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[Ranma][FanFic] A Scary Thought - Chapters 3-7

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Wade Tritschler

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Aug 18, 1997, 3:00:00 AM8/18/97

Ranma 1/2
Altered Destinies: A scary thought

%Chapter 3

Ranma tumbled to the ground, just barely avoiding the carp
pond. He flipped back to his feet in frustration and stared at
Kasumi's male form. Kasumi stood ready to continue their sparring
match. Ranma was beginning to curse himself for his slack training.
Kasumi was making a fool out of him. As hard as he tried he couldn't
land a blow.
Ranma looked across the pond at Akane having similar results
sparring with his father. This had all sounded so nice when Kasumi
suggested it. She wanted to restart her morning training sessions
with Ranma's father. That gave his father the idea of expanding
Ranma's training. Then Akane insisted on getting involved. Now
Ranma was questioning whether this was all such a good idea.
To think he was being bested by a girl. Well, actually
Kasumi was a boy at the moment but it was still embarrassing. To add
insult to injury Kasumi wasn't even going all out. He was pulling
every one of his punches and not even bothering to go on the
offensive. And to think he was supposed to marry this show off.
That brought to mind a rather unpleasant image in Ranma's mind of him
and Kasumi together in bed. It wouldn't be that bad except Kasumi
was in her male form.
Ranma quickly shoved aside that thought and launched into
another barrage of punches. Once more Kasumi dodged every one of
them with his usual ease. Ranma wanted to holler out his frustration
but managed to keep his feelings held to just an angry frown.
"All right Ranma. It's time for breakfast." Kasumi said as
he dropped out of his fighting stance. Ranma shot a glance to the
common room and noticed Nabiki placing some food on the table.
Reluctantly Ranma followed suit and walked inside. He'd get even
soon enough.
As Kasumi sat at the table Nabiki, with a slight scowl,
handed her a kettle of water. Kasumi accepted the kettle and changed
back to normal as Ranma examined Nabiki.
"I told you that you should have trained with us." Ranma
said to Nabiki as the others gathered at the table.
"What? What are you talking about?" Nabiki asked in
confusion.
"Well that's why you're mad right? Stuck doing kitchen
duty."
"Ranma, there is nothing wrong with cooking." Nodoka
interjected then turned to Nabiki. "You shouldn't feel like you've
been given a punishment. It is an honor to cook for your family."
"Who said anything about me being mad about cooking?! I'd
much rather be doing that than getting bruises from that stupid
martial arts nonsense." Nabiki protested.
"Then why are you so mad?" Ranma asked.
Nabiki shot Ranma and then Kasumi a quick angry look, and put
one last dish on the table rather roughly. "I'm not mad. It's
nothing. Okay?" Nabiki responded, challenging Ranma with a glare to
open his mouth again.
Ranma shrugged and let the subject drop. Breakfast passed
fairly uneventfully from there and soon Ranma and Akane were on their
way to school, walking in Kasumi's company. Akane fell back a
little, signaling Ranma to do likewise.
"What?" He asked as he joined her.
"I bet you're not so confident now, are you?"
"What are you talking about?" Ranma asked then quickly
realized she was referring to his sparring match with Kasumi. "Ahh,
I was going easy on her."
"Yeah right. You were getting consistently destroyed."
"So what? As if I care."
"Oh sure, you don't care one little bit." Akane
sarcastically replied. "Just don't go around doing something stupid
because of it."
"I'm not that petty." Ranma replied but at the same time
amused himself with a few fantasies. However, he quickly brushed
them out of his mind. He was better than that.
Akane and Ranma's attention was quickly switched to the
school ahead where Kuno stood waiting by the entrance. As Ranma
expected he immediately stepped forward to greet Kasumi. "My dearest
Kasumi, you are well. After what that fiend did yesterday I feared
for your safety."
"Thank you for the concern but there was really no problem.
I really should explain."
Before Kasumi could continue Ranma grabbed her by the arm.
"We should talk for a second." He hinted and Kasumi nodded and
allowed herself to be lead off. "You can't tell him about your
curse."
"And why not?"
"Look, Kuno is a nice guy and all but he has his bad points
too. One is his rather irrational response to things he doesn't
understand. There's no telling how he'll react to learning about
your curse so early on. Give him some time then maybe you can tell
him but for now I'd suggest you keep it to yourself."
Kasumi considered this for a moment then reluctantly nodded.
"Perhaps you're right. Thank you Ranma." Kasumi replied then moved
back over to Kuno who was talking with Akane who was less than amused
with the attention.
Kuno quickly turned his attention back to Kasumi. "My love,
you were about to tell me something?"
"Yes, but it's not really important at the moment. As you
can see I am well."
"Of course and fear not, I shall not be so lack in your
defense in the future. Should that knave appear again I shall most
assuredly bring him to justice. I, Tatewaki Kuno, the Blue Thunder
of Furinken High do so vow this." Kuno raised his bokken
dramatically to emphasis the last point.
"That is a very kind and noble gesture of you but
unnecessary. There was simply a misunderstanding."
Kuno put up his hand to silence Kasumi. "Speak no more for I
know it all. Now, allow me to escort you and your fair sister inside
and-"
Kuno never got to finish his line as Akane punted him into
the stratosphere. Kasumi looked at her sister in disapproval.
"Akane, was that really necessary?"
"In my opinion, yes. He was just going to rant on into
tomorrow. Now let's get going." Akane answered then continued onto
the school. After she shook her head Kasumi followed. Ranma gave
the speck in the sky a brief look. Before he started after the
others he noticed a movement on the roof of the school. He examined
the area closer but saw nothing. He dismissed the event and entered
the school.

On the school's rooftop a figure lay in wait. The temptation
to attack was great but things weren't quite right. No, there had to
be an audience to witness what was to come. The time was near
though, very near.

The day passed much more uneventfully than the previous one
for Kasumi. She was glad for that. Her classes were easy enough,
just assisting the regular physical education teachers. A slightly
more daunting task that she was handed was that of looking over old
incident reports. A whole section of the office was devoted to
storing files on this topic. Kuno was still presenting a problem but
she managed to avoid him for the day. However, how to deal with that
situation was quickly becoming a very problematic question.
As the school day came to an end Kasumi made her way to the
front of the school and began to wait as she had the day before. She
had just noticed her sisters and Ranma when a sudden sense of danger
pushed her into action. She leapt to the side, turning in midair
just in time to notice a large metallic object embed itself in the
pavement where she had been standing. Kasumi landed and scanned the
startled crowd for her attacker.
"Kasumi Tendo! At last I've caught up with you! You won't
be able to run away this time!" A voice called out and a form
dropped to the ground in front of her. Kasumi quickly sized up her
opponent as a crowd gathered around the pair. It was a girl with
long brown hair hanging loosely down to her shoulders. She was
wearing a set of dark brown and purple travel clothes similar to
Kasumi's own but more feminine in appearance. She had the strong
build of a formidable martial artist and judging from her ability to
embed something in pavement was very capable of using that strength.
Then Kasumi realized what the metal object was. A giant metal
spatula?
"What's wrong? At a loss for words?" The girl asked, anger
clear in her voice, as she removed the spatula from the ground.
"Why did you attack me?" Kasumi asked as she cautiously took
up a defensive posture.
The girl's anger seemed only to grow at the question. "Why
did I attack you?! Why did I attack you?! Don't you dare try to
play innocent!"
Kasumi was taken aback by the harshness in the girl's words.
What could she possibly mean? Kasumi didn't remember this girl...
Actually, she did seem vaguely familiar. "Do I know you?" Kasumi
asked.
The girl responded by getting even more angry. "You don't
even remember who I am?!!! You don't remember the person who's life
you ruined?!!!"
The situation was getting quickly out of hand. Kasumi
strained to remember the girl. She had to or things would only get
worse and fighting might be inevitable. Whoever she was it must have
been sometime since Kasumi had last seen her. Then it came to her.
"Ukyo?" Kasumi asked in disbelief, and got an angry frown in
confirmation. "Ukyo, why are you angry with me? I thought we were
friends."
"Oh friends, yeah, sure. Some friend you were! You
destroyed my life and you call yourself my friend!!! Don't insult
me!!! I'm here to get my revenge on you, so you better be ready!!"
Ukyo readied the giant spatula and fell back into a fighting stance.
Kasumi was at a loss. Everything she said just seemed to
make Ukyo more angry. What could she possibly think Kasumi had done
to her to ruin her life? "Ukyo, please, if you would just explain
then maybe-"
"Shut up! I'm sick of your fraudulent niceness. I know what
you did so don't even think of denying it!! You won't fool me!"
Ukyo rushed forward, swinging her spatula as she came. Kasumi leaped
into the air to avoid the blow and to consider her remaining options.
Ukyo, however, wasn't about to let her consider and quickly joined
Kasumi in the air with a new attack. The situation was forced,
Kasumi had to fight back. With a quick motion she kicked out at the
spatula, attempting to knock it from Ukyo's hands. Ukyo surprisingly
managed to block the attack and initiated one of her own as they
landed.
Kasumi dodged away from two more attacks then made another
attempt for the spatula. This time she succeeded in knocking it
loose from Ukyo's grasp but Ukyo pressed on using her fists. Kasumi
twisted away from one set of punches then caught each of Ukyo's hands
as she attempt another.
"Would you please talk to me?" Kasumi desperately asked as
she held Ukyo's hands to the sides.
"NO!" To emphasis the point Kasumi was knocked back by a
knee to her abdomen. "There's nothing to say."
Kasumi got back to her feet as Ukyo retrieved her spatula.
She wouldn't continue this fight. It was senseless. She needed time
to think, to figure out what she had done to make Ukyo so furious.
As she looked around she spotted something that just might do the
trick.
Spatula back in her hands, Ukyo rushed in with a sweeping
slash. Kasumi hopped onto the spatula in mid-strike, used it as a
spring board and leapt over Ukyo. Before Ukyo could recover she was
knocked to the ground as Kasumi used her back as yet another spring
board.
Ukyo pounded the ground in frustration then flipped back to
her feet. However, as she searched the area she could find no sign
of her enemy. "You coward! Come back here!!" Ukyo yelled out
angrily. Other than the crowd's puzzled looks as they too tried to
find Kasumi, Ukyo got no response. "You can't stay away from me
forever! I know where I can find you! If you don't face me before
sunset I'll hunt you down!!" Ukyo yelled out. When she got no
further response she turned and walked off towards the school fields.
Finally the crowd began to break up, Ranma, Nabiki and Akane
searching around for Kasumi. After a few moment they noticed Kasumi,
in her male form, handing a empty sports bottle to a confused
student, thanking him for the loan.
"Do you mind explaining to us just who the heck that was?"
Ranma asked as they approached.

A short time later at one of the local cafes Kasumi, back in
her female form, sat at a table with the others and began her tale.
"It was a short time after mother's funeral that I met Ukyo.
Mr. Saotome and I were already training on our own but at times our
budget was a bit tight. We soon discovered a yatai owned by Ukyo's
father. To help alleviate our economic trouble I agreed to work at
the yatai with Ukyo and her father. The way I remember it Ukyo and I
became good friends. I never got the impression I was angering her.
I guess she might have been disappointed that she could not finish
that cooking contest they had just before we left."
"Cooking contest?" Akane asked.
"It was a contest held by one of the local restaurant owners.
Everyone in the area who was a skilled cook and martial artist
participated. One particular grouping matched all the children
against each other. I originally wasn't participating but Ukyo was
having some difficulty in her quarter-finals match so her father
asked me to take her place. I know she wished to continue but I
can't see that alone leading to all this anger towards me."
Akane nodded in agreement. "I kind of doubt that too but she
is certainly ticked off at you. Did you or Mr. Saotome do anything
else before you left?"
Kasumi thought hard. It would be just like Genma to do
something that would cause this kind of anger but nothing happened
that she could recall. "No, we left the next day to continue our
training."
"Well, you got one very angry girl on your hands who isn't
about to go away. What are you going to do?" Ranma asked.
"I suppose I have no other choice but to face her. If I
could just get her to tell me-"
"She doesn't exactly seem overly willing to have a pleasant
conversation and discuss things."
Kasumi let out a sigh and nodded. Once more it looked like
she was forced to face someone's challenge. She could still remember
the results of other such incidents. She dearly hoped this one
didn't follow the pattern.

The Furinken High soccer field was surrounded by a large
crowd, all intent on seeing the coming match between Ukyo and Kasumi.
Ukyo paced back and forth impatiently at one end of the field,
waiting for her opponent to show up. Murmurs from the crowd caused
her to stop and spot Kasumi walking onto the field.
"It's about damned time! Let's get this over with." Ukyo
said as she removed her spatula from her back and readied it.
"Ukyo, I don't want to fight you. Whatever I did to you, I'm
sorry. I never meant to hurt you."
"Sorry?! Sorry doesn't make up for the mess you've turned my
life into!" Ukyo replied angrily then set herself in a combat
stance. Kasumi shook her head then reluctantly did likewise. Ukyo
was determined to have a fight. Well, if Kasumi could keep this
short she might just avoid anyone getting hurt. The two began
examining each other for an opening.
Off at field side Akane and Ranma sat down to observe.
Nabiki soon joined them, counting a large wad of bills. Akane soon
noticed this and glared at her sister. "Nabiki! You didn't?!"
"And why not?" Nabiki asked but a battle cry from Ukyo cut
off any response.
Kasumi dodged away from a downward slash from Ukyo's spatula.
She responded with a leg sweep. Ukyo back-
flipped over the sweep and as she returned to her feet blocked a kick
with one of her own. Kasumi tried to slip through a strike to a
nerve center but Ukyo seemed to know it was coming and moved just
enough to have the blow hit off target.
"Don't think you're going to win this fight with those dumb
tricks." Ukyo taunted as she withdrew for a second. Suddenly she
drew several small metal spatulas from her shirt and threw them at
Kasumi. Kasumi managed to dodge these at the expense of her shirt's
sleeve.
This wasn't looking good. Kasumi tried twice more to slip
through with a critical point blow but each time Ukyo countered. As
she blocked a series of attacks from Ukyo Kasumi considered the
situation. She really didn't want this fight, and she certainly
didn't want to hurt an old friend. However, if she expected to make
it through this in one piece she might have to. She had one option
left, fight on and hope she could exhaust Ukyo enough that she'd be
open to talk.
Kasumi dodged past Ukyo's spatula, grabbed it then directed
two kicks at Ukyo, knocking her down and forcing her to release the
weapon. Kasumi threw the spatula off to the side and prepared to
continue as Ukyo recovered and flipped back to her feet. Kasumi
dashed in, ready to deliver a set of kicks that would hopefully keep
Ukyo down. Unfortunately, as Kasumi kicked out, Ukyo pulled
something else out of her shirt and blocked. A clang of metal was
heard.
Kasumi hopped back, her foot surging with pain. She looked
over at Ukyo to notice her holding a wok with a foot shaped dent in
it.
"A wok?! I though you were into Okonomiyaki." Kasumi said
as she tested her injured foot.
"I diversified. Here, have a cake!" Ukyo pulled out and
threw, well, a cake. Kasumi let out a startled yell and managed to
roll to the side, avoiding it. However, Ranma wasn't so lucky and
got stuck directly in the face by the flying dessert.
"Ranma, aren't you supposed to be a martial artist." Akane
teased.
"Shut up!" Ranma replied in annoyance as he wiped icing off
his face, tasting a little bit of it. "Not bad actually."
Kasumi looked over at Ranma in sympathy, not noticing Ukyo
stepping up behind her. Suddenly Kasumi found her wrist bound by a
handcuff. She spun to face Ukyo who locked the other end of the
handcuffs to her own wrist.
"This time you won't be running off. Now, let's finish
this." Ukyo pulled a rolling pin out and tried to bring it down on
Kasumi's head. She caught the kitchen tool and countered with a
punch. The punch connected with Ukyo's shoulder and Kasumi followed
up with a hook kick, throwing Ukyo to the ground. Before Ukyo could
fully recover Kasumi used the metal wire connecting the handcuffs to
bind Ukyo's arms to her sides.
"Now, are you going to calm down and talk or am I going to
have to knock you out?" Kasumi asked as she hauled Ukyo back to her
feet.
Ukyo finally ceased her struggles and just glared angrily at
Kasumi. Just as Kasumi began to ease up, however, Ukyo tossed a bag
of flour into her face with her foot. Kasumi recovered but found
Ukyo grabbing up her spatula then jumping up onto the fence. Still
bound by the cuffs, Kasumi was forced to follow after her.
"Looks like this fight is going on the road." Ranma said as
he jumped to his feet and began to race after the two combatants.

Ukyo dodged away from a kick from Kasumi, jumping down into a
nearby street. As Kasumi descended to meet her Ukyo spun to face her
and lashed out with a kick of her own but had her leg caught. "Ukyo,
this is crazy! You're going to get one of us seriously hurt if you
keep this up." Kasumi said as she sent Ukyo tumbling backwards with
a push on her caught limb.
Ukyo rolled out of the tumble then sprang into the air,
tossing a spray of tempura flakes down on Kasumi. Kasumi shielded
her face then looked down at the flakes in confusion after nothing
happened. This allowed Ukyo enough time to light a match and throw
it down into the flakes. The resulting explosion created a dust
cloud concealing the whole area.
Just then Ranma and Akane arrived to see Ukyo stepping out of
the cloud with the connecting wire of the handcuffs hanging loosely
at her side. However, before either could jump to a wild assumption
Kasumi, slightly worse for wear, stumbled out of the cloud and faced
off with Ukyo.
"Are you still standing?!" Ukyo asked angrily as she renewed
her attack. Kasumi blocked and countered with a kick, sending Ukyo
lurching back.
As Ukyo and Kasumi continued to battle several other people
ran up. "Who's winning?" Nabiki asked as she joined Ranma and
Akane.
"They're pretty evenly matched from what I've seen." Ranma
responded then stepped to the side to avoid Ukyo as she fell to the
ground.
The crowd backed away as Ukyo recovered and returned to her
feet, covering her right eye with her hand. "Great, just great!"
Ukyo shouted angrily as she uncovered her now red eye. "Oooooh, now
you're really going to pay."
"If you'd tell me what this is all about-" Kasumi began.
"What this is all about?! I'm sick of you playing innocent!"
Ukyo replied, rushing in with a slash from her spatula.
"Is this about that cooking contest?" Kasumi asked as she
dodged away.
Ukyo finally stopped for a moment. "That contest was just
one of many humiliations you handed me!"
"It seems sis has been hiding stuff from us." Nabiki quietly
commented to Akane and got a scowl in response.
Before Kasumi could respond Ukyo continued. "I tried to be
civil, I tried to be nice and what did it get me? Nothing. You got
all the praise! You got all the attention! Even my own father
couldn't stop talking about you!! It was like living in the shadow
of some perfect goddess!!! No matters what I did I was always second
best to you!!!! It was driving me insane!" Ukyo roared out in
growing frustration.
"More like drove if you ask me." Nabiki whispered but went
unheard.
"I... I never knew anything about this." Kasumi managed to
reply after a moment.
"Hmph! Yeah sure. I might have believed that at one time
but not after what you did to me."
Kasumi shook her head in confusion. "What... I don't
understand."
Ukyo responded with an annoyed laugh. "You must think I'm a
complete idiot, or blind. I saw you Kasumi, so just drop this damned
innocent act. You may be fooling them but you'll never fool me
again."
Various members of the crowd looked at each other and the two
fighters in confusion. Kasumi could only stand confused and stunned.
Ukyo took advantage of Kasumi momentarily inaction to pull out
another large handful of tempura flakes. "I'm ending this right
now!" Ukyo shouted as she threw the flakes at Kasumi along with a
lit match.
Kasumi, however, was ready for the attack in time to avoid
the explosion as Ukyo grabbed another handful of the flakes With a
look of grim determination Kasumi turned on Ukyo and rushed her.
Ukyo managed to dodge two punches, dropping the flakes in the
process, but when she raised her spatula to block a roundhouse she
came back holding only a handle. As Ukyo stared at her broken weapon
in shock Kasumi continued on and landed two more blows, one causing
the younger girl to partial crumble to the ground.
Kasumi withdrew for a second, hesitating, allowing Ukyo to
recover and leap to the rooftops and run off. Kasumi took a second
to catch her breath.
"Just let her go Kasumi." Akane said as she rushed to her
sister's side. "You're just going to get yourself hurt fighting
her."
"If I don't fight her now she'll just find me later. We have
to settle this." Kasumi replied then leapt to the rooftops to
pursue, leaving the crowd behind.

