Ep 15 - Christmas

 

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            It was the morning of December 24, the day before Christmas. 

The sun had already crested the mountains and had begun shining its rays of

life into the windows of the Masaki home.  But despite its life giving

energy, most of the vegetation outside of the house was brown, hibernating

for the long winter.  Frost covered most of the dead, dried up leaves that

remained on the bushes and carpeted the grass in a sparkling sea of silver

light.  The lake was frozen solid, waiting for the spring thaw.  The

temperature outside was considerably below freezing, and there was no

wind.  However, one particular individual had one of the weirdest sleeping

habits out of anybody most people have ever seen.

            Sleeping soundly with his window wide open, Russ was

contentedly sawing logs under his mountain of covers.  A very light coating

of frost was on his comforter, but it didn't intrude into the room any further

than that.  He had his heat vent turned off since he had the battle with Kain,

and had slept with his window open every day since that point, and his fan

was turned on, but wasn't blowing on him.  Sasami, Aeka, Ryoko, and

Tenchi all couldn't figure out how he could tolerate that level of coldness in

his room, especially when he occasionally complained that it was too cold

in the living room.  Whenever one of them was sent to wake him, they'd

usually wind up fighting over it because nobody wanted to go into a room

where the temperature was as cold as it was outside.

            Ryoko tried to do it once, but she wasn't able to wake Russ up and

she chickened out and ran back to Tenchi, complaining that it was far too

cold for her to go in there and that it would take far too long to rouse the

sleeping saiyan out of his heavy doze.

            Aeka had done it on several occasions, but she'd always dress up

like she was going outside before venturing into his room.  Putting on her

heavy coat and mittens, she'd go into his room, spend about five minutes

shaking Russ to no avail, and then finally just throw off all of his covers. 

That usually got him up in about five seconds, causing him to run out of the

room shivering cold.  But it put him in a bad mood for part of the day.  He

hated being woken up for any reason.  Like most people, he preferred to

wake up on his own.

            Sasami, on the other hand, was a bit more creative in getting Russ

awake.  Her favorite way was simply putting Ryo-Ohki on Russ's face,

patiently waiting for him to have his allergic reaction to the cabbit.  After

about five minutes, he'd start sneezing and then drag himself out of bed. 

Despising that method the most, Russ would usually try to think of some

way to get revenge on the sneaky princess for each and every time he woke

up in a fit of sneezing.  And of course, because Russ hated it so much, it

quickly became her favorite.

            Opening his door and stepping out into the warm hallway, letting

out a huge rush of freezing cold air, Russ let out a gigantic yawn and raised

his arms over his head, letting out a deep groan in a revitalizing stretch,

closed his bedroom door, and then began to trudge to the bathroom in a

daze.  Exercising and pushing himself to his limits completely wore him out

on a daily basis.  Finally taking Washu's gravity machine to its peak of two

thousand times normal Earth gravity, he had asked the scientist if she could

make it any more powerful, but she said that doing so would be impossible. 

Plus she didn't have a power source large enough to make it any stronger,

nor could she use Russ's own energy to power it.  Disappointed, he didn't

argue with her, but he did continue to use it at its maximum level, even

though it wasn't giving him as much benefit as it used to.  He did figure that

she was fibbing slightly and just didn't want to help, but he kept his mouth

shut, deciding to just deal with the setback.

            Slowly making his way downstairs, he glanced into the living

room, which was empty of life, but looked absolutely beautiful.  A tall

Christmas tree stood in the corner of the room where the TV used to be, and

there were many decorations hung around the room as well.  Garland was

strung up on the banister and several ornaments were hanging off of that,

and a small bunch of mistletoe was hanging over the kitchen door.  Various

other figurines and decorations were strategically placed throughout the

room, and it looked absolutely perfect.  An enormous stack of presents was

positioned under and around the Christmas tree, all waiting to be opened on

Christmas Day.

            Looking from side to side cautiously, Russ made his way over to

the gifts, eyeballing the various nametags, trying to figure out who got

whom what.  Several large packages were marked with Sasami's name and

smaller, flat presents had Tenchi's, Ryoko's, Aeka's, Nobuyuki's, Lord

Katsuhito's, and Washu's names on them.  However, try as he did, he

couldn't find one with his name on it.  But there were still more presents

under the ones on top, and since he didn't want to disturb the setting, he

assumed that at least one of them were probably for him.

            He had already gone shopping for everybody, buying each person

something that he figured they'd want.  Having bought Sasami a new winter

coat and mittens, he thought she'd like that because he overheard the

princess complain that her current one was getting a little small and she was

tired of the colors.  For the others, he bought Aeka a new kimono, colored

green, gray, and red.  For Mihoshi, three boxes of those chocolate, caramel,

and pecan turtle candies.  Russ was almost going to keep a box since he was

crazy about those too.  He bought Nobuyuki a new set of architect tools and

pencils, and he bought Katsuhito a gag gift of a Hawaiian shirt, khaki

shorts, and cool set of sunglasses.  Russ started snickering quietly to himself

as he pictured the wizened man in those clothes.  Ryoko was a tough one to

buy for, but he settled on a new chick-flick movie that had come out, and he

bought Tenchi a new style of karate gi that had come out only recently.  It

was very colorful and had a few interesting designs on it in kanji.  One of

the symbols on the shoulder had read Tenchi, and he figured that it was very

cool and that Tenchi would like it.  He bought Kiyone a gift certificate for

two to a very high-class restaurant in Tokyo, hoping that it would cheer her

up a bit.  She was down in the dumps for a little while, but she had come

out of it about a week ago.  The stress from her financial troubles was

starting to get to her.  Shopping for Washu was fun to say the least.  Surfing

the Internet at a local library, he came across a website that had geek-

oriented merchandise.  There, he managed to find a watch that would tell

time in binary.  Smiling the whole time he filled out the order form, he

knew he found the perfect gift for her.

            Yawning once again, Russ turned away from the tree and made his

way to the bathroom, intending to take a nice, hot shower to start the day. 

Even though it was the day before Christmas, he felt that he had to get in a

little bit of training.  There was really nothing else to do.  He did have his

share of chores around the house, which mainly consisted of sweeping

leaves off of the path and stairway to the shrine.  It was a piece of cake for

him since he used his energy to create a massive amount of wind that

simply cleared the steps of the debris.  Tenchi glared at him and was a bit

jealous, since it usually took him at least an hour to do the steps alone, and

Russ could do it in ten minutes or less.

            Reaching the bathroom door, Russ slid it back into the wall,

noticed that it went into the women's bath again, and he slid it shut without

even peering inside.  Trying again, he re-opened the door into the men's

bath and he stepped inside, shedding his clothes and turning on the hot

water.  This was the third time that someone has tried to trick him into

going into that bath.  Having never peered inside, he knew if he did, one of

the girls would've probably been in there and the last thing he wanted to be

accused of was being a peeping tom.  However, he could never figure out

who kept doing that.  He stepped into the steam that came from the hot

water and allowed his body to relax, letting the near-scalding water run over

his muscular frame and drip into the bathtub below.

 

            "Dammit, I can never trick him into coming in here," Aeka

muttered to herself, looking at the closed door and listening to the quiet

echo of the running water from the men's bath.  Having become more

aggressive in her pursuit of Russ's affections, she had begun to try various

things to get his attention.  Her latest thing was leaving the bathroom door

open a very slight crack, which would cause the dimension shift to not

occur, and would allow Russ to open the door to the wrong bathroom. 

However, all three times, Russ just looked into the room and closed the

door, matter of factly, as if he expected it.  Maybe next time she'd ask

Washu to make the door open to the women's bath for him no matter what

he did, just for a day.  She was having a lot of fun teasing him.

            He never seemed to mind her physical touch, though, so that was a

good thing.  On occasion, she'd hang on his arm or hug him when she was

feeling down, and he always returned the attention, but only as a friend and

not as someone who wanted something more.  It drove Aeka nuts, but she

did a great job of concealing it from Russ.  He had no idea about how she

desired him, both physically and emotionally.  He was, without a shadow of

a doubt, the most handsome, well-built, interesting man she had ever

known.  Easy going, always caring, and a little mischievous, he was what

she was looking for.  Tenchi was too, even though Tenchi was a little more

stiff and strict, but that was of a time long passed and she figured it was

time to move onto other things.  He was Ryoko's, but someone had come

along to fill that void.  At least, she hoped he would.

            Sighing to herself, she lay back in the warm water and stared at the

ceiling, letting her mind wander, still listening to the soft patter of water

from the adjacent bath.  "What is it going to take to make him love me?"

she quietly said to herself, listening to her voice reverberate around the

bathroom.  Looking into the clear water at her legs, she rubbed them gently. 

They were much stronger than they used to be, as she had trained with Russ

on many occasions.  She still maintained her soft, alabaster skin and

gorgeous figure, but she could feel the added strength throughout her body

and spirit.  Training with him was not only fun, but it also gave her

something to do and look forward to.  Of course, the real reason behind it

all was to be closer to Russ.  She blushed slightly and smiled, knowing that

he probably enjoyed her company as well.  He was as good of a talker was

he was a listener.  She always had stories to tell him and things of wonder to

describe, and he always listened to all of it.  It was wonderful to have

someone who seemed to show genuine interest in the things she had to say. 

It made her feel good, and he was good at making her happy.

            Getting up out of the water, she stepped over the tiles with her

bucket of cleaning products and began to wash herself, carefully lathering

her violet hair.  The foam built up and plopped off of her head in sudsy

globs, covering the tile next to her.  Doing her best to avoid tangling her

silky smooth hair, she continued to run her fingers through it in a steady

rhythm, becoming a little envious of Tenchi and Ryoko.  They had both, on

multiple occasions, invaded the women's bath to wash each other, but in

Aeka's eyes, they were too busy playing to really clean themselves up. 

Whenever they'd both come into the bath, Aeka would shyly cover her

womanhood, blushing the whole time, and quickly dress herself and then

vacate the bath.  Tenchi would never look, much to her relief, but Ryoko

would always poke fun at her, asking her if she was embarrassed to show

Tenchi what she was made of.  Unconsciously scrubbing her hair a little

harder, she realized what she was doing when her head started to hurt a

little.  But a few moments later, she sadly looked at the empty space next to

her, wishing that one day that Russ may want to be by her side for the same

thing.  Grabbing her bucket, she filled it with the warm water from the bath

and dumped it over her head, rinsing out a tremendous amount of lather. 

She dumped a second bucket over her head to make sure she got all the soap

out, and then she began to wash her body, carefully scrubbing every single

portion of her skin, being careful to work around the necklace that Tenchi

and Ryoko had given her almost half a year ago.

            "I hope he gives me a sign one of these days that he's willing to

accept me into his heart," Aeka thought to herself.  Looking to see that

wonderful smile of his every day of her life was something that she wanted

more than anything, and she had to find a way to make it happen.  Finishing

her washing, she again dumped several buckets of water over her body, and

then made her way over to the towels, where she quickly dried herself.  She

had brought a fresh set of clothes with her into the bath, and she held up the

shirt in front of herself.  It was a light blue sweater, made on Earth, with

several designs on the front of it.  It had a hood attached to the back and a

couple strings from it hung down the front.

            "Weird clothing, these earthlings have," she said to herself, setting

it down and picking up the undershirt.  Quickly putting it on along with her

other undergarments, she slid the sweater over her head, carefully pulling

her hair out of the back of it, and tested the fit.  Surprisingly, the material

was soft and warm, and she found it to her liking.  Holding up a pair of

jeans, she frowned at the styling.  Deciding to deal with it, she slid her legs

into the pants and hitched them up, snapping the button around her waist,

again, shifting it around to test the fit.  The material was a little rougher than

what she was used to, but she felt that she did look good in them.  The blue

sweater was a lighter shade than the jeans were, but they still went together

quite well.  One long pocket was around her waist, and she carefully put

both her hands in on either side, and then admired herself in the mirror,

noticing that she really did look good in Earth clothing.  Hoping that it

would catch Russ's attention, she took notice that the soft patter of water

had ceased from the men's bath, and she figured that Russ had finished his

morning shower.  Hoping to catch him on his way out, she made her way

over to the bathroom door.

 

            "Tenchi?  Are you awake?" Ryoko whispered over to her lover,

who appeared to still be dozing quietly next to her.  She had her body

pressed closely to his, feeling his warmth, as the temperature in the room

was below her liking.  It was just too cold for her tastes.  She always did say

that she hated Earth because of the bad weather, but she also said that she'd

endure Hell to be with Tenchi, and because Earth was his home, she made it

her home.  She figured that she could deal with a little bit of coldness if it

meant spending the rest of her life with him.  And besides, he was plenty

warm enough for her.

            "Good morning, Ryoko.  Merry Christmas," Tenchi whispered

back, looking into her golden, kittenish eyes.  He bent and kissed her, then

rolled onto his side to face her directly.

            Ryoko smiled.  "It isn't Christmas until tomorrow, silly," she

giggled quietly, and then kissed him.

            Tenchi returned the kiss and continued to smile.  Six months ago,

he wouldn't have been caught dead sleeping with any of the girls, but now,

he couldn't believe what he had missed, and it still felt almost surreal that

he was here with the most beautiful girl in existence.  She had always been

there for him, even after he had gotten mad at her and done stuff that had

hurt her feelings in the past.  He regretted doing those things now,

especially after he learned how emotionally sensitive she was.  Those awful

things he said to her years ago must've really hurt her.  On occasion, he felt

that he didn't deserve her love, devotion, or passion.  However, whenever

he felt that way, Ryoko would do something to bring him out of his

depression, almost as if she could sense that he was troubled.  She was such

a remarkable girl in so many ways that mere words couldn't describe it. 

            He didn't know it at the time, but his heart had a void, an

emptiness, that was waiting to be filled with the love of another.  That

emptiness had existed since his mother had died, but his mind chose to

ignore it, leaving his heart to ache.  Never having a womanly figure as a

part of his upbringing, he was bewildered when all the girls had entered his

life, causing his normal routine to go up into a cloud of chaos and fun.  That

void had slowly begun to fill, but only part way.  Being caught in between

both girls tore him apart, but he never allowed either Aeka or Ryoko to

know about it.  Hiding his own feelings and burying them deep down, he

did his best to be impartial to both girls, knowing that one day he would

have to eventually choose.  That day came swiftly, and he knew that the

choice was made, shortly after he came back from the Haruna incident. 

Ryoko seemed to be more calm and collective, but seemed to stay close to

him far more than Aeka did.  That was further engraved into his mind when

Ryoko would hang on him, but not have Aeka object anymore.  Instead,

she'd simply smile and continue with whatever she was doing, trying her

best to hide her jealousy, sadness, and depression.  The thing was, HE never

chose.  Both girls decided for him.  However, it still hurt him and he knew it

hurt Aeka, but that pain had become so miniscule now that he simply forgot

that it was ever there.

            If Russ hadn't arrived when he did, things might've been very

different.  As far as he knew, she was planning on returning to Jurai to

assume her duties as the Royal Princess.  She had asked him on one

occasion that if she ever had to return to Jurai, if he'd allow Sasami to

remain here, since she figured Sasami would've wanted that.  Realizing that

she was still extremely upset over the way the decision was made, he made

certain that she knew that she could remain at his place for as long as she

wanted.  He figured that she was just about ready to leave when Russ

arrived and began living with them.

            Now Russ was a character.  He had never, ever seen a man as well

built as he was.  A mountain of muscle was an understatement.  Russ's arms

were as thick as his head, and his legs were like tree trunks.  He had known

a few people similar in appearance to Russ, but all of them turned out to

have a nasty, arrogant attitude that made his skin crawl.  All they seemed to

talk about were how many girls were attracted to them and how much they

could bench press.  But Russ was very different.  He always did his best to

be friendly to everybody, lend a helping hand, and all around try to be a

nice guy.  He was actually pretty smart too, unlike the other bodybuilders. 

In a way, Russ was similar to himself, but he was different as well.  Instead

of simply accepting Aeka like any of those other meatheads would have, he

turned her down flat on the first day he met her, but not because of

arrogance, but because he said that it was to protect her.  He still wasn't

sure why he said it that way, but it came as a surprise to him.

            In the past six months, watching both Aeka and Russ get to know

each other better, he noticed a change in both individuals.  Aeka had

become a little more aggressive in her quest to make him hers, and Russ

didn't seem to run away from her as often as he used to.  They spent a

tremendous amount of time together, whether it be training, cooking,

cleaning, shopping, eating, watching a movie, playing games, or any

number of activities.  They almost appeared as a couple, but Russ always

made sure that she knew that they were just friends.  He knew those words

hurt Aeka again and again, and he had confronted Russ about it on several

occasions, but he would always calmly explain why he did what he did. 

The strange thing was the reason was always different.  One time it was to

protect her.  Another time it was because he wasn't interested.  And yet

another time it was because he wasn't ready yet.  Every excuse beat around

the same bush, and that was he simply didn't want a girlfriend.  But being a

man himself, he still couldn't figure out why a man wouldn't want to take a

mate for himself.  It almost felt like it was out of a fictional movie.  If it had

been Ryoko or Aeka by herself when either entered his life, he probably

would've fallen in love with one of them a lot sooner, but being torn

between the two most gorgeous females on this side of the galaxy kept him

from choosing and falling in love.

            "What are you thinking about, Tenchi?" Ryoko asked softly,

gently running her fingers through Tenchi's hair.  "You look lost in

thought."

            "I am a little.  I was just thinking about the last six months. 

Thinking about us, and thinking about Russ and Aeka.  Just remembering

some stuff that happened during that time."  Tenchi reached over and gently

caressed her arm, feeling his way down the length of her warm, soft body.

            "No need to worry about them, Tenchi.  I think Russ will come

around soon," Ryoko said, grasping Tenchi's hand in her own and giving it

a tender squeeze.  "He just needs a little more time or a swift kick in the rear

to get him going."

            "I'm not so sure about that, Ryoko.  He seems pretty serious about

not wanting Aeka."

            Ryoko frowned, narrowing her eyes slightly.  "I know.  But she's

been working at it and I think he's starting to loosen up a little.  We'll have

to wait and see."

            Tenchi yawned, rolled onto his back, and then sat up.  "I suppose. 

I just hope he doesn't wind up hurting Aeka's feelings."

            "I think it's too late for that, Tenchi.  He hurt her feelings the day

he met her by telling her no."

            Sighing quietly to himself, he looked over at Ryoko, who was still

snuggled under the covers.  "I already know that any amount of pressure

won't bend him, but would probably make him angry.  We should just leave

it alone.  He may yet come around.  We'll have to wait and see, like you

said."

            "Yeah.  I suppose you're right," she said, sitting up, feeling the

cooler air rush onto her back, giving her goosebumps.  Letting out an

audible shiver, she latched onto Tenchi and smiled.  "Brrrr!  It's cold in

here!"

            "Hah.  This is warm compared to Russ's room.  I don't know how

in the world he can sleep like that," Tenchi said, wrapping his arm around

his girl, feeling the goosebumps that sprouted on her back.

            "Me neither.  Anyway, lets go downstairs and get something to eat,

and then we can take a bath.  Russ is probably still sleeping and Aeka is

probably up destroying the kitchen," she giggled.

            Tenchi looked fearfully into Ryoko's face, and then smiled.  "It's

not like you or I can cook either," he teased.  "Sasami is the master chef

around here, but Russ comes in a close second.  The food he makes tastes

great, but is really not all that healthy.  At least, not according to Washu.  It

works for him because he burns all of that energy when he exercises."

            "True.  Anyway, let's go.  I'm getting hungry.  I'd even eat Aeka's

cooking at this point," she said, letting her stomach croak loudly.

            Tenchi chuckled quietly as he tossed back the covers, letting both

of them out of the bed to dress and head downstairs.

 

            Sasami was busy in the kitchen, as usual, preparing an extremely

massive breakfast for everybody.  Since Russ had come to live with them,

she had begun making triple portions of everything, knowing full well that

Russ was a garbage disposal; able to eat everything you threw at him.  He

used to tell her that he'd eat anything as long as it wasn't running too fast.

            Speedily slicing up a cucumber, she tipped the cutting board into

the frying pan, allowing the cucumber slices to slide off.  One slice missed

the pan and fell onto the counter, but Sasami quickly picked it up and ate it,

licking the water off of her fingers.

            "Hey, good morning, Sasami.  What are you making today for

breakfast?" Nobuyuki asked, peering into the kitchen from the doorway.

            Sasami turned and smiled.  "Just the usual.  A little of this, a little

of that," she giggled.

            "Ahhh.  Do you need any help in there?"

            "Nope!  I'm just about finished anyway.  Thanks for the offer

though!" she answered, smiling, and then turning toward the frying pan,

stirring the vegetables with her cooking chopsticks.

            Nobuyuki smiled, remaining in the doorway as he watched her dart

around the kitchen, gathering ingredients and cooking them skillfully.  She

was so full of life and energy that it made him think back to the love of his

life, Achika.  She too was always happy, always outgoing, and could always

bring a smile to his face no matter what mood he was in.  Just the sight of

her gorgeous figure, her wonderful brown eyes, her black hair in a pony tail,

was enough to make him not have a care in the world.

            He could see a lot of Achika in Sasami, as she hurried around the

kitchen.  She was usually happy, was always caring, and she was an

incredibly hard worker.  She never really took a day to herself, but if she

did, the whole house would probably fall apart.  It almost did when she got

the flu about a month ago.  She was out of it for a couple days, but

fortunately, Russ was around to take over.  He did everything she had done

and more, saying that she needed her rest.  Aeka did her best to help in the

kitchen but she'd always botch whatever it was she was cooking.  Raw

sewage would've probably had a more appealing taste than some of the

awful things that, quite literally, crawled out of her frying pan as if it were

still alive.  Most of them would disintegrate when someone touched it. 

Russ teased her on several occasions, saying that she was as bad of a cook

as Akane from Ranma ½ and was just as ill tempered.  Nobuyuki laughed

quietly to himself as he remembered the chaos that ensued.  For nearly five

minutes, Aeka chased Russ around the kitchen with a meat cleaver,

screaming that she was going to kill him, which made Russ only laugh that

much harder.

            "Do you need something?" Sasami asked, noticing that Nobuyuki

hadn't moved from his spot in the doorway.

            Suddenly realizing that he was caught daydreaming, he smiled and

shook his head no.  "Sorry.  I'll let you get back to work."  He turned and

left the kitchen, leaving Sasami watching after him in concern.

 

            "Good morning, Russ," Aeka greeted, opening the door after Russ

had left the men's bath.

            Russ turned around and smiled, and had a double take when he

saw what Aeka was wearing.  "G'morning.  Nice sweater," he said.  "I

thought you didn't like Earth clothes."  Russ was dressed in a sweater and

jeans as well, except his sweater was red.

            She grinned and made her way over to the saiyan.  "Most of the

time I don't, but I like these sweaters.  Do… you think it looks good on

me?"

            Russ stopped in his tracks, a small amount of perspiration covering

his head.  His eyes wandered up and down her figure, and he suddenly felt a

little flushed.  She watched him curiously, raising her eyebrow, getting a

little closer to him in an attempt to make him uncomfortable, and to allow

him to look down her sweater, giving him a little view.  Snickering quietly

to himself, he decided to be a smartass this morning.  "Does my opinion

matter?" he questioned flatly.

            Aeka took it right in stride.  "No, not really."

            Cocking his eyebrow curiously, he started chuckling.  "Good

answer.  I'm glad you loosened up a little."

            "I thought you'd like that," she said, pushing her way past him,

letting her long ponytails hang out behind her.  "I'm hungry."

            "Me too."

            "You're always hungry," Aeka retorted.

            Russ stuck out his tongue and gave her a raspberry, making hand

gestures to enhance the effect, and he continued to quietly make a ruckus

behind her back as they made their way to the breakfast table.  Aeka knew

what he was doing, but decided to ignore it.

            "Hello everyone," Russ said, noticing everybody seated at the table

already.  Kiyone, Mihoshi, Katsuhito, Nobuyuki, Sasami, Ryoko, and

Tenchi were all there, in the process of putting food on their plates.

            "Hi Aeka!  It's been a while," Kiyone greeted.  "Same goes for

you, Russ.  How have you two been?"

            "Well, we…" they both said in unison.  They looked at each other

and Russ gestured for her to go ahead.

            "We've been doing pretty good.  It's been really cold outside, so I

haven't done much, but Russ here still trains like there is no tomorrow,"

Aeka explained.  "I don't know how he can stand such cold weather."

            Kiyone laughed.  "He's dedicated.  That's all there is to it."

            Russ grinned.  "Thanks Kiyone.  How have you and Mihoshi been

doing?  Are you looking forward to tomorrow?"

            "Oh yes!" Mihoshi said, interrupting her partner.  "We haven't had

much free time to do anything since we're still working our butts off to pay

for the rent…"

            "Would you shut up about that Mihoshi?!" Kiyone yelled,

clamping her hand over the blonde's mouth.  "You do this every single time

anybody asks that!"

            Russ shook his head.  "Sorry to hear about that.  I know it's rough,

but you two girls do a great job," he said, giving them both a big smile.

            "Thanks.  I needed to hear that," Kiyone said, sounding relieved.

            Russ eyeballed all the food that was on the table, causing his

stomach to roar in anticipation.  "BREAKFAST TIME!" he said,

zanzokening to his seat at the table and immediately stuffing food in his

face.  However, the family kept right on eating, as they had finally gotten

used to the way he consumed his food.

