I do not own any of the Tenchi Muyo characters, Pioneer has the rights to the characters. I just show my love for the characters by writing a story with them in it. I am in no way receiving any money by writing this story; so don't file a lawsuit against me.

This chapter contains descriptions of graphic violence, reader discretion is advised. Still with us? Good, then continue reading.

Shogun Muyo – Chapter 15: Armageddon Dancers, part 2

A lone figure slips through the hallways, staying out of sight of soldiers that may come running by. She peaks around corners with her back pressed against the wall. When the coast is clear, she sprints down the hallway to get to the end of the corridor. She had run into the castle to find the wayward Ayeka, to keep her promise to protect her. She held strong feelings for Ayeka and she wouldn't be able to forgive herself if she had failed to protect her.

Reaching the end of one hallway, she covered her nose and mouth; a terrible smell was in the air, as well as some smoke that was clouding up her visibility.

Ahhh. What is that horrible smell?

She continues making her way deeper into the castles maze of hallways, trying to stay as quite as she can with all the smoke in the air. She could tell she was getting closer to the source of where the smoke was coming from, due to the stench getting stronger. She pauses when she sees around a corner something she couldn't make out, she creeps up to the edge of the wall and attempts to look down the connecting corridor ahead of her. She can make out something on the floor, she didn't see or hear any evidence of any other presence around. She walks out to get a better view of the object laying in the hallway. Her mouth and nose still covered due to the smell.

This must be where the fire was, the stones in the hall are charred black. But what is this. . . Her trail of thought wonders on as she stands next to what appears to be charred remains of someone.

She looks down the hallway again and notices the different sections of body parts laying on the floor.

Well someone had a bad day. This guy must have been large, the sections of legs are long and. . . . . Her eyes widen as she realizes who the remains was. Voog! The hand covering her face, shields anyone from seeing the smile on her face. It looks like you've gotten what you deserved. But who did. . .? The smile vanishes from her face as a new thought comes to mind. Ae? Did you do. . .this?

Mireya felt deep concern for Ayeka, this wasn't what she had expected. She knew that Ayeka wanted to get vengeance on Voog for what he had done to her, but she thought that Ayeka would help her find Voog and she herself would make Voog pay for what he had done. This wasn't an action that the gentle princess would do that Mireya thought of her as, this was the work of another animal.

Mireya looks around her in growing concern. Ae. . Where are you?

She continues down the hallway, past the remains of the now dismembered Voog. Desperately trying to fulfill her promise she made to Ayeka.

A wooden table that was sitting in a hallway in the castle was nearly seventy years old. It was finely crafted and showed great detail in it's curves in the wood. It had lasted through decades of conflict and turmoil. Even with the years that the table had endured, it shone with a reflective surface. But that seemed to change when Daimyo's body fell onto it, smashing it to bits after he was thrown down into it from his brother Botaro.
He quickly recovered, rising out of the wooden remains of a table he had smashed, he charges into Botaro, launching his own offensive. Daimyo lands a couple of punches into Botaro's big gut, but doesn't seem to affect Botaro in the least. Botaro smiles at him and sends Daimyo across the room with a punch of his own.

"What's the matter Daimyo, you've grown weaker. I remember the last time we fought, you punched a little harder than that."

Daimyo answers with a growl. "Well I guess it's time I took fighting you seriously."

Botaro suddenly finds Daimyo's feet being planted into his face, as Daimyo throws kicks at the large man. Botaro begins stepping back due to Daimyo's assault upon him.

Alright you fat tub of lard! I'm going to give you such a beating! Daimyo confidently thought, as he was gaining the advantage.

Jumping into the air, Daimyo twists his body to gain enough force to topple the gigantic man by delivering a spinning roundhouse across his ugly face. Surprise came to Daimyo, when he felt large hands grabbing his leg, instead of hitting Botaro's face.

Oh crap.

Botaro caught Daimyo's leg, momentarily introduces his face to the floor as he swings Daimyo around and throws him face first into the wall. Half a second passes, but feels like eternity to him, due to how much hitting the wall hurt. He turns around in time for Botaro's knee to get firmly indented into his stomach.

