Author's Notes: Hello there! Been a little while since I've updated this one, figured it was overdue. Not much in the way of action here, but that'll change soon enough.

Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Two: No Need For A Ballroom Blitz!

February 25th, A.C. 199

Raising Tenchi-ken over his head, Yosho gave Heero a nod. "Again."

The Preventer operative wasted no time, opening the match with a lunging sweep. The new sword that Washu had forged for him the day before was barely more than a blur, azure energy shimmering in a slender arc along its curved edge. It wasn't weightless like the blade of Yosho's Master Key or Ryoko's energy sword, but Heero found it to be well-balanced and superbly crafted. Unlike the sword he'd stolen from one of the drone's during the battle in the first repository, the energy of this blade was purely his own; the weapon itself was meant to channel his Juraian energy in a manner similar to the knife that Washu had armed him with before.

Yosho, of course, was more than ready to meet Heero's charge. He angled his blade downwards, deflecting Heero's opening strike before swiftly countering with a broad slash that forced the former Gundam pilot to pull back. The shrine keeper instantly followed up with a sequence of flowing and graceful strikes, putting Heero on the defensive and driving him across the training ground.

The armor's thrusters would come in handy right about now, he thought as his blade flashed in front of him, blocking one blow after another, but I suppose that would defeat the purpose of these exercises.

It had taken at least another day after the meeting in the Gardens of Serenity, but Heero was finally willing to remove his armor in the palace. Part of it had been at the insistence of his companions, who were already becoming quite comfortable in their temporary home away from home. The other part had come from Yosho, who had insisted on having Heero refine his fighting abilities without the armor. His reasoning had been surprisingly practical; if Kagato or Ragyō ambushed him in a setting where he wasn't wearing his armor, then he obviously wouldn't be able to rely on all of its handy features in the ensuing fight.

So, there he was, back in his jeans, green tank top and blue jacket, engaging a long-lost relative in a swordfight in the heart of a major galactic power. If that didn't sum up just how crazy his life had become over the past few weeks, then Heero didn't know what else would.

"Come on, Heero!" Ryoko cheered as she rested on the sideline, "Kick his ass! Pay him back for the beatdowns he's been giving us!"

'Beatdowns' were perhaps a stretch; Yosho's fighting style was much too controlled and refined for such brutish terminology. However, he most certainly had been taking his new responsibilities as their taskmaster seriously, and ever since their training had begun neither Heero or Ryoko had been able to win a match with them. Even when they'd taken him on together, the old man had still managed to come out on top.

If nothing else, the sparring sessions with the pirate and the crown prince at least served as a welcome distraction from everything else that was going on. While Heero was curious as to what Washu was cooking up in the palace hangar Misaki had set aside for her, he had become much more preoccupied with the preparations that the Devil Princess was making for the big debut ball. Heero had been firmly against the idea, but both Washu and Seto had been insistent on it.

"Word's going to get out eventually, whether we like it or not," Washu had said, "We might as well set the time and place. Gives us a bit more control over how things play out."

"A debut ball is perfect for our needs," Seto elaborated, "Since I'll be hosting it at my private estate, that means I will have control over the invitations. Occasions such as this are perfect for gathering support, and we'll need plenty of it in the days to come. If we want to form a solid anti-Kagato faction, this is where we can get the ball rolling."

"Juraian high society includes more than just royals and nobles," Funaho added, "I have a pretty good idea as to whom Seto has in mind for invitations. You'll be able to make a strong first impression on some very valuable allies if we play our cards right."

"And it's a good chance to blow off some steam," Misaki chimed in, "After all you've been through, you could use a night of revelry!"

Heero still wasn't sold on the idea, but the matter was out of his hands. The wheels were now firmly in motion, and Heero knew he wouldn't be able to stop them. At this point, all he could do was play along and hope he didn't screw up.

"You're distracted," Yosho noted as he pressed his assault, driving Heero back across the stone tiles of the training ground, "You can't afford that here, and certainly not when we confront Kagato and Ragyō again."

"I've got my head in the game," Heero firmly replied as he parried a thrust before countering with one of his own.

Yosho shook his head as Heero went on the offensive with a series of powerful overhead blows. "You should admit when you're preoccupied. Self-awareness is far healthier than willful denial."

The old man was right, and Heero knew it. "This ball… I don't like it."

"You've made your displeasure with the coming festivities quite clear over the past few days," said Yosho as he deflected each and every one of Heero's strikes with graceful ease, "That does not change the fact that what you dislike is being set in motion as we speak. Better to accept it so you can properly prepare for it."

Yet again, the old man was right. That still didn't mean that Heero had to like it. He lunged forward, looking to surprise the shrine keeper with a thrust at his legs. Unfortunately for Heero, he overextended himself, and Yosho made him pay for it by casually batting his sword aside before bringing the azure blade of Tenchi-ken to rest mere millimeters over the Preventer operative's neck.

"That was sloppy," Yosho commented, "The product of distraction. Don't even try to deny it."

Heero sighed as he deactivated his blade and sheathed it. "Fine. Yeah, this whole thing's bothering me."

"If it makes you feel any better, you're not the only one," said Ryoko as she walked over to join them, "I'm not exactly looking forward to this fancy shindig either. I don't mind dressing up a bit and having some fun, but this is going to be more than just a party."

"It is," Yosho affirmed as he deactivated Tenchi-ken, "but both of you are making a bit too much out of it. I had to attend more than my share of gatherings like this back when I called the capital home, and I can assure you that navigating them isn't as difficult as one might think. There are certain nuances, yes, but nothing that either of you can't handle."

Ryoko raised an eyebrow. "Old man, you know that I don't really do nuance, right? Not in this kind of setting, at least."

"I can deal with high society etiquette back on Earth," Heero added, "I don't like it, but I can at least pass myself off as belonging to those circles if my mission demands it. Jurai's a whole different environment, in more ways than one."

Yosho shook his head. "Not really. What I found in my time here was that the most important thing for success in these occasions is to carry yourself with confidence. Even if you don't necessarily feel that way, as long as you're able to present the illusion of it, everything else will usually fall into place. Besides, it's not as if you'll be going into this completely blind."

That much was true; as soon as she'd learned what was going to take place, Ayeka had wasted no time in giving Heero and everyone else who wasn't from Jurai a crash course on the various festivities and gatherings that dominated the empire's aristocracy. Heero didn't know if Ryoko had been paying much attention, but he'd tried to absorb as much as he could from the crown princess. Ayeka had been quite enthusiastic in her lessons, just one sign that she was very much looking forward to the coming ball.

For his part, though, Heero had plenty of reservations. "Knowing the norms and rules is one thing. Remembering them on the spot and acting accordingly is another. That's not even getting into the worst part about all of this."

"And that is?" asked Yosho.

"This whole damn ball is centered around me," Heero replied, "I came to Jurai to get help, not make myself the center of attention. It feels like I've got a giant target on my back."

"You were going to have one sooner or later," Yosho pointed out, "With the way your power is going, there's no way you were going to be able to keep your heritage a secret forever. Once it's made official, you'll find many doors will open for you, and they'll be quite advantageous."

"How so?" asked Heero.

"For starters, there's the matter of the Royal Arboretum," Yosho answered, "In order to maximize your power, you must forge a bond with a Royal Tree. It would be strange to hold a bonding ceremony for someone who isn't an acknowledged member of the Royal Family. Making your heritage known will smooth out that process considerably."

Ryoko's eyes narrowed. "I thought he didn't need a Royal Tree to use his powers."

Yosho looked around furtively before turning to Ryoko. "I thought I told you to not speak of that, especially within the palace walls. It might not seem like a big deal to you, but if that kind of knowledge gets out it will complicate things significantly for us."

Ryoko shrugged. "Fine, whatever. I don't see what the big deal is, but okay."

"Ryoko has a point," Heero argued, "From what I understand, it sounds like this 'bonding' that you speak of isn't really necessary for me."

Yosho shook his head. "It very much is. If you're going to insist on leaving Tenchi-ken in my possession rather than accepting it as your own, then you need your own Key. Actually, even if you did accept Tenchi-ken, it would still be beneficial for you to have your own Key. The one bonded with Funaho is myself, not you, after all. You being my descendant helps negate that to an extent, but bonding with your own Royal Tree and getting your own Key would serve as a much better way to fully awaken your powers."

"Do we really have time for such a thing?" asked Heero, "The ball might be in our court at the moment, but there's no guarantee it'll remain that way."

Yosho nodded. "While turning a Royal Tree that you bond with into the heart of a Treeship is a time-consuming process, forging the bond itself and creating your Key can be done much more quickly. I'd prefer you get both the Key and the ship, but we don't have the luxury of that kind of time."

"No, but we apparently have time for a ball," Heero quipped.

Yosho sighed. "You're agitated. I understand why; you never asked for any of this, and your mind's focused on much more important things than frivolities. Even so, the ball is a necessary step to strengthening our coalition and accomplishing our mission. Like it or not, it is happening."

Ryoko smirked. "It's still three days away. Just say the word, Heero, and I'll blast us out of here well before then!"

Heero couldn't help but chuckle. "Don't tempt me."

….

February 26th, A.C. 199

"You know, when we started this whole mission, I didn't think we'd end up here," said Duo as one of the seamstress's took his measurements.

"That makes two of us," said Trowa, looking rather comical as the far too long sleeves of an oversized blue kimono hung from his arms.

Wufei shook his head as he rifled through various assortments of fabric. "This all feels a bit excessive."

"Nonsense!" Misaki chimed in, "You are the companions of the young man that this entire ball is centered around! I insist on nothing less than the best attire for all of you."

For his part, Quatre looked to Ayeka. "No talking her out of this, I suppose?"

Ayeka smiled, looking all too pleased with the current situation. "Oh, I'm afraid not, Lord Quatre! I quite agree with Mother, as a matter of fact. It's imperative that you all make just as strong of an impression on the attendees as Lord Heero."

She seems to be enjoying herself, Quatre mused as he held out his right arm for another one of the seamstresses to measure, I suppose it's been a while since she's gotten to do something like this.

With the ball only two days away, it seemed a bit late in the game to be picking out their formal attire now. However, Misaki had assured them that the seamstresses on the Royal Family's payroll could perform quality work at impeccable speed, and there'd been so much else to see and do before getting their fancy threads tailored. It had only been a few days since the big meeting, but they'd certainly been busy. Between familiarizing themselves with the veritable maze that was the palace, learning the finer points of Juraian high-society culture, visiting a few choice tourist destinations within the capital, and simple training, Quatre and his companions had had their hands full.

"Speaking of Heero, how come he doesn't have to join us for this?" asked Duo.

"Funaho wanted to help him out with his wardrobe," Misaki answered, "I believe she also wanted to do the same for Ryoko, Washu and Yosho."

Hilde poked her head out from one of the private booths, holding up a flowery pink robe. "Hey, any chance I can get this style, but in purple?"

"Oh, I'll find it for you!" chirped Sasami before running off, "Come on, Ryo-Ohki!"

"Meow!" cried the adorable living starship as she chased after the younger princess.

Running her hands through what was undoubtedly incredibly fine fabric, Mihoshi smiled. "She's perked up over the past couple days. It's good to see her back to her old cheerful self!"

Next to her, Kiyone sighed. "I wouldn't say she's completely back to normal. Sasami's probably still angry about the fact that we're going to be leaving her behind once it's time to go after the second repository. She just doesn't like it when other people worry, so she's trying to put up a front for the rest of us. Poor kid… I wish she'd talk to us about it."

"Should one of us go after her, Lady Misaki?" asked Azaka.

"We really should be keeping an eye on her!" chirped Kamidake.

The Second Empress shook her head. "No, let her be for now. Besides, she's got Ryo-Ohki with her."

Quatre turned to Ayeka. "Will she be okay?"

Ayeka sighed. "I'd like to say she'll bounce back, but I honestly don't know. We've always tried so hard to keep her from getting into politics, but with this whole mess it's really unavoidable. That's not even considering the personal danger. I know she's brave and wants to help in any way she can, but this is all far too much for her. Of course, explaining that to her is the tricky part."

