Okay... Here it is!  The next in the series started with "Almost a Miracle".
I would like to thank all those who assisted in the pre-read phase!  Theire
assistance was invaluable!!

That done, it's on with the fic!

Enjoy, and please C&C!!

Coutuva!

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

*Author's note - this episode follows "Of Curses and Dragons."
All *Real* Ranma 1/2 Characters copyright Rumiko Takahashi, and
are used without permission, hopefully to entertain.

===============================================================================



A Horse Is A Horse;  Unless...   A Ranma1/2 FanFic
--------------------------------------------------------------------------


Ranma walked over to the barn housing the 'club' horses, intent on picking
out his mount for the day.  At Akane's insistence, the two of them were about
to embark on a day-long ride through the bush country out behind Nerima Ward.
        As he stepped through the large door, he glanced about for a suitable
horse, hoping to find a good strong one with a slightly feisty attitude.
Slowly, he walked down between the stalls, stopping and talking to each horse
in turn until he came upon one in particular.
	Standing with it's head against the bars of it's stall door was a
15 three or four hand Arabian mare, with a brilliant white blaze across it's
forehead.
	He was struck by the look in it's eyes, and how it followed his every
move through the barn.  He walked over to it's stall and slid the full door
back, then hooked up the chest strap, allowing the animal to step forward and
stick it's head out.
	The horse immediately stepped up to Ranma and nodded it's head,  then
nuzzled the saddle hanging from the stall door.  Ranma smiled, and patted the
large animal's withers affectionately.
	"How can I refuse an offer like that?"  He commented, and led the
animal into the grooming area crossties.
	Since there was nobody else in the area, and Ranma was a bit impatient
to get on the trail, he flipped off his backpack and opened up the tack
closet.  Looking it over briefly, he pulled out the grooming tray with the
name that matched the stall from which he had taken the horse.
	"Geisha, eh?  Neat name... let's see how pretty we can make you today,
Geisha."  he stated, beginning to brush the animal down.  The horse
responded by turning as far as the ties would let it, and trying to nod.
	"Easy, Girl... you'll just hurt yourself doing that."  Ranma
commented softly as he reached up and stopped the horses head.  As he held
onto the halter, he swore he could see the animal's eyes go misty for a
moment, but shook it off as a mistaken impression.
	Just at that time, Akane stuck her head through the barn door and
called to Ranma.  "Hey!  Get a move on, Ranma!  We're about to leave!"  she
chided, giving him 'the look'.
	"Hai!  I have to tack her up first... Give me just a few more
minutes!"  Ranma replied from behind his horse.  The horse, meantime, turned
and glared at Akane with it's ears lowered.
	"Ano.. you know how to do that?"  Akane asked, quite surprised.
	"You bet!  I used to do this to earn money to eat.  Pop arranged it,
of course."  Ranma replied, changing brushes.
	"I shouldn't be surprised...  especially about someone with a name
like yours."  She jibed, grinning.  "Okay.. just hurry, I don't want to leave
without you."
	"Yeah, right... I'll be there."
	With that, Akane turned and left the doorway.  Ranma continued to
brush the horse down, eventually bringing a deep lustre to it's coat.
Standing back a couple of feet, he tossed the last brush back into the tray,
and happily admired his handiwork.
	"Looks like I've still got it."  He smiled, leaning toward the
horse's face.  "And you look just gorgeous."  He stated, patting the animal's
jowl.  Almost as if reacting to what he said, the horse trembled slightly at
his touch.
	Taking the hoof pick from the tray, Ranma quickly looked after the
animal's hooves,  then swept away the dirt he removed from them.  He could
have sworn that the horse was deliberately moving aside as he swept, as if
to get out of the way.
	"I've been away from this too long..." he mumbled, hanging the broom
up.
	Removing Geisha's saddle and blanket from it's bar outside the stall,
Ranma carried it over to the animal, and placed it on the holding hook.  He
then retrieved her bridle from the tack closet, and looked at it unhappily.
	"This bit is in bad shape... let's see if there's a better one around
here."  He commented to himself, not noticing the horse nodding it's approval.
	Upon fixing the new bit he found into the bridle, he quickly slipped
it on the horse, and adjusted it appropriately.  He noticed that the noseband
was far too tight, and that the throat latch was almost broken.
	"Kuso, they don't look after things too well here, do they?"  he
remarked absently, tossing the reins over the horse's head.  As he reached
down to retrieve the martingale,  he stopped for a moment and regarded the
animal levelly.
        "You don't need this, do you?"  he asked of it, holding the free end
of the strap in the horses view.  The horse tried to shake it's head, but the
crossties only allowed so much movement.
        "I thought not.  Just behave yourself, and I'll take it off."  He
continued, unbuckling the straps.  That done, he shook out her saddle blanket
and tossed it over her back.  Once it was in place, he hefted the saddle onto
it, attached and tightened the girth, then stood back to make sure it was all
on properly.
        "Okay!  Looking good, girl!"  he announced, rubbing the horses'
forehead.  "Let's join the party."  He continued, unhooking the ties and
leading the horse toward the door.  The horse nickered happily in response.
