Ranma 1/2 - Kasumi: Freedom in Infancy

Chapter 6
Chapter Five: Ranma Saotome! Truely a cursed individual.

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Chapter Description: Main character is still Kasumi, but now we introduce another familiar character.

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Kasumi laid on the floor of the living room watching the T.V in a t-shirt and diaper as the ran pattered down outside. A free, happy Sunday destroyed by rain. It was mildly disappointing. Her first school week in diapers done Kasumi was sure she’d made the right choice. Her mom had mentioned some cloth ones would be coming soon and Kasumi was definitely interested in what they’d be like.

Still no more word about the Saotomes, since she’d listened in on her parent’s conversation a week ago. Her dad had said they’d be showing up soon, but how soon was anyone’s guess. Kasumi noted absently that she’d wet a little. It felt quite nice actually and she had no intention of getting changed just yet.

"Hey Kasumi." Akane said plunking down next to her big sister on the floor. "Whatcha doing?"

"Just sitting around." Kasumi answered. "Just enjoying a little rest, since dad doesn’t seem to want to train today."

Akane nodded, then stiffed the air. "Moommm! Kasumi’s wet!" Akane said happily,

"Tattletale." Kasumi mumbled loud enough for Akane to hear it.

"Mom says you’ll get diaper rash if you keep sitting around in em’ too long." Akane replied, "You should use the potty like a big girl then you don’t have to worry about it."

Kasumi sighed at being lectured to use the potty by her six year old sister. Their mother walked in with some wipes and another disposable tsking at her daughter.

"Honestly Kasumi." Kimiko said as she rolled her daughter onto her back Kasumi simply letting her like a bag of limp noddles. Kasumi’s eyes still training on the T.V. even while being moved. "I don’t have to ask you to study, and you train really hard with your father, but you’re too lazy to come to me to get changed?"

"Sorry" Kasumi replied shrugging. It was true, she was sorry her mother was upset. Then again she was also sorry her mom liked to change her right away, she could sit happily in a wet diaper for a good fifteen minutes.

"By the way, I’m very proud of your scores over the last week." Kimiko said to Kasumi pulling out a wipe. "The lowest quiz score you got was a 95. It’s amazing how much better you’re doing"

"Wow, Kasumi did that good?" Akane said with awe in her voice.

"Your sister must really be hitting the books." Kimiko said proud. Kasumi felt a little guilty at the praise, the only reason she’d gotten the 95 was that she forgot to fill in the answer to a question. She hadn’t studied a day since the wish had taken effect. The worst thing is the standard she’d set for herself would be so high she’d really have to cram all through highschool.

Kimiko undid the diaper and began to wipe her daughter. Kasumi winced momentarily at the cool wipe then went back to watching some cartoon that was on. Kimiko cleaned her daughter and tapped the floor. Kasumi raised her hips at the signal and Kimiko pulled out the wet diaper and slid a fresh diaper under her. A quick tug and the tapes pulled and Kimiko finished changing her daughter and went back to her romance novel. She’d actually managed to get ahead on housework by noon today and since lunch had been pretty basic she’d have a good amount of time to relax.

Soun sat in the entry way reading the postcard he’d found with the mail. Luckily he’d gotten to it before Kimiko today.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear old friend,

We should be arriving just about the time you get this.

