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 V : No Need for Sunshine "Where is Tenchi?" Ryoko asked, her eyes darting around. Aeka did not speak up or stop stroking Anako’s fur, but she was equally perturbed. Did she have to look for him every morning just so she could eat her breakfast? Sasami just sat and quietly ate her food. Aeka cast a sharp glance at her. "You seem to be hiding something, Sasami." "Do I?" Sasami’s green eyes opened wide. "Do you happen to know where Tenchi is?" "Er… erm, no." Aeka frowned. Sasami never could lie convincingly. Ryoko was quick on the uptake too. "Hey, Sasami, could you please tell us where Tenchi is?" Sasami sighed, knowing they had seen through her. "Uh uh." She folded her hands and shook her head, her blue ponytails dancing around her. "Tenchi said I wasn’t to let you know." She watched as Aeka and Ryoko made as if to get up. "And, well, I think you needn’t look for him. If Tenchi doesn’t show up for breakfast, he’ll probably want both of you to eat first and not worry about him." Just to prove her point, the little princess continued munching her food. "Say, where is Mihoshi?" Ryoko asked. "Didn’t she stay over last night?" "I… switched off her alarm clock." Sasami answered. "I think Tenchi would have liked it if I did." Aeka and Ryoko stared at each other, alarm bells going off in their heads. Ryoko vanished as Aeka rushed up the stairs, their chopsticks still bouncing on the table top. Sasami stared after them, while Anako picked herself off the ground and went after Aeka. "You know," she said to no one in particular. "You really ought to trust Tenchi more. He really does like the two of you." Sighing, she went back to her meal. =========================================================== Kiyone stirred a little. "Kova…" she seemed to say, and he felt her hands tighten around his. Turning to Tenchi, he nodded for him to come over. "I have to. I’m not supposed to be here." He said soothingly, as he felt her grip tighten even more. "Relax…" Stroking her hand, he gently coaxed her fingers open, his eyes signalling to Tenchi to kneel beside him. Tenchi watched as he ran his fingers through Kiyone’s green hair, and she sighed in contentment, her muscles relaxing, her grip falling lax. The man gently moved his other hand out from under her fingers. "Thank you, Tenchi." He was already by the door to the outside, and then it shut behind him. "Kova-chan…" Tenchi just managed to catch the sound of the words. He saw Kiyone’s fingers close gently in on air. "Kova..! Where…?" Her hands reached about wildly, as she sought to find him. "Where are you?" Louder now, he could hear her breathing rapidly. "Kiyone, wake up." He shook her a little by her shoulders. Her hands went limp, and her eyes opened slowly. Her vision was blurred, but gradually she managed to make out who was bent over her. "Ko.. Tenchi!" Her eyes opened wide. "Uh, yeah," he grinned sheepishly. "Tenchi. That’s me all right." It sounded stupid but that was all he could think of saying. Kiyone sat up, and looked around frantically, eyes searching for someone. Looking at her tortured expression, Tenchi wished he could tell her he had gone. "Where is he?" She finally managed to say out, her head falling back onto her pillow. "Where is who?" "Him." She looked meaningfully at Tenchi, then at herself, with the covers placed neatly over her. "Where is he?" "Who? What?" Tenchi tried to pretend he did not know. "There’s just me, Tenchi." Kiyone looked skeptically at him, and reached out a hand. Tenchi looked at it, puzzled. "Kiyone?" "Give me your hand." She ordered. "I need to feel it." "Uh, sure." Hesitantly, Tenchi did as she said. Her fingers closed around his hand, feeling his softer flesh, his thicker fingers. Kiyone’s head bowed. "He was here, wasn’t he?" "What? Who are you talking about?" And that was when the dimensional door to Tenchi’s house burst open. "TENCHII!" Two voices screamed. "Huh?" Tenchi turned around and stared straight into Aeka and Ryoko’s eyes, all four of them utterly consumed by jealousy. The girls were rooted to the spot, practically frothing at the mouth. "Kiyone!" Mihoshi giggled. "My, what a pleasant sight this is! I didn’t know you liked Tenchi too." Tenchi and Kiyone both turned pale with dread. They looked at their hands held together, and as one, quickly snatched them away. Looking at the two horrified girls, they tried to visualise what the Ryoko and Aeka had seen. Tenchi had been beside Kiyone, who was still… in bed. Kiyone’s head had been bowed before Tenchi. They had been holding hands. Worse still - the night before, Kiyone had burst out crying as Tenchi hugged them… Oh no. Tenchi thought. I’m dead. Oh no. Kiyone thought. I’m dead. They sat there and waited for the inevitable explosion from the princess and the space pirate that would blow them into irreparably microscopic smithereens. Already they could see orange sparks and motes of power crackling and focusing on Ryoko while the air around Aeka seethed and spat with sky blue energies. "Hold everything!" A third party burst out from the door behind Mihoshi, Ryoko and Aeka. "Huh?" Tenchi and Kiyone said together as the little princess, ponytails flying in the air, face set into a stony mask of determination, interposed herself between them and the two furious girls, hands held high. "Stop this, Aeka! And Ryoko!" "Scram, twerp!" Ryoko shouted. "Or I’ll send you to heaven too!" "Get out of the way, Sasami!" Aeka commanded. "This is none of your business!" "Yes it is!" Sasami shouted. "Now stand back! I can explain this!" "We can explain this!" Tenchi added. "Really." Ryoko, her eyes seething with rage, an orange plasma beam forming in her hand, replied bitterly. "Go right ahead." Aeka folded her arms, still encapsulated by the shimmering power. "This had better good." "Look, Aeka, Ryoko, Kiyone wasn’t feeling well yesterday, and Sasami checked on her this morning. She claimed she saw someone beside him, but," Tenchi steeled himself to lie again. "when I came here there was no one. Sasami was worried so I told her I’d handle the situation and she could go whip you all up some breakfast." "Well, what else did you handle, Tenchi?" Ryoko asked acidly. Kiyone sprang up out of her futon, green eyes flashing in anger. "Well, whatever he was handling, it was not me." She was still wearing the clothing she wore the night before. "If you don’t mind me saying, Kiyone, but it really did seem like he was handling you, if not yourself, then at least a certain part of you." Aeka pointedly looked at her hand. Only Sasami noticed Tenchi, who looked like he was going to cry. "That was not his fault!" she informed the two older, angrier ladies. "Kiyone probably wanted to see if she had been dreaming or if it was him she was holding." She paused. "Which she wasn’t." "And how do you know, Sasami?" "I… I saw the shadow bent over her." One look at Sasami told them she was not lying. "And then when went to wake Tenchi… Honest! Maybe Mihoshi can tell us something?" Oh no! Kiyone thought. This is it. The cat is out of the bag and on the loose. "Oh, me?" Mihoshi looked surprised as all eyes turned on her. "Well," She giggled nervously, "I really don’t know, but I think Kiyone has got another…Oh. I’m not supposed to say it, am I?" Whew, Kiyone sighed. "Say what, Mihoshi?" Kiyone’s heart sank. "Well, Kiyone told me not to tell you that I had seen her out with another guy." Great, just great. Kiyone thought. "Oh, I see," Sasami smiled triumphantly at Aeka and Ryoko. "Was he Tenchi?" Aeka pressed. "Erm… I didn’t get to see his face, but he seemed a little taller than Kiyone." "Are you absolutely sure?" Ryoko interrogated. "Ur… No." "So he could have been Tenchi, right?" Both of them said, and turned to face him again. "So, what have you got to…?" Tenchi was sitting with his knees pulled up to his chest and his face buried in his arms. Now that the girls were thinking rationally, they could hear him, sobbing to himself. "Tenchi, are you all right?" Sasami hurried over, and knelt by his side. Ryoko and Aeka still watched, stunned, as Kiyone stood by a window, furthest from them, facing the outside, the sun’s rays shining on her face. "Why… why is Tenchi crying?" Ryoko asked. "What’s wrong with Lord Tenchi?" Aeka questioned. "Maybe…" Mihoshi tried meekly. "Just maybe… he’s erm… scared of you two?" "No way!" Ryoko’s eyes widened. "No! He wouldn’t think that… would he?" "We’d never hurt Lord Tenchi, never!" Aeka protested. "It’s not that." Kiyone replied in an unnervingly calm voice. "Sasami, tell them." "Well," Sasami said as she sat down beside Tenchi, her voice uncannily sober. "You see, Aeka, and Ryoko, after last night Tenchi was so happy with the two of you, he must have thought surely you would know what he must feel for you now." Tenchi looked up, looking at Sasami with new eyes. I didn’t know she was so perceptive. "Go on, Sasami," he encouraged, wondering how deep this little lady could see. "And, well, he was just so upset the two of you could think so poorly of him, and after he showed how much he cares for you both…" Sasami, patted Tenchi’s head, almost like she did to Ryo-oh-ki, and the eighteen year old blinked at her. "It must be very hard on him." "Thank you, Sasami," Tenchi murmured, still trying to digest this new side to her. "Don’t mention it, Tenchi!" Giggling in pleasure, the little princess skipped past the bewildered Ryoko and Aeka, past Mihoshi, and out through the dimension door. She passed through it and Ryo-oh-ki leaped on her shoulder and settled back on her head. "Thanks, Ryo-oh-ki! I wouldn’t have gone in if you hadn’t alerted me! Say, where’s Washu? I’d better go look for her in her lab." "Mihoshi, let’s go, we’re late for work." Kiyone suddenly turned away from the window. "Huh!? Kiyone, but I want to see…" "No, Mihoshi," Kiyone firmly took her arm. "It’s almost eight thirty and we’re going to be late already." "But Kiyone, I haven’t even eaten breakfast yet!" Mihoshi protested. "Ryoko, Aeka, get Sasami to save our breakfasts, could you? We’ll have them for dinner." So saying, she dragged her reluctant partner out the main door. Tenchi, Aeka and Ryoko were left alone, except for Anako, who was sitting down and watching the three of them rather curiously. "Sasami’s right," Aeka broke the ice. "We have been very mean, haven’t we?" "Well, maybe." Ryoko was a little unwilling to admit her own fault. "Still, I don’t expect we could think of anything else in the first place, seeing what we did." "I understand." Tenchi sounded very weary and wretched. "It’s just that things don’t happen the way we expect them to." "I know what you mean." Ryoko added. "Sometimes it’s like there’s this, this…" "…force, this fate, that makes us move in at exactly the wrong time." Aeka finished. "So, do you all forgive me?" Tenchi looked very pathetic, sitting on the floor, hiding himself behind his knees, eyes still a little wet. "Lord Tenchi! You never have to ask me to forgive *you*!" "Tenchi, between you and me, there is *nothing* to forgive." Tenchi smiled, and stood up. "Only fate knows why it has been so kind to have the two most beautiful ladies I’ve ever known love me so much." His brown eyes shimmered with something resembling pride. "I’m really so glad." His stomach emitted a loud rumble. "Oh, er..." He subsided back to his nervous old self as the girls burst out laughing. "And hungry, I guess." =========================================================== "There! I’ve almost finished," She announced triumphantly. "Washu! Breakfast!" Sasami cried at the distant clump of red hair, obscured by a variety of machines. If Washu heard she certainly didn’t respond. "The last touches… there! Completed!" Turning in Sasami’s direction. "Wanna see?" "It’s the greatest capture device ever!" Washu-doll one. "Created by the greatest genius ever!" Washu-doll two. Out of courtesy, Sasami went over. "What is it, Washu?" She asked politely, looking with a certain amount of awe at the device Washu held in her hand, trying to ignore Ryo-oh-ki who was growling softly at Koneko, which was seated beside Washu. "It looks like a bracelet." "Ah, so it may seem, but it is not!" Washu proudly announced. "This, Sasami, is the Stasis Discharger. It can totally immobilise everything within an volume of twenty-seven cubic metres in stasis!" "That’s great, Washu, but I think you should be eating breakfast. Tenchi and the rest are probably eating already." Koneko mewed delightedly, as though it understood Sasami, and bounded half way to the door, then sort of waited, eyes pleading with Washu. "Oh all right." Washu relented. "At least I can show off my latest invention after that." =========================================================== Kiyone hummed as she worked with the lights, signalling vehicles to move here and stop there and unload that. Mihoshi was currently employed as a sort of servant for the contractors and workers, basically going out now and then to purchase refreshments. It had worked out, for even Mihoshi could not fail as badly as she did the first time with the truck backing into a hole. Somehow, she felt a lot better this morning than yesterday night, no thanks to Tenchi, Ryoko and Aeka. It felt good to know that someone out there was willing to stand by her, no matter what. Well, at least someone other than Mihoshi, that is. She knew she had not thought seriously about it, in fact, she could almost feel herself deliberately avoiding thinking about it, by working, by humming. Given what she could guess what he was, the future didn’t seem very promising. Yet it was very flattering, comforting even, to know he could not stop himself from coming to her side when she needed him, even though he had no way of knowing how much distress she was in. Kiyone, Kiyone, what have you become! She chided herself. You are so weak now! You used to be able to stand on your own, now you have to rely on him. You’re being too emotional, too illogical, you have failed to see things and notice things. How he doesn’t show up openly, how he always seems to melt in and out of your world, almost as though he was a wraith. He belongs to the dark, and he is afraid of the light. You don’t have to live with that. No, it is not his fault. He is right to be wary. "Break time! Mihoshi! Get the drinks here!." "Coming!" Mihoshi huffed and puffed as she struggled over with a bag containing about seven two litre water bottles. Kiyone lowered her arms, placed the signal torches down and hurried over to help her partner. What about Mihoshi? In a way, she is attached to me, and I know it will be difficult for her to let me go, if she can ever bring herself to do that. Thinking back to her Adventures in Time and Space, Kiyone thought about how Mihoshi had searched just about everywhere for her. Will she do that? Will she still cling on to me even after… Kiyone’s mind struck a dead end. What? Exactly what was awaiting herself and Kova? Her mind wandered back to that moment, in the apartment, as the two of them were clearing the table after their meal. That had felt… so natural, so right. But could it possibly happen? That lunch only yesterday seemed so distant, while the prospect of that seemed light years away. Kiyone shook her head, expelling the hopelessness from that thought.. I am a person, I have my own will and strength. I can reach for the future, I can decide my destiny. I can bridge the gap to attain that. That will be my goal. =========================================================== "Want me to demonstrate?" Tenchi looked at the golden band with a tiny hole on top of it, adorning Washu’s wrist. "Erm… no thanks. I don’t wish to be frozen into the next century, you know." "Not on you, Tenchi!" Washu decided she was asking the wrong person. "Ryoko, what’d you like me to do with this?" The space pirate looked at the device, now aiming at her. "Why not try it out on…" her shifty yellow eyes darted around, searching. "…Aeka’s dress!" "Ryoko! What do you mean by that!?" Aeka shouted at her. Tenchi flinched inwardly. "Why nothing princess, I would just like to see Washu’s device work, that’s all," Ryoko answered with surprise in her voice, her yellow eyes going ‘bambi’ style. "Why, what did you think was on my mind?" "You know very well what was on it!" Aeka retorted tartly. Washu expressed her impatience and annoyance by alternating between Ryoko and Aeka as targets with the Discharger, mentally doing an ‘Eenie meenie miny moe.’ "Washu, how does freezing a person help you handle your criminal?" Sasami asked. "Well, it’s simple really," Aeka told her. "Washu just points it and zap, he’s frozen, and then we can do whatever we like with him." "Nope, wrong, princess." Washu commented, and Ryoko, noting Tenchi’s eyes on her, restrained herself from making a face at the perturbed princess. "This Stasis Discharger takes time to fire, and the ray does not move particularly quickly. However, I’ve set some extra parameters so that the device can detect the source of a Tachyon Ray emission. That way, if he sets off a Tachyon blast, the stasis device will encapsulate them just before the ray can fire, as it requires some charging time." "So how does that help?" Tenchi looked skeptical. "You said we can’t do anything to anything within the Stasis Field, so we’re stuck with that. Then we release him so we can apprehend him and the world blows up. Great." "You are rather bright for an earthling," Washu commented rather sharply. Then her eyes narrowed and her mouth became a stern, cold line. "But you are in no position to challenge me, so step down." She cleared her throat again, ignoring Tenchi’s embarrassment and continued as though she hadn’t said anything. "What we can do is that we can move the Stasis cell and its occupants into an alternate dimension, so the tachyon blast can go off there, then we can bring the occupants back and apprehend them." Arching her eyebrows at Tenchi. "Any comments?" There was silence round the table, except for Ryo-oh-ki’s soft growling at Koneko and Anako, despite Sasami soothingly stroking her on the head. "Well, I suppose all that means is that we just have to look for the person now and take him down, is that it?" Ryoko asked. "Yes, it is." Washu replied. "We don’t need to worry about him using the Ray now." "Oh, and I guess the part about not knowing who or what or where he is, and about him being any out of a hundred and fifty-six space criminals can be conveniently overlooked." Washu glared so hard at Ryoko the pirate could feel her animosity wishing her the very best time as a kappa. Then to her surprise, the scientist turned to Tenchi and screamed, "Tenchiii!" Everyone looked at Washu in surprise, and Tenchi looked at her with bulging eyes. "Washu?" "Tell her to take care of her mouth!" she wailed. Tenchi blinked. This was strange, usually Washu just took care of such things herself. "How?" "Very well, then don’t ask me to change her back." The computer terminal popped out before her and her fingers hovered over it. "Wait, Washu!" he cried frantically. Then his eyes turned to Ryoko. "Ryoko! Can’t you keep your mouth shut!" "But…" "Keep quiet! I don’t want to hear a word more from you!" Tenchi saw her flinch, and he felt sorry he had to hurt her so, but he didn’t want her as kappa and he hoped she understood. Ryoko didn’t know what to think. It hurt badly to have Tenchi shout at her this way, but her common sense told her the more vehement his orders, the more he loved her. Yet she couldn’t help it, her heart ached anyway. It had always been that way when it came to Tenchi. Washu smirked at them. Now that was a fitting punishment. She never was a sadistic person, but it irked her to be irritated twice, once by Tenchi and then by Ryoko, as though they were above her. Aeka watched, trying to ignore the nagging unease in her head. Unlike Ryoko, she had been brought up to know the value of punishment for your own good, and to her, the sharp tone in Tenchi’s voice only said how much he valued Ryoko. Washu looked at Aeka’s dark expression, then she sighed. "You know, the three of you have a lot to learn. Come, Koneko, we need to unwind." Heading for the TV, she quickly found the morning programs lacking in taste and variety, while the four of them stared at her in some kind of collective apoplexy. "Sasami, anything you’d like particularly to do?" "No. Why?" "Well, there’s nothing good on TV so I’ll be going back to my lab now." "But Washu, what are you going to do there?" "I don’t know, think of some way to find the Ray? I have a hunch the owner is here on this planet, but that’s all it is, a hunch. I hope he’s not already gone to sell it." Aeka’s brows furrowed. "If it gets into the hands of the SSS, Jurai will be in serious trouble." "Exactly, so I really have to get this job done quickly." The three of them watched as the red head disappeared into her lab, followed by Koneko. "You know," Sasami commented, looking a little sad. "I think Washu has changed a little. She’s more, well, serious now. She’s not so fun anymore." "I know, Sasami," Aeka stroked Ryo-oh-ki who was perched on Sasami’s head, staring at Anako. She had stopped growling at the two kittens a while earlier, though still notably unhappy about their presence in the household. "But Washu really has something very serious on her hands." "I understand, Aeka." =========================================================== "I’m sorry," the bespectacled doctor told the customer for what seemed like the thirteenth time. "But I don’t do that anymore. It’s only a first day promotional offer." "Well, couldn’t you at least try, doctor? I’ve heard so much about you." "Oh, all right," he sighed. "I’ll try, but if I get it wrong you mustn’t think too poorly of me." Smiling, the man sat back and awaited the doctor’s analysis. "Let’s see. A slight fever, sore throat, and… a headache?" He laughed to himself as he saw the man’s face droop a little in disappointment. "Nope. I’ve only got a slight fever and a headache. No sore throat." He peered curiously at the doctor. "Care to tell me how you got three out of two?" "Trade secrets." As always, his same old excuse. How did the commoners do this? How did they carve a niche for themselves and yet remain so innocuous? He watched as the customer left his room, holding the medicine. He had just meant the ailment prognostication thing to be a gimmick, an attraction. After this they would come to him not for the advice, but for the treatment. Dr Kashiro was quite certain every one of his diagnoses was right. After all, he had excelled in the Chemistry, Medicine and Biology at the Academy. I don’t have to be on the run anymore. I can settle down, live a normal life. After my education at the Academy, I can go anywhere, do anything. He thought to himself as another patient entered. No, they’ll come after me sooner or later. They always do so. As long as records of my existence is around, and *he* is alive. I’ll bet he has been thinking of where I could have been. Kova thought back to the Science Academy. Every five years since his entry into the university, an SSS ambassador would come snooping along to the chairman. He knew they were looking for his files, he had seen lines of students who had joined the Academy near the time he vanished called up for examination. Fortunately he had had the foresight to bribe some of the administrators, so they put him down as enrolled six years before then. Then there were the spies. No doubt some of them had other duties like to steal weapons’ technology, but he kept an eye on them nevertheless. Once in a while he would intercept some of their information and edit it a little, but other than that he tried to make it seem the information flow out of the Science Academy was normal. He had also studiously ensured his results at the Academy were never too outstanding to be noticed, or people might approach him and his identity revealed. Not that it was his face he was worried about, it was totally different from that in his files. Strangely though, even though he had chosen a guise about thirty odd and rather ordinary, some females would still go after him. He had a hard time restraining his desires, although none of them really appealed to him, because they had been, well, too forward. As for Washu, he somehow sensed she thought he was a lot brighter than most, although his grades were only slightly above mediocre. As things were, Kiyone could be said to be the first person in thirty years to have seen his true face, even then still missing one feature. Even now, he asked himself if that was wise. Washu would come back looking for him, no doubt about that, but to be so caught up with someone so near her was a peril he had never dared placed himself in before. No doubt the SSS agents would be keeping an eye on her, too. Maybe Kiyone-chan could persuade Washu to be merciful with me, as long as I turned over whatever technology she deemed should not be on the Shuriken. No. Even if she agreed, the SSS would capture and slay me if I came into contact with Washu. Shaking his head, he tried to clear the disturbing doubts. On this backwater planet, he had not caught even a whiff of the Syndicate presence, something he was usually keenly on the look out for. Of course, Kiyone was a distraction (he allowed himself a smile as he thought of her) and he had only been here for four days. But what would he do if his previous agency caught up with him? He would have to run, but how could he leave her? And then the Syndicate would tell the GP forces to co-operate, and then she would… Would she? There was no doubting the depth of feeling she had for him, as last night had told him, but then he also suspected she was a person who could detach herself from her actions. She had a strong mind and will, but was it strong enough to completely separate desire from duty? He really wasn’t sure. Dr Kashiro smiled his thanks upon receiving another consultancy fee, waited till the person left, before slumping forward onto his desk. =========================================================== The noon sun beat down on his forehead, and he wiped his sweaty brow with his free hand. The soil shifted as the carrot moved, shifted, before finally emerging from the soil, to the sound of a joyful yelp from Ryo-oh- ki. "Not now, Ryo-oh-ki! These carrots will have to last you for a week at least," Tenchi warned the cabbit. She looked up at him, seemed to think for a bit, then joyfully returned to nibbling the carrot. Tenchi sighed. Some things just never changed. He’d have to go faster to keep up with Ryo-oh-ki’s rapid consumption. His hand went around another stump of green along the neatly planted rows, and suddenly he felt something land on him. Something soft, warm and familiar wrapped around him. "Ryoko!" His tone was a little bothered. "My, what’s wrong, Tenchi?" He could feel her warm breath as she whispered into his ear. "Is having some shade from the sun too much for you to handle, hmm?" "Let go of me!" "Why, Tenchi? Whatever’s wrong?" "I can’t work with you on my back! You’re not weightless, you know!" "Oh, is that it?" Ryoko smiled a bright smile Tenchi could not see and used her ability to fly. The weight vanished from Tenchi’s back, but Ryoko’s proximity was in no way reduced. "Ryoko?" "Like it this way?" His eyes widened as she kissed him gently on the cheek. Tenchi thought about the perspiration on his face. "Don’t you find that a little… yucky, Ryoko?" "Is it?" He heard her flick her tongue, licking her lips. "Mmm, it tastes exquisitely you. That doesn’t seem very yucky," she lowered her voice, giving it a husky, sultry tone. "In fact, it’s perfect." Tenchi gulped. "Just get off me, please?" "You don’t like it?" Ryoko sounded surprised. "Need me to squeeze you harder, mmm?" Tenchi felt her finger twiddling and pressing his chest the way she always did it. "Or hold you somewhere else?" Her other hand wandered down from Tenchi’s shoulder. "Ryoko! Get off!" He ordered. "But you said yesterday I could hold you anytime you were alone, except in the toilet or bath!" Her voice was plaintive. "And don’t you dare tell me we’re not alone because Ryo-oh-ki’s here!" Despite her usual playful tone, Tenchi realised there was an underlying note of frustration in her words. "I’m sorry, Ryoko, but I have work to do." "Then do it! I’ll watch." "Don’t you get it!? I can’t do it with you on my back!" "Tenchiii!" "Weightless or not, I really can’t. Please, Ryoko." He heard her snarl in frustration and hurt, then she was off him. Forcing himself not to turn back to see where she was or what she was doing, Tenchi quickly returned to plucking carrots, reminding himself that Ryo-oh- ki was already starting on her fifth one. High in the sky, Ryoko looked down at him, anger seething in her as he pulled out one, then two carrots from the ground, leaving small pits in their place. I wish I could blast this carrot field away! Anything that gets between me and Tenchi must be destroyed! Tenchi turned to toss a carrot into the basket he had left beside Ryo-oh- ki, and she caught a glimpse of his face. It was cheery as he saw Ryo-oh- ki meow back gratefully yet at the same time diligent, and it was all born of an emotion within him. That pleasure, that peace of mind… just like when I pull off a really big job. Work is part of Tenchi, part of what he stands for, Ryoko realised. Even if I demolished the things around him, I could not change that part of him. All I would do is turn him against me. Ryoko floated for a moment, contemplative. She remembered how happy she had been when she and Tenchi had robbed countless banks during their adventures in Time and Space, how wonderful it had been to be on a journey together, just she and Tenchi, just the two of them. Tenchi. He had made it all seem better, just by being with her, doing the things she liked. Tenchi looked up as a carrot sailed over his head and landed into the basket. Ryoko was bent over a hole where a carrot once occupied, smiling at him. She vanished and worked on the next one. It came out with a pop and he watched as she tossed it over his head, but this time it landed along the edge of it and bounced out. Ryoko frowned, but before she could do anything, Tenchi had reached over and placed it into the basket, before turning back to her, his face somehow more radiant than it was before, then he returned to his work. The space pirate caught herself smiling. Somehow, there was something in a honest day’s work, something she had never seen in it before. She looked at Tenchi, working in earnest now, but the light had not faded from his face, and she caught him looking at her out of his sincere, brown eyes. She had thought Tenchi would praise her, maybe thank her, for helping him, but now she realised she was wrong. There was no need for words between them. =========================================================== It was only about two o’clock in the afternoon when they had cleared the carrot fields. Tenchi went over the basket, and picked Ryo-oh-ki out by the nape of her neck, before setting her down on the ground with the carrot she had sunk her teeth into. Ryoko materialised before him, stooping down in preparation to help him lift the basket onto his back. "Ryoko, wait." She looked up, and saw his demeanour was still uplifted and euphoric. "Tenchi?" she managed to get out as she watched him step over to her. Brown eyes glittering, Tenchi grinned dangerously and threw himself on Ryoko. Her yellow eyes opened wide as she felt him hug her, his arms holding her tight to him, almost as though he was Ryoko and she was Tenchi. Oh god, that felt great! After what seemed like a fraction of a second, although it was well over a minute, Tenchi let go of her and stood back, regarding her intently, almost proudly. Then the hesitation returned to his face. "Er, Ryoko, was that okay with you?" He asked nervously. "I’m sorry but I’m a little wet now, hope you didn’t mind…" "Me, mind that!" Ryoko laughed at the ridiculousness of it all. "Tenchi, you idiot, that was just wonderful! I’m sweating just like you are, anyway," her voice took on a seductive nuance. "Besides, some day I’d love to make you get *really* wet…" Tenchi took a step back, his face going scarlet. "But we’re…" He forced himself to think before he spoke, trying to play out the conversation in his mind. ‘But we’re not married yet!’ ‘Then let’s get married, now!’ ‘But I can’t…’ ‘Why?’ And then Ryoko would think of Aeka. It just wasn’t right for him to spoil such a moment for Ryoko, not if he could help it. Ryoko peered curiously at Tenchi, who was staring into space, his skin still beetroot red. Is he thinking about it? Is he *actually* thinking about it? Sometimes Ryoko just wished he had a little more of Nobuyuki’s spirit. He looked back at her, a slight smile on his face. "Let’s go back, Ryoko," trying to keep his face straight and the red down. It would never do to give her the impression he was looking forward to what she had said she’d love to do, because if she thought he did enough, she *would* do it. Ryoko’s eyes widened in surprise. Now *that* was a first. Tenchi always would go scarlet and say something like "Ryoko! Stop…" whatever it was she was doing. Now he, still smiling to himself as though in a pleasant dream, had placed Ryo-oh-ki back onto the ground again, and the red had almost vanished from his face. Maybe he’s finally willing to love me… "Ryoko, do you mind helping me with this?" Tenchi tried to get the basket on his back. Ryoko laughed, knowing full well he could manage by himself, and went over, hefting the basket up as Tenchi slid under it. Then the three of them proceeded back to the house, Ryoko by Tenchi’s side, with Ryo-oh-ki perched on her shoulder, nibbling away at yet another carrot. Somehow, Ryoko thought back to the days of robbing banks, only this time, while Tenchi was carrying the carrots, he was not really carrying his booty. It was walking beside him. =========================================================== Somehow, Kiyone expected something to turn up from the moment her shift at Mos Burger ended to the time she got back to work at the Fujima Florists cum Delivery Department, but nothing showed up. Oh well, she had eaten lunch at Tenchi’s place and collected the remnants of the breakfast she and Mihoshi missed, and unlike Mihoshi, who had wolfed it all down on their way from Mos to Fujima, Kiyone was snatching small pieces of food between her work. After all, Sasami’s food still retained much of their flavour even though it was cold already. She let her mind wander back to lunch, knowing full well she could handle the flowers well enough. Washu had been there at lunch, and she had briefed Kiyone and Mihoshi about the Tachyon Ray case as well. She played the conversation back in her mind. "So, Washu, did this person steal any other technology from the Academy we may have to deal with?" She had asked. "Well, maybe one or two things, nothing we can’t handle," Washu replied, not making eye contact with Kiyone. "Washu! We have to know!" "Don’t worry about it! Basically it’s just about the Tachyon Ray. The rest can be safely ignored." "Like?" Tenchi looked skeptical. "Oh, if you really want to know, there’s an EMP device, Stealth and Miniaturisation technology, and a Dimensional Rift Creator." Washu continued eating as though she weren’t saying anything of import. "Like I said, nothing we can’t handle." "Wait a minute," Kiyone had sounded uneasy. "Isn’t a dimensional rift creator like the door upstairs to my apartment, or like the door to your lab?" "My, everyone seems to be catching on pretty quick nowadays, huh?" Washu’s eyes sidled from Kiyone to Tenchi and back again. "Must be the influence of such a great, cute genius scientist like me!" Aeka and Ryoko looked nonplussed at the slight to their intelligence, while Sasami and Mihoshi just listened attentively, the former not bothering with it, the latter missing her point completely. "So that means he can get away anytime he likes, right, Washu? The way we did with your door." "Perhaps. Maybe, but not to worry, my computer can trace any alterations in dimensional flux, so we’ll know where he emerges!" Washu smiled. "Nothing to worry about!" Kiyone looked crossly at Washu. "What you’re telling me is that we can’t catch him!" "Well, not easily, anyway." The scientist looked a little sheepish. "What about the door upstairs?" Sasami asked. "We could use that to pursue him, couldn’t we?" "Well, it’s linked to an artificial wormhole to Kiyone’s apartment, that’s why its current range is so far. If we detach it, it will only be the same as before, eight hundred metres." "And his device has a range of…?" "No idea." Washu shrugged, at a loss. "Given his intelligence and the data at his fingertips, it could range from anything between three hundred metres to over several light years." "Why so far?" Ryoko pressed. "If he could do that, why couldn’t our genius scientist do it too?" "I have reason to believe his ship can travel through the subspace dimension." "WHAT?" "If he opens a rift directly here and somewhere else, he could only get at most around a kilometre away. However, his ship size, as from the Academy project records, is estimated to be able to fit into a dimensional rift, and he has the technology to make it operate normally in that alternate dimension." Washu had often employed devices there, so she knew he probably could. She still wondered why she had never thought of using subspace to travel. "In that case, he could simply open a rift to another dimension, and travel through there to another spot where he could open a rift and return back to this plane of existence." "How long he’d take to cover that distance?" "Well, somewhat longer, but not significantly. It could be twenty minutes, say, to traverse to a point where he can re-enter our world ten light years from where he left it." Kiyone, Tenchi, Aeka and Ryoko all face-faulted. "That is NOT a problem!?" "Of course not!" Washu laughed. "Given the EMP weapons his ship probably has, he could disable just about any ship’s offensive systems, shields and engines, then blow them up at his leisure with his lasers. Or he could just Tachyon Ray an entire GP battle fleet. Not to mention the fact his ship is practically undetectable and untargetable, in other words, invincible. Why would he have to run?" It was at this point Kiyone had suddenly an intense fear. Could it be? Really? Even now, as she worked at the florists’, she could not shake the feeling of unease. No ordinary criminal would be so intelligent, nor remain for so long undetected in the Academy. No ordinary criminal would be so discreet about having such powerful weapons. She could name almost any number of space pirates and criminals who would give half their body to possess such a ship, or even just the Tachyon Ray. Even Ryoko, she was certain, would happily go on a universal rampage with such a ship, obliterating everything Kiyone had ever stood for, and creating almost utter chaos. Yet since Washu arrived, no news have been heard of any disturbances. And the strangest thing of all - who would possibly set up such an intricate and flawless escape system when he never ever had to be afraid or run away from anything? (unless he knew what Washu was up to, of course, with her Stasis Field) The seed of doubt planted in Kiyone’s mind began to grow. =========================================================== He sat back, shocked. The data coming in was close to unbelievably fantastic. The greatest, most deadliest ship - invisible, invincible. If he got it, the SSS would conquer all of existence, with him as its sole and undisputed ruler! He sat back and thanked destiny for playing him such a nice deck of cards, putting him as overseer of this operation. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he continued reading through the transmission, then delivered his verdict. "Proposal not approved." He relayed. "Wait until Terminus has had more positive information about the location of the spy and his ship before any action is taken to alarm them. If you find the spy, seize him at all costs. Proposal not required." He thought again. "Satellite mission priority to be altered, with original objective as secondary to assisting or executing Terminus’ objective." === End of Chapter === NEXT CHAPTER : No Need for a Perfect Evening 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 VI : No Need for a Perfect Evening Dinner at the Masaki residence was muted, almost sober, as they contemplated the likelihood of Washu successfully recovering the stolen technology. The only two cheerful ones were Anako and Koneko, who were playfully bouncing about and around Aeka and Washu respectively. "You know, we’re lucky in that he hasn’t used them yet," Aeka pointed out. "It would be awful for the Juraian Empire if that happened." "The Galaxy Police too," Mihoshi said, even though she did not completely catch what was going on, she knew it was something serious. Strangely, Kiyone did not comment. "I wonder how the rest of the space pirates would react?" Ryoko asked no one in particular. "Probably try to trick and steal the ship from him." She grinned evilly. Tenchi threw her a disapproving sideways glance. "But as for me," Ryoko continued, her evil grin vanishing into nothingness. "I think I’ll just stay here and help you guys, okay?" "That’s good, Ryoko, because you probably won’t pull it off, and you and Ryo-oh-ki would wind up dead." Washu pointed out. "I knew Yoda Shiro, whoever he was, and he was certainly among the brightest up here." She tapped her cranium. "Given what he pulled off, I don’t think anyone who knows him would even catch a whiff of him owning a ship." Kiyone’s ears pricked up, but outwardly, she appeared unmoved. "Do you have any idea how this person looks like?" Sasami queried. "Since you knew him.." "Well, there is a eighty-eight percent probability that he’s a male, given Yoda’s known character, and though he usually stands only about as tall as Tenchi, he could be a quite a bit taller, because he usually had his shoulders slumped and his back hunched a little from poring too much over things." "Huh, you mean that’s all you know about him?" Ryoko asked. "After he spent so much time in the Academy?" "Ryoko, in case you forgot, I only returned there last year." Washu glared at her. "I’ve seen him, but there’s a high probability most of his features were part of a disguise. Even if he were not trained, given his knowledge of science, that would be extremely likely, about ninety-six percent." Kiyone stirred a little, but remained silent. "So how are we going to capture him?" Aeka asked, her mind going back to Jurai’s interests. "It’ll be difficult, to say the least, of getting hold of him in space. We’ll have to find him on a planet and take it from there. It’s our best chance." "What’s the likelihood he’s here on Earth?" "Very low, actually." Washu appeared sheepish, and Kiyone gave a soft exhalation of relief. Mihoshi was the only one who heard her, but she didn’t make much of it. "But I just have this feeling he is somewhere on Earth. In fact, very near." "Like the phone call yesterday, I guess?" Tenchi asked. "Say, have you checked it up?" "No, I haven’t. Say Kiyone, you’ve been very quiet so far. What’s your doctor’s name?" Kiyone felt her mind tossing in tumult, wracked with indecision, almost as though it were being taken on a really crazy roller coaster ride. Should I tell them I never made the call? Should I tell them about him? "I… don’t quite know." She replied. "He’s just my doctor…" Tenchi and Sasami exchanged glances, remembering the figure they had seen last night by Kiyone’s slumbering form. "Oh well, so much for intuition, I guess." Washu murmured, almost as though she berated herself for bothering with it at all. "If nothing turns up soon, I’m afraid I’ll have to go elsewhere to search. But if I do that, you all must orchestrate it so that it seems like I’m still staying with you all, or some people may get suspicious." "That’s too bad, Washu," Sasami sounded sorrowful. "I was hoping you would stay…" "There now, I’ve got to go save the universe from total disaster," Washu appeared cheery, but they could all see her expression was a little sorry to go too. "I haven’t thanked you for welcoming me back the way you did." "I knew you would turn up sooner or later, Washu." "I think all of us knew it." Tenchi added. Washu feigned a slight smile. Well, I’d like to know when *he* will turn up. She saw Kiyone staring at her strangely, before returning to her dinner. =========================================================== "Let’s go, Mihoshi. It’s getting late." Kiyone told her partner. Tenchi furrowed his brow in suspicion - it was only eight twenty. "But Kiyone! I haven’t got a chance to sing yet!" "Look, even if you stay here longer, you won’t get a chance, not with those two hogging the microphone." Kiyone said, expecting Ryoko and Aeka to glower at her, which they did. Aeka pouted and announced haughtily. "Just to show you how wrong you are, Kiyone," she extended the mike in Mihoshi’s direction. "Oh, thank you, Aeka!" Mihoshi jumped up and reached for it. Kiyone sighed, though she had foreseen it and was actually actively engineering it. "Oh well, fine then, Mihoshi. I’m going back to sleep, I’m not feeling quite well from last night yet." Turning to Tenchi, "Is it okay if Mihoshi stays here tonight again?" "As