----

I want to stand with you on a mountain

I want to bathe with you in the sea

I want to live like this forever

Until the sky falls down on me

Savage Garden

----

Cold. She was.. cold. The rain pattered against her naked body, soothing the burning pain away with the coolness of a mother's touch. Her wine red eyes were closed, tears slipping freely from her lashes to drop soundlessly to the moist earth. Her hair lay in a formless cloud about her. Her muscles screamed with agony, but more than that, she was too weary to do anything. It was as if she were a dead weight. A stone.

A sob rose in her throat and escaped voicelessly. Her body shuddered with its escape. Her fingers curled, digging into the mud and leaving behind a dirty residue on her fingertips and palm. The burning fire of creation still scalded her, leaving behind invisible scars and burns that tortured her beyond screams.

She wanted so much to move.

The crushed leaves made an oddly comforting blanket. The bright flash of life had been unbearable; especially when she knew how shortly it would last. She bit her lip, drawing blood without meaning to; she had so little time.. time..

Nobuyuki-kun! Her thoughts cried out senselessly. Nobuyuki-kun! Danna-san, where are you? Why can't I see you, touch you, feel you close by me? Don't you know I've come back? Come back for you?

Nobuyuki, I haven't much time! Please, oh God, I just want to be near you! Don't let me die, not again.. Not alone in the mud and rain, naked and crying. Nobuyuki-kun!

Nobuyuki-kun!

Nobuyuki?

Nobu.. Nobuyu..

The tears started to cease in their flow, finally drawing to an end as her eyes dried up. She cried silently and tearlessly, lying broken on the floor. She could not even utter the barest of noises, much less cry for help. Oh, Death! she lamented in silence. A terrible, terrible trick you've played upon me. You gave me a chance to come back, to live again for the briefest of times so that I could help the ones I love. But now that I'm here, I cannot move! There is no life in this broken form.. God, I'm a girl again. Like I was in high school.

Damn you! Bitterness clenched her heart. Damn you! I want to help them, I want to do something, but now I'm going to die here again, for no reason at all! Stupid stupid STUPID. Damn you! This isn't fair.

// Aww! Shinyblack bigthing go downfall? //

Nani? Her eyes cracked open, staring tearlessly at the hovering flash of color. Its eyes were huge and pale shades of the rainbow, its body a gentle green and its wings iridescent. A butterfly, she thought dumbly, her burgundy eyes staring at the sprite.

It leaned in close to her, nearly touching her nose with its cloth-bit hat. // Shinyblack bigthing go downfall? // It asked again politely, then frowned when it got no reply. // Talk! // It demanded. No answer. Concern rippled across its delicate features as it straightened up, tapping its chin with a tiny finger. // Maybe bigthing nocan talk? //

I've gone mad, the crippled girl thought deliriously, her eyes closing as a weak smile pulled at the edges of her lips. That's the only explanation. I'm not dead. I haven't been reincarnated. I'm not lying naked and paralyzed in the middle of a forest not two blocks from Father's shrine. There's not a fairy-creature standing there, talking to me. This just isn't happening. Any second now I'm going to wake up in my room, get up so I can make breakfast, and-

Splooch!

Something sticky exploded across her face. Eyes popped open, she stared in shocked alarm as a white-silver stream of webbing poured out from the sprite's mouth, covering her face. A scream rose in her throat, never escaping as the sticky-whiteness blanketed her lips, catching her breath and blinding her sight. Dizzying disorientation swept over her with the strength of a gale wind. Fear brushed icy fingertips against her raging blackness, and then she dimly recalled hearing a silent scream before everything went black.

"Nobuyuki-san?"

He could hear Kazichi voice in the back of his head. His friend sounded vague, distant, and strangely surreal. He was shrugging on his jacket, vision blurry beyond being able to see a foot in front of him, before he felt hands on his shoulders shaking him violently.

"Nobuyuki-san! Nobuyuki-san! Damnit, man, snap out of it!"

"Wh-What?"

Nobuyuki blinked rapidly before his eyes cleared up. Kazichi Orikasa's pudgy face and worried almond-brown eyes came into view sluggishly, his expression tense with concern and frustration. A sweat-drop was posed over his brow, only to vanish with a relieved sigh as Kazichi slapped his hand to his forehead. "Whew! Geez, buddy! You really gave me a scare there. This is the second time today I've had to snap you out of it?"