Genma

~~~~~~~~~~~

He read it again, no mention of date, but if he was a day away the mail would go at just about the same speed. Did that mean he was going to show up today? What should he tell his family? Should he mention the promise, what would they say?

Finally, Soun decided he’d better say something rather than just have two strange men walk inside and suddenly annouce that he was letting them stay. He walked into the living room were Kasumi and Akane were sitting watching T.V. His eldest was lying on the floor wearing just a t-shirt and a diaper. ’Well, it’s Kimiko’s fault not mine, but it’s so embarrassing since she’s my heir’ Soun thought

"Hi daddy!" Akane said from the place where she was lying next to Kasumi.

"Is something going on?" Kasumi asked, noticing the expression on her father’s face.

"Kasumi could you go get your mother, and Akane go find Nabiki we’re going to have a family meeting" Soun said and the girls nodded and got up. Family meetings were generally not a good sign. It meant either someone was getting punished, or all the kids we’re getting a scolding. If it had been a few months later it probably would’ve been about the family vacation, but it was too early in the year for that. The girls headed anxious to gather the rest of the family. After a few minutds the Tendo family was gathered around the table. Soun put his cigarette out and cleared his lungs before beginning what everyone but Kimiko figured would be a long rant.

"Everyone, my very close friend, Saotome Genma and his son will be arriving at our house shortly. They’ve been training in China for some time now and due to circumstances beyond our control will have to be staying with us for awhile. I want you all to be on your best behavior, when they arrive, which will probably be this afternoon or evening." Soun glanced at Kasumi who looked at him uncomprhended "Kasumi, dear, could you put on some pants or something before they show up."

Kasumi blushed, realizing that she hadn’t even thought about it, she was just comfortable going around the house this way. "Sure daddy," She said heading up to her room to throw something on.

"That goes for you other girls too." Kimiko added, "Femenine modesty is very important, and now that there will be men in the house who aren’t related you shouldn’t go around in your underwear it’s embarassing."

The two sister’s blushed, they hadn’t intended too anyway, but sometimes when parent’s talk it makes you feel like you’ve done something bad before you’ve even done it.

"Well, that’s about it." Soun said as Kasumi came back in the room. "Ohh, Kasumi could you stay for an extra moment."

Kasumi nodded and sat down at the table with her mother and father as Akane and Nabiki took off, not wanting to be around if punishment for something was going to be dealt out.

"I made a promise with my friend Genma a long time ago that one of my children would marry one of his and continue the family martial arts style with the dojo. Since you’re very dedicated, and show much promise, I think it would be most appropriate.." Kimiko suddenly put her hand over her husbands mouth and turned to her daughter

"What your father is trying to say, is he would be happy if you married the Saotome boy." Kimiko said "I think it’s to early to say this to you, and it would be a long time before you had to, even if you decided you wanted too. Still the Saotomes are my friends as well, if you two really do get along, it would make both of our families very happy to see you two married when you grow up."

Kasumi thought hard about the way to answer this. She didn’t even know that much about this Ranma, but she couldn’t see how his life would’ve been affected by her wish. Her biggest problem with him had always been that he wasn’t as mature as her. In the last year however she had seen him mature quite and knew in the end he would be a very strong man. She felt odd about accepting, when Akane had had him before, but then they’d never seemed to get along really well anyway, and it wasn’t as if they even remembered each other.

"If he’s nice and strong and cool, I’ll marry him when I grow up." Kasumi replied and her father smiled happily. Kimiko didn’t give any reaction. She would happy if the marriage took place willingly but she was worried that her husband might push to hard as Kasumi grew up.

Suddenly a door slammed in the distance. She heard Akane and Nabiki running downstairs to see who it was. The rain pitter pattered on the roof and Kasumi had a gut feeling that the meeting would be very similiar to last time.

