I do not own the universe of Ranma ½ or any of the characters, fictional locations or ideas contained therein. Those belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I am also not making any money or profit out of this story. (If only)

He awoke in the usual manner, drenched in sweat and panting heavily, unsure of his surroundings or even his name. As per usual the feeling passed in the first few seconds and he drearily slumped back down onto the futon, knowing that it wouldn't make a difference. He stood up and stretched, the last few times he had attempted to go back to sleep but by now he knew that was useless. Instead he decided to make the most of the morning instead of lying there, half-awake, just waiting for his father to splash him with cold water and begin their morning training routine.

He looked down through bleary eyes at the dozing form of the panda in the futon next to his. A long time ago he had outgrown his father's training, easily surpassing him in skill and ability. He was sure that even if Genma started using the sealed techniques on his son it wouldn't make any difference. Nowadays he merely went along with the morning workout mostly out of routine and pity for his aging father.

He looked around at the small, simple room that had practically been his home for the last two years. Not a single thing had changed about the small guestroom in the time they had been staying there. No personal possessions on display or knick-knacks that showed any kind of character in the room. He guessed that, subconsciously, he still considered himself and his father nothing more than passing houseguests.

He made his way through the quiet, still sleeping household, not even having to use the Umi-Sen-Ken, even though he was in the perfect emotionless state to do so. He didn't want to wake anybody at this point, apart from the fact that whoever it was would be upset or angry, he just didn't want that kind of conflict right now. Surprisingly, as he made his way downstairs, he heard movement and activity in the kitchen.

Wary for possible burglars he crept his way in completely silently, alert for more movement. When he did enter he was relieved that all he found was Kasumi, going through her usual morning routine, cleaning the kitchen and just starting breakfast. She turned around to grab something from a drawer and saw Ranma; she was so surprised she dropped the plates she had been expertly carrying. Ranma dived forward and caught all of the plates with cat-like agility; unfortunately the irony was lost on everybody in the room.

"Thanks you Ranma; that might have awoken Father or my sisters." She was smiling warmly, something she seemed able to do no matter the situation. It was almost a miracle just how level-headed the eldest Tendo sister managed to stay even when the world around her was filled with chaos and disorder.

"No problem Kasumi, it was my fault anyway for making you jump." The older girl was actually a little startled at how easily Ranma put the blame on himself. From what she gathered in all his 'altercations' with Akane, both teens would generally try to shift the blame onto anybody but themselves. However usually with Akane that meant Ranma, leading to an impromptu flight across Tokyo for the pigtailed martial artist.

"Why are you up so early Ranma?" Kasumi really had never seen Ranma up in the twilight hours of the morning. He would normally fight for even a few extra seconds of sleep before morning training. Ranma wasn't sure how to answer; to tell someone he was having nightmares would make him sound weak. Then again, it was Kasumi; he didn't think she would change her opinion of him just because he was having nightmares.

"Had a nightmare." He didn't like the idea of lying to Kasumi and once he said it a weight seemed to lift off his shoulders. He was happy that she seemed unperturbed, maintaining her usual smile and decorum at the news. Internally she was just as uprooted as she had been by his apology. It was unheard of for Ranma to so openly admit a weakness like this, to anybody.

"Oh my, would you like something to help you sleep?" He just smiled weakly.

"Nah, I tried that already, nothing works once I'm up." She nodded understandingly, Nabiki had gone through something similar when their mother had died and nothing would put the poor girl back to sleep after a bad dream. Instead she had buried herself in school work in the time she was awake, growing confident with maths and accountancy. For a long time Kasumi had wished she could have done more for her younger sister, instead she had to sit back and watch as she grew colder and colder to the outside world, losing herself to a world of profiteering. And maybe that was also why Nabiki wasn't a morning person.

Ranma turned to leave the kitchen, no doubt to go outside to the dojo and train. People tended to try and lose themselves in the things they could do well, as long as it would take their minds off of what was troubling them. At the last moment before he left the young martial artist seemed to reconsider and turned back.

