Chapter 2: No Need for Family Tragedies! "Hello. Hello? Is anybody home? Tenchi? Ryoko? Dad?" Nobuyuki's calls fell on deaf ears. For the past ten minutes, he'd been knocking on the door, trying to get anyone's attention. He had left home in a rush and forgot his keys, and essentially he was now locked outside. He could hear a commotion inside, but this was ridiculous; he was now literally screaming and banging on the door with his fist. "Tenchi! Aeka! Sasami! Somebody open the door! I can't get in!" Finally Nobuyuki saw the doorknob turn. As the door cracked open slowly, the true volume of the argument inside hit Mr. Masaki. Then Nobuyuki saw a long, thin, sky-blue pigtail appear in the doorway, then a kawaii little face, followed by another lengthy little pigtail as Sasami slowly peeked her head out to welcome Nobuyuki home. "Hi Nobuyuki-san," Sasami chimed in looking up at Tenchi's father. From the expression on her face, Nobuyuki could tell something was wrong...as if the loud voices coming from the living room weren't enough evidence. Nobuyuki kneeled down to face Sasami at eye level, "What's wrong, Sasami? Are Ryoko and your sister getting into it again?" "Well, yes. But now they've got Tenchi involved in it," Sasami said sullenly as she stepped outside to hear Nobuyuki better. "Um, now might not be the best time to come in through the front door. If _those two_ are screaming at _Tenchi_, who knows what they're capable of right now." Curious, Nobuyuki stood up and peered into the living room through the crack in the door. He saw Aeka and Ryoko on opposite sides of Tenchi, both yelling at him while he desperately tried to get a word in inchwise, but Nobuyuki couldn't see anyone else. "Where are Washyuu and Dad? Usually fights like this attract all sorts of spectators," inquired Nobuyuki, kneeling back down to Sasami. "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you! We have a new visitor from space!" Sasami chirped with a tone of half nervousness and half cheerfulness. "New visitor? Someone new at the house!? Well...what's her name?" Nobuyuki asked with a tone like he was making a pass at a woman in a bar. "It's not a 'she', it's a 'he'. He's hurt really bad, and Washyuu's taking care of him up in Mihoshi's old room. When Tenchi and the others found him, he panicked and attacked everyone, so Aeka and Ryoko don't want him around. That's what the fight is about; Tenchi asked Washyuu to fix him up, and Ryoko and Aeka got mad," Sasami explained. She then pointed out near the lake and continued, "That big split in the forest is where his ship crashed, didn't you see it on your way home?" Nobuyuki wheeled around and immediately saw what Sasami was pointing at. There was a gash in the forest that ran all the way to the lake. It had since stopped smoking and was now just a swath of charred foliage and dug-up earth. Nobuyuki sweatdropped at the sight of it. Nobuyuki thought to himself. Frozen from shock, he didn't even hear Sasami talking to him. "Mister Masaki? Mister Masakiiiiiii," Sasami half sang, tapping him on the shoulder. "Mister Masaki, I'm going to go open the back door now so you can get in without the others noticing you, okay?" Still no reply. Shrugging, Sasami turned and walked back inside. As she closed the door, Ryo-Ohki stepped outside from behind it and walked up to Nobuyuki. Nobuyuki was still frozen in shock at the sight of the forest, and Ryo-Ohki confusedly turned her head to the side and sat, looking at Mr. Masaki for almost a minute. Finally, she got up, walked to Nobuyuki, and curiously pawed at the cuff of his right pant leg. Almost instantaneous to Ryo-Ohki's touch, Nobuyuki fell over, fainting. In a terrified dash, Ryo-Ohki turned to run back inside, but instead slammed her head into the closed door, knocking herself out. Responding to the thud of the cabbit's head, Sasami cracked the door open again and sweatdropped at the sight of both Ryo- Ohki and Nobuyuki unconscious. -------- "Just a little more and...there," Washyuu muttered to herself, removing a rather long, sharp needle from the arm of the mysterious newcomer. Having been