[Ranma][FanFic] Childhood of a Modern Dynasty - Chapter 12: Medical School Blues
jiml...@earthlink.net
School Blues
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Childhood of a Modern Dynasty
Chapter 12: Medical School Blues
Ranma 1/2 characters/situations created and copyright by Rumiko
Takahashi/Shogakukan/Kitty/Fuji/Viz - Used without permission
Childhood of a Modern Dynasty series created, written, and
copyright 1998-1999 by Jim Lazar
An ongoing series set after the end of the Ranma 1/2 manga and anime.
<Speech text in angle brackets is thought by character.>
"Speech text in double quotes is spoken as Japanese."
E-mail comments and/or criticisms to: mailto:jiml...@earthlink.net
Make sure to check out my Modern Dynasty website for
all released CMD stories, graphics files, and other information:
http://home.earthlink.net/~jimlazar/anime/md
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>From the personal journal of James Davidson:
September 2, 2057
I walked towards the Tendo Compound holding my new bride's hand. We
had flown to San Francisco for what was supposed to be a one-night trip.
After I proposed to Hanaki, it quickly turned into a week in San
Francisco. Then add a few days in the desert after our spacejet crashed
and another two weeks in Las Vegas after our impromptu wedding. We then
paid a visit to my mother in New York. She wasn't happy about missing
the wedding, but she and Hanaki got along quite well.
That would have been enough for most people, but then after I got
my leg cast off Hanaki 'extended' our honeymoon with trips to Disney
World, Paris, and Rome. All told, we'd been gone from Tokyo for almost
two months. Not that I'm complaining, mind you.
To keep my editor from bugging me, I sent him the drafts of the
first few chapters of 'Childhood of a Modern Dynasty'. This seemed to
keep him off my back so I could enjoy some time with Hanaki. I didn't
even turn my palmcard on for the first couple of weeks of our honeymoon.
After that, I mostly did some writing and editing for the early chapters
so I could prove to my editor that I was really working. Hanaki was more
interested in having fun than talking about her family and still pouted
about the little work I did. She reluctantly agreed to let me do some
writing after I explained to her that as long as I did some work we
could avoid returning to Tokyo. By the end of our two-month vacation and
honeymoon, I had managed to send the drafts of the first seven chapters
to my editor.
Alas, our honeymoon has come to an end and I must get back to some
real work. Actually, Hanaki has some training to do with the Anything
Goes Task Force that she couldn't put off any longer, so that made our
return all the more necessary. Until our wedding day, I wasn't even
aware she was an active member of the Task Force. She had assumed I knew
what the red streak in her hair meant and I never thought to ask if it
had any particular meaning. I had assumed it was just fashionable these
days in Japan, since there seemed to be a number of unusual hairstyles
circulating among the younger residents of Tokyo that make the simple
red highlight look almost natural in contrast.
She was Hanaki Davidson now, but no matter what the last name, she
was still a member of the Tendo family and that carried some
responsibilities... to the family and the world. Considering the fact
that the 'Tendo Family' consists of people with a wide assortment of
family names, one might wonder why they all consider themselves Tendos.
That's part of the reason I'm writing my second book about Akane's life,
to try and let the world know the real history of the Tendo family. The
public doesn't really have a good understanding of who they are and
where they came from. Even I am constantly shocked by some of the events
that shaped Akane's life, and she's just one person. Everyone in the
family has their own tale to tell. I may never be able to tell the whole
story, but I'm going to do my best.
I was shaken out of my thoughts by a deep kiss from my new wife. As
our lips parted, I smiled back at her and noticed we had reached the
Compound gates. She keyed her new wristtop to open the gate and led me
inside.
"Home sweet home," Hanaki said, smiling when she saw the lush
gardens ahead of us.
"I thought you liked getting out of the Compound?"
"I do, but you can only stay away for so long before getting
homesick," Hanaki explained.
I had to agree. Although I do a lot of traveling, it is nice to
have a place you can call home. Of course, now I had a home here in the
Compound. I was going to miss living back in America, but I haven't
spent much time there lately anyway. I'm starting to wonder if I've
spent so much time recently in Japan because of my research for the
books or because I never felt at home anywhere else. If pressed, most of
this research could have been done by holo-phone, just like the early
research I did for 'Birth of a Modern Dynasty'. Somewhere along the
line, I wanted to be here in person, so I ended up doing most of my
interviews and research in the Compound. I don't even remember why I
made that decision back in fifty-five. Well, home is where the heart is
and my heart is with Hanaki. Maybe it always has been, I was just too
stubborn to realize it sooner.
"I guess we'll have to spend the next day or so moving my stuff
into the South Building," I mentioned as we walked.
"Just unpacking. Grandma had them pack up your stuff from your
apartment while we were gone and put it into our new rooms," Hanaki
explained.
"Well, that's helpful, not that I had much there anyway. I'll have
to send for the rest of my stuff from America. I wonder what our new
place looks like?"
"They gave us one of the nicer suites on the bottom floor, with
it's own bathroom and family room," Hanaki informed me. I realized then
that she had made some arrangements already while we were gone.
I smiled. "Ah, that's why you married me... to get a better place
to live."
"Of course," Hanaki said, flashing one of her best smiles. My knees
buckled under the feeling of the kiss that followed. You'd think I would
be used to the feeling of her kisses, but Hanaki's kisses were uniquely
sensual. At least to me they were.
A female voice interrupted the kiss. " Welcome to your new home."
I broke the kiss and looked over to the source of the voice, which
was a woman kneeling in a full formal bow with her hands crossed in
front of her. "Oh, Mrs. Ono. It's nice to see you again." I returned her
bow, but I couldn't match hers, since my leg still hurt from the
accident. Not that I could have before the accident, mind you. The one
time I had tried to emulate a full bow, I had gotten severe leg cramps.
It might have been funny if I hadn't fallen on the hostess at the time.
"James," Kasumi said softly, rising from her bowed position.
"You're family now, you can call me Grandma."
I smirked. "Of course... Grandma. You're looking well," I said,
truthfully. Although she did show her eighty years more than Akane
showed her seventy-six, Kasumi looked remarkably fit and had a sparkle
in her eye that reminded me of Hanaki. The white hair and wrinkles
showed a woman who had experienced life. I hope she had lived the years
to the fullest.
"Well, for an old woman, I guess I am."
"Nonsense, you don't look a day over twenty," I insisted.
"Oh, Hanaki is right, you are a charmer. I like the ears, by the
way."
I frowned. I never really thought my ears were anything special.
"Excuse me?" Kasumi tapped her head. I gasped as I realized what she
meant. I reached up, pulled the Mickey Mouse ear hat off my head, and
glanced at Hanaki. "I really wish you'd tell me when I forget stuff like
this."