"At least she seems excited for the ball," Duo pointed out, "Maybe a little party to take her mind off of things will help."

"I hope so," said Misaki, looking more than a little concerned.

Quatre smiled. "Trowa, you should dance with her once the ball starts. She had a good time dancing with you back at the holiday party we threw at my place. It'll help her relax and have some fun!"

Trowa nodded. "I'll do that."

"Yes, I think she'll enjoy that," said Ayeka, "Thank you, Sir Trowa."

"How many times do we need to tell you to drop the 'Sir' and 'Lord' stuff with us?" asked Wufei, "It's not really our thing."

Hilde giggled. "You don't like the ring of 'Sir' Wufei? Come on, there's no harm in it! I think it makes you sound like a noble knight!"

"You and your companions are elite warriors from Earth with a wealth of combat experience," Ayeka argued, "I apologize if such honorifics are not what you're accustomed to, but in Juraian society I would say that they're quite appropriate for you."

"I'm down with 'Sir' Duo and all," the God of Death chimed in, "but why's Quatre get to be 'Lord'? I know why you call Heero that, but it's not like Quatre's got the same kind of connection."

"That is something I've always wondered about," Quatre admitted, "I never questioned it because using the title seemed to make you comfortable and helped you adjust to life on Earth, but I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't curious about it."

Ayeka smiled. "You are the head of a very wealthy and powerful family, one that plays a key role in the economy and governance of your homeworld. By Juraian cultural expectations, you would more than qualify as a Lord. I wished to grant you the respect that I believed your station was due."

"I appreciate that," said Quatre, "but you might be making me out to be more powerful than I actually am. It's true that my family and all of the businesses under our umbrella are major players in the Earth Sphere's economy, but the same's not really true when it comes to what kind of sway we have within the government."

"You're heavily invested in the infrastructure of your world's space colonies, are you not?" Ayeka pointed out, "Any major orbital construction project that the ESUN wishes to undertake would have the best chance of success if performed in cooperation with your family's operations. In that respect, your position in the civil sector is quite important."

Quatre couldn't help but smile. "I suppose it is. You learned a lot about our world in a very short amount of time, Ayeka. Color me impressed!"

Quatre swore he saw the princess blush, though it passed quickly. "Oh… well, I wished to understand the planet and government of those who sheltered my sister and I. Such knowledge goes a long way towards establishing successful diplomatic relationships, after all. Becoming acquainted with someone like yourself was an unexpected benefit from the time I spent on your world."

Misaki gave her daughter a teasing smile. "You were lucky to meet Quatre! Handsome, kind, rich, intelligent… he's got everything, doesn't he?"

Ayeka's face flushed a deep shade of scarlet. "Mother! Lord Quatre, please… forgive her insinuations."

Quatre smiled again. "There's nothing that needs forgiving, Ayeka. I don't mind!"

Ayeka's eyes widened slightly, and her blush only got darker. "Lord Quatre… I… uhm, I should go try something on! It wouldn't do to have the rest of you properly outfitted for the ball but neglect my own attire!"

She hastily grabbed a kimono off the nearby rack and vanished into one of the dressing rooms… although not before looking at Quatre one more time.

Maybe I shouldn't have joined her mother in teasing her, Quatre mused, although…

…I suppose I wouldn't mind if those 'insinuations' had a ring of truth to them.

….

February 27th, A.C. 199

Heero didn't really think of himself as being particularly in to meditation, but he had to admit that the Juraians really had it down to an art. The chamber that he, Ryoko, Yosho, Funaho and Washu were in now was explicitly built for the purpose, and it did a good job of setting the mood for it. Carved into the upper reaches of the palace, it was a simple circular room with a series of round cushions laid out in a ring. Small trees surrounded by little pools of water dotted the perimeter, and a series of concealed fans and vents allowed for a pleasant breeze to waft through. The afternoon sun filtered in through windows built into the ceiling, and one could periodically hear the chirping of birds that called the branches of the palace home.

Not that Heero really had time to appreciate all the thought and care that had gone into the room, of course. He had an audience, and they were waiting patiently for him to demonstrate a very special ability.

"Try to relax," Funaho suggested, "If it helps, close your eyes and pretend that none of us are here."

Ryoko smiled. "You did it once before, Heero. I know you can do it again."

Washu nodded. "You got this."

Heero shook his head. "That first time was a combination of instinct and your gem giving me a boost. Summoning it consciously is something completely different."

"It is only so because you believe it to be so," Yosho countered, "Think back to what you were feeling in the moments leading up to it. Your thoughts and fears, the raw emotion coursing through you… and the person that you wanted to protect above all else."

His eyes locked with Ryoko's, and his mind flashed back to that desperate fight in the repository. Heero could feel his energy rapidly surge through his veins like a torrent of glacial runoff. He reached out with his left arm, concentrating on exactly where he'd summoned the ultimate manifestation of his bloodline's might before…

…and a bar of snow-white energy flashed into existence.

His breathing deepened as Heero focused on stabilizing his energy. Had he really been wielding this much power the first time he'd summoned a Light Hawk Wing? He'd been operating purely on adrenaline and instinct back then, not consciously thinking about just how much energy had been needed to create the strange white shield. It felt like he was trying to channel the might of a full-power blast from Wing Zero's Twin Buster Rifle. The bar of energy was crackling with sparks, and Heero was more than a little worried; it hadn't done that last time.

Funaho's eyes widened in complete shock. "Incredible… I know what you told me, and I believed you, but… seeing it for myself…"

Ryoko stepped forward, clearly catching Heero's apprehension. "Heero, you okay? Talk to me."

His brow furrowed as he struggled to control the power that threatened to overwhelm him. "There's too much energy… I don't think I can keep it contained!"

"Then don't contain it," Washu commanded, "Let it run loose."

Heero couldn't have heard her right. "Washu, I don't think you understand…"

"Oh, believe me, I very much do," Washu countered, "Hold out your other arm, Heero. Take the excess energy and focus it there. Trust me."

Heero wasn't really in a position to argue at the moment; he didn't know what else to do with all the power he was trying to control. Doing as Washu had instructed, he held out his right arm and took a deep breath. The sparks from the Light Hawk Wing hovering over his left arm arced over to his right, and there was a brilliant flash of white light that forced Heero to squeeze his eyes shut. When he felt it was safe to open them again a few moments later, it was all he could do to keep his composure. Hovering over his right arm…

…was a second Light Hawk Wing.

The sparks from the first one had subsided, and now both of the strange shields were floating calmly in the air. The energy that had threatened to overwhelm him before seemed to have evened out, and the soft thrumming coming from the Light Hawk Wings was almost soothing now. Looking at his audience, Heero saw that almost all of them were dumbfounded by what they saw.

The sole exception was Washu, who had one of the biggest shit-eating grins that Heero had ever seen on her face. "I knew you could do it!"

Ryoko was the first of the others to recover from her shock. "Heero… wow. Always knew you were something else, but what I'm sensing from you now… hot damn! You feeling better than before?"

Heero cautiously nodded as he looked back and forth between both Light Hawk Wings. "Yeah… I think so."

"Remarkable…" Funaho murmured, looking transfixed by her great-grandson and his two white shields.

Yosho smiled. "Well done. To already have your second Light Hawk Wing… you have taken a momentous step forward."

"Move your arms around," Washu ordered, "Basic motions, guard stances; let's see what else you can do."

Heero did so, starting by simply raising and lowering his arms to see if the Light Hawk Wings would follow. Sure enough, they did, keeping their positions over his arms without drifting so much as a millimeter out of place. It was reassuring to know they wouldn't just fly off at random, but keeping them in their current positions made movement a bit awkward.

"Is this the only position they can be in?" asked Heero after a minute or two of experimental motions.

Washu shook her head. "No. You have the ability to command them, to change not only their positions but also their very forms. It's still a bit too early in the game for that, but the fact that you can do even this much right now is a very promising sign."

"I'll take your word for it," said Heero, "Now, how do I turn these things off?"

"Imagine the Light Hawk Wings as one branch of a riverbed that your power is flowing through," Yosho chimed in, "Block that branch and redistribute the water to many smaller ones. Disperse it, but don't clog it."

It wasn't quite the advice that Heero had been hoping for, but he would have to make do. Closing his eyes, he took a series of deep breaths as he pictured his energy gradually diffusing, like spilt water slowly spreading out over a tabletop. When he opened his eyes again a few moments later, he saw the two shields dissolve until they were reduced to bits of glimmering white dust in the air.

Ryoko came forward and put a hand on his shoulder. "Nice job. You're getting the hang of this pretty quickly!"

Heero wasn't so sure, but he wouldn't turn down the compliment. "Thanks."

Washu turned to the First Empress. "Well, what do you think? I told you he had potential!"

Funaho nodded, looking like she was still trying to absorb everything that she'd just seen. "You certainly did… I can think of more than a few people who would like to see this."

Heero folded his arms. "I'm not going to have to put on multiple shows, am I?"

Funaho shook her head. "No, we need to be very discrete about this. In fact, this makes it all the more important that we get you bonded with a Royal Tree. Your Light Hawk Wings will be an invaluable tool in the fight against Kagato, but if it becomes public knowledge that you can summon them without the aid of a Royal Tree then it will send shockwaves throughout the aristocracy. You will become more than just a newly-discovered royal; you'll be seen as an anomaly. One to be either studied… or contained. In the eyes of more than a few, both."

Yosho nodded. "Completing a bonding ceremony as quickly as possible will provide ideal cover. We really do need to take him to the Royal Arboretum and start screening for potential matches."

"After the ball, but before we depart for the second repository," said Washu, "I know the timeframe would be rushed by Juraian standards, but we don't have the luxury of letting things play out at a normal pace here."

Funaho concurred. "Agreed. I'll head over there later today and do a quick survey. With the level of power that you've demonstrated, Heero, nothing less than a First Generation sapling will do."

Yosho looked concerned. "There can't be very many of those left. They were never exactly abundant to begin with."

Funaho nodded. "They are indeed rare, but they do still exist, and I know where to find them. I believe that one of them will be an ideal match."

"Uhm, question from the non-Juraian or super genius in the room," Ryoko chimed in, "Why exactly does it matter what generation of Royal Tree Heero gets paired with? He's Juraian, so any of them would do, right?"

Washu shook her head. "Theoretically, yes, and if necessary, we can go for a Second or Third Generation sapling, but we really should shoot for a First here. First Generation Royal Trees are the most powerful outside of Tsunami-no-ki, and given Heero's potential power, if we're going to mask the true extent of it then we need that disguise to be a convincing one. The innate power of a First Generation Royal Tree offers the best possible solution to our dilemma, plus it would provide a meaningful boost to Heero's latent abilities once he bonds with it and forges his own Master Key."

"Successfully bonding with any Royal Tree sapling is a sign that either a main or cadet branch Royal has a promising future ahead of them," Yosho added, "Bonding with a First Generation, though, is considered to be not only prestigious but an indicator of Tsunami's favor. In short, it comes with some serious perks for one's social standing, and I believe my grandson could use every advantage that he can get."

Funaho smiled. "Agreed, and Seto will be able to milk that for all it's worth with her allies. Showing that a promising new addition to the Royal Family stands with the main branch against the scheming of a traitorous cadet branch will help us consolidate support."

Ryoko rolled her eyes as she looked at Heero. "Jeez, so even plants are political for Juraians! Heero, your new family is weird."

He could tell that she was trying to lighten the mood for his sake, so he took her words in stride. "I can't argue with that."

Ryoko smirked. "If you bond with one of these big-shot trees, you better not let it go to your head, okay? I prefer seeing your face not shoved up your ass!"

Heero chuckled. "I don't think that will be an issue as long as I've got you around to keep me honest."

Ryoko raised an eyebrow. "Me, keeping someone honest? Aren't I supposed to be the criminal in this group?"

Funaho laughed. "In the viper's nest of the palace, a criminal might be more honest than all the rest!"

"That's a bit harsh," said Yosho, "I've never known you to be as deceitful or petty as so many amongst the aristocracy, Mother."

