Hitomi: If you're within the sound of my electronic voice, tell a certain writer what he can do with himself and come back. We need good people like you. Clothes Make The... Chapter Six: 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: Sogakukan Inc. Tokyo Hong Kong: Jademan (Holdings) Ltd. North America: Viz Inc. By Nicholas Leifker Brief summary of what's gone before: Ranma, after discussing his feelings with Kasumi, faked a head injury and now has everyone thinking that she thinks she's a girl. The others around her, notably Akane, Nodoka, and Ukyou, are trying to adjust. Shampoo and Cologne have been scared away be Nabiki, to keep Ranma (who now apparently has no presumptions about hitting girls) from killing Shampoo. The show must go on... ********************************************************************* "Oh no..." Kasumi frowned into the mirror, her critical eye finding little to be proud of. She so wanted to look good for tonight; unfortunately, it seemed (to her own eyes, anyway) that such a task was a hopeless one. The first dress she tried on, a red mini from her high-school days, looked almost childish on her, and showed off too much of her leg in a way she didn't want. The next one was of a flattering, though modest cut... but the forest green color was so wrong on her. This most recent one, a nice pink outfit, just made her recoil in horror. The calf-length dress, adorned with frills at the edges, made her look so much like the homemaker she had become that she just buried her face in her hands. "Maybe I should just give up. There's no way Tofu-sensei will be attracted to me." The comment only generated fits of giggles from her sisters, both those in blood and in spirit. She turned around, and glared at the trio. "I'm serious here! What am I going to do?" "No offense, Kasumi-oneechan, but you could go to Tofu-sensei in a clown suit and still turn him on!" Ranma managed through her laughter. Kasumi only gestured to the outfit she wore. "What... do you mean like this one?" Ranma coughed, trying to contain herself. As a boy, she'd felt so insecure about her manhood, to the point that she decided to give up on it for awhile. Now, though... she was learning, through her "experiment", that women felt much the same way about their beauty. For many women out there (including the ones she currenly called sisters), a woman's appearance was an outward expression of who she was inside, just as a man's demeanor was an expression of who he was inside. She walked over to Kasumi, and put a hand on her shoulder. "Kasumi, I know right now you're panicked about what you're going to wear, but don't worry. No matter what outfit you choose, you'll do fine." She looked Kasumi up and down, a mischievous glint in her eye. "In fact... I think I may now the perfect outfit for you." Kasumi raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? And what outfit is that?" "Oh... a nice, conservative outfit that would be just perfect on you! Nabiki, may I have permission to raid your closet?" The businesswoman nodded, though a trace of worry entered her voice. "Of course. What outfit were you thinking of?" "Remember that evening gown you wore when you went to meet Kinnosuke?" Nabiki's eyes glistened. "Oh, yeah... that'd be perfect for her!" A few moments later, Kasumi just stood there, mouth agape at the sight in the mirror. The beaded golden-yellow dress reached down below her knees, but hugged her curves closely. With the open, scooped back, the sparkling sequins, and the over-the-top feather boa that was worn along with it, the outfit screamed of opulence. She turned back to her sisters, her look a mixture of amazement and excitement. "Are you sure I should wear something like this? I don't want to go too far..." "Yes, you do. You just don't know it yet." Nabiki smirked, and handed her some makeup to put on. "Trust me. When the good doctor takes a look at you, he's going to go out of his mind." The other girls looked strangely nervous. Akane looked the eldest Tendo over carefully, then smiled. "Kasumi, Tofu-sensei will go out of his mind when he sees you, but only because he cares for you. Remember: you need to be firm with him, and make sure he doesn't do anything silly." Kasumi went over the instructions in her head. "No silliness allowed. Got it." "Well... some silliness is allowed. Just make sure it's the kind you enjoy." "Nabiki! Shame on you!" Kasumi gaped at her sister in mock indignation. "Hey, with an outfit like that..." *KNOCK, KNOCK* "Girls? Is it okay for me to come in?" Nodoka's gentle voice called from behind the door. "Yes, Auntie Saotome." Kasumi looked at herself more