This is something I have planned for a long time but for some reason, I
can't seems to find the time to finish it ^_^ Unfortunately, I am suffering
from the dreaded 'writer's block' at the moment. However, I need your input
on this, so please feel free to comment!

Oh, just to clarify, this fic is a (I hope) a sequel to a fic called 'Hello
Again' by Benjamin Franks. To those that needed the aforementioned fic,
please e-mail me and I will reply as soon as possible.

Disclaimers- All regular and irregular characters belonged to R. Takahashi
and are no way from my imagination, except the plot ^-^ Enjoy!

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			Prologue
			--------


        A few days ago, Ranma hit his head on the rocks surrounding the
fish pond in the Tendo garden, following one of his everyday disagreements
with Akane. The suppression of his male personality was somewhat
unexpected, despite the fact it had happened once before. Where there was
once Ranma in both his, and his cursed form, after the accident only the
female personality survived.

Akane, through her anger and desperation, caused Ranma to hit her head on
the rocks again, unfortunately making it irreversable. For better or worse,
the male Ranma was no more. Genma, Ranma's father, in an effort to make
Ranma carry through her "obligations" swore that Ranma will be disowned by
him and pronounced dead to her mother if she did not obey her father. In
despair and with no way out, Ranma ran away from the Tendo dojo....

The story continues....

-----------------

Life Goes On.... Part 1a
------------------------

Evening was approaching. It was also raining heavily, loud clashes of
thunder shaking the Tendo foundation to its core. It was as though the
Heavens was displeased at what transpired a few hours ago between Ranma and
her father. Akane had gone after Ranma when she ran away but there was
still no sign of them. Unpleasant thoughts began to creep into the
household, making them edgy and more than anxious, jumping at the slightest
movement from the outer porch.

Soun Tendo and Genma Saotome were playing a game of shoji without
enthusiasm, wondering for the first time the consequences of their actions.
Neither notice the other was actually playing seriously for once and within
the rules. The other two occupants within the Tendo household, needless to
say, were extremely displeased with their father, going so far as to ignore
him whenever he attempted to ask them to do chores that had been a routine
in this household for so long. The silence stretch on, occasionally broken
by a click as the shoji players placed their piece on the battlefield.
Thunder suddenly broke out overhead, causing the occupants to shriek and
shout as once again, the household shook violently with the fury leashed
upon it. The shoji board fell off the table with a loud bang scattering the
pieces everywhere and a sound of a glass breaking can be heard across the
room.   

In the lull of the storm, the sound of a door opening from the outer gate
caused everyone to look up. Looking at each other, the occupants quickly
scutter up an opened the porch door, hope transparent on their faces. It
was Akane, carrying Ranma on her back. There was no movement from Ranma and
Akane looked like she had been crying. Her clothes were soaked and she was
shivering from the cold. Fearing the worst, Kasumi ran out to her, not
noticing the heavy downpour. Soun and Genma were frozen on the porch as if
in shock. Nabiki looked very disturbed as she stood beside her father,
wondering if this was finally 'it'.

	"Akane! Ranma....?"

	"(sniff!) She's alright, Kasumi. Just tired, that's all. She's sleeping",
whispered Akane.

Relief flooded the face of everyone. Soun was crying happy tears, shouting,
"The Anything Goes Martial Arts School can still continue!!" over and over
again.

Genma ran to his son's side but one look from the three young women were
enough to freeze him in his tracks. Bowing his head, he turned back,
leaving the three, er, four women on their own. Soon after, sounds of
celebration drifted in the wind, from the direction of the household.
Frowning uncharacteristically, Kasumi went back inside. Akane went over to
where Nabiki was and lay Ranma down beside her. Ranma was still asleep,
whimpering now and then. Akane sat down beside her, so tired she felt as if
her ki was all sucked out. 

Suddenly, a sound of metal hitting a soft but resistant object echoed
through the slowly approaching night. Quiet reigned. Kasumi came out, a
frying pan in her hands. The rain finally stopped, followed by the
receeding thunder. The sounds of living can be heard again, birds chirping
gloriously for the passing of nature's primary cleaning agent. A warm and
gentle breeze appeared out of nowhere, coaxing the wetness from soaked cloths.

