Heavenly Spirit, Earthly Revolt

by F-14 Tomcat Lover

Tenchi Masaki discovered that the life he thought he knew was more complicated than he thought. Now he has several girls and women living with him, a younger sister to worry about, and two destinies appearing before him. While he thought his life would be simple, he finds himself with great power and the desire to start a revolution. For with great power comes great responsibility.

1. Chapter 1

Heavenly Spirit, Earthly Revolt

Chapter One

No Need For Finding Trouble!

XXXX

March 7th, 2062 ATB

A small shrine in the woods in Okayama Prefecture, Chūgoku Region

XXXX

"Ten-chi," an old voice calls out, but no answer, "Tenchi!" it calls again, "TENCHI!" the voice shouts as aged, but sharp eyes look about not finding the boy in question.

All that is to be found was the shrine, nature, and abandoned cleaning supplies such as a broom and bucket with a cloth on the lip. It is clear that the boy in question had shirked his duties again. The old man sighs as he knew that boy would be slippery.

"Hmm…" the owner thinks with some reflection on why he shouldn't let the boy be when he has energy, "Now where did he go?"

Then as soon as that left his lips, he realizes just where the boy would be, as his eyes settle on the location indeed with a slight smirk.

XXXX

In an office, a boy is going through things, being careful not to leave anything out of place. He pauses at one point to pop his shoulders and neck. He's been at it for a while now. He is rifling through some books and writings before shifting to some other drawer.

In that drawer is just useless tidbits and some other items like glue, pliers, and why is there a book on 5th Century China? Then the book slips from its paper cover and the boy couldn't help his face heating up. He knows the old man could act young, but really, a First Edition and signed Toki-chan Book? What is he, a priest or a pervert?

Well? Either way...

He knows he should be doing his work, but he is going to find out today! And nothing, not even the old man, is going to stop him!

"Come on!" he says to himself in complaint, "Where are they?" as he goes through the desk, having looked elsewhere, knowing how crafty the old man really is and then it clicks, "Damn! He has them on him."

Now it is a question of getting them from the owner. It would be hard at best. The man is old, but sly and moves like he was barely older than the teenage boy. No doubt his sister would be enlisted to help stop him. That is just how the old man is.

Plus it would work too.

Suddenly the shoji crashes open and he jumps in surprise. He looks over to see a cat sleeping peacefully, hardly disturbed. It isn't the first time this had happened, so it was ignoring the whole commotion. Yet the door was open and it had been slammed open. So if he were the old man…

XXXX

"Oh!" the old man shows some surprise, holding the black haired teen back after the failed attempt to throw a punch at him, "Nice try Tenchi, you've gotten to thinking with your head now, haven't you?"

"It got Hinata and me by until you found us grandpa, ugh!" Tenchi's royal purple eyes look into his grandfather's own royal purple eyes, "So I figure I should start using it more often, ERH!" he broke free, "HAH!" and dives right back in, "I'll be taking those- YEE-AAH!" he was sent tumbling across the room to land at least in a sitting position, "Dammit!"

Chuckling good naturally, the old man, Masaki Katsuhito, reaches into his haori and pulls out a large ring with old fashion keys on it, "So these are what you are after, eh?" he chuckles, the boy is brightening up, after all, he had a good head on his shoulders, just a question of what it contains, "You were thinking of finally getting into the cave, weren't you now," it is a statement as he continued, "It is the ancient law of this Masaki Shrine and you are no exception to that legacy," chuckling somewhat amused, leaning back on his desk with one leg helping to support him, the other adding a bit of cushioning, and idly noting his Toki-chan book is laying on its side, bookmark appearing in place, but he is unsure if it is or isn't. "But you really want to have a look inside that cave, don't you now," the old man chuckles again.

"If I didn't, I wouldn't be trying to sneak off with the keys!" Tenchi declares, looking like a bull preparing to charge.

"As stubborn as me, aren't you," again a statement as he places the keys back into his haori and then pats where he put them, "Well, come get them if you can and let's see how good you really are."

"You can bet on that!" the teenager charges after a second of hesitation to see and plan his moves.

"Brother enough!" a younger girl's voice orders and Masaki Tenchi trips, his punch becoming weak as it is easily caught -again- and even as he turns to look at the speaker, he is suddenly spun over his outstretched axis into the closet doors, going through one as it bent and collapses under his weight and impact, "BROTHER?!" the girl with sandy brown hair and her own royal purple eyes gasps as she saw the boy in mingled into the wreckage, "You should know better," her shocked and horrified expression have changed to one that is a 'Told You So' as she gives a suffering sigh.

"Back to chores Tenchi," their grandfather stands up and stretches a little, even that weak punch had some power behind it, even if the old man isn't going to say anything, sounding entirely bored with the matter, "That's also a part of your training," and with that, he walks out.

Once the girl is sure he is out of earshot, "Did you get them?" she looks hopeful, she is at that age where she has been warned with her brother that curiosity killed the cat.

Tenchi glances over his shoulder, almost fearing Hinata had been too quick, but there is no sign of their grandfather. So with a happy look on his face, he turns around to reveal the keyring clamped between his teeth with the keys gently rustling as he smiles, to some degree. Hinata lets out a smothered giggle at seeing the keys and moves to free her brother.

XXXX

"We are so in trouble later!" she declares happily as they run through the forest. Masaki Hinata in her Miko-in-Training Haori and Hakama while her brother wears his apprentice clothes of long pants and a short sleeved haori.

"Who cares!" Tenchi declares happily, "We got the keys and it's not like we're cats!"

Hinata only giggles more as they arrive at the gates to the sealed, old cavern that they have been told not to and forbidden to enter. They both have flashbacks of their grandfather catching them at those very gates on more than one occasion.

XXXX

"Tenchi! Hinata!" the two children jumped at hearing their names and turned to see their angry grandfather had caught them yet again. "What do you two think you are doing here!? Why must you come time after time after time when you both know it is not allowed."

Balling up his fist and raising his arm up, "Why is that grandpa?"

Mimicking her brother, the blind Hinata did the same, "Yeah! Why?"

With a mental sigh, the old man kneels down before his grandchildren, "I will tell you why my grandchildren," gently reaching up to steady Hinata, "A demon sleeps here."

Both children are shocked and only his hold on his blinded granddaughter kept her from tumbling off her feet.

"A demon? No," young Tenchi responds, his voice shocked and lower, almost instinctively afraid of waking a sleeping demon.

"It's true," the old man's countenance is grim and serious, "Now listen carefully for I'm about to tell you both what really happened…"

It was a long time ago… Tenchi's eyes are wide with a touch of worry, but he listens enraptured nonetheless.

A demon appeared from the sky… Hinata felt she could see the land centuries ago and the demon appearing high above.

It's strength was enormous and terrible… Both siblings could see the massive demon, standing taller than the mountains and looking terrible and evil.

It destroyed villages. Burned everything. And our people suffered greatly because of its evil powers… The two children could see the demon bellowing flames and torching entire buildings and large swaths of the forests. Crops burned and great fields became endless darkness of burned lands. Great rents forming in the very earth and mountains.

"Wh-wh-what happened to the demon?" Tenchi asked, full of fear as he held his shaking sister close to him.

One day… A dragon appeared from the sky... The two siblings could see a dragon high in the sky, coming to do battle.

On its back, rode a mighty samurai… The ancient warrior appeared in their minds' eyes. Allowing them to see a warrior clad differently from the their own point of views, but they could see a brave warrior with sword in hand.

He fought the demon using a sword with great spiritual powers… The two could see the warrior plunging his fabled blade through the middle eye of the monster, bringing it down.

Now the demon sleeps. Held prisoner within this shrine… The two young children could make out the sleeping demon, bound and held down by great and mighty chains, seals dangling from them in a room hidden far beneath the ground.

The sword, planted into the ground, keeps watch over it… The majestic blade, sitting inside of stonework surrounded by a small shrine itself, glows with radiant light as it keeps the demon held in its prison and should it ever escape… Is ready to be drawn by a true hero to slay its charge once more.

That samurai was named Yosho, your ancestor children… A gentle, but handsome man appears in their imagination. Being hailed as a great hero for his deed. He appears humble and kind as he gently holds onto the hand of beautiful woman, who is very serene and happy with very kind eyes, much like their mother's eyes.

Tenchi, remember your name and what it means, Heaven and Earth…

Hinata, remember your name and what it means, Into the Sun…

Remember...

XXXX

For whatever reason, they both have a habit of finding their way here. Especially after their grandmother had passed away. There had been a strange feeling here. Like someone comforting them.

"Are we really going to enter?" Hinata suddenly sounds nervous and she is.

"Of course!" Tenchi is nervous, but come on! They played that act up so well, they will never get another chance!

Ever!

"Okay!" Hinata tries to sound brave and does so, but she is still noticeably nervous.

Tenchi smiles and goes through the keys. Eventually, he gets the right one and the gate opens easily enough. Both go through in a few seconds and close the gate behind them. The hinges had been only so rusty, much to their surprise. So their grandfather must enter regularly to check on things. Well, more luck to them.

Something they both knew Tenchi has in spades.

So they begin the trek into the cave. They were told that a demon was slain by their ancestor some few hundred years ago. He used a sword that had the same name as Tenchi, the Tenchi-ken. It is said that both the demon and the Tenchi-ken were sealed into this cave. The demon's remains were kept imprisoned by the sword. So both want to see if it is all true.

In a couple of days, they'll be back with their uncle and going to school. So for now, they want this one last adventure. The only other excitement is a younger boy named Yamada Seina and some cousins named Kiriko, the oldest, and Kai, the younger brother. That was about it. So they are hoping for something more exciting and if all went well, they'd bring the other three in too.

They soon make it to the back of the cave. It isn't particularly long, but Hinata checks her watch and discovers they had been walking for a good twenty minutes, so it isn't particularly short either.

The path itself isn't too narrow or short. About three, maybe just under four meters tall and somewhere around a meter wide, give or take a few centimeters. Made out of the pure, tan rock all around and held up by study and strong wood timbers that brace the roof and walls. It is surprisingly well lit. A lot of holes and some simple gas torches keep plenty of light, but also leave enough shadow for the spooky effects to set in and even disrupt depth perception. Eventually, they spot the end of the tunnel. It is heavily lit by natural light and they can see it widens up quite a bit. So they now know they are at the end of the tunnel, literally or at least entering an ante chamber of some kind.

Once they are in the wide area, they discover a massive upside down stone jutting from the ceiling. It is covered in ancient scrawl and characters, some of which are lost to the modern era. Tied to it and extending to the walls of the cave are ceremonial ropes with seals hanging from them. They also see several old offerings, some holes that let in sunlight, and both are certain they can hear water.

It couldn't be...

Tenchi checks his phone's GPS and sure enough, "We're near Funaho!" he points up at an angle. "Just over that way by some couple dozen meters!"

"Wow!" Hinata declares as she looks at the roots and sure enough, a couple are the sacred tree's roots from how they are colored and the wood grows. "I found two of Funaho's roots!" she giggles happily. "Nice to find you at last!" she pats both and turns away, missing the slight glow they both quietly give off, but could strangely feel as though she had been thanked. "You're welcome!"

"Enough Hinata," Tenchi laughs heartily, still exuberant to see his sister so full of life again, he has to -again- push the painful memories away before he smiles devilishly in hopes of moving forward past that which is now the pass. "Now let's find that sword!" he declares grandly with his arms outstretched and with a massive, mischievous grin on his face causing Hinata to giggle happily and nod enthusiastically at the declaration.

With that, the two begin to search. Of course given how small the actual area they need to comb through, it is pretty simple and fairly easy. It is a traditional little placement and set up. A small shrine offering box that is nothing too big or too small and tucked in between a couple of boulders.

"I think this cave was formed during an avalanche," Hinata states taking a look around. The walls have a lot of seams and branches in between them. There is also a lot of variance in the sizes of the boulders and rocks to be found in the cave as well with noticeably no stalagmites and stalactites to be found. If she didn't know any better, she would have thought someone had just dug the cave quite recently, "It doesn't seem to be that natural of a cave."

Tenchi only nods as he too glances around, "That's what I figured myself."

Then he sets his eyes once more on the simple little temple box. A wooden stand could be seen extending beneath it indicating something long was inside. Something he bet is that sword they've heard so much about.

Tenchi then steps forward, leaving enough space for Hinata to see as well, and bringing his fingers up to the small tabs, opens the small doors to the offering box.

And there it is.

They both could see the hilt of the fabled sword. A sword once wielded by their ancestor some 400 years ago. A sword with an edge so keen, it can cut through solid rock.

Carefully and reverently, Tenchi gently removes the sword from its resting place. The sheath is long, simple, and brown. The hilt is wrapped by simple greyish white wrappings. The hilt is a simple cross hilt carefully covered in purple dye. The wooden pummel looks like the color of freshly cut wood with three red round stones unlike anything Tenchi and Hinata had ever seen embedded in it.

