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.
Saturday, June 27th , 5:30 PM. The Tendo Dojo.
Ranko could admit it. She was a bundle of nerves right now. Only the meditation exercises that her father had drilled into her from an early age could keep the nervous redhead from fidgeting right out of the seat she was in, and that would have messed up the silk cheongsam that she was wearing tonight. She knew that she looked good in it, the black and red dress with its golden dragons showed off her figure to good advantage, at least according to Nabiki. Honestly, without that woman she would probably still be wearing her old chinese shirts and pants. If any of the people who had known her before could see her now, they would never have recognized her. Ranko Saotome, mistress of the martial arts, concerned about the fit of her dress.
Her laughter soothes her restless soul until they stop, then a new batch of nerves strikes her as she waits, glancing nervously at the entrance to the dojo, then back to her clasped hands. She repeats that process a few times until she just flat out forgets to breath for a bit because Akane is walking out of the entranceway, and Ranko realizes that even if Akane isn't as well endowed as herself, she does have an amazing figure. With shaking hands she takes a drink to sooth her suddenly dry mouth and fusses with her hair once more, making sure that the up-do is sitting right and is showing off the right amount of her neck but not too much.. And then the door is opening, and she is face to face with a smiling and slightly blushing Akane as she hears Nabiki calling from the entryway. "Remember to come back laaaate!"
The nervous energy is broken as Akane whirls about and points a finger at Nabiki. "Don't you start again! I will be back when I want, I'm a grown woman. Don't you have a husband to harass into an early grave or something?" Akane blushes red as she turns back to Ranko and bows, hiding her eyes behind her fringe. "I apologize for my uncouth and rude sister. I will gladly pound her into a less offensive shape later."
Ranko laughs as she leans out to take her date's hand, and pulls her gently into the car. "It's ok. She might be your sister, but she is my friend. I honestly don't know which of us has it worse, most days."
Akane squeezes Ranko's hand and smiles happily. "I think I do, Ranko. At least you can stop being her friend, I am stuck being her baby sister for the rest of both of our lives."
Ranko blushes as she returns the affectionate little gesture. "I imagine you are right. I think I am the dumber one, I chose to be her friend, you were just stuck with her."
Akane laughs and nods, reluctantly letting go of Ranko's hand. "Since you suggested that I wear a cheongsam, I assume we are going to one of the traditional chinese restaurants? You were being awfully secretive, you know."
Ranko winks and smiles. "A lady must keep some secrets, Akane. Otherwise, people will grow bored of her boorish nature and not want to pry to find the secrets that lay within." She smiles as she feels the car making turns that she has come to know well. "But yes, we are going to a chinese restaurant that is run by some acquaintances of mine. Some of the first people I made contact with once I arrived here, honestly. Their Grandmother is one of the people that helped develop some of the medical techniques that are used on us, to be honest.
They break down into small talk about their weeks so far, each basking in the presence of the other until they stop in front of a quaint little restaurant that has a sign that proclaims it to be the 'Neko Hanten'. It's a small, two storied shop that fits in nicely with the surrounding business. The sign out front says it is closed, but the lights are on and the door opens as they pull up.
Shiro comes and opens the door to the car, Ranko's wheelchair at the ready as a Chinese couple comes out of the restaurant to greet them. The woman is a true beauty in anyone's book, well endowed with elegant features, her bluish-purple hair done in flowing waves. The man next to her is dressed in a long white Chinese style robe with a truly impressive pair of glasses perched on his nose. They both bow respectfully to the Lady Saotome as she and her date are escorted within.
Akane looks about happily, enjoying the rustic appearance and authentic feel of the place. "This is amazing, I never knew a place like this existed here. I feel like I just stepped into mainland China…"
Ranko laughs and bows once more to her guests as they are escorted to a table. "It should, they are from a little, out of the way corner of China where even the central government tends to leave the inhabitants alone. I...Visited once or twice, while we were wandering. I got to know the people of the region very well. You could even say I was sure that I was going to die there, eventually."
"You didn't rent this whole place just for us, did you?" Akane asks as she peers intently at Ranko.
Ranko laughs and shakes her head. "I Xian Pu if she knew any place that would be perfect for a quiet, intimate first date for two people who could be a bit awkward at times…" She is interrupted as the buxom woman who welcomed them comes over and cuts Ranko off with a devilish look in her eye.
"And I say, if Ranko-chan finally have too, too good person for her, then she come here. No trust anyone else take care of friend like should." Xian pu says is heavily accented Japanese as she hovers at the shoulder of the laughing redhead.
"Xian Pu, unless you want me to start using THAT nickname, can you please please drop the pidjin?" Ranko rebuts with a laugh.
