Love's Lament

by KSgalvestonian

A stranger makes his way to earth and ends up falling in love with Kiyone. Although this is primarily a romance, it has comedy an action as well. Please read and review.

1. Default Chapter

All characters are property of AIC and Pioneer LCD except one. This story line is based on the Tenchi Muyo OVA and Tenchi Universe. It is not my intent to rip off other peoples' work so, if this story resembles another, it does so inadvertently.

Love's Lament

Part I

The air was cold and crisp. It was an early winter morning and it was certainly showing. Sasami walked down the dock that pointed out towards the middle of the lake beside the Masaki residence. She tried to take in the winter-like morning. The cold wind blowing off the lake made her eyes squint. It was very refreshing but cold. She stopped and looked over the side of the dock to see that the water near the shore had turned to ice. It turned into water again just about where she stopped on the dock. Ryo-Ohki ran up beside Sasami. Sasami shifted her attention to the cabbit and smiled. She sat with her legs hanging over the edge of the dock. She picked up Ryo-Ohki and put her in her lap. Sasami noticed how different Ryo-Ohki felt with her gloves on. She wondered if the cabbit was thinking the same thing about her glove-covered hands. Sasami looked to the ice once more. She pointed the tip of her shoe down so it just barely pressed against the ice. She applied pressure until she heard the ice start to crack.

"Be careful." A voice warned from behind. Sasami turned to see Tenchi walking up to the dock. Sasami smiled.

"Hi Tenchi." Sasami greeted.

"You look happy this morning." Tenchi noticed. Sasami looked thoughtful for a moment then looked back to Tenchi. Sasami tried to think of an appropriate reply but nothing came to mind.

"Aren't you cold?" Tenchi asked.

"A little but it will make walking inside feel that much better." Sasami said. Tenchi thought about what Sasami said and agreed.

"Where are you going?" Sasami asked.

"I have to go bring in the last of the carrots from the fields before the ground gets too hard." Tenchi explained.

"Don't you want some breakfast before you go out?" Sasami offered.

"No thank you. It will make lunch taste that much better. The promise of a great lunch will make me work that much harder too. You won't let me down will you?" Tenchi teased.

"I hope not." Sasami giggled.

"Well, I better be on my way then." Tenchi said as he started off for the fields. Sasami waved as Tenchi disappeared from view. Sasami was sitting by herself again and enjoying the peace. It then occurred to Sasami that it was too quiet. Usually her sister and Ryoko would start fighting when Tenchi woke up. This morning was quiet. Sasami realized that was why Tenchi surprised her. She looked towards the house to see if there were any familiar shapes moving past the windows but she didn't see any. Sasami thought she had been sitting on the dock long enough and decided to go inside to start on breakfast. She placed Ryo-Ohki on the deck and started to stand. Sasami didn't see the thin layer of ice covering the place she put her hand and it slipped. She lost her balance and fell over the edge. Sasami's mind was racing and she let out a yell but stopped when she noticed she wasn't falling anymore. She was floating above the ice.

"You should listen to Tenchi. You'll stay dry longer." Ryoko said as she carried Sasami to shore. Ryoko placed Sasami on the grass and stood next to her.

"Oh Ryoko! Thank you." Sasami said gratefully.

"Don't worry about it kiddo. I'm sure you would have done the same for me." Ryoko said. Sasami smiled. Ryoko continued to look at Sasami. The bright morning sun made Ryoko's eyes shine like they were on fire. Sasami didn't realize she was staring.

"Is something the matter, Sasami?" Ryoko asked.

"No. It's just your eyes look prettier when the sun shines." Sasami said.

"Thank you. I should save everyone more often. Maybe I'll get more compliments like that." Ryoko joked. The two walked into the house.

* * *

Tenchi looked over the carrot field. It looked like he had his work cut out for him. The ground was very hard already. It might take him a great deal longer to pull the vegetables out of the ground than he originally thought. Tenchi wished he had taken up Sasami on her breakfast offer. He sighed and prepared himself. He sat the large basket on the ground and grabbed the top of one of the carrots and pulled. The plant didn't budge. Tenchi dug around it for a while then tried again. After a great deal of effort, the carrot finally burst from the soil. Tenchi wasn't expecting such a fight and tripped over the basket after extracting the carrot from the ground. He fell backwards and landed on his back. He examined the fruit of his labor to find a tiny carrot hanging from the leafy mass he gripped in his hand. Tenchi knocked the dirt off and placed the carrot in the basket. He thought a more aggressive approach might bring him better luck. He stood over the next carrot, bent his knees and grasped the plant with both hands. He quickly launched himself back in hopes of ripping the carrot from the ground. Instead, the green top of the carrot gave way and a small orange nub was the only thing that could be seen in the ground. Tenchi threw the leafy top to the ground and sighed.

"This is going to take all day." Tenchi thought out loud.

"Not if I have anything to say about it." Washu said as she walked in front of Tenchi. Tenchi stumbled. Washu stood and looked at Tenchi with a curious expression.

"Is something the matter, Tenchi?" Washu asked.

"I wish you would make a little more noise. You scared me half to death." Tenchi explained. Washu kept looking at Tenchi.

"What brings you way out here?" Tenchi asked. Washu smiled. "I knew there was hardly any chance of you bringing in the last crop before the first freeze hit. So, I've been working on an invention that will help you with your chores. After witnessing your first two attempts, I think it's safe to say that you will be happy that I finished when I did." Washu stated.

"How are you going to help me?" Tenchi asked. Washu extended her hands and her keyboard appeared. She typed for a few moments then stopped. A hole appeared and a dozen or so small machines scurried out on spider-like legs. The bodies of the machines were twice as large as a toaster and their legs were as thin as pencils.

"I give you the Washu Pneumatic Augers!" Washu spouted.

"Pneumatic Augers? What are they?" Tenchi asked. Washu smiled brightly.

"These little machines were specifically designed to extract items from beneath the ground by using powerful blasts of compressed air." Washu explained. Tenchi became nervous when Washu said, "blast."

"This is how it works. The auger will center itself over its target. Next it takes a sample of the ground around the target. It analyzes the sample and calculates the amount of force that is required to remove the target from the ground. Next it charges its air cannon and fires a perfectly round jet of compressed air around the target. The jet of compressed air cuts the target from the ground. When the jet finally slows, the built up pressure beneath the target ejects the target out of the ground and it lands in a predetermined location." Washu finished.

"That's amazing Little Washu! Your machines will plow the field and the carrots will land in the basket?" Tenchi asked.

"They will certainly plow the field but why would you want the carrots in your basket? You would have to carry the basket all the way home. I placed a basket next to the kitchen and that is where the carrots will land." Washu said. Tenchi became extremely nervous when he thought of the power required to fire a carrot more than a mile away. Washu noticed Tenchi's concern and became annoyed.

"You doubt me? Marvel at my genius!" Washu said as she pushed a button on her keyboard. One of the machines hurried over to a carrot. A tube quickly shot into the soil then quickly retracted into the body. A hole opened in the middle of the machine followed by a high pitched whine. The machine fired its compressed air cannon and a carrot sped skyward like an orange rocket and was soon out of sight.

"How do you know if it's in the basket?" Tenchi asked. Washu punched a few more buttons until a video screen appeared. The basket in question was centered on the screen. A few moments later, the carrot landed on the left side of the basket. Tenchi couldn't believe what he just witnessed.

"That's incredible!" Tenchi yelled.

"That's right, incredible. I'm the greatest scientific mind in the universe. THERE IS NO TASK THAT I CAN NOT MASTER!" Washu boasted with pride. Tenchi could hardly disagree. Another carrot landed in the basket followed by another. Tenchi looked from the screen to see one of the augers standing over a carrot for a lengthy period of time.

"What's going on with that one, Little Washu?" Tenchi asked.

"Sometimes the augers work as a team in order to get the target to where it needs to be more accurately." Washu pointed out. Another auger stood next to the first. They both fired their cannons at the same time and launched the carrot skyward. Tenchi and Washu looked at the screen and saw the carrot land just outside the basket. Washu quickly looked at the two augers.

"Adjust for the wind at altitude." Washu ordered. The two augers bleeped their understanding. Tenchi and Washu stood back as they watched the dozen or so augers go to work on the field. They progressively became faster until the firing of their air cannons sounded like someone hammering at a slow pace. Tenchi was happy that the machines were taking care of his work and Washu was basking in the glory of her brilliance. The augers finished the field. Washu and Tenchi were about to head back when Tenchi noticed one auger by itself.

"Excuse me, Little Washu but what is that one doing?" Tenchi asked. Washu looked to the lone auger and wondered.

"I don't know." Washu admitted. She started to type on her keyboard.

"Apparently, that one needs a little assistance with the last carrot." Washu explained.

"I don't see anymore carrots." Tenchi noted.

"Neither do I." Washu agreed. The other dozen augers scurried over to the other auger. They all quickly circled a nearby cedar. Their air cannons whined as they charged.

"They aren't doing what I think they are doing, are they Little Washu?" Tenchi asked. His heart sank when he turned to see Washu typing like mad. The sound of all of the cannons firing simultaneously echoed throughout the valley. Most of the branches snapped off the cedar as it was fired into the air. It resembled a flying telephone pole as it sailed in a high arc towards the house.

