This is a repost of the first story I sent to the FFML, one year ago.

Quite honestly, response to this story exceeded my wildest expectations,
and launched me into an avocation I've really enjoy - fanfic writing.

Because of that, this story holds a special place in my heart, and will
always be my personal favorite.

C&C is welcome; it is *never* too late to try and improve a story.  Any
comments you want to make are fine (including comments about such
reposts being a bit too egotistical.)

And a special thanks to all of you, for reading my stories. ^_^


Heart of the Home

By Richard Lawson


List of family terms and their translations:

Okaasan: Mother
Otoosan: Father
Oneechan: Older Sister
Ojisama: Uncle (very respectful)
Oyaji: Father (very disrespectful)
Sensei: Teacher, Doctor, other professional person


The soft light of dawn warmed Kasumi's cheek. She opened her eyes and
gazed through the window at the lightening sky. It promised to be a
beautiful day.

Kasumi reached over and shut off the alarm clock before it could ring;
no need to wake anyone else just yet. She slid out of bed and shook her
hair out slightly.

She dressed, tied her hair and pulled it over her shoulder. Kasumi
allowed herself a second to admire her hair; it was her best feature,
she thought, and she worked hard to maintain it.

Kasumi shook herself out of her reverie. Too much work to be done, as
always. She opened the door and walked softly down the hallway. Everyone
was still sleeping, although that would change soon.

She stepped into the kitchen and took one of her aprons off the hook.
Putting it on gave her a sense of control, of mastery over her
environment.

***

Kasumi leaned across the opening into the kitchen, not wanting to
desecrate Okaasan's domain. She could see Okaasan's back, with the apron
tied in a pretty, neat bow. Chopping sounds could be heard from beyond
her. Kasumi wanted to know what Okaasan was doing. She wanted to *be*
with Okaasan, but the kitchen was sacred, not a place where she or her
sisters were allowed.

The sounds of chopping stopped. Okaasan turned toward Kasumi. She knew
an instant of fear - Okaasan was about to chastise her for spying and
send her away. But the warm, loving look that always seemed to find its
way to Okaasan's face calmed her fears as quickly as they had formed.
"Kasumi-chan, do you want to help?"

Joy filled Kasumi. Okaasan was going to let her enter! She was going to
be allowed to do grown-up things! "Eh!" She ran over to Okaasan and
stood in front of her, quivering with excitement.

Okaasan laughed softly. She placed her hand on Kasumi's shoulder and
guided her back over by the door. Hanging on a hook next to the door
were several aprons. "They're a little big for you, Kasumi," Okaasan
said as she sifted through the aprons. "Let's try this one." She lifted
a frilly apron off the hook and held it in front of Kasumi.

Kasumi's eyes widened. To be allowed into the kitchen was a wonderful
adventure. To put on grown-up clothes - with permission! - was enough to
take her breath away.

Eagerly, Kasumi took the apron from Okaasan and thrust it over her head.
The apron *was* a little big, and it hung over her gracelessly. She
picked up the strings of the apron and held them in front of her, unsure
what to do next.

Smiling, Okaasan knelt, took the strings, and reached around behind
Kasumi. "Your apron is the face you wear in the kitchen. It keeps your
clothes from getting dirty, and it's a good place to wipe your hands
during cooking. Of course, you should always wash your hands before you
cook!" Okaasan finished tying Kasumi's apron and leaned back on her
heels, her eyes level with Kasumi's. Okaasan smiled widely. "Most of
all, it defines you. It tells the kitchen," and her voice took on a
playfully peremptory tone, " 'Pay attention! Kasumi-sama is here to
cook! You will do my bidding and help me make a delicious meal.' "

Kasumi giggled. Okaasan stood up, placed her hand behind Kasumi's head
and gently guided her towards the sink. "Your apron is also an
expression of love. You love your family so much, you're willing to put
on this apron to prepare a meal for them." Okaasan ran the water in the
sink and gave Kasumi a bar of soap. "Later, we'll alter this apron so
that it will fit you. Then we'll start making you a new apron, and put
some love into it so that Otoosan and your sisters know how much they
mean to you."

Rubbing her hands with the soap, Kasumi could barely contain her joy.
Sewing, too! Okaasan was going to let her *be* a grown-up. That thought
was as frightening as it was exciting, but knowing that Okaasan would
always be there to help took away some of the worry.

Kasumi looked up at Okaasan and gave her a smile of pure love and
adoration.

***

Kasumi dried her hands with a towel and stood for a few seconds facing
the wall. The ritual of putting on her apron and washing her hands
always had echoes of Okaasan in it. Less and less, though, it had
brought back this memory. That saddened Kasumi.

The kitchen was not a place for sadness, though. Okaasan had taught her
that. She went over to the cupboard and pulled out two kettles. She
filled them with water and set them to boiling. She went about preparing
breakfast. When the kettles started whistling, she turned down the
temperature on one and kept it just below boiling. The other she took
off the burner completely.

She could hear the sound of feet pounding down the stairs - Ranma and
Ojisama going for their morning workout. Since it was a pleasant
morning, they held it outside, and the sounds of fighting soon filled
the yard.

This was usually enough to wake up the rest of the household. Kasumi
poured the not-quite-boiling water into a teapot, put some tea in it and
put it on a tray with some cups. She took it out to the dining table and
set it in the center.

