The Future - Chapter 6: All Shapes & Sizes
By: Ryoko-chan
Disclaimer: We all know the drill...the real disclaimer resides in Chapter 1.
A/N: Some people apparently have a problem with the way my last chapter went. I can understand that, but you can't seriously believe that I was going to do what you expected me to...what fun would that be? I don't like being like everyone else...never expect the obvious from me. Anyway, on to the story...
THE FUTURE - CHAPTER 6: ALL SHAPES & SIZES
By: Ryoko-chan
Sasami and her guards had left Shizukesa system shortly after Ryoko had been knocked unconscious. Ryo-Ohki was held in a stasis cell.
"Princess Sasami...we're almost to Jurai."
"Fine. Just keep Ryoko and Ryo-Ohki out of the way. If Tenchi or the others find them, things could get complicated."
"Why don't you just eliminate her, Princess?"
"Don't be foolish. There's no need."
"She's a wanted criminal..."
"I said that there's no need. Leave her be, just keep her out of the way." Sasami said, standing up and going into her room on the ship.
Sasami sat at her vanity and looked at herself in the mirror.
The years since she had left earth to go back to Jurai had been harder than anything she had ever faced before. She saw her family dethroned, her father die, her sister left behind, and her mother and aunt humiliated. Yet, none of that bothered her now.
Now she would have what she wanted. She wouldn't be second any longer and she wouldn't have to deal with Aeka anymore.
She didn't want her sister killed, of course, but she didn't want her in her way either. She wouldn't allow anything to happen to the others either.
"Princess...the pirate is awake now." One of the guards said from outside her door.
"Fine, I will go to see her shortly." The girl said, never taking her eyes off the mirror.
She didn't remember when she had come to look so much older. She didn't remember when she had started to feel so much contempt for Aeka either. She was just sick of everything. She couldn't be that happy little girl she had been for so long. She just couldn't...
"How are you feeling, Ryoko?" Sasami asked, noticing Ryoko's pained look.
"What the hell are you doing, Sasami? Are you crazy?"
"Don't worry about that, Ryoko. Nothing is going to happen to your precious Tenchi, if that's all you're worried about."
"Where's Ryo-Ohki?"
"She's fine too. You know I wouldn't harm her and I didn't mean for you to get hurt either. I hope it isn't too bad."
"I'm fine. Let me out of here, Sasami."
"I can't do that Ryoko. I'm sorry."
"Yes, you can. Do you know what you're doing?"
Sasami sighed and turned away from Ryoko, looking out a nearby window.
"Sasami, answer me."
"I don't have to answer you, Ryoko. That's a glorious feeling, knowing that I'm not obliged to do anything for anyone but myself."
"You really think you're going to get what you want this way?"
"I know I will."
"What's wrong with you?"
Sasami only turned back to Ryoko with an expression nobody had ever seen on the girl's face before.
"Absolutely nothing."
"Princess..." One of the guards interrupted.
"What?" Sasami snapped.
"We've arrived at Jurai. The ship is docked already."
"All right. Make sure she doesn't escape." Sasami said, leaving the room.
"Sasami! Think about what you're doing!" She heard Ryoko call to her before she left the room.
"Princess...are you looking for the boy Tenchi?"
"No, I'm going to the palace. Just keep Ryoko out of the way and Tenchi and the others won't even know I'm on the planet."
"I don't think you're thinking this through, Princess."
"Who are you to tell me that?" She shouted. "You stay here. I'll go by myself."
The girl stomped away from the guards who had been closely following her and watched her walk into the crowded streets. They collectively sighed.
Sasami made her way through the crowds easily. She was still relatively small and the traders usually cleared the way for well dressed people. Sasami knew the way to the palace with her eyes closed, but she never remembered Jurai looking so unkept. She sighed and kept walking.
Eventually she came to the unguarded gates of the palace and walked into the courtyard that she used to play in. It was overgrown and dying. The fountains were unkept and the once clear water was full of various kinds of algae. The stone statues were falling apart. Sasami sighed again. She wasn't expecting this. How could the planet be in such bad shape after only two years?