Funaho smiled. "That's because I've always tried to play nice when I'm around you, dear."

"Maybe you can let your fangs show at the ball, then," Washu chimed in, "A bit of intimidation from the First Empress certainly can't hurt our cause."

Funaho shrugged. "We'll see how things play out. I think most of the attendees will be more intimidated by Seto than myself."

"Speaking of attendees, is it really true that the Emperor's not going to be present?" asked Heero.

Ryoko raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, what's up with that? I mean, this is supposed to be the big reveal of a new member of the Royal Family, right? Why wouldn't the big man himself be involved?"

Funaho rolled her eyes. "Political theater and tradition, of course. Believe me, my husband very much wanted to be involved when I told him of our scheme, but even the Emperor can't have everything he wants. This ball is being hosted by Seto, who officially is the head of House Kamiki. In addition to being the First Empress, I'm the official head of House Masaki while Azusa holds the throne. Theoretically, the Emperor is supposed to be above House politics, and Heero's debut ball is very much a collaborative affair between Houses Kamiki and Masaki. It's the former helping the latter introduce a promising new heir to the political scene. Due to that, the Emperor is expected to remain aloof and not get involved with this matter."

"But he's involved anyway, whether he likes it or not," Heero argued, "Once I make my official debut, the aristocracy will be able to point to him and say that he knowingly met with a secret heir before my heritage was announced to the Empire."

"Of course, they will," Washu casually replied, "and the Emperor will politely decline to comment on the matter for the moment. It's all a carefully choreographed dance. Your performance at the debut ball will determine how you're officially introduced the next time you're in the presence of the Emperor himself."

"No pressure or anything, right?" Ryoko muttered.

"How exactly do I go about making sure that I meet the appropriate expectations, then?" asked Heero, "I'm assuming just knowing the rules and expectations won't be enough."

Funaho smiled and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "As far as etiquette is concerned, you have nothing to worry about. Based on how you handled yourself in your first meetings with Azusa and myself, I know that you'll be just fine. When we speak of your 'performance' for the upcoming ball, we're actually referring to the physical aspect of it."

Heero blinked a couple of times. "Are you saying the big concern is how I'll perform on the dance floor? I've attended formal dances before. I wouldn't say that I'm an expert, but I know enough to not embarrass myself or step on my partner's feet."

Ryoko winked at him. "Good to know!"

Washu smirked, and Heero didn't like it one bit. "No, it's not your dancing that people are really going to care about, although putting on at least a passable performance there won't hurt. There's another physical aspect of Juraian politics that you're almost certainly going to get introduced to tomorrow night."

"And that is?" asked Heero.

"Dueling," Yosho answered.

Heero had to make sure that he heard him right. "Are you serious? An Empire possessing knowledge, power and technology well beyond anything the Earth Sphere could hope to match in its present state, and yet dueling is a part of its politics?"

Yosho sighed. "Unfortunately, yes. It's a practice that really should be banished to the dustbin of the Empire's history. Honestly, it's more of a nuisance than anything else."

"You're just saying that because you had to constantly fend off challengers back in the day!" Washu teased him.

"You were exemplary in every match," Funaho commented, "So much so that nobles eventually stopped challenging you out of fear. Really, it's not like that aspect of our politics ever gave you much trouble."

"Wait, you're telling me that there will be people dumb enough to pick a fight with Heero at this shindig?" asked Ryoko with a devious smile, "Should I bring popcorn?"

Heero folded his arms. "I don't find this to be particularly amusing, Ryoko."

Ryoko laughed. "Are you kidding? The thought of you wiping the floor with these noble pricks is priceless! If I wasn't already getting in for free, I'd pay to watch the ass-kicking that you're going to give them!"

"I'm sure Seto's looking forward to the spectacle," Yosho mused aloud, "A trained soldier versus aristocrats whose only combat experience is in essentially ceremonial fighting? I imagine that will make for some… interesting contests."

"You know that I'm not exactly trained in classical Juraian swordsmanship, right?" Heero pointed out, "I mean, I've sparred with you plenty of times, but I imagine that any of the nobles that might want to challenge me would have considerably greater dueling experience."

"Oh, they would," Washu concurred, "but unlike them, you have seen actual battle. More to the point, you survived a clash with none other than Ragyō, and she's quite possibly one of the best sword fighters in all of the Empire. Compared to her, the chumps you'll be up against tomorrow night won't come anywhere close to measuring up."

"Perhaps, but it would still do you well to take your opponents seriously," Funaho cautioned, "It wouldn't do to lose simply out of carelessness."

"Let's back up here a bit," said Heero, "Why exactly would I be challenged in the first place? It's not like I've done anything to insult my potential opponents yet. I've only just arrived here."

Surprisingly enough, it was Ryoko that answered first. "It's because you're a threat to the status quo. A new royal found on a backwater planet and brought to the heart of the Empire? That's going to rub a lot of people the wrong way."

"You'll be seen as an upstart," Funaho elaborated, "Bloodline or not, the world you're from is considered to be so far out in the middle of nowhere that it can't remotely be thought of as civilized. In the eyes of the court, you're a barbarian that just so happens to have some royal blood. Challenging you to a duel and defeating you is a way for nobles who prefer the status quo to keep you on the sidelines. A loss at such a public event would serve to marginalize you; your potential influence would be damaged, perhaps fatally so."

Heero's eyes narrowed as the pieces fell into place. "In other words, it's about asserting dominance and punishing the interloper. My place in the Royal Family would be seen as suspect, and defeating me is a way for those threatened by my arrival to neutralize me in the eyes of the Empire."

"Simply put, but adequate," said Washu, "The moment your name and lineage are announce, you're going to have a huge target on your back, and the aristocracy will be lining up to take a shot. You'll have challengers all night… unless you decisively demonstrate your abilities."

"I know you can defeat them," Yosho chimed in, "but simply winning a contest won't be enough. If you want to be both taken seriously and given the space required to accomplish your mission, then you will have to crush them. Beat them so utterly that none of them even dare contemplate crossing you."

Heero raised an eyebrow. "Never thought I'd hear you advocate for that kind of an approach."

"It's necessary here," Yosho replied, "You're out of your element in court politics, but in in the Empire's dueling culture we can play to your strengths."

Heero nodded. "Fair enough. Any particular rules I need to be aware of?"

"Normally, yes," said Funaho, "However, your foes are almost certainly going to underestimate you to the point that they won't bother with asking for anything more than the bare minimum such as victor by who lands the first blow. Typically, duels are much more regulated, but the kinds of people who will be challenging you tomorrow night won't expect you to know all the customs and won't bother to abide by them in kind. That will give you an opening."

"I'll make sure to take advantage of it," said Heero, "Still, I'd like to know the intricacies of it just in case I happen to draw an intelligent opponent."

Funaho smiled, and there was more than a hint of mischief in her eyes. "Of course. I'll tell you everything you want to know. After all, I want a front row seat to the spectacle that's going to unfold when you hand their asses to them on a silver platter!"

….

February 28th, A.C. 199

Admiring herself in a nearby wall mirror, Ryoko took a sip from her wine glass. The woman looking back at her definitely stood out in the throngs of aristocrats, wealthy merchants and military officers that dominated the ballroom of Seto's estate. Rather than go with traditional Juraian garb, Ryoko had decided to make her own fashion statement, one that Funaho's seamstresses had skillfully accommodated. Instead of the fancy robes that everyone else was wearing, she wore a backless blood red dress that was earning her more than a few curious and lecherous stares from the assembled upper crust of Juraian society. She didn't care about of any of them, of course; she only had eyes for one attendee tonight, and he had yet to make his appearance.

Heero always struck me as a punctual guy, the pirate mused, Seto's insistence on him being fashionably late is probably driving him insane…

The ball wasn't exactly in full swing yet, but the spacious main hall was definitely filling up. There had to be several hundred guests at least, spread out amongst either the scattered tables, the bars on the east and west sides of the chamber, or on the polished wooden dance floor itself. A band was on the stage at the north end of the room, playing what the pirate assumed was classical Juraian fare; she wasn't exactly the most knowledgeable when it came to music. Buffet tables were set up alongside the bars, and Ryoko had already helped herself to a few choice morsels. Thick columns engraved with vine-like patterns held up a balcony that ran around the entire perimeter of the chamber, with a broad central staircase descending from the southern doors allowing new arrivals to make a suitably grand entrance.

Ryoko and the rest of the gang had arrived early, as had Misaki. Funaho had insisted on arriving together with Heero, a role that Ryoko had wanted for herself but had been denied; according to Yosho, it would send a much more powerful statement for the new prince to arrive in the company of the First Empress rather than that of a notorious pirate. It was just one more move in an intricate political dance that Ryoko was rapidly getting sick of.

"Give me a brawl any day," she muttered, "I'll never understand these high-society snobs and their stupid rules…"

"That makes two of us," said Wufei, looking down at his black and white robes and shaking his head, "I appreciate the fine clothes they're giving us, but I didn't come out here for a fancy party."

"Loosen up, man!" Duo countered, grinning as he playfully swayed back and forth in his black and green robes, "It's not every day we get the chance to live it up like this. Would it kill you to try having a bit of fun for once?"

"Duo, play nice!" Hilde chided him, looking quite lovely in her dark purple kimono, "We're here to make friends, not start fights."

"Most of us are," Trowa chimed in, looking a little uncomfortable in his fine dark blue robes, "but from what I understand, it might actually be the opposite for Heero."

Quatre shook his head, his tan and white robes rippling with the gesture. "I'm still having a hard time believing that he was serious about that. Dueling? Really? I would've thought that a major galactic power would have grown beyond such a practice long ago."

Ayeka sighed, looking every bit the part of a solemn princess in her flowery pink and purple kimono. "I wish we had, Lord Quatre. It would make tonight's proceedings much more pleasant. As it is… well, while I have confidence in Lord Heero's abilities as a fighter, I can't help but be a bit apprehensive with regards to how things will unfold. Many of the Empire's aristocrats pride themselves on their prowess in the dueling ring, and more than a few of Lady Seto's guests tonight fit that description. Even worse, they're very much the types that will challenge Lord Heero under the most minor of pretenses, if they even bother with one at all."

"Will Heero be okay?" asked Sasami, her worried look rather at odds with the bright and cheery pink kimono she was sporting for tonight's festivities.

Kiyone put a hand on Sasami's shoulder, her dark green robe going well with her hair. "He'll be just fine, Sasami. He's not going to let some nobles show him up in the field that he's best at."

"He's going to kick butt!" Mihoshi chirped, surprisingly enough having avoided getting any food or wine stains on her yellow and orange robes so far.

"I certainly hope so," said Azaka.

"Is 'kicking butt' really the right kind of phrase for a gathering like this?" Kamidake mused aloud, "It sounds so crass!"

Yosho chuckled as he smoothed out a wrinkle in his white and blue robes. "I rather like it. A party like this could use some crass language. Plain and honest words can be hard to come by at these affairs."

"No kidding," Washu chimed in, actually looking almost cute and innocent in her pink and white robes, no doubt a deliberate choice to make sure the other guests underestimated her, "I've had too many honeyed words pass in one ear and out the other already. Give me straight talk any day."

Misaki giggled as she approached them, looking resplendent in her green and blue kimono. "I think there will be a lot more of that once big sis and Heero show up! Shouldn't be too much longer, right?"

"Not at all," said Seto as she joined them, appearing downright regal in her purple and black robes, "According to my servants, they've just arrived. They should be making their entrance right about…"

The ringing of a gong interrupted her, and also brought the music and idle chatter filling the ballroom to a halt. All eyes turned towards the two thick and polished wooden doors at the main entrance, and a servant stepped forward.

"Announcing Her Royal Highness, First Empress Funaho Masaki Jurai," he began, "along with her great-grandson, His Royal Highness Prince Heero Yuy Masaki Jurai!"

