"A DAY IN THE PAST"

(A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic)

>From the Desk of Megane 6.7

This is a work of Fiction.  All Characters and Landmarks are the property 
of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan Video, Kitty Films, Viz Video, Shonen 
Sunday, and anyone else who legally owns the rights.  


THE TENDO DOJO
10:00 AM.


	Akane Tendo stared up at the ceiling as she lay in her bed, her 
mind wandering.  It had been an uneventful morning and she had been 
too tired to jog or practice her martial arts in the gym.  With Ranma and 
his father away on a training trip, things were actually somewhat normal 
at the moment.  She glanced at the clock beside her bed and saw there was 
a couple of hours before lunch would be ready so she decided to lie back and 
meditate for a few minutes before getting up.

	Many things that had once been central in her life had changed 
drastically when Ranma Saotome arrived.  Every once in a while, she 
would try to remember what her life was like before Ranma and as time 
passed it became more difficult.  Still, there were aspects of those days 
she doubted she'd ever forget and while they weren't all pleasant, they 
played a big part in who she was today.  

	Akane rolled over on her stomach, resting the bottom of her chin on 
her folded arms.  Sometimes she wondered how things would have turned out
if Ranma had never arrived.  Would she have eventually met someone else and
fallen in love?  Would she have waited years for someone she had once cared for 
so deeply?  The possibilities were endless back then.  No worries of arranged
fiances or jealous rivals.  A childhood dream that may have come to fruition 
someday....  

	Akane slowly rolled over to a sitting position.  She glanced around her 
room for a long moment, taking in everything, then stood up and walked
over to her closet.  She quickly changed into her training gi and slipped her 
red headband around her forehead.  Taking a moment to check her reflection
in the mirror, she walked towards the door but paused as she found herself 
staring at the Magic 8-Ball on her desk.  It had been a birthday gift from 
Nabiki and even now served as a reminder of the past, when things were 
different. 


*	*	*


	"Here you go, sis.  Happy Birthday."

	Akane looked up at her older sister.  "What is it?

	"It's an Magic 8-Ball."  Nabiki replied with a grin.  "People use it 
to ask questions and predict the future.  You just shake it and then turn it 
upside down for an answer.  I figured you'd like it."   	     
    
	Akane glanced back down at the 8-Ball, then shook it gently and 
turned it over.  A small window revealed a die with the word  *MAYBE* 
written in Kanji.  "I guess so." she murmured.  "Where did you get it?"
	
	"Actually, one of my friends got it at school and gave it to me to 
cover a small debt.  I tried to sell it but no one was interested, not even 
Kunou-Chan.  So I figured I'd save it for a rainy day and then when your
birthday came along...."

	"Nice to know you put so much thought into it."  Akane replied 
sarcastically.

	"Hey, I could have just thrown it out but then I thought of you and 
decided it would make the perfect gift for my little sister...."  Nabiki replied 
playfully as she walked to the door.  

	Akane felt her cheeks flush slightly.  "Aw, come on, I'm only a year 
younger than you, Nabiki."

          	Nabiki's face became thoughtful for a moment.  "Well, that's true.  
You're already fourteen years old and Kunou-Chan certainly considers you 
to be a woman."  The sour look on Akane's face caused Nabiki to break out
into a grin again.  "Relax, sis, I'm only teasing....Although, you never 
know....one day you might actually find Kunou attractive...."     
           	
	"Yeah, right...."  Akane muttered as Nabiki left.  It would be a cold
day in hell before Akane would even consider Kunou to be anything else but a 
total jerk.  She had been kind to him only one time when they had first met 
and ever since he had constantly asked her out on dates and given her bouquet
after bouquet of red roses, all of which ended up in the garbage anyway....  

	Akane walked over to her bed and began packing her supplies for 
school in her satchel.  'Still, things could always be worse' she thought to 
herself.  Ever since she had begun attending Furinkan High School, she had 
made some new friends and dispite Kunou's annoying presence, life was
pretty good for the most part.  

	"Akane!  Breakfast is ready!"  The voice of Kasumi drifted up the 
stairs.  Akane closed her satchel and was about to leave her room when she
paused by the door and glanced at the Magic 8-Ball in her hand.  After a 
moment's hesitation, she asked herself a question, shook the ball and turned 
it over to see the answer.

