Clothes Make The... 

Chapter Three: 

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, Kunou Tatewaki, Kunou Kodachi, Tofu Ono Sensei, and Hinako
Ninomiya Sensei are copyright 1987, 1997 by Takahashi Rumiko.

Publishing rights:

Japan:		Shogakukan Inc. Tokyo
Hong Kong:	Jademan (Holdings) Ltd.
North America:	Viz Inc.

By Nicholas Leifker and Ichinohei Hitomi

	Ranma smiled broadly as the class broke up for lunch, little bits
and pieces of "her" life flying through the young woman's mind.  She had
no regrets about her new existence so far; truth to tell, Ranma found some
of the attention she was getting...the lustful stares of the men, a few
envious looks from the women... thrilling.  It was as though the dress had
changed her into a new person - which, in a sense, it did.  She could go
places and do things forbidden to him, and relish in the sights and
textures offered her there.  Yes, it did have its disadvantages, such as
possible friction with Mom and different viewpoints from Ryouga and
Shampoo...but right now she didn't care.  Right now she was enjoying
herself too much.  On top of that, Akane and Ukyou, the two closest
friends she had, were taking it well for the most part. It took a bit of
time for her childhood friend to adjust (the look on her face as she read
the note was horrifying), but the strong, supportive friend quickly
exerted herself.  Akane was still blaming herself for what happened, and
was compensating for her guilt by watching over her like a little sister. 
Ranma liked that...she'd always wanted to be close to Akane, rather than
the fighting enemies they seemed to be all too often. 
	She rose from her desk slowly, pausing at the feel of soft fabrics
caressing her legs as she stood.  Ranma walked slowly over to her friends,
and sat down next to them.
	"Uh...Akane?"  The voice she used now was just how Kasumi had
taught her the night before: soft, unassuming, with just the slightest
lilt to it.
	The tomboy turned from her thoughts and stared at her changed
fiancee.  "Yes, Ranma?" 
	"Do you have my lunch?  Kasumi said you'd bring it."  She smiled,
the coup-de- grace on the act.
	Akane blinked, still not used to her fiancee's mannerisms.
"Uh...sure.  Here."  She handed her fiance the bento box.  Ukyou came
forward from her seat, and sat down beside them.
	"So...Ranma.  Why the new look?"  Ukyou stared at her with a mild
degree of skepticism.
	Ranma shrugged.  "Well...I got tired of being a tomboy."  She
looked down at her feet, humbly ashamed.  "I wanted people to notice
me..." 
	Akane coughed.  "Ranma?  I know you've probably told us your life
story plenty of times, but please...for us, could you tell us once more?" 
	The new woman perked up.  She'd been expecting this..."Well, I was
born in Tokyo, the only daughter of Genma and Nodoka Saotome.  When I was
five, Pop, who wanted me to carry on Anything-Goes School of Martial Arts,
took me from my home to train.  Mom made him promise to not raise me to be
a tomboy, to make sure I learned how to act like a girl when I wasn't in
the middle of training or exercises.  After Jusenkyo, we nearly got killed
because of that."
	"When did you first meet me?" Ukyou piped, hoping that the
memories could bring her out of it.
	"Well...we were both six.  Pop had me steal from your father's
okonomiyaki cart everyday.  We became friends, and sparred together.  Of
course, the funny thing was, you thought I was a guy, and I thought you
were!  Our parents, thinking the same thing, engaged us to each other,
causing that whole mess with the yatai."  She reached a hand over to
Ukyou's.  "I am sorry about that." 
	Ukyou cried bittersweet tears, and tried to smile.  "It's okay,
Ranchan. It's okay..."
	Ranma looked sad at her friend's tears, then continued, her voice
softer than before.  "Anyway, most of the rest you know...the
cat-fist...Jusenkyo..."
	"Tell us about Jusenkyo," Akane interjected. 
	The girl's face darkened.  "I...Pop always wanted a boy and he
made no effort to conceal his desires.  One day, we went to this 'training
ground'.  Some training ground.  Pop found the spring he wanted, then
shoved me in." Tears formed in her blue eyes, the traumatic 'memory'
within her changed in her mind's eye.  "I felt...I felt myself
grow...warp...I rose from the water, and found..." 
	"It's okay, Ranma."  Akane reached across the table, and gave
Ranma a comforting hug.  "I'm sorry I brought it up.  It's just
