Disclaimer: Ranma ½ belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.

Tale I: Mia Madre, le Mie Sorelle (My Mother, My Sisters)

Our blood, our life, our star –
is the reason why the waters run,
the wind blows, and the sun shines.
– Tendo House

During the midsummer night, while the rain fell in a rhythmic pattern all over the Tendo Manor, lay Lady Noriko in bed with her midwife standing over her with a damp cloth on her forehead and her husband, Lord Soun, next to her holding her hand.

"That's it, milady," her midwife muttered as she wiped down her forehead, "Soon, your child will be here."

Lady Noriko smiled at her and then turned her attention to her husband, "Soun" her voice was weak, but he heard her and leaned down for her to whisper in his ear, "This is it."

Not long after, throughout the halls of the Manor came the cries of a new born baby girl named Akane Tendo.

Cradled in her mother's arms, the little bundle of joy cooed as Lord Soun gently prodded her nose in a playful way. Akane smiled up at her father and held his finger enclosed in her small hand. "She's beautiful," Lord Soun said as he hoisted her up from her mother's embrace and held her in his arms, "Our little daughter, Akane."

Although weak, Lady Noriko sat up in her bed as her midwife tended to her, "She is."

Lord Soun smiled down at his wife and kissed her softly on the forehead, "She'll be as beautiful as her as mother when she grows, my darling." Lady Noriko's lips curled into a gentle grin, "Of course."

Proclaimed to the neighbors, the Tendo house celebrated the birth of their first born with friends and family. The news of an heir of the Tendo family line became fast news all around the provinces and many wishes were bestowed on the family.

All was well.

#

"What is that?" Lady Noriko asked Soun as he opened a box and shifted through it.

Without saying anything, Lord Soun continued to scour the box and pull out a necklace beaded with a silver chain and a small enchanting star hanging loosely at the center.

"The family symbol," he whispered as he walked over to the women of his life and knelt down to face his daughter who was sleeping soundlessly. Lady Noriko smiled at her husband, "Ah, it truly doth match her, she is our light in the dark," she bent down to kiss Akane on the forehead, "Our star."

#

For four years, the family prospered and grew. But, with time comes complications. "I do not understand why you have her hair so short," Governess Satsuki said as she pulled the dress over Akane's head. "She insists on it," Lady Noriko said as she shifted in her bed to see her daughter bounce around in her new tailored dress, "I think it suits her anyways, Governess."

Slightly shrugging, Satsuki took a hold of the energetic girl and told her to hold still as she laced the dress in the back, "Now, milady, you will behave for tonight."

Sticking her tongue out in defiance, Akane replied, "I don't want to!"

Satsuki tsked as she finished with a tight bow and stood up, clapping her hands free of the imaginary dust, "Now, milady, doth know that ere tonight is in celebration for you, the little star of the Tendo house." Akane crossed her arms and let out a haughty sigh, "I know." Over from the bed, Noriko smiled at her daughter, "Come, give mother a hug and go see to it that your father has the affair in order."

Akane nodded as she made her way warily over to her mother and put her small arms around her and kissed her quickly on the cheek,, "On your relieve, mother."

Satsuki nodded to Noriko and followed little Akane down the stairs and into the mayhem of the festivities for tonight. Akane sought out her father who was talking with the help to organize the party. "Papa!" Akane called out as she ran to her father who turned around and went to his knees to hug his daughter, "Aye, Akane what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Mama wanted to make sure you are doing your job," Akane snickered as she hugged her father. Soun soon let go of her and stood back up, rubbing the back of his neck, "Yes little one, we're almost set here. Why don't you go out and play?"

Akane nodded as she ran outside, her Governess following after her. Satsuki stood back as she watched Akane run amok and play with the little serf boy, Shinnosuke.

"Come on, Shinnosuke," Akane called out as she ran about, careful not to tread on the mud in fear of getting Satsuki angry.

Shinnosuke cocked his head to the side, puzzled, "What are we doing?"

Akane sighed as she stopped and let her dress drop from her hands as she put her hands on her little hips, "I swear, Shinnosuke, doth are so forgetful, ere we were playing a friendly game of tag."

"Oh!" exclaimed the excited little boy, "I see, well, milady, whose turn was it?"

With another sigh, Akane bowed her head, "It was yours, Shinnosuke."

