Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Family Connections ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of either Ranma ½ or Fruits Basket. Enjoy.

Ukyou looked around her and tried not to laugh. Kasumi was bright red and staring at the naked man standing between them. She couldn't seem to pull her eyes away. The naked man was almost as red as Kasumi and had little pieces of her left over lunch from the bento box clinging to him. Ranchan and Auntie Nodoka had the exact same surprised look on their faces; down to how they tilted their heads. Tohru was bright red and covering her eyes. It was the reaction of the three Souma boys that was interesting. They didn't seem surprised only worried. That bore looking into.

Chapter Five

Tohru didn't know what to do. Hatori had just changed back to his normal self in front of her new friends. It wasn't her fault because she hadn't brought him over but she wondered if this meant that she would have to leave. She wanted to look to Kyou for support but was afraid to uncover her eyes. Hatori-san might still be naked.

Kasumi knew that she was staring; but she couldn't seem to stop. She hadn't been able to get a good look at the man before he had changed into the seahorse. Kasumi had thought that the seahorse had been very cute. That wasn't a term that she felt could be applied to him now. She had liked some boys in high school. She had been even more fond of Dr. Tofu. Yet she knew from listening to Nabiki that she was attracted to the man in front of her. He was very. . . masculine. So far she had managed to not look below his waist again but simply looking at his face and chest was enough. The quick glance at Ukyou had shown that the girl was trying not to laugh. Kasumi knew that she should do something but she wasn't sure what.

Kyou didn't know what to do. Tohru had her hands over her eyes so she wouldn't see the naked Hatori. Ranma and his Mom looked surprised but they weren't freaking out like Tohru had done when she found out. Haru and Momiji both looked as worried as he probably did. Hatori was simply standing there looking at the lady that had brought him in, Kasumi, and blushing. She was looking at him and blushing right back. Ukyou was looking around the room at everyone and seemed to be trying not to laugh. That was an odd reaction.

Ranma didn't know what had happened. Kasumi had come in and wanted to talk to Ucchan. He had heard a comment about a seahorse than what sounded like. . . well it sounded like 'Poof'? When Kasumi used the term 'Oh my' it meant something had surprised her. When he looked over, there standing between Kasumi and Ucchan, was a naked man. Having only recently lost his curse Ranma's first thought was 'Seahorse, naked man, Jusenkyou victim. But why did they change him back in the front room with all of these people around.' Then it hit him. The girls were surprised. They hadn't changed him back. Also, Ucchan hadn't taken over any hot water. How had the guy changed? Who was he? Where had Kasumi found him?

Hatori could feel how red his face must be. This was probably the most embarrassing moment of his life. He was usually so careful. He didn't get transformed as often as the others so he seldom had to worry about changing back naked in front of others. He knew that the young lady in front of him, he thought they called her Kasumi, had picked up his clothes. He wanted to ask for them but didn't know a polite way to do so. Also, he could feel bits of rice and other types of food crumbs sticking to him. She had been carrying him in her bento box. Hatori knew that he need a bath, yet one didn't simply ask people if you could bath at their house. Then again, usually you don't end up standing naked in there front room either.

Added to this was the fact that the young lady, Kasumi, was very pretty. She also seemed to have a hard time stopping herself from looking at him. He could just imagine what Shigure and Ayame would say when they found out about this. He, Hatori, had been transformed by a pretty young lady who hadn't reacted as most did when they saw the transformation. Added to that she seemed to find him attractive, and if he was totally honest, Hatori found her to be attractive as well.

Ukyou decided that everyone had been doing nothing for long enough. "Ranchan, why don't you take ?" Turning to the naked man in hopes that he would provide his name Ukyou was careful to keep eye contact with him at all times.

"Sohma. Hatori Sohma."

Sohma? What a coincidence. That might explain the reaction of the three boys. "Ranchan take Sohma-san up to the bath and help him find everything."

The martial artist nodded and quickly led Hatori away. Ukyou gently guided Kasumi over to the table and helped her to sit down. After that she introduced everyone. No one seemed to know what to say. It was like a big white elephant was sitting there and no one could mention it. Finally Nodoka turned to Kasumi.

"Kasumi-chan, did you happen to gather that man's clothes?"

Kasumi turned red again but nodded to Nodoka. "I put them in my bag." She started to get up to retrieve it when Nodoka said that she would take care of it. After collecting Kasumi's bag Nodoka went after Ranma and Hatori. Ukyou was tired of waiting.

"Kasumi where did you find him and what happened?"

As the eldest Tendo girl told her friend about the incident Ranma was trying to talk to Hatori. The traditionally Japanese bath in the house was something that Ranma had gotten used to in his years at the Tendo's. To be polite, he decided to join Hatori in the onsen. The doctor was still unsure of how to treat all of these people. Yes, they had been surprised but not like others who had found out about the curse. They hadn't screamed or panicked. The girl, Kasumi, had been very calm when she had helped him. Suddenly something that Ranma said caught his attention.

"Yeah, I've only been over my curse for about a week and it's still hard to get used to it."

"Your curse?"

"My Jusenkyou curse. Cold water would activate it and warm water would change you back. I got it in China. If you ever go to Chinastay away from Jusenkyou."

"What do you mean by activate it?"

"My father knocked me into the Spring of Drowned Girl. Every time I was splashed with cold water I turned into a girl and warm water would change me back. Ucchan cured it for me about a week ago. She could only cure mine out of all of the Jusenkyou victims from where we lived because we're so close."

Hatori just stared at Ranma. That would explain the reactions of everyone here. They had been around and seen other magical curses. The one girl could even apparently heal them. This bore looking into. A knocking at the door diverted his attention.

"Ranma-kun?"

"Yes Mother."

"I have the gentleman's clothes out here for when you're done."

