Ranma 1/2:
Ranma of Grayskull
Crossover: Masters of the Universe
By:  Dani Yanega
yanega@mindspring.com (please respond to this e-mail address)
http://www.mindspring.com/~yanega/index.htm


Chapter Nine



Ranma and the sorceress face off, Ranma in a ready stance.  This
is the end of her first week on her new world.  She and the
Grayskull guardian have been working out together.  The sorceress
is helping Ranma to be able to use his 'Phoenix Soul Absorb and
Gather' against magic with no further side effects.  Man at Arms
will be showing up in an hour to help her with the energy weapons
they use on this planet.

Today however the Kings most trusted advisor is needed at court so
they will spar tomorrow.  She does not really need it though since
she can now use the powers of magic and technology with her chi
blasts but she figures the extra practice won't hurt.  Over the
past day or so the sorceress and Duncan have been combining their
attacks which Ranma couldn't defend against at first, but she
never gives up and the next two days she fought both of them.  A
smile appears on Ranma's face at the memory of the triumph when
she was able to absorb both.  She just wish one of them could do
chi attacks.

***Flashback***
Two Days ago:
Ranma is standing the center of a large empty room, shadows cast
most of the room into darkness.  Torches line the walls but only a
few are burning.  Ranma is standing perfectly still her eyes are
closed and she is glowing a bright blue.  She reaches out with her
senses as she knows they are out there in the shadows.  They beat
her a couple of days ago but they’ll not get her again.  A cocky
grin crosses her small elfin face.

Her sixth sense picks up their signatures.  She can tell the
sorceress is preparing to cast a spell.  It seems a boon to her
training with the sorceress has allowed her to detect the magic
build up of a spell being cast, no matter how fast it is being
executed.  Ranma’s cocky grin widens.  She needs to work on
detecting the build up of the energy blasts that Duncan uses but a
few more sparring sessions and she’ll have it down.

Ranma waits for the sorceress to cast her spell figuring they will
do it as before and shoot them both together, after all that is
how the beat her the last time.  Ranma fells the magic reach its
apex and feels as the sorceress releases her spell and following
not long after the blast from Duncan’s wrist lasers.

“PHOENIX SOUL ABSORB!”  Ranma’s body is surrounded by a golden
aura which the blast hit dead on.

She begins to pull the blast into the golden chi surrounding her
body, manipulating them mingling them with her chi.  Her opponents
watch in awe as the white blasts from Duncan swirl in the gold of
Ranma’s attack surround yet never touching the young fighter.  The
sorceress’ attack fairs no better then Duncan’s as her light green
attack swirls and mixes with Duncan’s both intertwining and
weaving their way through the gold of Ranma’s chi.

“PHONIX SOUL TWIN RETURN!”  This is like the regular soul return
only this time Ranma shoots off two blast one in each direction
the others blasts have come from.

Ranma makes sure they would only graze her opponents since they
have never seen chi attacks before.  She can tell she has hit them
by the sounds of them hitting the stone walls.  She stands there
her senses making sure they are not hurt.  She breathes a sigh of
relief when she finds they are ok.  Ranma’s eyes glaze over when
she remembers when she began teaching herself the new techniques.

***Flashback 1a***
It was the day after the failed wedding, Ranma is running through
the streets trying to find some piece and quiet.  His fiancées and
rivals hot on his trail.  He refuses to talk to Ukyo and Shampoo
after they nearly killed his mother at the wedding and since Akane
wants him to taste a new recipe he decides he needs a long
training trip.  The problem is the all spotted him leaving.  Ranma
knows the truth of the matter is that Nabiki saw him leaving and
sold it to the others.

Ranma is looking for a way to get away he just wants to be left
alone, his anger rising in him.  He reaches and empty parking lot
and the group of unwanted guests show up within seconds.  They
stop in fear as the aura around Ranma is not his usual blue but
golden yellow.  It surrounds his body and extends some four feet
beyond it.

“WHY CAN’T YOU ASSHOLES JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!”  With that a blast
of golden chi shoots forward and knocks everyone to the ground,
the group feels dazed and when they look up Ranma is gone.

                              /*\*/*\

Ranma stares at everyone as they lay stunned on the ground, this
chi is similar to what he used on Saffron.  He needs to leave
before the group can come to their senses.  He has to get his
under control or he may hurt some one.  He looks around for a way
to disappear when the golden chi flares around him again.  This
time on his back.

