Kasumi: The Mist Fox-Ninja
A Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction Story
Copyright (C) 1998 Mark Ranel M. Lambo (maramala)
All Rights Reserved.
Part 3: Ai no Triangle Bizzare
*Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and all related characters are
copyright (c) 1997 Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Kitty
Film, Viz, etc. All Rights Reserved. Used without
permission (and hopefully _they_ won't bother to sue
such a humble homage of their work. :)
*Author's Notes:
A ** ** indicates the character/s thoughts
A _ _ indicates the word/s to be stressed
A { } indicates what is written on the signs
A ' ' indicates a quotation
A < > indicates animal sounds
A > < indicates sound effects
A ~ ~ indicates flashbacks
*********************
Ten years have passed, and a lot of things have
changed. Everyhing is different now. Perhaps the people
have forgotten them, great criminal overlords from an
earlier time. But no matter. Now they will not be ignored
any longer.
The plans for their blazing return to power will
soon come to fruition, with an unstoppable burning
vengeance. All who stand in their way shall suffer. Soon,
their name will be feared once again. They can no longer be
denied.
Everything is set.
Except for one snag...
BEGIN PART 3
*********************
"Commisioner Oné?"
The Commisioner looked up from what he was reading
to face his assistant entering his office. "Yes,
lieutenant?"
"We've just gotten the report from the hospital
where that thief was sent to."
"What did they have to say?"
"Unfortunately, they didn't make anything out of it.
Right after the thief regained consciousness, he started
babbling about ghosts and spirits and a fox made out of
smoke. Whoever -- or whatever -- did this to him must have
been so horrifying as to have driven him insane."
"I see..." He thought. **No leads there...**
"Oh, sir, here's the list you wanted to get." She
gave him a document.
"Hmm... Thank you, lieutenant. You may go now."
He began poring over the papers. *Hmm... Maybe I should go
visit my old cousin for more info. It's been a long time.
The comissioner paused as he noticed his assistant
still standing in front of him. "Well? What is it?"
"I just wanted to know... What's so important with
this case that you have to personally take care of it,
instead of sending someone else, like you always do? Is it
something big?"
"I hope so... I have this gut feeling that it
is..."
"Oh." She paused. "Does this have something to do
with that 'mist-fox' vigilante?"
"..." The Commisioner did not reply.
*********************
Wednsday morning. In the middle of spring, this day
would be routine. Students go to school, others go to work.
A harmony in the midst of the chaos present in in the daily
hustle and bustle of cities teeming with life. All in all,
a typical day for everyone. Except for two people...
"Ranma?"
Ranma looked down from his perch on top of the
railing. "Yes, Akane?"
"What's that?" She asked, pointing at the fur scarf
Ranma was wearing.
"It's a fur scarf, of course. What do you think it
looks like?"
Akane frowned. "Where did you get it?"
Ranma thought for a moment. "Let's just say it...
dropped from out of nowhere?"
"Really now." Akane sarcastically said. "Don't
make fun of me, Ranma. Which one of _them_ gave that to
you? Ukyou? Shampoo? Kodachi?"
"Akane! Honest, I just found it yesterday."
"Oh? Why didn't you look for the owner then?"
"I... I can't..." **Its that... that girl,** Ranma
thought to himself. **But you probably won't understand, as
always... Why won't you ever listen to me?**
"What do you mean you can't?"
"It's kinda hard to explain, you know..." Ranma
turned away.
"Sure, sure..." **Then it _is_ a girl,** Akane
sadly concluded. Then she began fuming. **Why the nerve
of that jerk... Why is he so secretive? It's not as if he
was so ashamed of his 'conquests' before... If I find out
who she is, I'm gonna...**
Both walked silently on the rest of the way to
school.
*********************
Kasumi looked at herself in the full-length mirror.
She was wearing a ruffled white blouse with flowing red
skirt, which looks as if it was blown along with the wind as
she moved. She smiled to herself as she adjusted the
pleated collar.
**Perfect.**
As she went downstairs, Kasumi fixed her clothes
one more time before walking out the door.
"Father?" she called out.
"Yes, Kasumi dear?"
