1stly : PLEASE REVIEW! I wanna noe! (even if u think it sux!)

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 XII : No Need for Communication

They watched, as the Tachyon Blaster held in Seida’s hand blazed with dark blue energies, gathering power and charging up with an eerie crackling sound, preparing to unleash its deadly load.

Washu ran towards Aeka, her heart pounding with fear. "Ryoko, help me!" The bracelet about her right wrist glowed with small golden lights as the gathering night blue darkness in the distance grew in intensity.

Pain lanced through Ryoko’s chest as she seized Washu’s arm.

I’m hurt…

The image of Tenchi and the rest of her adopted family being obliterated in a colossal, lethal, searing maelstrom of dark azure flashed in her mind.

To hell the pain!

Her will drew her mind beyond the earthly constraints of her weakened body.

Ryoko and Washu materialised about twenty metres from Seida, and the space pirate collapsed out of weakness as Washu, forcing her sore body to move forward, ran ahead with the Stasis Discharger aiming for the spymaster.

The golden energies increased in brilliance and intensity as they detected the Tachyon flow in close proximity, growing from seething to raging in a few milliseconds by tapping the nearby focus of power, then sending a swift shimmering shaft of scintillating radiance racing towards the white robed man.

Seida’s silvery eyes lit up for a moment in a mask of utter frustration and fear. "N..!" His cry of frustration was cut off as the light descended upon him and the blaster of gathering darkness in his hand, surrounding him in a stream of brightness…

"You lose…" Washu managed, her words almost a sigh of relief, then fell forward onto the ground.

A moment of silence, as all pairs of eyes fell on the two distant figures sprawled on the ground, plus the block on the dais . Even Koneko and Anako seemed to have realised what had transpired entailed life or death for them, and remained transfixed where they were.

Then, there was a brief patter of running feet, as Tenchi covered the ten odd metres between himself and Ryoko.

"We’re alive!" Sasami screamed in elation, and cannonballed into Aeka, hugging her tightly around the waist, and her sister, tearing her eyes from the upsetting scene ahead, bent down and gently stroked Sasami’s hair.

Joy finally dawned on Mihoshi’s shocked expression. "Oh, this is…" Her voice died as she realised that unlike Sasami, she had no one to turn to share her feelings with any more.

Kiyone and Kova were locked in a tight embrace, their bodies pressing close together. Kova’s eyes watched as his right hand slowly ran through Kiyone’s hair, while she held on tightly to his neck, with her head resting gently on his right shoulders and chest, her eyes closed in happiness.

"You’re alive, Kova-chan." The hand around his neck caressed his back and neck.

"So are you. And that’s all I could ever want."

Mihoshi watched, conflicting emotions coursing through her mind as they slowly lifted their heads up and back off each other’s shoulders. Their eyes locked for an instant, shining with ecstasy, then like drowning men gulping fresh air, their lips met.

I am so happy for you, Kiyone.

A fragile smile formed on Mihoshi’s face, her blue eyes glittering with teardrops, as Kova’s hands swept Kiyone off her feet and he drew her close him like a groom with his bride.

Then their lips parted.

"Kova-chan…" Kiyone’s eyes shone bright with passion, then she realised where she was. "What the…?"

Kova grinned and whirled around in a rapid waltz, twirling her and himself as her dark green hair streamed out behind in verdant circles, seeming not to feel his hurts.

"Put me down!" She cried, her voice somewhere between exasperation and exhilaration.

"Woohoo!" He laughed as he tossed her up above his head level, and caught her with a swing of his arms again.

"Kova-chan!"

Laughing heartily, he hefted her, legs first, up and over his head, before bringing her down. Just moments before her feet touched the ground, he spun her around as he turned and caught her in his arms.

"Kova-chan!" Kiyone sounded much less vehement now, and though she was conscious her feet were still off the ground, his sapphire eyes and strands of dark blue hair hanging over them seemed to be all her mind could take in now.

"Oh god, I love you so, Kiyone-chan." He held her close to him again, and Kiyone sighed in blissful contentment.

The tears trickled down Mihoshi’s face.

Kiyone, I am so happy…

===========================================================

As Washu had froze Seida, a shuttle pulled out of the Comet’s docking bay.

He looked back with some sort of relief. He had specially requested this shuttle and its docking section be EMP-shielded and provided with energy directly from the Comet’s generators so it could pull out of the ship even with the Stasis Field in place.

As they entered space, the lights of the shuttle flickered and went out.

What the…?

Oh yes, the EMP field works directly on the ship now…

"Solar, perform energy feed into the shuttle."

"Yes, sir."

He wondered if the Comet would explode soon. If Washu had been too slow, it would of course rid him of his troubles, but given her resourcefulness, it might have gone awry.

He shrugged. The entire ship was expendable, including the cyborg, that was why he was on this shuttle.

As Solar linked up to the main ship energy feed, the lights turned dimly back on, flickering occasionally, as the shuttle drew away from the Comet.

"Overrule self-preservation status," he added to Solar.

===========================================================

"Washu?" Tenchi asked, supporting Ryoko as they stood over the redhead. "Are you okay?"

Washu opened her eyes, and looked at them. "What do you think, huh? ‘Course I’m fine!" She tried to get up. "Oh..." Her muscles hurt, and she massaged them gently. "Well, I’m alive, if that’s what you mean."

"What about him?" Tenchi gestured at the golden transparent block on the dais.

Washu took some deep breaths, getting unsteadily to her feet. Ryoko steadied her with a hand. "We’ll take him into custody, on board Ryo-oh-ki." She spoke slowly, and carefully. "Kova can order the Comet crew to return back to Synera, using his voice."

"So we…?"

"…call it a day."

===========================================================

Finally, the light in the shuttle stopped flickering as they left the EMP field behind.

He looked at Solar, a mere chair of metal beside him.

"Solar, Solar, do you read me?"

There was no response. He ordered the ship’s computer to run a scan on Solar.

‘Unit disabled permanently, due to loss of operating power. Chances of recovery - one out of ten googols.’

He nodded to himself, running his fingers over the sleek, smooth surface of the chair. Pure Solvarium, he could probably return the material to the Labs to be worked on again, maybe as a different model now.

‘Path set for Synerean airspace, seventy by forty by sixty points from planet Colrathius.’

If only he had that Tachyon Blaster, he could finish it all here and now, but he had to give it up or jeopardise his own survival. Of course, there are other ways to work about it…

A transmission screen flickered on.

"Galaxy Police Headquarters, how may we help you?"

"Put me to Section Chief Code 37A, of Standard Enforcement Units."

"Identifying Source - Synerean Cruiser Shuttle, rank Captain. Request approved."

There was a pause, then the image of the Section Chief appeared.

"Oh, it’s you again, Captain." The man looked flustered and worried. "What happened? Why aren’t you on the Comet? And do you know what happened to 2nd class Chief Inspectors Kiyone and Mihoshi, or their ship the Yagami? "

"I am very sorry to inform you the Yagami has been destroyed." Overlord watched in veiled amusement as the Section Chief inhaled sharply. "I believe a certain Kova Kashiro I warned you earlier about to be responsible, for both the Yagami’s destruction and for the hijacking of my cruiser, the Comet."

The Section Chief’s expression sunk despondently. "Oh…"

"Will you be sending any men over to investigate? I have reason to believe the villain is still within this Solar System."

"We have…" the Section Chief began, and stopped. To say they have sent someone would be, in a way, untrue. "Two of our officers are proceeding to the Solar System now, Captain." He did not think it prudent to inform the outsider of the precise circumstances under which these two had left the HQ. "About your ship?"

"Oh, if it is not destroyed, I expect the Comet to show up in Synerean airspace. I have, after all, four hundred marines on it, and they will eventually overpower the subverters or drive them out. The crew have sealed orders on exactly which planet to head to in such an eventuality."

The officer nodded, concurring. "Your evacuation?"

"An act of prudence, especially given the sensitive information to which I am privy, High Command has it that I am to take all measures necessary to prevent myself from falling into enemy hands." He took a deep breath. "Death even, if necessary."

The Section Chief bowed in empathy and respect. "Anything else, Captain?"

"Yes." His silver eyes brightened. "I do not believe two officers are enough. May I suggest the employment of certain bounty hunters?"

"No, certainly NOT!" The Section Chief frowned. "Our policies have stated it clearly - no dealings with bounty hunters. We are the sword of justice, not exterminators that indiscriminately eradicate anything deemed as a affliction, but those who attempt to prove it is such first."

Overlord let himself get away with an open smile. "I understand. But the safety of officers is also an important priority, is it not?"

The Section Chief licked his lips and remained silent.

"Tell you what. I have the authority to set up a bounty for Kova Kashiro, worth over 15 million Synereals, or 10 million Juraian dollars."

The Section Chief’s eyes bulged out in shock at the sheer amount of money involved.

"I merely request the Galaxy Police’s services as an arbiter into those quarters, especially that this reward is brought to the notice of the infamous bounty hunter Nagi."

"Well, erm…"

"Surely Nagi’s assistance will better your officers’ chances of survival."

"But not our…"

"Oh, did I mention if a bounty hunter successfully returns his head to us, any arbiters will receive a ten percent commission too?"

The Section Chief thought a while. "All right, Captain, we’ll do it."

"Thank you, Chief. That will be all."

===========================================================

By late evening, when they returned to Earth, almost all the members’ of the Masaki household who were feeling better than they had been, thanks to Washu’s ministrations, which were significantly better than Kova’s.

"Man, it’s good to be back," Tenchi smiled, with the two girls beside him, as the surroundings around him changed from the interior of Ryo-oh-ki to the verdant field before his house. Some dark craters were burnt into the grass, testimonies to the battle that had raged here just that morning.

"Seeing home makes me feel better already," Ryoko put her hand around Tenchi. Her wound still hurt, but much less now.

She stiffened as she felt Aeka’s hand reaching out around Tenchi too, as did the princess.

"What do you mean your home?" Aeka asked, sounding a little tart. "It’s Lord Tenchi’s."

