Chapter Two: What You Always Wanted

It was a massive black walled building, built around a black tree. The windows were narrowed and barred. There were no buildings around and all the plants surrounding it had been cut down so one could see for miles. Those miles were barren wastes. Beyond was a bleak and towering cityscape of green lights and reflective windows.

A black sign stood before them. Kiyone read it; 'Jurai Prison Complex? Jurai doesn't run prisons. They delegate the systems to regional governments.'

'They do now.' said Sakuya. 'There have been a lot of changes in how Jurai does things. The Emperor has a lot more power than he used to, and he uses it.'

'Right, okay.' said Kiyone. 'So Mihoshi works as security in the prison.'

Sakuya smiled thinly. 'Not exactly.' She offered her a hand. 'Take hold of my robe.'

Kiyone hesitated. She had a feeling she didn't want to see inside. But she took it anyway.

Then she was looking into a cell. Within it was a dark-skinned women with short hair that had been cut into a crew style. Her blue eyes were downcast and her arms were bound with a straightjacket. Then Kiyone recognized her. 'What? What is this? Why is Mihoshi in jail?'

'I'll take you to the file on the records.' said Sakuya.

In a daze, Kiyone followed her. Files were thrust into her hand and she took it.

'Here are all the files on various criminals, abroad, deceased and detained.' said Sakuya.

Kiyone read the with every word she became more and more chilled. 'Princess Ayeka attempted a coup on the planet Jurai. Mihoshi attempted to aid her in escaping the Galaxy Police. She was apprehended by her partner Mitsuki. Space Pirate Ryoko. Killed while resisting arrest. Unknown middle-aged earthling male. Killed while resisting arrest. Unknown teenager. Killed defending Princess Ayeka.' Tenchi was dead.

'How could Tenchi get killed like this?' He had the Jurai power, didn't he? Kiyone couldn't have made that much of a difference?

'Ryoko was already dead.' said Sakuya sadly. 'The Galaxy Police were using lethal force. Tenchi just didn't have enough practice with the Jurai Power to stand up to them.'

'What about Yosho?' asked Kiyone. 'He was the legendary warrior. He shouldn't have…'

Sakuya made no expression as she raised the last file. 'Here's the file.'

Kiyone read it. 'Elderly earthling male. Taken alive to Jurai due to specific instructions by the Emperor. Killed personally in a duel by Emperor Kagato.' Kiyone felt chilled.

After everything he'd gone through, Yosho's life had ended. Ended with his grandson and son in law, and everyone he cared about, dying first. Unable to even avenge them.

'Where is Washu during all this?' asked Kiyone.

Sakuya offered her a hand. Kiyone didn't want to take it. But she knew she had to. Instantly they were transported to a huge machine. Washu was bound hand and foot and surrounded by green energy.

'Here.' said Sakuya. 'You won't find her on any of the manifests. Her body is in stasis but her mind is perfectly active. She is the head of Jurai's science division and works to ensure Kagato's armies remain dominant.'

'What?' said Kiyone. 'Why would Washu ever work for him?!'

'Why do you think Mihoshi is alive?' asked Sakuya.

Kiyone's mouth went dry. '…She's being held hostage. Why… why would Mitsuki do this?!'

'Funny isn't it?' asked Sakuya with a humorless smile. 'The worst people in the entire world can be just across the room. You'd never know it until they are given a position of power. Mitsuki had a choice. Just like you had a choice. A choice between getting back to a career as an officer. And defending an innocent Princess who had been framed for treason. A Princess who had her entire nation going after her. For whom, but all appearances, she had already lost.

'Let me ask you this, Kiyone; You had the chance to tell Kagato's emissary about Ayeka's location. Did you consider his offer?'

'Of course not!' said Kiyone.

Sakuya fixed her gaze. 'Really?'

Kiyone shifted under her piercing stare. After a moment, she looked away. ''I… I thought about it all right. But only for a bit. I mean I wouldn't have to put up with Mihoshi anymore. But it wouldn't have been right.'

'Exactly.' said Sakuya. 'It wouldn't have been right. You choose to do the right thing at your own expense. Maybe you considered doing the wrong thing, but you pulled through in the end. Mitsuki didn't. She betrayed her friends, her partner, and the entire universe.

'One person makes the wrong choice. And trillions of lives are affected.'

'Where is Ayeka and Sasami now?' asked Kiyone. 'They weren't on any of the files?'

There was hope for them at least. Maybe they survived. Maybe they found someone else. Somewhere else where Kagato couldn't find them. Sakuya looked away and bit her lip.

'You don't want to see this.' said Sakuya.

'I have to.' said Kiyone. 'What happened to Ayeka? And where is Sasami? What… what happened to them?'

'…I'm serious. You don't.' said Sakuya.

But she offered her a hand and Kiyone took it.

There was a flash and a crack of lightning. It was pouring rain down on planet Jurai. Kiyone saw nothing and no one. Walking through the darkness she tripped over something. She fell forward and her hands plowed onto a marble slab. Pulling herself up she saw writing. But she could not read it through the moss.

She tore it aside and read:

'"Ayeka and Sasami Jurai.' said Kiyone. 'Beloved daughters. May she find happiness in the next world."' She stood up, shaking. 'They're dead. He killed them.'

'No.' said Sakuya, coming forward. 'They killed themselves. Kagato couldn't keep his deception up forever. When it fell forced Ayeka to marry him to solidify his hold. By that time there was no one left who could stop him.

