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, chapter 26
Saturday, December 12th. The Saotome mansion, 10:00 AM.
Ranko was excited and nervous. Tonight was the first of their official transition weekends, as Akane insisted they had to be called. Tonight, both Akane and Ukyo would be staying over for the night so that Akane could say goodbye, and Ukyo could say hello to their respective partner's. It was the start of what they all hoped would be the new normal for all of them, in this more than slightly abnormal relationship.
Ranko looked at the clock for the tenth time in the last hour as she waited none too patiently for the ladies to arrive. Shiro had left an hour ago, and she had been informed by Ukyo that they might be a little late because there were a few things she needed. Ranko was also curious why Ukyo had asked some very specific questions about the kitchen, ones that she had to pass along to Mrs. Sasami, the head maid, to find out the answers to.
Ukyo had seemed happy with the response, and had told Ranko to let the staff know that they would not be needed for lunch duties today. Ranko couldn't help but wonder just what the other ladies had in mind, but she imagined it would be a good surprise.
Ranko continued to work on what should be the last of the paperwork she was responsible for this week, as she grinned like an idiot over why she was just now finishing said paperwork.
It had been a very good, very distracting night. One that still made the diminutive redhead blush a bit. She would need to remember to thank Loh Tain again.
Ranko looked up as the door to the study opened, and the words on her lips died when she saw the smiling face of her partner. The two stared at each other until they were dragged out of their reverie as Ukyo cleared her throat.
"Seriously, you two." Ukyo then gave Akane an exasperated look. "Sugar, it's only been a few hours. You have got to hold off a bit or you won't last the week that Ranko will be gone."
Akane blushed as Ranko laughed, then held her arms open towards Ukyo. "Do I get a hug from my future sister in law?"
Ukyo blushed and shook her head as she walked over and leaned down to hug Ranko. "Jeeze, sugar. He hasn't even asked me yet."
Akane chuckled as she walked over to get her own hug from her girlfriend. "Yet being the operative word here. We all know he will. He is obviously smitten with you, Ukyo. It's just a matter of him getting up the nerve to ask, isn't that right, Ranko dear?"
Ranko smiled and nodded before stealing a quick kiss from Akane. "Foregone conclusion there.". She looked at Ukyo as she arched a scarlet eyebrow and inquired. "So, why did you want to know about the kitchen, and what did you have to get?"
Akane grinned at her friend "Turns out Ukyo has been holding out on us. She actually comes from a long line of martial artists and chefs! And, she has graciously offered to cook for us today."
Ukyo blushed and looked away. "I'm not that good, and you talked me into it, sugar " she said before looking at the other two. "Okay, let's head to the kitchen, I have prep work to do before I cook for us."
The three ladies made their way to the mansion's kitchen where Mrs. Sasami was waiting for them.
"The kitchen is yours. I had to chase the chef out, but I am sure she will recover. Now, I bid you ladies a good day, and enjoy your meal." Mrs. Sasami said, then bowed and took her leave.
The girls looked at each other before Ranko laughed. "Sorry about that, our head chef is pretty serious about her job and loves her kitchen dearly. You know, I think this is the first time I've been in a kitchen in years." At the look the other women gave her Ranko laughed. "Dad was a male chauvinist pig, you really think he would cook with two women handy?"
Akane and Ukyo looked at each other at Ranko, who blushed and laughed. "So I never learned to make anything fancy. Camp food and what we could scavenge or steal. Hey, don't look at me like that. My parents were trash.". Ranko chewed on her bottom lip and then nodded as she made up her mind.
"My parents were trash, and they ruined and destroyed so many lives. I used to feel responsible for them, for what they did. Then, I met people who taught me what family and love really were. I can never thank you two enough. Sometimes, I will admit, it's hard seeing you, Ukyo. You remind me of my Ukyo, my U-chan. The sister I lost. But, you're not her. I do want you to be part of my family, and I'm sure you will. Thank you… For coming back and giving us another chance."
Ukyo blushed awkwardly while Akane looked on with an amused look in her eyes. "You don't have to put it like that. I… I can't replace your Ukyo, but I hope that, if the time comes, you will welcome me into your family." Ukyo said without being look Ranko in the eyes.
Akane laughed "You two are just too precious. So, where do we start, Ukyo?"
