Chapter Eighteen

So, he had got home somehow.

Tenchi rubbed his eyes, glancing around him with a mixture of confusion and relief as he registered the familiarity of his surroundings. His own bedroom walls surrounded him, as if protecting him from the swarm of media attention he knew would now be coming his way, and he sighed, letting out his breath in a slow exhale as he turned his mind back to the events in the city.

Now that it was over, it was mostly a blur in his mind, and although he had clearly felt the flare of magic within him at the time, it now seemed both crazy and impossible that he alone had wielded such power and had deflected a blast hell-bent on destroying the Earth.

"But somehow, I did." He murmured, staring up at the ceiling as he ran his gaze absently over the familiar grooves in the plastering. "I protected everyone. Not Tsunami's magic, but mine...my own magic, like Ryoko has hers, and Washu has hers. Has it always been that way? Or has Tsunami been grooming me up for something like this? I guess I'll never know for sure...but either way, I'm glad that everything worked out all right."

He pushed back his covers, clambering out of bed as he padded over to the window. A blank space greeted him and he hesitated, staring uncertainly out at the place where he was sure, only the day before, the mountain landscape had been.

"What the...?" He murmured, turning back towards the bed as he wondered whether or not it was a dream. As he did so, however, he caught sight of a sheet of notepaper lying on the bedside cabinet, held down with a distinctive crab-shaped paperweight, and as he squinted at it, he could make out the message in Washu's cursive script.

"Stay here and recuperate." It said. "Let me handle everything else."

"I wonder what she means by handling." Tenchi sank back down onto his bed, pursing his lips. "And what else? The media? Jurai? I wonder how much red tape I've generated through all of this. Noone is going to ever leave the Masaki family alone now...we're well and truly outed."

"That's not necessarily a bad thing, you know, Tenchi-kun."

His fiancee's voice made him start, and he swung around, a smile touching his lips as he registered her presence in the doorway. He beckoned for her to join him, and was rewarded by a playful smile as the pirate dropped gracefully down onto the end of his bed, crossing her legs as she cast him a searching look.

"How are you feeling?"

"Tired, a little confused...but mostly tired." Tenchi admitted. "Where are we, Ryoko? I thought this was my room - but if it is...what's outside?"

"This is your room." Ryoko's smile widened, and she reached over to squeeze his fingers. "Washu just shielded the house in some kind of interdimensional warp for a while. She said that it would prevent anyone disturbing you while you slept - though you were so gone I think that they could've sent another laser missile and it wouldn't have woken you."

"I don't know about that." Tenchi grinned at this, shrugging his shoulders ruefully. "I think I'd know. I really feel like I was out there to protect this planet, earlier on. I don't remember much clearly - I felt like I was being ripped out of my body and stretched across time and space, to be honest. But it was like the impulse to protect the Earth was more important than anything else. I think that's why I have the Light Hawk Wings. And why I'm here."

"That's kinda deep." Ryoko eyed him pensively. "And what about the fact everyone knows? Did you mean what you said back in Osaka? About not caring what people think about you now?"

"Yes." Tenchi agreed. "I told you. This is my home, and you're the person I want to share it with. Nothing else is so important to me as that."

He hesitated, then,

"I'm sorry if I made you think otherwise." He admitted. "I should have listened a little more clearly when you told me about Kane."

"Yes, you should, but I've decided I'll forgive you." Ryoko said reflectively. "This time. Just be careful - I might not, next time."

"All right...I'll remember." Tenchi's eyes sparkled with relief. "Washu said that you were more easily hurt than I realised - that you'd begun to feel like an outsider here and I don't want that. I want you to feel this is your home - but if you can't feel that way...I...I still want us to be together. Whatever and wherever that means we are."

"Tenchi." Ryoko's eyes softened, and Tenchi scratched his head awkwardly.

"I've something to show you." He added, getting to his feet and moving over to his desk, rummaging in the drawer as he hunted through his papers for a particular item. "It was actually Dad who put the idea into my head...and when I thought about it, I realised that he was right. Sometimes we talk at cross-purposes. We come from different worlds, and we have different experiences in life from which we've developed different ways of handling situations. But even despite that, I love you and I want you to know that it doesn't matter to me what you've done in the past. Or where you've been. Where you were born. Any of that. So long as right now you're with me - that matters more."

