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 44
Friday, February 19th. The Saotome Residence, 6:30 AM.
A month had passed since Kodachi had started to train with them, and the differences were already noticeable. She seemed more vibrant, and had been able to keep up with Ukyo much better. The idea of using Ranko as a limiter on Akane had seemed to be bearing fruit as well. Akane had been noticeably more aware of those around her when she had been on her runs, and seemed to have accepted that others were not quite where she was at currently. But that gap had started to close as the others had applied themselves more and more to the training regiment that Ranko had implemented, sometimes at the audible groans of those that were involved.
Of particular note was the rapid growth of the wellspring of chi in the siblings. The more one developed, it seemed that the other matched. Even though their hi was naturally polar opposites in its balance, the reservoir was equally impressive in both.
The other thing that had added to the sense of urgency was that they were approaching the day that they would have Ukyo's and Ranma's wedding. In a related note, the clandestine meetings between Nabiki and Ukyo had become ever more frequent. The brunette had been rather tight-lipped on what she had schemed with Nabiki, a fact that Ranma noticed but chose not to comment on.
The wedding itself had been a point of contention between the wedding planner and the couple to be. The high-class socialite who handled all the best wedding for the most affluent and wealthy insisted that the wedding would take a year to a year and a half to arrange and plan. All while Ranma would be paying her, of course.
Nabiki had heard about it, and to say she had been… Miffed…. would be an understatement. She had said she could get it all arranged and done in three to six months, max. Since they wanted to do it as a traditional Shinto ceremony, instead of the overblown Christian ceremony that the 'expert' had insisted they have, since it was all the rage.
Needless to say, Ranma had been much more comfortable with a more traditional ceremony, and Nabiki had eyed Gosunkugi a few times with that scheming look in her eyes. Honestly, both Ranma and Ukyo had really started to worry about the fate of the socially awkward, jittery priest. He had become the target of two women that were very much used to getting their way, just for completely different reasons.
Honestly, Ranma could not imagine being hunted down by multiple women who all wanted something different from you, often at the risk of your mental and physical health.
Ranma had never been more glad that he lived a relatively boring, normal life. If you took away the magic, the strange beings, oh, and let's not forget the friendly succubus who had been sent by the magi that had enabled the duality that he and his sister from another world shared.
Lets not forget that.
Still, he would never trade it for anything. He would happily embrace this level of oddness and just a hint of insanity for the people that had come into the lives of the siblings.
Ranma watched as the three ladies ran out of the compound and tightened his grip where his hands rested on his cane. The physical therapy with Ukyo's rather unique friend had been progressing well, but running was likely to remain out of reach for some time, if ever.
What Ranko had written about chi healing held some hope for him, and maybe even her. She wasn"t too hopeful, but the linked nature of their existence gave him some hope.
He just wished that he was capable of going on the morning runs with them.
Once they were out of sight, Ranma made his way back in and to the private dojo that sat behind the main building of the estate, across from the old shrine that housed the Mirror.
He settled into his stance, and started to run through the katas, one by one with his usual methodical and precise style. One form led into another, and time seemed to slip away. All that mattered right now was the floor, the walls, the air he breathed and the next form.
When he stopped and reached for his towel, he became aware of his fiancee standing just outside of the main hall as she watched him from far enough away to not disturb him. The pair shared a smile before Ranma bowed to the shrine in the dojo and took his cane from where it rested as Ukyo stepped into the hall to collect him.
The pair walked back towards the main building, their arms interlinked as each basked in the presence of the other. It was Ranma who broke the comfortable silence first.
"How was your run today? Is Kodachi keeping up better?" Ranma asked as the pair interlaced their fingers lovingly.
"It went good, Sugar. Kodachi is catching up pretty fast, and Akane has learned to be a bit more aware of others, and not just give in to the runner's high." Ukyo replied with a chuckle.
"That's a good sign. I've been concerned that her new strengths had been using her, instead of being under her control. When you start using a hammer to solve problems eventually everything becomes a nail." Ranma said sagely before Ukyo laughed and bumped into his shoulder.
"Starting next time you come home sugar, I want you to start teaching me tai chi. It's supposed to be a great exercise form…" Ukyo said before she blushed. "And good for expecting mothers..". At Ranma's surprised look she smiled and leaned into him. "Not that we are.. Expecting… Not yet.. But once we are married, I hope that we will be. I want to start a family with you, and let our child get to know all of their strange, wonderful family."
Ranma smiled softly and nodded. "I just hope that everything goes well.". He hesitated for a moment before he continued. "And when do I get to find out what you and Nabiki have been plotting?"
"When we are closer to being able to actually execute our plan, Sugar. Promise." Ukyo said before she leaned up and kissed her beloved's cheek.
Ranma nodded as he gripped Ukyo's hand tighter and walked with his partner back towards their home.
Neither was aware of the frustrated scratching at the border Between. Or the hungry looks that were ast towards the shadowy image of Ukyo that those on the other side cast her way.
Akane and Kodachi faced each other as they moved in tandem, each a nearly perfect mirror of the other as they moved from form to form. It had been at Akane's suggestion that Kodachi had started to practice and learn some of the more internal Arts, as they sought to find Kodahi the inner peace and control that the Kuno desperately needed.
Akane knew the nature of the addiction that Kodachi was so desperate to keep under control, but not the true nature of the beast that attempted even now to take control of Kodachi. It was thanks to the self control and force of will that Kodachi possessed that she didn't give in to her base needs and urges. Watching Akane move from form to form in her gi didn't exactly help with that, either.
Ranko was a truly lucky woman to have a partner like Akane.
