Aquaris Destiny

"Thanks for coming with me, you guys," Aisuno Kori Miyuki said to her guardian kitty (Hiroko), cousin (Kirin Yukiko), and friends (Chika Meeyusaki and Shicchi Kairiku). The five were on Aquaris, Miyuki's planet of origin. Also along were Tobias (Chika's boyfriend) and Anakin Skywalker (Kairiku's boyfriend), as neither girl wanted to leave without them.

"So, why are we here this time, Miyuki?" Tobias asked.

Miyuki blushed a bit under Chika's protective glare. She had been to Aquaris with only Hiroko twice in the past week. "Well, this time I'm signing some papers for the Senate."

"Senate?" Yukiko inquired. "Isn't there just a prince or princess?"

"Not on Aquaris," Miyuki explained. "There's a unique ruling system here. Instead of just a ruler and a court, we have a few branches of power. First, there's the Aquaris Senate, fifty Aquarians who vote on most of the laws. There is a Senate Leader who speaks on behalf of the Senate at court meetings. Then, there's a Prime Minister. He or she negotiates with most foreign affairs, approves minor laws, and rules in the prince or princess' absence. Next, there is a Royal Advisor, who advises the ruler on most matters. Hiro-san is my advisor." The mentioned kitty meowed cheerfully. "Finally, there's a prince or princess. Me. Princess Korikai Miyuki of Aquaris. We decided that, or just Princess Kori, would be my public name at my last visit. And, like I said, now I'm signing some papers for the Senate at Tenchi's house."

"So, on to Tenchi's house!" Anakin said.

The four girls, two guys, and one cat were at the home of the Prime Minister of Aquaris, right next to Miyuki's palace. Kouno Tenchi, the Prime Minister and Miyuki's past-life boyfriend, was seated at one end of the table as a figure of authority. Miyuki sat at the other end. On one side of the table sat Tobias, Chika, Kairiku, Anakin, and Yukiko. On the other side were five representatives of the Senate. Seated in the middle was Umi Minami, a black-haired blue-eyed girl holding a pack of papers.

Miyuki cleared her throat. "As the birthright ruler of Aquaris, I hereby declare this court meeting in session. Tenchi?"

Tenchi nodded. "Tobias, Chika, Kairiku, Anakin, Yukiko, and Hiroko, thank you all for attending." He grinned at Miyuki, then shifted his gaze to Umi. "Umi, please proceed."

Umi blushed, and a small geyser erupted behind her. She cleared her throat, adjusted her glasses, and shuffled her pack of papers. The geyser spluttered a bit, then died down.

Miyuki caught questioning from all her friends. Umi has a huge crush on Tenchi, she explained, and they could feel a slight anger coming from her. She's a sweet girl otherwise.

What's with the geyser? Yukiko inquired.

All Aquarians have a special power: control over water. I have it and Tenchi has it a bit less, but we can control ours. Umi... can't. Strange things happen when she's around. That geyser was sort of a seconding of that blush.

That makes sense, Anakin said. Aquaris is a water planet, known for its pools, beaches, and water trade routes.

Umi cleared her throat again. "Miss Miyuki, Sir Tenchi, and our studio audience -" she gestured to the others "- may I present to you four members of the Aquaris Senate? This -" she gestured to a tall, violet-eyed girl was long, flowing blonde hair "- is Shika Shinju."

Shika extended a hand. "Pleased to meet you, Princess." Miyuki shook Shika's hand.

The next girl, sporting reddish-black hair and red eyes, didn't even bother to shake. "Name's Ari," she grumbled. "Ari Meruno."

For some reason, Miyuki felt familiar vibes from "Ari Meruno". She felt the same vibes from Tobias, Chika, Yukiko, Kairiku, and Hiroko.

The redheaded boy also did not bother to shake hands. "My name is Kasui Kamekobi," he muttered shyly.

In contrast, the brown-haired boy next to him was practically exploding with energy. "Hi!" he said cheerfully, extending a hand. "I'm Rama Atsui!"

