Kasumi: The Mist Fox-Ninja
A Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction Story
Copyright (C) 1998 Mark Ranel M. Lambo (maramala)
All Rights Reserved.
Part 1: One Week to Go
*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
*********************
Kasumi woke up an hour before sunrise. She yawned
and sat up on her futon. Her room was once their mother's,
and even now, everything was still in place, just as it was
when their mother was alive. In a corner lay their mother's
bed, which hasn't been slept on for over ten years. The
house was silent, as everyone else was still asleep.
Kasumi stood up, stretched, and silently began to do
some basic kata exercises, pausing every once in a while to
brush a stray lock of her long dark hair from her face.
**One, two... duck, turn... spin, sweep...** she mentally
counted, her motions a constant rhythm.
Unlike her sisters' room, hers was a lot more roomy,
spacious enough to practice in, yet was private enough for
anybody else not to poke their noses inside. Of all the
people the Tendos have let into the house all these years,
only Ryoga was the only person who entered this room once,
by accident, but that was because he keeps getting lost,
looking for the bathroom. Not even Happosai, their father's
hentai master, dared intrude on her privacy.
**Ranma-kun...**, she thought, absently performing a
spinning jump kick, landing soundlessly on the floor. **Why
can't you and Akane be more _open_ with each other?** After
a while, sweat started to form on her skin despite the
relative coolness of the room. She began to perform the
advanced routines, her punches and sweeps more faster,
stronger, her motions more lighter, more graceful...
All this done without making a single sound, not
even the rustling of cloth.
She blinked. These were her mother's true legacy
to her. Not her cooking prowess, not her looks, not her
duties, but this... techniques, whose name she bore...
Despite her blinking, tears began to form in her
eyes when she remembered how years ago her mother used to
teach her these secret techniques in this very room since
her father would not allow her into the dojo whenever his
students were around practicing. **One more year, and Akane
would have learned these, too... Akane-chan...**
By the time she finished her kata, sunlight began to
stream into her window. She stopped and looked outside,
wiping the tears from her eyes. It was Saturday, so she
wasn't in any real hurry. She leaned to the side of the
window and took a deep breath, stealing a glance in the
mirror next to the dresser on the wall. Her nightgown was
drenched in her sweat, clinging to her well-formed body.
Her long hair, not yet tied in her usual ponytail, flowed
freely down her back.
She could not help but admire the way her own body
turned out despite the constant rigors of her everyday
chores around the house. It was a shame that she has to
wear all those conservative clothes. **Still, giri is
duty...** She smiled at the thought, slowly tracing a line
with her fingers from the base of her neck downwards. She
enjoyed the tingling sensations it produced, wondering if
she could ever let anybody else do the same thing to her
someday.
Like Dr. Tofu, perhaps...
Kasumi started to giggle involuntarily. **I wonder
if he would ever get the nerve to say it?** She stopped,
immediately feeling sorry for him. **It can't be helped...
_I am_ partly responsible, a little... He'll get around to
it. I know he will..."
She sighed, then glanced at the clock by the
bedside. It read 6:00 A.M. **Well, time for me to freshen
up.**
She moved towards the dresser, gathered her robe,
towel and toiletries, and headed for the bathroom.
**********************
Her father was the first one to come downstairs.
She bowed, saying, "Ohaiyoo, Ojiisan. If you wait for a
while, breakfast will be served in a moment."
Soun gave his eldest daughter a big smile. "Oh,
thank you, Kasumi-chan. You are such a wonderful daughter.
Don't worry... just take your time, my dear. I'll just
wait for Genma to come downstairs before breaking my fast."
"Yes, Father. Very well." Kasumi bowed, then
headed towards the kitchen to prepare the breakfast for the
morning.
Soon enough, Genma came down followed by Nabiki.
"Ohaiyoo, Saotome-sama." Kasumi cheerfuly greeted,
bringing todays' breakfast on a tray. "Ohaiyoo,
Nabiki-chan."
