For those who have read (and hopefully enjoyed) my original story, "A
Different Viewpoint", welcome, I'm glad you're here.  For those who
haven't, this fic might be a trifle hard to follow in points, although
you will probably get the gist of it.  For those who hate SI's, stop
reading.  I'm afraid this fic has more than my usual share of that sort
of thing.  If you're looking for a follow up to all the loose ends I
left in ADV, or an epic Ranma story, this isn't it, quite.  That would
be my second sequel, which will follow this one closely, beginning from
Ranma and Akane's second (and hopefully last) wedding attempt, and going
rapidly in the direction of chaos, and adventure.  I hope you stick
around for it.  I'll try to make it worth the wait.

                A Different Viewpoint:  American Vacation pt 2

    When it was finally time to order, Paul went first, ordering a
special house dish, a twenty four ounce steak, with all the trimmings.
He confided to the rest of the group that the restaurant had an offer to
pay the bill for anyone who could eat the entire meal in half an hour or
less. He had never managed it yet but....

    Ranma's mouth watered at the thought of a free steak.  "I have that
too!"  He announced.

    The waiter smirked behind his hand.  "Yes, sir.  If you can't finish
it all, we'll be happy to wrap it up for you."

    Ranma smirked back, and winked at Akane.  The waiter took everyone
else's orders and departed.

    Paul led the dinner off with a pointed question.  "So, Johnathon.
How did Kasumi and you meet?"

    Johnathon smiled over at Akane.  "Akane's one of my students at
Furinkan High school.  I learned her father ran a dojo, and decided to
take martial arts lessons there.  I met Kasumi at the dojo.  She invited
me to dinner after a particularly hard session.  I was taking lessons at
the Tendo dojo pretty regularly.  After a few months, I got to know
Kasumi pretty well.  We had some long talks.  I fell in love, and told
her so.  We started dating eventually, after my trip to China.  Finally
we decided to get married.

    Paul looked interested.  "Just like that?"

    Johnathon glanced at Kasumi.  < Curses, kidnappings, perverts,
ancient martial artists, demons....  It wasn't really just like that...
but what can I say?>  He looked back at his father.  "We fell in love.
What more can I say?"  Kasumi smiled at her husband, putting her hand on
his arm.

    Clara spoke up.  "So, you decided to stay in Japan?"

    Johnathon nodded.  "Yes, I couldn't take Kasumi away from her
family.  The Tendo's are like my family now, really.  I'm quite happy
there."

    Clara smiled weakly.  "I'm glad to hear you're happy, Johnathon."

    Paul cleared his throat.  "So, where are you two living?"

    Johnathon nodded to his wife.  "I moved in with Kasumi.  We're
living at the Tendo home."

    Paul nodded.  "Are you going to look for your own place?"

    Johnathon looked at Kasumi again, then back at his father.  "We'll
be staying at the Tendo's for the foreseeable future.  According to the
inheritance laws, the first daughter married can inherit without the
majority of the taxes.  Therefore Kasumi will inherit the house.  We've
talked it out.  It's a big place.  Ranma and Akane will run the dojo
after they marry.  Kasumi will run the household as she is now.  I'm
going to keep teaching at the high school."

    Paul nodded.  "I see."

    Johnathon cringed inwardly at the almost imperceptible tone of
disappointment in his father's voice.  < I've failed him again.  I'm
never going to live up to his expectations.  I wish he could just be
happy that I'm happy.  I wish I could stop feelingly guilty that I'm not
the son my father wished me to be.>

    Michael quickly picked up the conversation with Akane and Ranma,
while Kasumi chatted with Clara.  Johnathon spent the rest of the night
helping to smooth translations and making the occasional idle comment.
Paul made occasionally polite comments as well, but Johnathon, Clara and
Michael could tell he wasn't in a very cheerful mood.  Ranma and Akane
didn't notice anything wrong, but Kasumi  and Michael could tell
Johnathon was also in a bad mood.

    When they got back to Johnathon's parent's house and turned in for
the night, Kasumi spoke quietly.  "Johnathon, what's wrong?  You seemed
pensive tonight."  She looked at him gently.  "Do you want to talk about
it?"

    Johnathon started getting defensive.  "Why do you think something's
wrong?  I'm fine, really."

    Kasumi sighed softly.  "Alright, Johnathon, if you say so."