that...this change is so sudden."
	"Yeah.  It took me awhile for me to even be able to wear a dress
without wincing.  I'll never be able to get over some things, though." 
	"Some things?"  The pair looked at her curiously. 
	Ranma turned beet red from mock embarrassment.  "Didn't you know?
I...I like girls." 
	The two facefaulted.  The broad smile on Ranma's face was genuine,
such was her humor.
	"Don't worry, though.  I understand you two aren't interested in
me, so it's no big deal." 
	Akane and Ukyou looked at each other with a look of absolute
incredulity.  After a moment of trying to hold in their hilarity, the two
started giggling.  Ranma looked at them, blue eyes full of innocence. 
	"Uh...am I missing something?" 
	"Oh, nothing..."  The two smiled at each other secretively.  Ranma
looked wide- eyed at the pair.
	"What...you two DO like girls?  It would explain your clothing,
Ucchan..."
	"Er...we're undecided yet," Akane said diplomatically.  She
coughed once, and figured the truth was best, albeit in a skewed way.
"We...like both...sorta." 
	"Ah," Ranma whispered, desperately wishing she had a tape
recorder...or a Nabiki.  The group then turned their attention back to the
meal.
	Suddenly Ranma sat up, startled.  Her ears twitched slightly, and
she looked to the much-maligned outside wall.
	"Down!"  She ducked behind one of the desks, just before the wall
in question blew to pieces. 
	"NIHAO!"  Shampoo burst (literally) into the room, ramen in hand.
She looked around the room for her airen, initially finding no success.
"Airen?  Where airen?"  She gestured violently to the pair of fiancees at
a table.  "You.  Spatula Girl and Not- nice Girl.  Where Ranma?" 
	"I'm right here, Shampoo." 
	The entire room looked to the flaming redhead standing next to the
girls.  Ranma stood there in her school outfit, her eyes cold from anger,
slender fists clenched.  Her soft soprano dripped with fury. "Shampoo.  I
am sick and tired of your constant efforts to kill everyone around me.  I
am well aware of your feelings toward me, but you will never harm them
again.  Got that?" 
	Shampoo blinked.  Her airen...in girl form...in a
dress...willingly?  In her mind, there was only one explanation.  She put
the ramen down, and readied herself for combat. 
	"What pervert girls do to Ranma?  Why he girl?" 
	The growl from Ranma's throat sent her bristling with fear.  "I
am, and have always been, a girl.  While I am ashamed of my past efforts
to deceive you, I have told you the truth on a number of occasions.  Now
leave, before I get _really_ angry."
	Shampoo nodded sadly.  "I see.  Pervert girls use shampoo, make
you forget you boy, want girl for girl things.  No worry, Ranma.  Make
better, once kill them and use 119."  She leapt for the girls with the
savagery of a mountain cat.
	"NOOO!"  The howl of rage was like one they hadn't ever seen from
Ranma.  She leapt in front of Shampoo, and deflected her attack with ease. 
A moment later, the Amazon found herself at the receiving end of a
viciously fast Amaguriken, not quite as powerful but far more difficult to
block.  She flew back to the near wall, unconscious.  Ranma approached her
still form, and carried her to the table.  She then looked to her friends,
concern etched on her features.
	"Uh...Akane?  Could you take care of Shampoo?"  The girl looked
rather sheepish. 
	"Take care?" 
	Ranma pantomimed pouring water over her head.  "Cold water. 
Sorry, but her cursed form scares the heck out of me." 
	Akane smiled and went to get some water, while Ranma went to
examine the now-demolished wall.  Ukyou approached her friend carefully. 
	"Ranma?  Are you okay?"  She noticed the tears falling down her
face, smudging her makeup.
	"She can't keep on doing that," she muttered.  "She just can't. 
I'm afraid, Ucchan...afraid of what I might do to her.  I know about her
Amazon honor and all, but it's going to get her killed."
	Ukyou looked with worry at her friend.  The Ranma she remembered
would have hesitated to confront Shampoo directly, and would have pulled
his punches.  This girl did neither, and would probably have killed if the
battle continued.  True, she still held concern over a vanquished foe,
just like her Ranchan...but with her and Shampoo, it seemed the stakes
were higher...dangerously higher.  This was something that bore closer
scrutiny, before something happened they all would regret. 

