Just a Friend
Chapter 3
by Saotendo
Kasumi watched as the tea started to boil. She felt slightly guilty for leaving Ranma alone. She knew tea always helped her feel better and so it would help Ranma too. She felt sorry for Ranma having to go through her first period with strangers that she had met only that day with her. Kasumi remembered how it was for her and her sisters when IT had happened. It was hard enough to explain it to her sisters let alone to someone she had known for just a few hours. Thinking about it made her realize that she was upset and irritated about having to explain something so 'personal' to a stranger. Then Kasumi thought about Ranma's reactions to what Kasumi was telling her and felt pity for the poor girl. *She should've had her mother or other family members around. Why, Ranma's father deserved to be… But then, Ranma's father had died. *
The whistle of the kettle roused her from her reverie. Quickly Kasumi made some tea and added a special herb to Ranma's. *This will help ease her cramps. * Picking up the tray she made her way to the family room. Setting the tray down upon the table, she looked around for Ranma. Seeing that Ranma was not in the room, Kasumi made her way to the entrance of the bathroom. Knocking lightly on the door so she wouldn't frighten Ranma, Kasumi poked her head into the room calling out, "Ranma?" Not seeing her in this room either, Kasumi entered the bathroom searching for the girl. Failing to find the young girl, Kasumi started to get worried. Kasumi sped up the stairs heading straight for Ranma's room. Not knocking this time Kasumi barged into the room. Still no Ranma.
*I knew she was upset, but I didn't think it was anything to be concerned about. I hope that silly girl hasn't gone and done anything stupid. * Kasumi thought to herself. *Now where would she go… Her clothes are still here so she should be also. Maybe she's with Akane or Nabiki. More likely Akane, they seemed to be getting along just fine earlier and maybe she wanted to talk to someone. * With this in mind Kasumi went to Akane's room and knocked on the door. Opening it she asked, "Akane? Have you seen Ranma? I left her to make some tea and now I can't find her."
"No, I haven't seen her. Would you like me to help look for her oniichan?" Akane asked.
"No, I'm sure she's around here somewhere. I'll check the Dojo and Nabiki's room next." Kasumi replied. Continuing down the hall, she quickly checked Nabiki's room without success before making her way outside towards the Dojo. As she neared the Dojo she heard something that made her concentrate before she could identify the sounds.
It was the sound of someone crying.
The mournful sounds of anguish shook her. It was the sound of someone without hope. A lonely forsaken sound that seemed to echo on the night breeze and drift with the wind. The sound of someone who had lost a home, a family, and a purpose. It brought back memories of the night Kasumi found out she had lost her mother and that mother would never be coming back. It was the sobbing of someone with nothing, nothing to gain, nothing to lose. For a moment, Kasumi found herself near tears as she listened. Then Kasumi heard other sounds intermixed with the sobs. Listening closely she could make out the words.
"It's all (sniff) my fault. (sob) No home, no family, no friends, I'm not even me any… (sob) did ya do it because I'm a girl, Pops? (sniff) If I hadn't (sob) Oh Kami-sama, What can I…(sniff) I don't have no one or (sob) …"
Kasumi was horrified. *How could Ranma think that? It's not her fault. Every girl goes through this. That poor girl, all alone…* Kasumi hurried into the Dojo and gathered the red head into an embrace. "There, there now, it's not your fault, Ranma. It's just a fact of life that every girl has to go through in their life." Kasumi attempted to soothe the distraught girl.
"IT'S NOT THAT! Well, not just that, with everything else and that it's just too much. I can't take it anymore. Kasumi, I can't handle being a girl. I'm not… It's impossible I…" Ranma stammered to an end.
"Ranma, I know it's hard, but you see, all of us have to go through this. Just something extra nature gave us. It's the price we pay to have babies." Kasumi said, trying to understand. She and her sisters never had such a hard time coming to grips with their periods.
"Kasumi, you see that's part of it. I'm not a girl. I shouldn't be paying this 'price'. I should be…I've lost my…" Ranma's voice faded.
"Of course you're not a girl anymore. Now you're a woman. This is your body's signal that you're grown now." Kasumi said patiently.