Finally she came to the main building of the palace. She found it odd that there weren't any guards anywhere. She kept walking and got to the throne room where she found the "king" and "queen" sitting on the throne her aunt and father once sat upon.
"What have you done here?" Sasami asked, walking into the throne room.
"Oh, you. We were told you'd probably be coming for your sister." The king said.
"I'm not here for her. I'm here to get the throne of my planet back."
The two on the thrones began to laugh.
"You knew that you wouldn't stay here. I told you. You've already ruined Jurai's economy. What else do you want?"
"We don't want anything. Why don't you go visit your sister?" The queen said, shooing Sasami away.
"What are you doing?" Sasami asked, knowing that they were trying to hide something.
"We're searching for the rest of your family."
"Why?"
"So there will be no challenges to the throne, Princess."
"There's no one left to challenge me, not with Aeka downstairs."
"There's the crown prince. He's a bigger threat that Aeka."
"Tenchi...?" Sasami asked.
"Is that his name?"
"You know it is. You leave him out of all of this. He has no desire to take the throne of Jurai away from anyone."
"We're sure you're right, Princess. Why don't you go visit your sister now..."
Sasami turned sharply and walked to the prisoner holding room downstairs. She knew that's where they were keeping Aeka. She couldn't believe that they were going to go after Tenchi. Her plans might have just changed...
"Sasami!" She heard Aeka's voice before she really saw her.
"Hi, Aeka." She said evenly.
"You know what's happened? They're after Tenchi and Ryoko. I thought they were after you. How did you get down here?" Aeka asked.
The elder princess looked tired and worn out. She had been held in the dirty cell for 3 days. Her execution was set in two days.
"I walked down here, Aeka. I know what's going on. Ryoko's with me."
"She is? Where is she?"
"On my ship."
"Where's Tenchi?"
"I don't know. But I do know that they're after him. They think he'll challenge a claim to the throne."
"A claim by whom? Those barbarians won't just walk away. They're worse than Ryoko."
"By me, Aeka. And they'll do what I tell them to."
"Sasami, what are you talking about?"
"Never mind that, Aeka. It was good to see you again." Sasami said, starting to walk away.
"Sasami, wait! What are you doing?" Aeka called after her.
Sasami didn't answer her, she just walked back upstairs and didn't bother going back into the throne room. She simply left palace and headed back to her ship, running through the streets.
"Princess, what's wrong?" The first guard asked her as she ran onto the ship.
"Release Ryoko...I need her help."
"What? But you told us not to release the pirate."
"You heard what I said! Release her or I'll do it myself."
"Yes, princess." The guard said, running back to where Ryoko was being held.
Sasami sighed and sat back in a nearby chair.
"What do you want, Sasami?" Ryoko asked, stopping in front of the girl. Two guards were grasping her arms, preventing her from teleporting away.
"I want you to find Tenchi. I need his help."
"Why?"
"Because they're after him, Ryoko. He's going to need my help."
Ryoko scoffed.
"I'm serious, Ryoko. They're working for me, they won't go after him if he's with me."
Ryoko didn't say anything.
"Ryoko...please."
"Fine."
Sasami nodded.
"Let her go."
The guards released her arms and she stepped back from them.
"Where's Ryo-Ohki?"
"She'll stay here. Hurry Ryoko. There's only two days until Aeka's execution and if we're not careful, it could be everyone's execution."
Ryoko turned, without saying anything else, and left the ship and began her search for Tenchi and the others.
Sasami watched her walk off the ship and sighed as she swiveled around in the chair she was in.
"Do you think she'll come back, Princess?"
"She will, and she'll bring Tenchi back with her."
"Then what?"
"You'll see..." Sasami said, smiling to herself.
==============
~End Chapter 6~
Next:
Chapter 7: To the Rescue
A/N OK, how many of you annoyed with this story? I know some of you must be. Who knew I'd get the next chapter out so soon? Only one day...wow.
