Chapter 4 – A Time for Crime
I thought that I should start with something big, a warning to everyone out there that this new kid was tough, no one to mess with. And, hey, if I get caught, it's not on MY record. That's why I chose the Main Bank of Jurai.
Yeah, the Main Bank of Jurai. That would be the Bank of Jurai that's actually on Jurai. Wow. What a mouthful. Anyway, I was traveling there in Ryo-Ohki when it suddenly occurred to me that I should switch ships. We stopped at the first check point to Jurai, and were trying to rent a ship, when I saw him.
I didn't know who he was, or what he was doing there, but there was this weird feeling of déjà vu, like I had met him before. He had this beautiful black hair and brown eyes, and I found myself wishing that he were mine. That's when I realized it- he looked exactly like I did now.
He started walking towards the ship rental store, when he saw me and stared, apparently noticing our similarity. He shook his head and went to the rental lady next to mine.
"Excuse me, sir. I need to see your identification, please."
"Sure, here." I said in what I thought was a convincing mans voice.
"Thank you, Mr. Masaki. Will anyone be traveling with you?"
"Wait, hold on, sir." It was that guy. "Um, yeah. You're heading to Jurai, right?"
"Duh."
"Well, why don't we rent a ship together? It would be much easier for everyone."
"Ummm…." I felt my cheeks grow hot, and then I realized that he didn't know that I was a girl. He wasn't trying to hit on me. "Okay, why not?"
"Great!" So, we paid for the ship and headed off for Jurai. It wasn't long before we got to talking.
"So, um, what's your name?" He asked me.
"Tenchi Masaki."
"Seriously? Whoa…that's just weird. My name is Tenchi Masaki also."
"Wow."
"Well, umm…" He cleared his throat nervously. "Who are your parents?"
"I don't know. I was abandoned at birth."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Well, thanks, I guess."
"What are you going to Jurai for?"
"I need to get some money…"
"Say, you aren't a pirate, are you?"
I lost it, then. I was so confused that I didn't know what to feel, so I was angry. Angry at everyone, now. So, I decided now would be a good time to hold an energy blade to his throat and yell. And forget the male voice. "Got a problem with that?"
I was pressing my energy blade close to his neck, as his eyes widened.
"Ryoko?" He whispered.
I backed off, surprised. "What? How do you know who I am?"
"Ryoko, don't you remember? It's me, Tenchi. Ryoko, how could you have forgotten me?"
"Get away from me!" I said, my voice shaking. He walked forward as if to hug me.
"Ryoko, have you forgotten all of us, so soon?"
"Get away from me!" I screamed. He looked startled, hurt, and stopped walking.
"If you really want me to, Ryoko."
I was scared. Maybe this boy was the link to my forgotten year…? But I couldn't ask him, after what had just happened.
We reached Jurai that day, and I avoided him as much as possible. I took a cab to the bank, and waited before finally going in. It wasn't hard, but they set off an alarm earlier than I had anticipated. Plus I had forgotten Ryo-Ohki at the first checkpoint.
"Freeze, put your hands behind your head, and DO NOT MOVE."
Some one else began reading me my rights. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can, and will be used against you in the Jurai court of law. You have the right to a phone call…."
"Shut up." I told him. I couldn't even teleport away, because I hadn't been many places except jail on Jurai. Shit. Well, it looked like I would be visiting jail again.
I was handcuffed and driven to a teleport-proof room in the Palace jail. It was pretty heavily guarded, and I wasn't going to be able to escape, this time. Dammit. So much for making it big.
A DNA test showed my true identity, and I was driven to the palace at once.
"The Princess Ayeka will see you now, Ryoko."
The Princess who? Why did that name seem so familiar, and yet…I remembered nothing.