Written By: Gary Kendzerski
AKA: Simfreak
Simfreak@mindspring.com
Episode 2: Tenchi's Loss
After a week of living in such conditions Tenchi found himself in the Onsen taking a bath and relaxing in the nice warm water. When Ryoko appears in front of him, naked as usual, staring at Tenchi. Immediately Tenchi reacts with a bloody nose and turns his head away from her beautiful body.
"What's the madder Tenchi, you've scene me naked before."
"Too many times if you ask me!"
Ryoko gets closer to Tenchi putting her arm around him and Tenchi starts cringing and pushes her away.
"What's the madder, don't you find me attractive?"
"YES! That's the problem!" Ryoko gets a puzzled look on her face. "I don't feel comfortable seeing you naked like this"
"Why not? Its only natural."
"Yea, but well" Tenchi starts blushing "I'm a young man, your and attractive women and were in a warm bath, natural is what I'm afraid of."
"oh, ooooohhhhhhhhh, I understand you naughty boy, ok, if it will make you feel better I will put a towel on."
"Thanks" Ryoko puts a towel on and sits across from Tenchi. "There, you can open your eyes now" Tenchi opens his eyes and wipes the blood that was dripping down his nose. "Isn't this nice Tenchi, just me and you, alone, it's almost like a date."
"Some date"
"Ok, I accept."
"Hmmmm?"
"You just asked me out on a date, earth style."
"I did?"
"Yes, you did, how about Saturday night?"
"Now just wait a minute!"
"What's the madder Tenchi, your not backing down are you, that would be rude."
"What? Well… ok Just don't tell Ayeka, I don't want her to get the wrong idea and I don't want you to fight with her, hey that's a good idea. Ok if you want to go out with me you have to go until Saturday without fighting with Ayeka."
"What! But I cant, I mean she's so, grrrr."
"That's the deal, take it or leave it." He says with a smile on his face.
"Fine, but come Saturday," she stands up and walks over to Tenchi, leaning into his ear whispers "your mine". And vanishes. We are left with Tenchi's face in a panic.
"Oh great, what have I done" and he sinks back under the water causing bubbles to rise to the surface.
Sasami! where are you Sasami!
Over here Ayeka,
Oh there you are, come help me fold these sheets.
Ok.
Sasami and Ayeka struggle through trying to fold sheets, but because of the height difference they just cant do it. But just the Ryoko floats in.
"This isn't working, Ryoko, come here and help."
"I don't feel like it, besides it's not my turn to fold laundry"
"I knew you would be too lazy too help, your such a mooch."
"Sticks and stones little girl."
"Oooo, you are just so worthless, no wonder why Tenchi likes me better."
"What are you talking about, Tenchi loves me!"
"Yea right, prove it."
"Well it just so happens." Just then Tenchi walks in from his bath.
"What's up girls?"
"Tenchi Ayeka's being mean to me."
"Well if you weren't such a lazy bum."
"Ryoko, Help Ayeka, you remember what was talked about right?"
"Yes" she says in a depressed fashion.
"What did you two talk about?"
"None of your business"
"Oh, your impossible!"
Ryoko walks over and starts helping Ayeka for the laundry, as soon as Tenchi leaves Ryoko sticks out her tongue at Ayeka without her knowing.
A few days passed and life was for once quite at the Masaki house, Ryoko did everything in her power not to fight with Ayeka who was starting to get I bit curious on why she kept winning every fight so easily, especially when comparing to the fights in the past.
Then on the afternoon before Ryoko's date, what seemed like a comet appeared in the sky splashing down next to the still growing Ryuo, The resulting title wave rushed up and soaked the sunbathing Ryoko who was trying to get a tan. Ryoko sits up drenched with cold lake water spiting some of it out and a few fish flopping around next to her.
"What the hell was that!?"
Immediately she looks out on to the lake to she a ship floating one of incredible similarity to Ryo-Ohkie. Shortly after the rest of the gang meets Ryoko out on the deck to see what has happened. Before them a person appeared, a beautiful female with long red spiky hair, amber eyes and a figure resembling that anyone could have mistaken for Ryoko and to top it off, she was in the battle suit that we have only know Ryoko to wear. Outside the color of her hair, she for all intents and purposes could have been Ryoko.
"She, she looks like me, what's the meaning of this Washu I thought I was?" Ryoko is cut off by Washu.
"You are my dear, you are the only… unless, Kagato?" Washu replies.
