I'm not sure about this idea.  If you liked the original quick fic, you
may hate this.  The story is essentially unchanged.


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           | The Autobiography of Akane Saotome | Prologue |
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Years Away 
----------

	I met this young girl the other day.  Now, in my line of work, I
meet many people.  But this one struck me as a little odd. 

	I saw her sitting on a park bench.  Long red hair flowing down her
back.  She was wearing a floral print kimono.  As I usually do when I have
time, I sat down next to her.  She turned, and smiled at me as I sat, a
soft smile that said she knew why I was there.  Her eyes though...  Blue
eyes, but they didn't belong in a face that young. 

	I greeted her, and found out her name was Ranma.  She said she was
there to visit Akane. 

	Yes, I'm a gardener.  In a memorial park. 

	I politely looked at the indicated marker, noting the year. 
Somewhat recent, two years ago.

	We talked for some time, about Akane, about myself.  She seemed
genuinely interested in me, and my work.  She didn't talk much about
herself, but seemed quite happy to tell me Akane's life story.  Quite
amazing, really. 

	Sooner than I wanted, she got up to leave.  She bowed before the
marker, and whispered something.  I still swear she said, 'I still miss
you Akane-chan.  Even if you are an uncute tomboy.'

	She bowed to me, and slowly walked away.  I looked at the marker
one last time, then bowed before it too.  It's always nice to see
grandchildren honoring their grandparents. 


			    Akane Saotome
		  Beloved wife and mother of three. 
			      1979-2065



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           | The Autobiography of Akane Saotome | Epilogue |
           =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


Years Away
----------
Conclusion

	I see the confusion in your face.  You ask what I found so odd. 
Well, I didn't tell you what happened next year. 

	Exactly one year later, I saw the same girl sitting in the same
place, with an older woman next to her.  I went to speak to them, and she
remembered me from the previous year.  The older woman introduced herself
as Ukyo Saotome, Akane's daughter. 

	I complimented Ukyo on her lovely daughter, and Ranma giggled. 
She smiled as she told me that Ukyo was not her mother.  Not wanting to
pry further, we talked for some time on unimportant things. 

	She mentioned a family dojo.  It was difficult to contain my
shock.  How would you have felt, knowing you were sitting next the
daughter and granddaughter of the greatest martial artist of all time? 

	Yes, it was *that* Akane Saotome.  Yes I know I should have
figured it out, but how often do you meet the child of a legend? 

	All my grandchildren studied at the dojo.  I had met the current
sensei of the dojo many times.  I knew him only as Saotome-sensei.  The
rumor was that he was cursed to live forever.  He looked no more than
twenty, yet I remember sending my children to study under him, over thirty
years ago.  I believed that rumour. 

	Ranma's smile turned sad.  She nodded once, then knelt at the
marker, and spoke softly, then left. 

	I turned to Ukyo, asking her if I had said something wrong. 

	I never saw either of them again, but I will forever remember her
words.  'As long as there are martial arts, there will be Saotome-sensei. 
As long as there is Saotome-sensei, there will be Ranma.  As long as there
is Ranma, there will be martial arts.'

	I don't know what she meant, exactly, but that day I made each of
my grandchildren promise to send each of their children and grandchildren
to the Saotome dojo.  A martial artist from Nerima saved the world once,
and if if needed, one would do so again.  And maybe next time, it would
the name [CENSORED](1) remembered with pride.


(1) Would reveal too much right now.