            Aeka shook her head and laughed, then took her seat next to him

and began to delicately eat her meal.

 

            It was already dark outside when Russ finished his training, even

though it was only about seven in the evening.  It was still cold, just a

hairline above freezing, and an icy breeze was blowing from the west.  The

sky was overcast, indicating a weather system was moving into the area. 

After a couple minutes, a few flurries of snow began to fall, steadily

increasing and gathering in intensity.

            Russ stood outside next to the lake, watching the snowflakes drift

onto the ground, listening to the silence of the surrounding area.  He could

barely make out the wind as it blew through the bare branches of the

hibernating trees, but he could feel it through his coat and long underwear. 

The snow always gave him a sense of peace and solitude.  It was very

soothing to watch the snowflakes come down from the sky in irregular

patterns, only to fall apart when they hit the ground or bumped into his coat.

            It had been years since Russ had snow on Christmas day.  Most of

the time while he lived in Michigan of the United States, they wouldn't get

a large quantity of snow until after the holidays.  Michigan had some really

screwy weather.  It could be sixty degrees outside one day and literally have

five inches of snow on the ground the next.  At least the weather in Japan

was a little more moderate.

            He slowly walked off toward the shrine steps, his feet leaving

tracks in the dusting of snow.  Making his way up the long stairway, he kept

himself very quiet, just admiring the fluffy white stuff that came down,

covering the ground.  A trail of footprints followed him up the stairway, as

he made his way higher and higher toward the shrine.  Finally reaching the

top, he looked around the land, which was bare, dead, and lifeless, except

for the glimmer of candlelight that danced in Katsuhito's window.  Looking

past the shrine, he saw another clearing, which seemed to be another bluff

overlooking another valley.  Carefully, quietly, making his way there, he

stopped when he reached the edge and took in the surrounding area.  It was

absolutely huge and beautiful, but a little difficult to see through the

millions of snowflakes that fell from the sky.  Looking off to his right, he

noticed a tree there and a gravestone.

            "Hmmm…" he muttered to himself as he made his way over and

knelt down in front of it.  The stone read, "Achika.  May her body and soul

rest in peace."

            "I had no idea that her grave was actually here at this shrine," Russ

said to Katsuhito, who had come up behind him.

            Katsuhito grinned.  "There's no sneaking up on you, is there?"

            Russ shook his head.  "Nah.  When I'm alone and there is not

much life around, I can sense just about anything coming my way.  Your

life force is a dead giveaway, no matter how far you lower it.  About the

only person who probably could sneak up on me would be Zorpheus.  We

both learned the ability to cloak our energy so we could sneak up on

others."

            "I see.  Anyway, what are you doing out here?" the wizened man

asked, now standing next to Russ.

            "Just enjoying the snow," he replied.  "This is the first time I've

seen Achika's grave over here.  I guess I just never noticed it before," Russ

said, looking down at the stone.

            Katsuhito's expression was unreadable.  "It was snowing almost

like this, on the day that she died.  I always come out here to pay my

respects to my daughter on the first snowfall of the year," he explained.

            Russ looked at him in mild surprise.  "She was your daughter?  I

never knew.  I'm sorry," Russ said, unable to express his feelings any better

than that at the moment.

            "It's okay.  I miss her and so do Nobuyuki and Tenchi.  If I know

them, they'll be out here in a little while to pay their respects as well."

            Turning back to the gravestone, Russ looked down on it once

more.  "Well, I guess I better head back to the house.  There isn't much for

me to do right now.  I don't feel like playing the organ or doing much of

anything.  Not many people know this, but I always get depressed around

the Christmas holiday.  I don't know why, especially when everybody is

usually so festive, bright, and cheery."  He laughed to himself.  "I sound

silly, don't I?"

            Katsuhito shook his head.  "No.  A lot of people seem to get

depressed around Christmas.  The stress of making others happy usually

weighs heavily on them.  If a person has no family, that makes them feel

depressed because Christmas is so family oriented."

            His eyes widening a little, Russ looked over at the Shinto priest.  "I

think that's it.  That may be why I get so down during this season.  I have

no family left."

            Both of their eyes met for a moment, until Russ hung his head. 

"My parents died some time ago.  I have no brothers or sisters and I don't

have very many close friends.  Living with you guys has slightly lifted that

burden, but it still isn't the same.  At least, not yet."

            "It takes time to overcome any kind of grief.  Some people never

get over it.  Tenchi still greatly misses his mother, even though he barely

knew her.  She died when he was very young, but despite that, he still

thinks of her constantly.  There have been many occasions where he had

asked me about Achika and what she was like.  About the only memories

we have left of her are a handful of photographs and an old eight millimeter

film that Nobuyuki took of her when they began dating," Katsuhito

explained, watching Russ's changing expressions.  "Ever since Kain had re-

appeared, he again started questioning why that monster had done what he

had done and why he took his mother away from him."

            Russ nodded his head.  "I see.  How come you didn't come to help

us fight Kain when he appeared?  I know you must've sensed him."

            "There was nothing that I could do.  Tenchi has far surpassed my

own abilities when he learned to control the Lighthawk Wings.  I did watch

from the top of the hill that day and was amazed at my grandson's abilities. 

However, he is still sloppy with a sword."

            Russ chuckled.  "I know.  I watch the way you pound him from

time to time and he never seems to get the hang of it."

            Grinning, Katsuhito turned toward the cliff and made his way to

the edge, looking into the valley below.  "I also saw you fight Kain down

there.  I've never seen anything like the things you had done in my entire

life.  The sheer amount of energy you were producing was nothing short of

godlike.  How did you become so powerful?  Before we met you, the

Jurians were the most powerful beings in existence."

            Russ stepped up next to Katsuhito and looked out into the gray

sky.  "Saiyans were made to be a warrior race.  The main goals of saiyans in

the past were to become the most powerful race in the universe.  Our bodies

were designed to fight and nothing more.  When we lose, we become

stronger.  The saiyan race developed many techniques and attacks to help us

in our endeavors, but even so, there were a few people out there who were

still far more powerful than us.  The Frieza guy I told you about some time

ago, used to use our race as slaves.  He'd order us to take over planets for

his ever-growing empire.  One day, we rebelled, and lost.  Frieza

completely annihilated our planet and everybody on it.  Hundreds of

millions lost their lives that day except for Goku, Vegeta, Nappa, Raditz,

and our little contingent of rejects that had settled on a distant planet on the

other side of the galaxy.  Frieza was afraid of us.  Afraid that one of us

would eventually become a super saiyan, like myself.  That was a threat to

his power, so he eliminated it, or at least, tried to," Russ described, calling

on the memories of his upbringing and the stories his father had told him. 

"We gain strength at a rapid pace and we learn to fight almost before we

can walk.  That is why we're so strong.  When you saw my hair and energy

turn yellow and my eyes green, you saw my transformation into a super

saiyan.  And you want to know something that is even wilder than that? 

There are levels beyond what you saw.  Three more levels, to be exact. 

What you saw was only a small amount of power that our bodies are

capable of generating, but I haven't reached the next level yet.  But I'm

close.  I can feel it."

            "You saiyans are certainly the most powerful people I've ever

seen.  What are you going to do when Zorpheus arrives?" Katsuhito

questioned.  "I'd be worried about you two destroying the planet and

everybody on it.  What about us?"

            "I've already given that a lot of consideration, and Washu has

agreed to an idea that I had.  She has already begun work on it," Russ said,

looking into Katsuhito's violet eyes.

            Katsuhito looked at him curiously.  "Well?"

            "Washu has made a separate dimension from this one for us to

fight in.  The universe is identical to this one, except, no intelligent life. 

Just plants.  It's a perfectly replicated Earth and solar system.  All that

needs to happen when he arrives is to transport the two of us there and we

can fight unobstructed.  Whatever goes on in there should not affect this

dimension.  When we transport, everybody except us will seem to have

disappeared, when in fact, it's us who will be moved.  It's one thing that

Washu was more than willing to help me out with."

            Katsuhito nodded his head in approval.  "I see.  Excellent idea."

            "You will be able to watch us as well, since Washu can use her

technology to see into that other dimension.  But what will go on in there is

far beyond what you've seen already.  Me blowing away Kain was child's

play in comparison to the way Zorpheus and myself will be doing."

            "I see.  Well, we should be getting back inside.  Sasami will

probably want to go to bed early in hopes that Santa will bring some

goodies for her," Katsuhito said, grinning.

            Russ smiled.  "I think Santa is going to be very kind to everybody

this year.  Ho ho ho," he chuckled.

            Katsuhito raised an eyebrow and looked at Russ curiously.  "I have

a feeling you have a couple of surprises in store for us."

            Grinning widely, Russ nodded his head.  "You'll just have to wait

and see for tomorrow.  There will be a few things that are nothing short of a

miracle."

            "I look forward to it then."

            "Okay.  Good evening, Lord Katsuhito."

            "See you in the morning, Russ."

 

            "Come on you guys!  The sooner we go to bed the sooner morning

will come," Sasami begged, pulling on her sister's arm.

            It was nine o'clock at night, and it was about an hour before

everybody usually went to bed.  Sasami was very anxious and jumpy, as

most young children are when it comes to Christmas.  She was convinced

Santa was going to come, as she had learned of the Earth fable from Tenchi. 

Instead of telling her that he didn't exist, they decided to allow her to

believe in him and she somehow managed to convince herself that he really

did exist.

            "Okay, okay.  We're going," Aeka responded, annoyed, as her

sister had been bugging everybody to go to bed for the past hour.

            "Good.  Now everybody, up to bed!" Sasami commanded, drawing

a big grin from everybody, including Russ.

            "Yes, your highness," Russ responded, marching himself up to his

bedroom, followed by everybody else.  Sliding open his door, a blast of

cold air slammed into his skin, causing him to break out in goosebumps. 

Kiyone and Mihoshi were right behind him when he opened his door and

they looked at him in shock.

            "Why is it so cold in your room, Russ?" Kiyone asked as he

stepped inside.

            Russ turned around and grinned.  "My window is wide open.  This

is how I sleep," he answered, then slid his door closed, leaving a

flabbergasted pair of Galaxy Police officers in the hallway.

            "Wow," Mihoshi said, blankly looking at his door.

            "Come on.  We better head off to bed too or Sasami will have our

heads."

            Mihoshi laughed.  "And Santa comes tonight!  Yay!"

            Kiyone just hung her head in disgust and marched off to her room,

tailed by her partner.

 

            A short five minutes later, everybody was in his or her rooms and

under their blankets, trying to fall asleep.  Insomnia was present in nearly

every instance, but they slowly managed to doze off, one at a time.  The

only person who did not fall asleep was Russ, as he was patiently waiting

for everyone else to drift into unconsciousness.  Nearly two hours after he

went to bed, he got back up, quietly let himself out of his room, and being

extra careful to not make any noise, he floated down the stairs and into the

living room, where he fished his coat out of the closet.  Speedily putting it

on, he stepped outside, closed the door behind him, and lifted off into the

night sky, heading off to Korin's tower.

            As he got further away from the Masaki home, he began to pour

his energy into flying, causing his aura to flare around him in a brilliant

shade of green.  A vapor trail marked his flight path as he moved faster and

faster, and he made his way to the tower in very little time.  Reaching the

base of the tower, he flew straight up for a few moments until he reached

Kame's lookout, where Dende and Mister Popo were waiting for him.

            "Hi!  How are you guys doing?" Russ greeted.  He landed in front

of them and nodded his head in respect.

            "Hello, Russ.  We're doing well.  It's nice to see you again,"

Dende said, stepping over to the saiyan and extending his right hand and

arm, which he grasped in a warm handshake.

            Russ smiled widely.  "I'm glad to hear it.  Mister Popo, you look

well."

            "I am," he responded in his deep voice.  "Thank you."

            "You're welcome.  Anyway, lets get straight to the point.  Did you

guys manage to collect the Dragonballs?"

            Reaching behind his back to a sack he had, Dende handed it over

to Russ.  Carefully untying the string around it, an orange ball shone in the

dim sunlight that the lookout still had.  Four stars were in the middle of the

ball, and under it, six more balls, each with a corresponding number of

stars.

            "Oh, this is too awesome.  I really, really appreciate this you guys. 

But I do have a question.  Can I make a wish that would modify the dragon

slightly?"

            "What did you have in mind, Russ?" Dende questioned.

            Russ looked at the balls, and then at the namek.  "I want to take

away the dragon's ability to grant immortality to anyone who asks for it."

            Looking dumbfounded for a moment, Dende scratched his head. 

"I don't know.  You'd have to ask him."

            "What is his name, anyway?"

            "Shenron is the dragon's name," Popo said.

            "Hmmm.  Well, let's get this show on the road and see what I can

do.  Again, thanks a million for finding these things for me.  I don't know

what I can do to repay this favor," Russ said, looking at the smiling namek

and at Popo.

            "It's okay.  You're so much like Goku in mind and spirit that it

was a treat to be able to do this for you.  No need to thank us."

            Russ bowed deeply.  "Thank you."

            Stepping away from the temple and into the courtyard, Russ

carefully arranged all seven balls in a circle, with the seven star ball in the

middle.  All the balls began to glow with energy when he set the last one in

place, and he backed off a bit, startled that it began doing that.

            "Heh.  I guess I'm a little jumpy with anticipation," Russ called

back to Dende.  "Here we go!"

            Stepping back several paces, he spread his arms wide and called

forth the dragon.  "Shenron!  Eternal Dragon!  Appear before me and grant

my wishes!" he yelled.

            The balls began to glow intensely, and the clouds over Kame's

lookout grew dark and ominous, as thunderclaps roared in the distance. 

Yellow streaks of lightning began arcing through the clouds, and then,

without warning, a massive bolt of golden lightning slammed into the balls,

causing them to light up in a brilliant flash of yellow energy.  Russ shielded

his eyes in surprise and watched the spectacle in awe, as a huge, golden,

snakelike thing formed in the clouds over his head.  After a few more

minutes, the golden energy faded away and a massive, long green dragon

floated over his head.

            "My god, LOOK at that thing," Russ whispered to himself, as this

was the first time he had ever seen something as radical as this.

            "You have summoned me.  I will now grant you three wishes.  Tell

me your first wish," Shenron rumbled, shaking the ground he stood on with

his powerful, booming voice.

            "Eternal Dragon.  Can I make a wish that will affect you?" Russ

asked, finally overcoming his shock to seeing such a massive entity. 

            Looking at him with his intense, blood red eyes, the dragon

rumbled to himself.  "Make your wish," he responded.

            "My first wish is for you to lose the ability to grant immortality to

anyone or anything that asks for it," Russ shouted up to the beast, hoping

against hope that he could grant such a request.

            Shenron's eyes began to glow an intense red, as his body glowed

an incredible shade of yellow.  A few moments later, the glowing ceased.

            "Your wish has been granted," he rumbled.

            Russ breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.  "Thank you, Eternal

Dragon!"

            "Tell me your second wish," he requested.

            "Yes, of course.  My second wish…" Russ said thoughtfully, and

then remembered.  "I know.  My second wish is…"

 

            Strong, radiant sunlight pierced through the darkness, sending it

away for the dawn of a new day.  It was super bright outdoors, especially

with the way the sun reflected off of the ten inches of snow that had fallen

the night before.  It sparkled like a perfect diamond, completely

undisturbed.  It was so peaceful and serene outside that it could've melted

even the most foul of moods.

            Russ, ironically, was the first to awaken this morning of Christmas

Day.  Being extra quiet, he put on a new red sweater, which had 'Merry

Christmas' etched in English across the front, the green lettering covered in

white snow and icicles hanging off of some of the letters.  Leaving his room

very quietly, he crept downstairs into the living room where the light of

dawn was able to illuminate the surrounding area, allowing him to see

clearly.  However, he closed the blinds that faced the lake, but there was

still plenty of light remaining to be able to see clearly.

            He sat down on the organ bench and patiently waited for

everybody else to wake up.  It wasn't five minutes before he heard Sasami's

voice and the light thumping of footsteps as she ran down the hallway to the

stairs.

            "Good morning, Sasami!  Merry Christmas!" Russ greeted her.

            "Merry Christmas, Russ!" she said, throwing her arms around his

neck in an affectionate hug.  "Can we open presents now?"

            Russ fell over and started laughing.  "Hold your horses, Sasami. 

Wait for everybody else to come down here first, you know?"

            Aeka was next down the stairs, and she looked a little sleepy, but

happy.

            "Merry Christmas, Aeka," Russ said with a big smile.

            "Same to you," she responded, giving him a hug.  Russ blushed.

            "Why are these blinds closed?" Aeka asked while pointing to the

ones that Russ had shut a few minutes ago.

            Russ stood up and moved toward her.  "Don't open those yet.  I'll

let you know when you can, okay?  And no peeking behind them either, or

you'll ruin the surprise."

            "Is it for me?"

            "Maybe," Russ answered, grinning.  "Just don't peek behind them. 

The same goes for you, Sasami," he said, watching her move over to the

window, but she stopped when Russ caught her.

            "Rats," she muttered to herself, then went back to the couch where

she plopped into the cushions, folding her arms over her chest.

 

            A few minutes later, the entire family had come downstairs and

made their way into the living room.  The tree was lit and so were the other

decorations, and it looked positively festive.  Russ smiled widely, as the

happy mood was contagious.  Nobuyuki had already gotten his video

camera and was busy taping the whole thing.  Lord Katsuhito had shown up

a few moments later and made himself right at home.

            "Can we open presents NOW?" Sasami asked, looking like she

was going to explode from the excitement.

            Russ laughed, and then smiled.  "Yeah, go for it.  I'll pass out the

presents, if that's okay."

            "Hurry up then," the little princess ordered, fidgeting with her

sweater in anticipation.

            Shaking his head, the saiyan made his way over to the tree and sat

down on the floor, reached over for the first package, and read the nametag. 

"This one is for Sasami, from Aeka," he announced, handing over the green

package.

            Eagerly shredding the wrapping paper, she withdrew a brand new

china set from within the confines of the box.  "Oh wow, these are

absolutely beautiful.  Thank you, Aeka!" she said, giving her sister a hug.

            "You're welcome, Sasami."

            "Okay, next up, we have Aeka, from Sasami!" Russ said, handing

over another package.

            Carefully opening it up, she opened the box to find a brand new

green bathrobe.  Aeka held it up and admired it, then hugged her sister in

gratitude.

            "Well, lets speed this up a bit," Russ said, grabbing several gifts

from under the tree.  "Kiyone, this is from Mihoshi.  Washu, this is from

Tenchi.  Ryoko, this is from Katsuhito," he said, distributing the gifts. 

"Mihoshi, this is from Washu.  Nobuyuki, this one is from me.  Katsuhito,

this one is from me," he said, handing it over with a slight grin.  Katsuhito

didn't notice.

            "Okay, let's see here," Russ said, shifting positions to get within

reach of some of the other gifts.  "Aeka, this one is from Washu.  Sasami,

this one is from Nobuyuki," he said, handing the little princess another gift. 

It took her about two seconds to completely destroy all the wrapping paper

around it to uncover a new set of kitchen knives.

            "I've been wanting a new set of these!  Thank you, father!" she

said, giving Nobuyuki a big hug.  He smiled and blushed.

            "Anything for you, Sasami!  You deserve it."

            Russ continued to distribute the gifts to everybody, keeping the

ones that had his name on it nearby.  After nearly twenty minutes of

ripping, tearing, and opening, all the gifts had been given.  Russ got a

variety of new clothes, including that same full-length leather coat that he

saw in the mall about six months ago, complete with sunglasses.  That came

from Aeka, which he thanked her with a big hug.  She seemed satisfied.  He

also got a bunch of new exercise suits, a variety of summer clothing

including a new swimsuit, shorts, and t-shirts.  Unfortunately, he didn't get

anything in terms of new technology, and he was slightly hoping for

something along those lines.  But he didn't let it bother him.

            "Well, is everybody satisfied with your gifts?" Russ asked, still

sitting on the floor.

            "Yes!" came the unanimous answer.

            "Hold everything!" Tenchi announced, standing up from his seat

on the couch.

            Everybody stopped and looked at him, curious as to what he

wanted.

            "I have one more gift to give."

            Watching him curiously, Tenchi walked over to where Ryoko was

sitting and offered his hand, which she accepted graciously.  Gently pulling

her up, he stepped back a few paces and faced her, his face slightly blue and

pale as his hands trembled.

            "Tenchi?" she said, looking at the tenseness in his face.

            He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to make

himself relax.  Dropping down to one knee, he reached behind him, pulled

out a gift that he had stashed in his clothes behind his back, and clapped his

hands together in front of him, revealing a very small velvet box.  Looking

at her in an intenseness that she had only seen a couple of times before, she

waited for what he had to say or what he was going to do.

            "Ryoko, I know you've been waiting for this for a long time, and

I'm finally ready for it," he said, opening up the small box, revealing a

gorgeous, diamond engagement ring.  "Will you marry me?"

            Jaws began dropping everywhere in the room, including Russ's. 

They all stood in stunned silence, completely in shock that Tenchi had just

proposed to Ryoko.

            Ryoko herself stood quietly for a moment, until the tears welled up

in her eyes and started falling down her cheeks.  Nodding her head, she

gave him his answer.  "Yes.  Yes, I will marry you."

            Standing up from his position on the floor, Tenchi removed the

ring from the box and carefully placed it on her finger, and then kissed her

passionately.

            Nobuyuki had videotaped the whole thing, and he too started

crying, so very proud that his son had asked the girl he was in love with to

marry him. 

            A pair of hands started clapping, and everybody else joined in a

moment later, giving Ryoko and Tenchi their very best.  Everybody

approved, even Aeka, who had a smile on her face as she clapped her hands

together again and again.

            "Congratulations, you two," Russ said.  "This is the first proposal

I've ever seen in real life.  May you two have a happy and fulfilled life

together!"

            Tenchi and Ryoko smiled, kissed each other again, and then

hugged each other, accepting everybody's approval with grace.

            "Thank you, everyone.  I really appreciate it," Tenchi said, gently

drying Ryoko's eyes with the sleeve of his shirt.

            Russ smiled.  "Well, now it's MY turn to give you the REAL gifts

that I picked out.  I really went out on a limb this year, so I hope you guys

appreciate these things."

            Everybody looked at him strangely, and waited for him to show

them what he was talking about.  Standing up and walking over to

Nobuyuki, he stopped in front of him.  "May I borrow your camera for this

one?"

            "Certainly!" he said, carefully handing Russ his camcorder.  "You

push this button to record, this one to zoom in and out, and this one to

manually focus, but you shouldn't need to mess with that."

            "Good.  Okay," he said, making his way over to the blinds. 

"Aeka?  Stand up and move to the front here, but stand in the middle of the

room."

            Everybody turned to look at the Royal Princess, as she did as she

was told.  "What's this about, Russ?" she asked.

            Grinning and almost shaking with his own anticipation, he took in

a deep breath.  "Your gift was too big to fit in the house.  But anyway, close

your eyes.  Everybody, try to keep your reactions quiet, as I don't want to

ruin the surprise."

            Looking at each individual person, they nodded their heads as

Aeka closed her eyes and waited.  Turning around, Russ opened the blinds

that faced the lake.  Glancing back at Aeka and reading the completely

baffled looks on everybody else's faces, he turned the camera onto Aeka.

            "You can open your eyes now, Aeka."

            When she did, her face couldn't have been more awestruck than

having someone ask her to marry her too.  Her hand went to her mouth and

tears instantly welled up in her eyes as she looked out toward the lake.

            "Oh my god… Ryu-Oh… How… I don't… My god…" she

stammered.  Ryu-oh, her spaceship tree, was gone.  But in its place,

completely rebuilt as if it were never touched, her spaceship sat silently in

the lake, awaiting Aeka's return.  The tears were now completely free

flowing out of the corners of her eyes, and Russ had a smile on his face that

a crowbar couldn't remove.  He kept the camera rolling on her face as she

slowly approached the window and continued to admire her six hundred

meter long spaceship.  It looked as good as the day it was crafted.

            Russ watched her for a few more moments, and then handed the

camera back to Nobuyuki, who continued to videotape the Jurian Princess. 

Russ approached her from the side and laid his hand on her shoulder, giving

it a tender squeeze.  "Merry Christmas, Aeka.  Ho, ho, ho," he chuckled.

            She turned toward him and started crying.  Grabbing him viciously

in a hug, she buried her face in Russ's chest and continued to weep with

joy.  Wrapping his powerful arms around her, he held her close, waiting for

her to stop crying, which only took a few moments.

            "How did you do it?" she finally asked.

            "Just call me Santa," Russ responded, smiling.  "I hope this is to

your liking.  You mentioned that you would've liked to have your ship way

back when we first met.  I remembered that and tried to find a way to make

it happen, and I did.  Nevertheless, what you see out there was nothing short

of a miracle.

            Washu, Nobuyuki, Katsuhito, and everybody else continued to

stare at the ship in awe and wonder, completely unable to figure out how he

made it happen.  Not even Washu could find a logical conclusion.

            "Okay, One down, several to go!  Washu?" Russ asked, grabbing

the scientist's attention.

            "What is it, Russ?"

            "You can do a compatibility test between two people right now,

can't you?"

            She looked at him strangely.  "Yes I can, but why?"

            Russ grinned.  "Scan both Tenchi and Ryoko.  You should find

something quite incredible and unexpected this time."

            Tenchi, Ryoko, and Washu all looked at Russ like he was talking

nonsense.  However, Tenchi turned toward Ryoko in a little bit of

confusion.

