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All original Ranma1/2 Characters and Backstory Copyright
Rumiko Takahashi, and are used without permission.

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Coutuva.




Goodbye Is Not Forever - Part One
-----------------------------------------------------------------



	Ranma groaned as a certain familiar and very
uncomfortable sensation woke her from her content slumber, and
crossed her legs in the hope of gaining a few more precious
minutes.  It proved to be a vain effort, as the urge only
intensified.
	With a long sigh, she rose to a sit and broke into a
yawn, then opened her eyes slowly.  After giving them a second
to focus, she located the door and got to her feet, wincing
against the unusually strong ache in her tummy.
	When she'd finished in the bathroom and started to wash
up, she happened to look at herself in the mirror, and grimaced
at the sight of her hair.  As she reached up and ran her fingers
through the unruly tangle, she tsked at herself for not
remembering to put in a ribbon.
	That was when it hit her.
	She'd been male when she went to bed.
	"Okay...  Something's weird here," she stated out loud,
a frown darkening her features.  Just to be sure, she thought
back over the events of the previous night, starting from the
last fight she and her Pop had.
        She recalled how the old man had managed a lucky one,
and sent her to the pond.  She also remembered having to wait
for Akane to finish before using the bath, which put her up long
past her normal bedtime.
	She'd gone up to the room, and found her Pop already
asleep.  She even remembered opening the window to try to cool
the room, and that she'd gone to bed without a shirt.
	Her eyes widened as she glanced down - and discovered
that she was wearing a tank top.
	"Kuso..." she breathed, then her frown returned with a
vengeance.  "It's either Nabiki and her pictures or those damned
Amazons messin' with my head," she spat, then glared into the
mirror.  "And I'm gonna find out which," she resolved, her
sapphire blues narrowing as she turned on the hot water.
	He was still preoccupied with the mystery as he stepped
back into his room, and almost missed seeing his father's attack.
As he dove to the side, his eyes widened as he noticed something
else.
	He was slow.  Not only slow, but absolutely lethargic - his
body felt like it was made of wet cement.
	A heartbeat later, he found himself airborne, having been
caught looking by a beginner level throw.  As she picked herself
up out of the pond, she was so shocked that her father caught
her looking again, and sent her sprawling across the yard.
	The impact on the grass snapped her out of it, however,
and as her father dove toward her, she pulled her legs up and
snapped them to try to get to her feet - and screamed.
	Intense, rupturing pain tore through her abdomen, taking
all of the energy out of her move.  She dropped hard to the
ground, ending up curled in a shuddering, sweating ball, arms
clamped over her stomach.
	"Ranma!  What happened?" her father bellowed, as he
touched down beside her.
	"Tore something - I think," she gasped, the pain making
it difficult for her to even breathe.
	Her father scowled.  "You're outta shape, boy.  Looks
like I haven't been working you hard enough."
	She shot him a look that said what she was too polite to
say out loud.




	"You were right, Ranma.  You did do some damage.  Your
lateral abdominal muscle has at least a three centimeter tear,
and your left oblique has one about half of that," Dr. Tofuu
confirmed, his face clinical.
	"But how doc?" he winced from the table, even the act
of speaking bringing more pain.  "I work out every day!"
	"I don't know, Ranma.  Perhaps you've been working a
little too hard, or not in the correct manner.  I can recommend
some strengthening kata for you, but it will have to wait until
you heal.  Working it now will only do more damage."
	He frowned.  "So what are you sayin', Doc?  I can't
practice now?"
	"I'd go so far as to say you should have those repaired.
They could cause hernias, or even get worse."
	"Yeah.  Thanks, Doc.  Is that it?  I gotta get to school."
	"No, that's it.  If you're not going to get those fixed,
then there's no dressing needed, and unless you want pain control, 
there's nothing more I can do."
	He shot the smirking Doctor a look.
	"I thought so.  Well, let's get you up and dressed, and
I'll speak to Akane."
	"Great."





        After the initial furore over the news had passed, the
rest of the day turned out to be fairly routine, except for the
fact that his usual tormentors had mercy on him.  Even Akane had
been civil, but made up for it by delighting in the chance to
'make sure he didn't aggravate his injury'.
        The unofficial truce, while boring, provided him with an
ideal opportunity for some none-too-subtle inquiries.
Unfortunately, they only served to deepen the mystery.
	Nabiki had been away all night at a friend's house, even
though he thought she'd spent it sealed in her room, and Shampoo
had been stuck at the Nekohanten.  Happosai, the only other
person with any interest in his girl side, was still away on his
'journey'.
	By the time he headed for the bath to get the one he'd
missed that morning, he was thoroughly confused.  He'd already
spoken to everyone in the house, and none of them had seen or
heard anything.
	He was still no further ahead when he finally decided to
get out of the bath and go find something to eat.
	As he carefully moved to the mirror to retie his
still-damp hair, he happened to catch a glimpse of himself from
the side.  What he saw made him look again.
	His hair, which normally hung arrow straight and exactly
the same length all around, had a slight but definite taper to it.
Stunned, he looked closer, and found that the pattern continued
up into the sides, and around to the edges of his bangs.
	And as he ran his fingers through it, he happened to
expose his ear - and the tiny hole in its lobe.  Horrified, he
checked the other one - and found another hole.
	His angry scream brought the entire family running.





