Chapter 2: Crossed Swords and Discoveries

Tenchi and Ryoko arrived at the training area, dressed for the occasion: he, in his normal practice garb and she, in her black and red battle suit. Katsuhito awaited them, a brand new bokken in each hand. On the side, sitting on a pillow behind her near transparent computer screen, floating about 5 feet off the ground, was Washu, now in her child form. Ryoko gave her pint sized mother a quick glare receiving a nonchalant smile in return. She quickly averted her eyes, focusing her gaze back on the priest. Tenchi caught the non-verbal exchange between the two women and wisely decided to act as though he didn't. The two trainees walked up to their sensei who handed each a weapon.

"Practice today will be a sparring duel between you two. There will be no warm-up period and we will begin shortly," stated Katsuhito. His face betrayed no emotion as he gave them his instructions. "You will wear nothing other than what you are wearing now; no protective gear. As no head strikes are allowed it will not be necessary. The match ends when I judge a telling blow has been struck. Do you both understand?"

"This seems a bit more serious than normal, Grandpa," offered Tenchi. "No warm-up exercises, no protective gear…I imagine you have a good reason for it?"

"Yes, Tenchi, it is more serious than what you have been doing, and yes, there is a reason for it," his grandfather replied. "In a life or death struggle, an opponent seldom permits sufficient preparation time." Offering no further explanation, he directed, "Please take you place on the field." He turned toward his female trainee. "Ryoko, I'd like a word with you before we begin." Tenchi, with a somewhat confused and concerned expression walked onto the practice area. Katsuhito spoke quietly with his grandson's fiancée for roughly a minute. As his grandfather appeared to be finishing, he saw her eyes widen, and heard her ask him a question in a surprised tone, "Are you sure?" In reply he saw the senior Masaki close his eyes and nod. "And you really think that will work?" she asked. Tenchi saw him repeat his previous gesture. Ryoko frowned and answered halfheartedly, "Okay." She turned away from Katsuhito and took her place facing Tenchi, the bokken held firmly in her right hand but down at her side. He saw a troubled look in her golden-amber eyes.

"Just remember, my Tenchi," she said, adding a slight smile, "that I love you." With this she brought her weapon into the ready position, the troubled look in her eyes replaced with one of concentration and determination, her smile fading. Recognizing her battle stance, he too readied his weapon and looked back at her with matched intensity.

Katsuhito held up his right hand and said, "Ready." A moment later he dropped his arm saying, "Begin!"

Then Ryoko disappeared.

This startled Tenchi: What's going on? Where's she… Suddenly he heard the telltale sign of her phasing in directly behind him and slightly above. He barely had time to raise his bokken above his head and behind in defense as her strike aimed for his back. As he blocked, he rolled away, spinning to his left to come up facing her. Her strike would have certainly stung had it connected, though it would not have done any damage save a bruise.

He looked at her, more than slightly annoyed and asked, "Ryoko, what are you doing using your powers?"

She paused looking back at him with a somewhat pained expression, then shaking her head, replied, "Not my idea."

He looked over to his grandfather, slightly aghast. Katsuhito was standing there, his hands folded behind his back, stoic as ever. The priest spoke, "Ryoko, you're blow was too weak. Strike harder." His expression didn't change. "Continue."

Tenchi looked back at his beloved, who was facing away from Katsuhito. He saw her mouth the word, Sorry. Her gaze again steeled and she continued her assault, her attacks twice as strong as before. Her barrage was unceasing: She would strike, feint, strike again, port to another location, strike from above, strike from either side, and even, at times, disappearing and strike at him from below as she phased up through the ground. Some of these got past his defenses, inflicting glancing blows on his back, his arms, his legs, even his hands and feet. Finally, winded from her onslaught, she caught him off balance, and struck his bokken at such an angle and with such force that it broke in two.

He stared at the broken weapon for just a second before he threw it to the ground. That was all the time he was allowed as she was again on him: Ryoko was coming in for the duel-ending blow.

She saw him raise his hands, and as her weapon descended upon him, he spoke one word: "No."

The bokken shattered in her hand as it connected with a white translucent blade, one of three between them, hovering and stationary. On his forehead, she saw Tenchi's emblem of power aglow. The last time she saw it, his face was stern and resolute, right before defeating Kagato. His face now was calm, and reminded her more of Yosho's usual serene expression.