        Once outside, Ranma was disappointed to notice that everyone else
was gone.  Upon asking the hand walking through the yard where they went,
Ranma set the stirrups and climbed on the horse, intent on catching up to
the rest of the group.  In the back of his mind was the fact that Akane was
not an experienced rider, and he was a bit worried about her.
        Urging the horse into a fast canter,   Ranma headed out toward the
hacking trail that the others had taken, and scanned the path ahead for some
sign that he was getting closer to them.  After a few minutes, he could see
fresh tracks on the soft dirt, so he pulled Geisha back to a walk, knowing
he'd catch up eventually.
        Feeling a bit more relaxed, he settled back in the saddle, and looked
about himself at the marvelous open spaces.  He missed this kind of scenery,
being stuck living in the middle of town like he was.  Geisha, for her part,
seemed to know the trail well, and followed it with little guidance from
Ranma. Noting that, he let the reins rest on the saddle to give the horse her
head.
        As they rounded a long. lazy curve in the trail, the trees opened out
to reveal a small lake, shimmering like silver in the morning sun.  Across
the water, Ranma could make out the rest of the party, and noticed that Akane
was poking along behind, pretty much as expected.  Smiling to himself, he
guided Geisha over to the edge of the water, where he jumped off and went to
get a drink.  Geisha joined him, moving in very close beside him to get her
drink.  Ranma reached over and patted her neck, telling her she was a good
girl.  Geisha responded to him, nodding her large head, then nudging Ranma's
side playfully.
        Unfortunately for Ranma, Geisha's nudge caused his foot to slip, and
he ended up sitting in the water, giving the horse a not so friendly look.
        As onna-Ranma stood up and shook herself off, Geisha raised her head
at the commotion, and as soon as she saw onna-Ranma, her big brown eyes went
wide.  She started to whinny excitedly, pawing the ground with her foot.  She
kept looking right at onna-Ranma all the while, almost as if she was trying
to communicate something.
        Ranma jumped from the water and snatched Geisha's bridle by the
D-ring, and tried to settle her down.  As she held on to the horse, she
noticed that it kept bumping her ample chest with it's nose, then would look
up at her and whinny again.
        "Hey, you..!  Leave those alone!  That hurts!"  onna-Ranma protested,
stepping back from Geisha.
        Geisha looked at her for a moment, flicked her ears, then lowered her
head.  If Ranma didn't know any better, she would have thought the horse
understood her.
        She didn't have long to ponder that thought, however, as Geisha
whinnied at her again, then stepped forward and began to nudge her back
toward the water.
        "Hey!  I'm already wet...!"  Suddenly, it occurred to her what was
bothering the horse.  Pushing the animal's head back, she set herself and
looked it in the eye.
        "You're upset because I changed, aren't you?"  She asked, noting how
silly the question sounded.
        To her surprise, the horse nodded an affirmative.
        "Well, get used to it.  I change into a girl when I fall in cold
water.  It's a curse, okay?"  She continued, still feeling rather silly about
the entire conversation.
        Geisha, however, reacted to the statement in a manner that totally
stunned her.  The horse immediately reared up, whinnied loudly, then dropped
to all fours and nodded furiously.
        Ranma, not quite sure what to make of the situation, stepped back
slowly so as not to be in the way of the thrashing animal.  She kept a wary
eye on it though, knowing from experience that horses can do a lot of damage
if provoked, or if one was dumb enough to be in the way.
        Geisha continued to jump and whinny, until she noticed that
onna-Ranma was slowly moving back from her.  Stopping in mid-jump, she
settled back to the ground, looked at Ranma, nickered quietly and lowered
her head.
        Cautiously, Ranma approached her from a wide circle to the side, and
finally took hold of her bridle again.  As she did, she noticed what looked
like deep sadness in Geisha's dark eyes, and what strongly resembled tears
gathering in them.
        "What's wrong, girl?"  Ranma asked, patting Geisha's withers
again.  "You don't like me being a girl?"  Ranma asked, grinning.
        Geisha turned and looked up at Ranma, puffing a long snort through
her lips, the sound resembling a resigned sigh.
        Deciding that all was well for the moment, Ranma walked Geisha over
to a stand of small trees, and slip-knotted her to a convenient branch.
That done, she glanced about herself to make sure no other riders were
around, and promptly flung her shirt off over her head and wrung it out.
Geisha's eyes opened wide again, and she turned her head away from the sight.
        "What, girl?  Never seen a topless woman before?  Okay, I'll cover up."
Ranma stated, grinning. "I don't think I've ever seen such a sensitive
horse." she observed, slipping her damp top back on.  "But, don't worry
girl... No more surprises, I promise."  she continued, hugging Geisha's neck
tightly.
        "Wait... can't promise that yet.  I have to change back to a guy
before we catch up to the gang.  These people don't know about this, and it
would be kinda hard to explain a Chinese girl showing up on the horse a guy
was supposed to be riding."  Ranma added, winking at Geisha.
        Geisha turned and looked at her, nodding gently.
        "Okay, then... I need to light a little fire."  Ranma stated, rooting
through her backpack for matches.