	*OUTCOME UNCLEAR*

	Akane sighed.  "Figures...."  she muttered as she placed the ball on 
her desk and left her room, making her way downstairs.  Her father and two 
sisters were already sitting at the table eating and she quickly joined them.  

	"Good morning, Akane.  Did you sleep well?"  Kasumi asked her 
sister with a smile.

	"Hai, Oneechan."  Akane replied as she poured herself a bowl of 
miso soup....

	    
*	*	*


	"Akane, is something wrong with your soup?"  

	Akane snapped out of her reverie and looked up to see her 
family staring at her curiously.  "Oh, I'm fine!  That is....It's fine!"  Akane 
quickly replied as she began eating.  After a moment, Nabiki and Soun 
also returned their attention to their meals.  Kasumi, on the other hand, 
wasn't so easily convinced.

	"Are you sure everything's okay?  You seemed distracted a moment ago...."

	"I...."  Akane hesitated.  "I was just daydreaming.  It's nothing to worry
about, really."  she smiled at her sister who reluctantly nodded and turned her 
attention back to the meal.  When they were finished, Akane stood up and 
walked over to the back patio.  She leaned against the side of the entrance and
stared into the koi pond.

	She smiled as she watched the fish quietly go about their lives, eating
tiny plants, swimming and occasionally leaping out of the water like a dolphin 	
and falling back in.  In a way, those fish were lucky, their lives were so simple.
Eat, drink, swim, jump, not having to worry about things like cooking, family 
honor, being feminine or learning marital arts.  
	
	On the other hand, living the life of a fish would be rather dull once 
the novelty of breathing underwater and jumping wore off.  Still, there were 
moments that she thought otherwise as she continued to watch the pond as the 
koi leapt from the water, sparkling in the sunlight.


*	*	*

	
	The koi made a small splash as it landed.  At the same time, Akane
lashed out with a kick at her father as they continued their daily sparring
session.  Soun moved deftly, avoiding every one of his daughter's moves while 
occasionally striking out his own offense.  Akane managed to block her 
father's punch, but in doing so threw herself off balance.  Soun went low and 
legswept her off her feet.  Akane desperately tried to maintain her balance by 
landing on her hands but Soun's legsweep followed through with another and 
Akane found herself lying flat on her back, staring up at the dojo ceiling.
 
	"You've improved a great deal, Akane,"  Soun remarked as he 
offered a hand to her and pulled her to her feet.  "But your attacks still 
lack focus and concentration.  You tend to strike out blindly in anger and 
it can easily be used against you in a fight...."

	"I know, Dad....I know...."  Akane replied wearily, her eyes now cast
down at the floor.  "It's just...."

	Soun placed a hand on his daughter's shoulder.  "What's bothering 
you, Akane?  The last week, your attacks have become more and more reckless
and filled with even more anger than usual.  Is everything all right?  Is there 
something I should know about?"

	"It's not your problem, Dad.  It's....It's something I have to deal 
with myself."  Akane replied softly.  "I know that's not what you want to 
hear, but...."

	Soun smiled while giving his daughter a reassuring look.  "It's all
right.  I won't push you if you don't wish to be pushed.  But I hope you can
find a way to resolve whatever it is bothering you.  Sometimes your greatest
enemy is yourself and the longer it takes for you to confront your fear, the
more difficult it will be to defeat it."

	"I understand, Dad.  And thanks."  Akane replied as she bowed 
respectfully towards him.  Soun patted her on the shoulder as he left the 
dojo.  When he was gone, Akane sank to her knees, her expression sorrowful
as she thought to herself.

	"Defeat my enemy....But how can I defeat my enemy....when she's 
my own sister?"


*	*	*    
	  

	Akane looked over at Dr. Tofu's clinic as she jogged past.  She 
briefly considered paying him a friendly visit but he would most likely be 
busy with his elderly patients right now and she didn't want to impose upon
him.
	As she turned the corner of the street, she wondered why she was 
thinking so much about the past today.  Part of it, she figured, was probably
because she hadn't done it in a while, what with her usually arguing with
Ranma over something or another.  She had accused Ranma on more than
one occasion of her life being peaceful before he wandered into it, but deep
down, she knew her life had been anything but peaceful, especially last 
year when her list of opponents had increased dramatically.				