By: Ryoko-chan
Disclaimer: We all know the drill...the real disclaimer resides in Chapter 1.
A/N: Some people apparently have a problem with the way my last chapter went. I can understand that, but you can't seriously believe that I was going to do what you expected me to...what fun would that be? I don't like being like everyone else...never expect the obvious from me. Anyway, on to the story...
THE FUTURE - CHAPTER 6: ALL SHAPES & SIZES
By: Ryoko-chan
Sasami and her guards had left Shizukesa system shortly after Ryoko had been knocked unconscious. Ryo-Ohki was held in a stasis cell.
"Princess Sasami...we're almost to Jurai."
"Fine. Just keep Ryoko and Ryo-Ohki out of the way. If Tenchi or the others find them, things could get complicated."
"Why don't you just eliminate her, Princess?"
"Don't be foolish. There's no need."
"She's a wanted criminal..."
"I said that there's no need. Leave her be, just keep her out of the way." Sasami said, standing up and going into her room on the ship.
Sasami sat at her vanity and looked at herself in the mirror.
The years since she had left earth to go back to Jurai had been harder than anything she had ever faced before. She saw her family dethroned, her father die, her sister left behind, and her mother and aunt humiliated. Yet, none of that bothered her now.
Now she would have what she wanted. She wouldn't be second any longer and she wouldn't have to deal with Aeka anymore.
She didn't want her sister killed, of course, but she didn't want her in her way either. She wouldn't allow anything to happen to the others either.
"Princess...the pirate is awake now." One of the guards said from outside her door.
"Fine, I will go to see her shortly." The girl said, never taking her eyes off the mirror.
She didn't remember when she had come to look so much older. She didn't remember when she had started to feel so much contempt for Aeka either. She was just sick of everything. She couldn't be that happy little girl she had been for so long. She just couldn't...
"How are you feeling, Ryoko?" Sasami asked, noticing Ryoko's pained look.
"What the hell are you doing, Sasami? Are you crazy?"
"Don't worry about that, Ryoko. Nothing is going to happen to your precious Tenchi, if that's all you're worried about."
"Where's Ryo-Ohki?"
"She's fine too. You know I wouldn't harm her and I didn't mean for you to get hurt either. I hope it isn't too bad."
"I'm fine. Let me out of here, Sasami."
"I can't do that Ryoko. I'm sorry."
"Yes, you can. Do you know what you're doing?"
Sasami sighed and turned away from Ryoko, looking out a nearby window.
"Sasami, answer me."
"I don't have to answer you, Ryoko. That's a glorious feeling, knowing that I'm not obliged to do anything for anyone but myself."
"You really think you're going to get what you want this way?"
"I know I will."
"What's wrong with you?"
Sasami only turned back to Ryoko with an expression nobody had ever seen on the girl's face before.
"Absolutely nothing."
"Princess..." One of the guards interrupted.
"What?" Sasami snapped.
"We've arrived at Jurai. The ship is docked already."
"All right. Make sure she doesn't escape." Sasami said, leaving the room.
"Sasami! Think about what you're doing!" She heard Ryoko call to her before she left the room.
"Princess...are you looking for the boy Tenchi?"
"No, I'm going to the palace. Just keep Ryoko out of the way and Tenchi and the others won't even know I'm on the planet."
"I don't think you're thinking this through, Princess."
"Who are you to tell me that?" She shouted. "You stay here. I'll go by myself."
The girl stomped away from the guards who had been closely following her and watched her walk into the crowded streets. They collectively sighed.
Sasami made her way through the crowds easily. She was still relatively small and the traders usually cleared the way for well dressed people. Sasami knew the way to the palace with her eyes closed, but she never remembered Jurai looking so unkept. She sighed and kept walking.
Eventually she came to the unguarded gates of the palace and walked into the courtyard that she used to play in. It was overgrown and dying. The fountains were unkept and the once clear water was full of various kinds of algae. The stone statues were falling apart. Sasami sighed again. She wasn't expecting this. How could the planet be in such bad shape after only two years?