She managed to get out onto the porch at about the same time Akane and Nabiki screamed at the sight of a giant panda. The panda held over his shoulder a little girl, probably a little younger than Kasumi herself yelling very much like a rough man to "put me down ya idiot"

Soun stared as the young girl was set down on the porch in front him. He looked at her oddly, almost certain Genma’s child would be older than this by now. What on earth was with the panda? Was it a new student?

"I’m Ranma Saotome." The little girl said "Sorry bout this’" she said and sighed considerably

Soun felt his world crumble, just a moment ago the joining of the two schools seemed very promising, yet this was a girl and a child. What had happened? WHY THE PANDA? He realized he must be dreaming as he saw stars appear before his eyes.

Kimiko caught her husband, surprised at how shocked he’d been. Not that she understood any of this anyway. She nodded to the small girl, apologizing for the inconvience her husband presented and bade her to follow her into the house were she set her husband on the floor to recover.

Kasumi was laughing on the inside. Ranma, man amoung men was a little girl, but how did it happen? He shouldn’t have changed because of her wish. I mean, if he was still seventeen without the curse then why did it make him younger. She considered getting some hot water, but figured it would probably be better for all involved if she waited until they asked. Genma-panda had already disappeared towards the furo.

"Uggh, what happened?" Soun asked sitting up

"You passed out dear." Kimiko said smiling. Soun’s eyes scanned the room until they meet with the eyes of the little red headed girl.

"Daddy," Nabiki asked, "I thought you said your friend had a son."

"Well, that’s what I assumed from all the letters." Soun looked back to the child, "You are the child of Genma Saotome right?"

"Yes" She replied sheepishly

"Where’s your father?" Kimiko asked "And who’s panda is that."

"Ahh, he should be here in a minute. He just umm, had to do something. He’ll be here real quick." Ranma said, "He’ll explain the panda too."

"Ranma, you practice Kempo right?" Kasumi asked

"Yeah why?" Ranma replied, hoping he wasn’t going to be challenged by a little girl

"Well, come on, we can practice till you dad gets here." Kasumi said, grabbing Ranma by the wrist and pulling her out of the room. Kasumi was simply enthralled with the chance to fight the great Ranma Saotome. She knew she’d lose, but just to say she’d done it. A spark of fire formed in her gut.

Ranma eyed the dojo critically noting it’s excellent construction and obviously use. It had the feel of blood and sweat a martial artist needs to improve. He liked it, and could see why the old man had bargained him off for it. It didn’t excuse him of course, but he could beat the old man into submission later.

"So wanna have a little match?" The little Tendo girl asked him. ’Who does she think she was dealing with’ Ranma thought, ’Another little girl’ the other part of his mind answered back. He sighed and settled down into stance.

"Sure" Ranma replied "I’ll go easy on you."

"Thanks." The other girl replied, Ranma was a little surprised at the humility in her voice. She had potential if she could guess at his strength in this girly form he was forced into. Then again he just could not picture the cute little girl in front of him as a martial artist. He noticed she was wearing pink overalls with a hello kitty patch on the bib. ’Real tough’, he thought sarcastically. Especially the buldge in the middle, it made it look like she was wearing a diaper or something.

Kasumi nodded and initiated the attack, throwing a punch at Ranma just as she came within range. Ranma dodged it deftly, and then the next. He noticed the slightly off way she moved and wondered if the diaper theory had been true. After missing twenty times and having nothing thrown back at her Kasumi was seeing how Akane could get so aggravated. Nothing was working, and Ranma wasn’t even breaking into a sweat. She threw a couple kicks and they were side stepped as well. He didn’t even have to block her attacks, as if he could see them coming a mile away.

Suddenly an ephiphany came to Kasumi. She spun on one heel just a little too much, losing her balance. In one quick montion Ranma moved towards her to catch her and keep her from falling. Kasumi flung the leg harder and connected into his side while punching him in the gut. Although he didn’t seem hurt him, he lost his balance and she was already commited to falling. At the same time as they ended up on the floor with Ranma on top.

"You’ve got guts." Ranma said, laughing "Did you do that on purpose?"

"I tried to fake you out into helping me, it’s ’Anything Goes’ right?" Kasumi asked

