[FFML] [FanFic] [Ranma 1/2] Kasumi the Wayfarer Chapter 2

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3:10 am

Well, so much for my retirement (not that anyone probably noticed or
cared...).

This is a very rough version of Chapter 2. I've just finished it and I don't
feel like sitting on it while I revise it. I'll most likely go over it
tomorrow to polish it up, fix the more egregious mistakes, and then repost it
in a day or two with a few notes added.

Enjoy,

Jeremy Harper

-- Attached file included as plaintext by Ecartis --
-- File: Kasumi the Wayfarer Chapter 2 Rough.txt

Kasumi the Wayfarer

A Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction

Jeremy Harper

Disclaimer - Ranma 1/2 is the creation of Rumiko Takahashi and is used without permission.

Chapter 2: Of Kittens Bearing Tales

Kasumi settled down at the living room table with a sigh. Sipping her tea, she looked out into the backyard, contemplating the koi pond and rock garden. A radio played music, barely audible. The day's chores were done and she had nothing to do until Nabiki, Akane and Ranma got home. The house was empty; Father and Uncle Saotome had gone out to an early neighborhood watch meeting and she was grateful for the silence for she felt oddly tired, and for the life of her could not figure a reason why. The housework had been no more onerous than usual. She wondered briefly if her return to her dreamlands was the cause of her fatigue. Perhaps during her absence she had somehow gotten... out of shape, for lack of a better term. It seemed a silly conjecture, especially since she felt so wonderful this morning - better than she had felt in over a month, in fact. But it was the only plausible reason she could think of that could explain this sudden weariness.

Kasumi drank another sip of tea and dismissed her concerns. No doubt she would feel better by the next morning. Thinking of tomorrow made her recall that she needed to make a quick inventory of the refrigerator and pantries to see what was needed when she went out shopping. She also needed to drop in at the clinic and return the book on shiatsu she borrowed from Doctor Tofu. Her lips quirked into a smile; the good Doctor was such an amusing and silly man. It always brightened her day to see his antics. It was a shame that he didn't behave with a little more decorum, though. He was quite handsome. Kasumi blushed at that thought and banished it. In all seriousness she found it hard to reconcile the Doctor Tofu she knew with the Tofu Father, Akane and Ranma spoke of with affection and respect.

A figure jumped over the wall and landed on all fours on the far side of the koi pond, slightly startling Kasumi. She set down her tea and looked at Ranma as he crouched on his haunches, glancing about with casual deliberation. Satisfied, he leaped over the pond and padded up to the porch, still on all fours. He meowed out a greeting. Kasumi couldn't help but laugh. She spoke to Ranma, pitching her voice in a soft, purring lilt.

"Oh my, whatever happened to you Ranma?" Ranma meowed in response. "You don't know? Oh well. Whatever are we going to do with you? You're always getting into so much trouble." Ranma's responding meow sounded indignant. Kasumi laughed again. "Yes, I know it's not usually your fault. Well, I think Akane will be home soon looking for you. Would you like some milk while you wait?"

They were in the kitchen - Ranma sloppily drinking milk from a saucer, while Kasumi watched him in amusement - when they heard the front door open and Akane call out a greeting. Ranma's head snapped up from the saucer, his eyes large and bright and a large smile stretched across his face. He shot out of the kitchen like a lightning bolt, nearly crashing into the wall in his haste. Kasumi followed behind at a more sedate pace. She caught up with him in the foyer, snuggling in the lap of a rather out of breath looking Akane. He was purring quite loudly; Kasumi translated in her head what he was declaring to the entire world: mine, mine, mine, mine, mine. She smiled good-naturedly at this frankness, but a trace of wistfulness crept into her eyes, as she looked at him and her oblivious little sister.

"He seems happy to see you, Akane," said Kasumi.

Akane laughed and blushed a little. "I guess so. Has he been home long? I hope he hasn't been underfoot."

"No, not long. He was a bit noisy when he came in, but he quieted down when I gave him some milk."

"Figures. He has a bottomless stomach, no matter what." Akane scratched Ranma around an ear. His purring intensified.

"So how did he get into the Neko-ken this time?" Kasumi asked.

"Shampoo. She asked him out and when he said 'no' she splashed herself and chased him around. He tripped on the sidewalk and by the time I booted her off he'd gone cat and dashed off before I could call him back."

"I should have guessed..." Akane paused in her scratching. Ranma meowed in protest but she ignored him, looking closely at her older sister. "Are you all right, Kasumi? You look tired."

Kasumi hesitated a moment before answering. "I AM feeling a little peaked. I... I don't think I slept as well as I should have." She admitted the last part with reluctance.

Akane pushed Ranma off of her lap, stood up and walked over to her sister. "Maybe you should lie down for a little while."

