Author's Note: Most of the characters in the following story are not mine and in no way do I claim them to be. Nor do I claim that I created the universe that the characters are placed in. The characters and the universe remain the property of Hitoshi Okuda, Pioneer LDC, INC and Kadokawa Shoten Publishing CO. Please do not sue me. This is a fanfic and is nothing more than a show of my appreciation to the creators of Tenchi Muyo.

No Need for Dark Warriors

1 Chapter 11

Aeka shuddered. "Why did that door shut?"

Washuu shook her head despairingly. "Well I can't say I didn't expect this. Someone aboard this ship is watching us very closely."

"How?" Said Ryoko. "I don't see any cameras."

"Hump!" Washuu exclaimed. "The technology aboard this ship far surpasses something as simple as cameras, Ryoko."

"Well sorry!"

Washuu chose to ignore Ryoko's comment as she took a look around. Discounting the door that had just shut there was four other doors in the room, all of which were open. There was nothing else but bare metal walls. Washuu could feel Tenchi's eyes on her and knew that he was looking for information and unfortunately she had none.

"Lets just pick a door." Washuu said.

Aeka raised her arms. "Which one?"

The moment Aeka's words left her lips there was a clicking sound and suddenly the group was bathed in complete darkness as the lights went out.

"What's going on miss Washuu!"

"How am I supposed to know that Aeka? Why does everyone think I know everything!"

"Because you're the greatest scientist in the universe." Ryoko said numbly.

"That's right and don't you forget it!"

"Sooo?" Said Aeka.

"You think I can turn on the lights?" Said Washuu. "Nope, sorry, we're stuck in darkness."

Tenchi nodded but that could not be seen in the blackness. "Lets just stay together then. We'll hold hands and pick a door."

"You can always hold my hand Tenchi." Ryoko whispered.

"You oversexed molester!" Aeka snapped. "You better keep your hands off Lord Tenchi!"

"Oh come on Aeka, can't you take a joke?"

"Girls." Tenchi sighed. "Can we just get moving?"

There was a clamor of feet as Aeka and Ryoko rushed to be the one to claim Tenchi's hand but they found to their dismay that someone, namely Washuu, had beaten them to it. Once everyone had a good grip on the other they began walking in the darkness. Tenchi, who was in the lead, walked for only a dozen feet or so and then heard the slamming of a door behind him and then he was bathed in sudden light. Blinking so that his eyes became accustomed to the brightness Tenchi turned to see the others who had been walking behind him, but to his horror he saw no one, only a blank steel wall. Washuu, Ryoko, and Aeka were gone. But he had been holding Washuu's hand, hadn't he? Whose hand had that been?

"Washuu?" Tenchi called out into the bleak metal room. "Ryoko? Aeka?"

It was then that Tenchi detected a sound, a sniffling noise, someone was crying.

"Hello? Whose there?" Tenchi called. "Hello?"

Getting no answer Tenchi followed the noise and found that the room he was in was nothing more than a huge maze with winding corridors and passages that doubled over upon themselves. In moments he was completely lost. The crying had become louder and when he rounded the newest corner he saw the source. A small child, a boy of little more than seven, was huddled in a corner with his head hidden in his hands. He was weeping so intensely that he was shaking. The child presented an odd appearance, his black clothing sticking out against the metal walls. Tenchi approached the child with concern and knelt down next to him.

"Hey there, what's the matter? Are you lost?"

The child looked up and Tenchi was shocked at the attractiveness of his tiny face. "No, I'm not lost." He said sadly as he looked into Tenchi's eyes.

"Are you hurt then?"

"No, I'm not hurt."

"Then why are you crying?"

"Because someone's going to die." Said the boy as he rose to his feet heavily, never taking his eyes off of Tenchi.

Tenchi blinked worriedly. "Who's going to die?"

"You are, you and all your friends." The boy wiped his eyes and turned and ran down the corridor and disappeared around the corner.

Tenchi remained still for a moment with a stunned expression on his face. Then his straightened himself and started down the hall after the child. Who was this boy? He had to find out. Then, after walking what seemed like a very large distance Tenchi heard a new sound. It was the sound of Sasami and she was screaming.

"No! No! Tenchi help us!"

Tenchi ran faster then he thought possible, nearly slipping upon the metal floors. Soon he was in a large and open room and there in front of him was Sasami. The young girl was standing in the center of the room, her tearing eyes looking at Tenchi pleadingly. Tenchi ran to her but just before he could reach out his arms and touch her when a powerful force threw him back, a force field. Tenchi was back on his feet despite the pain and looked at Sasami with a feeling of helplessness.

"Tenchi, can't you get me out?" Sasami whimpered.

"I- I'm not sure." Tenchi examined the force field, he could feel the energy rippling off it, he was sure it would hold not matter what he did. "Who put you in there?"

"I don't know. I was in Ryo-Ohki one second and then I was here."

"Well I'm going to get you out."

