Author: Nadz
Email: vegitto02 at yahoo dot com

Disclaimer:
The title "DragonTek" is owned by the author.
Any characters owned by the producers of Tekkaman, Dragonball Z, Dragonball GT, or Rurouni Kenshin are, of course, the property of those respective individuals or companies. Any original characters are strictly owned by the author of this fan fiction.
The story line of the entire DragonTek series is also owned strictly by me.
This story may not be distributed to anybody without the author's permission. However, the author does encourage you to welcome your friends to read DragonTek on FanFiction dot net. Much thanks...

DragonTek (Part V: The Destiny Saga)

Chapter 75 - Epilogue: Life, Love, and Peace

Some time later at Space Knight Command Center, where it was still day…

"I cannot believe it," commented Honda, leaning weakly against a table. The entire group had come back to the Command Center, only to report the good news. Levin also collapsed into a couch, and Milly closed her eyes in strong relief. Noal and Aki continued to describe the events to the rest of the Space Knights, who remained in a state of ecstatic shock.

"They did it," chimed Aki, remembering to keep her poise as a Commander. "We won the war."

"If only Commander Freeman could be here to see it," whispered Levin. "And Charles."

"They did see it," nodded Noal, pointing his index finger upwards. "From up there."

"I must be dreaming," blurted Honda, shaking his head. "I have to wake up; there's still work to be done. We can't give up regardless of whatever hap—"

"Honda," Aki interrupted, placing her hands on his shoulders. "It's over. It's done. Finally…"

"This is real, isn't it?" asked Honda, tears forming in his eyes. A smiling Noal nodded.

"How do we celebrate?" asked the engineer, and Levin looked up at him. "I'm sorry, Levin."

"No, Honda, don't be. We all lost someone dear to us," he said, breaking a soft smile. "They would want us to celebrate this victory, a victory in which they gave their lives."

'Way to go, man,' thought Noal, admiring Levin's emotional strength. 'You're strong.'

"He said he was sorry for what he did to you," said Takaya in a grave tone. "Especially you."

"Knowing he's dead doesn't make me feel good either," she replied, lowering her eyes. Miyuki and Takaya had been sitting together on a cliff overlooking a valley below. The spore plants that had given the land its magenta veneer now had turned black as a result of their demise, and only one or two remained in the entire lot. Death had swept the valley below, but now, there was hope for its rebirth and regrowth.

"There was no other choice," he said, his voice wavering slightly.

"Perhaps," she replied, wiping a tear from her eye. "What's done is done. He's at peace now."

"But he will never be able to hurt you again," came the gentle reply.

"No, he won't," she returned. "But I'm still afraid, afraid that he will haunt me in my dreams."

"Your dreams?" he turned his head towards her. "Did you have a nightmare with him in it?"

"Yes," she replied, swallowing hard. "And that is why I had gone to confront him alone."

"What did he do in your…" he started, only to stop short – he didn't want to now. They continued to look to the valley below. "Just the two of us are left. The rest – otosan, okaasan, Kengo, and Shinya…"

"Why did fate choose us?" she whispered to herself, clenching her hand into a tight fist.

"We were in the wrong place at the wrong time, doing the wrong thing," came a quick reply, surprising the girl. "But our family wasn't the only one torn apart; even your friend suffered the same."

"Kenshin," she said suddenly, flinching as she said his own name. "Yes, it happened to him too."

"Do you… with him… you know?" asked Takaya cautiously, noticing her face gain some color.

"Don't you think it's a little too early for that, oniisan?" she replied carefully. "We hadn't seen each other for years, and we only met again a couple of weeks ago. Who knows how he's changed since?"

"But you knew him for years before we left that home," answered Takaya, looking intently.

"I know that, but I…" she stopped, pausing herself in thought. "I don't know."

"Sorry, I shouldn't be pressuring you like that," he said gently. "After all, that's your decision."

"What about yourself, oniisan?" she replied, startling him somewhat. "About you and Aki?"

"We've only known each each other for such a short time," he started, looking straight ahead into the distance, "but for some reason, our connection runs deep. I don't really know, but what she had done for me was tremendous. She brought me back, Miyuki, and she risked her own life doing so."

"I'm so happy you found your love," the girl replied, and Takaya turned red in response, smiling.

'I've been given another chance at life yet again, even though others did not even get a second,' she thought as she looked out over the ocean that spread towards the horizon. Keeping her hands in her pockets, she dug her toes into the grainy sand underneath her bare feet, and she looked into the distance, watching the birds that flew over the vast waters. She let out a small gasp as she felt his arm come from behind her and wrap around her waist. He brought the front of his body closer to her back and gave her a soft kiss on her left cheek. Besides the two of them, the beach had been completely deserted. The only things that provided company were the slight breeze of the wind and the noises of the seagulls flying above.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked her softly, maintaining his soft embrace.

"Life," came the response, whose owner gently brought her hands around his. "The future."

"Our future?" he asked gently, and she smiled in response. The two of them had wanted to spend time together, away from everybody else. It had been so long since they had gotten an opportunity to truly see one another, and this was the perfect moment. Alena didn't respond to Goku's question, but he didn't mind. He held her close as they continued to watch the peacefulness of the ocean, a place that showed no signs of war or disturbance. This beach was still pristine, and it was a symbol of the way things used to be.

