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 27
Sunday, December 13th. The Saotome estate, 2:00 PM
Ukyo smiled as she sat beside Ranma on the couch, their fingers interlaced as they caught up with the last two weeks, and helped Ranma feel more connected with their unconventional life.
Akane smiled at the pair, knowing that Ranko and her were just as bad, or even worse. Ranma and Ukyo were a more formal, reserved couple but it worked for them. Ukyo had an outgoing streak to her that offset Ranma's serious nature and his reserved and formal self. Akane couldn't help but smile as they carried on their conversation, while being obvious that right now and right here, their world consisted of the other one.
After a bit, Akane rose and dusted off her skirt. "I think I am going to take a walk, if you don't mind me staying for supper? After that, I think I will head home and leave you two love birds alone." She said with a smirk and a wink to the suddenly blushing Ukyo. Akane wanted to give them some time together, but also she had felt this almost tingling energy filling her for a while, and just had to move to burn some of it off.
As Akane walked through the grounds, she couldn't help but feel like she was being watched from time to time, always when she was passing a mirror or other reflective surface. She shrugged and pushed it off as her mind playing tricks on her even as her walk became more brisk by the moment.
Ukyo smiled bashfully at the equally red Ranma as her grip on his hand tightened just a bit, and felt his do the same. "So, I guess we are alone for a while…" She started to say, then let out a surprised little sound as Ranma leaned over and kissed her soundly, parting quickly and looking a bit awkward.
That separation didn't last long as Ukyo grinned and settled herself into his lap, staring into those surprised blue eyes. "That was nice, but I think it's time I give you a bit of instruction." She said with a wink.
And that is just what she did.
Sunday, December 13th. The Saotome estate, 5:00 PM
Akane had ended up wandering the grounds for longer than she had planned initially, but it just felt good. Something about being out in the open, in the brisk air and the open expanses of the estate grounds had felt right. She had even broken down into a series of simple, flowing katas at one point, feeling an undefinable something stirring in her core, flowing through her body like warm sunshine. It was an odd experience, but one that she would happily repeat if she could.
Speaking of repeat performances, Akane couldn't help but keep grinning at the other two who were sitting across from her at the table. Ukyo was practically glowing and Ranma kept adjusting his collar, as he tried to hide the rather large mark left on his neck. "I'd ask what tiger mauled you, but I am sure I already know the answer." Akane said sweetly, as both of the others looked away and blushed even more. "Don't worry, I will be heading home after supper so you two can have some more alone time." She said with a soft smile.
Ranma cleared his throat and looked awkward for a moment before he pulled that unwavering mask back into place. "You know… You don't have to leave. Not unless you want to. You are more than welcome to stay in Ranko's room tonight, and head home in the morning. We, Ranko and I, hope that you will consider this your home. And that goes for both of you, you know. Please, at least consider it." He said as Ukyo blushed and nodded along.
Akane laughed and smiled as she relaxed, tension she hadn't known flowing out of her. "On one condition, Ranma." At his questioning look she continued. "I want to do some katas with you. I… I might not be able to practice and spar with Ranko, but… At least I can with you, right?" She said softly, almost meekly.
"Of course, as long as Ukyo doesn't mind?" He said as he looked to his paramour.
"And why would I mind, sugar? As far as I am concerned, we are all family here. The rest of the world can just go jump in a ditch if they don't like it." Ukyo said with utter conviction.
AKane smiled warmly as she reached across and took Ukyo's hand, and gave it a squeeze. "Thank you, Ukyo. That means a lot to me."
Ukyo smiled and squeezed back. "Hey, we are in this together. And I will probably join in on some of the sparring and exercise sessions. Just, be gentle. I haven't actively practiced like I used to in years. But, I can see the benefits in getting back into the routine."
Akane perked up at that, and gave a speculative look to the other woman. She nodded once as her grin got bigger. "Oh, this is going to be fun!."
Ukyo gave Ranma a worried look at the enthusiasm of the other woman and he laughed softly as he took her hand and squeezed it gently. Akane's snickering broke them out of their moment as they looked at her, Ranma with an eyebrow raised and Ukyo with a look of almost dread on her face.
"You know, you two are definitely going to have to get some more often. Post sec Ranma is a lot more expressive!". Akane said with a wicked grin as the other two blushed furiously.
"By the Kami, Akane! I can't believe you said that! And like you and Ranko are any better! You know I could hear you two from down the hall!" Ukyo said as she poked Akane in the chest.
Ranma stepped between the two of them as he shook his head. "There are certain things that I do not want to know about my sister, and we are most certainly in that territory already. So, please, for my sanity, no more."
The two women looked at each other and started to laugh good naturedly. "They really are alike in some ways, aren't they?". Akane commented.
"In some best ways, I think." Ukyo replied.
"I am sitting here, you know." Ranma commented dryly.
