Hello...
Please try to enjoy...this is my first story!
-Hibiki
My Identity, Shrouded in Fear
Prolouge
The Tendo household was very quiet. Knowing the circumstances of this family, and what kind of chaos usually unfolds, it was too quiet. Soun Tendo, the head of the family, decided to take a little stroll around the house to see what everyone was up to.
Kasumi was preparing dinner in the kitchen, as usual for her, but she was quiet. She wasn't humming along with her cooking, as she normally would. She had on a smug look, confusing Soun. Usually Kasumi was so cheerful. It almost seemed like Kasumi was the strongest one of the family, and she kept everyone positive and going. Even when times were hard, she was always smiling. So, this was odd behavior. Kasumi depressed is like the world ending, for Soun at least. She was a naturally oblivious child, but she could not ignore this problem and smile through it. Her strength was gone and the whole family was starting to crumble. Nabiki was counting her money as usual, but she was a little off about it as well. She usually loved counting the wads of cash she had stowed away. Her sarcastic tone was gone. She hasn't said "Kuno-Baby" in a while, she just calls him Kuno. She lacked the usual pep, and she didn't find it as fun nowadays. Feeling quite disturbed by her and Kasumi, he went to check on Akane, who, undoubtedly, was sulking in her room.
Whenever Akane actually left her room, it was for food or school. When it was for food, she would grab her meal, and eat it upstairs. For school, she just walked out the door. She stopped using the dojo, and stopped practicing the 'Anything Goes' style anymore. It was just painful for her. She doesn't talk any more either. She has become more selective to those who hear her voice. For now, the only one she's allowed is Kasumi. If you wanted to talk to her, you'd have to guess what she's thinking. For most of the time, though, everyone knows what she's thinking.
'Ranma'
Ukyo, owner of Okonomiyaki Ucchan's, started to set up shop for the morning. Business has been slow, maybe her regulars were depressed too. Maybe they wanted her to cheer up before coming back. Her okonomiyaki was only half as good when she was sad. She was in a depressed state, but nothing compared to Akane. She knew she had lost, but that didn't stop her from grieving. They were best friends, two peas in a pod. At least that's what she thought for years. He hadn't even noticed that she was a girl until she told him. They both were at fault, she believed. She eventually began to see him as a prize to be won, like Shampoo did. Who is she to call her his best friend? Even so, who wouldn't be depressed? Konatsu, her loyal worker, started to heat up the grills, hoping he wouldn't mess it up. He knew that she wouldn't do it this morning either. The grill burst into flames, but only because he wasn't watching the grill. He was watching her.
He kept his eyes on her graceful figure, cloaked in sadness. Her eyes, they looked lonely, as if she'll never find happiness again. It looked as though all the guilt she felt for the way she treated her so-called "best friend" was on her shoulders, crushing her. She was lonely, she did fell all the guilt crushing her, but she wouldn't let Konatsu comfort her. This disturbed him. She was in pain, but she didn't want his help, and he couldn't force it on her. He didn't want to pity her, but that was all he could do. All he could do is watch this fragile girl face her problems that no one at that age should have to face, alone. He felt helpless. Most nights, even clear ones, it would rain. He could hear the pouring rain, and he could do nothing to calm the storm. All he could do was read her thoughts, sit outside her door, and listen to the rain. There was only one thought, though. She only thinks of one thing.
'Ranma, I'm so sorry'
Everyone else though, they were thinking,
'Where is he? That Ranma.'
No one has seen him since the incident with Phoenix Mountain. He just up and left. All the "fiancées" are devastated. Genma tried to find him, to no avail. Next came the police, who couldn't find him either. Then there came a lead of where he could be, and they followed it. All they came to find was an unrecognizable corpse. They used a blood sample near the body to determine who it was, and it came out to be Ranma. Akane couldn't even make it to the funeral, or out of her room. Since then, she only spoke to Kasumi, the only one she could ask for help. Ukyo managed to get there, but she couldn't take it. She had to leave halfway through. That instant was the moment the cloak of darkness sat upon her shoulders. Only Shampoo has moved on. She went back to China. She only saw Ranma as a prize to be won. Cologne also went, and closed up the Cat Café. Mousse has taken this harder than you would've thought. He didn't have anyone to fight. No enemies. But then again, he also had no one to stand between him and Shampoo. Ryoga was different. He had actually begun to start being friends with Saotome, and he hated to see that just disappear. He hated to see Akane like this. Kodachi, well, she murdered Sasuke for telling her the news. She's locked in a mental institution. Even Tachi felt a pang of sorrow. Like Mousse, no enemies to fight. No one to win over. The Nerima has sadly been reduced to a quiet neighborhood, with the 'wrecking crew' disbanded. Ranma like the chaos to some extent, so why did he leave?
Why would he want that?