Chapter 36: Shadowy Affair

The mall was quiet as Tsugumi and Kasumi finished with their spice shopping. There were advantages to going at 10am on a Wednesday.

"I must say, it's nice to get out with someone my own age. Thank you," Kasumi said.

"It was nothing. When you told me how rarely you got out, I thought I'd help out," Tsugumi replied. "Besides, I benefit too. It's not selfless."

Kasumi's initial reply drifted away as something caught her eye. "Ooh, an end of season swimsuit sale. I do need a new one."

"I'm not opposed," Tsugumi replied with a shrug as she followed the (slightly) younger girl into the store area.

The pair picked through the selection, wondering if anything might catch their eye. Tsugumi raised an eyebrow when she noticed the swimsuits Kasumi was looking through.

"Bandeau bikinis? That's quite daring."

"They're good for tan lines," Kasumi replied. "Though, the attention it brings can be fun."

Tsugumi stared down at the revealing swimwear for a moment, debating taking that plunge… and then she saw a very bold option.

Picking up the spandex that caught her eye, Tsugumi gave a smirk. "If I'm going in, why not go all on?"

"Oh my. Those certainly are bold."

'Ran' sat quietly in the Tendo dojo, doing some cool down stretches after a bit of grappling practice with Akane and Hibari. The first week back to school had gone well enough, and the three had decided Saturday afternoons were a good time for training together now that school was running. Ran smiled, glad to get to learn more of the Tendo style, and to have a new training partner/student (in all fields but grappling, Ranma's skill advantage was enough to make it effectively a teacher/student situation). The time alone was appreciated as well, while she tried to work out how to broach the Ukyo issue with Hibari.

"H-hi there," Kousaku said, entering the dojo with a bow.

"Oh, hey," Ran replied, continuing to stretch. She wondered what Kousaku was up to, the last time she had hung out with him (as a he herself) Kousaku had had more than a few questions as Ranma's 'sister'.

"So, uh, I was wondering... are you free Tuesday evening?"

"I guess. Why?" Ran asked, grabbing a towel to pat some of her sweat off.

"There was a movie I was kind of wanting to watch, and I thought you might like to see it with me?" Kousaku offered nervously.

"Well I-" Ran froze, realising she was about to respond to this as Ranma, not as 'Ran'. It was a bit confusing to keep the two versions of oneself separate sometimes. "Wouldn't ya prefer ta hang out with my brother?"

"No. No... it's not that sort of thing. It's, um, it's a romantic comedy," Kousaku replied, a bit nervous to meet Ran's eyes.

The short redhead burst into laughter and lightly punched Kousaku's arm. "Ahah! So you're embarrassed about liking rom coms? Don't worry, I-er, Ranma would never judge ya for that."

"I meant... I meant going to it as a date," Kousaku blurted. He'd hoped to be casual about this, but it seemed Ran just wasn't good at the subtle clues.

The girl paled a moment, panic setting in. A cover story was needed. Something ironclad. What could work?

"I'm gay and I have a boyfriend!" Ran blurted.

"Um, pardon?" Kousaku asked, trying to mesh the two parts of the statement together and failing rather thoroughly.

Ran opened her mouth to reply, realised what she'd said, and promptly buried her face in her hands out of sheer embarrassment. She decided to take a bit longer to come up with this explanation. "I... um... the first one is my old default for when a guy asked me and I didn't dislike him, but wasn't interested in dating. So, I guess it just became reflex. The second part is true."

Ran smiled nervously. For a moment there was panic as she wondered how she'd provide a boyfriend if pressed, but then she realised that two of her fiancées made perfectly good boyfriends. Ryoga might be an option too, in a pinch.

"Oh, okay," Kousaku replied softly. "He's a lucky guy."

Ran blinked. "You're acceptin' it, just like that?"

"Yeah? I'd kind of be a jerk to not accept your word."

Ran let out a laugh of relief. "You're a good dude, Kousaku. Although, if I'm being honest, I thought you liked Akane?"

"I... she is really pretty, and has a smile that can light up a room but kind of scares me. Her and Nabiki both, though in different ways. One's a hot anger, the other's a cold anger. You on the other hand, you don't scare me, it's almost as easy to hang out with you as it is with the guys... except for the whole bit where you're a really cute girl."

"Mhm, I'm super hot, I know," Ran replied with a smile. "I'd tell ya what I look like in a swimsuit, but I think that would count as torture since ya can't have me."

"I mean... I wouldn't stop you," Kousaku said, trying not to drool.

