The Future - Chapter 7: To The Rescue
By: Ryoko-chan
Disclaimer: We all know the drill...the real disclaimer resides in Chapter 1.
A/N: I was rather perturbed by a review I got from the last chapter, so I took a break for a while to recover emotionally. ::starts crying:: My fics DO make sense!! ::recovers quickly:: Anyway, read this chapter, read the next 2. Enjoy them, please. =) If not, I can take it. ::sniffles and starts bawling::
THE FUTURE - CHAPTER 7: TO THE RESCUE
By: Ryoko-chan
Ryoko stood up and tapped her foot on the floor of Washu's lab.
"What the hell are we supposed to do now!?" Ryoko shouted.
"Yeah, Washu, what happens next?" Mihoshi asked.
Sasami stood up from the chair after Washu had removed all of the wires and things from the time machine.
"Well, I guess we never find out." The scientist said.
"That's not very fair."
"Well, there's no one left to put into the machine."
"What about you?" Ryoko asked.
"Uh...how about Tenchi?" Washu suggested.
Suddenly there was a glimmer in Aeka and Ryoko's eyes and everyone else stepped away.
"Tenchi!" Ryoko said, heading toward the door of the lab.
"Lord Tenchi!" Aeka said, following the pirate.
Washu crossed her arms and shook her head.
"Those two..."
Up in his room, Tenchi was lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. It hadn't been two hours since he had left the girls downstairs to fight amongst themselves. It had been unusually quiet since then. He found himself wondering if they had killed each other.
"Tenchi!"
The boy tensed. He heard Ryoko before he saw her...or felt her. Suddenly he felt her arms wrap around him. She appeared next to him, smiling.
"R-Ryoko? What are you doing?" He asked.
"Come with me, Tenchi."
"Where?"
"To Washu's?"
A look of fear appeared on his face.
"Washu's? Why?"
"Lord Tenchi!" Aeka's voice called from the other side of the door.
"Yes, Aeka?" He asked as she stepped inside.
The princess glared at Ryoko latched onto Tenchi, but quickly dismissed it.
"Please come with me, Tenchi..." Aeka asked sweetly.
"To Washu's?" He asked nervously.
Aeka smiled and nodded as Tenchi looked at Ryoko who was doing the same thing.
"I, uh, think I'll pass." He said.
"C'mon Tenchi." Ryoko said, hugging him tightly as she teleported out of his room to the hall right in front of Washu's lab.
"Ryoko!" Tenchi shouted.
Aeka ran downstairs and opened Washu's door as the two girls dragged Tenchi inside.
Kiyone, Mihoshi, Sasami and Washu watched the two girls drag Tenchi into the lab and they threw him into the chair connected to the time machine.
"What's going on?" Tenchi asked, panicked.
"Oh, nothing, Tenchi. Don't worry about it." Washu said, connecting the wires to him.
"What are those for, Washu?"
"Don't move so much, Tenchi." Washu said, pushing him against the back of the chair.
"Don't worry, Tenchi. Its nothing bad." Mihoshi said cheerfully.
Somehow that didn't manage to calm him down any.
"This is going to tell us your future 5 years from now, Tenchi." Washu said.
"What?"
"We all have use the machine already and in order for us to know what's going to happen next, we need to see your future." Mihoshi said.
"Its been rather interesting so far. Almost like a soap opera." Ryoko said.
"So you kidnapped me from my room?" Tenchi asked, beginning to calm down.
"Don't be so melodramatic, Tenchi." Washu said.
"But-"
"Hold still." Washu said, turning the machine on.
"No!"
-Tenchi's Future-
Tenchi paced back and forth in the headquarters of Nagi's resistance group. They only had one day before Aeka's execution at noon the next day and he was getting restless. There were rumors that Ryoko was on the planet, there had been unconfirmed sightings of her. If that was the case, she'd have no way to find them. Sasami had also been seen on planet, though no one knows where she was now.
"Tenchi?" Kiyone asked, walking into the room unnoticed.
He jumped and turned around quickly.
"What is it?"
"Ryoko..."
"What about her? Where is she?" He asked anxiously.
"Come on." Kiyone said, turning around and heading into a larger room down the hall.
Tenchi followed Kiyone into the room and saw Nagi standing over Ryoko. The two were talking together.
