The Pirate's Soldier

by operation meteor

Heero's career as a Preventers operative takes an unexpected turn when he gets caught up in a battle between a Juraian princess and a notorious space pirate. As the two alien beauties settle in with him on Earth and more quickly follow, the former Gundam pilot soon finds himself to be the target of their affections, with a certain lovely outlaw at the front of the pack!

27. Chapter 27

Author's Notes: Hello there! Sorry about the wait, work's been kicking my ass the past several months. Still stuck on the mandatory overtime grind and, though the company head honchos lack the balls to come out and say it, I'm pretty sure it's indefinite at this point. Don't worry, I still write every day for all three of my stories, but the update pace is going to remain sluggish for the foreseeable future. It's about the only way I can keep some semblance of my sanity intact.

Anyway, enough about all that unpleasantness. This chapter's a bit more relaxed than its predecessors, mostly split between training exercises, a little sting operation involving some would-be assassins, and nice retreat to the countryside to unwind a bit. Figured the gang deserved a little break, plus I had fun writing it.

Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Seven: No Need For Assassins And Exercises!

March 22nd, A.C. 199

Ah, this feels like old times, Duo thought with a nostalgic smile as he maneuvered his cloaked fighter between floating rocks and drones while tagging targets, I do love me some good old sneaking around before letting all hell break loose!

In the background floated a massive yellow and tan gas giant, the thick rings of which Duo's craft silently worked its way through. The titanic orb and its grand disk-like rings, along with its smattering of a dozen or so moons of various sizes, was the sole planet to be found distantly orbiting the red giant that dominated the center of the star system code named by the Juraian military as Scarlet Grave. A system quite close to the capital of the Empire, its lack of habitable planets and the fact that any resources worth mining had been extracted long ago meant that it was now of no interest to civilians and thus made for an ideal training ground. It had been claimed for just that purpose by the Imperial Fleet and was in fact one of several systems the military conducted live-fire exercises in.

Checking his display, Duo saw that he had tagged the last of the high-priority targets that this particular exercise called for. Increasing his acceleration, he took his invisible fighter to the outermost edge of the planetary rings before breaking comms silence.

"Eve Two to Eve One," Duo called out, "it's party time!"

Barely a few seconds later, a swarm of friendly contacts appeared on his sensors as the other four of Washu's custom fighters along with Ryo-Ohki and the Juraians dropped out of lightspeed. Not only was the 232nd Fighter Wing of the Second Fleet operating with them again, but other squadrons from both that armada along with fighter wings from the Juraian Fifth and Eight Fleets were also taking part in the exercise. Duo was frankly amazed that Admiral Fukunaga had been able to throw together such a large-scale training session across multiple combat groups within a very brief window; it spoke well of the Juraian military's formidable coordination and organizational capabilities.

Good thing they're on our side and aren't really expansionist these days, he mused as while acquiring his targets, I doubt it would take much work for them to conquer Earth if they really wanted to…

With his friends and allies spreading out behind him, Duo let fly with a salvo of two ionic pulse missiles before immediately switching over to his fighter's arc disruptors. The pair of warheads detonated in the middle of an advancing wave of target drones, sending the small automata spiraling off wildly in all directions, with many crashing into either chunks of floating rock or each other. With the enemy's initial response to the attack disrupted, Duo and the others could now focus on the main targets of the exercise.

Scattered throughout the rings of the gas giant were a series of large metallic tubes that were meant to serve as stand-ins for the heavy guns which would be defending the third repository. Interspersed with those were hundreds of sensor buoys which took the place of the minefield that they'd be expected to contend with during the actual operation. Sighting in on the closest of the large metal tubes, Duo opened up with his arc disruptors. Bolts of sparking azure energy washed over the constructs, and they registered as disabled on his sensors a second later.

Switching back over to the ionic pulse missiles, Duo launched another salvo. This time, they weren't aimed at any particular drone formations, but rather a concentration of 'mines' along the most direct route to the coordinates that represented where the third repository was supposed to be. The warheads detonated a few seconds later, and large swaths of the pseudo-mines that dominated his sensors suddenly went dark, along with a handful of drones for good measure.

That was when his fellow former Gundam pilots started making their presence felt in earnest. Two streams of golden-yellow hellfire ripped forth from the heavy guns slung beneath Heero's fighter, plastering one of the metal tubes and reducing it to floating globules of molten slag. A hail of bullets combined with a veritable monsoon of missiles flew out from Trowa's craft, shredding one of the stand-in heavy emplacements along with wreaking utter havoc upon both the pseudo-minefield and the training drones. Meanwhile, Quatre sent a pair of plasma torpedoes downrange, with the warheads slamming into another of the fake heavy emplacements and completely blowing it apart. Not one to be left out, Wufei boldly dived straight into the field, chewing up drones and mines alike with precise and rapid fire from his plasma cannons.

Right on the heels of Wufei's green fighter was a familiar crystalline craft; Ryo-Ohki was making her move. Spinning as she flew into the rings, the living starship unleashed scores of scarlet beams in all directions. Drones, mines and two heavy emplacements were pulverized by the punishing barrage, and that was just her opening strike. Bobbing and weaving between volleys of return fire from the drones, Ryoko's trusty steed countered with precise follow-up shots in marked contrast to her initial bombardment, picking off additional targets left and right.

While the pirate and former Gundam pilots drove a wedge into the first line of defenses, the Tempest space superiority fighters of the 232nd and the other wings present for this exercise focused on broadening the breach and targeting heavy emplacements missed by the opening assault. Heavy anti-ship plasma torpedoes flew forth from their launchers and proved to be devastating against the pseudo-emplacements, pulverizing more of the large tubes that Duo had tagged during his earlier recon run. Other flights were dedicating themselves anti-drone and mine clearing work, shredding formations of combat automata with concentrated volleys from their plasma cannons and punching additional holes in minefield.

"Eve Two, watch yourself!" Quatre called out, "You've got contacts coming at you from below!"

Rolling his craft, Duo caught sight of the incoming hostiles and moved to meet them. "I've got them. Thanks for the head's up, Four!"

Shifting over to his plasma cannons, Duo cut loose with a series of controlled bursts. The lead drones were demolished before they could open fire, while those following them could only take potshots before scattering in an effort to evade them. With that attack thwarted for the moment, Duo shifted his attention back to the minefield and popped off another volley of ionic pulse missiles. He had the satisfaction of seeing even more of them vanish from his sensor display than last time, though that was diminished by the knowledge that they were only training buoys; Duo was fully expecting the real deal to be a much tougher nut to crack.

Never know what else Washu will have mixed in with them, he mused as he weaved through the seemingly endless sea of rocks that made up the gas giant's rings, I know she leveled with us as best as she could during the briefing, but there's no guarantee that her data on the outer defenses is completely comprehensive. We have to be prepared for anything when it comes to her…

It was then that he heard a chime, and he glanced at his display. The timer for this exercise had already entered its final phase, and there was less than a minute left for the vanguard to clear out the remaining targets. Gunning his engines, Duo sighted in on one of the untouched heavy emplacements. He didn't have the firepower to demolish it outright, but he didn't have to. Switching to the arc disruptors, he let fly with a salvo of azure lightning. The bolts washed over the long metal tube, and the target registered as disabled on his scopes a second later.

All too soon, the timer hit 'zero' and the action screeched to a halt, with Heero being the first to speak. "All units, head count. Everyone in one piece?"

"Eve Two here," Duo replied as he put his fighter into a holding pattern, "I'm good."

After everyone was accounted for, Heero announced the results. "We've got some work to do. Only eighty-two percent of the designated primary targets are confirmed neutralized within the set window."

"That's within the acceptable margin we laid out before launching," Quatre pointed out.

"It's not good enough, and you know it," Trowa chimed in, "We can up those numbers."

"We have to," Wufei affirmed, "Our naval support will be counting on it."

"We taking another crack at it, then?" asked Ryoko.

"Affirmative," Heero replied, "We'll leave the system and rendezvous with the Ōtaka. Once we've reported back to the Admiral, all craft that expended physical munitions will rearm while our overseers prime the obstacles on the opposite side of the planet. We'll conduct our second round then."

"Copy that, buddy," Duo acknowledged as he moved to form up behind Heero.

It's going to be a long day…

….

Sitting across from Admiral Fukunaga in her private office, Heero waited patiently for her to finish reviewing the post exercise reports. Eve Squadron and their associated support wings had run through the same drill three more times over the course of the day; the Juraians had proven to be very efficient when it came resetting the training ground. The carrier was on its way back to the capital, and Heero was looking forward to wrapping up his business with the Admiral before the warship arrived.

We'll barely have time for dinner when we get back, he thought, and we've got a full boat ahead of us tomorrow. At least, I certainly do. I can only imagine what Yosho and Washu are cooking up…

Mayumi looked up from the report she was reading and gave him a sympathetic smile. "You put in quite a bit of work today. All things considered, I'd say you're holding up rather well. That being said, you must be pretty beat."

Heero inclined his head in concession. "I can run marathon training exercises if necessary, but I'd rather not burn myself or the others out before our next deployment. Fighting tired is a good way to end up dead."

"Hard to argue with that," Mayumi replied with a note of concern, "Even so, you have a more strenuous schedule set out for yourself than the others do. It's not just flight training you have on your plate; your lessons with Washu and Lord Yosho will undoubtedly be grueling affairs. Are you sure that you're not taking on too much?"

"It's what needs to be done," Heero answered, "My role in this affair is that of more than just a pilot or soldier."

Mayumi sighed. "All too true. Still, don't forget to take a little time to step back and breathe a bit."

Heero eyed her curiously. "I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but what's brought on your sudden interest in my well-being?"

Rather than answer his question directly, she riposted with one of her own. "Your Highness… how old are you?"

Heero blinked in surprise, wondering just where she was going with this. "Nineteen… I think. Truth be told, when my actual birthdate is has always been something of an educated guess. How's my age relevant to our current circumstances?"

The look Mayumi gave him held equal parts admiration and pity. "To have acquired the skills you have at such a young age… that's no small feat. However, it's also something of a tragedy that one as young as you is called upon to master such abilities in the first place. We have plenty of new recruits around your age, but they're just that; recruits. They're only just starting out as soldiers, learning the tricks of our bloody trade and honing their skills. Your abilities, by contrast, are at such a caliber that one would associate them with warriors who have been in the game for far longer than what your age might suggest."

"I have been in the 'game' for a long time," Heero shot back with perhaps a bit more force than he'd intended, "Far longer than I ever wanted to be."

Mayumi closed her eyes for a moment, and when they opened again, he realized that he'd given her a very grim sort of confirmation. "As I feared... the Empire's new prince was once a child soldier. I had hoped that wouldn't be the case, but with the abilities you've demonstrated since arriving in Jurai, I suppose it was the only logical conclusion."

Heero folded his arms. "Is that going to cause any problems?"

"Not in military circles," Mayumi remarked, "As you're well aware, all my fellow officers and I care about is how you perform in combat, and you've already more than put our fears to rest on that count. It's within the aristocracy that problems may arise. You having such a background will provide fodder for those who seek to frame you as an up-and-coming warlord that will drag Jurai into bloody conflict."

Heero arched an eyebrow. "And Jurai's not involved in such a conflict already?"

"There's a difference between a declared war and an undeclared one," Mayumi countered, albeit half-heartedly, "Your point's valid, but I trust you at least understand the one that I'm trying to make here as well."

Heero inclined his head respectfully. "Of course, Admiral. At this point, if the nobles want to use my background to conjure up images of a warmonger, there's little we can do stop them. The best counter will be to demonstrate that my talents for combat and destruction can be used in the name of preserving the Empire. Taking down Kagato's faction should accomplish that."

Mayumi's brow furrowed. "I'd like to think as much, but you know how politicians can be when they've got a pet issue that they want to pursue. They'll sink their teeth into it and refuse to let go. Even after the crisis with Kagato is resolved, your problems in the political sphere will likely remain."

"Those problems are minor compared to the threat before us," Heero replied, "I'd rather concentrate our efforts on the enemy that threatens both the Empire and the entire galaxy at the moment rather than the one that seeks merely to tarnish the reputation of someone that they see as a potential rival for power. Consider it target prioritization."

Mayumi smiled. "Well spoken, Your Highness."

….

March 23rd, A.C. 199

"You're in fine form today," Yosho remarked as he fell back under Heero's withering offensive.

"I'd have to be if I ever wanted to defeat you," Heero shot back as he aimed a sequence of thrusts and slashes at Yosho's legs, only for his grandfather to expertly deflect each and every strike.

Yosho smirked as Heero suddenly shifted targets, parrying an attack that the Preventers operative had aimed at his shoulder before shifting smoothly into a counterattack and putting his grandson on the defensive. "Well, you have a better chance at that than most. That being said, don't go thinking for a moment that I won't make you work for such a win."

"Wouldn't accept anything less," said Heero as he shifted his azure blade downward to intercept a thrust aimed at his left leg.

Off to the side of the training ground, the young prince heard Ryoko cheer. "You got this, Heero! Beat his ass!"

Yosho chuckled as he drove Heero back. "Well, your Royal Guard certainly seems confident in you! I wonder if you can live up to her expectations?"

"Only one way to find out," Heero replied in between deflections.

It wasn't just Ryoko sitting in on the match; Washu was with her as well. While the other former Gundam pilots along with Kiyone and Mihoshi were engaging in further exercises out on the fringes of the Jurai system, the legendary scientist and long-lost crown prince had taken Heero and Ryoko aside to have them focus on further honing their skills in personal combat. Of course, the Preventers operative and pirate were both well aware that this training was about more than refining their swordsmanship, though improving their talents in that realm was certainly of vital importance. The alternating clashes that Heero and Ryoko had been taking part in with Yosho were really little more than warmup sessions before the real work began.

I don't know how much we can get done before our next operation begins, Heero thought as he parried a swift strike from Yosho before reclaiming the initiative, I can still only generate two Light Hawk Wings, and Washu said she wants to double that before the mission, but I'm not sure if that's possible. As for Ryoko… I don't want to doubt her, but is she really ready for the second gem?

In truth, Heero was more worried about Ryoko's training than he was for his own. He'd already seen what she could do when she fully tapped into the power of the single gem that Washu had embedded within her, and it was nothing to scoff at. The second gem would amplify that exponentially, and Heero was concerned that such power might cascade out of control when Ryoko tried to use it. Washu had been blunt about the potential for backlash or collateral damage, and Heero by far feared the former over the latter. Any damage that might be caused to palace could be fixed, but who knew what kind of harm Ryoko could possibly do to herself should she lose control of her power?

As Heero pondered what he could do should Ryoko's energy threaten to harm her, his current opponent eagerly took advantage of his distracted mind. Heero's renewed offensive was cut short as Yosho deflected a downward strike from him before countering with a wide slash. The young prince was only barely able to block the counterattack, and the scolding look Yosho gave him as he pressed the assault was almost as withering as the rain of blows that he unleashed upon Heero.

"You're not centering yourself," the shrine keeper chided him as he hammered away at Heero's defenses, "Your worries are many, and not without just cause, but they cannot be allowed to draw you out of the moment. I know you understand as much. Focus."

Rather than reply verbally, Heero let his actions speak for him. Catching Yosho's blade and redirecting it to the right, Heero then lunged forward. The azure shaft of light from his Master Key nearly singed the old prince's hair as he ducked beneath the thrust, and Heero wasn't about to let up. He brought up a knee and almost caught Yosho right on the chin, with his grandfather's eyes widening in surprise as he jerked his head back. Pressing his advantage, Heero unleashed a withering barrage of single-handed cuts and jabs, keeping his adversary off balance and forcing him to pull back. Within mere seconds, the old man had his back to the edge of the ring.

Even when waging a desperate defense, though, Yosho remained determined to make Heero work for the win. At the last moment, he rolled to the left before swinging his blade up, forcing Heero to step back and angle his sword to deflect the blow. Letting his momentum carry him, Yosho turned that strike into just the opening move in a sequence of flowing slashes that alternated between high and low attacks to keep Heero guessing as to where the next blow would come from. Still, Heero had sparred against Yosho enough times by now to have a good feel for his style, so the old man's efforts at unpredictability could only accomplish so much. After several more deflections, Heero then met the next slash halfway, disrupting his grandfather's momentum. As he did so, Heero then pushed forward, shoving Yosho's blade to the side before smacking his grandfather across the jaw with the hilt of his Master Key.

Yosho blinked several times in disbelief as Heero stepped back, keeping his blade at the ready in case his grandfather decided that hit didn't count as a winning blow. Eventually, though, the long-lost prince deactivated Tenchi-ken before inclining his head.

"Well played," Yosho conceded with a wry smirk, "I should've expected something like that from you."

"I'm hardly a traditional swordsman," Heero remarked as he likewise turned off his energy sword, "You should know that by now."

Yosho chuckled as he rubbed his jaw. "I really should, eh?"

Ryoko's voice rang out from the sidelines in triumph. "Nice one, Heero! I'm going to have copy that the next time I fight him."

"You would do well to reconsider that notion, Ryoko," Washu noted, though she did seem more than a little amused at the turn of events, "Yosho doesn't tend to make the same mistake twice."

Ryoko grinned. "Hey, if I get the opening for it, I'm still going to do it!"

"That would only be fair," said Yosho, "Of course, don't go thinking for a moment that I won't see it coming."

"Save it for later," Washu interjected as she moved into the ring while gesturing for Ryoko to join her, "We've got work to do. Put the swords away, boys. They won't be needed again for a while."

"How do you want to play this, then?" asked Heero.

Washu eyed him in thoughtful silence for a moment before answering. "Let's start with the basics. You were able to generate two Light Hawk Wings during the fight with Ragyō and keep them active for the duration of the duel. Bring up those two wings, and we'll take things from there."

Heero nodded before putting a bit of distance between himself and the others. Stretching out his arms before him, he focused on channeling his Juraian energy over both limbs. With a calm exhale, he let his power flow outwards, and two sheets of white light appeared over his arms just a moment later.

"Nicely done," Yosho commented.

"Agreed," said Washu, "You brought both up with no difficulty whatsoever, and I can tell that you're not even remotely straining to keep them active. That bodes well."

Heero eyed her warily. "What do you want me to do next?"

"Let's test your fine control," Washu replied, "Move the left Light Hawk Wing so it hovers behind your back, and do so without moving your arms."

Taking a deep breath, Heero concentrated his will on the sheet of energy in question. Visualizing its projected path in his mind's eye, he was rewarded with the sight of the Light Hawk Wing smoothly maneuvering itself into the desired position.

"Not bad," Washu noted, "We'll have to work on getting that down to the point where you can do it on instinct alone, though. In the heat of battle, you're going to have too much on your plate to focus on manipulating just a single Light Hawk Wing."

"No argument there," said Heero, "Now what?"

"Keep the Light Hawk Wing that's behind you in that position while rotating the right one around you clockwise," Washu answered, "You can place it into whatever kind of orbit you want. I just want it to continuously circle you."

Heero raised an eyebrow. "For how long?"

Washu gave him a devilish smirk. "Until I say otherwise."

"Sounds like we're going to be here a while, then," Ryoko grumbled.

"Knowing her, most certainly," Yosho concurred.

Tuning out the others, Heero worked to center himself. It didn't take much conscious effort to keep the Light Hawk Wing floating behind his back in its current position, but setting the other into a consistent orbit around himself would be another task entirely. He started by making a slight circling gesture with his right arm as a way to channel and direct his energy, and he made sure to keep his hand level with his torso. The Light Hawk Wing wobbled as it slowly floated away from his arm before shakily beginning its circuit around him. It drifted up and down several times during the initial orbit, but in subsequent laps Heero was able to gradually steady the sheet of energy. After a couple of minutes, the Light Hawk Wing leveled out at exactly the elevation that Heero wanted it to be at, and maintaining it in that orbit proved to be much simpler than he'd initially anticipated. Each subsequent rotation required less direct focus from him; it was almost as though the strange energy construct was internalizing his will and acting in concert with it.

He saw Washu grin a few seconds later. "Perfect! You're definitely ready to step things up a notch."

"I don't know if I'd go that far," Heero cautioned her, "I'm hardly at the point where I can do this instinctively."

Washu shook her head. "With the level of fine control you're demonstrating now, you'll be there much sooner than you think. Now, have the Light Hawk Wing behind your back rotate around you as well, this time in the opposite direction as the other. You can pick the elevation."

Yosho raised an eyebrow as he glanced at Washu. "Are you sure about that? Isn't that a bit much?"

"Not at all," Washu replied.

"Come on, Heero," Ryoko encouraged him with a smile, "You can do this."

Despite his reservations, Heero couldn't help but feel emboldened by the pirate's words. If Ryoko believed in him, then who was he to say otherwise? Double checking the elevation of the Light Hawk Wing that was already rotating around him, he then moved his left arm in a circling motion similar to what he'd done with his right earlier, but counterclockwise instead. The Light Hawk Wing behind his back shivered for a few seconds before dislodging itself from its current position. The sheet of light descended and wobbled as it began floating around Heero, demonstrating a shakiness similar to that which the other Light Hawk Wing had shown during those initial circuits. However, it only took a few rotations for Heero to steady the second Light Hawk Wing, and soon both of them were smoothly orbiting around him.

Washu folded her arms and smiled in smug satisfaction. "See, what did I tell you, Yosho? He's ready."

Yosho inclined his head. "Apparently so. Very well, then."

"Ready for what?" Heero asked cautiously.

"Keep those two Light Hawk Wings in orbit around yourself," Washu instructed, "and hold out your arms again."

Heero did so. "Okay… what now?"

"Summon two more Light Hawk Wings," Washu ordered.

Heero blinked. "Just like that?"

Washu nodded. "Yes. You might not realize this, but you used far less energy to summon both of the Light Hawk Wings currently orbiting you than you did before. It's time for you to increase your output. You have the capacity for it."

Heero had to wonder where her confidence was coming from. "You sound far surer of that than I am."

Washu sighed. "I'd normally favor a more incremental approach, but that requires time that we don't have. You're already much further along than a Juraian Royal who's only recently awakened his powers should be, though. The fact that you've bonded with a First Generation Royal Tree and have your own Master Key enhances your ability to draw upon your already considerable energy reserves. We need to go big here, and you've got the potential to make leaps greater than you can possibly imagine."

"And if it turns out I can't handle the power that I'm about to call upon?" Heero asked warily.

"We'll be right here with you the whole time," Ryoko reassured him, "We're not going to let anything happen to you, Heero."

"If your power begins to cascade out of your control, we can pull you back from the brink," Washu promised him, "Granted, the method for doing so will be a blunt one; we'll be knocking you unconscious. Crude, but it'll get the job done. You can handle a hard knock or two to the head, right?"

"I'd prefer not to if I can help it," Heero deadpanned, "but I suppose that I've taken worse hits in the past."

Washu chuckled. "That's an understatement."

"Let's hope that we can avoid the need for such measures altogether," Yosho interjected.

"No kidding," Heero quipped before taking a deep breath, "Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Here we go."

….

Maybe I should've invited Sasami to join us, thought Washu as she studied Heero intently, if only so that Tsunami could evaluate our young prince's progress for herself. I suppose that I can always bring her to future training sessions… assuming Misaki will let me, of course.