        Akane kept looking back down the trail for Ranma, with the
unfortunate effect of turning her horse every time she did.  The guide had
to keep coming back to straighten her and her mount out, which added to
Akane's already high frustration level.  She was more worried than upset with
Ranma, although she kept thinking about him in the barn, and how he seemed so
at home working on the horse.  This still struck her as odd, as he had never
mentioned his experience in the area, nor had he ever even mentioned an
interest in riding.
        In fact, had it not been for Kasumi finding the newspaper ad for
Trail-Riding, and then offering to take the kids for the day, she might never
have known at all.
        As an afterthought, she found herself wondering what other secrets
he may have, but quickly forced such thoughts out of her head.  Had this been
10 years ago, she would have had her mallet out by now, but she was his wife,
and she trusted her husband implicitly... most of the time.

        Onna-Ranma took the pan full of lukewarm water off the fire, and
carried it carefully into the growth of brush behind the clearing.  A few
seconds later, the now male again Ranma stepped from the bush, carrying an
empty pan.
        Geisha looked at him over the tree branch she was tethered to, and
immediately began to paw the ground and whinny again, unable to do much more.
As Ranma looked back at her, he held his finger to his mouth and mimed
the "Shhh!" motions to her.
        Geisha, meantime, kept nipping and pulling at the slipknot until
finally she managed to loosen it.  Once free, she walked quickly around the
tree, and headed straight for Ranma.  Ranma, seeing the wide-eyed horse
coming, dropped the pan he carried and leapt into the tree.
        To Ranma's surprise, Geisha ignored him and began mouthing and
nuzzling the empty pan excitedly.  Finding it uninteresting, she turned her
head and looked up at a startled Ranma, and whinnied loudly at him in a
manner that felt uncomfortably like he was getting told.
        "What's your problem?  If you want a drink, the water's *that* way!"
Ranma yelled, pointing toward the lake.  Geisha only looked blankly back at
him, her eyes seeming to shimmer, somewhat like Akane's did right before she
started to cry.  That really perplexed him, and he jumped down from his perch
to confirm his suspicions.
        Sure enough, when he walked up to Geisha's now-downcast head, he
lifted her chin to see tears actually trailing down her face.
        "Kuso... I wish I knew what this was all about.  Something's
definitely not normal here, and it's bugging the hell out of me."  he stated,
grumpily.  Geisha didn't react this time.
        Picking up the pan and shoving it back into the pack, Ranma mounted
up and urged the now somewhat less-than-enthusiastic Geisha into a fast walk,
then brought her up to a full gallop to try to catch up to the rest of the
group.
        Within a few minutes of hard riding, he pulled up behind Akane, then
moved up beside her.
        "Oh, so you decided to join us... I was beginning to wonder."  Akane
stated, dryly.
        "Akane... something strange is going on here, and this horse I'm
riding has a lot to do with it."  Ranma began, trying to keep his voice low.
        Geisha, still breathing hard from her run, turned and looked at Akane
again, ears laid back.  When Akane glanced at her in response to Ranma's
statement, she snorted and turned away.
        "I see... trying to blame your problems on a horse now, ne Saotome?"
Akane replied, shooting him a grin and a sideways glance.
        "No!  Akane, I'm serious.  I fell in the lake back there, and Geisha
here freaked on me.  She did it again when I changed back.  Something weird
is happening, and she's in the middle of it."
        "Well, we'll see about that.  We're going to be stopping up ahead for
lunch, so you can tell me all about it then.  I'm just glad you're finally
here... this is supposed to be a day for us to be together, you know."  Akane
replied, icily.
        Ranma was about to defend himself, but when he saw Akane's face, he
thought better of it.  He resigned himself to dealing with this new mystery
alone, and sighed audibly.  Geisha chimed in with an indignant snuff, then
quieted down completely.
        During the lunch stop, Ranma tethered Geisha away from the other
horses, and pulled her saddle off.  Since she was the only one that did more
than a loping walk, he felt it best to let her rest a bit.  As well, he made
sure she got some of the hay left for them and a good drink before he went to
have his own lunch.  As he turned to walk away, he patted her neck and smiled
at her, despite his thoughts about her actions earlier.
        "Okay, Geisha... You chow down here while I do the same, and we'll
see how things go this afternoon.  I just hope you're going to behave."
        Geisha looked over at him and nodded, then nuzzled his arm gently.
Again, he smiled and patted her before finally walking off.  Geisha watched
him go, making her sighing noise again.

