Okay, here it is the first chapter to my new story. I've done as much as I could and I hope that this prologue is good enough. Well, get started then.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Ranma ½ manga or anime and never will.
Note: The title of the story may change.
Chapter 1 Homecoming
Ryoga woke up with a yawn, which stirred the dog sleeping at his feet. He rubbed his eyes and sat up. He looked at the dog that was now wide awake. Shirokuro got up and crawled her way towards him and licked him in the face.
"Okay, okay, I'm up," Ryoga said with a slight annoyance to the dog, lightly pushing her away. He smiled and rubbed the dog at the back of her neck. "Okay, get off of me. I'm getting hungry," he said. The dog obeyed and jumped to the floor. Ryoga got off from the bed, wearing a yellow singlet and boxers. He made up his bed before walking out of the room with Shirukuro escorting him.
Ryoga yawned again as he walked down the stairs. He went straight into the kitchen and opened the fridge. He looked from top to bottom and then found a bowl of leftover pudding.
'Oh yeah, it's the one Kasumi gave,' he thought. 'Well, better not waste it.' He took the pudding out and closed the fridge with his foot. He cringed a bit as the door slammed shut. Ryoga grabbed a teaspoon and began eating the caramel pudding. He walked out of the kitchen and went to sit at the couch.
"6.45," he said to himself. "Enough to do some warm ups before going to the dojo," Ryoga continued to eat the pudding.
Mr. Tendo had reopened the Tendo Dojo for afternoon classes on weekdays and Saturdays. He hired Akane and Ryoga to teach the classes. Their students ranged from as young as 8 year olds up to people who were in their 50s. The total weekly profit was divided between the two of them with the Tendos getting more of it. Well, it was their dojo. Plus they needed more to support the whole family.
Ryoga finished his pudding and promptly stood up. He entered the kitchen and then washed the empty bowl. After placing it on the dish rack to dry, he walked out of the kitchen and was about to step out into the yard when he heard his cell phone ringing. He searched for the sound and then remembered that it was upstairs. He rushed up the stairs and went back into his room. He picked the phone up from the side table and pressed the green button.
"Hello?" Ryoga spoke into the phone, holding it to his right ear.
"Ohayou, Ryoga," the person on the other end said. 'Ranma?' Ryoga thought, a little surprised.
"O-Ohayou," he replied. Ryoga walked out of his room.
"Boy do I have news for you," she said. Ryoga was curious at her words.
"What is it?" Ryoga asked. "You sound a little tired," he continued. Ryoga began to slowly walk down the stairs.
"I am. And it's because… we have a new baby girl," the girl on the other line broke the news. Ryoga was obviously surprised by the revelation.
"Wha-," he didn't finish as he lost his focus and fell down the stairs. After about 5 seconds of rolling painfully down the stairs, he was on the floor, faced down. The cell phone was thrown out from his hand.
"Ow…," Ryoga muttered. He sat up and arched his back, making a number of pops. "Ow…," he whispered.
"Hello? Ryoga…what happened?" he heard Ranma calling out. Ryoga went to pick up the phone and spoke into it again.
"Nah, it's nothing," he lied.
"Then what was the noise about?" she asked. Ryoga tried to figure something out. Surely she'd laugh if he told her that he fell down the stairs, knowing that he was a martial artist. He glanced at Shirokuro who was sitting not far away from him.
"Actually…Shirokuro fell down the stairs," he said. As if understanding what Ryoga had said, Shirokuro barked angrily at him. Ryoga cringed a bit.
"Aw…she fell do-…wait a minute. Doesn't Shirokuro have good reflexes?" she said, getting suspicious.
"Umm…so…how've you been?" Ryoga asked, trying to change the subject.
He heard her sigh. "I feel tired, but otherwise okay. What about you?"
"I'm fine," Ryoga replied. "Hey, um…thanks for telling me about the baby. What are you goin' to name her anyway?" he asked.
"Well…actually, that's the other reason I called you," the girl said.
"You haven't thought of anything?" Ryoga asked.
"I have but…I guess it's only fair that you get to choose a name for her as well."
"Oh…well. Gimme a sec," he said as he thought of a name for a while. "Hmm…how about…Kizuna?"
"Kizuna?"
"What? You don't like it?" Ryoga felt offended.
