This is my very first Fic, so please don't hate me too much, and try to cut me a little slack ok? (I realize, and acknowledge the fact that all the characters in Tenchi Muyo are the property of Pioneer, however I state that the Character Orion Dragoon/Yugo is of my own make, and I also thought of the Niogira. So I'll thank you to ask my permission to use them in any other work than my own. ^_^) I would at this time like to beg pioneer not to sue me, I'm only 17, I have no job, and I wrote this thing cause I wanted to, I'm not getting paid for my work... Please Pioneer, don't sue me, Please I beg of you!!!! And hey, thanx for making such a cool series guys, Pioneer Rules!!!!!!! I would also like to thank my Girl friend and comrade in my creative process Carly for contributing her thoughts, and opinions to make my story kick ass. Well On with the Fic!!!!! Tenchi Muyo: Birth of the Dragon A wise man once said, "If we do not learn from our past we are doomed to repeat it." He had no clue how right he was. It all started 200,017 years ago, I was born by emaculant conception, My mother Funaho thought that I was her son by Azusa, and I had thought so too until I realized that my beliefs were totally different from those of my parents. I was raised as a prince, but I trained myself as a soldier, I trained and fought with every soldier I could get to spar with me. I grew stronger and wiser than even Lord Azusa himself; I was 17 when I left home. From that point on I fought in every war, in every galaxy I came across, and I used a ship that was forbidden to be made on Juri. After a few years I came across a planet called Earth I was 100,017 then, and far stronger than anyone before me, both physically and in Juri power. I met my younger brother Yosho 700 years ago, I knew he was Juri and hid behind a false name. I've been hiding myself away from everyone, until now.. The Masaki House shook violently from an explosion. "Ryoko! Stop fighting with Ayeka!" "But I'm not fighting with her Tenchi, that wasn't me." Ryoko had materialized in Tenchi's room and Ayeka knocked only moments later saying the same thing. An exasperated Tenchi then asked, "well then who caused that explosion?" They all looked outside to see smoke in the surrounding forest, and Kiyone, Mihoshi, Washu, and Sasami running towards the edge of the forest, with Nobuyuki following close behind. Kiyone was the first on the scene and saw the huge blast mark, and the bodies of two men lying just outside the burnt ring. One was completely decimated and the other was unconscious, but badly hurt. The rest of the household was there shortly after taking in the scene, and Tenchi's grandfather, Katsuhito, recognized the body of the unconscious man. "Quickly, let's get him inside the shrine, he'll need to be looked after." Tenchi and his father Nobuyuki both carried the body to the shrine and laid it on the flag- stones. "Do you know him grandpa?" "Yes, he is a very old friend." "But, grandpa he looks like he's at most 18 years old." To that Katsuhito laughed, "HAHAHAHAHA! You should know by now Tenchi that looks are very deceiving." My dreams were growing more violent by the moment, I was re-living memories from wars that I had long ago wished to forget, and now I could feel my control slipping away. 'Yugo! Get down. GAAAAAAAHHHHHH!' 'NOOOO! Hirideshi, Mazakura!'. "Gaah!" I sat bolt upright with sweat poring down my face, panting. The pain hit me like a sledgehammer and I was drained of any strength I had left in me, I lay back down on the floor mat still breathing heavily. A few moments later a very beautiful blonde young lady walked in and gasped. ".. Oh, I better get Katsuhito, I didn't know you were awake." She giggled and turned to leave, I just spoke in a hoarse whisper. "Hey, Mihoshi, help me get up would ya?" "H-h-how did you know my name?" "I know everyone's name, Katsuhito told me. I can't move very well, would you help me stand?" "Yeah but um, you might wanna put some pants on first." I looked completely embarrassed, a huge sweat bead forming on my forehead, and I could feel the heat of my blushing on my face. "Uh, thanks Mihoshi." I quickly grabbed my pants from the floor, it took me a half-hour but I finally got my pants (or what was left of them) back on. I sat up, but before I could try and stand there was a knock at my door. "May I enter?" "Of course Katsuhito, it is your shrine after all, besides I think I'll need some help standing." "Hmm. I wouldn't have expected you to be back to even minimal strength yet Orion." "Yeah well you know us Dragoons, too stupid to know when to stay down right?" I made a pitiful attempt at a laugh, and buckled over in pain. "Ow, I guess I'm not in as good a shape as I thought." I grunted as I got up with Katsuhito's help, he let me use him as a crutch so I could move around the shrine. I made it to the courtyard to find everyone standing there waiting, in what appeared to be earnest for the knowledge that I was ok. "Hey everybody, thanks for looking after an idiot like me, sorry if I worried anyone." "Who are you, and what was that explosion?" "Ah, you must be Kiyone, I've heard of your beauty and wit, but stories do you no justice. I am Orion Dragoon; I live in these mountains. The explosion was caused by me, I engaged in a battle with a man who wished to kill all of you, and as I'm sure you've seen, that man is no longer a threat." A bewildered look ran across everyone's faces, "uh, I'm really sorry for causing you to worry, I'll try not to let it happen again, sometimes my power gets away from me. Heh heh, Ow." I winced in pain; I had hit that tree harder than I thought. (Damn him and his blaster!) Later that day I found myself wandering aimlessly around the shrine, when I noticed Tenchi working alone in the fields. "Hey Tenchi, want some help?" "Oh, hi Orion, no I couldn't ask you to." It was too late I had already found a hoe and started to work. "I guess it was more of a statement than a request, huh Orion." "Yup." The steady work was more relaxing than actually being hard labor, Tenchi and myself had finished working on the whole field by lunch- time. "Wow, I didn't think we would be able to do so much work in so little time Orion." "Well, something I've said for years is 'never doubt the power and ability of a dragon, if you do you are more of a fool than me.'" "But your not a dragon, you're a human like grandpa and me." "Don't believe your eyes all of the time Tenchi, there are things in this universe that go beyond anyone's comprehension." Tenchi noticed the far away look in his grandfather's friend's eyes, and noticed for the first time a hint of loss and sorrow. "Nobuyuki, thank you for inviting me to eat with you and your family. I look forward to what we're going to have for lunch, I hear Sasami is a grand cook." The little blue hared Jurian princess smiled and ran off to get the food with Tenchi and Ayeka in tow. When Ryoko entered I just about ruined the table. I jumped up shouting, "Ryoko! Why are you here?!" The moment she recognized me she summoned her energy sword and prepared to fight. "You! I'll kill you!" I was getting ready to launch an energy blast straight at her head when, "What are you doing?!" "Huh? Sorry Tenchi, I'll take this outside, and finish her." "You're not going to kill Ryoko, I won't let you." "What? Is she a friend now or something? Katsuhito why didn't you tell me Ryoko had been freed, and was looked upon as a friend?" "I knew it would upset you." "My apologies Ryoko, I didn't know, please forgive me." I bowed and sat back down. An instant later, "Meeyah!" "What the?! Oh how cute, a cabbit, I had one when I was very young." I scratched the cabbit behind its left ear and got an immediate response, pure joy. "Meeya, meeya!" "Hmm hmm hmm hmm, apparently all cabbits share a common pleasure point, mine loved the back of its ear scratched, and apparently she does too." The cabbit scrambled out of my lap and retrieved one of its carrots from across the table and plopped down munching happily. After lunch I went back into the woods and found the old cave Katsuhito had sealed Ryoko in, I entered the cave and found the mystic Juri barrier completely decimated and entered Ryoko's tomb. Here in