Hello, this is my first Ranma 1/2 fanfiction, so it's definitely not the best, but I'm working to make it good. This takes place at the beginning, so Ranma and Akane's first meeting is different. I'm a major Ranma & Akane fan, so you won't see Ranma with any of the other girls. I hope you enjoy! And please write reviews to let me know what you think, even if you don't like it. Thank you!

A Different Beginning

By: June Goddess

Chapter One

"Daughters, I have important news," Tendo Soun began. "We shall have two guests staying with us for a time." He carefully looked over his three daughters, his eyes resting slightly on the youngest in a yellow gi. After his deliberate pause, he continued. "One of you will be engaged to him."

The oldest, Kasumi, reacted with a slight widening of the eyes, a pursing of the lips, and a slight catching of the breath.

Nabiki, the middle child, folded her arms across her chest, irritably tapped her right forefinger on her left arm, and narrowed her eyes with a severe frown on her face.

Soun noted their reactions, but was awaiting his youngest daughter's response. Akane didn't look too pleased. Then again, you couldn't tell what she was thinking or feeling: her face was too blank.

A few moments passed. All eyes were on Akane. The room was much too silent. Akane wasn't looking at anyone or anything. Suddenly her head lifted. They all held their breath.

"Excuse me, please, Father. Sisters," she intoned formally. She rose gracefully and left the room. Everyone expelled their breaths and slumped in acute relief.

"Well," Soun said with only a slight tremor, "she took that better than I expected."

Kasumi smiled vacantly, only the tense way she held herself betraying her agitation. "Oh my, yes, Father!" she exclaimed brightly.

Nabiki eyed her older sister uneasily before turning her attention to their father. "Really, Daddy, you could have brought that up and broken it to us more gently," she reprimanded lightly, her eyebrows arching delicately.

Soun gulped heavily. Nabiki smiled blandly.

~~~~~

Akane made her way to the front gates of the Tendo compound. She smoothly jumped to the top and settled down to wait for who she suspected to be the two guests.

After all, who else would have such a strong life force except for a practitioner of Anything Goes Martial Arts?

~~~~~

A few blocks away, a red-haired girl was yelling at a panda, running at top speed toward a fate worse than death: an arranged marriage.

Well, maybe not worse than death, she amended silently. But certainly not pleasant! She covertly glanced at the panda and sighed in resignation.

~~~~~

Akane opened her eyes to the blurs coming straight to her. She was curios about the girl, though. Her energy signature was definitely male. Interesting..., she thought. But I know my duty.

~~~~~

The girl stopped and stared up at the girl sitting on the gate. She's pretty... "Ah, is this the, uh, Tendo Dojo of Anything Goes Martial Arts?" she asked.

The dark haired girl cocked her head to the side, consideringly. She gave a secretive smile. "It is... And are you Saotome Ranma?"

Even her voice is pretty, all soft and sorta husky like that... "Uh, yeah," Ranma mumbled, cheeks red with embarrassment. A light frown marred her beautiful features. "Um, I don't mean to be rude, but, uh, who are you?" she asked nervously and a bit suspiciously.

If anything the other girl's smile deepened, a cute dimple appearing in her cheek. "Your fiance, Tendo Akane. I'm pleased to meet you Ranma."

Let me know what you think! Review! * ~