Ranma ½ is property of Rumiko Takahashi and her posie, i.e. Kitty films, Viz. video and a host of other’s. The idea for the story comes straight from me. I do not in any way shape or form intend to make any money from this story or any other therefore it is pointless to try to sue me.
Authors note: Ah part three has finally made it, it took me a while but it made. If your new to the series and you haven’t read part 1 or 2 I strongly suggest that you go back and read those before you attempt to read this. Why you ask? Simple you could start reading this and then half way through it you could get all confufeled and then you would say, "What the hell I don’t get this?" Or "This person has written a bunch of crap!" And those are both things that I don’t want you to say. It would hurt me to know that you think such things honest it would. Oh, while I have you here I might as well tell you that I have decided to continue to write True Loves Kiss. So for all of you who wanted me to continue and wrote and those of you who want me to continue it and didn’t write I will continue it. Now on with the story, sit back, relax, and enjoy!
A Place To Call Home Part III-A New Life-By Kunobaby
"Kasumi, Nabiki, I’m going now."
"Okay, Akane have fun."
"Fun, oh get real Kasumi, what kind of fun can she have picking up a girl named Spring or Rain, whatever her name is?"
"For your information Nabiki, her name is Summer. Not Spring or Rain or any other season or weather occurrence, but Summer you got that? And further more I’m sure that we’ll have tons of fun doing what ever we choose to do." Akane retorted as she retreated out the door.
"Geezz, what’s her problem?"
Somewhere in Nerima, Ranma had been stumbling around for the last half-hour wondering just how he was supposed to get to where he wanted to be. {Why does this seem so weird? I’m not the type of person who gets easily lost, I once knew someone like that, but it sure as hell isn’t me. Now where am I?}.
Ranma stood in the middle of the street surveying the sidewalk for anyone who could give him directions. As he stood looking he could hear the sound of footprints, and voices approaching.
"No way, you really said that?"
"I so said that, what was I supposed to say? ‘Oh, sure honey you can skip out on our date, go out with the boys, honest I don’t mind’. Can you really imagine me saying that?"
"Well you do have a point. But still he was such a babe."
Ranma watched as the two girls walked past him so involved in their conversation that they didn’t even notice him.
"Excuse me!"
At the sound of Ranmas voice the two girls stopped, turned and stared at the stranger who had the gull to interrupt their ever so important discussion.
"What do you want?"
"Um…You wouldn’t happen to know where the Tendo dojo is would you?"
"The Tendo dojo? Yeah! You just go down that street take a left and your there."
"Thanks" With that Ranma was off, leaving behind two very confused girls, and a trail of dust behind him.
Ranma approached the dojo with an air of caution. He was worried about what he might find and about how he might be received by the people within. {Relax Ranma, they know your coming, a note was sent. Just relax and you’ll be fine it’s not like you’ll be expected to marry one of them or anything like that.
"
Oh! Hello, can I help you?""Uh, is this the Tendo dojo?"
"Why yes it is."
"In that case then, Hi I’m Ranma." Ranma excitedly reached out his hand happy to finally be at his destination, but when Kasumi didn’t return the gesture he noticed the confused look on her face.
"Ranma, Ranma who?"
"Ranma Saotome, I was told that you’d be expecting me. Don’t tell me this is the wrong Tendo dojo."
"Well as far as I know this is the only Tendo dojo. I’m sorry Ranma nobody told me that you’d be arriving." Kasumi could tell that what she just told the young man stung just by the dejected look on his face, and she tried very hard to remember anything about what he had just said.
"Oh, well in that case I’ll just be leaving."
Suddenly Kasumi remembered that her father had mentioned a guest would be arriving anywhere within the next two weeks.
"Wait, now I remember! Father did mention that he was expecting a guest to arrive soon. You must be that guest."
Ranma turned and let out an audible sigh of relief.
"Well Ranma don’t just stand there. Come in."
"Thank you, uh… I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name."
"Oh! It’s Kasumi. Now, you must be hungry can I fix you something to eat?"
"No… thank you, if you don’t mind I’d really like to get some sleep. I had a really long flight with someone who just loved to talk sitting beside me."
