Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. The Tenchi Muyo Cast belongs to AIC and Pioneer LOC. The cast of Gundam Wing does not belong to me either. They belong to their respectable companies and not to me. Please do not sue me for using these characters. The only things that belong to me are the story and the characters that I made up. Thank you and enjoy. "Tenchi!!!" shouted Ryoko as she flew around the grounds. "Tenchi? Where are you?" Tenchi Masaki was in the stables, petting a stallion's head when he heard Ryoko's call. "Here!" he shouted. "Oh, there you are Tenchi. Relena and I have been looking everywhere for you. A letter arrived from Kuri today." Ryoko took his hand and glided up into the air. "She wrote back?" Tenchi asked, excited. "Yeah, Ayeka is aching to read it but she can't until we get back." The palace soon came into view as they flew over the green acres of Relena's estate. They landed in an inner courtyard and went into the palace, joined by the others in one of the parlors. Trowa was the last to come in. Kathy walked next to him, her arm linked with his. She was greeted with a crowd of hostile looks. "Hey! Hurry up and read it!" cried Ryoko, switching her attention from Kathy to Ayeka. Ayeka neatly opened the letter and read, Dear Family, How are you? Hopefully the peace is still keeping up. I think that I will be home for Christmas this year. Now I am one of the top lawyers at Bartholomew and Law. It's one of the top firms in New York. So, my dream has come true. My partner Sophia, is a big help. You guys should meet her. Anyway, I got a kitten. I named her Kumo and she is the cutest little thing. It's so much fun here in the U.S. I should bring home some clothes for you guys. They're really cute. So did anything new happen? Any news or anything? Has anybody gotten engaged yet? I hope so. Only 4 more months till Christmas. I'll see you all then. I'll miss you. Love, Kuri "So I guess she's really coming," said Ayeka. "I hope so," Relena took the letter from her and read it again. >Why are Kuri's letter's always so short?< she asked herself. Trowa leaned back and covered his face with his hand. >Kuri< he thought. Hundreds of miles away, Kuri started to cry, feeling an unbearable sense of loss. "Trowa," she whispered. "please come back to me." "Knock knock," an attractive woman with blonde hair popped her head in the room. "Sophia!" Kuri brushed away her tears. "What's up?" "Well, I just got the conversations made between Vera Arden and her *lover* Tristin Riger. Quite interesting, they must have called each other every five minutes." She slid the file across the massive desk. Kuri sighed and opened the folder. "You're right. Those two are obsessed with each other...and it sickens me." Sophia sat in one of the black chairs opposite of Kuri. "You've been thinking about Trowa again haven't you." Kuri nodded, embarrassed. "Yeah. I just can't stop thinking about him." "Even with all this, you still can't forget one guy." She spread her arms out to Kuri's massive office with its expensive ornaments and many books. "You're rich, beautiful, smart. Come on Kuri, it's time to move on." Kuri sighed. "It's not that easy Sophia. I just can't get over him. I've tried, God knows I've tried, but...I can't." She leaned back in her black leather chair and closed her eyes. "Sophia, I'm moving back home." "You mean, to Europe? Back to the Sanc Kingdom?" Sophia leaned forward, panicked. "Yeah, at Christmas." She stared at the roses on her bookshelf. "Why?" "I just feel...trapped her. I feel sick and tired. I just want to go home. There I can relax, be safe, be with my family." "Tell me the real reason Kuri. Why do you want to go back?" Sophia felt sympathetic towards her. "I...don't know." She swiveled in her chair so that her back was facing Sophia. "It's because of Trowa, isn't it? You want to see him again. Be near him again. Even if you can't be with him, you still want to be near him. Isn't that it?" Sophia spoke softly and sympathetically. She was not trying to hurt Kuri. "You know what? You're right. God damnit, you're right. That's exactly why I want to go home. To see Trowa, to be hurt by him again, to be rejected again, to be beaten by that bitch Kathy. Yup, that's why I'm leaving!" Kuri spun around, her brown eyes blazing. >She's still in love with him< thought Sophia. "Hey Kuri, I'm sorry, I just, didn't want my friend to leave." Kuri turned around and said nothing. Sophia sighed and said, "Matt's going to stop by later and introduce you to a new lawyer. Alright?" There was no answer. She sighed again and headed out the door. "Thanks for caring," said Kuri. Sophia smiled and left. Hours later, Kuri was sitting at her desk, bent over the numerous files. Occasionally she would highlight something and then continue on. A rap on the door interrupted her concentration. She stretched her arms above her head and called, "Come in." Two men walked entered the room. "Busy Kuri?" asked the one with the dirty blonde hair. She stood up and walked around her desk. "Hell yeah. Do you have any idea how many phone calls Vera and Tristen made to each other?" Kuri leaned against her desk and smirked. "I swear, people like that sicken me. Vera's not even married a month and she's already cheating on her husband. And he wants a divorce! These business tycoons really live it up." Matt laughed, his blue eyes dancing. "How's Jenn? Your wife?" Kuri had met Jenn at a fashion show, where Jenn was watching her latest fashion ideas be modeled by beautiful women. And it was through her that she came to know Matt, who was the branch manager in New York. "She's great. Producing more clothes than anyone could wear." Matt noticed his companion standing off to the side. "I'm sorry, Kuri this is one of our new lawyers. His name is Chris Damos." Kuri shook hands at him. "Hi, my name is Kuri Masaki." She found herself drawn to his thick brown hair and dark brown eyes. His face was thin yet it gave him a sort of foxy look. "Chris just transferred here from our firm in Los Angeles." Matt desperately hoped they would become a couple. His wife had told him of Kuri's problems with her last boyfriend. "It's nice to meet you," he smiled at her. "Same here." "Kuri, I need you to show him around. Give him a taste of how we do things in New York." Matt winked at her. "Sure, no problem." She smiled at him, but in a puzzled sort of way. "Okay then, I'll let you two get acquainted." Matt walked out of the double doors, closing them softly behind him. "So, I guess we'll start with the tour." Kuri led him out of her office. "Over here is the board room. There's two on each floor." "Nice design. And how many floors are there?" He peered into mahogany furnished room. "About thirty. And over here is Matt's office. This is where you'll usually find him." "Okay," he pretended to knock on the door. Kuri grabbed his arm. "Don't bother him right now. He's on the phone with his wife." Chris smiled at her. She noticed she was still holding his arm and quickly released it. "Sorry," she said, blushing. "It's okay. Come on, let's finish the tour." "Wow, I think we must have walked 5 miles." Chris collapsed into a chair in Kuri's office. "You get used to it after awhile," she said laughing. "Yeah, but first, I need lunch." "There's a gourmet restaurant across the street. Sophia and I go there all the time. Come on let's go." Kuri picked up her black coat and purse. "More walking?" Chris looked up at her pleadingly. "Oh, come on!" She grabbed his arm and coat and stomped out the room. "Madam! Nice to see you again." Said the man at the front. "You too Christian. Table for two please." She smiled at him sweetly. "Of course. Lise, show them to table 52 