Chapter 2
----------

In a parrallel universe, running three years in the past, two years before Ranma 
originally showed up at the Tendo's, a young six year old red haired girl faded 
into view in a quite park during the early hours of the morning. As she became 
more substantial she looked around, observing the slight changes in the park, a 
park she knew well as it was one of her faveroute refuges, reminding her of the 
good times in her training trips.

'Hmm, mothers house should be somewhere around here.' she thought to 
herself, frowning as she tried to remember where exactly.  'I'll have to camp out 
for a while until I can meet with her, then maybe I can find some way to get her 
to adopt and love me.'

She walked around the park looking for a suitable clearing that she had 
remebered from before. It was somewhere within the trees hidden from view, it 
was the perfect place to make camp for the rest of the morning. She eventually 
found the seldem used trail that lead to the clearing, it was easier to find than in 
her time, obviously other people still visit this clearing more often than in the 
future.

As she reached the end of the path and the clearing became visible, she could 
here whispers coming from multiple people but they where to quite to hear. 
'Damn I cant camp here, I have no idea who they are and most people wouldn't 
be out at this time.' She turned to leave when her curiosity got the better of her. 
'I'm so gonna regret this.' She snuck closer to the clearing, staying in the 
shadows of the trees which served to make her impossible to see at this late 
time.

She peeked out from the trees and saw several large and dirty men huddled 
together and whispering furiously at each other, making plans of some sort. 
'Damn, I know these guys are up to no good but what can I do? My bodies too 
small and weak now to do anything to them.' She turned around to leave when 
her foot accidently hit small branch lying on the ground. Normally this would 
have gone unoticed, but in the dead of night it might have well been a siren 
advertising her prescence.

One of the large brutish men jumped to his feet at the sound. "S#*t, their's 
someone there" he swore out, pointing in Ranko's direction. The others leapt to 
their feet as well and rushed towards Ranko's position, cursing up a storm as 
they ran.

Ranko paled as the implications of what was about to happen hit her. 
"EEEPP!" She squeeled as she leapt away and ran from the clearing as fast as 
her short legs would carry her. She looked over her shoulder and noticed the 
guys easily catching up to her. 'Damnit i'm too young now to fight them... but if I 
don't they'll just attack me anyway.'

Decision made, she stopped running and reversed her direction, running 
straight into the guy in the middle of the pack. They all paused in a moment of 
confusion and surprise before the middle thug went down clutching his balls. 
Ranko had ran at him full pelt and smacked her small fist into his sensitive area, 
which was at the perfect height for her smaller form. Ranko was slightly 
disgusted with herself, 'Normally I would never resort to such a dirty trick, but if I 
dont I'll never deafeat them as I am. My strength, speed and Ki are all much 
smaller that they were. I Guess my younger body just cant handle that much Ki 
at once."

The other thugs quickly got over their shock after wincing in sympathy pain. The 
largest thug stepped menicingly towards Ranko and snarled. "That's the last 
mistake you'll ever make you little bi*#h." He swung a massive arm at the red 
haired girl who quickly dodged from the slow moving appendage. He attacked 
several more time, none of them hit.

Ranko was getting seriosly worried, although the thug was slow and clumsy 
enough for even a beginner martial artist to dodge, she was outnumbered and it 
would only take one hit to take her out. The thugs however would be able to 
take most of her attacks as she lacked the strength to really harm them. 'Damn, 
im really beginning to think this whole plan was a bad idea.' She back flipped 
out of the way of another punch. Leaping away from the thugs she bought 
herself a few seconds to analyse the situation and come up with a quick plan.


As the other thugs started to surround her she continued to dodge their blows, 
but it was getting harder as the attacks were coming from all sides and she was 
rapidly getting tired. She put her plan into action and taunted the biggest man. 
"Hey you moron." She shouted out, giving an annoying smirk that served to 
irritate the guy further. "You couldn't hit me even if I was tied down and 
unconscious."

