Disclaimer: I don not own Ranma ½, HOWEVER ... *pauses dramatically*... I DO own Habikashi Tomoko, so there!

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Seventy-Nine Mondays

Chapter Three

Saotome Tomoko

By Ame

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The sun wasn't shining in through the open window when I woke. Anxiety and frustration gave me a fitful sleep last night. Usually, I would have gone back to bed, for another twenty-seven minutes until my alarm went off, but today I wanted to avoid Ranma at all costs. And that included surrendering my beauty sleep.

I dressed in the dark doing the best I could, trying not to wake Kasumi, who slept peacefully across the room. When I emerged into the hall, lighted by cool morning sun, I noticed to my dismay that my socks were two different colors. This was bound to be a rough morning.

I was out of the house in he record time of thirty-three minutes with no one disturbed or out of bed to see me leave. The morning was cold and shrouded in mists but all the more beautiful for it. I walked listening to my own heels on the pavement, as though they clicked in rhythm to a silent beat. The school was empty except for a few students shuffling around, arms full of brooms and buckets. I sat on my own in a classroom, staring out the window....

* * *

It was such a morning as this when I was finally aloud out of bed, four years ago. Two weeks, lying day after day, sitting hour after hour, in that bed with absolutely nothing to do was complete torture. The only liberation I had had was when I used the bathroom, which ended up being nine to ten times a day. Then finally, when all my cuts had healed and bruises were all but gone, I had my freedom.

For the first few days I roamed the house while everyone was away. I looked through old photo albums, dug through lonely boxes in the closet, shuffled though papers in a dusty desk, and listened to Nabiki. She updated me on everything: Akane's and Ranma's engagement. and Ranma's other engagements, the failed marriage four months ago, Kuno, Kodachi, Shampoo, Ukyo, and of course, her own involvement in all of this. She even let me look through her private collection, free of charge, because she said I had potential. Later on, I would regret having that "potential".

Days passed, I started helping with breakfast and running small errands, while many of my questions were answered about my new family. However, there was on thing I still wanted answered..about the red haired girl. I asked Nabiki, but she refused to comment, saying I should talk to Ranma. So I did.

"Ranma?" I asked timidly as he sat at the breakfast table.

"Hmmm?" Ranma said between mouthfuls of rice.

"Who's...Who's the red-haired girl?" I questioned hoping that by talking to him would conclude my endless search to find out who she was.

He stopped eating and just looked up at me as though he thought my question was a joke.

"Uhh...I-I don't know what you're talking about," he mumbled quickly.

"Oh," I was disappointed and didn't bother to hide it.

"Tomoko-chan, what's wrong?" Akane stepped into the room.

"Oh, I was just wondering ---"

"---How the weather was going to be today!" Ranma interjected.

"Well, no. not really. I was wondering ---"

"---If she was going to ---"

"Ranma! Shut-up!!" Akane snapped threateningly with flaming eyes. Ranma sunk to the floor, rather frightened. "Tomoko-chan, you were saying."

"I wanted to know who the red-haired girl was."

"Ohhh." Nabiki walked in with her own breakfast.

"Red-haired girl---? Red-haired girl---? Red-haired girl---?" I could see Akane struggling to think while Ranma rolled his eyes.

"God Akane, how thick are you?!!"

"Shut-up! Ranma! Can't you see I'm trying to remember...Ohhh! Red-haired girl!"

"Finally we're getting somewhere." Nabiki commented monotonously.

"Well, Tomoko-chan, Ranma---Mmph" Ranma had rushed across the room and covered Akane's mouth. I was getting the feeling he didn't want me to know.

"ROONMMAA!!!" Akane eyebrow twitched as she screeched through Ranma's hand.

"Now Akane, lets be rationaAAALLL!!!" Ranma flew out the doors and into the small pond in the back. Akane panted angrily with her fists still clenched. I watched all this in anxious intrigue. Nabiki just smirked.