'You only saw the very edge of what he was capable of.

'Forced to be with the man who had murdered the man she loved, Princess Ayeka lived in a gilded prison for three years. Watching as Jurai became a twisted tyranny. So she chose to leave with as much dignity as she could. She drugged Sasami into a sleep and cut her throat.

'Then she used the same knife to kill herself.' Sakuya shook her head. 'Their deaths had meaning. It destabilized Kagato's regime a great deal. Revolts popped up all over the place and he had to enter the field personally to stop them. Someday, maybe somebody will overthrow him.

'But it could be a long time coming.

'Strange, isn't it? How when one good person does the right thing one time it can spiral out into a better world for everyone. And when one wrong person does something mean and selfish? It can ruin things for billions of people they'll never meet.

'You are alive for a reason, Kiyone. You were put where you are in the universe because you are just like everyone else. You have a part to play in the grand tapestry of the universe. And every action you take, good and bad, changes every other part of the world.

'Not just anyone could fulfill the destiny you had. A destiny that could only be achieved by sacrificing your career. When you gave that destiny to someone else they sent things spiraling out of control.'

'But I…' began Kiyone.

The view changed and they were looking at brown skinned women struggling to climb up some stairs. The wind howled around them.

'Look at this woman, Kiyone. She's forty years old and has never married.' said Sakuya. 'She works long hours at a job where her boss screams at her all day. She can't so much as speak up for herself or she'll be fired. Sure, she's in the union, but the union is spineless and populated by crooks.

'Her friends are far away. Her neighbors shun her. And she's grown old before her time because of constant stress.'

The view changed again and they came to a man sitting on a street corner with his hands on his face. His clothes were ragged and he radiated despair.

'Here is a man who is very moral.' said Sakuya. 'He refused to steal, or act in a dishonest fashion. He did everything he could to be a good person. Then he was fired because he refused to look the other way to a crime. The criminal got off scot-free, became filthy stinking rich, and the good man is now homeless.

'His friends shun him. Because he's no longer rich. They don't want to be associated with someone who reminds them of all the horrible things they do.'

'You have a roof over your head. You have a lot of friends who really care about you. You've got a record as having restored a Princess to her throne.

'And you were going to throw yourself into the sea? Just who the hell do you think you are?

What about them?! What about all the people who care about who you were going to abandon. There would have been an empty place in every one of their hearts for their entire lives. Every Christmas they'd remember how a friend of theirs killed herself.

'And what about all the others? The ones' you've never met. The ones' you will meet. The ones' you'll never meet. The countless people who you could help with a small act of kindness here, or a bit of aid there. All those people will be that much worse off from your absence in the world.

Is a big office with a fancy desk really worth all this, Kiyone?'

Kiyone felt like sobbing. Like crying. '…No. No, it's not. Take me back Sakura. I want to go home. I want to be Mihoshi's partner again.'

She was standing on that same pier looking into the foaming sea. She heard a voice calling and turned around. She expected to see Sakuya. Instead, she saw Tenchi running toward her.

'Kiyone! Kiyone!' he called.

'Tenchi is that you?' asked Kiyone, walking toward him.

'Yeah.' said Tenchi, panting for breath. 'Are you all right? We've been looking all over town to find you? You shouldn't be out here without a jacket. It's snowing.'

'Yeah, I'm fine now.' she said. On impulse, Kiyone leaned in and kissed him. She pulled away just as quickly and Tenchi stammered. 'Kiyone, what was that for?'

'I think you know.' said Kiyone. 'I just figured I'd get there first. Let's head back.'

'Right,' said Tenchi. He drew off his coat and put it around her. Then they turned and began to walk.

'So uh, why did you run off like that?' asked Tenchi.

'It was nothing.' said Kiyone. 'Just some things got to me that really shouldn't.' She paused. 'Hey Tenchi, about that Christmas party. Me and Mihoshi are definitely going to be there.'

It was Christmas time in the Masaki Household. The tree was lined with ornaments and everyone was there. Lights were everywhere outside and cheer was in the air.

'All right! Pass out the saki girls! Let's go!' said Ryoko, who was dressed as Miss Clause.

'Honestly Ryoko!' said Ayeka. 'Can't you pace yourself!'

'Pacing is for wimps.' said Ryoko. 'Now come on you silly Princess, let's get to drinking.'

Before long the two of them had roped just about everyone else into it. Everyone except Washu.

'All right.' said Washu. "I've finished the eggnog. The combination is perfectly set up. You will never find a better batch."

"Right,' said Kiyone, 'thanks Washu.'

'Tenchi,' said Sasami 'could you give me a hand with the cooking.'

'Sure thing, Sasami.' said Tenchi, before going in.

Then there was a ringing sound. Kiyone glanced to see a bell on the christmas tree swaying. Yet no one had been anywhere near enough to bump i. "Hey, that's funny." said Mihoshi.

"What is it?" asked Kiyone.

"I heard somewhere that every time a bell rings an angel gets their wings.' said Mihoshi.

Kiyone was startled. 'That's right Mihoshi. That's right.' Then she smiled to herself. 'That a girl, Sakuya.'

It truly was a Wonderful Carnival at the Masaki Household.

Author's Note:

I feel like this fic ought to have been three chapters. However, I couldn't find a way to pad it out without going into all the grisly details of a universe where Kagato won. And this is supposed to be a Christmas story.

So for better or worse, here is the second chapter.