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Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1999 21:15:25 -0700
From: Pat Olsen <tagan1@ccaccess.net>
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Subject: A Scary Difference Chapter 2 prereaders version
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A Scary Difference Chapter 2
Kasumi fought to keep from crying. She was terrified and
humiliated. Standing half naked while the two girls poked and prodded
her was bad enough, Makoto's accusation had just about been the final
straw.
Kasumi fought to calm herself. < I'm an adult, and a married woman,
and I've faced worse things than this!> "I am Kasumi." She said, her
voice only quivering a little. "Please, I'm telling the truth. Why do
you think I'm not? What's wrong with my arm?"
Makoto couldn't sense the smallest trace of deception in her voice.
Fear and confusion, yes, but controlled. There was something about her
that told Makoto that she was telling the truth.
Makoto frowned in consternation. < If this person is some sort of
threat, I can't sense it. She seems very much like Kasumi, but it can't
be her, can it?> The calm entreaty on the woman's face finally got to
Makoto. She decided to explain, to judge this 'Kasumi's reaction to the
explanation. "Kasumi Tendo is a very skilled martial artist. Very
skilled, and very strong!" Makoto softly poked Kasumi in the arm. "You
are not." Kasumi blinked in confusion.
Shampoo snorted. "Is built like housewife! This not Shampoo's
Airen!"
Kasumi looked around at Shampoo. "I am a housewife, not a martial
artist. I stopped studying the art when I was ten."
Everyone was momentarily silent, Kasumi waiting for a response, and
Shampoo and Makoto trying to come up with one.
Shampoo spoke first. "You is not Kasumi! Kasumi train whole life,
defeat Shampoo in Amazon village! Kasumi is strong fighter, not
housewife!"
Kasumi cringed a bit but Shampoo's words started sinking in.
"Shampoo, I've never been to your village. Ranma went to your village
and defeated you while he was on his training trip with Mr. Saotome."
Shampoo blinked in confusion at this information.
Makoto just shook her head. "This is starting to get confusing.
Something really strange is going on here." Why don't we all sit down
and talk this out?"
Kasumi nodded gratefully. "That is an excellent idea." She
paused. "Perhaps I should get dressed first?" Makoto belatedly
remembered Kasumi's state of undress and blushed again. She nodded
hastily and Kasumi bent to pick up the tank top she had been wearing
earlier.
Shampoo eyed Kasumi angrily and shook Makoto a firm look. "Shampoo
be right back. No let her out of sight!"
Makoto nodded again, this time at the Amazon, and Shampoo stormed
off down the hall. Kasumi went to the room's dresser and began going
through it.
As Kasumi got to the bottom of the dresser, having looked in every
drawer, she frowned. "No bra's? Boxer shorts but no bra's?" The
drawers had Chinese clothes in them, as well as several more mundane
shirts and pants, but nothing feminine at all was in evidence. Kasumi
started putting on a shirt and pants that fit her slightly loosely, as
if built for someone a few sizes larger.
As she dressed, a wild theory began to go through Kasumi's mind. <
Men's clothing? Being married to Shampoo? Training all my life as a
martial artist? It sounds like I'm Ranma! But how? Is this some sort
of dream?> As Kasumi finished dressing, Shampoo came back in, also
dressed now in one of her chinese outfits. The Amazon girl carried a
bonbori in one hand, and a glass of water in the other.
Makoto glanced nervously at the weapon. "Shampoo, what do you have
that for?"
Shampoo looked pointedly at Kasumi. "Is for after test." She
splashed Kasumi with the glass of water before Kasumi knew she was even
moving.
Makoto gave a horrified gasp as Kasumi disappeared, her clothes
dropping to the ground. "Shampoo! You... you disintegrated her!"
Shampoo blinked in astonishment. < That not supposed to happen!>
She wasn't quite sure what she had expected to happen, actually.
Either Kasumi would turn into a man with the cold water, or she would
not. One way or the other that would prove her identity. Shampoo was
definitely not expecting Kasumi to vanish entirely.
Makoto grabbed Shampoo by the front of her shirt and threw her back
against the wall with surprising force. "What did you do?"
Shampoo broke free angrily. "Shampoo do nothing! That just plain
water!"
