Chapter Ten
Enough was enough.
Sasami slipped silently out of bed, moving to the window of her chamber as she contemplated the decision she had made. After several hours tossing and turning, she had come to a firm conclusion – that the only way she was going to fight off Ramia's invasive magic was to deal with the situation head on – face the threat and fight it as best she could.
"I can't ask anyone else to do it for me." She murmured, shivering and pulling her cape tightly around her shoulders as she did so. "I've already caused enough pain to enough people since I lost full control of Tsunami."
She shut her eyes against the tears, hesitating for a moment as she summoned what little strength she had. Leaving through the door would be difficult, she knew, because Kamidake still kept watch outside. However, as she had thought things over, she had remembered how Misa had managed to get up onto her balcony and upon careful examination, she found the vines and stone ledges that her rival had used to scale the annexe walls. Not without misgivings, she clambered carefully onto the top of the railing, lowering herself gingerly as she concentrated her attention fully on the task ahead.
"I mustn't look down. Tsunami isn't afraid of anything." She murmured, more to convince herself than because she actually believed it. "And if I was more Tsunami, Ramia wouldn't be able to have so much access. So I have to do what I have to do. Even if my head is spinning and my hands are shaking, I have to find a way to confront Ramia and deal with her somehow once and for all."
"So, you'd come to kill me, would you, Princess Tsunami?" The voice was mocking and cold, startling her and she almost loosed her grip on the slippery, dew-covered vines as she did so. She clung to them more tightly, swallowing her panic as she struggled to bring her tattered composure back together.
"Maybe." She muttered. "Are you afraid of me, then? If I came, would you be scared?"
"Of a pitiful, feverish child? Please." Ramia's derisive laughter echoed in her ears and Sasami's resolve hardened as, very gingerly and painstakingly she inched further and further down the stone wall, refusing to allow herself to look at the ground below. As she set her feet on the dew-soaked grass, she was aware that the light around the annexe was increasing and somehow this comforted her as she turned to face the slow rising of Yousai's gleaming sun.
"As if you've come to fight with me." She murmured, pausing for a moment to push her hands together in prayer. "Tsunami, we need to be a team, this time. What we're going to do scares me, but we must do it all the same. No matter what happens, we have to do this for Jurai."
"I almost believe your conviction." Ramia's voice whispered through her senses once more. "But the barrier around Tounochi is weakening, Princess Sasami. Your Uncle's Jurai magic won't hold it there very much longer. I shall break free, and your Goddess will help me. You keep fighting, but it's to no avail. And when I am free, the first thing I will take pleasure in is destroying those people you keep around you. The knights, that lord, and that wretched space pirate who claims kinship with me. I will kill them all because you love them, as punishment for your constant and ongoing rebellion against my will."
"You have to win first, Ramia!" Sasami exclaimed, but there was no response, and the Princess sighed, suddenly exhausted as she sank back against the wall of the annexe.
"I have to find some strength from somewhere." She murmured. "Tsunami can't be drained that easily, surely? Maybe if I went to her shrine – perhaps I'd find some kind of solace there. Even if her spirit is inside of me, maybe it would help somehow. I really don't know."
To think was to act,and she padded carefully across the damp terrain, pushing open the door of the main building and heading down the steep steps to the place where she knew the secret shrine was located. She met few guards on her way, and noone questioned her presence, recognising her immediately as the Lady Sasami, Yousai's honoured guest. At the door she halted, eying the engravings with a sombre expression. Then she pushed it open, stepping carefully between the benches and the offering places as she approached the shrine itself.
As she did so, something caught her eye and she turned, a gasp of consternation escaping her lips as she registered what lay in the temple's ante-chamber. Hesitantly she approached it, tears fresh in her eyes once more as she observed the silent, sleeping body of her faithful noble escort.
"Yurikage-sama." She murmured, flickering her hands over his body almost automatically as she said a silent prayer for his soul. "Tsunami is sorry for the sacrifice you made. And I am grateful, Lord Motonoya. I won't forget you or what you've done. I promise, it won't have been in vain. You will be avenged, somehow. I just wish I wasn't so dizzy and could think more clearly! I wish I had Tenchi or Ayeka or Ryoko to help me…I don't like fighting battles on my own!"
