Chapter 20: Wings and Skylarks

Work on the restaurant was going surprisingly quickly. Ukyo had hit after just five days the point she expected to hit at about week two. Opening next week was a real possibility (which would be very good for her bank account). She was quite indebted to the Oozora family and very glad the payment the yakuza clan expected was just for her to go on a couple dates with Hibari.

As she made some measurements before the sun set the back door smashed open. Turning Ukyo was shocked to see a girl with blue/indigo hair up in twin buns rather than a gorilla or a bull considering the force involved. She raised a large club and pointed it at Ukyo.

"This is warning. Shampoo has been watching you. You stay away from both airen. Hibari and Ranma claimed. And no dare separate. They like boxed set. Belong together," the girl bellowed menacingly.

Ukyo was momentarily outraged beyond words by the property damage and cost of repairs, meaning that once she'd recovered enough to give a comeback Shampoo had stormed off.

"Well, she's as moody as Ranchan described. How on earth does Shui put up with her?"

Ranma had slept in and Seiji had felt it would be amusing to wake him up with a bucket of ice water. Unfortunately for Ranma the gorilla of a man had done so after it was too late for him to grab a shower. Which meant Ranma was having to head to school in girl mode.

"You really should let me do your makeup properly one of these days. I could get you looking really stylish," Hibari giggled.

Ranma rolled his eyes and kept marching. Having such little legs made the walk seem so much longer. Wakaba High School was at last coming into sight when suddenly a tree hopped into his path.

Ranma was left blinking in confusion when a cute face popped out of the tree. Apparently an adorable girl with brown hair and flat cut bangs was trapped in the tree? Or... Rama really didn't have any good hypotheses as the mysterious girl's face gave him a once over. He felt a bit strange as to how long her eyes lingered on his chest.

"So you're the fiancée? Hmph... I'm cuter," the girl said.

Hibari had a strange feeling of having seen her somewhere before, but couldn't place her.

"What is it now?" the small redhead asked, frustrated that his life had to be constantly chaotic.

"Just here to let you know I'm going to win Ukyo's heart from you," the brunette declared, pointing a branch menacingly towards Ranma.

Ranma felt rage bubbling up in his stomach, but didn't like the idea of hitting some cute girl so swallowed to anger the best he could.

"Feel free to try," Ranma replied coolly as he marched past towards the school. "But you're clearly deluded. I'm far cuter."

Hibari stifled a giggle. Especially as the strange tree girl hopped after them with a grumpy face.

"You are not. I'm cuter. You're not even close. Not even cute at all. Ugly I'd say."

Ranma's eye twitched and the redhead flung around aggressively. "You take that back!"

"Nope. You're ugly. Uuugly," the strange brunette in a tree declared. "I'd be happy to prove it with a friendly competition."

"You're on, missy!" Ranma declared confidently. "I've only ever met one person cuter than me, and it ain't you."

"I'll have it all set up at lunch. Just you wait."

Hibari was in hysterics as the two of them glared at one another. She couldn't believe Ranma was being competitive about a cuteness he usually denied having. It was too much.

Ranma huffed and marched off to class with Hibari following. They barely made it in before the bell rang, which prevented the option of talking with Ukyo to see who that strange brunette was. Hibari however was not above passing notes and tossed a scrunched up ball of paper at Ukyo's head while the chef was busy taking notes.

Ukyo's flinch of shock when an unknown something hit her face forced Hibari to cover her mouth and choke back laughter.

The chef took only a few moments to read over the note. Her face started out concerned. Then shifted to anger. Before settling on an amused grin. Her own note was tossed back to Hibari stealthily.

"Been chasing me since the last semester of first year at Meiyo's. Kurenai Tsubasa. Such a headache," it read.

Hibari nodded when suddenly the name and face slotted into place. She remembered Kurenai vaguely from her one month at the school. But that would mean... Hibari quickly tossed another note to Ukyo who calmly returned her own shortly there after.

"No. He's not a girl. Unlike you he doesn't want to be... I don't think?" the second note read.

Hibari had to scratch her head. Ranma was competitive about anything and had that curse, but why would Kurenai put so much effort into looking cute if not to be seen as a girl? Hibari couldn't wait until lunch to try and find out.

