-- Attached file included as plaintext by Listar --
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There was a boy...
a very strange enchanted boy.
They say he wandered very far, very far
over land and sea.
A little shy and sad of eye
but very wise was he.
And then one day
one magic day he passed my way.
And we spoke of many things
fools and kings.
This he said to me,
"The greatest thing you'll ever learn
is just to love and be loved in return."
Saotome's Choice
by JP Buckner
ajaff@poky.srv.net
http:\\onewest.net\~ajaff\manff.htm
Chapter One - A Fateful Decision
Insert typical Ranma 1/2 disclaimer here. You know the drill.
"Nature Boy" lyrics by Eden Ahbez
"Take it Easy" lyrics by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey
Tendo Kasumi smiled.
This was nothing new to anyone who knew Kasumi. Many people had
experienced Kasumi's smile, and been captivated by it on countless occasions.
It was known that when Tendo Kasumi smiled it was time that all arguments, all
jealousies, all petty feuds take a back seat. At this time, everyone was to stop
and be civil with each other, if for only one moment in time. There were many
special attacks, martial arts techniques, ki blasts, not to mention mallets that
seemed to appear out of thin air. None of these stood up to the challenge of
Kasumi's smile.
But this smile was different. This smile was not meant to diffuse tempers, to
end hostilities, to make her family home peaceful. There was no glomping
master to appease, no emotional father or no fuming sister to calm down.
No, for today, for this moment none of that mattered. Today her sisters were
gone, out on a shopping spree. Her father and "uncle" were gone, out to
drink and in all likelihood plot to bring their children closer to matrimony. "The
Master" was gone, off to who knows where. Kasumi didn't know, didn't want
to know, didn't in the slightest care. She was just glad he was gone. And
Ranma, well, Ranma did not leave with the rest, but Kasumi knew Ranma. He
would not stay cooped up in the house too long. He would find something to
do outside of the house. Maybe he would practice in the dojo, perhaps go
and find a friend to talk to, pal around with. No, she knew Ranma was
already off somewhere, maybe Ucchans or off to find Ryoga or maybe visiting
over at the Nekohanten. No, Kasumi thought to herself, Ranma was too wild,
too much like his name implied, to stay in the house on such a fine day like
today.
So Kasumi had the whole house to herself. Nobody around to supervise.
Nobody around to put on her 'mother' face for. For once, for the first time in a
long time, Tendo Kasumi wasn't the happy homemaker, the steady and calm
influence on everybody around her. For once, Kasumi could relax and be
herself, although she quite wasn't sure of who that was anymore. She had
played her role too well, too long, and was afraid it was a role she would
forever be stuck playing.
She once again smiled, not for anyone else, but for herself. She wasn't sure of
what she was going to do on this day, her day, but that was the point wasn't it?
She could do anything (well, within reason of course), anything that she
wanted to do, not what her family needed her to do. Kasumi knew that the
difference was small, but important. It wasn't that she hated her role, she loved
her family too much, far too much, not to do what was necessary to keep them
together, keep them a family.
Kasumi headed out of her room, walking with an unsure step. Downstairs she
knew she could figure out what to do next. There she was comfortable. There
she could find whatever it was she was looking for, yearning for. She took
a cautious step down the hall and towards the stairs that separated the two
levels of her house, her home. Tentatively, she walked down the steps, each
step bringing her closer to her destination, her day, her freedom.
As she reached the bottom of the step she stopped, in surprise. She saw him
sitting there. He was looking out into the yard, towards the pond, a place he
knew well, far too well. She couldn't see his face, but from way he sat, she
knew something was wrong. He did not sit with the cocky bravado he normally
holds himself with. He did not sit with the macho, at times arrogant pose that
he has, even while sitting. Instead he sat with an almost serious, dare she think
reflective gait about him. Something was most definitely wrong, something
was bothering him, that she could tell without even seeing his eyes and it
was something serious. She wondered what to do now. Should she go to him,
should she try to help him. No, she thought, he probably would refuse her
help. He never was good at sharing his thoughts, his feelings, not to his
father, not to her, not to Akane. After a moment of standing there, she turned
around and decided to leave him to himself. She began to climb up the stairs as
quietly as she could. She stopped when she heard him speak up, in what
sounded like a low whisper.
"Kasumi? Please... stay. Ya think ya could stay, for a moment?"
She turned around and saw him, saw his face watching her. She saw the
expression on his face, one she wasn't used to seeing on that face. His face
was usually stuck in one of two ways, brash arrogance or pained frustration.
This was different, this was new. And the eyes, the eyes, those wonderful
expression filled eyes. They told the story, even if nothing else about him
did. She saw, and she knew, for she knew that emotion all too well. She had
seen it on far too many faces in her life, and now she saw it on possibly the last
face she ever expected to see it on. She saw one word, one thought that told
much. Way too much.
Loneliness.
She knew in an instant he wanted, no he needed to talk. To her. To somebody.
He was hurting, and was hurting bad. Right now he needed to open up, to
share, something that wasn't easy for him. It wasn't easy for him at all
considering his upbringing.
And he wanted to tell her. To share with her.
Kasumi smiled, this time for him, this time to ease his hurting, his pain. She
smiled and she said, "Of course, Ranma, I'll stay, if you want me too."
He smiled back, and nodded in appreciation, in warmth.
In hope.
She sat down next to him, waiting, knowing he had to start this. She knew
she couldn't force this out of him. She had gained a knowledge, an
understanding of how to deal with people. She knew how to help them, how to
guide them to do what they wanted to do, what they needed to do. Years of
being a substitute mother to her family had taught her all this and more. She
waited, because she knew that trying to force this out of him would never
work. He was too stubborn to be forced into something, even if it was
something he wanted to do. Her father never understood that, neither did
his. And Akane? Akane was the same way as Ranma, couldn't they see that?
Couldn't her family understand that? So she waited, and watched, as the
emotions on his face betrayed him. He was unsure that he wanted to speak,
even though he knew he had to, had to say something to somebody.
"It is okay Ranma. Whenever you're ready to talk, I will not rush you. I
understand this must be difficult for you. It is all right, I will not think any less
of you for what you have to say."
He looked at her as she said this, exhaling a held breath as he did. Those
words, those words seemed to help. He was always concerned on how other
people viewed him. Overly concerned, Kasumi thought. The curse, that
horrible curse that his father was responsible for saddling him with did
not help. She smiled again and added, "You are a fine young man, Ranma.