She sighed, leaning up against the wall and closing her eyes as her surroundings began to swim and distort, teasing at her vision and making her unsteadiness worse. She knew that it was a combination of her own weakness and Ramia's taunting spells, but it did not make it easier to fight, and at length she clenched her fists, gritting her teeth as she focused her energy on Tsunami's own far-reaching magic.
"You've let me see them before, the people to whom you're connected." She murmured. "I know you're hurt, Tsunami. I know you're weak and you're not yourself. But a little part of you is still in me, I know that's true. And as long as I have that, I must be able to use your strength as my own, right? So please, tell me where my family are. Tenchi and Ryoko and the others. I need them. I need their help. I don't think I can do this on my own."
For a moment there was nothing, and Sasami sighed, half-convinced that her own inexperience was only adding to Tsunami's own confusion. Then, from the depths of her mind, she felt a faint flickering and she screwed her eyes up tight, focusing on it with all her might. As she did so, a silhouette hovered briefly in her mind's eye, the glitter of white magic surrounding his body, and Sasami bit her lip, pushing her strength towards him as she looked for his comfort and his support.
"Tenchi-niichan." She murmured. "Please help me. Please. I know you can. Wherever you are, I need you. You've always been Tsunami's knight – Tenchi, wherever you are, I need to find you!"
There was a sudden flare of light, and Sasami let out a cry as it blazed through her, almost searing right through her heart and soul as it engulfed her in its power. She felt her body twist and turn away from the funerary bier and away from the dark, silent chapel that held so many ghosts and secrets. For a moment she felt like she was falling, and then, with a hard thump, she made contact with the ground, struggling to bring her whirling thoughts back into shape as she opened her eyes.
"Sasami?"
From somewhere in the melee, Sasami picked out Tenchi's voice and she blinked, struggling to bring her surroundings into focus.
"Tenchi-niichan?" She whispered. "Did I find you? Are you here?"
"That's the girl who was outside! The one on the street, who Ryoko and the others fought against." A second voice spoke now, and Sasami tried to place it, but failed. A strong arm hauled her carefully into a sitting position, supporting her trembling body as it did so and as she finally managed to bring the world back into focus, she was aware of two dark brown eyes gazing down at her in concern.
"Tenchi. It is you." Sasami sighed, as relief coursed through her, and she leant up against him, comforted by the man who she had always considered an honorary elder brother.
"Yes, but what are you doing here and how did you get here in the first place?" Tenchi asked her. "You're shaking like a leaf, Sasami-chan, and you're burning up. You should be resting – I thought Kamidake and Azaka were keeping close tabs on you?"
"They were. But I slipped out a different way." Sasami gripped him by the hands. "Tenchi, I want to stop Ramia. I have to. Tsunami and I – we have to fight back. But I'm so…so tired now. And…"
She faltered, as a sudden sense of nausea washed over her, and Tenchi hugged her tightly.
"You should rest and let Washu and the others worry about Ramia." He said softly. "You're doing enough keeping Tsunami at bay, Sasami-chan. You shouldn't push yourself harder than you can manage, you know."
"You really are just a kid, aren't you?" A strange face loomed over her at that moment, and Sasami stared up at him uncomprehendingly. "No older than that Misao girl. Gee, how quickly do kids grow up in outer space, anyway, Masaki?"
"Kids like Sasami and Misao? Far too soon." Tenchi said grimly. "It's all right, Sasami. This is Hiroshi Ikeda, and he's a friend of mine from the Earth. He won't hurt you. And the girl over there is Sakura Ito – likewise someone I go to college with. They got messed up in this quite by accident, but they're trustworthy, I swear."
"Friends of yours from Earth?" Sasami looked blank. Tenchi nodded.
"Maybe if I made her some tea, it would help?" Sakura offered. "She looks so fragile, poor thing – she really doesn't look at all well."
