Chapter 2: Reunions

"You know, after all this time these little bio energy check ups of ours are starting to get a little redundant.", Washu said, typing away on her floating laptop.

"I was thinking the same thing all day today.", Raven agreed, as he stood almost naked except for his underwear in a cylindrical glass tube.

A blue beam of light began to pass over Raven's body, starting from his head and working its way down. When it got to the bottom, it turned red and started its way back up. Washu's eyes watched her display as the test continued and the light went through yellow, green, purple, pink, and finally white. Despite the fact that she knew for sure the test would come out normal as usual, she watched with intense concentration for anything that might come up abnormal. The light shut off and the glass tube slid open. Washu looked up at Raven as he stepped out of the chamber.

"All clear.", she said. "Your energy pattern hasn't had a single fluctuation since your last battle with Pitch. The only difference is that now it's much more powerful, but I'm sure you were expecting that."

Raven nodded. "That's the training at work."

Washu looked at Raven with deep, somber eyes. "You train hard these days, don't you? More than you ever have before."

"And you lock yourself in your lab working on countless projects more than before.", Raven replied.

"It helps a little, to take my mind off of...", Washu trailed off and dropped her gaze.

"I know.", Raven spoke up. "My training helps me to expend some of my tensions and stress. It also takes me back to those good times."

A tear began to stream down Washu's face as she closed her eyes. "She really loved training with you.", Washu felt a lump forming in her throat and she sniffled as more tears ran down her cheeks.

Raven's dark eyes gazed sympathetically as well as knowingly at Washu as she silently cried in front of him.

"She really loved you.", Washu continued, trying her best to hold herself back from exploding into tears as she did so often in her lab alone whenever the work wasn't enough to take her mind.

It wasn't working well enough though and Raven could hear it in her voice. He walked over to her and held her close in his arms. As he did, Washu buried her face in his chest and began to wail. Raven just held her close and shut his eyes, tears streaming down the sides of his own face.

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Kerra looked up from her book as Raven opened the door and walked in. She stood up from where she sat beside the small bed and smiled at Raven.

"How is she?", Raven asked.

"Sleeping like a baby.", Kerra said.

"That's my little girl.", Raven smiled.

Kerra's face turned concerned. "How's mom?"

"I think it's getting harder for her rather than easier with time.", Raven lost his smile. "It hasn't gotten much easier for me either."

"Raven..", Kerra started, but didn't really know what to say in the first place.

Raven walked over and took Kerra's hands. He looked deeply into her eyes with a look of sincere thankfulness and gratitude.

"Kerra, I want to thank you for all that you've done for my daughter. You've been all but her true mother in these past four years and I'm immensely grateful. To tell you the truth, I'm afraid to think of what her life would be like without anything resembling a mother. I don't know what I could possibly do to repay you for all that you've done for us."

Kerra shook her head. "Raven, you reunited me with my mother after so many thousands of years of me wishing for that very thing, and that little girl over there is the last and best thing you and my sister have ever done. I owe it to you, and I owe it to Ryoko. She died to give birth to that beautiful little girl over there, so, it's the least I could do."

Raven smiled. Kerra returned the smile.

***************************************************

"We're home!", Tenchi called into the house as he and Sakuya walked in.

They each carried several bags of groceries in each arm as they entered. Devin was the first to come and greet them. He cradled a baby in his arms as he did so.

"Hi guys.", Devin smiled. "How was your trip to Tokyo today?"

"It was great!", Sakuya said excitedly. "We went and saw all kinds of neat places. There was a festival going on, and we went to see a lot of interesting stores and sights. We even went to eat at a fancy restaurant. It was a lot of fun!"

"That sounds great.", Devin laughed.

"Well, it was little exhausting, but I had fun all day.", Tenchi said.

"I think it's great that you two can still go out and have a good time like you used to when you first started seeing each other.", Devin said.

"Well we wouldn't be able to if it weren't for you.", Sakuya pointed out.