"'Mornin'", Nabiki yawned.
"Ahh," Genma said. "Smelling good as usual,
Kasumi."
"Domo arigato gonzaimasu, Saotome-sama," Kasumi
smiled as she set the tray down on the low table.
Nabiki narrowed her eyes at Genma. "I didn't know
you have a thing for younger women..."
Genma facefaulted. "The food, my dear, the food,"
He quickly corrected her. Soun paid no heed to the exchange
as he went immediately to the low table and have a hearty
meal, wishing for no more interruptions.
From upstairs, a loud racket can be heard. **Ranma
and Akane are at it again.** Kasumi thought, sadly shaking
her head.
Moments later, a wet (and very bruised) female
Ranma tumbled down the stairs, not stopping until she
reached her place on the dining room table. Ranma-chan
then sat up, brushing off her usual red Chinese style
clothes.
"Stupid kawaiikune tomboy... Good thing she hasn't
met this girl I met the other day... Ow! That hurt,"
onna-Ranma grumbled, rubbing her jaw while starting to sit
down crosslegged.
"Oh, my..." Kasumi said. "Are you alright,
Ranma-chan?"
"'Morning', Kasumi. Aw, it's nothin'... Say,
where's breakfast?"
"I think _the panda's_ having your share even as we
speak," Nabiki said. "Who's _this_ new girl, Ranma?"
"ARRGGGH! Pop, don't you ever do that!" Ignoring
Nabiki's question, onna-Ranma turned around to face a wet
giant panda sitting contentedly beside him. The panda just
held up a sign, which was written {who, me?}.
"Damn right, it is!" Suddenly, a kettle of boiling
hot water appeared out of nowhere into Ranma's hands as she
poured in on herself, changing back to his male form. He
then started to pour the rest of the water on the panda.
His father was barely able to dodge the downpour and broke
into a run. Ranma went after him.
"Don't ever think you could run away from me!"
Ranma yelled in anger.
Genma-panda flipped the sign, showing a new message
{why me?}.
From out of nowhere, Akane suddenly appeared
brandishing one of her unlimited giant mallets. "RANMA!
I'm not finished with you!"
"Ohaiyoo, Akane." Kasumi greeted her youngest
sister.
She turned her head around, looking for Ranma.
"'Mornin'... Where IS HE!" She demanded.
"Out," Kasumi answered. "Both of you should
eat your breakfast first..."
"Later, sister." Akane replied. "After I pound the
pervert down into the pavement." With that, she gave chase
to Ranma and Genma-panda. (**Note: Wow! Akane's a natural
poet! No wonder Tatewaki Kuno digs her... -maramala ;)
"There they go again," Nabiki yawned, bored at the
usual morning event.
Kasumi sighed. **After all that, still...** She
sat down beside Nabiki and her father and started to eat.
*********************
"Oh, Kasumi?" Soun finally spoke.
"Yes, father?" Kasumi answered, smiling. Mr.
Saotome has returned a little while ago, a little worse for
wear from their "exercise", and is now playing go with her
father. Akane followed, dragging an unconscious Ranma, back
in his female form, with one hand and carrying a wet little
piglet with a yellow bandanna with the other. The piglet
was happily nuzzling up Akane's chest.
"Next week's your birthday, right...?"
"Hai. Of course, father."
"Any idea what to do on your birthday?" Nabiki
inquired.
{Will there be a party?} Genma held up his sign
with one paw while quickly rearranging some of the pieces
on the board with the other.
"Oh, I think a small gathering will do just fine."
Kasumi spoke after giving it some thought. "Maybe just the
family and immediate relatives. And maybe some friends and
close aquaintances too." She then smiled. "I've already
send out a _few_ invitations."