"I was thinking about how fortunate I am and how many chances I've been given," she whispered. "I've been given the most valuable gift, and I want to use it. I want to live the life of a normal girl again."

"Me too," he responded dreamily, only to realize what he'd said seconds later. "Oh, I mean… um, live the life of a normal guy again. Well, you know what I mean."

"You're too silly," she said playfully, smiling. Her resurrection had changed her way of thinking; she had felt that death would be her method of repentance for what she had done, but possessing life again made her think otherwise. Her death would only cause more pain to those she loved, and she realized that experiencing life and sharing her love with others was her true path and destiny.

"Alena, remember that we shared our first moment," he whispered, "on a beach like this?"

"I could never forget," she replied, caressing his hand. "It was the happiest moment of my life."

"And mine too," he purred, holding her close. Minutes of pleasant silence passed.

"Goku," she interrupted the peace, ruffling her feet in the sand below.

"Yes?" Goku smiled as he moved his eyes towards her. Alena gave a brief pause.

"Will you hold me like this forever?" she said in a soft voice. "I never want to leave you."

"I won't let you go," came the response. The two smiled and looked out again towards the ocean.

"Some memories will be too hard to let go," he said, walking softly into the quaint but ravaged town. Signs of damage were present everywhere in the houses, temples, and other buildings. The black, withered flesh of spore plants lay in the alleyways and over rooftops as well around the town's perimeter. The boy looked into the windows of the deserted stores, wondering where the inhabitants had disappeared. As he continued to walk down the street, he noticed subtle movement behind several of the windows.

'They're all hiding in the safety of their houses,' he thought, walking further. 'It's fortunate that those structures are still standing; at least they still have homes. But the events that took place here were tragic. I can completely understand why they're not coming out yet. It will still be a little while until the United Government declares the war to be officially over. They still need to confirm our claims, I guess.'

"Kenshin," a voice called out behind him, startling him from his thoughts. "Kenshin!"

"Saki?" he blurted, turning around and seeing her down the road. "How did you find…"

"He did," she shouted back, pointing to Vegita that walked up next to her.

"Oy, what are you doing loitering around and just observing?" asked the older Saiya-jin.

"What are you talking about, Vegita?" came the reply. "I just wanted to have some time to think."

"Shouldn't you be telling these people that it's safe to come out?" barked Vegita, shaking his head. "They can't just sit inside their homes forever. Don't they see that we're walking around freely?"

"They probably think we've got death wishes," muttered Kenshin, walking towards them.

"Wait!" a voice called out, startling the boy. The owner stepped out from behind a corner of a building and stood right in front of the sixteen year old Saiya-jin. "Don't leave just yet."

"I'm glad that one of you has come out of hiding," Kenshin stated. "Who are you?"

"I live in this building here," the middle-aged man said, pointing up to a window several feet above his head. "My wife made me come out here and see who you are and why you're walking about."

"The government hasn't made the announcement yet," the boy explained. "But the war is over."

"That would be a serious lie if you are indeed telling one," the man said. "How do you know?"

"I can only tell you that you should trust me," Kenshin smiled. "But if you don't believe me, I would completely understand. What I'm telling you is hard to believe. I would feel the same way. If you believe me, then spread the word around your community. There's no need to remain in hiding anymore."

"Is that all?" asked the elderly person, and Kenshin nodded. With a brief thanks, the man went back into his home, and the boy turned to look at the two standing in the distance. Kenshin thought they looked cute together, and he soon got an idea. Flaring white aura around himself, he hovered into the air.

"I'm just going to visit some other towns. No need to follow me," he hollered, waving. "Bye!"

"Wait!" Vegita yelled, gritting his teeth, but Kenshin had already taken to the sky. 'What the hell goes on through that kid's head? We're supposed to go as a group to the towns.'

"Um, so what should we do?" Saki asked sweetly. 'Let's see if he tries to hit on me again.'

"I'm tired of catching up with him," muttered Vegita, twitching his nose. "Let him do whatever."

"Maybe he did so… to leave us alone," she said slyly, stepping closer to him. Vegita's face grew scarlet immediately, and he nervously reached behind his skull. The hair on his head stood straighter than before as she came closer with a sweet look on her face. The young Saiya-jin man took a step back.

"W-what are you doing?" he stammered uneasily. "Don't you have a boyfriend back on Io?"

'Stupid, stupid me… I forgot I told him that,' she thought, contorting her face. "Oh, yeah, him."

"So, you like me more than him?" Vegita laughed nervously, scratching his head.

"Well," smirked Saki, noticing light sweat develop on Vegita's forehead. She took a step closer to him, and their faces were only inches apart. Vegita's heart began to beat rapidly upon seeing her eyes gently bore into his. Seconds passed as they stared frozen at each other; only the sound of their ever so soft breathing could be heard. They brought their lips closer and closer… and Saki burst out laughing, backing away several feet. Vegita stared wide-eyed at her, his heart feeling like exploding. Saki covered her laughing mouth with her hand, trying not to rub in what she had done.