He pulled a red-covered sketchbook from the bottom of the drawer, flicking it open and then holding it out to her.

"Dad said that if you saw this, you might understand that more clearly." He added self-consciously. "Because sometimes pictures speak louder than words. You know that I love to draw - and I love to draw the things that are important in my life. But I've never shown you...these before. And...I want to. Now."

"All right." Ryoko frowned, taking the book, and glancing at it. Her eyes widened, and she glanced up at him, startled.

"But...you...this is..."

"It's you." Tenchi agreed awkwardly, sitting down beside her. "I've always drawn you...ever since I discovered how much I loved to draw. You should know that - it's one of the few things that I remember from Haruna's world. That I drew someone who was always with me, no matter what I could remember or where I was. Drawing you seems to inspire me like nothing else...drawing you helped to bring my true memories back in that world, and in this one, it's always been..."

He hesitated, debating the best words to choose. At length he sighed.

"I'm not great with words and I get embarrassed and flustered easily when it comes to these things." He admitted ruefully. "So maybe I don't always say the right things. And I don't always understand how to tell you how I feel, either. But...I wanted you to see these...because I thought...it would say it more clearly than anything else...how much I love you."

Ryoko's eyes glittered with tears, and slowly she turned the pages, absorbing each image in silence. At length, she reached the final picture, and she bit her lip, pressing her finger to the page.

"Ryoko and Tenchi." She murmured softly, brushing her finger against the image gently. "Together."

"Married." Tenchi agreed quietly. "If...that's still what you want, after all of this. It's still what I want."

He gestured to the picture, shrugging.

"So I drew that just on a whim, but if you don't want to marry me in a traditionally Japanese way, you don't have to." He added. "In the end, it doesn't matter to me how we do it. So long...so long as we do. Where isn't important either. I just think...it's time we stopped messing around. And...just did it."

"That sounds more like my philosophy than yours." Carefully Ryoko shut the sketchbook, setting it aside as she looped her arms around his neck. "And it's a silly, moot question, Tenchi-kun. I was mad at you, but I was mad at me, too. For being a pirate and causing you so much trouble. But Sakura said that you caused as much of it yourself, by being who you were. And now the cat is out of the bag big time it's as you said - it doesn't matter. If you're okay with being outed, well, I'm okay with being the wife of the man who saved the world from destruction."

She dimpled, mischief flickering in her amber eyes.

"I'm very photogenic." She added. "I'm sure that I'll look just fine in all the celebrity columns and glossy magazines, hanging on your arm like the beautiful maiden I am."

Tenchi stared at her for a moment, then he burst out laughing, hugging her tightly.

"That's why I love you." He admitted. "When you say things like that. You're unique, Ryoko, beyond all levels of uniqueness. But I wouldn't be without you. Not now."

"Then it's settled." Ryoko disentangled herself, resting her hands on his shoulders, and Tenchi could see the stirring emotion in her golden gaze.

"We'll get married." She said softly. "And we'll do it here, Tenchi. This is where you belong. This planet. And I belong with you. Just like I've always said. Besides, I haven't given up on the Earth yet. It's had a rough baptism into the world of aliens, but it's not been entirely their fault. And I...I don't want to be running again. I don't want to always be on the move. This is where we've got roots, and we should stick it out. Both of us."

She shrugged.

"Remember, Sakura would kill me if I didn't have her at my wedding." She added. "She did take me in, when I was a lost stray. I owe her that, at the very least."

"I suppose." Tenchi grinned. "Okay. If that's what you want, it's what we'll do."

"It's what I want." Ryoko agreed. "Though you're right in one respect."

"Which is?"

"We aren't an average, conventional couple...so we shouldn't have to conform to other people's ideas of a proper wedding." Ryoko's lips twitched into a wicked smile. "We're not like everyone else. We do things our own way. This should be the same. Let's have our wedding our way. Okay? A pirate and a prince don't get married every day of the week, after all. Let's make it something to remember."