Washu knew that her stock in the Second Empress's eyes was still rather low thanks to the whole smuggling Sasami out of the palace affair, so she didn't particularly like her odds on convincing Misaki of anything involving the younger princess at the moment. Still, there was a need for Sasami and the goddess she hosted to witness Heero's training with the Light Hawk Wings. The former had to learn how to properly begin calling upon the power of her bloodline, while the latter needed to understand what their candidate was capable of and what he still had to learn. Whether the Royal Family liked it or not, Sasami's part in this business was not yet over by a long shot.

Of course, the younger princess and the entity within her were merely secondary concerns at the moment. Washu's focus was squarely on Heero and the two Light Hawk Wings orbiting him. He'd done remarkably well so far, but now she was asking him to start pushing the envelope. It was sooner than she'd otherwise prefer, but their pressing circumstances dictated charging forward in this regard.

"You already have the power needed to do this," said Yosho as sparks of white energy arced out from Heero's arms, "It is simply a manner of harnessing that energy while maintaining control over that which you've already materialized. Do not feel the need to rush yourself here. For now, slowly draw out the energy you require and concentrate it where you want it to be. We can work on the speed of materialization later."

"Slow and steady wins the race, Heero," Ryoko chimed in.

Heero actually chuckled. "Didn't think I'd hear that from you, Ryoko. 'Slow and steady' isn't your style."

Washu expected Ryoko to offer a smirk and a devil-may-care remark, but instead was treated to her daughter's brow furrowing in concern. "I'll make an exception for you, Heero."

Which says far more about her feelings for him than she might realize, Washu mused while resisting the urge to smile, and about how much she's matured since this whole crazy affair began. Growing up right before my eyes… at least I could be present for this. Doesn't make up for all that I missed, but I have to start somewhere.

Her eyes narrowed as she watched the white sparks dancing along Heero's arms slowly begin to coalesce into a more coherent form. It was only over his right arm, but that was still a very a good sign. The two Light Hawk Wings orbiting around Heero slowed somewhat as the young man was forced to divert his concentration towards generating a third, an unfortunate but unsurprising development given what Washu was asking him to do. If he wanted to maintain an active defense, Heero would need to learn how to fully imbue already activated Light Hawk Wings with his will so that he could maintain them with little conscious thought while he tended to other matters, but these were still early days. There was time yet for him to achieve such mastery, albeit much less than Washu would've preferred.

She saw the sweat building upon his brow as he attempted to corral a power that he still knew so little about. His jaw clenched for a moment before some of the tension eased, with Heero's breathing becoming slower as he tried to walk the fine line between commanding his Juraian energy and allowing it to flow naturally. It took several minutes, but his patience and that of his audience was eventually rewarded by the sight of a fresh sheet of white energy materializing over his right arm.

Ryoko pumped her fist. "Yes! Good job, Heero!"

"Impressive," Yosho murmured, "Most impressive."

Washu nodded. "So far, so good. Now, do the other one."

Heero took a deep breath before repeating the same process as before. Sure enough, energy began concentrating over his left arm, but that was when Washu became concerned. Heero's breathing became sharper, and some of the earlier tension returned in force. The hairs on the back of Washu's neck started standing up as she sensed a sudden spike in Heero's energy, one that was well beyond what he should've been able to call upon at this stage.

She wasn't alone in noticing it if Ryoko's slowly widening eyes were any indicator. "Heero… you okay?"

"I… think so," Heero replied, thought the strain in his voice very much said otherwise.

Yosho picked up on it as well. "No, you're not. What I'm sensing… you've summoned far too much energy for a fourth wing. Heero, dial it back."

"Easier… said… than done," Heero grunted as a tremor ran through his left arm.

Ryoko shot Washu a nervous look. "I think we should cut this short."

"No," Heero countered, "I… I can do this."

Yosho's eyes narrowed before he glanced at the scientist. "Washu?"

Washu was torn. On the one hand, she wanted to believe that Heero could pull of what she was asking him to. However, what she sensed from him indicated that she might very well be asking too much of him, at least for a first attempt. His energy was flaring up wildly despite his best efforts to properly channel it. There was still a chance that he could turn things around, but at this point Washu didn't like the odds.

Before either she or Yosho could make the call, though, Ryoko did it for them. She suddenly took to the air and positioned herself above Heero to avoid the Light Hawk Wings spinning around him.

"Sorry, Heero," said the pirate with a genuinely regretful look, "but sometimes you're too damn stubborn for your own good."

The she dived down and gave Heero a solid hit to the back of the head, one that he made no effort to evade.

….

Running her fingers through Heero's hair as she waited for him to wake up, Ryoko let out a heavy sigh. She felt more than a bit conflicted as she sat there with the young man's head in her lap. The thought of Ayeka walking in, seeing the two of them like this, and subsequently completely losing her shit was definitely an amusing one. That being said, Ryoko would have preferred Heero be sleeping naturally rather than being in this state thanks to her whacking him in the noggin.

"Damn it…" she muttered under her breath, "Heero, I thought you were smarter than this."

"He is," Washu remarked from behind her, "It's just that the pressure he's under is starting to get to him. He tries to hide it from us, of course, but it's there just the same."

Yosho, who was sitting across from Ryoko, looked down at his grandson with a mournful look. "It's pressure that he should never have had to bear in the first place. We're asking far too much of him."

While part of Ryoko could agree with that sentiment, she still bristled. "Hey, whatever happened to having faith in him? After what you've gotten him into and all that he's done to try and clean up your mess, you have no right to be doubting him now!"

Yosho inclined his head in what struck the pirate as genuine remorse. "You are right about that, and doubting him is the last thing either of us wish to do."

"I still believe that Heero's more than capable of doing what we're asking him to do," Washu chimed in, "but it's clear that we're definitely trying to move things along too quickly. It's impressive that he was able to activated a third Light Hawk Wing so quickly after learning to generate and wield two of them. I have no doubt that the fourth will come in time, as will more beyond that one. The more I observe him, the more that I become convinced that Heero's got what it takes to master them. I just threw too much at him too quickly. The failure's mine, not his."

"You did well earlier, Ryoko," Yosho added with a smile, "While the two of us hesitated, you acted decisively. Thanks to you, we were able to avoid catastrophe."

Ryoko eyed him warily. "Just how bad could things have gotten back there?"

"Let's just say pretty damn bad and leave it at that," said Washu gravely.

Ryoko wanted to press her on that, but seeing as Washu didn't look likely to yield any further information, she decided against it. "Are we calling it quits for the day after he wakes up?"

Washu shook her head. "Can't afford to; still too much to do. Once he comes to, I'll have him stay on the sidelines for a bit while I test you."

Ryoko stiffened somewhat at that. "I take it you've got more in store for me than just sparring, then."

Washu held out her right hand, and there was a flash of crimson light. A small scarlet sphere dropped into her palm a second later, and Ryoko could feel something within her resonate; the identical gem that she'd carried unknowingly all this time.

"We're really going there, then," said Ryoko, unable to completely hide her nervousness.

"Eventually, yes," Washu confirmed before pocketing the gem, "First, I want to see just how much of a handle you've got on the power of the gem currently inside you. For that, I want Heero to be awake in case your power runs rampant; his Light Hawk Wings will be crucial for containment. Since we now know for sure that he can generate three of them, that should suit our needs. I would've preferred four, but we'll just have to make do."

"Hopefully we won't have to resort to using any of them," said Yosho.

It was at that moment that Heero began stirring, and Ryoko's gaze locked on him. "Hey, Heero? You with us?"

His eyelids fluttered for a few seconds before actually opening, and he looked up at her in a daze. "Ryoko? What happened?"

Ryoko sighed. "You pushed your luck a bit too far. You're lucky that you've got me to watch your back, you know that?"

Heero actually chuckled at that before giving her a small smile. "Yeah… I really am."

Ryoko felt a surge of heat rush to her face, but that didn't stop her from leaning down to kiss him on the forehead. "You dumbass… I might be your Royal Guard now, but there's only so much I can do to protect you from yourself."

"I know," Heero replied softly, "Sorry for the trouble… and thanks. You made the right call back there."

"She did," Washu affirmed with more than a hint of pride in her voice.

"How are you feeling?" asked Yosho.

"Head's a bit fuzzy," Heero answered as he rubbed his temple, "but apart from that, not too bad. So, level with me… how royally did I screw up?"

Washu smiled. "Not as badly as you might think. You did fine with the third Light Hawk Wing. You're just not yet ready for a fourth quite yet. We'll simply adjust your training and proceed accordingly."

"Sounds good," said Heero as he tried to prop himself up, only to for his head to suddenly slump forward, "Whoa…"

"Easy there," Ryoko gently chided him as she took Heero by the shoulders, "You're not ready to hop back into things quite yet."

He looked for a moment like he might argue the point, but ultimately seemed to think better of it. "Right… mind getting me over to the sidelines? Think I just need to lie down for a few more minutes."

Ryoko nodded before slinging one of his arms over her shoulders and carefully hauling him up to his feet. "Sure thing. Come on, take it nice and slow."

Once she got him situated, Ryoko turned back to the others. "So… now what?"

"I'll keep an eye on Heero for a bit," said Washu as she walked over to sit beside him, "Why don't you and Yosho run through a sparring match? Loosen up a bit more before we start on you in earnest. Heero should be ready to play containment and support by then."

"Works for me," said Ryoko before turning to Yosho, "Ready for another round, old man?"

Yosho chuckled as he pulled Tenchi-ken from his belt and ignited its azure blade. "Of course."

Ryoko smirked as the twin crimson blades of her own Key sprang to life. "Alright, then. Let's have some fun!"

She lunged forward and fell upon the shrine keeper with focused ferocity.

….

"She's getting better," Heero remarked as he watched Ryoko and Yosho go at it.

Sitting to his left, Washu nodded and smiled. "Glad you think so."

The sparring match between the pirate and long-lost crown prince had been going on for several minutes now, more than enough time for Heero to clear his head at least to the point where he could sit up without risk of passing out. With a relatively clear head, he could now give Ryoko's technique the focus it deserved, and what Heero found was impressive to say the least. The double-bladed weapon that Washu had furnished her with was hardly a precise instrument, but it didn't need to be. Precision was not Ryoko's forte, and Washu had opted to play to her daughter's strengths rather than force her to overcome a weakness.

Ryoko had always favored broad and open attacks; wide swings and sweeps, swift and forceful lunges and the like. The double-bladed Key was perfect for her preferred fighting style, with the second blade offering either a vector for a surprise attack or greater defensive coverage depending on her needs. When the pirate had first started training with her new weapon, Heero had been concerned that managing both blades would be too much for Ryoko. He was particularly worried that she'd injure herself inadvertently with the second blade, and she had come close to doing so on a handful of occasions. However, those near-misses had been the worst of it, and Heero quickly realized that his fears were misplaced. The weapon was a natural fit for Ryoko's instinctive combat technique, as she was aptly demonstrating now.

Throughout the bulk of the match, Ryoko had actually been able to keep Yosho on the defensive. The wide offensive reach provided by the double-bladed Key enabled the pirate to dominate a considerable patch of the sparring ring at any one time, denying Yosho room to maneuver and providing with her opportunities to drive him in the direction of her choice. Several times, Yosho had come close to being cornered, and it was only through deft bladework that the shrine keeper had been able to prevent his opponent from overwhelming him outright. The old man still had the edge in pure skill, but Ryoko was able to chip away at that advantage incrementally with each passing match.

"Personal combat comes as naturally to her as breathing," Heero noted, "When she's actually forced to focus on her technique instead of relying purely on raw power, her growth as a fighter becomes truly impressive."

"She's always had the potential to excel in fighting," said Washu, "I made sure of that. I gave her more than just pure power; her instincts and reflexes are well above the norm for most lifeforms in the galaxy. She simply hasn't been forced to focus on honing them until recently."

Heero eyed her in curiosity. "When you… created her… was combat foremost amongst your concerns? Her powers seem geared towards that over all other matters."

Washu sighed. "I had to be sure that she could protect herself when I wasn't around, so I did lean towards abilities that would serve her well in battle. She has the potential to be far more than just a powerful warrior, though. You and her are very much alike in that sense."

Heero pondered her words for a few moments. "If she is ready for the second gem, how much of an escalation in her power would we be looking at here?"

"An exponential one to say the least," Washu answered, "Remember, those gems were forged to contain the power of a Chousin, namely me, and I designed Ryoko so that she could one day wield that power in my stead. Embedding the second within her will allow her to begin truly tapping into the potential she's always held, and the energy she'll be able to wield in combat once she gets a handle on it will be tremendous. Once she's ready for the third… well, at that point, her potential would be surpassed only by yours, Heero."

Heero's gaze darkened as he considered the implications of that. "With the same potential for destruction as me if her power ran rampant or was misused?"

"Yes, that possibility does exist," Washu bluntly confirmed, "which is why I'm very grateful that she's forged such a strong connection with you. Your Light Hawk Wings can contain her power if it spirals out of control, and her relationship with you likewise acts as a containment measure of sorts. With you anchoring her and reining in her worst impulses, the temptation for her to use her powers in service of more nefarious ends becomes greatly reduced."

Heero raised an eyebrow. "Is that part of why you've done nothing to interfere with the two of us growing closer over the past few months? I'm useful as a limiter to her?"

The smile Washu gave him in response was a bittersweet one, maternal pride intermingling with remorse. "With how she's grown since meeting you, I don't think it'll come to that… but I'd be lying if I said that I hadn't considered your relationship acting as a contingency. First and foremost, I want you two to be happy together, Heero. That being said, I am counting on you to pull her back from the brink if she becomes drunk on her own power. I don't want you put you in this kind of position, but for her sake, I'll do what I must. Forgive me."

Heero slowly shook his head. "Don't worry about it. It's a responsibility that I'm fine with shouldering. As much as I want her to realize her true potential, I also want to protect her from the possible negative consequences that come with her power. I'll look after her, Washu. You have my word on that."

Washu reached over to pat him on the shoulder. "I know you will. I never doubted that for a moment."

The two of them watched the rest of the sparring match play out in silence. Although Ryoko had maintained her offensive against Yosho throughout the fight, her opponent didn't appear the least bit nervous. He continued to smoothly deflect and parry her strikes as needed, giving ground if necessary but never losing his cool.

I know your game, grandfather, Heero thought as he watched the sapphire and ruby blades clash repeatedly, You're just waiting for the right moment to turn the tables on Ryoko. How are you going to pull that off this time?

Heero got his answer a few seconds later. Having once again driven Yosho nearly to the edge of the ring, Ryoko had decided to go for broke. She doubled down on her aggression, whirling her double-bladed key back and forth in a series of swift strikes meant to overwhelm Yosho's defenses, but in going all in on her final offensive she had sacrificed defensive coverage. More crucially still, her lunges and wide sweeps came at the expense of balance, and that was what Yosho had been waiting for a chance to exploit. Making a broad swing in an effort to force Yosho out of the ring entirely, Ryoko overstepped, and her adversary seized his moment. He ducked before lashing out at her right leg with a quick kick. Losing her balance, Ryoko back-pedaled frantically. For a moment, Heero thought that she might be able to recovery her footing, but Yosho immediately pounced. With what seemed like hardly any effort on his part, he batted her blades aside before leveling his own at her throat.

"A spirited match," the shrine keeper praised his opponent with a smirk, "Your footwork could use some improvement, though. You got greedy at the end, Ryoko."

Much to Heero's pleasant surprise, Ryoko took her loss in stride, chuckling as she deactivated her Key. "Well, what do you expect? I'm a pirate, remember? Greed comes with the territory!"

"You were a pirate," Yosho admonished her with an amused smile, "but you're my grandson's Royal Guard now. You'll have to leave some of your old instincts behind."

Ryoko rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I'll work on it, okay?"

"That is all I can ask," said Yosho before glancing at Heero and Washu, "I'd say she's warmed up now. Are we ready to begin?"

Washu turned to Heero. "You feeling up for it?"

Heero nodded, though he was a bit hesitant. "Just to confirm… three Light Hawk Wings from me will be enough if the worst comes to pass, right?"

"Correct," said Washu before giving Heero a reassuring smile, "You've already proven yourself more than capable of handling that much. With your power as it is now, I know you'll be able to contain Ryoko's energy if it cascades. You'll protect the rest of us and her. I don't doubt that for a moment."

Heero took a deep breath before meeting Ryoko's eager gaze. "Alright, then. Let's do this."

….

"How should we start?" asked Ryoko as she eyed Washu expectantly.

Washu looked back and forth between her daughter and Heero for a few seconds in consideration. "Heero, do you feel comfortable just generating two Light Hawk Wings for the moment?"

"Sure," Heero replied.

"Prove it," Washu ordered, "Bring them up now."

Heero held out his arms and did just that. Two sheets of energy materialized mere seconds earlier, much more quickly than he'd been able to generate them before. Wash suppressed a smile; the young man was already becoming much more comfortable in wielding his power than he himself realized.

"Good," she said, "Keep them over your arms for now. Ryoko, I want you and Heero to fight."

Ryoko blinked in confusion. "Uhm… say that again?"

Washu folded her arms. "You heard me right the first time. Your earlier sparring match was a good warm up, but I want you to pick it up a notch. Fight Heero, and use only your energy attacks while doing so; no Key. Go at him hard. He can take it."

Ryoko was rather hesitant at the prospect. "Washu… are you sure about this?"

"I am," Washu confirmed, "Heero, you're up for this, aren't you?"

"I am," he answered before turning to Ryoko, "It's alright. Come at me with everything you've got. With these barriers, I can take it."

Ryoko took a deep breath. "Okay, then. If you're really asking for it…"

She then floated off the ground, scarlet sparks dancing along her fingertips as she gave Heero a challenging grin. "Ready?"

Washu watched as Heero smirked. "Ladies first."

Yosho chuckled. "Ever the gentleman… Achika would be proud."

Washu had no time for quips; her focus was purely on the ensuing fight, and Ryoko kicked it off with a bang. Summoning a surge of energy from deep within herself, she unloaded on Heero with a barrage of crimson spheres. Washu initially feared that such an attack right out of the gate might overwhelm the young prince, but Heero's reaction was immediate and impressive. Running to the right, he was able to avoid a good chunk of Ryoko's opening salvo, and what he couldn't dodge he easily deflected with his Light Hawk Wings. The red orbs flew everywhere, smashing into the reinforced floor and walls before dispersing in showers of scarlet sparks.

"Not a bad start," Washu muttered under her breath as she watched Ryoko dart about overhead, peppering Heero with a steady stream of spheres and keeping him constantly on the move.

"She's certainly getting into the spirit of things," Yosho concurred while arching an eyebrow as a scarlet orb zipped past his head, "I don't suppose you have any defenses prepared for the two of us during this exercise, do you?"

Washu flashed her old friend a wry smile. "Yeah, just one. His name is Yosho. Old codger, but he's good with a blade. Think he'll be enough?"

Yosho let loose a soft laugh before drawing and igniting Tenchi-ken. "I suppose he'll have to be!"

Yosho held the azure blade in a basic guard position, ready to react the instant that any projectiles came close to him or Washu. To others, one old man with a blade might seem to be a wholly inadequate defense given the sheer weight of fire that Ryoko was throwing around, but Washu had seen her old friend in action enough times to know that she had little to fear while under his protection. The shrine keeper hadn't survived this long by allowing his skills to dull, after all.

Her eyes narrowed as she concentrated on Ryoko, and it wasn't just her visual senses that were at work here. She could feel the pirate slowly amping up the amount of energy that she was putting into her attacks, constantly hammering Heero with bigger volleys. The scarlet spheres she was throwing out were gradually increasing in both individual size and sheer numbers; quality and quantity in one feisty package, as it were. For his part, Heero continued to contend with the onslaught in a calm and efficient manner, focusing on evading most of the orbs and minimizing the amount that he had to directly block in order to keep his defenses from becoming overwhelmed.

Both were doing well but, for what Washu wanted to accomplish today, it wasn't enough. Yes, Ryoko was using her energy in a much more controlled and efficient manner than she had in the past, but the purpose of this exercise wasn't fine control or minimizing expenditure. It was to bring out the full depths of the power that she could command with the single gem currently inside her, and what she was doing now was merely swimming in the shallows.

To her pleasant surprise, Heero seemed to recognize it as well, an all the more impressive occurrence given that he could comprehend it while still defending himself against a barrage that would've bested lesser fighters quite some time ago. "Step it up, Ryoko. You've got more power than this, and we both know it."

"Yeah, but you would be the target of it," Ryoko argued in between volleys of energy balls.

"I already told you that I can take it," Heero reminded her as his two Light Hawk Wings suddenly began floating independently of his arms and creating a floating umbrella of energy over him while he brought a third white sheet of power to life over his right arm.

"So quickly," Yosho muttered under his breath as he swatted aside a few scarlet orbs with his Master Key.

"And in the middle of the fight to boot," Washu quietly added, "He grows more proficient in summoning them with every exercise. He may yet be able to summon a fourth before the day is out."

Ryoko grimaced as the air around her became filled with crimson sparks, and Washu could feel her energy continue to rise. "I'll hold you to that, Heero."

The bombardment intensified in short order, and even the three Light Hawk Wings that Heero now had to work with soon found themselves put to a fierce test. The pair floating over him moved back and forth to intercept shots, while Heero used the one covering his right arm to intercept the spheres that made it through the first line of defense. He was forced to leap and roll more frequently, weaving his way through Ryoko's onslaught with athletic prowess that would be the envy of an Olympian. He remained constantly on the move, yet even though Ryoko was throwing a considerable deluge of fire at him, Heero hardly seemed worried. In fact, he proceeded to egg her on.

"More, Ryoko," Heero said as he swatted aside several globes of scarlet light, "You're still holding back."

"No, I'm not!" Ryoko protested as her bombardment continued unabated.

"Yes, you are," Heero insisted while bobbing and weaving through the storm of energy surrounding him, "Bring forth the same fury that you showed when Ragyō plunged her blade into my leg. The same wrath you showed back on Earth when Nagi captured me."

Ryoko's eyes widened somewhat. "Wait, you were out cold for that second bit! How do you even…?"

"I told him," Washu cut in, "before we started today's training. I wanted him to understand exactly what he'd be getting himself into in going up against you like this, as well as to understand what might be required for you to bring out your full power. The time for restraint here is over, Ryoko. Cut loose."

The rain of scarlet spheres ceased, and Washu felt her daughter's power recede. She floated stationary in the air, looking down at Heero with doubt written all over her face. Even now, well after Heero more than demonstrated his ability to protect himself from her power, Ryoko was still afraid to go all out with him.

Of course, she is, Washu thought with no small amount of pity, after all…

…she loves him.

And I'll have to use that here.

Washu took a deep breath before stepping forward. "Ryoko, do you want to prove that you really have what it takes to be Heero's Royal Guard?"

"Of course, I do!" Ryoko snapped.

"Then stop playing around and go all in," Washu demanded, "What's going to happen if Heero gets into trouble during the next mission? Kagato will most likely fight Yosho again, but that will leave his companions free reign. What happens if Ragyō goes for him again while you're stuck fighting Nagi? What if Heero gets backed into a corner by her? He's powerful and talented, yes, but he's still young; Ragyō has centuries worth of combat experience under her belt. She didn't become the deadliest swordfighter in the galaxy by slacking off, and you've already gotten a taste of her abilities. The chances of her being able to best Heero in a fight are higher than any of us would like to admit."