"Uughh. . . . . .Uughhh." Was the only noise Daimyo could make, trying to inhale any oxygen that he could get back into his body after sustaining Botaro's blow. Then Botaro's large fists come crashing down onto Daimyo's mid-upper back, sending him back onto the floor.
Daimyo's world seemed to be drowning in pain, Botaro hit like a sledgehammer connecting to his face. Not to be finished in so easily Daimyo lifts himself up. But not before Botaro kicks him hard in the side, causing Daimyo to flop a couple of feet away.
Botaro wasn't going to give Daimyo any time to regain any footing in this fight. He rushed over to him and reached down to pick his fallen opponent up. Daimyo thrust both of his feet up into Botaro's gut, causing the huge man to take a couple of steps back. Daimyo quickly jumps back onto his feet and rushes the man once again, landing well placed punches on the larger man.
Botaro catches one of Daimyo's punches and forcibly pulls him in. Daimyo's back runs into the front side of Botaro, where he intended Daimyo to wind up at. Botaro wraps his gigantic arms around Daimyo's body and picks the fighter up. Knowing Botaro had him in a bear hug, Daimyo thrusts the back of his head into Botaro's face to try to loosen the giants hold on him. Botaro's huge arm muscles visibly flex around Daimyo and begin to tighten onto him.

"Eehh. . . .huugghh. . . ." Was all Daimyo could get out as he felt Botaro's muscles attempt to try to crush every bone in his body.

He felt the vibrations of Botaro's deep laugh. "Struggle all you like, it will do you no good. I've been looking forward to this day for a long time and I intend to enjoy every moment of it." He finished and gave a tighter squeeze.

Daimyo didn't know how much of this he could take, he felt his body couldn't tighten any more without the bones beginning to break. This. . .This cannot be the way I die. I must get free. Daimyo kicks Botaro as hard as he can at any point he can reach Botaro at the moment, but Botaro doesn't flinch, it only causes him to laugh again. "Daimyo you've grown weak, but don't worry you won't remain weak for much longer. Ahahahaha." "I. . . .amnot. . . .weak . . . . . ." Was all he could muster out. "If that's true, why is it your losing?" Botaro grunted back out, his reply strained from flexing so long. Daimyo couldn't give him a reply, in both because he didn't seem to have enough air to spare to reply to him and he didn't know what had made him weaker. Then suddenly like a bolt of lightening it came to him. He knew why he was weak, the reason was in front of him the whole time, but he was now finally able to see it. Visions of everyone on Earth flash in front of him. It was them. . .the whole time it was them that has weakened me. I thought that it was my own abilities that had failed me. . . .but now I see that it was them who had changed me from my ways. They who had softened me up, it is because of them that I will die like this. . .

Daimyo felt a wave of anger wash over him. I hate them. . . . .I hate them all. "I. . .I hate. . .you. . ." He muttered out. "The feeling is mutual." Botaro grunted. "Dear brother." Anger was written on his face from acknowledging him as a brother for the last time. Botaro squeezed as hard as he could to begin crushing Daimyo's body within his arms. He felt disappointed when Daimyo didn't make any sound when he squeezed hard on him. That gave him incentive to squeeze as hard as he could again.
A growl came from Daimyo as Botaro squeezed his body. Getting tired of not hearing Daimyo in torment, Botaro applied more pressure and a crack came from Daimyo's body. Daimyo let out a cry of pain as one of his bones cracked from the pressure he was enduring. "AAaaaaahhhhhhh!"

In a distant part of the universe known only to a select few, the Goddess Tokimi observed the universe from her standpoint. She slightly lifts her head and allows a slight hum to escape her lips. "Is there something wrong my lady?" D3 asked his mistress, sensing her sudden change in mood.

Tokimi smiled as she replied to his question. "The time has come."

Understanding his mistress's words, D3 slightly bows his head in his reply. "I shall make the preparations at once my lady."

As D3 fades away from Tokimi's presence, she indulges her curiosity by continuing to observe Daimyo's current battle with a smile.

Daimyo felt ashamed of crying out in pain, but the pressure was getting to him. It would not take much more time for bones to begin breaking. And all he could feel was pain, anger, and frustration, he could feel his mind beginning to give way to all the pain and anger that was covering his body. "Aaaaaaahhhhh!" Daimyo cries from the pain inflicted upon him. He could feel that this was going to be his demise, he didn't feel he would be able to break free of Botaro's crushing grasp.
Suddenly a feeling washes over him. A feeling that he felt once before, something that he hoped would never feel again. It was the same feeling he felt during his last encounter with Botaro; which nearly resulted in Mireya's death. He could feel it forcing it's control onto him, and given his situation, he was willing to welcome it.

This is taking far to long for my tastes. I've had enough pleasure from this, I should end this now. Botaro thought to himself.

"This has been fun. . .ehhh. . .But I believe it's time to end this." He tells Daimyo, grunting from applying all the pressure he could give.

