Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Family Connections ❯ Chapter 7 ( Chapter 7 )

Ranma ½ and Fruits Basket belong to their creators, not me. I just decided to have them meet.

Sorry for the long delay for anyone who is actually reading this. Work has been very busy and intense for the last few months.

Listening to the teacher was more difficult today than ever before. The five involved in the little drama all seemed to be seated on pins and needles, even Yuki's prince persona was showing strain. Uo and Hana kept glancing at the five and wondered what the problem could be.

Chapter Seven

Hatori sat as still and silent in front of Akito as he could. It had been decided that Shigure would be the one to do the talking. Both Ayame and Shigure had decided not to tell Akito who had been transformed first just that all of the Souma's who had been in the house except for Kyou had been seen in their other forms. The head of the family had yet to speak.

"So you say the boy, Ranma, said that the girl, Ukyou, just recently cured him of a shape changing curse?"

All three tried not to start at the sudden question. Since the only one present that had spoken to Ranma was Hatori, he decided the answer would probably be best coming from him.

"Yes. He told me it was something called a Jusenkyou curse. It was water activated. Cold water forced the shape change and warm water reversed it. He commented that he had changed into a girl but mentioned others having similar curses." Hatori waited for Akito's response and tried not to look at the snake and the dog.

"Interesting. This girl, the older one, what was her name Kas…Kac…"

"Kasumi."

"Yesss, Kasumi. She is enrolled at the local medical school to become a nurse, is that correct?"

Shigure decided to answer and get the pressure off of Hatori. "Yes that is what the others told the boys. They also mentioned that she was looking for a part time job in a doctor's office as part of her training."

A slow smile spread across Akito's face. "Perfect. Hatori you will employ her as a part time nurse. That way we will have one of them close by incase they are lying to us."

It was all that Hatori could do not to react. He bowed in acceptance. Akito waived his hand dismissing the three. Shigure and Ayame quickly lead Hatori out of Akito's presence. As soon as the three were safely back in his office Hatori started to shake.

An assistant. I haven't had one since Kana. And to make matters worse I'm already attracted to the woman.

Walking home from school with Yuki and Tohru was usually a relaxing experience. But after everything that happened yesterday Kyou was still in the process of sorting it all out. Two things stood out in his mind that didn't really involve the others. One had been Ukyou's statement about him and Ranma when he told her what animal he changed into. How could his being a cat make the connection he felt with Ranma possible? He was going to ask that tonight. At lunch they had all been careful not to mention anything in the presence of the Yankee and the Psychic.

The other concern weighing on his mind was the conversation he had with Momiji while preparing dinner. The rabbit had been shaken and confused. He had also been right in assuming that the only other person who could have understood would by Kyou.

The blonde had stood shyly by the door watching the other boy prepare the meal. Kyou had enough on his mind to not want to add to it but other was acting so out of character that Kyou started to worry despite himself.

"What's wrong brat?"

That had started the conversation. When Momiji told him what he had overheard and the quiver in his voice by the time he finished told Kyou that the statement made by the Saotome matriarch had cut deeply. After dinner had been served and cleaned up and after Momiji's blunder on the phone to Kisa, Kyou had shocked everyone by saying that Momiji could share his room. He knew that Momiji hadn't been aware of Shigure checking on them later. Kyou had simply looked up from his comforting of the boy to see Shigure looking at him with an expression he had never seen. As soon as the two's eyes had met Shigure had smiled sadly and quietly closed the door. Nothing had been said but Kyou didn't know how long that would last.

"Kyou-kun?"

He looked up to see that they were home. He had no idea what Tohru and rat boy had talked about but smiled at the girl reassuringly. She immediately smiled back her whole body seemed to light up with pleasure and he was again humbled by the inner beauty in front of him who never seemed to be aware of what she did for everyone around her.

Ukyou and Ranma stopped at the market on the way home. It had been decided last night that Okonomiyaki would be served. Since Ukyou could make large amount with great ease and still make it taste better than any okonomiyaki available around here it was deemed the perfect meal. Ranma was a bit surprised when he found out ten people would be coming. They would have to set up outside so it wouldn't get to crowded.

Looking as his best friend walking beside him Ranma wondered about what had been going on lately. When Ukyou had come back he had just felt an instant and immediate joy. Then he really looked at her. Ranma had never lied, Ukyou had been cute. But if he had been asked a year ago and he had been honest with himself he would have answered that Akane had been the cutest of the girls. When Ukyou had first left he had missed her but felt relieved that it was one less girl chasing him. It had been Nabiki who had finally made him realize something. She had found him re-reading one of the letters Ukyou had sent him and had just looked at him.