"KASUMI, STOP IT!" Ranma stood up and hugged herself. "Kasumi, let me tell ya a story." Ranma walked over to the door and stood looking outside with her back to Kasumi. "There was a boy once. His greatest desire, his only focus in life, was to be the best martial artist ever. It was hammered into him by his father since the time he was able to understand words. He'd started training towards this goal before he was able to walk even. He went on journeys with his father, oh, let's call them training trips, ok? On these trips, the boy and his father went to different places always seeking out new techniques and methods, whatever would improve the boy's martial arts abilities. The training was not always nice or safe or pleasant, but it had to do just one thing. It had to improve the boy's abilities."
The Dojo was quiet with the exception of Ranma's voice. Kasumi's eyes watched Ranma as if listening to the story had hypnotized Kasumi, similar to a bird that's been entranced by a snake.
Ranma continued her story. "The boy didn't care about the details of the training, he always trusted his father. No matter what his father had done to him. In the interest of his training, of course," she said, in a sarcastic tone of voice. "I won't talk about all the places they went or what they did. Except for what happened when the boy was sixteen." Ranma's head and voice lowered. Kasumi found herself leaning forward to listen to the red headed girl as Ranma spoke softly.
"The two guys, father and son, were in China. They were going to a training ground that hadn't been used in so long that it was almost a legend. It was called Jusenkyo." Ranma paused for a deep breath. "It was here that the boy's life was ruined. Jusenkyo is a valley with lots of water springs dotting the floor of the valley. There are bamboo poles sticking up from each spring. Some springs have more poles in them than others. The object of the training grounds is to make your way from one side of the valley to the other without getting wet. The father and son jumped up on the bamboo poles and started to fight each other on their way across the valley. In doing so, they ignored the guide and what he was trying to tell them." Ranma spoke with an icy, calm voice.
Kasumi moved over to look outside with Ranma. As Kasumi reached the door she glanced at Ranma and almost gasped. Ranma's face was chalky white and she had a distant look in her eyes.
Quietly, Ranma continued. "The boy quickly managed to knock his father into a spring where the father vanished underwater. He, the father, stayed underwater for a long time. Long enough that the boy thought that his father might be drowning. Just as the boy thought about diving in after his father, a panda came leaping out of the spring. The boy heard the guide say, and I quote, 'Ah, sirs is too bad, you fall into spring of drowned panda. Is tragic story of panda who drowned there 1200 years ago. Now whoever falls into spring takes body of panda.'" Ranma even said this last bit in a singsong accent.
"The boy was startled. His father had been turned into a panda? As the boy was thinking about this, the panda attacked. The boy wasn't expecting this. Surely the panda had heard the guide, hadn't he? The boy, being surprised, was knocked into a spring. He came up for air just in time to hear the guide tell him 'too bad, young sirs, you in spring of drowned girl.' Looking at himself, the boy discovered that he was now, indeed a girl. Angry, the boy arose out of the spring and started chasing the panda, his father. The boy chased his father without rest for a couple of days. Then the chase led them to a village. The panda was out of sight of the boy at the time and as the boy caught up to him he found the panda surrounded by villagers. Charging the villagers was the last thing the boy remembers before waking up to find out his father was dead." Ranma lifted her head and shivered as a sob escaped her. "If the boy hadn't chased his father into the village, Pop would still be…"
"It's a nice story, Ranma, but what does it have to do with you?" Kasumi asked.
Ranma's shoulders drooped as she hung her head. In an emotionless voice she said, "Nothing, Kasumi, nothing. I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble, it seems like that's all I do anymore. I think I'll go back inside now. I feel sleepy, ok, Kasumi?"
Kasumi smiled. "Of course Ranma. Sleep is good for you. Here, I'll walk back with you."
"No, no, Kasumi. You go ahead. I want to look at the stars for just a moment longer," a despondent Ranma replied.
Cheerily Kasumi answered Ranma, "OK, don't take too long. I'll wait for you."
"Yes Kasumi," Ranma replied with a dull sounding voice. Looking at the sky and shaking her head, Ranma followed Kasumi towards the house.
The next morning Ranma woke up to find Akane shaking her shoulder. "Come on Ranma, it's time to get up and go to school. If you don't hurry we'll be late. Oh, I left you one of my spare uniforms, we'll go shopping after school and get you one of your own then," Akane said over her shoulder as she turned and left the room.
