Seventeen



The fight was now over and all seems to be lost to the friends of Tenchi. Not one of the warriors can stand up to the mighty Kagato. Even with the Light Hawk Wings, Tenchi could not defeat him or his brother Dargon. Now as the both Kiyone and Ryoko watch, the motionless Jaaku just lie at the feet of the two malicious brothers, his life slowly leaving his body. Kagato seems more amused by his reacquisition of Washu than any of the other accomplishments but Ryoko just glared at him filling with anger. She can hardly make herself believe what she is seeing before her. The boy she loves encased in an unbreakable crystal and her creator sharing the same fate, and her only brother slowly drifting from reality. It was all overwhelming to her, seeing so much misery and feeling so much pain. Even Ayeka is taken back at the look in the demon's eye as she watches with Sasami held behind her protectively. All of her restraint is being used as she protects her sister, although she wants to run over and do the same for Tenchi more than anything. In fact, figuring Kagato would soon turn his attentions to the Princesses, she is planning to make her move until a loud scream echoes through the woods. Every person who is able looks at the blue-haired demon as she struggles against her invisible bonds. Both Kagato and Dargon look at her, amused by her attempts to escape.

"Tenchi, Jaaku, I'm coming!"

The two brothers are even more amused by her rantings and smile, just watching her, "I think she's trying to escape, brother."

Kagato mused at his words and nodded, tucking his arms down at his sides and watching the demon trying to do just that. "Yes, it does seem that way. She must feel strongly for the Jurai." Kagato laughs a bit more and looks over at Tenchi's frozen form, "Maybe I should kill him now then, right in front of her."

"No!"

The scream make Kagato's eyes dart back to Ryoko as she suddenly stands up and raises her clenched fists above her head in a mighty explosion of energy from her body. The invisible force that held her suddenly had no more affect and a massive glow of power radiates from her beaten body. As she slowly looks down at the two brothers, her eyes are glowing with a fierce red color and her face is twisted into a snarl. Dargon couldn't help but step back and Kagato quirked a brow at her ability to break free of his bonds. Ryoko's chest just heaves up and down in rage as she glares at him, ready to help her friends.

"Don't you hurt him, Kagato. I am going to pay you back for holding him and for hurting my brother."

Kagato smirks a bit and just stands very casually, "Is that so? Well, I must say I am impressed that you broke free but if you think you can defeat me, you are sadly mistaken."

She didn't need anything else, just his smug words and calmness was enough to send her over the edge. Suddenly leaping from the ground, she charges straight at him, her glowing sword appearing in her hand. Kagato just calmly watches her approach but as she reaches him, the force of her attack takes him off guard. With all her strength, she pulls her sword down at him. Kagato barely had enough time to raise his hand up and create the long, green sword in his hand to block the attack. Sparks of electricity flies from the two swords and Ryoko clenches her teeth, pushing with all her might against the brute of a man. Kagato is equally straining against her and narrows his eyes at her, "You surprise me, Ryoko."

"You won't have Tenchi!" A quick blast from Ryoko makes Kagato skid along the ground on his feet until he regains his footing and stops, glaring back at her. As he focuses his eyes once again, she is gone from his sight and his eyes dart back and forth looking for her. Her loud yells from behind makes him turn around just in time to block her sword once again, but this time Ryoko drops down to the ground and lunges forward, thrusting her fist into his face in a massive punch. For the first time, Kagato hits the ground with a thud and his sword disappears. Dargon can hardly believe his eyes, Kagato being floored by the anger and hate from Ryoko in the form of a single punch. As Kagato slowly gets back to his feet, Ryoko creates her sword again and readies to attack him. Kagato slowly pulls his face from behind his ruffled cloak and a single stream of blood runs from his snarling lips.

"How dare you. You are going to burn for this, Ryoko."

She doesn't even react to his words, just charges at him once again. As she swings her sword at him once again, he floats to the side and avoids it easily. She sends a barrage of attacks his way but he just avoids them all with agility and speed. Ayeka and Sasami just blink at the fierceness Ryoko is attacking Kagato and Dargon can only step back to give them room. Then it all comes to an end as quickly as the attacks. Ryoko swings her sword wide at him but a defiant hand catches her arm, making her yelp a bit. Then he grabs her by her throat and holds her into the air, glaring at her intently.

"Now, Ryoko, time for you to join your brother on the other side!"

