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"Kasumi...what's wrong?"
Written by
Ed Hrzic
Copyright (c) 1997 by
Ed Hrzic
Based upon characters created by Rumiko Takahashi
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Greetings to you all. This will be my third Ranma fanfic, and
one that I decided to write after a night of thinking about it.
It takes a rather serious tone with the Ranma 1/2 characters. As
the title says, Kasumi will be the FOCUS of the story, but not
necessarily that main character. This will also be a 'one-shot'
fanfic. I hope you enjoy.
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Comments? You can send them to "bd981@@yfn.ysu.edu". Thanks!
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NOTE: This fanfiction can be considered depressing. Please be
advised.
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<< ONE >>
The day broke like so many ones in Nerima. Kasumi woke with the
birds; two of them who perched upon the railing to her window,
singing their merry carols, in their search to find food for
their young ones.
Spring had come on time this year.
As she opened the windows to her room, the light came flooding
in, basking her entire body with a soft, warm feeling.
Kasumi smiled at the sun, and then looked at her little
companions who were at her window-sill. "Hello my little
friends. How are you today?"
They looked at her, slightly scared that she had spoke to them,
but slightly amused that someone had noticed their actions. They
chirped at her, announcing something to her that she couldn't
understand, and then took off into the morning air.
As with every day in the Tendo household, she would have to get
up early. Her clock read six o'clock, and it was her job to get
the house started, and get all of the young ones up and feed them
for the long day at school.
A shame that Ranma and Akane couldn't be somewhat more
civilized to each other. Perhaps then they would get to school
on time.
She gathered some clothes from her closet, and went to have a
quick, cleansing bath before she began breakfast that would wake
both her father and Mr. Saotome.
She was out by six-twenty, and began her daily chores,
beginning the oven, and the pots, in the effort to have breakfast
ready.
As planned, the family began showing their faces in the usual
order: Soun, Genma, Nabiki, Akane and Ranma. Ranma and his
father were not really part of the family yet, but as time began
to stretch, Kasumi knew that both Ranma and Akane would show
their feelings for each other. They would then marry, and be
moving off on their own. Unless they stayed at the dojo.
She emptied the pots of their excess water, and began placing
the morsels on the plates, and took them to their regular places
on the living room dining table.
The morning was the usual...Ranma and Akane were going to be
late, once again, due to the fact that he liked to sleep in
rather late.
That will be his downfall some day.
Then Kasumi shook her head. She shouldn't think such things.
She was supposed to look for the good in people. She was a
pleasant person, and did whatever she could to ease tensions and
help people. In every way, she was the traditional house-wife,
not only by Japanese standards, but it would seem by western
ones, too.
Then the house quieted down. Ranma and Akane left, quarreling
as usual, several minutes before Nabiki did. Her father and Mr.
Saotome sat down for their morning game of Go. The only sounds
were the small sounds of tiles being placed on the wooden board,
and the birds who were outside, in the middle of their morning
rounds.
Kasumi realized that the house was dusty, so she began dusting,
and ran the vacuum cleaner once around the house.
There were so many things to do: wash the dishes, finish the
clothes, make sure lunch was going to be ready on time.
It was only after the clothes were done that she started to
feel...tired. Normally, none of the chores would make her even
the least bit rushed, or even get her heart running quickly. But
today, she was tired. She rested against the laundry pole
outside, and breathed deeply.
She walked into the house to were the two men were playing.
"Father, do you think that you and Mr. Saotome could find
something to make yourselves for lunch? I...don't feel very
well, so I'm going to lay down for a moment.
Soun looked up at his daughter. "I'm sure we can...Kasumi, are
you alright?"
"I'm just a little tired."
But that wasn't the whole truth. It wasn't that she felt sick,
or nauseous, or even tired, but she didn't feel RIGHT. Something
she couldn't put her finger on.
She trudged up the steps to her room, and lay down on her bed.
The clock read eleven-twenty-two. "Just a few minutes...maybe
till eleven-thirty...I should make lunch."
And she fell asleep.
* * *
Ranma and Akane came through the door.
"We're home!" she said, taking off her shoes.
Ranma had already went into the living room to find that his
father was in the usual frame of mind, mastering whatever muscle
her could muster to thoroughly get of the trap.
Soun was winning. And by no small margin.
"Say, pop, does Kasumi have anything left over from the lunch
she made you? I'm hungry."
