Everything will always be exactly how it's gonna be,

Though I seem to worry every single day,

This prodigal turns home again then morning comes,

And in the end,

I see that new sun shining on your face.

We begin to bend,

We begin to mend.

- "Bend" by The Midnight

}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{

It's much later in the evening when Nodoka finally walks down the stairs. She's spent several hours with Ranko in the room, the only person going there being Kimiko with the girl's usual small meal at the right time. Ranko almost refused; she could see it in those blue eyes, but Nodoka had taken it on herself to feed Ranko directly, and the girl acquiesces to the genteel woman's feeding.

Kimiko notes the love that Nodoka clearly has for the emaciated redhead and it only raises more questions. It's definitely a mother's love, she knows that; she knows exactly how it looks and feels.

After leaving them behind, she sits with her family, waiting.

When Nodoka does come in, they're all shocked at her tear-stained, ruffled appearance, and the slow, miserable gait to her movements as she sits down at the table and hangs her head.

"She's asleep." The auburn-haired woman says softly. "I think she tired herself out. Not that she seems to have much energy. Or life." Nodoka runs her hands down her face, then to the youngest Tendou's surprise, throws her arms around Akane and starts sobbing. "Thank you. Thank you so much, Akane. You saved my baby girl."

Akane puts her arms around Nodoka as she cries. When she's calm, she asks softly. "Auntie? Who is Ranko?"

Nodoka looks up and sighs. "It… isn't my tale to tell. Really. I won't take that from her. I'll make sure she tells you." She settles so she's sitting beside Akane. "But I will tell you this. She's my daughter. And will be on my clan registry when I get a moment."

"She doesn't exist, Auntie." Nabiki says. Nodoka nods.

"Not anymore, no." She replies. "And stop pushing, Nabiki-chan." She smiles fondly. "Always wanting to solve every mystery."

Nabiki shrugs. "Girl's got to have a hobby, and snacks aren't enough."

Kasumi picks up the wallet. None of them had dared look past the first page with their family on, with a panda and Ranko, but minus Kimiko. She holds it out to Nodoka who sighs. "I'd hoped you'd not see this yet. But it does let me…" She flips through it to the picture of her and Ranko, her in her house kimono, Ranko in a ruffled, pretty white dress, both smiling broadly. "My daughter."

Akane stares at the picture, a blush coming to her cheeks at seeing Ranko in health and not as she is currently, thin and broken. Her heart aches as she sees the happiness that she's never seen in the red-haired girl, all the time she's known her.

I'll make her happy, she decides. However she needs me. Friend, girlfriend, whatever.

The rest of the family gather around and look. Kimiko eyes her daughter. "My, my, Akane-chan, you told me she was a beauty, but with her current state it's difficult to see. You weren't joking, were you? No wonder you like her."

Akane blushes further and Kasumi smiles at them. "She certainly looks good here. When was this…?" She looks. "That's… recent."

"Yes." Nodoka says. "It is."

Akane looks at the dress. "…I bought that dress. And those heels." She says suddenly. "And in the wrong size. And there's those overalls…"

"Echoes, perhaps." Nodoka mutters to herself. Akane frowns. She wants to know what it is they're hiding, but Nodoka's right. It's Ranko's story to tell, once she's better.

Eventually, after looking through the wallet and not getting any further with Nodoka, who stays quiet, the girls go to bed, but Nodoka sits on the genkan with a bowl of sake that she takes a sip from occasionally. She watches the koi in the pond, under the moonlight and doesn't even react when Kimiko sits next to her.

"No-chan?"

"Kimiko." Nodoka says sadly.

"I think I know what she did."

"Oh?"

"You remember the girl I swear I saw at the foot of my bed, when I was ill and then recovered?"

"You've mentioned her." Nodoka frowns. "You think it was Ranko?"

"I think so. She told me… she told me that she leaves so I might live, and to love my family."

Nodoka looks down, draining her bowl of the alcohol. "She made a wish. A stupid, beautiful wish. But the price was… I don't know how anyone could pay that price and stay sane."

Kimiko puts her hand on Nodoka's, then interlaces her fingers with her friend's. "I don't think she really is." The brown-haired woman says unhappily. "And she's… Well. I think something broke inside of her."

