Author's Note: It happened--I got a twentieth review! It feels odd to revisit a story after so long, but I will abide by my promises. Even if it took me a while to get my act together to actually get this chapter done, it's posted. Since I had believed the story happily ended before, this will be the first of a few chapters because I can't just start a new plot arc and then not TRY to follow through. Enjoy.

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Ayeka hit the 'end' button on Tenchi and Ryoko's letter and tossed it onto the large command panel in front of her. This was month two of the couple's abdication from Jurai and Ayeka had arranged for them to go to Earth without a fuss. It was still early for everyone to have gotten the news that Emperor Tenchi had stepped down to allow the miraculously reappearing former Crown Princess to take over. Responses were coming in by the trilobyte. Nobles from around the galaxies were sending many skeptical warnings that they would be returning to the home planet of their empire in order to 'pay homage' to their new Empress and Emperor. In reality they were just coming to see if it was really THE Ayeka or another Kagato-like character. They were also insatiably curious about their new Emperor.

It had been a hard decision from a political point of view whether Wufei would take up the role as Emperor or just Prince Consort. Warrior and general he may be, Juraian courtesan he was not. Tsunami had added her two bits and when all was said and done, Ayeka and Wufei were happy with the arrangement. The real test would be proving to the empire that Wufei was powerful enough on his own to be worthy of the title of Emperor. This was Ayeka's current primary concern.

After all these years of training together, or him training me, I'm going to have to teach him in a few months what took me decades. This isn't going to be easy. Ayeka sat back in her rapidly growing thrown and let the sound of Rio-o's waters sooth her. Upon becoming the confirmed ruler of the empire by Tsunami, she had found her tree's aura strengthened by an assimilation of her father's own tree. It was a procedure only possible to the goddess of Jurai herself, and it had taken Ayeka hours of intense meditation to adjust to the power and knowledge foisted upon her. Since the assimilation only worked from parent to child, Tenchi had been without this resource.

A pair of phantom hands settled on her shoulders and began a slow massage. Her eyelids fluttered. Thank you, Wufei...

She heard a mental laugh. I may not be able to harness Tenchi's powers, but I'm certainly more than capapble of handling these new mental disciplines. Ayeka had to admit, Wufei's unusual skill and strength for the lesser-used subtle Juraian powers was a grain of hope. Wufei had taken a seed from Rio-o grown just for him upon becoming Emperor and planted his own tree. His ship was by no means as big as Ayeka's, but neither was it as small as Mariemaia's. He was currently out scouting the territories in a few of the lesser-frequented sectors of space to hide the fact that he was learning the skills necessary to master the control and direction of a Juraian ship. It was difficult for Wufei--so long a master--to become a fledgling. This meant he was lightyears away, but he was still able to sense Ayeka's distress and use his powers to mimic a pair of hands. The closest case to his methods Ayeka had ever heard of was an attempt to strangle someone, and his invisible massages were a skill Ayeka had not been able to learn. She dared to say it was an aspect of Wufei she loved and hated.

Are you going to torture me or tell me you're coming home soon? She asked.

I haven't finished out here yet, but I will soon. How are Antu and Mariemaia doing?

Antu fell into the lake...again. Ever since Mariemaia showed us she could walk on the surface he's been trying to imitate her. Hana got him out quickly, but we're going to have to explain he can't do that yet. She paused and said hesitantly, Mariemaia almost killed her instructor this morning while they were sparring.

There was no hesitation in Wufei's response. What did she do? I know Azaka is a seasoned knight, she shouldn't have been able to get through so easily.

It's something better left for a more intimate conversation.

I see. I'll come home immediately then. Ayeka felt him pull back from her mind and opened her eyes to stare into space. Wufei had been the first to point out that no matter how personal their mental connection felt, there was no gaurantee nobody could listen in. For this reason they tried to limit their discussions to personal matters and even then with discretion.

