Things happen how they happen.  This story is a product of my imagination,
and the pain I feel.  this chapter(ish) is also a small interlude...to
explain...if it can.

<disclaimer>
Okay, before I let you into the story, I have to state that THIS IS A VERY
DARK STORY! If you don't like that theme of story, turn back now.  Also
included in this story are scenes of rape and murder, so you would be well
advised to turn away if you hate that kind of stuff as well. </disclaimer>

          Ranma 1/2
          Happi's Legacy
          by Shadow Dancer (AKA Liath Shadow)
          Episode 2

"Turn it off" I said.  I've seen enough.

"You can no more turn it off then turn yourself off" my ungrateful student
replied.

"Turn it OFF!" I yelled, becoming frantic.  Who'd have through that a world
where one of my first students died early on would make him happy.

Maybe it is because I die, as well.

"It is your fault, Happi.  You have caused that which is in front of you.
You must reap the rewards you've sown."

A world, where I die, at the hands of one of the most innocent girls in the
world.

A world where my greatest apprentice is my own son.  Where he is destroyed
by my own hand.

A world that I created by a single wish. "I wish that my greatest student
was my own child"

My only wish now is that I had never made that wish.

A pity that I used all of my wishes up.

*****

Searching through my panties and scrolls, I happened to come across a
scroll that I have never seen before.  It caught my eye, just barely.

Well, actually it catches my hand.  I was reaching for the golden silk
panties just underneath it when it...jumped into my hand.

Not that this doesn't happen on occasion...but it kind of surprises me when
I see a rune on the sealing wax.

A rune that starts glowing as soon as I touch it.

Surprised, I broke the seal on the scroll, and open it.  Halfway through, I
know what it is.  I hurried to collect everyone.

*** next day ***

Cologne, Shampoo, Ranma, Akane, Genma, and I all arrive at the top of the
hill described by the scroll.

"Are you sure today is the day, Happi?"

I nod, nearly cackling in glee, "yes, oh yes...today, here, it's all ready..."

Just as I say this, a scarlet glow emanates from the tip of the hill,
slowly expanding into an incredibly complex magical circle.

By the sun, it is high noon.  By the Chinese calendar, it is the new year,
the year of the dragon.

Khronos, the dragon of time, appears before us.

"State your wish, in accordance to the rules"   he states.

Each of us steps up to him, and tells him our wish.  some he lets others
hear.  some he doesn't.

Cologne steps up.  I can't hear her wish.  at times I wish that I had taken
more of an interest in lip reading.

Shampoo steps up next.  hers I can hear very clearly indeed.  "Shampoo wish
Ranma loved Shampoo as much as Shampoo loves Ranma."  I see a couple
shudders at that.

Akane steps up, and again, I can't hear what is wished for.  The dragon-god
listens intently, and nods at what she asked for.  the first sign of him
recognizing a wish that I've seen so far.

Genma steps up, and says, "I wish that I did not have to live through my
masters training."  Again the dragon nods.  Nothing is changing yet, so
something seems fishy...

Ranma stands up, and wishes, "I wish that I had the free choice to marry
who I wanted."  A smile of happiness, and one frown.

Still nothing happens, so I step up, and make a wish that couldn't possibly
happen.  "I wish that my greatest student was my own child!" I proclaim.

The dragon nods again, and a whisper from his lips falls on the breeze,
"All wishes have been taken and accepted.  The new time line has been
started."

And then we are transported, all of us...but one...to a black room, with a
window.

Only Ranma is missing.

*****

visions haunt my dreams.

Visions of things that happened to me.

Visions of things that didn't.

My father.  I have...two fathers?  My father, Happousai.  Who trained me to
be a pervert.  who promised to train me in martial arts, but didn't.

A father I have never known...one who is fat, and slow, and lazy.

and who loved me.

I remember, somehow.  He trained me in martial arts...

trained me in techniques that I haven't even seen my other father use.

brought me to people...martial artists...that taught me in still more
techniques.

I...I want this other father.

I want to be loved.

*****

walking home with Kasumi, I remember the visions from my dreams.  Not much
of them, in particular, but enough to recognise where I remember them from.
Even now, when I can see what is happening, still I feel that something
else should be happening.

Kasumi walks beside me, a thoughtful expression on her face.  She turns,
looking me in the eye.

"Ranma-chan.  please tell me.  What did you mean, before?  When you said
you were a male?"

I stop, caught flat-footed as it were.  "I...I was a male before.  It was
a...a curse.  I can't explain it, really...it is just how it is."  I hold
my head down, embarrased.  How can I explain something I don't even know
myself?

Kasumi looks me over for a few minutes.  A few minutes, of which each feels
like an eternity in itself.  "Do you believe this, Ranma, deep inside?  Is
this how you want to be seen?"

"I...I want to be seen as I...am."  I force the words out of my mouth.  It
isn't entirely true...but it is what I want to be true.  "I will never
be...comfortable with how I am now.  But...I could use help.  I can always
use help."  That, also, is hard to spit out.

I could almost feel her, knowing about my lying.  She says nothing,
however, but continues walking home.

I hope to have a home of my own.  With people I can love.  Without fear.

Why do those visions of things that never happened haunt me?

Why would I want them to?

Memories, oh, so fleeting.  Not enough to drown out what is happening.  But
enough, at times, to learn from.

I hope I can continue my training with Akane, now that my father is gone.
I'll miss him.

*****

Still confused?  Don't worry, it will make sense, eventually :)

This part was a little on the shoddy side, I know.  please C&C to your
hearts content. (although flames I prefer to be sent privately, instead of
to the list)

Thanks for reading this far :)

Liath Corrine Shadow
Shadow Dancer
Shadow-Chan

<Step after step after step.  Giving up is not, and never shall be an option>

<My hands, small, I know, but they're not yours, they are my own, ..., Only
kindness matters..."Hands, by Jewel">