"What’s yours is ours, ne, Tenchi?" Ryoko whispered into his ear.

Tenchi gulped, sweat beading on his head.

"Ryoko!" Aeka’s voice bit a little sharply into Tenchi’s ear. "Please remember we are only Lord Tenchi’s guests."

Tenchi could not help but look up at the darkening sky over his house, his expression helpless.

So much for that. Wishful thinking, I guess…

Behind them Kiyone stood with Mihoshi and Kova flanking her on either side.

"We’re finally back!" Mihoshi laughed, as Koneko and Anako wrestled on the grass beside her and rolled into a crater, getting themselves splattered with the soil.

"So, this is the Masaki household from the outside." Kova looked ahead, his face intent. "Seems more serene then when I first visited this place."

"Most of us like it here." Kiyone watched him, as the evening breeze caused his night blue hair to ripple like water and the longer strands to wave across his forehead and cheeks. "We all have pleasant memories of this place."

"Well, I should be joining you tonight here, then. I am usually more myself by myself."

"But now we have each other."

"Yes, and everything has changed." Rather than pull her close, he turned his gaze onto her, seeming probing into her mind, although his eyes seemed distant and introspective.

He could not last remember when freedom and adventure mattered the most to him.

She could not last remember when promotions and arrests mattered the most to her.

"It has. As we have." Kiyone answered.

Washu watched the two groups before them, sighing as she dragged herself along behind them. Sasami, her only companion by her side apart from Ryo-oh-ki, who had formed into a somewhat battered and weary cabbit on Sasami’s head, seemed to be able to read her mind.

"Mihoshi seems a little lonely." She watched as Aeka and Ryoko fell silent, as the three of them walked over to Tenchi’s house. "And I think Ryoko and Aeka don’t mind each other so much.

"Some things change, Sasami." Washu’s eyes were fixed on Kova thoughtfully. "Even myself, I guess."

Sasami looked a little lost, but ultimately she knew what counted. "Will it be for the better?"

"I hope so."

A rumbling sound was heard, and Kiyone and Kova simultaneously turned to the blonde.

"Oooh…" Mihoshi broke into a nervous grin. "Sounds like dinner time, huh?"

"Sasami, you think you fit enough to cook?" Washu queried.

"Think so." Sasami replied. "Though I’ll probably either be a little slow or have to cook less. "What about you, Washu?"

"Oh, I think I’ll be putting down science for a while, at least for the next four hours. I need a break."

"I think we all do." Including me, she added mentally.

===========================================================

Tenchi picked the note off the sofa as they entered.

‘Welcome back, Tenchi.

Your father and I are at the shrine, and we’ve eaten already. He’s still a little shocked at everything, although not so after some chess games together, so it would be best if you could explain it all to him when you fetch him back tonight after dinner.

Grandpa.’

Tenchi frowned at the note. "Washu, why does Grandpa always seem to know what will happen?" Sometimes it felt almost as if all their struggles out there were little more than unnecessary, unimportant little inconveniences in life, at least from Katsuhito’s point of view.

Washu shook her head at the boy’s naiveté. "He’s over seven hundred years old, Tenchi. Give him some credit on assessing probabilities and likelihoods."

"Hang on, everyone," Sasami hurried off into the kitchen. "Dinner should be ready soon."

"How soon?" asked Kiyone, looking pointedly at Kova, who surreptitiously averted his face.

"I don’t know, it’s pretty late now already." Sasami’s voice was heard. "I’ll try, though."

Kova pursed his lips to whistle, but no sound came out, partially because of the look Kiyone was giving him.

Mihoshi gave a tired little sigh. "But I’m so hungry…"

"So am I," Tenchi added. "We’ll just have to wait it out."

Kova shifted a little uneasily in his chair behind the sofa, but could not help noticing Kiyone lip speak something like, ‘Are you going, or will I have to help you?’ with a stern expression on her face.

"Erm, excuse me…" Kova stood up, and headed for the kitchen.

"Huh?" Aeka, seated beside Tenchi turned behind as the man disappeared into the kitchen, before her eyes fixed on Kiyone, whose face was looking faintly amused and irritated, while her mouth was curled in a tight pout, a little reminiscent of those moments with Mihoshi before she actually started screaming.

The green haired detective sighed. "Men…"

===========================================================

"Hi, Sasami." Kova watched as Ryo-oh-ki, sitting in a corner, reduced a carrot down to nothing.

"Hello…" The little princess didn’t even turn to face him, just bustled about as best she could. Though she felt better already, there seemed to be this constant soreness in and around her body that slowed her movement. "Oh, this is so tiring…" Sasami had enjoyed cooking almost as long as she could remember, and this was about the first time the enjoyment did not outweigh the effort.

"Could I, well, be of assistance?"

"Sure, Kova," Sasami opened the fridge and started taking things out. "What *can* you cook?" Memories of Aeka and Ryoko helping out still gave her the shivers at times.

"Anything you might have some excessive trouble or tedium getting ready."

Sasami thought about it a little. "I’ll take your word for that." The water in the pot plopped as various ingredients broke through its surface. "Meat, then."

"Thank you." Kova smiled as he got to work. He had to admit though, it was the first time he had done cooking wearing his battlesuit.

===========================================================

"Dinner’s ready!" Sasami called to the six people watching television, as Kova strolled out of the kitchen balancing three dishes in his right upturned hand, like a waiter.

"Oh right, at last!" Ryoko exclaimed, even as Mihoshi ran over. Kova ignored her as he rather coolly lowered all three dishes to near the table surface, and used his left hand to sweep them off carefully into position.

Kiyone’s amused expression faded as she watched him work. "Kova-chan, are you feeling better?" He had all the demeanour of a waiter, but the way he laid the dishes, still wary of his left shoulder…

"Definitely." His eye appraised the dishes. "Especially with all this food."

Kiyone rolled her eyes. "Come on, it still hurts, doesn’t it?"

"Negligibly so." Kova looked around at the assemblage at the table. Even Washu seemed almost eager to fill her cravings for food, while Mihoshi was positively slavering. Only Kiyone seemed to walking over with no definitive hunger pangs. Kova gestured to a place between him and Mihoshi before he and Kiyone sat down together.

"Hey, where’s the main course?" Ryoko muttered.

"Coming!" Sasami hurried out, holding the meat and the bowls of rice in a tray.

"What took you so long, Sasami?" Aeka asked.

"Oh, I had to do some things." She gave Kova a wink.

The spy nodded modestly. "It’s an honour to be appraised by the greatest."

Aeka brows twitched questioningly, before Sasami placed everything on, and the table exploded into a wild free for all as chopsticks backed by ravenous stomachs reached out in a mad rush.

"You’re not eating?" Kiyone asked Kova, who was watching, mildly amused.

"I’ll wait and see." His chopsticks carefully picked out another grain of rice and he placed it in his mouth, chewing carefully on it. Kiyone stared at him, wide-eyed.

Just when I think I’ve seen it all, there’s a guy chewing *a* grain of rice…

My guy…

"This has got to be the best meal…" Ryoko tried to speak between mouthfuls.

"I must admit the vegetables are inordinately tasty." Aeka managed a sentence before her chopsticks deposited something into her mouth again.

"The meat’s rather special too," Tenchi added. "Say, how come you cook so well this time?"

Sasami giggled. "I’ve always cooked it this way."

"Hunger makes the best cook." Washu watched as Mihoshi continued stuffing herself, then her gaze slid down to Kiyone taking moderate helping, and lastly to Kova, who seemed to be genuinely interested in chewing grains of rice. "But the meat does taste truly different from your usual style."

"Oh, Kova did that." Sasami pointed out

There was a sudden silence as most of the assemblage stopped eating for a moment, except for Mihoshi and Kiyone.

"What?" Washu said.

"Come on," Kiyone helped herself to another morsel. "You all saw him go into the kitchen, didn’t you? Go on, try it…" The last one was addressed particularly to the man next to her, who was looking at the piece of meat she had placed on his practically still full bowl.

Kova stared at it as if he were looking at poison, then downed it at a shot. "Hmmm, this is…" His eyebrows arched in pleasant surprise. "…very good…" His eyes swivelled over to Sasami.

"Yes?" The little princess asked, innocently, as everyone resumed eating.

"Could you tell me what you added to this?"

"Maybe next time." Her gaze was cast over the dishes before them. "Why don’t you eat first?"

Kova frowned a little, before he caught Kiyone’s expression.

"For heaven sakes, Kova-chan, do you want me to have to feed you!?"

"Well, I’m not used to eating with so many people around me…"

Kiyone smiled a little too kindly and patted him on the back. "Well, you’re a spy, so I’m sure you will learn fast, right?" Her voice was just a little too patronising.

"All right, don’t mind if I do." Kova conceded, and started his meal in earnest.

===========================================================

Kova watched as the golden block and its contents flashed in and out of existence in the machine, that looked like a big glass tank with metal above and below. The door behind Kova opened slightly, and Kiyone stepped in, having bathed and changed into her usual white blouse and green tights, as well as having tucked Mihoshi in to sleep.

"Okay, here goes…" Washu murmured, facing the keyboard.

Seida, the Tachyon Blaster and the Stasis Cell vanished, as numbers flashed on the screen of the Washu’s terminal. Washu stepped over by the machine, then as the numbers stopped rolling by, she reached out into a hole at the machine’s base.

There was a slight clank, as the Tachyon Blaster landed in her hand, and Seida materialised in the machine itself, still surrounded by glass, his other blaster still in his right hand. He stared around frantically through the glass, as though he were a caged animal.

Looking straight at Kova with hatred burning in his silvery eyes, he raised the blaster and fired.

The red beam vanished as it struck the insides of the glass.

"Tsk, tsk, that won’t help you, Seida." Washu announced triumphantly. Seida gave her a glare full of daggers. "It’s laser proof."

"Well, how do you feel now, Seida?" Kova laughed.

Their white robed prisoner seemed not to hear them, as he continued glaring at Washu.

