SailorStar9: Well, when Pavel1234 sent my this fic idea about a Yokai Rikuo/Hotaru/Human Rikuo pairing, I had to watch the Nurarihyon no Mago anime to get a better grasp about the characters. And since I focus mainly on Ami/Sailor Mercury in my Sailor Moon-related fics, I'll also add in an Ami pairing in this. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts? Read and review.

Plot summary: What if Nurarihyon and Rihan weren't the only ones to take human females as wives? Due to the short lifespans the Yakushi Clan suffers from, members of the clan often take only one single wife; Zen is the first member of the Yakushi Clan to mate with a human female, a chef who uses medicated herbs in her cooking. After she dies due to being gradually poisoned by Hebidayu, Zen steadfastedly refuses to remarry. Almost a century pass until Ami finds the severely weakened Zen who was caught in one of Nephrite's traps and heals him, purging the poison inside his body. Intrigued, Zen requests the Sanba Garasu to spy on Ami's daily life. As he hears Kuroumaru's biweekly reports, Zen realizes Ami is Bunko's reincarnation but resists the temptation to court her, until Rikuo meets up with Hotaru in Mugen Gakuen and Sailor Saturn makes an early appearance in S Season.

Pairings: Zen/Past Life!Ami, present day Rikuo/Hotaru

Disclaimers: This fic idea and the Rikuo/Hotaru pairing belong to Pavel123; I only own the plot idea and the main pairing. Anything else belong to their respective owners.

Prologue: Beginnings

About 120 odd years ago...

"Welcome..." the 21-year-old Shimizu Bunko looked up from the stove-top. "You're here again." she noted as Zen shifted the noren curtain aside to enter the eatery. "The usual order?"

"Yes." Zen took his usual seat.

"Please wait a moment." Bunko exited the kitchen, with a ceramic tea cup in hand.

"Right..." Zen nodded mutely, taking a sip of the ginger tea Bunko had prepared.

"Thanks for waiting." Bunko voiced, exiting the kitchen again with a bowl of udon noodles served in her special medicated pork bone broth.

"Itadakimasu." Zen picked up his chopsticks.

SailorStar9: Well, there's the start of a new fic. Thoughts, anyone?