unsure of the being's exact race, Washyuu was taking a blood sample from him for study. Katsuhito, who had been sitting in the doorway to the room, couldn't help but wince as the four-inch needle was removed, the syringe filled with dark red blood. Leaning against the doorframe, he watched silently as Washyuu pulled up the strange transparent computer that seemed to appear before her whenever she needed it no matter _where_ she was. After hitting a few glowing keys, a small portal appeared to her immediate right. Removing the needle, she half-heartedly flung the blood sample, still in its syringe, into the portal and closed it. The room where the three were was relatively empty. When visitors first began to fall from the sky around Tenchi Masaki, it was where Mihoshi's room used to be. Since Mihoshi moved out to live in the apartment with Kiyone however, the room had since been empty and unused. Now, the room affectionately called "Mihoshi's Room" had become something of a "hospital room" for the newcomer. In the far right corner of the room from the doorway, next to the window, was a strange medical bed where the newcomer had been placed at Washyuu's request. Washyuu herself had built both the bed and the machines that the newcomer had been hooked up to in order to regulate his vital signs. Finally, at the side of the bed and in front of Washyuu was a small night table where she had earlier stored medical supplies and where a small tray with a pot of green tea now sat. Having wrapped up taking the blood sample, Washyuu now observed the newcomer thoughtfully. "Looks like he got the utter shit kicked outta him," she paused, then spun around in her chair to face Katsuhito, "Ne, Old Man?" Katsuhito was surprised that Washyuu knew he was there. She had had her back to him the whole time she was tending to her "patient", and he had assumed she thought he left with the others. Still, he didn't let his surprise show, save for a split second where his eyes had reflected it. He nodded and stood up from his leaning spot on the doorframe. "How is your hand?" Katsuhito inquired. "Huh? Oh, right. It doesn't hurt anymore, thank you," Washyuu spoke up, glancing down at her hand where the newcomer had burned it earlier with his energy attacks. As soon as the newcomer had been placed into the medical bed and made stable, Katsuhito had cared for Washyuu's hand, having her rub the pulp of a healing herb on it before bandaging it. "So, how is he?" Katsuhito continued to pry. "Well, he's pretty bad, but with _my_ medical genius, he'll pull through," Washyuu boasted. "I'm sure you'd agree that with Earth's inferior medical abilities, he'd have died inside of a week." "Indeed." "By the way, has Tenchi said anything about why he wanted to save this guy?" asked Washyuu, looking up with an air of curiosity. "No, he's been pretty quiet about it. Well, that and Ryoko & Aeka haven't given him room to make a complete sentence," Katsuhito replied with a slight chuckle. "Oh, well I'm pretty sure I have a good idea what it was. Did you get a look at this guy's face when he 'attacked'?" "No, why?" "Well, he didn't seem to have that typical expression...'the eyes of a killer' so to speak. He seemed rather...panicked...in look, mannerism, and speech. This guy wasn't attacking just to be attacking, he was attacking out of fear. I don't know for sure, but I believe Tenchi saw the same thing. That, and probably because Tenchi's just soft," Washyuu grinned. Katsuhito couldn't help but share a chuckle at the last sentence. After the soft, lighthearted laughter had died down, Washyuu twirled back around in her chair. In one fluid motion, she picked something up from the night table and propped her feet up where it had been resting. "Now this is an interesting item," Washyuu muttered to herself, turning the object over repeatedly in her hand. "What is it, Washyuu-chan?" Katsuhito inquired. "It's that device that was clipped to this guy's head. I know it has to be some sort of eyepiece, 'cause I found the glass in our little visitor's eye. However, I don't think it was to make a fashion statement, and it