[FFML] [FFML][Ranma 1/2]Misty Chapter 2

Misty - Chapter 2

The characters contained within are the property of Rumiko Takahashi. The only exception is the SI character. Ms. Takahashi has sold he rights of her characters to many companies. I will glumly cease and desist upon the request of Ms. Takahashi or any of her agents.

**********************

Dear Diary,

It has been several weeks since I stopped Ryouga's visits with Akane as P-chan. I still giggle whenever I remember the way Ryouga fidgeted while we were in the animal clinic. And even Father and the Saotomes were funny at dinner that night. The cage is still in our backyard. Akane still looks for P-Chan, but has almost given up on finding him again. For his sake, I hope she doesn't.

My domain and purpose is to keep the Tendo home safe, clean, and happy. Safe and clean are time-consuming, but easily maintained. The biggest problem is reminding everyone to clean up after himself or herself whenever they use the furo. Most days, I even have the time for a nap or a visit to Dr. Ono.

Happy, however, is not easy. If it's not Genma encouraging Ranma's bouts of loutishness, it's Nabiki in a minor bit of larceny, or Akane, sensitive girl that she is, propelling Ranma into the sky when he has made an irritating comment to her.

So, I sat down this afternoon and thought about what my next project should be. Suddenly, it came to me. The biggest cause for unhappiness in my home is Ranma. It's usually not his fault, but nonetheless, he is the root cause of it. So tomorrow morning, Operation Civilize Ranma begins.

***

Kasumi lay down the pen she had been using and smiled a little. She then folded the sheet of paper upon which she had written, lit it, and allowed it to burn in a ceramic plate she had brought up from the kitchen. Once it had become ash and cooled, she touched it, causing it to fall in on itself. Gently, she brushed the remains into her trashcan, wiping the plate with a Kleenex.

She stood, taking the plate with her, and walked out of her bedroom. Slowly, she checked each of her sister's rooms. Looking in on Nabiki, she found her younger sister fast asleep, with her schoolbooks haphazardly strewn about.

"She must have some tests tomorrow," she thought to herself as she moved to Akane's room.

Opening the door to Akane's room a crack, she saw that Akane, too, lay asleep. A shape moved by the window, catching her attention. Looking closely, she saw what appeared to be a three-knotted pigtail waving at the top of the window.

With a smile, she gently, but loudly enough to be heard from the window, said, "I'm glad Akane's asleep. I'll check Ranma and his father now." The pigtail disappeared as she closed the door.

She heard a very light rustle as she moved towards the Saotome's room. Upon entering, she glided towards where she knew Ranma slept. She verified that Genma was asleep as she knelt next to Ranma. His eyes were closed, but his breathing betrayed him by being a little too fast.

She leaned over and tucked his blanket over him. "She's really beautiful when she sleeping, isn't she?" Kasumi whispered to him.

"Yeah," he answered before catching himself. Sitting up quickly, he bonked heads with knocking her onto her bottom.

"Owie," she rubbed her forehead.

"I'm sorry about that, Kasumi. I was asleep and you woke me up. I didn't say Akane was beautiful or nothin'. I was asleep!"

Stifling a giggle, she laid a restraining hand on the boy in front of her, "Of course you were Ranma. You'd never admit that you think my little sister is beautiful or that you love her would you?"

"That's right! I'll never admit it. She might get hurt or somethin'" He answered before his mind could engage. "Uh, not that I care or anything. She can take care of herself, of course, and anyway, what would I want with a tomboy like her anyway?"

She deftly switched the subject before Ranma got too flustered. She looked down and smoothed her skirts as she stated,"I'm glad you're awake now Ranma. I want to ask your permission for something."

"Huh? Why would you need my permission for anything?" He leaned back on both arms in his confusion.

"Well, I could use some company in the mornings when I start breakfast. And since you normally get up just a little later than I do, I thought that, maybe, you wouldn't mind getting up when I do. Wouldn't it be nice to be the one to wake your father in the mornings, rather than he you?" As she finished, she looked up at him to see how he reacted.

"Well, since it's not too much earlier, then I guess so." He hesitantly offered.

"Thank you very much, Ranma." The eldest Tendo bowed slightly, before reaching out and giving Ranma a very brief sisterly hug. "I'll see you in the morning." She got up and left the room before Ranma could protest. Had she looked back, she would have noticed that he had not moved since she touched him.

As she went to the kitchen, she nodded to herself. 'Good, tomorrow morning, Ranma, we begin.' She thought to herself. She quickly washed the little plate that had held the ashes of her diary entry and went to bed.

***

"Ranma? It's time to get up." Kasumi knelt to the right of the young man and shook his shoulder with her right hand. The martial artist in question, having honed his skills and perceptions from birth, rolled over towards her, grabbed the offending hand, and hugged it to his chest.

"Wake up, Ranma." Kasumi tried again. Again, she was ignored. She tried pulling her hand away to no avail. Each time she pulled, Ranma hugged her hand a little more snugly. The more he pulled on her, the more out of balance she became. His embrace of her arm began hurting. In desperation, she knelt by his head, feet shoulder width apart and pulled with all of her might.

"Ungh." She groaned with effort. Kasumi smiled as she felt her arm beginning to slide out of its python-like embrace.

Just as she thought she would get it free, Ranma increased the strength of his grip on rolled over to his left.
Unprepared for this, she tumbled head over heels ending up lying face up with underneath the younger boy her legs splayed to either side of him. She blushed in embarrassment. Truly desperate now as she did not want anyone misunderstanding how she and Ranma had gotten into such a position, she tried to wriggle out from underneath him. He was too big and too heavy. The most she could do was to rock him back and forth.

Frustrated by her lack of strength, she thought of other ways to move him. She had never noticed before how heavy he was. She supposed it was because he was so muscular. Everyone knew muscles were denser than fat and looked better too. With his body lying there, it became hard for her to breathe. She knew mewing would get a response, but she didn't want to embarrass him or wake the whole house. It simply wouldn't do for her to be the cause of disharmony in the home.

"Ranma, breakfast is ready." She whispered into his ear, so that Genma wouldn't hear. "I've made all of your favorites!"

"Mmrf..." The very heavy boy stirred atop of her.

"Not only have I made your favorites, but no one else can have any until you've finished. Not even your father." As his body moved against hers, she had become aware of certain portions of his anatomy. She developed a blush that was almost terminal. 'That feels good,' an errant thought crossed her mind. 'He's too young for me and he's Akane's boy... man. He's very definitely a man.' Her hand ran across his chest, just to try and pry him off of her, she told herself. 'I've GOT to wake him up.'

"If you don't get up this instant, I'll give your breakfast to Genma and Grandfather. I don't think they'll save any for you." She said in a panicked, yet huskier than normal, voice.

"Okay, okay, I'm getting up." He mumbled as he opened his eyes. He looked straight into Kasumi's eyes.

With her usual cheery smile, she began, "Good morning, Ranma. My, but you pulled me down when I tried to wake you. If its not too much bother, could you roll off of me? You're so muscular, you were too heavy for me to move." She shoved him as hard as she could to prove her point. For Ranma, it felt like a gentle push.

"I'm sorry, Kasumi." He jumped bock from her landing in a standing crouch. "I ..." He took one look at her laying spread out in front of him and closed his eyes. Luckily for both of them her skirts covered her to her knees.

