"Like you need to ask. We've always been friends ever since
I came to this planet." She said with a smirk. 

     "And I am eternally grateful for that. Otherwise the only
way out of my life would be to end it. I don't think I could take
Ryoko and Ayeka's bickering for that long without someone to help
keep me sane."

     Kiyone snorted, "Same thing with me and Mihoshi. Most other
occasions, I would despise living on the same planet as her, but
when I got someone like you to keep me from going postal. It
turns out it's not so bad at all." She opened up a can of tea she
had bought after the song and took a sip. 

     "Oh, by the way. What were you two singing about anyway?" He
asked, putting aside a bag of a few things he had won from a
booth or two from earlier that evening.

     "Kalimondo. The Universal Truths. From my home world, it's a
song most people sung at weddings, days of birth, that sort of
thing. On occasion, people use it to say the truth on how they
feel... mostly for proposals or if people want to advance their
relationship. It's the truth on how they feel about another." She
turned to him, hoping he got the message. What she didn't expect
was... he did. 

     He sighed and started to shake his head, but still smiled
nonetheless. Even though he understood what she meant, she didn't
understand what he meant. And it quickly turned to agitation.
"What's so funny? Is that you find it funny that yet another girl
is chasing you?"

     Knowing what could happen if he did nothing, he quickly
calmed her, "No, no, no. What I find funny is that through all
the chaos in my life, out of all the confusion I went through,
the first time I really do like a girl, I find out she likes me
back. And not because of some reason why I can't like her back.
Not because I'm destined to be some emperor or that I gave
freedom to someone... but because she's a friend." And with those
words, he placed his right hand on her left. 

     Kiyone's eyes would have gone wide, but they didn't. In
fact, she started to smile and chuckle a bit. This time though,
neither one misunderstood the other. They both knew what they had
to give to the other and both were more than willing to accept
it. She turned her hand over and accepted his hand in hers. 

     Shaking her head, Kiyone said, "You know... I never thought
I'd find myself with someone like you. Somehow though, I don't
mind in the least. In fact, I like it."

     With confidence gained, he looked back to the moon, "Well,
let's not get too comfortable about this. I mean, the last thing
we want to do is a repeat of... well, you know. I don't wanna go
that fast."

     Blinking, she quickly nodded. "Neither do I. We still got
our futures to think about," then her eyes got a bit shifty, "and
our future too." He smiled at her insinuation and put his hands
behind his head, laid back, and stared at the moon in a pensive
mood.

     "Yep. I still gotta find myself in the future." His face
slowly darkened, "Yet, somehow, I don't know if I even want to
know what I'm going to be."

     She turned to him, in the middle of a sip of her tea. "Why
do you say that?"

     "Because I'm most likely to be a part of the Juraian court
if I ever leave this place. I don't really find the prospect of
ruling an empire, or even being one of the higher parts of it,
that appealing." He said, remembering his heritage all to well.

     "Not too many in the Conglomerate like the Juraian Holy
Council. But there's always a few of the exceptions that people
like." She said, hoping to raise his spirits a bit, but knowing
that she said the wrong things.

He still persisted. "I still don't like it."

     "Sometimes, we don't even get a choice and our ignorance
ends up costing the lives of those we never see."

     "I didn't say I was going to refuse my possible future, I
just said I didn't like it."

     "Well, maybe you can get those supremacist pucks off their
pedestals and bring them back to reality." She said with a raise
of her can and a sip of tea. "Get those jerks off of the backs of
the common man, make the universe a better place to live for
everyone."

     He chuckled, "Yeah, Tenchi Masaki, Savior of the Universe.
Yeah right."

     She smirked, not letting her friend berate himself just like
that, "You got those Light Hawk Wings. It's a symbol of hope for
many peoples. If you can't change the universe, then maybe you
can help it bit by bit."

     "Maybe... maybe."

     Kiyone took a final sip of her tea and put the can on the
ground. She looked to her right and saw Tenchi was turning to
her. And that was where they stayed for a while before Tenchi
spoke up. "Kiyone... do you want to... never mind. I never should
have thought of it." With that he turned away from her. 