As she did so, Otoosan came in. "Good morning, Kasumi," he said as he
poured himself a cup. He turned to watch the fighting in the yard.

Kasumi returned to the kitchen. Breakfast was nearly ready; almost on
cue, the fighting in the yard intensified. It ended, as it almost always
did, with a splash.

Kasumi smiled and brought out the breakfast dishes.

Akane and Nabiki had joined their father in watching the courtyard
antics. Nabiki looked terribly disinterested in the proceedings, while
Akane looked disgusted and muttered something under her breath.
Panda-ojisama entered and sat down at the table. Kasumi poured him a cup
of tea, Ojisama being unable to accomplish that feat at present. He
growled his thanks and brought the cup to his lips, rumbling with
contentment.

Ranma stood in the doorway, trying to wring out her clothes while still
wearing them. Kasumi went back into the kitchen, took the second kettle,
and brought it out to Ranma. Ranma smiled her thanks and dumped it over
her head.

"Ranma, when are you going to learn that fighting in the yard is not a
good idea?" Akane sounded exasperated, as she often did when talking to
Ranma. "You always end up wet and dirty. I wouldn't mind except we have
to sit in the same classroom all day."

Ranma looked indignant. "Hmph. As I recall, when we fought in the dojo
yesterday, you told us to take it outside."

Akane leapt to her feet. "That's because you tore a hole in the roof
again!" She was sounding angry now, another common emotion. "Do you
think we have an army of elves around that fix the things you break!"

"Hey, it was Oyaji who broke the roof!" Ranma responding in kind.

"It was you who sent him through it!"

"He was asking for it! We don't go easy on each other when we're in
training!"

"Then could you take it easy on the house? The rest of us have to live
in it too!"

"Including your stupid elves?"

Things were quickly getting out of hand. Kasumi decided to step in. "Oh
my! Do you suppose the elves would like some breakfast?"

It had the desired affect. Ranma and Akane seemed to deflate a little
when they turned to look at her. Nabiki rolled her eyes. Otoosan seemed
surprised. Ojisama produced a sign that had a giant question mark on it.

Ranma finally answered her. "Uh, I don't think so, Kasumi." He stepped
to the table and sat down. "Looks good, though."

Akane joined him. "Yeah, real good. Thanks, Oneechan."

Kasumi attended to her own breakfast, glowing in her successes.
Presentation was an important aspect of any meal; no one would eat a
delicious meal that looked like slop. She realized, of course, that
their compliments were halfway meant to placate her, as they might
placate a young child. That was okay with Kasumi, as long as it kept
them from fighting again.

She was back in the kitchen cleaning up when Nabiki, dressed for school,
came in. She waited as Kasumi finished wiping the counters. Kasumi
placed the wet towel on top of the basket of laundry she was planning on
washing today. Nabiki looked down at the towel with disdain. Kasumi
shrugged mentally; it was Nabiki's loss that she would never know the
satisfaction of manual labor.

"Do we have the money for the roof repair, Nabiki-chan?"

Nabiki glanced up at Kasumi then down into the pocket of her frock. She
brought out a large stack of bills that she began counting off. "How
much do you need?"

Kasumi tipped her head and considered the many previous visits of the
contractors. "I would guess 50,000 yen."

Nabiki rifled the money quickly, stopping to check some figures in her
notebook. She took a pencil out of her pocket and tapped the eraser on
her lips.

***

Kasumi sifted through the loosely scattered papers on the dining table.
There was so much to sort through, and the pressure to get something
done was growing daily.

Kasumi glanced at her watch and grimaced. If she didn't start dinner
now, it would have to be ramen again - as it had been since the funeral.
But the papers in front of her needed attending to, and Otoosan was in
no condition to help.

She took another look at the bank account. There had been a healthy
balance there, but the medical bills had taken a large chunk of that. As
had the funeral. Not to mention that Otoosan had not been teaching
during the crisis, and thus not collecting any fees.

Kasumi sighed, as close to total despair as she had ever been. Okaasan -
it hurt too much to think of her right now. Otoosan was devastated; when
he wasn't crying, he was staring at the walls and not speaking. Akane,
refusing to understand, would still ask when Okaasan was coming home.

And then there were the bills. The dojo, thankfully, was paid for, but
taxes were due on it, as were the normal utilities. The car was in good
shape, but the insurance was due. There was still food to be bought, if
she could ever get around to cooking it.

Kasumi closed her eyes and bowed her head over the table, letting more
of her despair show than she meant. She couldn't let the children see
her like this. She needed to be strong, for them. She just wasn't sure
she could do it for very much longer.

She looked up and blinked. Nabiki was sitting across from her. Kasumi
hadn't even heard her come in. As much as Kasumi was worried for
Otoosan, she was worried for Nabiki. Only a year and a half older than
Akane, Nabiki hadn't shown much emotion; she had just watched everyone
and everything around her with a slightly interested but otherwise blank
look. Tears had streamed from her eyes at the funeral, but other than
that, Nabiki had shown no other expression.

Now, as usual, she was just watching. Kasumi tried to smile, but it felt
weak. "Nabiki?" She had meant to say more, but the words died on her
lips.

Nabiki rose, came around the table, knelt next to Kasumi, and picked up
a bill. "What is this?"