That's actually got a nice ring to it, Ryoko mused with a smirk as two more servants opened the doors, I mean, it's a bit long, but still…

Her smirk became a hungry grin when she saw the man of the hour walk through the door with his great-grandmother at his side. The First Empress looked nice and all; the dark red and purple kimono she wore was a good change from her usual attire, and Ryoko would privately admit to being a little jealous at how she pulled it off so well. However, she only gave Funaho the briefest of looks. She had eyes only for one Juraian Royal tonight…

…and boy, were her eyes enjoying themselves.

Like Ryoko, Heero had foregone traditional Juraian high society attire. Unlike the pirate, though, the Preventers operative had gone with a decidedly martial look for the night. He wore a custom-tailored black uniform with silver shoulder epaulets, cutting a dashing frame if Ryoko had ever seen one. The sword that Washu had made for him was sheathed at his hip, and while he was keeping his pace slow for the moment to match Funaho's Ryoko could tell that the uniform had been crafted so as to allow him greater freedom of movement than typical ceremonial garb. He was here for more than dancing and politicking; Heero was ready for a fight, and Ryoko wholeheartedly approved.

She wasted no time in making her way through the crowd to greet Heero and the First Empress as they descended the stairs. Ryoko hadn't failed to notice the multitudes of noble women already sizing Heero up; none of them were going to beat her to claiming the first dance. The crowd parted for the newly arrived royals, which made it all the easier for the pirate to get out ahead of them. She was vaguely aware of the others following in her wake.

Her eyes met Heero's, and Ryoko saw them widen ever so slightly. A small smile appeared on his face, and he briefly turned to Funaho. The First Empress looked back and forth between them before smiling as well, and she let go of him so he could step forward to greet her.

Ryoko grinned as she looked him over. "Looking good, Your Highness."

Heero chuckled. "Thank you… although please, no titles. Not from you, at least. You look beautiful, Ryoko."

The pirate actually felt herself blushing, mostly because she knew that Heero wasn't the type to go for flattery; she knew he meant it with all his heart. "Well… figured I could get a little fancy tonight. Not my usual thing, but I'll make an exception for you."

Funaho actually winked at Heero. "You're a lucky young man! I can't wait to see you two out on the dance floor!"

"As do I," Seto chimed in as she stepped forward to greet her newest guests, "Funaho, Heero, welcome to my estate. Let's make this night one to remember, shall we?"

Funaho bowed. "I would have it no other way."

"Likewise," said Heero.

"You cannot be serious!" a new male voice rang out, "We're to just accept that this is a member of the Royal Family? This foreign barbarian from the backwater of the galaxy? I will not have it!"

All eyes turned towards a tan skinned man with light blue eyes and, of all things, pink hair making his way through the crowd. Ryoko had spotted him earlier chatting up a bunch of random women, and he'd struck her as a typical pompous noble. His garish red and purple robes and white and black over-cloak did little to disabuse her of that notion. He looked every bit the part of a spoiled aristocrat, and Ryoko wanted nothing more in that moment than to punch him in the face.

Her eyes narrowed as she spotted the saber at his hip. It reminded her somewhat of Nagi's weapon, although this one was longer and silver rather than gold. The man's right hand never seemed to stray far from it; indeed, it seemed as though he was itching to use it. Ryoko tensed, her energy already beginning to stir within. If this punk was going to try anything, he'd have to go through her first.

Seto actually looked amused more than anything else, and Ryoko wasn't sure how to feel about that. "Will not have it, Lord Seiryo Tennan? His blood has already been tested; he is very much a member of House Masaki. Biology doesn't care what your feelings about it might be."

Seiryo waved his hand dismissively. "Yes, yes, I've already heard the tale; that this is none other than Crown Prince Yosho's heir. That doesn't do House Masaki any favors. Was Lord Yosho really only able to find a partner acceptable to him on a primitive planet? I would have hoped his tastes would be more refined than that."

"Tread carefully, Lord Tennan," said Yosho, his tone calm but firm, "I will not have my late wife or daughter spoken of in such a manner."

Seiryo bowed, but if the gesture was apologetic then it struck Ryoko as decidedly insincere. "No, of course not. As neither of them are here to defend themselves, that would be improper. Your heir is here, though, and he should not be."

The noble strode up to Heero, his eyes narrowing as he looked down his nose at him. "I understand you're supposedly here on some sort of mission. If your pathetic world requires the aid of the Empire, I see no harm in granting it in exchange for tribute. The people of Jurai are quite charitable towards the less fortunate, after all. Bow and beg your case, and I might even take it up with the Emperor himself!"

"I appreciate the thought, but I require no charity from you," Heero casually replied, "I've already spoken directly with His Majesty on the matter, and plans are already in motion. Your aid is neither needed or desired."

Seiryo's brow began twitching, and Ryoko had to resist the urge to laugh; Heero was clearly getting under the aristocrat's skin. "You… you dare suggest that House Tennan is beneath you? That you are already so mighty as to not deign our wealth and power worthy of consideration and respect?"

"I suggested none of those things," said Heero, "but if you decide to take my words as such, I can't stop you. Frankly, I have more important things to worry about than whether or not you or your family is involved in the work that's to come."

Seiryo was positively seething now, and his right hand firmly gripped the handle of his sword. "You… you impudent rat! You uncivilized cur… your bloodline may be noble, but your character is anything but! I will not stand for your insults!"

Heero's demeanor didn't overtly change, but Ryoko saw his eyes narrow ever so slightly. "Is that so? What are you going to do about it?"

Seiryo drew his saber, and the slender silver blade became enshrouded in blue light. "Heero Yuy Masaki Jurai, in the name of House Tennan's honor, I challenge you to a duel here and now!"

Funaho sighed. "Oh, dear."

"That didn't take long…" Yosho muttered.

Washu grinned as she looked at Seto. "Called it! Didn't even take five minutes. I win again."

Seto chuckled. "Indeed, you do! One bet is yours, Washu… but there's still the second to consider."

Washu smirked. "Please. We both know how that's going to play out!"

Seto actually laughed. "That confident, are you? Well, there's only one way to find out!"

Seiryo's indignation was building with each passing second. "Lady Seto, with all due respect, I do not see what is remotely funny about any of this!"

"Of course, you don't," Seto dismissively replied, "Everyone, please clear the dance floor. Our evening entertainment is going to get considerably livelier than anticipated!"

Seiryo sneered at Heero. "Hold on, Lady Seto! I haven't heard our guest respond to my challenge. Perhaps he's afraid to do so!"

"Hardly," Heero shot back, as if he didn't have a care in the world, "Just giving you time to reconsider. If you're smart, you'll walk away while you still have a shred of your dignity intact."

"I have no intention of backing down in the face of a foreign barbarian!" Seiryo huffed, "Do you accept or not?"

Heero shrugged. "Sure, why not? Any particular ground rules you want to lay down?"

"We'll keep this simple," Seiryo replied, "First to draw blood or convince the other to concede wins. I trust that's easy enough for you to follow?"

"Yes," said Heero as the two of them moved to the center of the ballroom, "it is."

A chill suddenly went down Ryoko's spine as she watched the two men face off. Heero's expression hadn't changed much, but as he raised his sword and the edge lit up with blue energy, there was an unmistakable shift in the way he was carrying himself. He was no longer a guest at a party, or even a soldier on a mission.

He was a predator, and Seiryo was his unsuspecting prey.

….

Holding his weapon in a standard guard position, Heero waited for his opponent to make the first move. From the way Seiryo held his saber, it was clear that the man at the very least took his training seriously. His opening stance was good, with just the right balance to allow for quick reactions to any unexpected moves.

Once he realized that Heero wasn't going to come to him, Seiryo charged forward. Holding his saber in only his right hand, he thrust the blade forward, aiming for Heero's chest. Angling his sword downwards, Heero casually deflected the strike and allowed Seiryo's momentum to send him harmlessly to his right. Pivoting to keep his opponent squarely in his sights, Heero did not counterattack. Instead, he simply waited for the noble to make his next strike, which came in short order.

Quick strikes, he thought as he fended off a sequence of thrusts, favoring elegance and precision. Good footwork, too. He knows what he's doing. Had he been a bit more careful in laying down the rules, he might actually stand a chance.

Heero allowed his foe to drive him back across the ballroom floor, weaving a shield of blue light around himself with his sword as he deflected one strike after another. With each exchange, he learned more about the man he was fighting. Seiryo was efficient and graceful, with an eye towards exploiting the slightest of openings. Despite the contempt he clearly held Heero in, the noble was at least taking the fight seriously. Heero would give him credit for that much, if nothing else.

Excited murmurs rippled through the crowd around them. Heero caught fragments of hastily made bets, whispered praise or pity, and more besides. He wasn't concerned with the petty gossip; it barely registered to him. What he was much more mindful of those that watched him in silence, focusing solely on the fight and blocking out all other distractions. There were quite a few of those observes in tonight's crowd, and a good number of them wore military uniforms as opposed to the fancy robes favored by the majority of the guests.

Those were the guests who Heero needed to impress tonight. The aristocrats and merchants had their part to play, but the top priority was securing the support of the armed forces.

And Heero knew just how to do it.

Having allowed himself to remain on the defensive for some time now, Heero decided that he'd given Seiryo enough rope by which to hang himself. The noble was a skilled duelist, but Heero's objective wasn't to duel honorably; it was purely to win. There were only two rules, and everything else was fair game. It was time to show his adversary the folly of arrogance.

As Seiryo thrusted his saber forward, Heero effortlessly parried it. Shifting his sword over to just his right hand, he batted a follow-up strike to the side before lunging forward. Grabbing the collar of Seiryo's robes with his left hand, he pulled the noble forward. At the same time, Heero violently swung his head forward to meet the aristocrat halfway. There was a sickening crunch as Heero's forehead slammed into the bridge of Seiryo's nose, and the noble crumpled to the ground. Blood streamed down his face as the aristocrat shrieked in shock, and gasps rippled through the crowd. Seiryo dropped his sword and tried frantically to stem the bleeding from his broken nose with both hands, all the while spiting Heero with a furious glare.

The Preventer operative wasn't phased in the least. "What was one of those rules you laid down? First one to draw blood wins? I see plenty of it, so I guess that means this match is mine."

"Cheater!" Seiryo sneered as he tried to keep his own blood from flowing into his mouth and choking him.

"Hardly," Heero casually replied, "You only specified two rules, and I abided by both."

"Brute!" Seiryo shouted, "Barbarian! You know nothing of honorable combat!"

"That's right," Heero replied, raising his voice to make sure everyone in the hall, especially those in uniform, heard him, "I don't fight honorably. I wasn't trained to fight honorably. Do you want to know what I was trained to do?"

He took a step towards the beaten noble, who scuttled backwards in growing terror. It was time to drive the point home, and Heero did just that.

"I was trained to infiltrate," Heero began, "To sabotage. To assassinate. Hand-to-hand combat, urban warfare, piloting, marksmanship, wilderness survival, zero-G maneuvering, and so much more."

He thrust his blade into the floor next to Seiryo, causing the aristocrat to flinch. "I wasn't trained to be an honorable warrior. I was trained to be a soldier. To complete my mission by any means necessary. Honor is a fool's prize; glory is of no use to the dead. Call me a cheater if you wish, but bear this one thing in mind."

Heero met the noble's gaze, and the man looked like he was about to pass out from sheer terror. "I was trained, first and foremost, to kill. You get to walk away with your life tonight. Most of my foes aren't so lucky. Challenge me again, and next time I won't hold back. Do I make myself clear?"

Seiryo frantically nodded, unable to even speak thanks to the shock gripping him. Satisfied that this particular foe had been dealt with, Heero turned to the crowd; it was time to see if he would have to contend with any other challengers tonight.

"Does anyone else have an objection to raise with me?" Heero asked as he pulled his sword out of the floor.

For a moment, the ballroom was filled with nothing but silence. Then scattered applause began, and it didn't take Heero long to find the source of it; Lady Seto… and what was unmistakably a military officer standing next to her. It was a woman with raven hair tied up in a bun, sharp brown eyes, and an athletic figure in a white and grey uniform. A sidearm was holstered at her hip, while what was likely a ceremonial saber hung at her side. She gave Heero an approving nod and smile, and he suspected he'd be seeing her again before the night was over.