The big thug turned red, imaginary smoke pouring from his ears. He pushed his 
attacks harder and faster, attempting to splat the annoying girl. "You'll regret this 
you little twerp." He growled out through gritted teeth. He pulled back his meaty 
fist and sent it flying hard and fast staright at Ranko's head. She dodged at the 
last second and the fist continued, ploughing into the gut of another thug who 
had been sneaking up behing the small red head. The thug went down hard, 
clutching his stomach and rolling around in pain.

Ranko jumped triumphantly into the air. 'Yes it worked' she thought happily. 'I 
doubt he'd be stupid enough to fall for it again though.'

The large thug was beyond furious at this point. He fainted an attack to the red 
heads right, which she confidently dodged. His other hand was already lashing 
out into the space she had dodged too, his left fist impacted with Ranko's 
shoulder and sent her spinning and flying backwards.

"AAARRRGGHH" she cried out in pain as her injured arm hit the ground. 
'Damnit I should have been more carefull, at least it was his weaker left arm that 
hit and not the right.' She checked her shoulder and gingerly tried to move her 
arm. 'OWW, I guess it's broken. I really gotta get away or im done for.'

Fearing for her life, Ranko quickly scrabbled to her feet dodging a few more 
strikes that could have seriously injured her and ran as fast as she could for 
cover. 'Their's no way I can win a fight now, my body is in no condition for a 
fight like this.' She just reached a grove of trees when she felt a tremondous 
agonizing pain in her side and heard a oud crack. One of the thugs had swung a 
wooden baseball bat and caught her in the ribs, crushing several of them with 
ease and sent her flying face first into the trunk of a large tree. She slid down to 
the ground unconsciouse, leaving a trail of blood on the bark of the tree.

The largest thug waved away the other thugs and stalked towards the downed 
red head. He spat on her prone form. "Stupid little girl." He growled angrily. 
"Nobody messes with us and gets away with it." He glared down at her still body 
and pulled back his leg for a kick, he smiled viciously and kicked her hard in the 
stomach, lifting her into the air and turning her over, blood flew out from several 
cuts on her face. She landed limply, her arm twisted back in an unnatural 
position and one side of her chest obviously caved in.

He was about to deliver another kick when a Katana appeared at his neck, he 
looked around quickly and saw a furious red haired woman dressed in a kimono 
holding the Katana, his mates had already run away leaving him alone. The 
woman looked at young girl and saw her wounds, her eyes lit up in anger. The 
katana dissapeared from the thugs neck and before he could even blink, small 
cuts began appearing all over his body. Soon he was in too much pain to notice 
the hilt of the katana flying towards his forehead knocking him into blissfull 
slumber.

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

Nodoka Saotome was out for her traditional early morning walk in the park 
before she had to teach her kendo class. She liked walking through this park 
because it reminded her of the joy she used to share with her son Ranma 
before he went on a trainining trip with his father Genma.

She sighed sadly to herself, 'Why did I ever agree to let them go on that trip?' A 
tear trickled down her cheek unnoticed. 'They've been gone for eight years 
already... I hope nothing happened to my baby.' She quickly diverted her mind 
from the depressing thoughts and looked up into morning sky. The sun was just 
beginning to rise and it looked beautiful, the air was also cool and crisp. She 
could smell the wonderfull scent 
from all the flowers that had been planted throughout the park, it served to calm 
her troubled mind and relax her ready for the coming day.

Just as she was finishing her walk and was about to head back, she thought she 
heard a girl squeel in pain. She quickly looked around the park untill she spotted 
a group of thugs standing around a little red haired girl that was lying 
unconsciose on the ground. She quickly noted the girls injuries and got angry.

Nodoka slipped her katana from its coverings and advanced menicingly 
towards the group of thugs, intending to save the poor girl. Most of the thugs 
noticed her and they paled upon seeing the katana. They made a quick tactical 
decision and ran away, they might be stronger but a baseball bat is no match 
for a blade.

Only the large thug was left, and he was preparing to kick the girl. Unleashing a 
burst of speed she wasn't even aware she was capable of, Nodoka rushed the 
thug and placed her katana at his neck, stopping the kick. She smiled darkly as 
the thug looked around and noticed his buddies gone, this dark creature, this 
foul beast was going to pay for what he had done to the girl.