     Somehow, Kiyone knew what he wanted to say. So, she moved
over by him, turned his face to her, and gently kissed him.
Kiyone never credited herself as a good kisser, but guessing from
the fact that he didn't pull away, she was doing it right. 

Tenchi was surprised that she had basically read his mind, and at
the same time happy. Here he was, with the first girl in his life
that he really did care for. Maybe the outlook on his future
wasn't so bad after all. 

The kiss was brief, but for them, it lasted just long enough, and
they were grateful. Kiyone put his head on her shoulder and her
head on his. She threw her arm over his shoulders and gave his
shoulders an affectionate squeeze.  

     This was where their lives together would truly begin. 

     "Say Kiyone."

     "Yeah?"

     "By any chance, did you happen to see fireworks?"

     "I did. So why did you... oh, I see."

*************************************************

Date: September 13, 2000
Event: The Second Impact

     The blast came with no warning. When it seemed like there
was no hope for any of them, a trio of black blades appeared in
front of the house. Tenchi and Sasami looked outside to see
Kiyone was commanding those giant black blades that were holding
the blast back. The Black Raven wings had saved them all. 

     "I can't hold this forever!" Kiyone screamed to everyone.
So, thinking quick, Washu took Ryo-Oh-Ki from Sasami and told him
to change as fast as she could. With no argument, the cabbit
changed into its space ship form, behind the shield Kiyone had
set up. 

     "Everyone! Get in quick!" Washu screamed to all the
occupants. Nobuyuki didn't bother to argue as she scrambled up
the doorway, Ayeka, Sasami, Azaka, Kamidake, and Mihoshi quickly
followed suit. Yet, Ayeka stayed behind when Katsuhito didn't get
on. 

     "What are you doing?! You'll be killed!" Ayeka screamed. 

     "I have made my choice... I am not going to somewhere I am
not wanted." He said simply. 

     She frowned at him after Tenchi ran past her into the ship.
"So be it, coward!" she hissed. 

     Ignoring her words, he walked calmly to Kiyone and said, "I
take it you'd better get on with them."

     She smirked, "Not until their out of the vicinity of the
blast. I can catch up!" She reached forward and the largest of
the three blades covered her, changing her once normal attire
into the darker version of Tenchi's light hawk uniform. "But what
about you?"

     He shook his head. "Don't worry about me, you just make sure
and keep my grandson happy. Ok?" She was about to argue, but he
shook his head again and told her to go. 

     Turning back to the ship, she screamed, "Ok, close the
hatch! I'll catch up and let down the shield after we clear the
atmosphere!"

     "You sure?" Washu screamed back. "Ryo-Oh-Ki can stand blasts
like this!"

     "No she won't! This isn't the usual type of explosions...
this type can tear Ryo-Oh-Ki apart at the seems. Just do what I
say and I'll be able to join guys in a minute!" She yelled
louder, starting to lose control of the shield. 

     Washu acknowledged her and closed the hatch. With that done,
Kiyone backed up to the point where she could lean against the
ship. It was then the ship began to take off, yet she still kept
a single shard of the third blade to protect Katsuhito. Yet, the
farther away she flew, the less control she had over the shard.
Soon enough, the shield left and his form was lost. 

     After several more minutes of the blast pounding against her
wings, Kiyone felt the air begin to thin and the blast beginning
to weaken. Until finally, they pierced the top of the blast wave
and started to increase speed from the planet, just as Kiyone got
into the ship. 

     As her form materialized on the inside, Mihoshi, Sasami, and
Tenchi ran to her side as she gasped for air. 

     "You ok?" Tenchi asked as he slung one of her arms over his
shoulders and picked her up. 

     "Yeah... it's just that using the Raven Wings take out more
than I'd like them too. I don't need to use it at full power all
the time." She said as one of the crystals became a seat for her
to sit on. 

     "You get used to it. Trust me on this one." Tenchi said with
a smile as he set her upon the chair. 

     Then they all turned back to see the Earth, covered with the
sepia colored winds. And then the four wings that emerged from
the North Pole. 

     "What in the..." Ryoko said staring at the sheer immense
size of them. Wondering just what exactly those wings were
attached to. Not only that, she could easily guess that a good
number of people had died. The human race would be lucky if there
was anyone left after this one. 

