Okay this is my first fanfic. I mean really it is, if you don't 
believe me then don't but it is.
	
	This is a very rough draft, I just finished it abot an hour ago. I 
have not read through it completely and have only spell checked it so don't do 
any grammer fixing. I just want C&C on what you like and dislike about the 
story, whether characters, dialogue, thoughts, action, whatever just give it 
to me.

	Afew notes before you start.
	Translations: 
		musume- daughter
		ohimechan- this is a bastardized form of ohimesama which means 
 		  princess. I dropped the formal -sama and added the 	
	          affectionate -chan to the ending. This is used like a father 
		  calling his daughter princess in english (I mean that is 
		  what I am trying to do)
	 I'll explain the rest at the end.

So onto the show, or fanfic.

	The Legacy
	Part 1: Homecoming

	A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic 
	by Joseph "Ashira" Kohle

	All characters are the products of Rumiko Takahashi's imagination and 
as such belong solely to her and a few other people like VIz Video and some 
Japanese companies. I am using them without her permission because I don't 
have her e-mail address (really I would ask her). (enough legal jargon 
already)

	Part I

	Homecoming


     The man walked steadily through the deepening twilight.
Although he had never been in this place before, his movements
betrayed no hesitation as he took turns and intersections with easy
grace. Need and anticipation drove him on. His goal was so close. He
had worked so hard for this day. It took all of his control simply not to
break into a run.
     He was an average sized man. Though dressed in loose fitting
clothing that gave him a non-chalant appearance, his movements were
fluid and belied the great strength and dexterity of a fighter. Slung over
his broad-shoulders was a knapsack. Cradled against his chest was the
figure of a small child. 
     The child pushed slightly away from the man's chest and looked
up into his face, "Are we almost there, Otoosan?" she asked curiously.
     "Hai, musume," the father said quietly, "we will be there soon."
     "Good," the daughter said and snuggled back into position
against his chest.  
     He took several more turns, finally walking onto a nice street
with homes and maisons lining the road. Light poured from many
windows giving the block a comfortable, safe feeling for the weary
traveler. Most of them he ignored as he walked down the street. A few
people who had steeped outside for a bit watched him curiously, but
did not speak.
     Seemingly at random, he turned into a walk leading up to a four
story maison. Light spilled from all of the front windows, illuminating
the walk. The man traversed the walk to the front door and checked the
names of the residents. Finding the name he wanted and the apartment,
he walked inside and to the stair, which he took to the second floor. 
     As he walked into the hallway, the floor creaked a bit. The
young girl stirred once again. Lifting her head she looked around.
"We're here," she stated softly.
     "Hai," the father answered, "we are here." He patted the girl's
cheek lightly with his free hand and walked down the hall to the second
door and turned to it. Raising his hand, he knocked twice and waited.
     "Just a minute," the familiar female voice reached him through
the door. He waited impatiently, wanting to rush into the apartment.
The girl, sensing her father's impatience, wiggled around until he put
her down next to him. He then grasped her hand before she could
wander off. Suddenly he heard the click of the bolt and the knob
twisted. The door opened inward. <I'm home> he thought, smiling.