She looked down at the girl and saw her injuries where worse than she had first 
thought. Seeing a six year old girl with red hair that could have easily been her 
daughter, beaten up this badly sent Nodoka into a focused rage. She pulled the 
katana away from the creatures neck and slashed him several hundred times in 
a few seconds. Realising she needed to end this fast for the girls sake she 
ramed the hilt of the katana into the things forehead knocking it out.

Nodoka ignored the thug as he collapsed and went to check on the small girl, 
she was horrified at the extent of the damage. She checked the girl to see if it 
was safe to move her, although the broken ribs and shoulder where bad, she 
could safely pick the girl up and move her to safety. She gently picked her up 
cradled her softly, taking a quick took around she coulnd't see any more thugs 
so she left the park.

Nodoka strode swiftly home, lukily she lived next to the park so she was home 
in a matter of minuites. She struggled with the front door, trying to get her keys 
out and unlock it. She moved into her home and gently layed the girl onto her 
sofa. She looked at the unconsciouse form for a moment, 'Amazing, with her 
red hair and her face, she really looks like she could be my daughter.' She 
sighed longingly and left to getthe phone, she had some important phone calls 
to make.

A police car came quickly, followed by an ambulance. Nodoka invited them in 
and led them to girl she had found who was still unconsciouse. They all paled at 
the amount of damage caused to one so young. The paramedics quickly 
examined her and worked to stabilise her condition. They quickly placed her on 
a stretcher and with the go ahead from the police who had seen all they 
needed, they took her to the hospital to hopefully save her life.

The police and Nodoka stayed behind, needing to ask questions in order to 
arrest those responsible. "Mrs Saotome, what can you tell us about this those 
who caused this atrociose crime?" One of the officers asked.

Nodoka nodded and gestured for the officers to follow her. They left the house 
and Nodoka started explaining what happened as they walked. Soon they 
where at the park and she found the thug right were she had left him. Obviously 
his mates wern't coming back for him. The officers quickly cuffed him and 
checked his vitals. They dragged him out of the park and placed him into the 
back of their car. They asked her several more questions before leaving and 
assured her the thug would be locked away for a long time.

With the police gone, Nodoka collapsed to the sofa, her thoughts becoming 
more guilty. 'If only I had been earlier, that poor girl wouldn't have been in such 
a poor state.'

After several hours of guilty thoughts and beating herself up, Nodoka decided 
she needed to find the girl to provide her some comfort untill they could find out 
who she was and get her family. Mind made up she phoned several local 
hospitals giving a description of the girl and asking if she had been admitted. 
On her second try she was successfull, so she packed an overnight bag and 
rushed off to see the poor girl.

Nodoka waited several hours in the waiting room, getting nervouse at the lack of 
news on the girls condition. Finally a doctor came through the doors with a sad 
look on his face.

"Are you Mrs Saotome?" he asked her, curiosity flashing in his eyes as he took 
in her red hair and facial features. 

Nodoka nodded and gulped. "How... How is she doctor?" she asked fearfully, 
afraid of the answear.

He shook his head sadly and looked into her eyes. "She's out of emergency 
surgery and is expected to live." He breaks eye contact and looks down at the 
floor. Nodoka paled, knowing something bad was coming. "Unfortunately three 
of her ribs were broken and several cracked, her shoulder was also broken as 
well and she suffered internal bleeding around her stomach were we beleive 
she may have been kicked." He sighed sadly, then looked up curiosly. "Are you 
sure she isn't related to you? She looks just like a younger version of you, I 
could have sworn she was your daughter."

Nodoka shook her head, longing showing in her eyes. "I wish she was doctor, 
but I only have a son who is fourteen. I have no sistors so she cant be a niece. 
She's just a girl I saved in the park." Guilt flashed across her face. "I just wish I 
could have saved her sooner." She burst into tears, unable to hold the guilt any 
longer.