That wasn't something he wanted to concern himself with at the moment, though. Satisfied that he wouldn't have to fend off anymore arrogant nobles tonight, he deactivated and sheathed his sword before returning to his companions.

"You told me to crush them," Heero said as he approached Yosho, Washu and Funaho, "I trust you're satisfied?"

Yosho smirked. "Yes, very much so."

Funaho smiled. "Oh, absolutely! They'll be talking about that little show for quite some time to come."

Washu patted him on the shoulder. "Nice going. That was just the kind of opening impression you needed. That'll make what comes next much easier."

Heero raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly would that be?"

Washu chuckled. "You'll see soon enough. For now, go have some fun. You've earned it!"

Looking around, it only took Heero a moment to find Ryoko. It was impossible to miss her in the crowd. Fancy robes were all well and good, but the crimson dress she had on now was perfect for her as far as Heero was concerned. She met his gaze as he approached, and the pirate gave him a devilish smile.

"Man, you have no idea how good it felt to watch you kick his ass," she said as he came to a stop before her, "You really know how to put on a show, don't you?"

"When I have to," Heero replied, "Hopefully, that'll be enough to keep the rest of them from getting any ideas."

Ryoko laughed. "You kidding? You scared the crap out of them! No one else will be picking a fight with you tonight."

"Good," said Heero, "because I have something much more important to do tonight than fight."

Ryoko sighed. "Yeah, I know. You're going to have the bigwigs all over you."

Heero smiled and held out his hand. "The bigwigs can wait. My friends are more important. Care to dance?"

Ryoko grinned as she accepted his hand. "Your debut ball as a prince, and you're giving your first dance to a pirate? Oh, the scandal! How could I possibly turn you down?"

Heero had to chuckle at that. "I suspect there will be an abundance of scandals left in my wake by the time we're done with the Empire. Might as well start with one I know I'll enjoy."

He led her out into the middle of the dance floor. There was no music yet, and the crowd was watching the two of them in befuddlement. That changed a moment later when Seto raised her hands over her head and clapped. The band snapped out of their funk and started up a relaxing tune, and the prince pulled his lovely pirate in close. Taking her left hand in his right while placing his left on her hip, the two of them soon found their rhythm and began swaying with the music.

He actually saw Ryoko blush, and her footing was a little uncertain. "I'm… not used to dancing like this… especially in front of this kind of crowd."

"It's all right," Heero reassured her, "They don't matter, not right now. Let me lead, okay?"

Ryoko took a deep breath and smiled. "Okay… I'm all yours, Heero."

"And I'm yours," he whispered, the words catching him off guard just as much as they did her.

Where did that come from?

He shoved the question from his mind as his eyes met hers. He was acting on his emotions, just like the man who'd raised him had taught. The pirate and the soldier shared a small smile, and all their worries slowly faded into the background. Their friends, the crowd, the band; none of them existed right now. As far as Heero and Ryoko were concerned, it was just the two of them.

In that moment, that was all they wanted.

….

Ayeka couldn't help but sigh as she watched Heero dance with Ryoko. The two of them looked genuinely happy, moving slowly and gently with the music, completely lost in each other's gaze…

Oh, how badly she wished that could be her in the pirate's place.

"What's wrong?" asked a familiar male voice from behind her.

Ayeka nearly jumped out of her robes as she turned around. "Lord Quatre! Please, do not sneak up on me like that. I can only take so much stress in one night."

Heero's fellow former revolutionary gave her an apologetic smile. "For what it's worth, I wasn't trying to be sneaky. I was worried. You seem… preoccupied."

Ayeka hesitated. She didn't want to overly worry her companion, but the look in Quatre's eyes suggested that he knew more than he was letting on. More to the point, she realized that she needed someone to talk to, and the kind young man was offering her the chance to do just that. She could certainly do worse for confidants.

"I… suppose I am," she began, "So much has happened as of late, and with what's been put in motion… well, it can all be rather overwhelming. The duel we just saw was merely one more straw upon the camel's back… that is how you humans put it, yes?"

"Not quite," Quatre replied, "but close enough. Sorry you had to see that. I'm sure it wasn't what you're used to."

Ayeka closed her eyes for a moment, images of the brief fight flashing through her mind. "I know that Lord Heero doesn't hold himself to the standards that Juraian royals believe they should, and I understand that he was trained to fight in real combat rather than ceremonial honor duels. I should have expected something akin to what we just saw, but even so… it wasn't easy to watch. Lord Tennan deserved to be punished for those insults, and Lord Heero meted it out swiftly. Still, I didn't think he'd be quite so…"

"Brutal?" Quatre suggested.

"I was going to say inelegant," Ayeka finished, "but I suppose brutal is a more apt word for it. Looking back, I guess I shouldn't be so surprised. I've seen hints, but I've never wanted to believe that Lord Heero had that sort of side to him."

Quatre raised an eyebrow. "What kind of hints are you talking about? Heero's the type that would normally try to keep that side of him hidden from you, if only to keep you from worrying."

Ayeka nodded. "For the most part, he did just that. However, during a trip back to Brussels with him… there was an encounter that gave me a glimpse of his… well, I don't want to say darker side, but definitely an aspect of himself that he was reluctant to show around us. At a soccer match he took me to, I was accosted by a drunken spectator. A stupid pest, one that should've stumbled off on his own but decided to pick a fight. Lord Heero interceded, of course, and dealt with the belligerent quite swiftly. In doing so, though... well, suffice to say that not only the drunkard but everyone in the surrounding area left us alone after that."

The look Quatre gave her was all Ayeka needed to know that he'd filled in the blanks from there. "I imagine so. When Heero wants to get a point across or convey a threat, he doesn't mince words… and anyone with more than two functioning braincells typically pays attention."

"So I've come to learn," said Ayeka, "He may not see himself as such, but in a way… he's rather charismatic. It's a sort of rough honesty… backed up by the knowledge that he's more than capable of following through on any threat he makes. He makes it clear what you're getting from him. A steadfast and loyal friend, a powerful ally… or one's worst nightmare. I was wondering how that might affect tonight's proceedings, and it seems I've found my answer. It's highly unlikely he'll have to deal with any further challenges this evening, that's for sure."

Quatre smiled. "Good. Gives you one less thing to worry about, right?"

Ayeka smiled as well, although it became bittersweet as she continued to watch Heero dance with Ryoko. "Yes… one less concern, at least."

Quatre followed her gaze, and it was clear that he knew what she was really thinking. "Well, then maybe I can help take one more concern off your shoulders, at least for a little while."

Ayeka raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"You're worrying too much about who Heero is dancing with right now," Quatre answered, "I know him; he'll make sure to dance with each and every one of you before the night's over. He doesn't forget his friends. In the meantime, though… well, it'd be a shame for Jurai's crown princess to be nothing but a wallflower at a ball like this, don't you agree?"

Ayeka felt her heart skip a beat, and she couldn't help but giggle like a schoolgirl. "Lord Quatre… is this an invitation?"

"It is," he confirmed as he held out his hand, "Care to dance, Ayeka?"

Ayeka's smile grew as she accepted it. "I'd love to… Quatre."

He took her out onto the dancefloor, and within moments he was guiding her through a simple, swaying dance. Ayeka felt herself relaxing in his arms, and all her worries melted away.

….

"You've been practicing, haven't you?" Trowa commented as he helped Sasami recover from a little twirl.

The younger Juraian princess giggled as he took her in his arms again. "A little bit! Mom said I should since I haven't danced like this in a while. How am I doing?"

Trowa gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "Just fine."

It was true. The princess was proving to be quite graceful; a royal upbringing would doubtlessly ingrain that into her. Trowa had to do very little to actually lead her, which was a relief when considering the fact that his own dance skills were rather limited. He was passable at best, and he could only hope that would be enough for tonight.

"Are you enjoying the ball so far?" he asked as he guided her through a simple waltz.

Sasami smiled. "Yeah! I mean, I wish there hadn't been a fight at the beginning, but it's been great since then."

Trowa had to agree with her on that. He understood why the duel had unfolded the way it had, and he was glad that Heero had ended it in a manner that all but guaranteed there'd be no further fights that night, but it had gotten things off to a rather sour start. Thankfully, that was behind them now. The ball was truly in full swing, with the chamber full of dancing couples, gossiping clusters of nobles, and the clinking of wine glasses.

Taking a quick look around the ballroom, he saw that all of his companions were enjoying themselves, either dancing or partaking in food, drink and pleasant conversation. He caught a glimpse of Heero dancing with Ayeka, while his other fellow former Gundam pilots and several of their companions had claimed a table and were chowing down. Trowa was mildly surprised to actually see Washu out on the dance floor with none other than Yosho, and the scientist at the heart of this crazy mission was proving herself to be quite the skilled dancer.

I guess the self-proclaimed 'greatest genius in the universe' can't be seen making a fool of herself on the dance floor, he mused, I just hope her presence doesn't cause any problems here. She's been getting a lot of strange looks from people tonight…

Trowa didn't want Sasami's thoughts to linger on the earlier duel, so he did his best to steer the conversation in a different direction. "You must have attended a lot of dances before coming to Earth. Are you seeing any familiar faces here?"

Sasami nodded. "Some, although not as many as usual. A lot of times, the guests would bring their children, and I would spend time playing with them. We had so much fun together! I haven't seen any of them here, though."

"That's a shame," said Trowa, "I bet they would've liked to see you again."

"Yeah," Sasami replied wistfully, "I'll try to find them once everything calms down. I'm sure Mom can help me with that."

Speaking of her mother, Trowa could practically feel the Second Empress's eyes on the two of them. Stealing a brief glance at her, he saw Misaki smile and nod. If that was a royal seal of approval, then Trowa would take it.

"Maybe you could introduce me to them," Trowa suggested, "I could show you and your friends some of my circus stunts."

Sasami's eyes widened, and her smile was so pure and innocent it was difficult to remember that she was actually several centuries old. "Really? I'd love that! It'd be so much fun!"

Trowa smiled as well. "Well, when you're able to gather some of them, let me know. If you and your family come out to Earth, bring some of your friends along. Then Catherine and I can show you some of our routines."

Sasami's brow furrowed for a moment. "Catherine… she was the woman who came with you to that holiday party back at Quatre's place, right? Is she your girlfriend?"

Trowa quickly shook his head. "No, she's not."

Sasami giggled. "Really? I don't know… you two seemed pretty close!"

Trowa chuckled. "It's not like that. She's… like an older sister to me. Anyway, I know she would enjoy putting on a show for you and your friends."

"Then it's settled," Sasami declared, "When this is all over, we're going to watch you and her perform!"

"I'll be looking forward to it," said Trowa.

They danced in silence for a few seconds before Sasami spoke again. "So… if Catherine's not your girlfriend… do you have one, Trowa?"

Trowa shook his head; where had that come from? "No, I don't. Why do you ask?"

Sasami giggled again, and Trowa swore he caught the hint of a blush flash across her face. "Oh, no reason!"

She stepped in closer as the band transitioned to a new piece, a softer and slower tune than the previous one. The princess smiled as she rested her head on Trowa's chest, and he gently held her as they swayed back and forth with the beat. Trowa found himself smiling as well. Sasami looked genuinely happy, free from all the worries that had doubtlessly been lurking in her mind ever since they'd left Earth, at least for the moment.

And if she was happy, then so was Trowa.

….

Funaho smirked as she watched Heero dance with Mihoshi. "A real ladies' man… he takes after you more than he knows!"

Yosho rolled his eyes. "Mother, please… I don't think I ever attracted quite the gaggle of women that my grandson has."

Funaho giggled, clearly enjoying the fun at her son's expense. "Oh, really? That's not how I remember your time at court!"

Yosho chuckled as he thought back to days long past. "Well… perhaps what I should say is that I did not attract quite as diverse gaggle of women as my grandson has! A pirate, two princesses, two Galaxy Police officers, a mad scientist… even a bounty hunter, if my read on Nagi is correct. By comparison, the assortment of daughters of noble families that I had vying for my hand back in the day seems almost mundane."