"No, I don’t mind. Now that you mention it you do look a little tired. I’ll show you to your room and let you get some rest, how does that sound?"
"Great."
Ranma followed Kasumi up the stairs to his room. As he did so he surveyed the house and was surprised at the size of it.
"It looks smaller from the outside."
"I’m sorry Ranma what did you say?"
"I just said that the house looks smaller from the outside."
"Really? I hadn’t noticed. Well Ranma this is your room, there’s a futon and some bedding in the closet."
"Thanks!" Ranma didn’t even realize that they had made it up to the room until Kasumi mentioned it.
"Have a good rest Ranma and I’ll call you for supper."
"Okley, dokley"
"What?"
"Never mind."
Ranma waited until heard Kasumi retreating down the stairs to undress down to his boxers and a tank top. Ranma gazed around the room that would be his for the duration of his stay and couldn’t help but think that it could use a few personal touches, but he could handle that later right now all he wanted to do was sleep. And with that Ranma put his head down on the pillow and immediately drifted off into a deep sleep.
The School:
Akane stood with the rest of the students who were expecting the foreign students listening to the conversations that were going on all around her.
"I do hope there’s some cute guys."
"I know what you mean. The only reason that I signed up for the program was in the hopes that I’d get some foreign guy staying at my house, but no they had to make the rule that girls had to stay with girls and guys with guys. What a crock."
Just then the two girls that Ranma had stopped to ask for directions arrived.
"Hey gang, what are you talking about?"
"About the stupid rule that guys have to stay with guys and girls with girls."
"That’s not true!"
"What do you mean?"
"Well on our way here, we were stopped by a real hunk asking for directions to Akanes house. So obviously Akane doesn’t get applied to the rule."
"What that’s not fair, how’d you manage that Akane?"
"I have no idea what you’re talking about. A girl named Summer is going to be staying with us not some guy."
"Then who was the guy."
"I don’t know…" Akane didn’t get a chance to reply as the teacher in charge of the program arrived with the students in tow.
"Attention, attention everyone. The exchange students are here, so if you would please remain quiet I’ll introduce the student who is to stay with you, to you. Let’s see who’s first, oh, here we go, Akane Tendo."
At the mention of her name Akane stepped forward out of the crowd. "Here, sir."
"Good, Akane Tendo I’d like you to meet Summer Shore. She’s the student who will be staying with you for the next year."
Akane looked at the girl who was introduced to her, and shyly stuck out her hand in greeting, Summer took the hand and enthusiastically returned the handshake.
"Hi, I’m Summer."
"Um… I’m Akane, nice to meet you. So did you have a good trip?"
"Oh it was great, I sat by the cutest guy on the plane and we talked the whole flight."
"Um…That’s nice. So, are you ready to go see your home for the next year?"
"Of course I am. Hey I know why don’t we stop on the way and grab a bite to eat, my treat of course, it’s just I’m so hungry it’s not even funny. Besides that will give us a chance to get to know each other better."
"Sure, I’d like that."
Two hours later the two girls finally made it to the Tendo home. As they entered the yard Summer was taken away by all that lay before her.
"Wow, this all belongs to your family?"
"Yeah it does, come on let’s go in and I’ll show you your room."
"Sure!"
"Kasumi, We’re here."
"Oh welcome back Akane, and this must be Summer, it’s very nice to meet you."
"Same here."
"I’m just going to show Summer to the guest room, and then we’ll be right back down okay Kasumi?"
"That’s fine Akane. Oh wait Akane…" Kasumi didn’t bother to finish what she was saying as her sister and her new friend weren’t paying any attention to her. "Oh, well I’ll guess she’ll find out on her own."
"I hope you like your room, we don’t have any pictures or stuff like that on the walls so you can put up what you like. After all it will be your room for the next year so we want you to be comfortable. Well here we are."
Akane opened the door to the room, and as she did so she saw the form of a body lying in the darkness lost to a deep sleep.
