Hey verybody! Here's another idea for a Ranma story, two chapters in this one. Nothing belongs to me but the obvious! Ja ne!

KAZOKU MEANS FAMILY

Prologue

Akane remembered it well. The day everything had fallen apart. One night Soun was traveling to another city to talk to the family of a student of his, when it started raining and he was caught in accident and died. When the news got back to the remaining Tendos and the Saotome's, Genma left in grief, taking Ranma with him.

Flashback

Akane fell to her knees, while Nabiki and Kasumi both leaned against nearby walls for support. She still remembered the wave of grief and nausea that had washed over each of them. She could tell from the looks in her sister's eyes, though she had been to distraught at the time to notice it, that they were feeling the same sick feelings in their stomachs.

"Daddy's... gone?" Kasumi whispered at the somber man who had delivered the message.

"I'm afraid so. Girls, I'm sorry I had to tell you this, but-" the man started to say, but Akane cut him off.

She shook her head violently and yelled, "NO! It can't be true! It's not true!" She gripped her head and choked back a sob as Nabiki dropped to her knees beside her sister and held her in her arms.

End Flashback

And then that night...

Flashback

Akane laid on her bed, face buried in her pillow. The tears had stopped a long time ago, and had left her with an empty feeling that ate away at her soul. A few minutes ago, something had tapped timidly on her window that she had shut and locked, but she had just said, "Go away." and turned on some music loudly so she couldn't hear the insistent rapping.

Then came the yelling.

"Everything was fine before YOU came along! Ever since you got here there's been nothing but trouble! First it was all those freaks showing up that you engaged Ranma to, that tried to KILL Akane more than once, then all those others, and now this! Why don't you just leave! It'd make us all a lot happier." she could hear her sister, Nabiki, screaming at Genma.

"I won't! Akane and Ranma still have to join the schools, even if Soun is gone, I will still carry out our wish in his place!" Genma had told her, tone firm, but then Kasumi had made the choice that changed everything.

"Akane-chan no longer has to marry Ranma. As her closest and eldest relative alive, I free her of her engagement, and allow her to choose who she pleases." Kasumi stated. Akane had given a small gasp, and gently opened her door, and snuck down the halls to see what would happen next.

Genma had been stunned, before suddenly snapping. Akane didn't know if his frustration and grief had taken over, but all she knew was what he said.

"Soun would be ashamed to call you his daughter."

There was silence as Genma realized his mistake and opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water.

"My father would be ashamed of me wanting to ensure my youngest sister's happiness? He would be ashamed of me for making the choice hers? To let her choose who she loves and wants to spend the rest of her life with? You are a fool, Saotome Genma. Leave here now." Kasumi had said coldly, looking at him in disgust and shocking everyone.

And the Saotome's had indeed left. Right after another man had come in the morning, saying the dojo did indeed belong to Kasumi now.

End Flashback

"Everyone's left me. Mommy, Daddy, Genma and the rest of them. Ryoga, and Ukyou, whom I had almost thought of as friends. And... Ranma. He didn't even look at me as he left. Just picked up his bag and walked away..." Akane said softly to herself, looking up at the stars through her bedroom window, letting tears trickle down her face. It had been hard ever since to make ends meet. Nabiki still managed to help greatly, and Kasumi had her own catering business to help with the bills. Akane had even taken on responsibility to help them to survive. She taught others the martial arts she knew, and learned quickly from other martial artists who passed through.

"Akane? You should be asleep sweetheart." Kasumi said softly, coming in the door in a bathrobe. The three sisters had changed since that night. They completely relied on each other, and were always there for one another. Kasumi and Nabiki had even learned some of the arts so they would know their family's legacy better, and would be able to protect their younger sibling. Kasumi had become even more of a mother, fiercely protective of Nabiki and Akane.

There had been some times, when they thought they would be split up because of too many bills or social workers not thinking Akane, who was still so young at the beginning, was living properly with her sisters, but they had always gotten by.

"Okay, Sumi-chan, I'm going." Akane told her with a smile, wiping her eyes, and crawling into bed. Kasumi smiled back sadly, and went over to sit on the edge of her bed.

"Don't worry Kane-chan. We're still here. And Nabiki and I aren't leaving without a fight." Kasumi told her quietly, her voice proud and cocky, making Akane grin despite herself.

"Hey! Don't jinx us sis!" Nabiki said teasingly from the doorway.

"Hey Biki-chan." Akane and Kasumi both chuckled, Kasumi scooting over so Nabiki could sit down as well.

Nabiki looked out the window at the stars, and asked softly, "Do you think they're still watching us from up there?"

"I'm sure they are." Kasumi told her with a small smile, also watching the twinkling lights. Then she turned and gathered both her sisters into her arms, both hugging her back as well. "And let's make sure their gonna be proud of us, okay?" she said, smiling through her tears.

