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 1

Friday, June 5th, 10:00 AM. The Toho Center for Physical Rehabilitation.

Ranma hated these days, even though he knew he needed them. It wasn't so much the sensi, as it was the tasks that were set for him. 'A martial artist's life is filled with paril and dangerous training' he thought to himself as his current trainer instructed him on the exercises that were required for that day at that time. A true task master, his father would be proud of the due diligence and exacting standards that they demanded.

"You can do this, sugar. Two more laps, then you can hit the shower and we can wrap up for the week. You do know it would be better if I could work with you every week, right?" she repeated for the twentieth time since they had started to work together. For his part, Ranma just grunted out a barely articulate denial as he continues to walk around in the pool, making his laps as instructed.

He looks over at the woman walking next to him, there to help him if he needs it. Uyko Kuonji is attractive enough, he thinks to himself. Tall for a woman, she is only about six inches shorter than him with long, brown hair that she usually wore in a high ponytail or bound away when she had to do serious work, her friendly, dark eyes are welcoming and unwavering at the same time when it came to her charges and making sure that they did as they were instructed. Her smile could motivate you to push onward, and the little frown that she would give on occasion served to make you want to keep going, to not disappoint both her and yourself. It had been a long, hard road to get to where he was now, but without the work of people like Ukyo, who still saw some potential in his broken and battered form, he didn't know if he would still have had the will to carry on and to do what was needed to improve.

The last five years had been a grueling trip, by far harder and more challenging than any of the martial arts training he had received as a child. When the doctors finished putting him back together five years ago, they said that he would never walk again, that he would never be able to function in any capacity like he had grown used to.

Well, Ranma Saotome never loses, and he never quits. He pushed on, doing whatever was required of himself to get better, to start to recover what he had lost. The scars would always be there, they would always mark the challenges he had ran into and had decided to prevail over. They had told him he would never walk again, that he would never practice the Art again. He was determined to prove them wrong, regardless of the cost.

He takes his cane from Ukyo as he gets ready to leave, the car waiting for him as he takes his leave, heading to his next stop. He keeps his stoic look, not showing the emotions he had inside as the car takes him to see his parents. He thanks the driver as they pull up, and the door is opened for him and he is helped out of the car. The driver stands by the car as Ranma braces himself with his cane and lifts the flowers from where they rest. He walks slowly, painfully, to where his parents rest.

He stands mutely before the grave, looking down at the stones that site there, all that remains of his parents. He stands there mutely for a while, just staring at the stones and thinking about all he wanted to say, but couldn't. He looks up, fighting the tears that he can't shed, the words that can't be said eating at his heart as he stands there, then walks silently back to the car, leaning a bit heavier on the cane. The driver holds the door for him, offering him a hand that he refuses to accept as he lowers himself back into the car and they leave, heading for the family dojo to see how his father's legacy is being taken care of. He wasn't sure what was more painful, the visit that he had just completed, or the one that lay before him.

They stop in front of the Saotome compound, the students and instructors that are outside bowing respectfully to him as he gets out of the car and walks slowly inside. He looks over the classes one by one, paying personal attention to a student here and there, verbally correcting one here and there, or just watching silently for a few minutes before moving on. One of his instructors looks up, grinning at him as he walks over. Ryoga Hibiki was a mountain of a man, broad and powerful and one of the best martial artists that Ranma had ever known, almost as good as he was before the accident.

"Hey Ranma, good to see you. The students are coming along well, your father's legacy is secure. I just can't wait til the day I get to spar with you. I think it will be...Something else. So, think your sister will be stopping by anytime soon?" He asks with a hopeful look in his eye as Ranma just rolls his eyes.

"You know that this is her week to take care of the family business, Hibiki. And what would Akari say if she knew that you were thinking about another woman, hrm? I think I wouldn't have to worry about kicking your ass, because she would take care of it for me!" The two friends laugh easily over their long standing jokes and friendship, even if neither would ever directly acknowledge it.

They talk about how things are going around the dojo for a while, then go their separate ways, Ryoga back to his advanced class and Ranma to his private dojo, bowing respectfully to the shrine before taking his basic stance, moving slowly through his kata, trying to lose himself in the Art, even in this limited way. He pushes himself a bit harder than he should, thinking in amusement how Miss Kuonji would be scolding him right now if she could see him. He breaks, sitting down slowly to do his meditations, being pulled from his introspection by his phone buzzing at him. With an annoyed groan, he answers the phone. "Hello, Mrs. Watanabe, what can I do for you today?"

The woman on the other end laughs at him over that. "Saotome, you don't always have to be so formal, or sound so suspicious of my motives. If there is anyone you can trust, you know it's me. I sometimes wish you were a bit more like your sister, I think your life would be..simpler."

Ranma makes a little snort at that before laughing. "I am grateful...We...are grateful. So, what is it I can help you with today?" Inwardly, he braces himself. This woman, as much as they could not get by without her, could be quite trying and dangerous in her own ways. A shrewd lawyer, their current lives would be much more difficult if it were not for her aid. Now, to see what she had on her mind, this time.

The woman laughs again at him "Actually, I was just calling to see how you were doing, Saotome. I, of course, know how the business is doing, I was wondering what you thought of it? And also, I was wondering if you have told Miss Kuonji that you appreciate what she is doing for you, I can't imagine that you are making things simple for her. You really should do something to show your appreciation to her. Nothing major. You know, I seem to happen to have a pair of tickets to a certain kabuki theater just laying around…." She says in a leading tone.

They both chuckle a bit, then Ranma sighs and says softly "You are right, I haven't properly thanked her. Just a show, that is all. And if she says no, that is it. You know that my life is too complex for me to make anyone else a part of it. It...Just would not work. And I doubt she would ever think about me like that, after all, with my condition…" He says, showing a crack in that iron facade of his, even if for just a moment.

The woman on the other end of the line laughs at him "Saotome, if I didn't know better, I would say that you are interested in this young woman. Like you said, just a way to thank her, to show you appreciate what she has done for you. I think you should ask her yourself, it would mean more that way."

Ranma laughs once more and says before he lets her go "Ok, I will take it under consideration, Mrs. Watanabe. I will talk to you later." With that he lets her go, laying back and sighing as he closes his eyes "Why does she keep trying? It won't work…" He sighs and heads for the shower before heading home to his quiet house.