Electricity whirled about her fingers like gossamer threads of spun sugar. It gathered, winding together to create a thick tapestry of energy, balling together to engulf her hand in a golden sphere. Her golden eyes matched its intensity, flaring and flickering like a fire splashed with gasoline. She sped through the air like a bullet expelled from a gun. Faster and faster she flew, the energy gathering around her even as her body started to scream. She pushed herself faster and faster until she neared the breaking point. Just before her flesh started to collapse and her bones shatter, she stopped.

She hovered, her altered kimono caught in the slight breeze. Her cyan hair was flung back from her face as well; the air about her static and tangible, charged to the point that hair stood on end. Her yellow eyes scanned the fields before her, then narrowed into angry slits as they settled on the culprit.

The silver-haired elf stood, resheathing his knife as he stood over the slashed carcass of a small rabbit-like creature. She had felt the scream in her mind, had felt the knife tear in and spill her innards on the ground. As the silver-haired elf started to kneel down, Ryoko felt her gut wrench and tear, and, slowly, she started to descend, the anger spinning into energy and spinning about her. She saw the smoky eyes lift in surprise and an ugly smile curled on her lips before she moistened them.

"Bastard."

Cutter's head jerked up and around, eyes growing wide and startled. "Skywise?"

Her fingers tightened into fists, squeezing the energy ball. In response, twin poles shot out and she gripped it, the energy spiraling around her in an intricate, deadly ballet. "You filthy bastard."

"Beloved?" Leetah's jade green eyes were wide and dark, her slender fingers reaching for him as he pulled away. "What? What about Skywise?"

The cyan-haired woman sliced through the air, the sharp scent of ozone invading his nostrils so heavily that it hurt. Skywise scrambled, face stark white with fear. He tripped, fingers biting into the moist dirt and churning up handfuls of it. Oh, High Ones, she was going to kill him.

It had been many years since Ryoko had been truly angry. Since she had fallen into the pit of immortal anger that Kagato had been able to fuel with the simple nod of his head. Her yellow eyes flashed sudden blue and, again and again, her golden light-sword sliced through the thick air, missing the frightened stargazer by inches each time. "You killed her!" she screamed, her voice hoarse and her tongue dry. "God damn you! You killed her, you filthy bastard!" Her light-sword slashed and caught the corner of his tunic. It burned straight to his flesh and he yelped.

The energy was growing around the two. As Ryoko flew overhead, the ground beneath her was incinerated. Green leaves curled over and blackened. The fertile soil dried and turned yellow. She screamed, tiny threads of energy ripping out of the very air around her to gather about her. She was going to kill him.

Cutter ran. New Moon was already drawn and held ready in front of him. His thoughts cried out with fear and surprise, and it was he could do to keep his thoughts together long enough to find his way there. ** I'm coming, Fahr! I'm coming! **

The ground changed sharply beneath him, the grass disappearing into a moist, almost muddy soil. Cutter frowned a bit, but blocked the thought away for the concern at had. Where was Fahr? Indigo eyes glanced around frantically, instantly settling upon the grassfire. The yellow flames leapt and danced nnaturally, and he could just barely make out Skywise's cowering figure. Above him, the demon hovered, robes singed by the fire and energy spinning about her to form a fiery sphere in which she was the nucleus of.

Then Cutter's eyes widened. That was no grassfire.

"You killed her. I know you did. I felt it." Ryoko's face was a mask of anger and tearing pain, yet her voice was disconcertingly cold and calm. She let go of the light-sword, which promptly vanished into the air, then lifted her hands above her head. The focused energy was spiraling in erratic orbits around her, thin threads of blue and white gathering around her fingers to spark and dance in a dangerous ballet. "Now you're going to die."

What did I do? Skywise crouched, a hand lifted to block out the glare of the surrounding light. All he had wanted to do was prove to himself that he hadn't lost his edge.. That he was still Skywise, wolf-blood or not. The moment his blade had tasted the crimson blood of the small furry animal, a gut-wrenching scream had shattered the air about him and fiery daggers had churned up the ground around him. Was that ravvit-thing hers? "Back off, human!" he shouted. Timmorn's blood, his voice was quavering! "Back off right now!"

"Human..?" A giggle escaped Ryoko's lips, then another, as she descended further, the silver light still gathering around her hands. "Oh, honey, I'm in no way human.."

"Leave him alone!"

The barked command drew both of their attention. Skywise's face flooded with relief as Cutter leapt over the ring of fire, New Moon flashing, then arching down at Ryoko. It drew a thin line of blood across her cheek before a shield flew up, slamming him back to the ground. The energy surrounded the three promptly dissipated save for that revolving about Ryoko. Her eyes blinked, then narrowed into thin, yellow slits.

