A/N: Wow, I am touched by the number of people who are reading my story. I want to thank you all by name, but there are just too many. For now, *gives collective hug* that'll have to do. In other news, I'm donig my SAT's tommorrow, so wish me luck. If I do well I may post the next chapter sooner than normal.

Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma 1/2, but I do own a computer, so I can write about it as much as I want.

Akari stared at her breakfast as a voice from seemingly no where proclaimed "Jiiiiiiiiiiiii…"(1) Ruminating over the events contained in her dreams last night, she was forced to remember what happened afterwards.

*Flashback*

When she arrived back at Nerima and the terrible news was delivered to her family, there was a shocked silence. Everyone knew something was going to happen but they never though it would be this. Maybe arrived wasn't the best way to put it, since that would imply being under her own power. Apparently she had gone into what Doctor Tofu, upon seeing her state and examining her, called "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder". He told everyone else that her mind had put her into a comatose state so that it didn't have to deal with everything at once, but would probably slowly bring her out of it. As it was, Herb and Saffron had an entourage bring her back along with a letter explaining the events and their condolences for what happened. Not that it mattered, but it was the thought that counted.

The funeral, which almost all of Nerima attended, even the Martial Arts Tea Ceremony and Battle Dining schools, was a grand affair. As many who could make it of the people mother had helped in her travels during her last months showed up as well. Even Akari(Pig girl) and Ryouga were there (having been sent an invitation a week in advance of all the others). Akari (Tendo), who had just recently come out of her coma like state, was astounded to see the number of people Mother had had an impact upon. As she walked around in a daze, she was constantly set upon by people wanting to give her their condolences and telling stories about her mother.

Even Saffron showed up.

Akari was amazed to learn her mother had killed a god. No wonder her mother always held back when fighting her, even if it did upset her(2). She saw opposing schools of marital arts actually getting along at mother's funeral and… were those Amazons?! It was a bit confusing since she had to temporarily set aside the notion that mother had always been female when listening to everyone referring to mother with masculine pronouns and conjugation. When she asked Aunty Kasumi about it, who had taken up the mantle of being her second mother, she promised to explain it after the funeral.

*End Flashback*

"Hey, are you ok?" Father asked in a concerned tone.

"Of course Ot… Akane." The mask which she had become so proficient of late at putting on was instantly up, and she was the very image of a content person, while inside her memories continued to play on unbidden.

*Flashback*

As the coffin mother was in was slowly being lowered,a blinding light illuminated the area, and a voice reverberated throughout the area. It felt as if it was speaking inside your mind, yet everyone heard it.

"I'm sorry," the power in the voice shook the ground, "but I cannot allow this to come to pass." A figure appeared in Akari's vision as she squinted into the light. It wasn't well defined, and it looked more like some sort of shadow with the way it was blurry around the edges, or that might have been the tears in Akari's eyes from the intense light. The figure seemed to reach a hand out to her, and she took it, not knowing why she did, without hesitation. In an instant they were gone, and so was the light. Everyone looked around in a daze, except Herb and Saffron, who gave each other an 'I can't believe that just happened' look.

(1)- Jii means basically an intense stare. You hear it alot in anime when one character stares at another, so I figured I would stick it in here.

(2)-Sounds like someone we know ne?

A/N: Ok, I'm cutting it off there, next chapter we will find out how things got the way they were. Remember, long reviews bring faster updates.