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, July 11th 6:15 PM, The Weeping Lilies Teahouse and Revue.
The night was proceeding fairly well, introductions and small talk was had all around as the ladies settled in, enjoying the company and the atmosphere of the Teahouse. Akane looks at her sister and asks her during a lull in the conversations "So, where is your sister in law? She decided not to come along? I figured you would try to drag her out, since all the rest of us are here?"
Nabiki laughs as she sets down her tea, nodding her head respectfully to the costumed and painted lady that had offered it to her. "Oh, Akiko doesn't do things like this. And if she did, I am sure we would get to hear all about the psycho-sexual nature of this gathering, the underlying tribalistic meanings of it all, and how we are enforcing the stereotypes that society would make us live by." Nabiki says with a smirk, clearly having been the recipient of such talks before. "Plus, you know with her condition, she doesn't really like to go out and socialize much."
Akane sighs and nods, then turns to Ranko and Ukyo to explain. "Akiko Watanabe is a prodigy in the fields of psychology and societal dynamics. She is a bit younger than me, but already has multiple doctorates. I've only met her a few times, but she is...an interesting young woman."
Nabiki laughs at that and nods. "That she is, try having her for a sister in law. I was informed, at great length and depth, what my choosing of her brother as my fiance meant, in great detail."
Akane blinks and looks at her sister while the others just watch the two of them. "And, what did you say to that?"
Nabiki smirks as she pulls out her phone and shows them the homescreen. It's a picture of Nabiki and a rather plump, short gentleman wearing glasses and the most stereotypical office worked suit you could imagine. "I told her that he makes me laugh like no one I have ever known. Plus, he is rather good in between the sheets…."
Akane blinks and pales at that. "Please tell me you didn't feel like you had to tell his kid sister that last bit?"
Nabiki laughs and grins. "Of course I did. She, of course, had to make her own observation to that. 'It would figure that you would base your choices on such primitive and unscientific measurements of the successfulness of a male as a potential mate.'" Nabiki says as she quotes her rather tight-laced sister in law.
The ladies who had not met Akiko, or had met her only in passing just blink at that before Ranko clears her throat. "As….interesting as I am sure it is to hear about the...Prowess..Of your husband, as I know him, I would rather not know more about that." The blushing redhead says as the rest of the ladies laugh.
Ukyo grins and pats the shoulder of her diminutive companion. "It's ok sugar, I imagine that you would rather comment on the endowment of the server we had, seeing as you bat for the other team." She says, not able to resist teasing her companion just a bit.
Ukyo looks confused as Ranko and Akane start to laugh, followed shortly by a smirking Nabiki. "Did..I miss a joke?" she asks, looking around.
Ranko wipes her eyes, then looks at Akane, smiling. "Did you want to tell her, or should I?"
"No, no please. You can let her know the secret to this wonderful establishment." Akane demurs.
Ranko blushes and nods, not being able to shunt it to the more socially comfortable one, and instead having it left on her. She sighs, side eyeing her girlfriend who is still making sure that Ranko works on her social skills before clearing her throat. "You see, that was a man."
Ukyo blinks, looking at Akane, then at Nabiki. "That….was a guy? But...that was clearly a geisha!"
Ranko shakes her head, looking at Nabiki. "Nabiki clearly knew the nature of this place before she recommended it." At the confirming nod she sighs and looks at the stunned Ukyo. "That was a man, there are subtle ways that the body moves differently between a man and a woman, relating to bone structure and how the joints are built."
Ukyo nods at that, knowing it is true, but still a bit flabbergasted. "And...Are all of them men?"
Akane lays a gentle hand on the blushing redhead's shoulder, taking over. "I don't think so? Some are women, and some I honestly can't tell. It is quite a different establishment. But, I think I like it." She takes a sip of her tea and smiles at her sister. "Thank you, Nabiki. It was a lovely idea."