"Look her wrists, how is this possible, how does she have gems?"
"I can answer that," the mysterious visitor replayed. "I can create them, just as you can sister."
"You, you called me sister?"
"Yes, we were born from the same mother, Washu." Her eyes turn tword her, squinting in the summer sun.
"WAIT A MINUTE! I'm Washu and I sure as hell don't remember giving birth to you!"
"That's because you didn't, but your egg and genetic material were used in my creation, along with Kagato's, and the masses. He took off where you left off, making me supririor in every way"
"Well at least he got the hair right!" washu giggles.
"WAIT A SECOND WHATS GOING ON HERE!" Tenchi screams.
"When I was creating Ryoko I used four egg cell, two were meant to be mal and two were meant to be female, it just so happens that the egg cell that Ryoko was born form bonded with the masses and did not die, at the time Kagato was in charge of disposing of the other cells that he had told me died. You must be the other egg."
"Yes, I am, I had also bonded with the masses but was weakened by doing so. Kagato took me and secretly finished the process, when born I was taught the power of Jurai and my father, Kagato sent me out to find the origins of its power, that was 4000 years ago."
"but then why are you here?"
"A few months ago my ship picked up an immense Jurai power in this area. I later learned from my contacts at the Galaxy Police that it was this power that destroyed the Sonja and killed my father. I came to seek this power and destroy it."
"You will most certainly not harm Tenchi!" screams Ayeka.
"Please, you are not match for me Princes Ayeka"
"How did you know my name?"
"I know all of your names, the one feature that Kagato gave me that you never Gave Ryoko is the ability to telepathically retrieve any information that Ken-Ohkie has stored in its data banks."
"Incredible, who would have thought that I would have another daughter, she so cute!" Washu has a smile appear across her face and clasps her hands together,
"MOM!" Ryoko shouts, "She wants to harm Tenchi!"
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that."
"I think you underestimate my power Washu. The mysterious woman then generates an energy sword and starts walking towards Tenchi. Immediately reacting Ryoko jumps in front of Tenchi with an energy weapon of her own in an attempt to protect him."
"You will not be able to lay a finger on him, I wont let you."
"I have no quarrel with you Ryoko; now get out of my way."
"I will not let you harm him!"
"Very well."
The battle ensues; Ryoko and the unnamed female take violent strikes at each other. Each one matching the other moves almost exactly. Ryoko is able to knock the girl down, but in return she gets a energy blast off that his Ryoko directly.
"STOP THIS, NO MORE" In anger Tenchi gathers his energy and focuses it, transforming and creating the light hawk sword. "ENOUGH!"
"That's it! That's the power I have come to destroy."
The unknown girl charges head long towards Tenchi, no contact is made between the swords, and the pure energy of the light hawk was powerful enough to send the known girl flying back to the ground, rendering her unconscious. It is at this time that Ryoko regains herself and stands over the unknown girl ready to strike.
"No Ryoko, don't kill her."
"Why not, she was willing to kill you without any explanation."
"Hmm, sounds like how we first met."
Ryoko looks at Tenchi with a surprised expression across her face and the energy sword in her hand disappears, Washu walks over to the other girl and proceeds to remove the 3 gems from her wrists,
"Hmm, fakes, See I told you not to worry about it. That's why Kagato could never make her better then you Ryoko dear. Your gems are real, and hers are not." With one snap the 3 gems fly into the air and explode. After which the unknown girl slowly regains consciousness and Tenchi reverts back to his former self.
"My energy, it's gone." The mysterious girl says.
"Good maybe now you will leave me and Tenchi alone." Blurted out Ryoko.
"You an Tenchi, don't you mean me and Tenchi?" Yelled Ayeka.
"What makes you think Tenchi wants you?"
"What makes you think he doesn't?"
"Ryoko, Ayeka, stop it!" yelled Tenchi.
The unknown girl stands up and brushes off the singeing that was caused by the hit from Ryoko. "I see now that I was the one to underestimate, but no madder when my master arrives there will be no one able to stop him."
"But Kagato is dead."
"I was not referring to Kagato; you don't think that after 4000 years of searching this galaxy that there would be no one else that has mastered the power of the Jurai. No, the person I'm talking about is the more powerful then the king himself."
"Then how come no one has ever heard of him?"
"He has been learning in the darkest part of this universe manipulating the Jurai power to suit his needs, but he is coming and he will be here shortly, I was sent in advance only to establish that the power was here, I let my own emotions take over, but I will have my vengeance through my master."
