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.
Wednesday, June 24th, 6:00 PM. The home of Ukyo Kuonji.
Ranko fidgets for the hundredth time as she sits in the back of the car, checking herself over one more time as the car pulls to a stop in front of the small building that Ukyo calls home. Ranko had heard that she lived above what was once her family's restaurant, but the reality of the situation still got to her just a bit. She closes her eyes, taking a long, slow breath as she centers herself once more. "She might resemble the person I knew before, but she isn't. She isn't. Just, relax Ranko. You've got this." She recites to herself softly, nodding to Shiro as he peers into the back to check on her. "Go and greet our guest, Shiro. I am fine." She says with a soft smile as she watches their retainer go and stand by the door to the car to await Ukyo.
Rank was expecting many things, but Ukyo walking out of the building and towards the car in a very feminine skirt and blouse combo was not one of them. She smiles and laughs softly to herself. "She might look like her, but she isn't. I can do this." She says softly to herself as Ukyo is handed into the car by the ever efficient Shiro. "Hello, Ukyo. It's a pleasure to meet you in person at last." Ranko says as she bows her head the correct amount.
Ukyo carefully sits, adjusting her skirt as she does so and brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "The pleasure is all mine, sugar. You look lovely tonight, Ranko. Thank you so much for having me." She says as she returns the bow, then quirked an eyebrow. "Is everything ok, sugar? You're staring just a bit. Did I miss something?" She says as she quickly checks herself over.
Ranko relaxes and shakes her head as she laughs softly. "Sorry, Ukyo. You just remind me of someone I knew from when I was very little." She settles back into the seat, trading small talk with her guest as they drive back to the Saotome residence. By the time the two ladies arrive, the air between them seems much more relaxed, soft laughter filtering up to Shiro as he brings the car to a gentle stop.
"I wish I had some good stories of his childhood to share with you, Ukyo. Sadly, I didn't really have any contact with my brother until I was brought her five years ago. It was about the time of the accident, so I sadly didn't get to know my adopted parents all that well, but I have the feeling that in time we would have become very close." Ranko breaks off as Shiro politely opens the door, her wheelchair at the ready for her. "And my ride's here, as well. Shall we, Ukyo?" She says as Shiro helps her into her chair, then hands Ukyo out as well.
"Of course sugar. And, I think they would have too. You can tell alot about a person's parents from how they behave, and anyone who gets to know Ranma would know the kind of people they were." Ranko says as she falls in alongside Ranko, giving a polite nod to Shiro as they enter the residence itself.
The two ladies are taken to one of the private parlors where tea and a light meal is served by the unobtrusive staff. They continue their light talk until the dishes are taken away and both are settled into chairs with tea at the ready. Ranko dismisses the staff, all but the ever present Shiro who bows and waits outside the parlor for his Mistress.
"I am truly glad you came, Ukyo. I think I can understand some of what my brother sees in you." Ranko says as she sips at her tea, watching her guest.
"I am, as well sugar. It's a lovely home, and the company is very nice." She says with a smile as she sips her own tea.
Ranko sighs and gets a bit more of a serious look on her face as she leans forward. "I do have to know what your intentions are towards my brother. Neither of us let others into our hearts lightly, or trust easily. I am sorry I might seem like I'm pressing you, or intruding, but I just want what is best for both of you. Our lives are complicated, and will never be easy. Ranma has only come as far as he has because his will and resolve are unbreakable." Ranko settles back, her hands in her lap. "As for myself, I am just as stubborn and resolute as Ranma is. Neither of us will be easy to handle, both of us will make demands of our partners and our counterparts' partners that might seem unreasonable at times. Because of the nature of our agreements, you won't be able to contact Ranma easily when he is away, if at all. And I am not singling you out, even if it feels like it. Ranma will be having the same talk with my own paramour, I am sure."
Ukyo nods, watching Ranko for a moment before she sets her own cup down and sits up straight to address Ranko even as the smaller woman worries that she might have gone too far. Ukyo takes a slow breath and starts to answer Ranko, her eyes softening. "You really do ask the hard questions, sugar. I will answer the best I can, just don't repeat everything to your brother before I have a chance to say it all to him when we are both ready, ok?" She waits until Ranko relaxes a bit and nods. "Good, thank you sugar. I can imagine how difficult things are for you two, and how much more challenging that will make a relationship, but I am ready to tackle the challenges that lie ahead. Your brother is an amazing man, he is warm and gentle once you crack that stony exterior. He pushes himself to achieve what he sets his mind on, no matter what it is. I know that it's still early, but I think I could see myself with your brother long term. I'm not planning on going anywhere, sugar. I think the bigger question is do you think I pass muster? How do I prove to you that I am worthy of the trust that I am being shown?"
Ranko nods as she takes a sip of her tea with a thoughtful look on her face. "Be there for him, help him pull out of that shell of his. Keep letting him know it's ok to just be human, he doesn't have to be Ranma Saotome, head of the clan all the time. Maybe get him to laugh once in a while." She says the last bit with a wink and a grin.