"She's right, Ryoko," Heero chimed in, "I'm good, but I have a realistic appraisal of my own abilities. I can't guarantee a win, regardless of how hard I'll fight for one."

"Heero…" Ryoko murmured, her face going pale.

"If you want to prove that you deserve to be Heero's sworn protector, then there's only one way for you to do that," Washu pressed, "Push past your fears and grab hold of the power that I know you possess. Stop dancing around it; face it head on, seize it by the throat, and do not let go."

Washu wanted to think that hers would be the words to push Ryoko to take that decisive step, but she knew better. Only one voice really mattered here, and it belonged to the young man who would be staring down the unholy amount of power that Washu wanted Ryoko to unleash.

So, all she could really do was watch as Heero met Ryoko's gaze and gave her a small smile. "You need this, Ryoko… and so do I. Show me what you can really do. Do it for me… no, do it for us. For me and you. No one else."

Ryoko took a deep breath before returning his smile, and Washu knew that the key had been turned. "For us, then. Heero… promise that you can take it?"

"Promise," Heero replied firmly.

That was when the very air in the room suddenly became almost oppressively heavy, and a flood of energy poured out from Ryoko in all directions. The scarlet sparks that had been crackling in the air around her previously returned and intensified, and it seemed as if a storm was taking shape. In a way, Washu supposed one was, but even this would be a mere squall compared to what she envisioned Ryoko unleashing once the other two gems were hers to command.

One step at a time, Washu reminded herself as she fished a small scanning device out of her pocket and aimed it at Ryoko, although this is a very promising step indeed…

The device and its readings were almost superfluous, really; Washu could feel the power that Ryoko was summoning from the gem within herself, and it seemed determined to prove that her tool could not hope to take its true measure. It pulsed from her like ocean waves flowing out from the epicenter of a mighty quake deep beneath the seafloor, and those waves only proceeded to grow in strength. Then the crimson bolts all coalesced over Ryoko's palms, and she aimed them squarely at Heero.

"Here we go," Washu barely heard her daughter growl.

Two pillars of scarlet energy ripped forth, and the pair of Heero's Light Hawk Wings acting independently of his arms immediately intercepted them. The constructs were able to deflect the blasts, but not before being pushed back by the initial impact. Both beams slammed into the far wall, causing the entire chamber to shudder and leaving a spiderweb of cracks in the reinforced façade.

"Are we sure this is a good idea?" Yosho muttered.

Washu chuckled and shrugged in a devil-may-care manner. "Who knows? Either way, we're in for a show, and we've got front row seats!"

Yosho smirked as he raised his Master Key. "Here's hoping we survive the performance."

There's no small amount of danger here, Washu thought with a wry smile as her focus returned to Ryoko and Heero, but these two seem to have a knack for staring danger in the face, flipping it off, and then kicking its ass.

….

Fear was not an alien emotion to Ryoko. As much as she might try to play the part of a reckless outlaw, heedless of consequence or repercussion, the pirate very much understood fear. Fear of failure, of capture, of death, for the safety of Ryo-Ohki or, more recently, the strange gaggle of friends that she'd gathered ever since crash landing on Earth. Fear had come with her lifestyle, and it had not abated ever since settling down into a quiet life on Earth with Heero or over the course of their travels since Nagi's attack on the safehouse. Yet the one thing Ryoko never thought she might fear was what she feared now.

Herself.

Fully drawing upon the power of the gem inside her, Ryoko was more aware now than ever before of the danger she carried within. The energy coursing through her felt less like the weapon or tool it had been to her in the past, and more like a beast that threatened to devour anyone in its path. For the first time, she could truly appreciate the destructive power that was hers to command, and it terrified her. And this was just power that came from one gem. There were two more waiting for her, and she felt like she barely had a handle on this one.

She was supposed to master all three? Could she ever hope to truly master one? As bolts of crimson lightning and pulsating beams of energy flew out in all directions, Ryoko felt as though she was about to drown in her own power. Those two columns of energy that she'd thrown at Heero before had been a conscious effort, but now something far more primal was threatening to overtake her.

Worse yet, part of Ryoko wanted it to overtake her.

It was a horrifying thought, but that didn't make it any less true. The more that Ryoko drew upon the full might of the gem inside her, the more that temptation whispered in her mind. It would be so easy to let her power run free, to give herself over to it and never look back. With this incredible strength, what was to stop her from simply stealing the other two gems from Washu and then doing whatever the hell she wanted? She could take off in Ryo-Ohki and return to her old ways, going on a spree the likes of which she'd never dared consider before. With her newfound might, few could challenger her. She could raid with impunity, gather plunder that would be the envy of every other outlaw in the galaxy, and become a force unlike any other in the criminal underworld. She could do whatever she wanted; no one would be able to stop her.

No… not quite no one.

Just one being could stop her… would have to stop her… or at least try where all others would fail.

Heero.

The scenario flashed through her mind. Him tracking her down across the stars, confronting her on some desolate world, the two of them clashing blades…

…and striking each other down.

Ryoko was no prophet, had no powers of foresight whatsoever, and yet she knew deep down that if she allowed herself to become intoxicated with her newfound power, that scenario would be inevitable. She knew Heero, after all. He had made her his Royal Guard, yet he still saw himself as her protector even thought she'd been appointed his. If she gave in to her darkest impulses, Heero would take it upon himself to hunt her down. Out of duty and responsibility to be sure, but also because of something far more painful.

Devotion to her.

And in doing so, he would shatter his own heart beyond any hope of repair. In doing so, he would settle for a mutual kill in such a confrontation.

She could see it in his eyes. Ryoko's gaze locked with his as her power pulsated and writhed within her, and what she saw was both a plea and a promise. A plea for her to affirm his faith in her, to prove that he wasn't wrong in believing in her better angels… and a promise to do whatever he might have to should she prove him wrong.

Because he cared for her.

Because he would take care of her, in his own fashion, one way or the other.

So, Ryoko had her choice. Let her awesome power fully overtake her and drive her to indulge in her darkest desires and fantasies, run rampant in a glorious spree and ride that high until the inevitable and fatal crash came… or take the harder road, prove that she was more than what her criminal past made her out to be, and show the most extraordinary man she had ever met that his faith in her would be rewarded.

And when she looked at it that way, the choice was incredibly easy.

In fact, it may as well have not been a choice at all.

….

I knew she was powerful, Heero thought as he fended off a punishing salvo of bloodred lightning, I knew she was strong since the day I met her. It was obvious to anyone who knew what to look for. Even so…

What he saw was Ryoko, but what Heero felt when he perceived her energy was something akin to a Category Five hurricane unfurling overhead. Ryoko was the eye of that storm, and Heero was battling through the eyewall that was her onslaught of scarlet bolts and spheres. It was hard to believe that all this power had been residing within Ryoko since long before the moment Heero had met her…

…and, if Washu was to be believed, this was only a fraction of what she'd be capable of wielding once she had the other two gems inside her.

Was Washu seriously expecting Heero to be able to contain all this power if something went wrong? She'd said that, of course, and Heero had vowed to do so, but there was a big difference between saying that and actually trying to do it now that they were in the thick of things. It was taking just about every ounce of concentration Heero could muster just to protect himself from the blasts of energy that Ryoko was throwing out now; he didn't want to think about what he'd have to contend with if his Royal Guard lost control.

"Come on, Ryoko," Heero muttered under his breath as he swatted aside scarlet orbs left and right, "You've got this…"

And the triumphant smile on her face told Heero that she did indeed have it under control. It was a truly punishing amount of power that she was throwing at him, but it was power that Ryoko was commanding; it hadn't slipped the leash, though it might've been a near thing. The raging tempest that Heero could sense within her was being channeled towards the pirate's ends, not being allowed to run amok. It was 'control' in a very loose sense, with Ryoko really just guiding her power in a general direction rather than commanding it in a pinpoint and strict manner. Still, it was enough for the purposes of this exercise. Heero could feel it stabilizing within Ryoko, and his Royal Guard's confidence rose correspondingly.

That stabilization was certainly welcome, but that didn't change the fact that the power being stabilized here was still hammering Heero's defenses. Somewhere along the way, Heero had subconsciously directed his third Light Hawk Wing to move away from his arm and join the other two in floating overhead and forming an umbrella of energy above him while he evaded the scarlet bolts that slipped through. Almost without thinking, Heero began concentrating energy over his right arm while the three Light Hawk Wings in the air worked their magic, and white light began coalescing above the limb in question. Sweat built up on his brow as Heero tried to do what he'd failed to accomplish earlier under much less taxing circumstances, hoping that the adrenaline that came with combat and his fighter's instincts being pushed into overdrive might be enough to make up for whatever he'd lacked in the previous attempt. At this point, it was worth a shot.

I've still got the sword as a backup, he silently reminded himself, but I'm not nearly as good with it as Yosho is. That fourth wing would be very useful right about now.

It was quite the balancing act, maintaining the three already generated Light Hawk Wings, dodging the shots that slipped past them, and attempting to create a fourth barrier all at the same time. Had Heero tried to conduct all three tasks through conscious effort, it likely wouldn't have worked. However, relying on his instincts took away some of the burden, and Heero's efforts were eventually rewarded as the fourth Light Hawk Wing blazed to life over his right arm. His expression didn't change, but overhead he saw Ryoko grin in triumph on his behalf.

Her joy at his success didn't mean that she was about to ease up on him, of course. Scores of scarlet spheres rained down upon Heero, and even with now four Light Hawk Wings at his command it was no small task to defend himself. The air was so full of energy that Heero had a hard time picking out anything beyond the whirling maelstrom of light. He could barely keep track of Ryoko, and he gave up on trying to spot Washu and Yosho. Heero could only hope that his grandfather would be able to keep Washu safe amidst all this chaos.

"Had enough yet?" Ryoko called out as she continued to hammer his defenses.

Heero shot her a confident smirk, though it was questionable if the pirate could actually see it. "I can do this all day. If you need a break, though, I won't stop you."

Ryoko laughed. "Not a chance, flyboy!"

Despite their mutual bravado, though, Heero could feel his limbs grow heavy; it was doubtful that he could continue for too much longer. He could also sense Ryoko beginning to tire. Although the storm of energy churning away within her remained potent, gaps were beginning to show in her bombardment of him. A break probably was needed, but both combatants were too stubborn to admit it.

We both have our pride as fighters, Heero mused, I know it's supposed to be just a training match, but still… neither of us are the type to back down from a challenge.

That was when Washu's voice rang out amidst the mayhem and gave them both what they needed. "Alright, that's enough! Back off, both of you!"

Without delay, Heero leapt backwards. He kept his Light Hawk Wings up until the last of Ryoko's energy attacks had been deflected and spent, then took them down one at a time. Looking up, he saw Ryoko descending towards him. Her breathing was labored, but she still wore a very satisfied smile.

"Well… that was a workout," Ryoko remarked as she touched down in front of him.

Heero nodded. "No kidding. How are you feeling?"

Ryoko grinned. "Never been better! You?"

Heero allowed himself a small smile. "Fairly pleased with the both of us. We made quite a bit of progress there."

"You're not wrong about that," said Washu as she and Yosho strode towards them, "That was quite the show."

Yosho smiled. "You both performed splendidly. You're more than ready to take the next step."

Ryoko's eyes narrowed as she looked at Washu. "That second gem…"

Washu slowly nodded before smiling. "Yeah, I think it's about time for you to take it for a spin. Well, almost. You two can put on brave faces all you want, but I know better; you're both beat. That last match took quite a bit out of you. Why don't you take a load off? Sit down and rest up for a bit. Once you've both had a chance to recover your strength, we'll take things to the next level."

….

Savoring the water trickling down her throat, Ryoko glanced down at Heero. While she was sitting upright, his summoning of four Light Hawk Wings had taken quite a bit out of him, and he needed to lay down for a little while. Ryoko had happily offered her lap as a pillow, and the young man had taken her up on it.

She gave him a playful smirk. "Enjoying the view?"

Heero chuckled before reaching up to touch her cheek. "I always do when it involves you."

Ryoko felt her face flush a deep red, but that didn't stop her from smiling. "Is that why you really wanted to make me your Royal Guard? You wanted free access to the eye candy?"

"Perhaps that played a role in my decision," Heero confessed with a wry smile of his own.

Off to the side, Washu rolled her eyes. "Get a room, you two."

"I believe they already have one," Yosho remarked, "or at least connecting rooms now that Ryoko's officially his protector."

Ryoko grinned. "That's a job perk I can get used to!"

Along with the high-class food and getting to irritate the Emperor and Ayeka just by holding this job, she mused, I guess I could do worse for gigs…

"How are you feeling?" asked Heero.

Setting her water bottle down, Ryoko stretched her arms behind her head. "Not bad… better than that, actually. I was pretty winded earlier, but I think I'm about ready to throw down again. Huh… didn't think I'd bounce back this quickly. You?"

She watched Heero close his eyes for a moment. "I… could probably use another minute."

Ryoko's eyes narrowed in concern. "You okay?"

Heero nodded. "Getting there. Wielding four Light Hawk Wings at once, even if only for a brief time… it's taxing."

"Given that it was your first time using four of them together, the fact that you were able to stay on your feet until after the exercise concluded is impressive," Washu noted, "I know Royals who struggled for centuries to reach that point. You've gotten there in the span of mere weeks."

"Such progress might very well be unprecedented in the history of the Royal Family," Yosho added, "though I'll have to consult the family records to know for sure."

Ryoko saw Heero's brow furrow. "What's the maximum amount that I could summon?"

All eyes turned to Washu, and she spent the next several seconds in contemplative silence before granting them her response. "For you, the limit should be ten… in theory."

"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Ryoko.

"Ten Light Hawk Wings wielded by an individual is the maximum amount that our dimension can support," Washu replied, "This might seem outlandish to you, but their power is so great that to go beyond that limit could break the bonds of space and time. In other words, if anyone tried to summon eleven Light Hawk Wings at once and actually succeeded, it would shatter the universe. At least, that's the conventional wisdom. However…"

Ryoko saw Washu's gaze linger on Heero for a long moment. "With you, Heero… if Tsunami and I are right about you… well, maybe it'll still be ten. Then again, maybe the limit was meant to be broken. When an anomaly like you is in play, conventional wisdom often takes a back seat."

"I think I'll just keep ten as my end goal," said Heero, "I'd rather avoid shattering the universe, assuming that's even possible in the first place."

Washu's expression became stern. "I know it sounds crazy to you that one person could accomplish such a feat, but I promise that I'm not exaggerating here. The might of the Light Hawk Wings is one of the purest expressions of the power that we Chousin once wielded. Manipulated in the right manner, and the effects it can have on the time/space continuum are limitless. The Gundams that you and your friends flew in your old war are mere toys by comparison."

Heero nodded. "You've already made that point abundantly clear. No need to continue emphasizing it."

Washu's demeanor softened somewhat. "I know. I just want to make sure that you truly appreciate the gravity of the power at your command. You're no stranger to wielding mighty weapons, but your true potential outstrips anything that Wing Zero was capable of. When you gain full mastery over your power, the feats that you'll be capable of will put any conventional weapon of war that you know of to shame."

Washu's gaze then shifted to Ryoko. "The same goes for you. You think you're powerful now? When you take the second gem inside you, you'll understand just how mistaken you are. The storm you summoned earlier will seem like a minor squall compared to the energy that you'll be capable of wielding in time."

Ryoko folded her arms. "If you're worried about it going to my head, don't be. I'm not as immature as you think I am."

Washu actually smiled at that. "No, you're not. I think we both know who we have to thank for that."

Ryoko looked down at Heero and smiled as well. "Yeah… I guess we do."

"Have you had enough time to rest?" asked Yosho.

Ryoko leaned back as Heero propped himself up on his elbows and stretched a bit. "Close to it, I think."

Ryoko stood before cautiously helping Heero to his feet. "Don't push yourself. If you need more time, just say it."

"Thanks, but I can manage," Heero replied, "We don't have as much time as we'd like."

"No, we don't," Washu grimly concurred before walking over to him with a scanning device in her right hand, "Still, let's not be hasty. Let me look you both over first."

She ran the device first over Heero, then Ryoko. The two of them waited patiently for Washu to study the readings, and the verdict came a few seconds later.

"Could be better, could be worse," Washu remarked, "Your energy is stable, which is the most important bit. Stretch a little and take another drink or two, then we can begin."

Ryoko didn't need to be told twice; she was already guzzling down the remaining contents of her water bottle. Heero spent a couple minutes exercising his arms before likewise taking a drink, all while Washu and Yosho watched the pirate and the soldier patiently. Washu had put the scanning device away, and she now held the second crimson gem in her right hand.

Washu took a deep breath before meeting Ryoko's gaze. "As much as I want you to take this step, and as much as we're going to need the power that comes from it… I'm not going to force you into this, Ryoko. Whether you accept this power or not is your decision alone."

Ryoko was a bit taken aback by that. "Whoa, hold up! We do all this work to get me ready, and now you say that this is optional?"

Heero folded his arms. "You're sending some very mixed signals here, Washu."

Washu sighed heavily. "I know, I know. Look, you both understand how I feel about this; Kagato's a threat, and I want us to use every weapon in our arsenal to beat him and destroy the Array he's out to seize for himself. I want you two to fully embrace the potential that lies within you, so my preferences on this matter are clear for all to see. That being said… I've been discounting your agency here. I've been trying to direct you both down a certain path, and I've put your own thoughts and desires on the backburner."

"In all fairness, the threat we face is grave," Yosho chimed in, "Our choices for how to respond are limited. We need every advantage that we can get. The stakes are too high to accept anything less."

"Which is the impression we've been working under this whole time," said Heero, "It's why we've been training so hard to develop and improve our powers. Is there really any other choice available to us?"

"There isn't," Ryoko answered for the both of them, "We know it and you know it, Washu."

Washu gave a weak smile. "I suppose you're right. Even so, the step that you're about to take… it should be one you take willingly. So, Ryoko… are you really ready for this? Do you want to do this?"

"What happens if I say no?" asked Ryoko.

"Then we rely upon the power you have now, the power that Heero has and may continue to refine, and the strength of our friends and allies," Yosho interjected with a somber expression, "and we hope that it is enough."

Ryoko's eyes narrowed. "When you put it like that, then there's really only one thing that I can do. I either go all in, or I half-ass it and let the resto of you pick up the slack. I know that I'm lazy when it comes to chores and crap like that, but not for something like this. Not when everyone's lives are on the line. We've come too far to pull our punches now. I'm not going to chicken out at the last minute. I'm doing this."

Washu smiled proudly and with profound gratitude. "As reckless and headstrong as ever… and the entire galaxy will owe you everything for it when this is all over."

….

I really should've known better than to offer Ryoko an out this late in the game, Washu chided herself, I'm just betraying my own doubts and fears now, and what message does that send? She's always been confident, but if I don't show that I completely believe in her then that'll undermine her resolve. That's the last thing we need right now.

None of that changed the fact that Washu was still quite apprehensive about taking this next step. Sure, the potential payoff would be huge, but so were the inherent risks. Even with both Heero and Yosho on hand, would their combined power be enough should the sudden surge of energy that came with Ryoko taking the second gem within herself begin to cascade beyond control? Perhaps it would've been better to have Ayeka present as well; her three Light Hawk Wings would come in handy, regardless of how tenuous her ability to command or maintain them currently was. Then again, Ayeka's presence would also result in needless sniping between her and Ryoko, and Washu needed her daughter to be calm and collected in order to maximize the odds of success.

She glanced at Heero, and Washu could feel the energy simmering just below his cool exterior. She'd placed her faith in the young man before, and he had yet to let her down. Tsunami had confidence in him as well, so two out of three Chousin in his camp wasn't bad, right?

I never got Tokimi's verdict on him, she mused, but I guess she hasn't evaluated Heero up close and personal like Tsunami and I have. Then again, it's probably best to keep him as far away from her as possible. Even if Tokimi doesn't see him as the one we've been looking for, she could still try to seize and use him for her own purposes. I wouldn't put it past her.

"So, how are we doing this?" Ryoko asked, snapping Washu back to the here and now.

Washu took a deep breath, her eyes narrowing as she studied the tiny scarlet sphere pinched between her fingers. "We'll keep things simple. I want you to stand still while I insert this. After that, I'll get back, and Heero will move front and center. His Light Hawk Wings will form a barrier to protect us from the immediate surge, and if need be, can encircle you for containment purposes. Heero, you ready for that?"

Looking over her shoulder, she saw the young man nod. "I am. Want them up now?"

Washu nodded. "If you'd be so kind."

He did just that, holding out his arms and bringing up the first two with scarcely any effort. Heero then sent that initial pair into the air to float in front of him and Yosho before generating the second two Light Hawk Wings over his arms. That second pair sprang to life with barely more work than the first, and Washu was once again reminded of the both impressive and truly frightening rate that Heero was mastering his powers at.

Tsunami will be pleased to learn of his progress, she thought, I wonder what the nobility will make of it. A newly discovered prince already on his fourth Light Hawk Wing while only being recently bonded with a Royal Tree? I'm sure that'll ruffle some feathers.

Washu reached out with her right hand, but she didn't go all the way, instead merely holding the gem just centimeters over her daughter's chest. "Are you ready?"

Ryoko eyed the gem nervously. "Is it going to hurt?"

"Going in? Not at all," Washu reassured her, "The power surge that'll come once it syncs up with the first one, though… it'll be rough. No getting around that."

"Thought so," Ryoko grumbled as she steeled herself, "Any last-minute advice?"

Washu gave her daughter what she hoped was a comforting smile. "Focus on what you want to do with this power… on who you want to protect with it. Keep that goal firmly in your mind, and the rest will follow."

Washu saw Ryoko look past her and smile, and she didn't need to be a genius to know that her eyes had found Heero's. "I can do that. Alright, then. Let's get this show on the road."

Washu nodded. "On three, then. One… two… three!"

She closed that final gap, pressing the gem into Ryoko's chest. There was a brilliant flash of light as the small sphere entered the pirate, and while Ryoko gasped she didn't seem to be hurt. As Washu quickly pulled back, she saw her daughter's breathing quicken, but there was no spike in energy. Not yet, at least.

Wait for it… wait for it…

Sure enough, it came a moment later…

…and washed over them all like a tidal wave.

….

I know Washu warned us, Heero thought as he braced himself against the phenomenally strong pulses of energy that were radiating from Ryoko, but still… this is not going to be easy to contain. Come on, Ryoko. You've got this. At least, I hope you've got this, because if you don't…

…we might really be in trouble here.

It was difficult to simply look at Ryoko; the pirate had become enveloped in a brilliant scarlet aura that flared with what seemed like the intensity of a pulsar while floating up into the air. The hairs on the back of Heero's neck were standing on end, and each pulse of power that rippled out from Ryoko sent tremors through his body. If this was what she could bring to bear with the second gem freshly embedded within her, then the thought of what she could do were Washu to give Ryoko the third one was almost too terrifying to contemplate.

He was about to step forward and reach out to her when bolts of crimson lightning began ripping forth from Ryoko. Heero already had his quartet of Light Hawk Wings in position to deflect, and it was a very good thing that they were, for when the scarlet blasts of energy ricocheted off of the barriers they slammed into the floor and walls with such brutal force that they left deep fissures within the reinforced surfaces. The very chamber itself began to tremble, and the onslaught showed no signs of letting up.

