Introducing: -----------------------------------
__________________________________Ranma ½ Fanfic Production:

A SECOND CHANCE TO LOVE…

Part Two:

The reflected gold flecks of Akane's eyes followed the path of a sakura petal with unfocused dreaminess. A breeze intercepted the petal halfway and tossed it haplessly out of its intended trajectory and ended up in the famous Nerima canal along the main street.

The resounding echo of school bell snapped her out of the meditative contemplation. She shook herself to alert state once more and laughed at her own silliness, "Old age must have caught up on me!"

A pair of quarrelling couple wearing the Furiinkan High's uniform reminded her of when she and Ranma used to hurl insults at each other. Before she further drop to reminiscing that particular past, Akane stomped on it determinedly and her small hands tightened on the steering wheel of her convertible. With a barely audible curse to herself for remembering a certain pigtailed boy, she took a few deep breaths were taken to restore good spirits.

"Yoshi! Tonight is the family's traditional dinner, don't spoil it now!" Turning her car keys to start her car engine, Akane drove back her childhood home in Nerima.

"Tadaima! Tofuu-sensei? Oneechan? Anyone home?" A pattering of footsteps came over the threshold as Kasumi's children threw themselves onto Akane, knocking her off balance.

"Yumi-chan! Natsumi-chan! Minna-san o' genki desu ka?"

A chorus of "Hai!" from the younger members of the family managed to produce an amused smile from their aunt. She ruffled Natsumi's hair affectionately and gave her nieces two lollipops. Happy sounds of them enjoying the sweets were interrupted by Kasumi's voice.

"Oh my, Akane-chan! Have you been giving them sweets again?"

"Oneechan!" Akane crushed her in a bear hug and Kasumi disengaged herself to examine her sister.

"You're looking well this evening. Any good news to share with me?"

Corners of Akane's turned up for a slight smile, "Our school's reputation has been on the rise and the expansion plans for new branches are coming up nicely."

Kasumi gave a small squeeze on her sister's hand, "Yokatta! So what would you like for dinner? I will prepare your favourite food as a reward." Before Akane could reply, a
sleepy voice from upstairs drifted down.

"Who's there, Kasumi?"

Akane frowned. She turned to her eldest sister and asked softly, "Are there other visitors?" The wooden staircase made a creaking sound as somebody came downstairs. Eyes widening in shock, Akane finally met her ex-fiancé face to face after six years of separation.

Golden-brown yes met stormy grey-blue eyes. After a long moment of complete silence, one word managed to slip out between the pale lips, "Ranma!"

"Yeah, I'm back!" Ranma gave a small wave and smiled weakly at his ex-iinazuke.

Akane blinked, rubbing her eyes to make sure that it was just a figment of her imagination. Nothing happened. The person whom she had been thinking about was still there.

Ranma shuffled his feet nervously and waited for her response. He expected an explosion of Akane's legendary temper and not much reaction has been shown so far. The silence was unnerving.

Akane shook her head to clear her thoughts. With a polite bow to Ranma, she gathered her overnight bag and retreated to her old bedroom without another word.

The display of cold courtesy hurt Ranma as he recognized the girl's intention to dismiss him as though he was a mere stranger or an acquaintance. Ranma was prepared for her old ways of violence or words of rage, but this behavior left him feeling as if he lost his ground, unprepared and lost.

Kasumi took in the situation and shelved the information for later analysis. She chirped through the closed door of Akane's bedroom, "Ranma-kun will be staying with us for a while. Akane-chan, why don't you unpack and we will have a nice family dinner together?"

Ranma mentally thanked Kasumi for her timely save from the awkward atmosphere. Akane made a muffled hum of acknowledgement and the sounds of cupboards being opened signaled her unpacking.

The neglected daughters of the eldest Tendo sister gave a curious stare at Ranma-kun and mentally resolved to find out who the stranger was and his relationship with their favourite aunt.

~End of Part Two~