I was sitting in my room with my eyes shut, trying to answer the question of why I was summoned here. Not that I wasn't happy being here, I just didn't fully know why.

Ryoko phased through the floor and sat across from me.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Trying to figure out why I was summoned here."

"That's easy! To be with me!"

"Ryoko, I was called here before Tenchi and I released you from the cave."

Ryoko looked at me and started to remember some things Washu had said during the Kagato

Incident.

"You should ask Washu."

"Really, do you think she would know?"

"Yes" was the last thing she said before phasing away with a solemn face.

I sat there for a moment.

"Ryoko will you please come with me?"

She reappeared sitting in front of me.

"Really?"

"I plan on being here a long time, if there is something I should know...you should too."

I had never seen a more beautiful smile, she rose up from her sitting position holding my hands. Leading me downstairs as she knocked on Washu's door.

"Yes?"

"Washu, we would like to ask you some questions if you have some time."

"WE?"

Ryoko looked at me and smiled.

"Yes, WE"

"Well, come on in."

Walking into Washu's lab is like walking into a spider's web. If you don't know your way around, your going to get lost. But Ryoko knew the way and soon we were having tea on Washu's virtual veranda.

"Washu, I would like to know why am I here? I mean, why was I summoned here?"

"Do you want the short answer or the long answer?"

"If I was meant to be here for a reason, I would like the long answer."

"Oh, OK, well I really shouldn't be the only one to tell you so...Tsunami would you please give me a hand with this one?"

A shimmering light appeared next to Washu and took the form of Tsunami.

"Hello si..Washu."

"Tsunami...Greg would like to know why he is here."

"Oh."

"This is a complicated question Greg, it will require some understanding on your part."

"OK, I remember waking-up on the shrine steps, but I don't know why I was...brought here...to this

dimension."

"Ryoko, please go get Tenchi he deserves to hear this as well."

Tenchi fearfully entered Washu's lab and walked to us.

"You wanted to see me Tsunami?"

"Yes Tenchi, please sit down next to your brother."

Seeing nothing wrong with what she was saying, he simply walked over and sat down. Washu and Tsunami just looked at each other hoping that would break the ice.

"Tenchi, this is Greg Masaki. Greg, this is Tenchi Masaki."

Tenchi and I just looked at each other wondering what they are getting at.

"OK, lets try it this way. Tenchi, your mother was Achika right?"

"Yes."

"Greg do you remember your mother?"

"No, well yes, just emotions really."

"You were taken from your mother during delivery so no one knew there was two."

"Two?"

"Achika has two sons"

"I had a brother?"

"No, you have a brother, he is sitting next to you."

"This is starting to explain why I have flashes of people and places. Does Nobuy..dad know?"

"No, but he will in time."

Tenchi sat there with his eyes trained on Washu.

"You knew."

"Yes, but no one else must know."

"Why?"

"Because there is more, right Tsunami?"

"Yes, Greg you were taken and hidden from my sister Tomiki because you are a guardian."

"I'm a what?"

Ryoko spoke up.

"He's a what?"

"A guardian."

"What exactly is a guardian?"

"You were born to look after the Masaki family. You were also born with certain abilities from your Juraian heritage, and from the gem you inherited powers from Washu and Ryoko."

Ryoko looked at me with a smile.

There was a silence in the lab like none before. All eyes were on Tenchi and I as we sat there trying to absorb this information.

I looked straight at Ryoko.

"I knew there was a reason I was here. But now there are many. My family has brought me home. I have a purpose. I feel a power within that I hope will strengthen my family. But there is one thing that will bother me for the rest of my days. I will never know...my mother."

"Ah, but you will."

"Really?"

"Why don't you take a walk outside to your mother's grave, I'll be waiting"

As the three of us walked through the house, we kept to ourselves but once we emerged to the outside.

"Tenchi, I'm sorry. I never knew."

"Why are you sorry? I have my family together."

We walked the rest of the way mostly in silence not knowing what we were going to find at the grave site. We came upon Tsunami standing before Achika's grave.

"Tsunami?"

"Yes?" She said turning around.

Achika stepped out from behind Tsunami.

I dropped to my knees, Tenchi stood there with his mouth hanging open.

"Tenchi I have watched you from the heavens, you have grown into a handsome young man. But you still have some trouble with the ladies, huh?"

"And this man kneeling at my feet. Is it really you my son? Please rise and let me look at you."

I rose to meet her loving gaze and took in all of her features as I had seen in my dreams, nearly letting the emotions take over my body.

"Mom?"

"Yes my dear son, I am your mother. I am sorry we couldn't have been reunited in better ways."

"I'm just glad to meet you, so much as changed for me."