At this Akane groaned. Every time there was an
occasion at the Tendo Dojo, almost everyone was sure to
attend. She brighted up at the thought that since everyone
was there, they could sample her latest cooking. **They
_should_ try this out. I know I've improved a lot since the
last time...**
Onna-Ranma was a bit drowsy, so she wasn't able to
fully get the gist of the conversation. But the words
"party" and "gathering" did not escape unheard and shuddered
wide awake as the full implications hit her. **Oh, no!
Akane's gonna cook at the party! Better warn everyone!**
"Cool." Nabiki said disinterestedly, still watching
the T.V. Then she realized something. **Waitaminute...
Akane's sure to cook up a storm at this party... I could
make a fortune in laxatives and pain relievers in this.** A
wicked smile started to form on Nabiki's lips.
As Kasumi started to clean up the table, a familiar
diminutive form appeared out of nowhere, lunging towards
Kasumi.
"Advanced Happy Birthday, Kasumi my dear." Happosai
said, his trajectory aimed squarely at Kasumi's ample bosom.
"Here's a birthday gift from your dear old gramps Happ...
URK!"
Onna-Ranma and Akane intercepted Happi's objective
in mid-flight, knocking him to the ground. "No fair, you
pervert! Taking on a defenseless girl like that! You
should be ashamed of yourself." Ranma-chan said.
"And my sister, yet." Akane added.
Unnoticed by the two, Kasumi smiled.
Happi recovered quickly. "Wait your turn, dearie."
He said to Akane, then turned to onna-Ranma. "Very well,
then, if that's how you feel... I'll settle for a more
_challenging_ target..."
Immediately, Happosai glomped on a surprised
onna-Ranma, taking her off-guard.
"YAAAARRGH!" Onna-Ranma screamed.
"Ahhh, heaven... I'll just give it to you some other
time, Kasumi my dearie," Happi said to Kasumi over his
shoulder. "For now..."
>WHAM!<
Akane flattened Happi with her Mallet(tm).
Onna-Ranma and Akane then started turning Happosai into a
pancake between them.
Kasumi realized something she haven't thought of
earlier. "My goodness..." She went to Nabiki's side. "Oh,
Nabiki..?"
Nabiki, her hand in a bag of potato chips, looked
up from where she was lying on the floor, getting a good
look at her. "Yeah," she said, staring upwards. "What is
it, Kasumi?"
"I'm going to the market to by some kitchen
supplies. Akane's been using them an awful lot lately. I'm
going to need some money to buy them."
Nabiki grunted. Of all the people she have known,
Kasumi was one of the few persons who never owed her
anything. She never liked dealing with anyone on such a
position, not even to family. "Aw... alright." She reached
into her hip pocket. "Here."
Kasumi took the few rolled-up bills from Nabiki,
smiling. "Arigato, Nabiki."
"You're welcome." Nabiki turned away, ignoring her.
Kasumi started to leave. "Ranma-chan... Akane...
please clean up after you're done."
"OK!" Both replied, then continued beating up Happi
while a frowning P-chan (**Well, he looked like he _was_
frowning...**) looked on the carnage.
The panda held up a sign. {Bye, dear Kasumi.}
Soun waved at her, his eyes not leaving the game board.
Kasumi left the dojo, the sound of breaking bones
behind her as she headed for the market.
**********************
After a while, Nabiki glanced up at the wall clock.
She nodded at something and stood up. **Well, I guess I
better go too...**
"Where are you going, Nabiki?" Akane asked.
Nabiki briefly glanced at Akane. "Business..."
**********************
Kasumi was walking at the sidewalk from the market
towards home, carrying two big paper bags filled with
groceries in her arms. She was still thinking of next
week's party. **I wonder who would be invited there?**
She thought of Ranma and Akane's friends first, then her
thoughts drifted to Dr. Tofu. She started giggling inwardly
to herself, remembering what she was thinking this morning.
Suddenly, a shadow breezed past her. She felt a
sudden tug, and she saw the straps flying away as her purse
was being snatched.