    Johnathon started to get into bed and sighed as well.  "I guess I
was a bit tense tonight."

    Kasumi slipped into bed quietly.  "I'm sorry to hear that."

    Johnathon got into bed next to her, his weight causing the bed to
sink around him and Kasumi to roll over onto him.

    Kasumi fought back a giggle.  "Oh my!  I think I'm starting to like
waterbeds!"

    Johnathon chuckled faintly and took the opportunity to snuggle up
against Kasumi, gently caressing her shoulders.

    Kasumi sighed in contentment.  "Mmmm....  Do you want to talk about
it, Johnathon?"  Kasumi smiled mischievously.  "Or perhaps you'd just
like to make love, and put it out of your mind?"

    Johnathon blinked.  "Hmm, tough choice... why don't we do both?"

    Kasumi nodded.  "Mmm hmm."

    Johnathon leaned over and kissed her cheek, then quietly sighed.
"It's my father.  I'm afraid he's disappointed in me.  Dad's always
expected more of me than I gave... straight A's instead of B's, joining
Mensa like he did... I never applied....  He was very proud when I was
accepted into a program for gifted kids... but it only made his
expectations higher.  He figured I'd be a respected physicist or college
professor by now.  Teaching English at a high school wasn't what he
expected.  Oh, he's gotten used to my lack of ambition, but he's still
disappointed."

    Kasumi lay on her side, inches away from her husband, listening
intently, the look on her face sympathetic.  "Your father wanted all
those things for you?"  She wrinkled her nose in confusion.  "But, you
never did any of those things?"

    Johnathon shook his head.  "No, I didn't.  I was happy with how my
life was going.  I didn't see the need to accomplish so much.  At the
least, my father expected me to earn a healthy wage at an office, become
a manager like he did.  But I've never needed a lot.  I've been pampered
in my life, had everything I wanted, and I've been poor."  He shrugged.
"And I still had everything I wanted.  I don't need wealth, or fame, or
prestige to be happy.  I never have.  I was happy without all those
things.  Then I met you, and now, happiness is a very pale term for how
I feel.  I love my life, and you're why.  We've had tough times, but
they've all been worth it in the end, cause we're together."

    Kasumi smiled at that.  "I'm very glad to hear it."  She paused in
thought.  "You feel bad, not because you didn't become rich, or
successful, but because you don't like disappointing your father."

    Johnathon nodded.  "Yeah, I guess that's it."

    Kasumi sighed.  "Oh Johnathon, Johnathon, Johnathon."  She laid her
head across his chest.  < I don't know what to tell him.  I can
understand his father's feelings.  Our father never really pushed us to
succeed as Johnathon's did, but if he had, we would have done our
best....  I would have done my best to follow father's wishes.
Johnathon, do I really understand you?  Can I really understand you?  At
times you seem so honorable, but you do not respect your father's
wishes.  Is it true you have no ambition?  You seem to try hard to
succeed at whatever you do, but....>

    Kasumi sighed again.  < He loves me, and I love him.  He is a kind,
caring soul, and an intelligent man.  If I had wanted to marry a doctor,
or a rich man, I could have married Dr. Tofu... but... I am happy, truly
happy, and will remain so.  Truly, is there more to life than that?>
Kasumi turned to her husband, smiling.  "I think you've done well with
your life.  I am proud of you.  I love you.  I want to share your life,
as it is.  Do not let what other's think make you sad."

    Johnathon hugged her softly.  "That's my Kasumi."

    Kasumi responded to the embrace with enthusiasm and conversation
ceased for the night.

    The next morning, before the first hint of dawn, Kasumi woke and
very carefully slipped out of the waterbed.  Her movement caused a small
wave, and Johnathon stirred, then fell back into a deeper sleep.  Kasumi
quietly picked up the clothing scattered at the foot of the bed, and got
her nice house dress out of her suitcase.  She slipped into the bathroom
and made herself presentable, then quietly walked into the main portion
of the house.