Nothing you could tell me would make me feel any different."
This helped. A lot. Ranma began to talk. He told her things, things she knew
he never told anyone else. He spoke for what seemed like hours, stopping
only occasionally when he got to a part that seemed especially difficult. At
times Kasumi gave him assurance, gave him understanding. She let him know
she was listening, truly listening, and understanding what he was telling her.
And it saddened her. It was hard, real hard to keep her true emotions hidden
off her face as he told her. But she had too, for his sake. She couldn't let him
know how she really felt about this, how much it sadden her, how much it hurt
her to hear these things. So she concentrated on two emotions that were very
strong while hearing this.
Concern
And sympathy.
He neared the end of his talk, and looked at her and smiled, "I'm sorry
Kasumi, sorry I burdened ya with such stuff. I know ya must think I'm a bit
of a fool for feelin' this way, but.."
"No, Ranma, you are not a fool, you are not weak or anything like that."
Kasumi hated to interrupt people, but felt she had to in this instance. "You
are a human being, with the normal feelings and needs that any human being
has. There is nothing wrong with feeling this way. But Ranma, I think you are
wrong about this. Everybody else doesn't see you this way. You have friends,
you have people who care for you.."
This time it was Ranma who interrupted. "No, Kasumi, I don't. Outside of
you, Doc Tofu and.." Ranma paused for a second, then continued, "her,
everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY sees me as something other than a
person, other than a human being. I'm a thing to them, Kasumi, nothing more
than a thing! I'm an Airen, a son-in-law, a vile sorcerer, a pervert, a freeloader,
an heir, a walking talking cash machine. I'm a fiancee, a rival, a
'Ranma-sama', a 'Ranchan', an enslaver of women, a baka. I'm a laughing
stock, Kasumi. I'm Saotome Ranma, instant punchline, just add water!"
Ranma paused for a moment before continuing. "You know Kasumi, I heard a
song the other day, A song I thought was very appropriate for my
circumstance. Just the first few lines, the first few lines...I heard those
words and I thought, that's me it's about. That's me 'n Shampoo 'n Ucchan
'n Akane. It was a song by some American band, The Eagles I think their name
was, and ya know how the song started?"
Kasumi shook her head, she knew some American music, even some from this
band, but which song could he be talking about?
"Kasumi, the song goes..."
And Ranma began to sing, actually sing the words and Kasumi almost thought
she could hear the music behind the words.
"Well I'm running down the road
trying to loosen my load
I've got seven women on my mind.
Four that want to own me
Two that want to stone me
One says she's a friend of mine."
Ranma stopped singing and continued his talk. "Don't ya see, Kasumi?
Shampoo, she wants to own me. Akane, she wants to stone me. And she has,
on more than one occasion." Ranma stopped and held his hand to his head, as
if checking for fresh mallet bumps. "And Ucchan? Kasumi, ya see? None of
them, Kodachi included, Kodachi especially, are interested in Saotome
Ranma, human being. To Shampoo, I'm the warrior who bested her in combat,
and who she must marry because of that stupid law. To Ucchan, I'm the little
boy she was once engaged to, the boy who ran away from her and made her
life hell, the boy who called her cute. And Akane? I'm the freak, the pervert,
the cockroach she's stuck with because of family honor. I'm the nightmare
she's engaged to against her will. She'd love nothing more than to see me vanish
off the face of the earth, so she can have her nice normal pervert-free life
again."
A sad sigh escaped from Kasumi's mouth. "No, Ranma, Akane doesn't feel that
way about you. She cares for you, really she does. She just doesn't show it very
well. It's the pressure you know, of my father and yours, trying to push you two
together at every instance. She really does care, really, Ranma."
Ranma shook his head in sadness, "No, Kasumi, she doesn't. She's constantly
insulting me, hurting me. She never listens to a word I say. And if she does, she
turns my words around, makes them into something sick, perverted. She never
believes me. She's told she hates me to my face. I've heard her say it on
several occasions when she didn't know I was listening. So don't tell me she
doesn't hate me."
Yet one more sigh escaped Kasumi's lips. "Face it Ranma, you are not exactly
the kindest person to her at all times either. You say she insults you. Well, you
insult her right back. You're constantly deriding her, to her face, and even when
you think she's not around, but sometimes she is, Ranma, sometimes she is.
Now be honest with me Ranma, really be honest. How do you feel about her?
How do you really feel? None of the lies, sidestepping or any other foolishness.
You have been completely honest with me these last few minutes. Now tell me."
Ranma looked down at his hands, watching his fingers as they engaged in some
meaningless exercise. He sat there for a moment before answering. "I ... care
for her, Kasumi, I do care. She can be so nice, and so kind, and I love her
spirit, and her strength, and at the same time on how vulnerable she can
sometimes be. I love her smile. Man, she has the most amazing smile I've ever
seen.
"The first day, Kasumi, the first day, when she thought I was a girl and asked if
I wanted to be friends and she smiled at me...I think...I think I fell in love with
her that very moment. I had been on the road for so long, never staying in any
place long enough to make friends. Most people shied away from me,
probably 'cause I could fight so well and I think they were a little afraid of me.
And that first day, and I was a girl, and all of you were disappointed because
the boy who one of you was gonna to be engaged to was a girl. Well, she
didn't care. She came to me and looked at me straight in the eyes and she
wanted to be my friend. My friend.
"I had just recently been cursed. I spent two weeks on the road running
from a crazed amazon who wanted to kill me. My self-esteem was shot to hell.
My manhood was in serious question. I was thinking so little of myself at
the time, and she wanted to be my friend. I love her, Kasumi, I really do
love her."
Kasumi watched as Ranma looked down in obvious pain, the hurt he was
feeling and the emotions he was sharing, something he wasn't used to doing.
She knew it was something he was taught to surpress. Kasumi also knew
Ranma loved Akane. She knew it from the very beginning. She saw the pain in
his eyes that night, after Akane walked in on Ranma in the bath and screamed
her head off. She knew he felt he betrayed her, even though it wasn't his fault.
She knew, just by the way he watched Akane as they sat down and listened
to Uncle Saotome tell the story of Jusenkyo, she knew. That was why she
was so quick to insist that Akane was the obvious choice as Ranma's fiancee.
It wasn't the curse, it wasn't the fact that Kasumi was older than Ranma, it
wasn't any of that. It was never any of that.
Kasumi reached out and took Ranma's hand in hers. With her free hand guided
his face to look up at her, so that they were looking eye to eye.
