I do not own anything written by Rumiko Takahashi or Kosuke Fujishima.

Ku Lon looked over as Nabiki hobbled into the Tendo household family room, her fiancé's arm around her waist (a sight that was becoming increasingly rare—her fiancé, that was, rather than her fiancée). Thanks to the post-combat high it had actually been funny ... Nabiki with her arms wrapped around Akane, practically sobbing; Akane shrieking when she realized that the wetness rubbing off on the leg bared by her school uniform was Nabiki's blood; Nabiki paling and dropping when the pain of the puncture wounds in her thigh finally registered through her own combat high, to be caught by two strange girls that had just run up that turned out to be friends of Akane; Ranma somehow returned to sanity flying out of the school less than a minute later to fuss over her fiancée, her disembodied voice accepted as perfectly normal by the students gathering around them.

Fortunately, Pa Fum was able to cleanse and bind up the wounds (that Nabiki insisted must have been caused by flying rubble from Gautrek's near-explosive exit from the school ... a claim that amused Shan Pu, for some reason Ku Lon would have to ask her for later). So Akane didn't completely melt down ... though she didn't explode when Nabiki invited Tatewaki to dinner, either, which from the complaints she voiced about both the Kunos during breaks in the training from Ryoga for the Rhythmic Gymnastics Martial Arts competition she really should have.

Speaking of whom ... Ku Lon turned her attention back to the Kuno kneeling across from her. While she had initiated their discussion to distract him from the youngest Tendo glowering at him from between her two friends, that discussion had been fruitful enough that even Akane was actually listening—any Amazon Elder would have been able to split that torrent of demonic energy with their staves the same way Kuno had with his borrowed blade when he'd saved the lives of Akane, Soun, and probably Ranma; but he lacked the same massive ki reserves an Elder would have needed ... but had managed it anyway. His explanation, as best he could put it into words, of how he had pulled off that miracle had Ku Lon reconsidering half a dozen techniques that required multiple elders.

And then even as Nabiki knelt at the table (with Ranma's help and a mostly-suppressed whimper, it was going to be awhile before she resumed her ken-jutsu training), Kasumi entered the room with a tray filled with steaming bowls of ramen, Nodoka behind her with another tray. They quickly passed out the meals and knelt at their own places on either side of Nabiki and Ranma, and with a quick "itadakimasu" everyone dug in.

Well, almost everyone dug in, Kasumi was stiff, her eyes darting around the table ... if she'd been anyone else, she would have been wringing her hands. Ku Lon didn't understand why she was so worried—while the spicing was slightly off, the broth just a smidgen too thick, those around the table could had only experienced Ku Lon's ramen the once (or in the case of Kuno, Sayuri, and Yuka, not at all) so they wouldn't be able to tell the difference. And from the appreciative attention everyone was paying to their bowls, they certainly appreciated it as much as the first time.

Especially the delusional young man across the table from her, who sighed happily as he placed his already empty bowl on the table. "That was truly magnificent, a banquet fit for the heroes of old! You must join my household, that your incomparable talent may receive its just due. Only name your wage, price is no object."

Kasumi blushed at the extravagant praise, but shook her head even as she relaxed. "No, no, no, I am happy here at home. And really, I am only a student." She bowed to Ku Lon. "My sensei is the true mistress of the kitchen."

Beside her Nabiki suddenly stiffened, her eyes lighting up. She grinned at Kuno. "Price is no object? Really?"

"But of course! What is base coinage compared to such a magnificent repast?"

"Well, if you really mean it, there is a way that you can go on enjoying this. The Amazons have pretty much accomplished what they came here for and are running short on funds, so they're due to leave soon. But"—she nodded to Ku Lon—"they've been looking for a way to set up a permanent outpost here in Japan. How about you loan them the money to set up their own restaurant, find people that can guide them through the legalities and how to run a modern food establishment? With ramen this good they should have no problem paying back the loan in no time, even provide you with a profit."

"No proper Kuno would concern himself with so crass an object as profit," Kuno announced pompously, "but otherwise your words have merit. It would be my great honor to support such an establishment."

Ku Lon actually felt faint at the sudden vista Nabiki had opened up before her. She would never have thought of such a possibility, but ... We can use the profits and experience from managing the first restaurant to open others, an Elder managing each; cycle Warriors through as workers so that they have some experience with the larger world. Some of them will want to stay, bring their husbands, find good and strong men here for husbands ... we could adopt like-minded Japanese girls, train local Amazons ... we could end up with outposts not just here but scattered throughout Japan, wherever a restaurant is opened!