Heading out to the front yard a large crowd had already appeared as Tsubasa (who now wore a cute girl's sailor uniform rather than the tree disguise from before) was yelling something and standing beside a sign of some sort. Hibari, Ukyo, Shui, and Ranma all approached apprehensively (the latter still in girl form so that he could win this competition) and could finally read the sign.

"Vote for the cutie! A chance to win a date the girl you chose!" it read while being adorned with two crude drawings. One was a severely unflattering picture of Ranma, with stink lines and messy hair. The other was attempting to be flattering to Tsubasa, sparkles and hearts all around drawn a style clearly trying to copy that of Tetsuya Chiba.

"Hey wait a minute!" Ranma announced as the small redhead marched forward. "I never agreed to any date."

"Huh, so you're too chicken to enter the competition?" Tsubasa replied snarkily.

"What? Never! I ain't scared a nothin'," Ranma declared boldly.

Tsubasa smiled and handed him a ballot box on a strap to match Tsubasa's own. Both had a sign on them reading 'Vote for a chance to win a date with me'. Tsubasa gave a smug smirk before turning to the crowd.

"The competition begins now and ends at the end of the school day. Enter as many ballots as you like. Only the winner's votes will be counted for the dating competition! Start!"

The crowd of boys rushed forward in a stampede that looked ready to crush both members of the competition for a brief moment. It soon became obvious that the entire crowd had rushed towards Tsubasa however. Ranma was left standing with glazed over eyes while Tsubasa smirked.

"Off to a good start. I honestly figured you'd get at least one pity vote," Tsubasa then turned towards Ukyo, "I don't know what you see in her, but I'll prove I'm the one for you!"

Laughing he ran off to collect more votes.

Ranma meanwhile collapsed onto his knees while his eyes looked perfectly dead. He was muttering something under his breath.

"Yeesh Ranchan, you're allowed to lose at one thing in your life."

Hibari was about to add her own bit of snark when Ranma's eyes turned and fixated onto her.

"I... I'm ugly? I thought I was pretty...ain't I pretty? I thought..." he muttered.

Ranma's three fiancées blinked in shock at that.

"Y-you want to be pretty, tongzhi?" Shui asked.

The question seemed to shock Ranma out of his daze and he attempted a cocky smirk. "I figure if I gotta be a girl sometimes I should be a gorgeous one, right?"

Hibari found herself not feeling overly convinced, but decided to ignore the matter for now and focus on the present. "Well, you've got two options. Drop out and avoid the risk of having to date any guys here or... address the main issue you've got. All the school knows your love life is a mess. So they're afraid of voting for you."

"Mhm, they know Shampoo kill them if they try anything," Shui added with the slightest of growls.

"So... a disguise then?" Ranma asked, standing to his full diminutive height and still trying to stuff down the strange feelings from before.

Hibari nodded before a mischievous smirk appeared on her face. "Makeup would help too."

Ranma winced slightly before nodding. "Whatever it takes to win."

Ranma dolled up very nicely. Hibari had handled makeup and clothing while Shui had handled the hair and wig issue. As they worked Ukyo had explained how Tsubasa had been obsessed with her since middle school and how she'd sent a letter explaining her engagement along with a picture of female Ranma. She however did not explain about Tsubasa's probable gender after a few whispers with Hibari. Conveniently the explanation wrapped up about the same time the makeover finished.

Ranma was the tiniest bit self conscious about the black floral mini skirt, tight red t-shirt with its plunging neckline (Hibari insisted he flaunt his main advantage), black wig, necklaces, bracelets, and fingerless gloves. He was even more nervous about the party makeup. However one look in the mirror he was impressed. With the bright purple eyeshadow, big hair, and general outfit he looked like a rockstar. A very beautiful rockstar.

"Haha, the only way the boys ain't gonna vote for me is if they're faint from bliss," he declared with a smug grin.

Cheerfully he ran off to flirt his way to first place. As they watched the crowd of boys swarm around this new cutie (despite classes having started) Shui suddenly smacked 'himself' in the forehead.

"Forgot can vote!" Shui declared, running off to find paper to write down ballot entries.

