Chapter 1:
The More Things Change...
"Ten years, huh pops?"
"..."
"I can't believe it's been ten years now. It seems like an eternity since we left."
"..."
"I wonder if I'll get to see them again."
"..."
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As is oft to happen as time passes, people tend to either grow closer together, or dift apart. Those who have left often end up as faded memories, yet those who are still around end up closer then ever. Such was the case among one particular group of friends. Even among tightly knit groups of friends, some still manage to drift further, and others closer, and while thier friendships remained, they never remained unchanged.
Akane sighed as she slipped her left shoe on and looked at the young man in the doorway waiting for her. School had been long, and some things were inevitable. She was the target of affection from many classmates, and while she rather appreciated the sentiments, her heart was already with someone. That particular someone took her in his arms as she approached him, and kissed her softly. "R-Ryouga, what if someone sees us?"
"Let them Akane, I don't care. We shouldn't have to hide our love." He smiled slightly as he took her hand and turned away from the school. "Here, I'll walk you home."
Akane blushed as her eyes wandered to the ground, her hand absently tightening around his. In the years since Ranma had left Nerima, she had grown into a beautiful young woman. Childhood dreams had been replaced with the harshness of reality. Old habits fell to the wayside as things such as High School entrence exams took thier place. Eventually it all came to this. She was a 16-year-old High School student at Furinken High, she had fallen for her childhood friend Ryouga, and life was all-in-all generally good. She had her friends, her family, and her dreams. "Thanks Ryouga."
Things had gone well for Ryouga over the years as well. With Akane's help, he had overcome his lack of direction. He had worked hard in Middle School, and finally managed to attend the same high school as Akane, and several other friends of his. In fact he was well on his way to finishing the year as Valedictorian. He was the president of the martial arts club, vice president of the student council, and one of the more popular students at school. His pairing with Akane was nearly a match of the schools best, even if no one knew of thier relationship, outside a close-knit circle of friends. "But of course Akane. Actually, I was hoping we could take a short walk before I take you home. There were some things I wanted to talk to you about."
Akane remained silent, but nodded softly. Her hand gripped Ryouga's slightly tighter as she followed his lead. The sky was beginning to darken as the sun began to set, and the first streetlights slowly turned on.
The pair had eventually reached a park, and Ryouga sat Akane on a swing. He took a deep breath and looked into her eyes nervously. "For a long time Akane, ever since we were children, I, well..."
"What is it Ryouga?"
Ryouga clenched his fist as he reached into his pocket, then turned his head away and handed a small box to Akane. He didn't say anything for several moments as Akane took it, blushed heavily, then opened it slowly. She felt her heart stop, and then take off in a mad dash to sprint through an entire marathon. Her stomach knotted, and she could already feel her eyes starting to water. It was then that Ryouga's voice decided to work, and she heard his words. "Marry me Akane."
Time seemed to stop as she looked up at Ryouga slowly. The moment, the place, the person had all been perfect, even the ring was perfect. She took a moment, attempting to calm her body. Tears began to freely leave her eyes as she shot up from the swing and wrapped her arms tightly around Ryouga's neck, kissed him deeply then gave her response. "Yes, of course I'll marry you Ryouga!"
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"Class, we have a new student today. I'd like you all to welcome Ichijin Nodoka."
The young red-headed woman bowed her head slightly as she looked around the room. She'd been traveling for years, finding herself in new schools at least once a year, in some cases even two or three different schools a year. This time was different though, she'd graduate from this school. Her eyes fell on a couple of students, the only ones that seemed to catch her eye, the rest were all rather plain, ordinary, and unassuming.
"Nodoka has been traveling with her father for many years, please welcome her, and become friends. Tendo Akane!"
"Yes?" Akane stood up from her desk and looked at her teacher with a smile.
"Please take a seat at the open desk next to Akane, Nodoka. Akane, as the female class representative, I'd like you to show Nodoka around campus."
Nodoka quietly walked towards Akane, one of the three students whom her eyes had rested on longer then the others. She lowered her head bowing softly to Akane, then looking up at her and smiling. "I'm in your care."
