"Of Loss, Life, & Love"
A Ranma ½ Fanfic by Luna12
Chapter 23: "Facades"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The last bell of the day rang out, and students happily gathered their supplies to leave.

Ukyo was standing over Ranma's desk. "You'll come by the shop for a bite, won't you Ranchan?"

Ranma's stomach rumbled in happy agreement, but he at least managed to face Akane before verbally answering. It wasn't that unusual for him and Akane to go together to Ucchan's for good eats after school, but everything had been turned on its head with the forced courtship.

Ukyo's invitation was just another reminder to Akane how despite all the strides and changes made between her and Ranma, there were still serious entanglements in the way. Still, there was nothing more to do but grin and bear it for the next thirty days. Ranma's words and actions from before gave her just enough confidence to stem the tide of jealousy that was stirring in her heart.

Ranma made sure to make eye contact with Akane, doing his darndest to communicate his intentions when stuck between the two of them. Akane gave him a small, tight smile in response. When he first arrived in Nerima, he didn't understand his forced fiancée at all. He'd had such little real world experience with females, and the things she did and the way she acted did not follow the familiar characterizations of schoolgirls he read in manga. She was an independent tomboy, but also kind and self sacrificing, and with enough insecurities to rival his own. It was a steep learning curve filled with bruises, but he was finally able to read her body language enough to understand the current unspoken message.

He turned to face the chef. "Sure, Ukyo. We'll both come. Not a bad idea to get fueled up before we teach tonight."

Ukyo unconsciously tightened her grip on her battle spatula, but she forced a neutral - and hopefully cute - expression to remain on her face. That Ranchan had purposely included Akane rankled. At the same time, it was hardly that unusual. It used to be common enough to serve them together at her place. Despite their rivalry, Ukyo still considered Akane a sort-of friend, and Ukyo couldn't discount or forget the times Akane had helped her without any ulterior motive. Once again, Ukyo wondered at how all their relationships would have developed without the arranged marriages tangling everything up. Part of her longed to put aside the romantic competitiveness and simply be friends. Ukyo shook her head. There was no point thinking in circles or lingering on regret. The reality of the situation was she was going to woo Ranma and secure his affections in thirty days, preferably even sooner. Which meant she couldn't afford to let any friendship with Akane slow her down.

Ukyo did her best to put on a pleasant face. "Of course. And I'll make you something extra special, Ranchan."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Once at her okonomiyaki shop, Ukyo realized she'd miscalculated. With the Nekohanten out of business and the school year starting, her place was hopping with hungry customers. Normally, she'd be thrilled at the extra business. Part of her was bursting with pride and excitement, but that was quickly being drowned out with the realization she had no time to court Ranma and serve hungry patrons at the same time. As a result, she had to endure Ranma and Akane cozily sitting next to each other and pleasantly talking together at her counter. Even if the conversation was just about what lessons Ranma had missed when he skipped class today, it still rankled.

Ukyo was prevented from even glaring in their direction as Konatsu rattled off a long list of orders.

Eventually there was a slight lull in the orders, and Ranma looked her way. Ukyo wiped her brow and desperately hoped she didn't have any sauce or flour remnants on herself. She reached to the far left and flipped two steaming pancakes.

"Looks like business is doing well," Ranma commented.

Ukyo threw him a sardonic smirk and winked. "I wonder who I have to thank for that."

Ranma shrugged, but smiled. Ukyo felt a flood of hope fill her chest. She already had Ranchan's friendship. She just had to nudge it along a more romantic direction.

She poured the batter for his order and Ranma watched in amusement as she delivered six other orders at once. Then she grabbed the tonkatsu sauce and began crafting. The one she gave to Ranma was extra large and perfectly heart shaped, and with a skilled hand her sauce elegantly spelled out "Ranma + Ukyo".

Akane frowned, but before she could say anything Ranma practically inhaled the food. He never even gave it a glance. "What?" He mumbled with his mouth full as both Akane and Ukyo stared at him. Ranma swallowed. "I skipped lunch, remember?"

Akane shook her head in wry amusement, while Ukyo clenched her teeth. He didn't even bother to look at what she wrote! Before Ukyo could comment further, she was flooded with more orders.

By the end the chef looked exhausted – her hair was disheveled and there was sauce on her apron. All she wanted to do was take a short nap before the dinner rush, but Ranma was gathering his school bag and preparing to leave...and Akane was going with him.

