Disclaimer: I DO NOT own characters or concepts or anything based on the ideas of Gundam Wing and Tenchi Muyo. Merchandise, propaganda, and other related materials belong to their respective companies. I'm just a writer having some fun.

"A Place to Call Home"

Part One -- The Meaning of Happiness

by Angel Sandrock

Wufei sat peacefully resting in the cockpit of his patrol shuttle. It was a small, cozy shuttle built just for him, complete with living quarters. He had requested to be on full patrol in space; Sweet, peaceful space. After the brief reign of Mariemaia, he had destroyed his Gundam, and much later, eventually met up with Duo and Quatre who persuaded him to join their ranks. He took their offer, and now, 5 years after the defeat of Mariemaia, he was happy in space, all by himself.

Happy. It was a word that didn't come up often in his life. Yes, it's true, he's happy as a warrior, but what does that mean? He sometimes wonders to himself if he knows what happiness really is. He thought he was happy with Meiran; even though it was a marriage of convenience, he cared about her. When she died, his perspective on happiness seemed to die with her. He's been told it's when you find someone you truly love, not just care about, by Relena. It's when you can laugh and not have a worry in the world says Duo. Quatre says it's when you have a place to go home to and a family to welcome you.

Well, it's easy for them to say; Relena never gave up on Heero, and all though Heero is on missions most of the time, he makes time for Relena. Sure, he never admitted anything to her, but even a child sees his feelings toward her. As for Duo, Hilde left him a few years ago for a general, but he's still the same loud Duo. He says he still misses her, but he's moving on. And then there's Quatre. He got married a couple years ago to a childhood sweetheart, Kimari, and produced an heir to the Winner Family Estate.

A soft alarm went off on the control panel and a picture of Quatre came up. "Wufei, I'm sorry to bother you, but there's a notorious space pirate near your coordinates. She must be apprehended immediately... Forces from a planet call Jurai are also after her, so do not attack the Jurai officials. Upon capture, you must take the pirate to the Jurai princess herself... Her ship will be much larger than the rest of the fleet, so you'll know which one it is... Now, here are the stats for the pirate... Her name is Ryoko, and the rest is being uploaded now. Good luck."

Quatre disappeared from the screen and a picture of Ryoko, Hotsuma (Ryoko's husband and partner in crime), and their ship appeared along with text boxes -- most just saying what crimes they committed, and places they've been spotted, along with past records. "Hmmm, seems like they've been busy this past year..." Wufei said to himself as he skimmed the records. "Escaping forces from earth, robbing banks, causing havoc through the universe... And still having time to be married... I wonder if they're happy, too... Nonetheless, they are wanted criminals... It's my duty to secure justice."

* * * * * * * * * *

"Kamadake! Katalina!" Princess Ayeka shouted. "Have we caught up to their ship yet?"

A male Jurai royal warrior kneeled before the princess, as did a female warrior -- The man with red-brown hair that swept back with a ponytail and the woman with long black hair, with 3 distinct baby blue streaks in her bangs. "No, your highness, but we are gaining on them as we speak," answered Kamadake, the male warrior.,

"Ok... Continue to monitor their activities and cut them off the moment there is an opening!" she ordered.

The two warriors stood up and bowed. "Yes, ma'am," they answered and turned on their heels to leave.

Ayeka watched as they headed down the steps from her high tower, in the midst of her beautiful, yet powerful, ship. She smiled and called after them. "Kamadake! Katalina!" They turned toward the princess. "Congratulations on your engagement!" she shouted. Kamadake and Katalina smiled and saluted, then continued on their way to the main control at the bottom of Ayeka's tower. Ayeka looked up toward the empty space; millions upon millions of miles of empty space just outside her protective dome of glass.

A picture of Tenchi appeared within the endless pattern of stars. Her eyes began to water and her lips started to quiver as she brought her trembling hand to her cheek. "Tenchi... Why did you have to leave this world so young? It's all Ryoko's fault! If she hadn't disappeared like that, you wouldn't have gone out to find her! And only because you care about each of us so much, you left to seek her out, but ended up losing your life in an attempt to bring her back... You shouldn't have gone! If you had stayed on earth with me, you would still be alive!! You wouldn't have been caught in the middle of a pirate war!! We were happy, Tenchi!"

