The original Chapter 3 was posted as the first chapter 8... sorry about
that.


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Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1999 21:19:09 -0700
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                    A Scary Difference Chapter 3

    Frost was a bit confused by the pool's rapid shifts as Kasumi ran,
but she was sure of one thing.  Kasumi Tendo was being hunted
relentlessly by some sort of cat-monster.  She swore in frustration as
she strained uselessly to enter the pool.  <I wanted her out of the
way!>  Frost fumed. < Not dead!>

    She racked her brains for a spell that might help.  The astral cord
around her left wrist prevented her from reaching the plane Kasumi was
in.  Frost glared at it.  She muttered  "There's a spell that might
break the cord... but it's almost certainly my only way home."  She
swore lustily for several minutes, watching the chase, and debating
internally with herself.  < If I break the cord to go save her, I may be

stranded in that  dimension, but if I don't and she dies, it will be my
fault.>  Frost continued to watch intently.  < Kasumi Tendo is
resourceful, perhaps she can defeat the monster herself.>

*******************************************************

    Johnathon swore in frustration as his pursuit of Kasumi took them on

to the street again.  They were on the rooftops again a block later, but

already at least a dozen people had spotted the women in her bra,
running from the dangerous looking cat-man.  He put all the trouble this

would cause later out of his mind for the moment, and concentrated on
the chase.  There was something about the chase the brought out the
predator in him.  He was in control, letting his prey get a good lead,
but never enough that she would think she had lost him, oh no.

    Her fear lent Kasumi speed, but sapped her strength.  Johnathon let
the adrenaline come to him slowly, maintaining a constant, but intensely

fast pace. She flagged, loosing ground, but he did not increase his
speed.  The predator knew his prey was tiring, he would catch her when
she was weak from the chase, and he was still strong. Yes, it was the
chase that lent him strength, and the chase that weakened his prey.  It
would take time, his prey was strong, remarkably, incredibly strong,
stronger than him, he somehow knew.  The fear was his ally though, the
chase his strength.

    Without those things he would have lost her. In any normal race she
would outlast him.  But this wasn't a normal race, it was a hunt, and he

was the hunter.

    Shampoo abandoned her search after several minutes, and headed for
the Tendo Dojo to get help.

    Kasumi was running in a blind panic.  Her world was rapidly becoming

a nightmare.  She wanted to tell herself that it was only a dream, but
she knew it was all too real.  She got closer and closer to the edge of
insanity as the chase wore on.  Her panic grew and grew, until there was

nothing else.  When Kasumi ran into a blind alley, too afraid to focus
her chi, and too tired to make the jump to the roof, she turned to see
the monster of her nightmare closing in, and she knew she couldn't
escape.

    Johnathon rounded the corner after Kasumi.  The chase had been long
and hard.  They passed over rooftops most of the way, fortunately, but
they had ended up running over most of Nerima in the process.  At one
point they crossed the thankfully deserted, Furinkan school fields which

had been in the process of being watered.  Johnathon was doing his best
not to dwell on the people who had seen them passing through.  As he
rounded that corner, he realized two things.  One, that his prey was
trapped in a blind alley, and secondly, his prey did not resemble Kasumi

any longer!

    Johnathon approached slowly, staring at the man cowering in fear at
the end of the alley.  After going through the sprinklers Johnathon had
noticed a difference in the person he had been chasing.  He had been a
half a block back, so it had been difficult to be sure, but Kasumi had
suddenly seemed to be taller.  That she had somehow grown was further
evidenced by the bra she had left behind, snapped by her sudden growth.
Johnathon hadn't stopped for it, more determine than ever to catch her,
convinced that the possession was gaining strength.

    The man in the alley was certainly larger than Kasumi.  His hair was

much the same, as were the line of his face, but there the resemblance
ended.  Johnathon slowed to a halt, examining the man carefully before
approaching.  His chest was well defined by chiseled muscles, his legs
stretched Kasumi's pants to the breaking point.  Johnathon guess the man

to be just a couple of inches shorter then his own 6' 2", and to out
mass him by at least 30 pounds of pure muscle.

    As Johnathon came nearer, he realized something else.  Firstly, the
man's eyes were Kasumi's eyes, and secondly, he was getting into a
strange stance.  The man's eyes changed slowly from fear to anger, and
his hands made paw shapes as his stance dropped into a crouch.  The
strange man started to yowl, but Johnathon had already turned to run,
having recognized the signs.  < The Cat-fist!  I'm dead meat!>

    Suddenly the tables were turned, as prey became predator, and hunter

became hunted.  Fear lent Johnathon the speed to keep just out of reach
of Kasumi, but Johnathon could already tell that this chase would be
over much sooner than the last.  <I really over did it with those
hunting metaphors.>, he thought in agony as his muscles protested from
the exertion.