He applies all his might into tightening his hold on him, like a python crushing it's prey. Concern crosses Botaro's mind when Daimyo's hair begins to float weightlessly into the air, as if a gentle gust of wind blew up from beneath both of them. A light outline of a red glow began emanating from Daimyo's form as his hair continued to float in front of Botaro. Botaro's feeling of concern was now replaced with fear, he had seen this happen in Daimyo before. He had seen this when he was about to defeat Daimyo a few years ago, then Daimyo seemed to change and then the next thing Botaro remembered was waking up in a ditch, in a great deal of pain and near death. No.. . .I will not let this happen again! Botaro thought in a panic. I'm so close to defeating him for the last time. I will not be beaten again! Out of desperation, Botaro swings Daimyo from wall to wall in an attempt to kill him faster. Botaro's job of throwing Daimyo against the walls seemed to be causing dents in the stone walls of the castle. A strong force hits Botaro and causes him to loosen his grip on Daimyo. Daimyo lets loose a loud yell, sending a stronger force to push Botaro onto his back several feet away. He looks back up to see what has happened, he sees the change in Daimyo that he saw three years ago. Daimyo's hair was no longer black, it now had a blood red color to it. The gem in his forehead had changed from an ocean blue color to a shinny golden yellow. "No!" Botaro yelled at him getting back onto his feet. "I will not allow you to beat me again. Do you hear me?! NEVER!!" Botaro carried his yell while running full steam to Daimyo. His right fist pulled back, awaiting to place all his weight and strength into one punch onto Daimyo.

"AAAAAAAAAHHHH!" Daimyo cries out with all his might throwing and landing a strong punch into Botaro's gut.
Botaro stops dead in his tracks as he spits up blood from Daimyo's blow. The giant man didn't have time to wonder what happened, as Daimyo violently and erratically threw punches and kicks all over him. The difference seemed to be that Daimyo's blows were producing pain onto him.
Daimyo seemed to be in a blood thirsty state of mind, too enraged to yell insults at the giant, he just retorted with angered grunts and screams at him. He did not give Botaro any seconds rest from his newly empowered assault upon his gigantic brother.
Daimyo leaps into the air and lands a kick upon his face, ultimately planting the mans head into the wall, pinning him between the crumbling brick of the wall and Daimyo's foot. Landing from his leaping kick, Daimyo plants another forceful punch into his massive belly. Botaro's head comes out of the wall to lean forward from the pain of his blow, only to feel the heel of Daimyo's foot imprint itself onto the right side of his face.
Botaro's massive body flops to the floor from Daimyo's kick. Botaro had a hard time trying to get back onto his feet, his brain seemed to want to slip into unconsciousness from the result of Daimyo's affliction. But the massive man wouldn't allow it, he had to finish Daimyo once and for all. "You. . .you will not kill me. . . .you are the one. . .who's dying tonight." Botaro declared to Daimyo as he stumbled back onto his feet. "You. . . . .You will DIE!!!" He screams at him, charging Daimyo once again. Botaro's eyes grew wide as he felt Daimyo give him a swift kick in the family jewels. Botaro's feet left the ground for a second as Daimyo's kick lifted him off the ground. He felt his knees give way, to fall to his knees, but he stopped in mid fall to the floor. Daimyo's right hand grasped Botaro's throat, holding the large man up from the floor. Daimyo raises his hand above his head, as Botaro's body is raised off the floor, suspended in the air, by the smaller mans right arm.
Botaro gasps for air, as Daimyo's hold is choking the larger man. Botaro grabs Daimyo's wrist to try to pull himself off of Daimyo's grasp, but is unable to move the fighters hand. "How. . . . .can. .this. . .. . .be?" He asked Daimyo in between gasps. Daimyo glared at him in response, hate seemed to burn in his gaze as he looked upon him. Botaro kicks Daimyo as hard as he can in his stomach. To his surprise Daimyo doesn't flinch from his blow, Daimyo's face visibly changes to seething anger.

The red glow around Daimyo's body intensifies it's brightness. Botaro tries to quickly wiggle himself out of Daimyo's hold, knowing what this was leading up to. But Daimyo's grasp was solid, the giant was at Daimyo's mercy.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Daimyo cries out, applying all the hatred that has exploded out from within him.

"Nnnnoooooo!" Botaro screams as the red light engulfs him. The end result of Daimyo's maddened scream is a violent explosion.

BOOM!