"I think you are right. In fact, I think I'll go to bed now. I'm sure I'll feel better after a long sleep."

Akane nodded almost eagerly. "Okay. I'll cook supper, then. There's a new recipe in my cookbook I want to try out."

"No Akane."

"But..."

"I said 'no', Akane," Kasumi said with uncharacteristic force. "If you want you can help with dinner tomorrow, but for tonight just order some take-out."

"O- okay Sis," Akane answered, surprised and a little stung by Kasumi's tone. Kasumi just nodded and made her way upstairs to her bedroom. Akane watched her, stroking Ranma's head, finding comfort in his purrs.

Kasumi sat in front of her mirror, brushing her hair and frowning. She knew definitely now that she was out of sorts. It was not like her to be cross with Akane; she couldn't figure out why she had spoken to her like that. Kasumi set down her brush and looked down at her hands folded in her lap.

"I know why," she finally whispered. "I'm jealous of her. She has a life outside of the family, and she has someone who loves her very much. What do I have to fulfill me, besides the responsibilities of caring for my father's house? Who do I have to love me? No one..." Kasumi sighed deeply as she got into bed. "But at least I have my dreams. No one can take those away from me..."

**********

In her bed at the Foaming Tankard Inn Kasumi the Wayfarer stirred, awoken by the lusty crowing of a rooster greeting the Sun. She sat up, stretched luxuriously and threw off her blankets, the cares and burdens of the waking world forgotten. Stepping out of bed, she donned the clean cloth robe and slippers old Ranson supplied all his guests with, gathered up her own clothes and gear in her arms and walked out to the bathhouse in the inn's back courtyard. Being the only woman guest in the inn right now she had the ladies' portion of the baths to her self, so she took her time, pampering herself with hot water and soap, washing away thoroughly the musk she acquired traveling yesterday. Once finished she quickly memorized a cantrip from her grimoire and used it to clean and freshen her clothes. It was a useful spell; one she wished she had in her other life. She frowned a little at the thought. She did not like thinking of her other life while in her dreamlands. Still frowning, her mood now somber, she dressed and left the bathhouse.

A chorus of mews greeted her. Two kittens dashed across the courtyard towards her- one black with a white tip on its tail, the other completely white. They twined around her legs, pressing their cheeks against her boots, purring happily. Kasumi laughed merrily, her previous somberness banished. She knelt down to stroke them.

"Hello Whitetip. Hello Snowchild. It's wonderful to see you again. My have you grown! I hope you've been taking good care of Ranson while I've been gone." Kasumi lilted her speech in the purring manner she had used with Ranma. As a child she befriended the cat community of Ulthar and learned their language. The cats loved her dearly - especially the young ones - and she returned their affection fully.

"Lady Kasumi, Lady Kasumi, have you heard what we've heard?" the kittens said to her in tandem.

Kasumi smiled and continued to pet them. "I don't think I have. I've just returned to Ulthar after a long hiatus. Do you wish to tell me?"

"We do," the kittens said. Kasumi scooped them up in her arms and walked over to an oak bench set against the wall of the inn. She sat down, settling the kittens in her lap and scratched them behind their ears.

"Now my clever kittens, tell me what you know." The kittens purred at her praise and launched into their tale.

"We were down by the Skai," began Whitetip.

"Yes, playing tag and chasing butterflies," added Snowchild.

"Yes. I was chasing Snowchild when a Twk-Man came flying by."

"He was riding a golden dragonfly so large it could have carried us away!"

"He asked us if we wished to trade with him, for he had important news."

"So we gave him a red ribbon."

"Yes. It was new, all bright and shiny."

"And he told us something wonderful..."

Here the kittens paused for a moment. Kasumi scratched them under their chins. "So, what was this wonderful thing the Twk-Man told you?" she asked. The kittens looked at each other, then around the courtyard to make sure no one was eavesdropping. They stared up at Kasumi, their golden eyes wide with excitement.

"Mazirian the Magician is dead!" Whitetip whispered.

"He'll no longer threaten and frighten with evil deeds and dark spells," commented Snowchild.

Kasumi's eyes grew wide in surprise and disbelief. "Are you sure?" she whispered back to them. They nodded emphatically.

"The Twk-Man said he saw Mazirian die with his own two eyes," said Whitetip.

"Twk-Men don't lie," said Snowchild. "You know that, Lady Kasumi."

"You're right," admitted Kasumi. "But Mazirian was as cunning as he was cruel. It is hard to believe that he is dead... How did it happen?"

"The Twk-Man said Mazirian chased a strange woman all throughout the Forest of Skai, and spent all his magic in the pursuit."

"She led him through a grove of Thrash Vines. The Vines whipped her near to death and killed Mazirian outright."

"The Twk-Man also saw a strange man leave Mazirian's home, carrying the body of the poor woman."