"They certainly weren't as colorful as this bunch," Seto chimed in as she joined them at their table, "The fact that your grandson was able to attract such a varied following speaks volumes of who he is. A truly magnetic personality… one I suspect he's completely unaware of. Another trait that you and he have in common, Yosho."

"Perhaps so," Yosho conceded as he filled a glass of wine for their host, "Enjoying your handiwork, Lady Seto?"

Seto smiled. "So far? Absolutely! They'll be talking about this party for quite some time to come. I do wish there had been more than one duel, but your grandson certainly knows how to make a statement with few words. Here I thought I'd invited a suitably talented bunch of nobles to test his mettle, but he beat Seiryo so decisively that the rest have been reduced to skulking on the sidelines. I never thought he'd fight in the manner that we're accustomed to, yet this surpassed even my expectations. So efficient… and so ferocious."

Funaho sighed. "His skills are impressive, but… I cannot begin to imagine what hell he must have gone through to acquire them. Yosho, were you really not able to find him until recently?"

Yosho nodded. "Yes, and it was unfortunately pure luck that allowed it. The era that he grew up in on his homeworld was one of oppression and war. Developing the skills you've seen from him since his arrival was a matter of survival."

Seto took a sip of wine as she watched the young man out on the dance floor. "Those skills are serving us well tonight. I've already had the pleasure of speaking to several military officers and nobles who were suitably impressed by his performance against Seiryo. I daresay he has something of a fan club forming, and it only took him one duel to kickstart it!"

"That's good to hear," said Funaho, "If we can get the military behind him, it will make things much easier for us going forward."

Seto smirked. "Why do you think I invited so many of my friends in our armed forces for tonight's little soirée? They'll want more than a single duel from him before giving their full support, but this was a nice little appetizer for them!"

"And what of the nobles?" asked Yosho as he looked around the ballroom, "Most aristocrats have very different tastes from military officers, after all."

"Not to mention daughters in search of a suitable bachelor," Funaho added, "and more than a few of them are here tonight. Heero has yet to dance with a single one of them."

Seto waved her hand dismissively. "The night is young, Funaho. I figured he'd want to entertain his companions first, and so far he's concentrated on just that. There's plenty of time left for me to start acquainting him with what will doubtlessly be many suitors… and I expect that list to only grow once word of tonight's events starts to spread."

Yosho chuckled as he shook his head. "Always playing your matchmaker games… all that time I was away, and you haven't changed a bit."

Seto grinned. "Of course not! I've been around for several millennia by now, remember? A bit late for me to change my habits at this point, and I would never dream of doing so!"

Funaho smiled. "And we wouldn't have you any other way!"

….

Kiyone winked at Heero as he twirled her. "You know, I could get in trouble for this! I'm probably breaking at least a few regulations with what we're doing right now."

"Oh? Which ones?" asked Heero as he caught her and the two of them resumed their gradual drift across the dancefloor.

"Can't name the exact ones off the top of my head," she replied, "but they've all got to do with how we shouldn't fraternize with royals, get involved with Juraian politics, or become entangled with members of a species that hasn't been officially welcomed into the galactic community. Pretty sure I check off all three of those boxes when it comes to you!"

Heero gave her an understanding smile. "Sorry for the hassle I've been for you over these past few months. I know you've had to write more than a few awkward reports to your superiors since we first met."

Kiyone shook her head. "Oh, don't worry about it. Most of it wasn't really your fault. Yours was just the planet that my partner and I wound up on, and we've been along for the ride ever since."

Heero smirked. "If you do get into any trouble over this, you could always point out to your bosses that you've made some friends in powerful places. I have a feeling that if I brought it up with the Empresses, they'd give the Galaxy Police a good chewing out should they decide to punish you."

Kiyone laughed. "Oh, don't tempt me! As fun as that would be, I'd probably just end up digging myself deeper."

"You could always resign," Heero pointed out, "With your skills, I imagine it'd be no problem for you to find work in the Empire. I bet if I put in a word with Funaho or Misaki, they'd hire you in a heartbeat."

Kiyone smiled. "Working directly for the Royal Family… I suppose I'd never lack for challenging assignments. Bet the pay's pretty good, too. Still… I can't. Being a police officer is what I've wanted since I was a child. It's not something I can walk away from easily… even if it is more of a headache than I ever imagined it could be."

"Mihoshi would miss you, too," Heero added.

"She would," Kiyone concurred, "and we all know that I can't leave her alone for more than two minutes without risking a catastrophe."

"Oh, I don't know about that," said Heero as he glanced to the side, where Mihoshi was enjoying a dance with Quatre, "She seems to be doing all right for the moment."

Kiyone rolled her eyes. "Because she's got one of your friends with her. You and your buddies… you've got to be the strangest bunch of guys I've ever met. No one handles Mihoshi quite as well as you lot do."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Heero replied.

Kiyone looked down at the floor for a moment, appearing a bit nervous. "Hey… can I ask you something?"

Heero nodded. "Of course. What's on your mind?"

"It's about… what happened earlier," she answered, "That duel… don't get me wrong, I'm glad you won and all. That guy looked like a real piece of work, the typical aristocratic snob and all that, but… the way you beat him… you looked like you weren't even breaking a sweat. He was… nothing to you, wasn't he?"

"He had some skill," said Heero, "but it was all focused in traditional swordplay. There's a difference between ceremonial combat and the real thing, and I've seen plenty of the latter."

"Is that where it all comes from, then?" asked Kiyone, "Your skills, I mean. It's all from that war you fought against the government that used to rule your world?"

Heero nodded. "That and the training I underwent prior to it."

"I see," said Kiyone softly.

She seemed genuinely troubled, and Heero wasn't sure where it was coming from. "What's the matter? Do you think I went too far earlier?"

Kiyone shook her head, and when she met Heero's gaze, the look in her eyes was almost mournful. "No… you did what you had to do. I was just thinking… for you to have all this combat experience and training at such a young age… you're barely an adult by humanity's standards. What you went through before we came along… it must've been hell."

Images of a certain fiery night on one particular colony flashed through Heero's mind. "I… survived. Many others didn't."

"I know you don't like talking about it," said Kiyone, "You clearly never liked bringing it up around us back when we were all staying at the countryside safehouse. There's so much that we don't know about your world… and about you."

"What are you getting at?" asked Heero.

Kiyone hesitated a moment. "Would you… ever want to talk about it with any of us? I mean, I can understand wanting to let the past be the past, but even so… after all you did for us back on Earth, I think the least we owe you is a sympathetic ear. I guess what I'm getting at is… well, I think I can speak for the group when I say that we'd like to know more about you… understand what you went through. I know you're under a lot of stress with what's been going on these past few weeks, and a past like yours only adds more weight. Whether it's with me, someone else, or the group as a whole… if you ever want to sit down and let things out, we're here for you."

It was a surprisingly tempting offer, and Heero couldn't help but smile. "I'll remember that. Thank you, Kiyone."

She leaned in close, pausing for just a moment before kissing him on the cheek. "Anytime, Heero."

The Galaxy Police officer was blushing furiously, but she still smiled. For his part, Heero simply held her in his arms as he continued to lead her through their dance. It was moments like these that made him glad his life had been thrown upside down by all the wonderful alien women who had come Earth and had wound up in his care. He'd had some good friends before they'd come along, yes, but Heero had always kept them at a bit of a distance. There hadn't been that option with Kiyone and the others thanks to their living arrangements, though, and while Heero had questioned his circumstances before he was truly grateful for them now. Slowly but surely, they'd worked their way through his guard, and now they meant more to him than he could even begin to describe.

And he would do everything in his power to keep them safe.

….

"Enjoying yourself?" asked Washu as she allowed Heero to spin her.

Heero raised an eyebrow as he caught her. "I could ask you the same question. Something tells me that you were looking forward to this far more than I was."

Washu had to chuckle; the young man wasn't wrong there. "Well, I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't curious to see how you'd handle tonight's festivities. You might not have been happy about playing along with court politics, but you've performed quite well so far."

"So glad I could get your seal of approval," Heero quipped.

As the music wound down, Washu took Heero by the hand and led him off the dance floor. "Someone's moody, aren't they? Come on, I'd say you're overdue for brake. Let's grab a drink, okay?"

Heero didn't resist as she pulled him towards one of the tables. The two of them sat down, and Washu grabbed one of the wine bottles in the center and filled their glasses.

"To a successful night of merriment?" she asked as she raised her glass.

"Sure," Heero replied as he clinked his cup with hers, "That and kicking Kagato's ass the next time we meet him."

Washu laughed. "I'll drink to that!"

As the two of them sipped their wine, Washu scanned the crowd. Her eyes narrowed as she saw Seto approaching with a very special guest in tow.

"Look sharp," she said, "You've got someone important who wants to meet you."

Washu saw Heero's brow furrow, and she knew he'd seen the woman walking with Seto earlier tonight; it was the raven-haired officer who had led the applause alongside Seto after Heero's decisive defeat of Seiryo. The scientist had been waiting to see when this meeting would take place, and she was very interested to see how things would play out.

Showtime!

As per usual, Seto was the one to kick things off. "You two look like you could use some company! Mind if we join you?"

Washu smiled. "Of course! I was hoping you two would swing by, actually."

"We've been waiting for the opportunity to do just that," said the officer, her brown eyes flickering towards Heero, "Our guest of honor is quite popular tonight, and for good reason. That was quite the performance in your duel, Lord Heero."

Heero inclined his head as the two women sat down. "Thank you, Miss…"

"Oh, where are my manners?" said Seto, "Heero, this is Mayumi Fukunaga, a very old and dear friend of mine… and the commanding Admiral of Jurai's Second Fleet."

Washu noticed Heero's posture straighten ever so slightly; military instincts no doubt kicking into high gear. "It's an honor, Admiral."

Mayumi smiled. "The honor is mine, Your Highness. I'd always wondered what Crown Prince Yosho had been getting up to in his absence; none of us really believed he was dead. I'm pleased to see that he was productive in his travels, if you will. Lady Seto spoke a great deal about you in the lead-up to this little party, and I think I'm starting to understand why."

"I'll take that as a compliment," said Heero, "What do you know of our situation?"

"Everything," Mayumi answered, her gaze hardening as they got straight to business, "Both Lady Seto and Empress Funaho made sure I was briefed. No official order's been made yet, but when the time comes to go after the second repository you can rest assured that the Second Fleet will be the force assigned to the operation."

"I trust they're still as sharp as they were the last time I was in town?" asked Washu.

Mayumi nodded. "They are, indeed. More so, if I do say so myself."

"The Second Fleet is one of the Empire's top frontline fighting forces," Seto elaborated for Heero, "From anti-piracy patrols to full-scale warfare, they've seen it all and then some. You could cover the side of a dreadnought with their battle honors."

"Does that experience include fighting against a swarm of killer drones?" asked Heero, "Or pirate fleets acting with the backing of a treasonous cadet branch royal? This mission's likely going to be well outside the bounds of what you've handled in the past, Admiral."

"Oh, I'm well aware of that," Mayumi firmly replied, "I know that we're diving into a hornet's nest here, and there's the real possibility of our true enemy striking from the rear. Kagato might have failed to gain the data from the first repository, but he won't need that. All he'll have to do is monitor fleet movements; no matter what kind of measures we take to ensure secrecy, hiding the mobilization of the Second is going to be impossible. We'll get to the system that holds the second repository first, but I doubt it'll take him long to track us there."

Washu sighed. "Knowing Kagato, it won't take long at all. He wouldn't put all his eggs in one basket. I'm sure he's got spies planted across the military, not to mention scouts scouring the galaxy for possible sites that I might've built the second repository at. Once we make our move, he'll put the pieces together and pursue. It's just a matter of what kind of backup he decides to bring to the party."

"We'll be ready for him and whatever forces he musters for his cause," said Mayumi, "In the meantime, I'd like to know more about who I'll be working with. During your little speech after Seiryo's defeat, you mentioned something intriguing. You have flight training, yes?"

"Yes," Heero confirmed, "and plenty of experience flying in actual combat. I brought along some friends who have that same experience as well."

