Hey, decided to publish this chapter finally, but it will pretty much be a slow progress story, because I am working on something else too and I have a lot of other stuff to do :) So, Merry Christmas, Ranma fans and please enjoy :)

Change (Part 1)

I feel the tension the minute I walk through the front door. I don't even bother calling out the usual "I'm home!", because I know no one will answer.

"Listen, it's not that I don't WANT to work, that's not true! What do you want me to do, go back to my old boss and beg? Or maybe whack him around the head until he forgets he ever fired me?!"

"Stop being ridiculous, I was merely trying…"

"Well, don't! Don't try, you stupid woman, you'll only make everything worse!"

"How dare you call me stupid, while I'm the only one working around here, while you just laze around all day, watching TV!"

"Don't talk to me like I'm some incompetent loser!"

"Well you sure as hell act like one!" Then I hear an echoing smacking sound and hear my mother howling in pain. I shudder and run to my room. It's times like these where I really want my sister around.

I sit down on my bed and imagine us together, how we used to chat for hours on end. She would always find the right thing to say, no matter what the issue was.

I never thought it would end like this. I never thought my father would ever get an anger management problem, I never thought my mother was ever going to become so…so helpless. She was always the strong, independent business woman. And nowadays, she's just a nervous wreck who cooks and cleans for her husband and lets him do whatever he likes. And I especially never thought my family was going to be broken like this. I never even considered it, actually.

The fighting has stopped. Silently, I open my bedroom door and enter the hallway. I lean very close to the living room door and look through a peak.

My mother is on the floor, sobbing and my father is kneeling beside her, apologizing, crying, stroking her back. I know he doesn't mean to hurt her. And I know the feeling of not providing anything for his family is killing him. My father is not a bad man, I know that. But I still can't help hating him sometimes, for being so weak. For letting it all out on my mum, who works so hard and so long just to keep the food on the table. And we really don't have money problems. It's not like we're living on the edge. But somehow it seems that money doesn't change a thing. And it sure as hell doesn't make you happy.

I sink to the floor. I want to cry, but my tears have all dried up a long time ago. I'm still clinging to the door handle, eyes closed.

I just wish things would be different. I never asked for all this change. I never wanted anything to change. I didn't want my sister to move out and I didn't want to blame her for doing so, but...but...it just feels like she's abandoned me. She's failed me when I needed her most, just to move in with that useless boyfriend of hers. I can't help that feeling, I just can't help it. I want to go away, I want to leave. Just like she did. I probably wouldn't have done any different. I probably would have left ages ago if I could have. I just can't take this. I have been spoiled my whole life with that happy family I had. And now it's all gone and I can't bear it. I'm not strong enough. I'm not used to this and I don't want to get used to it either. I want to...please, I...I just want to be somewhere else!

"Hey, Ichigo, give it back! That's not funny!"

"Oh, you're so cute when you're angry, Kokoro-chan!"

I open my eyes and could almost burst with that overwhelming happiness filling my stomach. Here I am, at Furinkan High School. School seems to be over, judging by the amount of people all flowing out of the main entrance.

There's Kuno! And there is the headmaster, talking to him! I don't know why I am happy to see him, I have always hated the headmaster in the series! But seeing him means I am really here. Back in Ranmas world! I couldn't be happier. I look down and see my long, black hair is back. I can't believe it.

I watch the entrance and a few moments later, Nabiki emerges with a few friends. I race towards her and greet her with an enthusiastic hug. She is quite overwhelmed, but I read from her face that she is happy to see me.

"Lillian! Dude, where have you been? I was really starting to worry."

"Really?"

"Not really, but Ranma and Akane were. Ryoga was here about one or two times, but after you were never there, we haven't seen him in a long time."

"Oh...ahh, no matter right now! Where are..." I break off, because I have found what I was asking for.

Ranma and Akane, coming out of the building. She's trying to hit him over the head with her bag and he is repeatedly ducking and smirking. All of a sudden he spins round while she is just raising her arm to pursue hitting him, grabs her wrist and draws closer to her face, looking her straight in the eyes with a sneaky grin. Akane gasps and holds her breath.

Then Nabiki decides to spoil the moment. "Ranma! Akane! Guess who's here to visit?", she calls out.

Ranma and Akane jump apart. When Akane sees me, her blushing face quickly lights up and her eyes sparkle with excitement and within the next second or so, she is running towards me.

I open my arms and she continues by jumping right into them. "Lillian, you're back! That's wonderful, we've missed you!"

"I heard." I say with a grin. "It's good to be here once again."

"Oh, let's leave this dump, Akane!", Ranma moans. "We have lots of news for you, Lilly!"

"Talking about leaving this dump, I'll be off then!", Nabiki explains. "Catch you later, Lillian!" Then she runs off in the headmaster's direction.

"So how have you been?", Akane asks, as we leave the school gates behind us.