Not that there was anything to find, the four of them had made sure of that. If there ever had been, the traces were more than a decade old. But, still if there was something, Kodachi would prefer that it not be found, and having a sister-in-law was cheaper than paying detectives to humor her brother. Especially when detectives sometimes had their own minds.
However, she didn't seem to be fulfilling her purpose.
"Mariko, lovely to see you," Kodachi said cheerfully. "How have you been doing?"
"I think I've found a way to get Tachi over his little hobby," the ex-cheerleader declared.
"Really," Kodachi said, she already knew what the girl intended, but better to play dumb.
"Yes," Mariko said. "A TV movie. They were showing one in America when we went on that last business trip and I thought that would be a great idea to maybe just work out the frustration and all."
"I really don't think that's the best idea," Kodachi said, watching Mariko deflate.
"Why not?" she asked.
"Think about it, Mariko," Kodachi said. "You want your husband to focus on something that happened to one of his first loves, in a way that puts him toward checking out the film industry. Who does he know in the film industry?"
"Akane Tendo," Mariko said, smiling confidently. "But he's not going to her."
Kodachi snapped her head around.
"He's not going to Akane Tendo with this idea," Kodachi repeated slowly.
"No," Mariko said, turning a little nervous. "She refused...said it sounded silly. Tachi mumbled something about sorcerers and looked for somebody else."
"Ah, I see," Kodachi said, calming down. "It is in our family's best interest...in YOUR best interest that he does not proceed with this, Mariko. Do you understand?"
"Not really," Mariko said nervously. She checked her watch and sighed. "Oh, look Kodachi, I have to go, the nanny is visiting family and I've been stuck looking after the children, will you excuse me?"
Kodachi waved her hand away and shook her head. As Mariko left she tapped her fingers and considered.
"What to do about Mariko," she wondered.
****
Shampoo yawned, bored, as they entered deeper and deeper into the dead period of the day. Her great-grandmother was out on errands still and she was stuck in the restaurant.
She tapped her fingers irritably and wondered for the thousandth time what they thought they were doing in this barbarian wasteland of honorless fools. Granted, with what recognition she got from the other three, she lived a life of some luxury, and she'd gotten used to the dating scene somewhat, but it was still far from where she wanted to be.
She was a warrior. She was a matriarch to be. She was NOT a waitress.
She humphed and tossed down her rag in the laundry bag as she stalked back out into the front, baring Mousse's usual declarations of his undying love for her.
Not a single concern of being caught entered her mind at all. Several times, hearing Ukyou and Akane whine, she'd considered just paying the middle Tendo sister a little visit and ending that line of worry permanently. But she didn't because it was really no concern of hers.
And since coming out of an egg to see her own reflection the only concerns that she was able to consider were her own. The desires of other people were periphereal to her own, barely existant.
****
"So you see, Tsubasa," Ukyou said in a dead tone. "That's everything. That's what I want."
"Mrs Kuonji," her lawyer and former stalker said, hesitantly. "This will has me concerned."
"What's to be concerned about it?" Ukyou said. "I'm not going to live forever, plans have to be made."
"It just seems to me," Tsubasa said. "That these plans are looking a little...closer to the future than I find comfortable. Look, Mrs...Look, Ukyou. I'm sure if you just talk to Konatsu, tell him what's bothering you that everything will be fine."
"Talk, talk, talk," Ukyou said, standing up and walking to her counter and pouring herself a scotch. "Talking won't change anything."
Tsubasa walked over and took the glass away from her.
"Look, just come over, please," he said. "I'm sure Azusa wouldn't mind you staying the night." Ukyou laughed humorlessly.
"Your wife thinks you're trying to score with me everytime you come over, you little freak," Ukyou said, obviously having drunk some alcohol already. "You don't have to worry about me doing anything drastic. I'm too much of a coward."
"You are not a coward," Tsubasa snapped.
"Oh, yes I am," Ukyou said. "You wouldn't believe how much of a coward I am. And eventually somebody's going to notice that I'm outliving my usefulness and they'll get worried. And when that happens..."
She let the statement trail off lightly.
"This is my will," Ukyou said firmly. "Half of what I own goes to Konatsu or our children. The other half goes to Ranma Saotome's next of kin. Those tapes, all of them, each get sent to one of the names on that list."
"And what is on those tapes?" Tsubasa asked.
"Everything," Ukyou said. "Don't watch it, Tsubasa, you'll wish you hadn't."
"What, I'll die a week later or something?" Tsubasa asked. The look that Ukyou sent his way spoke volumes.
****
"Hey, Miss Tendo," a voice shouted. "Look at this!"
"What, Chiro," Akane asked, looking over some papers. "I'm sort of busy, we're way over budget on that sci-fi thing."
"You're in the paper," Chiro declared putting out an days-old copy of a Tokyo newspaper.
"That happens a lot," Akane said, not looking up.
"Yeah, but this time you got in the paper in two places at once," Chiro said.
"What?" Akane asked looking up at that.
The young intern turned to point out the picture of Akane at the interview over her last film, and then pointed to a corner of a picture about a festival.
"Look, I mean the hairstyle and clothing is Chinese, but otherwise," Chiro said. "She's you to a tee. And maybe we should find who did the costume on that boy with the wings...it almost looks real."
"Yeah, almost real," Akane said faintly, barely noting the young boy save as confirmation. Suddenly Akane's attention was riveted on that photo.
Akane's mind started working rapidly. What was Kiima doing in Japan eating with Musk children? She remembered Nodoka's declaration some weeks back with a hint of nervousness.
"Miss Tendo," Chiro said questioningly. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Akane said. "Just fine. I've just got to make a phone call..."
See other episodes by Thrythlind
(Posted Wed, 30 Jul 2003 22:18)
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