BACKGROUND (22/10/2000) : Heh, I had a rather bad spell wif a friend of mine who was giving me C&C yesterday, and somehow I got the impression he was flaming me. Anyway I lost my head, then he lost his. I was so upset I juz went to my word processor and this Prologue emerged at my fingertips ^_^, although I was raging at the time. XXXXX, if u really are out there, I juz want to let u noe, this fic is for you... ^_^. If we make it up to each other, I'll write your name here wif your blessings, and dedicate this piece to you. Basically this fic does not change the plot, juz answers many numerous questions about the character's nature and where he really stands with respect to Washu. I've shown this to my Proofreader Serajadeyn and he gives me the thumbs up, saying this will not interrupt or make the fic weaker, so here it is ^_^. That's about it, I'm a simple soul at heart... Disclaimer : Most characters in this story are property of AIC and Pioneer. They are in such a situation solely because of my imagination. This story was written purely for fun. DARKNESS & LIGHT - No Need For Kova By Zyraen PROLOGUE : No Need for Liberation Okay, time to check… Putting down his pen, he quite casually flicked through his course completion paper, checking to make sure that all was to his satisfaction before he submitted it. First he went through the elementary open ended answers. Right, right, right, wrong, wrong, right, right, wrong, right right, right, right, wrong, right… Satisfied with his solutions, he moved on to his experimental planning, including the essay on the procedure as well as the necessary calculations involved. Bad point, standard point, good, bad. Standard, good, wrong, good point, standard, bad… Still not touching his pen he checked his calculations, and noted that there was an intermediate value that he substituted a wrong constant for. There… I’m done. He glanced at his watch. Ah well, looks like it’s fifteen minutes more. Turning his paper over, he sat back and picked up his pen, as the rest of the candidates bustled on their work. Twirling the pen about absently in his fingers, to an onlooker he would have seemed a candidate stumped by a question, but this is what went through his mind. Heh, no Alpha this time round again… ==================================== My ticket to freedom… His fingers ran tenderly over the smooth metallic surface of the sleek unit he had built, with its silver surface shining back at him, and the gleam from its shine lighted up his blue eyes behind his steel spectacle frames with joy and anticipation. They trembled with excitement as he admired its surface, of adamantine, silvery steel… He had known all along what he would call it, right from the time he conceptualised it. There was a perfect name, an item that symbolised its speed and range and size and deadliness. Oh yes, it was deadly. He thought to himself with a smile. It had taken a long time and much of his energy, ingenuity, combined with all the new things he had learnt, along with many other not so conventional avenues of knowledge, to finally fit the device into the unit. And he would have left back then, about ten months ago, except that he had learnt about a new item he could use. The professor had returned to a warm reception, which she greeted with her usual, typically endearing modesty, to embrace her chairmanship. To tell the truth, he had been surprised at her appearance and demeanour, even though he already knew how she looked like. I wonder if she would have made a good spy, he had thought. Since then, he had learnt more about her, and most interestingly, of her latest invention… He sighed as his hands left the surface of the metal. What a wonderful piece of work… He frowned. This is my weapon. It is my defence, my ticket out of here. And that is all it is… It was dangerous for him at times, and things were getting more difficult now. Assuming another personality, while only minorly different from his own, was trying on his energies, and there were times the pseudo person within him threatened to overwhelm his old, pragmatic, energetic, eager and enterprising side. Now, being himself again, he cast a critical look at the unit. All along, it had troubled him that his creation had no convenient way of entering or leaving, had no… user mobility. I must get this done… It will be done. He turned away. Then glanced back at the unit. It would open the world, the galaxies… I will be able to roam freely, fearing nothing… the universe beyond this drab, ascetic place called to him… He closed his eyes, and whether it was truly him or his pseudo personality that thought next, he knew not, which was discomforting in itself. It can wait… I can leave any time… only when I leave I *must* be well equipped. Reluctantly he wrenched his gaze from the unit, and let his other consciousness take over him completely. Settling into his bench, he looked through the paper, and his latest designs and calculations, refreshing his mind, before pulling from the machine in front of him all the materials and tools he needed, plus some other non-standard material he had gathered for the purpose of this project. It would have been extremely difficult, but his mind was still fresh from his previous attempts and experimentation with the other project of his, so it wasn’t as difficult as it might otherwise have been. ==================================== It was after a seven-day sabbatical in his workroom, islolated, having worked for nearly a hundred and sixty hours, that his worn and haggard figure finally let out a sigh of relief. Thank god for my enhanced stamina, he thought. Beside him was an empty container, slightly over three litres capacity, and its insides were stained brown. By its side was an empty cup, also stained brown here and there. And for caffeine. Forcing his bleary eyes open, he tested the weapon against the laptop he had, by placing it on a pad linked to his terminal. Yes, perfect… the balance, everything had been maintained. I have lost no edge, lost no ground in this aspect. The DNA reactive component was still within too, as well as the signature mark. Excitement and exhilaration, as he had often craved experiencing, rushed into his veins again, driving away his weariness, and he picked the device off the pad, holding it in his hand, and turned so he had the space to test his device out. Blue light filled the room as he activated the device, and lit his face up in a splendid azure glow, causing the steel frame of his glasses to shine cerulean, and made his neatly parted brown hair seem to darken to black. Smiling somewhat, he swung his device around a little. Good, that function still works, but it was in there already, and elementary anyway. He picked up something a corner on the floor, something that looked like a hollow cylinder, but with what looked like synthetic fibres and some grey, synthetic skin in the middle. Wires ran from it to his terminal. Tapping the tip of the rod twice with his thumb, he inserted the rod into the cylinder, and let go. Nothing changed it seem, except for the numbers on the screen. Not bad… he read the numbers off. Reaction time point zero five seconds, voltage two thousand. Okay… now for the most crucial test. Tentatively, trying to force himself to stay calm, he gently shifted the item, a certain point out, and pride and joy swelled in him as he beheld a small gap, a void… Gingerly picking up a tool from the bench by his side, he lobbed it into the rift, and another rift opened up at the opposite end of the room, where the object fell out. EUREKA! IT WORKS! All right! I’m great, ain’t this neat!? His brows furrowed together. Right, big deal. What did you expect? You pulled all the right spots, correct? Trembling, he drew it up before him, then his eyes were staring into the unknown darkness, into nothingness… It will work… One by one, he steadily gathered up all the remaining items from the workbench, and lobbed them gently through the hole. Each and every one emerged at the far end of the room… All right, it should work… does work… all my calculations and designing are precise, besides records have it that at least four people have used such a portal, including the great Washu herself, so it should work… You’re getting soft, part of his mind snorted back at him. Hello? He grinned dangerously. Here goes then… ==================================== "There you are, Yoda," an eager, husky voice greeted him as he emerged from his room. "I’ve been looking for you." He sighed, his voice gravelly, even though he had treated himself to some cups of soothing tea and a good four hours’ rest since he completed what he deemed his magnum opus. "So, what is it now, Marasa?" He turned to face the voluptuous, svelte brunette wearily. Her laughter sounded as she caught his expression of distaste in his words and face, and his scowl deepened in response. "Come on, why are you such a tough nut to crack?" she joked. He rolled his eyes. "Am I the only guy in this entire Academy that you haven’t slept with?" "Well… the only one who looks under thirty-five, I guess." "Who are into the bets you ladies are laying on laying me?" He asked, sounding almost accomodating. Marasa wasn’t the worse of them, and he might have to keep on his toes for the others. He still felt the fear the first time he had been approached, over thirty years ago. Not to mention one day when he spotted someone trying to spike his drink with aphrodisaic. "Let’s see…" Marasa thought. "Me, Karima, Janimi, Gesuki, and Sekura." He smiled, slightly to himself. One of the reasons why he let Marasa come near him was that she was in a way, the most trusting and open, and she wasn’t as forward as the others. In his eyes, she was the pick of a very bad lot. "Only? What happened to Tamura?" Though he knew, of course. "She said she wasn’t interested in you ‘bastard’, and that if we were thinking to get you, we had better take care." Marasa thought a bit. "She’s a real looker, you know that? What happened anyway?" "Heh," his smile broadened. The woman had been astonished when he casually ordered her out, despite her being well… dressed in her birthday suit, then became dumbfounded as he, looking straight and disinterestedly at her, casually started tossing glass vials at her. Barely half a second after the first one had sailed just by her head and smashed into the wall, he noted her face had turned pale when she heard the hissing crackle as the acid inside ate into the wall. The next vial just barely missed her body, then she had turned to make a run for it. He had tossed two more after her, aiming to miss, as usual, just to make sure. "Believe me, Marasa, you don’t want to know." He laughed a little more. "You really don’t want to know." "So… none of them have gotten to you yet, right?" "I should think so." He said carefully. "They say you pretend they don’t exist…" "I suppose it is rather hard to lay a person who can’t seem to notice you…" He replied cautiously. "That makes me special to you!" Marasa announced jubilantly. "Come on, you acknowledge me, you talk to me, you greet me, but you don’t bother with them…" He frowned. "Look, that’s because you aren’t as extreme as them. Believe me, if you try something like what they do, I’ll treat you no differently." He paused a while. "Besides, you are willing to tell me things without bargaining with me." He sighed again. "And why the hell are you people bothering with me at all? I’m not handsome, not brilliant in the Academy, never got an Alpha in the past ten years, never won any prizes, and hell I’m shorter than you with your high-heels on!" "Oh…" she looked uncertain, then laughed. "Well almost all the other tough guys have been taken care of in one way or another… there’s only you from the under thirty-five category left." "Look, I’ve told you people before and I say it again, I am NOT under thirty-five! I came in when I was twenty-five, and that was frigging *forty* years ago!" "Heh… but you look it, and that’s what counts… besides…" she laughed. "Out of our group, how many of us do you think are *really* under twenty-five?" "None." He answered, without a doubt. "Look, I got to go now, so if you please…" He turned and moved… She reached out to seize his arm, but he ignored it, his pace not slowing in the least. Marasa cursed as she ran two steps, still refusing to let go, and jumped… He didn’t pause as her lithe, slim, youthful seeming arms wrapped around his shoulders, instead his pace didn’t slow, and she had to keep her feet moving quickly or be dragged of him. "Marasa, I am *warning* you. If you were any one of the others, I’d have gripped you by the neck as you tried that," He answered, his voice calm and steady. "But don’t you…?" "I have never known love before, and I don’t intend to learn it from you harlots." Something in Marasa riled at that. "HEY! I’ll have you know I got straight Alphas for all the projects and test in my advanced space technology course!" "I am warning you *again*. I have no qualms about striking those who try this kind of thing. Now I will count to three, and if you’re still with me by then, I *assure* you you will wake up in the infirmary twelve hours from now. And if you even try choking me…" Marasa’s eyes widened as she felt a cold metal point press hard against her clothing into her side. "One…" She felt herself recoil in fear. "Two…" She heard his cold, steely words again… ‘I’m warning you…’ and let go. He was almost five metres down the corridor from her before she stood steadily back on her feet. "Damn you Yoda!" She cried, frustration and anger in her voice. "Why won’t you give!?" "Because I never will… not to your kind." His pace didn’t slow. "Now one of the others will get to you!" "Your concern is noted, but badly misplaced." His receding figure sent a mocking laugh down the corridors. "Thank you, Marasa," and disappeared around a corner. *DAMN*, Marasa thought, grinding her teeth together. Could have sworn he was warming up to me… he even laughed. Cursing at how she had been thwarted, she went back to her room to bury herself in her latest project… ==================================== Stepping back into the room, he smiled to himself as he looked about the one of many Virtual Reality chambers within the Science Academy. These were generally set up to go about the room, and the settings and options available on the programs were generally suited to the program used. Students themselves were welcome to write programs that detailed and reacted to some stimuli, as well as insert random processes into the VR program. This particular room was one of the semi-arena types, used for larger programs, and he had written, or rather modified, various programs for the purposes of testing it out here, an activity he also called ‘practice’. In response to his enhanced reactions, he had taken the liberty of speeding up the program speed levels by about fifty percent, and randomised it. Sensory cameras were mounted from various angles about the room, so they could see through the VR, as well as observe the simulation, although this was rarely the case unless operators deemed it fit for it to do so. Unfortunately, there were other, more conventional ways to confound the cameras. He grinned as he noted the photos pasted to the front of the cameras. They had not even seen him enter the room. After he had been done with them, he had donned the skin tight simulation suit, which effectively covered his whole body. The suit was flexible and designed to exert pressures of varying force and strength on various parts of the body. Within it there was a thin, disposal inner suit of material that