"Is there something wrong, Ranma?" She sat up and looked at herself. Other than the unlady-like presentation she had given him, nothing was amiss. After all, her dress had covered her the whole time. "Why do you have your eyes closed?"

"Uh, the light from the hall?" He lied. "My eyes weren't ready for it. Um, Kasumi, I'll meet you in the kitchen. I've gotta go to the bathroom." That said he bolted from the room, never leaving his bent over position.

Kasumi giggled as she stood up and left the room herself. She vaguely remembered her previous life and how the situation would have felt if he had awakened with a beautiful woman underneath him. Her good mood darkened with the memory, for she still longed to hold her spouse and children again. Though, she could no longer feel anything but a sisterly love towards the wife from that life. Any remotely sexual thoughts regarding other women had started giving her the shudders. Additionally, her perception of and appreciation of the male form had undergone some radical rearranging.

'I guess the role still defines me,' she thought to herself as she moved towards the kitchen. "I've even begun having little fantasies about Tofu. He's so gentle with his patients and has such strong hands. I just know he'd be a good father.' She shook her head to clear it. 'Enough daydreams, I've got to get this project underway.'

Kasumi entered the kitchen briskly. She quickly began pulling out the pans and ingredients to prepare both the family's breakfast, and the lunches needed by the "schoolkids". Ranma entered a few minutes later looking slightly abashed.

"Good morning again! Would you mind washing and slicing these vegetables? Thanks." Kasumi put him to work quickly.

"Ranma?"

"Yeah, Kasumi?"

"Do you think Akane is a good martial artist?" Kasumi put the mixing bowl down and faced him.

"Martial artist? She's okay, I guess." Seeing her attention on him, Ranma reconsidered what he had said. "Kasumi, Akane is a very good fighter. She can easily beat anyone in Nerima with the exceptions of Ukyo, Shampoo, and me. Add Kodachi in there, too. I think she would beat Kodachi in a straight up fight, but it wouldn't be easy. If I had to pick a winner between her and Ukyo, I'd pick Ukyo. Shampoo would wipe the floor with her. Why the question?"

"Is she as good as she can get?" Kasumi hesitantly followed up her first question. "And please, no insults in the answer. I want to know what you really think."

"No tomboy jokes? Okay, but you're stretching it." Ranma smiled as he finished the vegetables and then took a seat. "I think Akane can get a lot better, Kasumi. There are times when she is too fast for me to dodge and other times when she is almost as strong as I am. Yet, she always falls back and stalls."

"Why?"

"She lets her anger get out of control. And she never keeps her focus long enough to feel the energy she can control."

"Do you think Father could do any more to help her train?" Kasumi moved across the kitchen to stand by the young man so that she could better gauge his reactions.

"Kasumi, I don't want to hurt your feelings or nothing, but your father isn't as good as Akane is. I think he's taught her all he knows to teach. If he's got anything more to teach, I haven't seen it."

"If that's the case, Ranma, and I believe you, could you train Akane? I really would love to see her reach her potential." She paced her hand on his shoulder in imprecation.

"Hmmph," Ranma smirked at her, "Who says I haven't already started?"

"What do you mean?"

"Have you noticed how much faster Akane is now than when I arrived? Or how much more quickly she can use her hammer, or kick someone?" Ranma smiled conspiratorially. "I've been training her. Every time I call her a tomboy or violent, let Shamps grope me, or something else like that, I'm trying to get her to attack me so that I can help her."

"I don't understand. That's being mean and hurtful." Kasumi frowned. "She comes home crying and in pain whenever you do that."

"Huh?" Ranma was puzzled.

"You really don't understand do you?" She looked into his eyes. Shaking her head, she continued, "Ranma, how would you feel if your father told you that because you turn into a girl you had become too girlish to train? If he insisted that you're too weak to do anything but yell for help whenever a problem arose?"

"I'd beat the snot out of him." Ranma flexed his knuckles angrily.

"Now imagine that the person telling you this was someone that no matter how hard you tried, you could never hit when sparring, in fact they allowed you to wear yourself down and then humiliated you by skipping over your head, tapping it, and telling you that you're dead. I don't think you'd like it much would you." She bent her knees to put her face level with his.

He couldn't hold his gaze to hers as her words affected him. "No, I wouldn't. I'd go train and then try again to beat the jerk." He unconsciously used Akane's words.

"What if he trained while you were gone and improved even more than you did. The next fight was one where he didn't even acknowledge your attacks, but kept telling you that girls were weak and should stay in the home where they belonged?"

"I'd find a way to beat that idiot, if it took me my whole life." Ranma seethed.

Kasumi took a breath and held it for a few seconds. "Ranma, that is what you've done to Akane. She wants to get better, but she doesn't have a teacher anymore. Father quit teaching all of us once we became young women. Akane's the only one who wanted to be a fighter enough to keep at it even without a sensei. Also, every time she turns around it seems that you've been taught a new technique or two. And then you call her a macho tomboy. Which is telling her that you want her to be weaker and more vulnerable."

"That ain't what I mean at all!" he denied her words.

"Whether or not you mean it, it is what she hears and feels. Calling her macho is the same to her as if I always called you Ranko, even in male form. You'd probably think I thought of you as a girl." Shaking her head, she continued, "Now, if you want her to get better, why don't you tell her so and offer to teach her?" Kasumi smiled kindly at the boy before her and then finished, "I'd even make a bet with Nabiki that she'd accept."

Her eyes opened wider in a hint of amused surprise, "Oh my! I can't believe I said that about Nabiki. Please don't tell anyone I said that."

Ranma smirked with her. "I won't, Kasumi."

Suddenly realizing how much time has gone by, she jumped over to the stove and began turning on the eyes. "Ranma, we're out of time. I'm a little behind in making breakfast so I won't be able to wake your father up. He always likes for me to awaken him at this time so that you and he can train. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you woke him."

"You mean that..." A slow grin enveloped his face as he continued, "Oh yeah, I'll wake him up." He strolled out of the kitchen cracking his knuckles, smiling broadly. A few minutes later a surprised growl was followed by a splash signaling the start of the Saotome's morning ablutions.

Kasumi busied herself and soon had everything ready for the day. Breakfast was simmering away and three bentos were prepared. It sounded as if Genma and son were almost finished with their fun and she checked to see that the rest of the family was ready. They were. She moved all of the dishes to the table and called everyone in.

Ranma and Genma were soon struggling to eat the other's meal, when a fish cake flew accidentally into Akane's drink.

"Honestly! Can't the two of you ever act like normal people? The rest of us are trying to eat." Akane growled as she put her glass down. Her glare stopped the sparring match.

"I'll get you another glass, Akane." Kasumi stood up, picked up the glass, and moved towards the kitchen.

"Akane, I know I've told you this before, but this is training. If, say for instance, some fat, bald, lazy person who thought they were a martial artist, but really were just a martial wannabe, were to be able to take my food away from me, what would it say about my abilities? Also, think about how precise a strike has to be to grab say," Ranma, paused to glance at his father's plate.

"Boy, don't even think you're good enough to try." Genma tensed up.

Ignoring his father, the boy continued, "a piece of rice." He stabbed down and grabbed a single grain. "Just think about what you could do in a fight." He turned and smiled at her, leaving his back unguarded.

