Hello, everyone.

  This is the first three chapters of my fanfic.  :-)  Yes, Ranma 1/2.  I
had an idea I wanted to do, and it dealt with Ranma 1/2.  So, here is the
beginning of the story.

  The title does say it all, although it may take a while for you to
realize what exactly it is I am saying. ;-)  It does start out a bit slow,
and it is not a happy story.  This is not a darkfic.  Sadfic, maybe, at
least until things start to climb.

  Nitpicking is allowed, and requested.  Cultural goofs (honorifics) on my
part are definitely to be pointed out.  I am trying to inject some
Japanese culture into this.  Feel free to bug me about why I did certain
things as well.  I should be able to justify my arguements.  :-)  I am
also trying to keep the characters in character, with one noteable
exception.

[ Standard disclaimers apply.. but we should all know that by now. ]

"Ranma-Chan"

A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic by Luigi Mattera

- Chapter 1 -

  The day began as any other in Nerima.  The sun lazily rose over the
horizon, as people slowly woke up and began the day to go to work.  Tendo
Akane was already out on her morning jog, enjoying what little piece and
quiet she usually had before her fiancee the human trouble magnet woke up. 
*Serves him right,* Akane fumed to herself, as she thought about Ranma. 
*That hentai baka got himself into another fight with Ryouga last night.*
Ranma had managed to survive another fight against Ryouga.  The resulting
battle had unfortunately managed to damage the dojo again.  *More bills
for the contractors,* she thought.  *They must be rich off of us alone by
now.  Why does Ranma have to provoke Ryouga anyway?  That baka!* Akane
frowned to herself at the same time.  In a week was her birthday, and
Ranma as usual had made no attempts at getting her a present, or even
being any nicer to her.  Sometimes she wondered why she put up with the
idiot. Akane smiled to herself as the Tendo Dojo was visible at the end of
her sight.  *I'll give that baka a beating he won't forget!* She jogged up
to the doors of the Dojo calling out, "I'm home, where is Ranma-kun?"
  "He left early," was the response from Kasumi. 
  *What? He didn't wait around for me to cook breakfast?* Akane thought to
herself.  *When I get my hands on him..* She paused.  "Oneesan, how was
the match this morning?" 
  "Match?  Ranma-kun was out of the house before Genma-san woke up."
  "What?  He's gone already?"  Akane paused to consider what had happened.
Ranma would not have gotten up so early unless he specifically was up to
something. *You don't think he's actually looking for a present for me, do
you?* Akane shook the thought off.  *It is way too early for him to have
even remembered that it was my birthday.  So what is he up to?*

  Ranma woke up early that morning, perhaps the earliest he had in a long
time. Ranma knew that Akane's birthday was a week away, and he knew of a
few stores which were having a sale today.  *If I get something for her
now I won't be able to forget later and I'll save some money in the
process!* The fact that Ranma had even considered Akane's birthday a week
early was a surprise in and of itself.  *I wonder how Oyaji felt this
morning when he woke up and I was out of the house?* Ranma smiled to
himself as he looked through the various shops.  *I even got to avoid
Akane's cooking this time around!*
  After an hour or so, Ranma walked into another jewelry store, his third. 
*All these places are so expensive, how am I going to find something?*
Ranma was about to give up on jewelry all together when an unusual ring
caught his eye.  The ring was constructed out of a smooth clear crystal
with a bright green emerald built into the center.  It certainly looked
different, and was something he could afford.  Ranma paid for the ring,
pocketed it, and walked out with a smile on his face.  *If I head to
school right now, I'll get there before Kunou and dodge another fight.*
Ranma wasn't feeling too spectacular after last night's battle with
Ryouga.  *That pig might have hurt me a little more than I thought.  Not
that I would actually show any injuries of course.* Ranma headed towards
Furikan high school. 

  Akane trudged along her usual route, wondering where her "baka" of a
fiancee wound up going.  Lost in thought, she neglected to see Shampoo
stop on her bike in front of her.  "Violent girl, where Airen?"  she said. 
"What you do with him?" 
  Akane looked up, irritated.  "I don't know where he is.  Do you expect
me to know where he is all the time?" 
  Shampoo laughed.  "Violent tomboy needs leash or Shampoo will steal
Airen when not looking." 
  Akane turned red and lunged at Shampoo, who was already pedaling off on
her bicycle.  *This day isn't going well at all.* She thought to herself
while fuming, and continued on her way.  *Ranma had better not cause any
trouble.*

  Kunou Tatewaki stood in front of the gates to Furikan High School, on
the lookout for his two loves, Tendo Akane and the pig-tailed one.  Kunou
spotted Akane walking along the street, all alone for a change.  Kunou
laughed out loud. "Ah, fairest Akane-san, thou has finally discarded that
foul sorcerer Saotome and announced thy love for me!"  With that, he
charged Akane. 
  Akane looked up, saw Kunou, and her mood went from bad to worse
immediately. The fool was charging her yet again!  With a bash to the head
and a kick to the gut, Kunou was airborne, sailing over Furikan High
School.  "Tendo Akane, date with me......"  he shouted as he flew off into
the distance. 
  Akane trudged into class, just barely on time.  She looked up to see
Ranma at his desk, already talking to Ukyou and his friends.  *He's
already here?* She thought to herself, very surprised.  Surprise quickly
turned to anger. "Ranma-kun!  Where were you this morning?" Ranma looked
up startled, but it was Ukyou who answered.  "Ran-chan finally made it to
school on time, and you have to get angry at him for leaving you behind? 
He's not on a leash, you know."
   Visions of Shampoo flashed through Akane's head as she prepared to send
Ranma off into the wild blue yonder.  Ranma surprisingly was sitting at
his desk quietly, not saying a word.  Akane pondered this in a small
corner of her mind as she prepared to mallet him. "I sense battle auras! 
There must be delinquents in this room!"  came the call from behind her.
Akane froze in mid strike.  Ranma just had a smug look on his face, as if
to say "Oops Akane, forgot to pay attention behind you." 
  Akane considered hammering him anyway, but saw Hinako-sensei in front of
her. "Tendo Akane, put down that mallet before I punish you!" The mallet
fell from her hands as she muttered an apology.  "I am sorry,
Hinako-sensei."
  "Don't let it happen again."
  Akane smiled to herself as she sat down.  She would mallet him after
school, when he wasn't expecting it.  She would even be nice to him during
lunch, just to scare him. 

  During class, Ranma glanced over at his fiancee, and he was sure that he
didn't like the look on her face one bit.  *Akane may try to cook for me
again!* Ranma was in a state of semi-panic. He glanced back at Ukyou, a
smile appearing on his face.  Quickly he scribbled a note:  <Akane is
going to surprise me with lunch again, I know it!  Can we get out of here
during lunch time?> When Ranma was sure Akane wasn't looking, he passed
the note back to Ukyou.  Ukyou read it, and then smiled and nodded towards
Ranma, who looked relieved.  She scribbled back:  <Sure, Ranchan.  How
about we take the quick way out of here?> Ranma read her reply and nodded
as the lunch bell rang. With a start, Ranma and Ukyou were up and out of
the classroom, leaving a startled Akane behind.  Akane paused for half a
second, and walked out of the classroom.  When she got outside, she
noticed that Ranma and Ukyou were nowhere in sight.  *Damn that baka! 
He's gonna get it when I get home!*
  When Ranma and Ukyou returned to class at the end of lunch, Ranma
noticed the unhappy look on Akane's face.  *Huh?  What is going on here?*
he thought to himself.

  The day ended quietly, for once.  Akane and Ranma walked home, with
about ten feet of space in between them.  Ranma was wondering what to say,
but his mind was drawing a complete blank.  *Stupid tomboy, why does she
always have to make things so difficult?* Finally they arrived at the
Tendo dojo.  Ranma jumped into the air and landed in between Akane and the
house.  "Akane..." he started. "RANMA NO BAKA!"  came the reply, as it
always did.  With a sudden inhuman speed, Ranma was slammed backwards by a
mallet which appeared out of nowhere.  It could be said that Ranma had an
affinity for the koi pool in the Tendo back yard.  He certainly spent an
inordinate amount of time in it.  It could also be said that Tendo Akane
had an affinity for aiming towards water.  She certainly hit Ranma into it
often enough.  The few times she didn't hit Ranma into some form of water,
she doused him with water before slamming him.  To Ranma this was no
better of a situation.
  Something didn't go quite right on this particular trip into the carp
pond. Akane for some unheard of reason, was off in her aim today.  Ranma
bounced off the ground of the Tendo's backyard and was catapulted into the
air.  This caused a bit of amusement to Akane as she watched Ranma loft
lazily up into the air.  Ranma then came flying back down and proceeded to
slam his head against one of the stones separating the pond from the
ground.  Ranma hung upside down, head on the rock, for about a half second
or so, at which point he fell into the pond with a splash.  With a hmph,
Akane turned around and stormed into the Tendo house.

  About a minute passed when the pond suddenly erupted into a shower of
water as a very wet and bedraggled female Ranma popped out of the koi pond
coughing up water.  "Finally rejoined the world of the living, eh
Ranma-kun?"  came Nabiki's cat call as she amusingly watched Ranma
struggling in the pond. Nabiki was having a good laugh at Ranma's expense. 
Regardless of what happened, Ranma was always good for a laugh.  His
inflated ego got him into more trouble than anyone could possibly imagine,
not that trouble found him on its own often enough, but Ranma always found
a way to make things worse.  Yet somehow he would survive through the
mishap without any real problems.  Nabiki was smiling to herself as she
remembered those adventures and wondered how soon the next one would
start..  after all, it had been two days since Ranma's last fiasco.  Then
Nabiki noticed how slowly Ranma was standing up.  He was moving far more
slowly than usual, and without any of his usual malice towards her sister. 
*What is going on here?* Nabiki wondered.  "So, Ranma-kun, did Akane hit
you hard enough with the mallet this time?" 