Ran gave the boy a wink. "Another time perhaps."

A short distance away, Hibari had decided to give Nabiki an offer, after running her thoughts past Sabu the day before. Knocking on the older girl's door, it only took a moment for Nabiki to answer.

"Hello Hibari. What are you after?"

"It's more 'what are you after', and whether or not the answer is an interview at my place tomorrow," Hibari replied with a grin and her best 'American game show host' tone.

"Oh?" Nabiki replied, somewhat emotionlessly.

"I've heard about your little gambling business. Apparently you manage to make a pretty yen. And then the blackmail... Your kindly older sister apparently worries about you doing these things all alone," Hibari explained.

"Are you trying to get me to start paying protection fees?" Nabiki asked, glaring at the younger girl.

"Nah," Hibari replied, waving the question away. "I'm offering you a working relationship with certain benefits. If you can past muster tomorrow."

Nabiki had to admit to being torn. On one hand, Hibari was being seriously smug and possibly implying threats, making her want to be uncooperative; on another, Nabiki didn't like the idea of her skills in this field being questioned and dismissed like that and wanted to prove herself; yet, on a third hand (since these were hypothetical hands and Nabiki could have as many as she wanted), there was the added issue of Hibari representing actual yakuza, an opportunity that both enticed and worried the ice queen.

"I'll sleep on it," Nabiki lied. She couldn't let this pass by without at least trying.

"Cool. 11am, tomorrow morning. Bring some of your binders to show us how thorough your work is. Oh, and if you're more than 10 minutes late it's cancelled," Hibari replied with a smile and a wave, before hurrying off down the stairs and calling something out to Akane.

"I hope this isn't a mistake," Nabiki muttered to herself once she was sure Hibari was out of hearing range.

Struggling against the butterflies in her stomach (that, based off their force, surely knew martial arts), Ranma slid the door open between her room and Hibari's. The taller redhead was relaxing on her bed, reading one of the novels assigned for the semester (and looking like she was at least half through it already).

The sound of Ranma entering caused Hibari to look up from her book and watch as the shorter girl walked across the room and sat at the desk. Hibari sat up and grabbed her bookmark to set the reading aside while waiting for Ranma to start.

Hibari's relaxed gaze caused Ranma to swallow nervously. Why was it so easy to charge into a fight against Ryoga or Mousse without a moment's hesitation, but the idea of trying to deal with issues of emotions and romance were so hard? Ranma could only guess it had to come down to Genma telling Ranma to ignore those things so many times in childhood, leaving her with minimal experience... but, she was getting off topic.

"Hibari," Ranma began, hoping things would get easier as she got the ball rolling, "When... well, ya know when we went on that date with Shui, before we knew she was Shampoo? An' things were going well fer a bit?"

"Yes?"

"I... bein' on that with both of ya, er-Well, I guess it's kinda like how movin' in here with you and yer sisters opened my eyes ta the idea that there could be more than one person ya cared about as family, and how your life seemed so much richer and warmer for it. Being on that date with the two of ya, it felt like...like having more than one person to care about romantically was just as nice. I d-don't think it means I love anybody any less than the normal with one person? At least, I hope it doesn't mean that. Just, let's ya share makin' somebody happy... Anyway... I was wondering if we could, y'know, try that sorta thing again?" Ranma explained, trying not to fidget too much as she worried how this was going to be interpreted. As she waited for Hibari's reply, she couldn't help smiling nervously, bracing for this all to blow up in her face.

"So, you're saying you want to try another date with Shampoo?" Hibari asked, not quite sure where Ranma was going with this.

"I dunno. Maybe it's her. Maybe it's Ucchan. I... if I'm bein' totally honest, maybe it's Ryoga. I'd say maybe all of 'em, but I'm pretty sure that would be a disaster waitin' ta happen," Ranma replied, her large eyes filled with what could best be described as innocent guilt. "I dunno?"

Hibari wanted to protest. To ask why she wasn't enough for Ranma. It wasn't how things were suppose to go, but... a girl who was born physically male and a partner who flickered between both boy and girl in spirit and body wasn't how it was 'supposed' to go either. Plus, if she was being totally honest, she'd felt a bit of what Ranma described when around Shampoo too. While she didn't feel the need to explore that way, only a mild curiosity, it was enough to know there was honesty in Ranma's questions.

There was just one 'little' issue. This reason she'd been refusing to dwell on the option at all.

