Chapter 48: Coffee Shop

Akane hummed quietly to herself as she worked on her homework. Her Saturday was going nicely, school had been calm (Kuno was sick for once), and now she had the afternoon off.

Then a knocking at the door roused her from her studies. A bit more knocking and she hurried down to check out who it was.

Sliding the door open, she was surprised to find Hibari and Ranma there. Ranma's face felt like it was mostly taken up by her smile, though Hibari looked a little tired.

"Hey, are the Saturday training sessions back on?" Ranma asked. "We were just in the area, and realised we hadn't checked about that."

"Oh, uh... sure," Akane replied. "Just give me five minutes to get changed into my gi."

"Don't rush... on our account," Hibari said, between breaths. "Ranma's been... running me all around Nerima for the last... hour. I'd be happy for a breather."

Akane smiled, before running upstairs and switching to her gi. A couple minutes later she was down in the dojo. She found Ranma stretching while Hibari was drinking a glass of water and talking to Kasumi (who'd presumably brought the water).

"No, no. You didn't kiss her," Hibari was saying as Akane came into earshot.

"Oh thank goodness," Kasumi replied.

Akane raised an eyebrow, but still walked over to where Ranma was.

"So, shall we start, Ran?" Akane asked.

"Sure! I was wonderin' if you could run me through some ground holds? I, just... I ain't the best at figurin' those out on my own still and I've been getting rusty," the short girl said.

"Oh yeah, su—" Akane started, before she remembered the interesting thing about Ran(ma) and began to blush. "Um..."

Nervously, Akane turned to Kasumi, as if her sister could answer her dilemma. Instead, Hibari caught her eye with a raised eyebrow.

"Would you be comfortable practicing holds with me?" Hibari asked.

"Why wouldn't—oh. Oh right... but, Ran's still a boy sometimes?" Akane said, glancing back to the short girl again.

"Trust me, Hibari's the one more likely to 'accidentally' put her hand in the wrong place," Ranma said, getting a stuck out tongue as a reply from the taller redhead.

"Pardon?" Akane asked.

"I can behave myself. It's just you that I do that with, Ranma," Hibari replied with a wink.

Ranma blushed furiously. Something about her nervous body language felt so distinctly feminine to Akane, and Akane's nervousness faded away. Ranma was definitely a girl right now.

"Alright, what move did you want to try?" Akane asked.

Ranma lit up with a smile.

Hibari had noticed Rie shooting her odd looks for most of the past week. Finally, curiosity won out, and so she slipped over to Rie's shoe locker.

"Yo, Kawai-chan!" Hibari said, sliding up to the other girl.

"Oh, Hi-Hibari?" Rie stammered.

"I've noticed you've been looking my way lately... have you fallen in love, or is there something you need to tell me?" Hibari asked.

"I... uh... Mousse s-said something that..." the girl stammered.

Hibari's eyes widened a moment. "Oh."

Rie nodded nervously.

"About me and Shampoo and, uh, how that all happened?" Hibari asked.

Rie nodded again, prompting a quiet sigh from Hibari.

"Not... not that it matters at all," Rie blurted. "I mean... with Ranma and Shui and Ukyo and... um, well, it doesn't matter, does it?"

"You're a good friend, Rie," Hibari said. "I... well, yes. There was a reason people are confused, but it's mostly cleared up."

"Oh, okay. Um, is there anything I should do?" Rie asked.

"Just keep acting the same?" Hibari replied.

"Oh, yeah. That... that makes sense," Rie muttered. "Sorry."

Hibari placed a reassuring hand on Rie's shoulder. "Don't overthink things. That's my advice for life in general."

With that, Hibari left, giving a wave before vanishing around a corner.

Genma and Ibari were headed into a new cafe that had just opened in the neighbourhood. Ibari made a habit of investigating all new shops in his territory, and Genma looked less 'yakuza' than most of Ibari's employees, so helped with better first impressions.

"I hope the coffee's half decent," Ibari muttered. "There's a severe lack of decent coffee is West Nerima."

Genma shrugged. He didn't really care that much for coffee himself. Tea was more his style. (Or saké, if that was an option.)