     Tenchi took another look at the Earth and wondered if any of
his friends were still ok. "Kenichi, Hiwa, Yuuichiro, Ryouta." He
whispered. He spent his childhood with them and now they were
most likely dead. Just like that. They didn't do anything that
was worth this. Fate could be so cruel to anyone. 

     As Ryo-Oh-Ki went into hyperspace to Juraian territory, four
lights flew out of the blast waves and into space. One of them
gray, another orange, another green, and the last one purple.
When the lights faded, it turned out to be three males and a
single woman.  

     "*Cough* Jeez, and I thought the air on Midgarna was bad!"
said the second male. Brushing away some debris that got into his
hair. 

     "Come on brother, something must have happened. I doubt that
anything man could do at this point that would cause something
like this to happen." The first male said.

     "You never know. Maybe they had this coming for a while."
Said the youngest of them, but was promptly bapped on the side of
his head by the female of the group and the oldest one.

     "Don't say such things brother, we're not supposed to say
such things." She said sagely, but the way she hit her sibling
would have proved her immaturity, "Besides, all that matters is
that the Hawk and the Raven have returned to each other. But I am
sure going to miss being Sanko."

     "Well, I'm not going to miss being the kid everyone picked
on at school." The youngest growled. "You wouldn't believe how
many fights I got into just because I was short."

     Then, the first male looked back at the planet and wondered,
{Sera... please be alright.}

     His younger brother grabbed his shoulder and gave him a look
that showed how he felt. 

     "Come you guys. We must protect her still. The Juraians are
not exactly going to welcome a pair of non-Juraians with open
arms." The woman said. Then, her brothers nodded and slowly
started to gain speed on their sister. 

*************************************************

     Several hours later, Ryo-Oh-Ki landed on the main platform
of the space station just out of Jurai's orbit and its precious
passengers. Of course, Misaki came running at a furious pace,
wondering if her daughters were alright. When the hatch opened to
reveal them all looking rather haggard she exclaimed, "What
happened?!"

     Sasami ran into the arms of her mother and Ayeka tried her
best to explain, "I am not exactly sure myself, but there seems
to have been a rather massive explosion that completely
encompassed the planet." 

When Ayeka noticed Funaho running down to see if her son was with
them, she met her aunt eye to eye and shook her head. She never
saw Funaho show that much emotion, but she could clearly see that
she missed her son. "I am deeply sorry Lady Funaho, but he chose
to stay behind. We barely made it off planet ourselves."

     "I see." Funaho said simply. Yet, she breathed a few times
and fought to regain her composure. "I should have known that he
would never return."

     Ayeka embraced her aunt and hoped that she would still be
strong. 

     When the police officers, the Masaki, and the pirate left
the ship reports of the events at Earth soon spread throughout
the empire. 

     Earth had experienced what most called, an 'Impact'. Where
an explosion of such world shattering proportions occurred and
devastated the animal and residential population. Most
populations were reduced by half or more and the world was
changed in such a way that the old maps would be of no use
whatsoever.

*************************************************

     A next day, Ayeka, in a change of clothes, had volunteered
to go before the council and give them the complete story. Kiyone
and Mihoshi didn't argue, but they wondered why. On the floor,
Ayeka and Tenchi were quietly speaking in the entryway to the
main hall.

     "Ayeka, are you sure you want to do this?" Tenchi asked her
apprehensively, tugging at the collar of the Juraian uniform he
wore. 

     She smiled confidently back, "Yes. If you were to try and
speak to these boneheads, they would tear you apart! Am I
correct?"

     Tenchi sighed and nodded. Ayeka smiled and gave him a
reassuring hug, not the usual types of glomps she did before.
This surprised him. "Everything will turn out for the better Lord
Tenchi. We just need to wait a while."

     He smiled back and pat her shoulder as she stepped into the
meeting hall. 

     In the meeting hall, the complete Holy Council sat in a
pillar of circled rows. The lower one was, the more important
that particular member was. Ayeka stepped up to the center of the
floor as the gaze of the council focused on her. Picking up a
status pad report and appeal, she read it to them without
stuttering a single word and with perfect confidence.