"I'm sorry Ranma, but... I can't," Hibari began, realising she needed to explain herself better as she saw the pained look on Ranma's face. "It's not about if I want to or not. It's about my dad. In his eyes, Shampoo and Ukyo are both 'proper' enough girls and therefore both preferred marriage options for me than you. If I start showing any romantic interest in them... he'll find a way to kick you out and get me married to one of them by the week's end at least."

"That's nonsense. I'm at least as much of a girl as Ucchan, and Shampoo's got her curse," Ranma replied, crossing her arms and pouting.

"I know that, but to my dad they've both got the major advantage of being girls from birth," Hibari replied. "He barely counts you as an option, mostly seeing you as the emergency last resort if he can't get me to stop being 'gay'."

"Has he seen Shui? Shampoo makes nearly as hot a guy as I do."

"It's not important to how he sees things, though he'd still prefer I found a more 'normal' girl than Shampoo or Ukyo if possible, I'm sure."

Ranma subconsciously picked a pen up from Hibari's desk, and began fussing with the lid while trying to think. She didn't like the idea of losing before she even tried. Especially after managing to talk Ukyo into this. Giving Ukyo instant Nannichuan probably wouldn't even be enough. Disguises... that was a risky move. Maybe if they went far enough... no, the Oozora group were pretty decent at pursuit and observation.

"If you figure out a work around besides 'try being sneaky', then I'm all ears," Hibari said, as she watched Ranma slipping through what had to be dozens of flawed ideas (going by the shorter girl's face).

"Uh... well, there's still Ryoga?" Ranma offered, honestly not sure how she felt about that. There was a lot of baggage there.

Hibari gave a mischievous smile. "That's true. He's certainly cute. I'll see if I can talk him into it. If we can find him."

Ranma smiled back, before excusing herself to go take a bath. After the short walk to the furo, she pulled off her clothing, and stepped into the wooden trimmed bathing area. Sitting down in front of the mirror, she made no effort to avert her eyes (as she had done when the curse was new and it felt she was seeing something she shouldn't). Instead, she watched her reflection's face as she dumped a bucket of hot water on himself, and saw how that guilty look in his eyes lingered.

This guilt wasn't the same worry about his desires for a more complicated relationship, but rather the fact a solution had occurred to him that seemed perfectly effective.

Marriage.

If he pushed to marry Hibari now then they'd not have to worry.

And yet, the thought had scared him, when there was no reason for it to.

"I know she deserves better," Ranma sighed, slipping into the warm tub. "That's got to be it. I don't even know if I'd end up being a husband or a wife or both. Hibari's fought so long, knowing what she is... before I can marry her, I have to figure out my own mess."

Ranma refused to let himself dig any deeper. He didn't want to admit there was more fear and confusion that just that. There was a side of him that wanted to settle down, and had enough of the open road, but another side that couldn't bear the thought of it... two halves quite independent of the usual split of male and female that dominated Ranma's emotions.

Nabiki stood in front of the Oozora complex at 10:55am and took a deep breath. It wasn't Kuno Estate large, but the perimeter wall of the lot still surrounded what was a rather substantial city block. Probably 2-3 times the size of the Tendo's quite large lot. That wasn't the daunting part though. It was the knowledge that ringing that doorbell meant stepping up to a new level of criminality.

Did she want to walk the extreme path, or was it more curiosity that had led her to investigate that option up until now? The way society romanticised Yakuza life?

"Oi! Whatcha doin' loitterin' out here?" a man with a prominent scar running down the left side of his face yelled as he stuck his head out from between the doors.

"I have an appointment with Oozora Hibari," Nabiki replied as coldly as she could, due to her irritation with the man rushing her.

"Oh, yer the 11 o'clock. Sure, c'mon in," the thug replied, opening the door for her.

Nabiki walked in, and was surprised by how homey the area around the front gate felt. As the thug led her into the genkan, she was impressed by the rather massive cross-section of a tree with 極道 carved into it. It was a reminder that this was a yakuza household, and yet, Nabiki found herself liking the idea of having a smaller version for her own home, only modified to read 天道 instead.

"This way," the man said, leading Nabiki down a dimly lit hallway.

Somewhere in the household she heard a scream, and couldn't help swallowing with a bit of... concern. It wasn't fear, she didn't feel fear.