Kasumi looked at the paper. "Electricity bill. We owe for the lights and
the TV and the other electrical things we use."

Nabiki cocked her head to the side. "4780 yen. I can pay that. I have
that many yen."

Kasumi blinked again; she had no idea how Nabiki had come across so much
money. "Thank you for offering, Nabiki-chan, but it is just the smallest
bill among all the others we have. Even if we pay it, next month they'll
send us another bill for the electricity we use this month."

"Oh." Nabiki picked up the insurance bill and read through it. "This is
for the car? I don't have that much money." She looked at Kasumi. "Do
you?"

Kasumi sighed gently. "No, Nabiki, you have more money than I do." She
picked up the bank account book. "However, the family has this much
money available to it."

Nabiki put down the bills she was holding and took the bank book from
Kasumi. She flipped through the pages until she found the current
balance. "That's a lot of money," she said, her face and tone still
expressionless.

Kasumi felt the grimace coming again, and stilled it before it reached
her face. She must be strong. "It may seem that way, but all that money
must pay all of these bills." She swept her hand over the pile of
papers. "When we pay them, next month another set of bills will come.
Oh, and we have to use what's left to buy food for us to eat."

The mention of food made Kasumi look at her watch again. "Oh my, I have
to get dinner started." Kasumi looked at the bills and felt her heart
sink again; too much to do, and Okaasan was gone.

Out of the corner of her eye, Kasumi could see Nabiki watching her, bank
book still held open in her hand. Nabiki reached her other hand over and
tugged on Kasumi's sleeve. "Oneechan, let me help."

Kasumi turned her head towards Nabiki, and saw more animation in her
face than she had seen in a long time. There was an earnestness that
spoke of true desire. Nabiki glanced down at the bank book, over to the
bills, and back up to Kasumi, silently imploring.

Was this what Okaasan saw in Kasumi at the kitchen door? The memory came
to Kasumi, and buoyed her.

Kasumi smiled, this time genuinely. Nabiki was certainly good with
numbers, and if she could try to make all of these figures balance, it
would certainly help. At the very least, it would keep Nabiki occupied,
and allow Kasumi the time she needed to make dinner. "Certainly,
Nabiki-chan. See if you can figure out how we can pay these bills, and
buy food. See if you can figure out a plan for next month, too." She
pushed a pencil and pad of paper in front of Nabiki. "I'll be in the
kitchen if you need me." Kasumi reached over and picked up the notebook
that she would need in the kitchen. She stood up and walked to the
doorway. Looking back, she could see Nabiki pick up the pencil, glance
at the bank book, and write a figure on the pad.

Still smiling, Kasumi turned back towards the kitchen.

When dinner was just about ready, she returned to set the table. She
stopped in the doorway. The bills had been arranged into neat piles,
with torn off bits of paper labeling each pile. Figures covered the
notepad and several other pieces of paper in front of Nabiki. Nabiki
herself was staring at another piece of paper in her hand, tapping her
pencil's eraser on her lips.

"Oh my." At this, Nabiki raised her head. Kasumi walked over to the
table and set the dishes down on it. "How are you doing, Nabiki?"

"I think we'll be okay." Nabiki showed her the crude, handwritten
spreadsheet that was in her hand. "I think we'll have to sell the car.
We don't need it - the store is within walking distance, and we don't
need to go to the hospital any more." Nabiki paused a moment, then
plunged on. "If we can conserve on the electricity and water, be careful
of what we buy to eat and use our leftovers efficiently, we should be
able to get by on the bank account for six months." Nabiki screwed her
face up thoughtfully. "If Otoosan hasn't begun teaching again by then,
I'll have to see about developing other ways of getting money."

Kasumi slowly knelt next to Nabiki, studying the spreadsheet. Getting
rid of the car would certainly free up a lot of money. Nabiki had
deduced from the entries in the bank book how much money they spent a
month on food and had reduced the amount appropriately. Nabiki had
estimated what the car was worth - a figure that seemed fair to Kasumi -
and predicted that it would take two months to sell. She had also
figured in some modest school and clothing costs, and had put a little
aside each month for "unexpected expenses".

If these figures were accurate - and she had no reason to doubt Nabiki's
math - they would be able to survive for half a year. Kasumi had been
worried about surviving until next month.

Kasumi looked at Nabiki, a startled expression on her face.
"Nabiki-chan!" She couldn't think of what else to say. Nabiki looked
slightly surprised at her reaction. Kasumi reached over and hugged
Nabiki tightly. "You don't know what this means to our family."

Nabiki actually giggled. "It was fun really." She squirmed out of
Kasumi's grasp and started piling the papers on top of each other. "Let
me get Akane and we'll set the table."

Kasumi sat back and stared at her sister. Nabiki was smiling as she
gathered up the papers, stealing glances back at Kasumi and smiling more
broadly.

Gathering herself up, Kasumi practically danced back to the door. A
weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

As she looked out into the courtyard, her happiness vanished. Otoosan
was sitting in front of the pond, staring into its depths. Kasumi
stopped for a moment. Determined not to lose the momentum she had
gained, she walked over and stopped a couple of feet behind him.

"Otoosan?" No answer. Kasumi spoke a little more forcefully, trying to
use the tone Okaasan had used. "Dinner's ready." Still no reaction.

