Blood Red Moon Resurrection Chapter 6:
     Returning Home

     Disclaimers: All characters belong to their various
copyrights, with the exception of Reinhart Masaki and Rosa
Masaki.  Those two are mine.  Beyond their usage in this story,
I claim no ownership, no rights of creation, no nothing.  Please
don't sue me.
     The Tenchi Muyo Characters in this series are based on the OVA
versions, but don't be surprised if there aren't one or two TV
references.  The characters Carrie Fernandez, Alucard, Death,
Dracula, Maria Renard and Lisa all belong to the Konami Castlevania
series. This cross-over series is placed roughly 17 years in
Tenchi's world, 120 years in Alucard's world after the events in
Blood Red Moon.  Reinhart and Rosa Masaki, the children of Tenchi
and Ryoko, are now young teens.

     "To what profit is it to a man, if he gains the world and
loses his own soul?  Mathew 16:26 I believe." - Dracula, as he dies
at the end of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.

*****

     Ayeka scowled at the council, as they argued amongst
themselves about her orders to mobilize their fleet and prepare
for attack.  She had arrived on Jurai just hours ago, and, not even
taking the time to refresh herself, had called a quorum of the
council.  The members had been somewhat irritated, as it was the
middle of the night on Jurai.
     Now they sat and squabbled about the orders - her direct
orders! - As if they would not follow them.  Yet she found herself
wondering, as they continued to fight back and forth.  They always
argued to a point, but about something such as this the fleet
should have already been mostly ready.  Her mouth tightened.
     "Enough!  You seem to think that I have given you something
that you can discuss, or have time to decide.  You do not.  Jurai
does not.  I have told you what is to be done, and now it is to be
done!"  Absolute silence followed, and none of the council members
moved or spoke.  Finally, on the far end of the chamber, Arriman
Valadas stood.  Oldest of the council, he also wielded the most
power among them, under her, of course.
     "Empress Ayeka...  Explain to us why exactly you wish the
fleet readied.  So far you have made only vague references
to what this... threat is."  She stared at him, stunned at his
outright challenge, but recovered quickly.
     "A fair question, and one that I will answer simply.  I don't
know.  Tsunami has warned me of this threat."  Arriman frowned.
     "If this is true, than why is she not here herself?  Surely
it is a grave enough matter for her too... grace us with her
presence."  His mouth twisted around that into an ugly sneer for
just a moment.  Ayeka fought to control the rising anger at his
insolence.
     "Tsunami is preparing herself for the coming battle as we
speak, gathering those who will aide us in our battle."  A low
murmur rose in the council at that, and she nodded, satisfied
that they were finally starting to listen.  Across from her,
though, the elderly council man raised a hand.  The other members
hushed.
     "There is another matter to consider.  Why have you still not
chosen a consort?"  Caught off guard, Ayeka's anger finally broke
free.
     "You would speak of matters as unimportant as a royal consort
when I have ordered you to prepare for an attack on Jurai itself!
That is treason!"
     "No, Empress, it is not.  Perhaps if you had not left Jurai
to waste time on some backwater planet with the commoner rabble,
than you would have finished your training.  Even so, you have had
more than enough time to have read the laws."
     "What are you talking about!"
     "Your power as Empress is limited simply to making requests
of us until you have at the least chosen a consort."  Ayeka stared
at him in pure shock.  "Until now, we have humored your 'orders,'
even that foolery about mixing with the commoners.  But this is too
much!  War is not a game for you to play!"  Silence reigned after
his statement, and many of the council members were looking at him
in surprise themselves.  Ayeka composed herself.  Anger and rage
would not serve her now.
     "I see.  Very well then.  Mark my words well, though.  You are
quite likely dooming Jurai.  If you will not get the fleet ready,
then at least warn the people so that they may leave before it is
too late."  Arriman shook his head.
     "Absurd.  Jurai will last to eternity.  Nothing is foolish
enough to attack us directly."  Ayeka stared him directly in the
eye.
     "We said that seven hundred years ago, and yet we are still
recovering from the attack of the space pirate Ryoko."  With that,
she spun on her heel, and left the council chamber.  She stalked
down the halls of the palace.  Servants that saw her bowed as low
as they could, and wondered if they would be allowed to keep their
heads after seeing that stormy face.
     Upon reaching her quarters, she found herself staring at the
back of a young man.  He had long black hair in the traditional
style, and was wearing a kimono that signaled royal blood.  The
young man was looking around himself slowly.  Without even thinking
about it, she hurled Jurai energy at him, binding him into a force
field.  She rotated him about to face her.  The man was handsome,
she had to admit, and his eyes were the color of Royal Teardrops.
     "Most days, an unexpected guest would be welcome," she
snarled.  "Today, however...  GET OUT!"  She hurled the force field
through her doorway, stranger and all.  The resulting crash was
most satisfying.  It was quite to her surprise when he calmly stood
up, brushed himself off, and returned to the doorway.
     "I take it that the council would not listen to you, Ayeka."
     She stared in disbelief.  That voice was...
     "Yosho?"  He nodded grimly.  Ayeka fainted dead away.