please." He handed the hostess two menus. "Follow me please," the woman named Lise led them through the maze of elegantly set tables to a circular one in a corner. "Thank you." Chris smiled at her and held out the chair for Kuri. "Thanks." She smiled and sat down. "Sure. This place is nice." Chris sat down and looked down at the nicely set table. The cloth was of a yellow hue and the china and glasses were rimmed in gold. The sterling silver silverware matched the two candleholders. Two yellow candles were burning romantically in their holders. They opened the leather bond menus and read down the columns. "Um, what's good here?" Chris looked at Kuri. "Well, why don't we start with drinks?" She flipped to the front. "Do you have any favorites?" "Uh, no. Just as long there's no alcohol in the drink. I can't stand alcohol in the afternoon." "Okay," she scanned down the page. "How about frosty lemon sherbet?" "That's fine. Is the duck good?" "I don't know, never tried it. But the basted fillet is good." Kuri looked up. "Would you like to order?" A waiter in a white shirt and black pants pulled out a pad. "Yes, um, I'll have the creamed broccoli soup, very light on the garlic and parsley." She gave him the menu. "And you sir?" Chris looked down at his menu. "I'll have the chicken Alfredo pasta." "Would you like the chicken to be roasted or broiled?" "Uh, broiled, please." Chris gave him the menu. "Anything to drink?" "Yes, 2 frosty lemon sherbets." Chris winked at Kuri. "Thank you very much," the waiter gave a short bow and left. "How much is this going to cost?" Chris asked jokingly. "Don't worry, I'll pay." Kuri smiled. "No you won't. I'm the guy, I'm the one who's going to pay." He raised his eyebrow, silently challenging her. Her smile only widened and she said, "We'll see." "Hey, Trowa, did you hear the news?" Heero sat down on the chair opposite Trowa. "Kuri's moving back." "Yeah, I heard," answered Trowa. His tone was dead and expressionless. "And?" "And what?" Trowa turned to him angrily. "How do you feel about it?" Heero felt that Kathy was not doing a lot of good for Trowa. Trowa scoffed. "Who cares how I feel? She evidently didn't." "You say it like she's some sort of bitch." "She is. A cold heartless bitch," he muttered. The word left a bitter taste in his mouth. "It takes a lot to make someone like Kuri a cold heartless bitch," said Heero quietly. "Yeah, well, there are always exceptions." Heero sighed and said sadly, "When will you stop Trowa? When will you stop denying the fact that you still love her? You know you don't want Kathy. You want Kuri. It's in your eyes every time someone mentions her name. It's right there, black and white that you love her and can't stand the fact that you can't have her. Open up those eyes, Trowa. And see that it's Kuri that you want..." Trowa stood up, eyes blazing. He threw out his arms. "Okay I want her. My blood boils every time she mentions another guy. Whether it be her boss, her co-worker, whatever! I want her. My body and my mind long for her, for her beauty, her humor. Everything about her I have to know. Everything that's hers, I have to be apart of. Every dream, every emotion, every thought, I have to be apart of it all! I admit it. I still love her! Are you satisfied now? God!" He sat back down, clutching his head in his hands. "So why don't you tell her?" Trowa looked up and stared at Heero. "Are you out of your mind?" he asked dangerously. "Do you have any idea how much she hates me?" "Whoever said she did?" Heero's expression was sympathetic." "Just tell her Trowa. It would make all the difference." To who? Me or her?" Trowa felt angry at the advice. "To the both of you. Just tell her. The worst she can do is say no." >That's what I'm afraid of< thought Trowa. Over the next three months, Chris and Kuri occasionally had dinner and lunch together. They saw movies, plays, and even took a trip to the beach together. Chris felt himself falling in love with Kuri. But she saw them only as friends. "Dinner was delicious. The miso soup was really terrific." Chris touched the linen napkin to his lips. "Thanks, my sister Sasami taught me the recipe." She smiled and sipped her tea. "Isn't Sasami younger than you?" He raised his eyebrow, amused. Kuri laughed and said, "Well, Sasami's always been a better cook than me." "Hmm, why all the modesty? You're never usually this modest." He smiled teasingly. Kuri didn't return his cheerful mood. But instead became silent, like she was lost in another world. "Kuri?" he leaned forwards and took her hand. "You okay?" "What? Oh, yeah. I'm fine." She smiled and moved her hand away. "Actually Chris, there's something I have to tell you." She cleared her throat. "Um...I'm moving back home." His warm brown eyes became confused pools of color, then dark shadows of disbelief. "What? Why?" He leaned back in his chair. "I don't understand. You mean, back to the Sanc Kingdom?" "Yeah, back to the Sanc Kingdom." She cut him off quickly. "It's my home. It's where I belong." "Kuri, but why?" His eyes were bleak and dark. No longer bright pools of light, but rather haunted blurs of hurt. "I...don't belong here. I belong there, with my family." She took his hand and smiled sadly. "I would stay if I had found what I was looking for. But I didn't and I realize, that whatever I'm searching for, isn't here." Chris sighed heavily. "Kuri, I need to tell you something too." He reached his hand into his pocket and drew forth a black velvet box. Kuri saw what he held and cried, "Don't Chris. Don't say it. Just let it be. Don't tell me something that you'll regret saying." "Please, just hear me out," he said pleadingly. "The first time I saw you, I felt...complete, whole. I thought that we could be something, something magical." Kuri stared down into his hopeful eyes, her heart heavy and sharp with pain. Small tears of confusion ran quietly down her face as she looked at the man who knelt at her feet. "I felt that maybe, just maybe, you could love me, even if it were only a little. I told myself not to fall for you, but I couldn't help it." His hands shook as they opened the box. Kuri looked down and saw a diamond set in a platinum band. She let out a small cry and leapt out of her seat. She ran to the balcony doors and rested her forehead on the cool glass. Chris followed her to her retreat. "I know this is hard and unfair that I'm putting all this pressure on you. Especially when you're so homesick. But, there hasn't been a someone for me in a long time. And all I want you to do is just think about it, that's all." He took her hand and put the velvet box in her hand, closing her fingers over it. "Please, think it over." His lips brushed her cheek. When she heard the door close, she sank to her feet and cried. She cried for Trowa, for Chris, and for herself. Kuri awoke the next morning, with her mind clear and her cheeks salty with the tears she cried. She made plans as she showered and dressed for work. Then, wearing black pants, a white shirt, and a black suit coat, she drove to work, her mind still franticly trying to sort out the details of the night before. Once inside the tall building of her firm, she shed her overcoat and suit coat, dropped her briefcase and purse, sat down at her mahogany desk, and began to bang her head against its surface. "Idiot, idiot, idiot," she said as she continued to hit her forehead. Sophia entered Kuri's office and found her violently beating her head against its hard surface. She cried, "Kuri! What are you doing?" Kuri raised her head and said miserably, "I am such a loser." "Why? What happened?" Sophia placed her files on the desk and sat down in one of the chairs. "Chris," she moaned. "He proposed to me last