I'd like to thank everyone who e-mailed me about chapter 5.  Also, I
have the rest of the series plotted out and should be wrapping things up
in 3 or 4 more chapters.  A sequel is a definite possibility though.  It
depends on how many people want to see it.  I'll be writing a couple of
shortfics before I get around to it anyway.  Credit goes to David
Johnston for pre-reading this chapter.  Any and all comments are
welcome, so don't be shy.

Disclaimer:      The characters and situations of Ranma 1/2 are owned by
Rumiko Takahashi and are used in this fanfic without permission.  That
doesn't really surprise anyone though does it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 6: The Truth is Out There
      "I hope there's a very good explanation for this."
      Nodoka's words seemed to linger in the air.  Finally the stillness
was broken by Ukyo, who scrambled to her feet and dove out the window
she'd entered through.  Since this gave Ryoga a very good view of her
assets, he did what came naturally to him, and fainted.
      "Yes there's a really simple explanation.  You see...  No that's
not it.  It was all...," Ranma trailed off, at a loss for words.
      "Nabiki, Kasumi, could you take Akane back to her room?  I want to
talk to Ranko and Ryoga privately."  After the three sisters had
departed, Nodoka turned back to Ranma.  "I'm waiting, young lady."
      Ranma had taken advantage of the brief distraction to marshall her
thoughts.  "I was just sleeping here because I had a fight with Akane.
I don't know what Ukyo was doing here, but I thought she was a burglar
and tackled her."
      "I assume Ukyo is the other girl's name.  I think what she was
doing was quite obvious.  What I want to know is why she was doing it."
      "She must have been looking for Ranma.  She's engaged to him, and
this is his room."  Unnoticed, Ryoga had awoken and he felt it was time
to speak in his own defense.
      "I hardly think that's likely," Nodoka replied skeptically.  "My
son has been on a training journey for over a week now.  However, I
believe that you didn't expect her.  It's hardly surprising that a
handsome boy like you attracts girls."  Smiling, Nodoka prepared to
leave.  "One last thing, Ranko.  I was young once and I understand why
you'd want to be alone with your boyfriend.  You didn't need to make up
some story about fighting with Akane.  Just be quieter next time."
      As the door closed behind Nodoka, Ranma and Ryoga stared at one
another in shock.  Finally, Ranma found her voice.  "So, I guess things
between you and Ukyo are going pretty good."
      "What are you talking about?  The only thing I want between Ukyo
and me is a thick wall."
      "Aren't you two seeing one another?"
      "She's way too stuck on you.  I think she's a lesbian anyway."
      "Ukyo, a lesbian?"  Ranma's voice was filled with shock and
disbelief.  "There's no way you can be right."
      "All I know is that, the night you and I had our duel, she showed
up, said something about how cute a girl you are and attacked me.  I'm
not really surprised, the way she dresses as a guy most of the time."
      "She's not like that at all," Ranma said defensively.  "She just
decided to live as a boy to get revenge after Pop left her behind."
      "Ranma, didn't that happen over ten years ago?"
      "Well, yes.  What's your point?"
      "I tracked you to China, over bread, but even I'm not that
obsessive."
      Ranma made one final protest.  "She wanted to be engaged to me,
even before she found out about the curse."
      "But, when she did find out she thought it was neat."
      "You're right.  Oh man, next I'll find out that Kuno knows about
the curse and is after my guy form."
      "Look on the bright side.  With all the girls after you, this was
bound to happen with at least one of them."
     "You're not helping."