Before her imagination could race off in all directions she sternly called it to heel. She wasn't the only Elder in Japan, after all. So she restricted herself to a nod toward their would-be benefactor. "I will have to consult with my fellow Elders, but I believe they will agree to accept your generous offer." After all, even Dao Paz agreed with her concerns about the future of the tribe, if not necessarily her proposed solution. "I will discuss it with them tonight, and have a final answer for you tomorrow."

"But of course," Kuno agreed with a sitting bow. "But we have interrupted this occasion with sordid business, let us return to the magnificent repast our host has served us. Mayhap in the future, with your continued presence among us, there will be other examples of the fair Kasumi's mastery of her Art." His eyes flicked sideways to Kasumi's blushing but happy face, and then to Akane's stiff lack of expression.

Ku Lon's estimation of the young man promptly jumped, considerably—perhaps he wasn't as foolish ... or as delusional ... as he appeared. But she merely voiced her agreement as she returned her attention to her own bowl. It really was magnificent ramen, and even if Dao Paz and Lo Shun agreed to Kuno's patronage it wouldn't happen right away so she was unlikely to eat like this again for awhile.

/oOo\

Mara walked into the study of the Gosunkugi home, as a furious Gosunkugi Ogai looked up from the paperwork on his desk—understandably so, seeing how he hadn't given the permission he demanded for anyone outside the family to enter their home, much less his own personal sanctuary. She was careful not to allow her amusement at his anger to show, as much as she enjoyed these little sessions with those she'd trapped she couldn't let him know that. Ogai was not a man that appreciated being taken lightly, especially when his back was to the wall ... and in this case, while she had him well and truly caught, he was likely to miss her true hook if he struggled against the inevitable. Instead she relaxed the veil hiding her nature ... and level of power, even with the limiters all gods and demons at her level wore when on Earth ... from all around her.

Gosunkugi rocked back in his chair, blanching at the revelation that one of the Powers of Niflheim had not only take notice of him, had not only walked through the wards he'd placed around his home as protection from both demonic and supernatural powers, but had done so without disturbing those wards at all. That alone would have been enough to get his attention—it was one thing to overpower wards through sheer brute strength, quite another to ignore them entirely. But whatever else he might be, Gosunkugi was no coward and he quickly recovered and rose to his feet to step around the desk and offer her a deep bow. "My Lady, you honor me with your presence." Why are you here?

Mara nodded slightly in acknowledgement. "You've heard, by now, why your son's school needs a new roof."

"Yes, my son told me." He motioned toward a comfortable chair off to one side, under a lamp. "Would you care for a seat?"

"Thank you." She sat, and waited for him to pull the office chair behind his desk around to face her. "Did he explain how he came to be under Gautrek's thumb?"

Gosunkugi nodded. "Yes, he did. I've spent the afternoon since his explanation attempting to determine who 'Gautrek' might have been, the name is unknown to me."

"What Hikaru is unlikely to have told you, because he wasn't there and so wouldn't have heard,"—because he was curled into a terrorized ball, dumped in a classroom on the opposite side of the school by the Amazon warrior that hauled him out of the auditorium—"is that 'Gautrek' handed the karmic debt owed him by you, your son, and all your ancestors, over to me. Something I'm sure you will appreciate, along with the knowledge that 'Gautrek' is no longer an issue. He has been hunted down, and is now enjoying Hild's tender mercies—she is very happy to have him back." She smiled mirthlessly. "Because you will also recognize Gautrek's actual name ... Shuten Doji, and he was very happy to find himself accidentally summoned by Hikaru. Just what were you thinking, cheating him of his due? Even if you did it by out-lawyering him with the agreement you made with him, he never forgot the embarrassment, because we never forgot the embarrassment ... the constant mockery actually drove him to going rogue." Her smile broadened. "You are fortunate that Shuten Doji was distracted by learning of just which succubus your son had been trying to summon, or his death would have been very messy, and very prolonged—years, perhaps. And you wouldn't have learned what had happened to him until it was all over. So I am sure you will agree that, all things considered, having your karmic debt transferred to me is preferable."

She rose to her feet, and nodded imperiously as he hastily rose as well. "You know how this works, I or my representative will contact you when your services are required, if ever." Turning, she strode out of the door, made sure she was out of his line of sight, and shielded herself from all mortal sensing. She floated through the wall back into the study to find Gosunkugi slumped back in his seat, white and shaking.

