Chapter 54: The Bet

Akane and Hibari were sparring, while Ranma did some warm up stretches. Ranma had stayed in guy mode the last few days, wanting to forget what she'd gone through with her fight against the old slime. Even if she'd done (most of it) voluntarily to ensure victory, it didn't mean she'd liked it. Unlike her father, she had some dignity. Luckily, Happosai hadn't shown up again, so Ranma had been able to relax. Now, though, with Akane around, it was a good excuse to push herself back into confronting girl mode.

It felt natural, to her comfort.

"I win this round," Akane said in a cheerful tone.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm still warming up," Hibari replied, though her tone was just as playful.

"Oh, by the way, are you free tomorrow?" Akane asked.

"I should be?" Hibari answered. "What's up?"

"Ah, well... the live action movie for one of my favourite childhood anime is playing, but going to the movies alone is... well, lonely," Akane replied. "Yuka and Sayuri both fell behind on an assignment and are having to spend the weekend running catch up."

"Would the movie be Haikara-san?" Hibari asked.

Akane gave a nervous nod.

"You have good taste, my friend. That was one of my favourites too. Benio is just such fun!" Hibari said, smiling away.

"I know, right!? With it just being her and her dad, and... well, coming out so soon after my mum passed away... I totally got hooked," Akane added.

It was Hibari's turn to nod. "That was part of the draw for me as well."

Both girls grew a little somber as they remembered their mothers.

"What's it about?" Ranma asked, curious about the show she'd not heard of.

"You don't know? Ran, it's one of the shoujo of our childhood years!" Akane replied, feeling more than a little dumbfounded.

"Well, one: I was living on the road as a kid, so didn't get much tv watchin' in in general, and two: I was fully a boy at the time it came out. So, what little I did see was all shonen," Ranma countered, a little defensive that Akane would judge her tv exposure.

"Oh... that's right," Akane mumbled. "I still forget that you and your boy side are one person sometimes... sorry."

"We have to take you to go see it, though," Hibari declared with a large grin. "There's a character I think you'll love."

"Fujieda?" Akane asked, her tone a little conspiratorial.

"Yep," Hibari replied.

"I'm confused, but... definitely curious?" Ranma said.

Exploring things she'd missed by only growing up as a guy seemed like fun to Ranma.

Leaving the theatre, the trio were of mixed moods. Ranma had been mildly amused, and enjoyed getting to watch a romantic comedy without feeling like anyone would judge her masculinity. She also couldn't deny having found the main girl's sassy attitude rather adorable. Hibari and Akane, meanwhile, were deeply peeved with the changes made in the movie.

"They made Benio so much less of a fighter," Akane muttered.

"I want to go see if the video rental place has the actual show now," Hibari added, kicking a pebble with a little more force than intended. She grimaced a little as it wedged itself into a tree nearby.

"Which one was Fujieda?" Ranma asked, the questioning having been nagging her the whole movie. She swore no one had been called that name, but could accept she might have missed it.

"That's the other thing!" Akane and Hibari exclaimed in unison, before looking at each other and bursting into laughter.

Ranma could only stare in confusion.

"They cut him out of the script," Hibari said, once she'd gotten over her laughter. "He was one of the best characters."

"It's just not the same without Ranmaru's cuteness," Akane added, shaking her head.

"Pardon?' Ranma asked.

"Fujieda Ranmaru, Benio's onnagata best friend," Hibari replied. "One of the main draws of the original, at least for me. I was sure you'd have liked him too."

"I think he was the best romantic option too," Akane said, with an authoritative nod. "Much better at respecting women than the newspaper guy. And, well... the whole giving in to the marriage arrangement angle always rubbed me the wrong wa-er... I mean, not that there's anything wrong with you two! It's just not for me, that's all!"

Ranma had to blink a moment, before the memory struck her. "Oh, that's right! I honestly forgot we were arranged, since our dads are kinda against it."

"You're adorable sometimes, you know that, Ranma?" Hibari said, before leaning in and kissing the short girl on the cheek.

Ranma was overcome with a blush, stammering nothing comprehensible.

"Should I let you two head off to have a date?" Akane asked, shifting uncomfortably.

"Did you have more plans?" Hibari asked in return.

"I... well, I was sort of hoping for a little backup while I go shopping for some new clothing," Akane said, barely above a whisper.

"Backup? Whaddya need backup for?" Ranma asked.

"Well, I... I kind of want to try getting some stuff from the men's section? I used to wear boy clothes as mu-honestly, more than girl clothes when I was little, and I'd like to try exploring that again. Now that I'm not trying to make myself act the perfect domestic girly girl anymore," Akane said. "You two are happy to wear whatever you choose, and it's left me feeling encouraged."

"Ah, yeah, we can help with that," Hibari replied.

"Definitely," Ranma added.

Rie took a breather. The lunch rush was done and Ucchan's was slowly emptying out. Ukyo themself was taking a little break to get something to eat, leaving her and Daikoku watching the store proper.

"He's been seeming kind of sad and distant lately, hasn't he?" Rie asked, turning to the other girl, who was doing her best to cook up some okonomiyaki.

