THREE PRINCESSES...
Author: Daferge
Disclaimer: Tenchi Muyo! is a copyright AIC/Pioneer Ltd.
All respective characters are property of their original owners. All original characters and ideas are property of the author.
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Chapter 35... Once upon a time...
( The Masaki shrine, 1902… )
A young man in Shinto robes stood in the thin layer of fallen snow, sipping tea at the top of the stairs that led up to the shrine...
The long stairs led down from the shrine to a trail that passed the small lake below on its way through the woods to the nearby road…
The road passed through the valley, connecting the towns to the north with those in the south...
The famed shrine was an ancient stopping off place for travelers who wish to get blessings for their travels...
There were even some visitors who just wanted to visit the cave with the demon sealed within...
The same demon whose capture, over 600 years before, was said to had been responsible for creating the valley, as well as the shrine...
Like the Shrine, the steps and trail were also over 600 years old and thou he didn't show it, so was the young man…
Katsuhito Masaki was in reality, Yosho Masaki Jurai, a visitor from another world, who had found himself stranded on this one…
In fact, it had been he and not an ancestor, who had created and built the Shrine, the steps and the trail over 600 years before…
For, while protecting his home world, his space ship had been destroyed and he'd found him self stuck on this small primitive world with no apparent way back…
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Under Galaxy Law, this world was listed as a 'protected planet', because it was a world that was still developing and as such any off-world contact with the culture was forbidden...
In official records, just about the only place the world was mentioned, it was listed as a Juraian lost colony, number 0315, do to the fact that it was on the very edge of official Juraian space and in unexplored, disputed space...
So, do to it's listing, it was patrolled by ships from the Galaxy Police, an organization of interstellar police officers, who did their best to keep the peace in so called, civilized space…
So, in truth, if he had wished, he could have been rescued at any time...
However, as it turned out, this wasn't so bad, because he had a number of reasons not to return home and this was a nice quiet world, FAR from his or any other civilized worlds, just the kind of peaceful place to spend the rest of his life…
And the role of humble priest fit him well, quite the opposite of the famed warrior that he had been...
It also helped in his travels away from the shrine, as he explored this strange and wonderful young world…
For on this world, men of the cloth, such as shinto priest, could travel more freely than an ordinary male, as religion was some times more important than life on this world...
It was a young culture, still trying to find it's self, but Katsuhito saw greatness ahead, if it was just left alone and cosmic civilization didn't stick its nose in and ruin it, like it had done so many times before in history…
In reality, over time, he'd discovered that he wasn't alone on this world…
In his travels around the world, he'd met a number of other 'off-worlders', who were also on this world without GP permission…
Like him, they were tired of 'Civilization' and had come here to get away from it all…
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However, there was a major down side to living on this world...
Due to the radiation belt around the planet, the rejuvenation organs that most star travelers had were effected, slowing rejuvenation and causing them to age as a faster rate, thus shorting their lives from 1,000s of years to only a few 100, if that…
However, it seem that there were some rare areas, like the valley where the shrine was, where a combination of rare minerals tended to counter acted the radiation, allowing a some what normal life span…
Some day, he was going to find some one who could tell him why that was…
Until then he had Funaho, the living Jurian tree that he had been bonded to, long ago and which had helped to keep him alive for all these years…
On this strange world, even that was strange…
The tree, with an intelligence of its own, had been part of his star ship, operating it's mode of travel as well as its defenses and weapons…
A Juraian Tree-ship was considered THE ultimate military craft, unmatched in the galaxy by any one…
However, if the tree were to get replanted in planetary soil, over time, it would lose any powers, slip into a deep sleep and eventually become just another tree, as the trees needed to return to Jurai every so often to be recharged, which was how the Juraian Royal Family kept control of the powerful craft…
It seem that, between the valley's soil and some gems he had acquired, Funaho was very much alive and so, it was able to keep him rejuvenated, better and longer than just his body would have…
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He had recently learned of a community of off-worlders, descendents of refuges from one of the many wars that Jurai had fought in the past hundreds of thousands of years…
High up in the Himalaya Mountains in Asia, in a small hidden valley, they were even able to retain their ancestor's longevity…
When they had learned that he was from Jurai, they had been interested in talking and asking about how the Empire was and such, they had little tech, so as not to attract GP attention…
However, when they learned he was a member of the Royal Family, things had gotten quiet…
It appeared that there were still some things about their past they weren't ready to talk about, yet…
He hoped in time that they would open up…
Until then, there were other things to consider, like his new house guest…
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He had found her just outside the entrance to the demon's cave…
She was laying in the thin layer of snow, no tracks leading up to her, nothing to show how she'd gotten there…
However, he knew that she hadn't been there a short time before, when he had passed by…
His tracks from earlier were still there, as there hadn't been any new snow fall…
It was as if she had fall from above or just appear out of no where…
He made his way to her and knelt to check her out, a couple of fingers on her neck told of a strong pulse and that she was alive…
As he picked her up he noted several things…
First, although she appeared to be in good condition, there was an odd aura around her…
As he looked closer, it wasn't one aura, but two, she was with child…
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( Later, at the shrine… )
Katsuhito watched over the young female with odd feelings…
Why was there this feeling that some how he knew this young girl?...
