Opening: The tortured love life of Akane comes into focus as Ukyo 
and Ranma concentrate on their own budding romance.

Webpage URL can be found at the bottom of this post.

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Switching Heirs:
An Altered Destiny

By: Dreiser

-Four-

        "Akane," began Kasumi in her usual sweet gentile
nature. The group were gathered together sharing a quiet
breakfast for once, seeing as Ukyo had booted Genma into the
orbit after he had attempted to steal Ranma's food. "I met the
nicest young boy the other day by the name of Tenchi. He's in
town for a training trip with his Grandfather. I was wondering if
you might be interested in showing him around."
        "You mean a date?" Questioned Akane flushed.
        Kasumi smiled widely at this. "Yes, exactly, a date. I've
noticed you haven't met any nice young man so..."
        "Uhm... I don't think so Oneechan.. I'm really busy with
my school work and stuff. I can't--" Akane stated nervously
while averting her eyes.
        "Yeah Kasumi," put in Ukyo with a mouthful of noodles.
"Akane already likes someone. She can't date some guy you just
met."
        "Really Akane? I'm so happy!" Exclaimed Kasumi while
clasping her hands together. "Who is it?"
        Shifting the glare at Ukyo to her older sister Akane
smiled anxiously. Standing in a quick short movement she
grabbed Ukyo's hand who yelped at this. "Gotta go!" Akane
shouted dragging the startled brunette from the room. "Late for
school! C'mon Ukyo!!"
        Blinking a moment Kasumi rose before following them
out the door with Ranma close behind. "Wait! Your lunches!
Don't you want them?" Questioned Kasumi.
        Pausing in her dash Akane whirled around to offer a
overtly happy smile. "Nope. No thanks! Bye Oneechan." Turning
to glare at Ukyo she snarled. "I'm not hungry for some reason."
        "Oh but..." Kasumi trailed off as her sister dashed off
with Ukyo in tow. "Strange girl. Ranma," she said turning to the
pigtailed boy who wore an amused face. "Would you bring their
lunches to school please? I'm sure Akane will get hungry despite
what she says."
        "No problem Kasumi," Replied Ranma tucking the
lunches under his arm before taking off after Akane who was no
doubt yelling at his iizanuke.
        If there was one thing he had learned after years of
knowing Akane it was that she was incredibly sensitive about her
private life. To this day still didn't even dare of thinking to speak
of her longtime crush while around certain people...

        Ukyo clung to Akane with all her might. "Akane?" She
cried in desperation as they rounded a corner at mach speed.
"Akane?!" Increasing the volume Ukyo was now shouting. "Can
we slow down? Please?!"
        The dark girl didn't reply as they rounded yet another
corner. Ukyo was now sputtering as a splash of cool water hit
him. "Just great." He muttered referring to his change in sex.
"Ugh.. I'm gonna be sick..." Ukyo moaned as Akane slammed
his body up against the wall surrounding Furinkan.
        "I can't believe you said that!" Akane growled in angry
tones. "I just can't believe it! What right do you have to talk
about my private business?! Huh?! What ri...? Hey. When did you
turn into a guy?" Puzzled Akane as she took in the now male
form of Ukyo who looked queasy.
        "Don't wanna talk about it.." Ukyo relented. "Maybe you
should deal with that first." Turning to where he was pointing
Akane found the usual crowd of athletes gathered around her.
Getting into attack position she declared.
        "You want to do this now?! Fine!" Instead of flying at her
the sports players merely gazed at her with tear filled eyes. Their
leader, a fencer, stepped forward saying in choked tones. "We
release you Tendo Akane. When we heard about the defeat of
Kuno at the hands of your ponytailed friend over there we knew
there was no point in continuing our quest."
        "Yeah," added a baseball player. "Kuno Tatewaki was
Furinkan's greatest warrior. When he lost we knew we didn't
stand a chance at winning your hand."
        "LOST?!?!" A disbelieving scream filled the air and the
crowd turned to take in the fallen figure of Kuno who was
covered in bandages. Pulling down the bandage over his face
Kuno growled. "Kuno Tatewaki does not admit loss!!" Focusing
on the figure of the male Ukyo he snarled.
        "Demon spawn! You are the cause for all my woes! I
shall smite you severely for this! Smite you then claim the fair
Tendo Akane and Kuonji Ukyo as my own!!" Kuno began
laughing madly at this. The crowd took this in warily until
Ranma leapt into the scene his foot connecting with the Kendo
champion's glass jaw causing him to collapse.
        "I don't think so Kuno old buddy," Ranma stated dusting
off his hands. "You'd only end up getting yourself hurt even
worse in another fight."
        "Nice call Ranma!" Called the fencer. Turning to the
male Ukyo he stated, "We better get to class. Nice to meet you.
Say hi to Ukyo for us, huh?"
        "No problem buddy," said Ukyo with a wry grin. Moving
forward his face constricted. Clutching his stomach he grumbled.
"Why did you have to run so fast Akane? My stomach is killing
me now..."
        At this Akane sniffed, turning her nose up in the air in a
snobbish gesture before walking off.
        Narrowing his eyes Ukyo turned to Ranma. "What's with
her?"
        "Ukyo," Ranma chuckled, slinging an arm over the other
boy's shoulder. "Lemme tell you the basics about Akane while
we get you some hot water..."