"Is it supposed to be like this?" Heero asked Washu through gritted teeth.

"Pretty much," Washu confirmed, "Actually, I was expecting worse!"

"Perish the thought," Yosho quipped.

Heero winced as his four floating barriers were pummeled by an ever-intensifying barrage. "How will we know when she's gone too far?"

"We'll know when the room's on the verge of being torn apart!" Washu shouted to make herself heard over the crackling sounds that filled the chamber courtesy of Ryoko's energy.

We might be close to that already, Heero mused grimly as he watched another salvo of scarlet bolts bounce off his Light Hawk Wings and hit the far wall with punishing power, sending chips flying and creating a spiderweb of cracks, I don't think this place was designed to withstand the kind of power that Ryoko's throwing around now.

Part of his mind screamed at him to intervene now, but Heero held back. This was unknown territory for him, and Washu seemed to think that they hadn't approached the danger zone quite yet. Focusing on Ryoko with more than just his eyes, he could feel her fighting to harness and properly channel the power raging within her. If nothing else, Heero wanted to give her a chance to win that internal battle before unilaterally stepping in.

Crimson spheres soon entered the mix, flying forth from the palms of Ryoko's hands in all directions. It took Heero a moment to realize what she was trying to do; this was an attempt by her to vent some of the excess energy so the rest would be easier to control. It was hardly a subtle strategy, but Heero surmised that it was the best Ryoko could come up with on the fly. To her credit, it seemed to be working; he could feel her energy level out somewhat, though they were hardly safe just yet.

"Come on, Ryoko…" Heero muttered, "You can do this."

There was a sudden flare-up in her energy, leading Heero to momentarily fear that his faith might be misplaced this time. Yosho had his Master Key at the ready, and Washu looked quite concerned. Heero expected her to give him the order to intervene at any second, but with a sudden mass salvo of scarlet orbs the surge in Ryoko's energy then began to subside. Daring to part his Light Hawk Wings just enough to get a better view, Heero saw the pirate slowly start to descend towards the floor, her brilliant aura gradually dimming. Ryoko's breathing was ragged to say the least, and her face was drenched in sweat, but the radiant glow in her eyes was one of triumph.

Heero let out a heavy sigh of relief before lowering and deactivating his Light Hawk Wings. "Knew she had it in her…"

Washu was grinning from ear to ear. "Excellent!"

Yosho extinguished his azure blade and clipped Tenchi-ken to his belt. "Quite so."

Seeing that her footing was unsteady, Heero rushed forward to help Ryoko. It wasn't a moment too soon; she practically collapsed against him, only keeping herself upright by throwing her right arm over Heero's shoulders.

Despite her weariness, though, her victorious smile was undiminished. "Well… how was that? Put on… one hell of a show… right?"

Heero chuckled and hoped that he didn't look as worried as he felt. "You definitely did. How are you feeling?"

Ryoko rested her head against Heero's. "Like crap. I'm tapping out here. Can we pick this back up tomorrow?"

The two of them turned to Washu, who nodded while spreading her hands in a magnanimous gesture. "Of course. You two did wonderful today. Get some rest; you've definitely earned it!"

….

March 24th, A.C. 199

Although the massive tree was by far the most prominent and visually stunning part of the palace, the Juraian Royal Family's seat of power also extended below ground. Beneath the beautiful gardens, luxurious quarters, docking bays, throne room, lavishly appointed lounges and all the other facilities of the upper palace was a sprawling subterranean complex built around the massive roots of the tree. Power generation facilities, hardened shelters, armories, escape routes, storehouses and much more were held within, all at the service of the Royal Family, their retainers, and protectors. However, the underground complex was much more than just a redoubt for the rulers of the Empire in the event of calamity. Within the network of tunnels and chambers was a state-of-the art training facility that was primarily at the disposal of the Palace Guard or individual Royal Guards, but it was also made available to elite members of the Juraian military or units that had distinguished themselves in an exceptional manner.

This was no mere sparring room like the ancient one being used by Heero and Ryoko to refine their powers. The subterranean training facility consisted of a series of chambers within which various environments and scenarios could be simulated. Urban warfare, starship boarding actions, and defending the interior of the palace from assault were the most common mission profiles, but integrated climate control technology also allowed for natural environments such as deserts, tundra, plains, and other such locales to be modeled and trained in as well. While there was of course no substitute for actual field exercises, the complex did allow for units that might otherwise be stuck in the Empire's capital a chance to keep their skills sharp rather than remaining idle and becoming dull.

Each of the various chambers had a series of observation, communications and control rooms ringing it. These primarily served to allow officers to watch their troops in action and instruct those maintaining the simulation to alter the environments and scenarios as needed. On rare occasions, members of the Royal Family might take an interest in the proceedings and deign to sit in, and this was what Sasami, Ayeka and Misaki were doing now.

Sasami had only been vaguely aware of the training complex's existence in the past; her parents had never seen fit to show it to her before. Martial affairs had never really interested her in any case, but her present circumstances had brought about a change of thinking. She hadn't actually been invited by Ayeka or Misaki to observe these sessions, but once she'd learned that her friends from Earth would be using the facilities, she'd badgered her mother and older sister until they'd finally relented. And so, while Ayeka and Misaki sat back and looked on in the aloof manner that proper Royals were expected to as Azaka and Kamidake hovered silently behind them, Sasami practically had her face pressed against the reinforced glass of the observation room as she tried to follow the action as closely as possible while Ryo-Ohki watched from her perch atop the princess's head.

Not all of her friends were down there today. Washu and Yosho were running Heero and Ryoko through separate training in one of the upper sparring chambers again, so the current exercise was being carried out by Duo, Quatre, Trowa, Wufei, Hilde, Mihoshi and Kiyone. The simulated environment that they were fighting through today consisted of a series of corridors and antechambers that was supposed to serve as a stand-in for the interior of a space station. Since the data on the exact details of the interior of the third repository had been rather on the sparse side of things, those running the training grounds were forced to improvise and make best guesses as to what sort of obstacles might be encountered. After each exercise, the layout was altered considerably, forcing those running through each round to constantly adapt to the new floorplans and opposition.

The Juraians didn't have quite the same variety of combat drones at their disposal that Washu had tucked away in her repositories; the opposition here consisted simply of bipedal automata armed with rifles and floating drones equipped with a pair of small cannons. Their armaments were specially designed to fire stun bolts to avoid killing trainees. They couldn't hope to match the firepower carried by the humans here, but their mechanical precision and coordination was enough to make up for that deficiency. If nothing else, the combat automata were certainly making the humans and Galaxy Police officers work for their victory.

Since the ultimate goal of the insertion into the third repository would be to reach the data core and then protect Washu while she downloaded the information, the exercise had been designed to mirror that as much as possible. The team was charged with making their way to a central chamber. Once they had arrived, two of the members would be locked in, mirroring the role Washu and Hilde had taken in the two previous operations. Meanwhile, the rest would be charged with holding out against waves of drones until the overseers of the exercise halted the simulation. The timer for the defenders was changed in each exercise in order to reflect the uncertainty of how long it would take Washu to download the data; it had gone from as short as ten minutes to as long as two hours. In the sessions that Sasami had witnessed so far, Mihoshi and Hilde had been the ones locked into the data chamber, while everyone else formed the defensive perimeter.

In all likelihood, Mihoshi and Kiyone wouldn't even be with the insertion team during the actual operation; they would be aboard the Yagami waiting to extract the others, just like they had before. However, both officers had volunteered to take part in the exercises as members of the ground team to train for potential circumstances where they might be called upon to leave their patrol cruiser, and Heero's friends had readily accepted their participation. As it turned out, Washu had created two sets of armor for the officers of a similar design as to those that had been built for the humans to account for just such a contingency, and this was as good an opportunity as any for Kiyone and Mihoshi to test it.

When the time comes, Ayeka will be out there instead of Kiyone and Mihoshi, Sasami thought as she cast a surreptitious glance at her older sister, I wish she'd let Washu design some armor for her too.

Ayeka had received an invitation to join today's sessions, but she had been forced to turn it down due to her own earlier training with regards to enhancing her control over her Light Hawk Wings. Sasami had watched Ayeka during those sessions alongside Misaki and the Royal Guardians, and she'd seen her older sister work herself almost to the point of exhaustion. By all rights, Ayeka really should've been resting in her room now, but she had insisted on coming down to observe the exercises. Sasami suspected that what she really wanted to watch was Quatre leading the others through the training sessions, but she kept that to herself. After all, the younger princess had a human of her own that she wanted to watch today, so it would be a bit hypocritical to call out Ayeka on that.

That human wasn't particularly hard to find; even though they were all wearing identical armor, Trowa was easy to pick out from the crowd by virtue of the fact that he wielded the biggest gun. He was putting it to good use at the moment, laying down a stream of orange bolts that tore apart a squad of drones in short and brutal order. It was a bit jarring for Sasami to see. She was so used to Trowa's kind and gentle if somewhat aloof and quiet demeanor, and it didn't really mesh well with the weapon that he favored. That being said, it was hard to deny his skill with it.

His friends were no slouches with their chosen weapons, either. Taking point alongside Trowa was Duo, with the jovial young man clearing the other side of the room with a few quick shots from his plasma shotgun. Sasami couldn't help but wince as she saw Duo's targets get torn to metallic shreds by his efficient fire; even if the enemies in this exercise were merely drones, the particularly gruesome manner in which they were being dispatched was more than a little unnerving. The young princess could only hope that she'd never have to witness Duo using that weapon against flesh and blood foes. She didn't know what such carnage might look like, and she was in no hurry to find out.

As the rest of the group swiftly entered the chamber, fresh drones suddenly popped out from behind false wall and ceiling panels that slid away to let them fire on the intruders. Unfortunately for the combat automata, their foes had sharp senses and fast reflexes. While the room didn't have much in the way of cover for the humans and Galaxy Police officers to use, their precise aim and quickness to spread out and evade incoming fire more than made up for it. Pinpoint shots from Quatre picked off two flying drones as they tried to enter the room from above, while bursts of fire from Wufei put down several bipedal attackers coming in from the right side of the chamber. Supporting fire from the sidearms of Hilde, Mihoshi and Kiyone forced several more drones to take cover, and that in turn gave Duo and Trowa the opening they needed to press a counterattack. Within seconds, the would-be ambushers had been reduced to smoking piles of scrap, and the team was already moving on to the next room.

"As skillful as ever," Ayeka remarked with a proud smile, "Lord Quatre leads them well."

Misaki gave her eldest daughter a mischievous smirk. "I'll tell him you said as much after the exercise!"

Ayeka's face momentarily flushed a deep red. "Thank you, Mother, but… I believe I can tell him myself."

Sasami giggled. "He'll appreciate it!"

This time, Ayeka had a retort and a sassy smile at the ready. "Just as Sir Trowa will appreciate you observing his exercise, I imagine."

Now it was Sasami's turn to blush and fidget. "Well… I just want to make sure he doesn't overdo it. He works so hard… he needs to rest now and then, too."

"How kind of you to concern yourself with him," Azaka chirped.

"So preciously adorable!" Kamidake added with glee.

Her face practically painted crimson now, Sasami pointedly turned away from her companions and focused on the training session. Ryo-Ohki leaned down to lick her forehead, a gesture that Sasami had learned to associate with reassurance and solidarity. Ryoko's living starship might not have been able to speak in a conventional manner, but she was still more than understandable to those who were close to her.

Sasami smiled and reached up to pat Ryo-Ohki on the forehead. "You agree with me, don't you? You think that they're working too hard and need to take some time for themselves."

"Meow!" Ryo-Ohki affirmed.

"They'll have it after this exercise is concluded," said Misaki, "They've been going for hours now, so I'd say food and drink are in order."

"Best to wait before ordering any," Ayeka advised, "They still haven't reached the defensive portion of this exercise, and we don't know how long they'll be required to hold out this time."

Sasami gulped nervously as she watched Duo and Trowa breach another chamber and begin unloading on the drones within. Her older sister was correct, though the room that the team had just entered was the last one before the data center that Hilde and Mihoshi would be sealed inside. In truth, those long siege sections of the training matches were her least favorite aspects. Not because she found them boring, but because Sasami worried that Trowa and the others would make a mistake due to exhaustion and get hurt. While the drones weren't using lethal energy weapons, the humans and Galaxy Police officers most certainly were, which meant that any errors had the potential to be lethal.

"Be careful," she muttered as the team swiftly cleared out the remaining drones before taking up defensive positions.

Hilde and Mihoshi entered the final room, and the door slid shut behind them. Almost immediately, alarms began blaring, and a twenty-second timer appeared; the countdown before the drone wave offensives would begin. The chamber was wide and had nothing in the way of cover, but it also only had one main entrance for the bipedal drones to get through. Granted, there were probably hidden passages above that the floating drones could use, but at least the opposition on the ground could be funneled into a chokepoint.

The timer hit zero all too soon, and it didn't take long for the first attack to come. It started with several bipedal drones charging in through the entrance while a squadron of aerial combatants came in from the ceiling hatches. While the bulk of the defending team focused on the ground attackers, Trowa turned his heavy weapon towards the airborne opposition and wasted no time in tearing into them with a torrent of orange bolts. Sweeping his rotary plasma cannon across the room from left to right, he cut down the flying drones before they could so much as line up a shot against him and his friends. Superheated chunks of metal and burned-out wiring rained down, but Trowa didn't give it so much as a glance. His weapon was still aimed at the ceiling, which meant he was more than ready for when a much larger wave of flying drones made their entrance.

"Look at him go," Sasami whispered, mesmerized by Trowa's demonstration of destructive prowess.

"Meow…" Ryo-Ohki purred.

She continued to watch in hushed awe as the exercise went on, marveling at how Trowa and his friends managed to annihilate wave after wave of robotic attackers with what looked like very little effort. They seamlessly covered each other's blind spots and made sure to overlap their fire wherever possible to ensure maximum destructive potential. The drones were both walking and flying into a veritable wall of orange death, scarcely able to get more than a few shots of their own off before they were mercilessly shot to pieces by the defenders.

Behind Sasami, Ayeka smiled in supreme confidence. "Earth may be a world at the galactic fringe, but the soldiers it produces are amongst the finest. Once official diplomatic talks have been concluded and a security treaty ratified, the Empire would do well to offer opportunities for humans to join both our own forces and those of the Galaxy Police. We could not ask for more talented allies when it comes to the art of war."

"I'm sure Azusa would be agreeable to that," Misaki remarked, "Maybe we should ask him to come with us the next time we observe a session? I think he'd enjoy it. If nothing else, it would be a nice break from his usual routine."

Ayeka heartily concurred. "Oh, absolutely! We really must convince him of it at the earliest opportunity. He's been drowning himself in affairs of state lately, and while the Empire's business is of course important, he really should take a bit of time for himself."

"How thoughtful of you, Princess Ayeka," said Azaka.

"His Majesty's heart will no doubt be warmed by your concern," Kamidake chirped, "Such a touching display from a devoted daughter!"

The chatter died down after that, with everyone's attention firmly focused on the continuing firefight below. Trowa and the others had already blasted their way through several waves of drones, with piles of smoldering metal building up near the chamber's entrance and beneath the ceiling hatches that the flying automata were coming through. They really seemed to have this down to a science by now, seamlessly supporting each other and picking off targets of opportunity with lethal accuracy. Sasami wondered if they were even sweating beneath their helmets; the training exercise barely seemed like a workout at this point.

They're all so good at what they do, Sasami thought, Trowa and his friends, Kiyone and Mihoshi… they can fight, they can fly, and they're not afraid to risk their lives. Everyone's working so hard… except for me. I don't know what I can do…

It was something that had been bothering Sasami since they'd left Earth, and it had only grown worse with recent events. Was the only useful thing she could do simply lay down whenever Washu commanded her so that Tsunami could make her presence known? She might've been a princess of Jurai and therefore expected to stay out of danger, but it felt so wrong to Sasami. Ayeka could use that same excuse, yet she had repeatedly waded in to the fray with the others and used her powers to protect them. Sasami still didn't know how to call upon her Juraian energy at all, which meant she had nothing to offer the others.

'That's not true. You have so much more to offer than you realize.'

Sasami blinked several times in confusion as she looked around the room. She'd heard a voice, and it had sounded oddly familiar, but it didn't match that of anyone else in the room. More to the point, it hadn't come from an outside source, but within her own mind. Sasami closed her eyes for a few minutes and waited to see if the mysterious voice would speak up again, but she heard nothing. What had it been? Who had it been?

Tsunami? The other… the other part of me?

It was the only answer that made sense, but it in turn raised further questions. If Sasami really did have more to offer than just being a vessel for Tsunami, then why hadn't the goddess residing within her said as much?

"Meow?" Ryo-Ohki murmured in concern before licking Sasami's forehead.

Sasami forced a smile as she looked up at her companion. "It's nothing, Ryo-Ohki. I'm fine."

"Meow…" Ryo-Ohki moaned, clearly not buying it.

Sasami pointedly ignored her and instead closed her eyes again, trying once more to hear the voice that she'd heard before. Could she somehow summon it, compel Tsunami to speak up? Unfortunately, the answer to that appeared to be no, at least for the moment. Try as she might, Sasami could not convince Tsunami to speak within her mind again. She resolved to seek out Washu later and relay the episode to her. Perhaps the scientist would have an idea as to how she might best proceed from here. If nothing else, she would certainly want to know what had just transpired.

Those thoughts were shoved to the back of her mind as a shrill alarm went off, signaling the end of the exercise. Sasami was mildly caught off guard by it; she'd expected the exercise to last longer than this. Then again, Trowa and the others had been wiping out the incoming waves of drones so quickly and thoroughly that those running the training session might've run out of automata to throw at them. As it stood, the room was filled with metallic frames shot to pieces by plasma bolts, and Sasami didn't envy whoever was in charge of cleaning up the mess.

Ayeka and Misaki stood up and applauded, the former with considerably greater enthusiasm. "A superb performance! Oh, I should not have expected anything less."

"Why don't we go down and greet them?" Misaki suggested, "They deserve to hear your accolades in person!"

"Quite so!" Ayeka eagerly concurred, already making for the exit, "Onward!"

"She's become rather excited all of a sudden," Azaka noted.

"I think she wants to spend some time with Lord Quatre," Kamidake ventured.

Sasami didn't doubt it for a moment. While she knew that her older sister still pined for Heero's affections, it was obvious to all that the Preventer operative's heart leaned heavily towards the pirate that he'd just made his Royal Guard. With so much of Heero's time now spent training separately with Ryoko, Yosho and Washu, the newest member of the Royal Family hadn't been readily available for Ayeka and Sasami. Neither of them faulted him for it, and in fact Heero had made an effort to at least check up on them and the rest of his friends once per day, but the demands of his training were clearly wearing on him. Wanting to give Heero some space to unwind, Ayeka had instead turned her attention towards Quatre, who seemed always pleased to spend time chatting with her despite his own considerable exertions during the training exercises. Sasami hoped that the trips they had scheduled soon to go out into the capital city and explore would give everyone a chance to unwind a bit, though those also came with risks. After all, part of why those trips had been arranged was to dangle Heero as bait for any potential assassins dispatched by Kagato or his allies.

We really need a vacation when this whole mess is over, Sasami thought, I wonder if Father will let us go back to Earth after this. We could return to the country house for a while, live quiet lives again… that would be nice.

She was still pondering other potential vacation destinations when her little group arrived outside the main debriefing room. A red light shone over the doorway, indicating that the current session had yet to conclude.

"They won't take long this time, will they?" asked Sasami.

Ayeka shook her head. "I doubt it. They performed exceptionally well, and I don't think that they'll find much in the exercise footage to critique."

"Good," said Misaki, "That give us more time to treat them to a just reward for their hard work."

Sure enough, the group only had to wait a little more than ten minutes before the humans and Galaxy Police officers came out of the briefing room. Their armor had been removed, with servants taking the crates containing it back to the Yagami. Mihoshi and Kiyone were back in their standard Galaxy Police uniforms, while Trowa and the other humans were garbed in the plain civilian attire that Sasami had grown so accustomed to seeing them in during their travels aboard the Yagami when they'd first left Earth.

Quatre was at the head of the group, and his eyes widened when he saw just who had come to greet them. "Your Highness!"

He moved to bow, with the others following suit, but Misaki headed them off with a raised hand and gentle smile. "Please, there's no need for formalities here. We simply came to offer our commendations for your superb work in the exercises, as well as to offer you a chance at respite."

"You were all marvelous to behold!" Ayeka gushed, and Sasami couldn't help but smile as she saw her older sister's eyes light up upon meeting Quatre's, "If you were to ever lack for gainful employment on Earth, rest assured that Jurai would happily offer you prestigious positions within our own forces. You have more than sufficient talent for it!"

"You did great!" Sasami cheered, beaming as she focused on Trowa, "You took out so many drones, and you made it look so easy!"

For his part, Trowa simply shrugged. "We've got plenty of practice at it by now."

"No kidding," said Duo as he stretched his arms, "If they were living opponents, I'd feel sorry for them."

"They don't really measure up to the machines we fought at the first two repositories," Wufei noted, "We'll have to be ready for much stiffer opposition when the real fight comes."

Hilde winced. "Can't say I'm looking forward to that."

Kiyone sighed. "Me neither. Makes me glad that Mihoshi and I will be on the ship."

"Aw, but I want to go out there with the others to fight!" Mihoshi pouted.

Kiyone folded her arms. "Mihoshi, that's not our job. I know we've been practicing with them, but we're only supposed to leave the Yagami as a last resort. We're meant to cover the insertion and secure the line of retreat."

"Still good to practice in case it comes to the worst," Wufei remarked.

"Well, I'd say you've all had quite enough practice for one day," Misaki chimed in, "Now, why don't you all join us up in the gardens for a break? I'll have refreshments brought for you, too."

Duo licked his lips. "Who am I to say no to free food?"

Hilde rolled her eyes. "We've been eating free food since we got here."

Duo grinned. "Hell yeah, and I'm going to get as much of it as I can!"

Ayeka groaned. "You remind me of Ryoko…"

Misaki took the lead as they proceeded towards the central elevator. Sasami fell in beside Trowa and looked him over. There was no need to; his armor would've protected him from any serious injury during the training exercise. Still, Sasami just couldn't resist the urge to check him out.

Maybe I should ask him to be my Royal Guard, she thought, already imagining the ceremony, I mean, Heero has Ryoko, and Ayeka has Azaka and Kamidake… though I guess they're supposed to guard me, too. Still…

Trowa turned to her as they got in the elevator. "Something wrong?"

Sasami blushed furiously at the fact that he'd caught her staring and could only smile nervously. "No, not at all! I just… I liked watching you back there. You're… really good at what you do."

Trowa blinked before nodding. "Oh, thanks."

Sasami wanted to slap herself. She was supposed to be an eloquent princess of Jurai, yet she was getting flustered just trying to talk to one of Heero's friends. The fact that she found him to be cute should not be tripping her up like this. Hell, she should've been even more comfortable around Trowa than the others considering how nice he'd been to her since the moment they'd met. He'd even danced with her at that party…

…although, now that Sasami thought about it, that dance might've been part of why she was now nervous talking to him.

