Clothes Make The...

Chapter Eleven:

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

*********************************************************************

"Akane."

His eyes riveted onto her as she walked into the room; even after all
he'd been through with Akari, she could still take his breath away.  The
slim, remarkable prince he'd seen last night again wore the clothes of a
common woman; the glitz had gone, but the beauty remained.  She reminded
him of a panther in the hunt; every muscle was relaxed and supernally
calm, but her hypnotic eyes showed her desire to pounce at a moment's
notice.  This was no girl in his presence, no child who would complain
about petty challenges in her life.  

This was a woman, proud and strong, able to hold herself up.  Ryouga
swallowed; somehow, he felt strangely inadequate in her presence.

"Hello, Ryouga."  Her voice could have shattered heavens with a
whisper.  "It's been a long time."

"I know," Ryouga replied, masking his thoughts.  "I've been spending the
past few months with Akari."

Her lips smiled gently, while her eyes frowned - not the reaction he'd
been expecting.  "That's... nice, Ryouga."  She sat down next to him at
the table with a fluid motion, as though she were the princess at the
ball.  "How are the two of you getting along?"

"Well," he stammered.  Words weren't coming easily to him, and what he
wanted to say took up most of his vocabulary.  "I... I sorta went out
for a walk to get her something - after all, if you walk far enough, you
eventually find what you're looking for - and... well..."

"She placed her hand on his, a touch that sent shivers up his spine. 
"What's wrong, Ryouga?  You seem nervous about something."

Ryouga ran his fingers through his hair.  "Well... what were you and
Ranma doing last night?  I mean, he was dressed up like some princess,
and you were wearing this tuxedo, and there were all these other women
there, and... and..."

"Ryouga?"  

Her voice had cut him off in an instant.  "Er... yes?"

Her patient smile returned; the mannerism reminded him of Kasumi.  "A
lot has happened since you were last here.  You see, about a week ago, I
sorta... well... I hit Ranma on the head, and now he thinks he's... he's
a girl."

Ryouga nodded slowly.  This much he'd heard at the club.  "So, this
Ranma..."

"Believes she's a girl with a curse to become a boy."  Her smile
vanished.  "She's so... I don't even know how to describe it.  She's
just like she always was; it's just that she wants to be a girl now."

Ryouga closed his eyes.  The clues were all there.  The deduction,
unfortunately, was patently unthinkable.  "So.  What do you think about
all this?"

For the first time, weakness showed on Akane's face.  "I... I love her."

He blinked.  "So you have no problem with him being a girl now?"

He regretted the words the moment he let them go.  Her face twisted as
though in agony.  "Ryouga... I don't know.  Yes, I love her, if that's
what you're asking; I don't think I've ever loved her more than now." 
She hugged her arms around her chest.  "But I still don't know if I can
get through this."

Ryouga shrugged, in an effort to appear calm.  "Well, it shouldn't be
too bad.  I mean, you two could still be husband and wife... sorta..."

"Ryouga."  Her words could have frozen helium.  "Ranma and I will never
be 'husband and wife'.  Ranma is a woman now; so am I.  Please don't
assume that we'll be able to have a normal relationship just because
Ranma can turn into a guy."

"Okay, okay..."  Ryouga warded Akane off.  "I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to
offend you."

The apology deflated Akane's fire - much to his relief.  "It's okay,
Ryouga.  It's just... I still don't know what to do about all this.  I
mean, a week ago I was engaged to some boy who changed into a girl.  Now
I'm engaged to a girl who changes into a boy.  What do I do?  How do I
act?  How do I even dress when I'm with her?"  She ran her fingers
through her hair.  "I don't know the rules anymore, Ryouga - and that
scares me."

Ryouga nodded.  "I... I know what you mean - sort of.  I was never
really close to anyone; now... I spend my days with Akari, helping her
out on the farm, talking with her, enjoying the countryside... Anyway,
she's so different.  I've been alone my whole life; she's never been
alone.  It... it's a real eye-opener, sometimes."

"Not as much as this, Ryouga."  She shook her head.  "I was always
afraid of getting close to Ranma.  I mean, if we did get close... maybe
our fathers would force us to get married, right?  And... I wasn't ready
for that yet.  Now... now that I've lost him, I have to hold on to
her."  Her voice turned strangely quiet.  "Except... holding on to her's
a lot more difficult."