Nodoka closes her eyes and tears fall onto her knees. "I know." She whispers. "She was damaged before but… starting a difficult recovery. But now… I don't know what to do. She spent three months starving to death, alone, thinking that all she does is hurt people. She told me everything that had happened, like she was ashamed to be alive."

"She gave me a death poem." Kimiko says quietly. "Asked Akane and I to leave her for scavengers. That no one would miss her."

Nodoka leans on her best friend, starting to cry. "I can't believe I forgot my baby girl, Kimiko. I failed her."

"You did no such thing." Kimiko says sharply. "She did that to herself. Regardless of anything, if she wished for it and knew the price then that's still her fault."

"But she doesn't deserve what happened to her…"

Kimiko sighs. "No. No one does, and when I find whoever hurt her like that, I'll put my foot so far up their arse they'll be spitting toenails."

Nodoka giggles through her tears. "Thank you. But I'm afraid that it was your family that started her poor self-esteem. Whoever told her she hurts people well, they only made it worse. But they aren't the same people. There's no one to blame."

Kimiko lets out an explosive sigh. "I hope now she has you, she'll start recovery. Toufu was talking to a friend of his, Mitaka-sensei. She's a… therapist."

Nodoka nods. "I was considering sending her… before." She sighs. "I don't know whether it'll help. There's so much damage."

"I think Akane's going to help too." Kimiko says with a soft smile. "She really is quite smitten, even now. I saw the look she gets when she wants to make someone happy."

Nodoka smiles, her new memories letting her see the differences. "You'd be amazed how different she is, Kimiko. I didn't know her too well before Ranko did what she did, but I could tell she was damaged, hurting. Now, having helped raise her in this world? She's amazing. And I know Ranko likes her. About the only thing that put colour in her cheeks was asking about this Akane and the date they almost went on."

Kimiko laughs sadly. "Oh, I hope it works out for them. Akane's a good girl, and Ranko deserves someone who loves her."

Nodoka leans against her friend. "We should probably send Akane to the therapists with her, for a smaller session after."

"Why?"

"I think Ranko is going to be… high maintenance. It's not her fault, just I think… It'll be hard dealing with her until she improves. I think she needs to have somewhere professional she feels comfortable venting about it without feeling like she's hurting my daughter."

Kimiko nods. "Good idea." She stands, helping Nodoka to her feet. "I take it you'll spend the night in Ranko's room with her?"

"Yes."

}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{

The next morning is a school day, and for the first time Akane comes downstairs from changing into her school uniform to find Ranko sat at the table. Nodoka's bustling in and out of the kitchen, and the short-haired girl kisses her auntie on the cheek, then her mother before going to sit down next to Ranko.

The petite, thin girl is leaning against the wall, eyes still hollow. She's back in Kasumi's voluminous nightdress and Akane sighs inwardly at her slow recovery rate. She's filled out a tiny amount, but not enough. "Good morning, Ranko-chan."

Those blue eyes flick to her, then back to staring out the engawa. "Good morning."

The voice is so quiet it might as well be silent. Akane still smiles at her. At least she's talking today. Auntie Nodoka must be good for her.

"At least you don't have to go to school today, huh?" Akane asks, trying to lighten the mood. Ranko's lips twitch, and Akane considers that a success as a small spark of life returns to her blue eyes.

They're soon joined by the family, and Ranko's energy seems to run out after eating her small portion and drinking the nutrient drink the hospital had made them give her. She leans on Akane and the short-haired girl accepts the contact.

Watching Ranko's face, she can see that Ranko basks in her family life and wonders what hers must have been like before she was homeless.

Eventually breakfast ends, and Nabiki heads out on her bike, Akane calls goodbye and makes her way to school.

Her usual sparring folks are waiting outside already, and she cricks her neck and knuckles in anticipation.

The morning spar runs as always does; her the clear victor but none of the boys too badly damaged, and all in time for the bell. Kunou watches her, but by some miracle he says nothing until she reaches the gate.

"Tendou Akane-san. May I have a word?"

He's being unusually polite, so she turns and humours him. "Yes, senpai?" She asks. If he's being polite, so can she.

