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.
Monday, June 15th, 7:00 AM. The Toho Center for Physical Rehabilitation.
Ranam makes his way to the front desk, his pace just a bit quicker than normal today. Tuesday had seemed to last forever for some reason. Perhaps it was the fact it was the day that he had to tend to the business side of things for the first part of the week, overseeing all the little details that had to be scheduled for later in the week. It was a task that he didn't relish, but that he carried out to the best of his abilities because it was what was expected of him. The fact that he had to endure the usual probing and ribbing from Mrs. Nabiki Watanabe probably didn't help the matter, either. It also didn't help that with him sitting for the evaluations on Friday, this would be the only chance he had to attend his therapy sessions this week.
He looks at the receptionist as he walks up, clearing his throat just a bit. "Ranma Saotome to see Ms. Ukyo Kunoji, please." He says as he stands there, both hands resting on top of his cane, back straight.
The receptionist smiles softly at him, bowing politely. "Of course, Saotome-san. She will be out presently for you, sir." She says in that same deferential tone she always uses. His only response is a slight nod, his eyes watching the door without him really thinking about it.
As usual, about a minute later Ukyo is walking out, dressed in her usual work-out outfit, a soft almost shy smile on her lips. "Good morning, Saotome-san." She says then bows to him, smiling warmly as she straightens her back once again, her head tilted just a bit to the side.
Ranma shifts a bit, his hands gripping the cane just a bit tighter, unsure why the sight of her brings a warmth to his chest. It was not like he hadn't seen her in this exact outfit a hundred times already, after all. An unbidden image of her in her conservative one piece flashes briefly through his head, causing him to shake his head just a bit to remove the image before he addresses her politely if stiffly. "Good morning, Kunoji-Sensei." He says as he nods his head just the right amount to be properly formal with her.
She casts him an almost amused little smile and nods. "Let's get you changed and we can start." She says as she escorts him back towards the changing rooms. "I received your message this morning, so you won't be able to make your appointment on Friday, Sugar?" She says, relaxing a bit as they move out of the immediate area of the receptionist. "Well, if that is the case, perhaps we should start with stretches, then we can transition to the weight room, then, hrm." She ponders for a moment, making sure they will be taking the best advantage of the time they have this week. "Yes, then we can do our laps in the pool and finish with a nice massage." She smiles warmly at him, stopping at the changing room entrance. "I will be waiting for you on the other side, then." She says as she bows.
"Kunoji-sensei….Ukyo...I am sorry about having to change the schedule for this week. I was asked to oversee an evaluation at the dojo." He says, not really sure why the brief look of disappointment on her face bothered him so much. "And I trust you entirely when it comes to my rehabilitation. I am in your capable hands." He says, walking into the changing room and missing the brief flush that suffuses the young woman's face as she hurries through the employees entrance to the main facility.
A few minutes later Ranma emerges from the changing room, finding Ukyo waiting for him with a soft smile on her face. "Ok, Sugar, let's get you warmed up and stretched." She says with a soft smile and leads him towards the area set aside for stretches and calisthentics. They work their way through his usual series of stretches, carefully working each of his joints and especially the more problematic ones. As always, Ukyo provides a solid, steady presence.
The next step is the weights, with her carefully making sure that each machine was properly set up and ready for him, always standing just where he would need her if he has an issue. Her cheery presence eases the ache he feels at the loss of ability that he has sustained, but also reminds him of how far they have come in the last five years.
After a short period to cool down a bit and another round of very targeted stretches during which he is rehydrated and offered a light snack to make sure his sugar levels remain steady she once again escorts him to the changing room. "Go on, Sugar. I might join you in the pool today, I have a new workout I want us to try today."
He raises one eyebrow, then nods. "As I said, I am in your care, Ukyo-Sensei." he says, bowing just enough to show respect to an honored teacher." Once again, he misses the little flush that suffuses her face. "I am curious what you have in store for me." He says as he slowly walks into the changing room, his cane in hand as usual.
Ukyo rests her hand on her chest for a moment. The smiles that he gave her were all the more precious for how rare they were, and thus felt more heartfelt. She was not unused to the attention of men, she did keep herself in excellent shape, after all. It was kind of a condition of the work she did, after all. But for some reason, the little looks he gave her when he didn't think she would notice were different, somehow special. She shakes her head, chuckling a little. "No crushing on him like a schoolgirl, Kunoji. Especially at work…" She says softly to herself, hurrying in to change into her swimsuit, checking the fit for a moment in the mirror before hurrying out to be waiting for Ranma when he made his return.
Ranma comes walking out slowly from the changing room, can in hand. He slows for just a second when he sees Ukyo waiting for him, a soft smile visiting his lips for a moment before his usual implacabile demeanor overtakes him once more. "I am ready when you are, Ukyo-sensei." He says, seeing as there is no one close enough to hear them.