Before Ryoko noticed that Tenchi was in the room, Tenchi did some noticing of his own. Ryoko's left wrist was bandaged and one side of his face was badly bruised. She looked as if she had been hit by a car.
"Ryoko, what happened?" Tenchi asked, walking up to her and sitting at her side.
"We'll leave you two alone for a while." Nagi said, heading out of the room with Kiyone right behind her.
"Well, Ryoko?" He asked, genuinely concerned.
"I was attacked, Tenchi. Its no big deal. Its nothing too serious." She said, dismissing any thought that she hadn't been hurt worse than this before.
"But how? Why didn't you fight back?"
"I did. I can't use my powers here for some reason. I had to walk here and I found you just by luck."
Tenchi brushed her hair out of her face and smiled at her.
"Are you sure you're okay?" He asked again.
She nodded.
"I'm fine, Tenchi."
"When did you get here? We got reports all night that you were on the planet. I did hope that you would find us. I'm so glad that you did."
"I would guess that I got here sometime yesterday." She said.
"You would guess?"
"Let's just say I wasn't exactly driving."
"Where's Ryo-Ohki?" Tenchi asked, just noticing the cabbit's lack of presence.
"She's with Sasami."
"So you've spoken to Sasami. Did you bring her here?"
Ryoko shook her head, a task that seemed rather painful to her at the time.
"No, she brought me. She isn't the Sasami that left Earth, Tenchi. She's a little monster."
"Sasami? Little, pigtailed Sasami?" Tenchi asked with a hint of humor in his voice. Ryoko must be joking...
"Yes, Sasami. She's been working with the new King & Queen of Jurai. She orchestrated everything. The war, the exile, Aeka's imprisonment. You and I arriving here, trying to stop this from happening."
"But why would she do such a thing?"
"Because she was tired of living in Aeka's shadow. She wants to rule Jurai. I never would've thought it though..."
"So she plans to have Aeka killed?"
"That's not all Tenchi. They're looking for you. I think by now Sasami's plans have changed drastically. She released me so I could find you. I'm pretty sure she wants your help. I don't think she'd be stupid enough to turn you in."
Tenchi sighed and placed his hand on Ryoko's. She blushed a little, but he didn't notice.
"I guess there's only one way to find out." He said.
"Are you sure? She's got a whole Army, Tenchi. And I can't help you." She said, indicating her injuries.
"Let's go, Ryoko." He said, waiting for her to stand.
She nodded and got to her feet and together they began to walk out of the underground fortress.
"Where are you two going?" Kiyone asked sharply, catching them right before they reached the last door.
"To see Sasami." Ryoko replied.
"Are you feeling better, Ryoko?" Mihoshi asked.
"I'm fine, Mihoshi." She said, giving the Galaxy Police officer a warning look.
Mihoshi looked over to Kiyone who simply shook her head.
"Well, we'll go with you." Mihoshi said, wanting to see her friend again.
Tenchi and Ryoko looked at one another and nodded.
"C'mon then. We don't have much time." Ryoko said, leading them out onto the streets of Jurai.
In hardly any time Ryoko had updated Kiyone and Mihoshi and they were at the docking bay where Sasami's small ship sat, waiting for them. Ryoko noticed the same guards as before as she stepped up to them.
"You again..." The guard said.
"I brought Tenchi back to speak with Sasami. Let us in."
"The Princess isn't awake yet." He said.
"Go wake her up, then. We don't have all day." Ryoko said, losing her patience.
"Never mind that. I'm awake. Come in." Sasami said, leading them into a room large enough to accommodate all five of them.
"Why did you need to see me, Sasami?"
"I need your help, Tenchi. I need all of your help."
"But why? I thought those goons *you* had take over the throne of Jurai were working for you."
"They were...But now they're after you. That was never part of our agreement, so we have to go after them, Tenchi. To stop whatever they have planned from happening."
"What about Aeka?" Kiyone asked.
"If we stop those two, we stop her execution." Sasami said.
"Why do you want to suddenly stop them? Are you finally feeling guilty about what you've done?" Ryoko asked.
Sasami looked at Ryoko calmly.
"Did you feel bad about anything you did? About all the people you killed?" She asked.
