranma, I want to thank you for
bringing me here today."
     Ranma shrugged.  "It was no trouble... and anyway, I said I'd get
to know you better.  And you know what?  Your father was right."
     "About what?" Kasumi asked curiously.
     Ranma smiled, his darkened eye almost making his face comical.
"That if I got to know you better, I'd like you."  
     Kasumi was sure her face was as bright red as it felt.  He was
simply too good to be true.  Coming from China out of the blue, and
engaged to her because of a deal her father had made with his.  What
were the chances?  A burst of joy suddenly overcame her and she found
her lips against his.
     For a decade his father had trained him in the Art.  For a decade
he was honed into a living, breathing weapon.  For a decade his defenses
had been refined to a razor's edge... and he was caught totally off
guard by a kiss.  A plain, simple, everyday kiss, right on the lips.
Ranma found himself so very aware of the woman in front of him that he
could've mistaken her for himself.  She smelled deliciously of a scent
he didn't even recognize.  He caught his arms moving around her, drawing
her closer, worried that at any second the moment would end, and he
would again be alone in the world.
     Kasumi's heart nearly exploded as she felt herself pulled in by
Ranma's strong arms.  She had never felt so safe in her life, not even
when her mother would hold her.  It wasn't a fair comparison, back then
she had no cares and no problems.  Now, with her life a constant inner
struggle, it felt so good to know someone else was there, and cared for
her.  
     They pulled apart before either thought it was time.  If it were up
to them they would have existed in that instant forever.  Unfortunately,
reality beckoned, and they were powerless to ignore.  For a while nobody
said anything, then Ranma took some initiative.
     "Want to get something to eat?" he asked.
     "Sure," she replied, still slightly out of breath.

-----------------------------------------

     He was around here somewhere.  The trail led here, and it was his
home town.  There was no doubting it.  After six years his journey was
over.  Through thick and thin, hardship and pain, his suffering would
come to an end.  The greatest and most worthy adversary he had ever
known would be brought to his knees.
     Yes, Hibiki Ryouga knew this, and Saotome Ranma had better beware.  
     "Excuse me, how do I get to Nerima?" he asked a local shop owner.
     The man looked at him as if he were insane.  "You are in Nerima,
son."
     Ryouga glanced around, noting some familiar landmarks, and nodded.
He thanked the man and cried, "Ranma!  You are going down today!"
     The shop owner decided it would be in his best interest to close
early.  A vacation was most certainly in order.  
     Ryouga tromped off, death gleaming in his eyes.

------------------------------------------

     "What is it, Ranma?" Kasumi asked, placing her glass back on the
table.
     Ranma turned back to her, picking up his chopsticks again.
"Nothing, Kasumi, I just thought I heard someone call my name."
     "That's strange," a nearby waitress commented while looking out the
window, "seems old Mitsuragi is closing his shop early today... wonder
why?"  She shrugged and went to pick up an order.
     Neither Ranma nor Kasumi afforded it a second glance.  They rose
and paid the check, heading for home, unknowing, uncaring.
     Soon they would understand.

END Chapter Six
The date is over... almost.  Still have to get home... bwa ha ha!  Next
time Ryouga and Ranma meet for the first time in six years.  Will it be
a happy reunion?  Somehow, I doubt it.
Send comments and the like here...
Thanks for reading,
PMasters (10-15-98)          

"I'm only holding back the rain.  So many raindrops, so many pains.  I
want to find my train someday.  As seasons go past the station." - Tokyo
Babylon OVA 1
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