He looks over his shoulders to see golden chi wings his mind
working feverously figuring it couldn’t hurt but just in case
Ranma took of running and at the same time begins to flap his
wings.  He surprise when he took off nearly cost him to lose his
concentration.  He quickly put his mind back to where it needed to
be and flew toward the mountain in the distance.  Never noticing
the group waking behind him.
***End Flashback 1a***

Ranma’s smile grew as she felt the two combatants begin to move.
She feels them moving toward her no spells building so the session
must be over.  She opens her eyes  and sees Duncan and the
sorceress emerge from the shadows with proud smiles for her being
able to overcome their combined attacks.  Ranma blushes as it is
the first time anyone has praised her for her skill instead of
claiming she cheated.
***End Flashback***

The sparring sessions ends after an hour of Ranma learning
different ways to use the magic she was absorbing.  With the
sorceress' help she can now use magic and mix it with her chi to
make a powerful blast more then doubling the strength of it.  When
she adds in the lasers it more then triples almost quadruples her
chi's power.  They finish and Ranma watches the sorceress for a
few moments she then steels herself and walks up to the woman who
has opened her home and heart to the displaced martial artist.

"Sorceress, I want to thank you for allowing me to stay here and
helping me train, but I need to find a place of my own."  The
falcon woman turns to the redhead a sad smile on her face.

"Don't you like living here Ranma?"  She asks her guest with a sad
look.

"Oh, yes I do, but I won't be my father!  I need to find a place
that is mine and.. I need a home that I know is mine!"  The petite
redhead explains, the sorceress nods and smiles.

"There are several valleys around Grayskull that are the property
of the King Randor.  The Valley of Mists is one but that wouldn't
work no one has ever been able to enter it."  She shrugs and pulls
out a map of the area to point out the other locations.

"Where is that mist valley?"  Ranma asks her eager for a challenge
in finding her new home.

"You will find it here north east from Grayskull about seventy
five miles from here.  If you find you can live there or another
place to stay, I will request an audience with King Randor for you
to bye it."  The sorceress tells her shaking her head with a wry
grin.

"Thank you sorceress, I think I will go take a look at some of
them now if you don't mind?"  Ranma asks her as she rolls up the
map.

"No, but be back by sundown I will have dinner ready by then.  I
might also have a surprise for you."  Ranma smiles and nods her
head a look of curiosity on her face.

“what?”  Ranma asks her face alight like a small child on
Christmas morning.

“Now it wouldn’t be a surprise would it.  I do need something from
you though.”  The sorceress smiles at the young girl.

“What is that?”  Ranma asks her eyebrow raising.

“Do you have something special that when you look at it you sense
your mother?”  She asks the martial artist she looks at her with
suspicion then brings forth the lotus blossom locket.

“May I borrow it I promise no harm will come to it.”  She tell the
girl, Ranma gently gives it to her curiosity on her face.

The sorceress just smiles and waves her on her way.  Ranma’s
curiosity grows by leaps and bounds the sorceress has disappeared
and Ranma knows she will not get answers if the guardian of
Grayskull does not want to give them.  She shakes her head and
shrugs a smile brightening her face.

Ranma heads to Grayskull's only window and instead of jumping down
from the window she jumps upward giving her extra height she flips
and lands on the tower that houses the window.  She looks around
getting her bearings as to where to start her search.  She looks
to the northeast her curiosity piqued.  She thinks for a moment
then smiles and turns to face northeast from Grayskull.

"PHOENIX WINGS OF FIRE!"  Ranma's chi wings blaze golden around
her as she takes to the sky and flies for the Valley of Mists.

                              /*\*/*\

Ranma soars over the countryside enjoying her ability to fly, she
has never felt so free as she does when she flies.  She soars
higher over the landscape looking at the land below her.  In the
distance she spots a wall of mist rising some one hundred feet in
the air.  She flies toward it flying higher to rise above the mist
wall.  She closes in over the valley and looks down into the most
beautiful and peaceful place she has ever seen.

She spots a castle in ruin in the center of the valley.  The mist
around the valley varies between twenty and thirty feet in depth.
The valley is large and encompasses a small mountain range of
three mountains on the North side of the valley.  At the far end
next to a smallest of the mountains is a lake with a waterfall
where the water comes from the snowcaps of the mountain.  Ranma
stares intently at the valley as she hovers over it and is
surprised to see no animals.  The valley looks to be the size of a
small island and with the mist rising up the mountains it adds to
the size of hopefully her new home.

