In this story, I am going to make some major assumptions about some characters. This is my interpretation, if you don't like them or agree with them, then you don't have to read it. Okay, you could always think of them as a What-If? :-) Also by popular request, I have incorporated Nettouhen ep 38 into the story, well discreetly anyway. This was the episode where Ranma hit his head and thought he was a girl.+ Ranma Fan-fiction Kasumi's Story Chapter 5 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= [ Ranma is showing the others the cure he found in a book on head injuries ] Ranma: [ reading ] "To cure a massive personality shift occurance caused by damage to the cranium, apply another equally powerful blow to the same area. by Newton's 2nd Law this should counter-act the effects of the first blow, by simple cancellation" Ryouga: Ranma, are you serious?! Such a cure couldn't exist... Ranma: Well it's right here in ink and white. Are you going to argue with the facts? Soun: Of course! That's the answer! And Ranma *is* speaking from personal experience.+ Ranma: Nn? What are you talking about? Soun: Oh that's right, you wouldn't remember...+ Genma: Well Ranma, you better hurry and preform the cure. Ranma: Me?! Why me? Genma: Well, there's no one else. Ranma: Oh yeah, what about you? Genma: Me?! Well, um.... Soun: Ranma, it is the responsibility of the head of the Tendo Dojo to alleviate all afflictions to its household Ranma: Then I guess that means you. Soun: No! As preparation for attaining the position of head of the Dojo, the task lies on your shoulders, Ranma. Ranma: In other words you don't want to do it either. Ryouga: Ranma, I'm shocked at you trying to escape responsibility. Ranma: I don't exactly see you jumping at the opportunity. Soun: Well, I'm sorry to hear you say that Ranma. In that case.. [ He grabs Ranma roughly... ] Please Ranma! My eldest daughter's sanity is at stake... [... and then starts crying ] Ranma: Forget it! I'm not hitting a girl! Hitting a girl is taboo for a guy! Genma: Well, here now you're a girl about to hit a girl! Ranma-chan: You jerk! that still doesn't change anything! Genma: Ranma, why can't you just be a man about it? Ranma-chan: Me?! What about you? Panda: [sign] I'm just a cute Panda. Ranma-chan: Am I the only one up to do this? [ The Panda is rolling on his back, Soun is crying at Ranma's feet and Ryouga just has his head bowed ] Ranma-chan: Fine! I guess I AM the only MAN around for the job. [ At Tofu-sensei's clinic ] Tofu: Now about head injuries... Akane: Uh, Sensei, about your head... Tofu: Oh you mean this bump? Oh you think that maybe I...? Ha ha ha... Don't worry about it. Here let me show you... [ demonstrating with Betty the skeleton's head ] You see, unless the injury took place *here*, the person just receives a bad headache. Akane: [thinking] But that wasn't where Sister was... or was it?... Tofu: And even if the wound did occur in this area, it still isn't likely serious. Although the victim may react very oddly for a couple of days, afterwards with some rest, they should start to recover. Akane: Really?! Tofu: As long as the injury isn't agravated, like receiving another hit to the head. Akane: But I thought... Tofu: Ha ha, Akane, you've been watching too much tv. You probably seen those shows where a person changes personality when hit on the head, and then changes back to normal when they receive another hit. Akane: , [ thinking ] But, it wasn't on tv....+ Tofu: Although a serious head injury can cause a personality change, such a cure will *not* work, they'll only make matters worse. Akane: But I've seen...+ Tofu: Most case on tv are completely fictious Akane. There are extremely rare cases when such a thing does happen. But in those cases, the hit must occur in exactly a spot that will reinforce the damaged tissue by causing massive blood hemoraging to flood the original injury. He would have to be exceptionally lucky. Having a very hard head also helps. Akane: [thinking] huh, that figures...+ [ At a park, we see Kasumi sitting on a bench by herself Ranma appears, as a man, and slowly walks up to her ] Ranma: Kasumi, thank you for showing up, I wanted to speak to you alone... Kasumi: Ranma-kun, is this about a cure for my sickness? Ranma: You.. know? Kasumi: Well, it's something I even noticed about myself. I'm very sick aren't I? I mean, I just don't seem like myself. Ranma: ...yes... Kasumi: Ranma, can we just talk first? Ranma: What do you want to talk about? Kasumi: Oh, just about me, my life, and my story... [ At the Tendo Dojo ] Akane: Hello! I'm home.... Where is every one? [ She sees a book lying on the floor. She picks the book up, flips through some of its pages and then turns it over to read its binder ] Akane: That's odd, what's this "101 fallicies on medicine" joke book doing out here? [ Back at the park ] Kasumi: So you see Ranma, every since Mother passed away, I took on her mantle as head of household duties. I think the hardest part was trying to be a good role model. Ranma: I think you did a reasonably good job considering the circumstances and outcomes. But you worked at it for so long and so hard... Didn't you kind of resent it? I mean not being able to live up to your dreams..? Kasumi: To be honest, a little. But my family needed me, so I gave up my dreams, for a