The Iris Tales by Nicholas Leifker aka Nightelf (R)

[elke-tanzer.livejournal.com]

Fandom: RANMA 1/2
Pairing: Ranma Saotome/Akane Tendo, Ryoga Hibiki/Akane Tendo, Kasumi Tendo/Dr. Tofu, Shampoo/Mousse, Tatewaki Kuno/Ranma Saotome
Warning: mental illness, suicide attempt
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: Nightelf's Elysium
Why this must be read:

This series starts out very dark, but struggles its way towards the light by the end. (I know, I know, I need to rec some more non-dark-fics soon to keep this month balanced...)

Nightelf wrote Iris first, and then Angel, the prequel. I like reading the stories in the order they're listed on his Iris Tales page.

There are a lot of controversies around any story which locks Ranma into his female form, because gender definition is not a simple issue. Different authors approach these issues differently, and I really enjoy seeing the kaleidescope of possibilities and interpretations that exist in this fandom.

I think the Iris Tales are a believable depiction of the Ranma/Tatewaki pairing, and that's saying a lot. The pairing is a tricky one, and a rare one.

The Iris Tales