"Ryoko-chan, so long as you're there, I don't think it could ever be anything else." Tenchi said ruefully, and Ryoko swiped at him playfully.

"Be nice." She warned. "Otherwise I might take advantage of you in this physically weakened state, and who knows what might happen?"

"Oh, shut up." Despite himself, Tenchi laughed, slipping his arms more securely around her as he kissed her gently on the lips. "One of these days I'll take you up on one of those threats, and then we'll see who has the last laugh."

"That sounds like a promise." Ryoko leant up against him, meeting his gaze with challenging amber eyes. "All right, Prince of Jurai. Then it's settled. We'll get married, and then I'm going to make sure we have one hell of a honeymoon. And I mean one hell of one. But be warned - noone's ever gotten the better of the Space Pirate Ryoko yet."

"There's always a first time." Tenchi touched her cheek gently. "I think I can handle it. After all, I've got you for keeps, haven't I? And I'm not letting you go this time. So throw what you like at me...you won't scare me away."

"Well, I always like a challenge." Ryoko said contentedly, and Tenchi felt her fingers slip through his once more, squeezing them tightly. "If that's how you want it, Tenchi-kun...you're on. After all, as I've said before - life with me can be hell-raising, chaotic and unpredictable. But one thing it will never, ever be...is dull!"

---------

"Nii-chan?"

Seiryo opened his eyes, meeting two curious, expectant blue eyes as he struggled into a sitting position, casting his companion a rueful smile.

"Morning, Tokimi." He said playfully. "What's with the wake-up call - were you worried about me?"

"Nii-chan was late back last night." Tokimi admitted. "Tokimi thought...maybe Nii-chan wasn't coming home at all."

"I'm sorry." Seiryo looked contrite. "You know I was helping out some Galaxy Police friends. And Kiyone, too. She was in a spot of trouble...I had to get her out of it."

He fingered his arm, wincing involuntarily as he found the bruise from the previous night's struggle, and at his expression, Tokimi frowned.

"Nii-chan is hurt?" She asked softly, reaching out to take his arm in hers. Gently she rolled back his sleeve, running her fingers tentatively over the limb. "Nii-chan was fighting last night?"

"Sort of." Seiryo agreed ruefully. "Yes, I suppose so."

"With Kiyo-neesan?"

"No, not Kiyone." Seiryo laughed, shaking his head. "At least, not this kind of fight. No. This was a battle of swords and wits and in the end, I won. Don't worry, Tokimi. They're just bruises. I'm fine. Really."

"Nii-chan." Tokimi looked reproachful, setting his arm down, and Seiryo eyed her quizzically.

"What?"

"Nii-chan...killed someone last night."

"Dammit, you see way too much with that sight of yours, Toki-chan." Seiryo said wryly, rolling down his sleeve as he shrugged his shoulders. "It wasn't quite like that. He had his sword at my throat. I didn't want to - but if I hadn't, he would've killed me, Kiyone and then all the people on planet Earth, if he'd had half a chance. I was defending her, defending them - and making sure I stayed alive. You worried that I was late back - what if I'd not come home at all?"

"He was...bad man?" Tokimi looked doubtful.

"You can ask Kiyone, next time you see her." Seiryo responded evenly. "He meant business. I promise, Toki-chan, I didn't go after killing him. I was going to immobilise him and restrain him so Imaguchi and Takamura could place him under official arrest - but he had other ideas. He was half crazy...I swear, that's what happened."

"Nii-chan...won't be in trouble?"

"No. It's all all right. I promise." Seiryo touched her cheek. "Don't look like that. I swear...it's all okay. But we don't need to tell Suki, all right? As far as she knows, my police work is behind me and over, and I don't think she'd understand."

"All right." Tokimi sighed, then nodded her head. "Tokimi won't tell. But Nii-chan is really not hurt? And Kiyo-neesan - he didn't hurt her, either?"

"No, believe me, she's full of life." Seiryo said ruefully. "You needn't worry about her, either."