Ryouga folded his hands together.  She was right; her problems made his
pale by comparison.  For a moment, he wondered what would happen if
Akari suddenly became a man.  Strange that he couldn't; somehow, she had
been etched too far in her mind, too much woman for him to think of her
as otherwise.  Despite this, the possibility remained - and what he
thought of that possibility hurt.  "So.  What happens now?"

Akane shrugged, a disguise of troubles within.  "I go on - with her, if
I can.  She's all I have left."

***

Well, she'd survived another day.

Her head felt like someone had taken a hammer to it; chorus of bells
echoed in her ears even now.  She wrapped herself up in a light blanket;
even though it was still warm, she felt a chill no one else could.  She
stared at the toes peeking out of her personal cocoon, and took pleasure
in wiggling them.

Sunset was coming, and she wanted to see it.  She wanted some constants
still in her life, some idea that she still hadn't gone too far.  Seeing
that symbol of eternity slowly disappear into the horizon remained as
one of the pure, unsullied pleasures in her life, a reminder that the
world would go on even with her as a woman.

She'd come to the crossroads.  Woman, or man, or both?  Or neither?  How
often had she asked that question during her hard year of not knowing,
of feeling things she'd never understood?  Too many nights had been
spent racking her brain, asking why she was this way, why she felt these
forbidden urges, why... why she couldn't be the man her father wanted
her to be.  She knew now; all she didn't know was which road to take.  

She was both - and, yet, neither.  She was a man, strong-willed,
independent, strong.  She was also a woman, spiritual, caring,
nurturing.  She'd had plenty of use in the former throughout her
upbringing; the latter had come only recently, once she'd allowed
herself to see.  She was yang and yin; the two were not separated by a
line, but blended together.  And... as daunting as the task seemed, she
had to live out both.

The only questions remaining were how... and who with.  The latter
defined much of the former.  

"Ranma?"  The voice came behind her, with a tone as clear as the chime
of crystal.  

"Akane."  Remarkable how such a name could stir so much emotion in her -
love, caring, worry, fear.  "I... I was wondering if we could... well,
talk."  She reached out and patted the space next to her.  

"Um... okay."  Akane sat down next to her.  After a moment's thought,
she let the blanket drop; she couldn't hide in a blanket when exposing
the rest of herself.  She waited for Akane to get comfortable, even
while Akane's eyes found the sunset.

"Nice sunset, isn't it?"  Akane's voice spoke of quiet reverence.

She nodded.  "I always loved the view from up here.  Things always
seemed so... hectic below the roof; up here, the problems seem to
vanish."

Akane smirked.  "Unless Kodachi shows up, of course."

The chuckle came from deep within, from that tired place that had fought
for so long.  "Yeah.  She does tend to... disrupt events with her
presence."  It died away quickly; a moment's laughter had to be
sacrificed, to preserve the rest.  "Akane, I... god, how do I do this...
Akane, there's a lot of things I have to say.  Some of them might make
you very angry.  Some of them, I hope, won't.  Just... please have some
patience with me, okay?  I really, REALLY don't want this conversation
to end with a mallet, all right?"

"Okay..." Akane's eyes were firmly on her, now; the sunset was simply
background.  "What has you so upset?"

Ranma took a deep breath.  "Akane... first, the bad news."

"Bad news?"  The look in her eyes said it all; she didn't like the idea
of 'bad news'.  "What bad news?"

"Well..."  Again, she struggled with words; she bought two seconds' time
by biting her lip.  "Akane, I didn't mean to hurt you.  I never, ever
wanted to do that.  It's just... there were some questions I needed to
find the answers to, and I think I know the answers now, but the answers
might hurt you even further, and I didn't... I didn't want to hurt
you."  She lowered her gaze.  "If you want to call off everything
between us, I understand."

Akane's eyes widened.  She understood everything Ranma had said;
however, it still took her a few seconds for her to catch up.  "Okay,
Ranma.  How... did you hurt me?"

Ranma stood up in front of Akane and spread her arms wide; her form
silhouetted against the departing sun.  "Akane... I am woman - at least,
partly."

Akane stared blankly at her for a moment.  "Um... I knew that, Ranma." 
Realization came slowly.  "Wait a sec... you mean... you... you know? 
You don't think you were..."