Something then falls from the shrine box, causing the two to jump briefly.

Hinata accidentally steps on it as she tries to find it. Picking her foot up and taking a step back, she squats down and picks up the item. As she returns to stand before her brother, she holds up what looks like a central portion of some kind of staff.

The color and design is very much like that of the sword pommel on both ends. The center is covered by greyish-white wrappings. The wrappings are held in place by a purple tassel tied onto the handle.

Hinata, holding the strange thing, finds it has to be a handle of some kind. It sits so comfortably in her hand. In some way, it feels like a missing piece of herself has been found. Very odd she considers it.

"Probably from a staff?" Tenchi wonders, "Could have been Yosho's wife's. Kasumi? Right?"

"Yeah," Hinata mumbles a bit surprised as she twists her hands and changes her grips, finding the staff handle to fit and move fluidly. "I wonder if it was broken at some time and placed here with Yosho's sword?"

Tenchi nodded, "Sounds logical."

Even as Tenchi said that, he found that holding the sword in his hands feels… natural. Like he is meant to hold this sword and keep it at his side. 'Strange that,' as he decides unsheath the blade…

"Huh?" only to discover it is stuck, "Come on you!" he growls at the blade, drawing Hinata's attention who finds her brother struggling to draw the sword and the imagery is just pure comical until, "Eu-argh!" with a final grunt, Tenchi pulls the ancient sword from its sheath.

"Wha?" Hinata blinks at what she sees.

"Huh?" Tenchi also blinks as both behold a rusty, badly damaged sword and guard.

"I thought the guard was in good shape?" the girl tilts her face, looking less than pleased.

Tenchi's words are more focused, "Why it is only a rusty old piece of junk," he states with clear annoyance and disappointment in his tone, "Give me a break," he carelessly swings the sword downward, "The sword that cuts through a rock, ha!"

And accidentally shatters the sword on a nearby rock.

"AHHH! The sword Tenchi!" Hinata panics at seeing what Tenchi has done.

Tenchi at first panics as well, eyes bulging at the sight of what he has down, before suddenly, the rock he had struck the blade on… falls in two pieces, neatly cut down the center.

"WHA!?" Tenchi knows now his grandfather will kill him for sure!

Then suddenly the cave quakes as both siblings turn to hearing rocks grinding on one another to see the central stalactite fall into the ground.

Both panic and run over to it, examining it for damage. Both are trying to come up with ways to put it back in place. The hinges earlier meant that their grandfather enters at various times. The offerings around them indicate that it has happened for some time that the caretakers would enter. They have to come up with something and fast!

"At times like this, I wish Milly was around," Tenchi mutters in a panic.

During their inspection of the stalactite, neither notice the branches behind them crawling back and away from a strangely flat stone wall that is next to the small shrine box. Nor did they hear the crack that forms a near perfectly straight line in the middle. They also fail to hear the stone halves draw themselves into the walls like sliding gates.

It is only when the two stand together, facing the area in question that they notice it as Tenchi mutters, "Think genius," to himself.

"A passageway?" Hinata wonders in surprise.

"Got to be," Tenchi begins walking to it and notes it is wide enough for the two of them to slip through one at a time. "I'm going in to see what I can. Hinata, stay here," he informs his sister who nods as Tenchi manages to slip in and put his sandal clad foot into some water, "That's cold!"

"Tenchi?" Hinata questions from her side, having heard the splash.

"It's okay," turning to see what he could of the floor, he smacks his head into the low sitting ceiling, "Ow, my hea-AHHHHH!" he slips on the smooth surface and slides down the incline with a frightened cry.

"Tenchi!" Hinata more easily wiggles her way in and trips over the edge of one of the strange floor outlines and begins to slide down as well, "AHHHH!"

Tenchi has managed to slow himself down and twist to catch a couple of edges and stop his momentum. He turns to look down the rest of the incline, noticing the same, strange pattern in the entire floor going down. He also notes it is extremely dark and decides from that and the new bruises that will likely form on his back that he's had enough for one day.

As he begins to crawl back up, he accidentally loses his grip on the hilt. It slides down, near his knee. As he reaches for it, he notes that the guard and wrappings have come off, revealing a rather intricate design like roots or tree branches coming together to form the hilt. The coloring is just like the pommel that looks unnaturally organic with the handle. Tenchi also notes two prong-like stubs that are strangely purple and not by painting them or dying them, but naturally.

Then as he reaches for the hilt, he hears Hinata screaming and he looks up to find her crashing into him face first and sending both of them now screaming down the slide into the darkness below.

Tenchi groaned as he felt the sword hilt smack him in the head as it bounced off. He tried to lift his right arm to massage the place it had struck, only to find an impediment in the way. His are still adapting as he reaches out and tries to find the source of the impediment. He does not a heavy weight on top of him, that's soft and warm and covered in cloth.

"What the?" he lifts his head and puts his face right where he shouldn't have as his right hand finds something a bit round and squishy.

"Uh-Ahh!" Hinata lets out and Tenchi realizes as his eyes finally adjust to see his sister's own wide purple eyes.

Tenchi discovers much too late that the impediment is his sister's left leg. The place his hand is now and what it is groping, is his sister's left breast. And to top that all off, his face is right between his sister's legs. At the point where her future husband would be so that he can plant the seeds for their future children which is the same point the said future children would be coming from.

Now if it were to have been his first love or their crazy friend, he might be willing to risk a little more. Especially since they would have been at that age and the former would have been consensual and the latter eagerly wanting to do more.

But Hinata is neither his first love nor their crazy friend Milly.

Therefore, another form of natural response occurs...

"WAAHHHHH/KYAAAHHHH!"

Both siblings are seated with their legs beneath and a good two meters apart. Their faces are alight with blood brightening up their faces so much, they can easily see each other's faces in the dark cave they found themselves in. Their hearts pounded in their chests and the sound of blood filled their ears. Tenchi had both hands on his thighs, hands balled, while Hinata held a closed hand between her developing bosom and held the wrist with her other hand.

After a few moments, the two siblings begin to breath normally and their facial color is back to normal. While they don't look one another in the eye, they can put up with a bit of embarrassment. After all, Tenchi used to have to hand bath Hinata. Though it has been several years.

Enough for him to realize his sister's haori is really hiding just womanly she'll be when she's a woman.

He'll need to start planning how to beat the would-be suitors off much sooner than he would like.

The sooner, the better. Yes. He must defend his sister's honor and purity. For if he doesn't, who co-LD!"

Tenchi jumps up and down after putting his foot into some really cold water. Now brought back to the realm of the physical here and now, he blinks at what he sees.

The cavern the two siblings had landed in is definitely not natural. That much is as obvious as the Sun on a clear day at high noon. The roof looks like someone tried burying the place with a landslide. Successfully if Tenchi is honest and unfortunately, in this case, he would have to be. The floor though…

It is clear from the uniformed cuts and spacing that the unusual pattern of stone flooring is meant to allow water to pour through in a controlled manner. At the same time, the design is only partially Nipponese in aesthetics. For it looks truly alien as the siblings not the large circular pool in the center.

Hard to miss it. It's the light source for the entire chamber.

As the two sibling observe it, something blue passes just behind Tenchi. It casts off a strange sound. The two siblings turn, but there is nothing there.

Curiosity getting the best of them, they both shrug and carefully move forward.

The sound of their sandalled feet is not echoing or hidden. It sounds like any other time they walk on stone. Completely at odds with the horror movie genre.

The two approach the edge without a word. No words spoken as they get nearer and nearer. Normally, Tenchi would have Hinata hang back and wait for him. But not right now. Both seemed mesmerized by what they are seeing.

As such, as they approached, they did not notice the glow of the jewels that were in the sword hilt.

Stopping near the edge, Tenchi takes a big, nervous gulp. Hinata quietly licks her lips as they suddenly seem very dry. So far, all they can see is just an orb of glowing light in the pit, pool, whatever. There were three carved stone slabs around it. Two to its upper left and right that were small and a long one about a meter in length just below it. They were set at an angle in a slight slope set into the far side. Almost would have been a slide if not for the creepy factor.

Nevertheless, that appears to be it.

So with a sigh, Tenchi announces, "Oh so it's just some weird glowing light, okay," and before he can take more than a couple of steps forward, that's when he spots what else is in there.

For there, at the bottom, is what looks like a corpse.

What had at first appeared to be stone slabs and a light in a small slope, turns out to be the remains of a body. The small slabs are likely the knees. The 'meter long slab' turns out to be the waist and pelvic region of a person. The remnants of some kind of light colored cloth had given the impression that it was longer than it was. Indeed, there is no slop, just pure flatness. An optic illusion from the light hovering above the body.

The body's form goes on visibly from the waist. Tenchi, analyzing what he's seeing, notes that either a red or pink haori or shirt once covered the person. The ribs are very visible, above a very shrunken stomach region. Tenchi is unsure, because of the effect of the light orb hanging above the remains, if the skin has either just shrunk down tightly or rotted away at some point. At the shoulders, there are two faded either brass or gold pins that still hold part of the cloth.

Was this person buried in a shrine maiden's outfit?

There is also an oni mask over the remain's face with long, perhaps cyran colored hair? He's unsure because of time and the fading color. Nevertheless, the hair had to have gone out in all directions. The longest parts are hidden beneath the remains.

"Wh-what is it Tenchi?" Hinata asks nervously. "Is it the demon grandpa mentioned? The demon of legend?"

Tenchi is enraptured by the sight. He hears his sister, but he cannot reply immediately. He looks at all the evidence. It appears to be a girl? A young woman perhaps? Maybe about her late Teens or early 20s?

Is this really the demon of legend? The one that sleeps here? Forever sealed by the legendary sword? It couldn't be? It's not possible? Yet…

"It wasn't just a legend," Tenchi finally says and fails to note his weakening grip on the sword hilt until it hit falls from his hand and, in the silence of the chamber, hits something producing a sound not unlike silverware or a metal tea set hitting the ground after a meter drop.

"AAAHHHHHHH!" both siblings scream.

Needless to say, he and Hinata both jump back and take up almost comical looks.

Tenchi wide eyed, one leg held up and arm across, in front of him from his shoulders and the other thrown back behind him for balance as he stares at the source of the sound.

Hinata had fallen down and scooted back on her hands and feet until she stumbled and is now upside down with her feet in the air laying on her shoulders and bust, turned so she can face the source of the sound with her arms thrown out to keep her balance.

Somehow, she still holds the staff grip in her hands as well.

After a few moments of pure silence… The siblings realize nothing is happening and collect themselves with a cough each and Hinata smoothing out her shrine outfit.

"Let's not do that again Tenchi," Hinata states, making it a point to keep herself turned as she had gotten her hakama wet.

"Yeah," Tenchi replies, "Whoah. Time to go home," Tenchi begins walking forward to collect the sword hilt. "I guess all there is is this mummy, eh Hinata?"

"Yeah, I guess," Hinata responds to Tenchi's statement. "I feel really bad for disturbing her though. I guess we made quite the spectacle of ourselves and were more than a little annoying."

Neither sibling note the small blue light again as it passes by Tenchi as he bends over to pick up the hilt.

"Yeah, but I guess we better get home," Tenchi is saying as he begins to grasp the sword, "Once we're out of here, I'll-"

Whatever Tenchi was going to finish saying, would forever be lost as at that moment, a bony mummified hand had reached up and grabbed his outstretched arm by the wrist as he was grasping the sword hilt.

"What?! HUH!?" Tenchi immediately felt his eyes go wide as he saw that extending from the pool of water is the mummified hand and forearm of the body the siblings had discovered.

But that wasn't it.

As Tenchi watches in silent fascination, the head of the body begins to slowly emerge from the water. Even as he hears Hinata screaming for him as she realizes that something has happened, he sees the head slowly emerge until the mouth of the mask is clear of the water. All around, small orbs of blue lights begin to appear and glow.

Now he panics.

"AHHH! HEY! EHH! ERHHHH!"

Tenchi pulls and wildly flails his seized limb, even as Hinata arrives at his side, grabbing his arm and begins to add her strength to pulling him free.

"AHHH! EEEH! ERRR! HAHHH!" both siblings grunt and cry out with exertion, but soon a hard tug pulls both forward and dropping them onto the stone slabs once more. The hand that had gripped Tenchi's arm releases it and the other arm shoots out to grab him by his samue and began to hold him there.

"Let me go!" Tenchi yells as he uses his free hand to grip a slab and try to and pull himself back.

"Let my brother go!" Hinata manages to find a perch for her feet and with legs braced, tries to pull her brother free.

The mummified body merely rises further up, onto the lip of the pool and raises its own free hand, outstretched before its face. It then, surprisingly, gently places it on Tenchi's face, feeling it not unlike how Hinata used to feel his face before she regained her sight. The mummy makes a groaning sound, sounding very much like Tenchi in a way. And despite the siblings best effort, Tenchi is pulled closer as the mummy rises further, Tenchi seeing the previously hidden ears and noting they have an unusual long rise to them. Like an elf's ears, only not pointed off like an elf.

