Tenchi Muyo! in the World

おことわり

When Azusa woke up, he found himself arrested in the prison inside the imperial palace. The prison was built of the imperial tree and even for a top Jurai warrior, it was hard to escape from it. However learning the way to communicate with the imperial trees from Seto through their chases, he managed to get out from there. Finding the transporter blocked, he reached the Terrace of the Mitsuki's garden by climbing the Heaven's tree sidewall. There Mitsuki was meeting the Jurai King (who was her grandfather) weeping for Azusa and for her fate.
'Mitsuki!' waiting for the Jurai King to leave the room Azusa crept in and called for her.
'A, Azusa-chan!? How did you come here..?' she replied in surprise.
'Mitsuki,' not answering to her question Azusa grabbed her hand. 'Let's get out from Jurai!'
'What!?'
'It is because you are near the Heaven's Tree that you are kept here, isn't it? Then you just have to leave Jurai. .. I promise I will always be with you.'
'Azusa-chan...' looked by Azusa in a dearest face, tears poured out from Mitsuki's eyes.
'You told me you want to see the outside world, didn't you?' Then I'll take you there. Let's go out together.'
'Azusa-chan.. But you have just returned to Jurai..'
'I wanted to be strong, strong enough to protect my mother and all. I didn't want to join the imperial family or to be a Jurai King. I don't care about such thing!' Azusa poured out his feeling, which he had kept in his heart. He was not old enough to use the exact word for his feelings to Mitsuki, but what he said was enough for her. Though..
'I don't have .. have the right for it.'
Though she could not accept his feelings.

At that moment, suddenly a clapping of hands was heard from behind.
'Who is it!? .. Aarh no!.. Seto.. sama.'
It was Seto who was standing behind him.
'You are the first person who said Jurai does not matter, Azusa-chan.'
'Don, Don't call me Azusa-chan, you grimalkin!!' he shouted.
'.. it seems that I can't call you Azusa-chan anymore,' she murmured in a sad tone and then, looked at Azusa, her face straightened. 'I'm sorry but you can't take Mitsuki-dono with you.'
'Why?'
'.. because I will not allow you to.'
'..!!' Azusa was confused to this when suddenly Seto gave out a fierce force from all over her to him. Her force was now far above than that when she faced the pirates three years ago. It was her preparedness. Teaching Azusa for more than 3 years as a conservator she knew well that she couldn't overcome him without using all of her strength.
But Azusa drew his sword and faced her, not flinching to her force.
'… what?' he himself couldn't understand what made him do so but automatically he sprung over Seto.
'Tee-he,' to this Seto showed an expression of surprise and joy.
Usually those who face such fierce force run away. But it is hard to escape from one who is overmatching you and in this case it is the best way to step forward and fight rather than trying to run off.
Diving toward her Azusa swung his sword down while Seto fended it with her sword. Energy sparks flashed out from their swords and in the flashing of the lights Azusa thought that he saw Seto smiling in a kind face.
'You have become strong,' Seto murmured in a small tone which none could hear.
And then Azusa lost consciousness.