"He can’t hear you, Kova, nor you him." Washu told him. "You’ll need this…" She tossed him what looked like a earphones with a modified speaker. "That’s funny, he’s not saying anything…"

Kova put on Washu’s device. "Hello, Seida, you read me?"

The prisoner turned his baleful gaze back onto him, but he remained oddly silent.

"Seida?" Kova tried. "You there?"

The blaster came up, glowing red, then Seida jammed the weapon’s muzzle straight into the glass and fired at the same time, aiming for Kova. Washu, Kiyone and Kova took a step back as the glass flashed bright red and cracked.

"What the hell?" Washu tried, then blinked in surprise as a possibility struck her.

Seida jammed the blaster into the glass again, his finger about to pull back.

"Get down!" Kiyone cried, knocking Kova down as the glass shattered and the red beam arced out through the darkness of Washu’s laboratory.

Rolling down behind the machines in the lab, the three of them took cover as the white-haired man shot wildly around the room.

"I don’t believe that!" Washu panted. "That glass can absorb up to five times a regular blaster base, and no human I know can inflict that kind of pressure on it!"

"He’s not Sakanoi!" Kova gritted his teeth, then he and Kiyone rose up, the latter’s GP blaster firing as the former leaped out, scythe at the ready.

The red blasts ricocheting off the gleaming cerulean scythe and the golden shots from the GP blaster struck around Seida, and Kova’s eyes turned grim as a red shot took the man in the waist and Kiyone’s shots struck him in the shoulder and chest.

"Looks like my game’s up." The mechanical voice murmured, as the holes sealed themselves.

Seida continued firing without pause, as his left hand came up and released more bursts of red beams.

"It’s a cyborg!" The scythe descended down as the red sword came up to parry the sweep. The beams from the right hand blaster coruscated off the shield on Kova’s forearm. Washu quickly re-summoned her terminal next to her.

Kiyone frowned in irritation, her hands now holding up Kova’s explosive blaster. The cyborg was in sights now, but Kova was in the way. "Kova-chan, clear out!"

The blade blocked the scythe, and Kova tried the bypass method, but this time the cyborg leaped diagonally to the side, as his leg swept out in an arc that struck hard on Kova’s injured right calf. He cried out in pain, rolling away, as his scythe’s path changed from a diagonal sweep into a downwards side swipe, shearing the robot’s shooting arm off as he withdrew from before it.

Satellite had just enough time to glimpse Kiyone’s grimly set mouth and steely eyes before the yellow beam ripped into his lower left torso and his vision was engulfed in a golden blaze.

Washu came out from behind, spraying the chemicals about as bits of Teranium littered the insides of her lab.

"Damn." She examined the smoking pieces of machinery, struck by the various beams and caught in the explosion’s radius. "That cramps my style in here for a while, I guess."

Kova was sitting down to one side, his hands massaging his calf carefully.

"You’re all right, I suppose?" Kiyone watched him anxiously despite the slight sarcasm in her voice.

Something in him reared up in irritation, and his brows knitted, before he realised he deserved that, in a way. "Yeah, good as new," he grinned back mischievously. "Come help me up."

"I wonder how you manage if people take your words at face value." Kiyone shook her head and complied. "What did you tell the GP the time they rescued you after you took down those pirates?"

"Good day?"

There was a smack as Kiyone slapped him on the forehead. "Oh, come on!"

"Actually nothing much. Kinda along the lines of ‘Oh, it’s you people. Thanks for saving me now and hope you enjoy killing me later.’" He subsided into a frown, as his calf shrieked out a series of distressed nerve signals, and his thoughts returned to Seida. "I wonder where Seida really is?"

"Wherever he is, definitely not here." Washu replied flatly. "Probably on his way to wherever he’s going."

"Maybe we should have checked the Comet first." Kiyone said. "At least those of us that were feeling better, rather than just let them off."

"No, I don’t think my old sensei works this way. He probably got out way before anything actually happened." His hand clenched into a fist as he thought how the man had been prepared to sacrifice his own crew as well as three hundred and fifty good marines just to facilitate an escape.

"I’ll say he’s good all right." Washu answered. "He probably had the brains to dictate to this cyborg exactly what to say, in the most appropriate tone and inflection, or you would have recognised it was not him." She looked speculatively at the Tachyon Blaster in her hand. "Do you think he gave this back to us just so he could escape, or he has made some kind of arrangements so he could actually afford to return this?"

Kova’s brows knitted together. "Personally, I think he has got what he wanted. Not only is it not his style to give up something after getting it, I think he would be facing certain death back in the Syndicate if he loses a ship and a splendid weapon while not obtaining any substantial yield."

Washu carefully turned the blaster over and over in her hand. "How long do you think he would take to build another one of this?"

"Quite a while. I had to wrack my brains really hard just to figure out how to shrink it enough to fit it into the Shuriken, and I had a forty-year course back at the Science Academy."

"Then I think I shall stay for a while more, before I go hunting for him." She thought about the Shuriken. "Kashiro, about…

Kiyone saw she was going to press Kova for *his* weapons. "…my Yagami," Washu turned and looked at her somewhat acidly, but Kiyone ignored her displeasure. "I was wondering if you could get it done, at least the bridge, I may need to contact my HQ soon."

Washu’s gaze travelled from Kiyone to Kova, who shrugged, a wry smile on his face.

"Oh, all right. I’ll try to get the bridge section. From what I saw from my detector, the larger fragments are nearer the hull of the ship, so your ship must have been struck from behind. The bridge should be mostly intact, I’ll just try to rig up some power source for it. But, if you want the whole ship back, you’ll have to let me settle matters with Kashiro first, Kiyone."

"Thank you, Washu." Kiyone bowed.

"Glad to see you trust me, professor."

"You won’t run." She told him, confidently. "Not with Kiyone sticking her little finger into you like that."

Kiyone and Kova both smiled nervously, especially at some images the metaphor evoked.

"Honestly though, some time you’ll have to tell me how the two of you hit off. Even Tenchi and Ryoko had a definitive article," she recalled the Adventures in Time and Space. "And that was a long while after they met. But for you two, all I recall is seeing Kiyone suddenly become a little more obtrusive," Kiyone rolled her eyes at the comment on her interjecting on Ryoko and Aeka’s behalf. "And flustered. Besides, I’d like to know why you two didn’t kill each other the day you met."

"You’re pretty nosy for an academic, professor."

"I live to learn." Washu answered. "Besides, there are some things not even scientific knowledge of pheromones, hormones and other biochemical reactions can explain."

For a reply, Kiyone winked at Kova, who winked back.

Washu cogitated for a while, wondering if she should test out their footing and confidence.

Well, here goes…

"Maybe you can invite me to join your kids when you tell them about the two of you." And immediately regretted what she said.

Both Kova and Kiyone closed their eyes, their faces ashen.

"Our future is still a little… uncertain, Washu." Kiyone whispered, trying to hide the tremor in her voice.

"Keep your questions to yourself, professor." Kova answered, tersely.

The two turned as one, as their hands clasped together, and left the lab.

===========================================================

It was already quite late. Nobuyuki was sleeping on the couch again, after having understood his troubles were gone for good, while the rest of the company were sleeping in their respective quarters, having decided to have an early rest after dinner for the rigours of the day. Kiyone supported the slightly limping Kova as they emerged from the lab.

"Let’s go see this Karaoke room of yours, Kiyone." He murmured softly.

Kiyone nodded, and the two proceeded on their way silently. Before long they stepped into the velvety darkness of the room.

"This…is nice, Kiyone." He looked up at the glowing stars, feeling the heater cum air conditioner at work, and his fingers turned the dial for the light, so it was just barely glowing, before sitting down on the one seater sofa. Kiyone checked his calf injury, only to find it was bleeding badly again.

"Medikit." She ordered.

Kova produced it from his portal and passed it to her, as she carefully cut open the dressing, staunched the bleeding, and dressed it up in fresh bandages again.

"Thank you, Kiyone-chan." He smiled as she got up. "I really owe you."

"It’s nothing, really. Though I wonder why is it you always get struck there?"

He shrugged. "Pure bad luck, I guess. How’s your back?"

"It ought to be better now." She plonked herself on the main sofa, perpendicular to Kova’s seat and facing the television set. The faint glow of the lights gave the room a soft, comfortable feel, accentuated by the dark coloured furniture that made it seem they were all alone in the velvet night, with the soft glow of the stars keeping vigil over them.

Kova closed his eyes with a faint smile, breathed in deeply and leaned back with his hands behind his head, feeling his weary body sink into the softness of the single seat sofa. She watched him, sitting in the chair like a man in his own house after a hard day of work.

With his own family…

"Kova-chan?"

"Hmmm?"

"Do you…" Kiyone’s voice trembled, and she stopped, trying to prevent her voice from catching in her throat. "…really want…" Her eyes shut tight, trying to blot out the images she could feel starting to rise from the depths of her minds again.

Her dreams.

By themselves they were wonderful, but their beauty made nightmares ever so unbearably painful, marred reality for the high propensity for darkness it held.

She felt someone move and settle down beside her, and a hand rested on her shoulder.

"Of course I do," his tender, sincere voice whispered by her ear, and she felt his lips brush her cheeks. "To share my future, my life, with you, is all I could ever ask for."

"I know," Kiyone pressed her lips tight together, regaining her composure and raised her head to face him, only to see the sadness radiating in his eyes. "You’re worried about it too, aren’t you?"

Kova nodded. "Back there… I thought I had lost you."

The boundless universe of dazzling rose light returned to him, like an endless road to an eternity of loneliness.

"I thought I was going to die." He felt himself grow cold at the memory. "All alone in the light, lost forever. It hurt…"

Kiyone put an arm around him, pulling him over before her. "You must have been very scared."

"I was." A pause. "And I still am."

She could feel his arms tighten around her, as he seemed to draw comfort from her warmth, her proximity, from the fact that she was with him.

I never thought it would be like this.

When I first met him, I could never have anticipated him so weak, so in need of me. Nor did I expect myself to be so affected by him either. He reluctantly admits to being physically injured, yet he is so open about his inner fears for me, for us.