    Ranma and Akane had gotten up fairly early that morning to spar.
They had just gotten outside, having seen the note left by Johnathon,
and were about to begin when Shampoo arrived.

    Shampoo ran up to them quickly.  "Ranma and Akane must come with
Shampoo quickly!  Big trouble!  Shampoo explain as go."

    Ranma glanced at Akane who shrugged her confusion.  "What is it,
Shampoo?"

    Shampoo was already starting to run off.  "Will explain as run, must

go!"  With a shared shrug, Ranma and Akane ran after her, waiting for
her explanation.  Shampoo gave it to them as they ran, telling them
about Kasumi's unusual arrival with Johnathon at the doctor's office,
and her even more unusual departure.  "Kasumi lose memory of husband.
Tofu examine while we wait outside.  Then Kasumi scream, and  Johnathon
rush in.  Shampoo follow, see Johnathon get splashed, change, Kasumi run

away, through wall with one punch, then run very, very fast!  Johnathon
follow, and Tofu then say to find quick, cause Kasumi has Cat-fist, and
Johnathon no know.  Tofu tell Shampoo try find, keep apart."

    Ranma interrupted in disbelief.  "What do you mean Kasumi has the
Cat-fist?  That's impossible!  She can't knock down walls either."

    Shampoo shook her head.  "Tofu say so, also Shampoo see Kasumi knock

down wall.  But I lose them, both Johnathon, Kasumi run very fast."  She

looked at Ranma quizzically.  "Know better reason Kasumi run from
Johnathon-cat?"

    Ranma didn't answer, and Akane just looked stunned.  "This is...
hard to believe." She said finally.

    The three martial artists rounded the corner and spotted Dr. Tofu
talking to an older lady who was excitedly pointing down the street.
They joined him as he began to run in that direction.  Shampoo pointed
to the doctor and said.  "Can ask Tofu if no believe Shampoo."

    Dr. Tofu was quick to confirm Shampoo's story.  "Yes, I do believe
that Kasumi has the Cat-fist, phobia and all.  That's not all, there is
something else about Kasumi you should know...."

    A faint yowl interrupted his words.  Akane pointed in the direction,

of the sound and yelled.  "Too late!  That way!"  She ran off, followed
by the others.

    Ranma listened to the yowl as he ran and shivered.  < I sounded like

that?>

    Dr. Tofu was slowly loosing ground on the younger martial artists. <

This is not good, I've got to explain about Kasumi, this Kasumi, before
a dangerous misunderstanding occurs.>

    Akane, Ranma, and Shampoo ran into sight of two rapidly moving
figures.  The one in front was obviously Johnathon in his half-cat
form.  The man chasing Johnathon was just as obviously not Kasumi.

    Johnathon was exhausted, his shirt ripped from where the man had
gotten a hair too close, and he felt like he was about to collapse.  The

three teenaged martial artists watched as the man running on all fours
finally caught Johnathon, knocking him sprawling with a claw swipe.  As
they ran up to the pair, they got a good look at him.  A medium sized
man with long brown hair, very well built, stalked around Johnathon, who

was slowly getting up.  The man wore no shirt, and his pants were much
too small for him, and had gaps all along the side to prove it.  His
behavior was very cat-like, and Akane and Shampoo recognized it easily.

    "The Cat-fist!"  Akane exclaimed,  "But that's not Kasumi, who is
it?"

    Ranma leapt in between Johnathon and the man, and began to study his

opponent.  The way the man was moving gave Ranma the willies, but he
forced down his fear.  The man looked at Ranma, no trace of humanity
evident in his expression.  He circled around, trying to get at his
prey, but Ranma kept moving to intercept him.  The man seemed reluctant
somehow to attack Ranma, for which Ranma was dutifully grateful.  < This

guy's fast!  He's really hard to read too.>

    Shampoo yelled,  "Johnathon no move!  Play dead!"

    The half-cat wisely took her suggestion, and collapsed again, then
didn't move a muscle.