Genma grabbed his son and tossed him into the Koi pond. "Don't ever turn your back on an opponent, Boy! How many times have I had to beat that into you?"

"Oh man, now I have to get dressed again." Ranma muttered as she reentered the house.

***

That evening, after dinner, Ranma knocked on Akane's bedroom door.

"Yes?" Akane asked from inside the room.

"Akane," Ranma looked both ways in the hallway before continuing, "Can I ask you something?"

Curious about what he wanted, Akane opened her door and gestured him into her room. He sat on her bed and she took the seat at her study table. Her math book lay open to their homework for the night. "What is you want to ask, Ranma?"

"Uhm, I was a little bored and, uhm, I thought that maybe, you'd like to spar with me?" He finished lamely looking at the floor, afraid to see her reaction.

"You want to spar with me?" Akane sat stunned. A seed of happiness starting opening within her breast at the thought of really sparring with her sometimes suitor. It quickly sprouted into full-blown joy and she impulsively grabbed him into a quick hug, replying, "I'd love to spar with you! Give me a few minutes to get dressed. I'll see you in the dojo!"

"Okay!" Smiling with relief, he quickly left the room.

A few minutes later, they stood across from each other. Ranma casually standing, looking as if he was readier to go for a jog than to spar. Akane stood in a ready position, gently rocking back and forth, keeping herself ready for anything.

"Okay, Ranma, I'm ready when you are." She eagerly said.

With an almost malevolent grin, he replied, "Are you sure?"

"Yes!"

Before she finished the word, he had closed the gap between them and started attacking her. Akane knew how fast Ranma was, but had never had to respond against it. He was attacking her using the standard attacks in the Anything Goes school, letting her use the required defenses, but they were coming at a much faster rate than she had ever had to defend against. His hits hurt, but she also knew that he was toning down the force behind his hits because they were sparring and not fighting.

Their first session was over in less than thirty seconds. She could feel bruises forming all over her where her defense was not capable of stopping her fiance's speed. The brown haired girl collapsed onto the mats breathing hard, and rubbing herself, yet beaming a jubilant smile at Ranma.

"Ranma," she stopped making sure she had his attention. "Thanks, I appreciate training with you."

"Ah, It's nothing Akane. I like this, too." He walked over to her and leaned over her. His skin glistened with sweat and she began to wonder what he was going to do. He stopped and stood in front of her with an inquisitive look on his face. She smiled up at him admiring the way his muscles played as he moved, her hands fluttering in her lap betraying her nervousness. He reached his right hand out towards her, offering to help her stand.

"Come on, it's your turn to attack me." She grabbed his hand and let him help her up. A part of her was disappointed, but another part was excited that he was actually taking her seriously.

"What attacks do you want to focus on?" he asked, while moving into his standard defensive posture.

'I don't believe it. He is not only taking me seriously, but is helping me train!' She was immobilized with incredulity. "Um, I'm not sure. How about I just attack?"

"Okay, bring it on." He smiled at her, beckoning her in.

***

Kasumi settled into the furo with a sigh. It had been a long day and this was her little reward. She loved just laying back in the tub and letting the heat slowly relax her. A tea tray set next to her and held her favorite tea blend ready to drink. The lights were turned down and she had lit a vanilla scented candle ten minutes before entering the furo area. This allowed the sweet scent to fully pervade the room.

She poured herself a cup of tea and sighed with contentment. Ranma and Akane had still been sparring when she had given up waiting for them to bathe. It looked to her that her little plan was already bearing fruit. She never expected it to work this quickly, but was happy that it was.

Just as she refilled her teacup, a tired voice queried, "Who's in the furo?"

It was her sister's voice. "It's me, Akane. Come on in."

"The door slid open and a very bedraggled girl staggered in. Kasumi could see bruises running down the other girl's arms and legs. "Oh my! What happened? Did Ranma hurt you?"

"Oh no, Kasumi!" Akane smiled as she collapsed onto a wash stool. "He took me seriously! He showed me several things I can improve on and even fought with me for real! And, you know what else?" She didn't wait for a response, "He never called me a name the entire time." She made a sound, but Kasumi couldn't tell if it was a sigh of happiness or a moan of pain.

"Here let me help you." Kasumi stood up, wrapped a towel around herself, and moved to help her sister. "I have some very nice cinnamon tea that you can sip while I wash your hair and rub your muscles. That will keep the bruising down and relax you enough to get the sleep you deserve tonight."

"Thanks, sis." Akane leaned against Kasumi as she took the proffered cup.

"It sounds as if the two of you had a lot of fun. Care to tell me about it while I wash your hair?" Kasumi had nudged Akane back upright and filled the water bucket up with warm water so that she could wet and wash the other's hair.

"Okay," Akane sipped the tea, "mm, this is good, Kasumi! I didn't know that we had any tea like this."

"It's my special stash, Akane." Kasumi gently poured the warm water over her sister's head and hair. "I treat myself with it occasionally. So, tell me what happened."

"Well, I was studying in my room when..."

***

Feeling very pleased with herself the next morning, Kasumi paused after opening the door to Ranma and Genma's room and allowed herself to simply watch the sleeping boy within. She smiled to herself remembering other mornings in her lost life and moved to waken Ranma.

A few minutes later, they both were in the kitchen doing the preparing the ingredients for breakfast.

"So, Ranma, I understand that you and Akane sparred last night." She asked, hoping for him to tell her his side.

"Um, Yeah, we did. Akane's pretty good when she concentrates." He smiled at Kasumi. "Don't ever tell her I told you that. She'd get a bigger head than I do."

"Oh, I don't think that's possible." Kasumi giggled as she defended her sister.

"Yeah, you're probably right." He agreed, before his thoughts caught up with his mouth. "Hey, wait a minute!"

"Ranma, tell me more," Kasumi edged the conversation along. "How much improvement do you think Akane can make?"

The pigtailed boy thought a few moments before answering, "Well, we've fought together in the past, and after seeing what she could do last night, I think she could become almost as good as Shampoo, if not better, were she to really train."

"Oh, you really think so?" Kasumi smiled at him. "That would be wonderful! She'd be so happy!"

"So, since this was your idea and all, how can I talk Akane into formally training with me?" He grimaced, imagining asking her. "I don't think she'd want to be my student."

"Well, after seeing you're father's idea of teaching, I don't know that I would want to trust your ability either." Seeing a look of hurt at her lack of trust, she hurried on, "It's not that I don't have faith in your abilities, Ranma, it's simply that no one knows how good of a teacher you could be. The only sensei you've ever really had is your father, and even you acknowledge that he could've been much better."

"Yeah, he coulda been a lot better, but how does that make me a bad teacher?" Genuine confusion laced his words.

"It doesn't. It simply means that to become a good teacher, you're going to have to find someone you think is a good teacher and emulate them. I believe that one of the things you will find is that the teacher must change the way they teach for every student. For instance, should Happosai ever take on a female student, do you think he would have her steal women's underwear as training? I certainly don't think so."

"Are you sure about that? He really likes panties." Ranma struggled with the idea.

"What I mean, Ranma, is that Happosai would alter his methods to help his student learn more effectively." Kasumi insisted.

"Yeah, right." He said derisively, "If his student were a girl, I guess she would get pretty good at defense." He shuddered thinking of what a female pupil of Happosai would endure.

"Ranma," Kasumi said, sticking to her point, "Isn't Miss Hinako a very good example of Happosai changing his methods?"