Shinnosuke looked at Akane with curious eyes and perked up, "Oh, alright then," he ran towards her and tagged her head, "You're it, milady!" And he laughed as he ran with a giggling Akane running after him.

#

"Milady!" exclaimed Satsuki as Akane came back into the household drenched in mud. Akane gave a nervous chuckle and threw her arms up in an I-don't-know-how-it-happened gesture, "I fell?" Her mother giggled from behind as she watched with eyes of care, "Ah, she is but a child, Governess. Forgive my child." Satsuki grumbled as she ushered Akane out of the dress and gathered a damp cloth to wash her of her filth.

"Honestly, milady," she muttered as she got the mud off her face, "Perchance you need lessons on how to be a lady."

"Enough of that," Noriko said softly, "Let her be, shall she want to play in the mud with her playmates, let her."

Satsuki just shook her head as she draped a new dress on Akane just in time for her father to enter with a grin spread across his face, "Come, let the festivities commence, my loves." Satsuki gave a stern nod as she made her way over to Noriko's side, helping her out of bed. Akane watched as her mother got out of bed, with her Governess supporting her.

It was only two years ago that she had become bedridden, but – she refused, every year since, to miss the celebration of her daughter's birth and was allotted to leave her bed only by means of help. Akane raced towards her mother's side, gripping the lovely dress that hung loosely around her small frame, her mother looked down at her and ran her hand through her hair, "Come, my little star, let us go celebrate."

Soun stood at the door, watching his family with earnest eyes as they made it into the hustle and bustle of the party on the other side. Not far, Noriko was seated atop of the staircase, watching over the party commencing below her. Soun took his seat next to his wife and held his hand as their daughter greeted each guest.

"Alas," Noriko whispered to her husband, "I think this may be the last time, I may see her smile on this day."

Soun gripped his wife's hand a bit tighter and gazed into her eyes, "My love, let us not talk about ails on the day of prosper." Noriko smiled back and leaned in to kiss him lightly on the lips and pulled away, "Aye, but never forget my love for you, dearest."

"And mine for you," he said as he returned with a kiss on the forehead, "For now, let us be a family one last time."

"I love you, my Lord Soun," she whispered as Akane raced up the staircase to sit next to her parents as their servers brought out the dinner.

#

The funeral came and went and the grieving went by even faster. Akane, now verging on the age of five, had watched her mother kiss her one last time on the forehead as she bid her good-night. She had watched her mother close her eyes and fall into an eternal sleep with a smile on her face.

"Be the light, my star," she had said to her.

Fondling the necklace around her neck, Akane sat on the half-wall in the courtyard as her Governess tended talking to the gardeners. Looking up at the sky, Akane felt the tears begin to prick at the back of her eyes. Her father had told her that her mother had gone on ahead of them, on a journey that will one day intertwine with theirs once more, and that she should not be sad – rather, happy that for that short time she had known her, know that her mother loved her very much.

"Satsuki?" Akane whispered.

Preening her attention away from the gardener, Satsuki turned to face the saddened little girl, "Yes, milady?"

"I wish to attend to my sleep," she said listlessly.

Satsuki nodded as she gave one last retort to the gardener before going over to where Akane had sat and helped her down. The two followed one another up the passageways and to Akane's room. As they walked, they passed her father's chambers. Looking in before continuing one, Akane watched her father hold an embroidered handkerchief in his hands, rubbing the already worn edges with his fingers.

Tearing her eyes away and rushing to her room, Akane knew that it was the gift her mother had presented to her father when he was courting her. He held it dear to his heart, and now – it was all he had left.

But, he still had daughter, his little star.

#

"Papa's coming back today, right Satsuki?" Akane asked as she wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her wrist, "He sent word that he'd be back midday!"

Satsuki looked up from her stitching, "Milady, he said he will, and it will be so. Have patience."

Akane let out an exasperated sigh as she dwindled the chain around her neck and played with the star pendant, she bit the corner of her lower lip and pouted, "Oh, how time is a horrid enemy; it's been a fortnight since I last saw of him."

"Your father and his travels doth take time, milady," Satsuki replied.

"I know, aye, I know, but I sometimes wish he'd stay home," Akane said as she leaned over the window sill and saw Shinnosuke down below.