"I guess?" Kaori replied, staying focused on the order she was working on. "You're friends with the boss. I'm just an employee."

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind being friends with you," Rie said, getting only an indifferent grumble from the brunette.

Rie found a seat in the corner to rest her feet and let out a sigh. She wanted to help out, but didn't think she'd succeed on her own.

Having zoned out a bit, she jumped when a face appeared in front of her, taking up much of her field of view.

"Nihao! Why does cute Kawai look so sad?" Shampoo asked, a large smile on her face.

"Waah!" was Rie's response, nearly tipping over her chair in surprise. "What are you doing here, Shampoo?"

"You are not happy to see me? I am crushed!" Shampoo said, taking a dramatic pose of lament.

"I didn't say that... I was just surprised," Rie replied nervously. She didn't want to give the wrong impression.

"Mousse drew the short straw and got dishes duty this afternoon. Ranma and Hibari are busy with another friend though, but... you and Ukyo are my good friends too," Shampoo explained. "So, again, why are you so the sad?"

"I'm worried about Ukyo," Rie whispered. "He seems so distant lately."

Shampoo nodded. "Breakups are rough."

"Break up? He and... Ranma?" Rie asked, her voice still a whisper.

"Yes. Hibari is very good at claiming what is hers, and he realised he can't win against her. Since he also doesn't like the idea of sharing, the only option was an honourable surrender," Shampoo explained.

"Should we... should we try offering some matchmaking services?" Rie replied.

"Oooh, yes. That should be fun!" Shampoo said, eyes lighting up mischievously. "Not quite yet, though. He needs a little more time to get to a better place."

Rie nodded. That made sense. It was hard to find happiness when you were too in the dumps.

"Oh! Right! Did you want some food?" Rie asked, hopping to her feet.

Shampoo's laughter left her frazzled. "Sure, okonomiyaki is tasty."

Despite Akane acting like she was sure she was being tailed, constantly looking around for anyone watching, Ranma and Hibari were slowly able to coax her into choosing a few things. The pair of redheads were now waiting outside the changing area as Akane gave her outfit choice a try.

"Everything okay in there?" Hibari asked, knocking on the door.

"The buttons on the shirt are backwards. It's like having to relearn the muscle memory," Akane's voice muttered back.

"At least guy shirts have less buttons," Ranma offered.

"Oh! That's true. There do seem to be fewer," Akane called back, her voice seeming rather cheerful with the news.

It was only a couple moments until Akane emerged, her clothing baggy, but in a way that was growing fashionable for guys.

"It's certainly a different look from my usual, but... do you think it suits me?" Akane asked.

"Based on how much my dear partner is blushing right now, I think so," Hibari replied, flicking Ranma on a rather rosy cheek.

"S-sorry. Just, ya gotta remember I've still got guy brain cells, and they shut off around cute girls sometimes," Ranma said, rubbing her cheek.

"Pretty sure it's the lesbian in you that's weak for butchness," Hibari replied with a laugh.

"Lesbian? Do I... do I look lesbian like this?" Akane asked, having not even thought about the option before.

"Is that not part of the goal?" Hibari asked.

"I, uh... I don't know?" Akane mumbled.

She had been admitting to herself lately that she thought girls were cute in about the same way as guys, Shampoo/Shui and Ranma made it hard for her to deny that, but... well, she knew for sure she thought guys were cute still.

"If I look too lesbian will it scare off guys?" Akane finally asked.

Hibari gave a shrug and a 'so-so' hand gesture. "It'll probably scare off some, and the ones not deterred will likely trend towards being jerks."

"I bet, if you flirted with a guy dressed like that he'd not be scared off though," Ranma replied. "Just means ya have to put in a little more initiative."

"Mhm! Take the lead!" Hibari added. "The feminist future! Definitely what I had to do with a certain doofus boy."

"Hey!" Ranma objected.

The pair exchanged a few goofy faces, while Akane tried to keep the volume of her laughter down.

"Oh, great. You're trying to recruit someone else now, are you, Hibari?" Tsubame's voice said, her tone cold and sharp.

The trio turned to her. The collection of clothes in her arms at least explained why she was there. None of them were anything approaching happy to see her, though. Hibari also noticed the worry in Akane's eyes, the girl freezing up at the harsh judgment.

"She's a willing volunteer," Hibari replied, sticking her tongue out.

"Guys' pants have better pockets. It's a practical decision," Ranma added, giving Tsubame a sharp grin.

"Girls' clothes are girls' clothes and guys' clothes and guys' clothes, and people should stick to their lane," Tsubame countered.

"B-but why... why does a big clothing store get to decide that?" Akane asked, fire growing in her eyes. "It's probably a bunch of old men in suits who don't know what girls want that run the place."

"Well, b-because that's what normal people do," Tsubame replied with a huff.

"And I'm tired of normal," Akane countered.

"Mhm! It's the 80s. Be a little more punk, Tsubame," Hibari added.

Tsubame narrowed her eyes at that. "Whatever. I guess you can keep playing. My femininity isn't threatened by how you and Ranma fake being girls, or talking her into being a tomboy."

