Playing with Fire

I do not own Ranma 1/2, Rumiko Takahashi does.

Talking

Thinking

What is going on? What happened to the apartment? Why did she tell the landlord we were moving out?

These are the thoughts that plagued a certain pig-tailed young man who was riding the 6am train. Looking up, he saw that his destination was the next stop and woke the little girl next to him.

"Kiren, it's time."

The little redhead looked up at the young man with the sleep still in her eyes. "Okay daddy." She turned and picked up her backpack.

The young man stood and went to the doors, waiting for the doors to open, the little girl following him like his shadow. The train ground to a halt and the doors slid open to reveal their destination.

With a sigh, the young man said, "Nerima."

It's been 5 years since I left, I wonder if anything has changed or will things just get worse?

He looked down at the little girl next to him and smiled softly.

Yeah, it has been 5 years, but I wouldn't trade those years for anything. Kiren brought change to my life made me what I am.

Looking around the station nervously, he silently wondered how long it would take the chaos this town brought to his life to return. Then he faced his daughter again. "Well, Auntie Nabiki should be here. Let's go see if she is home." Home, the one thing he wanted to give her more than anything.

Nabs, you have some explaining to do.

He turns to lead Kiren to where he knows he will find Nabiki, not seeing the big smile on his daughters face.

Daddy, hope you're ready for your surprise.

At the Tendo Dojo, a young woman had woken up before anyone else, gone outside to do her early morning exercises and then gone and cleaned up before donning a dress and going into the kitchen to cook breakfast. Now, most people who knew this dojo would say that this occurrence was nothing out of the ordinary. However, if those people had looked closer, the young woman in question was not who they thought.

Nabiki smiled to herself. She never used to wake up this early. In fact, being up this early would have never happened to the old Nabiki. She had gone through her morning workout and still had time to soak in the furo for a good 20 min before she came downstairs. Kasumi was still asleep; Nabiki had assured her that she would take care of everything the night before.

Anyone who knew her would be shocked to see her humming happily to herself as she cooked breakfast in what was one of Kasumi's usual dresses that she had borrowed. Her hair was a little longer than it had been 5 years ago, but she still gave off the aura of confidence she had when she was known as "The Ice Queen of Nerima". She didn't care to use that title anymore though; she had found one much more meaningful.

It had happened the day after the failed wedding. She had received a phone call that changed her life.

A/N: What's going on?!?! Don't worry, things will be explained later on. R&R