"Ranma, have you ever tried being nice to Akane? Stopping all the name calling,
the wisecracks. Have you ever tried actually talking to her about this, and how
you really feel."
Ranma looked down, as though he was ashamed to look Kasumi in the eyes,
"I've ...tried. I know I've tried. Kasumi, that first day, that very first day, when
you and Nabiki made Akane my fiancee, you remember that day?"
"Yes, Ranma, I remember. In fact, I was just thinking about that day."
"Well, when you did that, remember how Akane reacted. She lost it. She said
there was no way she would ever marry that ... that... pervert."
Ranma paused for a second, a tear starting to form around his eye. "Do you
realize how that made me feel, when she said that! For the previous two weeks,
I had felt like a joke, a freak. I wasn't a man anymore, I wasn't much of
anything anymore. Then she befriended me, and it all went away. It just went
away. This great, kind, cute girl saw me not as a freak, but as a friend. I felt the
weight of the world, even the weight of the curse off my shoulders. But it
couldn't last, it just couldn't last.
"When she called me a pervert, it all came crashing back, ten times harder than
ever before, 'Cause it just wasn't anyone saying it, it was someone who just a
few moments ago saw me as a friend. I was hurt, and angry, and then I did
something really stupid. I wish I could take it back, but I know I never can.
Never. I fought back, not with fists, not with The Art, but with words, and
sometimes words hurt harder than punches.
"Kami, if I could go back and change one thing, just one thing, it would be that.
It wouldn't be falling into the spring, not the Amazons, not Ryoga, not any of
that. I would change that one moment. I wouldn't lash out at her. But I did. And
ever since, it's been like a vicious cycle we can't break. She insults me, and I
hurt. I insult her, and I hurt some more.
"Whenever I try not to insult her, to be nice to her, do you know what happens?
Does she understand what I'm trying to do? No, either she thinks I'm sick or
that I'm up to something. And when I try to explain it, she doesn't listen, or if
she listens she doesn't believe me. She thinks it was some sick ploy that I was
up to. Trust me, Kasumi, I've been down this road before, it doesn't work.
Nothing works. Nothing ever will."
Ranma sat back, a dejected look on his face, a face of total defeat. He
continued, "I can't live this way anymore, Kasumi, I just can't. I know what I
need to do, but that scares me, that scares me even more than not doing it. I'm
trapped, Kasumi, and I don't know the way out. Or rather, I do know the way
out, but I'm afraid of what lies out there. There's a part of me that wants to go
out to her, to be with her, but I'm afraid, Kasumi, I'm so afraid."
Kasumi squeezed Ranma's hand slightly, ever so slightly, and smiled once again.
This time it was a smile of understanding and of hope. "I do understand,
Ranma, I really do. I don't blame you for wanting to do this, but please, think
about it some more, please. Give this place, this family, my sister, one more
chance, one more try. Try to be nicer to her, please, not just for a minute, or
an hour, or a day, but as standard Ranma procedure. Ranma, not everyone
thinks of you as a thing, you just have to give them the benefit of the doubt.
You have friends and family who care for you. I would hate to see you lose all
of that because you think differently. Promise me, Ranma, I know you are a
man of your word, promise me you'll give us all one more chance."
Ranma sat there motionless, as if coming to a great decision, an important
decision. Then he relaxed and answered, "I will promise, Kasumi, if you
promise one thing in return."
Kasumi's eyes shot up in curiosity, "Wha.. what, Ranma, do you want me to
promise?"
"Promise me you won't speak of this to anyone. And I mean anyone. Not your
father, not your sisters, not anyone."
Ranma sat there patiently awaiting Kasumi's answer, one that came after a
moment.
"I promise, Ranma, not to tell anyone about this, until you give me permission to
do so."
Ranma smiled at this, and nodded his head, "And I promise, Kasumi, I
promise that I will try to work it out here, to work it out with Akane. But
Kasumi, if things don't get better, if I feel this isn't working, if I can't take
another moment of it, then I'm gone, I'm gone, and I'm not looking back. And
if I do this, please don't think me weak for doing so."
"No Ranma, I won't think you are weak. If you feel you have to do this, I will
understand. I will think no less of you than I ever have and I have never thought
of you as any but a fine young man. But I will be sad, sad to think of what you
are doing, not only to yourself, but to the rest of us. I like you, and I respect
you, and I think you will be a fine brother-in-law and a good husband to Akane,
if you just give it the chance."
Ranma began to respond, but was interrupted by the sounds of people outside.
Not just any people, but two people especially. They were discussing this
purchase and that, not to mention the various items not purchased.
Nabiki and Akane were home, and Ranma quickly jumped up and headed
towards his room before either saw him. His door closed just as the front door
opened up.
"Hi, Kasumi, we're back! What a day, I'm almost all worn out." Kasumi
noticed the huge smile on Akane's face as she said this. Yes, she seemed to
have a good day. Nabiki looked to be in pretty good spirits as well.
"Yep, I feel so good about haggling down the price on that sweater I really
wanted. Not to mention those American jeans. I just can't believe how much
they wanted for them. They didn't want to bargain, but when Tendo Nabiki
has her mind set on something, well, you should think all those salesgirls
would have learned by now?"
Akane began to giggle, "Oh, and thanks, sis, for helping get the best price
on that sundress. I don't know what I would have done without you."
"You never do, Akane, you never do," Nabiki smiled. "So, where is everyone
else? Pop and Mr. Saotome are probably up to something stupid, like usual."
'They went out right after the two of you left, Nabiki," Kasumi replied,
"and Ranma, I think he's in his room."
"Well," Akane mused, "I guess I'll go put my stuff away. Kasumi, would you
like me to help with dinner tonight?"
Kasumi noticed that Nabiki was close to hyperventilating at the very thought.
"No, Akane, that's sweet of you, but I'll be able to manage just fine."
Nabiki gave a low mutter, "That was close."
The mutter wasn't low enough, as Akane turned to her sister and demanded,
"Now what was THAT supposed to mean?"
"Nothing sis. It's just that after our little shopping spree, I don't think we can
afford to have Ranma's stomach pumped anytime in the near future."
Kasumi could begin to see a red aura surround Akane, and decided it was time
to stop this before it went too far. "Now, Nabiki, that was not very nice. Akane
tries so hard in her cooking. Akane, maybe later this week you can help me
with a meal. Just promise to follow my instructions, okay?"
Akane began to calm down, "All right, Kasumi. I'm heading upstairs." And
with that, Akane stayed true to her word, and went to her room.