As Ranma arose to her feet, she felt astounded that Akane was able to get that close to her without her waking up. THAT hadn't happened since Shampoo had started to chase her across China. Reaching down she started to scratch herself before remembering her change. Quickly she was reminded of her problem from the night before as her hand encountered the napkin she had used. Feeling repulsive, she ran for the bathroom.
After she had taken care of her 'problem', Ranma returned to her room. There on the wall was her next big challenge. A dress. A Furinken high school girl's uniform to be precise. This was what she had left now. She couldn't see herself wearing a dress, yet. maybe someday when she was more comfortable with being a girl. She could try to reject her new image, but her thoughts could not be denied. *I'm, I'm not a girl! Only for the rest of my life. No matter what I look like outside, inside I'm still a guy. Yeah, RIGHT! Look at yourself, what guy has a body like this. And I guess each and every other guy needs to use a bra also. Some macho guy you are. You look like a prom queen not the prom king. Why are you wearing that pad? Is it because you're so manly that you need the extra support? Why do you think your Dad isn't here? Because you're so much the man he taught you to be? NO! He probably committed seppeku because he couldn't stand being around his 'manly son'. NOOO!* The anguished wail echoed in her mind. Yet the battle for control of Ranma's psyche continued. *Get it in your head and keep it there! You look like a girl, others look at you and see a girl, YOU ARE NOW A GIRL!! There is no way to go back. You can have babies as a mother not a father. YOU ARE A GIRL, A GIRL. Forever! Regardless of if YOU like it or not.* There was a short pause before the voice in Ranma's head continued. *Now act like the girl you appear to be!
But everyone will just look at me and know that I…
Know what? Even a doctor would say that you where born this way. You can't go back from this point, only forward. NOW GIRL, GET DRESSED AND BE A GIRL!*
This quarrel continued in her head for what seemed like hours with neither side convincing the other. Until Akane stuck her head in the door. "Come on girl. Honestly, Ranma. You need to hurry up and get dressed or we'll be late. Now get a move on. I'll have your stuff ready downstairs."
The intrusion from Akane tipped the delicate balance in Ranma's mind. Resolving the clash within her mind, Ranma stepped towards the wall. With a bitter tear trickling down her face, Ranma reached out and took the dress off the wall.
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Kasumi stood watching as the other girls left for school walking together. Akane and Nabiki were busy discussing what went on in school while Ranma listened in. Turning, Kasumi went to confront her father. She wanted to discuss Ranma's status with him.
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Ranma jumped up on the fence easily keeping up with Akane and Nabiki. Concerned about the reception she would have at the new school, she didn't notice that Akane and Nabiki had stopped until Ranma was several paces beyond the two Tendo sisters. Looking back, Ranma saw the two girls were looking at her with their mouths wide open. "What's wrong? Why'd ya stop?" Ranma asked as she looked down upon the Tendo girls.
"Ranma, what are you doing up there? Don't you know anyone can look up your dress and see your pan… uh, boxers. Get down here right now before someone sees you." Akane said as she looked around to see if anyone was near.
Nabiki asked, "Ranma, why are you wearing boxers? And why aren't you wearing a bra?" All the while, Nabiki was seeing yen signs in her mind. If Ranma was this casual about her body, Nabiki would be able to get all kinds of photos of the red head in many different poses. Now, Nabiki would have to develop a market for the pictures. Who would be most likely to buy pictures of the cute looking red head from her? Tapping her finger against her chin, Nabiki almost missed hearing Ranma's answer.
Hesitantly Ranma answered the questions as best she could, "Uh, I'm sorry. Ah, boxers are all the underwear I have. This is a balance exercise, my Dad taught me that anything can be used for training, and no, I didn't think about someone looking up my dress." With the last sentence, Ranma jumped down to the ground while blushing a furious shade of red. An embarrassed Ranma quietly joined the other two girls.
Both of the Tendo daughters' thoughts immediately turned to the topic of shopping and thus occupied the small group continued towards the school.
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Soun was busy relaxing at the table. He made a pretense of reading his newspaper but his thoughts were far away. He was thinking about the news of his friend, Ranma's father. *It was too bad about my friend, Genma, but I haven't heard from the guy in quite some while. And what about that old scoundrel letting on he had a son. Now what should I do about the Dojo? To keep it in the family and out of the government's hands I need to get one of the girls married. Akane was probably best, she was interested in martial arts.* Then his thoughts were scattered as Kasumi came over to him.