He scrunched his face up in confusion, "Who's Miss Hinako?"

A little panicked with the realization that Hinako hadn't entered this universe yet, Kasumi rushed on, "Oh, never mind, it's someone I overheard Grandfather Happosai discussing one day." She passed over the faux pas "Getting back to our discussion, your father tends to insult you trying to make you lose your focus on whatever the training is trying to accomplish. That would backfire on you if you tried that with people paying you to teach them. If you went to an ice cream parlor and tried to buy some ice cream, you'd want the server to at least be polite wouldn't you?"

"Yeah, but sensei's are different than store clerks," Ranma's heatedly interjected. He didn't like the comparison.

"They are, but the principle is the same. Let's say that father and Happosai both knew a special technique that you were ready to learn, however only one would teach it. Which one would you go to?" Kasumi prompted.

"If both guys could teach it, I 'd go to your father." Ranma slowly admitted.

"And why would that be?"

"Because he wouldn't irritate me as much as Happosai would." He shrugged his shoulders as he continued, "Okay, I got your point."

"Good! Remember Ranma that people, unlike flies, prefer honey to vinegar." She smiled at him.

"So, how do I talk Akane into training with me?" Ranma asked again.

"I think she's already ready to train with you." Kasumi was ready. "However, if I were you, I'd show her the techniques I was practicing whenever I was doing them. I'd also offer to show, not teach, show her how I was doing it. If you remember that she's not your student, but your friend whom you're helping, everything will be okay."

"Hmm." Ranma thought about that a little. "So I can't use any of the teaching methods to help her?"

"Not without first showing her how and why you want her to do it."

"Okay," Ranma agreed doubtfully.

"I think it's time to wake your father."

"Yeah, it is isn't it?" He quickly ran out of the kitchen.

Smiling to herself, she felt a glow of accomplishment, 'I think this is going very well.'

***

"I can't believe that jerk!" The door slammed as Akane stormed into the house that afternoon.

"What's the matter Akane?" Kasumi intercepted her sister in the hallway before she was able to go upstairs.

"Akane glared at her older sister for a few seconds before deflating a little. In a small voice, she began, "Things were going very well today. On the way to school, Ranma explained why he walks on the fence and offered to teach me. I was amazed. I always thought that he was showing off, not that there was a real reason behind it. I couldn't jump up there with him, though. There are too many perverts that would love a look up a girl's skirt. Tomorrow though, I'll be ready."

"But why were you so angry?"

"Well, everything was great until lunch time. Ranma and I sat underneath the tree in the schoolyard and he was showing me some of his and his father's food battling techniques. Except, he had modified it to his trying to steal my food and put it into my mouth and my trying to steal his and put into his mouth while eating our own lunches. That was a lot of fun! At least until those two hussies showed up. Shampoo and Ukyo both JUST HAPPENED by with lunches ready-made for Ranma. Seeing us together, feeding each other, was too much for them. They both got mad at Ranma for not including them. Instead of telling them that he and I were having a private lunch, he just shrugged and said okay. The next thing I know he had Shampoo and Ukyo draped all over him and I couldn't get near him or his food. The jerk! I couldn't stand seeing him lapping up their attention. Before I knew it, I kicked him away from them. At least, I got him away from those two! When he got back to class, he didn't even apologize for letting them interrupt our lunch!"

"Maybe he didn't realize that allowing them to join you would make you upset?" Kasumi suggested.

"Oh sure, like he doesn't know that I get upset every time I see him allow some girl drape herself all over him. As if he couldn't dodge out of the way!" She began seething anew.

"Akane," Kasumi spoke soothingly, "I'm sure that he did nothing to encourage them. Tell me, did he pull them into an embrace, or did they force themselves into one?"

"They jumped him. The little..."

"Sister, we shouldn't use disparaging language."

"tarts." Akane finished lamely.

"There see? He did nothing did he?" She smiled.

"I guess not." Akane stood a little and them moved towards the stairs. "I've got to finish my homework early in case Ranma wants to spar again." She rushed to her room.

"That was very impressive, sis." A laconic voice spoke behind the eldest Tendo daughter.

"Hello, Nabiki," she turned to the brown-haired girl. "Did you have a good day at school today?"

"You could say that." Nabiki walked towards the stairs herself.

"Would you like some tea? We could talk about it, if you like." Kasumi asked.

"Really, I need to get out of this silly uniform and get comfortable. I think I'll pass this time." Nabiki ignored Kasumi and went to her room.

'I wonder what she's up to?' Kasumi stood and looked up the empty stairs. After a few seconds, she shook herself and moved towards the kitchen. 'I'm sure she's not doing anything that will hurt the family's harmony.'

***

Cleaning the dishes after dinner, Kasumi overheard Akane and Ranma in the adjoining room.

"Ranma, I've finished my homework and thought that maybe, when you've finished yours, and if you'd like to, that you and I might have time to spar again tonight." Akane's voice bespoke her nervousness.

"Sure, Akane! I'm almost finished. All I have left is my math." He paused, and continued with uncharacteristic humility, "This might take awhile though. I'm having a hard time with it. I just can't seem to get it."

"Would you like me to help?" Akane quietly asked. Her voice trembled with the anguish of expected rejection.

"Sure! You're a whiz at this stuff." Ranma quickly agreed.

"I'll help, but that means we're sparring afterwards." A happy voice stated.

"Sure, no problem." Ranma agreed.

The noise in the other room quickly lowered into the talk of derivatives and other mathematical terms as Kasumi finished in the kitchen with a final wipe down of all the counter tops.

***

Everything continued peacefully until a few minutes after Akane and Ranma retreated to the dojo, when the peace of in the house shattered with a loud crash.

"Where husband!" Shampoo angrily stamped through the hole she had made by crashing through the front door. "Shampoo told that Violent-Girl and husband are playing! That something wife NOT allow. Husbands must always ask permission."

Nabiki popped her head from around the top of the stairs, "Try the dojo. I'll get my fee later."

"Mercenary girl get Shampoo thanks." Shampoo made a straight line to the dojo. The long tressed girl amazingly walked through the living room and out into the yard with no further destruction, except for destroying the on-going shogi game.

"Ha, I win Tendo!" Genma leaned back in triumph.

"How so, Saotome?"

"The winner is the last one to have pieces on the board and do you see any of your pieces on the board?"

"No, and none of yours is on it either."

"Well, yours fell off first." Genma grinned with triumph. "I saw."

"I think not, Saotome." Soun frowned at his friend.

"Well, why don't we just play another game to prove who is right then?"

"Very well," Soun moved to pick up the shogi board as Genma began picking up the tiles. "Kasumi, could you bring Genma and I some more tea. The concentration needed for world-class shogi makes one very thirsty."

Kasumi hung up the phone having called the carpenters and moved towards the kitchen, "Yes, father." She was worried that Nabiki had unwittingly sold out her plan for Ranma and Akane. If so, something new would have to be tried.

Her worries were confirmed when as she brought new tea to her father and Genma, Ukyo made an appearance. Ukyo stalked through the house, ignored the men, made a slight bow of apology to Kasumi for coming in uninvited, and continued through to the dojo.

Kasumi watched with eyes widening every second and the only thing she could say was, "I hope that they can play nicely this time."

