It didn't matter what religion or belief one had in life, when
things started to go bad, you just looked for something, or someone to
blame, and if you couldn't find one, you made one up. 
	In the west, people said that such things were the work of the
devil, who was doing this to them because of the evil they had done in
their lives.  According to the technologists, who had a much different
view of life, it was due to two reasons.  That whatever will go wrong
will, at the worst possible time, and that it was the perversity of human
nature that caused these things to happen. 
	For easterners, they summed that and more up in the word Karma. 
	For one young woman coming back home from school, she thought of
none of these things, preferring to believe at that moment that her
destiny was for her to choose, and that anyone who interfered was in the
wrong. 
	Even with such a brisk but beautiful evening, her turmoil at the
events of the past two days was beginning to wear on her as various
thoughts about how a guest to her house had disrupted her life.  From
showing up and fooling her, not once, but twice to the events which
occurred on the rooftop earlier in the day.  As far as she was concerned,
most of the trouble was due to his...her showing up. 
	Nabiki sighed to herself, thinking back to when Tatewaki had told
her he was going to go after Ranma.  If it hadn't been obvious enough that
both Ranma, and her sister Akane were lesbians, especially since they so
_publically_ announced their engagement and displayed affection, then
nothing was going to get through to him.  She had only just admitted to
herself when she thought that he was going to ask her out that she liked
him a little bit.  She had been so angry at the thought of him being
interested in a lesbian sex-changer that she wanted to hit him off the
roof. 
	That had lasted a few seconds until Nabiki managed to calm herself
down.  She wasn't a fighter, nor had she ever been violent.  It was her
contention that brains were what really mattered anyways; brawn could
always be hired. 
	Still, she couldn't help thinking about it. 
	Nabiki grumbled, clearly angered by the turn of events.  *He
should have wanted to come to me!  Especially since Akane is now engaged. 
Unfortunately, Ranma had to interfere.*
	She was not very pleased with Ranma.  forty-eight hours hadn't
even passed yet and she was already causing Nabiki's carefully made world
to fall apart.  *Think of this as a business opportunity Nabiki, don't let
your emotions get involved.*
	"The damned idiot wants to get to know Ranma!" she muttered, too
tired to realize how affected she was.  Nabiki stopped just before
entering the yard to her home.  "Well, if he wants Ranma, who am I to stop
him.  In fact, I'm help him every way I can, and I'll charge him dearly
for it.  No one tries to humiliate me.  Not Tatewaki!  Not my sister!  and
ESPECIALLY not Ranma!" 
	So vowing, she entered the yard and went into the house. 

An Alternate History of Ranma 1/2:

Chapter Six:

Why is it that I can never go anywhere without...

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, Kuno Tatewaki, Kuno Kodachi, Tofu-Sensei, and Hinako Sensei are
copyright 1987, 1997 by Takahashi Rumiko. 

Morisato Keiko, Natsume Sayoko, Masumato Yukio, Yoshida Kyoko, Suzuki Ryu,
Tanaka Hiroshi, and Tomiyoshi Hikaru are copyright 1996 by Ichinohei
Hitomi

Publishing rights:

