Elemental Hazard... Disclaimer: Do you seriously think I own Ranma 1/2?! Of course not! Author's Note: Hi again! Sorry I took so long, but when I realized just how many people really liked my story, I almost gave up. In fact, I could count those people with the fingers on my right hand...but after thinking it through, I decided that that's not a good enough reason to give up on my first fan fic! And so, even if nobody likes it and I get totally flamed, it's still alright! This is for me as much as for anyone else. My old man always said, "When a real man chooses to do a task, whether a job or a favor, he will go all the way and end it to the best of his abilities"...if you're readin' this, thanks pop, and I'm really sorry. Chapter 2: Rising Tide... "School?" asked Ranma, his chopsticks stopping above the dish. "Yes, Ranma. School." Ranma stared blankly at his father. "Hey! Don't look at me that way! You have to at least have a descent education! It's for your own good! Now go upstairs and get ready, you don't want to be late on your first day...and by the way, you don't have to wear the uniform if you don't want to," Genma said. He didn't like how those things looked, and he knew Ranma hated them. Ranma didn't budge. He seemed to be concentrating on something else. After a few moments, Ranma gave a confused glance around the room, but began walking up the stairs, muttering something about being paranoid. Genma let out the breath he'd been holding in. For a moment there, he thought that Ranma wouldn't obey him. Ever since he got back from the hospital he'd been acting a little bit...strange. Genma shook his head, unable to figure out what was wrong, exactly. As Genma left, he didn't notice the blood red eyes that looked into the house from the window across the room. Ranma slowly walked down the hallway, deep in thought. He had suspected that eventually, he'd have to go to some school, but...with what's been happening recently, it seemed a little...well, strange. Deep in his thoughts, Ranma didn't really notice that Akane was in the hall...that is until she turned around and smiled at him. Ranma smiled back, blushing a little. "Good morning, Ranma..." she said, almost in a whisper. "Err...yeah, good mornin' to you too..." Ranma answered, looking rather embarrased. Akane laughed. Her voice sounded beautiful. Once again, Ranma thought about her mother. What the Dragon Clan had done was unforgivable...and he would do anything to help her. There was also the matter about the dragons. It seems as if they were also connected to this matter... Ranma suddenly realized that he was staring quite intently at Akane and blushed hard. "We should, ah, get going, you know...don't wanna be late on the first day, eh?!" he said as he swiftly jumped down the stairs. Akane, who didn't seem to notice his discomfort, smiled and ran down the stairs after him. After taking their bentos, they left. Ranma ran along the chain linked fence, occasionally looking down at Akane. She seemed to be quite confused. "Why are you walking up there, Ranma?" she asked. "Balance practice," he replied. "I try to train as much as I can. I've been doing this since..." he left off, not wanting to bring up the subject, but Akane frowned, already knowing what he was about to say. "...could you teach me...?" Ranma almost missed his next step. "Teach you?" he asked. Akane nodded firmly. Ranma hesitated. He'd never taught any one before, even something as simple as this...but maybe she could learn it, if he tried hard enough... "Alright, hop on and I'll try to guide you," he said. Akane smiled brightly and jumped onto the fence. Her jump was perfect, but her landing was incorrect. Ranma grabbed her waist before she pummeled into the canal below. "Right...now, try to walk, but don't look down...yeah, like that. Now, put one in front of the other...yeah. Once you get some speed, it'll get easier." Akane, with her arms spread out and Ranma holding her waist firmly, slowly began to walk. After a few minutes, she began to jog a little. Suddenly, Ranma let go, and Akane yelped, almost losing her balance. "No," Ranma said. "Your letting your fear taking over. Don't be afraid...if you do fall, I'll catch you, so don't worry. Now, try to visuallize that your on even ground, and your just trying to walk on a straight line. Try it again." Akane tried again, but as soon as Ranma let go, she almost fell again. Just as Ranma caught her, he noticed that there wasn't a need. She had lost her ballance and began