"Kasumi didn't make lunch today, Ranma. We had to make our
own."
"Make your...? Wait, what did Kasumi do today then?"
Soun moved a tile from one space to the space immediately right
of it. "She did some chores, and right after she did the
clothes, she went up to sleep. Something about not feeling
well..."
Akane came into the room. "Who's not feeling well?"
"Kasumi," Ranma replied. "What time did she go upstairs?"
"I don't know," his father groaned, still trying to get out of
his predicament. "Elven...eleven-thirty...I don't really
recall."
"That was five hours ago!" Akane said. "I'll go up and take a
look in on her."
Ranma commenced in a search for something worthwhile to munch
on.
Akane knocked gently on her sister's door. "Kasumi?"
She then turned to knob, opening the door. "Hey, Kasumi?"
Kasumi was laying in bed, still in her clothes. Her chest rose
and fell with her quiet breathing.
Akane shook her gently. "Kasumi? Hey, wake up."
Kasumi slowly opened her eyes. "Oh, Akane. Are you and Ranma
home for lunch?"
"Lunch? Kasumi, we're home from school. It's almost four-
thirty."
Kasumi looked in horror at the clock on her night-stand. Sure
enough, it read four-twenty-five. She stood up quickly. "I
haven't even started dinner yet! And I still need to finish
dusting..." she was about to leave the room.
"Calm down, Kasumi. Dad said that you weren't feeling well.
Maybe you should let us do it."
Kasumi turned to her. "No...I should."
Akane walked over to her sister and looked at her face. "You
really don't look too well. You're pale. Kasumi, what's wrong?"
"Oh, I...I just don't feel good."
"Are you sick?"
"No...I just don't feel right. I'll take some medicine, and
it'll be gone."
"Let's hope so."
She nodded. "Then, I'll start dinner."
* * *
Unfortunately, her feeling simply did not stop. It progressed
all of the way through dinner. She took some medication, as she
had intended, but it didn't help.
Maybe it was something she ate or drank.
Still, it continued through the night, and to the next day.
She commenced with her chores, nodding to everyone that she was
okay. She still felt tired...or was tired the right word? She
wanted to go back to bed, but one day was enough for the stalwart
Kasumi. She had her duties to do, and nothing like sickness
would get into her way.
And then the next morning, when she was taking a bath, she
realized something terrible. It shocked her to no end. Perhaps
she was jumping to conclusions or it was something else.
She hurriedly dried herself off, and put her clothes on. She
raced downstairs, to her waiting father. "Father, I have to rush
to Doctor Tofu's."
"At this hour? It's still too early. Why, is there something
important?"
Kasumi was so scared that her hands were shaking. "Yes...it's
very important that I see him."
"Okay...will you tell us what it is when you get back?"
Kasumi didn't know. "I'll have to see."
* * *
There was a constant knocking on the door as Doctor Tofu began to
straighten up his office for the morning. Heaven knows when
someone would need a doctor.
And that's just what happened. Someone needed a doctor this
early in the morning.
Lo and behold, the beautiful Ms. Tendo was at his doorstep.
And as usual, Tofu became as nervous as a schoolboy.
And then for the first time since meeting Kasumi, he became his
normal self, for the absolutely terror in her eyes snapped him
back to reality. "Kasumi? You look like you've seen a ghost..."
Kasumi was still shaking. "Doctor, I need you to tell me
something. It's about something that happened today...I..."
Tofu brought her inside.
"I need an examination," she said.
They went into his medical room.
"I...found it today. I don't know how I could have missed it
before."
Kasumi sat in a chair, and Tofu in another across from her.
"Kasumi, what you're speaking, I can't understand. Let's start
from the beginning."
"Okay," Kasumi swallowed very hard. "But you better close the
door. I don't want anyone to know."
He closed it.
And what he would find out in the next few hours would nearly
kill him.
<< TWO >>
It was five o'clock when Soun heard a knock at his door. Doctor
Tofu and Kasumi were standing there.
Soun was relieved to finally see his daughter. "Kasumi, have
you been with the doctor all day?"
Kasumi looked rather pitiful.
"You need some rest," Tofu said.
She simply obeyed and walked up to her room, closing the door.
Soun turned his gaze back to the doctor when kasumi closed her
door. "Doctor Tofu? Is there something wrong with Kasumi?"