  Ranma shook her head as she stood up, and proceeded to look strangely at
the clothes she was wearing. She then heard Nabiki's voice, and frowned at
the way she was addressed.  "Ano," she started to say while looking around
slowly, "where am I?"  Her head turned to look at Nabiki, who suddenly had
a look of surprise on her face.  "Excuse me, do I know you?" Ranma glanced
down at her hand, and noticed the crystal ring (s)he had gotten for Akane
earlier.  *Nice ring,* she wondered.  *Why aren't I wearing it?  Isn't it
mine?* She slipped the ring on her finger as she heard Nabiki's voice
again. Nabiki was frowning, especially at Ranma's tone of voice.  Ranma
was never so polite to anyone.  "Ranma-kun, don't play jokes with me, or I
will call on some of the debt you owe me," she said. 
  Ranma blinked once, a bit confused.  "I'm sorry, do you have me confused
with someone else?  I don't recall meeting you before now.  I don't think
I know you, especially not if you insist on calling me Ranma-'kun', which
isn't very polite. I am sorry for confusing you, I think I will just go
along with my business." 
  Nabiki could only watch in surprise as Ranma took a single step towards
the exit and collapsed unconscious in a heap on the ground.  Nabiki walked
over to her. *Oh my,* she thought.  *How amusing.  Akane gave Ranma
amnesia again.* "Akane-chan!"  She shouted.  *This would be interesting to
see.  Maybe Akane will blame herself this time.* She shook her head.
*Nah..* Kasumi was the one who responded, though. 
  "Nabiki-chan, what is it?  Is something wrong?  Akane went over to her
friend's place to study.  Can I help you?" Kasumi was surprised to see
Nabiki standing over Ranma's body.  "Oneesan," she said, "we have to get
Ranma to Tofuu-sensei." 
  "Oh my.  I'll get otousan and Saotome-san, and we'll meet you there." 
  Nabiki smiled.  *If Kasumi shows up at Tofuu-sensei's, we'll never get
Ranma any help at all.* "Oneesan, I think it better if you stay here." 
  "Why?  What is the problem.."  Kasumi paused for a long time.  Her face
went red.  "Oh my!" she stated, he voice suddenly much lower than before. 
"I'll call Akane-chan and let her know." 
  *Should I be the one to tell her?* Nabiki wondered.  *No telling how
she'll react _this_ time.* "Thank you, oneesan." 

  After grabbing her neighbor's car, Nabiki was in Tofuu-sensei's office
with an unconscious Ranma a few minutes later.  Tofuu paused in his work
as he saw Nabiki dragging Ranma in.  "Nabiki-san, what happened to
Ranma-kun this time?" He asked. 
  Tofuu paused.  "Does Akane-san know about this?" 
  Nabiki paused in response.  "She does not." 
  Tofuu nodded.  "In any case, we should change her back so she isn't any
more confused when she wakes up." 
  "Should I be the one to tell her?" 
  "I will leave that decision up to you.  In the mean time, I had better
call the hospital just so they can look over him to make sure." 
  "Right.  I'll get the hot water."  Nabiki walked out of the room. 

  Nabiki returned with a kettle a few minutes later.  Tofuu-sensei was
busy looking over Ranma's unconscious form.  "He seems to be fine
physically as far as I can tell.  I've called the hospital and they have
dispatched an ambulance which will be arriving shortly.  I suggest you
change him back before they put any neck braces on.  It looks like a
concussion as far as I can tell." 
  Nabiki nodded as Tofuu-sensei walked out of the room, intent on
gathering some papers together before the ambulance arrived.  Ranma had a
long history of violent encounters and an even longer medical report. 
*Ranma should be fine, if past history of his injuries is any indication.*
she thought to herself. 

  There was a sudden gasp followed by a sound of something smashing. 
Tofuu jumped up quickly and rushed back into the room.  He saw Nabiki
standing, her eyes wide with surprise.  He spotted the kettle lying on the
ground, hot water spilling out of it.  *That caused the crash, but why did
it happen?* Tofuu's gaze lifted up, and he saw a female Ranma sitting on
the table.  A _wet_ female Ranma.  "Nabiki, did you splash him?" 
  Nabiki nodded quietly.  Tofuu grimaced as he picked up the telephone and
started to dial a number.  "This makes Ranma's injury seem simple by
comparison." 
  Nabiki was smiling strangely enough.  *Things could get very interesting
now,* she thought to herself. 
  Tofuu continued dialing.  "Moshi Moshi?"  Came the voice at the other
end. Tofuu's glasses started to fog over, and he fought for control of
himself to keep from slipping into a trance.  "Kasumi-san, this is
Tofuu-sensei.  Nabiki-san and I are on our way to the hospital.  Please
meet us there." 
  "Oh my.  Is it bad?"  Kasumi replied. 
  "It could be.  Please, hurry." 
  "Hai, Tofuu-sensei." 
  Tofuu could only sigh in relief as the ambulance arrived out front and a
minute later the emergency technicians stumbled in.  He pointed to Ranma. 
"Concussion, possible brain injury.  Be careful." 
  The technician nodded, having seen head injuries all to often.  He
glanced over at Nabiki.  "Any relation to the patient?" 
  Nabiki answered him.  "Just an interested third party." 
  Tofuu paused.  "Do you want to come with us?" 
  Nabiki shook her head.  "I've got people to see.  Let me know how he is
doing."  With that statement, she walked out the door. 
  Tofuu frowned.  *This seems like a bad omen,* he thought to himself. 

  A few long minutes later, Ranma was brought to the hospital.  The trip
was relatively short, except that the ambulance drivers were muttering
something about an idiot wearing a bandanna and a backpack who was
blocking traffic on the way here.  Tofuu rushed with Ranma into the
emergency room, where they administered drugs and an immediate cat scan. 
Tofuu idly wondered how the hospital bills would be paid for, but brushed
it off.  Ranma's life was more important right now. 
  Tofuu walked over to the doctor and the staff, and engaged into a long
conversation with them.  He had to make sure that things did not get too
far out of hand. 
  An hour after Ranma was placed into a bed, Tofuu could hear wailing
coming from the corridor.  He knew the sound well, having treated Akane in
the past while Soun cried his heart out.  Tofuu steeled himself, but knew
that the moment he saw Kasumi things would get out of hand.  He sat
himself down in a chair, prepared to hold out as long as possible.  Soun
and Genma entered the waiting area, Soun wailing a storm more so than
normal.  Genma had tears in his eyes, but was keeping his composure. 
"Tofuu-sensei," he began, "how is my son doing?" 
  Tofuu shook his head sadly.  "They are analyzing the results now.  We
should know in a few hours."  He lowered his voice.  "Ranma was brought in
as a woman,"  he said.  "The hospital doesn't know, so.." 
  Genma nodded.  "We'll keep quiet about it." 
  Soun continued to wail, trying to speak, but being too overcome with
grief to do so.  Tofuu was about to mention what Nabiki had said earlier,
but those thoughts left his mind as Kasumi walked into the room.  As a
matter of fact, all rational thought left Tofuu's mind.  Kasumi smiled. 
"Tofuu-sensei, how is Ranma-kun?" 
  "Kasumi!  What a coincidence to meet you here, that is." 
  Kasumi giggled at his response. Tofuu stood up suddenly, and rushed out
the door.  Kasumi frowned, and looked over to Genma, since her father was
still wailing.  "How is Ranma-kun doing?" 
  "Tofuu-sensei mentioned that the tests being done weren't quite finished
yet.  Have you managed to contact Akane?" 
  "Her friend's mother said that she would relay the message once Akane
made it back to her house.  They had stepped out to take a break, it
seems." 
  Genma nodded and sighed.  He'd have to tell his wife that Ranma was in
the hospital again.  He idly wondered how the news would go over with
everyone else..  and hoped that the bill for the hospital's test and
repairs would not be too high. 

  Meanwhile, Akane had returned home.  After blowing off her studying and
spending the entire afternoon having fun, she was almost to the point
where she had gotten over the last time Ranma had insulted her.  Sometimes
she wondered why she put up with him.  Something had been nagging her at
the back of her mind all day long, but she had been ignoring it.  Akane
walked up to the rear door, and entered the dojo.  She frowned.  It was
around dinner time, and Kasumi's cooking was easily noticeable from within
the dojo.  Maybe they had the doors closed, as it was a bit cold tonight. 
  Akane removed her shoes, and stepped into the house.  Everything was
quiet, the lights out.  The kitchen was dark as well.  Kasumi usually had
started preparing dinner a long time before now.  Akane scratched her
head, and called out.  "Oneesan?  Otousan?" She waited, but there was no
response. 
  The little voice at the back of her head started to pipe up again, but
Akane paid little attention to it.  She wandered up the stairs, looking
around.  Genma and Ranma were definitely not in.  Nabiki wasn't home, but
that was not unusual all things considered.  Happosai was definitely not
home, and she was glad about that.  Akane finally listened to the voice at
the back of her head, but as usual it came out completely convoluted. 
*This is probably Ranma's fault,* she thought to herself.  *They've all
probably gone to watch him fight someone again.* She growled.  This time,
she would be staying home, and not chasing after Ranma. *That baka
deserves whatever beating he gets.* With that thought, she went up into
her room, and turned on the light as she started on her homework before
getting ready for bed. 

  Two hours passed at the hospital.  Genma had called Nodoka, and she was
not happy to say the least.  She did not want anything to impede her son's
eventual marriage.  She may have cared about Ranma, but ten years apart
and a debt of honor were hard habits to break.  She was on her way, but
the trains were a bit behind schedule tonight, so she would not make it to
Nerima until very early this morning.  Akane was nowhere to be found,
strangely enough.  She only really disappeared when her temper went past
the boiling point. 
  Just then, a doctor walked into the waiting room.  "Saotome Genma?" he
queried.  Genma looked up.  "Yes, I am him." 
  The doctor bowed.  "Kato Akira.  Your daughter," he started.  Kasumi was
about to speak up, but Genma shook his head at her.  "Is there a problem?"
he asked. 
  "No problem at all."  Genma replied.  "Please, continue." 
  "As I was about to say, your daughter suffered from a concussion.  There
is a significant amount of damage to the memory portion of the brain
area." 
  Genma frowned.  He did not like the sound of that at all.  "Do you mean
that she may not remember anything?" 
  Kato nodded.  "It is possible for her to suffer from amnesia, either
partial or even full memory loss." 
  Genma frowned.  Soun managed to speak up through his tears, which had
dried out for the time being.  "Will she regain her memory eventually?" 
  Kato shook his head.  "I am sorry, but you have been watching too much
television.  Memory loss is usually permanent.  Some of our patients who
have had memory loss in the past have needed to relearn how to speak." 
  Soun immediately broke into another wail.  Kato did not seem affected. 
"Is he a brother of yours?" he asked. 
  Genma shook his head.  "A very old friend of mine." 
  "I understand.  To continue, she is sleeping rather peacefully.  I've
never seen anyone suffer as a bad a blow as she has and not end up in a
coma." 
  Genma smiled.  "My family has always been tough physically." 
  "We'll have any new information for you as it becomes available, but
right now we need to wait for her to wake up." 
  "Thank you for your help." 
  "We do our best.  The hospital will be closing soon, please come back
tomorrow.  If anything happens tonight we will let you know." 
  "Thank you again."  Genma looked down at Soun.  "Come on, old friend. 
Let us get going." 
  Genma and Soun walked out of the hospital, with Kasumi behind them. 
"Was Ranma brought in as a woman?" she asked. 
  Genma nodded.  "According to Tofuu-sensei, yes." 
  "I hope he told them what happens when Ranma-kun gets wet." 
  "I am sure he did." 