"Stop, thief! Help, somebody!" She cried out.
Looking around, she saw that nobody was even looking at the
scene. Everyone was busy hurrying in their own business,
not paying attention to her pleas for help.
She sighed and gave chase to the fleeing figure at
the distance, but she just couldn't keep up, what with the
two bags of groceries in her arms. She felt like giving up
when the figure suddenly turned into a blind alley, quickly
disappearing.
For a moment, she was torn between following the
thief, waiting for a policeman to help her, or forget about
it and walk back home.
Suddenly, she heard a voice in her head. "Kasumi...
go on... don't give up..."
Something snapped inside her...
~Flashback:~
"Kasumi, hurry up."
"Mama... I'm so tired. I can't go on..."
"Don't say that! I know you can go on! I've seen
you playing with your sisters. You could climb trees and
houses effortlessly, so this mountain is just a cakewalk
compared to some of the games you three play."
"But... climbing trees is not the same as climbing
Mt. Fuji. Besides, why do we have to climb _this_ mountain?
You never told Father about this..."
"I'll tell you there when we get to the top."
"But, mama... my shoes are too worn already... I
have cuts and bruises all over..."
"Come on, you can make it, Kasumi... Don't give
up... I know you can..."
Finally, they reached the top of the mountain.
Kasumi was shocked when her mother started going down into
the gaping hole. Hot steam blew at Kasumi, pushing her
back a little.
"Mama?"
"Come on, Kasumi!" Her mother called out to
her.
"O-okay." Braving the heat, she followed her mother
down the mouth of the volcano.
For a few hours, they slowly climbed down the inside
of the volcano. Kasumi found it a lot easier than climbing
up the mountain, although it is getting hotter by the
minute. After a few hours, they reached the bottom. The
place was unbearably hot, with pools of lava everywhere.
Kasumi could almost swear that they could cook eggs here
with the heat alone and idly wished that she brought some.
"Kasumi, take off your clothes." Her mother ordered
while taking off her own kimono.
"Mother?" She was already sweating profusely.
"Do it."
Kasumi complied, placing her clothes on top of her
mothers'.
"Kasumi, I am now going to teach you one of the
family secret techniques. This is one of many handed down
from generation to generation throughout the centuries.
My mother taught me this technique here, and now you will
learn it from me. Maybe someday in the future, you will
even teach this technique to a _worthy_ daughter of yours."
"Mama," Kasumi complained, wiping the sweat from
her brow. "It's so hot..."
"You learn this technique only by practicing on
extreme temperatures," Her mother continued, "Which also
builds up your body resistance. That's why you have to
take off your clothes, because they might get ruined."
Her mother walked towards a nearby pool of boiling
lava. "Now watch me." With that, she concentrated at the
bubbling lava pool, then punched.
The pool quivered. Kasumi's hairs stood on end,
as she waited expectantly for something to happen.
"The trick here is concentrating..." Her mother
punched again, this time screaming, "SHRIEKING DRAGON
LAVA-SPITTING WAVE!"
The pool responded by producing waves that rose out
of the pool of lava, striking the wall in the distance.
"Wow, mama..." Kasumi was impressed.
"Now, Kasumi, you try..." Her mother told her.
"..."
++NEWS FLASH: Mt. Fuji suddenly belched fire and ash clouds
yesterday in what has been dubbed "The quickest eruption in
history." Volcanologists were caught-off guard, surprised
at the sudden unexpected activity of volcano, and are
currently monitoring the situation. On a related note,
rumors surfaced that there were sighted two people climbing
upwards Mt. Fuji hours before the volcano erupted. Stay
tuned for further developments...++
~End of Flashback~
************************
The snatcher ducked into an alley, confident than
no one saw him come this way. He grinned crookedly at his
prize. **Heh. Easy pickings.** It was a good idea to move
to Nerima, like his friends said. The heat was on in
Shinjuku, as the police started cracking down the crime
scene in the area. But here in Nerima, it was a thief's
paradise. The crime rate was incredibly low, because no one
bothered to commit them before now. In the back of his
mind, he was wondering why, but pushed it back at the
prospect of easy targets like fruits waiting to be picked.