As his hands tightens around her throat, she lets out a hoarse yell, straining to escape but with no avail. "Oh, no, Ryoko!" Ayeka's scream at her own surprise as she watches her great nemesis on the verge of leaving this plane. Only Kagato's dark laugh fills Ryoko's ears now as her vision starts to go blurring and her arms fall limp at her side. Then she felt as if she was falling to the ground and hears some screaming, but it was Kagato's and not her own. She looks up to see Kagato's face twisted in pain and his arms wrenched around to his back, as if trying to grab something. Ayeka was getting a whole other viewpoint on this. Shibo-Ken-bo was sticking from Kagato's back as the main blade pierced through his chest, holding there in his body. She slowly looks back to where Jaaku is and sees him up on his knees, one hand holding the wound in his chest and the other in the last position from throwing his hilt. Dargon turns his head slowly just as Kagato turns around to face him.

"You? You are as stubborn as the Professor! Did you think this would stop me? Your pathetic hilt cannot kill me." Kagato claims loudly and glares at him, still trying to grab the hilt. Then, Jaaku does something that takes everyone by surprise, he laughs weakly and closes one eye.

"Well, I knew it wouldn't. However, I had a little something else in mind."

Jaaku slowly raises up both of his hands and the two orbs in them glow through the shredded gloves on his hands, "Since I can't beat you, I'll trap you. Shibi-Ken-bo will take you to a place where you'll never harm my sister and mother again. Say good-bye, Kagato." As if by reaction, the two orbs in the hilt start to glow also, sending Kagato into a mad attempt to pull the hilt from his back.

"No! Brother! Pull this from me!" Dargon nods and quickly jumps in, grasping his hands around the hilt. He yelps in pain also as the glow spreads to the rest of his body, now engulfing both Kagato and Dargon. The appearance of both of them starts to fade away in blue sparkles as beams of light exchange between the orbs in the hilt and the ones in Jaaku's hands. Jaaku starts to wince and yell from his own pain but both of the two finally disappear from place, taking Shibo-Ken-bo with them. After it is over, Jaaku falls onto his face and his eyes close from exhaustion.

"Jaaku?"

After watching the whole thing, Kiyone runs weakly from Mihoshi's side to Jaaku, kneeling down to him and rolling him onto his back and setting his head on her lap. "Jaaku, are you okay?"

As she tends to him, Ayeka walks to Ryoko's side and offers her a helping hand, "Do you need some help up?"

Ryoko looks at her and holds her neck, letting out a deep growl, "I'd rather bite your hand off."

"But what about Tenchi and Little Washu?"

Ayeka looks to Sasami as Ryoko stands up as she looks at the two people encased in the crystals, "He said that if we try to get them out, they'll die! What are we going to do?"

Ryoko clenches her fist and growls through her clenched teeth, "Damn you, Kagato. Even after we beat you you still are a louse."

Ayeka walks slowly to the frozen face of Tenchi and puts her hand on the cold crystal, "Lord Tenchi.....no."

"I think I can take care of that."

All of them look over to the half awake Jaaku sitting weakly up against Kiyone. Ryoko blinks at him and then looks at Tenchi, full of wonder. "It's a bit extreme, but I believe it will work. I don't exactly know how but, I just know it will."

"Do what? What are you talking about, Jaaku?" Kiyone asks from behind him, lightly running her hand through his hair. Jaaku doesn't answer, just raises up his beaten arms and closes his eyes. The two orbs start to glow once again and then slowly move out of his hands, floating into the air in front of him. His orange eyes slowly open and he stares into them, joined by Kiyone from behind.

"What.....what are you doing, Jaaku?"

He just looks at Ryoko and smiles a bit, "Tell Mom wen she comes around, I think I know how the orbs work now. Tell her this for me, Tears of Tokimi." Ryoko blinks a bit and then takes in a sharp breath, realizing what he is doing. "Don't talk, just be happy with him. It's the least I can to make my sister happy."

Before anybody else can even talk, the two orbs fly at the crystals and right into the green shards with Tenchi and Washu. Suddenly the crystals shatter and let the two fall to the ground, barely alive but not awake. Ayeka quickly kneels by Tenchi and holds back her tears of joy. Ryoko just watches at Jaaku's body starts to fade away, and tears start to roll down her cheeks also. Only Kiyone is left to wonder what is going on and she breathes weakly as he starts to fade away.

"Jaaku? What.....what is going on?"

"I'm sorry, Kiyone. I had to do this. I've lived a very long life and, in the end, we are all just echoes of eternity." He slowly looks up at her crying face, "Don't be sad, in five thousand years, you are the first girl I have ever loved. I guess even a demon like me, deserves a little joy in their life." Just as the last words leave his mouth, Jaaku's body fades away from her lap. She can only just sit and stare at where he once was, not sure what just happened but fully knowing how badly her heart was aching right now.