"Going to Jurai?"

Nozomi almost choked on her rice, setting her chopsticks down hurriedly as she gazed at her father in abject amazement. "Are you for real, Otousan? Are we really going to go all the way across space to visit Sasami-sama's family?"

"That seems to be the current plan, yes." Tenchi's brown eyes crinkled at the corners as he took in his daughter's dumbstruck expression. "You're surprised, huh? I suppose you would be. Though your mother and I have had occasion to travel there over the years, you've not yet had the opportunity."

"I'm still not sure if I like this idea." Ryoko admitted, resting her chin in her hands as she contemplated the situation. "Jurai isn't like the Earth. In fact, it couldn't be more different. If I'd wanted to be stifled this summer, I'd have gone down to the shrine cave and tied myself to the sacred stones. This isn't my idea of a fun summer trip, Tenchi. I'm really not sure it's a good idea."

"Ryoko." Sasami looked amused, humour sparkling in her crimson eyes. "Are you still so opposed to Jurai, even after all this time?"

"Well, call me a cynic, but trips there usually involve someone asking us to do something." Ryoko sighed. "On occasion, risking our lives in front of untold horrors so that the people can continue to live in peace. If it's all the same to you, Sasami-chan, I really don't think I'm in the mood to kill myself on Jurai's behalf."

Sasami laughed.

"I promise, that's not why I'm here." She said sincerely. "I give you Tsunami's word as well as my own. There's no danger on Jurai."

"Sasami thought it would be nice for Nozomi to see the other half of her heritage." Washu put in from her corner, taking a sip of her drink as she eyed her companions thoughtfully. Glancing at her, Nozomi could see a reserved look in her green eyes, as if there was something about this idea that she didn't like, but before the girl could ask about it, Washu shot her a smile, winking at her conspiratorially. Surprised, Nozomi smiled back.

"I'd like to visit Jurai." She said now. "It would be so much fun, and I've never been. I didn't even know Sasami-sama was Dad's cousin when I first saw her at the shrine, and I don't think I've ever met her sister Lady Ayeka. I know next to nothing about that side of my family, except the old stories you and Father have told me, Mother. And I'd really like to see the place for myself."

Ryoko sighed heavily.

"I can see I'm going to be outnumbered." She said grimly. "All right. If it means that much to everyone, I suppose we can pay a quick visit. But Sasami, I'm warning you - if there are any dead Kings in trees or anything else of that nature, I'm swinging Ryo Ohki round and we're coming right home. All right?"

"I think that's fair." Sasami grinned. "But I promise that this isn't that kind of invitation."

"Well, it had better not be." Ryoko pursed her lips, her gaze flitting towards Nozomi as she did so, and for a moment the girl saw apprehension in her mother's golden eyes.

"Okaa-san, is something wrong?" She asked softly. "You look worried...is Jurai really that terrible a place? Sasami-sama has come all this way and she's been so nice to us. Surely people on that planet can't be so bad?"

"It's difficult to explain." Ryoko sighed. "It doesn't matter, Nozomi. Call it pirate's intuition, if you like. But I'm not keen."

Sasami's crimson eyes became grave.

"I think I see where your thoughts are heading." She murmured softly. "But Ryoko, Kagato is gone. Souja's tree is gone. You and Tenchi saw to that a long time ago. There'll be no repeat of that particular incident this time."

"Well, you're probably right." Ryoko spread her hands. "But it springs to mind anyway."

Again, Nozomi was aware of her mother's gaze on her, and she frowned.

"What?" She demanded. "Is there something about this Kagato person that I need to know?"

"Kagato was your grandfather, koneko-chan." Washu said quietly. "You knew that, didn't you?"

"Oh...yes." Nozomi looked confused. "I suppose I did. But he's dead, right? So I don't understand...what's the problem?"

"There isn't one." Tenchi said frankly, and Nozomi saw a glance flit between her parents. "And there's nothing on Jurai that we should be worried about, Ryoko. You know that as well as I do, now."

"Well, there's always Lord Haru." Despite herself, a rueful smile touched Ryoko's lips, and Sasami laughed.

"Oh, Ryoko...after all this time?" She teased. "Lord Haru is my father, Nozomi-chan - and he and your mother have never quite seen eye to eye on things."

"I see." Nozomi cupped her chin in her hands. "But we'll still go, right? I mean, I'd like to meet Lady Ayeka anyway, and her husband and any other family I have there. And I really want to see it. Father's always told me how beautiful Jurai is, and I've seen the pictures he's painted. But I'd like to see it for myself. It's a part of me as much as the Earth is, after all."

"It's all right. I think we're going." Washu smiled at her, but Nozomi was aware of the reserve in her green eyes once again. "And I suspect we'll probably be going fairly soon."

"Tomorrow morning, if at all possible." Sasami nodded her head. "I really shouldn't be away from Jurai for too long - not with everything I have to do there."

A shadow touched her eyes.

"With Uncle's death, although we anticipated it, it's left us much to do." She added. "And Ayeka relies on me a lot in just the same way Uncle relied on Father. I can't abandon her, even if she does have Takeru and Shigure to help her out."

"Shigure can't be more than a boy." Tenchi remarked. "Surely?"

"Yes...he's a little older than Nozomi." Sasami agreed. "But he's been raised with a view to his responsibilities, so he understands far more than you might expect from one of his age. Ayeka is very proud of him - and so she should be. He's going to be a credit to Jurai, when his time comes."

Her eyes sparkled.

"I understand from Lord Tennan that the boy might even give you a run for your money in basic combat, Tenchi-niichan." She added playfully. "Apparently he has a natural aptitude for it."