  Nabiki returned home, having completed a few deals with her friends. 
She wanted to expand her network a little to increase her personal cash
flow. Finding a few new guys to date so they could spend money on her was
an added bonus.  Nabiki entered the house, removing her shoes and placing
them by the front door.  She noticed a pair of Akane's shoes sitting by
the door as well.  Nabiki made a mental note about that as she walked
upstairs, glancing around the house.  Nothing appeared to be out of order. 
She remembered how Akane behaved in the past whenever Ranma was really
hurt.  The place had a tendency to look like a tornado swept through. 
Akane apparently did not know that Ranma was in the hospital, and that did
not surprise her.  Her sister could be surprisingly stubborn at times,
even worse than Ranma himself. 
  Nabiki walked quietly up the stairs to Akane's door.  She briefly
wondered how to approach Akane, and decided that the direct route was the
best.  She knew that it would hurt her sister, but didn't really care all
that much.  Akane was the only one of the three with an attempt at a
relationship.  If she was going to squander it regularly, then Nabiki
would rub it in as best she could. 
  Nabiki walked up to Akane's door, and knocked gently on it.  She heard
Akane grumble as she answered.  "Who is it?" 
  "Akane-chan," Nabiki replied.  "This is your sister." 
  "Just a second."  Akane walked up to the door, and opened it.  "Hello,
neesan.  I came home and no one was here.  Do you know where everyone
went?" 
  Nabiki nodded.  "Yes I do.  Ranma got into a bit of trouble." 
  Akane got angry at the news.  "I knew it!  Why does that hentai baka
have to get himself into so much trouble?" 
  Nabiki shook her head.  Akane was so predictable.  Manipulating her
sister's feelings was easy enough to not even be considered a challenge. 
"Akane-chan,"  she said quietly, "Ranma is in the hospital." 
  Akane paused in the middle of her rant.  "What?  What happened _this_
time?" 
  Nabiki smiled.  "What?  You don't know?  He hurt his head very badly." 
  Akane suddenly had a bad feeling about this.  "How did that happen?" 
  Nabiki grinned evilly.  "Come on, Akane-chan.  You of all people should
know how it happened." 
  "What are you talking about?" 
  "Please," she replied, turning away from Akane.  "Ranma was hurt only
once today, by a certain hot headed individual." 
  "Are you telling me _I_ did it?" 
  Nabiki laughed.  "I dragged Ranma out of the pool after _you_ bashed his
head in."  She walked into the hallway.  "Honestly, Akane-chan.  You are
the only one of us with a fiancee.  You should have learned by now to
treat him better." 
  With that statement, Nabiki walked off into the house, and Akane
collapsed onto the ground.  She could not believe what Nabiki had just
said.  Could it be that she had actually gone too far this time?  She
started to cry, tears spilling down her cheeks.  *That baka,* she thought
to herself.  *Why did he have to make me angry?*

- Chapter 2 -

  Genma, Soun and Kasumi returned home about an hour after leaving the
hospital.  They were in a very somber mood, after having learned that
there was a very good chance that Ranma could suffer from some if not
all memory loss.  Soun had finally ran out of tears.  That surprised
Genma to no end, but Kasumi did not react to it at all.  She said that
Soun was much worse when his wife had died.  Genma wondered how that
was possible.  They had tried the usual tactics, things like "Ranma
will be fine," and "He'll rebound quickly from it," but Soun as usual
refused to listen to anything being said to him.  Genma was lost in
thought, curious as to how it happened.  Ranma had none of the other
bruises he usually got when he was involved in a fight, and he did get
wet and change into a woman.. That limited the list of suspects down
to one person, and he was not thrilled at all at who it would be.
  Kasumi opened the front door, and stepped inside.  Genma half
carried Soun through through the door.  The lights were out, the dojo
appeared to be quiet.  Kasumi walked up the stairs, heading towards
Akane's room.  She looked down at Akane's door, and noticed that there
was no light on.  She stepped softly up to the door, and pushed.  The
door swung open, and Akane was in bed.  She had cried herself to
sleep, and her room was a mess.  Kasumi simply shook her head and
slowly closed the door.
  Genma had carried Soun into his room, and placed him into bed.  He
was quietly walking up the staircase to the guest room, and ran into
Kasumi in the hallway.  "Did you see Akane?"  he whispered.
  Kasumi nodded.  "She was asleep, although her room was a mess.  She
looked absolutely miserable."
  Genma sighed.  "She found out.  I wonder how?"
  "What do you mean?"
  "Ranma's injuries indicate that Akane was the likely cause."
  Kasumi paused.  "Oh my."
  Genma nodded.  "I wonder who told her?"
  "I did," came a voice from behind Genma.  Nabiki was peeking out
from her door into the hallway.
  Genma turned around to face Nabiki.  "How do you know?"
  Nabiki smiled.  "I know.  What around here don't I know?"
  Genma twitched slightly as a sweatdrop rolled down the back of his
head.  Kasumi spoke up then.  "So who told you that Akane hurt Ranma?"
  Nabiki shrugged.  "I dragged him out of the koi pond."
  Genma nodded.  "That seems pretty conclusive."
  Nabiki started to close the door.  "I didn't speak to her long about
it - she wasn't in the mood to talk."  With that last statement, she
closed the door and the light in her room went out.
  Kasumi walked towards her room.  "We'll speak to her tomorrow
morning.  Right now she needs to sleep.  We all do."
  Genma nodded.  Kasumi continued, "You should talk to her tomorrow,
Genma-san."
  There was suddenly a splash of water behind her.  Genma-panda held
up a sign saying, "I am only a panda!"
  Kasumi went to bed.  She had to get up early tomorrow to make
breakfast.  After all, appearances had to be kept.

  Akane was having an extremely difficult time sleeping.  She was
tossing and turning in her sleep, plagued by dreams.  Time and time
again, she saw her mallet coming down on Ranma's head, smashing it
open like a ripe melon and killing him.  While Akane might not be
able to openly admit that she was wrong, her subconscious knew and was
playing havoc with her emotions.  She awoke in the middle of the
night, coated in sweat and shivering uncontrollably.  "Ranma.." she
whispered.  "What can I do?  Can I do anything at all?"  She got out
of bed, a decision formed in her mind.  Akane exited her room, and
headed down the stairs.

  Genma woke up around 3 AM, his stomach growling.  He sighed as she
sat up in bed.  The circumstances of yesterday resulted in Kasumi
skipping dinner, and he was hungry.  Very hungry.  Genma-panda got out
of bed, walking into the hallway and down the stairs.  A strange smell
entered his sensitive panda nostrils, and he wondered what it was.  It
sort of smelled like food, but not the food Kasumi usually cooked.  It
was nowhere near as good.  This smelled more like a mockery of someone
cooking.  Genma-panda paused, a look of worry on his face.  He slowly
crept towards the kitchen, trying his best despite the fact that
pandas aren't built for sneaking around.  Genma-panda noticed that the
light in the kitchen was on, and very strange noises were coming from
it.  Slowly, he peeked into the kitchen, and the source was revealed.
Akane was cooking.  At three in the morning no less.  She was in a
frenzy, blitzing through the kitchen as she attempted to mix things
together.  She turned towards Genma-panda, a smile on her face.  "Good
morning," she stated rather cheerfully.  "I'm making something for
Ranma when he wakes up."
  Sweatdrop falling, Genma-panda raised a sign.  "Good Morning,
Akane."  He flipped it over.  "I am sorry to disturb you."  With that,
Genma bolted up the stairs back to the safety of his bed.

  Kasumi awoke the next morning, rising early as usual.  After taking
a quick bath, she walked into the kitchen.. and face-faulted Takahashi
style as she stepped inside.  The kitchen was a complete mess. Batter,
detergent, eggs, and other miscellaneous unidentifiable stuff was
plastered everywhere - on the walls, counters, refrigerator.  Heaps of
"stuff" littered the floor, and Akane lay asleep in the middle of the
mess, clinging tightly to a bento box.  Kasumi shook her head, and
carefully walked through the kitchen to Akane.  She gently shook
Akane.  "Akane-chan, wake up.  It is morning."
  Akane bolted upright, squeezing the box she was holding even harder.
It was barely able to hold itself together, but something sticky on
the inside seeped through the cracks and solidified the box.  Akane
smiled at Kasumi, and she took a step back.  "Good morning, oneesan!
I feel great today!"
  Kasumi smiled.  "You were busy in here, weren't you?"
  Akane nodded happily.  "Hai, oneesan!  I made a surprise for Ranma
today!"
  Kasumi shook her head.  "Ranma may not wake up today."
  Akane's disposition switched in an instant.  "He'll wake up!  You'll
see.  If he doesn't then I'll bash his skull in!"
  Kasumi frowned, but Akane stood up and ran out of the kitchen before
she could reply.  Kasumi looked around at the damage once more, and
then proceeded to clean things up.

  Nabiki awoke early to prepare for school.  She liked to arrive to
school early.  Originally it was to avoid Akane's fiasco with the boys
and Kunou, but that changed to become an avoidance of whoever Ranma
fought that particular morning.  She liked to get a bird's eye view of
the mornings usual combat.  An added bonus was that she was able to
catch up on any gossip that she could use to blackmail people with
later in the day.
  Nabiki entered the family bath.  Her expression changed little as
she noted the water spilled everywhere.  The area which people used to
soap themselves down had bits and pieces of some gooey substance lying
around.  She wisely decided not to touch the stuff.  Looking into the
bath itself, she noticed more bits and pieces of the unusual substance.
She smiled to herself, and decided to head to the public baths this
morning.  Turning around, she left the bathroom, and watched amusingly
as the large panda known as Genma sauntered in.  She walked down to
the kitchen, hoping to eat some breakfast, but not really expecting to
find any.
  Nabiki poked her head into the kitchen, and laughed silently to
herself.  Akane was in here as well, it seemed.  She had left more of
a disaster than normal.  Kasumi smiled as she looked up.  "Good
morning, Nabiki-chan."  Nabiki smiled in reply.  "Good morning,
oneesan.  Have you seen Akane?"
  Kasumi smiled.  "She just stepped out."
  "I see.  I am off to the public baths.  Good day, oneesan."
  "Good day, Nabiki-chan." 

  Soun was rather somber when he awoke later.  His endless crying had
been replaced with endless worrying.  After glancing in the kitchen,
he decided to sit by his Go board and smoke a cigarette to calm his
nerves.  Genma-panda appeared a few seconds later, sitting down next
to him.  He seemed to have a few patches of fur missing here and
there, like he had to cut them out or something.  Soun smiled at his
old friend.  "Good morning, Genma."
  Genma-panda held up a sign.  "Good morning."  He flipped it over.
"Care for a game?"
  Soun nodded.  "Hai.  Breakfast will be late this morning." 
  "You first." 

....