Nobuyuki blinked dully at him, it not fully sunken in yet. Then he looked down at himself and around. Coworkers stared back with worried eyes. He stood with his jacket on and briefcase closed, as if the workday was over and it was time to go home. As if he were ready to go home. Nobuyuki's brows drew together as he looked down at himself, then up at Kazichi. Slowly, he whispered, "Whu.. Kazichi-san.. What am I doing..?"

"I don't know, buddy!" Kazichi's concern had turnd his almond brown eyes a deep chocolate color. He grasped his friend by the shoulder again, fingers tight where his hand rested. "Nobuyuki-san.. I.." He bit his lip and sighed. "It's your anniversary, and I.. I know you've been having some trouble. This project, it's really important, but we can't have you wandering around like some goddamn zombie.."

Nobuyuki stumbled back, eyes wide. His face was ashen, his stance unsteady. Kazichi moved forward, blinking rapidly. "H-Hey, Nobuyuki-san? Nobuyuki? Masaki! What's wrong?"

He moistened his dry lips as he stared blindly at his friend, looking through him, not seeing him. Seeing something else. "No!"

"Nobuyuki-san! Snap out of it! Hello? Nobuyuki-san!" There was the sharp sensation of a hand across his cheek. Kazichi slapped him, then again. And again. All Nobuyuki could do was stare into space, his glasses hanging on the tip of his nose. His jaw was slack.

"No! You can't have her!"

"Nobuyuki-san! What-?"

Someone was holding him back. Strong hands gripped his arms, clung to his shoulders, but he fought back. He flailed and growled like a beast, shoving his glasses up his nose and into his forehead. "Let me go! Damn you, let me go to her!"

His fist slammed into someone's chin, exploding over their face. Someone hit the ground hard, then scrambled out of the way. Voices were raised in fear and uncertainty; they hurt his ears, but were strangely distant. He was here. They weren't here. All that existed was the door.

"Achika-chan! Achika-chhhhaaaan!"

He was in his car, turning the key and putting his pedal to the metal. He burned rubber; it stank up his car and stung his eyes, but he kept going. The voices faded. Everything was a blur of white as he blindly navigated the streets, ignoring the blaring honks of protesting drivers and the screams of people as they dived out of the way.

She was afraid. He could feel it. The Bad One was back. Something was wrong. Someone was in danger. She was in danger.

"Achika-chan!"

Suddenly the blinding white became blood red and the blaring horns became deafening. Nobuyuki heard the crunch of metal and suddenly he was spiralling through the air, shards of glass slicing into his skin. He hit the ground, bones splintering. His glasses hit the ground, shattering into a million pieces in the grass.

"Achika-chan.."

Nobuyuki felt the onrush of incredible pain, then passed out before it could encompass him.

New bodies are always exhilerating. This he decided idly as he moved through the air, energy crackling about him like static. Glowing orbs of pure magic spun around his fingers, threatening to implode at any moment; they were so tightly constricted. Fire that was not fire spiraled about his form, emitting a coppery-gold sparkle that formed a sphere about his new body's small frame. Leaves curled away from him and clouds of dust rose in his wake.

This one has incredible power. A pity he is too caught up in his pathetic personal melodrama to realize it.

He pondered this as he brushed away the canopy of the forest with a gesture, looking down into the clearing where he had seen the blue-haired child moments before. He knew his mission. He knew what would happen if he failed. He wondered idly if this form had power enough to fulfill it.

Suppressing a yawn, he gestured and all the trees within twenty feet exploded.

I'm alone.

I'm alone. I'm alone. I'm alone.

I'maloneI'maloneI'maloneI'malone.

It was the soft voice of thought chanting in a singsong voice at the back of her mind. Branches and thorns clung to her robes and tore the pretty material, leaving shreds of colorful cloth behind her. Her long blue hair danced behind her, catching in bushes and puddles, the edges stained. Sasami, the Second Princess of the Jurai royal Family, ran as she had never before, feeling as if her legs would collapse beneath her at any moment.

"Ayeka! AY-E-KA!!" She tripped and fell, landing in the moist dirt. Mud splattered across her face and got in her mouth; Sasami choked and spat, scrambling to her feet. She was sorry she had run away, that she had yelled at her older sister and left her behind. She wanted to be back in her arms, back with Tenchi and Ryoko and Mihoshi and Grandpa and..