Which only goes to show how much I mean to him.

Love is so debilitating! The old Kiyone shrieked at her. Drop it, you don’t need it!

But I do… She smiled sadly.

"Kiyone-chan, will it always hurt so much?" He asked. "Will every time be so painful?" He thought back to the heart-wrenching agony, both in space and in the elevator shaft of the Comet.

"I think it will."

"So that’s why great lovers aren’t particularly great adventurers." He murmured, his head resting lightly on her shoulder.

Kiyone’s hands stopped stroking his soft hair for a moment. "Kova-chan, are we…?"

"Oh yes, I do believe we are in love," his expression was at once morose and yet radiant. "Very much so, in fact."

"No, I meant, are we, the word after the first great…?"

Kova raised his head off her shoulder and looked up in surprise as he felt her flesh flush warm to his touch. Kiyone blushed deeply, her eyes bashful yet somehow maintaining contact with his. The dim light that just illuminated their faces blended perfectly into the velvet darkness near the base of the room, while the stars above seemed to glow warmly like their hearts.

"You know," Kova started uncertainly. "I am no great…" he left the word unspoken. "…, and from the time I met you, I didn’t think you or I would want this for ourselves."

"So did I. I thought it would only be when our future was assured." Kiyone answered, her voice soft. "I thought we would want to save it all up. But in that moment you thought you would lose me, you regretted, didn’t you?"

"So you know."

"I felt it too. When your face fell from me, and left me looking on the insides of that shuttle. When I was in the escape capsule with Mihoshi. When I could feel your blood seeping into my uniform… It felt that way too."

In the soft light of the room, everything seemed to fade into the background, until they could only see one another.

He could feel himself flush warm too now, but not with embarrassment. "God, Kiyone, how could I ever have turned from you?"

"Because you loved me." She replied. "So much you were afraid I would get hurt if something happened to you."

"It hurts me so much now, sometimes I wonder how much worse it could get." He felt himself losing control, gradually. "Is it the same for you?"

"Yes." She smiled. "How much worse could a little thing like this make it?"

He looked at her uncertainly, trying to rally the remnants of his will against the rising flag of desire. There were some things he had read, some things he felt made sense. "Have you ever…?"

Kiyone watched him, his words hanging in the air between them. Something in her told her to try something out, and her face coiled up in concentration as her eyes looked to the ceiling.

Kova felt sweat bead on his brows, as the seconds ticked by, and Kiyone counted one, two, three on her fingers, pausing between every finger raised. Finally, she stopped at four.

"Four?" He managed weakly, his mind foundering. "Times or men?" He dimly remembered something she told him before, could she have been ly…

Well, that makes it less likely it will affect her much, right? His more animal side reminded.

"No." She smiled playfully. "None. I didn’t lie to you about men in my life." He sagged in relief. "The one thing where I’m behind Mihoshi. You’re new to this too, aren’t you?" She could tell by the semi-outraged look his face had adopted.

"Yes. Apart from medical studies and…" He decided not to tell her his recent interest on nerve endings and simulation in certain parts of the human anatomy, specifically since after his lunch with her. "Yeah, that’s about it."

"I see." Kiyone suddenly reached forward and they kissed passionately, before their lips drew apart again. "Could tell, you tend to let your mind get too much in the way."

For most part, his mind was a blank, but something inside dimly registered her words before he advanced on her. Kiyone leaned back, her lips teasing him, moving just slightly out of reach of his, while her hands stroked the front of his battlesuit as she lay back.

‘None’… his mind’s thought to that earlier comment fought desperately against the mighty walls of desire, passion and instincts, but over a century of training and mental discipline finally managed to secure a tiny breach through the walls to him.

Kova’s mouth suddenly pulled back from over hers.

"Kova-chan?" She looked up at him.

"A lady’s first time means a lot to her."

"This certainly does, especially at this moment." Her eyes twinkled, unlike her usual self.

Come on, what are you waiting for!? He felt something scream at him.

"What’s wrong?" Kiyone asked, fear showing in her eyes.

She had never, ever offered herself before so willingly, and her heart constricted at the thought of rejection.

"I need you to promise me something." He licked his lips, trying to stave off the primal hunger.

"I’m all yours." She replied solemnly, and he knew she meant it in more ways than one.

"Please…"

Please agree, so we can get on with it! Cried the other Kova.

"…promise me if anything happens to me…" He pursed his lips. "You will live."

There was sudden silence.

"You will live fully." A pause. "Without me, if need be."

Kiyone looked into his earnest blue eyes, the dim light shining from behind him, making him seem dark and cold, like a dying star… "I…"

"Promise me, swear it to me!" He begged, imploring.

"I love you…" She managed, tears forming in her eyes. "I’m sorry, but you ask too much…" Her lower lip quivered. "Whether you are dead or alive, lost or by my side, I will never stop loving you…"

"Damned you, say it! Just say it!" He cried, almost like he had on board the Yagami, while his mind raged at himself for forcing that question out. "Swear it so we can get on with this!" Kiyone looked at him, hurt, and he suddenly subsided. "Please Kiyone." He lapsed from his usual form of address. "I don’t ask you to stop loving me."

Kiyone nodded. "You ask me to love me more than I love you." She smiled bitterly. "Because you love me more than yourself." Tears glimmered from her eyes. "I’m sorry, Kova-chan."

"All I ask is that you love yourself more than me… is that so hard?" The sapphire eyes beseeched her, not just his mind, but also his passion.

"You love me more than yourself. Surely it is no different for me." She shook her head slightly, parrying. "I love you more than myself too." She fenced. "If I asked you to swear the opposite, could you?" And thrust. "Would you?" The emeralds pierced sapphire, and cut deep.

"Then I’m sorry too," Kova drew back, almost in agony. "But I have to be sure, Kiyone-chan." He slowly let himself sit back, forcing his raging hormones down, then suddenly stood up and made for the door. Kiyone sat up from her prone position, eyes blazing.

"KOVA!" Her tone was wrathful, yet somehow entreating. "Where do you think you’re going!?"

He paused for a good moment. "Don’t worry," he replied, when he was sure of his answer and of his voice not faltering. "You don’t mean anything less to me." He made to move out again.

"Please, Kova …" She tried to hold back the ache inside her. "Don’t leave me…"

The flashback struck him so vividly he almost reeled.

She was asleep again in the wan light of her apartment, crying out for him, crying for him.

Let it be warm and comforting, let not the tears flow. Let it be a dream, a dream of light. Pray that the nightmares of the dark recede, that she be blessed with dream of bliss tonight.

She watched, trying to hold back the tears, as his muscles twitched slightly in indecision, before he spun around rapidly, his movement a blur, and Kiyone had a sudden impression of a predator leaping on her. Somehow he managed to stop right beside her, his arms seemingly on the verge of encircling her and pinning her down, but not quite touching. She could feel his ragged breath, before her face, and his features were contorted once again in the agony of self denial. "I love you, and no other."

She closed her eyes as his eager lips sought her again, but this time it was only to lightly brush hers. Her brow knitted in astonishment, and the emotional tension bottled within her came out as a sigh of weary uncertainty.

"You tired?"

She shook her head. "Not physically." Her hand ran down his hair, along the side of his face, stroking his neck gently, and she smiled as she felt him tingle at her every touch. "Don’t reject me…"

"I’m never will. But you still have to promise me…"

Kiyone’s eyes hardened. "No."

"Pleasure has its price, so let’s sleep," he whispered soothingly. "I’m sooo tired, Kiyone-chan." His voice dragged, growing softer. "Aren’t you?"

She felt her eyelids droop with his at his slurring voice, then they snapped open again. "Kova-chan, you can’t sleep now!"

"I’m sure." His eyes closed completely, and he half flopped, half rolled off onto the ground, landing face up as the visual paragon of peaceful slumber.

She swore at him in frustration, and wild thoughts ran through her mind as she knelt beside him. His breathing was steady and even now, but she knew he was awake, for his body still felt rather warmer than usual

Maybe I ought to kick him there… she slew the thought as an utter breach of trust.

Or maybe I could…NO! I will not demean myself!

Still clothed, she gently settled down in the narrow space between Kova and the sofa’s base, and tried to snuggle in comfortably, while also in the process rubbing against his body.

"If that’s what you’re trying to do, it won’t work." He murmured, his lips moving slightly but otherwise perfectly still. "Worse things have come my way." He thought back to the ladies in the Science Academy, how he had disdainfully dismissed them, to their eternal chagrin and humiliation, which ensured they never did trouble him again. "For one thing, you’re still fully clothed."

Kiyone blushed, and cuddled in a little closer.

I don’t believe you’re made of stone, Kova-chan!

"If it helps for you to know, I rejected those before you because I didn’t care and couldn’t be bothered with them." His arm curled around Kiyone and drew her a little closer. "But I’m not rejecting you. I just have to be sure, because I do care for you."

Kiyone sighed, finally deciding she had lost. "I understand." God, I’m tired. "You’re scared too, aren’t you?"

"Mmmhmm." He yawned, trying to hide his discomfiture at the thought. "Let’s sleep." Already he could feel her relaxing, and quickly quashed the pang of disappointment that welled from within. "We’ll save it for our wedding night." He shifted slightly away so there was ample space for Kiyone to nestle in snugly between him and the couch.

"Our dream…" She smiled as she closed her eyes, her hands placed against him.

"To share. Good night, Kiyone-chan."

"At least a good night kiss?"

"With pleasure."

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Yawning in weary irritation, Tenchi dragged himself out of his bed, bleary eyed, and reached for the alarm clock on his desk. There was another yawn of irritation, a slight growl, followed by a flash of orange. Then silence.

He started into full awareness, as the charred gear of the clock spun lazily around the top of his desk, barely twenty centimetres from his fingers. Most of the rest of the contraption must have been vaporised, he decided, as the pathetic disc of metal rolled off the desk and landed with a dull clink on the floor.

"RYOKO!" He shouted.