"Fine." Ranma said laughing "Your point." He said, moving a little to get off her. As he moved his it brushed against her midsection and he knew he’d been right. The girl was wearing a diaper. Poor thing, maybe she was incontinent or something. He’d heard old people got like that somethimes.

"Here." He said extended her a hand and she stood up. "For a kid, you’re pretty impressive. Also sneaky." He added laughing a bit more

"Thanks...I guess." Kasumi said laughing with him, not pointing out he was a kid too right now.

"Kasumi, Ranma!" Kimiko called walking into the dojo. "Why don’t you show her where the guest room is?" she suggested, "Ahh, I see you to have been practicing, after you two get settled in you should take a bath. We’ve got a big furo."

Kasumi showed Ranma upstairs to the guestroom and the little girl set down a giantic pack with a large thud. Kasumi was surprised at how strong he was even in this form. He turned to her.

"I don’t want to be insulting, but I’m not used to taking baths with anyone else, mind if I take mine first?" Ranma asked, desperate to be a man again. His father had already had a chance to talk to Soun by now, and he did want to clean up.

"Of course the towels are on the third closet by the door. Let me know when you’re down and I’ll take mine." Kasumi said sweetly, glad that the initial problem of his stay last time could be avoided.

* * *

The whole family had gathered in the living room to welcome the Saotomes. Kasumi had seen that Ranma was indeed still seventeen normally after he’d let her know it was her turn for the furo. Now the teenage boy sat next to his father on the porch, the late spring air felt fresh after the rain.

"It’s easiest just to explain like this!" Genma yelled grabbing his son’s shirt and chucking him into the koi pond. In an instant the tall seventeen year old man turn into a girl of about eight or nine.

"What did you do that for!" Ranma screaming in a high pitched voice

"Ahh, my son, how it pains me to see you this way." Genma cried in admonishment

"THis is your fault in the first place!" Ranma retorted

"Were you not prepared to lay down your life for the art?!"

"My life yes, my manhood is another story!" Ranma screamed throwing a bucket full of water she had found next to the porch at her father.

"Let’s give them a minute to get back to normal." Soun said seriously as an odd little girl vs panda sparring match began in the yard.

"So this is the girl we saw before?" Nabiki asked in shock, locking at the tall dreamy looking boy in front of her. That had been restored with a kettle Kimiko had brought out at Soun’s request

"Neat, what’s it like to be both?" Akane asked him, though Ranma just looked down embarrassed.

"Right, so how did this curse come about Satome?" Soun asked

"Well, you know the cursed springs Jusenkyo, it’s horror as always been shrouded in mystery until now." Genma began as he went into a story he as getting progressively better at telling

* * *

"Ahh sirs, welcome to cursed springs Jusenkyo." A chinese tour guide said, "Each spring have special curse from each tragedy that happened there.

"Well are you ready Ranma!" Genma yelled jumping to a poll

"Man this ain’t so bad." Ranma said hopping onto a poll "Ready as I’ll ever be."

"Wait please kind sirs, I no finish my tragic story." The guide called worriedly

"I won’t go easy on you Ranma" Genma said launching himself

"I wouldn’t have it any other way!" Ranma said, following suit

"VERY BAD YOU FALL IN SPRING!" The tour guide screamed, but it was too late after a short arial battle the old man fell into the spring, only to surface and knock his son into another.

"Kind sir, you fall in spring of drowned girl...eh?" The guide said, as the girl exited the spring, who was working very hard to keep her gi top around her already having lost her pants in the spring. "You turn into very young girl. That odd." The guide replied

* * *

"It turns out that the springs are rather fickle." Genma added. "The general idea of the spring is female, but the age was based on Jusenkyo magic. THe guide said five different people could fall into the same spring with very different results that share the same thing. Still, usually the age of the female form is the same as that of the male’s."

"I found someone in China who was very familiar with Jusenkyo’s magic" Ranma started, Genma looked at him sourly at the mention of the old hag. "She said the spring’s magic have two effects. The first is to show ourselves our weaknesses. For instant, my father’s laziness is represented by the panda form."

"Show some respect!" Genma said, though all ignored him