As the two girls started to yell angrily at each other, Kasumi
quietly crept out of her clothing. The lithe black cat peered up at
the two girls, who were too busy throwing words at each other to notice
her yet. Shampoo... at least the Shampoo Kasumi remembered, had given
Kasumi lessons in stealth in her cat form. She used every bit of the
skill she had gained and sneaked out of the room and down the hall
unnoticed.
Kasumi looked about anxiously. < I can't stay here. Shampoo's
angry enough to make me into a cat pancake if she notices me. I've got
to find someone who can help.> Kasumi noticed a slight breeze coming
from down the hall. She investigated, finding a door opened into
another bedroom. It obviously was the bedroom of Shampoo and some other
girl, probably Makoto. < Why is Sailor Jupiter staying in a restaurant
with Shampoo and me?> Kasumi wondered. < Is she even Sailor Jupiter?
Or has that changed too?> Kasumi spotted a window, cracked open just
enough for her to get out. She jumped to the windowsill and down to the
roof overhang.
Kasumi looked around, spotted a convenient tree nearby and jumped to
it, making her way down like Shampoo had taught her. She was a bit
breathless when she got to the bottom, but was proud of her skill.
Kasumi looked around again, trying to place where she was. Running down
to the end of the street, Kasumi recognized the corner she was on. When
Cologne hopped by on her staff, heading for the restaurant she had fled,
Kasumi instinctively tried to hide, but the ancient Amazon didn't even
glance at her. Kasumi sighed in relief, and having no better
destination in mind, headed for the Tendo Dojo. As she hurried along,
Kasumi fervently hoped that things would be normal there. That the
scene back at the strange restaurant with Makoto and Shampoo was all
faked somehow, and that her memories would turn out to be reality.
When Kasumi arrived at the Tendo Dojo, her hopes were quickly
dashed. Things were similar, but not quite the same. Ranma was outside
as he usually was at that time of the morning, sparring with his father,
but the teenage martial artist was wearing a boys school uniform instead
of his customary chinese clothing. Ranma sent his father into the Koi
pond with a splash, the large man transforming instantly into a giant
Panda. Unfortunately, the splash of water that drenched Ranma upon his
own landing had no effect other than to get him wet.
Ranma, quite obviously still male, groaned and headed for the back
door. "Ah man. Now I gotta go change before school starts!"
As he walked in, he casually petted the head of the largest dog
Kasumi had ever seen. It might have just been her current perspective,
but the animal gave Kasumi a serious chill down her spine. Mrs. Saotome
announced breakfast and soon the Tendos and Saotomes were sitting down
to eat. There was no sign of Johnathon, her husband, and Kasumi started
to wonder how much had changed from what she remembered. Kasumi watched
all this perched on the Dojo wall.
As the family started leaving the breakfast table to prepare for the
rest of their day, Kasumi pondered her next move. < Will they believe
me? Or will my family think I'm some sort of impostor too?> She
sighed. < At least they won't try to brain me, I hope.> As Kasumi was
about to try slipping inside to find some hot water, she spotted yet
another familiar form. A white cat had jumped up on the wall in front
of her, and stealthily began to head for the house. Kasumi blinked and
began to follow him. < Artemis! Maybe he can help me! At the least
he's too small to stop me if I need to run. If I'm human, anyway.>
Kasumi caught up to Artemis on the roof, as the white cat was trying to
find an open window.
Artemis glanced back at the black cat coming over the tiles towards
him. < Luna? No, there's no crescent moon mark.>
The black cat came up to him peacefully enough and meowed
questioningly.
Artemis grinned. < Ah, another conquest. The ladies just can't get
enough of me.>
He bowed to her politely, knowing she couldn't actually
understand him. "I'm sorry my dear, but I'm afraid I'm not available.
You'll have to find another cat. I'm only interested in my C-chan."
Kasumi blinked. < C-chan? That's the same thing Akane named my
kitten... I mean Ranma's kitten... but wasn't C-chan a boy kitten? That
must be different here as well.> She nodded and pointed at a nearby
window with her paw.
Artemis nodded back. "You are correct, she does indeed...." He
paused. "Hey, did you understand what I said?" Kasumi nodded firmly.
"Are you intelligent?" He asked, looking incredulous. Kasumi nodded
again. "Are you just nodding over and over when I say something?"
Kasumi shook her head firmly and gave him an exasperated look. "Oh, you
are intelligent. Do you know C-chan?"