"You never know what you had until its gone, do you Saotome?"

After that cryptic remark she had left. But the words had echoed in his head often in the next months as the letters had become less and less. He had missed Ukyou more than he had thought he would. When he had seen her, yes he had been happy, but he immediately noticed the changes.

Ukyou could never again be called one of the girls. Neither could she ever again be referred to as cute. The only person close to his age who even compared to Ukyou was Kasumi but whereas Kasumi was the perfect homemaker Ukyou was still a warrior and it shone from her even more brightly than before.

"Ranchan?"

Looking up Ranma noticed that they were home and Ukyou was looking at him with concern. Her beauty still shocked him and made him wonder why he had never let himself see it before. All he could do was smile at her and watch her answering grin spread across her face.

Hatori looked at the group assembled before him. Nine of the fourteen that were cursed stood before the house and the young lady who had touched all of their lives. Meeting Shigure's eyes Hatori could feel the concern of the dog for what was about to happen. Hatori had called to medical school and found out that yes he could participate in the internship program. Now he had to offer the woman a job, open up his office and his life to a female presence again. Both of his cousins had hovered around him all afternoon in concern. He had just barely kept his annoyance at bay knowing that they did it out of concern.

Tohru slowly walked up to the door. They were early but Hatori hoped it would be alright. Suddenly the door opened and there she stood with a bright smile on her face. A sidewise glance let him observe the reactions of Ayame and Shigure. Both bloomed goofy grins as they looked at her. It was all Hatori could do not to sigh. He knew that the dog and the snake were about to become regular patients in his office if he was interpreting those looks correctly.

"Hello, welcome. Please, come in."

Tohru bowed and apologized for being early. Kasumi could feel her smile brighten even more as she looked at the girl in front of her. She's so sweet. Kasumi could see how nervous the girl was. They were early but after everything that Kasumi had seen and experienced that wasn't a problem. It was all Kasumi could do to keep her attention focused on Tohru, she had noticed him when she had glanced at the group. Ukyou had told Kasumi she could call her family whenever she wanted and not to worry about the cost. So, last Kasumi had called her sister for some much needed girl talk.

"Moshi-moshi?"

"Nabiki?"

"Kasumi, what's wrong?"

After that it had all poured out. Nabiki's teasing had been expected but her comment to go for it and try and build a relationship with a man she had only just met had been scary. Exciting but scary. It was with great difficulty that Kasumi kept herself from looking at Souma-san.

Still smiling at Tohru Kasumi felt it would be best to move everyone off of the front porch. When she asked them to follow her Kasumi realized that she hadn't been introduced to everyone. Oops. Leading the group to the backyard Kasumi looked out and saw Ranma practicing. From the stifled gasps and softly spoken 'Wow' Kasumi guessed that none of them had ever seen the truly advanced forms of Martial Arts that Ranma and Ukyo practiced. Deciding that having only one set of introductions might excuse her rudeness Kasumi stepped forward.

"Ranma-kun."

At the softly spoken name the boy stopped with his foot still over his head and turned to look at her. From the stunned expressions that she saw Kasumi guessed that Ranma-kun had awed the guests even more. Putting his leg down Ranma quickly came over scratching the back of his head.

"Sorry. I must have lost track of time. I didn't know anyone was here yet."

"That's okay, were early."

Both Ranma and Kasumi looked at the man. They had yet to be introduced to some of the group and this was one that they didn't know. Tohru realizing this immediately began introductions. When the names had been handed out Kasumi noticed how nervous the young girl named Kisa seemed to be. She was looking at Ranma with a strange expression on her face. Not wanting the girl to be intimidated by the Martial Arts prodigy Kasumi knelt down to speak to her.

"You don't have to be nervous around Ranma-kun. He's very nice."

Ranma seeing the interaction felt an overwhelming need to comfort the girl. He wasn't sure why but decided to trust his instincts. He quickly picked the girl up and gave her a brief hug before settling her on his back.

"Nothin' to worry about. It's the duty of a Martial Artist to protect so I only fight with people who know how." Ranma grinned at the little girl who seemed to be staring at him in wonder. Kasumi smiled at turned back to the others. Seeing the shocked expressions she felt a little nervous.

"Is something wrong?"