"The Manse of Mazirian the Magician now lies open, undefended by its master."

Kasumi did not speak for several moments, thinking hard on this story. Shaking out of her reverie, she proceeded to pet the kittens thoroughly, thanking them for bringing this news and asking them persuasively to refrain from telling others about this for a few days. The kittens purred happily and agreed. She took them to the kitchen, fetching them a saucer of cream as a reward. She left them behind, drinking happily, as she left the inn.

Kasumi wandered the cobblestone streets of Ulthar deep in thought, greeting those who hailed her abstractly. She eventually found herself at the docks. A wind blew over the Skai from the East, damp and soothing, the smell of the river pleasing, for the folk of Ulthar knew better than to foul it, so not to offend the aquatic Gnorri that lived farther down current, or the God Skai himself. Kasumi stood at the end of a pier, out of the way of the passengers disembarking from a moored ship to tread wearily into town. She doffed her hat, holding it by her side, and looked out over the Skai, gazing at the dark forests that lay on its other side.

Kasumi knew much of Mazirian, though all of her knowledge came from second hand sources. She had never met the magician in the flesh, thankfully. His reputation was dire, his cold, clinical cruelty and greed for sorcerous secrets were renowned. He had made many foes in his long quest for knowledge; she knew that he had stolen lore from the great King Kuranes, founder of Celephais, and Prince Kandive the Golden, ruler of Kaiin. That Mazirian crossed such dangerous men and managed to live long after the fact was testament to his own power and ruthless cunning. For as long as she could remember the inhabitants of the region feared him and were thankful that he had little use for the common run of folks, thus rarely emerged from his manse and his gardens.

Now Mazirian was dead. That manse - a renovated ruin of a castle so ancient not even the Wise had the slightest inkling of its founders - and those gardens were vulnerable. Kasumi did not doubt the kittens' story; the veracity of Twk-Men was proverbial throughout the known world. She wondered about the marvels Mazirian was said to have collected... treasures from centuries past, charms and devices constructed by artifice long forgotten, spells and incantations of incredible cogency... all of it waiting for one daring enough to claim it. It also helped that she, as far as she knew, was the only one to know about this opportunity.

Kasumi rubbed her chin thoughtfully. She was not of an avaricious nature. Money, while useful, meant little to her, and she sought spells to aid her with her adventures, not as a means to gather power or dominion. But like the cats of Ulthar her curiosity was great; she wanted to see the legendary gardens Mazirian cultivated, to examine the artifacts he horded, to browse through his grimiores and lorebooks. And once curiosity had been satisfied she'd leave, maybe with a bauble that caught her fancy and a spell or two added to her repertoire. But she couldn't help but think that perhaps this adventure could be too much for her. The Forest of Skai was in some ways more dangerous than the Enchanted Forest, for in addition to half-men and neomorphs men dwelt there- savage brigands for the most part, as savage and sadistic as any deodand or moon-beast. And then there was the matter of the manse itself. Mazirian may be dead, but magicians of his stature often left nasty surprises for those who sought to impose on their hospitality while they were away. Kasumi frowned at the thought of seeking partners, not because she was adverse to companionship or sharing spoils, but it would cost her time. She had many friends among the wanderers of the dreamlands, but odds were against any of them being in Ulthar now. Nor for a venture of this magnitude did she wish to trust someone she did not know well. Also the news of Mazirian's demise would not stay her secret for long. She trusted the kittens' discretion, but the Twk-Men were mercenaries; they would tell anyone of this if they paid their price. Kasumi did not relish the thought of competition for the manse- especially if it was against a true sorcerer or a villain such as the notorious Liane...

"Ka- Kasumi!" A voice startled her out of her thoughts. It sounded very familiar, yet she couldn't place it. She looked for its source. A man stood halfway down the moored boat's gangplank, staring at her in gape-mouthed astonishment. He was tall and svelte, tanned bronze from a life out-of-doors. He was clad in a deep-blue vest, blue trousers, and sturdy leather walking boots. A bulging rucksack was thrown over his shoulder. He wore no shirt beneath his open vest, showing the almost Grecian definition of his chest and stomach. An axe, bronze-hafted and bright, hung at his hip. A silver circlet on his brow bound his brown hair, keeping his bangs out of his eyes. The circlet was wrought to resemble a wreath of oak leaves. A small blue jewel of cabochon cut was set in its center. His face was handsome, its wide brow and tapering chin giving him an air of intelligence and wisdom. His eyes were the deepest black Kasumi had ever seen. She peered closely at the man, trying to place when and where she could have met him, for his seemed very familiar. Recognition came, striking her like a thunderbolt. Her eyes flew wide open. She dropped her hat onto the pier as her hand shot up to cover her mouth.

"Oh my! Doctor Tofu!"