Her attention is drawn back to the castle.  It is quite nice even
in its ruin state.  Ranma feels it must have been magnificent in
its time.  From her hovering above the valley the castle looks to
be built from rose quartz.  There is the ruin of a wall, which
with the mist is now unnecessary and there is a fountain in the
courtyard which must have been the focal point of the garden.

Ranma closes in on the castle and attempts to land in the
overgrown garden but is stopped by a wall of mist.  She rises in
altitude and the mist pulls back to the parameter.  She quirks her
right eyebrow at the retreating mist when it finally reaches the
wall of mist she makes a power dive for the castle, and again is
stopped by the mist.  She rises her altitude and smiles at the
retreating mist.

[This would sure piss of the violent tomboy!]  Was Ranma's only
thought as she flies to outside the valley.

She lands in front of the wall of swirling mist and to her
surprise she thinks she can see distinct shapes in the mist.  She
reaches out with her senses and nearly stumbles at what they are
telling her.  She walks toward the wall and slowly enters the mist
her senses reaching out even deeper into the swirling white mass.
Her progress is stopped about five feet inside the wall and she
feels the mist try to push her back out.

Her smile broadens at this attempt, knowing unless they pick her
up and throw her out it isn't happening and even then that won't
work.  Ranma stands perfectly straight and bows deeply to the
mist.  She fills the pushing on her body stop and the mist
directly around her moves away from her leaving her in a circle of
about four feet of her alone.

"Greetings honored ancestors of Eternia.  I am Ranma Saotome Heir
of the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts and now the Mystic
Warrior.  I thank you for allowing me to talk with you."  Ranma
straightens and sits in the center of the four-foot clearing.  She
takes the lotus position and clears her mind then reaches out
toward the spirits of Eternia.

The mist closes in around her tendrils wrapping around her body
seductively.  Though there was no lust on the caresses it was more
curiosity and protection.  Ranma is soon covered in mist her
breathing is slow and shallow.  Her eyes snap open as the mist
pulls her memories from her.  She then hears a deep baritone voice
talk to her in her mind.

{Greetings Spirit Weaver, and welcome to our world, young one.}
Ranma looks into the mist an eyebrow arching slightly.

"Why do you call me Spirit Weaver?"  She asks the voice quietly.

{You are one half Spirit Weaver, you have the ability to use the
power of the spirit realm.  Although since you are only half
Spirit Weaver you have limitations.}  Ranma takes in what she is
being told shaking her head with resignation.

"Figures if it ain't one thing it’s another.  Uhm uh, what do I
call you honored ancestor?"  She asks not liking the idea of
calling the spirit of someone's ancestor 'Hey you!' or 'Spooky'.

{I was once called Jagar, little one.  What are you doing here?}
Ranma looks at the mist skeptically.

"You didn't get that when you searched my memories?"  Ranma asks
causing the spirit to chuckle slightly, something Ranma can tell
he doesn't do often.

{I thought it would make you more comfortable if I asked you,
Ranma.}  Jagar tells her as a strand of mist spirals around her
body protectively.

"Jagar I have two questions for you and the other spirits, first
may I live in this valley and what is a Spirit Weaver?"  Ranma
asks as she looks around the mist as she watches the spirits
around her take shape.

{Well you are beginning to see the first part of being a Spirit
Weaver.  To others who enter here we are just mist but you are
starting to see us.  Am I correct?}  Ranma looks into the mist and
begins to see distinctive shapes.

At first she can not tell too much about them but as she looks
around her, the many shapes become more defined.  She sees that
not all the spirits are humans she sees animals as well including
dragons, unicorns, and winged horses.  She looks around for the
spirit she knows as Jagar and sees a tall muscular spirit of 6' 2"
step forward.  He is hazy at first she can only tell his height
and build but as he begins to solidify she can see he is a warrior
of high rank, his armor tells her he is a king.  She stands and
bows to the spirit of royalty.  He chuckles at her and shakes his
head.

{Rise child I am king no more!  It is amazing to us a mortal would
show such honor and respect to spirits}  He walks up to the petite
redhead and places his hand on her shoulder.

“On my home world I am from an island called Japan.  We are taught
to honor our ancestors and revere them for they are who we are.
We protect our honor and the honor of our names so as not to soil
their memories.”  Ranma smiles up at the tall ghost wishing she
had known him when he was alive the spirit nods with a smile of
his own.