*****

     Carrie woke to find herself in a bed, blankets pulled up and
over her, with absolutely no idea how she had gotten there.  She
sat up, confused, and mentally reviewed the night before.  They had
gone back to the inn after dropping off Reinhart's horse, and she
and Rosa had taken a bath, having a long conversation in the
process.  After that, she had found out from the innkeeper that
Reinhart had left not long before.
     Carrie paused.  Did what she remember next really happen the
night before?  If it hadn't, then it had been the most realistic
dream that she had ever had.  She remembered collecting a small
basket of meat, cheese, and bread, and then, on a hunch, going down
the path to the lake.  She had found Reinhart there, alone,
skipping stones across the water.
     She had gone over, and sat next to him.  They had talked for
awhile, and somehow their conversation had turned to why she had
wanted him to ride with her.  Not really thinking about it, she had
told him.  She had been surprised to find tears on her cheeks by
the time she had finished, but his answer had been even more
surprising.  No matter how much he thought he wasn't any good with
words and feelings, he had somehow understood what she herself
had not understood she was saying.
     Carrie remembered kissing him then, and he had held her
quietly.  She had forgotten her cape at the inn, but although
the night air was a little chill, in his embrace she had felt warm,
and safe.  She felt...  Welcome, a soft, gentle peace that she had
seen before, between Tenchi and Ryoko, and Reinhart and Rosa, but
never really felt herself.  It had been so comforting, and she had
suddenly felt so exhausted, and...  then she had woken up in this
bed.
     "Not exactly what I had in mind for the first time that I fell
asleep in a man's arms," she said to herself, and then grinned.
She felt almost giddy, more alive then she had in a long, long
time.  She got out of the bed, and noticed that she was still fully
dressed.  Sighing, she stretched, and grabbed her cape. Her stomach
growled loudly as she went down the stairs.  She found the common
room populated by Rosa alone, at a table with a cup of tea at her
hand, and another resting near her.  Carrie smiled, and went down
to talk to her.
     "You seem happy this morning," Rosa observed with a hidden
smile.
     "I had... a good experience last night," she answered.
Rosa smirked.
     "Oh?  Is that why I caught Reinhart coming out of your room
in the middle of the night?  I wondered why he had such a pleased
expression on his face."  Carrie felt her cheeks go hot, and knew
that she must be scarlet to her hairline.
     "I don't know what you mean."  Rosa chuckled, and placed a
hand on her shoulder.
     "Don't worry.  I'm only teasing you.  I saw you leaving,
and followed you down.  After all, I have to keep an eye out for
Reinhart's own good, don't I?"  Carrie sighed a breath of relief.
Maybe she wouldn't have any jokes at her expense.
     "You're terrible."  Rosa laughed.
     "Guilty as charged.  So.  How did it feel to fall asleep in
his arms?"  Carrie felt her face go red again, and Rosa laughed
again.
     "Honestly?"  Rosa sobered, and nodded, smiling encouragingly.
"I felt like I was in a place that I had always known.  Safe...
Warm... Comfortable...  It was like I really belonged there, more
than any place I had ever been before.  I felt... welcome."
Rosa stared at her.
     "You really have got it bad, haven't you?"  Carrie looked
at her in confusion, and Rosa smiled.  "Never mind.  It's a saying
from where I come from."
     "What does it mean?"  She laughed.
     "It...  would take too long to explain.  In many ways, you've
seen and done so much more than Reinhart and I.  But in others,
you really are innocent."  Rosa grinned.  "I wonder what mom and
dad will say when we come back with you so attached to Reinhart."
Carrie paused, and realized that she had never stopped to think
that after the finished, they would be going back to their world.
That meant that if she wanted to stay with him, then she would have
to go back with them.  The thought of asking him to stay with her
never entered her mind.  It just wasn't something that she would
consider.
     They heard the steps creaking, and turned to see Reinhart
come down the stairs.  Something about the way he moved spoke of
not getting much sleep the night prior.  Carrie looked at Rosa;
as one, they laughed.  He looked that them, and winced.  Carrie
had the feeling that he knew Rosa would be teasing him for the
prior night endlessly.
     He joined them, and not long after Mistress Tarin appeared,
bearing a tray with eggs, pancakes, bacon and more tea.  Setting
them down with a broad smile, the motherly inn keeper disappeared
into the back once again.  As they ate, Carrie noticed that some
of the tension that she had seen in him around her was gone, yet it
was replaced by something else...  And uncertainty of sorts, and an
air of excitement, though outwardly he seemed no different.
     "The ride to Rosewood is relatively short; we should be there
around midday.  With luck, we could be back here by tonight,"
she said.  They nodded.  Thanking Mistress Tarin, they then left
the inn, collecting their horses as they did.  The sun was a little
more than its own height above the horizon as they walked over to
the blacksmith's shop.  They were pleased to find that he was just
then placing the last nail into West Wind's hoof to hold on the
shoe.  Thanking him, they took the horse, and then mounted up.
     "Why the long face, brother?  Sad you can't ride with Carrie
again?"  Carrie shook her head, hiding a smile.  She was surprised,
though, when Reinhart turned to Rosa.
     "Yes, actually.  I enjoyed myself quite a bit, and I hope that
I'll get the chance to return the favor some time."  She stared
at him in shock, and Carrie laughed, as the tables were turned
on Rosa.  For Reinhart's part, he just kept riding along as if
nothing had happened.