her tomb I unleashed my shear fury, transforming once more into the beast I kept hidden within my soul, and throughout the hills and heavens the sound of my primal scream could be heard by all. I heard Katsuhito enter the cave and I quieted my rage, and returned to the man he thought he knew so well. "What was that Orion?" "A remnant of a long forgotten past my friend, even here some things still haunt me." I let my voice trail off while a scanned the tomb. "So Tenchi actually broke the seal did he, it's lucky for him that Ryoko likes him." "Very true my friend, Ryoko actually loves him." "As does Ayeka I take it. Yes Katsuhito I can see it in both of their eyes, it's easy when you know what to look for." (Katsuhito I want so much to tell you that I am your brother, and that I know you are Yosho, but I can't. Not yet anyway.) "Lets leave this place before you catch cold, You forgot to put on your shirt and have been walking around in one of my tunics all day. I guess no one saw your scars, otherwise they would have asked questions." Katsuhito and I walked out of the cave and met with Tenchi five paces away, and in full battle gear. "Well, it's nice to see that you've embraced your Jurian heritage Tenchi, but you do not need to fight here, all you heard was a voice from my past." "Tenchi it's time for your training." "Okay grandpa." "Do you mind if I watch? I might be able to help a little too." As it happened I ended up sparring with Tenchi and teaching him how to keep a good stance while being attacked, and while attacking. "You see Tenchi, it's all about your balance, and how you can be defending while preparing your attack. One step leads to another my friend." "Yeah and I haven't been hit once, if I had been fighting grandpa I have a ton of lumps on my head by now." Thwack! I hit Tenchi on the head causing a single tear to fall down his cheek. "You should never let your guard down when facing your opponent, sorry Tenchi, but I trained with Katsuhito too, hahaha, You should always tell an opponent when you yield, unless you defeat him." "Ow! I can't catch a break, woah!" Crack! "You see you've learned from your mistake, well done, now. it's dinner- time, I'm starved." I walked over and handed my boken to Katsuhito, bowed and began to walk away when I heard Katsuhito jump, I heard him swing the boken at my head, I side stepped and watched the wooden blade strike the flag stones effectively shattering the blade. "You remember everything I showed you, I'm impressed, though when I found you, you already knew most of the Juri fighting style." "Katsuhito, can we eat now, I'm hungry, and I can't wait to try what Sasami has cooked for dinner." After dinner I went back into the woods intent on finding my ship. I crawled into the hatch that was carefully concealed by a stone camouflage hologram, as was the rest of my ship. The FireDrake was now a stone statue guarding the lake in front of my home. I retrieved some new pants and a new shirt, and walked into my home's cave entrance. For some reason I had the song 'Beautiful' by the American band Creed stuck in my head and began singing. I didn't know that I had a fan though, until I heard a twig snap behind me, but I continued to walk as though nothing had happened, I took off my shirt to change and started talking to the person behind me. "So you followed me did you, I'm surprised I didn't hear you before now, I suppose that must mean I've attracted the attention of a certain GP officer by the name of Kiyone." "How the hell can you do that? How did you know it was me?" "Mihoshi would have made more noise than an elk in heat, Ryoko isn't very good at moving around quietly either, Ayeka's to stuck on Tenchi to even bother, and Sasami hasn't shown any interest in me." Kiyone seemed quite flustered at this point, "b-but I-I-I don't really." "Know what's going through your mind? It's easy, I'm someone new, someone who's just as much a mystery as you." "How could you know that I, well, you know." "Was attracted to me? I could see it in your eyes every time you looked at me, and every time I smiled and spoke to you you'd blush and look away. You have nothing to be ashamed of Kiyone, I actually, uh, well, umm." I let my voice fade as I felt myself blushing horrendously. Kiyone finished my sentence for me as I had hers, "you mean to tell me that you like me too." "Well yeah. Ha ha ha ha you'd think that after 200,000 years this'd get easier." Kiyone let loose a laugh, a laugh I'd never heard before, it wasn't a nervous laugh, it wasn't a sardonic laugh, it was a very real very heart felt laugh. "Wow, Kiyone, you have a wonderful laugh, it sounds like angel's music." Kiyone stopped laughing to blush at what Orion had just said to her, she never thought that she'd fall for a guy she didn't even know, but here she was talking to someone she didn't know but 'loved' very much. "Why, Orion if I didn't know any better I'd say you were coming on to me." She'd never even seen Tenchi blush this much before, but he regained some of his composure. "Uh, and w-what if I was?" "Well then I'd have to hug you," she couldn't believe she'd said that. Orion smiled somewhat and stepped towards her, what he did next sent her blood boiling, and her heart soaring. I don't know why I did what I did, but I did it and I was glad, I took Kiyone in my arms and just held her. I then whispered into her ear, "not if I hug you first." Even I could not have anticipated what happened next. "Mmmmm." A kiss shared between two people can mean the difference between love and friendship, and believe me this was love. "Where did that come from?" "I'm so sorry I didn't meant to." "No, Kiyone, it's ok, I enjoyed that. You are a fantastic kisser, and I can't help but wonder if you'll consent to being my girl friend." "Sure, I'll go out with you." We shared another kiss, and walked back to the house. The next few weeks flew by; Kiyone was having the time of her life. The happiness shared between Orion and Kiyone did not go unnoticed however (how could it? They always walked hand in hand, and were kissing each other every five seconds.) Ryoko and Ayeka were happy to see that Kiyone had finally found someone that made her happy, but Sasami was showing some signs of jealousy, and Mihoshi was getting more and more frantic by the day. "Oh, what if I get called away on patrol and Kiyone is with you?" "Relax Mihoshi, I'm not going to take Kiyone away from doing what she loves." "Yeah and besides I've already had Orion go with me a couple times, he's a great help." Mihoshi started to cry, "you're trying to replace me?" "No never!" We both shouted in unison to be heard over her wailing, and she abruptly stopped crying. "Honest?" "Mihoshi," I started, while sliding an arm around her shoulders and leading her to the house, "I could never 'replace' you. You and Kiyone go way too far back." Mihoshi looked happy and I looked at Kiyone and rolled my eyes and sighed. "Phew, man I thought you had me there for a sec Tenchi, nice move. You only made one mistake here, with your down strike." I demonstrated the proper way to perform the combination attack with Yosho. "You see? You held your sword at the wrong angle that's why my block hurt your wrist." "Oh, can I try that again, I think I got it now." "Ok, let's see if you can do it right." Tenchi initiated and performed the five-strike combo perfectly, and managed to cut open my shirt a little. "OH! Sorry Orion." "It's all right Tenchi nice shot; you've definitely come a long way." "Yes indeed, I can't even cut Orion with that attack." Later that evening at dinner, Kiyone noticed the slash in my shirt, as did half of the others at the table. "What happened to you?" "Nothing Kiyone, I'm helping Tenchi train remember? He's become remarkably stronger and faster, I dare say he's surpassed even Katsuhito." Sasami looked heatedly at Tenchi, "*You* did that to him?" "Calm yourself Sasami, he didn't mean to, and it's just as much my fault, I didn't block his strike fast enough." I said soothingly, patting Sasami on the head. "This is fantastic Sasami, tomorrow would you mind showing me how to cook it?" She brightened up considerably, "Sure!" Ayeka began to eye Sasami and myself carefully, "Something wrong Ayeka?" "Huh?! No nothing at all, why do you ask?" "You just seem concerned about something that's all," I replied smoothly. The next mourning I woke up just before dawn as usual, but didn't get up, Kiyone was fast asleep resting her head on my chest. We'd fallen asleep together on the couch; I allowed myself a smile and just held her closer to me, she sighed and smiled contently. It was exactly 8:00 a.m. and the house was becoming alive, Sasami came downstairs and went to the kitchen to get breakfast ready. Tenchi came down last following behind Ayeka, Ryoko and Ryo-ohki came down from the rafters and Ryoko latched on to Tenchi. Kiyone was still asleep when everyone came down, and I asked everyone to stay as quiet as possible so she could sleep. "Ok Orion." Whispered Tenchi and the others. "Thanks everybody, she should wake up in about. 