"Akane..."  The small plea in her voice silenced Akane's words.  "The
day before that happened, Kasumi caught me... well, dressing up.  She
sat me down... we talked for awhile... and we cooked up this idea where
everyone would think I was a girl, so that I could see what it'd be
like."  She folded her arms across her chest, protecting herself from
the chill.  "I never thought it would go so far..."

She could see a hundred questions on Akane's lips, all begging to be
asked.  In the end, only one choked out.

"Why, Ranma?  Why do you say you're a girl - or, at least, part girl?"

She thought about it for a moment.  "Why do you?"

Akane blinked for a moment, then shrugged.  "Well... because I am."

"But what if you fell in the Nannichuan?  You know Shampoo's got some
instant stuff still around; what if you found yourself drenched with
that?"

Akane's eyes fluttered with indecision.  "I... I'd still be a girl. 
Just because my body's changed doesn't mean the rest of me has."

Ranma gave her a serious stare.  "Are you sure?  I mean, imagine... all
of a sudden, those curves you're so proud of are gone.  Your body is
effectively a block; a lot stronger, but nowhere near as graceful.  All
those little things you associate with being feminine - the way you act,
the way you talk, the way you dress - all of it's gone; it's either
simply impossible or damn embarrassing."  She fixed the fiercest gaze
she could.  "Now, given all of that, can you honestly say that you'd
still be a girl?"

Akane was silent; she looked away, hugging her knees to her chest.  

"Now you know a little bit of what I've had to live with for the past
year.  Akane, I... I am part woman; not even a cure would change that. 
I... I find there's some parts of me that need me to be a girl
sometimes.  I can't help that any more than you can help your desire to
play Juliet, or your wanting me to see you as beautiful."  She bent
down, and placed her hand on Akane's chin.  "Which I do, by the way." 

Akane blinked once more.  "You... you do?"

She nodded.  "Akane, when I went on the date with Ukyou this morning, I
told her a few things.  One was what I just told you now; that I am, at
least in part, female.  The other was that... that I love you, Akane." 

Akane's jaw dropped to the floor.  She smiled weakly; this...
everything... rode on one moment - this moment.

"Akane, I know I'm probably not your idea of a dream husband.  I mean,
look at me; I'm wearing a bloody skirt, for crying out loud!"  She
lowered her head.  "I have to be a wife as well as a husband, Akane. 
Are you willing to accept me... as both?"

"Ranma."  The voice came from a ragged throat.  "I... you... you love
me?  Not Ukyou, not Shampoo... me?"

Ranma smiled, her face a foot from Akane's.  "Yes, Akane.  I love you. 
I want to marry you.  I want to be the father of your children - even if
you end up being the one to wear the pants in the family."

Akane snorted at the idea.  "Does this mean you want to wear the wedding
dress, too?"

She scratched her cheek.  "You know, I hadn't thought of that... I would
look pretty good in a wedding dress, wouldn't I?"

The idea sparked a fit of chuckles in Akane.  "Oh, that's all I need. 
My own groom making a better-looking bride than me."  Her voice turned
sober in an instant.  "Ranma...?"

She blinked; it felt strange, like riding a roller coaster.  "Yes?"

Akane bit her lip.  "Ranma... I don't know.  There's a lot I don't know;
I don't know what it's like to change, I don't know what it's like to be
a boy, I don't know why you feel like you do... I don't know any of
this.  But... but I want to try."  Akane wiped tears from her eyes; her
chest quivered with ragged breaths.  "I... Nabiki and I talked for a
long time earlier today, about... well, about you.  I had to come to a
decision... and I did, before you told me."  She offered a weak smile. 
"Ranma, I love you, but right now I'm so scared that I don't know what
to do with myself.  I'm afraid of the world, but I... I'm more afraid of
losing you."  She settled down, her shoulders relaxing.  "Ranma... I
don't know if this will work; I feel like I've been racking my head
around this problem for weeks, and gone nowhere.  I... I need to try,
but I... I don't know if it'll work."  Her head found Ranma's shoulder;
Ranma reached her arm around to hold her.  "I'm so scared..."

Ranma nodded slowly.  "So am I, Akane.  So am I."

***

Ranma's life had gone full circle.

She posed in front of the mirror, carefully eyeing her form.  The
stockings were on straight; their tops were safely covered by the
checkered skirt she wore.  She pulled an errant thread from the blouse;
she didn't want such things marring her appearance.  No flaws showed in
her makeup; her application had enough subtlety to accentuate her face
without standing out.  She squirmed slightly; the black lace formed a
second skin under her clothes, molding to her like a glove, a reminder
of the form she now chose.  