to fall to the left, and in reflex, she had gotten her right foot to catch onto the left side of the fence. She stayed like that for a few moments, reaching her hand up to stop him from helping her. She faced forward again, and this time, she didn't lose her balance. Akane broke into a huge smile and began to laugh as she slowly went from a walk to a run on the fence. Ranma felt proud, suddenly, and he began to realize Akane's potential. Ranma just then remembered about her mysterious ability Akane had with her katana, and was about to ask when he realized that the school was in sight. * * * * * * * * * * "Hey, Nabiki!" Nabiki looked up from her files, sitting on the grass. The girl speaking to her looked quite familiar...but she couldn't remember her name. "Yes?" asked Nabiki. "Who's that guy over there, the one next to Akane?" she asked. Nabiki glanced at the gate, and, sure enough, Ranma was walking behind Akane, on the fence. He seemed to have just noticed the school, and was staring in awe. Akane seemed to be smiling when they hopped down the fence, though Nabiki had no idea why they were on it in the first place, but as she neared the school, her smile dropped. "Well..." she said slowly. The girl sighed and handed Nabiki a few sheets of yen. "That's Ranma Saotome, Akane's fiance," she said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Akane's fiance?!" the girl exclaimed. Suddenly, everyone around began to whisper maddly, pointing at Ranma and Akane. Nabiki let out a sigh. She hated it when this happens. As Akane and Ranma walked onto the campus, there was a sudden exlamation, and people suddenly directed their attention to them. Ranma became very alarmed, and people suddenly began to gather around them, asking questions. "Are you really Akane's fiance?!" "Wow, what a stud!" "I heard you guys are getting married within the week!" Ranma feebly tried to push the people away, but they didn't seem to notice. Ranma knew that none of them were actually trying to hurt him, so he couldn't strike at them, though the urge was great. "You fiend! How dare you take advantage of Tendo Akane like this?!" Everyone backed off suddenly, and Ranma had no trouble seeing where the voice came from. Less than ten meters away stood a man in a blue uniform. He was holding a bokken, his eyes fierce beneath his black hair. "I didn't do anything to take advantage of her..." Ranma stated coldly. He didn't like this man, whoever he was. "You can deceive everyone else with your lies, but you will not fool me! I, Tatewaki Kuno, will rid you of this earth!" With that, Kuno charged at Ranma, his bokken poised above his head. To Akane's surprise, Ranma didn't react at all. He just stood there, in a relaxed stance. But Akane could already sense his battle aura surging. Kuno closed the distance between them and slashed his bokken. The air pressure alone was enough to create a fissure in the ground, but Ranma was not there. There was a suddenly flurry of quick movements, and Kuno's found his bokken broken into eight equal lengths. Kuno roared with fury and unsheathed a real katana. He charged at Ranma again, and this time, he slashed horizontally. Ranma's hands blurred and Kuno's sword was caught between Ranma's fists, one on each flat of the blade. He cursed and jerked the blade back, but Ranma was in the air by the time he slashed a third time. "That's three strikes!" Ranma yelled as he descended, slamming his fist into the middle of the katana. Akane recognized the move instantly. People all around them gasped as the steel blade shattered to pieces, littering the ground. Even Nabiki, who was taking bets, seemed taken back. Ranma landed, but didn't stop. He swept his foot up, towards Kuno's chin. To the average person, it would've seen like he was aiming a kick at Kuno's head but missed. Akane, though, saw Ranma's aura flare, especially his right leg. It would've almost been the same as when Ranma had shattered her sword, only it less 'solid'. Kuno flew back and landed with a loud thud. There was not one mark on him, yet he was out cold. Before the students could react, Ranma jumped over the heads of a few hundred students, then grabbed Akane's hand and began to run. They made it a few minutes after the tardy bell rang. Akane was obviously not happy. They were out in the hall, holding a bucket in each hand. Ranma could see her expression out of the corner of his eye. She almost seemed like her old self again, no emotions of any sort showing on her face. Ranma