        Flipping through the air like the wind itself Ranma held
his arms aloft as he executed a perfect landing from the uneven
bars. He loved gym class, nothing was better than being outside
in the fresh air and beauty of nature. Currently it wasn't the
beauty of his surroundings that caught Ranma's attention. Rather
it was that of his iizanuke who stood in right field concentrating
on the game of softball she was playing.
        Sitting gracefully next to two of his closest friends,
Hiroshi and Daisuke, while ignoring the polite claps of his
classmates at his performance Ranma continued to gaze at Ukyo
as she leapt through the air catching a fly ball.
        "Man, Saotome. You are one lucky dog." Put in Hiroshi
with a sigh.
        "What?" Ranma asked distracted. Forcing himself to tear
his gaze away from Ukyo who was smiling while receiving
congratulations from teammates for making an out.
        "Yeah. You can say that again Hiroshi," Daisuke was
saying with a leer. "I'd sure love to be engaged to a hottie like
Ukyo. I can't believe your luck man. First you get Akane then
cause you don't like her anymore they give you Ukyo. What a
break! Wish I was a martial artist..."
        Hiroshi snickered at this. Poking Ranma in the ribs he
demanded. "How far have you gotten with Ukyo?"
        "What?" Ranma echoed again. Lost as to how all this
came about. At Hiroshi's question a scene of the embrace he and
Ukyo had during the game of tag came into his mind and Ranma
blushed furiously. Stammering he retorted. "I've gotten no where!
She isn't that kind of girl!"
        "Yeah right," Daisuke snorted. "Get real Ranma. She's
traveled all over. Ain't no way she hasn't done it. She's used
goods all right... not that I'd mind." Daisuke grinned widely until
he saw the furious expression on his companion's face. "Err... but
you might... yeah..."
        "Daisuke," hissed Ranma. Clenching his hands into fists.
"I'm going to ignore you said that cause you're my buddy. But if
you or anyone else EVER says something like that again about
Ukyo again I'll---"
        Ranma was cut off when suddenly a softball sliced
through the air like a white missile. Promptly hitting him on the
right side of his face on the cheek, causing him to topple over.
>From home plate Akane held a softball bat while wearing a face
of embarrassment.