    Kasumi found herself in the kitchen and hesitated, feeling a bit
like an intruder.  < I think I'll offer to help Ms. Dwire with
breakfast, when she gets up.>  Kasumi walked into the living room and
saw that the dogs were sleeping in two cages near the fireplace.  She
sighed to herself.  < I hope they didn't cage them up just because of
me.>  Kasumi went to the back door and tried to slid it open.  It was a
large glass door leading into the backyard, but it didn't budge.
Checking, Kasumi found it was locked.  < Oh my.  I suppose this is
America, after all.>

    Kasumi unlocked the backdoor and went out, staying on the porch as
she had left her shoes and socks in her room.  Kasumi looked around at
the variety of shrubs and trees in the back yard.  It wasn't a
traditional garden, but it was quite nice.  She went to the edge of the
porch and took a deep breath.  The sky was beginning to lighten with the
first hints of dawn, beyond the fence.  Kasumi could hear a car going
by.

    Kasumi smiled.  < Today is going to be a good day, I can tell.>

    Just then, Kasumi heard a faint mechanical sound from several
different spots around her in the yard.  Feeling a sudden chill of
dread, she looked.  Several sprinkler heads had popped up in the grass
and Kasumi's eyes went wide.  "Oh my!"  She spun toward the house and
was taking her first running step when one of the sprinklers caught her
from behind.

    The small black cat that crawled out of the neck of Kasumi's dress
sighed, then sprinted forward to avoid getting even further soaked in
the early morning chill.  Kasumi made it too the back door, and realized
that she had closed it behind her when she had gone outside.  It was no
longer locked, but Kasumi was sure it would be too massive for her to
open, even if she could get a purchase on it.

    Kasumi sat in front of the door pondering her next move.  < It would
probably be best to wait until Johnathon, Ranma or Akane wake up, then
attract their attention.  Ranma and Akane will probably come out to
spar....>  Kasumi screeched as a strong spray of water lanced into her
from the side, then proceeded to spray the glass door and the wall of
the house.  Kasumi glared at the defective sprinkler in annoyance.  <
You're supposed to water the lawn, not the porch!>

    Inside the house, the two dogs woke up at the sound of a cat
screeching outside.  From where they lay in their cages, they could just
see it near the door, soaking wet.  Both dogs started to bark and whine.

    Kasumi noticed the commotion she had caused inside.  < Oh no,
they've spotted me.  At least they're in their cages.>

    As the small black cat was starting to relax, Clara Dwire came up
and let the two dogs out.  "Shh!  Quiet, boys, you'll wake our guests!"
Chip and Dale rushed to the door and whined to be let out.  Clara
nodded.  "Outside?"  The two dogs bounced up an down in agreement. Clara
opened the door and they rushed outside eagerly.

    Kasumi had started backing away from the door as she saw Clara let
the dogs out of their cage.  Now she turned and ran.  The two dogs may
have been small compared to her human form, but as a cat they out massed
her considerably.  Chip and Dale chased Kasumi to the fence.  Kasumi
leaped to the top of it's six foot height and perched there
uncertainly.  The two dogs kept barking angrily and with a sigh, Kasumi
dropped to the outside of the fence, out of sight.  As she did so,
Kasumi heard the sprinklers cut off in the yard, apparently set for only
a short period.

    Kasumi shook her head.  < Right when I came outside... this really
is a curse.>

    In the yard, Chip and Dale stopped barking, having successfully
driven off the intruder.  They began to carefully patrol the yard,
looking and smelling for any traces of the cat.  Dale snorted happily as
he discovered Kasumi's dress.  It smelled of cat, and of that strange
woman that had smelled of cat.  It was still warm from her body heat,
and soft, so Dale dragged it off and stuffed it in his dog house, them
promptly laid down on his new blanket.  Chip joined him and the two dogs
curled up companionably on Kasumi's dress inside their little house.

    Kasumi frowned thoughtfully as she tried to decide what to do.  < I
know, I'll go around the block, and wait near the front door.  I can
even scratch at Johnathon's window, since the guest room is in the front
of the house.>

    Kasumi started down the block and turned a corner.  Johnathon's
parent's house was in the farthest back corner of a square of small
blocks.  A fence went all the way around it, and to get to the front of
the house, Kasumi needed to walk over four blocks if she wished to avoid
crossing through someone's yard.  It wasn't too far, and Kasumi didn't
want to risk running into any more dogs, so she kept to the sidewalk. As
Kasumi turned the second corner she was surprised to see a small flock
of ducks crossing the street in front of her.