Tenchi looked rueful.

"Probably. I'm quite out of practice, although Jii-chan despairs of me." He admitted. "Even as old as he is now, he can still catch me off guard."

"What about you, Nozomi?" Sasami eyed the young girl curiously. "I can't imagine that you've grown up completely ignorant of fighting skills, not in this family."

"Mother trains me." Nozomi looked startled. "Though I have no idea why. I mean, on the Earth, I don't know why I'd need to know how to defend myself."

"You never know." Ryoko said grimly. "We've had attacks here before, and besides, considering how good you are at blowing things up when you're not concentrating, I think you need the practice."

Nozomi blushed, and Sasami chuckled.

"So she really does take after you, Ryoko-oneechan." She observed softly. "In all ways?"

"I wouldn't say that." Washu eyed her grandchild critically, then shook her head. "Nozomi has a lot more patience than Ryoko does, most of the time. I guess she gets that from her father, although she does have a quick temper. And she's not as unskilled as Ryoko would have you believe. She's just unable to use her magic during the day at school, so it winds up getting suppressed inside of her. On occasion it can lead to explosive incidents at home - but we cope. In general, she has a fairly good grasp of all her abilities. In all her years at school, I don't think either Tenchi or Ryoko have been called to see a teacher about mysterious explosions."

"No, just lack of attentiveness in class." Tenchi sent Nozomi a playful grin, and Nozomi reddened even further.

"I'm sorry. I do try." She defended herself. "And I really did work for the last lot of exams, Father. I really truly did - ask Obaa-san. She helped me go over things."

"I have to say, it's nice to see how you've grown up." Sasami said pensively. "Ayeka will think so too, I'm sure. It's been a very long time, after all."

"So we're definitely going to Jurai?" Nozomi asked. Ryoko sighed, then nodded her head.

"I'll speak to Ryo Ohki...and I guess if Sasami wants to leave tomorrow, tomorrow it will be." She agreed reluctantly.

"Yay!" Nozomi's eyes sparkled. "I can't wait!"

"Sasami-chan, you didn't fly from Jurai alone. Are your companions going to want to stay at the house this evening?" Washu asked curiously. Sasami shook her head.

"Kamidake will stay with the ship - I think the Council would prefer that, in all honesty." She said, an impish smile touching her lips. "It might be talked about, if we were to spend too much time together while away from Jurai. And Lord Tennan doesn't feel particularly welcome on this planet...I think he still has a few hang-ups about his previous trips to Planet Earth."

"So he should." Ryoko muttered. "I'm in no hurry to spend time with him."

Nozomi stared at her mother with confused eyes, and Ryoko caught her gaze, laughing ruefully.

"Oh, there's so much I guess you don't know anything about." She reflected. "Suffice it to say that I don't really like Lord Tennan."

"What about Kamidake, Sasami-chan? Why should the Council mind?" Washu raised an eyebrow, and Nozomi was surprised to see the Princess's cheeks pinken.

"I don't think you need me to answer that, Washu." She said softly. Washu smiled.

"So it's an official association, now?" She asked lightly. "Or a scandalous one, behind closed doors?"

"It will be an official one, when everything on Jurai is a little less crazy for Ayeka." Sasami recovered herself, offering a smile. "And there has never been a scandal, but people have begun to talk and well, Ayeka has always given me her support. So yes, it will be...but until then..."

She shrugged, dismissing it with a flick of her fingers.

"That's why Seiryo came along." She added. "He's my chaperone."

"Are you getting married, Sasami-sama?" Nozomi's eyes became big, and Sasami nodded her head.

"That's the plan." She agreed. "We've waited a long time, but yes."

"Congratulations!"

"Thank you, Nozomi-chan." Sasami's gaze softened. "Tomorrow you'll get to meet him, no doubt - although Ryoko, are you decided about flying Ryo Ohki? There would always be room for you to come aboard Tsunami-fune with us, and save the little one the trouble."

"No, I think it's better I take my own ship." Ryoko said thoughtfully. Her golden eyes twinkled with mischief. "After all, even if Seiryo Tennan wants to play gooseberry, I think I'll pass. Nozomi and Tenchi and I can fly quite happily on Ryo Ohki, and she'd probably enjoy the trip herself. She doesn't get to fly as much as she used to, after all, and the last few times she went up she's had hair-raising experiences with Nozomi trying to fly her. She could use a nice gentle trip to soothe her nerves."

"I'm not that bad!" Nozomi objected indignantly. "I haven't crashed her into anything, and if you'd only let me fly her more often..."

"You know the deal, Nozomi." Tenchi interjected calmly. "You get to fly Ryo Ohki only when your grades are good enough."

"I know." Nozomi grimaced. "There just aren't enough hours in the day."

"I'm coming to Jurai too, Ryoko." Washu said quietly at that moment, and Ryoko sent her mother a surprised glance.

"You? But why? I thought you were engaged in something important in the lab?" She asked. Washu shrugged.

"This is important too, and I haven't seen Ayeka for some time either." She said simply. "I'd like to come, if it isn't a problem for you."

"Well, no, I guess not." Ryoko frowned. "I just didn't think you'd want to leave your work."

"Yume can go over anything that needs to be monitored." Washu smiled at Nozomi. "And this sounds like a family holiday I should be a part of."

Nozomi's eyes sparkled.

"I'm glad you're coming, Obaa-chan." She said warmly. "It wouldn't be the same if you didn't."

"Then it's decided." Washu nodded, offering Sasami a rueful smile. "I guess we're going to Jurai."