"It must be quite a shock but it will all come together soon."

"What am I too become?"

"I am trusting in Washu and Tsunami to train and guide you on your journey. Trust in them and Ryoko. You both have powers that have not been awakened yet."

"Tenchi"

"Yes Mother?"

"Greg was taken from me for you, he is the family guardian. He has been brought here at this time for a

purpose, he will protect this family. Trust in him and Ryoko. Oh, why don't you take Ayeka out some time?"

He looked at Ayeka and smiled.

"I will mother."

As Achika and Tenchi finished talking, Nobuyuki stepped in to the kitchen from his office.

"It looks like a great day out, I think I'll go and give some flowers to my wife."

As he got closer to the grave, he saw all of us standing before Achika's grave.

"Hey, what's going on here?"

The flowers he was carrying dropped to the ground and his jaw dropped.

"Hello Nobuyuki."

"Achika?"

"Yes my dear husband. Thank you for all the flowers."

"Your welc... How?, Why?"

"Tsunami brought me here because of a major event."

"Um - did I miss something?"

"Nobuyuki, I don't know how else to tell you this. You were the father of two boys when Tenchi was born. He was hidden far from the goddess Tomiki because of his "qualities" and was brought here by Tsunami now to live with you."

"Um, who is he?"

I turned around and bowed.

"Greg?"

He hugged me while looking toward his wife with a questioning look on his face.

"Son?"

Tenchi walked up to us and joined in the hug. Achika looked on, this moment she would

remember forever.

"Achika, we must be going."

"My dear family I must be going, live life to its fullest...I love you all."

We all said our good-byes and stood there as Tsunami and Achika shimmered out of existence. However they were having a conversation we could not hear.

"Will they survive?"

"It is too hard to see, but they have more than a fighting chance now."

"Is Greg that powerful?"

"He is a kind and gentle soul who would not hurt anyone, but endanger his family and his power rivals the goddesses combined."

It was early in the morning, I had decided to go out to the dock and meditate before anyone got up. I walked outside smelling the fresh clean air, continuing on until I reached the end of the dock. Sitting in sezia I began to go over the milestones I have gone past since I arrived home. Home...I was finally home. After all the nights of waking up in a cold sweat dreaming of a place I thought never existed, I'm actually here. Not only finding out who I am but what is coming.

After rolling these thoughts around in my head for a bit, I decided fate has a lot to with it.

"I will train harder, I must defend my family. Ohayo Washu."

"Ohayo Greg. Whatcha doin?"

She answered with a quirky grin on her face, she was hoping to catch me off guard.

"Thinking, as Yosho says always cultivate the soul."

"You've been training harder and harder everyday, why don't you take Ryoko out tonight and relax."

"Do you think it would be wise?"

"Well, soon you'll be at the same training level as the rest of us and your showing signs of more and more Jurai power. All training and no...fun makes for a dull Greg."

"She's in the kitchen, why don't you go ask her."

I had to ask the questions rolling around in my head.

"Washu? Do you know when it will happen? What do we do?"

"No, I don't have a way of knowing when, she will chose her own time. But for the other question, we live for us."

"What?"

"Now we live for us. Keep training, be ready to fight, but enjoy the time we have together as much as possible."

I took her words to heart and left her on the dock hoping to find Ryoko.

Washu stayed on the dock for a while, she looked like she was in a dream state.

"Everyday you grow stronger not knowing what lies in wait for you. I hope you remain the same

loving, caring person after..."

"He will sister."

"Tsunami, why did he have to be so..."

"Innocent"

"Yes."

"Well, you know after Ryoko has her way with him, I'm not so sure he will be so innocent!"

"Tsunami!"

Walking into the Masaki home I saw Ryoko sitting at the table enjoying a bit of breakfast. As I walked closer she brought her eyes up to meet mine and smiled. I smiled back at her and motioned if she wouldn't mind if I sat next to her.

"You want to sit next to me?"

"Well, yes, if that's alright?"

Turning her head the other way to hide her blushing.

"Sure!"

"Ryoko, would you like to go out tonight?"

She looked at me, her jaw dropped.

"Wha..?"

"I was outside thinking and Washu came up with a good idea."

"Oh"

"I think it's a great idea too!"

"Really!"

Nodding my head to her she promptly flew about the room asking questions:

"What should I wear? When? Where are we going?"

"Relax Ryoko"

"Are we going to be alone?"

"I'm not sure, do you want to be? Are you going to be a good girl tonight?"

"That depends on your definition of a "good" girl!"

At that point I knew I had said too much, but I conceded to her.

"Alright, it will be just the two of us in Tokyo."

"Oh YES! Finally I get to be with him...alone."