The Sky began to turn black as night and rubles like thunder came from the sky and from the heavens a giant ship arose resembling that of tsunami unit, but the hull was black. The ship descended lower before hovering above the lake where Ken-Ohki lay. In a flash of a shadow a new person appeared. Hair black like his ship and eyes to match, with an ora that would make anyone's blood run cold. He stood there almost life less like a stone statue that had served for centuries.
"Master you are here!" The unknown girl raced towards hi wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him on the cheek. "How have I missed you!" And proceeded to embrace him, and he the looked down and returned her affection. After seeing this Ryoko too then proceeded to wrap her arms around Tenchi, mimicking their embrace, but Tenchi was not so open to her affection and stepped aside. Tenchi's face turned cold and serious, staring at his opponent.
"Are you the presence I felt in the universe, are you the boy that created the light hawk wings."
"I am."
"Good then I am in the right place, hmm. The stranger shifted his eyes towards the shrine without turning his head. What do we have here, anther Jurai energy source although not as strong as yours boy it is still powerful."
"And what am I? Chopped liver?" Yelled Ayeka.
"You, ha! Your Jurai energy is pathetic when compared to mine, you may leave."
"I will not abandon Tenchi"
"Suit your self; don't say I didn't warn you."
"The energy coming from that direction, it seems familiar. Could it be, Yosho?
Instantly the stranger disappeared leaving the girl standing there by herself.
"Grandpa" Tenchi whispered.
Tenchi fearing his grandfather's life rushed towards the shrine, running as hard as he can. Ryoko flew in behind him and grabbed him and instantly transporting him to the shrine where the mysterious stranger had already made his presence know.
"Come out Yosho I know you're in there." From within the shrine office, Yosho appears. "There you are brother."
"Hiroto."
"Come now brother, do you honestly need to disguise yourself to your own brother?"
"No, I guess not."
A veil of energy surrounds Yosho causing him to revert to his young self.
"GRANDPA! Is that you? Whats happened to you?"
Yosho looks over to see Ryoko holding Tenchi as they make their way to the top of the stairs and sees Yosho in his new form.
Tenchi stay back.
Who is that Grandfather?
"You never told him? HA! How pathetic, I bet he didn't even know your true form. Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Hiroto second crowned prince of Jurai and sucsesser to the thrown."
"The people will never accept you as their king. You are dead on Jurai, the people have long forgotten you."
"They will have no choice, as soon as I kill you and your grandson, there will be no one in my way."
"Hiroto, why have you come? I have no intention of returning to Jurai."
Yosho takes a deep breath and activates the sword Tenchi
"You know why, your grandson here poses a threat to me, to my succession to the thrown; I am here to make sure that he doesn't discover his full power."
"That might be difficult, he has already used the light hawk wings."
"HA HA HA! Your mind is so limited; you have no idea do you. The light hawk wings are only the beginning! There is a power far stronger, and I'm here to make sure he doesn't discover this power."
Hiroto eyes begin to glow red and an ora of energy surrounds his body. He lifts his hand and the earth around them beings to shake. From the ground arises a sword of pure energy, glowing black with evil.
"NO, Grandfather!"
Tenchi breaks Ryoko's grasp on his and summons his power and once again generates the wings of the light hawk and the light hawk sword.
"Not bad for a boy your age, BUT NOT GOOD ENOUGH, AHHHH!"
Hiroto turns towards Tenchi releasing a powerful energy blast in his direction. Although the energy blast is absorbed by the wings, the over whelming power knocks him back into a tree, snapping the tree into two finally resting at its base.
"NO TENCHI!"
Ryoko's anger and consumes every being of her body and the gems on her two wrists begin to glow with power.
"YOU WILL NOT HARM HIM!"
"Oh please Ryoko; your energy is nowhere near that of mine."
"Then I will die trying."
"RYOKO! NO!" Tenchi stands back up and lunges towards Hiroto with his sword blazing with energy. Hiroto easily deflects the attack, again knocking Tenchi back into the ground, causing the cement to crack below him.
"Ryoko!"
Ryoko looks over in the direction of Yosho
"Catch!"
Yosho points the hilt of sword Tenchi-ken at Ryoko and prays to have the remaining two gems returned to her. Immediately Ryoko felt the new energy surging through her body, her cloths changed and veils of energy shot from her collar and a yellow ora began to be emitted from her body and her eyes began to glow of the same color. She began to focus the power channel it into power that had not yet been awakens inside of her.