Tofu looked around. "I don't think this is the best place to
talk. Please come outside."
They went out into the courtyard, and began chatting.
"Doctor? Is there something you want to tell me?"
Tofu swallowed. "I've been your family doctor for several
years right?"
"Yes."
"And even though I'm a doctor, it's no easier telling this to
people I know."
Soun stared at him, with a blank expression.
Tofu's mind raced. What he knew, he had to tell her father.
After all, her life could hang in the balance. But there was no
way to edge his way around the situation. He had to come out and
say it.
"Mr. Tendo, your daughter has..."
* * *
"...breast cancer." Soun finally said, after gathering the
family together.
And the house was very, very silent. No one said anything. No
one COULD say anything. Not after the bombshell was dropped.
"There is no mistake. Kasumi was at Doctor Tofu's the entire
day, having tests done. Then had to wait, as the doctor put the
utmost urgency on it."
Nabiki, usually the one to answer all questions, asked: "So,
what will happen?"
"She needs surgery. Tofu said that they had caught it between
the early and moderate stages, so everything should be fine."
"So, it's settled. All she needs is surgery."
Soun shook his head. "No, that's not it. The problem is...we
can't afford it. It's five-hundred thousand yen."
The house went, incredibly so, more silent.
"We have about a fifth of that in savings. We can't get a
loan. No bank would give us one without a regular source of
income."
Akane blinked after a long while. "Can we ask someone for the
money?"
"Who?" Soun asked. "No one we know of has such an amount
they'd let us borrow."
"I do, though I don't know what the reaction would be...or even
the consequences."
Soun was waiting for her to continue. "She's important to us,
so I'd think that any consequences would be of little
importance."
Akane stood up. "Then you have to let me do this on my own.
No questions. Nothing at all."
"Don't do anything rash, Akane," Ranma said from his seat.
"I hope I won't..."
* * *
Kasumi had been laying in her bed, crying for several minutes.
She heard a knock on her door, and it opened.
Her father stepped in and walked to her bed.
"Kasumi..."
Kasumi stood and hugged her father, tears flowing like a stream
of water. "Oh father...how could this...oh heaven..."
Her father hugged her, and kissed her on the forehead.
"I've...been a good person...how...how could this...happen to
me? I've done everything I could...I've helped...oh father..."
And she continued to cry.
"Kasumi, there are things in this world that no one can
explain. This is one of them. But remember, you're a Tendo, and
a Tendo to the last. Don't worry. Everything will be simply
fine."
Kasumi wanted to trust her father, and that warm feeling that a
parent could give. He kissed her on the cheek once more, and
left the room.
A storm began, and the rain drops fell as numerous as Kasumi's
tears.
* * *
Akane trudged through the rain, toward the large house at the end
of the street. She used her jacket to protect herself from the
rain and after a final jog, rang the doorbell.
After a few moments, the door opened, and a butler answered.
"Yes?" he asked.
"My name is Akane Tendo. Could I please see Tatewaki Kuno?"
"He's having dinner with his family at the moment."
Akane tried to speak over the falling rain. "It's very
important. Rather, it's an emergency."
"I'll see what I can do. Please, step inside from the rain."
She did, and was left waiting in the entrance hall to the
Tatewaki mansion.
She could hear a slight crash from what appeared to be the
dining room, and Kuno came running into the room. "Ah! Akane
Tendo! I'm sorry that I kept you waiting. Alfred says that you
needed to see me? An emergency?"
"Yes...it's..."
"You're soaked! Please, come to the living room by the fire."
They walked through the halls into a very spacious room, filled
paintings, statues and a large fireplace at one end. She sat in
front of it, and began warming herself. He took her jacket, and
lay it as close as possible to the fire without it getting
burned, to dry it.
"Now then, Ms. Tendo. What can I do for you? I don't think
I've ever seen you come here."
"This is important. Kuno, I need to ask you a favor."
"Name it, my beautiful one, and it is yours."
Akane swallowed her pride. "My family needs to borrow some
money."
"Money? For what reason?"
Akane looked away. "My eldest sister needs to have surgery
done. We have only a small amount, but we need much more."
"How much is the surgery?"
"Five-hundred-thousand yen."
Kuno whistled. "Quite a bit of money for such services."
"We couldn't go anywhere else. A bank wouldn't even consider
us, since we don't have a regular income from the dojo. We've
run out of options."