sure as hell wasn't for protection. If it was for either purpose, the earpiece wouldn't be so electronically complex, and it would have covered both eyes had it been a piece of armor. I wonder if it--" Washyuu was interrupted by loud voices coming from downstairs. "Aeka & Ryoko. Dammit. Well, at least they decided not to do _that_ up here," Washyuu complained. "I would go down there, but I'd rather not get in the middle of those two. Once they get started, may Kami-Sama help anyone who gets between them," Katsuhito added. "You mean like Tenchi?" Washyuu snidely questioned. The remark caused Katsuhito to laugh out loud. "Exactly!" was his reply as he caught his breath. Washyuu simply smirked and went back to fiddling with the device. Katsuhito, upon composing himself, went back to his post at the doorframe, thinking about what he and Washyuu had said. <"Didn't you get a look at this guy's face when he 'attacked?'" "Didn't you get a look at this guy's face when he 'attacked?'"> The question from Washyuu was playing over and over in Katsuhito's mind. -------- "Tenchi, just what in the _HELL_ were you thinking!?" Ryoko shouted in Tenchi's ear for what seemed like the thousandth time. "Ryoko's right, just what is _wrong_ with you!?" Aeka complimented Ryoko's statement with a hiss rarely heard from the Jurai princess. "Well-- I-- That is to say-- Just gimme a sec--" Tenchi stammered, trying to get at least a half of a sentence in. This was pretty much the scene in the Masaki house since earlier in the afternoon, after Washyuu had forced them to help her drag that "horrible creature" into the house. It was Tenchi who had asked Washyuu to do so, and it infuriated Ryoko and Aeka. For perhaps the first time since the two girls had come to live under the roof of the Masaki home, they were actually genuinely pissed off at "Lord Tenchi". "That--that THING that you let Washyuu take upstairs tried to _kill_ me, you know that!?" Aeka shrieked. "Why would you let a savage like that into _this house_!?" Aeka had beaten the point like a dead horse, still able to vividly recall the bolt of light flashing just inches from her face and hitting the tree. "For once, Aeka has a point Tenchi! How could you feel sorry for a beat up piece of crap like that!?" Ryoko chimed in, peering down at Tenchi with her yellow feline eyes narrowed. "Honestly, you get so naive and heartfelt sometimes, it's like your brain reverts to Mihoshi's level!" she hissed. "And what about when that beast wakes up!?" Aeka shouted. "Surely, he'll come after us all like he did at the lake!" "But I--" Tenchi attempted to protest. "Look!" Ryoko and Aeka almost hissed in unison. "What's the point in saving a worthless creature that amounts to nothing more than a frantic savage!?" Tenchi stumbled back and cowered, expecting a physical attack would soon follow. "Okay, I think that's quite enough," a voice piped up from behind the two. The girls spun around and saw Nobuyuki standing there with Sasami half hiding behind him and Ryo-Ohki shying away on her shoulder. "I think you two have yelled at Tenchi quite enough, he was only being hospitable towards our new visitor--" "This is none of your concern, Father!" Aeka snapped. "Ya, butt out, Nobuyuki!" Ryoko added. "That's enough out of you both!" Ryoko and Aeka suddenly spun around, both of them sharing a look of utter shock. Tenchi had spoken up. His voice was cold and stern, like the voice Tenchi used when he spoke to Kagato during their duel. Never in her wildest dreams did Aeka ever imagine that Tenchi would talk to _her_, or even _Ryoko_, with that voice. After a long minute of silence, Tenchi began again. "Now that I have your attention for a few seconds...you want to know why I asked Washyuu to take care of our newcomer, the 'savage' as you call him? It's simple. You might not have seen it, but Washyuu and I _both_ saw in his eyes that he was just as frightened as you two...as frightened as I was. That's why I even bothered. He was just a frightened, wounded soldier, and he looked like he was only about my own age. Trust me, if I was in his position, I would have acted