"I wish to ask… I had some distressing news and words from your elder sister, Tendou Nabiki. Have you truly found the beauteous fiery-haired Ranko? She of the demure eyes and calm bearing belying the core of steel?"

"I have, senpai. Why do you ask?"

Kunou gives an oddly sad look. "And speak truly: she was homeless and starving?"

"Yes." Akane's fists clench. He nods at her reaction.

"Thank you for telling me, Tendou Akane-san. You've given me much to think about."

She nods, but he doesn't seem to have anything further to say, so she moves on into the school proper.

Akane makes her way into her classroom and stands at the front, waiting for the teacher to come in.

Arizawa-sensei finally shows up on time, the rest of the class watching their class representative curiously as she speaks softly to the teacher, who looks shocked, nods and then smiles. Akane nods back and the teacher clears his throat.

"Ahem, unusual though it is, Tendou-kun has an announcement to make."

Akane smiles around at her class and nods to them. "Hey everyone, I'll keep it short and sweet. You all remember Ranko-chan, right?" A general murmur rises from the class until Akane quells them with a direct look. "I know. She's one of us and she vanished. Last week, I found her. I've not told you because… well, we weren't sure if she'd pull through." The class as one blink. "I'm telling you now because it looks like the worst is past."

Yuka raises her hand. "Will she be coming back?"

Akane nods, smiling. "I'm hoping she'll be back soon, and she's got a family name now, too. She's being adopted by my auntie, Himura Nodoka."

Sayuri cheers but Yuka frowns. "How is she doing, Akane-chan?"

Akane's face sobers. "Not well. She's still weak and recovering from extreme malnourishment, and her mental state is… Well, she's not good. She's been very isolated. She was homeless and on her own the whole time she was with us before."

Sayuri's cheer goes down. "You mean, all the time she sat…?"

"Yeah."

One of their classmates sounds shocked. "So… she was starving and alone? She gave me melon bread more than once while she was here when I complained about forgetting my bentou and I just… I took it. You mean to tell me she was literally starving and still gave away her food?"

"She helped me with some of the problems on my homework!" Aoi says, "And she seemed so nice. Poor girl!"

"Is there anything we can do?" Daisuke asks, raising his hand. "Like get well cards or… I don't know, something? Fruit, drinks, food?"

Akane smiles at him and nods. "I was thinking we all send her a card with our best wishes on. I was also thinking of having a welcome back celebration for her when she returns; it shouldn't be more than a week or two before she's cleared to return."

Hiroshi grins wide. "Awesome, she was such a cutie. Awful she was on her own, though. I think I can get a banner made up for her." Daisuke, sat next to him, nods enthusiastically.

Akane and the class fall into a discussion until Arizawa-sensei clears his throat. "Alright children, back to your seats. We'll discuss our missing classmate later on. Thank you for sharing with us, Tendou-kun."

At lunch, Akane sits as usual with Sayuri and Yuka, and they press her for more information.

"How is she really, Akane?"

Akane bites her lip. "Not good." She says softly, looking down. "Really, really not good. Auntie's…" She sighs. "Auntie's actually her mother. Like really. Except she didn't give birth to her."

The girlfriends look at each other and then at Akane. "But that's…"

"Impossible. I know. But she is. It's like she didn't have her miscarriage, except she did and has the medical history to prove it. It's like Ranko just… appeared, one day."

Yuka frowns. "…Does she know?"

Akane's face falls. "Yeah, I think so. She won't explain, it sends her into one of her quiet spells. I think something really bad happened to her, but all she says is that it's the price she paid for something."

Sayuri shakes her head. "What's she like at the moment?"

"Withdrawn. She hardly speaks or, really, reacts. Onii-chan says it's like something called 'catatonia', but not as bad." Akane's voice thickens. "It's like something inside her's just… died and… well, she wants to follow it." Her lip quivers. "I-I… I don't know what to do." She admits, tears spilling from her eyes and rolling down her cheeks. "She's hurt so, so bad, it's like she's shattered inside and I'm trying, I really really am, but I can't seem to help her pick up the pieces…"

Yuka and Sayuri both sit either side of her and hold Akane while she cries. They look at each other over her hunched form.

"Can we… come and see her tonight?" Yuka asks once Akane's calmed down some. Sayuri nods.