        "What were you saying about that horse, now?"  Akane asked as he sat
beside her.
        "I dunno, Akane.. I thought I noticed something different about her
back in the barn, and what happened on the trail only convinced me more.  It
really started when she knocked me into the water, and I changed.  She
started rearing and whinnying, almost like she was trying to tell me
something.  Then, when I changed back, she did it again."  He related,
thoughtfully.
        "How did you change back?  I don't remember any restrooms or such
back there."
        "I lit a fire and warmed some lake water.  Then I just ducked behind
the trees and dumped it on myself.  No Problem.  It was when I came back out
as a guy that Geisha went after my water pan."
        "Went after your water pan?  Why?"
        "I dunno... I thought she wanted a drink, but she'd just had one."
        "Hm.  Better watch her, Ranma... I think she might be a little nuts."
        Ranma's eyes narrowed at that statement.  "No, Akane... I think it's
just the opposite.  She's trying to tell me something.  I just wish I could
figure out what it was."  He replied, biting his sandwich.
        "She thinks you're cute... that's what it is."  Akane asserted,
smirking.
        "Sure, Akane... Just like you, ne?"  He answered, winking.
        "Luckily for you, yes."   She agreed, leaning over and kissing his
cheek.
        After lunch, Ranma walked back over to Geisha with Akane tagging
along out of curiosity.  When he got to the horse, he pulled off her bridle
and let her turn out in the large field they were at the edge of.  Geisha
took full advantage, running off into the tall grasses and letting it all
hang out.  Ranma and Akane got a great laugh out of her actions, watching her
run, chase butterflies, jump around and just generally be a clown.
Eventually, she wandered back over to Ranma and wedged herself cleanly
between him and Akane.  As she nuzzled his arm, Akane walked around in front
of her, and reached up to pat her nose.  Geisha would have none of it, and
faked a bite at Akane's hand, ears laid back against her head.
        "Yow!"  Akane exclaimed, pulling her hand back.
        "Easy, girl.. none of that.  You bite, you go home!"  Ranma chided,
giving the horse a stern look.
        Geisha lowered her head again, but still kept an eye on Akane.
        "You okay?" Ranma asked, looking over Akane's hand.
        "Hai.  She missed.  I see what you mean, though... she is a bit
different, isn't she."  Akane commented, glancing at Geisha, who she thought
was glaring back at her.
        "Glad you're not hurt.  Okay, I guess I better get you set back up,
ne Geisha-chan?"  Ranma stated, retrieving her bridle from the tie-pole.
"Geisha-chan?  You keep that up and she'll follow you home."  Akane
commented, raising an eyebrow.  Ranma shrugged sheepishly in response.  "I
can't help it... I think she's cute, even with the attitude."  He responded,
patting Geisha's withers affectionately.
        Geisha immediately raised her head and nodded, snorting haughtily in
Akane's direction.  She then nuzzled Ranma's side while throwing a look at
Akane.
        "Looks like she agrees."  Akane commented, dryly.
        "Hai.. I think so.  Okay, lets get this show on the road.  C'mere,
Geisha..."  He began, reaching the bridle around the animal's head.  Once he
had it fitted, he quickly put her saddle back on, and stood holding her
reins while he checked it for fit.
        "Well, Ranma... I best get back to my horse now, too.  Everyone else
is starting to mount up... Kiss me, you fool."  Akane commented, walking up
and hugging her hubby.  As Ranma went to kiss her, Geisha promptly wedged her
big head between them, forcing them apart.
        "Hey.. Watch it, will ya?"  Akane sputtered, angrily.  "I swear,
Ranma, that horse is jealous!"  She spat, wiping her blouse.
        "I don't think so."  Ranma replied, reprovingly. She probably just
wants a hug, too."  He continued, smiling.  Geisha lowered her head and
placed it against Ranma's chest in response, casting a hard glance at the
fuming Akane.  "See?"  he indicated, rubbing the horses jowl.
        "Well, if was anything but an animal..."  Akane began, briefly
feeling hardwood in her hand.
        Geisha raised her head and looked full-on at Akane, snorting
indignantly.
        "Same to you."  Akane responded, levelly.

        During the early part of the afternoon's ride,  Ranma simply rode
quietly alongside Akane, thinking all the while about Geisha's strange
behavior.  He liked the thought that the horse had a personality, but the
more he rolled it over in his mind, the more it seemed that Akane was
correct... she was being jealous.  And on top of that, there was still the
issue of her behavior at the lake.  Ranma still couldn't make any sense of
it, which only served to make it more curious.
        By the time they reached the mid-afternoon watering stop,  Ranma had
a headache from all the thinking he had been doing.  Tethering Geisha to a
tree, he wandered over to where Akane sat and touched her shoulder gently.
        "Hiya, cutie.. wanna go 'Rumble in the Jungle'?"  He asked, wearing
his best lecherous grin.
        "If we were alone..."  she winked in response,  "You'd get
the 'rumble' of your life."
        "Hm.. Now that's more like it.  I assume you're feeling better?"
        "Hai.. I was being Baka back there, wasn't I?"
        "No... I don't think so.  Something's with that horse, and I intend
to figure it out.  In fact, I have a headache from trying."  He commented,
rubbing his forehead.
        "Well, don't hurt yourself."  Akane admonished, grinning.
        "Thanks... I needed that." 
        "Oh, C'mere you..."  Akane said, reaching up and pulling Ranma down
into a very affectionate kiss.
        Geisha, meantime, who had been watching from her tree, immediately
whinnied and began to pull hard at her reins.  Ranma heard the commotion,
and looked up in time to see her break her throat latch and shake off her
bridle.  Rearing up, she whinnied again, looked right at Ranma and broke into
a run.
        "Kuso!  I knew it!  Akane... stay here!  I'll go get her!"  Ranma
shouted, leaping after the animal.
        "Ranma...!"  Akane called after him.  "Be careful..."  she
continued quietly, biting her lower lip.

