A/N: Well, let me know what you think. If you are going to flame me about bad grammar or something go use them for campfires instead of handing them out.
Akari slowly made her way down the road she traveled every day, and yet, she had never gone down this one before. She stopped and greeted everyone she met, as her parents had taught her to, even astounding some by greeting them by name. She inquired into their daily lives and listened diligently. She bid each of them a polite goodbye and continued on her way, leaving them all with thoughts like what a polite young lady! Or I wish my children were as well behaved.
None of them really questioned how she knew their names, after all, they lived in Nerima. Stranger things happened every day. As she approached the door of a building she often frequented, she hesitated, feeling somewhat like a stranger or a solicitor, but Kami-sama had been very firm about this part, she must do it right. She let herself in since the gate was open, and knocked politely on the door to the house.
"Hello, can I help you?" came a sweet voice as the owner of said voice opened the sliding door. Akari was distracted for a moment, the sound of sparring drifting over to her. Shaking her head to clear out the cobwebs she turned towards the Matriarch of the Tendo dojo and, smiling, said, "Yes, you may, is this where F-" she stopped herself quickly. She ALMOST said it, so close, but she caught herself in time. What was the name again? Oh Yes, "…where Akane Tendo lives?" The words felt strange and alien, not to mention uncomfortable as they rolled off her tongue.
"Why yes, I believe she is in the dojo practicing. Why don't you come inside and I'll make you some tea while you wait for her." Akari gladly accepted and followed Kasumi into the house. Things didn't seem to have changed much, but she wasn't here to admire the scenery. As she walked past the unattended Shogi board which Soun and Genma often used, she heard a spash ,followed by a familiar voice, "What'd you do that for?!"
She turned, not daring to hope, but it came all the same, unbidden and unwelcome. Out of the Koi pond jumped a well endowed red haired beauty. Suddenly all thoughts of her mission or tea or what Kami-sama said fled from her head, and she was filled with a mixture of confusion, joy, and sadness. As it was it took her several seconds to recover from the sight, but once she did, she was blazing across the yard.
Mother! Oh thank Kami-sama I'm not too late. She dashed over and latching onto the pigtailed martial artist.
"Nani?" Came the confused voice of Ranma-chan.
Oh that's right. She sighed inwardly. "Umm.. . sorry, never mind."