"I'm going to Doctor Tofu's clinic for a while.
I'll be back soon."
"Take care."
She smiled. "I will, father."
As she walked towards Doctor Tofu's clinic, her
thoughts turned to her conversation with Ranma's mother
Nodoka yesterday...
~Flashback~
"It's so kind of you to help me out in the
preparations for the party this Saturday." Kasumi said,
bowing to Nodoka.
"It's nothing, Kasumi dear." Nodoka smiled.
"Family should always help each other... And your family
are my family too."
"Yes," Kasumi poured some more tea. "I could never
had done it all without your help, although I could manage."
"Maybe, but you need all the help you could get.
After all, you have to look your best on your twenty-first
birthday," Nodoka paused. "Kasumi, dear?"
"Yes, Auntie?"
"I was just wondering..." Nodoka sipped her tea.
"When are you and that nice young man going to get married?"
Kasumi blushed. "You mean Doctor Tofu? We
haven't... er, decided..."
"You should, dear... such opportunities do not come
by daily, you know? He's such a nice young man... And a
doctor too. You do love each other, do you?"
"I... I... I don't know how he really feels
about me, and..."
"Have you ever discussed it between the two of
you?"
"The... the proper situation hasn't come up... yet."
"You _do_ love him, right?"
"_YES_! I mean, I..." Kasumi sighed. "Yes, I...
do..."
"Then there's no problem with that. I could see
that he loves you too, but he's just too undecided to tell
you that." She placed her cup down. "Maybe you yourself
should press the issue."
Kasumi was shocked, almost dropping her cup of tea.
"Auntie! How bold! I couldn't possibly..."
"It's not that strange, Kasumi dear." She smiled
at a long-remembered memory. "That's what _I_ did to my
husband..."
Nodoka giggled, and Kasumi joined her.
~End of Flashback~
Kasumi's mind wandered to the events in the morning.
Her smile was replaced with a rare frown. **Where did
Ranma-kun get that fur scarf? It looks so familiar...**
*********************
At lunch Ranma-kun found Nabiki where she
always sat, surrounded by her many cronies. Nabiki
herself was busy talking to this guy in a white suit
begging on his knees in front of her. There was a
group of men with shades in a group behind the guy,
probably the young man's assistants. The other girls,
seeing Ranma-kun, let him through.
"All right," Nabiki sighed. "Since you really
need it _that_ badly, I guess I could let it go for,
say 10000 yen?"
Quickly, money was exchanged. The young man
stood up and brushed his clothes. "Oh, thank you,
Nabiki Tendo. I solemnly swear I will never forget
your kindness and fairness in conducting honest..."
"Yeah, yeah, sure, sure." Nabiki waved him
away. "Just don't forget where that came from. And
if you ever need more, you know where to find me."
The man left, his entourage trailing behind
him. Nabiki turned to Ranma-kun. "Why hello there,
Ranma. Still interested in that offer I gave you?"
Ranma shook his head. "I'll pass on the
'collector' bit. But I do need your help."
"You know the usual rates." Nabiki leaned
closer. "Where did you get that fur scarf?"
"Oh, this? I kinda found it..."
One of Nabiki's numerous assistants whispered
in her ear. Nabiki's eyes narrowed. "I'm sorry,
Ranma, but something _really_ important has come up.
I have to go now. You understand, business and all
that, don't you?"
"Wait! I need to find someone..."
"Too bad. Maybe next time."
Everyone else went along with Nabiki, leaving
Ranma all by himself.
*********************
Kasumi entered the clinic. She saw Doctor Tofu's
hunched back facing her, seemingly busy. Apparently he
seemed to be too preoccupied on something to notice her
coming in.
**Maybe I _should_ try to ask him.** She thought.
**Well, now's a good time as any...**
Summoning up the courage, she slowly crept forward,
remembering how Ranma's many fiancees (except maybe Akane)
would do it. She raised both arms in front of her, then
reached for Doctor Tofu. **Well, here goes...**
"Good afternoon, Doctor!" She greeted cheerfully,
her arms wrapped around him. She could feel him freeze as
his spine suddenly arched up in surprise. She giggled at
his playacting antics as she proceeded to rest her head on
his back, pressing herself to him.