"The second is to show what one was lacking. What one needs to be whole. The elder I came in contact with thought my curse changed me so that I could understand the opposite sex and children or something like that. To be honest I don’t know a thing about either, being on the road for most of my life." He sighed, thinking briefly it was nice just to be inside a real house. "Apparently Jusenkyo curses aren’t supposed to affect your age, so she said my male body would be in statis until the female one caught up." Ranma looked at the family, "Honestly the only reason I agreed to come here with pop’s was because of your children. I thought maybe they would help me understand the nature of the curse. It kinda seems like fate that I ended up the same age as your kids, considering the bond between our families and some promise he keeps mentioning, which brings us here."

"Is that so?" Soun said surprised. "Well, your curse isn’t so bad, Saotome-kun it appears that fate may even be conspiring to help us with our plans!"

"Indeed Tendo, but the price I paid for Ranma to get that knowledge was unbearable."

"I let Chinese Amazons lock him in a cage for two months for stealing food." Ranma answered, the Tendo’s children looked at him shocked, Kimiko and Soun however knew Genma and figured if his own son did it he had it coming. "You’d have done it too, if you knew my father." He said defensively to the kids

"Ungrateful Boy!" Genma said disdainfully, standing up

"Hey, I got you out right!" Ranma said looking his father in the eyes and standing as well. In another moment they were fighting again.

Kimiko went and put her two youngest to bed, despite the argument that they wanted to see the fight. It was certainly going to be lively around here with the Saotomes. By the time she came down Soun and Kasumi were sitting at the table watching the fight wrap up on the lawn, by Genma being tossed into the Koi pond. Kasumi noted that Ranma didn’t seem quite as good as he had been when she last saw him, perhaps life in Nerima had forced him to grow at an exponential rate.

Kimiko poured another kettle over Genma who asked that it not be boiling next time. Ranma and his father sat across from the Tendos and their daughter Kasumi.

"Saotome, your son’s curse is not so bad. Perhaps it is fate that brings you here. I know understand why you made me be quiet to Nodoka in those letters, yet you should know she has been here but a week ago." Genma nodded gravely as Soun continued. "This is Kasumi, my eldest daughter," Kasumi bowed appropriately to the Saotomes and her father conitinued again. "She is the heir to my school, and, I think an excellent match for your boy, since because of his curse they will eventually, physically be about the same age."

"I agree" Genma stated, "They seemed to hit it off early today. They can get married when they’re of legal age. That’s only six years." Kimiko nodded her approval as well, though unlike the father’s she had her misgivings.

"Wait, wait, wait." Ranma said abruptly, angry that he wasn’t getting any imput "Don’t I get to decide, I mean....what if I don’t want to get married."

"I think it’s fine." Kasumi said, "Mom said if we don’t want to we don’t have too. Still if it makes them happy we should at least give it a try right."

"Hey I don’t need life conseling from some kid who’s still in diapers." Ranma said dimissively and a little sharp, immediately regretting it as the little girls face fell to an expression of humiliation. All eyes on in the room stared like daggers at Ranma.

"That was a bit below the belt against a child, son." Genma said disappointed

"I’m really, really sorry." Ranma said quickly to the little girl who was pressing her face against her mother. "I don’t know what got into me, just they’re springing all this on me and not giving me any room, and I didn’t mean to take it out on you."

"Okay, I forgive you." Kasumi said, trying to smile, but it was obvious she’d let off a few tears quietly. It wasn’t that Ranma’s words were really that cruel, it was just unexpected and she hadn’t planned anyway to react. It didn’t help that she had been wet a little too long and was getting uncomfortable.

"Alright." Ranma grumbled

"Alright what?" Genma said

"Don’t push it, I’ll go along with the arranged marriage thing. As long as if we don’t like each other we can back out. I’ll give it a try though." Ranma said, sighing. Kasumi did seem like a good kid. She was excellent at the art, the best he’d ever seen, perhaps besides himself at that age. Maybe Ryoga, he’d been really good at only 12, when they’d meet.

"Well that settles it then!" Genma and Soun said rising and patting each other on the back and breaking out a bottle of sake. Kimiko went to get some snack and Kasumi went off to her room, her mom having whispered she’d change her as soon as she was done getting the guys some food.

