Here is CH2 Aeka's face twisted and contorted with dozens of emotions. She was at a loss for words. She truely loved Kuro, but not the same way in witch she loved Tenchi. Under normal circumstances she would be overjoyed for her father to select her good freind as her husband, but these were not normal circumstances. The others were just as shocked as Aeka, even Ryoko was surprised by the bluntness of Kuro. Kuro's face remained the same, unwavering seriousness. He looked at his childhood freind and saw the pain in her eyes. "Aeka, I thought you would be pleased. That baffoon Seirgo was a stranger to you. Your father thought that you would be more comfortable with some one you already know." Aeka's mind was racing. She kept thinking about what she should do. "I.........don't know........I am........Kuro.....Tenchi and" she stammered Tenchi decided to be a little brave and he said "Kuro, Aeka needs some time to absorb all this. We should let her think about things. Come on Sasami has lunch ready by now." Kuro turned to Tenchi and gave him an Icey glare, he then sighed smiled and said "Very well" -------later------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "What" yelled Sasami "I said your Dad has selected Kuro to.." repeated Ryoko "Aeka, what are you going to do" said a worried Sasami as she cutting off Ryoko "I am not sure Sasami, I am not sure" said Aeka as she looked out the window at Kuro and Tenchi as the spoke together out front. "This is wonderful. What is the name of this delecasy" said Kuro as he finshed his sandwitch. "Ham and Chesse on White" said Tenchi "Hmm.....good" said Kuro "Kuro what, do you intend to do?" asked Tenchi "What do you mean" said Kuro "If Aeka doesn't want to go, what will you do?" Tenchi said "Tenchi......this is no place for a future Queen of an Empire as vast as the Jurian" said Kuro "Well, is that for you to decide" said Tenchi "Excuse me Tenchi but I am her freind. I care about what happens to her and you leading her on like this is only going to make things worse. She will eventually be forced to come back to Jurai by the King, one way or another. If she comes back now it won't hurt as bad." Kuro more or less yelled. "Kuro, I am just trying to help" said Tenchi in his own defense "I know, I appologize for snapping like that, but I have to take Aeka and Sasami back with me and that is final. I will do whatever it takes" said Kuro "What do you mean, whatever it takes?" asked a nervous Tenchi "Kuro" said Aeka "Yes," answered Kuro as he turned to see Aeka and Sasami at her side "I know you want what is best for us but you must understand. We have a family here. I love Tenchi and I never want to leave him. I know that you just want me to be happy. Well Sasami and I are happy, we are happy here. You must understand that." said Aeka "Oh, but Aeka he is so cute. Don't you want to go back with him to your castle and live happly ever after" said Ryoko sarcastically as she phased through the wall. "Shut up Ryoko!" said Aeka "Kuro we are happy here. If that is what you want us to be then let us stay" said Sasami "So your saying you don't want to go" said Kuro "Yes, Kuro I do love you, but" said Aeka "Not as much as Tenchi" Kuro said, cutting her off. Kuro then bent down and kissed Aeka on the cheek and said "I know you'll understand someday why I am doing this" Kuro then faced Tenchi and in his most serious voice said "Tenchi Masaki, by order of the King of Jurai I challenge you to a duel. If you succued in defeating me Aeka and Sasami may do as they wish. However, If I am victorius then both will accompany me to Jurai where the King will decide their fate." "What!!" said a shocked Tenchi "You must fight Tenchi" said Aeka "But, but, but" said Tenchi "He doesn't have to do shit!" said Ryoko "If he does not fight, than I win by default" said Kuro "Wait, I'll fight" said Tenchi holding his head. "What?! But, Tenchi" whined Ryoko "Ryoko, I have to. I would do the same for any one of you. You all mean to much to me now." said Tenchi as he looked into Ryoko's eyes. "Be careful," said Ryoko as she attempted to kiss Tenchi. Tenchi became very nervous and attempted to scramble away from the space pirate. He ended up getting away just in time before Ryoko got to him. Aeka then gave Ryoko another stern look. "Very well can we get on with this." said Kuro as he twisted a ring on his finger and transformed into a battle suit. He then watched Tenchi as he pulled out his weapon of choice. "The master key! The King told me that you had special powers but I never belived he ment this. Well I suppose my weapon is not as powerful." he said as he pulled a sword of his own. "But then again two swords are better than one" he said as he produced a second blade. Both swords jumped to life and he lept at Tenchi. Tenchi's sword lit up just in time to block the attack and then the fight was on. The display of offensive and defensive stregth was amazing. However, the overall sword battle was what stole the show. Both combatants were obviously expert swordsman. As Kuro would swing and kick at Tenchi he was forced to block and dodge. Even though Kuro had two blades, Tenchi and the master key were keeping him on his toes. "Your good" said Tenchi "Not bad yourself" said Kuro The battle raged on and neither combatant seemed to have the upper hand that is until Tenchi sliced at Kuro's head. Kuro doged the blade just in time and use his swords as balance and he then fliped backwards. "Hey, this is not a fight to the death you know." said Kuro when he landed. Tenchi only had a worried look on his face. "What?" said Kuro. Tenchi then pointed to the ground and Kuro saw a giant red lock of hair. Kuro then felt the back of his head and sure enough his pony tail was no more. "My hair! You cut off my hair" screamed a shocked Kuro "The sword did it" said Tenchi as giant sweat bead appeared on his forehead. Kuro then charged and began the battle once again. After what seemed like forever it happend. Tenchi made an error and gave Kuro an opening. Kuro nocked the sword from Tenchi with the but end of one of his own swords. When Tenchi jumped to retrive it he was punched in the gut. The girls screamed Tenchi's name but before anything could be done. Tenchi was on his back attempting to catch his breath. Kuro quickly got over him and put his energy blades in a "X" shape near his neck. "Its over, now yeild Tenchi" said Kuro "Aeka, Sasami, I am sorry" said Tenchi "Noooo!" bawled Sasami Tenchi then looked at Aeka as she began to cry into her hands, and then with a heavy heart he said "I yeild" Meanwhile, in the lab of the great Washu. The spikey haired goddess looked on as she saw the events unfold. "This is interesting, interesting indeed." she said as she watched. CH#3 is coming up