"Hmmm…?" she rolled over slightly. "…want <yawn> sleep."

"What do you think you’re doing!"

"Try… get sleep." The cyan haired lady shifted a little more in her futon on the floor.

"You could have killed me!"

"Huh…?" She turned over a little too quickly. "Ow! Damned, so much for sleeping…" Her amber eyes opened sluggishly.

"How many times must I tell you *not* to blow things up around the house!?"

"But, Tenchiii…! We were having so much fun together!"

Tenchi’s eyes widened. "Huh?"

Ryoko continued, her eyes distant and far-away. "We were lying down in the garden on Jurai and you started…"

Tenchi backed off nervously. "Erm, never mind, Ryoko."

"But it was such a great dream!" She exclaimed, before giving him an appreciative and speculative look. "Want to continue with it, Tenchi? Here?" Ryoko felt her sleepiness seep away as she realised Tenchi was all alone with her. "Come on, you certainly look like you enjoyed it, at least back there, so why not here and now?"

"I think I’ll give it a pass."

"Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it." Ryoko gave him a toothy grin, as she drew near, half stretching herself. "It’ll be… ow!"

"Are you all right?" Tenchi asked, stepping forward as Ryoko bent slightly forward, her hand reaching carefully for the wound in her side.

"I’m fine, Tenchi." Ryoko cursed her injury, annulling yet another immeasurably precious moment all alone with Tenchi.

"You want to rest here, while I go get breakfast for you?"

She shook her head. "I’d like to eat with you, Tenchi. But thanks anyway, especially for insisting I rest in your room last night so you could watch over me." She remembered how Tenchi had explained things to a distraught Aeka.

"It was nothing. I was so tired I fell asleep almost the minute I got in." He smiled deprecatingly at his own empty gesture. "I didn’t do much watching over last night."

Coming down the stairs, they found the living room empty, and Sasami sleeping on the floor of the kitchen, curled up into a foetal position.

"She looks so cute like that." Ryoko commented.

"Yeah, too bad…" Tenchi gently picked the little princess up, preparing to carry her to the living room so she could rest on a couch. "Give me a while, I’ll go fix breakfast."

Ryoko suddenly realised she ought to stop him, but it was too late…

"Oh, Tenchi…" Sasami’s eyes opened as he was about to leave the kitchen, and took in the bright sunlight around. "What time is it?"

"I don’t know, Sasami, I didn’t get a chance to look at my clock, but it should be about ten in the morning." He looked oddly at her. "What were you doing in the kitchen?"

"Oh, I got up early to make breakfast for your dad, and for the rest of you. It’s in the stove there…" She pointed, and Ryoko scowled at the thought she and Tenchi might have got to eat breakfast all by themselves if only she had been a little more alert. "I guess I must have fell asleep waiting for you people to get up."

Tenchi gently placed her on the ground. "Where’s Ryo-oh-ki?"

"Probably asleep somewhere in my room." She looked at Ryoko and Tenchi. "Say, are you both eating breakfast now?"

"Uh yeah."

"I’ll go get Aeka up."

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"I’m coming for breakfast too, give me a moment!"

Sasami paused to let Ryo-oh-ki hop onto her head as her older sister rushed past her and down the steps, before more voices echoed up from downstairs.

"Good morning Tenchi, I trust Ryoko did not disturb your rest last night?"

"I slept fine, Aeka." Tenchi was going to add that she had scared him this morning though, but remembering how vehemently Aeka had opposed the idea of Ryoko sleeping in Tenchi’s room, decided not to bring it up.

"Miya."

Sasami, ever ready for this, took a carrot out of her pocket and handed to Ryo-oh-ki.

I wonder if Kiyone and Mihoshi have gone to work. They certainly would appreciate the breakfast I made for them.

The door, which Washu had reinstalled last night immediately after dinner, materialised before her and she stepped through.

"Huh?"

Mihoshi was sound asleep in her futon, with two alarm clocks by her head. One had stopped ringing, probably because it had ran out of batteries, while the faint alarm from the other meant it would probably go off soon too. Beside her, Kiyone’s futon had evidently not been slept in at all.

"Mihoshi, Mihoshi?" Sasami switched off the dying alarm clock and shook her. "Mihoshi!"

"Uhhhh…?" Mihoshi curled a little bit more, a smile curling up her face.

This won’t be getting me anywhere, Sasami decided. How *does* Kiyone wake her up every morning?

She returned to Tenchi’s house. "Tenchi, you know where Kiyone is?"

"No." The voice came from below, as the other two feminine and seemingly more and more disgruntled voices quietened. "Isn’t she with Mihoshi in her place?"

Washu stepped out of her lab under Sasami who was peering down from the stairs, and stretched herself exaggeratedly.

"Good morning, Washu!" The gang greeted.

"It had better be." She ran her fingers through her hair, as if tidying them up a little. "Last night I fell asleep after clearing up the mess in my lab." Then blinked, trying to open her sleepy eyes. "Not of course that it was any trouble to clear it up, just that well, yesterday was pretty full of exertions."

"I’m sure." Ryoko muttered sarcastically, then her ears caught up with her mind. "What mess?"

"I’m sure you all remember Seida from the SSS Comet, don’t you?" Washu answered. "Well, he wasn’t exactly human."

"That’s new. Let me guess – he is a madman?"

Aeka and Washu shot Ryoko a glance of irritation, while Tenchi’s eyes flashed warningly, telling her not to cross Washu.

The scientist crossed her hands over her chest and continued. "No, in fact he wasn’t. He was a cyborg."

"What?" Aeka asked, almost incredulously. "We went through all *that* and we didn’t even get the person behind all our problems?"

"I’m sorry to say, yes. But we got my Tachyon Blaster back, while Kashiro and Kiyone helped me wipe the floor of my lab with bits of Teranium – that’s another one of our friends from early yesterday morning we won’t be seeing again."

"Kiyone, in your lab?" Sasami pressed. "I thought she and Mihoshi went back to their place to sleep, after dinner?"

"Last time I saw, she was heading out here with Kashiro." Washu’s gaze swept cursorily over the room. "If you’re looking for her, she’s probably somewhere around the house."

"Most likely where?"

"Let’s see." In less than a millisecond, Washu’s powerful brain computed all the probabilities necessary. Shed, outside or carrot fields practically nil, Masaki shrine unlikely due to Kova’s slight limp, Sasami probably just been to her apartment, while Kova’s apartment didn’t exist anymore, and they weren’t here…

===========================================================

She awoke to the air conditioned coolness amidst velvet darkness. The lights had been switched off, with only the glowing stars above, which had started to dim as they started expending their energy due to the absence of other light. She could hear Kova breathing gently beside her, one arm behind her and the other draped over her waist, while there was a fragrant aroma somewhere in the room, nearby that made her feel positively hungry.

Sitting up slightly, careful not to disturb the seemingly slumbering Kova as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, Kiyone saw a dim metal stand on the table, with what seemed like two dishes for breakfast, and it seemed to radiate heat.

"Mmm… delicious…" She was about to reach for it when…

Dazzling light shone into the relatively dark room, blinding her for an instant, and she raised her hand instinctively.

"Kiyone?" She heard a hi pitched voice ask. Sasami took in the scene before her as Tenchi moved over, and her eyes saw the man lying beside Kiyone, seemingly asleep. "Oooh…" Although of course the darkness meant their clothing went almost unnoticed.

Tenchi quickly saw what caused Sasami to say that. "Erm, sorry to disturb…" He smiled sheepishly, half bowing, before quickly pulling the staring Sasami away. "Good night… I mean, morning…"

Still stunned, Kiyone watched as Tenchi’s silhouette pulled the protesting little princess away, and the door shut again, causing the darkness to return, albeit with little spots of light decorating the shadows now. She felt warm now though, before she finally realised her face was burning furiously…

===========================================================

"Was she in there?" Washu asked as she took her seat by the table.

"Yeah, she was." Tenchi replied, trying to appear nonchalant, leading Sasami by the hand.

"Oh, yes!" Sasami nodded enthusiastically. "So was …"

"Hush…"Aeka catching the look in Tenchi’s eye and Sasami’s face, quickly pulled Sasami over to her. "Now, you didn’t see anything, did you, Sasami?" But despite that her face was well, rather amused, and she seemed to be trying to prevent her smile from slipping into a wide curve of glee.

"Bwahaha!" Ryoko of course, suffered no such restraint. "Hah, could you ever imagine… Kiyone… Hahaha! …to a *pirate*!"

Something slammed open somewhere in the house. "I heard that!" Kiyone’s face, stormy with emotion, appeared around the corner.

"Oh, Kiyone…" Ryoko’s voice quivered as she fought to hide her mirth. "Good morning." She grinned broadly. "How was last night?" Her amber eyes gleamed in amusement.

"Look, we did *not*…" Kiyone shook a trembling index finger at them. "Repeat, did *not* do *anything*."

"I’m sure…" Ryoko grinned, winking at Kiyone. "Aren’t you too, Aeka?"

"Well, I know that whatever it was, it is none of our business, Ryoko." She lowered her head to her food slightly, but Kiyone could see her smile. "Right, Sasami?" Her hand tightened around her sister’s waist, who was making to go over, curiosity written all over her face.

"But I want to know what happened!" Sasami told Aeka. "What are you all talking about?"

Washu chuckled at the detective’s discomfiture, and Tenchi couldn’t help smiling despite himself and the certain amount of sympathy he felt for Kiyone. The situation was reminiscent of what he felt when Ryoko declared she had given birth to his baby what seemed a long time ago, though it was merely a year before.

"No, Sasami." Aeka insisted.

Ryoko smiled broadly across the table at Sasami. "Well, they…" Ryoko was inching closer to Tenchi, about to get up, and Aeka stiffened.

Kiyone, face a deep scarlet, breathing hard with one hand on her GP blaster, decided if the space pirate was going to go graphic, she would open fire.

Quickly making up his mind, Tenchi clamped his hand around Ryoko’s mouth, to Ryoko’s and Sasami’s consternation, as well as to Aeka’s and Kiyone’s relief.