Skywise, through the corners of his eyes, noted the growing crowd of humans and elves alike.

"You.. You.." Ryoko lifted a shaking hand to touch her cheek, then stared at the ruby-red blood that stained her fingertips. "You.. -cut- me!"

"And I'll do more than that.." Cutter growled as he moved forward, crouching by Skywise. "(Are you all right?) …. If you don't back off right now!"

Skywise nodded. He was bruised and his shoulder burned, but fine otherwise.

Hesitant, the others moved forward, the elfin troop towards Cutter and Skywise, and the residents of the Masaki home towards Ryoko.

"Skywise, are you all right?"

"Ryoko, how could you!"

"Ryo-ohki..?"

"What happened?"

"Why did you do that?"

"Ryo-ohki..!"

"You dullard!"

"Ryoko! I'm ashamed of you!"

Ryoko whirled on her feet, her yellow eyes fixing with Tenchi's brown. "Don't you dare go blaming this on me!" she spat, her expression as startled as it was defensive and angry. "This is not my fault!"

"The fields are ruined! It will take weeks to repair this damage!" Tenchi's demeanor was uncharacteristically loud and angry. It wasn't often that anger flashed in his calm, brown eyes. "What were you thinking?! These are our guests, you're -supposed- to be nice to them.. not trying to kill them!"

"He killed Ryo-ohki!" Ryoko's voice broke and her yellow eyes liquefied. "Damn you, Masaki Tenchi! It's always my fault, isn't it? No one ever listens to me!"

"You're a liar and a criminal!" Princess Ayeka couldn't help twisting the knife, moving to stand behind Tenchi, her hands on her hips. "Why would anyone want to believe you-?!"

Ryoko shot her a look, but even she felt wasted and dried up inside. The cat-rabbit's shock still vibrated within her. She still felt the cold blade reaching in her back, mangling and ripping. The cyan-haired space pirate turned away, her shoulders shaking and her fingers curled into fists. The energy had disappeared, but the air was still intense and electrified. "Fuck you, Ayeka," she whispered raggedly, silver lines darting down her cheeks. "Fuck every single damned one of you." With that, there was a sharp flash of ozone and she faded from sight.

It took a while for the news to sink in, and suddenly the two groups were at odds. Masaki Shrine residents drew to one side, while their elfin visitors collected at the other, a golden shower of eldritch sparkles focusing around Leetah and Skywise as the auburn tressed healer relieved him of the burns and broken bones Ryoko's fury had left behind. Cutter chided his brother for his recklessness and Suntop kept a mental eye out for the cyan-haired demon in case she returned.

Sasami had pulled away from either crowd, stumbling in the direction where Ryo-Ohki lay in a crimson puddle that had already begun to soak into the earth. Twin cerulean ponytails bobbed lightly in the wind as they were caught, one flitting behind her while the other clung to her face, obscuring her sight somewhat and refusing to move no matter how many times she brushed it away. Her cherry eyes were blurred with tears and she clung to Ayeka as her sister kneeled slowly beside her.

"Oh, he's dead! He's dead-He's dead-He's dead-He's dead!" Sasami sobbed unhappily and behind her Mihoshi was beginning to kick in with some wailing of her own. Her own wine red eyes darkened like twin evening suns, Ayeka could only hold her younger sister as the girl cried herself into exhaustion.

Mihoshi, in turn, was all but hanging off of poor Tenchi, her blue eyes bright and large, her own tears like a waterfall down her dark brown cheeks. "I knew they were something b-bad, Tenchi-san!" she blubbered into his shoulder as he waited out her fit with strained patience. "A-Any race that is-isn't filed with Ga-Ga-Galaxy," - she hiccuped - "Police has g-got to be something b-b-bad!"

"It was just a misunderstanding.." Tenchi soothed, casting the elves a sidelong glance. I hope. "Hey, cheer up, Mihoshi!" With a sniffle, she pulled away to blink at him and the youth offered the bubblehead a crooked smile. "You know, Ryoko can always recreate Ryo-Ohki! Or Washuu-san can.. There's no need to cry!"

The blonde sniffled again, but quavered, "You really mean it, Tenchi?"

"Of course I do!" Tenchi forced a laugh. "You know how much Washuu likes to say she's the Greatest Scientific Genius of the Universe.. And she is pretty smart!"

"Oh, Tenchi!" Mihoshi squealed and embraced him so suddenly he stumbled back. His face turned red, but the bubble-headed detective took no notice. "You're so good and reassuring and happy and -- Oooooh! Tenchi, you know just what to say!!"