	"Kasumi?! You didn't!", exclaimed Nabiki in astonishment.

	"Gomen, I have to. This is no time for father to behave in such a way. He
was getting so out of hand with his 'celebrations' that he had already
drunk a barrel of sake", replied Kasumi, a frown clearly visible on her
normally cheerful face.

	"ACHOOO!!"

	"Oh my. You have caught a cold, Akane. Let's get you and Ranma into a warm
bath before it gets any worse", said Kasumi, concerned.

Akane blushed at the thought, but then she remembered Ranma's current
state. A stray drop of tear found its way down her face, finally landing on
her left hand. Kasumi knelt down and hugged her, giving her silent support.
Akane felt her sister's arms around her in a protective hug and finally
gave in to the feelings of anguish that she had been trying to hold back.
Crying with her heart, she hugged Kasumi tightly, with big wracking sobs
assaulting her body. 

Looking down at her sister in such a state, Nabiki could not help but felt
waves of sadness wash over her. Helpless, not knowing what to do to ease
Akane's pain, she could only stay where she was and not for the first time,
silently screaming at their mother for leaving them.

Akane's sobs soon subside but she did not let go. Oneechan, in so many
ways, reminded her of their mother. Protective, kind, caring....she felt
comforted as Kasumi continued to hold her. A stir from Ranma caught her
attention. Letting go of Kasumi, Akane went up to her....only to find that
she was mumbling and trashing about in her sleep. 

	"Ranma....wake up", Akane said, shaking her about her shoulders.

	"Unnnn....oh, it's you Akane. Where are we?"

	"We are at the Tendo dojo, Ranma. Where else would we be?"

	"At the Tendo dojo?"

Looking around, Ranma indeed found herself at the Tendo dojo. Reluctantly,
she said, "I...." a small tear appeared. Ranma quickly wipe it away "I..I
don't think I should be here, Akane."

Akane looked indignant. "What!?? Our dojo is not good enough for you, is
that it?" 
A blue layer of aura was visible around her. A sense of coming impending
doom can be felt by everyone present.

	"N..no." Ranma scuttered away from her as far as possible without implying
rudeness. Crestfallen, and looking at Akane wih tears in her eyes "It's not
because of your household, Akane. It's.... (sniff!) it's....oyaji disowned
me, remember? Mr. Tendo didn't stop him (sniff!) and that means he also
agree. I....I have got no right to be in this household...."

Akane's blue aura flared even brighter. Ranma looked on with fear, thinking
that Akane was angry at her for blaming her father. She needn't had
worried. Akane's anger was directed at the two men mentioned.

	"We...will...see...about...that!!!", Akane said, a growl in her voice.

Turning around, she prepared to storm into the household to give Mr.
Saotome and her father a piece of her mind, or mallet...whichever came in
handy. A restraining hand on her shoulder stopped her. It was Kasumi.

	"Worry about that later, Akane. But now, why don't you and Ranma both have
a bath and a rest?"

Akane felt like rebelling. One look at her sister's eyes told her that this
was not a request. It was an order. Her rebellious nature quickly got
squashed. Nodding weakly, she took hold of Ranma. Sometimes, Kasumi acted
too much like their mother.... A small tug shook her out of her musings. It
was Ranma, looking at her with worry.

	"But Akane, I can't. I am not welcome here..."

	"Nonsense!" Kasumi reprimanded sharply "You are always welcome here.
Follow Akane, Ranma. We will worry about father and Mr. Saotome later."

Nodding meekly, Ranma followed Akane. She hadn't got much resistance
against Kasumi either. Nabiki watched as her younger sister led Ranma up
the stairs to the bathroom. 

	<Wait a minute. Isn't the bathroom on the ground floor?>

Shrugging her shoulders, she continued to watch. They didn't met her father
or Mr. Saotome along the way, which was strange. Turning to look at Kasumi,
Nabiki saw determination and a small hint of anger on her face. Nabiki felt
a little bit angry herself so that was no surprise. What was surprising was
that this was the first time for many years Kasumi had lost that much of
her cheerfulness. 

	<Looks like heads are going roll today. With Kasumi at the helm, this is
going to be very interesting> thought Nabiki.    

------------------

To be continued.....