3.2.1." "Huh? Mmmm, oh my, what time is it?" "Morning sleepyhead, it's about 8:30. You where tired." "I'm sorry, why didn't you get up, I know you hate to miss the sunrise and your morning workout." "Well you just looked so peaceful I didn't have the heart to move lest I disturbed you." She said, "Aww, thank you," and kissed me. After Breakfast I went out to excersise, but today I did something differently, I took my shirt off as I was walking away from the table. I heard everyone gasp, and Kiyone grabbed my arm. "What happened to you? How did you.'gasp!'" I had turned around to look at Kiyone and Sasami passed out, Washu's nose started bleeding, and Ryoko just stared open mouthed. "Well I guess you all deserve to know, but I think I had better wait to tell everyone, I'll tell you about these scars at lunch. Heh, I thought my hair would cover the ones on my back, I guess not." Sasami woke up just in time to see Orion's muscular frame once more before he turned and walked away from the table. (Wow) she thought, (He's so cute) "Sasami, snap out of it would ya?" "Huh? Oh sorry Ayeka. Oh! I had better start making lunch!" Sasami got up and ran into the kitchen leaving Tenchi to pick up the dishes. (My god, what am I thinking, he's Kiyone's, and I shouldn't be thinking those things) "If only I was older." Meanwhile Washu was still in shock, "What a hunk of man. I've been in another dimension for way too long." "Washu!" "Mother!" Kiyone and Ryoko both shouted at once. "Huh? Oh! Did I say something?" Sweat forming on her forehead Washu backed away into her lab. Later Tenchi was again at work in the fields, "Hey Tenchi, what's up?" "Oh, hi Orion, I'm just working." "I'll help, somehow I get the feeling that I shouldn't go back to the house quite yet." Tenchi started chuckling, "yeah you made quite an impression this morning, I'm just glad I don't have to face Kiyone when I get back, she looked mad when I left." "Oh no, I didn't make that much of an impression did I? I was surprised to see Sasami pass out. and Washu's nose start bleeding, but I didn't think that anyone except Kiyone liked me that much." I hung my head knowing that inevitably I'd have to face the facts, I now have more than one admirer. "Lets work slowly today, I wanna have a good excuse for showing up late to lunch." "Yeah, right, I'm getting hungry and I've only got three rows left to finish. Sorry Orion, maybe you should go for a walk or something I'll just say I haven't seen you since breakfast." "No, that would worry Kiyone, hey Tenchi, I'm gonna go spar with Katsuhito, can I borrow the Tenchi-Ken?" "What? Why?" "So I can use my Tenchi-Ka, it's another Jurian master key, Yugo Masaki gave it to me a long time ago, and I'm feeling rusty." "Oh, ok, just promise that you wont hurt grandpa ok?" "It's not him getting hurt you should be afraid of, I have some information that's really gonna set him off. Man I just hope he'll understand." Two energy blades clash at the Masaki shrine. "Well Katsuhito, you've kept up, I thought you'd have forgotten some stuff in 700 years." "Ha! Do you honestly think so little of me?" "No my brother I do not." Katsuhito abruptly stopped his attack. "What? What did you just say?" "Katsuhito, or should I say Yosho, I have been hiding something from you." "How do you know that name?!" "Yosho calm down, it's me, I'm Yugo." "No! Yugo died in the Megami wars! I even saw the report myself, lieutenant commander Orion. No it can't be." "Yosho, I faked my death, I was so different from the rest of the Juri that I never wanted to return, and I created Orion Dragoon because of my ability, and conveniently hid behind my second form. I'm your brother Yosho, the lost Prince of Juri, the only person who can summon all 11 light hawk wings." Yosho had tears in his eyes, "how could you, how could you not return to Juri, mother and father would have understood." "No Yosho, they would have exiled me. I'll show you why." I began to concentrate and unleashed my inner beast, everything that I had kept hidden burst forth in a wave of primal fury, it was hard to keep control but I did. "You see Yosho, I have no father, I was emaculantly conceived and I was born with this ability." I hung my head in sorrow and disgrace, "Yosho, I'm sorry I didn't tell you right away, but I was afraid that you'd reject me, as a friend, and your brother. I understand your anger, and if you wish I will no longer disgrace your shrine with my presence." I turned and began to walk away. "Yugo Masaki, enguarde!" "As you wish Yosho! Hiya!" I returned to my human form and engaged in a duel that would have made my gods proud. I returned home very late, just after dinner had been finished, and was greeted by a hug and kisses from Kiyone, and a hug from Sasami. "Sorry I'm late everybody, I hope you weren't worried." My answer was a slap across the face and a punch in the stomach form Kiyone and Sasami. "Ow!" I said rubbing my stomach as though Sasami's blow hurt more, and bringing a smile to both their lips. "What the hell have you been doing with Katsuhito!?" "Sparring, I have to bathe before I do anything else, and replace another shirt." Holding up what was left of mine. "Oh, Tenchi. Here's the Tenchi-ken." "Thanks Orion." I winced at hearing the name I had gone by for so long. "What's wrong Orion?" "Nothing Sasami, I'm just a little hungry, Katsuhito gave me a run for my money that's all." I laughed and started walking towards the bathhouse, when Ryoko stopped me. "You said you'd tell us about these," she traced my scars with a finger, "at lunch. Why didn't you show?" "Heh heh, I heard about what happened after I had left the house this morning, I figured I'd let certain people cool down before I came back." With that said Kiyone jumped on my back and said, "Hey! You think I'd go blowing things apart because I got mad at what Washu said?" "Well, no, but I've been feeling a lot of tension around here, I can't place it but I felt that I should stay out today. Besides I still have to plan for this weekend." Kiyone slid off my back but kept her arms around my neck, I turned and picked her up by her waist and crossed my arms under her butt so that I would be looking up into her eyes. "You are strong, how about carrying me to the bath, I need one too." Blushing I said, "Kiyone, there's kids about." And started chuckling. In the hot spring I just relaxed and soaked letting the water's heat do it's magic on my aching body. Kiyone was soaking next to me, and I slid an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to my side, and kissed her forehead. At my late dinner the others looked at me expectantly for me to tell them about my scars, even my brother Katsuhito came to hear me tell the story. "Now keep in mind I don't want your pity, all this happened hundreds of years ago." They all nodded and I began. "I got the scar over my left eye from my first fianc‚e, I uncovered her plot to murder me in order to gain my land and money, so I broke off the engagement. She told her brother, and he came after me, he caught me when I was half-asleep. Fortunately I was faster than he thought and only got the tip of his blade." I saw that Sasami was about to say something and held up my hand, "I already said, Sasami, I don't want pity, I'm only telling you this to satisfy your curiosity." I turned so that they could see part of the scar on my back, and