Kasumi shook her head. < Probably not, I miss him already, my poor
little kitten. I hope Ranma takes good care of him while I'm gone.>
Artemis shrugged. "Why don't I introduce you then? We can talk
inside, OK?" Kasumi blinked, then nodded. Artemis led the way inside
into a bedroom.
Kasumi recognized the window as the one going into her old room, but
the furniture inside was Akane's things. Kasumi wasn't too surprised to
find things were different.
Artemis looked around, disappointed to find no trace of C-chan. She
had become harder and harder to find recently, and no longer took much
time out to talk with him. He sighed.
Artemis looked over at the black cat and shrugged. "Looks like
she's not here right now. Not to worry though, our trip wasn't
wasted." He went under the bed and dragged out a wegie board. "If
you'd like, you might find this easier than twenty questions."
Kasumi's eyes lit up. < What a good idea! We should get one for
our room!> Kasumi remembered long sessions of twenty questions with her
husband, back when she had been stuck as a cat, because of the Cat's
tongue point. She went over to the board and started pointing at
various characters.
Artemis followed along, speaking the words out loud to be sure he
understood. "Need help."
He grinned. "Not to worry, that's my business!"
Kasumi continued. *World has changed, but I haven't.*
Artemis looked thoughtful. "Fascinating, go on."
She paused, then continued. *I know you from before, Artemis.*
He blinked. "You do indeed. At the least, you know my name." He
looked at her interestedly. "Are you from the moon kingdom?" < Please
let her be one of my old girlfriends.>
Kasumi shook her head and pointed. *No. I am not resurrected from
the moon kingdom. I know you from here, on Earth.*
Artemis blinked again. "Oh? I know I've never met you on Earth,
and how do you know about the Moon kingdom?"
Kasumi pointed at him then spelled it out. *You told me.*
Artemis blinked once more. "Ah, now that's interesting. Well,
since I don't remember you, that does seem to suggest that your world
has changed, or both our memories...." He frowned in thought. "Hmmm, I
am getting the glimmer of an idea, continue."
Kasumi nodded and started again. *I am Kasumi Tendo.*
His eyes widened. "My goodness! You are different than I
remember!"
Kasumi started to spell out a word. *Jusenkyo*
Artemis nodded. "Yes, the Kasumi Tendo I know of changes into a
human male when splashed with cold water. You change as well?"
She pointed to the characters. *From human to cat.*
Artemis sat back on his haunches. "Incredible. I wonder if
C-chan... nah." He shook his head. "Do you have any proof of what you
are saying?"
Kasumi looked thoughtful. *Does the Kasumi you know, know about the
Senshi?"
Artemis shook his head. "No. You do?"
Kasumi shrugged. *Maybe, things different here.* She hesitated
then began pointing. *Usagi, Rei, Ami, Minako, Makoto, Luna. Luna
looks like me*
Artemis looked astonished. "Incredible. Even if you were from the
Moon kingdom, you couldn't know everyone's name here. You really must
be a Kasumi from a different world." He nodded. "That's your answer, my
dear. You come from a parallel world. A different dimension."
Kasumi looked hopeful. *Do you know how I can get home?*
Artemis frowned. "I'm afraid not, at present. Perhaps the Mercury
computer holds an answer."
Kasumi sighed. *Can you help me get hot water?*
He looked thoughtful. "Well, from my observations, by now the
younger members of the household have left for school. The adults
should be in the living room. For some reason, that huge wolf is never
around during the day. Perhaps we can get to the furo unnoticed?"
Kasumi nodded and the two of them began heading for the downstairs
bathroom. Together they were able to force open the doors, Kasumi
having been taught the trick by Shampoo months before, and Artemis being
an old hand with modern homes. Kasumi was gratified to find the water
in the furo was still hot. She jumped in, instantly transforming.
Artemis blinked and politely turned away. "Well, you are indeed
Kasumi Tendo. Even if you are not the Kasumi Tendo I knew of."
Kasumi sighed. "I'm just glad someone believes me. When I woke up
this morning, things rapidly became quite dangerous. Shampoo was...
displeased to find out I wasn't her real 'Airen'. She was about ready
to hit me with her bonbori before I escaped."
Artemis looked interested. "How did you get away?"
