Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction, I do not claim any rights to any of the characters or concepts created or owned by Viz Video or Rumiko Takahashi. This is just the work of one fan to the others. The only characters or concepts that i claim are the ones I created or introduced. That said, I bring you:

Broken Mirrors, chapter 32

Monday, December 28th. The Toho Center for Physical Rehabilitation. 11:00 AM.

Tsubasa paced in the front lobby as they waited for her next client. Ranma Saotome was an interesting person to work with. The amount of drive and determination he showed was inspiring, if they were being honest with themselves. Most people that had suffered the kind and extent of injuries that he had were all too likely to just give up and lose themselves in the depression and feelings of helplessness that were such a part of life changing injuries.

They also had to admit that they're interested in working with his sister, Ranko Saotome. Such similar levels of injury were uncommon in accidents, and she seemed just as driven. They would be leaving most of the work with Ukyo, she figured. But nothing wrong with helping their old girlfriend and the sister of their client, right?

It inspired Tsubasa to consider taking the plunge themselves, and getting the bottom surgery done that they had been putting off for years now. They had done the top surgery years ago, honestly as soon as they could. They had put the other off because they were worried about how long they could be down before being able to get back to the job that they loved, and if they were being honest with themselves, they weren't sure that they were ready to truly choose just one gender over another.

Being gender fluid or even dual gendered was one thing, but fully transitioning was a very big step for them.

They continued to pace, then looked up as the door opened, and the staccato sound of a cane on the floor sounded. Tsubasa immediately smiled and waved as the pair entered, with Ranma clasping Ukyo's hand in an almost unheard of display of public affection and attachment.

Tsubasa thought that they had caught a wink of light from Ukyo's hand and felt a giddy excitement start to bubble up in themselves. There was no way, was there? It would be awesome if she and he had, but… Did he actually propose to U-Chan?

Tsubasa grinned as they practically ran to Ukyo and hugged the woman who already had an amused, exasperated look on her face. "Did he? Did you? When! Were you not going to tell me, U-chan!"

Ukyo laughed as she peeled them off of her. "He did. I did. This weekend, and you didn't really give me a chance to tell you, Tsu-chan."

Tsubasa pouted then grinned as they looked at Ranma. "You had better take good care of her, or I might try to take her back!"

Ranma shook his head as he addressed Ukyo. "Your friend is a most excitable one indeed."

Tsubasa grinned and nodded. "That I am! Now, let's get you changed and ready! It's a pool day!" They said before they looped their arm through Ukyo's and dragged Ranma's fiance off.

Ranma shook his head with an amused look on his face as he went into the change. When he came out, Ukyo was in her usual one piece, and Tsubasa stood next to her wearing a similar one, with the odd addition of a pair of shorts on as well. Ranma gave Ukyo a questioning look, but she shook her head and pointed her thumb towards Tsubasa. Ranma took the hint, and just walked up and stood before them. "I am in your care, then."

Tsubasa grinned and led the way, still chatting excitedly at Ukyo. It would seem that her engagement was a pretty major thing to his new physical therapist. He did wonder about their history, since some of the things that they had said last visit sounded a bit odd. Perhaps Ukyo had tried the 'other team' as he had heard it said, and decided that it wasn't for her? And why would he be scarred from being hit on by Tsubasa? Yes, he would of course reject any advances, but the reference seemed to have missed him. Still, they seemed close, and that was not a bad thing. It could not be easy for either of them to make their way in such a male-dominated profession. Of course, his own perceptions on gender issues had been radically changed once he gained a sister, and heard about the challenges she faced. Perhaps in time Tsubasa would explain things.

Soon enough, the three of them were in the pool. Tsubasa seemed to be a bit more hands on than Ukyo had been, perhaps because they were still learning his limits? Something he might have to ask Ukyo about later. Tsubasa seemed to be as diligent as his fiance had ever been, willing to push him when he needed it, and perceptive enough to hold him back when he had pushed himself too far.