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

     For most of the inhabitants of the Tendos' home, the morning was
bright and cheerful.  It seemed to be the precursor to a nearly perfect
day.
     "Nabiki, I had a very strange dream last night."
     Naturally, this was destined not to last.
     "Really.  Did it involve Ranko and Ryoga rolling around on the
floor with a naked Ukyo?"
     "Yes.  Did you have the same dream?"
     "That wasn't a dream."
     Across the table from Akane and Nabiki, Soun Tendo snapped the pair
of chopsticks he'd been holding.
     "RYOGA,  HOW DARE YOU ABUSE MY HOSPITALITY THIS WAY!"
     Ryoga took one look at the enormous demon headed monstrosity
advancing on him and fled at once.
     "Wait for me!"  Ranma realizing who Soun's next target would be,
was less than a second behind him.
     In the wake of this disturbance, Nodoka sat calmly sipping her
tea.  "You shouldn't have told on them like that, girls.  Your father
seems to be rather overprotective."

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

     Since Ranma and Ryoga hadn't returned before it was time to leave,
Akane and Nabiki were walking to school together.
     "Akane, there's no reason for you to be mad.  I eavesdropped on
their conversation with Auntie Saotome.  Ukyo was looking for Ranma and
things got out of hand."
     "She was looking for Ranma, without any clothes on?"
     "It does seem more like Shampoo's style, doesn't it?"
      "You're right.  I'd never have expected Ukyo to be so forward.
There must be some reason she'd try something like that."
      Nabiki could think of at least one reason, but she didn't think
mentioning it to Akane would be productive.  As a result, she felt a bit
relieved when an opportunity to change the subject appeared.  "Look up
ahead.  Ranma and Ryoga are waiting for us."
     "I just want to explain about last night."
     "That's okay, Ryoga.  Nabiki explained things.  I know it wasn't
your fault."
     "So, you're not mad.  I was worried..."
     "I'm not talking to you, Ranma.  If you didn't keep leading Ukyo
on, none of this would have happened.
     "Oh."

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

     Ranma was sneaking out of the boys' bathroom (coming to school as a
girl had disadvantages beyond the obvious), when a sudden noise made her
start.  Turning she saw one of her few friends, Hiroshi.
     "Whew, it's just you."
     "Yah, just me.  Look, Ranma, I just want to say, I'm okay with you
dating Ryoga.  I'm your friend no matter what."
     It took Ranma a moment to find her voice.  "D-dating Ryoga.  What
makes you say that?"
     "Um, first you went to that ice cream parlor with him.  Then you
came to school as a girl, also with him.  Then there are the pictures
Nabiki sold of you two.  Do you want me to go on?"
     "There's more?" Ranma asked incredulously.
     "Hey the whole class saw you get into an argument with Shampoo over
Ryoga.  Ukyo attacking him was another big clue.
     "I see.  I don't feel too well, Hiroshi.  Tell Akane and Ryoga I
had to go home."
     "Sure.  Just remember, I'm here for you."
     Ranma was barely able to make it around the corner, before her legs
gave out.  It was several minutes before she was able to continue.

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

     "You two go on without me.  I have some business to take care of."
     "All right, Nabiki.  I hope nothing's wrong with Ranma.  He hardly
ever gets sick.."
     Ryoga paused to consider this.  "He was probably still upset about
last night.  His mother jumped to some strange conclusions.  I just hope
that your Dad has calmed down."
     "I'm sure that Kasumi's straightened things out.  If it wasn't for
her, I don't know how Dad would cope."   Motioning for Ryoga to follow
her, Akane set off for home.
     Free from distractions, Nabiki, went in search of her prey.
"Kuno, I have vital information about Ryoga, and the pig-tailed girl."
     "How dare you utter those names together.  Speak, lest you face my
wrath."
     "20,000 yen first."
     "You will receive your money if the information is of worth."
     Nabiki hesitated and then shrugged.  Even if Kuno didn't pay, it
wouldn't cost her anything.  "Ryoga is staying at our house.  Last
night, he and the pig-tailed girl slept in the same room."
     Numbly, Kuno pulled out his wallet and handed the money over.
"Truly, the depth of his evil exceeds even that of the sorcerer
Saotome.  It is of the utmost importance that I liberate my three loves
at once."
     "Three loves?," Nabiki said, sounding faintly surprised.
     "Yes.  I have resolved to liberate the fair Ukyo Kuonji from
Hibiki's vile grasp."
     As Kuno marched off, Nabiki was left to wonder just how she could
manage to get pictures of Ukyo.
     "Not-Nice mercenary girl."
     Startled, Nabiki whirled to face the voice.  "Shampoo, what do you
want?"
     "Shampoo have question.  Why Ranma wear dress?"
     "It will cost you."
     "Shampoo pay after you answer."
     "Fair enough.  Genma promised Ranma's mother that he'd raise Ranma
to be a man among men or he and Ranma would commit seppuku.  Ranma has
to pretend to be a girl in order to stop his mother from finding out
about his curse."
     Shampoo's spirits lifted at this answer, but she had one more
question.  "How much time Ranma spend as girl?"
     "I haven't seen him change back to a guy since Saturday morning.
It's been over four days."  It surprised Nabiki to realize this.
Considering things, she realized that she hadn't seen Ranma much at
all.  He was always off doing something.  "The information will be 4000
yen."
     "Shampoo have payment right here," the amazon said, palming a small
bottle.