night." Kuri placed her head against her arms and began to bang again. "Wait, wait. Stop that." Sophia placed her hand on Kuri's arm. "He proposed to you. And what did *you* say?" "I didn't say anything. He told me to think about it and gave me this." She handed the box over to Sophia. She opened it and gasped. "Is this platinum? Wow. This setting is really beautiful." "Sophia, please, focus on the problem." Kuri snatched the box away and stared at the ring. "Okay, now you're staring at it." Sophia rolled her eyes. "Alright, you need to..." "Sophia, what if I said that I wanted to marry him." Kuri swiveled her chair around and stared out the window. "Well, um, do you love him?" Sophia looked uncomfortable. "I can learn to," her voice was filled with false hope. "Are you sure that's what you want, Kuri?" Sophia asked skeptically. She spun her chair around slowly and said in a cheerful yet low tone, "Yes Sophia. That's what I want." "Then, go tell him." She smiled at her friend encouragingly. "Thanks." Kuri hugged her, smoothed back her blue highlighted hair, picked up the box, and walked out the door. Sophia looked sadly at the closing door. When it closed, she bowed her head onto her arms and cried. "Chris?" Kuri knocked on his door. It opened quietly and his head poked out of the room. "Kuri!" He opened it wider. "Come in, please." She walked in, nervously tapping her hands against the box. "You look nice." He closed the door. "Can I get you anything? Tea, water, soda?" "No thanks Chris. I came to talk to you about...your proposal." She looked down. "Why don't you have a seat?" He gestured to the two chairs in front of his desk. She sat down in the green upholstered chair and waited until Chris had seated himself in the one next to her. Kuri held out the box and said, "Here, take it." Chris sadly took the velvet box and opened it. "Hmm," he said, more to himself than to her. "I paid a fortune for this." "Do you want to hear what I need to say?" she asked, scared. "Sure, why not?" He tossed the box on his desk and smiled at her coldly. "Yes Chris." Her hands clenched together. "Yes? Yes to what?" Chris's eyes were glinting pieces of ice, and just as cold. "I'll marry you Chris. I only gave you the box because I wanted you to put it on my hand." She smiled up at him, nervous. His face broke into a smile and laughed at her joke. "Okay, I'll do it your way." He picked up the box and removed the ring. "Kuri Masaki, will you marry me?" He slipped the ring on her finger. "Yes Chris, I will." She smiled at the sight of the glinting ring on her hand. He took her in his arms and kissed her. Kuri kissed him back, and blocked all thoughts of Trowa. "Ready to go?" Chris picked up his shoulder bag. Yeah, let's go." Kuri smiled at him and followed him to the gate. He gave the flight attendant his ticket. "Thank you sir, enjoy your flight." Chris waited as Kuri's ticket was being checked. "You okay?" He took her hand. "Yeah, just excited." Kuri squeezed his hand and felt her engagement ring being pressed against her flesh. >What will my family say?< she asked herself anxiously. "Okay, first class is upstairs. Come on baby." Chris walked up the carpeted stairwell, with Kuri right behind him. "Wow, this is...spacious." Kuri said as she tucked her bag underneath her seat. "Yeah, it's pretty nice." He sat down next to her and leaned back. "This plane is bigger than my house." Kuri giggled and leaned against his chest. She was filled with a sense of quilt. Every time she kissed him or even touched him, she felt a wave of betrayal, and hate for herself. "Would you care for anything to drink?" asked a female flight attendant. "Uh, yeah, a Pepsi please." Chris placed his arm around Kuri's shoulders. "Make that two," Kuri smiled at the woman. "Wake me up when we get there." "Okay. Just go to sleep." Chris placed a gray linen blanket on her lap. Kuri sighed and closed her eyes, content with the moment. "Kuri! Kuri, over here!" Tenchi shouted as he jumped up and down. "Okay Tenchi, I see you," said Kuri, laughing. "And it's good to see you." She hugged him tightly. "Ryoko, it's been so long. You look great." Kuri and the space pirate hugged. "Ayeka!" They embraced each other. Kuri asked. "Any news about Sasami?" "Ask her yourself, she's at the house. Cooking your favorite meal." Ayeka smiled cheerfully. "Really? Oh, I can't wait to see her! Relena! Heero! How are you two lovebirds?" They blushed and hugged Kuri. Kuri kissed all of the gundam pilots, even Trowa, and gave Kathy an affectionate hug. Chris stood off to the side, watching the happy reunion. "Oh, Chris, come here." Kuri took his hand and turned to face her family. "Everyone, this is Chris Damos, my fiance." The Masaki family's faces broke off into smiles. Relena, Kathy, and the gundam pilots stared at her in disbelief. But Trowa, Trowa glared at Chris with hatred and resentment, and he silently accused Kuri of betrayal. >How could she do this to me? I thought she loved me!< he thought angrily. "Wow, your palace is rather beautiful Your Highness," Chris glanced around the grand parlor. Green holly wreaths were draped around the fireplace and doorframes. Mistletoe hung on the doors and on the ceiling, waiting for their next victim. A silver white tree decorated with tinsel and delicate glass ornaments stood near the roaring fire. Brightly wrapped presents were piled underneath and around the tower of white. "Thank you. But please, just call me Relena." She smiled at him. "Um, okay." Chris went to sit next to Kuri, ignoring Trowa's hostile looks. "Excuse me Miss Relena, but there are some packages here," said Pegann. "Have them brought in," she answered. "It's good to be home," Kuri said, smiling. "I'm glad you're happy." Chris put his arm around her. "Are you happy here?" She touched his hand. Her ring glinted in the firelight. "I'm happy if you're happy." He answered. Kuri smiled and turned her head away. Her eyes unintentionally met Trowa's. His eyes were filled with hate and betrayal. Kuri's happiness started to black out and she turned away, angry. "Is there an Kuri Masaki here?" 4 men came in carting 8 large boxes. "Yes, that's me." She stood up and walked over. "These are for you. Where do you want them?" "Oh, great. Um, just leave them here. Thanks." She handed each of them a 10-dollar tip. "Thank you. Merry Christmas." "Chris, come here and help me." Kuri knelt beside a box and opened it. Inside were piles of nicely wrapped... "Presents!" shouted Ryoko. "Whoa, are those all for me?" Kuri laughed and shook her head. "Sorry Ryoko, they're not all yours." Chris helped her take out the gifts and arrange them around the tree. Trowa felt the bitter hate rise up in his throat with each gift they took out. He was supposed to be the one to help Kuri with the presents, not him! Kuri felt Trowa's burning stare on her back and moved closer to Chris. She knew it was wrong what she was doing but hurting Trowa gave her a sense of satisfaction... and she loved it. "Kuri," Relena drew her aside. "I had a meeting with my council this morning. They voted to have you on my staff, as part of my military cabinet." "Um, and when did you decide that I was going to be a staff member?" Kuri sat down and watched Chris tease Sasami. "I thought that...since you probably wouldn't have much to do here, and since Ryoko and Ayeka are already on my staff, you might want to be too." Relena started to doubt her decision. "So, if I became one of your staff members, what would Chris do?" "Well, he could be an ambassador." Relena answered. "He must be good at persuading, since he's a lawyer." "Chris, come here." Kuri patted the seat next to her. "Yeah?" He sat down. "Relena wants me to be apart of her military cabinet, as an officer. And she wants you to be an ambassador. What do you think?" Kuri took his hand. "I won't do this if you don't want to be an ambassador." He smiled. "Sure, why not?" "Okay, then, it's settled." Relena clapped her hands in delight, seeming much like a little girl. "Miss Relena! Miss Relena!" 