An explosion that erupts from the outer wall of the castle sends cement and debris flying into the night's sky. As the pieces lose their momentum into the air, they rain back onto the planet, hitting buildings, ground and landing on the occasional soldier involved in this blood soaked battle. Ryoko heard the explosion over the rest of the chaos that was continuing outside of the castle. She wasn't able to see the explosion, but she was able to catch a small glimpse out of the corner of her eye. She and her demons were still trying to buy the others the time they would need. These warriors were indeed brave, even though a large number of their forces have fallen to her and her demons they still bravely fought on.

Tenchi. I hope you are well.

Where once was a wall was now a hole in front of Daimyo. Blood painted the rim of the hole that allowed him to be able to see outside the castle. Botaro was nowhere to be seen, although a single boot of his lay on the ground, some blood covering the top of it.
Daimyo appeared to be calmed down now, he was no longer enraged and yelling, but he was still in his transformed like state. It seemed he had finally been able to finish off Botaro once and for all. He was no contemplating on what he was to do next.

"Well done Daimyo." A voice came from nowhere.

Daimyo took a defensive position ready for anyone to try messing with him. A large blue jewel rises from the ground as it appears from thin air. Then just as suddenly as the gem appeared, the face of a well aged man fades into view, but still remains like a ghostly visage.

"You have finally unlocked your full potential." The aged face spoke again.

"Who are you?" He asked confused, wondering if this was a deity that he should kneel before or not.

"I am but a servant of my lady, Tokimi. I believe that you have already met her."

He paused for a moment to think of any women he had met, then suddenly he remembered his dream. "You mean that woman from my dream a few nights ago?"

"Yes." D3 replied, while closing his eyes and nodding his head to get his answer across clearly.

"What do you want from me?"

"My lady wants to show you your purpose. Your destiny. You have unlocked your powers, but still lack the knowledge of your abilities. I am here to show you the door to the reason of your existence."

As D3 finishes his reply a door appears in front of Daimyo. He steps back in light of what is happening to him.

The reason of my existence. My destiny? This is a lot to take in. He thought to himself.

"Enter the door and all your questions will be answered. You will be empowered with your full strength and you will truly become unbeatable in the universe."

Daimyo took a couple of steps toward the doorway before he noticed his body walking toward it without him deciding on whether or not he wanted to accept this offer. He felt that there was something wrong with going with this offer, but there was a part of him that wanted to accept it. To truly become unbeatable again, to the point of where no challenger could defeat him, to become the Dragon of the Soe once again. He soon discovered in himself, that he would willingly make any deal to become what he once was. A few days ago he believed he just needed more training, but now he understands that he needs to gain his full potential with the scales. He slowly approaches the door and grasps the handle of the door. He pauses, searching his soul again to see if this was what he felt he wanted to do. Having found no objection to this action within him, he pulls the door open and steps through.

A steady beeping noise causes a young sleeper to stir in her bed as the sound brings her out of her sleep. Slowly opening her eyes, the world comes back into focus and she becomes more aware of her surroundings. A familiar voice gently speaks her name as she begins to move in her bed.

"Welcome back Sasami." Washu greeted from her futon that she had sat next to the small princesses bed.

Remembering what she was about to do before waking up in this bed had her slightly confused. "What happened?"

"You passed out on your way out of my lab. Judging from the changes, I'd say it was from your assimilation with Tsunami."

"What do you mean changes?" She asked, confused about Washu's answer.

"Could you please stand up for me Sasami?"

"O..Ok." Sasami slid off the bed and stood up straight. She noticed Washu stood shorter than usual.

"Washu? Did you make yourself smaller?"

Washu grinned as she replied. "No Sasami. You made yourself taller."

Sasami looked herself over, Washu spoke the truth. She noticed that her legs were longer, her hair was also more full and lengthy. She also took notice that her chest seemed to be developing as well.

"It seems you've aged a couple of years in your sleep Sasami. I would say you look around twelve now, possibly a young thirteen. It's been interesting watching you grow so much within a few hours."

Sasami inhales sharply. "Has the others returned yet?"

Washu shakes her head. "No, they haven't returned yet. I was actually monitoring the readings I was receiving from the coordinates of Daimyo's planet during your nap."

"Are they alright?"

"I can't say for sure, but knowing them, I'm sure they're fine. I was recording the energy readings that Ryoko has been generating for a little bit now. It seems that she's in a big battle at the moment."