"Oi!" Akane called out to him, the young knight-in-training looked up and flashed a toothy grin up at his friend. "If perchance you see my father, give forth a call!" Akane finished and with a curt nod, Shinnosuke promised.

Taking herself away from the window, Akane walked across the room and stared at herself in the mirror. Her hair fell loosely just below her ears, exposing the nape of her neck. The blue tint in her jet black hair contrasted well to her pale lily-white complexion.

"Aye," Akane muttered as she ran her hands over the dress, "I doth wish I had gotten that other dress you had insisted on wanting to make."

"I had told ye so," Satsuki grinned, "But, the dress ye wear now is darling."

Grimacing, Akane moved away from the mirror and heard a loud clanging. Her eyes began to glitter as she ran to the window to see Shinnosuke bearing the call, and over the horizon came a carriage drawn by horses.

"It's papa!" Akane exclaimed as she took off down the stairs.

Satsuki sighed as she gathered herself up and followed her down. At the base of the stairs, Akane halted and Satsuki had caught up. No sooner, the carriage arrived and the driver had opened the door. Her father stepped out with a huge grin across his face, "Aye, my darling daughter, come greet your father!"

"Papa!" Akane smiled as she ran towards her father's open embrace and hugged him, "I've missed ye!"

"As I of you," he said as he patted her head as he pulled away, "My darling, I have news."

"What news is it?" Akane asked as she stood a bit away, it was then she noticed that the carriage moved once more. Careening her head, she saw a woman with luscious brown hair leave from it, followed by two girls with mimicking hair color.

"Who are they, papa?" Akane asked.

"My star," Soun said as he put his hands on his daughter's shoulders, "Meet Lady Hinako, my intended, and these are her daughters, Kasumi and Nabiki."

#

"Intended?" Akane hissed as she tossed the darts across the room and into the hay bale, "His bloody intended?"

"Calm down, Akane," Shinnosuke tried to reason, "It's been over ten years now, your father is just lonely."

"He has me!" Akane said as she threw another dart, "He has this whole bloody manor," she spat.

"Aye, Akane," sighed Shinnosuke, "Give it a chance."

"You saw the way she looked at me," Akane said, "She detests me, I know it."

"Milady," Shinnosuke tried, but was interrupted with, "We're in private, Shinnosuke – you know I hate it when you call me that."

"Akane," he started over, "Let your father have this, you are a lady of fifteen years, let us not act like you're six again."

Dodging a bucket thrown by his childhood friend, he stood among the darts that had hit dead-on target he stood with a calming gesture as the words rolled from her tongue, "I still hate it."

#

"My name is Kasumi," said the elder one to Akane one morning. Akane looked up to see the girl with her hair tied into a pony-tail off to the side, she had a soft smile on her face as she continued, "I am Lady Hinako's eldest daughter, I am your elder of three years."

"Pleased to make your acquaintanceship," Akane formally replied, "I am Akane, only daughter of the Tendo House."

"Not for long you won't be," said a sharp tone. The two girls turned to see Nabiki standing in the doorway with her arms across her chest, "Mother has made it very clear that your father has every intention of bringing us into the family, so you'll be sharing that title with me and my sister."

"Nabiki!" exclaimed Kasumi, "Bite your tongue."

"Why should I?" Nabiki said as she circled Akane, looking her up-and-down. There was a hint of jealously in her gaze as she did so, enticed with malice, "She's nothing more than a mere folly in beauty, just gaze about her short hair."

Akane started to fume with anger.

"Stop that," Kasumi chided, "She is an endearing child, quit mocking her."

"You're too nice for your own good, Kasumi," Nabiki said as she turned on her heel, her long shoulder-length hair flowing behind her.

"Sorry about my sister," Kasumi apologized, "She really takes after our mother at times."

Controlling her anger, Akane unclenched the fists that she had unconsciously did, "It's fine. Ye only fears what one cannot have, aye, Kasumi?"

"Aye," Kasumi agreed.

#

For a year, Akane lived with these new people in her house. Her father had indeed married Lady Hinako the following weeks after their initial arrival. In order to avoid her new step-mother, and one horrid step-sister, Akane found herself outside.

"Oi, Shinnosuke," Akane said as she thrust the sword at him, "Point."

"Aye, you have a good eye," commented Shinnosuke as he gathered himself and stood straight, the two friends bowed at one another, "You've gotten quite good."

