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Sincerely
Long
http://members.aol.com/ShortYes/FanficHomepage.html
Home of Ranma 1/2 FD

To rise above the rest 
One must learn and accept the good and bad
For only then can you use the cracks to reach your goals.
****************CreatorofKings*********************************



Special thanks to Octavian and Thomas Scroggs for helping this poor story
teller with his grammar.

Also special thanks to Gary Kleppe, DreAshaman and Eric McGinnis for pointing
out the good and bad points to of this story. 

The characters of Ranma 1/2 Universe is the sole creation of Rumiko Takahashi
and various companies.  I am using them without prior permission from the
creator.  Hopefully I will not be sued.

Ranma 1/2 : Kasumi's Wish
Started March 17, 1998
Finished ??????
Created by Long Ngo (Shortyes@aol.com)
http://members.aol.com/ShortYes/FanficHomepage.html

Prelude

     Kasumi has been the foundation for the Tendou household since the death
of Tendou Kimiko, loving wife of Tendou Soun and mother to Tendou Kasumi,
Nabiki and Akane.  Kasumi had become the mother, the mediator and the
caretaker of the Tendou family since an early age.  

     With that sacrifice, Kasumi had in all right given up her childhood to
tend for her family.  She did not ask for much from life and was content with
the role that was thrusted upon her.  It was no surprise though, to those few
individuals who knew about God and Goddess, the ones chosen to grant a single
wish to those worthy, when Kasumi received an unexpected visitor.  

Chapter One

     It was a quiet and lonely afternoon for a certain young lady by the name
of Tendou Kasumi.  Although the person in question did not feel young at the
moment.  She was looking at the koi pond from the doorway and wondered what
her life would have been like if only her mother was still alive today.
  
     She did not mind taking care of the family, she actually enjoyed it.
Feeling needed and respected was what she always wanted.  It was just moments
like these, when the house was empty, when she wished she had a particular
someone to share in the moment of tranquility and fill the void within her.

     Somedays, when she was free, she would take a walk in the park after
shopping.  Looking around, she would smile sadly as she notice the young
couples and the children having fun.  Kasumi rarely has a chance to enjoy
herself and participate in the many activities which others her age seem to
enjoy such as dating, sight seeing, strolling in the park, movies, or even
hanging out with friends.  Most of her friends were all attending college.
That was another dream that was taken from her.  To one day attend college and
work in the medical field.  With most of her friends gone, the only true
friend left Kasumi could think of was a 32 years old woman with 3 children.
This more than anything seems to reinforce the image of an old lady.  

     Though she had given up on most of her dreams, she still looked for that
particular someone to fill her life with joy.  The few dates she went on left
much to desire.  The boys were immature and lacked the qualities she expected
in a boyfriend much less a future husband.  

    Deep in her contemplation of her life, she missed the head of a young lady
slowly raising from the koi pond.  Kasumi was startled when she finally
noticed the young lady standing in front of her.  The young lady introduced
herself as Skuld, Goddess second class category 2 limited.  Blinking twice,
Kasumi cleared her head and greeted her guest with a smile.  Focusing on
Skuld, Kasumi could tell that whoever this child was, she had an interesting
taste in clothing.  What also caugh Kasumi's attention was the round circular
symbol upon her head.  

     "Hello, you don't happened to be Tendou Kasumi would you?"  the young
lady asked.

      Kasumi's first thought was that this was some kind of game the little
girl was playing.  Deciding to humor Skuld, Kasumi played along.  "How may I
help you?" Kasumi asked.

     "You were found worthy through your devotion to your family.  I am here
to grant you one wish.  I would have been here sooner but you never seem to
use the phone.  I couldn't wait any  longer and so I decided to drop by.  At
this time a hint of irritation could be heard in Skuld's voice as she
complained to Kasumi.  

     "I'm sorry, do you want me to use the phone now?"  Kasumi deciding to
have a little fun with the young lady. 