while anyway. I always wanted to go on to College after High School. But, as you know, things didn't turn out that way. My dream was to go to Pharmacy School. Actually I really wanted to go to Medical School and become a doctor. But I don't think I would have made it, Father wouldn't approve... Ranma: You're kidding, I think you would have made a great Doctor. I mean you're always borrowing those medical books from Tofu-sensei. Kasumi: That's very kind of you to say so, but very unrealistic. I'm a girl, and like it or not, sometimes all some men want a girl to be is a good wife. Ranma: Kasumi... I'm sorry. Kasumi: Oh don't be. It's not your fault, it's just how the world is. You would be very naive to think otherwise. Ranma: Why are you telling me all this? Kasumi: I don't know Ranma. I feel I can trust you, you're the only one outside the family I can tell my secret to. But lately, I feel as if a great cloud had been lifted from my mind. I just had this overwelming desire to be free, a desire to do the things I want to do... to say the things I really meant to say... and especially to stop doing the things I really don't want to do... [ On some rooftop, Ryouga is sitting and contemplating the current situation, as Ryouga begins his solilique, the "Ryouga Theme" BGM starts up ] Ryouga: What am I going to do? Akane-san needs me to do this for her. But I just can't. But then, didn't I promise that there was nothing I wouldn't do for her? And this is a man's job that only a man can do. The important thing is to make Akane-san happy.... [ daydreaming ] Akane: Ryouga-kun, I know you really didn't mean it, but you did it for me... Thank you, I known it must have torn you apart.... [ reality ] Ryouga: But this... But this.... is too horrible! [ daydream ] Akane: Ryouga-kun! How could you hurt my sister like that!?! I never want to see you again! Ryouga: But I did it for you Akane-san..... Akane: I never want to see such a wild violent man like you again!!!! [ reality ] Ryouga: ARRRHHH!!!! Akane-san!!! Ranma!!! This is all your fault!!! [ Back at the park ] Ranma: Hmm? What was that...? Kasumi: I don't quite understand it myself, I just had a really hard time with my discipline and patience these past days. Sometimes when I feel like exploding, instead of holding it in, I just let it all out. At these times I just feel like screaming and shouting... Ranma: Kasumi, I had no idea. Kasumi: It's okay, I prefer it this way. I have to be the strong one in the family, even when I feel like going crazy. It's better this way. Then no one has to suffer except me. Ranma, please promise me you'll never let my family know, It would only worry them and I don't want the extra burden to fall on anyone else. I just want Nabiki and Akane to grow up having as happy a life as they can Ranma: Kasumi... Kasumi: Ranma, give me the cure. I can't shirk my responsibility any longer. Ranma: ...I can't do it... Kasumi: You must Ranma. Both of our families are depending on it. Ranma: Kasumi, you aren't a slave! You should have the right to have your own life. You aren't a ... a... Kasumi: A what? A housewife? Ranma: ... eh? heh, heh.... [ blushing ] Kasumi: Ranma, you have to understand that this is about duty, about honor.. This is my burden and I must bear it... Ranma: ... besides ... Kasumi: ...and it's only until Nabiki and Akane are grown up, and married .... Ranma: ... I couldn't bring myself to cause you any harm, even unintention.... eh?! [ Ranma thinks about what Kasumi just said. He turns away from her and walks off a few feet to be by himself. Silence falls for a brief minute ] Kasumi: Do you drink or swallow the medicine? [ Ranma topples over onto the ground ] Ranma: Um, well that's NOT exactly what you should expect... Ryouga: Kasumi, please forgive me!! Akane-san, please understand, I'm didn't mean it!! Go to hell Ranma!!!!! [ Ryouga has just jumped onto the scene out of nowhere, crying out like a maniac, weilding a mallet and leaping towards Kasumi ] Ranma: Ryouga! [ Ranma runs to intercept Ryouga, Kasumi currently had her back to Ranma, Ranma is too slow and Ryouga has already reached her, and releases his swing with his mallet. The swing comes but it is badly aimed, at the last moment Ryouga changes his direction and aims upward to avoid Kasumi. At that point Ranma's flying kick knocks into Ryouga's chin causing him to drop the mallet and send it spiralling upwards ] Ryouga: [crying] Please forgive me Akane-san, but I just couldn't do it. Ranma: Ryouga! What the heck do you think you're doing?! [ While the two are preoccupied, the mallet begins it's decsent and lands predictiably right on Kasumi's noggin ] Ranma: Kasumi!!! Ranma: Ryouga, how heavy was that thing?! What was it made of?! Ryouga: About the same thing as my bamboo umbrella... Ranma: ...what? Kasumi: [ weakly ] ooohhh, my head..... Ranma: Kasumi! Thank goodness you're alright... Kasumi: [ gruffly ] WHO... HIT.... ME?! [ Kasumi picks up the Mallet off her head, and with one hand snaps it in two. Ranma and Ryouga take an involunatary step back. ] Ranma & Ryouga: Uh-oh.... -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= End of Chapter 5 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= "And now, the REAL scheme unfolds..." - from an episode of: Mou Daremo Aisasenai "I will never love another again"