so that I was looking directly into Kiyone's eyes. "I got these four from my second fianc‚e, I broke of the engagement because she loved only my political power, not me. So to make a long story short, she suck the pet tiger I had bought her for her 23rd birthday on me. I didn't have the heart to kill the beast so I jumped out of her bed room window, the tiger got me when I turned." Kiyone just patted my back and traced my third tattoo with her finger. "And I got this beauty when I divorced my first wife, her father threw me off a cliff, and I hit a jagged outcropping of rock before I hit the water below." Mihoshi piped up and asked, "What about your tattoos?" "Huh? Well believe it or not I only have four." "What?!" was everyone's response. "Yup, I was born with the one on my neck, and on the back of my right hand. I got the others after fighting certain wars with down on their luck peoples." Everyone looked dumbfounded, except Katsuhito who had already heard all of my stories, and Kiyone who just looked worried. "Orion tell them how you fought alongside my brother in the Megami wars." "You fought in the Megami wars?!" "Actually I did, and I did it because of the cause, and the people fighting." "Grandpa, you have a brother?" "Had a brother I'm afraid Tenchi, Katsuhito's brother was severely wounded in battle, I still don't know if he made it," I lied. After I had eaten dinner, I went outside, out of sight of everyone, transformed, and leapt up onto the roof, landing with a light thud I changed back to human form and watched the stars. "So, there you are Yugo." The voice had come from behind me and I nearly fell off the roof when I heard it. "Yikes! Huh? S-Sa- Sasami?" "Why no, I'm Tsunami, I've been wondering when I'd find you." "Tsu-Tsunami! No way! I never thought that you looked human, you're beautiful. Wait, what the hell am I saying? I'm so sorry Kiyone, I didn't mean it." "Yes you did, I know what you're thinking and you thought it and meant it. Thank you. I also know that Sasami likes you a great deal, that's how I found you." "Hey Orion! You up there?" "Kiyone. Yeah, I'll be down in a sec!" I turned and jumped. I landed and stood up only to look directly into Tsunami's face. "AAHHH! Don't do that! You scared the hell outta me Tsunami." "I'm sorry Yu-." "No!" I shouted quickly covering Tsunami's holographic mouth. "Don't say that name, that person isn't me, you got the wrong guy!" Tsunami regarded me for a moment, and nodded, I just started walking. "Orion, wait up!" I stopped and turned; Kiyone must have seen the torment in my eyes because she sprinted the rest of the way. I collapsed to the ground, and started apologizing while on my hands and knees, "I'm sorry Kiyone, I'm so so sorry." Tsunami walked over not making a sound; "there is much you are keeping hidden, I will return to you when you are ready to open up." After the image disappeared I slowly stood up, eyes focused on the ground, "I'm sorry Kiyone, for not telling you everything, and I'm sorry that I am unable to tell you still." I started walking, "Orion, it's ok, I understand that everyone has their secrets." "But I already know all of yours, the only other man you loved, besides me, never returned to you. That is the secret you keep hidden so deep within you that you talk about it in your sleep. I've buried mine so deep that they haunt my every waking hour. My name is not Orion as I have told you, my name is Yugo. Yugo Masaki, the lost prince of Juri." "What? That's not possible I did a report on Yugo Masaki at the academe, Yugo Masaki received his death wound while protecting the Dragon, Orion. no, it can't be true." I couldn't meet her gaze; I turned my head and simply nodded. "You faked your death? But why?" "My parents would never have understood what had happened to their son, that I was cursed from the time I was developing within the womb, they didn't understand what my markings were when I was born, and they could never understand who my real father is." "I don't care if you are a run away prince, I love you just the same Orion, Yugo, or what ever you call yourself." "From this point on I reclaim my name, my true name, I am Yugo Masaki." I suddenly felt much better, like I could take on the world, no the universe. I just did the next best thing, I told everyone exactly who I was. "Guys, I've decided to let you in on a secret, my brother Katsuhito already knows, Tenchi, Ayeka, Sasami, I am the lost prince of Juri, I am Yugo Masaki. So far I have been the only Jurian to ever call forth all 10 light hawk wings." "No, my elder stepbrother Yugo is dead, and you are only human. If your Katsuhito's brother. Then Katsuhito is." To prove who I was I summoned all 10 light hawk wings and changed into full battle gear, 15 seconds later I dropped the light hawk wings. "I still have my secrets but none of you are ready for those to come to light yet. Not even my dear Kiyone." "Hey, your cloths look just like mine, is that the common battle wardrobe grandpa?" "No Tenchi, this uniform is bestowed only upon the royal family. Of which you are a direct descendant." Ayeka passed out this time and Sasami just threw her arms around my leg and started crying. "Sasami, don't cry, everything is ok, it's my fault for not telling any of you right off who I was." Just then I got a pain in my chest that felt like I had been run through with a red-hot sword, I staggered back and fell to my knees clutching at my heart. I felt the intense heat of my rage filling my body. I felt my senses sharpening, and I ran out the back door changing back into my regular clothes; fortunately I was in the woods before the beast within me broke free in a volcanic wave of power, rage, and heat. I just kept running forward toward what ever had triggered my transformation. I broke into a clearing and saw what had done this to me. "Kain!! How could you have escaped the hell lady Achika sent you too?!" I shouted in my altered voice, and drew out the Tenchi-ka letting its molten bronze blade glow in the darkness. I heard Tenchi, and Ryoko shout in surprise at seeing two monsters facing each other, one carrying the Tenchi-ka that Yugo had brandished so many hours ago against his brother. "Where's Yugo?" "I'm right here Tenchi, you've discovered the one secret I wanted to keep hidden, this is my fight, I don't want any of you involved. Now run!" "I sense there is Juri power here, I must destroy those possessing Juri Power." I ran straight at Kain keeping my wings tucked back, my slash hit home and Kain howled in pain. After that I let my rage take over, the beast within was totally unrestricted in it's attack on Kain, and the dark wanderer was all but destroyed in moments, save for a scrap of his 'body' writhing on the ground. I was breathing heavily, not from what physical exertion I had used, but from trying to gain control over a raging beast that had finally been loosed upon an unsuspecting enemy. "I. haven't. lost. control. ever. Not. Like. That." I returned to my human form and collapsed on the grass. "Yugo!" I looked up to see a stunned Ryoko and Tenchi, and suddenly felt sick. When I woke up I was in Washu's lab, Kiyone had fallen asleep kneeling beside my table, and she had been crying. I sat up and felt a small hand against my forehead, "Ow. That hurts. What happened how'd I get here?" "Ryoko and Tenchi brought you in, you looked terrible." I woke Kiyone up, and she groaned in pain from kneeling. "Kiyone are you ok?" "Yeah, will you tell me what happened?" "I fought the wanderer, Kain, I just hope I killed him. I can't remember exactly how I won but when I came to I didn't see Kain anywhere." "Tenchi said you changed after the battle, he said that you were a monster when you fought Kain. What did he mean?" "I guess I had better show you, I hope Ayeka and Sasami don't know about what happened." Once more I changed into the dragon I was so feared as. "In this form I am Orion Dragoon, I looked like this when I told the Juri that Yugo was dead, and I looked like this when I went to Juri to mourn for the loss the royal family had suffered." Kiyone took a step forward and caressed my cheek, looking into my eyes she smiled. "No matter what form you take it's still you in those eyes, and