the same way, and so would you two." There was silence. Aeka and Ryoko were bewildered. Nobuyuki and Sasami were speechless, never even once suspecting that Tenchi was capable of _that_...to _Aeka & Ryoko_ of all people, too! Tenchi simply sighed and sat on the arm of the couch. That one little burst of authority was enough to wear him down. "Besides," Tenchi added, "if it were either of you two...if it were either of you two, I'd have done the same thing. I'd have saved you, too." All at once, the thick air of a tense verbal standoff was replaced by a sudden...mix of emotion. "Would you...REALLY...do that for me?" Ryoko inquired. As soon as Tenchi had finished a tired nod, Ryoko's emotions burst to the surface. Misty eyed, she tackled Tenchi in another one of her rushes of lust for the young Masaki. "Oh, Tenchi! I just _knew_ you truly loved me! You'd put your life on the line just to make sure I was safe!" Ryoko cried, latching onto Tenchi in typical fashion. "Wait! You don't quite understand what I was saying!" Tenchi shrieked in surprise. "Oh yes I do! You were dropping me a hint that you loved me, Tenchi! Yes you were!" Ryoko cried with boastful joy. "Oh no you don't!" Aeka howled, gripping a handful of Ryoko's pale green hair. "Ow, damn! Let go!" Ryoko hissed. Shaking Aeka's vicelike grip, Ryoko turned to face her opponent. The two girls stood face to face, glaring into each other's eyes with looks reminiscent of the apocalypse itself. Instantly, Ryoko's fists began to glow with crackling orange energy as Aeka's Jurai power sparked to life, the protective logs surrounding her almost as quickly as the standoff had begun. "Girls! This is enough!" shouted Nobuyuki. "Ya!" agreed Tenchi. "Stop it before you tear the house apart!" "Sister!" cried Sasami, "Stop iiiiiiiiiiiiiit!" There was a sudden sound at the door; a knocking sound to be precise. Somehow, even though the screaming by all those inside the house had failed to stop them, Ryoko, with her glowing red fist raised high in the air, and Aeka, with the defensive shielding logs all around her, suddenly stopped and stared at the door. The knocking sound persisted, followed by a familiar, high-pitched voice. "Tenchi? Sasami? Can we come in?" -------- Upstairs, things were dead quiet. With the exception of a brief pause to listen out for the sudden fight downstairs, Washyuu and Katsuhito had been far less than productive: Washyuu still fiddling with the newcomer's eyepiece and Katsuhito still lost in thought in the doorframe. After the initial rumbling of the house had ceased, the two had lost interest in the activities downstairs and resumed the same old nothingness as before. "Something doesn't seem right," Washyuu finally broke the silence, putting the device back down on the table. "Oh? What's that?" inquired Katsuhito. "Well, I mean just look at him," Washyuu nodded toward the newcomer, "he had that soldier's uniform on, but he couldn't be anything more than a kid around Tenchi's age. I've never heard of any culture so savage as to send people this young into this kind of military service, save for a few unorganized revolutions. If anything, he should be in a school uniform, not some soldier's armor, _right_?" "Well Washyuu-chan, there are a few cultures in the outer borders of the--" he was cut short by a voice downstairs...Tenchi's voice, answering the door. "Coming...Oh, hi MihoKiy--...Kiyone?...What's wrong? What happened!?...Mihoshi???" Glancing over to Washyuu, Katsuhito could tell she heard it, too. He found the same look of curious confusion that he knew he wore on his face as well. "What the hell's all that about?" Washyuu asked, standing up. Apparently forgetting about her previous inquiry, she calmly stepped over to the doorframe where Katsuhito was and glanced outside. Poking her head back in, she turned to look up at Katsuhito, "Think we should put in an appearance?" "I don't see why not. They probably forgot we exist, we've been up here so long." "Well, let's go," Washyuu smirked, pushing past Katsuhito and stepping out into the hallway. Katsuhito however, didn't move. Once again, his gaze had