Looking around her, she found the whole family staring at her.

"What! I'm a little excited!"

I just smiled at her and exited on my way to the onsen. Tonight was going to be great. With Ryoko on my arm, I didn't care...just as long as she was with me.

I was sitting downstairs waiting for her and holding a conversation with Sasami and Washu.

"You look pretty good after you clean up a bit! I'm sure glad I didn't get rid of that tux!"

"Thank you Washu. For everything."

"Aaaah, get off it. You know you two would have been at this point eventually, I just sped up the

process a little."

"Ya know Washu, do you think Tenchi and Ayeka need alittle push too?"

"Maybe, maybe, but you two first!"

"Do you know what she's wearing? I do! And I'm not going to tell!"

"Good Sasami, because I want it to be a surprise!"

My eyes lead up the stairs where Ryoko was standing.

"Ryo..."

That's all I could get out as she came down the stairs. She seductively walked up to me and purred.

"That's Ryoko"

"Ah-huh"

"I figured you haven't seen the dress I wore for karaoke night for awhile...so"

"Ryoko, you are a vision."

"Thank you" hiding a blush.

"You look really good too."

"Thanks."

"Well you two go have a good time and don't forget - practice tomorrow!"

We both answered "Yes mom!"

We decided to teleport to a clearing in the woods, then walk downtown.

"Ryoko"

"Yes?"

"Would you mind if I held your hand?"

"Ah...no."

I took her hand in mine and she just stared at me.

"What's wrong? Am I so different?"

"No, all of our gems are glowing."

We drew closer and our words became whispers.

"You."

"Me."

I said the last word as we leaned into each other for a kiss.

"Us."

After breaking the kiss, both of us were dazed. We barely got to restaurant when we started laughing at each other.

"This was a great idea, thank you for asking me."

"Thank you for saying yes."

While dinner was being served I couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was, the way she moved so gracefully. I was hanging on every word she said.

"What are you thinking?"

"What? Oh...ah well to be honest, how beautiful you are."

"Do you know when I started really caring about you?"

I was shaken by her statement, but it took my interest.

"Tell me."

"It began as a small feeling in Tenchi's room when you two released me from the cave. When I looked into your eyes, I saw you were alone too. Then when you left me here going to your dimension. I have to tell you, that was the hardest month of my life. Including my time with Kagato."

"Ryoko you don't have to.."

She interrupted me.

"Yes, I do. You have to understand I've known Tenchi all of his life. Watching him from outside the cave in my astrial body, watching him grow-up. I have very strong feelings for him."

"Oh."

"Please let me finish."

"I grew to love him, but he has never returned those feelings. Then you came. And ever since I've felt something pulling me to you. Something. You fought Kagato sacrificing yourself for me while the rest of the family was getting to safety."

"We have learned your true identity. Was...Mom and Tsunami are training you for something that is going to happen. Did I leave anything out?"

We laughed at that and smiled at each other.

"My turn?"

"By all means..."

"I "arrived" here not knowing anything about who or what I am. I have learned so much from all of my family. And now I know I am here for a reason and that reason will come to pass as everything does. But in the mean time I plan on making up for the time I have missed with everyone."

She sat there listening, waiting to hear if I had any intentions with her in them.

Dinner was excellent, but I was feeling her longing for some hint of my thoughts.

"I felt your feelings in the cave...I felt your feelings aboard the Soja...I felt your feelings in the onsen. I'm feeling them now."

"Greg, you mean the world to me."

"Shall we go Ryoko? She nodded. Are you taking us or are we walking?"

"Both."

We walked down the street in downtown Tokyo and when we reached the end, Ryoko took my arm and we slowly vanished to appear the same way, at the bottom step of the Masaki Shrine.

We looked into each others eyes.

"Greg, tell me something."

"Anything."

"Will anything ever take you from me?"

"No..never. You and all of the people we have come to know here are my family. I am a guardian and I swear by this holy shrine, I will protect my family with my life."

"I love you Greg."

"I love you too."

I motioned to Ryoko to come up to the shrine with me. We began walking up the shrine steps when she decided to break the ice.

"So where do we go from here? I mean Achika did say to live life to the fullest!"

"That she did."

"So you really are a Masaki?"

"Yes."

We reached the top step.

"Ryoko."

She looked at me with questioning eyes.

"This is where I entered this world. This is where I began. Things are going to get rough around here, but life will go on."

I placed one knee on the step.

"Ryoko, I know this is sudden, but I don't know how much time we have. I love you, will you marry me?"

Ryoko looked at me now with loving, confused and scared eyes. But after a moment she closed them concentrating. Opening them, her eyes were clear and strong.

"Yes, I will marry you. We were meant for each other.