that's all I care about." "I love you Kiyone, thank you for seeing through the beast to the man beneath." I slowly changed back holding Kiyone in my arms, Washu just stood there looking at us. "Well, Orion I want to perform some tests on you, will ya let me?" "Sorry little Washu, but no, I don't want tests performed on me, I know why I am the way I am." 9 months have passed since my fight with Kain, and to my enjoyment I kept my alternate form hidden away from Ayeka, and Sasami, and as of late I've seen a look in Kiyone's eyes that goes beyond the simple explanation of love. I had gotten a job in the city to pay for the celebration of our one-year anniversary. I had to walk through a part of town that housed the city's homeless, and I always made a small contribution, but this time one of them grabbed my arm and said, "Shadows from the past will enter unto the light of the present." I didn't know what he meant but I smiled and thanked him for the information anyway. I met up with Nobuyuki, and asked if he had time to give me a lift home. "Why of course Orion. I'd be happy to help you get home." "Thanks Nobuyuki, and call me Yugo, I don't know if you remember but I am your uncle." "I still like to call you Orion, I hope you don't mind." "Of course not Nobuyuki, Kiyone is the only other person who persists in calling me Orion, so I'll consider it an honor." "Ah, very good. You know I was wondering if you could help my Tenchi get one of the other girls to go out with him." "Nobuyuki! It's not proper for a knight to interfere in another man's personal life, and besides if he went out with one of the girls either Ryoko, and/or Ayeka would skin the poor girl alive. And further more, if he decided to be with Ayeka it would break Ryoko's heart, and vice versa." "Well I can see his dilemma, I guess I'll have to find someone for everyone." "Mihoshi and Sasami don't need to be diverted they have no physical interest in Tenchi, what we need is someone to attract Ryoko, I've seen how Tenchi looks at Ayeka, he likes her the most. what a problem. Hmm." I was still so preoccupied with the ring I had been crafting for Kiyone, that I didn't think of anything else for the next few days. "Oh! Damn it! Where did I put that dress he bought me?!" Kiyone was busy sifting through her things, standing in her undergarments in her room. "Eh-hem, looking for this my dear?" "What?! Oh you... actually I was." (Man he looks good even with only his jeans on, hehe I wonder what he looks like without anything) "Ten yen for your thoughts. Or should I just wing it?" "Think your that good do you?" "Why yes, let's see you were thinking of what I looked like with nothing on." I said jokingly, but blushed when Kiyone turned completely red. "Uh guess I hit home. Well here's your dress; I have to go get dressed myself. I think you'll like what I have in store." "Ok, can you tell me where we're going tonight?" "Well I could. But it's top secret information, I'd have to kill you shortly afterwards." My voice ringing heavily with humor, "I'll be back in five minutes to pick you up." "Alright, see you in a few." I walked out of the room and jogged out the back sliding door, once I got into the shadows I transformed and flew to my house in the near-by mountains. "Man I gotta hurry." I changed back, and got dressed. Five minutes passed and a motorcycle could be heard roaring up to the front of the house. Tenchi answered the door, "Yes? Can I help you?" "Don't act stupid Tenchi, I have to get Kiyone. Wow!" I said taking off my helmet and letting my hair feather back into place, "Kiyone, you look. you." I just stood there stunned, and Tenchi's nose started bleeding. It also didn't take me long to notice the chain around her neck, (but I can't see the pendant, oh! I know why) I had followed the silver chain and figured out where her pendant was. "Man I hope I know what I'm doing." I muttered to myself, "Kiyone you look purely angelic, (thank the divine one for lending me the strength to annihilate the trials). S-sh-shall we go?" "Of course, oh, I don't have a riding jacket." "I know, that's why I'm going to give you mine." I took off my jacket, and watched as Kiyone's jaw dropped, I was dressed in a button down white shirt, with a light-grey t-shirt tucked in underneath and black suit pants, and I had my long pony tail braided. Sasami came around to get Tenchi and saw me, I saw her knees about to give out so I ran over and caught her before she fell. "Hey, Sasami, are you alright?" "Huh? Yeah I guess so, you look great." "Thanks little sister, where's Ayeka and the others? I wanna say goodnight before Kiyone and I leave." "I'll go get them." Sasami ran off to get the others, I went over and knocked at Washu's door, "hey little Washu, are you in there? C'mon out I'm about to leave and I wanna say good night." "I'll be right there," was the response. Ayeka was the first to show up and saw me putting my coat on Kiyone, "um excuse me, but I think her boyfriend would kill you for taking her out tonight. 'gasp!'" "Oh c'mon Ayeka, is it that much of a surprise to you that I dressed like this tonight?" Ryoko showed up next, "wow, never thought ya had it in ya, you look good. So how about you and me tonight?" "Ryoko, you're embarrassing me." Washu finally came out of her lab, "Please say you've come for me." "Washu! Geez, if I get reactions like that from all of you I'll never say good night to you again when I go out with Kiyone." I said in a mock angry tone, and looking somewhat indignant. Katsuhito and Nobuyuki were the last to get hugs and good nights from Kiyone and me that night. "Orion, there's still an hour before the sun even sets." "I know, I just want you to see something first." "Oh? And what would that be?" "Now you know I can't tell you, here's your helmet, I painted it with you in mind." The helmet was black with a white angel painted on it; mine was black with a crimson Dragon on it. "It's beautiful." ". Yeah, beautiful." Kiyone felt herself smiling, and leaned forward and kissed her boyfriend. We got on my bike and rode off. About fifteen minutes later I pulled my bike over on a bluff over looking the whole Masaki shrine. "Kiyone, will you stand over by the edge of the bluff? And take your helmet off, I'll help with your jacket." "What's this about?" "It's all apart of what I wanted to show you." Kiyone went and stood where Orion had asked, she turned her head to her right and a gentle breeze played on her hair pushing some of it across her profile. She turned and saw Orion drawing on a pad of paper, it took him about five minutes but he had what he wanted and put the pad away. "Perfect, you turned your head just the right way for the breeze to do exactly what I wanted, I can't wait for you to see the finished product." "Can I see what you have so far?" "Nope, I made it a rule long before you were born to never let anyone see my works until they were finished, 1. 2.3. Now." "What?" "Look, look at the sunset, everything is perfect." "I didn't have to see the sunset to know that," she said turning, "It's beautiful." "Just like you," I said as I wrapped my arms around her and kissed the nape of her neck. "Why do you have to be so good, mmm, that feels nice." "Everything's just going so perfect, this is the best time I've ever had." Orion had watched the sunset with her and Kiyone was enjoying being held in his arms, she felt safe, secure, and most importantly; loved. After the sunset she sat behind Orion on his motorcycle and held tight as he motored to where ever it was they were going. In the city Orion pulled into the parking lot of the most expensive, and prestigious restaurant in the area. "How could you." "Possibly afford this? I've been working Kiyone, remember?" "Yeah, but I." "Never thought I could afford to take you here? Let me worry about it, this is my treat to you, for twelve months of purely fabulous love." "You old softy." "I'll take that as a compliment." I smiled and walked in the front door with Kiyone right beside me. "Can I help you sir?" "Why, yes table for two, I have reservations. Masaki, Yugo Masaki?" "Oh, Yes of course, I'm sorry mister Masaki, I didn't recognize you." "Don't worry, no one ever does, Hanzo, meet Kiyone, Kiyone