The universe has since been in an uproar. It seemed as though no one had answers for what had happened to Lord Azusa Jurai, and because of that the tensions between the families only started to grow worse, with the constant threat of another war, the queens Misaki and Funaho being forced to control the throne while the next in line was to be found. However that was not a task as easy as one would assume it too be, for the next generations of Jurai rulers were living on the primitive planet of Earth and as it stood with the tensions a trip as long as the one to Earth from Jurai would be an almost foolish mistake for any of the royal families.
Mikumo Kuramitsu, like many of the Kuramitsu family had not heard of Azusa's death till a few days after the fact. Due to already existing conflicts and the few numbers of actively serving Kuramitsu family members forced Mikumo to take his birth place, accepting his role as the oldest living Kuramitsu and thus by fault the head of the family. Having hid that fact due to Mikumo's near rage influenced hatred of Kuramitsu relations with the other families he know found himself at a position where he was truly the only Kuramitsu fit to serve under the crisis, the only one with enough logic about him to keep his mind clear and open for the Jurai's meetings.
Mikumo walked down the corridor, wearing the multi-layered robes of the Kuramitsu family decorated in the colors white, red and gold. To his right and left were two guards, they were merely Galaxy Police officers but due to Mikumo's closer relationship to the police than the politics of the family he could easily trust his life in the hands of fellow officers rather than official guards other family members insisted on having. He looked around and saw the hostile eyes, thinking too himself how foolish it was to have this meeting on a Jurai controlled planet, the Kuramitsu were already hated they did not need to be thrown into the throng of hate filled citizens.
As they neared the entrance to the private area the queens had told him about he ordered the two police officers to stand by the outside of the doors, "Okay you two remember, we are the only Kuramitsu till the embassy, the last thing we want is an uproar. Use the stun setting on your side arms if trouble becomes to bad, I don't expect too many people to cause a scene here but just in case keep it on stun. Am I clear?"
As Mikumo watched his two guards nod and take positions at both sides of the rice door Mikumo pushed the door open just enough to enter closing it behind him. He walked into the room that under such circumstances would have been used to house hundreds of politicians, and yet now the room remained deserted, and in the center was a low rise table clearly put there in a hurry as both Misaki and Funaho sat on their knees on the opposite end watching Mikumo. He gave the two a bow as he moved to sit on an empty mat on the other side facing them as he pulled his right sleeve up grabbing a small tea cup that was placed there as he walked, "It's simply amazing…that we can still have these informal meetings like this." Mikumo said sipping at the tea before placing it back down.
"Of course Mikumo-Kun, you have been like family to us for so long, we know that you alone would not do anything against the Jurai, and neither would the family. Besides could you think of a weapon possible of completely catching a ship off guard and leaving very little left?" Misaki stated behind bowing her head slowly, meekly as he reached out for her tea, "…I miss him."
"As do I Misaki, and the girls, and the citizens and even a great deal of the Kuramitsu are continuing to morn his lose. Isn't that right Mikumo?" Funaho spoke placing a hand on the fellow wife of the late kind.
Misaki looked up to see Mikumo Kuramitsu nod with agreement as Misaki took a rather long sip of her tea, "It's different with me Onee-Sama, you were with him longer…I know it sounds selfish but It seems I barely knew him before…F-forgive me Mikumo-Kun I'm usually not like this."
"It's perfectly understandable Misaki, I have to ask you two given the position of Seto-Chan do you girls know of her opinion towards me?" Mikumo asked the two trying to change the subject.
Misaki's face seemed to if only slightly brighten up as she smiled at Mikumo, "Well her opinion was dampened when we learned Ryoko was your sister, but I at least think she still regards you as a good friend to the Jurai."
"That is good at least; look Misaki-Chan, Funaho-Chan, there is business I have to discuss with you two, rather important business. As it stands, all the most current heirs to the Jurai throne are on Earth; Yōshō, Tenchi, Ayeka, Sasami and even Yōshō's son are all defenseless on Earth. If it wasn't for long distance messaging they most likely would never have heard of the King's fate." Mikumo said as he took a sip of the dwindling tea looking at the queens.
"Yes it is true they don't have any real protection outside of themselves on Earth, but I doubt if anyone would attack Earth." Funaho stated.
"We've doubted attacks before Madam, but as it stands any one of the mentioned is liable for the Jurai throne, and whoever whatever attacked his highness, will most certainly come for them."
Misaki now nervously bit the nail of her left thumb keeping her head down, "What would you suggest Mikumo-Kun?"
"Now it's a radical idea but hear me out first, we get them on a Jurai ship, a cruiser most likely. If they are constantly moving it will make their assassin harder to find them, giving them a better chance at surviving through this ordeal."
"Or it could make them more prone to encounter this…whatever that thing that killed Azusa. Would you be prepared for whatever may happen to them if we allow you go along with this plan Mikumo?" Funaho said quickly wanting and expecting an answer just as fast.
"Absolutely Funaho-Chan, if anything happens to any of them from this point on regardless of my plan I will accept full responsibility for it, and will openly accept whatever you two and Seto-Chan deem reasonable punishment." Mikumo said more towards Funaho than Misaki, seeing as how the blue haired Jurai queen still seemed focus on her own nervousness.