"Yeah.", Tenchi agreed. "Thanks for watching little Katsuhito for us. I know he can be a real handful sometimes."

Devin shook his head. "It's a pleasure."

"Well, let us bring all this stuff into the kitchen and I'll take him off your hands.", Tenchi suggested.

"Ok.", Devin nodded.

Just as he agreed to it, the phone rang in the hallway. Devin suddenly had a very strong feeling pass over him and he became very alert and serious.

"You guys go ahead and bring that to the kitchen.", Devin said. "I'll answer that."

"Ok.", Tenchi agreed, walking off into the kitchen with Sakuya.

Devin walked over to the phone and, balancing baby Katsuhito in one arm, he picked up the phone.

"Hello, Masaki residence.", he said into the receiver.

"Hi Devin, it's Kiyone.", Kiyone's voice came in through the phone.

"Oh hi, Kiyone.", Devin said cheerfully. "It's been a long time."

"I know.", Kiyone said. "Ever since Mihoshi and I got promoted to the special task force alpha and the new Black Dove relations division, we really haven't had very many opportunities to come and visit."

"Well that's alright.", Devin said. "Whenever you two can make it, you're always welcome."

"Thanks.", Kiyone said. "Listen, I didn't call just to reminisce, as nice as it is to do so. Through my connections in the Black Dove relations division, I've received some information that I thought would be best to relay to you personally."

"And what would that be?", Devin asked, concern setting the tone of his voice.

"You should set two extra places at the dinner table tonight.", Kiyone said. "The king of Jurai was murdered. Sasami and Yugi are coming home."

"Does anyone know who did it?", Devin asked, knowing that this was what he sensed.

"Yugi and Sasami fought with them, but they got away and no one knows who they were.", Kiyone explained.

"They must have been good to get away from Sasami and Yugi, or any Dove for that matter.", Devin said.

"That's what I said.", Kiyone agreed. "Unfortunately, I can't really tell you much else. Mihoshi and I have been assigned to a separate investigation involving the theft of some very expensive Science Academy equipment so we can't really look into it further as of yet."

"That's ok.", Devin said. "You've helped out a lot already. I'm sure the Black Doves can handle the investigation. Especially since it falls under Jurian jurisdiction, given Sasami's identity."

"Well, I wish you luck.", Kiyone said. "I have to get going. Mihoshi and I are due at the Science Academy in an hour."

"Alright.", Devin said. "It was nice talking with you again."

"It was nice talking to you too.", Kiyone agreed.

"Talk to you later.", Devin said.

Devin hung up the phone and stood in contemplation for a moment. Then he called to Tenchi and Sakuya.

"Hey guys, you'd better make enough for two more people tonight.", he called. "We're having company."

"Ok.", Tenchi called back from the kitchen.

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Raven walked downstairs into the living room, a young girl with deep blue hair and amber colored eyes walked beside him. Raven noticed the two familiar visitors and smiled in greeting. Devin was also in the room with them.

"Hello, Sasami, Yugi, it's been a while.", Raven said.

"Hi, Raven.", Sasami smiled.

"It's good to see you again.", Yugi waved.

"Is that your daughter?", Sasami looked at the little girl beside Raven.

"Yes it is.", Raven said. "Say hi, Ryoshi."

The little girl took a bow a smiled. "Hello."

"Oh she's just adorable.", Yugi said.

"Thanks.", Raven said. Then he turned to his daughter. "Alright, sweetie, dinner's almost ready. Why don't you go find Ryo-Ohki and play with her for a while until it's time to eat."

"Ok, daddy.", Ryoshi said and gave Raven a warm hug before running off to find her favorite cabbit.

Sasami watched the little girl disappear into the other room, the thoughts of her own relationship with her father floating through her mind. She sighed.

"So precious.", she said softly.

Devin and Raven both noticed Sasami's reaction and looked at each other. Raven gave Devin a nod and Devin walked over to Sasami.