this is Hanzo, I've known him for three months now." "Wow you've been planning this for three months?" "Yes, oh, Hanzo would you mind having a bottle of wine waiting for us at our table? I believe we discussed the vintage this morning." "Of course sir, this way please." Soon after we had been seated two waiters served our dinners. "Wait, we didn't even order." "I took the liberty of calling just before we left and ordered your favorite, I hope you don't mind, you had a look about you all mourning screaming for veil parmesan, where as I've been craving a steak for a few days." "Am I so predictable that you know exactly what I'm thinking and wanting? How'd you know Veil Parmesan was my favorite?" "Well, you had four helpings when I made it for you." We both had to laugh for that one. We had both finished our dinner and were talking about how our days went, and normal small talk, I found myself absently fingering the felt box in my pocket. (Here goes nothing) "Kiyone, I have something I want to ask you." Beep! Beep! Beep! "Shit! Man the GP sure knows how to spoil a moment. C'mon I'll act as your escort, I haven't flown the FireDrake in a while anyway." "Why not ride with me?" "I get the feeling that this isn't going to be standard SR." Later Kiyone radioed me saying she was aboard the Yagami, and I said I'd be there in a few moments. The Masaki home shook violently and an ear- shattering whine could be heard. "Wh-what's that?! Grandpa! What's making the house shake?" "The FireDrake! Ha! The Fire Drake rises once more!" The 200,000-year-old engines of the FireDrake roared to life, and the universally feared ship launched itself at an inconceivable speed towards the outer atmosphere. "Kiyone it's good to see your cruiser, but it is a little big don't you think? What the. No! It can't be! That's not possible!" "What? What's wrong Orion?" "Kiyone, I want you to call Lord Azusa! Tell him that the Niogira still live! And are invading earth space, and then I want you to report to GP HQ that Orion Dragoon is currently engaging the Niogira Battle fleet solo! Kiyone, I love you, and I don't want you to enter this battle! If anything get our friends onto the Yagami and Ryo-Ohki and get the hell outta this system!" "Yugo! Don't fight alone! Yugo!" I had the engines on the FireDrake maxed, I flew right at the first defensive line and fired volley after volley of laser fire across their outer hulls. I never saw the strike fighters behind me. Boom! "Aah! You're faster to react then you used to be. No matter, I'll wipe you out!" Mine was the only fighter in the universe to transform into a mobile suit, and I used this to my advantage, I also had installed a special targeting system that pushed my senses beyond the limits. Utilizing these two elements I devastated the front line and went after the rest of the fleet, I rocketed into their midst drawing their own fighters into the cross fire. "Man this is a full fleet, I'll have to use the buster cannon a lot this time around, what Infrared is picking up a ship the size of a small planet? No way, I guess I should've asked for some help." A few seconds later my scanners picked up the Yagami, the Ryo-ohki, and the Jurian ship Tsunami. "Orion we're here to help, I know that you're going to be mad at me but we all agreed." "Alright fine, I'll let you handle the last few ships in this wave, I'm going after the others." I broke communications before they could argue. I fired my four- barrel buster cannon and cleared out a perfectly straight path and saw as four huge volleys of laser fire devastated the rest of the final wave. "Hey Orion, long time no see." "Nagi?! Hey! What have you been doing with yourself these days, now that the bounty on Ryoko's head been negated?" "What? Negated? When?" "I'll tell you later. Right now I have to take out the last cruiser, it's a huge one too, bigger than Kagato's and it looks like it might have more firepower." Deet deet deet deet! "What in the. Oh Shit!" "What? Orion what is.? Dear god." "Kiyone, Ryoko, Nagi, Tsunami target incoming missiles and fire at them, I'll fly towards Earth and take out the one that gets through with my energy saber, Nagi I want you and Ryoko to take on the last cruiser should I not make it." "Orion! What do you mean not make it? You'll live or I'll kill you!" "Alright Kiyone, alright, I'll return to you, I promise." The FireDrake's engines again pushed their limits as he shot by the Yagami, Kiyone watched as he passed and then targeted the missiles that were beginning to show on her screen, and she held her breath as the Yagami and the other three ships fired at the four incoming projectiles. Three flashes of light erupted in space, with more force than that of a star, and the fourth missile was speeding straight at the Drake. In the last instant the Drake shot port side and the missile blew up right next to it. "Kiyone, I can't find any trace of the FireDrake anywhere, I'm sorry." Kiyone knew that she had lost another love, but this one hurt more than the last. "Try and hail the Drake," she said in a choked tone, the screen showed nothing but static, "let's tell the Juri, that Lieutenant commander Orion Dragoon died while protecting the crown princess Ayeka Juri Masaki. And make our report to HQ." Crackle, fzzt, kssh! "Kiy. can.re.I'm.periancing.cations failure. I repeat: I survived! I made it just for you Kiyone!" She looked as though she were going to burst with joy, and her screen saw a dragon like ship burst through the light of the explosion, perform a barrel roll and rocket past the side of the Yagami heading straight at the last remaining member of the Niogira. Then she watched as a huge energy beam hit the cruiser right in the nose, and wasted the central super structure and ultimately blew the two engine reactors destroying the rest of the ship. "Tenchi, I wonder if you would allow me to invite Nagi to stay at your home for the next few days? I'll make sure she doesn't try to take Ryoko, I promise." "Uh, ok Yugo, if you promise she won't hurt anyone." "I promise. Nagi, will you consent to those conditions?" "Sure I have no reason to pursue any of your friends Orion, but why did he just call you Yugo?" "I'll explain later Nagi, right now I have to board the Yagami and finish my dinner date with Kiyone. Mihoshi will you board the Ryo-ohki? Sasami, I would like you to board the Ken-ohki, just so you can keep Nagi company, why not try and teach Nagi that card game you showed me?" "Ok, is that alright with you Nagi?" "Uh, ok. Orion I'm gonna kill you for this." "Can you wait to kill me until after I'm married?" For the first time in centuries I heard Nagi laugh, and had to chuckle myself. "Hey Kiyone how about giving me an air lock to dock with? The FireDrake doesn't have any kind of teleportation, or auto pilot device." "You got it Orion, it's good to hear your voice." I allowed myself a smile, and slowed to match the Yagami's speed and an airlock extended from a starboard hatch. He hit the umbilical perfectly and the airlock sealed and pressurized around the Drake's hatch which opened shortly there after allowing a battered and bleeding Yugo to step out and greet her. Kiyone was in her GP uniform waiting for Yugo, she realized that he had used a hologram to cover up his injuries so he wouldn't worry anyone. He had a soaked headband made from his light grey t-shirt, and his nice white button down shirt wadded up on an instrument panel. "Hey, Kiyone you look really good in a uniform." "Oh god your head, are you ok? You want a new bandage?" "Nope I'll just regenerate the fast way," I hopped out of the cockpit and transformed midair landing lightly on the airlock floor, "there, I'll be fine in seconds." "Neat trick, you hungry? I am." "Ok, I'll cook for us, what would you like, just name it." "Mmmmm, this is fantastic, you learned this awful quick." "Well, Sasami's a great teacher, she was right there on my shoulders the whole time." "You cooked with Sasami on your shoulders? I'm jealous, what else have you done with her?" "Well when you were out once I bet Tenchi that I could do 10,000 pushups with 85 extra pounds on my back, Sasami said she weighed 87 so I changed the weight to suit her." "You lost that bet didn't