"What the hell was that?" Vegita asked in a sharp whisper as he contorted his face. "Why did…"

"I had you going!" she said through her laughter. "You should have seen the look on your face!"

"That wasn't very nice," he said, feeling annoyed at having been led on. "In fact, that was cruel."

"Come on, Vegita," she chuckled, slapping him on the arm. "I thought you're tougher than that."

"Still, you shouldn't have done it," he protested, crossing his arms, closing his eyes, and pouting.

"Okay, I'm sorry," she said, trying to control the remnants of laughter in her voice. She tapped him on the arm and stuck out her hand. Vegita frowned, but the look on her face softened him up again.

"Friends?" she asked in a chirpy tone, and Vegita couldn't help but break open a smile.

"You're on," he replied, grinning mischievously and shaking her hand. "Don't lie this time."

"No, I won't," she chuckled, and both of them started to laugh. 'You're so funny, Vegita.'

In another place, far, far away…

Walking over the crisp auburn grass, the two men approached a modestly sized dome-shaped house resting close to a rich garden. A wispy smoke rose from its chimney into the twilight sky, and there was a pleasant odor coming from within. The first man, with his long white hair and pointy ears, motioned for the second man to wait outside. Then, he gave a brief knock on the door before opening it and entering.

Many heads turned towards him, anxious looks on their faces. Kai-do-shin (Supreme Kai) smirked before taking another step inside. In the central room were seated the entire families of the Son and the Briefs lines – well, those that were allowed entrance into heaven, anyway. The parents and grandparents of Goku Jr, Vegita Jr, Alena, Kenshin, Nio, Shinjo, and Aki were sitting tensely, wanting to know about the updated progress of the young warriors' battle on Earth. Bulma paced tensely, and Pan's heart beat hard. Gohan, possessing streaks of white hair, twitched his mouth upon feeling a strange, yet oddly familiar chi.

"What kept you?" Kuririn asked respectfully. "We're almost turning into nervous wrecks here."

"True, I did say a few hours ago that I'd return soon, so my apologies," Kai-do-shin replied. "But there is something important I must tell you. One more Saiya-jin has joined us here in the heavenly world."

"No…" choked Kenshin's mother, placing her face in her hands. "Not our boys… or... or Nio…"

Chi-chi lowered herself beside the woman, trying to console her. Gohan raised his eyebrows, only to hear someone else step through the doorway. They all quickly turned their heads, totally unprepared for the shocking sight – right there before their eyes stood none other than Son Goku, who laughed nervously.

"Oh my God…" whispered Chi-chi as she began to tremble, her knees feeling weak. Gohan went to help his mother stand; the woman placed her hand on her pounding chest while tears welled in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Chi-chi," Kakarotto said, giving her a sad smile. "I've kept you waiting too long…"

"G… Goku," she whispered, her throat tight from disbelief. "Goku!"

With that, she stumbled towards him, and he caught her in his arms before her knees gave out. He could feel her arms wrapping around him tightly as she unleashed her joyous emotions; any resentment she had possessed melted instantly, for she knew that his merging with the Dragonballs was his sacrifice for the planet Earth. Ever since her passing, she had made herself wait for him in heaven. At last, he had returned.

"Father…" Goten said softly, weakly stepping forward. Gohan continued to stand tall, beaming.

"O… ojiisan…" choked Pan, standing several feet behind them, her hand covering her trembling mouth while droplets rolled down her cheeks. It had been a hundred years since she had last seen him – the grandfather that she loved so much; the grandfather with whom she bonded during their galactic adventure.

Then, she could hold it in no longer – she rushed towards Goku, tightly hugging him like a child.

Bulma, Goten, and others followed suit, crowding around the man, who was overwhelmed despite his strength. The other descendants – the parents and grandparents of Earth's surviving Saiya-jin heroes – all stared transfixed in wonder, realizing that this was the legendary Saiya-jin they had grown up hearing stories about; that this was the most powerful warrior who had defeated the deadliest evils in the universe.

Kakarotto felt some moistness in his own eyes as his loved ones hugged him. Kai-do-shin smiled and turned, quietly leaving the house and closing the door behind him. Only a smirking Trunks noticed it...

Chi-chi led Goku further inside the room and let him sit down, only to hear his stomach growl, and the man laughed in embarrassment along with everyone else. His wife beamed, knowing it meant only one thing, and she turned to go to the kitchen. Yet, she could not, for he had softly grasped her hand and shook his head, pulling her towards him and allowing her to sit right next to him in the large recliner chair.

"I know you all are anxious about the outcome of the battle on Earth," he said, seeing their faces tense slightly. "But don't be worried – I wouldn't come here unless I saw their victory with my own eyes."

All were silent for a moment, only to burst out with gasps of realization from the heroes' parents.

"They're all alive," Goku nodded reassuringly. "Maybe a little beat up and tired… but alive."

Pan began to cry in relief, knowing that her Goku Jr. was safe. Bra smiled for Shinjo and Aki.

Before long, Kakarotto began to relay the events that had transpired, starting with what the group had heard last from Kai-do-shin – the firing of the Radam flagship's nuclear cannon – and ending with the final moments. Pan beamed with pride upon learning that Goku Jr. successfully deployed a Genki Dama.

Finally, those who had been furious at Alena soon softened a little upon learning of her sacrifice.