        As Ranma bound off after Geisha, he noticed that she was not in a
full gallop, and even seemed to be checking occasionally to see if he was
still behind her.  Curiosity piqued,  he deliberately held back to see where
the merry chase was leading.
        After a lengthy course through the trees, Geisha abruptly turned and
ran over toward the stream that flowed nearby.  Without hesitation, she ran
right out to the middle of it, and braked to a complete halt.  Turning, she
looked back for Ranma. Not seeing him immediately, she whinnied loudly until
he showed up.
        Ranma landed on the shoreline and walked up to the edge of the
stream, hands on his hips.
        "Okay, Geisha.. I don't know what your game is, but It's time we had
an understanding.  I'm really getting tired of this!"  He shouted to the
horse, angrily.
        Geisha simply nodded, still standing in the middle of the stream.
        "Get back in here!  C'mon, Baka!  I can wait all day if I have to!"
        Geisha stubbornly refused to move, whinnying and nodding almost as if
to taunt Ranma.  Finally, she started toward the opposite bank, and Ranma
immediately leapt after her.  As he made his first bounce, Geisha stepped off
the wash she had been standing on, and immediately sank to her chest in the
much deeper water behind it.   She whinnied in panic, the sudden drop
startling her.
        Ranma picked up on her distress, and adjusted his angle of descent
to land near her.  He had hoped to avoid the water, but it was too late for
that.
        Upon splashing down beside the horse, onna-Ranma swam over to her,
and wrapped her arms around Geisha's neck.
        "Okay.. turn, Geisha... Turn, girl... this way.. back up on the wash.
C'mon... you can do it..."  Onna-Ranma cajoled, trying to steer the panicking
animal back to solid ground.  After a few tense moments of thrashing,
Giesha's hooves finally caught bottom, and she clawed her way out of the
stream, onna-Ranma still dangling from her neck.  Once they were out,  she
dropped off the horse and shook the excess water off herself.
        Turning to regard Geisha, who stood quietly except for her heaving
sides, Ranma shot her a condemning glance.
        "C'mon, you baka horse... we have to get back to dry land so I can
change before the rest of them show up." she stated, anger still edging her
voice.
        "What was your game, anyway?  Follow the leader?"
        Geisha, uncharacteristically didn't respond at all, preferring
instead to simply look at the ground.
        "Hrmph.  That's all you have to say for yourself?  Kuso, you are one
damn stubborn animal."  she continued, looking for something to hold on to in
order to guide Geisha back to shore.
        After rigging one of the shoulder straps from her backpack to
Geisha's saddle, and using the other to bind her nose to it, Ranma lead
Geisha back to the shoreline, and let her loose.  Giesha seemed to understand
that Ranma was not in the mood for any more games, and simply stood quietly
near her.
        Ranma dug her matches out of the pack, thanking the stars that they
were waterproof.  Next, she quickly gathered some twigs and driftwood to make
a small fire, over which she placed the pan once again.
        "Never figured I'd be doing this again so soon..." onna-Ranma
complained, casting a glance at Geisha.
        Geisha returned her look, then slowly walked up beside her and
attempted to nuzzle her arm.  At first, deciding that the horse was just
trying to suck up, Ranma resisted it by trying to dodge.  However, the look
in Geisha's eyes and the determination of her efforts won Ranma over
eventually, and before long she was hugging the animal again.
        "Gad.. it's like you have the same tricks as Akane.. I can never
stay mad at her, either." she commented, patting Geisha's flank.
        "Okay... looks like my water is ready.  I'll be back in a minute...
don't do anything stupid."  she admonished, waving a finger at Geisha.
        As onna-Ranma walked over to the trees with her pan, she thought
distantly about what had taken place in the last few minutes.  It had
occurred to her during the initial chase that Geisha seemed to want to be
caught.  That, combined with the standoff at the stream made it almost seem
as if the whole thing was planned.
        Onna-Ranma's face contorted as she crunched that thought.  She didn't
want to believe it, but it would fit right in with Geisha's other behavior
today.
        The more she thought about it, the more it added up.  This animal was
trying to say something, and it had to do with water, and possibly even...
        "No...!  It couldn't be..."  onna-Ranma said out loud, stopping in
her tracks and turning to face Geisha.
        Without a second thought, she flung the contents of her pan at the
startled horse, and promptly face-faulted.
        Before her now stood a naked, brown-haired, western-appearing girl.
She seemed a bit older than onna-Ranma, and at the moment was totally stunned
at what had just happened.
        The saddle she once bore now lay around the girl's ankles, which
convinced the dumbfounded onna-Ranma that she was not seeing things.
        The girl slowly looked at herself, a wide smile washing across her
face as she realized she was no longer a horse.  She looked wide-eyed at
Ranma for a split-second, then collapsed to her knees, crying.
        After a few uncertain moments, Ranma spoke first, being a little more
used to this sort of occurrence.
        "Ohaio Gozaimasu.  I am Saotome Ranma.  Ano... do you speak
Japanese?" she inquired, bowing and hoping for the best.
        "H-... Hai."  The girl replied, holding her throat.
        "I'm glad.  Let me find something for you to wear." Ranma replied,
walking carefully toward the girl to retrieve her backpack from the saddle.
        "Th... Thank you for f-f-freeing me..."  The girl croaked, having
obvious difficulty with speaking.  Ranma looked at her curiously as she
pulled an oversized t-shirt from the backpack and handed it to her.
        "Say.. how long have you been a horse?"  She finally asked, noticing
the girl's unsteady balance and cautious movements as she stood up to slide
the shirt on.
        The girl looked at the ground and cleared her throat, then looked at
Ranma sadly.
        "T..T..Two - Two Years." she finally answered, tears still rolling
down her flushing face.
        Ranma's jaw dropped.  She couldn't imagine being trapped as a horse
for that long, especially since it was so easy to change back.
        "You're kidding... Why?" Ranma blurted, still shocked.
        "Tell you... after drink?"  the girl croaked, regarding Ranma
imploringly.
        "Oh, damn.. Sure!  One sec.."  Ranma sputtered, realizing that she
had been too curious to notice the poor girl's horribly dry throat.  She
grabbed a thermo-mug from her pack and filled it quickly, then ran it over
to the now trembling girl.
        "Here... I'm sorry.. I was a bit stunned there, I guess."  onna-Ranma
explained, skritching her head.  "I just can't understand why you've been
like this for two years, when it's so easy to change back."
        "Ahhh... That feels better."  the girl replied upon draining the mug.
"I guess I owe you a lot, Saotome Ranma..." she began slowly, trying her best
to bow gracefully.
        "Ya.. don't worry about it.  Do you feel okay?"
        "Hai.. much better.  I haven't seen this body for so long..."
        "Tell me what happened... why were you stuck?"
        The girl's face flushed again, and her eyes became very sad.  "My
name is Elysse Rialto... My family and I were visiting China two years ago,
and my baka brother knocked me into a pool at this place called 'Ju-sen-kyo'.
I changed into a horse, and then panicked... I ran off into the hills to hide
from my family."  she related, sadly.  Tears again began to flow down her
flushed cheeks as she spoke, and, without thinking, she raised her arm a bit
and rubbed her face on it to clear them.  Suddenly, she realized what she had
done and looked at onna-Ranma sheepishly.  "Gomen ne.. old habits die hard, I
guess..."  she stated, shrugging.
        "Huh.. so you were never told how to reverse the curse.  Kuso.. that
must have been awful, thinking you were permanently a horse." onna-Ranma
sympathized, quietly.
        "Hai.. it was a nightmare.  I was captured, sold, worked, sold again,
beaten... It's horrible being treated like that, and not being able to do
anything about it."  she continued, anger edging her voice.  "Until you came
along and I discovered that you were changed like me, I really thought my
life was taken from me.. forever." she explained, looking at Ranma through
tear-soaked eyes.
        "Well, I'll help you any way I can, Elysse... But, I have to change
back myself first.  I'm normally a guy, and that's what I want everyone to
see if they come looking for us.  You rest here a moment, and I'll heat up
some more water."
        Elysse nodded her agreement, then sat carefully on the side of the
upturned saddle.  Ranma could tell that she was pretty stiff and most likely
still getting used to having her real body back.  Ranma knew it would be a
tough trip for a few days, but figured that she'd eventually be fine.
        Ranma quickly heated up another panful of water, and this time didn't
bother going and hiding to change back.  As soon as the temperature of the
water was good, she dumped it over her head, and breathed a sigh of relief.
        "That's better.  I'm back to me again." he stated, shaking the water
out of his hair.  Turning back to where he thought Elysse was, he was
startled to find her standing right beside him.  Before he could react, she
wrapped him an a passionate hug.
        "I owe you my life, Saotome Ranma... And I can never thank you
enough."  she gushed, and kissed him full on the lips.
        Right on cue, from out of nowhere he heard the familiar
bellow... "RRRRAAAAANNNNNMMMMMMAAAAAAAAA!"
        A split-second later he was unconscious on the ground, a purpling,
mallet-imprinted bump rising from his head.