"Yes, and someone should go and tell Azaka and Kamidake that she's here, although why she is is anyone's guess." Tenchi agreed. "Any volunteers for playing messenger? They'll worry, when they find her gone."
"We could try this radio thing that Tennan guy showed us." Hiroshi suggested, flickering his fingers speculatively across the switches on the Unko's dashboard and pressing several of them in quick succession. "I think I saw how to work it."
Almost as soon as he'd finished speaking, a red light glimmered on and off across the control panel, and squirts of water shot out from the bases of the windscreen, splattering the perspex liberally with their cleansing fluid. Sakura snorted.
"Yes, you definitely have it down, Ikeda." She said teasingly. "I don't think you should do that again. Tennan-san isn't the kind of person you want to make angry, and he seems to like his spaceship."
"That's odd." Hiroshi frowned, slipping off his glasses as he squinted at the buttons. "I was sure that was it. My uncle's car does the same thing, though. You try and switch on the radio and it washes the windows. I guess it's a design flaw."
"Yes, in your brain." Sakura sighed. "Just let it alone, will you? We'll find another way to contact Azaka and Kamidake. Blowing up this ship might get people's attention, but I'm not really sure I want to die because you don't know what you're pressing."
At that moment, Ryo Ohki hopped down from the pipe on which she had been sleeping, rubbing up against Sasami and uttering a miaow. She glanced at Tenchi, cocking her head on one side, and Tenchi nodded, relief glittering in his expression.
"Good plan. You tell Ryoko, and she can tell the Knights." He agreed. "Thanks, Ryo Ohki. I'd forgotten you were here, you curled yourself up so well."
Ryo Ohki flicked her ears indignantly at this, but she settled herself more comfortably on the ground, resting her head on her paws as she concentrated on sending her message. Absently Sasami reached across to scratch beneath the cabbit's chin, and Ryo Ohki let out a contented purr, hopping up onto her lap.
"An old friend of yours, I see, Ryo Ohki." Sakura knelt at Sasami's side at this moment, offering her a warm mug of green tea, which Sasami eyed doubtfully. "It's all right. I promise. It's not too hot."
"Thank you." Sasami took it gingerly, sipping at it.
"Why did you come to me, Sasami-chan?" Tenchi asked softly. "There must be a reason. How did you know we were on board Seiryo-sama's ship, anyway?"
"Seiryo's…?" Sasami gazed around her, a slight smile touching her lips as she recognised her surroundings.
"I hadn't realised." She admitted. "I just thought of where you were, and I came here. Tsunami helped, though she's confused, Tenchi. Hurt and sick and not herself at all. Ramia keeps plaguing her, and something in the witch's magic makes her weak and unable to keep control of her own actions. I…I remember when we went to Kihaku, Tsunami used the magic from the knights to power her, and make her strong enough to save you, Mihoshi and Tokimi before the planet blew up. So…so I put my mind to the strongest person I knew, because…because I hoped…"
She trailed off, and Tenchi sighed, slowly shaking his head.
"I don't have my magic at the moment. Tsunami's weakness has weakened me, too." He said sadly. "I'm sorry, Sasami. If I could give it you, I would in a heartbeat. But I can't even muster up sword Tenchi at the moment."
"I see." Sasami's heart sank, and she set the mug of tea aside. "Then I guess I'm on my own, aren't I?"
"That's the last thing you should be, in this condition." Sakura looked anxious. "Hiroshi's right – you are a kid, and you can't fight this demon woman on your own!"
"Maybe she could take this." Hiroshi suggested, scooping up Yurikage's abandoned sword in his grasp and attempting a couple of wild parries with it, almost tripping over his own feet as he did so. "Gee, its harder than it looks."
"Lord Motonoya's sword." Sasami's eyes opened wide with surprise. "Why do you have it? I don't understand?"
"Lord Tennan gave it to me, in case we needed a form of defence." Tenchi explained quietly. "Sakura, Ikeda and I have been exiled here for our own good, apparently – not that I can say I like it. The ship is comfortable enough, and probably safe enough, too. But I don't like being away from the action. Even without my magic, I don't like it at all."
