Well, I have another for you. The fun is just starting. I'm glad you like this fic. I like mythology, and that's why it in there. I guess I get it from Sailor Moon, boy there is a lot of mythology there. I won't always use it. But it is going to be in this one. Any way, enjoy.
Diclaimer: You know the standard. I don't own the original characters, but this story and any knew characters are mine.
Read on with...
Tenchi Muyo! Lost Souls Ch. 4
Five days later, Andromeda and her gang arrived on Jurai. They easily made it past the planet's defense system because the Olympus was a Juraian ship, however a bit more advanced. With the added investment of the cloaking device, no one knew they were even on the planet, which was just what Andromeda wanted. Iris unloaded them in a deserted alley not far from a large market place in the capital city, and then, after transforming into her humanoid form, she soon joined them. They made their way to the main square and looked around.
"I suggest, your highness, that we find suitable lodging," Atena said.
"You are quite right. It will be tough because of the coronation, but I do believe we have enough money to pay for rooms in a suitable hotel," Andromeda reasoned with a smile. The rest of her face was concealed under a cloak for the fear of being identified. After considerable time, they found a hotel that was as close to the palace as they could get. After getting two large bedroom suites and settling in, they decided to tour the city.
"The city hasn't change much since I was here last," Andromeda started conversationally.
"That's good, is it not, Andromeda-hime," Aurora asked cheerfully.
"Yes, it is good," Iris answered for Andromeda, "It will make it easier for us to move about."
"Let's go explore the market place, everyone," Hermes said with great enthusiasm. They all nodded in agreement. As they walked and shopped in the main square, where the market was set-up, they listen to the gossip that circulated. It was mainly of the trivial lives of trivial people, really of no interest to Andromeda and her crew. It was while they were looking at some very interesting toys that Hermes was aghast at, did they here something of import.
"Do you think that the princess will make it to the coronation," asked a shopper. This instantly perked-up the ears of the Olympus's crew, as they thought that it was Aeka they were talking about. It was soon said, disproving them, that the princess they were gossiping about was not Aeka, but, in fact, her sister.
"It would be truly horrible if Princess Sasami could not make it," her companion said.
"Do they know what is causing her to become so ill," the first asked now.
"They have no idea what is wrong, but it is said that Lady Washu is working on figuring out what is wrong with her," the second assured.
"That's good, there is no one as intelligent as Lady Washu in the known universe. If she can't do it, then no one can," the first said as they walked off. Andromeda stared at them from under her cloak.
"This is a very interesting development," Atena voiced. Andromeda simply nodded. After standing there a few seconds and some thinking, Andromeda turned towards their hotel.
"I wish to visit my sister," Andromeda said as they all followed her to the hotel, "so I will need a plan."
Back in the women's hotel suite, everyone was gathered and started brainstorming. It was Eros who suggested the only plan needed, "Let's put them on a wild goose chase."
"How might that, Eros," Atena asked skeptically, "accomplish the job." Wild goose chases were the only plans Eros could ever come up with.
"Well, they are looking for Princess Aeka," he begin. All eyes were now on him. "Let's feed false information that she has been sighted in various places by various people. We know they are looking for her, as evident by the recent events of four days ago."
"Yes, that is a very good idea," Andromeda agreed. For once his wild goose chase idea would seem to be the best and simplest plan to use. "Let's put it into motion now so that we waste no time." After learning his or her parts, everyone got up to start. Borrowing Atena's special cloak, Andromeda made her way outside to do her part: to show her face.
By evening meal time, all the rumors were spread and shows had been made and soon made it's way to the palace and then to the ears of the prince. The small group of three sat quietly, going over the information they had gotten, in Washu's lab, where no one was to disturb them.
"If Aeka is here on the planet, why won't she just come up to the palace," Ryoko said.
"I don't know, maybe she feels that we wouldn't welcome her," was Tenchi's response.
"Pish-posh, why wouldn't we. Yeah, I know she has been gone five years, but we miss her," Ryoko replied.
"It could be how she feels, exactly the way Tenchi said, and if so, then we must go outside find her ourselves. Then make it know to her that she is welcomed," Washu said insightfully.
"Tomorrow, I have to transverse among the people of Jurai, we could use that as an excuse to look for her."
"That's a good idea, Tenchi. We'll also go out and help in the search for Aeka," Washu finished.
"But what about Sasami, we just can't leave her here alone."
"She won't be alone, Ryoko," Washu admitted, "Grandfather will be here, and her mother and aunt and a whole palace full of people that care for her. Beside, Ryo-Ohki never leaves her bedside, she will alert the whole palace if someone tries something She will be very safe."
"Besides, the best medicine we could possibly give her is to bring back her sister, right," Tenchi sounded hopeful. The two ladies nodded in agreement.
"It is a new day, your highness," said a calm voice above her. Andromeda opened her eyes to see that it was Atena that was speaking to her.
"Yes, it is," she answered back, then asked, "Is everything falling into place?"
"Oh, yes, your highness," said Aurora who was standing at doorway.
