~ We will meet again. ~ Atari jerks awake. The words along with the evil cackling afterwards echo in her head. I-I thought it was over. She shivers, pulling her worn quilt closer around her. With one hand, she grasps the spiral shaped pendant around her neck. In the dimness of the room, the necklace flashes a pale violet.

�And a child shall lead them�� She whispers. With a quick shake of her head, she lays back down to sleep.

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{Earth, Masaki shrine/temple}

All is still. Every creature is in a deep, peaceful slumber. Except for one girl.

~Dream~

There was an intense darkness, enhanced by a chilling, thick fog. Sasami couldn�t see a thing. Frightened, she called out for friends.

� Tenchi!� She called. �Ayeka? Where are you?� Her panicked shouts sounded pitifully weak to her ears in the midst of the fog.

�The Chosen shall awaken, and a Child shall lead them.� A voice whispered.

�What?� Sasami asked, looking for the source of the voice.

�The Chosen shall awaken, and a Child shall lead them.� A second voice joined the first, adding to the urgency of the tone the phrase was voiced in.

�I don�t understand!� She cried.

�The Chosen shall awaken, and a Child shall lead them.� The number of voices increased, along with the volume of the words. Over and over the phrase was repeated, each time gaining urgency and intensity. It got so intense Sasami almost passed out. Finally, she got tired of the voices.

�WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?� She screamed, eyes shut tight her hands clamped over her ears. In the silence that followed, a low, dry chuckle reached her still-ringing ears. Huh? Confused, and extremely curious, she slowly opened her eyes. Only to see a sparkling pair of red and maroon eyes staring curiously back at her.

�Ahh!� She screamed, back pedaling rapidly until she tripped and fell on her bum. She closed her eyes, ready for the end.

�Don�t be frightened, Little One, � A low, melodious voice said. Rustling leaves told of the stranger rising. �I won�t hurt you.� Slightly reassured by the kind voice, she reopened her eyes and studied their surroundings. They were in a forest now, the golden sun shining pale rays of magic on the emerald grasses and the cotton candy Sakura trees. Wow�This place is beautiful. I didn�t know a place like this existed�

�Here, let me help you up.� She then turned her attention to the man, -no wait-boy, before her. He leaned down and lifted her up gently by the waist.

�Thank you, � She said blushing. He was cute, no more than 16 at most. A warm smile was on his heart shaped face, his slightly mussed teal and silver hair falling into his face, faintly obscuring her view of his strange two colored eyes. One was maroon the other a deep red. Not too tall, Sasami reached about his mid waist, his build was lean. His thin frame was high toned, with light muscles suggesting martial arts training. His loose black silk pants supported that assumption, while the somewhat tattered silver high-necked vest and black shirt suggested a militaristic influence.

�Who are you, and where are we?� She asked, gesturing to the beautiful scenery.

�I have no idea where we are.� The youth spoke with a strange accent; one not even a Juraian princess could place. �As to who I am, I could ask you the same.� He grinned at her.

�I am Sasami, 2nd princess of the Jurai Royal family.� She curtsied. Shock flickered across his face, then quickly vanished.

��Tis a pleasure my Lady. I am Breiit Atari Kou.� He said, bowing low, as is proper when greeting royalty.

�Pleased to meet you Breiit.� She smiled warmly at him. Breiit, meaning One who brings brightness to the shadow . A truly odd name, but it suits him. They talked for hours. Well, Sasami talked mostly, Breiit listening intently and occasionally adding a thought or two of his own. Suddenly, the ground started to shake.

�Sasami!� Ayeka�s voice called.

�I believe this is my cue to leave.� Breiit stated, looking up at the rapidly darkening sky. �My Lady,� He bowed, taking her small hand and kissing it lightly. He then turned and ran off.

�Don�t forget about your promise!� She called to him. He stopped mid-stride and turned, giving her a thumbs up and a roughish grin before turning back around and charging ahead to fade slowly into the distance like a ghost.

Slowly, almost barely, Sasami wakes up. �What is it Ayeka?� She asks with a yawn, stretching her arms.

�Oh Sasami, thank goodness you�re all right.� Ayeka cries, enveloping her in a hug. �I was so worried. I called and I called yet you wouldn�t wake up!� She holds Sasami close, sobbing with relief.