was actually in contact with the skin of the user, and every user was expected to fit in a new one and dispose of it after use, for hygiene purposes. Now there left only the headgear for him to don, and he removed his spectacles followed by his contact lenses. Remember, he reminded himself. First half an hour, space warfare, next half hour, blaster training. The next half hour will be solely the silver rod, then the next one hour, the laser armaments, and for the next one and a half that, a wild free for all. As he put on the light headgear that would simulate his eyes and ears, the room dissolved away… As always he felt a pang of nostalgia, as he sat down at the helm of his ship, to look out upon the darkness of space, and the familiar controls and consoles. In reality it had been forty years since the Wanderer had fallen to ruins… Then he grinned as he felt the old thrill race through his veins, his ship sensors picked up over five enemy ships approaching from various directions homing about his coordinates… In a breast pocket his blaster was nestled, an old companion whom he never quite could bring himself to forsake, while else where about him, a silver rod… Bring them on… he thought, as he manuevered the Wanderer into a headspin, and golden lasers streaked through the darkness of his space, barely missing the outline of the swiftly moving ship. Silver beams shot out from within his ship, to race towards the enemy craft locked on in his sights, and as the enemy came flying in and loosing salvoes in retaliation, Yoda Shiro gradually dissolved into nothingness. ==================================== He sipped his tea, and gave a loud sigh of contentment. Oh man, that was one great work out! It is great to exercise after seven days in that miserable room of mine… He smiled, as he thought how he had emerged from the VR room, adrenalin running through him in surges. It was satisfying to know he held his own against a simulated character that was programmed to NEVER be defeated, as well as having just about random and swift execution of numerous moves and strokes he could gather from all the fighting organisations about the universe. Okay, on to the next task at hand… It is logically sound and understandable, given the nature of subspace dimensions, that they can be used to carry out experiments as they obey all the rules of the universe they currently inhabit. Therefore it follows that I can store things in here, and even travel through here. Carefully, gingerly, he open the insides of the silvery unit, and adhered the functions to controls, so he could employ his latest addition to his arsenal. Heh, piece of cake. It’s just about controlling and applying stimuli… should be done in a jiffy. Then I can pay a visit to some of my old friends. ==================================== Humming lightly to himself, he crawled through the narrow passage way. It was so narrow there was no way he could even bend his elbows, except to dig into the sides of the shaft, and his shoulder muscles had to strain continuously to curl down and in front of him so he would not get stuck. The designer had assumed, rightly, that no one in his right mind would go through the ventilator system. Unfortunately, the person obviously never counted on a person not being in his right mind in the first place, and of a person who was as determined as he was. His body cut across yet another one of the invisible infrared lines, but no alarm went off. Which was no big deal really. After learning how to alter the security settings here, which incidentally took him well over six months to figure out, it had been no worry at all. It was much easier now, than it was when he first arrived, due to his enhancements, but the rite of passage was nevertheless still a grueling exercise even for one such as him. That it was an exercise he welcomed, a way to keep in shape, was one of the reasons why he employed this method of access rather than using the subspace rift he had just learnt how to use. The other reason is that occasionally, he had to admit saw some pretty interesting things from where he wandered. Sleeping, busy people, people having fun together… Although it was old, in a way it was still an experience, to never cease wondering at how one who looked drab, uninteresting and utterly ascetic in the day could be comely, serene and human as one slept. Ah, here we are, the last room. There wasn’t enough space for him to see through past his hands to what he was doing, but his fingers worked nevertheless, sliding out from his long sleeves the various tools he would need. First a sight tube went through, to check on the room, and the headgear he wore projected an image of a slumbering person, in the darkness of the shaft, and he knew it was safe to proceed. Securing the cover first with certain removable hinges, he then inserting a flexible screw driver through the thin slits in the cover and unscrewed the covers. Pushing gently, the cover swung down, soundlessly as the hinges dampened the movement, and worked to prevent it from making any sound.Wriggling through the shaft like a worm, he emerged from the ventilator, until his shoulders were free. Removing a thick bar from within his works, he placed it before him, in the air, it stayed there, hovering as he turned it on. Gripping it firmly with both hands, he pulled the rest of his body out from the shaft, then pressing another button on the bar, let it levitate down until his feet soundlessly came into contact with the floor four metres below the opening of the shaft. Letting go of the levitating bar, he took a glance at the restful figure, with his broad face, in life too often wearing a gregarious smile. No one would have thought this sunny person could actually be a spy for the Syndicate, and he did his work rather well, at least for his level. However, the one who watched his repose knew better. His gloved hands sifting through the scans he knew the person always kept in a secret compartment, he checked the data, as he customarily did, once a month. He made it a point to monitor these spies as best as he could, as the Science Academy was full of potentially promising material that, if brought to the attention of either Jurai, Galaxy Police, or the Synera Stellar Syndicate, could result in the creation of a weapon that could well incite an inter-galactic war as the empire with the advantage struck out in bid to seek universal dominion. Quite ironically, it was himself that held in his hands such an item, but he had no intention to ever let anyone alive know about it being in his possession. After all, it is only to be used in self defence and extreme circumstances. My own EMP device should suffice to deal with regular threats. Well, looks like he also has this particular gem… he thought as he looked at the note. It was not the deadly armament that he himself had acquired, just a modest notes on insidious biological warfare and on mutating then mass producing a very rare, almost unheard of virus strain that could well spell calamity for countless colonies throughout the galaxy. Quite carefully, he opened a portal with his rod, and reached in, to produce a piece of paper, and part of him marvelled at this particular invention’s utility. Truly Washu is a genius of the highest order! He smiled at the sleeping man. It had been over four years this person had obtained a lover in the Academy, a lady, whose chambers he had visited about half an hour ago. It might have been a coincidence that she also had this piece of vital information, but he doubted it. After all, she was working for the Juraians. As for who stole from who, he sincerely didn’t give a damn for. As he did earlier, he picked up the piece of offending information, and replaced the paper with a slip that was utterly identical, except in one crucial aspect - the virus strain would not in fact be a long lived one. By altering several minor points on altering the mutation of the original strain, it would be such that the virus would be unable to reproduce in any form, and effectively cause its own extinction. If it did survive, it would be harmless, as it produces non-toxic products. Also, the original name of the virus strain, by changing a single letter in the spelling, would in fact refer to a different, more common strain, which would die in the process of undergoing the alterations, both original and modified. Jumping back onto the bar, still hovering soundlessly, slightly below two metres above the ground, he reached up with his hands at the ventilator shaft and the cover. Removing from the cover the hinges, he tossed into the rift that was still below him, where he had taken out the paper, and replaced the cover, taking care to screw it back on securely. Then opening the portal he got back down on the floor, and using his silver rod to widen the portal, stepped through, to emerge back into his own room. It is indeed a splendid tool, he marvelled as he admired the subspace rift. Finally settling down for a rest, he carefully tore the tanned skin off his face, removed the small folds of fat under his jaw and around his cheeks, as well as the flesh toned material that lowered his jawline. He pulled the tanned brown gloves from his hands, and removed the extra material that made his fingers seem thicker and shorter than they really were. Applying some powder to his fingers, he ran his fingers through his grey hair, and it became lustrous brown. Then he clipped his shoulder length hair together, close to his scalp, then combed it neatly into his customary side parting. "Welcome back, Yoda," he smiled to himself. There was one room that he feared entering though. That was the lab in the higher level of the Academy, belonging to a particular professor Washu. He had only ever been there once, and much knowledge he had gleaned in there. Most significant was how to actually reduce the mass required for a device to create the rift, and the other was so astonishing, he almost could not believe it. His weapon had far greater destructive power than he had ever imagined. Unfortunately, even the original device was so difficult to miniaturise, he knew it would be folly to attempt to alter it further for adjustable controls, and still hope to fit it into his unit. Since that visit, he had never dared enter the lab again. He knew it was safer not to take chances, and besides, he had often the suspicion that she had her sights on him, as in found his activities noteworthy, and might be on his trail. He might have rested more easily if he had known Washu never flipped through or checked her paper notes. She had only made copies in obligation for the Science Academy rules, and all of the material she actually made reference to were stored in her spectral computer. However, he was right in his suspicion that she was watching him. Of all the pupils, she had found him noteworthy for the extent of his range of knowledge, and the nature of his projects. It had also been somewhat astonishing for her to note that he had, in the course of forty years, he had consistently achieved between Beta and Delta for his course graduation papers and his projects. Alpha achievement had only been awarded to him twice, apparently happening only once every twenty years… His projects, while full of promise, tended to achieve mediocre results due to some experimental planning, design or calculation flaw, rather than conceptual errors. Looks like I am finished here… ==================================== Ah…To be free… to be free at last… These thoughts filled his mind as his eyes sprang open from his sleep, and a smile of pleasure crossed his face… Then he sighed… I shall miss this place. It has been okay while it lasted. His mind wandered far away, to admire the beauty and wonder of the countless landscapes he had seen - awe inspiring rock formations, monuments to nature’s majesty; frigid barren tundras and the sweltering parched deserts, forbidding and lifeless, yet also captivating and teeming with unseen lifeforms ; ivory sands of beaches flanked by towering cliff heights, a beautiful contrast of the serenity of nature against its heights ; of galaxies and nebulas of stars, splitting through the darkness in myriad colours and forms and lights, each and every one unique, reminding him of the ubiquity of beauty even in the emptiness of space. Yes, it’s been nice here, but I’ve got to move on. The rest of the universe is waiting out there, and now I should be able to handle them tolerably, with the knowledge and changes that I have formed about myself here… But my experiments, my projects? There is so much more to learn, so much more knowledge to glean, so many more fields to delve into, countless wellsprings of information untapped… I’m sorry, but I *have* to leave. I think I’m being watched, and I have always trusted my instincts. Also, I don’t wish to stay here forever, I wish to apply what I have learnt out there… Ah well, I guess you are right. It might work… just an experiment, right? He smiled. Right, I guess. This life is an experiment, after all, I have no idea where I’m going. Hmm, application on the spot… just like I used to do… Yes. He walked towards the silvery shiny unit. It is time to face the world out there again. Opening it, he settled down comfortably into the seat. Are you ready? Will you help me? The silver rod was inserted into a hole within the unit, and appeared at the tip, mounted at the front of the craft. Yes… but one last request, please… There was a shudder in the room, then an inky darkness appeared before the unit, and he could see through the glass into the void. Okay… here we go then… There was a rush of engines, barely discernible, as it ran so smoothly… Then suddenly the room was empty. ==================================== High over the Science Academy, there was a flash of silver, as an object appeared in orbit over it. Within it, someone looked, even as he was dying. There… take a good look. The blue eyes rove over the place below him. From above here, the complex was nowhere as impressive as it looked, after all it had been built for Science, not for aestethics. The watcher looked down, remembering all the memories and exhilarations, of the objects created, the successful projects, of fathoming secrets and achieving objectives through sheer hard work and determination. The space craft hung in the air for a long time, unseen and unnoticed. All right… I’m ready. Very well then, let’s go. As his hand pushed the throttle up, the ship raced forward into the darkness of space. And I shall embrace what the fates have in store for me… === End of Prologue === PLEASE send COMMENTS & CRITICISMS! (C&C) IMPORTANT : I'm seriously worried I may have serious difficulty finishing D&L b4 Jan 2000, so in case that happens I want to set up some kind of mailing list for D&L. Basically it will tell u when a new chapter comes out. Please mail your Name & Email to zyraen@yahoo.com, no other data is reqd. If u like u can provide your age, sex, and readiness to C&C. I hope you have enjoyed this Fanfic as much as I have typing it. If there are any more grammar errors, please mail me too ^_^. Me and Serajadeyn are my only Proofreaders. This is my first FF, so go ahead and mail me at zyraen@yahoo.com with comments, especially on character portrayal, realism. PLEASE send COMMENTS & CRITICISMS! (C&C) REWRITE Note : Well... this "rewrite" finally makes TMFFA wif this. Not much changes, juz a fight scene. All references to this extra scene will be limited to up to Chap 3 and the rest will likely be incidental. Disclaimer : Most characters in this story are property of AIC and Pioneer. They