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 29
Sunday, December 20th. The Saotome estate, 8:00 AM
It had been a busy week for Akane, and she had to admit she was grateful it was the weekend. Not just because it meant she got to greet Ranko back, or got to spend time with Ukyo and Ranma at the Saotome residence, a place she was really starting to consider a second home. Her workload had increased with a new client, and filling in for another of her associates who was going to be down for a week or two. For a few hours, though, she got to spend time in the Saotome family dojo on the estate, as Ranma and herself worked on a series of katas and exercises with Ukyo.
Akane still felt that strange energy thrumming in her body, as it seemed to pulse from her core out towards her fingers and toes. It was an odd feeling, but it was also exhilarating. She could honestly say she had never felt better. A fact that seemed to irritate Ukyo to some extent.
"Sugar, when your better half gets back, we are really going to have to talk to her and see if she has any idea of just why you are so… so vibrant and energetic all the time. I thought that Tsu-chan was exhausting, or that no one could make Kurumi seem… Well, settled. But sugar, you are making both of them seem relaxed. I'm just worried that it might be bad for you in some way." Ukyo said as she laid a hand on Akane's and gave her a winning smile.
Akane huffed and blew her fringe of hair up but nodded. "I will pick her brain when she gets here, then."
Ranma chuckled and nodded. "And please, get her to write out what she figured out. I want to know as well what is going on, and whether those exercises are suitable for the two of us."
Akane sighed and nodded. "Okay, okay. I got it, I will ask her to explain what is going on. Believe me, I want to know as well. I want to be cleared for sparring again! After the week I have had, I need to get to release some energy or I'm going to explode."
Ranma shook his head and gave Akane a long look. "All the more reason for you not to spar, then. You need to focus on control, Akane. Master your urges and impulses, don't let them control you."
AKane sighed and nodded before she quipped. "Yes, Master Yoda."
Ranma sighed as Ukyo giggled. "I did catch that, you know. The reference. Honestly, I should take it as a compliment." Ranma said before he started the next series of katas, leading the two women through the next set of movements.
When they have finished their sets, they run through cool down exercises before the three of them go their separate ways to get cleaned up. While the other two went to Ranma's room, Akane lingered for a bit in Ranko's room while she rested her hand on Ranko's side of the bed. She smiled fondly, knowing that soon they would be together again before she made her way to the shower to clean up.
Akane stretched once she was dressed again, as she looked at the clock. It was just after eleven, a bit under an hour til the ritual, and when they would say goodbye to Ranma and hello to Ranko once again. She didn't know if she would ever get used to this, the strange turn that her life had taken, but she figured it was more than worth it to have a chance at spending the rest of her life with Ranko.
Akane made her way down to study to wait for the other two. She definitely did not resent them for their time together, she knew all too well how long the week would seem for Ukyo while Ranko was here. She was sure that as time went by, the short separations would not feel quite so long, but she wasn't sure if that change would be a good one or a bad one. Akane sighed and shook her head. No use in worrying about it til that time came to pass, if it ever did.
Akane looked up as the other two walked in, hand in hand. "Took you two long enough. I thought I was going to have to drag you two out of there." Akane grinned as Ukyo walked up and punched her in the arm.
"Behave. You and Ranko are just as bad, you know." Ukyo said with a grin on her face.
Ranma shook his head. "There is plenty of time, you know. Honestly, are you in such a hurry to get rid of me, Akane?"
Akane sighed as she walked over and hugged Ranma, much to the amusement of Ukyo when she saw how uncomfortable it still made him. "Of course not, Ranma. I just miss her, is all." Akane said before she stepped back and grinned as Ranma quickly straightened himself out once more.
Ukyo smiled and linked her arm with Akane on one side and Ranma on the other. "I know, sugar. But you will see her soon enough, and then you can deal with me in Ranma withdrawal."