     Akane was quietly putting away the dishes from her dinner
when she heard the knock at the door. "Just a minute," she called out
as she put the last of the dishes away, and dried her hands. She idly
wondered who could be at her door, as she turned off the kitchen light
and walked into the main room. Most of her friends were out at a
party. Everyone but her had finished their last final today. She still had
one more to take the next afternoon, so she had declined the invitation.
     She was used to eating and spending her nights alone though.
So most of her friends just took her excuse at face value, instead of
pressing the issue. Besides she was really not up to visitors tonight or
fun for that matter. She needed to be alone tonight. Just her and her
memories of Ranma.
     It still hurt to think of Ranma, even after four years. It hurt
more because this was only the anniversary of the day she had been
told. She had not seen him for two years prior to that day, and then
Ryoga telling her he was dead. It had crushed her more than even her
mother's death had. She had curled up into herself for months, refusing
to talk to anyone, crying herself to sleep at night. She could not even
go to his grave, since no one knew where he was buried. The only thing
anyone could discover was that he had died in China, looking for the
cure to his curse.
     "Baka!" she muttered under her breath, wiping a tear from her
eye. Even after four years it hurt to think about it. That was the reason
more than any other why she stayed alone on this night. It did nothing
to cheer her up that tomorrow was her last final, and that she would
graduated from college in a week. All she could think of was the fact
that Ranma could not be here with her. Because he had not thought
himself man enough to be her husband. "Ranma no baka," she
whispered again, the tears coming again.
     She hastily wiped her eyes as she realized she was at the door.
She desperately hoped the person had left, or if not it had better be
important. 
     Unlocking the dead bolt, she turned the knob and opened the
door. Pulling the door back revealed a familiar man in the doorway.
Her breath gasped in her throat. <It couldn't be> she thought. Then he
spoke.
     "Akane," the voice struck her like a hammer. It was his voice.
He was alive! Everything started spinning. <How could this be? How?>
she thought. Then she was falling, darkness reaching  for her. It was
just too much.
     "Ranma," she breathed the name like a prayer and felt strong
hands catching her as the darkness enfolded her brain.
     