to that, I think I’d like to talk about it outside," Tenchi replied, eyes narrowing as he stood up. Ryoko and Aeka glanced at each other, remembering the scene they had beheld in the morning, but as they saw the little princess stare meaningfully at them, they also recalled what she had said on Tenchi’s behalf. With a visible effort, the two forced themselves to remain in their seats. Kiyone only nodded and went out, followed by Tenchi. "Kiyone, I have something to ask you." "What, Tenchi?" her voice sounded tired and strained. "Who was that you were dreaming of last night?" His brown eyes bore into hers. "Well well well. So I was right then. He was there, wasn’t he?" She replied, eyes defiant. He nodded. "He was there all right. What I am asking is, who is he?" "He… I cannot tell you Tenchi, not unless he gives me leave." "But he said you were to decide if I were to know him." "Well then, I’ll just have to ask him to make sure." Kiyone seemed irritated, and she turned to go. "Yeah, I guess you’ll manage, huh?" Tenchi tried his alternative plan. "Only you forgot you were starving, and I had to bring your food up to your place." Kiyone paused. She knew it was bait, but she did owe Tenchi. "All right, if you wish to know, I never did tell you to do that. Nor did I make that call." "So who called?" "You’ll know in time, Tenchi. Take care of Mihoshi, okay?" And she quickly hurried up the stairs before Tenchi could react. Why did I say that last statement? It sounded like… Like I was going to leave them, or maybe even die. All she meant was for Mihoshi to stay over, but somehow, it hadn’t quite come out the right way. And Kiyone knew herself well enough to know she didn’t often make such mistakes. Forget that! She told herself. I must think of some way of asking Kova about those things tonight. =========================================================== Her eyes were watchful, searching the shadows as she left the building and though she was clad normally in her white blouse and green tights, her blaster and yo-yo were both with her, hidden among her pockets. Her whole body was tensed, ready to react to the slightest threatening movement. It was almost like she was on a GP assignment. Kiyone shook her head, trying to dispel the feeling. I’m on a date! She reminded herself, but still she felt wary and watchful. She spun around as a figure moved among the shadows, and emerged into the light, clad in a dark blue jacket, a sky blue shirt and night blue pants that tapered around his legs. As her eyes lighted on his face, however, her expression softened and her green eyes melted. Well, I certainly couldn’t hurt him, she told herself. How could I have forgotten his face? Kova regarded her oddly. "You seemed very tense tonight, Kiyone-chan. What happened?" Then he smiled. "Or did you anticipate something special tonight?" "I expected to see you." She replied, her old confidence returning. His presence was very comforting, and Washu’s words, her uneasy suspicion all faded into the background. "That’s special enough for me, but isn’t it a little early now?" He looked uneasily up at her apartment. "Is Mihoshi asleep?" "She’s staying over at Tenchi’s place. You’ve met him, I believe?" Her eyebrows arched as she made her veiled accusation. Kova seemed to chuckle nervously, his usually calm expression dissipating. "Well, I just…" "I’m waiting," Kiyone put her hand on her hip, trying not to laugh at his discomfiture and maintaining her stern appearance. It did feel good to know she could put him off balance, just like he did to her the first three times they met. "… couldn’t stop thinking about you." His expression was earnest, if not a little embarrassed. "I needed to see you." "And so you crept into my apartment while I was asleep." Kiyone soundlessly flapped her hands together in a parody of a clap, enjoying herself thoroughly. "Did you have something else on your mind?" "No." Kova looked simultaneously puzzled and annoyed. Then he smiled, and gave Kiyone a sly glance, his blue eyes twinkling. "But what if I did?" Yes, what if he did? Would I…? Kiyone took a step back, blushing furiously, before Kova burst out laughing, his voice mellow and hearty in the night. "Kova-chan!" she cried out in feigned irritation, but her heart warmed at the sight of him so merry. His mirth suddenly died. "You know, Kiyone-chan, these few days have been the happiest I’ve ever had. I don’t remember when I last laughed before I knew you." Kiyone blinked at his sudden mood swing. "It’s the same with me, Kova-chan," Kiyone sighed. "Sometimes I wonder how we could ever thought we lived fully before we met." "I guess we must have, somehow. Say, I’d like to hear about your past, Kiyone-chan," His eyes turned from her to the night sky. "The night is young, we can walk, and I can listen to you." He smiled at her. "I want to know about your life, Kiyone. Everything." Kiyone nodded, touched. No one had bothered with her past before, not even Mihoshi. Not even myself, she thought, with a tinge of pain. "The story of my life is boring," she explained as they walked, side by side, so she could buy time to resurrect the dusty, untouched memories locked deep down within her. "Are you sure you want to hear it?" "Don’t say that. Your life could never be boring, Kiyone-chan. Not to me, nor to anyone else." "Oh well, here goes then." For a moment Kiyone wondered where he was taking her to, but his steps were sure and steady, and anyway she was sure she could trust him. "I was born on a planet far, far away." "Wow, what amazing news." He stopped before a small cafeteria. "Want to snatch a drink?" "Yes, coffee please, and if you’re going to hear me out, don’t interrupt me." Before long they were sitting down, both sipping at their drinks, as Kiyone narrated her story. "My parents were both GP officers, and both had a good record on their files. However, my father had perished on an assignment, and my mother was the only parent I ever had, and I was an only child. Among the earliest impressions of my mother which I still retain was that of a beautiful lady who was almost eternally sad. She had green hair, just like mine, only much lighter, and in my early years, she would always stare at this photo of my father." Kova raised his eyebrows questioningly. "I don’t have it, I’m afraid. My mother always kept it by her side. When I grew older, she told me the man in the photo was my father, and that he had gone away on a mission. He had black hair, like yours," Kiyone watched in concern as Kova flinched. "Why, what’s wrong?" "I’ll tell you later." He took a quick sip at his coffee, averting his eyes. "Please continue." "Every night, during dinner, the two of us would sit at a table set for three. Mother would always leave the seat opposite her empty, and hang father’s picture on the chair, with me sitting between them. Although only the two of us ate, she always laid the table for three, and she washed his bowl and chopsticks almost as though he was there and had eaten with us." "Later, when I was around eight, she deposited me in the care of the Galaxy Police Academy, and left, I supposed, on an assignment, and from then on I never saw her again, at least not till I was twelve. She appeared a lot more older then, but she was still beautiful, and now that I think of it, I could see in her eyes her love for me. Yet, I remember when we met, I had quarrelled with her. I called her things I…" Kiyone bowed her head in grief. "I thought she had left me behind." Brokenly. "I understand how you feel, Kiyone-chan." Kova spoke, his voice soothing. "Your father had gone off on a mission and never returned, and you naturally felt the same fear for your mother." "Well, anyway, I told her that if she really loved me she would never have left me, and that day is the first time I can remember she cried openly for the first time before me, and…" Kova looked at her, worried. "… she told me not to think worse of her for it, for they had assigned to another mission…" Kiyone’s voice became choked with emotion. "I turned my back on her that day, though she was crying for me to stay. I turned my back…" "You were only human, Kiyone-chan. You were angry. Don’t punish yourself for that." "I turned my back…" Kiyone took a deep breath and recovered herself. ""I was so angry with her for leaving me for four years and then doing the same thing again. But anyway, I was sorry for that later, and I wanted to go back to see her, to apologise. But by then she had gone." Kova nodded sympathetically. "I kept on telling myself, all the nice things I’d do for her when I saw her again. I told myself how I’d make her happy, tell her how much I loved her for being my mother." Kiyone laughed bitterly. "But she never came back. They told me she had given her life for the team by ramming a space pirate ship whose shields their lasers couldn’t get through and that was about to fire on them. I was there at the posthumous award ceremony." "The award didn’t matter that much to you, did it?" "Not at that time. All I knew was that my mother was dead, that’s all I knew. I told myself, I’d make sure nobody ever wound up like me again. I was going to be the head honcho at the Galaxy Police, and I was going to make sure no child would ever suffer like I did." "And that’s why you did so well at the Academy." Kova’s face was vacant, carefully devoid of emotions. "And you never did think of starting up a family, did you, Kiyone-chan?" "My parents tried." Kiyone’s face was sorrowful, then her gaze met with his. "Do you think…?" "I believe where there’s a will, there’s a way." His words were spoken low, but the determination in his tone could be heard. "Tell me about how you met Mihoshi." "I first met her two years after my mother’s funeral, when she joined my class. She was a clown, a dunce, and everyone poked fun at her. I just ignored her, as I did the others, and concentrated on my practice and work. I was an ace with the blaster, even back then, and I was selected to be trained in using the energy yo-yo, the only one in my class." "One day I saw Mihoshi was crying, all by herself. Apparently some heartless bastard had… you know. I saw how heart broken she was, and I told myself, swore to myself, I’d never allow myself in that position, not ever." Her green eyes glittered with anger. "I was wondering which hopeless idiot had trampled on your heart and almost killed it, but I guessed I was wrong. It was Mihoshi’s pain that silenced your emotions." The blue eyes stared into hers, boring deep into her soul. "That’s why you’re so close to Mihoshi. You share a heart." Kiyone felt the truth in the statement gnaw on her consciousness, but then she quickly recovered herself. "Anyway, she was in some kind of a depression, and I sort of picked her back up again." "You must have been very strong, Kiyone. You didn’t tell me about anyone picking you up when you were down." She forced herself to ignore him so she would not be distracted from her tale. "And she became a sort of a friend, until we graduated" Here Kiyone frowned. "And then we became partners. It has been a nightmare ever since." She sighed. "The top position at the GP Headquarters seem so far away now." "But you never regretted reaching out to Mihoshi, did you?" Kiyone nodded. "She was so broken… If I could turn time back, I’d do it all over again. And anyway, if it weren’t for her, I’d never known Tenchi." She smiled. "And I’d never have known you…" "Go on, with your story." Kova said, though the tender edge had returned to his voice. "There really isn’t much more. God knows how many assignments I’ve been through, and all with Mihoshi." She put her hand to head as though she had a headache. "Makes me really surprised to know I’m still alive. I guess whatever force that’s up there governing the world, it does favour me in some sick way." Looking back at him. "Well, what about you?" "Me? I didn’t think I’d ever get asked that question. At least not until a certain someone called me Kova-chan." "Get on with it," Kiyone pressed him, but she was smiling. In the back of her mind, something told her to watch out for points hinting to him as the object of Washu’s quest. "Well, let’s see now…" He tapped his forehead. "Don’t waste my time, Kova-chan. I know you expected me to ask this so don’t pretend to think." "I’m not wasting your time, I’m waiting for something to happen." He explained, though it was clear he did not want to explain it, it was so ambiguous. "Anyway, here goes. Unlike you, Kiyone, I was not actually gifted with parents. I suppose they must exist, but my memories are of the gutters and shadowed alleyways of Jurai, of street urchins from whom I learnt the basics of survival." Kiyone raised her eyebrows in surprise. "I didn’t know you were from Jurai." "And I see you haven’t looked in my file, Kiyone. I wonder why?" "I guess I just didn’t want to know…" "There are some things we have to know about each other, Kiyone-chan." His voice was tired and weary. "It’s all part of seeing someone for what he or she really is. If you don’t see that, you can’t truly feel for that person. You’ll just feel for someone who doesn’t really exist." "So that’s why you told me you knew about Sasami. I’ve been meaning to ask you that." "I know it hurt, but I had to let you know. Forgive me, Kiyone." Kiyone swallowed, hard. "I’d like to know more about you, for now." "And I oblige," he continued. "I learnt earliest the art of stealth and of thievery, using it to scrounge for food and to pay protection money. One day, after a particularly poor week of pickings, I didn’t have enough money to pay up. I ran, I hid, I fled. But they were the ones who had taught me at first, and eventually they cornered me in an alley. I was beaten up badly, but was left alive so they could continue to collect money from me. I remember I woke up to the sound of singing. Some diva had been invited to some house nearby, and I could hear it dimly over the walls. It helped me stand up again on my trembling legs. The song was too high pitched for me to sing, but I heard the voice of the person as she made her speech thanking everyone for inviting her over and listening to her. In memory of the song I couldn’t sing, I repeated to myself her speech, exactly as I heard it. Later, still ragged and bleeding, I went over to where they were, and watched as all the high and mighty and rich people filed out. For some reason, I started repeating the speech to myself, and suddenly the people started heading towards me. When they found out who I was, they looked at me, shocked, but strangely, they didn’t chase me out. It didn’t take me long to realise I had a talent for duplicating other people’s voices." "So that’s how you got my lunch, or dinner, for me yesterday." "Yup, I posed as you, Kiyone. I hope you don’t mind, and anyway, I’m sure you must have enjoyed your dinner." "I did, thank you. Now, on with your story." He glanced at his watch, and Kiyone was surprised to note it was just an ordinary earthling watch. "It’s almost nine ten. Let’s get moving, okay?" He quickly finished off his coffee. "Why?" Kiyone sipped at her drink. "Where are we going?" "There’s a place, near here. I thought you might like it. Even if it looks a little shabby on the outside, there’s a good view within." "How far is it?" "About twenty minutes’ walk from here. We should reach there about the time they open their doors." Kiyone made a face. "One of those ‘night clubs!’ Kova-chan, whatever are you thinking?" "Trust me. You’ll like it there. I know I will." His eyes gleamed, and Kiyone hoped he was not thinking what she thought he was. "Come along, I’ll tell you my story as we walk." Kiyone nodded, and followed him, her heart thumping madly. He can’t be doing this… Why don’t you just sit back and relax, Kiyone? She heard herself think. It ought to be enjoyable, according to what you know, and after all, you do love him, right? Kova, caught up with his narration, failed to notice her face redden. "After that, I never paid protection money. I learnt the voices of people, of the police, and I’d scare them off with it. They always said I was darned lucky, but if I’ve learnt anything in my life, it is that most of your luck is your own making." "So, what happened after that?" "Well, my stealth coupled with my voice skills enabled me to break into most houses rather safely, and I sharpened my skills. I also learnt how to handle traps and alarms, and you can say I could have become rather rich, and led a life of comfort from then onwards. But my activities came to the attention of the Juraian Administration, and they sought me out, though they had no evidence against me. You see, I had learnt from many places, listening through the roof of schools, and I knew how to read. Among the places open for my education was the private libraries of the houses I broke in. All this of course, I picked up believing it could help my proficiency in maintaining wealth away from the sight of authorities." He looked at Kiyone, who was regarding him with something close to wonder and disgust. "You seem a little offended." "It just seems so wrong to me, all these things." "It was about the only way open to me." He grinned. "Why didn’t you comment earlier?" "Because I’d like to hear your story. Go on, please." "Anyway, the Juraians tried to pick me up as a Criminal Investigator, would you believe that?" He gave a laugh. "The fools thought they could turn me off crime by making me one of them, and my skill would lead to many arrests. I turned them down flat, and they raised the bid, not least because they suspected I was burgling at least four of them regularly, which I indeed was. Eventually I wound up a Secretary of Internal Security, at only about nineteen years of age." Kiyone gave a whistle of astonishment. "Are you telling me most of the Juraian Administrators are ex-criminals?" "No, of course not. I was the best, and they knew I was the only one capable of pulling off jobs on them regularly. Just for appearances’ sake, I saw to it they did not get burgled for at least three months, before I sold the data I had on their security systems and interior blueprints to the rest of the underworld." Kiyone mentally clapped at his temerity and daring, despite knowing it was wrong. "The next year, someone approached me, saying he represented the Synera Stellar Syndicate. They offered me a position as a spy, knowing my background, and that I was in a building with a lot of interesting data. I accepted, on the grounds they trained me a little. So I enrolled in a blaster shooting gallery, secretly run for training. There I picked up my blaster skills, spacecraft piloting, data accessing skills and most importantly, I learnt how to disguise myself. For the last one, which I had an immense interest in, I actually excelled far beyond expectations, and the spy master there, whose name is Seida Sakanoi, gave me the nickname of the Chameleon." Kiyone shook her head at the pride in his words. "Did it ever occur to you what you were doing is wrong?" "Wrong? To the Kova Kashiro of that time there was no right or wrong. I was young at the time, I took up whatever I felt was thrilling and interesting. The Secretarial post, despite the pay, did not provide that, so I became a spy. For a short while, I passed data of interest to the SSS by duplicating them, and was duly rewarded. However, I saw to it I never got anything of earth shaking importance. Even back then I knew the importance of balance." "Weren’t you ever detected?" "Rarely, and when I was, I was just doing my job in the building." He grinned. "Besides, I lay speakers around the place, and spoke into them when I needed to lure someone away, with the voice of his superior." He grinned like Cheshire, and Kiyone could not help but mentally applaud his ingenuity. "Eventually I got tired of it, it was no challenge. Bureaucrats weren’t very sharp at anything, and I requested a transfer to from the Interior Security to the Diplomacy section, where the ostensibly sharper minds were. Given my background, it was not approved, and I got very bored. In the end, I requested some extra money from the SSS, duplicated and forged the cheque to provide me several million Juraian dollars, some of which I used to purchase a ship from my contacts in the Underworld, and started my career as a space pirate." "Most spy services usually aren’t very happy about defective personnel." "Yup, so I quickly found myself the target of several extermination attempts. At first only some space pirates tried to kill me, up until they met up with my blaster. But when a bounty hunter came after me, I thought I was gone. I can only thank heavens it wasn’t Nagi, I had no way of handling her at the time. Even this fellow, I think his name was Nakamoto, proved a handful to me. Unfortunately for him, some Syndicate ships showed up, probably on a tip, and I manoeuvred behind him as the SSS ships’ lasers locked on me. I knew how they worked, I had stolen some files from my spy master. The lasers travelled straight to me, although Nakamoto’s ship was between us," his eyes lighted up with the thrill of the chase. "And you know how powerfully armed SSS ships are. The fellow never knew what hit him." Kiyone shook her head, smiling. "You know, I think you would have liked Ryoko." "Huh? Why should I?" Kova looked surprised. "She’s not the same as me. Maybe when I was young I was like her, but now, there’s only a certain Kiyone-chan in my world." She smiled in acknowledgement of his feelings, and was gratified to see the surprise fade from his face to be replaced by tender warmth. "Ah, here we are." Kiyone looked up at the place. She half expected to see Bar or Hotel, maybe even Motel on the lighted sign, but it was not that. It was a Karaoke Lounge, and the neon lights were blue and yellow. She gave a little sigh of relief. Thank heavens. I wouldn’t have known how to turn him down. Kova’s face was lighted up in amusement. "Kiyone, what were you thinking?" "I guess I must have misunderstood you earlier." "Oh, I see. Disappointed?" He grinned wickedly, and she laughed to cover her rising blush. "Let’s go in." They quickly settled down, as they were led to the room reserved made for "Mr Roshika." "Say," Kiyone asked as they followed the person up the steps. "How come you have so much local money on you? You just came here four days ago!" "Afterwards, Kiyone." He tipped the man off and opened the door. "Come on in." Kiyone looked in and gave a gasp of surprise. The interior of the rather small room was decorated with a fine velvet layer of light blue, like the interior of the GP Headquarters, only it had a softer feel to it. Opposite her a pair of dark blue curtains hung over a window, while to her left the television was set. Facing the television was a light green couch, for three people, while there was a small glass coffee table before it, with tea set, plus a slender porcelain vase that held a single red rose. On the wall behind the television two photos hung, gilded in gold frames, each about forty by sixty centimetres, flanking the television on either side. On the side nearer the door there was Kiyone, dressed in a GP uniform, one hand holding the blaster by her cheeks, with a ghost of a smile on her face, but the photo only showed her down to her chest. On the other side a similar image of Kova stared out at her from behind the glass , head tilted down, blue eyes gazing out from under his dark hair, a wry smile on his face. He was wearing a dark blue jacket with high collars, the same as the one he wore now, with his arms were folded before his chest, and one hand gripped a silver rod which reached up by his shoulder. "What do you think?" Kova smiled broadly, standing before the drawn, dark blue curtains. "It’s splendid!" Kiyone threw herself on the couch, stretched herself, not taking her eyes off the pictures. "Where did you get that shot of me?" "On board the Yagami." Kiyone shot him a strange look. "Remind me to ask you about that later." He smiled in acquiescence, as Kiyone examined the picture on the right side, then glanced at Kova standing before the curtains. Her brows furrowed. The real Kova’s hands weren’t folded before his chest, but other than that there was still a slight discrepancy. "Your hair. It’s not black, is it?" "No, it’s not black. Earthlings don’t often possess such hair colour, so I thought it wise to let it seem black. Give me a moment," he turned his back to her, put on his black gloves, and removed a small bottle from within his pocket. He poured a few drops on his gloves and ran them through his hair, and many specks of black dust fell out of it. When he turned around a few seconds later his hair was a lustrous dark blue, slightly darker than Kiyone’s hair was green. "Chemicals really make things so much easier for a Chameleon like me. So, how do you like me this way?" "You look, well, natural…" Kiyone looked at him, and thought how his hair now fitted in with his hair, and his clothes. "So that was why you flinched at the café." "I couldn’t bear to have you thinking I was someone other than myself." There was something familiar in the way he looked, standing there so coolly and calmly. "Say, when did you get this picture taken?" She sniffed at the rose. "And how is it this rose seems so fragrant?" "Both rose and photo are only about one and a half hours old. I placed them here just before I went to your place." Inclining his face sideways towards her, "There’s something else I’d like to show you, Kiyone-chan." "I’m all set," Kiyone turned to him, eyes lighting up in anticipation. Turning from her, Kova ran his supple fingers down between the curtains, then his hands pushed them back in one smooth fluid motion. Kiyone watched as he stood back his figure outlined in the light streaming in from the city. The buildings opposite shone their light onto the river, the tallest of the skyscrapers only about half the height of the window seen from where they were. Below it a river ran by, its dark surface shining and glimmering with the myriad lights, from both sky and city, as though it was a liquid obsidian with countless stars set within it. High over the top of the buildings the scintillating stars in the night sky seemed to twinkle at her, and beyond it the darkness of the universe clung, no longer menacing, but a comforting background and foil to the illuminated world below. "It’s just…" Kiyone stopped, speechless. "Well, I have always prided myself on being an aesthete, although a practical one." He looked back at her. "How do you like it?" "Well, I can’t seem to get enough of it." Kiyone wondered why she had never noticed such things before. She had always known the stars were beautiful, as were the galaxies, the constellations, the trees, the plants and the hills. She had flown over thousands of cities, orbited hundreds of planets, all majestic and wondrous, yet somehow she had never quite seem to appreciate or rejoice in them being so. "Well, if that is really the case, how about a dip?" Kova threw open the window and she felt the cold night air blow into the room. "I guarantee both of us can dive in from here and sail well over the railing. It’s only a five storey drop anyway, nothing we can’t take." He grinned, making as if to, before she grabbed him and pulled him back in. "No way! I’m not going to get wet!" She pushed him in the direction of the couch and placed herself between him and the window. "And nor are you!" For a moment he considered ramming into her and sending them both out the window, but then he remembered he had paid for the place. "All right, later then." He reached for a microphone as he turned on the TV. "Care to go first?" Turning round from shutting the window, Kiyone laughed and took it from him. "Yes, please." Kova’s eyes stared longingly at the river. "You know, we really ought to try that." "Maybe later," Kiyone told him. "If I’m feeling fun enough." She reached for another mike and tossed it to him. "Let’s start off with a duet." Kova started flicking through the songs available. What’s wrong with me? She asked herself. I don’t usually act like this! You’re intoxicated with pleasure. Just relax and enjoy yourself. I am *not*! I am in control of myself! Relax, take it easy. You trust him, don’t you? Well, then just live the moment. "Let’s try this ‘I’m Your Angel’ first, okay, Kiyone-chan?" Kova pointed. "Huh? Never heard of it. Where’s it from?" "Some country around this parts - United States of America, wherever that is. It’s a nice song, I’ve heard it before. Care to give it a shot?" The blue eyes glittered like shiny sapphires. "I’ll try my best." Kiyone was unable to refuse him. "But don’t you dare laugh at me!" "I won’t. Because you’ll always be my angel." There was an odd note to his voice, so solemn and sincere, and Kiyone felt her throat choke up with emotion. "You’re no less than that to me, Kova-chan." And as she spoke that, she realised she had no idea what future she would be stepping into. It would either be heaven, or hell. There was no way of knowing. Closing her eyes, Kiyone mentally tore that thought into tiny little pieces as the music started. "Go on, Kiyone-chan, you first." "What? I don’t know the song!" She exclaimed at him. "That’s what’s the words are for, see?" He grinned. "Hurry up, you’ve missed the first line!" And so she started… "…to do, is have some kind of faith No river is too wide to make it across All you have to do, is believe when you pray." Kova, his eyes dreamy at the sound of her beautiful voice, prepared for his section. "And then you will see the morning will come, In everyday will be bright as the sun Hold on to your fears, cast them on me" "Kiyone-chan, you’re supposed to sing with me!" Stunned, Kiyone quickly shook herself out of her daze which she had entered upon hearing his mellow, rich, soulful song. "It’s the chorus! Quick, together!" "…in the sky I'll be your shoulder when you cry I hear your voices when you call me I am your angel, And when all hope is gone I'm here No matter how far you are, I'm near It makes no difference who you are I am your angel, I am your angel" "Now, that wasn’t so bad, was it?" Kova asked, speaking rather quickly, though his shining eyes told her he had enjoyed her singing very much. "It’s a very beautiful song, and your voice