Akane gave a half-hearted shrug, "I only mimic what Sir Happosai teaches you, and what you share with me."

"Either way, a lady should not be doing this, you know," he said as he took the weapon away from her and stored it away. The two began to walk towards the manor once more, away from the fields with large hay bales that smelled of freshly cut grass, "I'm sure your mother wouldn't approve."

"She's not my mother," Akane hissed.

"Oh, aye, step-mother," Shinnosuke corrected himself.

"She's gotten unbearable," Akane said as she led the way, "She's been doing minute little things to bother me, and father is none the wiser; on that note," she turned her head behind her to look at Shinnosuke, "Father's carriage is due to arrive today, during sunset."

"I heard he made a trip to the castle this time," Shinnosuke said, "Meeting with royalty."

"Hmph," Akane returned her attention back to the path to the manor, "Papa's got all these people to tend to but he doesn't have time to come back here, back home to me."

"You know your father loves you very much, but his name beckons him to the nobles, as you are one too," Shinnosuke said, "And on that, we shouldn't even be friends."

"Nonsense," Akane retorted, "That's blasphemy, that there is. Whose right is it to say who I call friend," and at that moment a sharp call of her name was heard from the manor's wall, cringing Akane finished, "Or who I call enemy. Come, hither before Mother Hinako dare strain her lovely voice."

The two teenagers made their way back, upon arriving at the entrance Shinnosuke excused himself to go towards the stables and tend to the horses. Bidding good-bye, Akane made her way inside. She passed Kasumi who sat near the entrance with a book on her lap, "Mother sounds angry, be wary, little one." Responding with a curt nod, Akane made her way into the next room where Hinako sat perched in the posh chair and Nabiki seated by her side, engrossed in a dessert dish sat before her.

"What were you doing?" Hinako asked as she cast a glance at her.

"Out in the fields, I was practicing fencing." Akane replied.

Rising from her dish, Nabiki raised an eyebrow, "How suitable for a homely person of your stature, out in the fields where the cows beckon."

"My," Hinako chuckled, "My darling daughter, you shouldn't say such prudent things to your sister, though," she turned a nasty look, "You are right."

Calming herself, Akane drew in long breaths and released them in time, "Oh, rather I sit in the kitchen and eat like a pig?"

Quickly standing up, causing the table to tremble and the dish to fall to the ground, Nabiki tried to get at Akane, but she did not expect her to withdraw and stand a stance, "You ought not try," Akane gritted, "Unless you want your dainty little face to have flaws, and we wouldn't want that now, would we, milady."

Seething, Nabiki tried to get her, but Hinako had pulled her back. All this noise had brought Kasumi into the room; she looked around and let out a sigh of relief as she saw that her mother had restrained her younger sister. Kasumi hesitated for a moment to watch the scene unfold, but quickly regained her mind and left.

Standing straight, Akane regained her composure, "Dearest Mother Hinako, pray tell why you called me hither, so I can return back to my tasks at hand?"

Calming down her daughter, Hinako turned to glare at Akane, "I have called upon you because your father had sent word that he will be returning home earlier than anticipated, and though I loathe the very idea, he asked me a favor to tell you of his message."

"Received, and by your relieve," Akane said as she turned to leave, she heard Nabiki mutter some obscenities at her before initially calming down and calling the help to clean up the mess that she had made.

Akane made her way outside to where her Governess sat, tending a small patch of the garden. "Oh, Satsuki, how I loathe Mother Hinako," Akane exclaimed as she sat down on the ground, her dress promptly falling all around her in the dirt, "And that Nabiki."

Looking up, Satsuki gave a grin, "Oh, milady, doth does need to have patience."

"I've had patience for a year now, I'd rather be dragged off to marry an idiot," Akane retorted.

"Shall I call upon the Lord Tatewaki?" her Governess giggled.

Contorting her face into discomfort, "Oi, you wish to have an early grave, Governess?"

"Aye, but it true he doth say he fancies you," Satsuki replied as she pulled a small weed, "Of the Kuno House, Tatewaki is quite a desirable."

"Of hell," Akane simply replied.

The two laughed as they sat in the garden.