"But why give her a second chance, out of all people?" asked an irked Ichiro, Kenshin's father.

"Because of Goku and Vegita Junior," Goku replied. "They both love her dearly. Together, with their cousins, they can pave a safe, bright future for Earth. And I know she will work her hardest to do so."

With that, his stomach growled again, this time much louder, and any tension in the room broke into laughter. Videl, Pan, and others went to prepare food, but Goku retained his gentle hold on Chi-chi.

"Goku…" she said softly, placing her forehead on his shoulder. "Welcome home…"

"Chi-chi…" he grinned. True happiness radiated from inside the house for the rest of the night…

Four nights later, on Earth…

"Are you sure about this?" asked Shinjo, looking into his true sister's eyes. She nodded.

"There's no way I would miss this opportunity," replied Aki. "I really want to see him."

Later that night…

"Aki?" whispered Takaya, rubbing his eyes upon opening the doors to his quarters in the secondary facility. She had a serious face, which caused some concern to the young man, but he let her in without any further questions. Closing the door behind him for privacy purposes, he brightened the room slightly with a soft light. Aki sat on the edge of his bed and motioned for him to sit. He complied readily.

"I have something very important that I must discuss with you," she said very formally.

"Is something wrong?" he questioned, examining her face again. "Why are you acting like this?"

"No, nothing is wrong," the Commander sighed, relaxing her shoulders. "But Shinjo is leaving."

"Leaving?" Takaya almost blurted, covering his mouth in time. "Back to his home world?"

"Yes, he says he must return," she answered in a steely voice. "But there's something more."

"You can tell me," he answered, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "That's why you came."

"I… I want to go with him," Aki stammered, and his arm tensed. "I want to go to Io. I want to see my father… He's still living there and waiting for Shinjo to come back… with his real sister."

"What's the big problem?" he asked, squeezing her shoulder. "It could be a good vacation for…"

"You don't understand, Takaya," she replied, her voice shaking. "I might not come back."

"What?" he whispered in shock, pulling back his arm. "And you're going to leave me here?"

"No, I… I don't want to leave you," she said softly, closing her eyes. "I love you, Takaya."

"The feeling is mutual," he said in a nervous tone. His inappropriate response jarred her.

"What kind of a reply was that?" she asked, looking directly at him. He lowered his eyes.

"I'm sorry, it's just that," he muttered, pausing. "I don't want to be left alone again. I wanted for us to be together, to share our future together. I understand that you have found your long lost family, and I don't want to sound selfish, but… where do I fit into the picture?"

"This is hard for me too, Takaya," she said softly, rubbing her hands together. "It's not easy."

"And what about your position of being Space Knight Commander?" Takaya posed. "Are you just going to leave and give that up? We need you here, Aki; you're our leader now. You can't just go."

"But my family," she whispered, her head hurting from the dilemma in her mind. "Don't you see, Takaya? My family lost me over fifteen years ago. Now that I know I have a family, how can I not go and see them? I'm only nineteen years old; how can I not live with them to make up for lost time? How can I just stay here knowing that my father is longing to see me? He will be heartbroken if I don't go."

"And I will be heartbroken if you do go and never come back," responded Takaya, sighing sadly. Aki only continued to look at the floor next to the bed. "Why can't you come back? What's the reason?"

"To go to Io and back is not only an extremely expensive journey, it's also very risky," she explained. "My father, Shuko-otosan, doesn't have enough money to make so many trips, and going through the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter is not perfectly safe either. But I have to see him."

"I understand," he whispered, pausing before he perked up. "Then let me come with you."

"Yes!" she blurted, only to close her mouth soon after that. "Wait, I have to ask oniisan first."

"That way, whether we come back to Earth or not," he started. "We will be together."

"What about Miyuki?" posed Aki, and smile disappeared from his face altogether. He paused.

"You're right, I can't leave her here alone like that," he said to himself. "Unless she comes too."

"But she will have Kenshin here," Aki responded. "And if she goes, he will be hurt as well."

"Kenshin?" whispered Takaya, remembering his conversation with Miyuki. "She likes him."

"We can't just have everyone come on board like that," she said, knowing what Takaya was going to suggest. "I can't invite people without getting his permission first. I don't want to ask him to bring so many people aboard. I can only make a case for you, and you have to tell me now."

"You want me to choose between staying here with my sister and going with the person whom I have grown to love?" he posed, and she nodded sadly. Minutes of absolute silence passed in the room as both could feel the tense atmosphere. Takaya continued to look down at the floor, thinking seriously, and Aki looked intently at him. After more moments of contemplation, the man raised his eyes to meet hers.

"You've made a firm decision in going," he stated, his voice gentle. "But I've made a decision… to stay here with my sister. It's funny, you know… we want to stay with what's left of our families. I guess fate doesn't want us to be together after all… Maybe we need some more time to be sure."

"I am sure," she stated firmly, her heart beating fast. Takaya reached out and held her hand.

"Then promise me that you will come back," he whispered hopefully, "to start our life together."

"Takaya, I…" she trailed off, stopping herself as he reached out and gently brought her face closer to his. Her worries dissolved as their lips embraced, drawing them into their passionate, first kiss – a kiss of true feeling, care, friendship, and love. Time passed, but they didn't want to let each other go.