considered asking about this morning, but decided against it. It could wait. "Saotome! You will pay!" Ranma sighed. Kuno was at it again. "Fine, we'll take this outside!" Ranma said, running down the hall and jumping out the window. Kuno, fueled with rage, followed. "Hey! We're on the third story! You guys are lucky there's a pool down there!" Ranma, realizing that they were going to land in the pool, smiled as he got an idea. For the forth time today, he summoned up his chi. It was tiring, but he was far from exhaustion. He gave out a battle cry and slammed his fist into the water's surface upon contact, a huge red glow surrounding him. The water burst up around him, and Kuno suddenly found that he was about to slam into a wall of water. Kuno, being dragged down by gravity, met the rising wave face first, unable to manuever himself in mid-air. Ranma stood in the pool, with the water up to his knees and steam rising around him. Around the pool, there was water everywhere, and there Kuno laid uncounscious. Akane gazed down from the third story window. She almost smiled, had there not been people around her. She liked Kuno as much as Ranma does, which was not a lot. Ranma jumped back into third story hallway, startling several people. He returned their shocked looks with an angry glare, and said in a low and dangerous voice, "Is something wrong...?" The crowd immediately dissapated after that, and Ranma released a sigh. He didn't really like to scare them, but he wasn't in the mood to deal with any more of them. 'And it's only the first day, too...' he thought tiredly. His mood brightened considerably when Akane walked up to him and wiped off some water on his face with a piece of cloth. "Your soaking wet. If you don't want to get sick, you better put on something dry..." Ranma gave her a questioning look. Akane sighed, understanding his reluctance. "Forget about school, it's almost over anyways...just follow me." As Akane happened to turn her back on him, she didn't notice the red glow that engulfed Ranma once again. Ranma followed Akane, as dry as the leaves swirling around them... * * * * * * * * * * "When is the tournament again?" "It will take place in a month...why?" "Oh, nothing really...I just can't wait to see our opponents this year. I heard that the Dragons have chosen a successor, and that he will participate in the battles..." "Well, then...it will definitely be more interesting this year..." The two women walked in silence again, one dressed completely in black, the other in blinding white... * * * * * * * * * * <Ranma...?> Ranma jerked his head around. There wasn't anyone on the street except...a red headed girl, who was looking strangely at him. She was dressed in black silk pants, like his, but with a matching black silk sleeveless shirt. "What is it, Ranma?" Akane asked, and turned around to see what he was staring at. <Are you...Ranma?> Ranma nodded. "Yeah...am I suppose to know you?" The girl chuckled, "No, I suppose not...in a way..." Ranma smirked. "So, she can speak, too..." <Is there something I can help you with?> The girl didn't seem surprised at his ability. <I am here to inform you of a Martial Arts Competition you are to attend to in July. You have a month to train and prepare...two of the dragon clan's best warriors will also attend, so I suggest you to adapt to your new abilities quickly...> Ranma's eyes narrowed a little, hearing her mention about his abilities. <Who are you?> The girl gave him another smile, but this time it didn't reach her eyes. It seemed to him like she was very sad. <I am Ranko...> Whether Ranma had imagined it or not, there seemed to be a moment in which they became "linked". Memories that he had never seen before flooded into his mind. Memories of... *Flash* "Genma! They're coming for us next! We have to get Ranma and Ranko to somewhere safe!" The speaker was a young women, dressed in a black kimono. She was holding a baby in her arms. The child had shocking red eyes and was about to cry. Genma was holding another child, this one a boy, with blue-gray eyes. He, however, was calm and faithful, trusting the family around him to bring no pain to him. "Father, what should we do?!" she cried out in desperation. An older man, in his mid-forties, looked at the young child. He concentrated hard, a drop of sweat rolling past his brow. A sudden glow enveloped the room, and a black hole appeared in the middle of the room. "Go into the past, No-chan! Take Genma and your son with you!" cried Recca as he fell