"Hey Kasumi, do ya want any help?" She nearly dropped the same plate, causing Ranma to lurch forward in case it fell. "Sorry, didn't mean to intrude or nothin'" She shook herself out of her shock.

"Oh no, that would actually be very much appreciated Ranma." She gave him her patented smile, hiding her thoughts. In her mind thoughts whirled around like a tornado. She wondered what was causing Ranma to behave so different than usual. In fact, it wasn't just that, nobody had ever offered to help Kasumi with anything before. Except for Akane of course, and whilst Kasumi appreciated her little sister trying to help, more often than not she was a hindrance, producing foodstuffs too toxic for human consumption.

Ranma moved in to help her and once again surprised her. She had believed by 'help' he had meant putting away dishes or maybe just a bit of tidying. Instead he dived right into the cooking, going over what was already there, quickly looking in the recipe books and continuing what he could. He moved with the same fluidity and grace one would expect from a kata or complicate manoeuvre. At first the older girl was wary, now unsure if they would have another Akane to deal with.

However when she followed his work, taste testing what was finished, she was delightfully surprised that everything tasted delicious. Like Akane, Ranma worked at the food with determination and vigour, but unlike the blue haired girl, Ranma understood that some things couldn't be rushed. She didn't know if it was the years of brutal training the boy had gone through or just his own personality, or a mix of the two, but Ranma was turning out to be a fine cook.

She went about the other things on her mental to-do list, now confident that at least Ranma was able to do the cooking. She finished a lot sooner than usual, so she watched Ranma for a while. Once or twice she had gone out to watch the boy practise his art; he was so absorbed he never noticed her. She was one of the only ones in the house who actually did so, so it wasn't surprising he wasn't expecting her to be there.

She now saw that same passion and love come through in the way he moved from one dish to the other. Each time he used controlled and precise movements that did just the right amount for what was needed. She realised she was gawking but had nothing better to do. She didn't want to leave Ranma all on his own in the kitchen but she didn't want to interrupt the delicate dance taking place before her.

He finished, actually smiling properly for the first time today and she smiled back, not her usual facade of a smile but a genuine one. She was actually grateful she had been allowed to witness what so few others would ever get to see. He saw her staring and started rubbing the back of his head in that way only Ranma could.

"Uh, did I kinda over do it a bit?" She continued to smile as she moved over and tasted some of the food he had prepared. For once it didn't surprise her that it tasted so good, not after the impressive display she had been allowed to witness. He nervously awaited her judgment, normally he wouldn't really mind how other's thought he did, his own approval was enough. This was different, he had never really cooked properly before and the only person he would really trust to critique him would be Kasumi.

Sure he had two fiancées who were professional chefs but their verdicts would be tainted by their own slightly warped views of him. Kasumi he at least trusted to be impartial and unbiased. He was shocked at how nerve wracking those few seconds, when Kasumi bent down to sip some of the sauce, were. She stood back up, her face still neutrally smiling, at least she hadn't reeled over gagging, and that was a good sign.

When she straightened back up he was afraid she didn't like it and his heart dropped a little, he had tried so hard after all. However her smile only broadened, becoming a grin.

"This is very good Ranma." It was a small compliment, not excellent or great, yet he still found it filling him with strange warmth. He realised it was the best thing that could have happened; now he could strive to be better.

"Thanks Kasumi, I'll do better next time!" She was startled; having thought this was a onetime only thing only to find out Ranma was actually planning on doing it again. Before she could inquire further he happily gathered up all of the food he had prepared and with ninja-like speed and skill he laid the table with one flip, end-to-end. He was so happy because he had finally found something he could once again improve in.

Ever since defeating Saffron at Jusendo, nothing had really challenged Ranma, skill-wise. Sure the old lech was still better than him but any serious fight he tried to have with the old man would end up with the pervert getting distracted and Ranma sucker-punching him. Even Cologne had backed off from Ranma, sensing his new ability and keeping to herself as much as possible. For once he had something that he could be a beginner again in, to improve and get better in. It was something he missed from his early days of travelling the road with his father.