        Later, Ranma groaned as he gradually returned to the world of the
aware, his head aching from the massive mallet strike.  As his eyes opened,
he discovered he was back at the ranch house, and both Akane and Elysse stood
over him, regarding him worriedly.
        "Gomen ne, Ranma-kun!" Akane blurted as soon as she saw signs of
life.  "It was an impulse reaction...!" she explained, taking the prayer
stance.
        "UURRhhh... Akane, that thing is deadly..." he moaned in response,
raising a hand to his throbbing skull.
        "I explained everything to your wife, Saotome-san.  After she stopped
chasing me with that mallet, that is."  Elysse chimed in, grinning at Akane.
        "Oh really?  And you're not mad anymore?"  Ranma asked weakly.
        "No... I understand what happened, and Elysse told me why she kissed
you.
        I'm really sorry I clobbered you so hard, Ranma... I just couldn't
help myself."
        "It's okay, Akane-chan... I should have told Elysse I was married a
little quicker, I guess."  he countered, his voice still weak.
        "Well, I'm sorry I caused you so much trouble..."  Elysse added,
bowing.  "I was just so happy to be freed of that damned awful curse."
        "You're not totally free, Elysse..."  Ranma injected from his prone
location.  "The curse works like this... cold water turns you to the horse,
and warm water turns you back.  That goes for rain, accidental splashes,
pools... you name it.  This is with you for life, I'm afraid."
        Elysse simply stared at Ranma, trying to get her mind around what he
just said.
        "Remember... I changed back and forth twice already.  It's the same
for you..."  Ranma continued, quietly.
        "And for me..." Akane added, smiling sweetly.
        "You mean..."  Elysse stammered, staring now at Akane.
        "Hai.  I change into a man."
        Elysse reached her overload point with that statement, and promptly
crumpled to the ground.
        "I think she took that rather well..."  Akane commented, leaning down
to aid the passed-out girl.