*	*	*
	

	"HATE BOYS....HATE BOYS....HATE BOYS...."

	Akane chanted the familiar mantra as she rushed towards the 
horde of boys determined to win the right to date her, as if Kunou's words
meant anything to her at all, which they didn't.... 	

	She added an extra degree of speed to her legs as she reached her
first attacker, a javelin thrower, who was trying to use his javelin as a Bo
and failing miserably.  Akane snatched the javelin from him and twirled 
it around.  Each time it smashed against his head, a piece broke off until
it was in splinters and Akane finished him with an overhand right to the 
jaw.

	A pair of wrestlers attempted to take her off her feet with a double
clothesline, only to have their arms nearly wrenched from their sockets as she
flipped them up and over her head, not even pausing for a moment as she 
punched and kicked her way through another series of would-be suitors.  
Several seconds later, they all lay unconscious at her feet, their individual 
weapons scattered around them.  Akane took a few moments to catch her 
breath, knowing her battle wasn't finished yet....

	"Ah, my darling Akane Tendo...."

	Akane looked up as Kunou emerged from behind a tree, a look 
of admiration on his face as he surveyed the carnage.  Akane wanted so 
much to simply smash her fist into his face and get to class but she knew
it wouldn't be that easy....

	Akane blew out an angry breath.  "Can we just get this over with, 
Sempai?  I have a class in less than five minutes...."
 
	Kunou smiled and placed a hand on his forehead as he replied. 
"Time waits for no man, nor the woman who's heart awaits capture by the 
man who's own heart is joyfully imprisoned by her...."  He sighed with
pleasure for a moment and then he face grew serious once more.   

	"Therefore, I, Tatewaki Kunou, the Shooting Star of Furinkan 
High....accepts your challenge."  Kunou finished as he withdrew his 
bokken and assumed a battle stance.

	The two combatants circled each other carefully, looking for an 
opening.  Kunou usually waited until Akane made the first move, a gesture 
that Akane found insulting despite its honorable intent.  Nonetheless, Akane
obliged him by lashing out with a kick.  Kunou blocked it effortlessly and 
swung his bokken in a wide arc.  Akane easily leapt over it and Kunou's 
head as she tried to catch him from the blind side but Kunou was too fast for
her and managed to deflect the blow in time.

	They circled each other again and Kunou lashed out forward with 
his bokken.  Akane dodged the blow and countered with a left hook.  Kunou
sidestepped the punch and swung around in the complete circle to strike her
exposed back.  Akane performed a full backflip to avoid the blow and dropped
low when the bokken swung in her direction again, barely missing her head.  
Akane then tried to legsweep him, but Kunou leapt backwards defensively, 
his bokken held in front of him protectively. 
	
	"Though she is little, she is fierce...."  Kunou remarked with a smile
as they circled once more.  Akane felt herself trembling with rage at those words. 
Kunou seemed to say them at least once every time they fought and they never
failed to make her angry.  Whether Kunou intended for that to happen, she 
didn't know and frankly she didn't care.  She was going to make him pay for
saying it....

	"KUNOU NO BAKA!!!"  Akane screamed as she attacked with 
everything she had.  Kunou's bokken became a blur, blocking her shots as
fast as she could throw them.  Then there was an opening and Akane drove
her foot into his stomach.  Kunou gasped and took a step back.  Akane pressed
her attack as more holes in Kunou's defense opened up and it wasn't long before
she was finally able to send him flying into LEO, his shattered bokken resting
in pieces at her feet.  

	Akane then fell to her knees, exhausted from the battle.  It seemed 
Kunou blocked her attacks more and more every time she fought.  Even thought 
she always managed to defeat him in the end, she wondered how he was able to 
block her attacks so easily earlier.  It seemed the only way she could beat him
was to get very angry and usually that "little but fierce" comment did it every
time....

	Suddenly the loud chimes of the school bell quickly brought her back
to reality as she stood up and rushed towards the school entrance in order to
get to her class on time.  

	The low rumble of thunder could be heard in the distance, along
with the sudden crack of lighting.


