Ryouga shook his head at Himeko. "So you made friends with Kodachi?"

She nodded. "Strangely, yes. Once I convinced her to leave either of my forms alone, she became… well, still rather unhinged, but certainly friendly enough. I suspect she will try to be friends with Ranko when I next see her as her."

The fanged boy shook his head. "Really, your life, no matter who you're being, is insane."

Himeko giggled. "One rather gets used to it."

Ryouga sighed and looked around. Something passed over and he turned to see Ranko sitting there.

"Next bit's better if it's not Himeko. But come on, let's go for a walk about the ship."

She stood up, offered an arm, then grinned impishly at him as he accepted the guiding with little prompting.

"Hey look, you're learnin'!" She said, chuckling. "Come on, the water looks great from the upper deck promenade."

She led him across the sides of the ship as he pondered her words.

"Why's the next bit you and not Himeko-san?" He asked.

"You do know we're the same person, right?" Ranko asked. "Only under, I dunno, a different sun, a different mood. S'complex. Don't feel like another person but don't feel entirely like me but it is me? Iunno, this ability's weird to describe. Even ta me, and, yanno, I do it."

Ryouga shook his head until Ranko perked up. "Oh hey, lemme intro you to someone else in my repertoire. I'm feelin' like some gaming."

He followed Ranko bemusedly back to their suite where she disappeared a moment into the bathroom, emerging in denim shorts, a tank top and a green-grey hoodie over it. She'd styled her hair into a long ponytail with a black bow and grinned at him, shifting to a cocky, but slightly different-looking girl with darker red hair more reminiscent of her mother's.

"Kyouko." She said by way of an introduction, grabbing an apple from a dish on the suite's table, then motioning. "Come on, let's go do something fun and electronic. And I'm hungry again, so food's a must."

Ryouga again found himself bemusedly following a vaguely familiar redhead, pondering how often that seemed to be happening these days.

On the way, she started talking about some other things that had happened to pass the time between the room and wherever their destination was.

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Ranko stretched in her room, readying for the day ahead when Nabiki wandered in, having stayed the night before.

She considered a while how odd it was that Himeko and Nabiki got along so well, in the same way that Ranko and Nabiki did, only more as best friends than siblings. Akane seemed to have noticed and it looked like it made the short-haired girl sad for some reason.

Even having admitted to herself about being a girl, she didn't understand a lot about other girls. Then again, maybe that wasn't so uncommon. Maybe it was just people not understanding each other.

Maybe it was her own upbringing. Wasn't like she had a lot of socialisation as a kid, and even now some of the ways people acted made her scratch her head.

"Ah, glad I got you today, Squirt. Can you pack some 'you' clothes and follow me once you're all dressed and changed?"

"Sure, Nabs, what's the emergency?"

"I've had an idea for making us some money to get to that cruise."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, modelling. But properly this time. Clothes, nice poses, that kind of thing."

Ranko pondered. "Nothin' nude?"

Nabiki waved her hand. "Ehh, maybe some lingerie but not til later."

Ranko nodded. "Alright. Now get, I gotta get ready – if anyone came through now, they'd find me."

Nabiki left the room and Ranko set up her morning time, before heading downstairs as Himeko in a bright yellow dress reminiscent of her Chinese silks in style across the torso, but bound at her waist with a black ribbon she tied into a bow at her back. She selected a pair of short black heels to go with it and had ensure she had some tights on underneath given it was heading towards cold out.

She wandered downstairs and set the shoes by the door, setting a backpack, her sash and practice blades there too, then moved to the kitchen to find her mother and Nabiki standing there.

Himeko smiled at them. "Good morning Auntie, Nabiki-chan."

"Good morning, Himeko." Nodoka said with a smile in return. Nabiki nodded. "Nabiki-chan tells me you will be going to do some photo shoots?"

"Yes, Auntie. It appears to be a useful business opportunity and will hopefully pay for the cruise we plan to take to celebrate school finishing for me."

Nodoka nodded. "As long as it is tasteful." She warned, eyes flicking to Nabiki. "My niece is no gravure idol."

"Auntie!" Himeko squeaked, sounding scandalised. "Nabiki-chan has promised me no, though I suspect my cousin could certainly pull off a set of lingerie…"

Nodoka shook her head. "Just messing with you dear. Have you done your exercises?"

