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.

Publishing rights:

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

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 came
the gentle sounds of industry, the sounds cars and trains making their way
through the city.  His senses fully awakened, he chanced opening his eyes.
       He was home, in the clinic where he spent his days.  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.  "I'm sorry, Tofu-Sensei.  I... this was foolish of
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.

***

       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."  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?"
       "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.
       "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?"
       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.

***

       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. 
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 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.
       The laws that they embraced went on to ensure that.
       That is, until the coming of the modern age, and the arrival of the
Chinese militia known as the People's Army.  When they had arrived, the
nation of women warriors who had become known as the Amazons to the outside
world because of supposed similarities to ancient Greek legends, learned
that their ancient wisdom failed in the face of modern weaponry.  They had
faced a choice; surrender and join, or die facing overwhelming odds.  Among
the elders were those who wished to fight to the death, keeping their
honour above all.  Among the younger generation, there were those who
wished to use the Communists' own ways against them.  In the end came a
unique decision.
       The people outside of the province were trying to unite China and
eliminate many of the excesses of the previous rulers, or what they saw as
excesses.  True, many of the noble families had fallen into barbarous ways,
but that was to be expected.  It had been more than three centuries since a
cleaning wave had washed over the land.  However, the people that had
replaced the nobles were unsuited and unfit to command, much less rule.
       They had come to power by pure force of arms, and a strange new
system that did not make sense.  The idea they brought of sharing was
sensible, but to eliminate knowledge except to those who were deemed worthy
of it?  That would not work, and would ensure that China suffered. 
Knowledge, knowledge that would be needed, would be lost, much as it almost
was when the Followers of Christ had tried to eliminate their ways several
hundred years before.
       Their salvation had been in a new application of ancient ways.
       What they did was find those of the people in the province who
wished to keep their knowledge and work with them to ensure that this would
not get back to the leaders of this revolution.  Finding ways into the
various structures and strongholds used by this army, they used techniques
lost to the outside world to rewrite the minds of those who were there,
making them believe that they had put down any resistance, and that the
province was under their control.  The uniforms of the revolution were
spread, as was their book of ideals.  The clothing was worn, but the book
ignored.
       The various ancient kingdoms, under the leadership of the younger
members of the Amazon tribe, had ensured their survival in an increasingly
honourless and hostile world.
       But at what price?
       The confidence that they had defeated those who were attempting to
destroy their way of life gave way to over-confidence.  Those tribes and
kingdoms that had been spared became increasingly separate as the
generations continued, destroying the harmony that kept them out of sight
of Beijing.  In recent years, the youngest generation started to make
themselves known, and this would not be good.  They had taken the time in
the decades since the revolution to place some of their own people within
the power structure, and to move the PRC to ignore them, but the modern
world was again defeating their cunning.
       They needed new blood for the next generation.  Fighters, people who
could think, and those who defied adversity.
       The boy, Ranma, displayed all three.
       Even if the boy had turned out to be a girl in truth, the Elder
would have offered a place within the tribe to her, and hope to entice her
back to become a permanent part of the village.
       Now, her defeat by one who was not a warrior, and was a hindrance in
so many ways had stopped her efforts to insure the continuation of her
people and their way of life.  She now knew why the young people in the
area feared Tendo Nabiki, and feared her power.  Cologne now knew that the
person she should have been watching, the true ruler of this area of Japan,
was a person who fought, not with hands, but with speech.  There was
little, if anything, she could do to change what had happened as a result
of this mistake.
       She held the only way to cure Ranma, whom she considered to be her
heir, and she could not do so because of her past actions.
       Cologne had defeated herself, and in doing so had destroyed any
chance of happiness for her grand-daughter.  Her pursuit of Ranma in the
manner she had, with special spices, magical jewels, and pressure points,
had ensured a distrust that would last long beyond the time she would live. 
It was something that she could have lived with providing Ranma had
remained male in mind, and had been taken for the tribe.  Her own life was
willingly forfeit for the survival of her people.
       But her defeat had other implications as well.
       Tendo Nabiki had revealed their existence, revealed what was going
on in a region of China which had been long overlooked, and had revealed
the ways in which their people did things.  The People's Republic of China
was not stupid, and they were going to be looking for options to add power
for themselves, and a region with ancient knowledge that could be used
against the outside world in some way made them likely targets of the
slightest excuse.  The few words of Tendo Nabiki would take years, if not
decades, to reverse.
       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.

***

       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?
       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.  The
person who would treat her as human.
       Now it was her own prejudices that were getting in the way.
       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,
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.
       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 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?"
       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?"
       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."
       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.  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."
       "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..."

***

       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.  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 arms around
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.

***

 Nicholas Leifker 
 Ichinohei Hitomi
 Katrina Lee Halbred 
 March 7, 1998