"Ah, hello, and welcome," the woman behind the counter said.

She was fairly tall, a long face to match her height, with graceful features, complemented by her black hair tied up into a simple bun. Add to that her dark blue kimono, and she was the picture of traditional beauty.

"Hello," Genma said simply, before realising Ibari was frantically fixing his hair.

"I should have dressed better today," Ibari said under his breath before turning to the woman. "He-hello there."

The Yakuza patriarch walked over in an awkwardly stiff way before sitting down at one of the stools along the counter. Genma followed him, trying not to smirk at how smitten the other man was.

"Did you two know what you wanted, or did you need some time to check the menu?" the woman asked, eyes lingering uncertainly on Ibari a moment.

"Probably a moment to read the menu," Genma said, lightly elbowing Ibari to remind him not to stare.

"I-Ibari! ... uh... my name is Oozora Ibari," the mustachioed man blurted.

"Oh, uh, you can call me Fumiko," the woman replied, smiling gently.

"So, what brings you to our corner of Nerima?" Ibari asked.

"Ah, well... mostly the lower rents? Shinjuku has just been getting so expensive lately," the woman replied.

Ibari nodded. "I can imagine."

"I think I'll try the cinnamon roll and the green tea?" Genma said, having been studying the menu himself.

"Oh, yes. Just a moment," Fumiko replied.

Nabiki found herself at the Oozora kitchen table with three out of four Oozora sisters, and they all looked very serious.

"Okay, so what exactly is going on?" Nabiki asked.

"It's dad... he's acting weird," Tsubame replied.

"What sort of 'weird' are we talking about?"

"We... we're worried he's falling for someone," Hibari explained.

"And that's bad?" Nabiki asked.

"It, just... it feels like forgetting about mother a bit," Tsugumi said, looking a bit guilty to say it.

"Oh... yeah. I understand that completely... So, you want me to spy on him and see where he's going?" Nabiki asked.

The three girls nodded.

"I'd do it normally, but I'm not sure I could keep quiet the whole time when it's dad," Hibari replied.

"Alright. If he goes out today, I'll see what I can learn," Nabiki replied.

The sisters gave their thanks when Suzume rushed into the room.

"I managed to talk daddy into taking me to the movies!" the young girl declared.

"I think she forgot she was supposed to just be distracting him," Hibari whispered to Nabiki.

The fatherin questioned walked in from the same direction as Suzume, chuckling a bit. "I'm glad you're so happy to have me take you, Suzume. Sometimes I worry your other sis-siblings don't appreciate their father any more."

Suzume turned to her father with a deadly serious look in her eyes. "Of course I appreciate you. You're the easiest to talk into buying me presents when we're out, so your my favourite to go anywhere with."

Ibari laughed awkwardly, not quite sure if the girl was serious or not. "You're growing up into a young mercenary, aren't you?"

"Merce-what?" Suzume asked.

Nabiki leaned over to Hibari. "Have I mentioned I like her?"

Hibari turned and gave a quick grin. "She's applied my training well."

Following a yakuza boss was a little bit stressful, even for one as calm as Nabiki. Luckily Ibari was quite distracted by Suzume's various demands and paid no attention to the girl trailing him about half a block back.

When the pair reached the theatre Ibari suddenly became visibly flustered by the woman in front of him in line. With her traditional fashion sense she certainly stood out.

While Nabiki wasn't able to get in normal listening range, Hibari had bugged Ibari before he left and Nabiki was able to hear his flustered attempts at small talk easily on her headphones. She also kind of wished she couldn't... he was embarrassingly bad at it.

"Oh, and is this your daughter?" Fumiko asked.

"Ah, yes. Yes. This is Suzume, my youngest," Ibari replied.

"Hello," the young girl said. "We're here to see the Adventures in—"

Nabiki's feed cut out a bit as a large truck drove past. She decided it was safe to slip a bit closer and get a better connection.

"—heard that's fun," Fumiko was replying as Nabiki regained her feed.

"What were you here to see?" Suzume asked.

"Ah, well, I wasn't completely sure, but I might just join you two," Fumiko replied.