onto the ground in exhaustion. He took one last look at his grandson, and summoned the last of his strength. There was another glow, but this one much softer. There seemed to be a flash, and then there was suddenly a tattoo appeared on Ranma's arm. "Ranma, my grandchild...you now bare my mark..." Another woman appeared by Recca's side. She too became to concentrate her energies. This time, a bright green glow surrounded Ranko. "Ranko, protect your brother...you now have the healer's heart that I have. Carry on the duty as I have...and goodbye..." Nodoka, with a tear-streaked face, gave her farewells to her mother and father before Genma led her into the portal. *Flash* Ranma leaned against the wall before he could fall. The memory was so strong and intense that Ranma felt as if he had been there when it had happened...which he had, in a way. "Ranko...how did we..." "Mother thought it would be better if we were to live separately, in case one of us were "influenced" by them...but it's time we meet again. It's been a long time, brother..." Ranko finished, looking Ranma straight in the eye. * * * * * * * * * * Akane, of course, was very confused. She took in all the information and through out the whole conversation, stayed silent, but when the girl Ranko had called him brother, she thought that there was definitely something wrong there. Ranma seemed about to faint, so Akane went to him and supported him. Ranma, who had almost forgotten Akane was there, gave her a thankful smile and then looked back at Ranko. "Are you going to come with us? Father and I are living at the Tendo's...I think we Saotomes need to have a talk...is that alright, Akane?" Akane nodded, then noticed that Ranko was giving her a strange look. It wasn't hostile or envious, just... Before Akane had a chance to figure it out, Ranma had begun to walk back to the Tendo's home. She held onto his arm, even though he seemed to be walking perfectly fine again. To this, Ranko gave a happy smile. * * * * * * * * * * When Genma looked out the window and saw them, he dropped the cup of tea he was holding. Before it clattered onto the table, Genma was up and running out the door. "...so anyway, the Chinese guy with huge white robes and all kinds of knives hidden in his sleeves, his name's Mu Tsu. I still can't believe you beat him, though! He must've slacked all those years, I mean--" Ranko was cut off as Genma suddenly appeared out of nowhere and hugged her. After a few seconds, when Ranko began to turn green, Ranma laughingly pried his father off of her. "Oh, Ranko! It's been so LONG!!! Oh, my daughter, how I've missed you--" "Give it a break, Genma!" snorted Ranko. "Please, call me father!" "No." "Pops?" "No!" "Daddy?" "NO!" "Old man?" "I SAID NO!!!" There was a cheerful sound of laughter, and Nodoka appeared before them. "You never did get along with your father, Ranko," said Nodoka. Ranma was stunned. There was Ako-san, wearing black robes with a white shirt underneath, a red necklace hanging around her neck. "...mother?" Ranma asked. Nodoka gave a sad look at Ranma. "I'm sorry to have deceived you in believing me as someone else, my son...but it was necessary, though it hurt...but now, we are finally together again, my dear Ranma..." she said, and embraced Ranma. Ranko smiled and looked at Akane, who also seemed very happy for Ranma. Genma wept, too happy to do anything else. He brought Nodoka into his arms, and was joined by Ranma, then Ranko. Then, to Akane's surprise, Ranko took her hand and the Saotomes were together again after years of hardship, along with a bearer of a heart*. The Saotomes sat in the Tendo living room. Everyone was there, and Kasumi served everyone tea. On one side of the table sat Ranma, Akane, Ranko and Nodoka. On the other sat Nabiki, Kasumi, Genma and Sound. "...and that's how it all went," explained Genma. "Son, if what you say about your encounter with the dragons were true, then...you now have the same abilities as your grandfather had." Nodoka set down her cup of tea. "Ranma, about that...as Ranko has already informed you of, there is a tournament taking place in thirty days from now..." "About that," Ranma said. "I've been meaning to ask, why do you guys want me to go?" Nodoka sighed and her expression became serious. "There are a few reasons, Ranma. One of them being, this is your chance to try out your new abilities and get use to your physical enhancements. As you may have noticed already, your speed has increased, your healing capabilities