This was what she'd worn when she first crossed over; it only seemed
fitting to don them once more.  She twirled away from the mirror to
Akane's appraising stare.

"Ranma, what's so special about dressing up like that?"  Akane frowned,
and crossed her arms and legs together.  "I mean, what do you get out
of... out of being so..."

"Feminine?"  

Akane raised an eyebrow.  "That... that wasn't quite the word I was
thinking of, but it'll do."

Ranma swallowed.  "Well, Akane... I guess it allows me to express a part
of myself I couldn't otherwise.  I know how it feels when a girl looks
pretty and knows it; something changes inside, as though they become
some other person.  In a sense, I do too; I don't have to be some
insensitive guy when I'm like this."

Akane growled.  "Why not?  Girls *like* sensitive guys, ones who will
hold you when you watch a scary movie or dry your eyes whenever you feel
like crying... why can't you be like that?"

Ranma lowered her head.  "Akane... I dunno.  I think it has something to
do with my upbringing; I had to hide those parts of myself while I was
growing up."  She opened her arms expansively.  "When I'm like this... I
feel like I don't have to hold back like I did before.  That... that may
be why I finally got the courage to tell you how I feel; I... never
could when I was a guy."  She shrugged.  "Guys just don't get mushy like
that, you know?"

"You can't," Akane muttered quietly, then flinched, regretting the
words.  Ranma saw the momentary reaction, then closed her eyes.

"Akane... I wish I could.  Maybe, given time, I could.  But, as I am
today... I can't.  Pop weeded those feelings out of me."  She managed a
weak smile.  "So... do you still want to try a relationship?"

Akane stood up.  "I don't know.  Do you mind if I... try something?"

Ranma saw the look in Akane's eyes; instantly, alarms went off inside
her head.  "Um... try what?"

The touch of Akane's fingertips along her waist was her first
indication; Ranma felt herself drawn closer to Akane's gaze.  The gaze
itself changed like the weather; sunny, then stormy, then calm.  Another
hand touched her on the cheek; with stunned fascination, she knew what
Akane was about to do.

A subtle pressure on the top end of her breasts made itself known;
underneath those fabrics, there was no way she could ever truthfully
call Akane sexless again.  She swallowed as she saw Akane's lips go
closer; she instinctively tilted her head right to accept.  

The kiss itself started awkwardly, testing the water of Sappho's pools,
then intensified as both dived in.  Ranma couldn't believe how assertive
Akane was, as she felt so powerless in those strong arms.  For a moment,
as she found herself lost in embrace, she wondered if, perhaps, there
had been an accident at birth, that the woman taking her should have
been some man.

No, she realized.  Akane was all woman; she was so womanly that she
didn't mind acting manly when she needed to.  Akane had a strength she
never would - and she envied the woman for it.  She needed a Jusenkyo
curse to make herself whole; Akane was complete, and only needed one
form.  

She barely noticed the cessation of contact; the kiss had left her in
shock.  She looked up into Akane's eyes, trying to read with what
faculties she had.  "Akane?  Are you all right?"

Akane swallowed.  "I... I don't know.  I honestly don't know."

"Akane, it's me."  She moved forward, memories wishing for an encore
performance.  "Talk to me."

"Is it you?"  Akane's eyes showed hurt; Ranma's heart mirrored.  "I
mean... what happened to the boy who's been staying in my house for the
past year or two?"

Ranma sighed, and sat on the bed.  "He's still here, Akane.  He hasn't
gone away; he's a part of me."  She tugged on her blouse, to make a
point.  "But... so is this, Akane.  I am man and woman; I have to live
as both.  I can't deny that any more.  And... anyone who wants to be
with me must accept both."

"I... I know."  Akane wiped her eyes.  "I just don't know if I can do
all this."

Ranma nodded.  "That's why were taking this *slowly*."  She smiled. 
"Ne?"

Akane managed a weak response.  "Ne."  She pulled on Ranma's arms, and
moved her closer to the bed.  "Come on.  There's something I want to
do."

Ranma blinked.  This was not what she'd expected.  "What?"

Akane sat down, and patted the space next to her.  "Sit down.  I want to
meet this woman I'm supposed to marry."

Ranma's response was typical.  "Huh?"