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

By Ichinohei Hitomi

	As Nabiki walked into the house, she tried to calm herself and put
on a normal face.  No matter what, she would not let anything show for
others to be able to peel back the layers to her soul.  She had to remain
the strong, aloof one who everyone else could depend upon.  It was only by
her making deals, arranging bets, and obtaining necessary information in
several areas that she could maintain the Dojo. 
	It was never an easy job, considering that the combined regular
students who were trained at the Dojo paid for only an eight of all
expenses.  The sponsored students only accounted for a total of another
third of the costs, and from early observations, costs would be
increasing, possibly by as much as 40% over current budget, which would
mean having to make more money to cover the immediate shortfall and hope
for some possible way of making a lot of money... 
	Perhaps taking pictures of Ranma?  That was a possibility, but she
couldn't take anything to risque, there was no telling how Ranma could
react to those.  The best thing to do would be to take some tasteful, but
slightly revealing pictures that would leave more up to the imagination
than to what is actually seen. 
	Snorting to herself, she looked over to where her father was with
'uncle' Saotome playing Shogi.  They were certainly enjoying themselves,
drinking a little, but at least they were sober.  Nabiki started to turn
away when what she saw broke through, *It can't be...*
	She looked again, an idea of what may be happening forming in her
head, probably explaining some of Ranma's actions earlier in the day. 
Uncle Saotome was playing Shogi, but as a panda.  Even with the hot water
available in the house, he had not chosen to stay as a human.  Was it
possible that their minds had been affected when they went into the pools
of Jusenkyo? 
	Nabiki smiled.  She would at least be able to make some money off
of Saotome Genma, if she arranged for him to attend parties as a 'trained'
panda.  Force him to get a paying job as well instead of staying in the
house all day, have him teach a few classes... 
	"Yes, that will do nicely," she murmured to herself, financial
concerns foremost in her mind, "And Ranma's female form would be good as
well, especially if I can arrange a few photographs and have her do some
modeling..." 
	Satisfied with what she was planning to do to keep both Saotome's
out of her hair, Nabiki smiled.  Besides, with what happened today she
also had another option to get Ranma to go alone with her plans.  Nabiki
could always just take the pictures without Ranma's knowledge and then say
she had to help pay for things. 

***

	Akane was looking at Ranma as the pig tailed girl rotated her
shoulders.  "Are you all right?" 
	Ranma looked over at Akane and yawned slightly, "I'm still tired
from last night, and I'm also a bit stiff from siting so long.  It's been
a while since I was last in school." 
	Akane nodded, "True, and at least Kuno won't be bothering me
anymore." 
	Ranma grinned, "True, and I enjoyed putting him in his place. 
It's been a while since I had someone besides father to take out my
frustrations on." 
	Akane shook her head, "You can't go around fighting everyone you
know.  At least not unless they give you a certain cause." 
	"True." 
	Akane got a slightly far away look in her eyes, "Do you think you
can teach me what you're doing?" 
	That caused Ranma to pause and look carefully over at Akane,
"Don't you know how to do this stuff?  I mean when you fought me in the
Dojo yesterday it seemed like you knew what you were doing." 
	Akane snorted, "I'm not that fast Ranma, and I also don't know
some of those moves that you used today." 
	Ranma frowned slightly, "OK, tell ya what.  You teach me what you
know and I'll teach ya what I know.  We'll take it from there and see what
we could do later on." 
	"On one condition." 
	"What is it?" 
	"When we spar and practice, we actually fight each other.  Not
this avoiding me all the time, like yesterday.  It was slightly
embarrassing as well as denying me a chance to grow as a warrior."  Akane
smiled, "Besides, how else can one truly train in the arts?" 
	Ranma brow beaded with sweat as she said, "I...ahh...I'm not
exactly ready to do that..." 
	Akane frowned, "Why not?" 
	Ranma sighed, realizing she would have to tell her the truth,
"I've only fought a girl once in my life, and that turned out to be a
disaster.  I don't want to discuss it, but lets just say that I tend to
get a little apprehensive about fighting any girl now." 
	Akane sighed, "OK, until you're up to it, how about we just show
each other the movements we use." 
	"Fine by me!  Besides, the day wasn't a total loss.  At least
nothing else strange happened to me at school."  Ranma smiled in relief. 
>From her point of view, the events that had transpired had been unusual
and somewhat disorienting.  It wasn't everyday that a boy received an
vaginal exam, or got apprenticed to a Ninja. 
	Of course, the circumstances surrounding Ranma and Akane were
somewhat unusual as well. 
	Akane, who's brown eyes twinkled in a bit of amusement, replied,
"No.  It wasn't all that bad, was it?  Tell you what.  I'll relax my
stipulations on our bet; you don't have to act extremely feminine, but
just as any other girl would." 
	Ranma turned and smirked to Akane, "OH!  Finally realized I'm a
boy have you?" 
	Akane grimaced, not liking the reminder of the night before when
she had caught sight of Ranma.  Not that he was bad looking, but she had
never actually seen a naked male before.  It was rather shocking to see
something like that.  "Right.  You're a boy all right."  She started
running, "One who could go into the girls change room and be envied for
the size of his breasts." 
	Ranma stopped, mouth hanging open in surprise,
"Why...You!....YOU!...COME BACK HERE!...AKANE NO BAKA!!" 
	Ranma started to chase Akane who was joyously laughing at having
gotten Ranma flustered yet again. 

