All of the training I was getting with the others was great, but if I wasn't able to believe in myself, how could I let them believe in me. Heading to the Masaki shrine alone, I began with warm-up exercises then actual kata with the bokken. Someone was watching.

"Do you have any more secrets?"

"Yosho you scared the heck out of me!"

"I'm sorry, how do you know of these techniques?"

"I'm not sure, does it look familiar?"

"Yes, it is a Jurian sword technique. Lets give it a try under fighting conditions shall we."

"I'm just following a feeling, I'm not sure what I'm doing."

Right before I finished my sentence, Yosho attacked.

"I'm not going to take it easy on you, so make it good!"

We went round and round with each other, attacking and defending, not noticing the energy we were emitting.

"Ryoko get off that rafter and come with me!"

"What mom, I'm tired!"

"You better get out to the shrine, you have to see this! I have to get Tenchi too!"

"Why? Where's Greg?"

"He is practicing with Yosho and from my readings, close to full power!"

Everyone in the house heard the ranting of Washu and proceeded to hurry up the shrine steps. But when they got there, they all stopped in shock.

Yosho was immersed in a protective blue sphere and I had four light hawk wings surrounding me.

"So is that all you can do Greg? Has all I have taught you gone by the wayside?"

By the way we were talking to each other it was clear it was all in jest, but Yosho was trying to get my full potential to come forth.

"I thought it was the sensei always showing the calm side of things!"

After that round of words, Yosho gathered a energy sphere and threw it at me. At this point we were at far ends of the property, but his energy was coming rapidly. I stood still concentrating. I heard Ryoko from the stairs.

"Greg look out!"

I had promised her nothing would take me from her. And that was a promise I intended to keep. I closed my eyes for a split second, then a fifth light hawk wing came into existence to bat the sphere away.

"Five light hawk wings? I had no idea...can he make more?"

Yosho and I looked at the crowd.

"Ah, sorry. We were just practicing."

"Just practicing? You just created five light hawk wings!"

"We were just going through some defensive kata."

"Washu, it is true I was trying to get Greg to release his true power, but I fear his full power would be more than I could withstand."

"We are going to have to have some serious changes in the way we train around here. But first I have to run some tests."

We went back to the house to eat lunch.

"Lunch was great Sasami, what would we do without you!"

"Oh Greg...I'm sure...well thank you."

"Well lets get the tests done then you can rest for awhile. Ryoko, would you like to come along?"

"Yes, thanks mom."

Back in the kitchen, Ayeka and Sasami were cleaning up from lunch.

"Sasami, why are you still blushing from Greg's comment?"

"Ayeka have you not noticed, he has become quite, how to put this, the warrior...physically."

"Sasami! You shouldn't be looking at him like that!"

"You can't tell me that I'm the only person noticing this."

"No, I have to admit I have too. You and I know Ryoko and he are an item, but Tenchi on the other hand...I only hope Greg is strong enough for whatever is coming."

"You know I can feel both of them."

"What? How?"

"Tsunami is a part of me, she can tell their power is growing. She notices too."

Washu put me in a glass tube with a mask to put over my face. I had forgotten to ask her how long this would take. All I could do is watch, I couldn't hear from inside. That's when I noticed Ryoko's smile had disappeared.

"Mom how much stronger is he going to get?"

"Oh, just a little bit. Why?"

"I was just wondering. He really won't be needing me around will he?"

"If you haven't noticed, Greg doesn't want you around to protect him. He wants you around because he loves you."

The smile returned to Ryoko's face and I could see her walking toward the tank. She motioned to herself, then to her heart and to me. I could see her mouth the words.

"I love you."

She then sat down and they continued their conversation, but I started to drift off and soon I was in a deep sleep.

"I think he's asleep. You can talk to me now."

"How did you know?"

"Lets just call it mother's intuition."

"Well there's a few things I would like information on, but I'm not sure."

"OK, lay it on me."

"One, What is exactly coming for us?"

"Two, Do you know the outcome?"

"Three, Greg asked me to marry him and I said yes."

"Four, Can I create Lighthawk wings?"

"OK, well...First I...What?! Greg asked you to marry him! How did I not know this? Are the links alright? Wait..you said yes!"

"Yes..I said yes!"

"Oh Ryoko I'm so happy for you!"

"I love him mom, more than I could ever say. It's like we were meant to be."

"That's love alright. You need to promise me something...believe in him and your love no matter what happens, OK?"

"Do you know more about this than your telling mom?"

"Let me try and answer your questions first."