            "What does he mean, Ryoko?" he asked.

            Ryoko hung her head, deciding to just come right out and say it. 

"We're incompatible, Tenchi.  We're not capable of having children."

            Tenchi looked at her in complete surprise.  "But I thought you

were taking contraceptives or something to keep from becoming pregnant. 

You mean we can't have children at all?"

            Shaking her head, she sat in silence.

            Tenchi gently curled his arm around her.  "It doesn't matter

Ryoko.  It doesn't matter to me one little bit," he said, pulling her a little

closer.

            "That's my son!" Nobuyuki said, patting Tenchi on the shoulder. 

"I'm proud of you, Tenchi!"

            "Dad, cut that out.  It's embarrassing."

            Washu was busy scanning them during their little conversation, but

when she finished, her eyebrow went up in skepticism.  "That can't be

right… hold still, you two.  I'm going to scan you again," she said, trashing

her current findings and resetting the scanner, making some minor

adjustments.

            A few moments later she finished, and this time, she scratched her

head, trashed her findings and reset her computer once again.  After the

third scan, she looked at the both of them in surprise.  "I don't understand

why, but I have a new compatibility rating.  My computer is showing ninety

nine point four percent.  I can't figure out why.  It doesn't make any sense."

            Coming up from behind her, Russ laid his hand on her shoulder. 

"Your computer is correct," he said quietly.  "Merry Christmas, Ryoko and

Tenchi.  You two are fully capable of having a healthy, happy, beautiful

baby boy or girl.  Congratulations."

            All three of them stared at him in much the same way they had

when he opened the blinds to the lake and when Tenchi proposed.

            "What did you do to them?" Washu exclaimed, banishing her

computer back to subspace.

            "Like I told Aeka, call me Santa," he said, grinning.  "I performed

another miracle last night.  I hope this is what you two would've wanted,"

he said, looking at the young couple on the couch.  Everybody else in the

room sat in dead silence, completely transfixed on the saiyan.  Almost the

entire group had the same awestruck expression, and Russ could sense it. 

He blushed slightly and smiled.

            Ryoko got up from the couch, walked over to Russ, and threw her

arms around him in a hug.  "I don't know what you did, but thank you.  You

have no idea what this means to me."

            "I have a pretty good idea, but you're welcome," Russ responded,

returning her hug.

            Tenchi got up from the couch as well, made his way over to Russ,

and extended his hand.  Releasing Ryoko, Russ grasped Tenchi's arm,

pulled him over, and gave him a manly bear hug.

            "Merry Christmas, Tenchi," Russ said.

            "Thank you, Russ."

            Releasing each other a few moments later, Russ returned to the

center of the room.  "Okay, next up, Kiyone and Mihoshi.  If I'm not

mistaken, you should have something waiting for you in your spaceship.  If

not, I have some bones to break," he chuckled.

            "What is it, Russ?" Kiyone asked, curious as to what he could've

gotten the two of them.

            "Well, I contacted the Galaxy Police headquarters and had a long

discussion with your commander.  After a little debating, he agreed to do a

favor for the two of you, since I described some… problems that you've

had.  Your financial troubles are over.  From this day forward, the Galaxy

Police will be providing you with funding so you can remain at your

apartment and not have to work any odd jobs around the place.  They'll pay

for your rent, food, clothing, and whatever other necessity you need."

            Kiyone's jaw dropped and Mihoshi's smile was as bright as the

sun.  "How did you convince him of that?"

            "If I told you that, it would ruin the thrill of the surprise now,

wouldn't it?" Russ asked.  "You're welcome, you two.  I hope this is

satisfactory.  I'm sorry it isn't as huge as Aeka's spaceship or Ryoko and

Tenchi's compatibility, but it is the best I could come up with."

            Kiyone shook her head.  "It's perfect.  Thank you, Russ.  We don't

deserve it, but thank you."

            Russ smiled and waved his hand.  "Forget about it.  I do nice

things for my friends.  Relax on your days off and don't worry about money

anymore.  You have no idea how much it drove me nuts yesterday to not

spoil the surprise when Mihoshi started talking about your money problems

again."

            Kiyone glared at her partner, but then smiled and nodded her head.

            "Okay, next up, Washu!" he said, turning toward the scientist, who

was now wearing her binary watch.  "Are you ready for this?"

            "Nothing surprises me anymore, Russ.  What did you do?"

            Russ scowled for a moment, then smiled again.  "I think this will

be a very pleasant surprise.  If you go into your lab, you'll see what I mean. 

There is someone waiting to see you in there."

            Cocking her eyebrow curiously, she turned and made her way back

to her lab with Russ smiling after her.  She disappeared behind the door a

few moments later.

            "What did you do for her?" Aeka asked, curious.

            Turning toward her, Russ grinned.  "She'd have my head if she

knew what I did to get the information I needed to make this happen.  We'll

probably see her… and her son… later on today."

            "WHAT?!" Aeka yelled, in much the same way that everybody

else had expressed their disbelief.  "What did you do?"

            "As everybody knows, I'm partially telepathic.  I can read minds if

I touch a person or focus on one from a short distance away.  It's really

difficult to do it without being noticed, but I managed to do it with her.  I

learned her son's name from several memories that she had of him.  You

have no idea how hard it was to track down that guy," he said, scratching

his head.

            "Unbelievable.  Absolutely unbelievable," Aeka said, sinking into

the lazy boy reclining chair that was nearby.

            "I'm sure you guys were wondering where I was when I

disappeared for days on end.  But I'm not done yet," Russ said, looking at

the little blue haired princess.  "Your turn.  You and I are going on a little

trip to visit someone.  Get your coat.  We'll leave in a few minutes."

            Sasami looked a little nervous, but she stood up.  "Where are we

going?"

            "You'll see when we get there.  I just hope the person I'm looking

for is still there as well," Russ said.  "Everybody, we'll be back in a couple

hours.  It'll take us about a half hour to get there, and I decided on letting

her stay there for an hour or two.  When I come back, I'll reveal the final

gift I have planned.  This one is for everybody, and I'm sure it'll be nothing

short of incredible."

            "Sounds good, Russ.  With some of the stuff you've already done,

I'm greatly looking forward to what you have up your sleeve," Nobuyuki

said, standing up.  "Have a safe trip and we'll be here when you get back."

            "Good.  Lord Katsuhito?  I expect you to be here, as this pertains

to you as well," Russ said, looking dead serious at the priest.

            "I will be here when you return."

            Russ smiled, fished out a remote control, and pushed the button.  A

black hole opened up near the lake, and his Tie Defender was ejected from

subspace.  It landed gently on the snow, creating three depressions from the

landing gear.

            "Come on, Sasami.  Let's go," he said, making his way to the door,

followed by the little princess.  Ryo-Ohki bounded along with Sasami and

leapt onto her shoulder, wanting to go too.

            She was wearing the new coat and mittens that Russ had gotten for

her, and she looked adorable in it.  They quickly made their way across the

snow to the fighter, and Russ opened the hatch.  Giving Sasami a boost, he

put her in the back seat and Russ climbed into the front one.  Punching

several buttons, the hatched closed and sealed, and the ion engines came to

life, creating their familiar roar.  The fighter lifted off of the ground as Russ

waved to everybody who had gathered at the window.  Hitting the throttle,

he began to move the fighter toward space, keeping it steady as it rocketed

through the atmosphere.  The lightness of the blue atmosphere quickly

faded to the black of space as the Tie Defender left Earth's gravity.

            "Okay, entering hyperspace in five… four… three… two…

one…" Russ said, pushing the hyperspace lever completely forward.  The

stars that were visible in the cockpit suddenly became very long starlines as

the space around the fighter became a mass of color, swirling around the

outside.

            Sasami watched the transition from normal space to hyperspace in

wonder.  "It's so beautiful," she said, watching Russ hit a few more keys on

the console.  A counter came up on his screen that read twenty-five minutes,

and slowly began counting backwards.

            "Well, we've got twenty five minutes to burn," Russ said, sitting

back in his leather seat, listening to the low rumble of the hyperdrive. 

"Would you like to listen to some music or something else?"

            Sasami looked down at Russ and smiled.  "Music will be fine."

            "Okay.  I had loaded my entire music collection into the database

here on the fighter.  Fortunately, it has an enormous amount of space, so

I've got room for whatever else needs to go in here.  But why would you

care about that," Russ teased.  Punching a few keys, he called up a play list

of anime songs that he enjoyed, starting with Tokimeki no Doukasen from

Fushigi Yugi.  Hitting the play button, it began, and Russ cranked up the

volume so he could feel it in his seat.  Sasami smiled and relaxed, patiently

waiting for the flight to be over with.

 

            "Hello?" Washu said, looking around her lab for the mystery

visitor that Russ said she was supposed to have.  "Anybody here?"

            Nobody answered her, but she did hear a very faint clicking of

keys on a computer keyboard.  Wondering where it was coming from, she

stealthily made her way around her massive computers, test tubes, and other

sensitive electronic equipment until she found the source of the typing

noise.

            A young man, appearing to only be in his mid twenties, was seated

at her phantom laptop, playing on her computer system.  Nearly freaking

out, Washu stopped herself from shouting at the guy for messing with her

equipment.  But there was something strangely odd about him too.  He had

blonde hair, but it was fairly dark in color, and his skin tone was tanned as

well.  Glasses were positioned on his nose, and they reflected the computer

screen in the lenses.  Still, even though she had never seen this man before,

a peculiar feeling kept nagging her at the back of her mind.

            Finally gathering up the nerve to approach the boy, Washu stepped

out from behind some of her computers and slowly walked over to him,

allowing her feet to make just enough noise to be noticeable.  Seconds later,

the typing ceased and the man swiveled around in his chair, a look of

happiness on his face.

            Washu raised her eyebrow in suspicion, and then looked into his

green eyes.  "Who are you, and what are you doing on my computer?"

            The young man just smiled, then gestured with his index finger for

Washu to come over.  Slowly making her way over to him, she stopped

when she stood next to him, turning her attention to the computer screen,

which had a very, very old photograph on it.  It was of a beautiful baby boy,

only about six months old, with blonde hair, green eyes, and dressed in a

white, one-piece baby suit with a pink undershirt.  The baby was smiling,

almost looking like it was giggling in happiness.  The baby had one tooth in

his bottom jaw, and it looked absolutely adorable.

            Washu stared at the photograph and then turned toward the young

man with a vengeance.  "What the hell are you doing here!?  Why are you

going through my personal files?" Washu snapped, clenching her fists at her

sides.  "This stuff is none of your business!  Get away from my computer,

now!"

            Slowly backing away from the laptop, he continued to give a soft,

warm smile, but he did as he was told, putting up his hands submissively.

            "I ought to turn you into the police for trespassing.  I don't know

who you are or what you're doing here, but you better leave," she

demanded, banishing her computer back into subspace, where it belonged.

            Sighing to himself, the young man grinned.  "It has only been a

couple of days since you last looked at that file," he finally said, his voice

light, warm, and happy.

            Washu glared at him.  "And what business of that is yours?  How

dare you go through my personal stuff, pulling up things that you have

absolutely no right to see!  Get out of my lab, now!"

            "Short tempered as always," he chuckled.  "Father always told me

about how my mother would fly off the handle at the strangest times."

            Narrowing her eyes at the strange man, she took a step closer to

him.  "I told you to leave.  If you do not leave, I'll force you out in the most

painful way possible.  Now get out of here," she threatened, staring him

directly into his eyes.

            "Attack first, ask questions later.  That was another thing my dad

used to tell me about my mom, even though she usually told him to do just

the opposite," he chuckled.  "Don't you want to know who I am first?"

            "Frankly, I don't care who you say you are.  I come down here to

meet someone, and that someone I'm supposed to meet was going through

my personal files!  Do you have any idea how violating that feels?!" she

shouted.

            Becoming thoughtful for a moment, he shook his head.  "I'm sorry

I offended you, but I wanted to see that picture again for myself.  It's been

so long."

            Stopping dead in her tracks, her face froze into a strange, but blank

expression.  "What do you mean, again?  That is the only picture that exists

of him."

            The young man shook his head as he reached behind him, felt

under his robes, pulled out a small wallet, and opened it to a spot where he

kept his photographs.  Thumbing through five different ones, he stopped at

the identical picture that was on Washu's screen a moment ago.  Looking

back at Washu, he smiled.

            "This is me, about twenty thousand years ago.  Look familiar,

Professor Washu?"

            For the second time, she became stunned, not knowing what to say

or do.  Searching for the right words to say, she remained silent, not finding

anything that would overcome the shock she was feeling.  However, a

moment later, her skepticism returned.

            "You could've printed that photo and stuffed it in your pocket. 

That means nothing," Washu growled.  "I still don't know who you are or

why you're here.  I'm sorry, but I'm going to ask you to leave again."

            Now it was the young man who had a look of stunned hurt on his

face.  He hung his head, trying to find something that would change the

little scientists mind.  "And you still don't want to know who I am?  Most

people would've."

            "It doesn't matter.  The only thing I want to know is why you were

going through my files?" Washu said, folding her arms over her chest,

staring directly into his eyes.

            Looking toward where the computer used to be, he again sighed. 

"I wanted to see if my picture was still in your database.  That's all.  I

wanted to see if you still thought about me, or had a picture of me still, even

after all of this time."

            "That isn't you!" Washu shouted.  "My son has been missing for a

damned twenty thousand years!  He's gone and I'll never see him again!  I

searched for thousands of years, going to the galaxy police, going to data

archives all over the universe, trying to find any damn reference to my son

and I've always, always come up blank!  How dare you say that is you!"

she screamed, now approaching the breaking point.  "Those bastards took

him away from me!  My son is gone!  That was from a life long past, and

I've gotten over it!"

            Quietly listening to her outburst, he sat back slightly in the chair. 

"Liar."

            Washu's eyes bulged slightly, but she became deathly quiet.

            "If it didn't matter, why have you accessed that photograph so

frequently?  You still miss him and still want to see your son again, no

matter what.  A mother NEVER, EVER forgets her family, or a child.  Ever. 

Saying that she did is nothing but an untruthful, selfish, lie.  You're lying to

not only me, but to yourself as well, and you know it," he said, not raising

his voice, but giving her a poker face.

            Narrowing her eyes to catlike slits, she opened her right hand and

let it go straight across his face, her hand leaving a perfect, red imprint of

itself on his cheek.  "Get out," she whispered.

            "Are you running away from your problem again?" he asked, not

budging a millimeter.

            Tears squeezed themselves out from under Washu's eyelids.  "I

SAID, GET OUT!" she screamed, balling up her fist and driving it straight

at his face.

            Bringing his hand up, he caught her fist in his palm and held it

there.  Standing up out of his chair, and then kneeling down to Washu's

height, he looked directly into her face.  "You know, when this guy named

Russ approached me, I didn't know what to think either.  My mother had

been gone for over twenty thousand years, and I was always told that I was

taken away from her, because our family was so rich and prestigious, and

because our mother wasn't, we were taken away from her.  I only had one

photo of my mom and all the stories that my father had told me about her. 

He always said that she was the most brilliant mind in the galaxy and that

she had no equal in the universe.  If she didn't have a correct answer for

something, there was no answer, or she'd invent a correct one.  She was a

little cocky and a bit arrogant, but father always found those to be charming

qualities about her.  He loved her like no other and he missed her greatly

when we left.  My father always told me that he wanted to go back to her,

but he wasn't allowed to.  If he did, my mom, him, and me would've been

killed, or so the men said.  We were forbidden to see her ever again.  All the

records of our existence were erased and we were given new identities.  We

started our lives over on a new planet, with a new identity, and a new home. 

Provided for and always cared for, it was easy for me to forget about my

mother, since I was so young when I was taken away.  My father, on the

other hand, grew gravely ill from lovesickness.  He missed her so much that

his heart shattered into a million pieces, and couldn't be put back together

again.  He did have a new wife, but she wasn't able to fulfill the void that

was in his heart, even though she genuinely tried.  She loved him and me

like we were her own, but it wasn't enough.  About a thousand years after

we left, my father died.  My step mom was very heartbroken, but she

continued to live her life to take care of me.  God bless her heart," he said,

still holding onto Washu's hand, looking straight into her eyes.  "A few

months ago, this super huge guy named Russ came to see me in my office

one day.  I've never seen him before then, but he was very nice, kind, and

considerate.  He asked me if he could ask me some personal questions about

my past, which I agreed to, as long as they weren't offensive.  The first

question out of his mouth was, 'Who was your mother?'  Now I asked

myself, 'What kind of question is that?' but I answered him anyway.  I said

it was Nikki, who was my stepmother.  He then asked if she was my

stepmother, to which I said yes.  After that, he asked me who my biological

mother was, but that I didn't really have an answer for.  He then questioned

me if I had ever heard of a scientific genius named Washu Hakubi.  Now

that question stunned me, because I remember hearing the last name of

Hakubi many times from my father, and even from my stepmother.  The

name Washu had come up a couple of times between my step mom and my

father, but my mom always said to forget about her.  I had no idea what she

was talking about and I never had an opportunity to really ask her," he

explained.  Looking into Washu's eyes more gently, he continued.  "I don't

know how Russ found me, but there was something… honest about him that

made me trust him and what he was saying.  He said he spent about a month

searching for me, and he was ecstatic that he had finally found me.  I

couldn't figure out why, because like I said before, I never met the guy.  I

was at work at the time, doing secretary work on a planet about halfway

between here and Jurai, but he said he wasn't looking to meet me

personally, but he was looking for me for someone else.  That someone else

was named Washu."

            Washu started trembling, but she didn't stop the young man.  He

noticed it and felt that she was trembling, so he let her sit down on her

chair.  She remained silent, the tears still lightly flowing out of the corners

of her eyes and letting them dribble down to her chin.  Sniffling, she wiped

her eyes off with the sleeve of her uniform and took in a deep breath, trying

to calm down.

            "Needless to say," he continued.  "It was quite a surprise when

Russ explained everything to me.  But even he wasn't a hundred percent

sure, so he asked me if he could read my mind and search for a particular

memory that I might have.  He said that it was harmless, and at the time, I

thought he was bluffing or just trying to pull my leg.  But it wouldn't have

mattered anyway, since I really have nothing to hide.  I allowed him to

search my mind, which did have a very strange sensation to it.  I could feel

him going deeper and deeper into my memories of my very young

childhood, until he found a particular image that he pulled up, allowing both

of us to see the memory.  It was that same picture I had on the screen here a

moment ago, on your computer.  Russ pulled away from me in utter surprise

and looked at me with the biggest smile I had ever seen.  'Bingo,' he said. 

'After interviewing over a dozen people, I finally found what I was looking

for.  Do you know who that red haired girl is?' he asked me, pulling up a

different memory.  I had said no, since the memory was so old and I had

never learned the name to that person.  He then told me, 'That is a person

named Washu, a once-professor or student over at the science academy.' 

Now that I found interesting, because my father said he met my mother

there.  But I never knew if it was my stepmother or my real mother.  I never

bothered to ask.  I still had the photo of that girl in my wallet, and had no

idea why I kept it there, especially when I really didn't know her, but I felt

compelled to keep it there.  She was familiar, somehow.  Anyway, he then

asked me what my name was, which I responded with the name I was given

and was called, ever since I can remember.  My given name is Akaki

Yubiki, and that is what I've gone by for the past twenty thousand years. 

But somehow, the name Hakubi was familiar still.  I couldn't place it, but

Russ helped me out with it.  He continued to probe my memory, refreshing

events that even I thought I had forgotten.  Finally, after nearly an hour of

that mind-meld or whatever it was he was doing, he found another memory

where the name, Washu Hakubi, was actually said.  I was held in my

mother's arms, which happened to be the red-haired girl, and my father was

standing next to her, both of them looking incredibly happy and contented. 

That was when I knew that Russ was not bluffing."

            Looking up at him in silence, and then raising a quivering hand,

she carefully touched the side of his face that still had the hand mark on it,

caressing it gently.  She sniffled again, and gestured for him to continue.

            "He then dropped a bombshell on me.  'I know who your mother

is, and I know where she is staying,' he said.  'I would like to take you

there, soon, to see her again.  Would you go if I took you there?'  Of course,

I was skeptical about it all.  Here was a man who had just shown up out of

the blue and claimed to have found my mother.  But I just couldn't shake

that feeling that kept nagging me at the back of my mind, which was of him

being completely honest.  I took him up on that offer, and he told me that he

would be back in a couple months to pick me up.  He said that I was going

to be a 'Christmas Present' for Washu, my mother.  I had no idea what he

meant by a Christmas present, but I went along with it anyway.  I guess I'm

just a little too trusting, but it has never really backfired on me in all my

years of being this way.  He came and got me about two hours ago, and I've

been waiting here for you since then.  He looked like a zombie and said he

was going to go back to bed once he delivered me to your lab.  Anyway, I

really wasn't sure how I'd be able to introduce myself to you, but I thought

that picture on your computer would be perfect.  The only two people in this

universe that could've known about it should've been you and I.  I don't

know how Russ figured it out, but I was completely stunned when I found it

in your database.  I was just about to close down your computer when you

came up behind me."

            Still sitting in silence, she pondered over his entire story, almost

unable to think because of her heightened stress.  Finally looking up into his

eyes, a little doubt still remaining, she swiveled over to where her phantom

computer had re-appeared and called up the picture once again.  Staring at it

through her tear filled eyes, she looked back at Akaki, and then at the

picture, still trying to decide what to do.  She could see her face reflected in

the computer screen and also in Akaki's glasses, and she had a gut feeling

that he was telling the truth.  But she had to be absolutely certain.

            "May I take a physical examination of you?" she asked weakly,

finally finding her voice.

            Akaki smiled and nodded his head.  "Yes, if it'll make you feel

better."

            Keying a few commands onto her computer, the scanning globe

appeared behind Akaki, took off most of his clothes and hoisted him into

the air, restraining his movements, causing him to have a look of shock and

bewilderment on his face.

            "What the heck is this thing?" he yelped, as the scanning headband

set down on his head.

            "Do not worry.  This is just my scanning device.  I use it on all my

test subjects," she said, again wiping the drying tears from her face.  "It will

only take a few minutes."

            "Uhhh, okay.  But what about those needles that are hovering

around my arms?" he asked, a large sweatdrop forming on the side of his

head.

            Washu tried to smile.  "They don't poke you.  Just relax.  I'll be

done in a minute," she said, typing various commands on her console,

indicating the scans she wanted to perform and which ones she wanted to

bypass.  She took his bodily dimensions down to the angstrom, noting that

he had a build similar to Tenchi's, but slightly less muscular.  Also taking a

DNA scan, a retina scan, and various other scans that would confirm an

identity even if it were altered, she patiently waited for the computer to

finish.  A few moments later, it did, and she released Akaki from his

restraints, dumping him unceremoniously onto the cold floor.

            "Oww," he mumbled, picking himself up and putting on his

clothes that were sitting on a nearby cushion.  Washu cackled to herself, as

she had intentionally programmed the globe to do that on release.

            The results had finally come up on her computer, and still

maintaining a shred of skepticism, it all vanished when she looked at it. 

Her happy mood seemed to melt away, replaced by the same sadness that

she felt when he was taken away so many years ago, or at least, that's the

way it looked to Akaki.

            Putting his hand on her shoulder, he peered at the scan results. 

"Are you okay?"

            She slowly turned to look at him, her eyes filled with tears once

again, as she slowly reached up with her hands, carefully feeling his face. 

She gently removed his glasses, setting them on a nearby table, allowing her

hands to feel every curve of his visage.  The slight roughness of his cheeks

told her that he hadn't shaved for a day or two, but it didn't matter.  Pulling

him down to her height, she held his face directly in front of hers, and she

looked directly into his eyes, making all of her doubts go up in oblivion,

never to be seen again.

            Washu started to breathe heavily, and then started audibly crying. 

Akaki gently reached up to her hands, removing them from his face and

placing them in her lap, he smiled.  "I'm home, mother."

            In a flash, she threw her arms around him, crying heavily into his

shoulder, holding him tightly.  Akaki carefully wrapped his arms around his

mother, whom he hadn't held in over twenty thousand years, allowing his

own tears to squeeze out of his eyes.  It didn't matter to him, as the

happiness he felt couldn't have been taken away even if the universe around

him crumbled.

            "My son…" Washu cried, her body shaking with sobs as she

clenched onto him even tighter.  "My son has returned to me!"

 

            A quiet buzzer went off inside the fighter's cockpit, indicating that

it was approaching their destination.  Russ pulled the hyperdrive lever back,

and the colors of hyperspace quickly faded back into stars as they

approached an asteroid field.

            "Where are we?" Sasami asked, looking around.

            "This place is called Sargasso.  Believe it or not, you've been here

before.  Does the name sound familiar?"

            Sasami looked around and thought for a few moments.  "No.  What

is Sargasso?"

            Russ chuckled.  "Like I said, you've been here before.  You'll

see," he said, flying into the field of rocks at a slow speed.  Keeping an eye

on his scanners, he picked up several derelict vessels that had no engine

power or any kind of output.  "If I remember correctly, Kiyone called this

the spaceship graveyard."

            Looking worried, the little princess continued to look around,

wondering where they were and why they were here.  "That sounds scary."

            Chuckling quietly, Russ continued to fly at a slow pace, avoiding

the moving boulders with skill.  The fighter's shields were up, but there

would be no way it could survive a direct run-in with one of the massive

meteors.