* * *

"What are you doing? I told you to heave to, buddy." Kiyone yelled through her subspace communicator.

"I'm not your buddy, I'm not pulling over, and why don't you STICK IT while you're at it." The individual on the other side of the transmission replied.

"What did he say?!" Kiyone yelled in disbelief.

"I think he just told you to 'stick it." Mihoshi answered. The person on the other side laughed hysterically through the open channel.

"You're going down!" Kiyone growled. She removed the safety from Yagami's forward battery of cannons and fired a dozen rounds in the offending ship's direction.

"Woah! Woah! Stop that you GP weirdo. Don't you know this is a specially protected area and combative action is forbidden." The voice over the speaker said.

"Don't tell me about the law! I am the law!" Kiyone bellowed.

"He does have a point, Kiyone." Mihoshi said.

"You be quiet." Kiyone yelled at her partner.

"You better pull over, mister. Kiyone is really mad." Kiyone advised.

"I'll say. She sounds like she doesn't have enough fiber in her diet." The man replied.

"Now that you mention it.." Mihoshi started. Kiyone closed the channel before Mihoshi could finish. Yagami accelerated towards the other ship. The ship banked hard and tried to evade Yagami. Yagami banked sharply and followed the other ship turn for turn. The other ship slammed on its breaks, reversed its thrusters and flew back towards Yagami. Kiyone didn't react fast enough and Yagami's starboard thruster struck the other ship causing the thruster to explode. The power to the port engine was starting to fade and Kiyone quickly rerouted power from the starboard reactor to compensate. Unfortunately, the starboard reactor spiked before it exploded and the power surge burned out the port engine. Kiyone tried to come up with a quick plan while she was trying to make sense of the damage reports at the same time.

"What did you do to my beautiful ship? I just had this thing fixed." The voice announced over the reopened channel. Kiyone looked up to see the offending ship rise in front of Yagami's bow.

"Don't try anything funny. We may not be able to run but we still have plenty of fight." Kiyone warned.

"Don't be silly. If I wanted to attack you, I wouldn't have brought myself directly into your line of fire." The voice said. He was right. He was a sitting duck to Yagami's attack.

"What do you want?" Kiyone reluctantly asked.

"This is a token of my good will. I wasn't trying to harm you. I was just having a little fun. Anyway, I'm sorry I startled you. To prove to you that I'm not the kind of guy to hold a grudge, I'll offer you a ride to the nearest GP station. How does that strike you." The voice finished.

"What do you get out of this? Do you want the ticket I had waiting for you to magically disappear?" Kiyone asked.

"I can appreciate your feelings but this is my system. How can I speed in my own backyard?" The voice asked.

"Ha! Nice try. The only inhabitable planet in this system is earth." Kiyone challenged.

"Yep. That's the one." The voice confirmed.

"That's impossible. Only space commerce capable systems are able to obtain a waiver to speed regulation in their own system as per Galaxy Police Mandate 22.703." Kiyone quoted. The voice sighed.

"Listen. Your ship is crippled in a way that will only allow you to putter to the nearest GP station in about two weeks. I'm offering you a ride that will take only a few minutes. Take it or leave it." The voice said.

"I guess we have no choice but to accept your offer." Kiyone admitted. The next thing she knew, she was on the bridge of the other ship along with Mihoshi. The pilot of the ship swiveled around in his chair and stood. His clothes were those of Jurai but everything else onboard the ship looked as they were collected from elsewhere.

"I'm sorry for the damage I caused your ship. I have it in tow and all I need from you is a destination." The young man said. He was as tall as Mihoshi and his hair was brown but nearly blonde. His hands and face were the only parts of his body that were exposed from beneath his robes. Kiyone could feel goose bumps on her arms.

"I'm uhh...I'm Detective First Class Kiyone and this is my partner Detective First Class Mihoshi." Kiyone stammered awkwardly. The man shook both ladies hands and smiled.

"I'm Christian. Nice to meet you." The man said. A few moments of silence passed.

"Is their anyplace in particular that you want me to take you, Detective? Christian asked. Mihoshi jumped in front of her partner.

"Can you take us to the Masaki house? It's almost time for breakfast and Sasami is such a good cook. You can come too if you want?" Mihoshi said. Kiyone clamped her hand over her partner's mouth as tight as she could manage.

"Man, I haven't had a good home cooked meal in a long while." Christian noted.

"If you would be so kind, we would greatly appreciate it. There is someone on earth who can help us fix our ship. You can put our ship in orbit if that would be easier." Kiyone said with a fake smile.

"Sounds like a plan to me." Christian put Yagami in a high stable orbit before turning towards earth.

"Now where is this Masaki house?" Christian asked. Kiyone punched in the coordinates and everyone was on their way. The ship descended through the earth's atmosphere and was quickly making its way towards the Masaki Residence. Kiyone looked over to Christian as he piloted the ship. He looked over and noticed Kiyone's stare.

"Is there something else I can do for you, Detective?" Christian said with a smile. Kiyone blushed.

"I was wondering. You said you had a waiver to Galaxy Police Mandate 22.703?" Kiyone asked.

"Yes I did and here it is." Christian said as he pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. He handed it to Kiyone. Kiyone examined the paper and found that it was indeed authentic.

"How did you get this?" Kiyone asked.

"I'll answer that as soon as you tell me what that is?" Christian said with a curious expression crept to his face. Kiyone looked at the monitor to see what Christian was talking about.

"That kind of looks like a flying telephone pole." Mihoshi stated.

* * *

Tenchi and Washu took off for the house as soon as they saw the tree blast into the sky. A space ship appeared above the Masaki residence. Tenchi and Washu looked at one another.

"Who is that?" Tenchi yelled as he ran.

"I don't know. I've never seen that ship before." Washu yelled back. The cedar reached its apogee and started to descend. On its way down, the tree struck the ship's starboard engine. The engine smoked then caught on fire. Tenchi and Washu saw three people appear in front of the house just as it came into view. The ship pointed skyward and blasted off. It flew until it was just out of visual range before it detonated.

"I hope everyone is alright!" Tenchi yelled. As Tenchi and Washu approached the house, they saw Kiyone, Mihoshi, and a young man they had never seen before.

"Is everyone alright?" Washu yelled.

"All present and accounted for." The young man said.

"That's a relief." Tenchi said as he tried to catch his breath.

"What was that?" Kiyone asked. "That was the result of one of my latest inventions. I guess I need to tweak the software a little." Washu said as she scratched her head.

"Well, I was coming here to visit. I guess I'm going to be here a little longer than I thought." Christian said.

"Tenchi, Washu, this is Christian." He was giving us a ride here before we were knocked out of the sky by that tree." Kiyone said with a little agitation.

"Don't worry about your ship. I'll put together another just like it. I can get it to you in a few days." Washu said.

"Washu! He probably lost more than his ship. Who knows what else of value he may have had on board." Kiyone said.

"Take your time. I'm in no hurry." Christian said.

"Aren't you upset about your ship?" Kiyone asked.

"Not really. You're friend said she would build me a new one." Christian said.

"What about your personal belongings?" Tenchi asked.

"Believe it or not, I don't carry anything of significant value for just such a situation." Christian said with a smile. "Is there anything we can do for you?" Tenchi asked.

"Well, my breakfast was onboard my ship. Detective Mihoshi was kind enough to invite me to breakfast. If you can provide me with a good, home cooked meal and a new ship, we'll call it even." Christian said.

"I think we can handle that." Tenchi said. The group walked into the house.

* * *

Everyone was sitting at the table when Ayeka walked into the dining area from the kitchen.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know we had company." Ayeka said. As she saw the stranger sitting next to the table. Christian looked at Ayeka and recognized her royal clothes.

"I didn't know I was in the presence of royalty." Christian said as he stood.

"There is no need for that. We are very informal around here. I appreciate the gesture though." Ayeka said.

"What is the crown princess of Jurai doing on earth?" Christian asked.

"She was in a similar situation as you at one time but we became friends with the Masaki family. They let us live here." Washu explained.

"Actually, they only let Sasami stay here. Ayeka is just extra baggage." Ryoko said as she materialized at the table. Christian about jumped out of his seat upon seeing Ryoko appear in her normal fashion.

"The only reason this demon is here is out of pity. She has nowhere else to go and no money. She is the local charity case." Ayeka retaliated.

"I'm not the one who cried out to daddy last week for money." Ryoko shouted.

"We needed that money for food." Ayeka yelled in her defense.

"So you didn't use any of that money for personal reasons?" Ryoko asked with a sly grin.

"No! I didn't!" Ayeka yelled.

"Hey Ayeka, do you like my new necklace? It bares a striking resemblance to the one you wanted in the jewelry shop window. I found this one just lying around. If you look hard enough, you may be able to find one as well. I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you though." Ryoko said as showed of the piece of jewelry around her neck.

"How dare you go through my things!" Ayeka shouted.

"This can't possibly be yours. I know you can't afford groceries and this." Ryoko taunted.

"Give that back!" Ayeka ordered.