    The man looked up at the sound of Shampoo's voice, and headed for
her. Shampoo tried to take her own advice, and froze on the spot.  The
man had jumped over to her in a bound, and was now studying her
carefully.  Not wanting to be shredded, Shampoo stayed motionless.  The
man peered at her intently, then, with a sudden bound, bowled her over
onto the ground. Shampoo tensed in anticipation of being ripped apart,
but instead opened her eyes to find her lap occupied by the strange man,

who was curled up, and purring contentedly.

    Akane blinked in astonishment.  "I think he likes you, Shampoo....
Just keep him calm, and don't make any sudden moves.  He should snap out

of it eventually."

    Ranma looked on incredulously, thinking,  < Did I do that?>

    Shampoo frowned angrily.  < Cat-fist or no Cat-fist, no one lays on
my lap except for my husband!>  She was about to punch the stranger
clear of her, when a voice stopped her.

    "Akane's right, Shampoo.  Stay calm, and don't make any sudden
moves." Dr. Tofu arrived at a jog, carrying a tea kettle.  Shampoo
bristled a bit, but did nothing.

    Ranma finally dropped his defensive stance between the man and
Johnathon, and bent to check the older man out.  "Hey man, John-san, are

you ok?"  Johnathon didn't immediately answer, he was too busy trying to

breathe normally.

    Akane headed over to Dr. Tofu.  "Doctor, what's going on?  Who is
that, and where is Kasumi?"

    The doctor shook his head.  "I'm not sure, but I think I can answer
your questions in a minute."  He looked at Shampoo.  "Shampoo, please
keep him calm for now."

    Shampoo nodded, and sighed, then dutifully petted the stranger's
hair. "Good kitty, nice kitty."  Shampoo cooed, hiding her anger as best

as she could.

    Dr. Tofu walked over to Johnathon.  "First, to prevent a repeat of
this..."  He poured some of the hot water on Johnathon, changing him
back to normal.  The doctor looked him over quickly, and spotted nothing

worse than a few minor abrasions and bruises, and a few minor cuts
across the chest and shoulders, where his shirt was ripped.  "You'll be
alright."  He told Johnathon.  "Just stay put for now."

    Johnathon slowly sat up, then nodded, coughing weakly.  Dr. Tofu
went over to Shampoo and the man next, moving slowly, deliberately
keeping his movements casual.  The man in Shampoo's lap glanced up at
him, but apparently didn't consider him a threat.  Dr. Tofu moved
closer, lifting the kettle, and Shampoo distracted the man on her lap by

scratching him under the chin.

    The man brought up his face to hers, and Shampoo was struck by how
handsome he was.  < And he looks very familiar, though I can't remember
where I've seen him.>  Without warning the stranger brought his face up
against hers, rubbing noses.  Dr. Tofu poured the water of the man's
head before Shampoo could punt him into orbit.

    Kasumi blinked, finding herself staring into a pair of eyes only an
inch or so away.  The eyes were very surprised by something.  They were
framed by large purple eyelashes.  Kasumi realized that she was also
mouth to mouth with the owner of the eyes.  Kasumi jerked away rapidly,
stammering an apology.  "I'm... I'm sorry, I don't know, I didn't
mean... Shampoo?" Kasumi backed away, climbing out of the smaller girl's

lap.  "Oh my." Kasumi tried not to panic as she took in the situation.
< How am I ever going to explain this?  I don't even remember how it
happened.  Shampoo's going to take this all wrong.>  She paused as she
noticed her bare chest, and belatedly covered her breasts with her arms.

She looked about, blushing wildly.

    Dr. Tofu was standing next to them, holding a tea kettle.  Akane was

off to the left, looking like she wanted to faint.  She saw Ranma
standing behind Akane, next to some stranger... "Oh my." Kasumi said as
she recognized the 'stranger'  "It wasn't a dream then?  This is real?"

    Dr. Tofu nodded.  "It's real enough, Kasumi.  What do you remember?"

    Kasumi started to shiver.  "I was being chased by a c...c... a
c...cat monster..."  She glance over at Ranma and Johnathon.  "It was
him, wasn't it."  Kasumi said shakily.

    Akane started towards her older sister slowly, a confused look on
her face.  "Kasumi?  Is that you?"

    Ranma came over as well.  "Kasumi?  Why were you a guy?  And how
were you using the cat-fist?"  Ranma halted about ten feet away and
turned his head blushing, having obviously noticed her state of
undress.  Akane had as well, and quickly removed her gi top, showing the

sleeveless shirt she wore underneath.  She stepped forward and placed
the garment over Kasumi's shoulders.  Kasumi looked from face to face,
trying to think of what to say.  She looked at the doctor pleadingly, as

he was the only one who didn't seem confused.