Nabiki laughs and nods. "The revue itself will start soon, and I have sake being brought out for that. Plus, a variety of appetizers and finger foods as well. Konatsu is an old friend of mine, and it is her place. She has promised us the full Teahouse experience. Now, this is not like most of the other drag bars or such, this really is a high end establishment that just happens to have a very particular type of staff." Nabiki fills in, as one of the painted ladies of the Teahouse tends to each of the ladies' teas.
The conversation breaks back into small talk for a while as the promised drinks and appetizers are laid out before the screen at one side of their booth is gracefully folded, revealing the main area of the Teahouse. Once all is ready, a hush falls over the area as Konatsu, the Mother of the Teahouse walks elegantly onto the main stage, bowing in a respectful manner to the men and women that are sitting in the various areas.
"This One welcomes you to our most humble establishment. I am Konatsu, the proprietor of our humble domain. This One wishes you an enjoyable night, and an unforgettable experience. If you are in need of anything, raise the fan that sits in the middle of your table, and one of our ladies will attend to you. Now, the One hopes that you find our most humble entertainments to your liking.
As she bows and sweeps off the stage, the other ladies look to Ranko who just shakes her head slightly, not saying a word. The screens at the back of the stage are removed, revealing the ladies who have been playing the soft music in the background and a young, slim Geisha who begins to perform a traditional dance to the gentle strains of the music.
Each act is carried out with a gentle precision, effortlessly whisking the audience back to the time of feudal japan when such performances would have been reserved for samurai and other people of power and importance. To say it is a memorable experience might be an understatement, and the knowledge that some of the women on the stage were men was soon forgotten, an unnecessary bit of information that neither adds or detracts from the atmosphere.
Once the performance is over, the matron sweeps once more onto the stage, bowing respectfully to her guests. "And thus our performance ends for the night. The ladies of the Tea House will see those that have not received one of our special invitations to the door, and we thank you for gracing our humble selves with your presence."
The screen is gracefully placed once more, granting the ladies their privacy as they continue to enjoy the company and the sake that has been provided for them. As they can hear the main area clearing, Konatsu sweeps elegantly into their private area, bowing deeply. "It is the hope of this One that you ladies are enjoying your visit to our most humble house?"
Nabiki smiles and nods "It's as amazing as always, Konatsu. It never ceases to amaze me what you have done with this place."
Konatsu hides her face demurely behind the fan that she carries. "You are going to embarrass me, Nabiki. You know as well as I do that if it wasn't for your assistance, and that of your wonderful husband, that I would never have been able to open this refuge."
Nabiki smiles and shrugs. "I am just glad that it all worked out. The show was amazing, wasn't it ladies?"
The other ladies give their quiet admiration as Konatsu bows and smiles softly. "This One thanks you on behalf of all those that reside here. I hope you enjoy the rest of your night, the first course will be arriving presently."
That said, she glides out with the same grace and poise that she has demonstrated all night. Ukyo looks at Ranko and almost gives her a pleading look. "You have to tell me that Konatsu is a woman, right? No way a man could be like that."
Ranko shakes her head, glancing at Akane and smiling as she sips her sake. "A lady would never reveal the secrets of another, isn't that right Akane?"
Akane laughs and nods, resting an affectionate hand on the shoulder of her smaller companion. "Indeed, Ranko. It would just be impolite." she says before they both break into giggles.
Nabiki shakes her head. "Seeing two lightweights drunk already is a sad, sad sight. Am I wrong, Natsume?"
Natsume shakes her head as she finishes another cup of sake. "You are not incorrect, Nabiki. That the flower of youth has wilted such is a shame."
"At least they are a cute couple while drunk." Nabiki comments as Natsume nods and Ukyo just watches the antics of the others with an amused smirk on her face.
"Speaking of cute couples…" Nabiki says, turning her attention to Ukyo.
Ukyo blinks, looks around, then at Nabiki. "Are...You talking about Ranma and me?"
Nabiki laughs "See! She can learn!"