"I have." Himeko said, sitting down as Nodoka brought her breakfast over.

"Good. Nabiki-chan, see if you cannot get some posed photographs of Himeko-chan in her proper Silken Breeze getup. I think it is about time I opened the dojo again to more classes and I'll need advertisements."

Nabiki raised an eyebrow and then grinned at Nodoka. "Can do, Auntie, though standard photographer and modelling fees apply, with a hefty family discount."

Nodoka tittered and breakfast proceeded apace.

Slipping the heels on, along with a hat, Himeko exited the house, Nabiki in tow.

"To the train station, Nabiki-chan?" She asked. Nabiki nodded.

"Azabu-Juuban has some nice scenery I thought we could use." The bob-haired girl commented. "And I thought you might want to meet some friends I made during that beach trip I mentioned."

"Ah, yes, I had wanted to see people that my cousin had befriended." Himeko smiled at the neighbours as they walked.

On the way they came across Akane, who was doing a late-morning jog. "Oh! Onee-chan, Himeko-chan, hello!" She said, running in place.

Nabiki nodded, but Himeko smiled at the short-haired girl.

"Gokigenyou, Akane-chan. How is your run going?"

"It's going!" She huffed, still running in place.

"Glad to hear. Well, we have business, so don't let us keep you!"

"Sure thing! Bye!" Akane waved and continued her jog.

They reached the train station for Fuurinkan-cho and boarded, Himeko sitting prim and proper in her seat while Nabiki fussed with her bags and sprawled a little.

"Nabiki-chan, proper posture only helps you maintain your body." Himeko admonished.

"Your cousin slouches all the time."

"Yes, well…"

Nabiki sighed and sat up, rolling her eyes. "Fine. Shall we do photographs first or meet the others first?"

Himeko pondered and then giggled. "Perhaps we should meet them and then do our photography, have some assistance."

Nabiki nodded.

"I'm also assuming you wish for them to know about my cousin?" Himeko asked.

Nabiki nodded. "You can, I think they're safe as long as you tell them not to tell anyone. They seem to be decent enough people and know nobody else that we do."

Himeko shrugged. "We can I suppose. Besides, they know her as your little sister and not my cousin."

Nabiki nodded again and the rest of the journey went by in silence until they reached their train station, stepping out into the district proper. Nabiki pulled a small flip phone out and made a call, then motioned to Himeko.

"You'll be safer now." She said, "You can – gods that's freaky."

She watched as Himeko seemed to flow away with the breeze, her copper curls turning to ruby ringlets and pale blue eyes becoming azure pools once more. Her skin darkened a little and subtle parts of her physiognomy altered until Ranko was striding alongside her with a much less modest gait, though she still walked with a swing to her hips.

"Try bein' this side'a it, Nabs. Uuuuuugh it's good to be out properly. I assume this was planned by you and Mom?"

"Yeah." Nabiki replied. "She thought you might get a bit stir crazy if we didn't let you out sometimes. The guys here are cool, so you can at least not worry about them blabbing, like I said."

Ranko nodded, stretching. "I'll give Himeko-me one thing, she's got good taste in dresses. This one's cute as heck, though I'm more a fan of a qipao myself."

"Why do you like the Chinese styles so much?" Nabiki asked, genuinely curious.

"Dunno. Spent so long over there that I guess I just liked 'em, yanno?" Ranko shrugged. "But this is a really nice fusion of that fashion with a nice dress." She wiggled her rear a little. "Though Himeko's preferred underwear's a bit racy. I swear we got that from Mom. I mean I like racy and lacy myself, but she put on a thong this mornin' and it's already givin' me a wedgie 'cuz'a the slightly different butts we got."

Nabiki side-eyed her. "Slightly different butts?"

"Yeah, some of the stuff moves about. Himeko's a bit more 'hold the butt add to the hips' than I am. I get a bit more up top, too, but she's got a tiny bit more paddin' around the belly than me. S'just movin' stuff around or at least the appearance. Trust me, this ability's weird even for our Path, apparently. Somethin' to do with a transformation curse makin' me a bit more… malleable I guess is the word."

Nabiki shrugged. "Fair enough. But really, a thong?"