	"So what do you think it's all about, Ranma?" Akane asked,
as she fanned his hair in her fingers.  He looked at her in time
to see her grimace again at the hole in his ear.
	"How the hell should I know?  I'm just sure none of this
was there when I went to bed last night - I woulda seen it!"
	"Maybe you're sleepwalking as a girl," Kasumi offered,
settling beside Akane.
	"Boy, you're breaking your father's heart!  It's no
wonder you're so..." Genma began, but was silenced by a
well-delivered chair.
	"Shut up, Pop!" he snarled, through his painful grimace.
	"I don't think so, neechan.  These holes aren't
fresh -- neither is this cut.  See?" Akane noted, indicating the
lock in her hand.  "But it's really nice and even.  Who's your
stylist, Ranma?"
	"Ha, ha, Akane.  If I knew, I'd kick his ass.  I can't
have my damned hair like this," he glowered, pulling some around
so he could see it.  "Guess I'll have to cut it off..."
	"Sure, Ranma.  Then you might as well cut off your ears,
too.  Once the hair's gone, those holes will stand out even
more," Nabiki smirked, as she looked on in what seemed her
usual 'How can I make money off this?' manner.
	"Kuso...  How long will it take to grow back?"
	"I'd say wait about a month, then get it trimmed.  It's
almost grown out now."
	He rolled his eyes.  "Great.  But I still don't get it.
If that stuff ain't new, then how'd it happen?"
	"I don't know, but I think we'd better watch your room
tonight, Ranma.  Someone might be pulling something on you..."
	He huffed.  "No kidding - and when I find out who, I'm
gonna make 'em regret it."





	Once he'd managed to get to sleep, the night passed
uneventfully.  Nobody reported anything unusual, and he'd even
woken up the same gender he'd gone to bed as.
	Unfortunately, all of the strange things he'd discovered
were still the same, but with a little help from Akane and
Kasumi, he soon found that they were not as bad as he'd first
thought.
	When tied back in its usual pigtail, his hair didn't
show the cut, and it kept his ears fairly well covered.  Akane
supplied some 'zit cover' for extra insurance, and Kasumi
suggested he wear some sort of bright top to distract people's
attention.
	After donning his yellow and black satin to replace his
usual red, he suggested a reconnaissance trip to see if anyone
had heard anything of any kind.  He also hoped that being seen
would help to flush out his tormentor.  Akane at first
disagreed, and tried to make him stay home, but once he told
her he'd go alone if he had to, she relented and joined him.
	Their first stop, after along, slow walk, was the
establishment of one Ukyou Kuonji.  As far as Ranma was
concerned, it couldn't have been a better choice.
	"Morning, Ranchan!" the cheery chef sang, a she slid
a fresh pie under his nose.  "You feeling any better today?"
	He nodded, his attention riveted on the food.
	Akane frowned.  "Ukyou, you heard anything about anyone
new looking for Ranma?"
	Ukyou blinked.  "You mean like a challenge?  No...  Why?"
	"Somebody's been doing stuff to me...  Weird stuff.
Take a look at my hair," he grumbled, turning so the chef could
reach it.
	"Huh?  What do you mean?" she asked, as she reached out
and touched his pigtail.
        "No...  The sides and bangs."
	"Here?" she asked, leaning closer.  "I don't see
anything different."
	He rolled his eyes then pulled out his tie.  "Take a
good look."
	"Okay, but...  Masaka!  It's layered!" she exclaimed,
running her fingers through it.
	"Yeah.  But I didn't do it.  It was like that when I
woke up yesterday."
	"Maaa...  You mean somebody cut your hair while you
were sleeping?" she gasped, lifting a large lock in her hands
and inspecting it.
	"That ain't the half of it..." he began, and by the time
he'd finished, Ukyou was standing behind his stool, still
'inspecting' his hair - and Akane was in the midst of a slow
burn.
	To her credit, she held her tongue - until Ukyou lifted
a handful to her face and smelled it, then leaned back to reveal
flushed cheeks.
	"Hey!  He said *look* at it, not inhale it!"
	"I wasn't!  I was just...  Checking for the smell of
chemicals," Ukyou flustered, as she dropped the hair and dashed
behind her grill.
	"I'm sure..." Akane growled, then shot him a daggered
glare.
	"I didn't do nothin'," he protested, at which she huffed
and looked away.
	"Well anyway, sugar, it sure sounds like someone's out
to get you, but I haven't heard a thing.  Not even a rumour - and
my customers are pretty much up on the latest," the chef redirected,
as she stepped over to her sink.
	"Hm.  Well, thanks, Uuchan...  If you do hear anything,
lemme know, okay?" he asked, then rose carefully from his stool.
"Gotta go check a few more places."
	Ukyou smiled.  "Sure, Ranchan...  Talk to you later!"
	As he stepped through the shop curtain behind Akane, he
knew by her demeanor that he was in deep.  Exactly two seconds
later, his guess was confirmed.
	"Did you enjoy that?" she asked hotly, her eyes flashing.
	"Akane..."
	"Forget it, Ranma!  If you want me to help you, then
you'd better stop flirting!"
	"I wasn't flirting!  She just - Oww!" he grimaced,
clutching at his gut.
	"Serves you right," she huffed, then turned and strode
away.
	Suddenly, he knew it was going to be a long day.





