A basic summary or what has happened so far: Ukyo is the official heir 
to the Anything Goes school of martial arts. Named so by loyal 
customer Master Happosai after she was orphaned by the death of 
her Father. Ukyo returns with Genma from their ten year training 
journey revealing their curses. Genma turning into a panda and Ukyo 
into a boy with a splash of cold water. Attending school Ukyo is met 
with the confusion of Kuno romancing her natural girl form while
declaring her male half, 'the ponytailed boy', a sorcerer whom he must 
destroy. As this occurs Ukyo finds the Akane/Ranma engagement 
rescinded as she becomes the new iinazuke for Ranma. Soun and 
Genma arranging this because the pair actually get along, unlike Ranma 
and Akane who are more like siblings than lovers. Ukyo is now 
engaged to Ranma and they are starting their newfound romance when 
Ryoga finally reaches Nerima. He attacks her along with his best friend 
Sakura, a street fighter who had a past romance with Ukyo. Ukyo 
manages to work out her problems with Sakura but the question still 
remains as to why Ryoga is so angry... 

Switching Heirs:
An Altered Destiny

By: Dreiser

-Six-

	Wind whipping around them two hooded figures stopped to 
smell the fragrant forest air. The person that was leading the way 
paused to stare at the lush valley below. Releasing a sigh they pushed 
down the hood to their cloak warily to show the tired face of 
Kurasawa Sakura. Next to her the other traveler followed suit and the 
anxious face of Hibiki Ryoga was seen. 
	Turning to the girl he questioned, "Is this Nerima?"
	"Dunno," Sakura said. "After that little detour of yours to 
Hiroshima we could be anywhere." 
	Ryoga formed a pained expression. "I'm sorry but that fighting 
arena was so big and.." 
	"Don't worry about it," she interrupted him. "My business with 
Ukyo is settled. You have to take care of your own debt now. Do 
what you must." 
	"Yes," snarled Ryoga. "I'm coming to get you Kuonji Ukyo!" 
Completely engulfed in his feelings of rage the lost boy screamed at the 
sky. "UKYO!!!!" 

	"Ukyo," Akane stated curiously. 
	She and Nabiki were gathered in the sitting area while Ukyo 
sat cross legged on the verandah in his male form with Ranma beside 
him. The two did not share their usual easy banter as they had the 
events from the past day on their minds. Ukyo was unable to stop 
wondering about what she could have done to Ryoga that would incite 
such anger. And Ranma was completely focused on what the lost boy 
had told him about his iinazuke's past relationship with Sakura. Both 
knew eventually they would have to discuss their feelings on these 
issues with one another but neither wanted to press the matter yet. 
Leaving them at the silent impasse they were at right now. Were at, 
that is, until Akane had just spoken.
	"Yeah Akane?" Queried Ukyo tilting his head to take his stare 
off of the gathered pile of weapons he'd been sharpening to keep 
busy.
	"Are you sure you didn't do anything to Ryoga?" Pressed 
Akane. "He was angry at you. I mean really furious. I never saw 
anything like it.."
	"He wants to destroy your happiness," interrupted Ranma 
quietly. Locking eyes with Ukyo he offered an ironic smile. "What do 
you suppose that means?"  
	Sighing deeply Ukyo slumped his broad shoulders.  "Nothing 
good that's for sure," muttered Ukyo. "I honestly have no idea why 
Ryoga hates me so much. The only thing I can think of is that he's 
angry at how I treated Sakura but she has forgiven me for that.." 
Sensing her approach Ukyo gazed up at Kasumi who was smiling 
warmly and holding a kettle of hot water. "Thanks Kasumi." 
	"You're welcome," Kasumi murmured in usual calm tones. She 
paused a moment to stare at his lanky male form before slowly pouring 
the water on Ukyo's head. "There  now Ukyo. I don't see how things 
can be bad as you think them to be. Your little friends have written 
you a letter after all." Saying this the eldest Tendo sister placed a well 
traveled envelope into the hands of Ukyo. 
	Ripping it open with flourish Ukyo scanned the lines of the 
paper quickly. Now slim shoulders slumped again and she rose to her 
feet swiftly. Handing the letter to Ranma before bounding away. As 
the pigtailed boy read Akane questioned, "What is it? What does it 
say?" 
	"A challenge," ground out Ranma. "Ryoga has issued her an 
official challenge." Tossing the letter carelessly to the ground he 
followed after his iinazuke. 
	Watching the retreating figure of Ranma for a moment Akane 
picked up the letter. Her eyes running gently over the wide swooping 
words that belonged to Ryoga. Tracing them with lithe fingers Akane 
wondered at the connection she felt with the lost boy. 
	There was a fierce anger in him true but she sensed something 
deeper. An almost unfathomable gentleness that accompanied his rage. 
Perhaps that was why Ryoga was so angry. Being more sensitive to 
emotions he was too easily and carelessly hurt in his youth. And as a 
result closed himself off to such treatment in present times. But when 
Akane had gazed into those brown eyes she could have swore she 
saw her own soul lurking there as well. 
	Anger too consumed her soul. Ever since the death of her 
Mother Akane had raged against the world for it. Unable to 
comprehend the sense in the death of such a sweet and gentle person. 
There was no reason to it and that hurt more than anything. Was it a 
cosmic joke? Was it the fates playing a roll of the dice? She didn't 
know but she did know that it was beyond her control. Akane could 
not stop death from embracing her Mother and this fact ate away at 
her soul. So in later years the youngest Tendo would mold herself into 
an example of that singular injustice of her youth. In battle she was 
nothing less than a force of nature. Unyielding and unable to 
understand the pain of loss. 
	It was in this matter Akane felt connected to Ryoga. Lost in 
thought, she rose and walked to her room, not noticing that several 
moments before Nabiki had covertly taken the letter from her grip. 
	"This is no ordinary grudge. Ukyo better stay on guard," 
Nabiki said thoughtfully while reading. Taking another look at the letter 
she quirked up an eyebrow. "He issued the challenge for yesterday. 
That fool really does have no sense of direction. I wonder if should 
start a betting pool on what day he finally does arrive." 