        "Are you sure you're okay Ranchan?" Ukyo questioned
with concern as she studied the large bandage on her iizanuke's
face.
        "I'm sure. It's no big deal Ucchan. Not like it was your
fault or anything." He directed blazing blue eyes towards the
guilty figure of Akane.
        "Would you be quiet?" Akane growled. "Why in the
world didn't you just duck anyway? It isn't my fault weren't
paying attention!"
        Averting his eyes at this comment Ranma felt his anger
rise just thinking of what his two friends had said to cause such
distraction. Staring at the ground he contemplated the feeling.
Never had he felt so enraged as when they insulted Ukyo. Ranma
really wanted to rip their heads off.
        Gazing at Ukyo he pondered Daisuke's implications
though. She had traveled the world and was indeed more
knowledgeable than him in many things. But did that mean she
had...? Ranma shook his head. He didn't want to think about it
but somehow the possibility of the occurrence just wouldn't leave
his thoughts.
        With a start Ranma clumsily bumped into the back of
Ukyo who had stopped in her approach. Tipping his dark head to
one side he averted his gaze to see why.
        Standing before them, sweeping in front of the local
medical clinic, was his father in panda form. "Otosan," he began
with a smile. "What are you doing here?"
        The panda growfed then held up a sign that read. <I got a
job working here son.>
        "A job Pops? You?" Ukyo snickered. "I always figured if
that happened it'd be in a zoo."
        <Ha. Ha. Funny.> The sign read. <I want to earn my keep
and make my son proud.>
        "Aw, Otosan.." Ranma trailed off, flushing a bit. "I'll
always be proud to have you as a father."
        Ukyo was about to reply to this when her eyes caught
hold of a handsome man wearing wire rim glasses walking
towards them. She caught hold of him and the reaction he had in
the nearby Akane. Immediately the girl was smiling brightly and
wearing a charming expression.
        "Mr. Saotome," the man said with a smile. "How are you
getting along?"
        "Hey Dr. Tofu. Did you know that's my father you hired?
He's a hard worker, isn't he?" Asked Ranma proudly.
        "He certainly is Ranma. Your father, eh?" Chuckling a bit
Tofu commented. "You hardly see the resemblance." Ukyo
laughed at this without helping it and warm brown eyes focused
on her. "Kuonji Ukyo I take it? I'd love to hear your side of the
Jusenkyo incident. You're also Ranma's new iizanuke I'm told."
        Ukyo nodded mutely at this while Tofu focused on Akane
whose cheeks were tinged. "I wondered about that. The both of
you were so against the marriage. Ranma..." The doctor trailed
off now staring at his bandaged cheek. "What have you done to
yourself now? Come inside and let me look at that cheek."
        "Yes doctor." Said Ranma obediently before following
Tofu into his clinic accompanied by his father.
        "He still sees you as a little girl is that it?" Ukyo turned to
Akane who was still blushing slightly and questioned. "The age
difference, I mean, is that the issue?"
        "I wish," replied Akane. Locking brown eyes with
sandalwood ones Akane released a sigh. "No... the doctor already
has someone he likes. I mean, he really, really, likes this person. I
don't stand a chance against her." Akane sighed again as they
walked inside the clinic where Ranma sat having some salve put
on his injury.
        Looking up from his work Tofu smiled and asked
playfully. "Is this your handiwork Akane?" Akane immediately
blushed at this.
        "Who else has the brute strength to do this sort of
damage?" Muttered Ranma sourly.
        "It wasn't my fault you didn't duck!!" Screamed Akane
with a flushed expression.
        Blinking Tofu turned from Ranma to Akane. Staring at
the dark haired girl he murmured with surprise. "Oh no. I was
only joking Akane. I didn't think you really did this..."
        Ukyo watched as Akane turned yet another shade of red
and wondered about the situation. It seemed something of an
adolescent crush not a mature love between two equals. Not at all
like what she had with Ranma...
        Studying her dark pigtailed iizanuke Ukyo pondered that
thought. Yes, she thought pleased. They did have a relationship
of equals. Ukyo was confident that Ranma cared for her as much
as she did for him. That was what Akane needed. Someone to
love her back, not some man she had worshipped as a child and it
transferred to adulthood. The question was: Where to find such a
person?
        "Dr. Tofu?" A gentle voice called from the waiting room.
At the sound of it Ranma immediately leapt from his seat to land
next to Ukyo. Meanwhile Tofu's glasses were fogged with steam
as he called out in high nervous tones.
        "K-Ka-Kasumi?" He stammered as the eldest Tendo