Kasumi sat hard in thought. She had promised Ranma not to talk about this,
but she felt something needed to be done. After a while, a serious look graced
her face, and she headed upstairs, towards Akane's room.
Outside Akane's door, she stopped. Just as her hand stopped short of knocking
on the door, she closed her eyes and thought one last time about this. A
promise is a promise, but she could not sit by and watch this happen without
doing something. Eventually she knocked.
She heard Akane respond from inside, "Yes?"
"Akane, it's me. Can I come in? I'd like to talk to you about something."
"Of course, Kasumi. Come on in."
Kasumi opened the door and went inside. She saw Akane sitting on the bed,
holding a new yellow blouse, one Kasumi thought would look good on her
little sister.
"Kasumi, you seem worried about something, what's going on?"
Kasumi sat in a chair by Akane's desk. "Akane, we need to talk about Ranma."
Akane gave her sister a quizzical look, "Why? Did he do something I should
know about while I was gone?"
Kasumi shook her head, "Nothing like that, Akane."
Akane's right eyebrow went up, "Then what, sis?"
Kasumi paused, thinking on how to approach this without breaking her promise.
"Akane, I think it would be a good idea if you started being nicer to Ranma.
I think it would be a very good idea."
"Nicer to that baka? He's the one that always starts something between us.
Why should I play all nicey-nice to him?"
Kasumi looked at her youngest sister and knew this wasn't going to be easy.
But somehow she had to get this across.
"It is very important, Akane. Ranma's going through a very tough time right
now, and he could use all the help he can get."
"A tough time, Kasumi? Now what, has he gotten himself another fiancee?"
Kasumi could begin to see Akane's blood boil.
"No, Akane, nothing like that. He just needs a little friendship and understanding
right now, that's all."
'And why's that, Kasumi? What kind of mess has he gotten himself into this
time? You know something, Kasumi, so tell me." Akane looked her sister
straight in the eye, with a steel gaze that told Kasumi she meant business.
"No, Akane, I will not tell you why. I made a promise, and unlike some people
I know..." Kasumi paused for effect, "I keep my promises. And you cannot ask
Ranma about this either, it will just make things worse."
"You promised? But Kasumi, if it's important, surely you can tell me.."
"No, Akane, I cannot. Listen to me, Akane, it is important that you start treating
Ranma better. You need to give him a chance. It is important that you are
patient with him, and that you do not jump to conclusions." Kasumi gave Akane
a stern look back. Two can play at that game.
Akane flinched. "Okay, Kasumi, if you think it's important. I'll try. But if that
baka does something really stupid, I won't sit back and do nothing about it. But
I'll try."
Kasumi gave her younger sister a grin. "All anyone can ask is that you try,
Akane. Now you think about what I said, and maybe we will talk again later,
okay?"
Akane nodded and gave a small smile. Kasumi got up and left the room....
To find Nabiki in the hall outside of it. Nabiki gave her 'what's going on' look
and asked her older sister, "Okay, Kasumi, what gives?"
"Nabiki, that was not very nice of you to eavesdrop."
"Can it, Kasumi, you should know me by now. If there's a secret with Ranma,
you might as well tell me. You know I'll find out sooner or later."
Kasumi paused, then answered her sister. "Let us talk about this in my room.
We don't need anyone else listening in. Fortunately, not everyone is as curious
as you are."
"Sure they are, Kasumi. Everyone is. They just aren't as upfront about it as I
am. But we'll play it your way, lead on."
Kasumi nodded and entered her room, with Nabiki following right behind. The
two found a place to sit, before Nabiki could keep in it any longer. :"All right,
out with it."
"Nabiki, if you heard everything I told Akane, then you know I made a promise.
And I will NOT break that promise to you any more than I would break it to
Akane. You are just going to deal with having this secret kept from you."
Nabiki's eyes narrowed and the look on her face became even more serious
than before. "Kasumi, you are my older sister and all. But I INSIST that you
tell me what is going on here. Or..."
Kasumi shook her head. "Or what, Nabiki? What are you going to do,
blackmail me? With what?"
Nabiki froze for a second before responding. "Look, I have every right to know
what's going on in this household. I am responsible for the financial well-being
of the family, you know that as well as I. I HAVE to know what is going on
here to best deal with that."
Kasumi once more shook her head. "This is not a financial matter, and I will not
let it become one. I made a promise, and I keep my promises. My word means
something to me.
"Further more, I asked Akane to try to be nicer to Ranma. I am going to ask the
same of you. It is time to stop these foolish games you play with him. You have
no idea of the seriousness of the situation."
"I have no idea because you won't tell me!" Nabiki's voice was firm. "As far as
being nicer to that freeloader...Look, Kasumi, I like the guy, but our family was
already in financial straights before he and his lunkhead father came to live off of
us. What I do to Ranma you may see as a cruel little game, but the money that
comes to us because of it is necessary to keep us together. You know darned
well that Father hasn't made much from the dojo ever since..." Nabiki paused,
unable to finish the thought.
Kasumi gave her sister a harsh look. "Nabiki, raising money to keep this house
going is one thing. But the way you are doing it..."
Nabiki interrupted, "Now listen to me, Kasumi. I do not tell you how to take
care of our home, and you most certainly do not tell me how to keep it our
home. I do what I do because I have to. If someone's feelings gets hurt, if
someone gets a little embarrassed by it, too bad. Our family comes first."
Nabiki stood up, and headed towards the door. "Okay, sis, you want to keep
this a secret from me, fine. I am very good at finding out secrets. I will know
what is going on here, sooner or later. Now THAT is a promise. And like you,
I keep my promises."
As her sister left the room, Kasumi looked down towards the floor and
whispered to no one in particular, "Please, let this work out. Please.."
****************************************************
A couple weeks passed, and for awhile, things were different. Ranma and
Akane both tried to get along with the other. Not much was said between the
two, but both kept the insults and wisecracks down to a minimum.
But all good things can't last, especially with the assorted cast of characters that
graced their lives. It didn't take long before the two were at it once again, as
though nothing had changed. One Amazon visit here, one P-Chan incident
there, and the two were back to square one. Kasumi was disappointed at this
turn of events, but she still hoped that things wouldn't come to such a head that
there would be no turning back.
Then one day....
****************************************************
"Good afternoon, Ranma."
Kasumi put on her typical cheery smile for Ranma. The youngsters had just
started summer break, and everyone was home for lunch.