The smile he gets in return warms his heart as she leads him towards the pools. Instead of the usual lap pool, she takes him to the wading pool. "Let me go in first, please." She says, tying her hair up high into a bun with quick, practiced motions before she steps into the pool, turning and smiling up to him, her hands at the ready in case he needed her assistance.
He rests his cane against the railing, gripping it firmly as he pointedly ignores her hands, a little smirk crossing his face as he moves as gracefully as he can into the water, following as she leads him into the slightly deeper section of the pool. He stops when she does, the water coming up to just above his waistline.
"Ok, sugar. We are going to be doing some new workouts I found today. I know your background, so I am sure you will have no problem catching on." She says with just a bit of a wink, a friendly smile on her lips as she assumes the first position, flowing into the ready stance for a variation on the Chineses national exercises. "Just follow my lead, sugar." She says, waiting for him to assume the same stance and start to flow gently through the sequence, showing him once, then letting him follow her. As she expected, he took to the modified routine easily, soon matching her move for move. She keeps a careful eye on the time, making sure that they don't get so lost in the sequence that they go over the allotted amount of time for the exercise.
When she announces time, and steps in front of him his hand goes out briefly, resting in hers for just the barest moment before he steadies himself. His hand slips out of her, their fingers touching for just a moment as he stands back up, and she takes a slight step backwards. "Very nicely done, Ranma. I figured that it was time to start using these exercises, and I made sure that I had a good sequence prepared for you. I think it was a success." She says, smiling happily, even drawing a slight smile from the tactiturn man.
"Ok sugar, let's get you dried off and onto a table." She waits for him to climb out, always just a bit behind him if he needs her assistance. "I even got permission to let Rei take a break, so you will literally be in my hands, Sugar." She says, beaming at him and leaning close. "I figured it would be a good time for us to work out the details for Saturday, right?"
He tenses for a moment as she closes the distance, nodding mutely to her question while his heart thunders in his chest. Maybe he had worked a bit too hard today, that would explain his racing heart, after all."That should be fine, Ukyo." He pauses, then starts to walk towards the exit to the pools and the benches and towels that were awaiting them. "Thank you. For all your hard work, for today I meant. I wouldn't be where I am now without your help." He says, not looking back.
She laughs softly in return. "I just boss you around, Sugar. You do the real hard work. I just get to enjoy the results." She says, then blushes a bit at how that could be taken.
He chuckles and sits, letting her start to towel off his back for him. "Lets call it a joint project, then, so we both can stop denying any credit." He says matter of factly, even if she can tell he is grinning, just a bit.
Her laughter is honest and carefree. "Ok then. A joint project." His back done, she quickly towels herself off, letting him finish up before offering him a robe. "Here you go, Ranma." She says, smiling warmly.
They move to the massage rooms after Ukyo dons her own robe, one of the employee ones unlike his. She holds open the door, then once again offers assistance onto the table. She is hardly surprised when he doesn't acknowledge it, knowing it's not out of disrespect but his ironclad sense of self sufficiency.
She takes the massage oil in hand, applying just the right amount as she starts to work on his back. "So, Ranma, when should I expect you? And do you want me to meet you at the theatre…." She trails off, once again amazed by how fit he seems, even with the extensive scarring that tells a grim tale etched into his flesh.
He shakes his head a little, watching her in the wall mirror. "I will pick you up in my car, or I should say, Shiro will." He chuckles softly, watching the skilled woman working her trade on the expanse of his back. He notices her bite her lip briefly. "That is, if that is acceptable?" He states, watching her reaction.
She meets his gaze in the mirror, smiling warmly once again. "I think that would be acceptable." She says with that same stoic manner that he often uses, the effect being broken when she grins at him, her eyes dancing with mirth.
He coughs politely. "I don't think I sound that strict." He says, watching her once more.
Her laughter is infectious. "No, I can't sound quite that dour." She says, taking a risk with that veiled little jab.
He chuckles a bit, closing his eyes as she works over his back and starts down his arms and legs. "I can't argue the point." Is all he says before they drift into companionable silence for a period. As the massage comes to a close, he looks at her once more in the mirror. "I will be there at five to pick you up. We have dinner reservations at five thirty, and the theatre begins at seven."
Ukyo smiles a bit shyly. "Then, I will see you at five, sugar." They part ways at the changing rooms once again, Ukyo bowin formally to him, a smile on her face still. "I will see you Saturday. I will be in your care, Ranma." She says, flashing him another smile before vanishing as he changes and heads to the waiting car to take him to the dojo.
His visit to the dojo goes well, even if he is informed that he had just missed the young lady who he would be sitting in judgement over. He views the classes, and once again tells them that he wishes for them to inform Ryouga that he wishes his family well.
That night and the next day go smoothly, even if he finds himself growing anxious as the weekend approaches.
Friday arrives, and it would prove to be an interesting day, indeed.