Chapter 2:

Till the End of Time, Part 2

"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."

"..."

"Are you gonna say anything?"

"Ranma, I've been thinking since we got back to Japan.What will you do if you see your friends again?" The elder Saotome male stood just over his son's shoulder and looked down at him with a heavy face.

"I'll explain everything to them."

"You've grown pretty comfortable with that body then, have you? Still, it's no good. Do you really think that any of them will see you as you are now, and see that boy you were back then?"

"I'm still the same person, I mean sure, I've changed a lot, everyone changes."

"But not the way you did. Do you really think your old friends, or anyone will believe that you, coming to them as a beautiful young woman, were once the happy young boy they once knew?"

Ranma sighed and turned around, looking at her father. "I, I guess you have a point. But what am I supposed to do?"

"Ranma doesn't exist anymore, until we can find a way to get you back to normal, Ranma is dead." Genma cleared his throat a bit and looked his now daughter over with a sigh. "You're the spitting image of your mother when she was your age. Hmmm, perhaps that could work."

"Pops?"

"From this day on, you'll go by Ichijin Nodoka, it was your mother's maiden name. Under the circumstances, I'm sure she'll understand." Genma chuckled slightly, then placed his hand on Ranma's shoulder. "Let's go home son, your mother will be happy to see you again, despite all that has happened.

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It had been a long meeting with her mother, but after several hours of crying, discussion, yelling, and several other things, including a heartfelt reunion and a loving mother-daughter bonding session, Ranma's mother came to understand the circumstances. Genma had left Japan again, this time to find a cure for Ranma, while Ranma stayed behind with her mother. Nodoka Saotome was a very caring, gentle woman, and she had suggested Ranma stay with her while Genma searched the cure himself. Ranma had protested, but after some soothing words from her mother, came to agree with them.

Ranma, finally accepting the days events, and known now by her mother's name, headed out into the evening for a walk, to sort her thoughts and collect her feelings about what was going on. Her life had undeniably taken a change, and despite all that had happened, it was far less traumatic then she had earlier imagined.

She arrived at a park she had played at with her friends often when she was a child. It was nice to see that while many buisinesses had altered, parts of the town had remained unchanged in her ten year absence. Even the tree she always climbed was as tall as ever, though it had shown some new growth, as Ranma could see branches that hadn't been there in her memory.

Ranma took to the branches, she had always climbed that tree to escape, to settle her mind and collect her thoughts. It had been a comfort zone. Finally reaching her old favorite perch, and seeing a familiar groove she had carved into the trunk as a child, she settled and leaned against the trunk to relax.

Several minutes later, she heard voices below her. Being ever curious, she sat up slightly, and leaned over another branch to examine what was happening below her. She could make out the two forms clearly, one was a beautiful young girl with long almost jet-black hair, the other a boy in a yellow shirt, and brown-green pants, wearing a familiar bandana. Ranma recognized his old friend Ryouga almost immediately, he hadn't changed a bit, still wearing the same bandana. Ranma smiled a bit, seeing that her old friend appeared to have a beautiful girlfriend.

"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 the girl. He didn't say anything for several moments as she took it, blushed heavily, then opened it slowly. Ranma watched as the girl froze briefly, and could see the sparkle in her eyes as tears welled. It was then that Ryouga's voice decided to work, and she heard his words. "Marry me Akane."

Ranma froze in time watching the scene unfold beneath her. That name, it couldn't be the same Akane, but at the same time, she knew that it had to be the same girl, the one who had promised to be the perfect bride. She reached a hand to her chest and clutched an unseen object beneath her shirt as she felt the tears well in her eyes. Ranma could feel her chest tighten as her heart tried to keep from breaking. Akane looked happy, Ryouga looked happy, they had been her best friends, she should be happy for them. Still, that promise from thier childhood, the promise Ranma had cherished since they day she made it. She felt as if thousands of daggers had pierced her heart.

Akane 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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Ranma drug herself back into the Saotome family home, her mother greeting her, then freezing at the look on her daughter's face. Ranma's face was stained with tears, and no sooner had she taken her shoes off then she began to collapse. Nodoka caught her and gently settled to her knees with Ranma's head in her lap. She didn't ask anything, she didn't have to, it was a mother's instinct that told her all she had needed to know.

Night slowly faded into day, and Ranma was awoken in a familiar bed she had used for years as a child. The small comforts were the ones she cherished the most since returning home. Her own bed, her own room, even her mother's face was a comfort she hadn't felt in years. She sat up, stretched, stood, then dressed quickly.

She slowly traveled from her room to the kitchen and took a seat at the dining table as her mother served a traditional breakfast. Another comfort Ranma had missed over the years. The seared salmon looked delicios, the rice was steaming and fresh, and even the miso soup smelled of a mother's love for her child. Tears welled slightly in Ranma's eyes as she smiled up at her mother and began to slowly dig into the meal. Eating slowly had become a luxery on her trip with her father. However, being home again, even if her father were there, she could take her time and enjoy a delicious homemade breakfast.

After breakfast was served, eaten, and cleaned up after, Nodoka handed Ranma a sheet of paper. "You need to hurry Ranma, I mean Nodoka. I've taken care of most of the admissions, but you still need to take this form in, and meet with the principle at Furinken high."

"Thanks mom."

"And Ran... Nodoka, remember, this is a new start for you, a new life. Treat it as such, and leave your past behind you." The elder Nodoka smiled at Ranma and hugged her before watching Ranma run off towards her first day at school, at a semi-normal life.

Ranma smiled slightly, and ran, with her right hand clutched against her chest, holding a small, unseen object beneath her shirt. "That's right, this is a new life, a fresh start. Somehow, I'll find my own happiness."