"Impressive, but not good enough."
Hiroto shot energy blast at Ryoko five times more powerful then the one that knocked down Tenchi, but Ryoko with swift move of her fist, deflected the blast into space.
"Well done."
"Now it's my turn."
Ryoko's closed her eyes and stuck her hands in front of her, concentrating her energy into one powerful burst of energy that she released towards him. Still on the ground in front of Hiroto Tenchi rolled to the side seeing the powerful energy blast coming. The blast hit Hiroto directly causing a blinding light and releasing shockwave that knocked yosho back into the shrine office injuring him greatly. Nearby plants were incinerated and reduced to ashes, bricks melted into lava and Ryoko fell to the ground reverting back to he original form, the gems went dead and she was left powerless.
Tenchi recovering from the shock wave got up and made a diving stab into the middle of the smoke that surrounded the position in which he stood. The some began to clear to reveal that Tenchi's sword had impaled Hiroto through the chest. Hiroto smiles and looks Tenchi in the eyes,
"Silly boy, I told you I can't be defeated."
And with another powerful burst of energy Tenchi was pushed back. Stunned he stopped and looked around, Yosho was on the floor of the shrine bleeding from his forehead, Ryoko was on the ground unconscious, and he was bleeding from the corner of his mouth and from a cut over his left eyebrow that was dripping blood on the ground
Give up boy; you are no match from me. There is no point in struggling any further.
"I will never surrender to the likes of you!"
"Suit your self." Hiroto starts running towards Tenchi sword in had, ora glowing brighter then before. "I will not be denied my destiny! AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
"AND I WILL NOT SURRENDER, AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" screams Tenchi.
Inside Tenchi something snapped, the damage that Hiroto has caused was too much for him to bear, a tear began to drip from his eye as he felt the power in him consume him, burning from within. With no more to lose he let that sensation boil to the surface. His skin burned as he felt the energy push through his pours out into the open. He was on fire burning in rage sweat beading across his brow. The energy boiled its way to head and his eyes also began to burn in fury. The brown color was replaced by a white light. But this was just the beginning the fire grew brighter and hotter and eventually turned from and uncontrolled blaze into a solid pillar of energy with Tenchi in the middle.
By now Hiroto was in striking distance. And with one mighty swing slashed at Tenchi. But the wall of energy that surrounded him deflected the blade
"Impossible, so much energy."
Tenchi looked at Hiroto with the fire burning in his eyes. He held out is hand and all the energy drained from around Tenchi's body and formed into a sword in his hand. The sword its self began to burn with the energy of stars. Tenchi grasp the sword tight in his hand and lunged at Hiroto but Hiroto was able dodge a direct hit and suffered and savior gash, severing his arm and causing him to recoil in pain.
"Well done" Hiroto concentrated his power and regenerated his arm. "But it's not over"
"Yes it is" he said slowly.
Tenchi held the sword with two hands and jumped into the air and in a flash of light landed, slicing Hiroto in two. Too shocked by his defeat Hiroto just stood there with a vacant expression on his face as he fell to the ground and vanished. Tenchi took a deep breath and sighed in relief after defeating Hiroto. But then reality hit him
"Ryoko! Grandpa!"
Immediately Tenchi ran over to his grandfather who was still unconscious and bleeding badly from his forehead. Tenchi bent down and held him in his arms. Suddenly his eyes opened and regained consciousness.
"Tenchi?"
"Yes grandfather?"
"Don't worry about me; I will be fine, go see if she is all right."
"But grandfather your bleeding."
"GO!" cough, cough.
Tenchi picked his grand father up and set him against the wall. Before running back out into the yard. He stood over her, looking down at her body that seemed so lifeless, her hands were burned and her breathing was almost non-existent. He bent down and held her in his arms
"Ryoko, he whispered, wake up."
From behind both Ayeka and Washu are scene running up the stairs and headed straight for Tenchi.
"TENCHI! Are you alight! Ayeka screamed in fear"
"I'm fine but grandpa is hurt, go help him Ayeka."
"Right!"
"Washu, Ryoko, she wont wake up."
"What happened?"
"She, she tried to save me, I don't know, grandfather wished the remaining gems to Ryoko and she transformed, and, and she." He brought her closer in a warm embrace "Attacked."
"She must have tried to use the full power of the gems. I was afraid something like this would happen."
"Her body has not matured yet she couldn't possibly handle the full power of the gems and so her body shut down from the inside out."