"That sounds lovely," Ibari said.

Nabiki hung back as the three bought their tickets. She then scooted in line, scanning the sign to work out which movie they were watching.

"What can I get you miss?" the lad behind the counter asked.

"One for Adventures in Babysitting," Nabiki said. "And I'd like the receipt."

(She was going to make sure all her expenses were well documented.)

She then slipped into the back of the theatre, keeping her eyes on Ibari and Fumiko as best she could. Still, it was dark in the theatre, and she was sitting fairly far away. Also, the movie distracted her a bit. Luckily Suzume was sitting between the two of them, so she didn't have to worry about missing too much.

When the movie ended Nabiki slipped into pursuit mode again. The three wandered along the street, Suzume deciding they'd best get some crepes. Ibari proved quite weak willed in the face of his daughter's demands, while Fumiko was surprisingly supportive of the girl's schemes. Clearly someone wanted to play 'good cop'.

After lunch they left to do some shopping, Ibari proving himself more and more useless against the pressure a woman he was infatuated with and his youngest daughter. (Nabiki rolled her eyes a bit at the way youngest children could always get their way. At least Suzume seemed to appreciate the power it gave her, unlike Akane.)

Nabiki had slipped back into the Oozora home a few minutes after Ibari and Suzume had returned. Nabiki made her way up to Hibari's room, avoiding the commotion downstairs.

She expected Hibari to be downstairs, with all the commotion about Suzume's movie watching trip ending up a five hour affair, but decided to air on the side of caution.

"Who is it?" Hibari's voice called out, sounding a bit suspicious.

"Nabiki," the spy for the day replied.

"Oh... I guess you can come in."

Nabiki opened the door, and was (for a brief moment) flustered by what she saw. Ranma was seated on the bed, while Hibari was on his lap with her legs around his midsection and hands held behind his neck.

"Am I interrupting something?" Nabiki asked.

"I-I swear, I just... I just came here to ask for some help with math homework," Ranma replied, face as red as his unbuttoned silk shirt.

"And someone decided chemistry was more fun?" Nabiki asked with a smirk.

"Of course!" Hibari replied, grinning away. "I'm glad someone gets it."

"So, uh... what did you have to tell us?" Ranma asked, eyes glancing nervously between the two girls.

"Uncle Ibari's definitely got a crush," Nabiki said, strutting casually over to sit down at the desk chair. "She's got a very traditional vibe. Runs that new coffee shop over near Shakuji park. Named Fumiko."

"Oh greeaat, the traditional type," Hibari groaned, leaning into a tighter hug against Ranma (who responded by somehow turning redder).

"Planning some sabotage?" Nabiki asked.

"I'll give it a week," Hibari replied, still leaned against Ranma's chest. "It might fizzle out by then."

It did not seem likely to fizzle out by then.

Suzume had proven very fond of Fumiko, and had gotten permission from Ibari to go on another shopping trip with the woman twice in the week. The other three sisters had insisted Ibari bring her home after the Thursday meet up, and were now waiting for her arrival (Ranma nervously joining them and munching on some chips).

"It's almost Suzume's bedtime," Tsugumi mentioned as she glanced at the clock.

"Hey, if I've taught her anything it's to be a rebel," Hibari replied. "If she thinks she can get away with staying out past her bedtime she will."

That got a glare from Tsubame.

"You're a terrible influence," the brunette muttered.

Hibari grinned massively. "Of course."

Further arguing was interrupted by the sound of the front door opening. The three girls scrambled towards the door, while Ranma followed at a much calmer pace.

When they arrived, Fumiko was visibly overwhelmed by the four sets of eyes studying her.

"Oh, hello there. Are you all Suzume's siblings?" the woman asked.

"Mostly," Suzume announced. "Ranma isn't. But he will be, once he marries Hibari."

"Really? They seem rather young though," Fumiko said.

"Heh, well, there's no rush," Ibari explained, sweating a bit nervously.

"Ah. Well, you have very cute daughters, Oozora-san," Fumiko said.

