Ohayo everyone. It's emerald-eyed vixie here again. I am blown away at how many reviews I received. 28 is a lot considering I wrote this at 1:00 in the morning after watching a Ranma dvd.

I want to thank everyone, and I do mean everyone, for their reviews. It's my custom to respond to every review I get, so here I go.

First, the so-called 'flames.' They seem more like writer's feedback, though, to me. And all three flames that I received were absolutely correct.

B-heron:

Thanks for your opinions. You are absolutely right, something like this would NEVER happen in the world of Ranma ½, it's too dark. The storyline is somewhat inconsistent, and would definitely disappoint some devoted Ranma fans. My story is more like what you said, just taking the setting of Ranma and the characters and putting them in my own situation, however unbelievable it is. True fan fiction isn't my style, I like to go away from the predicted plots using ideas the would never appear in the manga, to try and get the reader to imagine what something like that would be like.

However, I don't think you should have insulted the other reviewers. You can insult me all you want, but you have no right to judge the other readers just because of their opinions.

Mel:

First of all, thank you for being so polite about it, you don't need to apologize for your opinion. Again, the story line is very dark and highly HIGHLY unlikely in the light-hearted areas of Rumiko Takashi's world. The explanation could have been much better too, but it was late at night and I wasn't exactly concentrating very hard..

For my next story, I'll take your advice into consideration, and try to create a more cheerful atmosphere and plausible character developments. Thanks for the advice!^^

Nikka:

Yours wasn't really a flame. I actually laughed when I read yours, cuz I hadn't realized all the stupid mistakes I had made in the story. Shows how good I am at math, hehe.

I must apologize for those mistakes. I forgot that Cologne is Shampoo's grandmother, and Akane's age screwed everything up. So, for now, she is presently 24 years old in this story, okay? Yeah, I also am not exactly sure what I was thinking about the leather jacket on Ranma, although I've always imagined him with a motorcycle. Who knows, maybe that's just me.

The rape wasn't very likely given Akane's fighting skills, but I'm just going with it anyway.

I do need to rewrite the first and second chapters a little, and I'll try to do that when I have some free time. Thanks for bringing those mistakes to my attention, though.

Okay, now the rest of the reviews. If you want, you can skip these, and go right to the next chapter. I'm sorry also if I missed anyone who reviewed,..

Akane, thanks for the review. I'm a big R/A fan too, I would never do anything else.

Amanda, thanks so much. I'm sorry I almost made you cry, I'm glad you enjoyed reading it so much. Enjoy this chapter!

Asia, thanks. I definitely plan on continuing this story for now, at least. How can I not when so many people liked it so much?

Lalala, hehe. Sorry about the cliffhanger in the last chapter, but I just love torturing the readers with those, ^^. Thanks for your review, and enjoy this chapter.

Myung, thank you! And I agree, there are way too many people out there who don't finish their stories, so I'll try to complete this one, k? Oh, and by the way, I really like your screename, it's a pretty name.

Crosseyedbutterfly, do you really call your friends that? That's cool, it's a cute nickname. Anyway, the reason Ranma was so cold at first was that for the past six years he's kind of hardened, and grown colder and crueler, but coming back to Nerima is starting to warm him up again.

AmayaSaria, nice screename, it's pretty. Thanks for the review, and I'll try to keep updating as soon as I can, okay?

AkaneAlways, hehe, don't worry, I plan on having Ranma kick that guy's butt for what he did. Thanks for the review and I hope you like this chapter^^.

Sush, thanks! Interesting screename too. Hopefully I can update as often as possible. Enjoy!

WingWeaver, wow, I like your screename too. I got a lot of reviews from people with cool screenames. Anyway, thanks for the praise, and I hope it's not too sad! It'll have a happy ending, don't worry.

Nea, no worries, I plan on continuing this story as much as I can until people can't stand reading it anymore, hehe. I'm glad it's got you hooked, that means I'm doing my job right. Thanks for the review!

Alex, Here's the update, hope ya like! Thanks for the review, too!

Xerosoul3, Great! I like to hear that my readers are anticipating the upcoming chapters, it means I don't totally suck as a writer, lol. Hopefully this one will do the same..