        Once Elysse recovered, she had herself a good cry over the events of
the day, and Ranma felt his heart go out to her.  He knew how much trouble he
had with his curse when he was first afflicted with it, but couldn't imagine
how Elysse was going to deal with hers.
        Akane also felt sorry for her, and invited her to stay with them at
the Dojo until they could arrange to contact her family in Canada.  Elysse
gratefully accepted, unable to believe her luck.  For the first time in over
two years, she was looking forward to life again.
        As they headed back toward the city,  Ranma suggested that they stop
at a clothing shop and get something more suitable for Elysse to wear,  which
delighted Akane.  When they arrived at a small boutique,  Akane almost dragged
the poor girl in, always anxious for an excuse to shop.
        Ranma, who had been consigned to approval duty, sat patiently outside
the dressing rooms while Akane fussed over Elysse.  When they stepped out,
Ranma swallowed hard at the change in their new friend.  Thankfully, Akane was
to preoccupied to notice his reaction.
        Elysse pirouetted before the mirrors, reveling in the feeling the new
clothing gave her.  It had been far too long since she had been a real girl,
and she felt almost drunk with excitement.
        Akane had outfitted her in a very feminine full dress, with matching
white hose and low black shoes, topped off with snug white gloves.  The
pastels of the dress matched perfectly with Elysse's natural color, and the
combined effect left Ranma shaking his head.  Elysse couldn't stop thanking
them, bowing repeatedly and asking over and over if they were sure they
wanted to do this for her.
        Once they were finally able to get her away from the mirrors, Ranma
paid the 50,000 yen bill, and shoved the receipt in his pocket before Elysse
could see it.  It was a small price to pay to give her so much happiness, he
thought to himself.

        At the Dojo, Elysse immediately asked to take bath while Akane made
supper, which prompted Ranma to remind her not to use any cold water.  She
looked at him for a second as if she wanted to say something, but then
excused herself and left for the bath.
        Once she drew the door closed behind her, she leaned back against it,
fighting back the tears that she knew were coming.  Ranma's caution had
reminded her that she still bore her curse, and would have to lead a very
different life from now on.  Wiping her eyes, she ran a bath and stripped off
the new dress, carefully folding it before placing it on the stand.
        For a few moments, she stared at her naked form in the mirror, as if
still trying to convince herself that she really was a girl again.  She noted
that her body was slightly different that she remembered it, in that she
seemed taller, and her chest looked a bit fuller.  Hoping it wasn't just her
imagination, she continued to inspect herself until the tub filled to the
level she wanted.
        Climbing into the steaming tub, she sank to her neck and luxuriated
in the soothing warmth, and let her tears flow unabated.
        She felt both ecstatically happy and profoundly scared, uncertain of
what her future would now hold.  One thing she was sure of, however, was that
she owed Ranma a debt she could never even hope to repay.
        As she pondered that thought, she closed her eyes for a moment,
thoroughly enjoying her first warm bath in two years.  Eventually, her mind
began to wander as she soaked up the warmth, soon going back to her first
meeting with Ranma.  Her face flushed as she remembered how handsome and
strong he looked, and how there was something about him that told her she
could trust him.
        Had she been in human form, she was sure she would have fainted when
he first touched her.
        Thoughts of his gentleness as he tacked her up, his strength as he
held and guided her, and his caring desire to help her all combined to
generate a different kind of warmth within her, and she soon found herself
perspiring.
        Wistfully, she sighed, wishing she could have had just a little more
time alone with that incredible man, so she could have expressed her true
feelings toward him.  Again, she felt her face flush as the possibilities ran
through her thoughts.
        A small pang of guilt abruptly intruded on her pleasant reverie as
she thought of how she had treated Akane, especially after how kind the woman
had been to her once her story came out.  When she had first seen Akane, she
had assumed she was no more than a sister, or even a meddling girlfriend, and
was thoroughly shocked to discover that she was actually Ranma's wife, and
that they had two children.
        That discovery, however, didn't change how she felt about him.  He
was still the most perfect man she'd ever met, and she silently thanked
whatever god was listening for bringing them together.