Washu waved at Kiyone. "Well, come out, you two!" She glanced around the table. "Say, Sasami, where’s Kiyone’s and Mihoshi’s share?"

"Mihoshi’s one is still in the stove. Kiyone’s and Kova’s seems to have disappeared though." Sasami answered, as Aeka continued eating and Tenchi gingerly let go of Ryoko’s mouth.

What the…? Kiyone remembered the food in the room…

THE BASTARD!

Sasami, seizing Aeka’s momentary lapse of attention, made a run for it.

"Sasami, get back here!"

"Kiyone?" She asked, shaking the staring detective out of her stupor. "What happened last night?" The detective stared at her blankly. "Something to do with Kova, right?"

In her current state of outrage, it was all Kiyone could do to stop herself from slapping Sasami hard on the forehead. Instead, she ignored Sasami’s questions, and stepped back to the open doorway.

"KOVA-CHAN!"

The figure on the floor seem to remain still, but then the smile Kiyone thought she glimpsed could not having been purely imaginary, could it?

"KOVA!" She shouted to the spy again.

"Wha…?" He moved a bit, rolling over so he faced the door. "Oh good morning, Kiyone-chan…"

Kiyone’s eyes narrowed as she saw the crescent of white teeth like a Cheshire in the darkness.

"Breakfast is ready." Kova adroitly leaped to his feet, and Kiyone noted he seemed to be wearing something apart from his battlesuit. "Thank you, Sasami."

"Urm, yah." The blue-haired princess replied. "How did you get it here?"

"I brought it in. Why *were* you sleeping in the kitchen? You looked so kawaii I couldn’t bear to wake you up!"

"Just fell asleep, I guess."

Kiyone reached out beside her and turned up the light, her face grim. Kova was sitting behind the coffee table on the floor, with Sasami’s breakfast in front of him, plus two cups of tea and a teapot, between their plates on the metal device that resembled like some kind of heater. He was no longer in his battlesuit, but wearing a zipped up black jacket with silver shoulder lines, and a pair of black trousers.

"What time did you wake up, Kova-chan?" Kiyone’s hands clenched and unclenched.

"About two, then I went to have a bath and change, before coming back here. Then I got up at about seven to pick up breakfast for us." He smiled faintly at her. "Why?"

"You were awake all the time, weren’t you!?"

"I guess," he gestured to the table. "Joining me for breakfast?"

Kiyone tilted her head slightly up, closed her eyes and put her hand to her forehead.

I guess there will always be moments like this. How in the world does he recover so fast?

"Kova-chan, you know *what* they’re thinking outside?"

"I should think so. Ryoko is loud enough." He picked up the teapot and poured a cup each for himself and Kiyone. "Take a seat, please."

"What is it you’re talking about?" Sasami pressed, gently tugging at Kiyone’s GP uniform. "What is it they are thinking?"

Kiyone ignored her. "Look, Kova-chan, they…"

"… can believe what they choose to believe." He looked up at her, light glinting off his azure eyes. "I don’t give a damn."

That was the whole problem, wasn’t it? She heard her mind say. Like Ryoko, he sometimes didn’t seem to care what other people think.

She walked over, leaving Sasami standing dissatisfied in the doorway, and sat down before him. "Look, Kova-chan. I care."

"Why?" His eyebrows arched. "We love each other, don’t we?" He sipped at his tea. "Besides, they would be right, except you didn’t allow me to."

"Allow you…" She gnashed her teeth together. "*Allow* you!" She stood up, her hands slamming into the coffee table as she shouted out loud. "*You* were the one who refused *me*!!"

He glanced at her hands, then looked up at her, his face cold and eyes piercing. "I thought you always wanted someone to love you more than your body." His voice seemed calm, but there were undercurrents of emotions running through it. "I have shown you that."

Kiyone stared at him, as she felt his words strike deep, ring true. "I… don’t want there to be anything between us…"

"You’re worried someday something might happen. And you want us to share everything in case that should happen." He gave a cold smile. "What I worry about is that someday something might happen, and what I want is that if it happens to me, you must go on, by yourself."

Kiyone nodded. "Even if I may lose you, I wish to love you. Though it will hurt me that much more if anything happens."

"And though every fibre of my being yearns for you so much it burns like fire, I will *not* love you until you promise me *that*."

Kiyone ground her teeth together. "I think we should just eat."

Kova nodded, drained his cup of tea in a gulp, and poured another one for himself as they brought their plates down before them. "You’re late for work, you know. I could call them up…"

"To hell with that job, and no thank you."

Sasami stood frozen in the doorway, as they continued eating in silence, before moving off.

===========================================================

Washu, Aeka, Ryoko and Tenchi stared as Kiyone briskly stepped up the stairs, her clouded face the only hint of anything wrong. Then she paused halfway, came back down, walked towards and past, into the kitchen. Even Ryoko had the sense to keep quiet, before Kiyone silently stalked out, holding Mihoshi’s breakfast, and disappeared up the stairs.

A while later, Kova came out around the corner, carrying the plates. He looked fresh as usual, but there was a slight lag in his steps and his eyes, though awake and open, seemed a little lacklustre.

"Good morning," He smiled faintly, and continued on his way to the kitchen.

Aeka turned to Sasami, who was the only one discreetly picking at her food. "What happened, Sasami?"

"Huh?" She looked up, a little distractedly. "I don’t really know…"

Aeka’s eyes widened. "Sasami, did you see…!"

"Nothing really." She replied, her voice low. "They sort of… quarrelled." Four sets of questioning eyes bore into her. "I didn’t know what they were talking about." Then accusingly. "You wouldn’t tell me."

There was a sound of washing in the kitchen, and Kova stepped out. He regarded the table, a faint sardonic smile on his face, seemingly half directed at himself, half at the others. "Good morning." He repeated faintly, standing there for a moment before walking out of the Masaki household into the field.

"Gee, wonder what’s biting him?" Ryoko mumbled, chopsticks half in her mouth. "He got to go the girl, right?"

"Ryoko, Kiyone said nothing happened." Tenchi reminded, sounding somewhat put off.

"Well, how do we know?"

Sasami hesitantly raised a hand. "They said they didn’t, whatever it was… At least it sounded that way."

"Hmm, you sure?" Aeka finally gave in to curiosity.

Washu shook her head at the congregation, thinking how juvenile they were, but if Sasami didn’t catch anything wrongly, it could provide interesting insights, so she kept her comments to herself first.

"Well, Kova said something about not being allowed to, and Kiyone was so mad she got up and shouted at him, then Kova said something, and then they talked a little more about something happening, before started eating quietly." She lowered her face. "Real quietly."

Washu raised her eyebrows in surprise. Surely they weren’t worried about the consequences of that? She had almost never seen anybody so much in love, and those she had certainly didn’t seem worried at all about that easily overcome problem, nor for that matter anything else at all…

"Yeah right, you expect *me* to believe *nothing* went on all night and he’s cross ‘cos he didn’t get to jack off, huh?" Ryoko added, her demeanour sceptical and disinterested.

Tenchi sighed in exasperation. "Ryoko…"

Sasami glared angrily at the space pirate, then abruptly announced. "I’m not cooking today." Before taking her plate and walking off into the kitchen.

Washu frowned a little. "I’ll be in my lab if you want me."

Ryoko watched as the half the table emptied. "Hey, where’s everyone going?" She whined. "What did I do? All I did was comment…"

"It’s all your fault," Aeka chided. "You and your remarks."

"Are you trying to say I should have shut up!?" Ryoko growled.

"Why yes!" Aeka feigned astonishment, though her tone was a little dangerously inviting. "My, aren’t we smart today?"

Well, Tenchi consoled himself. That is an improvement of sorts, Ryoko’s hands haven’t started to crackle with energy yet.

"I’ll have you know, princess, that you’re crapping bullshit!"

"Me? Doing what!?" Aeka shrieked back. "I am a princess, I will not have such cheek given to me of, by all *things*, the scum of space!"

Tenchi wondered what they would do if he took out Tenchi-ken, which was still in his pocket. "Please, Aeka, Ryoko!"

"But Tenchiii!" Ryoko howled. "She *insulted* me! *First!*"

"She was the one who started all this!" Aeka shrilled back. "If it weren’t for *her*…"

Well, not a bad improvement, I didn’t have to shout that loud to get their attention.

Tenchi took a deep breath. "Fine, then," and stood up. "I’m off. The two of you can go kill each other if you like, but I’m swear the murderer will get nothing from me." He turned away, then paused. "Maybe one or two fatal swipes from Tenchi-ken." He smiled as Ryoko and Aeka felt beads of sweat form on their heads. "Maybe." He grinned to himself. Being around Kova did have some side effects.

Aeka stared at Ryoko, then they both sagged as Tenchi left the house.

"We will have to work something out." Aeka mumbled.

"Yeah." Ryoko added. "Fast."

===========================================================

Tenchi felt strong fingers lock around his wrist…

"Whooaa!" He exclaimed, as he was jerked forward, causing him to tumble over the spy’s shoulder.

"Oh, it’s you." An upside down Kova looked at him, not unkindly, but not happily either. "I’m sorry, but I do not appreciate anyone touching me, especially if the person is coming from behind." Although he was addressing Tenchi, his eyes were distant, staring out in the distance, over the carrot fields, beyond the hills shrouded in the vibrant flora of summer, across the horizon, into the cerulean morning sky. Unlike just a moment ago when he had wished them good morning, he no longer had a faint smile hovering on his face, but was just plain grave.

Tenchi took his proffered hand and righted himself. "You seem upset."

"Maybe. Who knows?"

"Kiyone?" Tenchi felt like he was stepping on thin ice, as Kova looked so distant and cold, his expression both brittle and empty.

"Likely."

Tenchi settled down beside him, watching the distant scenery.

You love her, don’t you? But that was such a stupid thing to say, which also goes to show caution does affect Tenchi’s mind, if only making him a little smarter.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

Tenchi thought he saw Kova’s expression harden. "You mind?"

