"Ranma-kun?"
"Sorry," he said, somewhat petulantly. "I honestly don't remember it. Things have just been so ... busy since I adopted Hotaru."
"Ah," Kasumi sighed. "I see."
"You can open your eyes now," Ranma said. "I'm done with the Umisen-ken part."
A cautious peek revealed a pristine kitchen, except for the dishes at the sink. She rose to handle them, but Ranma pushed her back into her chair. "Just let me keep my hands busy," Ranma said absently. "I think better that way."
"Oh, I see," Kasumi said with a slight frown, noticing that Ranma had found the time to make tea and set the kettle before her. And put a clean tablecloth on the table. "At any rate," she murmured, "your mother forbade you to marry, because you would be so busy taking care of your daughter."
Ranma slipped while washing a dish, and the plate flew over his head in an arc. A leaping dive saved the plate from crashing to the ground. "'Scuze me?" he managed, somewhat shakily. "She said I _couldn't_ get married?"
"Yes," Kasumi said, nodding. "And you can't go against her word until you're twenty, anyway. But because of this, she also told all of your fiancees to calm down."
"Ah," Ranma said distantly, regaining his feet and going back to the sink. "That explains that, I guess," he muttered. Then he shook his head, and all of the dishes were simply clean. Another eye blink later, and they were put away. Kasumi blinked, and Ranma was seated at the table opposite her, sipping from a teacup with a thoughtful expression on his face. "I can deal with it," he said after a moment, nodding.
"Just like that?" Kasumi asked, unable to hide a smile. "I'm glad you're not more upset ... but Akane-chan's been absolutely crushed. You do remember that it was only a week ago that you were nearly wed."
Ranma nodded, frowning. "So ... how's ... Shampoo and Ucchan holding up in the face of that?" Ranma asked hesitantly.
"Well," Kasumi said, a slow smiling coming to her face, which she tried to hide with her teacup. "Tofu-sensei tells me that several young women have come to him in the last few days, asking how one helps raise children."
Ranma blanched, and shook his head. "This has potential to go very wrong," he mumbled.
"But it could go so well, too!" Kasumi protested. "Ranma-kun, you have a wonderful opportunity here, one I think most single parents your age aren't afforded." Then she paused, and Ranma winced. "Which does make me ask ... how is it that you managed to get permission for this?"
"Eh, I'll explain that later," he said, waving a hand. "Before I lose my focus."
Kasumi had a sudden epiphany that Ranma's approach to meditation was just as unorthodox as the boy himself. His whole cleaning act had been to distract himself to the point where he could find his mind unprepared, and then _trick_ it into centering itself. She fought off the urge to giggle again, wondering what ancient wise men would think of sneaking up on enlightenment.
"Okay," she said, managing to bring her own self into focus. The house was clean now, after all. "Ranma-kun, you have an opportunity here to raise a daughter who knows a father that has a great many friends, all of whom can help teach her wonderful things. I know well how the presence of a child can calm an angry woman, and since your fiancees know you can't make a choice for years, they will try and earn your good graces by being nice to Hotaru-chan."
"Ah," Ranma said, nodding. "So Akane thought I was just telling her off for--" He cut off, his eyes widening. "Aw, crap!"
"Wait!" Kasumi yelped, before Ranma could leave the room. "Please, think before you act, Ranma-kun. The hurt that was done is not so great it can't be undone. Why else did I call you in here, instead of just asking you to talk to her?"
Hesitantly, Ranma nodded, and took his seat once more. "Okay. Think. If I just run up and tell her I'm sorry, she's gonna read too much into that, too, right?"
"That's right," Kasumi said, nodding. "Now, I don't know all the answers, but you should find a way to make sure that your fiancees are all close enough to you that by the time you do have to make a choice, those you don't choose will still want to be friends with you and your daughter."
Ranma rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Thanks, Kasumi," he said after a moment, grinning. "That actually helps me a whole lot. I owe you one."
"I'm glad! Now, can you explain how you adopted Hotaru?"
Ranma winced again.
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(Posted Thu, 14 Jul 2005 19:15)
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