Midnight Falls

Chapter 1

Disclaimer: Rumiko owns all of Ranma ½ except for my own character :)

I just wanted to write this and see how it goes, I don't know how popular OC stories are with Ranma ½!

It was just another day in the suburb of Nerima, outside of Tokyo. School had just let out for the summer and in the fall; Ranma and Akane would be going to Tokyo University. After the battle with Saffron, everything had become almost perfect in Ranma's life, minus the crazy fiancées and everything, of course. Just a couple more months though, and he would be free from them all.
Everything between him and Akane had become perfect as well. They had finally become exclusive during Senior Year, when he found the guts to ask her to become his girlfriend. But as we all know, once we think our life is perfect, everything takes a twisted turn for the worst.

Dinner had just wrapped up for the evening, Akane had disappeared from the table about twenty minutes before, and so Ranma had decided to go find her.

"Anyone know where Akane went? I needa talk to 'er about somethin'." Ranma scratched the back of his head looking around at the Tendo's and his panda-bear father shrugged along with Kasumi.

"I would suggest her room..." Nabiki said, monotonously, not even looking up from the television screen. Ranma shrugged, that would make sense. So he made his way up the stairs with his hands in his pockets and down the long hall to the last room, with the duck with Akane's name on it.

"Hey Akane!" He knocked on her door pretty heavily, but no response. He opened the door and peeked in carefully because he didn't want to have the ever so common nickname of "pervert", even though they were together, he promised they would be decent of each other and respect each other's privacy until they were married. Luckily for him, Akane wasn't in her room. 'Where in the hell could she be?' Maybe she was in the dojo. There was only one way he could find out. He marched his way back down, only to see everyone still sitting in the same places he left them, with the exception of Kasumi who was busy doing the dishes. He was extremely content with the life that he was living, he had the perfect girl, the most amazing family, and the most martial arts talent of anyone he knew. He made his way out to the dojo and Akane wasn't there either. 'Where in the world...?' He stood there confused, worry starting to set in. Akane wouldn't just leave him without letting him know where she was going, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized she had been acting kind of weird the past couple of days. No, no, no, she wouldn't, he would never admit it, but with her, his insecurities got the best of him at times. But then again, who in the world would be a better option than him. He laughed aloud to himself and jumped from roof to roof, looking below for his girlfriend. He landed on the ground and was about to turn a corner when he heard two familiar voices speaking quietly.

"When're you gonna get rid of him Akane? I'm tired of waiting around for you, watching him put his hands all over you, acting like we're nothing in front of him and your family. It's not like I couldn't help you and your family take care of the dojo." 'Is that Ryouga?' He looked around the corner and blinked. He saw Akane and Ryouga locking lips, and he felt his heart shatter when Ryouga pulled back and she looked at him with loving eyes. Now it all made sense why she would always back Ryouga up over Ranma, no matter the circumstances.
Akane grinned, pulling Ryouga closer to her, "You know I'm just doing this to please my father and Mr. Saotome. Once the allotted time has passed, we'll get a divorce and we can run away together like we planned. It shouldn't take too much longer, I promise." Ranma couldn't take it anymore, he felt the pain setting in his chest. Was this what a broken heart felt like? He turned back around and ran back toward the Tendo household. Once he got there, he stood outside the gate, and he pulled out a little box in his hand and stared at it for a few seconds. He shook his head and continued to run. Being in that house was the last place he wanted to be right now.

A girl stood in front of the Tendo gate, taking a deep breath, a royal blue duffel bag in her right hand. 'I guess this is it.. This is where I'll be living for the summer.' She made her way inside, definitely not expecting the chaos that would ensue for the next couple of months. She took another deep breath and walked inside.

"Uncle Soun, I'm here!" She called out, her voice not being too soft, but not too deep either.

"Oh, Midori!" Kasumi called out to greet her cousin, smiling. "We're so happy to have you here."

"Hey I'm back home." Ranma called out, his voice unemotional, walking through the backyard seeing the new house guest walk into the opposite side of the house, same time as him.