*****

     "But how can this be?" asked Sheann'a.  They had arrived
at the burial ground not long before, and then Drathar had popped
out of a small portal near by.  Alucard had not been best pleased
that the demon had not stayed there, but the demon's explanation
had quickly pardoned him.  He said that he had been summoned
to Hell, and that the Armies of Hell were preparing to strike.
Where had been the real surprise, though:  They were getting ready
to attack Castlevania.
     "I don't know.  When I arrived, I found out that since the
castle has reawoken, no fewer than twelve elder demons have
vanished, with no trace left.  The remaining few have hidden
themselves away, save for Death, who goes about his duties as he
always has."  Alucard frowned.
     "At any other time, I would welcome this news.  But this is
too much of a coincidence.  Next you will tell me that they have
sent messengers to Heaven so as to form an alliance."  Drathar
sighed.
     "They have."  Sheann'a gasped, and even Alucard stared at him,
stunned disbelief painted on his usually stoic face.  "Two of the
saints have disappeared as well.  When I arrived, Gabriel was an
honored guest, and the rumor is that He is considering it.
Strongly."
     "The armies of Heaven and Hell marching as one against
Castlevania.  It will be ground to dust.  Not even Cain could stand
against both!" said Sheann'a.  Drathar shook his head.
     "There is one last thing.  Cain has made himself known.
Demonspawn and angels alike are flocking to him.  He has said that
he intends to end the eternal war forever."
     "The Pendulum of Chaos.  That could be his only intent,"
said Alucard.  His familiars looked at him in confusion.
     "Pendulum of Chaos?  I've never heard of it," said Sheann'a.
He sighed.
     "The Pendulum of Chaos is the ultimate representation
of the eternal struggle of good and evil.  As it swings, so too do
the forces wax and wain in power.  As my father first rose to
power, he discovered it in a text older than time itself.  In his
own way, he did try to fight it, but he knew that he could never
completely destroy it.  For if it is destroyed, so too is this
world.  Neutrality between the forces would create a power vortex
that would rip apart this world, perhaps even the universe."

