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 47

Tuesday, February 23rd. The Saotome Residence, 4:30 PM.

Ranko led the assembled women through their warm up exercises as she kept a close, critical eye on each of them. There did seem to be something different about Kodachi's chi, it seemed that it had calmed somewhat. It didn't seem to be surging nearly as much, or leaking nearly as much as it had before. Perhaps she had really made some progress on her own. It wasn't uncommon for a practitioner to hit a wall, and then find their way past it.

Still, Tanko had to wonder what had happened. She knew that Kodachi had talked to Ukyo, and all that Ukyo would say was it was a personal matter. More than likely it involved Gosunkugi then, but she would not pry into the Kuno's affairs unless Kodachi came to her.

Not that she was the best one to come to, since the only real relationship she had ever had was with Akane.

On second thought, Ukyo probably was the best person to talk to out of the group, then. She had lived the most normal life out of them all, after all.

Once they had finished their warm ups, Ranko started to give her intensive lessons on chi manipulation with Ukyo while she left Kodachi in the capable hands of Akane. Ranko glanced over from time to time to watch how the two were doing, before she would fix all of her attention on Ukyo again.

Ukyo noticed the split attention and laughed a little. "You're curious about the change in Kodachi, aren't ya, sugar?" She asked as she let the ball of chi slowly disperse from between her hands.

Ranko blushed and nodded as she sighed. "I've never seen her so focused. She is usually so…so…" She said as she tried to find a good analogy.

"Like a cat in heat?" Ukyo supplied helpfully with a smile.

"Ummm.. yeah, kinda…" Ranko said as she fiddled with her hair.

Ukyo laughed and nodded. "She found something that she wants, and she is willing to change herself to chase after it."

Ranko smiled and nodded. "Gosunkugi. I just hope that she can handle it if that boat has sailed. He… Is really put off by her." She said with a sigh.

"I know, sugar… And I think she knows as well. But if she wants to take a chance, then all we can do is give her what support we can." Ukyo said before she stretched and settled back into her meditative posture to keep working on her training.

Ranko nodded as she cast one more glance over at Kodachi before she focused all her attention on Ukyo.

Kodachi stepped back and pulled her hair back again before she looked at Akane and settled back into her stance after she rolled back to her feet after the last throw. "Again." Kodachi said and waited a moment for Akane to nod before she moved to engage Akane again.

Kodachi moved through the forms like she had been taught in what seemed a lifetime ago. She hadn't had a lot of time to study under Natsume, but the lessons had definitely been beaten into her nonetheless. Of course she was well aware of the vast gulf between herself and Akane. After all, how could she not? Akane had spent a good portion of her life perfecting her Art, even if she had branches out into another career. On top of that her mastery of her chi was leagues ahead of Kodachi.

Still, she would give it her all, so that she might be able to improve, and hopefully find a way to channel her instincts and tendencies into something a bit more… socially acceptable.

The lengths one went to for the people you cared about.

Akane fended off the latest series of attacks as she studied Kodachi's movements and sequences. There was something familiar about some of her movements and sequences, things that didn't match with what she knew of the style that Kodachi said she had been trained in.

To be exact, some of them were definitely variations of Anything Goes. It wasn't unheard of for people with a background in Anything Goes to teach other styles, but it made Akane curious who had taught her.

Akane continued to fight a mostly defensive sparring match as she felt out Kodachi and where her training had taken her so far. It helped in deciding where they needed to work as Akane countered another kick, and locked the leg before she swept the Kuno.

Kodachi laid on the floor of the dojo as she stared at the ceiling and ran the match through her head. When Akane reached down, she accepted the hand and let Akane help her up. Kodachi accepted the towel and water bottle that Akane handed her. Akane gave her a minute to collect herself before she led the way to where Ranko and Ukyo sat.

Ranko and Ukyo looked up and smiled when the other two women . Ranko smiled as Akane sat down close enough for the couple to be touching and Ukyo laughed as she gave the pair a look.

Akane smiled back and shrugged. "It's not like Ranma and you are any better."

Ukyo laughed and nodded. "I'm not going to disagree, sugar. I'll own up to it."

Kodachi shifted a little bit in reaction to the energy that the couple radiated and laughed softly. "I will never get used to the casual fondness and affection that you four demonstrate all the time. That said, it does make me wish to experience such a rather base thing myself."

Akane smiled at Kodachi before she reached over and gave the Kuno's hand a little squeeze. "In time, I am sure you will. Just keep working on what we have talked about and I know you will get there "

Kodachi laughed as she leaned back a little and placed her hands on the floor behind her to support herself. "I wish I had that same certainty. I fear that my basic nature shall make that highly unlikely." She said in a resigned tone of voice.

Ranko shook her head and smiled at Kodachi. "I used to think the same, as did my brother." She glanced aside at Akane and took her fiancee's hand. "I was happily proven wrong. Don't give up quite yet."

Kodachi laughed and smiled as she looked up. "I shall continue to work on what I need to work on, then. Rest assured, I have no intention of giving up."

Ukyo nodded happily. "That's all we really ask of you, sugar. Just keep being you, and work on becoming a better version of you."

Kodachi regarded the other three and then chuckled. "Thank you for your support."