An orange colored energy sword emerges out of the back of a soldier of Draka. The young man, who was just run through releases a cry of pain as he is tossed aside by the woman who had been fighting the reserve army. After the man was tossed aside, she took a defensive posture with her sword ready to dispatch the next soldier, but looking around her she found no one challenging her.
Catching her breath, Ryoko looked about her. Bodies now littered the landscape of this bludgeoned battlefield. Bodies were piled upon bodies of where the warriors fell to Ryoko and her demons. There were a few stray soldiers running away and being mangled by the demons that were still lingering. Seeing that the battle was now over, Ryoko dismissed the demons she had summoned. As her minions faded away, Ryoko fell to the ground on her knees, breathing hard from the fierceness of the fighting.
Ryoko looked herself over, she now noticed that she was painted red with the blood of the fallen soldiers that she had killed during the battle. Her battle suit was mostly red now. There were a couple of black patches that the blood seemed to miss covering, but she felt the drying warmth of it all over.
Ryoko didn't know how to feel at this moment. She felt saddened, remorseful, and confused, but most of all she felt sick. She felt a convulsion in her throat, she quickly bent down on all fours and began to vomit. As she spat up anything that was currently in her digestive system, she began to cry as well.

What is happening to me? Why. . .why am I feeling these emotions?

She did not know why she felt so remorseful about this. It isn't the first time she had killed, Kagato saw to that. She was finally able to regain control of her stomach, regaining her composure from her vomiting fit, she sat up and took in the sight of the mutilated bodies scattered about. She inhales sharply and holds her breath when the knowledge of why she felt different now suddenly hit her.

This. . . .this was my doing. I felt no guilt for what I had done in the past because it was Kagato's will that destroyed lives and places, so deep inside I knew that I wasn't to blame. But this. . . She looked around her in a paniced manner. All this was my will. There is no one else to blame for this horror but me.

She gazed down at her blood covered arms again in dismay. She saw her hands trembling at the sight of so much blood on her. She fazed out of her battle suit back into her blue and yellow dress and looked again. The blood still covered her arms.

Ah, it soaked through. She thought in a panic. I can't let Tenchi see me like this!

She rubbed her hands over her arms, but only smeared the blood that remained on her. Seeing that she wasn't getting it off of her, she wiped her forearm on the body of a dead soldier. Only to see she smeared more blood by wiping over an open wound on the man's body. She could hear her breathe quickening as she began to panic more. She was afraid Tenchi would see her like this, causing him to fear her again.
She flew up into the air to get away from the blood. She phases from her spot in the air and reappears next to the stone wall of the castle. She flew around the wall, hoping to find some pipe that would hold water to let her cleanse herself of this blood that was shed by her hands.
Joy highlights her blood stained features as she spots a pipe running up the wall. She flies down to it and cuts the pipe asunder, causing the water contained within to gush out onto the ground below. She phases out of her dress and stands beneath the cold water. She places her hands against the wall and lowers her head down to let the water rinse through her hair. Standing there watching the mixture of blood and water trickle down her legs and onto the ground, she feels her eyes tearing up again. The thought of Tenchi being appalled at the sight that she has made onto this world freighted her. She cared deeply for the young man and deeply cared about how he felt for her. Even if it wasn't love, it would still be better than fear or shame.

"Oh Tenchi. . . . . ." She drops to her knees and cradles herself. "How could you love something so covered in death?"

This day was beginning to become more of a mental challenge than Tenchi thought it would become. He was currently playing chess with Trowa, the emperor of Draka. The emperor laid down the results of whoever wins. If Trowa wins the game, Tenchi goes back home through the portal, leaving Trowa in rule over his world. If Tenchi wins, Trowa steps down from his throne and is exiled. So far the game has been a mental bend. With the exception of a couple of pawns from either side taken out of the game, they were both still evenly matched. Currently it was Tenchi's turn to move.

"So tell me, why is it you wish to overthrow my rule?"

The emperor's question gave pause to Tenchi's concentration on the board game. "I have not been on this world for very long, but from what I have seen of your world, a change is deeply needed." He answered moving his bishop out from it's starting place.

"It's funny isn't it. The strong is meant to govern over the weak. The weak need the strongest to protect them, but when they get the strongest ruler they can have, some of the weak hate the rule of the strong, even though they are needed. Would you agree that the strong should rule over the weak?"

"I believe the strong should help protect those weaker than them, not to dominate them."

"Perhaps that works where you come from, but here that does not apply." Trowa responded, moving his knight.