	Surrounded by the incessant sound of cows mooing two 
hooded figures trooped relentlessly through an open pasture. The 
person that was leading the way paused to stare at a pair of teenage 
boys tipping a cow and sighed. Shaking their head to cause the hood 
to fall away exposing the frowning face of Kurasawa Sakura. Her 
companion whipped off his cloak in a flash of movement and sent it 
flying through the air like a knife. The cloak viciously hit its target as 
the two boys fell to the ground into unconsciousness. Causing Hibiki 
Ryoga to wear a smile of delight. 
	Turning to the girl he questioned, "Is this Nerima?"
	"Probably not," Sakura said. "I don't think they tip cows there. 
Ukyo doesn't go for that sort of imbecilic stuff."
	"Sure," snorted Ryoga. "I still don't understand why you 
forgave that snake. Kuonji doesn't deserve your love. You ought to 
crush her in your grip as you would a walnut. Better yet you should 
send her into a descent of pain that would rival our own because of 
her influence. Yes! You--"
	"Ryoga," she interrupted him. "I don't criticize you for seeking 
revenge on Ukyo nor should you criticize me for seeking her love. I 
don't want our friendship to be hurt by this. You are the best friend 
I've ever had but I can't get involved with your quest for vengeance. 
What has past has past and I've adjusted. I'm not going to dirty my 
soul again now that it has finally been cleansed. Understand?" 
	"Yes," Ryoga sighed. "I understand." 

	"Understand?" Cried Ranma in disbelief. The couple were 
atop the roof of the dojo which had become their usual place to have 
private conversation. "Of course I can understand!" Ranma assured 
kneeling in front of his wary iinazuke that had just confessed the details 
of her relationship with Sakura and in turn how it ended. 
	"No one is confident of who they are or what they want 
entirely," explained Ranma gently. "Especially not at such a young age. 
How were you supposed to know she would take it so seriously? To 
you it was puppy love, which is nice at the time, but certainly is nothing 
to plan your life around. It's okay.. really it is."
	"Then why do I feel so awful Ranchan?" Tilting back her dark 
brown head Ukyo blinked back tears. "It doesn't feel right that she 
cares so much and I don't. She followed me to China for the Kami's 
sake! China!! And how do I repay her? By apparently destroying the 
life of not only her but of her best friend who I barely know." Sighing 
she rubbed her temples and muttered, "I'm such a baka.." 
	"Hey!" Asserted Ranma as he gripped her shoulders. "You 
listen to me! You are not a baka. The world does not revolve around 
you Ucchan. You can't control what people do or do not feel. It isn't 
under your will alone that things happen. If Sakura is in love with you 
that has to do with her. Her and her alone. Those are HER feelings. 
They have nothing to do with you."
	Ukyo stared into his deep blue eyes and shook her head. The 
feelings did have to do with her. They were about her! How couldn't 
she be involved? 
	Sighing at this reaction Ranma decided to try a different tactic. 
"Ukyo," he began slowly. "Do you really think Sakura wants your 
pity?" Tilting her head up to meet his gaze he stated, "I only saw her 
for a few minutes but what I saw was a strong warrior. And warriors 
despise pity. Pretending to return her feelings is an extension of that. 
She doesn't deserve that and neither do you." 
	"Ranchan.." Ukyo whispered. Releasing a shuddering sigh she 
fell into his protective embrace and he clung to her as well. They 
remained like this until she reluctantly pulled away. "I thought you 
would hate me.." 
	"For what? For being with another girl or for being bad at 
ending your romances?" Ranma queried with a silly smile. Laughing 
through her tears Ukyo rested her head on his strong shoulder. 
	"For both I suppose," she murmured, raising her eyes. "Not 
many guys would take things as well as you have. Ranma.." Ukyo 
began slowly. "I've done a lot of things I'm not proud of in my life. I 
wish I could say that I feel comfortable sharing them all with you but 
right now I really don't. Partially because the memory of them hurts so 
much and partially because I fear your reaction." 
	"Ucchan," breathed Ranma. Cupping her face gently he said 
tenderly. "Please don't. I want to know all of you. Don't ever be afraid 
to talk to me. You can tell me anything. Anything. And at your own 
pace. You got that?" 
	Smiling weakly Ukyo responded, "I got that." 
	"You better!" Announced Ranma firmly as he pulled her into 
another tight hug. Rocking her slender form to and fro in his arms he 
pledged, "It'll all work out in the end. I promise." Relaxing into the safe 
hold of her iinazuke for a few moments Ukyo had utter confidence in 
this statement.

To be continued... 

This was inspired by the works of Rumiko Takahashi, Wade 
Tritschler, Jim Robert Bader, and many other cool folks. All
characters come from Ranma 1/2 except Sakura who graces
us from Street Fighter. 

Send comments to: Dreiser3@ix.netcom.com

Visit other Altered Destinies at:
www.fortunecity.com/lavendar/attenborough/249/index.htm

Next up: 
The grudge match of the century ensues between Ukyo and Ryoga as 
resident bookie Nabiki takes your bets while messing with the odds.