Ranma however quickly caught up to her just as she was heading up the stairs.

"Hey Kasumi?" He said tenetively as she turned around

"Yes, what?" She asked, not knowing whether he was their to be nice or to insult her again.

"I really am sorry about earlier, it just slipped out. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings." Ranma said sheepishly

"Come on, I’ve got a couple of minutes, let’s talk." Kasumi said heading up to her room. Ranma followed her up the steps and into her room. He took a seat at the desk chair and she laid on her bed

"So fiancees huh?" Ranma said, having no idea what to say.

"I don’t need them you know." Kasumi said, sharply, embarrassed she was bringing the subject up but not wanting to be misunderstood.

"Don’t need what?" Ranma asked, being as dense as she remembered

"The diapers, I don’t -need- them." She replied

"Well, then why on earth would you wear them?" He asked not comprehending

"I like them, and my mommy let’s me." She replied grinning, as much as he might not understand she did consider it a perk that other kids didn’t have.

"Oh, well I guess that makes sense, don’t kids make fun of you though." Ranma asked

"They don’t, and won’t know, I usually wear baggy clothes or dresses." Kasumi explained, "It’s easy to hide, and you don’t have to get to the bathroom on time, and its comfy."

"Great, my fiancee, foremost diaper enthusiast." He said, with only light sarcasm

"Hey, how can you complain." Kasumi said, a little insulted "You’ve got a curse that makes you a girl. That’s weird."

"Fine, fine, how about it, you don’t rip on me, or tell anyone about my curse, and I won’t make fun of the diapers, or let your secret out." Ranma said extending his hand. Kasumi shook it hartily.

"Kasumi?" A voice came from the door. "You ready to get changed?"

Kasumi turned red as Ranma tried to stifle his laughter. -Have to keep agreement- he thought.

"I’m ready mom." Kasumi said. Kimiko walked into the room, surprised to see Ranma sitting at the desk. He nodded to her before getting up to leave, giving Kasumi her, kinda, privacy. How embarrassing would it be to be changed by your mother. Then again, he’d just like to have his mother back at any cost.

Tired and worn out Ranma headed for the guest room only to be stopped by a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Soun looking him directly in the eye.

"What’s up Mr Tendo?" He asked casually.

"I’m sure you’re a good man Ranma." Soun Tendo said casually "and I’ve known your father for a long time."

Ranma nodded, suddenly Soun’s head grew infinitely larger and turned purple. His tongue dangled out in the way he’d seen that American band KISS do on some classic rock show. The man’s eyes were know yellow and bloodshot and all Ranma could wonder was how this was physically possible, well that and the fear this transformation brough.

"But if you ever make my little girl cry again, I’ll have your hide. Also, don’t you *DARE* think of anything but kissing until your married." Soun hissed in a demonic voice. Suddenly his head returned to normal and he was just an ordinary human. "Goodnight Ranma."

"Yes sir, I’ll remember that, goodnight." Ranma said gulping and heading into the room. His dreams that night were filled only with the demon head Soun.

* * *

Kasumi laid on the bed while her mommy started changing her diaper.

"So what were you two talking about?" Kimiko asked in interest.

"Well, he said he was sorry for earlier and he won’t make fun of me wearing diapers if I don’t make fun of his curse." Kasumi said aptly summing up the conversation

"That seems like a fair trade." Kimiko said pleasantly, "So Kasumi-chan what do you think of him."

"I think he’s cool, but needs to keep his mouth shut." She said, giggling a little.

"Most men do honey, all women figure out that on after awhile." She finished taping the new diaper on and pulled up her daughter’s pj bottoms. "Alright, well you’ve had a long day today and there’s going to be school tommorrow, so goodnight. Oh that’s right, your cloth diapers should be coming either tommorrow or Tuesday"

Kasumi nodded and then turned on her side to go to sleep. Kimiko closed the door leaving on the light from the small electric bulb stuck in the sock near the door. She didn’t really need it bt a night light was a little comforting. Sighing about all the changes today would bring she stuck her thumb in her mouth and sucked on it slighty.

’This is kinda nice’ She thought as she started to drift off to sleep ’I wonder why I didn’t try it before’

 

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