***

	Kasumi looked carefully at the room she had just set up for Ranma,
trying to make sure that nothing was out of place.  She had completed her
shopping and bought some fairly neutral looking furniture; ones that she
would be able to convert with ease.  With a sigh, the young woman nodded
to herself, assured that everything was in place.  It would be somewhat
difficult to arrange some of the things that Kasumi had planned unless
Ranma was kept in a relatively calm state of mind. 
	Kasumi was already planning how to manouver Ranma into having to
wear clothing appropriate to her new sex.  A few days of not doing the
wash, especially since Ranma didn't have all that much, and the young girl
would be forced to 'borrow' some clothes from Akane.  After having her do
this a few times, Kasumi would then buy and slip some of the appropriate
clothing into Ranma's storage and drawers, saying that since she usually
saw Ranma, and not Akane wearing them, she had forgotten and put them in
with her things. 
	Of course, Kasumi had to work on getting some of that bottled
grief that Ranma held inside released.  She had recognized the night
before that the events of the past few weeks were traumatic to the young
girl.  Unfortunately, she had also had a chance to observe uncle Saotome. 
Given the raucous way he acted, his manners, or rather his lack of
manners, and the extremely over-masculine tone that he took towards
everything, that Ranma probably had more wrong with her than she would
know or admit.  She had a feeling it was all there, lying just below the
surface and waiting to explode.  It would take a bit of time and
observation, but getting Ranma to release her feelings would be very
important to her emotional well being. 
	Looking at the desk, she repositioned the ink blotter which had a
slightly, but not overt, feminine touch since it was a quilted design. 
She quickly laid out a set of books, a pen and pencil set, and a small day
calendar.  That should do it, at least for now. 
	"Finished," Kasumi said to herself, "And if Tofu-Sensei can order
some of those special books for me, I'll be on my way to ensuring that
things are handled properly." 
	Still, that was only one small problem down and a lot more to go,
specifically what was to be done with uncle Saotome.  The way he had
raised Ranma was outside the norm of even Asian society in this day and
age.  To have subjected a child to a ten year journey, virtually ignoring
his education, was a price much too dare to pay.  She was sure that Ranma
had a brilliant mind underneath it all, and if given the chance to study
and go to school, would probably be more than a martial artist. 
	She would have to persuade them that Martial arts was fine as a
life, but that the child's future meant a proper education, which would
also mean that she would have to start looking for a Juku.  The one she
had belonged to would not be appropriate as that had concentrated on
medical studies.  Still, there were others available, ranging from
business to research.  All that would be required is getting the proper
information and searching out the recommendations, especially what posts
former students now held.  Besides, it was time that Akane took some extra
studies as well, especially if she was to eventually go to a good
university. 
	Leaving the room, she went downstairs to examine the phone book