"Afternoon, Kasumi. So, what's for lunch? I'm starvin'!"
A voice from the kitchen replied, "I'm so glad to hear that Ranma. I made a
special lunch just for you. I'll have in there for you in just a second.":
Ranma slumped and quietly said, "Me and my big mouth." He knew whose
voice that was, and what it meant.
And sure enough, in walked Akane. She was carrying a plate of...something.
Ranma couldn't be quite sure what it was. She placed it before him, stood back
and crossed her arms waiting. "Well, are you going to try it?"
Ranma looked down at the....food. If you could call it that. Ranma had never
seen food quite that color before. And just what were those small black things
that seemed to pepper the food. Ranma knew that considering the cook,
pepper would be the last thing it would be. He gulped.
"Well??????" Akane stared down at him with impatience.
Ranma raised his chopsticks and slowly raised some of the..stuff to his mouth.
Closing his eyes Ranma also tried to close his nose. As it got closer to his nose
it seemed to have an odor that reminded Ranma of an experience he had in a
village that was without indoor plumbing.
The food reached his mouth. It entered. He swallowed. His eyes opened wide,
bulging so wide he almost felt like he was in one of those anime programs he
had seen. His throat caught fire. His stomach, he didn't want to think about what
his stomach was doing.
"Well? Do you like it?" Akane asked, obviously ignorant of the signs of distress
that crept along Ranma's face.
"Uhh, uhh, I've never tasted anything like this before," Ranma tried not to tell
Akane he thought it tasted like something one would find in a refinement plant.
"Really? I'm so glad you like it. Go ahead and eat up Ranma, there's plenty
more in the kitchen. I know what a big eater you are."
Kasumi shook her head. Looking at her younger sister, she just couldn't
understand how she could be such a bad cook. It wasn't for lack of trying on
her part. If anything, she tried too hard. Kasumi looked back towards Ranma
and could see that he was quite ill.
"Excuse me just a sec." Ranma got up and started running towards the
bathroom. He didn't make it however, and before you could say Jackie
Robinson-san, a smattering of food plus assorted gastric juices graced the
floorway in the Tendo hall.
Nabiki walked by at this moment, and looked down at the mess. Shaking her
head, she brought her head up to look at Ranma and mused, "It's colorful,
Ranma, I'll give you that. But is it art?"
"Ranma!!! If you didn't like it, why didn't you just say so in the first place?"
Akane had followed him down the hall, and was now staring poisoned tipped
daggers at him.
"Cause ya would have flown off the handle like you always do, you stupid
tomboy! I was just tryin' not to get clobbered!" Ranma had his back to the
wall, trying to keep his equilibrium better than he had kept his lunch. "Come
on, Akane, I try to be nice to ya, and you act like this?"
'THIS is your idea of being nice? You wanted to avoid a clobbering? Too bad,
because that is what you're going to get!" And with that, Akane picked up a
nearby lamp and proceeded to pound Ranma's lights out. After a couple of hits,
Akane then picked Ranma up by the shirt and threw him out the door. The
resulting splash heard from outside told everyone where Ranma had landed.
A moment later, a very wet, and very irate redhead stormed into the house. Her
blue eyes were flaring, partly with anger. Partly with a touch of sadness.
Eventually, she spoke up.
"Enough! I have just had enough! I can't take this anymore!"
"You've had enough?" Akane wasn't going to let Ranma get out of this easy.
"Ever since you showed up at my door, I've had more than enough. You're an
egotistical, cold hearted jerk, and I wish I had never met you! I wish I was
never engaged to you!"
"That can be arranged, if that's what you really want, Akane." Ranma looked
square into Akane's eyes, the blue eyes focused with resolve.
Kasumi saw the look, and began to worry. ":Ranma, calm down, we can work
this all out. There is no need..."
"Yes, there is a need!" Interrupting her sister, Akane returned Ranma's glare,
steel eyes to steel eyes. "Read my lips, Ranma. I don't want to be engaged to
you. I never wanted to be engaged to you. As far as I am concerned, our
engagement is over!"
Ranma paused for a second, and Kasumi could tell Ranma was seriously
thinking about this. How this was dealt with would make the difference. She
only hoped that Ranma would make the right decision. Everyone knew that
Akane had said these words before, but in time they would always be forgotten.
But this time....
Ranma exhaled a deep breath. "Fine by me. I wholeheartedly agree. We are no
longer engaged."
At that everyone in the room did a double take, Akane included. Ranma had
never reacted to Akane's words like that before. Akane's eyes glazed over,
wondering what Ranma was up to.
"From this moment,' Ranma continued, "we are no longer tied to each other. We
are no longer engaged. We have no say or involvement with the other. We are
just two total strangers.
"You are free, Akane. You are free of this pervert, this nightmare.
Congratulations, you have your life back."
Ranma paused for a second, collecting her breath. "And now, if everyone will
excuse me, I am going up to my room to pack."
"Ranma?" Akane was stunned, and she couldn't get any words out other than
that one name.
But others had words to say.
"Boy, just where to you think you are going?" Genma's eyes narrowed, as he
stood up to confront his son.
"Son. we can work this out together. We've been through far worse than this,
just take a moment and calm down." Soun tried to keep calm, seeing that his
friend was more than riled up enough for the both of them. "There is no reason
for you to leave this house."
"Yes, there is," Ranma spit back. "Now that I am no longer engaged to your
daughter, there is no reason for me to stay here."
Genma's face was scrunching up, his eyes turning red in anger. "The engagement
is not over, boy! You are bound by family honor..."
Ranma's aura began to flare. "Honor? What do YOU know about honor, old
man? Was it honorable to run out on Mom all those years ago? Was it
honorable to sell me for some fish?"
"Don't forget the rice and two pickles," Nabiki added.
Ranma glared over at Nabiki, shutting her up. Then she turned back to her
father. "Was it honorable to do what you did to Ucchan? Is it honorable to lie,
cheat and steal from people just to feed your stomach? Is it honorable to lie and
hide from Mom? It is honorable to convince ME to hide and lie to my own
mother?
"You wouldn't know honor if it bit you in your furry butt! You talk about honor
all the time, but when it gets in the way of something you want, you forget all
about honor."
"Listen, boy, I am your father and you will treat me with the respect I'm due."
"Respect you're due? Heck, Kuno deserves more respect than you. He may be
a pompous perverted jerk, but at least he has some idea of honor.