"Haha, yes. They're all... all," Ibari stammered, his eyes lingering on Hibari for a moment. "Uh... yes. cute girls. Yes."

Fumiko raised an eyebrow, seeming to have noticed Ibari's reluctance, and turned to Hibari herself. The red haired girl felt like the woman was seeing her in a way no one else managed. Nervously, she reached back and grabbed Ranma's hand, unsure what this very traditionally dressed woman was going to do next.

Ranma was a bit confused, but held Hibari's hand firmly and stepped a bit closer. That got a silent 'oh' out of Fumiko. Hibari narrowed her eyes feeling ready to challenge this strange woman who was intruding into her home.

"Auntie Fumiko's very nice. There's no reason to glare at her, Hibari," Suzume said, stepping in front of the woman defensively.

"It's okay, Suzume-chan," Fumiko said. "I should probably get heading back to my home anyway."

Suzume turned to her, eyes large and sad. "I wish you could stay here. Daddy likes you after all."

Pretty well everyone in the room blushed at her boldness.

"I, uh... well, S-Suzume, whether that's true or not... it would," Ibari stammered aimlessly.

"That's something that takes time," Fumiko added. "If it were to ever happen."

"How much time are we talking about?" Suzume asked.

"Suzume," Tsugumi half hissed, before turning to Fumiko. "I'm very sorry about her. She's always been outspoken, but... this is rather severe, even for her."

Suzume pouted quietly as Fumiko gave a nervous goodbye. Once the woman was gone, the older three sisters turned to their father, glaring at him.

"So, is Suzume right? Are you thinking about a serious relationship?" Tsubame asked.

"Er, well... maybe? She's very nice, and quite pretty," Ibari answered.

"What about mom?" Tsugumi asked. "You're just forgetting about her now?"

"I... well... it's been nine years? Maybe that's time to think about love again?" Ibari offered.

That got him glares from the three girls again.

"I can't believe it," Tsubame muttered.

"Mhm. Just forgetting the love of your life because a few years have gone by," Hibari muttered.

"I want a proper mom," Suzume grumbled. "You all talk about mom all the time, but I don't remember her at all. Why can't I have someone I can call mom? Fumiko's nice and I like her. It's not fair."

The three older sisters felt a wave of guilt rush over them, none quite sure how to respond.

"I think we're all rushing too far ahead. I only met her a week ago. Discussing marriage options already seems a bit extreme," Ibari said, regaining his composure.

Ranma shrugged. "I dunno, people talk about marriage pretty well immediately in my experience."

"You're not exactly a normal example, Ranma," Hibari said softly, before turning to her dad. "Fine. For Suzume's benefit, we'll call a truce."

"Thank you," Ibari replied.

Ranma was sorting through her clothing, trying to figure out what to wear for the day. It was starting to get a bit chilly for skirts, even if she had good cold tolerance. Maybe it was time she looked into leggings (she did not envy girls at schools with all year skirt uniforms).

"Hey, Ran—oooh," Hibari said, having apparently gotten a little distracted by Ranma's attire of only a pair of boxers.

"You know you can knock, right?" Ranma asked, sticking her tongue playfully.

"Where's the fun in that?" Hibari asked, skipping over to sit down on Ranma's chair.

"So, what brings you over to my room today?" Ranma asked as she put one of her lacier bras on (she was certain Hibari liked the view, and didn't mind giving her fiancee some eye candy).

"How do you feel about skipping some classes this morning?" Hibari asked.

"I'm doing alright in class now, so... sure? Why though?" Ranma replied.

"That Fumiko woman... I think she picked up on dad's reluctance to call me a daughter. I want to find out just what she thinks, before I stick to the truce I offered," Hibari explained. "She seems pretty old fashioned. Not a good sign."

"Ah. Sure thing," Ranma said. "And, uh, can I get some fashion advice? Trying to figure out what's cuter."

"I mean, it's you. Whatever you wear will be cute," Hibari said, slipping over and hugging the shorter girl. "Nothing at all would be pretty nice too."

"N-not really an option," Ranma blurted, blushing furiously.