The next day…

The medium sized ship sat just outside the secondary facility mountain base. It was certainly an impressive vessel, designed for long distance travel and accommodating to its passengers. Its hatch was open, and its engines continued to warm up. A short ramp extended down from the hatch, and at its base stood Shinjo, Saki, and Aki, ready to embark on their journey back to the Jupiter moon Shinjo and Saki had gotten to know as 'home'. Nearby stood their relatives and friends, all of whom were sad to see them go.

"But why can't you stay here?" asked Kenshin, digging his hands in his pockets.

"If life were easy, I would stay here, cousin," replied Shinjo, his eyes moist. "But my home needs me, and I need my home. If I were to stay, I'd have to abandon my father. And my father can't move here either, because his work is important for the survival of the people in our colony. So, this is the only way."

"I'm so happy that I got to know you all," Saki gave a soft, sad smile upon turning her head to Vegita, with whom she had spent time during the past few days. "… And win with you all, my friends."

"Remember to visit us here," Vegita swallowed hard, biting his lip. "Don't forget about us."

"Forgetting you all would be impossible," she said back, looking at him. 'I'm sorry, Vegita…'

"And please tell your boyfriend that he's very lucky," he chimed, surprising everyone there.

"Boyfriend?" she asked, shaking her head. "You still haven't realized that I made that up?"

"What!" he contorted his face, gritting his teeth, but his features soon relaxed. "Ha, I knew it!"

"Yeah right," she laughed, and he returned with his trademark smirk while crossing his arms. Everybody else had a small laugh except for the two people that looked longingly at each other. Miyuki turned her head and noticed the serious and saddened expression on her brother's face, and she turned her head to look at an identical expression plastered on Aki's face. Kenshin noticed this as well.

"Are you alright, Takaya?" Kenshin asked in a soft voice. "Hm, you don't look so good."

"Baka," Miyuki chided, driving her elbow into the boy's ribs. Kenshin let out a soft yelp.

"So, when will we see you again, Shinjo?" asked Goku in the meantime, standing with Alena.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you now," sighed Shinjo, looking momentarily at the ground. "But this may be the last time we see each other. Making the trip is extremely expensive and hazardous. Meeting again in the future is possible, but highly unlikely. This may be our final parting."

"I disagree," replied Goku, pasting his own smirk on his face. "You're forgetting something."

"What's that?" asked Shinjo quizzically. 'Goku coming up with a plan of some sort?'

"Kenshin can teleport anywhere," came the reply. "If he will able to cross dimensions using that ability, I don't think it would be too difficult for him to go to Io. He hasn't really practiced it yet, but I'm sure that when he develops it, he can teleport people along with himself."

"Are you sure that he can do that?" asked Shinjo incredulously. "Transport people?"

"Grandfather Goku brought Alena back to this plane by using it," Goku responded, smiling.

"Yes… yes, of course!" Shinjo smiled in relief. "Then we will meet again."

"Kenshin!" yelled Vegita, completely startling the boy, who had been distracted by Takaya.

"Oro?" he blurted, his face contorted in surprise. Vegita narrowed his eyes.

"You better practice your teleportation technique," he ordered in a low voice. "Because we're going to need to use your power from time to time. And I'll be practicing my Ryu Ken, so if I find you slacking off, I just may have to use it on you to provide you a little… motivation."

"Vegita, that was mean!" Kenshin shot back, and everybody had a small laugh. Takaya and Aki, both oblivious to Goku's statement regarding Kenshin's ability, remained staring at each other, and everybody turned their heads to face the two lovebirds. Miyuki closed her eyes and stepped behind Takaya, pushing him straight into the young woman he loved. Aki gasped as he softly slammed into her body, but she maintained her balance and wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly.

"Takaya, what were you thinking by staying here!" Miyuki scolded. "Why don't you go?"

"But," he whispered, turning his head and looking at his smiling sister. "You'll be all alone."

"No, I won't," she said, changing her tone to a flirtatious one. She locked her right arm around the left arm of a doubly surprised Kenshin and leaned her head on his left shoulder. "After all, I have someone here to be with. You don't have to worry about me, oniisan."

"Oro?" Kenshin blurted again, his face turning visibly red. "Miyuki, what are you saying?"

"Just shut up and play along," she mumbled only so that he could hear. "Kenshin and I…"

"You don't have to say anymore; I already know," Takaya interrupted, smiling at her as his eyes began to glow. He was happy for her, for he thought that the two made a perfect couple. However, before he could leave her alone, he needed to make sure that there was no problem to this change of plan.

"Shinjo," Takaya started, turning towards the man. "Will it be a problem for me to come along?"

"None whatsoever; welcome aboard," the Saiya-jin nodded. There was plenty of room in the ship, for his entire team had been aboard when they came to Earth. Shinjo had not forgotten about them; he had given them proper burials one day after the Radam had been defeated. The Saiya-jin continued to grieve the loss, and he knew that he would have to report the terrible news to their families. However, he pushed back those thoughts, choosing to focus on the present and say his good-byes to his cousins. It would not be long until he would have to depart, but there was still somebody who had not showed up yet.