1st Lieutenant Noin ran into the room, clutching a folder. "These just came in." Relena tore open the envelope and read, "TO: Supreme Council of the Sanc Kingdom. FROM: General Chitsu Hekuyo We have suffered heavy losses and can barely even protect space colony 003. We ask that you send us the gundam pilots and a delegation of military officers to help command this war. I am resigning from my office with honor and hope that you may send a new leader in my place. General Chitsu Hekuyo "With honor my ass!" Relena cried. She took a deep breath and said, "Miss Noin, call a meeting with my council for first thing in the morning to discuss this matter. Have General Chitsu arrested for treason." "Of course." Miss Noin bowed and left the room. Relena turned to Kuri and said ironically, "Well, this is turning out to be a cheerful Christmas." "Relena, what are you going to do?" Ayeka stepped forward. "I don't know," she sat down. "I should never have agreed to take on the space colonies as part of the Sanc Kingdom." "Please, please, be silent. Now, the space colonies are in danger. We have to there to help protect them...again." Relena struggled to keep the dripping frustration from seeping into her voice. "Lady Relena, everyday we get reports saying they need more workers, more occupants, more supplies, more food, they're just using us to get what they want!" A brown-haired man in uniform stood up to be recognized. "I know what they're demanding. They do not realize that with a single word, we can cut off their connections with us, for good." Relena sighed. "So why not just do that? There's no reason why we have to put some of our pilots on the line for a bunch of greedy colonists!" Bedlam broke loose with the last statement as everyone tried to voice their own opinions. Relena leaned over and whispered to Kuri, "Do you see why I need you on my cabinet? All these officers and advisors, all they care about is getting more power for themselves. Ayeka and Ryoko can't take them all on." Kuri smirked and listened with a pounding head as they continued to debate, ignorant to Relena's requests of silence. Chris, who was reading up on government in the Sanc Kingdom, saw Kuri clutching her head. He quickly stood up and poured her a glass of water. "Here," he handed the cool cup to her. "Thanks. You read my mind." She took a sip and leaned back her head in frustration. "Don't these people know to listen to their queen?" "I guess not." Chris kneeled down next to her. "You'd better go back to your reading." She smiled at him. Chris nodded and kissed her before returning to his seat. Kuri turned her attention back to the debate that was at hand. "Ryoko, please, do something!" Relena said desperately. The space pirate smirked and evaporated into the air. She appeared right next to the two loudest staff members. She held two energy swords, one to each one's neck. Ryoko curled her lips up into an evil grin and said menacingly, "Are you going to shut up of your own free will? Or do I have to shut you up?" The fat one with a red face panicked and turned to Relena, pleading, "Lady Relena, please, make her stop!" Relena only smiled innocently and purred, "Maybe you should listen to her." "So, are you going to be quiet?" Ryoko leaned towards their face. "Yes, yes, whatever you say," they said. Ryoko deactivated her swords and flew back to her chair. In the corner, Tenchi and the gundam pilots looked at each other in confusion." "Relena, I think you should get rid of those two. They're so chicken they would betray all of our secrets just to save their own pitiful little lives." Ayeka whispered. "I know," she answered. "I've already taken care of it." "Your Majesty, certainly you see that sending you and the gundam pilots would be foolish and unnecessary." A kind looking diplomat said. "That may be, but they are still apart of this nation and as such, we must defend them. We must go." Relena said, pointedly. "Yes, but why send our queen?" "Because, these people are my responsibility and because of that, I must go and make sure that their safety is my personal business." Relena shook her head in frustration. "But what about our gundam pilots? Surely they don't want to risk their lives on such an outrageous request." Shouted on of the power-hungry officers. Tenchi stood up from his seat and said, "We pilots do not worry about our own lives in matters like this. We only go where we are told and do what is ordered." The pilots nodded their heads in agreement. "Relena, can we still go to the colonies without the Senate's permission?" asked Ayeka. "Yes, but it's better and more reassuring to the colonists to have their approval. Besides, it makes them feel useful and prevents a civil war among the people." Relena whispered. "But Lord Tenchi, who's orders do you follow?" A withered old man asked, his eyes gleaming maliciously. Tenchi gave him a frosty look and said coolly, "The queen's of course." The girls smiled at the man's flustered face. But their grins were quickly erased as the cabinet members began to quarrel amongst themselves again. Ayeka stood up, her lovely eyes gleaming angrily. "Alright, that is enough!" she shouted slamming her hand on the table. They all turned to look at her. Ayeka regained some of her composure. "That is enough fighting. Now, we know the colonies are in trouble, and we know..." "Lady Ayeka," said a man in blue uniform. "Quiet, I am not through." She hissed through clenched teeth. "The colonies are in trouble. And the Sanc Kingdom is a pacifist country. It was built on a peaceful foundation. How can men, who say they serve their country justly and loyally, refuse to help their brothers?" "But why must our queen go?" snapped the man in blue. "Because, she knows that her first priority is to her people, not to a crowd of sniveling little weasels who claim to be members of the State." Ryoko answered. "How dare you imply that..." The man's voice was cut off as groups of military soldiers filed into the room. Heero pulled out the blaster at his side and pointed it one of the Senate members. Tenchi and the others did the same. "By the decree of Queen Relena of the Sanc Kingdom and others, you are all under arrest." Said one of the armed soldiers. "You either give yourselves up freely or be shot." A man named Jager turned to Relena and said angrily, "What is the meaning of this?" Relena smirked and answered, "My secret service has uncovered evidence that you and yours have plotted to have me and my personal staff assassinated. You care only of your own needs and that...is treason. Take them away." The cabinet members were hauled away, shouting threats of revenge. Ryoko laughed and said merrily, "What now?" "We're going to the space colonies," Relena turned to look out the large window. "Okay then, we're going to pack up the gundams on the carrier jets," said Tenchi. Relena nodded. "Relena! I want to go too. Wherever my Trowa goes, I want to go," whined Kathy as she tugged on Relena's white coat. "Alright, now stop that! You'd better go pack if you want to go. We've already packed ours." She yanked her arm away. "Chris." He hurried forward, "What?" "I need you to go to the U.S. government. Tell them what's happen and ask them to start a trade relationship between themselves and the space colonies. Maybe that'll help the colonies' economy and get them off my back for awhile." She gestured to Lt. Noin. "Go with her, she will give you all the information you need." Relena paused and added, "This may take some time." "No problem." He kissed Kuri. When they finally parted, he smiled and whispered, "I'll see you." "Take care." She kissed him again and watched as he left the room. "Come on, we'd better go." Relena left the room, followed by everyone else. Tenchi sighed and thought; >Into battle...again< Hours later, their private shuttle landed on a large warship. The warship was not even apart of the colony, but was instead a ship that simply drifted some kilometers away. An officer met them on the docking bay. "Welcome aboard Starship 5287." He bowed. "I'm Captain Sander Ricard." Relena nodded and said, "At ease Captain. Now, what is the report?" Sander turned his head away, "Our forces are down to 78 percent, even though Professor Washu is doing all that she can to improve the mobile suits' defenses. And those damn colonists won't help by enlisting. They just sit back and complain that they're being threatened and nobody cares." "Please, try not to swear, Captain." Relena said calmly. "Sorry Lady Relena." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I'll, um, show you to your quarters." Sander led them down corridors and an elevator before they reached the sleeping quarters. "I apologize about the...um...lack of comforts you have but we are at war and have to make do with what we've got." He opened a door. "You will have to pair up." "Okay, I'll bunk with Ayeka," Kuri glanced at Ayeka who nodded in agreement. "Then, I'll stay with Ryoko," Relena said quickly. Ryoko shrugged, "Fine by me." "What about me?" asked Kathy. Sander scratched his head and said thoughtfully, "You can stay with Lacy, her roommate Patti was killed in battle yesterday. Stupid girl, didn't follow orders." Relena asked curiously, "Was she the one that was always mentioned in the reports I received?" He answered, "Uh, yeah. The superior officers were always complaining that she...er... slept around with the younger officers but don't worry, Lacy never does that kind of thing." "Oh, well, that's good," Kathy rolled her eyes. "Okay, so, I'll show the rest of you guys' your rooms." Sander gave Kuri and Ayeka both an identity card and a key before moving to the next room. They sighed and dragged their suitcases into the room and looked around at their surroundings. Two beds were tucked into the opposite corners of the room. Nightstands were placed next to both of the beds. A dresser and two desks were set against the walls. Doors led into a small bathroom and a tiny closet. Everything from the gray carpet to the white and blue made-up beds was formal and stiff. "Um, well, at least it's clean." Ayeka said cheerfully. "Yeah, but let's see if we can brighten up the color in here." Kuri said. She swung her suitcase onto the bed on the left side of the room and opened it. "Well, it does look more...homey," smiled Ayeka. She gazed up at the family portrait and the little bric-a-bracs that covered the desk and dresser. "Are you happy, Kuri?" Ayeka sat on the bed. "You don't seem too happy." "Yes I'm happy, why?" Kuri forced herself to smile. "Trowa," she answered simply. Kuri smiled nervously and said, "What about him? Ayeka shrugged, "I don't know. Just the way you look at him." "Ayeka, I don't feel anything towards him anymore," Kuri hissed. "I think you do, Kuri. Don't think you can try and fool me just like that." The purple-haired princess smiled, sad. "I know you too well." "You don't know me. Nobody understands, not even Chris," Tears started to stream down her cheeks. She sat on her bed and gripped her hair with her hands. "Nobody understands," she whispered. "I understand..." Ayeka went over and sat down next to Kuri. "You can't understand." She snapped. "You can never understand because you never lost Trowa...or Tenchi." "And how have I not lost them?" asked Ayeka, her voice ice cold. "Because they were never yours to begin with." Kuri whispered. She wiped away her tears. "I'm sorry Ayeka. I just don't know what to do anymore. I don't know what I want." Ayeka, though still a bit angry, replied in a reassuring tone, "Just do what you want to do." Kuri looked at her. "Washu made a gundam for me. I'm supposed to name it today. And, I'm going to ask Heero to teach me how to fly it." Ayeka gasped, "Is it safe?" "As safe as it is sparring with you," Kuri smiled. Ayeka smiled back and teased, "Well then, that's not very safe." "Oh, shut up!" Kuri shouted as she hit Ayeka with her pillow. "Ryoko!" Washu hurried up to her daughter and hugged her. "I'm so glad you came. We could really use your help up here." "It's nice to see you too Mom. And you Dad." Ryoko hugged Washu's husband, Milliardo. "Oh, and who's the little sweetheart?" Ryoko took her younger sister, Lana, from Washu. "Hey there, remember me?" She kissed the baby's soft crown of golden hair. "It's great to see you Relena." Milliardo hugged her warmly. "Yeah, you too." Relena smiled happily. "Heero, Trowa, Wufei, Duo, and Quatre, all here. It's nice that you're here." He shook hands with the gundam pilots. "We can use great pilots like you." Milliardo turned to Tenchi and warmly shook his hand. "So I hear you're dating my daughter." He winked at Ryoko. "You be very good to her." "Sure, Milliardo," Tenchi gave Relena an odd look. Relena shook her head in apology. "I never seen this side of him before." "Kuri, you should go name your gundam. You can't go into battle with a nameless gundam. It's bad luck," Washu said, half-serious. "Um, okay." She nodded, making her icy-blue highlights gleam underneath the light. "Come on, I'll show you your gundam." Washu led her down the hall. "Did you guys know that Kuri would be training to be a gundam pilot?" Ayeka turned towards the others. "I did, she asked me to teach her how to operate her gundam." Heero leaned against the wall and shrugged. "Are you crazy? You're going to let her *fight*?" Trowa cried. Tenchi stepped in. "Why not? Ryoko's going to fight." Trowa turned on him. "Well, yeah, but she's been a soldier for a long time. And besides, Kuri doesn't know what she's doing!" "Neither does Ryoko. That's why the gundam pilots are here. We're here to teach them." Heero walked up to Trowa and stared into his face. "Whether you like it or not." "It's nice looking." Kuri peered out the glass windows at the docking bay. Her newly constructed gundam was blue, white, gold, black, and gray. Suitable for warfare. "Yeah, and it has a stronger shield and defense system." Washu looked at Kuri. "So, what are you going to name it?" "I think I'll name it...Achika, for my mother." She smiled at the thought. "Um, Kuri, Tenchi already chose that for his gundam's name." "Really? Then I'll name it...Funahoe, for my second mother." Washu smiled and said, "That we can do." She leaned on the rail and gazed at the magnificent gundam. "I never got a real chance to thank you for saving Milliardo and my baby." Washu placed her hand on Kuri's shoulder and smiled. "It's alright. Besides, Ayeka would have done fine if I had failed." Kuri brushed Washu's hand away, embarrassed. "Well, it seems like you're a lot stronger than they are. Can I do some tests on you?" Washu grinned evilly. "Washu!" Kuri backed away. "I was joking!" Washu laughed hysterically. "You're just as bad as Tenchi." Kuri started to laugh to too. Day after day she went through hard training with Ryoko and the gundam pilots, learning how to master her new gundam. And everyday right after practice, she would take a quick shower and attend the continuous meetings that discussed the colony's defenses and stuff. She had very little time to think about her fiance, Chris. Tenchi and the others were having lunch