Ranma notices his ghostly appendage then looks up at him.  His
face is now clearer to her and it looks a lot like that of He-Man
only his hair is longer down to his waist and held back on a loose
ponytail.  She can not tell the color of his eyes or hair because
as a spirit he is all white and even though he is solid in
appearance he isn't she can see through him at times as his image
shifts between the figure before her and the mist around her.  She
assumes he is an ancestor of the Grayskull warrior.  Ranma can
also see She-Ra in him, his eyes look a lot like hers.  Jagar
stares down at her with a bemused expression.

{I take you it you have met some of my descendants?}  She nods yes
to his questions.

{Well later we will talk and you can tell me how my line fairs.}
He chuckles at her scrutiny.

"How is I can feel you?  It is almost as if you are alive?"  Ranma
asks while still staring at the hand on her shoulder.

{It is because you are a Spirit Weaver.  We can effect all
mortals, as group we use the power of the Astral Plan or Spirit
Realm if you will and keep everyone and thing from the valley as
we see fit.  As spirits we do let animals in from time to time but
because of this worlds many magic users we do a mind scan to
verify they are real animals.  They can not see us and as
individual spirits we can effect them though but they don’t notice
it.}  Jagar rambles as it has been a long time since he or the
other spirits have been able to talk to the living.

{You though will see and feel us as living entities.  You will
even see the wondering spirits but they will not be as defined as
we are because hear you are closer to a rift between this world
and the spirit world.}  Jagar tells his guest.

"What do you mean closer to a rift?"  Ranma asks her mind whirling
in ways to use this power and mix it with her chi for a more
powerful blast.

{Because you are only half Spirit Weaver you must be near a rift
or tear in between our to worlds.  I do not know how close you
must be, you will need to experiment on that point.  Your access
to the power on our realm is limited to your closeness to a tear
such as this one.  It does not need to be a large tear but large
enough that it is a clear opening between realms.}  He continues
some of the other spirits coming forward to listen to him and help
when needed.

"Ok, so this is useless unless I can find or make a rift.  Why
bother then?"  She asks the spirits evidently not happy with that
comment.

{Well yes, I guess for you it would be since you can not guarantee
if you will have the power from one moment to the next.  It can
however be a strategic advantage for you when you can use the gift
and your enemies don't expect it.}  Jagar chuckles at her as she
gulps slightly at the stares.

Ranma turns quickly to the spirit her eyes shining with excitement
at that prospect.  Hundreds of attacks flood her mind, for the use
with her connection to the Astral Plane and how to implement them
in battle situations.  When the techniques keep coming Ranma
realizes she is not thinking them on her own.  The information
keeps coming in large chunks.  Ranma grabs her head with both
hands trying to hold in the scream.

She feels her mind being torn apart, rearranged to allow for the
information coming to her from the spirits around her, on the
gifts she now has.  Ranma finally could not take the pain any
longer and lets out with an ear piercing scream.  She continues to
scream until the pain is so great she passes out.  The spirits
look on with sadness that the information must be given in this
way.  Jagar reaches out and unties her pigtail to let her red hair
fall about her.

A sad smile on his face as he remembers another redhead he knows
one that was to be his wife but her destiny called her to another
task.  He never forgave the spirit of Grayskull for taking her
from him, well at least not while he was alive.  He watches Ranma
quietly as the martial artist still shivers in pain even in the
silky blackness of unconsciousness.

{She looks like what one of our children would have been doesn't
she beloved?}  The soft alto voice asks, Jagar nods his head not
turning to see who was speaking.

{Yes but I fear she would not have had as bad a life as this child
did.}  He tells her rage surfacing after centuries of being dead.

{Have the others given their decision on her request to live in
the valley?}  He asks the spirit in the mist surrounding the
clearing Ranma and Jagar are in.

{Yes Jagar they have.}  The alto voice answers sadness creeping
into her melodic voice.

Jagar sits his legs crossed and Ranma's head laying his lap.  He
continues to comfort her even in her unconsciousness to try and
help ease the pain she is feeling.  He wishes he could feel the
softness of her hair or smell the light fragrance that he is sure
comes from it.  He marvels at how even in the mist her hair shines
almost as if it is giving off its own internal light.

