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 return 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 just had to deal 
with a very upset Ukyo.  Now Ukyo is looking to complete her revenge and, 
best yet, she has a curse.

%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’d 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 
Juzenkyo.  Ukyo’s mysterious disappearance during their last fight could 
mean only one thing.  “Oh Ukyo, you didn’t go to Juzenkyo, 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 Juzenkyo 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 into 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.  She 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 
she 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 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 Juzenkyo.  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 reminder 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 strenth, 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 had Kasumi sworn 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.