***

	Ranma had managed to catch up with Akane, and after a small tickle
fight between the two of them, they started to walk the rest of the way
back home.  Ranma had to admit, the tension that she hadn't even realized
was there had left her after Akane had poked some good natured fun at her. 
*Strange,* she thought to herself, *I used to be a man all the time, but
now.  Well, from what that Sensei said, I'm not exactly a man anymore.  I
guess I better get used to this form, since it might be the one I'll be
wearing most often.*
	Ranma suddenly smirked to herself.  In less than a day she had
gone from wanting to kill her father for what he had done, to having fun
with this girl next to him.  He looked over at her, seeing how the smile
lit up her face and the mischievous attitude that showed itself to her
friends.  She had wondered the day before at her attitude towards boys,
but after seeing how that idiot reacted, she couldn't blame her.  *Funny. 
Around her I don't really mind being a girl that much.  I wonder if it's
because she's the first one who accepted me as myself instead of what I
look like?*
	Akane turned to looked at her friend, noticing the contemplative
look on her face.  "What's wrong Ranma?" 
	"Uh?"  Ranma said startled out of her reverie, "What are you
talking about?" 
	Akane shrugged, her long black hair shifting smoothly, "Well, it's
just that you have a strange look on your face, almost as if something was
bothering you." 
	Laughing a bit nervously, not really wanting to acknowledge the
thoughts that were trying to make themselves known at the edge of her
consciousness, the red head replied, "It's just that I was wondering about
the future as well as my past.  This curse isn't really easy to live with,
but I guess I should at least try to get used to it.  I'm just wondering
how many different things I'm gonna have to get used to.  Besides talking
in a different form, eventually dressing in front of the girls, and
dealing with some...problems...that I never imagined myself ever having to
deal with, I really am scared of how this may change me?" 
	Akane frowned a bit, not having realized all of the possible
implications this could have for Ranma.  "You've never been on a date,
have you?" 
	The shorter girl blushed a deep red, "Um...Uh...Well..." 
	Akane sighed, "I'll take that as a no then.  How scared are you
about what is going on?" 
	Ranma stopped walking, "Let's go to a park or a coffee house or
something.  It isn't really something I can talk about at home, and I'm
not used to talking about my feelings.  It may take some time for me to
explain things." 
	Akane reached over and took a hold of Ranma's hand, leading her
forward, "That's OK.  Talk to me and I'll listen and try to help you out
any way I can.  We're already good friends, and you were right, friends
help out friends, any way they can."  She shook her head suddenly,
"Actually, I find you pretty brave, I don't know how I would have reacted
if I had fallen into a spring of the drowned boy." 
	Ranma stilled, slowed down, and then stopped in her tracks, head
down and her hand now placed against her forehead as she started to grow
pale.  "I really _really_ wish you had been with us when we went on that
damn expedition to China." 
	Akane looked puzzled for a second, and then figured it out, "You
mean the two of you never thought..." 
	Ranma finished, "That there might be a 'Spring of the Drowned
Boy'.  Do you know how absolutely _stupid_ that makes me feel?" 
	Akane started to giggle, although she was trying to control it. 
	Ranma raised his head, "It's not that funny ya know!" 
	Akane stifled her giggles, but still had a trace of amusement on
her face.  "Do you know how silly that sounds?" 
	Ranma blushed again, "Yeah, but I was mad at Pop at the time, and
wasn't really thinking to straight." 
	Akane started to pull Ranma along again.  "Ranma, watch your
forms.  Using that language will get you branded as a tomboy.  Besides,
you do realize that you're going to have to stay female for at least the
rest of the school year?" 
	There was a self depreciating laugh at the comment, "It doesn't
really matter does it Akane.  When's the next time you think I'm going to
be going there?  Certainly not in the near future, if I manage to get
enough money saved up.  Father and I never really had a lot, and it took
the last of our funds to get new clothes and get passage here." 
	Akane sighed, "Well, we can at least try to make things easier on
you.  Now, we were talking about dating, and the fact that you've never
had one." 
	Ranma got flustered all of a sudden, "Umm...Well...Have you ever
had a date?" 
	Akane grimaced, "With that idiot Kuno around?  Do you think a nice
boy would even come _near_ me now?  He's made my life miserable from the
start of high school with his stupid declaration, and now the only boys
who try to date me are those who think they have a chance at killing me." 
	Now it was the red head's turn to sigh.  "Well, it certainly isn't
because your ugly or uncute.  Those boys are stupid if they haven't
realized how cute and beautiful you are." 
	Akane's eyebrows raised at that.  She had thought of herself as
passably pretty, and though not spectacularly.  Her shape was not very
feminine, or at least not as feminine as some of her classmates or her
elder sisters.  To hear a statement like that from a girl who was actually
a lot cuter than her was a bit startling.  "You really think so Ranma?" 
	Ranma looked over at Akane.  "Er....Ah...heh heh eh eh...." 
	Akane smiled as she led the red head to the coffee house.  It was
obvious that it was a comment that Ranma hadn't even realize she made.  *I
guess you're a lot more innocent than I thought Ranma.  Still, coming from
you, that compliment is a lot more meaningful than it would have been
coming from anyone else.  And it means more since I now know that you
really meant what you said.*

***

Hitomi

Ichinohei Hitomi
Hitomi@terminal.autobahn.mb.ca
http://204.112.189.3/~hitomi
"The beginings of wisdom is the ability to always ask questions."