[This is the second chapter of the story. I may have to break up Chapter
three into two part, though.]
Chapter 2
Reckless Responsibility
Kasumi stayed quiet for most of the time she was in the bathroom as
Ranma took a warm, wet wash cloth and painstakingly cleaned her face. She
had stopped crying a long time ago, but still, she looked blue. The
puffiness of her reddened eyes lingered like a mask, her pink tongue absently
licking her dry lips
Ranma was lost in thought as well. 'How could I have gotten into a mess
like this one? I just got Kasumi, Akane's own sister, pregnant, but I
lo-lo...care a lot about her, even if she is a violent, kawaiikune tomboy.'
His brow furrowed. 'Don't I?'
"Ranma?"
He snapped out of his line of thought, abruptly pulling away the wash
cloth. She lowered her head a little. "We have to tell them, you know..."
He nodded. "I know, but..."
"I know, but it can't be helped now, since I'm...pregnant." A glimmer
of a tear rested at the corner of her eyes as she forced a smile. "Father
and Mr. Saotome will be overjoyed, though; their silly dreams of uniting
their schools is finally realized. Not doubt they would arrange for the
wedding-" Ranma cringed at the thought of marriage. "-as soon as possible,"
she said in a lower tone, the unshed tears fighting to spill over their
barriers. "As for your other iinazuke-"
Kasumi stilled, suddenly finding her head resting against the silken
fabric of Ranma's shirt. His fingers smoothed over the back of her head, his
sighs made much louder with her ear pressed against his chest. Absently, her
arms stole around his waist.
"Kasumi-chan..." He was a little surprised that she trembled at the
term of endearment, but, considering the thoughts of Akane that floated on
his thoughts and probably weighed heavily on her mind, it was more that
understandable. But how could he get her to relax?
An idea dawned on him, almost on command. Slowly, he stood her upright
and smiled to her. "Hey, how about you wait for me in your room, and I bring
you up some tea? After a cup, and when you feel more relaxed, we can
continue talking about...the baby."
She paused briefly before responding. "All right. Please hurry back,
though; I don't want to be alone now, and I don't want anyone else to see me
like"-she made a hand gesture to herself-"this right now." Ranma agreed; the
familiar warm, calm, smiling face that was Kasumi's had been replaced with a
worn, worrisome, depressed mask of a stranger. More than likely, he would be
blamed for her condition (which he conceded that he was partly responsible in
why she looked so miserable). But most importantly, the sight of the mother
figure of the Tendo residence now would send the family into a more
dysfunctional and useless state.
"I'll be right back."
* * *
Ranma carefully filled the kettle with water, then set it on the stove.
A flick of the wrist, and the water would be ready in a few minutes. He then
began to get the tea cups and the tea leaves.
The facade of calm acceptance was dropped as soon as he was positive
that Kasumi was no where around. His heart began jack-hammering in his
chest. Kasumi. With a baby. That he fathered. And no one knew, not even
Nabiki (otherwise, he would be up to his eyes in blackmail and debt).
Akane was going to kill him, there was no doubting it. She could hardly
restrain herself whenever Shampoo happily glomped him, or when Ukyou prepared
him one of her special okonomiyaki, or even when Kodachi calls him Ranma-sama
and try to abduct him. And all the time, it was his fault, despite
confirmation from others that it wasn't. Even when she held witness to the
events, he was to blame. And of course, he would end up saying things like
"Kawaiikune tomboy" or "flat-chested gorilla who can't even cook." It was,
as usual, more than enough prompting for her to flatten him with the nearest
object she laid hands upon; when there isn't one big enough, she'd grab a
hammer out of thin air (Somehow, Mousse had to have taught her that, Ranma
mused) and send him into low orbit. This time she wouldn't even waste the
time to-
"Where's oneesan, 'Ranma'?"
He jumped at that familiar voice, not missing the tinge of frost upon
his name. He turned his head to the direction of the voice. His eye fell
upon a girl with a boyishly short haircut, a green skirt, and a loose white
blouse. "Akane! What are you doing here?" Still mad with him, he quickly
noted.
"I live here, baka. Now, where's Kasumi?"
With great effort, Ranma mentally checked his usual response, then
spoke. "She wasn't feeling too well when I got back, so I suggested she go
back to her room while I fix her some tea."
A worried look came across her face. "Oh." She started to go up the
stairs..
"Um, Akane, where are you going?"
She shot a look back at Ranma. "To check on Kasumi, where else?"
He broke out in a cold sweat. "No, you can't!"
"And why not? She's _my_ sister...." Her voiced trailed off, as if
coming to a startling revalation. "All right, which one of them is here?"
He blinked, looking at her confusedly. "Which one of who?"
"Which bimbo iinazuke are you hiding in our house!"
He nearly choked on her burning accusation. "There's no one else here,
but Kasumi and me!"
"Then you won't mind me going upstairs and see about oneesan." She
growled as she started up the stairs.
Ranma sprang to life from the kitchen. In a blink of an eye, he had
launched himself over Akane's head and landed three steps ahead of her. She
jerked back in surprise, then her anger flared. "What the hell's gotten into
you, Ranma?!"
His mind was whirling. "Um, well, you see-" He faltered.
"I'm waiting," she said, giving him a "I dare you to lie to me so I can
have a reason to send you through the wall behind you" look.
'Akane's seeing red,' Ranma thought glumly. 'No matter what I say, the
truth is a lie, but the real lies were all true to her.'
He blanched. 'Che. Not only doesn't that make any sense, it sounds
like something Kuno would say.'
There was only one recourse in situations like these. Ranma winced in
expectation as he began to open his mouth, knowing the results of the action
well in advance.