when the battle began. The final battle for the freedom of the colonies. A female voice came over the intercom and said, "White Fang is attacking. All officers and pilots to their posts please, I repeat, White Fang is attacking, all officers and pilots to their posts." Heero jumped out of his chair and dashed down the hall, followed by everyone else. Wufei stayed behind with Tenchi. He kissed Ayeka and said softly, "I'll be back." Ayeka smiled and whispered, "Be careful." He kissed her again and ran after the other gundams. "Stay and help Ayeka and Relena, Kuri. Come only when you're needed, okay?" Tenchi hugged his sister. "Okay," she kissed his cheek. "Hurry up!" Tenchi nodded and ran out the door, Ryoko right behind him. "Good luck," murmured Kuri. "You'll need it." She and Ayeka hurried to the control room. Ayeka and Kuri burst into the room, where other officers were already at work. They sat at their computers and scanned through the data. "How are we doing?" Kuri slipped on her headset and started to type furiously. "We don't know Lieutenant. The data is all jacked up and we can't read them." A man in uniform turned from his desk to answer. "Washu, anything?" Ayeka cried as she viewed each casualty. "No. We can't see a thing. They must have damaged the viewing satellite." Washu answered. She typed furiously on her laptop, trying to fix it. "Wait, it's coming through now. We're losing a lot of our people." "Damn it! A lot of the mobile suits are being sliced down!" Kuri threw the headset aside and picked up her helmet. "Where are you going?" Relena turned from her station. "To fight," Kuri pushed a button and the door slid open. "You might be killed," Ayeka jumped up from her station and panicked. "So might Tenchi and the rest of them." Kuri walked out. Kuri floated into her gundam and strapped herself in. She pulled on her helmet and said, "Kuri, this is Ayeka, can you hear me?" Ayeka's voice came over the headset she wore underneath the helmet. "Yes, I can hear you clearly. Are you ready to go?" "Yeah, I'm about to leave." Kuri hit some buttons and waited for the attendants to move out of the way. "Be careful." Ayeka's voice sounded worried. "Don't worry about me," she answered. Kuri grabbed the controls and flew out of the docking bay, towards the battle. "Hey, look who's finally here!" Ryoko's smiling face came up on the screen. "Shut up," Kuri smiled a little. Tenchi and the others were fighting furiously, each one slicing down anyone that was in their path. Trowa was having no problem killing the enemy, neither was Heero, Duo or Wufei. Quatre and Tenchi seemed to be the most reluctant to kill. But Kuri and Ryoko easily got into it and destroyed anyone that challenged them. Tenchi was shocked at how easily and unmercifully Kuri killed the others. After hours of bloodshed and violence, it was all over; the final battle was over. They had won. Relena sent ambassadors, including Chris, to the leaders of the White Fang Organization to forge a peace treaty between themselves and White Fang. 4 months later... After four months, the Masaki family was back in their house in Okayama. Relena and the pilots remained in the Sanc Kingdom, on the watch for anymore trouble. Sasami was also there, home on her summer vacation. Kuri began to grow lonesome. Chris was always traveling from the Sanc Kingdom to any other country. He was one of Relena's top ambassadors. But his absence really started to give her time to think about their relationship. She thought about it as she worked in the fields with Tenchi, weeded in the garden with Ayeka, and trained with her grandfather at the shrine. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that, it would never work. The problem was, what about Chris? Chris eventually found time off to meet Noboyuki and Yosho, but he brought Relena and the pilots with him. As soon as he arrived in Okayama, plans for their wedding began. They discussed who would be maid of honor, what dresses they would wear, where the wedding would be held, but there was still something that wasn't talked about. Kuri listened as they debated the color of the bridesmaids' gowns. Her head pounded with all the endless plans. She stood up and walked outside. "What's the matter with her?" Ayeka asked. "She's probably just really excited," Chris nodded, trying to block himself from the truth. "I'll talk to her." He followed her out to the lake. Kuri stood at its edge, gazing out at the peaceful scene. "I know, you want to ask if this is the right thing to do." She said without turning. "Actually I was going to ask if you wanted to have pink dresses instead of the silver-gray." Chris chuckled nervously. Kuri shook her head, "Don't joke about this Chris." "Kuri..." "No, I've had time to think while you were gone and I don't think this is going to work. We're two different people. We have nothing in common anymore." He sighed and said, "Kuri, I've been feeling the same way. I just...didn't know how to break your heart." She smirked, "You're so full of it. So, what are we going do?" "Well, I've thinking about going back to New York. Matt said that he'll hold my job for me." "That's nice." "Well, what about you? What are you going to do?" He sat down next to her. "Stay here with my family. Become a priestess of the Masaki shrine." "Fun. I'm sure you'll be happy." Kuri smiled ironically, "I know you will be happy." She stood up and embraced him. "I'll be seeing you." He started walking towards the house to pack. "Should I drive you to the airport?" He turned and answered, "No. Let's part as friends, and nothing more." Kuri watched as he left and thought, >Do friends part this easily?< "Kuri, I heard that Chris left." Trowa walked up to her as she knelt by her mother's stone. "Yeah, we both decided to break up. It didn't work." She placed a bunch of yellow lilies on the grave. "Sorry." He sat down next to her. "Don't be. It was bound to happen sooner or later." "Kuri, I hate to see you like this," Trowa peeked at her. "I'll survive Trowa. Don't worry about me." "I can't help *but* worry about you." Kuri scoffed and shook her head at him, "You shouldn't." "I should," he moved closer, "Kuri, I've never felt differently about you." "I know Trowa." She replied. "Well?" "Well what?" her voice was full of sarcasm. "You want to know if I still like you?" "Um, yeah. I do." "Do you expect me to fall head over heels in love with you, just like that?" her brown eyes were icy and harsh. "No, I just want a simple answer." "Alright, I've...never felt differently either." She hugged him. "There, I said it. Are you happy?" "Kuri," he sat there, with her arms around him, dazed and confused. "I'm sorry I left you. I should have at least tried. But all I did was run, I ran away to New York, just to get away from the pain, the hurt. When all this time, you still loved me." She sobbed hysterically. Trowa held her, stunned by this turn of events. "You should know that I will always love you Kuri," he whispered into her hair. "I know that now." She smiled into his shirt. "Kuri," she looked up at him. Trowa lowered his head and kissed her gently. If he had known that she was only waiting for him, he would have told her he loved her long ago. "Hey," Trowa bent and kissed his wife on the cheek. Kuri smiled and got up so that they could kiss properly. They had been married for three wonderful years. "What are you working on?" Kuri showed him the cream-colored letter she held. "I got a letter from Sophia. She and Chris just got married." She smiled, in a relieved sort of way. "Are you sad?" Trowa came up behind her and placed his hands around her. "Nope, just relieved that he didn't pine away." She smiled up at him. Trowa smiled back and