    A sheen seemed to pass over his glasses, but he shook his head
quickly as if to clear it, and the moment passed.  "Ah, yes...."  The
doctor nodded.  "Let me explain.  Kasumi came to me this morning because

she couldn't remember Johnathon-san.  It turned out that he wasn't the
only thing she couldn't remember, nor was that all I discovered.  As
strange as it may sound, it is not Kasumi's memories that have changed,
but Kasumi herself."

    Johnathon walked slowly up, looking very anxious and worried.
"What's happened to Kasumi?  How can she do all these things?"

    Dr. Tofu shook his head.  "I don't know how it happened.  What's
evident is that it has.  This is a Kasumi who is an experienced martial
artist, who knows the cat-fist, and who turns into a man when splashed
with cold water."

    Kasumi looked slightly relieved at the doctor's pronouncement  She
rose to her feet, hurriedly putting her arms into the gi's sleeves.
Once she had the gi closed she looked at Dr. Tofu.  "I can't explain it,

but no one seems to be quite the same to me either."  She motioned to
Ranma.  "Ranma's wearing a Chinese outfit like mine, Akane's hair is a
bit shorter, and..."  She paused turning to Johnathon.  She looked at
him nervously.  "And I don't remember you at all... I'm sorry."

    He flinched but didn't speak.  She looked at Shampoo.  The Chinese
girl had stood and was eyeing her warily. Ranma and Akane looked
understandably confused and worried.  Kasumi shook her head softly.
"Everything is changed, I don't understand how... or why."

    Dr. Tofu spoke up.  "Why don't we all go back to the Tendo dojo, so
we can talk about this.  Perhaps together we can figure out what has
happened, and what we can do to fix the situation."

    Kasumi nodded.  "If you say so, doctor."

    No one objected, and soon they had arrived at the Tendo home. Things

there were refreshingly familiar to Kasumi.  Genma and her father were
playing shogi on the back porch, Nabiki lounged in the sun, reading a
manga, and Nodoka sat at the dinner table with Ryoga, apparently helping

him with his remedial geography homework.  (The one class he had failed
to pass completely.)

    The group that entered the Tendo home raised some eyebrows.  Kasumi
wearing Akane's Gi top and torn pants, Johnathon, obviously exhausted,
was missing his shirt and covered with minor bruises, abrasions and a
few bandaged cuts.  (Dr. Tofu had taken care of what he could on the way

back.)  The tension between everyone arriving was palatable. No attempt
at conversation had been made during the trip, with Kasumi depressed,
Shampoo almost glowing with suppressed indignation, and Johnathon to
tired to think of anything to say.  Ranma and Akane had exchanged
several tense looks, but hadn't ventured anything verbal.

    Nodoka turned from face to face in concern.  "What has happened?"
Several heads turned to glance at Kasumi, who was beginning to feel
extremely nervous under their gaze.

    Dr. Tofu cleared his throat to regain everyone's attention before
saying, "Kasumi, I think it would be best if you could tell us what you
remember about your own life, starting with what you told me about your
training trip to China."

    Kasumi nodded. "That does sound best."

    Nodoka and Ryoga looked at her, confusion evident in their
expressions, Genma and Soun paused their shogi game.  "What's this?"
Soun spoke up interestedly.

    Dr. Tofu raised one hand.  "Please everyone, be patient and let
Kasumi speak until she's finished."

    Kasumi sighed, and began her story.  "Well, as I told Dr. Tofu, when

I was nine, Mr. Saotome took me on a training trip, a ten year training
trip to master the Art."

    Ranma blinked, "Pop took you?"  He looked thoughtful as Akane
shushed him and stayed quiet.

    Kasumi continued.  "One of the last stops on that trip was at
Jusenkyo, in China. We were there to...."

    Kasumi told her tale, to verify parts of it, Dr. Tofu explained her
different curse, her more developed musculature, and her use of Chi that

had convinced him that she was indeed a very experienced martial
artist.  Everyone sat in silence through out her story.  The elements
were similar, frighteningly so.  They could practically predict what
Kasumi would say sometimes.  Other times things got really strange.

    Kasumi told them almost everything that had happened to her, leaving

out only Ukyo's curse and some of the more... embarrassing episodes.
Still, she tried to tell them everything of importance that had led up
to the night when she woke up in the wrong bed.  "...and when I woke up,

I was here, and nothing was the same."