At the time, Sasami had considered it a kind act from a new friend. No doubt Trowa had seen it that way as well. Yet Sasami's affection for the former Gundam pilot turned circus performer had evolved since then, and now she was seeing that lovely evening dance in a new light. She still considered Trowa to be a friend, but part of her now wanted something more.

Sasami continued to cast anxious looks his way as the elevator reached its destination and Misaki led them all into the gardens. Apprehension and excitement warred within her as the group gathered under the gazebo for lunch and drinks, with the young princess making sure to get herself a seat next to Trowa. Despite her efforts, though, it was difficult to do anything more than engage in a bit of small talk; having an audience was playing havoc with Sasami's nerves. She could barely focus on her food, and her mind was primarily preoccupied with thoughts of how to get the young man alone with her following the meal.

Fortunately for Sasami, that proved to be much easier than she'd expected. Once the meal had concluded, the others dispersed across the Gardens of Serenity. A few small groups formed as most of Sasami's friends and family found patches of grass to settle down in, while a handful of others decided to take a stroll. Trowa was in the latter camp, and Sasami wasted no time in heading after him.

Trowa was leaning over a bush covered in white and blue flowers when Sasami tentatively drew near before clearing her throat to get his attention. "Uhm… would you like some company?"

Trowa turned to look at her, his face utterly impassive. For a moment, Sasami feared that he might send her away, but her worries were laid to rest just a second later.

"Sure," Trowa replied with a small nod.

Her heartbeat picking up and emboldened at this promising start, Sasami smiled as she fell in next to him. "Do you like it up here? I know you've been in these gardens a few times already. They're not getting old for you, are they?"

Trowa shook his head. "Not at all. It's very calming in here. The Gardens of Serenity really do live up to their name. Since you grew up with them, though, I'd understand if they've become boring to you."

Sasami's eyes widened slightly. "What? Oh, no, I love them! Ayeka and I used to play in them all the time when we were kids."

Trowa set her heart aflutter with a small smile. "Really? What games did you play?"

"Hide and seek, mostly," Sasami answered with a giggle, "There's lots of really good hiding places in here!"

A spark of inspiration flashed through her mind, and she seized Trowa's hand. "Hey, come with me! I'll show you one."

Sasami was only dimly aware of Trowa's eyes widening slightly in surprise, but he didn't fight her as she pulled him along the path towards one of the more secluded sections of the garden. The princess's eyes narrowed as she attempted to narrow down the spot she was looking for; it had been so long since she'd last used it that her memory was actually a bit fuzzy. She wound up doing a double take as, in her excitement, she almost wound-up dragging Trowa right past it.

"Oh, here it is!" she whispered eagerly, dropping to all fours and crawling through the leaves of a large bush, "Come on!"

Both her mother and older sister would likely scold her if they could see her crawling through the dirt and undergrowth in her nice robes, and Sasami doubted she would be able to completely hide the resulting blemishes, but those were concerns for later. Weaving between branches and shrubs, she and her companion eventually came upon an opening that revealed a small pond concealed from the rest of the gardens by a cluster of trees and thick bushes with flowers in full bloom. Patches of grass surrounded the pond, neatly trimmed by the robotic groundskeepers despite the difficulty of accessing the area, and Sasami quickly claimed one before patting the ground next to her.

"What do you think?" she asked as Trowa sat down with her, "Pretty cool, isn't it?"

"It is," Trowa concurred as he looked around, "You'd be awfully hard to find in here. Your sister must've worried whenever you picked this spot to hide in."

Sasami nodded, lowering her head as memories of Ayeka freaking out passed through her mind. "Yeah… I scarred her pretty badly a few times. I stayed in here for hours, and she wound up calling the guards to help find me. I only wanted to win the game, not worry her."

Trowa gave her a comforting smile. "Ayeka really cares about you. You're lucky to have a sister who wants to look out for you like that. We won't stay back here long enough to worry her again, will we?"

Sasami shook her head. "No, but… can we stay for a little while, at least?"

"Of course," Trowa replied, "I have nowhere else that I need to be right now."

Sasami smiled. "Thank you."

She then leaned over the pond, and her eyes lit up as she found a familiar sight. "Oh, they're still here! Look, look!"

Trowa shuffled forward to join her, and together they beheld a most dazzling sight. Just beneath the surface of the pond were several fish that, while not remarkable in terms of size, were distinguished by bioluminescence. Wavy patterns of green and light blue ran down their sides and backs, with even the tips of their fins dotted in glowing purple and azure specks.

"Beautiful," Trowa murmured, "I thought bioluminescent fish were only found in the darkest depths of the ocean. What are these?"

"I never actually learned what they're called," Sasami confessed, "They're in some of the other ponds in the gardens, though, not just this one. Mom said that they were bred for Royals and nobles to light up the ponds at night. I don't know why they're in a pond where no one can see them, but they make this place very special."

She reached out to press the palm of her right hand against the calm surface of the pond. "Whenever I got angry or sad, I came out here to look at them. Seeing their colors move around slowly in the water… something about it always helped me calm down. Maybe I should spend a bit more time out here… I wonder if they'll still help me."

She nearly jumped out of her robes when Trowa put his hand on her shoulder. "It couldn't hurt to try. With all that you're going through right now, finding calming influences is very important. If there's anything that me or my friends can do to help with that, you can tell us."

Sasami took a deep breath as she pulled her hand away from the water. "Trowa… can I ask you something?"

"Of course," he replied.

She met his gaze and summoned her courage. "Do you think I'm… weird?"

Trowa blinked in confusion. "Why would I?"

"You were there in the throne room," she said as she clenched the hem of her robes, "You know that I have… something… someone else inside of me. I'm not… I'm not just me."

Trowa slowly nodded in understanding. "You mean Tsunami. Your Empire's patron goddess, right?"

"I guess so," Sasami mumbled, "I know all the stories, but… I thought she was gone or in a deep sleep somewhere. She's not, though. She's inside me… what does that make me?"

Her heart skipped a beat when Trowa reached out to put a hand over one of hers. "You're still you, Sasami. There's just a bit more to you than you once thought. It doesn't mean that you have to be anyone other than who you want to be."

"Are you sure about that?" asked Sasami, "Washu said that I'm supposed to… to merge with Tsunami eventually. That the two of us will truly become one. When that happens… will I still be me?"

Trowa was quiet for a few seconds. "I don't have a good understanding of it, so I can't make any promises. What I think, though, is that you're still in the driver's seat here. Maybe you will change as this merging progresses, but… well, we all change as we grow whether we realize it or not. You might not be completely the same as you were before, but you can still influence the direction in which that change goes. Tsunami might be a goddess, but she's residing in your body, Sasami. That means whichever way this transformation goes, you are the one with the greater say over it. You still get to decide who you want to be. You can be yourself, but you can also add the parts of Tsunami that you like to yourself and become a new version of you… if that makes any sense."

It actually kind of did, though Sasami would need time to fully grasp it. "A new version of me, but still me… something like that?"

Trowa smiled. "I think so. Change is a part of life, Sasami. It can be frightening, but that doesn't necessarily make it a bad thing, and you can still decide to keep the parts of yourself that you like as that change goes forward. You can remain true to yourself even as you merge with the entity that your body is hosting."

Sasami nodded and smiled as well. "True to myself… I think I can do that. Actually, I think Tsunami would let me do that. All the stories talk about her kindness and wisdom. Maybe this really isn't as scary as I think it is."

"Whether you find it to be scary or not, you won't have to go through it alone," Trowa replied, "Your family and friends will be with you."

"That includes you, right?" asked Sasami hopefully.

Trowa nodded. "Of course."

Throwing caution and restraint to the wind, she threw her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. "Trowa… thank you."

Her companion tensed for a moment in surprise, but it passed quickly enough. Sasami soon felt Trowa's arms envelope her in a gentle embrace, and she became very grateful that she had her face pressed against his chest; she didn't want him to see just how much she was blushing right now.

"You don't need to thank me, Sasami," Trowa reassured her, "If you need anything, you can come to me and the others. That's what friends are for, right?"

Sasami looked up at Trowa and, without thinking, leaned up to give him a quick peck on the cheek. "Right!"

She saw his eyes widen slightly, and it was only then that Sasami's brain caught up with what she'd just done. A fresh surge of heat rushed to her face, and she immediately lowered her head to press her face into Trowa's chest again. She feared that Trowa might push her away, but her companion did no such thing. He simply continued to hold her while gently patting her head with his right hand.

And, at least for the moment, all of Sasami's worries just seemed to melt away.

….

March 26th, A.C. 199

For all that it loomed in the distance over the capital, the Royal Palace was hardly the sole attraction that the heart of the Empire had to offer. The city that made up Jurai's administrative hub was a jewel in its own right, renowned throughout the galaxy for the strenuous efforts taken by its planners to blend both nature and technology in perfect harmony. Buildings rarely got over four or five stories in height at the most, with the white and gently curving structures generally being much lower in an effort to preserve as much of a view of the capital's busy sky as possible. One could look up at any given time to see streams of ships flowing in and out, ranging from couriers and light freighters to heavy transports and luxury yachts. That wasn't even getting into the abundance of airborne wildlife that the capital had to offer, with birds sporting a rainbow of plumage being regular sights in both the sky and perching amongst the many trees that grew so healthily within the city.

While the capital had its entertainment districts, its nightclubs, casinos, theaters and other such mundane attractions, the city's true draw was its various public parks and waterways. One main river ran through the capital, but branching off from that were several tributaries which in turn were expanded upon via a network of canals. Tourist gondolas were a common sight in those canals, lazily drifting down the waterways while the guides regaled their passengers with tales of Jurai's glorious past or took them past particularly scenic bits of nature amidst the urban landscape where they could take pictures to their hearts' content. Even the canals were a sideshow when compared to the parks, though. Those were more like sprawling nature preserves, where guests could experience both vast fields of finely trimmed grass and paths through dense clusters of trees that completely blocked out the view of any buildings and gave the illusion of travelling through a forest within the heart of the capital. Ponds and small lakes brimming with freshwater fish taken from worlds across the Empire and dotted with floating lilies were also quite prominent and popular, and it was along the edge of one of those that Heero and those that had accompanied him from Earth were relaxing at now.

Well, most of them, anyway. Some members of his entourage weren't so lucky as to get the chance to enjoy the park, at least not directly. Kiyone was one of them. Instead of being down there lying on the grass or gazing out at the pond, she was lying flat atop one of the nearby buildings overlooking the park, observing all that transpired below through a pair of binoculars. Mihoshi, Duo, Trowa and Quatre had likewise taken up separate positions in an effort to provide as much coverage as possible. This was more than just a leisurely day out for Jurai's new prince, after all; it was a fishing expedition, and Heero was the proverbial worm on the hook.

"Did I miss anything?" asked a male voice from behind her.

Kiyone briefly looked over her shoulder to see that Wufei had returned, and he had a small sack with her. "Nothing important. What's in the bag?"

The young man smiled. "Consider it a late morning snack. Figured I'd grab you something while I was on break. Go ahead and grab a bite; I'll take up watch until you're done."

Kiyone was about to protest that she was fine, but her growling stomach undercut any argument she might've made, and instead she could only smile sheepishly. "Guess I could use it. Thanks."

Sitting up and swapping her binoculars for the bag, Kiyone scooted back and let Wufei take her spot. Opening the bag, her smile grew as she beheld a transparent case holding rice balls, dumplings, and some assorted fruits. There was also a bottle of water.

"Perfect," she murmured before opening up the contents and digging in.

She belatedly turned back to Wufei after a few bites and gave him a thumbs up. "I owe you one. Let me know what you like; the next meal's on me."

"I grabbed something for myself earlier," Wufei replied, "so I'm good for now. Appreciate the offer, though."

Kiyone shrugged before getting right back to chowing down. This wasn't the first observation assignment she'd pulled with Wufei; Heero had actually assigned the two of them to work together for this little operation, while Mihoshi was paired with Duo and Trowa worked with Quatre. While Mihoshi had initially pouted at being split up from her partner, she'd changed her tune after working a shift with Duo.

Sounds like he's actually pretty understanding and relaxed with her, Kiyone mused as she savored her meal, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. He's been pretty easy-going about… well, everything that's happened since this crazy journey of ours kicked off. As long as he's able to keep Mihoshi's eye on the ball, I suppose that's the only thing that matters. She's not exactly my first choice to put on an assignment like this. Not with her attention span being what it is…

"How's it looking down there?" she asked in-between bites.

"No different now than it was when you were watching a few minutes ago," Wufei answered, "They're all still hanging around the pond. No assassin would go for a shot like this. They'll wait until the target's isolated."

Kiyone's brow furrowed. "We've got all the potential sniper perches covered, right?"

"Palace Guard's plainclothes operatives are watching the ones we can't see from here," Wufei reminded her while keeping his attention focused on the park below, "They haven't picked up anything. If they had, they would've messaged us by now."

Kiyone sighed. "Right… guess I'm overthinking things."

"You want to make sure we've got all our bases covered," Wufei remarked, "Nothing wrong with that."

Kiyone smiled as she finished her meal before moving up to lay down on her stomach next to Wufei. "You ran some stakeouts with Preventers, right? You seem pretty used to this kind of work."

Wufei shrugged. "I get all sorts of assignments. Comes with being in high demand. This isn't my first time hunting would-be assassins. Using one of my fellow operatives as bait for them is a new one, though."

"You and Heero pulled missions together before all of this, didn't you?" Kiyone asked, "With your skills, Preventers must've kept you both busy."

Wufei nodded. "They did. Heero's never said it openly, but I'm sure he felt that watching all of you out in the countryside was a vacation compared to his previous workload. When you're the best in your field, you get the hardest jobs, and Director Une gave plenty of those to Heero and I."

Kiyone eyed him curiously. "When this is all over… are you planning on going back to it? Back to Earth and Preventers, I mean."

"I'm still part of Preventers," Wufei pointed out, "This is just the first mission I've done for them that's taken me outside the Sol System. Although, after all this… pulling old-fashioned counterterrorism ops or illegal arms interdiction will feel a bit dull by comparison."

Kiyone resisted the urge to grin; this was just the sort of opening she'd been hoping for. "Ever thought of expanding your horizons? You've got talents that are universally useful. I can think of a few parties outside of Earth's government that would pay big money to have you onboard."

Wufei's attention remained forward, but Kiyone could tell that her words had definitely piqued his interest. "Such as the Galaxy Police?"

Kiyone smiled. "Among others."

"Isn't Earth still officially a no-contact zone for your organization?" he asked, "You're not supposed to reveal yourselves to the locals, right? Preventers being the exception. Hard to see your bosses wanting to recruit from our neck of the woods."

"They'll change their tune pretty quickly when the dust settles from this whole mess," Kiyone countered, "The skills that you've honed with Preventers would make you a perfect fit for the Galaxy Police. You've already demonstrated great combat prowess, and you're showing now that your abilities extend beyond fighting. You have investigative experience, particularly when it comes to counterterrorism operations. You'd be in high demand."

Wufei was quiet for a moment. "How would I even get in? It's not like you've got any recruitment offices on Earth or the colonies."

"I could put in a word for you," she offered, "The Galaxy Police has a mentor and sponsorship program; those recommended by experienced officers get fast-tracked through the Academy selection process. Granted, my record's a bit mixed thanks to all the shenanigans Mihoshi's dragged me into, but I've at least got the years required to qualify as a sponsor. I'd make you look pretty good in my report, and the best part is I wouldn't have to embellish anything; your talents speak for themselves."

"What would you want in return?" Wufei inquired.

Kiyone raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think I've got an ulterior motive? I just think you've got what it takes to go into my line of work, and that the Galaxy Police would do well to hire someone like you."

"That's all there is to it?" Wufei asked with clear skepticism.

Kiyone was taken aback by his tone, but the more she thought about it, the more she realized that Wufei might've been more on the money than she'd readily admit to. Yes, she saw him as a potential valuable asset for the Galaxy Police and was doing her duty as an officer in recognizing a gifted a recruit, but there was more to it than that. For starters, if Wufei got in and made a good impression on his instructors, having her name attached to his would certainly help Kiyone's future career prospects. It might get her superiors to look past all the incidents that she and Mihoshi had been involved in, maybe even convince them to give the Yagami something other than Outland Sector traffic patrol duty.

No, she thought, I'm not trying to talk him into this just to salvage my career, am I? I should be better than that…

She studied Wufei keenly as she tried to pin down what exactly had gotten into her. Working with him and the rest of Heero's friends from Earth had been an interesting experience to put it mildly. Sure, they all had their quirks, but each had proven themselves to be dependable when the chips were down. Wufei was no exception to that, especially whenever there was fighting to be done. Kiyone had gotten a front row seat to seeing his piloting skills in action during both exercises and the battle at the second repository, and she had been suitably impressed with the manner in which he handled the custom fighter Washu had created for him. Her only experience with his combat abilities on foot might've been in the training sessions beneath the palace, but those were still more than enough to show her that he was a force to be reckoned with. Sure, he struck her as a bit too eager to get into a fight at times, yet there was no denying that he had the moves to back up the tough talk.

Combine his skills in battle with his intelligence, his experience in investigative work, the incredible adaptability he'd shown ever since they'd left Earth, and top it off with the fact that Kiyone found him to be quite easy on the eyes… well, there was only one real conclusion she could draw.

Wait, that can't be it, she told herself, I mean, I've barely had a chance to get to know the guy. I don't see him like that… do I?

Kiyone shook her head in an attempt to refocus; she could sort all that out later. "Well, if I'm being honest, I wouldn't mind working with you again in the future. You seem to really have your act together. Nothing against Mihoshi, but… well, running missions with you would be a breath of fresh air."

"I see," said Wufei.

He didn't seem completely convinced, but neither did he press the issue. Kiyone would count that as a favor, because she wasn't completely sure what she would've said had he inquired further. Now was hardly the time for her heart to be messing with her head in any case. Moving closer to the edge of the building, she grabbed a second set of binoculars.

"You're supposed to be on break," Wufei noted as he cast a side glance her way.

"I'm not going to be able to relax," she replied, "It's not that I don't trust you or anything, it's just… well, I don't want to leave anything to chance here."

"That's fair," said Wufei, "though I doubt anyone's going to try something until Heero breaks off from the group. If any assassins are after him, they probably won't want to risk catching Ayeka and Sasami in the crossfire, and they're both pretty close to him right now."

Kiyone raised an eyebrow. "If an assassin is going after one Royal that's aligned against Kagato, why not go for the others? I doubt Kagato would have them hold back, especially since Ayeka's already directly fought against him. Wouldn't he want to take her out too, at least? Sasami for good measure, if only to remove her as a rallying point in the line of succession."

Wufei shook his head. "I don't think so. Look at it this way; while Heero's a prince, he's still a newbie as far as Jurai's concerned. Ayeka and Sasami are much more established within the Empire's hierarchy and society, not to mention that they're the daughters of the Emperor while Heero's a great-grandson."

Kiyone slowly nodded as she realized what he was getting at. "Between the two, the Emperor's much more attached to his daughters than he is to Heero. Same goes for both Empresses. A hit on Heero would still draw heat, but the Emperor would be much more pissed off if either Ayeka or Sasami were targeted."

"Exactly," said Wufei, "Heero's a target that generates much less splash damage, if you will. He knows that just as well as we do."

Kiyone's brow furrowed. "Maybe, but still… given that Kagato's after nothing less than rule of the galaxy through the power of the Array, wouldn't the current Royal Family as a whole ultimately be a target of his? If not sooner, than definitely later."

"You're not wrong," Wufei replied, "but it's all a matter of timing here. He has his coalition of supporting nobles to consider, just like we do with ours. If he makes a drastic move against the Royal Family too soon in the game, he could scare off potential supporters. He probably won't launch a direct attack against the crown princess or her sister, let alone the Emperor and his wives, until he's seized the Array."

"When his victory is guaranteed," Kiyone murmured as she followed his line of thinking, "At that point, he'll have his gun aimed at the head of the universe, or at least this galaxy. Hell, he might not even need to kill the Royal Family then. He could just blackmail them into abdication. The Array would give him all the leverage he'd ever need."

"That's probably his end goal," Wufei remarked, "Much cleaner than actually assassinating the Emperor and his immediate family, which means he wouldn't bleed any valuable support. His new regime would be on much stronger footing, though leaving the previous holder of the throne alive naturally possess security concerns for him."

Kiyone felt bile gather in her throat, such was her disgust at the scheme. "Taking the entire galaxy hostage just to seize the throne… megalomania doesn't even begin to describe it. Reform the empire, my ass; this guy's just after power, pure and simple. What a prick."

Wufei actually chuckled at that. "Took the words right out of my mouth."

Kiyone took a deep breath and hardened her resolve. "All the more reason to stop his plans dead in their tracks, and that starts with keeping Heero safe from any assassins Kagato or his cronies have sent out here."

Confident that Wufei had Heero and his immediate entourage covered, Kiyone shifted her focus to sweeping the perimeter. As the many parks within the capital were popular with both locals and tourists, they were surrounded by businesses eager to make credits off of their needs. This park was no exception, and it was ringed primarily by cafes and restaurants. All of them had both indoor and outdoor seating, and it was the latter that Kiyone was concentrating on now. It would be all too easy for spies or hitmen-in-waiting to loiter beneath one of the many sun-shielding umbrellas, biding their time until the moment to strike had come.

Kiyone's eyes narrowed as she zeroed in on a few suspicious individuals, and she nudged Wufei. "Hey, check this out. The café at the far north end of the park, the one to the east by the garden, and the one to the southwest by the public transit terminal; you seeing what I'm seeing?"

Wufei shifted his focus while Kiyone adjusted hers to monitor Heero, and the Preventers operative nodded a moment later. "Two women at the north one, a man and a woman in the eastern one, and two men in the southwest one; they look much more interested in the Empire's new prince than their meals."

"My thoughts exactly," said Kiyone, "First catch of the day?"

"First catch of the whole operation," Wufei remarked, "but only if we play our cards right. They're eyeing the bait, but not going for it. Not yet, at least. Keep an eye on them. I'll signal the others. Time for Heero to start wiggling on the hook."

Kiyone winced at the metaphor but refrained from any commentary. Focusing on the suspects, Kiyone searched carefully for signs of weaponry. They were all dressed like typical tourists, and given that Jurai was currently in the middle of a quite pleasant late spring their apparel didn't leave much room for concealing armaments. The somewhat loose and baggy shorts of the men and the handbags of the women were the only real places that weapons could be hidden, and they would have to be small ones at that.

Likely plasma pistols and knives, she thought as her mind raced back to a mandatory Academy course that had been devoted to dealing with just these sorts of individuals, with maybe some more exotic weaponry thrown in for flavor. Blow dart guns, shock knuckles, injectors… whatever they're packing, they'll have to get up close and personal to use them. That should play into our hands, but only if we're careful here.

As he was out in the open and supposed to be relaxing, Heero wasn't wearing the armor that Washu had created for him. The same went for his friends from Earth, along with Kiyone and Mihoshi; the whole idea was to present the illusion of an easy target, after all. Subtlety was the name of the game here, and armor would ruin that quite decisively. Heero hadn't been perturbed by it, but Kiyone had been quite nervous. There was a lot that could go wrong here, after all.

Ryoko will stick close to him, she told herself, and her barriers can block anything that these thugs throw at them. Trust her.