turned to the newcomer, the one with the tail. , Katsuhito thought, looking back. He hardly even noticed Washyuu staring back at him from halfway down the hallway, arms folded. "Ahem, are you coming, or are you waiting for him to go first?" Washyuu sarcastically remarked. With that, Katsuhito snapped out of his wandering thoughts and nodded to Washyuu, moving from his perch in the doorway to follow her. As they moved to step down the staircase, they were greeted by something that sounded like...like sobbing. "Oh, hi Dad," Nobuyuki walked to the foot of the staircase to greet his father- in-law. "Ms. Washyuu, good to see you, too. I hear we have a new visitor, is it a bad time to meet him--" "Not now, not now," Katsuhito interrupted, "What's going on down here?" Nobuyuki's face suddenly went sullen as he nodded to the horseshoe-shaped set of couches around the TV in the living room. As Washyuu and Katsuhito looked where Nobuyuki was pointing them, they could see that the mood of the room had changed significantly from the fight not two minutes ago. On one side of the couch, Ryoko and Tenchi sat, but curiously, Ryoko was not making any of her typical motions toward Tenchi. Across from them sat Aeka, with Sasami just joining everyone after laying a tray down on the table with a pot of green tea. In the center sat the ever-cheerful form of Mihoshi, though she didn't look very cheerful at the moment. Everyone's worried gaze seemed fixed on a loudly sobbing figure that sat slouched over to Mihoshi's left. Her face was buried in her hands, so neither Washyuu nor Katsuhito could see her face. However, the heavy white sweater that she seemed to wear all year 'round, and the endlessly flowing deep teal hair were more than enough to identify the Galaxy Police Academy's second best graduate of all time... "Kiyone?" Washyuu asked, slowly stepping around to face her friend. Hearing only a muffled cry in return, Washyuu turned to Mihoshi with a genuine face of concern. "Mihoshi, what's going on? I've never seen her this bad before." "Something happened on her homeworld, Megami," Mihoshi explained, "there was a chain of murders of high law officials and her grandfather was one of the victims." The mere mention of her grandfather only made Kiyone's deep sobs increase in strength and volume. One could even make out a muffled moan of "Grampa, why?" through the crying. "I see," Washyuu responded to Mihoshi, glancing over to Kiyone's seemingly broken and crumpled form. "When did all this happen?" she persisted, turning back to Mihoshi. "We got the call really early in the morning a couple of days ago," Mihoshi piped up. "She's been like this ever since?" "Well, no, up until last night, she was all cata--uh--catatatta--um..." Mihoshi stammered, looking for the right word, "really, really scared stiff." "Catatonic?" Washyuu added. "Ya! That's it!" Mihoshi exclaimed, her temporary excitement turning immediately back to a depressed state as Kiyone's weeping came back into strength. As Washyuu watched her good friend in anguish, she noticed the tears seep between Kiyone's slender fingers and run down the backs of her hands a distance before plummeting to the floor. Sighing out of true sympathy, Washyuu stepped over to Kiyone, scooping up a tissue from the box on the coffee table as she went. Everyone watched silently as Washyuu stopped directly in front of Kiyone and knelt down to eye-level. "Here," Washyuu said softly, holding the tissue out to Kiyone. Looking up from her tear-soaked hands, Kiyone took the tissue, stammering a meek "Arigatou," as she did so, and wiped away what tears were still running from her dark blue eyes before blowing her nose with it. "I'm sorry you lost your grandfather," Washyuu continued, "I take it you were pretty close to him, ne?" All Kiyone could do was nod in response, as the tissue was still held firmly at her face. After wiping her nose one last time, Kiyone dropped the wadded tissue paper on the coffee table, trying her best to stave off any further rush of tears. Unfortunately, her sorrow was too much to bear and she keeled over once more in deep, loud