The Phoenix Saga

With less than a half an hour until opening, Ranko and the girls buzzed around the back room making final preparations. Ranko was wearing a simple yellow knee-length dress and black flats; she found the more elaborate costumes difficult on the weekends when she also had to rush as much as she did to keep her tables' drinks full.

Mei plopped a bit of ground beef onto the work surface, tossing the empty package into the overflowing trash can. "Ranko, hon, could you take that out, please? I'm up to my elbows in hamburger."

The redhead smiled. "No problem!" She pulled the bag out of the trash, tying it off in a double knot. She popped open the back door, slipping out with the bag. The door slammed shut behind her. She turned to head for the dumpster, and made it only one step before she froze in her tracks, dropping the bag on the ground.

In the alleyway was a figure that struck more terror into Ranko than anything else she could imagine. They were sitting on a pile of wooden shipping pallets, and it was hard to see their face, but there was no mistaking them. Ranko would know that white-and-blue dress anywhere. She almost was forced to wear one once.

"A… Akane?"

"So. It's true."

Ranko sighed. No point denying anything. "She told you everything, didn't she?"

Akane nodded softly. "Of all the people to trust with your secret, you picked the one that can be easily bought." Akane had decided to spare her the truth, that Nabiki had volunteered everything once she saw how frantic her little sister had become at the knowledge that Ranma was, in fact, alive.

Ranko backed up. "Akane, please. I can explain." She put her empty palms up defensively. She was fully prepared for a hammer or an axe or something to come flying at her any minute.

Her once-fiancee climbed down off the pallets, approaching slowly. "You look good."

Ranko blinked quizzically. "Uh… Thanks?" Akane cracked a small smile. "No, I mean it. You always were prettier than me."

The redhead gulped quietly. Okay, what the hell is happening here? Akane took a step closer, and Ranko began stammering. "Ah, listen Akane, I… I'm really sorry, okay? I know I was a jerk and I…" Akane took another step. "I shouldn't have left, I know. I just didn't feel like I could…" Another step. "Look, I didn't mean to…"

Akane took the last few steps at a run, leaping forward and wrapping her arms tightly around Ranko. "I'm just glad you're okay! I've been so worried!"

Ranko stood petrified for a moment, struggling to adjust to this turn of events. Eventually, her muscles began to relax, and she returned the hug. "I know. I'm really sorry, Akane."

Akane let her go, looking into her eyes. "No. I'm sorry. I put so much pressure on you. Me, and our dads, and Shampoo, and everybody. I never trusted you like I should have. I never listened. We should have been supporting you when everything happened, and we ran you off. But me, most of all."

The waitress shook her head. "Akane, no. I remember the night I left. You were the only one who even tried to talk to me."

Akane nodded, a tear starting to form in the corner of her eye. "I know. But I didn't say anything to them. I should have stood up for you. I should have had your back like you always had mine. I should have made them back off, give you space to process everything. I owed you that much. This is all my fault. Shampoo's grandmother did this to you because you wouldn't let me go."

"She did it to me because she's a crazy person. It's not your fault. And besides… I'm okay. Really. It's been a hell of a road to get here, but I'm finally starting to get comfortable with the person - with the girl - I see in the mirror. I mean it." She smiled warmly at Akane, slowly getting more comfortable with the fact that her former fiancee wasn't there to beat her half to death. It really was nice to talk to her again. There was so much she wanted to tell her.

"So, you're a singer now?" Ranko blushed, sitting down on the stoop outside the bar. "I'm a waitress, who sometimes sings. Big difference." It was so weird, admitting to Akane that she was a waitress - hell, admitting that she even felt like a she to begin with - without wanting to run and hide.

Akane nodded with an amused smile. "When were you planning on telling the line of people out front that?"

Ranko giggled. "Right about the time I bring them their appetizers, I guess."

Akane sat next to her on the stoop, smoothing out the skirt of her school uniform. "It's good to see you smile again."

The redhead nodded. "It's good to see you at all again. I really have missed you, Akane."

Akane leaned over, resting her head on Ranko's shoulder. "You could have called me anytime, you know."

Ranko sighed. "I didn't want you to be ashamed of me. I couldn't handle the thought of it."

Akane sat up again, looking over at her. "Are you kidding? Ever since, ya know, all this happened, all I wanted was for you to find a way to be happy, and you have. True, it's not what I expected, but if it's working for you, I'm glad."

She traced her finger around the silver bracelet on Ranko's wrist, the dragon's blue eye shining up at her. "This is pretty."

Ranko nodded. "It was a birthday present from Yui. She's one of the girls who works here. So much more than that, but it's a lot to explain. I like that it hides my scar."

Akane nodded. "I do, too."

Ranko smiled a little. "How's everybody back at home?"

Akane rolled her eyes. "Crazy as usual, I guess. Once they realized you weren't coming back, Shampoo and her grandmother closed their ramen shop and left town. I hear Ukyo's thinking about opening a bigger location in their old building. My family's pretty much the same, I guess. Your father…" She sighed. "He still stays with us, but these days he spends most of his time as a panda. He doesn't like to talk about you."

Ranko nodded. "The feeling's mutual. And you?"

Akane looked up into the distance. "Oh, you know, going to school. I'm on the martial arts gymnastics team full-time now. Haven't lost a match yet!"

Ranko swallowed hard. She wasn't sure she wanted the answer to her next question. "Are you, ya know, seeing anybody?"

Akane smiled, shaking her head. "No. Not that Kuno isn't telling everybody we're getting married any day, now that you haven't been around."

The smaller girl rolled her eyes. "Ugh. At least he isn't chasing the pigtailed girl around anymore."

Akane chuckled. She could only imagine how that bastard would bleed to death from his nose if he knew just how much the pigtailed girl had blossomed since he saw her last. "And you?"

Ranko blushed. "Naah." She hadn't seriously considered dating at all since she left. She wasn't sure if she was even supposed to, and if when she did, if it would be okay if she were still interested in girls. She remembered Yui's story about Kimiko. That said, if there was anyone who would be okay with such a thing, it was Hana. She had tried, a few times, to imagine what it would be like to date a boy, just to be seen as normal, and had generally ended up with nothing more than nausea at the very thought of it. So lost was she in her thoughts that she hadn't even noticed Akane slip her hand into her own. Once she did, she fought the instinct to pull it away, smiling contently and resting her head on Akane's shoulder as Akane had done with hers.

The moment was interrupted by the door popping open. Izumi stuck her head out. "Oi, Ranko! I don't know how long we can keep these – oh, hi! Who's this?"

Ranko blushed, snatching her hand back and looking behind her. "Izumi, this is Akane. She's my f…"

Akane spoke over her. "Her friend."

Ranko looked up at Akane with surprise, but she gave Ranko an it's okay glance. "Akane, this is Izumi. She's… well, it's a long story, but we work together, and we're essentially sisters now." With a bit of a blush, she added, "She's also responsible for the majority of my wardrobe."

Akane grinned. "Then you do good work! Pleased to meet you, Izumi."

Izumi smiled, looking back at the redhead. "Seriously, though, they're getting restless in here."

Ranko stood, brushing the gravel from her skirt. "I'm coming." Izumi closed the door, and Ranko turned to face Akane. "I, uhmm… if you don't have anywhere to be and all, I, ah, I'd love it if you, ya know, maybe stuck around for the show? I mean, if you want."

Akane beamed, wrapping both of her arms around the smaller girl's bicep. "I wouldn't miss it for the world, Ranko."