"Whaddja do THAT for?!!" A wet, red head popped out of the water screaming at the top of its lungs.

"Tomoko-chan meet Ranma-chan," Akane thrust her finger in Ranma's direction.

"Ranma-chan---?"

"Now you see," Nabiki left the room with a final sarcastic remark.

Ranma-chan crossed her wet arms and frowned sourly. "Hmmph. Who asked an un- cute, tomboy like you---" Suddenly, giant hammer cut off Ranma as it landed squarely on her head.

* * *

Students began to slowly file into class taking their seats in scattered places around the room. I glanced at the clock; I still had twenty minutes until class started, unfortunately. So I turned my head and stared back out that window.

* * *

I became a normal part of life after only five weeks staying there. I helped around the house nearly all day, I acted as a buffer between Ranma and Akane, I often gave Mr. Tendo tips to ward off Mr. Saotome Panda's cheating, and I loved it. Any happiness I had known in my other life was all but forgotten.

"Father," Kasumi said one morning at breakfast, "don't you think Tomoko should be attending school?" Everyone was silent in sudden realization.

"That's right!" Akane exclaimed putting aside her rice. "How old are you Tomoko-chan?"

"Nearly fourteen," I said proudly, my birthday as actually only a month away.

"Perfect! She can start high school with us!"

"Under what name, might I inquire?" Nabiki added without looking up.

"Habikashi Tomoko, of course!"

"Of course! Habikashi Tomoko, the girl missing and believed kidnapped from Kyoto."

Akane slumped down defeated. All eyes were on me, as though everyone though I had the solution but Nabiki spoke up.

"We should legally adopt her. Saying she was staying with her parents in America when there was a huge fire and everything was destroyed.only she got out alive. Which gives us the excuse for no birth certificate or identification. Then she should be---mmm---Saotome Tomoko."

"Saotome?!!" Ranma burst in, suddenly aware of the conversation.

"Obviously, you and Tomoko look alike." She was right; both our blue eyes flashed underneath a mess of black bangs. Our faces were of similar shape, polished with the same vague expression.

"She's right, you could be brother and sister." Kasumi added thoughtfully.

"Hmph, I don't think so..." Ranma mumbled to himself.

The next day, Nabiki, Ranma, and Akane accompanied me to the Nerima Legal Office. Kasumi was home doing laundry and Nabiki insisted both Mr. Tendo and Mr. Saotome Panda stayed home. Mr. Tendo would have broken down crying and confessing everything, and a panda would just have made them look more suspicious. Nabiki made it clear that she would do ALL the talking.

The Legal Office was cold, like someone had left the air conditioning running for far too long. Dreary, gray tile covered the extensive floor and caused my sandals to click as we approached the front desk.

"Excuse me," Nabiki began, "I'd like to register this girl for citizenship." She pointed at me as I came walking up behind her.

"Of course, sweetie," Nabiki flinched and we all grimaced at the thought of Nabiki being a 'sweetie'. "Does the girl speak Japanese?"

"Hai," I offered meekly.

"Yes," Nabiki cut in quickly, before giving me a look that told me not to open my mouth again, "but very little. She comprehends more than she can converse."

"Okay, can I ask you to tell her story, Hun?"

"I'll oblige you if you can keep your pet-names to yourself." Nabiki didn't wait for an answer before continuing. "She was born to a Japanese mother in Hawaii. Her father had left before she was born and with no other living relatives, this woman was all she had in the world." She paused and closed her eyes as though to blink away tears. Ranma stifled a laugh. "Tragically the mother was killed.by anarchy bombers." The woman behind the counter drew in a sharp breath of shock and horror.

This was too much; Ranma couldn't help himself, "Boom! Gone.very sad."

Nabiki shot Ranma a nasty look over her shoulder. "Anyways, the entire home was destroyed, along with all documents of identification." Akane shook her head sympathetically. Nabiki continued, " So this child was shipped out to the nearest relative.her father, Saotome Genma."