Ryoko clenched her good hand tightly, resisting the urge to get to her feet and knock the girl out. Tenchi placed his hand on her's and shook his head and she only sighed.
Sasami raised an eyebrow.
"Are you going to help me?" She asked.
Kiyone, Mihoshi, and Ryoko all looked at Tenchi.
"What?" He asked them.
"Its your decision, Tenchi. If you want to help her, I will help." Ryoko said.
"We will too." Kiyone agreed.
Tenchi smiled in spite of himself and nodded.
"Let's go then."
"Hold it." A voice behind them said.
"Washu?" Ryoko asked, turning around before the others.
"That's me." She said, walking into the room and taking a seat.
"How did you get in here?" Sasami asked. "My guards are everywhere."
"Of course they are. That's why I used my portal." Washu said, calling up her holo-computer and accessing the dimension in which she kept the large, sliding door. "I knew where you all would be and I simply used this once I was in range."
"What are you doing here, Washu?" Tenchi asked.
"I came to help you, of course. Did you really think you were going to get into the palace that easily? Especially you, Ryoko. Like you aren't well known on this planet."
"So how are you going to get us into the palace any easier?"
"Don't be so impatient, Ryoko. We have some things to discuss first."
"Like what?" Tenchi asked.
Washu looked at Sasami.
"You've turned into a treacherous little brat, haven't you?" She asked her. "You better not try anything once we get to the palace."
"Of course I wouldn't." Sasami said, rather annoyed that the scientist suggested it to her.
"Fine, then we shouldn't have any trouble."
"Then how are you going to get us into the palace, Washu?" Kiyone asked.
Washu started to pull out all sorts of inventions from all kinds of dimensions as Tenchi and the girls watched.
"I have these to disguise you. All of you." She said, holding up some rather regal looking clothes to Ryoko.
"That should make it easy for you to get into the palace. We'll just make the geniuses think your from a neighboring planet who wants to initiate trade with them by suggestion of Sasami here. So that'll get you all into the palace. Once you're in there is a completely different matter. You're going to have to take care of the king and queen before you can get Aeka."
"But if we wait..." Tenchi started.
"Don't worry about that, Tenchi. You, Ryoko, Kiyone, and Mihoshi will take care of the king and queen. I'll go after Aeka and help her before its time for her execution, don't worry."
"Yeah, right...don't worry." Ryoko scoffed.
"You'll be wearing this." Washu said, shoving a small, camera-like object at Ryoko. "That's so I know what you guys are up to. Each of you will have one. They are undetectable so only you will know that you're wearing it, so don't draw attention to it, understand?"
They all nodded.
"Then there shouldn't be a problem. We'll go early tomorrow. We'll have plenty of time." Washu said, cheerfully. At bit too cheerfully.
"You all can stay onboard, if you wish." Sasami said. "There isn't much room though."
"I think it would be better if we went back, Tenchi." Ryoko said, ignoring Sasami's offer.
Tenchi nodded.
"We'll go back and we'll meet in the square at sunrise." Tenchi said.
"Very well then." Sasami said.
"I'll stay here." Washu said, smiling at Ryoko and the others.
"All right, Little Washu." Tenchi said, walking off of Sasami's ship with Ryoko at his side and Kiyone and Mihoshi behind him.
"Do you think we can trust her, Tenchi?" Ryoko asked.
"I don't know. She didn't seem as bad as you said, Ryoko."
"You only say that because she didn't have one of her goons knock you unconscious."
"Well, either way, Washu is there to keep an eye on her now. Washu can take care of whatever happens." Kiyone said.
"That's right. You see, Ryoko? There's nothing to worry about."
Ryoko sighed and held onto Tenchi's arm as they walked through the crowds. Ryoko kept her eyes to the ground, hopefully avoiding any problems her presence might bring.
"What's wrong, Ryoko?" Tenchi asked.
"Nothing...I'm just making sure no one recognizes me and decides to cause problems. Let's hurry and get back to Nagi's."
When they finally did get back to Nagi's, she was waiting for them at the door.
"What did you find out?" She asked.
"We're going after Aeka tomorrow morning." Mihoshi said.
"And the king and queen?" Nagi asked.
"Them too." Ryoko replied. "They shouldn't be a problem."
"Don't get too cocky, Ryoko."
"Me, cocky?"