Ranko giggles and leans on Akane. "I'm not the only victim now!"
Ukyo waves her hands, making warding gestures at the grinning brunette that is hosting them tonight. "No, no, don't even get started Nabiki…."
"But I bet you two are so cute together." Nabiki coos, grinning like the cat that ate the canary.
Ranko snorts "My brother is a lot of things, cute is not one of the words I would use. He is so uptight and formal, I can't see how anyone can stand him."
Ukyo gives Ranko an affronted look. "Hey! That's your brother you are talking about! Shouldn't you be defending him!"
Ranko ponders that for a moment, then clings just a bit tighter to a blushing Akane. "Nope! I don't gotta! He's YOUR boyfriend, YOU can defend 'im now. Ain't that right 'Kane?"
Ukyo shakes her head as she looks at Ranko oddly. "You know you talk like a guy when you're drunk, right?"
Akane laughs and shakes her head "She did it alllll the time when we started. It's taken me this long to civilize her!" She grins down at her cuddling girlfriend, leaning down to rest her head atop the redhead's. "But look at her now, she is so adorable!"
Nabiki laughs and shakes her head in amusement. "And this is why we don't take these two drinking again…" She raises her cup to toast Natsume, who nods as they toast to it.
Ukyo shakes her head, watching the other ladies before letting out a laughing sigh. "I do kind of wish he was here, though…."
Nabiki laughs and shakes her head "You've got it bad, Kuonji."
Ranko looks at her, narrowing her eyes. "If Ranma was here, I wouldn't be though! You don't wanna spend time with me?"
Ukyo blinks at that, then tries to console her little friend. "That's not it at all, sugar. I just wish he could be here with us, all of us. No reason you couldn't be here as well, right?"
Nabiki gives a quiet little hum as Ranko clings even tighter to Akane, giving Ukyo her best puppy dog eyes.
"The siblings don't socialize together, one of the little quirks they share. Don't worry, I am sure that Ranma will be more than happy to take you out this coming week, Ukyo." Nabiki ensures her as the drunken couple continues to be much closer to each other than would be normal.
This continues on well into the party, even after Akane and Ranko have been cut off from the high quality sake that the others are partaking in. As the night grows later, the talk gets more animated and Akane and Ranko seem to get more and more lost in their own private little world. A fact that Nabiki observes with no little interest, especially as the night comes to a close, the ladies being bid a fond goodnight by Konatsu once more as they make their way out, the various cars and one limo waiting for their respective passengers.
"We will have to do this again, and sooner rather than later." Nabiki says as she helps Akane get Ranko settled into the car while Shiro watches, the ladies insisting on taking care of the little redheaded member of their group themselves.
Akane nods and smiles as she climbs in. "Yeah, that would be nice. Thank you, Nabiki."
Ukyo smiles and nods as she gets into her cab. "I'd love that, sugar. It was nice to spend time with you all, I can't wait to see you all again soon!"
Natsume quietly bows quietly to the group then gets into her own car and heads for home, leaving Nabiki to watch the departing limo. "I hope that they will be ok, tomorrow is a big day for the Saotome. I hope that Ranko didn't overdo it." She says to herself before heading for home and her loving husband.
Inside the Saotome limo, Akane and Ranko are sitting side by side, their hands clasped lightly together with the redhead's head resting on Akane's shoulder. Nothing is said for some time, the two of them dozing a bit as Shiro watches them, before he quietly asks. "Should I take you home now, Lady Tendo?" When no answer is forthcoming he shakes his head, the ghost of a smile gracing his lips as he heads for the manor, calling ahead so that the staff would be ready for their mistress and her guest. Perhaps he was stepping out of line, but he didn't see any great danger in this, as long as Akane was returned home before the appointed hour for the siblings to hand over their duties came and went.
Plus, the staff and retainers had already discussed the matter, and decided that perhaps a little push was in order.
It was, after all, for the benefit of the Saotome, after all.