"Wait a minute. Hiroshi is right." Sakura's dark eyes lit up with sudden comprehension, and she held out her hand, taking the sword from the bemused grip of her friend. She ran a gentle finger along the blade, pursing her lips as she considered. "Rumiya said that the blade could hurt Arian magic. Didn't he? Isn't that what he said, and why Tenchi has this in the first place? It did turn Misa back into Misao, too. It must be strong in some way or another. Mustn't it?"
"Misa…back into…?" Sasami stared. "You mean she didn't want to be Misa?"
"Of course not. Ramia made her – she bewitched her, just like she's bewitching Tsunami." Tenchi shook his head. "Misao is distraught about what's happened – she blames herself and she's frightened too, Sasami. She's not to blame for any of this – she's just being used as a puppet, just like Rumiya and just like Haki was, too."
"Haki." Sasami's eyes flickered with consternation, and she nodded. "I see. I didn't know, but I'm glad I do, now. I didn't want my friend to be a killer again, Tenchi. After Yugi – I didn't want that to happen to me again."
"Misao cares about you a lot. She's worried about you, like we are." Tenchi assured her. "And she wants to help, although I'm not sure how she can."
"What did you mean about the blade, Sakura?" Hiroshi asked curiously, as Sakura settled herself once more at the Princess's side. "We don't know a lot about this magic – what are you thinking might happen?"
"Tenchi just said that this Ramia woman has been putting spells on Sasami here too." Sakura reasoned. "And Rumiya was sure that this sword can hurt Ramia's magic, even if it can't hurt it completely. Because it cut his arm, or something, and it shouldn't have been able to. Najya-san said that the sword could hurt anyone with Arian magic, if it got too close. She seemed to think it was stronger than Ramia gave Rumiya reason to believe. What if it is?"
"Go on." Tenchi frowned. "Explain."
"Well, if this sword broke the spell making Misao into Misa, and it hurt Rumiya when he should have been protected, maybe it can help Sasami, too." Sakura shrugged. "I might be talking nonsense, of course, because I really don't understand how all this works. But it stands to reason to me that it might have some effect. Mightn't it? I mean, Sasami's magic is different, isn't it? It's not from this A..Airai place. So it shouldn't hurt her. Should it?"
Tenchi's eyes widened, and he grasped the sword out of her hand, glancing at it then up at his friend in wonder.
"You know, you might have something." He murmured. "Sasami? What do you think?"
"I remember the blade cutting the bird's wing." Sasami faltered. "Do you mean the bird was…Rumiya?"
"Yes." Tenchi agreed. "Under another of Ramia's spells, I'm afraid."
"It made him bleed." Sasami said slowly. "And he seemed…startled. Yurikage-sama told me then that his blade was mined from Arian ore…commissioned by an ancestor of his. He was so proud of it…of wielding such a strong and elegant blade."
"Then maybe Lord Motonoya is still fighting for Tsunami's cause, after all." Sakura said gravely. Tenchi nodded.
"He told Lord Tennan and Ryoko to keep it safe, because he knew it had some kind of effect on Ramia's magic." He agreed. "Sasami, I think Sakura might be right. At the very least, the sword might help you control Tsunami's wild outbursts a little more."
"But we can't exactly stab her." Hiroshi pointed out. "I've not seen Lord Motonoya's body, but I've seen the bloody mess in that hallway – they still haven't got rid of the stains. How exactly can we use the sword on Sasami?"
"You can't." Sasami glanced at the sword for a moment, then she struggled to her feet. "Not on Sasami. But on…on Tsunami. Maybe. I guess we'll have to try it and…and see."
"I don't want to hurt you, Sasami-chan." Tenchi said worriedly, even as the young princess's body glittered with light, morphing and changing into the ghostly form of the goddess, a strange prickle of energy surrounding her aura.