"Hai." both Akane and Nabiki answered in determination.

"I don't know what I'd do without you two." Akane suddenly sighed, squeezing both tightly, before lying back down. Nabiki and Kasumi both smiled down at her, before they left, softly shutting the door behind them.

Akane looked sadly at the stars.

"I just wish the others were here as well..."

Chapter One

Akane woke early as usual the next morning and left for her jog after saying a quick hello and goodbye to her sisters along with a cheerful, "Love you! Be back soon!" Ever since the girls' parents had both died, they never left without telling each other they loved them. Thinking back, Akane could hardly remember a time after her mother's death when she had openly told her father she loved him, and for the first few months, it had eaten her alive inside. With her sister's help however, she had come to terms with her grief... on the other hand, she never talked with anyone at school anymore except for three or four close girlfriends.

It had been three years. Akane was now nineteen, and had grown to be a beautiful young woman. She sometimes wished Dr. Tofu would ask Kasumi to marry him, he couldn't very well hide how he felt for her older sister and hey, they weren't getting any younger, but other times she would be happy it was just the three of them. It made them closer than she had ever imagined. They had all grown and matured, and gotten stronger.

Akane sighed and looked up at the sky while she ran. 'Yeah, just the three of us... All alone. But at least we have each other. Thing's have gotten a lot quieter since...' Akane couldn't bring herself to think about the fact that HE was gone, so she sighed and shook her head, continuing her run.

Akane and Nabiki both went nearby colleges, opting to commute from their homes rather than stay in the dorms. Akane and Nabiki had both gotten cars, Nabiki's an expensive sports car, which Akane had a gut feeling she didn't want to know how her sister had acquired it, and Akane's ride, an old car she had proudly restored herself. It was the weekend, and Akane and Nabiki didn't have to go anywhere so they all decided to have a picnic in the park the afternoon.

Akane waved in greeting to an old woman she passed watering the dirt outside her door, and turned a corner still looking back. She was abruptly met with a loud -THUMP, and she and another person were sent crashing to the ground.

"Ow! Watch were you're going you!"

"Hey! A little warning next time!"

Akane looked up with an angry expression, which immediately turned to a cheerful one when she saw the other girl sitting on the sidewalk. "Kodachi! Hi! I didn't know you were back in town! How's it been going?" she greeted.

Kodachi smiled back and exclaimed, "Akane! It's so good to see you! College has been great, how 'bout you? Gotten that position on the volleyball team yet?"

Kodachi and Kuno (sp?) had calmed down considerably since the time when they were teens, and had even gone to some psychiatrists for help, imagine the rest of the world's surprise when it was discovered that once they got some help, they were actually sane, decent and friendly. They tried to get their father to see someone too, but sadly he had refused.

(AN: Okay, I know some of you are probably falling out of your seats in shock right now, but come on! I can't be the ONLY one feels pity for them and wants to see at least ONE story where they're not degraded! listens to crickets chirp ssiiiigggghhhh)

Akane grimaced and Kodachi winced in sympathy. "Still a no-go, huh?" she said, offering a hand to her to help her up.

Akane growled, and replied, "The coach kinda put me on probation when I used the volley ball to knock over a rack of basketballs on the other side of the gym. You should have seen the looks on those boy's faces when all those things came flying at them though! See if they ever suggest I take off my gym suit again! 'More comfortable' indeed! I hate co-ed PE. And it's not even co-ed! Boys on one side, girls on the other, it's so stupid!" Akane ranted, kicking a stone as they walked back towards the dojo, causing it to embed itself into a brick wall on the other side of the street.

Kodachi shook her head at Akane and commented, "You know Akane, the only thing keeping you from being everyone's favorite student is you temper. Maybe you should see a shrink. I know a bunch of good ones!" She grinned widely to show Akane she was just teasing, then politely declined when Akane asked her to stay for breakfast.

"Can't, I promised Kuno I'd leave town before dark so I wouldn't be driving all night, and since I was planning on shopping before I left-" Kodachi explained.

"You'd better start now." Akane finished with a grin, knowing the gymnasts shopping habits from being dragged on many shopping sprees with her herself. "I STILL say there's no difference between red and crimson."

Kodachi smiled and jogged away waving, calling back, "One sounds better!" as she did so.

Akane chuckled and walked through the door taking off her street shoes and putting on house slippers when she did. "Kasumi! Nabiki! I'm home!"

"Welcome back Akane! Breakfast will be ready in a minute! There are some letters for you on the table." Kasumi told her sister from the kitchen.

Akane looked at her confused for a second, and asked, "So early?" Kasumi just shrugged and went back to finish cooking.

Akane shrugged as well, glancing through her mail quickly. A few letters from colleges, asking her to enroll, and a postcard with no return address. This made her frown in confusion, and stare at the picture on the front. it was a panda bear eating bamboo. Somehow, it looked oddly familiar Akane mused, then flipped the card over to read the message on the back.