After a short walk, the man slid open a door to reveal Hibari with two thugs dressed in crisp suits and dark sunglasses to either side of her. The one Nabiki recognised as the Oozora's driver from the other night, not that it made him seem less threatening. He had a sharp air about him, and was currently sitting with a katana in a position that Nabiki knew (from her dealings with Tatewaki's eccentricities) was a pose ready to draw the sword in a moment. The other man seemed unarmed, but was large enough a weapon was almost certainly superfluous. And Hibari... well, she kept her usual casual body language, but had modified it just slightly to have a presence befitting a yakuza boss. Her dress too was appropriate: a loose black yukata with red and white birds (probably larks), a sarashi wrap, a black blazer draped over her shoulders, and dark aviator sunglasses to complete the look.

"You're on time," Hibari replied. "That's good to see."

Nabiki sat down across from the younger girl, feeling a little uncertain. This had to all be an act, right? But... she had heard that Hibari was supposed to be the inheritor of the Oozora clan leadership. Maybe the usual friendly behaviour from the blonde (or, currently, redhead) was the act? Afterall, why would the third daughter be chosen as an heiress otherwise?

"Did you bring the documents?" the Saby asked, his tone as cold as any Nabiki herself could manage.

"They're in my bag. Do I pull them out, or pass you the bag? Don't want you boys getting jumpy," Nabiki replied, keeping her exterior calm. Inside, well, she was still massively more calm than basically any 17 year old would be in this situation, but her sense of unease was enough to lead to some silent self chastising.

"You can pull them out yourself, I'm open to showing a little trust here," Hibari replied with a shrug and a smile both filled with smugness.

Nabiki nodded and drew out two binders. Once covered her gambling records from the last semester of first year, another her b-list of blackmail files. Both were clearly marked, ensuring that the examiners knew this wasn't her best material, that was to be saved for after an agreement was made.

Hibari nodded to Sabu, and the sharp enforcer reached forward and leafed through both binders for a few minutes.

"Seems well organised. Thorough enough," the man finally said. "Definite potential as a bookkeeper long term."

Hibari nodded. "So, as I said before, this isn't about protection fees. However, there are going to be some membership fees if you want to join the Oozora group."

"Now wait one moment. You've seen what I can bring to the table, but what are you offering?" Nabiki shot back coldly. She didn't like being treated like this was a job interview where the Oozoras held all the power. While she knew they offered muscle, which would be useful in some of her dealings, she wanted to see more before signing up for anything.

"Well, protection is a part of it. As is support for surveillance efforts. We have our own photographic dark room, and can cover film expenses, with a certain quarterly budget allocated towards cameras and listening equipment. We can cover gas and provide vehicles. There's some other benefits as well," Hibari explained.

"That sounds reasonable. I'd like to see the contract first, to know exact monetary rates of course."

Hibari smiled as the giant thug produced three copies of a contract. Nabiki picked up one and began to read.

"10% of the first 100 000¥ of monthly earnings, 15% for 100 001-1 000 000¥... complete access to dark room once training session is completed... full dental and eyewear coverage... no sharing of Jusenkyo secrets? I guess I'll find out what that is later... 50% off from attached list of massage parlours, gyms, hostess clubs, restaurants, and tailors..." Nabiki read, before pausing a moment to think it over. "Hm, this is a very extensive list of benefits, and no demands I get my hands dirtier than I'm comfortable with. The rates are reasonable enough too... Very well, I'll sign."

The three gang members watched as Nabiki drew a pen from her sack, and placed her name on all three copies of the contract (after quickly checking that they were identical).

"Haha! Great!" Hibari replied, bursting into a smile and shedding her previous cold demeanor as she pulled out a pen and signed the witness spot. "You've got the afternoon off, right? We like to throw a barbecue for new members. Tsugumi went out and bought a bunch of things your big sis said were your favourites yesterday."

Nabiki's eye twitched slightly at the tonal whiplash. This girl was going to give Nabiki headaches, she was certain of it. The chance to observe from inside for a bit wasn't something she wanted to pass up however. "Yeah, sure. I'm not really the party type, but I can stay."

"Excellent, I've got the band coming over to run through some rehearsals too, so there'll be live music," Hibari replied happily.

Nabiki grimaced. Was this yakuza group really so casual?

Nabiki sat quietly, leaning against a tree near the exterior Oozora koi pond, watching the goings on of the household. Currently, Hibari (now wearing a loud outfit worthy of Cyndi Lauper) was yelling at the band members and various thugs who were trying to set up a small stage. Tsugumi was visible over in the kitchen, cooking up a storm with the help of Sabu and Ran. (Nabiki did have to admit the way the normally frightening yakuza enforcer kept blushing whenever the eldest Oozora brushed past amused her.)