Kodachi huffed a little as she wished that the person SHE wanted to take as a partner didn't always run quite so fast.
Seriously, for someone who looked as ill and sickly as Gosunkugi always did, he was surprisingly spry.
Kodachi was pulled from her daydreams as the floor seemed to fall away from beneath her. It wasn't until she hit the floor that she realized it hadn't been the floor that had moved, it had been that she had been literally swept off of her feet by the woman who leaned over her with a concerned look on her face.
"You okay, Kodachi? Back with us again?" Akane asked as she offered a hand.
"Ummm… yes, it would seem so. I'm sorry I was acting so uncouth as to not be giving your lessons the attention they deserve." Kodachi said as she dusted herself off.
Akane smiled as she stepped back. "It's okay, you seemed like you had a lot in your mind. Did you want to talk about it?"
"It's not time for our next session, though…" Kodachi said with more than a hint of uncertainty.
Akane stretched then walked over to a bench and sat down. After a moment she looked at Kodachi and patted the place next to her. "We are friends, Kodachi. Friends talk all the time about what's on their minds. Not as a therapist and client, but as friends."
"Is.. That allowed?" Kodachi asked before she almost gingerly sat next to Akane.
Akane smiled and nodded. "It should be fine as long as we don't cross certain lines."
"And what would those be?" Kodachi asked with a lift of one eyebrow.
"I won't diagnose you, or give you medical advice. We can't have sex or an intimate relationship. Oh, and you can't ask me for money." Akane said the last with a grin and a wink.
Kodachi laughed and looked at Akane archly. "Surely you jest? Why would I need money from you?"
Akane smiled and relaxed. "And it was money you focused on, not sex. With your particular issues, that was likely to be the part you focused on."
Kodachi grimaced, and wanted to wipe the smug, satisfied smirk off of Akane's face. So, she did what she always did. She reached out, grabbed Akane and kissed her soundly.
After a minute with Akane not moving or reacting Kodachi broke off the kiss and looked down.
"No tongue, I guess Ranko was right." Akane said without preamble as she sat and watched the emotions as they flicked across Kodachi's face, then smiled reassuringly as Kodachi stared at her with a bewildered look on her face.
Kodachi sat back as her hands clenched. "Are you not angry with me? Disappointed? Don't...Don't you feel a desire to have sex with me, to satisfy your every carnal need?"
Akane smiled softly and took Kodachi's hands in her own. She spoke softly, calmly as she looked the troubled woman in the eyes. "You're pretty, Kodachi. But, you're just not my type. I like cute, awkward redheads. One that makes me want to be better, do better." Akane said as she gave Kodachi's hands a gentle squeeze.
Kodachi blinked and looked at Akane, then down at their hands with a confused look on her face. When she looked back up, there were tears in her eyes. "But...But I betrayed your trust, and the trust of your fiancee? How… How can you not be angry with me?"
"Take a deep breath. There, now another. Good. Okay, to answer your questions, then. One, I fully expected you to try this at some point. With all that has happened to you, it stands to reason that when you are frustrated, upset, or worried that you will fall back on what has worked for you in the past. Two, Ranko and I had a discussion when I first agreed to see you as a client. And no, I never mentioned you by name or any details. I just let her know that I was going to start helping a client who had issues with sex and sexual boundaries, and that there was a good chance that at some point they would try and make a pass at me. She figured out that it was you by herself after we met. You do sort of just… Ooze sex when you are unguarded, Kodachi."
Kodachi blinked and bit her lip, uncertain how to take all of that. "And… The comment about no tongue? What… Exactly was that about?"
Akane smiled and gave Kodachi's hand a reassuring squeeze. "After she figured out it was you, she said that when you did try to make a pass at me, if you kissed me she said that there would be no tongue involved."
Kodachi looked even more puzzled. 'And why would she suppose that? You are quite an attractive woman, for a commoner."
Akane laughed as she let go of Kodachi's hands to grab her water bottle, and pass Kodachi's to her. "Because she knew you wouldn't actually mean anything by it. That it would just be you acting out, and not a serious attempt to woo me away from her." Akane smiled dreamily. "I love that woman more every day."
Kodachi coughed and looked away, then back at her lap as she took a drink of her water. "So… Did you still want to hear about what is on my mind?"
"Of course, because you are our friend. Now, is it what or who is on your mind?" Akane said with a warm, gentle smile.
Kodachi jerked and looked at Akane. "What? How? When?" Kodachi coughed and looked away. "I have no idea who you might be talking about. Why would I have someone on my mind?"
"Because it's been obvious to all of us, except probably you and Gosunkugi, exactly how you feel about him from the start. You tease him and wait to see what his reaction is. You are disappointed when he runs away, so it's obvious that you actually want him around, but you are not quite sure how to express it in ways that, well…. Don't terrify him. I won't ask about what happened between you two to leave you both in this state, not outside of sessions, at least." Akane paused to take a drink, then looked at Kodachi. "But, if you want to try to mend the broken bridge, I'd be willing to help. As long as it won't cause any more lasting psychological trauma to Gosunkugi, that is. Now, if you are willing, I can go over some actions to avoid and behaviors to watch out for when you are dealing with him. In our next session, of course."
Kodachi smiled and relaxed as she took another drink of her water. "I would like that, quite a bit. Thank you, Akane."
Akane smiled back as she stood up and offered her hand. "You are welcome, Kodachi. Now, let's clean up before you join us for breakfast."
Kodachi laughed and took Akane's hand. "If you insist, sensei. I can't promise I won't leer at you, though."
"As long as you remember this merchandise is already bought and paid for. No touching other people's toys." Akane responded with a playful laugh.