Kasumi blinked. "Oh my! I forgot! Shampoo splashed me with cold
water. She wanted to prove that I wasn't the real Kasumi, I suppose.
As far as she and Makoto know, I vanished. I hid in my clothing until
they weren't looking and sneaked off. Artemis, you really should tell
Makoto that Shampoo didn't really disintegrate me. I wouldn't want
Shampoo to get in trouble, even if she did want to brain me. It's just
the way she was raised...."
Artemis chuckled. "That must have been...." He shook his head. "I
can just picture it."
Kasumi was just about to speak again when the outer bathroom door
was pushed open fully. Artemis went silent and Kasumi sunk deeper into
the furo.
The inner door opened and Mrs. Saotome looked in. "I thought I heard
voices. Kasumi, why aren't you at the school, dear?"
Kasumi chewed on her lip nervously. "Auntie, you may find this hard
to believe, but I'm not the Kasumi you know."
Nodoka blinked. "Kasumi-chan, I don't understand. What do you
mean, you're not the Kasumi I know?"
Kasumi sighed. "This is a strange story, so please be patient."
Nodoka sighed as well. "Very well, Kasumi-chan. I find it
difficult to believe that things could get any more strange around
here."
Artemis shook his head as he snuck out the bathroom door. < You
have no idea.> He hurried for an exit. <I'd better go get some help
while Kasumi explains to Nodoka.>
Nodoka had continued to speak. "I'll certainly listen to your
story, if you wish."
Kasumi smiled gratefully. "Thank you Auntie. Why don't we go and
talk over a cup of tea. I was done with the bath anyway."
Nodoka nodded. "That sounds like a good idea. I'll just go put on
some tea and you can finish up in here."
Kasumi started to nod, then paused. "Ah, Auntie, could I borrow
some clothing? I don't appear to have brought any with me."
Nodoka blinked again. "Oh my. This does promise to be an
interesting story, doesn't it!" She considered. "Shall I get you one of
your father's Gi's?"
Kasumi blinked. "I would prefer something more feminine, Auntie if
you don't mind."
Nodoka looked puzzled, but nodded. "If you wish, I should have some
things here that will fit you, but what about your... other form?"
Kasumi shook her head. "That is part of what I need to tell you,
Auntie. I do not change into a man when wet."
Nodoka smiled brightly. "That's wonderful my dear! When did you
find a cure?"
Kasumi shook her head again. "Its not that I've found a cure. I'm
still cursed, just differently than you remember. Or is it than I
remember?" Kasumi put her hands to her face. "Oh this is so confusing."
Nodoka sighed. "This does sound complicated. I'll bring you some
things, then we can all talk."
Kasumi nodded gratefully. "Thank you Auntie." Nodoka turned to
leave, and Kasumi looked around the room for Artemis, but was surprised
not to see him anywhere. "Now where did he run off to?" She wondered
out loud.
Several minutes later, Kasumi was in the living room with Nodoka,
Genma, and Soun, having tea. She was wearing one of Nodoka's house
dresses, to the surprise of the men.
Nodoka prompted her. "Now dear, why don't you tell us what exactly
is going on."
Kasumi nodded. "This is going to be hard for you to believe. I
think its best if I show you something first, that will make it a little
easier." She rolled up her sleeve, and held her arm out to her father.
"Father, please tell me, the Kasumi you know, she is a very strong
martial artist, correct?"
Soun nodded. "Yes, daughter, you are, but why are you referring to
yourself in the third person?"
Kasumi pointed to her bared arm. "Please examine my arm. The
reason I say that that the Kasumi you know is very strong, is that I am
not the Kasumi you know."
This produced a shocked silence around the table. Never-the-less,
Soun took Kasumi's outstretched wrist and looked at her arm as she had
asked. Slowly then he felt her wrist, then the muscles in her arm. He
blinked a few times then looked up at her. Wordlessly he passed her
wrist to Genma, who, curious now, also examined it closely. Soun
continued to stare at Kasumi in confusion.
Kasumi sighed at length, and spoke. "As you can see, I am not the
martial artist you knew."
Genma released her wrist shakily. "What happened? How... How did
this happen?"
Kasumi paused before answering. < What did Artemis say?> She
looked at them helplessly. "I'm afraid I'm not really sure how it
happened, but I think I'm from a different world." She frowned. < That
didn't sound right.>
Soun gasped. "You're an Alien?" He backed up as if expecting her
to start sprouting tentacles "Where have you taken my Kasumi!"