*****

     "I do not understand how this could be," said Ayeka.  She was
pacing before her brother, and knew that she was still suffering
from the shock of finding Yosho as he was: young, and handsome.
Funaho and Misaki had both been called into the room as well, and
were lounging on a couch.
     "Tsunami... hid me, with her powers, not long after I first
came to Earth.  We both understood that something important
would happen there.  That something is Tenchi, as I'm sure you have
guessed.  All along, I have never really been as old as I seemed.
Ryoko's gems, which were in Tenchi-ken, gave power to my tree, and
thus, to me, sustaining me."
     "Why reveal this now, instead of when I first arrived!"
she asked.  He looked away.
     "Because before now, there had been no reason to, and
because... I asked her not to.  I had long since grown to enjoy
my simple life there, and I knew that if I appeared as you see me
now, I would be required to return here.  Even now, were the
situation not this grave, I would not be here."
     "But why?" she insisted.  He shook his head.
     "That... is not important.  What is important is that we get
the council to listen."
     "I doubt that they will.  I found out just this afternoon
on my way here that Arriman is spearheading an effort to choose
a consort for you.  No doubt once he has succeeded, he will choose
one that will only increase his own power," said Funaho.  Misaki
nodded in agreement.
     "And there is nothing that we can do to stop him, because
he is within his rights as a council member," she said.
     "How dare he!" growled Ayeka.  But she knew that he did.
Arriman had been correct in saying that she should have known.
It was her duty to know the laws, and she had failed in that duty.
Misaki suddenly giggled, drawing their attention.
     "If they want my little girl to have a consort, then who
better then the one she started out with?"  Startled, Ayeka looked
at Yosho, who winced.  Funaho nodded.
     "It would make sense... and then we could be certain of his
support..."  Ayeka nodded slowly in agreement.
     "And the 'act' would be very easy to carry off until I had the
chance to depose Arriman from his all too well entrenched seat."  Three
sets of female eyes turned to him, and he sighed, shaking his head.
     "I used to wonder what Tenchi felt being 'guided' by you and
the rest of the girls.  After experiencing it for myself, I have
come to the conclusion that he can keep it entirely to himself!"

*****

     "Fellow council members, this has gone on long enough!  Yes,
we have a duty to the Empress, but she has a duty to the people!
Therefore-"  Arriman paused as the great double doors that the
Empress used to enter the council chambers swung open.  Proceeded
by Funaho and Misaki, she entered, the traditional braid in her
hair undone so that her hair fell out behind her like a cape.  To
her side and behind her, somebody followed, his form hidden
entirely by the cloak that he wore, even his face.  Slowly, the
murmuring died away.
     "Members of the council.  You are correct in saying that I
have no true power until I have chosen a consort.  Very well then.
As is my duty, I choose."  She turned slightly, and the robbed
figure came forward.  He reached up, and drew back the cowl
covering his face.  A collective gasp passed through the chamber.
     "I present Yosho, son of Funaho and Azusa.  This is the reason
that I went to Earth, to 'waste time on some backwater planet with
the commoner rabble,' as I believe it was put."  Arriman stared
at the young crown prince, and saw all of his plans and plots
falling apart in him.  Yosho looked straight back at him, with a
slightly dangerous glitter in his eye.  None the less, he had no
choice but to complete the ritual.
     "Who stands for this man, as proof of his existence?"
     "I, Misaki, wife of Azusa and Daughter of Jurai stand as one
who saw his birth and welcomed him to life."
     "I, Funaho, wife of Azusa and Daughter of Earth, stand as one
who gave him his life and taught him of his heritage."
     "Than we recognize his existence, and bow to his power.  Long
flows the Water of Life, and may he float with it forever."
The rest of the council repeated the sentiment, while he quickly
tried to think of a way to salvage his position.  It came to him
that the fleet could not be brought out unless the one half of the
council
agreed on it, and he knew that he had at least half the council
behind him, even now.  The Empress waited a few moments, and then
raised her hand.
     "Is the council satisfied?  Will you now ready the fleet?"
Before he could speak, one of the younger members, named Sagami
Yoshimoto, glared at him, and stood.
     "Yes, Empress.  The council extends its most humble apologies
for dragging this out as we did.  The fleet will be mobilized
within the hour.  Do you have any other wishes?"  Ayeka nodded
to him slightly.
     "Yes.  As I told you, I do not know exactly what this threat
is.  Not even Tsunami could be very clear to what may be attacking
us.  If the fleet fails, then Jurai may be destroyed.  All of her
people are to be evacuated to a safe location as quickly as
possible.  If we can not hold with the fleet, than Jurai's people
will be safe."  A low murmur rose in the council then, at the
seriousness in her tones.  Sagami bowed low.
     "It will be as you wish, Empress."  Slowly, the council began
to flow out of the chamber, Arriman with them.  Just before
exiting, he paused, and looked back.  Empress Ayeka scowled at him,
and he hurried the rest of the way out as fast as dignity would
allow.