Sasami screamed as all the trees behind her lit up in a terrible blood red glow, then exploded. The backlash swept her off the ground and threw her through the air like a limp rag. She fell into the dirt again, and this time it hurt. Sasami bit through her tongue, tasting the bitter tang of blood in her mouth. She spat, then rolled over, struggling for breath, and stared up into the face of Death itself.

Or at least, one of his soldiers.

"I thought you were my friend," she blurted tearfully, the tears darting down her cheeks mingling with the mud caked there, creating delicate rivers. "I thought you were here to help us."

The airwalker wielded the pure magic like it was a pencil and their surroundings his paper. The intense scream of it as it whipped about him too fast for her to keep track of it clawed at her ears, forcing her to clap her hands over them as an unnatural wind tugged at her kimono. Something grabbed her, lifting her up in an invisible hand, and held her high above the ground.

"P-Please! I thought.. I thought you were our friend!"

Deep red eyes stared into a sea of bottomless gold and flinched at what they saw within. Rayek's voice - yet, not Rayek's voice - echoed dully in her mind. ** I was never your friend, sweet princess of Jurai. **

"Iie! IIE!" Sasami's scream reached new heights as the presence-not-Rayek suddenly invaded her mind with the power of a hurricane unleashed. It pounded into her, destroying natural defenses and leaving her mind bare to violation. The Presence tore deeper, deeper...

...until the girl's body lit up like a torch, an equal power expoding outwards and knocking him backward like an eight-ball on a pool table. Sasami's eyes flew open, devoid of their pupils as she stared redly at the Airwalker/Presence, her expression unreadable and her lips parted. An image superimposed over hers: a woman with cyan tresses, bound in twin tails that trailed down her back, and white silk robes clothing her form.

The Presence whirled around, an arm flying up and a shield flickering down, warding off the sparks of power that Tsunami was throwing back at him as he pressed forward, eyes glittering. ** And who will stop me, Tsunami? You know my mission as well as I. Stand down and the pain will stop. **

Her lips curled back from her teeth. Be away from the child or I will hurt you.

** You? Hurt me? ** He laughed in a stolen voice. ** You're amusing, Tsunami. I will grant you that. **

She did not answer, instead lifting her hands; the fierce whiteness around Sasami intensified. Be gone from here, War, or I will KILL you!

** You always did know a good soundbite. ** Suddenly he was coming forward, a hand reaching out. Tsunami recoiled, preparing for the worst. Nothing came. What..?

** Tsk, tsk, my dear. You've gotten much too trusting. ** His hand went through her superimposed image, as if she were nothing but mist, and grabbed Sasami by the forehead. The child cried out and Tsunami snarled, but a dangerous smile curled over Rayek's lips as War called upon the skill this body had that he had needed. The skill he had chosen him for.

** What I came here to do. **

Light clashed with dark, shooting sparks off everywhere. Golden eyes gleamed with a fire not their own and he reached in through the broken walls, ensnaring the beautiful presence that lurked inside the Juraian's mind. Tsunami screamed in surprise and anguish, but he only smiled.

He took her inside of him. Years ago, Rayek had pulled Winnowill's dark spirit inside him, locking her away in some hidden part of his mind. Now War did the same, a dark laugh rising in his throat as Tsunami was torn from her delicate charge's mind, beaten, and shoved back into a dark corner. She screamed again, the delicate noise delightfully painful.

He smiled again.

Awareness returned to Sasami's eyes. She stared glazily at Rayek, her lips forming silent protests. All the princess could whisper was a shuddering, "W-Why?" before her crimson eyes rolled back into her head and she passed out.

Emitting a snort of disgust, War/Rayek released his grip on her and let her fall lifelessly to the ground. Without Tsunami to sustain her, the child would die. It would then be only a matter of time before the Jurai Prince came to confront his Master's servant, and then the real fun would begin.

Not sparing the fallen child the briefest of glances, he vanished in a soft cloud of ozone smoke, leaving the princess comatose in the battered, burned landscape.

Alone, until the others found her.

She was a beautiful star in an endless sea of night. Her shine reached out to all corners of the darkness, but lighted nothing. Spheres of healing magic flickered in and out of existence as she struggled to repair damage she could not find. Leetah's hair clung to the back of her neck with sweat and she worried her lip until she could taste blood.