"But, Akane, that is quite a bit of money to be borrowing. I
thought that you might have needed only ten-thousand yen or so.
But five-hundred-thousand?"
Akane nodded slowly. "Yes. It's quite a bit. But we want to
pay it back, if you'll let us, interest free."
Kuno rubbed his chin. "That's-"
Akane had to do it. "To seal the deal...I'll go on a date with
you, day after tomorrow."
Kuno's mouth dropped.
"These are desperate times Kuno."
He thought for a moment, then pounded his hand on the chair
next to him. "Done." He then snapped his fingers. Almost
instantly, Alfred appeared in the room.
"You snapped, sir?" the butler asked, bowing.
"Yes, Alfred. Get my checkbook. Ms. Tendo needs some money."
* * *
Akane walked into the house, dripping wet from the storm. Her
father had been sitting in the living room for quite some time,
waiting for her return.
She pulled off the jacket, hung it upon a hook in the entrance,
and pulled out a rather damp check. Handing it to her father,
she said, "Don't ask anything," Then to her room she went.
Mr. Tendo glanced down at it, reading the neatly cursive
character writing. It was for five-hundred-thousand yen. And
the beneficiary was one Tatewaki Kuno.
* * *
Kasumi was busy working in the kitchen the next morning, despite
everyone's requests to the contrary.
"Kasumi, you shouldn't be doing that."
"Kasumi, perhaps you should lay down."
"You're working too hard."
"Get some rest."
She was about to break under all of their requests. Never
before had she felt so utterly confused, fearful, and nervous,
all at the same time.
And she continued. Continued for what seemed eternity. Time
had never moved slowly in her entire life. Morning slowly became
noon, then afternoon, then night, and night gave way to midnight.
Upstairs, Ranma and Akane were sleeping in their respective
rooms, when each of them heard a 'clanking' from downstairs, as
if classes were being placed next to each other, then bumped
together.
They opened their doors and peered out into the hallway,
shocked to see each other looking out of their doors at the same
time, yet even more so to find that no one else but them had
heard the noises.
They walked down the stairs without saying a word, and found
Kasumi wiping down the cabinets in the kitchen.
"Kasumi? What are you doing? It's one o'clock in the
morning!" Akane said.
Kasumi turned. "I...I couldn't sleep."
"The appointment is tomorrow. You'll need to get some sleep,
or you won't be able to get up on time."
Kasumi looked down at her feet. "I don't think I'll be able to
get any sleep tonight. Doctor Tofu will be driving me to the
hospital anyway."
Ranma scratched his head. "Well, Kasumi, at least TRY to get
some sleep."
"For once, Ranma's right," Akane agreed.
She nodded to both of them. "I'll try to when I finish up this
cabinet."
"Okay," Akane said, and she and her fiancee turned to leave.
"And...thank you both."
"Don't mention it," her sister's voice replied.
Kasumi finished up the cabinet, and then sat on the floor
against the sink. She slowly shook her head left and right,
trying to make some little sense out of the mess her life was now
in. Just a little thing like a lump could break a person from
once course to the next.
And Kasumi's thoughts began turning to her own marriage. She
knew that her family would be in near poverty in trying to pay
for operation. Then she thought of a husband who would actually
accept that she would have half of her right breast removed to
remove the cancer, and the surrounding tissue so that it wouldn't
have a likely chance to spread.
She chastised herself for being so self-centered. It wasn't
like it was her fault. What could she have done to prevent it?
She sighed. This was one time that she needed her mother so
very much. "Mama...I need you..."
And then she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. She turned and
began to cry.
"Mother..." she said, staring up into the warm, caring face of
her dead parent.
She sat down and wrapped her arms around her little child.
Though she was grown up, Kasumi was still her little girl.
"Kasumi, why do you cry so?"
"I'm scared mama. I'm scared that I might not make it. I'm
scared that this will affect my future."
Her mother brushed her cheek, and smiled that loving smile that
made all children comfortable. "My little girl, you don't have
anything to worry about. I'm always here for you, and I'm always
watching over you, Nabiki and Akane. You've grown up to be such
a beautiful, supporting woman, and I'm so very proud of you.
You've done much harder things than this, and I'm actually
surprised that you've reacted this way."
"But mama...what will happen when I marry? What will my
husband do?"