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

     On their way home Ryoga and Akane came upon a dejected pig-tailed
figure sitting by the side of the road.
     "Ranma, have you been sitting here the whole time?" Akane asked.
     "Yes.  After I left school, I decided I didn't really want to see
Mom again.  It would have been hard to explain why I was cutting class
anyway."
     "But it's been hours."
     "I just needed to think about a few things.  Can I handle Ryoga's
training alone today?  I need to talk to him privately."
     "Sure, Ranma."  Akane supposed that it was good Ranma had a friend
who could help him cope.  Sometimes it seemed that some of Ranma's
problems were...well not really Ryoga's fault...but he just seemed to
attract trouble the same way Ranma did.
     "What do you want to say to me?" Ryoga asked puzzled by the
request.
     "I'll tell you later.  Lets head for home so I can get changed."

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

     Ranma and Ryoga were blading through the park side by side, when
they spoke again.
     "All right, Ranma.  What's so important that you needed to talk to
me alone?"
     "Well, there are a few rumors about us at school."
     "What kind of rumors?' Ryoga asked suspiciously.
     "That we're dating."
     Ryoga abruptly lost his balance and hit the ground hard. "Dating!
But we're both guys."
     "Ryoga take a good look at me.  Do I look like a guy to you?"
     "Well, no, but...  We've got to do something."
     "I am doing something.  I'm making sure you beat Mikado."
     "I meant about the rumors."
     Ranma gave Ryoga a lopsided smile.  "There's nothing we can do.  If
we deny it people will just think we're being defensive.  If I do
something to prove I like girls, I'll just look like a two-timing
pervert."
     Ryoga rose unsteadily to his feet.  "How did these rumors get
started?  Has Akane heard them?"
     "I think Akane is the only person who hasn't.  As for how they got
started, we've been spending a lot of time together, I've been going to
school as a girl and Nabiki's been spreading rumors.  I think Ukyo's
involved also.  Those rumors would give her a pretty good reason to
attack you."
     "But the first time she attacked me was before any of that!" Ryoga
protested.
     "Exactly.  If Ukyo is a lesbian, she'd think of me as a girl at
least part of the time.  That'd make it really easy for her to jump to
conclusions."
     "I've got to get out of here.  If I'm not around this whole thing
will blow over.
     As Ryoga turned to go, Ranma grabbed his wrist in an iron grip and
dragged him to a halt.  "No you don't!  If you leave half the guys in
school will ask me out."
     "So just beat them up."
     "That didn't work for Akane.  Besides, take a look at this poster."
     "Mikado Sanzenin, one half the Golden pair, faces the only man to
ever defeat him.  At stake will be the love of a maiden."  Ryoga's eyes
bugged out as he looked at the picture on the poster.  In it Mikado and
Ryoga were staring daggers at one another, with Ranma in female form
standing between them.  "How did he get pictures of us?'
     "Don't you recognize those outfits?  Someone edited pictures from
the martial arts figure skating match to make this."
      "This isn't good."  Ryoga continued to stare blankly at the poster
in his hand.
      "Tell me about it.  Those things are everywhere, and the date and
location of the match are on the bottom.  Half of Furinkan will show up,
and that's if we're lucky.
      "Okay, I'll stay, at least until I've beaten Mikado."  Privately,
Ryoga thought that Ranma was making a huge mistake by keeping quiet. 
He'd gotten into enough trouble that way himself.  The whole mess with
Akane and P-chan could've been avoided if he'd just spoken up.
      "Good.  Now lets get training."