Nagi only shook her head.
"It's getting late and you all have a lot to do tomorrow. I'll show you where to sleep." She said, leading them all to their individual rooms where they all retired one by one.
Tenchi found himself unable to sleep, which was usual for him. It wasn't what was coming the next morning. He wasn't nervous, but sleep just seemed to escape him as he walked into the main hall of the underground fortress.
It was dark and cold, but that didn't really phase him much. He thought back on the last five years and wondered what exactly had gone wrong. Why had Sasami grown into such a cold young woman? Why was Aeka now a prisoner? Why did it seem that Ryoko was so much more vulnerable than she ever was before?
"Tenchi? What are you doing out here?" Ryoko asked, emerging from the shadows, hugging herself to keep warm.
"Probably the same reason you are." He said.
"You can't sleep either...It would be much nicer if this place had windows. Then I could at least see the stars." She sighed.
"Don't worry, Ryoko. The stars will always be there." Tenchi said as she walked up to him.
"I guess your right. They've always calmed me, though. They seem to absorb anything that's bothering me." She said, leaning her head on his shoulder.
Tenchi only nodded and pulled her closer to him and kissed the top of her head, which caused the pirate to blush.
"What's bothering you, Ryoko?" He asked.
"Everything. Sasami, mostly."
He nodded again.
"She's just misguided now. I think she's seeing her wrongs already. She'll pull out of it..."
"It's only a phase?" Ryoko asked, finishing his sentence.
"No one can hate forever, Ryoko." He said sadly.
It was her turn to nod.
"You're right. There's always something to stop you, if you know what to look for." She said.
"See?" He said, smiling. "We should get some sleep, Ryoko. We're both going to need it."
She nodded, pulling away from him.
"You're right." She said, smiling back. "I'll see you in the morning, Tenchi."
She kissed him on the cheek and walked back to her room.
Tenchi watched her walk away and sighed and walked back to his own room to try to get some sleep.
===============
~End Chapter 7~
Next:
Chapter 8: Mission Implausible
A/n: Phew, long chapter!! The Tenchi kidnapping to Washu's lab played out longer than I thought it would. Two chapters left! Hope you liked this one. ^_^
By: Ryoko-chan
Disclaimer: We all know the drill...the real disclaimer resides in Chapter 1.
A/N: I was rather perturbed by a review I got from the last chapter, so I took a break for a while to recover emotionally. ::starts crying:: My fics DO make sense!! ::recovers quickly:: Anyway, read this chapter, read the next 2. Enjoy them, please. =) If not, I can take it. ::sniffles and starts bawling::
THE FUTURE - CHAPTER 7: TO THE RESCUE
By: Ryoko-chan
Ryoko stood up and tapped her foot on the floor of Washu's lab.
"What the hell are we supposed to do now!?" Ryoko shouted.
"Yeah, Washu, what happens next?" Mihoshi asked.
Sasami stood up from the chair after Washu had removed all of the wires and things from the time machine.
"Well, I guess we never find out." The scientist said.
"That's not very fair."
"Well, there's no one left to put into the machine."
"What about you?" Ryoko asked.
"Uh...how about Tenchi?" Washu suggested.
Suddenly there was a glimmer in Aeka and Ryoko's eyes and everyone else stepped away.
"Tenchi!" Ryoko said, heading toward the door of the lab.
"Lord Tenchi!" Aeka said, following the pirate.
Washu crossed her arms and shook her head.
"Those two..."
Up in his room, Tenchi was lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. It hadn't been two hours since he had left the girls downstairs to fight amongst themselves. It had been unusually quiet since then. He found himself wondering if they had killed each other.
"Tenchi!"
The boy tensed. He heard Ryoko before he saw her...or felt her. Suddenly he felt her arms wrap around him. She appeared next to him, smiling.
"R-Ryoko? What are you doing?" He asked.
"Come with me, Tenchi."
"Where?"
"To Washu's?"
A look of fear appeared on his face.
"Washu's? Why?"
"Lord Tenchi!" Aeka's voice called from the other side of the door.
"Yes, Aeka?" He asked as she stepped inside.
The princess glared at Ryoko latched onto Tenchi, but quickly dismissed it.
"Please come with me, Tenchi..." Aeka asked sweetly.
"To Washu's?" He asked nervously.