�Um�Ayeka?� Sasami asks hesitantly.

�Yes Sasami?� Ayeka replies, not noticing that her grip on Sasami has cut off her air supply and is choking her.

�C-can�t. BREATHE!� She wheezes out. Her sister quickly loosens her grip, pounding the younger girl�s back as she gasps for breath.

�Mrraw?� Ryo-ohki asks, the commotion having woken her up.

�Now that I�m up, I�d better start breakfast.� Standing, Sasami leaves the room, stopping only to lift up Ryo-ohki. Ayeka just sits there, the trauma of her experience earlier haunting her mind. What was that I saw earlier? Was it a dream? Or something darker�?

There was a bright light. A circular structure that glowed alternately green, black, pink, silver, maroon and grey floated at the bottom of a deep pool. Super-imposed over the water were pictures of a madly grinning Tenchi, a laughing Sasami, a happily blushing Ryoko, and in the center was a teal-haired youth, crystalline tears running down his face. She reached out to comfort the sad-seeming young man, but the water rippled and the pictures faded leaving another in its wake. There was a horrid battle. The once peaceful surface of the planet was pock marked with craters, the cracks in the now dry earth soaked up the blood of the combatants. Tenchi and Ryoko were out of the battle. They laid side by side, covered in cuts and bruises. Sasami and the unknown youth faced a dark power alone. Both were glowing lightly. Suddenly the youth charged at the opponent. Light met dark-

Ayeka jerks out of her daze to the pleasant aroma of breakfast.

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{A clearing in the woods}

Tenchi is running through a sword kata when he pauses. I sense something. But what? *Whack*

�Pay attention, Tenchi.� His grandfather tells him. Tenchi looks at him, confusion in his eyes.

�Can�t you feel that Grandpa?�

�Yes I can.�

�Do you know what it is?� Tenchi asks. �Or where it�s coming from?� A loud gong announcing breakfast cuts out any reply his grandfather had.

�Shall we go eat, my boy?� Tenchi nods in response.

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{A Distant Shadowed Planet }

�Ashitair,� A deep voice booms.

�Yes, Drake-sama?� A tall, leggy blonde appears. Her long blonde hair is tied in a severe topknot, long bangs framing her heart shaped face and accenting her golden eyes. She�s wearing what appears to be an abbreviated maroon leather bikini with a short cape and Olympian type sandals. A slight smirk crosses her beautiful face as she bows to the shadowed figure before her.

�I want you to collect a Divine Key.� It holds a hand out; a hologram of the Earth appears.

�A Divine Key master?� She asks softly.

�Yes. It seems to be in the hands of an irritating young Terran boy.� The picture fades into the image of Tenchi with a confused look on his face.

�Hmm�� Ashitair tilts her head. �he doesn�t seem that bright.�

�This will be an easy assignment for one with skills such as yours.� She nods.

�Consider the Key yours!� With a bright flash, she disappears.

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{Masaki Household}

�Leave Tenchi-sama alone, Monster Woman!� Ayeaka�s voice trills, reaching glass breaking decibels. Yep, everything is normal in the Masaki household. The day�s strange beginnings seem to have been forgotten as everyone�s daily routines set in.

�Back off Princess!� Ryoko snarls. In-between the two sits a sweating Tenchi.

�Um�girls�� He stammers.

�What?!� He gulps nervously at the look they�re both giving him.

�Um�I was wondering if you could let me go so I can eat?� Both girls have the grace to blush and release him.

�Sorry.� They chorus. The rest of the meal passes peacefully. Later that day, life at the Misaki shrine makes an abrupt U-turn and heads for disaster.

�Tenchi, I think it�s time you started to strengthen your concentration.� Yosho calmly states, sipping at his cup of tea.

�But grandpa��Tenchi protests.

�No buts, my boy.� Sighing heavily, Tenchi goes off to work on his meditation. What was that I felt earlier? And why do I get the feeling I won�t like the answer?

Meanwhile, high above the Masaki shrine, the dim outline of a woman appears. �Well, I guess it show time.� Ashitair raises her hand with a smirk. A dark glowing ball appears in her uplifted hand and she tosses it towards the ground. It grows steadily until it encompasses the ground in an 100 mile radius below her.

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