"Sasami, why don't we take a little walk before dinner?", he proposed. "It's been such a long time since I've seen you."

"Ok.", Sasami said almost exhaustedly. "Yugi, will you be ok here?"

Yugi nodded. "I want to talk to Raven about something anyway."

"Ok. I'll see you in a little while.", Sasami said.

Devin and Sasami walked out through the sliding glass doors and out of the house. Yugi turned to Raven, who had a serious expression on his face. He knew whatever she had to talk to him about was not going to be good.

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Devin and Sasami walked side by side along the moonlit lake. Sasami was explaining the situation to Devin, telling him all that had happened on Jurai. Devin listened attentively, though his focus was a little distracted.

"I just wish I knew who they could be or where they came from.", Sasami said. "I don't understand how they could look just like Yosho, Ayeka, and even me, and even have all the same powers as us."

"It is very confusing.", Devin agreed.

"And where did they learn to fight like that?", Sasami continued. "It was almost like they had gone through Black Dove training."

"Hmm.", Devin thought for a second. "Maybe if we could figure out what they wanted, we could figure out the rest."

"They didn't say.", Sasami shook her head. "And they didn't leave any clues either."

Finally, Devin had to address what was bothering him. "Sasami?"

"Yes, Devin?", Sasami looked up at him.

Devin stopped and faced her. She turned to him, waiting for whatever it was he was going to say. She could see in his eyes that it was going to something important to him.

"What's the foremost thing in your mind right now?", he asked.

"What do you mean?", she looked confused.

"What is the thing that you're thinking of the most right now?", he rephrased his question. "What's been the most important thing in your mind since this whole thing started?"

"Finding and defeating those three criminals.", Sasami said.

Devin sighed. "I have to ask you something else."

"Ok.", Sasami said.

"When your father died, did you cry?", Devin asked.

"Huh?", Sasami looked even more confused. "Devin I don't-"

"Did you shed any tears, Sasami?", Devin interrupted. "Did you cry at all?"

Sasami thought about the question for a moment. She looked back into her memory, trying her hardest to find the answer. Then she realized what it was.

"No.", she answered. "I didn't."

"You've changed so much, Sasami.", Devin said. "You're not the same as when I met you six years ago. You're not the same as before I taught you to fight, or before you went off to become a Black Dove. You've become harder, and colder. You used to be sweet and innocent, full of emotion and light. Now I look at you, and I can't see any of that anymore."

Sasami dropped her gaze to the ground. "Yugi tells me that sometimes, too. I'm sorry Devin. It's just...with all that I've seen and all that I've experienced since I became a Dove, I just... I see things differently now. I had to get colder and less feeling. It protected me from the pain and the sadness that I see and feel out there. I see people dying, all kinds of people. Innocent people. Children, lovers, parents, their faces."

Sasami started to shake her head and she began to cry. She looked up at Devin with sorrow filled eyes.

"Oh, Devin, their faces... I see so much sadness and so much pain. And it isn't just their pain anymore. All that hurt out there that I see, it hurts me too. And I think, what if that was me, or what if it was someone I love or if it was my children. And then I think, if only I could have gotten here sooner or if I could have just been better or faster, or even stronger, then maybe I could have saved them. Maybe I could have saved their children or maybe... if I was just..."

With that, Sasami burst into tears. She collapsed into Devin's arms and buried her face into his shirt, soaking it with her tears and screaming as loud and as hard as she could. She held him as tightly as her muscles would allow, and it started to really hurt him. But he stood there and held her close. He knew exactly how she felt. He knew because he was in her place once. When he was a Dove in the beginning, he had the same struggles and the same feelings. No one realized how difficult being a Black Dove was, until they became one themselves. But he never had anyone to release his feelings with. He never had anyone to cry with or to hold him close, not caring how much it hurt to be gripped as tightly as she was gripping him right now. He knew from the beginning that she would have to go through this if she became a Dove. It was what he had been most afraid of the moment she asked him to teach her how to fight before the last battle with Pitch. But now she was crying hard, screaming, holding him tightly, and he knew that now she would be ok. He let out a relieved sigh, and held her closer.