  Ucchan's was open early for the breakfast crowd, as usual.  Ukyou
and Konatsu were hard at work serving the customers who came in for
breakfast.  Ukyou's resteraunt had gained quite a bit of publicity due
to the food, and unfortunately, a bit of noteriaty as well due to the
fights which occasionally happened there.  They were rumored to be
centered around a young gentleman who Ukyou was enamored of.  She
denied it, of course, but the way she acted around him was evidence
enough for the regular customers .  Still, little was said as it would
be improper to talk about the store owner's personal life behind their
back.  The fact that the man in question held his own quite nicely in
the fights which did happen kept any other voices quiet.
  Business was a bit slow this morning.  The tables and bar were full,
but these days the Ucchan had a good number of people waiting to be
seated as well.  Ukyou was at the okonomiyaki bar, cooking
continuously.  She had long been used to the rigors of getting up
early to open the resteraunt, and could easily work the morning and
head off to school afterwards.  Konatsu made things easier for her,
and for that she was grateful.  Now if she could only convince him not
to hit on her..
  The door bell rang, and another customer stepped inside.  Ukyou gave
the person a glance, and noticed that it was a normal highschool aged
girl wearing a sailor fuku.  She was short and pettite at 5'6".  Her
uniform gave away the fact that her body was well defined.. she was
probably an athelete or gymnast.  She had long black hair done up in a
ponytail, and bright blue eyes.  Konatsu glided over to say hello to
her, and Ukyou returned her attention to the okonomiyaki on the grill
in front of her.
  "Good afternoon," came Konatsu's voice. 
  The girl smiled quizically at the woman in the kimono.  "Good
afternoon," she replied.
  "How many in your party?" asked Konatsu. 
  "Just myself, thank you." 
  "Would you like a seat by the bar then?" 
  "That would be nice." 
  Konatsu lead the woman through the resteraunt towards the bar.
Although Ukyou would never mention it openly due to pride, there was a
particular floorboard in Ucchan's which was rather noisy when passed
over.  Konatsu liked to occasionally lead customers over it to
practice his gotonpo (escape and evasion) skills.  Konatsu
effortlessly glided over the board, making very little if at all
noise.  You had to strain to hear it.  He walked up to the bar, and
looked behind him.. the girl had passed over the board, making even
less noise than he did!  Konatsu's eyes bugged out slightly, but the
girl simply smiled at him.  "May I sit?"  She asked.
  Konatsu smiled and nodded.  "Of course." 
  The girl sat down at the bar, and Konatsu left to wait on the other
customers.  He'd have to tell Ukyou what happened later.

  Ukyou did not get many high school aged students at breakfast.  Most
of her clients were older working people who stopped by for a bit of
food in a normal resteraunt as opposed to being forced to go to the
Japanese McDonalds which were popping up all around Japan.  Most of
her customers liked to take it easy in the mornings anyway.  Ukyou
headed down the bar to the girl.  "Good morning," she said.  "How may
I help you today?"
  The girl smiled.  "A seafood okonomiyaki please." 
  Ukyou smiled.  "That's one of our specials.  I'll have it done in a
few minutes."
  "No hurry, please."
  Ukyou nodded, and continued the conversation as she cooked the
order.  "Are you new to the area?  My name is Kuonji Ukyou."
  She giggled.  "A boy's name?"
  Ukyou flushed.  "My parents wanted a boy."
  "Gomen.  I meant no offense." 
  "None taken." 
  "Actually, I like it." 
  "You like it?" 
  She nodded.  "Original name for a girl.  Mine is Onishi Yokho." 
  Ukyou smiled.  "So what brings you to Nerima?" 
  "I am visiting my cousin.  She is in Tokyo general." 
  Ukyou flushed.  "Gomen.  Is she well?" 
  Yokho nodded.  "Hai.  She had appendicitis.  Nothing major, and I
wanted to visit her anyway.  We haven't seen each other in person in
over a year."
  Ukyou smiled.  "I am glad to hear that.  There is a bus stop just
down the street which will drop you off at Tokyo general."
  "Thank you.  That helps me quite a bit.  I have been in this
district only twice before."
  "You're welcome."  Ukyou replied.  "Oh yes, your order is done.
Enjoy!"
  "Thank you so much.  I am sure I will."
  Yohko ate the okonomiyaki, praising it highly.  She'd recommend the
place to her family and friends if they passed through the area.
Ukyou thanked her for the business, and was glad at the large tip she
left with the bill.
  Konatsu watched her as she left, and noticed with surprise and
amusement that she walked right over the floorboard again.

  Eventually, the morning crowd died down, and Ukyou was finishing her
task of cleaning out the bar.  She had about an hour before needing to
get to class, and had just sat down to eat her own breakfast.  Konatsu
walked over to her.  "Enjoy your conversation?"
  "Eh?  With who?" 
  "That highschool girl." 
  "Yes, I did.  Why do you ask?" 
  Konatsu smiled.  Ukyou didn't notice at all.  "She's shinobi."
  Ukyou spat out the okonomiyaki at her surprise.  "What?  How?"
  Konatsu laughed, and Ukyou became red in the face.  "It was easy to
tell."
  "It takes one to know one, I take it?" 
  He grinned.  "Hai.  Watch." 
  Konatsu walked to the floorboard.  "You know as well as I do that
this board needs to be fixed, right?"
  Ukyou frowned.  "Yes, so?" 
  Konatsu stepped across the board, and it squeaked rather loudly in
the empty resteraunt.  "Did you hear that?"
  "Yes I did.  What is your point?" 
  Konatsu glided back across.  "That," he replied. 
  "What?"  Ukyou asked, exasperated.  "I didn't hear anything." 
  "Exactly." 
  "You do that all the time." Ukyou replied, rolling her eyes.  Then a
thought struck her.  "You're telling me that she could do that as
well?"
  Konatsu nodded.  "She was better at it than I am." 
  "Cool.  Wait, doesn't that make her dangerous?" 
  Konatsu shook his head.  "Ninjutsu has become commercial, like the
other martial arts.  It is not as wide spread, but it is around."
  "How far has it spread?" 
  "Well there are dojos on the east coast of the United States.. New
York and Boston I think."  [Shameless plug! :-P]
  "Wow.  So how did she get so quiet while being so young?"
  Konatsu paused for a second.  "She must have trained with
Hatsumi-sensei, the top ranked ninjutsu practitioner.  He lives in
Noda."  [Yes, that's his real name and location.]
  Ukyou laughed.  "I should have expected it.  There are how many
martial artists in Nerima?"
  Konatsu nodded.  "Too many!" he exclaimed, and started to laugh as well. 

.... 

  A short distance away from the Tendo dojo, a lone woman can be seen
walking towards it.  Carrying a package on her back, Saotome Nodoka
was not in a good mood at all.  The phone call she got from her
husband last night indicated that something had happened to her son.
She knew that having him live at the Tendo dojo was a bad idea, but
when she tried to have him and his father live back at their home,
several women showed up and nearly destroyed the place.  So Ranma had
to stay here, freeloading with his father off of Genma's old friend
while Genma and Soun hatched up scheme after scheme trying to get
Ranma and Akane to marry.  She did not want to force her son into
marriage, but honor would be satisfied, and Ranma would have to come
to accept that.
  Genma had said nothing about what had happened which placed Ranma
into the hospital.  She assumed that it was nothing major, since Ranma
had been injured very badly and bounced back with no changes or
problems whatsoever.  However, she did wish that the boy at least
_learned_ something from the repeated fights he got himself into.  He
never changed his attitude in the least, and that irritated Nodoka
considerably.  He did take up after his father in that regard, the
good for nothing coward that Genma was.  Still, there was hope for
Ranma yet.  He did have a sense of duty and honor, twisted as it was
by his father.  Nodoka sorely wished that she had not entrusted
Ranma's upbringing to his father.  She had made a mistake then, and
was not going to let Genma cause any more damage than he already had.
  Nodoka walked up to the front door of the Tendo residence, and
knocked politely.  Five minutes later, she knocked a bit more loudly,
her patience getting to her.
  The door opened, Kasumi answering.  "Good morning, Saotome-san.  I
am glad to see that you have made it."
  Nodoka smiled.  At least one of Soun's daughters had learned to be a
proper lady, even if the other two turned out so horribly wrong.
"Good morning, Kasumi-san," she replied.  "Where is my husband and
your father?"
  Kasumi smiled.  "They are playing go.  Breakfast will be a little
late today."
  Nodoka nodded.  "Don't worry about it, Kasumi-san.  You do a well
enough job as it is.  They can wait for breakfast."
  Kasumi shook her head.  "It is improper to be late."
  Nodoka sighed.  Kasumi could be a little dense at times.  Walking
past her, she entered the house while saying.  "Can you please bring
me a kettle of hot water?"
  "Hai." 
  Nodoka walked into the living room, and sighed.  Her husband spent
far too much time as a panda for her liking.  She had to admit that
the panda's lazy nature fit her husband perfectly.  Nodoka patiently
waited, watching Genma and Soun battle it back and forth at their own
twisted version of go.  Nodoka set down the package she carried on the
table next to her.  Finally, Kasumi returned with a kettle.  "Thank
you, Kasumi-san."
  "You are welcome."
  Nodoka walked over to the two of them, and poured the kettle over
her husband.  He was a little more responsive as a human, but not as
much as she would have liked.  One of these days she would have to try
and remember why she married him in the first place.  "Genma," she
started, "what happened to my son this time?"
  Genma blanched as he turned to face her, the familiar sweatdrop
appearing.  He definitely did not like dealing with his wife.  "Ranma,
ah.." he paused, unsure how to continue.
  "Yes?  Get on with it already, if you please." 
  "Ranma.. Ranma injured his head.  The doctor said that he may have
amnesia when he wakes up."
  Nodoka frowned.  This was not good at all.  She had a bad feeling
about what had happened, and glanced over at Soun, who looked
downright afraid of her.  "Tendo-san," she said, making sure that Soun
understood the anger in her voice, "What happened?"
  Soun nearly panicked.  "Um, well, you see.." 
  Nodoka looked back at her husband, who was a panda again, playing on
the front porch.  She sighed, her patience at an end.  "What
happened?" she repeated.
  Soun looked downcast.  "Akane hit Ranma too hard, and injured him in the
process." 
  Nodoka's eyebrows shot up.  She knew that Akane was violent, and
smacked her son around regularly, but she believed that Akane liked
Ranma too much to actually try and hurt him.  "What proof do you
have?"
  "Ranma was wet at the time, with the injury to his head the only
damage to him."
  Nodoka frowned.  "That does imply Akane."
  Soun looked terrified.  "Nabiki said that she pulled Ranma out of
the koi pond."
  Nodoka was shocked.  She didn't think Akane was actually
responsible, but the evidence against her was undenyable.  Suddenly
what Soun said struck her.  "Koi pond?  My son was in his cursed
form?"
  Soun nodded.  "Yes." 
  Nodoka spat out an unladylike curse.  _Now_ she was worried.  This
could complicate things to the point where the marriage would never
take place.  Soun cringed at her curse, while Genma continued to
pretend that he was oblivious to the human world.  "Nabiki-san!"
Nodoka called.
  Kasumi's voice answered.  "She's not here, Saotome-san.  She left
early go to the public baths."
  Nodoka sighed.  Nabiki always disappeared when trouble was about to
happen.  She was smart enough to see it coming.  Nodoka tried to calm
herself down before she was overwhelmed with emotions.  Anger, that
her son had been hurt.  Frustration, that no one seemed to want to
help or even care.  Sadness, that apparently there was little that she
could do about it.  She was about to call for Akane when the phone
rang.  Kasumi walked over to pick it up, but Nodoka stopped her.  She
wanted to answer it.  Nodoka picked the telephone up, trying to still
her heart.  "Moshi Moshi?"
  "This is Kato Akira from Tokyo general.  Is Saotome Genma there?"
  Nodoka paused.  "This is Saotome Nodoka, his wife and mother of his
daughter.  What is the situation?"
  "I have good news and bad news." 
  Nodoka frowned.  "Please, the good news first.  I could use some."
  "Your daughter is awake, amazingly.  The doctors are all puzzled
over how quickly she healed."
  "And the bad?"  She steeled herself for the news. 
  "She has no recollection of anything."  A pause.  "I am very sorry." 
  Nodoka froze, tears springing to her eyes.  "Thank you.  We'll be on
our way."
  "We'll try our best to help her." 
  "I understand."  Nodoka put the telephone down, and tried to hold
her composure.  She would get no comfort from anyone around her.
"Ranma is awake." she said.
  Soun jumped, the joy evident in his face.  Genma held up a sign
saying "Happy days are here again!"  Kasumi simply smiled.
  Nokoda closed her eyes.  "She remembers nothing."
  Soun immediately launched into a full scale wail.  Genma pretended
like he didn't hear anything.  Kasumi simply said, "Oh my."
  Nodoka laughed bitterly.  She should not have expected any more from
anyone.  She started to walk towards the door.  Kasumi headed there
with her.  "Can I come, Saotome-san?"  She asked.
  Nodoka nodded.  "Hai.  I can use the company."
  "Are you taking your sword?" 
  Nodoka shook her head.  "I do not think the hospital would
appreciate that."
  "Oh." 
  There was a sudden rustling from the direction of the dojo.  Nodoka
and Kasumi turned towards the noise.  Akane appeared in the doorway,
"Nodoka-san", she asked, "may I please come along?"
  Nodoka sighed.  Perhaps seeing what she had done to Ranma might have
an effect on Akane's behavior towards him.  She nodded.  "Very well,
Akane-chan.  Remember to behave yourself."
  Akane nodded a little too vigorously for Nodoka's taste.  She held
her hands tightly to the bag she was carrying, hiding the bento box
inside of it.  She had this strange feeling around her.  Nodoka would
have to keep an eye on her.