     Akane slowly opened her eyes, feeling the morning sun warm
her face. She mumbled a bit and then sat up looking out the window,
and then down at herself. Suddenly she remembered seeing Ranma at
her door, hearing his voice calling her name.
     She sighed quietly the tears coming again. <The same dream.
Every anniversary it is the same dream,> she thought quietly, <Why
can't I just get over him? But it was so real.> 
     "Baka," she said pushing the sheets off of her form, noticing she
was still in her clothes, "It was a dream Ranma is.."
     "Sitting right here," a voice of to her side said. Akane spun
around a shriek rising in her throat, she stopped though as she saw her
visitor. He was sitting in a chair next to her bed, watching her quietly
with his dark eyes. It was the same face just older, more mature. He
still wore his dark hair in the pony-tail. His clothes still the Chinese
shirt and trousers. It could not be anyone else. Her mind went blank
and she sank down onto the bed again.
     "H-how?" she stammered, "Y-y-your su-supposed to be d-dea.." 
Then she connected name and sight and heart. With a low cry she
rushed to him, "Ranma!"
     She felt his arms encircle her as she pressed into his warm body.
The sweet scent of his skin filling her nose. She could feel the tears
coursing down her cheek, as she sobbed in his arms. His hands stroked
her shoulder's and hair as he softly comforted her. "It's alright Akane-chan.
I am back. I won't leave you again. I'll always be here for you."
     Akane was not listening to the words. She was enjoying the
sound of his voice, the feel of his body pressed against hers, the gentle
caress of his hands over her body and hair. Nothing mattered accept
this moment to her. For four years she had suffered silently, hoping
against all hope that Ryoga had been wrong. Dreaming against all
dreams that Ranma was alive somewhere, just trying to get back to her.
But as the years passed, her hopes had slowly grown dim, reality break
down their walls. And now, when hope had almost disappeared, Ranma
walked back into her life like she had always hoped. She pressed herself
tighter against him, just glad to be with him.
     Slowly her sobs slowed and ceased. Pulling back slightly she
obtained her first good look at her Ranma. It was immediately evident
that he had matured. His face was stronger, almost more angular, but
thinner, leaner. Two parallel scars ran down his right cheek from his
temple to jawline. She reached out a lightly ran her fingers over them,
wondering where he had received them. His skin was rough under her
touch, yet warm and comforting. He smiled at her, and she almost
gasped out loud. His eyes were so different.
     They were the same color, yet they radiated a different feeling
when she looked into them. Before they had marked his reckless spirit,
his fiery temper and bold personality. They had flashed as he faced
enemies and friends alike. People had been drawn to that Ranma. These
dark eyes staring back at Akane were filled with compassion, patience,
understanding, and something mysterious, beyond her grasp. She
thought she saw a moment of the old Ranma flash through, but it came
and went like a waking dream.
     "Now what is this all about, Akane-chan?" Ranma asked, "I
promised I would return to you, and here your acting like you never
expected to see me again. And why are you not wearing your ring?"
     The questions stunned Akane. <He doesn't know. Well how
could he know? Besides, if he had known, he would have come back
and explained everything.> 
     Akane slowly got up from Ranma's embrace and walked back
over to the bed. Sitting down, she rested against the wall, and looked
over at Ranma who was waiting expectantly for an answer. She
motioned for Ranma to come sit on the end of the bed. He nodded and
pushed himself out of the chair. Quickly, he took a place at the end of
the bed, sitting down in the lotus position. Akane watched him for a
moment still fascinated by the sight of him after so many years. Then
she sighed and took a breath, intending to get this over with as cleanly
as possible.
     "After you left, we waited patiently hoping you would return
soon," Akane began, "We all thought you would discover the cure
quickly or just realize you could only be cured after the curse was done
with you. We got a letter from you two months after you left. You
simply told us that the Nannichuan could not cure you and you had to
find the reason behind the curse before you could be cured. That was
the last we heard from you."
     "By the time graduation rolled around for me the next year, we
were all worried sick about you. No one had heard anything, not even
in rumors. Cologne was even back in town saying she could not
discover where you had disappeared. I was distraught and heart-broken
from worry. Half the time I cursed you, and the other half hoped you
were all right."
     "The summer slowly passed and I went to the university in the
fall. Everyone had convinced me that it was the best way for me to
keep my mind off of you and keep busy with something. They were
really starting to worry about my health, since I was eating less and
spent most of my time watching for you to return."
     "The university helped a bit. I got my mind off of you and I
started getting back into life again. The school year passed quickly. I