	After a fruitless visit to the Nekohanten and an equally
unproductive chance encounter with Ryouga, Ranma groaned
unashamedly as he settled to his mat at the low table.  He was
sore, starving and absolutely no further ahead in his search for
answers.
	As well, there was another issue that had begun to get
under his skin.  It came up as he had continued to mull over his
lot, trying to put some sense to it.  Since his curse, he'd had
people trap him as a girl, separate him from his girl side, and
nail him with weakness points.  He'd even been turned into a
'traditional' girl, even though that hadn't been done by an
enemy.
        But, never in any one of those situations had he ever
gotten his ears pierced, or actually cut his hair.  He'd never
been tempted to, nor had anyone ever done such things to him.
	He could only guess that whoever was messing with him
wanted his girl side for something, and that something required 
a change in 'her' appearance.
	The entire scenario creeped him out, but at the same
time, had given him an idea.  He reasoned that if he knew what
his unknown assailants wanted his girl side to look like, then
perhaps it might help explain their purpose.
	Abruptly, his thoughts were disturbed by Akane's voice.
"Ranma?  Something wrong?"
	He jumped, then looked over at her and sighed into a
frown.  "Akane - I need you to do me a favour."
	After supper, and joined by Kasumi, he and Akane were in
Kasumi's room, him seated on the floor with a bucket at his side.
In front of him were mirrors, arrays of brushes, combs and other
styling tools, as well as a selection of earrings.
	He drew a long breath, then moved the bucket toward him.
	"Here goes...  And remember - I don't want what you
think looks 'cute'.  I want what it looks like I was supposed to
have, okay?"
	"We'll try, Ranma," Kasumi promised, to a nod from Akane.
	"Okay..." he sighed, and shoved his hand into the bucket.
"Kuso, that's cold!" she gasped, as she yanked it back and clawed
for the towel in her lap.
	Then, with the removal of her hair tie, the project began.
	An hour later, after a concentrated effort that even
involved makeup, both Akane and Kasumi sat back, nodded at each
other and smiled.  Ranma looked up at them and sighed.
	"I hope this means you guys are done."
	"Almost.  All we need is for you to pick out some
earrings," Kasumi smiled, as she proffered a large selection.
	Ranma looked them over, and without hesitation, picked a
small set of emerald florets.  As Kasumi set down the tray, Ranma
automatically pulled off the backs and dropped all of the parts
into a prearranged alcohol bath.  
	Kasumi and Akane exchanged gaping looks.
	After a moment of stirring them around, she fished out
one floret and a back, raised it to her ear and popped it in,
hitting the post the first try.  And without breaking stride,
she repeated the procedure for the second.
	"Okay.  I guess I'm ready," she announced, with a 
tentative grin.
	"Uhm...  Excuse me, Ranma, but who taught you how to do
that?  I've seen women still have trouble ten years after they
were pierced," Kasumi asked, her face a picture of shock.
	Ranma blinked.  "Nobody - I know how these things work."
	"Have you ever put them in before - even for someone
else?"
	"No -- never even touched a pair before today.  Why?  I
get 'em in backwards or something?"
	"Not at all.  In fact, you put them in as if you've been
doing it for years.  And for another thing, I know that neither
Akane or I told you what that alcohol was for," she responded,
shaking her head slowly.  "But you knew."
	She felt her face drain.  "Yeah...  I did," she
confirmed, then looked at each of the others in turn.  "But
how?"
	"You...  You might have seen me doing it," Akane
supplied, trying to sound casual.
	"Hm - I guess..." she frowned, then shook her head.  She
had something else to worry about first.
	With a deep, fast sigh, she reached over and picked up a
mirror.  "Here goes," she stated, and held it up before her.
	As soon as she made eye contact, she shuddered.
        She'd *seen* that face before -- she knew it with every
part of her being.
	And she also knew that it wasn't just because it was her
reflection.
	"Uhm...  Ranma?"
        She didn't respond.  All she could do was stare at the
image in silence, her mind numb and her stomach tightening.
        "Ooohhh!  This is just too precious!" Nabiki's voice
abruptly broke in, followed by a series of clicks, flashes and
whirs.
        "Nabiii - kiii!" Akane growled, then leapt to her feet
and lunged toward her gleefully snapping sister.
        The commotion jolted Ranma out of her trance, at which
she dropped the mirror and started to yank out the earrings.
        "Get this crap offa me!"




===================================================================
END - Goodbye Is Not Forever - Part 1  A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva


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