Chapter 3
Nerima

As the late afternoon sun set in the sky, a knock was heard on the front door. Kasumi finished dusting the last table in the house and hurried to answer it. "Hello how may I help you?" she asked before she had opened the door fully. When she had the door open she saw a police officer standing there with his hat in his hands and a sad expression on his face.

"Excuse me, but is this the Tendo residence?" the police officer asked her.

"Why, yes it is," Kasumi replied stepping back from the door she motioned for the officer to come into the house.

When the officer entered, he saw a younger girl sitting in front of the TV and two older men playing Go in front of the shoji doors. Clearing his throat to get their attention he took a deep breath and said, "I'm sorry to disturb you but, I've come to tell you that early last night, the helicopter carrying Tendo Akane and a Saotome Ranma crashed about five thousand miles from Tahiti. We are currently trying to locate the craft, and so far we have had no success. Due to the location of the last radio transmission, we assume that it crashed in the middle of the ocean. I'm sorry."

Oh my! Kasumi said as her hand covered her mouth and tears started to form in her eyes.

Oh, Akanewhat have you gotten yourself into now? Nabiki murmured to herself. I'm sure they will find them daddy, Nabiki said out loud, trying to forestall the flood of tears. Unfortunately it didn't work.

MY BABY! WAAAA! Soun wailed and started flooding the room with his tears.

Genma sat, stunned by this information. Swallowing he turned to face the officer, Are you sure that you can find them? he asked trying to hold back his fear that he had lost his only son.

There is a slight possibility that they were able to jump before the chopper crashed. We are searching now Mr. Saotome. We have every reason to believe that we will find them. But, if we can't find them within a few more days, then we will have to assume that they are lost at sea, the officer said before giving them a sad smile. If you wish to be kept informed of the operation, he said as he reached into his front pocket and pulled out a card. Here is a phone number that will connect you with the head of the search and rescue department of that area.

Nabiki took the card and stuffed it into her shorts' pocket before walking out of the room. Kasumi watched her leave. She knew that Nabiki didn't like to show her emotions to anyone, so she had left the room to cry alone. Kasumi whispered, You were always very close to our little sister. Then turning, Kasumi walked into the kitchen, grabbed some tranquilizer pills that Dr. Tofu had prescribed for her father, and put them in the tea. She waited for a few minutes for the casings to dissolve before walking back into the room.


Kneeling down, Kasumi placed the cup into her fathers' hands. Here you go father. This will make you feel better, she said as she helped him to sip the tea.

thank yyou KKasumi. Bbut II ddon't think that aanything wwill make mme feel better. Waaaaaaa! Soun stuttered before he started to cry again.

Oh, Father, Kasumi sighed. It'll be all right, you'll see. They will find Akane and Ranma and everything will be just like it was. Maybe this will have the effect of bringing them closer together, she said while rubbing Soun's back soothingly. Glancing towards Genma from the corner of her eye, she noticed that even though his face showed no emotion. His eyes spoke volumes; the pain and grief were quite visible.

Oh, what will I tell No-chan Genma whispered to himself as he stared out over the koi pond. Standing, Genma shuffled out of the room to call his wife and to tell her the bad news. He hoped that she wouldn't kill him for loosing their son.

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Noduka was at that moment sitting in front of the family shrine praying as she had been for the past two days. Please Kami, help my son realize how much he loves Akane. Help him to admit it to himself and help him when he tries to tell her. I know that all of the lesser gods are probably being entertained by what goes on here in Nerima, what with my son having so many fiancées and all. All I ask, is for you to guide him to the right conclusion. Bowing her head, Noduka clapped her hands twice before she stood. Then she made her way into the kitchen to start cleaning up the mess from dinner. As she was about to enter the kitchen, the phone rang.

*Rrrring*

she answered, listening to the caller, only to hear her husbands voice on the line.

No-chan, I have some news It's about Ranma and Akane, Genma said quietly as he tried not to breakdown.

Really? Have they decided to get married then? she asked with hopefully, her voice raising on the last syllable.

Genma closed his eyes as he bracing himself before he continued, No, I'm afraid that it's bad news.

Noduka said feeling her spirits sink when she heard this. Has there been an accident then? Are they in the hospital?

I'm sorry No-chan, but Ranma and Akane's helicopter went down over the ocean while in route to Tahiti. They are searching for them now. We hope that they survived the crash and made it to land somewhere, Genma said.