*****

     As they trotted up to the outskirts of Rosewood, Rosa found
herself tilting her head back further and further.  In the center
of the town, a huge church rose high above the plain.  The tallest
two towers almost hurt to look up at.  The sun had just reached
its midpoint, and the ancient church bells rang out the hour.  It
was in many ways the same as Castlevania's sound, deep, powerful,
and beautifully clear, but at the same time, different.  There was
no dread in the sound of these bells, only comfort.
     "For centuries, Rosewood has been considered a holy place.
It is said that the first known Belmont, Sonia, was born here, on
the very spot where the altar in the church is now," Carrie told
them.  She led them through the town slowly.  Everywhere,
people moved and bustled.  They reached the far side of the town,
which overlooked a small valley.
     "I don't believe it!" exclaimed Rosa.  In the center of the
valley, one tree stood high above the others.  Its emerald foliage
spread out above a small, cleared area, in which a large white
building rested.
     "What?" asked Carrie, confused.  Reinhart moved up next to
her, and pulled rein.
     "How long has that tree been there?"  She frowned in thought.
     "I think that the first time I saw it was when Reinhart
was buried there.  Come to think of it, the tree grew amazingly
fast.  The first time I came here, there was nothing but the burial
ground."  Reinhart nodded.
     "That is a Juraian tree, and very likely the one that you are
linked to."  Carrie looked at it again in surprise.
     "That is what has kept me as I am?"  He nodded again, and they
started down the trail.  They were only partly down when Rosa
sensed a presence around them.  She twisted in her saddle, looking
about slowly.  Nothing moved, save the bushes that swayed just
slightly in the wind.  Rosa frowned, and evened up with the other
two.
     "I think that we're being watched," she said quietly.  She
told them quickly about the wolf and small girl with wings from the
night before.  Carrie nodded.
     "A vampire, it sounds like.  But are you certain about the
fairy?  None of their kind would travel with a vampire," she said.
Rosa nodded.  "Well, we know not to be off guard."  Rosa frowned.
     "I thought that vampires couldn't stand sunlight."  Carrie
nodded.
     "Some can't.  Your namesake couldn't when she was a vampire.
But the more powerful ones can, although they are not as powerful
as they would be during the night."  They kept riding along the
trail.  Rosa listened carefully, but couldn't hear the rhythmic
beating of wings that had signaled the fairy's presence the night
before.  She had obviously learned not to fly while spying.
     "We're nearly inside the burial ground.  He won't be able to
follow us in there.  I'm amazed that he is as close as he is."
Reinhart nodded, and then slowly looked around.  Rosa silently
agreed with him.  Where the path had felt safe before, now it felt
almost confining.
     Soon, they found themselves before a tall stone arch.  Great
marble archangels stood to either side of it, huge stone swords
held in a defensive posture, expressions of defiance etched forever
into the stone, huge feather wings seeming almost ready to take
them to the skies.
     "The legend says that the morning after Sonia Belmont was
buried here, these two statues were found as they are now.  The
arch was added later.  It is said that when a great evil has come
to the land, they cry, and that those tears can heal even the
gravest of injuries, or bring parched lands back to fertility
overnight," said Carrie.
     They dismounted, tethering their horses to the trees, and
entered the sacred place.  An almost unearthly calm filled the
burial ground.  The birds chirped quietly.  Tall marble stones,
carven into statues of the people whose graves they marked rose
from the ground.  Carrie led them slowly through, naming each as
they passed by.  Finally, they came to two statues next to each
other.  One was of the man with the whip that had been in the
statue back in Carrie's home town.  The other was of a lovely young
woman with long hair.  The two statues were just under the shade
of the tree.
     "These are the last two graves that will ever be placed here.
Reinhart and Rosa Schnieder, last of the Belmont bloodline to be
buried."  They paused for a moment there, while she paid her
respects, and then they walked to tree.  Reinhart looked at it
closely.
     "May I see your staff for a moment?"  Carrie handed it to him,