"Awww, James, you looked so adorable with them on I wanted to show
you off," Hanaki said. Sometimes her sudden shifts into a playful mood
thrilled me, but not always.
As I always did in situations like this, I grinned at my wife and
accepted her playfulness. Love is a wonderful thing.
"Well, let's show you your new home," Kasumi said and led me into
the South Building, which was where most of the Onos lived. As she
walked, she used a fancy cane for support. She moved slowly, but still
had a pleasant little spring to her step.
"Tanji, they're here!" Kasumi called out.
A young teenage boy came around a corner and smiled. "Welcome, Mr.
Davidson. I'm Tanji Ono."
"Nice to meet you. You're Kasumi's grandson, right?" I asked,
trying to recall the Tendo family tree in my head. It was a very twisted
tree with some... unusual branches. Even the relatively normal Ono
branch had some usual people in it.
"Yup, and Hanaki's favorite cousin," Tanji said.
I glanced at Hanaki and noticed she stuck her tongue out at him. I
wasn't sure if that indicated that they were close or not, since Hanaki
has been in a very playful mood since our marriage. For fear someone may
read my journal one day, I won't go into details about how playful she
got on our honeymoon. Not that I'm complaining, mind you.
"I've got a present for you," Tanji said. In a flash, he held up a
gun and pointed it at my head.
I flinched and fell over backwards. Just the sight of the gun
shocked me, but the fact that the Tendos didn't rely on weapons of this
sort surprised me the most. I remember reading some accounts of the U.S.
Army's first attempts to fight the Buyierfei with conventional weapons
and how ineffective they were against the black demons.
"Tanji! Don't do that, you're scaring him!" Hanaki scolded her
cousin.
Tanji grinned. "Relax, it's just a tag gun. I need to put a tag
under your skin so the Compound systems can identify you. No more stick
on visitor badges for you."
I got up and brushed off my pants. "You could have told me that
first."
"Where would the fun be in that?" Tanji said, grinning. "Left wrist
please."
Sometimes this family scares me. I knew there had to be a way that
the Compound systems managed to keep track of everyone, but the thought
of something being put under my skin permanently was a little
frightening.
Hanaki must have noticed my reaction, because she took my hand and
comforted me. "Don't worry, James, we all have them. Without it, you
won't be able to use any of the Compound systems. Look, I have one just
like everyone else here." She showed me the little bump on her wrist. I
never noticed that bump before, not even while we were on our honeymoon.
Of course, I didn't spend that much time examining her wrists. Other
parts of her I have become quite familiar with, but not the wrists. I
might have to expand my examinations tonight and see what else I've
missed.
"Okay, I was just a little surprised," I said, then rolled up my
shirtsleeve. Tanji put the gun to my wrist and squeezed the trigger.
With just a little pressure, the tag was driven under my skin. I rubbed
the spot and noticed that there was just a little blood and swelling.
Suddenly, I rolled my eyes and dropped to the ground.
"Oh my!" Kasumi gasped. She knelt down at my side and felt for my
pulse.
"Oh no! Did I mess up? I'm such a klutz," Tanji said. I could hear
the nervousness in his voice.
"You can get up now, James."
I grinned and opened my eyes. "Can't fool my bride, I guess."
"How amusing, James," Kasumi said, tittering into her hand. "If
your pulse wasn't so strong I would have thought you had really
fainted."
"Not nice," Tanji muttered, then helped me up. "Tactical: South
Building, three by three, center on me." A three-dimensional holographic
display of the building we were standing in unfolded in front of us in
an overly elaborate animated sequence. Four blue dots were in the
center, us apparently. Other blue dots and a couple of green visitor
dots were scattered throughout the rest of the Building. "Tactical:
I.D."
Labels started appearing next to the dots. 'Kasumi Ono', 'Tanji
Ono', 'Hanaki Ono', '-new tag 0028308-'. That last one must be me. "Just
call me Oh-Eight for short," I quipped.
Hanaki and Kasumi chuckled at my joke, Tanji wasn't amused.
"Tactical: Tag zero-zero-two-eight-three-zero-eight is identified
as JAMES DAVIDSON. Husband of Hanaki Ono," Tanji instructed the systems.
"Grant him access level five to the Compound, plus level seven to the
South Building."
"Level ten approval required," the female system voice replied.
"Change authorized," Kasumi said.
"Change confirmed," was the system's response.
"Tactical: Change Hanaki Ono to Hanaki Davidson," Hanaki added.
Both tags changed to their new names.
"You can keep using Ono if you want, Hanaki," I said, giving her a
hug. We had already discussed this, as well as my using the Ono name,
but I didn't want her to feel obligated to change it right away.
"Nope, I'm a Davidson now. Besides, it's nice to have a unique name
with all the Onos running around here."
I smiled. "Diversity is the spice of life."
"Now that all the gadgets are taken care of, let's show you around
your new home," Kasumi said, pulling Hanaki and me away. We said goodbye
to Tanji, who promised to give me an introduction on how to use the
Compound systems later.
"I take it you don't like all the technology around here?" I asked
Kasumi as we walked.
"Well, I know it's necessary, but it unnerves me sometimes. Of
course, it used to be much worse until they started hiding it. We looked
like we were living in a fortress," Kasumi said.
I smiled. "Well, until recently I didn't even know about any of the
support systems you used. During the research for my first book I never
saw any of it."
"They hide it very well," Hanaki explained, with a slight grin.
As we walked, Kasumi showed me the main kitchen, the large central
family room, one of the three internal gardens, the communal baths and
hot spring. The hot spring was artificial, of course, but the fact that
they had one made me wonder how isolated the Tendos really were. I know
Akane had trouble going out without being recognized, but I wonder how
bad it is for the others. I tactfully declined Kasumi's suggestion to
jump into the co-ed hot spring. It might take me a while to get used to
that particular custom.
I was amazed as we passed a door marked 'hospital'. "Hospital?"
"Yes, we have our own little hospital here in the South Building.
Mostly it's a large clinic, but we call it a hospital just for fun,"
Kasumi informed me.
"I guess with the size of the Compound I shouldn't be too
surprised," I said, peeking into the hospital. It was mostly a series of
examination rooms and what looked like a couple of operating rooms at
the far end.
"Well, my late husband and I built our new clinic and house here
after Furinkan was destroyed. We just added on quite a bit over the
years to that original building. In fact, Hanaki was born in that far
left-hand room; she was such a precious child."
"Grandma, you're embarrassing me!" Hanaki exclaimed, blushing.
"Too bad she grew out of that stage."
"James!"
I smiled at my new bride. "Just kidding, Honey. You are very
precious to me." I smiled lovingly at her.
"Would you two like to be alone?" Kasumi asked, smiling sweetly.
