Well, hello everyone! I honestly have never done a fanfic in this area… ever… before and I honestly have NO IDEA WHY. I love Tenchi Muyo to death.

This fanfic itself is an experiment, something I like to do before ever going into any series for a section. I've only hadn't done that in the Kingdom Hearts area. I'm interested how far I can go for a character without branching on overkill or OOC. Simple, right? Ha, harder than it looks, my friends. TT

I have such a hard time. Anyway, I choose Kiyone for this just because, really, you have a lot of freedom with what you could do with her. She and Mihoshi are the least talked about when concerning past and such, so it leaves what their memories are to a writer's imagination. Yep, you can see where I'm going with this.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. I will never amount to the money needed to ever buy Tenchi Muyo and rights. They belong to Pioneer Entertainment.

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She had long since decided that the fish were just not going to bite today. It was a bit of a disappoint for the day, but maybe it was for the best as she had enough fish to keep the Masaki household running for a week about now. She laid back in the canoe—a riggedy old thing that almost seemed to tip over even from the slightest of movement, olive color with wooden benches nailed messily inside, but it worked—preferring to keep her gaze to the light sapphire sky for the time being, a light sigh escaping from Kiyone's lips. The brackish water lapped against the sides of the boat, hearing the flowing energy with nothing by plywood separating her from the cool, fish (and who knows what else) - infested waters.

There were very few times where her normal disposition—a reserved, workaholic—would peel away, if only for a short while. Those were times she appreciated more than anything else. Granted, it was normally in the security of solitude, but there were always times where we need to unwind, whether it was in the deepest corners of our conscience or a location we just find ourselves forever drawn to, much like a private sanctuary to which be called your own. Her cerulean eyes drifted close for only a moment in the muse, a light, wistful sigh finding its way into the open air, past by unnoticed by its creator.

She could recall clearly how angered she became upon receiving the notice, how they had to force her into taking a week off, forced out of her apartment and even the home of her make-shift family. Even as she was packing up for her trip home, she could recall vividly the gritting teeth and the grumbles. And then, there was Tenchi, at least providing some words of comfort for the unwanted vacation ahead: "Everyone needs some time to themselves, even you, Kiyone. I'm sure things will be fine."

It at least gave her some ideas that if she had some time off, she might as well use it. Sure, home wasn't the best place to think of when you were trying to relax, especially in her case, but it was the only place she knew would be the easiest (and cheapest) to get to. It was a small planet with part of Jurai, mostly ecological and—tourist, much to her distaste. Growing up there left you with a good amount of advantages, thankfully, knowing which place was the most affordable and still had that beauty that she had learned to love.

She glided her hand along the surface of the dark waiter, feeling the liquid pass through her fingers in a relaxing motion, even whistling a small tune to pass the time as she let the canoe drift for the time being. While she loved the planet, it didn't hold the fondest of memories. Her family was what held the most of her bitterness in the deepest reaches of her mind, but it was more on resentment in her part. Her cheek rested onto the edge of the canoe, her gaze falling to the drifted water as the canoe silently waded through, her frown just deepening at the thought of her own family.

The surname Makibi itself is no secret among the population of her home, a prominent family of politicians in a republic. They had been making the laws for their people for generations and with that came a very strict and close-minded upbringing. While corruption usually lied in the darkest of corners in government, it was as visible as if it were in daylight in Kiyone's childhood, one that steadily became her childhood as she grew older. The woman was often considered a squib among her family members, even as a small youth trying to get the approval of her parents. Her entire childhood consisted of a safety net of carefully constructed lies, but they couldn't account for everything. It was a gradual observation at first; just the smallest of things that she noticed were different between her father and her. The first major one was her hair color, a sharp light teal that was so incredibly unique compared to the rest of her family that it was nearly impossible to say that she was blood. Then, her personality—her strengths and weaknesses—they almost served as a complete foil to both her parents, always a quiet and shy child.

It wasn't until age five did everything fit in and parents, even to this day, were unaware that she had seen it. The way that strange man had slid open the window to her mother's room, how they held each other in such warm embraces that convinced her that the lady wasn't going to return—and she didn't. That was the last time she had ever seen her mother, left alone to a father that wasn't even hers. She doubt the man even knew, a strong one, but gullible to say the least. He was a very, very frightening phantom that loomed in the back of her mind on a daily basis. The officer wasn't alone in that emotion; she was sure, a demon in the senate before he finally keeled over.

Kiyone was about seventeen then when he finally died, assassinated by his very own followers with irony that only Constantine could've done before. So was the end of many great political leaders, but it was mostly the merciless ones that got the boot, much like her own father. She remembered how there were days at a time before she would see daylight again, maybe even weeks concerning her father's mood. Then, you could forget about dating anyone as he believed that only corrupted the mind.

He hadn't an idea that she would never follow the footsteps of her false forefathers. No, seeing the sex, drugs, and bribery all passed through her household only geared her to the goal that would set course to the rest of her life. Sure, she had a few misplaced steps, but it almost seemed to strengthen her resolve to become a strong woman in law enforcement, well known not for a former corrupt political power, but a strong officer high in the ranks.

The first misplaced step was probably her first relationship, a strange boy from her high school. Sure, he was the heartthrob at the time, probably the most popular guy at her school, intelligent and a social light. She wasn't sure what had attracted her to him, but it was the only man her father would ever approve of. Things became more—disastrous, to say the least when they finally started dating. When she thought about it, the two were alike, except the boy wasn't afraid to vent at her. She remembered every single punch to her, not only to her own body, but her pride as well.

Naturally, it was easy to figure what came of it in the end. The next one was ever thinking that meeting Mihoshi would never come with anything good. Sure, at first it certainly did it, but back then she would've never guessed the family she would've made. There, she would never tell them, but they truly made her realize what it was to be human. She could feel some of her honest self crack away with each day with those people, even as chaotic as it always seemed to be in their home.

Mihoshi made her realize that life isn't just about furthering your career.

Ayeka made her realize that not everyone in power was corrupt.

Sasami taught her that friendship was more than just for gain.

Ryoko taught her that there will always be something more to a person.

Washu made her realize that that the simplest of things could have the strongest of meanings.

Tenchi—that lesson was probably the strongest, a small laugh escaping her lips as she sat up slightly. The canoe tipped just a bit too much to the left and down she went, ending her train of thought as she flopped into the water, a loud smack echoing in the river. Birds flew out from there branches at the sudden noise and small bubble floated to the surface to where Kiyone submerged.

Life treated her in the strangest of ways sometimes.

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Hope you like it! I may take this a bit farther later on.