'I'm coming back for a visit. Should be there in about a week. Don't go anywhere Tomboy, it's important.'

Akane's eyes widened and she felt ice flood through her veins, a strangled choke making it's way past her lips. 'Tomboy!'

"Akane! What's wrong? You're as white as a sheet!" Nabiki said worriedly, coming in from taking out the trash.

Silently the youngest Tendo handed the postcard to her elder sisters.

'It's not... HIM...is it?" Nabiki said, gulping, looking unsure of how to take the news.

"No one else calls me tomboy." Akane whispered, wrapping her arms around herself to ward off the sudden chill that had rushed over her.

"What should we do?" Nabiki moaned, collapsing next to the table, and thankfully taking the tea Kasumi handed her and Akane.

"Well, it's not like we can run." Kasumi sighed. "We had school to attend, and we can't leave the dojo. And Akane, you have classes all this week."

Akane tensed. Martial arts classes. HE'D come back, find out she was a sensei and make her a laughing stock in front of her students. Then she'd have to find another way to make money, and things would get even harder. "No!" Akane choked out. "Things were starting to come together! If he comes back, it'll all be ruined! I don't want him back here! Why can't he just stay away?" Akane clenched her fists and buried her head in her arms, shoulders shaking as she silently cried. "I don't want him to come back." she whimpered. All of the things she'd worked so hard for... he'd make them all dispersant's, she was sure of it...

Suddenly she stood up and quickly grabbed her jacket.

"Akane?" Kasumi asked in concern, half-standing to go to her.

Akane sent her sister a shaky smile, and said, "I'm just going to go see Masashi-sensei sis. I'll be back by nightfall." Then she jogged out the front door.

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"Akane-chan? What are you doing here?" a surprised voice inquired to the youngest Tendo's panting form on their doorstep.

Akane looked up with tear-filled eyes and choked out a sob, falling forward to clutch to the front of her sensei's shirt.

Pale green eyes softened and strong arms came up to wrap around Akane's shaking form in a tight hug. "Shhhh, it's all right 'Kane. It'll be fine. Come on in, I'll make some tea." Akane sniffled and nodded at the soothing tone, and looked up into her sensei's face.

Ototoi Masashi was actually only a few years older than Akane, a young man with crimson red hair, tan skin and mint green eyes that always seemed to have a certain shine to them when Akane was around. He was strong and fast, and knew the techniques from several different schools, as well as variations he had made himself. He and Akane had been teaching and helping each other for months now, and had a very close relationship. She called him 'Sensei' merely as a nickname, and it amused her to no end how annoyed her would become when she used it. Always retorting how it made him sound like an old geezer.

"What's wrong?" Ototoi questioned softly after Akane had calmed down a bit and sat on his couch drinking tea in tiny sips, hands shaking.

Akane took a deep breath, then said, "Ranma's coming back."

Ototoi jerked in shock, eyes widening and one tightening. He knew all about Ranma. Every time he had gotten close to Akane, when they first met, she would shy away, or pull out her famous mallet and smash him into a wall. It took a long time for her to finally trust him and let him get close. Emotionally and physically. When he had asked why she had been so afraid at first, she had told him the story of her ex-defiances.

Ototoi had developed a silent hatred of the boy. Akane was very important to him. He had lost his family a long time ago, and Akane was like a little sister to him. The thought of any man hurting her as much as this 'Ranma' had nearly made him loose control of several of the darker arts he had learned. Attacks called 'forbidden' in the martial arts world for very good reason. They had affected him greatly, nearly made him loose his mind, but then Akane had come along and pulled him out of the darkness. He'd be damned if he'd let anyone hurt her after that.

"What do you want me to do?" he asked, calmly. All she had to do was give the word and he'd hunt this lying two-timer down and kill him, or die in the attempt.

Akane bit her lip and looked into the tea cup, as if looking for her answers there. "I don't know." she finally answered quietly. "I guess I just want you to... be there to help me if he tries to hurt me again I guess. Or to tell me it's not true when he calls me ugly or worthless." Akane bowed her head, shoulders beginning to shake with silent sobs.

Ototoi felt red clouding his vision. Screw it. He didn't need her permission. He'd go kill the bastard anyway. He stood up and went over to Akane, kneeling in front of her and holding her comfortingly while she wept. "Don't cry Akane. Ranma Saotome will never hurt you again." Green eyes narrowed, red starting to swirl around the edges, and canines began to grow longer as he held her tighter and bared his teeth. "I swear it." he growled, looking into nothing murderously, but seeing a face.

'Ranma Saotome... for what you did to Akane-chan... you will pay'

Next Chapter!

Chapter Two

The Voices All Agree - Protect Her