Ukyo blinks at her then starts to laugh as well. "Now you are asking the impossible!" She giggles and takes a sip of her tea, then fixes Ranko with a long look. "You know, the more time I spend with you, the more I can see the similarities between you. Your mom's side of the family really shows through."
Ranko laughs and smiles "Be glad that he didn't take after his dad for looks. And I'm glad that I don't resemble my dad. Lets just say that my mom and her sister had similar tastes in men." At the disbelieving look that she gets from Ukyo Ranko laughs and nods. "They could be brothers, even if they were nothing alike when it came to personality. My father, he was completely focused on the Art, nothing else in the world mattered. Ranma's dad, my adopted dad, he loved the Art, but he loved his family and friends just as much. They really couldn't have been much more different, I guess now that I think about it." Ranko blushes and hides behind her cup as Ukyo laughs.
"It speaks well of you and your brother, sugar. How much the other one comes up in your conversations." Ukyo grins and sips her tea before needling Ranko just a bit. "It's almost enough to make a girl jealous…." Whatever reaction she was expecting, the paleness that creeped over Ranko's face was not it. Ukyo waves her hands, trying to dismiss the awkward air. "No, I meant that you two are close, really close." She thinks about it for a moment, then laughs and hides her face behind her fingers. "I just made it worse, didn't I sugar?"
Ranko's rich laugh fills the room as she leans forward and gives Ukyo's hand a gentle squeeze. "You're ok, Ukyo. I know what you meant, and I'm so much better at handling that kind of stuff than I used to be." Ranko takes a sip of her tea, a gleam flickering in her eyes that has Ukyo a bit worried. "I guess i can give you my permission to date my brother. Now, if you two do anything, I do expect him to take responsibility. It would be so nice to have a little one about these empty halls!'
Ukyo blushes and then swallows. "That's...Very nice of you to say, Ranko. But, I hardly think that we are ready for that kind of stuff yet, we haven't even really kissed or anything yet…." Ukyo trails off as she processes the amused little smirk on Ranko's face. "You're horrible, sugar." She deadpans to the laughing little redhead.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't help it. By the Kami, you two are going to be adorable together. I wish I could see it!" Ranko says as she continues to laugh.
"Well, why can't you? I'd love to meet this special person of yours. Maybe make it a double date or something?" Ukyo asks, concerned by the sad look on Ranko's face. "Did I say something wrong, sugar?"
Rank shakes her head and sighs. "We will explain the situation a bit more fully when we get there, but sadly we don't really get to spend any time together anymore. But maybe, if things work out, you can meet my...umm...special friend." Ranko says as she blushes brightly.
Ukyo laughs and leans in resting a hand on Ranko's and giving a little squeeze. "I would like that, sugar. When you are ready for us to meet, just let me know. I mean, you two are close, so it's just right that we all meet and try to get along. Even if it's just you and your significant other and me, that would be ok. It will be odd spending time with your boyfriend and all, but I am sure it will be ok!" She says with a warm smile to the suddenly laughing Ranko. "Hey, what's so funny?"
Ranko sits back up and wipes a tear away. "Oh, you don't have to worry about that, Ukyo. If we do that, it will be a ladies night." She takes a breath, and then continues. "I'm gay, Ukyo. I hope that that doesn't bother you?" She sounds hesitant.
Ukyo lets that process for a moment, then reaches over and gives Ranko a comforting squeeze of her hand. "Thank you for trusting me enough to share that." She sits back and smiles openly. "And a girls night sounds good."
Ranko laughs and relaxes, then sighs. "I just hope that Ranma doesn't scare her off. I get the feeling he can be a bit...Overprotective."
Ukyo breaks out into more laughter, scrunching her nose a bit in amusement. "I can see that… But I have the feeling any woman you choose to spend your time with will be up for the task. Trust in your brother, ok? He really is a good guy….Even if he can be a bit..Ummm" Ukyo searches for a moment for an inoffensive term.
"Inflexible? Stubborn? Pig headed? Overly formal? No fun at all?" Ranko helpfully assists her.
Ukyo blushes a bit. "He's not that bad, sugar…." She gets a far off look in her eyes. "...He does have a nice smile, though…." She is dragged from her musings by the laughter of Ranko. "And what is so funny, sugar?"
"You've got it bad, Ukyo." Ranko says with a smirk to the suddenly blushing brunette.
"I'm not arguing, am I?" Is the answer she gets.
By the time they take Ukyo back home, the two have hashed out some tentative plans to get together again, perhaps for a ladies night with Ranko's better half and possibly Nabiki and a few other female friends as well that they both can agree on.
"I really hope that Ranma doesn't scare Akane off…" Ranko muses softly.
"I think that Miss Tendo is quite capable of handling Master Saotome, Mistress." Is the only response that she gets from Shiro.
"I hope so. Let's head home, Shiro. I need to make sure that everything is ready for this weekend." Ranko says as she gazes out the window.
"Of course, Mistress." is the only response that she gets from Shiro as they head back home.