Tokimi nodded, sitting down on the bedcovers as she regarded her companion with a searching, interested look.

"Nii-chan seems...different today." She decided absently, and Seiryo eyed her in confusion.

"Different?" He asked. "Because of the fight? Toki-chan..."

"No." Tokimi shook her head, slipping her fingers into her adoptive brother's and squeezing them tightly. "Nii-chan's pain...is fading. Nii-chan...is feeling better. Smiling. Laughing. Happy again. Is Nii-chan...all right, now?"

"I guess it seems odd to you, that I'd be this way after killing someone in armed combat." Seiryo rubbed his chin. "And it's the first person I've taken down since I left the Galaxy Police. Since I started to feel differently about things, Tokimi - since you and I both were changed forever by Kii magic. But I haven't really even bothered about him - about what happened, not really. I was angry with him because he hurt Kiyone, and because he wanted to kill so many innocent people on the Earth. I guess because of that, I can't feel too sorry he's dead. So I suppose that I am all right. Yes. I think so."

"And Kaede-sama?" Tokimi murmured softly. "Has Nii-chan let her go with peace, now?"

"Yes." Seiryo became grave. "It's about time I did, huh? Poor Mother. She suffered so much, and I couldn't even be unselfish enough to let her go. But I have to, don't I? She's gone. And it's the duty of the child to honour and respect their parents...at least with her, I can do that. I loved her a lot, and I'll miss her badly. But it's what Suki's said - she's not in pain any more. And she let go because she knew we'd be all right without her. This morning, I do feel like I am...all right. Like I'll come to terms with it, bit by bit."

"Tokimi is glad." Tokimi beamed. "Tokimi doesn't like Nii-chan in pain."

"Nii-chan doesn't like it either." Seiryo said ruefully. "So I'm glad too. Today, I'll go to the shrine and I'll say a prayer, for her sake. Even if I'm dubious in that department, I think...for her...I can do it. Just this once. To let her know - if there is somewhere she is, now - that she needn't worry about any of us any more. I'm Lord of this manor and I can be that without her, now. So I'll do that. I feel it's right."

Tokimi leant up against her companion, raising sapphire eyes to his as she digested his words.

"Nii-chan told Kiyo-neesan, too?" She asked softly, and Seiryo started, gazing down at her guiltily.

"Toki-chan..."

"Nii-chan did." Tokimi's expression became one of satisfaction, and she nodded approvingly. "Nii-chan told Kiyone he loved her. Yes? Nii-chan did?"

"Sometimes I wish I wasn't such an open book to you." Seiryo rubbed his temples, slowly nodding his head. "Yes. I did."

"And Kiyo-neesan loves Nii-chan too, yes?"

"Tokimi, if you knew that before, why the hell didn't you tell me?" Seiryo demanded sharply, and Tokimi giggled at his expression, shaking her head unrepentantly.

"Nii-chan said to Tokimi not to talk about it." She said innocently. "Besides, is not Tokimi's job. Is Nii-chan and Kiyo-neesan's. Tokimi can't. Nii-chan must say what's in Nii-chan's heart. Otherwise it isn't meaning anything. Is it?"

"Tokimi." Seiryo sighed heavily. "You know, sometimes I think I'm looking after you, and then other times I think you're smarter than the lot of us, and you're the one doing the looking after. Which is it, huh? Am I really 'Nii-chan' to you, or are you turning into my "Oneesan" now, too?"

"Tokimi can be Nii-chan's Nee-chan." Tokimi dimpled. "If Nii-chan likes."

"I'm not sure that works, you know..."

"Yes it does." Tokimi tilted her head, eying him playfully. "Tokimi can. If she wants."

"I suppose you are older than me." Seiryo acknowledged. "But...sometimes, I swear...Toki-chan, you've sat and watched Kiyone and I dancing around each other, haven't you? We must seem like idiots to you, if it's been that obvious from the start."

