Author's notes to follow, this is the final chapter.


Chapter 5 - Love and Loss

	Cologne sighed and hobbled over to her staff, her age finally
seemed to be catching up with her.  The seven year ceremony was coming into
it's final stages, it was time for Cologne to tend to the matters at hand.

	She stepped outside into the light of day and tapped the ground
twice to summon Xian.  He arrived quickly, he had been waiting for the
call.  Xian bowed to the elder before following her down the trail.

	Xian wore the traditional long sleeved garb of the village, but all
black to match the long hair which swung loosly at his back.  After a mile
or so he produced an almond cookie from the folds of one of his sleeves and
began to munch away idly.

	Cologne tried not to notice and simply rolled her eyes as she
continued down the trail.

---------------------------

	Seki worked as a busboy almost five years for his father.  He had
been working five hours at the Nekohanten and it already felt longer.  He
knew things would be a little busier than the little okonomiyaki shop back
home but he wasn't prepared for this.

	It was five hours of constant movement.  Without his reflex
training he would never keep up with Spice, who would throw entire tables
worth of dishes at him.

	Mousse was a little better about the throwing thing since it was
his first day and all.  Between Mousse throwing him orders and Spice
throwing him empty bowls, Seki had his hands full.

	Throughout the day he caught glimpses of people from school.
Despite all the work she did Spice still found time to socialize somehow,
this puzzled Seki to no end.

	Seki took a seat as Spice escorted the last of the customers to the
door.  She was still as bright and cheerful as when she started five hours
ago, "thank you.  Please come again."

	Seki groaned and plopped his head on the table.  He didn't bother
looking up when Spice took up a seat next to him.  He did look up when he
heard her plop her head on the table.  She let out a breath that sounded
like she'd been holding for the past five hours.  "I hate people, I really
hate people, I really really really hate people."

	Seki was too exausted to make a comment.  All the energy seemed to
have been drained from Spice.  She sort of laid herself out on the table,
face planted firmly on the cloth.

	She shot upright as the door chimed.  She cursed herself privately
for not locking it, "irashaimasen.."

	"Don't worry dearie, I already ate."

	Seki turned his head towards the voice, "Sis?"

	Ukyou stood in the doorway with jeans and a t-shirt that read
'Tokyo Disneyland' in big letters.  Her spatula swung freely across her
back as she walked towards him.  "Would you like a little more time or
should I just scoop you up and drag you home?"

	Seki valiently tried to raise a finger, "ready in a minute sis."

	"No problem," Ukyou turned her attention to Spice who seemed to be
in a similar condition, "So where's the boss?"

	Spice waved a couple of times in the direction of the kitchen.

------------------------

	Megumi threw another book into the read pile, the two stacks seemed
to be about even now but the unread pile still had a slight advantage.  She
rubbed her eyes and looked around for Dr. Tofu, he was nowhere to be seen.

	She quickly grabbed the next book and opened it about halfway
through and started skimming her way to the end.  She was halfway through
the chapter about pressure release points when Dr. Tofu walked in.  "It's
getting kinda late Megumi, you look tired."

	Megumi gave him a broad smile while closing up the book and sliding
it over to the read pile.  "Yeah, I better get home.  Dinner's probably
over by now."

	Dr. Tofu nodded absent mindedly as he started to put some of the
books back on the shelves, "you're welcome to take any of those home if
you'd like."

	Megumi shuddered, "gee thanks Doc."

-------------------------

	Mousse threw the last of the dishes in the direction of the sink.
The Nekohanten never used ceramic bowls due to the airborne service style.
Mousse leaned heavily on the counter and rubbed the bridge of his nose
under his glasses.

	"I know that look.  Business must be really good."

	Mousse gave a muffled response.  "Yes, it's horrible."

	Ukyou grined and gave Mousse a little hug, "I'm sure it's not that
hard to chase away those pesky customers."

	Mousse smiled in spite of himself, "the only problem is they keep
coming back."

	Ukyou took a step back to get a good look at him, "how've ya been
Mousse?"

	Mousse thought idly how little Ukyou had aged, "busy.  How about
you?  It must be what?  Twenty years almost?"

	"About there, you look good."  Ukyou nodded happily, "but anyway, I
just wanted to thank you for hiring Seki."

	Mousse took up a seat and motioned Ukyou to do the same, "he's
great, if I could only hire two of him I'd be set."