The moans, almost pitiful, Tenchi can hear his name. He can hear it repeat Tenchi. A slight turn of its head and then, Hinata.

Then she says something he was not expecting and neither was Hinata.

"Lelooouuchh. Nunnnaalllyyy."

Both siblings are simply stunned dumb. Those names. Those names. Those names!

It couldn't be possible. Those were the names of their past lives. A pair of lives buried long ago. Buried by war and the fallout of it. Dead and buried. Names that meant nothing to them anymore. Names they feel shame only to have once known.

Yet…

How did this demon knows those names?

It has been nearly a decade!

The siblings Lelouch and Nunnally were dead. Killed by their own country. Murdered by disease and a lost will to live. Brought to them and upon them by the Holy Empire of Britannia.

Yet…

This demon woman knows their past. And yet… She also says those names with a strange kindness to them.

It's all so confusing.

Neither resist as the demon moves closer to Tenchi. Move so that the boy's mouth could be accessible from behind the mask. Through the open mouth area. Only shadow exists where eyes and lips should be.

It's all so confusing.

In the recent past. A young boy is carrying his sister on his back. Her eyes shut as she coughs. Her little legs too little and shrunken for her age. The boy and girl have redden cheeks as fever holds both.

It's all so confusing.

Down a road filled with other refugees. Only their scavenged cover from torn clothes to keep them somewhat dry in the rain. Abandoned and destroyed vehicles line the road. It is pockmarked from battle. Their cover barely hides them from the fate that a couple of Britannian families received as their still living, writhing forms hang from a nearby tree.

It's all so confusing.

Someone pulled at them, wanting their meager supplies. Their appearance unmasked, they are grabbed by a Nipponese man who holds them up and screams at them. Smashing the siblings forcibly together, both cry out in pain.

Can't he see they are just as bad if not worse off?

It's all so confusing.

The gunfire as Britannian forces overrun the column. It's a surprise ambush. Fire is expertly zeroed in. People die in droves. The man, brave a moment before tries to flee. He's shot in both legs, dropping him. Then the Britannians proceed to shoot him for fun. That's all the ambush is.

For fun.

It's all so confusing.

A man with a raised auburn and burgundy platform hairstyle indicates where to keep shooting and telling his men how to do so in a fashion that prolongs the hunt and savors the kill. He laughs all the while with his men as they kills anyone and everyone. A few women and girls are grabbed for other uses. But the fire streaming from their weapons does not let up. They don't even go to the assistance of the Britannians hanging to death.

It's all so confusing.

But then explosions among the Britannians. The ropes holding up the families are severed as several men and women catch the falling people. Rockets appear and Knightmares explode or topple over. Vehicles, even tanks, burst into flames as explosives that adhere themselves suddenly explode as the forms of commandos can just be barely made out. The leader cowardly grabs one of his own men and uses him as a human shield. Then, once that is done, flees.

It's all so confusing.

The saviors appear. Wearing modern body armor, yet the aesthetic design is that of an older era harkened to that day. What they learn is the Masaki Clan heraldry adorns armor and flags. The leader walks up and with a single cut, fells three Britannian soldiers that tried to ambush him. The three fall back, each cut fatal outright, yet the man did not spin nor turn to their eyes.

It's all so confusing.

"Hmm? What's this?" he says as he leans down to them. "Why you two are still alive? I'm impressed? Hmm..? But not for long without medical help."

It's all so confusing.

"I see," the man says, how long has it been? "So they are her children? No! I will not abandon my kin. I will not abandon my grandchildren. What else? I will raise them of course! The boy will be my inheritor. Yes. I believe he has it. Do not ask me. I just do. Good. Names? Of course I will be changing their names! Why would I leave them with names a fool who abandoned them gave them? I will think of something. Yes… Wait? Was not the boy called Tenchi before? I see… Ten-chi. Heaven and Earth. Yes. A good name. For the girl? She tries hard to be a sunny pl-ace… Hinata. Yes. They are Masaki Tenchi and Masaki Hinata as of this moment. I will raise them myself along with my wife. They are our grandchildren and all we have of her. No. Yes. Thank you very much. I know, thank you."

It's all so confusing.

"Tenchi, your grandfather and I have a surprise for you!"

It's all so confusing.

"What is it grandma?"

It's all so confusing.

"HINATA?! You're walking!"

It's all so confusing.

"Try and catch me big brother! Hehehe!"

It's all so confusing.

"I can see now Tenchi! I can see now!"

It's all so confusing.

"Remember your names. They will serve you well."

In that moment, the sword hilt glowed a bluish white before releasing a burst of blue energy that threw the demon woman back, forcing her to release Tenchi.

Tenchi and Hinata are thrown back by the sudden light and the demon woman's own throw of them. Both stumble back and land differently. Tenchi on his back, Hinata on her side. Both groan a bit and sit up to see the demon woman.

They kind of wish they hadn't. For there she is, standing half out of the water. Her head thrown back, her exposed torso showing off the bones and shrunken skin. If the thin as twigs arms weren't bad enough, tree roots could be see attached to the demon woman.

"Funaho must be part of the seal itself!" Hinata realizes, seeing the roots.

Suddenly, two darkly yellow pinpricks of light appear. Their position… The demon woman's eyes. And from this angle… She looks pissed. Very, very pissed. In fact… The last they saw a look like that…

Was when someone had threatened their lives long, long ago in their past lives.

"Run Hinata!" scrambling up, Tenchi graps Hinata by the arm and pulls her to her feet.

Both siblings take off running. Climbing up the incline they had fallen down before. Rushing to get up.

So fast in their hurry to escape, Hinata catches her clothes on something. The audible tear of cloth as her haori is torn open and she catches her hakama on something.

"Tenchi!" she screams unable to climb.

"Hinata!" Tenchi slides back down far enough and simply braces his feet as he uses both hands to tear the waist of the hakama. There isn't time to work it free of whatever it has.

Scrambling up bare legged, Hinata escapes even as it feels like something has grabbed Tenchi by the back of his samue. Tenchi simply sacrifices his top and the shirt underneath it as he escapes up, losing a the back of a pant leg to what feels like a desperate grab.

He scrambles up and narrowly misses a large rock sent bouncing down from atop.

Tenchi then sees Hinata forcing another large rock over the edge and he dodges it more expertly this time. Before long, he's up at the top and both scramble inside the previous chamber. Both try to force the stone doors to close and seal the hidden chamber once more.

But they won't budge.

Then Tenchi spots the two halves of the rock he cut earlier.

"Get me something to tie the halves!" he shouts to Hinata who realizes what he's doing and rushes off to get some of the sacred ropes that had fallen free.

Using loose roots and the ropes, Tenchi and Hinata hurriedly tie the two halves of the sealing stone back together. The light behind them is glowing brighter and brighter. But with a firm, final tug, the two stone doors suddenly slam shut like a bulkhead emergency gate. The light is cut off. The doors make a sound like locks being secured.

The passage is sealed once more.

"I'm giving those keys back to grandpa and doing as many chores as he says," Tenchi then collapses against the rock walls.

Hinata collapses next to him. Both ignoring their appearance as they regain their breath and steady their beating hearts.

Neither notice the light of the three jewels grow dim and then they appear as regular jewels again.

"Tenchi?" Hinata begins after a few moments.

"Yeah Hinata?" Tenchi has his eyes close, but he can feel the back of one of Hinata's legs against his hand.

Did the universe have it out for them?

"I tore my haori wide open," and Tenchi's eyes shoot open and he looks at his sister without a second thought.

Fortunately, the girl is currently succeeding at her best to cover her front back up, but it is clear that the haori was torn from just below the collarbone and near her right breast almost all the way down. Only her bottom tie and her damaged obi kept the whole thing from being ripped right open. Not that it mattered. A huge chunk is missing on the right side below her belt line. A massive section of the front had been completely torn away, along with her bra, if he had to guess. If she had one.

"And I lost my… My… MY PANTIES!" the girl's face is flush with red as blood fills her face at her admission.

With a tired sigh, "At least we can sneak back, right?" Tenchi simply replies as he adjusts to better relax for the moment, closing his eyes..

Not like he hasn't seen his sister naked before. But that was a long time ago when it was perfectly fine. Now they are both much older and it is not perfectly fine.

"What will grandpa say when he finds out?" Hinata inquires worriedly.

"Hinata," Tenchi begins with a touch of annoyance in his tone, "You do the laundry, remember?"

"Oh!" the girl realizes, "Right. Grandpa isn't very good at it, is he?"

Both have a chuckle at their grandparent's expense. True, it will be interesting sneaking back. Fortunately, Tenchi had also prepared just in case. A set of clean and intact clothes await them at a hidden spot nearby. He'll need the change himself as much as Hinata.

It wasn't just a pant leg he lost and tops. He can feel his bottom on the dirt and pebbles beneath him. He's got a long tear in the seat of his pants and shorts.

But, for the moment, he pulls Hinata in close. Blushing as she loses her grip and on her top, she finds herself, skin to skin with her brother's well toned chest. Yet… All he does is hold her. Basking in her presence.

The memories that resurfaced…

At least they are alive to remember them for this moment.

"Tenchi?" Hinata suddenly starts once more, what seems like a lifetime later.

"Yeah Hinata?" Tenchi nuzzles his nose into her hair.

How different it smells now compared to years ago. At the same time, she takes a deep breath of his scent. He now smells far different himself. The scent of labor that he once couldn't do upon his body. Just as he notices her scent of own activities about her as he recalls how she should not have been able to do them.

"Are we going steady after today?" she giggles.

"Only if you want to be known as auntie momma," Tenchi chuckles good naturally.

Yeah right. Who are they? Britannian Imperial Royal Children?

No.

They are a simple brother and sister living a peaceful life as the grandchildren and heirs of a somewhat perverted shrine priest.

The two soon depart and spend an otherwise peaceful day freshly dressed and doing everything they are instructed to do.

The only signs of their adventures, are the two new items they now have.

XXXX

Late at night, wind blows through the leaves of the sacred tree Funaho.

An ancient tree, surrounded by a pond of water. Its roots can be seen rising from the water as they entered the earth below long ago. Stone rocks had been carved and placed long ago to give access directly to the tree. A thick ceremonial rope with cloth and paper talismans hang from its midpoint.

The great canopy it has is ruffled by the wind passing by.

All is still and peaceful. Quiet without danger as the world sleeps the night away.

Then suddenly, channels of light begin coursing through the leaves. Some reaching a point and in their zenith, burst into beams of multicolored light that streak into the water below. In seconds, the light is refracted back into the air, going straight up towards the great star ocean above.

Awakened by the sudden light, Masaki Katsuhito steps out of his office and looks to the sacred tree with a frown.

"So Tenchi and Hinata did venture in, now didn't they," he had been worried when he had discovered the keys missing. He had eventually found them on the grounds, opposite of where Tenchi was, but not far from Hinata.

Strangely, she looked to be dressed in a fresh outfit and looked as though she had taken a quick bath.

He noted Tenchi looked the same as well. Plus neither was getting into mischief. Something had happened, but by that time, they had had visitors and so Katsuhito hadn't had time to investigate.

"Doesn't look like I will need to, hm? Funaho?"

And as he says that, Katsuhito watches the beams of light coalesce into a single beam of light that shoots with an audible sound into the heavens above.

Then a burst appears very high up. Signaling something he had been concerned with. Fortunately, there are no patrols this far out. Though he has little doubt someone will be paying the area a visit.

"If that fop of a Viceroy and his bungling leaders can get their act together," Katsuhito then thinks about for a second, "Hmm… Maybe not. Oh well, too bad for them and time to go back to bed for me. Not like she'll be coming this way anytime soon."

XXXX

One thing Tenchi could say about his uncle's work, it not only paid the bills, but made the rather competent local lord governor a lot more friendlier to the natives.

That and the man in question believes in being a good leader above all else. One of the reasons he was posted to their area as the local new lord. Because he is too competent to assassinate, too valuable to consider expendable, and reformist to get with the Empire's official line.

Thus, in this small part of the former Nippon-koku, the citizens of Nihon went about their daily lives as though the government was still Nipponese in Tokyo rather than a Britannian Viceroy in a puppet government in the Tokyo Settlement and the true capital in the area once known as Texas.

Hinata onced wondered what the good King Arthur Pendragon would think if he knew his name was attached to such a corrupt and vile empire that used it for the name of its capital.

A good question.

One that was wisely not said where the wrong ears would hear it.

So Tenchi is in class, wearing a normal school uniform, whose design predates the invasion. In his hand is the sword hilt he recovered and still kept, wondering how he'll reforge the broken blade and put it back in its place. As such, he has been leaning on one arm propped up on his desk thinking. He then hears someone stop behind him causing him to turn his head up to see who.