Hannah, I'm very happy that you liked it so much. I sent you an email back, just like you asked me to. I was happy to do it, too. I'm sorry to say I won't be able to update every day, but I'll try to do it often, okay? Thanks for the review and enjoy!

Peorthkitty, Thanks for the praise, it makes me very happy that people like this story. I hope I don't disappoint with this chapter. Enjoy the update and thanks for reviewing!

Doesitmatter, good question. I didn't even think about that, I guess Kasumi is a very resourceful person. And now she stays home with her son Souta (which, by the way, I copied from Inuyasha) while Tofu works. There's got to be lots of injuries in a town like that, wouldn't you say? Thanks for the review.

Rosch, thanks for defending me. In truth, she was kind of right, but I was glad to see that somebody liked it anyway. Thanks for the praise and I hope you like this chapter too^^

Kagome200315, I love your screename. I watch Inuyasha every night, it's my favorite anime by Rumiko Takashi. I just can't come up with any fanfic stories for it, lol. I do plan on continuing this story, though, and thanks for the review. Also, if you know of any good Inuyasha fics, let me know!

Elysium and Lonely Soul, hehe, thanks for the enthusiastic praise!! I'm so glad you liked it so much, and I hope you have that much praise for the next one. Enjoy!

Arcia, did you know you're the only one who reviewed both chapters? You were my first review too, I think. I got yours before I'd even uploaded chapter 2! Oh, and sorry about the mistake on Ranma's hair, it always look more like a dark blue to me. Is his hair really black? Okay, I'll just change that later then. Thanks for the review, and enjoy this chapter!

WW, oh, I'm so sorry I made you cry! I'm glad it touched you so much, and I'll try to make this story more of a happy ending! As the story progresses, it should become more of a romance, too.^^

I'm Crazy.0_0, nice screename. Thanks for reviewing, and I hope you like this chapter too!

Finally, Star Cherry, Thank you!!! You're my number one reviewer and partner and computer pal! Thanks sooooooooooooooo much, I don't know what I would do without you. Can't wait until we update our story, it should be interesting, huh?

Sorry that took so much room, but I always insist on thanking everyone who takes the time to review. Now, what you've all been waiting for, chapter 3 of Abandoned, An Awkward Reunion. Enjoy and then tell me what you think, even if you hate it!

....................................

The steady pulse of the rain on the paved road reverberated in Ranma's head. It seemed to pound relentlessly on his already stunned thoughts as he steadily made his way toward the only place he had ever really considered his home in his entire life.

The unrelenting rain seemed to reflect the storm of thoughts rushing through his mind. He simultaneously felt just about every emotion; anger, sadness, pity, remorse, shock, denial, wonder, curiosity, and even happiness at the chance to see Akane again. With all these feelings clogging his head, he settled on one, and that was just a numb, uncaring shock. It was as if he was incapable of feeling anything else except the weight of a sleeping Kenji on his back and that relentless pounding that never let up.

The streets of Nerima were empty and desolate; now only a shell, or a shadow of what once had been a beautiful small town filled with his friends and family. Now, he had nobody, they'd all left. The strangers who lived here now couldn't hold a candle to the lighthearted people of his town.

Ranma realized he was standing next to the large wash that he and Akane used to pass all the time on the way to school, and where he had fallen numerous times only to be transformed and reminded of his most painful weakness.

He stopped, gazing out at the blurred horizon lined with the old buildings he used to know. His eyes saw it, but his mind refused to acknowledge it, so it was all he could do to stare unflinchingly as the rain created an eerie silence over the area.

He didn't care what his memories told him, this was not Nerima.

He sighed and readjusted Kenji's weight on his back before settling back into his lethargic pace as he slowly made his way toward the doctor's office. There wasn't a sign of life anywhere, and Ranma was beginning to think that he was the only person left alive.

Every once and a while he caught the movement of ripples in nearby puddles out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head to make sure his jacket was covering Kenji, keeping the cold rain off of him.

Cologne had told him everything, whether he had wanted to hear it or not. She gave him a detailed history, and now Ranma wished he'd never entered that café again.

She'd given him Kasumi's address, and now that was where he was headed, though he was sorely tempted to head down the other way, toward the dojo. Not that it would do any good, Akane was at work anyway.

As Dr. Tofu's place came into view around the corner, he stopped, reveling in his memory of the place first before spoiling it with the picture of a dilapidated old building that lay before him.

