Chapter Text
It’s easy to lose sight of what you need most when you’re afraid of change. The sun had not even begun to rise when Kasumi Tendo began her morning routine. From getting dressed, in a simple pale yellow sweater with a long pink floral skirt, to making breakfast for a family of six. The constant background noises of loud fighting, yelling, water splashing, and boards breaking mixed with birds chirping. Even this is considered a normal morning.
Kasumi paid these sounds no mind while she continued setting the table. When the other residents of the Tendo household started making their way down for breakfast did Kasumi notice something not so normal.
Ranma Saotome, who moved into the Tendos home two years ago with his father Genma, had been silent throughout his meal. Every once in a while there would be a situation where Ranma would become moody or contemplative; there wasn’t anything like that recently. He seemed to eat his food almost in a trance as he continued to ignore the world around him. While Kasumi enjoyed the peaceful conversations, without the need for arguments and yelling, Akane clearly did not.
“Ranma? Hey Ranma!” Akane exclaimed, waving a hand in front of Ranma's face, as she had tried bringing him into conversation for a while.
“Hm?” Ranma finally snapped out of his thoughts and turned his attention to Akane “You say something?”
“Well, I was trying to tell you about this guy I talked to the other day, but I guess you don’t care.”
Everyone else internally sighed at Akanes blatant attempt to make Ranma jealous. While Akane had become rather popular, it seemed the more suitors came her way, the less Ranma seemed to care. As seen when Ranma nonchalantly shrugged.
“Ok? What happened then?”
Akane looked away quickly, “Ugh, nevermind, it doesn't matter.”
The silence was tense as the energy around the table became uncomfortable. Ranma soon excused himself after a few awkward glances towards Akane. Soun and Genma had both tried to lighten the mood, when Akane abruptly got up to leave the table, yelling pointedly to the ceiling that she’s going out with friends. A few seconds went by with no sounds coming from upstairs and Akane left with a quiet bye.
Their relief was audible as soon as the door closed. Conversations slowly picked back up before everyone left to go about the rest of their day. Soun and Genma left for the dojo, Nabiki out with her friends, and Kasumi started the rest of the housework.
When Kasumi stepped outside to go hang up the laundry she saw Ranma sitting in the grass. He seemed deep in thought, and Kasumi didn’t want to interrupt, but he must have felt her gaze as he turned his head to look at her.
“Oh, Hey Kasumi, need any help with that?” He gestured towards the basket she was holding.
“I appreciate the offer but I wouldn’t want to bother you.”
“Nah it’s no problem Kasumi, I wasn’t busy, plus I feel bad since I don’t help out more.”
So laundry was done rather quickly with the extra help and they both sat at the table for a snack break. While they were both enjoying the calm, quiet day, Kasumi noticed that Ranma was still deep in his thoughts and was getting a bit worried.
“Ranma…” Kasumi started off slowly, unsure of where to even start, but continued forward “You seem more, how should I say, unhappy? You’ve been rather quiet and I was wondering if you would like to talk about it?”
Ranma was so still and silent Kasumi wondered if Ranma had heard her at all. However, with a shaky breath in and out, Ranma began to speak.
“Well, It’s about Akane…and my future with her.”
Kasumi knew something like this would be weighing on him. For almost a year Ranma and Akanes relationship had started changing for the worst. After the failed wedding and no new plans for another, everything basically went back to how it was before. Then Ranma had started pulling away, while Akane tried everything to spark something, anything, nothing seemed to get any better.
Kasumi knew this was going to be difficult, for both Ranma and herself, but this was necessary.
Giving Ranma a nod he continued, “So, you know how after everything went down, things started getting back to normal. At first I was happy nothing changed between me and Akane, that meant we could still continue our relationship the same as before, but then I realised that nothing changing means we’re still having the same fights over and over again.” Taking a deep breath he continued “She’s still misunderstanding me and getting jealous even when I try explaining! And I get that I’m insensitive and arrogant, like how can I not when she tells me that all time, and I’m trying to get better but she doesn’t even notice!”
