KAZOKU MEANS FAMILY
A/N: Hey guys, to the girl who offered to beta for me, where's an e-mail address I can send this to? ; Just wondering. Without further ado, here is the next chapter! (It's kinda short, but I wanted the beginning to get looked over before I continued. Or just went on to the next chapter. Thanks!)
Chapter One
The Voices All Agree - Protect Her
Akane fidgeted nervously, trying valiantly to pay attention in class to what the teacher was saying. (A/n: Okay, Akane's nineteen, so she's obviously not still in high school. Any ideas about what I should say for where she's going?) Ranma could come at any time, and it had her paranoid. Any minute now, shampoo was going to come crashing through the wall, demanding Akane hand over her husband, then all the others would show up. Sure, she was nervous as hell about seeing her ex-fiancee again, but what REALLY worried her was what would happen when he came back. Surely all his little followers would make a come back as well, and maybe they'd start destroying the dojo on a regular basis again. The problem was, this time she and her sisters wouldn't be able to afford to keep repairing it again. Also, without their father she felt as if they completely defenseless. Usually when she disappeared, and ended up needing help, her father was the one who threatened everyone into going after her.
Akane looked down at her desktop with eyes filled with tears. Kami, she missed her Daddy... He had always called her his little girl, but now she'd never hear those words again. Kasumi and Nabiki had no fighting ability, her father had only taught her. She could still remember training with him, how he always smiled and encouraged her, trying to be stern, but always beaming with pride when she refused to stay down.
None of that would happen any more though. Now she had to be a grown up and help with the dojo, training her own students. She took a deep, calming breath and slowly closed her eyes, going into a meditative state. She had learned this from another sensei of hers. A very mellow old woman, who had managed to focus Akane's anger. Which was nothing short of a miracle.
"Class dismissed. Don't forget your homework. It's due next class." The teacher announced, and Akane dragged her tired body out of her chair. Homework, martial arts classes, odd jobs to earn money, and the training sessions with Ototoi were wearing her down.
'Well, I guess we'll just see what happens. Kasumi always says to be optimistic.' Akane thought, trying to lift up her spirits. Her eyes softened. 'Besides, there's no need to freak out. Ranma's had years to mature. Maybe he's not the same jerk as before.' she tried to picture an older, mature Ranma, but just couldn't do it. She stated softly to herself. 'What will be will be. Just hope for the best Akane.' she though firmly, nodding her head.
Ototoi opened his door and beamed at his 'student' as he ushered her in. "Hey Akane. More training?" he asked.
Akane smiled back and replied, "Yeah. And thanks for talking to me yesterday. I'm a lot more calmed down about it now. Maybe I overreacting."
Ototoi frowned, and replied slowly, "That's good, but don't drop your guard. God knows how many people I'd have to maim if you got hurt." he ended it with a grin towards the brown-eyed girl, who chuckled, then nodded.
"I understand. Now, about that attack you were trying to teach me..."
"What do you think Kasumi?" Nabiki sighed, looking at her older sister worriedly.
Kasumi looked a little concerned as well, and replied softly, "I'm not sure Nabiki. I guess we'll just have to wait until he gets here to see."
"Sis, are you seriously going to let him stay here?" the middle Tendo dead-panned. 'he's a walking advertisement for property damage. I can suggest a nice hotel he could stay at."
"Now that wouldn't be polite, now would it?" Kasumi gently chided her.
Nabiki muttered obscenities to herself then stated, "Fine, but if I have to start selling pictures of Akane again to pay for repairs, it's going to be your fault."
Kasumi grimaced, and slowly said, "Well, maybe suggesting a hotel wouldn't TOO terribly rude. I wonder if his father will be with him?"
Nabiki tensed, and glared down at the table. "Oh he'd better not be, after what he said to you. I'll borrow Akane's mallet and knock him into orbit."
"Now, now. He was just as upset as the rest of us. He and father WERE best friends." Kasumi sighed, chopping up vegetables for dinner.
"But trying to force Akane to marry! She was only sixteen for Kami's sake. THEN he would have started ranting about children, and I don't think either one of us were going to let Akane become a teenage mother." Nabiki hissed, clenching her fists. No one messed with her sisters without Nabiki Tendou's fury paying them back in full.
Kasumi sighed softly and set down her knife, turning around to hug her sister. "Don't be so angry Nabiki. You know he and father had always wanted to join the schools. He was jut trying to make their dream come true. It's been too long for you to still be holding a grudge Nabiki."
Nabiki smiled crookedly up at her sister and said, "Oh believe me sis, I can hold a grudge for a LOT longer than this. They don't call the Ice Queen for nothing."
Kasumi frowned, and said disapprovingly, "I really don't like it when they call you that, Biki-chan. Can't you get them to stop?"
Nabiki chuckled, and said, "Sorry sis. No can do." Kasumi sighed in resignation and nodded, turning back to the food.
"Wonderful Akane!" Ototoi cheered with a grin. "You're getting better every day!"
Akane glowered up at him from her position when she was collapsed on the floor. "How gasp can you say that? gasp"
He laughed, and extended his hand out to help her up. "When you're first learning, yeah, it'll tire you out real fast. But once you get better your body will get used to it. It's not called the 'Diamond Body' for nothing."
Akane groaned and grabbed her water bottle once she back on her feet. "Creating a shield with your energy is a wonderful defense technique, yes, but how is it supposed to help me if I can only hold it for 30 seconds and am completely helpless afterwards!"
"Ah don't worry, you've still got a ways to go so it's not this is as strong as it's gonna get."
"I wish I had your confidence." Akane muttered.
Ototoi grinned and said cheerfully, "I wish I had your mallet! Don't forget, as soon as you learn this technique, you've got to show me how to use that thing." Akane chuckled and nodded.
"Hey, do you want to go out to eat? I'm guessing that after that you're starved." he suggested.
Akane opened her mouth to reply, when suddenly a voice from outside bellowed, "WHERE AM I NOW!"
'And so it begins.' Akane thought with a grimace.