"Wait up!" she called out, quickly washing her hands and hanging up her apron. There was no way she was going to let those two be alone together.

Ranma stopped and bashfully rubbed the back of his head. "We gotta teach at the dojo, Ucchan."

Ukyo never hesitated. "Great, I'll go with you!"

Akane frowned. "We're just training and teaching, Ukyo."

Ukyo gave Akane a challenging glare, but she kept her voice pleasantly light for Ranma's sake. "Then you should have no objections to me watching, right Akane-chan?"

Akane sighed quietly, rubbing at her forehead with her free hand, then looked at Ranma. Her fiancé looked thoughtful, and a trifle sad, but when he returned her look his smile was honest and affectionate, and he squeezed her hand in return. Akane smiled back and bumped her shoulder against his. Ukyo felt a lump grow in her throat. They were doing it again. The silent communication and soft body language that seemed to pull them into a separate, private world. She never had that with Ranchan, even when they'd been childhood buddies.

Ukyo felt her determination harden. Well, she'd just have to make sure to stick to Ranma better than egg in okonomiyaki batter.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Ukyo watched them teach at the dojo, able to observe first hand how well Ranma and Akane had organized themselves. Ranchan logically took on the more experienced and dedicated students, while Akane's side of the dojo was filled with a larger group of white belts and hobbyist martial artists. In her mind, she had worried about them being strongly partnered and bonding over a joint class. The reality was that they worked completely independently, and Ukyo felt herself relax. Then, as if to mock her previous complacency, she noticed that Ranma kept stealing glances at Akane. At first, Ukyo thought he was simply checking up on her class, but it soon became clear his eyes were only on the instructor. Ukyo's eyebrows narrowed and she started to carefully study Akane. The Tendo heir was focused on her students, but there was no mistaking the moments when she turned to look across the dojo, a gentle smile gracing her lips as her eyes followed Ranma.

Most of these glances were subtle, and only once did they both manage to make eye contact. Instantly they both blushed and turned away. That in itself spoke volumes. Ukyo nearly jumped out from her seat as an observer. She would have to make sure Ranma's attention stayed on her, the cute fiancée, and not his fellow sensei.

The class finished and Ukyo quickly ran up to greet him. "So Ranchan, let's celebrate."

He took a sip of his water before answering. "Celebrate what?"

Ukyo gave him her cutest smile. "The beginning of a beautiful, better relationship, silly. That is what this month is all about."

Akane frowned, dividing her attention from one of her students asking her a question while trying to observe what Ukyo was up to.

Ranma rubbed the back of his head. He was at a loss for words. His mother had basically promised away his free time to Ukyo. "What do you have in mind?" he asked cautiously. He saw Akane bristle in the corner of the dojo, and he couldn't help but rein in a smirk. Akane was jealous, and he couldn't help but feel a little bit good about that.

Ukyo noticed Akane's discomfort and smiled wider in triumph. She wound her arm around Ranma's, slowly leading him to the exit. "Why, you'll be my date to the matsuri festival this weekend."

There was a startling crunching sound. A student stood slack jawed before commenting, "You alright, Tendo-sensei?"

Akane had inadvertently crushed the thick, insulated steel water bottle in her hand. Thankfully, it hadn't cut her, but it was a useless piece of scrap now.

Ukyo politely, and also teasingly, waved goodbye while she tugged Ranma out the door. Without Akane around, she'd have her Ranchan falling for her in no time.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"My, isn't that Auntie Saotome?" Kasumi remarked to Akane that evening as she tried to teach her sister the finer art of picking the best produce at a stall.

Akane was forbidden from coming to the Saotome residence, but there was no reason she couldn't socialize with Auntie here in the public supermarket. Akane clenched her purse and tried to think positively. There had been many troubling and awkward interactions between them since Ranma moved out. According to Ranma, his mother had been a bit out of character lately, too. Akane fretted that maybe she had said or done something to upset her prospective mother-in-law. So she stepped forward, eager and nervous to reconnect with the matronly woman.

"Auntie, it's nice to -"

Nodoka's face flushed when she saw Akane. She turned her nose upwards and walked away before Akane could finish.

Akane was floored. What in the world was going on?