    Kasumi hesitated, then slipped behind a shrub.  < I don't want to
scare the little ducks, and their mother might attack me.>  She watched
the ducks going by, then noticed a woman walking quietly up to her.  The
woman appeared non threatening and appeared to be watching the ducks as
well, so Kasumi let her get close rather than run away and spook the
baby ducklings.  As the last duck crossed the road, Kasumi slipped out
from behind the shrub, only to feel a large hand close over her neck and
lift her into the air.

    "Got you!"  The woman declared triumphantly.  "I wondered what had
been killing off those poor little ducks."

    Kasumi gasped for air and tried to squirm free, but the woman's
grasp was firm.  The woman carried Kasumi into her house and put her
down on a counter, still holding her securely.

    The woman picked up a phone and dialed.  "Hello?  Humane Society?
Yes, I've got a cat here.  It's been killing off the ducks for the last
few months... yes... yes...."  The woman answered some questions, gave
her address, then hung up.  She kept a firm grasp on Kasumi the whole
time, and the little black cat didn't move, hoping the woman would
release her for just a moment.

    Thirty minutes later, Kasumi sighed as she was deposited in a cage
in the Humane Society building.  < She never let go.  Now what am I
going to do?>

    Back in the guest room, Johnathon yawned and sat up, stretching.  He
looked around.  < Where did Kasumi go?>  He knew she was used to getting
up early, but they were guests.  < Kasumi probably offered to make
breakfast or something.>  From the light coming through the slats of his

room's curtain, Johnathon figured it to be almost an hour after dawn. He
dressed quickly and went to the bathroom for a quick shower and shave.

    Ranma had slept through the sounds of the dogs barking.  He did wake
up almost an hour later, to Akane shaking his shoulder.  Ranma blinked
and looked up at his fiancee.

    Akane was standing next to his sofa bed, wearing her gi.  "Come on,
Ranma, wake up.  I want to get some practice in before breakfast."

    Ranma shook his head blearily and yawned.  "Where?"

    Akane pointed.  "The backyard.  It's not as big as home, but it's
large enough."

    Ranma sat up and nodded.  "OK, you go warm up.  I'll be out in a
minute.

    Akane grinned and headed for the back door.  Ranma got out of bed
and quickly dressed in his favorite red shirt and black pants.  As he
headed for the back door himself, he spotted Johnathon's mother bringing
the dogs inside.

    Clara noticed him and smiled.  "Good morning, Ranma, would you like
some breakfast?"

    Ranma grinned, having gotten most of that sentence, and replied in
english.  "No problem, Mrs. Dwire, that sounds great!"

    Clara beamed.  "Good, what would you like?"

    Ranma blinked, his one well practiced phrase had worked, but now
what did he say?  "I... I eat anything, thank you."  He managed slowly.

    Clara smiled and nodded.  "Alright, I'll call you when breakfast is
ready."

    Ranma bowed swiftly and headed for the back door.  "Thanks!"  He
said as he went out into the yard.

    Akane was stretching on the porch and Ranma walked up to her,
rolling his shoulders and stretching out his arms.  "Ready?"

    Akane got to her feet.  "Sure... it's a bit damp out here... but it
should be fine."

    Ranma nervously checked the sky, it was clear.  "Yeah, no rain in
sight.  Let's go."

    Clara Dwire was getting eggs and bacon out of the refrigerator when
she heard the faint thumps coming from outside.  She walked up to the
kitchen window, and dropped half a dozen eggs in the sink.  Clara
watched in wide eyed shock as Ranma and Akane fought their way across
the backyard, punches and kicks flying.

    Mrs. Dwire quickly backed away from the window and headed down the
hall.  "Paul!  Johnathon!"

    Johnathon heard his mother shout and cut off the water in the
shower.  "What is it, mom?"  He said loudly.

    Clara ran up to the bathroom door where her son's voice had come
from.  "It's Ranma... and his fiancee... they're trying to kill each
other, outside!"

    Johnathon listened carefully.  < No walls being knocked down, and
Akane's not yelling.>  "No they're not, mom!  I'm sure they're just
practicing."

    Clara blinked.  "Practicing?"

    Johnathon sighed and started drying himself off quickly.  "Yes mom.
They're going to run a martial arts dojo, remember?  They practice every
day!"

    The door to Clara's right opened abruptly and Paul, her husband,
looked out blearily.  "What is it, Clara?  What's wrong?"  Clara shook
her head.  "It's alright, Paul.  It was nothing.  I was just a bit
startled."