Then there were the names that she kept mumbled, "Nobe" and "Tenchi"…
Since coming to this world he had taken his part as a Priest to heart and there'd been no time for women…
In the first few decades, he'd spent a great deal of time defending the shrine and cave with more that just words...
There were always those who thought that the cave held other secrets and willing to kill to get those possible riches...
But none could match a Juraian Sword-master and a sword that could cut through flesh and steel like butter…
Word had quickly got around that the demon's curse was more than just words…
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For the first time in centuries, the Goddess, Tsunami, had appeared to him…
The last time had been when he defeated the violent space pirate Ryoko and taken her power gems…
In that instant, the wild raging demon had suddenly vanished and there was that small scared female in its place…
All his penned up rage for what the demon Ryoko had done to his world and people dissolved also…
A smiling Tsunami had watched as he had picked up the small unconscious female and set about creating a secure place for her…
A safe place where she could rest and heal, mentally as well as physically, until it was time for her to return to the outside world…
A statis chamber, buried deep beneath the shrine and hidden from both prying eyes, as well as any advance scanning devices…
Hidden within the cursed Demon's cave…
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( Several hours later… )
Resting on the floor of the small room behind the shrine, he felt a hand touch his arm…
Sitting back up quickly, he looked down at the female laying on his futon and smiling up at him…
Oddly he had a feeling he hadn't felt in centuries, not since leaving Jurai and those he loved...
" Father!... "
This was some thing that caused his eyes to widen, as the greatest swordman of Jurai, was taken by surprise…
Looking across the room, to the goddess Tsunami, he found her watching him…
With a slight smile, she nodded her head…
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( The Royal Chambers, Zanata six… )
Tenchi, held up by his three wives, looked first at his grandfather, then at Washu, who nodded…
Sighing she spoke next...
" The basic truth of the matter is that on the day that you thought your mother died, she didn't... "
Tenchi started to ask some thing, but knew better than to interrupt Washu when she was like this, but he did smile...
" After I learned the facts, I did some research and came up with a theories about what happen... "
Every one was paying attention…
" Just before Kain was swept away, he managed to do a couple of things… One was to send tiny fragment back in time to destroy any members of royal blood who might be a threat in the future… The other was to taint your mother with another fragment, too small to be detected, one that would only activated when she was with child… "
There were a number of gasps within the room…
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" It seem that this was to remove YOU from the future and prevent your being able to go to the past, defeating him… "
Washu looked at her sister, who showed no emotion…
" However, some one kept the fragment dormant, until after your birth… It only when Kiyone became pregnant a second time did the fragment activated, transporting her and her child back to the early 1900s… "
There was complete silence…
" She was discovered outside the cave and taken to the shrine… There she awoke to find herself alone, except for her father, who didn't know her… "
She saw the sadness in Tenchi's eyes, she glanced at his grandfather…
" Accepting her story, your grandfather took her to some friend high up in the Himalaya Mountains who could care for both her and the child... That was where Tennyo was born, your younger sister, 50 years before you… "
Tenchi looked at the female standing a few feet away, as Washu continued…
" It was agreed that your mother's exsistance had to be kept a secret until the day she disappeared… However, she passed away, due to the radiation from Kain and only Tennyo was there that day… That's when your father and grandmother met your sister and the past was put to rest for good… "
Washu looked at Airi for a moment before continuing…
" Your mother's passing effected every one, especially your grandmother… "
Washu smiled slightly as she saw Airi clench her fist…
" You see Tenchi, she was a member of the Galaxy Police and had been away for quite some time… If she didn't report back soon, some one would have come looking for her, she also happens to be well known… "
Washu looked at Katsuhito, who nodded...