The bell for the end of the day rang out, declaring Tsubasa and Ranma's competition over. When the two met back up by the sign Tsubasa had set up during lunch both of their ballot boxes were overflowing. A crowd of boys were also present, hoping to find out if they'd won a date or not.

"I think I've got more," Tsubasa huffed. "Even with you cheating and using all that makeup."

"It ain't cheatin'," Ranma hissed back. "An' I got way more votes."

Strolling up Ukyo gave them both a warm smile. "You know, with you two running around all the time I never actually had a chance to cast my vote."

Both dolled up boys turned to her, hope in their eyes. Ukyo pulled out a notebook, tore off a small paper, and wrote her name. Keeping eyes locked cooly on Tsubasa's hopeful stare she walked forward and dropped her vote in Ranma's ballot box.

Tears welled up instantly in Tsubasa's eyes. "I-I... if that's how you really feel, why didn't you just tell me!?"

Before Ukyo could respond the brown haired cutie ran off balling. Concerned Ranma nearly chased after when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Ranma, let me," Hibari said calmly. "I'm better with this sort of stuff."

Ranma nodded at let her chase after. After all, Tsubasa probably didn't want to see him after what had just happened.

Hibari would normally have struggled to track Tsubasa due to the head start, but the trail of ballots littering the streets made a very effective guide. Running through the streets following the literal paper trail Hibari eventually came to a small green space beside one of the many canalised rivers that crisscrossed Nerima. For a moment she thought she'd somehow made a wrong turn until she realised the vending machine she'd barely noticed was sitting on one of the swings.

Approaching slowly she sat on the swing beside and gave the vending machine a smile. (This felt so weird.)

"Tsubasa, I... well, firstly I want to make sure you're actually in there. It would be very embarrassing to find out I spent five minutes trying to console an actual vending machine."

There was a great deal of banging and clanging until Tsubasa's head emerged from the flap of the vending machine. Tsubasa's eyes were deeply reddened from crying. "Yes, it's me. Shouldn't you be off congratulating your friend Ranma?"

Hibari spent a few moments trying not to think about how contorted Tsubasa had to be before replying. "Shui and Ukyo can handle that. I was more concerned about you. And I think I need to tell you something about Ukyo."

"That she's a girl?" Tsubasa asked.

"You knew!?" Hibari shouted, falling off her swing in shock.

"Of course I knew. She was subtle, but in middle school I knew from the beginning someone as pure as her had to be a girl."

Hibari nodded as she climbed back onto her swing. "Well, if that's your taste, I'm sure you can find a girl out there for you. Ukyo might be taken, but you're plenty cute enough."

"Y-you really think so?" a hopeful Tsubasa asked, staring up at her with puffy reddened eyes.

"Definitely. You make an adorable girl and don't let anyone tell you otherwise," Hibari replied reassuringly.

Before she knew it she found herself being hugged tightly by Tsubasa (who had emerged from the vending machine disguise more quickly than seemed plausible). "Oh thank you! And yes! Yes I will. I had the biggest crush on you."

"Yes to what?" Hibari asked nervously.

"I'll make reservations! I shall see you tomorrow!" Tsubasa declared before running off happily.

Tsubasa stood nervously outside the Oozora compound with a cute, but modest, sundress and a large bouquet of dark red roses. He was reading the sign on the front gate over for a third time. Hibari's family were really Yakuza? What was he getting himself into?

"Oy! What're you doin' loittering?" A thug demanded as he slammed the door open.

"I'm h-here to see Hibari!" Tsubasa answered nervously. "T-to take her on a date!"

The thug blinked a few times before giving him a once over. "Somethin' weird must be going on, but come with me. The boss'll want to see you."

Tsubasa followed nervously and found himself led to a small mostly empty room to sit in. He began searching for places to hide, but was coming up short when two heavily built middle aged men walked in.

The one in front had curly hair, a mustache and wore a casual blue kimono and haori. The man behind was almost certainly bald (though hid it beneath a bandana), wearing glasses and a weathered gi. Both men sat across from Tsubasa and gave him suspicious eyes.

"You want to date Hibari?" the mustachioed man asked.