***

	Ranma walked out in the open air, reveling in the feel of the wind
against her bare legs.  The plan was working almost too well: Her family
was hooked thanks to Kasumi, and Ukyou was hooked thanks to Akane.  She'd
have to do a bit more convincing job with Shampoo; however, chances are
one visit and one application of Formula 119 would convince them.  Also,
the fight between them was classic: by speeding up the Amaguriken, the
punches were softer than maximum, but faster overall, giving the
appearance of going all-out.  That - hitting a girl without holding back -
was something Ranma would never have done...before now.  She giggled
slightly at the ingenuity of the deception, then smiled at the sound.
	There once was a time that such a giggle would have her worried,
back when she actually cared about being 100% guy.  Now, though...she was
having too much fun.  This girl stuff - dressing up and looking pretty,
smiling and laughing all the time - it was almost like a costume party to
her.  Ranma could be someone else, live out a different person's life, all
without the recriminations of being branded a pervert.  She wondered how
long it would last before she went back...a week?  A month? 
	Forever? 
	The old guards around her mind chose that moment to fight, to urge
her to give up this charade and be a man again.  Memories flooded her, of
each fight she'd had to keep what was left of him, to not give in to what
she was now doing.  It took a moment (and a pleasant look downward) to
come back to herself, and continue on her way.  Ranma skipped away
lightly, reveling in the freedom, until she arrived at her destination -
and stopped.
	The room in front of her was forbidden ground, a place no man had
gone before - at least, not without an animal form or a horde of angry
women chasing after.  She steeled herself for the sights to come, and
purposefully opened the door.
	Her eyes widened - but only for a moment.  Dozens of women sat on
benches in various levels of undress, each of them stopped what they were
doing - and turned to her, staring at the newcomer.  After a second's
hesitation, she walked over to a private corner of the locker room, unable
to shake off the feel of twenty eyes boring down on her.  Ranma nervously
undressed, as though still in her guy-form, and put on the tight-fitting
gym outfit.
	"Hey, Ranchan."  Ukyou, another semi-outcast in the locker room,
sat down to join her friend.  "What's up?" 
	Ranma looked at the chef, and frowned.  "Why are all these girls
staring at me?  It's like they think I'm a boy or something."
	"Er...well..." Ukyou tried to come up with something to say. "It's
because of your curse.  It kinda freaks them out, you know?" 
	Ranma nodded, knowing the feelings all too well.  "Yeah, I
know...still, I am a girl, or at least I wanna be.  I never asked to be a
boy, you know." 
	"I know..." Ukyou stopped her preparations for a moment, and
thought about Ranma's words.  Something about them seemed odd to her, even
for this "new" Ranma.  It was almost as if...no.  Her Ranchan would never
do that...She had to know.
	"Ranma," Ukyou said, turning towards the shorter girl and grabbing
her by both arms so that she couldn't escape, "What did you mean by what
you just said?"
	Ranma, in the meantime, had looked up at Ukyou with some
anticipation, expecting the question to come.  That anticipation turned to
a somewhat muted disappointment, a schooled response to the situation. 
"What do you mean Ucchan?"
	Ukyou couldn't help but notice the quick changes in expression, a
sudden doubt running through her mind at what just happened.  Still, it
didn't hurt to find out, "You just said that you want to be a girl and
that you didn't ask to be a boy."
	Ranma turned her head down for a second, and then mumbled in a
barely audible voice.  "You know how my dad raised me, and how much he
wanted a boy.  For a time, I actually forgot that I was a girl, until
puberty that is.  By then dad had me dying my hair and bandaging my chest,
even enrolling me in an all boys school."
	She shrugged out of Ukyou's loosened grasp and turned away,
clutching her arms.  "Do you know what it's like to think that you're a
boy for a while?  To act and be one to everybody around you and never be
yourself?  I was caught up in my dad's lie for so long.  Too damn long." 
	She suddenly hit the locker in front of her, causing all the other
girls who had gone back to what they were doing to pause.  Everyone
strained their ears to the words that the redhead was saying, each word
causing them to reconsider their original thoughts about her.  "Dad really
wanted a boy, and by pushing me into that hot water spring, he got one. 
I've had to pretend that I was a boy for so long, I've actually forgotten
what it was like to be me.  To be a girl.  I finally had it this morning,
and decided my mom was right.  I am a girl, I am fairly pretty, and that I
should stop being such a tomboy."
	Ranma turned back to the taller girl, tears in her eyes, and
suddenly grabbed hold of her sobbing, "I didn't like pretending, and I
still don't.  I never wanted this damn curse, and I never wanted the
complications that go with it."
	Ukyou stood there in shock for a moment, and then put her arms
around her sobbing friend, stroking her head.  She _had_ forgotten what it
was like to be considered a boy, and the strain that it had put on her. 
Since coming to Furinkan, the problem was alleviated somewhat, but she was
used to the stares and whispers that surrounded her, surrounded all of
them really.  For the girl in front of her, who wanted to be "herself"
again, it was probably a lot worse.  *I'm sorry, Ranchan.  I forgot how
much pain living that sort of life could cause.*
	The other girls looked away, somewhat ashamed of themselves for
the thoughts that they had been thinking about Ranma.  It was obvious that
she was not the boy she used to be and thus not a hentai, a male trying to
use a curse to get a look at them.  She was now just a girl who seemed to
have been forced towards becoming something that she didn't want to be. 
Most of the women made a silent promise to themselves to treat Ranma as a
girl from now on. 