Ranko shifted again. "Yeah, don't remind me. Gonna need ta adjust when we get somewhere a bit more private. That gal's all about the party underneath where no one sees. Yanno, 'kawaii on the streets, senpai in the sheets' kinda thing."

"You did not just say that." Nabiki said, horrorstruck. "Oh gods, you did. You suck."

Ranko snickered loudly and stretched again, watching a few people eyeing her up. "Mmmm-ah it's good to be out and about as me. Bein' Himeko's a full-time jobbo. You should see me at school, all prim an' proper."

Nabiki 'hmm'ed. "A pity Kunou never took interest in you. Could've really nabbed a whole new market in photos."

"Naw, he thinks I'm too high-class. Really shows what he really thinks'a your clan, huh?"

"Yeah. Asshole." Nabiki growled. "Can't believe I had a crush on him in middle school."

"Ya did?"

"Ugh, yeah, don't remind me. It was before he became such a huge perverted idiot."

Ranko snickered. "He's not bad lookin, ignorin' his glarin' personality flaws. At least any babies made by you two would'a been of at least average intelligence, though hopefully the Kunou genes'd get watered down a bit. I'm also friends with Kodachi, somehow."

"Yeah you said. How's that going?"

Ranko shrugged. "She and Himeko have tea sometimes. I think she's lonely, you know?"

"Really? Whackjob, more like."

"Oh, no doubt she's as nutty as a fruitcake but Himeko's a bit better at people'n me and she definitely sees it that way. S'kinda sad. But! She is now chasing her white lily friend and apparently they're having loud and angry dates. Kinda like how Akane and I used to flirt." Ranko sighed. "I miss those."

"Still holding a torch for my sister?"

"I… Guess. I dunno. Maybe? I'll let ya know when I figger it out myself."

They turned a corner onto a less busy street with houses on and came to a door, Ranko ringing the doorbell.

A woman with brown hair answered it, a small baby in her arms. "Hello?"

"Hello, my name is Tendou Nabiki and this is my little sister, Ranko. We were wondering if Chihiro, Kippei and Rei were around? We'd planned to meet up, you see."

Ranko nodded and the woman smiled as the baby gurgled. "Ah, they mentioned some friends. Certainly dears, come on in. The house slippers are just there. I'll go put Mami-chan down in her bassinet."

They entered, changed out of their outdoor shoes and followed the woman through a decently sized house to the family room. "I'm Ogata Yumi, please, call me Yumi. This is Mami-chan." She pointed to the resting baby. "She's only three months old, so please do make sure you don't scare her."

"We won't." Ranko said, looking interestedly over at the baby. Yumi smiled.

"Would you like to hold her?" She asked. Nabiki eyed Ranko as she looked down, blushing and nodded.

"S-sure."

Yumi picked Mami up, handing her to Ranko and showing her how to hold her. "I've not met a girl who hasn't wanted to hold her yet. Your turn'll come, Nabiki-chan."

Nabiki rolled her eyes as Ranko looked down, a little lost, at Mami.

"What's on your mind, Ranko?" Nabiki asked as Yumi exited to go and gather her brood.

Ranko was staring at the baby, a look of serious thought on her face. "Just… I got everythin' I need ta make a baby and carry it now. I mean, I've had a coupla periods since, yanno, but it only really occurred to me when I was holdin' a real live baby that I could." She chuckled. "S'a weird feelin' but kinda… Iunno, weirdly validatin', I guess."

Nabiki elbowed her. "Don't go going all girly girl on me now, Saotome." She said, grinning. "You're way too much of a tomboy for that."

"Yeah, yeah, yuk it up, Nabs. But it does make me wonder… Like I know not all gals like me wanna have kids. But how do they do it if they ain't got Jusenkyo?"

Nabiki shrugged. "Freezing sperm for later insemination of their partner if they're a lesbian, usually. Or they get a surrogate if they're straight or pan with a man." She said. "Not everyone gets the magic transition."

"Don't seem fair that I got this advantage an' only just realised it when there's prolly like a thousand more gals like me who'd kill for it."

Nabiki shrugged again. "Isn't like there's anything we can do about it without going there and getting some water."