	Ukyou swung the chair in front of her around and strattled it.  She
rested her head on her hands and gave Mousse a simpathetic look, "that busy
huh?"

	"It's not so bad since I hired him, but when he and Spice are at
school..."  Mousse shrugged.

	"That's the problem with kids today, all they think about is
school, dating, and martial arts."

	"Yeah.  If only..." Mousse was suddenly struck upright with a
thought, "so what are you doing these days Ukyou?"

	Ukyou gave him a squinty eyed look and answered very carefully,
"nothing much...  just finished moving in, I only got into town a few days
ago."  Mousse gave Ukyou a wide eyed look and blinked a couple times for
effect. Ukyou began shaking her head franticly.  "No!  You can't be serious
Mousse.  I haven't worked in a restaurant for years."

	Mousse moved up to a teary pleading look, he could see her melting.
"I could really use your help when the kids are in school."

	Ukyou continued to protest, "I've never worked in a Ramen shop,
I've never even made ramen for that matter."

	Mousse smiled as the images started to finalize, "don't worry about
it.  I can handle most of the cooking.  All you'd have to take some orders
and work the register."

	"I don't know Mousse..." Ukyou thought about it as she looked to
the floor, she could see the kitchen door swing open.

	Mousse took Ukyou's hand in both of his, "I really need you Ukyou."

	They both turned to the sound of plates hitting the floor, "Daddy?!?"

--------------------------

	Megumi walked idly along the fence, her hands behind her head.  She
was in no particular hurry to get home, there wasn't much to do without her
father to spar with.  Getting home meant sitting around and reading the
books Dr. Tofu gave her.

	The first few were okay but it wasn't what she was expecting when
Dr. Tofu agreed to help with her martial arts training.  She almost walked
straight into Ranma who was also walking along the fence.

	Both were lost in thought until they realized someone was blocking
their path.  They both looked up slowly and locked eyes.  Neither spoke,
neither knew what to say.

	Megumi smiled slowly, she missed her father dearly.  She took off
her backpack carefully and let it drop to the ground near the fence.  Her
father smiled and took up a stance.

	Ranma had been too distraught since Akane kicked him out to do much
in the way of martial arts.  Before  that he and Megumi had sparred daily
and continuously, much in the same way his father had done with him in the
old days.  As it was, they hadn't seen each other in almost a week.

	Megumi started off with a flip over her father to land a few feet
behind him.  Ranma kicked backwards instinctively before spinning around.
Megumi easily dodged the attack and stepped forward into arm range.

	She attacked first with heavy jabs, moving forward the entire time.
He parried them easily but the speed of her attack kept him from
retaliating.  She knew her attack couldn't last forever so she slipped in a
quick kick combo while her father was concentrating on her punches.

	It caught Ranma offguard but there wasn't enough force behind her
kicks to knock him from the fence.  Not being able to follow through on her
kicks knocked Megumi off balance temporarily, but the same could be said
for her father.

	They both took a moment to regain their balance and looked at each
other once again.  It became understood that the winner would be the last
one to the ground, this was good because their matches had a tendancy to go
on forever.

	It was Ranma's turn to press the attack, a simple punch kick combo
which Megumi stopped in midkick.  She pressed his leg hard and was barely
able to get out of the way when he followed up with a flip kick.

	She could feel herself falling but was able to grab the fence
before hitting the ground.  The was no time to pull herself up so she
pressed a kick attack from her inversed position on the fence.

	Ranma dodged a number of kicks but Megumi managed to grab onto one
of his legs with her feet.  She released the fence and defended her
position stuck to his leg.

	Megumi flipped up and off to come down directly at Ranma.  He
sidestepped faster than Megumi thought possible and knocked her downward
attack off course.  Before she could grab the fence again Ranma grabbed her
leg and held her upside down, "You still have a thing for high risk
manuvers Megumi.  You have to stay focused to your goal."

	Megumi looked up at her father, "you can't fight without a little
risk pop.  You should have pressed your advantage while I was falling
insted of catching me."

	Ranma smiled, "well it looks like relatively low risk from up here."

	Megumi grinned and prepared herself, "that's why you lost pops."

	Ranma gave her a puzzled look which turned to full blown shock as
he felt his legs give out under him.  He let go of Megumi who grabbed the
fence and turned to watch her father fall into the drainage ditch.

