Ok this is it for the first chapter, I think, chapter 2 is already in
the works and should be out soon.

enjoy the story.


A New Beginning


The young mans wondering
many paths has he chose
yet many more he ignored
many more yet before

Traveling the lost waste
searching his soul
many hardships fallow
giving him haste

Searching for he what he knows not
trying to find his way
tragedy at his steps
guiding him on the way

homeward bond is he
to see a new day
to hope above all
for a new day



Ranma Saotome stared at the house that he hardly even knew.  He had
only been five when his father had taken him from that very home.
Genma Saotome would never see it again. ‘No I can’t start thinking
about it again. I don’t need this not now.’ Ranma thought to himself
as he stared at the house.  From were he was at it seemed to him that
the house was in good repair .  Though he couldn’t see most of it
because of the wall that surrounded it.

  He stood there a few more minuets just looking at the house trying
to figure out what he was to do.  He had spent most of the trip here
with those thoughts on his mind but was unable to come up with a
solution.  Now he was even at more a loss as what to do.  ‘May as well
get this over with.’ Ranma thought as he approached the front gate.
He pause at the gate thinking about just turning and leaving this
problem behind.  His father hadn’t taught him to deal with this kind
of thing. Yet he didn’t want to be like his father and run away from
every problem. ‘This is something I have to do’ he thought as he
opened and entered the gate.

  Upon entering ho stopped and slowly looked around the yard.  There
was a koi pond that was partially blocked from view by the house, a
nicely arranged rock garden was displayed for all to see upon entering
the gate.  The grass and shrubs all cut and trimmed with meticulous
care.  I all radiated a sense of peace and calm that he had not
experienced for quite some time.  He was so absorbed in his viewing of
the yard that he missed the person that exited the house.
"Can I help you?" asked a female’s voice

"Yes, I’m looking for Nodoka Saotome, does she live here?" Asked Ranma
hopefully

"Yes, I am Nodoka Saotome. How may I help you?" asked Nodoka

Mom was all that Ranma said before running up and hugging his mother
trying to hold in his sobs.

"Ranma?" Nodoka asked Hesitantly.

  Ranma fought back the tears before stepping back and answering with
a simple "yes".

"Here this should explain some things" Ranma said while taking a note
out of his backpack and handing it to her.

Nodoka looks at the paper in her hand with dread at what is inside of
it.  Her hands badly shake as she slowly opens the letter and begins
to read.

  Dear Nodoka,

I am sorry that I can’t make it back to you.  Ever sense Jusenkyo we
have had constant problems.  It seems the problems caught up with me.
Hopefully they don’t catch up to Ranma.  There are a few things that I
should tell you.  First when we went to Jusenkyo we had no idea of the
curses the place held or else we would have never went.  It seems that
whoever falls into a spring takes the body of whatever drowned there.
I fell into spring of drowned panda (help with name) and Ranma fell
into the naynanichuan, spring of drowned girl, so now Ranma turns into
a girl when he is splashed with cold water.  Hot water will reverse it
but only until the next time.  I am sorry about this I wish I could
have been a better father to him.  Second, I never told Ranma about
the oath of seppuku.  I ask that you don’t punish him for my short
comings.  He is very much a man even with his curse.  Third is the
engagement to one of the Tendo’s.  I ask you to allow this to stand.
Especially now that I am not there for you.  Finally I want you to
know that I will always love you.


Genma Saotome.


Ranma noticed that his mother was on the verge of tears and stepped
closer to ask what he could do to help.  As he stepped forward Nodoka
noticed him and straitened her features.

"There is someone you should meet" Nodoka told Ranma " if you’ll
fallow me" she continued and started  back into the house followed by
Ranma.  They entered a room that had a TV and a table in it.

"Please have a seat. I’ll be right back" said Nodoka as she turned
around and walked back out of the room.
Ranma sat down on one of the mats on the floor and waited for his
mother to return.  A few moments later Nodoka entered followed by a
young girl with black hair and hazel eyes.
"Ranma this is your sister Ranko, Ranko this is Ranma your brother."
Nodoka told them

"Nice to see your still in one peace bro. Where is father." Ranko said
to Ranma

Ranma hung his head and mumbled something that they didn’t hear.

"He’s dead Ranko" Nodoka told her quietly

"I’m so sorry."  Ranko said a little saddened at the fact she would
never get to know her father. "How" was all she could ask now.