She dropped the remains of her weapon and smiled broadly at him, thankful that the duel was finally over. He recognized her relief, returned the smile and then letting out a small breath, dispelled the wings along with his power symbol. She flew over and glomped onto him, her arms around his neck.

"Ow," was his solo verbal response as he winced in pain.

Ryoko looked at him, her eyes filled with apology, "I'm so sorry." She gently released him and touched his cheek. She then pointed accusingly at his grandfather, and with furrowed eyebrows, said, "He made me do it." This elicited the raising of one eyebrow by Katsuhito along with the barest hint of a smirk. Grudgingly, however, she admitted, "But he was right."

"About what?" Tenchi asked.

She sighed. "He said that if I came at you the way I did, doing my best to overwhelm you, you'd eventually bring them out."

"The Light Hawk Wings?" he asked.

She nodded.

"But I didn't bring them out, they just appeared all on their own, like always," he reasoned.

"You're wrong, Tenchi," said Washu, who had approached them unnoticed. "You called them."

Ryoko frowned at her mother's proximity. "I really hate to admit it, but the little troll is right. You made them happen this time."

Ignoring her daughter's insult, the petite scientist made her computer screen appear before them. "Here, see for yourself." She hit a button and the scene played out before them; Tenchi raising his hands, saying the one word, the wings instantly appearing, and Ryoko's bokken splintering. The picture froze at that point.

Tenchi stared at it, at himself and his expression. "Huh," was his initial reaction.

He turned to Washu and asked, "How do I know it wasn't a fluke?"

"Simple," replied his grandfather who had just joined them. "Do it again."

"Do it again? How? I don't even know what I did," he insisted.

"Tenchi, look at the picture, again," advised Washu. "What were you feeling then?"

He thought about it for a moment, and then answered, "Honestly, I wasn't feeling much of anything. I wasn't scared like I had been those other times before. I just didn't want her to hit me again." He smiled weakly at his fiancée. "She hits hard."

Ryoko grimaced. Tenchi took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"So you just decided you wouldn't be hit again, is that it?" Washu asked.

"Yeah, I guess it is," he agreed.

"Then decide to bring them out again, just because you will it so," advised his grandfather. He motioned them all to back up, to give Tenchi enough room.

Tenchi took a calming breath, then tried to remember the feeling he had before, when he had simply willed there existence. He remembered the feeling and wondered how long it would take him to make them re-appear when he noticed that they were already there, again before him. The light they gave off was bright but yet not glaring.

"Very good Tenchi," Katsuhito praised. "Now manipulate them. Make then move the same way you made them appear. Will them to move."

And Tenchi did. He found it easier than he would have ever thought. He made them move left, right, up, and down. He made them spin like a pinwheel. He made them expand to twice their original size and contract to half of it. After a while of further manipulation, however, fatigue and soreness began to overwhelm him. He finally dispelled the wings once again.

He looked at his companions, saying, "It does take a bit out of you."

"I imagine you should heal up pretty quickly though, taking only a few hours what would take a normal human days," informed Washu.

"Are you sure?" he asked. "After the fight with Kagato I was really sore for a few days."

"You were?" asked a concerned Ryoko. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"Because," he explained, "everybody would have made a fuss about it, especially these two girls that I knew..." He gave her a tired but full grin.

She... looked at the trees, at a couple of flowers, at the sky... anywhere but directly at him. She knew he would have been right, but she would never admit it...

Her mother chuckled. "Well that makes sense, Tenchi. That was a very traumatic battle for you, both mentally and physically, and it was the first time you used your powers. I suspect that the your body has to get used to using the power, but the power has to get use to you as well. Like everything else, skills get better with practice. Perhaps someday, you'll heal so quickly you'll never even realize you were ever hurt. Who knows?"

"Yeah, well, even with all that mumbo-jumbo, what you really need right now is a good soak in the bath and a massage," said Ryoko.

"You know," Tenchi admitted with a tired smile, "that idea doesn't sound half bad."

"Good," she said, smiling back, as she took hold of his arm. "Let's go." She vanished with him before any possible objections could be made… by anyone.

"And I guess we're done," joked Washu, shaking her head. "That girl..."

"I think it's safe to leave him to her caring ministrations, not that he ever had much of a choice," Katsuhito quipped.