"Finders keepers Ayekas...oops, I mean losers weepers." Ryoko laughed. Christian couldn't help but laugh at Ryoko's last quip.

"Ayekas...that's a good one." Christian commented. Ayeka was now furious. She summoned the components of her power and Ryoko summoned hers. The air crackled with energy.

"What is all the commotion?" Noboyuki said as he walked from the hallway. Ayeka managed to regain control of her temper and sat. Ryoko sat as well and bathed in the glory of her victory. Tenchi gave the two an unpleasant look.

"We have company?" Noboyuki asked as he set his briefcase down.

"Dad, this is Christian. He will be staying with us for a short while." Tenchi said.

"Actually, my real name is John Wellington. Christian is kind of a nick name that I use." Christian stated.

"Why is that?" Kiyone asked. "It's a very long story. If you want to here about it, I can certainly tell you. It's a pretty good story." Christian said with a big smile.

"I want to here it." Mihoshi almost yelled.

"I don't see why not." Tenchi agreed.

* * *

"I was born in the spring of 1698. I was left on a doorstep and grew up in an orphanage in London. I didn't take too kindly to the way I was being treated and I made it a point to get as far away from that place as soon as possible. When I was thirteen, I found work aboard a clipper. I instantly fell in love with the sea. I gained experience and before too long, I joined the navy. On one voyage, I was aboard one of the king's ships that was tasked to escort another ship carrying a large amount gold back to England. As we sailed through the Caribbean, we came under attack from two Spanish Galleons. The pirates caught wind of the gold on board and attacked. A fantastic battle raged well into the night. I was clearing the deck of wreckage when a cannonball crashed through the deck and slammed into the powder magazine. The ship was blown to splinters and I was thrown into the sea. By luck, I managed to find a piece of coral reef that ended up saving my life. I stood in the water and watched the remainder of the battle. It wasn't until morning that I saw that the king's ships had sank along with the Spanish. I don't know who won the battle but I was stranded on a piece of coral in the middle of nowhere. I knew I was going to die out there by starving, by thirst, or by drowning from the next storm that would come my way. I was on that little piece of reef for four days. I didn't think so at the time but that had to be the luckiest week of my life. A Jurai survey team came to earth but their ship was severely damaged by a meteor storm. They needed gold to fashion some makeshift circuitry that would allow them to get home. I didn't know what to think. This huge dragon-looking piece of wood hanging over the sea scared me half to death. The next thing I knew, I was standing in a wooden room. When I was approached by strangely dressed men, I hoped that they were Christians and have mercy on me. I remember yelling, 'I'm a Christian!' more times than I can count. The Jurains didn't have a very good grasp on the English language back them and they assumed my name was Christian. That's where I got the nickname Christian. Apparently, the survey team knew that if they left me there I was going to die. So, they sited me as the owner of the gold that they were going to use to repair their computers. In exchange for the gold, they took me to see the king in order to receive his thanks personally. The king gave me a ship and his guarantee of my safety as long as I remained inside of Jurai's borders. I was also introduced to the glorious technological marvels of the galaxy and was privy to the science that slows aging. I dare say I haven't aged at all since that day. So, I became a man with the means of exploring the galaxy and I had all the time in the world to do it. It was a dream come true. But no matter how far I would go, I would always come home every so often. I can't tell you all the wonderful and terrible things I have witnessed on this planet over the years. I am in awe of what the human race can accomplish. I actually tailed the moon-lander for a few miles just for kicks. Anyway, I was having a good ol' time racing through an asteroid field this morning when I saw the Detectives' GP Cruiser sitting. I decided to have a little fun and buzzed them on my way to earth. Detective Kiyone didn't think it was all that funny and the rest is history." Christian finished.

"Wow! You were actually around in the time of the pirates of the carribean?" Tenchi asked.

"Yeah. I hear a lot of pirate stories these days. Hollywood has got it all wrong. They need to get back to basics and watch some of the old swashbucklers to get a clue as to how it really was." Christian explained.

"How many times have you been back to earth since that day." Noboyuki asked.

"I usually spend a few years in space and stay here for a year." Christian pointed out.

"Have you ever run into problems being an earthling and practically immortal?" Ayeka asked.

"Have I. I remember the first time I tried to roller blade. I slipped and smacked my head a good one on the ground. I woke up in the hospital and the doctors were flipping out over my chart. Fortunately, I had my communicator with me and coordinated an emergency transport and an EMP blast to wipe their computers simultaneously. If I didn't have that with me, I would have been toast for sure." Christian said.

"What do you do? I mean you don't have a job do you?" Mihoshi asked.

"No I don't but I do have the only commercial trading rights in this system. That's what I use in space. I had a lot of that gold left over from the shipwreck. I invested that stuff wisely not to mention that gold isn't all that rare in the universe." Christian said.

"What do you plan on doing on this trip?" Kiyone asked.

"It's been an adventure so far. I'm all about new experiences. In all of my travels, I've never been shot down with a tree. If you don't mind, I would like to stay around here for a while before I press on." Christian requested.

"That's fine by me." Noboyuki said.

"Thank you. I think I'm going to have a good time." Christian chimed. Kiyone laughed to herself. Christian looked to be about her age but he was like a little boy seeing the wonders of the galaxy for the first time. Mihoshi looked at her partner and saw Kiyone smile as she looked at Christian.

"Kiyone, why are you staring at Christian?" Mihoshi asked with genuine curiosity. Kiyone turned beat red. Everyone at the table heard Mihoshi's question and looked to Kiyone for a response. The room was dead silent. Kiyone's mind raced as she tried to think of a believable lie. Sasami walked out of the kitchen with a tray in her hands. Kiyone shot to her feet.

"LOOK! HERE COMES SASAMI WITH BREAKFAST!" Kiyone yelled with relief. Sasami almost dropped the dishes.

* * *

Everyone finished breakfast. It was agreed by all that this morning's meal surpassed all others in recent memory.

"Wow! Now that's what I call a meal! Adventures in eating. Who would have thought?" Christian commented. The group laughed.

"Did you really like it that much?" Sasami asked. Christian wiped his mouth with his napkin and looked to the little princess.

"Princess Sasami, I would get shot down all over again if meant I could experience your cooking one more time." Christian said. Sasami blushed.

"You really like to eat, don't you?" Mihoshi asked.

"Of coarse. Enjoying a good meal is one of the finer things in life that make living such a great thing...not that I've ever been dead." Christian noted.

"I've never been dead either." Mihoshi answered.

"I'll drink to that." Christian said as he lifted his glass of orange juice in a toast. Everyone else followed suit and laughed.

"What do you have planned for today?" Ayeka asked.

"I don't plan anything hardly ever. What do you do for fun around here?" Christian asked.

"We shop!" Ryoko blurted.

"Ryoko!" Kiyone protested.

"That's an excellent idea!" Christian spouted.

"Just one problem. We don't have enough money to do much shopping?" Washu pointed out.

"That's not a problem for me. It'll be my treat. It's the least I can do for such gracious hosts." Christian offered as he pulled his wallet from a pocket.

"We couldn't let you do that. You are our guest." Kiyone stated.

"Don't be silly. I always hit the local merchants on my extended vacations and believe me when I say that I have more than enough to handle it." Christian said as he scratched his head.

"I don't know. You haven't seen Ryoko shop." Mihoshi started but Ryoko quickly grabbed Mihoshi in a headlock. Mihoshi struggled but she was no match for Ryoko's strength.

"Don't listen to her. If it will make your stay here more enjoyable, then we're game." Ryoko said as she cranked down on Mihoshi's neck.

"Then it's settled. Where is the nearest gathering of fine merchants?" Christian asked.

"THE MALL!" All the ladies sounded off in unison.

* * *

Warm air blew past the group as they stepped through the sliding glass doors of the mall. The mall was unusually busy but nothing extraordinary. The group agreed that the cold weather pushed people indoors for recreation. Pretty much everyone already had an idea of what they wanted and spread out a little. Tenchi advised Christian that he might want to change clothes before he left the house. His Jurai clothes stuck out a bit. Since his clothes met with the same fate as his ship, Washu was able to replicate some replacements until Christian bought some more. Tenchi turned and addressed everyone.

"Everyone meet back here in two hours." Tenchi instructed.

"I can't wait to finally get the matching pair of earrings for the necklace." Ayeka mentioned to herself.

"I can't wait either." Ryoko said with a grin.

"If you think you are going to beat me to those ear rings, you had better think again." Ayeka warned.

"I'll tell you what, little princess. Whoever gets there first gets the first pick of anything they want." Ryoko wagered.

"I'll take that bet. No flying or teleporting." Ayeka ordered.

"Deal." Ryoko agreed. The two of them lined up and stood at the ready.

"On your mark, get set, go!" Ryoko yelled. Ayeka took off like a shot and was soon out of sight. Ryoko stood in place and watched Ayeka make off for the jewelry store.

"You can have your stupid ear rings. I'm going to get something much better." Ryoko said beneath her breath. Ryoko turned to face Tenchi.

"Where did Ayeka hurry off to?" Tenchi asked.

"She had to use the bathroom. She's really had a problem controlling her bodily functions lately." Ryoko replied.

"Oh." Tenchi answered a little embarrassed.