are in such a situation solely because of my imagination. This story was written purely for fun. Juz to let you know, this FF is based on the TV Series. The Kain episode, great though it was, was ignored... sorry, but I really needed the GP around (should be clear by Chap 13). This story contains no sex, so please do not expect it. Before I wrote this Fanfic, I have only read 2 Fanfics, Aikan Muyo and To Love & To Hate. Since then I have read some others, and have noted some writers have a tendency to portray some characters inaccurately. For instance, I believe Tenchi will not screw anyone he does not seriously love, while Ryoko and Aeka are not irretrievably unreconciliable. As I wrote suddenly I realised Mihoshi was not a 2 dimensional dumb blonde scourge of Kiyone. Some of the powers used in this Fic are a conglomeration of those in Tenchi TV & OAV, though I have excluded the Light Hawk Wings, and Washu's goddess status, simply because the imbalance would be too great. That's about it, I'm a simple soul at heart... DARKNESS & LIGHT - No Need For Kova By Zyraen Chapter I : No Need for Enigmas "How I wish I could be as carefree as you," sighed Kiyone, as her partner Mihoshi snuggled comfortably into her futon and into oblivion. The blonde detective gave a loud sigh of contentment and curled some more as if in confirmation of her words. Letting herself lie back, hands behind her lustrous, long green hair, Kiyone thought about all the things that had gone wrong in her life. "It’s all because of Mihoshi!" She remembered herself saying that to someone, sometime. Yet it just did not seem to explain everything. Everything that had happened, she still remembered, as some kind of nightmare she had lived through and wished more than anything to end. Yet Mihoshi had been living that same life, and it had seemed wonderful to her. How they had met Tenchi, Ryoko, and all the rest. How they had helped wrest Kagato from his throne of power, and became high ranking Galaxy Police personnel back at Central HQ. Yet… "What am I doing here!?" Remembering the day Mihoshi had walked in and jubilantly announced, "Kiyone, I’m so *happy*! We’ve got reassigned back to Earth as resident officers again!" "WHAT!?" "Yup, isn’t that *wonderful*!" "H..h..how…?" Kiyone had said as she sank weakly into her chair. "Oh, I just asked, as they said it was OK, if I could get you to agree and substantiate the request, which I’m sure you will! " She smiled as she held up her hand into an OK sign, then clasped her hands together again. "This is great! We’ll be able to see Tenchi, Sasami, and all the rest of them again." "Sasami…" Oh yeah, Aeka had ran away for another vacation again, and Sasami had gone after her on the pretext of getting her back. Azaka and Kamadake, the knights, had remained to keep the Council of Jurai in their place and protect the palace (empty…) while their log versions had followed Sasami… "Oh no! I haven’t bought anything for them, and they’ll be so upset with me! Sasami said she’d be getting me a…" As Mihoshi rattled on, Kiyone had toyed with the thought of getting the transfer undone, but well, returning to Earth was hardly what she would call unpleasant, though it would put a damper on her future promotion prospects, not that she was doing badly… Besides, she did not want to break Mihoshi’s heart. She had then managed to persuade her GP superior that keeping an eye on Aeka and the true king of Jurai was very important, in the face of growing hostilities between the Juraian empire and the Synera Stellar Syndicate (SSS), an empire that had risen out of a merchant syndicate that developed weapons and ships to colonise and subjugate planets, and at least be given credit for protecting the Juraian royalty. She even got the boss to strongly hint she *might* return to a promotion if nothing untoward happens until relations are smoothed over. And so here she was, scraping a living out on the primitive planet. At least now with the dimensional door that had been so useful in their adventures in Space, and which Washu had given to them as a farewell present, she and Mihoshi could pop over to Tenchi’s place anytime for a quick (heavenly) bath, a welcomed (exquisite!) meal and a nice (and free) Karaoke session. "I wonder why do I even bother to stay in this apartment!? I practically live there in Tenchi’s house!" Her thoughts brought her back. "Oh yeah, principle." Kinda stupid, though. Looking at the clock beside her, she sighed again. It was almost an hour since she had retired and she was still awake! Trying vainly to turn her mind blank and sleep, Kiyone shifted and tried a different position. ==================================== Meanwhile, high over the Earth’s stratosphere, her solitary spacecraft orbited, in auto pilot. Scarlet metal gleamed bright in the sun’s rays, while from far away, a tiny metallic speck emerged and sped over. It seemed to be some sort of a capsule, but there were rocket boosters behind it, and within something stirred. A portal of darkness opened within and… He was inside the Yagami. Grinning, the intruder smiled to himself. "Let’s see how the GP is doing with my data." Moving over to the bridge, the person seated himself in the command seat, fingers flashing over the console. His eyes scanned the screen as he accessed the GP file archives. "Ah, I see I am still remembered," he murmured. Before him, on the screen, a very outdated picture of himself, followed some words. Nothing he did not know, but still, his attention was drawn to the last few lines. Last sighted : 40 yrs ago, in the vicinity of the Science Academy Ship destroyed, no body found. "I see their intelligence is neither precise nor up to date." Tapping a few more buttons, he quickly summoned a map of the ship. "Just a typical GP ship. I thought the red meant it’d be a bit more interesting. Oh well," as he absorbed the data, and left to search the ship for anything of value. He found nothing, except for a moment he felt like sabotaging the engine, and then he entered Kiyone and Mihoshi’s room on the ship. The first thing that struck him was how one side, the right, was kept immaculately neat and tidy, while on the other side, everything seemed to be a mess. Tissue boxes, scattered books, spilled drinks, on the left, and the right, just perfect. Bending over the short pink table in the middle of the room, he too could see the difference. On the left side, stains of food and drinks marred the surface, while on the other side, only two marks were seen - a pair of hands, pressed onto the table so hard the person must have been very angry. Curiosity prompted a more thorough observation. A quick glance found him Mihoshi’s photo, by her bed, the exact same one Kiyone had placed on her altar just last year when she thought Mihoshi was dead. Beside that, an alarm clock. One did not have to be very smart to see it had stopped ticking. "Pretty, cute, and not very well done." Looking on the other side, three alarm clocks, and… He stopped and stared. The photo of Kiyone stared him straight in the eye, in GP uniform, one hand placed tartly on her hip, the other holding a blaster by her ear. Her lips were curled into a ghost of smile, reserved and yet pretty. It seemed as though she was about to take a shot at him. She had. His eyes lingered a moment longer, then he stood up, his mouth curling in self-disgust. "She’s a GP officer!" Almost unconsciously, his hand tossed a rod about thirty centimetres long that was sent in a curling arc of silver right into the photo, some three metres from him across the room, so it would fall on its face. "Damn." The photo had not fallen. He was already over the bed and beside it, his hand holding it up. His other hand gripped the rod, tightly. Sweat beaded his brow as he fought against himself. "I’ll see first." There were two more photos near the centre of the room. One was of Kiyone and Mihoshi singing a Karaoke duet. He sighed as he saw how carefree and joyful she was, contrasting with the personal photo. The other one showed Kiyone and Mihoshi in complete GP uniform, with blazers and caps, standing before a man who was dressed like the GP Marshall. He could not be sure though, as the Marshall was bent over, almost on the verge of falling, with Mihoshi holding on with one hand on his collar, the other one on Kiyone’s sleeve. The blonde detective had apparently tripped up, and Kiyone’s face was that of utter shock and outrage, caught slightly off balance. Judging from the GP assemblage in the background, it was some kind of ceremony, maybe promotional… He stifled a smile, and decided. Taking out a metal device and passing it over each of the two photos and Kiyone’s personal one, he then proceeded to search the room, careful not to leave any traces. Ah, there they were, the names. "Kiyone and Mihoshi. Hmmm, I wonder which is which." Returning to the bridge, he accessed GP files. "Ah, so she’s Kiyone," as he looked through the long list of Mihoshi’s foul-ups under the blonde’s smiling face. Opening the other file… "Impressive! First in her class!" he thought. Unfortunately, she had only one significant work, though it had pushed her up from 1st Class Detective to Detective Sergeant and, after some additional pressure by the Juraians, was redecorated to the rather prestigious 2nd Class Chief Inspector. "Wow, carried out a coup to oust Kagato, the impostor who usurped the Juraian throne, while protecting Princess Aeka and Sasami and working with the legendary warrior Yosho and his grandson Tenchi. Looks like I missed out on a lot of stuff while in the Academy." Reading on, ‘Other associates include Ryoko, Ryo-oh-ki, Nagi, Ken-oh-ki, Washu, who assisted greatly in restoring the Juraian throne to its rightful owner.’ "Washu!!" He recalled how the ‘greatest genius scientist in the universe’ had appeared just last year at the Academy. He did not have time to get to know her, but he knew she was the *best*. Still, not smart enough to prevent him from stealing data on her previous experimentation with dimensional warping to supplement his new ship’s resources. It had helped greatly. The Tachyon Ray he had also installed was her credit too, though he had obtained it before he had seen her, under her invention files from seven hundred years ago. Not that it was by any means a slight to her, for certain regulations in the Science Academy made it easy to obtain copies of data, not to mention he had got the blueprint for the Ray some years before, and had been busy working on how to miniaturise it. Tapping a few buttons, he attempted to access files on Juraian Royalty. "ACCESS DENIED to GP Personnel, except to Marshall or Grand Marshall." Oh well, no matter, he think he knew vaguely who Aeka was. As for Yosho, he knew from legends he was not someone to be trifled with. Ryoko and Nagi were people he knew, not that they noticed him. He often took pains not to be noticed. Bringing the silver rod down in front of him, a portal opened, its blackness seeming to flow out of the tip of the rod. Oh, I nearly forgot. Turning back to the ship’s computer, the intruder carefully erased all traces of his passage and accessing of files in the memory circuits. His figure loomed for a moment, framed against the dark circle, ere he vanished into the portal, which closed behind him. "Earth, here I come." Outside Yagami, the capsule like spacecraft sped away and downwards. ==================================== "Well, what I tell you?" Ryoko smiled at Tenchi over the couch, while Aeka helped Sasami to clear the dishes. "The carnival did come back." "Ryoko, you never spoke truer," Tenchi answered, a dreamy smile on his face as he watched as Aeka and Sasami bustle into the kitchen with the plates, thinking of how it had all started. "Though I’d rather some parts didn’t show up." Ryoko contemplated a world, even if it was not for her and Tenchi only, at least without Aeka. A thought occurred to her. "Hey, what did you mean by that?" Tenchi just smiled at her, almost like he did when he threw her that apple after their adventures in Time and Space, and Ryoko *knew* he was referring to the ‘most wanted space pirate’ thing. "Too bad Washu isn’t here," he commented as he was about to get up. "She’ll show up, you’ll see," Ryoko’s eyes questioningly watched Tenchi get off the couch. "Hey, where are you going, Tenchi?" "Help the rest with the dishes… Hey, Ryoko, stop that!" As the pirate materialised before him and latched onto him. "But I don’t want you to help them, I want you *all* to myself." Ryoko said as she squeezed him a little tighter. "Ryoko, what do you think you’re doing!?" Aeka exclaimed to Ryoko’s back as she came out of the kitchen. "Stop that, you’re embarrassing Tenchi!" All Tenchi could manage was a weak smile to her as sweat beaded on his brow. "I said, stop that!" she shrieked again. Ryoko felt two hands land on her shoulder and braced herself for Aeka’s tug. "Uh, Aeka, could you…?" Tenchi meekly said. "Yeah, lay off, princess, can’t you see he’s all mine?" "That wasn’t what I meant…" Tenchi bit his lip and tried not to add that Aeka trying to pull Ryoko off him was, of course, that much more embarrassing. Ryoko got tugged off Tenchi, her arms held back by Aeka. "Princess, you’ve got some nerve!" "And you shouldn’t do that to Tenchi!" "Grrr…" "Grrr…" The two girls faced each other, sparks crackling in the air between them. "Hey, stop that! Don’t fight in here!!" "Hi, everyone!" Three pairs of eyes turned to look up the stairs, onto the blue-eyed blonde detective, or rather, Chief Inspector. Mihoshi stared at the two girls, arms interlocked, and Tenchi, helpless, behind them. "Uhh, I’m not interrupting anything, am I, huh?" "Hello, we’ve decided to stop by again," Kiyone spoke calmly, smoothly stepping before Mihoshi, and pulling her down by one wrist, discreetly ignoring the potentially explosive situation. Turning quickly back to her partner, "Move it, Mihoshi! Quit staring!" under her breath. "Uh, huh…" Mihoshi’s face faded into her usual clueless smile as she let herself be led down by Kiyone. "Say, where’s lunch?" as she looked at the empty dining table. "We’ve eaten," Aeka turned from Ryoko, defusing the situation. Ryoko gave her a disdainful stare, then as if to prove a point, appeared next to Tenchi again, leaning on his shoulder. Tenchi gave her a nervous look, but kept quiet so as not to alarm Aeka. "And I’m so hungry…" "Pipe down, Mihoshi! It’s all because you had to go spill the paint all over the wall and the stained glass and we had to spend time to clean up the mess!" "I’m sorry, Kiyone…" "Sasami?" Kiyone called. The younger princess popped her head out of the kitchen, with Ryo-oh-ki perched on top, nibbling on a carrot. "Oh, it’s you, Kiyone! I’ve saved lunch for both of you!" "Thank you, Sasami." "Oh thank you, thank you so much!" Mihoshi rushed past her partner and into the kitchen. "Sasami’s pretty thoughtful, you know." Tenchi commented to Kiyone, as he stepped toward her. Ryoko seemed to be caught a little off balance, but floated beside Tenchi, and tried to seem as though nothing had affected her, though her eyes did seem to warn Kiyone to stay back. "Not like some people I know," Aeka pointedly added, moving close beside Tenchi, but not quite touching him. Ryoko’s eyes blazed at her across Tenchi’s shoulder, and Aeka disdainfully turned away, fixing her gaze on Kiyone, while Ryoko followed suit. "Uh, girls, don’t…" Tenchi tried. Kiyone unconsciously stepped back under the concerted gaze of Ryoko and Aeka. "And I’ll just be getting my lunch," Kiyone fled into the kitchen. Tenchi relaxed. "You know, just because I step towards