Happiness; Something she would never be able to feel again. What is happiness she asked herself day after day since that awful day when she learned of Tenchi's death. Everyone around mourned but moved on, knowing that's what Tenchi would have wanted them to do. They missed him terribly, but they still were able to carry on with their lives. She knew that all though Tenchi's death was Ryoko's fault, she still felt the loss... But even with Tenchi's tragic departure, Ryoko had Hotsuma -- they were in love and happy. Sasami was happy back at Jurai as well, playing video games with a retired Asaka. Washu eventually married Tenchi's father after a secret romance for years. Mihoshi and Kiyone got their promotions and were now the head of forces at Jurai. Even her faithful guardians and best friends, Kamadake and Katalina, were happy together and set to marry.

She was happy for everyone else, but what about her? Tenchi made her the happiest and now he was gone. What is she left with? She had so many plans to marry Tenchi and rule Jurai together, but her dreams were shattered with ring of the doorbell -- a single visit from Galaxy Police officers. "I'm sorry, Princess Ayeka. Lord Tenchi's body was recovered this morning from the Lunar Battlefield."

Ayeka suddenly felt dizzy and fell to her knees. Her eyes were blank as she stared straight ahead, unaware of the tears falling from her eyes until a tear fell onto her lap. She gasped as if the tear had burned her. "I don't understand why this is so! Why has my happiness been ripped from my heart!?" she shouted as her fist pounded against the floor.

Katalina ran up the steps and found a crying princess. "Your highness! Are you all right?"

Ayeka wiped the tears from her eyes. "Yes, I'm fine. Is there something you needed?"

Katalina sighed. "Please, Ayeka, if there's anything bothering you, I'm still your friend, not just someone hired to protect you."

Ayeka smiled. "I know, I know. We'll talk later, but now there's more important things at hand."

Katalina nodded. "All right... I came to tell you that Ryoko has been taken into custody by an Earth soldier. She and Hotsuma were taken to the holding quarters below deck... I thought that you would want to meet the man to apprehend them and thank him personally."

"Of course! He must be a member of the elite to capture that sneaky pair... Send him up."

Katalina left and minutes later, she and Kamadake accompanied the Earth soldier up the steps to meet Princess Ayeka.

* * * * * * * * * *

Wufei followed two Jurai warriors up a long set of stairs that led to a high tower-like structure within the ship, complete with a tree at the top. The stairs seemed endless when finally, they reached the top; the female, named Katalina, Wufei noted, and the male, Kamadake, turned around and both took a step away from each other. "Princess Ayeka," they both announced as a slim figure of a lady approached from the tree.

Ayeka bowed to Wufei. "I am ever so grateful to your part in capturing these wanted criminals. I've been after them for sometime."

Wufei looked over the woman standing before him. She looked about his age, maybe a year younger. Her purple hair was unusual, yet very effective in bringing out the ruby red of her eyes and the features of her face. He quickly glanced at her outfit; she was definitely a royal. The princess wore a sleeveless, long, pastel purple gown, with a pink fabric belt hanging loosely around her waist.

Ayeka ran her eyes up and down the man standing before her. He was a bit taller, but not by much. He had jet black hair tied back very tightly, and piercing dark eyes, that seemed to draw her in. His clothes told her that he was of a high rank in his line of business; he had dark green pants and a gray shirt with a dark green jacket, decorated several gold stars. She pictured how he would look with his hair down, but was suddenly snapped out of her daydream as a loud alarm sounded.

A soldier ran up the stairs and panted as he relayed the message to Princess Ayeka. "Ryoko and Hotsuma escaped!"

"Already?!" Ayeka exclaimed, outraged. "Ryoko, I must give you some credit but your luck won't last long..." she added under her breath.

Ayeka turned to Wufei as he spoke, "Princess, I'll be happy to help... It's my job."

Ayeka smiled. "Good, then follow me."

To be continued...

What did ya'll think? Good? Bad? Great? Horrible? So-So? Sucked? Well, fill me in! Tell me what you think! Hehe, and just for the record, I'm just writin' for fun... And I don't mean to piss anyone off!! Well, hope ya'll drop me a line or something! Bye for now!