So sorry it took me some time to get this out. I have been blocked and couldn't think of what to write down. My brain keeps on skipping ahead of me. Oh, sure I have ideas on now to end it, but I can not think of anything to write in between. I have put up another fic, Sailor Moon. Don't worry, it will not take away from this fic. I have had that one down for quite awhile, I just haven't posted them. I do have to fix the series to make it fit right, but doing something else will no doubt help me in finishing this series. Maybe two more chapter. So sit back and enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't not own Tenchi Muyo! Some other people do. They are the ones with the money, not me, so don't sue.

Tenchi Muyo! Lost Souls Chapter 10

On the ship Tsunami, they all gathered except for Yosho, he would stay to run the planet. Washu was talking to Tsunami as Ryo-Ohki, in her cabbit form, was held in Sasami's arms. Together they would be able to find Ryo-Ohl very quickly. Mihoshi stood with Tenchi and Ryoko as they the projected screen. When Washu was finally done conversing with Tsunami, she joined the others. "Tsunami, with the aide of my tracker has picked up the ion trail of Ryo-Ohl. It won't take long to catch up to Aeka. However, we will have to stay back until the right time."

"That will be fine, Washu," Tenchi said, "Is there any way to tell where they are headed."

"I had thought of that, so that we could cut them off, but without some more information, I could not guess where they might be headed," Washu exclaimed.

"What about what she took from the bank, maybe we can guess what's she is up to with that," Ryoko deduced.

"I was informed that only one thing was stolen, the Juraian Blossom Gem," Tenchi revealed.

"That was the only thing they stole," Ryoko asked shocked.

"They didn't have time for anything else," Tenchi said, "The alarm sounded when they opened the vault without the correct code."

"But they went to the 7th floor only, the vaults that hold the emeraldes are on the 4th floor," Washu articulated.

"It was a surgical strike, they were going for the Blossom Gem and that is what they got," Ryoko surmised.

"But why," Tenchi asked out loud.

Tsunami then joined them, she was the only one who knew of the Blossom's power. Although she was tracking her sister, she had been listening to the whole conversation. "The Jurarian Blossom Gem is special," she said to the others, "It was the first seeding flower of the first tree of Jurai. As it fell from the branches, it crystallized. It once adorned the crown of the Juraian queen, a symbol of rebirth. Long ago, however, it was put away, as all flashy gems were. What is not well known, though, is the power the gem has. Its symbolism of rebirth is backed up by its power. It actually has the power to restore things."

"But what would she want to restore," queried Washu.

"Maybe she wants to be a goddess again," Mihoshi, who had been quietly standing there listening to the conversation, said.

"Don't be ridiculous, Mihoshi," Ryoko dismissed.

"No," her mother retorted, "Mihoshi has a point."

"I do," Mishoshi asked surprised.

"She does," Ryoko said at the same time.

"Yes," Washu reassured, "If she had all the right components, she would be able to construct a talisman used to return her to her status as a god.

"If we knew what she had already and what else she needs then we would be able to deduce where she might be headed.."

"Mishoshi, do you think that you could get a list of all her robberies and of what she stole," Tenchi asked.

"Sure, no problem," Mihoshi saluted and then went to the com-system to contact headquarters for the information.

Tenchi turned away form the others and looked at the screen that showed space as they traveled through it. We're coming Aeka, we're coming to set you free.

Andromeda would stay in her room through-out the whole trip unless something major would force her out, she had informed her crew. She had things to do before they arrived at their destination.

Alone after she had left, they looked at each other. Finally, Aurora spoke out, "Something is different about Andromeda?" They all nodded in agreement.

Iris stood their silently contemplating the question the child had asked. There was something different about Andromeda. She had always had a distant and cold look in her eyes; they were the eyes of a lost soul. A soul who knew its past, but could not come to terms with its future. The eyes that she had seen awhile ago were not like that at all. Andromeda's eyes were all knowing and fierce. This woman knew her past and did not regret anything, and knew her future, never to regret anything that she would do. No, her princess was not like the later, she has a soul; this "thing"—she could not even think of it as living—did not. "That is not my princess," she finally aired a thought.

The rest of the crew stared in disbelief. If anyone was the most devoted to Andromeda, it would be Iris. She had been with Andromeda since the beginning, Iris had been there for her birth. To hear this coming from Iris, one just had to know that something was defiantly wrong.

"What do you mean that is not your princess," Atena asked.

"She is not my princess," Iris simply said, hoping that by repeating those words it would make them understand.

"Please explain, Iris," Hermes pushed.

