'You're a woman after my own heart. You'll do well, my dear. Feel free to call me mother,' she remembered Nodoka saying, which vanquished the empty feeling that she had been carrying inside of herself, making her feel complete, because she had Auntie's approval.
“Oh my, I suppose I really should be calling her mother now instead,” she pondered out loud, as she scratched her chin, giggling as she remembered more of the conversation. She was beginning to realize just how eyeopening and life changing the whole experience had been for her. Nodoka, helped her realize things about herself, that she had no clue of before. She really owed her future mother-in-law a great debt of gratitude, and thanked Kami-sama for blessing her with such a wise and caring role model.
Shyly Kasumi blushed, still not used to the new feelings and thoughts she was having. Her eyes glazed over, as she thought about how manly her new fiancé was, and all the things the two of them would do together, once married. She put her finger to her lips, briefly sucking its tip, thinking about how these were things she once strongly objected to, but mother had helped her overcome her own internal blemished, helping her see the errors of her ways. The talk made her realized that she had fallen head-over-heals in love with Ranma, and yearned to be with him with all her heart. She swore to herself that on her honor, she would be the best wife he could ever have, making sure that he truly was a man amongst men. After all, it was the duty of a good wife to insure that her husband was being manly at all times.
“Don't worry Ranma, I won't fail you,” she said, standing alone in the kitchen.
Kasumi frowned thinking about her sister and how this was going to effect her. It was Akane's own fault, she concluded, knowing that the girl had dishonored herself and her family. It was now up to Kasumi, as the new head of the household, to take up responsibility and insure that honor would be preserved by carrying out the deal between the Tendo's and Saotome's. She knew that she couldn't count on either of the fathers, because they had grown too weak and unmanly to be able to do the right thing, from years of not having a wife to properly guide them. She really pitied the two, as thinking about them made a single tear roll down her face and off her cheek. She knew at that moment, that there was no way in hell that she would ever allow the same fate to befall her betroth.
Kasumi finally finished her job on the kitchen counter. She looked down at it and was surprised to see her own reflection staring back up at her. Sigh sighed, being disappointed at knowing that she was a complete and utter mess. Being the caretaker of the family gave her no excuse for not dressing up properly like a lady, she realized. Wanting to correct the problem, she hurried up the stairs, before stopping midway and cursing herself, then going up the stairs again but this time in a more dignified manner that was befitting a lady. She was about to enter her room, when she suddenly stopped again and looked up, noticing the door to the attic.
She carefully opened the old door, and coughed as dust fell on her, before pushing out the ladder and climbing upstairs. She looked around, chastising herself for not cleaning the attic more often, before noticing her mother's old trunk in the corner, which containing all of mother's worldly possessions. Kasumi quickly saddened, missing the woman that taught her so many things, as she walked up to the trunk, reluctantly. She opened it, and carefully searched it, pulling out a few items here and there, to carry back downstairs.
“Thank you mother, I'm sure I'll make you proud,” she said bowing to the trunk before closing it again to leaving the attic for her room.
In her room, Kasumi looked at herself in the mirror and smiled as she wore her mother's kimono and held the forgotten Tendo family sword.
“A woman after Mother Saotome's own heart,” she repeated to herself, looking mesmerized at her own reflection. She turned her head sideways, starred for a bit, noticing her ponytail that she had worn for most of her life, before putting it into a bun like Mother Saotome wore. She felt like a real lady now, as she stepped back to admire herself, before she was interrupted by sounds coming from downstairs, caused by two slightly drunk martial artists. Kasumi clenched her fist and decided that it was time to confront the two.
“Ah, Saotome, what a splendid evening it is,” said Tendo, holding a bottle of sake, as he made his way to his favorite game.
“That it is, Tendo. That it is,” agreed Genma, as he pondered that great minds think alike, not realizing that it was only a myth created by those who needed a bit of self gratification. The truth was much closer to one of Nabiki's personal beliefs, which was that the truly great minds were those who thought differently, like Einstein for example. She often joked about it really being the not-so-great minds that thought alike, because they all thought, 'duh.' Before Genma and Sound could continue to ponder the wisdom of their ways, they were interrupted by Kasumi.
“Father, I have something urgent that needs to be discussed,” said Kasumi.
“Uh ... uhm, what is it dear?” Asked Soun, surprised that his daughter looked a awful lot like Nodoka at the moment. Genma, meanwhile managed to splash himself with a bucket of mop water, and went on his routine of playing with a tire. He didn't like Kasumi new look. It reminded him too much of his wife's, who was way too scary for him and way too interested in making sure that he was being manly, for his own taste. According to the foolish woman, being manly included doing things like chores and looking for a job. Her philosophy was what inspired him on going on so many training trips.
“Father, Akane and Ranma ...” she started.
“have grown closer to each other and finally admitted their true feelings for each other. Oh happy day, Saotome. It's time to start planning a wedding again,” he said, popping open another bottle of sake to celebrate, wanting to grab the panda by his arm and dance around in a circle with him.
“No,” Kasumi said harshly and frowned, snapping her father out of his current delusion, “Ranma and Akane aren't getting along any better, and at this rate poor Auntie Nodoka will be gray haired before she'll have any grandchildren,” she continued with a sad tone, causing the edges of Soun's eyes to moisten.
“But but Kasumi, I know that they love each other and eventually will work it out. They're just too scared to admit their true feelings for each other,” Soun pleaded with Kasumi .
“No father, Akane is a violent maniac and does not love Ranma. She'll just keep pushing him away, thinking that he is a no good pervert, insulting him and punishing him in the process, to only pull him back in whenever she gets jealous. Face it, It'll never work, Ranma is just going to give up one day and commit seppuku, so that Akane can be free and everybody honor can be preserved,” Kasumi said coldly, which had the effect of making Tendo believe her words.
“But but ... the school must be joined,” he said trying to hold on to some aspect of his dream.
“Yes father,” Kasumi agreed.
“It's a matter of family honor,” he said weakly.
“I know that father. Unfortunately, Akane knows nothing of family honor and is too spoiled at the moment to learn about it. Perhaps it is time to switch the engagement to me, father. It is a matter of family honor that a Tendo is to marry a Saotome. Honor must be preserved at any cost, father,” she said unsheathing her katana, causing Genma to sweat in fear and Tendo to stumble backwards, before resheathing her blade.
“Ka Kasumi?” He questioned.
“Don't worry father. Me and Ranma seem to get along just fine and I have always liked him. I even come to realize that I love him. So everything will be fine, father. I promise,” Kasumi said happily as her eyes glazed over again, thinking about all the naughty things they could do together once they were married.
“And father, I already have Auntie Nodoka's approval,” she added.
“Very well then, I suppose you're right, Kasumi,” Soun said defeated.
Genma didn't like this at all. He had always planned on engaging Ranma to one of Tendo's daughter, thus joining the schools and having them take over while he and his best friend lived the good life in retirement. He already realized that Nabiki was a poor choice for his plan. The girl was too sharp and calculating and would eventually tire of him and kick him out, he concluded. Kasumi while she had been the perfect choice before, obedient and a bit clueless, had changed to the worst. She had become too much like Nodoka.
Genma cringed, thinking about how Kasumi would soon nag him all the time about not helping around the house and try to force him to find employment in order to prove his manliness. Just what he didn't need, he thought. No, he had to find some way of getting Ranma and Akane back together again, making them realize just how much they loved each other, thus ensuring his and Tendo's retirement package.
“Stubborn kids,” he growfed, as he began to plan.
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(Posted Fri, 01 Apr 2005 07:27)
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