Aeka smiled and nodded as Tenchi looked at Ryoko who was doing the same thing.
"I, uh, think I'll pass." He said.
"C'mon Tenchi." Ryoko said, hugging him tightly as she teleported out of his room to the hall right in front of Washu's lab.
"Ryoko!" Tenchi shouted.
Aeka ran downstairs and opened Washu's door as the two girls dragged Tenchi inside.
Kiyone, Mihoshi, Sasami and Washu watched the two girls drag Tenchi into the lab and they threw him into the chair connected to the time machine.
"What's going on?" Tenchi asked, panicked.
"Oh, nothing, Tenchi. Don't worry about it." Washu said, connecting the wires to him.
"What are those for, Washu?"
"Don't move so much, Tenchi." Washu said, pushing him against the back of the chair.
"Don't worry, Tenchi. Its nothing bad." Mihoshi said cheerfully.
Somehow that didn't manage to calm him down any.
"This is going to tell us your future 5 years from now, Tenchi." Washu said.
"What?"
"We all have use the machine already and in order for us to know what's going to happen next, we need to see your future." Mihoshi said.
"Its been rather interesting so far. Almost like a soap opera." Ryoko said.
"So you kidnapped me from my room?" Tenchi asked, beginning to calm down.
"Don't be so melodramatic, Tenchi." Washu said.
"But-"
"Hold still." Washu said, turning the machine on.
"No!"
-Tenchi's Future-
Tenchi paced back and forth in the headquarters of Nagi's resistance group. They only had one day before Aeka's execution at noon the next day and he was getting restless. There were rumors that Ryoko was on the planet, there had been unconfirmed sightings of her. If that was the case, she'd have no way to find them. Sasami had also been seen on planet, though no one knows where she was now.
"Tenchi?" Kiyone asked, walking into the room unnoticed.
He jumped and turned around quickly.
"What is it?"
"Ryoko..."
"What about her? Where is she?" He asked anxiously.
"Come on." Kiyone said, turning around and heading into a larger room down the hall.
Tenchi followed Kiyone into the room and saw Nagi standing over Ryoko. The two were talking together.
Before Ryoko noticed that Tenchi was in the room, Tenchi did some noticing of his own. Ryoko's left wrist was bandaged and one side of his face was badly bruised. She looked as if she had been hit by a car.
"Ryoko, what happened?" Tenchi asked, walking up to her and sitting at her side.
"We'll leave you two alone for a while." Nagi said, heading out of the room with Kiyone right behind her.
"Well, Ryoko?" He asked, genuinely concerned.
"I was attacked, Tenchi. Its no big deal. Its nothing too serious." She said, dismissing any thought that she hadn't been hurt worse than this before.
"But how? Why didn't you fight back?"
"I did. I can't use my powers here for some reason. I had to walk here and I found you just by luck."
Tenchi brushed her hair out of her face and smiled at her.
"Are you sure you're okay?" He asked again.
She nodded.
"I'm fine, Tenchi."
"When did you get here? We got reports all night that you were on the planet. I did hope that you would find us. I'm so glad that you did."
"I would guess that I got here sometime yesterday." She said.
"You would guess?"
"Let's just say I wasn't exactly driving."
"Where's Ryo-Ohki?" Tenchi asked, just noticing the cabbit's lack of presence.
"She's with Sasami."
"So you've spoken to Sasami. Did you bring her here?"
Ryoko shook her head, a task that seemed rather painful to her at the time.
"No, she brought me. She isn't the Sasami that left Earth, Tenchi. She's a little monster."
"Sasami? Little, pigtailed Sasami?" Tenchi asked with a hint of humor in his voice. Ryoko must be joking...
"Yes, Sasami. She's been working with the new King & Queen of Jurai. She orchestrated everything. The war, the exile, Aeka's imprisonment. You and I arriving here, trying to stop this from happening."
"But why would she do such a thing?"
"Because she was tired of living in Aeka's shadow. She wants to rule Jurai. I never would've thought it though..."
"So she plans to have Aeka killed?"
"That's not all Tenchi. They're looking for you. I think by now Sasami's plans have changed drastically. She released me so I could find you. I'm pretty sure she wants your help. I don't think she'd be stupid enough to turn you in."