The two queens kept silent as Funaho looked down at the fellow queen Misaki with a look of worry, concerning herself for just a moment over how since Azusa's death she had started to change. The normally cheerful and optimistic queen Misaki had since started to show emotions Funaho did not think Misaki knew about, such as nervousness and it was more than once when Misaki would snap in rage at guards trying to assist her. Funaho sighed as he looked back at Mikumo seeing he too had a look of worry, most likely stressed towards Misaki at the moment for her quiet attitude, "Okay Mikumo, there will be a ship ready by the time you reach the docks, please don't let anything happen too them."
"Thank you Funaho-Chan, Misaki-Chan, please relax I can insure you nothing will happen." Mikumo said rising back to his feet as her hesitantly placed on a hand on Misaki's shoulder, expecting a reaction. Instead he saw her slowly pull her head away from her gnawed fingernail as she looked up at Mikumo, eyes glazed with tears as she gave him a small smile. Mikumo gave her a smile in return and patted her shoulder, giving the two queens a polite bow from the waist as he exited the room.
As Mikumo left the room and started walking back towards the docking area the two Galaxy Police officers left from the sides of the doors to follow Mikumo as each of his sides as the one on his left asked the question, "Where to next Kuramitsu-San?"
"To the docking bay gentlemen, I want you two to get back onto the ship and inform Minami-San of my private message line, I will pass along to him of my plans for I regret to inform you two but we are departing ways once we reach the ship." Mikumo said re-adjusting his robes at his shoulders.
"Are you positive sir?"
"One hundred percent, I'm sorry I can't tell you two any more but once I get a hold of Minami-San he will understand and pass word onto appropriate members of the family that need to know."
Meanwhile, back on the planet Earth things had been able to retain a sense of normality given the circumstances to the Masaki household. Tenchi tended to the crops in the fields, Sasami stayed in the kitchen keeping Mihoshi around with her for help, Hishima Shima tended to the temple as his master Yume rested on the couch, both unable to leave due to a broken part on their ship. As for Ryoko and Ayeka, they both took this brief moment of peace to retreat to the floating hot spring above and relax in the steam and water.
The two still kept their distance from the other however, even though the original dispute concerning Tenchi's relationship had been subsided due to Ayeka's ever growing interest in Ryoko's partial brother Mikumo, the two still seem to step on the nerves of the other. However, it was Ryoko who started a conversation first, as she washed over her left shoulder with a rag she glanced back over at Ayeka's bare back, "Hey Ayeka."
The purple haired princess looked back towards the former pirate as well, "Yes?"
Ryoko looked away tossing the rag in her hands as her eyes rolled when her face was out of Ayeka's view, "I know this is going to sound weird coming from me for all people…But I'm sorry for your loss."
Ayeka looked at Ryoko her face showing confusion on why Ryoko would feel bad about her father's death. She looked away as her cheeks reddened as Ayeka gave herself a small smile, "Thank you."
Ryoko smirked, her pointed fangs being exposed to the hot air, "Don't think this means my opinion of you and my brother has changed Ayeka."
Ayeka's blush deepened as her body jerked back to face the cyan haired woman again, "W-what did you say?"
Ryoko was now closer to Ayeka, her eyes narrowed as she kept the grin filled with malice, "Oh don't act surprised, you never did a good job of hiding it we all sort of know you like Mikumo."
"T-this is not a conversation we should be having!"
"You know princess I just realized…you get ugly when you blush." Ryoko said letting out a hardy laugh.
However as Ayeka was about to say a comeback a third voice rose out of the mix, "Please you two, no fighting and could you get dressed, Tenchi wants us all at the house."
Ryoko and Ayeka both turned towards the edge of the water and saw the blonde haired Mihoshi Kuramitsu standing there in a pink tank top and tan jeans looking at the two as Ryoko spoke up, "Just how long have you been there?"
Mihoshi blinked looking down at the two naked women, "The whole time why?"
From outside the house Tenchi was returning carrying the basket of freshly picked carrots inside as he heard shouting from the hot spring not bothering to look up, "Mihoshi…you need to learn timing." Tenchi said more to himself, putting the basket of carrots in the storage shed as he let towards the house and inside to hopefully get everyone together and tell them of the news Mihoshi had gotten.
Once everyone had gotten to the house Tenchi looked over them all. Yume was still partially sprawled out of the couch, giving just enough room for Ayeka and Mihoshi to sit. Ryoko stood standing beside Hishima as Sasami stood on the other side of Ryoko looked over at Tenchi like everyone else as she spoke, "What did you need to tell us Tenchi?"
"Not too long ago Mihoshi got a message from Mikumo, he wants us too get ready to leave the planet for a while. He said that the situation concerning the Jurai and Kuramitsu families is getting worse and Funaho and Misaki agreed to let him take us on a ship to keep us moving so people can't find us. For convince he's picking up Washu and Zaneko on his way, this is serious guys he'll be here soon and I want everyone ready. Yume, Mikumo told me he has the spare part you two need for your ship, you don't have to come if you don't want." Tenchi said looking down at Yume.
Yume rose up looking over the couch as Hishima who in turned looked down at her. Yume rose up walking over to Tenchi as she looked up at him slightly annoyed, "No way! Don't you think you'll get rid of us that easily, we're coming along. Hishima go pack our things would you?"
Tenchi sighed as Hishima exited the house, "Right. I'm sorry for the short convince everyone but Mikumo rather demanded we come along, so please go pack your things. He didn't tell Mihoshi how long we'll be gone but pack enough to last awhile."