      Seeing as how she was raising her voice at her client, Skuld calmed
down.  "I'm sorry, this was my first assignment and I got so tired of waiting.
Anyways, I am here to grant you any wish you desire," replied Skuld.  

     As the conversation between Kasumi and Skuld continued, Kasumi could not
help but stare politely at the young Goddess.  To Kasumi, she was talking to
one of the most mature young ladies she had ever meet.  As for Skuld, she
could not believe how similar Kasumi was to Belldandy.  Trying to please
Skuld, Kasumi decided to wish for something and for some reason she felt like
sharing her dream with this mysterious girl.  "I can wish for anything you
say?" Kasumi asked.  When Skuld nodded her head, Kasumi closed her eyes and
made her wish.  " I wish to meet a kind, exciting and handsome young man whom
I could respect, love and someday marry." Kasumi softly spoke.  

     Kasumi was having a wonderful time.  She had kept her true feelings and
dreams to herself for so long that talking to someone even a little girl had
helped lift her spirit, that was until a beam of light shot forth from the
circular symbol upon Skuld's forehead.  As the beam intensified, Skuld started
to float in midair.  Kasumi was now just plain staring at Skuld and thinking
to herself that maybe this was not just some game after all. 

    As the light died down, the young Goddess turned toward Kasumi.  Speaking
two words that would change Kasumi's life forever.  "Wish granted."
Afterwards the young Goddess disappeared back down into the koi pond.  

     Staring at where Skuld had vanished from, Kasumi was in mild shock.  The
silence was broken by the chirping of a bird.

     Later that week, she was even more surprised when her father called all
three of his daughters to him.  He had announced that a good friend of his
would be coming the the Tendou household soon.  He was bring his son in the
hopes of uniting both the Tendou and Saotome clan through marriage.  

      At this, Kasumi could only think back to her wish a few days earlier and
again was shocked by that day's events.  Had her wish finally come true?

Chapter Two by Megane 6.7

        The sounds of mass celebration were still within earshot of Saotome
Ranma, as he lay on the roof of the Tendou Dojo with his arms by his sides.
It was a beautiful night and the full moon was in perfect view.  Ranma had
given up trying to sleep hours ago and was now content to stargaze until he
felt tired.

        "I don't see what the big deal is about the new year coming and all."
Ranma thought to himself as he gazed upwards at the sea of stars.  "When it
finally comes, I'll still be stuck with three fiancees and I'll still have my
curse.  It's not like I can start over again or nothin."  Unknown to Ranma
powerful forces were working this night.

        Ranma sighed to himself as he recalled some of the events of the past
year that had happened to him.  "It's almost like nothing has changed at all.
Akane still hits me all the time, I'm still being challenged by wierdos and
pursued by perverts all the time.  Shampoo won't leave me alone.  I still
can't see mom as a guy and I'm failing math in school.  If anything life's
gotten worse for me!  At least when I was on the road all the time I only had
to put up with Pop.  Of course, being on the road with Pop is what lead me to
all my troubles in the first place....  

        "Ranma?"

        Ranma was startled out of his thoughts as he turned to the source of
the voice and saw Kasumi standing on a ladder against the house.  She had a
look of curiosity and concern on her face.   "Is everything all right Ranma?"

        "Oh it's you.   I'm okay.  Just can't sleep."

        "Sleep?  Don't you want to see the coming of the new year?" Kasumi
asked him.

        "Why?"  Ranma replied wearily.  "Nothing's going to change anyway."   
  
        Suddenly Kasumi started to climb up on the roof.  Ranma was mildly
surprised by this but nonetheless sat up and gave her a helping hand as she
crawled across the ceramic tiles and lay down beside where Ranma was a moment
ago.  Ranma wondered if Kasumi would be safe up here but after a few moments
and no sign of her sliding off, Ranma resumed his spot a few feet away from
her and stared up into the sky again.

        "Why do you say that?"  Kasumi asked as she joined him in stargazing.