     "On Juraian calendar year 31,486, third month, first
quadromester, Earth experienced what most call an 'Impact'. We
have no exact information as to how this even occurred, but when
the time comes, an investigation will be put underway to insure
the truth is know. Although we do not have exact numbers, we have
reason to believe half of the species is dead and civilization is
in ruins."

     A few of the older member murmured to themselves, wondering
how Earth exactly became a victim of an Impact without the kind
of weapons or types of environment needed to cause an Impact. 

     "Among those dead is Prince Yoshou Jurai. We were able
confirm his demise on account that his form was lost in the
blast. He had no intention of return to Jurai."

     Once more, murmurs spread throughout the room. 

     "At this time, I have come with an appeal to the Holy
Council to admit a representative of Earth into the Holy Council
to represent his world and to appeal you for assistance in the
aid of Earth. The reason for this being that our current First
Empress is from Earth and the late Prince Yoshou is half Earthen
and his grandson and the candidate for election is an eighth
Juraian. Not only that, when the time comes that Emperor Azusa
retires, he may have an hair in the form of his great-grandson.
Tenchi Masaki."

     Several members of the council started to voice out their
opinions rather violently, but so many started to speak at once
that it was all lost in the argument. In the front row of the
council seats, a larger man leaned on his hands, lost in thought.
{These idiots are not going to get us anywhere.}

     The council seemed to be torn about what to do about letting
Tenchi in as a member of the Holy Council. Most of the weaker
members voiced the wrongness of letting a lesser species into the
Council. Where as some of the stronger ones saw the possible
advantages of letting him in. Then the emperor slammed down the
gavel that silenced everyone there.

     He stood up and addressed his daughter, "The Holy Council
has always been and always will consist of Juraian only members.
We will not allow a human from some backwater planet to just join
in, just because of a blood line that he accidentally got.
Moreover, I can choose another son from the nobles to marry into
the Royal Family to carry on Emperorship."

     "I object!" Shouted what could have been the loudest voice
there. All eyes turned to the large man as he stood up, "I,
Yoshimatsu, object to the rejection of Tenchi Masaki of Earth."
Ayeka, everyone in her party, the Emperor, and the rest of the
Council stared. 

Yoshimatsu was the second most powerful noble in the Juraian
empire and certainly older than Azusa, having trained him and his
father. "My reasons for this should be evident. I can tell the
talent that this boy Tenchi has from what I have heard of him in
the past. He has much to learn, but I firmly believe that he will
lead the empire with a just hand and a compassionate heart, the
markings of a great emperor and lift up the opinion of the Empire
of everyone in the galaxy."

     This time, Azusa stood up, the anger in his voice becoming
more apparent, "Are you suggesting putting this boy in my place?!
Of betraying the Juraian people of a true emperor?"

     Yoshimastu turned and smirked at his former student, "I said
the very same thing about you when you were young and the council
considered talking having another in your place. I am simply
doing what is best for the future of the empire. Even you know
that well enough Azusa."

     Azusa blinked in shock at the words of the older man. He was
right and the exact same thing was happening, when he promised
his teacher he wouldn't do the same thing his father did. So, now
was time to make good on that promise and keep the honor of the
Royal Family. 

     "It has come to my attention that Councilman Yoshimatsu has
brought up several valid points. In light of this new
information, I will allow the representative from Earth to be in
the council. And someday, he will succeed me when the time is
correct for emperorship. This has been my decision. All who stand
against?" A third of the members quickly showed their mistrust to
Tenchi. "And who is for?" All the remaining members voiced their
idea of making the empire stronger than before with a stronger
emperor.  

     Tenchi breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that the only
thing he could do was this. And he had heard the stories of how
bad the council could be. Luckily, fate was on his side and he
was safe for the time being. Now all he had to do was live long
enough to be the emperor. {If this is my destiny, then so be it.}

     He then noticed the giant of a man that came to his defense,
walking towards him. "You are Tenchi, are you not?" he asked with
a deep and powerful voice. Tenchi nodded and stammered,

     "Um... it's nice to meet you."

     The sheer size difference between them was unsettling, yet
some of the fear vanished when the man smiled and took his hand.
"It is an honor to meet you and to finally meet a bearer of the
Light Hawk. I never thought I'd live long enough to see it."

     "Well, it plays its games with me at times. So I can't just
pull it out of nowhere." He said, shaking his head. Instead, all
he got was his massive hand on his shoulder.