            Russ's face became a look of concern after a few minutes of flying

around.  "Hello out there," he said to himself, drawing a giggle from

Sasami.

            "What are you looking for?" she asked, leaning forward in the seat.

            "A ship that I saw in your mind," Russ responded.  He then

blushed.  "I looked into your memory to find something that could be an

awesome Christmas gift to give you.  The best way I figured to find that out

would be to look into your memories.  I chose this, figuring it would've

been the best choice."

            "Okay, when did you do it," she asked, annoyed.  "You should

know better than to invade a persons mind without their permission."

            Russ turned a few shades redder.  "I'm sorry, but I couldn't think

of anything that would've been a better Christmas gift than this.  It made it

so much easier to figure out after looking into your memories.  Don't worry,

I was very specific in what I was looking for and didn't see anything that

you'd be embarrassed about."

            Continuing to look at him, she folded her arms over her chest.  "I

don't believe you."

            "Ugh!" Russ exclaimed, hanging his head.  "I'm sorry, Sasami.  I

won't do it again, okay?"

            "Okay.  As long as you promise."

            "I do.  Okay?"

            Smiling once more, she nodded her head.  "Okay.  Now why are

we here?"

            Continuing to scan his sensors within a one hundred kilometer

radius, he still couldn't find what he was looking for.  "I don't get it.  Well,

let's check out a few of these abandoned vessels and see if any of them

match what I'm looking for."

            Picking up the throttle a little, he sped up and flew over to the first

vessel, which was not much larger than an assault transport from Tom's star

destroyer.  Another vessel was near that, looking like a cross of Jurian

technology with something from the galaxy police.

            "I guess this ship must've been an experiment that failed," Russ

said, pointing to it.

            "It looks weird," Sasami said.  "Hey, what's that over there?" she

asked, pointing to another dead ship off to their right.

            Turning the fighter to get a better view, it was a large carrier

vessel, colored steel gray.  It looked like one of the shuttles that the United

States used back in the nineteen nineties, but much larger.  "Looks like an

Earth shuttle," Russ said, flying near it slowly, getting a good look at it. 

"Well, lets see what else is out here.  There's a huge, abandoned vessel over

here," Russ said, flying toward a massive asteroid.  Upon reaching it, he

pitched his fighter upward, flying over it skillfully.  On the other side, an

absolutely colossal, fifteen hundred meter long civilian cruiser ship became

visible.  Looking almost like a boat or ship that the Earthlings use to sail the

open seas, it was still a sight to behold.  Colored white with red and blue

trim on the bridge and engines, it was the ship Russ was looking for.

            "Found it!" he said excitedly, carefully flying his Tie Defender

over to the ship.

            Sasami gasped in surprise.  "I recognize that ship!" she said,

leaning as far forward as the seat restraints would allow her to.  "Mirei was

on that thing!"

            "You got it," Russ said, smiling.  "I hope she's still there."

            "This was the present you were giving me?" Sasami asked, looking

down on the saiyan who was busy trying to find a dock to land his fighter

in.

            "Yes.  Merry Christmas, Sasami.  I hope this is a nice surprise for

you," Russ said, turning around and winking his eye at her.

            "It's perfect!" she said, clasping her hands together and smiling

widely.

            Finding a suitable hanger, Russ slowly guided his fighter into the

waiting bay, landed, and shut down the engines, but left the power supply

and life support systems engaged.  Scanning the outside of his fighter, it

indicated that there was an atmosphere.

            "That's really strange.  For some reason, there is air outside.  But

there is no power onboard this ship, no life support, no shields.  Nothing,

but there is air.  It's a perfectly breathable atmosphere.  I don't get it."

            "Well, let's go out and see if we…" she began to say, but stopped

in mid-sentence.

            Russ was also looking in the same direction she was, his eyes

almost bulging out of his eye sockets.  A young girl, Sasami's age, stood

not ten feet away from his current position.  She was semi-transparent, like

before, and she had on a very pretty pink dress.  But her face, hair, and

hands, looked like something out of an aged photograph.  She was tinted a

sequoia brown color, and she didn't seem to have any other color about her

besides her dress.

            "Do you see what I see?" Russ asked, looking directly at Mirei. 

Strangely enough, he didn't see her as the white ghost that the others had

seen when they had caught sight of her, but instead, he saw what Sasami

did. 

            Ryo-Ohki, who was asleep on Sasami's lap, woke up and

stretched, looked at both Sasami and Russ's expressions, and then she too,

looked directly at the spirit.  She meowed a few times, leapt off of Sasami's

lap, phased through the outer hull of the fighter and bounded up to Mirei,

who smiled in response.  She casually waved her arm through the air,

illuminating the docking bay, causing all of the junk and debris to

disappear.

            "Uh… I've never seen a ghost on this plane of existence before,"

Russ whispered to the princess.  "I'll admit, this is a first for me."

            "Well, come on!  Let's go out there and see her!" Sasami urged,

undoing the restraints.

            "Okay," he said, not sounding convinced at all, hitting the hatch

release.

            Air hissed out of the cockpit as the pressure on the inside and

outside equalized, and the door swung open.  Reaching back to Sasami, he

helped her out of her seat and gently set her down on the steel floor of the

hanger bay.  Russ followed her out a moment later and sealed the hatch,

then moved next to Sasami.

            Mirei smiled and made her way over to them.  "Hi, Sasami.  I was

wondering if I'd ever see you again," she said, in a very kind, sweet voice. 

She stepped over to Sasami and hugged her.

            "Mirei!  I missed you so much since I last saw you.  I always

wondered if I could ever come back out here to see you again.  I'm so

happy that you're still here!" she exclaimed.

            Russ stood by quietly, watching the two girls converse with each

other.

            Taking notice of the saiyan, Mirei smiled at him.  "Who are you?"

she asked.

            Grinning and then kneeling down to her level, he introduced

himself.  "My name is Russ.  I'm a friend of Sasami here," he said,

extending his hand.  "I'm pleased to meet you."

            Carefully reaching out to him, Mirei took his hand in hers and

gently shook it.  Surprisingly, Russ could feel the warmth emanating from

her, and she felt almost alive.  However, he couldn't sense any energy from

her at all.  No ki and no life.  It was almost like he was looking at a

hologram.

            "So you're Mirei," Russ said, releasing her hand.  "I learned about

you from Sasami.  It's nice to meet you."

            Bowing politely, she nodded her head.  "It's nice to meet you too,

Russ.  How did you know where to find us?"

            "I only knew of this location, but finding your ship was a little

more tricky.  I'm glad it is so big, since that made it easier to find."

            "Yeah, and Russ looked into my memory to learn about you too,"

Sasami said, giving an evil glare at Russ, who looked away and twiddled his

thumbs.  "Yeah, you!" she said, emphasizing her disapproval.

            "I said I was sorry.  Sheesh.  Would you have preferred that I

didn't learn about Mirei?" Russ returned, folding his arms over his chest

and looking down on her.

            Sighing quietly to herself, she smiled and shook her head.  "It's

okay.  I'm just teasing."

            "You guys must be hungry," Mirei said, looking at the two of

them.  "I can hear Russ's stomach growling away."

            "OH NO!" Sasami said, smacking her forehead with her hand.  "I

completely forgot about making breakfast for everybody!  What am I going

to do?" she said, looking over at Russ.

            Russ smiled.  "Don't worry about them.  Nobuyuki can cook and

Katsuhito can as well.  No need for worries," he chuckled.        "Just enjoy

yourself here."

            Looking back at Mirei with her face slightly red, she looked down

at the floor shyly.  "Yeah, we're pretty hungry.  Starving, really.  I never

really noticed how hungry I am until you brought it up," she giggled.

            "Well, come on.  We'll go to my room and I'll serve us up a big

feast," she said, turning toward the hanger door, which was open about two

feet.  Mirei and Sasami fit through just fine, but Russ had to squeeze

through.  He didn't want to disturb anything.

            In the hallway it was dark, but again, Mirei waved her hand and

like magic, the hallway illuminated in brilliant, warm light.  Russ still

couldn't sense any power or any kind of forces acting around him, and it

made him uneasy.  He had never encountered an ethereal life form before. 

Maybe she wasn't really dead and was instead a different kind of life

altogether.

            "Is something bothering you, Russ?" Mirei asked, looking at him

with concern.

            "Well, I was thinking about you, actually," he said, smiling and

scratching the back of his head.

            Looking down at the floor slightly, she put her hand out in front of

her.  "It's this, isn't it?"

            "No.  Your appearance doesn't bother me at all.  I can do some

really strange things too," he said, continuing to walk behind her and

Sasami.

            "Is it the fact that I'm a ghost?"

            "A little.  I can't sense any energy at all coming from you, yet,

you're right here in front of me.  Don't let it bother you at all.  It's just my

urge to try to explain everything.  In a way, I'm similar to Washu when it

comes to things like this," he responded.  "But I am curious.  Why are you

remaining on this ship?  That's my main concern."

            Stopping in her tracks, she turned completely around to face Russ,

her face downcast.  "I don't know.  I've always been here, alone.  The first

time I had a friend is when Sasami came along about two years ago.   And

I've been here ever since."

            "Oh Mirei," Sasami began.  "I'm sorry.  It must be very lonely

here."

            Mirei turned back to the princess.  "I try to not let it bother me, as I

find things to do from time to time.  But yes, it is lonely here."  She slowly

began walking down the hallway to her room.

            "Maybe I can find a way to help you," Russ said, placing his hand

on her shoulder.  "But let's not worry about that for now.  We came to visit

you, and we're here.  I decided to let Sasami and you play for the next

couple hours, so please make the most of it.  I still have one gigantic

Christmas gift to give back home, and I think they're going to flip over it. 

You too, Sasami," Russ said with a wink.

            "Another Christmas surprise?  You're just full of them this year,

aren't you?" Sasami asked, grinning.

            Nodding enthusiastically, he grinned widely.  "Like I said, I really

outdid myself.  I was saving the biggest surprise for last."

            "I can't wait," Sasami said, smiling.

            Her happy mood was contagious, and Mirei smiled too.  "We're

here," she said, pushing open her doors to a very large room.  A fireplace

was set against the wall to the right, complete with a fire burning in it.  The

flames jumped and danced on the wood, creating a nice, cozy feeling about

the room.  A large cabinet was set against the same wall, but closer to the

door, made of a beautiful, brown wood.  In front of the fireplace, a table and

two chairs sat with a set of candles in the middle.  A loveseat was situated

on the carpet in the middle of the room.  As Russ walked through the door,

a large mirror was on the wall to his left, and an end table with a lamp was a

little more to the left.  Up on the mantle, several photographs were on

display, and there were a couple of pictures on the walls themselves.  The

room was very bright, colorful, and cheery.

            Mirei walked over to the table and waved her arm, magically

causing a feast fit for a king to appear.

            "Oh wow, that's handy," Russ chuckled, smiling at Mirei.

            "Help yourselves," she invited, moving over to the couch and

sitting down.

            "Would you like me to move the couch closer to the table?  It feels

weird not having you here with us," Russ said, standing back up from the

table.

            "It's okay," she said, waving her arm once again, causing a third

chair to appear.

            "Excellent," Russ said, pulling back the chair.  "Please be seated,

madam."

            Sasami started laughing at Russ, poking fun at his French accent. 

Mirei accepted his offer graciously, sitting down as Russ slid the chair

under her, and then took his own seat.  He immediately started shoveling

the food into his mouth, hardly taking any time to chew it.

            "This stuff is really good," he said, picking up a chicken thigh and

eating all the meat on it in less than a second.

            Mirei watched him eat in stunned silence, her jaw hanging slightly

open.  Sasami ate at her own pace, seemingly ignoring what Russ was

doing.  Carefully spooning her fruit salad into her bowl, she ate each piece

delicately, just like a princess should behave.

            "Sasami?  Why are you eating so slowly?  You don't have to be so

proper in front of me," Russ said, continuing to eat like a barbarian.

            Looking at Russ, and then at Mirei, she started shoving food into

her mouth a little faster, being a little more careless as she ate.

            "That's better," Russ teased, snickering.  "Why don't you eat

something, Mirei?"

            She looked at the table and smiled.  "I don't eat.  I don't have a

need to eat and I never feel hungry.  That's all."

            "Well, okay.  Suit yourself, but this stuff is really good," Russ said,

eyeing her as he continued to shovel more and more food into his gut. 

"Better get some while you can!"

            Giggling, and then laughing, she picked up a bowl and filled it

with fruit salad, then began eating it casually.

            "That's the ticket!" Russ encouraged.

            "Yeah!" Sasami giggled.  "Anyway, how long have you been on

this ship, Mirei?"

            "I don't know.  I think for quite a long time.  I don't remember

why I'm here, but I am," she replied, taking a cherry and eating it.

            "Maybe you could come back with us?" Sasami said, putting down

her chopsticks and looking seriously at Mirei.

            Both her and Russ looked at Sasami in mild concern.  It was Russ

who answered her.

            "I don't think she can.  From what I understand, ghosts cannot

leave the place from where they passed away.  However, I would like to

know what happened on this ship.  Maybe I can find something in the data

logs."

            Mirei looked at him with a glimmer of hope.  "Can you do that?"

            "If I can get power to the computer system, I can," he said, smiling

at her.  "My fighter has some power packs in it that I could probably use if I

can't get the ship's power system going."

            "You know how to do that?" Sasami asked, looking at him with

surprise.

            Russ smiled.  "I like to think of myself as an engineer, or a person

who figures out how to make things work.  I'm pretty good at fixing stuff,

so we'll see what I can do.  I may not be able to do it, but I'll give it a try,"

he said, finishing off his food.  "I'll tell you what.  You two girls and Ryo-

Ohki can play, and I'll see about making the ship work again.  How's that?"

            Looking at him in hope, Mirei smiled at him.  "Thank you, Russ. 

I'd love to know more about this ship and the people who used to be

onboard."

            "Again, it may not be possible.  I'm not guaranteeing anything. 

From what I can tell, this ship is very, very old.  The computer may not

even work anymore.  But I won't know that until I try to fix it."

            "Just give it your best shot, Russ.  If you need us, just call us.  I

can hear you anywhere in the ship," Mirei offered.

            "Great.  Well, you two have fun.  I have me a database to crack,"

he chuckled, standing up and walking toward the door.  "I'll let you know if

I make it work or not."

            "Okay!" both Sasami and Mirei said in unison.  They looked at

each other, and then laughed.

            Russ chuckled as he walked out of the room and closed the door

behind him.  Slowly making his way down the hallway, he began to wonder

more and more about the little ghost girl whom he just shared a meal with.

            "If I can solve this mystery, she may be able to pass over to the

other side, and then she can rest in peace," he said to himself.  "Since it is

Christmas, I'll do my best to make it happen and give her a Merry

Christmas as well."

            Picking up the pace, he quickly made his way to the bridge and

forced open the door, which was jammed shut.  After a loud crash and a few

heavy bangs, the door slid open, revealing a large mess on the floor. 

Computer consoles lined the entire outer wall of the bridge, some of them

broken.  A large bulkhead had fallen on one of the consoles, completely

shattering it.  The captain's chair was pretty much unscathed, save for a few

small stains.

            Russ walked over to a command console, hoping it was the control

helm.  Taking a deep breath, he blew off all the dust and debris that was

scattered on the computer, and sat down in the nearby chair, pulling the

console toward him.

            "Now, let's see," he said to himself, as he hit a few keys in

sequence.  But as he figured, nothing happened.  "Dead.  Let's try this," he

said aloud, pressing each key in sequence, hoping something would happen. 

However, even after he pushed the last key, the console and entire ship

remained adrift and lifeless.  Standing up, he moved to the next console,

blew all the junk off of it, and proceeded to hit each key, again, trying to

find a console that would maybe still work.

            After trying that with half the consoles on the bridge, Russ began

to get irritated.  "Splitform!" he yelled, as a double of him appeared.  "Go

screw with those consoles over there, and I'll do these," the original

ordered.  Both Russ's proceeded to press every single key on every console,

hoping that they could get some indication that the ship still had a power

source that could be enabled.  But as they finished with each console, their

hopes went with it.  Finally getting to the last one, and after pressing every

key on it, the two Russ's merged back into one.

            "Dammit," he growled.  "Figures.  I wonder where the computer

core is," he muttered, looking around the bridge.  "I wonder what happened

here.  There is enough debris around here to look like the ship came under

attack, but there is really no exterior damage.  It doesn't make sense.  Plus

this ship doesn't seem to have any weapons."

            Walking over to the captain's chair, he noticed a small keypad that

was attached to the armrest.  Sitting down and studying the pad for a

moment, he pushed several of the buttons in random sequence.  However,

once again, nothing happened.

            "Dead.  Okay, I guess I have to go find the computer core and

hook it up to my fighter.  I hope they're compatible," he mumbled,

squeezing out of the doorway to the bridge, making his way down the

corridor, looking for a room that would contain the system unit.

            Stepping over to a lift, he forced the door open and peered down

the shaft, which was pitch black.  Holding his hand out in front of him, a

small ball of energy formed, illuminating the area in a soft, white light. 

Taking a step forward, he floated down the tube in hope of finding the

engineering section.  Several long bulkheads were lodged in the wall, as

they had fallen down there when the ship encountered whatever it was that

damaged it.  Carefully avoiding them, he descended further, hearing many

creaks, bangs, and squeals that erupted seemingly out of nowhere.

            "At least it is warm in here," he muttered, finally able to see the

bottom.  Floating over to the shaft doors, he carefully forced them open and

stepped out into another corridor, which was again, dark as the blackest

pitch.  Intensifying the energy in his hand, he lit up the surrounding area,

making visibility much better.  Walking down the hallway, he found a large

set of double doors.  Jamming his free hand in between the doors, he forced

one of them open and peered inside, using his energy to illuminate the area. 

Dirt, grime, and dust were everywhere on the floor, the consoles, and

everything else that was in the room, but it didn't have anything that

resembled an engine or a computer core.  Withdrawing his hand and

allowing the door to close itself again, he continued down the hall, checking

each room for the core.

 

            "Isn't this unreal, Azaka?" Aeka asked, slowly walking through

her ship, feeling a sense of nostalgia.  "I never thought I'd see this ever

again."

            "Yes, your highness.  Since the tree was rooted to the wreck of the

old ship, it wasn't supposed to ever function as an independent unit," the

log responded.

            "I wonder if the ship still has its memory," Kamidake chimed in.

            Slowly walking through the fields to her bedroom, admiring the

long blades of green grasses that carpeted the ground she walked on, she

made her way to her room, crossing over the bridge that had the water of

Jurai flowing under it.  Walking up the steps to the inside, she gasped, as

her room was identical as it was the day she left it.  Everything was perfect,

as she normally kept her room.  The bed was made, her makeup desk was

set up for her daily routine, and even her hairbrush was sitting on the small

bench next to her mirror, where she had left it the very last time.  Her photo

of Yosho as a young, Jurian prince even remained, in mint condition,

completely unscathed.

            "It feels so weird to be here again," the princess said, quietly. 

"Everything is just as I left it."

            "Indeed," Kamidake said, gliding up next to his master.

            Azaka slid up to her on her other side, conducting some minor

scans.  "Yes, your highness.  Everything is in its proper place."

            Making her way over to her bed, she put her hand on the ultra soft,

brown comforter, remembering its feel on her skin.  Her pink pillow was

nice and smooth, until Aeka placed her hand on it, ruffling it up slightly. 

She slowly made her way around her bedroom, taking extra time at the

picture of Yosho to admire him once again, and then she placed it face

down on her desk.

            "Why did you do that, your highness?" Azaka inquired.

            "That was of a time long past," she responded, taking a deep sigh. 

"I think I'll replace this picture with the one I've fallen in love with.  I want

him to be mine, and nothing is going to stop me.  Nothing," said Aeka,

turning toward her two guardians with the most determined look she could

muster.  "Nobody has ever given me a gift this perfect in my entire life.  He

remembered it for over six months, which I find incredible.  I love him and

I want him to love me.  I will make that happen if it is the last thing I ever

do!"

            "But what are you going to do?" Kamidake said, sliding over to his

original guard post.  "He seems like he has his mind made up.  How are you

going to change it?"

            Smiling, Aeka shook her head.  "He's changed a bit.  He's easier to

talk to and he has become more open with everybody.  I know he likes me

because he smiles whenever I'm around him, unless I'm teasing him.  When

I work out in the garden, I can catch sight of him watching me.  He has to

be attracted to me.  I mean, who wouldn't be?" she laughed, sounding like

she did almost three years ago.

            If either guardian could've smiled, they would have.

            However, a few moments later, her happy mood seemed to melt

away.  "But every time I bring up the subject about us becoming a couple,

he avoids it like a plague.  He always runs away and then afterwards,

doesn't speak to me for a while.  Whenever he sees me coming, he'll vanish

into thin air or take off at such a high rate of speed that I wouldn't have any

hope of catching up to him, even though I've become stronger and faster

during my training with him.  He has no idea how much that hurts my

feelings.  I just can NOT figure out why he won't make something more

than friendship with me or anyone else!"

            "If you need help tying him down, we can assist you, Princess,"

Azaka volunteered.

            "Yes.  We should be able to restrain him long enough for you to

talk to him," Kamidake agreed.

            Aeka shook her head.  "No.  For one, he would definitely not like

that, and two, he's so strong that he could easily break out of your forcefield

without even trying.  Even if I helped, we couldn't hold him captive.  He's

just far too strong and powerful for that."

            Turning around, she walked to the stairway that left her room and

began walking down it, with her new destination being the bridge.

            "I'm sorry, Princess.  If we knew what to do, we'd do it.  Changing

a person's mind is something that we cannot do, unfortunately.  We only

have limited advice to give.  Perhaps you should talk to Empress Misaki

and see what advice she has to lend," Kamidake suggested, floating in the

air and slowly following Aeka.

            The princess visibly shuddered.  "No, that's quite alright. 

Knowing my mother, she'd probably come here and try to force it out of

him, and that is something that I definitely don't need.  Not only that, it's

embarrassing to be around her at times.  I could've died when she made me

call her… mommy… while we were at the Startica Festival," she said,

recalling the event in detail, turning red all over again.

            "But a parent usually has the best advice to give, too.  You don't

have to have her come here.  You can call her when we get to the bridge, if

that is your intended destination," Azaka said, keeping pace.

            "I suppose I could.  It is Christmas Day.  She always said that I

don't keep in touch frequently enough," Aeka said, looking worried.  "I just

hope she doesn't take an initiative and come here."

            Walking the rest of the way in silence, she finally reached the

bridge of her ship.  It too, looked completely untouched, like nobody had

even set foot in it before.  Upon her approach to the Royal Tree, many

beams of colored light came from the leaves and surrounded her in color,

recognizing the princess immediately.

            "The ship maintains all of its memories too.  Even the ones it

obtained from sitting here in the lake after the crash.  Incredible," Aeka

said, looking around in wonder.

            Azaka and Kamidake returned to their posts, connecting to the

ship's computer in the process.  Again, several beams of colored light

danced around the area, then faded away.

            "Computer core, intact.  Memory core, intact," Azaka recited,

scanning the ship systems.

            "Drives, online.  All other systems, functional," Kamidake

finished.

            Aeka stood in the center of the bridge area, looking around her in

awe.  Her spaceship tree was in full bloom and looked as healthy as ever. 

The water flowed through the channels that were grooved in the ship, giving

life to the plethora of plants that littered the surrounding area, gurgling as it

fell over the edge and dropped to another reservoir below.

            Taking in a deep breath, she felt so at home onboard her ship.  She

had spent a great many months onboard, either in stasis or on short trips to

local star systems.  But it was her home away from home.  She was given

the ship at birth, and when she was old enough to learn and understand

about her ship tree, she was allowed to name it.  Ryu-Oh, a fictional name

that she had made up a long time before she even knew about the tree, was

the name she gave it.  It gave it a sense of power and peace, and even her

family found it suitable.

            When she was last on Jurai during the Startica Festival, her father

yelled at her about the destruction of her ship, reopening old wounds.  She

couldn't wait to rub it in his face that her ship was back again, and the

barbarian that he couldn't stand did it.  Smiling an evil, sadistic grin, she

pictured the look on the King's face when she'd arrive at Jurai in her

original spaceship, or even just calling him from it.

            "Azaka?  Open a communications channel to Jurai.  I want to

speak to my mother and father," Aeka ordered, standing tall.  However, she

realized a few moments too late that she wasn't wearing her robes or regal

clothing.

            "We're receiving a response, your highness.  Putting it on main

viewer," Kamidake relayed, initiating the main viewscreen.

            "AEKA!" Misaki yelled, almost looking like she was going to fall

through the viewscreen, overwhelmed with joy.  "I'm so happy you called!"

            "Hi mom.  How are you doing?" Aeka responded, smiling at the

screen.

            "We're doing great!" she said, being really enthusiastic.  However,

she looked off to the side and became serious.  "Actually, it's been boring

as hell around here.  There hasn't been much of anything going on that has

required our attention," she said quietly, trying to be confidential.  "But

your call has changed all of that!"  A moment later, she looked at Aeka and

her surrounding area.  "Aeka?  Where are you?"

            Aeka smiled warmly.  "I'm on Ryu-Oh, mother," she responded

casually, as if it were a silly question.

            Watching her surprised reaction, Aeka became more pleased with

herself.  "But wasn't it destroyed?  Your father was very upset over that."

            She nodded her head.  "Yes.  It WAS destroyed."

