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, July 1st 5:30 PM. The Tendo Dojo

Akane was nervous. She was going to formally meet the brother of the woman she was dating, in a social setting. The meeting at the dojo was relevant, yes, but not like this. This was her one chance to really make a good impression, and she was worried she was going to blow it. The smirking face of her sister, Nabiki, was not helping at the moment.

"Seriously, don't you have a husband to make miserable, Nabiki?" Akane asks for the dozenth time as she continues to fidget with the fit of her kimono. Her sister had insisted that she wear the nice formal one, and while she couldn't argue with the logic of it, she just was not used to wearing it.

"But Akane-chan, I'm your sister, I should be here to support you when you are going to such lengths to impress the family of your girlfriend." Nabiki says as she almost hides her amused smile.

"...I still get the feeling you find all of this way too amusing, Nabiki." Akane says crossly as she changes her hairdo for the third time. "Shouldn't you be making plans for the girls night you said you wanted to take charge of, anyhow?"

"Oh, I finished that already. I know all the best people, after all. So I have the perfect place for a nice quiet get together for all the ladies that matter." She says with an amused little smirk.

"...Somehow that makes me even more nervous." Akane deadpans.

"Sister dear! Do you doubt my intentions?" Nabiki says while blinking innocently.

"It's not your intentions I doubt, Nabiki. It's your sense of humor and finding amusement in my life." Akane says as she settles on a hairstyle, only to flush as Nabiki shakes her head and comes over, holding out her hand for the brush.

"I want you to be happy. I really do. I know that this is not easy for you, any of you. Your all stepping into unfamiliar territory, and taking risks that you all normally avoid for your own reasons. I get that. I really only do want the best for all of you. The Saotome's are not just my clients, they are my friends. You're my family, and from what I have seen of Ukyo, she seems to fit in just fine. Take a breath, and know that I will do everything I can to make this all work out for the best of everyone involved." She leans down and gives her sister a hug before continuing to work on her hair. "It's not always going to be easy, but the best things in life never are. Plus, I can't let you be the only one who isn't in a happy relationship now, can I?"

Akane sighs and looks at her sister in the mirror. "Okay, okay, you win. It's not like I can argue with your logic, after all." She fidgets a bit more. "It's just that I really like her, Nabiki. I've never met anyone like her before. She was so very rough around the edges when we first met. Even more of a tomboy that I was when I was young, if you can believe that. Seeing her...It was like someone had taken a perfect work of art and defaced it? I don't know if that makes any sense, but you could just see that she was amazing, that she had unlimited potential, and then the world tried to snuff it out. It was...So heartbreaking. I just had to make it better for her. I had to make her see what I saw in her." She gives her smirking sister a pointed look in the mirror. "Yes, I know. I've got it bad. But, I wouldn't have it any other way. I've never felt so connected with someone before, almost from the get go. It was...uncanny. Almost like we were supposed to meet. I don't usually go into the whole destiny and fate thing..But..This time? It sure felt like fate."

Nabiki lets her sister speak her peace as she finishes working on her hair and appearance. "You do know that you cut yourself short, right? You are a caring, loving, wonderful woman who Ranko should be honored to get to spend her time with. And Ranma should be thanking you for considering becoming a part of his family like you have. Honestly, both of the Saotome's are such hopeless, lost causes when it comes to their hearts. I'm just glad they found two people who are potentially more stubborn than they are."

"So, your saying my hard-headed nature and the fact that I tend to bulldoze my way through problems is a good thing for once?" Akane teases.

Nabiki gently bops her on the top of the head. "All of the Tendo sisters have their charms and areas that they excell. I'm the sneaky, snarky money grubber. Kasumi is the angel from the heavens, unless you manage to upset her. And you, you're the unstoppable force of nature. I think all in all, we each turned out okay."

Akane laughed and relaxed a bit. "Thanks sis."

Nabiki gives her a gentle hug, smirking at her in the mirror. "Hey, I have to watch out for the useless lesbian in the family."

"Hey! I have a girlfriend! I'm no longer a useless lesbian! I'm just a nervous one that is formally meeting her girlfriend's only living relative. No pressure. It's like meeting the parents and the siblings at the same time. No pressure. I got this." Akane says as she psyches herself up.

"You're going to do great, Akane. Just be yourself, and relax. In a lot of ways, the two of them are very similar. I'm pretty sure that a lot of what makes Ranko who she is is hidden somewhere in Ranma, and vice versa. Honestly, for how different their upbringings were, they are remarkably alike, it's just not always evident." Nabiki confides as she gives her little sister a comforting hug again.

