Disclaimer: Still not mine. And I'm not holding my breath.
Chapter One
Ranma was happy. Incredibly happy actually. Something inside him was telling him today would be a good day.
As a result, he was in the Dojo early, working out energetically. He didn't want to have a fight with anyone today. He didn't want this feeling to go away. So he went to through his kata carefully, his focus on every move.
Akane watched from the doorway. She was here to fetch Ranma to dinner but she couldn't bring herself to speak. There was something different about her fiancée today. His normal exuberance fir the Art was there, but there was something more. His fluid movements were even more relaxed. Moving so quickly, she could barely see him, he was practicing moves she had never seen before. And yet…. there was more. And it scared and awed her all at once. Akane had seen Ranma practice under all conditions. She had seen all sorts of emotions flow into his Art. This time however, it was almost as though he knew a secret.
His eyes were closed and there was a smile on his face.
Akane left quickly without summoning him.
If she had stayed a moment longer, she would have seen him suddenly stop moving and the smile fall from his lips as his face turned white.
As it was, she was in the kitchen helping Kasumi get dinner ready for the table when Ranma came running in, asking hurriedly if the news was on.
"It should be," Kasumi turned and smiled at him. "Is there a story you are following, Ranma-kun?"
"I don't really know," he looked worried. Akane thought that was odd considering how relaxed he had seemed a moment ago. He rushed into the living room, sat in front of the TV and turned it straight to the news. The picture showed the anchors all looking surprised and a little horrified.
"What did you say, Imiko?"
The female anchor covered her mouth with her hand. "You heard me, Sato. A whole town gone in a flash of green light."
"A bomb?"
She shook her head, staring at the paper in her hand. "No, everything's as it was this morning. But around two, travelers reported seeing a green light encompass the whole town. Upon coming to the site, every living thing was dead."
"Dear God."
Ranma clicked the TV off and sat back.
"Those poor people," Kasumi said in the doorway. Akane nodded.
The doorbell rang.
"I'll get it," Kasumi said, almost to herself.
Ranma shot up. "No, Kasumi. I'll get it." He took off to the door, Akane trailing behind, curious. He opened the door slowly, breathing deep and Akane thought he seemed hesitant.
Standing outside were three teenagers. But there was a problem. A sweet-looking girl with curly brown hair and a lean strong red-head boy were supporting between them another boy with messy dark hair. The girl looked at Ranma pleadingly. "Our friend needs rest and help. May we come in?" Akane noted quickly the slow accented Japanese with a blink.
Ranma merely opened the door wider to let the three in. "Follow me," he said, walking into the living room and watching them lay their friend on the couch. Getting a good look at him, Akane guessed him to be around sixteen or seventeen.
Kasumi came back in from the kitchen and saw the boy on the couch. "Oh, my. What happened?" Without waiting for an answer, she turned to the phone. "I'll call Tofu-sensei and I'm sure he'll be right over."
Ranma had taken up a post leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and a watchful eye. Akane gestured to the other teens to sit and tried to make her smile kind and inviting. "What happened? Do you need us to call someone?"
The girl took a deep breath before shaking her head. "He suffers from fainting spells. We only need a place to rest, maybe for the night." She glanced at her conscious companion. "Our friend merely overexerted himself."
Akane nodded slowly, sharing a look with Ranma in which he gave an imperceptible shake of his head. Neither of them were ready to accept the answer that came so quickly and unworried. Akane opened her mouth to ask more when the redhead suddenly stood up.
"How horrible!" He spoke in English. "Here you are, being so nice to us and our friend and we haven't even introduced ourselves." He stuck his thumb into his chest. "I'm Charlie. Charlie Weasley."
His bushy-haired friend nodded vigorously. "Good point, Charlie. I'm Ginny Weasley." The last she said in Japanese again for their hosts.
"We know a bit of English, that's alright," Ranma said. "What about your friend?" He had sensed a quick subject change and wated to know what they were hiding before it turned out they were all three engaged to him somehow.
"That's Har-"
"His brother!" Now Ginny shot to her feet. This startled Kasumi who hung up the phone with a surprised squeak. "Gomen nasai," Ginny whispered as she sat back down. She pulled Charlie with her. "That's his brother…" Here she hesitated.
"James," The red head whispered. "His name is James Weasley."
Ranma looked at the two skeptically. "Well, a good doctor friend of ours is coming over to have a look. So, I'm sure the Tendos won't mind if you make yourselves comfortable." He walked a little away. "Akane? Can I talk to you?" When Akane reached he fiancée he put a hand on her shoulder, pulling her closer and he whispered, "I'm not buying it. You?"
She shook her head slightly. "Their conversation is too panicked." She looked back. "Nabiki could read them better, but she's out at one of her betting booths right now. Their friend does need help though. What do we do?" Akane turned and met Ranma's blue eyes. Eyes that widened in surprise.
"You're actually asking me?" He looked at Kasumi who was walking calmly by, unfazed by the things happening in her home.
Akane sighed. "Don't make a big deal about it. Just tell me."
Ranma's quick smile dissipated her anger as his look turned thoughtful. "Let's wait for their friend to wake up and see how they interact together."
Akane nodded. "Sounds good." Ranma looked like he was about to say morebut was interrupted b stirrings from the couch.
The red head coughed before lunging to the couch and lightly shaking the other young man. "James? James, can you hear me?"
Eyes a startling shade of green opened and focused on the person in front of him. "James? Whaa-" His face was the picture of confusion.
"Yes, James. It's me, your brother Charlie. Tell me you're alright."
Akane saw those green eyes clear and dart around. Then they focused on Charlie again and he nodded. "I feel fine now, Charlie. What happened? My head hurts like a herd of hippogr-potami," he blinked, "just ran over it."
"You overexerted yourself, mate." He pointed to Ginny and said, "One minute you were fine, the next minute me and Ginny had to carry you to the nearest address."
James raised an eyebrow and turned to the girl. "Ginny?"
She nodded. "It's true."
James smiled, which Akane found strange considering his situation. "Well, that's good." He looked around, his eyes sparkling. "Have we met our hosts?"
Akane stepped forward. "I'm Akane Tendo. This is my family's home."
Ranma nodded from the wall he had returned to leaning against. "Ranma Saotome. Living here with my father for awhile."
"My father and two sisters also live here. Father and Nabiki are out right now. Kasumi is putting the finishing touches on dinner." The red head's eyes lit up at the mention of food. He took a breath to speak when a voice called out from the door. "Hello? Tofu here!"
"In here, Doc!" Ranma called out, not taking his eyes off the three in front of him.
"Now, where's the boy you said needed- Oh, my!" A young man walked in and froze at the sight of James, Charlie, and Ginny. He took off his glasses, rubbed them, and squinted as he got them back on. "My word." A smile broke out on his kind face. "It has been awhile since a Potter has graced my vision." His smile encompassed both James and Charlie. "Let alone a Weasley on the verge of awakening."
Ginny stared at the good doctor a moment before whispering, "Bloody Hell."