Kasumi sat patiently and just listened as his truth spilled from him like a dam bursting, it flowed, and flowed, and soon she felt as though she was drowning in his sorrow and frustration.
Ranma started to calm down and when catching his breath he finally uttered the words Kasumi knew coming.
“I think Akane and I are done. I can’t deal with this anymore.”
Even though Kasumi knew this was happening it seemed like it was finally sinking in. After so long of watching Akane and her feelings for Ranma, the rise and fall, she couldn’t help but feel sympathetic for both of them.
Kasumi got up slowly from her spot to sit directly in front of Ranma. He tried hiding his face but Kasumi caught a glimpse of tears ready to fall. Kasumi gently wrapped her arms around Ranma's shaky shoulders. Ranma immediately tensed, Kasumi assumes it’s a natural reaction due to Akanes violent temper when Ranma is close with another woman, but he slowly melted a bit and was able to hug her back.
“Ranma,” Kasumi whispered while still holding him. “Please know that while I am Akane's sister, I still care for you, and I’m still here for you. I’ve only known you for a couple years but I couldn't imagine life without you.”
Kasumi pulled back to look Ranma in the eyes. “Even if you don’t marry my sister I will still care for you like we’re family.”
Ranma finally let go, tears falling into his lap, now that it’s clear that at least this wouldn’t change.
Kasumi smiled as she lifted her hands, cupping her hands on his face and she started wiping off his tears, when they heard a door slide open.
Of course with Ranma's luck Akane was the one standing in the now open doorway.
For once Akane didn’t look angry, this expression was much worse, she looked completely frozen with shock. “Kasumi…” Was the only word, drenched with betrayal, Akane could utter before running upstairs.
It all happened so fast and before Kasumi could process what just happened Ranma started to breathe a bit too quickly. Ranma was obviously starting to panic and Kasumi Knew she needed to get things under control.
“Ranma listen to me.” Kasumi spoke with determination as she made Ranma focus on her. “I need to go speak with Akane and explain this to her. This is just a misunderstanding, and I’m sure if I’m the one telling her this, she will hopefully understand.”
Ranma was still obviously antsy and nervous, but nodded anyway.
“While I talk to Akane, why don’t you go out for a bit? Go for a walk, go shopping, have a bite to eat?” Kasumi suggested with a kind smile. “ Oh, and bring an umbrella, I heard it might rain later.”
Again, while Ranma still seemed a bit shaken up, he slowly nodded before getting up to leave. Kasumi gathered her thoughts, waiting until Ranma was out of sight, before heading upstairs to Akane's room.
Knocking gently on Akanes door, Kasumi waited when she heard light shuffling, and the door slowly opened. It’s obvious Akane was crying, her eyes were red and puffy, and she was avoiding looking anywhere near Kasumi.
“Akane, may I come in?”
Akane silently moved aside, Kasumi sat beside Akane on her bed, trying to be as gentle as possible. After a few moments of awkward silence Kasumi knew she should speak before any more negative feelings could fester.
“Akane, please let me speak freely for a moment, what you saw is not what you may think-”
“I know! Kasumi, I know that you especially would never do something like that.” Akane cut Kasumi off quickly. “But whenever I see Ranma with anyone, even people I know would never interest him, I just end up going crazy! I hit him, I yell at him, and I almost feel justified because it’s almost always with Shampoo or Ukyo!”
This was not at all the conversation Kasumi was expecting. While Kasumi had noticed the positive change in Ranma she had no idea Akane had become so self aware.
“Kasumi, I don’t know how to stop, I always feel so stupid and just terrible after every misunderstanding!” Akane was openly weeping now, hunched over, hands covering her eyes. “I’ve never felt like this before, about anybody, and I want it to stop.”
Kasumi just held her sister as she cried, not knowing what to say just yet, and began to cry with her.
Ranma silently made his way downstairs.