and rapped the top against the trunk three times.  Tiny beams of
light shot down from the leaves, forming a shimmering curtain.
     They saw Tenchi appear in the middle of the burial ground,
with Tenchi-ken in hand.  The sword was glowing brightly.  He held
it out before him, and then released it.  The sword remained
floating before him.  He closed his eyes, and the twin gems on his
wrists glittered.  The sword flashed brightly, and then dove into
the ground.  Where it touched, a tree suddenly sprouted out,
growing until it was nearly twice as tall as Tenchi.  After a
moment, Tenchi-ken reappeared before him.
     Taking the sword in hand, he tapped the trunk three times.
Three pieces of wood floated down from above him: A long, straight
piece, a wide, circular piece, and a small block.  He nodded,
and the pieces floated to the ground.  He sat down, picking up the
small block, and raised Tenchi-ken.  A small, knife-like blade
appeared, and he began to carefully carve.
     The scene flickered, and suddenly he was holding the
unfinished form of Carrie's staff.  As they watched, he placed
the last touches into the design, and then stood, stretching.
Turning, he pulled a small, smooth blue stone out from his pocket,
and placed it on the top.  Then he tapped it against the tree, and
the staff glowed blue for a moment.  When the glow died off, the
wood had been darkened, and polished, and the purple metal that the
stone was set in had appeared.  He repeated this process with the
other two pieces, a cross and a headpiece, and then smiled.  He
yawned widely, and then disappeared.  The light curtain
disappeared.
     "What was that?" asked Carrie, as Reinhart handed the staff
back to her.
     "The tree's memory.  In this case, where it came from and how
dad made your staff.  Juraian trees are partly sentiant.  Aunt
Ayeka has a first-generation tree-ship called Ryou-oh.  The ship
is run and powered by one of these trees," explained Rosa.  Carrie
nodded, although by her expression she didn't really understand.
On the point of explaining herself further, she saw a movement
out of the corner of her eye.  She turned, hand snapping up with
a fireball ready.
     A tall man, with long white hair, knelt before one of the
graves.  He wore black and red enameled armor, and had a long,
black cape with crimson red underlining.  On the point of lowering
her hand, she saw, sitting on his shoulder, the fairy she had seen
with the black wolf.  Leaning up against another gravestone,
a gray skinned creature with leathery bat wings, a pitchfork,
and a pointed tail waited.
     For a moment, everything was silent, as the man finished
setting down whatever it was he was setting down.  Rosa noted that
the grave he stood before belonged to that of a woman, Maria
Renard, who had apparently lived about two hundred and twenty years
before and challenged Castlevania with Richter Belmont.  Then,
Carrie stepped forward, staff held in both hands in a defensive
position.
     "Why have you been following us, and why do you travel with
both a fairy and a demon familiar?" she called.  The man was silent
a moment more, and then stood, picking up a shield that Rosa hadn't
noticed before.  Emblemized on it was a bat with the sun on its
back.  Rosa heard Carrie gasp in recognition.
     "No...  It can't be..." she breathed in amazement.  Rosa
looked at her in curiosity.
     "What is it, Carrie?  Do you recognize him?"  She nodded
slowly.
     "Not him, personally, but the seal on his shield is that of
Adrian Farienhights Tepes, or rather, of Alucard, the son of
Dracula."  Startled, Rosa looked back at him.  He cleared his
throat.
     "I've followed you because you seem to be after the Whip,
though none of you are of the Belmont blood."  Rosa blinked at the
deep voice.  He was rather handsome, but there was a coldness
to his voice that gave her a chill.  No, she reflected, not a
coldness... an emptiness.  "You are correct.  I am Alucard.  Tell
me, why do you seek the Whip?"
     "An evil man named Cain has raised Castlevania.  We have come
here because we believe that the Whip is key in destroying
him," answered Carrie evenly.  "I am Carrie Fernandez, and these
are Reinhart and Rosa Masaki, children of Tenchi and Ryoko Masaki."
Rosa noticed vivid shock on the faces of the fairy and the demon
as Carrie named herself.  Alucard nodded.
     "An honor to meet the offspring of the man that finally ended
my father's evil."  There was a dignity, she decided, to him, a