Her ingrained instincts as a law enforcement officer aside, Kiyone would admit that the pirate had come a long way. Ryoko showed every sign of taking her duties as Heero's Royal Guard extremely seriously, something Kiyone would not previously have thought possible for her. It felt strange to put her trust in someone that she would've been charged with apprehending not too long ago, but then again, her whole life had taken a turn for the strange ever since she'd landed on Earth. Why should that stop now?

….

"You ready for this?" Heero whispered as he and his bodyguard broke off from the group and headed towards a path leading into one of the park's small wooded areas.

To his right, Ryoko smirked. "You really have to ask? I've been waiting all day for the bastards to make a move!"

Heero couldn't help but let slip a small chuckle. "Right. Well, don't look too eager. We still need to make sure they take the bait, after all."

"No need to worry about that," came Duo's voice through a tiny communication's devise tucked away in Heero's left ear, "The ones at the northern café just paid their checks."

"I've got movement from the ones at the eastern establishment too," Trowa chimed in, "They're trying to look casual, and their pace is slow. Once you two put a bit more distance between yourselves and the others, that should change."

"Likewise for the ones at the southwestern café," Kiyone added, "Wufei's on his way down now. Your pace is good. Keep steady and watch your back."

"I've got Mihoshi heading your way," Duo announced.

"Same for Quatre," said Trowa, "He'll come in through the eastern part of the woods."

Heero took a deep breath. "You all know the drill. Execute."

Ryoko looped an arm through Heero's, playing the part of lady-on-hand for the new prince, albeit with a devious twist. "You're sure I can't kill any of them?"

Heero resisted the urge to smile; Ryoko's protectiveness of him was just one of many traits that he found so endearing about her. "Only as a last resort. Ideally, we want them all alive."

Ryoko grinned wickedly. "Alive… which means it's okay if they're missing a limb or two, right?"

This time, Heero was willing to indulge her. "I hear that Juraian medical technology is amongst the most advanced in the galaxy, and that includes the field of prosthetic limbs… so I suppose it wouldn't be too great a loss if my would-be assassins wind up short an arm or a leg."

Ryoko's smile was that of a wolf eagerly anticipating sinking her fangs into unsuspecting prey. "If they're going after you, then they deserve to pay dearly for it."

They were interrupted by Kiyone's voice in Heero's ear again. "They're splitting up. Three are going for the wooded area's northern entrance. The other three are going for the southern one."

"Then it's a pincer attack," Heero muttered, "That was one anticipated tactic."

"Want the barrier now?" Ryoko asked in a hushed tone.

"Not yet," Heero whispered, "It'll scare them off. Wait until we've got them firmly in the net."

Both had their Keys on them, though Heero was reluctant to use his; unlike Ryoko, he wanted to try taking a target or two completely intact. Washu had been quite eager to facilitate that, and so concealed in the pockets of the prince's pants were a small pistol capable of firing stun rounds and a compact extendable club with an electric charge that activated upon the combination of contact and the wielder pressing a small trigger built into the handle. His friends had been armed with similar weaponry, and it was Heero's hope to catch his attackers in a crossfire of stun bolts so that they would be quickly neutralized and taken into custody.

Members of the Palace Guard should already be in position, Heero thought, so once we disarm our attackers, we can get them out of here and back to the palace for interrogation. That's the plan, at least. Of course, no plan survives contact with the enemy.

While still leaning against him, Ryoko slipped her arm out of Heero's and dropped her right hand to the hilt of her Key. Meanwhile, Heero had discreetly primed his stun pistol for fire and was ready to grab the club at a moment's notice. The two of them soon passed beneath the shade of the trees, and they slowed their pace as they drew deeper into the wooded area. Heero's eyes surreptitiously darted left and right, and he quickly found Wufei, Mihoshi and Quatre hiding amongst the trees. The three of them quickly nodded before receding deeper into the shadows in preparation for the ambush.

"Target status?" Heero whispered.

"They're at the entrances to the woods now," Kiyone replied, "They'll be on top of you in just a few seconds."

"I can already see them," Ryoko growled softly.

So could Heero. Two women and a man were on the path ahead of them now. They were dressed in what Heero assumed the trio believed to be typical tourist attire, though in his eyes it was a bit on the tacky side. Flowered shirts and loose shorts were just far too stereotypical, although Heero could at least take some comfort in the fact that tourist fashion trends out in the wider galaxy apparently weren't all that different from those on Earth. Of much more immediate concern to him than the apparel of those approaching, though, was where their hands were going. The man had one of his hands in a pocket, while the women each had one of theirs in a handbag.

"Two men and a woman behind you," Mihoshi's voice whispered into Heero's earpiece, "They're going for weapons!"

"Heero?" Ryoko hissed.

The prince could sense the energy swelling within the pirate; she was raring to go. Yet they had to make sure that the jaws of the trap could snap completely shut before engaging, so Heero held off on giving the command for as long as he could. Then he saw the approaching trio in front of him and Ryoko tense, and he knew it was now or never.

"Do it," Heero commanded.

A flurry of orange plasma bolts flew forth from both in front and behind as all six would-be assassins opened fire, with their shots aimed squarely at Heero. It didn't do them any good; the air around him and Ryoko shimmered as the pirate brought a barrier to life, rendering their assailants' quickdraw attack null and void.

They blew their chance, thought Heero as he resisted the urge to smirk, but I won't do the same.

In the blink of an eye, he drew his stun pistol and snapped off two quick shots. A pair of azure bolts zipped through the air, each one impacting both women in front of him square in the chest and dropping them like a sack of potatoes. A third stun bolt flew out from behind one of the trees, and Heero caught sight of Quatre break from hiding. His shot hit the man in front of Heero and Ryoko in the neck, and he fell in short order.

With the forward threats eliminated, Heero saw that Ryoko was already spinning around and igniting the twin blades of her Key, and a savage grin was on her face. "My turn!"

She lunged forward even as a pair of blue stun bolts flew out from the bushes and dropped one of the men and the woman from the second trio; Mihoshi and Wufei had made their move. The last assassin left standing looked for a moment like they might try to flee, but they then charged straight at Heero with their pistol up and ready to fire. Heero took aim with his stun pistol, but Ryoko had already closed the gap and swung her weapon in a wide arc. The assailant's weapon, along with the right hand that held it and the arm attached to it up to the elbow, dropped to the ground with a sickening thud.

The dismembered assassin went pale with shock as he beheld his missing limb, but Heero wasn't about to take any chances. Moving to get a clear shot, he quickly took aim and pulled the trigger, sending a blue stun bolt right into the man's head.

Ryoko looked back at him and raised an eyebrow. "I totally had him. You know that, right?"

"He might've been about to bite a poison capsule," Heero replied, "Can't take any chances."

Ryoko nodded. "Right. Think we got 'em all?"

"Let's find out," said Heero, "Perimeter watch, you read? We made a clean sweep in here. You got any more fish out there?"

"None that I can see," Kiyone reported.

"Same," Duo chimed in.

"All clear," Trowa confirmed.

"Alright, then," said Heero as he surveyed the six unconscious captives, "In that case, let's get the Palace Guard plainclothes members in here; we've got prizes for them to bundle up."

….

The underground complex of the Royal Palace was good for more than sheltering the Emperor and his family or providing a training ground for elite soldiers. Nestled away within the labyrinth was a series of top-secret interrogation chambers. At first glance, they didn't appear to be anything out of the ordinary. Their accompanying security measures might've been considerably greater than those found in normal military or police installations, but the rooms themselves were quite plain, consisting of a table and some chairs for prisoners and their interviewers to use. However, Heero had been informed by Lady Seto that several of the wall panels could actually slide away and reveal a disturbing variety of implements that could be brought to bear if a prisoner was in a particularly obstinate mood.

I'd rather it didn't come to that, he thought as he looked on through a one-way window as none other Lady Seto herself interviewed one of the male would-be assassins, and it seems there's little risk of that happening. Lady Seto clearly knows what she's doing… either that, or her reputation amongst criminals operating within the Empire of Jurai is much more terrifying than Ryoko let on earlier.

Ryoko herself was standing to the right of Heero, and she couldn't suppress a shudder as she watched Jurai's Devil Princess work her magic. "She does all that with a smile on her face… it's creepy!"

"It's also effective," Heero remarked, "She's got him spilling his guts all over the place, so to speak."

That much was certainly true. Heero had wondered how Juraians conducted interrogations in situations like this, and it turned out the answer was quite similar to how it was done with Preventers back on Earth. Since they had a group of six live suspects to work with here, Lady Seto and Empress Funaho had quickly come to the conclusion that the best strategy would be to pit the assassins against each other by offering plea deals if they cooperated. Heero had expected any hired gun willing to operate within the Imperial capital to be a tough nut to crack, but it turned out that these would-be regicidal assassins weren't exactly the cream of the crop. It didn't exactly speak well of the nobles who had hired them; Heero had expected wealthy aristocrats to be able to afford better assassins than this, and he wasn't sure if he should've been relieved or insulted that apparently these thugs had been selected primarily because they'd undercut the competition on their rates.

Funaho, who had just returned from overseeing a separate interrogation and was standing to Heero's left, gave voice to that sentiment. "To think that these two-bit hitmen were the first fish to swim into our net… I've seen better assassins sent after witnesses at corruption trials. Does a Royal target really only deserve discount hired guns?"

Heero couldn't help but chuckle despite the fact that he'd been the target of these dollar-store hitmen. "And here I thought that I'd established myself as a credible threat back at the debut ball… I'm clearly still not taken seriously by the Empire's elite."

Funaho smiled. "I can assure you that you are most certainly taken seriously by those who actually matter within Jurai's ruling hierarchy. If I was targeting you, I would've spared no expense, and the likes of Nagi herself would be right at the top of my hiring list."

"I'm sure she'd be honored," Ryoko deadpanned.

"She would've had a much better chance at success than these fine morons," Heero quipped, "although their incompetence and willingness to talk means we'll have their clients apprehended in short order."

Funaho sighed. "Yes, though it's a shame that these particular nobles aren't part of Kagato's inner circle. It's no wonder that he kept them at arm's length; they're minor houses whose reach far exceeds their grasp. At least we can put their assets to good use when we seize them; they'll be quite handy for shoring up our own support."

Ryoko groaned in frustration. "So, we put Heero's life on the line here just to scoop up a bunch of cheap goons and their bit-player noble employers? I thought we were supposed to be going for bigger fish than this!"

"We always knew it would be a gamble," Heero calmly countered, "There's simply no way to guarantee who's going to take our bait and who they'll send out. The operation's only just begun, and so have the interrogations. Once the nobles who hired these assassins are arrested and they undergo interrogation, the information gleaned from those session may very well lead us to those 'bigger fish'. Patience and persistence are required for operations like this one."

Funaho smiled. "Well spoken. I understand your irritation, Ryoko, but this is very much a marathon, not a sprint. The real prize likely won't be grasped for some time to come. For now, we can only seize what opportunities are presented and try to create new ones as we go along. Today was a good start, regardless of the lackluster abilities or quality of our current prisoners."

Ryoko took a deep breath, and to Heero's relief her agitation receded. "Well, as long as we accomplished something useful, then I guess that's good enough for now. So, what next? Go back out there for round two?"

Funaho's smile grew considerably. "Not today. You played at recreation earlier in order to draw out the enemy. Now I think it's time that you and your friends had a chance for some real leisure. Wouldn't you both agree?"

Heero raised an eyebrow; he hadn't anticipated this. "I suppose I would, but what exactly did you have in mind?"

A pixyish smirk graced Funaho's face. "Why don't you and your friends take a chance to clean up and refreshen yourselves, and then meet me in palace hangar A2 in about an hour or so? I have something special in mind!"

….

The shuttle that had taken Ryoko, Heero and the others out of the palace was certainly nice enough. A sleek and pretty white delta-winged craft, it had very comfortable seats and a crew eager to cater to every need of the passengers, including access to a surprisingly well-stocked minibar. However, they were barely aboard the craft long enough for Ryoko down just one of the tiny liquor bottles; the shuttle had practically shot up to orbit, reoriented itself, and then rapidly descended mere minutes later. Its destination was a private hangar, itself part of an exclusive retreat for the Royal Family that was established along the shore of an expansive lake situated several hundred kilometers east of the capital.

Almost feels like we're back on Earth, Ryoko mused as she and the others filed out of the shuttle and were led to the hangar exit, although the place Preventers set us up with out in the countryside wasn't nearly as fancy as this.

The safehouse nestled away in the foothills of Japan had certainly been nice, but it paled in comparison to what Ryoko and the others were walking towards now. A wide four-story building was sprawled out along the lake's southern shore. The architectural style reminded Ryoko somewhat of pictures of traditional Japanese palaces that Heero had shown her and the others while he'd been trying to familiarize them with the details of the region that they'd called home back on Earth, though in this case tradition very much blended with the modern. The sloping roof of the retreat hung over an open-air balcony rimming the top floor that was lined with binoculars on swivel mounts to allow its residents to savor nature's beauty in detail. Down at the ground level, a broad wooden surface spread out from the shore and over the water itself, supported by thick poles and adorned with umbrella-topped tables and even an open-air kitchen. From one side of the platform jutted out a dock, and moored alongside it were several small watercraft of various types.

Casting her gaze beyond the residence itself, Ryoko could see fine white sandy shores ringing the lake. The sand didn't look natural here, and she guessed that it had been imported from a beach somewhere else on the planet or perhaps even from off-world. Foot paths branched out from the residence in multiple directions, circling the lake as well as leading into several wooded areas. A series of flat surfaces had been paved along the eastern side of the retreat, and from the look of things Ryoko surmised that they were pitches for various ball games. A few nets had been set up on the shore sections closes to the residence that weren't covered by the massive wooden platform and dock, likewise to allow those staying here to partake in beach sports should they wish.

At the head of the group, Funaho smiled as she gestured broadly at the residence. "Welcome to Lake Fukkatsu! This has long been a favored private getaway for the Royal Family, and I felt it was only right that you all get a chance to enjoy it after all your hard work."

Ryoko grinned. "Now this is what I call a reward!"

"No kidding!" Duo chimed in as he elbowed Heero, "Buddy, your family's been holding out on us! How could you let them do that, man?"

Hilde chuckled. "Duo, that's not his fault. We've all been a bit busy lately, remember?"

"All too true," said Quatre as he stretched his arms while looking around, "This looks like the perfect place to kick back and unwind for a bit."

Ayeka smiled. "You're not wrong, Lord Quatre. I have fond memories of spending summers out here as a young girl. There's no better spot in Jurai for those just looking to get away from it all for a while."

"There's so much to do out here!" Sasami chimed in, and Ryoko saw her turn her excited gaze to Trowa, "I promise that you'll love it."

For his part, Trowa gave Sasami a small smile. "I don't doubt that for a moment."

She's really growing attached to him, Ryoko thought with a smirk, I guess the kid could do a lot worse than one of Heero's friends for a crush…

"Don't run off too far," Azaka chimed in, "It wouldn't do for you to get lost in the woods."

"Or drown in the lake!" Kamidake fretted.

Sasami rolled her eyes. "I'll be fine, you two. I'll have Trowa with me!"

Trowa nodded at the two Royal Guardians. "She'll be safe under my watch, though I doubt we'll be in any real danger out here. This is a lovely retreat."

"It's definitely pretty," Wufei concurred as he surveyed the area, "but is it really secure? If we're supposed to relax for real rather than put on a show of it like we did in the capital, I'd like at least an assurance that we're actually protected."

"You needn't worry," Funaho replied, "The Palace Guard maintains a strong security presence out here, and the perimeter is carefully monitored. I assure you that we're as safe here as we would be within the confines of the palace itself."

"How long will be staying out here?" asked Kiyone.

"Overnight," Funaho answered, "I figured you all could use a brief getaway."

"But we didn't pack for a stay out here!" Mihoshi protested.

Ayeka shook her head. "There's no need to worry. When Lady Funaho informed me of her plans, I instructed the servants to pack extra clothes in the shuttle. They'll be unloading attire for tomorrow a bit later and bringing it to the guest rooms. This place also has swimwear stored here, so we'll be able to take full advantage of the lake itself."

Washu chuckled as she looked at Funaho. "Looks like you thought of everything!"

Funaho gave a soft laugh and inclined her head. "I tried to cover my bases."

Yosho took a deep breath and smiled as he savored the crisp countryside air. "Ah, how long has it been since I was last out here? Feels like it hasn't changed a bit."

Funaho smiled. "I'd hoped that you would say that. Welcome back, my son. This place has missed you nearly as much as I have."

"It's a pity that Azusa and Seto couldn't join us," Misaki remarked with a wistful sigh, "Oh, to have the whole family out here again, just like in the good old days… it'd be so nice."

Funaho placed a comforting hand on the Second Empress's shoulder. "When this whole messy business is resolved, we'll make time for it."

Misaki smiled before winking at Heero. "We'd better. After all, we have a new family member to bring along next time!"

Ryoko turned to the young man that she was charged with protecting. "Well, Heero? What do you say to actually having some fun for a change?"

He gave her a very small smile in return. "I'd like that."

Ryoko grinned. "What are we waiting for, then? Let's go!"

….

I crossed half the galaxy to stop a rogue noble from seizing a superweapon, Heero mused as he guided the personal watercraft across the lake, and yet, here I am, riding what might as well be a super-advanced version of a jet-ski at a countryside retreat. Almost feels like I never even left Earth…

The Juraians called the craft he was on now a wave skimmer. A sleek and curved frame painted light blue with white accents made up the front half of the little vessel, while mounted atop it was a fairly intuitive control console consisting of two handle bars and a small holographic display showing speed, water depth, and the remaining energy level within its batteries. The craft had anti-gravity generators mounted within the bottom of its hull, allowing it to hover over the water if the rider wanted to, but it also possessed a motor in the rear that could propel it directly along the surface. It was the second setting that Heero was using now; he wanted to truly feel the way the craft interacted with the water, and it wasn't like either he or his passenger were afraid of a bumpy ride.

Behind him, pressing herself against his back, Ryoko whooped and cheered as Heero took a zigzagging path across the lake. "Woohoo! Now this is what I'm talking about! Come on, Heero; faster!"

Heero smirked as he glanced over his shoulder. His gaze lingered on the pirate perhaps a bit longer longer than it should've, though given that the swimwear she'd chosen was a quite skimpy dark red bikini he figured he could be forgiven for allowing his eyes to wander. He knew that Ryoko certainly wouldn't mind the attention. Besides, she'd made no effort to hide her ogling of him when he'd stepped out of the retreat wearing nothing but a set of dark blue swim trunks, so it was absolutely fair for him to sneak in an appreciative look or two.

The two of them weren't the only ones taking advantage of the retreat's considerable inventory of highly maneuverable personal watercraft. Some distance to the right, Heero could see Duo and Hilde zipping about, with the God of Death often taking his dark green machine over Heero's wake just to give Hilde an extra jolt or two. Dressed in black swim trunks while his wife had cladded herself in a light purple one-piece, the L2 native looked like he was having a ball. Hilde seemed equally as enthusiastic, though Heero supposed that he could've been misinterpreting; with the way Duo was driving, Hilde's energetic gesturing and shouting could easily be taken as frustration or outright alarm.

Slightly closer and to the left, a teal craft of the same design as Heero's and Duo's carried Trowa and Sasami along at a blistering pace. Heero was a bit taken aback by the sheer speed that Trowa was putting on; he figured that Trowa would've held back for the sake of his passenger. Then again, Sasami seemed to be egging him on from the look of things. She was grinning gleefully and pointing ahead, and Trowa appeared all too willing to indulge her. The princess's pink one-piece swimsuit stood out rather harshly against the color of both the watercraft and her hair, though it at least made her easy to spot even from a distance. Trowa's swim trunks were dark blue, just like Heero's, and the Preventers operative could not help but notice that Sasami seemed to be using their current activity as an excuse to hold Trowa's thin yet athletic body as tightly as possible.

Trowa, you should be careful, Heero thought as he resisted the urge to chuckle, Keep this up, and you might just have a Juraian princess following you home after the mission's over. I wonder what Catherine would have to say about that…

Casting his gaze towards the shore, he caught sight of a beach volleyball game in full swing. On one team was Quatre in an orange pair of swim trunks, Ayeka in a white one-piece swimsuit and, somewhat surprisingly, none other than First Empress Funaho herself in a black bikini. Opposing them was Wufei in a set of light blue swim trunks, Mihoshi in a bright orange bikini, and Kiyone in a dark green one. Sitting on the sidelines watching the contest were Yosho and Washu, the former clad in a pair of white swim trunks while the latter had a scarlet one-piece suit on. Hovering in the background were Azaka and Kamidake, decked out with comically large straw hats that Funaho seemed to have kept at the retreat specifically for them. Barely visible due to her small size was Ryo-Ohki, curled up in Washu's lap taking a nap as the notorious scientists gave her some well-earned ear scratches. Meanwhile, Misaki came out of the retreat wearing a cerulean one-piece swimsuit and carrying a tray of fruity drinks which she passed around to Yosho and Washu before joining them in watching the volleyball game. It was a positively idyllic image, enough to make Heero forget about why they had all come out to Jurai in the first place, at least for a little while.

His thoughts turned from his friends to his more immediate companion, who was making sure he knew what she thought of their current situation. Ryoko's hands eagerly explored up and down Heero's bare chest, while her bosom was pressed tightly against his back. She leaned forward to nip at his ear, a sensation that Heero had gradually learned to appreciate over the time he'd spent getting to know the lovely pirate in a more intimate manner.

"Slow it down for a bit!" she called out, having no choice but to shout to make herself heard over the roar of the watercraft's motor.

Heero did so before looking over his shoulder. "Something wrong? You want to drive?"

Ryoko smiled before pointing past Heero. "I want you to take us back there so we can have a bit of alone time."

Following her finger, Heero saw that she was gesturing towards what looked like a small stream that branched off from the lake and went into a cluster of trees. "Might be too shallow for this thing over there."

"It's got a hover setting, remember?" Ryoko pointed out.

Heero nodded. "Right, forgot about that. Not used to craft like this having that sort of thing. Not on Earth, at least."

Ryoko smirked. "Good thing we're not on Earth, then!"

Heero chuckled before adjusting course and hitting the throttle. "Yeah."

When they drew close to the where the stream began, Heero slowed the vehicle up and activated its hover setting. The craft only rose a few centimeters over the water, but that was all its riders needed. As they passed beneath the overhanging tree branches, Heero realized that the shaded watery path they found went back quite a considerable distance. Carefully navigating the winding stream, they eventually came to a dead end that took the form of a secluded beach with enough room for a handful of occupants. The late afternoon sunlight filtered down through gaps in the foliage, and the water sparkled in its rays.

"Pretty," Ryoko murmured as Heero took the watercraft up to the shore.

"It is," Heero concurred before killing both the anti-gravity system and the engine itself, allowing the small vessel to settle onto the sand, "Did you know about this place?"

Ryoko shook her head before giving him a playful smile. "Nope! I just saw the lake branch off and thought it might be fun to explore a bit. I'm a free spirit, remember?"

Heero smiled as he got off the watercraft before offering Ryoko his hand. "You are… and I wouldn't have you any other way."

His Royal Guard smirked as she took his hand, and as Heero pulled her off of the craft she lunged forward and tackled him to the ground. Thankfully, the sand cushioned his fall quite nicely, and Heero was treated to the rather pleasant view of his lovely companion straddling his waste and planting her hands firm on his chest. She then leaned down to steal a quick kiss from his lips.