"Hey Tenchi," it is Tenchi's friend Amagasaki Katuhiko. A big fella with large rounded shoulders and a big rounded belly. His nose is also quite large and somewhat colored differently from the rest of his skin color and he also has big, prominent lips that have given him the nickname of Big Lips Katu. He also wears rectangular glasses on his face that pretty much screams 'nerd.'

"What'cha got there?" Katuhiko notices what Tenchi has in his hand. He leans forward to see it better. Tenchi, unsure of things, simply moves to put into his bag as he responds.

"Oh? Ahh… Nothing. Just an old piece of junk," Tenchi puts it into his bag and leans back to speak with his obviously disappointed friend.

"Ohhh…" but then Katuhiko brightens up, "So, ha, how was your summer vacation?"

"Oh don't ask me," Tenchi leans onto his desk with a look that truly said 'It was boring' on his face, "Just me, Hinata, and grandpa at work all day long as usual," same story, different year, "It's supposed to be all the training I guess."

"Oh man, what a big drag," Katuhiko leans on the desk behind Tenchi, "Didn't you get to meet any girls even?"

"Only the usual," Tenchi admits, "Migrants praying for safe passage and the occasional Britannian girl who thinks she's all that and does more to destroy her looks with looking like a dress up doll than actually doing anything really good to compliment her looks."

"Hmm, that is a problem," Katuhiko admits as he stands up, talk of Britannians always did that. Though there were a few in class, they really didn't seem like Britannians. A couple were even half-Nipponese and one girl was actually from South America and hand a Portuguese accent. "So no other girls just to see the sights and meet handsome and strong Shrine boys?"

A snort came from Tenchi immediately, "Aside from the Lord Governor's daughter and a couple of girls from Ashford Academy, the only girls looking for strong, handsome Shrine boys at a shabby shrine deep in the mountains all are 82 years old and spoken for."

Laughing a bit, "So you dated married mummies all summer long?"

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up Katuhiko," Tenchi kept his cool, even though he knew there had been a real mummy up at his family's shrine. One that had come back to life.

The mere thought of that mummy and how it knew, still troubled Tenchi. He could see himself back in that antechamber with it laid out and then it was reaching for him. The touch of his skin, now that he thought about it had been usually soft and gentle. The groan that was his name. Then the other that was that past life's name. That really scared him more than the mummy ever would.

"Hey Tenchi!" suddenly, he is back in class. Katuhiko looking worried and having shaken him back to the here and now, "What's wrong Tenchi?"

With a sigh, he could trust Katuhiko, "Just having memories of ten years ago dredged up one day up there. I'm still troubled by it."

With a solemn look a pat on his friend's shoulder, "I know man, I know," Katuhiko also could remember when the Britannians came.

Then an idea hit his friend, "Hey, why not go up and take a few minutes up on the roof. I'll let the teacher know something rattled you pretty badly. Rare as it is. Don't need you losing your temper like you did a few months back," rubbing his head, "Getting punched by you into the lockers really hurt you know?"

Tenchi rubs the back of his head in embarrassment, "Sorry about that man. Really. I don't know what got into me that day, but I'll take your advice. Some fresh air ought to do me well."

And with that, Tenchi rose up and heads for the door and the stairs to the roof, "Just be sure not to fall asleep again!" Katuhiko calls out, "I'm not covering you from Hinata again!"

A shudder went through the whole class.

If Tenchi had an explosive attitude when finally angered enough, then Hinata was a war goddess when finally angered.

"I'll try," Tenchi winces. He knows better than anyone to not anger his sister.

XXXX

Laying on his back and letting the cool wind play over as the warm Sun and concrete keeps him from a biting chill, Tenchi is contemplating everything thus far. Hands folded behind his head, knees raised and his left leg crossing over his right, Tenchi lets out a sigh.

"I need to get a grip," watching the clouds pass by calmly, eternally, "Grandpa never mentioned anything. Even when he found the keys on the ground. So… Maybe nothing happened after all, ha ha. Alhuhhh… Just relax Tenchi."

As Tenchi says that, his eyes begin to drift closed and the last thing he hears is a game of baseball going on in the background.

XXXX

"Hm? Mmhaha. Ten-chi. Oh Ten-chi."

XXXX

But sleep doesn't come easy. Fitful nightmare. That mummified demon girl and her yellow glowing eyes. Yet it is that groaning sound that turns to the one man he hates most. Then a torrent of gunfire and a scream that echoes as loudly now as it had then.

XXXX

Tenchi awakens slowly. Is that a cat bell he hears? Then the chilly night air blows through.

Confused, Tenchi takes a few moments to look left and right. It doesn't take long for his mind to come back to life. The fading light of dusk, far in the distance, and the close up city lights. The inky darkness high above. The school so quiet as to be abandoned.

"Oh great, I fell asleep!" Tenchi complains as he realizes what happened, "I missed all of my classes and everyone is gone and on top of all of that, Hinata is going to kill me."

Tenchi gets up and begins to walk to collect his things and head home. As he takes the first couple of steps, he hears a cat bell behind him. Stopping and taking a look back, it's a little black cat and it starts to meow.

"Kitty? How the heck did you get up here?"

The response is another loud meow before it starts darting to him.

Tenchi smiles as he steps forward and kneels down. A little kitten all the way up here? How did that happen? Well, the right thing to do would be for him to take… it…

As Tenchi watches, just as the kitty reaches him, his hands held out to scoop the little furball up, it disappears right before his eyes.

"Was I seeing things?" Tenchi wonders, nervously.

Then there's the cat bell again, behind him once more, but if he had to guess, on the water tower behind him.

So turning slowly, carefully, ready to dodge or move at a moment's notice, Tenchi looks up and sees a young woman on the water tower. She appears to be the source of the cat bell as he hears it from her again. She's also laughing softly. Something is found enjoyable and funny by her. But what?

Carefully observing her for the moment, Tenchi notes she's wearing a style of dress he's never seen before. It has some design aesthetics of Japan, but appears to have a bit of a Western cross to it. The woman has either black or brown ankle or shin high boots on. Her rather nice looking, shapely legs are exposed and crossed over, hiding her modesty from the world. Her dress appears somewhat like a kimono and is a light green color, maybe cyan? The same with her long spiky hair. A black obi closes her dress and she has a…

"The mummy from before," Tenchi states as he carefully turns and looks up at her, "So that's what you look like."

The woman plays with her bell, laughing some more. Soon she closes her hand around and brings it back to her cheek, holding it there with her eyes closed and a peaceful expression upon her face. Opening her hand to lay the bell against her cheek, he notes a ring around her middle finger attached to cloth that goes into her sleeve. The night too dark to tell the color. She brings her other hand around and it's the same style as the right. She goes quiet and only the wind can now be heard.

Suddenly, she throws the bell and Tenchi easily catches it.

"Ryoko."

Tenchi looks up at her. She still has her head held up, eyes closed.

"That's my name," she says as she lowers her head to 'look' at Tenchi before her eyes open, revealing the same yellow glowing eyes from before.

"Ryoko then," Tenchi feels his danger senses kick in. Suddenly, small orange orbs appear around 'Ryoko.' They spin around her before spreading out and floating over their small area of the roof. Tenchi eyes them nervously, "So that freeze dried demon," one of the orbs suddenly pops and Tenchi covers his head and shies away from the point, "is a woman of her late teens to early twenties and I have to admit, a nice looking one who is likely here for a reason I fear I'm not going to like," Tenchi gulps nervously, 'Keep it together. Keep it together. Remember what happened before. Remember what happened to Suzaku.'

Suddenly, Ryoko holds herself, shivering before she began speaking, "It was cold in there and and dark in there."

Tenchi is nervous enough not to answer, lest he say the wrong thing. If Hinata, a Miko in training is any indication, he does NOT want to piss this woman off.

"You know how long I was trapped in that cave?" Tenchi knows that when a woman says something like that, especially with her eyes closed, you do not answer that rhetorical question. "It was several hundred years. I didn't like it. I didn't like it all."

Then her eyes open up, zeroing in on Tenchi. There is anger there. Powerful anger.

"All I want is revenge!"

Tenchi goes to his defense. Like he has a chance in a dirty fight with a demon. Yeah right.

"Heyyy! It's not my fault!" he angrily glares back up at her.

"No?" Ryoko responds and Tenchi misses the warning there for some reason.

"No! No way! It was my ancestor," Tenchi protests his innocence without thinking, "Some guy named Yosho!"

"I don't care," is Ryoko's immediately response and Tenchi is immediately on guard as the woman lifts her hand and suddenly, all the orbs begin to return to her in streams. Once all gathered, Ryoko closes her hand into a fist and the light forms into a three part cylindrical blade of pure orange light that had a length of a meter or more for the top part hovering just over a small orb near the woman's hand and at least half a foot for the bottom and Tenchi realizes his folly and blames either his uncle or his grandpa for that. "I just need to let out all my anger on you, right now!"

With that declared, Ryoko hovers into the air, bringing her sword into a two handed position for a powerful downward overhead slash.

Tenchi dodges and the explosion on the roof is startling as the concrete buckles and rips apart. The woman's speed and angle didn't seem to have that power behind it. Well… There is a nice new hole in the roof. The Lord Governor, a man who likes peace and quiet, is going to be pissed.

Of course, right now, Tenchi spots an orange bolt of light that he barely side steps as he starts running. The sound of it passing through the air sounds not unlike a hypersonic artillery shell. The explosion close to a 40mm grenade launcher.

"Why me? It's not fair!" Tenchi shouts as he tries to think of a plan to get away from the demon woman, even as she shoots more orange energy bolts from her hands. Explosions barely a step behind him. Somehow, he gets the feeling she's also pissed about what happened in the cave and what's to toy with him a little.

She laughs maniacally before stopping her shooting spree and hovering a good foot in the air and going after Tenchi. Soon, Ryoko is next to the running boy, blade in hand.

"What's the matter Ten-chi?" she asks before taking a diagonal swing at him.

Tenchi ducks, but one of the roof ventilators is hit and easily cut in two.

But even as the cut section slides down, he's on his feet and running. He needs to catch her in a way she'll not be expecting. That means, he needs to keep her having fun with him until he can get his attack in.

Suddenly she's right next to him again, "You'll going to have to run a heck of alot faster than that, Earth-ling."

'Earthling!?' Tenchi thinks as he quickens his pace and she lets him get away to the rubble where he starts digging around for something. 'She called me Earthling. Why would a demon call me that?'

Finding what he wants, he pulls it out. It's a piece of rebar steel, severed to about a meter and half in length with a chunk of concrete on one end. It could be used as a makeshift hammer.

'Only aliens from space should be calling me that… Right?'

"Okay, now I'm ready," in reality he isn't. He holds his makeshift weapon like a sword. Not like he knows what a hammer is supposed to be held as. He sees Ryoko make a come gesture. He still toying with him good. He now has his attack plan, now only if he can achieve, "Ready or not, here I come!"

With a battlecry, Tenchi charges across the roof and swings. Just as he knew from the start, Ryoko effortly catches it with one hand. She then, quite playfully, throws him backwards back towards the rubble pile.

He promptly lands on his back, but gets back up quickly and with a couple of wild swings, charges.

Ryoko begins to lazily lift into the air, when Tenchi releases his weapon on a swing and she's forced to cut it. The effort is almost mocking, as she cuts it into fours as it lands behind her. But she's holding still and Tenchi makes his real attack.

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Ryoko shouts, taking off, as Tenchi grabs and with all of his might pulls her obi right off down.

Tenchi successfully removes even as he falls a good three meters or so. He manages to land well and cheers his victory as Ryoko tries to keep her dress closed. But the wind picks up as well and Tenchi discovers he took something else as well. Especially given the view he's getting as Ryoko panics and closes her legs and holds onto her skirt.

"This is not going to end well for me," as he realizes he's also holding Ryoko's surprisingly pink, with even a bowtie, panties. 'Did they even have panties several hundred years ago? Well… if I'm right, then they still do.'

"You… You…" Ryoko is feeling humiliated in her great comeback. Well… Maybe she's getting ahead of herself, but for the moment, she doesn't care as she glares down at the boy beneath her, "YOU PERVERT!"

"I knew it," Tenchi states as he starts running again, as more orange bolts come flying down from the air.

Tenchi manages to race across the roof and into the stairwell access hut. Just as he enters, a number of bolts hit and explode the concrete segment like a bunker being destroyed by heavy artillery.

The explosions are enough to toss Tenchi over the railing. Fortunately, he he falls only two landings and lands on some stairs. Then he starts rolling down the stairs and landings.

Meanwhile, Ryoko finishes pulling her panties back up and is tying her obi back on.

"Hey!" she calls jovially once more at her small victory, "Try not to hurt yourself!" her voice takes on a strong, promising deep edge to it, "I'll like to do that for you."

Then leaping over the edge, she hovers and phases through the structure like a ghost on the hunt.

XXXX

Tenchi hits the wall. Having tumbled out of the stairwell and into one of the hallways. He immediately begins to sit up and shake it off when he spots Ryoko's appearing and disappearing shadow on the landing wall's above him.