Ranko looked unfocused a moment and then finally nodded. "…You're right. I should try to make my ki spaces larger so I can carry casks."

"I didn't mean-" Nabiki was interrupted by Rei, Kippei and Chihiro entering in.

"Hey, you two, long time no see!" Chihiro beamed. "Thanks for coming to see us eventually."

Ranko shifted, squirming slightly as she held the baby. "Sorry it took so long."

"Ah don't worry about it. Still, I see Mom put you on 'carry the baby' duty as soon as she could."

Ranko laughed. "It's fine, she's real cute. Look at her expression. So serious!" She tickled Mami's tummy a moment, making her giggle.

"That's babies for you. I like to think they're all angry at being pulled from a warm, safe place into the world." Kippei said, chuckling.

Rei looked over at Ranko. "Can you teach us more martial arts sometime, Ranko-chan? Pleeeeease?"

Kippei echoed her and Ranko grinned at them. "Sure thing, though I hope you've been keeping up the training."

She eyed them critically. They did seem a little less soft than they had during the beach trip. Rei, especially, while still somewhat rounded, had a little more muscle under the padding.

"Yep!" The twins chorused. Chihiro rolled her eyes.

"Yeah they get up early and jog. Ugh, no thanks. I like my snooze button."

Nabiki rolled her own eyes. "My other sister's the same. Ranko here doesn't jog though, she just does katas in the morning. Way too early for my liking."

Ranko snickered. "Sun's up, time to get workin' out!"

"Yeah, I don't get that in the slightest." Chihiro said. "Morning people scare me." She shuddered.

"Preach, sister."

Ranko just held the baby in her arms and looked at their friends' house. She considered that this was one of maybe… what, probably less than ten houses she'd been in since she was little? The thought was almost spooky.

Sometimes she felt like she was some kind of remnant of another age, when people wandered place to place. Hell, being a wandering samurai righting wrongs almost seemed romantic. That was unless you considered modern life precluding it. That and Tatewaki's idiocy had also thoroughly ruined samurai for her.

Ranko shifted Mami in her arms and then gently put her in the nearby bassinet, watching until the baby had gone to sleep. She smiled softly at her. "You got your whole life ahead'a you." She murmured. "Hope it's a good'un, Mami-chan."

Sitting back down at the table, she nodded to everyone. "We're headin' out to the parks nearby and a studio if you guys wanna come. Once we've got the stuff we're doin' out the way I guess I can give you two some pointers."

"What sort of things, Ranko-chan?" Kippei asked. Rei nodded.

"Nabs here's gonna be takin' some photos of me and my 'cousin' Himeko, since we're aiming for me to become somethin' of a famous model to make money. Not sure on idol stuff but we figure I'm attractive enough to make use'a it, yanno?"

Chihiro nodded, looking Ranko over appraisingly. "I can see it. With your hair and eyes you've certainly got an advantage. Then there's…" Her eyes moved down and Ranko snickered.

"Yup! I got the big booba too, and that goes well for some people. It probably helps that I'm fit as heck." The redhead smirked. "Anyway, you guys wanna come see?"

Chihiro nodded, standing up. "Mind if I call Sawako-chan along? She's not doing much and I've been trying to convince her to try modelling myself. If you're up for having a second one, if management of that sort of thing is what you want to do, Nabiki-chan?"

Nabiki pondered a moment. "Hmm. I suppose I can do some test shots. I'm not denying she's attractive. Pale skin, black hair and in that style, delicate. I don't think I've got much in the way of outfits that'd fit her though. She's not as… developed… as Ranko."

Ranko snickered. Chihiro laughed as well and wandered out.

Later, as they walked towards a studio Nabiki had rented for the morning, Rei sidled up next to Ranko.

"I love the dress, Ranko-chan." She said softly. Chihiro, Nabiki and Sawako were walking ahead, while Kippei had stayed behind saying he wasn't interested in the 'girly stuff' but he'd meet with them later at the park.

"Thanks! Cousin got it me. I like Chinese styles, personally, and this is kinda a marriage between that and her very feminine style of dress."

"Do you think she could give me tips? Sometimes I don't feel very feminine." Rei looked down at the floor. Ranko elbowed her gently.