you.? Hmm, I'll bet Sasami was having the time of her life on your shoulders though." "Actually I did 100,000 by mistake. I felt so bad for Tenchi that I just called it a gentleman's bet." "I'll bet you can't do fifty with me on your shoulders." "Oh please Kiyone, your not heavy at all, I could do 50 thousand with you on my shoulders, you weigh what 120 lbs. at most?" "Ha! Flattery will get you every where, earlier you wanted to ask me something?" "Yeah, as a matter of fact I did," (Oh god here it goes) "Kiyone. will you marry me?" I pulled out the black felt box I had made and opened it. "Oh, Yugo it's beautiful, where did you ever find a ring like this? Of course I'll marry you." We kissed each other and I drank deeply of her sweet taste, as she did mine. "I didn't find that ring in any store," I whispered, "I found it buried in my heart." "I'm going to marry the only artist/soldier/poet/sweetheart in the universe, I must be really lucky." "How did you know I was an artist?" "I snuck a peek at your drawing of me and the other stuff in your sketch pad." "I should have known. How did I become so lucky? How did I win the heart of the most beautiful angel in the universe? God Kiyone, you have no idea how I've dreamed of this moment." "Shhh, just kiss me you fool." I kissed her again and pulled her closer to my kneeling body wrapping my arms around her waist. Kiyone's heart was fluttering as he kissed her again, and as he drew her closer she held onto his neck more tightly so that he couldn't break the kiss. She realized too late that she was throwing off his balance and they fell backwards onto the floor still locked in the most passionate kiss of either of their lives. She finally broke the kiss, and she panted for air in time with her lover. "Wow, that felt very very right. Kiyone have I ever told you how wonderful you are?" "Many times, but I still can't believe I'm good enough for you." "Don't be silly! If anything your too good for me, you may think your past dark, but I've heard most of what you hide," I said getting up, and picking Kiyone up as well "but I never want you to think your not worthy of me, you are the most important thing in the world to me. You are my world, you are better than me, and you are worth ten of me." For the first time she saw Yugo with a tear in his eye, and wondered what made him say what he did. As she looked closer she saw the haunted look deep within his eyes, she saw the toll all of his fighting had taken on him, and knew what it had taken for him to hide his secrets. "Orion." He winced, "what's wrong? Why are you so tormented?" "I'll tell everyone everything back on earth, Kiyone can I call the Juri royal family, I have something to tell my parents. I want them to know that I'm ok, and want to invite them to our wedding." "Sure, cheer up would ya?" "Sorry, I know I'm spoiling the moment, heh, thanks for being here for me Kiyone, I hope to return the favor soon." He said with a smile and newly twinkling eyes. I had transformed to call my parents, when they answered Lord Azusa asked if Ayeka was all right. "She's fine Lord Azusa, I have more news for you, I hope you'll forgive me for what I'm about to say. 100,028 years ago I called you and reported that Yugo Masaki was dead. That he had died in the Megami wars while protecting me from the Niogira. 100,028 years ago I attended a funeral that you had for Yugo. What I told you 100,028 years ago was a lie, your son Yugo Juri Masaki, Crown prince of Juri is alive and well." I changed back to my human form, showing my parents their war torn and battle scarred son. "And I am going to be married. I believe that you already know my fianc‚e, Kiyone. I would like to invite you to the wedding, and apologize for miss-leading you for 200,000 years." Azusa's face was straight and unfeeling, but his eyes watered, my mother Funaho was crying. "Welcome back to us son, we're happy to see you again, I want to visit the earth and see you, I'll announce my journey to Tenchi." "Yes father, it's good to be back. Mother I'm sorry, I love you both very much." "We'll see you in two days time, good-bye son." "May the Divine one see you safely through your journey, and may the divine tribunal forgive me for my sins." I used my own personal salute and hung my head in a sorrowful bow. "They took that well, you see I told you they'd understand." "I guess I should have believed you Kiyone, heh, the funny thing is Yosho said the same thing." (I can't believe this is happening, I'm so happy I could burst, he proposed, and was forgiven by his parents!) ^Kiyone-yoni I hope that you stay at my side for the rest of eternity ^ "What did you just call me?" "I was just thinking that I want you to be at my side for eternity Kiyone-yoni." "Yugo, how did you know to call me Kiyone- yoni?" "I fought in the Megami wars remember? I've been wondering why you haven't called me Yugo, or Orion-yon yet. Did you think I didn't know megamian protocol? Well one of two parts I guess, I heard the guys talking about when they had gotten married, and how their wives had changed their sleeping habits. I never paid much attention to the later, I figured they were just telling stories." "You knew about the name change, about my culture? How sweet, I've never met anyone who took the time to learn it." "I love people, I welcome any knowledge of other races, and I took the opportunity to learn more about yours during the war. Most of the guys were really overflowing with knowledge." I held Kiyone closer to me and kissed her forehead. "Yugo- yon, I don't know what my life would be like if you hadn't literally burst into it." "Kiyone-yoni, I'm surprised you remember exactly how we first met, I still dream about the first time I felt your presence. I love you, and I want you to share in my curse." "What curse? Why would you want me to be cursed?" "Kiyone-yoni, you miss-understand, I call it a curse because up until now I've only dreamed of happiness like this, I'm immortal my being half-Divine Dragon has given me this gift, and in turn it has cursed me. I've had to stand by and watch everyone I've ever cared for claimed by death while I've lived on, sure I can be killed via the normal methods, gunshot wounds, beheading and stuff like that but I can't bleed to death, I can't be poisoned, and I can't be suffocated. I just want to know this happiness forever. I'm sorry I shouldn't have asked, forget I said anything." "No Yugo-yon, I'm flattered, really. I never expected to be propositioned to become immortal." "I can make it happen, but I must become a dragon to do it, and. I have to bite you," I said very quietly. "Hey, why do you have to bite me? Is it something in your saliva or your teeth or something?" "No, it's more like venom, it's produced involuntarily on my tongue when I taste blood, I have to taste your blood to make it work, I'm sorry I shouldn't have said anything, I could never hurt you." I let my voice trail. "No but I could, look I have a small cut on my arm, maybe if you lick that you can produce the 'venom' as you call it." "Are you sure you want me to do this?" "Yes, I want to stay with you forever Yugo-yon.Mmph!" I cut off her sentence with a strong passionate kiss that she didn't try to break but moved into, and I let myself transform successfully breaking the kiss. I changed for love so there was no anger or hatred to control and I was satisfied to just hold her in my arms. I licked her wound and tasted her blood, the taste was surprisingly sweet and I licked the wound again letting my gift pass to her through the wound she had received. "Ah! That feels good," she purred. She held on to me more tightly as I changed back, "I have granted you immortality Kiyone-yoni, did I ever tell you your blood tastes a lot like sugar?" "What? No, is that a good thing?" "Yes, because it means that you really wanted to stay with me for eternity. How exactly did you get cut anyway?" I asked kissing her wound and wrapping what was left of my shirt around it. "Shock waves from the missiles that you were scared shitless of, what kind of missiles where those anyway?" "They're called Planet Killers, the name is self explanatory. Never mind the missiles, does it still hurt at all? If so I think a shower