The doctor moved to comfort her and wrapped her in a warm hug. "Shhh, it's 
not your fault. If you had gotten there any later, the thugs might have killed her. 
You saved her life." He placed his hand on her back and gently rubbed it until 
she calmed down.

Nodoka gathered herself together, wiping away her tears on the sleeves of her 
kimono. "Thank you doctor, your right... May... May I see her?" she asked 
hopefully.

The doctor nodded "Yes that shouldn't be a problem, but please try not to 
disturb her, she needs her rest."

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

Ranko slowly woke up, the intense pain that had rendered her unconsciouse 
was now reduced to a dull throb in her chest and stomach thanks to a strong 
injection of pain killers. She slowly opened her eyes and squinted at the bright 
lights threatening to burn her retinas. 

She blinked a few times untill she could just make out a red coloured blur sitting 
near her bed. "Mom?" She whispered, her voice hoarse and quivery with 
anxiety. She looked towards the woman with blue quivery puppy dog eyes that 
the woman fell in love with instantly.

The woman shook her head softly and sadly responded. "No dear, Im afraid im 
not your mother... My name is Saotome Nodoka, I rescued you from the thugs 
at the park."

Ranko quivered a little, looking like she was about to cry. "Sorry." she 
whispered. "it's just that you look just like my momma."

Nodoka looked up, surprised. "Were is your mother, dear? Why were you alone 
in the park?"

'Damn I cant tell her she's my mother, I'll have to make somethin' up'. She bit 
softly on her quivering lower lip. "Mommas gone, she and poppa left me 
alone... I don't know why, was I bad?" She quickly bust into fake tears that soon 
became real as she remembered she really was all alone.

Tears filling her own eyes, the older red-head grabbed the younger in a gentle 
hug. "Shh, it's all right. Every thing's going to be all right." She soothed the 
younger girl until her tears stopped flowing. "Can you tell me your name?"

Ranko slowly looked up into Nodoka's eyes, she found herself getting lost in 
those endless deep blue pools of compassion and the beginnings of love. 
"Ranko, my names Ranko... I cant remember my last name." She burst into 
sobs. "I've been alone for so long, I just want somebody to love me again." 
She slowly drifted back to sleep. 

Nodoka gave Ranko one last hug before getting up to leave. Looking down at 
the young injured girl her expression softened to one of love and longing. 
"Don't you worry Ranko, I'll love you." she whispered gently before leaving to 
find the doctor. She whispered to herself as she left the room. "I'll never let 
anything else happen to you, I swear."

She tracked down the doctor, intending to tell him everything she had just learnt 
about Ranko as well as to make a request. "Doctor may I have a word?"

He nodded "Of coarse Mrs Saotome, I assume it's about the girl?"

Nodoka nodded, "Yes she woke up while I was there." She stated sadly. "Her 
name is Ranko and she told me she was an orphan, I believe she may have 
been living on the streets for a while."

The doctors expression changed to shock "That poor girl, to lose her parents 
and home and then to get attacked like this. I'll have to phone social services 
right away."

Nodoka looked thoughtfull. "Could you please contact me when the social 
worker speaks to Ranko? I beleive a freindly prescence would calm her and I 
wish to discuss Rankos living sitiuation with them, If I can I would love to adopt 
her." She sighed wistfully "I already find myself loving her like a daughter."

The doctor nodded and smiled. "You seem to be a very caring woman Mrs 
Saotome, I hope everything turns out well for you and Ranko. I'll certainly pass 
along my recommendations for your fitness to raise a child. From what I have 
seen so far, Ranko would receive far more love from you than anyone else."

"Thank you Doctor." Nodoka smiled hapily. "I really hope I can become 
Ranko's mother." her eyes drifted away as she dreamed happy thought of 
having a daughter around who she could love and care for, who she could 
teach to put on makeup and dress, who could give her grand babys when she 
grew up.

The doctor sweatdropped at the strange smile that had adourned Nodokas 
face. Decing he didn't want to know he quickly left.

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

Nodoka continued visiting Ranko everyday, keeping her company and cheering 
her up while she healed. Ranko was extrememly happy because Nodoka 
treated her just like a daughter and she really felt loved. They got to know each 
other and the bond between them was growing quickly.