     "Don't worry about it that much. Besides, there are more
important things to worry about. Like helping you beat those in
the empire that don't exactly like you and training you to take
the throne someday." He said. 

     Tenchi blinked, "You mean you're going to..." 

Yoshimatsu nodded. "I taught the last three Emperors everything I
know. And I hope that my best student will be another of that
same line. Meaning you."

     Tenchi was flattered to say the least, "Well, I don't know
what to say."

     Yoshimatsu stood up and started to walk away. "Just make
sure you give it your all. Because that's what I expect from the
next Emperor."

*************************************************

     So, with help being sent to Earth, the Juraians worked in
secret to help replicate the civilization that Earth had at one
time. 

     After three years of reconstruction, the Juraians secretly
pulled out and left Earth to its own designs. It was on the
suggestion of the council that Earth be able to come to Jurai
first if they were to be part of the Empire. 

     During that time, Representative Tenchi Masaki worked
alongside Galaxy Police Officer Kiyone Makabi, who requested a
transfer to Tenchi side as an aide. With both of them working on
the reconstruction, along with Ayeka Jurai, Earth was able to
bounce back from the tragedy that had occurred. 

     Once the rebuilding was complete, Representative Masaki was
to make an announcement that, although would mean little to the
Empire, but would mean much to him. 

*************************************************

Date: August 2, 2003/ Juraian Year 31,489, Gous (Second month),
Mias (third quadromester). 

     Tenchi, now man of 24, took a deep breath and looked back up
to Kiyone, who stared in confusion. She was in the middle of
filing the total cost for the repairs of Earth when a meeting was
called for an important announcement. She was in one of the
meeting rooms where the council often met. The only difference
was, she, Tenchi, Representative Yoshimatsu, Washu, Mihoshi,
Sasami, and Nobuyuki were waiting for her as well. When she
entered, it appeared they were all waiting for her. 

     "Kiyone Makabi." He paused for a second, gathering his
thoughts before continuing. "Over the years, you have been more
than a friend to me. You have been so much more. For your being
there for and with me, I will be eternally grateful... and I
would be honored if..." he gulped and Kiyone could hear the
others prodding him on. "If... if... if you would be at my side
as my wife, significant other, and partner." With that, he pulled
out a small black box and opened it to reveal a small ring made
of Garcium, a long lasting and precious mineral that couples
often used for rings to signify their matrimony. 

     The datapad Kiyone held was suddenly dropped on the floor on
account that she had lost her grip on it out of shock. She
blinked several times as the digested each and everyone of his
words. Tenchi was asking her to marry him. Plain old Kiyone
Makabi with nothing really special about her. Yet, Tenchi seemed
to love her enough to the point where he saw the woman inside
that everyone seemed to pass up. Also, working with him had
proven to be some of the best times they had together. 

Though she never acting like some silly school girl with some
crush, she knew for a fact that that kiss that they shared
several years ago had grown on them. And now, here she was, in
love with a man that loved her back for everything that she was.
To everyone else, she was just a normal person... but to Tenchi,
she was much more and for that she was grateful.

When it seemed like the others were about to try and wake her,
she shook her head to come to her senses., looked at Tenchi and
slowly nodded. "Yes... I gladly accept."

     Mihoshi started to wail with joy as Sasami and Ryo-Oh-Ki
tried their best to calm her. Yoshimatsu and Nobuyuki voiced
their approval rather loudly, but they did not care. Washu
smirked knowingly to herself, almost as if she knew this was to
happen. 

Her smirk vanished when she felt Ryoko flying down the hallway,
almost expecting his announcement to be for her. Tenchi had told
her on several occasions that he did not love her, but she would
not believe it. Washu didn't want to see her daughter like this,
but she had brought it upon herself when she refused to listen to
the truth and continue to live in her own fantasy world. Now, the
blood would begin to spill. 

Ryoko dashed through the door, happy to think that Tenchi was
finally going to announce their engagement. Sadly, her smile
faded when she saw Tenchi and Kiyone, laughing and the former was
swinging around the latter happily. It was at first her dream
come true at hearing Tenchi make that announcement, but seeing
this, her first love choose another, it turned into a nightmare.