Kasumi scolded herself for this whole mess as she raced after
her one time friend. She should have seen Ukyo's anger all those
years ago. Now it was ingrained and was going to be that much harder
to correct. And what was this other thing she was talking about?
She'd hadn't seen Ukyo since the contest. What could she possibly
mean?
She saw Ukyo jump down to the river side street and make for
a bridge. Kasumi couldn't let her get away. Ukyo had kept this
fight relatively up front but her next attack could very well leave
Kasumi in severe danger. Kasumi sprang high into the air and landed
directly in front of Ukyo on the bridge.
Ukyo immediately dropped back into a fighting stance and
struck out with spinning roundhouse kick. Kasumi caught Ukyo's leg
and swept her other one, dropping her to the ground. However, Ukyo
reacted quickly and kicked out at Kasumi, catching her on the
shoulder, as she fell. Kasumi stumbled back to the bridge railing
then reset her stance as Ukyo recovered.
"Ukyo, I honestly don't know what-" Kasumi began in one last
attempt to talk Ukyo out of this.
"Shut up! I won't listen to you anymore!!" Ukyo yelled out
and jumped in with a flying kick. Kasumi parried the attack with her
arms but the force of the blow threw her off balance. Ukyo landed
and spun into another kick. Kasumi grabbed the kick but was thrown
further off balance and tipped right over the rail. Both girls let
out a startled yell as they tumbled together into the water below.
Kasumi felt her curse take effect as she hit the water. This
would complicate things. However, as Kasumi righted himself and
resurfaced he found Ukyo to be no where in sight. Kasumi waited a
moment longer then decided to dive and try to find her. After a
minute he resurfaced and dove again. He searched for as long as he
could hold his breath but couldn't find anything. Once back above
water Kasumi scanned the area but could find no sign of Ukyo.
After searching one last time with no success Kasumi swam to
shore where Akane and Ranma had just arrived.
"What happened?" Akane asked as she and Ranma helped Kasumi
out of the water. "Where did Ukyo go?"
"I don't know. We fell in the water and she disappeared.
She must have gotten away somehow." Kasumi responded as she again
searched the surroundings for any sign of Ukyo. Ranma and Akane did
likewise for a moment but quickly gave up.
"Well, nothing you can do about it now. She'll show up."
Akane said as she began to make her way back to the road. After a
moment Kasumi nodded and followed his sister.

Hidden in the shadows behind the bridge support Ukyo watched
Kasumi and the others leave with an anger she could barely keep in
control. There is no justice, she wanted to scream out, I change
into this and she changes into... THAT! Ukyo glared with even more
anger at her old `friend'. This wasn't the end. Oh no. She was
going to make Kasumi pay... as soon as she could find some hot water.

%End Chapter 3

Okay, that's chapter 3. Chapter 4 is on it's way and it's
going to get wild. C&C is very welcome. Still don't know how long
this is going to be, sorry.
One note: You may have noticed two things about Ukyo. One
she is dressing feminine. Two, she seems awfully good at Mousse's
style. The first is just due to the different timeline. The second,
well actually I've seen Ukyo pull out a very large portable grill,
propane tank and all, from no where so cakes, woks, rolling pins, and
spatulas aren't a big jump.
If you wish to check out my other works look at:
http://www.mala.bc.ca/~tritscwa
I'm presently off for the summer so don't expect my webpage
to be too recent,
I have no home ftp service (sympatico is pitiful but it's free
so...).
Bye for now.

Ranma 1/2
Altered Destinies: A scary thought

%Chapter 4

Ukyo watched the Tendo residence from the rooftop of a nearby
house. Night had fallen and rain was now trying it's best to get her
wet. Fortunately she'd had the presence of mind to get herself an
umbrella.
Blast this damnable curse! She could never live a normal
life again. Her life was ruined, plain and simple, all thanks to
Kasumi. Ukyo felt her rage grow once more at just the thought of her
target. Kasumi would pay. It was that one goal that kept Ukyo
going. Without that she had no doubt that she would have broken down
by now.
The last lights winked out signaling that it was time to act.
Ukyo checked her gear. She had to get her spare battle spatula and
replace a number of her smaller weapons but she was prepared.
Tonight was the night Kasumi would meet her fate.
Ukyo waited another half hour then leapt into action.

Kasumi was awakened from her sleep by the sound of the window
creeping open. She held her position, keeping up the appearance of
sleep. She listened carefully as the intruder quietly walked over to
her and stopped. Kasumi could almost feel the anger emanating from
the prowler. She knew exactly who it was. Thankfully Kasumi was
ready.
"Wake up you-" Ukyo began but in one lightning quick motion
Kasumi knocked Ukyo to the floor. Kasumi flipped to her feet and
prepared to launch an attack at Ukyo's prone body. However, Ukyo
reacted faster than Kasumi expected and flipped backwards to her feet
as well. The two girls faced off.
"Ukyo-" Kasumi started to say, keeping her voice low.
"Don't you even start." Ukyo shot back, also keeping her
voice low, and thrust a kick at Kasumi. Kasumi caught Ukyo's foot
and held it, keeping Ukyo off balance.
"It's just the two of us Ukyo." Kasumi pleaded. "Don't you
see, I really don't know what this is about. You said I did
something, but what?"
Ukyo tore her foot free from Kasumi's grasp and backed off a
pace. "So, you're determined to keep up this little sham of yours,
huh? Well, I'm sick of listening to it."
"Then tell me what I'm supposed to have done."
Ukyo glared at her enemy for a moment then with an angry
breath replied. "Fine, I'll refresh your conveniently forgetful
memory. What was it, a bit over a month ago?" Ukyo slyly asked but
got no response. "Well, it was something like that. I'd chased you
all the way to China."
Now things started to fall into place for Kasumi. China
meant Jusenkyo. Ukyo's mysterious disappearance during their last
fight could mean only one thing. "Oh Ukyo, you didn't go to
Jusenkyo, did you?" Ukyo frowned furiously in response, like it was
a dumb question. "But why? Why were you following me?"
"To prove myself, that's why. All I wanted to do was prove
that I was just as good or better than you, that's all, but I see I
was being a fool. You didn't just mess my life up accidentally. You
did it on purpose. What you did at Jusenkyo proved that to me."
Kasumi was totally shocked. "How can you possibly-"
"How?! Damn you! Can't you stop mocking me?!" Ukyo asked
with more anger than ever. "You pushed me into that spring!! You
ruined my life and you did it just to get a laugh!!!"
Kasumi was stunned and confused. It was a mistake. Ukyo
must have mistaken whoever had done this for Kasumi. She would never
have done that, and surely she would remember it if she had.
However, she now fully understood Ukyo's anger. This didn't leave
many avenues for a peaceful ending to this problem.
To confirm that Ukyo launched into a furious assault,
evidently pushed on by the memory of the incident. "My life is
destroyed!!" She shouted as she chopped down at Kasumi with her
spatula, breaking several floor boards when she missed.
Kasumi wanted so much for this all to be some bad dream, but
reality in the form of Ukyo allowed no such delusions. Forced by the
circumstances she did the only thing she could do.
Kasumi twisted into a hard crescent kick, trying to once more
break Ukyo's weapon. Ukyo dodged the blow then used her spatula's
handle to sweep Kasumi's legs. Kasumi rolled backwards away from a
follow-up and flipped back to her feet. She silently cursed herself
as she dodged another attack, realizing that this noise would wake
everyone up. Then she cursed herself again for having her priorities
so out of whack. The very real possibility of bodily harm to herself
was more important than a little sleep for the others.
Kasumi went onto the offensive, striking with a complex
series of kicks and punches designed to force Ukyo back to a wall.
However, to Kasumi's surprise she stepped on something and found
herself falling backwards. In the dark Ukyo had somehow managed to
silently drop several rolling pins in Kasumi's path. Ukyo took
advantage of this and leapt in, ready to strike down at Kasumi with
her spatula.
She didn't quite make it. Suddenly she screamed out in equal
parts shock and pain as something jumped onto her face. Kasumi
rolled to the side and Ukyo crashed to the ground, desperately trying
to remove the thing that was attached to her face with what felt like
fish hooks. In the dark Kasumi couldn't make out what it was but she
was glad for the intervention. Kasumi got back to her feet and
prepared to continue.
With a yell of fury Ukyo finally detached what ever it was
from her face and threw it directly at Kasumi. Kasumi was ready,
however, and caught it. It was fury, wet, and from the way it
twisted in her hands obviously alive. It took only one sound for
Kasumi to realize fully what she was holding. "Meow."
Every fiber of Kasumi's being suddenly panicked. A cat. A
cat!!!! All her muscles tensed beyond their normal limits. Her mind
clouded over with uncontrollable fear. She had to get away. She
_must_ get away! With a scream of shear terror Kasumi tossed the cat
into the air and ran as hard as she could. The fact that Ukyo and a
wall was in her way didn't matter. She had to go, now!
Ukyo managed to let off a startled cry but little else as
Kasumi plowed through her and then the wall on her way to the
outside, on her way to anywhere, as long as it was
away from the terrible, dreadful c.... thing behind her. Kasumi ran,
and ran, and ran, and ran some more. Her lungs were on fire but she
didn't care, she just kept running. Finally the panic began to
subside and Kasumi's mind started to operate once more. She quickly
realized she was actually now a he, the rain having caused her
transformation. He stopped and dragged in several deep breaths,
pushing away the last pieces of his fear. He turned and raced back
to the house.

Akane was the first to reach Kasumi's room. She opened the
door and looked in to see a large segment of the wall missing and the
window open but no one inside. She took a step inside to search and
nearly tripped. When she looked down she spotted a rolling pin.
"Ukyo." Akane said aloud as the others finally joined her.
"What happened here?" Ranma asked in amazement as he walked
over to the destroyed wall.
Akane picked up the rolling pin and showed it to him. "Looks
like Ukyo wasted no time in coming back."
Nodoka picked up another of the rolling pins. "We'd better
start searching for Kasumi. She may be in danger."
"Don't bother, I see her... him, whatever." Ranma said as
he looked out the opening in the wall. "He looks fine. Doesn't look
like Ukyo is with him either."
Nodoka walked over to Ranma and looked out as well to see
Kasumi-kun running up the street towards the dojo. "Very well then.
You children go back to bed, we'll fix this wall." Akane, Ranma and
Nabiki reluctantly nodded and headed back off to their rooms while
Soun, Genma and Nodoka headed off to fetch some wood and tools.

Kasumi came to a stop on the street next to the house. He
looked over by the wall and noticed something that confirmed what
Ukyo had said, her clothes. Kasumi let out a sad sigh and walked
over to retrieve them. Kneeling to the ground, he picked up the
clothes and looked them over. They had a number of pockets
containing all manner of cooking tools, everything bound with Velcro
connections for quick, easy removal. However, he found no sign of
life inside.
A growl caught his attention. He turned to look into the
eyes of large gray dog just a few feet away. The dog's ears were
held back, a snarl on it's lips and challenge plain in its stance.

A few minutes later Kasumi walked into the house with the
bound dog over his shoulder. There had been no point in taking
risks. Ukyo was infuriated enough to try anything. Kasumi had made
it quick, easily defeating the animal with a simple pressure point
attack. Now Kasumi had the difficult task of convincing Ukyo that
she was mistaken about who cursed her.
Kasumi made his way to the bathroom and laid the restrained
animal on the floor. "Now Ukyo, I understand how hard it is to have
a curse, but you have to believe me when I say that I didn't do this
to you. It must have been someone else." The dog seemed not to
listen. "I know how embarrassing this can be. I promise, on my
honor, that I won't tell anyone." The dog still didn't respond in
any way. It just maintained the angry glare directed at him.
A startled yell from upstairs caught Kasumi's attention. It
was Akane, and she sounded scared. Kasumi looked down at the dog
then to the door. He made a quick choice and quickly turned to
leave. "I'll be right back." Kasumi said as he left.
Kasumi rushed upstairs to Akane's room, passing Ranma as he
came from his room, and found Akane standing in the middle of the
room holding her practice sword. "What is it Akane?" Kasumi asked
as she joined her.
"Something was in my room. I think I got rid of it though."
Akane replied, gesturing toward the open window. "I knocked it over
that way when it jumped me."
A slight shiver went through Kasumi as he realized just what
it might have been. Kasumi gave the room a quick nervous look but
sensed nothing. "Probably did. I think a... c... c... cat got into
my room. It probably just wandered in here." Kasumi said nervously.
"A cat?! Oh that poor thing. I didn't mean to hit it. It
just frightened me." Akane said and lowered her weapon and began to
look around herself.
"I... got something to do." Kasumi said as she turned and
quickly started to leave.
"Is their some problem? Did you find Ukyo?" Akane asked.
"Ahhh, sort of. I'll tell you later." Kasumi rushed out of
Akane's room and into the hall. He then took in a deep calming
breath before continuing. The mere prospect of being near a cat was
almost too much to bear. Damn that cat-fist training. Yet another
stupid mistake he... well, she at the time, had made. What was she
thinking when she agreed to that?! What was Mr. Saotome thinking?!
Oh well, that was a very old matter now.

Ranma had just gotten comfortable in his bed when Akane had
yelled out. With a groan of annoyance he had gotten out of bed and
gone to see what this problem was. He had gotten as far as the hall
when he saw Kasumi-kun rush into Akane's room. After a second of
relative silence Ranma had concluded it was nothing serious.
However, he was up and he needed a drink so he headed
downstairs. The whole house was still feeling the chill from the
rather large gap in Kasumi's wall so Ranma decided to make himself up
some tea. He had just put the kettle on and got a cup from the
cupboard when he heard some rustling from the bathroom. He put his
cup down on the kitchen counter and cautiously approached the
bathroom.
Ranma opened the door as quietly as he could, determined to
take the intruder by surprise. However, he was the one surprised
when a large gray form tackled him. Ranma crashed to the ground and
found himself the object of the angry glare of a large wet dog. It
growled but suddenly stopped, its ears pointing into the air as if
confused, then looked around. After a moment it stepped off of
Ranma.
Ranma's mind was a mix of emotions. He was of course a bit
startled and even a little scared but he was also very excited. He'd
never seen anything like this dog. It wasn't just big, it was
fearsome, yet Ranma got the feeling it was actually rather tame.
This was like a dream come true. Soun and his mother had never let
him have any pets, saying they were too much trouble and too
expensive. However, Ranma wasn't about to let that get in his way.
A man's perfect pet had quite literally jumped out at him and he
couldn't just let this chance go away.
Ranma rolled up to his knees and watched the dog as it
examined it's surroundings. He quickly noticed it was a bit roughed
up, and that it didn't have a collar so if he could coax it along it
was his. "Hey boy." Ranma said causing it to turn and look at him,
its ears held slightly back as if cautious. "Or is that girl?"
Ranma asked the animal as he edged a bit closer. "Girl, I think."
Ranma said. The dog responded with a slight growl.
Ranma tensed up then relaxed when the dog did nothing more.
"You know, I never seen anything like you before. Too bad you're all
wet." Ranma slowly got up and reached into the bathroom for a towel.
"I bet you look real good when you're aren't soaked." The dog
blinked, looked confused for a second then returned to its cautious
expression. Ranma came back holding the towel then beckoned the
animal to come closer. "Come on. I promise, I won't hurt you or
nothing. Come on."
The dog looked at Ranma warily, but moved a little closer.
Finally Ranma decided to risk going to it. After a second of tension
Ranma managed to edge himself close enough to touch the beast. She
seemed almost as nervous as Ranma, as he began to delicately dry her
off. For a moment Ranma was afraid she would bolt but then she
started to relax and seemed to be enjoying his attention.
"Now, all nice and dry. See, nothing to worry about." Ranma
said as he finished and sat back to examine the now dry animal. His
guess was right, this dog was just magnificent. Matter of fact, it
was quite unusual, he never seen any dog quite like this one.
Ranma could hear some talking by the top of the stairs. It
was too soon for anyone to know about this. He needed some time to
think up a good reason to keep his new pet. "Come on, we don't want
them knowing about you quite yet." Ranma said as he started to walk
down the hall, signaling for the dog to follow him.

Kasumi-kun finished apologizing for the damage to his room
then headed downstairs to deal with the cause of all of this. He
walked into the bathroom and almost immediately noticed the chewed
through bonds. He also noticed a partially open window. He let out
a sigh. Ukyo had gotten away, again. This was just terrible.
Kasumi shook his head then closed the window. He'd just have
to deal with this later. It would likely take Ukyo some time to
change back so Kasumi was probably safe for the night. Kasumi
decided to take a bath, to change back, to ease his tension, and to
pass the time till the hole in his room was fixed.
As Kasumi lay in the hot water, attempting to relax, her mind
turned to Ukyo's accusation. She was about to dismiss it as an
unfortunate case of mistaken identity when her mind caught on
something. All through her bath her mind had been switching back and
forth between her most recent fight and her memories of Jusenkyo. Now
something
seemed to merge in the two separate instances. She tried to lock
down the feeling and then realized why it felt familiar. It was that
look on Ukyo's face, the sound she had made when Kasumi had run right
into her during her cat panic. It gave Kasumi a disquieting feeling
of deja vu.
She searched her memories for the cause of the feeling and
found her answer after a minute or so of thought. It was that dream,
or more precisely the memory of something that happened at Jusenkyo.
She'd been scared out of her mind when a cat had jumped into her
arms. Kasumi remembered that and that she and run into a few things
during her panicked attempt to escape her worst fear. At the time
she was thankful she hadn't run into any springs. When she was in
that state nothing mattered. Her mind simply didn't function.
However, she also had the distinct memory of someone crying out in
surprise followed by a splash of water.
Overwhelming guilt slammed into Kasumi when she put the
pieces together. She had originally thought that was herself crying
out or just some panicked induced delusion but that wasn't the case.
It wasn't her crying out, and it wasn't a delusion either, it was
Ukyo. She could remember Ukyo's face clearly now that she tried.
She had run right into Ukyo and knocked her into that spring.
Ukyo was right after all. Kasumi had knocked her into the
spring. Of course Ukyo had no idea about the circumstances
surrounding the incident. All she saw was Kasumi, probably looking
crazed and out of her mind, rushing at her and knocking her into the
spring then running off.
Perhaps she could explain about the cat. No, Ukyo was just
too mad and Kasumi had no real proof. She'd just think Kasumi was
making up some story. Kasumi could see no way out of this situation.
Why was her luck so bad?
After drying off and getting dressed Kasumi headed back up to
her room. She thanked her father and the Saotomes for the repair and
apologized once more for the trouble but they seemed to be
understanding of her plight. She took a moment to examine the damage
and repairs herself and was about to close her door and try getting
back to sleep when Ranma came out of his room.
He looked a little nervous when he noticed Kasumi, but after
a second of consideration spoke. "Ahh, Kasumi, can I talk to you for
a sec?"
"Certainly. What can I do for you Ranma?" Kasumi asked as
she walked over.
"Well, ahh, I got a little favor to ask you. I need you to
keep a secret for me."
"What secret?" Kasumi asked.
"Just swear to me you won't tell anyone." Kasumi considered
for a moment. Ranma was nervous about this but what could it
possibly be? Nothing serious most likely. He had probably just
broken something and was afraid to tell.
It had been a long day and Kasumi was tired. It was probably
something minor anyway and even if it wasn't she probably could
convince him to reveal whatever it was himself. "Very well, I swear
I won't tell anyone."
"Okay then. You see, I found this dog downstairs. She must
have climbed in through a window or something to get out of the rain.
Mom and Mr. Tendo won't let me have pets but I think I can convince
them to change their minds. All I need is some time. You
understand, right? Don't worry, I'll keep her in my room till I'm
ready to tell them."
Kasumi looked at Ranma in shock. Of all the rotten luck,
Ukyo was still here and Ranma had mistaken her for a normal dog.
Kasumi was about to tell him about the curse but she managed to stop
herself. She'd made an honorable promise. She couldn't just go back
on it now. She'd just have to deal with this some other way. She
put up a calm face and reluctantly nodded.
"Great! I'm going to go get her something to eat. Could you
watch her for a sec?" Ranma rushed off before Kasumi could respond.
All the better, it gave Kasumi the chance to talk with Ukyo
discretely about this.