is marvellous too…" Kiyone felt like she was living a dream, this felt so good… "Ready now, the next verse is appearing on the TV…!" And all too soon, for both of them, the song ended. "Kiyone-chan, you were magnificent!" Kova concluded. "Where in the blue blazes did you learn to sing so well?" "Well, I used to sing with Mihoshi, and then when we came back this year, Tenchi had a Karaoke room and we generally sing there every night." "Oh…" his expression dimmed. "I thought this would be special for you, Kiyone-chan." "It is…" She said as she looked into his eyes, then reached over for him. "You, the room, the river and the city, the photos… It’s like I’m in a dream, Kova." One of his hand held hers, another arm was around her, and she could see the emotion welling up in his eyes as their faces drew near. "A dream you created, for me. And a dream you’ve made seem so real." Their lips brushed lightly against each other. "Someday," he added quietly. "This dream *will* be real." Then their lips met and locked together. Kiyone moved nearer him, her other hand holding his face, as they savoured the feeling, for both of them, their first kiss. It seemed they parted too soon, that their stay in paradise was too short, as their eyes opened. Blue on green, sapphire on emerald, their eyes never parted, as they contemplated lengthening their stay. If he wants me, I could never turn him down. If she advances, I don’t think I could resist. Slowly, almost painfully, they backed down, their bodies drawing away from each other. Kova wasn’t calm and detached anymore, nor was Kiyone cool and in control. Both were facing each other, breathing rapidly, their faces lined with sweat, but whether from the excitement or the fear it was hard to tell. "Kova…?" Her green eyes trembled, and she averted her face from him. "I…" "I’m sorry, Kiyone," Kova’s passionate tone and the lapse from his usual term of endearment told her how deeply she had reached within. "Not now." Kiyone’s lips were pressed tightly together, her expression tense. Kova sighed gently. "You’re not that kind of person, Kiyone." A pause. "- chan." "Thank you," her voice was soft, and trembled slightly. "Kova-chan." "Someday, I’ll make this up to you," already his determination had returned. "I promise." "I’ll help you," she looked back up again. "Together, we’ll make our dream come true." The sapphire stones melted into the warm waters of the lake again, and his tender, heart warming smile returned. "And then, we will live our dream, forever." "Maybe we could have a little celebration when we do," Kiyone tried, but the sadness was creeping back into her heart, as she thought how many things stood in their way. Nevertheless, she managed to hide it. "Like maybe another Karaoke session, just you and me?" "That’d be perfect." "And we’ll have to continue from where we left off." She smiled wickedly, as his smile gave way to a nervous grimace. "Erm, I don’t think I’m very good at that, you know." He suddenly looked so uncertain of himself, so young and boyish and innocent, Kiyone couldn’t help but start giggling as the blush she had been trying to fight back rose with a vengeance. Kova took a quick glance at her scarlet face and burst out in laughter himself. "You know," Kiyone said when they had finally stopped. "Someday we ought to work on that." "On what? Our hopes, or about our experience?" "Kova-chan!" "Oh all right. How about just picking another song for two, shall we?" =========================================================== Koneko meowed as she saw the door to the lab open behind. "Washu?" "Yes, Tenchi?" The red headed genius had her back to him, typing furiously at her terminal, and Tenchi watched nervously as various heavy machinery came to life, casting shadows in the occasional bright flashes of electricity. "There's something I have to tell you." "Then say it quick! I'm busy inventing something, you know!" "Erm, well, you know that call yesterday?" "Of course! Don't you forget, I am the greatest genius scientist in the universe!" Washu seemed strangely crabby. "Yes, Professor Washu." He fought the urge to sigh. Things just didn't seem so easy nowadays. "You see, Kiyone did not make that call yesterday." Washu turned around and looked curiously at him. "I thought you said it was Kiyone." "Well," Tenchi scratched his head. "It certainly sounded like Kiyone." Looks like I was right after all, Washu thought to herself. "All right, give me a second." Washu tapped some commands and the lab became still again. She then walked out the lab, still seeming a little irritated at the interruption, although it probably was a big break for her cause. Koneko however, did not seem to worry the least and followed Washu. Tenchi stepped aside to let them by, and closed the door behind him. Washu looked around the house, curiously. "Where's the rest of them?" "Oh, I left them in the Karaoke Room. I thought they might ask too many questions." "Growing wiser, I see. Especially because of Ryoko, right?" "Yeah, I guess. So how are you going to trace it?" "Simple, just do this..." The computer rematerialised before Washu and she input some commands. Within seconds the data was displayed before Tenchi. "Err, Washu, where's that?" He stared curiously at the goobledegook on the screen. "Don’t bother reading it. It’s in a code." She smiled at him. "You’d blow your mind before you even got close to deciphering this, because I was the one who invented it, so don’t try." "Well, then, where’s that?" "Some apartment in town. Sano Ren Rd, know where that is?" "I think it’s near Kiyone and Mihoshi’s apartment." Tencihi turned to go. "Give me a moment, I’ll get the street directory." "Take it easy, Tenchi!" Washu tapped a few buttons and a map appeared on the screen with a certain building lighted up. "There, that’s how I’m going to get there from Kiyone’s place." Something rang in Tenchi’s mind. "Washu, are you going alone?" Tenchi thought about the Tachyon Ray, the EMP and everything. "Don’t worry, you just stay here, okay?" Washu reminded him. "I’ll call for you if I think I need the three of you and Ryo-oh-ki to help." "But why?" "Look, if you go, Aeka and Ryoko and Sasami tags along. Now I’m not worried about Sasami, but if your two girlfriends…" Tenchi looked down at the ground, his face burning a bright red, but Washu continued on unabated. "… start fighting and give us away, our guy’s gonna split like a neutron-bombarded uranium atom, and once he’s out in space with that ship of his, I think a likely start to our options would be to say ‘Ta-ta, so long now’ to this planet Earth of yours. So there." Tenchi was silent as Washu turned resolutely away. Koneko rubbed itself against him, before running off after the redhead. === End of Chapter === NEXT CHAPTER : No Need for a Heavenly Night 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 have never in my whole life read a love story or romance novel before. I would be very grateful if my readers could give me some feedback on this, as it is the first time I've ever tried to set such things down in writing. 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 VII : No Need for a Heavenly Night The music gradually faded away as Kova and Kiyone put their mikes on the table. "It’s getting late, Kova-chan. Shall we be going now?" Kiyone asked as she leaned back, a little tired, but happy nonetheless. "Come on, Kiyone-chan, it’s only eleven thirty. I’ve paid for this place till twelve. Besides, aren’t we enjoying ourselves?" He emptied another cup of tea. "I know I am," Kiyone smiled back. "Though it does feel strange to be drinking tea at a Lounge. I thought this place usually sold something more, well, strong." Kova smirked at her. "Well, I’ve never had much of a taste for sake and the like, but if you like, I’ve got some here." He walked over to a cupboard and opened it to reveal some bottles of the stuff. "No thank you. I was just wondering." "Well, I brought the tea and the tea set along." He mused, half to himself as he looked at the table with the pot and the cups. "It does look kind of weird in this place." He cast his eye over the velvet walls. "But I like the room’s walls colour and texture, especially those beside the television." The Kiyone and Kova hung up on either side seemed to smile back at them. "Of course, you do," Kiyone commented. "You set it up yourself, didn’t you?" "No. But I did pay a considerable sum to get it renovated to my liking, so I guess you could be right," he started looking through the list again. "Let’s see, what next?" Kiyone looked out of the window at the city and the river. Some of the lights had gone out, but the deepening night had cast another soothing layer of velvet over the scenery. Just like the room. "How about…" Kova started. "…stopping for a while?" Kiyone finished. Kova looked at her, a little puzzled. "I’m thirsty, and besides, I’d love to hear the end of your story." "Oh, that? Where did I stop?" An odd gleam was in his eye. "Quit fooling around, you know where you stopped. After you became a space pirate and got Nakamoto killed." Kiyone replied. "Well, anyway I dodged the SSS ships by hiding out on a planet, and so I got away. Before long I found out being a space pirate wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Stealing things and shipments from convoys were rather routine after you’ve done it for the tenth time, although you still feared the odd blaster or two in your back. It was also very brutal, I had to get rid of quite a few ships just to get to the cargo ship, and inside that ship I’d have to kill at least another four people, and that was if I was careful." Kiyone silently gulped to herself as she thought how many children he must have orphaned and how many wives he must have widowed. He caught the look in her eye and sighed. "I know it was wrong, and up to this day, I swear to you, Kiyone-chan, I have never taken pleasure in killing. At first I felt victorious at getting away alive and with the swag, but towards the end I just had to do it out of necessity. Being a space pirate isn’t half as subtle or intriguing as being a spy or a burglar." He sighed again. "Very quickly, I found myself ostracised among the space pirates themselves. I never attacked large convoys, except for my first two, which were SSS, just to spite my old mentor Seida, and they despised me and called me a coward for it, while inwardly I cursed them for being so casual with taking lives. Others also tried to hunt me down, for I had killed someone they knew, who was very probably trying to kill me, or mainly because the Syndicate had asked them to terminate me, or both. My distaste for alcohol and debauchery also made me an outcast there." His eyes saddened. "I wasn’t a very successful space pirate, and my new trade only made me grow older, to think more about life. I would spend all my time alone in my spaceship, picking up things to kill my boredom. I picked up, among many other things, cooking." "So that was why you were so good at it." Kiyone thought back to that meal with pleasure. "Trust me, I had a really looong time to practise. Yet despite that, there were things I just felt I had done right. There was this time, when I was about twenty seven, and I saw this group of space pirate ships flying around a fleet of passenger carriers. The debris around showed the remnants of the carriers’ escort, and those ships were just circling around them and loosing their weak cannons like they were shooting fish in a barrel." Kova’s expression darkened as his eyes blazed with fury. "They were murdering hundreds of thousands of people just for fun!" "What did you do?" Kiyone was surprised to find that a space pirate could think like her. What did you expect? She asked herself. Aren’t space pirates also human, like Ryoko? It’s just that I’ve never thought about that… "They had destroyed two out of the ten carriers when I pretended to join in the fun, and I shot one of their crafts, presumably by accident. Then immediately after that I took down their leader, before they came after me. All six of them. I remember telling myself, I must not die, I must kill them or the carrier fleet would be doomed. I managed to finish the one I had damaged earlier, and then another, before I fled. They came after me, just as I thought they would, and my ship got damaged in the chase. I crashed on a deserted desert planet, all strewn with dust and wind. "There I waited for them, lying by the wreck of my craft like I was mortally wounded. The first chap who stood over me crowed to his partners my position, the last sound he ever made before my blaster cut him down. Somehow I managed to shoot down another two, before I got struck." Kiyone noted the tense fear on his face, the way he stared into space, lost in the depths of his story. "My right arm was injured, and I remember the face of that woman standing a distance away from me, with her mocking smile, but the anger was showing plain in her eyes as she levelled her gun at me. Then she heard her dead comrade call to her, through me, and she paused, for a moment." He sat back, looking exhausted. "I killed her then, with my blaster in my left hand. Though I knew she was a vicious killer, I wasn’t proud of killing her that way. She died with hope in her eyes, believing that the sand was ruining her vision , that somehow one of her comrades was still alive." "What happened to you, then? Stranded on a deserted planet, with four ships orbiting above you that you couldn’t use?" "The GP came along to investigate, and I believe the carrier fleet personnel told them about me. They came searching and detected my distress signal, so they took me and the four empty ships into custody. I managed to convince them I was the one who had rescued the carriers, and they treated me with somewhat more respect than a common criminal. Nevertheless, the Galaxy Police Officers struck me as very cold and detached. I knew they envied my handiwork, having shot down three of seven ships then killing the remaining four pirates, and they definitely agreed with my motivation, but they never really showed me they did." He looked straight at her as he continued. "Were you like that, and would you have continued to be so if you never met me?" "Yes… I guess." Kiyone seemed a little embarrassed. "So, I didn’t guess wrongly." He quickly glancing at his watch, "There’s only ten more minutes till twelve, Kiyone-chan. What say we do a last number?" "Fine by me. I suppose you have a song in mind." "You read me superbly, Kiyone-chan." He reached for a different album. "I knew we’d come to this moment sooner or later, so this is the song - ‘If I Never Knew You.’" "What’s it about?" Though Kiyone was almost certain she knew. "About two different people from two different worlds." He said as he sat back close by her side, face inclined to her, and for a moment she thought he’d kiss her again. "It’s about us. And don’t worry, Kiyone-chan, this time I get to go first." And the soothing music filled the room. If I never knew you If I never felt this love I would have no inkling of How precious life can be And if I never held you I would never have a clue How