Her mother smiled again. "If you're husband truly loves you,
it won't matter what had happened to your body." She stood up.
"Kasumi, I have to go now. God wants me to help him make a
cake."
"Don't go just yet. Please..."
"Kasumi, you're a strong girl, and I'm always near you." She
gave her a kiss on the forehead, and then began to vanish.
"Besides, I don't think Doctor Tofu has ever mind what your body
looked like." And then she disappeared.
"Mama..." Kasumi smiled, knowing that her mother was going to
help her through this. The situation wasn't hard. She was just
making it hard on herself.
After a few more moments of basking in the her mother's
residing warmth, she went upstairs, and peacefully slept through
the night.
<< THREE >>
Ten o'clock. Kasumi looked back at the small house that she had
lived in for her life, and looked at the people that had made her
life so happy. Her father, her sisters, the Saotomes, had made
her life rather full of happiness.
She felt Tofu's hand on her shoulder, and was reminded of her
mother's touch. "Kasumi, it's time to go."
She nodded, and sat in the small car that belonged to the
doctor.
"We'll be back later this evening. It takes an hour to drive
up there," he said before getting into the car.
Soun nodded, and they all waved her off as the car drove down
the small street, and onto the highway. Kasumi waved back,
hoping that this wasn't that last time that she would see them.
They all went back into the house and sat around, not knowing
what to do. Ranma noticed that Akane was absent from their
return into the house, and he went around to find her.
She was sitting in her room, putting make-up on.
"Huh? What are you wearing make-up for?" he asked, rather
shocked.
"Close the door."
He did.
"I have a date."
Ranma nearly collapsed. "A DATE?! With who?!"
"Kuno."
Ranma did collapse.
"Alright! What is going on here?! I though that I was your
fiancee."
"Oh, so you want to be fiancees now? My, I'm SO warmed to know
you care."
"Cut the crap Akane. What's this all about?" He crossed his
arms while leaning his back against the door.
"If a word leaves this room...YOU'LL DIE. Understood?"
Ranma gulped and nodded, knowing that she would fully intended
to keep her threat if he did say anything.
"Did dad tell you where all the money mysteriously came from?"
Ranma shook his head vehemently.
"Well, now you know."
"And he wanted a date out of it?! What kind of deal is that?
Kasumi's life could hang on the line."
Akane put her make-up away. "He didn't suggest it. I did."
"What?!"
"He didn't look like he was going to lend it to us. I had to
give him some added incentive. So I asked him to. The money is
interest free."
"Akane..."
"Ranma, the best thing you could do right now is occupy your
time with something. Kuno will pick me up in another two hours,
and then we'll be gone for quite a long time."
Ranma snorted, and shook his head. "Like I have any
controlling interest at all in this coupling."
"Ranma. This is not about you and me. It's about KASUMI."
She stood up and went to her closet. "Bottom line, this is for
Kasumi's sake. Not Kuno's. Not mine. Not even yours.
Kasumi's."
Ranma nodded a bit, slightly understanding, but getting
exceedingly even more jealous the more he thought about Kuno
taking Akane out on a date. Instead of stewing more, he turned
and opened the door. "Good luck. You'll need it."
And he slammed the door.
"Stupid jerk," she whispered.
"Uncute tomboy," as did he.
* * *
The car continued to make its way toward downtown Nerima.
Kasumi looked out at the passing scenery. She hadn't taken a
trip in a car for some time. Ever since mother died, they hadn't
taken picnics like they used to. And they sold their car, since
everything was in walking distance.
"Doctor, do you think that...the operation..."
Tofu nodded. "From what I've ready, it's a standard procedure.
Nothing should go wrong. And from what I gather about the
Tendos, they're a group of strong-willed people. You'll be
fine."
"I hope so. You're doing me a favor by taking me all of the
way out here for an operation."
"Don't mention it. Besides, I've been wanting to do something
for the Tendos for a long time."
"Thank you...for everything, Tofu," she said, warmly smiling at
him.
* * *
Akane heard the knocking at the door, and immediately opened it,
to prevent her father from seeing who it was. Up above, on the
steps, Ranma sulked.
Kuno gave her some roses, and she smiled cheerfully.
Ranma actually though she enjoyed it. And in some small way,
she did. Being flattered by a man actually made her smile more.
Ranma simply stood up and went to his room.