Ukyo had heard the whole conversation from inside. She was
actually surprised that Kasumi didn't say something but she had made
an honorable promise. Well, at least honor meant something to that
untrustworthy pretender. However, Ukyo knew Kasumi would try
something. All the better, Ukyo was prepared.
Just as she heard Ranma walking off Ukyo rushed over to the
nightstand where Ranma's tea cup, still half full of hot liquid, sat.
She tipped it over, splashing herself with the contents, and, having
changed back to her human form, she waited to spring at Kasumi as she
entered.
As expected Kasumi was surprised when attacked by a human
rather than a dog and Ukyo managed to pin her opponent to the wall.
Her advantage didn't last long. Kasumi struck quickly, sending Ukyo
tumbling to the floor. She was about to jump back to her feet and
continue the fight but she realized it was pointless. She was
disarmed and even with her weapons Kasumi had proven a match for her.
"Ukyo, what do you think you're doing?" Kasumi asked after a
second.
"Getting my revenge on you, that's what." Ukyo replied as
she got off the floor. "And what are you here for, to gloat or try
to keep up this innocent act?"
"I'm really sorry Ukyo. I never meant to do this to you. It
was an accident. You have to believe me." Kasumi replied, trying
her best to be sincere.
"No I don't." Ukyo shot back. Kasumi had fooled her all
those years ago into thinking she was a friend then used that
position to take everything Ukyo held dear. She wasn't falling for
that act again. Never again. "If you told me the sky was blue I'd
make sure to look for myself. You destroyed my entire life-"
"Aren't you exaggerating a little?"
"No, I'm not! You have no idea of the torment I've gone
through because of this curse. Do you have any idea of the sheer
terror that goes through someone's mind when they come out of a pond
to find they now have the body of a _dog_?!" Ukyo asked, her anger
barely in check. "As if that wasn't bad enough, some whacked out
Chinese guy tricked and locked me up. Do you know what he was going
to do?!! He was going to shoot me then serve me up as some sort of
Korean entree!! If I hadn't escaped... I didn't even know I could
change back. I went through a whole week trapped in that damned
form. I only found out because of a stupid accident in the middle of
a crowded public street!!!" That had been such a drastic see-saw of
emotions. First, absolute joy that she was human again. Then
complete, utter and total humiliation when she noticed about a
hundred people staring at her because of her lack of any clothing.
She had just wanted to turn herself into a little ball, crawl into
some small dark corner and cry.
Ukyo shuddered at the memory then stared at Kasumi, feeling
the sudden urge to strangle her. "Because of you I'm a dog! A
_dog_! How can I ever live that down?! Did you pick that spring on
purpose, just to get a laugh?! Ukyo the dog, the mutt, the bowwow,
the hound. I've even been called a bitch! A _bitch_! It's all
because of you." Ukyo accused, her hands shaking with her growing
fury.
Kasumi stood silently for a moment, enduring Ukyo's verbal
attack, unable to respond. "I'm sorry." She finally managed to get
out after a minute.
Ukyo almost wanted to laugh. "Sorry?! Sorry?! That doesn't
even come close."
"Then we'd best solve this at another time. You should
leave."
"Leave?! No way. There's no way I'll leave you under the
same roof as Ranma without protecting him."
Kasumi looked shocked. "What?! I would never-"
"I wouldn't put anything past you. He's the first person to
treat with me some respect, with... kindness... with..... There's no
way I'm going to let him be lured in by your tricks. You stay away
from him, you hear me!"
"Ukyo, you can't just take advantage of him-"
"I'm not taking advantage of anyone. I'll tell..." Ukyo
fell silent. What would he say? What would he think? He'd think
she was some kind of freak. No, she couldn't take that, not right
now. "I'll tell him... just later, when he's ready."
"That's not-" Kasumi began but the door started to open. As
Kasumi's attention turned to the door Ukyo panicked. If she was
found like this, with no clothes... She made the only maneuver she
could think of, she dove under the bed.
"Thanks Kasumi." Ranma said as he stepped in. "Hey, where
is she?"
Ukyo quickly ran through her options: wait, have Ranma find
her and be humiliated or try to make a break for it and be
humiliated. Kasumi had tricked her, she was sure of it. She'd
trapped her in this situation on purpose. Well, she wouldn't
succeed. No, Ukyo wouldn't let her, not this time, but what could
she do?
"Well, she's... ahhh..." Kasumi began as Ranma walked over
to the side of the bed.
"I bet you frightened her. She's hiding under the bed."
Ranma said and Ukyo could hear him come down onto his knees.
Suddenly Ukyo felt a blow to her head followed by the now familiar
feeling of her body shifting. Looking down she saw the water bowl
Ranma had given her earlier.
Kasumi wondered why she had done that. Without really
thinking she had walked discretely over to the bowl of water on the
floor. She then delivered a kick that had shot it under the bed and
into Ukyo. She guessed it had been the story Ukyo had told of being
caught in the street naked. It would do nothing except deepen her
hatred of Kasumi if Ranma found her under there in her girl form.
"There you are." Ranma said with a smile. "What you doing
under there?"
Ukyo responded with her most pleasant look then shot Kasumi a
glance. Kasumi could only shake her head and leave. Ukyo calmed
slightly at seeing Kasumi's departure and came out from under the
bed. As she did so she caught a whiff of something that reminded her
just how hungry she was, chicken. She'd spent most her day either
chasing Kasumi or trying to find hot water. Consequently she hadn't
eaten all day.
To her delight her nose was correct. Ranma presented her
with a bowl filled with pieces of chicken. Ukyo gladly accept
Ranma's offering. For the first time in so long that she couldn't
remember Ukyo felt relaxed. To think that someone like Ranma could
live in the same house as that... that... there were no words
sufficient to describe Kasumi. So many others treated Ukyo as some
kind of flea infested mongrel but not Ranma. Despite this most
hellish of cursed forms he found it in his heart to love her. At
last fate had seen fit to hand her a break in life. Up till now all
it had given her was rejection, humiliation, and even abuse with none
of the credit she deserved.
Ukyo finished her meal and looked up in satisfaction to
notice Ranma undressing and getting ready for bed. She fully
intended to look away, really, but for some reason the message never
reached her muscles. By the time Ranma got down to his boxers and
undershirt Ukyo was thoroughly mesmerized. She finally managed to
tear her eyes away when Ranma looked back at her. For once Ukyo was
glad she was a dog. Being caught staring as a human would be just
too embarrassing.
"Time to get some sleep." Ranma said as he walked over to
his bed. Without much thought Ukyo jumped up onto the bed and
stretched out. She then found Ranma giving her a hard look. "And
just what do you think you're doing, hmm?" Ukyo was confused for a
second but then realized she was a dog and on Ranma's bed. She
looked away, scolding herself for being so presumptuous, but found
Ranma sitting down next to her with a playful smile. "I guess you
think you're pretty tough, trying to take my bed, huh?"
For some odd reason Ranma's smile was catching. Ukyo felt a
playfulness of her own and moved into a wide stance, like she was
claiming the bed for herself. In response Ranma half tackled her and
the two began wrestling for possession of the bed. It was all just a
little game and Ukyo soon lost herself in the welcome diversion. She
hadn't had this kind of fun in far too long.
Ranma had the advantage of skill and managed to hold his own,
especially as Ukyo was still getting used to this form. However Ukyo
did have the advantage of weight
and strength, and after a few minutes it ended in a stalemate. Both,
quite exhausted after a very full day, crashed onto the bed, Ranma
scratching Ukyo behind the ears. Ukyo rested and came back to the
reality of her being in bed next to a boy. She was about to move
herself off but found Ranma had dozed off on her.
She was very comfortable at the moment. She didn't want to
wake Ranma by moving. She was a dog after all. It was all perfectly
innocent. Ukyo made her decision and let her own weariness overcome
her as she lay next to the boy.

Kasumi wondered how on earth she had gotten herself into this
predicament. Slowly she worked her way along the edge of the roof,
being careful not to spill any of the hot water from the kettle she
was carrying. Really, it was quite ridiculous. She had promised
Ukyo on her honor that she would not reveal her secret, and then
Ranma had, of all the stupid things, made a pet out of her. Then he
had Kasumi swear an oath not to reveal the presence of his new pet to
anyone before she was aware it was Ukyo they were talking about.
Which left Kasumi in her present position, hanging from the
rain gutter outside Ranma's window. Well, at least she had made it
this far with no trouble. Now the hard part, getting Ukyo out of
Ranma's room without waking Ranma. There was no way she could allow
Ukyo to stay in his room. It just was not proper. Morality aside
there was also the fact that Ukyo was no longer the friend Kasumi
remembered with such fondness. She was filled with an all consuming
rage and Kasumi could not take the risk that she might harm Ranma.
Carefully Kasumi worked open the window and peeked inside.
She caught her breath as she spotted Ukyo stretched out on the bed
beside Ranma. This was her first sight of Ukyo's cursed form while
she was in her own normal form. She had found that her perspective
of the size of things shifted as she changed from one form to
another. When she had first encountered Ukyo in her cursed form she
had seemed a large dog. Now in her female form and with Ranma to use
as a reference she could see that Ukyo was huge. It looked like
Ranma was cuddling up to a particularly hairy pony rather than a dog.
That revelation taken in context with the razor sharp canines
that were clearly visible in Ukyo's half open jaw made Kasumi even
more determined to get Ukyo out of Ranma's room and away from her
fiancee... Kasumi paused at that thought. Where had that come from?
Ranma was only her fiancee because of their fathers. It had no
bearing on her need to get Ukyo out of his room. She would be doing
this no matter who it was. Still, there was a burning feeling in her
chest as she looked at Ukyo cuddled up to Ranma. Probably just
heartburn, she told herself and started to inch her way into the
room.
A sudden gust of wind disturbed the drapes and the Ukyo
looked up from her position on the bed to see Kasumi hovering over
her. Her lips peeled back in a snarl that changed to a whimper when
Kasumi waved the kettle at her. She took a quick look at Ranma and
seeing he was still sleeping turned her head back towards Kasumi.
"Okay Ukyo, you and I are going to leave here quietly...
Then I will change you back, and _then_ you and I are going to have a
talk." Ranma suddenly tossed in his sleep and Kasumi could not help
but glance at him. It was only for a fraction of a second, but by
the time her gaze swept back to Ukyo the dog girl was coming at her
in an open mouthed lunge. Kasumi swayed to the side and let the dog
flow past, at the same time lashing out at the same pressure points
she had used before. However, this time her shorter reach, and
Ukyo's remembrance of there last fight worked against her. Ukyo
twisted to the side and Kasumi's strike did nothing more than slid
her fingers through Ukyo's thick pelt.
As she missed her original target Ukyo snaked her head around
and lashed out with her main guns. Her fearsome jaws slashed at
Kasumi's shoulder as the two of them slid by each other. Kasumi
sensed the movement and thrust forward with all the strength in her
legs. The extra little push carried her out of Ukyo's reach and she
started a dive that would see her cross over Ranma's bed and clear of
Ukyo. She almost made it, the extra material in her shirt that was
necessary for when she was in her larger male form billowed out
behind her and Ukyo's jaws closed with a clash on that loose
material.
180 pounds of dog going one way, 130 pounds of iron hard
martial artist going the other way, something had to give. It did.
RRRRIIIIIIIIPPPPPPP.
Kasumi found her forward motion slowed drasticaly just as her
feet left the ground leaving her only enough momentum to make it
halfway across the bed. With a thump she landed chest to chest and
face to face on top of Ranma. The sudden shock woke Ranma and his
eyes flew open, his hands already moving in a strike against his
sneak assailant. He stopped all motion as his eyes took in Kasumi's
face inches from his own.
"Kasumi?!!!" Ranma exclaimed in disbelief.
"Aa, it's not what you think. I...I." At a lose for words
Kasumi sat up and tried to gather her thoughts and think of some
reasonable explanation.
Ranma's eyes bulged and a thin trickle of blood crept from
his nose. That and a sudden draft caused Kasumi to look down and
discover for the first time that she had parted company with her
shirt. What made this even worse was the fact that Kasumi's curse
disallowed the wearing of a certain other garment. Blushing in
mortification she quickly covered herself with her hands. Too
little, too late. Ranma gave a strangled gurgle, his eyes rolled
back in his head and he fainted.
This of course was right at the point where Nodoka, fresh
from getting herself a drink of water and attracted by the noise,
peeked into her son's room to see if everything was alright. The
sight of a topless Kasumi straddling Ranma's prone form brought her
through the door and completely into the room.
Ukyo choosing the better part of valor disappeared under the
bed. It was not really necessary. It was unlikely Nodoka would have
noticed an elephant if it had been in the room.
"Kasumi?!?!"
For the second time in as many minutes Kasumi blushed, the
crimson stain flowing down her face and neck and across her upper
chest. She wished with all her might she could pinch herself and
wake from this nightmare.
"Kasumi?" Nodoka asked again in a voice that said Kasumi had
better answer quickly.
At the second repeat of her name Kasumi looked over at Nodoka
and, realizing there was not a single word of explanation she could
offer, lowered her head so that her hair fell across her face and
acknowledged Nodoka. "Yes."
Nodoka fought to regain her customary composure. Only when
she felt she had control did she speak. "Kasumi, I think it would be
best if you went and put some clothes on and then you can meet me
downstairs. I will go and put some tea on while you dress. I knew
there would be things that Genma could not have taught you but I had
thought I could wait and instruct you in them at a later date."
Sighing she rubbed her face with a hand. "I never thought the old
fool could have messed up this badly however." She muttered to
herself.
"Pardon?" Kasumi asked.
"Nothing dear. You go and get changed and then you and I
will have a nice chat over a cup of tea and I will try to explain to
you why this is not really the proper way for a lady to act."
Blushing once again Kasumi slipped by Nodoka, gritting her
teeth as the sound of a canine muffling hysterical laughter floated
out from under the bed. Nodoka paused for a second at the strange
sound, and then, deciding it was nothing worth investigating at this
time, left the room, her mind filled with all the things a young girl
should know and that up to this time she had assumed Kasumi must
know. Shaking her head once again and thinking how foolish it had
been for her to assume anything regarding Genma's training of Kasumi
she left to make some tea. It was going to be a long night.

%End Chapter 4

Okay, that's chapter 4. Chapter 5 is a'comin'. C&C is very
welcome. Still don't know how long this is going to be, sorry, but
it's looking long. Ten chapters is being extremely conservative.
Special thanks to T. H. Tiger, who wrote a certain section of
this chapter, for his creative assistance which has been and
continues to be extraordinarily helpful. If you think we've been
cruel so far, wait till you see what is to come.
If you wish to check out my other works look at:
http://www.mala.bc.ca/~tritscwa
I'm presently off for the summer so don't expect my webpage
to be too recent, I have no home ftp service (sympatico is pitiful
but it's free so...).
Bye for now.

Ranma 1/2
Altered Destinies: A scary thought

What's happened so far: Kasumi Tendo and Ranma Saotome were
switched at an early age and raised by the other's parents. Now
Kasumi is cursed to change to a man and has just recently returned to
Nerima with Genma after a training trip in China. She is now engaged
to Ranma, who isn't pleased, has attracted Kuno's attention, and has
to deal with a very upset Ukyo. It's now been shown that Ukyo is
upset for good reason, she changes into a dog, and Kasumi is the one
who knocked her into the spring. To further complicate matters
Ranma, thinking Ukyo is a dog, has adopted her as a pet, swearing
Kasumi to secrecy. Last, but definitely, definitely not least,
Kasumi just got caught in Ranma's room in a rather compromising
position by Nodoka. Oh my, oh my.

%Chapter 5

It had been a long, restless night for Kasumi. She lay on
her bedroll, covering her face with a pillow. Why was this happening
to her? Could things have possibly gone any more wrong? She
continued to consider these questions as she replayed the night's
events in her head, over and over again.
She had gone into Ranma's room with the best of intentions.
Ukyo was taking advantage of her position, and advantage of Ranma.
For his own safety Kasumi had to get Ukyo away from him. She was
just going to slip in, take Ukyo out and have a civil talk with her.
That was the plan but Ukyo turned it into a disaster. In the ensuing
struggle Kasumi had managed to lose her shirt. Naturally she ended
up on top of Ranma, waking him up and giving him quite a view. And
worst yet, Nodoka caught her like that.
They had spent much of the night talking it over, or rather
Nodoka had talked while Kasumi had listened and nodded in all the
right places. "Kasumi, I know you are engaged to Ranma, but proper
young ladies simply don't do that sort of thing. Such things are for
after the wedding." Nodoka had explained repeatedly just to drive
home the point.
Kasumi could only respond with "I understand," "yes, of
course," and other such things. What was there to say? She was
innocent but those two honorable vows she had made bound her to not
reveal the truth and therefore she lost her only defense.
She could still remember the look on Nodoka's face as she had
opened the conversation with, "Kasumi, this is very delicate question
but I must know, are you a virgin?" Kasumi shook her head to try and
purge that insinuation from her mind. Mrs. Saotome must think Kasumi
was some sort of uncivilized barbarian to even ask. Of course Kasumi
replied that she was but the answer didn't seem to end Nodoka's
doubts.
What made the situation even more trying was it had opened
old wounds in Kasumi's mind. She had a picture in her mind of what a
woman was, her mother. That was the template that she measured
herself by. However, she had diverged so radically from that image
that it was almost frightning. It had all started when she went to
the Saotomes'. Unlike her own father, who's love was spread amoung
three children, she got all of Genma's attention. He managed to slip
in a martial arts lesson now and then and for some peculiar reason
she kind of liked it. Then her mother died. That left Kasumi with
an emptiness inside she just needed to fill. When Genma suggested
that training trip she eagerly pushed for the chance.
Over the ten years she had spent on the road she had found
herself diverging farther and farther from her mother's image. First
she had given up the dresses she had adored. They were simply not
practical on the road. Whatever they could not carry on their backs
they did without. That meant few changes of clothing and going days
or weeks without a bath. Then came her hair. Save her ponytail, one
of the precious few hold overs she had, it was basically a boy's cut,
short and simple. It continued slowly, year over year, changing her
further, losing more and more of the qualities she associated with
her mother. Of course that didn't even consider what she had missed
learning altogether. Under Genma's care Kasumi was basically on her
own when it came to learning how a woman should act. Many things
you'd associate with women, like sewing or make-up, she simply never
bothered with. By the time they reached Jusenkyo she was living as a
boy in everything except name. The curse had just been the final
nail in the coffin of the little girl she once was. It would have
been so easy to embrace her curse and to turn her back once and for
all on her girlhood. She didn't, however. There was still in her
mind the image of her mother. She might never be the woman her
mother was but she was her mother's daughter and she would remain
female no matter what.
Kasumi's mind turned to Ukyo. She had given her one time
friend a great deal of leeway up till now but this was just too much.
In one night she had efficiently managed to destroy Kasumi's image
in Nodoka's eyes and as for Ranma... the thought of facing Ranma
this morning at breakfast sent a wave of red across her face. She
didn't even want to consider what he thought of her now. It was a
rare occasion when Kasumi was mad at someone, and nearly every time
to date it had been Genma. However, Ukyo had crossed the line.
Kasumi tried to calm herself but wasn't having much success.
Embarrassment, humiliation and frustration were mixing into a potent
brew. Finally, Kasumi tossed aside the pillow. She simply wouldn't
be getting any sleep tonight. She got up, dressed, and headed
outside to work the emotional energy out of her system with some
practice.

Ranma awoke rubbing his face then blinked as he remembered
the nights events. He quickly scanned his room but found only his
new pet laying next to him. She looked up at him and her tail began
to thump on the bed, she seemed very happy to see him awake.
"Oh man, what a night." Ranma said as he got up and
stretched. "You wouldn't believe the dream I had." Ranma heard a
startled snort from the dog and turned to look at her questioningly.
"Problem?" Ranma asked as he scanned his room again.
Of course it was a dream. It had to be. Sure, it was a very
realistic dream. It probably would have fooled him if it wasn't for
the absolutely unbelievable content. His imagination must have doing
some really weird things in his sleep. Really, Kasumi jumping into
bed with him, half naked no-less! Preposterous!
Ranma sat down next to his pet and scratched her behind the
ears. "This engagement must be working on me more than I thought.
Now I'm having bizarre dreams about her. Oh well, at least it didn't
go that far..." Ranma trailed off as he considered that with a mix
of relief and disappointment. After a second of thought, however, he
dismissed his disappointment. "Good thing too. It probably would
have twisted into some sick nightmare with me and... her male side."
Ranma shuddered at the thought and stood up to get dressed. As he
did so he thought he heard a low angry growling, but when he turned
to look at his new pet she only returned his gaze with one of
complete calm.
Ukyo growled as Ranma left the room. She couldn't believe it.
Kasumi must have been born under the luckiest star in the heavens!
It wasn't fair!! She got all the breaks. Everyone thought she was
little Miss perfect. Well, she was not going to let her get away
with it. She slipped under Ranma's bed and rooted around in the
trash that was typical of the underside of a teenaged boy's bed. If
her current form had been able, she would have blushed at some of the
things she found, but at last she located what she was looking for
and slipped out from under the bed with it in her mouth. She won't
fool Ranma, not while I'm here to make sure he learns the truth, Ukyo
thought to herself.

Akane stepped out into the yard to join her older sister.
"Started practicing a little early this morning?" Akane asked as she
entered a warm-up exercise.
Kasumi turned to her but hesitating before responding. "Yes.
I couldn't sleep."
"That Ukyo is a maniac. You think she could at least keep
this to daytime hours. What's that all about anyway? Did you figure
it out?"
"I'm afraid so." Kasumi responded, sadly bowing her head.
"Well?" Akane asked, curious as to what Kasumi could have
done to generate such anger.
"I'm sorry. I can't say."
"Why not?"
"I promised Ukyo I wouldn't say." Kasumi replied with a
slight frown.
"Wait a sec, yesterday Ukyo was all fired up that you didn't
know why she was angry, but now you know and have promised her not to
tell?!" Akane responded in confusion.
"I know it's confusing but I made a promise and I can't break
it."
Akane shrugged. If she had indeed made such a promise then
Akane had no right to pry. Maybe she'd figure it out herself later.
Akane finished her warm-up just as Genma and Ranma came out.
Kasumi, suddenly very nervous, gave Ranma a brief look then turned
away. However, Akane seemed to be the only one to notice Kasumi's
reaction. Akane looked between the two, perplexed.
What's this about, Akane asked herself. Ranma gave no clues.
He seemed the same as any other morning. Kasumi, however, seemed
very uncomfortable. It didn't look like Akane was going to get an
answer from either of them. However, she could give Kasumi a little
help.
"Want to spar with me today?" Akane asked Kasumi. Kasumi
looked at Akane, startled by her question, then nodded with a
thankful smile.
Kasumi was relieved. At least she could put off the
inevitable scene with Ranma for a little while longer. She was more
than a little surprised at how composed he seemed. She kept darting
glances at him as she spared with Akane but he seemed oblivious to
her presence.
The morning practice session passed in relative silence.
Kasumi was obviously distracted, allowing Akane to slip through
several strikes. Akane would have laid a bet that it was something
to do with either Ukyo or Ranma, maybe even both. "You sure you
don't want to talk about it?" Akane asked just after she had grabbed
Kasumi by the arm and tossed her face first into the ground.
Kasumi shook her head and began to get up. "I wish I could
but..." Kasumi trailed off and began to shake as she looked at
something in front of her. Suddenly she screamed and scrabbled
frantically backwards on the ground until she reached a tree and
quickly climbed up high into its branches. She continued to sit in
the tree, her teeth chattering in fear. "C...c...c...c..."
Ranma and Akane looked at Kasumi in confusion while Genma
became awfully nervous. When Nodoka, Soun and Nabiki rushed out,
also looking up at Kasumi in confusion, Genma began to slink away.
"Kasumi, what's..." Akane began to ask as she looked behind
herself at whatever it was Kasumi's eyes were locked on. Akane
didn't know quite what to expect but she certainly wasn't expecting
to see what was there. "A cat?!" She said in confusion at seeing
the raged animal that was wobbling across the garden towards them. It
managed a few steps after Akane spotted it then collapsed.
"Genma!" Nodoka sternly pronounced, attempting to stare a
hole through her retreating husband's back. "What is the meaning of
this?!"