sister walked into the treatment room. Whirling around to meet
her he rubbed the back of his head nervously while laughing a bit
madly. "What an incredible coincidence running into you here of
all places!"
        "Yes," began Kasumi slowly with a small smile. "I just
wanted to return the books you leant Nabiki and I. She enjoyed
the one on pressure points very much but wouldn't read the
herbal remedy manual I borrowed.." Trailing off Kasumi shifted
her gaze to the other people in the room. "Akane and Ukyo?
What are you doing here?" Before either girl could answer she
questioned. "Ranma? Did you hurt yourself again?" Smiling at
Tofu she murmured. "Poor Ranma is always getting him into
scrapes isn't he Dr. Tofu?"
        "Yes he certainly is!" Exclaimed Tofu while laughing in
high pitched tones. Ukyo's eyes widened at this reaction again
then focused on Akane who looked morose. The girl stared at
Tofu a long while before simply exiting the room for parts
unknown.
        No wonder she isn't trying to go after him. The guy is
heads over heels in love with her older sister. Poor Akane...
things can't get much worse. Thought Ukyo sympathetically but
her pondering were interrupted by a warm hand holding her own.
It was Ranma who wore a fearful expression while backing out
of the room.
        Trying not to show how surprised she was at the contact
Ukyo whispered, a bit confused, "Ranchan?"
        Turning to lock eyes with her Ranma put a finger over his
lips and bounded from the room with lightning speed dragging
Ukyo along with him. Once outside he released a deep sigh of
relief and wiped his brow.
        "Phew!" Releasing her hand with a nervous expression he
stammered. "I-I'm sorry... I didn't.. I mean.."
        "It's fine Ranma," Ukyo murmured smiling softly. "I
liked it. You can hold my hand anytime you want. Just like I
hope I can hold yours anytime I want." Moving forward gently
she took his hand in her own. "Can I?"
        "Yeah.." Ranma whispered squeezing her hand. "You
can." Now smiling with ease he swung their joined hands back
and forth. Ukyo chuckled at this movement.
        "So. Do tell. What was going on in there?" Ukyo
questioned as they walked home.
        Shaking his head Ranma groaned. "Dr. Tofu. I guess you
saw how Akane was with him, right?" Ukyo nodded at this
statement. It was obvious to practically anyone that she had
feelings for the man. Anyone but Tofu himself and the object of
his obsession: Kasumi.
        "Akane's had a thing for him ever since we were little
kids. Started a little while after you left on the training journey
with Otosan. But Tofu has been crazy about Kasumi for just as
long. Whenever she's around he gets sort of nutty," Ranma
smirked. "Can't concentrate or do his work properly. In fact the
only thing he can do is pay attention to Kasumi and laugh like a
madman at anything she says."
        "I noticed," Ukyo said dryly. "What about Kasumi? She
has to know he loves her. She can't be as clueless as she
pretended to be back there.." Stopping to look at the
uncomfortable face of her companion, sandalwood eyes widened.
"You're kidding! She doesn't know?"
        "She is completely clueless to take your expression. I
think Kasumi just thinks Tofu is sort of eccentric. You see, she
never has seen him normally.. just as the babbling mess he turns
into whenever she's around," noted Ranma. "And Kasumi has
even less clue that Akane likes Tofu. The one thing I wonder
about is if Kasumi likes Tofu. It's so hard to tell with her. She
seems to treat everyone the same. Of course that's one of her best
traits normally."
        Stopping in front of the entrance to the dojo Ukyo looked
dismayed. "Why does everything always have to be so difficult?"
        "Because this is life Ucchan," Ranma said his smile
deepening. "This is life and life is simply a soap opera that hasn't
been televised yet."
        Ukyo sniffed then raised an eyebrow. Trying to hold back
chuckles at her iizanuke's insight. Sighing she leant in closer
against Ranma who enjoyed this gesture. "When'd you get so
smart?" She muttered against his shoulder.
        Laughing now Ranma commented smoothly, "I honestly
have no idea." Stopping to gaze down at her dark brown head
that was tucked under his chin Ranma murmured softly. "I think
it was after meeting you."
        Muffled against his chest, sighing as Ranma wrapped his
arms around her slim frame, Ukyo responded. "Charmer."
        "So are you," Ranma smiled. "So are you."

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C&C, etc. can be sent either to the FFML, or privately to me at
Dreiser@ix.netcom.com.

To visit the webpage for the Altered Destinies series, go to
http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/attenborough/249/index.htm