have become faster, and you have certain...methods to manipulate the elements around you, am I right?" Ranma nodded in confirmation. "There is, however, a large part of you that you haven't brought out yet. In fact, I'd like to test a few of my theories out right now. Kasumi dear, would you help me fetch a jug of hot water and a jug of cold water? Thank you, and Nabiki, if you don't mind help me get a few matches and a lighter. As for Akane...well dear, do you happen to have a fire extinguisher around here?" Akane nodded, and went off along with her sisters. After ten minutes of preparing, all was ready and everyone was gathered around the table again. "Well then, for the first test we'll need the lighter and the matches." Nodoka picked up the lighter and motioned for Ranma to reach out his hand. Reluctantly, Ranma let Nodoka take his wrist and bring his hand in front of her, palm down. "What the--" everyone but Ranma, Akane and Nodoka was shocked when she suddenly lighted the lighter, directly under his palm. The flame was turned up the the max, and on contact with Ranma's skin, it suddenly expanded and reached all the way up his elbow. The sleeve was burned off, and once again, the eight figures appeared on his arm. "I take it that you've seen this happen before?" Nodoka asked Ranma, who didn't seem at all shocked, just taken aback, having not expecting her actually doing it. "This happened the night I was chosen," replied Ranma. "Akane was there, too." Nodoka smiled at the mention of Akane, and for some reason this made both Ranma and Akane both uncomfortable. Did she know about the engagement? "Now, onto the second test..." Nodoka took a match and put it inbetween Ranma's fingers. "Try to burn it, Ranma..." Ranma concentrated hard, but nothing happened. After a minute, right when he was about to give up, he have a sudden impulse. As if by instinct, he tapped into something deep inside of him, like that night in the park, and the match burst into flames as if it had exploded. Fortunately, Nodoka had reacted fast enough and withdrew her hand. "It's like a new limb..." Ranma whispered. "What was that?" asked Genma. "I said, it's like a new limb. As if I was blind ever since I was born, and now I can suddenly see! I've never used it before, but somehow I already know how to control it subconsciously..." "Which is why we're doing this, Ranma," said Nodoka. "Learn to walk before you run. Now, I want you to try your left hand...good, that's it! You're a fast learner. Now, this might be harder and it might take a bit more concentration. I want you to light both matches in both hands at the same time, this time." Ranma took the new matches into his hand and concentrated. After a few attemps and lighting them at different times, he finally did it. "That's it, Ranma! That's how you do it. Now, if you practice everyday, not only will you gain control, but you will be able to manipulate the flame itself. It's shape, size, position, speed, you name it! It's an extension of you, Ranma. Learn to harness it." Ranma nodded, though he was paying more attention to making a flame on each of his fingers. Nodoka then picked up the glasses of water and handed the cold one to Ranma. "This trick, I'm afraid, will make what you did with the matches look like kid's play. I want you to try to warm the water in this cup, but without bringing out a flame." Ranma looked at the cup with doubt, but he took it anyways. It felt really cold in his hands...especially after holding it for five minutes, continuously failing to warm the water without bringing out a flame. "Ranma," said Ranko, suprising everyone. She had stayed silent during all the conversations untill now. "Use your third eye." Ranma, not knowing what it had to do with any of this, closed his eyes and extended his senses. He felt everyone's aura in the room. Akane's, which was a bright blue, which meant she was controlled, but...there was a golden hue. Ranma had no idea what that meant, so he moved onto Ranko. She had a bright greens aura surrounded by a dense, but not dark, blue, of which Ranma can only think of one reason, which was because she was a healer. The blue seemed to be some sort of respect for...for him. His mother's was dark, but around the edges was gold and red. Ranma wasn't much of an expert on aura's, but he knew that auras can represent emotions, and another thing he noticed was that the golden hue in his mother's aura was the same as--no, not the same, but similar to the one in Akane's. Ranma