I wasn't sure if she was kidding or not. "Err... sorry. Anyway,
I've been meaning to talk to you about some of your experiences for the
book I'm writing." I didn't miss the look Hanaki gave me as I said this.
"Hanaki's right... you are all business sometimes."
I gulped. "Well, it's just that I want the book to be more about
the whole families' experiences and not just Akane's life. You wouldn't
believe all the holo-mail we received after the first book asking if you
ever landed Dr. Tofu or not."
Kasumi smiled. "Well, my children, Hanaki, and all my other
grandkids are all proof that I did. If you like, I can tell you some of
my stories while we setup your rooms."
"Okay, but please take it easy, Ka... Grandma. Hanaki and me can
handle the unpacking."
"I'm not an invalid, you know. Above all else, I'm a Tendo and we
don't break that easy."
"I know, but I'd hate to have all the Tendos after my head if you
hurt yourself helping me unpack."
"Well, I guess I'll take it easy so you don't get a Moko Takabisha
up your butt," Kasumi said, chuckling at the end. The end of her joke
that is, not my rear end. I hope.
"That would be... uncomfortable," I remarked. Hanaki and Kasumi
nodded their agreement.
We reached our suite of rooms. There was the main family room, the
bedroom, our private bath, and a small kitchen. At least that is how
Kasumi described it. It looked larger than my old apartment's living
room.
"There are a couple of unused rooms next door for children," Kasumi
explained as she finished her little tour.
"Subtle, Grandmother," Hanaki said, walking towards the bedroom
with a box.
"Well, Akane already has all those great-grandchildren running
around. It's time I had some too," Kasumi said, as she knelt down and
started to unpack a box of clothes.
"She got a pretty early start on her kids, if what I've been told
is true. I haven't even gotten up to her first kids in my research yet,"
I said, trying to recall the birth date of her first daughter in my
head.
"Yes, she beat both Nabiki and myself to the punch."
"James, where would you like me to put this picture?" Hanaki's
voice called out as she walked out of the bedroom.
I looked over to see Hanaki holding a little three-by-five picture
of Jen in her hands. I swallowed hard.
"Oh, she's very beautiful. Who is she?" Kasumi asked.
"James' first fiancee," Hanaki said before I could.
"Oh, Akane told me about her. A fiancee in every hemisphere, huh?"
Kasumi quipped.
"Err.. well, I hadn't seen her for almost ten years."
Hanaki traced the frame. "Nice frame. Where is MY picture, James?"
I smiled. "Ace, picture one." My palmcard responded by putting up a
holographic photo of Hanaki.
I had expected her to be flattered that she was my first picture in
my palmtop, but instead she asked, "Who's Ace?"
Hanaki had found out that I had been using 'Jen' for my verbal
access word for my palmtop, after we ran into Jen in Las Vegas. I had
changed it to 'Ace' shortly afterwards, so she wouldn't be reminded
about Jen all the time. I probably should have changed it a long time
ago, but maybe there was a part of me that liked the notion that someone
loved me, even if it was almost ten years ago. Now, why I chose 'Ace' is
a bit embarrassing on my part, but I guess I'll have to come clean.
"Well... it's not another person. It's me, actually."
"You?"
"Well, I chose it because I thought I did pretty good flying the
plane, so I decided I was an 'ace' pilot and used it for my code word,"
I explained, an embarrassed smile on my face.
Hanaki and Kasumi looked at each other and then burst out laughing.
Hanaki slid next to me and wrapped her arms around me. "That is so
cute." She gave me a peck on my lips.
"Didn't you slice the head off Elvis and destroy a sign?" Kasumi
asked.
Damn, what do they do put out a newsletter describing all my
embarrassing moments? "Well... yeah. But I think the auto-pilot caused
that."
"Okay, ACE, we'll let you believe that," Hanaki remarked.
I smiled and took Jen's photo from Hanaki. "I'll just put this into
storage. It's my past."
Hanaki smiled and gave me another kiss. "Nothing wrong with the
past, just remember I'm your future." She stood up, pulled out a box of
her clothes, and started going through them.
I smiled and nodded to Hanaki. "Well, want to tell me some of your
stories?" I asked Kasumi.
Kasumi looked up from the box she was unpacking. "Where are you in
your research?"
"Spring of 1999, right after Ranko and Sanma returned from China."
Kasumi laughed. "Ah, that was an interesting wedding."
"Yes. Hanaki said that you were having some trouble with your
relationship with Dr. Tofu around that time?" I asked, pulling my
palmtop out.
"Look out, Grandmother! He's going for his palmtop!"
I smiled at my bride, but switched on my palmtop anyway. Hanaki
stuck her tongue out at me and returned to unpacking her clothes.
"That's okay. To tell you the truth I was having a lot of trouble
back in early 1999. With Tofu, medical school, and helping Nabiki at her
restaurant every now and then... something had to break. Unfortunately,
my relationship with Tofu broke first."
***********************************************************************
February-March 1999 - Nerima, Japan
As the first light of dawn streaked across Nerima, the birds
outside Kasumi's window started to sing. Kasumi rose from her bed and
smiled sweetly at the birds perched in the tree. She brushed the hair
out of her eyes, slipped out of her bed, and stretched. After sitting
down at her desk, she started to brush her hair and hummed a little tune
softly.
After she finished brushing her hair, she tied a bow around it,
draped it over her shoulder, and made her way downstairs to clean up for
the long day ahead. <Just like yesterday and probably just like
tomorrow.> Kasumi sighed.
Later at breakfast, she knelt at the table and finished eating the
breakfast Nodoka had made. A part of her missed making the meals, but
she knew that she needed more time to study if she was going to make it
through medical school.
"Kasumi, it's going to be a busy night at Mon Canard, can you help
me out?" Nabiki asked.
"I'll try, Nabiki, but I don't know how long my study session with
Tofu will run after classes," Kasumi said. Internally she added that to
her list of tasks for the day. <Well, can't let my little sister down.
She's had trouble finding a good chef for her restaurant since Mr.
DuPont quit on opening night.>
"Thanks, Sis. How is everything going?"
"Fine," Kasumi said, simply. She got up, brushed off her jeans, and
straightened her blouse. "I have to get to the train. See you later."
"Bye."
"Bye, Kasumi," Nodoka said, passing Kasumi in the hallway. Nodoka
knelt down and collected the dishes from the morning's meal. "Is she
alright?"
"Yeah. She's just busy these days," Nabiki replied.
"I hope she's not pushing herself too much."
Nabiki smiled. "Well, I think she spends most of those study
sessions with Dr. Tofu necking with him, so I doubt helping me a couple
nights a week is going to be a problem. She's a big girl, if she gets
too busy she'll tell me."