"Well, if she hasn't broken him yet, I imagine she never will." Washu looked at her companion and, with a raised eyebrow, asked, "So are you busy today?"

"Nothing planned until after lunch," he replied, smiling gently. "Why do you ask?"

"Because this lady could sure use a nice cup of tea about now," she answered, with a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her lips.

The priest offered her his arm. She changed to her adult form as she took it, where upon he too revealed his true younger looking self. They headed off together towards the shrine steps in the distance.

Alone at last, the figure materialized at the spot of the previous gathering. His arms crossed, he looked around, a concerned expression on his face. Looks like the stakes have gone up, he thought. Masaki can now bring up his Light Hawk Wings on command and he seemed most adept at manipulating them. Still though, there are only three. But for how long?

He kicked at the dirt below his feet. I might not have a lot of time to act against him if that's what I'll need to do, but I have to make sure first. I've got to know more about him and about his life. And I need to know more about that woman of his, too. There's something strangely familiar about her, even though I've never laid my eyes on her before.

And Washu... why doesn't she just come out and tell him everything he needs to know? It's almost like she doesn't know that she knows...

Too many unknowns here, he admitted to himself. I have to figure out what they are and to do that I'll need to find a way in…

Two hours after the 'duel', Aeka was walking down the stairs with a basket filled with her and Sasami's laundry. Reaching the bottom and turning the corner, she almost ran straight into Tenchi and Ryoko, headed towards the front door, coming from the kitchen.

"Sorry Aeka," Tenchi apologized. "We didn't notice you coming down."

"No harm done," she said, smiling. "Where are you two going in such a hurry?"

"Dad invited us to his office for lunch today," he informed her. "He called earlier and said he had something important to tell us."

"Yeah it's all some big mystery," scoffed Ryoko. "Knowing Nobuyuki, he's probably being over dramatic about whatever it is."

"Oh? And you have no idea, at all, what it is?" Aeka asked Tenchi.

"Nope, not a clue," he answered.

Then she looked at her golden-eyed friend with a raised eyebrow, "And you. What about your lunch responsibilities?"

Ryoko held up a hand. "Easy there princess. We made a deal with Sasami," she informed her purple haired interrogator. "She excused me from my lunch duty today as long as we went shopping for her while we were in town." Ryoko held up the shopping list with her other hand. "Any more questions your highness or are we free to go?" she asked, overemphasizing her smirk.

The princess rolled her eyes. "Somehow you always find a way to avoid work."

"Just lucky I guess," her friend replied, the smirk still present.

Surrendering the point to Ryoko with a chuckle, she offered, "Okay, okay. Well anyway I do hope you have fun and oh, give Rea my regards, would you?

"We'll make sure to do both," Tenchi promised as he turned and moved again towards the door.

"Later," said the pirate as she followed.

Aeka watched them leave, unwittingly staring at them for a moment when Ryoko took Tenchi's arm, a hint of longing briefly surfacing on her face. She caught herself, turned away from them, closed her eyes and shook her head in an effort to remove the feeling. She opened her eyes, let out a silent breath, accompanied by a slight smile of acceptance, then continued on her way, past the stairs, carrying her basket.

The figure in the shadows, having seen the exchange, quietly pondered the implications. After a while he slowly nodded his head and began to smile. I may have just found what I was looking for. His expression soon changed, reflecting concentration as he began to plan ahead: One thing's for certain, he thought as he began to vanish. I've got some crash studying to do.

Tenchi and Ryoko a while later were walking together sharing an umbrella, due to a sudden appearance of a Spring shower. The rain was relatively light but steady. As the weather had approached, Ryoko had popped back over to the house, and taking advantage of the opportunity, grabbed only one umbrella; the one just large enough to share. She had handed it to him, almost nonchalantly, save for the giveaway grin. Now they walked together, his left arm around her shoulders, the other holding the umbrella. Yeah, he didn't mind her playful 'feminine wiles.' Not one bit.

Ryoko, who's head had been snug up next to his as they walked, turned toward him, asking, "How are you feeling Tenchi?" He could see the concern in her eyes.

"A little sore still," he admitted. "But just a little," he said, assuring her with his words and a warm smile. "I'll be fine. The hot bath and your massage did wonders."

"Well, it's the least I could do," she said apologetically, looking down. "I still feel pretty crappy about it." She looked up at him again. "The last thing I'd ever want to do is hurt you... in any way." Her golden eyes misted over. "I'm really sorry."

