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 45
Monday, February 22nd. The Saotome Residence, 6:00 PM.
Kodachi found herself kneeling on the floor before a certain person, and quickly reflected on how she had ended up right where she had found herself.
She had let herself get upset with Akane, and had fallen back on old habits and kissed her. The results had been… Unexpected, that was for sure. Akane had not seemed to be affected by her in the slightest, for one. Also surprising was the fact that she hadn't been upset. In fact, she had acted like nothing had happened.
Their session that morning had been informative, and thought provoking. Akane was a very knowledgeable person, and had some surprising insights into how people thought and interacted. It was almost comical that the human could teach the succubus a few things about how people interacted with each other, but that was precisely what she had done.
Kodachi had received an invitation to dinner that night, something that was hardly a surprise. What she had not truly been prepared for was having to explain herself to Ranko. It made sense, she supposed.
What really surprised Kodachi was the feeling of guilt. Kodachi hadn't ever really experienced it before she had met the Mirror Mage, but she seemed to change everything wherever she went. And that had brought her to here, and now. Where she looked up at the surprisingly imposing figure of the diminutive redhead who sat silently in the wheelchair, while Akane stood behind her and rested her hand lightly on Ranko's shoulders.
Kodachi swallowed again, and looked down. "I'm so sorry about what happened, Ranko. It was inexcusable of me to do that. I should have resisted the impulse, but I succumbed to my old habits. I won't ask you to forgive me, because someone of my standing should know better than to give into those kinds of impulses with people that actually matter to me. Not that I have had many of those before, but it still does not excuse my behavior."
Kodachi could hear Ranko shift in her chair, and she tensed as she expected something in reprisal from the woman who sat before her. How Akane had reacted had surprised her, but she had done little but think about how Ranko would react.
And her mind had been less than kind to her.
Kodachi jerked a little when she felt Ranko's hand come to rest on her shoulder, then looked up slowly at the gentle smile that graced Ranko's face.
"You are okay, Kodachi. It wasn't unexpected for it to happen. As long as you have learned not to try that again, then it will be okay. Now, if you were to try it again then, well… I would be quite miffed." Ranko said in a light tone, but it still sent a shiver up and down Kodachi's back.
Kodachi cleared her throat and nodded. "I.. shall see to that."
Ranko smiled and nodded, and that sudden feeling of dread and pending peril that had filled Kodachi's stomach like a ball of cold lead, heavy and ponderous, dissipated.
"Please do. You're a good friend, Kodachi. Now that we have taken care of that, we would like you to stay here tonight. We want to include you in our full training, and that means a far earlier start than is usually possible with when you arrive. And before you say anything, we have a guest room for your exclusive use. So, please stay." Ranko said with a warm smile.
"How can I refuse such a request? I am in your care, then." Kodachi said as she eyed the room in the manor with a critical eye. "I've never stayed the night in such a small home, it should be interesting."
Ranko and Akane exchanged a look before they both sighed and led Kodachi to the dining room. As they walked, Kodachi decided to ask a question.
"So, will this just be for tonight? I don't see how one time will improve my training that much." Kodachi said as she eyed the couple.
Ranko laughed that awkward laugh of hers and reached back to fidget with her hair. Kodachi instantly knew something was up, as generally Ranko showed her moods and anxieties through subconscious actions like that.
"Actually, we were thinking that you should stay over a few times a week, so that we can really catch you up. In case something happens again. And…" Ranko trailed off as she looked at Akane before she pressed on. "And.. We want to help you learn how to deal with people better. Especially people that you have a connection with."
Kodachi reddened a bit and looked away as she bit her lip. "I have no idea what you would be implying. I associate quite well with my peers."
Akane spoke up and looked over her shoulder at Kodachi. "The fake interactions in high society don't count, Kodachi. No one is being true to themselves, or actually showing their true feelings. It's fake, and doesn't help you at all."
Ranko nodded and looked back at Kodachi. "Remember, I've attended those gatherings, and I tend to get ignored. We fall into an odd spot in the social circles, we have old blood but are considered new money, while not having a standard financial base. Plus, with my disability, I'm underestimated and somewhat shunned. That said, it gave me the perfect opportunity to sit back and watch what was happening, and who does what. When seen like that, it's clear that it's all just… Fake. An act that people put on so that they never actually have to risk getting close to anyone, letting anyone in. It's really kind of sad."