    Kasumi looked around.  The faces around her were sympathetic and
believing. < What a shock.  I think they believe everything....  I
wonder why.  It must be a credit to the other Kasumi.  What a person she

must be to engender such trust.>  Soun was crying, and looked like he
had been for some time, and Johnathon looked like he was in great pain.
She looked closely at him.  She could see sympathy in his face also, she

could tell he believed her, and it was killing him.

    Johnathon looked away from the woman who wasn't his wife with an
effort, trying to hide his feelings.  < This Kasumi never knew me.  All
the others she knew, differently perhaps, but she still knew them.  Me,
she fears.  I'm a complete stranger to her.  My wife is gone, replaced
by this woman who fears me, and with good reason.  Damn Genma in every
incarnation!>

  He trembled with suppressed emotion, so that he almost
didn't notice the hand that came to rest on his wrist.  < Akane?>  His
sister in law slid her hand into his and squeezed reassuringly.

    Everyone was silent, and Kasumi looked from face to face trying to
understand what they were feeling.  Nabiki spoke finally, seeing that no

one else knew what to say.  "OK well, as I understand it, practically
everything that you told us happened to you, happened to Ranma here."
She pointed to the pigtailed martial artist.  "Mr. Saotome took him on
that 10 year training trip.  Ranma fell into the spring of drowned girl
at Jusenkyo.  He defeated Shampoo at the Amazon village, was trained in
the cat-fist like you, and met Ukyo and Ryoga while traveling....
Except of course, Ryoga became his rival here, and Ukyo the suitor.

    Nabiki shook her head and sighed.  "If it wasn't for... you being
who you are, and Dr. Tofu's evidence, I'd think you were delusional,
thinking you were Ranma all of a sudden.  But since you're so much
stronger, know the Cat-fist, and can use chi attacks, we must assume
that at least that much of your story is true...  while our story is
just as true."

    Kasumi frowned.  "But how can both stories be true?  Genma could
only have taken one of us, but I remember it differently than all of
you."

    Nabiki frowned as well, in concentration as she worked through her
hypothesis.  "Well, it's just a theory, but you might be from some sort
of parallel world, a different dimension, where one small change...
Genma taking a different kid... changed everything else."

    Ranma looked at Nabiki impressed. "Wow, how did you figure that out,

Nabiki?"

    Nabiki shrugged, bringing up the manga she'd been reading before
everyone had arrived.  "Same thing happened to the guy in my manga."

    Facefaults from her family came when Johnathon glanced over.  "KOR?
I loved that series."  The two otaku looked around and said together.
"What?"

    *********************************************

    Frost left the astral pool reluctantly.  She had waited around for
some time after the Cat monster's appearance to make sure that Kasumi
was in no danger.  It now appeared that she was safe enough.  < Though
it's hard to tell for sure since I can't hear what they're saying.>  She

figured though it was safe to leave her now.  < Looks like Kasumi may
have figured out something of what's happened to her, and explained to
her family here.  She will survive in this new world, that's good enough

for me.>  Frost shook her head.  < At least she doesn't seem to be
married to Shampoo here....>

    Frost frowned again, trying to forget the way Shampoo had been
sitting next to and holding the Doctor.  < Hmm, I wonder if that Tofu is

a worthy husband to her...  Well, she's not MY Shampoo anyway.  I can
hardly go around modifying every dimension that doesn't meet my
standards, I should be happy enough fixing my own.>  Still partially
unsatisfied with that line of reasoning, Frost started following the
astral cord tied to her left wrist.  < This must lead to my home
dimension.  I'll just follow it to its end and leave this place.>

    Frost flew through the void for an indeterminate amount of time
before coming across a pool with a familiar scene, into which the cord
led.  She dived gratefully for the pool, but was shocked greatly when
she was yanked to a halt right before it's shimmering surface!  Her
right wrist caught tightly behind her she looked back, and realized that

this line also kept her from leaving.  Frustrated, she gazed into the
pool.

    What she saw there caused a fresh streak of swearing a Russian
sailor would have blushed at.  < Kasumi Tendo?  Here as well?>  The
scene
before her was the Tendo living room.  There, Kasumi was talking to
Soun, Genma and Nodoka, the younger people not being present.  Like the
previous scene however, Frost felt a worried explanation was going on.
She checked, and it seemed that the astral cord tired to her left wrist
was indeed connected to this new Kasumi.  What had happened wasn't yet
clear, but one thing was obvious to the Amazon magus.  < I'm trapped!
Trapped in this void between worlds!>




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