"Oh Ranma! I was wondering where you were!" Akane smiled to him, resting her chin on her hand. 'Yeah I'm sure you were.' He looked at Akane and then his gaze was diverted to Midori.
Her long, straightened hair reached down past her ribs, it was a black color that shone as a reddish color when she stepped into the light and ombre'd out to a reddish brown. She was wearing a black shirt that went down to her belly button in the front, and down past her butt in the back, with a lace pattern on her shoulders, she had black shorts and a brown pair of sandals. She had black eyeliner on her top eyelid with black in the creases and a nude color on her lips. The thing that stood out most to him were her dark green eyes, they were just so inviting and pierced his soul. She took a few steps forward and reached out for his hand.

"Hi there, you must be Ranma Saotome, Akane's fiancé? I've heard so much about you. I'm Midori Kobayashi, it's nice to meet you." She had a sweet smile that just made him weak at the knees. Oh man, was this going to be an interesting summer.

A week had gone by since Midori had joined the household. Ranma kept everything to himself so far about Ryouga and Akane, but he had also noticed her sneaking off whenever she possibly could when she thought he wasn't looking. Clearly, she underestimated the pig-tailed boy. What had happened between them to cause her to slip away into Ryouga's arms? What had he done to make her think he wasn't worthy of her soft touch? Was it the constant play bickering between them? He just couldn't wrap his mind around it, but he had been up for countless nights pondering. He had heard her climb into the bath getting ready for the day and went back into her room after finishing. He had decided it was time for him to confront her about this. Once again he made the trek upstairs and down the hall to Akane's room. He opened the door, this time without knocking. "Akane I need to-" Once again, Ryouga had found his way into Akane's room, but this time, he wasn't in P-Chan form, he was just Ryouga. And Akane was half naked. In her underwear and bra. The girl turned around in shock

"Ranma! Learn to knock will you?!"

"Well well well, look who it is." Ranma crossed his arms, glaring at Ryouga.

"Ranma, I can explain." Akane looked down, feeling ashamed, knowing he'd more than likely figured it out.

"Yeah, I'd like that." He said, an angry tone in his voice.

"So how do you like it here Midori?" Kasumi asked her as the two girls sat near the open door near the pond, sipping on some green tea.

"The people in this town are very sweet, and I like it a lot more than fast-paced Tokyo. You never have any time to just sit back and relax there." Midori smiled to her sweet older cousin.

"I can imagine-" Kasumi began to reply as Ranma charged past the two girls through the dining room out to the dojo. "Oh my.. I wonder what it could be.. Midori do you mind speaking to him? I have to get started on lunch anyways." The brunette smiled, standing, and Midori nodded to her, standing as well.

"Sure!" Midori followed the fuming boy out to the dojo. She was wearing faded jean shorts with a black cross embedded on both legs underneath the pockets. She had on a black tanktop on with a black see-through button down chiffon top.

"Hey Ranma." She saw him sitting down in the dojo, cross-legged, his right hand pressing into his temple. He turned to look at her when he heard her voice, speaking softly, he gave her a small wave and a smile.

"Oh, hey Midori." The two had had a little bit of time to get to know each other, but he was always with Akane or running around fighting with his crazy panda father. She remembered finding out about his "curse".

It was the morning after she came to Nerima, she was staying in the living room seeing as how she didn't want to intrude on anyone's space. Akane had insisted she stayed in her room since they were the closest in age, but Midori refused, saying she didn't mind since it would only be about two or three months. But she then realized how early certain residents of the Tendo households, namely the Saotome's, started to practice their martial arts training. It didn't take long for Mr. Saotome to fall into the pond and turned into a big panda, scaring the half asleep Midori wide awake. Ranma then showed herself, but it didn't take long for Midori to grow used to it seeing as how it happened almost every morning.

She stared at the man sitting in front of her, pondering what could be bothering him.

"What's eating at you?" She asked sitting next to him.

"Eh, it's nothing. I'm just a little... Astounded by some people in this house, but I'll be okay." Midori squinted her eyes, not believing him.