Mayumi smiled. "Would you and your friends be up for a demonstration? A few friendly exercises between them and some of the Second Fleet's fighter pilots?"

"We don't have our own ships," Heero pointed out, "All we have at our disposal is Ryo-Ohki and the Yagami."

Washu grinned. "That'll change soon enough. You don't think I set up shop in one of the palace hangars for nothing, do you?"

"I figured you had something in the works," said Heero, "but you haven't exactly been forthcoming with the details on what that might be."

Washu smirked. "Of course, I haven't! I don't want to ruin my surprise, after all. Where's the fun in that?"

The Admiral looked curious. "You're building custom craft for the prince and his retainers, then? When will they be ready?"

"I just need another week or so," Wash replied, "I've had the schematics worked up for some time now; it's just a matter of resources and assembly now."

"Care to share just what kind of craft you're cooking up for us?" asked Heero.

Washu grinned. "And ruin the fun? I don't think so! I'll say this much, though; I think you and your friends are going to like them."

"You'll have to let me know when you plan to hold these exercises," said Seto, "I would very much like to observe."

Mayumi nodded. "I'll keep you in the loop. When the time comes, I'll reserve a place of honor for you aboard my flagship."

Seto smiled. "I can always count on you for a good time, Mayumi! You're such a breath of fresh air compared to your fellow officers. I swear, they wouldn't know fun if it punched them in the face."

The Admiral chuckled. "We'll have to agree to disagree there, old friend."

Seto's smile grew as she looked past the others. "Speaking of fun… Heero, you really should be getting back out on the dance floor! You still have so many more people to meet tonight."

Following Seto's gaze, Washu saw a gaggle of young aristocratic women approaching. They were dressed in a veritable rainbow of robes, all doubtlessly daughters of important nobles who wanted to get in good with the new prince. She wasn't particularly impressed by any of them, but Washu knew that her opinions didn't matter here. Seto was determined to play matchmaker, as always, and she would have to humor her if she wanted to ensure her support.

Washu patted Heero on the back. "Well, you heard her. Go make nice with the noble ladies."

She was sure that Heero wasn't particularly thrilled with the idea, but to his credit he gave no sign of that. He rose with grace and turned to the approaching ladies, giving them a polite bow before striding forward for introductions. Seto quickly stood up and went over to play the part of fun hostess, her eyes gleaming with delight as she sized up the girls to determine who was worthy to dance first with the young prince.

"She really hasn't changed a bit," Washu muttered under her breath.

"No, she hasn't," Mayumi concurred as she took another sip of wine, "Of course, with her, that's hardly a bad thing."

Washu smirked as she watched Seto, her eyes gleaming as Heero led one of the young ladies off to the dance floor. "No, it's certainly not."

Let her play her games, Washu thought, Heero can take it, and it's not like any of these pretty young things can hold a candle to the women he's surrounded by on a daily basis. As long as she gets us the support we need to thwart Kagato's ambitions, that's all I care about.

….

The raven-haired young lady batted her eyelashes at Heero as their dance came to a close. "Thank you, Your Highness. You're quite light on your feet. I don't know why Lord Tennan insisted on calling you a barbarian earlier; you dance with the grace of a true royal."

She seemed sincere enough, so Heero gave her a polite nod. "I'm glad you think so, Lady Haruki. Thank you for the dance and your kind words."

The noble bowed and smiled. "You are most welcome, Your Highness. If it would not be considered too bold, I would be honored to share another with you. May I?"

"I'm afraid you'll have to get back in line," said a familiar female voice, "I believe I've waited long enough for a dance with my great-grandson, wouldn't you say so?"

Haruki's eyes widened as she backed off. "Lady Funaho! Oh, of course. Please, forgive me."

The First Empress smirked as the noble scampered off before turning to Heero. "I know you've been on your feet quite a lot tonight, but surely you have energy to spare for me, don't you?"

Heero nodded as he held out his hand. "Of course… Lady Funaho."

Funaho smiled as she accepted his hand. "Heero, what did I tell you? Please, just call me Funaho. Failing that, I'd also be happy with 'great-grandmother'."

Heero couldn't help but return her smile as the next song started up; there was something about her that just helped him feel a bit more at ease. "As you wish, Funaho."

Soon they were stepping back and forth in time with the music, with Heero moving on instinct alone; he'd done so much dancing tonight that he could probably do it in his sleep without missing a beat. If nothing else, tonight's festivities would prove to be a useful bit of exercise and practice for future diplomatic functions.

"You're holding up quite well," the First Empress noted, "I thought this might all be a bit too much for you. It certainly was for me when I first came to Jurai."

There was a hint of nostalgia in her tone, and AIDA's words from Heero's first meeting with his great-grandmother echoed in his mind.

"In fact, out of all the members of the Royal Family, this one might understand you better than most."

"You're not from the capital, then," Heero surmised.

Funaho shook her head. "No, I'm not. Actually, I'm not even from the Empire, although I did have blood ties to Jurai… ties that I was unaware of for quite some time."

Heero couldn't help but be intrigued. "Where are you originally from, then?"

Funaho smiled. "Believe it or not… Earth."

It took Heero a moment to process that. "You… you're serious?"

"Completely," Funaho affirmed, "It's a rather strange tale, really."

"We have time," said Heero as they worked their way across the dancefloor.

Funaho gave him a knowing smile. "Interested in learning more about the family history? I can't say I blame you… and I'd be lying if I said that I hadn't been looking forward to sharing this particular tale with you. Yes, I was born on Earth. More specifically, in the island chain that would eventually become known as Japan. It was… oh, at least a few millennia ago now, I think. I can't say exactly how many years… age must be catching up with me. One does lose track of these things after so much time. You'll understand eventually."

Knowing Juraians, Heero had guessed that the First Empress was old, but hearing her confirm it was still something else. "Wait, if you were born on Earth as a human, then how have you lived so long?"

Funaho shook her head. "Like I said, I actually did have some Juraian blood, although I didn't learn of that until after I was brought to the Empire. Many thousands of years ago, a descendent of Masaki, the sister of Jurai's first Emperor, made their way to Earth. They mingled with humanity and eventually set down roots. Many generations later, I was born. When I was a young woman, Azusa came to Earth. He had been pursuing a warlord who had given the Empire no shortage of grief. In his pursuit, a fierce battle unfolded in your star system. Azusa was victorious, but he was forced to land on Earth due to damage suffered by his ship. As fate would have it, he landed in Japan."

Heero chuckled. "Azusa, a descendant of the first Emperor's sister, Washu, Yosho… Japan seems to be a magnet for extraterrestrial visitors. That's not even counting the group that I brought over once we were assigned the safehouse by Yosho's shrine."

Funaho laughed. "Indeed! I don't know what it is about that charming little planet that draws so much attention. One of the universe's great mysteries, I suppose."

"It could do with a bit less attention," said Heero, "It's drawing the wrong sort now."

Funaho gave him a reassuring smile. "I know you're worried about what Kagato has planned for our homeworld. The Empire will do everything in its power to protect Earth. You have my word, Heero."

Heero nodded. "Thank you."

"Of course," Funaho replied, "I'm not the only one who wishes to see it remain safe. Azusa has fond memories of Earth; it's where we first met, after all. His vessel had landed not too far from the village that I called home, and we were actually under attack by bandits at the time. As luck would have it, Azusa stepped in and drove them off. However, he had been severely wounded during the battle with the warlord and ensuing crash, and he was in no condition to leave. He stayed with us, and I helped treat his injuries. His recuperation took some time… and that's when our courtship began."

Her smile became nostalgic, and Heero could tell that her mind was flashing back to days long past. "At first, I didn't know what to make of his attention. A handsome stranger falling from the sky, saving my village and then recovering in my home… it was all so much to take in. He was kind and gracious, so eager to explore the land surrounding my home, with so many questions about who we were… he hadn't been outside of the Empire in so long, and he wanted to make the most of his time away. Now that his foe had been vanquished and he needed to rest, he had that time… and he spent it with me. I think he could sense that I was different from the others; he probably detected my Juraian energy when we first met. Even so… I like to think that we would've been drawn to each other regardless."

"You two obviously fell in love either way," Heero commented, "Still, for you to be willing to leave your home behind for a man that you'd probably known for only a couple months or so… not many people would have that kind of courage."

Funaho sighed. "Was it courage or foolishness? Perhaps both. I was so young, and I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Simply leaving Earth and seeing it from space was overwhelming, and that's not even getting into my first look at Jurai. I was as far from the only home I'd ever known as I could possibly have been… and I soon learned that not all Juraians were as kind and understanding as Azusa."

Heero had a feeling he knew where this was going. "You were seen as an outsider, and interloper… and, thanks to your bond with the Emperor, undoubtedly a political rival by many at court. That can't have been easy to deal with."

Funaho shook her head. "No, it wasn't. My sudden appearance took the court by storm, and my mixed Juraian-human heritage didn't do me any favors. Azusa showered me with affection; he did everything he could to make me feel at home. Even so, the isolation and homesickness wore on me. I might have eventually asked him to take me back to Earth… had I not made the most unlikely of friends."

"Who would that be?" asked Heero.

Funaho smiled. "Misaki, of course! Believe it or not, she was actually supposed to become First Empress; her hand had been promised to Azusa well before he met me. Of all the members of the royal court, I would've thought that she might despise me the most, but it turned that I had completely misjudged her. Against all my expectations, the two of us became the dearest of friends. She fully supported my marriage to Azusa and never once held my marrying him first against me. We became inseparable, and her becoming Second Empress just gave us more excuses to spend time together. If there was an odder couple in the court than the Emperor and the girl he'd found out on the frontier, it was his two wives. Much has changed over the years, but the bond I forged with Misaki has never once wavered. I cherish her as much as I do Azusa and my own son."

Heero nodded. "I'm glad things worked out for you. It seems I got a taste of what you experienced when you first got here if that noble from before was any indication."

Funaho chuckled. "Well, I never had anyone challenge me to a duel, but I suppose the sentiment's the same. Don't concern yourself with that pompous fool Seiryo; I think Seto invited him knowing full-well he'd be the first to call you out and wanted to see how you'd handle it. I'd say you passed her little test easily. If nothing else, you certainly made a memorable impression!"

Heero wasn't sure if that was entirely a good thing. "Maybe, but the way I beat him didn't exactly do much to argue against his claims that I'm nothing more than a barbarian and brute. Quite the opposite, in fact. I might have beaten him in the fight, but I could've done our cause more harm than good."

"Hardly," Funaho countered, "You showed that you're willing to act decisively, and that you approach combat with deadly seriousness. That played will with the more martial members of this little gathering, and it's their support we need to prioritize. Even so, I'd actually say your little display of fighting prowess did more to help you than hurt in the eyes of the aristocrats. Seiryo is popular, but he has rivals, and putting him in his place definitely scored you some points with them!"

Heero raised an eyebrow. "Almost sounds like you were counting on that."

Funaho winked. "Maybe I was!"

The current piece playing in the background reached a crescendo as Heero spun the First Empress around. "I don't like politics. I'm only playing along because it's an unfortunate necessity. Once Kagato's been dealt with and the Array destroyed, I fully intend to withdraw from public life in the Empire. Whatever plans you, Seto and Washu might have for me here, they're probably not going to pan out. Sorry, but I want to be up front about that."

Funaho shook her head. "No need to apologize. You have your mission, and we'll do everything in our power to help you accomplish it regardless of your plans once this is all over. Still… don't dismiss Jurai out of hand. There's much that we can offer you here, starting with a family."

Images of the innocent days he'd spent with his flock of alien women in the countryside safehouse flashed through Heero's mind. "I've found that there's more than one kind of family."

Funaho gave him a knowing smile. "Yes, I'm sure you have. There's no need to pick only one, you know? All I ask is that you keep an open mind. You never know where your path might take you next!"

….

Taking a sip from her wine, Seto smiled as she watched Heero dance with Misaki. "Well, what do you think? Does he have potential?"

Mayumi smiled as she followed her friend's gaze. "Plenty. I'll have to withhold full judgement until I can appraise his piloting skills, but he's most certainly quite promising."