It seemed as if her worst fears were being confirmed. Akane caught up with her and bowed low. "Auntie, please… did I do something to offend you?"

Nodoka looked down with disdain at the humble girl. Her answer was blunt and brutal. "Yes, dear. You were born."

Akane rose up from her submissive position. She couldn't, no, she just couldn't have heard that correctly.

Nodoka rubbed at her temples with her right hand, and she squinted as if in pain. "To think my precious son was forced into a betrothal with you makes me sick."

"I-I…" Akane's eyes were wide in shock, unable to formulate a complete sentence. What in the world had she done to make Auntie Saotome hate her so? At the same time, Akane noticed Nodoka's comment was meant literally. The woman's face was flushed to an unhealthy shade, and it seemed that every time they met she was suffering from a headache or eye strain.

"Excuse me, what did you just say to my baby sister, Auntie Saotome?" Akane's head whipped around to look at her eldest sister. She had never heard Kasumi use such a tone in her life. Her gentle arms were positioned at her hip. Gone was the sunny disposition. In its place was a firm protectiveness. Akane's tomboy nature usually led her to physical confrontations, and Kasumi preferred to stay out of the bickering between Ranma's many female 'friends', but this was a different battle and the inner momma bear in Kasumi was showing itself.

Nodoka's eyes cleared for a moment, focusing on Kasumi's face. "I, I need to go." Nodoka didn't even bother to retrieve her shopping basket, leaving the groceries behind. Kasumi watched the Saotome matriarch clutch her head while she fled the market.

Akane felt tears gather in her eyes again. "Kasumi? You don't think I did something wrong, do you?"

Kasumi gave Akane a reassuring hug. "I doubt you could ever do anything to warrant that, little sister. Oh my, whatever could have come over Auntie? That was inexcusable."

Akane felt her confidence increase slightly, Kasumi's reassuring words and sisterly affection acted like a balm to her injured feelings. Kasumi hated confrontation, but even she had jumped to Akane's defense. Akane was still surprised that Kasumi had such faith in her. Usually, her prim and demure sister would give an exasperated lecture to Akane on her unladylike and aggressive behavior.

"Besides," Kasumi continued, "Auntie Saotome's always known you were a violent tomboy and it never stopped her from loving you, before."

Akane sighed. Kasumi's way of stating the blunt truth was rather deflating. While the sisters resumed their shopping, Akane's mind turned over the facts. The bizarre behavior from her Auntie was adding up suspiciously. Kasumi's previous point, although insulting, was spot on. Nodoka had accepted and loved Akane fully aware of all her tomboyish faults. It was unlikely Akane unknowingly caused such offense that Nodoka now refused to even accept an apology. The timing was also suspicious. It was too odd a coincidence that right after Ukyo managed her month-long courting arrangement that Auntie started to, well, hate her. Akane frowned. That drastic a change screamed foul play. If Shampoo or Cologne had been in town, they would have been her first suspects. Given their strange Amazon artifacts she'd witnessed in the past - the love pill and reversal jewel sprung strongly to her mind - it hardly seemed a stretch that they had caused it. But the Amazons had been gone for a long time and, according to Ranma, had signed some binding agreement to leave them alone.

Akane bit her lip in worry. There was someone else who stood to gain. Normally she would never suspect Ukyo of pulling such a dirty trick, but that was before the failed wedding and the okonomiyaki bombs.

Either way, Akane had to bring this up with Ranma… and it would not be a pleasant conversation.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Akane didn't think she could hold in her concern about Nodoka any longer. It had been days since the incident at the supermarket, and despite her best efforts she had been unable to find a moment alone with Ranma to bring the subject up.

Akane fidgeted with her school bag as she walked to school, looking to her right. Ukyo was between her and Ranma, literally and figuratively. Ranma had taken to walking along the fence railing again, keeping himself as impartial as possible with the two fiancées below him.

Akane frowned. It did not escape her notice that Ukyo had started to wear the girl's uniform, instead of boy's clothing. Ever since the courtship arrangement began, Ukyo was always around, a persistent third wheel. She was even grilling food directly outside the Tendo dojo while she and Ranma taught, making a nice bit of profit off of their students. Akane would have even less of an opportunity to talk to Ranma tomorrow, when Ukyo would be dragging him off to the local festival for a date. Akane felt her stomach flip at the thought of what their date would be like, and she tried to put it out of her mind. She was even more grateful that school and teaching at the dojo took up most of Ranma's time, or else Ukyo would have dragged him off to a date every evening by now.