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Standing by her father, Kasumi felt slightly fidgety. Bracing herself she marshaled her arguments and began. "Father! I want you to let Ranma stay here! She needs a home. She shouldn't be on the road," Kasumi forcefully told her father.
"Of course Kasumi, it is the duty of a martial artist to help those in need," Soun Tendo replied with a smile. He was surprised. Kasumi did not usually make demands.
"Father. I mean for as long as she wants. She needs stability. Ranma doesn't need to be out wandering around all over the countryside. That may have been all right when she was with her father, but not now. I want her to feel like a member of the family. Especially since she doesn't have a family." Kasumi paused for a moment. "I thought maybe she could be a member of ours. I think she needs to feel like she belongs somewhere," Kasumi told her father. She thought about telling him about last night and Ranma in the Dojo but decided to keep it to herself. She didn't want Ranma to feel concerned about some else finding out about her crying.
"Yes Kasumi, I agree with you. It's the least we can do for the child of my dear friend, Genma Saotome." Feeling pleased with himself, Soun went back to his paper.
Kasumi was satisfied with her father's statement and went back to her cleaning. Since she had the downstairs finished she headed up the stairs. Now that someone was going to be in the guestroom, uh, Ranma's room, it needed airing out, so she decided to start there.
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Ranma was concerned when Akane plowed into the group of boys. Watching for a moment she noticed the boys were using all kinds of things like hockey sticks and baseball bats in an effort to hit Akane. While Akane seemed to be handling them just fine, Ranma didn't think it very fair for so many to be attacking a single person. And that person was not only a girl but also the only person who had treated Ranma decently since she had arrived from China. Thinking back to the day before and her meeting with the three Tendo girls, Ranma realized that she not only liked Akane, but also considered her a friend. And Ranma knew that she should help her friend. With this thought in her head, Ranma felt the irritated feeling she had awoke with blossom into a full blown case of rage as she entered into the fray. Besides, she needed, no, wanted to hit someone, anyone.
Akane noticed that the press of boys trying to hit her seemed to ease up somewhat. She also noticed an increase in the amount of noise that arose from the schoolyard. When, all at once, she found herself without an opponent; she straightened up and looked around. *Funny, there's usually a lot more than that. And I thought there was the usual amount of boys today. * Then Akane saw it. It was a herd of boys. They were busy stampeding for the school building as if their life was dependent upon reaching it first. Running behind them was a petite, red headed girl. She was screaming at the boys while casually disabling those unfortunates she managed to catch up to. Concentrating, Akane was able to understand what the girl was screaming.
"AAAAARRRRRHHHHHH! How dare you try to hurt Akane? She's MY FRIEND. Ooooooooooohh, I'm going to hurt you guys so bad they'll give ya a frequent user discount at the hospital." With that Ranma streaked into the middle of the pack of boys, casually tossing boys in the air.
Akane watched in horror as the boys piled up on the little red head. She started towards the pile intent upon rescuing her friend. Then, before she could reach it, the pile literally exploded. Boys went flying everywhere. Where the pile had been stood a glowing figure in a girl's uniform. Her hands were clenched into fists as they hung down at her sides. It was the first time Akane had ever seen someone so mad that his or her anger was visible. Unthinking, even Akane took a step back.
Ranma looked around the schoolyard. As she visibly calmed down the glow surrounding her disappeared. As she faced the scene of battle she stated calmly, "And if I catch you guys doing this again," with a slight pause, "I won't be so easy on ya." With a flip of her pigtail, she turned and entered the building.
The schoolyard was silent. Even the students hanging out the windows were quiet as they looked upon a scene that could have come from a war. Then the moans and groans started coming from the injured boys.
Akane watched in stunned disbelief. While she fought the boys every morning, the boys were mostly able to attend class afterwards. Not so today, the boys Ranma had beat would be spending some time at the doctors, some more than others. She watched as one boy came over to her. His arm appeared to be dislocated and he was cradling it gently. At least he seemed to one of those who had suffered less from Ranma's wrath.
"Akane, as of today, I will not fight you again, ever, I swear. Just be sure and tell your friend that, ok?" He told her.