Outside, a limo was parked. Alfred opened the back door, and
both Kuno and Akane clambered in. They sat on the sofa. Kuno
had dressed himself all the way, with a full tuxedo. Akane felt
slightly stupid, since she only wore an semi-formal dress.
"I'm sorry...If I knew tonight was going to be formal..."
Kuno shook his head and laughed. "No...this IS my semi-formal
attire."
Akane blinked. Then what does he wear for formal attire?
Bells and whistles? She shook her head. "What do you have
planned for us?" she asked.
"Well, the traditional date. Dinner and dancing. Do you have
a curfew?"
"Kuno, it's noon, and you're taking me out. It should be
lunch, not dinner. And a curfew? I don't think we're going to
be out THAT late."
"Perhaps I did overdo it a bit."
Akane laughed the sweet laugh she makes when she's happy. "No,
that's alright. It's just that my sister comes back from surgery
tonight, and I want to be there when she comes home."
"Say no more, lovely one. Alfred, away we go!"
* * *
Kasumi sat in the waiting room, with Tofu next to her. After
waiting for nearly an hour, a young woman walked up to them.
"Ms. Tendo?" she asked.
Kasumi looked up and nodded. "Yes?"
"The doctor is going to inform you about the procedure for a
brief moment. If you'll follow me?"
Kasumi nodded, and she and Tofu followed her to a small office.
They stepped in and sat down. The nurse left, and after a little
while, another woman came in, and sat down on a chair across from
Kasumi.
"Ms..." the doctor flipped through the papers on her desk,
"...Tendo, correct?"
Kasumi nodded once again. She felt like she couldn't speak at
all.
"Well, I'll be your surgeon today. I'm doctor Kokoro. Some
people say that I'm a doctor with a heart." And she chuckled.
Tofu was glad to hear that Kasumi chuckled as well.
Kokoro nodded. "It's good to hear that your still have your
sense of humor in this situation."
"Frankly, Doctor, I'm quite scared," Kasumi said, her voice
shaking slightly.
Kokoro nodded. "I can understand, Ms. Tendo. But there really
isn't very much to worry about. There are very few cases in
which we have trouble during this operation. It's very standard
procedure. We'll go in, take out what shouldn't be there, close
up. Simple. I'm sure Doctor Tofu has told you this, correct?"
"Yes...but I'm still scared..."
Kokoro could understand her situation. From what she gathered
from this young woman's medical records, she had never had ANY
case of ailments whatsoever, and had probably never been to a
hospital more than two times in her life.
"Well, just take a deep breath and relax. You're in good
hands."
Kasumi tried...but it was just too hard.
* * *
Ranma was out in the courtyard, practicing his punches against
a wooden pole. Left, right, left, right, left, right.
And then he broke it in half. He sighed, rather sullenly, and
sat down on the patio.
"What's wrong, boy? Giving up?" he could hear his all-too-
familiar father's voice say.
"No, just sitting down."
"You're not tired, are you?"
"No! I'm just sitting down! Is that okay with you?"
Genma sat down next to his son. "Ranma, some times there are
things in life that you have no control of. For instance, what
happens if you put that extra dash of paprika in the ramen? Or
if you somehow dunk your sashimi in horseradish instead of soy
sauce? And not just ANY horseradish, but that stuff that makes
even your EYES turn red, and your tongue sort of just-"
"POP! Is everything food to you? And would you get to the
point of all of this?!"
"Look around, Ranma. Without Kasumi, this family would have
fallen apart years ago."
"What does this have to do with Akane?"
"Akane?" his father blinked.
"Yeah."
"You weren't thinking about Kasumi?"
"No. Why?"
His father got back up. "Oh, never mind." And he walked back
into the house from whence he came.
Ranma had indeed been thinking about Akane, and just exactly
how this 'date' of hers with Kuno was going. He thought that
Akane would have more pride than to go out with someone like
that. Then again, he was just being jealous of the whole
situation. If HE would ask Akane out on a date, she would
probably belt him, thinking that he would be thinking something
perverted. He shook his head.
But, about what his father said...
He really didn't give the entire situation about Kasumi very
much thought. After being at the house so long, and seeing her
every day of the month, and quite often during the day, he really
didn't know her. Just for some reason. Ranma would have thought
her the perfect wife, i.e. she could cook well. And in his mind,
he would have picked her second to be his wife.
Second? And who would have been first? Akane.
