The greatest day of Ryo's life was not the day he graduated the academy. But rather, when he was twenty-five, living in Copenhagen, working for Alice's father's company. One day out of the blue she pulled him into the bathroom.

"I can't believe I did this…" The look on Alice's face said it all. "I don't know what I was thinking." She screamed as she punched the wall.

"Mistress, what are you talking about?"

"I'm pregnant!"

Remy and Alice had fooled around on many occasions, but he always assumed she was on birth control especially since she was always the one who initiated.

"When Erina announced that she was expecting a baby with Akira…"

"That was months ago…"

"I got jealous, so I stopped taking my pills then when your lackluster sperm failed to do their job I took matters into my own hands."

Ryo didn't even want to think about what she meant by that. "You're having my kid?"

"Yes, so I'm going to need you to buy me a ring, my size is four. Don't even both to ask my father's permission, we'll elope somewhere."

Ryo thought for a moment. This was for real. Did he really want to be stuck with Alice for the rest of his life? But if she was telling the truth, if she was carrying his baby, he couldn't leave her.

He bought her a ring, it, of course, was not up to her expectations, but she accepted it anyway. They eloped in France. Eight months later she gave birth to a little girl via a scheduled c-section. The nurse handed Ryo his daughter, a little angel with his dark hair. Ryo wiped tears from his eyes as his daughter opened her sparkly red eyes and smiled.

When Alice awoke in her hospital room Ryo was rocking their daughter in his arms. "Don't I get to hold her?" Alice asked. She did want to hold her baby if only to determine a name.

As Ryo put the little girl in Alice's arms the baby started to cry. "I guess I had that coming," Alice muttered. She looked at her daughter's face. "You name will be…"

"Mistress, can we name her Elena?"

"Who is Elena?"

"Elena was my mother."

Alice looked to him. "Interesting, I never knew that. Ok, how about Elena Rose Nakiri."

"As you wish mistress, may I hold her?" Ryo knew why Alice would want the baby to have her last name. The name Nakiri stood for a lot more than Kurokiba. And he wanted his daughter to have all the opportunity she could.

"Yes, as long as you can get her to shut up."

The moment the baby was back in Ryo's arms she calmed down. "Elena Rose, you're my little miracle."

15 years later-

Freshman Autumn finals.

"In this miraculous turn of events the final eight are all the children of former alumni!" shouted the perky MC. "Moma Yukihira, the daughter of Soma Yukihira. Megumi Tadokoro!"

The shy girl with long black hair smiled.

"You better rock the finals!" shouted a boy with fiery red hair. Her brother Kintro had won Autumn final his freshman year.

"Giovanna Aldini, the daughter of Takumi Aldini!" the MC announced next.

The supermodel blonde flicked grated parmesan at her adoring fans.

"A girl who needs no introduction- Prayikina Nakiri-Hayama!"

As the MC said her name the beauty born of the God tongue and superhuman nose threw up the peace sign.

"Kyle Mito, son of the meat heiress Ikumi!" the MC pointed to the muscular American boy with the giant cleaver.

"Elena Rose Nakiri!"

The crowd roared for the tall goth girl. Elena had grown to look a lot like her father. She had long black hair that she wore loose. And for the competition, she wore face paint under her eyes like Ryo always did. But she inherited her mother's posture. She walked like a beauty queen, shimmering with confidence.

"Tomas Marui, son of Zenji Marui."

The timid boy took a bow.

"James Sakaki, son of Ryoko Sakaki."

The boy shook up a beer and sprayed in at his fans. "Sakaki brings the party!"

"And Davis Bryant, son of Yuki Yoshino!"

The blonde boy shot his rifle at the ceiling. "And my daddy along with my game hunter momma bring the fire."

The brackets were-

- Prayikina vs Davis

-Tomas vs Moma

-James vs Giovanna

-Kyle vs Elena

Elena ran back to her parents. "Daddy, I can't believe I'm in the finals!"

Ryo hung his head, looking to Alice, who simply shook her head. "Your road is long from over. Your father was a failure…"

"I'm sorry dear wife, but if I remember correctly I tied for 2nd place while you were eliminated in the prelims."

Alice stomped off.

Elena caressed her father's cheek, "I love you daddy, but she's going to get you for that."

"It will be worth it, I love you so much. I'm so proud of you." Ryo took out his bandana. "I want you to have this."

Elena had witnessed her father cook; she knew the power of the bandana. "Do you think it will work for me?"

"Worth a try…" Ryo shrugged.

Elena started to cry. Her father always believed in her. "I'm really scared. What if I lose in the prelims like mom?"

Ryo put his arms around her. "Do you remember what I told you about being scared?"

Elena nodded. "You told me about when you worked at the Pub after you lost grandma and grandpa. You were on your own, and you were scared, but you found your courage through your cooking. Because when you cook you go to war fighting with everything you have. So when you win, you can truly savor the victory and if you lose you go down in a blaze of glory."

Ryo kissed her forehead. "Elena Rose, you'll always be my little girl."