Well, it certainly has been a long time for me...a really long time.
What is it now nearly a year.  Unfortunately I haven't written much
in that time.  It was a kinda busy year.  Anyway here's the prolouge
the slightly revised first chapter is coming afterwards, and after
that I am posting a rather short teaser for chapter 2 to see if I'm
going in any sort of good direction withe this.  As is usual for
writers I want comments, although unlike normal feel free to tell
me if you don't like it too.  Just be sure to tell me why please.

DISCLAIMER:  I am using these characters without permission,
don't sue me.  The only one that belongs to me (so far) is Keiko.
Sorry I suck at names.

Prolouge

	There are three figures walking up a hill in the midday sun.
"I haven't seen it in years, I wonder if it's still as beautiful as I
remember."  Ranma said.

	"Well boy you'll be able to get a good look at it just over this
hill.  I really don't see what you are so excited about.  It's just a
big tree."  Genma braces for his sons attack that he knows is
coming.  And waits.  Looking up he can see why his son stopped. 
Despite his show of indifference he is taken aback in awe.
The Millennium Tree.  Standing for over 200 years, and at least
1000 feet tall.  It's branches spread out over the city of Kyoto, as
a matter of fact it even houses a good portion of the population in
it's pods.  It is the foundation, the living backbone of the New Empire.
Shrugging his shoulders he mentally relieves himself of his thoughts
and continued into the town.  Calling back over his shoulder, �I�ll be
back in a few hours, have fun staring at the big plant for a while you
two."  Ranma could take care of any trouble that might be coming,
he was sure of that.

	As Ranma topped the rise his breath caught in his throat.  Yes,
the Millennium Tree was just as grand as he remembered.  It towered
over the other structures in the city of temples.  Spreading out it's
branches  like a comforting blanket.  It was the backbone, indeed
the benefactor of the New Empire.  Idly Ranma wondered if it was really
conscious as they say.  But it had to be.  It had sprung up just after
the gods pronounced the Bachi on the world.  Millions of people in
Japan had died in a few short hours, and those that did found that
they lived in a new world.  In just a few short weeks the monsters
of legend had come back to life.  The goblins, demons, Tengu,
Dragons, and the terrible Oni.  They lived in terror, but the Tree had
somehow formed a relatively safe haven from the monsters, it
provided protection in it's branches and weapons to slay the
monsters.  It provided hope.

	"Mmmm...", sounded a female voice, which in conjunction
with the said female hugging him lightly from behind with her
head on his shoulder, was enough to knock him out of his
reverie, "...it's beautiful."

	Her close presence brought conflicting emotions to the fore
of his mind that he was completely unprepared to deal with at
the moment.  "Keiko."  He said softly.

	"Umm.  Yes Ranma."

	"I'm sorry... I just can't... Not now..."

	"Oh, I'm sorry Ranma... it's just been months now, and well
I was hoping.  You can't just keep shutting us out like this." 
Disengaging herself she stepped away from him.  She really
was a beautiful girl Ranma thought.  Her slightly curly blond hair 
cut fairly short framed an impishly cute face, in which were set the
most innocent green eyes he had ever seen.  And despite all of
her exercise she was a decidedly well formed individual.  Ranma
as usual had a hard time sorting out his feelings for her.  He did
like her... a lot, but she was also like a sister to him.  His father had
taken her in, an orphan, from an elder Tengu in exchange for it
training Ranma.  When they were both only 7 years old.  It was
one of the only promises the old man had ever kept.  Ranma just
couldn't figure out what it was he felt for her, was it brotherly love
strong friendship, or something deeper than that.

	"Lets just sit here and wait for pops to come back ok."

	"Ok Ranma, but just remember if you ever feel like talking
about it.  Just remember I'm here for you anytime."  She lightly
touched his arm, almost a caress, before moving slightly away
to sit down.

	And thus the two of them sat, not touching, brother and sister,
for hours as the sun set behind the Millennium Tree and Genma
returned.

	Noting their silence Genma grunted, "They aren't here.  They
moved about nine years ago to the Nerima district of Hiroshima.
For the 'protection' they said.  Hmph." This statement was greeted
by blank looks not even directed at him, and again Genma grunted.
Well I�ll try what I know will get their attention.  Opening up a large
sack he proclaimed grandly, "Food!"

--End Prolouge.

Kinda short don't you think.   Anyways a couple of notes.
The Bachi is what the people of Japan call the Cataclysm
in which most of the world was ruined.  They believe it to have
been sent by the gods to show them their wrong path of
technology and convince the people to turn back to the land.
Anyways Hiroshima had disappeared from the world a couple
of months before the Cataclysm due to some strange event
and just returned to the world 10 years ago, with just a few
days passing for those inside.  Since that time many people
from the New Empire have taken shelter in it's protection from
the demons of The Zone.  The Zone is where most of the evil
monsters of Japan live (not counting the humans) As for China
it is a demon infested hell, rife with death.  It is the home of the
Demon Quellers which I have made Ranma and Genma for this.
Albeit they are of the Saotome School of Demon Quelling, but
demon Quellers nonetheless.  And for all you pervs out there
no there is nothing previous going on between Keiko and Ranma.
They are just close and Ranma has been keeping her at a distance
ever since his little...accident over in China.