Author's ramblings: Wow, I didn't expect any replies for the prolouge... anyway, here's part 1, mind you this is a rough draft so excuse the errors, whatever there is.  I'd also like to take the time to request for anybody willing to house my completed fics... enough stalling on with the fic. 

Eight years ago, Ranma Saotome heir to the Saotome Anything Goes School of Martial Arts disappeared.  No one knows where he went, why he left or when he was coming back.  He suddenly returned after years of absence with a child in tow and a host of unmentionable creatures on his trail.  And now the ones that know him best want answers.
 
Jiro Maeda presents
A Rumiko Takahashi Ranma � fanfic
Summoner's song

Disclaimer: I hereby verify that I hold no claim over any and all characters, locations, techniques and scenarios appearing in Ranma � that also appear in this fanfic.

Chapter one: Calm before the storm

Ranma stroked the child's auburn hair gently, almost reverently as he looked at her.  An angel fallen from heaven, he thought to himself, or the closest approximation thereof.  Gently he unattached his arm from the death-grip the child had on it and ever quietly covered the sleeping form with a comforter borrowed from the Tendous.   He sighed as he quietly closed the guestroom door and proceeded downstairs where the Tendous, his parents and his friends who were unlucky enough to be involved in that disaster earlier that day awaited his explanation.  He shook his head in resignation and trudged downstairs, not unlike that of a condemned man on his way to the gas chamber.

Down in the living room, the Tendous and their assorted guests, both permanent and temporary anxiously awaited Ranma's appearance.  Kasumi, ever attentive, began serving tea and snacks to those who waited, the patriarchs of both the Saotome and Tendo clans were at their customary position near the porch, their attention riveted at the Gou board between them as Nodoka, Ranma's mother looked on.  Ryouga Hibiki paced back and forth the living room, making sure he doesn't stray from his route, else he would get lost.  The girls were fawning over the youngest Hibiki as he played with his mother's fingers.  All activity ceased as they heard the slow descent of feet down the stairway. 

Ranma appeared, still wearing the same dust filled, worn out cloak and travelling clothes.    Golden bracers bearing strange inscriptions adorned both his wrists; a strange dagger peeked out of the red silken belt that secured his pants, an outlandish sword was dangling on the opposite side.  He smiled at them as he sat down beside Akane, adjusting the sword so he wouldn't be inconvenienced by it.  He raised his blue-gray irises and stared at them one by one.  Ryouga, frustrated by Ranma's stalling, banged his hand suddenly on the table, his action almost breaking the table.  The baby, startled began to cry only to calm down after his mother cooed at him, while staring daggers at her husband who pointedly ignored her.  Ranma shook his head in silent amusement and held up a hand to signal that he was about to speak.  A sudden hush filled the room and they all seated themselves, trying to be patient for Ranma's explanation.

"I don't know where to start, it's quite obvious that you're all wondering about a lot of things.  I'd rather that you ask me the questions that you have for me, maybe I can get this explanation going." He began, pausing to let all the things he said sink in as he awaited the inevitable explosion of chaos.  Suffice to say he wasn't disappointed as almost everyone began speaking at once.  It was at this time that Kasumi, the ever gentle one, stood up; a frown decorating her face.  "Might I remind all of you that Ranma had been on a long journey, he is tired.  He doesn't need this much aggravation.  More importantly, there is a child resting in the upstairs bedroom, and I would rather not have you disturb her." She said, her voice gentle yet at the same time firm and unyielding.  Ranma nodded to her in thanks, he took a sip of tea from the cup in front of him as he relished the temporary silence.  Akane who had been silent all this time chose that moment to look at his face. She tried to peer into the deep blue irises of her fianc�, a difficult task for said fianc� was at that time staring at his cup.  "Who is that child Ranma?" she asked, her voice betraying the jealousy that she felt burning away in her gut.  Ranma smiled, he had been expecting this question.  He looked up, brown eyes met sapphire blue ones and replied.  "She is the other half of my soul Akane. She is the one preordained to give her life for the future of the world, and I have sworn to defend her to my dying breath." 

Akane was shocked by his answer, she held her hand on her right chest, trying to calm herself down, to slow down the intense beating of her heart caused by a surge of fear.  "The other half of his soul?  What does that mean? Does it mean that he no longer cares for me?" she thought, her blood turning to ice at the way she interpreted those words.  A slight tremor rushed over her, unnoticed by all except the one who wasn't supposed to notice, Ranma.  He reached out and took her hand ever gently, holding it like a very fragile and priceless Ming vase, no even gentler.  His eyes, those sapphire blue orbs that never fail to send her shaking at the knees, told her what he didn't say.  He still loved her, she is still precious to him, no one could take her place in his heart of hearts.  Akane smiled at her fianc� showing him that she understood.  He smirked right back, telling her that he knew she would.

Ukyo watched the silent exchange with a smile though the scene made a little portion of her heart shrivel and die, but she was fine.  She had found someone else now, someone very dependable, strong and not to mention a grade A jackass.  She frowned at the last description, one that fit her husband perfectly at the moment.  "He's still scowling at Ranma, if he ruins this moment for Akane-chan I'll whap his behind till next week!" she vowed silently while giving her husband a withering stare. 

 Said clueless husband didn't notice due to the fact that he was still scowling at Ranma,  his gut was burning with curiosity over the creatures that they encountered and the technique Ranma used to fry the whole lot of them into kingdom come.  He was about to bang on the table to get his former rival's attention when he felt his ear get twisted in ways that nature hadn't intended it to be.  He heard his wife whisper in a tone that to him was both deadly and sexy at the same time.  "Bother them and I'll be serving special piglet Okonomiyaki to the morning rush."  He gulped and then nodded, then turned his attention back to his aquatransexual rival who was grinning at him from ear to ear.  "What are you laughing at you jerk?" he growled.  All the answer he got was a casual shrug.  He almost lost it and was about to tear Ranma to pieces when he suddenly heard a little girl's voice saying "Niichan, who are all these people?"

Ranma smiled and beckoned her to his side. "This is Kirishima Saotome, the Summoner... and my unborn sister given life by the magic of Nyaniichuan."

TBC




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