"But they will probably be relentless about it," Soun said, never realizing that his eldest daughter was speaking on more than one level.
"I'm certain that they will not be that cruel."
"There are those who can be vindictive...."
"And there are people who can be perfectly nice!" Akane snapped, looking rather annoyed with the tact that her father was taking. "Even if there are some people who are going to be mean, there are still plenty of people who care a lot about Kasumi!"
"I don't doubt that...."
"You shouldn't! I mean, think of all the people that she's cared for when they were sick, the children that she's watched, and all the other nice things that she's done."
"Besides, Daddy, it seems like you're going against this marriage," Nabiki murmured.
The Tendo patriarch looked like he'd swallowed his tongue when she said that. "I am not!"
"Then why worry about what a few old biddies will say? As things are, most people consider my dear elder sister to be a paragon of virtue."
"Which will make it all the more of a concern when they think that she's a lesbian."
A snort was the middle Tendo daughter's answer to that statement. "Do you seriously think that Kasumi would be that outrageous in her shows of affection?"
"What do you mean?"
"Think about it for a moment. I doubt that Kasumi is going to be very showy, affection wise. At most, she might give a smile, or hold a hand. It'd have to be a major thing for her to even cuddle in public."
"Even holding hands with another girl might bring up the wrong ideas."
"Which brings up the question of when she would be feeling comfortable doing such things. Could you see her kissing another girl in public? Because I certainly can't."
"Not that I'd ask her ta," Ranma muttered.
"Oh?"
"C'mon. Even I get freaked over my girl side, and the only reason that I even get ta see it naked's 'cause I have ta bathe, and doin' it Japanese style means I haveta use cold water ta rinse. I know that I wouldn't feel easy 'bout doin' that sorta thing as a girl, no matter who it was."
"There you go, Dad. Definitive prevention. Sure, they might hug, or smile at each other, but girls today do a lot of that anyway."
"And what about any gossip. Are you so sure that they won't see her as a lesbian?" her father asked.
"They already did."
"WHAT?!" came from multiple voices around the table.
"I came across that little tidbit when I was looking into who was talking about Akane being into girls."
"Why would I like girls?" the younger girl growled, slamming her palms onto the table.
"Simple. You don't like the boys at school. With so many wanting to date you, some of the other girls wondered why you didn't find one to like. Some of the boys you refused to go out with did to, in fact, but I think they were just soothing their egos. Anyway, the idea was that you wouldn't pick any since you couldn't choose one and stay true to your 'preferences'. It was easy to correct."
"How?"
"Simple. I just asked the girls if any of them would date the boys that were after you. Once they considered it, most of them agreed that they wouldn't want to do so."
"And this relates to Kasumi.... how?" Soun asked.
"When I was going around, trying to find out who was saying what, I discovered that there were people were questioning why an attractive young woman who was good in keeping a home, like Kasumi, would want to stay home like she does. I reminded them that a lot of Japanese girls her age still live at home, and that she has a lot of responsibilities. When I was asked as to why she didn't date, I mentioned that neither Akane nor I can really cook, and that the house tends to fall apart when she's not around."
"And this satisfied them."
"Sure did. Now they think differently."
"How so?"
"Kasumi's almost frighteningly loyal to her family, and her mother's memory, Akane and I really need to learn some traditionally feminine skills, and.... you really need to live a bit more, Daddy."
Soun's mouth dropped into a disapproving frown. "I don't think that it's appropriate for you to comment on such matters like what you think I should do."
"Actually, it's what some of the neighbors think. They do believe that it's wonderful that you still love Mom so much, but that you really should take a more active role in life. More than just participating in the local councils. Oh, and that you are remiss in not at least marrying to give us girls a mother figure, forcing Kasumi into the role."
"You are not serious."
"I am," Nabiki told him with a level look. "And now that Kasumi has Ranma there for her, things should be better for her in some respects."
"How so?"
"Well, you've been worrying over how she'd be taken if she's seen being intimate emotionally with another girl, but what about doing the same with a guy? Consider, if you will, the sight of her holding hands with, going places with, and dressing up for a guy who she has a romantic interest for. That would be clearly showing that she has the same sort of needs that other girls her age do, and if she's seen to be happy in that regard, then others would notice it. And she'd like doing those sorts of things with him. Right, sis?"
"Oh my...." Kasumi murmured, looking at her hands as she blushed over something that she was thinking about.
"I'll take that as a yes," the short haired sister said, and shrugged. "Besides, if the curse ever did come out, everyone would know that Ranma is a guy, and would understand why she would have a reason to want to be affectionate in any way towards another 'girl'."
"And if they were to see her as having a way to have a girl without actually being involved with one?"
"They can explain it away with her doing her duty to her family, because of that promise you made, or being so in love with him that she makes herself ignore the femininity of his curse."
"'Sides, if anyone bothers, or makes fun of her, no matter why, I'll make 'em stop it," Ranma growled, cracking his knuckles as he did so.
"Her fierce protector."
"It's sweet," Akane sniffed, and nodded her agreement with his idea to her brother in law.
"I don't doubt that. Not at all," Nabiki agreed with a small, yet very pleased, smile, while:
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(Posted Fri, 16 Dec 2005 00:43)
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