        During supper, Elysse related her story to her benefactors, weaving a
tale of two years of misery at the hands of various 'owners' in both China
and, eventually, Japan.  She had all but given up hope of ever being human
again, and remarked that she still had to pinch herself to believe that she
had really changed back.
        She also commented, rather bitterly, on how ironic it was that she
had spent so much time preparing for her fateful vacation, learning Chinese
and Japanese so she could act as an interpreter for her family, only to end
up not even being able to speak for two years.
        Ranma listened intently, reminded somewhat of his own thoughts in the
beginning.
        "You'll learn to live with it.  It took me a long time, but I finally
made my peace with it... especially after trying... and failing... to undo
it."  Ranma added, thoughtfully.
        "Hai.. that's how I ended up getting cursed.  Only in my case, I knew
what would happen, but I did it anyway."  Akane chimed in, grinning slightly.
        "You did?"  Elysse responded, incredulously.  "Why would you do it on
purpose?"
        "Ranma almost drowned when he tried to reverse his curse, and I dove
in after him."
        "Ano.. and she can't even swim."  Ranma inserted, winking at his wife.
        Elysse looked at her hosts in silence for a moment, considering the
exchange she had just heard.  It was incredible to her that these two people
took their curses so lightly.  It was as if it was nothing out of the
ordinary to them.
        Having finished eating, Ranma looked at the clock and smiled slightly.
        "Elysse, where in Canada do you live?"  he asked thoughtfully,
turning to regard the still perplexed girl.
        "Ahh.. Ontario. A little town called Phoenix."  she replied, smiling
at the memories of home that the question stirred.
        "Do you still remember your home phone number?"
        "Hai.. I do, but I never thought I'd ever get to use it again."
        "Well, tell it to me, and I'll call your family.  I imagine they'll
be happy to know you're still alive."  he continued, walking toward the
phone.
        Elysse jumped up happily from her mat at the low table, and
immediately glomped Ranma's arm as he picked up the phone.  Akane pretended
not to notice.
        Elysse rolled off the area code and number as Ranma dialed, and they
waited impatiently for the overseas connection to go through.
        Finally, after what seemed an eternity, a voice answered on the
other end.
        "Ohaio Gozaimasu. My name is Saotome Ranma, I calling from Japan." he
began, in his best fractured English.  Abruptly, he turned to Elysse in a
panic. Covering the receiver, he whispered urgently to her.  "What's your
family name again?"
        "Rialto" she whispered back, grinning to herself.
        Ranma nodded and cleared his throat.  "Is this home Rialto?"  he
asked, grimacing at his mangling of the language.  Elysse stifled a nervous
laugh.
        On an affirmative response, he continued.  "Your child is with us.
Rialto Elysse?"
        The scream that erupted from the phone nearly blew Ranma's eardrums
through his head.
        Elysse immediately recognized her mother's voice, and begged for
Ranma to hand her the phone.  He complied willingly, his head still aching
from Akane's earlier caress, and now aching even more.
        "Mom..?  It's me.. Elysse!"  she began, her voice already cracking
with emotion.  Ranma, wiggling a finger in his ear, smiled and stepped back,
allowing Elysse some privacy.
        "Gives you a good feeling, ne?"  Akane commented as he walked back
over to her.
        "Hai."  He responded, looking back at the excited Elysse as she
chattered away.  "It really does."  he continued, smiling.

        Elysse's parents immediately wired money, plane tickets, food and
several large gifts for the Saotomes, so grateful were they to finally have
their long-lost daughter back.
        Much to Elysse's surprise, the guide at Jusenkyo had immediately
explained her curse to her family. Try as they might, though, they were
unable to find her after she bolted from the grounds.  After two weeks of
looking, they had to give up the search to return home, having run out of
money.
        Elysse was so relieved that *she* didn't have to explain it that she
almost cried.  Having to tell them about the curse was the one thing she
dreaded about seeing them again, and with that out of the way, she was now
even more anxious to be on her way home.

        Standing in the departure lounge at the Tokyo Airport two days later,
Ranma and Akane each hugged Elysse goodbye, and wished her a good life and
prosperous future.  Akane thought she noticed her hugging Ranma a little
*too* gratefully, but under the circumstances let it go unmentioned.
        Tearfully, Elysse made her way out to the plane, all the while
looking back for Ranma.  As she finally stepped into the plane, she turned
and waved happily one more time.  The Saotomes responded in kind, feeling
equally happy for her.
        Settling into her assigned seat on the plane, Elysse looked out her
window, searching the large Terminal windows for one last sign of Ranma.
She caught a glimpse of him as he was turning to leave, and smiled despite
the building ache in her heart.
        "Ranma Saotome... I'll see you again some day.  Count on it."  she
vowed silently to herself.






===============================================================================
END - A Horse is a Horse; Unless...  A Ranma 1/2 FanFic by V. Coutu


Comments Welcome, Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@vecdev.com
http://waters-edge.home.ml.org/archive/Vic


_____________________________________________________________
Catch all my 'Fics (and more!) at Water's Edge!
http://waters-edge.home.ml.org/archive/Vic/

"If man realizes technology is within reach,
he achieves it... like it's damn-near
instinctive." - Maj. Motoko Kusanagi.