    Paul stepped into the hall.  "Oh, what happened?"  He looked up,
past his wife as her heard the faint noises of hand to hand combat
coming from outside.  "What is that?  Sounds like someone's fighting in
the backyard."

    Johnathon opened the bathroom door, towel wrapped around his waist.
"Sorry about that.  I should have mentioned something earlier.  Ranma
and Akane tend to practice before breakfast.  Everything is alright, I'm
sure."

    Paul nodded.  "Oh, that's right.  They're going to be running a
martial arts school, aren't they?"

    Clara looked embarrassed.  "I'm sorry I startled everyone.  I was
just surprised when I saw them fighting outside."

    Johnathon nodded.  "Don't worry about it.  I should have said
something."

    He started to close the bathroom door.  "I'll be out in a couple
minutes."

    Paul shrugged and went back into the master bedroom.  Clara sighed
and started back for the kitchen.  She cleaned up the mess in the sink,
trying not to watch the two martial artists engage in what was, for
them, a relatively light sparring session.  To her it looked more like
life or death combat.

    Clara checked the remaining eggs and frowned lightly, remembering
Ranma's appetite at the restaurant.  "I'd better go shopping after
breakfast."

    Johnathon finished up in the bathroom and got fully dressed, then
headed out to the kitchen.

    As he got to the kitchen, Johnathon glanced around in confusion.
"Hey, mom, have you seen Kasumi this morning?"

    Clara looked at her son.  "No Johnathon.  I haven't seen her."

    Johnathon frowned and headed back for the guest room and opened the
door.  "Kasumi?"  There was no sign of her.  He checked the room Akane
had slept in, paused at the master bedroom but decided she wouldn't have
gone in there, then went quickly to check the garage.  "Nothing."  He
said quietly, and went out the side door into the backyard.  Johnathon
quickly searched the back yard, but there was no sign of his wife.  As
he looked around he noticed the grass was slightly wet.

    Johnathon interrupted Ranma and Akane's sparring session.  "Hey,
have either of you seen Kasumi?"  The two teenagers shook their heads.

    Akane spoke up.  "You don't know where she is?"

    Johnathon shook his head.  "I have no idea.  She's not in the house
anyway."  He glanced down at a small, black, plastic circle in the
grass.  Johnathon blinked, then squatted down.  "Sprinklers... these are
new...."  He stood.  "Kasumi might have gone walking and gotten wet.  We
should look for her.  She should have made it back by now."  He nodded
to Ranma.  "Ranma, stay here in case Kasumi returns.  Akane and I will
go looking for her."

    Ranma looked incredulous.  "What the heck?  Why am I staying
behind?"

    Johnathon shrugged.  "Someone has to, and we're not going to be
fighting anyone.  Besides, Akane's english is better that yours."

    Akane nodded.  "He's right, Ranma, someone has to stay."

    Ranma looked like he still wanted to protest.  "But... what do I
tell your parents, Johnathon?"

    The tall english teacher shrugged.  "That we've gone jogging...
improvise!"  He ran for the back fence and vaulted it with one hand.
Akane followed after, leaping over without touching.  Johnathon pointed
to the right.  "Go that way, follow the sidewalk until you reach the
house again.  I'll meet you on the other side.  He took off and Akane
did the same.

    Akane jogged steadily, keeping her eyes peeled for any sign of her
eldest sister.  As she rounded the second corner, Akane spotted a woman
weeding in her flower bed in her front yard.

    Akane paused in front of her, speaking slowly in her passable
english.  "Excuse me, but have you seen my sister?  She's about this
tall, and has long brown hair...."

    The woman listened politely, then shook her head.  "No, no one has
walked by here like that."

    Akane nodded.  'I see.  Have you seen a black cat?"

    The woman blinked.  "Yes, yes I have.  It was stalking the ducks.
I've noticed that several of them had been killed recently, and today I
spotted a black cat stalking them."

    Akane frowned in confusion.  "Excuse me.... Stalking?  Do you
mean... hiding from them?"

    The woman shook her head.  "No, stalking, it was hiding over by this
bush, watching them, then it came out after them.  I caught it and
called the Humane Society.  They picked it up half an hour ago."