"Rama will become Senate Leader if anything happens to me," Umi explained after Miyuki shook Rama's hand. "And now the papers." She removed a few papers from the packet and handed them to Miyuki. "These deal with the pirates that are stealing our profits, polluting, and creating an altogether mess. These papers signify their rights, what they can and can't do, where they cross the line - but knowing them, they'll probably break these rules, too." Umi grinned. "Read over them and sign on the dotted line." She handed Miyuki a pen.

There were various papers: papers dealing with pirates, papers dealing with water pollution, papers to verify other papers, papers that were treaties with Hoth, Dantooine, Naboo, Cerea...

Ari Meruno slammed her hand onto the table. "Oh, I've had ENOUGH of this!" She waved her other hand, and a black fog filled the room.

When the fog finally cleared, Shika, Rama, and Kasui were on the floor, unconsious. In the center of the room, next to the overturned table, with her hand around Umi's neck was...

"Sailor Sith Ayameru," Miyuki, Yukiko, Chika, Tobias, and Kairiku exclaimed.

"None other," sneered the Sith. Umi was desperately trying to free herself from Ayameru's grasp. Small geysers and creeks were springing up all over the room, but Ayameru held on, cackling evilly, slowly draining the struggling girl's energy.

Miyuki was not an impulsive girl. She preferred to think things over and almost never acted rashly. But seeing a girl who had been such a good friend to her getting the very lifeforce sucked out of her body while Miyuki stood by watching was extremely alarming. So, on impulse, Miyuki picked up the closest thing to a weapon: Kairiku.

"Hey, Miyuki, what are - AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Miyuki had grabbed Kairiku and flung her as hard as she could at Ayameru. It worked. The impact of the thirteen-year-old girl sent Umi and Ayameru sprawling in different directions. Kairiku landed, shook her head, and yelled, "Miyuki, next time you want to use me as a missle you could GIVE ME A WARNING!!!!!!"

"Sorry, Kairi-chan!" Miyuki called. Then, remembering her friend, cried, "Umi, run!"

Umi didn't need to be told twice. Nodding, she bolted out of the room.

"Tenchi, you better go, too..." was Miyuki's next remark.

Tenchi's voice was low. "No."

"That wasn't a request, Tenchi! GET OUT!"

"No. My duty is to make sure you are safe, Miyuki! I won't let you throw away your life like -" he looked for an example"- like you threw Kairiku!"

"She better not," Kairiku grumbled.

"But I'm a SAILOR JEDI! You don't even have a LIGHTSABER!" Miyuki cried, almost in tears.

Hiroko jumped down from Miyuki's head. Let him go. He'll find a way. He wants to protect you. He loves you.

Biting her lip, Miyuki nodded.

"Everyone transform!" cried Chika.

"Cerea Crystal, Make Up!"

"Cerea Knight Blast!"

"Gungan Force Power, Make Up!"

"Hoth Force Power, Make Up!"

"Aquaris Force Power, Make Up!"

And in flashes of various shades of blue, Sailor Cerea, the Cerean Knight, Sailor Chibi Naboo, Sailor Hoth, and Sailor Aquaris stood there, along with Tenchi and Anakin.

"How nice," sneered Sailor Sith Ayameru. "Five little Senshi all in a row."

"I, madam, am a KNIGHT!" corrected the Cerean Knight indignantly.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Ayameru replied airily, with a wave of her hand. "That's not important. What is important is that I'm gonna destroy you. Hah!" And Ayameru sent six black daggers out at the senshi.

"Not if I can help it. Skull Shock Burn!" And the dagger exploded as the Cerean Knight lowered his staff. "THAT'S for calling me a senshi!"

Anakin whacked a dagger with his lightsaber, breaking it.

"Gungan Blue Ball Launch!" cried Sailor Chibi Naboo as the dagger heading towards her disintigrated.

"Hoth Ice Reflection Surround!" Another dagger turned to ice and fell, shattering, as Hoth let loose her attack.

"Aquaris Ice-A Formation!" The A's on Sailor Aquaris' uniform bombarded the dagger, breaking it.

"Air Pressure Blast!" cried Sailor Cerea, collecting the pieces of the daggers in a whirlwind and blowing them away. But she had missed one - and it was heading straight for Sailor Aquaris!

"Miyuki!" cried Tenchi. "Look out!"