Oh, Kami no Noduka whispered, while putting her hand over her mouth. She slowly sank to her knees, her face white as a sheet, she never noticed when she dropped the phone, because for the first time in her life, Noduka Saotome fainted.

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Genma's voice echoed over the phone lines only to be met with silence. No-chan? Are you still there? Hello? Moshimoshi? NODUKA! he yelled as he finally realized that something was wrong. Genma slammed the phone down on its receiver and raced out of the Tendo doujou towards his home, hoping against hope that his wife was all right.

When he got there he saw her lying on the floor, unconscious. He quickly rushed over to her side and ran his fingers over her face. Noting how cold she was, Genma picked her up and placed her on the couch, covering her with a blanket. Gently he grabbed one of her cold hands and started to pat it gently, trying to bring her back to consciousness.

.I had the weirdest dream Noduka muttered, raising her hand to rub at her eyes. It was a few minutes before she noticed Genma. Dear, what are you doing here?

No-chan, you remember our conversation over the phone about Ranma and Akane's plane going down? he asked her as he helped her to sit up.

You mean it wasn't a dream? Noduka whispered as she realized that it was real. Oh Kamimy son, my baby! Noduka whimpered as tears traced their way down her cheeks to land on their linked hands. Genma surprisingly was not bothered by her show of emotion and pulled her into a hug to comfort her. He stayed with her for the rest of the night and the next five weeks, waiting for any word on their son. Unfortunately, when the news came it wasn't good.

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*Rrrring*

Nabiki answered the phone. Kasumi was out shopping at the moment, so that left just her and their father. Soun was currently cleaning out the doujou between fits of crying and drinking. Kasumi had suggested that he keep busy instead of worrying himself sick. They were surprised when he actually took the advice to heart and from that moment on for the next five weeks, he worked himself to the point of exhaustion. When night came, he was asleep before his head hit the pillows.

Hello? Tendo-san? a voice asked her.

Yes. This is the Tendo residence. My name is Nabiki Tendo, how may I help you? she said as she played with the phone cord.

This is the search and rescue team leader, Habishi, Kyota. I'm calling to report on your sister and her fiancé, he said.

Nabiki's hopes began to rise but she restrained herself and asked, Have you found them yet?

Kyota Hibishi sighed before he continued. I'm sorry to report this Tendo-san, but we haven't found any trace of your sister or Ranma. We don't think that we ever will. It's being officially reported as a drowning at sea. I'm sorry.

N-no, I'm sorry that you couldn't find them. Thank you for your help sir, Nabiki whispered as she hung up the phone. Picking up the receiver again she phoned the Saotome's house and left a message on their machine. Turning, Nabiki cried silently as she walked back into the living room to wait for her sister and her father to come back.


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The Tendo's and Saotome families scheduled the funerals to be held the next day. Most of Ranma and Akane's friends attended except for the lost boy due to the fact that they had been unable to locate him. Everyone had been shocked by the turn of events from the last month. They had never expected to loose two of their friends so quickly and in such a tragic way.

When the funeral was over, the Amazons came forward to convey their condolences. Shan-Pu tried to get the words out but she was having a lot of trouble. Shan-Pu too too s-sad that Airen gone. Was good friend and h-husband, will miss k-kitchen destroyer too. Shan-Pu think that kitch-Akane was nice to Shan-Pu even w-when she no have to b-be. Shan-Pu s-sorry they g-gone! she said on the verge of crying her eyes out. Mu-Tsu had to lead her away since she could no longer hold her self up.

Ku-Lon stepped forward with a pensive expression on her face. I am sorry to hear about the deaths of two so young. It is such a tragedy to loose the young ones before they are fully-grown and you have not passed on to your creator. We will be returning to China tomorrow as there is nothing left to keep us here, she said as she turned, nodded her head and slowly made her way out of the cemetery.

Ukyo stood off to one side and stared at the two shrines in a state of shock and disbelief. My best friends are gone and there is no way to ever get them back, she muttered to herself before slowly making her way back to her restaurant. There is no reason for me to stay now. My family's honor is satisfied and I can finally go home...but I feel so hollow inside, she mumbled dazedly while shuffling out of the cemetery. Two weeks later Ukyo closed down her shop and headed back home. The Saotome and the Tendo families returned home together after the funeral. Deep down in their hearts they knew that their children couldn't be dead because they would have felt it.

And so they waited.

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