"Hey, you just be as feminine as you feel you need to be, yanno?" She grinned and patted her chest. "I'm a massive tomboy and I'm proud'a it. My fia- friend…" She shook her head a moment. "She's the same, but she doesn't seem to appreciate it. She tries too hard to be feminine when tomboyish works best for her. And when she's a tomboy she's a feminine tomboy." She shrugged. "It's hard to explain. Like when she ain't tryin', she's amazin'. Most fashionable person I know 'ceptin' my cousin Himeko, but she's a posh rich girl so, yanno, it goes like that normally for her."

Rei nodded. Ranko grinned at her. "I think it kinda boils down ta bein' the person you wanna be and forget what society wants ya to be. I know!" She giggled, "It's sacrilegious to say in Japan of all places, but I guess I was raised weird. Nail that sticks out gets hammered down, but whoever tries that with me better bring a bloody big hammer."

Rei giggled and Ranko eyed her. "Why d'ya think you aren't feminine enough, anyway, Rei-chan? You seem alright to me."

Rei blushed. "Um… Ah…" She stammered. Ranko elbowed her again.

"Don't sweat it, you don't wanna share, don't share. No skin off my back. Just believe in yourself."

Rei nodded, looking away with a small smile.

Setting up in the studio with five of them was remarkably painless, and Nabiki soon had Ranko sat down on a stool in the first outfit while Nabiki expertly applied makeup to her face. Once that was done, she set Ranko up to pose, and the morning moved on.

When it came to Sawako, the girl herself had chosen a white dress and then a formal kimono. Nabiki nodded with approval as Ranko helped her with hair and makeup for the kimono. Clearly living with her mother had taught her some things.

Then again, Nabiki remembered Ranko being asked by Kasumi to 'dress nicely' for a meeting one time and turning up after an hour dressed in a girl's full formal ofurisode, hair done perfectly and makeup on point, and that was long before she'd revealed the truth to Nodoka.

Ranko's only answer at the time to a bewildered Akane had been that Akane should've known that she hadn't any nice guy clothes. Nabiki wondered if that was when she'd first started to suspect of Ranko's being… Well, Ranko.

Ranko finished readying Sawako and the two of them posed in the various ways Nabiki wanted. Fortunately for the bob-haired girl they'd taken to it happily, just keeping going with soft ribbing and quiet laughter.

Nabiki marvelled at how, even though she was still a lot like before, Ranko had moved into her femininity. Clearly there'd been some bleed-over from Himeko in the politeness side of things, else she was sure that the redhead wouldn't have been quite as tractable as she was being.

Then again, she had friends she didn't need to lie to around her and generally wasn't keeping one of her facades up, so this was probably the most relaxed she'd been in months. Nabiki knew that Nodoka's training had been tough and uncompromising. Even the scant time she had as herself in the bath was short, and while it probably was enough day-to-day, Ranko definitely needed more 'me' time.

She resolved to talk to her Auntie sometime soon to relax a few things. Maybe they could take a holiday where they could relax entirely, somewhere for the winter holidays. She'd see what she could do.

In the meantime, more weekend outings to see the Ogata family, as they seemed to be good for Ranko.

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As they finished posing, Nabiki stretched and put her camera down. "Good work, guys. Thanks."

Sawako smiled shyly, while Ranko sighed happily, cricking her back and stretching herself. She ran through a few kata to limber herself up and smiled as she finished, feeling better.

As they wound down a little, they noticed Nabiki still had her cameras out. "Are we doing more, Nabiki-chan?" Sawako asked. Ranko was pretty sure the two of them had a thing going – though whether it was something official or just for fun she couldn't tell. Both her sister and friend had far, far too good poker faces and Nodoka had yet to get to the 'seduction' part of the Path of the Silken Breeze, though she'd alluded to it existing previously and lamented that there weren't enough disciples right now to have a really good training session since she didn't want to practice on family.

(Himeko had gone red when being told that and wondered if Nodoka had been joking with her (She had, mostly.) There were still seduction techniques as part of infiltration. It was, after all, related to kunoichi and other ninja arts).

"Kind of." Nabiki answered, looking at Ranko. "Ranko's got a story to tell and a trick to show you."

Rei, Sawako and Chihiro stared at the redhead, who grinned. There was a knock at the door and Kippei came in.

