Nicholas Leifker wrote:

Clothes Make The...

Chapter Seven:

A fan fiction based on Takahashi Rumiko's Manga series, Ranma 1/2

Saotome Ranma, Saotome Genma, Saotome Nodoka, Tendo Akane, Tendo Soun,
Tendo Kasumi, Tendo Nabiki, Kuonji Ukyou, Hibiki Ryouga, P-chan, Shampoo,
Mousse, Cologne, Kunou Tatewaki, Kunou Kodachi, Tofu Ono Sensei, and Hinako
Ninomiya Sensei are copyright 1987, 1998 by Takahashi Rumiko.

Mizu:  And "Nazi" is copyrighted by TSR!

By Nicholas Leifker, Katrina Halbred, and Ichinohei Hitomi

       The chirp of the crickets was the first thing Ono Tofu heard as he
woke up, a gentle, insistent call at the edge of nothingness.  Next Boggs:  Wanting ten minute more, he reached out, smashed

it and went back to sleep.  

came

the gentle sounds of industry, the sounds cars and trains making their Cog:  "sounds of cars"

way

through the city.  His senses fully awakened, he chanced opening his eyes.
       He was home, in the clinic where he spent his days.  

Boggs:  Not the brothel where he spent his nights?  

The white

plaster of the examination room loomed prominently over him, and a bright,
obnoxious blue-white fluorescence assaulted his eyes.  Having confirmed his
surroundings, Tofu closed them again.  He didn't feel like facing anything
at the moment, not after...
       "Oh...you're awake."
       He shut his eyes more forcefully, in an effort to bring his emotions
to rein.  "He... hello, Kasumi."
       He felt a hand grasp his, its slim, elegant softness in severe
contrast to his own.  

Mizu:  ...slim elegant hand.  Ever look at his hands?  

"I'm sorry, Tofu-Sensei.  I...this was foolishof me.
 I'm sorry."
       A small part of his insides steeled at the words.  She...was
apologising to him... for his mistake?  "No, Kasumi.  The fault...was all
mine."
       He felt the hand let go, and opened his eyes in response.  Kasumi
stood away from him, her eyes closed, her head bowed.  The gold lame made
her appear more the goddess; the frustration in her bearing made her appear
far less.  The best combination of both, he decided.
       "I...I never should have tried this.  Everything about this - the
surprise, the restaurant - was all wrong."  She tugged at her dress in
frustration.  "Even this outfit is wrong!  It's not me, not really.  I look
like a clown in it."
       "No...No you don't, Kasumi."  For the first time, Kasumi was letting
her inner self, her humanity that was hidden beneath the layers, show
through; it was only fair that he do the same.  "You look beautiful -
especially in that outfit.  A...a million sunsets couldn't compare to your
beauty right now."  He raised himself up and began to approach her, his
mind fighting off the rising panic.
       Kasumi turned to face him, causing him to pause in mid-stride.
Tears threatened in the woman's eyes, and her mouth quivered in nervousness
and fear - the same fear that left him a babbling wreck every time.
"Really, Tofu-Sensei?"
       He could feel the words on his tongue, along with a million others
ready to bring his one shot at his dreams crashing down.  With a supreme
force of will, he found his mouth moving the way he wanted it to, and
saying the words he really felt.  "Yes...I do, Kasumi.  I...I..."
       He felt soft fingers touching his lips, silencing any words to come.
"Shhh, Tofu-Sensei.  No words for now.  Just stay with me."
       For the second time that night, he found himself guided by her hand.
 She led him back to the bed he'd just left, and laid him down carefully.
He didn't complain when she slid herself under his head, and gently brushed
his hair with her fingers.
       For the first time, he found himself saying what he wanted - without
uttering a word.

Boggs:  Best Tofu/Kasumi scene ever written.  

***

       Ranma grit her teeth as she eyed her adversary.  Kodachi's eyes
revealed her total instability; it seemed that the recent revelations
concerning Ranma's existence shattered any sanity remaining.  Ironically,
the leotard-clad teenager held a thermos of water toward her, and carried
several more along her waist.
       "You seem surprised that I would call you by your given name.  I
merely listened to my brother's ranting to discover the truth.  Don't
worry, Ranma; your masculine self will be here for me soon enough."  Boggs:  I dunno.  She seems pretty  with-it to me.  