On Ranko's fourth day in hospital, she was visited by a large african american 
dressed in a very smart suit and carrying a breifcase. Luckily Nodoka was there 
as well so she wasn't that nervous.

"Hello" he said softly to ranko, his voice was really freindly and comforting. "Im 
from the social services, my name is bubbles."

Ranko, who had been drinking a glass of orange juice, snorted the juice all over 
the bed and burst out laughing. "What kind of name is Bubbles?" She giggled.

Nodoka frowned at the younger red head. "Ranko" she scolded. "That not very 
nice, now apologise to Mr Bubbles right away."

Ranko looked sheepish. "Sorry Mr Bubbles sir."

Bubbles sighed. "That's okay, I get that all the time." He shot an aproving look 
towards Nodoka and pulled a pad from his breifcase, he made a few notes. 
"Now Ranko we are having trouble finding your records, are you sure you cant 
remeber your last name?"

Ranko nodded, putting on a sad face.

"Ok, do you rember your parents names?" He asked gently.

She shook her head and tears appeared at the corners of her eyes. "They left 
me years ago." Nodoka quickly engulfed her in a hug. "Why did they leave me 
all alone?" She wailed into Nodoka's chest.

Bubbles made some more notes and waited for Ranko to calm down. "Ok 
Ranko, we need to run some blood tests to find out who you are ok?" She 
nodded shakily. "Ok when thats done we will find you some where to live."

Nodoka quickly jumped in. "She could live with me." She almost shouted out. "I 
already love her like a daughter, I would love to take care of her."

Bubbles smiled. "Well you two do seem to get along well together." His smile 
dimmed a little. "However if we find any family, then they will likey take her in. If 
we dont find any family, we would have to reserch you to make sure you are 
suitable to raise her, nothing personal."

Nodoka nodded. "Of course, you only have the best interests of the child at 
heart."

"Right, im glad you understand. Id just like to ask you a few questions now to 
determin if you could take care of Ranko before we start researching you fully. 
It saves time this way."

Nodoka nodded. "Of coarse, I perfectly understand.

Bubbles smiled. "Ok the most important question, do you  have any income?"

"Yes" Nodoka replied. "Im a Kendoist master and I teach a small class 
everyday at my dojo which is connected to my home."

"An impressive title." Bubbles replied, respect showing clearly in his voice. "Ok 
I would also like to know why you want to care for Ranko?"

Nodoka looked into Ranko's deep blue eyes and smiled lovingly. "Because I 
love her, I already feel connected to her. I love her like my own daughter."

Ranko's face lit up in happiness. "I love you too momma."

Bubbles asked a few more questions, writing all the answears down into his 
pad. As he got up to leave he bowed to Nodoka. "Well Mrs Saotome, Im 
hopefull that you will be allowed to adopt Ranko. We just need to wait for the 
blood results and to find out what the records say about you. I'll be in contact 
with you in a weeks time, goodbye."

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

A week later Nodoka was once again at Ranko's bedside. They had spent the 
past week talking and getting to know one another. Nodoka talked aboute her 
husband, and how he was training her son to be a martial artist. She really 
hoped to see them soon as they had been gone for so long. Ranko Told 
Nodoka parts of her life but she had to make up some stuff to make it 
beleivable.

They were both surprised to hear a freindly chuckling comeing from the 
doorway. They looked up to find Bubbles laughing at something. "Im sorry" He 
choked out. "I was just touched how close you two have become, which is 
good news because I have something important to tell you."

"What?" Ranko asked excitedly. "Common tell meeee?"

"Ranko!" Nodoka chided. "Please Mr Bubbles, what's the news?"

Bubbles took a seat and the edge of the bed and looked into Ranko eyes. 
"Ranko" he started, in a soft freindly voice. "How would like to go home with Mrs 
Saotome?"

Ranko's eyes threatned to pop out. "Really?" She squeeled. "Yes, yes, 
YESSSS!" She shouted loudly.