Kasumi put her hands up defensively. "Oh no, I didn't mean it like
that!" She backed up from the table a bit under his hostility. "Oh
dear, this is so confusing. I mean I'm from a different dimension, I
didn't do anything to your Kasumi." She paused in thought. < At least
I hope not.> Soun's hostile glare having turned into confusion again,
Kasumi tried to explain. "I think that she is probably in my world,
while I am in hers. I don't know how it happened. You see, my world is
very much like this one. Many things are the same, but a few things are
very different."
Kasumi paused again, uncertain of how to explain the differences
especially since she didn't know much about the other Kasumi yet. She
decided to start with what she did know. "You see, in this world,
Kasumi Tendo practiced the Martial arts practically her whole life, and
went on a long training journey with Mr. Saotome when she was very
young. She went to China, and fell in the Spring of Drowned Man, and
defeated Shampoo in the Amazon village. Those things never happened to
me. In my world, I stopped studying the Art when I was ten. I have
always lived here, in this house." She looked confused again. "At
least, this house in my world."
Genma and Soun had their mouths hanging open in astonishment.
Nodoka sipped her tea calmly. "A parallel world? My, that is very
strange!" < Just like Star Trek,> she thought to herself.
Genma spoke up. "All those years of training? A ten-year trip to
learn the Art and it never happened? All my work for nothing?"
Kasumi tried to reassure him. "Oh no, Mr. Saotome. In my world you
did go on that training trip. You took Ranma, your son. He is a very
skilled martial artist, one of the best in the world!"
Genma blinked, then grinned slightly, putting his arms across his
chest. "Ah well, naturally, If I trained him, he would have become the
best." Genma seemed to like that idea, and he drifted off a bit,
thinking about it.
Soun gathered his wits together to ask. "But what about our
Kasumi? The heir to the Anything Goes School, and my daughter? What
has happened to her? Is she going to be safe in your world? How do we
know you are telling us the truth!?" He looked at the girl across from
him, and immediately regretted his harsh words. She looked frightened,
and her pleading gaze touched his heart.
Nodoka interrupted on Kasumi's behalf, "Now Soun, can't you see
you're frightening the poor girl? Please remember, she is your daughter,
even if she is from a parallel world." At Genma's disbelieving glance,
she glared back at him. "Why, her story isn't anymore farfetched then
anything else that's happened the past year. If I believe that you turn
into a panda, then why can't I believe this is really Kasumi, a Kasumi
from a parallel world." She turned then to Kasumi, who was watching the
exchange gratefully. "Now why don't you tell us more about your world,
my dear. Perhaps we can get a better idea how this happened."
Kasumi nodded. "Yes Auntie. I'll do my best. I do not know how
much is different, so you will have to help me. I woke up this morning
in a strange bed, above a restaurant, the Cat Cafe I think." < I don't
know if I should mention that Shampoo was in my bed, I don't know if
that would get my other self in trouble or not.>
Nodoka looked at her. "The Cat Cafe? I don't remember that
restaurant anywhere. Do you mean the San Cheng-Huang?"
Kasumi looked puzzled. "The San Cheng-Huang? What is that?"
Nodoka explained. "It is the name of the restaurant, you... I mean,
our Kasumi started with Shampoo and Makoto-chan. What is this Cat
Cafe?"
Kasumi nodded. "Oh, I think I understand. In my world, Shampoo
worked in a restaurant with her great-grandmother Cologne, They called
it the Cat Cafe. She worked there until she finally gave up on Ranma,
and decided to marry Doctor Tofu. Then Cologne went back to China."
They took all this in. While Genma and Soun looked happy about
Cologne's departure, they were a bit confused about the manner of her
departure. Genma said. "She gave up and decided to marry Dr. Tofu?
How did that happen?"
Nodoka tisked. "Now I don't think that's as important as finding
out where our Kasumi might be, do you, dear?" She turned to Kasumi
again. "You said you woke up above the restaurant. Where did you fall
asleep, Kasumi dear?"
Kasumi explained. "I went to sleep in my and Johnathon's room here,
upstairs."
Nodoka's eyes widened. "Really? Who is this Johnathon?"
