Me: Woohoo! There have been some changes in the first chapter. Nothing spectacular, but if you have the inclination, feel free to reread.

Ranma:  I wouldn't do that.

Me: AHHH! You scared me!

Ranma: (Shaking his head) Anyways, the changes were some spelling corrections and the addition of one line.

Me: Hey! This is my story!

Ranma: Yeah…so what?                                             

Me: That means…I can do anything I want! (Starts advancing toward the victim)

Ranma: (Starts sweating) Uh…Why are you looking at me like that?! I don't need another fiancée!

Me: Calm down. Just help me announce something.

Ranma: (Narrowing his eyes suspiciously) What?

Me: Gimme a moment. (Thinks for a second and bounces up) Oh! Just tell the readers to read on.

Ranma: Yeah, read on and ignore this crazy author. (He ends in a whisper)

Together: Enjoy! (POOF! They disappear, leaving a chapter of words in their wake while the reader shakes his/her head.)

Chapter Three ~

The dark rain clouds had dissipated; a damp atmosphere still hovered over the town. The sky remained listless grey, suggesting the coming of more downpours, frequent and unexpected. Meanwhile at the Tendo household, Akane grunted slightly as she slid open the door and heaved the unconscious girl into the living room. She laid her on the mat when she heard a slight gasp and spun around to see Kasumi with a shocked expression painted on her face.

"Akane…what happened?" Kasumi stuttered, at an evident loss for words. "Is she…dead?"

"I'm not sure what happened out there. I saw her fighting Kuno and she collapsed." Akane murmured distracted, still in slight shock to see this girl and Kuno fighting. *A girl, she is a girl, there is no doubt. Then who was the person with dark black hair? Were my eyes playing tricks on me? Or maybe it was the rain. But I could swear I saw this person with dark hair.* Akane thought, not minding her soaked clothes, dripping on the floor, or the breezy draft rattling through the thin walls.

"Who's the girl?" Nabiki popped her head in.

"I don't know. I heard that she and Kuno were fighting and she fainted."

"Lord Kuno? Where is the wonderful Kuno by the way?" Nabiki smiled as money signs emerged in her mind.

"I guess he's still outside. Oh my, someone should go get him inside before he gets a cold." Kasumi arose, intending to retrieve the waterlogged Lord Kuno.

"No, no. You stay with the girl; I'll go bring Kuno in." Nabiki replied quickly with a fake smile on her face. *And I'll charge him a nice fee for taking care of him. Nurse Nabiki is not cheap!* She finished in her thoughts as she skipped out of the room.

"Well, you'd better get out of those wet clothes. I'll take care of our new guest." Kasumi addressed Akane as she tugged at a blanket to cover the unconscious girl. "Oh and would you mind getting a dry set for her too?" Kasumi added as she knelt, dabbing the girl's brow with a wet towel.

****

"Son, please reconsider, if you continue waging this war, Japan will be in ruins before the end! How many must die before you stop? Will you be satisfied only when you destroy us all?!" The woman wrung her hands in despair. Her pleas fell on deaf ears.

So many dead and still the conflict raged on. The blood-stained fields littered across the lands as the body count rose daily. The ever present cries of war, the constant screams of agony as thousands rose and fell, the piles of unburied bodies that stank in the hot morning and the thousands of families who lost their children and friends.

"I'm sorry mother, but until he admits he stole my bride and returns her, this war will never end. Not while I still have breath in my body." Her son turned away from her, a look of determination on his face.

"Think hard, son. The Hibikis have been our allies for countless years. Do you really think it is wise to continue? Both sides are equally matched and it will be worse when one side finally wins. " A gruff voice of wisdom reasoned with the young man. He sighed deeply and continued, "It is not worth risking our legacy over a single person. Surely, you know that."

"I know, father. But, what of my bride? What happened to her? From her reputation as a skilled martial artist, she could not have been easily captured and yet we have not had word from her in over a year. She is either being held captive or dead. I must avenge her!"

"Even so, you cannot have everyone killed because of one life." His mother laid her small hand on her son's arm, hoping to comfort him.