"Ranma, I've gotten to know you as a guy for the past year.  This...
this girl you've become... I don't know her.  Now.  Will you let me at
least find out what she's like?"

Ranma looked at her for a moment, then shrugged.  Akane was about to get
weird again; of course, considering the circumstances, she was allowed
to.  "Okay..."  She sat down next to Akane, careful not to spread her
legs too far.

Akane's grin, quite simply, frightened her.  "Okay, Ranma-chan.  What
sort of clothes do you like?"

"Well..."  Ranma fought for words.  "I like clothes that make me look
sexy.  I mean, with a body like this, I might as well flaunt it,
right?"  She shrugged.  "I... I guess, if it came right down to it, the
best way to describe it is that I don't like pink."

"Don't like pink?"  Akane edged back in mock surprise.  "Why?"

"It's... feminine, but not in a way I like.  It's... I dunno... I've
never really felt comfortable in the color."  She poked at her hair. 
"Not to mention it doesn't look good with this color hair."

Akane nodded evenly.  "Okay... what colors do you like?"

Ranma smiled.  "Bold ones, I guess.  Red, royal blue, black... forest
green looks really good on me, for some reason.  No patterns, if I can
help it; those only distract."

"Hmmm."  Akane eyed her carefully.  "Do you have any boys that you
like?"

Ranma's response was immediate and emphatic: "No way!  I may be a girl,
but I don't like guys that way, okay?"  She shivered; that she could
even *imagine* herself with a... with a guy...

"Okay, okay!"  Akane's hands shot up in defense - a defense that quickly
turned to offense.  "Just... you do know that Nabiki has some photos of
Kunou and Ryouga if you want them..."

"No."  Some discussions were not to be had; as far as Ranma was
concerned, the topic was finished.  

"Okay."  Akane crossed her arms in a huff.  "You're no fun."

"I think I proved otherwise last night," Ranma retorted.  The blush that
appeared on Akane's features was all the confirmation she needed.  "Am I
wrong?"

"No..."  Her smile widened.  "So... Ms. Saotome.  What do you want to do
with your life?"

Ranma crossed her arms.  "Well... I'd kinda like to be a martial-arts
teacher.  I hope to go to college, get my degree in physical education,
then set up a nice little shop."  She smiled; this was the good part. 
"I was also hoping that maybe I could find some nice lady to join me in
the business."  She waved her hand dismissively.  "You know, someone
smart... and beautiful... and talented..."  Her head was moving closer
to Akane's; she hoped she wouldn't get cut off at the pass.

Fortunately for them both, she didn't.

***

Kasumi pulled her head back from the wall.  She paused for a moment to
smooth out her nightgown, noting its fashion almost with a twinge of
disappointment.  After a few seconds, she walked out of Nabiki's room
and to her own, and lay down on the bed.

They were together.  Ranma had told the truth, and Akane hadn't rejected
her for it.  She had dearly hoped it would be so; however, a part of her
feared it wouldn't, that Akane wouldn't be able to accept herself and
Ranma in that situation.  For once, Ranma had acted patiently; for once,
Akane had as well.  And... if what she'd heard was any indication, they
both were better for it.  With luck, the two would stay as close as they
were tonight.

She only wished, though, that it could be happily ever after.  She knew
her father; his heart was set on an heir.  While she had no doubts that
Ranma and Akane would try one of these days, she also knew that Father
didn't realize this.  Father, unfortunately, could not be told the
truth; neither could Uncle Saotome.  Such a revelation would be too
great a blow to the manhood of the house.  

But that was later.  Ranma and Akane were stable for the moment and, if
allowed to stay together, would become even more entwined.  After all,
given the revelations Ranma had poured out, what secrets were left to
hide?

Ranma and Akane were, as Nabiki would put it, a done deal.  Other
concerns would have to be taken care of, now - perhaps even some of her
own.  Nabiki was still in her wild days, unfortunately; she occasionally
dated boys from her class, but also knew she dabbled in other
relationships.  She didn't know where she belonged yet - and,
considering her age, Kasumi didn't blame her.

Her own self, on the other hand... she needed time.  The sparks were
there; she and Tofu were doing so well... but there were barriers
between them.  Secrets lurked under her skin, little petty angers and
frustrations she'd always locked away.  They'd been building for some
time - but did she have the courage to let them out?  They were silly
little trifles... but they infuriated her, nonetheless.  Tofu, up till
now, had only seen her bright side; one day, he would have to see the
ugliness behind her mask.