closely in the mirror, and began to apply her makeup. The matriarch of the Saotome clan gasped as she saw Kasumi. She walked over to the young woman, her eyes sparkling in amazement. "Kasumi-chan, you look stunning! So... you finally decided to go after that doctor." She gave Kasumi a parental kiss on the cheek. "Your mother would be proud. It's about time you decided to live your own life." The comments only seemed to make her more nervous. "Auntie... are you sure I'm doing the right thing?" "Yes, I'm sure. You've given up more than anyone could ever ask for to keep this family going. You need to get out and start a family of your own." She gave the young homemaker a playful wink. "Besides, I think your father wants a grandchild soon." While a red-faced Kasumi tried to bring a response to come, the other girls just roared in laughter. *** Ukyou was strangely silent as she worked the dinner rush, as her mind was on other things. She had wanted to help Ranma and Akane on their quest to help Kasumi nab Tofu; unfortunately, work called, and she needed to be there until things quieted down. Also, the work acted as a mantra to her, and she had a lot to think about. For once, she was genuinely afraid, not only for her now-bishojo fiancee, but for herself as well. It wasn't just the fact that Ranma changed that bothered her. It was what she had changed into. Ranma was, for all intents and purposes, her mirror, a reflection of what she had become, and what she could be. Ranma's warped memories brought back better-forgotten memories, details of the disguise she wore. Besides that, it offered her a possible next step to take, a path that could cause her to abandon her masculine guise and become who she had been born to be. She unwittingly looked over to her employee and friend, and frowned. Konatsu was in an even more unusual position than she had been; his twisted mother and sisters had warped his mind, so much so that his female kunoichi disguise had become his identity. It had been an effort to disguise herself as a boy; to him, a girl's beauty was as natural as breathing. What was it like for him... to find out his life was a lie? She walked over to him, and discretely grabbed him by the arm. "Ukyou-sama? Is something wrong?" Ukyou couldn't help but smile. Konatsu was so protective of her; she only hoped she could return the favor one day. "Konatsu... what would you do if someone forced you to live as a boy?" Konatsu gulped. He looked down at his kimono. "Are you asking me to..." She giggled. "No, Konatsu. I'm just wondering." The beautiful boy shrugged. "I wouldn't know how to live. I am a woman, at least I am in my mind. I know deep down I have a man's body. However, I have lived a woman's life, and I cannot abandon that." Ukyou nodded. "I know. Konatsu, how would you feel if I started to dress up as a woman more often?" "Do you want to?" Ukyou blinked at the question. It was so simple... yet spoke volumes. She had been approaching this moment over the past year, as she tried to woo a certain pigtailed man's affections. Now, though... it was time for her to finish it. Strangely enough, she felt she couldn't abandon her masculine guise entirely. She had lived that life for too long, just as Konatsu had lived his life for too long. But, she could try to dress as a girl more often. It wouldn't hurt to find out what it was like... "Konatsu, could you run the store later tonight? I have some errands to run." The kunoichi smiled. "As you wish, Ukyou-sama. And... enjoy your shopping trip." Ukyou blinked at Konatsu, slightly startled, then smiled. "Thanks." *** Nodoka Saotome wiped off the dinner table with a wet cloth, humming a soft tune to herself. For her, housework was a way to escape, to get her mind off of the things that troubled her. She'd spent the last two hours cleaning the house to perfection, not because of any particular difficulty in it, but because she wanted to get away from what had happened. If the truth be known, she missed her son. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy the times with her daughter; the moments she'd spent with Ranma since her personality shift were among the most enjoyable she'd had in ages. For the first time, she experienced the joys of having a real daughter, one who had a girl's dreams and hopes, dreams she, as her mother, was allowed to share. But... the simple fact of the matter was, her son's absence left a void within her, one she wasn't sure how to deal with. She looked up at a small noise, and frowned. Akane was walking slowly out of the kitchen. Tears ran down her face, though the young woman didn't seem to care. Nodoka rose from her position, dropped the cloth, and grabbed Akane by the shoulders. "Akane? Are you okay?" Akane only shook her head. She bit her lip, desperately holding back the flood of tears. Nodoka sighed, and led her outside. She had been that age herself once, and knew the crystal heart shielded behind her pride. "It's Ranma, isn't it." It wasn't stated as a question. Akane nodded. "He... she... we were cooking... and she was going on... and she seemed so happy...and content..." "And it hurts you, because you miss him." "I... if I hadn't hit him... all my fault..." "There, there, Akane. It'll be okay..." Nodoka hugged the child close to her, gently stroking her hair and whispering soothing words of comfort. She waited for Akane's tears to subside, then broke off the embrace. "Akane... what do you think of my daughter?" "Huh?" Akane wiped the remainder of tears from her eyes. Nodoka sighed. It wasn't going to be easy to talk to her like this... but, for both their sakes, it had to be done. "Akane... whether you realize it or not, Ranma needs you now more than ever. She's almost like a newborn, sometimes... scared and lonely and frightened at this new world she's entering... and she needs someone she cares for to be with her." "But... what about you... or Kasumi..." Nodoka smiled, though her throat hurt from the tears. "Akane, Ranma - this Ranma - loves you. Love is one of the most powerful forces you can ever encounter. It can topple empires, end wars... and help a little girl grow up. That's why Ranma needs your help, Akane - she loves you like nobody else, and looks to you for guidance before going to me or to Kasumi." "A-Are you sure?" Akane looked up to her, unsure of Nodoka's words. Nodoka stroked her head, and gave her a more friendly hug - one given to equals. "Of course I'm sure, Akane-chan. Now go back inside. We don't want to worry her..." She let go of Akane, and watched as she walked back inside, wondering if she'd done the right thing... *** "Good night." Ono Tofu-sensei waved goodbye to the elderly patient and looked out at the setting sun, a soft smile painted on his face. It was times like this that he loved his job; it gave him a chance to interact with the community and help them with their problems, both physical and personal. He only wished someone could help him with his problems... There was no secret in the neighborhood as to where his heart lay. He adored Kasumi, and yearned for her with every fiber of his being. Whenever she came to visit him, he rejoiced in the warmth of her smile, basked in the unparalleled, almost divine beauty, and dreamed of children not yet born. If he did not love her so much... If he did not love her so much, he would know how to act around her. He tried to relax around her, to show her what kind of person he really was. Unfortunately, it would always backfire on him. He would, for nervousness' sake, make some small error, a tongue-tied word here or there, and things would go downhill from there. Efforts to cover up his incompetence would only result in more incompetence, until all that was left was to play the fool. The doctor let out a small, resigned sigh. Perhaps this was his curse, to be tantalizingly close to the woman he loved, yet infinitely far. Fate, it seemed, wanted him to grow old and die alone in a crowd, a pillar of the community, but never a human being within it. "Tofu-sensei..." He gulped. Kasumi - KASUMI - stood a few yards away, a goddess draped in gold. Her evening gown glittered in the sunset, the pinpricks dotting the silhouette of her form. Tofu leaned against the railing; right now, he needed all the support he could get. The railing itself started to splinter from his grip. "Ka-Kasumi-san! What brings... you... here?" The woman of his dreams chuckled softly. Was she mocking him? Even now, he could feel his heart begin to shatter... She approached, and gave him a warm smile. "Sensei, I was wondering if we could spend tonight together, starting with supper." He stopped. Kasumi... wanted to have supper... with him. He slapped himself, to make sure he wasn't dreaming. Unfortunately, he slapped himself a bit too hard, nearly flooring himself in the process. "Tofu-sensei." Kasumi approached the doctor, and straightened him up. "Calm down. There's no reason to get excited. Just take my hand, and everything will be all right." Tofu looked at the offered hand as though it were his salvation, and reached a shaking hand up to grab it. Kasumi solidified her grip, and led him away from the office. "Now, Tofu-sensei, follow me. I know this great restaurant on the other side of Nerima. It's a bit of a commute, but it shouldn't