"Aaaahhhh!" A cry from behind erupts from out of nowhere. The sound of flesh being pierced with steel, soon follows the cry. Trowa moves in his chair like he was hit from behind. Tenchi's eyes grow in surprise as Mireya's face appears over the shoulder of Trowa. Rage burning on her face as she plunges the sword deeper into the emperor's back.
The emperor coughs up blood as he turns to see his would-be assassin. Anger is written upon his face when he see's that it's Mireya attacking him. "You?!" He looks back at Tenchi. "It wasn't you. . .I should have worried about. . . . . .It was her. ."

"DIE!!" Mireya screams at him, pushing down on the sword with all her strength to end Trowa's rule faster.

Trowa rises out of his chair and attempts to walk, but falls upon his knees. He gurgles up more blood from his mouth, before being able to speak again. "It wasn't suppose to end. . like. .this." He falls forward face down upon the floor, dead.

Mireya insures his death more so by twisting the sword a little, still in a fit of rage, she continues yelling at him.

"This is for everyone who's suffered and died because of you!!" She cried at him, using all of her breathe in the scream.

She began to calm down when she couldn't get the sword to plunge any deeper, due to the marble like floor of the room. She leaned down onto the large sword, gasping deeply to get air back into her body. She turned her head toward Tenchi, finally realizing that he was still there and hadn't made any noise. He looked afraid of her, or was still in shock over what had just happened suddenly without warning.

"You fool." She spoke to him. "Your wasting time by playing him a game of chess, when the others could be dying fighting everyone else." She questioned him, her eyes glaring at him.

"I'm sorry. He challenged me to the game so I accepted. I was just being honorable."

"Honorable. Honorable?! Do you think he was ever honorable? He was a cutthroat, ruthless creature that only deserved a slower demise!"

Tenchi hung his head down at her words. Then a thought came to mind.

"The others! We need to go let everyone know that this is over now. You and Daimyo can now give your world a better chance. That would get the fighting to stop right?"

Mireya turned her head back toward the throne and took notice of Trowa's axe that stood leaning against the throne. "Yes, that would probably work."

"We have to find the others." Tenchi spoke as he began walking toward the large double doors.

A blow from behind into Tenchi's lower back causes him to hit the ground in pain. He rolls onto his left side to look back. He saw Mireya walking over to the throne and pick up the fallen emperor's battle axe. There was no rush in her movements, which meant that she was the one that delivered to blow to him.

"Mireya? What. . .What's going on?"

Mireya glared at him as she slowly walked over to him, carrying the axe with the blade pointed down toward the ground. "Did you think that I was blind? Did you think that I didn't know?" Her voice increased in the second question. "I won't let you hurt her." She spoke softly, with hate present in her words.

Tenchi tried to get to his feet, but every attempt to stand gave him great pain. Mireya circled around him, with the axe in clear view of Tenchi. "You don't deserve her." She stopped in front of him and grasped the hilt of the axe with both hands. "Don't worry Tenchi." She said raising the axe above her head. "I'll tell them you died heroically killing Trowa."

"Tenchi!!"

The sound of a familiar voice causes Mireya to pause in delivering the final blow to Tenchi. Mireya quickly glances up to see Ayeka and Mihoshi running toward them.

"NNOO!!" She screamed out. Purplish energy shoots out from Ayeka's hand and knocks Mireya off of her feet. Mireya cries out being knocked back several feet onto the floor.

Ayeka and Mihoshi run to Tenchi's side, both kneel down to see if he was alright.

"Tenchi are you ok?" Mihoshi asked concern was present in her tone.

"Yeah, I'm ok. Aaahh." He cringed while trying to get up off the floor. "Well maybe not in top form right now."

Ayeka's head quickly snapped facing to where Mireya was thrown back. "Mireya!" Ayeka yelled standing up. "How could you do this to him?! Answer me!!"

Mireya had been knocked over onto her stomach and was slow to sit up. Ayeka stomps closer to her, furious that she had just tried to murder Tenchi.

How dare she do this! She knows that I love Tenchi and that the love she wants cannot be!!

Mireya still had her back turned to Ayeka, she propped herself off the floor with one arm, the other appeared to be cupped around her front. Ayeka was about to give her the third degree, when something caused her to pause entirely. There was some blood on the floor underneath Mireya.

"He does not love you Ae. He was going to hurt you."

Ayeka barely heard her reply, her concentration was focused on the small bit of blood that lay where Mireya's upper torso laid a moment before.

I. . .I didn't hit her hard with my power. . . .did I?

"Mireya. .?" Ayeka spoke the woman's name gently, anger and hatred completely void in her voice.