Already the smells of breakfast were rousing the sleepy residents of the house and one by one they filed in, even as Ranma returned to the kitchen to clean up. Ranma wasn't one to shirk responsibility when he knew it was his, so he cleaned up the mess he had made. Kasumi actually had nothing else to do so she calmly walked to the table and sat down, awaiting her family. They were too tired to notice anything out of place, all they saw was Kasumi waiting for them, table already set with food, as per usual.

It was only when Genma walked down the stairs that anybody noticed something was amiss. There were no sounds of fighting or the inevitable splash from the Koi pond followed by a grumbling Panda.

"Has anybody seen Ranma?" Akane roused herself upon the news her fiancée was missing. However Kasumi surprised them all by happily answering the, for once, human Genma.

"He's just in the kitchen, tidying up."

"WHAT?!" It was a simultaneous shout from both Genma and Akane who quickly got up from the table and pounced at the door to the kitchen, unable to believe their ears. Nabiki got up in a more dignified fashion and followed them, just as curious to see if it as true. They were all equally stunned to see Ranma hurriedly scrubbing down the last of the dishes he had used and turning around, mildly bemused to see Akane and Genma, slack jawed.

"Morning guys." It was said happily, without any of the usual arrogance or macho attitude.

"Boy! What do you think you're doing?! Skipping morning practise to clean dishes, you'll go soft!" Ranma gracefully moved into an offensive fighting stance, the usual cocky grin adorning his features.

"Come and see just how soft I've gotten pops!" A few minutes later, after Genma had managed to haul himself out of the Koi pond it was only Akane who stood staring awkwardly at the pigtailed martial artist.

"Ranma, why are you cleaning dishes?" He smiled at her, still warmed from the experience this morning.

"Well I had to clean up after cooking." The blue-haired girls jaws practically smacked into the ground.

"You cooked?!" He just grinned stupidly at her before gracefully skirting around her to sit at the table where Genma started begrudgingly inching away from his son. Everybody was a little hesitant to start eating; not knowing how the food had turned out, but when Kasumi happily dug into the meal everybody lost their reservations and also tucked in. Akane sat down in a strop, arms angrily crossed over her chest.

"I'm not eating that, it's probably toxic!" Everybody at the dinner table sweat dropped, already anticipating the fight. It would have been amusing to see the roles reversed like this if they didn't fear the resultant property damage.

"Whatever." Ranma merely shrugged and everybody sighed in relief, albeit quietly so Akane wouldn't hear. He didn't know why but this morning Ranma just didn't feel like fighting, even if Akane was really asking for it. After getting no usual response of tomboy or uncute she had no other choice but to tentatively try the food.

She was more than annoyed when she could find no fault with it. It wasn't on par with Kasumi's cooking but it was hardly inedible or even bad. Nothing was burnt or slowly melting through the table and she was more than a little jealous. Maybe even a little unnecessarily offended.

"Are you sure you made this Ranma?" Once again Ranma had to bite back the usual retort, but thankfully he was saved by Kasumi.

"Oh yes, he was quite interesting to watch in fact" Akane turned imploringly to her older sister.

"But Kasumi, you never let me help out in the kitchen anymore!" Without any hint of malice or sarcasm in her voice she merely turned to her sister with the same warm smile.

"We just can't afford all the new kitchen equipment anymore." Ranma made the unfortunate error of snickering at the remark. He mentally berated himself; he had been doing so well so far and had screwed it all up with that one laugh.

"What was that Ranma?!" He paled and shot up from the table.

"Um, lookatthat, timeforschool, gottago, bye!" He rushed out of the house with Akane hot on his tail but just managed to shout out before they were too far gone. "Thanks for letting me cook Kasumi!" The other members of the table all just stared at the older girl a moment, curious looks on their faces even as the cries of 'Ranma get back here!' faded into the distance.

"Oh my."