Getting up and starting to run, Tenchi spots an open door and immediately enters and quietly closes the sliding door. He immediately holds his breath and moves to hide behind something large and away from the door. If he stays put, as previous experience has taught him, he could get stabbed or shot through the doorway.

As he listens, he can hear Ryoko's footsteps. They are calm and deliberate. She's searching for him. As he listens from his hiding place, he hears her steps fade off into the distance. No doubt she's concentrating hard on finding him. Her own senses razor sharp for one mistake he could make.

As Tenchi begins to formulate a new plan, the last one had worked to some degree. When had held her, grabbing at her obi like he had, she had tried to throw him off. Yet her strength in that moment had been no more than a normal woman. So if he could surprise her again and this time get a good hold on her, there is a good chance he could subdue Ryoko until he can figure out what to do with her.

'After all, there's got to be some kind of law against her being… here?' Tenchi's thoughts are interrupted by a familiar smell. 'Gas fumes?!'

Tenchi carefully moves about in the room, keeping low and there, before his eyes, is the hole in the roof right down into this classroom and it's one of the chemisty rooms. Which means he's in a literal ticking time bomb. For there, in the rubble on the floor, is a busted station with gas being ejected into the room from severed pipes.

"Great," Tenchi hisses, "I first better plan to get out of here and into another room."

The dark haired boy begins to quietly try to walk out of the chemistry room before the fumes are somehow ignited. The last thing he wants to be, is blown up. Because then, Hinata is really going to kill him.

But then…

"Ten-chi," Ryoko's voice fills the room and Tenchi is startled by it.

Looking around quickly, Tenchi doesn't see her. But she had shown several abilities up on the roof as well. So where could she be? Will she first try to seek revenge? Yeah, she will. Question is, which one? On Yosho or himself for what they each did to her? Woman like what he was seeing from Ryoko could be like that.

"She's here, but where?" Tenchi begins moving for the door again, the hissing of the broken gas pipes a constant reminder.

"Ten-chi."

"Erhh!" Tenchi stops again, looking around and eyeing that busted pipe. With a deep gulp he takes another look around and there she is. Head, shoulder and hand sticking through the whiteboard at the front of the class. Already on edge, Tenchi panics and backs up into the far wall despite having been expecting that. The smile and generally false friendliness she has tells him, he is so dead.

Deciding that right now, being scared witless is acceptable, Tenchi attempts to bolt, only for a stool to suddenly cut him off as its legs are buried into the concrete.

Moving completely through the wall, Ryoko begins to form her weapon. Somehow, immediately, they aren't blown to pieces. Tenchi files that tidbit away for a moment when he knows he's not about to die.

"School's in session and it's about time to start today's lesson," Ryoko rhymes as she approaches her query.

"Stop that! There's leaking gas! You'll start a fire!" Tenchi panickedly tells Ryoko who stops and looks rather concern for a moment.

"Gas?" then she looks to Tenchi, completely confused, "What is gas?"

'You have to be kidding me!' Tenchi thinks before he realizes that Hinata is going to kill him for dying! "All man! I'm going to be killed twice over! First by a gas explosion from a demon woman from space and then by my angry younger sister! If I knew this was going to happen, I wouldn't have done all of that extra homework over vacation and worked so hard and saved so hard either!"

Ryoko meanwhile is looking rather embarrassed as she can feel the sweat drops forming in her hair at the surprising actions of a boy she's about to kill. It really is embarrassing. Seriously. Can he stop all those weird stances and poses already? It is totally creeping her out.

Then, in a moment of clarity and, later admittedly, stupidity, Tenchi has an idea.

"I think I may just have an idea to get me out of this," he turns to the utterly befuddled Ryoko who had released her weapon and just blinks at the suddenly calm boy.

'Hope this works,' Tenchi thinks mentally before suddenly spinning around and giving it his all, "Hey! What's that outside of the window!"

Then he realizes how stupid of an idea it is, "I just used the oldest trick in the book and it's not going to work," but then he turns to see, much to his surprise and relief, Ryoko is looking eagerly out the window, trying to find whatever Tenchi had spotted.

"Uoh? I want to see. What is it?" her voice surprisingly cute and adorable. As is her innocent looks to see what 'it' might be.

Tenchi, a bit embarrassed by how this has gone manages to slide out of the room real quiet like and carefully.

"Hm? Huh? I don't want to missing anything."

Scrambling away on all fours, Tenchi starts his escape once he's in the hallway.

"I can't believe she had fallen for that!" he gets up right and starts running like crazy, "I don't know who's stupider at the moment! Me or her!"

XXXX

Back in the room, Ryoko finishes looking as best she could before turning to speak with Tenchi, "No I don't see any… thing… Gasp! Huh? What?!" as she finds herself alone and the seat of the stool suddenly breaks from three of its legs to hang on just one.

XXXX

Back with Tenchi, he's really pumping as hard as he can to escape the inevitable explosion. Literally.

XXXX

Looking furious and angry, Ryoko hunches over. Her face a mask of anger and fury. Energy crackles about her form and hands as she growls out, "I'll get him!"

Of course, she forgets that Tenchi mentioned something called 'Gas.' Through her charge build up, the hissing gas pipe has electrical energy discharges from her come close to it. Close enough for the inevitable explosion Tenchi has been expecting.

XXXX

The chemistry room is immediately blown outwards. The outside windows and the outside concrete reinforced walls explode out. The inside windows and concrete walls are blown across the hallway and take out the exterior inside walls and windows. Every window for a hundred meters is blown out and walls buckled and collapse as a fireball from the leaking gas shoots down the length of the hallways.

Additionally, other gas pipes rupture and detonate, creating immediate secondary explosions that feed the original primary. The roof, with the hole already in it, had survived the initial explosion. The secondary explosion on the other hand blows the roof open. The floor buckles and collapses as well, dropping down to the next floor.

Emergency systems, damaged already by Ryoko, failure to immediately engage.

Soon, a full third of the building is afire from one end to the other.

Surviving systems somehow kick on, engaging themselves, and manage to temporary stem the flow of flames.

Tenchi, in the meantime, has been blasted down the hallway he was running and sent tumbling. He manages to come to a stop and shield his face and head as sprinklers engage before him. Once things calm down and the pressure waves have ended, Tenchi manages to shakily get back to his feet.

"Well… There she goes," bring his hands up, "She was kind of cute actually."

Then he claps his hands together a couple of times before realizing what he is doing.

Feeling a tad sensitive, "Old shrine habit," before he begins laughing, but that turns to terror when he sees Ryoko's outline in the smoke and flames heading his way.

With a panicked cry, Tenchi turns and starts running for the next stairwell as Ryoko emerges, more than very pissed off and covered in soot and dust.

She coughs a couple of times before she starts yelling, "HEY! That's no way to treat a lady!"

"Now she sounds like she's from Osaka," Tenchi shakes his head from his hiding place. But at the same time, "I'm still in big trouble because she's alive again!"

With a battle cry, Ryoko starts racing down the hallway, flying with intent to find and beat Tenchi senseless before doing anything else. But as she does so, Tenchi discovers something of importance.

The emergency override for the bulkhead hatches.

"Talk about convenient, but will it be enough," Tenchi smashes the glass and hits the control.

Even with her battlecry going and the speed by which she is too, Ryoko can't react fast enough and…

-BOUMM!-

...She impacts the suddenly dropped bulkhead.

Tenchi chances a peek and then turns back. The bulkhead had slowed her down. But if he had to guess, once she's back on her feet and the cobwebs cleared, she's going to be more than a little angry with him for dropping that in her face.

Even if she went through it.

As Tenchi starts down the stairs, Ryoko manages to pull herself up with a groan. This boy is proving both lucky and resilient.

"When I get my ha-IR! Look at me! I'm a mess."

Tenchi stops briefly at hearing Ryoko's cry about her hair and then how she's a mess. Not taking anymore than a moment to process that, he moves on.

"That's right, there's a mirror there, isn't there?"

XXXX

A couple of minutes later and a lot of silent running, leading to wonder when he joined His Imperial Majesty's Navy?, Tenchi successfully reaches his classroom where he left all of his belongings.

Gently sliding the door open and entering, the young teenage boy heads for his desk. A moment later, he's collapsed in his seat and breathing hard. Placing his left arm on the desk, he drops his head onto it and begins to calm down and regain his breath. At the same time, he is trying to conclude how to get through Ryoko's defenses and defeat her, because she's as tenacious as the Witch of the Empire.

And he can never forget just how tenacious she could be.

Both her and her angelic younger sister.

"Okay, okay…" he breathes, "Checklist, starting with she has incredible superpowers and I don't. But that doesn't mean she's unbeatable if what happened on the roof is any indication and again in that chemistry room along with the emergency bulkhead door. So far, so good. So... soo…" moving his arm forward and resting his chin on his desk, Tenchi is at a quandary, "What do I do?"

He was only able to take advantage of what he can guess was her being playful and honestly confused. While she said she wanted to let out her…

"She knows that name," Tenchi recalls. "How does she know it? And for that matter…"

Tenchi feels a realization coming to him. It could be that Ryoko actually doesn't want to hurt him. She may be mad about…

Tenchi bites down on his tongue, feeling the copper taste of blood in his mouth to keep from shouting out. Reaching into his bag, he pulls out the sword hilt. There is little doubt that this could be part of the problem. What had happened back in the cavern, why he and Hinata had felt a level of comfort there…

"So Ryoko used to watch over us somehow?" Tenchi concludes, realization dawning on him, "So she's more mad at you and Yosho than me. That explains a whole lot," tightening his grip on the sword, "You're not native to Earth either I bet. So that means that a blade that can cut through rock could easily be a blade of light."

Similar to that movie series about an evil space empire being overthrown by a group of brave rebels who use a weapon called a Lightblade to fight the evil empire's own dark warriors that some exiled Britannian movie director made in Australia.

"So you're a lightblade that is real, huh?" now that he's examining it, the hilt has no place to put a blade into it. Just two prongs and Tenchi is willing to wager on his luck, that the prongs are some kind of emitter. "If everyone in space is like Ryoko or close to it, little wonder why they would have been seen as divine beings or devils."

Now armed with that knowledge, it is a question of will the Sword of Yosho obey a new master? One that even though he's of his bloodline, is not Yosho himself? That is a question. Yet it is a question that needs to be answered.

Unfortunately, Tenchi knows better than to try it. Ryoko has him outclassed every which way. Without extensive training, he'll never come near her. His only hope is to surprise her yet again.

Collecting his belongings, Tenchi begins to think of a plan.

XXXX

Meanwhile, Ryoko had finished cleaning herself up.

"You are one beautiful demon," she leaps back from the mirror, clapping her hands together to get rid of any excess dust, and then strikes a pose, winking at her own reflection for her own amusement and confirmation. Can't be all filthy during her big comeback? Especially not to some kind. Then she shifts her stance, looking off to her right as though remembering something, but only says, "Let's go."

Ryoko then floats up and back, before phasing from sight and reappearing, hovering outside the building. She floats further back, then swings herself around to face a section of the school currently not on fire. There, hovering more than 10 meters in the air, she waits. Sooner or later, Tenchi would give himself away.

She knows that he's good at sneaking around, but has a tendency to let things get to him when he gets excited.

For a moment, she wonders how that would go in bed as she rubs her thighs together just thinking about finally having some sex after several hundred years.

What can she say? She's been alone, in a dark cavern, for centuries with no one and nothing to do or to deal with that damn itch that reappeared when she finally got her body restored again.

Seriously.

Couldn't that bastard have waited to let her have a little fun before sending her on the ill-fated mission?

XXXX

Tenchi carefully grabs his bag. He has everything packed. Though he honestly doubts that he'll be needing it. Given that half the school is ablaze or damaged from smoke. Still… Better to be safe than sorry.

Just then, the fire alarm goes off and he jumps and crashes into several things, knocking desks and chairs over and discovering that one of the girls in their class has been hiding a picture of herself in her underwear with 'To Tenchi' and little 'x' and 'o' symbols on it.

Carefully, he puts Momeji's picture back, but suddenly sees a shadow and moves to hide and is forced to hold onto the picture.

If Hinata finds it, she might get the wrong idea and he knows how shy and nervous Momeji can get.

'Why me?' he wonders, silently cursing when he finds his pony tail caught between a joint on a desk. A gentle pull and some working of the metal and he's free.

'So Ryoko is hovering outside waiting and I have the damn fire alarm trying to scare me to death before she actually considers it,' Tenchi sighs as he turns a glare on the nearest alarm. 'Of course, it has to ring when half the school has to be on fire.'

"Well it has to be one of those kinds of days," Tenchi turns, his eyes a bit watery from smoke drifting through the halls, before something clicks in his mind and he turns back to the alarm.

The ringing bell is set above a manual panel. In addition to the panel, is a small light. That light is currently red and providing illumination to the local of the panel. But it isn't that reason he's looking at it.