"Yeah… I'd like to see her too."

Akane sniffles, wiping her eyes. "S-sorry guys… Yeah, you should be able to though she tires really easy."

Nabiki's sat with her usual lieutenants, sorting the gossip in the school out when Kunou Tatewaki makes his way into their classroom early. "Tendou Nabiki-san." He says gravely. "I believe I've erred and I wish to seek your counsel."

"Sure thing, Kunou-baby." The bob-haired girl replies, shooing her friends away. "How can I help?"

"You told me I was a failure as a samurai if I let people in the school my father runs down."

"I did. You did. Ranko-chan was homeless and starving and you did nothing." A twinge of guilt fills Nabiki. Neither did she, though she was just starting her investigation before the girl disappeared. "Therefore, you are. You can't have the rights of some lord without the responsibilities."

"I am indeed. So, I am going to help improve that."

Nabiki stares in shock at her usually mad classmate.

}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{

Yuka and Sayuri follow Akane through the genkan as their friend yells a greeting. A quiet, barely-heard echo hits them, and Akane leads them to the family room, where they spy Kimiko watching television while Kasumi is typing something on her laptop on the table. On the engawa, Nodoka is sitting with Soun, playing shougi. A pillow sits on the auburn-haired woman's lap, and Ranko's head lies on the pillow, the rest of her curled up next to Nodoka.

The couple look at each other, then at the girl. Ranko's only wearing a cotton nightdress that practically drowns her, but the figure they can see under it isn't anything like she had been before. Her hands look even thinner and tinier than they were, and her cheeks are still hollow.

Her face is set in a frown as she sleeps, and minute tics and twitches show it's not restful.

Nodoka brightens as the girls come in. "Akane-chan, Yuka-chan, Sayuri-chan, it's good to see you." Her hand shoots out to stop Soun, who grins and makes his own greeting, missing Nodoka's return cheat.

The three girls sit nearby. "Hi Auntie." They chorus.

"How is she?" Yuka asks, looking at the sleeping redhead. Her face is still troubled. Nodoka looks down and frowns.

"Tired, today. She's not had much energy, but Kasumi-chan tells me that's fairly normal for her situation. I hope she begins improving soon." She nudges Ranko who opens her eyes blearily. "Ranko-chan," She says softly. "Dear, your friends from school are here."

"Friends?" Ranko asks, yawning, but staying on her mother's lap until Nodoka helps her sit up. Even then she leans heavily on her.

"Yes, dear, Sayuri-chan and Yuka-chan are here to see you."

Ranko blinks awake at once and looks over. "O-oh. Nakano-san, Tamaki-San… To see me?"

"Hi Ranko-chan." Yuka says, smiling. "We told you to use our given names."

"O-oh…" Ranko says quietly. They look at each other at how much quieter and ill-used her voice sounds.

"W-well, anyway, we brought you something." Sayuri says brightly, holding out a bouquet of orchids. "Your namesake!"

Ranko takes them and sniffs at the flowers. They smell sweet and fragrant, and she stares at them a moment. Her eyes flicker with some life as she looks at Sayuri and Yuka, who hand her a card. It just says 'get well soon' on it and is signed with a message from the two. She sniffles.

"Why?" She asks.

"You're our friend, aren't you? You'd do the same for us, we bet." Yuka says, sitting with Sayuri. "How are you feeling?"

Ranko looks down. "I shouldn't be alive." She says softly. "But I am. I'm tired, Yuka-chan. So tired. I was so close."

The two look at each other again and then back at Ranko. "Well, I'm glad you're still with us. I know your mother's probably happy."

Nodoka nods and holds Ranko close, kissing the top of her daughter's head. "I am more gladdened than any other time in my life."

Ranko's eyes drift shut again as she's held by her mother and the three girls talk with Nodoka about small things. Ranko occasionally wakes but she's mostly noncommunicative, just staring with empty eyes unless directly addressed. Getting her to speak is like pulling teeth, though.

She keeps staring at the card in her hands and mouthing something to herself. Akane shrugs at them and they let her carry on. Nodoka doesn't look too happy but she doesn't say anything to Ranko, just holds her gently. The girlfriends can see how much she loves her daughter and even with Ranko's noncommunicative mood, how much Ranko adores her mother.

