Hello, Maho-Ryu!

Kirana had been getting lonely lately. Not that she wasn't happy to have tons of caring friends and a sweet, adorable boyfriend - but she wanted something else.

Tears filled her indigo eyes as she watched Annika and her children. Why do my parents have to be dead? she wondered. I know they died defending me - but I wish I had them... Cold tears trickled down her cheeks, and she wrapped her arms tighter around her curled up form. The images of her mother, Clovetra, and her father, Morgan, drifted into her mind. "We'll be with you... forever," a voice as soft as a gentle breeze seemed to whisper. Kirana smiled. At least she had memories.

But, sometimes, she just needed to let it out. She silently cried, her shoulders shaking and tears falling. She felt like her heart would freeze up and shatter, burst into a million pieces.

"Hey, Kirana, what are you doing in that dark, cold corner of the garden?" Kendren asked, sneaking up on her.

"Ahh! Kendren, I didn't see you. I..." she stammered, trying to stand. It was difficult; she had been in that position for so long.

"Kirana, I-" He stopped to brush a strand of pearlescent hair away from her pretty face. "You're crying - was it something I did?" Kendren asked, obviously alarmed.

She laughed. "Oh, no, Kendren. It's not you. It's just that... I miss my parents. I really do. It's so hard to watch other people..." She trailed off and looked at the ground.

"I understand," Kendren said, and he did.

"I was also thinking that maybe I need a pet," Kirana said.

"I know the perfect pet for you!" he said, as if he'd been thinking of it all along. "It's beautiful, exotic and unique - just like you."

Kirana blushed and said, "Kendren, I know we met a short while ago - in this life - but...I love you."

He held Kirana and whispered back, "I love you too."

"So, what do you think? This one or this one?" Minae held up two outfits. The first one was a red blouse with a short, black skirt and knee-high black boots to match. The second one was a green shirt and pants, with shoes to match.

"Um... the first one," Xarae said as Chakra said, "the second one, definitely."

"You're no help!" Minae threw the outfits into the closet and took out a grey dress. "I'll wear this," she said.

"Hey, have any of you seen Kirana?" Kendren asked, sticking his head into the room.

"I think she went with Yuki to practice with her lightsaber. In the practice room..." Minae trailed off.

"Okay, thanks," Kendren said. As he walked away, the three girls could hear him say, "Ow! Stop that! You have to stay still!" And then another voice saying, "Me sorry, oh nice man who rescued me!"

They raised their eyebrows and decided to follow him...

"Okay, Kirana, now try this," Yuki said, demonstrating a complicated move with her glowing blue lightsaber. Kirana mimicked the move with her violet blade.

"Wow, Kirana, you're getting so good," Yuki said.

Kirana grinned and then noticed Kendren at the door. "Oh, hi Kendren!" she said, waving.

He stepped into the room and walked toward the girls. They noticed that there was a moving bulge in his jacket...

"Okay, what is it?" Kirana and Yuki asked at the same time.

"I have to let him out," Kendren said with a sly grin. He opened his jacket and out flew the most beautiful creature Kirana had ever seen. It was a dragon, about the size of a cat, maybe a little bigger. It was the color of Kyoko's blue hair, and it had wide, amber eyes. It had magnificent wings and a long, thin tail.

"OH! HOW CUTE!" the girls squealed.

"This is your new pet, Kirana," Kendren said. "His name is-"

"Maho-Ryu," the dragon answered in a sweet voice.

"He can talk?? Oh, Kendren, he's so adorable! Where did you get him?" Kirana asked.

"Oh, this weird little store in Coruscant Plaza Mall. He actually picked me." Kendren laughed.

"I can't thank you enough," Kirana said. "Hi, Maho-Ryu!" she added to the beautiful dragon.

"Kirana," Maho-Ryu said and rubbed against her leg like a cat. Then, to everyone's surprise, he purred!

"And watch what else he can do," Kendren said, grinning. He took a stick that he'd collected out of his pocket. "Show Kirana your neat trick," he said. Maho-Ryu flew up to the stick and breathed fire onto it, causing it to ignite.

"That is so hoth!" Minae cried, coming from behind the door.

"And he's so cute!" Chakra squealed, begging to hug him. The little dragon nuzzled her and purred.

"Hey, I wonder what the other pets will think about him?" Xarae asked.

"Yeah, get them!"

Soon various other pets of the senshi came into the room. Pinku looked wary at first, then approached Maho-Ryu with ease.

"I'm glad they're not fighting or anything," Kirana said to Kendren in a quiet voice.

That night, Maho-Ryu slept on Kirana's feet, just like her cat on Earth had. She was glad to have such a nice pet and such a great boyfriend who got it for her.