Nodoka smiled at her soon to be daughter's antics. "I would like that as well."

Bubbles grinned. "Ok, the blood results were a bit confusing. We could find no 
relatives, the closest would be you Mrs Saotome. The blood tests show she is 
your daughter, yet the records and your own word clearly show that she isn't."

He opened his breifcase and pulled out several forms. "The investigation into 
your worthiness to look after Ranko also turned up positive so thers nothing to 
stop you from adopting her." He handed her the forms. "If you could just fill out 
these forms, you can take Ranko home as your daughter by the end of next 
week when she is realeased from the hospital.

Nodoka quickly filled in the forms and handed them over. When she was done 
she had tears filling her eyes, "Ranko my daughter, from now on I want you to 
call me mother." She engulfed her daughter in a loving hug.

"Yes mommy" Ranko cried out, returning the hug with just a much love.

Bubbles coghed. "Ok I'll file these papers and it will soon be official. 
Congratulation Mrs Saotome, it's a girl." He shook Nodokas hand, gave Ranko 
a smile and started to leave. "Goodbye Ranko, have a good life."

Mother and daughter watched the large freindly man leave. "I love you Ranko." 
Nodoka said lovingly. "I'll never let anything else happen to you." 

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

A week later Ranko was checked out of the hospital, she had her arm in a sling 
and her chest was bandaged up to protect her ribs but she was happy to be 
outside again.

Nodoka had called for a taxi, not wanting to force Ranko to walk all the way 
home. They were soon at the Saotome house and the two red haired females 
walked towards the front foor. The elder red head opened the door and led the 
younger inside. She grabbed the little girl up into her arms and gave her a huge 
cuddle. "Welcome to your new home my daughter."

Ranko beamed at Nodoka and cuddled her back. "Thank you so much mommy, 
Im really, really happy to be here."

Nodoka gave Ranko the grand tour of her new home. Ranko knew her way 
around already, having been there before when she was Ranma, but Nodoka 
didn't know that so Ranko pretended like she was seeing the house for the first 
time. 

When they reached Ranko's old room, Ranma's room, Nodoka's expression 
turned sombre. Ranko knew what was wrong but she had to ask anyway, to 
make sure Nodoka didn't suspect her of knowing too much, and to cheer her 
mother up a little. "Mommy? Whats wrong?" She asked quietly.

Nodoka's expression quickly changed back to normal. "Nothing dear." She 
answeared and then gestured towards the room. "I was just thinking about my 
son, your new brother, this is his room. I havn't seen him in a long time."

"Don't worry mommy, I'm sure you'll see him again." She reassured Nodoka. "I 
bet he'll be the best martial artist ever."

"I'm sure your right dear" she laughed. "Come along, I'll show you to your 
room."

She lead Ranko towards the spare bedroom. Their wasn't much in there except 
a futon and several chests of draws. "This will be your room Ranko-chan, We'll 
have to go out and buy some things to place in it tomorrow.

Ranko walked into the room and placed her small pack containing several small 
dresses, a few momentoes and Tofus diagnosis charm crystal on the floor. 
She turned around towards Nodoka, her eyes shining brightly as they flicked 
around the room. "I love it."

Nodoka smiled down lovingly at her daughter. "Get yourself settled in dear, I'll 
go and start dinner."

A large smile bloomed onto Ranko's face. "Yay dinner." She shouted out 
gleefully, jumping up and down at the thought of eating the most deliciose 
dinner prepared by a master chef, her mother.

Nodoka sweatdropped as she watched her daughter bounce around like a 
bunny on steroids, and this was while she was still injured.

Ranko watched her mother leave the room and decided to have some fun, 
something her father would never let her do, she dived onto the bed and 
started bouncing. As she jumped higher and higher she started a mid air kata 
that emphasised moves that you can do while jumping. By the time she was 
finished she heard the most heavenly of sounds.

"Ranko dinner" Nodoka shouted up the stairs.

Faster than you could blink, Ranko was speeding down stairs and sitting at the 
table in record speed. "Yay Fooood" she called out cheerfully.