"Now, as far as the engagement, it's over Pop. Ya heard Akane. Not just today,
but all those other times. She's repulsed by me, Pop. What are you going to do,
force a girl to marry some guy she can't even be in the same room with without
being sick?"
Akane couldn't believe this. She couldn't believe that Ranma thought that she
found him repulsive She couldn't fathom that he believed all those things she had
said. She wanted to tell him so much, to tell him that she didn't find him repulsive.
But in her state of shock, the words would not come.
Instead, all that came out of her mouth was, "No, Ranma, I..."
"Now, let's not be hasty son." Soun was beginning to see his dream of having an
heir fall apart, and had to try to do something. "You are required to marry one
of my daughters. If not Akane, then you can still be engaged to Kasumi or
Nabiki. There is no reason for you to leave."
"Won't work, Mr. Tendo. One, both Kasumi and Nabiki rejected me once, the
day I first came here. Two, Kasumi has her eyes set..." Ranma paused for a
second, considering her words carefully for once, "on someone else. Three, I
was engaged to Nabiki once, let's not forget. I have no desire to go through
THAT again."
A lone tear found Nabiki's eyes, "Gee, Ranma, am I that really that bad?"
Ranma glanced over towards Nabiki. "Nice try, Nabiki, but I ain't gonna be
fooled by your actin' again."
Turning her attention back to Tendo Soun, Ranma continued, "Let's face it Mr.
Tendo, it's over. You'll have to find someone else to take over your dojo. You
should break down and just let Akane run it herself, she sure hits hard enough."
Akane began feeling anger rise from that, but her shock kept her from saying or
doing anything. She just continued to stand in the middle of the room, frozen like
a statue.
Ranma began to head towards the stairs, when Genma jumped into the way.
"Ranma," the elder Saotome sternly stated, "you are not leaving here. If you try
to leave, you will have to go through me."
Ranma gave her father a hard look. All of a sudden, a wry smile crossed her
lips. "Fine, old man. If that's the way you want it, that's the way you'll get it."
Ranma took a stance, eyeing her father with determined eyes. "Anytime you're
ready, old man."
Genma huffed and leaped towards his child. Before he reached her, Ranma
yelled something and began to attack. What Ranma yelled stunned those in the
house. They knew how powerful this was, and the fact that she was about to use
this against her father meant that she was serious.
"Kachuu Tenshin Amaguriken!!!"
The speed of Ranma's attack was unparalleled. Her hands moved at a speed
none of the Tendos had seen, even during her fights with Cologne or Ryoga.
Genma never stood a chance.
Before anyone could respond, Genma was in a heap in one corner. He was still
conscious, though just barely. Genma tried to stand, but could not. He began to
groan, trying to count his blessings. One, he was conscious. Two, he was
human. Three....well, Genma couldn't think past two right now.
"Now, does anyone else want to try to stop me?" Ranma gave the Tendo family
a look that shook them to their bones. Soun cowered and began to cry. Nabiki
was speechless. Akane moved for the first time in moments, dropping to her
knees. She was still in shock, and could not respond to anything going on
around her.
Kasumi lowered her head. "Ranma, no one here will stop you. But are you sure
you want to do this? It is not too late. I am sure we can all come to some kind
of understanding. Please, don't do this.":
Ranma looked at the eldest Tendo sister and sadly replied. "I'm sorry, Kasumi,
but I don't see any other way. I just can't deal with all of this anymore. I have to
leave. I need.... what I need I know I can't get here. I have to go to where I
have a chance to get it."
Ranma turned and headed up the stairs. After the sound of her entering her
room, Nabiki finally spoke up. "Kasumi, just what is going on here? I mean
worse things have happened to Ranma before, and he's never acted like this.
Heck, what happened here today was just normal by any standards set after he
came. If anything, it was calm by comparison."
Kasumi sighed before answering. "That is just the point, Nabiki. What happened
today was not important, per se, but all those straws.... This has been brewing
for some time. I really hoped it would not come to this."
Nabiki walked over and grabbed Kasumi by her shoulders. Looking her straight
in the eye, Nabiki demanded. "It's time to tell us everything, Kasumi. This has to
do with what happened a couple of weeks back, doesn't it? With that promise
you made? Just what is going on, Kasumi?"
Kasumi could feel the eyes of everyone in the room turn towards her. All but
Akane, who was still staring at where Ranma once was. Kasumi bit her lip and
looked inside herself for some courage. "No, Nabiki, I still promised him. No
matter what, I still made a promise."
"And I thank you for keeping your promise all this time, Kasumi."
Everyone, Akane included, turned to the voice. Ranma was standing there,
wearing her backpack and holding a small suitcase. She was not carrying much,
but then she never really owned that much to begin with. She was still female,
not even taking the time for a quick hot bath or kettle of water.
"I'm sorry, everyone, for making such a mess of your lives. That won't be a
problem anymore. I'm going to leave now."
And with that, Ranma headed towards the door. Before she got there, she
turned around, and addressed Kasumi.
"Give me about five minutes. After that, you have my permission to tell them.
Thank you, Kasumi, for everything."
Ranma look one last look around the house, turned towards the exit and left. No
one said anything for a moment.
Finally Akane was able to put some words together. "Ranma? Why? Why did
you leave me? I never thought you would ever leave me." She started to cry,
and Kasumi leaned down and held her.
"Let it out, Akane, it is okay to let it out. I am here for you."
Akane looked up at her sister. "The one thing I was always so sure of. The one
thing. No matter what, he would never leave me, never hurt me. I knew the
other girls were never really a problem, it just made me so mad sometimes. I
knew he would always be there for me."
A few tears escaped from Akane's eyes. ":I know we never really acted like it,
but I cared for him, and I knew he cared for me. Why did he leave, Kasumi,
why? I deserve to know. I am his fiancee, after all."
"Not any more, Akane." Kasumi looked to be close to tears herself. "I am
afraid that Ranma's breaking of the engagement was not a temporary thing. This
is permanent, Akane. It is over. It is truly over."
Kasumi looked at her younger sister. It was obvious that she was in pain. The
worse thing, Kasumi thought, was how she would feel once she found out....
"Don't you think it's time you talked to us, sister?" Kasumi glanced up and saw
her other sister giving her a quizzical look. "It's been about five minutes. You can
tell us now."
Kasumi nodded. A part of her was scared, this was not going to be fun. But
they had a right to know. Kasumi took a deep breath, and stood up, carefully
bringing Akane up with her.
"Everyone, please sit down. This could take a while. It is not going to be easy
for you to hear. Please be patient with me."