Akane shook her head. Right now she had more pressing concerns than Ukyo pulling out all the stops to woo Ranma. Auntie Nodoka's health was on the line, and the worry was gnawing away at her. Akane realized she would have to bring it up, even if Ukyo was present. As much as Akane wanted to tell Ranma in private, it just couldn't wait any longer. "Ranma, have you noticed anything...odd about your mother lately?"

Ranma paused for a moment on the fence before continuing. "Uh, sorta. She's been really grouchy lately, and uptight about my curse, but I don't have that much experience. Not countin' when I was a baby, I've only lived with her a handful of months."

Akane nervously folded and unfolded her hands, unsure how to continue. It was possible Ukyo was in on this, but it was just as likely Ukyo was innocent and could be of help. The chef did genuinely care about Ranma, too, after all.

Akane continued. "Ranma, I'm worried about her. She's been behaving really out of character."

"How so?" he asked, his voice growing concerned.

Akane took a deep breath. "Kasumi and I saw her at the supermarket yesterday...and she basically said she...she wished I never had been born."

Ranma stopped dead in his tracks. "What?!"

He could not have heard that correctly. His mom loved Akane. From the beginning, she'd seen Akane as the real fiancée (and always called the other girls 'friends' of his), gave Akane gifts, even patiently tried to teach Akane to cook. His mom had lived in Akane's home for months, happily took her shopping, and treated Akane as if she were her own daughter. There was no way his mother would suddenly say that, and yet he couldn't picture Akane saying or doing anything to piss off his mother to such an extent, either.

Ukyo tsk-tsked and gave Akane a reproachful look. "You must have done something, Akane. Mother Saotome is always nice to me."

Akane glared at Ukyo. Despite Kasumi's reassuring words, a part of Akane was still worried about that possibility. Regardless, she refused to admit it in front of a preening Ukyo. She ignored the chef and turned to look at Ranma. "But what if she has a brain tumor or something?"

Ranma's face paled. "Hey, don't even joke about that."

Akane frowned. "I'm not trying to be flippant, Ranma. I want to make sure she's okay."

Ranma remained silent, his face brooding. Ukyo tried to change the topic of conversation, but Ranma just nodded along. Akane's words left him unsettled and anxious. His mother had been suffering a lot of headaches recently, and although her mood had mildly improved without his Pop around, she still was much more irritable than usual. He was afraid to admit Akane might be right, but he'd talk to his mother and see if she'd be up for a doctor's visit….just in case.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Ukyo smiled cutely and flattened out the skirt to her school uniform. It would take a while to adjust to wearing the blue jumper. She longed for her comfortable gakuran uniform from her former all-boys school, but she wanted Ranchan to remember she was a girl blossoming into womanhood- not just his boyhood chum. That meant no more male attire, although she did keep on her bandoleer and battle spatulas. It was disappointing that Ranchan hadn't even commented on her change in appearance this morning. He'd been rather aloof, walking on the fence.

For a brief moment Ukyo wondered if all these changes were dishonest. She wanted Ranma to love her for herself, so why was she changing so much to potentially please him? She quashed the thought down. Ranma was worth a simple change in clothing. There was nothing dishonest about putting herself in the best possible light.

When the lunch bell rang, Ukyo made sure to snatch Ranma's arm. She brandished a beautifully prepared bento box for him - there would be no grill today to distract her or invite customers. With the countdown looming over her, Ukyo was determined to seize every available moment for courtship.

Out of the corner of her eye, Ukyo saw Akane stiffen, then pointedly turn her back and head to the opposite end of the school yard to eat. Ukyo felt satisfied, but when she saw Ranma follow Akane's path with his eyes, his look both intent and wistful, Ukyo's grip on his arm tightened.

"Ouch!" Ranma gently extracted Ukyo's fingers from his bicep.

Ukyo flushed and then quickly recovered. Somewhat loudly she continued, "Sorry. I was daydreaming about how wonderful our date will be tomorrow."

Several heads turned at the remark, the gossipers eating up every juicy tidbit as Ukyo went on and on about how wonderful their time at a festival was sure to be.