Kasumi took another step towards him, reaching out to not-quite touch
her father's shoulder. "I made one of Okaasan's recipes."

At that, Otoosan stirred. Slowly, he stood up and turned to face Kasumi.
"Ah, so? That would be good," he said in a complete monotone. "I'll be
right in."

"Thank you, Otoosan." Kasumi turned and ran back to the kitchen. She
needed to get there before anything burned. She was not running away
from Otoosan. That's what she kept telling herself, anyway.

Eventually they were all seated around the table. Kasumi sat across from
Otoosan and looked at him, slightly fearful of his reaction. Her own
self-confidence wavered for a second. How dare she make one of Okaasan's
recipes and serve it at the table? She could never be the cook Okaasan
was.

Otoosan took a bowl of rice with one hand and a pair of chopsticks with
the other. He reached with his chopsticks and grabbed some of the food
on his plate. Kasumi wasn't sure if he even knew what he had between his
chopsticks. He put it into his mouth, bit into it, and chewed for a
moment. He stopped, and for a second all of Kasumi's fears rushed in to
claim her: *now* was the time that Otoosan was going to be angry at her
for trying to take Okaasan's place.

"It's delicious!" In his excitement, Otoosan broke the chopsticks in
half. "It's just like Okaasan used to make, Kasumi!" He started to cry.

For once, though, the crying brought happiness. The sad, oppressive
tension that had permeated the house dissipated. Akane and Nabiki looked
at Otoosan, evidently taken aback by his sudden exuberance.

Kasumi smiled, then turned towards Nabiki. "I had help when I most
needed it, Otoosan."

Nabiki turned, startled. Pleased comprehension came over her face. They
sat there and smiled at each other. The last of Kasumi's despair
evaporated. They would make it. The had lost Okaasan, but they had each
other, and that was enough.

***

"With what I got off Kuno yesterday, we should be able to cover this
expense and a couple of others." Nabiki put the money on the counter,
then scowled. "Ranma's just lucky that he makes more money for us than
he costs us, or he and his freeloading father would be out on their
butts."

Kasumi decided to ignore Nabiki's slightly crude language to focus on
another issue. "You sold more pictures to Tatewaki-kun?"

Nabiki looked pleased with herself. "Yup. I had a whole roll and he
bought them lock, stock, and barrel."

Kasumi pressed her point. "Oh my, and he has so many pictures already."

Nabiki shrugged. "He's obsessed, what can I say?"

Nabiki didn't understand. Kasumi tried another tack. "It's amazing,
isn't it, that he spends so much money for them?"

"He's rich, what else? He - "

"And he always seems to be willing to buy so many of them when we need
the money the most."

Nabiki froze, her mouth still open, her eyes wide.

Kasumi stooped down and picked up the laundry basket. "Oh well, it's as
you say, he must be obsessed."

She walked past Nabiki as animation slowly returned to her. Nabiki
looked very puzzled as Kasumi turned the corner out of the kitchen.
Good. Hopefully Kasumi had planted some seeds there that would take
root. Tatewaki and Nabiki would be good for each other, if they could
just see beyond their narrow perceptions of each other.

Some time later, after the wash had finished drying on the line, Kasumi
went out to take it inside. Panda-ojisama and Otoosan were playing shogi
on the porch. There were no classes scheduled until the evening, when
the few students they had would gather in the dojo. The contractors were
working on it now, failing to react at all to the sight of a panda
playing shogi. They had been here many times before.

"Hah! Got you now, Saotome-kun," Otoosan said as he placed a piece.
Kasumi looked over at him and smiled affectionately. He had, over time,
recovered something of his cheerful nature. He was still extremely
fragile emotionally, and anything that even remotely threatened his
family was enough to cause him to cry and carry on. His daughters
understood for the most part, although Nabiki and Akane would
occasionally become exasperated.

Kasumi had just taken the last of the laundry off the line when a
missile came hurtling out of the sky. Naturally it landed in the pool,
sending water spraying everywhere. The contractors on the roof failed to
react to this as well. Kasumi wondered what was left to surprise them.
Maybe the only thing left was a bolt from heaven.

Nabiki had once posted odds on who would show up in the pool. Ranma got
you even money; Ojisama was 3-2. Ranma and Ojisama together were 3-1.
Ryoga had odds of 5-1, and Mousse and Shampoo were longshots at 20-1.
Shampoo in the bathtub, however, was only 3-1.

To Kasumi's surprise, it was Tatewaki who staggered out of the pool and
shook himself off. After checking to see that the laundry had escaped
the water, she walked over to him and bowed slightly.

"Hello, Tatewaki-kun. May I get you some tea?"

Her unassuming greeting brought Tatewaki back to himself. "It is always
a pleasure to see you, Kasumi-san. Your offer is most gracious, and I
would gladly accept, but I must be off to teach a - certain someone - a
lesson in manners."

Kasumi smiled sweetly. Not again. "Ranma-kun did this to you?"

"He is the cause of it, to be sure, and it is to he that I must
administer my stern lecture. But, as for the...argument...that sent me
to your lovely abode, it was none other than my sweet Akane-san who
delivered it."

"Oh my!" Kasumi blinked, and inside she flinched. "Why would she do
that?"