Finally she came to the main building of the palace. She found it odd that there weren't any guards anywhere. She kept walking and got to the throne room where she found the "king" and "queen" sitting on the throne her aunt and father once sat upon.
"What have you done here?" Sasami asked, walking into the throne room.
"Oh, you. We were told you'd probably be coming for your sister." The king said.
"I'm not here for her. I'm here to get the throne of my planet back."
The two on the thrones began to laugh.
"You knew that you wouldn't stay here. I told you. You've already ruined Jurai's economy. What else do you want?"
"We don't want anything. Why don't you go visit your sister?" The queen said, shooing Sasami away.
"What are you doing?" Sasami asked, knowing that they were trying to hide something.
"We're searching for the rest of your family."
"Why?"
"So there will be no challenges to the throne, Princess."
"There's no one left to challenge me, not with Aeka downstairs."
"There's the crown prince. He's a bigger threat that Aeka."
"Tenchi...?" Sasami asked.
"Is that his name?"
"You know it is. You leave him out of all of this. He has no desire to take the throne of Jurai away from anyone."
"We're sure you're right, Princess. Why don't you go visit your sister now..."
Sasami turned sharply and walked to the prisoner holding room downstairs. She knew that's where they were keeping Aeka. She couldn't believe that they were going to go after Tenchi. Her plans might have just changed...
"Sasami!" She heard Aeka's voice before she really saw her.
"Hi, Aeka." She said evenly.
"You know what's happened? They're after Tenchi and Ryoko. I thought they were after you. How did you get down here?" Aeka asked.
The elder princess looked tired and worn out. She had been held in the dirty cell for 3 days. Her execution was set in two days.
"I walked down here, Aeka. I know what's going on. Ryoko's with me."
"She is? Where is she?"
"On my ship."
"Where's Tenchi?"
"I don't know. But I do know that they're after him. They think he'll challenge a claim to the throne."
"A claim by whom? Those barbarians won't just walk away. They're worse than Ryoko."
"By me, Aeka. And they'll do what I tell them to."
"Sasami, what are you talking about?"
"Never mind that, Aeka. It was good to see you again." Sasami said, starting to walk away.
"Sasami, wait! What are you doing?" Aeka called after her.
Sasami didn't answer her, she just walked back upstairs and didn't bother going back into the throne room. She simply left palace and headed back to her ship, running through the streets.
"Princess, what's wrong?" The first guard asked her as she ran onto the ship.
"Release Ryoko...I need her help."
"What? But you told us not to release the pirate."
"You heard what I said! Release her or I'll do it myself."
"Yes, princess." The guard said, running back to where Ryoko was being held.
Sasami sighed and sat back in a nearby chair.
"What do you want, Sasami?" Ryoko asked, stopping in front of the girl. Two guards were grasping her arms, preventing her from teleporting away.
"I want you to find Tenchi. I need his help."
"Why?"
"Because they're after him, Ryoko. He's going to need my help."
Ryoko scoffed.
"I'm serious, Ryoko. They're working for me, they won't go after him if he's with me."
Ryoko didn't say anything.
"Ryoko...please."
"Fine."
Sasami nodded.
"Let her go."
The guards released her arms and she stepped back from them.
"Where's Ryo-Ohki?"
"She'll stay here. Hurry Ryoko. There's only two days until Aeka's execution and if we're not careful, it could be everyone's execution."
Ryoko turned, without saying anything else, and left the ship and began her search for Tenchi and the others.
Sasami watched her walk off the ship and sighed as she swiveled around in the chair she was in.
"Do you think she'll come back, Princess?"
"She will, and she'll bring Tenchi back with her."
"Then what?"
"You'll see..." Sasami said, smiling to herself.
==============
~End Chapter 6~
Next:
Chapter 7: To the Rescue
A/N OK, how many of you annoyed with this story? I know some of you must be. Who knew I'd get the next chapter out so soon? Only one day...wow.