"I would normally say that, as a relative commoner, that you could not understand the more nuanced relationships of the upper class. But, seeing that you are a close friend and someone whose opinion matters to me… I find it hard to disagree with you." Kodachi said simply.
Akane and Ranko shared a look, both relieved to hear this admission from the aloof Kuno. It really seemed like a step forward to them both, to see a crack in that perfect facade.
Kodachi watched the two and relaxed a bit. It had been all too easy to slip into the role of this world's Kodachi Kuno. There had been times when her old life had seemed almost like a dream, or a nightmare. Perhaps it would be good for her, to have people she could be a bit more, well, relaxed with.
As long as none of them decided to vaporize her, that is.
Dinner was, as usual, a livelier affair than what Kodachi had become accustomed to during her time at the Kuno mansion. It was how these meals here always seemed, and no matter which of the siblings was present, they made sure to include the odd person out, and it seemed genuine. They did it out of care and attachment, not because they felt like they had to.
This was how families were supposed to act towards each other.
Once again, Kodachi felt a pang of something that she had not really had a name for, before she had come here. Loneliness. She felt lonely, while she sat here with people that she had become close to. And the more she watched them, especially Akane and Ranko, the more that feeling grew.
Kodachi felt the gaze of the three settle on her, and she looked up slowly and met the eyes of the three women and smiled shyly.
"You can join in the conversation if you want, Kodachi. You don't have to sit there and watch us, you know. We won't bite. Well, I won't at least." Ranko said before she looked over at her suddenly red fiancee.
Kodachi looked slowly back and forth and grinned, then the grin became a smile as Akane continued to grow redder and redder. Soon, her easily recognizable laughter filled the room, and the other three women joined in, even the obviously embarrassed Akane.
After that, Kodachi tentatively entered into the conversation. The night passed much more easily after that, and when dinner ended Kodachi looked at the others and smiled. "I guess I shall stay the night, then. What… Do you all usually do at night?"
The other three look at each other and laugh before Ranko speaks up. "Did you mean 'What do you commoners do?'" Ranko laughed as Kodachi blushed a bit before she continued. "Well, we will do our nightly practice sessions, some light sparring and meditation, then go clean up. After that? It kind of depends. Some nights we watch a movie or a show, maybe play a card game together. Others, we just do our own things. Our lives are not completely regulated, you know. I've lived that life, and it's not really living. Also, what we are doing? What we can do? Part of it is because of how we live our lives."
Kodachi gave Ranko a perplexed look. "And what does that mean?"
Akane rested her hand on Ranko's shoulder, and when her fiancee nodded Akane took over. "We have been experimenting a bit, and it seems that by embracing what makes us, well, ourselves we are increasing the amount of potential energy that we can use and contain. A combination of Taoist and more traditional Zen philosophy seems to work, for whatever reason. Ranko is still trying to figure it all out."
Ranko shrugged and laughed. "This is all pretty new territory for me. Not at all like how I was trained before I came to live here. I will tell you this, it's definitely a better way to live."
Kodachi smiled and nodded thoughtfully. "As a hedonist, I have to approve. As long as you keep it out of the public eye, that is."
Ranko blushed and Akane chuckled, while Ukyo eyed Kodachi with a curious look on her face.
"And what about you, Kodachi? Sugar, you are anything but discreet." Ukyo asked Kodachi as the other two nodded.
Kodachi laughed as they made their way from the dining room towards the meditation room. "I'm rich and eccentric, it's almost expected of me at this point."
The women shared another laugh before they settled in with their meditation exercises for the night. Kodachi had to wonder why they had skipped the evening spar, but she figured it might be because they had planned a full schedule for the morning, and we're trying to take it easy on her
Once they had finished the meditation exercises, thankfully with no soup involved this time, they refreshed themselves a bit and made their way to the television room where they settled down on the various couches. It wasn't long until Kodachi picked up the rather particular kind of tension that had started to build between Akane and Ranko as they cuddled up on the couch where the shorter redhead had been spooned by her taller fiancee.