"Um. Heh. Thanks, Mihoshi-san.."

Ayeka tried her best to stifle her jealousy at how openly Mihoshi embraced Lord Tenchi, trying to focus her attentions on her distraught, younger sister, but the oft self-absorbed young princess couldn't help watching through the corners of her eyes. She usually thought that, unlike that awful Ryoko, Mihoshi posed no threat to the relationship between her and the grandson of her half-brother Yosho, but he treated her so differently than anyone else did. As if she had some brains in that fool head of hers.

Oh, Tenchi-sama! Ayeka closed her eyes and hugged her sister suddenly, violet strands of hair falling over her eyes. I want to tell you how much I love you.. feel for you.. If you would but ask, my lord, I would not hesitate to.. to..

"Are you even listening to me?"

Ayeka's eyes flew open and her cheeks flushed red. She drew back sharply from her sister and stared down into her eyes, now an angry scarlet as she scowled. "S-Sasami-chan.."

"You weren't! Oh, you weren't!" Tears sprouted anew in Sasami's eyes and she shook of her older sister's hands as if they were slimy worms. "I hate you, Ayeka! Ryo-Ohki's dead and all you can think about is Tenchi! Tenchi!" Balling her hands into fists, she started to stumble away and her tinny voice rose into a near scream. "I hate you! I hate you!"

Ayeka's jaw went slack and all she could do was stare as Sasami turned her back and started to run away. She was momentarily halted as she plowed headlong into the sun-haired lad of the group, Suntop, but she stumbled to her feet without so much as a 'Gomen!' before darting away into the nearby woods. Only after the cerulean-tressed lass was out of sight did Ayeka regain her senses and stumble to her feet. Her face was ashen. "SASAMI!!"

Dying was always an interesting experience, but one you only expected to feel once. The energy that warmed her shell was fading, leaving behind a cold numbness that seeked to engulf her form completely. All she could feel was her own hands as she pressed them to her chest and the subtle touches of her long, silky mane as the individual strands floated in timeless, weightless limbo around her. Winnowill had died once, in a searing bright flash of metal and hatred that had brought little pain at first and much satisfaction, only to be captured within her lover's mind and held there tightly. There had been much extravagance in that death and all though the end result was not what she would have liked, it had been a good death.

It was very different from what she felt here, but she knew it was happening. Winnowill's onyx eyes closed as an unpleasant smile curled upon her lips. She knew she was dying. It was slower and without pain, and there was no satisfaction to it, but she knew that this brief kiss of life could only be so brief and that the drain in her body was beyond even her healer's control.

She was dying.

And she wasn't afraid.

And you know it, don't you? Her eyelashes fluttered to allow her eyes to open partially, her paled eyes gleaming with unnatural amusement as the dark figure loomed before her. You're killing me, she asked without words, and enjoying every moment of it, aren't you? A bitter laugh rose in the fallen Lord's throat. It sounded dry and empty in the silent void. I'm dying when I'm supposed to be dead already? Am I supposed to be afraid of you?

. . No, Winnowill. ..

Surprise showed dimly in her eyes. So you can speak something other than gibberish. Chalk-white fingers hovered a breath away, fingertips within touching distance, yet she could not even move that far. She wanted so desperately to move, in physical or spirit form, yet her body was paralyzed and her mind was trapped. She was completely helpless, at this creature's mercy, and all she could think about was how ironic and amusing the entire situation. She wanted to laugh. She wanted to cry. She wanted to do something, damn it! before she went mad in this infernal hell.

What do you want of me? Power? Control? Pleasure? Is there some point to this, shadow face, which has yet to escape me? I am dead! Dead dead dead -- and I am not afraid to die again! But I want to know why!

. . Anger gives you strength and strength gives you power. You have learned to control that power which flows through your veins. Power that I want, power that will give me the means to wreak vengeance on those that destroyed me! . .

Onyx eyes blinked slowly, then her throat ached dryly as a bitter laugh rose up and could not escape. Is that all?

Dully, eyes as black as night blinked back at her. This one is stupid, she decided vehemently. He only knows how to take by force without reaping further benefits of willing submission. He wields his power and anger like a child. (Like I did, her mind whispered unhappily, when Voll first began the Mountain) He strikes me as young, one that is used to being dominant, yet does not know how to use it..

. . I have seen four centuries in my life. . .

Silently, Winnowill counted the years, then exploded in laughter as life flowed back into her and her body began to tingle. ** That is all? I am many times over your elder, Kain - do not presume to be my better! ** In the silence that had dominated the length of time she had spent in this strange, indistinct place, her own sending startled her with its intensity. Snapping back mentally, she felt her corporal form glide gently backwards in reply.

