Ranma 1/2: Ranma No More Alternate History By: Dani Yanega yanega@mindspring.com (please respond to this e-mail address) Chapter Twenty One As The Amazons put the final touches on the tables for the grand opening. Such as table clothes and fresh flowers. Ryoga hangs the heavy red and gold brocade curtains over the doors to the three private dinning rooms. Even though the restaurant is only one third of the complex's main floor, even with its large well equipped kitchen they still have enough room to make private banquet or special party rooms. While Ryoga finishes hanging the last curtain the door to the restaurant opens and Ku Lon and Ran Koh enter. Ku Lon looks around and smiles broadly, then she spots Ryoga hanging the last drape over the private rooms her smile gets even larger. "My you children have done a wonderful job with the final touches. This will be a wonderful grand opening. Cy Sin how is the setting up of the computer coming?" "It is all done Elder tonight you get your first lesson." She says smiling. The young Amazons decided to take turns teaching the elder about computers. They will first teach her to use the software needed to run the business then teach her about the computer itself. Ryoga and Ran Koh have asked to be taught as well. "Good, good, now please everyone into that private dinning room we have some things to discuss." Ku Lon said pointing to the room Ryoga has just finished hanging the drapes in front of. They enter the room and sit at the large round table that seats twelve comfortably. As the Amazons and Ryoga settle in Ran Koh comes in carrying a tray of tea. She serves everyone then sits down between Ryoga and Ku Lon. "First, I would like to introduce the newest Amazon..." "Ranma not new Amazon?" Interrupts Xian Pu, Ku Lon glares at her great granddaughter. "If you would allow me to finish _grand daughter_ you will understand." Xian Pu blushes with embarrassment. Ku Lon points to Ran Koh. "Our newest Amazon is Ran Koh." Everyone looks at the now nervous girl. "Why change your name Ranma?" Sighing Ran Koh turns to her soul mate and friend. "Ran Koh, Ryoga, mostly to honor great grandmother, but also this way Saotome Ranma is truly dead." Ryoga sees the pain in his friends eyes, as he nods ok. "Tomorrow for the grand opening when Ran Koh's mother arrives show her to this room we will all be joining Ran Koh and her mother, as this concerns the tribe as a whole." Ryoga looks from Ku Lon and his friend Ran Koh questionably. "Yes Ryoga you need to be there as well, as you are a member of the village by benefit of being niece's soul mate. Any questions about tomorrow night?" The young warriors shake their heads no. "Well if they don't I do, who will be running this restaurant while you are just sitting around" They all turn to face the entrance to the private dinning room. La Si jumps for joy toward the two-foot woman, balancing on top of a five-foot staff. "_Great grandmother_" "Mas Cra? What are you doing here?" Ku Lon stutters out, in shock. "The counsel felt it would be prudent to have two elders here in Japan for a time, and I volunteered to come." She looks at Ran Koh and Ryoga, first with surprise at the change in Ran Koh, then with the open hostility she feels for them. For the briefest of moments, then smiles an emotionless smile. "You have been able to get around our laws very nicely _Ran Koh_, many on the counsel are not happy with you and _him_ being soul mates. Still it is done and there is not much we can do, but I am sure we will figure something out." She finishes with an evil grin. "There is nothing they can do short of _killing_ Ran Koh and by her birth right she _IS_ an Amazon, so stand down Mas Cra!" Ku Lon growls at her counter part. The two old woman glare at one another for a few moments, when Ku Lon while still glaring gives her next order. "La Si show your great grandmother to her rooms." La Si bounds over to where the luggage is and picks it up and heads upstairs. Mas Cra turns to follow then stops and turns back to the rest of the party. "The Amazon goods will be delivered here tomorrow morning, we should be able to open the 'Amazon Emporium' in about two weeks, after everything is gone through." She turns and heads after her granddaughter who is waiting for her by the stairs leading to the upper levels. The other Amazons rise to get ready to leave when Ku Lon turns and glares at them. "I did not say this meeting was over." They all sat back down looking nervously at one another. "Before we left for Ran Koh's laboratory, we had a visitor from a Tendo Nabiki, and yes before you say anything she is the daughter of Tendo Soun. Now it seems we have made the young woman upset. She prides herself on knowing everyone's business." Che Ri looks at Ku Lon and asks. "How do you know this elder? I saw you talking with her, but it was to short to form such a conclusion." Ku Lon nods at Che Ri's observation then looks to Ran Koh. "While she was talking with great aunt Ku Lon I searched her memories, I am able to do it now without causing pain." Responds the solemn white hair girl. "Even though this building and the surrounding property is now considered Joketsuzoku territory by the Japanese government Miss Tendo will be back. With her will come listening devices, video cameras and anything else she feels will give her what she needs to make money or get something on us. This includes selling candid shots of people while bathing, dressing or working out." The remaining three Amazon females saw red. Cy Sin looks at Ran Koh with rage. "Then I will _KILL_ her now to put her out of our misery." Ryoga is shocked at the intensity of the threat and he believes each one of the Amazons would kill this Tendo girl, even La Si. Ku Lon put up her hand. "There is no need for that, child, on our way back Ran Koh and I made a few stops." They, all look at Ku Lon and Ran Koh, to continue. "We stopped at the foremost authority on surveillance equipment in Japan, as a matter of fact they should be here in an hour to inspect the premises. They will be making unscheduled periodic visits to the complex, and after all repairs made by outsiders. Now _no one_ is to be allowed upstairs unless accompanied by one of us, _but_ be careful who you invite, they may just be Miss Tendo's spies." "Where else did you go?" Asks Ryoga as he knew they planned for that stop on the way back. "We stopped at 'The Yankee Trader', I wanted to get furnishings for the lab _but_ some old short woman bought them all out so I have to wai...OOOWWWW" Ran Koh rubs her head where a staff just connected. Looking at her aunt she had a cheeky grin plastered on her face. "Took you long enough." Ku Lon just smiles at her, as Ran Koh continues. "As I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted." She says giving Ku Lon a mock glare. "I looked through his catalogs of what he has coming in and ordered what I will need. When it arrives I will drive the truck to the lab and start putting the furnishings in to it." Ran Koh finishes. Cy Sin is about to ask a question when they hear someone ask loudly. "Anybody here, we have an inspection to do?" Ku Lon gets up and leaves the young ones alone. Before they can pump Ran Koh for any more information, she gets up and leaves, as well.