take us too long to get there." Tofu, too absorbed in his own dreams, simply nodded. "Uh... Kasumi-san?" "Yes, Tofu-sensei?" She looked at him expectantly. "Er... why did you invite me out to dinner?" There. He'd said it. If she really liked him... Kasumi giggled softly. "Why, Tofu-sensei, when was the last time you were on a date?" A... date? They were on a date? That could only mean one thing in Tofu-sensei's eyes. She liked him, he liked her, they liked each other. This was... this was... This was too much for the poor doctor. Tofu fainted dead away, much to the surprise of his date. *** "Ranma-chan? Are you okay?" Nodoka looked over at her daughter as they stepped off the bus, and frowned at the worry on the child's features. Normally Ranma liked shopping... why was she so apprehensive tonight? The redhead looked back at her mother, a comforting smile on her face. "Sorry, Mom. I was just wondering why you wanted me to wear these." She gestured down to her black high-heeled shoes. Nodoka smiled gently. "That's a surprise, Ranma. You'll see when we get inside." She looked up, and started in pleasant surprise. Ukyou, Ranma's other fiancee and close friend, waited at the door for them. The girl wasn't wearing one of her usual outfits; rather, she wore a simple pink t-shirt and jeans. She frowned, though, at the nervousness in the cook's eyes, a similar one to what Ranma had before. "Ucchan!" Ranma instantly brightened in her friend's presence. She ran up to the chef, and sweeped her up in an exuberant hug. "What are you doing here?" Ukyou gave her friend a knowing look, a glance that spoke of mischief and hope. She walked over to Nodoka, and bowed before the matriarch. "Mrs. Saotome... I was wondering if the two of you could help me pick out some clothes. It's been so long since I had to wear a dress that I wouldn't know how to pick one out." Ranma looked at the chef curiously. "Does this mean..." "Yep." She gripped the redhead's hand, holding it tightly. "Ranma... thanks. I would never have had the strength to do this if it weren't for you." Nodoka smiled. It was nice to see her daughter with friends; she seemed so... alive when it happened, as though she had two lives to live under her skin. "Of course we'd love to help. Come along." The three women strode into the shop with an unusual confidence. Ukyou gestured over to a more casual section of the store. "Ranma, I'll be over here, okay?" She pecked Ranma on the cheek playfully, and bounced over to the racks. Stunned beyond words, Ranma just stared at her friend. She never imagined this effect from her friend... "Ranma-chan." Her mother's voice called her back to the present. "Come along. Ukyou will be with us shortly." Nodoka led her to a more formal section of the store, and started looking through the suits there. Ranma just looked on in surprise. "Uh... Mom, are you looking for what I think you're looking for?" The question was asked with equal parts hope and fear. The mother smiled. Ranma was still a little nervous about her womanhood; not surprising, given her 'memories'. "Of course, dear." After a minute or two of searching, she selected a suit, and a blouse to match. "Here. Try this on, Ranma." Ranma grabbed the clothes, and went into the dressing room. When she was finally dressed in the suit, Ranma couldn't help but stiffen. There was an unfamiliar woman in the mirror, one who literally exuded confidence with her presence. The black suit she wore didn't hide her femininity, like too many suits she'd seen; rather, it accentuated her form, showing off her curves nicely without being inappropriate. She started imagining a life beyond Nerima, meeting with people on the outside on *her* terms, much as Nabiki did... She took a step back and turned from the mirror, contemplating what she had just seen. Did she want to go that far? The woman in the mirror had a feminine power, a type of confidence she'd rarely seen outside of Nabiki, let alone produced herself. However, accepting it would mean going deeper into her new identity. Had she gone too far to go back? Did she even want to go back? A rational, feminine voice within her head began to silence her fears, and guided her eyes back to the mirror. The woman was still there, staring back with fading apprehension. She straightened up, and fixed the placement of her skirt. Her old self be damned; this was *her* suit, one she would wear for the honor of her family. She walked out of the booth with an aristocratic air, and presented herself before her mother. "Ranma-chan..." Nodoka's eyes began to water, both with joy and with sadness. The suit was appropriate, as one of her