            "I don't understand.  What happened?"

            "Today is Christmas, here on Earth.  A special someone performed

what he calls, 'A miracle' and has somehow managed to restore my ship,"

she explained, gesturing to her surrounding area.

            Misaki's eyes widened a little more.  "You're serious?  Are you

really on Ryu-oh?"

            Giggling to herself, she nodded her head.  "Yes.  My ship is back."

            "But how?  Who did it?" Misaki asked, looking a little confused. 

But a moment later, her eyes became a little wider as realization entered her

1mind.  "You don't mean, Russ, do you?"

            Again, Aeka nodded her head.  "I don't know what he did, but he

somehow managed to restore my ship to perfect condition.  It's almost like

it was built from scratch, as there are no defects at all in the workmanship. 

It's almost like it had just come out of the craft shop."

            The Joker in Batman couldn't match Misaki's smile.  "I see. 

That's quite a gift he gave you, in that case.  How goes the dating game

with him, anyway?"

            Sighing quietly, Aeka's face became a little more downcast.  "It

never got off the ground.  We're still at square one."

            "You're kidding!" she said, becoming concerned.  "Why?"

            "He's still the same way as he was when you met him.  He refuses

to even consider a relationship with anybody.  Every time I've brought it

up, he avoids the subject.  I don't know why."

            Misaki became silent for a few moments and looked at Aeka with

her own amethyst eyes.  "Maybe you're going about this all wrong.  From

what I could tell, you were always pursuing him, always trying to get him,

and all around, you were putting out all of the effort into getting him. 

Maybe that isn't the way to make it happen."

            "What do you mean?"

            "If I'm correct, he comes from a race of people who are not all that

dissimilar from those on Earth.  What I mean is, that it's the guy who is

supposed to initiate a relationship, not the girl.  It's the guy who is supposed

to pursue the girl, and it's the guy who is supposed to ask the girl out on a

date, not the other way around.  It could be that you're being a little too

aggressive with him and he doesn't like that, or feels threatened by it, which

is why he avoids it."

            Pondering over this for a few moments, she looked back at Misaki. 

"But, it worked with Tenchi and Ryoko.  She was far more aggressive than

I ever was, and she won out!  How come I can't do the same thing and get

the man I want?"

            "Is he Tenchi?" she asked.

            "Huh?"

            "What I mean is, is he the same person?"

            Looking at her mother in confusion, she continued to think quietly

to herself.  "I still don't understand what you're talking about, mom."

            "Russ is an entirely different person than Tenchi is.  What worked

on Tenchi may not work on him.  You said you've been trying the same

things Ryoko did and that it isn't working.  The thing is, he's getting ALL

of your attention, rather than having it be divided between two girls, like the

way it was between you and Ryoko.  He definitely does not have the same

outlook on women as Tenchi does."

            "I see, but still.  He knows I want him, he knows I care for him,

and he probably knows that I love him, but even then, he still won't accept

it.  What can I do to make him change his mind?"

            Misaki smiled.  "Back off of him for a while.  Play hard to get. 

That may make him chase you instead of the other way around.  If it

doesn't, it'll make him feel a little more comfortable and less threatened. 

Just stop pursuing him.  The last six months obviously didn't work.  It's

time to try something else."

            "I suppose you're right," Aeka said, considering the many

encounters she had with Russ, remembering his gentle touch when she was

feeling down, or how he'd talk with her when she was alone.  The thing that

stuck in her mind was how he'd always run away when she'd mention a

date or going steady, but he'd always come around when she wasn't pursing

him or trying to get him to do something that meant getting involved. 

Maybe it was time to try something fresh and new.  "I think I can try that,"

she said, looking a little happier, her face filling with a new hope.

            "Yes.  If that doesn't work, I'll come over there and tie him to a

chair and lecture him on what my daughter wants," she laughed, drawing a

small giggle from the Princess.

            "Thank you, mom.  I feel better now," Aeka said, smiling.

            "By the way, I love your clothes!" Misaki said, her face filling the

viewscreen again.  "What are they, anyway?"

            Catching her off guard, Aeka started laughing.  "It's just a sweater

and a pair of jeans.  They're plain old Earth clothes.  How do you like

them?"

            "You look so adorable in them!  Can you galaxy-express me a

couple pairs for myself?" Misaki asked, clasping her hands together.  "I

know it'll make your father furious, but I like to have clothing from other

cultures too!"

            "I'll see what I can do," she said, folding her hands in front of her.

            "So Aeka, I've got all day to do nothing.  What's new with you?"

Misaki asked, sitting back on her throne.

            Aeka sat down on the floor of her ship, yoga style.  "Where should

I begin?  OH!  Guess what?  I saw Russ as a super saiyan for the first time a

couple months ago!"

            "Really?  What'd he look like?"

            "Well, not all that different from the way he looked before, but his

hair and eyebrows turned a golden yellow color, and his eyes became a

beautiful sea-green.  He grew a little taller and his hair stood on end, plus he

became a heck of a lot more buff.  It was crazy, but really neat to see."

            Misaki closed her eyes, trying to imagine what he looked like. 

"Did you get a picture of him?"

            "Washu might have one.  I'll ask her about it later and send one

along with the clothes," Aeka said, smiling. 

            "Great.  I can't wait to see it," the empress said.

            "Well, what's new with you, mom?  I don't have anything to do

for now.  Russ took Sasami somewhere and he won't be back for another

hour or two, so I've got the time to waste."

            "Hmmm, let's see…  I know," she began, and Aeka knew that

when she started a conversation like that, that it was going to take quite a

long time to finish it.  She sat back on her arms and relaxed, listening to her

mother's stories and telling some of her own.

 

            "I still can't believe it's you," Washu kept saying, over and over,

still completely blown away that her son, lost for over twenty thousand

years, was standing next to her once again.

            Akaki chuckled quietly to himself.  "I know.  It feels weird for me

too.  After that I learned that Nikki was not my biological mother, I did a lot

of research and investigating to try to find out who was.  I, like you, came

up with nothing but dead ends and more questions.  I don't know how Russ

did it, but I owe him a debt of gratitude that I don't think I could ever

repay."

            "You and me both," Washu said, shaking her finger back and forth. 

"I never expected anything like this to come out of him," she said, sitting

back in her chair.  Akaki was sitting on a nearby cushion, and they had

already been talking for nearly an hour, finding stories and drawing on

experiences from both of their pasts, describing their lives in detail for each

other.  It was the best thing they could do to play catch-up.  "Russ has been

living with us for somewhere around six months.  During that time, I really

haven't seen a whole lot of him, but when I do, he usually makes my skin

crawl.  Thing is, he feels the same way about me too.  He absolutely hates

the way I treat others, but I don't see anything wrong with it.  He always

gets pissed at me whenever I tell someone that they owe me big time for

doing them a huge favor.  He believes that someone should not expect a

form of payment for favors.  However, he did tell me that if someone does

do you a favor that they usually will return a favor when you're ready for

one.  He just doesn't like having me say that I expect it," Washu said,

pulling herself up in her cushion a little more.  "He had asked me for

several large favors in the past, including the gravity machine he uses, the

regeneration tank he wanted me to build, and lately, the entirely separate

dimension that he wants to have his fight in.  I had told him that he owes me

big for all of that and he did get quite angry with me, but he said that he did

have something planned that would make everything that I had done for

him seem insignificant, but that I'd have to wait and see what it could be.  I

never, in a million years, would've guessed that he could've pulled this off. 

I'd love to know what he did that both you and I failed to do."

            Akaki relaxed, folding his legs Indian style while maintaining

balance on the floating pillow.  "He did mention that he sensed an energy

from me.  He said that it wasn't all that dissimilar from the energy he

sensed from you.  He has more abilities than anybody I've ever seen.  I've

never seen someone who could be so powerful and maintain it with a high

sense of ethics.  Most people that I've seen usually turn out to be real jerks

or wind up having an arrogant attitude that a sledgehammer couldn't pound

back into proportion.  But he's friendly, helpful, and a total contrast to what

I've typically seen.  Another strange thing about him is that he doesn't have

a girlfriend," he said, scratching his head.  "When he visited me the first

time, we talked for a good two or three hours, and he described a bit about

himself and why he was living here with you guys.  I sincerely hope that he

can do something about the disaster that is apparently heading this way."

            "If anyone can do it, he can.  You've seen how powerful the

Jurians are, haven't you?" Washu asked, keying a few commands on her

laptop, bringing up the battle footage from the Kain incident.

            Akaki nodded his head, and then turned his attention to the

computer.  "Yeah.  They're really powerful, fast, and strong.  They're the

most powerful race in existence.  They have no equal in the universe."

            Washu looked at him and shook her head.  "Not anymore.  Watch

this battle footage I recorded," she said, playing back the video, starting

when Tenchi released a huge, orange beam into Kain's face.  "What you see

here is Tenchi, who is of Jurai.  As you can see, the computer calculated an

energy level for that blast.  I now use a new scale of measuring power,

unlike the scouters you have probably seen.  But anyway," she said,

freezing the frame, "that blast came in at ten thousand.  That is an extremely

powerful blast, capable of destroying a small planet."

            "Yeah!  Look at the sheer power from that blast.  I've never seen a

Jurian exhibit that amount of energy before.  That's really impressive,"

Akaki mentioned, sliding a little closer to his mother.

            Washu shook her head, and fast-forwarded to when Russ walked

out into the field to confront Kain.  "Now watch what Russ does.  You can

see his current energy level, which is holding steady at only five hundred,"

she said, just as Russ clenched his fists, causing all kinds of strange

phenomena to occur around him.  The number on the computer screen

immediately started going crazy, jumping to the hundred thousand spot and

continued to rise at an insane rate.

            "What the heck?  A million?  TEN million?" he exclaimed, staring

at the computer screen in shock, but the numbers still continued to climb.  A

moment later, the numbers became scrambled as it reached its limit of only

twenty million, and Russ's hair stood on end while lightning streaked

through the sky.  Kain and everybody else stared at him in horror as he went

up in a brilliant gold flash of energy, causing Akaki to sit back in his chair

from the surprise.

            Washu allowed the replay to run a few more moments and then she

paused it, getting a freeze frame of Russ as he stood, fully transformed into

a super saiyan.  "THAT is the most powerful race in existence," Washu

declared, pointing at him. 

            Transfixed on the computer screen, Akaki adjusted his glasses,

thinking he could be seeing things.  "What happened to him?  Why is his

hair yellow?"

            "That is his transformation into something called a super saiyan. 

It's a radical transformation that he can do that gives him an incredible

boost to his speed, strength, and energy.  He's hundreds of thousands of

times more powerful than the strongest Jurian warriors."

            "Amazing."

            "But you see, he's not the only one who is that strong.  That

opponent that he told you he was going to face is just as powerful as he is,

and just as experienced.  Now you can see why I've done Russ as many

favors as I have.  For someone who fights as righteously as he does, who

couldn't help but say yes?"

            Allowing the footage to run to the end, Akaki watched Russ

summon up such an astronomical amount of energy.  As a result, the

monitoring device started having trouble maintaining a steady picture.  A

second later, Russ brought his hands out in front of him and released the

biggest ki blast that Akaki had ever seen.  The entire screen went blank for

several seconds, and then came back online, but the event was over.  Russ

turned around and faced the group, and he could finally see Russ's green

eyes, causing his own to widen in surprise.  Russ walked over to the group

and smiled, then said, "I win."

            "Well anyway," Washu said, letting her computer fade back into

subspace and standing up.  "Please, let me introduce you to the family.  I'm

sure they're all waiting to meet you."

            "I'd like that.  Russ told me about Tenchi, Ryoko, Kiyone,

Mihoshi, Nobuyuki, Katsuhito, Aeka, Sasami, and even Ryo-Ohki.  I was

very surprised to learn that the two princesses of Jurai and the most

notorious space pirate ever known were all living under the same roof on

such a distant planet."

            "Don't say anything like that to them when you meet them. 

They've all changed considerably."

            "I won't.  Don't worry, mom."

            "And I expect you to be on your best behavior."

            Akaki rolled his eyes and smiled, extending his arm, which Washu

latched onto.  Walking to her door, it appeared, and they both walked

through it, entering the living room of the Masaki home, where Ryoko and

Tenchi were both sitting together on the couch, talking quietly to each

other.  They both turned when they heard the door open behind them.

            "Tenchi!  Ryoko!" Washu said, approaching them with Akaki,

who smiled down on both of them.

            "Hi Washu," they answered in unison.

            "Who is that?" Ryoko asked, looking at the young man

suspiciously.

            Washu smiled and cackled to herself.  "I'd like you both to meet

my son, Akaki," she said, using his given name rather than his birth name.

            Both Ryoko and Tenchi fell off of the couch, completely stunned

as to what she just said.  "WHAT?!" they shouted together.

            "Hello.  I'm Akaki.  It's nice to meet the two of you," he said,

extending his hand to Tenchi, and then to Ryoko.  Both of them shook his

hand, staring at him the whole time.

            "You're the long lost son of Washu?  I'm very honored to meet

you," Tenchi said, bowing humbly.  "I had only heard little things about

you, but I'm very, very glad to see you reunited with your mother.  It makes

me feel very good and I'm sure it does to Washu as well."

            "You have no idea how much joy I'm feeling, Tenchi.  Words

cannot describe the feeling that I have in my heart," she said, clinging onto

Akaki's arm a little tighter.

            Ryoko mumbled something under her breath, staring at the little

scientist.

            'What is it, Ryoko?' Washu asked her telepathically.

            'I don't trust the guy.  Here he shows up out of the blue and claims

to be your son who you haven't seen in twenty thousand years?  How the

hell do you know he's telling the truth?' she growled, casting a fake smile at

Akaki.

            'I can understand that, but I was very careful in my scans of him. 

If he were hiding something, I would've found it.  I compared them to scans

that I had archived of him since his birth and they're almost identical.  The

aging process made the only variations that were caused.  Other than that,

he's my son.  I guarantee it,' she said, using her best vote of confidence. 

'Please be nice to him.  It means so much to me to have him standing next

to me again.  I don't ever want to let go and I don't want him feeling

uncomfortable.  If you do, I'll tie you up like I did that one time I had that

tea party with Mihoshi after Doctor Clay's capture.'

            Ryoko's forehead instantly became covered in little droplets of

perspiration.  "Akaki?  My name is Ryoko.  I'm happy to finally meet you."

            Akaki smiled.  "Very nice to meet you, Ryoko.  You're more

beautiful in person than you were on the wanted posters," he said.

            Ryoko started laughing, taking it in good humor.  "I'm not a

wanted criminal anymore.  I've settled down here on Earth with my love,

Tenchi," she said, pulling him a little closer, rubbing her head affectionately

on Tenchi's shoulder.

            Rolling his eyes, Tenchi shook his head and laughed.  "Please, sit

down.  I'd love to visit with you if you have time.  We've got nothing better

to do.  We already ate, but we have some leftovers if you'd like them.  It

isn't Sasami's cooking, but my dad can do a pretty good job on his own. 

Both of our master chefs are still out of the house for now.  They should be

back soon."

            "Thank you," Akaki said, moving over to the loveseat, plopping

into the soft cushions.  Washu took the seat next to him, still clinging to his

arm.  "Mom, you're going to make my arm fall asleep," he teased.  Washu

didn't even notice he said anything.

            Tenchi chuckled.  "Hey dad!" Tenchi called.

            "What is it, son?" Nobuyuki called from the upstairs.

            "Come down here and meet Washu's son!"

            "What?  You're kidding!" he responded, as two pairs of feet

started thumping through the house.  A moment later, Nobuyuki came down

the stairs, followed by Katsuhito.  They both stopped and looked at the

blonde haired boy who sat on the loveseat with Washu.  The duo looked on

Katsuhito and Nobuyuki with the same shade of green eyes, and they both

smiled.

            Akaki stood up and extended his hand, as Nobuyuki came over to

the couch.  "Pleasure to meet you, sir," he said, shaking his hand heartily,

and then taking Katsuhito's hand in his own, repeating the action.

            "So, you're Washu's long-lost son?  Amazing!  How did you find

her?" Nobuyuki asked, sitting down in the lazyboy chair.

            "Actually, it was Russ who reunited us.  We owe him many

thanks."

            "RUSS did it?  Good grief, is there anything he can't do?"

Nobuyuki exclaimed, sitting on the edge of the chair.

            "Beats me, but he's full of surprises," Katsuhito said, sitting on the

couch next to Ryoko.  She eyed him suspiciously, waiting for him to do

something perverted.

            "I'll be right back," Nobuyuki said, standing up and hurrying off to

the kitchen.  He returned a few moments later with the teakettle and six

cups.  He filled each cup with the green tea, and handed each cup off to

Tenchi, Ryoko, Katsuhito, Washu, Akaki, and finally one for himself.  "So,

tell us a bit about yourself.  I'd love to know what the son of Washu has

done with his life."

            Akaki grinned, taking a deep breath.  "Well, where should I begin? 

Well, I guess I could start at the beginning, eh?  It should help pass some

time away."

            Everybody sat back and listened as Akaki gave a very abbreviated

version of his life story.

 

            Russ sneezed, a result of all the dust that he blew off of the

computer core.  After wrestling with the unit for nearly fifteen minutes, he

had gotten himself completely covered in dirt, grime, and dust.  He looked

more like an auto mechanic or a grease monkey than a warrior.  Carefully

undoing the mounts that held the computer in place, he finally removed it.

            In the engineering section, Russ had tried to find the power supply

for the ship, but even after he found it, he couldn't make it work.  There was

just no juice left in the unit to make it function.  It was tricky, but he

managed to remove the computer core without breaking anything.  On the

way back to the hanger, he had stopped and gotten Mirei and Sasami, and

all three of them went back to his fighter.

            Spending another five minutes connecting it to his fighter, he

finally got the unit to hum to life.

            Russ smiled.  "Now, let's see what we've got here," he said, typing

several commands on a nearby keypad, pulling the most recent logs from

the recorder.  For the first few moments, nothing but static greeted his ears

from the audio and video system, but eventually, an unstable picture and

bad audio greeted his senses.  Adjusting several algorithms, he got the

fighter to recognize the data, and it played back in near perfect condition.

            "Wow," Sasami said, looking at the viewscreen, which had an

image of the bridge and the people operating the ship.  "You made it work!"

            Mirei looked at the image and smiled.  "That's my ship," she said

quietly, watching it in wonder.  It was the first time she had seen the bridge

with all the people onboard, hurrying about and operating the vessel

skillfully.

            "Shhh," Russ said, putting his finger up to his mouth, watching the

bridge crew operate the ship.

 

            "Captain!  Picking up an unidentified ship on sensors," the

helmsman said, turning around to face the cleanly dressed officer.

            "Put it onscreen," he said, watching the image flash up on his

monitor.  A new vessel, unlike anything Russ had ever seen, was on an

intercept course to the civilian cruiser.  It was absolutely monstrous.  Larger

in diameter than Tom's Star Destroyer, it had about as much mass as about

two of those ships.  It continued to approach, filling the entire viewscreen as

everybody watched in horror.

 

            Sasami gasped in horror.  "I KNOW that ship," she whispered,

looking at it fearfully.  "That's Kagato's ship!  The one that imprisoned

Ryoko and Washu!"

            Russ turned to look at her in shock.  "Oh my god, you've got to be

kidding."

            "No.  I'd recognize that ship from anywhere," Sasami said,

watching the viewscreen.

 

            "Hail the vessel!" the captain barked, sitting down in his chair. 

"Raise shields!"

            Before his orders could be carried out, the space pirate Ryoko

materialized right on the bridge, her eyes glowing an evil shade of green. 

She was dressed in a black and red one-piece battle suit, and she didn't look

like she had any emotion.  She had her three gems, but they were glowing

green instead of red.  One was on each wrist, and one was on her neck.

            Upon her appearance on the bridge, the people turned around in a

panic, and some of them picked up the hand weapons that they kept

onboard for emergencies.  They took aim and fired, but each shot they made

bounced harmlessly off of her forcefield.  She turned, pointed her palm at

several of the men, and let loose a large, orange blast, vaporizing the

helpless crew.  The resulting explosion knocked a bulkhead out of place,

which crashed into a computer console, annihilating it.  Red warning lights

began to flash all over the ship, as they were under attack.

            "What is the meaning of this?!" the captain shouted, standing up

from his chair.

            Ryoko turned toward him, letting her orange sword blaze into

existence, and with a casual swing from her wrist, she cut the man down. 

He fell back into his chair, dead.

 

            Sasami turned away from the screen, horrorstruck at what had

transpired.  Mirei and Russ both stared at the atrocity in horror, and Mirei

had almost gone into shock over what she had just seen.  The terror in those

people's faces couldn't have been matched by anyone Russ had ever fought

against.  Once the bridge was cleared, Russ could still hear the screams of

people as they were cut down and pillaged of their valuables.

            A moment later on the bridge, Kagato, the Galaxy Police's most

wanted, appeared, surveyed the damage, and walked away, like he didn't

even care at the atrocities that he and Ryoko had just committed.

            "I can't believe what I'm seeing," Russ whispered, unable to turn

away.  Sasami was crying, covering her ears so she didn't have to see or

hear the awful noises that were being played back.  Mirei was near her,

gently talking to her.  Russ continued to watch the video, but he turned the

sound way down.  After nearly fifteen minutes, the violence stopped. 

Ryoko and Kagato returned to the bridge with a little girl, as they both

looked at her with cold, heartless eyes.

            "We're leaving you here, alone," Kagato said.  "Be grateful that

you're still alive, but I doubt you'll stay that way for long," he said, blasting

another control panel, causing the entire ship to shut down.  "In several

hours, it'll get so cold in here that you'll freeze to death instead," he

laughed, as he vanished.  Ryoko looked at the little girl, a tear falling out of

the corner of her eye, as she too, vanished.  The video stopped a few

moments later, as the computer core lost power.

 

            Russ clenched his fists and stared hard at the screen, restraining

himself from smashing the computer core into a billion pieces.  He knew

about all the stories Ryoko and Washu told him about her past, but he didn't

realize how severe it was.  Now, he had seen it, and it made him absolutely

furious.  He knew Ryoko didn't have any control over what she was doing,

but he still couldn't believe what she had done.  He seethed with hatred at

the old man, who had done what he did to the little girl.  Russ looked over

at Mirei, who looked at Russ with sad eyes.  She hung her head, and then

started crying.

            Slowly moving over to her, Russ sat down on the floor with them,

wrapped his arms around both of the crying children, bringing them closer

and holding them tightly.  He held them there for nearly five minutes, doing

his best to keep from crying with them.  He had never seen such a sick,

twisted evil as that in his entire life.  Not even Frieza could match his

cruelty.

            "Kagato.  If he were still alive right now, he wouldn't be for much

longer," Russ snarled, holding both girls close.  "Acts like that are

unforgivable.  I can't believe anybody could do that to another person and

be happy about it.  It's sick," Russ said, squeezing the girls tightly, trying

his best to comfort the both of them.

            Sasami stopped crying, but remained close to Russ.  "So that's

what happened to Mirei?" she finally asked.

            Russ looked at the little ghost and nodded his head.  "Yes.  An

innocent victim who didn't deserve the fate she was given," he said.  "I'm

so sorry, Mirei.  I wish I was around to stop him."

            The young ghost looked up at him with serenity in her face.  "At

least now I know what happened to me," she said, relaxing her body.  All

three of them remained sitting on the floor, but remained fairly quiet.

            "So you know, Kagato is dead.  Tenchi had finished him off

somewhere around two or three years ago.  That bad man can cause no

harm to anybody else, ever again.  He has lost his control over Ryoko, and

she has since then been reformed.  Believe it or not, she is to become

Tenchi's wife," he said, smiling, hoping to lighten the mood a little, then

sighed.  "I'm still very upset over what happened to you though, Mirei.  If

there was something I could do, I would do it."

            "I know," she said, the tears still slowly falling down her cheeks. 

"How long have I been here?"

            Russ thought a moment.  "At least seven hundred years.  Yosho

imprisoned Ryoko about that long ago, but Tenchi only recently released

her.  Since she was with Kagato in the video, it had to have been longer

than that."

            Mirei looked up at him, and Russ's heart ached.  "I've been here

alone for seven hundred years?  How much longer am I going to have to

remain here?"

            "Mirei?" Sasami began, looking at her.  "Can you come home with

us?  You don't have to be here alone anymore.  We will take you back to

our place and you can live with us!"

            Shaking his head, Russ put his hand gently on Sasami's shoulder. 

"Unfortunately, that cannot happen.  However, I think since the mystery has

been solved, that she is now free to pass over to the other side," he said,

looking at Mirei.

            She looked up at Russ with a glimmer of hope.  "I can go?"

            "Shhh, just wait a moment," Russ said.  "I can feel something

happening."

            Mirei, Sasami, and Russ all sat quietly on the landing deck of the

cruiser, listening, waiting.  After a few minutes, a soft, warm glow

illuminated the hanger, basking it in brilliant, white light.  It lit every single

nook and cranny throughout the entire bay, not even leaving a shadow in

existence.  The glow intensified in one spot, and after a moment, two people

walked out of the light and into the bay.

            Sasami gasped, looking at the adult couple in wonder, and Russ

shared her same, surprised expression.  Mirei looked at the two adults, her

tears streaming anew.

            "Mama!" she shouted, leaping up from her sitting position. 

"Papa!"

            The two adults smiled and knelt down, welcoming their daughter

into their arms.  Mirei continued to cry, overjoyed to be reunited with her

parents.  She no longer had to be alone, ever again.