*	*	*


	BOOM!!!	   

	Akane yelped in surprise as the flash of lighting and clap of thunder 
brought her back to reality once more.  Then a downpour of rain suddenly 
unleashed its full fury on her.  She quickly rushed towards the nearest awning 
and stood under it as the rain continued to pour in sheets.  Akane decided 
she might as well wait out the storm and entered the nearest restaurant.  

	As her eyes adjusted to the dim interior, she took a seat in one of the 
booths on the far wall.  After ordering some hot tea, she gazed out the window
as the rain continued to pour.  She had been furious when she learned that
Kunou had actually been holding back when he fought her.  Naturally she 
had taken out her anger on Ranma, as she tended to do almost daily whenever 
he was around.

	She knew that the things that happened to her and him wasn't always
his fault and she could be a bit hard on him at times but he had a way of 
pushing her buttons in a way that caused her to lash out automatically.  She 
didn't like being called a tomboy, she didn't like having her cooking insulted
after she went to so much trouble to make it, she didn't like constantly losing
her sparring battles to Ranma, especially when he barely had to try anyway.
Just because she wasn't as good a martial artist as him, didn't mean he had
to rub her face in it.

	Akane rubbed her eyes and thanked the waiter as her tea arrived.  
She poured herself a cup and glanced at her reflection in the steaming 
liquid before taking a long deep sip.


*	*	*


	"Almost....Not quite there yet...."

	Akane glanced at her reflection as she combed her long black 
hair.  It was nearly as long as Kasumi's now.  Just a few more weeks 
and it would be longer....

	"Akane?"  

	Akane turned to see Nabiki poking her head in the door.  "Hey, 
Akane.  You're going to be late for school if you don't hurry...."

	"I'll be there in a minute!"  Akane replied as she struggled to 
untangle a knot in her bangs.  Nabiki entered her room and glanced at
Akane's reflection.  "Still trying to grow a ponytail, sis?"

	"Yeah...."  Akane replied, distracted.  "It'll just take a few more 
weeks for it to be...."

	"....as long as Kasumi's?"  Nabiki finished.

	Akane suddenly stopped brushing her hair as a big teardrop
appeared behind her head.  "W....What do you mean?"  Akane replied
nervously.

	"Akane....look....I know it's none of my business....and I know
the guys at school are giving you a hard time and all....but I think you 
might be setting yourself up for a huge fall here...."

	  "I don't know what you mean."  Akane replied, trying 
to keep her voice neutral.

	"Come on, sis, I'm not blind.  Every time you have to see Dr. Tofu
about anything, whether it's a book that needs to be returned or getting 
your ankle fixed, your face lights up like a Christmas tree and you're 
practically walking on air."

	Akane felt her face turn a deep crimson.  "Y..You're crazy!  You
don't know what you're talking about!"

	Nabiki considered saying something else but thought better of it 
and shrugged.  "Suit yourself, sis.  I just don't want you to be hurt...."

	"Just leave me alone!"  Akane snapped as she returned her attention
to the mirror.

	"Okay."  Nabiki replied as she turned to leave.  At the door, she paused
for a moment and added.  "But even if it's not true, I'd better keep it to 
myself....just to be on the safe side...."

	Akane turned towards her sister and caught the meaning in her words. 
"Thank you, Oneechan."  Akane whispered as Nabiki flashed a quick grin
and closed the door behind her.  Akane then took another long look at
herself in the mirror and smiled as she whispered.

	"I haven't lost yet...."  

	
*	*	*


	Akane gasped as the chill of cold water temporarily interrupted 
her train of thought.  She shivered as she refilled the bucket and poured
it over her head once more, removing any last traces of sweat and soap 
suds from her body.  

	Fortunately, the storm had been brief and she had finished her 
jog about five minutes ago before heading to the bathroom.  After she was 
finished cleansing herself, she walked over to the bathtub, filled with warm 
water and slowly lowered herself into it with a long sigh.  

	As she felt the muscles in her legs, back and shoulders relax, she 
remembered what she used to think about when lying in the tub.  An
embarrassed flush grazed her cheeks that had nothing to do with the 
warm water she was currently relaxing in.  She used to fantasize about
*him* shamelessly, about the life they would have together once she was 
old enough for him.  