Akane laughed and bumped her hip against Ukyo's as the trio made their way to the shrine. Once there, they stared solemnly at the mirror as the minutes ticked down and the time came as Ranma stepped forward to touch the rippling surface opposite of his sister. As they had seen before, for a moment the two meet eye to eye before Ranko is stumbling, to be caught by the strong arms of her paramour once more and lowered gently into her waiting wheelchair.
Ranko blinked around, then smiled at the two other ladies present. "So, what did I miss?" She asked with a grin before she was engulfed in the strong, warm embrace of Akane.
Ukyo laughed as she watched the mad cuddle fest that was happening before her. "Mostly her, I think. Though, there is something we will need to talk to you about after lunch, if that is okay? Can you put off your start of week work for a bit? I'm hoping it's nothing serious, but…. It's a bit strange."
Akane sighed and looked at Ukyo. "I keep telling you both I'm fine. Honestly, I've never felt better. So, I might need to learn to hold back a bit more, but isn't that part of the goal of working to improve yourself like we do?"
Ranko gently pried her lover off of her and looked at the two of them. "Let's head to the study, and you can explain what is going on?"
The two others nodded as Akane took her usual place behind Ranko as she pushed her along, leaning down to kiss the top of the Saotome's head with affection as Ukyo started to get Ranko up to speed. By the time they got to the study, Ranko had a thoughtful look on her elfen face.
"Akane dear? You have been doing those exercises I showed you, right? How have they been feeling, any strange… Well, feelings? Sensations? Odd warmth or cold? Tingling?" Ranko said as she reached for a blank notebook and one of her pens.
Akane hummed as he rocked back and forth on her feet. "A little? I mean, I'm just so full of energy. I can almost feel this… Pulsing, like? Like hot lighting running through my body. Kind of like when you have a really good workout, and you just feel… Alive afterwards, I guess? It's hard to describe."
"She has also been extra fidgety, and stronger along with faster than before. I mean, I hadn't jogged with her all that much until we started to make things work again, but I can tell there is a difference lately." Ukyo added as Akane nodded and wrapped herself in her arms.
Ranko nodded as she looked thoughtful, quickly writing and sketching as she listened. She placed the notebook in her lap and tucked a couple of pens into the holder on it. "Okay, let's head to the dojo. I need to check out some things, and it's best to do it where we have some room to move. And not nearly as much to break."
Akane and Ukyo looked at each other and then at Ranko. "Lunch first? Then we can see what you have in mind." Akane said as she walked around behind Ranko and wrapped her arms around her lover's torso from behind, resting her chin on top of Ranko's head.
Ranko giggled and reached up to gently stroke the side of her companions face. "Okay, okay love. You have been hungrier than normal lately, haven't you?" Ranko asked with a curious look in her expressive blue eyes.
Akane thought about that and nodded as her stomach growled. "A bit…" She said sheepishly.
"Then, let's go eat and then I am going to be working you both a bit. I have an idea, but I really need to check it out. If it's right… Well, then one of the things that Natsume said might be coming true."
The three ladies made their way to the dining room, and sat down to enjoy the meal that the staff had prepared for them. Ranko quietly pulled Chika Sasami, the head maid, aside and spoke to her softly for a moment. After Chika had nodded and went back to the kitchen, Ranko set into her meal as she watched Akane eat almost ravenously. Akane jerked a bit in surprise when a second serving was placed in front of her.
"Do… You really think I need this much food? Are you trying to fatten me up?" Akane asked as she looked at Ranko.
Ranko shook her head as another, smaller portion was brought out for her. "No, but if what I think is happening is happening, we are all going to need to increase our calorie intake, potentially by a lot." She pointed her chopsticks at Ukyo. "And that includes you. Especially if you and my brother manage to conceive, then your calorie intake will likely go through the roof. If my theory is right, of course." She said quietly as she tucked into her meal with purpose.
Ukyo blushed bright and shifted in her chair. "We… Have been talking about it… Once… We are married, that is."
Akane stopped destroying her meal to look at Ukyo. "And, is he going to propose soon or not?"