.... 

  Ranma sat in her bed, waiting for the nurse to return.  She woke up
early in the morning at the hospital.  She felt as though she had just
woken up from falling asleep the night before, but she was in a
hospital.  Stranger still were all the doctors run ning around like
madmen.  They were acting like someone had never woken up from
sleeping before.  What was strangest of all was the fact that she
could not for the life of her remember anything at all beyond waking
up this morning.  She did have a crystal ring on her left hand, and
she refused to allow the doctors to take it off.  They happily agreed,
and she asked them what the hell was going on.
  They started with her name, Saotome Ranma, which she immediately
disliked.  The doctors seemed a bit surprised at this, but she
complained that whoever named her "wild horse" was obviously a fool at
best.  Finally, a doctor named Kato Akira had entered t he room, and
filled her in on the details as best he could.  Her father was Saotome
Genma, her mother Saotome Nodoka.  She frowned at her father's name,
but understood how she came to be named from him.  She wondered what
kind of man was named "disorderly horse."  Japanese names had a
tendancy to match the people they were attached to rather well.
  She also learned that she had amnesia, and had lost all her memory,
perhaps permanently.  That scared the hell out of her, but somehow she
took it in stride.  She wasn't going to tell the doctor that, though.
She disliked being in hospitals and doctors in general.
  A nurse entered the room, and Ranma had fleeting images of getting
torn to pieces, but she shrugged them off as lunacy.  The nurse was
named Kikuchi Ami, and Ranma took a quick liking to her.  Their first
moments together were a bit embarrasing, as Ranma had apparently
forgotten what being a woman was like.  Ranma managed to get the hang
of it rather quickly, and Ami was very helpful to her.  Those problems
quickly formed a bond between the two women.
  Ranma sat in the hospital room, rather bored.  The woman next door
had a newborn daughter, so she visited with her for a bit, but she
needed to sleep.  Ranma was bored, and she hoped that Ami would return
soon.  She heard a knock on her door, and Ami stepped inside.  Ranma
smiled.
  "Good morning, Ami-san."
  "Good morning, Ranma-chan.  I have something for you."
  "You do?"
  "Hai, your parents are coming by later on in the morning.  The
doctors are going to release you."
  "So soon?  Don't they want to keep me around?"
  "You'll be returning often for therapy, of course.  They can run
tests on you then."
  "Okay."  She smiled.  "What did you bring me?"
  "I brought you the clothes you wore when you arrived."
  "Ooh!  Can I see them?"
  Ami nodded.  "Hai, but I don't think you'll like them."
  Ranma frowned, and saw the clothes in question.  She blinked.
"What?  No bra?  No panties?  What gives?"
  Ami shrugged.  "I have no idea."
  "I can't wear those!"
  "Then what will you wear?"
  Ranma sighed.  What kind of person was she?  What would her parents
expect from her?  She shook her head, and looked at Ami.  "What do I
do?"
  Ami smiled sadly.  "Usually, we try to tell the parents that the
patient has changed permanently, and they have to get used to the new
person."
  "Good, because I'm not wearing that stuff."
  Ami paused.  "You don't have much choice."
  Ranma sighed.  "Look," she said.  "You know that my period started
this morning.  I can't leave without at least a pair of panties!"
  Ami nodded.  "You're right, you know."
  Ranma looked at Ami.  "Can you do me a favor, please?"
  "There is only so much I can do."
  "Was there any money in my pockets?"
  "Hai, there was."
  "Please then, go out and buy me some underwear.  We can figure out
my size, you've told me how."
  "I can't go and just.." she paused.  "I can ask the doctor.  We may
have something for you to wear."
  Ranma made a face.  "Ick.  I can't wear hospital clothes, those
things chafe badly."
  "May be your parents can do it for you." 
  Ranma sighed.  "I'll wait then.  I don't have much choice, do I?"
  "Be patient, please."
  Ranma got out of bed.  "Oh, very well.  I need to go to the bathroom."
  "I'll clean up while you're gone."
  "Thanks a lot.  I hate to see you cleaning up my mess."
  Ami laughed.  "That's my job!"
  "Still, you deserve better."
  Ami blushed.  "Thank you, but don't worry about me."
  "Okay. Goodbye."
  "Bye."  Ranma left the room.
  Ami smiled to herself.  Ranma was such a sweet girl that she felt
badly about her losing her memory.  Doctors and nurses were not
supposed to get emotionally involved with the patients, but Ami was
more of a physical therapist than an actual nurse.  Bonds happened
more regularly there.  It was Kato's idea to pair her with Ranma, and
she quickly thanked him for doing it.  The poor girl needed a mother
more than anything right now.  Ami would see what she could do about
getting some underwear for her.

  Ranma walked down the hall, on her way to the bathroom.  On her way
there, she passed a brown haired girl wearing a sailor fuku.  "Excuse
me," the girl asked.
  "Yes?"  replied Ranma.
  "Would you know the way to room 513?"
  "Down the hallway and turn left."
  "Gomen," the girl replied.  "This was the closest bathroom.  Thank you."
  "Not a problem."
  
....

  Nodoka, Akane and Kasumi arrived at the hospital about half an hour
after leaving the dojo.  Nodoka was a bit worried.  While Kasumi was
as calm and collected as always, which was a bit too much for Nodoka's
tastes, Akane was absolutely giddy and could not sit still.
  Nodoka was concerned about Akane's well being.  While she knew that
Akane had some feelings for her son, the girl had a damn strange way
of expressing them.  The entire Tendo Family to a certain point had
pecularities, but Akane was the one who was directly involved with her
son.  Nodoka wanted to see them married, but realized that Akane's and
Ranma's relationship needed to change drastically.  She just would
have to remember to keep an eye on the girl before Akane's violent
tendancies towards Ranma reoccured like they always did.
  It would have helped had Soun been along as well, but he was
probably still crying back at the dojo.  Genma had no excuse, except
for the fact that he didn't want to face either his wife or his son.
Nodoka decided that it could not be too hard to convince her that she
was a he, what with the curse and all.
  Nodoka stepped into the hospital, Akane and Kasumi coming up behind
her.  She headed up to the front desk.  "Excuse me?"
  "Hello and good morning.  How many I help you?" 
  "I am here to see my daughter, Saotome Ranma." 
  The woman at the desk nodded.  "Hai.  I'll page Kato-sensei.  Please
wait."
  Nodoka nodded.  "Than you." 
  A minute later, she heard the call though the hospital's paging
system.  "Kato-sensei, please come to the front desk.  Kato-sensei,
please come to the front desk."
  About five minutes later, Kato arrived at the reception desk.  He
saw Saotome Nodoka standing at the desk.  "Saotome Nodoka?" he asked.
  "Hai.  How did you know?  How is my daughter?"
  Kato smiled.  "Kato Akira.  She looks just like you, and she is
doing just fine, all things considered."
  "Meaning?" 
  "Meaning that she is in high spirits despite not remembering
anything at all.  Most patients are usually depressed on learning that
they have amnesia."
  "That is a good thing.  Can we go see her?" 
  He nodded.  "Follow me."  He looked back at Akane and Nabiki.  "Are
they friends of hers?"
  Nodoka paused.  "Hai."
  Kasumi smiled, and Akane giggled happily.  Kato glanced at Akane,
but said nothing.  "Let's get going."
  Nodoka paused for a second.  "There have been no problems?" 
  "None at all." 
  Nodoka frowned.  The hospital should have found out by now.
Something was going on that she didn't know about, and it made her
uneasy.