	For a long time, she had considered her age to be the only real 
obstacle that prevented him from noticing her, dispite his obsession with 
Kasumi, and she would treasure the time she spend with him, hoping 
one day her patience would be rewarded.


*	*	*


	"That doesn't hurt now, does it Akane?"

	"Not at all, Dr. Tofu...."

	Akane felt herself starting to blush again and she desperately 
tried to calm down as Dr. Tofu carefully examined her swollen ankle with 
his soft gentle hands.  A sudden sharp pain caused her to wince.

	"Does that hurt?" Dr. Tofu asked.

	"A....A little."  Akane replied, gritting her teeth against the pain.  

	Dr. Tofu examined it for a few moments longer, running his fingers
along the bone and causing Akane to involuntarily blush once more.  "Well, 
it doesn't appear to be broken, just sprained.  I could try to fix it now but it 
would be very painful.  If you're willing to wait a few days and rest, it should 
heal up nicely."  The doctor said with a smile.

	"I'll wait."  Akane replied, reluctant to feel any more pain like the 
jolt she just suffered.  She gingerly sat up on the examination bed and then
stood up, shifting her weight to her good foot.   "Thank you very much for 
helping me,"  Akane said as she bowed deeply to him. 

	"No problem!  It's what I'm paid to do after all!"  Dr. Tofu replied
cheerfully.  "Do you need some help getting home?  I'd be happy to lend a 
shoulder if you need it,"  he added.

	Akane felt her heart beat faster as she stammered  "Uh...sure!  I 
mean....That's very kind of you, Doctor Tofu...."    

	As Dr. Tofu slipped her arm around his neck for support, Akane 
knew she was blushing like a beet turnip but at that moment, she didn't 
care as the man of her dreams led her outside the clinic towards her home.
She only wished that she lived farther away from the clinic so she could    	 
savor the moment a little longer.  

	As it was, it only took them five minutes to reach her house.  
Kasumi was in the back yard, hanging some laundry on the clothesline to
dry.  When she saw them and noticed Akane's condition, she immediately
ran over towards them with a concerned look on her face.  

	"Oh my!  Dr. Tofu, what happened to her?"  Kasumi exclaimed in 
alarm.

	"K....K....Kasumi...."  Dr. Tofu stammered, his glasses immediately
fogging up.  Akane found she had to struggle to keep her arm around Tofu 
as he started to go into convulsions.  "I'm all right, Kasumi.  I sprained
my ankle jogging and Dr. Tofu helped me get back home,"  She sighed.

	"Well, that's good to hear."  Kasumi's voice was filled with relief as 
she turned to Dr. Tofu and bowed to him.  "Thank you for bringing her back
safely, Doctor."
	 
	"Yggghh....Puuulll....Orrth....."  Dr. Tofu babbled incoherently as 
he grinned like an idiot.

	Kasumi giggled.  "Oh, you're always clowning around, Doctor."  She
then unwrapped Akane's arm from his neck and placed it around her own.  

	"Let's go inside and get some ice for that ankle...."  Kasumi said as
she lead Akane back towards the dojo.  Akane glanced back at Dr. Tofu and
was dismayed to see him running back towards his clinic, no doubt to give 
his skeleton, Betty-Chan, another wild ride through the district while he 
whooped with joy.  It was enough to make Akane's stomach turn....and her 
chest ache.     					

	               	   
*	*	*

	
	Akane walked towards her bed and lay back on it, staring at the 
ceiling once more.  Her skin still tingled from the effects of the warm bath 
and she decided to rest for a while before dinner was ready.  Suddenly, she 
heard a small bwee noise and glanced at the window to see a soaked P-Chan, 
trying to get in.  Akane opened the window and cradled her pet in her arms. 

	"Awww...poor baby got stuck out in the nasty rain?  Well, you wait 
here and I'll get you a towel so you can warm up...."  Akane cooed at her 
cute pet.  P-Chan sneezed and then nodded slowly in understanding.  Akane
smiled at him as she got up and left her room, walking towards the 
bathroom.

