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 2
Tuesday, June 9th, 11:00AM. The Nerima Center for Mental Health.
As was usual, the petite redhead that was being wheeled through the doors had a warm, gentle word for each of the people that she saw, a tender smile on her beautiful features. Her hands were folded demurely in her lap, her long skirt and soft blouse helping with that image of feminine grace and poise that she seemed to project. The catty young woman she was in the wake of the accident that left her and her brother broken in body and spirit had mellowed over the years, some would say in no small part to the help of the people who worked here, and invested so much of their heart and souls into mending the broken minds and spirits of those who sought refuge here. A good part of that could probably be attributed to Dr. Ryu Kondo, the director of the Center, and possibly the young woman standing beside him, waiting for her patient for the last year, Miss Akane Tendo.
The two women smile warmly at each other, the trust that is so necessary for what happens here evident in how Akane steps forward, taking her patient's hands in her own and smiling down at her happily. "Ranko, it is always such a pleasure to see you, you are looking radiant as always. Now, how about we head to the music room, and you can show me that piece you were working on, and we can talk about your week?" The athletic young woman with her bluish-black hair styled in glorious waves down her back asks, tucking a stray strand behind her ear as she leans down towards her, a genuine smile on her face.
Ranko Saotome looks up at the woman before her, a person she can honestly say has become a true friend to her over the past year and nods shyly, finding words difficult as she sometimes did around the vibrant, passionate counselor. She shakes her head a little in wonder once again, amazed at how Akane saw how much losing her ability to practice the Art had hurt her, had crippled her spirit and left her bitter inside. Music is one thing that she would have never thought of, a way to direct that energy, that drive to seek perfection and turn it into a creative force in her life, instead of something that might have destroyed her. Ranko looks at her driver, smiling warmly "It's ok, Shiro, you may go. I will call you when I am ready to go." She then nods to Akane, who steps behind her chair and starts to push her slowly towards the music room, the women engrossed in their small talk, avoiding anything that would bring stress to the redhead, and just catching up like friends often did.
Once they are inside of the music room, Akane pushes her charge over to a large window that looks out over the expanse of Nerima, taking her own seat across from her and offering her a cup of tea, before taking one of her own. They sit quietly, sipping their tea and looking out over the city before Akane smiles warmly and looks at her client from over her cup "How have you been sleeping, Ranko? Are you still having problems sleeping through the night, or are the meditations that we discussed helping?" She asks softly, her warm brown eyes looking on with concern into the startling blue eyes of her friend.
Ranko sighs, delaying her answer as she sips from her own cup. "I still wake up from them on a regular basis. The meditations help, but I still regularly relive that night. I know that you have said that it is natural, that it is my mind's way of dealing with what has happened, with our loss, but it is still just so..Exhausting." She bows her head, the tears that her brother can not spill sliding down her cheeks "I miss them both, so very, very much. I miss Mom's lectures on how to behave, and what is expected of us as Saotome's, and Dad's crazy lectures on martial arts...and even what he used to say about women." She laughs through the tears "They were crazy, but they were what we had." Ranko accepts the kleenex that is offered silently by Akane, drying her eyes before dropping it into the trash next to her.
Akane smiles, listening attentively to Ranko as she talks, amazed at the changes that this amazing woman had undergone in the time she had known her. When they met, Ranko had seemed so uncomfortable in her own skin at times, having been raised by two very traditional and odd people. Nodoka with her attitude on how young men should act, and Genma with his very outdated views on women had left their own scars, quite separate from the losses that the siblings had suffered. "I would love a chance to sit and talk to both of you, I think it would help both of you to accept what has happened, and to be able to let go of some of the pain." Akane says, leaning forward with that earnest passion that made her so popular among her friends and family, a vastly different person than the angry young woman she had been in her youth.
Ranko laughs softly, a sad smile on her face "I'm sorry, Akane-chan, but you know that isn't possible. We each have duties to attend to that draw us from town, and we barely get to see each other, much less anyone else. I will make sure that I pass along your good wishes and desire to talk to both of us when I can, ok?" She rolls her eyes as Akane nods and grins at her, then sits back in her wheelchair and looks into her cup silently "There are times that I don't know why I keep trying so hard, Akane. I know that…..Things will never be the same as they used to be, and I can't help but feel that our friends must pity us, seeing us how we are now." She sighs softly, looking up when Akane rests her hand lightly on hers.
Akane can't help but feel her heart going out to Ranko, reaching out to give her hand a gentle squeeze before standing up, smiling down at her petite companion. "I think it is time for you to show me how much progress you have made on that piece, Ranko-chan. I have been dying to hear your take on it for the last week. We can talk some more while you play, if you find that acceptable." At her friends shy nod, Akane rises from her chair and wheels Ranko over to the keyboard and gently lifts her in a bridal carry, setting her lightly on the seat and scooting her into place.