Akane sat again as Nodoka did the same and class resumed. Akane's eyes fell on Nodoka who was staring off into space and out the window. There was something about the red-head, but Akane couldn't place it. The feeling was akin to familiarity, but at the same time, she swore she'd never seen the girl before.
Eventually class would end. Akane stood over Nodoka's desk as she looked up sleepily at the other girl. "Hurry up Nodoka, or we'll miss lunch, and there's a lot about this school I still have to show you."
Nodoka yawned slightly, then stood and smiled at Akane. Akane could feel it again, that same familiarity, but she couldn't place it, she simply passed it off as she led the other girl towards the school's cafeteria. Nodoka quietly followed, seeming almost shy, timid, things Akane wasn't exactly used to among her female classmates and friends.
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Most of the day passed rather uneventfully, as Akane showed Nodoka the campus, classes resumed and let out, and finally students were dismissed for the day. Akane again stood over Nodoka's desk and smiled at the girl. "I know it's probably hard being a new student in a new school, would you like to be friends?"
Nodoka looked up at Akane and nodded slightly. "I'd like that."
Akane almost swore she saw a slight blush, but passed it off as her imagination. "Well, me and some of my friends are going to karaoke, would you like to come with us?"
"That would be nice, yeah." Nodoka stood up and smiled.
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Six people filled into the booth at the karaoke bar, among them, some familiar faces which included Ryouga, Akane, Ukyo, all from the same class as Nodoka, and then Kuno and Nabiki from the year above. Ryouga was the first to take the mic and began singing a song while the rest enjoyed the surroundings.
Akane leaned closer to Nodoka and chuckled slightly. "We don't get together often like this, with college entrence exams coming up, but, days like this are nice. It's just like when we were kids. All of us would hang out together." Her face turned a little downward at that point. It had still been ten years since she'd last seen Ranma, since any of them had. At first there had been letters weekly, then they slowed to once a month, then every three months, and finally they stopped all-together. When the letters stopped completely, it affected Akane the most. It was almost a year after that when Ryouga had confessed to her, and still another six months before she accepted.
"It must be nice, growing up with your friends. I had a group like this once, before I started traveling with my father." Nodoka sighed. "We had a sad farewell party, but they each gave me gifts to remember them by."
"Things like that happen though, we had a friend when we were children who had to move away. He was such a nice boy, I wonder what happened to him." Akane shrugged slightly.
Ryouga's song ended, and he sat next to Akane, then turned her head and kissed her softly. Nodoka turned away.
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"So, you live around here?"
"Yeah, I live about three blocks from here." Nodoka smiled as she waved her farewells to Nabiki and Kuno who walked off arm-in-arm, then looked back at Akane. "You have some nice friends."
"Thanks, they all seem to like you too, you should spend more time with us." Akane smiled then waved to Ryouga as he too went his own way home.
"I'd like that, I haven't really had many real friends since I was a child."
"Well, if you'd like, I still have time before I have to be home, wanna go shopping with me?" Akane smiled widely as she saw a slight giggle escape Nodoka's lips. "I take it that's a yes."
Ten minutes later the two were in a small clothing outlet within the local department store. "Oh come on Nodoka, this dress would look so cute on you, much better then that Chinese outfit you're wearing."
"I don't like dresses."
"Please, at least try it on for me"
Nodoka sighed and slowly reached for the dress. "Ok, but you owe me for this."
"I'll treat you to lunch tomorrow to make up for it."
Several minutes passed while Nodoka changed her clothes, and eventually she'd step out of the dressing room. "So, how does it look on me Akane?"
Akane looked at Nodoka with a smile, though her gaze froze at Nodoka's neck. On a chain around her neck was a small golden ring with a deep purple crystal flecked with red spots. Akane recognized the ring almost immediately. Her face went pale, her body mostly limp, and slowly but surely, her right hand covered her mouth.
"Is it that bad?"
Akane shook slightly, as eventually her partial trance was broken. She slowly shook her head and turned around." N-no, it's fine. I, I just remembered something, I have to go." Akane ran out of the store, leaving Nodoka behind, staring in wonder.