"It was that cursed Saotome's fault, have no fear, Kasumi-san. For some
unknown reason he took exception to the pictures of my beloved
pig-tailed goddess that I had..." Tatewaki glanced up at the workers on
the roof, "...recently acquired. In our ensuing... discussion, I found
myself lying on the ground next to my other beloved, your dear sister
Akane-san. I rose and expressed my undying love for her, but the
pictures that the fiend Saotome had tried to wrest from me spilled out
upon the ground between us, and my beloved Akane-san was much wroth at
my seeming indiscretion. She let me know her displeasure, as is her
right. And yet, it is Saotome Ranma who knows the blame of it, and it is
he who will pay."

Tatewaki-kun, Kasumi thought to herself, you must get over these
infatuations. "Won't you stay and rest a while? It would be pleasant to
have some company."

She saw the refusal die on his lips as he looked behind her. Turning,
Kasumi saw Nabiki walk out onto the porch. "Kasumi! Ranma and Akane will
be a little late. Seems they're having a fight with..." Nabiki trailed
off as Tatewaki stepped around Kasumi.

"Perhaps, Kasumi-san, I would stay and share a cup of tea with you."
Tatewaki bowed, but his eyes didn't leave Nabiki's.

"Excellent. I'll go get the tea. Nabiki-chan, keep our guest company
until I return."

Nabiki flushed ever so slightly, then quickly recovered her composure.
"C'mon, Kuno-baby. Maybe you can help me with my English lessons. 'How
are you today, my favorite pigeon?' "

As Kasumi left, she could see Tatewaki struggling to respond. " 'I am
good... well. I am well, Ms. Nabiki.' What is a 'pigeon'?"

Kasumi put a pot on to boil, stopped to consider what would happen when
Ranma and Akane got home, and put on a second pot. She was just pouring
the water into the teapot when shouting ensued. Kasumi put the teapot
and some cups on a tray and paused at the door to the dining room,
waiting for the right time to enter. Soon Tatewaki came flying through
the door to reacquaint himself with the pond. Shortly thereafter,
following a cry of "Ranma no baka!", another person continued his/her
long familiarity with the depths of the pond.

Kasumi entered, smiling brightly. "Tea's ready!"

Akane and Nabiki only stared at her, slightly incredulous. Still, her
simple, unassuming statement calmed them and gave them strength. Having
a reputation for being oblivious had its advantages.

Ranma dragged an unconscious Tatewaki into the hallway. She dropped him
and continued on down to the kitchen, where Kasumi could hear the second
kettle being put to good use.

Kasumi went out to get the first aid kit. She returned and knelt next to
Tatewaki, who was struggling to sit him up. Kasumi examined his face. A
couple of bruises and a bump on the head; she had certainly seen him
with worse. Ranma staggered back in, and Kasumi looked over at him.
Despite remaining conscious, Ranma had a few bruises himself.

Nabiki, with a great show of exasperation, came over and knelt by
Tatewaki. "Here, let me." She took the bandages from Kasumi and began to
tend to Tatewaki.

The seeds *have* taken root, Kasumi thought, and turned over to Ranma.
He instinctively sat still and allowed her to examine him; they had been
over this many times before. As she reached for the first aid kit, she
felt a hand grasp her wrist.

"I'll do it!" Akane looked fierce and determined. Ranma saw, and looked
up into Kasumi's eyes, silently begging her.

Kasumi did a quick weighing on her scales, then stepped back. "All
right, Akane-chan."

Ranma slumped over, beaten. Akane picked up some bandages, grabbed
Ranma's chin, and shook his head. "Now stay still! This may hurt a
little."

Ranma looked up at Kasumi in misery. Kasumi smiled reassuringly at him.
If he only knew what was in store for him.

***

Kasumi stood in the kitchen, making dinner. She was still getting used
to preparing food for six people. She had the rice boiling, and the
vegetables were frying. It would be a simple dinner tonight; she and
Nabiki were still working on stretching the budget for six people.
Nabiki had had initial success with selling pictures of Ranma (what kind
of pictures and to whom they were being sold, Kasumi preferred not to
think about). Until the budget was rebalanced to accommodate their new
housemates, simple food in vast quantities seemed to be best.

She was tossing the vegetables in the pan when she heard Akane enter.

"Kasumi-oneechan?"

"Hello, Akane. How was your day?" Still holding the pan, Kasumi turned
around.

Kasumi gave a small shriek. She flung the pan in the air and raised her
hands above her head. Ranma, who evidently had been lurking in the
hallway, darted in and grabbed the pan in mid-air. Remarkably, she also
managed to catch the vegetables.

Kasumi barely noticed. Part of her was panicking over Akane's
appearance. The other part was chastising her on her dramatics.

Akane evidently agreed with the latter. "You don't have to make such a
big deal out of it, Oneechan."

Kasumi lowered her arms. "What happened to your hair, Akane-chan?"

Ranma looked up from where she was kneeling with the pan. "Actually, it
was - "

Akane interrupted. "Well, I thought I'd give myself a little haircut.
But I guess I messed it up a bit, though." She held out a pair of
scissors. "I was wondering, could you even it up for me, Oneechan?"