"Alright, I will end the war in three months if I have not heard anything within that time." He lowered his head in defeat. His parents nodded in agreement and left him alone.

After the door was shut, a few tears trickled down his dirt-streaked cheek. He sank to his knees and shed a few more over the lost of his friends and siblings on the battle field. Although he was considered a man by his people, he was still a young boy of seventeen, a boy struggling to keep up the image of a strong and brave man.

His face grew grim once more as he played out the last time he met his dear friend, the youngest son of the Hibiki clan. They were best friends since before he could remember, their mothers being related and their families having the same distant ancestor. They were always fighting over who would be the leader and who the follower. Manhood saw them still as great friends, though often busy with matters of increasing responsibilities. Their occasional meetings, though infrequent were always filled with joy at seeing such an old and comforting friend.

*How then, is it possible for him, the closest friend I have ever had to be the person who betrayed me?' He pondered on this constantly during the last twelve months of war. 'But the evidence was too damning. The insignia found at the scene of her capture and the fact he was the only person I trusted with the matter. He personally offered to help arrange her arrival! Can it be that he wanted my bride for himself? Would he but admit it and I would still one day forgive him. But his stubborn denial only bears witness that he is indeed guilty.*

He unsheathed a sword and admired its hard surface. He swung it experimentally through the air and finally placed it back into the scabbard. "When I see you again, I will kill you." He whispered into the darkness.

****

A cooling hand laid on her hot forehead, later replaced with a damp clothe. She fought unconsciousness and the faintness that threatened to claim her again.

"She's running a fever, the poor girl. I'll go get some medicine for her." A distorted voice filtered into her mind. *Girl? What girl? Me? I'm a girl again?*

"Kasumi! Four flower pills? Where did you get this?" A sharper voice filled the air as Ranma winced at the sudden sound. *If I could talk, I would tell them to speak softer.*

"Oh Akane," the soft voice began uncertainly.

"Where did you buy this? Not at Tofu's medicine shop, they don't have it anymore." The voice stopped, "The black markets?"

"I saw it and the man was so nice that he lowered the price. And I bought it only because well, because I thought we might need it in an emergency. I'm so sorry Akane, please forgive me!"

"I could never blame you Kasumi," the voice softened, "Looks like it's a good thing you bought it."

A small rumbling stopped the two voices momentarily. A rustle of clothes indicated they moved nearer toward the girl who sifted slightly, clutching her stomach. It growled again, louder this time.

"Oh! She must be starving; I'll go get her some food. You stay here and tend her," A patter of footfalls faded into the distance.

*Food,* Ranma drooled as her mind blackened once more, *Hopefully, lots of really yummy food.*

****

"Oh my fair Akane, how good it is of you," Kuno paused as he thrashed on the matt while he dreamt of his Akane, "to see me…how I long…for our wedding night." He suddenly seized the hand of Nabiki which hovered above his head with a damp towel. Nabiki could barely suppress a yelp of surprise as the towel dropped on the floor. Kuno continued his dream, "Come my love, let us proclaim our passion to the world." Kuno continued to murmur incoherent segments of his fantasies.

Nabiki had had enough and proceed to douse Kuno with the basin of warm water. Kuno bolted upright with a look of confusion on his face. "Where am I? Why are you here Nabiki? Where is my bride?" He looked at his wet clothes and continued, "And why did you do that for?"

"Why Kuno, no thanks to poor Nabiki who tended you while you lay helpless?" Nabiki cried with a pouting look covering her face.

"Nabiki, I did not know you cared for me. Come, let me embrace you in my loving arms!" He opened his arms wide.

"Stay away for me Kuno." Nabiki's sweet demeanor suddenly reverted to the icy glare she directed toward the wet man.

"But surely you want some payment for taking care of me," Kuno protested as he still offered to hug her.

"Oh no, Kuno, we mustn't carry on like this. Besides, this is my father's house," Nabiki shook her head sadly, "However, on the terms of payment, I can think of a few things…"

___________________________

A/N-So there's a little background into the history of the story…hope u like it! Now review plz!