**He can be so funny sometimes... Strange. I
didn't remember him planning to go out today... When did
he start working out?!?**
Just then Doctor Tofu walked into the room. "Here
they are, Hizu-kun... K-Kasumi?!? W-What are y-you
d-doing?"
"Huh?" Kasumi's eyes went wide as she loosened her
hold on the man she thought _was_ Doctor Tofu.
"Hello."
Kasumi flushed with embarrasment. "Who..?"
"It... It's my cousin, Kasumi." Doctor Tofu
replied, facing his skeleton. "He came by to visit, and...
my, you're more thinner than ever." He lifted a skeletal
hand. "All that housework must be really strenuous to you.
You should get some rest, Kasumi. Really, you should."
"Here I am, Doctor." Kasumi said. Turning to the
other person, she added. "Hello, Mister..."
"Commisioner. Commisioner Hizukana Oné." He
smiled warmly, taking her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet
you, Miss..."
"Tendo Kasumi."
"Kasumi... Oh, _that_ Kasumi. My cousin Tofu-kun
here always tells me of many things about you. You must be
a really wonderful person to earn such high praise from
him."
"Oh, Tofu-sensei always exaggerates." She blushed.
"I just try to do my best."
"I'm sure you do." The comissioner then bent low
and kissed Kasumi's hand, causing her to turn red even
further.
"Oh, Kasumi, Kasumi, Kasumi... You're such a
wonderful, wonderful woman..." Doctor Tofu sang.
"Is he always like that?" The commisioner asked
her, indicating Doctor Tofu dancing (or rather like twirling
around erratically) madly with his skeleton.
"Well, he does act up, once in a while..." Kasumi
withdrew her tingling hand. "So tell me, Commisioner..."
"Just call me Hizu-kun. Everyone else does."
"...Hizu-kun. Why are you here?"
"I've been on the job in the force for a few
months," Hizu-kun began to explain. "As the new
commisioner of police, I was investigating something of
importance right here in Nerima. Out of a whim, I decided
to visit my old cousin that I haven't seen for a long time,
since he practices his profession here."
"What is this 'thing of importance' you're
investigating on?" Kasumi leaned closer, intrigued.
"Well... It seems that the crime rate here in
Nerima is getting bigger and more daring than before. As
if _something_ -- or _someone_ -- is organizing them."
"Oh. I see..."
*********************
"Goodbye, Doctor Tofu... Comissioner..." Kasumi
waved, then turned around to leave.
Comissioner Oné simply bowed and smiled
enigmatically at her.
"Bye, Kasumi." Doctor Tofu sighed, facing the
clinic. "Take care now."
Kasumi smiled and walked away. **Too bad I wasn't
able to ask, considering the situation... Maybe next
time...**
Her smile disappeared when she turned a corner.
**Identical cousins...** She shuddered at the thought of
his smile. **His gaze made my skin crawl. Yet, I feel so
good... His eyes made me feel like a... a lab specimen.
He's more muscular and well-built than Tofu-sensei...**
She frowned. **What am I thinking!?! I love
Doctor Tofu! I can't...**
...And thus, the triangle has been built.
*********************
The comissioner pored over the papers in front
of him. **Hmm, so many... who do I go to first?**
"Oy, Tofu-kun?"
"Yeah, Hizu-kun?" Doctor Tofu replied, now fully
regaining his composure.
"What was that stunt Kasumi Tendo pulled on me for?"
"I don't know," Doctor Tofu shook his head. "She
never does that before. It's not her usual nature."
"Well, I think _that_ was intended for you."
Hizu-kun leered. "She's really pretty."
Doctor Tofu sighed, absentmindedly pouring tea in
Hizu-kun's cup. "Yes... I know. Such a wonderful woman.
Really wonderful..."
"I could see her having _the_ effect on you. Funny
why I never have experienced that at all, considering that
it runs in the family."
"Maybe you haven't found the one you love yet."
"Love. Heh." Hizu-kun smirked, quickly replacing
the cup before Doctor Tofu pours out all of the tea in the
pot. "She's more intelligent than you realize, Tofu-kun.