"In time," Satsuki said as she stood up, "Everything will be fine, you'll find the light even in the darkest of times." Satsuki ruffled Akane's short hair, "Hark, I hear the sounds of neighing horses out in the courtyard; your father must be home."

Perking up, Akane fluffed her dress and ran out to greet her father. And sure enough, there he was getting out of the cabin of the carriage. "Papa!" Akane called out as her father turned to face her and smile, "My star," he called and gave her an embrace, "How is my daughter on this day?"

"Quite content, now that my father is back," she said as she let go.

"Wonderful," he said with a smile.

"Oh, my Lord, welcome home!" called out Hinako, holding up one side of her dress as she made her way towards her husband, "I've missed you so!"

"Aye, and I for you," he chuckled as he kissed her on the cheek, "Pray tell, how are the girls?"

Akane groaned as she knew that Hinako would mention the earlier antics, and probably contort the It always happened, but for some reason her father played along, but never believed her later. That made her happy, but still – to hear Hinako go on about how her daughters are so wonderful and how pitiful in comparison she was to them got to be a bore real quick.

"That daughter of yours," Hinako proclaimed, "Picked a fight with little Nabiki, oh how I had to restrain them!"

A bellowing laugh came up from Soun, "Aye, my daughter sure is a feisty one, right my love? Quarrels is all, let them be. Let them be."

The shock in Hinako's face was a laughable offense to Akane as she could not conceal her laughter. This resulted in a glare from her and that quickly quieted Akane as she stifled her laughter. Soun then casted a smile to his daughter, ruffled her hair and went inside the manor. Hinako turned to look at Akane with disgust in her eyes and went to follow Soun.

Akane glared after her, her arms now cradled in front of her. "She has quite a nasty tone," she heard someone say from behind her. Akane gave way to her left to see Shinnosuke walking over, taking off the large gloves that engulfed his arms, "Sometimes, I pray tell that she would just jump off a cliff."

A smirk made its way on her face, "I do too, Shinnosuke, I do too. Come, you appear to have finished your chores – come, spar with me once more before supper."

"As you wish," Shinnosuke said, nodding his head and following her back into the fields that had retreated from earlier.

And so the days went like so, until the following months when Soun caught an ailment, changing the course of the Tendo House once again.

#

"You mustn't be so hard on yourself," Soun said as he made his way to sit up, "Go on, and tend to stitching with your Governess."

"No, papa," Akane whispered as she pushed her father back onto the bed, "You're much too ill, and until the Doctor comes and sees you, I'll seat myself beside your bed."

Soun smiled as he reached out and held his daughter's face in his hand, "Akane, you remind me so much of your mother, so strong – but so hardheaded."

"I'm proud of it," Akane replied as she looked at her father.

Her father grinned and returned back to bed, leaning his head against the headboard, "My darling, you are the light in the dark, always remember the Tendo motto."

"I know, I remember." Akane whispered.

"And know that I love you, my star." He said as he closed his eyes.

Tears began to fall down Akane's cheeks, "As it should be, as I do for you."

And much like how she saw her mother leave the world with a smile on her face, Akane watched with much sadness as his lips curled into a smile and his chest stop moving. Bending over, Akane cried the whole night by her father's side.

#

"It's too much of a bother," Hinako said as she wiped the tears away from her eyes, "All his things, sell them off."

"No!" Akane busted out, "Don't you dare sell my father's things, you wench!"

A hard slap connected with the side of Akane's face. Hinako stood proudly, clenching a black handkerchief in one hand and an open palm in the other, "You keep your quiet, I've kept myself from such actions because Soun would soon rather have my head than hear me out about his precious little star."

Akane held her place; she held her hand up on her cheek that stung. But, the tears did not come. However, anger began to rise, but she bit the inside of her cheek as she watched Hinako wave her arm, "Have that Satsuki woman among the other help, and as for the girl," she turned her cold, harsh face, "Strip her of her dresses, she already looks like a man, let her dress like one too – put her to work, out of my sight."

Behind her stood Kasumi who had clasped her hands over her mouth in surprise at the cruelty her mother exhibited, but Nabiki stood alongside her with a smirk on her face and a sneering grin.

"It doesn't matter what you do to me!" Akane seethed, "I'd rather die a thousand deaths than ever call you mother!"

Turning her back to her while the servants came to take Akane back to her room to relieve her of her clothes, Hinako replied, "Then ye ought to get used to calling me milady, you little whore."