looked down at the girl who was tugging at his pants. "Hey, how's my Achika?" He swept her up into his strong arms. "Daddy!" shouted the girl. "I dot a book." She babbled in her little language. "It's a very pretty book too." He smiled and put her down. "Achika and I went to see Ryoko today," Kuri put the manuscripts in the drawers. "She invited us to dinner. And I feel too tired to cook." "I think you've been working too hard on your calligraphy," He sat down next to Kuri on the couch, his arm around her shoulders. She smiled, the old romance hadn't died. "No, it's not too much, it's actually refreshing to me," She snuggled against his chest. "Okay," he said, his voice drenched with sarcasm. "Well, it's almost dinnertime, we'd better go." Trowa held the door as his wife and child walked out. They made the two-minute walk up the hill to Tenchi's house. Kuri gazed at the view as she walked. The old Masaki house was still there, with the luxurious onsen still floating a few feet away. But now, only Sasami, Noboyuki, and Mihoshi lived there. Five more houses were added to the lovely view of the valley. Ayeka and Wufei's, Kiyone and her new husband's houses were by the lake. The house Washu and Milliardo lived in was a little ways away from the orginal house. And Ryoko and Tenchi's home was on a hill that overlooked the old Masaki house. Kuri and Trowa's house was built a short distance from Tenchi's. Trowa rang the doorbell of the beautiful house designed by Noboyuki. "Hey! You guys, come in." Ryoko appeared wearing a blue shirt and black pants. Her son, Toshi, peeked around her legs. Achika squirmed at the site of her cousin and wiggled, trying to get free. Trowa laughed and put her down. She ran off after her cousin. "Play nice Toshi," Ryoko called. He stopped and said, "Yes mommy." He took Achika's hand and led her into his playroom to play. "Wow. You're son is really polite." Trowa hung up his jacket and followed Ryoko into the living room. "Yeah well, he doesn't get it from me, I'll tell you that." Ryoko poured some tea. "He probably gets it from Tenchi." "Hey you guys," Tenchi kissed his sister on the cheek and shook hands with Trowa. "Where's Achika?" "With Toshi, playing." Kuri sat down on the opposite sofa. "Well, let them play. That gives us time to eat." Tenchi laughed and led them into the dinning room. They laughed and joked about the time when Ryoko couldn't cook worth a darn. "And now, she's one of the best cooks ever," shouted Tenchi. He laughed. Nobody noticed that Kuri had gone very quiet. She stood up and walked towards the door, Trowa stood up. "Kuri, where are you going?" "Home," was the answer. "Why? What's wrong?" Tenchi stood up. Kuri felt weak and dizzy. The room spun around her, making her fall against the wall, dazed. "Kuri," cried Trowa. "You okay? Maybe we *should* go." He turned to Ryoko. "Could you get Achika?" Ryoko nodded and walked towards the nursery. Inside, the two kids were eating soup and watching a kid's movie. "Achika, you have to go now, babe." Ryoko stooped over and picked up the baby. "Otay, Bye bye Toshi." She waved at her cousin. He waved back and returned to the movie. Trowa thanked them and walked home, with Achika at his side while he supported his wife. Kuri lay down in bed and slept, tired and drained of all energy. When she woke up, Trowa had already gone to the hospital that he worked at. Kuri took a quick shower and walked to Washu's house. She left Achika with Milliardo and Lana before going to Washu's lab. "Kuri! How nice to see you. Are you alright? Ryoko called and told me that you had fainted last night." Washu hugged her. "Well that's why I came to see you Washu." Kuri followed the scientist deep into her lab. "I can run some tests," Washu laid her down on a bio- bed and cover it with an energy dome. She sat down and began to type on her holographic laptop. "Well?" Kuri sat up. "Kuri," Washu looked scared. "You have some...problems. Kuri stiffened. What was wrong? "I found some damage in your body. When you created that shield to protect us during the day of the battle, it took all of your power. And since your power started to drain, you started to take energy from yourself, kind of like what your mother did. What I'm telling you is...that...is that...you only have a short time to live." Washu dropped her gaze. "I'm sorry." "Can't you do anything?" Kuri looked distraught and desperate. "You know that if I could, I would. But the damage is too severe, I can't repair it." Washu looked sad, but not as sad as Kuri did. "But, Trowa, Achika. I can't leave them! We've only been together for a few years!" Kuri jumped up and started to cry. "Kuri, please. This won't help. Panicking will not help!" She sat down next to her on the bed. "How long?" asked Kuri, her heart in her eyes. "About two months, maybe more, maybe less." Washu sighed. "Washu, would you help me tell them?" Kuri looked pleadingly at the pink haired woman. "You know I would," Washu smiled encouragingly. Later that night, the family was sitting in the living room of the main Masaki house. "So, what's the big news?" asked Tenchi. "I'm...I...I'm um." Kuri wrung her hands as she spoke. "Are you pregnant?" asked Noboyuki. Trowa looked at her in shock. "No, I'm...I'm..." She took a deep breath, "I'm dying." "What..." Tenchi stared at his sister. Washu jumped in and hastily said, "When she created that field, she used all of her power to keep it up. And her power started to weaken so she unintentionally took away her life, little bit by little bit. And because of the stress she had in the past, her heart has begun to weaken." She displayed charts on a projector, which nobody cared to see. "How long?" asked Trowa. "About two months." Washu looked at him. He seemed like he had become a old man all at once. "I think we had better go now." Trowa stood up, his expression set, as always. Kuri stood up silently and followed him, leaving Achika with Yosho for the night. At home, Trowa said nothing, only changing for bed and remaining quiet and tense. Kuri changed for bed too, fearing what her husband might do or say to her. She moistened her lips nervously and said, "Trowa?" No answer. "Don't block me out Trowa." "You just had to be the heroine, didn't you?" He turned his back. "What?" "You just couldn't let Ayeka or Tenchi help you. You just had to do it all by yourself." "I had no other choice." She was scared. This was the first argument that they had had for a long time. "Bullshit!" he shouted. He sat up, glaring at her. "You think I deliberately planned this? You think I want to die? I'm only 25 for God's sake. Do you think I want to leave our daughter? Or you? My family, friends? Don't get all selfish on me Trowa Barton! What do you think I'm going through? I'm the one who's gonna die, not you!" She sobbed. She needed Trowa's support and he wasn't helping. "Don't you think I'm going through hell too?" His voice became gentler. "Kuri, if you had ever died, I would want to die with you." That night, he slept on the couch. The months passed by quickly, and nobody mentioned death or anything, though they knew Kuri was already planning her funeral, where she wanted to be buried and who would get what when she was gone. On the day of her birthday, everyone got together at the original Masaki house for her party. Sasami had baked a cake and the girls had decorated the living and dining rooms with streamers and banners; balloons were tied to every chair and sofa, and even to the kareoke machine. After dinner, which Sasami had slaved over that afternoon, Mihoshi and Kiyone pulled out the kareoke machine. Ayeka sang by herself, gazing at Wufei as her delicate voice rose and fell with the tune. Ryoko and Tenchi