                              /*\*/*\

"What is the real reason you are here Lily?"  Cologne asks her
tone makes it evident that it may have been asked as question it
really wasn't,

"There is nothing going on here _Cologne_ that applies to
_warriors_!"  Lily smiles at her older appearing counter part, her
eyes flashing defiance.

Cologne bristles when she is reminded of her new status.  Shampoo
struggles to stand rising her bonari, wanting to smash Mousse's
grandmother's head in.  Shampoo suddenly sits perfectly still when
a katana honed to razor sharpness cuts through the handless of her
twin bonari and ends with the point tip at her throat.  A gentle
push of the sword lets Shampoo know that it will not take much to
push the sword farther.

Cologne whips her staff out in an attempt to knock the katana
Nodoka has at the throat of her granddaughter away.  She fears for
the young Amazon as the look Nodoka has in her eyes is that of
loathing and rage.  Her staff is stopped by the sleek mahogany
staff of Lily.  Cologne glares at the Elder, who just gives her a
wry grin.

"Cologne I am afraid you and your guests have out stayed your
welcome.  My daughter and I have much to plan.  I suggest you and
the others leave.  I will expect my grandson by eight o'clock this
evening."  Lily says as she stands and releases the paralysis
holding Shampoo and Akane, she then glares directly at the two
Amazons.

"He better not come to me beaten either, the counsel was not happy
to find out how you two have been mistreating him.  You should
know that all males have a place in our society whether you like
it or not."  Lily snarls at them as she directs them out the door.

Ukyo follows the others her shoulders slumped when she reaches the
door she turns and looks at the two women.  Both of who look at
her with contempt, and unspoken accusations.  Ukyo's eyes well up
with tears as she knows she deserves these feelings directed
toward her.  She bows deeply to them then straightens.  She next
falls to her knees and prostates herself to Ranma's mother.

"Mrs. Saotome I am so sorry for my behavior toward your son.  It
is no excuse since he was but a child but your husband promised my
father that Ranma would marry me.  Genma Saotome then took my
dowry and abandoned me by the side of the road.  My father blamed
me for Genma's deceit and took my womanhood from me.  I was to
kill them both to repair my family's honor or marry Ranma.  Now I
can do neither.  I ask you to please tell Ran *choke, sob* chan
that I am sorry for my treatment of him and our friendship."  Ukyo
slowly rises keeping her head bowed she turns to leave, the others
having gone on without her.

"Ukyo!"  Nodoka says her name softly but loud enough the
okonomiyaki chef turns to face the mother of the man she loves.

"Ukyo I am sorry for what my husband has done to you and what ever
actions you take against him are justified.  My child was an
innocent in that just as you were, I am sure you know that."
Nodoka waits for a response; she receives a nod.

"We all learned today that Ranma is now a female and may never
return to his original state.  The one thing I do know is the even
if he did not love you the way you wanted him to, _you_ were the
only one he _did_ love and trust.  Please dear get on with your
life, find someone new.  I know you don't want to hear this but
there will be another.  Don't destroy the memories that the two of
you have created."  Nodoka looks into the sad tear filled eyes of
Ukyo.

Ukyo looks at the woman holding her shoulders her eyes filling
with tears she refuses to let fall.  She thinks on what Nodoka
tells her and lowers her head.  She knows if she does what she is
planning it will only hurt Ranma more.  She knows he will blame
himself and if his destiny is to help others her taking her own
life may cost thousands theirs as she knows he would follow her to
remove the stain he put on his family honor.  Ukyo sighs then
looks back up at Ranma's mother a small smile on her face.

"Please tell Ranma that if he will have me I still wish to be his
friend.  He is the only true friend I have ever had and though I
have not behaved like it I am his as well.  Also tell him if he
needs help I am willing to join his fight and I promise on my
honor I will join him as a companion, a friend and a sister."
Ukyo steps back from Nodoka and then bows deeply to her; she then
turns slightly to the smiling Lily and bows to her as well.

Nodoka closes the door behind Ukyo, tears flowing down her face.
She turns to face the Amazon who is now her mother.  The knowing
smile still on her face.  Nodoka looks at her questionably but
Lily just turns and walks away.  Nodoka watches as Lily ascends
the stairs.  Nodoka notices she is shaking with silent laughter.

                              /*\*/*\

Akane storms into the house slamming the front door.  Kasumi comes
into the entryway a scowl on her face.  Akane freezes and stares
at her older sister.  She waits for the scowl to go away like it
always does but today it remains.  This makes Akane nervous.