will cure all your ills." I said chuckling and smiling slyly. "Well, come to think of it, it does sting a little. maybe you should kiss me some more to take my mind off it." "I'd be delighted to help ease your pain. Ahop Jin sao Kiyone Ni shadda." "What does that mean?" "I am here Kiyone my love. It's the divine language, spoken only by the Dragons, they have no word for wife I'm affraid." "How would I respond?" "Ahop Jin Sato Yugo Ni saddo. It means 'I am as well Yugo my husband.'" "We're not married yet." "I know but it's nice to hear you say it." "Ahop Jin Sato Yugo Ni saddo. I love you." "As do I Kiyone-yoni, as do I." It was morning when Kiyone awoke in the arms of Yugo, everything that happened last night left her satisfied, and wanting more. She felt Yugo stir behind her, "Yugo-yon, are you absolutely positive last night was your first time? I mean after 200,018 years I'd think that you would have done that before. You were great." "Mmm, your just saying that," I said kissing her lightly, "to make me feel better. You were amazing, never in my life did I get so tired out before. It's an honor to wear your pendant, and I'm glad I fought off every urge I had till last night." "Were you telling the truth, about what happens when a Dragon passes the trials? I'm still hanging on the edge of disbelief." "What? About a dragon's sex drive? Do you need a repeat performance to put your mind at ease or something?" I said jovially, "If you can do that again I'm all for it, you do realize that you'll be performing nightly now don't you?" "Yup, and I'm more than happy to oblige." Two hours later the Yagami reports it has reached its destination. "Man, just in time. We still have to shower and get dressed, not that I wouldn't mind showing up at the house wrapped in a sheet with you." "You'll have to you don't have any cloths on board." "I'll just throw my stuff into the quick wash while we're in the shower." I broke off my sentence to kiss Kiyone. "Sounds like a plan, or I could lone you one of my uniforms, I think they'll fit you." "That would prove interesting, but I have a uniform of my own in the FireDrake's cockpit." "Oh really, Ah! Hey don't. Mmmph, mmmmm. Ah! Where are you taking me now?" "To the showers of course, we need to clean ourselves for the rest of the family, of which you are now a part of, and I think my parents are ahead of schedule." "Why do you say that?" "Look out your porthole. Try and keep you eyes in your skull, and your finger nails out of my shoulders, we aren't having sex so I can't divert my attention." She looked and almost fell out of my arms in surprise. "What? They got here quick, can they see us?" "I doubt it, c'mon let's shower, you need to relax." I got my uniform and changed into it, Kiyone almost hit the floor when I stepped into her bedroom, but I caught her and smiled. "Hey did I ever tell you that you taste like a creamsicle?" "No, should I be flattered, or surprised?" "Your effecting both perfectly, you are beautiful, even in the morning with your hair messed up you look better than any super model, or famous singer out there." We rode back to the Masaki home in the FireDrake; I landed across the lake from the house just behind the apple trees I had planted 7 months ago. Lord Azusa, my mother Funaho, and my step mother_______ were waiting for me. I didn't know about my stepmother's reputation for hugging the life out of people and was taken completely by surprise, "Erk! I. can't. breathe. Gaaah!" I was finally released from her Iron bear hug and gasped for air. "By the Divine dragon she has more strength than the entire Niogira military." I said still breathing heavily, I found my mother Funaho's hug no less weak. "Mom.Mom! I can't breath, ease up. I'm not going anywhere! Fwah!" Pant pant, "jeez when did you guys get so strong? Dad, please say that your not going to hug me too, I don't think I'd survive." "You look great in that uniform son," he said putting his hands on my shoulders, "now I think you owe your mother and I an explanation as to why you did what you did." "I'll tell you, but I want to say everything to everyone at the shrine, might as well get it all out in the open at once." An hour later Tenchi and Ryoko where hauling Washu up to the shrine, Washu trying to fight them the whole way. "Hey let me go I have serious work to do I don't have time to go to the shrine for god knows what reason!" "Yugo wants to tell us something." "Huh? Well why didn't you say so." Washu stopped fighting them and ended up dragging Tenchi and Ryoko up the last 20 feet of stairs. "Good it seems that everyone is here, does anyone have anything to say before I begin, I really don't want to be interrupted, Washu your nose is bleeding." *Sigh* (I'll never live this down I've dressed really classy two days in a row and Washu lets her hormones run ramped both times.) "If you're all done little Washu I'll begin now." "Yes Yugo, please tell us why you faked your death." "Well." "That's because he thought you'd exile him because of his abilities, you saw his transformation last night." "Thank you Kiyone-yoni, I'll start at the beginning. You see Lord Azusa, you aren't my biological father, and I have no father in that sense and I was created by the will of the Divine Dragon. The Divine one placed my essence into my mother Funaho's womb, that's why I was born with these markings, the one on my neck means Dragoon, and the one on my hand is the Divine seal of knighthood. I was born a dragon knight, and that's why I was always challenging the guards at the palace, and that's why I grew the Tenchi-Ka when I was fifteen." I continued to tell my story for hours, I told them of all the horrors I had seen in battles, and of my scars, I told them everything. From the beginning of my tale I could feel the presence of Tsunami in the surrounding bushes, it was only when I finished my story that she came out from the bushes, gliding quietly across the flagstones. "It's good to see you again Tsunami," I said bowing. "You have finally told everything to those around you, and now I can tell you how much I missed your presence at the castle, I remember when you used to come to my base and talk to me. You were so open and comfortable there, I was sad when one day you never came, and the days turned into weeks, the weeks to months, and the months to years. Hundreds of years went by and I felt a presence similar to yours but when I looked I saw a battle hardened man standing and talking about those past hundreds of years and apologized for not saying goodbye to me. That man was you, you came and confided in me once more, you had said good bye this time and called me the best friend you ever had. Yugo return to Juri please, I want to hear you talk to me there one last time." "Tsunami, I was planning on being married on that spot, you are still the best friend I ever had, and I remember everything I used to tell you. I'll see you again tomorrow, I'm taking a much needed vacation to Juri, and I'm bringing Kiyone with me." "I'll see all of you there, father is my old room still in tact? I'll just have to change a few things that's all, if it is." "Your mother wouldn't let me give it to your brother so it's still there, I did give all your stuff to Yosho though, not that you'd care much now, and I put a new bed in it after I found out you were alive and engaged." "Yeah sure, Mom probably made you do it." "You're damn right I did! See how well my son knows his mother even after 200,000 years." "I'll see you in a couple days, Tenchi take good care of my sisters, Nagi maybe I'll see you again someday good luck. Now if you'll excuse me I have to get to Juri, I have an old friend waiting." The End I Think Not! Stay tuned for the sequel Tenchi Fans It'll be a gas! Preview of next episode: No need for Niogira! Yugo: "Next episode Tenchi and the gang find themselves in a whole heap of trouble as the Niogira once again rise from the darkness of space." Kiyone: "And what's this? Tenchi proposes? To who? I never would have guessed!" Tenchi: "Bad timing as well as a whole lot of laughs are just around the corner. Hey! Ryoko stop that!" Ayeka: "Leave Lord Tenchi alone you she demon! Aaah!" Tenchi, Yugo, Kiyone, Sasami, and Washu: "Oro."