Ukyo paused and looked at her friend, then relaxed as she took another bite. "Soon, I think. He said that he has to do everything right. I imagine that includes contacting my family and all the other arrangements for a traditional engagement."
"Just with lots of sex involved." Akane said with a wink at the even redder Ukyo.
"Now now you two, can you save that until after we have finished eating and checked out my theories, please?" Ranko said with a fond roll of her eyes.
The other two looked at each other, then grinned as they looked at the diminutive martial artist. "Yes, mother." they said in unison before breaking out in laughter.
Ranko sighed and rolled her eyes. "I wonder what I have gotten myself into at times."
Akane grinned at her. "You can find out later? Several times?"
Ukyo blushed and sighed. "I really need to find better earplugs." She said sadly as Ranko blushed as red as her hair.
The rest of the meal passed in relative quiet, perhaps to give the redhead a chance to calm down and not blush herself to death. Afterwards, the ladies return to their respective rooms long enough to change into their gi's, including Ranko.
They meet in the hall, and make their way to the small dojo that sits next to the main house. After bowing to the shrine and performing a set of warmups, Ranko has each of them run through the meditations and katas she had started to teach to Akane. Ranko carefully corrected each of them, the positions and movements very particular, and somewhat challenging to properly convey without the use of her own legs.
After a time, the two women are flowing through the series of meditations and exercises that Ranko had taught them while she watched carefully. "Okay, take a break Ukyo. Akane, stand here in front of me, please." Ranko said as she made more notes.
"Hai, sensei!" Akane said as she bounced on her toes.
"I need you to try and calm down a bit, okay dear? Now, I want you to go through these three forms for me." Ranka said as she showed Akane the sketches.
Akane nodded and took a deep, cleansing breath before she started to flow through each form, letting her mind clear and the strange energy that pulsed through her flow freely.
"Do you feel a tingle in your fingertips?" Ranko asked as Akane finished the form.
Akane blinked and nodded. "It doesn't feel like they are asleep, but… They are warm and tingling."
Ranko nodded as she assumed a position from where she was sitting. Her left hand was just below her navel, gently curved and cupped with her palm up. Her right hand rested six inches above her other hand, similarly cupped. It looked like she was holding a ball.
"Now, copy that position. Feet shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent. Just like that, good. Now, imagine that energy flowing through your body. Feel it with each breath, each beat of your heart. Feel it cycling through your body and pooling in her belly, feel the warmth, the gentle heat. Good, good. Now, picture it flowing out of your navel and filling the ball you are holding. Let it flow from your core into the vessel you have prepared. Slow, even breaths. Each time you breath out, let more of that energy, your chi, flow outward."
Ukyo watched, filled with curiosity at what Ranko was showing and doing. That curiosity turned into wonder as she could almost swear she saw a swirling… Something... resting between Akane's hands. As Ukyo moved a little, she saw a similar, but much denser, ball of light cupped between Ranko's palms.
Ukyo let out a soft sound of surprise, breaking the concentration of the other two as the balls dispersed and they opened their eyes.
"What did you see, Ukyo?" Ranko asked as she reached for a bottle of water with shaky hands.
Akane sat down hard, and accepted the bottle of water that was handed to her by Ukyo.
"It was… I must have been seeing things.." Ukyo said in disbelief.
"What did you see, Ukyo?" Ranko said a bit more forcefully.
"It was… Like a ball of light? You each had one, but yours was more… There, I guess, Ranko." Ukyo said as she helped Akane get to a chair.
Ukyo looked at the two of them then sat down herself. "What does this mean?"
Ranko wiped the hair from her face and grinned. "It means that magic, along with the chi arts, are returning to this world, just like Natsume said they might."
Akane blinked and looked at Ranko with an almost wary look in her eyes. "And… What does that mean for us?"
Ranko grinned before she said. "It means that we have a lot of work to do, Akane dear."
"Oh my…." Akane said softly.