	His female form burst from the water and gave a surprised look to
his daughter, who was hanging from the fence and sticking her tongue out at
him.

	Megumi walked her father to the dojo, after helping him out of the
drainage ditch they got some hot water from the Nekohanten.  Ranma was
nervous, he hadn't seen Akane for almost a week.  Even if she did cool down
by now he wasn't sure she'd take him back.

	They reached the front door and stopped.  Megumi put her hand on
his shoulder and gave him a knowing look, "I'll go around trough the dojo.
Mom has been.. well.." she closed her eyes and nodded silently, "good luck."

	With that she walked off in the direction of the dojo.  Ranma
watched her go, shaking her head the whole time.  Fear began creeping up on
him, but he calmed himself enough to ring the doorbell.

	The door opened slowly.  Ranma had hoped it would be Kasumi or even
Nabiki he saw first, but he could tell it was Akane.  He held his breath as
she opened the door.

	Akane stood there and gave him a strangely intense look.  Before he
could react she tackled him to the ground and gave him a long and forceful
kiss.  Ranma was too surprised to do anything but return it.

	Megumi stood around the corner and started laughing.  She had taken
the liberty of calling her mother from the Nekohanten when her father had
been changing.

------------------------

	Ukyou threw her towel over her eyes and threw her feet onto a
table.  She felt like someone would have to pry her off the seat with her
giant spatula to move her anywhere else.  It had been a busy day, Mousse
told her she could leave at three but she stayed on till closing because it
was obvious that Mousse needed her help.

	Despite the various aching feelings in her body it felt good to be
working again, to be needed again.  Nevertheless she sat completely
montionless for a good length of time.

	A smile graced what could be seen of her face as she felt someone
massage her feet.  She knew Seki had already left for home but it didn't
matter, she didn't feel like making much of a protest.

	Mousse stopped and sat back as Ukyou took the towel from her eyes.
"Ah, so you're still with us."

	"Barely, just barely."

	"Here, have something to eat, it'll make you feel better."

	"Anything but Ramen."

	Mousse stood up and cleared the table.  "How about mabotofu, beef
broccoli, and some dry fried chicken?"

	Ukyou feebly put up her hands as Mousse headed back to the kitchen,
"oh, no Mousse.  I couldn't eat all that, and I can't eat alot of beef."

	He ignored her plea and continued into the kitchen, "don't worry,
I'm going to eat too."  He stuck his head back out, "and I don't eat
broccoli."
-----------------------

	They ate quietly, Megumi invited Kune to dinner earlier.  So it was
almost a full house.  Ranma and Akane sat near each other and seemed happy
enough, even Nabiki seemed to be pleased by the turn of events.  Kasumi was
happier than usual.  Noriko had invited Sakura over earlier and together
they kept sneaking glances between Ranma and Megumi.

	Megumi wasn't sure what to make of it but dismissed the matter for
another time.  Tonight she was having dinner, that her Aunt Kasumi cooked,
with both her parents and her fiance.  Life couldn't get much better.

	Akane ran her hand through Ranma's hair one time, "I've been
meaning to ask Ranma, why with the ponytail?  I kinda like it, but you
haven't worn your hair that way in years."

	Ranma reached back to touch the strange but familar braid.  "Weird,
I didn't realize.  It just sort of felt right, I didn't even think about
it.  Well anyway, I guess I'll start classes again next week.  I'm going to
go help Mousse at the Nekohanten this week for letting me stay with him.
Why don't you stop by Akane, it'll give you a chance to see," Ranma was
inturrupted by some gyoza Akane stuffed into his open mouth.

	"Maybe next week."

	Noriko let out a sigh of relief, with her dad back she'd have to be
more careful.  'Score one mom,' she thought to herself, 'it's nice to see
sis happy for once.'

	Megumi started scooping rice onto Kune's plate, "I'll pass, I don't
really like Chinese food."

	Sakura surpressed a giggle, "so Chinese don't agree with you huh?"

	Noriko's eyes bugged out as she realized something, she grabbed the
nearest dinner roll and stuffed it in Sakura's mouth.  "You shouldn't talk
with your mouth full."

	Sakura turned to Noriko and started mumbling something incoherant.
Noriko gave her a look.  "Oh, Sakura.  Remember that school project we were
working on for your mom?"  Sakura thought for a second and nodded dumbly,
"it looks like it's become HOMEwork, I'll explain after dinner."

