Author's Notes:
This takes place in a slightly different timeline to that of the Ranma ½ Manga
The Difference being that despite Ranma having defeated Saffron, His Mother still does not know who he is.

Ranma ½ - The Time Will Come

Enjoy!

Ranma Was Sitting silently on the top of a Mountain peak overlooking the Jusendo valley, all he was doing was starring out over the valley with an expressionless face, "why can't anything ever work out the way that I want it to?" he quietly asked himself with a sad depressed sigh, "why can't I even tell Akane how I really feel about her?" he quietly asks himself in an almost unnoticeable sadness.

"Because the time has not yet come" Said a soft voice quietly from behind him,
Ranma didn't even turn around to see who it was, "but the time will come soon enough" said the voice, again Ranma didn't bother to turn around, although Ranma had no idea who it was that was talking to him, he strangely felt that the voice was familiar somehow and that he should trust it, "please leave me alone right now, I want to be alone just now" he asked quietly.

"don't worry Ranma, all things will work out the way that you want in due time"
said the voice in a quiet soothing manner, "but you may have to do something that you would usually hit someone for suggesting" the voice continued in the same manner, "but any such views will soon pass" the voice finished with a calming effect, "right now I would do almost anything if I could make that happen" said Ranma, "none of this mess is good for anyone, especially Akane, and the stress and worry definitely are not good for her family." he finished, "it will Ranma, It will, when the time comes It will" said the voice.

"who was that you were talking to son-in-law?" asked a slightly raspy voice hopping up behind him,
"what do you want Cologne?" came Ranma's quiet reply, "everyone is going insane looking for you, you have been gone for 6 hours" said Cologne, then she caught Ranma mumbling under his breath "6 hours? I only left 2 hours ago...", Cologne raised an eyebrow as she made a mental note of this,
then Ranma Sighed, "ok, let's go" and got up and started down the mountain to where they were camped, Cologne thought for a minute "something about him has changed, and who was he talking to? The Most I could see was a blurred shadow" as Cologne was thinking about this she started to hop back down the mountain side; Cologne had a Very strange feeling about this and she wasn't sure if it was good or bad.
And that feeling in itself wasn't a good sign...

Back at the camp. "RANMA!" Akane Yelled as she ran to him, "where were you all this time?" she asked after nearly knocking him over, "Just off thinking" was Ranma's Reply, "thinking for 6 hours? about what?" Asked Akane, "stuff…" said Ranma, "did you think about me any?" asked Akane in a quiet shy voice, Ranma subtly turned in a direction so no one except Akane could see his face and gave Akane a small wink, this made Akane smile happily, after eating, Ranma yawned and announced he was off to hit the sack, everyone else later noticed how tired they were and decided that Ranma had the right idea and decided to turn in as well.


Next Chapter: Crossing China, Returning to Japan
(Coming soon to an Internet near You)