* * *
Kasumi finished cleaning her face after Ranma had left the bath. As she
washed the cloth out once more, she looked at herself in the mirror. The
puffiness around her eyes was still there, though it was much less
pronounced, and the redness in her eyes was slowly fading. Her brown hair
was a bit disheveled, though the white bow still held firm its binding.
Absently, she trailed her finger down her cheek, tracing the contours of her
face. She watched it slide down one cheek, then move across her chin to her
other cheek. Her other fingers joined the lone finger, just touching her
skin and holding still for a long moment. Her hand then shifted downward,
the index finger brushing her lips, pulling her lower lip out a little before
her hand had receded.
The palm of her hand pressed against her chest lightly. Carefully, she
brought it down over her breasts, smoothing out the fabric of her nightgown
as it slid down. Kasumi's hand stilled finally, and she looked where it had
found its resting place on her belly.
She sighed. "Oh my, how could I let this happen...?"
She closed her eyes and painstakingly began to remember....
* * *
Soun Tendo sat at the breakfast table alone, quietly drinking his tea
and reading the morning newspaper. Ranma and Genma were outside sparring
again. Akane went out jogging a few minutes ago. Nabiki was upstairs,
probably working out some detail of the family finances. Kasumi was in the
kitchen, clearing out the dishes of the day. The Master was in China. No
new or old iinazuke were barging into his home without warning. No battle
cries for the head of Saotome and/or his son. The birds were even chirping
outside.
These days were the closest he has had to peace, and they came all too
rare. Even rarer, they seldom lasted this long. Every so often, his eyes
would dart out from side to side, looking for the Eternally Lost Boy Ryouga
to wander into the yard and try to mangle Ranma beyond recognition. His ears
sharpened as if every small sound was a chilling laugh. But still, nothing
happened.
He let the familiar tension drain out. 'Kami-sama must be smiling upon
me now,' he thought, rather relieved for the almost alien peace. He brought
his cup up to his lips.
"Father?"
Soun finished his sip from his tea cup and looked to his eldest daughter
with some concern. "Hai?"
She knelt down beside her father. "Well, I would like to..." Unnoticed
by Soun, she wrung her hands. "...take a vacation."
His eyes bugged out. "A...a vacation...?"
"Hai, Father, by myself."
Soun paled visibly. His first-born daughter. Virtual matriarch of the
Tendo clan. Preciously innocent. Vacationing. Alone.
'I refuse it, I refuse to let my baby go out...there by herself!'
"Father?" she asked, a little worried at the blank expression on his
face.
Soun snapped out of his surreal righteousness, his eyes focusing on
Kasumi. His reolve melted into a gooey puddle the instant he saw her. "Uh,
yes, a vaction it is."
She smiled warmly to her father.
"But-" he interjected, causing the smile to fade a little, "-I'm sending
someone else with you, to make sure nothing happens to you."
"Oh." 'Father worries too much, though he had a right to be two weeks
ago. Well, I suppose Akane's company won't be so bad.'
"I'll send Ranma along with you."
She blinked. "Ranma? I thought you would send Akane-"
"Nonono, I can't send Akane because...because...Ranma is the best and,
um, because we need her here to cook and clean so she'll be a better wife for
Ranma!" He suddenly paled at his statement. 'Kami-sama, what have I just
said?!' Mental sigh. 'The things a father must suffer to protect his
girls....'
"Oh. All right Father."
Soun took a deep breath, then exhaled through his nose. "So, where are
you going to go?"
"Tokyo. I just talked with Mariko, a friend from high school, and she'd
like for me to house sit for about two weeks while she visits her cousin in
America."
He managed to grow paler than pale. 'Two weeks with Akane cooking? I
hope I can live on instant ramen and her curry that long. Please say she'll
be making the curry; we certainly don't have enough money for two weeks worth
of take out.' "that's great," he squeaked.
"Hai. I guess 'we' will be leaving in a couple of days, then." Her
voice has a hint of strain to it.
"yeah." He was trying very hard not to relapse into crying fits,
whether it was because Kasumi was leaving for two weeks, or because he
planted his foot into his mouth and volunteered Akane to do the cooking in
her steed, he knew not which. Therefore, he missed the difference in her
voice.
She got up. "Well, I better get the house cleaned up before I prepare
lunch, Father." She smiled to him, though it was lacking its unique quality.
"I'll make the announcement after dinner." 'Better enjoy every meal
until she leaves,' he thought sadly, as he gave her the best smile he could
muster, before she returned to the kitchen.
* * *
Once she was out of Soun's vision, Kasumi collapsed against the closest
wall. Her breathing became labored, her heart was pounding inside of her
chest. Her lips moved for long moments, before a hushed sound passed them.
"Father, why did you you have be a ..." Her mind was in a whirl, and
she grabbed the first thought. "...such a...baka, sending Ranma with me?
That's one of the reasons why I wanted to go alone..."
Something inside her had awaken to the though of Ranma, and now, it was
causing her to feel hot and cold at the same time. A hunger of sorts gnawed
at her, and she began to sweat lightly. A plethora of feelings, sensations,
both familiar and alien to her, overwhelmed her in a crushing wave, then
slowly receded, leaving her with a dry mouth, tingly and more sensitive
bosoms, an uncomfortably damp feeling beneath her dress accompanied by an
itch screaming to be scratched, and sudden emptiness yawning inside of her
chest.
Long moments passed, and she slowly gained full control over herself
once more. She stood up, using the counter for added support. Absently, she
wiped away the sheen of perspiration on her forehead, then leaned forward on
the counter. Her eyes closed and let her forehead touch the upper cabinet
door.
"Oh my...I don't want to betray Akane, but...oh my...I want Ranma for
myself..."
End Chapter Two