Pushing herself up, she rose and made her way to the closet.  The gold
lame dress hung there limply; strange, as it had seemed alive when she
wore it.  It had given a sort of power to her when she'd worn it; it had
made her someone else, someone bold enough to make her claim to Tofu. 
Even though she was terrified of the consequences now, she'd needed this
dress on that night.

Was that why Ranma dressed as a girl?  To become someone else - someone
capable of loving?  Whether he knew it or not, Genma had chained his
son, leaving him emotionally stunted.  Just as she couldn't express her
anger, he couldn't express his caring.  He was taught to be a man among
men; by contrast, she'd been cast as a woman among women.  And, for a
time, these pieces of fabric allowed them to go beyond what they'd been
carefully taught.

Clothes really did make the man - or, in some cases, the woman.

She flipped through her own wardrobe.  What sort of person was she? 
Long, motherly pastel skirts, soft blouses, dresses... all quiet, all
unassuming.  Not a solid bold color in the whole wardrobe.  That needed
to change - and so did she.  She needed an edge, if only to keep herself
sane.  Perhaps a black, flowing skirt to go with her white blouse, or
maybe something in bright red.  Not much, really, just a little
statement that she was more than just a harmless housewoman.  Maybe even
a pair of slacks, to keep her warm on those cold days...

***

The lights were turned out, calling an end to the day, and drenching the
room in semidarkness.  Shadows from a nearby light stretched along the
ceiling, etching lines she knew by heart.  A gentle snore echoed from
next to her; she could feel the comfort of Ranma's body heat, a bit like
holding P-chan in the night, only more so.

Was it only twenty-four hours ago that she kissed Ranma in the street? 
She felt old on this night; the day's events had aged her considerably. 
She'd gone from being straight to being a lesbian to being bi to
being... well... she wasn't sure what she was, now.  Moreover, she'd had
to say goodbye to her sister as she went on her fool's errand, and had
to endure one of the most heartwrenching evenings of her life as she
finally learned about the person she was engaged to.

And, much to her surprise, she stuck with it.  Ranma gave her a hundred
doors to leave out of, and she hadn't taken one.  How could she?  Being
with Ranma like this was tough; being without Ranma, on the other hand,
was tougher.  She knew that much from experience.  

She looked down, at the mop of red hair sitting underneath her chin. 
They really did make a cute couple; she knew that much from their
experiences last night.  And it was a good thing being with her, as they
understood each other in a way a man and woman never could.  Ranma had,
through either accident or design, become her shadow - her soulmate.  

The only problem was that their relationship would be anything but
traditional.  Akane would be something other than the traditional wife;
Ranma would be something other than the traditional husband.  If they'd
decided to go the salaryman-and-housewife route, they'd never make it. 
Fortunately, they had their own road to forge - and it began in this
place she'd known since her birth.  

The dreams were changing, now.  She could feel the subtle changes in her
daydreams, the little differences in her desires.  The strong man she
knew still featured in them often, acting as her
knight-in-shining-armor; at the same time, though, a petite redhead
joined her arm in arm, sharing secrets that could never be passed
between genders.  One a protector and comforter, the other a best friend
and confidante, yet both the same person.

Something Nabiki had said that day echoed in her mind: that she had to
love someone she could see as an equal. She'd never been able to see
Ranma as that when they were man and woman; it always seemed like he was
better than she was.  Now, though, she could see what lay behind those
masks Ranma wore  - and saw that, for once, they saw eye-to-eye.  She
was Ranma's equal, because Ranma saw her as an equal.  

And, though she didn't know if she'd ever be able to admit it to her,
Akane was glad for that.

She was Akane - Tendo Akane for the moment, though that could change. 
Her name wasn't 'lesbian' or 'bi' or anything like that.  The truth, as
it often was, proved more complex.  She loved Ranma - no matter what
body Ranma was wearing.

And, in the end, that would prove all the difference.  She just hoped
that she'd be the one wearing the wedding dress when that time came.

She tightened her grip on the redhead next to her, feeling the gentle
padding of her shapely body, and smiled quietly.  Oh, yes; this was a
comfort she could definitely get used to.

*********************************************************************

Katrina Lee Halbred
Hitomi Ichinohei
Nicholas Leifker
http://www.thekeep.org/~nightelf/fanfic
April 16, 2000