Leaning on the wall, he started rummaging at the
things in the purse. He grinned again as he greedily looked
over his loot not noticing a haze began to form around him.
He started counting the bills when he noticed a sudden
motion at the corner of his eye. He looked up to see a fist
flying towards him.
Everything else suddenly became a blur as his unseen
attacker began punching hin repeatedly. He staggered,
feebly trying to defend against the multitude of vicious
blows raining at him. Several times he nearly collapsed to
the ground. He should have.
The last thing he heard was a voice... It was the
most beautiful voice he has ever heard. But the words would
burn into his heart, and he will never forget them for the
rest of his now shortened life.
"SHRIEKING DRAGON GARBAGE-SPITTING WAVE!!!"
For a moment, the haze cleared.
Then darkness...
**********************
Kasumi quickly hurried towards the Tendo Dojo.
When she reached home, everyone was fixated on the
T.V. set. She noticed that Nabiki wasn't there. Kasumi
went to the kitchen and started unloading the food from the
paper bags.
Akane rushed to the kitchen, clearly excited about
something. "Kasumi, did you hear the news today?" Akane
asked, breathing rapidly.
"What is it?" She replied, genuinely surprised.
"There was this guy, found in an alley..."
************************
Commisioner Oné inspected at the remains of what
looked more like a one-sided battle in the alley. The scene
was already cordoned off when he arrived, restricting entry
from curious onlookers, yet the yellow stickers did not in
any way prevent the media from swarming all over the place.
His assistant showed signs of exasperation as she fielded
all the questions by the ever-inquisitive reporters.
He turned around, looking back. The thief was
carted off a stretcher towards a waiting ambulance, mumbling
something about an "angel coming down to heaven to punish
all evildoers" and begged to be thrown to jail, confessing
to over 11 counts of assorted petty crimes.
Looking at the depression on the wall in the shape
of the poor crook, he could understand his condition. If he
hadn't been here at the scene, he would have never believe
it, and would've thought that the guy was insane. **Whoever
did this to him was an incredible fighter**, he thought as
he absently tried pulling off a can imbedded on the concrete
wall.
**Fascinating**. He knew that over a sizeable
number of Nerima's population are martial artists, being
briefed beforehand by his predecessor, but this was a first
for him, being newly assigned just recently.
"Just when I giving up on this boring place, some
excitement finally comes along." He thought out aloud.
"This is going to start getting really interesting..."
He breathed deeply, puffing up his chest and
grinning.
Then he gagged at the stink.
************************
Ranma felt uneasy during dinner. Nabiki wasn't
around, which was not like her. Akane told the rest that
she was out with some friends on some business deal or
something, but that was hours ago. She wasn't even around
for lunch. **She's been like this for weeks now,** he
thought, feeling a little worried. **I hope whatever
business she's into isn't anything illegal...**
And there was this news on the T.V....
Mr. Tendo was silent the whole time, his thoughts
drifting off somewhere. Ranma began to wonder what was it
about the whole incident that made the news report so
special... **Could it have something to do about Nabiki?**
"What's wrong, Mr. Tendo?" Ranma asked.
"That's _father-in-law_, Ranma..." Genma
corrected, whacking Ranma's head.
Ranma punted Genma to the pool in return. "None of
your business, Pops! Butt out!"
>SPLASH!<
The wet Genma-panda held up a sign. [Ungrateful
son...]
"Ranma..." Soun began. "...That thief was
assaulted by a powerful martial artist... the attack used is
somehow familiar..." With that, Soun stood up and hurriedly
left the room.