Nodoka turned around with a shocked expression. "Ranko, how did you get 
there?" She asked shakily. "I could have sworn you were upstairs."

Ranko pouted. "I ran mommy, now can I get some food?"

Chuckling, Nodoka walked into the kitchen and returned with several dishes 
filled with the most deliciose food Ranko had ever seen.

Ranko dived straight into her food, eating like a possesd starved person.

"Ranko" Nodoka scolded. "Girls don't eat like that." She started to eat slowly 
and properly. "Proper ladies eat like this." She demonstrated how to eat 
properly, giving her daughter expectant looks.

Ranko's face scrunched up in distaste. "Blaagh, I dont wanna be a proper lady."

"Ranko, how can you expect to catch a man when you grow up if  your not a 
lady?" Nodoka frowned.

Ranko flinched. "But I don't wanna be a lady" she wailed, dinner all but 
forgotten. "I just wanna be me."

"Ok so who are you dear?" Nodoka asked with a sigh. Her plans wernt going 
how she epected them to.

Ranko smiled proudly, puffed out her chest and declared loudly, "Im a 
Tomboy."

Nodoka almost face faulted into her dinner, but caught herself at the last 
moment. "But dear" she tried to reason "surely you would prefer to be a lady?"

"Nuh uhh, no Way." Ranko delared, shaking her head side to side.

They finished the rest of the dinner with no more talk of being ladies. They 
talked about general random things, getting to know one another a little better. 
Ranko spent the rest of the evening watching the television with her mother, 
after all doing normal relaxing things like this was something she had never 
done while Ranma.

Soon it was time for bed, and Ranko spent the first night in her new home. Well 
new, if you look at it from a certain point of veiw. Nodoka tucked the little red 
head into bed and gave a quick kiss on the forehead. "Good night dear, I love 
you."

Ranko smiled back dreamily as she was falling asleep. "I love you to momma." 
Soon she was fast asleep, the sound of quite snores filled the room.

The next morning Ranko was awoken to the delicious smell of breakfast. Being 
a Saotome, she rapidly got washed and changed in time for food. She walked 
into the kitchen with a large grin on her face. "That smells yummy, mummy." 
She called out cheerfully.

"Thank you dear." Replied Nodoka. She smiled down at the younger red head 
"it'll be ready soon dear, why don't you sit down at the table."

Ranko hopped from one foot to the other excitedly then quickly dashed to the 
table. Nodoka shook her head in mirth at the youngers antics and then finished 
breakfast.

Nodoka walked into the living room loaded with several dishes of miso soup 
and rice. As soon as she placed the breakfast in front of Ranko, it was gone. 
"Ranko" she scolded "You shouldn't eat that fast."

Ranko pouted. "But momma I don't wa..."

She was cut off as Nodoka frowned at her. "I know, I know. You dont want to be 
a lady." Nodoka sighed "But even tomboys dont eat like that." She pointed out. 
"Tomboys have manners too you know, and you will learn them."

"Yes momma." Ranko sighed dejectedly. 'Dammit, I love food but I hate 
wasting time doing things slowly when I can do it much faster. Also what do I do 
when pops comes back and tries to steal my food?'

"Now dear, go and get ready while I clean the dishes." Nodoka stated as she 
got up and collected the dirty pots.

"Huh?" Ranko asked, a puzzled frown on her face. "Get ready for what?"

Nodoka stopped at the entrance to the kitchen, turned around and smiled. 
"We're going shopping of coarse." Her eyes lit up with joy "You need some 
new dresses and skirts."

Ranko's face paled 'Oh crap, shopping with mother, she'll have me trying on 
every dress in the store. While I dont mind dresses anymore, I hate wasting 
time like that.' "Ok momma" she finally said reluctantly.

"Dont worry dear" Nodoka smiled "We also need some things for your room, to 
make it yours."

Ranko sighed, then nodded. "Ok momma, I guess I do need a few things."

The pots were quickly cleared away, mother and daughter soon left the house 
to go shopping. One feeling an intense feeling of dread, while the other was 
happier than she could ever remember feeling.

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