her and say something doesn’t mean I’m making an advance to her." "A step forward sure looks like an advance to me," Ryoko sounded cold. "I’m know you wouldn’t do such a thing, Tenchi, but it’s best to be sure." Aeka added. He sighed. The carnival certainly seemed here to stay. ==================================== Several days before, in a distant part of the universe… The dust from the explosion finally cleared. "What happened!?" "Well Professor, you see, I um…" "Forget it," she sighed. "Out, get out of my lab." There was a brief sound of scuttling footsteps, and the door to her lab closed. What had happened to the Science Academy!? All she did was leave it for seven hundred years, and now, the lab assistants and students were all as bad as Mihoshi! As for the professors themselves, so far *only* two others had attempted to rival her research and invention process, and while she had conclusively demonstrated to them that she was the most genius scientist in the universe, that was still a pathetic number. In her time, she could remember lecturing a whole classroom full of ex-rivals, and happily see them walk out deflated and with a better perspective of the universe, some with extra (heavy) head ornaments. Only two other professors she might have considered more noteworthy, but these two did not attempt to prove themselves against her or to her. As for the students, there had been only six, in the entire academy, she might have considered promising material. Not only that, but they had indirectly stopped her from making Mecha-Washus, so there was no way to get decent help around. The Academy trains the very best to be scientists, they had said, and Mecha-Washu, especially if it has Washu’s brain, would totally negate the need for the Academy. Besides, it also makes for a lot of confusion. She heard the door open behind her. "What is it?" Her spectral computer faded out of reality as she stopped typing, for already the lab showed no sign of damage being done to it. She turned to face the Academy’s dean, a balding, apologetic excuse of a man with a totally unscientific mind, at least by Washu’s standards. "Well, Professor, there’s been an unfortunate incident." "Like what?" she sounded disinterested. "A student has vanished." "Big deal. Who was it?" "Yoda Shiro." "Quite a bright chap. Heard he was doing a miniature spaceship with stealth capabilities." "He has taken that with him. And his other projects." Washu yawned. "Such as…?" "We don’t know for sure. He was developing an EMP device powerful enough to stop ships, for his other class." "Mmm-hmmm." "An energy blade device, that we now suspect to have a dimension rift creator." "Mmm…" Washu’s brow wrinkled. "Say, wasn’t it me who created the one and only dimensional rift device for Tenchi last year, during my time as a fugitive?" "Well, none of us here has actually created another one, but we’ve been studying your notes on its creation since you arrived and we suspect he may have seen the notes, both ours and yours." "Oh." "And we suspect he has materials from your lab too." "WHAT!?" Quickly she summoned up her spectral computer and typed furiously at it, checking for intrusions. "And just one more thing. Remember the Tachyon Ray you invented seven centuries ago?" Washu snorted at her terminal. "I should remember! One of the reasons you people gave for having me thrown out!" "Well, an analysis on the notes have showed some of the dust particles on it are missing, while materials required for creating one have been found in places he might have been to, including his room." "Urm, yeah." Something in the back of Washu’s screamed at her to be concerned, but she was too busy with her computer. "Found it!" Her eyes went to the top of her lab. In a corner, a ventilator. She pointed at it. "He came in from there! The screws are slightly loose! And there is a spot there where he placed a levitating pulley so he can send a rope down without touching the ceiling or the wall, that’s why there’s a little less oxygen in the area! He must have deactivated the alarm devices in the ventilator!" Washu mentally chided herself. Working in another dimension would have prevented all this, except for the stupid rules… The dean’s face turned white. "That must be how he got into so many places…!" Something clicked in Washu’s mind. "Hold it! Did you say MY Tachyon Ray?" "Yes, only the one and only genius scientist in the universe could have invented that." The dean sighed. "It has some destructive powers, I believe? One or two planets, according to your notes." "That was what I tested it on in my alternate dimension. BUT I had the right settings for that result." The dean’s eyes bulged out as he absorbed the meaning of her words. "That means if you alter the settings…?" "Theoretically, it means it can destroy anything from just a space ship to a planetary system to an asteroid field to a *really* large space fleet." Washu said solemnly. "Is that written down anywhere?" "Only on my personal notes. From that one experiment I extrapolated other settings for the other results." ‘Which he may have seen’, the obvious extension to that line, remained unspoken. "Oh no," the dean whispered. "Now we’ve really got a situation." "It’s all your stupid regulations. I should have abolished that rule on always making back-up notes on paper during my brief chairmanship." Washu looked thoughtfully at her computer, and sure enough, another thought locked into place. She did not usually think of such things, but still she asked. "Say, have we ever released any findings to further the ship arms, stealth, and all that?" "Once in a while, but nothing that serious." "So this Yoda guy, whoever he is, has this really tiny spaceship that can’t be detected by ships, can only be shot at by manual firing, armed with the most powerful weapons of our time, short of something just about only I can invent?" The dean could only nod dumbly, as he watched the red-headed scientist type furiously at her terminal, summoning up the GP files. "What are you standing there for? Get me his file!!!" Washu screamed. ==================================== "Hello, welcome to Mos Burger! What would be your order, sir?" Kiyone smiled at a customer. Removing his sunglasses, the man smiled back. He was a little taller than Kiyone, with a head of somewhat long, fine black hair, combed neatly with a side parting. A thin moustache joined up with a goatee, that looked fine on the end of his sharp chin with high cheek bones. His eyes were blue beneath his high forehead, and despite his slightly coarse complexion and that he looked like he was thirty odd years old, he was still rather strikingly dash in his white tee, with a sky blue vest and blue trousers. That, plus something in his demeanour and expression, suddenly made Kiyone’s smile a lot more natural. "Just a Teriyaki Chicken burger, please." "Would you like a meal instead, sir? It’s better value for money." His eyes seemed to twinkle as he considered it. Was that my imagination? Kiyone thought to herself. And what am I doing looking at his eyes? "Well, okay, I guess. Thank you." His hand placed the money on the counter, a genial but nevertheless somehow distant smile on his face. "Thank you, sir." She did not have to return change, the amount was exact. "Please take a seat and wait for your burger." She pressed the number tag into his hand, a little harder than was usual for her. "Next, please." Kiyone tried to ignore the commotion at the other counter originating from another blunder from Mihoshi, and as she turned her head slightly aside, she saw the man’s head tilt slightly back, snatching a quick look back at her. With the briefest flicker of surprised astonishment within the depths of his blue eyes, the man quickly broke eye contact and hurried around the corner on her right. Kiyone blinked. There might have been something there… or maybe not. I’m not sure, but there was nothing carnal about that, almost as if he were not looking at my appearance at all, just of me, for myself… but I’m not sure… Hello!? An irate part of her mind reminded. There’s like another fellow in line? "Oh, sorry to have kept you waiting, sir! May I take your order?" Damn, thought Kiyone to herself. Mihoshi is rubbing off on me. The manager finally finished with Mihoshi, and the blonde lady quickly got to work, not at the counter any more, but at distributing the food. Picking up the first order, she quickly got out. "53. 53. Ah, there." She saw the same man Kiyone had served, with the tag, seated just a table away. "There you are!" Hurrying over, she failed to see a bag sticking out in her way. "Ahh….!" Kiyone heard her, shook her head, and waited expectantly for the crash. It didn’t come. Seeing there were no more customers before her, Kiyone quickly walked out from behind the counter and peered round the corner. Mihoshi was being helped up by a man, whose left hand on her shoulder had stopped her from falling, while the tray balanced nicely in the his other hand. Well, what do you know, it’s him again… Kiyone thought as she heard the store manager move behind her to look upon the scene. "Uh, I’m sorry," Mihoshi started as she stood up. "Thank you, really." The man smiled, a seemingly more youthful smile than befitted his age, then turned his back and started placing his meal on his table. "Don’t mention it. Besides, I paid for this food, so I had best make sure it comes to me intact. Say, what’s your name?" He turned slowly around as he asked the question, and he was looking straight at Kiyone as he said the last word. Kiyone blinked. Wait, was that meant for me? Of course not! Don’t be stupid, Kiyone. Mihoshi didn’t notice anything out of the way either. "I, uh, am Mihoshi, what’s your na.." before she realised all the people looking at her and the man, who sat down and started unwrapping his burger. "Oh, this is so embarrassing!!" As she started hopping around distractedly. "Mihoshi, get back here!" Kiyone called. "Uh, coming, Kiyone!" As Mihoshi hurried over, Kiyone’s quick glance to the side found a soft smile playing on the man’s lips, as they soundlessly pronounced what she felt certain was her name. "Kiyone." She could almost hear him, then he abruptly bit into the burger, moving just a little too quickly for it to be natural. He knows my name! Big deal. And pray tell, what were you doing looking at him? That? Oh that was nothing, just coincidence. Yeah right. And in case you forgot, this is a job, even if it’s only part time. Quickly she hurried back to her place, just as the manager was about to call for her. She glanced at her watch, forgetting all thoughts about nice, not too bad looking men giving her admiring, respectful and somehow apprehensive looks. She and Mihoshi would have to report for their next job soon, in about an hour, then after that shift, which would mean they have to skip dinner, they could return to their apartment and to Tenchi’s place for a bath and supper. ==================================== In an alley somewhere in the city, a group of three men were discussing some job… "I don’t know about this, ain’t right. I mean how much can there be in that place?" "Well, at least we get to walk out easy peasy, not like the tough calls with banks nowadays. Security in those kind o’ places? Hell I don’t think no one cares, so there ain’t gonna be no one there." The other ruffian, the youngest of them, looked somewhat uncertain, but swallowed his doubts before the glare of his leader. "Okay, whatever you say boss." "Remember the plan," The thick set fellow reminded, looking at him. "You and I just go in clean and easy, while Hirotomo, you cover us." "Okay…" the other two chorused. "Oh, and one more thing. Please don’t be squeamish about pulling the trigger. Last time you should have put some slugs in that fatso, then maybe we wouldn’t have gotten nailed." "Sorry boss. Won’t happen again." The third, lanky fellow looked sheepish. "Let’s get going then." ==================================== "Ooops…" The blonde stared at the growing puddle of soft drinks on the floor, along with the scattered fries. "MIHOSHI!" Kiyone rolled her eyes as she heard the manager thunder, and yet another customer came in. Great, now she’s managed to knock over one of the trays while only halfway out from around the counter… This is just making my day. "Thank you, sir," Kiyone replied cheerily, passing the tag and change to the customer, as the other cashier, the one two metres on her right and closest to Mihoshi, passed the blonde some serviettes to clean up the mess with. "Have a seat first, your food will soon be right with you!" Well, so long as Mihoshi doesn’t get anywhere near your meal, that is. "Next please." A rather slovenly youth, maybe just in his late teens, who looked like he had just got out of bed without shaving and was dressed shabbily, shuffled over before Kiyone. "Welcome to Mosburger! Your order, sir?" "Erm… ketchup and chilli?" He ventured, uncertainly. "No no no!" A middle aged man, dressed slightly better than the youth and clean shaven at least, who was standing second in line before the other cashier, exclaimed to the chap in annoyance. "It’s burgers and fries!" Kiyone smiled somewhat, in some form of empathy. It was reminiscent of Mihoshi, as the youth stared uncertainly at the man, then turned back to her, his mouth drawling hesitantly. "Erm, burgers and…" "What kind of burger, sir?" Kiyone interrupted before he could finish. "Our specialty are rice burgers, and that will go with what size fries, sir?" Her hand picked up the pen as she prepared to mark down the order. "Uh, okay… whatever…" The lad before her mumbled, and the middle-aged woman behind him scowled in irritation at the delay. "Next please," the other cashier announced, and the middle aged man stepped forward. "One large coke, that’s all." Then he furtively looked at the youth on his right, and whispered loudly. "Tsukune rice burger and fries!" "Tsu… Tsuku…" But Kiyone was already scribbling down the order as he muttered, unsure how to pronounce the name. "Would you like a drink with that, sir?" The middle aged man called over to the youth again. "It’s TSUKUNE, you dimwit! And no, no drink… Now get the money out!" Kiyone naturally assumed his words were directed at the youth, so she casually reached up a hand, as she ripped the order off her pad and looked up… Click… "Heh, oh yes." The young man before her announced, a roguish grin visible on his face behind the .45 automatic pistol muzzle she found aiming right between her eyes. "This is my kind of order." If he were smarter, he might have noticed how Kiyone looked at him in mild surprise rather than fear, but he wasn’t, so he didn’t. "Get the moolah out, doll." The middle aged man smiled at the other, more distraught cashier before him. "Just to let those behind me who think they want to act hero, or rather dead, there’s another of our chaps inside here by the door, so… it’s your choice." His muzzle pressed harder on the temple of the cashier before him, who had froze half turned as she had been going to get his drink when he had put the weapon to her head. Kiyone frowned in irritation as she heard her colleague frantically opening her cash register. The youth in front of her wasn’t a problem, these people were probably just the run of the mill mugger types and not hard core murderers or quick shots, but she was still worried about the safety of the earthling girl beside her. If she reacted her colleague might well get her brains blown out, and she could see another gunman, lanky form leaning relaxed by the entrance door, a revolver held at his waist level, sweeping around