  Nodoka, Kasumi and Akane followed Doctor Kato up to Ranma's room on
the fifth floor.  Kato paused before entering.  "I want to talk to her
a few minutes before you entered.  Please remember that the odds on
her remembering anything from before her accident are very very slim.
You need to make the effort to treat her for what she is now, not what
she was.  Otherwise, things will get out of hand very quickly."
  Nodoka grimaced.  This was definitely not a good thing.
"Kato-sensei," she asked, "were there any problems with giving her a
bath?"
  Kato paused.  Now that was an odd question to be asked.  "None at
all.  The nurses had no trouble with her.  Why do you ask?"
  Nodoka shook her head.  "Never mind that I asked." 
  Kato entered the door, as a nurse walked up to the trio.  She smiled
as she looked at Nodoka.  "Kikuchi Ami.  I am going to be Ranma's
therapist for the next few months."
  Nodoka smiled.  "Saotome Nodoka.  Is there anything I can do for my
daughter?"
  Ami smiled.  "People always ask that question.  Right now, there is
one and only one thing which you are to do.  Ranma-chan needs a
mother, plain and simple.  When she woke up, she had forgotten
everything about being a woman.  That made things difficult."
  A sweatdrop fell down the back of Nodoka's head.  "Err, how so?" 
  "She's in the middle of her period right now."
  Nodoka nodded while trying to repress a shudder.  Kasumi simply
smiled, while Akane looked quite angry at the news.  Nodoka was too
occupied with Ami to notice Akane's reaction.

  Ranma looked up as Kato entered the room.  "Ranma-chan," he said.
"Your mother is here, along with a few of your friends."
  "Okay, I am ready.  Please send them in."
  Kato nodded, and opened the door.  Nodoka stepped into the room.
Ranma did not remember her mother, but the woman in front of her
looked so much like her that there was no question.  She smiled.
"Okaasan."
  Nodoka nodded, and walked over to Ranma.  Ranma hugged her mother
tightly, and Nodoka was overcome with grief for a moment.. but she
couldn't get over feeling the bra that her "daughter" was now wearing.
  Kasumi was the next one through the door.  Ranma looked at Kasumi,
who was smiling at her.  Ranma immediately thought of how nice she
was, and wondered how she knew that.  True, the woman practically
radiated it, but somehow Ranma felt that she could trust her.
Finally, Akane entered the room.  The hair on the back of Ranma's neck
immediately jumped straight up, and Ranma had to repress a feeling of
fright when seeing her.  The strange smile on Akane's face only made
her more wary.

.... 

  Yokho entered the room of her cousin after returning from the
bathroom.  She smiled as she walked in.  "So Mina, she began, what is
this about Nerima that I've been hearing?"
  "What do you mean?" 
  Yokho grinned.  "All these martial artists running around.. there
has to be a reason for them, right?"
  Mina sighed.  Yohko's obession with studying other martial arts
could go too far sometimes.  "Half of them want to bed some guy called
Saotome Ranma.  The other half want to kill him."
  "Wow, that is pretty silly." 
  "It's even sillier than you could think.  He's got some kind of
curse on him, which he picked up in China."
  "Curse?" 
  "Hai.  He turns into a woman when he gets wet." 
  "Cool!  Err, I mean how strange." 
  Mina laughed.  "Damn you Yohko.  If you aren't obsessed with martial
arts, you're obsessed with the wierd and supernatural."
  She grinned.  "Of course."  She paused for a second.  "He turns into
a girl?"
  Mina nodded.  "Hai.  Kuno Tatewaki and his sister Kodachi are
obsessed with both halves.  They both want to marry one and kill the
other."
  "Now this sounds so funky!"  She lowered her voice.  "How do the
other girls feel about his changing?"
  Mina sighed.  "They won't call him a pervert to his face, but they
certainly believe that.  'One' of his 'fiancees' calls him a pervert
all the time."
  Yohko blinked.  "One of his fiancees?  WHAT?"
  Mina nodded.  "His father is a pathetic excuse for a human being who
engaged him multiple times.  Ranma himself seems to dislike all of
them."
  "They're not bothered by his 'curse'?"
  Mina shrugged.  "I don't know, to be truthful."
  Yohko paused for second, thinking.  "What is he like to have all
these people after him?"
  Mina grinned.  "The guy is an obsessive jerk, rude, insensitive,
without tact or manners.  He's definitely not a letch, but he is a
wimp when it comes to women.  Some of those women have been rumored to
have jumped him naked in the tub."
  Yohko laughed.  "I should have came here a long time ago!  So you'd
change in the same room with 'her'?" 
  Mina turned red.  "That won't happen." 
  "You haven't answered my question." 
  "I'm not going to." 
  "Hmph.  You're no fun." 
  "You pry too much sometimes." 
  Yohko shrugged.  "I like gossip.  Not that I'd tell anyone what you said
to me." 
  "Hai, you are honest about keeping secrets." 

.... 

  Kato called Nodoka over to him after she had a few minutes of
conversation with Ranma.  "You see?  She's happier than one would
expect given the situation."
  Nodoka nodded, still rattled a bit.  "I find that interesting."
Nodoka knew quite well how Ranma acted when he pretended to be Akane's
cousin Ranko.  Could this be a variation of that?
  Kato walked out into the hallway just outside the door, and Nodoka
followed him lost in thought and forgetting about Akane..

  Akane smiled at Ranma.  "Hello!  My name is Akane!" 
  "My name is Tendo Kasumi, Ranma." 
  Akane glared at Kasumi for a second, and then returned her attention
to Ranma, smiling again.  Ranma smiled rather fearfully.  "Hello."
  Akane brought her bag in front of her, and dug through it.  "I
brought you lunch," she said, opening up the bento box.
  Ranma frowned.  "That's ok," she replied.  "I am not that hungry." 
  "I made it especially for you!  I am an excellent cook." 
  Ranma sighed.  "Very well, I'll try it." 
  Akane smiled happily, "Close your eyes!" 
  Ranma closed her eyes, but somehow she wasn't feeling to good about
the idea.  *Oh well,* she thought.  *It's only food.  How bad can it
be?*
  Akane happily stuck a spoon into the bento box, ignoring the fact
that the stuff started to dissolve the spoon on contact.  Kasumi just
stood by the side of the bed, saying nothing.

  Akane stuck the spoon into Ranma's open mouth.  Ranma's eyes went
wide, and she gagged immediately on whatever Akane had placed into her
mouth.  Ranma immediately started to gag and puke, and Akane reacted
the only way she knew how.  "RANMA NO BAKA!" she screamed as she
pulled her hammer out and prepared to bash Ranma's head in.
  Kato heard the scream, and jumped into the doorway.  His patient was
heaving on the bed, and one of the two girls was about to smash her
head open with a mallet!  Kato quickly leapt forward trying to tackle
Akane, but Akane spun around and aimed the mallet at Kato.  Kato knew
right then and there that there was a very good chance that the girl
in front of him would kill him.  "Akane!"  Nodoka screamed.  "Stop it
right now!"
  Akane froze in mid strike, and the hammer dropped from her hands.
She was barely able to mutter an apology before collapsing in tears.
Kato shook his head as he saw her collapse, while Kasumi simply smiled
happily like she always did.

  "FREEZE!"  Came the yell from the door.  "Tokyo Police!"  A fully
clothed police officer stood ready, Glock 9mm pistol drawn on Akane.  At
this range, he was guaranteed to kill her with a single shot.  Nodoka
panicked as she looked at the officer, but Kasumi spoke up.  "Gomen,"
she stated.  "Everything is fine now.  Thank you for the help."
  The cop blinked twice, looking around the room.  The doctor was
sprawled out on the floor, the girl on the bed dry heaving, while the
girl sitting in front of him was crying with a huge mallet on the
ground to her left, and a spilled bento box with a pasty white
substance oozing out of it on her right.  The cop sighed and put his
gun away, shaking his head.  "Whatever," he said as he walked out of
the room.

.... 

  Yohko was deep in conversation with her cousin Mina, when she heard
the screams down the hallway.  Mina gasped, but Yohko bolted out the
room and looked around the hallway.  She saw the police officer
standing by the door down the hall, and wondered what was going on.
She shrugged, and walked back into her cousin's room, not wanting to
find out what the problem was.
  Mina looked up as Yohko reentered the room.  "What happened?" she
asked.
  Yohko shrugged.  "I have no clue whatsoever.  There is a police
officer just down the hall talking to some people.  This is a strange
town."
  Mina grinned.  "It's Nerima!"
  Yohko laughed.  "I should move here."
  Mina chuckled.  "You'd be lost in the shuffle of martial artists who
run through the town regularly."
  Yohko shrugged.  "Fine by me, I'll make myself known."
  Mina smiled.  "You're weird."
  Yohko grinned.  "Thanks!"

....

  Everyone had more or less settled down in Ranma's room.  Kato idly
wondered why he still lived in Nerima.  Sure, the hospital and
building contractors were making a killing, raking in the cash, but
after watching the near lunacy unfold in front of him, he decided that
maybe he would be better off moving back to Kyoto.
  Nodoka was talking to the police officer in the hallway, while a
cleaning and decontamination crew came in to clear out the pasty white
substance lying all over the floor.  While Akane's mystery white stuff
was utterly unedible, the cleaning crew found out that it did wonders
for clearing hazardous agents out of the air.  Akane sat in the
corner, miffed that her culinary creation was being used for something
as insulting as a decontamination agent.  At least Nodoka was kind
enough not to tell the crew the origin of the mysterious substance.
Kasumi smiled at the contamination crew as they came in, then headed
down the hallway to talk to the officer's wife, who was nursing a
newborn daughter.
  Nodoka was quite relieved of the situation.  While Akane was at
first in danger of being arrested for assult and attempted murder with
an illegal substance, Nodoka was able to bargain with the officer
though the people in the hospital, using Akane's creation as a bribe.
Akane would go free, and the hospital would get the rights to the
stuff Akane had created.  Nabiki would have been proud of the deal.
Most of the researchers on the staff were quite excited to use this
substance to clean out contaminated hospital rooms.. it did wonders on
airborne viruses and such.
  Ami had taken Ranma out of the room, wanting to talk to the girl in
private.  Nodoka was happy that Ranma had already bonded to the
therapist, but was worried as well about what kind of ideas she was
placing into Ranma's head.  Nodoka would see her son returned to her,
one way or another.
  Nodoka unfortunately neglected to take Ranma's feelings about Akane
into account, or she would have noticed the look of hatred the red
head had for Akane as she walked out with Ami.  Akane got angry very
quickly, but did nothing with Nodoka and the officer right outside the
door.
  Kato walked up to Nodoka, musing.  "You know," he started, "I had
wondered why Ono Tofuu had requested this room after looking at the
registry."
  Nodoka paused.  "Tofuu-sensei had Ranma placed here?"
  "Hai.  Apparently he knew about the wife of the police officer who
is in the room next door."
  Nodoka laughed out loud.  Finally, something in this crazy mixed up
world made sense for a change.  She would have to thank Tofuu-sensei
when she had a chance to.  Having the police officer nearby would
greatly alleviate any future problems with unwanted visitors.  She was
fortunate that Akane actually respected her enough to listen when she
shouted out earlier.  Had Akane actually continued on her rampage,
things would have been too horrific to imagine.