"All she had to do was say yes."

Tenchi’s mind reeled in surprise. In his opinion, if Kiyone did not say yes, she would not wake up beside you on the floor. Probably with you decorating various parts of the room, maybe, but not with you by her side.

Something clicked in his mind. "Erm, what did you ask her?"

Kova stared at him, his expression a mix of annoyance and confusion. "It’s none of your…"

What was wrong with telling him, Tenchi was quite possibly the nicest a guy could get, I have nothing to lose and he won’t harm me…

Tenchi watched as Kova closed his eyes, almost wearily. "I wanted her to promise she would get on without me." He sighed, his fringe wavering slightly before his breath. "She refused."

Tenchi tried, but he could not stop himself on time. "You *what*!?" Young though he was, he knew enough about the average man to know about the existence of hormones and their strength.

"Yeah, and she didn’t let me." He murmured, almost to himself. Another soft breath of what sounded like sorrow, then Kova dunked himself back on the grass, stretching the full length of his body, his eyes still closed restfully.

"I’m sorry." Tenchi’s mind mustered itself. He wasn’t used to dealing with such strange things.

So there isn’t just one Tenchi, is there?

"Well, if it’s any consolation, I just wonder…" His voice was distant, his strained features softened, as the blue hair seemed to stir, as if touched by a breath of fresh air, and his eyelids seemed no longer pressed tightly together, but just gently closed. "…if she will love our wedding night that much more for it all." A tender smile played on his face for a moment, and Tenchi suddenly felt as though he gazed, not merely upon Kova, but almost as if some angel had decided to stop by within the man, before it vanished again, the ephemeral touch of light from some far away hope. "How I wonder…"

He watched the figure before him, trying to envisage the world Kova was looking into, wishing he could see that far ahead. Or was it *too* far ahead…?

"I’m sure you’ll make it, Kova."

"Thank you, Tenchi." He whispered. "Once again I’m in your debt."

Tenchi nodded.

"How about you, Ryoko and Aeka?"

He blinked, surprised. "Well, things have been the same as ever. They still try to fight, but I think I put one over them a while ago."

"Good for you. You’ll learn." He nodded, glad for the distraction. "Unless you have decided who to choose yet, which I genuinely doubt." A pause, "*Who* are you going to choose anyway?"

Another stretch of long silence. "I don’t know. Honestly."

"Would you take both of them?"

Tenchi nodded. "But only if they could be happy with that."

"I see."

"Could you do us a favour, Kova?"

"Hmm? How?"

"Cook? Lunch and dinner?"

He thought a bit, considering its value as a distraction, and nodded. "Yeah, no problem."

===========================================================

"Destination Solar System, ETA 40 minutes."

"That’s ‘real’ good," he sat back, stretching again. His co pilot looked back at him, with his fingers dancing recklessly around the small gun. His green eyes were dead and weary, and he looked as if he had drunk several pints too much. "Can’t you <hic!> make Midorishu go any faster?"

"Believe me, Number 231, I’m doing my best." The person steering retorted. "Why don’t you pick someone else next time?"

His brows knitted in annoyance. "You know damned well why I chose you. You knew her well, better than I ever could." His hands raised the bottle to his lips. "Plus you were blacklisted, and this could be the only way you’re going to get your big break."

Of course I know that, you idiot! If it weren’t for that, I’d report for you for insubordination, theft and letting personal interests interfere with your duties!

"I know, I know." The ship slowed as they drew closer to the Solar System, no longer travelling at interspace travel speeds, as caution demands. "I hope this works, or I am finished."

"Yeah right, like I give a damn." He said. "I just hope she’s fine." The emerald eyes dimmed. "I just *pray*."

"If she’s not?" The co pilot seemed cheered by the prospect, but she took care not to let it show.

"Then someone will have *hell* to pay."

===========================================================

It was late afternoon, and Washu watched in satisfaction as the readout was confirmed, regarding the co-ordinates of the bridge of the Yagami. Engaging several systems, she selected the matter transportation sequence, and pressed some more at her terminal, creating a large section of blank space in her lab.

She smiled at her handiwork as the control room materialised in the lab, fitting the dimensions nicely. A couple of elementary link ups, and the Yagami’s darkened bridge lighted up. Washu picked up a device and left the lab.

"What’s that, Washu?" Tenchi and Kova asked simultaneously, as the spy put down the phone. Tenchi had just directed him towards applying for a new apartment.

"This?" Washu raised the mini transmission device up. "It’s to allow Yagami to receive or send transmissions into this dimension while remaining in my lab."

"You’ve fixed it already?" Kova looked incredulous.

Washu nodded, pleasure dancing in her eyes at Kova’s inadvertent admission of her superiority. "I’ve set up the bridge and this opens up the communications, though it was nothing much really, much of the front of the Yagami was left intact, just a few minor patches here and there, which is really less than no trouble for a scientist as smart as me!" Washu beamed.

"So you…?"

"Yup, when Kiyone comes back she will be able to contact her HQ."

Tenchi saw Kova’s face darken at the thought, while Washu conducted herself to the outside, seemingly oblivious to anything. Then the spy shook his head, and returned to his terminal.

"What are you doing?"

"Configuring this terminal to do body scans. I could use it for my future practice." Kova had requested the laptop from Washu when she praised him for the fine lunch he cooked, which Sasami had helped improve by adding condiments to it, although she did not cook . Unfortunately, he was still upset about when Kiyone had called back to say they were not eating, having been forced to do overtime for the very late arrival at the Steel Enterprises, as well as taking a pay cut for yesterday’s absence.

She would have loved it. Even though I’ve kept it for them, it wouldn’t be the same.

"I see." Tenchi sat back, recalling how Kova’s expression had darkened when Washu went by. "Are you worried about the GP?"

"Don’t you have something else to do, Tenchi?" He muttered. It was so hard to concentrate, to try to lose himself in his task in order to temporarily forget his problems, but here Tenchi was going on and on. "I’m sure Aeka and Ryoko would be only too happy to oblige…"

"Oh, they went to the city via Kiyone’s apartment for shopping." He replied. "They said they had some sorting out to do." It was a fair price to hand over his wallet and account card to Aeka (not Ryoko!), in return for a more peaceful, albeit lonely, afternoon. Although they promised they wouldn’t fight, and seemed rather glad to be alone with each other to discuss and buy whatever they needed, he had some nagging doubts, so he had asked Sasami to go along, and the two girls didn’t seem to mind.

"I see. Why didn’t you join them?"

"They didn’t ask me to, actually." That was a rather strong hint that they wanted some time without him following them. "I thought they might not have appreciated my presence."

"Growing wiser already, Tenchi." Kova smiled slightly, eyes not leaving his laptop.

"Maybe," he tried to fathom Kova’s expression. "Worried about Kiyone?"

A silver blur arced out and struck the unsuspecting Tenchi on the head. "OW!"

"Not wise enough," Kova tossed his weapon up and down in one hand, as the other hand continued entering commands.. Tenchi, rubbing his head, decided he had best leave the man be.

Just before Kova returned to his self-appointed task, a thought struck him. It would not have been beyond Tenchi’s rights to order him out of the house for hitting and bullying him, but somehow the boy seemed to be able to take it all in his stride.

He shook his head and smiled.

Tenchi is quite possibly the kindest soul alive.

===========================================================

"Excuse me a moment!" Kiyone hurried out from behind the counter, rushing to the sound of the beeping from her GP alert ring.

Washu must have fixed up Yagami, and there’s a transmission for me!

"Hey!" The manager shouted.

"You can forget about my pay for today!" She glanced back at Mihoshi who was about to leave too. "Mihoshi, stay! We need the money!"

"But Kiyone…"

"You stay here till our shift is over, it’s only half an hour more, okay?"

Mihoshi looked glum.

"Please, Mihoshi…" Kiyone begged. "We’ve already got docked pay from this morning, any less and we shan’t even be able to afford the rent on our apartment."

Mihoshi sighed, and nodded glumly. The manager didn’t seem at all satisfied, but there was nothing more that could be said before Kiyone disappeared into the toilet, then emerging seconds later in her standard GP uniform, tossing the restaurant staff outfit onto the counter and vanishing out the door.

===========================================================

‘Acknowledgement detected from Earth, source Yagami.’

The officer sat back with a sigh of relief, and he felt tears of joy form in his eyes.

She’s alive!

Kiyone’s face appeared on the screen. "2nd Class Chief Inspector Kiyone Makibi reporting."

"Galaxy Police Special Forces Operative number 231 here."

The officer in question had a handsome, almost feline, face with high cheekbones and sharp chin, red a little from drinking, topped with emerald eyes that seemed to radiate warmth at her, and had a wet, glistening shine in them. But the strangest thing was that the man had a head of fine dark green hair, practically identical to her own, which were parted, with a long lock of hair curling down past the left half of his face, while the hair on the right side of his parting was tied and flowing down the back of his neck.

"Excuse me, Operative 231, but have I seen you before?"

The man smiled warmly, his expression oddly familiar, reminiscent of the time Kova opened the escape capsule, only more controlled and less obvious. "You have always been very sharp, Chief Inspector." His face lighted up meaningfully. "Maybe we could find time to talk…"

"Maybe." Kiyone licked her lips. She was still upset with Kova for the previous night, as well as the morning, but… "But I have to warn you I’m not very open to such propositions at this point in time."

"That won’t be a problem," he grinned. He *was* handsome, and Kiyone felt almost sure that if she had met him earlier she should have fallen for him, but for some reason, she just found the very notion as impossible and alien as falling for her…

"Put her through, number 231!" A voice sounded sharply from the other side of the tranmission, disrupting her train of thoughts before she could complete it.

The SpecOp frowned... "Hey, give me some more time with her!" He seemed to be speaking to someone else.

"No! The Section Chief has said he wished to speak to her, ASAP!" The voice sounded familiar.

"Look, I am the superior officer here…"

"And I can crash your precious Midorishu if I want." Kiyone tried to remember the female voice.