sobs. "This should help calm your nerves," Aeka spoke up, holding a small cup of fresh green tea up to Kiyone. Thanking Aeka, Kiyone took the small cup of tea and downed the whole drink in one gulp. Kiyone perked up a bit, though still awash in tears, "It's wonderful, who made it?" she asked. "That would be Sasami's handiwork," Aeka replied. "It was terrific Sasami, doomo arigatou," Kiyone complimented, her voice a little more composed, yet still no less grief-stricken. "You're welcome," Sasami chirped. Washyuu took a seat on the couch next to Kiyone, "Now, do you know anything at all about what happened to your grandfather?" Washyuu was genuinely concerned, as Kiyone had become one of her absolute closest friends following the incidents with Kain and Tenchi's mother. "All they said was that--that the suspect was a relative of someone Grampa had sentenced to death," Kiyone grimly confided. "Sentenced to death? Was he a judge or something?" Washyuu pondered out of pure curiosity. Kiyone nodded, feeling herself about to lose it again. "And you were close to your grandpa, too," Washyuu reiterated. Tears streamed from Kiyone's face, "Yes, yes he raised me, put me through school and the academy. We were both misfits in our family, and he was the only person who--who--" Kiyone couldn't hold back anymore, and howled, bursting into another loud episode of mourning. "Oh my...come here," Washyuu spoke softly. Sobbing, Kiyone embraced Washyuu and hugged her tight. "Shhhh, shhh, it'll be okay, just let it all out," Washyuu did her best to comfort her dear friend. Kiyone buried her face into Washyuu's shoulder and weeped until she seemed to wear herself out as Washyuu lightly rubbed her back in reassurance. When Kiyone's crying had seemingly ceased, Washyuu spoke up once more, "We're all here for you, and we'll do our best to help you through this, alright? We've all lost someone near and dear to us, you'll be okay." All around, voices of agreement and acknowledgement spoke up, confirming Washyuu's kind words. "Thank you very much, everyone," Kiyone whispered, too overwhelmed with emotion to speak at a normal tone. "But that's why Mihoshi and I came over here. I have to head out to Megami tomorrow for Grampa's funeral, and they want me to stay for the investigation and court proceedings." The room fell silent and Kiyone let go of Washyuu. "I don't know how long it will take, so I wanted to stop by and say goodbye to everyone now in case it takes longer than expected," she continued. "I'm very sorry, I wish I could come back as soon as the funeral ended, but I must stay in honor of Grampa." Everyone nodded in understanding. "Kiyone?" Sasami spoke up, her voice beginning to waver. "What is it Sasami," Kiyone asked in the most gentle and reassuring voice she could muster. "You'll write to us, won't you?" Kiyone's face darkened, "I'm sorry, Sasami. By Megamian custom, any law official involved in a personal case is to be put under witness protection during the court case and for at least two months afterwards. At that time, I cannot receive or send personal messages for security purposes; I can only be contacted by Megamian law officials or the high brass of the GP." Sasami felt her face begin to tremble. Tears began to roll down her freckled cheeks and she began to sniffle. "But...but I'm going to miss you!" "Oh, I'll miss you too, sweetie," Kiyone replied, forgetting her own sorrow momentarily in place of Sasami's. "I don't want you to leave!" Sasami finally burst into tears and rushed to her. The display of concern made Kiyone nearly start crying again herself, and she knelt down to face Sasami at eye-level. "I know, I know, dear," Kiyone spoke in a soft, comforting voice as she wiped Sasami's tears away with her hand, "I don't want to have to be gone so long either, but I'll try my best to come back as soon as I possibly can, okay kiddo?" Sasami nodded and hugged Kiyone. Watching the touching scene, Washyuu and Mihoshi looked up at each other, and nodded as if the same thought had come between them... "Mihoshi," the suddenly stern voice jerked Mihoshi to attention and she