"No... Tenchi... you can't be serious... I was supposed to be the
one..." she whimpered. Yet a snide, venom filled hiss from behind
her, caused her to turn.

"And so, the circle has finally run its course to the end." Ryoko
turned to see Ayeka with the most sinister grin any Juraian was
capable of  giving. This did not make sense to Ryoko. She thought
Ayeka loved Tenchi too, and she would most likely be torn up as
much as she was. 

"What are you talking about?" Ryoko asked. All she got for an
answer was a laugh so controlled, so precise, it made Ryoko
wonder if it was really Ayeka. 

"And here I thought you were more intelligent than that. Very
well then, I shall explain it to you." With that, Ayeka raised
her hand, and with a near ear-shattering crack, Ryoko was
slapped. In addition, the former's nails raked across Ryoko's
cheek, causing three red lines to appear. "Now... WE ARE EVEN!!!"
She screeched and stomped out of the room. Leaving everyone else
look in shock at what just transpired.  

*************************************************

     Ayeka was on top of the world. Her revenge against Ryoko was
complete, the pirate had been humiliated and there was no way
that she could come out on top. Ayeka was truly the winner. Now,
there was one thing left to do. With that she headed to her room. 

     She was only a few meters away from her the elevator when
Ryoko materialized out of nowhere and grabbed Ayeka's collar.
"Alright princess, are you going to tell me what the hell's going
on here?!" Despite the ferocity she put into the threat, the
princess didn't even seemed to fear her. 

     "Very well then, bitch. I shall tell you. Think of it as a
gift to something of your low intelligence." She hissed back,
without showing the slightest bit of fear. 

     "First of all, you stole the only man I ever loved from me.
And you killed him by bringing him to Earth. You killed Yoshou.
And so, when I came looking for him, I discovered your affection
for Tenchi. So, I simply used him to make sure you were just one
step away from happiness, yet would never get there. Like the
pieces in a chess set, I arranged everything so Lord Tenchi and
Lady Kiyone would end up together and leave you in the dark.
Alone and afraid, just like I was. So, now, as the humans say:
Check mate! I win!"

     Ryoko growled and forced the princess into a wall and pulled
out an energy saber and held it to Ayeka's neck. "And what if I
decided to just chop you up into little, itty, bitty, pieces? Who
will have won then, huh?"

     Ayeka smirked back and said, "I would still win. You don't
think I've thought of this. The little baby, losing her precious
Tenchi, wanting to kill me just because I ruined her happiness.
What you don't know that I've been building a secret power base
just in case. With men that are loyal to me and me alone! Not
Tenchi, not Yoshimatsu, and especially not my father or Yoshou.
No matter where you are on Jurai, Ryoko, they're watching you and
waiting for you to make the mistake that would send the entire
fleet after your hide. For you see, you ruined their lives as
well and were more than happy to get a chance to kill you... once
more, I win."

     Ryoko snarled, "And what about if the Princess were to
suddenly disappear from Jurai? What if there weren't able to find
you?"

     Ayeka still did not flinch. "With footage with you and I
being seen together last? And I wouldn't go willingly with you
for all the currency in the whole universe! Everyone knows that.
I'm staying here on Jurai, for that's where I am working with
Tenchi, gaining his trust and friendship. For if you were to kill
me, Tenchi himself would hunt you down to the far reaches of the
galaxy just to have your head. Once more, I win."

     At this time, Ryoko was starting to develop tears from her
eyes, "Then why don't you just try and marry him now. Make it
hurt even worse."

     "Oh, I would simply love to do that, but the fact of the
matter is that I don't love him." With that, she turned to the
right, "Not only that, even if I were in love with Tenchi,  I
would not be qualified by Juraian law to be his other wife, were
he to ascend to the throne."

     "Wh... why?"

     "Because in my attempts to keep myself young and beautiful
for Yoshou, it ended up withering my reproductive organs.
Therefore, I am barren. I nearly murdered myself for a lost
cause. Yet, it's a blessing in a way. I won't have to marry any
incompetent fools from other powerful houses just to make sure my
foolish father stays in power longer."

     Ryoko blinked at the last sentence. She still had a chance
to live from all this. 

End Section 3 

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