I don't own Tenchi Muyo.
A Claim To The Throne
By The Great El Dober
Chapter Three
Part Seven - Manipulations
"Where the fuck is he?" Tenchi whispered impatiently as his
eyes searched the deserted horizon. This was the agreed place, the agreed time, so why
wasn't Kagato here. He stood in anxious wait, dressed in full Jurain armour, gripping
Tenchi-ken with a sweaty, shaking hand. This was getting too much, the wait was becoming
unbearable. Why did that bastard make him wait like this? All he wanted was his Ryoko
back.
He turned his focused gaze behind him to face Ryoko. She lay on the
ground, just as she had on the Cathedral floor. Ayeka kept a protective guard over Ryoko's
frozen form, supportively grasping her hands as she huddled over the statue much like
Tenchi had before.
And Tenchi stood protectively in front of them both. He put a good few
feet between them and faced the opposite direction, anticipating that was where Kagato
would appear. It was a last line of defence. He wasn't going to let anything else happen
to his bride. Ryoko.
"Pretty isn't she."
Tenchi tore his eyes away from Ryoko and faced forwards again. There he
was, Kagato, grinning with an evil superiority that mocked Tenchi and infuriated his rage.
"I don't see why you her changed back," Kagato continued,
"I find her far more pleasant in this form."
"Just do it," Tenchi demanded wrathfully, "Now!"
"Well you have turned up," Kagato observed, "So I suppose
that a deal's a deal."
With a wave of his gloved hand Ryoko's stone body thawed back into it's
normal form. She fell limply, her flesh and blood not ready to properly support her yet,
and was barely caught by Ayeka's embracing hands. But at least she was back. Unbelievable
as it seemed, Kagato had actually kept his word.
"Ryoko," Tenchi called out as, with complete disregard for his
training and common sense, he turned his back on his enemy and ran to his wife's side. He
had to make sure, he had to be certain that she was alright.
As he knelt down by her side, Ayeka handed over Ryoko's unconscious form
and placed her gently into Tenchi's arms. He cradled her lovingly, slowly rocking her back
and forth, savouring her soft warmth once more as he whispered quiet words in her ear.
He ran a delicate finger across her face. The texture, the feel, it was
the way it should be. She was no longer cold and dead. She was alive. She was safe.
Nothing could possibly bring him more relief and joy.
She moaned softly as her closed eyes began to flutter. He cradled her
head up and looked longingly into her shut eyelids as they slowly started to rise. He
looked down at her with a look of complete love and joy, his face radiating with happiness
and anticipation. He had been waiting so long to have her back, to look into her golden
eyes again. Then finally it happened, her eyes shot open and met his loving gaze. Yes, her
eyes stared back at him with a . . .
. . . misty green haze.
No! This was wrong! His heart shattered and collapsed dead in his chest.
This was all wrong, this wasn't how it was supposed to be.
She snarled viciously through her fangs as she tore away from his loving
embrace and stood ramrod straight, her eyes blank and vacant. Tenchi could only watch on
in shock as his love floated over in a dead trance and took up her position by Kagato's
side, back into his grasp.
Kagato burst out laughing, revelling the dramatic amusement of it all.
He had been restraining himself from rubbing his anticipating hands with glee as he had
watched that foolish child holding Ryoko like that, so full of false hope. Oh, the look on
the poor boy's face, it had been absolutely priceless.
"Give her back you bastard," Tenchi screamed, "This isn't
what we agreed."
"But this exactly what we agreed," Kagato replied
matter-of-factly, "I said I would change Ryoko back to flesh and blood, I never said
I would leave her alone. You should have been more specific."
What? Was it true? Had this all been Tenchi's fault? His mind began to
slowly turn on him in a guilty accusation. Was this all just . . .
No! That's what Kagato wanted him to think. It was all mind games. This
was all Kagato's doing, it was all because of him.
"I'll kill you!" Tenchi cried as he ignited Tenchi-ken's
blazing blade in fury, "I'll kill you for what you've done!"
"I'm sure you would," Kagato smirked with an outstretched hand
pointing a path directly at Tenchi, "but would you so readily kill your precious
Ryoko. Let's find out."