Kasumi blinked, flabbergasted. She looked down at Ranma, who looked
uncharacteristically worried and concerned. Two things were obvious:
this wasn't a voluntary haircut, and Ranma was somehow involved. If
Akane didn't feel like telling her, though, Kasumi didn't want to press
her. There were certainly more important issues involved.

"Of course, Akane." She turned to the stove and lowered the heat on the
burner. "Could you watch this for me, Ranma-kun? Make sure the
vegetables don't burn and the rice doesn't boil over." Kasumi looked
down at Ranma's shirt, which was badly torn in front. "There's a kettle
of hot water by the sink, and one of your shirts is drying outside."

Taking the scissors, Kasumi followed Akane upstairs. She noticed that
Akane was limping, further evidence that something unusual had happened.
They went into Kasumi's room, which had the best mirror. Kasumi took the
sheet off her bed and had Akane lift the chair while Kasumi spread the
sheet underneath it. Akane sat down. Kasumi surveyed the damage and
began cutting.

All the while, her brain was working furiously. This was a very delicate
time for Akane. It wasn't that being Ranma's fiancee was so bad -
everyone knew that if she protested strongly enough, she wouldn't be
held to it.

Akane, being the youngest, always felt that she needed to outperform her
sisters. Kasumi had already assumed the duties of running the house, and
Nabiki, for the most part, controlled the finances. Akane had decided
that the only position left was inheritor of the dojo.

She had pestered Otoosan mercilessly. He had been reluctant - he held
the sexist view that only men could run a dojo - but he didn't have the
will to resist Akane for long. He began training her in the school of
Anything Goes Martial Arts. Akane had taken the training very seriously,
working out with weights and challenging anyone who came along to a
match. Otoosan had kept at it, and had begrudgingly accorded her martial
arts skills some respect.

Then Ranma had arrived. Ranma had been trained since birth in the same
school. He had been taught that all other things were secondary to the
Art, and every major portion of his life was guided by "Lessons" of the
school. Add to that his remarkable strength and speed, and he was a
veritable force of nature in the dojo. Akane had been beaten easily,
very easily, in her first match with Ranma. That, Kasumi knew, accounted
for much of the hostility Akane felt towards Ranma.

Stripped of her martial arts superiority at home, Akane had immediately
fallen back on her hair. After an incident with Tofu-sensei a few years
ago in which he called Akane a boy, Akane had experimented with
different, longer hair styles. After settling on one, she had
concentrated on letting it grow. Kasumi had felt Akane's eyes measuring
Kasumi's hair and comparing it to her own. Then had come the day when
Akane had decided that she had the longer hair. A quiet relief came over
her then. After losing to Ranma, Akane had leaned on her longer hair
like a crutch. Kasumi, although very proud of her hair, didn't begrudge
her sister's greater length. Akane needed to feel that she was the best
in the family at something, and Kasumi didn't mind that at all.

Then today Akane had walked in, her hair chopped off, acting like she
hadn't a care in the world. While Kasumi trimmed Akane's hair, her mind
raced. Akane had to be given something new to focus on, and quickly.
Akane was in a state of shock. Kasumi knew a reckoning was coming, and
it would be fearful if it couldn't be partially offset by something else
that made Akane feel special.

"So what do you think of Ranma?" Kasumi blurted out.

"Huh?" Akane looked confused.

That was much too abrupt. Kasumi calmed herself and started over. "Are
you getting to know your fiancee better?"

That caused a frown to briefly flit across Akane's face. "He's not my
fiancee."

Kasumi continued as if she hadn't heard. "Otoosan is very glad that
you're engaged. He thinks very highly of the Saotomes."

Akane clenched her teeth, then forced herself to be still. Another
advantage to an apparently oblivious nature, Kasumi had discovered, is
that people couldn't stay mad at you. "What about what I think?"

That's a good point, Kasumi thought, and if I didn't think you liked
Ranma, I'd have Otoosan call off the engagement. But I think you know
better. "It's nice that you're the first one of us to get engaged."

Akane opened her mouth quickly, then left it open before closing it
slowly.

Got you, Kasumi thought. "You'll be the first one of us to get married.
That will make Otoosan very happy."

Akane looked thoughtful.

Beaming, Kasumi continued. "And you'll be the first to give Otoosan a
grandchild. Imagine his face."

Kasumi expected a violent reaction to this remark. Instead, Kasumi saw a
small smile appear on Akane's face. This, Kasumi decided, was a good
sign. The smile remained there as Kasumi finished up.

"There you go, Akane-chan. It's a little more even now."

Akane shook herself out of her reverie, looked at herself in the mirror,
and gasped. "Oneechan! It's beautiful."

Kasumi brushed the hair off of Akane's uniform, pleased. "I'm glad you
like it. How is your ankle?"

Akane stood up and winced. "I think I better go see Tofu-sensei."

The name sent a small tingle along Kasumi's spine, but she didn't dare
react. Akane was still going to have an outburst of some sort, and
Tofu-sensei was just the man to handle it. "All right. Don't be long;
I'll hold dinner."

Kasumi entered the kitchen and didn't see Ranma. The kettle was empty,
however, so she assumed he was changing his clothes. She went over to
the stove and was pleased to notice that the vegetables hadn't been
allowed to burn.

She looked out the window; Ranma had donned his orange shirt and was
throwing one of his red ones in the trash. He saw her back in the
kitchen, gave a small wave of his hand, and jumped up onto the roof.

