Subject: [FFML][Fanfic][R1/2] Embrace Who You Are Part 2
From: Jonathan Ng
Date: 6/28/1998, 11:20 PM
To: ffml@fanfic.com

"Embrace Who You Are"
Ranma 1/2 Fanfiction
Jonathan Ng <jonathan@worldy.com>

Ranma 1/2 and its respective characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi
Publishing Rights go to Shogakukan Inc. Tokyo, Jademan (Holdings) Ltd.
and Viz Inc. for Japan, H.K. and North America, respectively.

<> indicate thoughts

Note from Author: This story is lacking something... which is why I 
held off posting it until now.  I don't know what it is... maybe
you guys can help me.

Revision History:

v0.1
First Draft

"Embrace Who You Are" v0.1 - Chapter 2 - You can't evade her forever

inspired by "A Man I'll Never Be", by Nicholas Leifker

Ranma and Akane proclaim their true love, and Akane promises to help
him overcome his strangeness in being both male and female.  Just
then, Nodoka comes and of course, Ranma and Genma pull off their usual
"Ranko and Panda" routine.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

"Uh, hi, Auntie Saotome."

Onna-Ranma was relieved, but she forced a big huge smile. <Better that
than to blow my cover.>

"Hello, Ranko, Panda.  Don't stay in there too long; you'll catch 
cold."  Nodoka said in a motherly tone.

"Y-yes, Auntie."  Onna-Ranma picked herself out of the pond.  Genma
soon followed.

Nodoka thought over the exchange.  <More often than not I can see
Ranko in the pond or just coming out.  I wonder if the girl has an
attraction to pond water?>

				* * * * *

"Ranko!  Time for dinner."

"Yes, Auntie."

Ranma came to the dinner table.  She just sat down and ate normally,
a glum look on her face.  Everybody noticed it.  Ranma usually ate
very quick.  <What's going on?> They all wondered, but didn't dare
ask, as Nodoka was there.

Ranma stood up.  "I'm finished."  She said in a quiet tone.  She 
walked away to her room.  Her bowl was half-full, and she had eaten 
politely, for once.  Genma decided to scoop up the remains of 
Ranma's bowl.

Akane decided to take the initiative again.  "Ranko, come to my room."

Ranma crossed her arms.  "But I don't wanna."

Akane glared at Ranma for a moment, and then picked Ranma up by the 
pigtail and dragged Ranma into her room.

"Ow!  That's hurts, you kawaiikunee..."  A hammer that Akane pulled
out of hammerspace stopped any further complaints.

Once in her room, she prodded Ranma.  "That's not the Ranma I know 
and love."

Ranma flinched as she used the L-word again.  This could get some 
taking used to.  Her eyes darted around the room, searching for an 
answer that was supposed to be there.  Finally she responded.

"I'm feeling it again.  I know I'm lying through my teeth to my 
mother... and I can't stop it.  I feel very helpless."

"Then tell her who you are.  I'm sure she'll understand."

"But there's a part of me that's scared to do it.  I'm my father's 
son, Akane.  Everyday, I think about mom... about her not being able 
to see me, but I'm too scared to face her.  I'm scared that one day...
I might not be able to see her, to tell her I'm Ranma, that I'll..."
With that, she looked down.

Akane's voice hardened.  "You know, I'm starting to get tired of you 
trying to run away from your mother.  I never got to meet my mother.
You get to meet your mother and you complain?  Maybe I should tell
your mother how unmanly you are and change you in front of her this
instant!"  <I hope this works.  Either Ranma will do what I tell him
to or... I don't even want to consider what would happen.>  She thought
nervously.  Her first gamble in the bathroom the day Ranma came back
had worked successfully; that's why she feared it wouldn't work this
time.

Ranma was visibly showing the signs of panic.  "No!  If you tell my 
mother, she'll make me commit seppuku for sure!"

"If I can accept you being part-girl, then I'm sure your mother can, 
too.  Please?  This is for your own good.  Do you not want to see your
mom forever?"

Ranma held the thought in her head.  <Not able to see my mom forever...
no.  I can't do that!  I can't!  No!>  "No, Akane!  I can tell her 
eventually, when I find a cure and be manly again."

"And when will that be, Ranma?  You can't evade her forever.  She'll
find out eventually, and it's better you tell her yourself than to have
someone else tell her.  Your mom probably has a lot of guilt because
she can't find her son. But her son is right in front of her nose!"

Those final words are what decided it for Ranma.  <I can't bear to see
my mom hurt because of me.  I don't care what the old man thinks.>
"Let's go, Akane."

They walked out, hand-in-hand.  Akane squeezed Ranma's hand for 
support.

				* * * * *

Nodoka waited.  <Ranko's a very sweet girl... but she has some internal
pain... one she's afraid to share.>

'Ranko' and Akane walked out of the room.  Akane nudged onna-Ranma, to
get her to speak.  "Auntie Saotome, there's something I've got to tell
you..."

"Mother!  I've found you at last!"  A boy about Ranma's age leapt high 
over the wall into the yard.

Nodoka had a confused expression on her face.  "Who are you, young man,
and why do you call me mother?"

"I'm your son... Ranma."

"What?!" onna-Ranma and Akane exclaimed.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Author's Notes:

I'm finally picking up this title again, because I just had a burst of
intuition today, on May 15.

Coming up: Kumon Ryuu.

C&C Very very welcome

April 13, 1997
May 15-24, 1997

Jonathan Ng
jonathan@worldy.com

----------------------
Jonathan Ng
jonathan@worldy.com
alternate address: jonathan_ng@my-dejanews.com

"Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks!  Rage, blow!"  King Lear, III, ii, 1

"I am a man more sinned against than sinning." King Lear, III, ii, 62-63