AN & Disclaimer: I don’t own Ranma 1/2, the goddess Rumiko Takahashi does! This is AU, and its Ranma+Akane, just the way it should be. Well, this is my first Ranma fic. Review and be nice! That means no flames!

Enemy Ties
by Oyuki

Prologue:


The princess was flanked by two guards. She walked between them as they approached a castle. The day was dark and bleak. Little Akane looked up at the place that would be her ‘home’ for the rest of her life. Her child’s mind didn’t understand why her father had sent her here. Why her? She was the youngest of seven children; her older, and only, sister would have been a better choice than her.

Her father had made an alliance with a faraway kingdom, a marriage alliance. Her father would not wage war against the country and they would do the same, but they needed something to make the agreement stand. King Genma Saotome of Korima suggested a marriage, but to whom? He had and only child, a boy and as such his son was the heir to everything he owned. All five of King Soun Tendo’s sons were engaged or married already, and his oldest daughter, Kasumi was also engaged. Besides that, all of his sons and his daughter were much older than King Genma’s five-year-old son. But then, King Soun came up with his ‘brightest’ idea ever. He had a younger daughter nobody knew about. Yes, she was his legitimate daughter with his diseased wife, she was born only five years ago, just before his wife passed away that almost nobody knew about her. She was the last reminder of King Soun’s beloved wife.

Keiko had died giving birth to Akane; Keiko wasn’t supposed to have any more children, she had never been very healthy, and she wasn’t young anymore. So, after Akane was born, Soun had locked her in a house with nurses to raise her. Soun spurned his daughter, he blamed her for his wife’s death. Princess Akane had never seen her father or any of her siblings, though she knew who they were.

And now, five-year-old Akane was standing at the gates of the Korima Castle.

*~*~*~*

"Has she arrived yet?" asked King Genma. He was sitting in his throne, on his left sat his wife, Nodoka, and to the King’s right sat his son and heir, Prince Ranma Saotome.

"Genma, are you sure you want to do this? Arleth is a peaceful country, husband," stated Nodoka.
"I am sure, if I do not do this, then I will have to go to war with..." he didn’t finish as the arrival of the little princess Akane was signaled. She walked through the gates of the thrown room dressed in her princess finery. Sky blue silk dress that reached the floor, on her head rested a little diamond-studded tiara. She curtsied, and bowed her head. She had been taught to show respect for her elders and royalty above her, which meant queens and kings. She noticed a child by the king’s side. The boy was dressed in the royal colors of blue and silver, his hair long and braided into a pigtail. His eyes were the most startling blue she’d ever seen.

"My dearest, Princess Akane! A pleasure to have you here. How glad I am to have you in my home," said the king with false hospitality. "Dear Akane, this is my wife, Queen Nodoka," he motion to the beautiful woman. "And this is my son and heir," he motion to the boy. "Prince Ranma Saotome."

"It is a pleasure to meet you all," said little Akane shyly. She had never been around people. She had been in her house with only her nurses for company all of her five years of life. She had never seen anything outside the walls that surrounded her house. She found other people and places fascinating, she wanted to know so many things now that she had gotten a taste of what freedom was like.

"Now, dearest Akane, I have a surprise for you!" Genma said gleefully. "Guards!" he exclaimed. Akane stiffened and looked up at the king. "Cease her!" he said with a smile.

"What?" she asked quietly. She was beyond confused as two guards grabbed her little body by her arms. She looked up at the King who looked at her with unhidden contempt, the Queen looked at her with pity and sadness in her eyes. The little prince watched her and smiled, but she didn’t think the smiled reached his eyes.

Tbc…

AN: Yup, this is my first Ranma ½ fic... that I will probably never continue...