"Tenchi, I need your advice on some clothes I've been meaning to get. Will you help me?" Ryoko asked as she tugged at Tenchi's arm.

"Sure Ryoko but what about Sasami? I'm sure she doesn't want to hang out with us and we can't just leave her alone." Tenchi pointed out.

"She's got Ryo-Ohki with her. If anything happens, Ryo-Oki can alarm me through our psychic link isn't that right you cute little cabbit." Ryoko said as she scratched Ryo-Ohki's chin. The cabbit meowed her agreement. Tenchi was becoming uneasy with Ryoko's sudden change of mood.

"What do you say Sasami?" Tenchi asked.

"That sounds great." Sasami chimed.

"Well, ok.." Tenchi didn't finish. Ryoko was almost dragging Tenchi down the walkway.

"I would like to stop at the novelty shop first." Ryoko said as they walked away.

"What do you plan on doing?" Sasami asked Kiyone.

"I don't know? Where do you want to go, Mihoshi?" Kiyone said as she turned to face her partner. Mihoshi wasn't there. Kiyone looked towards the escalator. She saw Mihoshi running up. She looked at the second floor and saw the toy store was at the top of the escalator. She looked for Washu as well but she was gone too.

"I guess that leaves us three." Kiyone said as she turned to Noboyuki.

"Actually, there are a few things I would like to get from the office store." Noboyuki said as he walked away. Kiyone looked to Christian. He smiled back at her. "It looks like it's just you and me." Christian said. Kiyone blushed.

* * *

Washu walked into the nearest electronics store. She looked at the various electrical components that hung from the little hangers in the different aisles. She took mental inventory of all that she saw and by the time she was done, she wasn't impressed.

"Semiconductors, integrated circuits and digital switches oh my!" Washu commented.

"Can I help you, little girl?" A voice asked from behind. Washu turned to face a middle-aged, over-weight man wearing coke-bottle frames.

"Not likely." Washu answered.

"I beg your pardon?" The man asked. Washu looked thoughtful for a minute. Perhaps there was something worth while in this store that they weren't keeping out front.

"Do you have any dark matter reactors?" Washu asked.

"Not to my knowledge." The man said puzzled.

"How about a neutrino detector?" Washu asked again.

"I would guess not." The man said still puzzled. Washu was becoming a little annoyed.

"How about two sticks I can rub together to make fire?" Washu said sarcastically. The man became impatient with Washu.

"Listen here little girl, this store deals in state of the art electronics. If you are looking for a Barbie Doll, the toy store is upstairs." The man finished. Washu didn't care about the 'Barbie Doll' comment but she was seriously offended by the assertion that this store sold state of the art anything.

"HA! You barely have enough of anything here to make something lethal." Washu said. The man didn't understand Washu's insult so he decided to spill the preprogrammed company disclaimer.

"Nothing here can be configured in a way to cause grievous bodily harm to anyone." The man stated.

"Oh really?" Washu said with a grin.

"Really." The man confirmed.

"Do you care to make a little wager." Washu spouted.

"What's your deal?" The man said dropping his professional disposition.

"You supply me with the parts and the tools I request and If I am able to come up with something that can cause grievous bodily damage, you will hand write me an apology for asserting that this store sells state of the art whatever. If I fail, I'll buy whatever components I use times two. Moreover, I'll have a one hour time limit." Washu concluded. The man smiled at the promise of an easy commission.

"You're on!" The man yelled. Washu started to cackle like the mad scientist she was and started to reconfigure the mental inventory she had just taken until a plan came together. The man looked nervous.

* * *

Ayeka was feeling great. She had every piece of jewelry that she wanted and there was no sign of Ryoko. She giggled to herself.

"Only someone as elegant as I should be adorned with such finery." Ayeka thought. She pictured herself strolling up to Lord Tenchi. He would be overcome at the sight of her lavished in platinum, pearls and other precious stones. Suddenly, Ayeka felt something wasn't quite right. She looked around her and noticed she was alone. She had been alone for about an hour. It dawned on her that Ryoko was not being supervised and Tenchi was nowhere to be seen. Ayeka launched to her feet. She sprinted for the door but a clerk jumped in her way.

"Excuse me ma'am, but you are going to have to pay for those pieces before you leave the store." The lady said. Ayeka quickly stripped the various pieces of jewelry from herself and threw it all in a bag.

"Ring this up and make it quick." Ayeka yelled and hopped in place. The cashier gave Ayeka the receipt and Ayeka dashed out the door.

* * *

Tenchi couldn't believe he was suckered so easily. He sat in the chair outside the dressing room and waited for Ryoko to finally be done. He examined his wrist. The handcuffs proved to be stronger than he thought they should be, especially coming from a novelty shop. He recounted the events leading up to his capture. After they left the novelty shop empty handed, or so he thought, he actually believed Ryoko was going to behave for a change. She told him to close his eyes as she led him to the store that she wanted to get some clothes from. Ryoko told him that that she didn't want him to see any of the clothes on the styles so she would surprise him. Despite Tenchi's instinct, he trusted her. He closed his eyes tight as Ryoko led him through the store. She sat him down in a chair and that is when Ryoko slapped the handcuffs on him and then to the chair that was bolted to the floor. Tenchi opened his eyes instantly. Ryoko knew that Tenchi carried the master key on him but she warned him if he used it to cut himself free, he would be caught on camera. Sure enough, a television camera was hanging nearby and was pointed at him. Tenchi didn't understand why Ryoko was restraining him until he got a good look around. He was confined to a chair that was sitting outside a dressing room of a Victoria's Secret outlet. Tenchi tried to bolt for the entrance but the handcuffs held fast and Tenchi was ripped from his feet and slammed to the floor. Ryoko advised him that trying to repeat what he just tried might not be good for his health. Now, Tenchi gazed at himself in the mirror that was on the outside of the dressing room door. He thought his face was going to be burned red for weeks. Looking at Ryoko in some of the pieces she liked almost caused Tenchi to pass out on occasion. The door cracked to Ryoko's dressing room and Tenchi braced himself once more.

"Tennnchii." Ryoko sang. She obviously was enjoying herself a great deal. The door swung open and there stood Ryoko in a lacey concoction that barely covered Ryoko's robust features.

"What do you think?" Ryoko said in a smooth, seductive voice. Tenchi wondered how a machine could make such a thing but then his mind raced uncontrollably. His eyes bulged and a trickle of blood ran from his right nostril.

"Oh, it looks like we have another winner." Ryoko said in the same voice. Ryoko broke with her routine and walked out of the dressing room and stood in front of Tenchi. Tenchi's eyes bulged more. He snapped out of his trance. Tenchi jumped up and tried to make for the exit once more. Once more, the handcuffs prevented his flight and he slammed into the floor. Ryoko looked a little disappointed. She thought to herself for a moment then giggled. Tenchi stirred and looked up to see Ryoko's usual blue and yellow outfit materialize around here, much to his relief. Ryoko bent down and whispered into Tenchi's ear.

"I know you will be lonely sooner or later. I also know you will have to do something about it. When that time comes, keep me in mind. Or if you prefer, I'll have one of these on. Whether it comes off is entirely up to you." Ryoko concluded. Tenchi thought he couldn't tolerate any more. A snap sounded as Ryoko unlocked the handcuffs. Tenchi looked to his wrist with disbelief. Ryoko helped Tenchi stand. She stood looking at him with a smile. Tenchi was confused. He thought he should be angry with her but he wasn't. Ryoko gave Tenchi a hug.

"Thank you for your honest opinion." Ryoko said as she led Tenchi out of the store. Tenchi was scratching his head while Ryoko paid for the merchandise with the credit card Christian gave her. He still couldn't decide whether he should be angry or not. Ryoko looked at him again.

"Tenchi, where are you going?" Ryoko asked. Tenchi turned as he scratched his head.

"Yeah." Was his only reply. Tenchi turned to his original coarse and started walking. Ryoko laughed to herself then caught up with him.

* * *

Kiyone was walking with Christian around the mall. They hadn't stopped in any stores but the two were enjoying themselves none the less. Kiyone asked him questions about his travels and things he's done and Christian asked about Kiyone's home, her family and why she became a detective with the Galaxy Police.

"Where is your favorite place?" Kiyone asked as she walked around a trash can.

"Oh. That's a good one. I've seen quite a bit and trying to compare one place to another is like comparing apples and oranges." Christian explained. Kiyone looked disappointed. Christian noticed.

"Well there is one instance that stands alone." Christian offered. Kiyone brightened.

"Really?" She asked.

"Yeah. Alaska." Christian said. Kiyone looked surprised.

"Alaska. As in the Alaska on earth?" Kiyone asked.

"Is there any other?" Christian joked.

"Out of all the things you've seen and places you've been, earth is where you have seen the most beautiful place?" Kiyone asked again.

"That surprises you?" Christian asked back. Kiyone thought about what Christian said. Kiyone always thought of earth as a place where she was stationed. She realized that some of the places she had been were pretty. Kiyone looked back to Christian.

"I've never been to Alaska." Kiyone admitted. Christian smiled.

"Do you want a cookie?" Christian asked.

