(Previously:  Nodoka Saotome came into possession of the remains of the 
Nanban Mirror, and turned it into brooches she gave to Ranma's fiancees.  
Using its power, Shampoo, Kodachi and Ukyou have each traveled to a 
future where they married Ranma.  It wasn't what they expected...)

			DEEP REFLECTIONS
			by Scott K. Jamison
			(Takahashi disclaimer)

			Chapter Four:  Akane

	Akane picked the mail up from the box as she returned from 
shopping.  A couple of bills, a challenge letter for Ranma, penpal 
letters for herself and Kasumi, a sweepstakes solicitation, Nabiki's copy 
of Money Magazine and a small package.
	She was a bit surprised by the return address, which was the same 
as the mailing address.  "Now why did Auntie Saotome do that?"  Then she 
recalled what had happened the last time Nodoka had tried to give her 
something.  "Ohh, yeah."
	The other reason became obvious when she read the enclosed note.  
Since there was a gift for each fiancee, the impartiality of the postal 
service was a good way to deflect any jealous fighting over who got 
theirs first.
	Akane was a bit ambivalent about the gift.  It was pretty, but 
the Nanban Mirror had been nothing but trouble.  Actually, just about 
every magical item Akane had ever seen had brought trouble.  No wonder 
modern people preferred science.  Still, since she knew what activated 
the Mirror, it should be safe enough...
	Or maybe not, given she was seeing Shampoo's reflection.  Akane 
watched in horror as the Nanban granted the Chinese girl's request, then 
clouded.  It was opaque for about fifteen minutes, then Shampoo 
reappeared, her face marked with sorrow.  Then Kodachi had her turn, the 
Mirror clouding for a bit over thirty minutes.  The gymnast was clearly 
in shock when she returned.
	Now Ukyou's face appeared.  "Don't go!" whispered Akane, but it 
was too late.  This time, the Nanban Mirror stayed clouded for a full 
hour, and did not fully clear when the chef returned with a bitter 
expression.
	This was not good.  This was *so* not good.  It was 
understandable that Shampoo and Kodachi might have been disappointed by 
marriage to Ranma, but he *liked* Ukyou, and she'd specified a happy 
marriage.  Was he really as awful as Akane always accused him of being?  
Sure he was a rude insensitive weirdo jerk, but their reactions made him 
look like a monster.
	Or could it be...could it be true...that he loved her, Akane, 
after all?  She suspected as much sometimes, and she knew that she could 
love him, if only he'd show it.  But instead they spent their time 
snapping insults at each other.  Still, if Ranma loved her, and showed it 
in the future, that would be enough to spoil the others' fantasies.
	So...did she want to see what life was like married to Ranma?  
Would they have children?  Would she be more than a housewife?  Would 
Ranma finally stop insulting her cooking?  She knew for sure they'd fight 
a lot.  Akane's own mother and father had loved each other very much, but 
she vaguely remembered arguments that made the house shake.  Between 
Ranma's loose tongue and her temper, well, house-shaking would be an 
understatement...  Why go into the future to see something she had right 
here?
	Maybe she should ask to see a future where she didn't marry, just 
to see what other options she had.  Could she be a career woman?  And 
doing what?  She doubted she would last a week as an OL.  Maybe 
professional sports?  Acting might be nice, if she could get decent 
roles.  She was already too old to start an idol singer career, even if 
she wanted that.
	The Mirror could take you back in time too.  Maybe she could keep 
Ranma from ever getting cursed, or see her mother again.  Akane 
hesitated, then read the last line of the note again.
	She thought of Shampoo, exiled from her home until she completed 
a mission that looked more hopeless all the time.  Of Ukyou, whose entire 
life had been shaped around her engagement to Ranma, one way or another.  
And even of crazed Kodachi.  Sad as it sounded, it seemed like Ranma was 
the closest thing she had to a male friend.
	"It just isn't fair!  We can't all have Ranma, and we shouldn't 
expect him to try to please everyone.  Whatever he does will hurt 
someone, and his dithering just hurts all of us.  If only--that's it, 
that's the future I want.  Mirror, show me a future where each of us does 
find happiness, where we found a solution!"
	A tear of frustration fell onto the brooch.  The mirrored surface 
clouded around the droplet, and Akane braced herself for the journey, but 
she wasn't moving.  Instead, a web of cracks spread across the Nanban 
Mirror, and the glass shattered into dust.  An errant breeze swept the 
dust away, and Akane was left with the empty trim.
	"I broke it.  I don't understand how, but I broke it.  I'm such a 
klutz!" 
	The tears came faster.
	"I can't do anything right!"
	"Now, I wouldn't say that." came a soothing voice.  Akane looked up.
	"Auntie Saotome?  But I broke your present!  The other girls 
could make it work..."
	"I saw."  Nodoka held up another empty brooch.
	"You knew about the Mirror?"
	"I asked Ranma about it while I was making the brooches, and I 
did a little reading.  You didn't think I would give you all magic things 
without knowing what they did, did you?  Here, let me dry your tears."  
Mrs. Saotome pulled out a hanky and dabbed gently at Akane's face.
	"I messed things up, just like Ranma always says."
	"Did you really?  The others all asked for their own dreams.  
Only you thought to try for everyone's happiness.  Perhaps the Mirror 
finally ran out of power, or it couldn't find the future you wanted.  Or 
perhaps, just maybe, it took you into that future as far as it could, and 
we'll have to walk the rest of the way there ourselves, one step at a 
time.  The way we always do."  Nodoka hugged Akane, just a little.
	Akane didn't feel quite as bad anymore.  "So is that the end of 
the Nanban Mirror?"
	"Possibly.  But we are dealing with magic and time travel here.  
Who knows what may happen?"
	Akane's gaze fell on the clock.
	"Oh, no!  I just remembered, it's my turn to cook dinner.  Will 
you help me?"
	"Certainly, dear."
	"I just wonder what the others saw.  And if they'll ever say..."
	Nodoka was already halfway to the kitchen, humming an old song.
	"I've shed a million teardrops or more, waiting for the one I 
adore..." 

				THE END

	And so from darkness, we pass again into the light.
	This story was actually inspired by the "Ranma Fanfic Error 
Drinking Game" posted a bit back, specifically the bit about using the 
Nanban Mirror "without at least repairing it first."  That started me 
thinking about whether it could be repaired, and who might do it.
	Once I'd settled on Nodoka, I decided that the end of Volume 36 
was the proper timeframe to work in.  Unfortunately, by that late in the 
series, there is little to no chance for any of the other fiancees to 
marry Ranma without getting Akane out of the way.  I also realized that a 
time travel device activated by tears is awfully unlikely to take you to 
a happy future, and that set the tone of the story. 
	I hope you've enjoyed this one, and please send c&c to the usual 
address, majks@cyberx.com  .  

SKJAM!
"Now back to 'Worse'"