	Ranma finished the food in his mouth and turned to Kune, "Healthy
eater, that's good.  Could you tell your father to swing by the Dojo,
there's something I need to see him about."

	Kune just nodded, he was still staring at the mountain of rice on
his plate as it started to fall off the sides.  He was just thankful Megumi
ran out of rice to serve him, her attention seemed to be split between her
father and sister.

	His parents always taught him it was impolite not to eat everything
he was served, not to mention the fact it was his wonderfully violent
fiancee doing the serving.  All Kune could do was grimace as Megumi absent
mindedly reached for the noodles.

	Kasumi refilled the rice bowl from the cooker and smiled at Kune,
"my, you must be hungry."

	Nabiki just snapped her fingers and grinned, it wasn't the first
time she saw this happen.  "Darn, and I kinda wanted some noodles too."


------------------------

	Cologne walked through the front doors of the Nekohanten in the
early afternoon.  It was busier than she remembered it to be, but almost
everything down to the table arrangements were the same.

	Spice picked up Cologne into a giant hug which caught the amazon
matron by surprise, *"Grammie, I'm so happy to see you."*

	Cologne thought about some useful pressure point techniques but in
the end decided to indulge her great great granddaughter, "yes child.  It's
good to see you too, but would you put me down.  This is undignified."

	Spice let Cologne down on a nearby table and took up a seat, her
customers temporarily forgotten.  "It makes me very happy for you to be
here, but does not the village need you?"

	"There is little there that needs my direct attention.  Lin Lin and
Ran Ran are tending to the everyday matters."  Cologne looked about
casually before knocking Xian into the chair next to her with her staff.
"So where is that son of mine?"

	"Daddy's in the kitchen cooking, he'll be so happy to see you."

	Cologne hopped down to the floor and made her way to the back, "I'm
sure he will."

	Seki watched the newcomers with interest.  A boy  and his pet
monkey or something, although it looked like the monkey was in charge.
Seki couldn't hear what was being said but he could see it head towards the
kitchen leaving Spice and the other newcomer.

	He thought idly to himself as he cleared the table next to him,
'dangit, I knew she had to have a boyfriend hidden somewhere.'

	He turned back around to see Spice and the guy at each other's
throats and rolling around on the ground.  Most of the customers saw this
too and began to make their way to the door.

	Mousse nearly dropped an entire box of noodles into the water when
he heard Cologne's voice.  Fortunately Ukyou was quick enough to prevent
any damage that might have resulted.  Ranma, who was slicing char siu,
managed to cleave the cutting board in half when she heard the familiar
voice call out 'son in law.'

----------------------------

	Ranma stood motionless in the empty dojo.  From there he stretched
out his mind and body, going through all the routines his father had taught
him since youth.  Ryouga watched the final ten or twenty leaning against
the doorway.

	"Excuse me, but do you happen to know the way to the Tendo Dojo?"

	Ranma relaxed and looked in the direction of the voice, "not unless
you're here to fix the roof."

	Ryouga looked up, "it looks okay to me."

	"That's because I haven't hit you through it yet."

	"Is that what you called me here for Ranma?"

	"Come on, for old times sake."

	Ryouga took a stance and shook his head, "okay, but I'm not fixing
this place for free again."

	Ranma shrugged and got into a stance, "no energy attacks then."

----------------------------

	"I return to China first thing in the morning."

	"Are you planning on taking Spice back with you?"

	"No, her place is here with you.  In fact I've decided to leave
Xian with you as well."  Mousse gave Cologne a puzzled look, "I've tried
with the boy and I can do nothing with him.  I return your son to you
Mousse.  Consider it a gesture, do for me one final task and consider
yourself released from your obligations back home.  You know I can do this
for you."

	Mousse wasn't expecting this, but something sparked deep within
him.  It was kept in check by his growing dread.  "What is this task you
ask of me?"

	"Let us say that I understand now the real reasons Shampoo
requested Spice leave the village for the training journey when she came of
age.  She's maturing and the traces of nyanniichuan are becoming visible."

	Mousse shifted in his seat, "then you know."

	"Yes, I should have realized earlier.  I think age is catching up
with me, but suffice it to say she could never lead the village without
eventual difficulty."  Cologne sighed, bringing out the age in her eyes,
"and your son Xian takes after you, he can't beat a warrior maiden to save
his life let alone find one to marry.  Perhaps you can do better.  Have a
talk with him or find him a suitable local girl who can hold her own in a
battle."