Ranma nodded to himself. Nabiki was just to underhanded to be
any real companion to him. After all, with his curse, his life
would be just one hassle after another. She'd probably donate
his body to science on the honeymoon.
But...Akane. Akane was someone who he could count on, and she
was really not that dissimilar from him. Though she wasn't the
most feminine woman on the planet (unlike Kasumi), she had a
charm that melted his heart from the very first moment he saw her
naked...
Wait. Is that the best thing to say? Liking a woman simply
because you saw her naked? Ranma shook his head. He had his
reasons (mostly locked away forever in the inner recesses of his
brain), and Akane would be the woman for him.
But his father's small comment had sparked something in Ranma's
rather unconventional mind. Kasumi was indeed an integral part
of the family. He could imagine Soun being a bitter father,
Nabiki selling drugs to under-age children, and Akane becoming
some rich individual's love-slave.
Ranma shook his head, trying to throw the images out of his
head. Kasumi was important to Ranma. How? Well, Ranma thought
about it. Kasumi was important to Akane; Akane was important to
Ranma. Therefore, Kasumi was important to Ranma. Though that
was easy enough to figure out in this particular way, Ranma was
still stuck back at 'place all of your variables on one side of
the equation.' But he knew, he just couldn't say why.
That, and Kasumi sort of...scared him a bit...because she was
TOO nice.
"By the way," his father popped his head back out, "where did
Akane go today?"
"She went on-"
'If a word leaves this room...YOU'LL DIE. Understood?'
Ranma gulped. "-a small trip with her friend."
"What friend?"
"The more-feminine-than-Akane friend of Akane's. Got it?"
* * *
Kuno had taken Akane to one of the most expensive eating
establishments in Nerima, and it was no small wonder that they
knew Kuno by name. He appeared to frequent the place, and even
had a regular seat reserved.
Despite how much she was trying to keep her attention on the
date, she kept thinking about Kasumi, and how she was doing. She
guessed that she was already in surgery.
Unbeknownst to her, Kuno had noticed her lack of attentiveness
during the day, and simply dismissed it. Though her sister was
having some sort of surgery (Akane wouldn't let on what it was),
Kuno knew that the Tendo family were strong people, and that
Ranma was lucky to have such a wonderful young lady at his side.
Akane would make ANY man proud.
After lunch, they were due to go to an all-day dancing hall,
but half-way through the drive, he couldn't ignore the fact the
whole idea wasn't totally of her own will. She did it simply to
earn money for her sister. And Kuno respected Akane for doing
such a thing for her sibling.
"Alfred," he said, "let us return Ms. Tendo home."
"Yes, sir."
Akane looked at him rather perplexedly. "Kuno...?"
"Ms. Tendo, though I do enjoy your company, I can see that your
best interests were not at heart here. I understand that you
care for your sister enough to do this sort of thing for me.
That is what makes you the woman that I desire."
They pulled up to her house.
"Though you may not have been attentive today, be assured that
you will go on a date with me, of your own volition, in the
future."
"What about the money?" she asked.
"The money? What about it? You kept your end of the bargain,
and I kept mine. But I am letting you out of your word because
of the circumstances. If you would know the truth, I am slightly
desponded with myself by demanding something out of a situation
that would mean someone's life. So, I'm also punishing myself."
Akane opened the door.
"Good day, Ms. Tendo. I hope that we have a more pleasant
engagement next time."
Akane smiled and touched his hand. Then she got out and went
into the house.
As the limo drove off, Kuno was in utter joy. "Alfred!
Alfred! Can you see it? She touched my hand!" Kuno showed his
hand to the tired chauffeur.
"Quite intriguing, Master Tatewaki. May I assume that you will
never wash it again?"
* * *
Doctor Kokoro put the small mask and tubing on Kasumi's mouth.
"Ms. Tendo, I want you to breath normally, and count backward
from twenty aloud."
Kasumi breathed as she usually did, and began counting.
"Twenty...nineteen...eighteen...seventeen..."
It was at nine when she ceased consciousness.
<< FOUR >>
As Akane walked to the house, she noticed Ranma sitting in the
courtyard.
"So, how did your date with KUNO go, Akane?"
"Short and uneventful." And she continued into the house.
"Hey! What do you mean 'uneventful'?" He followed her.
"Just what I said! I don't need you prying into my personal
life!"
The argument ended up in her bedroom.