"Tsunami is a spirit. A physical blade can't kill her." The princess assured him, her fists clenched as she fought to control the will of the feral spirit that hid within her. "But I can't always control her, either. When Tsunami takes over, at the moment, Ramia has her in her power. It's Tsunami who needs to be set free, Tenchi-niichan. I trust you. I know you can do this."
"But what if I hurt you?" Tenchi faltered, as the glow around the apparition intensified.
"Ramia is already hurting me." Sasami whispered. "Please, Tenchi. Tsunami needs you to try. She's hurting too, and Ramia might make her do something terrible again, if we don't do something to stop her!"
Tenchi bit his lip, and a shudder of energy ran up Sasami's spine as she felt Ramia's touch coursing through Tsunami once more, spreading slowly out across her form and stifling her beneath it's cold, dark grip. She let out a gasp as Tsunami's feral rage began to overwhelm her again, struggling to hold it back, but it was beyond her tired body and as the Goddess's power grew, Sasami felt herself being pushed back into the depths of her consciousness, drowning in a dark sea of emotions as she fought to keep her head above water.
"Well, so this is interesting" She heard Tsunami say, but the voice was edged with Ramia's hard gutteral tones, and Sasami knew that Ramia's earlier warnings had been right. The barrier between them was dissipating, and as the mage grew stronger, she was forcing herself more and more into Tsunami's being, trying her best to rip them apart. "You think a piece of metal can kill me, do you? Prince of Jurai, how foolish you are. That you think such a blade could defeat us!"
There was a second shudder of magic, then,
"Your friends think you're safe here, but you're not." She whispered. "And now you're trapped, I will kill you. All of you. Don't count on Sasami to help you. She won't. Say your farewells. It's time for you to go join Lord Motonoya in his lonely temple!"
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"Into Misa?"
Rumiya's eyes almost fell out of his head, and he stared at his companion in dismay, shaking his head firmly. "You know I won't do that, Misao-sama! You know that it might hurt you! And you don't even like Misa! She's not like you - she doesn't care about anything at all. I don't want to do that to you again...we both know what happened last time I did!"
Misao swallowed hard, nodding her head.
"I know." She said hoarsely, grasping him around the wrists. "And I'm scared. I don't know what will happen. But I need Misa, if I'm going to use any of my magic to stop my mother. I have to try it, Rumiya. Please. I told you, it's...it's an order. Make me Misa. Now."
Rumiya eyed her doubtfully for a moment, but at length he sighed, nodding his head reluctantly.
"All right." He said sadly. "If it's really what you want me to do...I will."
"It is." Misao nodded her head firmly. "I'm ready. Just...whatever it is you do, I'm ready."
Rumiya sent her a melancholy glance, then he sighed again, placing his fingers under her chin gently and lifting her gaze to his as he focused his thoughts on her. Not without misgivings, Misao stood perfectly still, resisting the urge to glance away as Rumiya's powers of suggestion washed through her once more, slowly and surely teasing at her thoughts and her senses, re-ordering them one by one. A strange sensation washed over her, and for a moment she thought she was going to faint. Gritting her teeth, she held on, her grip on Rumiya's wrists tightening as she sought to keep her balance. The rest of the room seemed very far away, and the discussion over her father's letter from another lifetime, as memories and flickers of thought flashed by.
"Misa." She murmured, whetting her lips as she felt the imposing presence of another haunting her senses. "I must do this. For Sasami. For Yousai. I must."
With that she relinquished her last hold on her composure, allowing herself to fall into Rumiya's deep pool of hypnosis as she stumbled, her grip loosening as she tumbled forwards. Rumiya caught her with an exclamation, and as Misao raised her gaze to his, she felt anticipation pump through her veins, startling all her senses and rushing through to her heart.
"Misa?" Rumiya's tones were hesitant, and for a moment Misao wasn't sure how to answer, unable to put her thoughts into words. Then she pulled herself upright, excitement dancing in her eyes as she grabbed his shoulders, meeting his eyes with cheeky, coquettish amber ones of her own.
"Ru-kun." She whispered. "Well, well. It's been a while."
Rumiya sighed.