You shouldn't leave her hanging on to you. It's best to let
the dove go free."
Doctor Tofu paused at the remark. Then his gaze
hardened. "You mean... No way, Hizu-kun. I know that look
in your dirty eyes..."
"What do you mean, no way?"
"She's off-limits. I won't let you touch your
lecherous hands on her."
"What? Really now, cousin. What an unkind thing to
say the Commisioner of Nerima's noble and upright police
force. You don't expect me to do something so sneaky and
underhanded like that, do you?"
"Feh. I am very well aware of your playboy nature,
Hizu-kun." Doctor Tofu clenched his fists. "Back off."
"Why? Did she ever say that she's yours, body and
soul, hmm?"
Doctor Tofu's eyes clouded over. "Well... no, not
really... but... I..."
Hizu-kun laughed. "Don't worry. I won't do
anything _damaging_ to her. I could see that she really
loves you too. But then again," He winked at his cousin,
"It'll make the chase more challenging, eh, Tofu-kun?"
Doctor Tofu fumed. "I warned you, Hizu-kun. The
Tendos are formindable opponents in their own right. Plus,
they have intermarried with the most powerful martial artist
that I know of."
"I know. Her mother, right?"
"No. Ranma Saotome."
"Huh? _The_ Ranma Saotome?"
"Yes. You know of him?"
"I've heard of him... How did that happen?"
"Their fathers arranged the marriage between them to
join together their two Kakuto Musabetsu Ryuu schools."
"Saotome? With whom of the Tendos?"
"With Kasumi-chan's younger sister, of course."
"Oh? Let's see..." Hizu-kun read the list again.
"Wait a minute... Tofu-kun, is this a complete list of all
the martial artists in Nerima?"
"Yes, up to ten years ago. Why do you ask?"
"Why is only Ranma Saotome's name the only one here
that I recognize in the Anything-Goes Style column? Where's
his fiancee?"
"Let me see that... here it is." Doctor Tofu
pointed out a name right below Ranma's.
"Tendo Akane... What?!? _She_ is still alive?"
"No. This _Akane_ is Kasumi-chan's younger sister.
Akane's younger daughter."
Commisioner Oné narrowed his eyes as realization
finally sunk in. **So, she's the one... Akane Tendo.**
*********************
Ranma sneezed. "Man, I must be allergic to this
thing, or something." He said to no one in particular.
Ranma was left by himself again because Akane
decided to visit her friend, leaving him to walk all the way
home by himself alone. It's not so bad to be without her
hanging around and nagging him for once, but he felt hurt by
being excluded from Akane's circle of friends.
**Even if they are girls,** He thought to himself,
remembering Akane's scathing remarks on his manhood.
**Well, so am I... at least half of me is. What am I
saying?**
He sighed. **I wish I had someone who _really_
understands me. Someone who'd listen to what I really want
to say, someone who won't clobber me, or jump all over me,
or worse... Why does everyone wants me for my skills or my
body? Nobody wants to listen to what I really want.
Nobody.**
He shook his head. **This is getting really
monotonous. I wish Ryouga was here. Maybe then I could
have someone to spar with. My kenpo skills are getting
rusty without someone to practice on.**
He slowly rubbed the scarf, feeling the velvety
softness of the fur, and felt a little guilty for enjoying
the tingling feeling. **First Kasumi's giving me the stare
while I was wearing this scarf -- I know that it clashes
with my clothes, but so what? -- to school, then Akane's
thinking that I've got a new fiancee on the side. Now even
Nabiki's giving me a wide berth, avoiding me for some
reason... Not that I mind...**
Ranma reached the place where he first met that
strange girl with the unfamiliar school uniform and odd
braids. He then leaned on the fence overlooking the water,
his mind flashing images of her smiling warmly at him as she
helped him up from where he fell into the gutter. **I
wonder if I could ever see _her_ again.**
As if on cue, Ranma heard whistling sounds coming
towards him. "What the..." he ducked, avoiding three
shurikens aimed directly at his back.