Akane smiles and leans back into her sister. "Thanks Nabiki. You know, you're not nearly as heartless as you let people think."

"You know that's going to cost you, right?" Nabiki says in a cold tone.

"All I've got is a yen right now." Akane snarks back.

"I guess I can cut you some slack. I will just put it on credit for now." Nabiki says with a wicked gleam in her eye.

"Your generosity knows no bounds." Akane replies drolly.

"See, even my guerilla of a sister can learn!" Nabiki says with a grin.

"You're pushing it, sister dear." Akane replied

.

"True, but I got you to relax, so I count it a win." Nabiki quipped.

.

"Ugh, you're so..so…" Akane says with a sigh.

"Right? Perfect? Humble?" Nabiki suggested with a teasing tone in her voice.

"Nabiki. You're so Nabiki it hurts." Akane grumbles with a smile.

"Ahh, so all the above. Thanks, little sis." Nabiki says with a wink as she steps back. "There, as presentable as I can make you. Seriously, just relax. Ranma will be stiff enough for both of you."

Akane eyes her sister once again. "Is he really that formal all the time? If he is like that, what is this better half of his like? I mean, she has to be just as conservative and formal as he is, doesn't she? How am I ever supposed to get along with both of them?"

Nabiki laughs and rests her hand on Akane's shoulder. "She is a warm, loving, caring person who used a big enough sledgehammer to get through that rocky exterior to the good parts he keeps hidden from the rest of the world. You're going to like her when you meet her, Akane-chan."

"I hope so, Nabiki. I have been thinking about something related to work. I might need to borrow your persuasiveness if I am going to try to help a certain client deal with an issue of theirs. One that I would love to see them work past, since I think that certain therapies would be very beneficial to her, but… Well, I might be a bit… Compromised." Akane sighs. "And she can be so very stubborn at times. How does she go from being such a perfect angel of a person to so..so very stubborn so quickly?"

Nabiki laughs. "Have you ever looked in the mirror, Akane-chan? I think I know who you are talking about, but what do you think you would need my help to convince her of?"

"Water therapy. She..Has a very profound phobia of water, but I think that it would help her both mentally and physically. I know that working through a phobia is a challenge. It is, after all, part of what I was trained to do. But, I don't know if I should venture into this area. I already have a good physical therapist lined up, a recommendation from a co-worker of mine. I just...Don't know." Akane closes her eyes and sighs.

"Akane, if it was anyone but the person you are romantically engaged with, would you try this line of therapy without any undue hesitation?" Nabiki patiently asks as she looks to the clock.

"I would definitely broach the subject with them, without having to worry about bringing the big guns into play, yes." Akane confides.

"Then, you already have your answer. Talk to her about it, and I will back you up if needed. Now, you should be waiting at the door, he will be here very soon. And Ranma is always on time." Nabiki shoos her little sister along.

"Thanks Onee-chan." Akane says as she gathers her little clutch purse.

"Anytime sister dear." Nabiki says with a smile as Akane takes a breath and steps out to meet with Ranma formally.

"I can't help but wonder who they suggested….I have an idea, and if so...This could be an interesting step forward. Maybe, just maybe...It will push things over the edge a bit. I think that might be a good thing, honestly…" Nabiki muses before she starts to get ready to leave as well.

Outside, Akane smiles and bows to the ever faithful Shiro as he meets her at the door. "Hello, Shiro. I trust you have been well?" She says as she walks alongside the family retainer.

"I have, thank you for asking Mistress Tendo." He says as he opens the door for her. "The Master awaits inside. Enjoy your ride." Shiro says as he helps her in.

Akane settles herself in her seat, bowing and smiling gently to the imposing figure of Ranma sitting across from her. "Thank you once again for this opportunity, Ranma." She says as she holds the bow in a sign of deep respect.

"It is I that should be thanking you, Akane." Ranma says as he politely returns the bow. "You have done so much for my sister, and taken time from your schedule to honor my whims."

"I would hardly call this honoring your whims, Ranma. I hope to be a part of your sister's life, and thus a part of yours, for many years to come." She smiles warmly at him. "It is for the best that we are on good terms, and that means having chances like this to get to know each other better."

"Indeed." Ranma says, but a ghost of a smile traces itself across his face as he relaxes just a bit.

Akane returns the smile happily, settling into the comfortable silence that hangs over the two of them while she waits for Ranma to speak next. They drive for a bit before Ranma once again looks towards her, a serious look on his face. "So, are you prepared for the challenges that a relationship of this sort will bring for both of you?"