Kain's mask-like face cracked with a smile, watching her with dark amusement as she struggled in the weightless limbo. How unlike water this was, for water was a medium that she could move and shift to her liking. This strange place was.. nothing! Nothing! And he echoed a cold, dark laugh. . . Surprised? . .

** You have no idea, ** was Winnowill's wry response, gaze shifting over her entire form. Perfect, she realized with some amazement, her fingertips tracing the edge of her pale thigh lightly. Somehow, this.. thing had recreated her body down to the most minute of details. Her fingers found their way to just above her bosom, where her rib cage met collarbone - there, millennia ago, an arrow had pierced her flesh. Then to her nose, where a fiery-tempered Sea-Elf had slammed her fist.. To her neck, where Gromuhl Djun's axe had decapitated... No. Winnowill looked to him and commented softly, ** You are very through. **

. . I know. . . That was when she saw the hunger in his eyes. It was bold and left bare for her to see, and Winnowill could barely suppress a smirk. For all his vaulted power, when it came down to it he was little more than human. Pathetic. . . You have something that I want. . .

** Do I? ** She queried and added silently, I never would have guessed. To her good fortune, he no longer seemed to be spying on her thoughts. Winnowill glided lightly through the void, coming closer towards the black stretch of darkness. She moved softly, sensually; all these years dead had not worn away in the slightest how to manipulate humans into following their lusts. ** And what is it that you want? **

His eyes watched her hollowly. . . Power. I want your power. . .

** Is that all? ** She reached a hand, touching it to his darkness. He was cool, like water, and the liquid of his form clung to her pale hand like honey. ** I can give you so much more. You and I.. an alliance.. You do not need to take anything by force from me, Kain. ** Her lips curled into the faintest of smiles. ** You have but to ask.. **

The black mellifluous substance that made up Kain started to curl around her, thin tendrils clinging to her legs and arms like spiderwebs, pulling her closer to him. The coolness was suddenly cold and damp, making her grit her teeth and at the same time shout in pleasure. They sent tingles up her spine and, dimly, she heard Kain utter a croaking laugh. . . Old and immortal you are, Winnowill, but you are flesh and only that. . .

** Only flesh.. ** she murmured drowsily, feigning weakness when she was in control, reaching a hand to twirl a bit of blackness around her finger. ** But my spirit has power, Kain. Power you want. You admitted as much. **

. . I did, didn't I. . . Kain's mask-face leaned in close to hers, within pitting distance if she so wished it. He seemed to study her even as he engulfed her, drawing her inside the black void that was Kain. Then he seemed to smile though his porcelain face remained unchanged. . . Show me, Winnowill. . .

. . Show me your power.. . .

It was inside of him and he couldn't get it out.

Rayek gasped, curled in a ball, clutching as his gut as it threatened to explode. His teeth were gritted and his mind was on fire. The pain was so intense he could not send, and he dared not to. High Ones know what horrors might be wrought if he did.

It was not so long ago that Winnowill had literally been torn from his mind, leaving behind a gap that still hurt from time to time. Though Leetah healed his physical wounds, the mental backlash of the Palace's collision with the lake by the Masaki home had scarred him, left him weak. Now he could feel that gap being filled with black fire, burning the edges of his mind, and consuming his body. He wanted to scream - He wanted to faint - He wanted to die.

The once Master of the Palace could hear the voices in his head, chanting what he must do, and for whom. He wanted so much to do something, anything, but it was all he could do from spilling that morning's meal all over the grassy earth.

The air around him was afire, energy lancing around so tightly it compressed, imploded, then exploded, and sending shockwave after shockwave that was somehow kept within a ten-foot radius of the fallen elf. Tears stung his golden eyes and streaked down his cheeks.

His mind exploded in pain, and suddenly Rayek passed out, collapsing on the ground. Slowly the energy died down, leaving hissing charred trees and piles of ash strewn about him. The golden-eyed hunter lay there on the ground, his breathing shallow, until his eyes slowly opened, glowing a dull orange.

The being flexed his fingers as he slowly rose to his feet, looking down at his sun-darkened body with quiet amusement. This one would suit him for the time being. His power was great, but so was his will. He would not be able to keep him contained for long.

An eldritch sparkle showered over his form and the being-that-could-be-Rayek rose slowly into the air, surveying the scene. Everything here was dead, killed by the power struggle between he and the elf. No matter. It was of little consequence to his mission anyway. After a moment, the being rose still higher, through the treetops and over the forest, eyes narrowing to search out his target.

There. By the river.

The form of a little girl, light blue hair pulled into twin ponytails, running away from the Masaki House and in the direction of the mountains, all by herself.