"And we're going to help."

Tenchi turned at the sound of Ryoko's voice and saw that she, Aeka and Washuu were standing a dozen or so feet away.

"Am I glad to see you!" Tenchi exclaimed. "How did we get separated?"

Washuu shrugged and approached the imprisoned Sasami. "Here, let me have a look at the force field."

"You'll never get here out you know." Came a sardonic voice from a few dozen feet away.

"Who's there!" Tenchi shouted in the direction of the voice as he gripped his sword tightly.

A man stepped into the room then. He was tall and bony with an appearance that was skeleton like, especially when one viewed his twisted and gaunt face. There was as much insanity in his step as there was in his wicked red eyes and glinting ceramic armor.

"Who are you?" Tenchi said quickly, he did not like the appearance of this new arrival.

"Oh wouldn't you love to know who I am!" Said the man insanely. He motioned to Sasami. "You like your little friend? I call it girl under glass. I must say she's so pretty when she cries. A shame I can't keep her. I can see why you want to free her. She's such a delectable treat."

"Your disgusting!" Ryoko shouted as she manifested her energy sword. "Free Sasami now!"

The strange man shook his head. "Oh no, no, no. That wouldn't be fun. Your spunky, I like you. I think I'll kill you first. Don't worry, I'll be fun, you'll love the feeling of my blade slicing into your body and whisking your life away on blood red feathers!"

Ryoko had worked herself into a rage. "Try it you bastard!"

With that Ryoko rushed the strange man with a roar.

"Ryoko no!" Tenchi shouted as he chased after her.

The man looked like a skeleton but he was very quick. As Ryoko approached he raised a hand a fired energy into her body that set her to the ground screaming in pain. Tenchi had activated his sword and was about to bring it down upon the man when the unnamed man turned to him.

"Oh no, two against one isn't fair."

The man raised his hand and fired his energy at Tenchi. Tenchi felt his limbs freeze and his joints stop and he hit the floor as stiff as a board and could not move. However he found that he could still see and hear everything around him.

Aeka had rushed over to Tenchi now and was crying as she tried to rub motion back into his joints. Meanwhile Washuu had redoubled her efforts to break the force field that held Sasami. Tenchi looked at Ryoko and saw that she was stubbornly trying to rise and make another attack.

"No! Ryoko! Stay down!" Tenchi shouted. "He'll kill you!"

But Ryoko would not listen and rushed the skeleton-like man. The man raised a hand and a sword grew out from his palm. The man watched as Ryoko approached and then, just as Ryoko brought her blade down he casually flicked his own blade to one side. Ryoko did not have a chance and the weapon of her adversary slashed into her middle and she was clearly dead before she hit the ground.

"Noooooo!" Tenchi wailed as he felt the hot tears flood his eyes. Ryoko was dead, she had been killed right in front of him and he had been powerless to stop it. He tried to move but found that he was still paralyzed.

The man kicked Ryoko's motionless body and chuckled. "Well, well, that was enjoyable! Fun, fun! Lets see, who else is next?"

"Leave them alone you monster!" Tenchi roared.

The man turned to Tenchi and smiled. "Oh don't worry, you don't have to shout, I'll get to you soon enough." He looked around. "Lets see, who's next, hmm. How about you my little red haired beauty?"

Washuu had barely time to turn around before the man rushed her with the speed of a bullet. With a flash of steel Washuu collapsed to the ground without ever uttering a final word. Then before anyone else had time to react the man whirled about and flew straight towards Aeka. Aeka still had her hands on Tenchi when she was struck and Tenchi could feel her hands grip him tighter and then suddenly relax. Tenchi now could no longer speak. He was helpless, everyone was dying and he was helpless. The emotional pain was nearly too much but his eyes stayed open, though hazy with tears, and watched.

The unnamed man was now kneeling with his face very close to Tenchi's. "So my boy," He began. "How does it feel to watch your friends die and be helpless to stop it? I imagine it hurts quite a bit doesn't it? Well," He leaned close to Tenchi's ear. "Sorry. I suppose there's no use crying about it though; it's over and done with. I won't kill the little one though." He motioned to Sasami. "Not yet anyway, I really like her. I think she'll make a great pet. Well anyway, I suppose I'll let you live, after all, what fun is it killing you? Ta ta. Have a nice life."

Tenchi watched as the man approached Sasami. "Don't touch her! Don't touch her! You monster! No!" But Tenchi knew he was helpless, he did not protect Aeka, Ryoko or Washuu and now he could not protect Sasami. Tenchi closed his eyes, not wanting to see, not wanting to live. All he could here were Sasami's screams.

Tenchi awoke with a start to find himself leaning against the wall in the room with the four doors, the room where he, Washuu, Aeka, and Ryoko had become separated in the darkness. It was lit now. Had it been a dream? It was so real. Tenchi brought his knees up to his chin and felt the tears come as he rocked gently back and forth.

To be continued…