"The prince will be coming out today to walk among the commoners, and accompanying him will be the Ladies Washu and Ryoko--both whom didn't seem to want to go until yesterday," Atena reported. Andromeda smiled, the plan is working.
"Well, let's get ready for today," she said in a sarcastically cheerful voice and got out of bed.
After joining the men and having a good breakfast, everyone set out to do their thing. Once again reports were made that Princess Aeka was spotted in various places across the city. She even seemed to make several live appearances across the city also. When mid-day rolled around the pirate group gathered at the hotel for the noon meal. When that was finish, Andromeda went to her room to ready herself for the trip into the palace, the others continued their ways about the city.
In the early afternoon, the prince and two ladies emerged from the palace with armed guards. They were soon going about their own paths of leads that they had gathered and went in search, albeit secretively, for Princess Aeka. When the search was in full force about an hour and a half later, Andromeda, with the added security of a cloak that covered half her face, made her way to the entrance to a secret passageway at the foot of the hill that the palace stood on. This would lead her straight to the caverns under the palace and allow her access to anywhere in the palace.
In no time at all, she had made her way to the large cavern that had access to every other cavern in the maze. If you were not sure how to make your way around, you would surely get lost in this maze. Andromeda turned towards the tunnel that would take her to her sister's room, and began to walk through. In another half-hour, she stopped at the end of the tunnel, just outside the secret door that led into Sasami's room.
She placed her ear to the door and when she heard no one, she pushed gently but forcefully on the door. It opened without the slightest creak. When it was fully opened, she found herself staring at a mournful sight. It almost brought her to her knees right then and there.
The only light that shone was that of the falling sun that was coming in through the high windows whose drapes had been drawn to let in the light. The pale pinks and golden oranges did nothing to liven the room, if anything it only added to the mournfulness of the room. Across the room, was a large four-poster bed that glittered with the mournful light and highlighted the still figure within the covers. It was her sister, Sasami, lying almost dead-like. Lying, curled-up, beside her was Ryo-Ohki, in her animal form, asleep.
Leaving the secret door open, Andromeda mournfully walked up to the side of the bed and looked down at her ill sister. Ryo-Ohki look up at Andromeda and then fell back to sleep, obviously fine with having Andromeda there. She obviously to tired to raise the alarm; she knows I would never hurt Sasami.
"Oh, Sasami," she said tearfully. She reached up to Sasami's forehead to wipe the sweat that had gathered. When she lifted her hand she saw Sasami's markings vanish and appear again as two round circles. Then those disappeared and were replaced by her usual markings. Andromeda gasped with shock as she stared at her sister. Then it dawn on her, Sasami was ill because she was fighting her transformation. Andromeda dropped to her knees to be face-level with Sasami. "Why, Sasami, why fight it," she asked fretfully.
In her sleeping state, Sasami answered, "I don't want to change. You won't recognize me if I were to change." This shocked Andromeda again and, more evidently, brought tears to her eyes. That wasn't true, and she needed to reassure Sasami of this.
"Of coarse, I will. I would recognize you even if you were a flower in a field of flowers. Your soul is so unique that it would be hard to miss. It glows with a bright light that not even a blind person could miss. And since I am your sister and I love you, I would be an idiot not to recognize you, don't ever forget that." She stopped to control the tears that were streaming down her cheeks. "Don't fight it Sasami, you are not one. You need to go through this transformation if you are ever to become complete, and I want a whole sister, not just part of a sister."
Sasami twisted her head as she debated with what Andromeda had said. For five minutes Andromeda watched fearfully as Sasami still fought the transformation. Then finally Sasami stopped thrashing about, making a decision. On Sasami's forehead her marking slowly disappeared then reformed into the two-circled markings of Tsunami. They wavered a bit, obviously Sasami was still not entirely sure. Andromeda held, then squeezed her sister's hand with support, giving Sasami her reassurance. The markings stopped wavering, becoming permanent. Sasami had finished her transformation, she was now complete. Tsunami took a deep breath and then fell, finally, into a much-needed restful sleep. Andromeda smiled and bowed her head in relief still holding the hand of her sister.
She was so engrossed in her conversation with Sasami that she never noticed the man who had walked in and heard the whole exchange between sisters. She was also so engrossed in her relief that she never knew he was there until he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
At the contact, Andromeda jumped, turned, and stood ready to fight off the intruder, her cloak swirling around her in an arch showing her graceful and mature body before falling into place around her. What greeted her eyes was indeed a sight to behold. There he stood, as calm and regal and young as he did the day when he had told her he was leaving to fight the space pirate Ryoko. She loosened herself from the tenseness, and stood just as calm and regal as he did; however, her eyes clouded and showed no emotion, only a cold ruthlessness.
She had changed, she was no longer the timid younger sister he remember from before. Nor was she the arrogant and proud, sometimes snotty, sister that he knew on Earth. She was a woman, and more so, she was a queen. He smiled.
"Hello, Aeka," Yosho, her brother said, "Welcome home."