Ranma and Hibari strolled into the small coffee shop, glad to see that they'd avoid the morning rush (assuming there was one at such a new shop). The pair found Fumiko cleaning the counter, and Hibari did her best not to glare when the woman looked up.

"Oh, hello... Hibari was it?" Fumiko asked.

"Hello. And yes, that's my name," Hibari replied as she sat down. "So..."

"So?" Fumiko asked, glancing over at Ranma a moment.

"What are you plans with my dad?" Hibari asked.

"I... I wasn't planning anything too serious," Fumiko replied, sadness in her voice. "I shouldn't have gotten as close as I did, but... I just got caught up in playing 'mom' around your little sister."

"R-really? I... aren't you pretty firmly around marriage age?" Hibari asked, trying to understand this woman's motives.

Fumiko smiled softly. "Marriage isn't really an option... I do wish you and your boyfriend the best of luck. Maybe the laws will change in the future after all."

"What laws?" Ranma asked.

"I... uh," Fumiko leaned in towards Hibari. "Does she know about... well, you?"

"What about me?" Hibari asked, eyeing the confusing woman suspiciously.

"Well, that you're... that you're like me?" Fumiko asked.

"Like you? Like you how?" Hibari asked, feeling a bit confused at the turn this conversation was taking.

Fumiko stepped back and paled a bit. "Oh no... maybe I was wrong. It's just... the way your father acted. I thought..."

"Wait, you mean you're... you also have that, uh, little hormonal issue?" Hibari asked.

"I'd call it a bit more than 'little', but yes. So, in the eyes of the law, I could never marry 'another' man," Fumiko said, her voice soft and distant. "I really hope the law changes when you're older."

Hibari felt tears filling up in her eyes as she stood up and grabbed Fumiko's hands. "I have something to show you. Do you have a kettle handy?"

Fumiko blinked, confused. "I run a cafe. I have several kettles handy. Or just a water heater if you need hot water now?"

"Ooh that would work," Hibari replied. "Doesn't take too much. Maybe a glass of water?"

Fumiko hurried over pouring out a mug of hot water, and returned, still utterly perplexed.

"C'mon, Ranma, you've got to show her," Hibari said, practically vibrating with excitement.

Ranma blushed. "I... but I'm dress really girly right now?"

Hibari glared a little.

"What's going to happen?" Fumiko asked.

"You have to see it to believe it. Come on, Ranma," Hibari said.

"Okay," Ranma mumbled, grabbing the mug.

"Wait, wasn't you boyfriend named—" Fumiko began to see when Ranma poured the hot water onto her head.

The sudden transformation to a handsome (if soft featured) boy by the petite girl left Fumiko speechless.

"I can get you a bit of that magic," Hibari said. "Uh... right, I should mention that this is Ranma's birth form. The girl mode is cursed form."

"Th-that... she... now he... and..." Fumiko stammered, before processing what Hibari said. "Wait, you can get that?"

"It's a weaker version, but... yeah," Hibari replied with a grin. "I'm using some right now."

"With her you only know by hair colour," Ranma said, still feeling a bit nervous someone might see him. "C-could I get some cold water? My, uh, this bra doesn't fit very well when I'm a guy."

"Oh! Yes, sure!" Fumiko replied, rushing of and returning with a glass a few seconds later.

Ranma smiled and quickly turned back female. "Thanks a ton."

"Come on, Ranma. We've got to go get her some of my Nyannichuan powder," Hibari said, grinning from ear to ear as she grabbed Ranma's hand.

"I guess we'll be a few minutes," Ranma said, getting pulled along by a downright hyper Hibari.

Fumiko could only nod, at a loss for words.

Ranma was barely able to keep up with Hibari on the trip to and from the Oozora home. She'd rarely seen the taller girl this excited, and had to admit that it was incredibly cute.

They arrived back at Fumiko's cafe in record time, packets of instant Jusenkyo in hand.

The cafe was quite quiet when they returned, though there was an old man nursing a coffee and a bagel in the corner.

"Should we go upstairs?" Hibari whispered to Fumiko, after crossing the floor to the counter.

"It would be more private, but... someone should watch the front," Fumiko replied.