"No, I like it. In fact…I thought of that name too," she replied.
"Really?" he said softly. There was a short silence before he continued. "Heh…what a weird coincidence," Ryoga said. He stood up and then walked to the living room. He sat down on the couch with Shirokuro beside him.
"I'm comin' back to Nerima in a few days," Ranma stated.
"For how long?" Ryoga asked.
"No I mean, I'm movin' back there," she corrected.
"Oh…where're you gonna live?" he asked again.
"Well…my mom felt that it was appropriate that…that a wife…should stay with her husband," she said, her voice lowering down as her sentence progressed.
"Umm…well…I guess its okay with me. You can sleep in the guest room," Ryoga said, scratching his head.
"Okay then. It's settled. I'll be there in a few days," she said.
"Okay."
"Bye," and then the line went dead. Ryoga then set down his phone on the couch. He leaned his head back for a while. He then checked the clock.
"Better go warm up a bit," he said and then pushed himself off the couch. He then walked out of the house into the yard to perform some katas.
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Another class had ended well. They thought that since it was the holidays, less people would come. They had thought that there would be less than half of them. They were wrong however. The number of students exceeded Ryoga and Akane's expectations. It made them happier.
Ryoga was now leaning against the wall of the dojo, waving at the kids as they walked off with their parents. He watched as Akane talked to one of the kids' parents. Gradually, the number of students decreased as lunch approached.
Ryoga entered the house for lunch just as he always did. He sat far from everyone else at the table. After lunch, he and Akane remained at the dining table and talked for a while.
"You know…she's comin' back in a few days," Ryoga immediately told her. Akane looked confused for a while before realizing what he meant.
"Oh! You mean…" Ryoga nodded. "Wow…after so long…," Akane continued. "I wonder how she's been."
"Well…this morning she gave birth to a daughter," Ryoga blurted. Akane's eyes went wide.
"Really? Congratulations then," Akane said with a smile.
"Heh, thanks," Ryoga replied.
"So she's comin' back eh? What do you think of doing a little homecoming party?" Akane suggested.
"Where?"
"Hmm…at Ukyo's?"
Ryoga thought of that for a while. "Okay, I guess."
"Anyway, where will she be staying?" Akane asked.
"At my house…her mom's orders," Ryoga answered. Akane gave a nod of acknowledgement.
"When she arrives, get her to Ukyo's for dinner," Akane said. "I'll tell the others so that we could get ready. And remember…don't tell her anything about it."
"Sure," Ryoga said and then stood up. "Is the afternoon class on?" he asked.
"We'll see," Akane simply answered.
"Okay, see ya later Akane," Ryoga waved and walked out the front door. He walked down the street towards home.
He felt relieved that he had overcome his getting lost problems. He had tried hard to remember every part of Nerima. He didn't realize that he had a good memory. He memorized every path…every store. Well, he only memorized the usual and important places he needed to go. He was grateful to Akane as she had helped a lot in the process.
Later that day, Akane called and told him that the afternoon class was cancelled. He figured that she wanted to plan the party. He called a number of parents to inform them about the cancellation.
Four days passed and still no sign of her. Ryoga kept waiting on that cloudy afternoon of Friday. He was bored as he lied on the couch. There was nothing on TV. He had tire himself out with a series of katas. He didn't feel like eating. All he could do was lay there gazing at the ceiling. After a while, he began to feel drowsy and eventually fell asleep.
Ryoga was then woken up by a knock on the door. Shirokuro even shook him with her paws on his stomach. Ryoga opened his eyes and then heard the knock again. He shook his drowsiness away and jumped off the couch. Another knock was heard.
"Yeah, yeah I'm comin'," Ryoga said in an annoyed tone. He answered the door and was quite surprised to find Ranma at his door. "You're…back."
"Yup," Ranma answered. "And I'd like you to meet someone," she continued. Ryoga noticed the little bundle Ranma was holding. It was in fact a baby…their baby. "Say hi Kizuna," Ranma continued. The small girl stared at Ryoga with wide eyes. All Ryoga could do was just stand there as he gazed at his daughter.
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Okay, that's all for the first chapter. I hope you guys are a little interested in this story after reading this short chapter. So…please review and tell me if there's anything wrong with it. Till the next time.