        "It's just....All these things have been happening to me all year and
it seems like nothing I've done has had a lasting effect.  I'm still knee-deep
in trouble."  Ranma replied sombrely.

        "Why do you think nothing has changed Ranma?"  Kasumi asked curiously.

        "Because all of my problems are still here.  You'd think in a whole
year's time I'd be able to deal with at least one of my problems but just when
I think I've got it solved, something happens to mess it up all over again!
Either that or a new problem develops!  I can't keep up at this rate!"

        "Things aren't as bad as they seem."  Kasumi said.

        "Oh yeah?  How have things changed?  I have enemies out for my blood,
perverts out for my girl side, promises that *I* never made...." Ranma
retorted.

         "What promises are you referring to exactly?"  Kasumi wondered aloud.

        "Everything!"  Ranma shouted with exasperation.  "Pop made me decide
between Uk-chan and okonomiyaki when I was too young to understand what he
meant!  "Pop promised for me that I'd marry Akane and that I'd grow up to be a
man among men for my mother!  Thanks to him, I can't even tell my mom that her
son is right here....

        Kasumi's eyes began to grow misty  "I....I know it's hard to pretend
to be someone else when you're with your mother...."

        "Hard?!  It sucks!"  Ranma growled. 

        "....But at least you have a mother to talk to...."  Kasumi's voice
was full of sadness.

        Ranma suddenly felt his heart grow cold as he realized what Kasumi
meant.  He immediately became apologetic.  "I'm....I'm sorry....I forgot
about...."

        Kasumi tried her best to smile.  "It's alright.  I'm just trying to
point out that at least you have a mother to hug and talk to, even if you're
pretending to be someone else.  When my mother died, Father fell apart
emotionally and it was up to me to take care of Akane and Nabiki because he
couldn't bear to talk about her without bursting into tears.  I forced myself
to be strong so I could help everyone else through it so 
I mourned in private where no one could see me because I didn't want to upset
them any further."

        Ranma swallowed hard as he considered Kasumi's words.  "Maybe you're
right.  I am lucky that I can see her at all but it still sucks that I can't
be who I am, who she wants to see most of all, who I want to be most of
all...."

        "A man."  Kasumi guessed,

        "Yeah....I admit being a girl has had it's advantages in the past but
I'd GLADLY give it all up to never be a girl again!  To not be chased and
pawed and gawked at by freaks like Happosai and Kunou and Mikado and...."

        "I see your point.  But hasn't being a girl given you an idea on how
we feel about certain things?

        "Such as?"  Ranma frowned.

        "You wonder why Akane keeps hitting you yet you call her things like
uncute and tomboy...."

        "She starts it!  She calls me a pervert and a jerk!  She never
believes anything I say and she always takes her anger out on me!  Besides,
I'm only being honest with her!  She acts like a tomboy!"

        "She just hasn't gotten along very well with boys.  Remember, they
used to attack her every morning before you arrived and that Kunou person used
to ask her out on dates all the time.  You both got off on the wrong foot when
she walked in on you in the bathroom...."

        "She still blames me for that?!  She walked in on me!  How does that
make ME a pervert!?"  a frustrated Ranma replied.  "Besides my point is that
except for a few minor things, nothing has really changed!  Why should I look
forward to something like a new year anyway?"

        "Maybe things will go better this year than the last.  There's always
hope."  Kasumi replied softly as she lay back 

        Ranma looked over at Kasumi.  "How do you do it Kasumi? How do you
manage to be so cheerful, year after year?"

        Kasumi was silent for a long moment, giving serious consideration to
the question.

        "I....I guess it's partly because I've had to be strong for everyone
else's sake when mother died.  I never really had time to  be sad.  So I
convinced myself to always look on the bright side of a situation, no matter
how grim it may be."

        "But I've seen you get upset before...."  Ranma remarked.

        "It's not a matter of being upset as it is trying to see the positive
aspects of something.  It's.....It's hard to put into words.  It's similar to
putting a candle in a dark room.  No matter how dark and vast the room may be,
it can't block out the light of that candle, no matter how small it may be.
Do you understand?"        