Kodachi had a sinking feeling that she might not get a lot of sleep that night. Kodahi had her suspicions confirmed when she looked over at Ukyo who had a fond, if long suffering, look on her face. That look confirmed one factor that she had already figured out about the pair.
They were not very quiet.
Kodachi did her best to keep her attention on the screen, and not on the positively delicious swell of energy that flowed from the couple. Honestly, it made it rather difficult to focus on the show. She found herself very glad for the work that Akane had done with her in session so far, it at least helped make it manageable.
That said, she would definitely be taking matters into her own hands later. Perhaps an… Overnight bag would be needed, if this was to become a more regular thing like she suspected.
It was some relief when Akane and Ranko excused themselves for the night, and Kodachi found herself rather amused by the sounds Ranko made when Akane swept her into her arms and carried her off towards their suite.
Kodachi looked over at a fondly amused Ukyo and decided to broach a subject with her. "Are they… Always like that?" Kodachi asked as Ukyo smiled at her.
"Sugar, they are usually far, far worse. That was their good behavior." Ukyo said with a fond laugh.
"How.. Do you handle that? I imagine that it would be quite lonely." Kodachi asked as she tried to be more sensitive than normal.
Ukyo nodded. "It is at times, but Ranma and I are just as bad, just in our own ways. We both handle it because they are worth it, and Akane and I are always there for the other."
Kodachi thought about that for a moment, and how distant the people that were Kodachi's family here acted towards each other, and felt that pang of loneliness again, then shook her head and looked at Ukyo. "That… Must be comforting." She said after a moment of thought.
"It is sugar. And you know that you are always more than welcome here. I helped Akane get the guest room set up for you, I think you will like it. It might not be as fancy as the room you have in your mansion, but I think it has its own charms." Ukyo said with a fond little smile. "Now, how about I show you to your room, and you can get comfortable? We are going to have an early day, and I would recommend getting as much rest as you can. Ranko can be a bit… Overly enthusiastic… When she can really cut loose on the training with someone."
"Very well, I shall follow you then. I am still surprised that you don't have your servants take care of such matters." Kodachi said as the pair started to walk towards the residential wing of the house.
"The staff here are just as much part of the family as anyone else, sugar. And why shouldn't we show our friends around ourselves? We might not have been born into wealth and luxury, but that just means that we know the simpler joys. Like spending real time with the people that matter to us. Okay, here you are. Ranma and my suite are down there, and Ranko and Akane's are down the other way. If you need anything, just knock on the door." Ukyo said, then started to shut the door before she looked at Kodachi. "On second thought, if you need anything just come knock on mine. Those two are going to be… Distracted… For some time."
With that, Ukyo left and Kodachi looked around the room. It was not quite to the standards of her suite back in the Kuno mansion, but there was something warm and welcoming to it, nonetheless. There was a pair of silk pajamas in black and purple on the bed, along with a sleeping gown. Kodachi smiled as she looked at the two pieces and laughed softly. Of course they would not know that she preferred to sleep in the nude, but they were trying to be thoughtful. She found that she quite liked that, the little touches that showed that they cared and thought of her as part of their little extended family.
Kodachi stripped down and slipped into the embrace of the silk sheets and satin comforter and had to admit that they were quite suitable. As she settled in, her senses began to pick up on the energy that was starting to radiate from the direction of Ranko and Akane's room. It was tantalizing, a thick intoxicating smell of lust and sex. Woven into it, was the warmth that she had started to learn was love and affection. Still, it didn't really seem to cut into the wave of raw energy, if anything it seemed to only make it more potent, more appealing.
Kodachi bit her lip as she tried to shut it out, but the waves only grew stronger as time went on. They crashed against her as relentless and inexorable as the tide, as powerful as a tsunami and tempting as a warm bath. As the heat washed over her and started to ignite her own fires, she bit her lip and wriggled deliciously in it's embrace. When the wave crested and threatened to drown her, she softly groaned out a name, and that simple act pulled her suddenly back to the present and now as the full weight of what that simple utterance had meant sunk in.
She bit her lip and ran her tongue lightly over her parted lips before she softly whispered that name once again.
"Hikaru…"
Kodachi rolled over and wrapped her arms around herself as she willed herself to sleep, rather than face the truth that she had finally started to accept.
She felt something far more than lust towards Hikaru Gosunkugi.