A short time later the two families were gathered at the
common room table. Genma was the object of Soun and Nodoka's angry
glares while Kasumi was attempting to get as far away as possible
from Akane and the partially conscious cat in her arms.
"I cannot believe... No, I can believe it!" Nodoka exclaimed
as she rubbed her eyes. "I just never expected something like...
_this_! What were you thinking?!"
"Well, the book made it sound so good and-" Genma started to
explain.
"You didn't even read the whole book!!!" Soun yelled out.
"Ahh, yes, but who reads the _whole_ book now-a-
days?" Genma asked, looking around at everyone in desperate hope.
They all stared back with even more anger.
Nodoka shook her head then looked at her husband intensely.
"Just tell us that this is the only unusual training technique that
Kasumi had to endure."
"Ahh, yeahyeahyeah."
Nodoka turned to Kasumi, unconvinced by Genma's answer. "Is
this true Kasumi?" After a moment to collect herself, Kasumi managed
to overcome her fear enough to nod. "Hmmm, very well then. I
suppose what is done is done." Nodoka said but inside she again
wished she had made Genma sign that contract. She turned to look at
Akane and the cat. "Akane, you'll have to take that animal to the
vet then to the animal shelter."
"Animal shelter?! But-" Akane started to protest.
"Akane, it's obviously a stray and we can't have a cat in or
near the house considering Kasumi's condition." Nodoka explained.
Akane nodded reluctantly, then with a very unhappy expression
on her face, got up and left the room. Nabiki soon followed her
sister and by the time Kasumi was calmed Ranma was leaving as well.
Kasumi quickly chased after him, leaving Genma to face the still very
angry Soun and Nodoka.
"Ranma, about last night-" Kasumi said as she caught Ranma
in the hallway.
"Huh? What about last night?" Ranma asked in confusion.
"Oh, don't worry about it."
It was Kasumi's turn to look confused. "Don't worry about
it?! I don't understand. You... you... I would have thought-"
"Hey, it didn't bother me that much."
"It didn't!" Kasumi exclaimed in shock. Taking a second to
recover Kasumi continued. "You must understand that I don't usually
do that sort of thing. It was really an accident."
"Of course. I don't usually get attacked in the middle of
the night either."
Kasumi blinked in bewilderment then shook her head. "Nono,
not that, I mean..." She trailed off and looked at Ranma's confused
expression. Could he possibly be that unaffected by what happened to
not know what she was talking about? Surely it would be foremost on
his mind. Kasumi considered this and came to one conclusion, he'd
forgotten somehow.
"Well?" Ranma asked after a moment.
"Ahh, nothing. It's nothing." Kasumi quickly replied and
breathed an inner sigh of relief. Maybe her luck wasn't so bad after
all. She started to turn and leave but stopped. There still was the
matter of Ukyo to deal with. "Ranma, about... your dog."
"You promised not to tell anyone." Ranma replied, a slight
bit of worry in his voice.
"And I won't, but I don't think it is wise to have a strange
animal in the house. You don't know how dangerous it could be."
"She's perfectly safe. Besides, I know my way around
animals. I've never met one I can't handle." Ranma responded with a
dismissive wave of his hand.
Kasumi frowned and thought. She couldn't let Ukyo stay with
Ranma like this. It was simply too dangerous. She wasn't just some
common animal. However, without revealing Ukyo's curse what could
Kasumi say?
Perhaps there was another way. Ranma might not give up Ukyo
but Ukyo might be convinced to leave Ranma. Kasumi pondered this
possibility and came up with an idea. "Well, at the very least you
should take her to the vet. There is no telling if she has any
diseases or such." Threatened with that Ukyo would certainly give
her deception a second thought. If she persisted, well, it was for
the best anyway. She probably hadn't seen a doctor to check on her
cursed form. She could have any number of health problems that she
didn't know about. After all a human wouldn't know how to properly
take care of herself as a dog. There was one other fact as well.
Ukyo had no records. She would have to have shots for rabies,
distemper and whatever other conditions the vet felt were necessary
to guard against. Kasumi chided herself for feeling a little
pleasure over the fact that Ukyo would have difficulty sitting for a
day or so. Still, after last night she felt she deserved a small
amount of revenge, and it was not as if they would harm Ukyo. As a
matter of fact, it was very important that Ukyo have those shots.
Ranma gave the suggestion some thought then nodded. "Yeah,
guess you're right. Thanks Kasumi." Ranma said then headed off
upstairs while Kasumi walked off, a small smile on her lips for the
first time that day.
As he arrived at the top of the stairs he noticed his new pet
sitting there, something hanging from her mouth and her tale beating
like a metronome. "Hey, you shouldn't be out here." Ranma said as
he knelt down next to the animal. "What have you got there girl."
Ranma asked as he grasped the cloth hanging from Ukyo's mouth.
Ukyo let go of Kasumi's ripped shirt which she had retrieved
from under Ranma's bed a little while ago. She had been waiting
here, out of sight of the rest of the household, listening to the
whole conversation below. She had almost been ready to jump down the
stairs in fury when Kasumi managed to avoid the issue and again when
the vet came up. However, she had held her temper in check. She had
the proof.
She was almost giddy with the image of Ranma realizing that
Kasumi really had been in his room last night, and that it had not
been a dream. Now she waited as Ranma unfolded the object in his
hands and tried to make out what the torn and battered thing was.
Any minute now, Ukyo thought, any... minute.
"BAD!" Ukyo jolted back as Ranma hissed in her face, trying
to make up for in intensity what he could not risk by shouting. "Bad
dog, very bad dog."
What... I don't understand, Ukyo thought looking up in shock
at Ranma. He waved the torn shirt in front of her, making sure she
knew exactly what he was displeased about.
"Come." Ranma hissed and headed for his room. A bewildered
Ukyo trailed behind him, her tail hanging low and a look of dismay on
her canine face.
Once they reached the room, and Ranma had shut the door
behind them, he dropped to his knees in front of her. Holding the
shirt in one hand he waved it in her face, all the time repeating in
the most quelling tones he could manage. "Bad, very bad dog."
Ukyo shrank down into as small a bundle of misery as a dog
her size could manage. What went wrong? I don't understand, why is
he mad at me, Ukyo asked herself.
Ranma sighed as he looked down at the dejected and
heartbroken form in front of him. He felt like a complete heel, but
if he did not teach his new pet to respect the contents of the house
there was no hope he could ever talk his mother into allowing him to
keep her. At least she seemed to be genuinely contrite, he would
just have to hope she realized it was for ripping up Kasumi's shirt
and not just random nastiness on his part. Feeling she had suffered
enough, and any more action on his part would only alienate her from
him, he reached down and hugged her. "It's all right girl. I
understand you're new here and you don't understand the rules. Just
don't go chewing up any more shirts and we'll get along fine."
At first Ukyo was so happy that Ranma was not permanently mad
at her that she missed the implication of what he was saying. Then
it hit her. He thought she had found one of Kasumi's shirts and torn
it up in play. Kasumi, she howled in her mind, curse you and your
demon blessed luck!
"Well now that that is out of the way you and I have to go
visit the vet."

Ukyo followed after Ranma as they walked down the street, to
all appearances a happy and contented dog, but her mood was far from
happy. Kasumi did this on purpose. She was trying to scare Ukyo off.
Well, it wouldn't work. Ukyo was determined to stay even if it meant
enduring a check up by a vet.
How the hell did Kasumi get so damned lucky? Of all the
curses she got that one. Of all the people she ended up engaged to
she got Ranma. She even managed to dodge the bullet about the
incident last night. It wasn't fair!!
Ukyo fumed at the thought. The only consolation was that
Ranma's mother had seen it. Well, it was a start. Kasumi would pay
and being revealed for what she really was would be Ukyo's main goal.
As Ukyo gave this some more thought a new strategy started to look
promising. Why bother attacking Kasumi directly? Ukyo just made
herself look bad. No, it was time for a slightly different method of
attack. It was time to attack Kasumi's character. Any damage Ukyo
did would be well deserved by that pondscum. If the world wouldn't
give Ukyo justice then she'd make her own.
As these thoughts improved Ukyo's mood somewhat Akane came up
next to them carrying the still very dazed cat. "What's with the dog
Ranma?" Akane asked.
"Nothing, I just... found it." Ranma replied with a slight
bit of nervousness.
"Yahweh, sure. You and your strays."
Ranma frowned then looked at the cat. "Look who's talking.
Where did that thing come from anyway?"
"Kasumi said it got in the house last night. It must have
gotten into my room and I... sort of knocked it out the window."
"Ah, that would account for the hole in the wall. That thing
looks like it went through a paint factory. I mean really, pink
fur?! Cat's don't have pink fur."
"I think C-chan looks cute with pink fur." Akane said as she
looked down at the cat with a smile.
"C-chan? You plan on keeping her or something?" Ranma asked
with a sly smile.
Akane responded with and angry scowl which quickly changed to
a sad frown. "I wish I could."
"Well, it would be a great way to get instant home
renovation." Ranma replied with a chuckle as he returned his
attention to the road.
Akane sad expression changed back to an angry frown and she
looked away from Ranma. "Hmpf...Ranma, I thought you said you
wouldn't do anything to Kasumi."
Ranma looked back at Akane in surprise. "I didn't do
anything to her."
Akane looked back at Ranma. "Oh really? Then why was she so
nervous around you this morning?"
"Oh, how should I know?! She probably thought I was angry
about that fight last night, which I wasn't. Hmm, or she could be a
bit worried about..."
"About what? Let me guess, something to do with your new
pet."
Ranma turned away from Akane, flustered. "I don't know what
you're talking about."
"Hmm, I find it awfully coincidental that you have this dog
this morning and Kasumi-"
Ranma turned back to Akane, throwing his arms up in defeat.
"All right, all right! I found her last night, and Kasumi promised
me she wouldn't tell anyone."
"Hmpf, I knew it. There is no way Dad or Auntie Saotome are
going to let you keep her."
"I'll think of something, just don't tell them." Ranma
replied as they approached the vet's clinic.
"I won't but I still say they won't let you keep her." Akane
responded as they came to the door. Before they could enter the door
opened from the inside. They stepped aside allowing a nurse and a
tall brown haired boy to come out dragging a light-brown haired girl
behind them.
"Let Azusa go! Don't worry Jean-Luc, little Azusa will be
back!" The girl yelled out. Akane briefly watched this then walked
in while Ranma observed with a curious interest. The girl continued
to struggle until her eyes caught sight of Ukyo and she suddenly
stopped.
As soon as she stopped struggling the boy and the nurse
released Azusa. "I thought I told you to keep her away from here?"
The nurse said.
The boy looked at Azusa with a slight frown that changed to a
seductive smile as he turned back to the nurse. "My dearest
apologies most lovely one, but I cannot keep track of all her
movements. She is but my partner. However, allow me to-"
"Spare me. Try your charms on some other woman Mikado." The
nurse said as she turned to walk back to the clinic. Mikado
shrugged, still smiling, and began to leave.
Ranma watched the nurse enter and was about to follow her
when he noticed Ukyo hiding behind him. "What?" He asked the dog.
She responded with a fearful look at Azusa.
Ukyo felt a deep primal fear as Azusa eyes seemed to devour
her. She had seen that expression before... usually just before she
was invited to be the main entre at a town banquet.
"She's not going to do anything. Come on." Ranma said as he
walked into the clinic. Ukyo quickly followed, her tail between her
legs and a fearful look back over her shoulder to where Azusa still
stood staring at her.
Azusa continued to stare for a moment longer. "Bigggg
doggy." She whispered in admiration, then a frown crossed her face.
"But that fur is soooo uncute." She fell into thought then smiled
gleefully. "Little Azusa can fix that, with the help of little
Azusa's darling Pentothal!" She said, then merrily ran off talking
all the while to the small glass vial she had until now held
concealed in her hand.

Kasumi looked at the list she held in her hand. Rice,
onions, carrots, sprouts and a little chicken if she could find any
for a reasonable price. She sighed. She had offered Nodoka money to
go towards the food, but Nodoka would not hear of it. "This is your
home Kasumi. You just got back from being away for ten years. We
will not ask you to pay like some common boarder." Kasumi sighed
again. For the first time in her life she had money of her own and
for the first time in her life she could not think of anything she
wanted to spend it on. Any feminine clothing was out of the question
because of her curse, although she dearly wished she could wear at
least a bra after what happened last night. She was not yet ready to
start buying dress clothing that would fit her male body. It seemed
too much like giving in.
Suddenly a motion in the corner of her eye caused her to
pivot and fall into a defensive crouch. With a startled `whuurf' the
dog that had been about to pass her darted to the side. Kasumi
relaxed and gave herself a mental slap on the wrist for over reacting
and startling an innocent animal.
She watched as the black and white dog made a wide circle
around her, never taking its eyes off of her. Once it was clear of
her, the dog, which she could now see was a female, trotted across
the market square to where a stocky teenager about Ranma and Akane's
age was standing. He had a puzzled look on his face that disappeared
when he spotted the dog coming towards him. He held out his arms and
she leapt up and placed her paws on his shoulders and proceeded to
lick his face with complete devotion.
Kasumi smiled at the affection the two obviously felt for
each other. Then the scene before her tickled her memory and she
knew she had seen it before. Looking intently at the pair she
struggled to recollect where she had seen them before. The dog was
very distinctive being solid black on one side and solid white on the
other. She could almost feel the image in her mind struggling to
form. Just a little more she, thought to herself. "I know I've seen
them before...where...where?"
"Kasumi...Kasumi, is that you?"
Her attention disrupted by the sudden shout from behind her,
Kasumi turned and spotted one of her fellow teachers from Furinken,
Hiro... Hitchi Hiro. "Hello Mr. Hiro. How are you?" As she spoke
Kasumi looked back at where the boy and dog had been only to see they
were gone.
"Boyfriend late?" Hiro asked.
"I'm sorry?" Kasumi asked in puzzlement.
"A beautiful young woman like yourself, what else could you
possible be looking for on such a lovely day. Alas however, your
swain is obviously a mere boy. No man would ever keep someone as
radiant and fair as yourself waiting. Please allow a real man to buy
you dinner at this fine establishment."
Kasumi smiled. From the first day she had begun at Furinken
Mr. Hiro had flirted with and teased her. She had been to tea at his
tiny house and been made much of by his small and exquisite wife.
The two septuagenarians had been so much in love with each other it
had seemed to fill the cosy living room. She had left with a warm
glow that had lasted all through the day merely from being in the
same room as them. Now she felt herself cheering up merely by being
in his presence. Her smile turned to an expression of puzzlement,
however, when she took a good look at the restaurant Mr. Hiro had
invited her to dine in. The windows were boarded up, the door was
reinforced with planks and a stout hasp lock secured it. Mr. Hiro,
with the air of a magician, twisted his hand in the air and produced
a key. Unlocking the door he opened it and waved her through into
the interior.
Inside it was dim, sunlight filtering through the cracks in
the heavy shutters that covered the windows. Kasumi looked around
and spotted the light switch. A flick of her finger and soft light
filled the room. There was a thin layer of dust over everything.
Kasumi, armed with the knowledge gained from restoring more than one
destroyed restaurant, and working in many others in order to earn
money to support her and Genma saw at a glance that despite the dust,
two days with soap and water would have this place up and running.
She turned to ask Mr. Hiro what he was doing here. She stopped when
she saw him standing in the doorway, tears streaming down his face.
Before she could say anything, however, he smiled that good
natured self deprecating smile of his and laughed. "Don't mind me
Kasumi, they're only tears of joy. I spent many a happy day here.
It used to be my uncle's place. He passed away several months ago."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. He had a long and happy life, and he died as he
wanted."
Kasumi could sense the invitation by the sparkle in his eyes
to play straight man so
she obliged. "How was that Sir?"
"He was in the arms of a lovely young girl...and then her
husband came home." As Kasumi struggles to keep any expression from
her face Mr. Hiro waited, letting her fix the image in her mind.
"She was his favorite granddaughter, and she had been nursing him for
several months."
Kasumi smiles as he laughs and waits for him to continue.
"Anyway he left me this restaurant for my retirement."
"I'm sure you will enjoy running it Sir. Some of my happiest
memories are of working in a restaurant."
"Run it...no. I'm afraid the wife and I have no interest in
that. The price it will bring once we sell it will give us more than
enough money to spoil our grandchildren with. I will be sad to let
it go, but my Uncles spirit will rest better if someone young were to
run it and bring it back to life, full of the sounds of children and
happiness. There is a complete apartment upstairs with three
bedrooms and a bathroom. The kitchen is the same one the restaurant
uses." With a sigh he turned around fixing every detail into his
memory. "Well, I must be going. I just wanted one last look at it
before I turned it over to the agents. I'm glad you were here.
Seeing you standing here, in the dining room brings back many
memories. It is long past time this place was filled again. I'll
see you at school tomorrow."

Akane stood off to the side, anxiously waiting for the
doctor's prognosis. She still felt very guilty about the poor
thing's injuries. It had probably wandered into her room, lost and
scared, and what's Akane do? She knocks it out of a second story
window, on a cold rainy night.
The veterinarian moved over to a cabinet and pulled a small
bottle. "She took a really nasty bump on the head." He said as he
began applying some the bottle's contents to the cat's head. As he
finished that he pulled out a pen and waved it in front of the cat's
eyes. The cat tried to bat at the pen once but missed. "She still
isn't showing much awareness of her surroundings. Could be a vision
problem due to the head injury." The doctor concluded as he put the
pen away. "But, I think she'll be fine in a while. By the end of
the day she should be up on her feet again."
Akane didn't feel very comforted, but at least the cat would
recover. "That's good to hear."
"Unusual breed for these parts. Sure you won't be keeping
her?" The doctor asked.
"Afraid not." Akane replied as she picked the cat up.
The doctor shook his head as he put away some of his
supplies. "Shame really. There hasn't been many adoptions lately at
the shelter from what I hear and that injury won't help any."
Akane stopped and look down at the cat. "Does that mean
they'd... put her to sleep?"
"Unfortunately, they haven't got room to hold every animal
indefinitely." The doctor answered then went to the door. "Ranma,
you're next." He called out then took a chart handed to him by his
nurse outside and began reading it.
"How long do they keep them for?" Akane asked at the door as
Ranma entered with Ukyo-dog.
"I think they're working on a 1 week limit right now."
Akane nodded sadly as she thought about this. There was
little she could do about it. She couldn't keep her. After a moment
Akane sighed. "Well, thanks Dr. Sakai." She said as she left.
"No trouble. Bye." Dr. Sakai replied then turned, still
looking at the chart, to Ranma and Ukyo, who had jumped up onto the
examination table. "So, Ranma, I see you didn't mark down your
bitch's breed. You usually have no trouble with that question, she
must be a real mutt." He commented then looked up straight into
Ukyo's very unamused eyes, about 4 inches from his own. It took him
only one second to realize two things. One, he was far too close to
an angry animal. Two, this was no dog.
The vet let out a startled scream and stumbled backwards,
falling to the floor. "That's a wolf!!" He managed to blurt out.
"What?!" Ranma asked in confusion.
Dr. Sakai calmed slightly when the animal held its position
on the table. He returned to his feet but kept his distance. "I
said that's a wolf! Where did you get a wolf from?"
Ranma looked at Ukyo in shock and surprise. Ukyo was equally
shocked. A wolf?! A wolf!! She changed into a wolf, not a dog, a
wolf!! Ukyo savoured the feel of the word. Wolf, WWOOLLFF. Not
mutt, Wolf! Not someone's dinner waiting to be caught. She was the
eater, not the eatee. She felt her shoulders square and she sat up
straighter. No one's little pet, not her. A big, dangerous, wolf.
Terror of the woods, death in the night, WOLF. She wanted to jump
for joy but the fear in the doctor's eyes stopped her. She adopted a
semblance of calm, but inside she glowed with the knowledge of that
fear, induced by a wolf. A wolf, not a dog.
No less enthusiastic about this was Ranma. This would be
awesome. He had a pet wolf! Not some common dog, but a wolf!!
After a second he remembered the doctor's question. "Oh, ah, well,
she is... kinda... a pet of an old friend of mine's and he-"
"A pet!! This is a wolf we're talking about. They're
dangerous." The doctor replied as he kept his eyes perfectly locked
on the animal in front of him, fearing that any moment it would
spring on him.
"Not this one. She's perfectly tame."
Dr. Sakai looked over at Ranma, unconvinced, then turned back
to Ukyo. Ukyo put up her best look of friendliness to try and calm
his fears. After a moment of consideration he approached.
"Is there something wrong doctor?" His nursed asked as she
opened the door and looked in.
"Ahh, no, everything's fine. Just got a little startled,
that's all." Dr. Sakai replied. The nursed nodded and left. "Well,
this is one... heck of an animal you have here." The vet said then
reluctantly, and cautiously began his examination.