He didn't stay there for long, though. Shortly thereafter, he appeared
in the door behind her. "Kasumi, where's Akane?"

Still stirring the vegetables, Kasumi answered him. "She hurt her ankle
this afternoon, so naturally she went to go see Tofu-sensei." She
paused; if Akane didn't want to tell her what had happened, perhaps
Ranma would. "Did something happen at school today?"

She didn't get an answer. She turned around, but Ranma was gone.

"Oh my." She turned back to the stove, the implications staggering her.
Ranma *cared* for Akane. Although she hadn't been fooled by Akane's
protestations of complete indifference, Kasumi had wondered if Ranma
cared for anything besides martial arts. He had been raised to believe
that martials arts was all there was to life, after all. Now, though, it
was obvious that Ranma was truly concerned about Akane. He had gone to
be with her during her trouble. That spoke volumes about how he felt
towards his fiancee.

Kasumi smiled and began to sing a little ode to the vegetables she was
cooking. Once Akane had recovered, she would begin taking the engagement
seriously. Of course, once Akane decided to do something, she tended to
work too hard at it, often to her own detriment and the detriment of
those around her. However, Ranma - despite all of his protesting - would
eventually succumb, because deep inside his heart he wanted to.

There was a lot for them to work out, but they would be getting married.
Of this, Kasumi was certain.

***

As Kasumi watched Akane wrap Ranma's head, she reflected that she had
severely underestimated the problems those two would have to overcome.
Fiancees for Ranma had popped out of the woodwork, and Akane had faced
her share of suitors. Yet, through it all, Kasumi's certainty hadn't
wavered. Ranma and Akane had managed to remain together. They'd very
nearly gotten married, too, just last month. Those plans had been put
off until things could be settled between Ranma, Akane, and their
various suitors. Kasumi also thought that maybe nothing could happen
until Ranma had his curse lifted (although Ranma seemed to have almost
grown attached to his dual nature). But all that didn't diminish the
inevitability of their marriage.

Finally Akane leaned back, pleased. "There! All better, right, Ranma?"

Ranma was having difficulty answering, since most of his head was
swathed in bandages.

Kasumi moved in. "Wonderful job, Akane-chan! Let me adjust the bandages
just a little."

Ranma's eyes glowed with gratitude as Kasumi stripped off most of the
bandages.

Akane, meanwhile, was looking over at Tatewaki and Nabiki. "How are you
two doing?"

"*I* am doing fine," Nabiki answered. "Kuno-baby is going to be aching
for a week." She finished her ministrations, leaned back, and eyed him
critically. "Not bad. You'll receive my bill shortly."

"Of that, I have no doubt, Tendo Nabiki-san." Tatewaki rose to his feet
and bowed deeply to the center of the room. "I thank you all for your
unsurpassed hospitality." Glancing at Ranma out of the corner of his
eyes, he corrected himself. "Almost all of you."

Tatewaki turned towards Akane, and appeared to be on the verge of
spouting some of his infamous poetry. However, he seemed to feel the
weight of Nabiki's stare. Glancing quickly at her, he instead left the
room.

Kasumi finished with Ranma. He looked much better. Akane stuck her face
in front of Ranma's and eyed him worriedly. "Do you think he needs to
see Tofu-sensei?"

Ranma glowered at her. "Hah! You just want an excuse to go see
Tofu-sensei yourself!"

Akane practically growled. "What would you know about it?"

Ranma looked smug. "I was there when you told his Okaasan that you were
in love with him."

Shock covered Akane's face. She sat still, trying to look at Kasumi out
of the corner of her eye. Ranma looked embarrassed himself, and tried
*not* to look at Kasumi.

***

"Whatcha do that for!" Ranma glared at Ojisama.

Ojisama lowered the kettle. "You can stop now. The Okaasan knows
everything, Ranma, my boy."

"What?" Embarrassed (and why wouldn't he be, wearing that pink dress?),
Ranma turned and faced Tofu-sensei's Okaasan.

Remarkably, she ignored the background antics and turned to Kasumi. "You
must be Kasumi, right? Would you walk with me to the train station?"

A bolt ran through Kasumi. Tofu-sensei's Okaasan approved! "Of course."

"You go on ahead with her, Tofu." Tofu-sensei's Okaasan tried not to
look sly and, for the most part, succeeded.

Tofu-sensei turned in the general direction of Kasumi. "Sorry to be so
much trouble to you."

Kasumi felt her legs go a little weak, but she had long practice in
appearing unaffected by the things around her. "Oh no, it's no trouble
at all, Tofu-sensei."

Without another word, he took off down the street, his Otoosan's shrine
on his back.

"Sensei!" Akane had behaved remarkably well during the whole ordeal, and
Kasumi was grateful for her help. Akane pointed down the street. "The
station's that way."

"Oh!" He looked around and started laughing. "You're right!" He turned
and started running the other way.

Kasumi couldn't help laughing also. He slowed to a walk as she joined
him. His Okaasan remained behind, talking to Akane.

Tofu-sensei was still laughing. "Okaasan, when did you get so tall?"

Kasumi giggled. "It's me, Sensei. It's Kasumi."