"What?" Kiyone said. Christian motioned at the bakery that they were approaching.

"I love the soft chocolate chip cookies. Do you want one?" Christian asked again.

"Sure." Kiyone smiled back.

"You were saying about Alaska." Kiyone said as the two waited in line.

"Oh yeah. Well, I can't remember what year it was. I think it was in the 1800's. I had heard many stories about the Klondike and miners seeking their fortune but I also heard about the savage and unforgiving land. It has been my experience that the most savage and unforgiving lands tend to be the most beautiful. Well, I arrived there in late winter. I landed my ship about one hundred miles south of what now is Fairbanks. I came across this valley. It was cold. Minus thirty I believe but I was prepared for it. It was night and the sky was lit with so many stars that I though I was still on board my ship in space. It was so deathly silent, I could hear the swish of my clothes and the squeak of the snow as it shifted under my feet. There was no moon but the snow covered mountains stood out from the black night. I could here a wolf howl in the distance. As I looked to the sky, the Aurora sliced through the heavens as though someone had struck it with a match. Green, blue, violet and even red danced across the sky as though it was a river of light. I layed down in the snow and watched. The Aurora danced more and more vigorously with each passing hour. Before too long, the sun started to rise and the stars and the Aurora started to fade until they were gone. I was lying there in the snow for hours watching the lights and I was so sad that it was over. I felt that I had lost a friend or a piece of me that I thought I would never get back. And then I thought about what I had just witnessed. I became ecstatic that I actually got a chance to see such a marvelous sight. Happy to the point that I jumped up and started throwing snow in the air as though I was a child once more. I buried a one-kilogram ball of pure iridium so I could find the place again. That was a good year." Christian trailed off at the end. He looked like he was reliving the moment and seemed a million miles away. Kiyone just stared at him. He stood for a few moments with a blank expression then slowly smiled. He quickly spun towards Kiyone as though he was snapped out of a daydream.

"That was quite a while ago." Christian said as he paid for the cookies. He handed one to Kiyone who was still mesmerized. She then smiled.

"I imagine you have been there a lot since then." Kiyone said.

"Not once." Christian said. Kiyone looked shocked.

"Why not? It sounds like a very beautiful place." Kiyone asked. "The picture I carry with me in my mind is near perfect. What I experienced I can never experience the same way again. If I go back there, it will ruin what I already have. Do you understand?" Christian asked. Kiyone thought for a few moments.

"I think so. I do have a question though." She answered.

"Shoot." Christian replied.

"If you don't want to ruin your experience, then why did you leave the iridium to find your way back?" Kiyone asked.

"I thought of only one way to improve the experience. I left it there just in case." Christian said.

"You said it was near perfect. What would have made it perfect?"Kiyone asked.

"How is any experience perfected?" Christian asked. Kiyone shrugged.

"If you share it with someone special." Christian explained. Kiyone blushed.

"What about you?" Christian asked.

"What about me what?" Kiyone asked again.

"Where is the most beautiful place you have ever been?" Christian asked.

* * *

Washu heaved the machine over her head and planted the cushioned rest on her shoulder. She flipped the eyepiece over her eye. She reached back with her right hand and hit a little red button on the back. The machine whistled as some type of electric motor started to spin. Washu smiled with glee.

"Finished in forty-eight minutes and twenty-one point four seconds." Washu spouted.

"How do I know it works?" The salesman asked. Washu smiled wickedly as she hit a selector lever on the side.

"I guess we are just going to have to test it." She said as the machine, which resembled a high tech bazooka, whistled at a high pitch. Washu's hair started to stand on end. She made a mental note to double shield the weapon if she ever built it again. The salesman looked even more nervous than he did before.

"What exactly is that thing?" The salesman asked.

"It's a device which emits a cascade of electrons at whatever the gunner desires to destroy, burn, or in some cases vaporize." Washu explained.

"I don't get it." The salesman admitted. Washu looked a bit put off by the man's last comment but then she remembered what a brilliant scientist she was and smiled at the thought.

"It's a lightning gun." Washu explained.

* * *

"The most beautiful place that I've ever been is at the Isle Resort of the Two Shells on Planet Fimosa." Kiyone said. Christian brightened.

"Is that the one with the water park right next to the ocean?" Christian asked. Kiyone looked amazed.

"Yes it is!" She answered.

"Ha! I've been there too." Christian admitted.

"No kidding? When?" Kiyone asked urgently.

"Jeez, let me think. It had to be about five years ago." Christian said as he tried to remember.

"I was a life guard there before I got into the GP!" Kiyone stated happily.

"No doubt I saw you at one time or another. I stayed there for a few weeks during that summer." Christian explained. He then looked kind of confused.

"You think the water park on Fimosa is the most beautiful place you have ever been?" Christian asked.

"HAHA! No. I didn't even really like working there all that much." Kiyone answered with laughter.

"Oh." Replied Christian.

"They gave diving classes a few weeks during the summer. I never dove before so I decided to give it a try. I became rather fond of it. However, you had to dive with a partner for safety." Kiyone started.

"I can't say that I disagree. They have some nasty creatures in the oceans of Fimosa." Christian noted.

"The place where we dove was cordoned off with nets. It was relatively safe." Kiyone said. Christian nodded.

"One night, I decided to go out and dive by myself. The water was only about 5 meters deep. The bottom was covered with short grass that swayed with the gentle rolling of the ocean. The water was warm and I didn't need any type of protective suit. I remember swimming out to the outermost net then turning back to shore. The current was flowing towards shore so I didn't have to fin that hard to make my way back in. I drifted slowly over the grass as though I were flying in the night. Occasionally, I would brush some of the silt from the bottom with my hand so it appeared that I was flying through the clouds. Phosphorus sparked in the water like tiny flash bulbs. It was great. At one point, I stopped and rolled onto my back and looked towards the surface. I could see the reflection of my dive light off the surface. It looked as though I were covered by a shimmering silver sky. I started to rise to the surface but adjusted my buoyancy so I floated between the surface and the bottom. I continued to fly until it became clear that I lost track of time. The filter on my rebreather was incapable of recycling any more air and I was forced to surface. I was still a couple hundred meters from the shore and I was going to have to swim on the surface all the way back. As I swam on my back, I noticed two thunderstorms on the horizon. They flashed so frequently that it looked as though they were perpetually glowing as they rolled from one side of the horizon to the other. The three moons were out and two of them were full. The sea glittered like an ocean of shifting coins. I continued to watch as I swam towards shore. It didn't take too long to arrive and I really didn't think too much of the beautiful moments at the time but as it rained the following nights, I continued to dwell on it until I finally realized how happy I was to go out there on my own." Kiyone finished.

"Wow! I've never dove before. I sure would like to give it a shot." Christian said.

"It's not all that hard. I bet I could teach you." Kiyone said.

"How can I refuse." Christian smiled. Kiyone smiled back but she no longer felt uncomfortable when he smiled. The two continued on their fifth lap around the mall.

* * *

Sasami had finished her shopping. She had purchased a few things for herself but mostly bought things for the kitchen. She was on her way back to the place where everyone was suppose to meet when she passed the arcade. Sasami didn't usually go for arcades but she noticed there was an informal tournament taking place between the local pros. She saw the game they were playing was the same one-on-one fighting game she had at home and became rather good at. She asked the man at the front if he would watch her things. He nodded and Sasami approached the group of mostly older boys.

"Can I play?" Sasami asked cheerfully. One of the boys that was in line turned. I'm up next but you can play after me, ok." The boy offered.

"Alright." Sasami agreed. The boy looked at Sasami again.

"Do you know how to play this game?" The boy asked.

"Yes. I have it at home." Sasami said.

"That's good. Most of these guys don't like to play against inexperienced people. Most of them have this game at home too. They come here to play because fighting other people is much harder than playing against the machine." The boy pointed out.

"Really?" Sasami asked. The boy felt kind of rude talking to Sasami over his shoulder. He turned and faced her.

"My name is Hisato." He said extending his hand. Sasami shook it.

"I'm Sasami." She greeted.

"Are you one of my little sister's friends? She has a lot of them and they usually hang around here quite a bit." Hisato asked.

"Hey Hisato! Are you playing or are you going to talk to your girlfriend the rest of the day." One of the boys called out.

"These guys never quit." Hisato explained. Sasami smiled.

"Watch this. I'm going to stomp this guy." Hisato said as he put his money into the machine and selected his fighter. Soon the fight was on. True to his word, Hisato swiftly defeated the boy he was up against. The boy fell away from the machine as though the injuries inflicted on his fighter actually happened to him. Everyone laughed.

"You're not going to win that easily with me." One of the boys said as he approached the game where the other fell back.

"Hold on there, Roco. Sasami's got next up." Hisato said. The group of boys turned to Sasami. She felt a little uncomfortable.

"Don't worry about these guys, Sasami. They are afraid of being beat by a girl." Hisato said.

"And you are not?" Sasami asked teasingly.

"EWWW!" The group of boys sounded off at Sasami's comment.

"Watch out, Hisato. She's going to wipe the floor with you." One of the boys called out.

"Here I was being nice to you. I guess I'm going to have to humble you now, Sasami." Hisato said.