"I hope so." Nodoka finished collecting the dishes, then sighed.
"Sure is quiet around here without Akane and Ranma."
"Any word from them yet?" Nabiki asked.
"Nope, not since they landed in Australia three weeks ago."
"Well, I doubt there are payphones out in the Outback. Don't worry.
I'm sure they are okay."
"I hope so." Despite her calm words, Nodoka's eyes betrayed her
internal nervousness over her children.
-C- -M- -D-
Kasumi walked up to the train platform and calmly waited for the
next train that would take her to her college.
The train finally pulled up to the station and Kasumi stepped on,
along with the other hundred or so waiting passengers. She looked out
the windows and watched the city fly by as she was whisked into
Shinjuku. She tensed when she felt a hand caress her backside. <Well,
only one today. Better than yesterday.> At her stop, she quickly slipped
out of the train and walked towards her school.
She walked among the buildings that made up the Tokyo Woman's
Medical College and towards her anatomy class. <Dissection day.> Kasumi
sighed heavily. She walked into the lab and waved at a young woman with
short blue hair. "Good morning, Ami."
"Morning, Kasumi," Ami replied and pulled out a chair for Kasumi.
Kasumi looked at the covered form in front of her. "This is it, I
assume?"
"Yup. Don't worry, it won't bite." Ami let out a slight chuckle.
"I'll just have to get used to it. All part of becoming a doctor.
So, what's new with you, Ami?"
"Not much with me, but my best friend is marrying my boss. Say...
do you want to join us tonight? We're going to pick out a dress."
"I'd love to, but Tofu is going to help me study tonight."
"And I bet you spend half the session necking with him."
Kasumi blushed. "Well, chances are that we will." She flashed a big
grin.
"I envy you, Kasumi. Having a boyfriend who can also help you
through the tough parts of medical school."
"What happened to Hideto?" Kasumi asked, then added, "Or was it
Kando?"
Ami shrugged. "Didn't work out... with either of them. They were
just too immature, but at least I have Mr. John Doe here." She pulled
the sheet off the cadaver in front of her and grinned mischievously.
"Oh my," Kasumi gasped, then quickly covered the lower part of the
male cadaver.
-C- -M- -D-
"Are you going to be alright, Kasumi?" Ami asked as she ate lunch
at a small restaurant with Kasumi.
A very pale Kasumi looked up at her friend. "Yes, I just never
expected the smell to be so bad."
"Don't worry... live patients don't smell as bad."
"You should smell some of Tofu's patients.... Oh my, did I say that
out loud?" Kasumi covered her mouth with her hand in embarrassment.
"Relax, Kasumi. Sometimes you are a little too proper. You need to
express yourself more."
"Well, I'm wearing jeans now."
"I said 'express yourself', not 'expose yourself'," Ami replied,
cracking a smile.
"Oh, are they too revealing?" Kasumi said, looking down at her
tight jeans.
"Nope. Although you do attract more guys than I do. Lucky girl."
"Well, I've got Tofu."
"Afternoon, ladies. Can we join you?" a male voice said. Ami and
Kasumi looked up to see two young men standing by their table.
Ami smiled. "Of course, but I have to warn you that Kasumi here is
hopelessly in love with her boyfriend."
"Too bad, she's so beautiful," one of the men said.
Kasumi blushed and tittered into her hand. "Oh, Sankurou... you're
such a kidder."
-C- -M- -D-
"Ah, Kasumi. Please come in," Dr. Tofu said, after opening the
door.
"Thank you, Tofu." Kasumi gave Dr. Tofu a long kiss.
"How did the dissection go?"
"It was... interesting. My professor seemed happy with our work."
"Well, you have steady hands."
Kasumi smiled. "I'm more used to carving pork, than humans."
"You'd be surprised at how similar they really are," Dr. Tofu
quipped, smiling.
Kasumi gave him a charming smile and they walked into the back.
-C- -M- -D-
"Inverse lateral?" Kasumi answered the question.
"No. Transverse lateral. You need to get them clear in your mind."
"I'm trying."
"I know you are. You're doing very well, you just need to
concentrate harder."
"I am."
"I'd agree with you, except you are sitting on my lap and nibbling
on my ear between questions," Dr. Tofu said, trying to see what Kasumi
was doing through his fogged up glasses. It actually might be for the
best that he couldn't see her right now, because he was barely able to
keep calm just by feeling what Kasumi was doing to him. Seeing her do it
would probably send him over the edge.
"It's just more comfortable this way."
"Kasumi. Please, you need to concentrate on your studies. Finals
are coming up. You need to get a high grade to overcome the classes that
you missed since you started mid-year."
"I know. Hey! Let's go out to dinner!" Kasumi said, sliding off Dr.
Tofu's lap.
Dr. Tofu was a taken a bit off guard by her sudden shift of
attitude. "Um, it's still early. Let's keep studying."
"Tofu, we haven't been out to dinner in over two weeks."
"We can order something in. You need to concentrate on your
studying." Dr. Tofu clenched his teeth in an effort to stay calm.
"I'm sick of studying!" Kasumi declared. To back this up she pulled
Dr. Tofu in and gave him a deep kiss. She even let her tongue trace his
lips, not for the first time, but she had only done so a couple times
previously.
Dr. Tofu broke the kiss and gently pushed Kasumi away from him.
"Kasumi, please. You need to concentrate on your finals."
Kasumi looked shocked at being rebuffed and stood up. "Tofu? Don't
you like me?"
Dr. Tofu recoiled in shock. "Of course I do. I just think we should
not get too involved right now. Your studies are what's important."
"Oh, I see," Kasumi said, flatly. All her doubts about her
relationship with Tofu suddenly flooded into her mind. <Just helping out
the little schoolgirl with her studies, is that it? I thought you liked
me as a woman.>
"Now, then let's go over the muscle groups and tendons again," Dr.
Tofu said, turning around and reaching for a book. When he turned back,
Kasumi was gone. "Kasumi?" He flinched when he heard the front door
close. He ran out and tried to find her, but she was nowhere in sight.
-C- -M- -D-
Kasumi walked slowly along the canal. The setting sun cast long
shadows over the streets and streetlights started to flicker to life.
Kasumi stopped as she saw a hospital up ahead. She seemed to be unable
to move her eyes from it. After several minutes, she tore her eyes away
and looked down at the bundle of textbooks in her hand. <What am I
doing? I can't be a doctor. I can barely stand the sight of blood and
cutting into that cadaver today was almost impossible. In fact...
without Ami there I wouldn't have been able to do it.>
Kasumi sat down on the edge of the canal and looked at the water
flow by. She opened one of her textbooks to a random page. She read
halfway down the page, then suddenly ripped out the page. She wadded it
up and tossed it at piece of driftwood. After watching it drift slowly
away, she selected another page and repeated the process.