            Russ and Sasami stood up from their positions on the floor, and

Russ put his arm around the little princess's shoulder, holding her close. 

Sasami reached up and held onto Russ's hand, watching the joyous reunion

take place, like an old, silent film.

            "She's reunited with her parents now.  Since the mystery has been

resolved and the perpetrator who orchestrated the whole thing is now dead,

she has no reason to remain on this ship anymore," Russ explained quietly. 

"I will take the data core over to Kiyone and Mihoshi, and they will be able

to file a report with the Galaxy Police on the fate of the crew and passengers

of this ship."

            After a minute of watching the parents and daughter rejoice, Mirei

turned around and looked at the two people who made it all possible.  She

turned and walked back over to Sasami, happiness all over her face.

            "I can go home now, Sasami," she said, hugging her.  "I won't be

alone anymore."

            "I'm very happy for you, Mirei," Sasami whispered, holding the

little ghost closely.  "All the memories that we shared will stay with me for

a lifetime."

            Mirei smiled.  "I can help with that, a little," she said, running

toward a wall, which she passed through.

            Russ and Sasami turned to look at each other in curiosity,

wondering what she meant.  But they didn't have much time to ponder over

it, as Mirei re-appeared a few seconds later, holding something.

            "This is a picture of me that I had kept in my room," she said,

giving it to Sasami.  "I had added you in when you had left the last time you

were here.  I wanted to remember you, and I hope you'll remember me the

same way.  But I have something else I must add to it," she said, waving her

hand.  In between Sasami and Mirei in the photograph, Russ was added,

smiling, with a hand on each girl, kneeling down to their height.

            "Wow!" she exclaimed, clutching the picture close.  "I'll treasure

this forever, Mirei.  Thank you!"

            Russ knelt down and smiled.  "Merry Christmas, Mirei," he said,

as she threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.  "Go now. 

Your mother and father are waiting for you," he said, watching the couple

stand by each other, smiling, almost looking like a photograph themselves.

            "I'll never forget you guys," Mirei called, running into the light,

following her parents.  "Good bye!  I'll miss you!"

            "Bye, Mirei!" both Russ and Sasami yelled, after she disappeared. 

The white glow slowly faded away, until it left the bay altogether.

            Looking into the blackness, the soft glow that Mirei had given the

hanger bay faded, revealing all the dirt, dust, and damage that had been

there before she made her appearance.  Russ, Sasami, and Ryo-Ohki all

walked back to the Tie Defender in silence, climbed aboard, and sealed the

hatch.  Powering up the fighter, Russ carefully turned it around, and slowly

flew out of the bay, putting some distance between him and the cruiser.  He

turned the fighter around one final time, took a good, long look at the ship,

and then pointed his fighter toward home.

            Russ could hear Sasami sniffle quietly to herself.  "Are you okay

back there?"

            Again, she sniffled.  "I don't know why, but I feel sad that I'll

never see her again," she said, wiping the falling tears from her eyes.

            Pushing the hyperdrive lever all the way forward, the stars became

streaks as the fighter entered hyperspace, flying down the tunnel of color. 

"You should be happy, Sasami.  She no longer has to be alone.  She's with

her parents now.  It is true that you won't see her, but it isn't true that you

won't see her ever again.  You have a very long life ahead of you, Sasami. 

One day, you will see her again," he said, turning around to look the

princess.

            "Will I?" she asked, a glimmer of hope in her pink eyes.

            Russ smiled, nodding his head yes.  "One day, you will.  But not

for a long time."

            Sasami looked out of the window at the colors of hyperspace, a

small smile on her lips as the two of them hurtled through hyperspace,

heading toward home.

 

            Aeka, Nobuyuki, Katsuhito, Ryoko, Tenchi, Kiyone, Mihoshi,

Washu, and Akaki all sat in the living room drinking tea, and sharing stories

from each of their pasts, some of them completely ridiculous and some of

them very serious.  Aeka and Ryoko talked about their rivalry and how it

had come to an end, and that they were almost the best of friends now. 

They had all lived under the same roof for the past three years, and they had

enjoyed every minute of it.

            "I wish Russ was here so you could meet Sasami," Aeka said,

playing with one of the strings to the hood on her sweater.  "He's been gone

for almost three hours."

            "Yeah," Ryoko interjected.  "Where is that barbarian anyway?"

            "He is NOT a barbarian!" Aeka shrilled, turning toward the space

pirate angrily.

            Ryoko laughed.  "You're the one who gave him that nickname, not

me, your highness," she retorted.  "Besides, I think I can hear his fighter

now."

            Listening for several seconds, the noise of the Tie Defender's ion

engines became more and more audible, as the fighter flew over the house

and carefully landed near the lake on its three landing struts.  The hatch

opened up, allowing Sasami, Ryo-Ohki and Russ to exit the fighter.  Both

the princess and the cabbit ran toward the house, trying to get out of the

cold.  Sealing the hatch, Russ made his way back to the house and came

inside.

            "Welcome back, you two!  Where did you go?" Nobuyuki asked,

greeting Sasami and Russ as they entered the house.  They all looked at

Russ funny as he was covered from head to toe in dirt and grime.  "What

happened to you?" he asked, eyeballing Russ.

            The two looked at each other and smiled.

            "Now that," Russ began, holding up his index finger, "is a secret."

            Sasami started laughing at Russ's impression of Xellos, and

quickly ran up the stairs to her room, where she put the picture up on her

nightstand.  She returned a few moments later.

            "Well, that was rather interesting.  Anyway, Kiyone?" Russ said,

holding the computer unit in his hands.  "I have something here that you

should file a report on.  But don't worry about doing it today."

            "What is it, Russ?"

            "This is a computer data log from a derelict ship," he said, holding

up the core.  "This should help solve a couple thousand missing person

reports."

            Kiyone stood up from the table, moved over to Russ, and accepted

the computer core.  "Thanks for your help."

            "No problem.  But anyway, are you guys ready for the last and

final gift I have to give everybody?" he asked, standing tall, wearing a big

grin.

            "I've been waiting for this," Tenchi said, holding Ryoko.  "What is

it?"

            Russ became very serious.  "Listen closely to this, as this is very

important.  I will be bringing a visitor here to see you people," Russ said,

drawing various looks from everybody who was seated.  Russ swallowed a

growing lump in his throat, becoming nervous at being the center of

attention from almost a dozen people.  "This person can only remain here

for one, twenty-four hour day.  After which, I will have to take the person

back.  The gods are probably going to be pissed at me for doing this, but I

worked it out months before, so there should be no problem."

            "Well, who is it?" Nobuyuki asked, genuinely curious.

            Russ took in a deep breath.  "I'll go and get her," Russ said,

smiling.  "Please don't have a heart attack when you see her."

            Everybody had mixed reactions to what he had said, but remained

quiet.

            "Back in a moment.  Don't go anywhere," he said, putting two

fingers to his forehead and disappearing.

            "What do you suppose it could be?" Aeka asked, looking at Ryoko

and Tenchi.

            "I have absolutely no idea," he responded.  "What about you,

grandpa?"

            Katsuhito shook his head back and forth.  "I have no idea, Tenchi."

            The group didn't have much more time to debate, as they heard

Russ re-appear in the kitchen.  The door slid open and Russ stepped out, a

huge grin on his face.

            "Are you sure you're all ready for this?"

            "Yeah," Tenchi said.

            "Remember, she can only remain here for ONE DAY.  Since it is

now noon, she will have to leave at noon tomorrow," he reminded them,

and then turned back toward the kitchen.  "Come on out now," he said

quietly, accepting a hand that appeared out of sight.

            Gently pulling her into view, her hand was visible first, followed

by a black dress.  She had brown eyes and black hair, which was wound up

into a waist-length ponytail by a red band.  The girl only appeared to be

around seventeen or eighteen, and she was very beautiful.  She had on white

socks that covered her legs a little over her ankles, and her shoes were black

as well.  It was a complete school uniform that hadn't been worn in Japan

for a good twenty-five years.  One interesting attribute about the girl was

her golden halo, which hovered about six inches above her head.  She

stepped out of the kitchen and looked at the group, smiling at everybody.

            Katsuhito, Nobuyuki, and Tenchi all turned ghostly white in shock

and surprise, as recognition immediately smashed through all of their heads

like a tidal wave.  Ryoko, Aeka, Sasami, Washu, Kiyone and Mihoshi all

gasped in complete and utter surprise, watching her move from the kitchen

to stand by Russ's side.

            "My wife in Heaven," Nobuyuki whispered hoarsely, unable to

find his voice.  His hands visibly trembled while he looked the girl up and

down, tears squeezing themselves out of the corners of his eyes.

            Katsuhito had a similar reaction, his face frozen into shock.  He too

was trembling, as he stood up from the couch, slowly making his way over

to the girl.  Tenchi and Nobuyuki joined him, all of them transfixed on her,

unable to come up with words to describe the feelings they had.

            She giggled, genuinely pleased with their reactions.  Smiling at

each of them in turn, she stepped away from Russ and stopped in front of

Nobuyuki, looking at him in the same way that she used to, long before they

were married.

            Grinning widely, Russ was utterly pleased with himself, watching

everybody's reaction to her re-appearance.  "Say hello to Achika, Tenchi's

mother and Nobuyuki's wife, and daughter of Lord Katsuhito," Russ said

quietly, his introduction going almost completely ignored.  Russ backed off

a little further, approaching the door to the outside.  "Merry Christmas,

everybody," he said quietly, as he slipped outside, unnoticed by everybody,

except for Aeka, who caught him out the corner of her eye.

            "Hi Nobuyuki," Achika greeted, smiling at her husband.

            Nobuyuki carefully reached out, caressing the side of her face, the

tears visibly streaming out of his eyes in happiness.  "Is it really you?" he

whispered.

            Achika smiled, reaching up and holding his hand in hers.  "It's

me," she said, smiling the way she used to.

            Nobuyuki slowly wrapped his arms around her and held her close,

squeezing her tightly, crying into her shoulder.  Achika also had tears of joy

streaming down her cheeks, so very happy to be in the presence of her

family again.  They held each other for what seemed like an eternity, and

Nobuyuki released her, looking into her eyes.

            "I can't believe it," he squeaked, unable to find his voice again.

            Katsuhito approached her next, his eyes wide as he looked into her

own.  She gazed into Katsuhito's old, wrinkled face, and then quickly

wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly.  Katsuhito stood

flabbergasted, carefully wrapping his arms around her as well, holding her. 

He hadn't held his daughter in nearly two decades, and it felt good to do it

once again.

            "How did he do it?" he asked, as she buried her face into his white

robes.

            Raising her face up to gaze into Katsuhito's, she smiled.  "Russ

told me that it was because Kain had come back.  Since he did, he could do

this for me," she replied.  "But he said it was far more complex than that,

and he had to call in a lot of favors.  Fortunately, the gods allowed me to

keep my body, as the Grand Kai allows all the powerful warriors who

perish in battle to do that.  I was one of them."

            Katsuhito nodded his head, completely understanding her. 

"Welcome back, Achika.  You have no idea how much joy you've brought

to his old man's heart on this day."

            "Mother?" Tenchi said, finally taking his turn, stepping up to the

young woman and admiring her from head to toe.

            "My Tenchi," she swooned, hugging him dearly.  "I'm so happy to

be able to talk to you, one more time," she cried, holding him like only a

mother could do.  "I've watched you grow up to be the man you are today,

and I couldn't be happier."

            Holding his mother tightly, he began to cry.  It was something he

hadn't allowed himself to do for a great many years.  He always told

himself that men didn't cry, but it didn't matter now.  His level of joy

couldn't be measured by anything.  "I can't believe you're here!"

            "I'm here, Tenchi, but only for one day.  Lets make the most of it,

shall we?" she said, releasing him.  She looked around the room at

everybody else, all of which still had the same, awestruck expressions that

they had when she walked into the room.  "Hello again, everybody.  It's

good to see you all again."

            "You remember us?" Washu asked, surprised.

            Achika nodded.  "After I had passed away, the memories you

erased from me were restored.  I know about everything that had

happened."

            Washu nodded her head.  "It's good to see you again, Lady

Achika," Washu said, still sitting next to her son.  "This is my son, Akaki,"

she said, introducing him.

            Akaki stood and bowed.  "I'm humbled to meet the mother of

Tenchi," he said, showing her the utmost respect.  "I've been away from my

mother for over twenty thousand years, and we were just reunited today."

            "I know.  I saw it happen," she said, nodding her head.  "It makes

me feel so happy to be with everybody again, even if it is only for a day."

            "Please, sit down and have some tea," Katsuhito said, guiding her

to the lazyboy chair.  He poured the tea into a clean cup and gave it to her,

which she accepted, taking a sip.  "Strong as always," she giggled, drawing

a light blush from her father.

            "It's so wonderful to see you again, Lady Achika," Aeka said,

standing up from her seat on the couch.  "But, why are you only eighteen

years old?  I thought you passed away many years later?"

            Achika smiled.  "I chose to be eighteen again, because I was this

age when Kain attacked us.  Plus, I was this age when I met Nobuyuki," she

said, causing her husband to blush a light crimson. 

            The princess smiled and nodded.  "But you're real?  You aren't

like a ghost or anything?"

            "Nope.  This is a real body, and it is really me.  The only

difference is, I am dead.  This halo over my head indicates that," she said

pointing to it.

            "I see," Katsuhito said, rubbing his chin.

            "You say that too much, daddy," she said, giggling.

            Katsuhito grinned, chuckling quietly.

            Sasami approached her from the side and smiled.  "Hi," she said,

smiling, and bowing politely.

            "Sasami.  It's very nice to see you again," Achika said.  "I'm glad

to see you're happy and well."

            The little princess giggled, and then moved away from her, sitting

down on the floor.

            "It is very nice to see you again, Achika, but I must excuse

myself," Aeka said, getting her coat and mittens.  "I have to go talk to

someone."

            Achika nodded her head.  "Go get him, Aeka.  Don't ever give

up."

            She froze for a moment, and then smiled.  "I'll never give up.  I

won't let this one go.  Ever."

            Aeka and Achika shared a knowing glance, and then Aeka went

outside.

            "I've been watching those two as well," Achika said.  "It almost

reminds me of how it went between Nobuyuki and myself.  I would've

never guessed that he'd become a pervert after I passed away," she laughed,

causing Nobuyuki to turn as red as one of the Christmas tree bulbs.  "I'm

just teasing, sweetie."

            Nobuyuki chuckled, scratching the back of his head.  "None of

them compared to you, my dear," he replied.

            "Good answer," she replied, blushing slightly.

            "So mom, what's it like in Heaven?" Tenchi asked, drawing

curious looks from the group.

            Achika shook her head.  "I can't say much about it, as I've been

forbidden to do so.  But I can tell you that it is the most beautiful, amazing

place that could possibly exist.  I can see you any time I want, and even

though you can't see me, there have been plenty of times that I've stood

right next to you, watching you grow up into the young man that you've

become," she described, smiling.  "And you're going to get married!  I was

so overjoyed to watch you propose to Ryoko that I almost couldn't stand

waiting for Russ to come and get me!"

            Tenchi looked at her in surprise.  "You saw that?"

            Nodding her head yes, she smiled.  "I've been watching everything

today, as I knew that I'd be coming back to visit everybody.  As I said

before, he arranged it months ahead of time."

            "I wonder how Russ found the time to do all of that," Kiyone said,

listening to everybody.  "He was always so busy training himself."

            "I've seen that too," Achika said.  "I've seen people like him in

Heaven before.  One of them was named Goku, and he looked almost

identical to Russ, except he was a bit shorter, and he always wore orange

clothes.  He didn't seem to be very smart, but he was a very nice person and

easy to get along with.  He introduced me to some of his friends and they

were all nice as well."

            "Wow!  What kind of food do they have there?" Mihoshi asked,

thinking about mountains of sweets that she could eat.

            Laughing to herself, Achika shook her head.  "Food is never a

problem.  All the sweets you can eat, Mihoshi," she responded.  "But

anyway, please don't ask any more questions about Heaven.  Instead, I'd

like to talk with you guys about you.  How has my son been treating

everybody?"

            Washu cackled evilly.  "He's my little guinea pig," she said,

causing Akaki to look at her curiously.  "He's a very good one too."

            Achika started laughing.  "What kind of experiments have you

done to him?"

            Washu grinned even wider.  "You really wanna know?"

            Smiling widely, she nodded her head yes.

            "Well, the very first time I scanned him turned out to be very

interesting.  You remember it, don't you Tenchi?" Washu asked, causing

him to squirm uncomfortably.  Ryoko shot her a look of death, causing

Washu to grin even wider.  "Wait 'till I tell her about the experiments I've

done on you, Ryoko."

            Everybody sat back and listened as Washu described some of the

things she had done with Tenchi, carefully avoiding any perverted things

she had attempted.  Each person described things that they had done with

Tenchi, most of them very hilarious, causing Tenchi to blush and Achika to

almost fall out of her chair laughing.  They were all having a great time,

ignoring the passage of the hours.

 

            It was still very cold outside, but Russ ignored it as he went to

Tenchi's training ground, exercising at two thousand times Earth's normal

gravity.  Performing his normal routine, he allowed his mind to wander,

thinking about all of the events that transpired throughout the day. 

However, despite all the joy that he had given everybody, he still felt a tinge

of depression, nagging him at the back of his mind.  No matter how much

joy he could give or receive, he continued to feel alone and depressed, even

in a group of people who loved him.

            Living with Tenchi and his family for the past six months had been

quite a ride, as he went to the Startica festival with everybody, fought

against Kain, and now, Christmas.  Everybody always did their best to

include Russ in their activities, but it still didn't matter.  He still felt alone

and cut off from the outside world.  He knew of Zorpheus's impending

arrival and he knew that he had to be at one hundred ten percent to stand a

chance of actually defeating him.  They had never fought to kill each other

before, and Russ knew that when a life was on the line, it was a fight where

anything goes.  If you win, you live.  If you lose, you die.  It was that

simple.  There were no rules.

            Continuing to rapidly punch and kick in the air, spinning around an

invisible circle, he continued to wonder what would happen if he did lose. 

He knew failure was not an option, but was possible.  Would Zorpheus be

inclined to destroy the planet and everybody on it?  Knowing Zorpheus, he

probably wouldn't, but it was still a strong possibility.  Would he take his

frustrations out on all of his friends?  Again, it was not likely, but possible.

            Russ shuddered at the thought of him harming any of his new

friends, especially Aeka.  She was always so kind, considerate, and happy

around him, and she was one of the most beautiful people he had ever met,

in mind, body, and spirit.  He had only known one person before Aeka who

was very similar to her, and she was killed as a result of his inability to stop

it.  He only acquired the power necessary after she was murdered, but by

then, what difference did it make?  She was already gone and the power

meant nothing.  Russ was able to annihilate and destroy all the people who

had killed her, but he couldn't do the one thing that he wanted to do, and

that was save her life.  Never again would he allow something like that to

happen.  Not now.  Not ever.  And in making his decision, he closed himself

off, trying to avoid the love of a woman for the rest of his life.  He would

never reveal the real reason behind it all, but instead, make up excuse after

excuse.  He almost let it slip when Ryoko asked about it after the Kain

incident, only telling her that there was a girl who was almost like Aeka is. 

Except his relationship with that girl was just about ready to progress to the

next step, when it went up in a fireball.

            Russ stopped his exercises and looked into the clear, blue,

afternoon sky, the sun shining brightly as the sparrows continued to chirp in

the bare trees.  Even though the atmosphere was wonderful and beautiful,

Russ hung his head, now thinking about Aeka.  She was so perfect in so

many ways, and it killed him to keep telling her no over and over.  He

would give anything to have her, but the risk was far, far too great.  If she

were to be killed as a result of trying to become involved in one of his

affairs, he knew that he would probably go insane.  Even though he tried to

block out his feelings, he did love her, with almost all of his heart.  He knew

that she loved him too and wanted to be with him, and it was becoming

increasingly difficult to keep telling her no.  An aching heart can usually

only be healed by the love of another, and he continually denied himself

that love, saying that it was for the best.  Zorpheus always told him, "That is

the biggest bunch of bullshit I've ever heard."

            Making his way over to the shrine, Russ cracked a smile, thinking

back to how Zorpheus would always try to be a playboy, always asking

other women out on a date, most of which left him groaning in pain from a

kick to the crotch.  But that never stopped him.  The one thing Russ knew

about him is that he enjoyed the chase more than the prize, and that he was

hard pressed to get into bed, even by some of the most drop-dead gorgeous

women in the universe.  He still had a high sense of morals and ethics, and

Russ was proud of him for that.  Just that Zorpheus liked to touch far more

than he should have.

            Reaching the top of the hill, Russ looked around at the snow-

covered ground, realizing that he should probably remove the snow from

the pathways, as it would have to be done later anyway.  Placing his hand

out in front of him, he created a strong wind that blew the snow away,

looking like a blizzard in front of him.  Slowly moving forward, he slowly

cleared all the snow from the paths around the shrine.  Once he finished, he

picked up a large clump of snow, rolled it into a snowball, and then began

rolling the ball on the ground, gathering more and more snow.  After

walking a full circle around the shrine, the ball was nearly six feet in

diameter, and Russ grinned in satisfaction.  Rolling up a second snowball,

he made another trip around the shrine, taking a shorter path.  The resulting

ball was five feet in diameter, weighing almost a ton.  Carefully, Russ

worked his hands under the snowball, lifted it up easily, and set it down on

the first ball, packing it tightly to keep it from rolling off.  Rolling up a third

snowball, he made a very short trip around the building, resulting in a much

smaller ball, which he set on top of the snowman, packing it down to keep it

from rolling off.  Placing his hand out in front of him, he produced just

enough energy to melt the outside of the snowman, allowing the water to

seep into the snow, packing it down even tighter, and then allowed it to

freeze.  He stepped back and admired his handiwork, and then punched a

few small holes in the head for eyes, another for the nose, and a long line

for a big smile.

            Russ sighed, looking at it.  Even though he made it smile, he was

still sad and unhappy on the inside.  Shaking his head, he turned around to

head back down the steps, planning on exercising a little more, but stopped

in his tracks when he saw Aeka standing at the top of the stairs, her hands

folded in front of her as she smiled at him.  He walked toward her, but

didn't return her smile, and instead, let the hole in his heart grow a little

larger.  It took almost everything he had to keep from bursting into tears in

front of her.

            "What's wrong?" she asked as he gave her a fake smile, and then

tried to walk past her.

            "Nothing, Aeka.  Just thinking."

            She grabbed his arm, preventing him from leaving her there. 

"You've been doing a lot of that lately.  You've been hiding it very well,

but you're not happy.  I can tell just by the way you made that snowman."

            Russ shook his head, pulling himself free.  "I'm sorry, Aeka.  I

should be happier since it is Christmas and all, but I'm not."

            "Why?"

            "I miss my parents," he lied, hoping that she'd buy into it.

            "I remember you talking about that quite a while ago.  But for

some reason, I'm finding it harder and harder to believe that.  You're hiding

something, and I want to know what."

            "I'm sorry, Aeka, but this is something I cannot talk to anybody

about.  Please, go back inside with the family.  It's cold out here," Russ

said, starting to descend the stairs.

            Aeka turned and kept pace with him.  "They're all visiting with

Achika, and you're out here alone.  I'd rather be here with you," she said.

            Cracking a slight smile, Russ shook his head.  "Thanks, but that

isn't necessary."

            "Who cares if it is or isn't?  I want to be here, and unless you don't

want me here, I'm sticking with you for today."

            "Why?"

            "I need a reason to be next to you?" she said, sounding hurt.

            Russ stopped and looked her in the eyes, and they shared a

moment of the same, lonely depression.  "No.  You don't need a reason. 

It's just that I'm more of a loner."

            "It isn't good to be alone, especially on a day like today.  Please,

come with me," she said, taking his arm, trying to lead him somewhere.

            "Aeka, stop.  I already told you before, and I hate to keep

reminding you of it.  I don't want anything between us.  Friendship is okay,

but nothing more."

            "I'm only being friends with you right now, and I know you don't

want to progress it any further, but I want to.  I'm not going to stop until

you say yes," she said, yanking his arm, spinning him around to face her

directly.  "I'm not someone you can just push aside and walk away.  I have

feelings too, you know, and they can be hurt just as easily as your own!"

            "I know that!  I told you on the day that we met that you shouldn't

pursue me or become interested in me.  I knew you were depressed and I

said some things that I probably shouldn't have.  The big one was telling

you to wait for me after the battle with Zorpheus.  I did try to set the record

straight about a week later, but I think you made your mind up."

            "That's right," she said, squeezing his arms tightly.  "I have made

my mind up.  I… want to be with you for the rest of my life," she said,

trembling, letting the tears fall out of the corners of her eyes.  "I've never

had the guts to even tell Tenchi that, but I'm sure of it with you.  You've

got nothing to lose and everything to gain."

            Russ hung his head, furious at himself for making her cry.  But he

knew that he was going to have to do it yet again, and it tore at his heart like

a lion on its prey.  "I did it again.  I made you cry.  I'm sorry Aeka, but I

can't do it.  I made a decision a long time ago, a personal vow that I would

never fall in love."

            Aeka looked at him in shock as Russ grimaced, realizing that he

just revealed the secret he's been trying to keep concealed.  "What?" she

asked, unsure if she heard him correctly.

