I started this about a week ago, then found "the Understudy" in 
my mailbox, with some very similar themes, though I hope a different take 
than mine.  I backed out quickly and finished the present story, and 
after posting this plan to go back and actually read "Understudy."  If 
they seem too much alike, I'm sorry, and promise to do better next time.

				QUESTIONABLE
				by Scott K. Jamison
(Note:  Ranma 1/2 and its associated characters created by Rumiko 
Takahashi, and no infringement is intended.)

	Ukyou whistled as she worked.  Lohegrin, a tune all of her 
customers were familiar with by now.  The regulars knew her habits well, 
and if anyone didn't like them, well, he didn't become a regular.  But 
most people considered a few eccentricities worth it to eat the best 
okonomiyaki in town, maybe in all of Japan.
	Ukyou herself insisted it was the best in the world, and no one 
argued with her on that.  While Ms. Kuonji's temper was nowhere near as 
violent as the notorious Akane Tendou's, she could still put a serious 
hurt on anyone who dared to suggest her cooking was sub-par.
	The noren curtain parted as a slim figure in baggy Chinese 
clothing entered.  Ukyou recognized the visitor immediately.
	"Ran-chan!"  Her hands fashioned a "Ranma Special" without her 
concious knowledge, by now a conditioned reflex.
	The other customers made room at the counter, for they knew that 
despite appearances, that was a man in the red and black clothes, a man 
who'd captured the fair chef's heart.
	"Hiya Ucchan."  He sounded very subdued today, and his posture 
was almost...timid.  Ukyou looked in Ranma's face, but his eyes did not 
meet hers.  Instead, he looked down at his okonomiyaki.
	"You okay, Ranma?  Would you like some hot water?  It'll make a 
man out of ya!" she joked.
	"Not today.  I...have my reasons for staying like this."
	The regulars began to file out.  Most left tips.  They could tell 
it was going to get personal.  The last one out flipped over the "Closed" 
sign.
	"Ukyou, I need to ask you some questions."
	"Sure.  Fire away!"
	"You remember how our fathers engaged us when we were little.  
Better than I do, right?"
	"Yes, you've always been a bit thick when it comes to girls."  
She smiled to soften the barb.
	"And even after all that's happened, everything I've done to you, 
that's been done...to me, you still want to marry me?"
	"More than anything else."  Ukyou put her hand on his cheek.  He 
didn't shy away, but neither did Ranma look at her.
	"Ukyou, you know I lead a violent life.  There's always the 
chance I'll be crippled for life, or even die."
	"You won't die, Ranma.  You're too tough for that.  And even if 
you were crippled, I'd still love you."  After all, she thought, I was 
willing to marry you when Happosai stole your strength, wasn't I?  But an 
image of herself spoon-feeding a wheelchair-bound Ranma as drool ran down 
his chin came to her unbidden.
	No, she thought, It'll never come to that!  Ranma can beat anyone!
	"And then there's my curse.  I've been stuck in this form 
before.  What if it's permanently next time?  Would you still marry me, 
knowing I could never be a real husband to you?  Unable to do what a man 
should for his wife?"
	Ukyou blinked.  She'd never really thought of that.  To her, 
Ranma's female form was just a neat thing her fiancee could do.  Hardly a 
curse at all.  Sure, Ranma complained about it all the time, but it never 
really slowed him down.  Her attraction was not just to the package, but 
to the man within the body.
	But she'd never been physically attracted to women, despite what 
some people thought from the way she dressed.  That was why she couldn't 
take Tsubasa.  His imitation of a girl was just *too* good.  It'd be a 
marriage without sex, at least comfortable sex.  And no children, she'd 
always wanted children.  Well, there could be children, but not theirs 
together...
	No!  She would not admit a flaw in her devotion!
	"Yes, Ranma, for better or worse, I would marry you."
	That seemed to make him even more depressed.  She'd seldom seen 
Ranma in a darker mood.
	"What's wrong, Ranma?  You can tell me.  I'm your friend, aren't I?"
	"You know--too well--that I have other...obligations.  It doesn't 
matter, really that I didn't want to have them.  No matter which fiancee 
I choose, it breaks an obligation, and several hearts.  But eventually I 
*will* have to choose.  What would you do if I had to choose another?"
	Anger flashed through Ukyou's mind.  "I'd ki--"  Kill who?  The 
other girl, Ranma, herself?  None of those would get her what she really 
wanted.  "I don't know what I'd do."
	"That's what I was afraid of."  Ranma sighed.  "Listen, Ucchan, 
you're an attractive woman with a good heart.  You could find another man 
to love you.  Lord knows other boys already do."
	"you mean Tsubasa?  He's hardly husband material."
	Ranma frowned.  "You might be surprised.  Anyway, I'm just asking 
you to keep your options open.  I've never meant to hurt you, and I don't 
want to break your heart."
	"I've got a strong heart, Ran-chan, and I won't give up until you 
choose me!
	Ranma smiled weakly.  I know.  I like you, Ukyou, but under the 
circumstances, I can't say 'I love you.'  You understand?"
	"Yes.  Yes, I think I do."
	"Then it's time for me to go."  He stood up, and Ukyou noticed 
his breasts didn't jiggle as much as usual.  Was he wearing a bra?  Maybe 
his mother had come by again.  That would explain a lot, and she always 
brought out Ranma's serious side.  He had barely touched his food.
	He was almost out the door when he stopped.  "Oh, and if Akane 
asks, we never had this conversation."
	"Gotcha.  Bye!"
	"Bye."
	Ukyou began whistling again as she cleaned the grill in 
preparation for the next batch of customers.  "I'm sitting in the station 
by the railroad tracks..."
	Several blocks away, the boy ducked into an old-fashioned phone 
booth with an "Out of Order" sign on the door.
	He removed his wig and let out a long breath.  That was by far 
the most difficult thing he had ever done.  It was one thing to look like 
a girl or dress up as inanimate objects.  It was quite another to 
impersonate a specific person, especially to someone who knew him well.
	Tsubasa pulled out the wads of padding that had imitated female 
Ranma's formidable breasts.  It had taken weeks of preparation and 
practice for just a few minutes' performance.  Getting the walk, the 
speech habits, the facial expressions just right.
	He doffed the Chinese outfit, and wriggled into a more 
comfortable dress.  It could all have gone wrong so easily.  If Ranma had 
returned early from his trip, if one of his enemies had been fooled by 
the diguise into attacking, Tsubasa would be in traction now.  He was 
glad he'd discarded the idea of having "Ranma" dump Ukyou; too easy for 
his rival to deny he'd done that.
	No, just asking a few leading questions was the best approach.  
Perhaps it had even worked.
	"Tomorrow, back to unsubtle!  Wouldn't want Ukyou to get 
suspicious after all."  He grinned, and began skipping, heedless of how 
people might react to a dancing phone booth.  Life was good.


			THE END

	A bit of C&C, where nobody expects it; I thought "Expansion Card" 
was very interesting, though there should be a double entendre or some 
such to lead Akane more naturally to the idea of a pregnancy.
	It is, to quote Dr. Pangloss, "the best of all possible worlds" 
as regards the Ranma/Ukyou relationship.  He no longer has to worry about 
marrying her, without breaking her heart or losing her friendship.  And 
having a sister who is more or less on his side could really help Ranma 
with his other fiancees.

SKJAM!
"All is for the best, in this best of all possible worlds."