Heero smiled as he reached up to gently run a hand down the side of her face. "Enjoying yourself?"

"You know it!" she shot back with a grin.

Ryoko then rolled off of him before pressing herself against Heero's right side. He put his arm around her as she rested her head on his shoulder, and together the two of them looked up at the leafy canopy above. A few birds looked down curiously from the branches and chirped, but apart from them it was just the prince and the pirate.

"It's quiet back here," Ryoko murmured before running her fingers playfully through Heero's hair, "Mind if we stay for a while?"

"I'd like that," Heero replied, "though I didn't think 'quiet' was really your thing."

A soft laugh escaped Ryoko's lips. "Hey, even I feel the need to get some space now and then! I love being rowdy, don't get me wrong, but sometimes it's nice to just find a peaceful little spot and just… breathe, you know? Figured you could use it, too."

"You're not wrong," Heero remarked, "We've had precious little time for anything like that lately. The fleet exercises, our training with Yosho and Washu, these sting operations with the assassins… the past few days have gone by like a blur. Hell, after our training session tomorrow I've got a meeting with the Crafters on my plate, and I have no idea how that's going to play out."

Ryoko raised an eyebrow. "The Crafters? Why do I feel like I've heard that name before?"

"Funaho mentioned them," Heero answered, "They're the ones who are supposed to help me begin building my own Royal Treeship."

"Oh, right," said Ryoko, "Do you really need one of those when you've got me and Ryo-Ohki available? Plus you've got that fighter Washu made for you. Another ship feels like a bit much, don't you think?"

Heero chuckled. "I like Washu's craft, and I'd be more than happy with your pet flying me around the galaxy, but you know how the Royal Family can be. Tradition, politics, all that fun stuff. Funaho's insisting on it, and Washu thinks it'll help me tap into more of my power, so I'll play along."

Ryoko sighed. "Well, I'll be along for the ride as your bodyguard, so try to keep things entertaining, will you?"

Heero smirked. "Not sure how I'm supposed to do that. I don't even know what the Crafters are really going to do, other than that it just involves me and my Royal Tree. Sorry, but you might have to suffer through some boredom on my behalf."

Ryoko let out a somewhat exaggerated exhalation before smiling. "I guess I signed up for that, since I'm your Royal Guard and all. I'll put up with it… but I'm only doing so for you. Remember that."

Heero returned her smile before reaching over to lightly mess with her wild turquoise hair. "I will. There's so much you've done for me since this mission began, even before… I'll make it up to you somehow."

Ryoko's smile softened as she leaned over to peck him on the cheek. "Just let me stay by your side, and we'll call it even."

"That's really enough?" asked Heero.

"It is," Ryoko confirmed as she met his gaze before winking, "Well, I wouldn't say no if you threw in a little something extra or two. Treat a girl to drinks and good time, maybe?"

"I think that can be arranged," Heero replied, "I doubt the retreat lacks for quality booze, and if it really is as secure as Funaho promised, then I'm down to partake."

Ryoko grinned wickedly. "Now you're speaking my language! We're going to have some fun tonight!"

Heero couldn't help but let slip a small laugh. "I bet! It's strange… back on Earth, I never really considered drinking to be something I'd indulge in for its own sake. Whenever I had any sort of alcohol, I always kept it limited because it was usually in the context of an undercover operation. Still not sure how I feel about actually getting… sauced, I guess."

"We don't have to go that far," said Ryoko, "I'll settle for the two of us getting good and tipsy. At the very least, I want getting back to the room with you later to be a little challenging. It's no fun if you don't trip and faceplant into the bed, you know?"

"Never actually done that before," Heero remarked.

Ryoko winked. "Try it! You don't know what you're missing."

Heero chuckled. "Is that so? Well, maybe I'll find out for myself tonight. Who knows where things will go after a few drinks, right?"

"Exactly," said Ryoko as she held up a hand and made a broad sweeping motion before the two of them, "You gotta open your mind to the possibilities that come with getting nice and tipsy!"

The two of them looked at each other for a moment before they both started laughing, with Ryoko being the first to speak. "Oh, wow, that sounded bad, even for me!"

"Oh, I don't know," Heero replied with a smirk, "If I didn't know better, I might've called you a hippy right there… though I think they had something much stronger than alcohol in mind when it came to… well, opening their minds."

Ryoko shrugged. "Well knock back a good glass of wine or two and see how it all shakes out. How's that sound?"

"Works for me," Heero answered.

Ryoko's eyes fluttered before she shifted herself and laid her head atop Heero's chest. "That's for later, though. It's pretty comfy here… mind if I take a little nap?"

Heero smiled. "Go right ahead. I'll watch over you."

Ryoko leaned upwards to kiss him. "The handsome prince watching over his lovely bodyguard… that's a nice little twist on the classic fairytales. I like it."

"So do I," said Heero as he enveloped Ryoko in a protective embrace, "Let's make it our own fairytale, shall we?"

Ryoko let out a contented sigh as she shut her eyes. "I like your romantic side… you should show it more often."

"I will… for you," Heero murmured softly.

His companion was off in dreamland mere minutes later, her slumber announced by quiet snoring. For his part, Heero was more than happy to keep holding Ryoko as she snoozed, savoring this precious bit of peace and seclusion that the two of them had found. For her sake as well as his own, he would let it last for as long as he could.

….

"Lord Quatre… what is this peculiar game called again?" Ayeka asked nervously from her somewhat wobbly perch atop the L4 native's shoulders.

Quatre smiled as he glanced up at her while gently squeezing her legs in a gesture of reassurance. "We call it a chicken fight. It's one of humanity's most time-honored aquatic sports."

Ayeka raised an eyebrow; to say that she was skeptical would've been quite the understatement. "Truly?"

Wading in the water across from them, Wufei rolled his eyes. "You are so full of shit, Quatre."

Sitting atop Wufei's shoulders, Kiyone smirked. "At least it's entertaining shit. Heero never taught us anything like this back at the safehouse. Come on, let's get this party started!"

Looking on from the shallows, Mihoshi pouted enviously. "Aw, I wanted to go in the first round!"

Quatre glanced over at Kiyone's fellow officer. "You can take the spot of whoever loses, Mihoshi."

"Don't worry," said Wufei, "These kinds of fights don't tend to last very long."

Quatre grinned at his fellow former Gundam pilot. "You know, I still can't quite believe you agreed to this, Wufei. You never struck me as the type to enjoy something like this!"

Wufei chuckled. "What can I say? I found the novelty of stupid fun like this to be amusing. Now, let's do this before I change my mind."

Kiyone gave him a light and playful slap on the top of his head. "Hey, no backing out! If we win this, you're carrying me into the next round, you got that?"

Quatre expected Wufei to grumble a protest, but he was pleasantly surprised to see the L5 native glance up and grace the officer atop him with a somewhat wry smile. "Well, if you say so."

Interesting, Quatre thought as he studied the two of them for a moment, Wufei's usually a bit prickly when it comes to the ladies, at least any who aren't Sally or Lady Une. I wonder if Kiyone might be his type…

"Lady Funaho!" Ayeka called out, "Please, give us the signal!"

The First Empress smiled as she raised her right hand. "Everyone ready? Three… two… one… fight!"

Quatre grinned as he waded forward, with Wufei moving as fast as he could with Kiyone atop of him to engage. The ground rules were simple; no using any special powers or gadgets, and first to fall loses. That would actually give Wufei and Kiyone the advantage since Quatre knew the Galaxy Police officer had hand-to-hand combat training, unlike Ayeka, but the L4 native and Jurai's crown princess were hardly about to throw the fight. Overhead, Ayeka already had her arms stretched out, ready to grapple with her foe.

Across from them, Kiyone smirked. "Don't think that I'll go easy on you just because you're royalty and your mother's watching, Ayeka. I'm playing for keeps here!"

"I would expect nothing less," Ayeka replied with a fierce smile, "Have at you!"

And so, Quatre and Wufei brought their feisty riders together, and the clash began. As Quatre had expected, Kiyone quickly gained the upper hand, with Ayeka struggling simply to keep her balance while the Galaxy Police officer threatened to dislodge her from Quatre's shoulders within the first few seconds of the fight. Jurai's crown princess, though, wasn't about to go down easily. She fought with herculean effort, gritting her teeth as she tried to push back against Kiyone.

"Looks like they're having fun up there," Wufei remarked with a chuckle.

Quatre flashed his friend a devious smile; he wasn't about to play the part of passive observer. "Not just up there."

Before Wufei could react, Quatre pushed forward. At the same time, beneath the water he stretched out his right leg in an effort to trip his friend. The move turned out to be something of a double-edged sword. Wufei did lose his balance, but he fell forward instead of backwards, meaning that Kiyone fell onto Ayeka and everyone tumbled into the lake as one entangled mess.

"Hey… no fair!" Kiyone sputtered as she coughed up water.

"What in the name of Tsunami happened?" asked Ayeka as she blinked in confusion.

Wufei folded his arms as he looked at Quatre. "That was a cheap shot."

Quatre gave his friend a smug smirk. "Hey, it was a fair move. No rules against it, right?"

The four of them turned to the First Empress, who had descended into a fit of laughter. "Oh, my goodness… I did not see that coming!"

Mihoshi tilted her head quizzically. "So, uhm… who won?"

"Obviously, it was us," Kiyone declared, "We fell on top of Ayeka and Quatre, which means they hit the water first!"

Ayeka shook her head. "You fell onto us, but we all twisted as we went down, so you hit the water first, Kiyone!"

Kiyone put her hands on her hips. "That's a load of crap and you know it! Wufei, back me up here!"

Wufei shrugged. "It was kind of hard to tell from down here."

"Same," Quatre admitted before turning to the First Empress, "Lady Funaho, what say you?"

Funaho seemed to have finally regained her composure, for she was scratching her chin in thought. "Hmm… honestly, it was kind of hard to tell. Why don't we call it a draw?"

Kiyone's jaw dropped. "A draw? Oh, come on!"

Ayeka wasn't about to accept it, either. "Lady Funaho, that is absurd! Lord Quatre and I clearly won."

Funaho folded her arms and smiled smugly. "Are either of you the judge of this round? I don't think so. It looked like a draw to me, so I'm calling it one. End of discussion."

"Aw, but that means I don't get to play in the next round!" Mihoshi pouted, "You'll have to redo it now!"

Wufei shook his head. "Nah, I'm fine swapping out. Why don't you and Kiyone go a round?"

Mihoshi beamed. "Oh, really? You're the best, Wufei!"

Kiyone shot Wufei a scowl. "You're just hoping to watch the chaos unfold, aren't you?"

Wufei smirked. "Maybe."

Kiyone took a deep breath as one partner abandoned her while another moved to join her. "Fine, have it your way. Mihoshi, you're up top!"

"Yay!" Mihoshi cheered as she climbed up on Kiyone's back.

Quatre turned to Ayeka. "Well, what do you say? Up for round two?"

Before Ayeka could answer, Funaho cut in. "Actually, would you two mind sitting this one out? I'd like to have a go at this myself."

Ayeka's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? Would you like me to be your partner, then?"

"Some other time, perhaps," Funaho replied before looking over her shoulder, "Hey, Misaki! Want to give this a try?"

"Sure thing, Sis!" Misaki chirped with a grin as she stood up and ran out to join her.

Ayeka's jaw dropped. "Mother? You can't be serious… what would Father say if he could see you indulging in something like this?"

Misaki winked. "He'd probably ask to join in himself!"

Ayeka looked positively mortified, and Quatre could only chuckle as he imagined the mental image that must've been going through her head at the moment. He had to admit, the thought of the Emperor himself wading out to do battle in a pair of swim trunks with the Second Empress perched on his shoulders was quite an amusing one.

If I stick around for a while after the mission's done, maybe I'll get to see it play out for real, he thought with a smirk, That'd sure be a sight to behold…

Ayeka eventually shook her head in exasperation. "Oh, would he really degrade the dignity of the throne in such a manner? Perhaps I don't want the answer to that question, actually…"

Quatre folded his arms. "Hey, is that what you thought you and I were doing earlier?"

Ayeka quickly raised her hands. "Oh, no, not at all! I had fun, I really did! Oh, forgive me, Lord Quatre…"

Quatre smiled before reaching out to place a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Hey, don't worry about it. I was just teasing."

Ayeka sighed in relief. "Oh, good… thank you."

"Hey, Washu!" Funaho called out, "You want to be the judge this time?"

"Sure, why not?" Washu answered as she picked up Ryo-Ohki and dumped her in Yosho's lap, "Keep her cozy, will you?"

Yosho smiled before scratching the sleeping living starship behind her ears. "I'll do my best."

Quatre nodded at Ayeka before gesturing to the shore. "Want to grab a seat and watch the show?"

Ayeka shook her head before smiling. "Actually, if you don't mind, I was hoping we might take a walk together. It's been so long since I got to take in the lake country like this… I would very much like to share it with you."

Quatre smiled in return. "I'd like that. Let's go."

Waving farewell to the others, the two of them set off along the shore of the lake. When the fine sand ended, they instead moved over to stride upon soft grass that felt cool and refreshing beneath their bare feet. Surveying the countryside, Quatre took a deep breath and savored the crisp and clean air around him.

"It really is beautiful out here," he said after a moment, "It looks so much like Earth… it's hard to believe that this is really another planet in an entirely different star system."

Ayeka inclined her head. "I honestly think its similarity to Earth is part of why I found it so easy to adapt to life on your planet. The differences in technology aside, when it comes to natural beauty, both Earth and Jurai are so very similar… and so very lovely. Lord Heero's apartment in the capital was nice, but I think it was only when we moved out to that countryside safehouse that I really started to feel… well, at home on Earth. Strange that I could experience such a sensation on a world beyond the Empire's borders."

"We can find bits of home in the most unlikely of places," Quatre remarked.

"Quite true," Ayeka concurred.

He saw her shift her gaze towards the lake itself. Following her gaze, Quatre realized that she was looking out at a small stream that branched off from the lake…

…one that they'd both seen Heero and Ryoko quietly slip away through some time ago.

Ayeka put a hand to her chest and took a deep breath. "I do hope that Lord Heero is enjoying himself out here. He has earned a respite from his work… as have all of us… including Ryoko."

Her deliberate mention of the pirate's name caught Quatre somewhat by surprise. It was only now that he studied Ayeka with keener attention, and he realized that her jaw was clenched, and her figure seemed to momentarily tense up. Another deep breath from her only slightly relieved that tension. Quatre had a fairly good idea as to where her mind had gone.

It must hurt her dearly, he thought sympathetically, knowing that Heero's closer to Ryoko than he is to her. I know he'd never deliberately try to hurt her, that he cares for her just as much as he does the others that he was looking after back on Earth… it's just that Ryoko somehow clicked with him in a way that Ayeka could not.

After a moment, Quatre reached over to take Ayeka's hand in his. The gesture caught her off guard for a moment, and he feared that he might've made a mistake. However, he then saw Ayeka relax, and she gently squeezed his hand.

"You are… a very kind man, Lord Quatre," the crown princess murmured, and Quatre could've sworn he saw a hint of red in her face, "Your presence here… in the time I've known you, you've always seemed to have a very soothing air around you. I've come to… treasure that… in these turbulent times."

For his part, Quatre simply smiled. "I'm just glad I can help. We've all got quite a heavy load on our shoulders, but I'd say that yours is heavier than most. Being Jurai's crown princess and trying to stop the Empire from tearing itself apart can't be easy. Combine that with what you're going through privately…"

Quatre didn't need to finish that sentence; Ayeka's wistful sigh and the glance she cast towards the lake were all he needed to know that she'd gotten what was left unsaid. "As crown princess, I know that any personal feelings I might have should come second to my duties to Jurai. That is… considerably difficult to put into practice, though."

She then shook her head before smiling again. "Having someone like you by my side, though, makes it all much more bearable. I had thought that Lord Heero was a cut above the rest of humanity, and I suppose he is in more ways than one… but he's not the only one to share that distinction in my eyes. It seems your world's colonial rebellion and war forged quite a few remarkable individuals. You and your friends that have accompanied us on this mission… you're each truly extraordinary in your own way."

Quatre laughed sheepishly as he scratched the back of his neck, suddenly rather self-conscious of the heat rushing to his face. "You might be giving us a bit too much credit there! We've got our talents, but we didn't get this far on those alone. We had a good bit of luck on our side as well."

"I don't feel that way, although I suppose that I don't know the full story behind what you and your friends went through in your war," Ayeka replied, "I guess luck would have its place in such a ghastly affair, but after seeing just what you're capable of, I do think that your skills and intelligence deserve more weight than mere luck."

Quatre grinned. "I'll take that!"

Ayeka regarded him thoughtfully for a moment. "That being said…I do have to wonder just how you came by such skills in the first place. You were born the scion of a very wealthy family, yes? How did you go from what must have been a life of comfort to the battlefield? Forgive me, I just have a very hard time seeing you as some sort of revolutionary soldier. You strike me as just far too gentle and refined."

"Looks can be deceiving," Quatre pointed out.

"True enough," Ayeka conceded.

She looked down for a moment and fidgeted, suddenly seeming awfully nervous in Quatre's eyes. "Is something the matter?"

Ayeka took a deep breath. "Nothing per se… more of a curiosity than anything else."

Quatre raised an eyebrow. "A curiosity?"

"It's… something I've been struggling to understand for some time now," Ayeka confessed, "As the crown princess of Jurai, the idea of rebellion, of revolution, is anathema to me. Since meeting Lord Heero, you and the others, and learning about your world and its history, I've tried to broaden my perspective. You told me of how ruthlessly the old government that ruled your world exploited laborers, and I have learned of other such abuses against the people that it claimed to protect. Even so… I guess there's a part of me that still can't make the leap to armed rebellion as a solution. Growing up at the peak of a powerful system, I suppose I've always believed that the best way to address injustice was to work within that system to achieve reform. Was that really impossible with the old power that used to govern your world?"

Quatre slowly nodded. "It was. Negotiation, strikes, protests; all these and more had been tried over the decades, Ayeka. Far older and wiser people than me and my friends made the attempt to challenge the status quo peacefully. The Alliance only ever responded with repression. Brute force was how they ruled the colonies, and we felt the crushing blow of their iron fist every day. Sure, there were members of its upper echelons who wanted reform, but any influence they had never stretched far enough to make an impact for those of us living under their rule. From where we stood, the situation was clear; the Alliance only understood force. So, force was what we ultimately employed."

"I see," Ayeka replied softly, looking deeply troubled, "In that case… do you think it's the same with Jurai?"

Quatre was rather taken aback by this turn in the conversation. "What do you mean?"

"What I've learned since this whole ghastly business with Kagato got underway… it's given me food for thought," said Ayeka, "Yes, I know the man is acting first and foremost on his own ambitions; his talk of reform is as much a self-justification and pretext as anything else. That being said… the fact remains that my father has made some grievous mistakes as a ruler. I don't care how vicious the civil war was. Commissioning the construction of a weapon as monstrous as the Judgement Array, let alone actually using it… how many innocent lives did my father snuff out with a single command? How is it just that he had the power to order such an atrocity and then so thoroughly cover it up?"

"It's the power of absolute monarchy," Quatre remarked, "That is the core governing structure of Jurai, Ayeka, regardless of what other institutions might be at play within its hierarchy. It is not a system of accountability. Your Empire's aristocracy may have notable influence, but from everything I've seen, the power of the throne is supreme."

Ayeka nodded. "That's what concerns me. In the past, I felt that such power was natural, but after learning about Earth and how your people govern their affairs… I cannot help but feel as though there's something deeply flawed with Jurai. Kagato needs to be stopped, but his words regarding reform… they may be lip-service coming from him, but there is a kernel of truth to them. When I take the throne, or perhaps even before that, I wish to be a force for change within the Empire. The problem is that I have no idea how to go about that."

Quatre whistled. "Well, that would make two of us. I know how to fight and run a business, but restructuring the governing system of an empire… that's way outside of my area of expertise."

"You must know something," Ayeka protested, "Your experience, what you saw and learned during your rebellion… that surely must have some bearing here!"

A note of fear had crept into her voice, and Quatre suspected that there was more going on here than initially seemed apparent. "Ayeka… what's really behind all of this?"

Ayeka let loose a heavy sigh, and when she met Quatre's gaze there was dread in her eyes. "Quatre… Kagato's insurrection, and the fact that he's been able to find allies within the aristocracy for it… what if it's just a symptom of some underlying sickness within the Empire? It would be one thing if this was just a singular incident, but what if it turns out not to be? What if, sometime after this whole business with Kagato has been quashed, some other force rises up in opposition to the throne? Tsunami willing, they won't have the Array to seize because we will have destroyed it by then, but that's beside the point. What if the very structure of the Empire of Jurai ultimately invites such insurrections?"

"Does the Empire have an extensive history with them?" asked Quatre, "Besides the civil war that this all stems from, I mean."

"To my knowledge, no," Ayeka answered, though she sounded rather uneasy, "However… it's become quite clear to me that my knowledge of the Empire's history is flawed. All my lessons and studies came through the lenses of tutors that were provided by my father… and he clearly had things to hide. I was taught that the last major uprising was the one that triggered the gruesome civil war, and that there had been none of the sort since then because of just how nightmarish that conflict was. I want to believe that's the truth, but if it is, then Kagato's willingness to launch his challenge despite living through those horrors means that the memory of said horrors has lost its deterring effect."

"That could very well be the case," Quatre conceded, "Earth has its own bloody history, and after particularly egregious episodes of it, mankind would recoil in shock and vow to do better… only to fall back into the same foolish and destructive patterns as before. With the end of our last war, we claim to have finally learned our lesson, and I desperately want to believe that's the truth. However, as the years go by and the memories of the war's horrors recede, there's always the chance that those who did not live through that nightmare begin to yearn for power in a way that guarantees a new conflict. The Earth Sphere Unified Nation is humanity's best hope at a lasting peace, but it's far more fragile than it looks. That's why Preventers exists as an organization, and it's why people like Heero and Wufei do what they do for a living. They work to help keep humanity from backsliding and repeating the mistakes of the past… but what happens when our generation and all the others who suffered through the war are gone? Will those that come after us take heed of our lessons, or will those lessons fade into obscurity? In that sense, Jurai's tense present may well serve as a lesson for humanity's future."

"But it's clear that humanity is genuinely trying to learn from its history," Ayeka argued with a new sense of resolve, "By contrast, my father would have Jurai forget its history, or at least the shameful aspects of it. I don't want to forget that, not after all that I have learned… and I think that the rest of the Empire needs to learn what I have learned. Not now, not while the situation remains volatile, but when the dust has settled. We will need to look at ourselves in the mirror without flinching… and I believe humanity can help us with that. I believe that you can help us with that, Quatre."

Quatre felt like the proverbial deer in the headlights; he was caught completely flat footed and had absolutely no idea what to make of this. "I… Ayeka… how?"

Ayeka smiled. "Right now, you are a soldier fighting to help resolve this crisis… and someone I consider to be a most precious friend… but you are more than that, Quatre. You are a figure of power and influence within your world. Not of official power, but of soft power. Your wealth, the economic sway that your conglomerate holds within the Earth Sphere… that all translates to access within your world's government that can be used for a greater purpose. You are already well-connected with Preventers, and I'm sure the likes of Director Une and Sally Poe are hardly your only contacts within the Earth Sphere Unified Nation."