        "I....I think I do."  Ranma's face was unusually contemplative as he
digested Kasumi's words and their meaning.

        There was another long pause while they both watched the night sky.   

        "Kasumi, can I ask you an question?"  Ranma suddenly spoke up.

        "Of course, Ranma."  Kasumi replied while still staring up.

        "When I....that is....When Pop brought me to your house for the first
time and you knew your dad wanted one of you to marry me....Did you have any
interest in me at all?"

        "Honestly....no."  Kasumi replied in a quiet voice.  "I was caught off
guard by your transformation into a girl.  I....I panicked."

        "And that's why you and Nabiki convinced our parents Akane was the
best choice?"

        "Well....Akane did hate boys....It seemed to be the proper...." Kasumi
stopped and sighed.  "No.  The truth is we were both scared and we used Akane
to escape.  I'm ashamed to admit it but I wasn't ready to marry someone who
changed into a girl.  None of us were.  But I still pushed for Akane."  Kasumi
lowered her head in shame and embarrassment. "I'm sorry."

        Ranma gently placed a hand on her shoulder.  "It's okay....I know it
was a tough spot to be in.  At the time, all I wanted to do was go back to
China and get cured.  I *loathed* being a girl, to be stared at and
ridiculed....I must have really scared you, huh?"

        "But I should have been the one.....I mean....I was supposed to be the
strong one, to take responsibility when no one else could or would....I know
now that I should have been the one to accept the engagement but I was too
frightened...."                

        Ranma's eyes were very wide as he exclaimed.  "You would have let
yourself be engaged to someone you didn't even know?  Just like that?"

        "Why not?  You accepted it easily enough."  Kasumi pointed out.

        "Well...."  Ranma placed his hand behind his head.  "I don't know if
accept is the right word....tolerate, maybe.  But you always had a choice."

        "Did I?  Sometimes I wonder if I truly did.  I know Nabiki would have
rather died than accept this engagement against her will, because she used to
always being in control of a situation.  And if Akane hadn't eventually
accepted your engagement, I have little doubt the responsibility would have
eventually fallen to me." 
        
        "Accepted?  Since when did Akane accept our engagement?!  All she does
is accuse me of things I haven't done and hit me with her mallet!"

        "Ranma....have you ever asked yourself why she does that?  Why she
can't stand the thought of another girl near you, and why she constantly
fights with you?"

       "Because she's an uncute, sexless tomboy with an unreasonable temper?"
Ranma replied with a straight face.

        Kasumi sighed.  "Never mind.  Someday perhaps, you'll figure it out.
What I'm trying to say is that it was my duty to accept the engagement.  My
family means more to me than life itself.  I have given myself to them and
this house completely, forsaking everything else.  When I tried to pass you
off on Akane, it was the first time in a long time that I was thinking of
myself, that I didn't want to be engaged to a boy who was three years younger
than me and changed into a girl.  It made me feel so bad that I thought of
myself over others....

        Kasumi lapsed into silence again while Ranma tried to make sense of
what she was saying.  "It....It sounds to me like you're punishing yourself
for being selfish, but what you did wasn't selfish, it was a matter of choice.
Granted Akane wasn't interested in me either but if it had been me in your
place, I would have done the same thing."

        Kasumi remained silent while Ranma continued.  "I'm not very good at
talking like this....To be honest, I prefer to fight a problem rather than
solve it and that's gotten me into more trouble than I care to admit.  But
it's still my choice whether or not I want to 
eventually marry Akane.  Pop keeps telling me it's a matter of honor but then
he ignores his promise of honor to Ukchan, not to mention every other girl he
promised me to in exchange for food.

        Ranma took a deep breath as he continued.  "I don't blame you for not
wanting me.  If you had, look at all the problems you would have been stuck
with.  Believe me, you were lucky."

        Kasumi looked up at Ranma and suddenly began to laugh.  It was a
joyful sound, like a soothing melody.  