"Whaddya mean 'playing'?" Ranma asked, leaning forward to glare up at Tsubame.

"Well, both of you are too chicken to actually deal with periods. Since you're both guys it's no surprise you both know you can't handle them," Tsubame replied sharply.

"I ain't had one 'cause 28 days without changin' is hard," Ranma said, crossing her arms with a pout. "I could handle it fine."

"What do you say we have a bet?" Hibari said. "There's waterproof soap that would let us both stay in girl mode until we get our menarches."

"What are you willing to gamble?" Tsubame countered.

"If I can't handle it and give up part way, you can permanently take three of my outfits and get full bragging rights," Hibari replied.

"And I'll, uh... I don't know what I can offer ya besides braggin' rights," Ranma said, feeling a little self conscious.

"I'll accept that," Tsubame replied.

"Since we're putting so much more effort in than you, how about you put a little more on the line though?" Hibari said.

"W-what did you have in mind?" Tsubame asked, paling a little.

"We get bragging rights and you have to spend an afternoon transformed by instant boy powder," Hibari replied.

Tsubame paled more for a moment, panic in her eyes, before she steeled herself, stepping forward. "If you both can manage it, then I'll accept that. It's not like either of you have a chance."

"Sounds good," Hibari said, a smirk on her face.

"It'll be fun seeing you both lose," Tsubame replied, before turning and leaving towards another change room.

Ranma, Hibari, and Akane all let out a sigh and some tension from their shoulders. The all took a moment to simply breath before Ranma aired a question that had stuck with her most of the conversation:

"What's a menarche, specifically?"

"It's, well, it's a term for your first period," Akane replied, feeling a bit weird to be explaining that.

"Ooh... I thought it would be a specific part of the process..."

"Don't worry, we've got a good month of studying to get you properly educated on the ins and outs of the process," Hibari said, wrapping an arm around Ranma's shoulder to reassure the shorter girl.

Ranma nodded. "And, uh, when are we gettin' the waterproof soap to start the whole thing?"

"Tomorrow, after school, was my plan?" Hibari replied.

"Ah... I'll see you two in a bit then," Ranma said, before running off.

Akane found herself a little confused by that, but went back to trying on the clothes she'd picked out after some reassurance from Hibari. Having decided to buy most of the options, she and Hibari headed out from the changing area, only to find a male Ranma waiting for them, looking surprisingly dashing in one of his usual Chinese styled outfits. Hibari was certain he'd not realised that he was still wearing eyeliner, and she wasn't going to say anything.

"Hey... I, uh, kind of realised after switching that I couldn't pop back in the change rooms," he said, fidgeting a little. "So, I just kinda waited out here."

Hibari skipped over a few steps, then wrapped her arms around him and planted a rather large kiss on his lips. "You're an adorable dweeb sometimes."

"It's a shame though. I have to admit I'd be curious how your opinions changed from girl mode to guy mode," Akane said.

"Eh, my body don't effect things as much as my moods do," Ranma replied. "Like, honestly, I'm kinda leaning girlish is my head still right now, but I figured I should give Hibari some good views of this face before it's all girl mode for the next month."

"I appreciate the sentiment," Hibari said, leaning against him.

With Akane's purchase made, she headed off her separate way from Ranma and Hibari.

Much of the evening was spent watching television, Hibari sitting on Ranma's lap for a good chunk of it. While she assured Ranma she was fine with the fact relative sizes would be reversed for a while, she wanted to get in as much enjoyment for Ranma's boy side differences as she could.

It was lunch at school the next day when Hibari and Ranma revealed their bet to Rie, Shui, and Ukyo. The trio stared in silence for a few moments afterwards.

"I... you haven't had a period yet, Hibari?" Rie asked, feeling utterly flabbergasted.

"No. It's hard to keep up Jusenkyo mode for more than a couple days with my dad always trying to splash me," Hibari replied.

"Huh... I'm kind of envious," Rie muttered.

"Yeah, it's very nice not having to deal with them any more," Ukyo said. "I kind of wish I could have never had to deal with them."

"The first one is a bit of a milestone in some societies, so I understand wanting to do that," Shui offered. "But there's no need to ever do it again. It is no fun at all. Best part of my curse is not having them any more."

"Real comfortin' words. Thanks everyone," Ranma said, laughing sarcastically.

"I will admit, I thought you'd have more positive feelings, Shui. Being from a matriarchy and all that," Hibari added.

The Chinese 'boy' shrugged. "It was seen as a mark of courage and such for women back home, but... tongzhi are both upstanding women without having ever had one. Also, getting to live without them again, I do not miss them."

"Well, I still think it'll be worth the bragging rights," Hibari said. "Any of you want to come along with us to Yokohama to grab the waterproof soap?"

Shui and Rie both volunteered, the former always happy to visit the bigger Chinatown down there, and the latter hoping she could buy Mousse some snacks or something he might miss from home as a gift. Ukyo, unfortunately, had a restaurant to run, even if Monday evenings were usually quiet.