"I do not know how to," she began, "She is the same being. There is no new force control1ing her, I would have been able to detect it. For some reason it seems that she is being controlled by someone else," she paused to gather her thought. "Her eyes are different. Before, I could always see my princess, Aeka within the deepest parts of Andromeda's eyes. It was my only glimmer of hope that my princess would return.

"Now, though, I can not see it. There is no Aeka within those eyes, she is gone." She slumped to the ground, everyone gasped. "I am scared."

No one knew how to react. Finally, Aurora stood from her seat and walked toward Iris. Even though she was merely a hologram, she was solid. Aurora circled Iris in a large hug. She said nothing, just kept on hugging her.

Ares finally spoke up, "We should keep a close eyes on this Andromeda."

"It also looks as if we must be wary of her," Eros said. They all nodded their heads in agreement. The cared too much for their lost soul princess not to.

Tenchi had made his way to his temporary room on the ship. He had needed some time to think alone. He sat there wondering why Tokimi had decided to take Aeka's body. She was not a descendant of that goddess, not like Sasami or Ryoko. Why had she chosen Aeka? He could not understand that. The only connection that Aeka had with Tokimi was Tsunami's sister, but it was broken when Tsunami gave up her status as a goddess. Why Aeka?

A few minutes later there was a knock at the door, it was Ryoko the person had said; he let her enter. As she entered the room she looked forlorned at the sight of Tenchi's worried face. He had been contemplating Aeka's situation again.

"Tenchi…" she began tentatively.

"I miss her so much, Ryoko," he said quietly.

"I do, too. Soon, though, soon we will bring her back. Then I will never let her out of my sight ever again."

Tenchi chuckled at that. They would no doubt be arguing five minutes within being near each other. That was the way their relationship was. It was not that way between Funaho and Masaki, but it was that way for Ryoko and Aeka. He would not have it any other way.

He remembered the time right before Aeka disappeared. She had seemed aloft and distant. She didn't fight or argue with Ryoko, life had become boring and monotonous. Now that he though about it, it had been very disconcerting. He should have known that something was wrong at the time, but he had just thought that it was better. Oh, how wrong he was.

Ryoko had settled into his lap while he had been thinking, cuddling to be near his warmth. Her thoughts had been going in the same direction as Tenchi's. All she wanted was the Aeka that she knew and loved to come back. She began to cry silently.

Tenchi noticed that Ryoko was crying, and his heart began to bleed. He hated any of his beloved ones to be sad. He wrapped his arms tightly around his Ryoko-koishii, then whispered into her ear, "Do not worry, koishii, I will get Aeka-koishii back." She looked into his eyes, hers still clouded by tears, and nodded in stubborn agreement. She lowered her head do to Tenchi's chest and listened to his heart as it beat, comforting her. They stayed like this for half an hour when Washu finally called for then to come up to she her, she had just received the list from Mihoshi.

When every one was there, Washu broke the news, "I have just gone over what Mihoshi brought me. I don't have good news. Andromeda needed two other objects other that the Blossom Gem before she would have all the components to complete her restoration.

"One of them was the Jewel of Knowledge, which my son had carried with him. It passed down the line for many generations, however, it was lost some time ago after the last of my descendants died," she paused as she looked at Ryoko, "That was before Ryoko's time, and I had long released my connection with my descendants. The last I heard was that the stone was in a museum in the Omega quadrant.

"The second stone would be that of Tokimi. That I knew of, she had now such thing. Then I remembered that when I saw Aeka she had a golden jewel around her neck. When I matched it with the known photographs of Tokimi, I noticed the same stone on Tokimi's crown. It is no doubt the last one, the Power Stone of Tokimi."

"Why did it take her so long to get the gems then," Ryoko asked.

"She used the other robberies to cover up what she was doing and to fund for the search, no doubt," her mother answered.

"So now what do we do," queried Mihoshi.

"We must beat her to the door that leads to the fifth dimension where the gods live," Washu simply said.

"Then we must hurry," Tenchi said, "Where do we have to go, Washu?"

"At this time there is only one place that the door to the dimension is open."

"Tokimi's palace," Tsunami said with trepidation. Washu nodded solemnly. Neither one had good memories of that place. Even though they were both former gods, the place filled them with anxiety.

"Yes," Washu said shaking off the feeling. "There is one more thing. Since Aeka and Tokimi are connected, where Tokimi's soul goes, Aeka's goes. If Tokimi succeeds, Aeka will be lost forever."

"Then we must go; we have to beat her there," Tenchi said with conviction. he did not like the place, but her sure not going to lose any of his loves.