**Maybe it was Mousse,** he thought. **He won't
mind using anything as a weapon, including garbage... Or it
could be Ryoga practicing a new ki technique...** He looked
at P-chan happily nuzzling Akane.
**Feh. That perverted pig was here the whole
time... both Kunos find it demeaning to use garbage as a
weapon... Ukyou perhaps? Scratch that... Could it be that
Pantyhose is back? Nahh... I bet Cologne has something to
do with this... Ryuu's still busy with his new dojo...**
"Ranma, what are you staring at?" Akane asked,
frowning.
"Huh? Oh, nothing, Akane, nothing."
"I bet you're jealous of P-chan again," She said,
scooping up P-chan as she did so.
"What? Who'd be jealous of that pig, anyway?"
"This jealous..." With that, Akane kissed the pig,
her eyes never taking off Ranma's face. She wanted to see
what his reaction would be.
It was P-chan who reacted first.
P-han squealed, his legs flailing wildly,
then went limp.
"P-chan! P-chan! What's wrong?" Akane cried out
to an unconscious P-chan.
"Huh... looks like _the pig_ couldn't take it..."
Ranma commented, standing up. "I'm going somewhere to
think about this..."
"Baka." Akane said, cradling a stunned P-chan in
her arms.
He stepped out of the living room. **What a stupid
tomboy...** He thought, taking a deep breath. **I wonder
why I ever liked her... Kissing pigs...Feh.** His mind
flashed an image of Akane in her wedding kimono. **Well,
she is kinda cute, sometimes... But not as cute as that girl
I met the other day...**
~Flashback:~
"Akane! Wait up!"
Akane turned around and looked up at Ranma hurrying
up behind her.
"C'mon Akane... You won't have to be angry like
that! I did lose the bento..."
Yeah, right, Ranma... It took be _hours_ to make
the stupid thing, only for you to _lose_ it?"
**Hours? Figures...** "But I did... honest,
Akane..."
"Oh, Ranma... Why can't you appreciate everything
that I've done for you? Anyway, how could you lose a bento
in our own house?"
"Well, I..." Ranma tried to explain, but couldn't.
He couldn't tell her how the packed lunch suddenly grew
eyes, ears, a fluffy tail and six legs, and hopped away
while Akane wasn't looking. **What stuff did she put in
there, anyway?**
"I knew it..." Akane turned away, not waiting for
Ranma to reply. "This is pointless... I'm going or _I'll_ be
late for school."
"Hey, c'mon, stupid... Won't you ever give up?"
Akane suddenly swung her Mallet(tm) at Ranma. "SHUT
UP!!!"
"AAAAAH!" Ranma fell from his perch as he tried to
dodge the mallet (which he was sure wasn't there before) and
dropped right into the canal.
>SPLASH!<
"Stupid kawaiikune..." Onna-Ranma grumbled as she
stood up, sputtering.
"Need a hand?"
Onna-Ranma looked up and saw a young girl looking
back down at him. Akane was nowhere in sight. **Probably
off to school already...** "Uh, yeah, sure..."
"Here..." The girl hold up her hand, which
onna-Ranma accepted. She effortlessly pulled her up.
"Gee... thanks."
The girl smiled, showing flawless teeth. "Don't
mention it."
Onna-Ranma looked closely at her. Her long black
hair flowed down to her shoulders, and some were braided
in several irregular places. She was dressed in a school
uniform that he never saw before, and wore a brown fur scarf
around her neck and draped over one shoulder. **Must be
part of some field trip from out of town...**
Her heart beat wildly as she looked into her eyes.
"Uhh... um... hi."
"Oh, no!" The girl exclaimed. "I'm going to be
late! Well, gotta go! See ya..." With that, she leaped
away, leaving onna-Ranma behind staring at her.
"Wait..." onna-Ranma called out to her. "I didn't
get your name..." **Damn...**
She was gone.