"I figured he ought to see it too." Ranko said. She sighed. "Okay guys, you're like the first friends I've had in… years, really, that haven't tried to marry, attack or a combination of the above me. As such you're… Well, pretty much my best friends." She smiled at them. "And I don't like lyin' to my best friends. I'm gonna tell you a tale and it's gonna sound unbelievable, but you have to trust me, and I'll show you some tricks that will make it less so. Just hope you'll be my friends after."

She looked away. "So… my name ain't Tendou Ranko." She said. "Nabs is my sister, but not in blood. Just… in general. My real name's Saotome Ranko. But I was… born Saotome Ranma."

Nabiki looked at her, blinking. "Ranko? I thought we were just going over Himeko. You don't have to out yourself."

Ranko smiled at her sister. "I know. But I want to. They're my friends, Nabs, and it's better they find out from me than from other stuff. Just my full name can be used to track a load of weird shit in Nerima down."

"I guess." Nabiki looked over the four of their friends, who were looking a little confused.

"Ranma's a nice name. Wild orchids." Rei said.

Ranko laughed. "Mine was 'Wild Horse'." She said softly. "I was born in a boy's body."

The four blink-blinked, looked at each other, then at Ranko. "What the hell kind of HRT did you get for those boobs?" Rei asked. "Because I'd kill for it."

"Jusenkyou." Ranko answered honestly. Nabiki poked her.

"Explain in order."

Ranko sighed. "Right, OK, this is going to be the unbelievable bit. Y'see I was raised as a boy by my Pop. Thought I was one, too, never realised what all that… that grey feelin' was all around me."

Ranko explained her life in broad strokes, glossing over much of the detail but always making sure her training was shown to be as abusive as it had been. "…Pit'a cats, so yeah, keep them little bastards away… Fightin' for your meals sure makes you hungry… Anyway, the wolves stopped chasin' me after about twenty kilometres, so that was nice, at least 'til that mountain lion decided it liked what I smelled like…"

Then she moved onto China and Jusenkyo and was interrupted.

"You can't tell me magical curses are real." Chihiro said. Ranko stood up from her seat and grinned.

She shifted in front of them into a copper-haired girl with very curly hair and pale blue eyes, her skin fairer than Ranko. They watched as fat moved slightly around, giving her a little padding around the belly and hips, her bust and backside losing a little. The new girl stood demurely in front of them, an aura of peace around her.

Rei blinked and then canted her head to one side. "Ranko…chan?"

"Gokigenyou." Himeko bowed. "I am Nayotake Himeko." Her features morphed again into a girl with auburn hair and green eyes, a sharpness to her features. "Haibara Ai." They moved again until it was a girl with long red hair, reddish eyes and a slightly fanglike grin. "Sakura Kyouko."

She showed more until she morphed back into Ranko. The others stared, wide-eyed at her. "And Saotome Ranko. I am a practitioner of the Path of the Silken Breeze, and thanks to my blessing from Jusenkyo I am somewhat more malleable than most practitioners, but infiltration is certainly a specialty. Still doubt in magic?"

Chihiro shook her head. "Not anymore. That was freaky."

"Also wasn't really magic."

"What?"

"It's ki, like the stuff I used to do that big ball on the beach. Different kinda energy but it proves stuff like it exists. Anyway, where was I?"

Ranko explained everything after her curse, again in broad strokes. The time in China, "…Turned up in Nǚjié-zú of all places… Knocked her on her ass… Hunted down, felt like I couldn't even take a crap without a jian slicin' through the stall door…" Returning to Tokyo and Nerima, "…knocked me out with a sign… 'You wanna be friends', she said. Ha! Some offer that was… Walked into the bath on me in boy-form… Arguing…" And a very broad telling of their adventures.

Eventually she got to Saffron and everything after, and then the night on the roof. "So, I said to Nabs… Controlled the chaos… Discovered I wasn't a 'he'… Hadta escape."

She smiled around at everyone. "And that weekend's when I met you guys. It was nice. Anyway…"

She gave them a long outline of recent events, catching up to today and nodded. "And then we came over today."

The Ogatas blinked at her. "That's… one heck of a story, Ranko." Sawako said in her quiet voice. Ranko grinned at her.