Ukyo laughed as she leaned over and hugged him happily. "And we are glad you are."
Akane chuckled and nodded with a wistful look in her eyes.
Ukyo glanced at Akane. "And you are staying here tonight."
"I am, am I? And why is that?". Akane asked.
"Because you are lonely, and we don't do lonely around here, sugar. We are here for each other, and don't forget it." Ukyo said as she squeezed Ranma's hand.
Ranma nodded and smiled at Akane. "My sister would never forgive me. Stay, and we can practice after you for a run in the morning."
Akane laughed and threw her hands up. "Okay, okay, you two win. Jeeze."
Ukyo beamed at her annoyed companion. "Admit it, Ranko and you would never let me ."
"Not again. From now on, we stay the weekend, right?" Akane said as she looked at a suddenly blushing Ukyo.
Ukyo held her hands up. "Okay, okay! You win, sugar. I'm just going to need to invest in ear plugs…"
"Enough! I don't need to hear this, you two!" Ranma said in an exasperated tone of voice.
Akane and Ukyo both smiled at him as they said together. "But it's so fun to make you blush!". They looked at each other and laughed harder.
It was a sound that Ranma decided he could get used to.
Dinner that night was a nice affair, the three laughed and talked and bonded more. Ranma, as similar as he was in some ways to Ranko, was vastly different in others. He didn't have her single-minded focus, and could converse on a much wider range of topics. It wasn't that he was any smarter than Ranko, honestly. It was just his upbringing was much more well rounded. Ranko had a razor-sharp focus on a few things, but she was slowly having her viewpoint broadened, while Ranma was learning to focus more on a few things, and to truly make the best of them. It was a good learning experience, for all of them.
After supper, Ranma and Ukyo watched a movie with Akane in the home theatre before they departed for the master bedroom at one end of the hall, leaving Akane to make her way to Ranko's room. Once there, she decided to take a hot bath in the attached bathroom, something that she had decided last weekend was probably one of the best baths she had ever had the pleasure of using, and the fact that it had been adapted to make it accessible to Ranko was a definite plus in her book. Mind you, seeing the empty bathing chair tugged at her heart a bit, but she shook her head and pushed on.
The only thing that diminished her enjoyment was the odd feeling that she was being watched. She had checked twice already, but nobody was present. She looked at herself critically in the full-lenght mirror once again and frowned as she examined her body, and nodded as a wicked grin crept over her face. Maybe she would arrange a little surprise of her own for the mischievous little redhead that she loved. Turnabout's fair play, after all.
She rinsed off and slipped into the bath, unaware of the beedy little eyes that watched her out of the corner of one of the smaller mirrors.
"Hotcha-cha-cha. That Akane, what a looker… I can't wait til ol' grandpa Happi can play with her properly….." The wizened little figure muttered to itself.
He poked at the mirror, and noted how the barrier seemed just a bit less solid than it had in the past. Soon, soon he would be able to slip through, and then he would have fun. Just as long as that troublesome Natsume stayed away, that is.
But as long as she was busy elsewhere, nothing wrong with having a bit of fun, was there?
The grin grew, exposing a disturbing amount of surprisingly sharp teeth in that groad mouth.
Monday, December 14th. The Saotome estate,7:00 AM
Akane bounced on her toes as she waited for her running partner to make her way out. As the slightly flushed brunette walked out of the door and into the yard Akane couldn't help but grin at her. "I see someone had a good morning." She said with a conspiratorial wink.
Ukyo swatted her friend. "Lets just say that the literal translation of his name is not far off the mark." Ukyo said with a saucy little wink.
Akane blinked as she worked through the translation, remembering what kanji were used. "Wild horse." She said slowly, then blinked and shook her head. "That is a lot more information than I need, thank you!"
Ukyo shrugged and grinned. "So, are we going to run or girl talk? I don't mind the one, but I could really use the other."
"Run, then breakfast, then a practice session, bath and then off to the real world for me. I don't know if you have plans for the rest of the day or not." Akane said as she ticked off points.
"I will be taking him to the gym and overseeing his session with a new trainer. I'm still going to be with him, but it might be better to have an outsider involved." Ukyo said with a soft smile.
"Worried you won't push him as much now?" Akane asked.
"Yes, and if I go too easy on him, neither of them will improve." Ukyo confirmed.
"Well, then we had better get started, hrm?" Akane said as she started to jog.
"Yeah, just go easy on me. My legs are sore." Ukyo said with a teasing grin.
"Not my fault or problem!" Akane said as she shook her head.
"But Akane…." Ukyo whined.
"Nope! Nope! Nope! Now, get your butt moving!" Akane said as she picked up the pace.
"You're so bossy, sugar." Ukyo groused.
"Just wait till later, my little student." Akane practically cackled.
Ukyo suddenly felt a lot less sure about the practice session.