Shifting her attention to Suzume, who was currently passing a soccer ball back and forth with a surprisingly intelligent acting piglet, Nabiki felt an odd sense of calm. The Oozoras seemed to really know how to make someone feel at home. (The dark room had been very nice too, she was definitely going to make use of that. As well, some of the bugging devices were coming home with her, there was a lot of blackmail potential in those.)

The only ones not participating in the festivities to some degree were the fathers (both of whom seemed oddly annoyed when Nabiki had seen them off drinking in a side room), Tsubame, who'd confirmed her wish to avoid the family business, and Ranma who had been surprisingly completely absent. Nabiki could only assume he was out doing... something.

As if on cue, a band member suddenly let out a shout: "Oi! Ranma, get over here! You're helping with the show aren't ya?"

Nabiki slightly raised an eyebrow when she realised the guy had shouted towards the kitchen, which she could see only had three people in it. She raised a second eyebrow when Ran hurried out from the kitchen.

"Alright, alright, I'm comin'! I just wanted ta help with the cookin' a little, since Hibari had ta keep an eye on you doofuses," Ranma replied, hurrying over.

Nabiki was fully confused, and deeply curious. With years of practiced stealth, originally honed as a way to acquire extra cookies as a child, she approached to better listen in.

"Wait, before we start, are we going sexy redhead, or heartthrob guy Ranma for the show?" the blond guitarist asked.

Ranma shrugged. "I still ain't great at the bass, so, I figure girl mode is better. I've got more 'cute' factor goin' on ta help balance lack of skill."

"Good to hear," the guitarist replied. "Leaves me the handsomest guy in on the stage."

"If your gonna be like that, I might just go guy mode ta annoy ya," the short redhead replied, sticking her tongue out.

Nabiki needed answers. Scanning the field, she felt Suzume might be her best bet for them. Slipping away from the argument, she soon made her way over to the young blue haired girl.

"Suzu-chan, I have a little question for you," Nabiki said in her best 'dealing with children' tone.

"You don't need to patronise me. I'm plenty mature," Suzume replied curtly as she grabbed ahold of her soccer ball.

Nabiki smiled awkwardly, while Co-chan slipped between the two of them and began to glare at Nabiki.

"Sorry, kid. Don't tend to deal outside the high school age bracket much these days," Nabiki replied. "Anyhow, it's about Ran and Ranma... or maybe just Ranma? Overheard a conversation that was a little confusing."

"Oohhh. Yep. It can be confusing, but there's really only Ranma. Just, sometimes Ranma's a girl, and sometimes he's a boy. He got a magic curse in China. Uncle Genma got one and turns into a panda! But, I don't know if he's a panda at heart or not... Oh, and Shampoo turns into a boy, but she isn't really a boy. Unlike Ranma, who's sometimes really a girl. Even when she isn't turned into one, though that's rare because it's easier for her to go girl and she's still kind of shy about that option and likes to hide it. Big sis Hibari helped me understand all of it, and said she understands it better than Ranma," Suzume explained, very proud of herself for knowing so many details.

Nabiki stared at the little bluenette, unsure how to process what she'd just heard. Magic curses? People turning into animals? Or switching sexes? Maybe a kid wasn't the best person to ask, sometimes they were more honest, but sometimes they had crazy ideas.

Suzume suddenly scooped her piglet (letting her soccer ball fall away) and held him up at Nabiki with a big grin. "Oh! And-and Co-chan's really Ranma's nemesis from middle school! I-wait, I wasn't supposed to let him know I knew that..."

The piglet began to squeal nervously, trying to turn to get a look at the girl holding him.

Suzume smiled at the piglet a bit awkwardly. "Sorry, but big sis told me because she wanted to make sure you didn't do anything weird. But I wasn't supposed to tell you so that it remained a test of your behaviour."

Nabiki glanced around nervously, wondering if this girl was more eccentric than most her age (while her pet piglet looked surprisingly betrayed by this apparent revelation). Maybe it was time to go grill Tsubame again, that girl seemed like the weakest link in the family...

Suddenly Nabiki was greeted by the sight of quite possibly the most handsome guy she had ever seen leaping in from over an exterior wall. The boy turned and smiled a surprisingly innocent smile before rushing over her way.

"Nihao! You must be Tendo Nabiki, yes?" the new arrival asked in Mandarin accented Japanese.

"Yes," Nabiki replied, trying to be cautious after the wave of fairy tales she'd just gotten off what she'd believed to be a sensible youth. "And you are?"

"Have you signed contract?" the handsome boy asked.