	Sometimes she wondered what it would have been like to have a 
pet like P-Chan when she was younger, someone to comfort her when she
felt sad.  Then again, Akane couldn't imagine a better person to have around 
to cheer you up than Kasumi....


*	*	*


	"Here's some watermelon for you, Akane...."

	Akane glanced over at her older sister, smiling in appreciation.  "Thanks,
Oneechan!  Just the thing I need after a good workout!"

	  Kasumi had already divided the melon into slices and Akane took
one of them.  Taking a bite, she gestured at the remaining slices.  "Aren't
you going to have some?"

	"Well, I really should get back to preparing dinner for Father...."  
Kasumi replied.

	"Can't you stay for a little while?  I'm sure Dad won't mind."  Akane
coaxed.

	"Well, all right then."  Kasumi said as she took a seat next to her 
sister and then helped herself to a watermelon slice.  "So how are things 
going for you in school?" 

	Akane sighed.  "Not too good.  That Kunou idiot keeps attacking
me every morning and now he's got an army of students convinced to do
the same."

	"Oh my!  Why would he do that?"

	"Because he's Kunou."  Akane replied sarcastically.  "Other that
that, everything just fine...."

	"Have you told him that you appreciate his offer but you don't wish
to become involved?"

	"In so many words, yes."  Akane remarked as she glanced at her 
fists.  "He won't listen to reason, though.  So I use force and he still doesn't
listen.  It's getting to the point where I'm going to have to get up an hour 
early and sneak into school if I want to avoid them...."

	"Have you tried talking to Nabiki?  Maybe she can help?"  Kasumi
suggested.

	Akane shook her head.  "She said she's tried but Kunou is too 
stubborn to give up.  Besides...."  Akane said with a frown.  "I get the feeling
that Nabiki is encouraging Kunou, I'm not sure how though...."

	"Why would she do that?" 

	"With Kunou?  Probably money.  He's supposed to be fairly
rich or so I've heard...."

	Kasumi was silent for a moment.  "Maybe you should try dating 
him then...."

	"WHAT?!?"  Akane exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock.

	"Maybe if you dated him once, it would calm him down and 
he would leave you alone."  Kasumi explained. 

	"But....But....Kasumi, when we first met, I said hello to him and offered
him some of my lunch when he forgot his.  Ever since, he's been chasing
after me.  If I actually went on a date with him, he'll follow me to the ends of 
the earth!"

	Kasumi's expression was thoughtful as she replied.  "Then maybe you
can try and get him interested in someone else."  

	Akane's brow furrowed.  "Hmm....well, some of the girls in my class
think he's handsome but so far the only one he's paid attention to is me.  I don't
know if he'll settle for anyone else...."  

	"And you're not flattered by that?"

	Akane felt the heat rise in her cheeks as she stammered.  "Well...I...I
mean....I guess it's flattering that he chose me over the other girls....but....he's
still a jerk....an arrogant conceded macho jerk with no sense at all!"  	

	Kasumi cast her gaze down at the floor.  "I guess you'll have to put 
up with him until he finds someone else, or you find someone that can protect
you from him...."

	Akane's eyes glazed over briefly as a fantasy of Dr. Tofu beating up 
Kunou and taking her into his arms entered her mind.  Then she snapped
out of it and replied, a little too quickly.  "I don't need anyone to protect me!  I
can defeat Kuno on my own!  I just have to find a technique strong enough to
get it through that thick skull of his...."    	  
 
	"Maybe you should try talking to father, then?"

	"Maybe...."  Akane quietly replied.  Then she looked over at her
sister and smiled.  "I guess it wouldn't hurt to learn some more advanced 
techniques from him.  Thanks for the advice, Oneechan."

	Kasumi smiled and replied.   "Always."  	      	
	
	Akane took another slice of water melon before rising to her 
feet.  She was about to leave when Kasumi suddenly called out  "Akane...."

	"Yes, Oneechan?"

	Kasumi voice was filled with concern as she continued.  "Is there 
anything else bothering you?  I've noticed you've seemed....distracted the last
few months and Father's worried about you."

	Akane winced involuntarily.  "It's nothing for either of you to worry
about....really."  she replied in a quiet voice.

	"Are you sure?  You know you can talk to me about anything?"  Kasumi
offered.