"I've got waitressing experience," Ranma replied. "I can handle pretty well anythin' but coffee. I'll just tell people it's a few minutes for that."

Fumiko smiled. "Thank you."

Hibari followed the woman up stairs and into her small apartment. The teen explained how to prepare the powder as she did so, before handing it over to Fumiko. The woman had removed her kimono and was standing there in just a padded bra and some shorts both to keep the kimono dry and better see the impact of the Jusenkyo magic. Taking a deep breath, she dumped the water on her head.

Fumiko shrank a few centimetres, her black hair gaining a slight purple undertone. The more noticed changed was in her chest however, which was now being quite compressed.

"Aw man, I'm jealous," Hibari said.

"This... this really is magical," Fumiko said softly.

"I know, right? It's the best," Hibari replied.

"I... I'm really going to have to go bra shopping though. This definitely isn't comfortable," Fumiko muttered. "I'm going to have to figure out something else for today..."

The woman looked up at Hibari and a moment of silence lingered.

"Um... I could probably use some privacy while changing."

"Oh! Right, yes," Hibari replied. "I'll be downstairs."

Hibari hurried down the stairs, hopping the last four or so, when she found a very flustered birth form Ranma hidden behind the counter, the black haired teen's front soaked.

"What happened?" Hibari asked.

"That coffee machine is evil," Ranma explained. "I swear I didn't touch any nobs or anything, but it drenched me and I changed."

"Oh... there is a lot of hot water down here, isn't there?" Hibari said, studying a kettle from a safe distance.

"So much," Ranma muttered grumpily.

"I guess we should warn Fumiko about all that," Hibari said, moving over to poke the espresso machine. "I wonder how this thing works anyway."

"Could you get me some cold water?" Ranma asked.

"Oh, right," Hibari said, heading to the sink and returning with a glass for Ranma.

"Thanks," Ranma said, once she'd returned to female form.

A few moments later, Fumiko appeared from the stairs, smiling with her eyes a little glazed over. She honestly looked as if she were walking on a cloud, and both teens had to check to make sure her feet were actually touching the ground.

"I realised I forgot to warn you about a little issue with Jusenkyo," Hibari said, feeling guilty to say anything negative to such a happy woman. "You see... bad luck kind of follows having a curse. Specifically bad luck involving water that will change your from, and, uh... you've got a lot of hot water around here."

"Oh... that's unfortunate. Is there any protection available?" Fumiko asked, seeming to come back to earth with the news.

"Uhh... I never actually asked," Hibari muttered.

"We should totally ask about that," Ranma said, just as amazed to have never wondered. "I mean, the cat's tongue doesn't really protect ya. It just makes changin' hurt."

"Cat's tongue?" Fumiko asked.

"It's a thing that makes you sensitive to hot water," Hibari explained. "You know, I just realised something: I came here to check if Fumiko was good enough for my family, but now I'm doubting my dad's good enough for her."

"Oh?" Fumiko asked.

"Well, he's not the best with my whole situation," Hibari replied. "Or Ranma's. So... might be best for you to just avoid the whole situation. Even if Suzume does like you."

"Hmm... well... maybe we just need to join forces to bring him to his senses? From what I've seen, all four of you girls are pretty good kids. He must be doing something right," Fumiko offered.

"Three out of four, maybe," Hibari muttered. "Tsubame keeps stealing my scrunchies. Amongst other, worse, things..."

"Well, that means two projects. But I think I'm up for the challenge," Fumiko said, giving the pair a confident smirk as she flexed a bit. "Oh... I've got a bit less muscle there now. Some of the heavy lifting is going to be trickier."

"I could help ya out," Ranma said. "I've got good muscles, girl or guy."

Fumiko smiled. "I could use a bit of help around here. Would you two be free to work a bit after school?"

The two girls turned to one another before nodding.

"Yeah," Ranma said.

"We've been waitresses before. We just need to learn how this coffee stuff works," Hibari replied.

Fumiko nodded. "Were you planning to go to school today, or do you have time for some lessons this morning?"

"Eh, we can handle a couple missed days," Hibari replied.