"Should see it from this side, Spooky." Sawako tittered at the nickname.

"It would be hard as I am no incorrigible tomboy, Red."

Ranko looked around at her friends, who seemed to be processing it. "You guys? Sorry if this ruins-"

"It doesn't." Kippei and Rei both said. "We like you." Rei continued. "Besides… I need to talk to you later…"

Ranko looked down. "Thanks, guys."

"It's… hard to get, but if Sawako believes you, I do." Chihiro said. "I can tell you guys weren't intending to lie and really, technically you didn't. Still shocking."

Ranko rubbed the back of her head. "You guys ain't mad I used to be a boy?"

"I don't think you were ever really a boy, Ranko-chan." Rei said firmly. "Just thought you were."

"I guess." Ranko looked down again. "Sorry for bein' dishonest."

"Forgiven."

"And… You guys need to keep all'a that to yourselves. I don't want the Nerima insanity to get you, though since Nabs is on my side it's more difficult for the others to get info. If you wanna come visit, you gotta come visit Himeko."

Chihiro looked closely at Ranko. "It's very good method acting, especially with that weird changing."

"It's a bit deeper, but yeah. Don't be surprised if I act very different as Himeko."

"Speaking of, Ranko." Nabiki interrupted. "You need to get changed into the gear you use for the path, since your mom wants us to use Himeko for advertisement and stuff."

Ranko nodded, shifting into Himeko, who bowed at the group. "Gokigenyou." She said and began to change until she was dressed with her sash and real sword and blade at her side, and the photoshoot proceeded apace, with the others still watching her closely.

As they were walking to the park for Ranko to instruct Rei and Kippei, the two having taken a look at the qipao she was wearing and blinking, before carrying on, Rei caught up next to Ranko. "C-can I… talk to you, Ranko-chan?"

Ranko eyed the girl next to her and smiled. "Sure thing, Rei. S'up?"

"Um…" The girl looked down at her pressing fingers. "D-do you know if it's possible to get some of that… You know, girl water stuff?" She asked, looking anywhere but at the redhead.

"Oh? You need some? For anyone I know?" Ranko asked.

"F-for… um, for me." Rei said softly, looking down, her bangs obscuring her eyes.

Ranko stared a moment and then slapped her head. "Fuckin' doy! Signs all there, but I'm a dimwit. You're like me?"

Rei nodded. "Not as lucky… I'm going the long way…"

Ranko put an arm around the girl who wasn't much taller than she was. "S'alright. I got lucky and I know I got lucky. I was asking Nabs what happens to gals like me who don't got the curse and she told me, but it seems so dumb not to see if I can't help."

Rei perked up. "You're not mad?"

"You weren't mad at me, Rei. Why would I get mad?" Ranko grinned. "Tell you what, I'm pretty sure I got some girl spring powder somewhere and a bit of waterproof soap. Stuff ain't great but it'll give you a taste and let you see how it feels. Just then gotta avoid hot water. Good thing is them temporary curses don't come with the water magnet bit, which lemme tell ya, gets real old real fast."

Rei giggled. "Thanks. I don't know if you can get the same water but for boys?"

Ranko eyed her a moment, then looked ahead to where Kippei was walking with the others. "For your brother?"

"…Yeah." Rei said. "We kinda swapped."

Ranko snickered. "Like ships passin' in the night. At least the ratio of boys and girls is the same!" She ruffled Rei's hair. "Well, I didn't even twig onto it so I guess you kids're doin' that… what was it, passin' thing well enough."

"Thanks." Rei smiled.

"Anytime, Rei." Ranko grinned back. "Though I suspect you and your bro ain't gonna be thankin' me once I'm done runnin' ya ragged. S'gonna be more intense than the beach, since I were tryin' to relax there."

Rei's look of sudden, regretful horror was worth every word as Ranko snickered loudly.

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A/N: Oh good lord it's been nearly a year - though not quite - since I updated this. I'd like to apologise for that - my muse went a bit low towards the middle of last year and having a whole new fandom to write in kinda sapped a lot of my creative mindbrain to elsewhere for a while. Thankfully I have a plan for this fic in place, so hopefully should lead to more timely updates.

I hope you enjoyed this one! And as always, my gremlin heart is fulfilled by commentary~