Sometime later C-chan was drifting in and out of
consciousness. She could recall the night before somewhat, leaping
at some girl, wandering around confused, being startled and leaping
out at another girl, then a great deal of pain and darkness. She
also had some vague recollections of a doctor's office, a girl's
comforting voice and being held gently by the same girl. She could
not seem to make her eyes focus, but the girl's scent painted a
picture for her. The scent of a young healthy girl, the soft gentle
musk resulting from vigorous exercise overlaying the smell of soap
and some fragrance that seemed to cling to her clothing. Pretty much
everything else was a haze. She lay in the girl's arms savoring the
feeling of comfort and security listening to the gentle murmur of the
girl's voice. She soon realized that the oft repeated `C-chan'
referred to herself. She relaxed and let herself sink back down into
the darkness.

When next she awoke enough of C-chan's senses had returned to
her for her to make a conscious effort to raise her head. She
immediately regretted the action. Her head throbbed like a ton of
bricks had been dropped on it. The world spun before her in a blur.
It took all her effort to just keep her stomach contents inside. She
made a quick decision to spare her stomach any further trauma for a
while and closed her eyes, instead relying on her other senses.
She could hear various animals, dogs and cats mostly, a
conversation between two people a fair distance away, the buzz of
electric lights, and the occasional rattling of metal cages. That
didn't bring to mind the most promising of locations. The hard
floor, the uninviting smells and a general feeling of tension in the
air only added to this bad impression.
She risked opening her eyes again. It didn't help much,
although the room wasn't spinning this time. Her mind was still far
to cloudy to allow her to focus on anything. All she could make out
was the blurry image of fencing and several other moving blurs,
likely the animals she was hearing. That cinched it, she was in the
pound.
C-chan closed her eyes again and cursed herself for getting
into this predicament. How was she supposed to get out of this? She
tried to set her mind on that exact question but the throbbing in her
skull was just too much to bear. She decided to rest for a while
then worry about escape. Before long she dozed off.
Several hours later she awoke, finding herself in the same
place, dark now and quieter but definitely the same place. She
examined her surroundings as best she could given the lighting then
set to work finding a way out.
In the cage next to her another cat was contemplating his
situation. He was cursing his own stupidity at being caught and
thrown into a place such as this. This was no place for someone of
his status to end up in. As he was pondering this he noticed his
fellow prisoner climb her cage door and begin fiddling with the lock.
He's was quite surprised to see that level of ingenuity for a common
cat. Too bad they used keys on these locks instead of simple latches
or he'd have been long gone himself.
"Don't bother." He said causing her to look his way in
surprise. "Yeah, that's right, I can talk and I can tell you right
now it won't work... not that you understand me."
C-chan looked on in shock. She couldn't believe her ears but
that cat was definitely talking to her. She jumped down from the
door and walked over to the dividing fence between their cages and
looked at his dark form in disbelief.
"What, you never seen a talking cat before?" The cat asked
with a touch of amusement in its voice. C-chan responded by shaking
her head. That surprised him. "Hey, you understand me?" C-chan
nodded causing him to become even more surprised. "Now, this is new.
I never met a cat who could understand me before." The cat said as
he rose to his feet and walked over to the fence as well, examining
C-chan. "I am getting some weird vibes off of you...still, you
haven't turned into a monster and tried to kill me yet. That must be
good sign. So, just who are you beautiful?"
C-chan started to answer and then stopped in shock. Who was
she? She didn't know!! Except for some vague recollection of the
last day she had no memories of who she was. She looked over at her
fellow prisoner. Maybe he could help her. She did not know why but
she felt a sense of caring and love surrounding him. She tried to
ask him for help. "Meow!" She blinked in surprise. She knew the
words, why couldn't she say them? She tried again concentrating.
"Heewwwmm." She stopped in frustration. She could not make her mouth
form the words she could feel so clearly in her mind. She shot a
look of frustration at the other cat who did not seem to be surprised
by her inability to say the simplest thing.
"Oh, can understand me but can't talk huh... Oh well." Her
fellow prisoner looked at his companion with a new found interest.
She obviously wasn't a normal cat but also not of his own breed
either. He was sure the others would find this little discovery
interesting. Of course that meant calling for help and he'd never
hear the end of it if he was caught here. He didn't like his options
all that much.
He thought about it for a second and then decided to stay a
while and try to get out on his own. After all, if worse came to
worse he could call for the others and if he did manage to figure a
way out, what better way to impress his new lady friend. "At least I
got someone to talk to till I figure a way out of this hole. It can
get rather boring when you're stuck on death row where your closest
intellectual company is some mutt chasing his tail." At the words
`death row' C-chan looked around her cage with a new sense of
urgency. "Don't worry about it. I'll figure a way for us to get out
here." He said to try and calm her fears. C-chan looked skeptical.
"Hey, trust me, I got connections. It's liable to take a little
while, but I will get us out. So, if we're going to be together for
a little while I guess introductions are in order. I know who you
are." At her look of surprise he tried to wiggle his eyebrows in a
lecherous smirk. "You're beautiful and...I'm Artemis."

%End Chapter 5

Okay, that's chapter 5. Chapter 6 is already in the works.
C&C is very welcome.
Special thanks to T. H. Tiger for his creative assistance
which has been and continues to be extraordinarily helpful. If you
think we've been cruel so far, wait till you see what is to come.
For you heathens who don't know who Artemis is check out
Sailor Moon.
If you wish to check out my other works look at:
http://www.mala.bc.ca/~tritscwa
I'm presently off for the summer so don't expect my webpage
to be too recent, I have no home ftp service (sympatico is pitiful
but it's free so...).
Bye for now.

Ranma 1/2
Altered Destinies: A scary thought

What's happened so far: Kasumi Tendo and Ranma Saotome were
switched at an early age and raised by the other's parents. Now
Kasumi is cursed to change to a man and has just recently returned to
Nerima with Genma after a training trip in China. She is now engaged
to Ranma, who isn't pleased, has attracted Kuno's attention, and has
to deal with a very upset Ukyo who turns into a wolf (which is often
mistaken for a dog) and guess who's fault that is. Then there's the
matter of Ranma taking Ukyo-wolf as a pet. Oh yes, there's also
C-chan, a certain pink furred cat presently on death row... I mean at
the animal shelter, who can't remember who she is. With her is a
certain talking cat by the name of Artemis.

%Chapter 6

Nabiki pinched the front of her nightdress between two
fingers and fluttered it in an attempt to cool her overheated body,
pulling it away from her sweat soaked breasts and allowing the
marginally cooler night air to wash over them. The weather was hot
and humid, and after two hours of tossing and turning Nabiki had
given up on sleep. Now she sat beside her bedroom window looking out
over the rear garden. She was outlined by the bright moonlight that
flooded in through the window, dividing her room into areas of
silvery light and black shadows. Her mind wondering idly from
subject to subject.
She kept coming back to one particular subject, one
particular aggravation that had caused her to loose her normally
detached attitude time after time, and had thrown her tightly
controlled emotions into a constant state of turmoil. Suddenly the
sound of her bedroom door opening broke her train of thought.
Turning she faced the door as it opened, revealing a figure that
meshed so thoroughly with the thoughts she had just been having that
it took her a minute to separate the present reality from her
thoughts of seconds before.
She ran her eyes over the figure standing in the shadows, not
needing to see him clearly. Every one of his features was indelibly
etched into her mind, and she had no need of light to picture the
strong jaw, the soft brown eyes that she had found herself lost in
far too often recently, the broad shoulders tapering to a narrow
waist, the small hips, the tight... Nabiki gave herself a shake and
brought her mind back to the present, something she found herself
having to do far too often lately. She forced herself to push all
emotions out of her mind and addressed her late night visitor.
"What can I do for you...sister?"
"It's time to stop the lies Nabiki."
Nabiki sat up straight. This was not a statement she would
have expected to hear from her normally deferential sibling. "What
ever could you be talking about?"
"Don't play coy Nabiki, I've seen those looks you throw my
way when you don't think anyone is watching. And, then of course,
there are these little bits of artwork."
Lifting a folder in his hand he pulled out several
photographs then, dropping the folder to the floor, he fanned the
pictures in his hand. As soon as Nabiki had seen the folder she had
known, and she now found herself in the unusual and uncomfortable
position of being intensely embarrassed. The embarrassment rapidly
changed to anger. "Those are mine. They were in my room. You had no
right to go through my things." All the while a little voice in her
head was saying in a panicked tone, she knows, she knows.
Kasumi's face, still lost in the shadows, twisted into what
would no doubt have been a sardonic expression if Nabiki had been
able to see it. There was no need to see his face, however. His
voice carried more than enough clues as to his attitude. "Yours? I
suppose they are, but then the subject matter does, you must admit,
justify at least a little vested interest on my part." He held up
the pictures in his hand and looked them over before turning them
over so that they faced Nabiki.
The pictures were too far away, and too lost in the shadows
to be seen clearly. Nabiki had no need, however, to see them
clearly. The slight details visible from where she was were all that
was necessary. Her mind supplied all the details that were not
visible to her unaided eyes. Various pictures of Kasumi in a
selection of candid shots, all in his male form, all somewhat more
revealing then what you would find in a family album. Plus, just as
the images were ingrained in her mind, her own person was ingrained
in them in the form of much handling. The edges were wrinkled and
stained from contact with a sweaty grip that was not always as
careful as it should have been while handling photos.
Ignoring or denying to herself most of Kasumi's words she
focused on the matter of the pictures. "Okay sis, you've caught me,
but you can't blame a girl for trying to make a little money can you.
You are a very popular item among the girls at school after all. It
would be very bad for business not to have a product when there is
such a good market available." The words tripped off of Nabiki's
tongue with no need to think. She had been justifying her little
collection to herself for so long after all. She only hoped Kasumi
was more gullible than she was. Somehow she could not seem to fool
herself in this matter, but she kept trying.
"Really? These are for sale? I'm surprised to see someone
of your reputation... selling such shoddy merchandise."
Kasumi stepped into the moonlight that flooded in through the
bedroom window and Nabiki found her heartbeat increasing as the
silver light washed over Kasumi's form, casting all his features into
highlight, the plains of his face, his broad... Nabiki drew in her
breath as she saw that Kasumi's shirt was open and his chest
glistened in the moonlight that refracted from the sweat beaded
across it. For what seemed a timeless eternity, Nabiki found herself
unable to tear her gaze from that broad well muscled torso. Then
Kasumi's voice cut through the fog that had surrounded Nabiki's mind.
"Lets stop the games Nabiki!" Kasumi said as he let the
pictures in his hand drop. They fluttered and swayed, each one
taking a different route to the floor. Nabiki found herself unable
to pull her eyes away from them as they slowly fell to the ground.
There, a picture of Kasumi facing down a group of bullies
taken just the other day, another slightly older taken shortly after
his arrival, of him practicing a kata, lost in his own private world,
and totally isolated from the mundane surroundings of the dojo.
Nabiki, once again lost in her own thoughts, was startled to
suddenly find Kasumi mere inches from her. Surprised, she found
herself backing up, trying to get to a distance where she would not
be overwhelmed by the large masculine presence that had suddenly been
thrust into her space. She managed a few steps backward and then
found herself pressed against the outer wall of her room. Kasumi had
moved with her and Nabiki found herself still inches away from the
body that had been seriously disturbing her emotional equilibrium
ever since Kasumi had shown up after a ten year absence.
"You're such a pretty girl Nabiki." Kasumi almost purred as
he reached forward and ran a finger slowly down the side of Nabiki's
face. "Do you think I haven't noticed the glances? Every time I'm
in this body you can't pull your eyes off of me. Time after time I
feel the pressure of your gaze burning into my back. The heat in
your eyes could kindle a flame in a far more fire resistance object
than myself."
Nabiki had been shocked by first the touch that seemed to
sear her skin and then the words. The tone of Kasumi's voice sent
shudders through Nabiki's body but, when the content of those words
impinged on her consciousness, she broke free of the paralysis that
had frozen her in place. She tried to escape by ducking around
her...sister. This is not happening, this can't be happening, she
thought. The little voice in the back of her mind laughed at her
silent protestation.
She found her escape rout cut off as Kasumi pressed a hand to
the wall on either side of her. Swallowing the fear that was rising
in her she turned her head to face the person that had trapped her,
only to find Kasumi's face almost within touching distance. Twisting
her head to the side she whispered with as much intensity as she
could muster without raising her voice and attracting unwanted
attention to the predicament she found herself in. "For god's sake
Kasumi, you're my sister." Nabiki shoved both hands against Kasumi
and tried to push him away.
"Sister...does this feel like a sister Nabiki?" Kasumi
purred as he placed his own hand over one of Nabiki's and forced it
to stroke across his bare chest, slick with sweat from the heat of
the night. Nabiki shuddered as she felt the silky smooth skin
overlaying muscles as hard as the wood wall she was backed against,
but at the same time unmistakable so very, very human. She felt heat
spread through her body, and for a second she wanted with all her
being to give into the overwhelming sensations that were flooding
through her body. She let herself go limp and she started to sway
towards Kasumi. Her arms folded up and she felt herself pressed
against her sister....sister! Suddenly, panic stricken, she pushed
away with all the strength she could muster. Tossing her head to the
side, she whimpered in denial. "Please." Just that one word, all
she could seem to squeeze out from a body that seemed not to have
enough breath for any other protestation.
"Please...please what little one?" Kasumi asked, his voice
hoarse with restrained passion. Catching her chin between the thumb
and fore finger of one massive hand he halted Nabiki's thrashing and
forced her head back so she was looking into his eyes. "Please what
little one?" He repeated. "Maybe this?" Holding her firmly he oh
so very slowly lowered his head, slightly parting his lips. Nabiki
found herself frozen, caught in the warm depths of his eyes, and, not
until his lips gently, so very gently pressed against hers, and the
tip of his tongue caressed her own slightly parted lips, did she come
to her senses.
"NOOOOOO!" Nabiki screamed, her arms thrusting out as she
wildly twisted her head to the side, her cheek brushing against her
drool coated pillow... Nabiki blinked her eyes and rolled over in
her bed. Sitting up, her eyes darted to every corner of her darkened
room. After a moment she flopped back down on her bed, her breath
whooshing out of her in a long firm exhalation. "God Nabiki, you are
turning into a truly perverted and strange person... Perhaps I should
give Kuno-baby a second look. I'm starting to think we might not be
so incompatible after all."
At least in the real world I don't have to worry about Kasumi
threatening my virtue, Nabiki thought with just the slightest bit of
wistfulness underlying her words. Thank god for small miracles.
Nabiki composed herself and tried to get some sleep. It was a very
long time in coming, and shortly after she fell asleep her face
flushed and her breath started to come in quick short gasps as her
body twisted in her bedding. She did not reawaken.

C-chan stared down at the floor of her prison. I'm going to
die, I'm going to die, she repeatedly thought to herself with a
growing sense of hopelessness. She'd never felt so helpless. Well,
actually her memories were still highly elusive so maybe she had but
she doubted it.
Despite her best efforts over the last few days she could
recall little of who she was. She knew she was in fact a human. How
she became a cat and how or even if she could change back were still
questions left unanswered. She couldn't even remember her real name,
just the name the girl had used for her. Where she came from and why
she was here were yet more questions without answers.
It was aggravating. She was locked in a pound, just a few
short days from being executed. Oh yeah, sure, they had this nice
euphemism of being put to sleep but that didn't change the fact that
she'd never wake up. She could feel panic well inside her and she
fought to keep it under control.
"Just stay calm." Artemis whispered to her and she shot him
a look showing just what she thought of his advice. He stumbled
backwards in his cage as if the look was a physical blow. "Okay,
okay, maybe my escape plans haven't been so hot." She maintained her
angry glare. "All right, lousy, but I'm trying. Tonight for sure."
C-chan relented and turned her look back to the ground, her
anger being quickly replaced with her fear. He was trying, she had
to give him that, and she was grateful but she was still here. She
couldn't die, not like this, but in this body she had no means of
defense. Despair assaulted her as she renewed her mental chant, I'm
going to die, I'm going to die...

"Where are we going Akane?" Nabiki asked as she tried to rub
the sleepiness out of her eyes while following Akane down a street.
"I just want to check on C-chan." Akane responded then
looked back at her sister who was falling behind. "Didn't you get
any sleep last night?"
Nabiki gave Akane a brief glance then looked off to the side.
"No, I had a totally gross nightmare."
"Oh?" Akane looked at Nabiki questioning but got no
response. She shrugged and returned her attention to the road ahead.
Nabiki looked off at nothing, trying desperately to banish
the dream from her memory. Unfortunately, her attempts served only
to strengthen the images. "Where is Kasumi?" Nabiki suddenly asked.
She need to blow off some steam or she was going to go crazy.
"She had to go see the vice-principle this morning so she
left early. I think he's impressed with her work." Akane replied
then looked back at Nabiki. "Why?"
"It's nothing, nothing." Nabiki answered defensively. That
last thing she needed was for someone to figure out what was going
through her head. She wasn't so sure she could live down that kind
of embarrassment.
Akane continued to examine Nabiki for some hint of an answer.
She knew something weird was going on between those two. Maybe
Nabiki was jealous that she wasn't the oldest anymore. Maybe she
hated that fact that Kasumi had a job already. After all, Nabiki
didn't like to be shown up, especially when it came to money.
Akane dismissed her questions and looked ahead. They walked
on for a few more minutes until they arrived at the animal shelter.
"I'll just be a minute." Akane said as she entered, leaving Nabiki
standing outside to think.

Even before the door finished closing behind her, the girl at
the reception desk was shaking her head. "I'm sorry Akane, no one
has taken her yet." Akane's shoulders slumped and she turned to go
back outside. "Akane?"
Turning Akane looked back at the girl. "Why?" She asked.
"C-chan is such a pretty cat. Why won't anyone adopt her?"
"There just haven't been any people in this week that are
looking for cats, I'm afraid." The girl replied. She hesitated for
a second and then continued. "Akane, I need to clean her cage.
Would you like to come back and hold her while I do that?"
Akane's face lit up at this but then she frowned. "I thought
your boss had a rule not to let non-staff back there."
The girl gave her a wink. "Old Cruella's not here at the
moment. If you promise not to tell I will too."
"Thank you, I would love to see C-chan." Akane replied
politely. Then she smiled and said, "I take it you don't have a very
high opinion of your boss."
"Let's just say she's a little too much a pencil pusher and
not enough of an animal lover. I took this job because I love
animals. She took it because it meant a weekly pay check."
Gathering up some cleaning supplies from a nearby closet the
girl who introduced herself as Mai to Akane led them into the kennel
area of the shelter. As soon as she spotted C-chan Akane hurried
over to her cage. C-chan stood on her hind legs and braced her front
legs against the door of her prison, she let out a loud Meow of
entreaty. "Well," Mai exclaimed as she watched this, "if she would
show that much emotion when other people visited she might have been
gone by now. She sure seems to be fond of you."
"I know," Akane replied, "and I don't know why. After all,
if it was not for me she would never have been injured or ended up in
here." Akane wiped a tear away from her eye. "She should hate me,
instead she seems to love me." Her voice firmed and she continued.
"I'm not going to let her die!! I don't care what it takes. I Am
Not Going To Let Her Die!!"
"No need to shout dear, I believe you." Mai said.
"Sorry, I just feel so bad about this."
"It wasn't your fault dear. From what you told me when you
brought her in I don't see how you had much choice. You were
startled when you hit her, and then your sister's allergy made it
impossible to keep her. Life sometimes just does not play fair."
Mai had put the cleaning supplies down and reached up to an
upper shelf where she recovered the master key for the cages. "Why
do you have a key locks on the cages." Akane asked. "I would have
thought a simple lift latch would have been all you needed."
"For the animals, yes." Mai replied. "Unfortunately, there
is a certain brown haired nutcase in this neighborhood who would be
delighted to take all of the animals home with her, and is not to
good at filling out forms."
"I don't understand. I thought you wanted people to adopt.
Why can't you just help her fill out the forms? Maybe she would give
C-chan a good home." Akane said with rising hope.
"A home, yes. Good, no." Mai replied. "Pheasant under
glass might be good, cat or puppy on the other hand most definitely
is not."
Akane looked shocked. "You mean she cooks them?!"
"No, no!" Mai exclaimed. "I mean she treats all her cute
things the same. It might be all right to put a bow tie or a doll
under a glass dome, but it is not good for living animals. Just
trust me on this, you do not want Azusa anywhere near an animal you
love. Now, if she were to take a fancy to the boss... Anyway lets
get your little friend out of her cage before she passes out from the
smell." C-chan looked so offended at this last comment Akane could
almost believe she understood what was being said instead of merely
being impatient to be let out of her cage.
"Whoops!" Mai exclaimed. "Almost forgot." She picked up a
long pole with a hook on the end and pulled shut the window that was
supplying fresh air to the room.
"What do you need to do that for?" Akane asked. "You afraid
she's going to make a run for it?"
"You'd be surprised. Two days ago that white Tom next to
your friend almost made his escape through there. If he hadn't
tripped on a turned over bottle he would have gotten clean away."
Akane and Mai missed the dirty look C-chan turned on Artemis. He,
however, did not and his white fur became slightly red tinged.
Unlocking the cage Mai reached in and extracted C-chan who
she handed to Akane. "You two get reacquainted while I do a little
house cleaning here."
Akane carried C-chan over to a nearby stool and sat down.
Softly stoking her Akane murmured into her ear. "I don't care what
it takes, I'm going to get you out of this. Those walls are made of
the same bricks I break every day. If I can't get you out the front
door I'll just make a back one." Akane was a bit surprised at the
loud purr C-chan made as she said this. "I guess even Ranma can be
right once in a while. Animals might not know what the words mean but
they can understand what you mean by your tone." She sat there
stroking C-chan for another few minutes and then all too soon it was
time for her to go back into her cage. "Thank you Mai." Akane said.
"I'll be back tomorrow to take her out of here." At Mai's look of
surprise she continued. "I don't care how, and I don't know either
but some way, somehow C-chan is out of here tomorrow... Mai?" When
Akane saw she had Mai's full attention she looked her straight in the
eye. "Don't let anything happen to her until after tomorrow,
please... I will be back." Then, back straight and with a measured
stride Akane left the kennel. As soon as she was out of sight of
Mai, however, her stride faltered and she ran a hand through her
hair. "Now all I have to do is figure out just how I'm going to
convince Aunt Nodoka."

