Lost & Hope
Based on an idea from Dani Yanega's website (Jerry's Ideas)
By: John deGraffenreid

Author's note: I don't own Ranma 1/2 or any of the characters there in.

Chapter 1

     Thunder crashed over the skies of Nerima as night descended over the city.
An uneasiness filled the people as winds from the east blew threw the streets.
Of all the residents of Nerima only three understood the true significance of
the east wind, the winds of change. Change was coming to Nerima and it could not
be stopped.
     At the Tendo Dojo, one Ranma Saotome was dragging herself out of the rain
after having finally returned from an impromptu training trip with her father.
Apparently the fat panda had thought it would be a great idea to try and learn
to fly, after all they did in those action anime, so why shouldn't they be able
to do it in real life? After crashing to the ground for the better part of two
weeks they had called it quits, with Genma using the excuse that it had all just
been endurance training anyway. No sooner had Ranma stepped through the door
than she was assaulted by an irate (big shock there huh?) Akane.
     "Where have you been you baka hentai?! We've been looking everywhere for
you, you jerk!"
     "Whoa you uncute tomboy, why are you mad at me? You knew oyaji dragged me
off for more of his stupid training."
     "Don't talk to me like that you pervert! I was only trying to tell you your
mother is in the hospital! Now go see her you jerk before I pound you!"  Ranma
paled at this and her mouth hung open in shock.
     "Mom? In the hospital? WHERE? WHICH ONE?"
     "Don't you dare yell at me you sex-changing freak! RANMA NO BAKA!!!" With
that Ranma took a trip to the Nerima Hospital via Akane Air. Upon arriving she
ran to the reception desk, surprising many of the nurses with having survived
the impact of her arrival.
     "Which room is Nodoka Saotome in?" she asked excitedly, worry obvious on
her face. As the nurse behind the desk was about to respond Dr. Tofu rounded the
corner.
          "Ranma! There you are! Come with me, I'll take you to see your
mother." Ranma hurried behind Dr. Tofu and was soon led to a room where the
other Tendos had gathered outside.  Kasumi was the first to speak as she
embraced Ranma.
     "Oh Ranma thank the Kami you've finally arrived. We've been looking all
over for you for the last two weeks. We told Genma about this about three weeks
ago so we were wondering where you've been."
     "Pop KNEW? Ok I'll pound him later. Where's mom?" Kasumi led the wet,
bedraggled Ranma-chan to her mother's room.  As they go to the room Ranma became
more concerned as she noticed they were heading into the Intensive Care Unit.
She nearly fell as she finally saw her mother lying on the hospital bed. Nodoka
was very pale. Tubes ran from her mouth and arms, the monitor showing her slow
but steady heartbeat.  Ranma nearly jumped out of her skin when Dr. Tofu
approached from behind.
     "Ranma, its good to see you. I'd hoped you'd come sooner but when we told
Genma that your mother was very sick, we thought that for once he'd do the
decent thing and tell you. Not drag you off on some fool training mission. I'm
sorry we've done everything that we can but nothing seems to work. In fact we
can't really tell what's wrong." Ranma's eyes began to tear up, but she forced
herself to go to her mother's side.
     "Momma? It's me, Ranma. I don't know what happened but I swear I'll fix it.
Even if I have to go to the old ghoul, or even the old pervert I'll find a way
to help you mom." Squeezing her hand, Ranma got up and walked back t Kasumi and
Dr. Tofu.
     "Please tell me everything that happened. After that I'll decide who to go
to, just don't tell pop about what I'm doing." With that the three took seats in
an empty room and Kasumi began to explain the events that led up to Nodoka's
hospital stay, hoping that Ranma could figure out something the rest of them had
missed.

To be continued....

Author's note the second:
Ain't I evil? I apologize for the shortness of this the first chapter. I just
felt that this was a good place to end it. The next chapter will be a flashback
to the events that led to Nodoka's illness. The other reason this is so short is
because I've had surgery myself about a week ago and well I'm still in a little
bit of pain. Its all good though, I'll have the next chapter soon. Have a good
one all.