'I wonder if he still has a skeleton named betty' he thought, trying to cheer himself up. It didn't work, it only made it worse. He trudged down the street, mindful not to slip on the icy road.

Before he realized it, he was standing in front of the door, his hand poised to knock. He hesitated a split second before letting his hand slip to the surface of the door, causing another pounding sound, much like the one surrounding him. The pounding continued, for a couple of times, Ranma guessed, before he heard a commotion on the other side of the door. He let his hand fall back against his side, supporting Kenji's foot.

"Coming!" he heard a familiar voice ring from behind the door. The familiar voice brought about an unexpected pang of sorrow, which he quickly recovered from.

As the door opened slowly, Ranma looked up, bracing himself with the soul of ice method that Cologne had taught him all those years ago. But, surprisingly, it didn't work. As soon as he saw the face of the woman who'd always been as near to a sister as he'd ever had came into view, he faltered in his resolve, and it was all he could do to keep from running.

Kasumi's hands immediately went to cover her mouth, causing the pitcher she was carrying to fall and shatter on the wet ground at Ranma's feet. Tears filled her eyes, but, of course, she didn't let them fall. If Ranma had ever thought that Kasumi would be furious with him, those thoughts vanished as Kasumi ran and embraced him, as well as Kenji.

"welcome home, Ranma" she whispered tearfully.

That was the final straw, and Ranma embraced her too, something he'd never had done when he was younger.

....................................

"So, have you seen Akane yet?" Kasumi asked quietly, sipping her tea.

The two of them were settled at the kitchen table, drinking tea while Kenji and Souta were sleeping peacefully on the bed upstairs. Dr. Tofu was in the kitchen, refilling the kettle.

"No, not yet. Cologne said she was working and that I should make sure Kenji got here first, so that you wouldn't worry about him." He replied.

She nodded. "While Akane works, we watch Kenji for her. It's a good thing you found him, I don't know what Akane would do without him. He's her whole life."

"Where does she work?"

"She has two waitressing jobs. On weekends and Wednesday nights she works at a bar on the east side of town called the Crow. During the week she works part time at a little café that's closer to the dojo."

"Why are you guys still here? I would think you'd want to leave, just like everybody else seemed to do."

Kasumi sighed. "We're doing fine here. Nerima had always been our home, there's no question about that. There are still a few of our old friends here, anyway. On the south side of town there's a small school there that Souta and Kenji go to. You remember that preschool teacher who Happosai fell in love with? Well, she stayed here and opened a school on the edge of town. Besides, Akane wouldn't come with us, and there's no way we could leave her here.

"Yeah, I know. Why is she being so stubborn?" he said, somewhat angrily. Though he wasn't quite sure who he was angry at, Akane or himself.

Kasumi gave a small smile. "She's just as stubborn as you are, you know."

Ranma just grunted in response, sipping at his tea.

Dr. Tofu returned with a full kettle of tea. "Akane'll be off work in about a half hour. She should be on her way here to pick up Kenji soon."

Ranma thought for a moment. "I need to talk to her." He said simply to himself.

Kasumi heard him. "Oh dear, I'm not sure how willing she will be to talk" she mentioned.

Ranma looked back up at her. "I have to try. What else can I do?"

Kasumi nodded. Dr. Tofu answered, "I think you'd better talk to her alone, though."

Ranma nodded, standing up from his chair. "I'm going to meet her on her way here, do you know which way she takes?"

Kasumi thought for a moment. "Oh, today she worked at the café, so she should be headed down the main road."

"I'll meet her at the corner then." He said, standing up and slipping his jacket on. He slipped over to the door.

"I'll see you in a few, hopefully" he added before disappearing.

"Good luck" Kasumi whispered to herself.

.......................................

Akane ran through the rain, trying hard to avoid the puddles on the ground as she held a newspaper above her head.

'If my uniform gets wet my boss will kill me' she thought desperately, periodically heading for a covered porch or something to catch her breath.

As she headed down the main road, she could just make out a dark figure leaning against the wall at the corner. They were standing expectantly as if they were waiting for someone.

Akane grew suspicious, and slowed to a walk, ignoring the raindrops splattering on her cherry blossom kimono and ruffled white apron. She lowered the newspaper in her hand to her side, steadily walking towards the corner.