Nabiki leaned against the wall and collected her thoughts.
You're sick Nabiki, sicksicksick, Nabiki thought to herself. Why
couldn't she dream about someone more reasonable, like Ranma? No,
she had to dream about... Kasumi! She knew it was wrong but
apparently her sub-conscious didn't give a damn. It didn't care that
Kasumi was her sister. Oh no, it just cared that he was the most
gorgeous hunk of a guy she had ever... Nabiki cut off the thought as
it started to form a mental image of the person in question. She
needed a distraction, now!
She hunted through her school bag, coming up with her math
text. That would do. Nothing more dry and unexciting than math.
She began leafing through the pages, rereading the section they just
covered in class. Her mind had almost reached a relaxed state when
she turned a page and something fell to the ground. She looked down
at it, trying to place it in her still sleepy mind.
At that moment Akane walked out of the animal shelter, a look
of extreme guilt and sadness of her face. She walked over to Nabiki
who looked up at her in surprise. "Drop something?" Akane asked as
she looked down and spotted what looked like a photo. "What's this?"
She asked and began to pick it up.
Nabiki's mind final clicked with a panic. Before Akane
managed to touch the photograph Nabiki snatched it up. "Nothing
important!" She blurted out as she hid it inside her uniform. Akane
gave her a questioning, confused look. "Ahh, so, how's the cat?"
Nabiki asked, frantic to change the subject.
"She's still there." Akane replied with sorrow and began to
walk off. Nabiki breathed a sigh of relief and chased after her
sister. "She's only got one day left Nabiki!"
"So, what do you want me to do about it?"
"I don't know! Suggest something! I don't want to let them
put her to sleep." Akane exclaimed in frustration.
Now this is something Nabiki needed, a challenge. She set
her mind to work on the problem as they walked to school. "Do any of
your friends want a cat?"
"A few but they can't have one, I already asked. Think of
something else." Nabiki pressed her mind for ideas as Akane waited.
"Well?" Akane asked impatiently.
"Look, give me a minute would ya! I'm running on about 2
hours of sleep. I'm a little slow today."
"Anything!"
"Okay, okay... You could always break her out."
"If I did that Aunt Nodoka would never let me keep her."
Nabiki noticed Akane didn't rule out the break out idea, just
that she would not be able to keep C-chan if she did that. So,
something that would get the cat out and let Akane keep her. "Hmmm.
Not much point in talking to Aunt Nodoka about it..." Nabiki mumbled
as she tried to come up with a solution.
Suddenly Akane's eyes brightened with an idea. "Wait! If I
get Kasumi to let the cat stay I'm sure Aunt Nodoka will let me have
her."
"That won't-"
"Sure it will. I'm sure I can talk Kasumi into it." Akane
said, feeling a sense of hope.
Nabiki just shook her head. "We won't have much of a home
left."

"Hello Kasumi. Sit down." The vice-principle greeted Kasumi
as she walked into his office.
"Hello Sir. You wanted to see me?" Kasumi replied
pleasantly as she took a seat.
"Yes. You've been doing some fine work here. Half the
district is talking about the way you've handled the situation." The
vice-principle said with a proud smile as he examined some papers.
"Over just the last week incident reports have dropped by more than
80%. Even Kuno has gone relatively quiet. That is absolutely
amazing."
"Thank you Sir."
"No, thank you. You wouldn't believe the headaches this
place once caused me." He said as he looked at her. "What would you
say to a slight increase in duties, and pay of course?"
"Why, that's very kind of you but I've haven't been here that
long-"
"Oh nonsense. I judge people on ability, not seniority.
Besides, to be honest, I don't think anyone else would want the
position I'm offering you. You see, some of the other schools around
have some rather problematic kids of their own. After hearing about
what you did here they were hoping that maybe you could help them
out. What we planned to do is get these students together, here at
Furinken. You'd be their home room supervisor. I know it sounds a
bit daunting but-"
"Oh no, I would be glad to be of assistance." Kasumi
responded a bit too quickly for her own liking.
"Wonderful, wonderful. Now, don't worry too much. We're
also bringing in an assistant for you. She's shown some real promise
herself in dealing with problem students. She'll be here in a few
weeks. So, everything sound okay to you?'
Kasumi took some time to think this time. This new job would
certainly give her something new and constructive to do, and with an
assistant it shouldn't be that much more difficult. "Yes, I think
this sounds acceptable."
"Great. Oh, I guess we should also discuss a new student we
have here. She just signed in a couple days ago." The vice-
principle said as he handed Kasumi a folder. "I hear you already
know her."
Kasumi opened the folder and looked at the name, Ukyo Kuonji.
"Yes." Kasumi replied simply.
"Yes, well, I've heard she's been a slight problem and her
file says she has been having some difficulty in school."
Kasumi nodded as looked down at the reports. Inattentive,
moody, prone to violent outbursts... So this is what had become of
Ukyo, and this was before the curse. Kasumi consoled herself with
the few good points also noted: fairly good grades, does volunteer
work and generally helpful to lower level students. At least she
hadn't completely deteriorated.
"She won't be a problem?" The vice-principle asked.
"I'll do my best Sir." Kasumi replied. It was all she could
promise.
"Okay then. We're still getting things together so I'll send
a list of your students along as soon as we compile it. Good luck to
you."
"Thank you Sir." Kasumi replied with a friendly smile as she
got up to leave.

Kasumi stood outside Ukyo's classroom, waiting for her to
arrive. Ukyo was still out to get her revenge, she had made that
abundantly clear. However, over the last several days Ukyo had gone
quiet and that had been worrying Kasumi. Finding out she was coming
here to Furinken only added to her worry.
Kasumi really didn't know why she was here. Talking seemed
to be utterly useless. However, her other options were very
unappealing. If only she could make Ukyo see that what happened at
Jusenkyo was an accident, but that wasn't likely. Unfortunately,
when Kasumi put herself in Ukyo's position she came to the
uncomfortable conclusion that Ukyo had every right to be incensed.
"Hello... teach." Ukyo said as she walked up. She smiled
but her expression made it clear she was not glad to see Kasumi.
"Something I can do for you?"
"Hello." Kasumi replied as pleasantly as she could manage
being the object of Ukyo's anger. "I was hoping to avoid a
confrontation."
"Hey, does it look like I'm trying to rip of your face off at
the moment?" Ukyo replied with a patently false friendly smile but
dropped her act and went to an angry frown. "Let's just dispense
with the garbage." Ukyo said, her voice low so only Kasumi could
hear. "Make no mistake, I don't like you, I hate you, and I'm going
to make sure you're revealed for what you really are. However, I'm
not here to fight you. I have wasted a great deal of my time and
money chasing you down. I figured I better get my act together and
try to rebuild something of what you took from me. Going back to
school seemed like a logical place to start, I just get the added
bonus of keeping an eye on you."
"I see." Kasumi replied soberly. "So, you plan on staying
with Ranma?"
"For now, but don't worry your little head. I plan on
telling him about my curse. I just needed to think of the proper
way."
Kasumi nodded and, having nothing else she could think to
say, turned and left. Ukyo watched her walk away then entered her
classroom. She took her seat and let the seething anger that had
built up inside her drain off as she drummed her fingers on the
desktop. The urge to punch Kasumi's lights out, or at the very least
just launch into a verbal assault had been great but she had managed
to keep it in control. Fights were getting her nowhere and to tear
at someone verbally was just low class, something Kasumi might try
but not her. Still, Ukyo was damned mad.
Besides getting enrolled here she had spent the last few days
doing several things. One was recovering from her visit with the
vet. How humiliating! Even today sitting down without wincing was
difficult. Ukyo consoled herself with the knowledge that she changed
to a wolf and not a dog. Learning that information had more than
made up for the pain of her shots. Two, she had been thinking of a
way to talk to Ranma. Lastly, she had been making plans on how to
deal with Kasumi.
Thinking of Ranma made Ukyo smile and formed a sense of peace
inside her. He was so kind to her, so loving. She felt better than
she had in years in his company. She couldn't remember the last time
she had such a close relationship. She wasn't even sure she ever had
one. Ever since Kasumi had left her life in ruins Ukyo had been
unwilling to let anyone get close to her. It probably was a mistake
but she feared a repeat of Kasumi, letting someone get close to her
and then having that person steal away her life. With Ranma she had
realized all that she had missed. Sure, he thought of her as a pet
but was that love so different from a human relationship. Once she
told him she was sure she could build something.
This train of thought lead to Kasumi and Ranma's engagement.
How unfair! Kasumi would use him, chew him up and spit out the
leftovers. Ranma deserved so much more than that. Ukyo would see to
it he got it. Unfortunately, her plans were still in the
preliminaries. She needed some more time to properly set them up.
Ukyo was brought out of her intense thoughts by the class
leaving for lunch. She scolded herself for missing half the day but
Kasumi remained on her mind. She headed off to eat her own lunch,
all the time considering this situation. Once outside she spotted
Ranma sitting alone by the soccer field and started to walk over.
Unluckily, Akane and Kasumi joined him before she arrived. Ukyo
frowned then sat down on the grass so she could watch the group from
a distance and think.
By the time she finished her lunch she had abandoned any hope
of doing any serious damage today. Her plans simply weren't ready.
However, she still felt like making Kasumi's life at least more
complicated. One possible avenue for this type of attack was
Kasumi's fear of cats, but what to do with that knowledge. She had
already dismissed an up front attack, it would reflect badly on her.
No, what she needed was a middle man, someone she could drop this
tidbit of information with that would use it well.
Suddenly, as Ukyo was pondering this, she felt a presence
behind her. She turned her head to see a small male figure dressed
in ninja garbs using her as cover. He looked up at her and put his
finger to his lips, signaling for her to be quiet. Ukyo complied,
more out of confusion than real courtesy, and watched him as he
peaked around her. She followed his gaze back to the same group she
had been so intent on the last half hour or so.
Ukyo scowled when she realized this little man was spying on
the group Ranma was in, and turned to speak with him, using a
forceful but quiet whisper. "All right, just what do you think
you're doing?"
The little man looked at Ukyo with a slight bit of surprise
then resumed watching the others. "Keeping a look out for a man."
He whispered back.
"And what man would that be?!"
"A foul sorcerer who kidnapped the lady Kasumi about a week
ago. Master Kuno wishes for me to inform him the moment this man
reappears."
Ukyo took a second to process the data and came to one
conclusion. The man he was searching for must actually be Kasumi
herself, just in her alternate form. Ukyo let out a small laugh but
managed to contain her amusement to just that.
"What's so funny?" The little man asked.
Ukyo opened her mouth to tell him then stopped. This was an
opportunity. She remembered this Kuno fellow, one of the older
students who seemed to have an interest in Kasumi. It seems he also
had a dislike of Kasumi's male side and didn't know about the curse.
She had needed a middle man and it looked like she just found him.
"Nothing." Ukyo responded as she considered how best to
pitch her story. "So, you're looking for that guy huh? Yeah, I hear
he's really dangerous."
"No, Master Kuno says he is a foul sorcerer and a coward, but
if he could merely bring him to bay he would smite him. Master Kuno
merely seeks some means of separating the fiend from his cowardly
magics."
R_i_g_h_t, Ukyo thought and then after a second of thinking
replied. "I'm sure you'd love to take him down yourself, wouldn't
you?"
"Oh, that would please master Kuno greatly..." The little
man answered as he went off into a brief daydream but then shook
himself back to reality. "Unfortunately, I am but a humble ninja and
only the master could defeat a man like this one."
"Oh, I don't know about that." Ukyo replied and noticed she
had the ninja's undivided attention. "I hear he has a little
weakness."
"Weakness?" The ninja asked anxiously, almost shaking with
excitement. "What kind of weakness?"
This is too easy, Ukyo thought to herself then started to
explain.

Akane had bided her time and worked up her courage the whole
day. Despite her earlier enthusiasm about asking Kasumi to let
C-chan stay Akane knew that Kasumi wouldn't be pleased with the idea.
Even the mere mention of `cat' sent her into a frantic search to
ensure none were close by. For her to live in the same house as one
might be just too much to ask. Akane dearly hoped not because it was
her only option at the moment and she didn't have time to think up
another one. She had tried to ask her at lunch but the presence of
Ranma there had prevented her. She knew she would have to plead and
she wanted to avoid doing that in front of witnesses if at all
possible.
The day's classes came to end forcing Akane to finally hunt
Kasumi down and ask. She found her sister inside the main school
office. "Kasumi, can I talk to you?" Akane asked from the doorway.
Kasumi finished up with some last minute paper work and
joined Akane. "Of course, I'm done. What did you want?" Kasumi
asked as they started heading down the hall.
"Well, ummm, you remember that... C...A...T we found-"
"C...Cat?!" Kasumi exclaimed, suddenly shivering and looking
around in fear.
"Nono, it's not here." Akane quickly added causing Kasumi to
calm just slightly. "I just... you see, I took it to the animal
shelter, but it... hasn't been adopted yet and-"
Kasumi saw where this was heading immediately and gave Akane
a look, pleading her not to ask. "Akane... please..."
Unfortunately, Akane's pleading look was equally powerful.
"Oh please Kasumi. I'll keep her away from you, I promise. You
won't even know she's there."
"I'll know, trust me."
"They're going to put her to sleep Kasumi. I've tried
everything else I can think of, and I really liked her and... and..."
Akane fought desperately for more points to her argument.
Kasumi looked at Akane and found her will crack. "All right,
all right." She relented. "But, this a great deal to ask of me
Akane."
"I know, I know. Thank you Kasumi, you won't regret it. I
promise." Akane said as she began to race off. "Could you tell
Ranma I'm going to the animal shelter?" Akane called out over her
shoulder.
"Okay." Kasumi replied and watched Akane leave, a happy
smile on her face that somewhat comforted Kasumi. At least someone
was happy about this. Kasumi headed off to meet Ranma at his locker.

Ukyo looked around the corner at Ranma. She felt an intense
nervousness about what she was about to do, tell Ranma. It was a
dangerous step. He could react so badly yet she had hopes for the
best.
She closed her eyes and gathered her inner strength and
prepared to move. However, just as she opened her eyes she let out a
low growl upon noticing Kasumi walk up to Ranma.
"Hi Kasumi. Where's Akane?" Ranma asked as he dumped some
books in his locker.
"She went to the animal shelter to get that
c...c...ca...ca..."
"Cat?" Ranma said as he looked at Kasumi in surprise.
"Why's she doing that? She's not allowed."
"I let her keep it." Kasumi replied then sighed.
"Oh great, this will be fun." Ranma said as he imagined the
state of the house after a week: junked, half burned and only
standing because of some unstable looking repairs.
Ukyo watched this with growing anger. Here she goes again,
Ukyo thought to herself in frustration, playing at being the nice
giving soul again, trying to get close to Ranma no doubt. Ukyo
looked off to the side angrily and notice a bucket of water left from
some student's hall punishment, and smiled.
"I'm hoping to avoid the trouble that happened-" Kasumi
started to explain then suddenly got hit with cold water. Kasumi,
now a man, turned to notice Ukyo who dropped the bucket and marched
up, glaring at Kasumi all the while.
Kasumi looked at Ukyo tensely, Ukyo looked at Kasumi angrily
and Ranma looked confused, surprised that Ukyo had not started a
fight immediately. "Ukyo, haven't seen you in a while. Where you
been?" Ranma asked, hoping to diffuse the situation before he got
caught in the middle of an all out war.
Ukyo started, and glanced over at the source of the voice,
suddenly remembering Ranma was there. "Ah Ranma... Well, I ... ah...
um, I was kind of... ah..." Ukyo paused and tried to collect her
thoughts. Come on Ukyo, damn it, get a hold of yourself, Ukyo
thought to herself, this is no time to panic.
Ranma stared at Ukyo in confusion. Why was she so nervous
all of a sudden? "You okay?"
"Fine, fine." Ukyo quickly responded but she couldn't seem
to calm her nerves.
Ranma looked between Ukyo and Kasumi and seeing that Ukyo
seemed temporarily distracted returned to his locker with hopes of
gathering his stuff and getting clear of any impending clashes. As
he grabbed up some books he found a folded piece of paper. He looked
it over, opened it and read the message written inside.
Ukyo finally controlled herself enough to give Kasumi another
angry glare but before anything happened Ranma started laughing.
"What is it Ranma?" Kasumi asked.
Ranma stifled his laughter and smiled at Kasumi. "Oh
nothing, it just seems you left me a note saying you've been
kidnapped by villains and I should get you to come rescue you."
"Pardon? It must be some kind of joke." Kasumi finally said
as he took the letter and started reading it.
"Yeah, a joke called Sasuke Sarugakure. The guy is a real
moron who works for Kuno. No doubt he's trying to set some trap for
your male side."
"Oh, well, I guess I should go talk with him." Kasumi
replied and started to walk off while Ukyo bowed her head and shook
it in complete disbelief. Ranma shook his own head and chased after
Kasumi and after a second Ukyo followed as well.

"You should just ignore it Kasumi." Ranma said as they
entered the gymnasium. All three looked around the darkened room and
soon noticed the small ninja, disguised poorly in a Kasumi costume
and supposedly tied up, sitting on the stage.
"Help me! Help me! Oh please save me! I'm going to die!"
Sasuke called out in a falsetto voice from the stage, supposedly
struggling in his bonds.
Ukyo had a look of disbelief on her face while Ranma just
shook his head. "That's just plain pathetic, even for him." Ranma
said as he moved ahead of the others and jumped up on the stage.
"Give it up Sasuke. None of us are in the least fooled."
"Nono, I'm Kasumi, not Sasuke." Sasuke said as the others
joined them on the stage.
"Yeah, right, suuurrre you are."
Sasuke threw aside his disguise, ropes and all, and stood up.
"Indeed, you have discovered my deception, but too late! I have you,
you villainous magician!" Sasuke pronounce then jumped up and pulled
a cord opening a trap door directly below Ukyo and Ranma.
"IDIOT!!" Ukyo yelled out angrily as she and Ranma fell.
Sasuke scratched his head as Kasumi walked up next to him.
"That's funny, I thought that was more to the front."
"Are you two all right down there?" Kasumi asked.
"I'm fine." Ranma answered.
"I'll be fine as soon as I ring that little twit's neck!"
Ukyo answered furiously.
"Were you trying to trap me down there?" Kasumi asked
Sasuke.
"Ah, well..." Sasuke began to respond then jumped up and
pulled another cord. "Hehehe-" SMASH!!!
Kasumi blinked in surprise as a giant statue of a bear
slammed into Sasuke and knocked him into the room below. He then
jumped down to join the others, the trapdoor closing a few seconds
later.
"You moron! Were you born this stupid or did you suffer
recent brain damage?!" Ukyo yelled out as she throttled the
unconscious Sasuke.
"Born I believe." Ranma said as he attempted to examine
their surroundings through the darkness. "Why the hell did he trap
us in here?"
Frustrated, Ukyo dropped Sasuke to the floor and began
looking around herself. "How should I know?!" She replied.
Kasumi leaned down to examine Sasuke. "We should find a way
out and take him to the nurse's office."
"A nurse can't cure what ails him Kasumi." Ranma replied as
he started to make his way to what appeared to be a door. He managed
about two steps then noticed that the floor seemed to move. "What
the... The floor's moving!"
"What?" Kasumi and Ukyo asked. They got there answer in the
form of several low `meows' and a variety of other cat sounds.
Kasumi's reaction was immediate, he jumped into Ukyo's arms, holding
her with teeth chattering in fear.
"Kasumi, if you want to live through the day, let... me...
go!"
"Don't panic Kasumi." Ranma said as he walked back over to
Ukyo. "We'll get you out of here."
"Panic?! Panic?! I'm not panicking!!" Kasumi responded
unconvincingly as he continued to hold Ukyo.
"We better get him out of here before he totally freaks."
Ukyo opened her mouth to respond but then thought about it
and remembered the incident back at the house. Not wanting to be run
down by the Kasumi express train again Ukyo nodded in agreement.
Ranma waded his way through the cats to the door.
"I think this door leads back stage." Ranma said as he
opened the door. To his surprise he got a face full of fur. "Now
what?!" Ranma asked as he pulled back and looked at what he had run
into. Despite every effort to keep his calm a shuddering "yipe"
escaped from his lips as he looked into the eyes of an uncomfortably
large tiger. He stumbled backwards and ended up next to Ukyo and
Kasumi as the tiger slowly approached. "So much for that. Any
ideas?" Ranma asked desperately as he tried to keep up a brave face.
"I'm a cook, not a lion tamer." Ukyo answered then threw
Kasumi off and hid behind Ranma. Kasumi quickly did likewise.
"You're the one that got us into this mess, you get us out." Ukyo
said as she pushed Kasumi in front, right into the tiger.
"Nice kitty. Nice Kitty!" Kasumi sputtered but got only a
threatening growl in response. He tried desperately to back up but
tripped over some the tiger's smaller cousins that were trying to
hide behind him, and fell to the floor. The tiger closed the gap
even more, now hovering over Kasumi with a hungry look in its eyes.
His every muscle was seized with fear, paralyzing him. All
he could do is look into the eyes of his death. He had only one
possible escape, become one with his fears. "Reoowwwrr!"
"That don't sound good." Ranma said as Kasumi rolled
backwards, landed on all fours and faced off with the tiger.