"Well you're not wrong about that," Quatre confessed, "I'm also friends with Vice Foreign Minister Relena, so you could say I'm well-connected in humanity's diplomatic circles. Where are you going with all of this?"

"I've believed for some time now that you and I can act as a bridge between our respective peoples," Ayeka answered with growing confidence, "At first, I felt that we could play leading roles in diplomacy, in opening up both Earth and Jurai to official relations and treaties. Now, though, I think that Earth has something far more valuable to offer Jurai than something as mundane as trade, or even more so than the vital aid that you, Lord Heero and the others have given us in this crisis. Earth has precious experience in reform, and recent experience at that! Jurai may have a longer history than humanity, but despite our technological evolution and the expansion of the Empire as a political and military power within the galaxy, we have kept the same basic power structure for over a hundred thousand years. Jurai doesn't know how to reform now. Kagato is right in one sense; Jurai has become ossified. We're far too rigid, too defined now by dogma and tradition, by families who believe they are entitled to incredible power… and I do very much include my own there. We've lost our ability to learn and evolve, but humanity knows how to do both!"

"Maybe, but we've done all that on a relatively local level when compared to galactic entities like Jurai," Quatre pointed out, "I appreciate the faith that you have in humanity, but asking us to help an ancient power like your empire evolve when the vast majority of our people still don't even know if that empire's existence… that's a pretty big leap for us to pull off right out of the gate."

Ayeka shook her head. "It wouldn't have to be right away. My father will continue to hold the throne for quite some time to come even after this crisis with Kagato is resolved, and even if I could talk him into making changes in the empire it would most likely only be incredibly small and incremental ones. That gives me time to come to a better understanding of what it is that I want Jurai to become once I ascend to the throne. I would much rather assume power with a fully-formed and coherent vision rather than the various ideas and dreams that I have right now."

She then smiled. "When this affair with Kagato is over, Earth will have a great deal of good will within Jurai's halls of power thanks to the aid provided by you and your friends, Quatre. That will offer a perfect springboard to establishing open and permanent diplomatic relations between the Empire of Jurai and the Earth Sphere Unified Nation. Officially, we could work up treaties regarding trade and security… and unofficially, I can learn from people such as yourself and those you trust within your world's government so that I can better understand how to coax Jurai into a much-needed evolution. Your experience and insights would be invaluable in such a project, Quatre. Please… would you aid me in this endeavor?"

Quatre felt like his head was spinning; Ayeka was throwing a lot at him all of a sudden, and he needed to get his bearings straight. "What exactly would my role in this plan of yours be?"

Ayeka reached out her hand. "For starters, as a close friend and confidant. As for what follows, I think we will both need time to figure that out. I understand that you have obligations in the Earth Sphere, and I would not ask you to cast them aside lightly. I believe that a compromise can be reached… I would very much like that. For now, though, all I ask is that you simply continue to be who you are; one of the most compassionate and understanding people that I have ever met. Your counsel… your company… for now, may I have that?"

Quatre smiled before taking her hand. "You may."

The two of them walked on in contented silence. Quatre still wasn't completely sure just what he'd gotten himself into long-term, but those concerns could wait. From the ease with which Ayeka carried herself now, it was clear that he'd granted her some small measure of peace and reassurance in a difficult time.

For now, that was enough.

….

Ryoko was all but drooling as she stood over the grill, eagerly licking her lips as she hungrily eyed the slowly-cooking meat. "Come on, isn't it ready yet?"

"Just about," Yosho replied with a chuckle, "Give it another few minutes, Ryoko. Good things come to those who wait!"

Ryoko scowled. "The smell's not making it easy to wait, old man!"

"I'm with Ryoko on this one," Funaho chimed in as she looked over her son's shoulder, "Yosho, you never told me that you could cook like this!"

"A little something that I picked up while on Earth," said Yosho as he flipped over a particularly juicy slab of beef, "I had plenty of time to hone my skills out there."

"If you're hungry now, why not have a healthy snack?" Sasami interjected as she held up a carrot, "Plenty to go around, Ryoko!"

Ryoko shook her head. "Who do you think I am? Ryo-Ohki?"

"Meow! Meow!" cried her living starship as she leapt up and down in an effort to get Sasami's attention.

Sasami giggled before leaning down to give Ryo-Ohki the object of her desire. "At least Ryo-Ohki knows how to eat right!"

"Meow!" Ryo-Ohki cheered before wolfing down the carrot in a few quick bites.

Ryoko chuckled before looking over to the line of tables that had been set up alongside the grill. "Well, at least someone's getting her fill. Guess I can sit tight for a little while longer."

The retreat's servants had certainly brought out quite a spread. Platters of fruits and vegetables from all over Jurai gleamed in the light of the setting sun, and Ryoko had to admit that they looked almost as appetizing as the meat on the grill. Rice balls and bowls were also at the ready, as were several different kinds of bread, with the latter having little plates with butter next to them. Bags of Juraian rice chips had also been made available, along with crackers. A few cakes of varying flavors were waiting at the far end for anyone seeking dessert. It almost reminded Ryoko of what she'd seen on Earth; it really was striking just how similar the two worlds could be despite how far they were from each other and how far ahead technologically Jurai was.

Ryoko was hardly the only one eying their impending dinner. Most of the others were circling the grill like a bunch of sharks, though they were at least giving Yosho a respectful distance while he worked his magic. The early evening breeze brought a chill to the air, though a nearby bonfire constructed on the shore a little bit ago did take some of the edge off. Ryoko still wore only her bikini, but some of the others had decided to put on shirts or wrap themselves up in towels for warmth. Naturally, Ayeka wasn't one of them; since Ryoko was determined to show that she wasn't cold, the crown princess clearly felt the need to do the same. The two of them definitely had stubbornness in common, although Ryoko would never admit as much to Ayeka's face.

"Alright, I think that about does it," Yosho declared before looking around at the others, "Well, grab some plates and dig in!"

"Finally!" Duo cheered, "Took you long enough, old man!"

Hilde sharply elbowed him before smiling at Yosho. "Duo! Sorry about him."

Yosho simply chuckled. "Oh, I don't mind! Any grill master worth his salt should be happy to see such an eager would-be diner."

"You're a man of many talents," Quatre remarked, "Shrine keeper, master swordsman, and now a griller… what else are you hiding from us?"

"Not much," Funaho chimed in as she shot her son a smirk, "Remember, he's also a deadbeat who ran away from his royal responsibilities!"

"Not quite how I remember it," Yosho muttered.

"He also dodged responsibility for his grandson," Washu quipped as she gave Yosho the stink-eye.

Yosho winced. "That was beyond my control. I had no idea where he was, remember?"

"Let's drop that subject," Heero interjected, "We're supposed to be relaxing right now, not calling out past mistakes."

Ryoko eyed Heero carefully; she was surprised to see him coming to Yosho's aid on this front, especially since she thought he still had a sore spot over the fact that his grandfather hadn't tried to find him. "Heero? You alright?"

"I'm fine," Heero casually replied as he grabbed some meat from the grill before passing a particularly delectable slab her way, "Want this?"

Ryoko hastily grabbed a plate from the nearby table, the prospect of dinner vanquishing her concerns. "Yes!"

After everyone had dished up, the group converged around the fire. An assortment of beach chairs and towels were spread about, with Ryoko settling in on the latter next to Heero before immediately digging into her meal. Her eyes widened in delight as the juicy beef hit her tongue, with such a perfect blend of flavor and spice that the pirate could've sworn she'd ascended to a state of culinary nirvana.

"Mmm!" she moaned in delight as she swallowed her first bite, "Oh, yeah, that's the good stuff!"

Yosho smiled with more than a hint of smugness. "Worth the wait?"

Ryoko rolled her eyes before chuckling. "Yeah, it is! Don't let it go to your head, old man."

Yosho smirked. "I wouldn't dream of it."

"Not bad," Wufei remarked in between bites, "Heero, your grandfather's really got a knack for this sort of thing. Next time he hosts a cookout, give me a call. I'll swing on by."

"Give us a head's up, and I can come on down with Catherine after we get back to Earth," Trowa chimed in, "I'm sure she'd enjoy this."

Sasami put her hands on her hips. "Hey, what about me?"

Someone's getting territorial, Ryoko mused with a smirk, Sasami, you've got a lot to learn when it comes to boys!

Trowa raised an eyebrow. "I assumed you would already be there, unless your parents demand that you stay on Jurai."

"I don't see any harm in her visiting Earth again after this," Funaho interjected, "Misaki, what about you?"

The Second Empress smiled. "Oh, not at all! I wouldn't mind coming with her next time. I'm sure Azusa would be fine with letting us take a little vacation."

"Maybe let me clear things in advance with Director Une before you start treating Earth as a getaway destination," said Heero, "It would save quite a bit of trouble for everyone involved."

"I'm sure we can come to an arrangement that fits your government's needs," Funaho remarked, "I assure you that we Royals can be quite discreet should the situation call for it, and we have no desire to cause any trouble for Earth. Well, none beyond what our Empire's politics has already caused, anyway."

"Yes, we should show due consideration when planning a trip to Earth," Ayeka chimed in before smiling at Quatre, "That being said, I'm optimistic that, in the near future, humanity becomes accustomed to Juraian vessels gracing its skies."

Quatre nodded. "With time and some careful preparation, I think that future can be made a reality."

"Oh, that would be wonderful!" Azaka remarked, "Open friendship between Earth and Jurai, being able to visit whenever Princess Ayeka wills it… it sounds like a dream."

"A most pleasant one at that!" Kamidake added.

"Hey, don't leave us out of it!" Mihoshi interjected, "The Galaxy Police should be welcome at Earth too, right? Heero?"

Glancing at the young man beside her, Ryoko saw Heero give Mihoshi a small but reassuring smile. "Of course. I imagine that Director Une would be quite happy to establish relations with the Galaxy Police in due time. In the meantime, you and Kiyone would be more than welcome to visit, provided that you act with discretion so as not to alarm those living in the space colonies. I doubt that they'd react kindly to a close call with the Yagami."

Kiyone chuckled ruefully. "No, I bet not. Don't worry, Heero; I'll be the one flying whenever we're in your neck of the woods."

"That's good to hear," said Heero.

Kiyone then turned to Wufei. "Bet we could get a cooperation agreement set up with Preventers once all this cools down. The Galaxy Police does have a tradition of working with local law enforcement agencies, after all. Who knows? Maybe they'd make Mihoshi and I liaison officers. We could help you out on your own turf."

Wufei looked at her in curiosity. "Would you want that, though? I thought Earth was supposed to be in a backwater area of the galaxy as far as your organization's concerned. Wouldn't that be something of a dead end for you?"

Kiyone smiled before shaking her head. "Earth's actually grown on me a bit, so I wouldn't mind another assignment out that way. Besides, getting assigned as a liaison would actually be a step up in the career ladder for me. It'd probably come with a nice little pay bump, too!"

"Oh, that'd be great!" Mihoshi chirped.

Ryoko eyed the two officers warily. "You'd better not try to arrest me while you're out that way."

"You've been pardoned, remember?" Kiyone pointed out, "The Galaxy Police honors all pardons issued by Jurai as part of our treaty with the Empire, so you're free as far as we're concerned now."

"As long as you don't commit any new crimes," Mihoshi added, "Please try to behave from now on, Ryoko. I don't want to have to arrest you."

Ryoko folded her arms and smirked. "I'd like to see you try!"

"I'll keep her out of trouble," Heero chimed in with a wry smile, "Well, as much as possible, anyway."

Ryoko shot Heero a mischievous grin. "Oh? How you going to do that? I get bored pretty easily, you know?"

"Then I'll just have to improvise to keep you entertained," Heero replied confidently.

Ryoko laughed. "I'll hold you to that, Heero!"

The chatter died down for a bit as everyone focused on their food, with most going back to the table for seconds. Ryoko sighed in contentment as she leaned against Heero and gazed into the fire. She fully expected Ayeka to take issue, but surprisingly, no complaint was forthcoming from the crown princess. Instead, Ryoko saw Ayeka mirror Ryoko's actions, but with Quatre. The blond young man seemed momentarily caught off guard by Ayeka resting her head on his shoulder, but he quickly smiled before putting his arm around her.

They're actually kind of cute together, Ryoko thought, Ayeka, if Quatre's who you're going for now, I've got no beef with that.

Ayeka wasn't the only princess getting cozy with one of Heero's old friends. With darkness starting to set in, Ryoko saw Sasami yawn before curling up on a beach towel next to Trowa and laying her head in his lap. Misaki and Funaho looked positively delighted at this development, with both shooting Trowa encouraging winks. Ryoko wasn't quite sure if Trowa got the underlying message, but if nothing else he seemed quite at ease with Sasami using his legs as a pillow.

"Meow…" Ryo-Ohki softly murmured as she curled up in Washu's lap.

Washu smiled as she scratched Ryo-Ohki behind her ears. "Had a bit too much fun today, Ryo-Ohki?"

Kiyone tried and failed to stifle a yawn. "She's not the only one. We went from running a sting operation in the capital to a countryside retreat… I'm bushed."

"If you're weary, please, don't feel as though you have to stay out here on our account," Funaho interjected, "You're more than welcome to turn in early."

Kiyone shook her head before laying back on her towel. "It's a nice evening. Be a shame to call it quits so soon. I think I'll just lay down for a bit. It's comfy here."

Mihoshi stretched her arms before lying down next to her partner. "A nap sounds nice…"

The combination of good food and the earlier excitement of the day seemed to be getting the better of more than just Ryo-Ohki and the two cops. As the others began finishing up their meals, Ryoko saw most of them either lean back in their chairs or curl up on their towels, gazing contentedly at the fire or closing their eyes and drifting off. It was a rather contagious atmosphere, and Ryoko found her own eyelids fluttering heavily.

"You mind?" she muttered as she rested her head against Heero's shoulder.

Heero gave her a small smile. "Not at all."

Ryoko gave him one last look, savoring the flickering firelight in his eyes, before shutting hers and slipping into a pleasant nap.

….

March 27th, A.C. 199

"They look like they're enjoying themselves," a familiar female voice said from behind Washu.

Looking over her shoulder, the red-headed scientist was surprised to see Funaho walking towards her. "I thought you'd be too busy today to come join us."

"My work bore fruit sooner than I'd anticipated," the First Empress replied before nodding at the sparring match taking place before them, "Seems like things have been progressing smoothly on your end as well."

Turning back to the training bout between Heero and Ryoko, Washu had to agree with Funaho. They'd only just returned to the palace from the lakeside retreat a few hours ago, and exercises had resumed posthaste. While the others were running through another firefight simulation in the underground complex, Heero and Ryoko were going at it in a fierce duel. The young prince had astonished Washu with how quickly he'd taken to wielding four Light Hawk Wings, with the quartet of white energy sheets orbiting around him and blocking crimson spheres from his bodyguard almost as if they had minds of their own. For her part, Ryoko was drawing upon the power of both gems currently inside her, practically filling the room with energy balls as she tried to overwhelm Heero's defenses.

Washu was honestly loath to turn away from the spectacle, but the First Empress would not have made her way up here just for idle chatter. "You could say that. Now, this 'fruit' that you speak of; care to bring us in on the details?"

Funaho smiled. "My backchannel conversations with the Seniwa Domain have reached an interesting juncture. I believe I can secure us not just permission to pass through their territory now, but perhaps materiel aid in our campaign against Kagato."

Yosho, who was standing next to Washu, arched an eyebrow. "The Seniwa Domain has usually shied away from getting involved in Jurai's internal politics, and this crisis with Kagato should appear, at least from the outside, to be just that. What's prompting them to change that stance?"

Washu was likewise wary. "Just how much have you revealed to them? Do they know the truth about the Array?"

"I've been able to keep things light on the details for the moment," Funaho answered, "At present, the Seniwa Domain only knows that we're trying to stop a rogue noble from obtaining a horrific weapon. I'm sure their intelligence apparatus at least suspects what we're really after, but if they had proof then they would've been much more demanding in the negotiations. Still, as much as I might prefer otherwise, we can't keep them in the dark forever. The highest levels of their leadership will need to be brought in sooner rather than later if we want to secure their cooperation. There's also something of a catch before they'll be willing to close the deal."

Yosho folded his arms. "What 'catch' might that be?"

Rather than answer directly, Funaho gestured past the two of them. "Your proteges should join us. This concerns one of them directly, and the other indirectly since she's pledged to protect him now."

Washu looked back and forth between the two fighters and Funaho. "Heero? What would the Seniwa Domain want with him? They should barely even be aware of him."

"Not quite," Yosho remarked, "Remember who's been in his company almost as long as Ryoko and Ayeka."

Washu wanted to smack herself. "Right, Mihoshi… still, she's not exactly a big player in the Kuramitsu Clan's politics. She also hasn't really been in touch with her family all that much since she landed on Earth, at least to my knowledge. Kiyone's been handling the reports that get sent to the Galaxy Police, so any mention of Heero that the Kuramitsus have is through her lens, and she's much more discreet than Mihoshi."

"Those reports from Kiyone to her superiors did indeed find their way to the Kuramitsu Clan's elite," Funaho confirmed, "and they made an impression, regardless of however cautious Kiyone's editing might have been. That impression, in fact, has granted us an opening."

"How?" asked Washu.

Funaho nodded at Heero and Ryoko. "Have them wrap this up. It's better if Heero hears this for himself."

Washu gave her a curious look before shrugging and calling out to the prince and the pirate. "Hey, stand down, you two!"

It actually took a few seconds for them to do so, with Heero first having to ensure that the crimson energy balls remaining in the air were deflected into the floor or walls rather Ryoko or any of the bystanders. When the coast was clear, the pirate floated down to the ground while the young prince deactivated his Light Hawk Wings. Both seemed a bit put off by having their match called off earlier.

"What gives?" asked Ryoko as she put her hands on her hips, "We were on a roll there!"

"Could you not have let us go a bit longer?" Heero chimed in, "That was a very promising session."

Washu waved a hand dismissively. "You'll have plenty more chances for training later. Right now, one of our hosts wants your attention."

Funaho smiled before inclining her head. "Apologies for the interruption, but I'm afraid this couldn't wait. My diplomatic work has reached a breakthrough point, and I need your help to take full advantage of it."

Ryoko arched an eyebrow. "Diplomatic work?"

Heero was much quicker on the ball. "Your under-the-table talks with the Seniwa Domain, right? What's happened?"

"The Kuramitsu Clan is open to allowing our fleets passage through their territory," Funaho answered, "This will give us a considerable leg up on Kagato when the time comes to go after the third repository."

Ryoko whistled. "Damn, you work quick, lady! I thought you needed more time to sweet talk them into playing along."

"So did I, in all honesty," Funaho confessed, "It seems we may yet get lucky here… provided that we meet their precondition."

Heero folded his arms. "And that would be?"

Funaho smirked. "Apparently, the gossip mill over in the Seniwa Domain has kicked into overdrive these past few weeks, and it's related to a little something that's stirred up Jurai recently. To make a long story short, the Kuramitsu Clan is very interested in meeting the man who took their wayward daughter in when she crash-landed on Earth. The fact that he so happens to be Jurai's newest prince is a bonus!"

Washu looked on with no small degree of amusement as Heero did a very slight double-take. "Mihoshi's family wants to meet me?"

"Oh, yes," Funaho confirmed, "The very highest echelons of the family, in fact. Think of it as a combination of 'meet-the-parents' and high stakes diplomacy. You'd best prepare yourself Heero. As a prince of Jurai, you're expected to be more than just a capable fighter who can wield our bloodline's power. You're an ambassador of the Empire, and this will be your first assignment in that capacity."

Heero shook his head. "Diplomacy's not my strong suit. You should already know that."

Funaho grinned. "I strongly disagree. How else did you manage to keep the peace between your gaggle of companions while they all stayed with you on Earth? Two princesses, a notorious pirate, an infamous mad scientist, and two Galaxy Police officers all living under the same roof without burning the place down around you? You're far more of a diplomat than you might think, Heero!"

Washu arched an eyebrow. "Mad scientist? I'll take the 'infamous' bit, but I'm not mad… well, not completely, anyway."

"Could've fooled the rest of us," Ryoko muttered.

Washu watched as Heero sighed heavily. "I would think that there's a big difference between keeping peace within a home and negotiating with a major galactic power. I could handle the former, but I'm not cut out for the latter. You're seriously overestimating my abilities here, Funaho."

"I understand your apprehension," Funaho gently countered, "but this is the role we need you to take on now. Don't worry; I will be accompanying you on this mission, and your friends are more than welcome to tag along as well. You'll have all the support needed to make this endeavor a success."

Washu's eyes widened slightly. "Wait, you're coming along for this, Funaho? Don't you have Jurai's intelligence services to manage? We need your assets focused on Kagato."

"They are and will remain so," Funaho firmly replied, "Just because I'll be away from Jurai doesn't mean that my agents will cease in carrying out their duties. Besides, I'm more than capable of performing my own responsibilities as head of intelligence while moonlighting in the diplomatic arena."

Yosho smiled. "You've always been a woman of many talents, mother."

Funaho graciously bowed towards her son. "I'd like to think so."

Funaho then turned to Heero and smiled. "If it makes you feel any better, Heero, you should know that I'm quite familiar with Mihoshi's parents. We've worked together many times over the centuries; this campaign of ours against Kagato will hardly be the first time that I've enlisted their aid. I'm on quite good terms with them, especially Mihoshi's mother. While I do believe that you're more than capable of winning them over on your own merits, trust me when I say that I'll do all that I can to stack the deck in your favor."

Heero nodded gratefully. "I would appreciate that. If this really is our next move, then when do we depart?"

"Early tomorrow morning," Funaho answered, "I know you have a meeting with the Crafters after your training here is done, and that will no doubt be just as demanding. Once that's concluded, I suggest that you take an early dinner and then retire. Rest well tonight, Heero. You're going to need it."

Preview for next time!

Duo: So, Heero… you're playing diplomat now, eh? How long until you threaten to kill someone?

Heero: Shut up.

Hilde: Please.

Ryoko: I can do the threatening if you want, Heero!

Ayeka: You're not helping, wench!

Quatre: Let's try to keep things calm here, shall we? The ship of state sails best through tranquil waters… or something like that, anyway.

Trowa: Calm might be a bit too much to ask for with this crowd.

Sasami: We get to see the Seniwa Domain! I can't wait!

Wufei: Case in point.

Kiyone: Oh, let Sasami have her fun. She could use the distraction.

Mihoshi: You're going to love it, Sasami! Oh, I haven't been home in so long…

Washu: Remember, people; we're here on business, not to play tourist.

Funaho: No reason why you can't do a bit of both. Next time, in Chapter Twenty-Eight: No Need For Diplomacy! You've got an alliance to secure, Heero. I hope you're up for it!

Yosho: I'm more worried about what the Kuramitsus will want in return.

Author's Notes: This was a fun chapter to write for me, especially the countryside retreat portion. Always nice to get away from the stress of life for a bit, even if I'm only doing that vicariously through the characters in the story here. Oh, man, I need a vacation…

Hope you all liked the chapter. Feel free to review, stay safe, and I'll see you all next time!