She moved to the porch and sat watching the dojo for almost a half-hour. Nothing happened. Finally unable to stand it any longer, she got up and fixed some tea and rice cakes and brought them to the dojo.

When she entered, she found the three girls trying to trap the boy in a corner. "Hello, I thought you might have finished by now and I brought some refreshments." Pausing a second making sure that she had their attention, she continued, "I thought you were sparring. What game are you playing?"

At the mention of food, Ranma leapt over all three of his fiancees landing next to Kasumi. "We're playing martial arts tag. Who's ever it has to land a solid, unblocked blow on someone to make them it. Ain't none of 'em have gotten me yet." He reached out and took a cake from her tray.

"Oh, It looked like you were having a great time. How is it that Shampoo, Ukyo, and Akane were all trying to get you?" She set the tray down and stood back as the others moved in and sat down, getting their own snacks.

"Well, Ranma, as usual, starting bragging about how we were always it and we weren't good enough to make him it. We finally decided to make him it together." Akane said between bites.

"Did it work?"

"Nope!" Ranma laughed at them.

"We were just about to get him when you came in." Ukyo answered.

"Husband very, very fast, but no can go in all directions." Shampoo agreed.

"Heh, I could'a gotten away any time I wanted." Ranma shrugged and sipped his tea.

Smiling at them, Kasumi moved behind Ranma and gently tapped him on his head, "Well I guess you're it now, Ranma. While it might be unfair for me to surprise you like this, and I do apologize, but we girls must stick together."

The smirk was immediately wiped off of his face and he began to blush in embarrassment. "Wha?" He turned and looked accusingly at his attacker. "No fair, Kasumi, you weren't part of the practice!"

Shampoo and Ukyo had both fallen over laughing at Ranma. Akane pricked him further as she stated, "Ranma, don't you and your father say that a martial artist should always be aware of your environment because you never know when a training opportunity or challenge will come from?"

He stopped, glanced at her, and slumped in defeat, "Yeah, you're right." Suddenly, he sat up straight again and a devilish gleam sparkled in his eyes as a very impish grin spread across his face. He turned towards his betrayer.

Seeing his looks, Kasumi began to edge towards the entrance.

"I guess that since you tagged me, you want to join our session, don't you?" Ranma kipped up to his feet.

"No, not really. I'm not dressed for it. And anyway, I need to clean the kitchen again." She nervously continued her retreat.

Ranma jumped between her and the exit. "Nah, I think you'll be fine. Anyway, a martial artist needs to be able to move in whatever they're wearing. Look at all the fights Akane has had in her school uniform. And I'd bet that her outfit is more confining than yours."

"Yes, but I'd be embarrassed if my skirt flipped up too high." She looked to the other girls for support.

Akane chirped up, "Kasumi, I've got a spare outfit that you could probably squeeze into in the changing room. It'll only take you a minute."

"Really, Akane, that's okay." Kasumi tried to get to the exit, but Ranma somehow seemed to block her without seeming to move.

"We'll be easy on you, sugar." Ukyo smiled at her, "We know that you're not a fighter, but I really enjoyed the look an Ranma-honey's face when you tagged him."

"Shampoo agree, go easy on Tendo clan leader."

"Huh?" Kasumi turned around and looked at Shampoo.

"What else is you?" Shampoo shrugged. "Kasumi Tendo is eldest female in family, no?"

"Oh, never mind, I'll get dressed." Kasumi admitted defeat, but began mulling Shampoo's statement in her mind.

A few minutes later, Kasumi exited the dressing room finding that the other four had already started the game again. The tray and dishes had been set in the entranceway of the dojo, out of the way of their action. Timidly, she moved to join the others.

"Kasumi, you cheated that one hit," Ranma spun by her, "but I'da probably done the same thing." He laughed as Shampoo mistimed a swipe at him and fell into Kasumi. The elder girl braced and managed to stay upright even as the Amazon used her as a brace to redirect herself.

"Ouch," Kasumi rubbed her arm where the other girl had pushed off. Realizing the futility of chasing anyone, she decided to stay back out of the way.

She watched as the others seemed to flow from one place to another within the dojo. Their individual styles differed greatly, but each showed the grace of long practice. She enjoyed watching the interplay between them and avoided as best she could being tagged. It wasn't long, however, before Ranma noticed how she hung back.

"Tag you're it!" He smiled and bounced away from her after tapping the top of her head.

Groaning in the anticipation of being "It" for a very long time, she began chasing the others. She found that, while she wasn't as fast as any of the others on her feet, her long practice in the kitchen had sharpened her hand speed to the point she was able to barely hold her own against the others. When she finally managed to tag Ukyo, albeit through a sneak attack, she squealed with pleasure and immediately got tagged back.

"Darn it!" She started chasing them again.

***

A little later, a very tired Kasumi and Akane dragged themselves towards the furo. After washing herself, Kasumi allowed herself to slowly sink into the warm waters of the tub.

"Ooo, this really feels good." She looked towards her sister, "Akane, hurry up, the water is heavenly."

"I'm hurrying," Akane said as she poured a bucket of water over her head, "I just need to rinse my hair a second time."

"That's okay," the older girl leaned back, stretching out, "I don't know if there's room for you now."
She giggled a little.

A little shocked at her sister's comment, Akane replied, "Kasumi! Are you being selfish?"

"Maybe, a little." She giggled again. "Come on, Akane. I want to know how it was that the four of you weren't destroying our dojo."

The other girl stood and walked to the furo. Dipping her toe in before entering, she smiled and then slowly settled into the tub with her sister. "You were right, this is heavenly! It would be perfect if you had some of your tea handy." She hinted hopefully.

"I'm sorry, but I was so stinky and tired that I came straight here, the same as you."

"Oh well." Akane lay back, closing her eyes.

"Akane?"

"Mmm?"

"You haven't answered my question. How is it that you, Shampoo, Ukyo, and Ranma were all in the dojo without it being torn up?"

"Was that why you brought the snacks in?" The shorthaired girl cracked an eye open to watch Kasumi's grin at being caught. "I thought so. It was strange. When Shampoo hopped in, Ranma and I were sparring. I was attacking trying to get through his defenses. I was actually getting through every once in a while! Shampoo came in and jumped at him. I guess she was trying to get him in her usual hug. Ranma saw her coming, smiled and dodged. DODGED! Can you believe it? Shampoo fell on her face in shock. I started laughing and so did Ranma."

"He let her fall? Oh my!" The older girl laughed along.

"Yes! He told her to join in. He told Shampoo that he and I were practicing, him on defense and me on attacks and that she could join in, that he could defend against both of us just fine. He told her that in that irritating way he can be sometimes. That got Shampoo and I both steamed. We immediately began attacking and never bothered with fighting each other. Ukyo came in a little later and Ranma simply told her to attack him too. By the time you came in, we had made up the martial arts tag game. It was too crowded for the three of us to try and attack Ranma at the same time. One of us always had to wait for an opening. In our game of tag, all of us were either on the defensive or offensive. As you found out!"

"That was fun," Kasumi scrunched her face up in a moue, "I think." With a small laugh, she continued, "I don't believe I'll know for sure until tomorrow morning when I try to get out of bed." She lifted an arm out of the water and looked at it. "I used muscles I had forgotten existed!" Shifting her gaze to her sister, she complained, "I think I'm going to get bruises from some of the places you tagged me!"