Kasumi blushed. "He's my husband. We were married just two months
ago." She looked worried suddenly. "Oh my! If your Kasumi woke up in
bed with Johnathon?" She imagined a muscular version of herself tossing
Johnathon around their room. "Oh my, I hope she didn't hurt him too
much."
Soun started crying. "Ah!! My little girl is married, and I missed
it!" Everyone tried not to stare as he broke down crying.
Nodoka patted Kasumi's shoulder reassuringly. "Our Kasumi is quite
understanding. I don't think she would hurt him too badly."
Kasumi just sighed. "I hope you're right."
Meanwhile Soun had collapsed sobbing. "Oh my Kasumi, what will we
do? How will our schools be united now?" He started to shake.
Genma finally put a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder.
"We'll think of something Tendo, we always do."
Nodoka and Kasumi exchanged glances, and sighed together.
Kasumi wondered, < Where did Artemis go? The Sailor Senshi might be
able to help me. Johnathon did say they went to another dimension. How
can I go and see them without revealing their secret, though?>
******************************************
Elsewhere, in the dark, Frost woke. She looked around and saw
nothing but blackness. "Where am I?" She shouted into the dark.
Slowly she calmed herself and began to examine her surroundings more
carefully. She was floating, weightless, there did not seem to be
anything tangible nearby. Carefully she extended her mystical senses.
Almost immediately she noticed the two bright red cords tied to her
wrists, extending off into the darkness. In between her wrists the two
cords met, and were tied together in a complicated knot.
Frost blinked a few times, but the cords remained. "An astral
cord? No, two of them tangled almost hopelessly together. Am I on the
Astral plane then?" She looked around her trying to piece together what
had happened; as well as remember what she had read about the Astral
plane. "Hmm, I cast the spell to send Kasumi Tendo to another
dimension, and then there was some sort of backlash... And now I'm here,
wherever here is. I've read that if you travel to the Astral plane, you
always leave an Astral cord behind you so you can get back. I've got
two, but neither seems to be directly connected to me, just... tied to
my
wrists."
Frost tried to puzzle it out, but nothing came to her. "Oh well,
only thing to do is follow one of these, and see where it goes." Having
said that she proceeded to do so, willing herself in the direction of
the cord tied to her right wrist. She flew effortlessly through the
void. The cord she was following seemed to shorten ahead of her as she
flew, never leaving any slack, yet she felt she was making progress.
The feeling of traveling was very strong. After an indeterminate amount
of time, (It felt like hours to Frost, but for all she was sure it could
have been minutes or days.) She came upon a clear pool of water hanging
suspended in the air before her.
Frost sighed in relief at the change of scenery. She approached the
pool, and was surprised to be yanked to a halt just before reaching it.
Frost looked back. Her left arm was being held back by the red cord
tied around her wrist. She strained, but couldn't move her left arm any
closer. She reached out with her right, and found she was just able to
touch the pool. The water rippled as an image appeared in it. Kasumi
Tendo appeared in it. She was sitting in a room quite familiar to
Frost, Dr. Tofu's office. The doctor was apparently examining her.
Frost's eyes narrowed and she glanced at her right wrist. < Is this
Kasumi's astral cord? Then is she in another world? Or is she still in
the same world, and I'm the one banished?> Frost peered into the water,
trying to determine the truth. She could see what was happening, but
not hear. <I wish I could read lips.> Doctor Tofu was talking to
Kasumi.
********************************************
Kasumi looked shocked. "I'm not the Kasumi Tendo you know?" She
asked, repeating the doctor's last words.
"That's correct, Kasumi Tendo is not a martial artist, and she most
definitely cannot generate chi attacks."
Kasumi blinked, still shocked by the idea. "That... is very strange,
but I suppose it does answer some questions, even as it raises others.
If I'm not the Kasumi you know, where is she, and how did I get here?"
Dr. Tofu frowned in concentration. "Let us examine this one step at
a time. You say you've trained all of your life, and that at least
certainly seems to be true. The Kasumi I remember stopped training when
she was ten. Why did you continue in the Art?"
Kasumi couldn't accept that at first. "She did? I did? Why?" <
The Art is everything to me, how would I have turned out if it weren't
for the Art?> She shook her head. < I guess I'm about to find out.>
She told Dr. Tofu. "Well, when I was little, I went with Genma, I mean,
Mr. Saotome, on a ten year long training journey. We just returned
home recently, a few months ago."