Ranko grinned at her paramore and rested a delicate hand on Akane's as she spoke "We are going to start preparing for whatever Ukyo intends to cook. You, my dear, will watch. Nabiki has told me difficulty with the kitchen, and I don't think we want to earn the chefs ire by burning down her beloved hearth."
Akane looked indignant for a moment, then laughed softly. "Okay, okay. You two win. I will watch, and not destroy the kitchen."
Ukyo and Ranko grinned at each other as Ranko wheeled herself towards the lowest counter, and with Akane's aid, she got up onto one of the chairs. "So, what can I do to help?" Ranko asked with a grin.
Ukyo grinned as she instructed the Saotome scion in what she could do to help. The next two hours were spent in a happy bustle, as even Akane found herself put to work. It was a pleasant morning that showcased the talent of Ukyo Kuonji, as she prepared okonomiyaki for each of them.
Ranko finished her meal and turned an appreciative gaze on Ukyo who looked mildly apprehensive. "This was excellent, Ukyo. Do you cook a lot? What do I have to do to get you to cook more often?" Ranko said sincerely.
Ukyo blushed as she laughed "I'm just glad you liked it, sugar. I honestly only cook for myself, and I know my family would call me a rank amateur now."
Akane laughed as she finished and took her girlfriends hand in hers. "Ukyo, if that is an amateur level for your family, I'm almost afraid to see what they can do. You could easily have opened a shop."
"Maybe, but if I had, I wouldn't have met all of you. And I wouldn't be with Ranma. I'd just be some poor, lonely, Ranma-less cook. Sugar, I don't think that would do." Ukyo said with a fond smile.
The other two looked at each other before Ranko spoke up "You've got it bad, Kuonji."
"Dang right." Ukyo said with a laugh. "And I intend to show that lunk headed brother of yours what he has been missing!"
Ukyo grinned at the two blushing women and snorted. "And that was for how much sleep I'm sure you two are going to cost me tonight." At the look she received from the two and the way they pointedly did not look at each other she snorted "I know, we are on the opposite ends of that long hall and all, but I have a feeling. That said, are you sure it's okay for me to stay in Ranma's room, Ranko? I.. I could just stay in one of the guest rooms tonight…" Ukyo hedged.
Ranko shook her head and smiled as she held onto Akane's hand. "I'm sure. When you two are staying over here on our weekends, I think that it's best that you two stay in your respective partner's rooms. And I'm sure that my brother will feel the same." Ranko blushed, then pushed ahead. "I'm really hoping that this temporary arrangement becomes a permanent one. I… I would like to wake up next to Akane as often as I can, and I'm sure it will be the same for you and Ranma, Ukyo. As I see it, we are just all getting used to where things are going to end up, at least if I have anything to say about it." The fiery little redhead said as she smiled at the other two women. "We are all family here, as far as i'm concerned."
Ukyo held up her hands as she shook her head "Okay, okay, you win. I… I can't say I'm opposed to the idea anyhow, sugar. No offense to either of you two, but I'm looking forward to being able to spend some time with my stubborn Ranma…."
The other two women huddled up and hugged Ukyo, Ranko just a bit awkwardly from her wheelchair. "I know hun, I know. Believe me, I understand completely." Akane said in the companionable silence that lasted for a bit until Ranko clapped her hands.
"We should probably finish cleaning up and let our poor chef reclaim her territory. Plus, I would love to spend some more time with you two, maybe do a movie night tonight? We have our own home theatre after all…." At the look the two other women gave her she laughed. "Well, with our mobility issues and the fame that the family name has, Nabiki thought it would be a good idea for us. I mean, we are not that old after all…" Ranko rambled a bit before Akane hugging her from behind effectively cut her off.
"We know, we know. You're all loaded and living the hard life of luxury. A long way from being a traveling martial artist, isn't it dear?" Akane said as she nuzzled into the mass of red hair.
Ranko blushed and nodded "I honestly still don't know why we need all of this…"
Ukyo laughed as she finished cleaning up and opened the door. "Because it's expected of you. Just like the challenge sign of a dojo, you have to do some things for appearance sake, and because it's expected of you. It's all about face, after all."
Ranko raspberried as Akane bopped her gently on the head. At the indignant look Ranko gave her lover, all three ladies laughed as they made their way through the house. Unseen was the shadowy figure that seemed to peer at them from a corner mirror, the small figure seemingly pressed against the glass.
"Hotcha! Look at them… Oh mama, only a matter of time now…" The small, wizened figure muttered in the darkness of the mirror before slowly fading away.