The session ended with Tsubasa once more glomping onto Ukyo, and then much to the chagrin of Rnama, he found himself on the receiving end of a rather thorough hug. Ukyo laughed as she detached her old friend from her fiance before she mock-scolded the excitable person. "Now now, what did I say about not scarring my fiance, Tsu-chan?"

"But U-Chan!" Tsubasa whined. "He is so huggable! You know I have a soft spot for the strong and stoic type!" They teased.

"No scarring my fiance, Tsu-chan. He is as straight as you come, and I don't think either of you would enjoy the aftermath." Ukyo said almost sweetly as she eyed her long-time friend.

Tsubasa swallowed hard and backed off. "Point taken! Good talk! Well, I should get going to my next appointment! Hahaha…. Nice to see you again, and I will see you in two weeks!" Tsubasa said hurriedly before they walked off quickly.

"That is another one of those things I will have to ask them about, correct?" Ranma asked his fiance as they made their way out to the car.

Ukyo smiled and nodded as she helped him in, then settled next to him. "I'm sure that Tsu-chan will explain in time. Once they feel more comfortable with you."

Ranma nodded as he took Ukyo's hand in his once more. "Very well."

Monday, December 28th. The Saotome Estate, 6:00 PM.

Ranma eyed the two bowls of soup with an odd expression on his face before he looked at the two women that also had bowls of soup. "So, you said you were going to start me on a new training regime, and it involves soup that is not part of some special diet?"

Ukyo laughed and looked at Akane. "You get to explain, sugar. You are much better at this than I am. I still can't get anything like a ball to form, and you seem to be getting the hang of that, at least."

Akane nodded as she looked at Ranma. "Okay, this is all part of a rather strange but effective training regime that your sister created for us. I guess she is trying to instill in us lessons and training that took her years, in as little time as possible. Some of it, well, is frankly bizarre. Like meditations on two specific types of soup. Now, what it gives you though… That is something even stranger." Akane rose from the lotus position and took a deepl, cleansing breath before she shifted her stance, and cupped her hands at her navel like she was holding a ball. A few moments of intense concentration later and Ranma could swear he saw a glowing something cupped between her palms. It flickered and wavered, but as he watched it grew in intensity and brightness until it seemed to burst like a bubble and Akane staggered a bit.

Akane waved the other two off as they started to reach for her. "Sorry, it always drains me for a moment when I lose it. I'm sure Ranko will be more than happy to try to explain why. I just hope it doesn't involve more strange practices with food." Akane said wryly before she settled back down.

Ranma let that digest for a moment before he looked at Akane. "Was that chi? You actually manifested chi?"

Akane nodded and reached for her bottle of water. "Chi, ki, qi… Call it what you will, but somehow Ranko's practices, including contemplating soup, lead to this. Mind you, she is still not exactly sure on everything, but she definitely has a better grasp on it than we do. So, we do exercises, meditate, and contemplate soup." Akane grinned as she said it and reached for her bowls.

Ranma nodded as he reached for his bowls and set about the task in all seriousness. The two ladies had exchanged a look, as they both shared the feeling that even with a head start, Ranma was probably going to catch up quickly.

Now, if what Ranko had hinted at was a possibility, they just hoped it was fast enough.

Wednesday, December 30th. The Toho Center For Physical Rehabilitation, 11;00 AM.

Ranma stretched as he prepared to hit the track. This was going to be a bit rougher of a day than normal, he could tell. He had worked hard the previous day with the exercises that Ranko had given them. It had not been a soup day. It had been a day of stretches, exercises and katas.

Ukyo had seemed to handle it better, but both of them were leagues behind Akane. Perhaps it was the fact that Akane had more hands-on time with Ranko, or some undefined potential. It didn't seem to be something that Ranko knew either. From her notes, it seemed that in her world it wasn't common, but it also was not as rare as legends and myths made it seem in his world,

Ranma had decided that he would catch up as fast as he could, and not just for himself. He hoped that it might allow Ranko to recover more and be able to tap into more of her potential. The link that their bodies shared might make that possible. Ranko described it as life force, so it was entirely possible that the more one built up their reserves, the more that might be available for the other as well.