	'Can you make Dr. Tofu look at me....just once....the way he looks at you?'

	"I'm sure."  Akane replied as she pasted a smile to her face while 
banishing the unspoken thought from her mind.... 

	    
*	*	*


	"Akane, Ranma's back!"

	Akane opened her eyes and glanced over at her sister.  "What?"  
she grumbled, her voice rough with sleep.

	"Ranma and Mr. Saotome came back early from their trip."  Kasumi
replied as she opened the curtains to reveal the ruddy glow of the sunset.  
Akane moaned and pulls the covers over her head.  Kasumi noticed this and 
said,  "Don't you want to welcome them home?"

	A muffled groan emerged from beneath the pillow.  Then Akane 
pulled it off to reply.  "I'll be down in a little while.  I just need some time to 
wake up."  

	"All right."  Kasumi replied cheerfully as she left her room, closing the
door behind her.  Akane allowed her eyes to close once more but refused to
allow slumber to claim her again.  

	Yes, things had certainly changed in the past year and she had done
a lot of changing with it.  Her crush on Dr. Tofu was a thing of the past, Kunou
was now a minor annoyance at best, the students didn't attack her anymore and
she was engaged to Ranma.  Even now, she still refused to acknowledge, even
to herself, how much she cared for him.  She only wished she knew how he 
felt about her.  Their fighting was less a battle of words than it was a battle of
wills.  Who would be the first to crack and reveal how they truly felt?

	Akane pulled off the covers and stretched her arms skyward until she 
felt her joints pop and then she rose to her feet.  P-Chan was still sleeping on
the pillow next to her and she pulled the blankets up to his neck, scratching 
his ears affectionately before heading downstairs.

	Ranma and Genma's attention was fully occupied with eating Kasumi's 
dinner and they didn't notice Akane until she had sat down at her place.  
"Heyh Akane!"  Ranma greeted her with a mouth full of rice.  "Miss me?"

	Akane shrugged as she poured herself a bowl of tempura.  "You were 
only gone for a few days, what's there to miss?"    

	Ranma swallowed the food in his mouth and almost looked disappointed
for a moment but recovered in time as he remarked.  "Yeah, well, I thought 
it would be boring around here without me to keep things interesting...."

	He expected a sarcastic or angry reply, instead he was surprised when
Akane actually smiled at his words, her expression mysteriously nostalgic as 
she replied.  "Oh, I don't know about that.  My life was pretty interesting before
you came along, Ranma...."

	"Really?"  Ranma's voice betrayed his surprise.

	"Yep....maybe I'll tell you about it someday."  Akane replied 
mysteriously as she took a long sip from her bowl, savoring the taste and
the moment.  

	"Then again, maybe I won't...."  


*	*	*


	Akane returned to her room after dinner and closed the door.  Then 
she went to her closet and changed into her favorite yellow cat's pajamas.  
She was about to crawl into her bed when a thought struck her and she walked
over to her desk and picked up the Magic 8-Ball.  She asked herself the same 
question she had asked over a year ago and then turned it over.

	*ASK ME AGAIN LATER*	

	Akane smiled.  "Figures...."  she whispered softly to herself as she
carefully replaced the ball on her desk before turning in for the night.  	    	


THE END	

       	
I hope you enjoyed this.  C&C is very welcome.  (fcasper@yesic.com)

Special thanks to Gary Kleppe and Robin "Lunari" Seabaugh for their
C&C!

This was a spur of the moment story that came to me as I was reading "Blue 
Thunder Rising" by R.P.M. and I wondered what sort of problems and 
challenges Akane had before Ranma entered the picture.  

I tried my best to see things from Akane's point of view and how she may 
have dealt with Kunou, Dr. Tofu and her sisters.  The switching back and 
forth from present to past time frames seemed to help things flow better 
and once in a while everyone takes stock of their lives and what they did 
to deal with the problems they faced back then.  
 
I hope to start continuing my other unfinished series in the future, as well as
my MSTings and the Chicken Balls Awards, which will be presented on April
30.  My MSTings and a link to my other fanfics can be found at:

"From the Desk of Megane 6.7"

(http://www.winnipeg.freenet.mb.ca/~cto427/megane.htm)

;)