#

In two years time, the lively manor of the Tendo house diminished. The luster that the place one held long gone as it seemed void of any life. But, down in the basement dwelled the true heir of the family name, Akane Tendo, 18.

"Damn those hens," Akane said as she came back in through the door holding a basket full of eggs, "One got me."

Satsuki stood over a boiling pot as she had entered and turned to face her, "Oh, dear – do you need care for?"

"Nothing I can't take care of, Satsuki." Akane said as she set the basket by her friend, "Besides, it didn't draw blood."

"Alright, but should ye need it," her used-to-be Governess said with worry laced in her words, "Just ask for it."

Akane gave a half shoulder shrug as her tunic came to rise up on her, pulling it down to cover her pants, she tightened the shawl around her shoulders, "Perchance I need new material in clothes, it seems that my tunic is much too short."

Satsuki looked up from the pot and smiled, "It is because, my lady, your chest has grown since we made that."

Crossing her arms across her chest, Akane puffed her checks, "I'm not a lady, remember?"

Satsuki shook her head as she stood up, dusting off the flour from the bread she had prepared earlier and walked towards Akane, running her hand through her short hair, "I'll prepare you a new one, but you must remember that you are a very beautiful woman now, despite what that witch says."

"Thanks, Satsuki," Akane said, throwing her arms around her old-friend, "I'll be back later, Shinnosuke promised me a ride into the castle, it's the flower festival today."

Releasing her from the hold, Satsuki stood there with a faint smile, "Enjoy yourself, Akane, have Shinnosuke watch over you."

"No need," Akane said as she turned to leave, "We're both boys. We can watch over ourselves, good-bye, dear friend – until tonight!"

Akane closed the door behind her and sighed, leaning against it slightly she moved her hand over the laced part of her camica and felt the impression of her star pendant underneath. Lowering her eyes to the ground, she smiled, "I'll buy you flowers and put it on your graves, mama, papa," she moved her head upwards to the bright blue sky, "Watch over me today, because you guys are my stars now."

"Let's go Akane!" called Shinnosuke, dressed in his new knight clothes, holding onto the reigns of the other horse, "The gates open soon!"

Akane reeled herself over, "Coming!"

#

From her window, Nabiki watched with a bored look on her face, her step-sister ride off with the young knight.

"Where is she going," she asked to the help who was brushing her hair.

Looking over her shoulder, the little lady replied, "Milady, she is off to the castle, in honor of the Flower Festival."

Nabiki hmped as she turned her head, and looked at her elder sister sitting on the chair beside her, reading a letter she had received earlier in the week.

"What are two boys going to do at a flower festival?" Nabiki smartly retorted.

Kasumi narrowed her eyes as she looked up from her word, "Nabiki, you know well that Akane is a girl, but what she does on these days that mother has so kindly allowed her free of chores is her business, not ye own."

"Whatever," snapped Nabiki and she turned back to the window to see the last of the two leaving over the path towards the castle, "But you're right, none of thy own business."

#

Once every three years, a festival is held in honor of the beautiful garden's bounties of the Saotome Castle and everyone is invited to come and see. Merriment and times to cherish are present here, as the day is nothing short of perfection.

Come ye, to the Flower Festival.

– By creed of the Saotome House.

Author's Notes:
So, let me explain myself here, the story itself it around 5,000 words (about 13 pages in my text editor). The chapters will be about the same length, and this is a more "out-there" work for me, and most likely be updated last in comparison to the other stories that I have in progress out there.

The inspiration for this story came from a movie night I had in the dorm with my friends, we had watched Ever After and then I came across my RomeoxJuliet collection, and got re-inspired to write this story. My knowledge for this time period is limited to my small collection of novels, mangas, and my friend Monica (who is a big buff when it comes to stuff like this).

No, Satsuki is not an Original Character, I didn't plan on creating many oc's for this story, but Satsuki is from the manga (as well as the anime), she was the fiancee from the Tea Ceremony Martial Arts arc.

Yes, I know Nabiki is completely out of character, as well as Hinako – sorry, but if that bothers you, you might need to find another story. Thank-you for your time, lovelies.

If you want to see some "chapter" art for this story, go to my profile, and follow the tumblr link for hatsukoi-ranma. :D