to shadow everyone before him, as well as the turn around the corner near where Mihoshi was cleaning as more patrons might come around it. "What’s the problem? You deaf or what?" The young fellow leaned forward, frowning. Dimly Kiyone registered, in the background of the manager’s teeth chattering nervously and her colleague’s hand rifling through the cash register, Mihoshi humming contentedly to herself, still happily lost on a level, namely that of shoes and knees, where everything seemed as it should be. The youth frowned, pushing the muzzle hard into her face, and she could feel the cold metal press against the bridge of her nose as he leaned even closer. "Or do you want me to go around back and show you the real meaning of a stick up?" "It’s a hold up you idiot!" The other man shouted, his gaze swivelling aside to his accomplice. Well, if I assessed them correctly, this should work… The youth, inclining his face to the side, was about to murmur some lame apology to his boss when Kiyone’s head ducked down from in front of his gun, as her wrists shot up, seizing his hand and aiming his gun out over her head, before she jerked him forward over the counter towards her "What the…!" The youth managed, then Kiyone’s right hand pressed the trigger, praying it had the desired effect. The explosive shot made everyone nearby, especially those three who were still in queue, and most importantly, Kiyone’s colleague at the other cash register, drop to the ground instantly, while Mihoshi looked up in surprise. There were surprised shouts as most of the patrons who were seated around the corner and not within sight of the gunmen fled out the back door of the joint, while a certain person looked up from his meal, his face, like Kiyone’s as the gun was held before her, looking mildly surprised with a touch of annoyance. Back in front of the counter, the middle aged man aimed for Kiyone as she threw the youth over her shoulder and ducked her body down, also simultaneously twisting his forearm with her right hand. "Aargh!" Wrenching pain shot up the youth’s arm as his grip loosened on the pistol, which Kiyone promptly pulled out of his hand, cradling it in her right, while his form sailed over her. His descent was followed by a shot as the leader fired at where she had ducked down, his bullet passing just over the surface of the counter. Kiyone watched from hiding behind the counter as the youth sprawled before her groggily returned to his senses, and her eyes narrowed. So, show me the meaning of a stick up, huh? Her fingers tightened on the gun’s trigger, and she fired twice towards the direction of the youth as another bullet from the leader’s weapon ricocheted off the counter top. "Don’t you dare shoot Kiyone!" Mihoshi cried in anger as she suddenly realised where the man standing next to her was aiming at, and acted. "Whoa!" The man shouted as his legs were tugged out from under him. However, the lanky fellow, who had not been shooting Kiyone as she had not been visible from his position, quite happily switched to the alternative target. Too bad, it has to be that cute blonde. Ah well mustn’t be squeamish that’s what the boss said… the lanky fellow thought as Mihoshi prepared to hurl herself onto the fallen man with a vengeance, and as Kiyone’s eyes peeked up from behind the counter just in time to see him take aim. MIHOSHI! "Gaaah!" The gunman exclaimed as a paper cup hurtled towards him, spilling its contents right into his face as a hand shot out from around the corner, gripping Mihoshi by the ankle and pulling her away, before a report followed with the bullet whizzing by over and in front of Mihoshi’s head. "Damned!" The gunman swore aloud as he hurriedly wiped the droplets of soft drink off his face. Oh well… the fellow holding Mihoshi by the ankle thought as his attention focused on the barrel of the weapon being aimed at him by the dripping, angry gunman right at his crouching form. There was a report, and a yelp of pain as the pistol dropped to the floor, with the gunman clutching at the bloodied hole that had appeared in the middle of his right hand. Heh, he thought, smiling. Kiyone. "Let go of me you!" Mihoshi cried, thinking the man was some kind of pervert, before planting her heel straight into his right hand holding on to her ankle. Ouch! He winced at the pain, and let go, then stepped around the corner. "Look, I was just trying to…" He blinked as he saw the leader, still on the ground and about to fire at Mihoshi, point the muzzle of his pistol at what seemed to him another threat looming up from around the corner. There was another report and a cry, before Kiyone landed on the floor, having dived sideways over the counter, face grim and holding the smoking automatic in her right hand. Mihoshi, lying face up on the ground, looked into the face of the person standing over her. "Oh, it’s you!" Behind her on the floor the leader cradled his broken hand, trying to stop his tears of pain. The man ignored Mihoshi, watching Kiyone as she jumped to her feet, seeming no less surprised than her partner at his identity. It’s *him* again! She hid her surprise well though, even though it was exacerbated by her disconcertment to see him arch an eyebrow approvingly at her, flashing that odd, too youthful smile. "Nice shooting, ace." He flashed her a thumbs up, blue eyes shining oddly. "Right," was all she could be bothered to say, her eyes quickly returning the two criminals. "Show’s over. Get up." Leaning his back to the glass, the lanky man by the door got up painfully to his feet. The middle-aged man made as if to get up, then his left hand reached out… BANG! "I said show’s over." Kiyone repeated menacingly, as the leader stared. The slug had just whizzed by his fingers to embed itself squarely in the ground inside the trigger hole of the pistol lying on the floor in front of him. "If you want to try again, that might be your life that’s over next time." Still clutching his injured hand, the man got up slowly to his feet, glaring at Kiyone. "Reimura, go get the cops." Trembling, the other cashier girl behind the counter got up, as did the three customers who had been lying low on the floor around the front of the counter. Reimura blinked as she saw the youth before her on the ground, behind the counter where Kiyone had been, with his closed eyes and pale face. "Is he…?" "He’ll be fine when he comes round. Just go call the cops." The girl hurried to the back of the store, stepping over the manager, who was still huddled in a corner biting his fingernails in terror. It really wasn’t her fault that she didn’t see that where the young rogue lay sprawled unconscious, there were two holes just in front of where his legs were splayed slightly apart, which was probably the cause of his fainting. As Mihoshi got to her feet, the three customers who had been queuing up rather hastily left the outlet. Kiyone got both men to press themselves against the glass wall by the door, before training the pistol on them behind their backs. "I’ll be talking and relaxing now," she announced, her voice deliberately steady and neutral. "Feel free to run, especially because you can now believe I’m not aiming this gun at you. Remember, you have to be lucky for at least five seconds to pull the door open and get out, while I have only to be lucky once for each of you." Here her voice became grim. "And believe me, when it comes to shooting, luck has very little to do with me." "Erm… sorry about kicking you, but even though we’ve kinda met," Mihoshi tripped uncertainly over her words, as she faced the man. "I’m not really used to having strangers touch me…" For a response, the stranger looked intently at Kiyone, amused, before arching a questioning eyebrow, and tilting his head slightly in Mihoshi’s direction. Your turn, he seemed to be say. "I’m very sorry about this…" Kiyone bowed her head sheepishly, apologising on behalf of Mihoshi, who was looking from one to the other, still confused. "Kiyone, what’s going on?" "Well, for starters, you owe this man over here your life." The green haired detective muttered crossly. "That’s about it, except for the part where you nearly got yourself killed twice…" "Oh, I did?" Mihoshi raised a finger to her lips, looking puzzled. Kiyone rolled her eyes, deciding since Mihoshi was not about to do so, she would be obligated to say something on her behalf. "Thank you, sir." The fellow shook his head deprecatingly. "I wouldn’t dare accept that… It’d be two slugs in my guts by now if not for you." His smile was warm and sincere, but his eyes seemed to refuse to look straight at her, as if roving around, lost and worried. "Not really," Kiyone replied, a little mirth creeping inside her voice, as she noted with some degree of amused curiosity his broken eye contact. Generally such details would have been missed by most, while Kiyone herself would not usually bother to even consciously register such details, but somehow at this moment, even while keeping one eye on the crooks by the door, she still did take note of it. "They would be in Mihoshi, if not for you." "Maybe… who knows?" His voice was soft, almost too soft, and it was with some surprise that Kiyone suddenly realised she found him and his reservations rather… intriguing. "Oh so I guess I really do owe him, huh?" Mihoshi asked, then suddenly, her hands opened wide as if to administer a grateful hug, jumped at the stranger, who started back in surprise. "Oh thank you thank you so much for sav…" Her foot stepped on a certain paper cup which contents had saved her from being shot earlier, and her eyes widened… "…waaaAAH!" Oh great… Kiyone slapped her hand to her forehead as Mihoshi, hands flailing helplessly, careened straight into the surprised fellow, and there was a brief commotion… "Ooops." Mihoshi exclaimed, looking under her. "Did I hurt you?" She was sort of face up. "Not really," came a muffled voice from under her, seeming to come from somewhere near the small of her back. "But do you mind getting up, please? It’s a little cramped down here, even if it’s hormonally desirable for my head to be in." It was with some astonishment that Kiyone realised the person sounded calm and amused, rather than angry and irritated. "Come on, Mihoshi…" Kiyone helped her partner up, and the black haired stranger sprang nimbly to his feet, and dusted himself off. "I’m very sorry, sir, you’ll have to forgive Mihoshi, she tends to get a little over enthusiastic…" "Can tell," he murmured, and although his twinkling eyes rested on Mihoshi, somehow Kiyone felt they were actually looking at her… Let’s try this, then… "Mihoshi!" She cried, turning her attention fully to her partner. "You should be the one apologising!" "I’m…" Not waiting for Mihoshi’s reply, Kiyone shot a sideward glance to the stranger, and she was surprised to note a tremor of thrill run through her, as sure enough, the bright, blue eyes were watching her, and his face was lighted up with a smile, radiant and vibrant, yet somehow oddly young for his age. His eyes widened, as they met hers, and within them, affirmation of what she had seen earlier… a burning, all consuming affection, yet somehow withdrawn and fearful, almost as if in awe of her… Hurriedly, he broke off, averting his eyes, with his smile threatening to fall apart… Unbidden, Kiyone felt her cheeks warm up. No one had looked at her that way before! It was not at her body, then at her. It was just at her. She had learned long ago to see lust for what it was, learning from Mihoshi’s mistakes. All the men she and Mihoshi met she had seen through, and she had grown to distance herself from their attentions. With the exception of Tenchi and Katsuhito, this stranger was the only man who looked on her with a different eye. What *am* I thinking!? She snarled at herself. "Kiyone?" Mihoshi asked, surprised. "What’s wrong?" "Huh?" She blinked. "Oh, nothing!" She was a little disconcerted to note, out of the corner of her eye, the stranger was studiously keeping his sights on Mihoshi, as if deliberately forcing himself not to risk another look at Kiyone, but this contrasted very intensely with the same youthful smile he continued to wear, despite it initially faltering, and it looked somehow so out of place, it burned an impression deep within Kiyone’s mind. "Oh my, that’s a funny smile you got, sir," It seemed even Mihoshi had noticed. "You look kind of odd." Then she smiled. "But nice." For a reply, the fellow’s eyes seemed to twinkle at Mihoshi, and Kiyone started again in astonishment as she saw he regarded her with the same detached affection Tenchi showed Mihoshi. "Uh… sorry about that, sir… uh…" Mihoshi stumbled over her words again. "Uh… what’s your name?" Kiyone felt a thought sink into her… Where *are* my manners? I didn’t even ask him for his name… The fellow raised an eyebrow, looking amused. "Heh, wouldn’t you like to know…" but Kiyone noted that his smile had subsided into a more ordinary one at the question. Before she could sort out her thoughts further, the front doors suddenly burst open at this point, to reveal three uniformed men. The two by the side pushed the one in the middle out in front. "Erm, hi!" The fellow greeted nervously, waving his truncheon weakly around. "Did something happen here?" Then, as an afterthought. "I, I mean we, we’re the police." Inept morons, Kiyone could not help thinking. "I’ll be going now," the stranger whispered. "Good day." Kiyone just managed to make out that odd smile flash for an instant, and his gaze met hers briefly again, before he vanished back around the corner. "Hey wait!" One of the cops made to move over, but Kiyone noted that the figure of the stranger as he disappeared was moving marginally faster now than earlier… Almost like he was running away. She resisted an impulse to race after him. No I don’t like him! She muttered at her mind. It’s just that he feels and acts funny, and besides that’s my police instincts… "I lost him… I think he went out the back door," said the policeman, returning back around the corner, looking sheepish. "Erm, I don’t suppose you know who he is?" He addressed Kiyone and Mihoshi. "Just a customer," Kiyone replied, her face calm. "So, what will it be?" Then the police were prying and poking and making notes already, not to mention taking the two ruffians and the unconscious youth into custody. ==================================== When the police left about an hour later, it was drizzling somewhat outside, and by then Kiyone felt certain she had long since sorted out her thoughts. All right, I’m just grateful towards him, that’s all it is. After all, he saved Mihoshi twice, even if the second time was inadvertant and if I see him again I must remember to thank him… Not today you won’t… A voice smirked inside her. Maybe next week if you are lucky. Her mind’s eye briefly glimpsed the blue eyes and odd smile upon her, then she almost angrily consigned the image back into the shadowed recesses of her mind. What’s *wrong* with me!? Kiyone frowned in irritation, and glanced at her watch. Great, time for our next job… "Mihoshi, it’s five thirty already! Time to get going." "Oh?" The blonde looked at Kiyone questioningly. "For what?" Kiyone rolled her eyes. "Our next job, don’t you remember? The one at the florists’ department store?" "Uh, oh okay…" Mihoshi quite naturally made to go out the front door. "MIHOSHI!" "Huh, Kiyone?" The green haired detective glared back, and pointed at herself. "What?" Mihoshi asked, putting a finger to her lips, and looking utterly confused. "We need to get *changed*…" Kiyone growled. "*These* are our service uniforms for this place…" "Uh, oh okay," Mihoshi followed her lead, then paused as Kiyone stopped halfway to the changing room. "Kiyone?" "You go first," Kiyone smiled, as her eyes went to the manager of the joint, still sitting in a chair facing the counter, trying to recompose himself by slucking on a cup of iced peach tea. As Mihoshi went around the corner, Kiyone stepped up behind the man. "Hello!" "Aaah!" The pasty-faced fellow nearly jumped out of his skin. "Oh, whew, it’s you, Kiyone…that nearly gave me a heart attack…" "You think I did okay back there?" Kiyone asked, smiling winningly at the man. "You were great! Awesome! How could I ever repay you!?" "Well, how about…" Kiyone’s eyes twinkled. "…a bonus? And a raise?" "Uhh…" "Eight thousand yen for today’s work, and an eight hundred yen wage increase per hour for me and Mihoshi?" She grinned. "Erm…" the man licked his lips nervously. "How about three thousand and three hundred respectively?" "HEY, that’s not even half! Come on, we’re in house security guards too, you know!" Kiyone grumbled, but she noted though the manager was cowed, there was a steely defiance about him. "Seven thousand, seven hundred each at least." A while later… "…and so that’s a six thousand yen bonus and a six hundred yen increase." Kiyone smiled, winking at her partner. "How about that?" "Yay!" Mihoshi applauded, then stopped, looking thoughtful. "Uh, so do we *really* have to go to this job and miss dinner…?" Mihoshi asked as they made to leave by the front door of the restaurant, and Kiyone sighed. "Look, we don’t have a choice, things are so expensive here, we need to scrape together everything we can." "But… it’s raining out there!" "Like I said, we don’t have a choice…" Pushing open the door to the restaurant, Kiyone saw that there was something hanging in front of the door. An umbrella. "What the…?" Kiyone picked it up and saw within it, packet of fries, wrapped up neatly in plastic to prevent its contents from spilling out, and… a card. ‘For Kiyone, and Mihoshi.’ It read. The rain seemed to become heavier. "Hey, Kiyone, where’s that from?" "I don’t know, but…" the green haired detective fingered the label with the price tag still attached to the handle, and she remembered the rain had only just started. "It sure is new." Looking around, her eyes found a small shop on her left, selling, among other things, umbrellas. Beyond the building ended. "It’s from that man, Mihoshi." "Huh? How?" "He walked out the exit behind, round the back of the building, went into that shop to buy this, , wrapped his fries up, put both packet and card in, hung it here and left." Her eyes rove around carefully, as she noted she had not seen the umbrella earlier, only as she and Mihoshi left the joint. "And only just a while ago." "Oh…" Mihoshi scratched her head, then reached into the umbrella and unwrapped the packet of fries, which was somehow still hot, as if the fries had just been fried. "Nice…" She was about to pop one into her mouth when… "Wait!" Kiyone cried, and Mihoshi froze. Hey, what are you so worried about? Kiyone’s mind asked her. Come on, if he wanted to hurt you two he wouldn’t have helped you out back there, right? "Uh, never mind…" Kiyone answered. "Oh, it’s really warm…" Mihoshi laughed as she downed it. "So, I guess whoever he is, he sure is thoughtful, huh?" Kiyone allowed herself a smile. "Yeah, I suppose so." And she rather gingerly helped herself to a french fry. Eyes followed their movements, and despite the raindrops pelting down on him, the person’s face gave way reluctantly to a fragile smile as he watched them. Which suddenly quivered, and died. Shaking his head, he walked quickly away and into the rain. ==================================== "We must try to get hold of the princesses of Jurai." One voice said. "Pointless, they’ve got Yosho protecting them." Another voice. "We could try to get better weapons and ships." Another voice. "Say, which reminds me, have you all heard of a small incident at the Science Academy?" A fourth voice. "Look, you just said ‘small’. Why would we have heard it?" "It’s small because they want to keep it small. It seems that some student has stolen some really awesome technology from them." "How big is this tech?" "Remember how our breakthroughs often come from the few spies I have inside? Well, I’ve only been working at the student level. This fellow has got technology from the best." "Like?" "Have you heard of Professor Washu?" "Yes, I heard she became the de facto head of the Academy since the Kagato incident, although the dean and the chairman are technically in charge." "I heard she was the chairman." "Well, she was, at least until she resigned. And he stole from her." "WHAT?" "Among others." A pause as the three others absorbed the potential in his statement. "In fact, she has left the Science Academy. It’s ostensibly to visit her former associates Aeka and Sasami on Earth, but we believe she wishes to track this guy down." "That bad, huh?" "We have to get to that spy." "Any ideas where he went?" "Nope. But I think we’d do well to keep an eye on Washu. At the same time, try to get hold of the princesses somehow, okay?" "No problem." "Oh, and one more thing. I have a hunch that guy was one of our agents." "Are you sure? I’ve seen the most of the latest recruits." "About a hundred years ago." "Darned, that’s not good. Any ex-agent would have to be almost perfect to have avoided termination for so long." "Yes, and on his files, he is very *good* at spying." A pause. "If it is him." "Real neat, as if the episode at the Science Academy didn’t tell us that much already. Now, let’s get to work, gentlemen." "Just one more thing. Do you think we should use the new prototypes? They’re pretty good, so we may want to save them for later, unless the situation warrants them." "Hmm, good question. Use the weaker X and L prototypes. The rest we will hold in reserve." "I, for one, recommend the Cam models. They are suited for subterfuge, are they not?" "Very well, then. Terminate?" "Concur." The other three voices chimed. "Syndicate meeting concluded." === End of Chapter === I hope you have enjoyed this Fanfic as much as I have typing it. If there are any more grammar errors, I beg your forgiveness, as my sole proofreader is myself. This is my first FF, so go ahead and mail me at zyraen@yahoo.com with comments, especially on character portrayal, realism, and whether I fulfilled/broke my own guidelines for the characters. Disclaimer : Most characters in this story are property of AIC and Pioneer. REWRITE Note : Minor revisions on the window scene and in some inconsequential conversation on the new scene. It also adds some additional reason to why she should trust him. That's about it. They are in such a situation solely because of my imagination. This story was written purely for fun. This FF is based on the TV Series, with some powers drawn over from the OAV, but with no Light Hawk Wings. This story contains no sex, so please do not expect it. Before I wrote this Fanfic, I have only read 2 Fanfics, Aikan Muyo and To Love & To Hate. Since then I have read some others, and have noted some writers have a tendency to portray some characters inaccurately. I hope I have not fallen into that trap. That's about it, I'm a simple soul at heart... DARKNESS & LIGHT - No Need For Kova By Zyraen Chapter II : No Need for Emotions "I’ll get it!" Tenchi made his way to the door. "Hi, Tenchi, nice to see you." Looking down, Tenchi beheld the cutest, littlest red-headed scientist in the all of existence. "Uh, hello, Washu," Tenchi tried hard to disguise the simultaneous joy and fear that had risen in him. "Will you be staying long?" "Maybe. Maybe not." The scientist stepped in and looked around. "Things haven’t changed much, I see." Ryoko and Aeka looked up from the TV simultaneously. "Washu!" "Yes, it’s me, girls." Sasami’s head poked out of the kitchen. "All right!" Her freckled face exploded into mirth. "Now everyone’s back again! Tenchi!!" "Right, Sasami." Rather sheepishly, Tenchi led Washu to the storeroom door. On it someone had taped a sign saying ‘Welcome back Washu! Your room is ready!’ "Not bad," Washu said as she opened the door and looked into the storeroom. "Same as the last time I saw it. Guess it’s time to get settled in." Deciding he did not want to watch as the spectral computer materialised, Tenchi surreptitiously made his way out and seated himself at the table, with Ryoko and Aeka both before him, eyes glued on the TV set. Hopefully they would continue to ignore him. Actually, now that he thought about it, it was really strange the way he treated Aeka and Ryoko. Both were girls he loved, he could not fail to deny. He was absolutely certain he could not make himself forsake either one of them, but then again that was also true for Sasami or Mihoshi. Kiyone and Washu, well, they felt like they could take care of themselves. So how did his feelings for Aeka and Ryoko differ from those of the other two? Well, they did fight over him, and that made it different somehow. They loved him… But did he love them back? Well… maybe… perhaps… yes. Was he even worthy of their love? Aeka. He never quite accepted the revelation that he was Juraian royalty, and somehow never quite could see how he could possibly match up with her. Aeka did not seem to mind, but then again her husband was fated to be king of Jurai, a position Tenchi was only too aware he could not fill. Not because of his birth, though, but he just was not suited to be a king. Ryoko. She had made it painfully obvious that he was hers. Yet, he was quite certain he could never live up to her expectations, to travel with her all through space and thoroughly enjoy it. She may be only a space pirate, but if he accepted her love, it was only right that she got the man she wanted. Yet Tenchi knew he belonged here on Earth, and would wind up short changing Ryoko. He sighed. He *was* quite unworthy. Did he show them he loved them? No. And he knew why he did not dare. He was afraid, the other one would not be able to take it, then he’d lose one of them. He could not bear that… Which brought him to the question he most dreaded - who to choose? Who would he leave, breaking her heart and dignity and pride, free to choose a worthier man? Who would he choose, and chain forever to an wretch, too petty to give something up for her? Bewildered, he could only sink his face into his hands. "Oh, hi Tenchi!" Mihoshi sang out, before Kiyone could stop her. "Quiet!" she hissed. "Why don’t you go see what’s on TV?" "Urm, okay." Gingerly, Mihoshi made her way over and plonked down beside Ryoko. ‘I really must get a device that will ring every time Kiyone and Mihoshi visit.’ Tenchi’s mind momentarily got drawn off its sombre topic. Softly stepping by Tenchi, Kiyone asked softly, "Tenchi, it’s about Aeka and Ryoko, right?" Tenchi, face still buried in his hands, nodded imperceptibly. "I don’t have much experience in this, but I think you’re awfully spoilt for choice." "That’s the problem! They’re too good for me!" an almost inaudible whisper, almost a sob. "Think more highly of yourself, Tenchi! Who defeated Kagato?" "I did, I guess." "And I’m sure you do love them." Another nod, but much more obvious. "Then show it to them!" "My hands are tied, Kiyone. Love one and lose the other. Love both and have them blow up the place." Tenchi’s voice seemed to break. "It’s your choice, then, I guess." Silence. "Humans aren’t made of stone. I learnt that today, Tenchi. It must hurt them deeply that you not respond." Still silence. "Love them or lose them." Kiyone left to sit beside Aeka, near Mihoshi, thankful that neither Ryoko nor Aeka had interrupted her. After a while, Kiyone felt Aeka gently nudge her wrist. Turning to the princess, she saw an apologetic and somewhat grateful face. "I’m sorry about yesterday afternoon, Kiyone. I wasn’t quite myself, you know how it is." Kiyone did not really, but after the experience at Mos, she was not so sure. "Don’t be too wild over Tenchi. He doesn’t like it." "But, Ryoko will…! Never mind. Tenchi needs time to make up his mind, then he will understand that the only one for him is me. I know you mean well, Kiyone, but I would prefer it if you would not cause Tenchi so much… pain. He needs time, to see within him." Kiyone saw Aeka almost wince as she said the word ‘time’. "Every second cuts deeply into both of you, princess." "Perhaps, but I am a princess, I can take it." A slight glimmer rose in Aeka’s eye, then hardened. "But as for Ryoko, that is her problem." "As you wish, your Highness." Kiyone reclined back into the couch. Before long, Sasami came out of the kitchen to join them. "Sasami! Would you like to sit here?" Ryoko floated up, beckoning to the little princess. "Sure, Ryoko! Gee, thanks," she settled down by Mihoshi as the pirate vanished. A little while later, Kiyone heard Ryoko’s voice whisper by her ear. "Psssst! Detective! I’d like a word with you!" Kiyone just managed not to jump up in shock. Ryoko’s mouth had phased through the wall just behind Kiyone’s ear. "I’m all ears." "The door to the women’s bath." Kiyone quickly excused herself, saying she had to go to the bathroom, and proceeded up to the door. As she walked up she wondered if she had been that indiscreet. She thought neither Ryoko nor Aeka would notice. Seemed otherwise, though. Ryoko stood before the bathroom, just beside the wall that could change into the dimensional portal leading to Kiyone and Mihoshi’s apartment. "Look, Kiyone, about yesterday afternoon, forget that, OK?" "I’ve never remembered it in the first place." Well, at least not the way Ryoko means. "I know…" Ryoko said rather lamely. "It’s just that Tenchi means that much to me." "I sorta figured that out myself already." Kiyone pointed out. "Tenchi, is… a little baka at times. He does love me, I’m sure of it, but he’s so well, shy. I know you meant well just now, but don’t force his hand, Kiyone. Tenchi isn’t very decisive sometimes, and I like things the way they are, with the exception of Aeka interrupting." "Not if they stay the way they are for another three or four months." "It might be painful, a little, now," Ryoko said, sagging back on the door, and only Mihoshi could fail to see that her ‘a little’ obviously was not that little. "He doesn’t seem to care, but he does. And in the end I’m sure it will work out fine for me, and then…" Ryoko hugged herself a little, trying, and succeeding at stopping her tears, "It will be worth it. Worth the pain and the wait." Kiyone was not looking at Ryoko, but had turned away. That thought is the only thing keeping Ryoko and Aeka alive. Tenchi was right. To choose one would be to obliterate the other. "Ryoko, what if…" Kiyone wanted ask if Tenchi chose Aeka, but she stopped. "Tenchi never responds." That meant about the same thing, though it implied Tenchi was shy. Ryoko’s eyes burned at Kiyone, angry at her for implying what she did, and sparks crackled on her hands, before her fury died. "I’ll wait. I’ll have forever. I’ll wait," softly, hesitantly. Or die in the attempt, Kiyone wanted to add. Then Ryoko’s voice became strong. "But I’m sure he will react, he’s human." Almost a growl. "He will, I’m sure of it." And she was gone. Kiyone breathed a sigh of relief and sagged against the wall. Ryoko’s emotions were intense, and she could feel herself almost being led on by the pirate she had once tried to arrest. Aeka was much more reserved, but even then Kiyone could sense what she went through was by no means insignificant compared to Ryoko’s pain. And they both hid it so well from Tenchi. They would willingly go through emotional hell rather than