Dr. Tofu's eyes became thoughtful. "Well, If I remember correctly,
here, you first met Genma and his son Ranma when they arrived here from
China almost a year ago. Genma took Ranma on that journey, not you."
Kasumi frowned. "That actually makes sense, in a strange way.
Still, this is all very confusing. When I woke up this morning,
everything had changed, now you tell me that I have changed as well?"
Dr. Tofu nodded. "I don't blame you for being confused. I find
this all incredibly difficult to believe myself. Why don't you tell me
what you found to be different than you remember it."
Kasumi nodded back. "Alright, Doctor." She paused to think about
her next words of a few moments. "I woke up in a strange room. It
turned out to be my old room at my father's home, but the things there
were not mine." She blushed then. "I woke up next to a man I'd never
seen before... Johnathon... he says we're married."
Dr. Tofu nodded, careful to keep his expression neutral. "Yes, as
of two months ago."
Kasumi sighed. "I wasn't married. Well, I guess I was,
technically, which is something else that seems to be different."
Tofu nodded at her to continue. "Go on, who are you supposed to be
married to?"
Kasumi hesitated, then sighed in resignation. "Shampoo. I defeated
her in China, but I had no idea that we were married until she showed up
a few weeks later in Nerima."
Dr. Tofu blinked, his eyes widening in surprise. "Shampoo?" He
looked at Kasumi being sure to still keep his expression neutral. < So
she is still not available.> He silently chided himself. < Ono, what
are you thinking! I should get back to what's really important now.>
He said finally. "You trained in China with Mr. Saotome, you defeated
Shampoo there, did you by any chance go to Jusenkyo while you where in
China?" Kasumi nodded. "Did you fall in the Spring of Drowned Man?"
Kasumi nodded again. "Yes that's right! How did you know?
Johnathon said I was still cursed, but all my clothes are so feminine, I
couldn't understand why."
Dr. Tofu nodded in understanding. "Ah, well your curse... or should
I say, the curse of the Kasumi I know, was a different spring than the
Nanichuan. As I said, it happened later, just a few months ago, and in
a completely different fashion." He paused in consideration. "As a
matter of fact, that would be an excellent empirical test. If you
really are a different Kasumi, then it follows that your curse should be
different as well. If you do change into a man when splashed with cold
water, then there can be no doubt that your story is, at least in part,
accurate." The doctor went to the sink and began pouring a glass of
water.
Kasumi spoke up. "Doctor, if the Kasumi you know isn't cursed to
become a man, what does she turn into?"
Dr. Tofu approached with the glass of water. "A cat." He calmly
flung the water into Kasumi's face, and was astonished when she vanished
in a rush of wind. The doctor looked around, and spotted Kasumi
clinging to the roof tiles in a remarkable demonstration of skill. She
was also shivering in fear. "Kasumi? What's the matter?"
Kasumi looked down at him, and noticed that he wasn't carrying any
more water. She relaxed slightly and jumped down. She shivered,
glancing at the small puddle of water on the floor. "D-doctor, you said
that I... that the Kasumi you know changes into a c-c-cat?"
Dr. Tofu blinked. "Kasumi, you're shaking in fear, you're
petrified." He looked at her in confusion. "What in the world
frightened
you so?"
Kasumi tried to explain. "I have a, a great fear of... c.. ca..."
She found her self stuttering. < Get a hold of yourself!> She thought
fiercely.
Dr. Tofu meanwhile was catching on. < It's like she thinks she's
Ranma! All the strangeness that happened to him, she thinks happened to
her. If it weren't for her obviously changed muscles, and that chi
demonstration, I'd call it a case of transference. As it is, I think
I'm starting to believe that she is really from a different world, one
where she took Ranma's place in that training journey with Genma, as far
fetched as that sounds.> He waited till she was calm again before
asking. "Did Mr. Saotome train you in the Cat-fist?"
Kasumi nodded quickly, becoming nervous again. "Doctor, if I become
a c-c-c..." Kasumi shivered violently, she couldn't even think about
it, it was too terrifying to imagine.
Dr. Tofu nodded slowly, then said as reassuringly as possible. "I
don't think you should worry Kasumi, since your body is as you remember
it, it stands to reason that your curse is as well."
