Sasameki Koto and Ranma ½: Martial Arts Mix
Chapter Seven
Kasumi Tendo generally considered herself the most even tempered person in the dojo. She tried to maintain a calm, pleasant air, and she knew she was considered one of the kindest, most likeable people in their area.
So Kasumi was a bit startled at the almost instant dislike she felt for Ushio Kazama. The pretty light brown haired girl seemed sweet and gentle, but something about her set Kasumi's teeth on edge. Still, she summoned up her politeness as she nodded to the three young women sitting in the living room by Sumika, "Will you need to stay the night?"
"I am NOT sleeping in the car," Miyako told Tomoe, the smaller girl looking up at the more mature looking girl.
Tomoe ran a hand through her short, dark hair as she asked, "I don't suppose there's a hotel in the area?"
"I'm afraid not," Akane offered, frowning slightly at Kasumi.
Taking the cue Kasumi nodded slightly, "You can stay with us overnight, but the conditions will be... rather cramped."
"I'm not sharing my room," Nabiki said briskly, the brown haired girl smiling slightly. 'I can drive up the price then rent out my room,' she thought.
"I think we can fix this," Ranma offered, the black haired boy continuing, "Pops and I can sleep out in the dojo, the girls can use our room for tonight."
"Hey!" Genma started to protest, but Ranma cut him off.
"We're occupying the Tendo guest room, remember?" Ranma reminded him, "The least we can do is vacate it if real guests need it."
"I suppose," Genma grumbled.
Kasumi made herself carry on as hostess, "Have you had anything to eat?"
"We actually got some pretty good Chinese food before the car died," Ushio admitted as she smiled tentatively, "at the Cat cafe."
"Ah, you met Shampoo," Sumika noted, smiling faintly.
"Are those breasts real?" Miyako had to ask, "I mean, she was bouncing around like..."
"I haven't asked, but I think so," Sumika fought back a laugh, "and what's with you noticing something like that? I thought you were taken."
"I may be taken but that doesn't mean we can't window shop," Miyako winked, getting a laugh from Tomoe and a blush from Ushio.
'Are those two...?' Kasumi thought, feeling herself starting to blush. The idea of two women together wasn't necessarily shocking to her, from everything that had happened around girl Ranma, but it was a slight surprise.
"So, I understand Sumika came out here to train," Ushio said, "how has she been doing?"
"Quite well," Soun Tendo said seriously. He looked at Sumika, "Under other circumstances, I would be interested in joining our schools."
"I'm not marrying her," Nabiki said instantly.
"Wha...?" Tomoe blinked.
"Old joke, I think," Ranma scowled at Soun, even though he noticed that Kasumi, the other eligible Tendo, hadn't exactly objected. "Soun and my father Genma are a little obsessed over merging our schools by marriage."
"Must be fun," Ushio said dryly.
"You have no idea," Akane shook her head ruefully. "Let me fill you in..."
The story of the multiple fiances not to mention all the guys after girl Ranma and the bunch after Akane kept everyone entertained, with various people tossing in various comments. They also needed a demonstration of Ranma changing gender, which made the three newcomers nearly speechless.
"Better hope Akemiya never finds out about this," Tomoe muttered.
It was late enough in the day by then that Ranma and Genma headed off to clear the guest room, then headed out into the dojo to set up camp. Getting their bags from the car the three women headed up to the guest room, pausing to thank their hosts.
"Okay Kasumi," Akane came up to her and said softly, "what's wrong?"
Kasumi's first instinct was to deny anything was wrong, but she couldn't quite manage it. "I'm not sure," she admitted as she watched the three girls head upstairs, "I just... don't like that girl."
"Kazama," Akane prompted.
"Yes, her," Kasumi nodded. "She's so... clingy to Sumika, and tries to be so solicitous to her. It's rather annoying."
Akane could point out that Kasumi had done the same with Sumika at times, but decided not to. "Well, let's go talk with her," she decided.
Sumika looked rather... confused as the three left for upstairs, as if torn about what to do. One part of her seemed to want to follow them up, but another part...
"Sumika, are you all right?" Akane asked, tapping her on the arm.