Several pages followed and then she stood up. "I'm a fool!!" The
torn up book joined the crumpled paper in the canal. "Doctor Kasumi
Tendo. What a joke! I'm just a girl who was forced to grow up too fast!"
She started pitching her other books one by one into the canal. "I'm
sorry, Mother. I wanted a chance to help others, but I can't do it. I'll
stick to what I know I can do... cooking, cleaning, and taking care of a
family."
Suddenly, she realized that she had been yelling, so she went
silent. <But my family is grown now. And Dr. Ono doesn't like me as a
girlfriend. He just wanted a partner for his clinic and was just being
nice to this naive little girl.>
After watching the books sink to the bottom of the canal, Kasumi
walked up the steps and made her way to Nabiki's restaurant.
-C- -M- -D-
"Table ten is waiting for their order!" a young girl said, barging
into the kitchen. She looked very tired and flustered.
"Um, it's that tray over there, Kiki," Kasumi calmly informed the
waitress.
"Thanks," Kiki replied. She grabbed the tray and made her way back
to the dining room.
Nabiki came in and looked over the Kitchen. "How's it coming in
here?"
"Fine. We are short on the salmon, so only two more dishes. Plenty
of red snapper, though."
"I'll tell the girls. Thanks for all the help, Kasumi."
"No problem. By the way, Nabiki, I may be able to help out full
time soon."
Nabiki frowned a bit at hearing this. "Um, okay... if you're sure
you can handle the load."
"That won't be a problem anymore."
"Is everything okay, Kasumi?" Nabiki asked, placing a hand on
Kasumi's shoulder.
"Yes, never been better, Nabiki. Table seven wanted some more
bread, it's over by the door," Kasumi said, pointing at the breadbasket.
With a nagging feeling she was being intentionally sidetracked,
Nabiki took the bread out to table seven. <Oh well, I've never known
Kasumi to take on something she couldn't handle. And we do get more
business whenever she cooks; I guess the sign works. Chalk up another
good investment. So if she's happy working for me and I make more money
in the process, everyone's happy.>
Kasumi returned to preparing the meals in front of her. <Maybe
becoming a gourmet chef would be better. Less blood,> she thought. She
gently sliced the fish in front of her down its ribcage. With fast,
practiced movements, she removed the guts of the fish and let the blood
flow down the nearby drain. She separated the meat from the bones and
removed the head and tail. The filet was quickly dipped in a sauce and
tossed in a frying pan along with an assortment of vegetables.
"Yup, these hands were made to cook. Not for surgery!" Kasumi told
the next fish she operated on. The fish didn't reply, of course.
Outside, a couple passed by and noticed the neon sign over the
entrance to Mon Canard. "Hey, look! Kasumi is cooking tonight," the man
said, pointing at a sign that read 'Chef on duty: Kasumi Tendo'.
The woman looked at the sign and smiled. "Great, let's get in
line!" The couple slipped into the long line waiting to get into the
restaurant.
-C- -M- -D-
The next day, Kasumi had skipped her classes to think by the canal
and was just staring at the ducks drifting out on the water's surface,
when a male voice called out to her. "Kasumi?!"
Kasumi turned around and saw one of her friends from school. "Hi,
Sankurou. What are you doing up here in Nerima?"
"Well... Ami was worried about you when you missed class. She had
to work and asked me to find you," the tall blond haired man said,
crouching in front of Kasumi.
"That's sweet of you both. I'm fine..."
Sankurou frowned; the tone of her answer didn't ring true. "Are you
sure?"
"No."
Sankurou blinked. "Want to talk about it?" he asked, nervously. <I
wish Ami was here, I'm no good at these things.>
"No."
Sankurou stumbled for something to say, then said the first thing
that came to mind. "Oh... um... don't let finals get to you. We all feel
the stress.... it's natural."
"If only it was just the finals," Kasumi muttered. She seemed to be
lost in her own world after that and just stared at the water.
"What is it?"
"I'm going to quit medical school."
"What??" Sankurou gasped in surprise. Kasumi was the last one he
would have suspected to drop out. "Why? You've got so much talent."
"Nonsense. I barely made it through my dissection without getting
sick. I don't have what it takes."
"Kasumi... when I did my dissection at my medical school I DID get
sick. Made quite a mess inside the cadaver, too."
Kasumi choked down a laugh. "Then why are you still in school?"
"Because I overcame it. Kasumi, since I'm your anatomy professor's
assistant I have to prepare all those cadavers. I took that position
just to get used to handling bodies."
"That's not what all the girls say. They say you took that position
to get into the woman's college to pick up college girls," Kasumi said,
repeating the current gossip going around her college about Sankurou.
"Gee, you saw right through me. I figured every girl would want to
date a guy who handles dead bodies all day," Sankurou said, smirking at
his own joke.
Kasumi smiled briefly. "Well, I also can't get my muscles and
tendons straight."
"You should exercise more."
Kasumi chuckled. "I just don't know if I'm cut out for it."
"Kasumi, I haven't known you that long, but I do know that you have
the makings of a great doctor. Don't throw in the towel over a queasy
stomach. You're welcome to help me with the cadavers sometime."
"Well, we'll see..."
-C- -M- -D-
Later that evening, Kasumi was putting together a couple plates of
the night's special. She had just finished garnishing them when Kiki
rushed into the kitchen, picked up the phone, and dialed 1-1-9, the
Japanese emergency services number.
"What's wrong?" Kasumi asked the obviously terrified girl.
"One of the customers is choking," Kiki replied, waiting for
someone to pickup.
"Oh my." Kasumi wiped off her hands and rushed out to the dining
room. She walked quickly over to the mob of people around a man who was
lying on the ground gasping for breath. "Let me through." Without
thinking, Kasumi knelt down beside the man and opened his mouth with her
fingers. She couldn't reach the obstruction, so she lifted him into a
sitting position. She wrapped her arms around the man and placed a fist
under his ribcage. With several quick thrusting motions, she tried to
dislodge the object from the man's throat.
Failing, she placed him gently down again. She gently examined the
man's throat and noticed a very large bulge there. "Don't move him!" she
sternly instructed. She got up and rushed back to the kitchen. She came
back with a handful of items.
She knelt down at the man's side again. "Sir, please remain calm.
Could some of you hold him still, please?" Kasumi calmly said. Several
men helped hold the man still, while she cleaned off the man's neck with
a hot towel and then put a clean knife to his throat. The man's eyes
went wide with fear. "Don't worry, sir. I know what I'm doing."
Kasumi's soothing words seemed to reassure the man and he relaxed.