" So it was decided that they would fake her death and she would then return to the GP, taking Tennyo with her... Until recently, nether had been able to return to 0315 without drawing attention to that world... "
Tenchi was looking directly at Washu as she spoke, his eyes wide…
" She was still alive?... "
Washu nodded her head…
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During this exchange Airi had found herself moving slowly closer and closer toward Tenchi, until she was only a few feet away…
Katsuhito had been watching, but said nothing, it was up to her and as she looked his way, he gave her a nod...
Taking a deep breath, Airi concentrated real hard and did something that she hadn't in quite some time...
" Tenchi?... "
When Tenchi turned his head, he didn't see a green haired Airi, he saw a dark haired Airi, with touches of gray and a few slight facial features…
It was the grandmother that he remembered…
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As tears began to form, Airi stepped closer and reached up stroking Tenchi's face, as she had, so long ago…
He closed his eyes and a smile formed…
A stunned Ayeka, had closed her eyes too, as had Ryoko and both were also smiling…
It was Washu who broke into their mental whispering…
Yes, Tenchi, the GP officer you just rescued is your lost grand mother…
Tenchi opened his eyes to see Washu smiling at him…
And if you think she was sensitive about being called Grandmother, just try calling her Great-grandmother!...
A smile came to Tenchi's face as he accepted the facts…
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It was Ayeka who noticed something and wanted to make sure she had her facts right…
As Princess Airi's grandson, Tenchi is in line for the Airaian throne as well as the Juraian?...
Ryoko's eyes widened at this revelation and then she got one of her mother's wicked smiles…
SO, not only are Ayeka, Mihoshi and I, Juraian Princesses, BUT we're now also Airaian Princesses, as well?...
As usual, it was a sleepy Mihosho who got the last word…
So, I'll not only be a Queen of Jurai, but a Queen of Aira too?...
Airi suddenly found both Ayeka and Ryoko staring at her…
It was Washu who broke the silence, with a big smile…
She'd been only thinking about Tenchi and his effect on things, but she'd completely forgotten his three WILD cards, Ayeka, Mihoshi and Ryoko…
She turned to Airi, her eyes a blaze…
" Yes, Princess Airi… How does Queen Ayeka, Queen Mihoshi and Queen Ryoko of Aira sound?... "
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( The Airaian Palace... )
The King was walking down the hall when he felt a cold chill run down his spine...
He stopped and looked around, but found that he was very much alone...
There was nothing there, but he suddenly felt uneasy...
He was going to have to make some inquiries...
Taking a deep breath, he continued down the hall way...
He didn't hear the soft female chuckle that he left behind...
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( The Royal Chambers, Zanata six… )
Airi's jaw dropped…
She'd been so concerned about how her father was going to react to having the crown prince of Jurai, Tenchi, as his successor, she hadn't even thought about these three…
And what was he going to say about his Great-great-granddaughter, Mayuka?...
For some reason the world was beginning to spin around her…
That was when Washu and the strange female suddenly appeared before her…
She didn't happen to notice the gleam in Washu's eyes…
" Princess Airi… I would like to introduce you to some one… This is Lady Tsunami's sister, Lady Tokimi… "
Airi smiled and nodded her head, as she had done a million times before at court, when being presented to some one new…
It took a while before ALL that Washu had said began to register in her conscious mind and her eyes widened…
Lady Tsunami, as in GODDESS TSUNAMI'S SISTER?