"Who the hell..." Ranma turned around to face his
assailant, seeing a black-clad figure leaping towards him.
He raised his hands and blocked the attacker's blow,
gritting his teeth in pain as he felt sharp nails dig into
his arms. **Tekage... (cat's claws -- maramala:) This one
plays for keeps.**
Ranma grabbed his attacker, twisting around as he
began to perform a throw, but his attacker twisted back in
turn and kicked him twice in quick succession on his chest,
forcing Ranma to let go. Spinning in the air, the attacker
threw a bunch of wicked-looking spiked caltrops at Ranma,
who dodged out of the way before they reached him. The
attacker landed a few feet away and faced him.
"Damn... You want a fight, you've got it, and
you're gonna regret it!" Ranma shouted, going into his
usual fighting stance.
His assailant began to crouch and raised a clawed
fist forward. As the ninja began to speak he recognized
the muffled voice behind the black mask.
"Give me the scarf. Now."
Ranma's eyes went wide. **Masaka..?** "You..."
As if on cue, the ninja removed the cloth, revealing
the braided-haired girl's face, now twisted in anger.
"Are you stupid, or what! I said give me that
scarf, or else!"
"Hey, if you want the scarf that badly, then you
fight me for it." Ranma said, taking off the scarf and
hoisting it on the nearby grate. "I don't take lightly your
earlier attempts to kill me. C'mon..."
"Very well then." She readied herself. "I shall
honor you that request, foolish enough as it is."
Ranma took the opportunity to take a good look at
her. The girl was wearing the traditional outfit worn by
ninjas, out of place in the daytime. A tanto hung by her
side. **Such an incredible fighter... She's as good as
Konatsu and those crazy kunoichi sisters of hers that I
fought with a while back... She's so kawaii... What the
hell am I thinking? She just tried to kill me, for crying
out loud!** "Um, what's your name, by the way?"
"You're not worthy to know my name, scum." She
charged. "I will make you regret rashly facing a ninja...
NEKAGE-KEN!" She screamed, her arms blurring as she lunged
towards Ranma.
Ranma dodged, then crouched down and turned to
sweep at her feet. She backflipped away, then quickly
somersaulted back in a heartbeat. Ranma dropped to his
back, then reached back to spring his feet up. He was able
to kick her outstretched hands out of the way, causing her
to miss her target by a few inches.
"My turn... AMAGURI-KEN!" Seeing the opening,
Ranma attacked, sending his fists towards her.
She retreated, keeping away from him.
This went on for a while, with neither of the
combatants making headway, as Ranma was unwilling to go full
out with her. Finally, she reached into the folds of her
pockets and took out a couple of eggs.
"Time to finish this... NINBO NAGE TEPPO!" She
shouted, throwing them down to her feet. There was a brief
flash, and she disappeared in a cloud of smelly smoke.
", What the... hey, no fair!" Ranma
called out.
>WHISS< >WHISS< >WHISS<
Ranma dodged the shurikens thrown at him, but missed
his footing and slid down to the gutter below.
"Aarrgh..." >SPLASH!<
The ninja dropped down from her nearby perch.
"Fool... Well, that's that." she said, reaching out to
take the fur scarf Ranma placed on the grate.
"MOKO TAKABISHA!"
Just when she took hold of the scarf, she leaped
away as the ground exploded beneath her feet. She turned
around to face her attacker. "You..."
Onna-Ranma glowed. "All right, then. You've forced
me to go all-out now..."
The other girl froze. "You're... You're the same
person as that girl I helped out a few days ago? How can
that be..."
"I was cursed, sister. You say it can't be real,
and so are ninjas." Her fists glowed. "Let's go! MOKO
TAKABISHA!" Onna-Ranma charged.
The girl leaped out of the way, dodging the blast
that took out half of the grate. The two attackers fought
on, this time with onna-Ranma having the advantage, as she
was now faster in her female form. The other girl found it
harder to keep up with onna-Ranma's constant relentless
assaults. Their fight reached into an empty alleyway.
"Let's... call it... a draw, OK?" The ninja
panted, now out of breath. "Another time."
"No... way. I'm not... going to lose. Not now...
or ever..." Onna-Ranma huffed.