Aquaris be]arely had time to turn, see the dagger, and scream before Tenchi threw himself in front of her, the dagger clearly through his chest.

Miyuki couldn't believe it. "Tenchi! NOOOOO!"

Tenchi just stood there, a look of anguish on his face. He was clearly fighting the urge to die. I love you Miyuki... His Force-sense was receding further and further.

Miyuki's eyes filled with tears. "Tenchi..." She wanted to do something, but she could only stand and watch in shock as one of the people she loved most was dying - for her.

Suddenly, it seemed as if time stopped. Tenchi was surrounded by a blue glow. The symbol of Aquaris flashed on Tenchi's forehead and on either side of his wound. Then, the dagger, also glowing blue, came out of his chest, and the wound sealed up, leaving no trace of itself.

"Wha-?" Aquaris gaped. "Impossible!"

"What's going on?" Cerea cried in shock.

The dagger slowly turned ice blue, and a silver cylinder grew around it. The dagger embedded itslef in the cylinder.

Anakin's voice was awestruck. "That is a lightsaber."

Tenchi reached out to take the lightsaber. When it touched his hands, a cerulean blade ignited. He swung it around, and it formed a blue circle in the air. As Tenchi stepped through, the blue color of the circle seemed to form into a dark blue tuxedo over Tenchi's regular clothes.

"The joy of life is as beautiful as the colors that a setting sun casts upon the sky and as wonderous as the depths of the ocean. I, the Aquarian Knight, will not let your evil deeds ruin that joy!"

No one looked more surprised than Tenchi himself. Where the heck did THAT just come from?

"No WAY did that just happen!" screeched Sailor Sith Ayameru. "Stupid Senshi! And... whatever you guys are..." She trailed off, waving her hand at the Cerean Knight, who opened his mouth indignantly. "I really couldn't care less! Black Fire Engulf!"

The attack was directed at Sailor Aquaris and the Aquarian Knight, who, in sync, twirled their staff and lightsaber to repel the attack. Then, the two Aquarians double-teamed Sith Ayameru.

"Aquaris Ice-A Formation!"

The Aquarian Knight pressed his palms together, then flung them apart, yelling "I call upon the power of Aquaris! ICE!" Thunder cracked and a hailstorm came at Sith Ayameru.

"Aaaaaaugh! I HATE you senshi! Die, all of you!" And, still cursing, Ayameru disappeared into a black hole portal.

"For the last time, I am a KNIGHT," muttered the Cerean Knight sourly.

Miyuki and Tenchi sat on a couch, alone in one of the Rooms Behind the Waterfall.

Miyuki broke the tense silence. "I don't understand why we didn't understand that you were my knight before. It makes perfect sense."

Tenchi nodded. "It's destiny."

Miyuki stiffened. "You know what I hate about destined relationships? You never know... if it's just destiny or for real..."

"Miyuki." Tenchi put his arm around her and tilted her chin up with his other hand. "Listen to me. I never want you to think that I love you because I have to. I've gotten to know you and, regardless of our pasts, I love you beacuse of who you are. I'm still not even sure what happened in our past lives. To tell the truth, I don't really care! NOW is what matters."

And the two kissed. As they kissed, Miyuki's soft Force-aura of dark blue and Tenchi's soft Force-aura of cerulean mingled and formed a soft glow. Miyuki felt Tenchi's warmth cascade from his lips to hers. It flowed through her body and heightened her aura to a steady glow. She felt her body sag and was glad that Tenchi was holding her up - after all, it was her first kiss in a millennium.

With her aura her Force-sensitivity heightened as well, and she snapped away from the kiss, breaking the aura. "Tenchi... did you lock the door?"

Tenchi frowned. "No... why?"

The words had barely left his lips when the door fell open and Chika, video camera in hand, sprawled onto the floor. "That was some footage, Miyuki!" she said, winking. "I got it all on tape!"

Both Aquarians blushed furiously. Chika's laughter and Miyuki's screams were heard echoing all over the Room Behind the Waterfall. "CHIKA MEEYUSAKI, AS SOON AS I BURN THAT TAPE I'M GONNA KILL YOU!!!"