"Okay, Ranma! I gave him a BIG kiss for him taking me out!
One of those LONG ones where you start cleaning the other's
intestines. Got it?"
Ranma balled his fists up, and left quickly.
No one else heard them.
* * *
Near day-break, Tofu's car arrived at the Tendo household, and he
beeped the horn.
The Tendos and the Saotomes came outside, and ran to the car.
Kasumi was still dazed from the surgery, and needed some
assistance to be brought into the house.
Soun did the honors, helping is little girl to her bed, and
covered her with the blankets. Kasumi barely knew what was going
on, and simply went to sleep when she felt the familiar comfort
of her soft bed.
Her father went back downstairs, and shook Tofu's hand. "Thank
you for looking after her, doctor. It means a great deal to us
to have her back. Was there any trouble?"
Tofu shook his head. "None at all. The procedure went as they
had planned. She went in and out."
"Thank you once again. I hope to be seeing more of you around
here."
"I hope so too, Mr. Tendo. Good night." Without another word,
Tofu went home.
* * *
The next morning, the birds once again sang, and Kasumi was about
to get up for her normal chores.
And she was pushed back into bed again. Akane was already up,
and was watching over her.
"Akane?" she asked, rather groggily.
"Just lay down. You can't be up and around with the surgery
you just had."
"Nonsense...I need to make breakfast and clean-"
"KASUMI! STOP IT!"
She stopped, and looked at her little sister.
"Kasumi, please, just let us care for you a little bit. You're
so important to us, if you don't get well, we'll never be the
same. Kasumi, please..."
She nodded and understood what Akane was trying to say. She
looked over at her end-table, and saw several flowers. "Who are
these from?"
"Oh, Kuno sent them over. I had a little...run-in with him,
and he sent these over last night."
Kasumi wondered about something. "Akane, how is father going
to pay for the surgery?"
Akane looked down at the floor. "I had to...borrow some
money."
"From who?"
"Well...Kuno."
Kasumi blinked. "Kuno? What did you do?"
"All I had to do was go on a date with him. It was my idea.
But he knew that it was only to get the money to help you, so he
broke the date half-way."
Akane stood up. "Now that you're awake, I'll get you some
breakfast." She left the room.
She tried sitting up a bit, against the head-board. "Akane...
you didn't make breakfast, did you?"
* * *
It was two days later when Akane and Ranma woke up with the sound
of the buzzers.
They had walked downstairs, and Kasumi was cooking again for
the first time in three days.
"Kasumi?" Akane asked, "Are you alright now?"
The eldest simply nodded, and continued chopping carrots.
Things were getting back to normal. Though no one could say
whether the Tendo family changed in some way during that fateful
week. If anything changed, their respect and love for Kasumi
grew.
Yeah, things were getting back to normal.
FIN
-----------------------| Author's Notes |------------------------
Well, I decided to write this fanfic for several reasons. First
of all, I feel that Kasumi was a rather 'under-done' character in
the Ranma 1/2 universe, not only by the lack of depth that Ms.
Takahashi put into her (in my opinion), but also by the lack of
non-lemon fanfiction that was written about her. Two, it has
been a while since I've written a Ranma fic (or even WATCHED a
Ranma episode), so I wanted to try my talents once again.
Finally, with so many of my writings, it parallels my life in
some small way. My mother was diagnosed with Kasumi's condition
in 1986, then again in 1991, and although she is absolutely fine
now (and as nutty as ever), it still makes me wonder about how
this type of situation affects other people. Kasumi, flat
character or not, is a very important person to the Tendo
household, not only with cooking and cleaning, but also being a
sort of 'surrogate mother' to Akane and Nabiki. I wanted to put
this close-knit family (with the Saotomes) into this situation,
and see where it lead them...and maybe even have them admit that
Kasumi is the best thing that has ever happened to them.
I'm sorry if this fic was rather unfocused and without
direction, but it seemed to have been a good idea when I wrote
it.
For those of you who have read this as your first introduction
to my writings, this story is a HAPPY, one compared to some of
the other stuff I have written, and what I am capable of writing
(ask anyone who has read 'Macross: Ecstatic Vision').
Oh well, I've rambled on about the subject and this fic for too
long. I'd like to hear your impressions, and don't be afraid to
write to the address above.
Until the bell tolls for me yet once again...
- Ed Hrzic
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