She glanced over at her captive audience. Genma had recovered enough to get
into a sitting position. Nabiki had taken Akane and led her by the hand to where
she could sit and listen to what Kasumi had to say. Soun looked towards his
eldest daughter with tear filled eyes.
"Before I tell you everything, it is important that you understand Ranma's point
of view. So much of what I am going to say deals with how Ranma sees things,
and most importantly, how Ranma feels everyone else sees things.
"It is easy to forget that Ranma is like any other human being. Sure, he may
come off as strong, arrogant and so full of himself, but he has the same
insecurities and needs as any other person."
"Ranma, insecure?" Nabiki crossed her arms in front of her and stood towards
Kasumi in an almost accusatory stance. "He is the most egotistical, arrogant
guy I've ever met. He is constantly telling all of us just how great he is."
Kasumi nodded. "Precisely, Nabiki. That is the crux of the matter."
"Huh, just what is that supposed to mean?"
Kasumi paused for a second. Seeing she had everyone's full attention, she
continued. "All of you know I have been borrowing medical books from
Tofu-sensei from time to time." After seeing her audience nod in assent, she
went on. "Some of those books were psychological in nature. One passage in
one of those books made me think of Ranma right away.
"Let me explain it this way. Most of you have known a bully or two, right? Are
most bullies really the strongest or the most secure people you know? No,
many bullies are by their nature, well for want of a better word, cowards. They
pick on and terrorize people for one reason, and one reason alone. To make
themselves feel strong and powerful. Most bullies pick on the weakest people
out there, people they know they can get away with bullying. It is all a ego
boost for them, and they always have 'friends' around when they bully, in order
to show just how strong they are to others, as well as themselves.
"But mostly they bully to reinforce their own worth to themselves. Each time
they pick on someone, they feel a little more secure about themselves. But when
a real fight, or a real threat comes along, these bullies are nowhere to be
found."
Looks of understanding filled the room. Most everyone had known of people
like that. Including some in this very room.
Kasumi resumed her lecture. "It just doesn't apply to bullies, but to many
insecure people out there. Some insecure people become very introverted,
retreating into themselves, too insecure to deal with anyone else. Others become
extroverted, exclaiming to the world just how great and wonderful they are. But
they really are not trying to convince the world of their worth. No, they are
trying to convince themselves. It is a defense mechanism of sorts, whenever
they feel their self worth slipping away from them, they are just one verbal
confirmation away from keeping ahold of it."
Nabiki brought her hand up to her chin and looked like she was thinking intently.
"Hmm, I wonder. It makes sense, but if you go to the extreme of that with
Ranma, I wonder...."
Kasumi raised her eyebrow, "Nabiki, what do you wonder?"
Nabiki's eyes met Kasumi's. "Nothing I want to talk about just yet. It is
something to think about however."
Kasumi shrugged, and returned to where she left off. "Ranma is insecure. Very
much so. A lot of factors go into this. One, he never really has had much of a
chance to deal with people very well, and has problems relating to them.
Spending most of his time on the road, never knowing people for very long
growing up, or even being taught how to deal with people from the person who
should have taught him.." Kasumi gave Genma a harsh glare.
"Two, the curse sure did not help in the very least. It doesn't help his self esteem
much when he sees himself as a freak or a pervert.. And when some people
around him call him that, he feels even more like a freak. Especially if it is
someone whose opinion means a lot to him." This time Kasumi gave Akane a
look, but one of sadness. Akane looked down in embarrassment.
"Three,. and this may be the most important factor, is the way everyone treats
him. Again, it is important to see through Ranma's eyes here. In his opinion
everyone, save for three people, see and treat him as some sort of thing, and
not a human being. From his standpoint, everyone wants something out of him.
No one treats him like a friend, but as a prize to be won, or an obstacle to be
overcome. Or both.
"Look at how everyone treats him. For Shampoo, Ukyo and the Kuno's,
depending on his form, he is a prize to be won, something to covet and possess.
To Ryoga, Mousse and the Kuno's again, defending on form, he is a vile thing
to fight, to try to defeat in combat. To Cologne, he is breeding stock for her
great granddaughter and her tribe. To Happosai, he is both a heir to the school,
and something to glomp.
"Father, to you he is the way to keep the school alive. Mr. Saotome, to you
he is a monument to the Art, not really your son but a legacy. Akane, in his
eyes, you see him as a pervert, a freak, a nightmare that you are stuck with
that you would like to see vanish off the face of the earth. And, Nabiki, to you
he is just a money machine, not to mention a joke. He is just a way to get a
some quick cash, someone to get a good laugh out of."
"That's not fair, Kasumi!" Nabiki was livid. "I told you once, the money I get
thanks to him is necessary to this household. So he's a little thin skinned. Too
bad, he and his father haven't done much to help the finances in this house.
With as much as they eat, not to mention the damage that constantly has to be
repaired here, it's amazing we even break even, let alone have any extra to
deal with."
Kasumi shook her head. "Nabiki, have you ever told Ranma any of this?"
Nabiki stopped dead in her tracks. "Errr, what do you mean by that?"
"Did you ever tell him about how bad our finances were? Did you ever ask
him to help out? Did you ever ask if he could get a part time job after school?
"Did you ever think of ways that weren't so embarrassing to make money off
of Ranma? Why did every money making ploy involve some form of
embarrassment for Ranma? Did you really enjoy making him look bad?"
Nabiki's face turned white. Her eyes began to fog over, her mouth began to
open as sounds tried to escape, but could not.
Eventually she found some words. "I didn't...I didn't think about that. I just....I
was just trying to help our family."
Kasumi smiled and nodded. "I know, sis, I know. Ranma never understood
any of that. He just saw you as a money-grubbing extortionist. It never crossed
his mind that you had any other reason for what you were doing."
Returning her attention to the room at large, Kasumi continued, "In Ranma's
eyes, he had no friends, no one to give him the thing everyone needs in life.
Friendship and love. No one gave him anything but grief. All he ever wanted,
and all he wants is someone who will treat him kindly, and affectionately."
"No friends?" Akane couldn't believe where this conversation was going. "But
he had all kinds of friends at school..."
"No, Akane, he did not." Kasumi hated bringing this up, but had to in order to
get her point across. "Outside of possibly Hiroshi and Daisuke, Ranma had no
real friends at Furinkan. Anything but."
Akane was puzzled. ":What do you mean by that, Kasumi?"