They started to make their way around the track, with Ukyo at his side as Tsubasa followed along behind him to better observe as he walked at a brisk pace around the track. Ranma knew that he was pushing himself a bit more than he should, but with Ukyo beside him, he couldn't let himself show it.

That was probably why he stumbled on the last lap and started to fall. Ukyo reached for him, but it was Tsubasa that caught him from behind. Ranma was surprised by just how strong the person behind him was, Something else surprised Ranma as he landed fully against the font of the person behind him. Ranma waited until Tsubasa stepped back before he turned and bowed to Tsubasa with Ukyo at his side, helping support him.

"I think that might be the limit for today." Ranma said as Tsubasa looked down.

"I'm so sorry, Saotome-san. I should have noticed earlier that you were struggling." Tsubasa said as they helped Ukyo get Ranma to the benches.

Ranma shook his head as he lowered himself to the bench. "It was not your fault, it was mine. I should have been more honest with both of you."

Tsubasa made sure that the couple were settled in before they hurried over to get water bottles for all of them. Tsubasa stood there and looked a bit nervous as they slowly turned the bottle in their hands. "I'd like to keep working with you, if… If that is okay, Saotome-san," They said nervously.

Ranma took a drink and looked at Tsubasa with a raised eyebrow. "And why would I not want to work with you? Ukyo recommended you, so that is all the proof I have ever needed," Ranma stated matter of factly.

Tsubasa hesitated, then sighed. "Because I am different. I don't really hide it, but I also don't advertise it. And, a lot of people don't like working with me because I don't fit any of the molds that society wants to put me into."

Ranma shrugged and took a drink from his bottle. "You want to help me, correct? And both you and Ukyo think that you are the right one to help me, with all the challenges I face. And the fact that I am stubborn and never know when to back down."

Tsubasa glanced at Ukyo then looked at Ranma as they straightened their shoulders. "I do want to help you improve, and I think that I am the right one to help you since Ukyo can't. Please, let me help you improve, Saotome-san." Tsubasa said as they bowed to Ranma.

"On one condition." Ranma said firmly.

"Name it, and I will try to follow it if I can." Tsubasa said earnestly.

"If we are going to work together, please call me Ranma." Ranma said.

Tsubasa grinned and bowed. "Happily, Ranma. Just call me Tsubasa, then. Maybe someday I will even let you call me Tsu-chan!" Tsubasa said with their usual energy.

An hour later, as the couple were making their way towards the door, Ukyo finished up the last story she had to tell about Tsubasa. "Tsu-chan here loves cosplay. But not just any cosplay, noooo. That would be too normal for them. They like to dress up as background props!"

"Background props?" Ranma questioned as Tsubasa blushed.

"Yes… Mail boxes, signs, a couch once…." Ukyo explained.

"The couch was a good one! It was the one from the Yamada's basement! And the mailbox was from 'Kyoto or bust!'. It was part of a very moving scene!" Tsubasa said passionately. "And the only reason you didn't like my couch costume was because you tried to sit on me."

"You were a very believable couch! Anyone would have sat on you!" Ukyo said in an exasperated tone of voice.

"You just don't understand art!" Tsubasa countered.

"Alright, you two. That is enough. Are you sure you two aren't related? You bicker like siblings." Ranma said as he shook his head.

The other two got silent for a moment, then shared a grin as they looked at Ranma together and bowed deeply. "Yes, father." they said together as they drew an exasperated sigh from Ranma.

"I'm not even going to justify that with a comment. Thank you for helping me today, Tsubasa. I look forward to seeing you again in two weeks." Ranma said as he got into the car.

"Next week I will introduce you to his sister, Ranko. Maybe we will all hit the Teahouse together." Ukyo said as she hugged Tsubasa and slid into the car.

Tsubasa watched them drive off before they turned on their heel and headed back inside. Their next client would be here soon, and they had to get ready.

It was going to be a good week.