"Ryoko. You don't have to apologize. You were just trying to help me. A bit more painfully than I had hoped, but it worked... and pretty well too." He looked back and with true sincerity said, "Thank you."

"You're welcome I guess..." She shook her head. "It's s little weird you thanking me for beating on you." She scowled slightly. "That Yosho. He's such a taskmaster and a bully sometimes. But, I do have to admit; that old man really knows his stuff."

"Yes he does," Tenchi agreed.

They walked on quietly for the moment, enjoying each other's company. After walking a few more blocks, Tenchi looked at Ryoko and asked, "Are you looking forward to this?"

Ryoko nodded. "It should be fun going to lunch the four of us. It'll be a new experience for me that's for sure. And I'd be lying if I said I'm not curious about you're dad's secret and all..."

Tenchi could almost hear the 'but' that was coming.

"But I just don't know Rea all that well." She looked back at him. "I really do like her, though. She's a nice person, I know that at least. I realized that when you were growing up." She almost immediately recognized her mistake in telling him that, knowing where the conversation would inevitably lead, knowing she would have to answer him honestly and what would be his reaction. She already regretted it.

"I didn't think about that," he admitted. "It makes sense that you remember her from back them. When did you first see her?"

I'm so stupid, she thought. I guess I'm just going to go on hurting you today. She would answer him honestly, but she delayed doing it just the same.

Tenchi saw Ryoko's look down and away from him, hesitating in responding to his question. She stayed silent for some time.

"Ryoko?"

She spoke, just a little louder than a whisper, "It was that day Tenchi. That day... during the snowstorm... when you came to my cave."

She didn't have to say anymore than that; she knew that had been enough.

"Oh... that day," he replied as they stopped walking, his voice almost as low as hers had been. He sighed, understanding what day that was:

It had been the day of his mother's funeral, when all those strangers were there; the day he ran away from it all to end up in his 'safe place,' outside the demon's cave, to where he had always been drawn, as far back as he could remember. He had collapsed on the steps, before the cave entrance, crying, lying in the snow, under-dressed for the weather, getting colder and colder until he had felt a warmth surround him; a warmth that melted the snow beneath him and the snow falling toward him, keeping him safe and dry, while he laid there, mourning his mother.

That was where young Rea had found him, knowing instinctively where he would have gone. She picked up the distraught, but somehow safe, little boy to take him back home. But before leaving with her young charge, she had bowed toward the cave entrance, and said 'thank you.' From that moment on, Ryoko knew that she would always like and respect that girl.

Tenchi looked at his fiancee and knowing her as well as he did, said, "Hey it's okay. Nothing to be sad about." He smiled at her.

She looked up at his encouraging words, with a hint of a potential smile of her own in her eyes. They continued walking.

"I'm glad you like Rea," he said. "She's always been there for me as long as I can remember. She might not be a blood relation, but she's family all the same. After Mom left she's the one who took care of me, much like an older sister would."

"Hmm, if she wasn't family, how'd she end up living there?"

Tenchi's face became pensive. "I don't actually know. She was always there, just a normal part of my life, so much so I never thought to ask."

"So it ended up being just the three of you?"

"Yeah, up until Dad got the new house built. By that time Rea was an adult and moved into her own apartment in town. Although she's been working with Dad as his secretary ever since, I don't get to see her as often as I used to. So I've been looking forward to this since he invited us."

"So am I " she smiled. "And even if you haven't asked me, I promise you I'll be on my best behavior."

He smiled at her voluntary pledge. In truth he hadn't even thought to request it of her. It hadn't seemed necessary... at least not this time.

They continued walking, Ryoko's arm in his. They soon came to the plot of land where his house had once stood. Being there was no accident. Tenchi had chosen this route in a moment of nostalgia spurred on by their earlier conversation.

They stopped in front of the empty plot. He looked on, remembering the first time he had seen it, when his father had brought him and his mother here, to show them where they were going to live. It was both a happy and sad memory. His face was neutral, almost emotionless.

Ryoko, standing there quietly at his side, looked into him with concern, feeling a bit guilty. "I'm sorry," she said.

Tenchi turned his head towards her, puzzled by her words, "Sorry? Why are you sorry?"

"For your house being moved," she replied looking down. "It's all my fault. I've caused you so many problems."