Using

the last words as impetus, Kodachi launched the thermos at Ranma.
       Fortunately, Ranma was prepared.  She leapt above the gymnast to the
roof, to get some breathing room.  She needed time to think about this one,
how to handle her...
       "You think to try to get away?  Foolish girl.  Here, let my water
give you some wisdom."  Kodachi followed Ranma up to the roof, and uncapped
another thermos.  "Come on...why do you struggle so?"

Boggs:  Yeah?  Why does she?  What's so scary about becoming a guy 
for a bit?  
Mizu:  Well, Kodachi could have slipped a paralysis potion into
the water.  You never know.  

       "Because neither of us have ever loved you, that's why!"  Ranma
deftly avoided the next volley of water and leapt to the next building, her
eyes warily awaiting another attack.  She had considered going for
Kodachi's belt; however, past experience, as well as Kodachi's penchant for
traps, made her wary of any such moves.  "Ever wondered why my guy-side
always runs away from you?  Ever wondered why we both agreed to fight you
in the gymnastics tournament?"
       "Lies!  All lies!"  Kodachi uncorked another thermos; only one
remained on her belt.  "He...he saved me when I fell from the roof, and
waited patiently for me to kiss him!  He came to me when I offered him my
love!  Would someone who didn't love me do these things?"
       Ranma grimaced.  "I would, if I was under the influence of blackmail
or a paralysis drug!"  She kicked the thermos out of Kodachi's hand.  A
touch of water soaked her leg; however, it wasn't enough to trigger the
change.

Boggs:  How long's it been she turned back into a guy, anyway?  

       "Minor technicalities, nothing more!  I know my Ranma-sama will love
me...once I free him from you, that is!"  She reached for the last thermos
and began to uncork it when she felt an iron grip on her hand.
       "Do you know what it's like to change, Kodachi?"
       "What?"  The question caught the gymnast totally off-guard.
       "You know...change."  Kodachi's eyes widened as she stared into
Ranma's. The intensity of the stare was enough to cower her...but her legs
were too weak to run.  "You see, it hits the chest first, causing these
breasts we're so proud of to vanish.  The next thing you notice is the
hands - you'd be surprised how much they change from a Jusenkyo curse.
Then comes more... personal areas, areas you never want a man to violate...
except _you_ are the man now, and that very fact feels like a violation."
       Ranma was almost growling now, the seething frustration of a year's
worth of impotent refusals hard in her mind.  "Then...only then, after
everything's changed, do you notice the fuzz in your mind.  All of a
sudden, you're seeing the world with different eyes, acting with a
different body, and thinking with a different mind.  You notice
things...feel things...emotions and thoughts that make you want to throw up
once you change back to a girl.  Now, Kodachi...do you really want to put
me through that?"

Mizu morphs into Kodachi:  Of course I do!
Boggs:  This is the part that's subtle, right?  
Mizu:  Well, rather than a blanket rejection of masculinity, it 
could be taken as Ranma discussing the horror he felt as he was
losing his gender identification.  What I have to wonder is why
Ranma now identifies so strongly with being female.  Does this
mean that Ryouga and Shampoo are going to become full-time animals?
Why does she now seem to find turning male as repellent as he did
turning female?  
Cog:  Incorrect.  She finds turning male far more repellent than
he did the opposite.  

       Ranma let go of Kodachi's hand, allowing the last thermos to fall to
the ground, then realised that her own hands were shaking.  "The next time
you ever want to try something like this again, remember what I said...and
that there's a lot of Nannichuan water out there.  You want to play with
water? Then so will I."  She leapt from the roof, leaving the madwoman
stunned by her words.  The new woman ran as though the hounds of hell were
after her, not stopping until she was safely in the confines of her home.

Mizu morphs into a male version of Kodachi:  Ranma!  I've taken
your advice.  Now come to my arms my darling!  OHOHOHOHOHOHO!

***

       Cologne, respected elder and warrior, matriarch, and one of the
leaders of her people, sat in meditation.
       For centuries her people had been a shining light, keeping alive the
dictates of the warrior empress who had once co-ruled the Chin dynasty.

Mizu:  Which warrior empress was that?  My Chinese history is
a little shaky.  