"K..Kasumi are you alright?"  Akane asks nervously her sister's
scowl deepens then to Akane's relief disappear.

[Nothing to worry about same old Kasumi.]  Akane thinks but her
thoughts are evident in her face and Kasumi scowls again this time
it is not noticed.

"Akane I need to run some errands, would you please cook tonight?"
Kasumi asks her gentle smile back on her face, Akane is so excited
to be able cook to she does not notice the smile never reaches her
eyes.

Kasumi leaves Akane in the kitchen and heads out the front door,
her purse and the newspaper in hand.  She doesn't say goodbye let
it be a nice surprise.  This time the smile does reach her eyes.
The only problem is it's a smile that would frighten a shark.
Kasumi heads down the street and to the bus station.  She might
even stay overnight somewhere.  She needs a vacation anyway.

                         /*\*/*\

Ukyo walks into her darken shop she sits at one of her tables and
puts her head down and cries.  After about a half an hour she
rises and goes to her bedroom she needs to make plans.  She will
make Genma reimburse her for her families yatti plus her thirteen
years as a boy.  She however will not do what she thought of back
at Ranma's old home that would mean that fat jackass panda would
win and she is not going t let that happen.

Ukyo enters her room and sits on her bed she crosses her legs then
props an arm on one of the legs and rests her chin on its hand.
Her eyes glaze over as she thinks how best to handle the panda.
What she wants is to make panda stew and have a panda skin rug,
but she wrinkles her nose at that thought.  She then begins to
think some more.

Ukyo's unfocused gaze stares out her bedroom window.  She doesn't
notice the orange glow of the setting sun.  She doesn't see the
pinks, lavenders, and gold of the sunset.  When a light snoring
sound can be heard.  Ukyo still sitting upright on her bed her
eyes open but glazed over.  After ten minutes she slowly closes
her dried eyes then falls back onto her pillow.  She curls up
grabbing a stuffed cat into a tight embrace.

                         /*\*/*\

Kasumi exits the train station in downtown Tokyo she starts to
reread the listings she has circled in red.  She visits several
apartments but none were to her liking.  If it wasn't the landlord
being to overbearing, the apartment was too expensive for what she
would be getting, or the apartment was to run down.

Kasumi walks down a quite street about three blocks from a small
business district with lots of mom and pop stores.  The streets
are clean and full of children playing.  She likes this area it
gives her a homey feeling.  She stands outside the apartment
building which to her surprise is a large house much bigger then
the Kuno's could ever hope to have.  She rechecks the address and
finds it correct.

She walks up to the gate and knocks, while she waits she looks
around the street which is lined with cherry blossom trees, and a
group of children playing tag under the watchful eyes of their
mothers.  The mothers look at her with suspicious gazes.  The
young Tendo matriarch does not notice and smiles back at them with
her patented Kasumi 'sunshine smile that can stop a demon in its
tracks for tea an cookies.'  The women look at her with surprise,
then give her wary smiles of their own.

"Don't worry about them they just don't like the fact I rent out
rooms to young people."  Kasumi jumps and spins around into a
ready stance she forgot she knew.

The older gajin woman looks at her an eyebrow arching over one
eye.  Kasumi realizing she is in a fighting stance and more
surprising it is not one of the ones she was taught by her father
but one of Ranma's.  Kasumi bows apologetically to the older woman
then turns to leave.

"Did you not want to at least see the apartment?  Besides you
can't leave without explaining that stance!"  The woman tells her
as she takes Kasumi's arm and leads her into the house.

Embarrassment clouds Kasumi's face and she tries to leave but the
older woman has a grip of iron.  The woman stands 5' 8" inches and
has long auburn hair that goes to her hips and with just a little
gray.  She looks to be about fifty but her green eyes sparkle with
overflowing youth.  Her features are soft and round she is not
thin but wasn't fat either.  She is a beautiful woman and the
laugh lines only add to the beauty.  She is wearing a long cotton
dress of white with red roses as a trim around the cuff of the
free flowing sleeves, the hemline that reaches her ankles and
around the scoop neck.

"I am the landlord here Elisa Tanaka, we'll have tea and talk!"
Elisa pulls a reluctant Kasumi into her manor home, her neighbors
watching with bemused smiles as they walk away thinking.

[Elisa-san has caught herself another one!]  Soon the street is
quiet again as the children are brought in for their dinners.