"I'm sorry." Akane hung her head ashamed at hurting her oldest sister.

"That's alright, just do me a favor okay?"

"What?"

"Help me remember that I'm not a martial artist the next time I get invited to play a game of Martial Arts tag."

"Done." Akane smiled, "But, you really did very well. I'm sure you could keep up with the rest of us in, oh," Akane feigned consideration of the query, "ten or twenty years."

Kasumi watched her sister as she cracked up. When Akane's mouth was at its widest, she splashed her.

"Kasumi!"

"Hee, hee."

"You know, this means war!" Akane swiped at the water and the splash war had begun.

***

Dear Diary,

I think that I've made good progress with Ranma. He upset Akane at school today, but I think that really it was more of a case of his being unwilling to hurt the other two girls and Akane being unable to see that in her jealousy. To be honest, I would be hard put to not get hurt myself.

It was in the dojo tonight that I think he made a real breakthrough. I think what he did was wonderful.

I think I could have done better at my job today though. I cannot believe that I let slip something about Miss Hinako. I really thought that she should have joined the 'cast' by now. Things are different here than I remember reading or watching. The base universe is the same, but I guess my presence has made some differences.

Something Shampoo said today started me thinking. She called me the Tendo clan leader. I'm going to try and use that status and stop Shampoo from breaking our house when she enters it.

I'm very tired, so I'm stopping here tonight.

Bye!

***

With a yawn, Kasumi quickly disposed of the letter before going to bed.

***

After breakfast the next morning, Kasumi made lunches for her father and the elder Saotome. She told them that some of her errands were going to be rather long.

"I can't believe I don't have anything appropriate to wear!" she said with exasperation as she looked through her wardrobe.

She had decided to go to the Neko Hanten and talk with Cologne. At first, she had decided to wear her best, and to be honest, only, kimono in an effort to impress Cologne. Then she remembered that an outfit designed to restrict a woman's movements and make her look more desirable to a man, might not be the most appropriate choice for a meeting with an Amazon elder. Everything else she owned looked rather dowdy.

"I'm nineteen years old and everything I own makes me look like a thirty-year old mother! Why don't I own something that helps me look like a serious woman? Or even an office lady?" she complained to herself.

Answering herself, "I know. I have the clothing necessary for my role, not for anything else."

She spotted a simple sky-blue knee-length skirt and sleeveless top set and decided to wear those. The simplicity allowed her freedom of movement and she hoped Cologne would recognize that she wanted a serious conversation. Black pantyhose and flats completed her ensemble. She kept her accessories minimal,.a simple silver chain and button earrings.

She looked in the mirror and felt her stomach tumble in nervousness. She found her hands smoothing the folds of her skirt in nervousness. She closed her eyes and told herself to calm down. She knew that any trace of nervousness could and probably would be seen as a sign of weakness. One thing she knew about Cologne was that she was always ready to pounce on one's weaknesses when it served her purposes.

"Outside of a full makever, I guess I'm as ready as I'm going to be." She sighed and moved to leave.

At the foot of the stairs, she paused and called out. "Father? I'm leaving. I should be home sometime this afternoon."

"See you." Her father sounded absorbed in his games.

***

A little while later she stood outside the Neko Hanten watching the traffic from the lunch crowd begin to wane. If anything, the nervousness of earlier had blossomed. She know felt queasy. Her stomach rumbled with its internal turmoil. Finally, the last patron left, and she watched Mousse place the Closed sign up.

Before her nerve failed completely, she walked across and enterred.

"I'm sorry, Miss, but we're closed." Mousse hurried forward and told the edge of the door next to her.

"Mousse, I'm over here and I'm not really here to eat. Do you think I could speak to Elder Cologne?" Kasumi asked, her voice pitched a little higher than she wanted. She caught herself as she tried to smooth out the front of her skirt for the umpteenth time.

"She's in the kitchen, but I'll see." Mousse answered and walked back to the kitchen. She noticed that he didn't stumble over anything, and decided that he must have the interior of the restaurant memorized.

While waiting, she walked into the interior of the establishment and began admiring some pictures that had been placed on the wall.

"They are very nice aren't they child?" Cologne's voice came from beside her.

"Augh!" Kasumi politely screamed. Embarrassed, she then covered, "I'm sorry, Elder Cologne. I was so engrossed in the drawings here that I didn't hear you."

Chuckling, the amazon motioned towards a table, "I understand that you wish to talk with me. Come over to a table where we can be comfortable and we can talk."

"Thank you, elder." Kasumi inclined her heads towards the other and made her way over to the proffered table. Reaching it, she waited until her host had been seated before sitting herself.

"Cologne, Err, Elder," Kasumi hesitated.

"Since you are not of my tribe, you can call me Cologne, dear." The old woman kindly prodded.

With a smile, Kasumi again started, "Cologne, there is a problem that my family has that I think you can help me with."

"And what problem is that." Cologne's eyes narrowed slightly in anticipation.

"The problem being that Shampoo cannot enter or leave my home without destroying some segment of its property." Kasumi blurted out, her nervousness forcing her bluntness. "I don't mean to sound mean or anything, I just want my home to be happy and harmonious."

"Child, at my age, one prefers bluntness." Cologne reached out and patted Kasumi's right hand. "Your family stands in the way between Shampoo and her objective of bringing Ranma home as her husband. As such, she treats your family as you would treat, say, Kodachi Kuno if she became enamored Tofu Ono. You would not respect her or her family much, would you?"

Acknowledging a point, Kasumi replied, "No, I don't think I would. However, there is a difference in the dynamic that I believe that you are missing. The difference is that Ranma is staying at my family's home as our guest. As such, he has obligations to see that our family does not suffer because of his stay. If he began to believe that the Tendo's were being harmed by Shampoo's continued destruction of our property, it would become increasingly hard for her to woo him. At least, I would think it would be."

Cologne leaned back and smiled at her guest, "Ah, I understand now. You want a clan-to-clan understanding, is that it?"

"Yes, Cologne." Kasumi smiled. "I want my family to be happy. If that means that Ranma marries Akane, then I will do what I can to make it happen. If it means that Ranma shouldn't marry her, then I'll do what I can to stop it. However, it will hurt your cause if you allow Shampoo to continue in her targeted destruction of my home. If I really thought that she was as unintelligent as she makes herself sound, then I would simply be sending you our repair bills."

"If Shampoo really were as simple as she appears, I would be unable to pay for all of the damage she would be causing." Cologne laughed with Kasumi. "However, you seem to be asking me for something that will give Akane an edge in the "Ranma War". If I do this thing for you, you gain something. What gain shall I see?"

"I thought that the ability to come into the Tendo home on a regular basis without raising the ire of our family, and through us Ranma's, would be sufficient." Kasumi stated as flatly as she could. Her nerves were just about gone. She glanced down to her lap and saw with some chagrin that her hands had clutched her skirt protectively. She let out a breath and forced herself to relax.

"Shampoo already comes and goes as she pleases." Cologne seemed to be enjoying herself.

"Yes, but how many times would I have to complain about the cost of the repairs within Ranma's earshot before he starts to respond more negatively to Shampoo?"

"Son-In-Law can be extremely non-observant for such a well trained fighter."

Exasperated, Kasumi broke down, "Cologne, I came here to ask your help in making my home and family a little happier. It won't cost you anything to tell Shampoo to use a door when entering and leaving my home."