Being careful not to hit his jugular vein, Kasumi made a small cut just
below the man's Adam's Apple. She pulled the skin open, wiped the blood
off the incision, found his trachea, and made another incision. Ignoring
the blood, she slipped a bulbless turkey baster into the hole she had
just made. Suddenly, the man took a long overdue breath. Kasumi wrapped
another towel around the wound. "Breathe normally, sir. And please don't
move too much." Kasumi held the man's hand until the ambulance came.
-C- -M- -D-
Kasumi was standing outside the door to the restaurant and watched
the ambulance pull away.
"Nice going, sis. Guess it's helpful to have a future doctor on
staff," Nabiki said, walking up behind Kasumi.
"Hmmm? I'm just glad I could help."
"You saved that man's life, Kasumi."
"Yes, but he saved mine."
"Uh?"
Kasumi turned and looked at Nabiki. "Nabiki, I'm afraid I won't be
able to help out here anymore. I've decided that I can't afford any
distractions if I'm going to become a doctor."
Nabiki smiled. "That's okay, Kasumi. After what I saw tonight, I'd
be doing the world a disservice if I kept you in the kitchen."
"Thank you," Kasumi replied, then started walking home. <I don't
need Dr. Ono. I can do this myself!> She started to hum the tune her
mother had taught her on her deathbed. <Well, I'll do it with you,
Mother.>
-C- -M- -D-
Nabiki put down the telephone. She turned around to the other
residents of the Tendo house and said, "Ranma, Akane, and Ukyo are all
fine." Everyone visibly relaxed at the news.
"Thank goodness," Kasumi exhaled.
"Oh, my baby is coming home!" Soun cried, forgetting about the game
of Shoji he was playing with Genma.
"What about Ranko?" Nodoka asked.
"Ranma said she wasn't coming back, but didn't go into details,"
Nabiki explained.
"Oh my."
"Did they recombine?" Genma asked.
"He said no and would explain once they got back. Anyway, I have to
get some stuff arranged to get them home. They apparently lost their
passports and most of their money," Nabiki explained, then headed
upstairs to start making arrangements on her computer.
"Well, thank goodness they are okay. It's been almost a month since
we heard from them last," Nodoka commented.
After a few minutes, Soun looked up from the shogi game he was
playing with Genma and saw Kasumi was just staring out the doors at the
koi pond. "Kasumi, didn't you have a study session for your finals
tonight at Dr. Tofu's?" he asked.
"Yes, but with the call from Ranma and all I'll probably just skip
it tonight," Kasumi informed her father.
Nodoka looked up from the laundry she was folding. "Kasumi, they
are fine. You should go."
"Very well," Kasumi agreed reluctantly. She got up and shuffled off
down the hallway.
Soun and Nodoka exchanged worried glances. Then Soun looked back at
the game board and tried to figure out where half of his pieces went.
-C- -M- -D-
"Kasumi!" Dr. Tofu gasped, answering his front door.
"Good evening, Doctor Ono. I'm here for our study session," Kasumi
said, calmly.
"Ah, I'm glad you came. I was afraid after last time..."
"No, don't worry about that. It was a mistake... that's all."
"I am sorry."
Kasumi averted her eyes. "Shall we get started?"
"Yes, of course," Dr. Tofu said, then led Kasumi to his back room.
Kasumi sat across from Dr. Tofu the whole night and diligently took
notes, answering most of his questions correctly. A part of her wanted
to taste his lips, but she knew that wasn't going to happen. She
wouldn't let losing him as a boyfriend distract her from her lifelong
dream of becoming a doctor.
-C- -M- -D-
"What do you think could be wrong with Kasumi and Dr. Tofu?" Nodoka
asked Soun, after Kasumi had left. She moved a piece on the shoji board
in front of her and then rested her hand on her katana, which lay on her
lap for some reason.
Soun looked up from the shoji board. "I'm not sure. She has seemed
upset about something for the past few days." He glanced nervously at
the sword and moved a piece, his fingers trembled as he withdrew his
hand.
"I think I'll have to ask her directly," Nodoka mentioned, making
her move.
Soun frowned as he examined the board. "You win."
"Oh, so I did. Imagine that," Nodoka remarked, a slight grin
forming on her lips. Nodoka stood up with her katana in hand and walked
to the kitchen.
<I like playing with Genma better. He never brings lethal weapons
to our friendly games,> Soun thought, looking around for a furry butt.
-C- -M- -D-
"Kasumi, can I talk to you for a minute?" Nodoka called out when
she heard Kasumi come in the front door.
"Of course, Auntie," Kasumi replied, then joined Nodoka in the
family room.
"Kasumi, I'm worried. Is there something wrong with you and Dr.
Tofu?" Nodoka asked, putting her hand on Kasumi's.
"No, of course not. Doctor Ono is a great help to me with my
medical school studies."
Nodoka raised an eyebrow. "Kasumi, you were calling him Tofu until
a couple days ago. What happened?"
"Nothing."
"You never lied until a couple days ago, either," Nodoka remarked.
"Please tell me what happened. I want to help."
Kasumi looked downwards. "Doctor Ono said he didn't want me to be
his girlfriend."
Nodoka saw the single tear roll down Kasumi's cheek. "Kasumi, I'm
so sorry. Did he say why?" Nodoka asked.
"No. I guess I was mistaken in thinking he liked me that way. I'm
just a child in his eyes," Kasumi replied.
"Did he say that?" Nodoka asked, unable to believe the Dr. Tofu she
knew would say such a thing.
"No, but I know that's how he feels."
"Did you ask him why?"
"Yes, but he wouldn't explain himself."
"Don't give up hope, Kasumi. Sometimes a woman has to go after her
man."
"Did you have to chase Mr. Saotome?" Kasumi asked, looking up at
Nodoka.
"Sort of. I had to chase him after he swiped some food from my
parent's grocery store. I managed to pin him down with my sword and
forced him to work off his debt." She neglected to mention that Genma
had accidentally fallen down a steep hill during the chase and been
knocked unconscious. But then she had never told Genma that either. To
that day, he thought that Nodoka had managed to render him unconscious
with the sword. Nodoka found that he behaved better thinking that, so
she never let him know the truth.
"And you fell in love with him, how romantic," Kasumi said.
Nodoka smiled, remembering their awkward courtship. "It seemed like
it a the time. Maybe I should have known better. You don't have to use a
sword, but please at least ask him directly."
-C- -M- -D-
The next night, Kasumi stood across from Dr. Tofu in her bedroom. A
fierce look of determination appeared in her eyes. "Please... just tell
me why!!"
"Let's just study, okay? You have three more finals to take this
year, then you can worry about stuff like that."
"I'm not going to study or take any more tests until you tell me
why you hate me, Doctor Ono!"
Dr. Tofu gasped. He looked down at the floor. "I don't hate you,
Kasumi."