"You wouldn’t dare." The operative looked angrily. "I’d rip your arm off if you…"

"Yeah, and get stranded in space."

Kiyone finally recalled it. "Mitsuki?"

The unseen person lowered her face from standing by the SpecOp, and sure enough, the thin brunette’s pointed face showed up. The officer seated seemed to edge away from her, not nervously, but in dislike. "I’m so happy to see you’re fine, Kiyone!" She waved, her face too glad to be the person arguing a moment ago. "You’re as sharp as ever."

"Glad you noticed." Kiyone responded drily. She had never quite forgiven Mitsuki for the attempted arrest on her back at HQ, and had noted that through all the time Mitsuki served her after the Kagato episode the officer always put up a satisfied, fawning front, while becoming disgruntled and grumbling when she thought she was alone. "Don’t smile till your face splits!" She replied too cheerily, while mentally noting that would be an improvement for Mitsuki

The officer in the background smirked, clearly noting the abundance of ‘feeling’ Kiyone shared with him with regards to 1st class detective Mitsuki.

"All right, I’ll put you through to the HQ now!" Mitsuki, seizing advantage her proximity to the transmission controls, quickly pressed the button, the pleasure not fading from her face for an instant. Kiyone thought she saw number 231’s face contort in fury as he pulled her back and away, before the transmission from the Midorishu was cut off.

Half a second later, the Section Chief’s face flashed onto the screen. "Oh, it’s you, Chief Inspector Kiyone!" His eyes darted around her. "Where’s your partner Mihoshi?"

"She is currently not available, sir. This report will be submitted by me alone." As she said that she could hear someone tapping his foot softly behind, as if to make his presence known, before subsiding into silence as she stopped talking.

If that was Washu, she would just have shouted. So it must be *him*.

"All right. What happened?"

"The Yagami was attacked by the SSS shuttle, but me and Mihoshi managed to get out before the ship blew up. Washu was the one who got the bridge up and running again, but I’m afraid it will be quite a while, sir, before the Yagami can be put out to space again."

"Hmm, you seem to have been very lucky." He nodded.

"Pardon my interruption sir, but I have reason to believe the Synera Stellar Syndicate is the one that attacked the Yagami and should not be trusted."

"I’m sorry, but I understood that the shuttles were controlled by some space pirates, were they not?" His expression hardened. "Specifically a certain Kova Kashiro."

"After destroying the Yagami, the shuttle returned to the Comet. If there truly were space pirates on board, how could that be possible?"

Mitsuki and the Operative stared at the two ongoing transmissions, noting Kiyone’s strained expression. Mitsuki shook her head. "Poor Kiyone. All the work must be affecting her head."

"Shut up, bitch." Operative 231 murmured. "I still have a bone to pick with you for cutting me off from her."

Back before Kiyone, the Section Chief shook his head. "I’m sorry, but I have certain information about the abilities of the Comet, which states they can overrule their own shuttle controls within a certain radius of the Comet, so after you slowed them down, they managed to get in range."

"But I have very strong reasons to believe the personnel on board the Comet were…"

"Yes, we have evidence that the above mentioned space pirate crept on board the ship, and impersonated the captain of the Comet, thus causing some regrettable violence on board the Comet." He waved a slim file at Kiyone. "It’s all here in the report from the Comet’s crew."

Kiyone heard a low snarl behind her. "But sir! I have people here, Tenchi, professor Washu, princess Aeka, they can all substantiate my evidence!"

The Section Chief nodded comfortingly. "I believe you, Kiyone. In terms of events, your view coincides precisely of that in this report." His tone was cool, assuaging but still skeptical. "But there are events that you are not aware of. By all accounts, in fact my personal experience, the Comet’s Captain was in a shuttle outside the ship at the time of all those things happening, so how could it possibly be him?"

Kiyone ground her teeth together, trying not to let her rage show. "With all due respect sir, why do you need me to submit a report when you already have what you need?"

The Chief’s eyebrows drew together, his demeanour clearly dissatisfied. "Firstly, it is my duty to ensure the safety of all my officers. Secondly, I need to know how you and your partner survived the Yagami’s destruction and what happened to the ship. I also need to know how your assignment is going."

"Assignment?" Kiyone looked up for a moment, then she remembered.

Kova’s eyes narrowed as he saw her tremble slightly, before composing herself and carrying on as if nothing happened.

"She will have nothing to worry about once I get there." The Operative mumbled to himself, flexing his arm muscles, and his rippling biceps showed even through his uniform.

"Maybe," Mitsuki commented. "Kiyone doesn’t scare easily, and if she is that worried, you’d better be prepared for a tough time, whatever this Kova Kashiro guy is."

"Bring ‘em on!" The officer slammed his right fist into his other palm, and cracked his knuckles belligerently. "I’d like to see them take me out."

Mitsuki nodded, her mind chiming silently, ‘So would I.’

Kiyone took a deep breath and continued. "I’m afraid we have been unable to apprehend the criminal, even with aid from Washu and Tenchi. Fortunately, we are aware of his whereabouts…" Kiyone ignored another snort of derision from behind. "… and are currently seeking a peaceful compromise with him."

"What? What compromise is there!?" The Chief growled. "He destroyed your ship, engineered an encounter between you and the Synereans, causing injury to some of you and resulting in the deaths of over sixty good marines! And you still wish to compromise?"

"Sir, I think…"

"Officer Kiyone Makibi, I’m afraid you have been working too hard. That man is dangerous, he can wear a myriad of faces, put on countless fronts! How can you even think of parleying with him?" His expression was incredulous.

Kiyone closed her eyes as she heard knuckles crack behind her.

Kova, please, get out of here!

"We might be able to…"

"NO!" The Chief replied. "It is written, clear as crystal, this man must be eliminated at all costs. The SSS no longer require him to be captured, as long as proof of his death is presented. Such is his record and the stakes that there are no terms you can offer him. Either by our hands or by the hands of the SSS, only death awaits him, and there is nothing to be said about that. As for you, you are to do your best in apprehending him, and if necessary eliminate him if he resists."

How *dare* you talk about him like he was just another dangerous pest to be exterminated!?

Kiyone’s eyes narrowed imperceptibly, before she stood up, her face full of anger

"I will NOT!" She shouted at the Chief. "He is *NOT* a heartless criminal!"

Mitsuki felt her mind laugh with glee.

At last, Kiyone, at last, you make a mistake…

"You forget yourself, Chief Inspector." The Chief’s eyes grew cold and his expression hardened. "I will *not* have you endangering your own and your partner’s lives on this futile crusade of conversion." His bearing became authoritarian, as Kiyone recovered her wits.

Oh no, what have I done!? She heard herself cry inside.

The Chief read out his verdict. "I hereby declare you unfit for further overseeing or execution of this assignment. You are relieved of command over the assignment to capture Kova Kashiro, and shall be replaced by Special Operative Number 231, who is in transit to the System, along with his pilot 1st class detective Mitsuki."

"Sir!" She tried. "There…"

"…is no room for further discussion, unless you succeed in apprehending him without any strings attached, as there are none that you are authorised to deploy." His eyes were grim and impatient. "You are to have no say in the decisions made by Operative 231, and are to assist him to the best of your capabilities in this mission. If by any chance he orders you to do something, you are to obey him to the letter. Any direct insubordination will be reported and will have standard repercussions, including demotion." Kiyone flinched a little at that remark. "Should your team succeed, you shall be duly rewarded, *with* consideration of this small episode."

Kiyone sagged back in her seat, her face distraught.

How am I going to save him? Isn’t there a way to avoid trying to hurt him?

"Do I make myself clear, Chief Inspector?"

"Y…yes." A long pause, her voice tremulous. "Sir."

"Any final questions?"

"If I find a way to avoid bloodshed in this?" Kiyone pleaded.

"They should not be considered at all unless it involves total incarceration of the criminal so that he has no ability to endanger any one on this assignment. If there are any such complete surrenders, report them to Operative 231, he will decide this criminal’s fate."

Kiyone’s brows knitted again. "He is *not*…"

"QUIET! You are no longer in charge of this assignment, and don’t you dare presume to give me orders like that!" He told her, then his eyes widened. Mitsuki and Operative 231 also stared.

Kiyone felt her body grow cold as a chill point metal pressed hard on her temple.

"…Kova-chan?" Her lips barely moved, and the people watching the transmission could not make out the soft sound.

The grim figure standing beside her, invisible to the Midorishu and the Section Chief, remained silent.

Faster than thought, Kiyone was thrown off the seat, away from the metal rod, as her GP Blaster held by the unknown assailant shot out a gold laser, and she heard a voice like her own scream out in pain as the beam skimmed over her head.

"Kiyone!" Operative 231 cried out, anger, apprehension and anguish permeating his voice, and was heard only by the stunned Mitsuki.

Kova’s face, devoid of human feeling, appeared on the transmission screen. "I fulfil your request, Chief." His eyes blazed in fury. "She won’t ever have to report to you again."

The Section Chief and the inmates of the Midorishu could only watch as the transmission from the Yagami was cut off, as well as Kiyone’s fresh scream of agony.

=== End of Chapter ===

PLEASE REVIEW! Readers are the author's motivation!

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 some pictures of him, not too good pencil drawings, if you wish to take a look pls mail me.

I have decided to continue writing chapters at this length

The start of this chapter is a little anti-climactic, action wise, and there is a lot more before Darkness and Light ends. I have reason to believe the ending WILL be climactic, for those of you disappointed. Operative 231 is a character created by someone else, whose identity will be seen in Chap 13 and full credits will go to that author at the end of the next chapter.

Chapter 13 may emerge, but that is the furthest I *can* go (ie unfinished story), my preliminary exams are drawing near, probably won't continuing until my preliminary exams end September 20th or so... after that I have to prepare for my A levels, but I will try to bring out more chapters. No matter what, I will try to finish it once my A's are over, which is in late Nov/early Dec.

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.

Last word : PLEASE REVIEW! So I noe which hits are for real & which are merely misgotten clicks...

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