"Ah, that's true, my dear," Cologne sat back, "but it's not the cost to me or you that is the true concern. I want my granddaughter to be happy and lose no more face than she already has in the tribe. If I have her seeming to kowtow to your family without gaining something in return, especially if it caused her to lose her husband, she would lose her place in the tribe."

"What is it that you wish of me?" Kasumi surrendered.

"I want nothing more than what your family already has: full access to Ranma. I will instruct Shampoo to treat your home as she would her own, if you agree to my one little condition." Steel showed in the Amazon's eyes now.

Seeing Cologne's look, Kasumi knew that the next demand would be nonnegotiable. "What is it, Cologne?"

"That Shampoo move in with you and your family. She would then treat your home and family respectfully and have the same, full access to Ranma that Akane has." Cologne leaned back, relaxing into her seat as she finished.

Surprised at the request, Kasumi blurted out, "Why? If Shampoo lives with us, Ranma will likely as not come to see her as a sister."

"Just as he will come to see Akane as a sister?" Cologne chuckled, "I think not. I simply wish to give my grand-daughter the same advantage as her competitor has."

Trying to think and buy herself some time, Kasumi thought for a few seconds before asking, "How old is Shampoo? If she comes to live with my family, do I need to worry about the authorities coming after her for not being in school? Education is very important, especially here."

"She is sixteen and has completed the schooling necessary for an Amazon warrior."

"Does she have a diploma or certificate to prove this? At sixteen, she should be in school. If nothing else, they could teach her how to speak proper Japanese." Seeing Cologne begin to object, Kasumi raised a hand apologetically. "I know Shampoo is very smart, that her speech is a tactic she uses to make others underestimate her. However, the longer she continues in this habit, the more likely she will be seen as nothing more than a silly waitress. When she's a little older, she probably will want to be taken much more seriously by others here."

"What the Japanese think of her will mean nothing in the future." The elder dismissively waved her hand.

"Oh, then you don't really expect her to marry Ranma, then?"

Laughing, Cologne answered, "Not at all, Amazons, like the Canadian Mounties, always get their men. Very well, even though she has graduated back home, I shall have Shampoo go to Furinkan and be placed into Ranma's grade level. I'm sure she'll be thrilled at being able to be with Ranma all day. You must make sure that your family will welcome her."

Not knowing how to back out of the negotiation, the Tendo girl sat silently. Her gaze never left the other while she thought. Cologne nonchalantly sipped her tea, while not breaking their eye contact. With a tiny slump of her shoulders, the long-haired woman bowed her head, "Very well. If you have Shampoo enrolled as a Furinkan student by Saturday, I will have a place for her to stay on Sunday. However, if she stays with us, I'll treat her as family and her schoolwork and home duties will have to take precedence over her job here. The same as when Ranma worked here."

"Done. I wish you well when you tell your family." Cologne gave a gentle smile to her opponent.

***

"You've done what?" screamed Soun.

The family had just finished eating and everyone was sitting around the table. Soun sat at the head of it with Genma to his right. Ranma sat next to his father. The three sisters sat in age order at Soun's left with Kasumi sitting closest to her father.

"I've invited Shampoo to live with us for a while. She is going to be enrolling in school and Cologne asked that she be allowed to live with us for a time while she adjusts to school life here." The eldest Tendo daughter timidly offered. "I didn't see any problem with it, and in addition, maybe Shampoo can be taught to use our doors and not walk through the walls as she usually does."

"She's not going to be staying with me." Nabiki dryly commented. "I've got my room just the way I like it. I simply don't have the space to share."

"Don't even ask me to share my room with that," Akane paused in her outrage to find the appropriate descriptor, "that Chinese bimbo!"

"Well, we certainly can't let her room with the Saotomes." Kasumi said. Nabiki's eyebrows rose a little at the thought of Shampoo and Ranma sharing a room. "I guess she'll just stay with me then."

"Excuse me, I've got," Nabiki paused as she stood, "homework to attend to."

"I thought you had finished it before you got home today." Her elder sister asked, sounding puzzled.

"I just remembered something I had forgotten about. Can't let my grades slip." Nabiki hastily left the room.

"You've done what?" screamed Soun.

"Honestly, Father." Kasumi sighed, "We've worked everything out. Shampoo will stay in my room. Anyway, if we told them she couldn't stay, we'd lose face wouldn't we?"

"Er, yes, I suppose." Unable to stay mad at his eldest, Soun simply acceded to the situation. "Since you made the agreement, I expect you to make sure she behaves correctly while she is here."

"Yes, Father."

"Fine then. Saotome? Ready to lose another game?" Soun looked towards his best friend.

"Lose? I don't recall ever losing to such a lousy player as you. However, I am always willing to help you become a better player." Genma smiled at his friend. "Even though you never seem to get any better, it still is the duty of those better to try and help those of lesser skill."

"We'll just see who is the student and who is the master shall we?" Sound grinned back.

"Akane? Would you help me with the dishes?" Kasumi looked at her sister.

"If it's alright with you, I'd like to go upstairs and study. I haven't quite finished all of my work either." Akane asked with hope in her voice.

"Your studies are more important than making sure the dishes are clean. Go ahead."

"Ah, I'll help you." Ranma tentatively offered. He blushed a little, as after all it wasn't very manly to help in the kitchen. "I finished all of my work a little while ago."

"Thank you, Ranma. That's very kind of you." Kasumi smiled at the younger man. His smile broadened in response.

"No prob. You start washing and I'll bring all the stuff in for you."

"That sounds fine." Suiting action to words, she rose and entered the kitchen. Within minutes Ranma had brought all of the dinner dishes in and had placed them next to the sink where Kasumi washed them. He hung around afterwards bouncing back and forth on his heels.

"Ranma, is there something you wanted?" Kasumi finally asked.

"Erm, Yeah." The pig-tailed boy slowly settled down. "Kasumi? Why did you really invite Shampoo to stay with us?"

"What do you mean? Cologne asked for a favor and I said yes."

"You know what I mean. The old mummy never asks for anything straight out and anyway how did the two of you meet with each other?" He bore in.

"Well, if you must know, I went to Cologne and asked her to have Shampoo stop tearing our house apart each time she comes over. It's very expensive to repair and it's gotten very tiresome to have the same area repaired time and again." She couldn't be dishonest with Ranma. "Cologne agreed as long as I allowed her one favor. Allowing Shampoo to stay here was that request."

"That makes more sense." Ranma thought some, "Just how expensive is it to repair the house?"

"It's not your problem, Ranma. It's mine, or rather, Father's." Looking between him and the dishes that required drying, Kasumi then suggested, "But since you are in my kitchen, could you dry the dishes as I wash them and put them up?"

"Sure, I could," Ranma agreed theoretically. He didn't move an inch, he simply smiled at her, eyes twinkling.

'If he wasn't so much younger than I am', a thought flashed through her head. She stopped herself. Ranma was her sister's man. Getting back to task, she asked, "Will you dry the dishes and put them up for me, Ranma?"

"Okay." He relented with a chuckle.

They had finished and were sitting in the living room when Akane came down.

"Ranma? Want to spar again?"

"I'm always ready for you, Akane." He said without thinking. As he realized what he said, he blushed adorably to Kasumi's eye.

"You are?" teased Akane. "Well that's nice, but do you want to spar?"