"What I mean is....well, let us start with the boys at school. shall we. Do you
know how they treated him? When he first arrived at Furinkan, and learned he
was engaged to you, they spent all their free time asking him about you two.
Asking rather improper questions about you two."
"Improper questions?" Akane did not understand just what Kasumi was trying
to say.
Kasumi nodded. "Yes, improper. Like had you two....done it yet? What you
were really like, in that way? No matter how much Ranma would try to tell
them nothing like that was going on between you two, they would just keep
pushing."
'They WHAT?????? Those....those....those PERVERTS!!!!" The shock that
filled Akane was gone now, replaced by her righteous anger. "That can't be
true! They wouldn't dare..."
"Oh, yes they would." Akane turned her head, as the confirmation came not
from Kasumi but from Nabiki. "Akane, you know there is nothing that happens
in Furinkan that happens without my knowing it. Trust me, Akane, what
Kasumi told you right now is true. Every word. And it gets worse."
"Worse? How could it possible get any worse than that?"
Kasumi took over. "Once they found out about the curse, it got much worse.
They would ask if you and Ranma had done it as girls. They would ask Ranma
if he had done it with Shampoo or Ukyo. Or you with them at once.
"Once somebody asked him if he had done it as a girl with a guy! Then he
asked if he wanted to, so he could much better understand how to please a girl
as a guy.
"Once they found out about the curse, they loved to try to take advantage of it.
Ranma was always on guard in the boy's locker room for an attack. Cold water
would come from any direction, especially if he was in the middle of undressing
or in the shower. No, Ranma hated school, for reasons other than the fact that
he wasn't very good at paying attention or listening to the teachers."
"I never knew." Akane was near tears now, understanding her fiancee, no, her
ex-fiancee just a little better. "Why didn't he ever tell me any of this."
"Because he was embarrassed by it, Akane, and because he thought you saw
him as a pervert, remember? He believed if he told you any of this, it would
give you more ammunition to tease him with."
"I....I....oh, Ranma, I'm so sorry." Akane dropped her face into her hands, she
felt so close to sobbing.
Nabiki piped up, giving her older sister a rest. "And the girls, Akane, the girls
weren't much better than the guys. Half the time, the girls would moon over him,
the other half they would treat him like a pervert trying to use his curse to spy
on them."
"But he never....he never really tried to use his curse to do anything like that."
"No, but there were times when it appeared that way. And don't you
remember who the first person to always accuse him of something like that
was, Akane? Any time he was found in a compromising position at school,
who was the first to accuse him of doing something perverted? How were the
other girls supposed to think, when the one girl who knew him the best was
always so quick to believe that about him, always so quick to insult and
degrade him?"
"I....I....I see it now, I drove him away. All those other people, they really
didn't matter, did they? If only I had treated him better, if only I had been
nicer to him.."
Kasumi nodded. "The only reason he stayed around as along as he did,
Akane, was because of you. Because he hoped that maybe the two of you
could work it out. Otherwise, he would have left long ago."
Soun had remained quiet too long. ":There is one question I have to ask,
Kasumi. You said earlier that three people did not treat Ranma poorly. Who
are they?"
Kasumi frowned. She was getting to the real hard part of this now. "One was
me. In Ranma's eyes, I treated him like a little brother. The second was
Tofu-sensei."
Kasumi bit her lip, she wasn't quite sure if she was ready to finish
this.
Nabiki asked the questions on everyone's lips. "Who is the third? And
just where did Ranma go?"
"Ranma went to be with that third person. As to who this third person is...
"Ask yourself, of all the people you know of in Ranma's life, who is the
one person whose mere presence excites Ranma more than anyone else?
Who is the one person Ranma wants to get to know more than any other
person in his life? Who is the one person Ranma wants to make happy?"
There was a moment of silence as everyone thought about this. Nabiki
was the first to get an answer to the question.
"No, he couldn't have. He can't go to her. It's too dangerous, he just couldn't"
Kasumi smiled in understanding. "You are right Nabiki. 'He' can't. But do you
remember just how Ranma left here a few minutes ago?"
Understanding dawned on Akane's face. "Noooooo..........you don't mean...."
"I'm afraid so."
****************************************************
She sat alone in her house. Always alone. She could feel the loneliness that
enveloped her home like it was an old friend. It had been part of her life for
some time now, and no matter how hard she tried, she could not escape it.
Once, she thought to herself, this house was full of life. There was a time, oh
so long ago, when the house itself seemed gleeful of the love and energy that
existed within it. But that was long ago, in what seemed like another life to the
woman who sat there, unsure of what to do next.
Another trip to Nerima, perhaps? Her melancholy seemed to disappear
whenever she was there. Now there was a house filled with life.
Especially that one girl.
Oh, how that girl brought out parts of the woman that she had thought lost
years ago. The girl had spirit, the girl had energy.
The girl also suffered from loneliness, of that she was sure. It was a feeling she
knew all too well. She wasn't sure if that was why she felt so close to this one
girl. There was something there, something the woman could not quite
understand, but it was there just the same. An attachment to this beautiful,
tomboyish, energetic, lonely girl.
She shook her head in sadness. She wanted so badly, so badly, to reach out to
this girl, to become a mother to this girl. And she knew the girl felt the bond
too. But at the same time, she seemed somewhat scared of the older woman.
She couldn't understand why this young child would be afraid of her.
The sound of the front bell broke the woman out of her reflection. A visitor
has come, probably just a salesman, but who ever it is, it will be different at
least than just sitting here. She got up and opened the door, to see the girl
standing there.
The girl was damp, she always seems to be wet when I see her, the woman
thought to herself. Her red hair was sprawled across her face, not the most
flattering hair-style for such a beauty. She was wearing her tomboyish shirt and
pants. She also wore a nervous frown.
"Ranko? What are you doing here?"
The girl looked up, seemingly unsure of what to say next. Eventually
some words came out.
"Ummmm....the Tendo's and I got into a fight. I was wonderin' if I could...."
She paused, afraid to continue the thought.
"You were wondering what, dear?"
Ranko's eyes caught the woman's with a pleading look. "I was
wondering if I could, well you know, maybe stay here for awhile?"
It took every bit of composure for the woman not to jump up and
down in glee. The girl, the girl who she had wanted spend more of her
time with wanted to stay with her.
For Saotome Nodoka, the choice was an easy one. And when she
gave her answer, the joy and gratitude on the child's face told her
that she had made the right choice.
"Of course, dear, you can stay here....for as long as you like."
END CHAPTER ONE