"Wait a minute…" Tenchi recalls Ryoko shifting her palm up, exposing a jewel on her wrist before her hand started to glow, it had been glowing. "That has to be the source of her powers. Now that I think about it, the legend says 'Three Gems for Power.' So without her power, she might be more closer to me in, huh?"

Tenchi had brought up Yosho's sword and tapped the pommel against his chin. Doing so, though, allowed him to make a rather unfortunate discovery. Three gems were embedded in the pommel. Three gems with the same coloration as Ryokos. On top of that, the earrings she is wearing has similar gms hanging from them, of the same color too.

"So Ryoko has more than one?" Tenchi sighs when he catches sight of something else. "That's!"

Reaching down and picking it up, it is clear that Hinata had been looking for him. Like him with Yosho's sword, Hinata had not parted herself from Kasumi's staff grip. Yet holding both next to one another, Tenchi can see that both are the same make, but have considerable differences.

"I bet Kasumi's staff is collapsible and if it is much the same as Yosho's sword, it should be able to take Ryoko's gem into it and hold it there," Tenchi concludes with a smile, "I might not be able to use it directly, but I bet I can imprison the gem inside of it at the right time. Now I have a plan of action. I can beat her! It's easy!"

As soon as Tenchi shouts that, he realizes his mistake, "Crap!" he lunges for the window, smashing the Fire System Override in the Classroom and turning on all of the school's fire systems.

Just because he's in a battle, doesn't mean he wants the school to burn down.

No matter how much of a dream that is for half the school!

XXXX

When Ryoko heard Tenchi's voice shout that he can beat her and that it is easy, she smirks.

"Easy," she repeats and sends her most powerful attack of the night, so strong, it creates three ripple rings at its point of origin as it travels so fast through Earth's air, that it actually silence itself.

XXXX

Tenchi manages to get out of a window seconds before the classroom behind him explodes. He starts running, cursing himself for being such an idiot. Now he needs to relocate and lay low long enough to lay a trap with surprise as his ally because of his outburst.

Unfortunately, he should be looking forward. He will admit that in hindsight. Though he won't deny that when saw Ryoko's breasts jiggle from his impact with the woman, he enjoyed it.

"So they're brown ankle high boots and the skirt does go down to the ankle length at its pointed ends," Tenchi summarizes as he begins working on a plan, "And the vest is a light shade of pink, that no doubt is going to have red dye here shortly."

Giggling, Ryoko's response is full of confidence, "Don't be so scared sweetiepie," Ryoko brings up her hand and begins to gather energy, "I won't hurt you TOO MUCH!" she forms her sword and slashes towards Tenchi, only for Tenchi to instinctively drop his bag and bring up Yosho's sword.

'This is it Tenchi!' the screaming boy thinks before it happens.

A dazzling blue light fills the air and force Ryoko away from the source.

Ryoko reappears a few meters away before the light bursts into a stream of energy that rises up into the heavens before the Sword of Yosho begins to rest, hovering in the air before Tenchi.

'Trust in your name. Remember what it means.'

Tenchi could swear he hears his grandfather's voice. But he also realizes that the Sword of Yosho is named Tenchi. The Sword of Heaven and Earth, the Tenchi-ken.

"Thank you grandfather," Tenchi reaches out to take hold of the sword as Ryoko has recovered.

"Impressive," she forms a series of energy orbs, "Catch!" then blasts out a torrent of beams and bolts at Tenchi.

But the field provided by the Tenchi-ken deflects all of the shots that tear up the earth and fence behind them. A few even reach the burning building, tearing through concrete and flames, parting smoke and revealing the level of damage for the briefest of moments.

Then Tenchi has hold of the sword and a blade of blue light appears, just as Ryoko attacks with her own reformed sword, "I've got'cha!"

Tenchi calmly looks on from behind the Tenchi-ken's blue blade, "You have who now?"

Once more in that cute voice of her's, Ryoko complains, "Hey! No fair cheating!"

Tenchi rolls his eyes, "So says the monster that held all of the cards thus far," then Tenchi attacks, catching the surprised Ryoko off guard with a series of well timed and positioned sword slashes and even a thrust she barely evades with a jump parry as she tries to defend and counterattack before the two of them lock blades and Tenchi realizes he should have probably picked his words more carefully.

"Monster?!" the look on Ryoko's face is not one he ever wants to see again.

Taking her blade out of the lock as though she isn't going to use it, which is precisely what she intends, Tenchi finds himself trying to balance himself before Ryoko's fist meets his face and sends him back into an intact part of the fence while she looks down, trembling in anger.

"Tell me what makes you call a pretty young lady like me a m-m-mo-mon-monster!" she's already stomping towards Tenchi, so furious that she can barely get out the word 'monster.'

"Oh come on!" Tenchi complains back, "You walk through fire, you walk through walls, you rip holes in the roof, and you can even fly!"

Still stomping angrily over to Tenchi, Ryoko responds, "Very good reasons, but not good enough!"

Ryoko then steps on a piece of maintenance equipment. It looks like one of the rakes for the school or it could be a piece of something else. Whatever it is, doesn't matter. Ryoko swings her right arm around to bash it the side, but inside, it partially wraps around her arm, stalling her for a second to be rid of it.

Suddenly, Tenchi feels the Tenchi-ken take control to end this fight.

Dashing the short distance, or rather pulled it by the Tenchi-ken, Tenchi watches as Ryoko reacts in surprise at Tenchi's sudden attack. Ryoko starts to pull back, but she's unable to move fast enough. The Tenchi-ken moves to remove her right hand at the wrist from her arm. But at the last second, Tenchi is able to take control.

The Tenchi-ken misses, just barely, but before Ryoko can process what is happening, she feels pain lance through her arm as Tenchi stabs the Tenchi-ken into her arm and reveals Kasumi's staff.

"Let's see how well you fight a gem down!" Tenchi then places Kasumi's staff onto the Tenchi-ken.

The edges of the grip grew out and revealed a staff. The staff's design yielded great light and catching the lights of the fires and the Tenchi-ken, made it glow like a sun. With a smirk, Tenchi realizes it must be named the Hinata-bō.

"I may not be able to use Hinata, but I can still call upon it to aid me in taking away your gem!" and with that, Ryoko's gem is pulled from her wrist as Tenchi concentrates and Ryoko's screams and tries to free her arm, but to no avail.

The gem appears in the beam of the Tenchi-ken, "Not again!" Ryoko wails seeing it, and both watch as it travels the beam's length to the hilt.

Once there, rather than be locked in the pommel of the Tenchi-ken, it is locked away in the grip of the Hinata-bō instead. It appears, sealing itself towards the top of the guard. With a flash of light, it is locked by Hinata and cannot be freed except by Hinata's command.

"Now for the others!" Tenchi declares, as Ryoko twists her arm and allows her hand to be cut off instead, backing away before tripping and falling to the ground, defeated.

In mid air, Tenchi sees Ryoko's severed hand catch fire and instantly burn away. Regaining control he pulls the two weapons apart, seeing both revert to their standby phases. Tenchi can tell Ryoko is defeated. Even she can tell as she hiccups a bit.

"Another battle lost," she bemoans facing the starry night above, "The story of my life," before bringing her right hand up, only to find it is gone.

And more importantly, as the wind blows, she discovers what she tripped on. Looking down at herself, she can see from just above her bellybutton down, her clothes are cut wide open. She's sitting on her bottom, on what's left of her obi, skirt, and panties, showing off most of her body. Her face heating up as this could be easily one of her top worst defeats ever. If not the top.

"Sorry!" Ryoko looks up to see Tenchi taking his shirt off and then placing it over her exposed body. "I didn't want to hurt you actually," Tenchi explains immediately, surprised to see no blood from the rather grievous wound. "I didn't mean to cut off, I mean…" standing up real quick and bowing formally, "I'm sorry. I lost control of the Tenchi-ken in that moment."

Ryoko surprised by her opponent's honesty and realizing that he must have lead her into a trap without her knowing or realizing at that critical moment, only smiles and giggles before revealing that she still has some power, even without the gems.

Creating a small blue light above her left pointer finger, she sweeps her hand forward to the empty space on her right arm. In doing so, a wave of green particles follow and then, hand flat against the space her right hand and wrist had been. Dropping them to her waist, she pulls her right arm and left hand apart. There, before Tenchi's amazed eyes, Ryoko's right hand begins to reappear.

"Ta-da!" she smiles, revealing that she has her right hand again.

"Whoah…" Tenchi gently takes it as his wide eyes goes over it, Ryoko giggling the whole time. "Even without the gems, you have amazing power Ryoko."

Ryoko only giggles as the boy gently touches and confirms that there is flesh and blood there. It is an ability he thought he would never see. Sure. He once saw a lizard grow its tail back. But this? This is something else altogether!

Then a thought comes to mind, "Uh… Your clothes?" he worried and Ryoko only blushes deeper, "SORRY!"

With a resigned sigh, Ryoko admits though, "I can fix them given time. But I have to admit, you've outdone me Tenchi. I can admit to that," then giggling a bit suddenly, "Though truthfully," Ryoko blushes in a way she knows is out of character for herself as she gently wraps her arms around Tenchi's neck, "I don't mind that it is you," this causes Tenchi to blush as well, "I know you didn't mean it and that if you wanted too, you only had to ask."

Tenchi cannot form words, but he doesn't need to. Ryoko lifts herself up enough to kiss Tenchi on the cheek. Yes, she wants to do his lips, they both would like that. But right now… Well…

Tenchi watches as Ryoko begins to sink into the ground, "Maybe next time tiger," she pecks him on the cheek once more and disappears.

"Ryoko," Tenchi breathes out before the school explodes behind Tenchi.

With a series of curses, Tenchi collects his things, gets his shirt back on, and leaves the area in a hurry.

Just because he and his grandfather are on good terms with the Lord Governor and that his uncle does work for the Lord Governor and that the Lord Governor's 8-year old daughter favors him, doesn't mean that the Lord Governor will believe this crazy night!

XXXX

With a yawn, a tired young woman is driving down the highway on her vacation. She's trying to find a good spot to spend the night. Somewhere preferably Britannian in this district.

Her yellow eyes scan the dark area outside and sees a what appears to be a fire. The skyline is alight in that area with bellowing black clouds. The late night and knowing she's nowhere near an important Britannian district, she can't help but consider it an accident. This is what she is further lead to believe when police and fire units race by without the military escort she knows back in the Tokyo Settlement or anywhere to the north of here.

As such, she's just a tired, lost tourist. Flicking some bluish teal colored long hair over her shoulder and getting it out of her eyes, she sees a young man trying to flag her down. From his clothes and appearance, a local school boy. She finds that suspicious as she gently slows down and yet pulls out her pistol, getting it caught on her purse for a moment before freeing it, she makes sure to keep it hidden.

Though her wallet tumbles from her purse as she frees and hides her weapon. The wallet opens up to reveal her in her military uniform on her picture ID with the name and caption of 'Knight Lieutenant, Dame Villetta Nu.'

Villetta brings her car to a stop and opens the window halfway to the relief of the young teenage boy. Though she notes his eyes are more round than usual. So he has some European ancestry in him. Other than dark hair and purple eyes that stand out and remind her of the Emperor, he looks like a normal boy. A bit handsome too, a very treasonous part of her mind tells her, but she keeps her face neutral.

"Hello miss, sorry for the bother, but can you help me?" he speaks in clear English, obviously having properly studied the language.

"Depends?" Villetta eyes him up and down, noting a bruise forming on one cheek and that he looks like he's been in a fight and smells of smoke. "What do you need help with?"

"I was out late with some friends and if I don't get home soon, my younger sister is going to kill me," he bows deeply, "So can you please give me a lift home? Or even just close enough that I can save time and hopefully survive her wrath!"

The boy does look quite nervous and from the looks of it, it isn't because he looks like he was in a fight and near something that caught fire.

Like say the big fire she noticed earlier.

Though she'll bet that whatever happened, will add to his woes once his sister gets a hold of him.

She mulls it over for a moment and then decides on something, "You know any Britannian specific and only hotels in this area?"

Seeing the young man look up with blinking eyes before realization sets in, "Oh! You must be from out of town."

"Yes I am," Villetta states, "I've come down from the Tokyo Settlement," she smirks when she sees him recoil slightly, "on vacation and I appear a bit lost in this region."

"Tokyo Settlement," the boy breathes, "I hear that place is rife with violence and gaff. The Lord Governor warns all of his citizens to go nowhere near unless we have too on business," Tenchi suddenly stands up straight, nodding his head, "He says that to all of the citizens, even the Britannians ones. I knew someone, a Britannian girl who went up there once, fortunately, some maid was able to save her from some Britannian men. She wanted to attend Ashford Academy, but will now go no further away than the fiefdom's borders."

Villetta winces at hearing that. All of that. Unfortunately, she knows it to be true and why she's on vacation in the first place. To get away from it all.