            "It's true.  I've made a personal promise to myself that I'd never

fall in love.  It almost happened once, and because of a horrific tragedy, I

swore I'd never do it again.  Never," he said, turning away from Aeka and

continuing down the steps.  "The pain was just too great."

            Leaping forward, she grabbed him again, holding him tightly from

behind.  "I don't care about your stupid promise to yourself," she said.

            "Aeka, please stop.  Even if you did love me, I still couldn't return

it.  I won't allow myself to."

            Spinning him around again, she slapped him straight across the

face, her hand leaving a red welt on Russ's cheek.  He almost didn't seem to

notice.  "WAKE UP, RUSS!" she screamed, shaking him back and forth. 

"WHY?!"

            "Do you really want to know?" he asked quietly, his face turned

away from her.

            "Please!" she said, the tears streaming down her face.

            "I had almost fallen in love, once.  It was with a beautiful girl I had

met on a planet fairly close to Earth.  Her name was Laurie, and she was the

most absolute perfect girl I had ever met in my life.  She was always happy,

always had a bright and cheery thing to say, and could bring me out of my

most foul moods with her smile.  She wasn't much of a fighter or a warrior,

but she didn't need to be.  We had done everything together.  We went out

together on several occasions, cooked for each other, and enjoyed each

other's company.  Whenever we had a day off, we'd spend it together. 

We'd always call each other and talk to each other when we were apart, and

it almost felt as if we were married, or at least, at the first stage of dating. 

But we really didn't get serious until after we had been friends for about a

year.  She told me that she wanted something more, and honestly, I did too. 

We never kissed each other, as we never got the chance.  Only a day after

she said she wanted to go steady, the planet was attacked by a group of

pirate raiders.  They bombarded the planet, killed almost everybody who

stood in their way.  Emergency calls went out on every single

communications channel, and I teleported back to her planet.  The men who

were there were extremely strong.  They were more powerful than I was, as

I tried to stop them from harming her.  I tried to fight them off, but I

couldn't do it.  Laurie had come out of the house, screaming at them to stop,

but they just laughed and continued to pound me.  She turned and ran back

into the house, locking the door behind her, as she knew that she couldn't

do anything," Russ described, recalling the memory in perfect detail.

            Listening in shock, Aeka didn't say anything, as this came as a

total surprise to her.

            Russ continued.  "The leader of the group told me and his men to

watch what happens to those who stand against him, as he pointed his hand

at the house, releasing a large beam, destroying the house and my friend in

a tremendously huge fireball.  Laurie was instantly killed, and when that

happened, a part of me died too.  I became infuriated, and could feel my

blood boiling with a rage that I had never felt before.  The men who were

holding me couldn't do it any longer, as I easily tossed them away like rag

dolls.  I lost my mind, my humanity, and my sanity all at once, as I

transformed and became a super saiyan for the first time.  Captain Ginyu

described it best.  I became, 'a radically efficient killing machine.'  I didn't

feel anything as I destroyed each of the men in turn, killing them off

effortlessly.  The leader tried to turn and run, but I put my fist straight

through him, ripping out his heart.  I'll never forget the look on that man's

face as he saw his own heart beating in front of him for his last seconds of

life, before he crumpled to the ground, dead.  I vaporized him afterwards,

and then killed his entire gang, destroyed all of his ships, everything.  I

couldn't be stopped by any means.  All I saw was red," Russ said, closing

his fists tightly, playing back the event again in his head.  "But even after I

had defeated the gang and their leader, I couldn't bring my Laurie back.  I

screamed to the Heavens, begging them to give her back to me, but to no

avail.  She got involved with me, and as a result, she was killed.  I vowed to

myself that I'd never allow anything like that to happen again, so I

promised myself that I'd never fall in love.  It was not only to protect me,

but to protect anybody else who was close to me."

            "Oh my god," Aeka whispered, stunned at his revelation.  "I never

knew."

            "And you would've never known if you didn't ask.  I was going to

carry that incident with me to my grave, alone.  I don't need someone else

shouldering it too.  I don't wish that burden on anyone," he said, looking

down at the Masaki house, which still looked bright, cheery, and festive.

            "Russ?"

            Sighing to himself, he allowed himself to relax a little.  "What is it,

Aeka?"

            "You're blaming yourself for something that you couldn't

prevent," she said, walking down the steps to stand in front of him.  "Even

if you didn't become involved, she might've still been killed."

            Russ shook his head.  "If she hadn't come outside and demanded

that they stop, she might've lived and had gone ignored.  I should've died

that day, not her."

            "But Russ…" she began.

            "I'm sorry, Aeka," he interrupted.  "I've said too much already. 

Go back to the house and join everybody with Achika," he said, lifting off

into the air.

            "Please wait!" she called after him, but he ignored her.  "I'm

chasing you away again, aren't I?"

            Stopping his ascent, he hovered in the air, looking like a statue. 

Aeka lifted off the ground and joined him, stopping at his height so she

could look him in the eyes.  He looked back at her with such a hurt

expression that Aeka thought he was going to start crying himself.

            "I'm sorry, Russ.  I didn't mean to re-open old wounds.  But I want

to shoulder that burden with you," she said, placing her hands on his

shoulders.

            "No.  This is my problem, and my problem alone," he responded

stubbornly, looking at her, but his gaze wasn't focused on her at all. 

"You're a great friend, Aeka.  The best one I've ever had, really.  If I could,

I'd go out with you in a nanosecond.  You are very beautiful, in the body, in

the face, and in the mind.  You are an asset to your planet, Princess Aeka,"

he said, using her title.  "Your little sister thinks of me as her big brother at

times.  She loves playing games, cooking, and doing lots of fun things with

me, and it helps me forget about my past.  But when you're around, that old

wound continues to fester, as I remember what happened to her, so many

years ago.  You're so much like her too.  Just as beautiful, almost always

smiling, and always having a kind thing to say no matter what I do.  If you

become involved with me, the risk to you would be too great.  I can't let

anything happen to you, as you are far more important than I."

            "Stop right there," she said, growing frustrated and angry.  "You

think that because I have a title, that my life is more important than yours?"

            Russ nodded, looking away.

            "You're human, just like me.  We breathe the same air, eat the

same food, and do the same things.  How could you possibly think that?"

            "You live here with us, for now.  One day, you will go back home

to rule the most powerful empire in this galaxy," he said, causing her to stop

her tirade.  "That is your destiny or your fate.  Me, on the other hand, will

continue to fight for the good of the universe, if I survive the battle with

Zorpheus.  If I die, it's no big deal.  Maybe a dozen people would miss me,

and even they would eventually forget about me.  You, if you happened to

die or get killed, an entire EMPIRE would be devastated.  Now do you see

what I mean?" Russ asked, still floating in mid-air over the shrine steps.

            Aeka stopped and looked at him, unable to come up with a counter

to his argument.  She hung her head, letting out a deep sigh.  "You could

come with me, you know," she said.

            Shaking his head, Russ reached under her tear-streaked chin and

carefully brought her face up to his.  "That would never work, and you

know it.  I am a man from a race thought to be extinct, and he just waltzes

in to become the Princess's groom?  No, that couldn't happen.  The entire

planet would probably go up in civil war."

            "So what?" she said, squeezing his shoulders more tightly.  "I

don't care about that."

            "Aeka, you're letting your feelings cloud your judgment.  You're

being selfish, and that is not like you.  You know it is for the best that we do

not go any further, and I do too.  You have a planet and an empire that you

will eventually lead to greatness far beyond what your parents have

established.  I know you will.  You're fair, just, kind, and compassionate, all

of which I find to be necessary qualities of being the ruler of an empire,"

Russ said, smiling.  "There is never a problem with a princess befriending

someone of lower status, but a relationship is out of the question."

            Floating quietly, still having her hands on Russ's huge shoulders,

she began to quietly sob to herself.  She pulled herself closer to Russ,

wrapping her arms around him, and then burying her face in his coat, letting

out all of her frustrations over her stature, her life, her fate, and her anger. 

"It's not fair," she sobbed.

            "It's okay, Aeka," Russ said, bringing his arms up to hold her.  "I

will always be your friend and I'll always be there when you need me," he

said, slowly descending to the ground.  "That's what friends are for, ya

know?"

            They both touched down on the ground, their feet crunching in the

snow, still holding each other closely.  Aeka had finally stopped crying, but

she didn't get go of him, but Russ didn't mind it.  It felt good to hold

another in his arms like that, as he hadn't done it since he was with Laurie. 

She was so warm and soft, and Russ wished that he could hold her forever,

but he knew that the evils of the universe would eventually tear her away

from him.  If it wasn't going to be the Jurai Empire, it was going to be an

opponent of his.  Either way, he knew it wouldn't last, or couldn't last.  But

just for the few minutes he was holding her, he would've told the entire

universe to sit down and rotate if it had tried to take her from him.

            Quietly, Russ began to hum a song to himself, which he had heard

from the Ah! My Goddess movie.  It was called luna aeterna Nemuri wo

Samasu Mono, which was sung by the goddess Belldandy.  It was a very

beautiful and peaceful song, and Russ hoped that it would calm her frayed

nerves, as well as his own.  Music always soothed the savage beast.

            Sighing softly, Aeka finally stood up on her own, steadying herself

by holding onto Russ's arms, and then she gazed into his eyes.  Her cheeks

were stained from the many tears she had shed today, but it didn't matter. 

Even though he continued to say no, she knew he loved him, and that's all

that mattered.  She knew that it was only a matter of time before he'd say

yes, and all she had to do was wait.

 

            "Well mom," Akaki said, standing up from the cushion his mother

provided for him.  "I should get back home now.  I have to work tomorrow

and my boss will kill me if I'm late again."

            Washu turned around from her latest weapon of death and

destruction, a handheld flak cannon not all that dissimilar from the one seen

in Unreal Tournament.  "I wish you didn't have to go so soon, but it's okay. 

Where do you live now?"

            Akaki approached her laptop, keyed a few commands, and a star

chart appeared.  A targeting scope focused on one part of the galaxy and

zoomed in, focused on a cluster of stars in between Jurai and Earth,

zooming in further, and finally, he focused on a blue giant star, then brought

up a large image of that planetary system.  "I live here," he said, pointing to

the fourth planet from the sun.

            "Bikinawa?  That's supposed to be a very nice place," Washu

observed.

            "It is.  The weather control system on that planet is superb.  They

have it rain about every two days, and it's always scheduled so there are no

surprises.  I've lived there with my stepmother up to now," he said,

scratching his head.

            "Your stepmother is still around?" Washu questioned, looking at

him curiously.

            "Yeah.  She's probably wondering what is taking me so long to

come back home," Akaki chuckled.  "She worries, but I love her anyway. 

Maybe one of these days I can have her meet you."

            "I'd like that," Washu agreed.  "She raised you to be a very good

young man.  You should be very proud of her, and she of you."

            "Oh, I am," Akaki said, thumping his chest.  "She's the best."

            Washu laughed quietly to herself, hiding what she was really

feeling behind a mask of happiness.  "You better call or come visit me soon,

son.  I'll be looking forward to hearing from you again."

            Smiling widely, he hugged his mother tightly.  "One question,

mom.  Why are you so young?"

            Quietly taking in a breath, she let it out slowly.  Backing away

from her son, she bowed her head, put her hands together in front of her,

and in the span of only a second, she morphed into her adult form.  She

grew nearly two feet in height, her hair got much longer, and her clothes

stretched tight around her ample frame.

            Akaki looked like he was about to pass out, but he recovered a few

moment later, admiring the way his mother was supposed to look.  "I'm

glad to see you finally came out of your shell, mother," he said.  "I knew

you were hiding your true form, but I must admit, I didn't know you were

going to turn out like that," he said, ogling her.

            Washu smiled, striking a pose for him.  "What do you think?" she

asked, her voice considerably deeper than it was.

            "Great."

            "Good.  Now stop staring at me like that.  It isn't healthy," she

teased, causing Akaki to turn red and look away.

            "I'm very happy that I was able to see you again, mom.  It was the

most amazing thing I had ever heard when Russ told me he knew where you

were and what relation you were to me.  If you hadn't told him about me, he

might not have ever attempted to find me and reunite us.  I have no idea

what Christmas is, but I guess it is a holiday where miracles happen," he

said, hugging Washu one more time.

            "It is.  I'm going to have to do something to repay him one of these

days," she said, holding her son once again.  "I wish you didn't have to go

so soon."

            "Me neither, but I have to.  I will call you and visit you as often as

I can though.  You can count on that."

            Washu smiled, satisfied with his answer.  "How are you going to

get home?"

            "I guess Russ can just zap me back home, like he did when he

brought me here," he said, scratching his head.  "I have no idea how he does

that."

            "Come on, Akaki.  Let's go say goodbye to the family and then

you can go," she said, pulling him out of the lab once again.

            Walking through the doorway and finding themselves in the living

room once more, Achika, Nobuyuki, Tenchi, and Katsuhito were all seated

on the furniture, quietly talking to each other.  Washu knew that it was

going to be a very long night for them, as they still had so much catching up

to do.  It warmed her heart to see them so happy once again, and her

happiness was right up with theirs.  Russ had made it the best holiday they

had ever been involved in.

            "Hey guys," Akaki said, getting their attention.  "I have to be

going home now, but it was a great pleasure to meet all of you, including

you, Achika.  I wish you all well, and I'll be back to visit sometime in the

future.  Washu will make sure of that," he said, eyeing his mom, who hadn't

changed out of her adult form. 

            "Washu?  Why are you so… grown?" Nobuyuki asked, casting his

eyes to her blouse, which looked like it was going to burst open at any

moment.

            "I cast off my shell.  It's time I grew up and faced facts.  Besides, I

have my son here with me now, so there is no reason for me to be like that

anymore.  Because of how adults had behaved, I turned myself into a child,

never, ever wanting to grow up, because I was afraid I'd become like the

ones that took my son away.  But I no longer have to worry about that

anymore," she said, gazing into her son's eyes.  "Take care of yourself,

Akaki."  She threw her arms around him once more and squeezed him

tightly, trying to keep herself from crying.

            "We'll be seeing you later then," Tenchi said, smiling at him. 

"You're welcome back here anytime."

            "Thanks Tenchi.  I really appreciate that," he said, bowing

respectfully.  "But where's Russ?  I need him to take me back home."

            "He left the house several hours ago and hasn't come back in yet. 

I think he's with Aeka or something," Nobuyuki said, looking outside at the

darkening sky.  "It's amazing how time flies when you're occupied."

            "Indeed," Washu said, sighing quietly to herself.  "Far too fast."

            Akaki walked to the door and peered outside.  The little light that

still existed was still more than enough to see out to the forest, as the snow

had made the outside considerably brighter.  "There he is," he said, looking

toward the lake.

            Aeka and Russ were walking toward the spaceship.  She was

hanging on Russ's arm and they moved slowly, seemingly not affected at all

by the blustery cold.

            Poking his head out the door, he yelled to the twosome.  "Russ! 

I'm ready to head back home now!  Can you take me back?" he called

            "Sure!  Just one second!" Russ yelled back, turning to Aeka and

telling her to wait a moment.  Russ quickly made his way over to Washu's

son and smiled.  "Ready?"

            "Yeah," he said, turning toward everybody again.  "Say goodbye

to Mihoshi, Sasami, and Kiyone for me, would you?" he requested.

            Tenchi nodded his head.  "No problem."

            Akaki turned back toward Russ and extended his hand.  "Let's go."

            Grasping his hand in his own, Russ put two fingers to his forehead,

but before he teleported, he saw a tear trickle out of the corner of Washu's

eye, as she smiled and waved.  He initiated the instantaneous movement

ability a second later, and vanished.

            "Goodbye, my son," Washu said again, her hand outstretched to

where her son stood just moments before.

            Washu felt a hand on her shoulder and she looked into the wizened

face of Katsuhito, who looked at her with sympathy.  Turning toward him,

she buried her face in his robes, quietly sobbing.

            "He will come back, you know," Katsuhito said quietly, holding

her gently.

            "It still doesn't make it any easier.  I was only able to see him for

such a short period of time today.  But I know he'll come back soon," she

said, pulling away from the Shinto priest.  Sniffing and drying her eyes, she

turned and went back into her lab, gently closing the door behind her.

 

            It was now late at night, but Achika, Tenchi, and Ryoko were all

still awake, even after everybody else had gone to bed.  Russ and Aeka

were still awake too, as they hadn't come inside yet.  Sasami was asleep,

snuggled next to Ryo-Ohki, Kiyone and Mihoshi were both sleeping

soundly, happy to be in good company once again, and Nobuyuki was

dozing, a smile on his face.  He couldn't stay awake any longer from getting

up so early, and the sake didn't help either.

            Tenchi and his mother had talked with each other ever since the

rest of the family had gone to bed.  He had been waiting for an opportunity

to talk with her on his own, even though Ryoko refused to go to bed until he

went himself.  She remained quiet, contentedly snuggled up against

Tenchi's arm, dozing off from time to time.

            Achika looked at her, and smiled.  "Your fiancé is very pretty,

Tenchi.  She looks so cute like that, snuggled against your arm."

            Looking down at the top of her head, admiring her spiky, cyan

hair, he smiled and nodded.  "She's not like anybody I've ever known.  I

love her and want to spend the rest of my life with her.  It took me so long

to decide to do that, but I really had to listen to my heart.  I decided that this

is the woman that I want to live out the rest of my days with, and I know

she wants the same."

            "I know.  I've seen some of the events that had led to this, Tenchi. 

I saw the Haruna incident, the Kain incident, and many other things that

made me believe that you were in love with this girl.  Aeka was deeply in

love with you too, but even she realized that you didn't love her in the same

way that you loved Ryoko, and in turn, she surrendered you to her.  It was

one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen and it couldn't have been

played out any better than that," Achika said quietly, trying not to disturb

the sleeping space pirate.  "Aeka was heartbroken, but she choose to do it,

despite what you might've thought.  Even though you never actually chose,

they did it for you."

            "Yeah.  I remember how strangely everybody was acting when I

had come back.  Ryoko was more calm, but stayed near me far more often

than Aeka did, and whenever Ryoko would show a display of affection,

Aeka didn't mind it or challenge it.  After a while, Ryoko and Aeka quit

fighting altogether and became good friends.  It has been a lot more

peaceful around here since that time.  Once in a while, I almost miss the

loudness and the chaos," he said, watching his mother who was still sitting

on the lazyboy recliner.

            Giggling quietly, she smiled.  "Yes.  But Aeka was very depressed

for along time, even though she did her best not to show it.  However, ever

since Russ has entered her life, she has become her old self again, but more

mature, to a point.  She tries to do little things to get his attention, but he's

nothing like you," Achika explained, looking out the window at Ryu-Oh. 

"Even though he'd probably never admit it, he IS in love with Aeka.  It's

just that he had something happen in his past that made him the way he is

today."

            Tenchi listened curiously.  "Really?  You know why he acts like

that?"

            She nodded.  "But I cannot tell you that.  That is something that

he'd have to reveal to you on his own.  Do not go asking him about it or it

may make him very, very angry at Aeka, because right now, she is the only

one who knows about it."

            "Really?  When did he tell her?"

            "Today."

            Tenchi raised his eyebrow in surprise.  "How do you know?"

            "Remember Tenchi, I am dead.  In being this way, I have access to

knowledge that nobody else would imagine.  I can read your mind, Russ's

mind, or do almost whatever I please like this," she explained, resting her

head and curling up on the chair, yawning.  "He did tell her today.  I wasn't

paying complete attention to it, but I know he did it."

            Sighing quietly to himself, Tenchi smiled, and then yawned.  "I

still wish I could've grown up with you, mom.  I really missed not having

you around.  Dad did the best he could and I'm proud of him for everything

that he has done, except for becoming the biggest pervert this side of

Japan," he said, chuckling.  "Grandpa helped him out as much as he could,

but still, I missed having a motherly figure around the house.  I wish you

hadn't passed away so young," Tenchi said, looking a little sad.

            Achika slowly looked down to the floor, letting the smile slip from

her face.  "I wish I didn't die as young as I did either, Tenchi.  I wasn't able

to be there when you needed me, or was I able to comfort you when you

were feeling down.  I couldn't do anything but watch.  When you were sad,

I was sad.  When you were happy, I was happy.  Watching you grow up was

absolutely wonderful, but not being a part of your life made it one of the

worst things I've ever known."

            "It's okay, mom.  You saved your life and my father's life during

the first battle with Kain.  You sacrificed a lot of your life to make sure we

all had a future.  I'm proud of you, mom.  I couldn't be more proud of you."

            Achika looked up into Tenchi's brown eyes, seeing nothing but

truthfulness and happiness from him.  The tears flowed freely for a few

moments, but she brushed them away, and then smiled.  "Thank you,

Tenchi.  I always wondered how you felt about me not being there.  It

makes me feel so good to hear you say that.  You mean the world to me,

Tenchi.  You still do."

            Tenchi grinned.  "I know."

            "Well, it is very late.  We should go to bed," Achika said, her eyes

half closed, but she was smiling and looked very contented.

            "Yeah.  It's past eleven, and I'm usually in bed around nine or

ten," he said, looking out the window.  "I'm so happy to have you back,

even if it was just for one day."

            Achika continued to smile.  "I'm very happy that Russ arranged

it," she said.  "I'm not sure about all of the details, but I think Kain was

killed and that he escaped from Hell, but I could still be mistaken.  But I

know that he came back here just to get revenge on you and everybody else. 

The one thing he didn't count on was Russ being here."

            "It's a good thing he was here, or I don't know what would've

happened."

            "Kain was a very powerful being, but nothing in any universe can

touch what a saiyan warrior can do," she said, thinking back to the

confrontation.  "But because Kain had done what he did, Russ was able to

arrange for my return as well.  This had only been done one time before in

the past, and that was with Goku, about a thousand years ago."

            Tenchi scratched his head.  "I can't remember, but I think Russ

might've said it was only a hundred years ago.  Oh well.  Maybe my

memory is failing me.  Too sleepy," he said, chuckling.

            "Let's go to bed, Tenchi.  I'll still be here in the morning and I'll

be here until noon tomorrow."

            "Are you sure you can't stay any longer?" Tenchi asked, hoping

that she could.

            Achika shook her head.  "I must return to Heaven.  It was difficult

enough for Russ just to give me the one day.  Apparently, the Grand Kai

threw a fit, but when he realized what had happened, he became

sympathetic to me and him, and decided to allow it."

            "I'll have to make sure Russ knows that I really appreciate what he

has done for us.  All of us," he said, looking at Ryoko, who was still

sleeping peacefully, leaning against his arm.

            "Would you like to know how he made your compatibility

possible?" she asked, watching Tenchi's ears perk up in interest.

            Looking from side to side, he nodded his head.  "Sure."

            Achika leaned forward a little and lowered her voice.  "Have you

ever heard of the Dragonballs?"

            Tenchi nodded his head.  "Yeah.  Russ mentioned them on a

couple of occasions."

            "They have the power to grant wishes.  The balls summon a

dragon god named Shenron, and that god will grant the person up to three

wishes.  Russ used them last night."

            "Really?  When did he do it?"

            "After everybody had gone to bed and went to sleep.  I was here

with everybody, and I watched what Russ was doing.  He flew out of the

house when everybody had fallen asleep and went to Kame's lookout,

where they had gathered the Dragonballs for him.  Once he summoned the

dragon, he made his three wishes.  The first one was major, in that he

wished for the dragon's ability to grant immorality to be banished forever. 

The second wish was to restore Aeka's ship, and the third wish was for you

two to become compatible and be able to bear a healthy, happy baby,"

Achika said, watching Tenchi's widening eyes.

            "So he DID perform a miracle last night," he said, looking at her in

wonder.

            She nodded her head.  "Yes."

            "Then we owe him a debt of gratitude that we can never repay,"

Tenchi said, leaning back into the couch a little more, adjusting his arm,

which was starting to fall asleep.  Ryoko stirred slightly, then drifted back

to sleep.

            Achika shook her head.  "No.  He did it because he wanted to, not

because you asked it of him.  It was a gift from him to you, and seeing you

two smile was more than enough to make him satisfied."

            "Still, I wish I could do something like that for him.  It seems

almost unfair that he should perform miracles for our sake when we can't

return the favor."

            "That's what I love about you, Tenchi.  You're always so kind and

fair.  Your father and grandfather raised you well.  I'm so proud of you, my

son," she said, smiling.

            Tenchi blushed, embarrassed over the praise he was receiving. 

"Thank you, mom."

            They sat in silence for a few moments, and then Achika stood up

from her seat, stretching her arms over her head, letting out a big yawn. 

"It's time for bed," she whispered.  "I'll see you in the morning, Tenchi."

            "Where are you going to sleep?"

            "With my husband, of course," she said, smiling.  "He'll be

pleasantly surprised to wake up next to me, just like he used to," she said,

remembering the many good times she shared with him.

            Tenchi nodded his head.  "Good night, mom.  See you in the

morning," he said, watching her quietly ascend the stairs and turn down the

hallway, her long, black ponytail trailing behind her.  He turned his

attention to his new bride to be, and gently scooped her up in his arms.  She

was a little heavier than he thought she'd be, but he was very careful and

gentle with her, as he too, climbed the stairs to his bedroom.

            After closing the door behind him, he quietly walked over to his

bed and carefully laid Ryoko down on the mattress, which was unmade

from when they woke up early this morning.  Covering her up, he looked

down on her, thinking she resembled a kitten, snuggled under the covers. 