That woman, who had been an example to other women, had shown others that
true ability to rule did not rely on a being's sex.  It relied upon the
inner strength of the person who was competent.  Normal laws and

Boggs:  Feminist...lecture...boring...can't...stay...zzzzzzz

 rules,

created to bring about stability to the region, were enhanced by this
example.  These new rules and laws had been the beginning of The Silent
Dynasty.
       A part of the rules that they had emplaced were meant to further
their heritage, and prevent the sicknesses that had occurred in other
villages.  Although they had not known it by that name, intermixing new
genetics, new 'blood' into their lines kept them strong when others fell.
It was that strength, the influx of new genetic material, that had
encouraged their survival when Confucianism and the pacification of women
became a standard across the rest of China.

Cog:  A more accurate word would be "subjugation".
Mizu:  Yadda-yadda.  Let's skip over the entire history of
the Amazon nation, shall we?
The picture speeds up, and Colognes voice-over sounds like
an enraged squirrel

       Cologne had defeated herself, and in doing so had destroyed any
chance of happiness for her grand-daughter.  Her pursuit of Ranma in Boggs:  As if Shampoo ever had any chance...

Mizu:  She's a fine girl!
Boggs:  Who never had a chance.  
Mizu:  Let's fast forward a little more here.

       If they only had some way around the limitations placed on them,
they could help Ranma.  They could help one who was worthy of eventual
leadership of the tribe and knowledge of their arts.  They...she would be
able to help a child that she had truly grown to love.
       For the first time in years, Cologne wept.

Mizu:  Well, that was long winded and mostly pointless.  
Cog:  One would like to know what Cologne's definition of
"help" would be.  

***

       Akane lay in bed, worried, and wondering about herself.  In all the
time she had been engaged, all the adventures, mysteries, and magic that
had occurred, there had been one constant.  One thing that kept her going
and made sure she didn't give up.  Ranma loved her.  It hadn't mattered how
many times they fought one another, the number of time she hit him, or the
number of times she pushed him away.  Ranma loved her and would never try
to harm her physically or emotionally.
       But this had harmed her, and in a way she had never known possible.
       The pain that she felt was both emotional and physical; emotional
because of the feelings of guilt and physical because she had lost her best
friend.  Her heart was breaking because she had effectively lost her
fiancee, the man she loved, and was having to build her life once more.  A
life that had a girl instead of a man in it.
       That was the core of her pain.
       To this point, it had almost been a dream.  The initial pain and
hurt dissolving into the madness of life and the numbing sensation of loss.
 Everything had not really hit until that afternoon when she saw how happy
Ranma now was.  Seeing the girl who enjoyed doing even the simplest female
functions of cooking where she had always protested before brought home the
fact that the boy she knew was gone.  Dead forever.  This new girl was
reality, and the Ranma who had existed before was the dream.
       Could she ever really get used to that?

Mizu:  Sure you can.  Forget him.  He's dead.  

       In a way, this accident allowed her another chance, a way to start
over without the awkwardness that had entered into their relationship early
on.  This version of Ranma respected her, helped her in a kind, polite
manner.  She was an equal, not someone to be looked down upon because of
what they were born.  The chance to correct her original actions was
something she had wished for.
       But she never wanted it at this price.
       While Auntie Saotome had adjusted well to having a daughter instead
of a son, Akane had yet to even try.  She still held on to hope that the
Ranma she knew, the one who insulted her, still existed.  How could she
enjoy seeing the person she loved disappear?  The person she now knew she
needed in her heart.  How could she accept this girl in place of the man
she loved?
       Except this person was also Ranma.
       Not the Ranma she knew, but the Ranma she had always wished for.  A
friend to listen to and share dreams and hopes with.  Someone whose
interests matched her own, and was not limited by societies' dictates. 

Mizu:  Twit!  When was Ranma ever limited by society's dictates?  
Boggs:  She always wished for Ranma to love shopping for cute girl's
clothes?  Each to her own I guess.   

 The

person who would treat her as human.

Mizu:  When did Ranma ever _not_ treat her as human?  

       Now it was her own prejudices that were getting in the way.

Boggs:  Oh god, I'm heterosexual!  I'm so evil!

       She loved Ranma, even this version of Ranma, but was unable to deal
with having another woman as a lover.  It shouldn't have mattered to her,

Boggs:  Why shouldn't it matter to her?  Akane's got as much
right to her sexual thingy as Ranma does.  Give him to 
Ukyo and wave bye-bye.  
Mizu:  What makes you think Ukyo's lesbian?
Boggs:  Let's just say I wouldn't be surprised if she swang both
ways.  Remember, she's the one who thought the sex change bit was
so neat.  

especially since she had almost a year to get used to the idea that her
fiancee could change sexes, but Akane realised that it did.  Ranma was now
a woman, and even though she loved her, Akane was afraid of what the
physical act would mean.

