Title: Smiling
Author: Phoenixflame
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own anything in this fic.
Summary: During a typical day in the Tendo Dojo, Kasumi lives 
out her life.
Notes: The song is Silicone, and it's by a band called Mono.


Early morning in the Tendo Dojo was the only time when everything 
was peaceful. It was too early to drop in to ambush somebody, and 
too early for the residents to be up and about.

Except for Kasumi.

After Mother died, life had been changed forever. Someone was 
needed to take care of the household, to cook and to clean. Since 
she was the eldest, Kasumi was elected. She threw herself at it, 
determined to make her mother proud. And she was good, as good as 
her mother. She hoped

But she still missed her birthright. So every morning, Kasumi 
dressed in her gi, went down to the dojo, and practiced as quietly 
as possible. It was a good thing that most of the Tendo home's 
residents were heavy sleepers, or otherwise she would have been 
discovered quite a while beforehand.

Kasumi didn't want the others to know about her early morning 
training sessions. She knew the consequences of being a known 
martial artist in Nerima. The martial artist would be attacked, 
kidnapped, or even worse, made an object of affections by Kuno. And 
while Kasumi loved her little sister dearly, she didn't want to 
follow in her footsteps and end up with the kendo practictioner 
trying to date her.

Nobody could blame her for being afraid. She had good reason.

Someday, when Akane learned to cook and keep house, when she married
Ranma, she could leave. Leave Nerima behind until things settled 
down, maybe go to college. 

She wanted to be a doctor, and follow in the steps of Doctor Tofu.

Tofu loved her, she knew that. She wasn't quite sure she loved
him, though. It was quite obvious that he liked her, though.

As the first rays of dawn touched the horizon, she finished her kata. 
It was time to head upstairs, before she got caught...


                           ***


Breakfast was ready by the time Ranma and his father woke the
rest of the household up with their morning sparring. The end
result was the same every morning. Ranma and his father entered the
home dripping wet. She frowned when she noticed the water dripped
on the floor. 

Nabiki wandered downstairs along with the others, and took her 
time sitting down. Kasumi smiled inwardly, a gentle smile that
matched the one plastered on her face. Her sister had never been
a morning person.

Breakfast was a battle in in of itself. Mr. Saotome and Ranma
battled it out over Ranma's food, while the others ate their 
food and talked amongst themselves.

Eventually, they left the table, going off to prepare for school,
work, or in her father's case, a long day spent doing nothing
outside.

Kasumi sighed when they were all gone, and went to get the mop.
Stray puddles of water were a hazard to ones form in the Tendo
home...


                            ***


Afternoon came. Ranma came home first, landing in his usual
spot. Kasumi just shook her head. She had stopped trying to 
restock the pond with new fish after the fifth time Ranma had
ended up being malleted into it.

Akane was home next, with Nabiki trailing after. The two
elder Tendo sisters talked briefly before Nabiki headed off
to parts unknown.

A short time later, Ukyou showed up, demanding to see "Ranchan".