Later that night, after an impromptu performance from Ranko of the latest piece she had been working on, the three women settled in for a movie in their private home theatre. Ukyo smirked as she glanced over at the two lovers, their hands clasped tightly as they all watched the movie together. She had to admit, she could get used to this new, odd life of theirs. Still, she missed Ranma and felt a bit guilty that she wished that tomorrow would come quicker.
After the movie, they all departed for their respective rooms, the two lovers blushed as they wished Ukyo a good night. For her part, Ukyo enjoyed a nice bath in the japanese style bath of the master bedroom, with a good soak in the furo. Afterwards, she slipped into the silk sleepwear that was laid out on the bed and drifted into peaceful slumber, Ranma's pillow clutched tightly to her chest as she drank in that scent that was so distinctly his.
Sunday, December 13th. The Saotome estate, 6:00 AM.
Ukyo slept well that night, and awoke early the next morning. She felt filled with a restless energy as she changed into her running gear, and was hardly surprised to find that Akane had waited for her to do her own morning run, the two having done this already several times. With a smile and a nod, the pair broke into an easy jog as they traveled over the expanse of the Saotome estate.
"It still feels surreal, doesn't it sugar?" Ukyo asked after a bit as she glanced at her running partner.
"It does. Like a dream, or something out of a fairytale. Are you excited to see Ranma again today?" Akane asked as she paced alongside Ukyo.
"I am… I just feel bad that it's at the expense of your time with Ranko-chan." Ukyp said as she looked down, then jerked her head over to stare at Akane when she was bopped lightly on the head.
Akane pulled her hand back and grinned "Don't. We aren't taking anything from the other. We need to remember to be grateful for the time we have, time that none of us would have if they didn't live the lives they do now, right?"
Ukyo laughed and shook her head as she grinned 'Yes, yes. Jeeze, I thought that you weren't going to be doing the counseling thing for all of us anymore."
Akane sighed sadly and shook her head "I'm not. Not for anyone in the household anymore. I will still have other clients, I just can't keep the distance I need to be a good help to any of you. Does not mean I can't give good advice or help you all out when you are having a bad day or problems. But, that is me being a good member of the family, not a professional. Just like I will be happy to have you help me with my training!" Akane said with a saucy little wink at her running partner.
Ukyo laughed and shook her head "I imagine that Ranko is either still sleeping, or seeing to the last minute duties before she hands things over to Ranma for the week?"
Akane nodded "Yeah, she said that she should go over the last of the paperwork one more time. She did remind me that we were going to all have breakfast together after our run, and before they exchanged at noon. I guess we are really running on a schedule from now on, hrm?"
Ukyo nodded "Such is the challenge of the life we are living now. But you know what? So worth it. Not only do I get to have an incredible boyfriend, I have awesome friends and a future sister in law, if he ever asks."
Akane laughed "He will. I can guarantee it. It's all going to work out, I'm sure of it. I can't wait to meet this mysterious Natsume some day."
Ukyo's gaze got distant as she nodded "I know that we will. Don't ask me how, but I just...Know that we will."
Akane nodded as they rounded the last corner of theri route and could see where a familiar redheaded figure sat on the porch and waited for them to return. A grin split the blue-haired woman's face as she sped up, and engulfed her partner in a happy hug. After a minute, she got an affectionate swat from Ranko.
"You're all sweaty. Go, you two goons, and get cleaned up. They are preparing breakfast right now, and then we will have a bit of time until the ritual." Ranko chided affectionately.
The two women laughed and saluted the exasperated redhead before they jogged in to get cleaned up and changed.
A short while later, they all say down to a very elaborate breakfast. It seemed that the chef had felt the need to outdo herself, perhaps in response to the meal that they had all prepared in the kitchen the previous day, but who could say.
All too soon for one pair, and not soon enough for the odd woman out, the appointed time came and they found themselves standing before the mirror. Ranko reached out to her twin, the moment of contact came and Ranma stumbled a bit as he gained his footing. He had a moment to look around before a warm, soft bundle of energy had launched herself into his arms. The pair kissed with a mixture of hunger and surprise, from each partner while Akane blushed and looked away, knowing that she had been no better.
"I guess that I was missed?" Ranma said after a bit.
"You were. Welcome home, sugar." Ukyo said happily.
"It's good to be home." He responded before they kissed once more.