sighed in frustration. How was this suppose to help? Then it hit him. Opening his third eye not only lets him detect auras and chi patterns, but also energy waves! It was just like using the breaking point technique: find the point of concentration, extend your chi to it, and you can control its energy flow! Ranma smiled and concentrated even harder. There it was! The point concentration was right in the middle of the cup, in the middle of the water and inbetween the surface and the bottom. Ranma extended his chi, wrapping it around the cup and into the point-- The cup exploded, splashing everyone in the room with cold water, and startling a few people. Ranko, however, burst right out laughing, along with Soun. Nabiki sighed in disgust and went upstairs to change. Akane and Genma, though now soaking wet, seemed to be amused, as they recognized what he was attempting. "Err, Ranma dear," said Nodoka. "I think you were trying the wrong technique..." Ranma laughed nervously, his hand scratching the back of his head and a big sweat drop appeared. Kasumi, as always, reacted most mildly. "Oh my!" "Don't worry about it Ranma, you've got potential. You'll get this down in no time!" *27 Days Later...* Ranma let out a roar and charged at the dummies. He let loose a fire ball that scorched the first one. Then, a fire scythe slashed through the second, catching on fire after landing on the ground. Ranma brought out two chains of fire which wrapped around the next two dummies and burned them down. He rushed and the fifth, gave it a light tap on the head and flipped over the sixth, breaking the head off in mid-air just as the one before suddenly turned into a pile of ash. Ranma then faced the final dummy and cupped his hands in front of him. "HONO'O NO RYU BAKUHATSU!!!" The last dummy didn't have a big enough piece left to land on the ground. Ranma took a deep breath and smiled. He was ready and confident. "You know, mom," said Ranma as they ate dinner. "You never did tell us much about this tournament." Nodoka set down her bowl and replied, "Well...there wasn't much of a need, but...I guess you would want to know. Well, first off it's going to take place at Narita." Ranma gave her a surprised look. "Narita? Airport City? Why there?" "Because martial artists from all over the world will be there! This annual tournament is quite famous, you know. It would be a fighters dream to win it!" Ranma became seriously pale, and Nodoka asked if he was alright. "I'll...go train a bit more...if you don't mind...excuse me..." With that, Ranma left the table in a rush. Nodoka shook her head and sighed. "He has no confidence at all, does he?" "Don't worry, Mrs. Saotome," assured Akane. "Ranma'll do fine." Nodoka gave Akane a warm smile, and picked up her bowl again. "At least someone will stand up for him at the contest." "You mean you won't be there, Mrs. Saotome?" asked Akane, a little bit taken aback. "Oh I'll be there alright, but Ranko's decided to join the female competition, and I'm more worried about her than Ranma. She's not a fighter but a healer, you see. And yet she'll be competing with some of the best female martial artists in the world. I just hope none of us get seriously hurt..." Akane became worried at this. What were-- "Mrs. Saotome!" Nodoka was, to say the least, surprised at Akane's outburst. "Yes, Akane dear?" "Would it be possible for...for me to join the tournament, too?" asked Akane, in a dead serious tone. Nodoka, seeing that she wasn't kidding, concidered. "Well, Akane...why would you want to join in the first place?" "Saotome-san--" "Please, you can call me mother, as you WILL be marrying my son in the future..." Blushing, Akane continued, "M-Mother...I wish to attend this tournament to avenge my mother! As Ranko has said, two of the dragon clan's best warriors will be joining the contests. My mother...she was--" Akane was cut off by Nodoka hushing her and hugging her. Akane, once again, couldn't find the cool that she had kept for years and broke down into tears. "Hush, dear Akane...Ranma, Ranko, Genma and I are part of your family now...we will help and support you in anyway we can...you don't have to endure this pain alone anymore! Your mother...my father knew her..." Akane became confused. "You see, Akane, we didn't come from this time...it may be hard to believe, but...we came from the far past...it is hard to explain...let me just say that there used to be another clan, and they have hunted for us, too. In an attempt to escape, my father