"Unfortunately," the boy begins again, pulling Villetta's attention back to him, "The Lord Governor has no provisions for Britannian-Only I'm afraid."

Villetta curses mentally at that. What kind of lord forgets to do that?

"He believes that since Japan is now a part of the Empire, we will be Britannians some day and so he wants the transition from one nationality to next to be smooth and gentle," Villetta actually blinks at that. In truth, it makes sense. She can suppose that the boy said Japan as many might say that of other long held territories. So she can overlook it.

"I see," with a sigh, she'll likely have to get used to dealing with local commoners being a lot more closer than she thought or would like.

"But let me think for a moment?" the boy continues, trying to think, but shivers in the cold outside, so Villetta opens her window a bit more and turns her heat up, "Thank you ma'am, that's very nice of you."

"You're providing me with directions," she smiles back at the boy who smiles easily back, 'Just don't get used to such kindness Eleven. Sense it may make. Yet, it will be years before Area Eleven is a proper territory of the Empire.'

"Oh no," the boy realizes something.

"What is it?" Villetta looks around carefully, hoping not be ambushed, her grip tightening on her weapon.

The boy looks sheepish, "You arrived at a bad time. I just remembered that there is a large convention in town in the running up to some summit about Sakuradite," the boy looks very apologetic and Villetta suddenly remembers being warned about where she shouldn't go unless she plans ahead of time.

"Dammit!" she curses, "I'm in that town of all places!"

"Unfortunately ma'am," the boy looks apologetic, but then he has an idea, "If I may recommend, my uncle is employed on occasion by the Lord Governor, so our home is very nice. Traditional Japanese, but we do have some beds and spare items for guests. Even a spare toilet and bath as well for guests. There is no one currently staying and if there are, I can ask a classmate whose mother knows of a small inn an hour's drive outside of town that might have a room open."

'An hour's drive?!' Villetta mentally winces, but the Eleven admits that his family has done some work for the local lord. She could tell he is being honest and well… 'Screw it,' she thinks.

"Very well, I will take you up on your hospitality, um?" Villetta begins, hoping to get some information.

"Oh yes!" the boy bows, "I am Tenchi, Tenchi Masaki."

Nodding her head, "Knight Lieutenant, Dame Villetta Nu," and the boy comes up in surprise, "I hope that will not be a problem?"

The boy instead smiles, "Not at all Dame Nu! It would be the honor of my family to host you even for one night! The Lord Governor speaks well of Margrave Gottwald, saying he is a fine knight and loyal officer to the Empire! A former Palace Guardsman I understand. It would be our honor!"

Surprised by the shift in the boy's body language and attitude, as well as his knowledge, then he must know of her and Jeremiah, but apparently, not that they are Purists.

Nevertheless, she slides her weapon out of sight and tells him to get in the passenger door. She's tired. He's clearly proving to be harmless. What sort of trouble could happen?

Little did she know, she would kick herself in the rear in a couple of hours for that thought.

And find her entire view on life shattered and put back together in a way that she never expected.

XXXX

Villetta Nu had at least found herself mildly entertained upon entering the Masaki residence.

The home itself has some semblance to traditional Japanese philosophy and architecture. Simple, two story, with a small addition to one side. It is bordered by a stone wall up to two and half meters, possibly three meters tall. The wall is topped by wooden panels, giving it a pleasing look to the eye and appears to also act as a roof for the wall itself. Not a bad idea as it appears to stop both intruders and wear from nature. The same of the simple wooden gateway that lead inside. The name Masaki written in both Japanese and English hanging next to the gates. She had to admit, the traditional local language gave it character.

There's a small fish pond with a small bridge over it. A stone path leading to the front door from the gateway. A simple wooden box for the mail and other post. Even the morning newspaper.

A small garage had been added at a later date that also had a stone walkway and continued the design of the house. Currently, it is used for guests and storage. Mostly the latter. Though there is enough room for her car to sit in it comfortably. Unlike some of her rank and stature, she decided on something smaller, less obvious for when she went on vacation.

Also far more reliable with easy to access parts on hand at most garages.

She has to admit, the local auto makers know their trade. Then again, she is talking about Britannian companies. She and Jeremiah and the other Purists never really liked those bastards to begin with. They were either connected or smart enough not to get into trouble. Usually both.

Though, once they had entered, her opinion of young Tenchi Masaki's heritage had increased when they were met by his irate younger sister who was tearing into him and a few strips off of him.

Said young girl looks far more Britannian than her brother does. Their skin is heavily tanned, perhaps also somewhat dyed. Coupled with what is clearly a strong effort, the two are able to make themselves look less Britannian. Which in turns leads to questions that she figures she already knows the answers to.

'Some nobles need to remember to keep their pants up and skirts down if they don't want mix breed children,' Villetta had thought at seeing the two arguing.

The sandy brunette's violet purple eyes had eventually gone from being that of a wrathful goddess to that of an inquisitive and cautious young girl. After introducing herself at Hinata Masaki, she had called their uncle in. The man who appeared surprised her.

Nobuyuki Masaki has a pencil thin mustache, frameless rectangular glasses over purple eyes, his jet black hair is parted down the middle and closely trimmed along the sides with two strands from his bangs hanging out over his forehead, and with a face that is almost easy to forget.

She really can't say his face is rugged. But it is sort of like that. His cheeks are sharp and at the bones down, cut a 'V' down to his chin. His ears are a little flared out and he has eyes that are somewhat more longer than the norm for Elevens. Yet that is offset by being a bit wider towards the middle.

He's colored more darkly than his nephew. Showing him to be naturally closer to a bronze-tan color. His shoulders are a bit broad as well and he has a medium build and is actually surprisingly tall, perhaps near Jeremiah in height.

He's also wearing a brown button up office shirt with a red and yellow striped tie and dark brown office pants. He has the sleeves rolled up revealing muscle tone that isn't what one might expect of an office worker. Indeed, his eyes are calculating and studying. His feet are positioned for a quick take down, in much the same way she has seen police officers stand. She wonders if he had been with the Eleven's police forces prior to the invasion and simply became an architect afterwards?

Would make sense, yet, despite appearing as such, he clearly hasn't been active for some time.

After introductions were made, the man and his niece had a change of disposition and had proven quite welcoming. The young Hinata Masaki had taken it upon herself to look after the lady knight. As such, it hadn't taken long for her clothes to be laid out for tomorrow, a few towels and a robe to be provided for her to bathe, and a bath drawn. Even her dirty clothes were in the laundry already, ready to be nice and clean for tomorrow.

Quite the welcoming family.

The uncle had pretty much made sure that Tenchi and himself would stay on the other side of the home so as not to bother her. Though Hinata had agreed to help her with a few things and be there if needed. Villetta had to admit she is quite surprised by the family's desire to help her. Apparently the local lord did know what he was doing. If this family was already considering themselves to be members of the Empire, its citizens, it would not be long before they would even forget they were an independent country once.

Though she did learn something rather surprising. Not only was the lord a good and honorable man who stuck close to the code and conduct befitting a noble lord of the Empire, but this area in general saw the invasion and subsequent defeat as the result of the Kururugi Clan and their allies to the north. As such, Britannia's overwhelming victory had simply been another change of government to them. There had been only limited fighting nearby and an incident in which a Britannian military force had been wantonly destroying and killing everyone, even other Britannians and members of the invasion forces as well, simply to slate a thirst for blood. They had been defeated by the previous lord, a Japanese lord, who had surrendered peacefully in exchange for being allowed to disband his own forces and destroy their weapons.

Because of what had happened and the embarrassment it had brought, the local invasion commander had agreed. The region had peacefully disarmed and all citizens had taken an oath of loyalty to the Empire in exchange for peace. The lord had also surrendered all pretense of returning to power in the region unless it was so declared by the Empire. Namely, the Emperor.

But instead, the current noble lord governor had been named and the man had brought only continued peace and prosperity to his fiefdom.

Thus a large section of Area 11, with a population of some 7 or 8 million people, is actually devoid of any rebel and terrorist insurgents.

The stability is simply unheard of in other areas, except maybe Hokkaido which has large stretches of empty lands. Very odd that. But welcoming.

Oh so welcoming as she feels Hinata find a knot she did not know she had. The girl has magic fingers and while Villetta is very much the Purist, she can't deny that this girl has the skills of a professional many times her age.

Then, once the knot is done, the girl sprays water over the area. The girl is showing her a traditional style Eleven bath and she has to admit, it feels kind of nice. The idea of showering off the dirt and more before just soaking away. The idea sounds so divine.

"Mmmm," Villetta makes a pleased sound as Hinata finds and deals with another knot. Then comes the soap and hot water, "I have to admit, this is so much nicer than what I typically do. Perhaps I can reconsider having my bathroom enlarged to include this style. Yes! Oh yes! Right there! Mmmm… You are skilled."

Hinata giggles, "Thank you Dame Nu," she continues to help the lady knight, "I must say, it has to be most distressing up north. The Tokyo Settlement does not have the best reputation out of all of the Settlements. In fact, I recall hearing from a friend that those that are publically known to be riddled with crime are far safer than the Tokyo Settlement. No wonder the Emperor has deemed to send skilled knights to it."

"Yes," Villetta slowly opens her eyes a little, some of her good mood lost hearing that. But between what they believed and their regular duties, some of the Purists did seek to bring improved stability and to stamp out crime and corruption in the Tokyo Settlement. None moreso than Jeremiah Gottwald. "It is a difficult duty. Lord Jeremiah does all he can, but he and our knights are a small order compared to what we found. We each do our best and perhaps part of what breeds all is that the old Tokyo Ghettos have not yet been rebuilt."

Villetta could feel Hinata slide off her back and saw the girl collapse to the wooden floor before lifting herself up, "Why not?! If those areas are not rebuilt, it would surely only encourage danger, not only from violence, but illness as well!"

For once in her life, the glorious Empire she was born to and serves so well, is simply not glorious, but vain glorious.

"It is a matter I have no power over, but don't let it be said that we have not more than once said much the same thing," Villetta sees the girl pick herself back up before her towel loosens and although they are both female and Villetta has seen many of her fellow lady knights naked, she has to admit that this girl will mature into a young lady of great beauty.

Nevertheless, the girl in question eeps and covers herself up, "Forgive that display Dame Nu. It was an accident," the girl looks embarrassed, ready for a scolding.

For once more this night, she does not mind, "Do not worry yourself Miss Masaki," Villetta indicates there is no shame or harm, "In the knights and the military, we use shared facilities because it is quick and easy to make a single large room with many shower stalls and even toilets rather than many shower rooms for individuals," with a shrug that shows a bit of her own impressive cleavage, "All military forces do. War is often said to be impersonal. This is simply the fact of life. One, if you are called upon to serve your Emperor and Empire, you will also have to become used too quickly."

Feeling better and nodding, Hinata goes to continue to wash down Villetta's back. Doing so, Hinata notices another knot and goes after it. Villetta only moans before suddenly the whole house begins to shake violently.

"What is that?! An Earthquake?" Villetta turns about, trying to find out.

"I don't think so!" Hinata shouts in panic, "We had a small one about a year and a half ago and it was nothing like this!"

Then a sound that is strange and yet has a familiarity to it catches Villetta's ear as she gets up, heedless of her nudity and runs into the changing room to retrieve her pistol, Hinata trailing after her like a page or squire with at first a towel and then her arms filled with a towel and their clothes.

"An airship this low?" Villetta knows of only a few this brazen and none should be in Area 11 right now, but whatever more she is about to think ends when she looks out a window and a regal and commanding voice shouts down from the craft…

"RYOKO!"

XXXX

Minutes earlier…

Once Hinata had taken Dame Nu to the guest area and would take care of the lady knight's personal things, Tenchi instantly retreats to his bedroom.

Or he tries too anyways.

His Uncle Nobuyuki stops him and for a good half hour reads him the riot act. He, like Hinata, is greatly disturbed by how late he stayed out. Especially without calling or otherwise informing anyone where he went after departing his classroom. Hinata had looked everywhere for him. Even the rooftop, but couldn't find him even there.

Though Tenchi lifted his head in some surprise, he held back to say he had been on the roof the whole time.

Once his uncle is done and has had his discussion with Tenchi, he asks his nephew about the latest project their lord had asked of him. Tenchi has to admit, his uncle is truly a craftsman. The new manor the lord is building for the Viceroy is nearing completion. They had had some difficulty with quality control regarding shipments from the Empire proper and had eventually settled to make localized versions that would be of better character and design. To offset the new costs, only specially made custom items would go into the new manor. Other items would be sold on the open market, increasing the wealth of the region.

There were several specific areas of the new manor that are distinctly Japanese though. One is the large onsen which will have a natural hot spring, the location being a bit too troublesome for normal tourism trade it is hardly a loss to the region. The other is the traditional Japanese styled Archery Range which will include Yumi Bows and Arrows. Another is a tea room that would typically be used for tea ceremony in a Japanese Lord's castle or manor. And finally, a Japanese Sauna and traditional enclosed bath. A few of each in fact.