  Kasumi returned just then, a smile on her face.  Nodoka looked up at
Kasumi.  "What is it, Kasumi?"
  "Ranma-chan is back," she replied.
  Nodoka did not like the use of that honorific at all.  Akane
likewise looked upset at the name.  Ranma absolutely hated being
called that by anyone, and Happosai easily invoked Ranma's wrath time
and time again for calling him that and treating him like a girl.
  Ami and Ranma stepped into the room.  Nodoka and Akane both
facefaulted at the sight, their fingers in the "warding of demons"
position.  Kasumi simply continued to smile, and Kato wondered what
on Earth was going on, but knew better than to ask considering the
sanity of the people in the room.

  Ranma looked very unlike the old Ranma.  She stood quietly at the
door, dressed in a brown sailor fuku with a white blouse and a black
tie underneath.  She wore black tights on her legs and simple black
loafers on her feet, and for a short time had looked happy in her new
outfit.
  Ranma inwardly smiled at Akane's reaction.  She had a healthy
dislike for the short haired girl right now, and seriously hoped that
she would not have to deal with her for very long.  God forbid if she
had to share a room with her!  Ranma was very dissapointed at her
mother's reaction, though.  She had hoped that her mother would be
happy upon seeing her out of bed so quickly.
  Ami wondered why Nodoka and Akane reacted the way they did, and
suddenly became worried.  Something was not right here, she'd seen
this situation too many times in the past.  She bent down to Ranma and
whispered in the girl's ear, "Don't let them dissapoint you." she
hissed.  "They may not be able to adjust to who you are."
  Ranma nodded quietly, a bit sad.  "I just want my mother to be
happy."
  "I understand, but please, watch out for yourself.  I've seen this
happen before, with disasterous consequences."

  Nodoka and Akane recovered, Akane first.  Akane looked at Ranma, a
very angry and hurt expression on her face, and Ranma glared right
back at her.  She was not about to let that girl get away with what
she had done.  Nodoka, on the other hand, had an expression of fear on
her face, and Ranma wondered what was going on.  "Okasaan?" she began.

  Nodoka could not believe what had happened.  This made things all
the more difficult, but she vowed inwardly to get her son back, no
matter the cost.  "Hai, Ranma...chan."
  Ami noticed the pause, and was really confused.  Something was
definitely amiss here.. she knew that Nodoka was eloquent in her
Japanese, and pauses like that were very unusual.  There was little
she could say about it now, though.  Ranma walked over to her mother.
"Is everything fine?"
  Nodoka nodded.  "Hai.  This.. isn't easy for me."
  Ranma hugged her mother.  "I'll try my best to help."
  Nodoka shivered, but regained her composure.  "Let's get going.
Your father is waiting."
  Ranma nodded, and the four of them left the room, heading home.

  Ami walked over to Kato, watching the four women leave.  "Something
is wrong here, I can feel it."
  Kato nodded.  "Something is always wrong.  We simply have to try our
best to get them through it."
  "I hope nothing bad happens to that girl."

- Chapter 3 -

  The four women left the hospital, slowly walking down the street.
The sun was edging it's way down the horizion, the spring day cooling
down.  Saotome Nodoka was in the lead, with Tendo Akane at her side.
The two were involved in a conversation, trading words back and forth
quietly.  Tendo Kasumi followed quietly behind them, giving no signs
as to whether or not she was actively listening to the conversation.
Neither Nodoka nor Akane were concerned about this, as this was quite
normal for Kasumi.
  Behind the three women, following about five feet away, was Saotome
Ranma.  She was walking rather slowly, dragging the group along.  Her
excuse to Nodoka was that she wanted to see where they were walking
through, but in reality she was worried about the conversation that
she was deliberately being excluded from.
  Eventually, the group arrived at the train station.  Nodoka and
Akane walked up to the ticket window, while Ranma remained standing a
short distance away, pretending to study the map of the train system.
Kasumi walked over to Ranma.  "Do you want to know where we'll be
getting off, Ranma-chan?"
  Ranma nodded quietly, happy that someone had finally broken the
silence with her.  She just wished that Kasumi showed any semblance of
intelligence.  If the incident in the hospital room was any
indication, things were not all happy now.  She looked up at Kasumi,
who continued to smile.  "Hai."
  Kasumi promptly decided to describe Nerima in detail, pointing out
all the various sections: The food districts, the neighborhoods, the
location of where the carnival set up whenever it was around.  She was
hoping to help Ranma remember something, but the girl just nodded at
whatever she said, not making any connections at all.
  Nodoka frowned as she watched Kasumi try to stir Ranma's memories.
Perhaps the doctor was right in saying that she may never remember
anything.  Still, they had to try something.
  The tickets were purchased, and the group boarded the train.  Ranma
found a group of seats facing each other next to a window, and
promptly sat down.  Kasumi sat down next to her, continuing her
lessons on Nerima.  Nodoka and Akane both walked up to the seats, and
quietly sat down, watching Ranma.  Ranma continued to nod at Kasumi
while turning to look out the window. Occasionally, she would glance
at her mother, but turn quickly back to Kasumi.  Nodoka did not have a
pleasant expression on her face at all, a look mirrored by Akane.
  The train pulled slowly out of the station a few minutes later,
accelerating quickly.  About five minutes later, all that could be
seen outside the window was a blur, as the bullet train shot down the
tracks.  Ranma sighed and leaned back in her seat, eyes closed.
Nodoka chose that moment to stand up.  "I'm going to the rest room,"
she stated, and started to walk down the train car.
  Akane immediately jumped up and followed her.  "Hold on, I need to
go as well."
  Ranma did not react at all to the pair's leaving.. until they had
left the passenger car.  She immediately sat up, looking at Kasumi.
Kasumi nodded.  "Yes, Ranma-chan?"
  Ranma paused for a fraction of a second.  The direct approach was
best.  "What is going on?"
  "What do you mean?"
  Ranma snorted.  "Don't play stupid.  Something is very strange
around here.  I feel like I am not wanted."
  "That is not true, Ranma-chan."
  "So what is it then?"
  "Don't worry, everything will be fine.  Why don't I tell you
about.."
  Ranma sighed, and leaned back into her seat.  She closed her eyes.
Kasumi was not going to be giving her any answers, that was for
certain.  She noted with some concern that Kasumi had not mentioned
the rest of her family or any of her friends to her at all.

  Nodoka and Akane continued to walk through the train, reaching the
car with the bathrooms, but they walked right past them.  Nodoka
finally halted two cars away from Kasumi and her "daughter".  Akane
walked up behind her.  "Nodoka-san," she started, "what can we do?"
  Nodoka shook her head.  "I don't know.  She should have warmed up to
Kasumi by now.  Instead, she seems to be taking a dislike to her."
  Akane frowned.  "That _is_ unusual.  No one ever has a reason not to
like Kasumi."
  Nodoka nodded.  "She isn't paying attention to anything Kasumi says
any more.. nothing is causing any kind of recognition."
  Akane sighed.  "If she doesn't recognize the are we're in, then what
can we do?"
  Nodoka smiled.  "We'll just have to wait until we get home to
explain anything."
  Akane paused.  "There isn't a chance that she would believe anything
we say."
  Nodoka grinned evilly.  "Nothing a little hot water couldn't fix."
  "Hai!  We have to wait until we get home, though.  Trying it here
would cause a scene."
  Nodoka nodded.  "All the more reason to say as little as possible
now.  We need proof for our story to work."
  The two women then started to plan on how to "reaquaint" Ranma with
her surroundings and family.

  Ranma sneezed.  Kasumi looked at Ranma.  "Feeling ill, Ranma-chan?"
  Ranma shook her head.  "Something in the air, I think."

  Akane and Nodoka returned a short time later to the seats.  Ranma
had fallen asleep, and Kasumi sat quietly, watching the blurry images
outside the train's window.  She looked up and smiled when Nodoka and
Akane sat back down.  "Enjoy your trip?"
  Akane nodded.  "Very much so."

  The bullet train continued along for another hour or so.  Nodoka and
Akane sat quietly in their seats, watching Ranma sleep.  Akane
particularly felt turmoil whenever she laid her eyes on the woman that
was once her male fiancee.  She hoped that somehow it would be
possible to get the old Ranma back.  Perhaps if she treated him the
same as she used to, he might get his memory back and everything would
be back to normal, or at least what passed for normal in Nerima
anyway.
  Finally, the train pulled into the local station.  Ranma woke up as
the train was coming to a halt, and peered out the window.  She had
absolutely no clue where she was.  "Recognize anything?" asked Kasumi.
  Ranma shook her head.  "Nothing at all."
  Nodoka stood up.  "Time for us to return home."

  Akane and Kasumi stood up quickly, and Ranma slowly got to her feet.
She had this funny feeling that something was up, and wanted to delay
the inevitable as long as possible.  She followed her mother and the
two sisters out of the train station and through the neighborhood.
Nodoka and Akane suddenly took up a quick pace, and Ranma was forced
to hurry or she would be lost.  They continued to walk through Nerima
for a time, with Nodoka twisting and turning through streets.  Kasumi
cheerfully pointed out the buildings as they passed them, and she even
pointed at a large building which she called "Furikan High School,"
and stated that Ranma was a student there.  Ranma was curious about
the school, but was forced to keep up with her mother and the others
so she could not afford to stop even for a few minutes.  She caught up
to her mother quite easily, and stopped in front of her.  "Okaasan,"
she began.  "Can we please slow down?"
  Nodoka simply stepped around her daughter and kept going.  "No, not
until we get home."
  Ranma sighed.  "Why?  I want to look around where I used to live."
  Nodoka shook her head.  "I'll explain once we get home."
  Ranma frowned, and realized that she had no choice in the matter.
Her mother wasn't going to tell her anything until she was ready to.
Ranma wondered what all the fuss was about.