The ninja leaped upwards, clinging to the brick wall
right above onna-Ranma. "Very well then..." She reached
into the folds of her suit and took out a bamboo tube.
"Farewell, foolish warrior..."
"BAKA!" Seeing the opportunity, Onna-Ranma
unleashed her final attack. "HIRYU SHOTEN HA!"
The force of the blow caught the girl by surprise,
causing her to drop the bamboo tube as the Ascent Defeat
Maneuver struck her on the chest and she was thrown into
the nearby garbage bins, scattering trash all over the
deserted alleyway.
"I win." onna-Ranma said, slowly walking towards
where the other girl fell. **Ninja? Hah! That wasn't so
hard now, was it? Still, it was a good exercise...** She
stopped as she noticed her crying.
"You... defeated me." The girl sobbed. "I am so
ashamed. Such disgrace..." She unsheathed her tanto.
"Please..."
"Nani?"
She knelt in front of him. "Kill me... to erase
this shame. I am no longer worthy of the Hanchimegami."
She handed him the sword. "I cannot do it by myself..."
"No, I can't do that..." Onna-Ranma threw the sword
away. "No one could defeat me, anyway... I am Saotome
Ranma, by the way..."
"You?" She blinked at him. "Ranma Saotome?"
"Yes, that's me."
"Oh..." She stood up, her hand covering her mouth.
"I didn't know... I never knew that someone as powerful as
you can be so young..." She bowed deeply at him. "I am
Mitzutaki, now formerly of Hanchimegami."
She began to loosen her clothes. "For sparing my
life, I am now in your debt. I am now yours, to do as you
will..."
"What!?! Hey, hey, hey," Ranma-chan quickly put
her clothes back on, but not before noticing the many
bruises and scars crosscrossing her body.
**What happened? I didn't hurt her that badly...
did I?** She felt his cheeks turn red, and quickly turned
away. "No, we don't do things like that here." She reached
for the scarf. "Here. You want this? You could have just
said so, Mitzutaki..."
She gladly took the offered scarf. "Arigato
gonzaimasu, Saotome. You are so kind."
"Please, just Ranma. Everyone else does." Her
voice softened. "Daijoubu? Are you hurt?"
"It's nothing... Still," She continued. "I am
forever in your debt. I must do something in for you in
return. So..."
"Anou." Ranma-chan thought. "You could owe me a
date... How about, shall we say... this Friday?" **So that
I could finally explain it all to Akane and the others,**
He added to himself.
"Ureshii... Once again, your kindness overwhelms
me. I am forever grateful." She paused. "But... where do
we meet?"
"Hmm... oh yeah, you're right... I know!" He said
excitedly. "How about Ucchan's?"
"The okonomiyaki restaurant?"
Ranma nodded. "Do you know it?"
"Hai. I've eaten there once."
"Great! Be there at five, then."
"I will." She began to undress again.
Ranma stared. "What are you..."
"Oh, gomen..." She flushed, taking out some more
egg bombs from her clothes. "NAGE TEPPO!"
>PUFF!<
When the smoke cleared, she was back in her school
outfit, the scarf secure around her neck.
"See you this Friday. Bai-bai." She bowed, then
quickly jumping up towards a nearby rooftop.
"Wait!" Ranma-chan called out. **I forgot to ask
her... Oh well, I'll ask her this Friday, then.** She
turned to leave. "Mitzutaki..."
"Please... call me Mi-chan."
Ranma-chan facefaulted. "I thought you already
left?"
"Sorry." Mitzutaki grinned, scratching the back of
her head. "Forgot my sword." Mitzutaki retrieved her
tanto. Sheathing it, she added, "Sayonara, Ranma Saotome."
She winked, then leaped away again.
*********************
Ranma walked home, a happy smile on his face. **See
you this Friday too, Mi...chan.** He sighed wistfully.
END OF PART 3
*********************
*(Author's Postscript: Send C&C email to maramala@geocities.com
(no flames, please!)
'Till next time,
-maramala :)
(
geocities.com/tokyo/ginza) (
geocities.com/tokyo)