"One, I'm not sure, but they are one of great evil power."

"Two, This depends on some different people and fate, no I don't."

"Three, I think this is the best thing that could have happened to you!"

"Four, I'm not sure, but the power in your gems might allow you to do it."

"Does this answer any of them?"

"Kind of, just in a vague way."

"Don't always put your faith in truths, fate has a way of changing everything."

A small beep came from Washu's computer console indicating the test was complete.

"Well, shall we wake him up or do you want to wake him up?"

"If you don't mind too much, I'd like to wake him up alone."

"Suit yourself, just clean up after your done!"

"Mom!"

I floated in a thick liquid feeling very strange, like the energy had been drained from me. My eyes wanted to open, but wouldn't. Ryoko went to the console and pressed the button allowing the serum making me drowsy to be replaced with a new energy filled one. I awoke a few seconds later looking through a green liquid to see Ryoko smiling at me. She drained the tube and I was able to take my mask off.

"Hi there, how was it?"

"It was no vacation, but it wasn't bad."

"I wouldn't let Washu hear you say that, she'll want to test you for everything!"

"Would you mind helping me, I'm still pretty groggy from that stuff."

"Sure, where would you like to go?"

"I'd like to lie down for awhile."

"To your room it is."

We appeared in my room where I put on a robe and laid down.

"Is something bothering you Ryoko?"

"No...well yes. I just don't like the fact we're going to be attacked and can't do anything about it."

"We are doing something about it. We are living our lives. Training, laughing, listening, caring. We will do our best when the time comes, until then, I'm happy."

"I never really thought about it that way, thanks."

"Ryoko, if I sleep now I won't be tired later. Would you like to watch the sunrise with me?"

"Oh that would be great!"

"I'll come and get you later alright."

"See you later, sweetie."

She turned to leave but stopped turned back and gave me a wink. All I could do was stare at her as she left the room. I eventually got some rest.

I finally woke up around 2am and began walking down the stairs to get Ryoko. I found her laying on the couch, fast asleep. I didn't want to wake her just yet, so I lifted her in my arms and teleported us to the roof. She looked so beautiful, I let her sleep until I had no choice.

"Ryoko, Ryoko, wake up it's almost sunrise."

"What, did I miss it?"

"No, look there."

"Oh, it's so beautiful. I wish we could watch it forever."

Knowing things could end, she looked down and started to play with some loose shingles.

"Ryoko...you and I both know.."

"Yes, I know."

I pulled her into a passionate kiss, hoping to put her in a better mood.

"Ryoko...you and I both know we love each other."

"I don't care what may happen, I just care about what is happening here and now."

She turned to send a message to Washu, but I stopped her.

"Let me, please."

She nodded.

Washu, are you there

Yes, good to here from you. You have had your link blocked for so long, I was wondering if it still worked!

It still works. You no doubt know of my asking Ryoko to marry me and her answer

I got a affirmative feeling from the link.

You are the only one who knows, please keep it this way until we announce it. Please

Oh alright. Congratulations you two!

Thanks mother

The next morning I awoke to find Ryoko lying on the end of my futon, sleeping like a baby.

Quietly I moved closer to her and whispered.

"Ryoko...Ryoko...Time to get up."

She rolled over and opened her eyes.

"Oh, no! I fell asleep on your bed, I was just going to watch you sleep for awhile!"

"It's OK, really. You know we have to say something about us to the rest of the family sometime."

"I would be surprised if they didn't know by now with mom's big mouth! Not yet, OK?"

"Whenever your ready."

"Ryoko, Would you like breakfast in bed?"

"Oh, I'd like that!"

I got up, put my shirt on and slowly opened the door.

"Don't get used to it."

"Oh, you!"

I walked downstairs to find the rest of my family staring at me from their own breakfast.

"What?"

Washu was the first to get up enough nerve to speak.

"Greg, did you have a good time last night?"

"Yes, thank you for asking. Sasami is their enough breakfast left for Ryoko and I?"

"Oh, yes, would you like me to put it on a platter?"

"Yes please."

Washu butted in again.

"You might want to check the mirror."

As I turned around they let out a loud gasp. I ran to the bathroom and slowly opened my eyes.

"Oh, my shirt's on backwards."

I turned around, looked over my shoulder and almost fainted. The next thing everyone heard was my very loud voice.

"Ryoko!"

She immediately teleported herself to me.

"What is it?"

"Take a look."

I turned around and she herself let out a gasp.

"Oh my, I'm sorry I didn't know I scratched you with my nails when I was rubbing your back last night."