The closer she got, the more she could tell. It was obviously a man, in some sort of dark jacket. She couldn't see his face, but she could vaguely recognize a braided ponytail on the back of his neck. His form looked awfully familiar..

Suddenly she stopped. She'd recognize that figure anywhere. After all, she'd been dreaming about him for six years.

He hadn't changed a bit. His black hair was still braided back, and he still had that cocky posture that he always assumed. Still, there was a hint of uncertainty in his pose, which was something she was unused to seeing from him.

She couldn't move, her feet were glued to the pavement as she stood there and stared at the man who was simultaneously her pain and comfort. For six years, she'd wrestled with herself, at first wishing for him to come back desperately, then never wanting to see him again, and then wishing again.

She couldn't make up her mind. Should she be angry that he left? Or happy that he was back? She didn't know, and so she did nothing. She just stood there staring, getting extremely soaked in the cold, wet weather and not even caring.

On the other hand, Ranma was being tortured. She'd come close enough that he could see her face clearly, and his heart nearly tore into pieces.

Her beautiful eyes were filled with sorrow, and her shoulders slumped with exhaustion. Her apron was stained, and her hair was soaked. Her strawberry lipstick was smearing, and the cherry blossom clip in her hair was slipping.

He was expecting her to slap him, to yell at him, to cry, to scream, to do anything. Yet she just stood there, staring back at him. He almost couldn't stand it. After a few moments he wished she would at least do something, anything.

He wanted very badly to run over there and take her in his arms, or at least yell at her for being so stubborn, or for just standing in the rain where she would just catch a cold. But he didn't do anything either.

So the two of them just stood, staring blankly at each other, each unsure of what to do or say, for what seemed like forever.

Finally Ranma's quick wits saved him, and his mouth started to form a sentence.

"Akane....it's me, Ranma." He managed to say.

Akane's reality jolted back to her with such force that she swayed slightly on her feet. Her anger surged forward, and a furious scowl darkened her face. She clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

"You've got some nerve, Ranma Saotome." She growled.

Ranma wanted to shout for joy at the fact that she had actually said something, but at the same time he realized what was coming and unconsciously flinched.

Finally Akane exploded. She couldn't hold it in any longer. "DOYOUKNOWHOWMANYYEARSI'VEWAITEDFORYOUTOCOMEBACK?!IWASSOWORRIEDABOUTYOUANDYO UNEVERWROTE,NEVERCALLED,ORANYTHINGSOHOWWASISUPPOSEDTOKNOWWHEREYOUWEREORIFYOU WEREOKAYANDHOWTOFINDYOU?EVERYHTING'SGONEWRONGSINCEYOULEFTANDYOUHAVENOIDEAHOW MUCHTROUBLEYOU'VECAUSED!!!!!!" she screamed into his ear.

Ranma fell back with the force of her voice. His ears rang, and he realized just how hard it was going to be to keep his promise to Kenji.

"Uh, sorry Akane, but what was that?" he asked helplessly.

Akane just glared at him with such ferocity that he shuddered unconsciously. She finally stomped past him, splashing everywhere with the force of her feet in the puddles, heading towards Dr. Tofu and Kasumi's house.

"Wait, Akane!" he begged, catching up with her. He matched his pace with hers and pleaded with her. "Please Akane, just listen to me, you don't understand.."

"DON'T UNDERSTAND?! I don't understand the fact that you left without telling anyone for six years!!!!!!!" she yelled, not slowing.

As they neared the building, Ranma racked his brain for something to stop her so they could talk. Suddenly, he had it. He stopped abruptly, allowing Akane to get a few steps ahead of him before saying quietly,

"I know about Kenji."

Akane stopped, but didn't turn around. Ranma could see her shoulders tense up.

"How do you know about Kenji?" she asked, her voice void of emotion.

Ranma didn't want to get Kasumi in trouble by saying that he'd rescued him from a bunch of guys on the street.

"I've met him. I talked to Cologne, and I came here to talk to Kasumi and Dr. Tofu."

Akane's face turned bright red, and she was grateful that Ranma couldn't see her face. Out of all the people she knew, Ranma was the LAST person she wanted to know what had happened to her.

"What.what did they tell you?" she asked worriedly.

Ranma hesitated before answering. "Everything."