Ranko blushes a bit, holding onto the compact, powerful woman as she is settled into place lightly, then pushed to where she could play. This, too, had become part of their routine. Akane would stand behind her and handle the music, while she would play and talk. It was an odd arrangement, but it worked. She was still amazed just how much she could lose herself in the music, in the delicate dance of the notes. Her legs might be crippled, but her hands could still dance, could still give life to something. Now, though, instead of punches and strikes, it was runs and melodies that came from her Gift. She closed her eyes and lost herself in her music, speaking softly, letting the little fears and doubts, the worries and self-incriminations seep from her, made so much easier by the subtle presence of the woman behind her, so quiet yet attentive, supporting while letting her have what independance she was capable of.
As Ranko's playing slowly winded down, her soft flow of words trailing off into the comfortable silence between them Akane rests a supportive hand lightly on Ranko's shoulder, giving it a little squeeze before moving her back to her wheelchair just as effortlessly as before. "That was lovely, Ranko. Iname-sensei could not have done it better herself. It looks like our time is almost up, I want you to keep working on those meditations, and remember, being a woman does not make you weak or less capable, it just makes you different. Embrace those differences and don't be afraid to be yourself. You certainly don't think of Mei Iname as being weak, do you?" She smiles happily at Ranko's head shake, her hands crossed once more in her lap.
Akane gives her a little impish grin before stretching a little bit and looking down at Ranko before saying casually"You know, I seem to have come across a pair of tickets somewhere, to see her in concert this weekend. You wouldn't happen to know anyone that would be interested in seeing her live, do you? It would be this Saturday, so you would still be able to have your Sunday dinner with your brother before you have to leave to take care of your family business." Akane grins at the look in her friend's eyes. "I take it that that is a yes, then?"
Ranko laughs as she looks at Akane, swatting her on the shoulder. "You know that is cheating. How...How can I say no to such a generous offer from a friend?" Ranko knows that this is a plot to get the somewhat reclusive woman out into the public, to help her deal with her anxieties, but she can't help be a bit excited as well. Just a bit, mind you, she tells herself. As she sits and talks to Akane about the weekend, making their plans, she can't help but think that it's a shame that Ranma can not be like this with his friends, but certain things are expected of him.
Ranko says her goodbyes when the car arrives, then leaves. She stops at a quaint little restaurant to eat before she goes to visit their parent's graves. Shiro wheels her to the plot, a bouquet of flowers resting in her lap. She talks quietly to the stones for a while, her driver standing at a respectful distance from her as she details the events of the weeks since she has been here last, finally just sitting quietly for a short time before indicating that she was ready to go. She sits quietly in contemplation as they leave, on their way to the dojo. She can't help but smile softly as she thinks about her visit that is coming.
Her visit is different in a few fundamental ways from her brothers. The students and instructors bow respectfully, but their smiles are warm and welcoming, happy to see to see the buxom redhead. She has gentle words of encouragement for the students, and inquiries into the families and activities of the teachers. She laughs softly as she sees Ryoga heading her way, looking overly pleased, and for once glad for her condition to spare her the almost certain bone-crushing embrace of the enthusiastic martial artist. "Hello, Ryoga, how is Akari and the children? Are your classes going well?" She asks, her hands resting demurely in her lap.
Ryoga chuckles as he leans against the wall, watching his students as they file out, talking among themselves. "Sakura and Shinji are doing well. She is doing excellent in her third-grade classes, and is enjoying her training. She is a strong little thing, Akari is always joking that I must be half boar, from how strong little Sakura and I are. Shinji is working at walking, it won't be long til he is toddling around everywhere." He smiles happily, looking off into space as he thinks about his family, at least til Ranko makes a soft sound to bring him back to the present. "Oh, I'm sorry. My classes? My classes are going well, the students are learning well, and most of the problem students have either grown out of it or moved on by now. I have one who could be a problem, but I think we can get him straightened out before he becomes a real problem." He says happily, then looks over as his next class walks in, nodding to Ranko. "I will talk to you more tomorrow, Ranko. Have a pleasant day."
He waves as he heads in, calling the class to order as she heads toward the Saotome's private section of the dojo. She doesn't head to the family dojo, that is a place that belongs to Ranma, and him alone. Instead, she directs Shiro to the upper balcony, watching the younger students in the yard going through their conditioning, watching them with a sad look on her face before turning to Shiro "Take me home, Shiro. I will need you tomorrow, if you would please."
He nods and says "As you wish, madam." then takes her back to the car and on home. He looks into the rear view mirror, amazed at how the two Saotome's differ so much, when they share so much in common. He steels his expression, vowing inwardly to make the most of this chance, to serve them as his father did, and to protect the two with his life. In that, he would not suffer his fathers failure. The events of five years ago would never happen again. Never again would a member of his family fail a Saotome.