sang a duet dedicated to Kuri. But when it was Kuri's turn to sing, no amount of begging would get her to take the microphone. It took an eternity of pleading and coaxing just to get her to take the microphone, but she finally took it. Her face was red as she walked up in front of everybody. Washu punched in the song that Kuri wanted and soft music played. She smiled at Trowa, who held Achika in his arms and began to sing softl to the melancholy tune. A million stars light This beautiful night This is not a night to die Let me sing and dance Beneath the sky I have such a love to give To give! I want a chance to live Live For the one I love Love As no one has loved Give Asking nothing in return Free Free to find my way Free to have my say Free to see the day Be Like I used to be Like a wild bird free With all of life in me Live For the one I love Love As no one has loved Give Asking nothing in return Though this world tears us apart We're still together in my heart I want the world to hear my cry And even I have to die Love will not die Love will change the world Live For the one I love Love As no one has loved Give Asking nothing in return I'll love until love wears me away I'll die and I know my love will stay And I know my love will stay Trowa gazed at her with the softest expression on his face. Kuri smiled back at him, her eyes luminous from the love that shone around her. >Yes< he thought, >I have been blessed.< Trowa had woken up the next morning to find that Kuri had slipped into a bad state and she was immediately moved to Washu's lab, where she stayed on a bio-bed. She was conscious most of the time and spoke and laughed with her friends and family as if nothing was wrong. Relena, Heero, her family from Jurai, and the others came to stay with her during her final days. "Hey," Trowa walked into the room where Kuri was kept. "Hi," Kuri smiled at him. "How are you feeling?" Trowa looked at her, though she was in pain, she never showed it and she remained as beautiful as ever. "It's almost over." Her answer stung him. She knew her time was near. "Look who's here to see you," Trowa put his daughter on the bed. "Mommy!" Achika wrapped her small arms around her mother's neck. "Hey baby. Mommy has to go away for awhile, but I'll see you soon, okay?" Achika nodded. "I love you." "I love you too mommy," Achika kissed her mother and hopped down to go play with Toshi. Trowa watched with heart-wrenching pain as his daughter bid farewell to her mother with such carelessness and indifference. He sighed and sat down behind his wife. She leaned against his shoulder as they sat facing the wall, sitting like they did the first time Trowa proclaimed his love for her. "When I'm gone, don't be too strict with Achika. She's a girl after all." "I never was strict with her was I?" He felt her smile. "Don't spoil her too much either." He smiled this time. "What will I do without you?" His voice choked with emotion. "Be there for our daughter until you and I are together again." She looked up at him. He sighed and pressed his lips on hers. Her hand curled up to embrace his head as they kissed for the last time. "I love you," he whispered in her ear. "I love you too." She squeezed his hand and leaned back against his chest. They sat there for what seemed like an eternity, with Trowa singing the song that she had sung for him the night of her birthday. Trowa didn't realize she had gone until he moved to go. "Kuri?" He called her name. There was only silence. "Kuri?" He looked down at her face. She bore a look of peace and content, her lips seemed to smile a little. He cried, clutching her head against his chest. His lips brushed her forehead as he rocked back and forth. He tasted the bitterness of his tears as he sobbed. His cries brought the entire family running. "Kuri!" Noboyuki stared at his daughter and Trowa. He slid to the floor and sobbed. Tenchi leaned against Ryoko and cried silent tears while she held him, her tears mingling with his. Ayeka cried for her sister, as did Misaki, Azusa, and Kuri's adoptive mother Funahoe. The gundam pilots cried silently, even the emotionless Heero cried for his friend. All of them felt as if their lives had come to a deathly stop. Kuri was placed in a cryogenic coffin that would preserve her body and organs and was sealed in Ryoko's cave. She was dressed in a white Grecian gown that she had chosen before she had died. Trowa held their one-year-old daughter in his arms as he watched his childhood love be placed in her tomb. Outside of the cave, they placed a green marble stone that read: Here lies Kuri Masaki Barton. Loving daughter, mother, sister, wife, and friend May you be in peace until we all meet again in heaven. We love you and will always remember you. In the cave they placed bunches of colorful flowers that would never die, a copy of the song that would never disintegrate, and an everlasting portrait of their family. Trowa stayed the longest after the funeral was over. And in his heart he vowed that he would never love another woman as much as he loved her. Over the next few months, Trowa visited the locked cave almost everyday, taking his daughter with him sometimes, and each time, he sang the song that she had once sung to him. Oftentimes, he swore that he could sometimes see the ghost of his wife sitting on her tombstone, smiling at the image of her husband and daughter together. One day he asked Tenchi, "Can children see spirits?" "Only if the spirits want them too. I remember I used to see Ryoko when I was a child." Tenchi smiled at him. "And I know Kuri would want her child to see her." The next day, they went to see Kuri again. Trowa sat there and cried for his wife. He remembered all that they had gone through and how little time they had together. He imagined her pretty brown eyes, her silky hair, highlighted blue so that it shone like ice. Every time he looked at his daughter, he couldn't help but reminded of Kuri. Her hair and eyes were the same, and in her was the happiness that Trowa used to see in Kuri. And Trowa who had thought that Achika didn't remember her mother was shocked when she started to clap her hands and shout, "Mommy!" Trowa looked at the stone and saw a faint image of Kuri, sitting there in her white dress, holding an umbrella against the sun, smiling and waving at her daughter. He watched as she stood up and came towards him, smiling. She stopped right in front of him and smiled up at his sad face. He felt her whispery voice say, "Don't be sad. You will always be my Niew Lon." The spirit moved her hand up to her lips and kissed them. She placed her fingers on his lips and smiled. He closed his eyes at the feathery touch and murmured, "And you will always be my Chih Nu, the angel who came down from heaven to be with me." She smiled and kissed him again. It was so whispery he could barely feel it. His eyes were sad as he watched her walk away, towards the sun. She turned back once and waved at them before disappearing from his sight. Trowa smiled peacefully and walked away from the cave. A gentle breeze came and stroked his hair, just like Kuri used to do. And when he looked back at the cave, Kuri's gentle voice murmured, "I will always be with you." Thanks for reading my fanfic. It may have sucked but hey, it was only my third one. I kind of got tired of writing this part of the story so I kind of did a messy part on the ending. Please email me any comments you may have. They could help me on my next series, if I decide to write one. Anyway, thanks for reading. Credits: The song was called "Live" and was sung by Celine Dion. Personally, I don't really like her but this song is pretty okay. I take no credit for this song for it does not belong to me.