"It's alright, I better get Washu to help me with this."

"Why can't I help you?"

"Can you heal this, I...wait a minute, maybe I can do this myself."

"Ryoko, I want you to watch me very closely, if anything happens shield the house."

"But I want to help you!"

I turned and kissed her.

"You are always with me."

I walked out the front door and half way to the pier.

Ryoko stopped at the front porch, Washu started walking toward me when Ryoko stopped her.

"Hey what's the big idea?"

"He wants to do this alone."

"Without you?"

"I am with him. We are in each others thoughts - always."

Washu smiled, she saw the joy in her daughters eyes and felt nothing but love from the link.

They stood there waiting for something to happen.

"If he is trying to heal himself from last night, that would mean he has to use more power from the gem. Have you ever seen him use the full power from the gem before?"

"No, but I trust him."

"Oh boy."

I closed my eyes and sat in sezia toward the lake, concentrating on my inner strength hoping it would work.

Then both Ryoko and Washu noticed it, a glow coming from within and it was getting bigger.

"Wow, is that it?"

"Yes, but can he control it?"

The glow took the shape of a sphere and surrounded me. Ayeka, Sasami and grandfather came out to see what was going on.

"He is using his own power to heal himself? Why aren't you helping him?"

"He wanted to see if he could do it himself, he has to learn sometime."

Grandfather began walking out to the pier.

"Hey, he wants to do it himself!"

"I know, I'm just going out to see how he is doing."

He continued to the beginning of the pier behind me.

"Are you alright Greg?"

All of the new senses that were making themselves available to me made grandfathers presence known to me long before he spoke.

"I feel weird, but I'm OK. Can you see my back, are the marks gone?"

"They are gone, but it seems you have gained much more from opening the gates of your true power."

By that time the others from the porch had come and stood behind grandfather. I stood up looking at them.

"So Washu, do you want to do more tests on me now or later?"

"Um later, I think someone else needs you more than I do right now."

Ryoko poked her head out from behind grandfather.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, look no more scratches."

"Sorry about that."

"Don't worry about it. Besides I never would have known I could heal myself without you."

Grandfather turned and made for the house, but he stopped before the pier ended.

"Washu I would like to speak to you."

"Sure Yosho, what about?"

"About these events."

"Well OK lets go to the lab."

Washu teleported them both into the lab to the veranda.

"What's all this about?"

"Greg has both Jurai power and gem power."

"So?"

"Will they counter act each other?"

"No, the gems hold a power much like Jurai power and would only feed to and from each other."

"Do you know the limit of this power?"

"No."

"But I do. Sister."

Yosho and Washu looked up to find Tsunami floating down from the high ceilings of Washu's lab.

"Tsunami! Why do you keep calling me sister?"

"Washu, it's time you remembered. All you know now is that I am your sister, but you are much more than that. You are a goddess as well."

"What? But how? Why?"

"Take the gems from Tenchi's sword and they will tell you all you need to know."

Tenchi met me on the pier for a morning meditation session, but as we sat in deep concentration he decided to speak.

"We haven't had a lot of time together."

"No, we haven't. I'm sorry, I guess I have been spending more time on gaining strength than with family."

"I know things are going to change around here, I want to tell you everyone cares about you and what your training to do. I just wish I could help."

"Tenchi, your are helping just by being here with me. But there are some other things you should know."

"What is it?"

"Just by being next to me your strength increases as it radiates from me. And...well...I asked Ryoko to marry me."

"You what!?"

"I asked her to marry me and she said yes."

"You love her very much, don't you?"

"I would do anything for her."

"I guess I knew already...somehow."

"Do you approve?"

"Why shouldn't I?"

"I didn't want to disrupt the relationship developing between you and Ayeka."

"How did you..."

"I might be training hard, but I'm not blind."

"Does everyone know?"

"I haven't said anything, but I'm sure somebody else has guessed."

"I'd better I should ask her on a date sometime."

"That would be an excellent idea. But for now, why don't we spar for awhile?"

"Oh sure, you've been training extra hard and I've just been practicing. You'll beat me hands down."

"Tenchi, you never get better unless you train."

"OK, lets go."

We made our way up to the shrine, but halfway we were met by a very tattered and worn Yosho. He was trying his best to get down the stairs and managed to get close enough to us to fall into Tenchi's arms.

"Yosho are you alright? What's going on?"

"Grandpa your hurt!"

"There are shadow warriors at the shrine...about five, I think."

Immediately I called Washu through the link.

"Washu!"

"I'm right here Greg, what is...oh my god...there coming for you."