"If you think you can." Sasami retaliated.

"Arrogant little thing aren't you. I like that. I guess we'll see who the better fighter is shortly." Hisato said with a competitive grin. Sasami put in her money and the two were locked in digital combat. Sasami won the first round but the fighting was sloppy. Hisato was harangued by his friends between matches. The second round was won by Hisato. He took Sasami more seriously and didn't hold back. Sasami had seen all she needed to see by third match and she defeated Hisato in almost record time. It was Hisato who was humbled but he was a good sport and asked for a rematch after some of the other challengers had their chance. The largest boy, Roco, approached the game.

"I'm going to send you crying home to your mama!" Roco said. Sasami didn't like his comment but she guessed that was to be expected of her being new. Roco was beaten soundly and Sasami continued to beat Roco's fighter even after the match was over. Roco was furious and he pushed Sasami.

"We don't like little girls around here. Go play with some dolls or something." Roco snapped angrily.

"We're having a good time, Roco. You're the only one who is being a jerk." Hisato said as he shoved Roco. Roco grabbed Hisato and threw him to the floor. Roco turned his attention back to Sasami.

"What's it going to be, runt? Stay and face me or go?" Roco said as he towered over Sasami. The next thing he knew, Roco was being jacked up by the front of his T-shirt by a tall woman with light blue hair.

"You bully my friend, I bully you." Ryoko said as she hefted the boy slightly higher than eye level.

"Let go of me you witch!" Roco yelled. Sasami thought Ryoko would kill him for that but Ryoko remained surprisingly calm.

"Witch? I'm not her sister. I'm just a good friend." Ryoko said. Someone exploded into laughter. Sasami looked out onto the walkway to see Christian laughing quite loudly. Everyone was there except for Washu. Ayeka didn't like Ryoko's ad lib. Tenchi and Ayeka knew Ryoko was there just to scare the boy so they didn't intervene. They witnessed the whole incident between Roco and Sasami. Ryoko held Roco away from her.

"Step aside kids." Ryoko instructed and the kids backed away. Tenchi wondered what she was up to. Tenchi was just about to stop her when Ryoko seemed to be distracted for moment. She then smiled.

"Washu, if you would be so kind." Ryoko said. Washu pushed her way past Tenchi and the rest of the group. She dropped to one knee, raised the weapon, and took aim at Roco with a sadistic smile that froze Roco's blood. Before Tenchi could react, Washu discharged the lightning gun. A thunderous crack ripped through the mall and the video game Sasami had just been playing was laid to waste. Mihoshi was scared unconscious and collapsed to the floor.

"Damn! Missed." Washu cursed. People started to run in all directions. Washu turned to ask the salesman if that was good enough but he was nowhere to be seen. Somehow, Washu knew she wasn't going to get her written apology.

"Hold'em out again, Ryoko. I had it on semi-grievous. I'm going to full on grievous." Washu said. She hit a switch on the hand guard that was actually labeled "semi-grievous" until the selector clicked to "grievous." The pitch of the whistle the machine created increased a few octaves. Washu laid in for Roco once again. The boy lost bladder control immediately. Ryoko became disgusted and dropped the boy. He sped for the door as soon as his shoes got traction and he was followed by a foul smell. Ryoko looked to Sasami who was sitting on the floor.

"You are probably the only kid I like, Sasami." Ryoko stated.

"RYOKO! WASHU!" Tenchi yelled as he stood.

"Oh what? You were game until Washu pulled out the heavy artillery." Ryoko complained. Tenchi's head snapped to Washu.

"This isn't heavy. This is something I whipped up in a few minutes. Had I pulled out the heavy artillery, chubby would have needed a hell of a lot more than a change of underwear." Washu pointed out. Tenchi sunk his head.

"Don't worry Tenchi. Their plan to scare the boy worked like a charm." Christian said. Washu was about to point out her goal was to do more than scare the boy but Ryoko motioned for her to be silent.

* * *

The van pulled into the drive of the Masaki residence. The van full of people eagerly stepped out with the things they purchased. Tenchi stepped out of the van to see Lord Katsuhito standing in front of the house in his training clothes and a boken in his hand. Tenchi looked at his watch and discovered he was nearly half an hour late for practice. Tenchi quickly approached his grand father.

"I'm sorry I'm late Grand Pa but we have company who needed to some things from town." Tenchi explained. Lord Katsuhito looked up to see the young man exit the vehicle. Christian walked up to Lord Katsuhito.

"It's alright, Tenchi. Go get your clothes on. I'll wait here." Lord Katsuhito said. Tenchi quickly turned and ran towards the house. Lord Katsuhito coughed deliberately and Tenchi ground to a halt. He quickly turned and ran back to where his grand father was standing.

"I'm sorry. Christian, this is my grand father, Lord Katsuhito. Grand Pa, this is Christian." Tenchi hastily introduced. Tenchi looked back to his grand father. Lord Katsuhito nodded and Tenchi sprinted for the house once more.

"Pleased to meet you." Christian greeted with a bow.

"The pleasure is mine." Lord Katsuhito replied and bowed.

"Are you training Tenchi to become a swordsman?" Christian asked with great interest.

"Yes, I am. I've trained Tenchi for many years and he is a good student but he has a lot to learn." Lord Katsuhito stated.

"Do you think he mind if I engaged him in a practice match?" Christian asked.

"Do you know sword play." Lord Katsuhito asked.

"Well, I know very little of eastern styles but I'm well versed in western styles. I would very much like to see how one reacts to the other." Christian said with a smile.

"So would I." Lord Katsuhito replied.

"Excellent." Christian exclaimed. Tenchi ran from the house in his training clothes and with his boken in hand.

"Tenchi! Your first task today will be a practice bout with this young man." Lord Katsuhito explained. Tenchi looked to Christian with surprise, as did everyone else as they took a break from carrying in their gifts. Christian removed a small white ball from his pocket. He squeezed it in his right hand. Suddenly, the ball turned into an elegant sheathed sword. Christian looked up to see Kiyone staring at him.

"Carrying it like this is more comfortable than carrying it on my belt." Christian explained. Christian fixed the sheathed blade to his belt. "I didn't know you knew how to sword fight." Kiyone said. Christian looked up with a little curiosity.

"I was a sailor on the Spanish Main. Knowing how to use a blade was one of the best life insurance policies there was." Christian explained.

"Have you ever killed anyone?" Kiyone asked bluntly. Christian paused for a moment. He looked to Kiyone with a serious expression. He stood silently for a minute then continued to adjust his weapon.

"The only people I have fought were people who were trying to kill me or they were trying to kill people I was bound to protect. Yes, some of them died but that was something that I didn't enjoy." Christian said.

"But you enjoy fighting. Otherwise you wouldn't be getting ready to fight Tenchi." Kiyone complained.

"I'm not fighting Tenchi, I'm sparring with him." Christian corrected.

"Same difference." Kiyone continued. Christian stopped adjusting his weapon and walked up to Kiyone and looked her in the eyes.

"You are a Detective First Class with the Galaxy Police are you not?" Christian questioned.

"Yes." Kiyone answered with a little hesitation.

"You are armed with a standard issue plasma pistol are you not?" Christian asked again.

"Yes I am." Kiyone answered.

"Does that make you a cold blooded murderer?" Christian challenged.

"No." Kiyone said finally understanding Christian's point.

"Neither does this." Christian said as he unsheathed his rapier. He turned to face Tenchi. Kiyone was a little hurt but she imagined Christian was hurt more by her assumptions. She was going to say something but she turned and walked into the house. Everyone else went inside as well except for Tenchi, Lord Katsuhito and Christian.

"A boken isn't going to be able to stand up to that." Tenchi noted. Lord Katsuhito walked into the house then came out again with a simple looking samurai sword.

"Where did you get that?" Tenchi asked.

"Does it matter?" Lord Katsuhito replied. Tenchi grasped the sword and removed it from its sheath. He raised the blade to the ready, as did Christian. The beauty of Christian's blade distracted Tenchi. The setting winter sun made the blade look as though it had just been removed from a flame and burned bright orange.

"What is that?" Tenchi asked as he lowered his weapon. Christian lowered his weapon as well and looked at the rapier he had in his hand and smiled.

"This is my master's treasure. It was forged in the founders of Toledo, Spain and is one of the finest produced. It pales in comparison to the mastery of the eastern steel smiths of the time but it is a keen blade. There are few others that match it's elegance and strength." Christian finished. Tenchi smiled and raised his blade once more. Christian smiled and raised the weapon in his right hand as he placed the back of his left wrist in the small of his back.

"East meets west. How appropriate!" Christian mused.

* * *

Tenchi and Christian stepped into the house laughing. They were dirty and both looked a little tired but content. Ayeka was admiring her new jewelry in the living room. She wasn't comfortable leaving it in her room where Ryoko might want to draw out her previous joke. Ayeka looked to the two young men as they entered. She was a little concerned to see Tenchi in the shape that he was in but not overly concerned. She stood and approached the two.

"Lord Tenchi, are you all right." Ayeka asked. Tenchi stopped as Christian continued for the bathroom.

"Yeah, Ayeka. I'm fine." Tenchi said.