At first confused, he soon realized why she had suddenly apologized. He smiled gently at her, saying, "Ryoko, there's no need for you to be sorry, for this." he motioned to the plot of land. "I was thinking about something a long time ago, that's all. To be perfectly honest with you, I prefer the house being where it is now. It's beautiful there with the lake, all the trees, and the flowers. And we're closer to Grampa. I like living out there very much."

He turned back to her. "As for all that other stuff, I gladly accept it all... because that means you're there, with me. And that's what really matters." He kissed her cheek softly, backing away slowly. Before he could 'escape' she turned and planted one directly on his lips.

After her kiss, he looked at Ryoko with raised eyebrows. She looked back at him with her bright golden eyes and her famous grin and explained with one word, "Pirate."

He took on a wry smile and asked, "I thought you were going to be on your best behavior?"

"Well," she informed him, grin still intact, "we're not there yet."

Tenchi chuckled, "No we are not." He looked at his watch. "But we better get going if we don't wanna be late." He grabbed her hand. "C'mon!" he said and led them quickly away.

A few minutes later they had arrived at his father's office. They were no longer huddled under the umbrella as the rain had stopped, at least for the moment. Tenchi held the umbrella as he rang the bell of the Misaki Design Office.

"Coming!" came from inside.

A pretty dark haired young woman wearing glasses, answered the door.

"Oh! Tenchi! Ryoko! It's so great to see you both again."

"Hello Rea," Tenchi said in greeting.

"I was wondering if the rain was going to slow you down."

"It wasn't a problem," assured Ryoko. "We had an umbrella."

"Just the one?" Rea asked.

Her response was a smile from the cyan haired young woman as she embraced her fiancé's free arm.

"Oh I see," she commented, a knowing smile coming to her face. "Well, just don't stand there you two, come inside."

They entered the office and she seated them in chairs in the reception area.

"Nobuyuki is finishing up a few things and will be just a few minutes," she informed them. "Would you care for some tea or coffee?"

"Tea would be nice, thank you," replied Ryoko.

Rea looked at Tenchi, "You still prefer tea over coffee, am I right?"

"Yes, please," he confirmed, smiling.

She turned and left the room. She quickly returned with two cups of tea, on saucers with sugar and lemon on the side. and set them down.

"So how are Katsuhito and the rest of the girls? Everybody doing okay?

"Yes, everyone's fine, thank you for asking," Tenchi responded.

"Aeka asked us to give you her regards," Ryoko added. "She's hoping to see you again sometime soon."

"I'd like that too," Rea replied. "Nobuyuki told me that both you and Aeka were helping out with the cooking now, is that true?"

Ryoko nodded, "That's right. She normally helps out Sasami with breakfast, me with lunch, and both of us with dinner. The little princess really knows how to cook and she's taught us a lot."

"Did you know that I learned to cook from Tenchi's mother, Kiyone?" Rea asked.

"No I didn't," admitted the amber eyed young woman.

"Yes, even though I've created a few dishes on my own, I still know a lot of the recipe's that she taught me. Perhaps I could come over soon and I could show girls some of them I know that Tenchi liked as he was growing up? There's a particular chicken dish, that was his favorite..."

Ryoko's face was animated. "That would be great!"

Tenchi looked upon the surrealistic scene with an incredulous smile: his fiancée, the Demon Space Pirate Ryoko, once the Scourge of Jurai, feared throughout the galaxy... truly excited at the possibility of learning a chicken dish recipe... And this was his "normal" life.

He looked at his girl and all he could do at that moment was stare and smile. She saw him out of the corner of her eye, and as Rea excused herself to go check on Nobuyuki's progress, she looked back at him. She saw how happy he was; how happy he was with her, and it set her heart to flutter. She responded with her own 'true love' smile for him.

Rea returned with Tenchi's father in tow. "I had to pull him out of there or we'd never go. He's always so focused when he's working on a project."

"Yeah, sorry about that," he apologized, his right hand, scratching behind his head.

Ryoko grinned; she'd seen that same gesture countless times from the younger male Masaki in the room.

The young couple stood up. "So where're we going?" Tenchi asked.

"It's a little restaurant not that far from here, I think you'll like. The food's good and its perfect atmosphere for a conversation." Nobuyuki looked at them, particularly at his son."

"We've got a lot to talk about."