A lot of the themes would use Western styling, specifically, Roman decorative art and such. Unfortunately, the Euro Universe is putting a hold on trading with Britannia. Little surprise there. Not since that naval skirmish that the Vampire of Britannia started when he belatedly entered EU waters and nearly destroyed a naval base on a small Russian island. In response, other nations have made their displeasure known as well and Britannia was only carrying on internal trade. Thus everything is being done locally and the skilled artisans would likely prove of such skill to such a master artist as the Viceroy.

So, with his opinion given, much to Nobuyuki's delight, Tenchi was released and soon, he is entering his room and switching on his light, "Home at last."

Relieved to be free of Hinata's wrath and his uncle's riot act, Tenchi takes a few deep breathes. He is tired and somewhat beat up, literally. The fight with Ryoko had pretty much leveled his school he bets. There will be questions and he knows damn well that he can't hide from them. But how will he explain Ryoko and what she can do?

Walking over to his bed, Tenchi turns around and just drops onto the edge of it.

Holding up the Tenchi-ken and Hinata-bō, which he still has to return to Hinata and explain about so she can hopefully use it, "This sword sure is powerful and I have little doubt that the staff is too in its own way," Tenchi lets out a sigh as he gazes across his room.

His room is little more than a normal room. A low set bed and a low set bedside drawer with an alarm clock and a pyramid decorative piece. He had a large bookcase with a desk set into it. A small reading lamp on the desk, a drawer to hold his things in it, two cabinets to either side for papers and other items. The wooden chair with a dirty shirt on it. His clothes basket sat near the door. Hinata did most of the laundry, which he thought odd. She should be at that age of not wanting to touch her brother's underwear, but she does it and he occasionally does it as well, doing Hinata's underwear.

In hindsight, the siblings are fairly close that way.

He just hope he doesn't end up becoming uncle papa like in a few of those ecchi books their uncle bought him.

Reading about it is one thing. Doing it is a whole other thing. One Tenchi firmly has no intent on doing.

In fact, he wonders if he has actually read those more than once or twice?

Perverted Uncle.

Other than a baseball bat and glove in one corner and a soccer ball in another, a few track and field awards along with a couple of trophies for baseball and soccer as well as scholarship awards for his grades, Tenchi's room is as normal as can a boy of his age can make it.

Even his shorts from yesterday are laying next to instead of inside the clothes basket. A lone sock next to them as well. And there's one of his detective novels sitting out as well. Next to a model of a Japanese tank and a European warship. He has his own honest opinions about the Imperial Army and Navy. None that he wishes to disclose. Especially not with a knight in the house at the moment. Of course, there are still the models of Knightmare Frames in the room. Including foreign Knightmares and statistical data he has been able to compile over the last few years.

Really… A laptop on the desk… And why is he wanting to turn away from the facts?

Leaning forward, "I wonder what happened to Ryoko? As much as I don't want to admit it, I do want to think about it. For everything that was happening, I really think… But it's over."

Then with a tired yawn in more ways than one, Tenchi stretches and then leans back, promptly falling on his back across his bed.

For a moment, he lays there. Then he realizes that he's not laying flat. He's slightly bent. And there's something under him.

"Hinata and uncle are elsewhere along with Dame Nu," Tenchi says as he feels and finds a form under his blankets. But there is one high possibility, "It couldn't be…"

And as he sits up and then reaches for the top of his comforter, he gulps slightly before drawing it slowly back. There, he sees first that cyan hair color, spikey as he recalls it. Then the bobbed pointed ear, the red gem that is the source of her power hanging like an earring. Continuing down until it down to her waist. Exposed in her teal dress and pink long vest and black obi, is Ryoko sleeping on her side.

Then, with a moan, Ryoko rolls over onto back, shifting her legs and one hand going to rest on his pillow while the other begins a fruitful search for his comforter, but because he still holds it, can't be brought back up. Though that is little trouble. The chief trouble is that her top has opened up. He's amazed that her clothes are whole once more, she did restore part of her sleeve after he cut her hand off after all. But it looks like here, that it had simply become undone and he can see what size of bra she wears, supposing if she ever wore one, given how she was bouncy and he didn't mean her personality or has she kept moving all over the place.

Normally, a guy would panic under the circumstances. Heck, Tenchi feels like panicking. Yet one memory remains strong…

'Lelooouuchh. Nunnnaalllyyy.'

She never once used those against them. No doubt, she had always been that presence. Especially after their grandmother passed away. In fact, looking at her sleeping and peaceful face, he can see her now. A memory of so long ago. Ryoko, standing there on a rock, looking down at him as he reached out and-

Tenchi shook his head. How could he recall being in Japan as an infant?! It couldn't be possible! Could it?

But with a sigh, Tenchi knows that if he wants to keep things peaceful, he best be quick.

Practice born of years, Tenchi has Ryoko's obi and her boots. He quickly sets them to the side. If Ryoko wishes another fight, well… She would have to do so with a handicap.

Though, he might just leave her to sleep in his bed. She couldn't probably use some real sleep. It wouldn't surprise him. Then should he… Go further? Now he feels a panic attack coming on.

And as he wonders what next to do, he feels to arms again circle themselves around his neck and he's gently pulled down and over.

With gentle, but playful yellow eyes, like those of cats… Ryoko leans up to kiss his other cheek before laying back down with a warm, if mischevious smile, "Welcome home Tenchi."

Given what he's feeling and realizing in hindsight that he kind of brought this on himself, Tenchi somehow manages to bring his hands up to clap them twice before having to balance himself and he has to admit…

'If every girl from space is like Ryoko, I don't know what will kill me first. Their powers or their wiles.'

XXXX

Next time on Heavenly Spirit, Earthly Revolt:

From across distant space, a girl in love searches for her to be. Within her tree, timeless sleep. Her guardians, ever protecting, stand a silent vigil. Waiting.

A wait that soon will end.

Soon, the arrival of a new princess from space, seeking her long lost fiance, Yosho, complicates the already complicated matter involving Ryoko. How will Tenchi deal with this newest arrival and the resulting battle between the First Crowned Princess of the Jurai Empire, Ayeka Masaki Jurai, and her archrival Hakubi Ryoko, the Class-SSS Wanted Space Pirate.

"SAY WHAT!?"

"I thought Ryoko was a demon?"

"WAS THAT ANY BETTER?!"

"At least she would be from Earth then."

"You... have a good point there."

"But I will like to know one thing though?"

"Yes?"

"WHY WAS RYOKO PRACTICALLY NAKED IN MY BROTHER'S ROOM?!"

"Little sisters and their priorities, but I can hardly speak."

"I wish I could have filmed Tenchi's first time for the sake of-AAAAAAAHHHHAACCKK!"

"PERVERT/HENTAI!"

Next time… No Need for Complicating Trouble!

"Oh my! I do hope I will not be so much trouble. Not very good manners after all."

XXXX

Okay, I know one guy pointed this out when I shared it with him, but the Tenchi and Hinata scene. I did that to make it look like an incest scene, but you'll note that each of the several references included a follow up where Tenchi/Lelouch makes it clear that there is no way he is going to marry his sister Hinata/Nunnally. As the story progresses, there will be a bit of the two thinking about it through. There is firm, logical reason behind it though. Then the idea will be discarded.

The logical reasoning is that the two had, for some time, come to the conclusion that they couldn't marry anyone else. Given their history, despite everything, logic would dictate that they would be alone for their lives. So they could very well marry one another and hope to start a family of their own.

There is also the in-story aspect that when the two were children, Nunnally and Euphemia had an argument over who would marry Lelouch. Small, childish thing we all know that could happen in close knit families and all that. Heck if I know. I'm the youngest of three (Mother) and the oldest of three (Father, though I still yet to meet them, but I intend to correct). So I literally know nothing about that as much as anyone else here, ya know.

Now, what kills that aspect is the introduction of Ryoko, Ayeka, Mihoshi, Sasami, and Washu. Though, in this story, I will be adding in the continued OVA addition of Noike Kamiki Jurai and the import of Kiyone Makibi from Tenchi Universe and Tenchi in Tokyo!

That also means Nagi and Ken-Ohki will appear, but like Kiyone Makibi's background I'm going to alter to reflect different aspects due to the importing to the Tenchi Muyo! storyline and thus this story.

In addition, we all know that Suzaku Kururugi is alive and well. I decided to separate them and make them believe that one another is dead. Suzaku will appear later on in the story. He and Nunnally will obviously get close. Which will create an in-story joke about how Nunnally and Euphemia end up arguing over who will marry Suzaku!

Unless I get enough requests, I will write up Tenchi/Lelouch and Euphemia, adding the pinknette to the harem.

Which leads me to the canon Lelouch girls!

Okay… First up:

Kallen Stadfeld/Kozuki!

Everyone's favorite redhead. I think she's more favored than both Kushina Uzumaki and Asuka Soryu Langley. Though I could be wrong. We'll have to see. While I'm a general Kal/Lulu shipper, I can also see Kallen and Gino Winoberg. They have such close personalities in a way. And skills to match too.

Kaguya Sumeragi is next!

Zero's self-proclaimed bride and wife. Well… Let's face some facts… I think she's barely older than Sasami and younger than Nunnally. So… I'm going to have to get back to everyone on that one. Seriously.

C.C. is the next contestant!

Now if anyone knows her absolute true name and that isn't a Mc-whatever the name is again that used to push a story forward without letting you know the truth behind the whole thing or even seeing the thing, please let me know. I can definitely use it. That said, are favorite pizza eating greenette is right up there with Kaguya even though I ship CC/LL just as much.

Milly Ashford is coming up!

Good ole Milly… Honestly, I do say that Milly and Lelouch has to be the most logical pairing in the entire series at the end of the day. I mean everything about it screams Milly would marry Lelouch in the end. Lelouch would also break up the Empire and simply become the last monarch or govern over a small kingdom after bringing peace to the world. But that never happened, so don't ask me why. That said, Milly is definitely on the list folks. Simply because I can't see her with anyone else and I can see her easily with Lelouch.

Shirley Fenette our fair young maiden to never wed!

Frankly, I can also see Shirley as that logical other. Despite everything that can be said, Shirley just strikes me as that definite girl. I know we all see that and agree with it. Probably would have been the canon pairing ending if she hadn't died. Can't say I blame Rolo though. He never really had a family and then he's to pose as Lelouch's younger brother in Nunnally's place as the younger sibling. When you look at it that way, he was jealous and envious of Nunnally and the others who garnered Lelouch's attention. He really wanted to be the younger brother and have a family to call his own. Maybe if he had thought a few more steps ahead, he would have realized how good having Shirley for a 'big sister' would have been. Plus the nieces and nephews folks. Heck, I can actually see a Rolo/Nunnally pairing on top of a Lelouch/Shirley pairing. Hmm…? Me has an idea there.

Now for the surprising entry to this line up… Villetta Nu!

Okay, this one is a personal favorite and I can somehow see it logically happening. I don't have the foggiest idea why I see it that way. Seriously, I do not. But the fact is that I can easily see Lelouch and Villeta marrying. Almost a lot like Kallen. For example, how Kallen is supposed to represent, in a way, Marianne vi Britannia and Lelouch represent Charles zi Britannia. A case of capable men, able to lead nations, but behind them, being their very strength are the women that they love. In this way, Villetta also stands in place of Kallen, representing the same thing, 'That behind every Great Man, is a Great Woman.'

So… Until I can either figure out something different or I find myself having been crazy to think it, Villetta will be a story canon lover of Tenchi Masaki/Lelouch vi Britannia.

Shirley has a high chance of joining as well. Milly, as I said, is also in. The other girls… Maybe not, but we'll see.

Now unless I get an uber amount of requests… There will be no Lu/Nu pairing. Got me? Good.

Seriously… This is going to be a bit of a headache. Plus I need to check Ai Tenchi Muyo! and see if he picks up anymore girls… Geez…

At least it won't end like it does in War on Geminar!

An entire school of girls… That's just purely insane!

XXXX

Well… Author's Note:

This story has a high priority listing to get done. Simply because no one has really done this format before. Another thing to note is that I purposely gave purple eyes to Nobuyuki so as to show that he is descended of the same line as Tenchi and Hinata. Creates that whole family bond that we hear about. Therefore, he has purple eyes because of him being descended from Yosho.

Other stories are also being worked on as well. Among these includes my Muv-Luv story, Gate story, Fire Emblem story, and several other stories. I am also getting a few others out and I intend to start work on them again. Possibly entirely new write ups. Expect to see, for once and real this time, more stories being released more often. That includes chapters.

So… I'll be seeing you guys all around a lot more and keep those Reviews coming in. I shall be using the Flamers Reviews to stay warm by the fire. Roasting my marshmallows and enjoying a cup of hot chocolate.

So this is F-14 Tomcat Lover signing off with the reminder…

"The Big Cat is on the Prowl… So Bee Eaters, start running."