        "What'd I say?"  Ranma was puzzled.

        Kasumi just laughed harder at that.  Soon she was laughing so hard she
could barely keep her balance on the roof.  Then she eventually stopped
laughing and wiped her eyes.  "I'm....I'm sorry.... I was just laughing at the
irony....I came up here to cheer you up and now here you are cheering me up.
It just struck me as funny.  I don't 
know why."

        Ranma smiled at that.  Then he stared at Kasumi as if noticing
something for the first time.

        "What is it?"  Kasumi asked, curious at what had captured his
attention.

        "It's....It's nothing....Don't worry about it."  Ranma tried to shrug
it off.

        "No, what is it?"  Kasumi insisted.

        Ranma was quiet for a long moment.  "It's just....this may sound silly
but until now, I've never seen you laugh.  I always see you smile, but I've
never seen you laugh."

        Kasumi froze. Solid.  Her hand went to her mouth immediately.  Her
face was a mask of shock.

        "Kasumi?  Is everything all right?"  A concerned Ranma asked as he
walked closer to her.     

        "It's just....It...."  Kasumi stammered.  "You're right....I haven't
laughed since....since my mother died."

        "I'm sorry!  I didn't mean...."

        "It's okay....It never occurred to me until now.  I always put on a
smile whenever people needed it but when something was funny, I just couldn't
make myself laugh, no matter how hard I tried.  No one seemed to notice so
after a while I stopped trying."
                
        Ranma felt a lump growing in his throat.  "Kasumi, when was the last
time you felt like yourself?"

        Kasumi seemed to flinch slightly as she replied.  "W....What do you
mean?"

        "I mean when was the last time you felt something like this...."

        Ranma suddenly but gently placed his arms around Kasumi.  Then he
gently brought her chin up to face him and tilted his head forward....

        Kasumi's eyes were wide and frightened, she wanted to pull away and
yet her body refused to let her, betraying her true feelings and need for
someone.  She closed her eyes as her lips met with Ranma's.

        She had not been kissed by anybody for a long time.  While she had
tried it a few times when she was in pre-school, she had never had a boyfriend
of her own.  A part of her wanted to break away, to say this was wrong and
that she was betraying her sister....

        But she wanted this kiss, needed this kiss so badly that she wrapped
her own arms around Ranma's neck and held him tight.  For that moment, Kasumi
was truly happy for the first time in years.

        Then Kasumi released the kiss, Ranma was almost reluctant to do so but
nonetheless complied.  Kasumi smiled again, only this time it was different
somehow, as if the other one no longer suited her.

        "Thank you, Ranma.  I needed that."  Kasumi said.

        "I....I think I did too...."  Ranma remarked as they both laughed.
Meanwhile the sounds of celebration were growing louder around them.  It was
one minute to the new year, when old acquaintances would be forgotten, new
promises made and broken....

        Kasumi and Ranma resumed their places on the roof and watched as the
dark sky began to erupt with fireworks.  Kasumi and Ranma watched the colorful
display of colors with awe as they could hear the final countdown until the
new year.

        5....

        "Ranma...."  Kasumi whispered.

        4....

        "Yes, Kasumi-Chan...."  Ranma whispered back.

        3....

        "I never told this to anyone...."  Kasumi began.

        2....

        "Said what?"  Ranma replied, puzzled.

        1....

        "I'll whisper it to you...."  Kasumi leaned closer.

        "HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!"

        Ranma's eyes went wide as he heard Kasumi's confession.  Then he
smiled and whispered something back to Kasumi as the celebration around them
reached it's peak.

        "Sometimes, I feel the same way."

         Suddenly a blinding flash covered Kasumi as they pass into a new year
with a time honored New Year kiss.

         Up in Asgard, Skuld had finally found the bug that had eluded her for
over a year.  Because of this cute 6 legged nuisance, her contract with Kasumi
went partially unfulfilled.  Finally she could complete the contract.  Heaven
knows these two deserve a break.