	He sat back as the words sank in, "so if I solve Xian's girl
problems you will release me?"

	Cologne shrugged, not that it was noticable.  "There is one thing I
have need of before passing into the next world, someone to lead the
village once I am gone.  If your son can find himself a strong woman,
together they could bear a strong daughter for me to pass leadership.
Likewise if Spice were to find herself someone to marry, her child could
easily become part of the village.  I know now the sacrifices you have
already made for the village but I ask that you indulge an old woman."

	Mousse sat quietly as Cologne headed to the back rooms.  He removed
something from a chain he wore around his neck and flicked it at the
retreating form, who caught it easily.  "When you see Shampoo,"  Mousse
cleared his throat, "give her this for me."

	Cologne stopped briefly in the shadows before continuing into the
darkness.  Mousse sat back and promptly lost himself in thought.

----------------------

	Ranma laid motionless and stared at the ceiling, "I can't believe I
lost."

	Ryouga lay in similar condition a few feet away, "you're getting
slow in your old age.  For what it's worth you nearly had me in that fourth
hour."

	"Yeah right, I still should've seen that kick coming a mile away."

	"Maybe you tied that ponytail too tight."  Something occured to
Ryouga, "You're not losing your hair or something are you?"

	"Oh shut up."

	"Okay, so what's bothering you Ranma?"

	"Nothing, everything, I don't know.  I've had alot on my mind.
Maybe I'm just out of practice."  Ranma turned his head to face Ryouga,
"you've heard about my last fight with Akane I suppose."

	Ryouga let out a dramatic sigh, "three daughters to worry about,
I'd probably be worn out too.  It's understandable.  Thank god I only had a
son."

	"Shut up Ryouga."

	"What are you worried about, Megumi's a great fighter.  I heard she
even beat you the other day.  Soon you can retire and she can take over for
you, no problem."

	"Don't make me get up and kick your ass Ryouga."

	Ryouga laughed which made his body wiggle against the ground, "like
you could old timer."

	"You shut up."  Ranma could feel the movement of the floorboards
which made his back ache slightly, "damnit."

----------------------

	Cologne attended to the pressing matters of the village that needed
her immediate attention, a minor land dispute and birth ceremony among
them.  When those were taken care of she made her way to the tree by the
river.

	She sat on a nearby stone for a few minutes and stared out past the
river.  *"You tricked me granddaughter, for a great many years.  I should
be upset, but I must admit the two of you impressed me a great deal."*  She
looked up to the sun making it's decent, *"perhaps I was too hard on both
of you, Mousse in particular.  Perhaps he can do better than I did, than we
did."*

	Cologne sat a few moments longer before placing the gold band on
the grave marker and returning to the village.  The sky was red as the sun
set over the mountains of China.



			The end.



***
Author's notes:
	As far as I know this is it.  I tried to touch on all the points I
listed in the note posted earlier.  It turned out about the way I listed
it, touched on a little of everyone and pulled all the major arcs to a
close.  Everything in the secondary list was cut as I expected but I got to
include a few extras anyway.
	I found that I had twice as many readers as I had previously
thought, which is still not in fact a great many.  However it did
constitute enough for me to post it to the list insted of
http://www.imua.com/mousse/work/, chapters 1-4 and the ANK artwork can
still be seen there.
	Next I plan to revise said chapters as I feel the quality of my
work has improved since I started this mess.  In other words, the early
chapters suck and I plan to revise them.  There were many major plot
changes along the way and I must make sure everything matches.
	C&C is welcome, I've gotten perhaps one piece of C&C since early
September.  That's almost five months and I don't even have a spell checker
people, but anyway...
	This fic will not reach RAAC.  It will simply sit alongside my
other fics and artwork.  Here ends my longest project to date, to those who
have read to this point 'thank you for your time.'

MousseMousseMousseMousseMousseMousseMousseMousseMousseMousseMousseMousseMousse
      ,.            ,...,,,    "I can't face the thought of being alone
    ,;'     ....,   '   ;'           I sing for the song still carries on"
  ,;;:...;.    `"   .,;'`:,
  '"      `'       ::'    :;                       'Longing' by X-Japan
MousseMousseMousseMousseMousseMousseMousseMousseMousseMousseMousseMousseMousse
http://www.imua.com/mousse/                   mousse@pixi.com, mousse@imua.com