Akane Tendou sighed as she walked through the park on her way home from school. The day had been too much like any other; in short, it was boring. Her life was never changing; everything that happened one day was sure to happen again the next. She would wake up and go for her morning jog followed shortly thereafter by breakfast with her family. Afterwards she would head to school only to be accosted by the male population, which she would then pound into submission. After some banter with Tatewaki Kunou she would fight and defeat him. Then she would attend her classes, head home, and prepare herself to do it all again the next day.
She was sick and tired of all... "What was that?" She asked herself aloud.
She had thought she'd heard something, but she couldn't be sure. She stood still listening, trying to discern where the sound may have come from. She heard it again, it sounded almost like... crying. She turned, following the noise to some nearby bushes.
She walked over to the bushes, stopping to peer inside. A flash of red caught her eye. Using her hands she spread the leaves and branches apart. Within the bushes, she discovered the source of the crying. A little girl was lying in the dirt, crying her eyes out. Her hair was covered in mud and sticks. The shirt she wore was much too big for her, and so dirty and torn she mistook it for rags.
Akane couldn't help herself she knelt down and placed one hand upon the small girl's back before she spoke. "Shh, it's alright, don't cry little one."
The girl turned quickly to look at the person speaking. She almost gasped at the sight of the beautiful angel with such a caring smile. She was in her arms in an instant, crying harder then she had before.
Akane was almost knocked onto her back by the little girl, but she remained steadfast. She hugged the girl tightly, doing all that she could to reassure the girl in her arms. She hummed softly into the girl's ear before she began to sing in a soft sweet voice.
The little girl slowly composed herself in Akane's arms. After fully recovering she stepped out of the larger girl's embrace. "Thank you miss, I've needed to do that for a long time."
The girl's large blue orbs held an intelligence that seemed beyond the girl's young age. Akane held the girl's gaze a few moments longer before she replied. "You're welcome. Care to tell me what had you so upset?"
"I'm sorry, but I don't think you'd understand. I'll tell you this much, to satisfy at least a small portion of your curiosity, I've been abandoned by my family. I no longer have a name to call my own. Don't let it bother you miss. I'll be well enough. Goodbye." The girl made to leave but Akane grabbed hold of her arm.
"I'm sure you'll be well enough on your own, but I'd feel better knowing that you were fed and had a place to sleep, at least for tonight. Would you come home with me?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't I..."
"I must insist, or must I drag you there myself?"
The little girl sighed. "I don't see that I have much of a choice. My name's Ranma."
"Choice was never an issue Ranma. I'm Akane, do you want to be friends?"