Remember that mini fic "The way out" that I said I wouldn't continue?

This is the continuation ^_^

What has gone before:
Ranma's better nature and a Chinese-Amazon artifact have combined to
returned the Akane's mother to life - in Ranma's body.

A couple of weeks have passed and things have settled down - but the
worst is yet to come.

Note: The manga never names Mrs Tendo (AFAIK).  She's called Kimiko in
some fanfiction (sorry, no titles remembered) and I'm borrowing that
name for consistency / laziness.  My Kimiko Tendo does not necessarily
bear any relation to any other version.  If you wrote one of the fics
with Mrs Tendo having this name and object to my using it - please let
me know.

Keeping Up Appearances

  Kasumi wiped a finger across the windowsill - no dust.  She checked
the tatami* but the dirt had obviously been recently shaken out of them.
Ranma had been so helpful around the house recently, she thought - then
stopped herself.  She mustn't think of him - no her - that way anymore it
had become obvious that this wasn't some strange joke.  Ranma was gone,
and the person who had been cleaning the house was her mother.

  [* - Floor mats]

  Kasumi checked the kitchen cupboards and confirmed that they were
running low on some of the essentials, but the noise of the front door
opening distracted her from her thoughts.

  "I'm back!" Came a cheerful voice from the entrance hall.

  "Welcome home."  Kasumi greeted her.

  "My, aren't things expensive nowadays!  Nabiki's helped, of course, but
I haven't got used to the prices.  Inflation I suppose," she said,
bringing in a huge pile of shopping.

  "Here, let me help you with that." Kasumi offered.

  "Don't worry, I'm so fit - I feel like I could carry a horse!" Kimiko
said, although a shadow had passed across her face as if she had
remembered something best forgotten.

  "I don't mind shopping you know, I know all the market places around
here." Kasumi mentioned.

  "Thanks dear," Kimiko said, standing up on her tiptoes to kiss Kasumi
who stiffened involuntarily at the attention.  "Oh, I'm sorry - I
suppose I look too much like him.  Even if I am a 'her' at the moment."

  Kasumi managed a smile.  "It will be all right, I'm sure."

  "I'd better keep doing the shopping myself - I need to get used to it,"
Kimiko explained, as she opened up the storage cupboards and fridge and
began stacking and placing things away at an incredible rate.  "Wow, looks
like my martial arts training really will come in useful for something.
It seems so easy since ... well, since recently."

  Kasumi watched her kitchen being filled with activity and foodstuffs.
"We usually keep the rice over ..."

  "I'm not so tall now, dear - I'd better keep the things I'll need most
nearer the floor." Kimiko explained.

  "Did you get a melon?  I thought a little extravagance might brighten
things up." Kasumi asked.

  "Oh, I'm afraid not - I was going to try some Western style puddings
tonight.  There are so much more variety in cook books now, it's
wonderful." Kasumi's mother explained.  "You can help, of course.  I
can't tell you how grateful I am for all you've done." Kimiko continued,
on seeing Kasumi's face fall slightly.

  Kasumi turned on the young figure in front of her - her eyes flat and
her voice held too calm. "Help?  What is there to do?  For 10 years I've
done my best to hold this family together.  I've fed them, cleaned up
after them given up my life for them."  Unable to face the pain she saw in
her mother's face Kasumi turned away and continued in a low voice, "Don't
get me wrong - I love them.  But ... But ..."

  Kimiko hugged Kasumi from behind to comfort her as best as she could
with her borrowed body. "But ?"

  Kasumi forced Kimiko away from her and glared angrily at her. "But
you've taken it all away from me.  Everything I've done - YOU can do
better.  You l-left me, d- died and now you're back and nobody needs ME
anymore!"

  "Oh Kasumi dearest!  I'll always need you." Kimiko promised, wrapping
herself around her daughter as she crouched, crying - the emotions
released uncontrollably in the aftermath of her anger.  "I understand,
really."

  They sat on the floor, calmer now, looking more like older and younger
sister than daughter and mother.  "I think I need to give everyone some
more space - maybe I should move out, even get a job." Kimiko said calmly,
although with some regret.

  "No!" Kasumi cried, "You don't have to do that - we've only just got you
back."

  "It might be for the best.  Soun doesn't really know what to make of me.
He won't treat me as his wife." Kimiko explained.

  "He does believe who you are doesn't he?" Kasumi asked.

  "Yes, he knows who I am.  But we're not like man and wife." (Kasumi
looks blankly) "I mean he won't sleep with me." Kimiko manages with a
blush.

  "Oh is that all!" Kasumi said, "I'm sure Dr. Tofu can find some herbs to
help with that."

  Kimiko's blush deepened, "That nice Dr. Tofu?  Selling things like
that?"

  "Well he is a herbalist, I'm sure he knows what to do for insomnia."

  Kimiko looked at her smiling daughter and opened her mouth to speak.
Then closed it again, there were some things that she just couldn't do.
"Let's just say I think it would do us both good if we left each other for
a while - he obviously knew Ranma well and he's not comfortable with my
looking like him," she said. "Besides he was so set on Ranma marrying
Akane ..." they both stared at the wall in silence as they contemplated
her youngest daughter.

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