%End Chapter 6

Finished, finished, yaah! Isn't life just lovely for this
bunch? C&C is very welcome. Chapter 7 is on its way.
Special thanks to T. H. Tiger for his creative assistance
which has been and continues to be extraordinarily helpful. If you
think we've been cruel so far, wait till you see what is to come.
For you heathens who don't know who Artemis is check out
Sailor Moon.
If you wish to check out my other works look at:
http://www.mala.bc.ca/~tritscwa
I'm presently off for the summer so don't expect my webpage
to be too recent, I have no home ftp service (sympatico is pitiful
but it's free so...).
Bye for now.

Ranma 1/2
Altered Destinies: A scary thought

What's happened so far: Kasumi Tendo and Ranma Saotome were
switched at an early age and raised by the other's parents. Now
Kasumi is cursed to change to a man and has just recently returned to
Nerima with Genma after a training trip in China. She is now engaged
to Ranma, who isn't pleased, has attracted Kuno's attention, and has
to deal with a very upset Ukyo who turns into a wolf (which is often
mistaken for a dog) and guess who's fault that is. Then there's the
matter of Ranma taking Ukyo-wolf as a pet. Oh yes, there's also
C-chan, a certain pink furred cat presently on death row... I mean at
the animal shelter, who can't remember who she is. With her is a
certain talking cat by the name of Artemis. Oh, I guess I should
mention that Kasumi, Ukyo, and Ranma just got trapped in a room full
of cats by Sasuke and that they are now face to face with a rather
large tiger. And then, there's the minor detail that Kasumi is
growling like a cat.

%Chapter 7

Akane raced down the street to the animal shelter with a
feeling of unbound joy. For much of the last week she had been
miserable about what she had done to C-chan. Her feelings had only
worsened with every day that passed. Each day when she went to the
shelter to find that C-chan was still there, one day closer to the
end, she had felt sick. It didn't help matters any that Akane found
herself liking the little cat more and more with each visit. She
couldn't have lived with herself if she let C-chan die in that place.
Fortunately, she didn't have to. Kasumi had been the major
stumbling block to Akane adopting C-chan herself but now Kasumi had
agreed to allow the cat to stay. Akane would do everything in her
power not to violate the trust her sister had placed in her.
Finally, Akane arrived at the animal shelter and nearly
crashed through the door with excitement. The man at the desk looked
up at her curiously and smiled. "Hi Akane. What you doing here this
time of day?"
Akane took a moment to catch her breath and walked over to
the desk. "I came to pick up C-chan."
"C-chan?! Oh yeah, that pink cat we had here. I'm sorry, we
put her down about an hour ago." The man replied with a sad look.
In one second Akane's heart sank through the floor and deep
into the earth below. "WHAT?!" She screamed out in shock.
"Akira!! Stop tormenting the poor girl!" Mai scolded as she
stepped out from the back. "It's all right Akane, she's still here."
Akane breathed a sigh of relief and shot Akira a dirty look as Mai
circled the desk to be next to her. "Akira, can you go get some
registration forms?" She asked.
"Yeah, sure." Akira replied with an amused smiled and went
off to fetch the paper work.
"Don't mind him, he's got a sick sense of humor. Come on."
Mai lead the way into the backroom with the various animals. "I hope
you got your parents' permission on this."
"I do, I do." Akane replied quickly. The sound of her voice
immediately gained C-chan's attention and she rushed up to the cage
door to meet her savior. "I told you I'd get you out." Akane said
as Mai retrieved the keys and unlocked the cage door. As soon as the
door opened the cat jumped into Akane's arms, thankful to be free
from that prison.
"You two look like you'll be happy together. Now, let's get
those forms filled out so you can officially take her." Mai said
then lead Akane back off to the other room.
Artemis watched this all with some satisfaction. By all
appearances his new lady friend had found herself a nice home. With
a frown Artemis realized it was not much thanks to him. His mood
improved a bit when he listened in as Akane gave Mai the various
information she needed including her home address. Maybe when he got
out of this hole he could give her a little visit.
In any case, she may be out but that still left him locked
up. It looked like he'd just have to swallow his pride and call for
assistance. He winced at the thought of the teasing he'd have endure
for this. Well, maybe something would come up in the next few hours.

Kuno approached the gymnasium, a mix of anger and anxious
anticipation on his mind. He was angry because Sasuke had
overstepped his authority and tried to challenge the evil sorcerer
himself. He was anxious because if Sasuke's plan, by some freak
occurrence, did succeed it would leave Kuno looking like a fool who
could not defeat his own enemies. However, if he could arrive in
time to take advantage of his foe's weakness and land the blow that
freed the goddess Kasumi from the bonds of the sorcerer, then her
gratitude would know no bounds.
For a second he lost himself in a daydream... He was
standing over the defeated body of the vile sorcerer. Kasumi was
holding his hands in hers and staring up into his eyes with tears of
gratitude in her own. "O my savior, how can I ever thank you for
saving me from my foul imprisonment?" She turned her face from him
and bit a knuckle. "You could not imagine... the things he made me
do." A small sob escapes her and she buries her face in his manly
chest.
"There, there fair maiden, the Blue Thunder will allow no one
to ever again sully your pure and maidenly form." Taking her chin in
his strong hand he tilts her face up and bends down. A close up
formed of their two faces framed in red roses as Kuno lowered his
head and took his reward. The scene shifted back to the real world
where Kuno was laughing maniacally. "BWHAHAHAHAHAHHA! Yes, I will
have the love of the fair flower Kasumi." Various students walking
across the school yard suddenly recalled urgent errands in other
parts of the school.
Kuno stepped through the door, presenting an air of dignity
and power so formidable that the basketball team practicing there
dared not even think of questioning his presence. He scanned the
team, most of whom looking back at him curiously, and the building,
searching for any sign of either Sasuke or his prey. "Where is that
fool?" Kuno asked no one in particular. "His message said to meet
him here."
Suddenly the whole building began to shake. Everyone looked
around in startled bewilderment, many openly wondering if they were
experiencing an earthquake. They received there answer with an
explosion of wooden planks and the fountain of flying felines that
burst forth from the stage. Everyone, save Kuno, scattered as the
fur balls began to return to earth. Kuno, however, had his eyes
locked onto the object of his unbound hatred, the foul magician who
had so cowardly swept off with his love such a short time ago.
Kasumi was rocketing through the air, engaged in a struggle
with the tiger. He let off a blur of blows, hissing and snarling all
the while, and smashed the tiger into unconsciousness. That enemy
finished off he spun around to land, but saw a new target. However,
this one wasn't like the last. Kasumi mind filled with an anger as
his new target brought out a stick to attack him with.
Ranma hit the ground just in time to see Kasumi descend on
Kuno who had time only to shout out, "fiend, prepare to meet your,"
then he was in a close quarters fight with a crazed martial artist.
Kasumi destroyed Kuno's bokken with one blow then clawed at him
furiously. Fortunately, Kuno lost consciousness before long, saving
him from the severe pain he would surely have had to endure. With
one final strike, Kasumi bashed Kuno into the gymnasium wall then sat
back on his legs and began licking his hand and grooming himself like
a cat.
"Oh brother, this is not good." Ranma said quietly as he
stood up and tried to comprehend what was happening. Kasumi had
flipped, that was for sure, but what was he dealing with? As Ranma
studied Kasumi's actions he drew the only conclusion that made sense,
Kasumi thought he was a cat. Ranma could only guess that when
Kasumi's fear was pushed too far this must be the result.
"That's one hell of a phobia." Ranma commented and began to
approach Kasumi. He really didn't know what to expect. Kasumi might
attack him, he might be passive or he might run off. However, he had
to do something. Kasumi couldn't be allowed to run around in this
state of mind. Ranma just hoped that his experience with animals
applied here as well because if it didn't he might be looking at a
long stay in the hospital.
"Ah Kasumi?" Ranma asked as he approach, hoping that maybe
he'd come out of it. However, Kasumi turned to look at him, still
walking on all fours, apparently not comprehending what he said.
Kasumi looked at him with a cautious uncertainty. "Okay, well, ah,
now I'm not going to hurt you. Everything is just fine." Ranma said
as he edged closer, for what ends he had no idea. Kasumi dropped
down lower, readying himself to move. Ranma tensed up and stopped
his approach, unsure how to proceed. Before he could act further
Kasumi suddenly leapt directly at him. He closed his eyes, expecting
the worst.
To his surprise nothing hit him. Instead, he heard the clang
of metal and a startled growl from Kasumi. He opened his eyes to see
Ukyo, battle spatula in hand, standing in front of him and Kasumi
rolling back to his feet on the floor.
"You stay away from him! You want to tear someone up, try
me!" Ukyo yelled out in challenge. Kasumi growled at her in fury
and set himself to attack.
"Ukyo, are you crazy?!"
"Don't worry about me." Ukyo replied then made a dash for
the door. "Come on kitty, come and get me if you can." Ukyo taunted
as she ran. Kasumi growled again then took the bait and raced after
her, knocking the doors off their hinges as he passed by. After a
second Ranma followed.

Ukyo was no fool. She had quickly come to the same
conclusions as Ranma and that wasn't too good. She knew what Kasumi
was capable of normally and now that he was using this Nekoken he
would be even more formidable. However, he was thinking like a cat.
If she could take advantage of that she just might be able to defeat
him, assuming this wasn't all just some act, which would be just like
Kasumi to try. Unfortunately, she had been caught unprepared and her
mind wasn't providing any good suggestions on how to use this
information. She risked a look behind as she ran off to the field
and found Kasumi still in close pursuit. What she needed right now
was a safe place to think and come up with some sort of plan. To do
that she'd have to lose the cat.
Ukyo flipped into the air and spun around, pulling out some
of her tempura flakes. All she needed to do was raise enough dust to
make her get away. Kasumi leapt into the air to attack causing Ukyo
to mis-throw when she attempted to dodge away. She twisted and
snagged Kasumi with a kick but to her dismay Kasumi shrugged it off
without any discernible effect. In response Kasumi clawed at her
with his hand and slashed cleanly through the fabric of her shirt,
cutting it diagonally from top to bottom.
Ukyo cringed when she realized how close the blow had been to
tearing into her flesh then cringed again as she had to pull her
shirt together to cover herself. "Just great, just great! She must
really love exposing me in public!" She mumbled as she landed and
faced off with Kasumi. She managed one step back before Kasumi
renewed his attack, pouncing on her like a mouse. Ukyo let out a
startled yell but managed to kick Kasumi off. Unfortunately, by the
time she reach her feet Kasumi was already diving down on her once
more and, this time, Ukyo didn't get away.

Ranma arrived just seconds later and found Kasumi jumping
angrily up and down on Ukyo who was unconscious on the ground,
raising a large dust cloud. He hesitated a second, trying to think
up some strategy, but decided it best to get Ukyo out of harms way
first and ran forward shouting. Kasumi, startled by his approach,
leapt off Ukyo and ran towards the street.
Under different circumstances Ranma would have gone after
Kasumi but Ukyo looked pretty roughed up and her shirt was cut in
such a way that it took a fair bit of his will power not to look. If
he left her like that who knew how she'd end up. Besides, he also
had to see to both Sasuke and Kuno. Kasumi would just have to wait.
Ranma quickly pulled off his own shirt and wrapping Ukyo in it
carried her off to the nurse's office.

Kasumi dashed through the streets of Nerima, avoiding crowds
whenever possible. Those that did see him looked on in confusion and
shock at a man running by on all fours. Kasumi was moving completely
on instinct. He really didn't know where he was going, he just ran.
When he finally arrived inside the yard of a large familiar building
he felt somewhat secure, that was until a certain man stepped out
onto the walkway. A feeling of rage that far surpassed any Kasumi
had felt with Ukyo or Kuno filled him at the sight of this man.
The man walked out into the yard and stretched before he
noticed Kasumi's presence. He had only to look at Kasumi's stance
and the rage clear on his face to start backing off in fear. "Nice
Kitty, Nice Kitty. You don't want to kill me do you? No, of course
not." He said as he attempted to make his escape. Kasumi growled
and leapt. The man barely managed a stifled scream of terror.
Mere seconds later Kasumi stood on top of her fallen,
severely battered foe and looked the house over. He felt a need to
get inside yet he could find no entrance. Then he spotted an open
window on the second floor. It was a simple matter to jump inside.

Ukyo awoke to such pain that she dearly wished she could pass
out again. Unfortunately, she didn't. She opened her eyes to find
Ranma, shirtless, wrapping some bandages around her arm. She was
quite shocked at the sight but quickly noticed that she was wearing
his shirt, her own thoroughly torn apart. She took a moment to savor
the attention he was giving her, but then finally spoke. "What
happened?"
"You got completely clobbered by Kasumi, that's what. What
the hell were you thinking?! You saw what he did to that tiger and
Kuno. He could have killed you." Ranma responded as he finished
with the bandages and helped Ukyo to sit up.
"He was going to attack you." Ukyo replied.
"So, you get yourself ripped limb from limb to save me from
being ripped limb from limb. It's a nice thought but I can take care
of myself thank you."
Ukyo blushed at his remarks but her heart leaped as she
interpreted his remarks to mean he cared for her welfare. Ranma
walked off to another bed where Sasuke lay unconscious. He actually
cares about me, even as a human, she thought with a growing sense of
hope. Okay Ukyo, don't jump to any conclusions, but now is the
perfect time to tell him. Ukyo gathered her courage together and
opened her mouth to speak.
"You know, I really hate it when he pulls this kind of crap."
Ranma said before Ukyo managed to say anything.
"What do you mean?" She asked reflexively.
"Trying to trick people like that, it's so damned low. I
don't see why Kuno keeps him around. I can't stand people that try
to deceive and take advantage of others like that!" He answered as
he slapped a bandage onto Sasuke's head. "I mean look at what he
did. He disguised himself as someone he thought Kasumi had a
fondness for to gain an advantage. Sure he did a lousy job of it,
but it's the thought that counts."
With every word Ukyo's hopes were shattered even more. How
could fate be so cruel, taunting her like this?! It simply wasn't
fair! She could never tell him now. If she did he'd hate her for
sure. Ukyo's head slouched and she stared at the floor, trying to
keep herself from breaking down into total despair.
"You all right?" Ranma asked causing Ukyo to look up at him
in surprise.
"Ahhh, I'm fine."
"You should go home and get some rest. Don't worry about the
shirt. Just give it back to me tomorrow. I got a spare in my
locker."
"Thanks."
"Yeah, well, it's no problem. You should really end this
feud with Kasumi. She's really not that bad you know."
"You don't know her like I do." Ukyo responded, her anger
overpowering some of her depression.
"Maybe you don't know her as well as you think. Anyway, see
you. I got to get going. The nurse will be back in a few minutes."
Ranma said then turned and left. Ukyo could only close her eyes and
wish that this nightmare would end.

Nabiki lay in bed, attempting to catch up on the great deal
of sleep she had lost the night before. Unfortunately, two things
weren't helping her much. One was the heat. Even with her window
open, and just her thinnest night clothing on she was finding it
uncomfortably hot. Two was the fact that her sleep was haunted with
those same blasted dreams that had made sleep so elusive before.
She tossed slightly in her bed, her clothing twisting around
her body and her face contorting with the emotional torment she was
enduring in her subconscious. "Please what little one?" He
repeated. "Maybe this?" Nabiki twisted back the other way, her arm
brushing against something that wasn't supposed to be there. Her
eyes shot open and she brought her senses quickly to bear. She could
feel warm breath against the back of her neck and she could hear the
soft breathing that accompanied it.
Normally Nabiki wasn't prone to panic. Under even the worse
circumstances she could usually keep her emotions well in control and
deal with whatever problem she had to confront, calmly and
rationally. However, this wasn't exactly a normal time for Nabiki.
Her feelings were already so twisted that it took most her control
just to keep from screaming out right now.
Nabiki gathered together her wits and risked a slow, very
subtle look over her shoulder. The sight that greeted her caused
Nabiki's mind to grind to a screeching halt. She could do little
more than stare, wide eyed, at Kasumi's male form cuddled up next to
her. Her mind just kept repeating, no, no, this can't be happening.
When their eyes met Nabiki could feel her controls cracking. Then
Kasumi seemed to smile and he licked her affectionately across the
cheek.
That was it. Nabiki's mind could handle no more. Her eyes
rolled back into their sockets allowing the relative tranquility of
unconsciousness to consume her. Kasumi blinked, a little confused,
but then just cuddled up closer and gradually dozed off.

Mai bid Akane farewell as the happy girl left with her new
pet. It always gave her such a warm feeling when she saw a person
and an animal so much in love with each other. It was as if those
two were meant for each other. Heaving a sigh she decided it was
time to get back to work. First things first, she had to go and let
the animal out of his cage.
In the shelter area there was a cage sitting on the floor.
About two and a half feet square, it was usually used for
transporting medium sized dogs to the vet. At the moment it
contained another type of animal. "So big boy, if I let you out do
you promise to behave?"
"Some people have no sense of humor at all." Akira managed
to gasp out with difficulty seeing as he was currently rolled up into
a remarkably small ball for someone of his size.
Akane practically skipped as she walked down the street.
C-chan was safe, and she was all hers. Akane stroked the small cat
who seemed content to just ride in her arms. Mai had warned her that
C-chan might try to escape once they were outside, and had offered
the loan of a carrying case. Akane had declined and was glad now
that she had. The small animal settled into her arms as if she had
ridden there her entire life.
A call from up the street pulled her attention away from the
cat. She looked in the direction the hail had come from and saw two
of her friends from school, Sayuri and Yuka. Waving to let them know
she had heard them she walked up to where they had stopped to wait
for her.
"Boy, did you see what the mysterious hunk did to Kuno in the
gym?" Yuka asked. "He ripped his Bokken to shavings with one blow,
and then did the same thing to Mr. Blue Thunder. God, he's such a
dreamboat." Akane could not help but smile a little at this. She
wondered what her friends would do if they found out their newest
heartthrob was really a girl. Still, she wondered what Kuno could
have done to make Kasumi shred him like that, then shrugged the
thought aside. She was sure Kasumi had a good reason.
"I didn't see it." She answered her friends question. "I
had to get over to the shelter and pick up C-chan." Hearing her name
the small cat pricked up her ears and gave an inquiring Mrem.
"How cute!!" Both girls exclaimed together.
"I never imagined she was such a beauty Akane." Sayuri said.
"I can't believe no one took her." A thought occurred to her at that
point. "Hey, I thought you said your Aunt wouldn't let you keep
her?"
"She did." Akane confirmed. "My sister Kasumi has this weird
allergy, but I talked to Kasumi after school and she said if I
promised to keep C-chan away from her she would have no problem with
me adopting her."
"I don't know Akane." Yuka said. "If I tried to get around
a direct order like that from my mother she'd tan my bottom." At
Sayuri's skeptical glance she modified her statement. "Well maybe
not now that I'm older, but I would definitely be hearing about it in
great detail and at length. At the very least I'd have to take the
cat back to the shelter."
"Aunt Nodoka's not like that." Akane said, but there was a
hint of worry in her voice.
The three friends gossiped for a little while until their
paths separated and they each headed off to their own homes. Alone
again, Akane was no longer almost skipping. In her excitement over
gaining Kasumi's blessing she had completely forgotten about Nodoka.
Her Aunt was not unkind, but she took a very dim view of Akane,
Nabiki or Ranma deliberately going against one of her rare decrees.
Despite her brave words earlier she was not at all that sure that she
would not be ordered to return her new pet.
She was almost home before a possible solution presented
itself to her. She could take a page out of Ranma's book. After
all, if he could hide that `elephant' of his she should have no
trouble with a little thing like C-chan. Then it was only a matter
of getting Kasumi to present her case to Nodoka. Akane was sure that
Nodoka would agree if Kasumi herself asked. That done, she could
take a trip out her window with C-chan, visit the park for an hour
and then come back home with her newly adopted pet. Aunty would
never know that she had gone around her direct order. Satisfaction
at a problem solved put springs in Akane's steps and she was sliding
in her bedroom window within seconds.