"I think so," Sumika smiled.
"If you want to join them upstairs it's fine," Akane said briskly, "it'll be pretty crowded though. Or you can stay with Kasumi?"
Sumika looked at Kasumi searchingly a moment then said firmly, "I'll go tell them goodnight, then be right back down."
Kasumi found herself smiling as she said, "Good."
A few minutes later and Kasumi was getting ready for bed, even as Sumika was as well. She wore simple sweatpants and a t-shirt to bed, a look Kasumi found rather charming really. She felt a bit overdressed in her own nightgown and robe, but she noticed Sumika seemed to appreciate it.
They laid down, the lights off and the only light coming in from the window. Kasumi found herself staying awake, and she noticed Sumika was too. "Is everything all right?" Kasumi asked her quietly.
"I don't know," Sumika admitted softly. "I should be... happy to see Ushio again, especially after how she left me." She hesitated, "I hope that doesn't offend you."
'Sumika and Ushio?' Kasumi thought, surprised that Sumika might have been with someone so shallow seeming. "No, it's fine," she said gently.
"Thank you," Sumika sighed. "I'm never sure who to tell about this sort of thing, or how they'll react to it. It can be pretty nerve wracking at times."
"I guess so," Kasumi agreed, turning to look at Sumika fondly. "You were saying about Ushio?" she asked.
"Yeah," Sumika hesitated, "I never told her I loved her, so I guess that excuses her going after someone else."
Kasumi winced at the pain in her eyes as she quietly said, "I'm sorry."
"I just wish...," Sumika searched for the right words, "I could just let her go. Stop letting my feelings for her jerk me around so badly."
Kasumi reached out and squeezed the other girl's hand. "That's a choice you'll have to make for yourself," she said. She smiled a bit sadly, "I eventually stopped mooning over someone I loved too, though I admit it took awhile."
Sumika smiled slightly, nodding. "You're right," she admitted, "thanks." She squeezed Kasumi's hand back then let go, sighing. "We'd better get to sleep, Genma and Ranma's practice is going to wake us up soon enough."
"Don't remind me," Kasumi sighed, silently wishing she had held on to Sumika's hand.
Morning came as usual, with Genma and Ranma smacking into the building with their martial arts practice. Sumika awoke just after Kasumi, the black haired young woman scowling adorably as she muttered, "Are they earlier than normal?"
"I think so," Kasumi sighed, "probably showing off for your friends."
"If so, he's barking up the wrong tree," Sumika said wryly as she collected her clothes.
"What, all three of them?" Kasumi teased.
"You guessed?" Sumika asked curiously.
"I thought your friends Tomoe and Miyako were kind of cute together, really," Kasumi admitted with a smile.
"Remind me to tell Tomoe that," Sumika chuckled as she finished collecting her clothes and went to get changed.
Humming cheerfully Kasumi got dressed, then hurried down stairs to get breakfast going. Sumika soon appeared dressed in pants and a plain white shirt, her long hair tied back in a ponytail. "I'll start breakfast," she told Sumika, "could you check on the others?"
"Will do," Sumika nodded.
Kasumi felt... oddly good about the talk she had with Sumika last night. It hadn't resolved anything, of course, but she did feel closer to Sumika now. She had liked the young woman almost as soon as they met, but now she felt a deeper connection.
"And Sumika can do things like that?' Tomoe asked as they walked into the house, chatting together cheerfully.
"Remind me not to piss her off," Miyako noted wryly.
"She wouldn't do that to you," Ranma noted mildly, both him and Genma shaking off chunks of white ice crystals
"What happened to you two?" Akane asked, helping set the table.
"Sumika decided it was time to end the fight, so she used a kind of heat-extraction method to freeze the whole yard," Genma noted admiringly. He looked at Sumika and asked, "Please teach me how to do that."
"Maybe," Sumika winked.
Ushio looked rather out of her depth as she followed behind, studying Sumika with a thoughtful look. 'I wonder what she thinks of Sumika now?' Kasumi thought, feeling a surge of satisfaction.
To be continued...
Note: It is VERY hard to write a chapter mostly from Kasumi's POV. Let me know if I screwed up on it.