Tsubasa nodded nervously. "She's cute, kind, fashionable, and just... the perfect girl."

Both men exchanged nervous glances. The mustachioed man then spoke again. "And who are you?"

"Kurenai Tsubasa sir."

"Tsubasa? That is a cute name," Ibari said with a smile, "I am Hibari's father, Oozora Ibari. I see no reason to forbid this relationship, someone as pretty as you... really what more could I hope for? Hibari is feeding fish in the courtyard koi pond last I checked."

"Thank you!" Tsubasa replied, a bit confused by why he was being accepted but thrilled nonetheless.

He bounded down the hallway as soon as the men moved to let him pass and found Hibari stepping in from outside with a damp redheaded Ranma grumbling behind her.

"Hibari! I've come for our date!" Tsubasa announced.

"Date? What date?" the blonde asked nervously as she dodged a lunging hug by hurrying into the living room.

The commotion drew the attention of Tsugumi and Suzume who were hard at work in the kitchen (little Suzume taking more cooking lessons so she could impress her sweetheart) and Tsubame had already been present, watching TV. Ibari and Genma entered through a different door and chuckled at the sight of Hibari backing away from the lovestruck brunette.

"You said I was cute! And could get any girl I wanted! Were you lying?" Tsubasa asked. "Don't you want to date me?"

"I said you could find a girl, not get any girl. After all, most girls don't have interests like that," Hibari replied, tripping onto the table as she backed up a little too far.

"I know I can win you!" Tsubasa declared, leaping forward.

"No you don't!" Ranma yelled, the small redhead grabbing the back of Tsubasa's dress.

The sound of ripping cloth filled the air.

"Ranma! No!" Hibari shouted, however by that point the damage was done and Tsubasa's dress was falling away as he fell onto the chabudai beside Hibari.

Hibari scrambled to cover Tsubasa with the torn remains of the dress, but wasn't quite quick enough. As evidenced by Ibari having himself a heart attack and muttering something about white crocodiles in dresses. Tsugumi and Genma rushed to his aid while Suzume, Tsubame, and the red haired Ranma gathered around.

"Wait, so... Tsubasa's like you?" Ranma asked, looking at a slightly nervous Hibari.

"Just what we need, another one," Tsubame muttered.

"What do you mean I'm like her?" Tsubasa asked, standing up so the torn dress fell away. He gestured to his body (covered only by an undershirt and boxers). "Are you people blind? Look at my physique. I'm a guy. I just like cute fashion as a hobby."

"Your body doesn't mean anything?" Suzume replied. "Ranma's a boy even when he has a girl body and big sis Hibari is a girl even though she usually has a boy body?"

Tsubame's eye twitched and she glared at both Ranma and Hibari. "Good work you two! You've broken her!"

Hibari however was in a state of momentary bliss. One of her sisters had just willingly called her sis! Unprompted! Hibari skipped over and wrapped Suzume in a hug.

"You're not broken little sis. You're the only one in the family who gets it," she whispered into Suzume's ear.

"Wait... I don't follow any of what was just said," Tsubasa said, scratching his head.

"I'll show you," Hibari replied. She walked over to Ranma and produced the pocket sized electric kettle she'd bought a couple days earlier at a pawn shop. She flicked the switch so it quickly heated and then poured the warm water onto Ranma.

Ranma shifted back to his full normal size to Tsubasa's confusion and amazement.

"W-what are you people?" Tsubasa muttered.

"Please, you belong to the same category as those two crossdressers," Tsubame countered. "Bunch of perverts and weirdos."

"I'm not a pervert!" three voices declared. Only Tsubasa had more to say, Ranma and Hibari having given up on convincing Tsubame. "It's just a hobby."

"A perverted hobby," Tsubame replied before storming off.

"I... wait," Tsubasa said, turning to Hibari, "So... are you really a guy too?"

"Hmph. No, I'm a girl. Just like Suzume said. I was just born sort of wrong. I'm working on fixing that though."

"Fixing... how-er, why? You know what, no. I'm going to get a headache if I stay here any longer," Tsubasa sighed. "I'm going home. I don't know how Ukyo is dealing with all this."