at last I'd find in you The missing part of me "Hey, isn’t it my turn, yet?" She teased. "Just hang on, two more stanzas." His voice was calm, as though the music soothed him. …… I'd have lived my whole life through Lost forever If I never knew you "She’s all yours!" And Kiyone took up the song. If I never knew you I'd be safe but half as real Never knowing I could feel A love so strong and true I'm so grateful to you I'd have lived my whole life through Lost forever If I never knew you Kova’s rich baritone sounded again. I thought our love would be so beautiful Looking right at him… Somehow we made the whole world bright Two voices as one… I never knew that fear and hate could be so strong All they'd leave us were these whispers in the night But still my heart is singing We were right Kiyone felt her heart soar as the song went on, taking her and Kova up high on invisible wings, and he smiled back, with his arm close around her, as though she were all that mattered to him. And as the song drew to a close, he put down the microphone. And If I never knew you I'd have lived my whole life through Kiyone let hers down too. Empty as the sky Just the two of us. Never knowing why Lost forever If I never knew you The music slowly faded away into silence, depositing them both back in the mundane world. But somehow, it didn’t seem that bad, not when they were together. "You know, I loved the part, at the end, when we put down the microphones." Kiyone commented, still feeling the warm touch of his arm around her, though she did not snuggle up by his side, and he did not try to pull her near. "Yes, that’s why I did it. It felt like we were singing our emotions to each other, didn’t it?" "And we meant the every word we said. I wish I had your taste in these things." "You always have." He brought his face near hers and brushed her cheeks with his lips. Even though they had already consummated a full kiss, they could still feel each other tingle with delight. Then Kova stood up, and picked the rose out of the vase. "For you, Kiyone-chan." "Why, thank you!" As she held it she noted it had no thorns on it. "Say, Kova-chan, how come this rose has no thorns on it?" "I thought we had enough thorns on both of us, so this rose wouldn’t need any." "And we are going to whittle away our differences the way you did with this, right?" He nodded, knowing she saw right through him to his heart. "When we first met I was an enigma to you, wasn’t I?" "Well, what was I to think when a stranger looked at me while asking my partner for her name? And thrust the extra things he had purchased in my hands an hour later?" Kiyone retorted, though her eyes told him she was just playing along. "Well, now you read me like a book." He took the golden framed photos off the wall and tucked it under his arms, and Kiyone was sorry to see them taken down. In his other hand he held the vase. "Almost, but not quite." Kiyone wondered if she should spring the question about the Tachyon Ray and the Science Academy on him, then decided against it. "I need to know more about you. Do finish your story tonight. And I’d like to hear how you came by so much of the domestic currency." "And also tell you about how I got aboard the Yagami." As he spoke, she saw before her own eyes, a silver rod suddenly appear in his hands, almost like magic, and as he shifted it, a black rift opened before its tip. The revelation struck her like a thunderbolt from a clear blue sky. The Dimensional Rift Creator! It *was* him! He did not seem to have noticed her tense state as he deposited the photos and the vase into the alternate dimension. His rod seemed to vanish from his hands and the portal closed, as he turned to face her. Yet a cursory glance at his somewhat dimmed face told her he had noticed everything. "So, Washu is on Earth too, looking for me." His voice was soft, almost inaudible. "I guess that’s why you wanted to hear my story. To hear if I’m the thief, and if I am the one. Well, now you know." He held out both his hands to her, palms facing down. "Care to take me in now?" Struck speechless, Kiyone didn’t know what to do, what to think. Rope him in, 2 nd Class Chief Inspector Kiyone! But, he’s Kova-chan… Take him in. Get a promotion. Besides, Washu would be very grateful, and that’s a good first. His gaze was steady and unwavering, watching and waiting. "No, Kova-chan." She stepped away from him, her expression sorrowful as she looked at him. "You are more to me than my duties ever could be. I thought you’d think better of me." "I did." Slowly, he lowered his hands back by his side, and a thin smile formed on his face, though it was strained and tense. "And you, Kiyone- chan, are more to me than my freedom or my life ever could be. So, since you aren’t going to take me in, what are you going to do about me?" "I’ll tell Washu about you. Maybe I could get you both together and have a good talk." Kiyone tried to salvage the situation. "We’d probably let you go, you know, with some concessions." "Honest to truth, I’m not worried about the few of you, Kiyone-chan." He turned and looked out over the river. "Tenchi, if he truly took Kagato down, plus Ryoko and Princess Aeka are more than enough to capture me. But I’m not worried about them." His eyes seemed to focus and pierce the distant city. "Somewhere, in some guise, Syndicate agents are here. And they are near. If you any of you restrain me in any way, they’ll probably just abduct me there and then. Once they learn all they need to know from me, I’d be terminated." "How do you know? The earth is so out of the way, how can you be so certain?" "If Washu is here, they are here." He turned back to her, his expression grim. "I know how they work. They’ve probably been keeping an eye on her since she left the Academy. If they get me, I don’t think I’d ever see you again." His smile was thin and brittle, almost bitter. "I once feared death at their hands, but now all I want is always to be with you. But if I remain by your side and go back to Washu, we’d both be playing right into their hands." "I’ll think of something. Trust me." Kiyone tried to calm down. "Let’s forget about that, okay? We still have each other here, now." "I’d love to." Kova walked over to the door and rapped three times on it. It opened and someone passed a camera stand in, a rather primitive one by galactic standards, but nevertheless functioning. Kova tipped the person off and closed the door, setting up the stand. "Care to take a picture with me?" Kiyone fought off the urge to gawk. Kova could bounce back like anybody’s business, leaving all the sombre and serious things they had just discussed behind like some worn, unimportant rag. His emotional control is fantastic! He’s a spy after all. Well, I just have to get used to that part of him. "Yeah, sure!" She quickly got up as the ex-spy took a galactic standard camera out of a dimensional rift and placed it on the stand. "Then we could place it between those two pictures of us." "Where the take?" He smiled from behind the camera, and Kiyone fought down an disgusting, inane feeling that he was Nobuyuki. The choice was obvious. "Before the window, with the scenery behind us." Kova adjusted the camera, putting her into focus, standing demurely before the window, her earlier cares and qualms receding into the background. He has very soothing presence in dealing with serious things, doesn’t he? She thought to herself. "Open the window, Kiyone-chan! The glass is reflecting the shot." She opened the window, and smiled as the cool night breeze blew around her, sending her hair dancing about in verdant billows around her as she turned back . "Excellent pose! Hold it right there…" "Wait a minute? Where will you stand?" Kiyone noted she was taking the centre stage. "Don’t worry. You’ll know in time. Give me about ten more seconds or so…" he fiddled with the camera, secured a piece of rope a few metres long to it, and then he came out from behind it, holding one end of the rope in one hand. "What’s that for? And where will you be?" For an answer he grinned at her, before he agilely slid between her and the side of the window. Then his feet were perched on the window sill, as he half squatted just behind her, with his head directly above hers, and his hands were draped on her shoulders. Kiyone could feel his jacket billow out as his dark blue curls, blown by the wind, reached out over her head, and she could feel his body near hers. Lifting her wrists up before her shoulders, she took his hands, and they watched the camera, waiting. "You look beautiful, Kiyone-chan." She heard him murmur, like a man lost in paradise. "Like you were in your sleep, only now you are glad…" "I’m sorry I can’t see your face." "That’s all right. Watch the camera." There was a whirr, then a click. "Hold on, there’s another two shots coming up," there was a mischievous edge to Kova’s voice, and something clicked in Kiyone’s mind as she thought about where they both were. "Kova-chan!" But she was too late, for quick as a flash, his hands had let go of hers and reached down by her forearms, gripping her tight, then pulling. Kiyone gasped as she felt herself being lifted up and backwards, about to participate in a back flip, and the camera took another shot. Then they were out of the room, the cool night air was all about them, and it seemed they were suspended in the air, for one splendid moment. His blue eyes met her green ones, as he turned her around to face him, his hands still clasping her tight to him. His expression was of beauteous happiness and radiant serenity, while hers was of delighted surprise and blissful joy. Behind them, the city, the sky, the river, served as a gorgeous backdrop in that moment of rapture. It’s like we’re flying, living our paradise… Oh, that this moment could last forever. The camera, still standing in the room, clicked again. Then the air rushed by them as they tumbled downwards, and she felt his arm jerk a little, while the world behind him changed rapidly from sky to river to city, all glittering with brightness, seeming to cheer them on in their journey together. "Who first?" he asked, his dark blue hair seeming to reach out to her as it flew wildly about. "Together," she put her arms around him and drew him near her as they fell. There was a loud splash as they broke through dark, shining surface of the water as one, their eyes watching each other, as emerald and sapphire descended into the deeps, still locked in an embrace. And now, without any shadow of doubt, they knew. You’re the only one there ever will be in my heart. Their embrace broke as they swam for the surface, but their hands were still held linked. "What about the camera?" Kiyone asked as they broke the surface, her green hair clinging to her head and her dress. "It’s here." Kova trod water, his other hand pulling the rope in, and then the camera was in his grip. "Care for one last take?" He grinned, holding it up. "No, I’m not presentable!" she retorted, laughing. "Look up and smile!" He tossed the camera up in the air and they both looked up at it, drenched but smiling. There was a whirr, and a click, then Kova reached his arm up to grasp it, but Kiyone leaped higher and snatched it out of mid air. "Hey, Kiyone-chan, that’s mine!" He tugged vainly at the rope. "Well, you’ve decided so many shots, it’s my turn to make the decisions." Her fingers quickly adjusted the settings, then she tossed it away diagonally away from them, careful to make sure it was facing them, even as Kova, catching her drift, swam close, his face coming close to hers. Click. And they kissed. Click again, then splosh. "You know, you really are into this business, aren’t you?" He said, looking half amazed at her, as his hand drew the camera back in. "Well, you can say I just can’t get enough of you," she pecked him lightly on the cheek. "And I want everyone to see how much we love each other when the photos come out." "That’s very sweet of you, Kiyone-chan." He said as they swam for the side, still holding hands. "You know, there was a time when I thought nobody would ever say that to me, and I figured it was because I didn’t even have a mite of feeling in me." "You were never more wrong." They clambered out of the water on a thin ledge by the river, and as one, leaped up over the edge of the railing. "Oh, look at me, I’m totally unpresentable," Kiyone complained, as she wrung out the folds of her blouse in the light of a dim, orange street lamp. "I disagree. After all, I *am* looking, and I seriously think white looks good on you." He grinned, stepping closer. "And now that you’re wet, very good, in fact." "Kova-chan, you pig!" She quickly turned her back on him, her face burning red with embarrassment. "Anyway, Kiyone-chan, I believe you wanted to hear my story?" "True, but where will we be going now?" "How about my place?" Kiyone’s eyes narrowed as she thought about the implications. No, he couldn’t possibly mean that. If he had, the two of us would still be… Kiyone quickly consigned the thought to oblivion. "As always, lead the way. And don’t look at me anymore, especially *not* that way." "Sure," He walked away, taking care not to look back, while she followed behind, listening. "Anyway, after the GP returned me to HQ, I just knew I was about to be sentenced to death. I quickly altered my face so I was a GP officer, and they believed me when I said I had been overwhelmed by the prisoner and left in his cell. Thus I got away, and in my guise as a GP officer, I accessed my own file. Imagine my horror when I found I had been found responsible for over sixty raids and attacks, and suspected of over a hundred more, out of which over fifty had been made on passenger carriers. My gut instincts were right, there was no way I would escape the death penalty. I stayed composed within the lions’ den, even as searches went on for Kova Kashiro. The Section Chief asked to see me, as the officer who had succumbed to the prisoner. And guess who was with him - Seida Sakanoi." "What did you do to the original GP Officer? He would have responded to the Section Chief’s call if he had been anywhere around." "Oh, I had overcome him when he came to my cell." Kova grinned. "All I did was knock him out and tuck him under my cell bed. I’ll bet the GP Personnel never thought of searching there, at least not till I was home and dry!" "I would," Kiyone commented dryly. "I figured that’s how you like to work." "Well, you’re different. You’re not the same as those dunderheads. The Section Chief, clueless like the rest of them, started scolding me, telling me how vicious a criminal I had let escape. Of course I kept silent, but later when I left I crept into the ventilator system and overheard their conversation. Apparently Seida Sakanoi wished vengeance on me because I had stolen his plans, discrediting him before his masters, and in my second attack on an SSS convoy I had destroyed a ship with his son on it. I then realised he must have been the one who set up my criminal record, and that he would never rest until he saw me dead." Kova shook his head sadly. "I never meant to kill his son, and it must have hurt him greatly, but there was nothing I could do. What I was angry about was the cargo of the SSS convoy ships which I had attacked. They contained waters with poisonous chemicals within them, and they were going to give it to certain planets so they would have to buy their lives by submitting to the SSS, no doubt after countless millions have died. And even though I understood his anger, I could not forgive him for setting me up for so many crimes." Kiyone sighed. "Actually, if you’ve committed more than ten ship raids, you’re already facing execution as stated under Galactic Standard Law Article 3698, Section 21, with almost negligible chance of reprieve." He turned back to her, displeasure clear in his eyes. "I don’t give a damn about you officers and your Galactic Standard Bullshit." "Well, I do." Kiyone stood her ground, anger rising in her. "Do you realise that every new crime you commit is standing between the two of us!? I may be in love with you, but I am still a Galaxy Police Officer! Do you know what kind of position you’re putting me in!?" His eyes softened. "I’m sorry, Kiyone-chan. I didn’t mean it quite the way it came out. It’s just that it was so trying then back at the GP HQ. They kept on drilling that crap into me, like it meant a difference." He sighed. "I just didn’t expect that sort of thing from you, and I let my annoyance out too hastily. I’m sorry if I hurt you." Kiyone felt herself deflate. "I was just trying to tell you it wouldn’t have made a difference whether or not he set you up. After all, you killed his son." They continued walking. "Oh no, it does make a difference. I live for that day of reprieve, Kiyone-chan, now that I’ve met you. And every false murder attached to me means our future is that much more unlikely to happen. It is already almost negligible, by your own admission." His voice trembled as his mind absorbed his own words. "I will *not* let its chance get astronomically minute. And one more thing. I am certain that he is the only one in the Syndicate Spy Network who is seriously concerned about getting rid of me. As long as he lives, I can expect to find Syndicate agents or hired assassins at my door the moment I settle down. And that will mean I can never do so…" He forced himself to leave out the words ‘with you.’ "…because I will never put anyone I care for into that kind of peril, not if I can help it." "Thank you. But I think I can take care of myself." "I believe that, but that doesn’t mean I’d like to see its veracity being tested. Do you want to hear the rest of my story?" "I don’t think I’ll mind, but I’ll keep my bullshit to myself now." She smiled. "How kind of you." He bowed, almost too solemnly. "Well, I eventually made my way out of the GP HQ, hijacked a GP Patrol ship and made off. My false voice led them to believe I actually was that GP Officer, so they really didn’t learn about it until it was too late, probably when they were preparing the cell for its next occupant. Eventually I managed to contact some of my old contacts, and they got me a new ship, although I nearly got shot down by them. They thought I was really a GP Officer." "My career as a space pirate ended forty years ago, when I learnt news from a source that an SSS convoy was about to leave, carrying secret weapons and data stolen from the Science Academy to the Syndicate under the guise of a merchant freighter. I went there and walked right into a trap. Fortunately for me, I had anticipated it might just be that, so I managed to beam myself down and by using several alternating weights, had the ship fire spasmodically while in auto pilot as I escaped on board a capsule, with a few million dollars worth of Juraian and Syndicate cash on me, complete with disguise. After they wrecked my ship, I remained in hiding for a few weeks in the Academy, then registered myself as a student there. A few weeks after that, I bribed an administrator to push back the date when I was enrolled." "How did you find the Academy?" "It was great, and I really liked it there. I learnt a *lot*, but it was really very dry, at least until I realised there were some agents both from Jurai and the SSS within the Academy. It started out by placing surveillance on and stealing from them, but in the end I wound up getting a lot of data from all around the Academy. I remember I spent one whole week trying to figure out this thesis I had stolen, only to find it was an algorithm on how a mind’s brainwave pattern leads its owner to develop a philosophical interest, which was of no practical use at all. I eventually learned of many interesting things, like…" "…the Tachyon Ray, the Dimensional Rift Creator, the Stealth and the EMP technology." Kiyone reminded him pointedly. "Well, those are only those I found applicable to a new spacecraft. I created the Shuriken when I was bored, and by applying my own knowledge, I miniaturised these technology based on what I knew of them." "That’s odd, Washu told me the Miniaturisation technology was also stolen from the Academy." "In a way, since I was educated there, but my designs were different from what had been so far. Your old Dimensional Rift Creator is that door standing in your apartment, and I believe you have met mine." He flashed the silver rod over his shoulder at her. "I designed this myself, for utility, while the Tachyon Ray I managed to miniaturise until it could fit into a ship. The EMP weapons I created so I would not have to destroy ships and take lives if I wanted to steal cargo. I had also wanted to make a Tachyon Blaster, but I decided there was no point carrying such an awesome weapon around." "Washu has one, solely to counter your Ray in case you fire it. So, that silver rod is your weapon, huh?" Kiyone queried. "It looks pretty weak." "Yes, it is my weapon, but I think you’ll quickly find it is not at all weak." Kova turned to face her, his right hand holding the rod. Kiyone stepped back as it turned blue with laser energy, almost like a shorter version of Tenchi’s blade. "What it is, you will learn if I have to use it. But now that I’ve met you, I hope I never have to." The blue receded back to silver. "What happened to your blaster, then? I’d really like to see it." Kova smiled at her question, and his silver rod swept out a rift. Placing his hand in, he took out a worn, greyish blaster slightly bigger and with a longer barrel than Kiyone’s blaster. She caught it as he tossed it to her, testing its weight with her hand. "So, this is the companion that has kept you alive for so long." She ran her hand along its surface, where it colour had worn off, where she could make out a few flecks of blue and red on it. "It’s silenced. Ideal for covert killing." Kova nodded at her evaluation as she tucked it into her shoe, walked around a little, then in one swift, smooth fluid motion, bent down, pulled it out and levelled it at him. "It also is awesomely light and easy to handle." She flicked the Blaster about her hand. "I like it," she turned it over and extended its handle back to him. "I’m glad you do," Kova brought the silver rod up before him. "Keep it, then." Kiyone blinked. "Kova-chan?" "Consider it a gift," Kova said. "Although after I made my new weapon, I never needed to use it again, I never could bring myself to discard it. It’s been my companion for too long." His eyes glinted. "I’d trust my life with that weapon, and now I’d love for you to have it, Kiyone-chan." Then dimmed. "If we’d ever have to be apart, it will remind you of me, and when you’re in danger, it will save you even if I’m not by your side." His smile became tender, but sad. "Please take it." Kiyone thought for a while, then the blaster vanished into her pocket. "Thank you." Kova acknowledged her thanks with a slight bow, then turned away. "My apartment is just around the corner. I’ll tell you about Yagami and getting money here on earth there." He grinned. "I suspect, from the state of your phone and apartment, that you’ll have quite something to learn from me about the second item." I wonder if he steals them, Kiyone thought. No. He will try to change. For us. Kova led her up the steps, to his apartment on the second floor of the squat building. Outside the door, there hung a sign - Dr Kashiro, Medical Clinic. "Does that answer one of your questions, Kiyone-chan?" He sounded amused as he opened the door and stepped in. "It certainly does. Where did you learn how to be a doctor?" "The Academy. Just the basic courses in Biology, Chemistry, and Medicine qualifies one to be a doctor almost anywhere." He settled into his seat behind his desk, and stretched a little. "Satisfied?" "Not in the least." Kiyone told him, her eyes searching around for a clue, as she closed the door behind him. "How did you make so much money in two days? It’s not like they know how good you are." Kova winked at her for a reply. Kiyone, suspecting something, walked over beside him, behind the desk, as Kova grinned irascibly at her. "You’re hiding something, aren’t you?" He shook his head vigorously. Kiyone turned as if to go, then spun around and shoved him off the chair. "Kiyone-chan?" He asked, his back on the floor. She ignored him and peeked under his desk. Sure enough, a small terminal was set there, and she saw two human shapes standing, one male and female. She glanced at the doorway, then peered back at him. "The door’s a scanner, right? Detects anatomical anomalies." "Kiyone-chan, you are good!" He beamed. "Not bad, huh? You should have seen how many people I astounded on my first day. Now that was fun, if a little tiring." "Kova-chan, you’re amazing." Kiyone thought about all the trouble she had gone through to find part time jobs. "I wonder how I’d be living if I’d tried this." Someone a good distance away chewed on what she heard. It’s Kova Kashiro all right, fits his file. But who would have thought, Kiyone… "Probably in a prison for quacks," Kova replied. "You forgot Mihoshi." "Oh yeah, right," Kiyone said. "What about Yagami?" "Well, I was passing by here after I left the Academy, and so I decided to check the ship’s data to see if the GP had any new data on me, as well to see if there was anything of interest." "You burglar, you! And what did you see that was of interest?" "This," he held up three plastic photos, a little wet from their dip, but she could see they were the three out of the four photos placed in hers and Mihoshi’s room on board the Yagami. "This was when I first met you, Kiyone." He looked at the one he had converted into the larger photo he had framed up. "You know, you shot my heart when I saw you like this. And I simply had to come to Earth to find you." "Well…" She didn’t know what to say. That she had captured his heart even before he met her? "Although I must admit, I’d prefer you wearing something else to this uniform." He looked at her, his eyes speculative. "How about we take a replacement photo now? You just hold this pose…" Kiyone slapped him on the head as he chuckled. "In this!? In your dreams, buster!" Suddenly, they heard the door open, and spun around as one, blue and green eyes focusing on the intruder. "WASHU!?" They said together. Under a building opposite them, someone’s eyes popped open, not believing her own ears. For a reply, Washu extended her hand. "The Tachyon Ray." Her eyes were cold and chilled, and Kiyone thought she sounded exactly as she did when she was lecturing them on the weapon, rather than a question asking for a device. Kova’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What are you doing here, Professor?" Kiyone tugged at his arm. "Kova-chan, we need to talk. Washu, could you give me some time, please?" The redhead solemnly shook her head. "Now." Kiyone had an uneasy feeling about her. Washu’s inflection was all wrong. It was like she was saying the ‘now’ from ‘Only now, I can…’, it was totally weird. Kova looked at Washu, then Kiyone, his face pale and set. Suddenly, he gripped Kiyone’s arm and pulled her back from before the door, behind his desk and nearer the window. Washu’s brows narrowed and she stepped through the doorway, red eyes regarding Kova and Kiyone almost maliciously. The green-haired detective regarded the scientist nervously, trying to ignore Kova who was tugging very insistently at her hand. "Just a minute, Washu…" Bending before Kova. "What is it, Kov…" Her voice died as she saw what he was pointing at. The terminal’s display showed not a body with flesh and bone, but a humanoid shape made of completely greyish silver matter. Washu’s eyes narrowed as she saw Kiyone’s facial expression change. "JUMP!" Kova threw Kiyone backwards to the window and stood before Washu, forearms raised to shield himself and Kiyone from the scientist. Kiyone glimpsed Kova’s forearms light up with blue laser shield, and a scarlet ball of energy form in Washu’s hand. She just managed to dive out the window, shattering the glass, before her vision was filled with blinding, crimson light. =========================================================== She just managed to yank her ear phones off before the explosion deafened her, and stared in shock as the apartment opposite was engulfed in a fiery red explosion that practically tore apart the entire three storeys of the building. Kiyone! She thought, her short legs pumping as she made her way towards the burning wreckage of Dr Kashiro’s apartment, her eyes searching anxiously for a sign of the green eyed detective. They spotted a movement within the smoke, and she quickly hurried over. Sure enough, Kiyone lay there, in her soot blasted white blouse, debris about her. Her leg was trapped under a large slab of concrete, and her eyes were barely open, while her right hand reached out vainly for help, as the left was pinned under her body. "Washu." Kiyone managed, softly. The scientist took her hand amidst the smoke and fallen mortar. Kiyone watched as Washu’s other hand pointed to the concrete slab, that promptly shattered and crumbled into dust before her burst of pink energy, freeing Kiyone’s leg. The scientist put both her arms under Kiyone as she helped her up and supported her weight. =========================================================== Kova opened his eyes, and sat up painfully. He had been lying amidst the debris, but his last minute backflip coupled with the explosion’s impact had served to propel him quite far away from where the big slabs had fallen. His forearms were unscathed, but his body was lacerated in quite a few other places, while his jacket and pants hung around him in tatters. "Kiyone-chan?" he called softly, both out of weakness and caution. "I’m here." Kiyone replied softly. She was about twenty metres to his right, both blasters in her hands and ready to fire. Her clothes were blackened on one side, and her arms and legs were slightly lacerated, but not as badly as Kova’s. "Are you all right?" The concern in her voice showed through even though she kept her eyes peeled for any sign of the enemy within the rising smoke. "I’m fine." Kova jumped lightly to his feet despite his hurts, his silver rod held out before him in his suddenly gloved hands. Around his wrists, two silver gauntlets showed through the tatters of his jacket sleeves. His