sent me into the past. Before we left, he gave the last of his powers on to Ranma, and when the time was Right, Ranma was be exposed to who he really was...but things went wrong, people who shouldn't have died, died, and battles that should've been won were lost...in another time, when things had happened differently, your mother's younger brother had fought along-side my father. I made mistakes, and...things changed. I don't know what to do anymore...I...I am responsible for the establishment of the dragon clan..." Nodoka finished shamefully. Akane suddenly was filled with rage, but for some reason, she just couldn't direct her anger at...at her mother. Instead, she asked, "Did my mother...survive in the other time?" Nodoka shook her head. "Life can be cruel sometimes, Akane...I am truly sorry..." Akane sniffed a little and pulled back from Nodoka. "Can you tell me more about her...from you time?" Nodoka nodded, as if expecting this, and her eyes became distant. "Oh, where shall I start...well, the thing that was different was that she died much earlier in my time. She was probably still just a teenager, and had no husband or children. From what I can remember my father saying, she was a beautiful woman, and her death was very unfortunate. It broke many people's hearts, and drove her brother into seeking revenge. After he and my father had met for a while, he had changed of course, but...before that, I believe the only reason he had lived was solely to avenge his sister. Do you...?" "Have this uncle? Well, we wouldn't know, mother never really talked much about her side of the family. I...I don't know whether it would be a good thing or not to have this uncle, I mean...I don't know..." Akane finished off lamely. "When this is over, I think it would be a good idea to find out more about your mother's side of the family...but if she DID have a brother, then this tournament would probably be the perfect opportunity for him to get some payback." "You know, Sao-- Mother...um...I use to hear things about my mother's side of the family...something about the arts they trained in..." "What's bothering you, Akane dear?" asked Nodoka upon seeing her frown. "Well, you see, the things I heard...weren't exactly normal...in fact, it seemed that they used special artifacts, you know...blades that were activated by different elements. I use to think it was all rubbish, but...after I met Ranma, I'm just not sure anymore..." Nodoka became thoughtfully silent after that. "Akane...another thing about my family...Saotome was not our family name. We had changed it in order to hide away from the other clan...I can't tell you much, though. It's not that I don't trust you, but I must take all necessary precautions to protect my family. Do you see this?" Akane looked as Nodoka opened up her kimono. On her chest, just below her left collarbone, was a symbol of eight dragons, flying about in a cycle. Every dragon seemed to differ from one another. "This is my family symbol. It was given me, the first female of our generation. It was my mother's idea, to identify the women of our blood in the future. Only females who share my blood, or someone who is close enough to be considered family can bear this mark. And one more thing that I think you should know...there is a third way in which a woman can gain the mark..." Akane nodded to show that she was listening carefully. "The men of the Saotome family can only fall in love once. Once they fall in love, they will always be faithful to her, and their loyalty will never waver. And if I am correct, I think Ranma has given his heart already." Akane suddenly understood. The way Ranko had treated her with respect and acted like they were close friends, almost...family. And why Nodoka-san had told her to call her mother. In a flash, Akane understood...and her burden was lifted after many years. She was no longer alone. She had a family that was not broken. She had a man that she cared for, and will one day come to love. And she would never have to bear pain alone again. "Akane...it is my honor to call you my second daughter, the bearer of my son's heart*...I welcome you to my family..." Nodoka said, and brought both her hands over Akane's heart. There was no pain, or anything that Akane could physically feel at all, but in that moment, Akane felt something change in her...as if something in her were unlocked. And when she looked down, she saw that she now bore the mark upon her chest. "When Ranma is in pain or trouble, you will sense