dignity that reminded her greatly of Ayeka.  "I see that you know
of my son, as well."  Now it was their turn to be surprised.
     "Cain is your child?" asked Carrie.  He nodded, frowning.
     "By Maria Renard.  Through... circumstances that I could not
control, I did not know until I woke up.  I went to sleep believing
her dead.  After I awoke, my familiars told me that she had
survived, and had a son.  Now, however, that I know, I too am going
to the castle.  We came here first because I sensed the Belmont
power, and feared it might be Cain trying to retrieve the Whip."
Carrie frowned.
     "Why would he want the whip?"
     "He is of both Dracula's bloodline and the Belmont bloodline.
Already, he has claimed Castlevania, the most powerful symbol of my
father's power."
     "And by claiming the Whip, he would become even more powerful,
because he would be claiming the other half of his power," said
Reinhart.  Alucard nodded, and Carrie shuddered.
     "I've felt his power once already.  If that wasn't his full
power..."  she trailed off, shuddering again.
     "You have been hit by one of his spells and survived?  You
must be as strong as Sypha!" said the fairy in dulcet tones.  She
flew over, and looked at Carrie closely.  "Now that I get a good
look at you, you do resemble her.  But how can you be Carrie
Fernandez?  You'd have to be over a hundred years old, and frankly,
you're just too young to be the woman I saw at the Mage's Coven
a few years ago."  Carrie grinned suddenly, and for a moment,
she was ancient again.  The fairy flew backwards in surprise,
and then Carrie dropped the illusion.
     "A hundred twenty seven, in two months time.  Of all the
magical beings, I would expect you, a fairy, to know that anything
can be illusion.  But I'll grant you are right.  According to my
companions, it has something to do with being linked to this tree."
The fairy nodded slowly.
     "My apologies for my familiar's rudeness.  She is sometimes
a little too frank in her statements.  She is Sheann'a, and the
demon is Drathar," said Alucard.  Sheann'a, as he had named her,
turned to Alucard; was it her imagination, or was the fairy
sticking her tongue out at him?  Reinhart cleared his throat.
     "Not that I'm trying to be rude, but we have need to hurry
on this mission," he said quietly.  Rosa nodded, and Alucard looked
at them.
     "I came here expecting to fight Cain.  Now it seems that I may
have found allies in my fight.  I would consider it an honor
to join with you in our common battle."  Reinhart looked at them,
and they nodded.
     "The honor is ours," he said, stepping forward and offering
him his hand.  Alucard clasped it firmly.
     "The question still remains:  How to get the Whip.  I think
that it will be safer in our hands."  Alucard nodded in agreement,
as she led them over to the huge building.  There were no seams
or windows, and no decorations beyond the gigantic crest of the
Belmonts.
     "When Sypha and I created this spell, it was intended to seal
forever once Dracula was dead forever, as it has."  Carrie nodded,
and looked at the building closely.  Rosa got the feeling that she
wasn't looking at the building itself, but at something around
it.
     "This weave is incredible.   I don't think that it's possible
to slip a thread of magic through to try and open it.  Hmm... both
black and white forms used... wait a moment...  What is this weave
here?" she asked, pointing at roughly the center of the Belmont
crest.  Alucard frowned, and looked at it.
     "That is the remnants of the weave that allowed those of the
Belmont bloodline to enter and retrieve the whip."  Carrie looked
at him.
     "Your weaving, or Sypha's?"
     "Sypha's.  At the time, I did not have the control needed
to weave that form of magic."  Carrie nodded.
     "I think that that is our only chance.  But if only the
Belmonts could pass it..."  She sighed, and then looked at Rosa.
Her eyes widened.  "Your pendant is glowing!"  Rosa looked down.
The small stone was flickering fitfully, but it was glowing softly.
Rosa frowned a moment, and looked around.  Her eyes fell on the
grave stone marking her namesake.  She grinned.
     "I've got it!  Reinhart, do you remember what Ayeka told us
about objects picking up impressions of their owners?"  He nodded,
and then his eyes widened.
     "You're a genius," he said, taking Tenchi-ken off his belt.
Alucard, Carrie, and the familiars were staring at them.  Reinhart
jogged over to the tree, as Rosa took off the pendant.  She held