quickly stood up to face her partner. "Ya, Kiyone?" "I think we should get going. I want to have time to get packed for the trip tomorrow," Kiyone sighed, standing up. Almost as if by command, everyone rose from the couch and walked to Kiyone to give their goodbyes. "Come back soon," Sasami was still standing in front of Kiyone and hugged her once more. "I will, Sasami. Count on it," Kiyone reassured the young princess, running her hand through Sasami's hair gently. Aeka and Tenchi were next to approach. "Good luck, Miss Kiyone," Aeka wished her friend luck. Officer and princess then bowed out of mutual respect. "Don't be a stranger," Tenchi lightheartedly bid Kiyone farewell. Kiyone smirked almost cheerfully at the clever remark. "You neither." "May the good spirits see you safely home," Katsuhito genuinely blessed. The two shook hands and bowed. Nobuyuki stepped up next and shook Kiyone's hand in a move of surprising tact for the man Kiyone had come to know by acquaintance as "Tenchi's ecchi father". "Hope to see you back soon," Nobuyuki bid farewell. Finally, Washyuu and Ryoko were the last two to approach. Washyuu bowed, "Remember, we're here for you. Even if we aren't there in person, we'll be there for you in spirit. Keep safe." "Arigatou," Kiyone thanked her dear friend. Washyuu rose and the two lightly hugged one more time. Lastly, Ryoko approached with a devilish grin on her face. "We've been through Hell together, and we haven't always been on the same side, y'know," Ryoko smirked. "Yeah, you don't have to tell me twice," Kiyone remarked, an air of tension from past confrontations began to surround the two. Suddenly, Ryoko stuck out her hand, "Take care, kid." Kiyone shook Ryoko's hand, "You too...kid," Kiyone smirked, matching Ryoko's expression. Kiyone stepped back and waited for Mihoshi to finish her much more temporary farewells. When she had finished, she joined her partner in the hallway to the front door. "Go get the car ready, okay Mihoshi?" Kiyone requested. "Haaaaaai," Mihoshi chirped, heading out the door. "Goodbye! Take care!" Kiyone waved, turning to walk out the door after her partner. A loud, frantic meowing sound stopped the teal-haired detective dead in her tracks, however. Turning back around, Kiyone saw Ryo-Ohki dash up to her and leap onto her shoulder. Ryo-Ohki was meowing with a loud, sorrowful sound and tears were beginning to flow from her kawaii cabbit face. Kiyone chuckled, "Ryo-Ohki, I wouldn't forget you!" She smiled and patted the little cabbit on the head. Gently, she picked up Ryo-Ohki off of her shoulder and held the cabbit up at eye-level. "Now you be good and stay out of trouble, understand?" Ryo-Ohki nodded and meowed one more goodbye. A voice called from outside, it was Mihoshi. "Kiyoooooone! The car's ready!" "Okay, Mihoshi!" Kiyone called back. Turning around, Kiyone faced the motley group of space misfits she had come to know as her family once more. Seeing everyone's faces, and knowing it would be for the last time in a very long time, Kiyone began to grow misty-eyed again. "Lord Tenchi, Honorable Nobuyuki, Honorable Katsuhito, retired space pirate Ryoko, Princess Aeka, Princess Sasami, number one genius Washyuu, Ryo- Ohki...arigatou gozaimasu...thank you all for being such great friends...for being my second family," Kiyone bowed, then slowly stepped out the door, tears beginning to roll from her face again. "Goodbye! Take care!" everyone called from inside the house. As the front door slowly closed and latched shut, a reflective silence befell everyone. A part of the Masaki Family, and the all-time second best graduate of the Galaxy Police Academy, was gone...and she would not be seen again for a very long time. Tenchi Muyo! and its characters copyrighted by Hayashi Hiroki, AIC/Pioneer, and Viz Communications. Dragon Ball Z (c) Bird Studio/Shueisha, Toei Animation. Licensed by FUNimation Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved, or as otherwise directed by FUNimation. This site is not meant to infringe on any copyrights, it is simply here as a fan's tribute to the Tenchi Muyo! and Dragon Ball series.