"It's taking her a long time to get herself together," he stated, tapping his foot. "Where is she?"

"Huh? There is yet another person coming along with us?" Saki raised an eyebrow. He smirked.

Within minutes, their common question was answered upon seeing a young woman being wheeled out, in a wheelchair, by a member of Space Knight personnel. She wore a shoulder cast and another on her leg, but she was fine otherwise. They immediately recognized the identity of this female.

"Mieko?" Vegita asked in surprise. "Why in the world is she coming with you to Io?"

"She said that she used to be a scientist aboard the Argos," replied Shinjo, scratching his head. "We had talked a little during the past few days, and she said that she had been curious as to what life was like there. I made her an offer provided that she helped other scientists in the colony in doing research."

"Hey, Shinjo," Goku stepped closer, whispering so that only the two of them could hear. "I have a hard time believing that that's the only reason. Are there any, um, personal motives for your inviting her?"

"No," Shinjo said flatly, aware of his lie. "She's coming for professional purposes only."

"Are we all set to go?" chirped Mieko, approaching his side. Shinjo nodded, and she turned her head towards Aki and Takaya. Narrowing her eyes, she continued, "Takaya is coming along as well?"

"Yup," the Saiya-jin nodded, and Mieko bit her lip. She remembered telling Aki that she would keep her away from Blade in order to make her experience being separated from a lover. It seemed that her idea wasn't going to be effectively implemented anytime soon. Mieko gently placed her hand on her belly.

'I should let go of this grudge,' she thought. 'It won't do me or Kengo's baby any good.'

With her there, the time for departure had arrived. The friends and family members exchanged embraces, sad that their time together had ended. During the past few weeks, new relationships had been discovered, and those involved in some were being separated. Tears of sadness and joy welled in all of their eyes, for part of their newfound family was leaving for an alien land, a land that they called 'home.'

"Take care, Miyuki," said Takaya, hugging his sister warmly. "And take good care of him too."

"I know you'll have a good time, oniisan," she said, her voice wavering but trying to keep control so that Takaya wouldn't change his mind. "I'm happy you're going with her. But you're going to have to watch out. You'll be meeting her father, so act your best. You'll need his approval, after all."

"Miyuki," he chuckled lovingly, releasing her from his embrace. "I'll miss you a lot."

"I will too, but don't think about that," she smiled, motioning him towards Aki. Her brother nodded and headed towards the other three travelers waiting for him at the base of the ramp. Saki took another look at Vegita, who was staring at her. Both gave an embarrassed smile, and they blushed a little.

Yet, Saki knew that her home was on Io and that she couldn't bring herself to leave it so suddenly.

'You're not as bad as I thought you were, Vegita,' the words went through her mind. 'We will be friends, but I don't think we can be anything more. We have our separate lives to attend to and on separate planets. I can't abandon Io, and I wouldn't expect you to do the same for Earth. We may not like it, but this is the reality of life. There is no choice but for us to learn to live by it.'

"Come visit us soon!" Vegita called out, and all four of them waved as they walked up the short ramp and into the entry doorway of the craft. Turning around, they faced those standing on the ground and waved even harder with one hand while wiping their eyes with the other. It truly was their final good-bye, at least for this time. Shinjo pressed a button next to the entryway, and the door slowly closed in front of them, severing their vision of those choosing to remain on Earth.

"Good bye, Takaya," whispered Miyuki, allowing tears to roll down her cheeks, and Kenshin put his arm around her shoulders in order to comfort her. The rest of them continued to wave at the ship as used its underside thrusters to rise into the air. With a final pause, the ship pointed itself upwards and shot into the sky, disappearing into space. Noal watched as his best friend headed for the distant moon of a distant planet. He remembered the favor she had asked of him, and he had agreed whole-heartedly. He had agreed to help Milly manage the Space Knights until she returned, if she ever returned. He made a wish that she would come back, and he wiped a tear of joy, for he felt nothing but happiness for her and Takaya.

"Farewell," smiled Goku, shaking the man's hand. "We'll definitely meet again."

"Yes, we will," said Noal. Honda, Levin, Noal, and Milly watched as Goku, Vegita, Alena, Kenshin, with Nio on his back, and Tekkaman Rapier took to the sky, leaving dazzling trails behind them.

Milly looked on sadly, knowing that her hope of developing something with Kenshin was growing fainter and fainter. Only hours after Shinjo had departed, Kenshin and Miyuki had decided to return home to Japan, where the last stages of the final battle had taken place. Their hometown, Osaka, had been wiped out completely by the Kakujin cannon. Vegita had offered the two of them to stay at his place, and they had agreed.

Alena had talked to Goku about Pan's corpse, and the two of them headed to his house in order to dispose of the elderly woman's body. Despite the grief Goku felt over the loss, he knew that it would only help to look forward, just as the rest of the world would have to following the official statement.

The United Government had finally announced the end of the war moments ago, and it was time for the citizens of the planet to start rebuilding their homes and cities. The Saiya-jin cousins expected to do just that, and they were looking forward to begin a new phase of their changed lives. Noal and the rest of the Space Knights had also decided to work as hard as they could to restore Earth. It would be a long and difficult process, but it would be accomplished with unbending resolve and fortitude.