"Love is difficult." Tokimi said pensively, and for an instant Seiryo had the impression his companion was in full possession of all of her faculties. "It can hurt a lot, Tokimi knows this. And it shouldn't be interfered with by other people. Not by Tokimi, or Suki, or Sasami, or anyone else. Nii-chan understands?"

"Yes, I suppose so." Seiryo admitted. "I suppose it is better this way."

"And now Nii-chan will be with Kiyo-neesan?"

"I don't know what's going to happen. It's a little complicated, considering how busy we both are, and how separate our lives are." Seiryo admitted. "And there's the matter of Jurai's social system, too. Kiyone's determined we shouldn't be telling anyone anything - me, I don't care, overly. I've got to the point where I've done fighting it. If life is as short as it is, I want to have all the things to make it happy as much as I can. But if that's how she feels, I won't overrule her. Still..."

"Is a secret?" Tokimi's eyes widened. "But Nii-chan told Tokimi!"

"Nii-chan trusts Tokimi to keep secrets." Seiryo eyed her dryly. "Truth is, there's not much I can keep from you anyway. And for some reason, I find it easier to talk to you than anyone about things like this - maybe it's because of that. I don't feel I'm breaking my silence, if you can already see how I'm feeling before I say anything. But you're also a good listener, Toki-chan...I think in some ways you understand me better than even Suki does, some days."

"Tokimi and Nii-chan are connected." Tokimi decided. "So Tokimi understands Nii-chan. And Nii-chan understands Tokimi. Besides..."

She paused, biting her lip, and Seiryo was startled to see a wistful look touch her sapphire eyes.

"Love is important." She murmured. "Is stronger than anything. Even than Tsunami. Is the most important thing of everything. And Tokimi...Tokimi wants Nii-chan to be happy. Suki too. Nii-chan and Suki are so good to Tokimi, and look after her...like family, now. So Tokimi wants happiness for both of you. Very, very much. If Nii-chan and Suki are happy, Tokimi is happy too."

"Tokimi..."

"Tokimi won't get married, or fall in love." Tokimi continued quietly. "Will she?"

"I...I don't know." Seiryo admitted. "It's not something I can answer, Tokimi - that lies with you."

"No..." Tokimi shook her head. "Tokimi is...different now. Maybe once...once, Tokimi might have...but not now."

She paused, then shrugged.

"But it's okay." She added. "Tokimi is happy. Tokimi has people who love her, and she will stay with them, always. But if Nii-chan can have it, and Suki too, they should. And Tokimi likes Kiyo-neechan. Tokimi has faith...Seiryo and Kiyo-neesan will be happy. Tokimi is sure of that."

"Oh, Toki-chan." Seiryo sighed, then hugged the slight figure tightly, shaking his head.

"I never realised you thought about things like that, in terms of your own life." He murmured. "I'm sorry. It was dense of me. I suppose I should have done."

"Tokimi is like Washu." Tokimi shook her head. "The past means we are alone. We are Kii, but there is no Kihaku. No Eagle. Washu...Washu said she had someone, but he died, and she still loves him, but she can't marry a dead person. And Tokimi...Tokimi is broken. Mihoshi-san said it, when we were on Rikishouki. Tokimi is different now. And so...Tokimi can't be married. Tokimi can't...have children or family. So Tokimi...will help Nii-chan and Suki instead."

"Tokimi, you're not broken. And you will aways have family, no matter what." Seiryo held her at arm's length, offering her a smile. "Whether you marry, whether you can or can't have children, whether all the things you say are true. You'll always be part of my family. If things pan out with Kiyone or if they don't - right now, it's a milestone in itself, and I wouldn't like to even guess where it's going or if it's going anywhere. But if, one day, I marry, and have children of my own, it won't ever mean you won't be as important to me as you are now. And you'll always have a home here. You'll be part of my family, just like you are now. Okay?"

Tokimi eyed him for a moment, tears glittering faintly in her unusual, expressive eyes. Then she flung her arms around him, almost knocking him backwards as she nodded her head.