it. When Ranma becomes lonesome on the road, you will be able to comfort and speak with him. And when Ranma dies...this mark will fade away." Though Nodoka didn't say it directly, Akane understood yet something else. From this day forth, Ranma will need her...and she will, in a way, need him. He will love her, and she will love him back. What did she know about love? The only one she loved was killed, and it not only shattered her heart, it scarred her soul deeply...but that wasn't completely true. She loved her sisters and she loved her father. And, she realized, she loved Ranma. In a different way than she loved her family, but she loved him. It didn't matter how little time she had known him. She had tried to deny it, but using the mask, and hardening her soul. She had wrapped her fragile heart with layers of hatred, rage, and the need for revenge...but Ranma saw, and had reached under all the layers, all the hate, and had not turned her away or used her...he had given her love, pure and geniune. He alone had loved her, when all others but her family had not cared about her, and even her family was was hurt deeply. The day her mother died, Soun had become a broken man. He had locked himself into his room for a week. Her sister Nabiki had realized the position they were in and taken financial control, in the process burrying all signs of emotions, save for her family's. And Kasumi...though it may not seem like it, in Akane's opinion Kasumi was the most affected of them all. She had swallowed all her pain to support her family. She had grieved only when she had thought noone could hear or see her in her room. She had cried herself to sleep, and dreamed nightmares, only to be secretly comforted by Akane, who cried with her, but left at dawn before Kasumi awoke and dismissed it as part of her dream. And she cooked, cleaned, and took care of the family as mother should have, and in a way became mother. Akane was happy, but could not help feeling sad at the same time. Why couldn't she have a normal life? Why did this have to happen to her? She felt ashamed, realizing how selfish the thought was, she was nonetheless depressed. She was so confused...so many conflicting emotions swam about her mind. "I think you should rest, my dear...it's been a long day, and...you have been through a lot, more than you deserve. Just remember that you are no longer alone..." This said, Nodoka guided Akane into her room. "Thank you...mother..." Akane said. "Your welcome, my daughter..." Nodoka replied and closed the door behind her. That night, long after Akane fell asleep with tears rolling down her cheek, a pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around her, and a soothing voice comforted her. He pain was stopped, and a thumb wipe away the last drop of tears. And the next morning, when Akane found that she was alone, she dismissed it as a dream. * * * * * * * * * In the darkness of night, a man that was a women walked on towards Narita, carrying a very...unique weapon on her back. And from another direction, a lost boy with fangs wondered toward the same destination, with a common goal. Fate has a strange way of attracting trouble for Ranma...but in the end, a power greater than fate, or maybe even God himself will save all...destiny... End Chapter 2... Author's Notes: Okay, if you happen to be very familiar with the Flame of Recca series, then you would have noticed the strange way I'm writing the fan fic out. The reason would be because I read the Flame of Recca series in Taiwan, which would mean they were printed out in MANDARIN! So the only character whose name I know for sure is Recca, as it is on the cover of the manga in English. However, I have gone to far to go back and change EVERYTHING over again, and to tell the truth, I'm getting kind of sick of chapter 1 after going over it and almost rewriting the whole thing over, THREE TIMES (I don't think anyone's read past the second time, though.which depresses the hell out of me, but oh well.)! Anyway, if someone DOES finally read this sorry fic, PLEASE review so that I know I'm not writing for nothing.PLEASE!!! Thank you! (Remember, if you have any questions, comments, suggestions, criticisms, flames, ANYTHING; please, email me at dragon_of_jusenkyo@hotmail.com. The only person who's emailed me so far is.well, you know what? I don't even know his/her real name yet! Well, he/she's been a REAL help in editing this story! I mean it! Thanks! Next Time.Chapter 3: The Love, The Fight, and Fate. Back