"Washu take Yosho, he's hurt."

"Got it, you two take care. We'll be there in a minute."

"Washu, don't come out here. I got a feeling this isn't going to be pretty."

"Tenchi are you ready?"

"Hai."

Going into the lab Ryoko was looking for her mother.

"Mom what's going on. I was in the kitchen and all the sudden I'm feeling all kinds of different energy."

Then she saw Yosho laying on a table badly injured.

"Mom! What happened?"

"Sit down Ryoko, it's started."

"Oh no."

"It's not as bad as it could be, Yosho will be fine and it's only a small band of shadow warriors after Greg."

"What!"

"Easy now...it's logical they want to destroy the largest power source and it happens to be him."

"Where are they and where is Greg?"

"He is with Tenchi at the shrine and will be engaging them in a few seconds."

"I have to go.."

"No...he asked that none of us come out there."

"Why?"

I knew Ryoko would try to come out here anyway, so I decided to send her a message.

Ryoko

Greg!

Hello honey

I could feel her blushing

Why can't we come and help you

I want to see what will be coming for me in the future...you will see them through me. I want you and Was..mom to monitor the surrounding space for reinforcements and let me know if I'm doing something wrong

Oh alright, please be careful...I love you

I love you too

"OK mom lets do as he says, you scan space for reinforcements and I'm going to monitor him."

"You two make a great couple ya know."

"Yes, I know."

We were slowly walking up the stairs hoping to surprise them, I could teleport in but I didn't want to risk it...this time.

"Tenchi, when we engage, stick to traditional sword technique. Then we'll see where it goes from there."

"Yes, sensei."

His comment almost threw my mind off the situation. Had Yosho survived his attack? I would be teaching him in my actions. As my foot crossed the top stair, a voice entered my mind.

When meditating, think of nothing - when in battle, think only of the battle to survive. Yosho told me to tell you

Thank you

Tenchi and I stood on the landing surveying the shrine. Then before the steps of the shrine office appeared five shadow warriors standing at attention. As fast as they assembled, they were gone.

"Use your Jurai power to sense were they are."

Both of us concentrated for a moment, then blue spheres engulfed us as one appeared directly in front of me.

He had drawn his sword and brought it down where I was, but I had since moved behind him and impaled him with an energy blade. Tenchi was defending himself well against two of them, I was going to help him but one decided to challenge me. Engaging this one was different, he stood in the way more than fought, but I caught a glimpse of what they were trying to do to Tenchi. They had him by the arms, held back so he was at their mercy. Then one had just started to run toward them to run his sword through Tenchi. I had to act fast. I had to call on more energy to save his life. The next few moments were a flash and only Washu's computers were able to pick-up the actual movements. The warrior in front of me was cut in half as I flew past him and the running sword bearer of the three had been driven through as I threw one of my swords to his mid-section. The other two decided they were going to do away with Tenchi themselves and were drawing their swords. I was too far away from them to engage so I did the next best thing, I brought them to me by surrounding them with energy and pulling them to the other end of the shrine. They didn't last long after trying to figure out what had happened to them.

I looked to where Tenchi lay unconscious and picked him up.

Mom, Ryoko

Yes

Incoming - one unconscious Tenchi

I teleported to Washu's lab and laid him flat on a table I found and then felt myself becoming very tired. I looked around for something to sit on, but I seemed to be slipping from the table to the ground. As I fell, I felt two arms come from behind me and a few small strands of cyan hair passed my eyes.

"I got you! Don't worry...I got you."

I nodded and fell unconscious in her arms.

I woke up lying in my bed, thinking how great it felt.

"Hello sleepy head."

I blinked my eyes clearing the morning blur and found Ryoko leaning on my door.

"Good morning."

"Did you have a nice nap?"

"Yes...I suppose. Why?"

"You've been asleep for 24 hours."

"Really? Your kidding...right?"

"Nope, I've been here waiting all the time."

"Thank you, you didn't have too."

"Yes I did."

"Come over here."

She looked at me with a raised eyebrow and sat on the bed across from me.

"Your mad at me...aren't you..."

"Yup."

"Because?"

"You told us to stay here and look where it got you."

"Yes, I suppose your right. I'm sorry. Next time I will call for back-up..alright?"

"That stunt took a lot out of you."

"I guess that proves how much more I have to train...what is that feeling...I knew there was something missing."

"What are you talking about?"

"Tenchi and I were doing fine."

"You call that fine?"

"Yes, but we didn't have all the pieces!"

"I still don't get it."

"You will...you will."