Akane nodded numbly as she stood amidst the wreckage that was left of the gang of boys that had attacked her. Then she felt the presence of the one boy she was expecting, the one that always challenged her after she defeated the others. Tatewaki Kuno. Turning she watched as he stepped out from behind a tree and started to speak.
"Ah, the fair maiden, Akane Tendo, has triumphed over her unworthy foes yet again, proving her worthiness of combating me in all my splendorous eminence. View the scene of devastation that surrounds her and despair, epp, what in the world happened here?" the boy asked, stunned back into the real world by actually seeing what he was describing.
"Oh, uh, hi Kuno. I had a friend who decided to help me today," a stunned Akane replied. "It seems like she used a little more force than I do"
"Wow, is this how she usually acts or is it just that time of month?" Kuno asked as he stared in shock at seeing the destruction in the schoolyard.
"WHAT???" And with that Akane promptly buried her knuckles deep into Kuno's face as she knocked him backward into a tree. "Don't you ever make jokes about any of my friends like that because it is definitely NOT funny!" And with that Akane stomped into the school building.
"Me thinks the beauteous Akane Tendo burns anew with passion for me." And having said that, Kuno passed out.
Upstairs the students that could, immediately went to Nabiki. She was the best source of information in the entire school. If anyone knew anything about this new girl, Nabiki would. And since Nabiki was the sister of the new girl's self-proclaimed friend, it was more likely that she had the information the students wanted to know.
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Humming under her breath, Kasumi was dusting and sweeping in Ranma's room. Even though Ranma had moved into it last night, it showed scant signs of Ranma's presence. Most of Ranma's belongings had been neatly rolled up and were placed by her backpack in a corner of the room. It did show that Ranma had spent a good portion of her life in a tent where there wasn't much room and you might be moving on little to no notice at all. It forced a person to be neat and orderly. After finishing cleaning the room, Kasumi went to the closet to get the dirty clothes. As Kasumi did laundry on a daily basis, it was no problem to add Ranma's to the cleaning.
Opening the closet, Kasumi noticed a couple of things. One, Ranma didn't have many clothes, clean or dirty. Two, most of the clothes were boy's clothes, even to Ranma's choice of underwear. *Well that might have been all right when Ranma lived on the road but now she has a home. She needs some proper clothing. We need to go shopping. And soon.*
The other thing Kasumi noticed was a small pile of items jumbled together in a corner of the shelf. She started straightening into several neat rows when she noticed the signature on a postcard. It was the signature of Genma Saotome. Ranma's father. Turning the card over, she read the message. It was a short note to someone called Nodoka stating,
'The boy and I are fine. We hope to see you soon. Love Genma'
Kasumi looked at the date on the postcard and saw with some surprise that it was dated within the last three months. As she looked at the address on the postcard she gasped. It was an address here in Tokyo. Reaching a decision, Kasumi stuck the card into her pocket. She was going to give Ranma a nice surprise, one that Ranma needed.
Going downstairs, Kasumi hesitated for a moment, then went towards her father. She would confirm her suspicions and then she would call. Standing beside her father, Kasumi was suddenly indecisive. *What if she was wrong? Would this cause more harm than good. NO! A parent should know her child and vice versa.* With a steeling of her nerve, Kasumi asked her father, "Father, do you know a Nodoka Saotome?" Anxiously she awaited his reply.
"It does sound familiar, Kasumi, why do you ask?" Soun answered her question with one of his own.
"Well, I found the name in Ranma's things and thought it might be her mother's name." Said Kasumi.
"You know, I think it is the name of Genma's wife. However it has been a long time since we've heard from her," Soun mused.
"Thank you father," Kasumi said as she rose to her feet. She moved off down the hall. She came to the telephone and reached for the handset. Setting it to her ear, she said, "Moshi, Moshi, directory listing please? Yes, I'd like the number of Nodoka Saotome." Kasumi tapped her foot as she waited then a look of intense concentration came over her face as the operator answered her. With a quick smile Kasumi spoke into the receiver, "Thank you very much. Oh yes, please connect us."
Kasumi waited patiently as the phone at the other end of the line rang. Once. Twice. Three times. Then it was answered. Kasumi listened intently.
"Moshi, moshi, This is Nodoka Saotome," came over the line.
"Saotome-sama, I am Kasumi Tendo. And I have news of your daughter, Ranma Saotome."
A RanmaFan
(Leader of the worshippers of the pig tailed goddess)
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