With an eye roll and a dramatic sigh the Chinese woman smiles and bows to Akane and then addresses her in perfect Japanese. "It's a pleasure to meet the woman who finally got our dear Ranko to exit her own personal closet. I am Xian Pu, and that is my husband, Mu-Tsu. Welcome, most honored guest, to the Cat Cafe. You will not need any menus tonight, you are getting a traditional dinner courtesy of us. We hope you enjoy, and please, do bring her here often." Xian Pu winks and struts off. A blushing Akane quickly pulls her gaze back to a laughing Ranko.
"Don't worry about it, she has that effect on everyone." Ranko says with a smirk.
"I didn't notice you staring, Ranko…." Akane says with a blush.
"Because I know what I would rather be looking at, Akane." Ranko says with a soft, endearing smile.
Akane blushes furiously and finds her hands very interesting until they are interrupted by the first course arriving.
The meal proceeds in a relaxed manner, each course arriving just at the perfect time, the correct amount of pleasantries exchanged, and then Xian Pu is gone again leaving the two women to bask in the presence of the other.
By the time the meal finishes, the two of them are hardly aware of anything else, their eyes solely for the other. The occasional soft touches become more common and lingering, words spoken for the benefit of the other to hear alone. Laughter that seems more infectious, and a warmth that suffuses the both of them with a lightness that neither had felt in years, if ever.
When they call the dinner to a reluctant end, they are once more addressed by Xian Pu, her husband at her side and a step behind her. "The Elder wanted to thank you once again, most honored Ranko. The items were indeed where you said they would be, and we are in your debt."
Ranko blushes and nods, reaching out to give Xian Pu's hand a gentle squeeze. "It is I who will always be grateful. I am just glad that they were where they should have been, since no one was there to take them. If not for the help of your most honored Grandmother, who knows what would have become of us?"
Xian Pu gives a quick glance to Akane, almost like she is asking permission. With an amused little laugh Akane nods before Ranko finds herself on the receiving end of one of Xian Pu's patented Amazonian Glomps. Soft words are whispered in the diminutive redheads ear before Akane finds herself on the receiving end of the Human Straight Jacket technique, executed by its creator. "You take care of them, both of them. They are precious, lost souls and this world would be darker without the two of them. Take care of yourself, and always trust in your heart." Xian Pu whispers in Akane's ear before she disengages, and brushes herself off with a blush. "Now, you go. No more making the lovey-dovey eye, is too too past time to spend time with husband!" Xian Pu says as she politely shoos them out of the Cafe.
"Have a good night, Shampoo. And take care. The meal was wonderful, as always, Mu-Tsu. Take care." Ranko calls as Shiro wheels her to the car, Akane at her side.
Once inside, the two women find that one seat is more than enough for them as a blushing Ranko settles into the side of an equally blushing Akane, their fingers laced together. It's a perfect ending to a wonderful night, one that neither wants to end, but they know that they are dangerously close to stepping over a line that neither is sure that they are ready to cross just yet.
It's a very reluctant Ranko that bids a smiling Akane goodnight once they stop at the Tendo Dojo. As Akane slowly starts to back away, their fingers brushing against the other, it is Ranko who pulls her back in close and kisses her softly and with passion before letting her go. "Sorry...It just...seemed like a shame to let the night end without a kiss." Ranko blushes and apologizes.
An apology that is interrupted as Akane leans back in to lock lips with the blushing redhead. "I couldn't agree more." Akane says as she slowly backs up, a happy look on her face as she takes in the gobsmacked expression on Ranko's face.
Ranko clears her head enough to address Akane one last time. "Next week, make sure that you talk to my brother. I know he will want to talk to you, don't let him scare you. You've got this, Akane. I wish I could see you next week, but the week after….We are going to do this again. As often as we want."
Akane blushes and nods, smiling warmly. "I look forward to it, Ranko dear. And I'm not scared of your brother. I have met him once already, you know." She says with a wink as she sashays back into the dojo, leaving a flushed redhead to watch every step until she vanishes.
"That woman is going to kill me…." Ranko says with a wistful smile as she lets Shiro close the door and drive her home.
Sunday would be here all too soon, and they would have to pass the torch to the other, a routine and ritual that defined their very existence. Rarely had Ranko wished more that things were different, but at the same time, she knew it was for the best. Would it be fair to either Ukyo or Ranma to deny each the other? Probably no more fair than making herself and Akane bid each other farewell. No, they would beat this fate of theirs, they would make the most of the second chance that each was given. And together, they would repay the act of generosity that made this existence possible.
"Thank you, Natsume…." Ranko whispers to the night, as she often did.
**A/N**
Thank you all for reading, and taking the time to review!
I hope that you all enjoy this, and the little tidbits of crumbs that are dropped here and there…
My personal writing challenge continues!
7600 words in, out of 20k! Almost half way! I can do this!
I have Tuesday and Wednesday to write another 13k. I'm going to hate myself when I'm done!
Stay Frosty!