"Excuse me Summer I’ll be right back." Summer looked a little confused by Akanes behavior but choose not to say anything about thinking that it would be a rather rude thing for a guest to do. As Summer was standing by the door with a bewildered look on her face, Akane was on her way downstairs when she ran into Kasumi who was on her way up the stairs.
"Oh my! Akane are you all right I didn’t hurt you did I?"
"I’m fine Kasumi, in fact I was just coming down to get you. Did you know that there’s some one sleeping in the guestroom? And if so who is it?"
"Of course I knew Akane I was the one who let him in the house. And as for who he is I only really know that he’s going to be staying with us for a little while. Now why don’t you take Summer down stairs and introduce her to father and Nabiki, while I wake up our other guest."
"Sure, I can do that." Akane retreated up the stairs with Kasumi close behind her, when they reached the room she signaled for Summer to follow her while Kasumi went silently in to the room.
"Hey, Akane what was that all about?"
"You’ll find out in a few minutes, come on I want to introduce you to the rest of the family."
"Uh, Okay why not."
While the girls where on the way to join the rest of the family Kasumi was in the guestroom trying to figure out a way to awaken Ranma. {Oh, I wish I didn’t have to do this he looks so peaceful lying there sleeping. Now how am I going to wake him up? I could throw water on him no that’s to mean. Maybe if I held his nose and covered his mouth oh no that’s even meaner I might suffocate him. I know maybe if I shake him.} Kasumi bent over and grasped Ranma by the shoulders and gave him a good hard shake threw which Ranma continued to slumber. {Well that didn’t work, maybe this will.} Without further thought Kasumi Raised her hand above her head and brought it down with great force across Ranmas face. Ranma awoke with a start and looked around the room dazed and confused.
"What? What? Where am I?"
"Oh, I didn’t hurt you did I?"
"Hurt me? Why would you hurt me?"
"You mean I didn’t hurt you oh, I’m so relived. Now, I’m sorry for waking you, but I thought that you might want to meet the rest of the family."
"The rest of the family, sure why not. I’ll just get my clothes back on and then I’ll be right down."
"Okay Ranma see you in a few minutes." With that Kasumi was back out the door and on her way down the stairs to join the rest of the family.
Ranma sat up shaking his head looking for the location of his clothes. "Jeez that chicks weird. I just hope the rest of them aren’t like that."
Ranma stood looking into the mirror, not being very pleased with the image that stared back at him. His hair was disheveled and his clothes were wrinkled not the first impression that he wanted to make. {Hmmm, I can do something about the hair but the clothes will just have to stay wrinkled, oh well it’s not like they won’t see me looking any worse. But still I’d like to make a good first impression I am gonna be living with these people for a while.}
Meanwhile the Tendo’s where down stairs talking to summer and waiting for Ranma to join them.
"So Summer, what kind of things are you interested in?"
"Oh, you know what most 16 year-old girls are interested in boys, shopping, and boys, and I guess you could throw in music. Why?"
"Oh, no reason I was just wondering."
Akane glanced at Nabiki from the corner of her eye wondering just what her older sister was up to, but decided not to question her at this moment in time.
"Kasumi, you did tell our other guest that we were waiting didn’t you?"
"Yes father I did, he should be down in a couple of minutes."
"So daddy just who is this other guest? Do you know them or something?"
"Well…I would rather wait until they join us to tell."
"Um…Sir you don’t have to wait anymore I’m right here."
At the sound of Ranma’s voice every head in the room turned toward the door.
"OH MY GOD!!!!! RANMA"
"Uh… Summer, what, what are you doing hear?"
"This is the family I staying with what are you doing here?"
"Same thing, I guess."
"Oh my what a pleasant surprise you two know each other."
"Yeah it’s real pleasant."
Ranma continued to stand in the doorway looking rather stunned at the prospect of having to put up with Summer yet again. As he stood there he suddenly felt himself being picked up off the ground in a bear hug.
"Oh, Ranma my boy, I’m so happy you’re finally here after all this time."
"Sir, uh, sir can you let me go, I can’t breath."
"What? Oh, I’m sorry."
"No prob."
"Now Ranma let me introduce you to my daughters. This is Kasumi age 19."