"Misao-sama asked it of me, else it would never have happened again." He said softly. "So don't hurt her, all right? She wants your help."
Misa tilted her head on one side, eying his expression for a moment. Then she dimpled, an impish light in her marigold gaze.
"Whatever you say." She murmured, flexing her fingers and slipping them around his neck. Adrenalin coursed through her, and before she knew what she was doing, she had kissed him square on the lips, letting out an amused peal of golden laughter as she registered his stunned, horrified expression.
"Really, am I that bad?" She asked teasingly. "Or would you rather be kissing Misao? Is that it? You don't like me so much as you do her, do you, Ru-kun?"
"Misa, stop it. Stop messing around! Misao called you out for a reason, and..."
"Ru-kun." Misa pressed her finger to his lips, shaking her head, and he stared at her, bewildered.
"What?" He demanded, pushing her arm away. "What are you playing at?"
"Nothing." Misa shrugged her shoulders, spreading her hands in a gesture of surrender. "I just thought you should know. I'm not Misa, Ru-kun. Not this time."
Rumiya's jaw dropped, and he gaped at his companion as if seeing her for the first time.
"Misao...sama?" He whispered. Misao laughed, nodding her head.
"I'm still Misao." She agreed. "Only...only Misa has such energy, Rumiya. Such life. Such daring. She wants to do and experience everything - all the things I didn't want to experience, because I was so afraid to move beyond these walls. I've been so protected, so sheltered, and I've buried half of my soul in the process. But I don't want to any more. I want to know Misa, too. And accept her for who she is."
"Misa killed Lord Motonoya, don't forget that."
"No, my mother made her do that. And I did, because I isolated her into listening to what Ramia said." Misao shook her head. "Misa and I have come to an agreement, Rumiya. We both need this body, if we're going to live. And...and I need her strength and courage, if I'm going to have a chance against my mother. We're both parts of the same girl, like Tsunami and Sasami are the same. And I...I really hope that if we work together, we might both wind up being freed from Ramia's shadow. After all, Misa is just Misao's reflection. That's all."
"But you...kissed me." Rumiya swallowed hard, and Misao pinkened, nodding her head.
"I'm sorry. Misa made me do it." She admitted, biting her lip. "I didn't...well I wasn't...I wanted to know what it was like, that's all. Because I really like you a lot, Ru-kun. Only I didn't know how to tell you, or if I should. But Misa thinks I should. And when I thought you would die - I didn't like it. Even if we've both done bad things...I don't want you not to be there. So will you come with me, now? Will you come to Tounochi and help me try and take on my mother?"
Rumiya gawked at her anew, as if trying to make out if she was joking or serious. Then he nodded his head, spreading his hands as he morphed into his bird form.
"I'll come." He said soberly, settling himself on his companion's shoulder. "After all, you're Lady of Yousai. And I wouldn't let you face Lady Ramia on your own. Let's go."
"Lady Misao!"
The shocked voice of another interrupted their conversation and Misao turned, horror sparking in her amber eyes as she registered the presence of her guardian in the doorway, Lord Hirayama in tow. "What are you doing? Is it that devil bird? Rumiya will be severely dealt with for this - Misao-sama, come back to your senses at once! Come away from that creature - don't you know he'll only do vile things to you?"
Rumiya flapped his wings, soaring high into the rafters of the building as the nobleman drew his sword, squinting upwards as he sought his quarry, and Misao let out an exclamation, grabbing the sword from his grasp and sending it clattering across the room.
"No!" She exclaimed. "Leave Rumiya alone! Leave him alone!"
"Lady Misao, you don't know what you're saying. The spell, it's confusing you. You're not yourself - you don't know who you are!" Daisuke objected, anxiety in his expression as he grabbed his young charge securely by the shoulders. "Wandering this building at all hours, shutting yourself away...this is the trauma of events taking their toll on your poor delicate body. All of this...my poor Misao, what has it done to you?"
"Let go of me, Ojisama!" Misao's eyes flashed with impatience, and she pushed him back, swiping his hands from her body as she moved out of his reach. "I'm not confused. Not at all. I'm fine!"