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"In other words, what I'm trying to say is, since you were a Black Dove long before me and Sasami ever were, do you know how to handle this kind of thing?", Yugi asked, a concerned look on her face.

Raven looked out through the glass doors, noticing Sasami and Devin walking back toward the house, holding each other in each other's arms. He saw Sasami's tear streaked face and reddened cheeks and smiled.

"I think Devin already fixed that problem.", he said.

Yugi turned to see the same view Raven had seen, and she began to smile, very relieved. She turned back to Raven.

"Thanks.", she said.

Devin and Sasami entered into the living room and were met by the friendly smiles of their comrades. Sasami sighed deeply and smiled a gentle smile.

"It's good to be back here.", she said. "No matter what's going on, I'm always surrounded by friends and that makes me feel so much better."

"Well, while you're here, why don't you soak in the bath for a while.", Devin suggested. "I'm sure that would help relax you as well."

Sasami shook her head. "No, I have work to do. I have to find those three criminals who murdered my father."

"Right.", Devin acknowledged. "I'll get ready."

"Oh no, Devin.", Sasami shook her head. "I didn't come here to get you. I came to get Tenchi. He's the rightful heir to the throne, and now that my father is dead, he has to take his place as king of Jurai."

"I have to what?", all eyes fell on Tenchi as he stood with a shocked look on his face in the doorway leading to the kitchen.

"Now that the king is dead, you have to assume the role of King of Jurai.", Sasami repeated.

"Why me?", Tenchi stuttered, still trying to grasp the situation.

"Because there's no one else who can, Tenchi.", Sasami explained. "You're the only heir left, and Jurai needs guidance, especially now."

Tenchi lifted his arm to scratch the back of his head and they could all see that he was giving it real thought. He was older and more responsible now, and he had been offered the throne several times before so this wasn't his first time having to think about it. Sasami was pretty sure he would say yes, but she wanted to give him some extra incentive.

"Please, Tenchi.", she pleaded. "Our people need you."

Tenchi looked up at Sasami, then looked back down at the floor, considering all the aspects of the situation. He never was one to turn away people in need. Not to mention he had been wanting to take Sakuya to see Jurai anyway. He started to think about how it would affect Sakuya, and their son... then Mayuka came into his mind. He thought about what had happened with Yuzuha. He remembered what she said before he killed her.

Juraians! You don't know what they did to me!

Tenchi looked up with a solemn face. "I accept the responsibility as king of Jurai. It will give me a chance to correct some of the mistakes of the past, and possibly stop more such mistakes from happening again in the future."

Raven looked at Tenchi with pride and honor in his eyes and spoke with it in his voice.

"You're grandfather would be proud of you.", he said.

"Thanks, Raven.", Tenchi replied.

At that moment, Sakuya walked in from the kitchen. She had an apron and a cooking glove on.

"Dinner's ready everyone.", she said

Sasami smiled. "Wow. It's gonna be weird eating here and not being the one who cooked the meal for once."

Devin smiled at her and led her into the dining room. Everyone else followed close behind and dinner began. For the first half, everyone seemed to forget their troubles and worries as they gathered around the table and ate together in the ever familiar manner they had used to. During the second half, though, it was time for Tenchi to explain the situation to his wife, with the help of Sasami. She took it well, and actually liked the idea. Raven and Devin offered to look after the house and the shrine in Tenchi's absence. Washu also offered her assistance, as did her daughter, Kerra. The night was a victory all in all. Tenchi, Sasami, and Yugi decided to head out the next morning, while Sakuya would hang back with Katsuhito until Tenchi could sort things out. And finally, the dinner ended with several rounds of sake and lots of friendly singing.