Observing them both out of the corner of her eye, Washu smirked as she munched on some smoked fish. "Trust me, Admiral; you won't be disappointed."

The naval commander raised an eyebrow. "That confident in his skills, are you?"

"I hacked his organization's files when I was Earth," Washu explained, "I've seen his combat record. What I'm preparing for him and his friends is of a decidedly different flavor than what he's used to, but I have no doubt that he'll adapt quickly enough. If you want to test him, I suggest you have your top pilots assigned to do so. Anything less, and he'll just make Jurai's aces look bad."

Mayumi smirked. "A challenge if I ever heard one. I can think of a couple units who would be up for the task. My elites are growing bored with piracy suppression operations; a little change-up in the routine should make them happy."

Seto chuckled. "They're always up for a contest, aren't they? I can't wait to see how they handle this! I don't suppose either of you would be up for another wager or two?"

Washu chuckled. "Do you have to ask?"

"Let's save the bets until the time comes," said Mayumi, "I'd like to see what kind of craft my pilots will be up against so I can accurately assess the situation."

Seto smiled. "As prudent as ever. Well, since you'll be the one hosting us for that particular show, I suppose I'll let you dictate the terms here."

Washu's eyes narrowed as she studied the officer. "Your soldiers might not just be fighting killer drones in this operation. Depending on Kagato's response, they could end up firing upon fellow Juraians. Can they handle that?"

Mayumi gave her a firm nod. "The Second Fleet has put down would-be rebels in the past. Regardless of our foe, our loyalty is first and foremost to the Empire. Any who stand against Jurai, even if they come from within, will be met with the full fury of our forces. My soldiers will do what must be done, Washu; do not doubt that for a moment."

Washu inclined her head. "I will not. That being said, it's a big fleet. The larger the organization, the greater the chance of a mole. I mean this as no disrespect to the men and women under your command, Admiral, but we both know how this will play out. Someone within the navy will inform Kagato once we make our move; it's just a matter of who and when. He'll be reacting to us, so we'll hold the initial advantage, but that will change once we're engaged. You said it yourself earlier; it'll be a prime opportunity for him to strike from the rear. Depending on what kind of force he's able to muster, that could be catastrophic."

"I'm well aware of that," Mayumi calmly replied, "I know that you're a genius, Washu, but the scientific realm is your area of expertise, yes? Mine is the art of war, and I know it quite well. Empress Funaho and Lady Seto would not have brought me into this affair were it otherwise."

Washu peered intently at her. She'd met her share of soldiers in her time, and while she'd found plenty worthy of respect, there were others who she'd considered too caught up in their own ego. There was a fine line between confidence and arrogance; the trick was spotting it.

Mayumi's demeanor was one of cool assuredness. She knew her forces strengths and weaknesses, and she so far had demonstrated a clear eye for the strategic situation they now found themselves in. This wasn't some armchair commander whose only knowledge of war was from books or lectures; she had been baptized in fire and blood long ago.

After a good long moment, Washu nodded. "Understood, Admiral. I look forward to working with you."

Mayumi smiled. "And I, with you. Lady Seto speaks highly of you. If any of your inventions can help the Second Fleet, I'll gladly integrate them into our arsenal."

Washu chuckled. "I don't usually share with you military types… but I'll make an exception this time!"

Not that I can afford to be stingy here, she thought, her gaze settling on Heero and the Second Empress, Kagato certainly won't be. We'll be laying all our cards on the table soon enough…

….

Leaning against the railing, Heero shook his head wearily. He looked out at the gardens below, idly wondering what it'd be like to take a relaxing stroll through them. There'd been no time for that tonight, but perhaps the following morning their host would allow him that luxury. After the evening's festivities, it would be a nice change of pace.

To think that Relena has to attend functions like this all the damn time, he mused, I don't know where she finds the strength to endure them all. Maybe I should've consulted her before heading out on this trip… a few pointers on the finer aspects of diplomacy and high-society parties couldn't have hurt. Too late for that now…

Thankfully, mercifully, the ball was finally starting to wind down. The various guests had begun gradually filtering out in ones and twos starting about half an hour ago, and the pace was picking up. Heero could only imagine what the empire's nobles would make of tonight's events, and he could only hope that he'd done enough to at least convince them to take him seriously and ally with his backers. Having two Empresses and the mother-in-law of the reigning in Emperor in his corner certainly helped, but Heero knew that he was out of his depth when it came to court politics. He'd have to trust Funaho and Seto to manage that, at least until he found his footing in the realm of Juraian aristocratic intrigue.

At least he could have greater confidence when it came to the impression he'd made with Jurai's military tonight. Admiral Fukunaga might have been the highest-ranking officer in attendance, but she hadn't been the only one. Generals and colonels from the empire's ground forces had come to pay their respects and appraise the new prince for themselves, and they'd been quite complimentary when it came to Heero's duel with Seiryo. Of course, a good performance in a single swordfight wouldn't be enough to completely win them over, but it was a better start than Heero had hoped for. He'd still have to work to earn their trust and loyalty, but he was much more confident when it came to competing on their turf than he was in the halls of the palace or Seto's estate.

"Thought I'd find you out here," came the voice of a certain female pirate, "You doing okay, Heero? They had you going almost non-stop in there."

He looked over his shoulder and smiled as Ryoko came to join him at the railing. "I'm a little worn out, to tell you the truth. Ballroom dancing might not be as physically demanding as combat, but having to keep up conversation with so many different partners at the same time and try not to bore them… it's definitely a different sort of challenge compared to the ones I'm used to."

Ryoko laughed. "Yeah, I bet! I don't really know what to do with myself at these high-society gigs. Give me a halfway decent bar and a few rounds of drinks any day."

"We could try to find one once we get some downtime," Heero suggested, "The capital of an empire has to have at least a few good watering holes."

Ryoko sighed wistfully. "I'd like that… but we both know you're not going to have much downtime until this whole mess is over. Not the kind that will allow for a good night's worth of drinking, anyway."

Heero reluctantly agreed. "You're probably right."

Her hand was on the railing right next to his, and Heero moved his over to gently place it over hers. "Thanks for… well, everything tonight. I know you weren't comfortable in there, but you helped make things a bit more bearable."

She leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. "Anytime. Seeing the looks on all those nobles' faces as a pirate stole the prince's first dance at his debut ball made it totally worth it!"

Heero smirked. "Should've known you'd see it that way."

"Gotta get my kicks where I can around here," Ryoko replied, "I'd go crazy otherwise."

"Maybe Jurai could use a bit of crazy," said Heero, "A rogue cadet branch royal is out to seize a weapon capable of threatening the entire galaxy, and these people want to hold parties. I get why we had this one, and it looks like we're off to a good start in recruiting the allies we need, but even so… everything around here is so wrapped up in tradition, in pomp and circumstance. The court intrigue, dueling, the ball, tree-bonding ceremonies… it's stifling."

"They've grown used to being the top dog in the galaxy," Ryoko pointed out, "It's made them arrogant and complacent. They don't feel the same sense of urgency that people like us do. Well, most of them don't, anyway. At least your great-grandmother seems to be taking things seriously."

"Arrogant and complacent…" Heero muttered under his breath, "Kagato made a similar argument when we met him. He said the empire had stagnated… maybe he had a point. Juraian society… from what I've seen of it so far, it very much gives off the vibe of a civilization that's grown comfortable with its power and feels entitled to it. They believe their supremacy is more or less a law of the galaxy now, and they can't imagine anyone or anything challenging it."

Ryoko looked concerned. "You're not about to say that the psychotic wannabe ruler of the galaxy is right, are you?"

Heero shook his head. "No, not even close. The Empire of Jurai could probably use reform, but he's taking this way too far. Going after the Array, making a power play and setting the Empire up for a civil war? None of that's justified, and never would be. Besides, I bet that talk of 'reform' is really on a justification he gives to himself and his allies. What he's really after is power, pure and simple. He can take his so-called righteous cause and shove it right up his own ass."

Ryoko laughed in relief. "That's what I like to hear! You had me worried there for a moment."

"Sorry," said Heero, "I can't say that I'm the biggest fan of Empire, but I'm not going to throw in with those who want to violently overthrow the ruling family just because they want to sit on the throne. Kagato's putting countless innocent lives at risk with this scheme, and I won't rest until he's been put down for good."

Ryoko's eyes narrowed. "This is just because of the threat he poses, right?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" Heero asked, wondering where she was going with this.

Ryoko shrugged. "You said he's out to overthrow the ruling family. Heero, you're part of that family. You've got a personal stake in this. I know you're not close with them yet, but the longer we spend here, the more that's probably going to change."

Heero raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying that I'm doing this to defend my family's position? Ryoko, I didn't even know I was connected to this family until mere weeks ago. I don't care about these damn dynastic squabbles; I care about protecting you, my friends, Earth, and everyone else in the galaxy from Kagato's insanity."

Then she smiled, and Heero thought he saw just a hint of red flash across her face. "I know. I just needed to hear it from you… and to know where I stand in all of this. Now I do."

Heero blinked; he had to be missing something here. "Ryoko?"

She leaned forward, her face mere centimeters from his. "That little list of yours? What you care about protecting? I was at the front. Did you really mean that?"

"Yes," Heero replied without hesitation.

She closed the rest of the distance and kissed him fiercely. Heero was more than a little confused, but he wasn't about to turn her away. He took her in his arms, and the two of them lost themselves in each other for a few precious seconds.

They eventually parted for air, but Heero still held Ryoko close as she spoke. "Good. I feel the same way. I don't care about the Empire, the throne, or any of that crap. I'm staying and fighting for you… and our friends, I guess, but mostly for you. Jurai? The Empire? Galactic civilization? They can all get bent. I'm doing this for you, Heero. Don't forget that."

"I won't," Heero promised her.

They stayed in each other's arms for a good long moment before Ryoko spoke again. "So, the big party's done, but… what about the afterparty? Our group's still down in the ballroom, and we'll have the place to ourselves soon enough. What do you say we cap this night off in style?"

"What did you have in mind?" asked Heero.

"We partied the royal and noble way before," Ryoko replied with a grin, "Now, we party my way. Get good and plastered, stumble back to a room, and enjoy ourselves before passing out! You game?"

Heero smiled. "I am."

Releasing each other, Ryoko then looped her arm through Heero's. The two of them headed back inside where merriment awaited them. They knew the work that lay ahead of them once the dawn came, but that didn't matter right now. They would bask in the final hours of this night with their friends, and then together in private later on.

Scheming nobles, renegade branch royals, and galaxy-threatening super weapons vanished from their minds. As the pirate and the soldier rejoined their friends, they drank and smiled and laughed, all their worries forgotten in the blissful and rowdy afterparty.

Preview for next time!

Lady Seto: Well, Washu? I'm expecting a good show here! You'd better have your toys ready.

Washu: Come, now. Was there ever any doubt?

Duo: So, we're breaking these bad boys in by challenging the Empire's aces? This'll be fun!

Hilde: Duo, play nice.

Trowa: I doubt our competition will afford us such a luxury.

Quatre: Nothing we can't handle, right?

Wufei: They won't stand a chance.

Heero: Stay focused. Let's do this right the first time. We're going to need their backup once we take the field at the second repository.

Ryoko: Hey, don't you dare think that you're going to leave Ryo-Ohki and I out of this little game of yours!

Ryo-Ohki: Meow!

Ayeka: Oh, dear…

Kiyone: We're getting in on the action, too. Mihoshi, you ready for a training exercise?

Mihoshi: You bet!

Sasami: I'll be rooting for you!

Funaho: Next time, in Chapter Twenty-Three: No Need For Aggressive Target Practice! Well, this ought to be an amusing little show.

Misaki: Time to watch the flyboys strut their stuff!

Author's Notes: Been a while since I got to dress the gang up all fancy, it's always fun to have chapters like this! The next one will be a little more up my usual alley; ships in space making stuff go boom. Fun times for all!

Hope you all liked the chapter. Please review, stay safe, and I'll see you all next time!