"Fine? Looking like that?" Lord Hirayama put in at that moment. "Lady Misao, you can't know your own mind. The demon is inside of you again - the demon of Tounochi!"
"Misa is not a demon!" Misao put her hands on her hips. "She's part of me! The part of me you encouraged me never to face, because you were scared of my mother and her legacy! You knew she was bound in that tower, but you wouldn't have told me if I hadn't have overheard you talking! And you don't talk about my Arian heritage, like it's something dirty and evil. But I've met Najya-sama now, and I know that it isn't. It isn't! It's how you choose to use that heritage, not who you were born to or how you were born! I'm not Ramia-sama and Misa is a part of Misao! She's not Ramia at all, Ojisama! She's Misao Amano, and noone else!"
"Lady Misao, please..."
"Stop it! Shut up and listen to me! Please!" Misao cut across him, causing Daisuke to stop dead, staring at her in dismay. "I am Lady of Yousai. I am not delicate or fragile. I can't be. You've just made me that way because you were afraid of what would happen to me. You never let me leave this place. You never let me question anything, and I grew up being afraid. Afraid and alone, Oshima-sama! Rumiya and Sasami are the first real friends I ever had, and I love both of them dearly. Both of them have been hurt by my mother, and I won't let that happen again. So I'm going to do something about it!"
"Misao." Daisuke bit his lip. "My child, we only acted in your interests. You are young, and your father...he loved you so much. As do we, my child. We love you dearly, and if harm came to you..."
"I know that." Misao's tones softened, and she nodded her head. "But I am Lady of Yousai now, aren't I? That's what all of this is about?"
"Well, yes, but..."
"Then as Lady of Yousai, I'm going to do what my Father would have wanted, and protect my people. However I can." Misao said firmly. "Even if I'm scared. Even if it's dangerous. I have to."
"Misao-chan." Daisuke frowned, resting a gentle hand on her shoulder. For a moment, Misao thought he was going to argue with her, then very slowly he nodded.
"He would have been proud of you, if he could have heard those words." He said softly. "Young as you are, you truly are his daughter, Misao-chan."
Misao dimpled, flinging her arms around her guardian at this and hugging him tightly.
"Thank you." She murmured. "I'll be all right - at least, I'll try to be. And Rumiya is coming with me. He's not evil, Ojisama. Really, he isn't. He's been a prisoner of my mother's magic too, that's all. But he wants to help and I trust him. So promise me you won't hurt him, even when all this is over. None of it has been his fault...and I don't want him to go away."
At this, the parrot descended from the beams, flexing his feathers as he hovered at Misao's side. Daisuke sighed, shaking his head.
"I must obey my Lady's will." He said at length. "As you wish, Misao-sama."
Delight flickered in Misao's eyes, and as she gazed up at her guardian's tired, anxious face, she saw surprise cross his expression.
"What?" She asked, startled. "Is something wrong?"
"No." Daisuke shook his head. "Just...your eyes, Misao-chan. They were gold...but now they're not. They're your father's eyes. Strange as you still look, with hair like gold...you have your father's look about you, just as I always knew you would."
"Lord Oshima is right." Rumiya agreed, flicking the tips of his wings as if to illustrate his point. "Misao-sama, your eyes are aquamarine again."
"Really?" Misao faltered for a moment, then she smiled.
"I'm glad." She said softly. "I always liked that I had my father's eyes."
She held out her hand to the bird, and Rumiya fluttered down onto it, settling his feathers more comfortably as he stabilised his perch.
"Then we'll go." She added. "Ojisama, I'm leaving you in charge here. I have to go and try and help put Yousai to rights!"
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"Tenchi!"
Ryoko sat bolt upright in bed, fear flickering across her senses as she tossed back her covers, clambering to her feet and grabbing her robe from its hook beside the dresser. Ryo Ohki's thought patterns buzzed and whirled through her mind, conveying both fear and apprehension and the pirate grimaced, struggling to separate her own emotions from the rising hysteria of her spaceship companion.