"Oh! Kasumi." The silly smile that always seemed to cover his face grew
wider. Kasumi could remember when he first opened his practice. He had
behaved more or less normally. As she had grown older, the silly smile
had appeared and had grown wider with the passing of time. Now that they
had the approval of his Okaasan, it was the widest she had ever seen it.

She turned her head to consider him. His eyes had that glazed, unfocused
look they always had around her. His tall, strong body didn't seem to be
straining under the burden of the shrine. She felt her breathing quicken
just a little. She fought to control it, and found that she wasn't
particularly inclined to control her reactions to him.

But there were other considerations. She reached out and put her hand on
his arm, stopping him. They stood and faced each other.

"Tofu-sensei." The words were very hard to say. She clasped her hands in
front of her. His eyes slowly started to focus on her eyes.

"Tofu-chan." That sounded better on her lips. "You know how much my
family means to me?"

He blinked a couple of times. "Of course I do. You have wonderful
sisters, and that Ranma fellow is..."

"They need me. Ranma and Akane need to get married. Nabiki needs to
finish high school and find a good college. Otoosan... Otoosan isn't
quite ready to be on his own."

Tofu-sensei was silent for a moment, his face sober for a change. In the
distance, his Okaasan could be heard yelling, "Hey! Tofu! Are you trying
to leave me behind?"

He and Kasumi continued to stare into each other's eyes. Spurred on by
the sound of his Okaasan's footsteps, he nodded. "I understand."

Kasumi wanted to touch his face, to put the smile back on it. Instead
she whispered softly, "Someday. I promise."

The silly smile returned in full force, and Kasumi's spirit rose with
it.

His Okaasan joined them. "Let's get going, you two. I don't want to miss
my train."

"Of course, Ranma, let's go!" Tofu-sensei started to walk back towards
the Tendo home.

His Okaasan sighed, but looked affectionately after him. "He really
likes you, my dear."

Kasumi's eyes shone brightly. "I know."

Tofu-sensei's Okaasan regarded her for a moment, smiled, then yelled
down the street. "Come back here, Tofu! It's the other way!"

***

Akane glared at Ranma, then leaned over to him in an unsuccessful
attempt to keep herself from being heard. "Shut up, you dolt!"

Ranma shooed Akane away. "All right, all right, I understand. But I tell
you I feel fine. I don't need no medicine or stuff."

Akane's hand clenched into a fist. "I'm only worried about you, you
jerk!"

Kasumi sighed. Even after all this time, Akane often couldn't express
her feelings of affection without adding some hostility. Not that Ranma
was helping. If they were going to be able to settle the differences
between them and their suitors, they would need to learn to not fight
with each other so often.

Kasumi went into the kitchen and came out with the cookies she had
prepared.

In her absence, Ranma and Akane had risen to their feet, yelling into
each other's faces. The rest of the family was watching with varying
degrees of interest. Nabiki, appearing faintly bored, looked up at
Kasumi. Her eyes gleamed a little at the sight of the bundle of cookies;
she knew who they were for.

"Akane-chan? Ranma-kun?" They stopped and turned to look at her, the
anger draining from their faces. "Would you take this over to
Tofu-sensei?"

Both of their faces brightened, obviously glad that they hadn't offended
Kasumi in any way. They both really liked Tofu-sensei, and understood
what he meant to her. Akane took the bundle from Kasumi. "Sure,
Oneechan! He'll be glad to get them."

Kasumi's spirit did a quick rise and fall. "I know." She walked past
them, out onto the porch, looking at the pond. The sun was at just the
right angle to cause the pond to sparkle brightly. In her mind, the
sparkles formed the face of Tofu-chan.

Please be patient, beloved, she thought to herself. I'm making progress
here. Soon Akane and Ranma will be ready to take my place here. They'll
take care of Otoosan. Nabiki will go to college and make for herself a
place in this world that will be the pride of the family. Then there
will be time for you and me.

She turned around and started. "Oh my!" The whole family was watching
her. Saotome-ojisama, returned to human form, a slight smile plying his
face. Otoosan, his lips trembling through his smile, tears threatening
to stream down his face. Nabiki, the glint in her eyes brighter, her
smile full of affection. Akane, hugging the bundle, smiling broadly.
Ranma, standing just over Akane's shoulder, his grin just as wide.

"Oh my," she said again, softly, tremulously. "You two had better get
going. I'll have dinner ready when you get back."

"You always do," Ranma said, with affection she had never heard from him
before. Lightly he put his hand on Akane's shoulder. "Let's go,
Akane-chan."

Akane's eyes glistened. "Okay." She leaned back into Ranma. Only for a
moment; then she moved away, he let his hand fall, and together they
walked for the door.

As Kasumi entered the kitchen and began the ritual of the apron, she
reflected on her life. Bad things had happened, to her and her family.
Sacrifices had had to be made by everyone. Their lives were in constant
turmoil. Yet, she felt she had done good. Underneath the turmoil, the
fighting, the struggle to survive from one month to the next, they loved
each other. They knew when they needed each other the most, and were
there to provide support. Kasumi was proud of her family.

Okaasan was proud of the family, too.

Kasumi paused while drying her hands. Where had that thought come from?
She looked around the kitchen, as if she expected to find Okaasan there.

Perhaps, Kasumi thought, staring at the empty kitchen, she *is* here.

Smiling, she started to make dinner for her family.