Tenchi sighed and placed his hand on Ryoko's. She blushed a little, but he didn't notice.
"I guess there's only one way to find out." He said.
"Are you sure? She's got a whole Army, Tenchi. And I can't help you." She said, indicating her injuries.
"Let's go, Ryoko." He said, waiting for her to stand.
She nodded and got to her feet and together they began to walk out of the underground fortress.
"Where are you two going?" Kiyone asked sharply, catching them right before they reached the last door.
"To see Sasami." Ryoko replied.
"Are you feeling better, Ryoko?" Mihoshi asked.
"I'm fine, Mihoshi." She said, giving the Galaxy Police officer a warning look.
Mihoshi looked over to Kiyone who simply shook her head.
"Well, we'll go with you." Mihoshi said, wanting to see her friend again.
Tenchi and Ryoko looked at one another and nodded.
"C'mon then. We don't have much time." Ryoko said, leading them out onto the streets of Jurai.
In hardly any time Ryoko had updated Kiyone and Mihoshi and they were at the docking bay where Sasami's small ship sat, waiting for them. Ryoko noticed the same guards as before as she stepped up to them.
"You again..." The guard said.
"I brought Tenchi back to speak with Sasami. Let us in."
"The Princess isn't awake yet." He said.
"Go wake her up, then. We don't have all day." Ryoko said, losing her patience.
"Never mind that. I'm awake. Come in." Sasami said, leading them into a room large enough to accommodate all five of them.
"Why did you need to see me, Sasami?"
"I need your help, Tenchi. I need all of your help."
"But why? I thought those goons *you* had take over the throne of Jurai were working for you."
"They were...But now they're after you. That was never part of our agreement, so we have to go after them, Tenchi. To stop whatever they have planned from happening."
"What about Aeka?" Kiyone asked.
"If we stop those two, we stop her execution." Sasami said.
"Why do you want to suddenly stop them? Are you finally feeling guilty about what you've done?" Ryoko asked.
Sasami looked at Ryoko calmly.
"Did you feel bad about anything you did? About all the people you killed?" She asked.
Ryoko clenched her good hand tightly, resisting the urge to get to her feet and knock the girl out. Tenchi placed his hand on her's and shook his head and she only sighed.
Sasami raised an eyebrow.
"Are you going to help me?" She asked.
Kiyone, Mihoshi, and Ryoko all looked at Tenchi.
"What?" He asked them.
"Its your decision, Tenchi. If you want to help her, I will help." Ryoko said.
"We will too." Kiyone agreed.
Tenchi smiled in spite of himself and nodded.
"Let's go then."
"Hold it." A voice behind them said.
"Washu?" Ryoko asked, turning around before the others.
"That's me." She said, walking into the room and taking a seat.
"How did you get in here?" Sasami asked. "My guards are everywhere."
"Of course they are. That's why I used my portal." Washu said, calling up her holo-computer and accessing the dimension in which she kept the large, sliding door. "I knew where you all would be and I simply used this once I was in range."
"What are you doing here, Washu?" Tenchi asked.
"I came to help you, of course. Did you really think you were going to get into the palace that easily? Especially you, Ryoko. Like you aren't well known on this planet."
"So how are you going to get us into the palace any easier?"
"Don't be so impatient, Ryoko. We have some things to discuss first."
"Like what?" Tenchi asked.
Washu looked at Sasami.
"You've turned into a treacherous little brat, haven't you?" She asked her. "You better not try anything once we get to the palace."
"Of course I wouldn't." Sasami said, rather annoyed that the scientist suggested it to her.
"Fine, then we shouldn't have any trouble."
"Then how are you going to get us into the palace, Washu?" Kiyone asked.
Washu started to pull out all sorts of inventions from all kinds of dimensions as Tenchi and the girls watched.
"I have these to disguise you. All of you." She said, holding up some rather regal looking clothes to Ryoko.
"That should make it easy for you to get into the palace. We'll just make the geniuses think your from a neighboring planet who wants to initiate trade with them by suggestion of Sasami here. So that'll get you all into the palace. Once you're in there is a completely different matter. You're going to have to take care of the king and queen before you can get Aeka."
"But if we wait..." Tenchi started.