upset Tenchi. Did they know? She wondered. Tenchi has only an inkling of their agony, but did they know his love for both of them prevented him from responding, and as long as he loved them, he would not dare reciprocate? Kiyone resolutely picked herself off the wall, feeling almost like a fly peeling itself off. Matters of the heart are so complicated. And not concerning me at all. Coolly and naturally, she went back downstairs and… "Huh?" The TV was off, the living room was empty. "They went into the Karaoke room." Someone added behind her. Nobuyuki had specially installed a side extension room as the Karaoke room since they returned from Jurai. "Oh they did, did they? Thanks, Washu," Kiyone murmured. "No problem," Washu turned back to her lab. That’s strange, Washu usually liked a turn at the microphone herself. "Oh, one more thing, Kiyone." Washu stopped at the door to her lab. "When did you become so nosy?" Seemed that everyone had noticed Kiyone’s attempt at prodding Tenchi into action. "I was just trying to help," Kiyone replied, trying not to seem annoyed. Mihoshi had once told her how adorable Ryoko and Aeka were as Kappa. "And I was concerned." "Well, you don’t usually take an interest in these things. Something must have happened to you, Kiyone." "Is there?" she laughed weakly, but too late, the red had already leapt onto her cheeks. "Tsk, tsk. Girls nowadays." Washu waved a finger at her, opened the door to the lab and was disappeared into the depths. Washu was right. Why the sudden interest? Kiyone settled on the couch, all by herself, and tried to do some soul searching. She wanted to see how it would be like. She wanted to know more about how Tenchi, Ryoko and Aeka felt, because she wanted to prepare herself for it. To know more, to fill her inadequacy in this area. Yet if the three were anybody to go by, she would not be able to prepare herself for it. Boyfriends were something Kiyone had lived without for most of her life. She still remembered when Mihoshi first got, well, hurt (to put it very mildly), how Kiyone had spent weeks, maybe months, trying to get her out of the depression induced by some heartless cad. "But I was so sure he loved me!" Mihoshi had cried her heart out, until Kiyone finally gave her a new cry to take up. "Look, Mihoshi, we’re in this GP Academy so we can be GP officers, and neither of us will settle for any less than that." Mihoshi had looked blankly at her. "Mihoshi, we are Galaxy Police personnel. We have a job to learn, and nothing shall stand in our way." The tactic finally brought Mihoshi back to operational status again, at least if the daily blundering blonde could ever be called ‘operational’. Mihoshi had remembered the thought and held on to it, hence the cry, "We are Galaxy Police Officers, danger is our business!" which could still snap the blonde out of any distractions from her work, not that it helped her work very much. As for Kiyone herself, she learnt a very important lesson. She still remembered telling herself, "I will never let that happen to me, I swear." And so she learnt to live with men, as colleagues, peers, occasionally a friend, but never more than that. There were people she might have chosen, but to look into their eyes and see the flaming, vagrant desire and lust was something that turned her off. She was Kiyone, she was a woman, she was NOT someone who could be laid around and forgotten. As she recalled the days’ events, she was surprised to note her mind hardly focused on the attempted robbery, but rather on him… Why AM I thinking about him!? You’re just grateful… Kiyone would have liked very much to believe that, but no, it didn’t make sense. One did not usually lay more import on the person than on the event itself. Well, so you like him then… No I don’t!! Oh? Kiyone could have sworn something was laughing at her through her own sarcasm. He… well, he was… different. Since Mihoshi’s first mistake, I have always prided myself on reading people accurately, and what I saw could hardly be mistaken or feigned, unless he had mistaken me for someone else. Oh, how fortunate that someone else is… Kiyone shook her head and consigned that thought to oblivion. He looks at me as though I were something like a friend, yet more than that. Like he found in me someone he could trust in and respect. As though he would miss me if I were not by his side, and without which me he would find life empty, like I was someone he needed and yearned for… Was that what love was about? It seemed awfully debilitating and weak. Yet there was something strange about him. His smile, the ordinary one he gave her at the counter, fitted in perfectly with the face, yet the softer, sweeter one… Oh, the most tender I’ve ever seen… Pipe down!! Well, whatever it was, that simply did not seem, or even look, right. Not that it was feigned, but that it just did not conform to the lines of his face. She recalled how he had continually kept his gaze away from her own. He was holding back something, and somehow, he was frightened, afraid. Of me, and also, of himself. Was he more than what he seemed? I don’t know… And the strangest thing was how he looked at Kiyone and Mihoshi, like he had known them for quite a while already. He saw through how they would react, how they would think, how they lived with each other. Though he was a stranger, Kiyone could tell, in that simple thumbs up he gave her, he somehow saw more in her, took more pride in her, than anyone else she knew, even more than Tenchi or Sasami or Mihoshi or the rest, with whom she had rode the storm that had came with Kagato usurping the Juraian throne. How could one love an alien thing like one had grown up with it? I’m letting herself be led on by imagination, was Kiyone’s instinctual thought. No. Kiyone was a detective, she had had to solve crimes, to tell which was the immediate conclusion and which was an assumption born of imagination, and this was definitely *not* imagination. Not just the way he looked at her as he spoke her name or when he was sneaking a look at her while she was berating Mihoshi, but even his expression as he turned to face Mihoshi, aglow with that detached affection just like what Tenchi showed to Mihoshi, almost like she were a sister… Affection nevertheless. Almost angrily, Kiyone killed off the impulse. "Oh, Kiyone, there you are!" Kiyone spun around, just managing to cover up the guilty expression on her face, and saw Sasami with Mihoshi beside her. "Aren’t you coming to sing?" Mihoshi added. "I love it when you do the…" "Not tonight, Mihoshi," Kiyone spoke, weakly. Hell, it was mentally draining to think about those things. "Go ahead, don’t worry about me." "What’s wrong with you, Kiyone?" Sasami asked. "Must be all the action earlier…" she smiled weakly. "Come on, Kiyone," Mihoshi tried to pull her up. "At least one. I’ve been telling them all about you and Tenchi said you simply had to go tell him about it." Probably because he found it a little hard to believe you, part of Kiyone’s mind answered cynically. "Okay, Mihoshi." The green-haired detective weakly got up and followed them into the dark room. The room was built in memory of where they were when they first sung Karaoke. Pictures of stars dappled some of the walls, and other glow-in-the-dark stars were attached to the ceiling, so they would glow when the light went out. The first time Kiyone came in, she was forced to admit Nobuyuki did have some artistic talent, though it was actually Ryoko who had suggested the idea. Ryoko had just finished another throaty, sultry number, which Kiyone noted was sung at expense to Aeka’s pleasure and Tenchi’s propriety. "Thank you, thank you." The pirate was bowing to applause, as her yellow eyes flecked with pleasure at the Tenchi’s response, with sweat forming on his brow. "Yes, that was quite enough, thank you." Aeka added tartly. Tenchi clapped rather stiffly. Ryoko appeared before him and hugged him. "You liked that, didn’t you, Tenchi, hmmm?" bringing her lips close to his. "Hey Ryoko, they’re watching!" Tenchi flailed helplessly as anger streamed out, almost palpable, from the older princess. As another typical scene was about to play out, Sasami quickly nudged Kiyone. "Quick, pick a song! Before they fight!" Kiyone, not fancying Ryoko’s repertoire, just reached out and picked a disc from Nobuyuki’s collection, quickly slid it in, and pressed ‘RANDOM’. Everyone stopped and stared as the title of a love song played out, and everyone, except Mihoshi, half-expected Kiyone to switch to another song. But she did not. Kiyone embarked on a soulful rendition on the many pains and joys of love, while everyone listened, entranced and enchanted. For long minutes, Kiyone felt like she had opened a door to world where it was no longer the law against the criminals, the white against the black. It was soulful, vibrant, with myriad colours of moods, of up and down swings, where the world was lost in a blur of wonder and pain. Then it closed, and Kiyone tried to reach back in, but the track was at its end, and the magic concluded. Silence, for a moment, with only the stars (the plastic, glow-in-the-dark ones) staring down at Kiyone. Then thunderous applause. "Kiyone, you were great!" Ryoko cried. "I should have thought of doing that song for Tenchi." "I never even knew it existed, or I would have chosen it." Aeka commented, more reserved. "You do have excellent taste, Kiyone." "Kiyone, it almost seemed like you lived it all, and you meant every word you said," Sasami congratulated. "You were so good, Kiyone! Pick another!" Mihoshi added. Tenchi seemed to want to say something, and thought better of it. "I’m tired," Kiyone said. "Besides, I’ve never heard that song before in my entire life." The words just seemed to flow in with the tune, she thought. "Let’s go home, Mihoshi." "But…" "Hey," Sasami said, "The two of you haven’t eaten the dinner I kept for you, you know!" "Oh, yeah," Kiyone said. "Guess, I must have forgotten. We took a snack today, you see…" Vivid images arose in her mind. She could almost see his odd smile, feel again the surprised pleasure of seeing an umbrella hanging outside the door, with the fries inside… "Well, if you don’t eat it, who will?" Sasami added. "Okay, we’ll stay for supper." "Right, I’ll go get it!" Before Kiyone could stop her, the little princess was out of the door. "Kiyone, do sing once more! Please…" Mihoshi begged with her hands clasped. "I’m sorry, Mihoshi, but I’m just too tired." Kiyone sat on one of the couches in the small room, beside Ryoko, who made space for her and took the chance to cuddle up against Tenchi, as Aeka went up for the next song. Tenchi shot her a curious look. "You know, Mihoshi was telling us just now about…" "Please, Tenchi, give me a break. Some other time, okay? " ==================================== The moonlight shone on him as he settled comfortably onto the bench, watching, waiting. On the road opposite him, the apartment was dark and empty, though he was absolutely certain he had seen the two ladies enter it. Could it be they had retired immediately upon entering, without bothering with the lights? Curiosity finally took hold of him, and he got up, putting aside the newspaper. Swiftly he approached the building from the right, until he came to a drainpipe. Scaling it with catlike agility, he reached the roof in seconds and went all the way until he was on top of her apartment. Listening for a moment to make sure there was no sound coming from the apartment, he went over the edge and dropped lightly to his feet, landing on the thin window ledge. After some work, he carefully opened the window and entered, sitting on the edge, facing inwards, so he could back flip out, and use his feet to close the window if he needed to. Hmm, it was empty. For a moment he considered going in to hunt down more photographs. No, that would be a violation of their privacy. An eyebrow arched up in surprise at the thought. When did I ever bother with that…? That doesn’t matter. I won’t enter unless I *know* for sure. >From here he could see, across the apartment, the door by which they entered. Beside it was a chair, and on it an umbrella, and an empty paper packet that might once have held fries. And he knew, without a glimmer of doubt, they were those he had given her. She feels. She does feel. He felt a warm, effusive glow within him, as he contemplated that fact, chewed on it, absorbed it. Yes, everything about her told him she would discard them, especially the empty packet of fries. He did not have to check up anything beyond her file to guess that he was maybe, just maybe, the first to, well… He looked at where he was sitting and grinned. Yup, first to break in. Was it wise? He knew her job, and he was only too aware what he was. He had never had much time for women. From dodging and evading the countless organisations that hunted him, he always kept himself too busy to pick up any personal romance. Lust had never been one of his vices, and in his disguises as others, he had never wished to risk exposure by showing his sexual inexperience. What was so special about this Kiyone, anyway? Just a few things, but he knew he did not really care about her being Chief Inspector, top of her class, or anything. He knew it was not beyond himself to turn down more beautiful, more powerful women if he did not feel anything for them, but somehow, he felt for her. Was it her smile? Nope. It was… her poise. Her confidence. Her style. And all the other things that were uniquely Kiyone. Frustrated, he knocked himself on the forehead. He was letting himself get fuddled up by his emotions, and he had survived so long by learning not to. Oh, Kiyone… Be alert! He told himself. Then, in plain sight and right before him, beside the main door, he saw another door materialise out of the wall. "Shit! They’d be able to see me!" A leap to his feet and he had vanished from the window. "Hey, what was that?" Kiyone whispered. She thought she just saw two shadows disappear over the top of the window directly in front of her across the room, and her hand went instinctively to her blaster. "Doesn’t seem to be anything." Mihoshi looked around. "Come on, Kiyone, you’re just tired." Kiyone ignored her and walked over into the room, blaster at the ready. Opening the window, then looking up and out of it, blaster before her, Kiyone saw... The eaves of the roof. "I guess you’re right, Mihoshi." She relaxed a little as she looked back in at Mihoshi staring in concern at her. "Let’s go to sleep." On the roof, someone cursed his own stupidity. I forgot. They know Washu. A little later, Mihoshi was asleep, her breathing gentle and regular. Beside her was Kiyone, tired, but nevertheless more or less wide awake. What am I doing awake? It’s about him, isn’t it? She wearily asked herself. She tried to imagine she was someone else. Do you love him? No. Maybe. But he is just a stranger, I must get to know him better first. Are you sure about this? Well, he just sort of feels special, different. Oh, so you’re after him because of that? No, it’s just that… Well, whoever he is, he’s gone. If you’re lucky, you’ll see him tomorrow at Mos, if not, too bad. He’s just an earthling, and he may mean well, but he… He is more than what he seemed, I thought I already figured that out. The shadow… It could be your imagination. Well, my training as Galaxy Police Officer tells me it is better to be cautious. Silently, Kiyone stuffed a pillow in substitution of her leg, which would be visible from the window. Forcing herself to be slow and careful, she pulled herself out of her futon, taking care that the lower half of