"IS SHE GOING TO DIE! IS SHE GOING TO DIE WASHU!? "
"I don't know Tenchi she was made so that the gems also supplied her body with power. But if the biological connections were burned up from all the power, then its like she is suffocating, look at her, the amount of energy that she is getting is so little that she can hardly breath on her own."
"Can you fix her? Can you make her better?"
"She's not a machine Tenchi, she is as human as you or I, and her body is going to have to heal naturally."
"But will she be ok?"
"I have an idea, put her back in the cave."
"WHAT!"
"The cave was built in a way where the life water that Fanahoe creates drains into where Ryoko was resting. The life water might help her heal, but we have to hurry."
"Right."
Tenchi picked up Ryoko and carried her to the cave where he had found her originally. On the way down Ryoko opened her eyes and looked at Tenchi.
"Ten-chi"
"Ryoko! You're awake."
"I'm dying, I can feel it."
"Don't talk that way; you're going to be fine."
She looked into his eyes in a gaze and said "I might not have another chance to say this." By now they had reached the main chamber below the earth, it was cold and dark just as it has always been. "I – love – you." Her eyes slowly closed and she lost consciousness again.
"Hurry Tenchi put her in."
Tenchi kneeled down and gently lowered her into the water. Immediately a reaction began to happen and a small glowing light emerged from Ryoko's body.
"What's that Washu?"
"It's her life energy; in order for her body to heal her mind separates from her body. The same thing happened when she was put in here by Yosho 700 years ago."
"Yosho, GRANDPA! I hope he's ok." Immediately Tenchi stands up and runs to the exit but stops at the door.
"I don't know if you can hear me but I will come back Ryoko." And he continued on his way back to the shrine.
"Ryoko, get well" as Washu bends down and leans over the edge to get a better view of Ryoko's body. "Please get well." She says again and begins to cry.
"Brother! You, you are young!" Ayeka gaps at the sight of her brother no longer in his disguise. She bends down, "Oh my you're bleeding", Ayeka removes the ribbon from around he waist and places it over the injury on is forehead. "It'll be all right you'll be fine." She keeps talking to him even though he is unconscious until Tenchi arrives.
"Is he all right?"
"I don't know, he has lost a lot of blood."
"What are we going to do! I will not lose two people in one day!"
"Come lets take him down to the house, we have some bandages down there."
"Right."
Tenchi bends down and picks up his grandfather and carries him down to the house. By the time they get there Washu is waiting for them, he eyes are red and there are signs of her crying. But tries to hide it with a smile on her face.
"Tenchi, I can help, my invention can transfer Jurai energy from one person to another."
"Oh no! I saw what your invention did to Ryoko, by the way where is she."
Washu's eyes begin to water but holds it in and doesn't answer Ayeka back.
"Don't worry, Ryoko on suffered that reaction because her blood isn't that of a Jurai, but Lord Katoheato is, Tenchi, trust me."
"I do."
Tenchi carries Yosho into Washu's lab and places him on the table. Washu instructs Tenchi to put on a headband and to hold very still. Within seconds the machine is engaged and energy is transferred from Tenchi's body to Yosho. After a minute of exposure Yosho's wound had stopped bleeding and he had regained consciousness. Washu shuts down the machine.
"Grandpa, are you all right?"
"I, I am fine…. He says in a surprised manor."
"Excuse me."
"Where are you going Tenchi asked Ayeka?"
"For a walk."
"Can I join you?"
"Don't take this the wrong way, but I'd prefer to be a lone."
"I see."
Tenchi leaves the room.
"I must go as well-said Washu, Lord Katoheato, you should stay here and rest, regain some of your strength." Washu leaves and heads in the same direction as Tenchi.
Tenchi finds himself back in the cave looking over Ryoko's body. He remains silent staring down at her angelic body that was once so full of life, now lifeless.
"You said I love you." Tenchi reaches his hand into the cold water to hold hers.
"And now… Why did you have to say that!" Tenchi's eyes water up and tears being to roll down his face when Washu appears. She walks over to him and sits beside him comforting him.
"She said that she loved me Washu."
"I know"
"I made a deal with her, I told her that if she didn't get into a fight, that we would go out on a date tomorrow."
"She's my daughter and I have never told her that I love her, or how proud I am of her."
Tenchi puts his arm around Washu as she begins to cry.
"You will, she is a strong person she will be fine."
"I hope so."
End Part 2