Now was Ranma's turn to be surprised. "I didn't even know the old man had it in him."

"The government dumped her into our hands and now here we are, asking for an official citizenship for Saotome Tomoko."

Akane squeezed my hand; she knew this was hard for me. Hard to let everything I was go up in flames, like the false fire that had killed my false mother.

The receptionist dried her eyes with a tissue before hand us the form, sniffling.

"Thank you," Nabiki took the forms, grabbed a pen and began to fill everything out. The woman's eyes were barely dried when Nabiki finished.

"H-Here is a temporary c-copy until your official information comes in the m-mail," the woman stuttered thorough hiccoughing tears. Nabiki took the pink sheet of paper before turning and walking briskly out of the building. We all followed with Ranma talking about how he almost believed it and Akane still holding my hand. I turned my new name over and over in my head, trying to make it fit somehow.

Saotome Tomoko....

Saotome Tomoko....

Saotome Tomoko....

* * *

"Saotome Tomoko!!!" sensei's voice rang in my ears.

"H-Hai!" I stood quickly for the roll call.

"Good to see you with us this morning, Saotome-san." The entire class giggled as I sunk back down into my chair. (What a way to start the day!)

"Alright everyone, settle down. We'll go over the homework then take a small quiz."

The entire class groaned. One student spoke up, "But Sensei, you said last class there would be no more surprise quizzes for the rest of the month."

"Did I?" The class nodded in agreement. Tomoko vaguely remembered something along those lines but lately she hadn't been paying attention anyways.

"So there'll be no quiz today?" Another student asked hopefully.

"No, its not a surprise because I just told you about it!" Sensei finished smiling. Then, ignoring the class's whining, Sensei went on with the lesson.

The day was over soon enough and I trudged home, dreading what I would find there. The streets had become so lonely without Ranma and Akane walking beside me. They would shoot arguments back and fourth while I stood in the middle smiling despite myself. They had only fought for the sake of fighting.note the past tense.

Yes, the streets were depressing, much like everything else in this town. Sometimes I just wanted to leave. Pack up and ---but I haven't any other home. So I rough it for one more day, then another, then another, then another, until I finally realize I'm not going anywhere fast. So I walk this forlorn road everyday, to school and back again---everyday---without anyone.

* * *

"Mate!" I yelled after them.

Ranma ran nimbly across the fence while Akane pounded after him as they raced home. I'd been Saotome Tomoko for three months now. I was fourteen, skinny, five feet six and ½ an inches, after a growth spurt that stretched me just over Akane's head, in the first year of high school. Ranma had started my training as a martial artist - which begun as a defense against the freak's frequent attacks - and I was enjoying it. Even though I was a quick learner, my body couldn't keep up with my mind, so I once again fell behind and came home panting, last...again.

"Tomoko-chan, what took you?" Akane questioned as I came into the kitchen for a drink of water.

"I...I couldn't keep up," I faltered, embarrassed.

"We've been doing this for over a month now, you should be able to---"

"Akane, don't push her so hard," Kasumi cut in, "after all, she's still a child."

That hurt.

Though meant innocently enough, my heart dropped into my stomach. I forgot the water and ran to the dojo. Fortunately for me, Ranma wasn't there yet. I didn't want him to see the tears streaming down my face.

I had long been self-conscious about my body.most girls are, but my case is a little different. Fourteen with a body of a five-year-old is enough to make anybody sensitive about the subject. There wasn't anything I could do about it though---that's what bothered me the most.

* * *

My shoes grinded softly against the dirt as I walked through the yard - avoiding Ranma. I snuck into the house through the side door and noted right off that it was WAY too quiet.

***End Chapter Three***

Author's Notes:

WAAUUHAAHAA!!!! Cliffhanger (I love being evil)!!! Ok, PLEASE REVIEW and the next chapter will be up soon - no more school!!!!! YAY!!!! *dances happily* Anyways please review...why does that sound familiar...until next time

~Ame