Eight years ago, Ranma Saotome heir to the Saotome Anything Goes School of Martial Arts disappeared.  No one knows where he went, why he left or when he was coming back.  He suddenly returned after years of absence with a child in tow and a host of unmentionable creatures on his trail.  And now the ones that know him best want answers.
 
Jiro Maeda presents
A Rumiko Takahashi Ranma � fanfic
Summoner's song

Disclaimer: I hereby verify that I hold no claim over any and all characters, locations, techniques and scenarios appearing in Ranma � that also appear in this fanfic.

Chapter one: Calm before the storm

The man known as Ranma Saotome sat in the middle of the Tendo Garden, he was in a seiza position, hovering a few feet above the Koi pond.  His eyes were locked tight, his brow furrowed in concentration.  His muscles tensed and relaxed on their own volition.  Moments later, a blue aura tinged with gold at the edges sprung around him, dancing as if it were a writhing flame.  In this state of mind, he contemplated and recalled�

�returning to the Nerima finally, Kii-chan at his side.  Her angelic little face  brightening as she asked him to describe Akane to her.  The happy expression turning to fright as they both felt the presence of the inhuman beasts all over Nerima.  Running helter-skelter, trying to find a place to stash his "little sister", while the monsters gave chase. Finally giving himself over to the warrior's rage that boiled inside him.  Kii-chan shifting into her true form, the Yuki-onna as she filled the battlefield with hail and snow.

Ranma remembered the fight only in bits and pieces, a byproduct of his warrior's rage.  He only remembered sensations.  He hardly thought during those moments, relying instead on instinct as all campaigners do during the heat of battle.  He remembered the feel of one monster's skull being crashed beneath a double palm strike, another got it's spine broken by a vicious roundhouse kick and yet another burned beyond recognition by a magically enhanced chi blast.  The other three were frozen where they stood, only to be shattered later by their companions' falling bodies .  He was about to breathe a sigh of relief when more of the buggers showed up.  He got well and pissed after they got a good strike in  and marred Kii-Chan's pretty face.  So pissed that he unleashed one of his more powerful attacks.  A flaming hurricane sprung out of nowhere and plowed right into the beasts from hell, blasting them into ashes.   He got very violent after that, seeking  out the demonic creatures and dismembering them in a grisly manner.  It was during that time that he saw Furinkan high, filled to the brim and overflowing with monsters.  He grabbed Kii-chan and ran towards the school�

His musings  were interrupted when he realized he had company. He slowly floated down to the ground beside the pond, stood up and faced his 'guest'.
Akane was watching her erstwhile fianc� with a shocked and amazed expression.  Eight years ago he was already able to do feats that could only be described as legendary, now� now he appeared almost god-like.  As if anything he chose to do can and will be accomplished.  She almost dropped the tray laden with drinks when she saw him floating back down to earth like a gently falling leaf.  She composed herself as he stood and faced her. 

"Something you need Akane?" he asked. The light in his eyes twinkled as if hinting some future mischief.   Akane huffed in an attempt to hide the blush that kept creeping unto her features.  Her fianc�'s skills weren't the only things that have changed in his absence.  Gone was the boyishly-yummy good looks only to be replaced by a roguishly handsome appearance.  His hair is still unruly yet seemed a bit more spikier than before, the pigtail was gone replaced by a short ponytail held together by a golden metal band.  He had an earring adorning the left ear and a red scarf  that's ever present on his neck.  

Akane breathed, trying to regain her composure and spoke.  "The family is waiting for you inside Ranma, your little guest is with them, she woke just a few moments ago." He nodded and followed her inside.

 What greeted him was what appeared to be a tribunal of some sort come to judge him.  Gathered around the family room were the patriarchs Soun and Genma, sitting beside them was Nodoka, his mother.  Near the TV was Kasumi, nervously holding the hand of her fianc� Tofu Ono.  Lounging near the entrance were Ryouga and Ukyo, with their baby Touga, and right beside where Akane sat was Kii-chan, restlessly moving about in her seat.

Ranma sighed as he looked at the various glares, stares and frowns directed at him.  He waited for the storm of chaos that was to come.  He didn't wait long for the living room soon erupted in shouts, curses and threats with an undertone of a request to remain calm the last coming from Kasumi.  

Ryouga banged his fist on one of the walls, making a fist-sized hole in the process, which earned him a bap on the head from his wife and a reminder to behave.  He sheepishly apologized and then directed a glare at his former rival.  "Why the hell did you leave Ranma, what could possibly be so important that you left Akane and Ukyo behind?" he asked, his voice dripping with venom as he said his wife's name.  Ukyo became concerned, and showed it by gripping her husband's hand in a vice-like grip but Ryouga didn't pay attention to the gesture, absentmindedly patting the hand that held his.  "Why did you leave them behind Ranma? I thought you'll always be there for Ukyo and you promised you'll take care of Akane.  Because of you, bastard, my wife had to settle for second best!" he shouted, his voice getting louder until it reached a crescendo upon the last word.

Ukyo gasped.  'Is that what he thinks of himself?'  She thought, her grip subconsciously increasing it's pressure.  She looked at her husband and sure enough fury was etched on his handsome face. 'Oh Ryo-chan you jack-ass.' She wistfully demurred as she began stroking the arm she gripped earlier.  

Ryouga was startled out of his rage by the actions of his wife. He looked at her and she saw that she had that smoldering look in her eyes, the one that said he should find a sitter for Touga and then carry her home and bed her till she wilts.  He was so startled that he barely prevented a nosebleed.  His wife then moved closer to him and whispered in a husky voice, "You and I have a lot to discuss."  Her breath tickled his ear and he almost passed out, instead he wore a goofy smile that's often in the countenance of Doctor Tofu. 

Ranma watched the by-play of emotions in front of him, he wasn't surprised when Ukyo and Ryouga excused themselves a moment later, stopping only to ask Kasumi to look after little Touga for the night.  The amusement he felt watching Ryouga and Ukyo faded when he saw the others still glaring at him.  He gulped and tried to compose himself as he began the retelling of the incidents that occurred eight years ago leading up to this point.


To be continued

 


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