Eventually the pair bid them a farewell and head off and Nodoka stretches. "I think I'll take a bath. Come along, Ranko dear."

She helps Ranko to her feet and Akane watches as Nodoka helps the red-haired girl totter around the engawa to the furo. She frowns and Soun notices.

"Akane?" She looks to her father and he motions to the shougi board. "Let's have a game. A conversation over a game is always more focused."

She sits where Nodoka had and they re-set the board. Her father's obviously in some kind of sensei mood, and she won't deny him. He taught her a third of what she knows, the other two from her mother and from auntie Nodoka.

"You do know I will always love you, daughter?" Soun asks, making his first move. Akane moves to counter.

"Of course, Daddy." She says softly.

"I won't pretend I understand how it is that two girls can love one another as a man loves his wife and vice versa." He intones gravely. "Your mother, I think, does. But it's enough for me that you'll be happy, even if society can be funny. I am heavily invested in tradition, as are most of the family, but I like to think we all appreciate love, as long as it isn't harming someone."

Akane blushes bright red and makes another move. "Y-yes Daddy."

Soun smiles at her. "You like Ranko-chan, don't you?"

Akane nods. "I do."

"Yet you hardly know her." He says softly, placing another tile, capturing one of hers.

Akane nods. "It's… a connection, Daddy. I don't pretend to understand it, but it's like I already knew her."

Soun's gaze casts to the photo album on one of the shelves, along with the personalised bentou box. "Indeed. I rather feel the same. As do your sisters, even if they won't tell us. Like there was a hole shaped like her in our lives."

Akane nods. "And that photograph. It's like she knew us somewhere, and we her."

Soun 'hmms' to himself and nods. "Perhaps she travelled from another version of the world."

Akane sighs. "I don't know… There's something off there."

Soun nods again. "You're perceptive, Akane. I know your sisters tend towards disinterest in the Art, only really practising to keep up, but you embraced it. I'm proud of you. And I'm proud of your good heart."

"…I'm sensing a 'but', Daddy." Akane takes one of his generals and smiles proudly. Soun chuckles.

"There is. Don't let that connection hurt you as well."

"…Daddy?"

Soun sighs as Kimiko sits by him, kissing his cheek. "Ranko-chan is… damaged. I think… Well, I don't like to think anyone is truly beyond repair, except perhaps the Master, rest his soul, but she's very close."

Akane shakes her head. "I won't abandon her. She needs us."

Soun nods. "And I would think less of you if you did. But if you are going to enter into a relationship with her, if she wishes to…"

"…And I think she does." Says Kimiko, smiling sadly.

"…You're going to need to be strong for her as well as you. And that means knowing when to be weak."

Akane frowns. "I don't understand."

Kimiko sighs. "Your auntie and I are sending Ranko to Mitaka-sensei, one of Toufu's colleagues. She's a therapist. However, we'd also like for you to attend a shorter session just after Ranko's own."

"W-why? I'm not…"

Kimiko smiles at her daughter. "It will give you a place you can vent and talk about your troubles without fear of being overheard. Trust me, it'll be invaluable. That is, if you two do end up dating."

Akane frowns and bites her lip, capturing one of Soun's tiles. "I see." She says.

"It helps to have someone outside to confide in." Soun says gravely, nodding with his wife. "Someone connected but professionally, not emotionally involved."

Akane finally nods. "I… suppose I can try."

Kimiko smiles as Soun places a tile and wins the game. "Thank you, Akane."

Akane curses as she sees the gambit she lost to. "No fair, Daddy, set it up again! I told you to stop cheating when I'm distracted! Only Auntie Nodoka puts up with that, because she cheats worse than you!"

}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{

A/N: Fun Fact: I consider "Untouchable" by Anatheme to kind of be the song for Ranko/Akane.

Part 1 is more for Akane than Ranko, being somewhat more upbeat.

Part 2 is Ranko's half.

Just idle thoughts of Berry.

Recovery is a slow process and Ranko is going to take a lot of time to be pieced back together. Even then, it's like breaking a vase. Pieces never really fit together again well.

Well, technically this Ranko is a vase that got cracked, chipped, partly repaired and then dropped on the floor.