  Ten minutes later, they reached the Tendo residence.  Nodoka opened
the door, and quickly stepped inside.  Kasumi followed, and Ranma was
third, pushed inside by Akane.  She was not happy at all with the
treatment she was getting from the short haired girl called Akane.
After everyone was inside and the door closed, Nodoka finally breathed
a sigh of relief.  Ranma took a quick glance around the house.  A
flight of stairs, leading to the second floor.  An open doorway into a
kitchen, a short hallway leading to the bath, and a closed door,
leading to another room.  Kasumi walked into the kitchen while Ranma
continued to examine the house around her.  A few minutes later,
Kasumi returned from the kitchen.  She smiled.  "I'm preparing some
tea for us."
  Nodoka and Akane both smiled openly at Kasumi, who walked back into
the kitchen.  Ranma scratched her head, and returned to surveying the
house.  A foyer with a sliding screen which lead to the backyard.  A
path in the backyard led to an adjacent building, around a koi pond.
Ranma stared at the koi pond for a good two minutes.  She couldn't for
the life of her figure out why the damn pond was so important to her,
but couldn't help but keep looking at it.  Her eyes finally shifted,
to see an older man with long black hair sitting with his back to the
house, gazing into the backyard.  Nodoka spoke up.  "Tendo-san, Ranma
has returned from the hospital."
  Ranma knew from Nodoka's naming that this man was not her father.
She was curious why Nodoka left off the honorific, as her mother was
understood by her to follow a strict form of Japanese.  Kasumi spoke
up next.  "Come meet Ranma-chan, otousan," she said.
  The man stood up, spun around, and glomped Ranma, tears flowing from
his eyes.  "Oh, Ranma-kun," he began, "I am so happy to see you back
from the hospital."
  Ranma grimaced as she heard him address her.  "Ano," she replied
quietly, "I don't like being called that.  It is not polite."
  Soun's face turned from happiness to shock as he heard the voice.
He pulled back to look at Ranma, and started at the girl for a full
ten seconds.  She looked at him quizically.  Soun's eyes proceeded to
roll up into the back of his head, he collapsed onto the floor.
Kasumi simply smiled.  "Otousan always overreacts."
  Akane ran over to her father, grabbed a pillow and placing it under
his head.  "Hai," she began.  "He is very emotional since our mother
died."
  Ranma simply stared at the man in front of her.  She was almost
ready to scream in frustration because she had absolutely no clue what
was going on.  She spun, turning to face her mother.
  Ranma was about to open her mouth, when the front door opened,
revealing a panda.  A panda walking on its hind legs.  A panda
carrying what appeared to be a backpack.  A panda waving a sign with
the words "Good afternoon!" written on it in perfect Japanese.  Ranma
took a step back away from the panda as he stepped through the door
and into the living room.  She just stared at the panda who didn't act
anything like a panda.  The panda stared back at Ranma, and flipped
the sign over.  It read, "Ranma-kun?  Is that you?"
  Nodoka grinned at Ranko's reaction.  _Now_ it was time to begin.
She waved to Akane, who walked off into the kitchen, only to return
with the tea kettle.  Ranma looked at the tea kettle, and shook her
head.  "Thank you, but I am not thirsty."
 Nodoka simply laughed while taking the tea kettle from Akane.  She
walked over to the panda, and poured the contents on to him.  Ranma
watched in amazement as the panda transformed into a pudgy older man
with no hair on his head wearing wireframe glasses.  He was dressed in
a old and well worn white gi.  He began to cry immediately.  "Ranma!"
he began.  "My son!  What has happened to you?"
  Ranma looked shocked at the old man, while Nodoka walked over to
her.  "This man," she began, "is your father, Saotome Genma."  She
lifted the kettle over Ranma's head, who was too surprised to move.
"And you," she continued, "are Saotome Ranma, heir to the Anything
Goes martial art school and my son."  With that statement, Nodoka
dumped the kettle onto Ranma.
  Akane smiled as she watched Nodoka pour the water onto Ranma.  Now
she would have her fiancee back, and everything would be back to
normal.  Akane watched as the water cascaded over Ranma, expecting to
see the transformation.. and her jaw dropped in shock, and she fell
over.  Nodoka leapt back into the wall, an expression of fright on her
face.  Kasumi simply said, "Oh my."  Genma flat out fainted, joining
his old friend on the floor unconscious.

  Standing in the center of the room, Ranma looked around the room,
utterly and totally confused.  Turning towards Nodoka, Ranma asked,
"Ano, why did you do that?  You could have ruined my clothes."
  Ranma was wet, yes.  Ranma was still a woman.  She glanced down at
her clothing, miffed that her mother would do something like that.
Nodoka recovered quickly.  "Ranma-kun," she asked, "what is going on?"
  Ranma looked at her mother.  "Okaasan, I think you owe me an
explanation.  What is going on here?"
  Nodoka sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat.  She slowly walked
up the stairs, and motioned to Ranma.  "Follow me."
  Ranma nodded, and followed her mother.

  Nodoka stopped in front of a door, and opened it, revealing a room
with two futons against the wall.  A few pictures and odds and ends
lay on the dresser at the end of the room.  She motioned to Ranma
while picking up one of the pictures.  Nodoka sat down, tossing the
picture to Ranma, who caught it.  She glanced down at the picture, at
the young man smiling at the camera.  She looked back up at her
mother.  "Who is this?"
  Nodoka smiled sadly.  "That is _you_, Ranma-kun."
  Ranma shook her head.  "That's silly.  I am a woman, this is a man."
  "You were born male."
  "Impossible, I've looked in the mirror."
  Nodoka sighed.  "Your father took you on a long training trip when
you were five years old."  She closed her eyes.  "During that time,
you went over to China, to a cursed training grounds."
  "And?"
  "Both of you fell into the pools.  Your father fell into the spring
of drowned panda, while you, my _son_, fell into the spring of drowned
girl."
  "That can't be true."
  "Your father turns into a panda, ne?"
  "How does he manage to do that?"
  "Cold water curses you, hot water returns you back to normal."
  Ranma laughed.  "I've taken how many hot baths this morning?"  Her
voice lowered.  "Ami was there with me, to make sure nothing happened.
She'll agree with me."
  "Ranma-kun, you are not listening to your mother."
  Ranma grimaced.  "Look," she started.  "I've tried to be nice,
really.  This is starting to get a little out of hand."
  "Ranma-kun, listen to me."
  Ranma stood up, and walked out the door.  Nodoka followed her.
Ranma walked out into the hallway, and down the stairs.  She stopped
in the living room, her gaze fixed on the koi pond in the backyard.
Nodoka was angry now, and she walked over to the door, and picked up
the package she always carried with her.  Ranma did not say a word.
Nodoka moved over to her.  "Ranma-kun."
  Ranma continued to say nothing.  Akane walked over to the redhead.
"Ranma-kun, pay attention to your mother."
  Ranma turned away from Akane, her gaze still fixed on the koi pond.
She closed her eyes.  "Why should I listen to you of all people?"
  Nodoka was furious.  All her plans were in jeopardy.  "Ranma-kun, do
not talk to your fiancee that way!"
  Ranma's eyes opened.  Her voice was as cold as ice.  "Fiancee?  Bad
enough that I have another woman as a fiancee," she turned to her
mother. "But you had to engage me to a homicidal maniac?"
  Akane's temper exploded.  "RANMA NO BAKA!"
  
  Kasumi whistled as she prepared dinner in the kitchen.  Akane's
voice echoed through the house, loud and clear.  A solid hit
immediately followed, with a splash soon after.  Kasumi smiled to
herself.  Things were returning to normal.  She stepped out of the
kitchen, carrying some fruit, intent on explaining the night's dinner.
Kasumi looked up, and immediately gasped, tossing the fruit
everywhere.  Nodoka was dumbfounded, her package slipping out of her
hands to come crashing down on the floor.  Akane's mallet lay on one
side of the living room.  Akane herself was floundering around in the
koi pond.
  Ranma stood quietly, looking at Akane, tears in her eyes.  She spun
towards the door and walked to it. She slowly put her shoes on while
speaking.  "All I wanted.." she stopped, choking on her tears.  "All I
wanted was to come home to some place safe where I could learn about
who I was."  She wiped the tears out of her eyes.  "Instead I find
myself in a house filled with lunatics who either don't give a damn
about me, or are too stupid to even care."  She paused, and whispered,
"Even my mother.."  With that, Ranma ran out the door and down the
street.

  Nodoka slumped to the ground, shocked at what had just happened.
Ranma had hit Akane.  Not only did Ranma strike her fiancee, she
absolutely decked the girl.  Akane was still in shock over the
incident.  Nodoka closed her eyes for a few minutes, then slowly stood
up, wondering how things could have gone so horribly wrong.  Nodoka
looked down at the package she always carried.  Slowly, carefully, she
picked it up, turning it over and over.  Pain evident on her face, she
unwrapped the package she carried for so long.  The wrapping fell to
the floor, the katana revealed.  Nodoka released the sword from its
sheath, staring at the blade hard for several minutes.
  Nodoka's face contorted.  Ranma never hit Akane.  No matter how many
times Akane attacked Ranma, no matter how many times Ranma was at the
mercy of Akane's violence, he never struck her back, never deserted
her.  Nodoka finally realized that her son was dead, killed by the
very same violence which never harmed him before, killed by a random
stroke of fate.
  With a savage cry, she threw the katana into the air, across the
yard, where it slammed into the wall of the dojo.  Tears sprung to her
eyes.  Honor had her give her son up to his decrepid father, not to
see him for over a decade.  Honor had kept her son in hiding from her
for over a year.  Kikuchi Ami's words sprung to her mind, finally
sinking in.  *Ranma-chan needs a mother, plain and simple.*  Honor had
cost Nodoka her daughter.  Nodoka opened her eyes.  She had failed her
son, and was never able to correct the mistake.  She would not fail
her daughter again.

  Akane sat in the koi pond, the chill of the water sinking into her
bones.  Akane had not fallen into the pond in years.  She lost count
of the number of times Ranma ended up in this very spot, whether by
her hand or by his father's.  For the better part of a year, she had
tried to impress her fiancee, but everything she did turned to ruin.
She tried to cook for him, but he insulted her cooking.  Akane never
understood why Ranma bothered with her, considering how many other
more attractive girls were chasing him around.  Shampoo, whose body
was like something out of a pinup magazine, with a personality to
match.  Ukyou, who was far closer to and nicer to Ranma than she could
ever hope to be.  Yet he stuck to her more stubbornly than any of the
others.
  Akane simply couldn't get angry at the girl who was her fiancee.
She had spent a good portion of her life angry, after her mother had
died.  Anger came easy to her, and she inflicted it on Ranma far too
easily.  Oh, once he had tried to stop her.  She became so enraged
that she nearly killed him.  Ranma _knew_ how dangerous she was while
wearing the dogi which gave her super strength.  He was trying to stop
her from hurting anyone, but when he tried to take away her "right" to
hit him, she became incensed.
  What had Akane's anger done for her?  It had kept her and her
fiancee apart.. yet despite all of Ranma's faults, she had loved him.
All she had to do was tell him that.  All she did instead was listen
to her anger, and he was finally killed as a result.  The tears that
came from Akane's eyes were very bitter.  Yes, he had insulted her
cooking, done it regularly.  Ranma didn't care about her cooking.. he
cared about her.  In the end, that was all that mattered, what _Ranma_
had wanted.  She had been just as blinded towards his feelings as all
the other women chasing him.
  What was worse was that she had attacked an innocent girl.  Now
Ranma absolutely hated her, and it was all her fault.  The girl had
done nothing to her, nothing at all.  Akane stood up, and stepped out
of the koi pond.  She had made mistakes, but if she found Ranma..
maybe she could make up the mistakes.

..... End, for now  .....