Ranko nodded as Akane helped her back into her chair before the four of them made their back to the manor. They ate their meals as they engaged in the sort of easy conversation that Kodachi had noticed was normal for them. It made her one day she could also find the sort of easy companionship that the four of them shared.

It gave her hope, and made her start to understand what Natsume had meant when they had parted ways when the Mirror Mage had deemed her ready.

"In this other world that you will be living in, look for the family that you deserve. I am sure that one day, you will truly find where you belong." Natsume had said before they parted ways.

Now, Kodachi had started to feel like she might have found that place. That she might have found the family that she deserved. A place of acceptance, of understanding.

She just hoped that she didn't ruin that.

She just hoped that they might accept her for who and what she really was, as well.

And maybe Hikaru Gosunkugi would be able to forgive her for the things she had done since she just had not understood how she had started to feel about him.

Kodachi was pulled from her little world as Akane addressed he again. "Kodachi? You okay over there."

Kodachi shook herself out of her thoughts and smiled at Akane. "Yes, I am fine. Sorry, just… Lost in my thoughts for a moment. I blame it on my recent company, they're a bunch of uncouth commoners that don't have any regard for how things are done in proper society." She said with the snobbish tone of voice she often used, then smiled shyly. "But, I think that I would not have them any other way. Now, what was it you asked, Akane?"

Akane laughed and grinned. "I said, are you staying tonight? If not, we completely understand."

Kodachi eyed the pair as they sat as close to each other as possible and sighed dramatically. "I think that in the future, I will have to bring an overnight bag. And earplugs." She added with a serious look on her face, before she smiled and laughed along with the others, even if Akane and Ranko looked more than a bit mortified.

Kodachi watched the three more than the actual movie. The easy relationship that all of them shared tugged at the surprisingly empty spot she had found in her heart. It was all so strange, how much she had changed in a relatively short time. She had never really thought about what motivated the humans before, at least not unless it benefited her directly. She had been such a shallow being, at least until Hikaru had entered her life. Perhaps that emptiness had been there all along, and she had just sought to fill it with one meaningless interaction after another.

Perhaps that was what it was truly like to , to have an emptiness that you wanted to fill. A hunger that no food would satisfy, a loneliness that no trite tryst would ease. Not until you found someone that fit that hole in your being, that completed you.

As long as you didn't mess it up, at least.

Kodachi cast a sidelong look at Ukyo where she sat on the other couch, and wondered how she handled it, being away from Ranma for a week. If she felt jealous or resentful of Akane and Ranko. She imagined it must be the same with Akane, and could see how the shared experiences could draw them even closer. A very human thought, one that she would never have even contemplated before.

Before Hikaru Gosunkgi had upended her entire existence.

Kodachi sighed and fixed her attention on the screen, and tuned out the emotional tide that the couple radiated.

Ukyo looked over at the couple, and could tell that they were holding hands under the blanket as usual for them. She found it comforting in a way, as she settled back and cast another glance at Kodachi before she turned her attention back to the screen. The look of longing on Kodachi's face was evident, the kind of look a love sick young woman would have as she pined away over the absent target of her affection.

Definitely not what Ukyo would have expected from the self-confident socialite that they had come to know. It made her wonder, just who was Kodachi Kuno? How much of what they saw was real, and how much was a cover to protect herself in the ruthless world of high society? It was a world that Ukyo had only recently been introduced to, but she could already see the stakes that hung on every action, every word.

Honestly, it would be crushing without the solid rock that was Ranma, and the endless optimism that Akane possessed. Add in Ranko, who for all that her past held had adapted incredibly well to an entirely new world, and she was sure that she had the resources to handle anything.

She also had another reason to be upbeat tonight. Nabiki had sent her another message, this one with a date and location. In a month they would be flying out to Las Vegas shortly after the siblings changed places, so that the lovebirds could have as much time together as possible. It did make her wonder what surprises Nabiki and Akane had been working on. She might love Akane like a sister, but she could tell when the youngest Tendo was plotting something.

Still, for now she would let it go and just enjoy the surprise.

When the ladies finally called it a night, Kodachi lingered for just a bit in the entertainment room as she watched the others heading to their suites. Perhaps Ranma had been right, and she should have come clean with them, and trusted them with her secrets. How much had she missed, because she kept up this charade? How would it affect the trust that they shared in her?

It was something that she would have to think about, and decide when and how to act on it. She didn't want to keep up the act if she could help it. She wanted to be honest with her friends, and be a true friend to them.

Hopefully Akane would not vaporize her.

Once morning came, after a long night after riding the waves of the lovers' passions, Kodachi had decided she would tell them all the truth. She would come clean with them, and trust in them.

When Kodachi made her way to the dining room for breakfast, the other three women were deep in a discussion. They looked up at Kodachi and greeted her warmly before Akane grinned.

"We are having another girls' night at the Teahouse. Would you like to join us?" Akane said with a warm, accepting smile.

"I guess I can slum it tonight, and make some time for all the commoners." Kodachi said archly, then smiled a shy smile. "Thank you."

Kodachi sat down to eat with her friends, and promised herself she would come clean.

Maybe next week. The week after at the latest. It wouldn't hurt any more than it already would, afterall. She had kept her little secret for this long, what was another week or two? After all, she wouldn't want to risk upsetting the ladies before they had a chance to spend time with their other friends, right?

"I guess I can attend your little gathering. Just this time." Kodachi said with a smile.