Ayeka swept a hand over her command panel, activating a necessary area and setting the commands to return to Jurai. She was only a few minutes away, and thinking of Mariemaia's training incident had reminded her that she needed to talk to her guardians.

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Mariemaia lay on her stomach looking depressed. The head nurse had scolded her while she lay soothing bandages across the girl's back, after Ayeka had given Mariemaia a short but scathing talk. She'd just been doing physical training thus far, and in Juraian lifetimes she was ahead of the norm, but after meeting Mirrim she had discovered unusual telekinetic abilities. Until this morning she'd only displayed her ability to walk up to great heights. Then during this morning's practice she'd surprised Azaka by knocking him off balance with an explosion of mental energy as she went through one of her usual charges. The blast had unpredictably stunned him as well, and she was shocked to find her sword in his stomach instead of pressed off to the side.

The scolding she received was a reminder to inform her parents and teachers of any change in her skills or powers so they could be accommodated. No tricks. It was a sound warning she meant to heed. The feeling she got when she got through Azaka's defense had been exhilarating, but when she'd felt flesh part for her blade she had felt a wave of revulsion. Now Mariemaia wondered if she'd ever be able to pick up her sword again. They hadn't even been using what Mariemaia thought of as 'real' swords, the energy blades used by her parents and guardians. They were using the sharpened metal blades used in teaching, the ones she was familiar with from Earth, and now she wondered if cold steel would ever warm in her hand and feel right.

There was a knock on her door and Mariemaia tried to get up, but flinched at the pain in her back. "Come in!" The door slid open and Ayeka came in. Mariemaia loved Jurai, but seeing her mother wearing such strange and superfluous clothing felt off. Mariemaia faced the head of her bed again and sighed. "Hey, Mom."

Ayeka sat on the edge of the bed. "How are you doing? I've felt Azaka's counter-wave before, but never aimed at me. You're lucky it only hit your back…" Ayeka slowly peeled the damp bandages back and sighed. If she didn't do something about these burns they would scar. Ayeka reached above Mariemaia's bed to the tree that hung over in a green canopy. One of the leaves dripped a shimmering liquid into her outstretched palm and she rubbed her hands together. "Hold your breath and count to ten," Ayeka said. Mariemaia recognized her mother's warning that this was going to hurt and sucked in a good breath.

Slowly, Ayeka ran her hands down Mariemaia's back, not stopping until she' reached the girl's feet. When she finished, Mariemaia was panting into her pillow. Ayeka lightly replaced the nurse's bandages and pulled the blanket over them. Brushing bright red bangs back behind a pink ear, she said quietly, "Your father is planning to come home soon. When he gets here, you should be able to jump him as usual." Mariemaia gave a small smile at that. Whenever Wufei left for long periods of time, she always greeted him by jumping on him. It had started as her trying to estimate her chances of escaping him, but turned into an endearment. At least she knew she wouldn't knock him over.

Then she thought of something. "Mom," Ayeka paused on her way out. Mariemaia licked her lips. "Um, in addition to the shockwave I did before, I figured out how to do long jumps and move small objects." Ayeka blinked and then smiled, nodding.

"Thank-you, I will inform Azaka and Kamidake. Rest well." As Ayeka left the room she began to worry. Mariemaia displayed the traits of a young child of Jurai's heritage, but not with the same aptitude as an actual Juraian. It was the same with Wufei. Although his combat skills were catching rather quickly, beyond his ship he was still very much an Earthling. Then there was this strange other strength. Funaho had never displayed such powers.

Perhaps she should visit her mothers sometime. They had retired to the old family villa, refurbishing it and living quietly beyond the court. Misaki had sent a very exuberant message upon hearing of Ayeka's return—with grandchildren. Ayeka's hand went to her slightly extended stomach and a soft smile touched her lips. I wonder if anyone in the royal family has ever had twins before…I can't remember any. She headed down the hall to her son's room and knocked.

"Come in," the nurse, Hana, called. The door moved aside and Hana jumped to her feet. "Your Majesty! Good afternoon."