About that time Nodoka was getting ready for dinner.
However, she was surprised to find the house rather empty. Soun was
out at a community meeting and would be back soon but that didn't
explain the others. Kasumi, Akane, and Ranma should have arrived
home long ago and her good for nothing husband was nowhere to be
found.
She sighed as she headed upstairs to wake Nabiki. She hoped
Kasumi hadn't run into some new difficulty. No wonder the poor child
was so confused about life, it had the nasty tendency of throwing her
all kinds of problems. Nodoka just hoped that she could bring Kasumi
around and repair the damage that had been done.
Nodoka knocked on Nabiki's door. "Time to get up." She said
but received no response. "Nabiki? Are you awake?" She asked but
again heard nothing. No doubt the girl was fast asleep. She must
have been more tired than Nodoka thought. She briefly considered
just letting her sleep but then she'd get no sleep that night so she
opened the door and walked in.
It took a couple seconds to fully comprehend what she saw.
When she did she nearly repeated Nabiki's reaction but instead
managed to retain her senses. "Kasumi?! Nabiki?!" She finally
managed to stammer out.
Hearing their names called out so loudly and with such
emotion both siblings awoke. Kasumi's mind had finally cleared and
his regular sensibilities had returned. Nabiki, on the other hand,
almost immediately returned to her state of mind before her fainting
spell as soon as she laid her eyes on Kasumi. Kasumi returned the
look in confusion and could see that Nabiki was shaking like a leaf.
Then both noticed Nodoka.
Nabiki could handle it no longer. She screamed at the top of
her lungs, rolled out of her bed and away from Kasumi in a panic and
dashed by Nodoka. She continued to run, and scream, until she
finally ended up in the bathroom. She locked herself inside,
collapsed to the floor, holding herself, and continued to shake as
she tried desperately to control her tangled mess of emotions.
Nodoka had watched Nabiki run off then turned back to Kasumi,
a look of utter disbelief on her face. Before she even opened her
mouth Kasumi jumped to his feet and began to speak, his own emotions
wildly unbalanced. "It's not what it looks like! I swear! We...
I... ahhh... Nothing happened!"
"I hope not!" Nodoka exclaimed in response.
"It's... it's my phobia... it... it... it sometimes does this
to me."
"It makes you sleep with your sister?!!!"
"Nono!!! I just sometimes, sort of, ahhh... lose it."
Kasumi winced at his choice of words as Nodoka scowled. "That's not
really what I... well, maybe it was but... I start thinking like a
cat and... and..." Kasumi tried to continue but his mind just wasn't
producing the words. After a few moments he finally gave up and
bowed his head, his face so red that one would swear he had sunburn.
Nodoka took a moment to calm herself and restrain any further
outbursts. After taking in a deep breath she looked at Kasumi
sternly. "I'll go prepare some tea..." Kasumi winced at the words.

Ukyo arrived at the Tendo home still nursing several
injuries, both physical and emotional. What am I going to do now,
she asked herself as she climbed up to Ranma's window. There she
paused to consider her options. If Ranma ever learned of her
curse... Oh, she just couldn't bear that. Yet, to ensure he didn't
meant leaving.
Ukyo closed her eyes to fight back the pressing feelings of
helplessness. Maybe he was right, maybe it was really low to trick
him like this and maybe she didn't deserve his love. No, it's not
like she intended to deceive him. It was an accident. A voice in
the back of her head quickly added, yeah, maybe at first but what
about now? Ukyo fought for a counter argument but nothing could
really justify it.
She turned away from the window. She'd leave and never come
back. She'd go on with her life somewhere else. Now wait a second,
what about Kasumi. She was the reason Ukyo was here in the first
place. She just couldn't leave Ranma defenseless to that parasite.
Kasumi would ruin him for sure. No, she couldn't leave. She had to
stay and defend Ranma. If he found out, so be it, that would be her
punishment. However, in the meantime she could do everything she
could to ensure Ranma's future happiness. For all Ukyo's selfless
arguments there was always another little voice adding, together with
me.
Her mind made up she quickly entered the room and changed
forms using a stash of water she had placed there before leaving for
school that morning. No sooner had she done so then she heard the
voice of her sworn enemy below thanks to her keener wolf hearing.
She laid close to the floor to listen in and couldn't help but start
snickering as the meaning of the conversation became clear. It
looked like her plan hadn't been a total failure after all.
Her pleasure was brought short, however, when she picked up
on Ranma's voice as he entered. Damn, Ukyo thought, forgot about
that. Sure enough Kasumi immediately called on Ranma to validate her
claims and explain the situation. What spirit was looking out for
her anyway? Probably the same one who's trashing my life, Ukyo
thought to herself.

Kasumi heaved a sigh of relief as he made his way to the bath
and a change of bodies. Thank the gods that Ranma had come home when
he had. For some reason sitting there facing Nodoka, all he could
think of was the scene he and Nabiki had presented. As a result he
was totally unable to frame any sort of rational explanation. It did
not help that his last recollection was of a Bengal tiger looming
over him. Every time he cast his mind back in an effort to remember
how he had ended up in Nabiki's bed that image filled his mind. He
gave a shudder at the thought.
Sometimes his... other self did some truly odd things. The
attack on Genma, who they had found just a few minutes ago, he
understood. Down deep he was still extremely angry at him. Only his
everyday human sensibilities and controls kept him from acting on
that anger. Ukyo... Kasumi sighed as he admitted to himself that
his old friend was attracting a great deal of Kasumi's anger as well.
Kuno was also quite the nuisance although Kasumi hadn't thought him
that much of a bother. Apparently his other self did though and it
never needed much of an excuse.
Then there was Nabiki... They had been quite close as
sisters go before Kasumi left. She had often been quite a fun
playmate in Kasumi's youth. He guessed it had just carried over to
today. It didn't take much that way either. Anyone he felt close to
and trusted could usually bring him out of it. Unfortunately, Nabiki
knew nothing of this.
Reaching the bathroom he tried the door and found it locked
even though the occupied sign was not up. He knocked on the door and
asked, "hello, is anyone in there? I need to get my female body
back." The shriek that answered that innocent question nearly
blasted him out of the laundry room. "Ah... sorry... I'll come back
later then?" Once again a scream rang out from behind the door.
Deciding to stop before his ears suffered anymore damage Kasumi left
as quietly as he could.
Akane had been waiting anxiously for a chance to catch Kasumi
alone. She had been intensely curious about all the yelling and
shouting that had happened a little while ago. She had wanted very
badly to find out what was going on, but she had not dared to leave
C-chan alone in her room before her status was firmly established.
She had peaked out her door a little while ago and seen her Aunt
walking down the stairs, a downcast Kasumi close behind. Since then
she had been listening intently at her door. At last she heard
Kasumi's steps out in the hall and flung open her bedroom door.
Kasumi, who had been lost in thought about how to make things up to
Nabiki, fell into a defensive stance when Akane's door slammed open,
but relaxed as soon as she saw it was only Akane.
"Can I help you Akane?" Kasumi asked and then could have
slapped herself when she saw the look in Akane's eyes.

"Are you insane?!" Nodoka practically screamed, but almost
immediately pulled herself together. "I'm sorry Kasumi...You took me
by surprise...I have had a few too many surprises today I'm
afraid...I am not really at my best." Drawing a deep breath to
compose herself she focused on finding her center and when she was
confident that she was calm continued. "Now, why on earth would you
want to let Akane bring that cat home? After what happened today I
would have thought you would never want to see another cat again."
Every time Nodoka said the C word Kasumi flinched. He tried
to control his reaction as it would not help his argument any. "What
happened today is the very reason I agreed to help Akane." Kasumi
tried to calm himself. He had to remain calm if he was to make his
points. "When Uncle Genma and I were traveling we encountered very
few c..c.c.c.c"
"Cats?"
"Yes, them, Thank you. They were very...wild in the country.
They would avoid people whenever possible...You very rarely saw one
and then only at a distance. Here in the city, it is
different...They...come up to you in the street...You could meet one
anytime, be surprised at anytime." He paused, and tried to compose
himself.
"The few instances you know about aren't the only ones...I
have had...several encounters since I came back from my training
trip." Kasumi closed his eyes and wiped the sweat from his face. He
was looking very pale, but he continued. "This can't go on...I have
to get at least some sort of control...I have to at least try to get
to the point where I don't go into a blind panic at the very sight of
one...That's why I agreed to Akane's request. If I know it is here,
and if Akane keeps it out of sight then maybe I can learn to control
my fear. It will be hard, I know, but I think I can do it."
Nodoka pondered this for a minute. "You make a very good
argument Kasumi. Now, what's the real reason?"
Kasumi's shoulders slumped, and he gently murmured. "I don't
want Akane to hate me."
"Akane would never hate you Kasumi. She's your sister. She
loves you."
"Does she? She barely knows me. She's friendly, but I don't
think it really goes deep. I don't want her to see me as the person
that caused something she cares very much about to die."
"Things die Kasumi. Akane needs to learn that sometimes
there is simply nothing we can do about it."
"But there is something I can do about this, and I have to do
it." The expression on his face went reflective. "I remember when
mother brought Akane home. I thought she was the most wonderful thing
in the world. A living breathing doll just for me. By the time I
was four Mother would trust me to sit and hold Akane while she
cleaned. Soon I was changing her. When we would go on a picnic in
the park after Akane was walking, mother would trust me to keep an
eye on her and see that she did not hurt herself, or go too far. I
loved Akane. It broke my heart when I went to live with you and
Uncle Genma. I think I missed her even more than I missed my mother
at that time." Kasumi looked at Nodoka with fire in his eyes. "I
won't let my fear hurt Akane. I will control it. If I have to move
to my own apartment then I will, but I won't cause the death of
something Akane loves if there is a single thing I can do about it."
Nodoka sighed. "I see. I don't want to hurt Akane either
dear. I had hoped that she would not get her heart involved with
this little cat. I should have known better. Akane was never one
for half measures, she always gives everything she has." Nodoka
smiled at Kasumi. "I'm glad you love your sister Kasumi. I have
spent the last few days fearing that Akane was going to have her
heart broken. Several times I wanted to ask you if you could not
bring yourself to live with your fear, but after I heard what
happened today I had given up on that idea. Very well, Akane may
adopt her pet."
Kasumi sighed in relief. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me, you're the one that has to deal with your
fear, but Kasumi..." Nodoka leaned forward and placed a hand on
Kasumi's knee. "You must not think of leaving here. This is your
home."
"I know, but I'm nineteen, I have a job, and you must admit
things are a little crowded around here."
Nodoka laughed. "Yes, just a little, but they're family and
we love each other. You must admit though that moving out would be a
waste. When you marry Ranma and the two of you take over the dojo
you would just have to move back in." Kasumi just looked at Nodoka
for a minute until she lost her straight face and smiled, a small
laugh escaping her. "I know, I know...when pigs fly. I saw no point
in arguing with my husband or your father but in truth I never really
saw any chance. I'm surprised you agreed to that arrangement to tell
the truth. I truly expected you to refuse point blank."
"To tell the truth I saw no reason to argue either. I
thought if Akane and Ranma had a little time without any pressure
they would soon find people they wanted to be with, maybe even each
other." Kasumi shrugged his shoulders. "It's not like I had any
other attachments after all." He could not quite keep a touch of
sadness out of his voice.
"O my dear, you mustn't think that. You'll meet someone.
Just wait, sometime when you least expect it you'll look up and there
he'll be, your one and only."
"I suppose you're right." Kasumi said, turning his head away
so Nodoka would not see the sudden tears that had filled his eyes.
Nodoka, however, was no amateur at the game of parenting and reaching
out and laying a hand softly on Kasumi's cheek turned his head so she
could look him straight in the face.
"It would seem I have blundered, do you want to talk about
him."
"Him?"
"The boy you're thinking of right now. The one that's making
you cry."
"Really... It's Noth...I mean...there's no...who could
expect...this body...O damn." With that Kasumi lost it and started
to weep in earnest, he wrapped his arms tightly around his chest and
started to curl up into a ball while sitting on his chair, but Nodoka
quickly stood up and wrapping her arms around his neck pulling Kasumi
tight against her chest. Kasumi buried his head in her chest and let
all the suppressed grief from the last few months flood out of her.
Nodoka stroked his head gently, and allowed him to cry himself out.
"This is stupid," he gasped after a moment, "martial artists aren't
suppose to cry."
Nodoka sighed. "Unfortunately I do not have to ask who told
you such a stupid thing. Kasumi, martial artists are people and
sometimes people need to cry. Now, tell me, what is it? Was it your
curse, could he not handle it?"
"You...could say that, when... he... when I showed... him,
well, Ranma's reaction when he found out we were engaged was raving
approval in comparison."
"Kasumi, I know you won't believe me, but you will get over
this, and you will meet someone else. Some where there is a nice boy
who is just right for you."
Kasumi gave a rather shaky laugh. "A nice boy, I suppose."
He managed to put a smile on his face as he drew away from Nodoka.
Getting up from his chair he pulled himself up to his full height and
gestured at his well muscled body. "But what would that nice boy
think of my female form, and if I find a nice boy in that form what
will he think of this form. It's all right." He said forestalling
the comment Nodoka was about to make. "I know there is someone for
everyone, and I'll meet my someone, someday. Thank you Aunty...I
really needed that. I hadn't realized just how much till now."
Wiping the remains of moisture from his eyes with the back of his
hand Kasumi heaved a sigh. "I feel much better now...I guess
everyone needs a good cry, once in a while. I think I'll go and let
Akane in on the good news."

Ukyo raised her head from the floor where she had been
listening to the conversation below. Well it looks like at least one
man was able to see through Kasumi's facade. Maybe there was hope
that Ranma would as well. She did not believe for a minute that
Kasumi had given up on her efforts to get Ranma. She had put on a
good act for Nodoka, but she had not fooled Ukyo. For a minute she
growled over the fact that Kasumi had managed to con her way out of
another compromising situation. It had still happened, however, and
if Ukyo could find ways to show Kasumi's true nature, then they would
remember this incident and the others, and they would gradually come
to realize Kasumi's true nature.
A sudden shout of joy brought her attention back to the
present. It looked like Kasumi had told Akane about Nodoka's
decision. She curled her lips back from her fangs, yet another
incident of Kasumi playing the saint. She was of mixed emotions
considering Akane's new pet. While she resented the small cat for
attacking her a week ago she could all too easily imagine herself
trapped in a pound on death row so she was happy that Akane had
managed to rescue her pet. As well, the cat might come in useful as
a weapon.
She started as the door to the bedroom slammed open.
"Come on Ryouko, this is it." Ranma shouted from the
doorway. Ukyo looked at him in puzzlement. "Sorry girl, guess you
don't know your name yet." He laughed. "How could you? I just
thought it up a little while ago." Calming down he motioned to Ukyo.
"Heel!, let's go and introduce you to mom. This is the best chance
we are going to get. She just let Akane have her cat. We may never
have a better chance." They headed out of the room together and down
the stairs. "Be on your best behavior now girl. We want to make a
good impression."
Nodoka was sitting down in the kitchen finishing off her tea
and thinking of her rather surprising encounter with Kasumi.
"Mom."
Nodoka looked up and saw Ranma standing in the doorway, and
standing beside him was one of the biggest, nastiest looking dogs she
had ever seen. I don't think I can take this right now, she thought
as she drooped her head and covered her eyes with her right hand. A
sudden weight in her lap made her look down at the large canine who
had placed it's head in her lap and was now looking up at her with
pleading eyes.
"Mom, I'd like you to meet Ryouko. She really nice and
obedient and-"
Nodoka held up her hand to forestall Ranma's familiar line of
patter. She had heard it a dozen times before. Looking down at the
soft brown eyes, she spoke. "She's your responsibility. You take
her to the vet."
"Done already."
Without breaking stride Nodoka continued. "You feed her,
bathe her, de-flea her if necessary and see that she gets proper
attention for all other matters." Before Ranma could throw his arms
around her in glee she looked up at him and fixed him with a gaze
that brooked no argument. "You also make up a sheet with a good
description that _I_ will look over when you are done. Then you will
have copies made and posted in all the local stores and on all the
poles for five blocks around where you found her. Agreed?"
A slightly subdued Ranma nodded his head.
"Fine." She looked down at the dog. "She is very handsome
Ranma. I hope you don't lose her." She gave Ryouko head a gentle
pat. "Now lady, if you would get your head out of my lap, I have an
errand to run."

Akane jumped the last few feet to the ground, cushioning
C-chan from the impact as best she could. Adjusting her clothes she
thought, now, an hour in the park and I'll be back home with my new
pet. She turned and almost bumped into Nodoka.
"Hello Akane, I was looking for you."
"Aa... hello Aunty."
"I find I need a favor dear."
Akane was feeling more than a little nervous by now. Surely
Nodoka could not have missed seeing C-chan. "Of course Aunty, what
can I do for you?"
"I was planing on giving the kitchen a good going over with
Nabiki this weekend, but she is...indisposed and I have an errand to
run. You would not mind would you?" Nodoka's tone might have been
gentle but the glance she dropped to the small cat in Akane's arms
spoke volumes.
Akane gulped. "Of course not Aunty, I would be happy to do
that for you."
"I knew you would be. I'll have a list drawn up for you by
tomorrow. If you get an early start I think you can be finished in a
day. Well, I won't keep you any longer dear. Why don't you go and
play with your new pet." Glancing down she looked at the little cat
in Akane's arms. She smiled and gently scratched it between the
ears. " She is very pretty. I'm glad you saved her."
Akane just stood there mouth open in shock as Nodoka walked
away from her.

Some hours later Akira was locking up. "Another day..." He
half mumbled as he grabbed up a clipboard with a list of the
`inmates'. He looked it over and smiled slightly at the line drawn
through C-chan's entry. Sure, he could be a little abrasive
sometimes but he was glad to see another animal with a good home. He
twisted his neck as he remembered his punishment for a certain
`tasteless prank', as Mai referred to it.
He stepped into the holding area, still examining the list.
One particular entry had the rather unfortunate listing of a 6 as the
number of days spent here. Akira looked at the white tom in his cage
and shook his head sadly. "Only got tomorrow left fella. Sorry
about that." Although he knew the cat couldn't understand him, he
could have sworn he saw it shake it's head in sad acceptance. Just
my imagination, he concluded as he hung up the clipboard and shut off
the lights. "Nite fellas." He said as he closed the door.
Artemis looked around his cage in search of some escape. As
with every other night nothing presented itself. His mind wasn't
being all that helpful either. All the possibilities had been
exhausted. Well, that's it, he concluded finally, there is no
helping it, I'll just have to call in some help, as embarrassing as
that prospect is.
Artemis sighed as he produced his communicator and called in
the cavalry. Not long now, he thought as he sat on the floor and
waited. However, after a short while he heard something. He looked
up curiously at the window to see a dark form just outside. Closer
examination quickly revealed it to be a cat, a cat with pink fur.
Artemis stood in amazement and watched as his former fellow prisoner
unlatched and opened the window.
C-chan took a moment to examine the interior of the building.
Great, she mussed to herself as her eyes revealed to her only blurs
in the darkness, I'm probably going to need glasses when I get back
to normal. C-chan paused at that thought as it triggered a familiar
recollection along with a large amount of detest. She tried to focus
on it but the feeling slipped away.
C-chan shook her head in disappointment then returned her
attention to the problem at hand. She concentrated with her other
senses, something she had been getting quite good at lately, which
helped to fill in the gaps her vision left. She made her descent to
the floor safely then made her way to the shelves. They were out of
her reach but she quickly thought of a solution to that problem. She
walked over to a nearby pole, the same one Mai had used earlier to
close the very window C-chan had entered through. She tipped the
pole over to the shelves and amused herself with the thought of using
an object of her captivity to make a break out.
The pole in place, it was no problem for C-chan to climb up
and retrieve the keys. Moments later Artemis and her were dropping
down to the ground outside. "Thanks a bundle. You saved me from a
fate worse than death." Artemis said happily.
"What was that Artemis?" Minako said as she approached
causing Artemis to wince. He looked over to see Minako approaching
together with Usagi and Luna.
"Hiyah girls." Artemis sheepishly greeted.
"So, got yourself stuck in the pound did you. Should have
known." Luna commented.
Usagi nodded as she stifled a yawn. "Yeah, and why didn't
you call earlier? I'm missing a good deal of sleep because of you.
You had us worried sick."
"It was nothing serious." Artemis started to explain.
"Besides, I got out, see. Oh yeah, and I..." Artemis turned to
introduce C-chan but found her walking off. "Hey, wait!"
"Been carousing with common alley cats have we?" Luna slyly
asked causing C-chan to stop and turn back towards her. C-chan
walked over, stared Luna sternly in the eyes then whacked her head
into the ground with her paw. She then turned up her nose at the
black cat who was now rubbing her face in shock and began walking off
again.
"You shouldn't insult Artemis's new girlfriend Luna. I don't
think she takes kindly to it." Usagi commented with a touch of
amusement then yawned. "Let's get back to bed."
"But-" Artemis started to say but got picked up by Minako.
"Save it. You can tell us later. We'll all be in a mess of
trouble if we're caught out this late." Minako said.
"Be seeing you!" Artemis called out to C-chan as he got
carried off. C-chan looked back at him, wondering just what he
meant.
She dismissed the thought and started to walk again but then
stopped. Where was she going? She had slipped away from Akane while
she slept, fully intending on leaving but where to? Her memories
were still toast and without them she didn't know who she was, how to
change back or how to get home. She drooped her head as she tried
once more to force her mind to function properly but as usual nothing
came of it. However, one mental image did come to mind, that of
Akane and the security C-chan felt when close to her. This is
totally silly, she thought to herself, I'm not a cat, I shouldn't be
thinking like this. Despite her protests the feelings remained.
Well, I got no where else to go right now, she finally thought and
headed back off to the Tendos'.

%End Chapter 7

And another one bites the dust. That's the end of the first
story arc. Don't worry. I'm just feeling the need to post this to
the RAAC and now seemed right. Chapter 8 is on it's way. C&C is, as
always, very welcome.
Special thanks to T. H. Tiger for his creative assistance
which has been and continues to be extraordinarily helpful. Mental
torment is our game. Everyone better watch out.
For you heathens who don't know who Artemis is check out
Sailor Moon.
If you wish to check out my other works look at:
http://www.mala.bc.ca/~tritscwa
I'm presently off for the summer so don't expect my webpage
to be too recent, I have no home ftp service (sympatico is pitiful
but it's free so...).
Bye for now.

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