The next sunset…

"I'm really glad you came here with me," said Kenshin, turning his head to his right and seeing the orange light of the setting sun reflect off her gentle eyes. Sitting on the soft sand on the beach, they looked at each other and smiled, enjoying their time together. The boy looked back to the sun, a quarter of which had already dipped below the horizon in the vast ocean. Miyuki looked upwards and saw the light of the stars pierce through the fading light of the sun; her brother was up there and happy. Yet, so was she.

"I couldn't miss out on something so beautiful," she replied, watching the red sky. 'So pretty.'

"It always has been," he replied sincerely. "And it's also one thing that so many take for granted."

"Nothing can be taken for granted anymore," she said, gazing at the sun. "Especially not now."

"How the past month has changed us all," Kenshin commented, feeling the gentle breeze. "How we are all older now. How we have realized what's important to us and by how much. How we live…"

"And who we live with," came her soft reply, and Kenshin blushed. "That's important too."

"You're right," he answered, pausing in contemplation. Seeing Shinjo leave had stirred something inside of him – how quickly a family bond, a feeling of closeness, could be made. The boy realized that he had often taken his family for granted, not fully appreciating everything his parents had done for him. He would not do that anymore with his cousins, now his new family. They only had one another for support.

"Kenshin," she whispered, touching his shoulder. "What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking how important you are to me," he replied, and several awkward seconds passed. "I was thinking about how important we all are and will be to one another. After all, we only have one another now. But there is something else I was thinking about as well."

"You can tell me," she said, turning to look into his eyes. Kenshin blinked slowly and gazed.

"I was also thinking of how fortunate this planet is," he started, biting his lip. "And how other planets that have fallen to the Radam weren't fortunate enough to have Saiya-jin living on them. It would be selfish of us to be satisfied with just protecting our planet and continuing to live peacefully, knowing that others out there desperately need our help."

"You want to invade other planets and drive out the Radam there?" she asked, her heart jumping.

"They can't stand up by themselves," he reasoned, his face grimacing. "They need us."

"And while you rush off into battle again," she replied. "You would leave me alone here?"

"It was just an idea," he said defensively. "Besides, as a friend, you should understand me."

"Baka," she whispered, reaching out with her hand and gently touching his cheek. "You still call me a friend, even though you know that I have feelings for you. What if you were to get hurt, or worse?"

"Feelings for me?" he gasped slightly, his face turning red. "How would I know? You always…"

"Words don't always need to be said to make it clear," she replied, her moving away. She soon tensed her facial features before continuing. "But I don't know how you feel about me."

Kenshin gazed at her but did not bother to respond. Raising his hands to her cheeks, he brought his face closer to hers. Both of their hearts began to beat faster as they looked into the other's eyes, stopping for a tense moment. As darkness spread across the sky, as the last speck of the sun completely set into the horizon, the boy brought his lips onto hers. The breeze rustled their hair as they shared their first moment of intimacy. They continued, holding each other, until Kenshin pulled away. Miyuki blushed.

"Words don't always need to be said to make it clear," he whispered, smiling at her. "…Miyuki."

Miyuki smiled as she leaned her head on his shoulder. Although twilight had fallen, they did not wish to leave – for them, it was a perfect moment not worth ending.

…Finish…

Author Notes: Alas, it is done. I give my sincerest thanks to those who have had the patience and interest to read DragonTek, despite it being a lengthy, fusion-crossover. It's been a long journey since the first chapter, and I hope you all have enjoyed it every step of the way. I loved reading your comments and hearing your feedback; it has made the writing and revising process that much more fulfilling. Like with any long story, it's sad for the readers to part with the characters... and it's also sad for the author to part with his readers. Once again, you have my sincerest gratitude for your support and kind words, all of you...

I just hope this chapter wasn't too sappy... and I hope it lived up to your expectations :) As always, please let me know your thoughts.

For those of you who commented on Kakarotto finding peace... Yes, he finally does, as shown in the scene above. He will stick more around the house rather than disappear for extended periods. Hopefully, his strength won't be needed anymore - it's now up to the young heroes on Earth to defend it from now on.

For those of you who commented on the Shinya/Takaya conflict - I'm truly glad you enjoyed that. I think their relationship runs so deep despite their being on opposite sides, and it's really touching when Shinya/Saber/Evil dies in the anime. Shinya is my favorite character in Tekkaman (with Takaya a close second) because his story is just as tragic. The reason Takaya was favored by their father was that Shinya had accidentally set their house on fire when he was young, and their mother had died in the blaze. Ever since then, their father had possessed resentment against Shinya and instead consistently favored Takaya. Shinya continued to slip into Takaya's shadow, and becoming a Tekkaman gave him the opportunity to step out of it. Thankfully, he was set free by the end. The anime simply handles Shinya beautifully.

If I may advertise some stories, please be sure to read those DBZ stories written by those that have reviewed DragonTek (e.g. KyLewin, Rejhan, TheTiny, to name a few - please don't be offended if I forgot to list you!). They have some interesting stuff, so be sure to take a look.

