Part 1: The Awakening

"Duo, wake up!" Quatre shook his friend harder. "Duo!"

Duo Maxwell slowly opened his eyes. "This better be important. I was right in the middle of the perfect dream."

"Forget that! We just got a call from Earth!"

"Yeah, so?" Duo asked, stifling a yawn.

"Well...it was from Serena."

Duo looked at him with mild interest. "What'd she say?"

"Um...it's about Ho-"

Duo instantly grabbed Quatre. "What? WHAT?!"

"Gaaah! Let go!"

"TELL ME!"

"Something's wrong with Hotaru! They don't know what, and AAAH!" Quatre was thrown halfway across the room, where he slammed into the wall and fell to the floor. The last thing he heard was the sound of Duo's rapidly fading footsteps, just before he lost consciousness.

* * * * *

Tenchi was actually having a good day. He'd only been tackled once, and was even starting to heal up. Nothing had blown up or been sucked into outer space, and no one had attempted to kill anyone. All in all, it was a rare day in the Masaki house. Then, just like that, the peace was shattered.

"TENCHI!!!"

He closed his eyes, cursing himself for a fool. He'd forgotten what day it was. It was the one day when anything that could go wrong absolutely had to without fail. The day he dreaded and feared every year. The day that should've been marked, circled, AND highlighted on his calendar. Yet, somehow, he'd forgotten.

This was the day that Yugi had come to visit.

Two blurs suddenly zoomed past him, bringing a blast of cool air with them. Before Tenchi could gather his thoughts, Ryoko phased through the floor, an angry look on her face.

"Tenchi! Did you see them?!"

"See who?" Tenchi asked.

"Sasami and that devil-child friend of hers!"

"...you mean Yugi?"

"YES!"

"She's not a devil-child, Ryoko."

"Tenchi, as a first-rate demon summoner, I've seen all kinds of demons. I am telling you that I have NEVER seen anything or anyone as evil as that child! She makes Kagato look innocent! How can you possibly defend her?!"

"She's never done anything to me," he replied. "I think she's an angel."

Ryoko bit down on her lip, then phased back through the floor, muttering to herself.

Tenchi waited twenty seconds, then sighed. "She's gone, girls."

Sasami and Yugi crawled out from under the couch, giggling like mad.

"What'd you do this time?" Tenchi asked seriously.

"Nothing much," Sasami said, glancing at Yugi.

Tenchi gave them a stern look.

"Okay, so we messed with her sunbathing," Yugi admitted.

"How? Did you replace the sunscreen with butter again?"

Sasami grinned. "Well, while she was asleep..."

"...we spelled out, 'Property of Planet Jurai' on her back," Yugi finished.

Tenchi was almost afraid to ask. "Why?"

"Because we knew she'd be pissed," Yugi replied, as if he'd asked a dumb question.

"Anyway, thanks for covering for us, Tenchi!" Sasami added, giving him one of her brightest smiles.

"Sure. How long are you staying again, Yugi?"

Yugi tilted her head thoughtfully. "Well, Dad said I could stay until you kicked me out. But I know you'd never do that, so just until I've had enough fun with Sasami."

Tenchi nearly fainted. "I'll have to thank Vegeta in person."

Yugi nodded. "You do that. We're gonna go see if Washu has any super glue. Later, Tenchi."

Tenchi caught Sasami by the arm as they started to leave. "Sasami, promise me you won't let her go too far."

Sasami gave him a blank look. Finally, she said, "Define 'too far,' Tenchi."

Tenchi thought for a moment. "Never mind. Just stay away from my room and I won't blow your cover."

"Deal. Bye!" Sasami quickly ran to catch up with her friend.

* * * * *

"He should be here by now," Hotaru weakly complained for the ninety-seventh time in an hour.

"Don't worry, Hotaru," Reenie said. "Duo will be here soon...I hope."

Suddenly, there were a series of pain-filled cries and loud thumps from the hallway.

Hotaru's face lit up. "He's here!"

The door burst open, and Duo ran in, a crazed look in his eyes. A few seconds later, Ryoko followed, admiring the hallway full of unconscious doctors and male nurses.

"What just happened?" Reenie asked, a blank look on her face.

Duo walked right past her and wrapped his arms around Hotaru protectively. "You okay, babe?"

"I am now," she murmured, pressing her face against his shirt.

Ryoko snorted. "Great. I escape the demon seed only to land in the middle of the mushy stuff. This is just not my day."

Duo shot her a glare before turning back to Hotaru. "Quatre told me you were sick."

"She passed out again," Reenie explained. "The doctors think she's getting worse."

"I'm fine," Hotaru insisted. "I just got lonely without Duo."

Reenie rolled her eyes while Ryoko made gagging noises.

Duo frowned. "I knew letting you come back to Earth was a mistake. They have a better hospital on Peacemillion. As soon as you're strong enough, I'm taking you there in my Gundam."

Hotaru smiled up at him and slipped her arms around his waist. "Can I drive?"

Duo chuckled and stroked her hair. "Okay, I'll let you cut up some asteroids, but no more space stations. The last one was occupied."

"There were only two people," she pointed out. "And Ryoko did save them in time."

"You almost killed some people?" Reenie asked in shock.

"It was target practice!" Duo and Hotaru cried at the same time.

"Besides, she's the only one of us that doesn't know how to pilot Deathscythe," Ryoko added.

"Us?" Reenie asked. "You mean you three...hang out...together?!"

"Yeah," Ryoko replied. "We all have this taste for destruction. Stuff's great for strong friendships, really."

"But Hotaru's never destroyed anything!" Reenie cried.

"Geez, and this is your best friend?" Ryoko asked uncertainly. "She doesn't know ANYTHING about you, kid."

Hotaru smiled weakly. "Reenie, remember that time I said I went to visit my cousin in America?"

"Yeah?"

"Well...I was actually blowing up an abandoned spaceship with Duo and Ryoko."

Reenie stared at them all in surprise. "What have you done to her?! Hotaru's not like this! You people have corrupted her!"

"Whatever." Ryoko stretched her arms and walked over to the bed. "You guys ready to go or what?"

Hotaru groaned, suddenly becoming very dizzy. "I don't feel so good..."

Ryoko placed a hand on her forehead. "She's burning up, Duo. We better get her to that hospital fast."

Duo pressed his hand over Ryoko's. "This is no ordinary disease. I can feel the heat right through your hand!"

There was a blinding flash of violet light, and all three faded from sight.

Reenie stared at the empty bed. "Um...where'd everybody go?"

Continued in Part 2: Evil Reborn

The trio encounters Mistress Nine for the first time!