Boggs:  He'll lose his soul and kill your pig!

       Turning onto her side, Akane looked towards her desk and to the
picture that was there.  It was one in taken in happier times with the male
Ranma.  Except, was it really taken in happier times?  She got up from 

Mizu:  Yes, it was.  Ranma wasn't having regular crying jags,
and neither were you.  

bed,

unable to sleep, and took the picture.  *What's wrong with me?  I don't
hate you Ranma, so why can't I feel good about being close to you?*
       She sat down in her chair, and stared at the picture, no answers
coming readily to mind.

***

       "Aw, come on...why do *I* have to do this?"
       "Tendo Nabiki, you have avoided this for too long.  It is time you
learned to do this for yourself."
       Nabiki glared at the middle-aged woman across from her, and scowled.
 Truth to tell, she wasn't afraid of hard work; the financial network she
had created to help her family stay afloat, along with her impressive
scores in school, showed her to be a hardworking, enterprising young woman.
 She knew how to work hard to get what she wanted.
       Unfortunately, learning to cook was not something she wanted.
       Still, she knew there was no way to win; she would have to do this
even if there was no need for her to.  She frowned at the vegetables in
front of her, as though the plant life would go and walk off on its own,
and raised her knife.
       "Hold on, Nabiki."  She found Nodoka's hands over her own, showing
her how to cut the carrots in a proper manner.  "Make sure you cut them
evenly.  You don't want to rush cutting, like you sister does; just take
your time, watch what you're doing, and everything will be fine."
       Nabiki growled, and slowly cut the vegetables in front of her.  "Why
do I even need to learn how to cook, Auntie?  It's not like I'm going to be
the typical housewife..."
       She felt Nodoka's warm hands leave her own.  "Nabiki, I know you are
not like your other sisters.  You want to go out into the world and make a
life for yourself, rather than a love for yourself.  But remember,
Nabiki-chan...love can strike when you least expect it.  Shouldn't you at
least know the basics of how to cook?  After all, how else are you going to
provide for your husband?"

Cog:  Heat up TV dinners?
Boggs:  Hire a housekeeper?
Mizu:  Trick him into doing all the work?

       Nabiki smiled, put down her knife, and grabbed Nodoka by the
shoulders.  "Auntie...have you ever heard of 'takeout'?"
       Nodoka only returned the smile.  "Isn't that what that Shampoo girl
does for a living?"

Mizu morphs into Nabiki:  What's your point?  

       If there was one thing Nabiki hated, it was losing an argument.  She
hung her head, letting out a long, drawn-out sigh as she did so.  "Point
taken, Auntie...point taken."

Boggs:  What was her point?  
Cog:  Perhaps Nodoka is suggesting a fear of poisoning might
be in order.  
Boggs:  Order pizza.  
Cog:  Failing that, keep track of Shampoo's location.
Mizu:  Which would be a good idea anyway.

       Fortunately, there was one thing that Nabiki relished doing:  Taking
advantage of momentary happenings.  She heard the front entrance slide
open, and ran out to greet the visitor.
       "Taidama."  Ranma closed the door behind her, giving Nabiki a moment
to examine the redhead.  The first thing that Nabiki noticed was the state
of her clothing: the girl's shoes were gone, and her stockings were ripped
and ran in places.  Nabiki winced at the bleeding that came from Ranma's
feet; apparently the girl had stubbed her toe on the way home.  The last
thing that Nabiki noticed let her know the most, though.
       Ranma was visibly shaking.  This wasn't the furious shaking that
comes with a hard, angry battle, but a terror-filled tremor that indicated
that Ranma had seen or experienced something she didn't want to. 

Boggs:  What's her problem?  
Mizu:  I wouldn't know.  Maybe it's a gender thing. 

 Nabiki

stammered, her mouth dry.
       "What happened, Ranma?" Nodoka spoke, entering behind Nabiki.
       The young woman shrugged, in a failed attempt to appear calm.
"Oh...the psycho attacked me tonight."
        "Ranma, are you okay?"  Nodoka pushed past and tried to hug her daughter,
but was stopped short.
       "I'm fine, Mom."  Ranma gently waved her mother away, and staggered
out to the living room.
       "But what about your -"
       "I said I'm fine, Mom!" Ranma growled.  For a moment, mother and
daughter stared at each other.  It was, Nabiki thought, like watching
sparks fly from her younger sister's cooking.  The friction was broken a
moment later, with a sharp turn from the younger Saotome.
       "I'm going to take a bath."