    Akane's eyes widened.  "The Humane Society?  What did they do with
my sis... um, the cat?"

    The woman blinked again then shrugged.  "Took it away, like I said.
Is it your cat?  You really should keep it inside and not let it run
amok like that."

    Akane bowed curtly.  "Thank you.  Excuse me."  She hurried off,
heading at a dead run for Johnathon's parent's house.

    Johnathon was also at a dead run, for a different reason.  "Damn
sprinklers!"  He snarled for the second time in as many minutes.  < It's
just my luck.  Not thirty yards from the house when the sprinklers come
on.>  "hhuff"  < I turn and snarl at the sprinklers (real mature, that)
and notice I've just frightened a family coming out of their rear gate
to go on a walk, half to death.>  "Hhuuff"  < They start yelling and I
run for it, only to see a cop car pull up in front of me.>  "Hhufff"  <
I take a right, and head into the park, and scare half a dozen
joggers.>  "Haahha... here...."

    Johnathon reached the buildings he had been sprinting for and
leaped.  < Made it.  There's no way they could have followed me
here....>  He turned around to look down off the roof, catching his
breath.  The cop car was just out of sight at the edge of the park, it's
two occupants, however, were already halfway across.  < Oh good, I get
to have a couple track stars for cops.>  He turned and ran over the top
of the school building he had jumped onto.  < At least they haven't
started shooting yet.>

    Akane ran into the Dwire's house and glanced around.

    Ranma walked up and spoke quietly in japanese.  "Have you found
her?  Where's Johnathon?"

    Akane shook her head.  "No, but I think I found out what happened to
Kasumi."

    Clara walked up, speaking in english.  "Is everything alright?"

    Akane hesitated, then slowly nodded.  "Yes."  She answered in
english.  "Johnathon and Kasumi are out... walking.  I was going to ask
Ranma if... if he wanted to come with me."

    Ranma blinked, then nodded quickly.  "Yes, that is right.  Sure...
Akane... I go with...."

    Akane tried not to wince at his horrid english, and paused, suddenly
inspired.  "Johnathon said he was going to take Kasumi over to the
Humane Society, but he forgot to tell us where it is."

    Clara blinked.  "The Humane Society?  Why would they go there?"

    Akane shrugged noncommittally.  < I don't know, you tell me.>

    Clara looked thoughtful.  "Well, I believe I remember where it is,
let me think...."  Akane listened carefully to Clara's directions, then
she took Ranma quickly outside.

    Akane spoke seriously.  "Ranma, I'm going to go to the Humane
Society.  I think Kasumi was taken there.  Head Johnathon off before he
reaches home and have him follow me."

    Ranma frowned.  "Head him off?  What if he comes in the back?"

    Akane shrugged.  "You'll think of something."

    Ranma blinked.  "Sure... I'll think of something...."  Akane rolled
her eyes and jogged off.  Ranma stood there, trying to think.  < No how
can I head off Johnathon if he comes from the side of the house I'm not
on?>  Ranma looked up.  "That's it.  If I'm on the roof I can see in all
direction's at once, so I can spot him coming."  Ranma gathered himself
and promptly leaped up to the roof of the Dwire house.  Ranma glanced
around once and spotted something unusual.  A white and black car, with
a red and blue flashing light, sat on the street halfway down the block
on the other side of the fence.  < American police.  I wonder why
they're here?>

    Ranma peered down and spotted an officer talking to a family of four
on the sidewalk.  Further down the street, Ranma spotted a second police
car parked at the entrance to a park.

    < That's a lot of police.  I wonder what's going on.>  Ranma acted
on a hunch and crossed over from house to house, finally dropping down
behind the section of fence next to the family the policeman was talking
too.  He listened in on their conversation quietly.  The words were
flying quickly but Ranma made out, "Cat monster" and "ran into the
park."  Ranma sighed.  < Johnathon must have gotten splashed.  I'd
better go save him.>

    Ranma jumped over to the Dwire's back yard, ran in their back door
and zipped into the kitchen.  The Dwires were sitting down to breakfast
and looked at him in surprise.

    Clara spoke up.  "Ranma?  Not going with Akane?  Would you like some
breakfast?"

    Ranma hesitated, then shook his head.  "No... thank you.  I... I
just get drink... yes?"  He jumped over to the sink.  "Water!  I need
some water!"  The pig tailed martial artist grabbed a large glass off
the counter and turned on the sink to hot.  He put his back to the
faucet while the water heated up and smiled nervously at the two adults.

