A question being brought up in recent fanfics is to what extent Ranma's *id* would transform along with his physical body's more overt, but perhaps less significant, transformation. More specifically, would he be capable of changing his sexual preferences? And once changed, would he be able to *identify* with his new-found sexuality? Or would it be purely a matter of necessity? Of equal, perhaps greater importance, how would his family, and ergo society as a whole, deal with his transformation and sexual self-discovery? Would he be considered a "freak", or would he be admired for his maturity? Would he be a hero or a villain? With these questions in mind, I send this fanfic to the list. Hope you enjoy, and become enlightened.
"Nabiki...you know I'm sick. Are you just in here to bug me?"
"Yeah...pretty much," answered Nabiki. Ranma moaned. Nabiki smiled deliberately and walked over to Ranma's dresser. She dug through the contents casually, doing her best to act as if nobody else was in the room.
"So tell me, Ranma, why this?" She turned, and held up a swimsuit of his.
"Why what?" Ranma yelled as loud as he could. It came off as little more than a whisper. Nabiki smiled and continued speaking.
"I mean, I thought you were a guy. So why do you own a swimsuit like this?"
"Shut up..."
"Just answer me."
"Don't be stupid, Nabiki. When I go to the beach I get wet, and when I get wet I turn into a girl. I wouldn't wear the suit if it wasn't for that. And you can't expect me to stop going to the beach."
"That's not what I mean, Ranma. Why *this*?" Nabiki fingered a "u" on her chest to show that she meant that the swimsuit was low cut. Ranma blushed.
"I...I can't help it, Nabiki. I mean, as a girl, I'm...I'm stacked. They don't make suits that fit right."
"Don't give me that, Ranma. I buy suits too, you know."
"Well...I didn't know. I don't like to go shopping for girl's things. I don't care what I look like. I just get the first thing that fits."
"That's not true."
"What?!" responded Ranma. Nabiki subsequently turned around and looked through the shelf.
"I told you not to look through my stuff!"
"If you don't care about what you wear as a girl, why do you have five suits? This one says 'boy.' This one says 'brand new.' Why?"
"Because..." Ranma paused. "Because I don't like wearing clothes that a girl's worn. Even if it's me." Nabiki looked at Ranma.
"That's stupid."
"Ok...what do you think? I buy my swimsuits because I'm trying to get on some guy or something?!"
"Maybe."
"Nabiki!"
"Why else? Unless it's a bizarre ploy to make Akane jealous. Or some perverse love of the attention you get. And that's just as bad."
"Shut up, Nabiki."
Nabiki opened the next shelf.
"I told you not to go looking through my stuff, Nabiki!"
"Stop me."
"Goddammit..."
"So what's the story with this wig and dress?" asked Nabiki. Ranma sighed.
"You know. For when Ryouga tries to...to get funny with Akane."
"That hasn't happened in a while, has it?"
"No...I guess it hasn't. But that doesn't mean it couldn't happen again."
"Aren't there other ways?"
"Nabiki..." Ranma blushed. "You know I don't want to see Ryouga and Akane together, and..." Nabiki interrupted.
"That's *not* what I meant, Ranma. I know you're all goo-goo for my sister, but too immature to say anything. What I meant was, why not just beat Ryouga up? That's what you do in most situations. It seems...odd, that when there's multiple solutions to your problem, you would choose the one that involves dressing like a girl."
"Nabiki...you..." Ranma couldn't think of anything to say. Eventually Nabiki smiled and continued.
"So this is fun, Ranma. On to the next shelf!"
"Don't!"
"Too late," answered Nabiki, glibly.
"God damn..."
"Oh, what's this?" Nabiki took out the contents and looked at them; even she was momentarily startled when she saw what they were: Nightgowns. Female's underwear. She tried to keep her composure, even as she lifted a nightgown out of the drawer. It was purple and nearly transparent. What's more, it looked well-worn.
"And what's...what's this?"
"It's..."
"What?" asked Nabiki. She was fighting to keep her cool demeanor, and it showed.
"Well, I...I figured it might come in handy with my mom someday. You know how she is. 'Ranko, you have to start dressing like a lady!'"
"And...I guess you brought it to the logical extreme..." Nabiki looked more than a bit shocked.
"Just go away, Nabiki."
"And...ooh, well what have we here?" she said, eager to change subjects and go on to something new.
"What's what? No..." Ranma tried to get out of bed, but he could only move a few inches before his vertigo set in and he slumped back down to his bed.
"A false backing? Pretty sloppy, Ranma."
"Please..."
"I gotta see this." Actually, Nabiki didn't know if she wanted to or not. With reluctance, she pulled the false backing from the drawer, and looked through the contents.
"What's this?" asked Nabiki, "It's sticky!"
"Uhhh...you may not want to touch that..." said Ranma.
"And handcuffs? Why? You working with the police?" Nabiki was puzzled.
"Not exactly..." Nabiki put the handcuffs down and continued rifling through the drawers.
"A string of beads? Huh? Why do you use a false backing for this junk?"
Ranma didn't respond. Nabiki looked through the drawer some more, and eventually resumed talking.
"And medicine...what is it? Hmmm...what? Wait a minute." Nabiki looked at the pillbox, at Ranma, and then back at the pillbox. "Birth-control pills?"
"Yeah," answered Ranma, embarrassed.
**
The idea for this fanfic came to me in a dream. Yeah, yeah. Hope you liked it, I'd appreciate all comments.
Thanks for reading,
Muddy