She walked around Mireya to see the woman clutching her stomach with her hand. Blood seeped through the cracks of her fingers confirming to Ayeka that she had injured the woman more than she had intended too. She sat down behind Mireya and laid the woman's head to rest in her lap. Ayeka felt surprised when she looked down at Mireya, she didn't have anger in her eyes, instead she looked at Ayeka with the same caring eyes.

"He was going to hurt you Ae. After you left, he and the other woman embraced each other." Recalling the day seemed to anger her. "Not even three hours passed after your departure and they were embracing." Mireya covered her mouth with her fist as she coughed.

Tenchi was close by enough to hear Mireya's words. "Ayeka." He called to get her attention. "What she is saying is partly true. But Ryoko hugged me after I gave her back her gems. I was. . . .afraid that I was losing everyone. After you left, Ryoko said that she was leaving and never returning, I panicked and convinced her to stay. I'm sorry if there was some confusion about that." He addressed them both, being helped sit up with Mihoshi's help.

Ayeka refocused her attention on Mireya's wound. "We need to get you back to Earth. Miss Washu can help you with your wound." Ayeka comforted her, trying to pull her arm to get her to stand up. Mireya tilted her hand back off of her wound and saw the blood that flowed from the wound. Seeing enough, she tightly cupped the wound with her hand again. She saw that the blood was dark, she had seen wounds like that on anyone injured in combat before. She knew the wound was deep, perhaps too deep.

Mireya and Ayeka looked at each other, Mireya slightly lowered her head and closed her eyes as she shook her head gently to tell Ayeka what she knew. "Ae, I would not make it to the gate. I would say that I have a few minutes."

Ayeka fell into complete denial. "No, no it's not as bad as you think Mireya. It's only a little cut, we can bandage it up for now and then we'll take you back to Washu and she'll fix you right up. You'll see, you'll be as good as new in a couple of days." She said, kneeling down beside Mireya.

Ayeka would have trailed on, but Mireya gently grabbed her chin and turned her face directly toward hers. Mireya had a serene look about her face. "Ae, I am dying. You and I both know this."

Ayeka's eyes began to water up. "No. I cannot accept that Mireya. I won't. You can't die Mireya, I need you here."

Tenchi could tell that this was a conversation that was to be just between the two. "Mihoshi?"

"Oh, yes Tenchi, what is it?"

"Could you help me get to the court yard? I can't seem to walk on my own right now."

"Sure Tenchi."

Mihoshi squats down to let Tenchi get an arm over her shoulder. Slowly they both get up and they begin to gently walk to the doors. Ayeka and Mireya both see that the only two other people are leaving them to their privacy.

Mireya gently runs her hand across Ayeka's cheek, Ayeka in turn places her hand over Mireya's. Ayeka looks down upon the strong, yet gentle woman who had such strong feelings for her, even though she was dying because of her. Tears trailed down Ayeka's face, even though she had not yet begun to weep for her friend.

"Mireya. . .I. . .forgive me. . ."

Mireya wipes her thumb across Ayeka's cheeks to dry the tears that had formed paths down her face. "Do not cry Ae. Tears do not do your beauty any justice."

Ayeka smiles. "You give me to much credit. Ever since I first saw you in the prison block, I thought you had the face of an angel."

A warm smile glows on Mireya's face. "Thank you Ae. You don't know how much that means to me."

"Mireya. . .I didn't mean for this to. . ."

"I know Ae. I want you to know that meeting you has been the greatest thing to ever happen to me. I only wish we had more time together, but as short as it's been, I wouldn't have changed anything."

"Sniff I'm not ready to say goodbye."

Mireya cups Ayeka's chin and turns her face directly toward hers. "You never will Ae. I will always be by your side. I will be your guardian spirit."

A silence soon came over the room. The two sat in the silence for a moment, both wanted to say more, but just didn't know how to put them into words.

"Ae?" Mireya said, breaking the silence.

"Yes?"

"I'm. . .I'm starting to feel a little cold."