Kasumi wiped a tear off her cheek, then asked, "Then why do you
refuse to be my boyfriend?"
Dr. Tofu stood up, walked over to Kasumi's door, and looked out.
Not trusting himself to look at her, he said, "Kasumi, ever since New
Years Eve... we... we've spent so much time kissing and going out that
your school work has been suffering. I just think that you should
concentrate on getting through medical school. I'm a distraction."
"Hardly. True, I may have done less studying after we started
dating, but I'd rather be your girlfriend than wait seven years to be
your partner at the clinic," Kasumi insisted.
"Um, I want you to be both."
Kasumi smiled. "I'm glad. Now I don't know if I'll make it through
college and my internship, but I'd like to have some fun while I do it,"
Kasumi said. She walked up behind Dr. Tofu and wrapped her arms around
him. She pressed herself closely against this back and listened to his
heartbeat. <Don't push me away, Tofu.>
"Kasumi?"
"Yes, Tofu?"
"Pass your finals and I'll take you to the best restaurant in
Tokyo," Dr. Tofu said, as he held onto Kasumi's arms.
Kasumi smiled and let Dr. Tofu turn around. She looked up at his
eyes, or at least his fogged up glasses, and waited for the kiss. She
didn't wait long for Dr. Tofu's lips to send tingles to every part of
her body.
-C- -M- -D-
Tick... tock...
Tick... tock...
Tick... tock...
The sweat was beading on Kasumi's forehead as she looked at the
paper in front of her. <Come on Kasumi, you know this.> She reluctantly
wrote in the answer, but was unsure that it was the right one.
All around the room, pencils and erasers were going at mach speed
as students tried to finish the test before time ran out. One boy even
had his shirt off and was feeling the muscles in his arm, desperately
trying to recall the names.
Kasumi read the final question. <Name the parts of the male
reproduction system and describe their function in sexual intercourse.>
"Oh my," Kasumi gasped quietly. She wrote down the various parts
involved, blushing as she described how they worked. She closed her test
booklet and took several deep breaths before the buzzer rang.
"Close your test booklets!" the professor called from the front of
the lecture hall. Sounds of closing books, crying, and hair being pulled
out resonated across the room. "Leave your booklets and have a nice day
ladies and gentlemen. The results will be posted in three days in the
plaza."
Kasumi placed her palm down on the booklet and mouthed a silent
'please' before getting up and walking out of the room.
Later, Ami and Sankurou were eating lunch with her. "How'd you do?"
Ami asked.
"Pretty well, I think. Last question was easy," Kasumi said.
Sankurou looked up from his burger. "What was the question?"
"Name the parts of the male reproduction system." Kasumi quoted.
"Gee, I didn't know you were an expert in that area," Sankurou
declared, chuckling.
"Oh my. I'm not, but Ami here is."
Ami gasped and spit out the soda she was drinking. "Huh?"
"Well, you're the one who helped me with that part after Tofu had
trouble discussing that topic with me for some reason."
"I wouldn't call myself an expert," Ami insisted.
"You seemed to know what you were talking about."
Ami blushed deeply and tried to hide her embarrassment with her
hands.
Sankurou let out a deep laugh. "Now I know who to go to whenever I
need help with reproduction!"
Ami glared at Sankurou. "You'd never be able to pass MY test."
-C- -M- -D-
Three days later, a very nervous Kasumi walked into the college's
central plaza, holding hands with Dr. Tofu.
"Don't be nervous, Kasumi. I know you did well," Dr. Tofu said,
trying to keep her from shaking by placing his hand around her shoulder.
It didn't help that he was shaking as well.
"I hope so."
Kasumi and Dr. Tofu joined the crowd of students who were waiting
for the results. A group of men came out and started putting up the list
of results. Kasumi started to scan them for her number. She grew more
and more worried as she scanned the lists and couldn't find it. Various
cries of joy and anguish rang out from the other students.
"Don't be nervous, Kasumi. I know you did well," Dr. Tofu said.
"It's got to be there..."
"Kasumi..."
"I want to go out with you so badly... it just has to be there."
Dr. Tofu pulled Kasumi around to face him. "Kasumi, either way I'm
going to take you to dinner. I just wanted to motivate you."
Kasumi's eyes brightened. "Really?"
"Yes. I'm sorry if I pushed you too hard, but if my mother didn't
push me when went to school, I'd have never made it."
Kasumi smiled, causing Dr. Tofu's glasses fogged up. Kasumi hugged
him tightly, then reached up and kissed him firmly. After the kiss she
held onto him and buried her head in his chest. "Thank you, Tofu."
"Congratulations, Kasumi!" Ami called out after walking up to the
couple. She patted Kasumi's back.
Kasumi looked over to Ami. "Huh? I'm not on the list...I failed."
"You're 2057, right?" Ami inquired. Kasumi nodded. "Look..." Ami
pointed at the first sheet. At the top of it was the number '2057'
followed by '98%'.
"Oh my, I didn't look at the first sheet because I assumed I'd be
lower," Kasumi said, giggling suddenly. "Ninety-eight percent? How..."
"Because you're going to be a great doctor, that's why," Dr. Tofu
insisted, then pulled Kasumi into hug.
"Damn, I could get ninety-eight percent if I had that waiting for
me," Ami muttered, deciding she really had to find a boyfriend over the
two week break.
-C- -M- -D-
Kasumi was very happy. She had somehow aced her final test of the
semester and now she was having dinner with the man she loved. It was
almost three weeks ago that she had thought he was lost to her. Almost
three weeks since she almost gave up her dream to become a doctor and
help others. Almost three weeks since she avoided making the biggest
mistake of her life.
"How are Ranma and Akane?" Dr. Tofu asked, after finishing his
meal.
"Nervous."
"I'd imagine. Finally getting married after all they've been
through."
"Yes, Nabiki is in full battle mode to make sure nothing goes
wrong."
"I hope I don't mess up as best man."
"You won't. I'll be there too."
This would only make Dr. Tofu more nervous, but he didn't mention
it. "Kasumi, I've been thinking..."
"About what, Tofu?"
"Would..." Dr. Tofu's glasses fogged up and he went silent.
Kasumi calmly reached over and took Dr. Tofu's glasses off, wiped
them off, and replaced them.
"Kasumi... would.... you..."
Kasumi's eyes widened and she leaned closer to Dr. Tofu.
"Like to..."
"Like to?" Kasumi repeated.
"Bemygirlfriend?" Dr. Tofu spat out, very fast.
Kasumi smiled sweetly. She thought for a few seconds. "No." Dr.
Tofu's face crashed to the tabletop. "I already consider myself your
girlfriend." She reached out and took Tofu's hand in hers.
"Err... steady girlfriend then?"
"I believe that is the next step. Yes."