Mizu/Boggs:  She is?  

       "Wait!  Ranma!" Nodoka yelled, but was stopped short.  Nabiki
grabbed a handful of kimono, stopping Nodoka from following.
       "Give her a few minutes, Auntie.  Ranma, no matter which Ranma you
refer to, has always been difficult when dealing with emotions.  She just
needs a little time to herself."
       "I know."  The pain on Nodoka's face was clear, as the
normally-smiling face was turned to a thin, tense frown.  "I just hate
seeing her like that.  This is what mothers are for - to comfort their
children at times like this.  And Ranma..."
       "Ranma loves you, don't forget that.  She just has difficulty
showing it.  After all, she loves Akane too, and look what's happened with
that."  Nabiki smiled, trying to make the mother feel more comfortable.
       To Nabiki's relief, Nodoka managed a private smile.  "I know,
Nabiki.  I know."  She looked back to Nabiki, and to the apron the teenager
wore.  "And don't you have vegetables waiting?  I want to see a stir-fry in
front of me by the time the night is out, you know..."

Mizu (morphs into Nabiki):  Akane, I'll pay you 5,000 yen to
cook dinner for me.   

***

       Nodoka gently moved away from Nabiki's cooking work, and walked over
to the bath area's door.  She paused for a moment at the sound of running
water, and frowned.  She still wasn't sure if she should do this; after
all, in some ways she was still a stranger to her child, and it had been
rare times that she had had to comfort anyone.
       She slid the outer door open with a silence practised in three years
of child-raising.  The roar of running water increased in her ears, as one
more barrier between her and her child was passed.  She frowned at the cool
of the tile beneath her feet, and walked up to the second door, steeling
herself for what she might see inside.
       She opened the door.  Ranma sat in the furo, her back to the door.
Nodoka frowned at the sight (after all, Ranma tended to be a different
person in hot water), then felt the lukewarm droplets from the running
bath.  

Boggs:  You gutless little girl!  Sheesh, what a wimp!  Can't
even take being a boy for a little bit.  She's even worse than
the real Ranma when it comes to hiding from the curse.
Cog:  One is surprised that she is not encountering hot water
accidentally now that she wishes to avoid it at all costs.  
Mizu:  That brings up the subtleness business again.  Yes, Ranma
was talking about the process by which she lost her original 
identity and I suppose that's why she's so upset.  And yet...
the other message, that masculinity is inherently disgusting
is still a strong part of this series.  
Boggs shrugs:  Ranma's a les.  Makes sense she'd see it like 
that.  Guys might not be all bad, but they sure are ugly and
y'wouldn't wanta get inta bed with one.  Just the way it is.  

Again, she hesitated; Ranma, for all her gregariousness, was a
private person, and showed her heart to very few, and at rare times.
       Nodoka could barely hear the sounds of Ranma's sobbing over the
water.  She could see the child trembling, trying to hold the grief
in...but it was just too much for her.  She saw Ranma splash water on her
face, then keep her face buried in her hands.
       Nodoka looked at her own hands for a moment.  This was what the Kami
had given them to her for - to comfort those around her, especially her
daughter.  She leaned down onto the wet surface, and put her armsaround
Ranma.
       She felt Ranma shrink from the touch, but only for an instant.  In a
second, Nodoka's child leaned into her mother's chest, free to let out a
lifetime's worth of anguish.  Nodoka ran her fingers through her daughter's
hair, occasionally kissing her on the forehead, whispering words of peace
and encouragement...
       The frown on Nodoka's face changed to a sad smile.  She had what she
wished for, a decade's worth of loneliness erased as though it had never
been.  She let her own tears mix with Ranma's in the bathtub, and let Ranma
cry until the child fell asleep from her exertions.

Mizu:  So, any final thoughts?
Boggs:  Well, I liked all the sufferin', and the Kasumi/Tofu
scene was grade A.
Cog:  Very few grammatical or spelling errors.
Mizu:  Personally, there's one thought which keeps nagging at me...
Ranma's still hiding from what he really is, still trying to
fit herself into a neat category with regard to the rest of
the world.  Perhaps it's because I never had a natural gender,
but it seems to me that Ranma needs to stop lying to herself 
and everyone around him and accept both natures as integral
parts of what he now is.