Like a mothers instinct, Ayeka wrapped her arms around Mireya's shoulders and began rubbing up and down her arms. Mireya cringed at the pain that stung her side sharply. Ayeka inhales sharply at the woman's pain, fearing the worst and feeling completely helpless to aid the woman who had helped her so much. "Ae? I have one last thing I would like to ask, if you wouldn't mind." "Name it." Ayeka replied without hesitation. "I would like to. .Ugghh. ." She paused in her request to grip her side more from the pain. ". .to have but just one kiss." Ayeka felt unsure of Mireya's request, it was true that Ayeka felt deeply for her protector, but she was unsure if she would feel comfortable showing that deep of an emotion. But that thought didn't last long in Ayeka's mind, Mireya was dying because of her misuse of power, she would gladly do anything for her friends last wish. "For you Mireya. .anything." She replied in near a whisper. Ayeka brushed Mireya's hair from her face and bent down, aligning her face with Mireya's. Mireya placed her free hand onto the back of Ayeka's shoulder as the princess's lips came into contact with hers. Both girls barely parted their lips as the kiss meets and both close their eyes to experience the feeling of it. To Mireya this kiss felt perfect, it was with the one person she felt at one with. Ayeka couldn't help but let the extra water that had built up in her eyes spill out and trail down onto Mireya's face as they shared a sisterly kiss. Mireya's free hand grasps Ayeka's kimono tightly, then just as suddenly she relaxes her grip. Ayeka quickly opens her eyes and breaks the kiss, she had seen a lot of romance-tragedies to know what may have just taken place. "Mireya?" She looks her friend in the face and sees she still has her eyes closed from the kiss. "Mireya, open your eyes." She asked at a rushed pace. Ayeka gently shakes Mireya to get a response from her. Mireya's hand falls from Ayeka's shoulder with a lifeless thud to the marble-like floor. "No. .No Mireya you must open your eyes. Please don't leave me Mireya?!" She begins to cry as she still sees no reaction from her friend. "I order you! As my protector, I order you to open your eyes Mireya!" Again, there was no reaction from her white haired protector. Mireya's face was tranquil, almost looking like she was having a peaceful dream. "Please Mireya. Don't go. I need you here with me." She whispered to her. The shock of her friends death seemed to pass as she now felt the need to morn overwhelm her. "Oh. . .Oh Mireya. . . . . . .What have I done?. . . . . . . . . . .What have I done?"
She places her head into Mireya's shoulder and begins to weep. She does not try to hold her tears back any longer, she let's all her remorse and sadness flow out onto her fallen friends shoulder. With Mireya still held tightly in her arms, she gently rocks herself back and forth as she cries on. As the princess's mind slips into an oblivion of despair, the words of her goddess resurface from her memory.

"Abandon your hate, or you may lose more than you want too."

It had been a long ten minutes. Thirty minutes before, Mihoshi had helped Tenchi reach the outer walls gate where Ryoko had been sitting. She had sat there after getting as much blood off of her as she could get, still taking in the aftermath of the battle. She heard their approach, but chose not to acknowledge their presence until they were practically right behind her. During the first few minutes, she was told what had happened and why Ayeka wasn't currently with them. During the time, Ryoko avoided looking at Tenchi's face, she didn't want to see how he would look at her right now. He had to have seen what had happened out here and she didn't want him to have fear or doubt of her present in his gaze. So she volunteered to find Daimyo, in order to avoid looking at Tenchi. She had flown through the hallways of the castle to find him, she came to this one hall that had a large hole blown onto the side of it. Seeing the hole caused her to remember the explosion that occurred during the battle, she looked about, seeing the blood that covered parts of the walls that were still standing. She figured it wasn't Daimyo's remains, due to the large bloody boot she found laying on the floor, it was too large to have belonged to him. She had spent about twenty minutes looking around the castle, but didn't see any sign of Daimyo, so she returned to the front of the castle where Tenchi and Mihoshi was.

"Are you ok Tenchi?" Ryoko asked avoiding looking at him.

"Yeah, I think I'm going to be ok, I won't be sparing with grandpa for a couple of days though."

Ryoko couldn't help but smile at Tenchi's joke. "I'm glad your safe Tenchi."

"I'm glad your safe also."

Ryoko's head jerked up quickly, her eyes brightened up to a brilliant yellow. "Really?" She asked looking at him.

"Of course. I care for all of you."

She smiles at him. "I'm glad."

They both share a smile, then the shuffling of a footstep catches their attention. Ayeka had walked out of the castle, her head hung downward, to where her bangs covered her eyes. She walked like a barely living zombie, she placed her hand on the wall to support herself up as she stopped before them.

"Ayeka. . ." Tenchi softly spoke her name.

She merely sniffled. "Let's go home."

With that Ayeka begins walking again. Ryoko gets up and helps Tenchi perch himself onto her back. Mihoshi walks near Ayeka, as they all walk back toward the gate. The gate that brought them to this nightmarish world, the gate that would return them all home.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'm sorry it took a while to write this chapter, life keeps taking up my free time. I'll try to get the next chapter out as soon as I can, but cannot promise anything. Thank you for reading.