  Ranma sadly told them the story  "It was a few weeks after we had
visited Jusenkyo.  We had traveled the area training in the woods and
fields.  During that time pop grew sick.  He said it was nothing but
it didn’t go away.  Finally I convinced him he needed to go see a
doctor.  The guide took us to the village of amazon women (help with
the name again)  and we asked for help there.  I was still in my
cursed form at the time so they decided to help us.  I stayed with pop
almost constantly but he didn’t get better.  He wrote out several
letters and asked me to deliver them.  One was to mom the others were
for Tendo.  I don’t know what he wrote, but said some day I would find
out and to do my best.  Shortly after that he died.  They tried very
hard to save him. Before leaving their village I was made a honorary
amazon because of the way I could fight and how I acted during my stay
there."

"What’s this about a curse?" asked Ranko.

"Well a training ground that we went to was cursed.  Whoever falls
into a spring there takes the body of whatever drowned there.  I fell
into nyanichuan.  When splashed with cold water I turn into a girl,
when splashed with hot water I turn back into a boy."  Said Ranma.

Nodoka had read it in the letter and still didn’t believe it. That was
until Ranma grabbed a glass of water and dumped it on himself.

"Y-you look exactly like me except for the hair color." Ranko
commented eyes wide with disbelief

"Ranma, I should tell you about a oath you and your father took before
I allowed him to take you from home.  He promised to raise you to be a
man among men or else commit seppuku.   I will not hold you to this.
You and your father have already paid a price. Now lets get you some
hot water." Said Nodoka. "We were going over to a friends house later
today but you probably have a letter for Mr. Tendo as well so we can
go over there as soon as you are ready.  Ranko would you show Ranma to
a room that he can use while were still here." She continued

Ranko was still in a bit of shock from meeting her brother and from
seeing him/her change right before her eyes. She nodded at her mothers
request then looked at Ranma blankly for a few moments.

"Wired isn’t it" said Ranma.

"Wired isn’t the word for it." Replied Ranko  " OK this way to your
new room."

Ranko stood up and led Ranma to a room in the back of the house.

"You can use this room until we move."  Ranko told him

"What do you mean until we move?" asked Ranma

"Well we are moving closer to the Tendo’s.  Mother thought it would be
a good idea. You and father were supposed to go there when you got
done with your training trip.  We Plan on finishing the move some time
this week.  Your lucky you got here when you did a few days later and
we could have been gone. You know I have always wanted a sister."

"Hey I’m a guy" countered Ranma

"Not at the moment. Still it will be nice to have you back.  Would you
like to spar a little before we go?" inquired Ranko

"Sure why not.  What have you been studying?"

"Well I have been studying Anything Goes Martial Arts at the Tendo’s."
Ranko told him

"OK just let me get out of these wet cloths and I’ll be out back in a
minute."

"OK" Ranko said as she turned and left Ranma’s room.

Ranma walked out into the back yard in a red Chinese shirt and black
pants just like the ones he had worn when he got there just a little
earlier.  Ranko stood waiting for Ranma in a white gi in front of the
koi pond.

"Ready" Ranma asked "I’m not going to go easy on you just because your
my sister."

"When ever your ready bro." Replied Ranko

Ranma launched into a series of punches and kicks that Ranko dodged or
blocked. ‘she has a pretty good defense’ Ranma thought.  Ranko seen
her opening and began her attack.  Non of her blows even came close to
him.  When she punched or kicked at him he just suddenly wasn’t there
anymore.  This was beginning to frustrate her. She and Akane could
level almost the entire male population of Furinkan High all at once
and yet she couldn’t even touch her own brother.  Ranma was enjoying
the workout.  He hadn’t had anyone to spar with for quite some time.
Ranma noticed almost to late that his sister had worked him to the
edge of the pond and was about to put him into it.  Deciding he didn’t
want to be wet again so soon he flipped over his sisters head and
swept her feet out from under her.

"Your pretty good." Ranma told Ranko

"Thanks, do you think you could teach me?" Ranko asked. Sure Mr. Tendo
was good but there was no way he could stand up to Ranma.

"I don’t know why not."  Ranma said to her

"Thanks, we should probably get ready to go Mom will want to leave
soon. Especially now that your here." Ranko told him

"OK" was all that Ranma said as they both headed back into the house.
Half an hour later they were all on their way over to the Tendo dojo.