"You and Christian have been at it for more than a half an hour. I was beginning to think that maybe you two were starting to get serious." Ayeka voiced. Tenchi was about to reply when Ryoko materialized with her arm around Tenchi.

"That was a good match!" Ryoko exclaimed. Ayeka reached over and pinched Ryoko's hand to get her to let go of Tenchi. Ryoko quickly withdrew her hand and massaged it. Ayeka then turned her eyes back to Tenchi.

"I trust you won, Lord Tenchi?" Ayeka asked.

"It was pretty much a draw." Tenchi stated. Ryoko replaced her arms around Tenchi's neck. She made sure to put Tenchi between Ayeka and herself.

"Tenchi is being modest. He won five matches out of nine." Ryoko recapped.

"Well if you want to look at it that way but Christian became familiar with my style and won the last three matches in a row." Tenchi said.

"I don't care about that." Ryoko said as she noticed Tenchi's sweat drenched shirt.

"Wow! You got quite a work out. The thought of your sweat covered body does something for me." Ryoko flirted openly. Tenchi became uneasy and Ayeka became angry.

"You would be into something so dirty." Ayeka said as she pried Ryoko from Tenchi.

"What is that suppose to mean?" Ryoko questioned, as she became angry.

"It means that you are a filthy, uncultured pig!" Ayeka yelled. Tenchi used the fight as cover for his escape. The two girls fell silent as they heard Christian laugh as he entered the bathroom. They looked at one another.

"You know, he really is getting some entertainment from our bouts." Ayeka said.

"You noticed that too?" Ryoko asked.

* * *

Everyone was cleaned up just in time for dinner. The group took their places and enjoyed Sasami's cooking as they always did. Kiyone didn't seem all that hungry and only managed to eat half of her dinner. Christian finished his meal but didn't dig in with the same zeal as he did at breakfast. The rest of the house talked about their adventures at the mall.

"So I finished in forty-eight minutes and twenty-one point four seconds. I even made it dual voltage. I could have tweaked it to make it a little more efficient but my goal was to make a device capable of grievous bodily harm. It worked rather well don't you think?" Washu finished. The room was silent as they stared at Washu in shock.

"What? Do I have something on my face." Washu asked innocently. Tenchi gave Washu a nasty look. He finally looked to Mihoshi.

"We didn't see you until it was time to leave, Mihoshi. Where were you?" Tenchi asked.

"I was in the toy store trying to decide which cute dolly I wanted." Mihoshi explained.

"And then what did you do?" Tenchi asked again.

"What do you mean? When I picked the one I wanted, I saw everyone at the arcade." Mihoshi said a little confused.

"It took you two hours to decide which one you wanted?" Ryoko asked incredulously.

"Was it that long?" Mihoshi asked. Everyone looked at the floor in exasperation. Everyone's empty plates signaled the end of dinner. Christian stretched. He then covered his mouth as he yawned.

"Sasami, you continue to out do yourself with every meal." Christian complemented as he stood. Sasami smiled at his flattery.

"Where are you going?" Ryoko asked flatly. Ayeka was about to say something about Ryoko's rudeness but Christian motioned that it didn't bother him.

"I usually take a walk after dinner. I have a lot to reflect on. I can't remember having a day as great as today. Thank you all for your hospitality. If you will excuse me." Christian said as he walked towards the front door. As soon as he stepped outside, everyone looked to Kiyone. She was surprised.

"Well?" Ayeka prodded.

"Well what?" Kiyone asked back with a blush.

"You had better go talk to him or you might not get another chance." Ryoko said.

"What are you talking about?" Kiyone said defensively. Washu started to laugh aloud.

"Come off it girl. We all know you like him." Washu said. Kiyone looked around the table to see everyone smiling. Even Lord Katsuhito couldn't help himself.

"Who likes who?" Mihoshi asked. Washu looked to Mihoshi with contempt.

"Well, almost everybody." Washu corrected.

* * *

Christian stepped out into the cold night air. There was a little light left in the sky but all the bright stars were out and twilight was almost over. Grey clouds were moving fast out of the east and with them came the promise of snow. Christian wasn't interested in the night sky as he usually was. He walked towards the lake then stopped and stared at the ground. He appeared to be in deep thought. He wrapped his fist on his head with one stroke.

"Knucklehead." He scolded himself. He paced a few times then stopped and looked to the stars. The wind blew off the lake and numbed his hands. He quickly placed his hands in his jacket pockets. A comical expression came to his face as he felt a familiar object in his jacket pocket. He pulled the distraction from his pocket. He opened his hand to see his music box. A smile lit up Christian's face. He hummed a few bars of a melody to himself. He turned the little crank on the music box and it played the melody he hummed from where he left off.

"That's a pleasant tune. What is it?" Kiyone asked as she walked up behind Christian. Christian looked distracted for a moment then he smiled again.

"It's a song that reminds me of Christmas." Christian said.

"Winter is just getting here and Christmas is still a little bit off." Kiyone noted. "I hum this melody just as much in the summer as I do in the winter." Christian said. He looked at Kiyone. She had her arms folded noticeably tight.

"Where are my manners?" Christian thought out loud. He removed his jacket and put it over Kiyone's shoulders. He brushed her shoulders and back with his arm as he pulled it around her. Kiyone knew it wasn't intentional but she blushed anyway.

"The song is called 'Green Sleeves." Christian said as he wound the crank and let the melody play again. The tune sounded very lonely playing in the quiet, cold night. Kiyone's mind raced as she tried to think of what to say next. She decided it would be best to just come out with it.

"I'm sorry." Both said at the same time. The two looked at each other with a little surprise then both smiled. Christian was about to start again but Kiyone beat him to the punch.

"I'm sorry that I got angry earlier." Kiyone said. Christian was speechless.

"I forgot that those times were a lot more savage and a less violent solution wasn't always possible. I guess I was afraid that I was going to find out that you weren't the person I thought you were. I know now that you are a better person than I could ever wish for. " Kiyone admitted. She realized she might have said more than she planned on but she also felt relieved that she finally got her feelings out in the open. Christian was dumbstruck. He hoped that Kiyone would like him a little but he had no idea that she was going to pour her heart out the way he planned to. He got over himself and thought to himself for a moment. He looked back to Kiyone.

"You have no need to apologize. You were right. I can't tell you how many times I haven't been able to get to sleep because of my actions back then. I guess I am a different person now. I sometimes ask myself if there was someway that I could have avoided doing what I did. The worst of it is I sometimes think of ways that might have changed the outcome but in the end it doesn't matter. What is done is done and there is nothing I can do to change it. Just hearing it come from someone that I'm really fond of was more than I could bare and I lost my temper. For that I'm sorry." Christian said as he lowered his head. Christian knew that he had exposed the tip of the iceberg but he felt it wasn't enough.

"It's ok." Kiyone assured him. She stepped up to Christian and she put her hand on his shoulder. Christian didn't notice that he was gripping the music box too tight for it to play until Kiyone touched him. His grip relaxed and the tune started again. He looked down at he box in his palm as it continued to play.

"This was given to me as a Christmas present when I was seven years old at the orphanage in London. It is the only thing that brought me joy during those unpleasant years. I have never gone anywhere without it since it was given to me on Christmas Eve, 1705. Now I want you to have it." Christian said. He took Kiyone's hand from his shoulder and opened it. He placed the tiny music box in her hand as it played on. Kiyone looked into Christian's eyes.

"I can't take this from you." Kiyone said. Christian smiled brightly for a few moments and then it was replaced with a very serious expression. He looked like he was struggling to find the will to say what he wanted. Christian took a deep breath then released it.

"Don't you see?" Christian started a little hesitantly.

"This may sound odd. I mean I've only just met you today but I don't need the music box to make me happy anymore." Christian said. Kiyone looked confused.

"All I need is the thought of you." Christian managed. Kiyone felt like her heart was about to burst. She started to choke up and looked at the ground. She looked back to Christian and a solitary tear rolled down her cheek. Christian reached up and brushed it away with his finger. The two stepped towards one another. Kiyone brought both of her arms over Christian's shoulders. At the same time, Christian brought one hand to the small of Kiyone's back while his other cradled the back of her head. Snow started to fall softly as Christian and Kiyone held each other tight and kissed.

* * *

Washu was quick to retrieve one of her older inventions from her lab after Kiyone walked out of the house. The device amplified voices from a great distance. Washu built it for the soul purpose of eves dropping on conversations. After much nagging, Ayeka, Ryoko, Mihoshi and even Sasami finally talked Washu into plugging the machine into a speaker so everyone in the living room could hear. However, what they heard was far more than any of them expected. Aside from Mihoshi who was balling uncontrollably, everyone in the living room was shocked stupid. Washu, Ayeka, Ryoko and Sasami sat like statues with dreamy expressions on their faces. Tenchi walked into the living room and was curious why the girls were sitting so quietly.

"What's going on?" Tenchi asked innocently. Ayeka and Ryoko's heads turned to face Tenchi. They stood and looked at Tenchi with unblinking eyes.