Akane starts just a bit at the sudden question, but takes the time to think before responding. "Of course I am as prepared as I can be. I don't know what all the future will hold for us, but I am confident that we can face it together, Ranko and I. If you are referring to what society thinks of us, then honestly I don't care as it regards me. I have been out of the closet for years, Ranma. I don't feel like I have any great debt to society that I have to pay by lying and concealing who and what I am. Do I hope that Ranko will be left off the cross of public opinion? Certainly I do. I love your sister with my whole heart, Ranma. But, unless she wants to be alone or to live a lie for her whole life, it's something she will have to face. And I honestly think that, once again, it's something that if we face together, it will not be a horrible challenge."

Ranma studies her intently for a moment as he lets the silence grow pregnant between them then nods slowly. "I can see that. My sister has never chosen the easy path. She is stubborn and unwavering in her convictions, and doesn't give in just because she knows it will be hard to accomplish."

Akane laughs and nods. "That sums up her tenacity well. In that we are very much alike. I'm a bull headed wrecking ball when it comes to sticking to my guns to achieve the goals that I value. It's one of the things that I find incredibly charming and appealing in your sister, you know. That tenacity, that unwavering spirit. How can I not stare into the sun of her resolve and welcome being blinded?"

Ranma barks out a short laugh. "Indeed. You have stated that facet of both of yours eloquently. I will warn you, stubbornness and tenacity are traits of the Saotome. Neither of us will ever give up on what we want."

Akane nods and leans forward slightly. "I would expect no less from either of you. It's one of the reasons that I think that this will work, you know?"

Ranma gives her a puzzled look. "And, how is that exactly?"

"Because she chose me, and I chose her. You think that either of us will let anything deter us from getting what we have decided we truly want? I would happily die for her, but I choose instead to live my life to the fullest with her. I want to see that stunning smile every day until the day I die, Ranma. I would count that a life well lived." Akane confides with a fond look on her face.

"You two are so alike in that. It's one of the things that she has said to me, as well. That she can't think of a future anymore that doesn't involve you." He remarks as he leans back into the chair, studying her intently.

Akane blushes and looks away at that stark admission. "I will always do my best to live up to that, you know."

"I know that. So, what are your intentions towards the Saotome school? Will you continue to learn and master what we have to teach?" Ranma smoothly changes topics.

"I hope that I can continue my studies under you and the rest of the masters of the school, Ranma. I want to learn all I can, and show that I am worthy of being a disciple of the school." She says with stark honesty.

"Then, perhaps you will have to see what my sister can teach you. She was a far greater master of the true intent of the school than I was. Believe it or not, she is the image I will spend the rest of my days trying to achieve." Ranma says as he fixes a suddenly silent and still Akane with a steady look.

"Then, I will do my best as well, to become a student worthy of learning from a master." Akane says in all seriousness.

"See that you do. We are here, let us have a good meal and talk more about lighter matters, shall we?" Ranma says as the car pulls to a stop and Shiro opens the door to hand each of them out.

To say the meal was impressive was an understatement. The Saotome family chef was truly a master of their art, each course was perfect, balanced and well laid out. Honestly, it outdid even the cooking of Akane's sister, Kasumi, and that was high praise indeed. Ranma did indeed turn the talk to lighter matters, friends, family and the goings on at the dojo. He carefully plied Akane with questions, getting a feel for the therapist as she did the same with him.

As the night drew to a close, each was left feeling a bit more confident in the situation, with Ranma even almost smiling at one point. Akane counted it a victory, since it was the first genuine expression of what she was starting to see hidden away under his imposing exterior, that ghost of a smile from earlier aside.

Ranma, for his part, was feeling like this could work. Perhaps it would not be as daunting as it seemed, and they could take the risk. It put his own heart at ease, because he knew that if he didn't approve of Akane, then he would have to give up Ukyo as well. And he could freely admit, that was not something he ever wished to do. Perhaps he was going soft, or maybe he was truly learning what it was to live? Only time will tell. Hopefully, when all secrets were laid bare the two young women would remain at the side of the Saotomes.

Only time would tell, he thought, as he bade a good night to Akane at her home once more.

*A/N*

Whew!

Sorry about the delay. That was a lot of dialogue, and things at work and IRL have been a bit stressful as of late. Case counts in my area are starting to tick up, and a neighboring store had their first confirmed cases.

Hope you are all well, and stay safe!