~End of Flashback~
**Could it be her?** Ranma thought.
Ranma's thoughts were interrupted as he noticed
someone in the dojo. **Now who could that be?** he wondered
as his legs slowly took him there.
Peeking inside, he saw Soun praying feverently at
the family shrine.
"..."
***********************
In a darkened place...
He turned off the monitor. Scratching a faint
stubble on his chin, he reflected on the news report he was
watching. He tried to recall something familiar about the
way the thief was postitioned on the wall...
He suddenly stood up, remembering the technique.
**It's her! It's been such a long time, but I'm sure of
it!**
He took out his buzzer and called his henchman. In
a flash, a ninja appeared, clouds of smoke surrounding him.
"What the... Will you stop doing that!" He coughed.
"Sorry, boss..." his henchman apologized, bowing.
"Force of habit. Cool, isn't it?"
"Never mind that."
"Okay..." The henchman grinned, scratching his
head. "What do you wish, boss?"
"Call the others for a moot..."
"Why, boss?"
"She's back."
"Who?"
"The kitsune."
"_HER_? But..."
"Just _do_ it."
"Including..."
"Yes."
The henchman thought for a moment. "OK, boss." he
said, promptly disappearing in a thick cloud of smoke.
"AAARRGH!" He choked, then smiled. **We will
have a fox hunt...**
"Hey," A voice behind him piped out. He
facefaulted, then quickly recovered, turning around to
meet his sister's gaze. "I wanna join too," she said.
"I've been scouting the area, and..."
"No, little one... you are too young..."
"Aw," she pouted. "I'm not a little girl anymore!
I can handle the old lady..."
"The _old lady_ is very dangerous. You saw what
happened in the news..."
"He's just street-trash." She said as she twirled
the braids on her hair. "Besides, I just wanna see with
my own eyes this infamous ninja bitch you fear so much..."
"Not fear... hate."
*********************
As Kasumi readied herself for bed, she found
something under the dresser. **I've never seen this box
before...** She thought, pulling out a dusty old package
that she never noticed before. Blowing off the dust, she
saw that it was wrapped in colorful but faded paper, with
a blue ribbon on top.
**It's a birthday present... I wonder who this is
from?** She found a yellowing card on top of the gift, and
proceeded to read it.
"'To my dear Kasumi: I know this is too early, but
this is for your twenty-first birthday. I hope you would
have grown up by then to fill this out nicely. You will
need it. I love you.'"
She hugged the box to her chest. Tears formed in
her eyes.
"Mother..."
*********************
END OF PART 1
*(Author's Postscript: What do you think? I hope you
enjoy this fanfic. Send C&Cs at maramala@geocities.com
(No flames, please!)
'Till then,
maramala
Coming soon: Kasumi the Fox-Ninja 2 (PREVIEW)
Akane couldn't get the other day's news and her
dad's strange reaction out of her mind. She walked
animatedly on their way to school, ignoring Ranma's
attempts at small talk. They made it to school a little
more earlier than usual without any incident, other than
Ranma getting splashed again with cold water from an
unexpected place at the very last moment.
"DAMN! Why does this things always happen to
me?" Ranma-chan cried out. "Akane, I'll be out for a
while..."
As Ranma-chan went back outside to look for hot
water, Akane took her seat in their classroom. Most of
their classmates were already there, with the boys and
girls forming their own groups to chat about the current
gossips, new fads. Nothing special in particular.
However, she noticed an empty seat where Yuka
usually sat.
"Sayuri..." Akane asked. "Where's Yuka? I
didn't see her anywhere."
"Oh, Akane," Sayuri replied. "Haven't you
heard?"
Akane noticed the change in Sayuri's dispositon.
"What's wrong, Sayuri? Tell me."
"Well, Yuka's parents came around a while ago.
They said that she'll be absent for a few days, a week at
most. She's sick..." She then leaned close to Akane,
whispering, "They gave me a letter from Yuka. She was...
was... raped..."
(
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