finished my last exam and went home to have dinner with our families.
While we were eating Ryoga..." Akane stopped as she suddenly
remembered what had happened the past week. She quickly glanced at
the night table where a ring case sat, unopened. <Oh no,> she almost
sobbed it out loud. <What am I going to do about Ryoga? I didn't
know Ranma was alive. At least I have not answered him yet, but.. Oh
this is going to kill him. What am I going to do?>
     Ranma noticed an anguished expression cross Akane's face as
she stopped talking. Gently he touched her knee and asked her to
continue. Akane nodded as Ranma's touch brought her out of her own
thoughts. She took a deep breath. This was the hard part of the story.
     "While we were eating, Ryoga came in the door. He looked like
he had not slept in several days. His clothing was ripped or shredded in
many places. A haunted expression covered his face, like he had done
something horribly wrong. We offered him a place to sit and eat, but he
just shook his said and looked at us. He opened his mouth several times
like he was going to say something, and then just stopped and starred
at the floor."
     "Finally Kasumi asked what was bothering him. He looked at
me with tears in his eyes. He said..He said...," Akane's voice choked
up. Even though she knew it was not true, it still hurt. Even thinking
about it wrenched her heart. She looked at Ranma, pleading for his
touch. She could feel the tears in her eyes, as he reached out and
gripped her hand. At his touch, she found the strength to continue, to
face the past, "He said, `I'm so sorry Akane. Ranma's dead.'"
     Akane saw Ranma start as if slapped, then he started to shake
his head as he spoke, his voice near tears, "I didn't know Akane-chan. I
didn't know. I was training in the mountains at that time. I had been
since that first letter. I'm so sorry. I never wanted to see you hurt, and
now..now I find out you have been living with my death," Ranma was
crying now as he apologized, his words sometimes lost in his sobs. 
     Akane was shocked out of her own depression by this. She had
never seen Ranma come close to this kind of emotion. He had changed,
and she wondered how much. Gripping his hand, Akane said, "It
doesn't matter anymore. You're here with me, alive again. That is all
that matters. That is all I need to know."
     Ranma nodded at her words, but something was still bothering
him. He looked up at Akane and asked, "How did Ryoga find out I
died?"
     Akane shook her head in answer, "I don't really know. I was
devastated when he said that. I don't remember much of the next few
weeks. I spent most of the time curled up on my bed crying for you and
cursing you. I never heard how he found out, but everyone believed
him, and I..I just did not want to know. I thought if I did not know
there could be some hope that you would be alive. I could make up my
own story. And afterwards, I never asked Ryoga, even though he was
around a lot, just so I could have someone to talk with, or comfort me
when I cried. Ryoga became.." she remembered his proposal. It had
been sweet, and in a way she did love him, but Ranma was back. She
had to tell him. 
     "Ranma?"
     "Hmm?" he answered lost in thought after Akane had stopped
speaking.
     "About Ryoga," she started, "We, uh-ahhh, I mean he," she was
cut off as she heard a child's voice call from the kitchen and living area.
     "Otoosan?" the voice called. Akane became confused. What
was a kid doing in her apartment? And more importantly why was she
looking for her father in her apartment? Akane was about to go find out
when Ranma spoke up.
     "In here ohimechan," he shouted back his voice filled with love
and compassion. Akane's mind was still trying to figure out who the
child was when Ranma had answered. Now she wondered what his
connection with this voice was, and was becoming very confused when
a red headed blur shot into her room and quickly climbed onto her bed
and into Ranma's lap. Hugging and kissing Ranma quickly she settled
into his lap and starred at Akane solemnly from out of hazel eyes. 
     Ranma wrapped his arms around the young girl, she could not
have been more than three, Akane guessed, and hugged her. She had
hazel eyes and red hair that hung loosely about her face, brushing her
shoulders. As Akane watched Ranma and her she noticed that the two
looked a lot alike. A horrible suspicion began to form in her head. It
was confirmed as the little girl spoke.
     "Is this Akane-chan, Otoosan?" the girl asked, her kawaii voice
a pipping piccolo, as she pointed at Akane, who was staring open-mouthed 
at Ranma and the girl.
     "Hai, ohimechan," Ranma answered, "This is Akane-chan."
     Akane watched as he looked at her, and then saw his brow
furrow. He looked at his daughter. His daughter, the phrase ran
through Akane's head. And then looked up at Akane and smiled
nervously. 
     Lifting the girl from his lap, he put her on the floor and said,
"Why don't you get ready for breakfast, we'll be out in a minute."
     "Hmm," the child nodded as she rushed back out of the room,
ecstatic with the prospect of food.
     "I guess I should explain," Ranma began lamely, "I.."
     "Explain!" Akane shouted her anger flaring up, "I mourn you
for four years and then find out that you are two-timing me. You