"Uh oh" Tenchi blurted. He felt like a mouse in a cage with two tigers. Ryoko and Ayeka stood slowly. The two didn't notice each other, which made Tenchi even more scared. He tore up the stairs for the relative safety of his bedroom. Somehow, Tenchi forgot about Ryoko's ability to phase through walls and he was forced to jump from his bedroom window to evade capture. Ayeka was waiting for him outside and only a well-timed duck enabled him to escape. The chase lasted for over an hour.

* * *

Kiyone woke up feeling like everything was right with the world. She smiled as the memory of the previous night washed over her like warm bath water. She looked around and found that Mihoshi didn't use her bed. She got up and made her way towards the kitchen. Kiyone stepped out of the bedroom in her pajamas and smelled breakfast cooking. She heard Christian's voice coming from the living room along with Sasami's. She walked down the dark hallway and stopped short of the living room. She brought her hand to her face to block out the light that flooded the living room. All the blinds were open. It snowed the night prior but the skies were now clear. The sunlight reflected off the carpet of snow and the east side of the house was illuminated with brilliant white light. Kiyone's eyes became adjusted and she concentrated on Christian's voice. Apparently, he was in the middle of a pirate story.

"I ran as fast as I could until I finally reached the mansion on the side of the hill. I looked down to the bay. I could see the flashes from the cannons on board the pirate ships as they tried to silence the guns of the fortress that defended the city." Christian said.

"Weren't you afraid?" Sasami asked. "Of coarse I was afraid. I had never been in any kind of battle before. But there I was, running up the side of this huge hill to try and get this girl." Christian continued. Kiyone drew back a little at Christian's last comment. She felt a twinge of jealousy.

"So I came to the door and found it locked. I kicked and pounded on this door for a few minutes. I stepped back and saw one of the lights go out in one of the windows. I knew there was still someone there and the door was locked from the inside." Christian continued.

"How did you get in?" Sasami asked on the edge of her seat.

"Well, the governor was kind enough to lend me his pistol. I shot the lock and the door swung open. I ran up to Bella's room. That one was locked as well. Fortunately for me, the door to her room wasn't as sturdy as the front door. It gave in with one kick. I jumped into the room, brandishing my blade as I prepared for the worst, when I was knocked silly by a piece of pottery. I turned to see Bella standing in the corner preparing to heave another vase at me." Christian paused to catch his breath.

"She didn't recognize you?" Sasami asked. "No, she didn't. I was all covered in powder from the fort and dirt from the road. She thought I was a pirate. She said to me, 'I'll crack your head with everything in this room if you step any closer." Christian chuckled recalling the moment. Sasami laughed as well.

"I said and pardon my vulgarity, 'Damn it, Bella! It's me, John Wellington.' She put the vase down and ran over to me. No sooner than she stopped, she slapped me as hard as she could. She said, 'Master Wellington! Don't you know to knock before you enter." Christian said as he did his best to impersonate Bella. Sasami laughed again.

"I tried to tell her that her father had sent me to get her but she was to busy lecturing me and trying to get me to carry her things. Finally, I threw her bags to the ground and I threw her over my shoulder. She was kicking, screaming and on occasion, biting me on the way to the courthouse. I tried to tell her that the governor himself asked me to get her but she wouldn't listen. I swear she was the most evil woman I have ever come across. Anyway, I walked into the courthouse with Bella over my shoulder. The governor walked up to me and wiped some blood from my forehead. He said to me, 'Let me guess, Master Wellington. You are now more closely acquainted with some of the finer pieces of crockery in my house. Believe me, you are not the only one." Christian said trying to impersonate a low voice. Kiyone laughed and felt silly for her premature envy. Christian and Sasami turned to see Kiyone standing in the hall.

"Well, what happened after that?" Kiyone asked. Christian thought he should rap up the story now that Sasami wasn't his only audience.

"Unfortunately, the city fell that evening. However, we returned five days later and we recaptured it." Christian explained.

"Tell me that story!" Sasami yelled.

"I'll have to tell you later. I'm all storied out. Besides, isn't breakfast almost ready?" Christian asked. Sasami had completely lost track of time. She ran into the kitchen. Christian turned to look at Kiyone. She was still standing in the hallway.

"Sleep well?" Christian asked with a grin.

"Very well." Kiyone answered. Kiyone walked behind the couch where Christian was sitting. He was about to turn but she put her hands on his shoulders. She wrapped her arms around his chest and hugged him from behind. She was about to kiss his cheek but Christian turned quickly and kissed her on the mouth before she could react. Kiyone was shocked for a moment then gave in. They kissed for what seemed an eternity until a familiar voice was heard. Kiyone instantly straightened and both her and Christian's heads whipped skywards.

"Mmmmmm. Good stuff!" Ryoko said as she looked down from one of the trusses over the living room.

* * *

Everyone was starting to come together at the table for breakfast. The front door opened and Lord Katsuhito stepped in. Mihoshi quickly darted around Lord Katsuhito to get to the table. Kiyone looked at her partner.

"Where have you been?" Kiyone asked.

"I woke up early this morning and gave grand pa a hand with the sweeping." Mihoshi said as she clutched her stomach.

"What's wrong, Mihoshi?" Noboyuki asked.

"Sweeping all those stairs was harder than I thought it was going to be. I worked up an appetite. I'll probably even have dessert." Mihoshi offered.

"I don't think too many people have dessert after breakfast, Mihoshi." Sasami said as she walked out of the kitchen with a tray of food in her hands.

"That's right. Some have it before breakfast." Ryoko said as she looked at Christian and Kiyone. Even Christian blushed. Ryoko laughed out loud.

"I don't get it." Tenchi said as he scratched his head.

"Don't try to understand Ryoko, Lord Tenchi. You will become glassy-eyed and start to drool." Ayeka said.

"I would say that was the voice of experience but Ayeka looks like that most of the time. You may want to put a napkin to the corner of your mouth, princess." Ryoko said with a grin. Ayeka was completely torn. She didn't want to fall for Ryoko's trick but the thought of her sitting through breakfast with something on her face was driving her up the wall. She tried to hold out but it was no use. She quickly reached for a napkin and wiped her face. She then examined the napkin to find nothing on it.

"I knew it. There's nothing there!" Ayeka said as she started to look towards Ryoko. As her head raised, a cup of water splashed in her face.

"Now there is!" Ryoko yelled as she cast her empty glass to the floor and prepared to fight. Ayeka was furious. Washu stepped from her lab door and found Ryoko and Ayeka about to go at it. Ayeka lunged at Ryoko and Ryoko stood ready. The two suddenly found each other frozen in place. They each struggled to move but couldn't.

"It's too nice of a morning for fighting." Washu said as she walked to the table and picked up Ayeka's glass of. Water.

"I thought you said you were going to be in your lab all morning?" Sasami asked.

"I finished up early enough to make it in time for breakfast." Washu explained as she walked over to Ayeka.

"You did start this mess, Ayeka. Technically, you deserved what you got. However, Ryoko's retaliation was a bit extreme...as usual." Washu said.

"In order to enjoy a peaceful meal, I'll act as an impartial arbitrator." Washu said as she strode up to Ryoko. Washu put her hand on Ryoko's shoulder and leaned her back until Ryoko faced the ceiling. Washu held the cup over Ryoko and emptied its watery contents into Ryoko's face.

"Ayeka be still. Thou art revenged." Washu said as she recalled some Shakespeare.

"That's Julius Caesar!" Christian spouted upon recognizing the line.

"It is." Washu confirmed. Just then, Ryoko and Ayeka regained control of their bodies once more. Ryoko was livid. She stood in front of Washu with anger in her face. Ryoko's wet hair was quickly dried by the heat that radiated from her body. Washu stood with indifference as Ryoko ground her teeth. Ryoko stood erect and walked to her place at the table. She then plopped down without saying a word.

"That's a good girl." Washu said through her psychic link.

"This is far from over." Ryoko answered as she sat. Washu took her place at the table.

"Come on. Let's eat!" Washu exclaimed. With that, the room became cheery again as Sasami handed out the trays of food.

"I thought you were building Christian a ship." Tenchi said.

"I was." Washu said as she slurped her Miso.

"Then why did you stop?" Tenchi asked.

"Because it's finished." Washu replied as she set her bowl on the table. Everyone looked to Washu.

"You built a spaceship in two days?" Christian asked.

"One day, actually. I started on it when we got back from the mall." Washu said.

"Fantastic!" Christian spouted.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, FANTASTIC?!" Kiyone yelled as she jumped to her feet. The whole room was alarmed by Kiyone's outburst, except Ryoko who was still angry from earlier. Kiyone became immediately embarrassed and took her seat.

"Umm well." Christian tried to start but was still in shock.

"You two are at each other like you are married or something." Mihoshi noticed. Ryoko took a rest bit from her tantrum to laugh at Mihoshi's comment.

"Well, I want to stay here longer than I originally planned but I need to get some things before I do." Christian said as he recovered a little. Kiyone now felt even more embarrassed for jumping to conclusions.

"We'll be happy to have you." Tenchi said. Christian became unsettled.

"No! I didn't mean to invite myself! I was going to get a hotel room." Christian explained.

"Don't worry about it." Noboyuki said with his mouth full. The rest of the conversations during breakfast were light-hearted although Christian and Kiyone were unusually silent.

End Part I