***

	Gymnastics had turned out to be a very pleasant surprise,
especially since after her slight 'emotional breakdown' in the locker
room, all the girls treated her as though she had always been a girl.  For
the first time in a long time, Ranma actually felt like she belonged.  She
was starting to make real friends in school without all of the usual
worries that making friends would cause.  They were actually talking _to_
her rather than about her.  A big improvement, in the redhead's opinion. 
	The locker room was also a big improvement as well. 
	When she had changed with the other boys in the school, Ranma
always had to be cautious, especially when taking a shower after class. 
There had been numerous attempts to splash her with cold water on many
occasions, sometimes succeeding.  There were a lot of males who thought
that her having a female form would be great.  At least from their point
of view.  Ranma had never really liked change rooms because of that.
	Everything was definitely looking up in a lot of unexpected little
ways as well.  The men were actually treating her with a respect that they
hadn't while she was a boy.  Instead of the silly and embarrassing
questions and assumptions about her sex life, they actually asked
questions about what she was like, and what she liked.  Before this change
the conversations Ranma had involved what sort of ability he had to get
girls to like him, or when his next fight would be.
	To be treated as someone normal was a pleasant change for the
former boy.
	As she left school with Akane, Ranma smiled at her friend.  It was
necessary to convince her that the blow to the head was the cause of her
change, but there had to be some way to get Akane out of the funk that she
was feeling because of it.  "Say Akane...Why don't we go shopping tonight
with Ucchan?  Mom should be back home by now, and you know how she likes
to take us to the malls.  Besides, with Konatsu- chan there, her
restaurant should do OK." 
	Akane turned and smiled a little.  While she was sorry about what
she had done to her fiancee, to the man she loved, she was also somewhat
glad to see the red head having so much fun.  In all the time Akane had
known Ranma, the redhead had always been serious, fun not really being
part of the equation.  "OK.  Let's wait for her and then go home together. 
Besides, there's a sale on, and we could pick up a couple of new blouses." 
	Unfortunately for the two of them, Kunou was standing at the gate,
looking for his two favourite people in the school.  He didn't know why,
but he had somehow missed both of them when they came into the school this
morning, his usual challenge going unmatched.  It was a change in his
routine that he did not like very much, and he was wondering what was
going on.  When he saw Akane standing in front of the door, he also saw
his 'pig-tailed girl' wearing a school uniform and sporting a new hair-do. 
*Oh, my lovely pig-tailed vision.  Although you have changed those
glorious scarlet locks, I know you did it for me.*
	He ran towards them, shouting, "Akane!  Pig-tailed girl!  I resign
myself to your loveliness, and I will date you!"
	Ranma spun, actually surprised for once.  She hadn't expected to
see Kunou for a while, and that he recognized her now was not good. 
Letting her anger show, Ranma was about to go after him and knock him out
when she noticed that Akane had reacted first.
	Remembering her promise to Kasumi, Akane had reacted instantly to
Kunou's attempt to get near them.  She darted forward, grabbed one of the
kendo practitioners' outstretched arms, and tossed him to the ground where
she proceeded to hit him in saveral vital areas.  Finally finished, and
sure that he would be down long enough not to do anything, she ran her
hands through her hair.  "Leave us alone Kunou.  Ranma and I want nothing
to do with you."
	Kunou started to get back up, "I know that you would marry that
excuse for a man, but I will not allow it.  Where is that cur Saotome?" 
	Ranma had walked up by this time, "I'm here Kunou-sempai, and I'll
tell you myself.  I, Ranma Saotome, do hereby declare that I am not, and
have never been, interested in you.  I am a lesbian you idiot, and if you
haven't figured it out by now, you never will!"
	Kunou's mind shut down for a moment, trying to understand what was
being said.  He knew that the girl before him, his scarlet haired beauty,
shared the same name as his hated enemy, but for her to declare that she
did not like him, but those of the same sex as her?  Ridiculous!  "Oh my
beauty, what horrors has that immoral, dishonourable Saotome done to you
that you would spur me and all men?  I will avenge myself against him for
you!"
	Ranma looked at the idiot before her, incredulous.  No matter what
had happened, no matter how many times he observed or saw, he never got
it.  It was useful at times, but it was time to put this at an end,
"Kunou, you idiot!  I am the male Ranma Saotome as well!  It's my cursed
form!  I LIKE GIRLS AND I AM SICK AND TIRED OF YOUR IDIOCY!"
	She then punted him into the sky... 

***

	Shampoo watched this from her perch on a tree just outside the
school.  She still couldn't believe that her airen was acting like a girl. 
Despite what had happened in the classroom, she was convinced that Ranma's
brain had been affected by a shampoo or a spice of some type.  Seeing the
violent girl and the spatula-wielding one acting so friendly was also
annoying.  Perhaps her great grandmother could help.  *Don't worry, Ranma. 
I will find a way to rescue you from these two violent girls who _think_
that they have a claim on you.  I will change you back to the man you
were!*

***