DON'T explain that Ranma! Why don't you just get out of my sight,
hentai!" She reached over to grab the table to throw at him. Before she
could touch the table Ranma had grasped both of her hands, stopping
her.
     Shock filtered through her anger. She had not even seen Ranma
move. She glanced at the place he had been sitting in the lotus position,
to where he stood now on the opposite side of the bed, holding her
arms in an unbreakable grip. 
     The shock quickly passed though, and her anger resurfaced. She
struggled against Ranma's grip shouting at him, "Let me go! Baka, I
said let me go and get out of my home! Don't you understand Japanese
anymore? Get out!"
     Ranma did not move. Instead he looked at Akane and spoke
firmly and evenly, "I did not cheat on you Akane. Why don't you let me
explain before you go ballistic and crush my head with one of your
mallets?" 
     "What is there to explain?" Akane retorted her voice dangerous
and low, "You have a daughter and she's obviously not mine, so she
must be some other woman's child. Therefore you cheated on me." She
was actually rather proud of her reasoning until Ranma responded.
     "Picture her in you mind," he said quietly, "Who does she
remind you of that you know?"
     Akane about to retort stopped for a second and actually
thought about what Ranma had said. She pictured his daughter in her
mind, the face that looked like Ranma's, the hazel eyes, the kawaii
voice, the red hair... She stopped. Red hair? Something clicked on in
her mind and the pieces snapped together. "She looks like your cursed
form," she said quietly.
     "Hai," Ranma said quietly as he released her arms and sat down
again.
     "But how? I mean..I..don't understand," Akane mumbled
completely confused. Too much had happened this morning. There had
been to many shocks, and now there was this. She just sat on the bed
starring at nothing. She barely felt Ranma guide her to her feet and lead
her out of her bedroom to the kitchen table.
     "Come on," he said softly as he sat her down at the table, "Eat
some breakfast and I'll explain."
     Akane allowed herself to be seated at the table. Ranma quickly
disappeared into the kitchen. She heard the sound of dishes being taken
out and food being dished out onto them, but her mind was on other
matters. <Ranma had a daughter. No, she looks like Ranma-onna. He
pointed that out. What happened? Was he raped? Is that why he did not
come back?>
     She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she did not see
Ranma's daughter climb up into the seat next to her, positioning herself
so she could watch her.
     "Why were you and Otoosan fighting?" she asked.   
     Akane was startled out of her thoughts by the question. She
looked at the child. Her eyes were staring at her full of concern. There
were streaks on the girl's cheeks as if she had been crying about
something. And for some reason, as Akane looked at the girl she
thought that she had been crying for Ranma and her, but that was
crazy. She was to young to understand those kind of things. She must
have been frightened by her and Ranma's shouting.
     "Don't worry, child," Akane said quietly brushing a stray lock
of hair from the kid's eyes, "It was a misunderstanding. Besides we are
used to fighting, that was all we used to do." For some reason she
wanted to explain everything to this child. Her presence felt
comforting.
     Akane smiled at the child, suddenly wanting to hold her in her
lap. Reaching out Akane lifted the girl into her lap. Ranma's daughter
did not mind and even seemed to expect it as her due. Once in Akane's
lap, she cuddled against Akane, her head resting on Akane's breast.
     Looking down at the child, Akane felt strange emotions fill her
heart. Slowly she wrapped her arms around the girl and slowly rocked
her, cooing slightly. <I know why Ranma kept her,> Akane thought
silently, then frowned as she wondered where that thought came from.
     Her musings were cut short as Ranma arrived at the table and
placed plates of food on the table. A delicious smell assaulted Akane's
senses. Her stomach grumbled hungrily. Ranma's daughter giggled as
she heard Akane's response.
     Ranma smiled at the two females in his life getting along so
well.. "I see Ranko has already won your heart, Akane-chan," Ranma
said sitting down at the table opposite both of them.
     "Ranko?" Akane asked as she looked down at the girl in her lap
who was already picking at Akane's food. Akane smiled, "I see she has
your appetite."
     Ranma smiled back, "She does, and it was the name she
deserved."
     Akane looked at Ranko and took a breath, she had to ask,
"Ranma, you said you would explain her. I just want to know who her
mother is."
     Ranma blushed slightly and looked at his daughter and then at
Akane. He coughed once clearing his throat and said, "I am."
     "You are!?" she had thought it might be possible, but hearing it
confirmed by Ranma just shocked her. "Were you, ahh, you know..?"
She left it hanging, but Ranma got her idea.
     "No, Akane-chan, I was not raped." he answered back.
     Her anger flashed briefly before she could control it, only to
have it overcome with the disturbing thought that he had submitted to a
man. She had been beaten out by a man for Ranma's affections. She
almost grabbed one of her mallets and smash Ranma, when she felt