children was gone, possibly never to return. But, at the same time, the daughter before her heralded an addition to the family, to replace the one lost. "Ranma-chan, you look just beautiful." The redhead blushed. At least now she had confirmation: in this form, with these clothes, she had an undeniable power her masculine form lacked. She contemplated telling her mother the truth, to let her know, but thought better of it. Best to let her enjoy the moment, rather than spoil it with words. "Hey, you two. What do you think?" The mother and daughter turned their heads. Ukyou stood before them, all traces of her lie removed. The white silk blouse and black mini-skirt were daring, almost flaunting in the face of her former guise. That, along with the various accessories, left a picture-perfect outfit capable of driving the men wild. Ranma just stared for a moment, masculine drives and feminine sensibilities in agreement for once. "Ukyou... my goodness. You look stunning." The chef walked over and pecked Ranma on the cheek, sending electricity down her spine. "Thanks, Ranchan. I'll be sure to wear it on our date this Saturday." Ranma just continued to stare, her mouth agape. She managed a small nod, then slowly walked back to the dressing room. *** Ranma walked slowly among the streetlamps, lost in the mists of her own thoughts - which was precisely where she wanted to be. Only forty-eight hours ago, a young man took his first steps into discovering the other side of himself, and found far more waiting there than he ever expected. To the woman who remembered, it seemed ages ago, a life slowly ebbing away from her... and perhaps for the best. The man had problems he couldn't deal with, and didn't know how to - until *she* came along. She stopped for a moment to take off her shoes. Heels could be *so* uncomfortable at times... unfortunately, she'd forgotten to change when she arrived home, as she wanted to get out. She continued her walk in stocking feet, letting the feel of concrete cool the ache in her toes. Who was she? What was she? That was what the experiment was for, to show her if she really was a man or a woman (or perhaps both!), and how to live with the results. The deeper she dived into the other side, the more she found herself fearing the answer, and anticipating it at the same time. If it was just her, alone, without anyone else to deal with, she had a feeling as to which she'd choose. She'd gained a new appreciation for her womanhood over the past two days, and giving that up entirely would be a difficult thing. To her, the girl's body just seemed more _useful_ than her natural form, and better-looking too. She'd been able to deal with others in a way he hadn't, and found the power she now wielded tempting. Also, for once she wasn't struggling with a faltering manhood, allowing a wounded part of her psyche to rest. Unfortunately, the peace came at a price, one not lost on the young lady. She saw a bit of Akane's reaction when 'she' had first arrived, and that feeling of loss hadn't gone away, she knew. She'd been forced to make an enemy out of a friend, and Shampoo would no doubt be back with some plan or another to threaten what she'd gained. Soun hadn't been seen much today; he seemed to ignore Ranma totally, preferring his fantasies over the reality in front of him. She didn't even want to think about what would happen to Ryouga when he found out, or how she would react in his presence. The others he could live with, but Akane... her heart *hurt* at the thought of disappointing her. She stopped, her battle senses on alert. There was a threat nearby, she could feel it. She dropped her shoes, and readied herself in a fighting stance. "Who's there?" A chuckle came from the darkness, a soft, madness-tainted laugh that sent chills down Ranma's spine. She turned to the right, then leapt quickly out of the way, to avoid a spray of hot water. She landed catlike out of harm's way, ready for anything - and everything. Her eyes narrowed to slits as her adversary stepped into the light. "Hello... Ranma," Kodachi hissed. ********************************************************************* Hello. I'm ready to write Clothes again. God help me. Perhaps no work I've ever written has had more off-keyboard problems than this one. The problems were mine in the beginning, Hitomi's later on... and mine in the end. I owe a lot of people thanks, and apologies to some people for my actions. Also, I'd like to welcome Katrina Lee Halbred to the group, who will be co-authoring this work beginning with part 7. Nicholas Leifker nwl9354@unix.tamu.edu http://people.tamu.edu:8000/~nwl9354 November 29, 1997