She looked so happy and contented, and it warmed his heart even more. 

Bliss was almost an understatement for the happiness that he felt, and

nothing could take that away from him.

            He took off most of his clothes and he too, slid under the covers,

but he then started thinking about his mother's return to the other world,

and how he'd probably never see her again for the rest of his life.  But still,

it was a huge treat to be able to see her again.  Remarkable, amazing, or

even a marvel couldn't describe what Russ had done for him and his family

in bringing her back.

            Sleep continued to pull at Tenchi's mind, and he closed his eyes,

allowing sleep to overtake him, recharging his mind, body, and soul for the

last and final day of Achika's return.

 

            "Well, Aeka.  We should go inside the house and go to bed.  It's

almost midnight," Russ said, sitting on the mirror bench that she kept in her

room onboard Ryu-Oh.  Aeka was seated at the foot of her bed, and they

had been talking to each other for the past several hours.  She had given

Russ a tour of her ship, showing him the many interesting technologies that

went into the construction of a Royal Tree-ship.  She could tell that Russ

was impressed, but he was disappointed in the lack of computerized

technology.

            For the fourth time in the last fifteen minutes, Aeka yawned,

stretching her arms over her head.  Flopping back onto her king-sized bed,

she continued to stretch, causing her sweater to roll up her stomach,

exposing a little bit of skin, but she quickly re-adjusted it and covered

herself back up again. 

            "We should, I guess.  Everybody is probably wondering where we

went," she said, looking at the ceiling of her room, which was covered in an

abundance of plant life.  The soft lighting of her bedroom accentuated it,

making it look very cozy.

            Russ stood up from the bench, rubbing his behind from sitting on it

awkwardly.  "I'll see you in the morning, okay?"

            Looking at him with happy, but tired eyes, she smiled.  "Why

don't we just spend the night in my ship?  Nobody will miss us.  Sasami has

Ryo-Ohki and you sleep alone, so why not?" she invited.

            Grinning, Russ shook his head.  "And start all kinds of rumors? 

No way."

            "What if we make those rumors true?" she grinned, the light

reflecting off of her amethyst eyes, making her look far, far more attractive

in the low light.  The shadows enhanced her look, especially around her

chest area.

            Russ closed his eyes, but continued to smile.  "Now Aeka, we

talked about that already.  We're just friends.  That's all."

            "You're no fun," she teased, rolling onto her side to face him

directly, as he moved over to the stairs.  "Come on.  You can sleep on the

floor or in the bed.  It doesn't matter.  I'm not going to do anything and I

know you're not.  It's just a sleepover.  Nothing more," she invited again,

smiling seductively.

            "You don't know when to quit, do you?"

            "Nope.  Never," she responded, sitting up.  "Besides, I haven't

slept in my bed since Ryu-Oh crashed about three years ago."

            "I'm not stopping you from being here," Russ said, leaning against

the doorjamb.  "I'll be heading back to my igloo for a room.  I'll see you in

the morning, Aeka."

            For the very first time, Aeka used a zanzoken technique, and

appeared directly in Russ's path.  He stopped in his tracks, utterly surprised

that she had learned it without any additional help.  "When the…"

            "Going somewhere?" she giggled, pushing him back into the room. 

"I've got a spare futon.  You can sleep right here," she said, pointing to the

foot of her bed.

            "Aeka!  Now cut that out," he said, trying to get around her.

            "Cut what out, Tenchi?" she said, causing him to look at her in

bewilderment.

            "Tenchi?!  What are you talking about?"

            Aeka grinned.  "You're acting just like he used to."  She again

gave him a gentle shove, pushing him a little further into the room.  "Just

spend the night in here.  That's all I ask.  What's the harm in that?"

            "What's the harm in me going back to my room?" Russ retorted,

starting to enjoy her teasing a little.

            "You have no idea how vindictive a Jurian Princess can be when

she's been scorned or refused," she said, looking into his eyes with a fire

that Russ had never seen before.  "Let me fetch the futon and you can sleep

down there," she said.

            "But, I don't have my fan here.  I always have to have a fan or

something running when I go to sleep.  It helps me relax," he said, now

feeling uncomfortable.

            "Excuses, excuses," she said, walking past him to her closet, where

she fetched a blue futon.  She threw it at him, but he caught it easily. 

"Make your bed.  You're spending the night in here, with me," she said,

smiling.  "I must change into my nightclothes.  Don't go anywhere now, or

I'll have to hurt you."  Turning away from him, she went into her walk-in

closet, looking for her silk lingerie nightgown.

            Russ groaned quietly to himself, knowing he was going to regret

this.  Unwrapping the futon, he spread it out on the floor, working the

wrinkles out of it.  He finished about two seconds before Aeka walked out

of the closet, wearing a gorgeous, partially transparent nightgown.  Her gold

necklace was barely visible though the clothing, but her assets were VERY

apparent.  Russ's eyes went wide and he instantly turned several shades of

crimson, turning his head away, but peeking at her through the corner of his

eye.

            "Whoa.  Um, that's a very revealing piece of clothing you have

there, Aeka," he stammered.

            "My mother gave me this before I originally left Jurai.  She told

me to wear this when I met someone I was attracted to," she said, moving

across the floor and coming up behind Russ, gently taking his arm and

holding it.

            Russ's muscles became considerably stiffer as his nerves started to

fray.  "It's very nice," he said, still not looking at her.

            Giggling quietly to herself, she was pleased with his reaction. 

"Well, why don't you get into your nightclothes then, too?" she said.

            "I just sleep in my underwear," he said.  "But I'll sleep in my

clothes tonight."

            "Why?  Afraid to show me something?" she teased.

            Russ looked at her, and a second later, looked away, forgetting for

an instant that she was wearing something extremely sexually appealing. 

"You just want to see me with my shirt off, is that it?" he asked, teasing her

back.

            She walked over to the side of her bed, furthest from the stairs. 

"That's part of it," she said, folding back the covers, carefully climbing into

the ultra soft sheets and very warm comforter.

            "Bah," Russ said, tossing back his own blanket and sliding in. 

"Good night, Aeka.  If rumors start blowing around about this, I'm going to

kill you," he said, watching her out of the corner of his eye.

            "I don't care," she said, laying back against her pillow, feeling

right at home once again.  "Ahhh, this bed feels so good.  It's been so long

since I've been in it," she said, wistfully.

            Out of sight, Russ smiled and rolled his eyes.  "Whatever."

            "Dim the lights," she commanded.

            "How?" Russ answered, but he didn't need to.  The lights in her

room grew dark, and then turned off, however, there was still a very soft

glow coming from several nightlights from around the room.  "Oh."

            Giggling quietly to herself, she snuggled into the covers, dozing

off very quickly, tired out from the day's activities.  Russ, on the other

hand, took a little longer due the lack of his fan, but he too, fell asleep.  The

two Jurai Guardians remained on guard outside of her chamber, doing their

silent duty once again.

 

            Morning approached rapidly, but there was no sunlight on this day. 

The sky was gray and overcast, but it was a little warmer than it had been

over the last couple of days.  A fog had settled into the valley as the snow

began to melt, surrounding the house in a thick cloud.  You couldn't see the

forest from inside the living room.

            However, in contrast to the gloomy weather outside, Nobuyuki

woke to one of the most pleasant surprises he had ever had.  Achika was

curled up next to him, her head on his shoulder, sleeping soundly.  Her

golden halo was still on top of her head, but it didn't interfere with her

posture.  Almost forgetting that she had come back for a day, Nobuyuki

blinked his eyes, reached out with a trembling hand, and very gently

touched Achika's arm, feeling her warmth.

            "Good morning, honey," she whispered, letting her eyes open

slowly.  She had the most gorgeous, perfect smile that Nobuyuki had ever

seen, and it warmed his heart to be near her once more.

            "Good morning," he whispered back, smiling down into her young

face.  "You're still as beautiful as the day I met you," he said, holding her

close. 

            "I hope so," she said, grinning.  "I came back like this just for that

reason."

            Soft, gray light filtered in from his window as he looked at his

wife, never wanting to let her go, ever again.  They laid there for several

more minutes in silence, just enjoying each other's company.

            "You have to go back today?" Nobuyuki asked, quietly, as it

almost looked like Achika had dozed back off.

            "Mmmm hmm," she mumbled.  "I wish I didn't have to.  But it

was still wonderful to be able to come back and see you all again in person,

though."

            "I'm glad you came back too.  I missed you so much," he said,

hugging her tightly.

            Achika smiled.  "I missed you too.  I missed having you hold me

close.  I missed having you make me laugh.  I missed the warmth of your

touch and the smile on your face," she said, looking at him passionately. 

"You have no idea how much."

            "If I could change fate, I would," Nobuyuki said.  "I'd conquer the

universe if it meant you could stay with me for the rest of my life."

            "I know," she said, snuggling against Nobuyuki's chest.

            "I wonder if Russ could do anything about it," he said aloud,

looking at the ceiling.

            Achika shook her head.  "No.  Unfortunately, he cannot.  Not even

with the power of the Dragonballs.  I've been dead for far too long, and

restoring my life now would be impossible."

            "Why?"

            "The Dragonballs can restore a life, but only if the person died

within a year's time.  If it goes beyond that, the dragon can't grant that

wish."

            Nobuyuki sighed calmly.  "I guess it was our fate," he quietly said.

            "Fate can be a very cruel thing," Achika said, gazing into her

husband's face.  "I wish it didn't have to be this way, but it was hard

enough just for Russ to give me this one day.  That, in itself, was a

miracle."

            "I'm glad he did.  I owe him more thanks than I could ever

provide," he said, sighing again.  "When will he be taking you home?"

            "At noon today," she answered.  "Why don't we get up and make

breakfast for the family, just like we used to?"

            Nobuyuki smiled.  "I'd like that," he answered.

            Throwing back the covers, they slowly got out of bed, and then

dressed themselves.  After they got into the kitchen, they brought out

several pots and pans, and gathered a variety of ingredients.  Achika took

half the stove and Nobuyuki took the other half, and they began cooking. 

Every once in a while, they'd bump into each other, smile, and continue

what they were doing.

            Letting his pan simmer, Nobuyuki went into the dining area and

quickly set the table, providing a set of chopsticks for everybody, a napkin,

and a teacup.  Even though Christmas was over, the living room still looked

like a winter wonderland, sparkling a variety of colors and reflecting the

dull light off of the decorations.  He smiled, and then quietly thanked

Heaven for letting his wife return to him, even though it was for only one

day.  But then, just as silently, he thanked Russ too.  Quickly returning to

the kitchen, he shook his pan, stirring the vegetables with his cooking

chopsticks.

            "I hope we have enough stuff to feed everybody," Nobuyuki said,

glancing over at his young wife.  "Russ is a bottomless pit."

            Giggling quietly, Achika nodded her head.  "I saw him eat a couple

of times, but it is still nothing like seeing it in person.  But we should have

more than enough for everybody."

            After a few moments, Sasami slid open the kitchen door, looking a

little sleepy, but very happy and contented.  She was smiling, and Ryo-Ohki

was perched on top of her head, as usual.  "Good morning you two," she

greeted.  "It smells good."

            "Thank you, Sasami," Achika responded, finishing off her stir-fry

and letting the contents spill out onto a serving platter.  "You're a very good

cook too."

            "Thanks.  May I help?" she asked, stepping over to the refrigerator

and withdrawing a box of eggs, milk, cheese, ham, and orange juice.

            Nobuyuki grinned.  "Sure!  I'm just finishing with my side of the

stove, so you can use these burners," he said, piling his vegetables next to

Achika's, on the same platter.

            Taking Nobuyuki's frying pan and wiping the juices out of it with

a bunch of paper towels, she set it back on the stove, then withdrew a bowl

out of a nearby cupboard.  Cracking three eggs into the bowl, she beat them

with Nobuyuki's chopsticks, and then she took three pieces of cheese,

tearing them up and mixed those into the eggs.  She set it aside, and then

began dicing up the ham, after which she dumped into the eggs as well.

            "What are you making, Sasami?" Achika asked, unfamiliar with

the dish she was making.

            "It's called an omelet.  Russ showed me how to do one a little

while after he moved in," she explained, dumping the contents into the

frying pan, where it immediately started sizzling.  Withdrawing a spatula

from one of the drawers, she slid it under the eggs, making sure they didn't

get stuck.

            Watching her curiously, Achika realized that she was starting to

fall behind, so she started to make the Kyoto miso soup, as she knew it was

Tenchi's favorite flavor.  It was a light, sweet kind, and she liked it too.

            The breakfast making frenzy continued for another twenty

minutes, until it was ready to be served.  The smells from all the food had

roused everybody out of their slumber, and everybody trudged downstairs,

all of them happy and all of them seemingly satisfied.

            Kiyone and Mihoshi had today off as well, and they were going to

enjoy themselves.  They had gone up into their spaceship yesterday and

they confirmed the message from the Galaxy Police Headquarters, and that

they were now going to be providing funding for their living expenses. 

Kiyone was very happy and relieved, but Mihoshi didn't seem to care either

way, as long as she could have her sweets.

            Smiling at each other like the day they had first met, Tenchi and

Ryoko had come downstairs quietly, and took their seat at the table.  The

engagement ring that was on Ryoko's finger glittered brightly, and she

continued to admire it, so very happy that her wish had come true, in more

ways than one.

            Washu had come out of her lab, still in her adult form.  She was

wearing an adult sized science academy uniform now, but she still looked

very attractive.  Even though her son wasn't with her, she still had a bright

smile and a happy aura about her, since her son did call her earlier in the

morning.  That was all she needed to brighten her day.

            After the group had sat down at the table, Katsuhito, Aeka, and

Russ all walked in at once, all of them satisfied and happy.  Aeka took her

usual seat, but Achika was in Russ's, but he didn't mind.  Taking a plate

and filling it with food, he sat on the floor a little distance away, eating

much slower than he normally did, not wanting to get back up so quickly. 

He hated reaching over anybody.  Aeka put up a brief argument, but didn't

pursue it for very long.

            Breakfast passed by fairly quickly, as most people were unable to

finish all the food.  But before they began to clean it up, Russ sat down in

his seat, kicking himself into overdrive, consuming every morsel of food

that was left.  Achika looked at him, a small sweatdrop on the side of her

head, but she smiled and laughed quietly once he let out a large belch,

which Russ did his best to conceal.

            "Yum.  Good stuff," he said, standing up, and then heading back

outside.  Aeka followed him a few moments later.

            Smiling in complete pleasure, Achika remained sitting at the table,

next to Nobuyuki.

            "It feels like everybody here is a part of my family," she said,

quietly.

            "They're all a part of the family now.  They help fill the loneliness

that I have when I think about you when you're gone," Nobuyuki

responded, keeping his voice low.

            Achika sighed.  "Well, I have about two hours left to stay.  What

would you like to do until then?"

            Quietly debating with himself, thinking of several different things

that they could possibly do, he failed to come up with anything.

            Sliding over to her husband, Achika whispered into his ear.  "We

could watch some of your porn," she said, causing him to turn several

shades of red.  She giggled, and then started laughing.  "I'm kidding."

            He smiled in response, and put his arm around her.  "If you don't

mind, I'd just like to sit here for a little longer."

            "That's fine with me," she responded quietly, watching Sasami and

Ryo-Ohki play a fighting game on her Playstation.  "That's perfectly fine

with me."

 

            Setting his gravity machine back to two thousand times Earth's

normal gravity, Russ began his warm-up exercises, stretching his legs, back,

and his arms.  After doing that for several moments, he felt good enough to

begin training.  The fog had lifted, but the sun was still behind all the

clouds, unable to break through.

            "Would you mind if I trained with you today, Russ?  I'd like to

practice sparring against you, this time," she said, stretching and performing

her own warm-up routine.

            Grinning to himself, Russ decided to tease her.  "Oh, so since you

learned the blur technique, you think you're good enough to train on my

level now, is that it?" he said.

            "Nope.  I just want to spar against you, that's all.  I've got a few

surprises up my sleeve," she said, stretching her arms over her head. 

"Besides, I need to work off this breakfast."

            Russ shook his head, but smiled.  "Okay, but I'm not going to go

all that easy on you," he taunted, standing on his hands, pushing himself

into the air several times.

            "That's fine with me," she responded, tilting from side to side,

groaning quietly.

            After a few more minutes of warm-up, Russ and Aeka faced each

other at the lake edge.

            "How about we make a little bet?" Aeka invited, smiling

mischievously.

            "I'm open to suggestions."

            Aeka smiled.  "If I can land a punch or a kick anywhere on you,

you have to agree to make me breakfast for the next week," she said,

putting her fists out in front of her.

            "And if you don't do it in a time span of one minute, you… uh…

Well, I can't have you making anything in the kitchen.  I'm not interested in

being poisoned," he teased, seeing Aeka's cheeks grow a little red.

            "Why you little…" she yelled, charging him, her fist outstretched,

aimed directly for his face.

            Russ nodded his head to the side, smiling at her, letting her fists

sail past harmlessly.  "Missed me!" he taunted, making the princess more

irritated.  She began a frenzy of punches and kicks, but Russ placed his

hands in front of each blow, blocking them effortlessly, smiling widely.  He

didn't move from his position, but Aeka rotated around him, trying to land a

blow on his back, his head, his chest, or anywhere else that she thought was

venerable.  After a moment, he caught one of her fists in his hand, spun

around a few times, tossing her into the air.

            "That's not fair!" she shouted, throwing a green ki ball at Russ,

who swatted it back into the sky, where it fizzled out.  She charged him

again, trying to land a punch or a kick somewhere, but Russ's hands were

just too fast.  They appeared everywhere she tried to hit, and she only had

about thirty seconds remaining.  Even though Russ never actually moved

from where he was standing, he was still impossible to hit.  Using the

zanzoken technique for the second time, she blurred behind Russ and swung

her leg at his head, but again he blocked it, turned around to face her, a big

grin on his face.

            "Not bad, but too slow," he said, throwing her into the air again.

            Only having five seconds remaining, she zanzokened behind him

again, but instead of trying to punch or kick him, she grabbed Russ's arm,

swung herself in front of him, and then drove her fist directly into Russ's

face, knocking him off of his feet, causing him to skid about twenty five

feet from where he was.  She landed on the ground, stunned at what had just

happened.

            "Oww," Russ groaned, getting up.  His coat and pants were soaked

from the melting snow, but he quickly powered up, drying his clothes, and

then returned to normal.

            "You did that on purpose!" Aeka shouted, storming up to him.

            "Maybe I did, maybe I didn't.  Tough to tell, isn't it?" Russ

snickered, a red mark on his cheek from her impact.  "But it isn't a total

loss.  I don't have to eat raw sewage and I get to cook for a week.  I think

it's a nice tradeoff, don't you?" he said, watching her grow super red.

            "I CAN COOK!" she screamed, driving her fist into Russ's face

again at such a high rate of speed that it sent him flying into the side of the

mountain where he impacted, creating a small crater.  Her eyes went wide

when she saw the debris go up from where he crash-landed.  "Oh my god! 

I'm so sorry!" she yelled, quickly flying over to him.

            For the second time today, Russ picked himself up off of the

ground.  "You've gotten a lot stronger and faster.  I'll have to remember

that for our next sparring match," he said, smiling, relaxing in his crater. 

"But now, I need a bath."

            Aeka continued to apologize over and over, still stunned at what

she did.

            On the inside of the house, Sasami, Nobuyuki, and Achika all

laughed, looking at the twosome outside enjoy themselves.

 

            Noontime came all too quickly for the family.  Russ was sitting at

the organ bench, playing a few tunes to himself through the headphones as

the family said their goodbyes to Achika.

            The happy mood that existed throughout the household seemed to

be on the verge of leaving with Achika's imminent departure, but

everybody did their best to hide it.   The entire family was seated in the

living room, ready to say goodbye for the last time.  They all knew that

they'd never see her again in this lifetime, but the time that she had spent

with the family was time that would always, always be cherished. 

Nobuyuki had taken several group photographs of everybody, including

Russ, for safekeeping in his photo album that he kept solely of Achika.  He

decided it was time to add a little more to that book.

            Achika stood up, as the clock had read eleven fifty five a.m.  "I'm

so happy that I was able to come back and see everybody.  It is a new

memory that I will take with me for all eternity," she said, trying to keep

from crying, but failing.  Several tears trickled out of the corner of her eyes

and she brushed them away, but they were quickly replaced.

            Nobuyuki stepped up to her first, hugging her for the last time. 

"Take care of yourself, my love," he said, squeezing her.  "I will miss you

and will think of you every day."

            "I know," she said.  "I'll be watching you."

            Smiling, brushing away his own tears, he stepped aside, allowing

Katsuhito to step up.

            "It was wonderful to have you spend the time you did with all of

us.  You will be missed," he said, hugging his daughter.  "Please take care

of yourself."

            "I'll miss you too, dad," she said, sniffling.

            "Mom?" Tenchi said, standing to her left.

            "Yes, son?" she responded, turning toward him, noticing that he

too, was crying.

            "I'll miss you.  Thank you for coming to visit us for a day.  You

have no idea how much that meant to me, dad, and grandpa," he said,

holding his mother close.

            "I know, Tenchi.  I know.  I'm happy that I was able to come here

as well.  It has given me an opportunity to actually say goodbye to

everyone, and I can't thank Russ enough for that," she said, looking at the

saiyan, who was now quietly sitting on the bench, watching the farewells. 

"I'll be watching over you.  All of you," she said, looking around the room

at the tear filled, smiling faces.

            "Goodbye, Lady Achika," Aeka said, bowing respectfully.

            "See you around," Ryoko included, folding her arms behind her,

smiling, as Tenchi moved to stand next to her.

            Sasami ran up and threw her little arms around Achika's waist,

smiling up at her, despite the tears streaming down her cheeks.  "I'll miss

you," she said, hugging her.  Ryo-Ohki also meowed at her from atop

Sasami's head.

            "I'll miss you too, Sasami and Ryo-Ohki," she said, sniffling

again.

            Mihoshi waved her hand, smiling happily.  She was the only one in

the room who wasn't saddened by her departure, but instead, looked on it

with happiness.  "Bye bye!  Eat all the sweets you can while you're there in

Heaven!" she said, causing Kiyone to hang her head in shame.

            Achika giggled and nodded her head.  "I will, Mihoshi."

            "Take care of yourself, Lady Achika," Kiyone said, bowing out of

respect.

            "Thank you for coming, Achika," Washu said, also bowing

politely.

            Smiling at both of them, Achika nodded her head.

            Russ stood up from his seat on the bench and slowly approached

her from the side.  "Are you now ready, Achika?" he asked quietly, as the

clock and now read noon.

            Taking a deep breath through her mouth, she let it out in a huge

sigh.  "Goodbyes are never easy," she said, looking into his eyes.

            "I know," he answered, extending his hand.

            Turning toward the group one last time, she tried to smile, sniffling

once more.  "Goodbye, everyone.  Take care of yourselves, and always

know that I'll be watching over you," she said, placing her hand gently in

Russ's.

            A chorus of sobs and goodbyes quietly burst from the group as

Russ placed his two fingers to his forehead.  Feeling a sense of sadness

himself, he shook it off as he initiated his special ability, and the two of

them vanished from sight.

 

            "I still want to thank you, Russ, for going through all the trouble

you did to take me back home," Achika said, standing at the entrance to the

Earth's check-in station.  "There is no way me or the family could ever

repay this debt of gratitude.

            Russ smiled and shook his head, gently brushing away her tears

with his hand.  "It's okay.  Doing this for people like them and you is what

makes me happy, and that is more than enough for me," he said.

            Wrapping her arms around Russ, she hugged him tightly, burying

her face in his green karate gi, quietly sobbing.  He held her close until she

was finished, gently rubbing her back and doing his best to soothe her.

            "Well," Russ said, looking at the checkpoint.  "I guess it is time for

you to rejoin the others.  They're waiting for you in Heaven, you know."

            "I know, but it still doesn't make it any easier," she said, sniffling.

            "You can still see your family anytime you want as well."

            "But I can't participate in it.  I wish I could."

            Russ continued to hold her, letting out a heavy sigh.  "If I could do

something about it, I would.  But even the gods cannot do certain things. 

They have to obey fate, or the universe would come apart," he explained.

            "I guess you're right," she said.  "You take care of my family now,

you hear?"

            "Yes, ma'am," he answered, releasing her, smiling down into her

brown eyes.

            Taking several steps away from him, she then turned toward the

check-in station, slowly heading back home.  But before she got too far, she

turned back toward Russ.

            "Just so you know, Zorpheus is on his way."

            Russ nodded his head.  "Yes, I felt it.  He's coming to Earth to

wish for immortality from the Dragonballs, but he's got a nasty little

surprise if he tries to do it."

            "Yeah.  I guess so."

            "Take care of yourself, Achika.  It was an honor and a pleasure to

meet you," he said, smiling at her, hoping to alleviate some of the sadness

she had.

            "Likewise, Russ.  But just so you know, Zorpheus will arrive on

June twelfth.  You will have to be prepared to face him by then."

            Russ's eyes widened at her revelation.  "I will not fail.  Your

family is in good hands," he announced, thumping his chest.

            "The best hands," she answered, turning and running to the

building.

            Watching her go inside, Russ sighed once again.  "Only six more

months to go," he said.  "I hope everything will be ready by then."

            Placing two fingers to his forehead, Russ took one last look at the

check-in station.  "Bye, Achika.  I'll protect your family, or die trying," he

said, disappearing from the spirit realm for the last time.