Ranko lightly touching her face. She looked down at the smiling,
kawaii ace and relaxed a bit. He had said he would explain. I'll let him
explain.
     "So then who is the father?" she asked quietly.
     This time Ranma brushed very deeply and dropped his head to
his chest and mumbled something into his food.
     "Huh?" Akane asked.
     Ranma looked back up at her and took a breath, "I am."
     "What!?" Akane shouted, too shocked to even modulate her
voice. "You got yourself pregnant?" She was incredulous. <Why in the
world would he do such a thing?> She stared straight at Ranma her
gazing boring into him, her face pleading him for an explanation.
     Ranma blushed at her stare and nervously picked at his food.
He opened his mouth, and then closed it quickly. He did this several
more times, making him look like a drowning fish.
     "Ranma," Akane's voice was silent and strained almost hurt,
"Why did you do this?"
     She watched as Ranma floundered while looking for something
to say. Finally his head sank to the table and he took a breath. "Akane-chan," 
he started, "The story is a long one, and I need to tell you it. I
spent my entire time traveling here trying to decide how to tell you. So
far nothing has gone right. You fainted on me, and then you meet
Ranko before I could explain, and now. Well Akane, to be truthful I
have not slept in two days. For the last six years I have gone through
more than most people will in a lifetime. Can I just ask you one favor?"
     Akane waited for him to continue, and then realized he was
waiting for her to answer. She did not know what to say. He wanted a
favor, but she did not know whether to give him the chance or not. She
felt Ranko lean back into her and looked down at her. She was
snuggled against Akane, eyes droopy ready for a nap. Looking at
Ranma's child she decided. "Hai," she said.
     "Arigato," Ranma said, "All I want is some time to sleep and
get my thoughts together. It's eleven now. If you could let me get
seven hours of sleep and maybe two hours to think, I will be ready to
tell you, over dinner tonight, say around eight or so. Akane-chan
please. You will understand then. I promise I will tell you everything."
     Akane nodded her assent, and then suddenly snapped her head
up, "What time did you say it was?"
     "Eleven in the morning," he responded, "Wh..."
     "I'm late!" Akane shouted as she tried to get up only to
remember that Ranko was there. Understanding her predicament,
Ranma walked over and picked up his daughter. Akane quickly jumped
out of her chair and ran into her room. Where Ranma could hear her
getting dressed.
     Putting Ranko down on the couch, Ranma walked over to
Akane's bedroom door. "What are you late for Akane?" he asked.
     "I was supposed to meet Ukyou at eleven for lunch," the
muffled reply came from the bedroom, "She was going to help me go
over the material for my last exam that I have to take this afternoon."
     "Ahh," Ranma said, "I understand." He walked back to the
table and started putting away breakfast. He was almost finished
cleaning when Akane came out of her room dressed in jeans and a
blouse. Ranma watched her quietly as she hurried about the room
grabbing her purse and books. Finally she was about to leave.
     Ranma walked up to her as she headed for the door, and put his
hand on her shoulder, "Akane-chan," he said.
     "Yes Ranma."
     "Will you please not tell Ukyou or any of the others that I am
back in town," he said, "I am just not ready to face them yet. It has
already been hard enough with you." He smiled at her,
     Akane looked at Ranma and saw the sincerity in his eyes. "Hai,"
she said, "I will not tell anyone."
     "Arigato," Ranma said, "Until tonight then." He kissed her
forehead softly and walked over to the couch, where he looked back at
Akane who was standing still in the doorway. He smiled, "You don't
know how much I have missed you, Akane-chan."
     "Me too," Akane said her mind a confusing vault of emotions.
Ranma, Ryoga, Ranko. It was all too confusing. Maybe tonight would
clear it up. "Until tonight then." She disappeared out of the door and
closed it behind her.
     Ranma sighed and picked up his sleeping daughter and went
into Akane's bedroom where he promptly feel asleep on her bed.


	Okay there it is the first part of my first fanfic. The next part will 
probably be out sometime this week. It will be the story of Ranma's lost six 
years. 
	I do not know what will come after that, I have not really thought 
that far ahead. But I do have a few ideas.
	Just to give credit. This was inspired by several sources. First was 
the fanfic Ranma 1/2: Twenty Years Later (idea inspired part of this story) 
and the Ranma pregnancy spam on this ML

	Note on OOC Ranma: Remeber Ranma has been gone six years and has had a 
child, he would have changed, trust me. Just bear with it for now.

	Note on Ranko: If you think Ranko is acting a little mature, don't 
worry right now, it will be explained.

	Remember C&C is welcome, encouraged, demanded even. If I don't get it 
I will just curl up and suck my thumb.

	Hope you enjoyed, I look forward to entertaining you.

	Sincerly,

	Joseph "Ashira" Kohle

	"Love is a many spledoured thing, especially for Ranma.
	I mean if you got hit on the head with a mallet, I bet your
	world would be many splendoured, or is that multi splintered?"