Akane's closest school friends, Yuka and Sayuri, rushed over to Akane's side. "Wow Akane, you're just going to let Kuonji take Ranma on a date?"

Akane jabbed at her lunch. "It's not like I own Ranma. Besides, his mother made him give Ukyo a fair shot." Akane briefly filled her friends in on the arrangement.

Sayuri studied Akane's face, her forehead scrunched in puzzlement. "There's something more you're not telling us."

Yuka nodded. "Yeah. You sure were quick to his defense over those sperm donor flyers on Monday."

Sayuri continued, "And Ranma keeps looking at you. More than usual, that is, when you're not looking. Heck, he's doing it even now."

Akane turned her face and for a brief, charged moment she and Ranma made eye contact. Akane blushed, then looked away. She wasn't quite ready to tell everyone how much progress she and Ranma had made. Superstitiously, she was afraid mentioning it would be like tempting the fates to pull them apart.

Yuka saw the interaction and grinned. "C'mon, you can't just sit back and let her try to steal him away!"

Akane bristled and tried to put on a disinterested air. "Who said I cared?"

Yuka and Sayuri looked at each other and laughed. "You're not even directly denying it anymore."

Akane blushed again. "Knock it off..." Akane carefully turned side to side, making sure no one was eavesdropping. She lowered her voice. "Even if I did, I can't do anything. Ranma takes his family honor seriously, so Ukyo gets to fawn all over him for a month." Akane crumpled up her napkin and packed away the remains of her lunchbox, heading inside… but not before stealing one last, quick glance at Ranma. Ukyo was becoming quite the flirt. Although not nearly as obnoxious and obvious as Shampoo, the chef was coyly playing with her long hair, styled very differently today, every bit feminine and lying graceful around her shoulders. Akane braced her shoulders and turned away. There was no point making a scene. Ranma was stuck having to entertain Ukyo's attentions. He'd already told her he didn't like the arrangement, and there was no mistaking the passionate kiss he'd given her days before. Akane sighed. Ranma already felt pressured as he balanced an attempt to maintain his childhood friendship, uphold his family honor, and his own promise to Akane. Venting to Ranma that she didn't want him to go out with Ukyo, or letting on how painful it was to let Ukyo openly act the part of his girlfriend, would only make him feel worse.

Sayuri frowned as she watched her good friend enter the building, her shoulders slightly slumped. This would not do. She turned to Yuka. "I have an idea." She brought her hands over Yuka's ears and whispered her plan. Yuka tittered and nodded in agreement.

Yuka walked towards the trash, which just happened to be near Ranma, and "tripped". Her juicebox just happened to squirt out as she crushed it in her hands during the fall.

Ranma jumped up, now a very wet and sticky redhead. Yuka looked apologetic. "Oh, I'm so sorry Saotome-kun! And it was juice, too. You better head inside and clean up!"

Ranma thought he could detect the hint of a smile in her voice, but ignored it. He'd have to ask the Jusenkyou guide someday, but he suspected the curse also made him a magnet for falling liquid of any kind.

Soon as the door to the building closed behind Ranma, Sayuri stepped in front of the buxom pigtailed girl. "Sorry about the spill, Saotome-kun, but …" Sayuri shrugged sheepishly and cleared her throat. "Just go clean up, and talk to Akane-chan," she told the transformed youth bluntly. "She's in the classroom. Alone."

Ranma's eyes brightened. Had Akane set this up to try to speak to him? His mood lifted immediately, and so did his ego. Ha! Of course she did, he thought to himself. Akane was probably brimming over with jealousy witnessing Ukyo feed him and gloat over their planned date. It was only natural for her to miss him, right? He envisioned a tearful Akane, pining away for him, sad that she couldn't be the one to sit beside him at lunch. He'd have to be the strong one, and gently let Akane know how much he hated not being able to dedicate his attentions solely on her. He rehearsed the little soap opera in his head a few times, while he washed his hair out with steamy hot water in the men's bathroom sink.

Ranma stepped out of the men's room fully himself - if a bit damp - and walked to their homeroom. Akane was standing, her back to the door, looking quietly out the window. Before he could get out his rehearsed words, Akane turned.

She wasn't crying, or even mad, which made him feel both relieved and a little miffed. Wasn't he here so she could pour her heart out to him, or at least punch him into the atmosphere out of jealousy?