Dr. Tofu looked up at Kasumi's beautiful eyes. A smiled formed on
his face and, somehow, his glasses remained clear this time. "Kasumi...
I... I love you."
Kasumi cocked her head to the side, leaned over the table, and
received a kiss her steady boyfriend.
-C- -M- -D-
A couple weeks later, Kasumi stepped onto the train, eagerly
awaiting the new semester at her college. Her pleasant smile turned into
a frown when she felt a hand slide up her side and cup her breast.
Saying a silent thank you to her father for the training that he had
given her years ago, she grabbed the wrist of the man and twisted. She
spun around and forced the man to his knees. "Excuse me, Sir, but it's
not proper to touch a woman's breast in public. Especially a woman you
don't know. Okay?" she asked, smiling sweetly the whole time.
The man slowly nodded. After Kasumi let go of his wrist, he grabbed
it and cried out in pain.
Kasumi continued to smile sweetly, turned around, and waited for
her stop. And she was never fondled or groped again as the word spread
among the other Tokyo perverts, who have been leaderless since Happosai
was banished to Antarctica by Ranma and Ranko months earlier.
***********************************************************************
>From the personal journal of James Davidson:
September 2, 2057
"Must have been a rough time for you two," I commented as Kasumi
finished her story.
"Yes, but we got closer because of it. We were pretty naive back
then, but we found our love."
"Easier than Ranma and Akane did."
"Well, those four were always getting into trouble of some sort.
You know... it's fun to talk about old times. Makes me feel young
again."
"Kuku!" a small voice called out.
Kasumi and me looked around to see Akane's Great-granddaughter,
Daijiko, standing in the doorway to the suite. "Hey, Squirt. Long time
no see!" I said, smiling broadly at the little girl.
"James!" Daijiko called out and then launched herself at my head,
feet first. I had half expected it, so I ducked out of the way and she
flew by my head. I was just congratulating myself on avoiding her kick,
when I felt her tap the back of my head with a punch. I gasped loudly
and then rubbed my head, since even for a little girl she had quite a
bit of power behind that punch.
I looked around to see Hanaki had caught the little girl in her
arms. "Hey! No fair beating up on my husband, Daijiko." She put the
little girl down and straightened her dark blue hair.
"No! He's my husband!" Daijiko cried out and glomped onto me.
I smiled sweetly at her. "I'm sorry, Daijiko, but you're just a tad
young for me."
"You like old women?" Daijiko said sweetly.
I smirked and looked over to Hanaki, who didn't seem to like being
called an old woman. "Something like that. I thought you were engaged to
what's his name... Takma?" I know that engagement was all in fun, but
Daijiko always tried to make it seem like it was real.
Daijiko frowned. "So?"
I grinned. "Why stop at just one, huh?"
Kasumi and Hanaki both smiled and laughed.
Kasumi pulled Daijiko away from me and asked. "Why did you come
here, Daijiko?"
Daijiko thought for a few seconds as if she had forgotten why, then
smiled. "Kuku, treat my boo-boo?" I realized then that Kuku must be a
nickname for Kasumi.
Kasumi nodded and smiled. "Where does it hurt?" Daijiko held up her
arm and showed a scrape. "Oh, that doesn't look too bad." She lifted the
girl into her arms and started to walk out the room.
"James, come with me!" Daijiko cried out, reaching for me.
I nodded and accompanied her to the hospital.
After Kasumi had cleaned the wound and sent Daijiko trotting back
home, we walked back into the suite.
"She is such a little tomboy, a lot like Akane at that age.
Unfortunately, she won't let anyone treat her scrapes and bruises but
me," Kasumi said.
"Why is that?"
"Well, a year ago she had a bad illness. She was in such pain I
stayed with her the whole time to comfort her and make sure she didn't
relapse. I guess she got kind of attached to me," Kasumi said, as if
remembering a fond memory.
"And you to her, it seems," I mentioned. Kasumi smiled and nodded.
"I can't blame you, she is a little charmer." Then I looked around the
suite for Hanaki. "Where did Hanaki go?" I asked to no one in
particular.
"To run some errands, I imagine," Kasumi said, calmly. For a
second, a mischievous glint appeared in her eye, but I might have
imagined it.
Suddenly, my new bride poked her head into our suite. "They're
ready."
"Who?"
"Just a little surprise. Come on, Honey." Hanaki pulled me to my
feet and out the door. Kasumi followed behind us.
Hanaki led us over to the main dojo and into the largest training
room. As the doors opened, I saw a huge crowd of people. I recognized
some of them immediately: Akane, her husband, several members of the
Task Force that I've had a chance to talk with, Hanaki's mother and
father, and some that I just recognized from my research. The room
erupted into applause and cheers.
"What's this?" I asked, surprised.
"Our reception."
I grinned and then looked down at the casual clothes I was wearing.
"Gee, thanks for telling me so I could dress up."
"You look fine, James. Let's party!" Hanaki insisted. As the music
started, she dragged me out onto the dance floor. As usual, I was a
klutz, but with Hanaki in my arms I didn't care.
After that first dance, I took turns dancing with Akane, Kasumi,
and Hanaki's mother. At Akane's insistence, I even managed a quick trip
around the floor with her husband. I'd never danced with a man before,
but then, most men didn't have the curves that Akane's husband did. Not
to mention the breasts.
Finally, I got a moment to rest and just talk to some of my new
family members. Hanaki forbade me from talking about business, so I just
got to know them personally. Of course, technically, that was my
business.
At the end of the evening, I came to one conclusion: Despite their
history, the Tendo's did know how to party like there was no tomorrow.
Maybe it was the fact that they knew that there might not always be a
tomorrow.
[End - Chapter 12]
Coming soon: Chapter 13: Two Ranmas for Kuno, One for Kodachi, and None
for Akane
=======================================================================
>The real author's (Jim Lazar) notes/ramblings:
I'm not a doctor. Don't try cutting open a person's throat if they are
choking. I got that scene from an old M*A*S*H episode and apparently ER
used it as well.
Did you expect a proposal from Dr. Tofu? Shame on you. It took them
years just to have a kiss.
I'd like to thank my pre-readers David Johnson, Arnold Callwood, Thomas
Kinnen, Johan Holmburg, and Justin Baugh for helping me find and fix
problems with this story. C&C given from FFML members Michael A. Chase
and B.H. was also helpful in fine tuning this story. Thank you all. Of
course in the end, any mistakes and botched characters are my fault.
Revision 0.0 - Rough draft (September 2, 1998)
Revision 0.3 - Pre-reader draft (January 18, 1998)
Revision 0.4 - FFML draft (February 2, 1998)
Revision 1.0 - Final version (February 18, 1998)
Revision 1.1 - First RAAC posting (February 22, 1998)