"Woah!" He laughed, returning the hug with another warm embrace of his own. "All right, calm down. You should know that, anyway. This is where you belong. We don't mind if you're different now, Tokimi. You're just as important now as you were before Kihaku hurt you, you know. Never ever feel that you're not. You have no idea how much you've done for me, just being here...or maybe you do, I don't know. But I wouldn't change anything that's happened. Mother's death taught me more than ever that family is important to me. And Suki and you are my family, now. So I'm glad you're on my side."

"Maybe Nii-chan will marry Kiyo-neesan." Tokimi suggested, and Seiryo grinned ruefully.

"It's far too early to make such suggestions." He said ironically. "Let's take it one step at a time, shall we? I'm not used to being in love with anyone. I've well and truly lost my battle against my emotions, and I didn't expect her to feel the same way. But she does, and now I'm in new territory. I thought I was in love once, as a teenager, but it wasn't really love - I know that now. I've been involved with women before, but I've never felt so...tentative and vulnerable as this. So we'll see where it goes. I may need your help, to figure out my own feelings from time to time."

"Tokimi promises." Tokimi nodded.

"And you won't tell anyone what I've told you? Any of it? Not even Suki or Sasami-sama?"

"Tokimi won't." Tokimi agreed. "Because Nii-chan asked. Is a special secret for Tokimi and Nii-chan and Kiyo-neesan. Yes?"

"Yes." Seiryo agreed. "And that said, you'd better go get up...and so had I. I have to report to the palace this morning, regardless of how late I got back or how little sleep I've had. Kiyone and I talked for a long time last night - that's why I didn't get home till the time I did. But life goes on - work beckons. And I'm all right now. I've neglected my duties with Princess Sasami and the council, but I'll make up for that now everything is set to rights."

Tokimi nodded, shuffling off his bed and making her way to the door. Once there, she paused, sending him a wide, excited smile.

"Nii-chan glows." She said softly. "Tokimi likes it. Nii-chan isn't alone any more...Tokimi is happy, because so is Nii-chan. Stay happy, Nii-chan. Trust your heart...Tokimi knows it's right."

Then she was gone, and Seiryo sighed, pushing back the covers and getting slowly to his feet as he moved to glance at his reflection in the mirror pool. Even though he lacked Tokimi's piercing Kii sight, he could see himself that some of the strain and preoccupation had gone from his expression and, although his lack of sleep was visible, it was not the weariness of someone who was forcing himself through the days.

"I hope Mother understands what Kiyone means to me, and can accept it." He murmured, reaching down to disperse the image with his finger. "And that in a way, she's brought us together. That losing her made me realise what it means to lose someone you love...and that I wasn't going to let Nakabito take Kiyone from me, too. Telling her was a gamble, but I'm glad I took it. Now I can move forwards again, I think...as Tokimi said, I'm not alone any more. Frightening and new it might be, and full of risks and problems. But even so...even so..."

He paused, smiling slightly as he remembered their conversation the night before.

"Even so, we'll fight together." He mused. "And maybe Tokimi will be proven right again. Maybe there is something in it...after all, the world does move in mysterious ways. Even for Lords of Jurai and Detectives of the Galaxy Police - who am I to question the turn of fate?"

Operation Eradicate: Part Two

::The End::
-------------------
End Note (Warning, random Vraie story babble included!)

My thanks again to everyone who's followed my little adventure of characters from Dark Heart to this point. You all deserve cookies. Many, many cookies.Sasami, get cooking!)

For all the Seiryo x Kiyone fans that have sprung up out of the woodwork since Demon's Exile, I hope you're satisfied . I suspect some will be thinking, "But can they make it work…?" That's easy to answer. Hell, it'sfanfiction. Of course they can make it work!