Ayeka smiled and looked around for her son, her eyes falling on a small foot as it disappeared beneath the bed. "I would like to spend some time with my son, why don't you take a break until after supper?" Hana bowed and walked out. The moment the door closed Ayeka dropped to her knees near the bed and grabbed her son's foot to drag him out.

"Nooooo!" he cried, trying to grip the floor to stop his sliding, but the wood was not as good for that purpose as the rug in his old room. Ayeka released his ankle to pick him up by the waist and carried him over to the corner where his Earth toys and Juraian educational equipment was left. "You ruined my fun, Mommie!" he pouted, but he'd stopped squirming. Antu had realized early on that his parents weren't easy to get around.

"Well then, how about I join you for a little game? Perhaps fingers, knees, and toes?" Ayeka bated him with his old favorite.

Antu allowed himself to be calmly placed in the small training circle and seemed to seriously consider the offer, his red eyes studying the floor. "Um…do I get to go first?"

Ayeka smiled. "Sure—" Antu dropped and tried to use both feet to stomp on Ayeka's toes as his hands held him up. Ayeka stepped back, allowing him to get one foot. "Tricky!" she said, encouraging him. The game had started when Antu was around three and a half, meant to teach him how to handle strangers when his parents weren't around. However, like father like son. Antu was a gifted martial artist, and judging from what Kamidake had to say from training with the boy, a prodigy of Juraian staff fighting. He was only six, yet his strength and speed were dangerous to others his age if not carefully controlled. Without a tree to feed him and grow with him he'd been fairly above average. Now Ayeka feared the separation from others his own age would wear on him.

As she tapped him on the shoulder to make him aware of where she'd disappeared off to, her tree called to her in warning. Ayeka caught Antu's wrists and calmly set him down, then looked down into his eyes. He stopped struggling the moment he saw her serious expression.

"Antu, I want you to go to your sister's room and stay with her. Hurry." He nodded and ran for the door, which opened just in time to keep him from running into it. Ayeka left just as quickly, but slowed to a fast walk in the halls as to not alarm anyone. She went straight to the throne room and swept past the council table to the steps to her throne and Wufei's. Sitting on her own she tapped into the trees that were vying for her attention.

What is wrong? She asked them.

Rio-o spoke to her for the network. Gamra and Lao have been put to ground. They are the trees of General Ishida and the Lady Naomi. They have settled on Sarran in the Ligoth system. Tsunami will know more.

Ayeka sighed. It wasn't anything truly alarming, but for two such distinguished members of the aristocracy to plant their trees and give up their power was a serious issue. Especially since it came at the very beginning of her reign. Ayeka pictured the Juraians in her head and went over her options. As Yosho had proven, Earth did not sap a tree of its powers, but did leave the ship to die off. In that aspect it was unique and had allowed him to disappear without alarming their father and the trees. Funaho was still flourishing at the shrine.

However the loss of power hastened the aging process, and planting one's tree in ground was seen almost as suicide. The best reason for those two to do such a thing was if they fell in love and Lady Naomi's father, the head of the Juraian Council, disapproved. In the worst case, they were scheming to disappear and then wreak silent havoc on the empire.

Ayeka reached for her sister, Tsunami. She still was adapting to having a blood bond with the goddess of her people. Tsunami?

Ayeka… How expected. I assume you want to know of the fate of our children?

Yes. This worries me since it has the trees so alarmed.

Do not fear for Gamra and Lao, they are content in their new soil. Ishida and Naomi eloped some time ago…before you left for the Other Earth. They just wish to be left alone. Sarran is not as populous as Jurai, a good place for them. Tsunami spoke with the calm, cool conviction of knowing everything. Ayeka sighed with relief. Just look out for their son.

Ayeka sat up straight. A legitimate son, unknown to the court, of two powerful families. What son!

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How's that for a new beginning? Review and comment, I'll accept flames for marshmallow roasting to feed my sugar high.