Ranma looked at Hatori the question obvious in his eyes. The doctor nodded and the two left the bath to prepare to meet the others downstairs.

Ukyou listened to Kasumi's explanation. Her mind started to go over the facts. 'Even though cold water was present that isn't what activated his curse. He stumbled into her at the same time. That has to be connected but how?' The others were very quiet and seemed worried. Almost as worried as when they came in and Auntie had been giving out hugs. 'Hugs?' Ukyou decided to try it. The one who had seemed to want a hug and not get it was Momiji. Ukyou walked over to the blond boy. He looked up and smiled innocently at her. She smiled back. Then she copied Shampoo and glomped him before anyone could react. 'Poof.' Instead of Momiji Ukyou was now holding a yellow bunny rabbit.

"Oh, how cute." Kasumi came over to look at the rabbit. She had seen the girl hug the young man, she thought his name was Momiji. So that was how they changed. The very attractive man, Hatori, had changed into a seahorse and Momiji turned into a bunny. Looking up Kasumi saw that Hatsuharu was standing closer to her. She copied Ukyou and glomped the young man. 'Poof.'

"Oh, what a cute cow."

"Um, sugar he would be an ox or a bull. He's a boy and cows are girls."

"You're right Ukyou. My apologies mister ox."

"It's alright." Haru replied.

Both girls looked surprised. "You can talk in your animal form?"

"Yeah, we can talk. Aren't I a cute bunny?"

Ukyou smiled at the rabbit and handed him to Kasumi who immediately started to pet him. Both girls looked at Kyou who quickly placed himself behind Tohru. "What do you turn into?"

"A cat."

Both girls blinked. "Well that explains why you and Ranchan seemed to get along so well." Ukyou seemed to be speaking more to herself than to anyone else. It was at this point that Ranma, Nodoka and Hatori came back into the room. Looking around Hatori could only sigh in defeat. Ranma and Nodoka looked at the animals and took everything in stride. Ukyou had gone next to Haru when she noticed his clothes on the floor.

'I wonder how he managed to not tear his clothes when he changed? He is bigger as an ox.' Looking around Ukyou decided it would be best if some of them left the room.

"All girls are going to leave the room now. Let's go." Taking both Tohru and Kasumi Ukyou started to drag the two from the room. The first thing she did was make Kasumi put Momiji down. Kasumi and Tohru both looked at her with questions in their eyes, as did Ranma. Nodoka, Hatori and Kyou seemed to know what she was doing.

"But why are we leaving Kyou-kun and the others in here Ukyou-san?"

"Just call me Ukyou, sugar." A sudden sound of 'Poof' filled the room shortly followed by a second. "That's why. The boys were going to change back soon and we've already had enough of a peep show for one day." Both Tohru and Kasumi went red.

"Well it's a good thing that all the windows in this room look out into the back yard. It would have been hard to explain to the neighbors why we had naked men walking around the house." Everyone looked at Nodoka in surprise. She hadn't sounded at all worried by what had happened today. Ranma decided to stop the girls before they left.

"They've both gotten dressed."

Ukyou glanced behind her. Seeing that it was true she stopped and let go of Kasumi, yet still kept hold of Tohru. "Thanks Ranchan. Tohru, could you join me upstairs for a minute."

Tohru nodded and followed Ukyou, leaving everyone else downstairs. Ranma and Hatori wandered over to where Kyou and Haru were and Ranma started to talk to Kyou again like nothing had happened. Listening for a minute Momiji was surprised by the fact that Ranma didn't seem at all bothered by what had happened. Since no one was paying him any attention Momiji walked over to where Kasumi and Nodoka were talking. He seemed to come into the middle of a conversation about Ranma.

"It doesn't matter. Once I knew I had to accept it. It might have been less of a shock if it had been an animal but no matter what he was my son."

"I know that Saotome-san was surprised."

"He may be my husband, but Genma is a fool. A Mother's love isn't something so petty. The feeling of love and caring that you have for your child is like nothing else. There is no other kind of love that can compare. I've heard of women who don't love their children and I can only pity them. Even if you have to give the child up for adoption like I have read of women having to do because they can't afford to support the child they do it out of love. Any woman who would willingly give up her child out of selfish reasons has no right to be a mother in my opinion and should never be allowed to have another child. If they gave up one then they simply are not loving or nurturing enough individuals to be worthy of a child's love. Because Kasumi-chan, a child's love is a wonderful thing, it's worth any sacrifice. Oh, Momiji-kun I didn't see you there. Did you need something?"

Momiji just shook his head. He couldn't speak even if he wanted to; not after hearing what Nodoka had just said.

Tohru followed Ukyou upstairs and into her room. Once there Ukyou walked over and pulled something off of a shelf. Opening the box Ukyou took out what looked like a very old book and a letter. Turning she handed both to Tohru.

"Read the letter when you get a chance. I know you have to leave for work so you can read it later tonight. You can also let any one else that you trust to read the letter. The same goes for the book." After saying this Ukyou led Tohru back downstairs.

Tohru wanted to ask questions but Ukyou was right it was time for her to go to work. When they reached the bottom of the stairs Momiji immediately joined them and took Tohru's hand. She could tell that something was wrong. Kyou pulled himself away from the discussion that Ranma and Hatori were having about herbal medicine and shiatsu points to join Tohru. Both boys heard the invitation that Ukyou extended.

"You don't work tomorrow do you?"

"No, why?"

"Great. Come over for dinner between 6:30 and 7:00. You can bring as many people as you'd like just give me a number tomorrow at school so we know how much food to make."

Tohru nodded then noticed that Hatori had gone to the door. Bowing and thanking Nodoka Tohru hurried after the doctor with Momiji and Kyou.

'I wonder who all I should bring to dinner tomorrow night?'