Also, if my story has interested you in the Tekkaman Blade anime (which is, btw, my second favorite anime - my first being Rurouni Kenshin), I encourage you to check out the section of this site. Teknoman is the dubbed version of Tekkaman Blade. That section has some excellent stories if you're interested. For more information about the anime itself and episode downloads, you could check out (www dot tekno-mania dot com) or (www dot liquidanime dot com).

One last fanfic plug - I highly recommend you check out Tekkaman Z on that Tekkaman fanfic section, written by my friend KajitaniEizan (remember that name, anyone? Hint: Masamune). It's a DBZ-Tekkaman crossover (with actual DBZ characters in it) that takes place during the Tekkaman anime. It's a parody fic, and I think it is damn funny.

Ok, just one more plug (seriously, this time!), and a shameless one at that - Most of my other fics are Tekkaman fics. If you are enterprising, you might want to check out my fic titled Tekkaman Blade III: Nightmare, the sequel to the Tekkaman Blade II anime. Currently it is unfinished, but it is my masterpiece, better than DragonTek. Though to get the most out of it, you would have to see Tekkaman I (49 episodes) and II (6 episode OAV). But I'd love it if you gave it a shot :)

Again, thank you so much for sticking with this story, and I feel you deserve to know what happens to the characters from this point.

The following is unofficial information relating to what happens to the characters after DragonTek. I say unofficial because it may be subject to change, if I decide to write any more fictions that deal with the DragonTek universe.

Following the end of this first Radam War, what happens to…

The Space Knights

Aki and Takaya return to Earth several months later in their own vessel, leaving Shinjo and Mieko behind. Mieko is pregnant with Kengo's child, but Shinjo and she soon develop a deep friendship. Soon after Mieko delivers her child, Shinjo proposes to her and says that he will take the role of the father. The baby is normal and healthy.

Back on Earth, Aki resumes command of the Space Knights. One year later, Takaya and she decide to move the organization to Japan, Takaya's homeland. Noal joins the Allied Military because he knows that they are in need of competent and skilled officers. Levin joins a government research organization. Milly and Honda are the only two that end up following Aki and Takaya to Japan, and Milly decides to enroll part-time in a university.

Yumi is housed at the SK Command Center in Japan, and she learns the art of mechanics under Honda's guidance. Takaya and Aki spend the next few years researching Tek-system and developing ways to create Earth Tekkamen from the thousands of Primary Bodies that remain. After nine years, they select Yumi, David, and Natasha (they are the Tekkamen in the Tekkaman Blade II anime).

The Saiya-jin

Goku, Vegita, Alena, and Kenshin spend the next year helping rebuild Japan. After that, Kenshin and Miyuki enroll into a rebuilt Tokyo University, and Goku, Vegita, and Alena resume their education at their respective colleges. The government pays their living expenses due to the work they had put into the country during the one-year interim.

After graduating, Kenshin rebuilds Capsule Corporation and marries Miyuki, who had studied physics. Also, Goku, who enters medical school, marries Alena, who pursues a doctorate in chemical engineering. Finally, Vegita and Saki get together, and they have a love-or-hate relationship. They both earn degrees in law, and they eventually marry.

Story Outline for DragonTek II: Revolution (takes place three years after the end of DragonTek)

Aki herself becomes the first test subject in converting humans to Earth Tekkamen. She barely survives the procedure, and she needs to use Pegas, whom Takaya does not need anymore, along with her Tek-crystal to transform.

Vegita is currently living on Io, performing research work with Shinjo and dating Saki on the side. They are having a see-saw type of relationship, and they argue and butt heads a lot. Yet, they still grow to like each other a lot.

On Earth, Goku begins medical school while Alena starts her Ph.D. program. They live together and are engaged. Kenshin starts rebuilding Capsule Corp with his business education, and he plans on proposing to Miyuki, who has been studying physics. Yet, just before he does, he decides to take her on a trip to a Radam-infested planet, using his teleportation technique. When they arrive at the planet, Kenshin realizes that he can't teleport back to Earth.

During the past three years, hate crimes and oppression towards the Primary Bodies has grown over the world. They are viewed as potential threats as well as 'freaks of nature' by humans and the government alike. In response, the Primary Bodies in Europe gather in Prague, Czechoslovakia and declare Prague to be an independent sovereignty governed strictly by Primary Body elected leaders. The United Government does not find this agreeable.

It also turns out that the Primary Body leaders are Earth Tekkamen themselves. In fact, these leaders had gotten their powers through a Radam plant they had stolen and kept secret. Upon learning that the leaders are indeed Tekkamen, the government views the Primary Bodies as a threat to humanity. It sends in forces, and civil war begins.

The government requests the Space Knights to quell the Primary Body leaders, and Aki agrees to kill these leaders in Prague. The Primary Body leaders panic, and they beseech Alena to join their cause. Although she wants nothing to do with it at first, Alena grows sympathetic towards the Primary Bodies and helps them, leading her to fight against Aki.

At the same time, a mysterious force – a black spirit – breaks free from hell and invades the Io colonies, thus infecting Vegita, Shinjo, and Saki. It directs them to head to Earth, where it wants to find its true target – Son Kenshin.

These threads – Kenshin/Miyuki, Vegita/Shinjo/Saki/Goku, and Alena/Aki/Blade – comprise DragonTek II.

Thank you...