This was-- madness! For all the way the child looked human, she was not! There were similarities indeed, but there was something uncommonly different about her. Sasami's chest rose and fell with ragged, even breath, clinging to life with the tenacity that would make a wolf proud. And, Leetah feared, that was the only reason she was still alive, for the desertborn healer was certain that her influence had done little to help her. She was never good with animals or humans, but this little girl was something else entirely.

Others were in the room. The elder sister, Ayeka kept vigil by her sister's side, her expression worn and frightened as she grasped the girl's hand in a grip that would not release. Her face was ashen, paler than Tenchi, who knelt by her side. Ryoko hovered in the doorway, arms folded over her chest, and Mihoshi cowered in a corner, her cheeks wet with tears.

With a shuddering breath, Leetah fell backwards, caught by her lifemate's strong arms. She allowed herself a moment to relax, then struggled to sit up. "Slipped.." she mumbled hoarsely. "M'sorry.."

"Leetah.." Cutter's hand was gentle on her arm. "You've worked yourself to exhaustion.."

"And where has that gotten me?! Nowhere!" She snapped back, then her eyes flew open and her hands clapped over her mouth. "Oh, beloved, forgive me! I did not mean to speak so harshly..!"

Cutter frowned at her, put off by both her snap and her instant apology. He squeezed her arm gently, tilting his head to one side. "Leetah.." he said gently. "You need to rest.."

"Rest!" Ayeka's bark of protest escaped before she could think twice. She stared at the Wolfrider as if he had signed Sasami's death warrant, a tight mask of anger and fear closing over her face. "She can't! Sasami's dying! Without Tsunami, she'll die! She can't rest now, she has to--"

Further protest was cut off as Tenchi grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. "Ayeka-sama, get a hold of yourself!" His brown eyes were flashing, his tone unusually harsh, but his grip was gentle once she stopped shrieking. "Ayeka, she's tired! You can't ask her to work herself to death when its obvious nothing she's doing is helping!"

As if he had slapped her, Leetah recoiled against Cutter, her emerald eyes large with insult and dejection. "I.. I.." she started to say, but trailed off, staring at him.

Realizing his mistake, Tenchi flushed a bright red. "No, no.. I didn't mean it that way, honest! Gomen! I'm sorry! I- I- I.. Oh, geez.."

"No. I.. You're right." Leetah rose unsteadily to her feet. Her expression was downcast. "Nothing I have done.. has helped. I think.." She bit her lip, then, wobbling, she moved towards the doorway. "I think.. I will go.. rest for a while.."

"Leetah?" Cutter rose to his feet. ** Maybe I should-- **

** No, Tam. I would.. like to rest alone, if I may. **

** I.. ** The Wolfrider's eyes flickered quietly. ** Of course. **

With a nod, Leetah stepped out, her head bowed and her steps silent. Tenchi rose silently to his feet, rubbing his face; at his feet, Ayeka held her hands to her face and wept, her sobs choking out silently. Splatters of wetness appeared on Sasami's blanket as her older sister's tears fell. The silence was palpable as Tenchi studied a wall, Cutter studied the floor, Mihoshi cowered in the corner, Ryoko sulked by the door, and Ayeka lamented over her sister's prone figure.

The phone rang.

"I'll get it." Almost elegantly, Ryoko glided over towards the phone and picked it up off the reciever. She avoided Tenchi's gaze as she spoke into the mouthpiece: "Moshi moshi."

After a few minutes she handed it to Tenchi, unease lining her face. "Who is it?" he asked, and she answered, her voice toned oddly, "The hospital.."

He stared at her for a moment, then numbly took the phone from her. "Moshi mo-? Hai, this is Masaki Tenchi.. What?" The color drained from his face. Even Ayeka stopped in her crying to look up, blankness washing over her face as she peered at his. Tenchi stared straight ahead, at Ryoko and through her. "I.. I understand.. I.. Is he going to b-? Oh. H-Hai, hai.. I.. Arigato. Domo arigato. ... Sayonara."

Tenchi hung up the phone and stared at it dumbly.

Cutter was the first to break the silence, slowly approaching the human boy to look up at him, frowning. "Lad..?"

Tenchi looked down, then around. "'Tousan.. Father, he.." A hand went to his face, rubbing it and pushing the hair back out of his eyes. As if the day hadn't been bad enough.. "Dad, he's in.. the hospital.. Car crash. He's.. he's.."

Ryoko's voice was threadbare. "Tenchi?"

He didn't answer.