"Oh yeah? Cause I think even though I haven't known you for that while, I know when something's bothering you. You're a happy guy Ranma, and I'm not stupid. So why don't you tell me what's wrong so I can help you." He looked at her with wide eyes, was he really that easy to read?

"And so you see? It was just kind of an inevitable thing. I can't help who I fall in love with Ranma..." Akane whispered, unable to look Ranma in the eye. Love... The word resonated itself in his mind. He couldn't process this through his head. This was the girl he had put everything on the line for just a few weeks ago, the girl he had been in LOVE with for almost three years now, the only girl he had really ever set his sights on, the only girl his mother, Nodoka would ever approve of. He felt everything crumbling around him, he had to get away from them before they saw him break down. He turned back toward the bedroom door.

"Wait, Ranma! I don't mean to hu-" before Akane could finish, he turned back around, his eyes teary, he grabbed the satin black box out of his pocket and threw it at Akane before darting out of the room.

"Wow... I'm so sorry Ranma." Midori placed a comforting hand softly. He flinched at her touch, and she retracted her hand. "If it's any consolation, I think she made a huge mistake. Why anyone would give someone like you up is beyond me." The girl smiled. "You know what would make you feel better?" Ranma looked up to her, curious.

"And what is that?" He asked her.

"A duel! You and me, right here right now."

"Mmm, I don't hit girls." He shook his head, and Midori stood, putting her hands on her hips.

"Well that wouldn't matter if you were a girl too, right?"

'What is she getting at?' Ranma thought to himself. Before he knew it, Midori had a hold of his red shirt and threw him into the pond, which was warmer than usual due to the summer heat, but still cold enough to turn him into a girl. "Hey what was that for, you crazy?!"

"Come on Ranma, come at me!" Midori had taken off the chiffon top and threw it off to the side standing in a defensive stance.

"I don't know Midori, I don't wanna hurt you." Ranma stated, scratching the back of her head feeling uneasy. Midori waved her hand at the girl passively.

"Don't worry about me, I can hold my own." Midori grinned, and Ranma shrugged.

'I guess I could use a release.' The red headed girl ran forward, thanking The Lord above that she was in girl form, so she wouldn't hurt Midori THAT badly. She just hoped that she could take a punch, so Akane and the others wouldn't give her a hard time. 'Akane...' She felt the rage build up inside herself as she got closer to Midori, and just as her fist was about to connect with Midori's jaw, the dark haired girl jumped up and over Ranma's head, dodging her attack with ease. Ranma's blue-gray eyes stared where Midori had been standing in disbelief. Did she really just dodge her attack? She turned to see Midori smiling behind her, with her arms crossed behind her back.

'Who is this girl?'

"Like I said Ranma, you don't need to worry about me. I can hold my own." Midori ran forward to attack and Ranma had to admit, she had trouble fighting her off. Midori was pretty strong, especially for a girl.

"Ran.." Akane had followed him down, only to see him in his girl form, fighting Midori, so she watched from behind the corner. She knew her cousin was also an amazing martial artist, but she hadn't actually seen her fight in almost ten years. "Wow.." Midori was dodging every hit Ranma was attempting to throw at her, even his special attacks he had learned from Shampoo's grandmother.

'How is she so damn good?' Ranma thought, as she dodged some of Midori's own attacks.

"Wanna call it a truce?" Midori asked after they had been fighting for about twenty minutes.

"Usually I wouldn't, but" Ranma grabbed a nearby teapot and poured it on himself. "Where the hell did you learn to fight like that?" Midori grabbed a nearby water bottle, and poured it on her face and it went down her hair which she tied up in a high ponytail.

"My family owns the Dragon's Fire Dojo in Tokyo. It's the top school there, so we kinda have to raise the best of the best." Midori walked over to gather her shirt and water bottle. "I'll see ya later Ranma, lunch should be ready any minute." She turned and smiled at him before walking out of the dojo and he watched her leave.

"The best of the best, huh?"

Let me know if you like it, and if you do, I'll continue! Reviews also help me update faster, just an FYI ;) Thanks for reading!