"Uh," With face now beet red, he spluttered, "Yeah, that would be good. Now is a good time." He ran to the dojo.

"That was very good, Akane!" Kasumi laughed.

"Yeah, it was wasn't it?" She giggled along with her sister, "With Ranma, it's almost too easy."

"He is a dear, isn't he?"

"Yes, he is. Just don't let him or Father know I think that."

"I won't, Akane, I promise."

"See you later! Hey, are you going to play with us tonight?" Akane paused on the way out.

Shaking her head, Kasumi put her palms up towards the other in defense. "I don't think so. I could barely crawl out of bed this morning. My arm still hurts from where you smashed it."

"Hey, I barely tagged you there." Akane defended herself.

"If giving someone a bruise the size of a grapefruit is barely tagging them," Kasumi smiled, "Next time miss me completely! I know, how about you and I share a bath and I bring the tea tonight?"

Brightening at the thought of her sister's special tea, Akane agreed. "Alright." She ran out the door to catch up with Ranma at the dojo.

Shaking her head in amusement, Kasumi stood up and began straightening the room up. Her Father and Genma had managed to thoroughly mess up the area around the shogi board and it took her almost fifteen minutes to get the room back to its normally spotless appearance.

While finishing, Nabiki wandered in and turned on the television.

"Finished with all of your homework?" Kasumi asked, sitting down.

"Yeah, I finished up a while ago. I read a little and than decided to come down and catch some action."

"But you're watching a comedy show."

"Yeah, I know." Nabiki cast a lazy glance at her elder sister. "You'll see soon enough, sister."

"Oh," as the full implications of Nabiki's statement came through, Kasumi uttered her most potent expletive, "Oh, MY!"

"I expect the action to commence in," she checked the clock, it showed 8:57. "Oh, about eight minutes or so."

Not able to do anything to stop whatever was about to occur, Kasumi leaned back, felt the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach and closed her eyes in order to relax. "I've just gotten the house back in order." She moaned.

At exactly 9:05, a loud knock was heard throughout the house.

"Whoever could that be," mused a very amused Nabiki.

"Nabiki, Father, don't trouble yourselves. I'll get it." Kasumi said with feigned cheerfulness. She then stood, straightened her clothes and moved towards the front-door. Neither Nabiki nor Soun had even acted as if they had considered opening the door.

"Hello, Ukyo!" She smiled at the other girl. "What brings you here tonight?"

"How could you let that old bat talk you into letting that Chinese Amazon stay here?" Ukyo stormed into the house.

Acting confused, Kasumi replied, "I'm sorry. How did you find out about that arrangement?"

"Never mind that. It's bad enough that Ranchan has to stay with Akane day and night, but now Shampoo is going to be here?" Ukyo looked at the eldest Tendo daughter as if she had personally betrayed her. "Ranchan is my fiance and I barely get any time with him."

"Ukyo, please calm down." She ushered her into the dining room. "Let me make some tea and we can discuss this."

Her initial ire spent, Ukyo collapsed down beside the table. "Never mind the tea, just tell me why." She begged, the heartache very evident in her voice.

Kasumi quietly sat next to her. She studied the other girl, both seeing and feeling the hurt, anger and loneliness of the other. "I'm truly sorry. This is a matter between the Tendos and the Amazons. Shampoo will stay with us while she attends Furinkan."

"It's not fair." Ukyo sniffled.

Not really wanting to agree with her, Kasumi scooted over and pulled her into a comforting embrace.

Patting Ukyo on the back, she murmured, "Yes, I know it seems unfair." Looking around to see if anyone is around and seeing no one, she whispered into Ukyo's ear, "Would you really want to live in a house with my family, Genma, and Shampoo just to be close to Ranma?"

Ukyo sniffled again and then began giggling, "No, I just want to be with Ranchan. No offense, but I wouldn't want to put up with them."

"My what a picture this is." Nabiki's voice rang out. "I didn't know you swung that way, Sis. And here I thought Ukyo was after Ranma. Maybe your time in boy's schools affected you, Ukyo are you after 'Ranko' or Ranma?"

"What?" Kasumi, startled, moved away from Ukyo.

Unfortunately for Nabiki, Ukyo was not in the mood for teasing. "Nabiki Tendo, I am not that kind of girl and never have been."

"No?" Analyzing the situation and deciding to defuse it, she relented, "I was only teasing. Can't a girl have some fun?"

"Yes, everyone should have fun, Nabiki." Kasumi agreed, before turning stern. "But not at others expense."

"Oh, Kasumi. What's the fun if they don't squirm a little?" Nabiki riposted. "After all, as long as it's just a tease no one ever really gets hurt, right?"

"I wouldn't count on it." Kasumi answered.

"I do and that's the difference between us." Nabiki sauntered towards the hallway to the stairs. "Oh, Ukyo," she paused until she saw that she had the younger girl's attention, "Ranma and Akane are playing out in the dojo. I'm sure they wouldn't mind another. Maybe you could have a martial arts menage-a-trois?" She laughed a little at her own joke.

Seeing the anger again seething through the young chef, Kasumi suggested, "It might be fun to go and spar with them. I'm sure they won't mind. You're friends with the both of them."

Ukyo looked at Kasumi, making sure she wasn't trying to verbally jab her like Nabiki just had. Seeing only friendly concern on the other's face, Ukyo let out a breath and said, "Okay, I could use a good spar right now."

***

Dear Diary,

This is probably going to be one of the last times I get the opportunity to write you. Since Shampoo will be staying in my room with me, I simply cannot let her see me doing this. I realize that my restrictions have loosened a little, but letting someone else know that I'm not the original Kasumi simply shouldn't happen. I don't want to imagine how Father and my sisters would react. Oh well, I can still compose these letters in my head, I suppose. It won't be the same, though. Sigh

I don't know whether to be happy or upset with how my meeting with Cologne turned out. I don't like that Shampoo will be living here, but I'm sure that she will be nice. I guess I'll be happy until something bad happens.

I'm disturbed by some of the thoughts I've been having. I've really noticed how cute Ranma is at times. He simply cannot help himself. BUT ... I don't want him! He's Akane's fiance after all. And I know Takahashi destined the two of them to be together. With the storylines that I remember, that doesn't leave much for the rest of us.

I am lonely. I remember how nice it was to have a partner to rely on and have a family with. Of course, I was the husband there. It seems strange that I was ever male when I look back now. It's like looking back through a very darkened window. I recall things, but I remember them as if I was there in my current body, not the one I had then. Needless to say, there are some things that just don't work right when I try and remember them, sex, for instance.

If I don't do something about it soon, I'll pop. I think tomorrow, if I can get the nerve up, or the next day, I'll go over to Tofu's and see if we can talk. He dropped out of the series pretty early on. That might mean that his and my relationship were too distant from the main plots to be followed. I really hope that that is the case. It would be nice to have a friend to snuggle with. That would rid me of any thoughts about Ranma. If he fogs up his glasses and starts dancing with his skeleton, I might just scream! Or, I might just give him a reason to fog those glasses of his up! Ha-ha!

Well, it's pretty late and I never get to sleep in, so I guess I'll wrap up so that I can get up!

Goodbye Diary!

***

After destroying the note, Kasumi quickly fell into an exhausted sleep.

**********************

I hope that you liked my little story. Let me know what you think.