"Don't worry about that, Tenchi. You, Ryoko, Kiyone, and Mihoshi will take care of the king and queen. I'll go after Aeka and help her before its time for her execution, don't worry."
"Yeah, right...don't worry." Ryoko scoffed.
"You'll be wearing this." Washu said, shoving a small, camera-like object at Ryoko. "That's so I know what you guys are up to. Each of you will have one. They are undetectable so only you will know that you're wearing it, so don't draw attention to it, understand?"
They all nodded.
"Then there shouldn't be a problem. We'll go early tomorrow. We'll have plenty of time." Washu said, cheerfully. At bit too cheerfully.
"You all can stay onboard, if you wish." Sasami said. "There isn't much room though."
"I think it would be better if we went back, Tenchi." Ryoko said, ignoring Sasami's offer.
Tenchi nodded.
"We'll go back and we'll meet in the square at sunrise." Tenchi said.
"Very well then." Sasami said.
"I'll stay here." Washu said, smiling at Ryoko and the others.
"All right, Little Washu." Tenchi said, walking off of Sasami's ship with Ryoko at his side and Kiyone and Mihoshi behind him.
"Do you think we can trust her, Tenchi?" Ryoko asked.
"I don't know. She didn't seem as bad as you said, Ryoko."
"You only say that because she didn't have one of her goons knock you unconscious."
"Well, either way, Washu is there to keep an eye on her now. Washu can take care of whatever happens." Kiyone said.
"That's right. You see, Ryoko? There's nothing to worry about."
Ryoko sighed and held onto Tenchi's arm as they walked through the crowds. Ryoko kept her eyes to the ground, hopefully avoiding any problems her presence might bring.
"What's wrong, Ryoko?" Tenchi asked.
"Nothing...I'm just making sure no one recognizes me and decides to cause problems. Let's hurry and get back to Nagi's."
When they finally did get back to Nagi's, she was waiting for them at the door.
"What did you find out?" She asked.
"We're going after Aeka tomorrow morning." Mihoshi said.
"And the king and queen?" Nagi asked.
"Them too." Ryoko replied. "They shouldn't be a problem."
"Don't get too cocky, Ryoko."
"Me, cocky?"
Nagi only shook her head.
"It's getting late and you all have a lot to do tomorrow. I'll show you where to sleep." She said, leading them all to their individual rooms where they all retired one by one.
Tenchi found himself unable to sleep, which was usual for him. It wasn't what was coming the next morning. He wasn't nervous, but sleep just seemed to escape him as he walked into the main hall of the underground fortress.
It was dark and cold, but that didn't really phase him much. He thought back on the last five years and wondered what exactly had gone wrong. Why had Sasami grown into such a cold young woman? Why was Aeka now a prisoner? Why did it seem that Ryoko was so much more vulnerable than she ever was before?
"Tenchi? What are you doing out here?" Ryoko asked, emerging from the shadows, hugging herself to keep warm.
"Probably the same reason you are." He said.
"You can't sleep either...It would be much nicer if this place had windows. Then I could at least see the stars." She sighed.
"Don't worry, Ryoko. The stars will always be there." Tenchi said as she walked up to him.
"I guess your right. They've always calmed me, though. They seem to absorb anything that's bothering me." She said, leaning her head on his shoulder.
Tenchi only nodded and pulled her closer to him and kissed the top of her head, which caused the pirate to blush.
"What's bothering you, Ryoko?" He asked.
"Everything. Sasami, mostly."
He nodded again.
"She's just misguided now. I think she's seeing her wrongs already. She'll pull out of it..."
"It's only a phase?" Ryoko asked, finishing his sentence.
"No one can hate forever, Ryoko." He said sadly.
It was her turn to nod.
"You're right. There's always something to stop you, if you know what to look for." She said.
"See?" He said, smiling. "We should get some sleep, Ryoko. We're both going to need it."
She nodded, pulling away from him.
"You're right." She said, smiling back. "I'll see you in the morning, Tenchi."
She kissed him on the cheek and walked back to her room.
Tenchi watched her walk away and sighed and walked back to his own room to try to get some sleep.
===============
~End Chapter 7~
Next:
Chapter 8: Mission Implausible
A/n: Phew, long chapter!! The Tenchi kidnapping to Washu's lab played out longer than I thought it would. Two chapters left! Hope you liked this one. ^_^