"Tsunami." She muttered. "On the Unko. And I thought that was supposed to be safe! What's she doing there, Ryo Ohki? What's happening – can you tell me?"
A bevy of images assailed her senses at this, and she bit her lip as she tried to assemble them into some kind of order.
"Sasami went to Tenchi for help, but it backfired." She whispered. "Right. I'll be with you in a second, Ryo Ohki. Hang on in there. I'll come right to you."
A second wave of images flitted across their psychic bond, and Ryoko, who had been about to teleport out to the landing bay paused, her brow creasing in consternation.
"You don't want me to come alone." She realised. "You think I should get Washu or Najya to come with me – is Tsunami that out of control? But what if she hurts Tenchi in the meantime? Ryo Ohki, don't be so stupid. I can teleport in and teleport all of you out of there in an instant. Noone has to fight Tsunami at all – and then they'll be safe."
"Why are you talking to yourself, Ryoko?"
A sleepy voice from the doorway alerted the pirate to the fact she had company, and Ryoko frowned, glaring at her mother impatiently.
"How long have you been there?"
"Since you clattered out of bed at a great rate of knots. I know my daughter, and Najya and I are only a floor above you, thanks to the Yousai Council's hurried accommodation arrangements." Washu stifled a yawn, stepping into the chamber as she did so, and Ryoko could see that her mother was also attired only in her nightwear, her thick red hair bound back for the night and her robe tied loosely around her waist. Behind her, the pirate made out the shimmering outline of the scientist's old friend, and she sighed, shaking her head impatiently.
"So what exactly has you panicking? Ryo Ohki?" Washu asked. "I know your reactions too well – were you going to go somewhere dangerous without us?"
"Tsunami is on the Unko and Tenchi and the others need our help." Ryoko snapped. "We can waste time yattering or we can go and help them. I don't care what you're doing, but I'm going aboard that tin-can spaceship and I'm going to get my fiancé and my friends out of there before Sasami's other half makes mincemeat of them. All right with you?"
"Tsunami." Najya looked troubled. "I was afraid that our spell wouldn't last, Washu. I gave it all the strength I could, but Tsunami was resisting my help all the way. I suppose Ramia has regained control."
"Perhaps the barrier around Tounochi has weakened further." Washu mused. "All right, Ryoko. We're coming with you, so stop fretting. Tenchi's friends are my responsibility, anyway. I chose to bring them here, and even with Yurikage-sama's Arian sword to help, I doubt that any of them are much of a match for a Goddess on the rampage."
"Finally." Ryoko muttered. "All right. But we're not going to hurt Sasami, are we? Last time it hurt Sasami…I don't want to kill her by mistake."
"We'll do just as you said, Ryoko. We'll go in and get them out." Najya assured her softly. "I can probably distract Ramia's rage enough anyway for you and Washu to do just that. And I think I can hold my own against my Saotome counterpart, at least for a short time."
"Then we're still wasting time." Ryoko snapped, tying her gown more tightly around her waist. "Let's go."
She closed her eyes, focusing her energy on the Unko, but then she frowned, confusion flooding her senses.
"Well? What's wrong, musume-chan?" Washu asked softly.
"I…can't." Ryoko cast her mother a confused glance. "I can't teleport. I can't get there. Something's keeping me out."
"Tsunami's magic? Ramia? Your Saotome blood?" Najya frowned. "I can't transmit myself there either, so maybe it's like Lord Azusa's barrier. Maybe it blocks out Arian blood. Washu, what about you? You're not Arian in the least. Can you reach the ship?"
Washu closed her eyes, and for a moment there was silence. Then she opened them again, shaking her head.
"It's not because either of you have Arian blood. I can't get in, either." She murmured. "It's as if Tsunami is keeping us at bay."
"To protect us, or to keep us from helping Tenchi?" Ryoko bit her lip. "Dammit, does she think it's that simple? If we can't teleport, we can always walk, and the sooner we go, the sooner we get there. Come on!"