it out in the air before her, as Reinhart rapped on the trunk.  For
a moment, the tree did nothing, and then slowly, it began to
shimmer.  Softly at first, it brightened.  Rosa carefully let go of
the necklace; it hung in midair, the jewel starting to glow
brighter and brighter.  Slowly, the chain began to spread out,
until it looked like it was being worn.
     With a sudden blaze of light, the tree fired several thick
beams of energy down.  They met at the sapphire, and spread out.
Slowly, the ghostly image of a woman formed.  She was very
beautiful, her hair falling to her waist.  The woman wore a loosely
fitting dress, and a band of gold circled her finger.  Carrie,
not far away, was staring in shock at the image.  She solidified
somewhat, and then opened her eyes.  The woman looked around,
confused.  She saw Reinhart, Rosa, and then, last, Carrie.
     "Rosa?  Is it you?" asked the sorceress.  The woman grinned.
     "In a way.  We've been watching you, for a long time.  The
kids miss you, but they know that it isn't time yet.  Look, I
haven't gotten much time, so I'll try to keep this short.  We miss
you, but don't you dare think of joining us any time soon, alright?
We can wait."  Rosa glanced at Reinhart.  "You've lived to fight
long enough.  Now, live to live."  Carrie nodded.  The specter
moved forward, and hugged her.  Although she was a little startled
at first, Carrie smiled, and hugged back.  The ghost turned to
Rosa, and smiled, as Reinhart walked up beside her.
     "I never thought I'd meet Ryoko and Tenchi's children.
If Reinhart were here he'd probably be wondering where they were.
I wish that we could help more than just this, but...  Well, we'll
do what we can."  She looked at Reinhart, and pitched her voice
so that only they could hear.  "Please, take care of her.  I can't
think of anybody more loving than your parents, and I can tell that
passed down to you.  She's earned it."  Reinhart nodded solemnly.
Rosa smiled, and then turned, to Alucard.
     "I've got one last message, and then I'll open the door.
Maria said... to let go.  She knows it isn't your fault, either...
what happened after she was attacked, or Cain.  She asked me to
tell you that she was with you, and that when the time came, to let
go of her, and move on."   Alucard bowed to her, face impassive,
although Sheann'a and Drathar were looking at him with concern.
     "Thank you, M'Lady.  I...  would apologize for the travesty
that my father committed against you in making you a vampire."
Rosa smiled.
     "It was not your fault, nor his.  His servant captured me, and
his servant was paid back in kind."  Alucard blinked, and looked
at her.  She smiled, and shook her head.  "I am sorry, I don't have
the time to explain."  Rosa turned to the tomb, and walked forward.
She raised her hand, and as she touched the crest, the pendant
blazed to a bright light.  Down the center of the crest, a line
appeared.  Slowly, the ancient seal swung open, to reveal a small,
lighted room.  In the center, the whip rested.
     "Quickly.  I can not hold the door open for long."  Reinhart
nodded, and entered.  He reached the whip, and picked it up.  For
a moment, it glowed white, and then the glow died away.  Reinhart
blinked in surprise, and then turned, quickly leaving.  The doors
swung shut.  The ghost looked at them.  She appeared substantially
less there, but she turned to Rosa again, her hand going to the
necklace.
     "Thank you.  Please, take care of both this and the bracelet.
Ryoko was a good friend.  Please... say goodbye to her for me."
The specter carefully removed the necklace, and then replaced
it around Rosa's neck.  She nodded, and then smiled, then looked
at Carrie.
     "Keep them out of trouble, and remember:  We're waiting,
but only when you're ready."  Carrie nodded, and smiled.  Slowly,
the ghost walked to the tree.  Just before touching it, she turned,
and smiled at them again.  Then, she stepped into the trunk, and
disappeared.  The light that the tree was giving off faded away.
Reinhart looked at them, the Whip firmly held in his grasp.
     "I think it's time to pay a visit to Mr. Cain."

---
The Platinum Dragon
"The rising sun will eventually set,
  a newborn's life will fade.
  From sun to moon, moon to sun,
  Give peaceful rest to the living dead." - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of
Time
http://dragonsanime.dreamhost.com - Dragon's Masaki Shrine of Tenchi Muyo
Proud Member of the Ryoko Forever Fan Club