"Yes?"

"Ah, good. Then you saw 'no the sharing of the Jusenkyo secrets' clause?"

"Yes. I wasn't really sure what it referred to though?"

"Curses, obviously," the mysterious boy replied.

"Wait... really?" Nabiki asked, trying to keep her tone from sounding too doubting.

"Mhm! Some of us more secret that others. Ranma mostly in open. Dumb panda not care any. Mousse not protected. I am, though."

"Oh, and you are?" Nabiki asked, still not sure what to make of this. Was that girl really telling the truth? (Glancing over, she saw that Suzume was apparently engaged in a heartfelt apology to her pig, who occasionally 'bweed' in replies that the bluenette apparently understood.)

"Outside circle, am Liu Shui. Student at Wakaba, and waiter at Neko hanten. For those in know, am really Shampoo, Nujiezu warrior and waitress at Neko Hanten. Though, also I am things Shui is mean to be."

"You're a girl? Nabiki asked, struggle to balance this statement with the handsome form that made it.

"Come! We go to the kitchen and I show you. Supposed to help with cooking anyway!" Shui declared, grabbing Nabiki by the hand and leading her off.

Nabiki wanted to glare at the boy... or girl. She was not the type to be dragged around. However, this mysterious person's iron grip made her decide quiet politeness was the best route (for now).

The jaunt to the kitchen was short, and Tsugumi seemed unsurprised by the new arrival. Shui quickly pulled Nabiki over to the sink, and finally let go of her hand. As Nabiki flexed her fingers to restore blood flow, Shui turned on the hot water in the sink. After filling a glass, Shui dumped the contents on herself, quickly shifting to her birth form.

As Nabiki watched the boy turn girl, she was struck by two thoughts: 'Magic is real' and 'Yep, I'm bisexual'. The latter thought she dismissed, due to its lack of relevance to the current situation.

"Very interesting," Nabiki commented, her tone flat and measured.

Akane was patting her hair down with a towel as she walked out of the bath. It was annoying how long it took for her hair to dry, but that was one of the trade-offs of femininity. Walking past the family room, she peered over, wondering what Nabiki would be watching now, only to find Kousaku in front of the TV.

"You managed to get the money for Nabiki's TV access fee?" Akane asked.

"Huh?" Kousaku asked, having been engrossed in the latest Dragon Ball. "Nah, she's out somewhere. TV was free for once."

Nabiki being out on a Sunday was unusual enough to make Akane curious. Normally her sister used Sunday as plotting and homework day, while also keeping guard of the television, lest anyone be willing to pay her for access. Akane headed upstairs and knocked on Kasumi's door frame, sure that her eldest sister would have the answers.

"Oh, hello Akane. Did you need anything?" Kasumi asked, looking up from the virology textbook she'd been reading.

"I was just wondering you knew where Nabiki was? Thinking back, I remember she was up at 9, which really isn't her Sunday schedule."

"Of course. She has a very important meeting with the Oozora Group today, so she's going to be out most of the day, if all goes well," Kasumi replied calmly.

"Th-the Oozora Group? Like, criminally?" Akane asked, wondering how on earth Kasumi was letting this happen.

"Well, if we're being perfectly fair, Nabiki's already quite the criminal. In all honesty, I hope the Oozoras will be a good influence on her, as they seem like generally decent people. Daddy is doing business with them already too."

Akane felt like her jaw had hit the floor, discovering that Kasumi supported something like this. "I... I'm going to go lie down."

The band rehearsal had been surprisingly pleasant. Even if most of the members were clearly amateurs, Hibari's singing and dancing seemed worthy of a professional, and Ranma's bass playing was better than the pigtailed teen gave herself credit for. Music was one of the luxuries Nabiki had always been fond of splurging on, so she appreciated a free show.

The food had been good too. Her love of sweet potato tempura and chicken katsu had been thoroughly satisfied. Picking at the dessert buffet provided, Nabiki found herself next to a currently female Ranma. Watching the redhead for a moment, a realisation hit her.

"Right, I can't tell my sisters and Kousaku about you," Nabiki said, half to herself.

"Is that gonna be a problem?" Ranma asked, feeling worried about the risk of losing her new friends.

"No. Not at all," Nabiki replied, grabbing a cream puff. "I'm certain there's going to be some good comedy from it all."

"You seem like you're a very carin' sister," Ranma muttered sarcastically while shovelling some assorted sweets onto her plate.

Nabiki couldn't help smiling an evil grin. "You don't know the half of it."