Ranma looked at the girl indicated she was quite tall and had long brown hair and brown eyes to match her hair. He guessed by the way that she dressed that she was the one who looked after the cooking and the cleaning.
"This is my second oldest Nabiki age 17."
Ranma moved his glance off of Kasumi and over to Nabiki. She wasn’t as tall Kasumi but she had the same brown hair and brown eyes, only her hair was cut to about chin level. Other then that he couldn’t pick up anything else about her she was to well guarded.
"And finally this is my youngest daughter Akane age 16."
Ranma turned his gaze to the youngest girl and was surprised to find a similar gaze going over him in the same manner. She was the shortest of the three and the only one who didn’t have brown hair, but she still had the same brown eyes that the other two had. Brown eyes that he thought looked much better when paired with her long black hair. {Now she’s my type, and I bet she’s even a martial artist.}
Akane looked at the strange boy before her with his curly red hair and his wrinkled clothes. And was surprised when his eyes feel upon her and she noticed that each eye was a different color, but for some reason that made him even more appealing to her.
"Girls this is Ranma Saotome, the son of my good friend Genma. Speaking of Genma were is he?"
"You mean you don’t know?"
"Know? Know what?"
"My pop died last month, I thought the lawyers told you in the letter."
"No they didn’t but it doesn’t matter you’re here that’s all that really matters to me. Now lets get down to business shall we. Ranma you’ve met my daughters so now choose one."
"What?"
"Choose the one you’re going to marry."
"You know I could have sworn that you just said choose the one I’m going to marry."
"I did!"
"Oh, you did, YOU DID? Don’t tell me, you and my old man made some kind of deal when you were younger that his child would marry one of yours. Am I right?"
"How’d you know?"
"Just a lucky guess."
All of a sudden Akane clued in to the conversation that was going on between her father and Ranma.
"Wait a minute. Why does he get to choose? Doesn’t our happiness matter to you daddy? And why the hell are you to being so calm about this?"
That last question, of course being directed to Nabiki and Kasumi.
"Akane would you just relax. The reason Kasumi and I are being so calm about this is because we knew that it was going to happen. You see when you were out with Winter over their daddy told us."
"Excuse me, my Names Summer not Winter."
"What ever!"
"Still I don’t think that this is very fair…"
"Akane quiet, Ranma’s trying to make a decision."
"What’s there to decide? We all know that he should marry Akane."
"WHAT??? JUST WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT NABIKI???"
"What I mean is that you should marry him Akane. Just think about it, you’re the same age, in the same grade, and you both study martial arts. Besides he isn’t my type."
"Nabiki does have a point there, Akane, and just think if you get engaged to Ranma you won’t have to worry about getting a date for anything. You’ll have one built in."
"Kasumi you’re on her side to? Gee nice to know I have such a loving and supportive family."
"Okay then it’s decided Ranma will marry Akane."
All threw the Tendo argument Ranma was trying to make the decision about which girl he would marry. When he was about to say who he picked he realized that the decision had already been made for him.
"Uh… did I just miss something?"
Summer was the first to realize that Ranma had missed the whole exchange and decided to fill him in on the events that happened.
"Come on Ranma, I’ll fill you in on what just happened outside."
With that said the household dispersed to all parts of the house. Summer and Ranma went outside by the pond; Akane went to the dojo to work through her anger. Kasumi went to he kitchen, Nabiki to her room to think of some schemes involving the two newest arrivals. And last but not least Soun went to the local bar thinking that it was a better idea to let the tempers calm down then to stay put were he was.
End of part 3…
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Well there you go folks that was part 3 of A Place To Call Home, I’m not sure when part 4 will be out because I haven’t started it yet but I will as soon as I am done here. I would like to thank my pre-readers Brandon, Joesph, and Saotome-sama, thanks a bunch guys!!!!!! As always q&c are welcome, you can e-mail me at either crikit@oocities.com or kunobaby@hotmail.com I usually check daily or every other day and I try to respond to everyone’s comments!
Anyhoo till next story,
Kunobaby
Copyright 1998. Tracy Garnett, All Rights Reserved.