    Paul turned in his chair to look at him.  "So, Ranma, Clara says you
and Akane were practicing this morning?"

    Ranma nodded.  "Yes, practice everyday."  He turned around, checking
the water.  < Good, that's hot enough, I hope.>  He quickly filled the
glass and turned off the water.  "Thank you."  Ranma hurried out of the
kitchen and sprinted out the back door, holding the glass almost
vertical to keep from spilling it.

    Husband and wife blinked and looked at each other.

    "What was that all about?"  Paul wondered out loud.

    "I have no idea."  Clara replied with a shrug.  They never said when
they'd be back, either."  She sighed.

    Paul shrugged back.  "I guess that's a no on breakfast."

    Johnathon stood on the school building roof, trying to think of a
way out of the mess he was in.  < All the roof access's are locked
tight, and the police are looking for me below.  That is, if they're not

trying to get a ladder.  I could run for it, but I need to change back
before I go home.  If I go back down there and start running off, I'll
get spotted by even more people.>  He sighed and considered the lock on
the roof access door again.  < I don't want to commit a crime, but
breaking into the school and getting some hot water is probably my best
bet.>

    Just as Johnathon was getting ready to kick in the door, a familiar
figure in red and black hopped up on the roof nearby.  "Need help?"
Ranma said, smiling cockily and holding up a glass of water.

    Johnathon sighed in relief.  "Ranma, you're a life saver!"  He
wrinkled his brow.  "Where are the cops?"  Ranma pointed to the south.
Johnathon nodded and headed north.  "Great, we'll jump down, then I'll
change back."  He got to the north side of the building and looked down,
there was no one in sight.

    Ranma glanced at the glass, it was two thirds full from all the
running he'd been doing.  "Why don't we use it now.  If I jump down I
might lose more of it."

    Johnathon chewed on his lip and looked over the edge again.  "A
little over twenty feet.  Sure, I can do that."  Ranma carefully poured
the water over Johnathon's head.  The change seemed to take over a
second before it finally kicked in.

    Ranma blew out a relieved breath.  "Just barely hot enough."  He
wiped his brow and dropped off the building.  Johnathon climbed over the
ledge and hung from his hands before dropping the rest of the way,
landing easily.  Ranma shook his head faintly.  "Johnathon, you should
practice more with your human form.  You should have been able to take
that drop easily."

    Johnathon shrugged and glanced up at the roof.  "Maybe, I've done it
before... but I don't want to explain a twisted ankle to my folks."  He
looked serious.  "We'd better get out of here before we're spotted."
Ranma nodded and they started heading north, toward a nearby row of
houses.  Johnathon spoke quietly as they walked.  "Has Akane found
Kasumi yet?"

    Ranma shook his head.  "Nope, she said she thought Kasumi was at a
'Human Society'.  What is that, anyway?  Is it anything like the
Jusenkyo society?"

    Johnathon's eyes widened.  "That's where they take stray dogs and
cats, Ranma.  Did Akane say where?

    Ranma nodded and slowly repeated the directions Johnathon's mother
had given them.

    Johnathon nodded.  "I know where that is, it's not too far.  Let's
go!"

    Akane grinned to herself as she spotted the sign reading 'Animal
Shelter'.  < Ha.  I got here without getting lost once.  Ranma couldn't
have managed that!>  She went up to the front door and her jaw dropped.

    Ranma noticed the door opening behind him and turned to greet her.
"Hey, Akane, it's about time you got here."

    Akane blinked.  < How did he...?>  Then she spotted Johnathon
talking to a woman at the desk.  "Oh, John-san brought you here."

    Ranma nodded.  "Yup.  I noticed he was in trouble and I rescued him,
then we came here."  Ranma turned back to his sensei and friend,
noticing him coming over from the desk.  "So, is Kasumi here?"

    Johnathon's face was glassy.  "She was... but...."

    Akane broke in, worried.  "But?!  But what?!?"

    Johnathon looked at Akane, still in shock.  "Kasumi's been...
adopted."

                    End: A Different Viewpoint:  American Vacation pt 2


I hope you liked it!  C&C is always welcome!
You can find the rest of this story at:
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Dojo/1449/