For all the Tenchi x Ryoko fans – you might not be entirely satisfied by the ending from a romance perspective, but such is life – there are a few rules I made for myself before I began writing Tenchific and so in order to obey them, I've decided to end it this way. I never intended to write Ryoko and Tenchi getting married, but I did begin to think I might wind up doing it. But in the end I'm content that I didn't. It's fairly obvious that they will be together, anyway. You can imagine the wedding any way you like…such is the power of imagination, huh? And more than anything, I think Tenchi saving the Earth is a much better ending. As Shin Tenchi Muyo puts forward - Tenchi is the Earth's protector. And that is, maybe, why he has Tsunami's power after all. At long last, he's learnt to properly use it to protect his planet. ;)

I will say that there is someone important in Tenchi and Ryoko's future, just as there is in Ayeka's. If you've visited my website, you'll know what I mean. And for anyone who hasn't – take into account the "Dying Tree" and the picture on my profile page…although I haven't decided whether or not to ever write the epilogue story properly, there should probably be a footnote here for the future existence of Nozomi Masaki Jurai. (So here it is. One footnote.LOL).

For Sasami's fans – Sasami has come a lot further than I thought she would when I began. I sort of feel she's ready to take things on, now, as Tsunami. Will she ever tell Kamidake how she feels, however? Guess that's another one left open to reader opinion. But I am happy about how strong Sasami has become. Jurai will be in safe hands with her behind the scenes, I'm sure of it!

For Ayeka, the future of Jurai I think would now be the focus of her attention. Though she will always love Tenchi, I think, at last, she's accepted that he and she won't be together, and she is content. With the birth of her son and heir, Jurai's rocky inheritance is set in stone at last. I never like writing "having a baby" stories, but I thought it was important to show Ayeka in this light for this story. That she has accepted her future and that one day she will be a great woman in many regards – as an Empress, a wife, a sister and, most important of all, as a mother. Ayeka has a lot of love to give, and I wanted to give her someone in whom she could fully invest that love. I think that, through the baby, her and Takeru's relationship is cemented at last.

For those curious enough to wonder, the Prince's name is Shigure. Shigure Imada Jurai. Anyone who's read "After The Rain" will know that he's named after the Emperor who martyred himself against Kain in my continuity– Azusa and Haru's father and Ayeka's imposing, intimidating grandfather. (And there is a picture of young Prince Shigure on my website, if anyone is curious enough to see!)

For Washu, Yume and everyone else, life goes on. Tokimi never did get to meet Zakari ("Z"), and discover that she was a mother, after all. I'd like to think that somehow, eventually, she would meet him…but the story premise to do it did not seem right. Still, her connections to the Tennan family remain as strong as ever – this is her home and always will be.

Tokimi has a special soft spot in my heart now, even though she's wound up not much like her OVA counterpart. People have probably guessed that her latter incarnation was inspired somewhat by chibi-Tokimi in episode 20, but if not, now you know.

There was another more personal motivation behind it too, however. I wanted a character who was perceived as being "impaired" yet one who was powerful despite that impairment. (Raising the question, is one really impaired if one can live their life to the fullest regardless?) That was important to me to do - call it a bit of individual fightback against the stereotypes in real-life society that people place on the things they don't understand.

In a sense, this whole story was focused on the inner self over the outer appearance - that people aren't always what they seem to be. Tokimi is the epitome of that in so many ways. Her perception of the world is unique, but as beautiful and resonant as any of the other characters'...at least, I hope that's the Tokimi that I managed to get across.

In terms of other things, Suki Tennan will probably never be arraigned for the crime of her father's death - especially with Sasami and Takeru both looking out for her along with Seiryo and Washu. However her involvement with the Galaxy Police – and specifically, the Elite Division – is far from at an end. Even though I didn't have the opportunity to properly explore that fact in this story (gomen) .

For all the people who wanted me to write more about the Earthlings – I trust I've covered that enough with this story. You can draw your own conclusions about Sakura and Hiroshi – I have no decisions either way as to whether or not they'll get together, so it's up to the reader what they think. As for Kane, I imagine Tenchi would forgive him in the long run. And I think, for Kane himself, he might just re-evaluate his opinion of alien life after this little incident!

Again, thank you to everyone. I've no doubt I'll keep writing, even if it's not Tenchi fic...so maybe I'll write something else worth reading in the not so distant future ;) You never know, ne:)

In final conclusion, I hope it's been as fun a journey for you as it has for me!

本当にありがとうございました！
Hontou ni arigatou gozaimashita!

VraieEsprit