She saw a smiling Washu nod her head as every thing began to go dark…
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( the Masaki living room… )
As the queen set the phone back on its cradle, she couldn't help smiling…
It was amazing, to be able to get through to a phone in the palace so easily and from the other side of the planet…
Quite often, there were times when she had trouble calling other phones in the palace, when she was in the palace…
But she was quite sure that Brunsworth had understood what she wanted…
He was quite good at his job, having kept her and hers safe now, for over two decades…
She regretted having to use such a harsh tone with him, but she had needed his full and undivided attention for what she had to say…
He had confirmed what she wanted of him, as well as letting her know that he understood…
That meant that he had caught the code words in her conversation that indicate an attempt HAD been made on her life, but that she was safe and would be returning as soon as she was able…
The palace phones had been notorious for being bugged for a long time, so they had long ago set up the coded word system for emergencies…
Thou they'd used it before several times, this was its first major emergency…
He wasn't happy, but he understood and would take care of things, which was his job…
In the mean time, she would join Sasami and Nagi in the kitchen to make some more of those wonderful cookies…
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( The Royal Chambers, Zanata six… )
" Mother?… "
As light began to return to her, Airi began to make out her surroundings…
She was startled to discover that she was lying on the chamber floor, her head resting in her daughter, Minaho's lap…
The first face she could make out had red hair, Washu, who smiled down at her…
" She's alright, just had a bit of a shock and needed some air… "
Off to one side Captain Fragga and the leader of the Airaian special unit were talking...
Over to another, Tenchi and his wives had gathered around Tennyo, chatting away…
She saw Tenchi glance in her direction and smile, Washu had informed him that she was awake…
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Under Washu's watchful eye, Minaho helped her get to her feet, with Katsuhito's help...
Once on her feet she noted that the room was less crowded and only a few people standing around now…
Noting her eye movement, Washu spoke up…
" The prisoners were removed to a GP Cruiser for security, after they're sorted out, those that are wanted will be taken to headquarters to be processed… Most of the guards will be checked and if clean, returned to the planet to possible return to duty… The rest will be up to our hosts… "
She smiled and gestured behind Airi…
Turning, Airi discovered the two young children, standing with the female from earlier…
Airi smiled as she saw a bit of their parents in both their faces, she was so happy…
But some thing was bothering her and she looked at the female with them…
Suddenly her eyes widened as she recalled the earlier events and what had been revealed…
This is Lady Tsunami's sister, one of the three Chousin Goddesses that her people had been worshiping since before recorded history and who SHE had served as a priestess, before joining the Galaxy Police…
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Airi didn't see the smiles on the others faces as she found herself slowly approaching the throne and the three figures…
Katsuhito had one arm, Minaho the other and they were holding her up, as well as propelling her across the room…
Airi's eyes had been on the beautiful, exotic goddess, whose name even she hadn't known until now and didn't even notice, until they came to a stop, only a few feet away…
Lady Tokimi was beginning to see more of why her sisters involved themselves with these people, it seem that there was much for even a goddess to learn…
" Lord Yosho, Lady Airi!... This is Princess Airi Magma of Airai and her husband Prince Yōshō Masaki Jurai of Jurai, your godparents and who you were named after... "
Airi smiled as she bowed her head, noting the awe in the children's eyes as they managed to nod back...
" And this is Minaho Masaki of Jurai, their daughter... They are family members... "
Minaho nodded her head in return...
" May I present to you all, his Lordship, Yosho Magma/Masaki and his sister Lady Airi Magma/Masaki, the true heirs of Zanata Six throne… "
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( Across the room… )
Washu smiled as her sister introduced the young kids to their new family members, after a few moments, a tearful young girl was hugging her namesake, soon joined by her little brother…
Airi wiped a tear away herself, before returning the hugs…
A smiling Katsuhito and Minaho were standing off to one side…
Catching Washu's eye, Lady Tokimi nodded her head, before beginning to fade away…
I leave them to you and the others, sister…
Airi saw Lady Tokimi start to fade and their eyes met…
Try not to fall out of any more trees, little one!...
Airi's eyes widened as the goddess disappeared, leaving behind only a strange soft giggling in the back of her mind?...
Washu couldn't help smiling at Airi's facial expressions…
How did that expression she'd heard recently go?...
Oh yes!…
Welcome to the wild wacky world of the new Masaki Family…
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To be continued...
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Please feel free to comment and review for any errors...
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