"Everything?"

"yeah, everything..Akane, I'm.."

"Don't," she interrupted. "Don't feel sorry for me. Everyone I know feels sorry for me, ..and.and I hate it!!! I hate it..I know what everybody is saying behind my back, acting like I'm some poor thing who can't do a thing for her own son! I'm just as tough as anybody else! I can do it on my own, no matter what those idiots say!" she yelled, holding back tears. She promised herself she'd never cry.

"I meant, I'm sorry for leaving."

Akane couldn't believe her ears. Ranma never apologized. At least, she'd never heard him apologize. She finally turned around, and was surprised to see such a look of guilt and remorse on Ranma's face that all her arguments suddenly fled her mind.

"Why?" she found herself asking.

Now it was Ranma's turn to look surprised. "Why? Because, .because.uh..everything went wrong after I left, that's why, I guess."

Akane folded her arms and turned around again, starting to walk.

"Everything does not revolve around you, Ranma. Just because you left, does not mean that everything in the world goes wrong." She muttered loud enough for him to hear.

Ranma quickened his step to catch up. "I wasn't saying that! I just meant that.."

"Just meant what, exactly?" Akane said sardonically, stopping when Ranma stopped in front of her, blocking her way.

"Jeez, Akane! Can't you just let me talk for a second?!" he said, feeling a familiar sense of frustration that he hadn't felt for six years.

"oh, sure. I've had to wait six years for you to come back, and now you want me to wait more!?" she yelled.

"Look Akane! I had a good reason for leaving six years ago.."

"A good reason?! Fine, I understand perfectly."

Ranma's frown dropped. "You do?"

Akane nodded. "yes, if you think that cure was more important than your friends, that's FINE WITH ME!" she said, pushing him out of the way and stalking forward.

Akane waited expectantly for Ranma to reply with his usual 'uncute' comments so that she could hit him over the head with something, but, after a few minutes of silence, she realized he wasn't going to say anything.

She turned around, glaring at him. "Well? Aren't you going to insult me?"

"You want me to insult you?"

"No! I'm just saying that's what you always do, that's all!"

"I'm not doing it now.."

Akane opened her mouth to reply, but she couldn't think of anything to say. She stomped her foot frustratingly, throwing the newspaper to the ground. She started walking again.

"Akane, will you just stop for a second and listen to me?" he yelled.

She turned around again, but before she could yell back, Ranma hurriedly continued.

"Look, I'm sorry that I left, okay? I didn't realize what it would do, and I realize that not everything that happened was a result of me leaving, but I still could have done something!"

Akane was surprised to see anger in Ranma's face, but it wasn't directed at her for once. He actually seemed angry at,...himself.

"I didn't mean for all of this to happen, and I wouldn't have left if I knew..,"

Akane was extremely surprised. She still wanted to yell like hell at him, but, she supposed, at least he'd come back and apologized. That was something.

Her shoulders slumped, her anger gone for the moment. "Ranma, let's just get something straight. I don't regret what happened, I never have."

"What?" he asked, his heart shattering.

She looked up at him, and he thought he could see a glimmer of a tear on the surface of her eyes.

"I love Kenji, he's my whole world. I wouldn't give him up for anything." She said quietly.

Ranma sighed, somewhat with relief. "He's a good kid, Akane."

Somehow that meant a lot coming from him. She started to smile, but quickly covered it up. She turned around again and continued walking.

"You don't have a place to stay, do you?" she called behind her.

Ranma quickly caught up. "Not yet."

"Well, I guess you should stay at the dojo, then. Unless Dr. Tofu and Kasumi have already invited you."

Ranma smiled on the inside. "I'd like that, Akane."

She nodded, before quickening her step. "c'mon, I don't want Kenji to get worried."

Ranma nodded. "Right."

....................................

Sorry it's kinda short, but I wanted to end it there. I hope you all enjoyed Akane and Ranma's reunion. I tried to make it as believable as possible, but I'm not sure how successful I was at it.

Also, I won't be able to update again for about a week, because school starts in two days for me and I've got a lot of stuff to do. Sorry, I'll try to make the next chapter extra long, so hopefully this chapter will last you. The story will progressively will get more romantic, and I'm thinking of putting some action in too.

Go review, no matter what you have to say! Ja Ne!

~Vixie