Kasumi slowly calmed herself again. "That makes sense, Doctor"
He nodded. "It's best to know for certain, I think." He turned
back to the sink, and began refilling his glass.
Kasumi started to panic again. "Doctor? If I do become a c-cat, I
couldn't... I'd.... Dr. Tofu, I'm not sure... that this is a good
idea...."
Dr. Tofu paused, glass in hand. "Kasumi, wouldn't it be better to
find out now, then for it to happen accidentally later?"
She nodded slowly in agreement, and he brought the glass closer.
Suddenly she couldn't take the thought any longer. <A cat, a cat, what
if I'm a cat?!?> "Stop!" she shouted, throwing up her hands in terror.
Dr. Tofu paused where he was. "Alright Kasumi, I won't force you
to...."
It was at that moment that the door burst open. "Kasumi? Are you
OK?" Johnathon came in looking concerned. He jogged the doctor's elbow
as he came in. The glass of water splashed him in the face, an an
instant later he transformed, into a vision of horror, a six foot tall,
black furred, half cat.
Already on the edge, Kasumi ran for her life with a screech. There
were no windows in the office, and the cat creature blocked the door, so
Kasumi departed through the opposite wall, aided by a Dragon fist. Dr.
Tofu watched her leave in fascinated horror as she made the new door out
of his clinic, and Johnathon took off after her after an instant of
shock.
Dr. Tofu yelled belatedly after him, "Stop! Johnathon, no don't!"
He sighed then, both of them were long gone. He noticed Shampoo peering
in the open door, (The original one) and motioned to her. "Shampoo, we
have to find Johnathon and Kasumi quickly. Come with me." He jumped
through the hole, followed by his Amazon fiancee. He explained as they
ran. "Kasumi has the Cat-fist training, she's much faster and stronger
then the Kasumi you remember as well. We must prevent Johnathon from
setting her off."
Shampoo blinked at this, finding the news to be very strange.
Still, she chose to believe her husband to be, and rushed away rapidly,
leaping from rooftop to rooftop searching for either Kasumi or
Johnathon. < Now where would Kasumi go if she was frightened of cats?>
She looked at the sky for a moment, <I hope it doesn't rain.>
Johnathon grimly chased Kasumi. The first few seconds of pursuit
had almost been the last. Her speed had been nearly beyond belief, and
nearly beyond his ability to pursue as well. He had almost lost her.
Johnathon had always been proud of his speed; growing up he had always
been a good runner. His cursed form had doubled his speed at least, and
the constant training with Ranma and Akane kept him at the peak of his
form. In a straight out run, he knew he could match Ranma's female
form, possibly even pull ahead. Once in an adrenaline driven panic, he
had even out run Ranma when he was in the cat-fist.
Kasumi's initial burst of speed made all that pale in comparison.
It had been pure luck that he had managed to keep on her tail until she
started slowing. Johnathon had chosen the right direction by guesswork,
and was rewarded by a glimpse of Kasumi over a block away, running the
rooftops at high speed. Two minutes later, Johnathon was finally
gaining ground.
His mind started running through what had just happened. < Kasumi
CAN'T run this fast, and she certainly can't bust down walls like that.
First she doesn't know me this morning, then she's more energetic than
usual, and now this.... What's going on?> He recalled an incident from
over a month earlier. After he had thought he had defeated a Youma, he
had blacked out. When he regained consciousness he had discovered that
he had been possessed by the creature he thought defeated, and had
almost killed Akane and Ukyo. < Could Kasumi be possessed? How can I
free her if she is?>
Kasumi, unaware that she was still being followed, began to slow,
trying to regain control. < Calm down, stop panicking. I'm not going
to turn into... into a c-c-at.> She shuddered violently at the memory
of the cat creature's face. < That was... Johnathon? I married that?>
As Kasumi's thought gained coherency, she suddenly realized that she
wasn't wearing a shirt. < Oh my, I left it in Dr. Tofu's office.> She
came to a halt, quite glad for a change that she had decided to take the
trouble of wearing the bra. The garment was a bit uncomfortable, but
preferable to running around half naked. Kasumi sighed as she looked
around. < Not much better. Now where am I?> She turned at the sound
of rapidly approaching footsteps. She gasped at the sight of the horror
closing on her, and lit out again, her only remaining thought, escape.