Good enough. She smirked as she floated up through the ceiling and out of the house, to clear the wards before returning home ... they really were magnificent wards. Once he gets over his panic he'll want to guarantee his family's future by seeing how much his son has taught himself, and what holes that self-learning has left in Hikaru's mystical education. But once that's done, maybe before then, he'll start wondering just what's so important about a simple succubus that Shuten Doji would give up his revenge on the Gosunkugi family to acquire it ... and then find out that there's nothing simple about Ranma. And the best thing is that he is unlikely to tell anyone that I'm the one that told him about Ranma, because that might lead others to wonder why I met him to begin with, so Nabiki is unlikely to ever find out why the elder Gosunkugi is ... taking an interest ... in her fiancée. I love it when a plan comes together.

/oOo\

It was a sleepy but content Nodoka that walked toward her business the next morning. Dinner had been magnificent, however worried Kasumi had been, and very filling (even with Tatewaki, Yuka, and Sayuri joining them there had been more than enough for all, Kasumi might have gone a bit overboard making sure that everyone would have enough). And afterward, Ku Lon had had some questions about what Nodoka could tell her about running a business in Japan. Nodoka wasn't sure how much overlap there was between a dealer in antiquities and a restaurateur, but she had answered as best she could.

And then after their guests had left she had debriefed Nabiki on just what her student had done during the fight with Gautrek. She had been appalled at the risk Nabiki had taken, or rather how desperate the situation had been (given that, it had been no risk at all), but proud that she had actually managed to pull it off—Nodoka wasn't sure she could cast such a summoning without tools or preparation in the middle of a fight ... she wouldn't want to attempt it even when everything was at its most peaceful. Of course, if everything is peaceful no sane Initiate would even try.

Then she turned the corner to her store's street, and her gaze sharpened at the sight of a car parked in front of her door ... she had no appointments for the morning. Striding up to her door she unlocked it, turned off the security system just inside, then stepped aside so that the man that had exited the car while she had been busy could enter. He was a ... nondescript ... man, dressed in the business suit and carrying the briefcase that practically shouted 'lawyer'—but not one she recognized.

As soon as the door closed behind him he introduced himself as Koguchi-san, a member of a local law firm (accepting her correction of 'Tatsuno-san' for 'Saotome-san', along with a thumbnail explanation why, without reaction). Nodoka's heart sank at the name of the firm, it was one she was familiar with ... and one that specialized in wills and inheritance. Since she hadn't made use of them for her own will Koguchi had to be acting on someone else's behalf, and she only knew one person that cared enough about her to include her in his will—

"Tatsuno-san, I regret to inform you that Yosida-san died last night; as per his instructions, we are notifying you immediately that since he has no surviving family you are his sole heir." He dropped his briefcase and caught Nodoka's arm as she swayed, and helped her onto an nearby seat. "My apologies for the shock. Would you like some water? Where would it be?"

Nodoka shook her head, feeling her strength returning and her mind clearing as the shock faded. "No, thank you, I will be fine." She managed to force a thin smile. "I take it isn't normal practice for you to notify people of any deaths. How did Kenji die?"

"No, we are usually alerted to any deaths by the family, not the other way around. From what we were told, Yosida-san was carrying out an arrest when the suspect changed his mind about not resisting and caught him off-guard."

"I see. Do you have the number of whom I can call for more details? And I assume since he has no surviving family I will need to see to arrangements for the funeral and burial."

"Yes, I do have a number, and you are correct about the arrangements." He picked up his briefcase and placed it on the antique table beside them, and opened it to pull out a file. "I have the details here..."

After an hour spent going over the arrangements (something Koguchi was clearly unaccustomed to, his firm had definitely gone the extra mile) and the details of her inheritance (not much, Kenji had been both young and from a family of common status), she saw him out and closed and locked the door behind him, then headed for her office for something stronger than water. She hadn't had a chance yet to look over the data files Kenji had passed to her, but she would ... oh, yes, she definitely would—the hunt for whoever had killed poor Noriko and was still desperate to hide it even after sixteen years had just become personal.

But first, she would have to see to the final rites of a dear friend.

Author's Note: Shuten Doji is an actual demon from Japanese myth. According to the story a hero with the help of four kami cut off his head, but demons are really resilient (even decapitated, the head tried to bite Raiko and only the fact that he was wearing the helmets of two of his companions as well as his own saved his life), so I'm going with that incident just taking him out of circulation for awhile and causing him a great deal of embarrassment. The mockery at being publicly humiliated by another mortal was just too much.