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

     Ranma was preparing for school, when she paused in her
preparations.  Her nimble fingers quickly unbraided her pigtail and
fastened her hair into a simple ponytail.  Nodding in satisfaction, she
finished dressing and headed downstairs.
     "Ran-Ranko, your pigtail!"
     "It's not that big a deal, Akane.  I just thought it was time for a
change."
      Nodoka smiled, it was a good sign that Ranko was taking more care
with her appearance.  "That style suits you."
     "I've always thought so.  This isn't the first time I've worn my
hair like this."
     Ryoga looked up from where he was waiting by the door.  "That's
right, she had that hairstyle when I first met her."
     "I didn't realize that you'd known Ranko long," Nodoka said.
     "We went to the same school before she moved here."  Ryoga wisely
neglected to mention that the institution in question was an all boys
school.
     "Then you followed her here."
     "You could say that," Ryoga said uneasily.
     "How romantic.  It's good that you feel so strongly about Ranko.
After last night, I imagine you'll want to marry soon."
     "Gahk!"
     Akane had been listening to this exchange with ill concealed
impatience and these words were the final straw. "I  think we should
really be going now."
     "Yes we should.  I really don't think that Ryoga and I are ready to
think about marriage, Auntie Saotome."  Ranma walked out the door,
pulling the still stunned form of Ryoga behind her.
     After they left a man and a panda found themselves alone, Nodoka
being occupied by housework.  "Saotome..."
     #Calm yourself, Tendo.  Ranma didn't mean anything by that.#
     "But, your wife did."
     #It was your idea to let her stay here.#  Genma flipped the sign
around. #Besides, Ranma can marry both Akane and Ryoga or you could
adopt Ryoga.#
     Soun thought deeply and considered this.  "I did always want a
son.  I suppose this isn't too bad.  Where are you going, Saotome."
     #Out.  I've got a new job.#

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

     Ukyo was not happy.  Her desperate plan to win Ranma over had gone
worse than she'd imagined possible.  She still wasn't ready to give up
though.  Noticing Ranma walking through the school gate with Akane and
Ryoga, she headed over to join them.
     "Oh. Hi, Ukyo," Ranma said nervously.  Beside her, Akane edged
slightly closer, while Ryoga watched nervously.
     They were all caught off guard, when Ukyo grabbed Ranma by the
shoulders and pulled the shorter girl into a passionate kiss.  Ranma
was paralyzed with surprise for a moment and then began to struggle.
     "Ranma!"  Akane started forward, but was restrained by Ryoga.
     Breaking free, Ranma gasped for air and took several steps
backward.  "Ukyo, I know that you being a lesbian shouldn't matter, but
there's just something about two girls together that seems wrong to me.
I'm sorry and I hope we can still be friends."
     Akane went limp with shock in Ryoga's hands, when she heard this.
     After a moment of incomprehension, Ukyo became aware of the sudden
silence, and the stares that she was now attracting.
"Lesbian...Friends...I'm-I'm sorry Ranma, but I really have to go."
     "She took that better than I thought," Ranma commented.  "Yo.
Ryoga, you can let go of Akane now."
     -Thud-
     "Oh.  Maybe not."


End Chapter 6