it not move the slightest, while her right hand held on to the blaster which she always placed by her futon when she slept. Slowly, silently, she crept towards the room, and before long she was just by the door to the room. Bracing herself, she dived before the door, sideways, blaster ready… "Kiyone?" Her heart skipped a beat. His voice. No, this voice was somewhat younger. A silhouette was seated on the window sill, with feet dangling down into the room. "Who are you?" She said as she sprang up, her blaster still ready to fire. In the darkness, there was no way she could have seen that hollow and yet hopeful expression on his face. "Trust me." She beheld a black-gloved hand move, a little, releasing a blur of silver that arced towards her shoulder and head. It’s going to hit me! Trust him. But … Remember he helped Mihoshi back there. For a horrible moment, she thought she was going to give in to her GP instincts to fire and dodge, but she gritted her teeth and through pure will, just managed not to. The projectile hit something just beside her shoulder, there was a click, and a split second later the black gloved hand caught the silver arc. Then the room was bathed in light. He was clean shaven, with a flawless complexion, dressed in a white shirt and light blue trousers. His arms were lean and well muscled, with light beige skin, similar to hers. While his hair was black, it was not combed neatly, but had a somewhat roguish hair that had a bold fringe with centre parting that came down to around his shoulder level, and two long sideburns that reached down just below his collarbones. The forehead was the same, along with the cheekbones and chin, but this person was clearly at least five years younger than the one she had met in the afternoon. Strangest of all, his gloved hands were empty. Then his intense blue eyes locked with Kiyone’s green ones, and his lips curved ever so slightly up into that sweet, youthful smile. It *was* him. Apology and regret, thankfulness and joy, nervousness and anticipation, all these emotions she could read in his eyes. She knew too, he was reading hers, full of shock, surprise, bewilderment, but at the same time happiness, and in a certain way, trust… They both closed their eyes. "Thank you." His voice was soft, tender, and apologetic. "It couldn’t have been easy." "It *wasn’t*." Kiyone opened her eyes, and looked at him. His head was bowed slightly, then his eyes opened, but though they looked at her, they did not make direct contact. "But it must have been difficult for you, to have a blaster trained on you, too." She simply had to admire the way he broke in and just as quickly created a feeling of mutual trust for both parties. "I’m sorry. This is not a good time or place." He raised his face and looked at her. Something about him was familiar, like Kiyone had seen him once, a long, long time ago, but she could not recall. "You couldn’t help it, could you?" Kiyone asked, finally lowering her blaster. She suddenly realised she was in her light green pyjamas, and a blush started to rise, but somehow, she felt both things were fine by her. "Yes." His face was calm, and somehow sad, as he pulled off his gloves, to reveal fingers both strong yet supple. "Why *did* you trust me?" There was a tense silence. "You helped me, earlier. I owe you that, at least." "You? Owe me?" "Well, at least Mihoshi, then." She didn’t find herself very convincing. "Really…?" Nor did he, it seemed, but she wasn’t sure if the hopefulness in his voice was for real or just a figment of her wishful thinking. "I’m… not sure…" Kiyone found herself backing away, both from without and within, then just as quickly recovered herself. "Who are you?" Kiyone asked, raising her eyes to meet his, and suddenly she was not sure she wanted to know. He looked sadly at her, his expression thoughtful and questioning. "Do you really want to know?" The night sky was behind him, and through the gap between his head and the window frame she could see the moon hanging, cold, somber and detached, even as his hair stirred in the night breeze. His brow was clouded with worry, and his blue eyes seemed to reflect her own stormy emotions. "If you really want to know, I couldn’t lie to you." "I…" Kiyone thought about it. "Guess I don’t really want to know…" He arched an eyebrow, almost in surprise. "Yet." Kiyone finished, beginning to feel happy, inane though it was.. "That’s more like you." Kiyone tried to fight down the feeling that he had known her all her life. "But I’d like to know what to call you," she added, and finally smiled back. "You look wonderful like that, Kiyone." "Thank you," she just resisted the impulse to bow. "Mister…?" A reminder. "Kova, Kiyone… -chan?" Kiyone felt her cheeks burn again and resisted the impulse to laugh. "Sure, you can call me anything you want, Kova." "I understand that means you need to know me better first." Kiyone knew that meant he had noticed how she did not address him fondly too. "I’m sorry, but even if I’m a little attracted to you," he arched his brow and grinned as she said ‘a little’ "but you’re still, well…" "A stranger?" He seemed to want to laugh, and Kiyone found the prospect rather delightful. "Well, I…" she tried to think, but couldn’t, because he was on the verge of laughing and seemed ever so... "Why don’t you go ahead and laugh, you!" "Is that a special request?" "Maybe." Kiyone tried to look imperious, like Aeka, raising her chin up. Kova burst out laughing, and Kiyone could not, or did not, stop her smile from broadening widely. "Hmmm…" Mihoshi’s voice from outside. "Oh no!" Kiyone’s hand went for the light switch, as the laughter ceased and the shadow back flipped out the window. The lights went out, and slowly, Kiyone walked out of the room, only to find Mihoshi fast asleep. "Humph." She looked at the peacefully slumbering form. "It’s all your fault again." "What is?" A whispered voice by her ear. "Hey! That gave me a fright, you know!" she turned to face the now mildly amused man, just a shadow now in the darkness, moving away. "A little surprise is good once in a while. And anyway, I like the darkness, it suits me better." A pause. "Though I miss seeing your face." "Stop flattering me," Kiyone walked beside him, trying to get further from Mihoshi in case they really woke her up, and not really meaning what she just said. "Where were we?" "In your apartment, in the dark, just the two of us." His white teeth showed as he grinned. "Hey, watch it, buster! I’m armed, you know. Anyway, what did we last talk about?" "Let’s see now, I believe it was about I am a stranger to you." A painful pause. "That was not what I meant." Kiyone’s voice was cold, hurt. "I know." His voice was sincere. Kiyone half expected him to put an arm around her, pull her close and start to kiss her, as she had seen many hot-blooded males do on TV, but he didn’t even touch her. "It’s just that I don’t know you that well yet." "I understand. Where shall we meet, tomorrow?" "I expect…" "How about near Hurashi Construction Enterprises, where you’re working in the morning? Send Mihoshi off for lunch first, make an excuse to stay out…?" "No problem." She turned to look at his face, and the blue eyes that seemed to gleam in the darkness. "Say, how come you know so much?" "Let’s save that for tomorrow, shall we?" A mischievous smile. "Now wait a minute…" "Hush," she felt a finger being placed before her lips as he turned to face her. "The night grows deep. You need to work tomorrow. See you at twelve." She felt him gently run his fingers through the front of her hair, before her headband, his lips brush gently brush her cheeks. "Good night, Kiyone-chan." One last glimpse of his clear, loving blue eyes, then his form sped away from her, leaving her hand reaching up to the cheek where his lips had touched her, her face burning red. Kiyone sighed, then walked slowly back to Mihoshi, acutely aware how alone she was. Passing the room, she did not have to look to know the window was closed and probably fastened. Lying back in the futon, she tried hard to steer her thoughts away from Kova and get to sleep. And she eventually did the latter, though she did dream of him. ==================================== High up in space, a spacecraft was travelling towards the Solar System. It was a light red ship, but the similarity with the Yagami ended there. The Comet had a ring of metal about it, and was shaped a little like Ryo-oh-ki, with tall spires of the fortress like structure sticking out of both the bottom and top of the ring, and was at least twice the size of the Yagami. Lasers and cannons protruded out of the thick armour plating, and though this particular ship was noted for its speed, it, like other SSS ships, it was outfitted for war. "Destination, Solar System. ETA 5 minutes." "Now, what are your missions?" The first one stepped forward. "Prototype code name Terminus, model TX-Cam. Locate and secure the Tachyon Ray, or a similar emitting device. Suggested start - keep tight surveillance on Professor Washu. Find the spy or his ship." The second one. "Prototype code name Satellite, model TL-Cam. Locate and maintain surveillance over Princesses Aeka, Sasami and Prince Yosho. If possible, capture one or all of them." The third and fourth one. "Prototypes code names Stellar and Solar, models SL-cam. To stay in orbit in readiness to assist Terminus or Satellite. Current assignment, Stellar to assist Terminus, Solar to Satellite. Also to act as transmitter of data back to ship Comet." "Very well. My code name is Overlord, overseer of this operation. Proceed." Five minutes later, two smaller space craft left the Comet, and sped toward the Earth. ==================================== Well, that settled that. He was shrouded once again in the darkness he felt so comfortable in, but a new companion followed him - loneliness. He had always been alone, and thought it was his fate, until now… He was a creature of darkness, she, of light. He had no doubt that for her, he could utterly renounce the darkness, but would she accept him? Would the light continue to burn, to sting, and to blind him? Would the darkness reach out its hungry tendrils to drag him back into its abyss? He did not know. He heard the sounds of footsteps approaching, heavy, stumbling ones, accompanied by loud and raucous voices, moving into the alley, but he ignored them. Here, on this planet, almost nothing could remotely threaten him, and so he remained perfectly still, and continued thinking. "Ooof!" Someone bumped into his outstretched legs, and fell over. The reek of alcohol assailed his nostrils and he restrained his natural reaction to strike the man a fatal backhand blow to the neck. I must change myself if I am to reach for her. From darkness to light. He watched the man clumsily get up on his feet, as voices sounded from all around the outside. "Hey, big brother, what happened?" A swarthy man ran to the fallen one, helping him up. "I tripped… Hey, there’s a bastard sitting here who did it to me!" Not bothering to look up, he just said, "Sorry." That’s an improvement too. Can’t remember when I last said that when I felt I was in the right. "What the hell you think you doing, ****er?" The half-drunk ruffian reached for Kova’s throat, but Kova calmly stopped his fist with his hand and shoved it back. "I was sitting here. And please, keep your hands to yourself." "And who do you think you are, big guy?" Waving his hand, his men moved in. "This bastard is looking for a good hiding. Let’s do him a favour, boys." With a drunken cheer, the men rushed in, fists clenched, some holding broken beer bottles. A silver blur cut through the alley and sliced through the press of bodies. Silence, as Kova caught the rod and kept it. Getting to his feet, he carefully picked his way over the fallen bodies, and for a brief moment, his thoughts wandered from Kiyone. I could have killed you all. That you’re only unconscious is something you owe her. His thoughts returned to his encounter in her apartment. That had gone better than he dared to dreamed of, but in retrospect, he almost rather he had been mercifully blasted out of the window. In fact, now that he was thinking of it he realised he had almost looked forward to, even invited, the prospect. *That* would have ended it, though it would only hurt him badly, what with his speed, dexterity and endurance enhancements to his body during his stint at the Science Academy. As it was, he had got a date instead, and even got to kiss her (sort of), which was all so marvellously beyond his expectations that he had almost whooped for joy. Yet the dull ache deep within him gave him misgivings, told him he was only preparing for himself a heart-wrenching, maybe even deadly, torture. It might be great, wonderful, fabulous, even exquisite, but torture nevertheless. And was it even right to subject her to such torment? To dangle the prospect of happiness with him tantalisingly before her, when he knew she could never attain it? His mind reeled in his mental dilemma, he cursed himself for the folly of making that decision on board the Yagami. He could almost see the cage he had drawn up around himself and Kiyone, feel the burning metal bars constrict and tighten. NO! His blue eyes gleamed, piercing the fabric of the night. I have faced overwhelming odds in my life, and have risen to overcome them. I have fought for my life and freedom with cunning and deception, wearing false faces and gleaning forbidden knowledge. I have beaten the greatest minds in the universe, from the Juraian Council to the Syndicate Circle, from the GP High Command to the Science Academy Faculty, even the great Washu herself (Washu would have taken an instant liking to him if only she had read his mind at this moment ^_^) to become what I am. I *will* fight for the future she and I will share together! But how? The realm of heart is one I am alien to, a mystery I never needed to solve, to unravel, to concern myself with. Yet now, before I knew it, I have wandered far into its halls, to be mired in its depths and lost in its mazes. He felt his will weaken, crumbling. Kiyone is in here, somewhere, with me. I may forsake my emotions, but I will *never* forsake hers! He would have to find a way, to give his best. Love would. === End of Chapter === NOTES: Kova is in a way, an SIed character. Pls include him in your comments, whether I have portrayed him as a person, as a friend or foe, as one of the gang, and most importantly, as a human being. I hope you have enjoyed this Fanfic as much as I have typing it. If there are any more grammar errors, I beg your forgiveness, as my sole proofreader is myself. This is my first FF, so go ahead and mail me at zyraen@yahoo.com with comments, especially on character portrayal, realism. Disclaimer : Most characters in this story are property of AIC and Pioneer. They are in such a situation solely because of my imagination. This story was written purely for fun. This FF is based on the TV Series, with some powers drawn over from the OAV, but with no Light Hawk Wings. This story contains no sex, so please do not expect it. Before I wrote this Fanfic, I have only read 2 Fanfics, Aikan Muyo and To Love & To Hate. Since then I have read some others, and have noted some writers have a tendency to portray some characters inaccurately. I hope I have not fallen into that trap. That's about it, I'm a simple soul at heart... DARKNESS & LIGHT - No Need For Kova By Zyraen Chapter III : No Need for Lunch Beep beep, beep beep. "Huh, what?" Kiyone, groggy and half awake, reached about, systematically switching off both alarm clocks. Beep beep, bee