Akane gave a small nod of acknowledgement in his direction, then turned back to look out the window.

Ranma's eyebrows furrowed. That was the greeting she gave him? "So, I'm here. Like you arranged. Ready to hear you, you know, tell me stuff, before tomorrow."

Akane turned back to face him, her expression puzzled. "Tell you what? I didn't ask you to follow me."

"Well I sure as hell didn't have to wash juice outta my hair for nothing!"

Akane looked at Ranma like he'd gone insane. "And how is that my fault? I didn't spill anything on you."

Ranma crossed his arms, growing more frustrated by the moment. His voice was dripping with sarcasm. "Uh huh. Sure. Then what's with your friends conspiring to get me here?"

Akane only looked more confused. "I didn't send anyone to get you." Ranma felt his ego slowly deflate. Akane didn't lie or play games with him. If she didn't understand what he was talking about, then she hadn't set this up. Which meant she really hadn't cared about Ukyo hitting on him at lunch.

Akane saw Ranma's shoulders slump and she jumped to the wrong conclusions as to the cause. With great determination and acting skills, she gave him a bland smile. "Cheer up. I'm sure your date with Ukyo tomorrow will be fun enough. It's a festival, after all. It's no big deal."

"No big deal?" Ranma repeated dumbly.

Akane nodded.

Ranma's ego wasn't just deflated, it had crashed and burned into the ground. Man, how uncute! Would it kill her to act just a little bit jealous?!

Before he could say another word, the bell rang and more students poured in. Ranma watched Akane take her seat calmly, not even bothering to give him a second glance.

Ranma crossed his arms and huffed, feeling like an idiot as he slid into his seat. He'd finally been given a few minutes alone with Akane, and he wasted it! Ranma sunk deeper into his desk, feigning boredom to hide his disappointment.

Sayuri and Yuka watched the body language coming off Ranma and Akane and shook their heads. "Can't say we didn't try, Yuka-chan."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It was the following morning when Ranma remembered to ask his mother about her frequent headaches. She had waved dismissively that she was fine, but when Ranma simply mentioned Akane was also worried, his mother went ...well, crazy was the best adjective.

Her face was purple in rage. "Akane this, Akane that! Would you stop harping about that wretched girl?!"

Ranma stepped back, as surprised at the vehemence in tone as well as the actual words.

There was a knock on the door, and Nodoka composed herself enough to answer it. "Ukyo-chan, how nice to see you again! Please, come in. You look lovely."

Ukyo walked slowly and a little stiffly into the room. It wasn't often she wore female clothes, let alone a traditional summer yukata with her hair styled up.

Ranma looked at the clock and frowned. Ucchan was going to make it an all-day event, apparently.

Nodoka walked back into the dining space where Ranma was waiting. "Go enjoy your date with Ukyo-chan, dear. Make sure to treat her to anything she wants at the stalls. That's the manly thing to do."

Ranma crossed his arms, purposely ignoring the change in subject. "Mother, you need to get checked out by the doc."

Nodoka gave her grown child a reassuring hug. "Oh, I'm so blessed to have such a caring son. But really, Ranma, I'm fine. Maybe just...going through some mid-life changes as a woman."

Ranma had no idea what that meant, but from the tone of voice she used he assumed it was in the same category of female biology-stuff as periods and PMS. Ranma pulled gently back and examined her face. There was no trace of the screaming, irritable woman from before. She seemed back to her regular, sweet, self.

Before Ranma could argue further, Ukyo was tugging on his arm. "Ranchan, we don't want to miss all the fun!"

Ranma sighed. He had a bad feeling this date would be anything but fun for himself.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Author's Notes:

This chapter would not have been at all possible if it weren't for Angela Jewell! She didn't just beta-read, she gave me ideas that really changed and enriched the story. I ended up throwing out/postponing the original second half of this chapter and with her ideas wrote this and an additional two different chapters I had never thought of!

Original Publication Date: Oct. 3, 2014

FANART! Go here for a scene from Chapter 20: martina-g dot deviantart dot com / art/ Commission-diademchi-2-2-486105580

or here:

SNEAK PEAK for Chapter 30: martina-g dot deviantart dot com /art/Commission-diademchi-1-2-485396257

My profile has the direct link.

If anyone draws me fanart, you get a sneak preview of a chapter emailed or PM'ed to you.