Tenchi just stood frozen as Ryoko charged at him, her eyes completely
void of any emotion or understanding, her sword cutting through the air with a deadly ease
and her beloved husband in her sights, staring at her in a shocked horror.
You have to fight! Tenchi's mind told him, It's what Ryoko
would want. You don't have to kill her, just disable her. It's not her that's attacking
you, it's just an extension of him. Fight!
But his heart and soul wouldn't let him. He loved Ryoko too much. He
just extinguished his sword and closed his eyes, awaiting his end, praying that in death
he might get to see her again, to talk to her, to hold her.
Explosion!
He opened his eyes as the force of a powerful blast washed over him.
There she was, Ryoko, tossed through the air with a trail of smoke flowing from her side.
She was hurt. Someone had hurt her! He turned round in an enraged fury to face . . .
"Ayeka?"
"Tenchi, you stay here and fight," she told as she ripped at
her robes making them less restricting and free for fighting, "I'll subdue Ryoko as
best I can."
Tenchi just looked at her with a reluctant hesitation. He knew that
something had to be done about Ryoko and knew that in his heart, he couldn't bring himself
to do it. He also knew that he could trust Ayeka and that she knew Ryoko's fighting
techniques better than anyone, but still there was a deep reluctance to give his approval.
He still felt an obligation to protect her, to keep her safe from all harm. Could he
really sanction someone to fight her?
"Just don't hurt her too much," Tenchi pleaded softly, finally
relenting. It pained him to do so but he knew that it had to be done. There was no other
way.
"Don't worry Tenchi" she replied gently, "I'll be as
gentle as I can."
And with those last assurances so softly spoken Ayeka ran after Ryoko,
grappling with her and pulling both of them down a cliff face, out of Tenchi's sight. It
would make it easier for him if he didn't see them fighting, that would only hurt him even
more.
So that left just two. All alone. No distractions or interruptions. No
distinct advantage to either side. Had Kagato's perfect plan crumbled?
Or was it just starting to fall into place?
Part Eight - Realisations
"It's over you bastard!" Tenchi threatened, "All I have
to do is kill you to free Ryoko. You've lost!"
"Oh please," Kagato laughed, "Do you really think I would
risk everything on that dysfunctional bitch of yours."
"Don't talk about Ryoko like that!" Tenchi screamed at him,
"You're just making it worse for yourself!"
"Oh I see," Kagato replied smugly, "I'm angering you am
I. I'm going to provoke your terrible wrath. Well in that case I have a few more things to
add."
An evil arrogant smirk spread across his face. He was really going to
take great pleasure in this.
"Your beloved friends as the greatest collections of cretins ever
assembled," he ridiculed, "Detective Mihoshi gives incompetence a bad name and
the princess Sasami is good for nothing except possibly fulfilling your father's twisted
paedophile fantasies."
"Shut up," Tenchi yelled in response but Kagato paid no
attention and continued on.
"As for her sister Ayeka, she is nothing but a undesirable reject,
discarded by every man she ever loved," he taunted, making a scathing reference to
both Yosho and Tenchi, "Do you think this new one is any different? He will just
throw her away like the trash she is after he's had his wicked way with her."
"I said shut up!"
"Ah, then there is Ryoko, the most detestable beast of them all . .
."
"Stop it! Just stop it!"
". . .she is as blunt and as crude as a malformed rock. . . ."
"SHUT UP!"
". . .in fact over the countless years I controlled her the only
time she ever became profitable was in a brothel."
"SHUT UP!" Tenchi screamed as his light hawk
wings burst into life around him, summoned by his pure rage. They shimmered all around
him, a testament to his furious hate, but Kagato seemed strangely unperturbed.
"Don't get all riled up yet," he mocked, "I've not got to
the best part yet."
Tenchi just stared in a silent fury as he absorbed the light hawk wings,
shrouding himself in his radiant armour.
"You see Tenchi they are all complete failures," Kagato
insolently continued, "but you are the worst of all. You are a complete idiot."
"Is that supposed to hurt me?" Tenchi asked firmly as he
formed his light hawk sword, preparing for a repeat performance of the Souja.
"Oh but it is hurting you," Kagato grinned, "Your idiocy
is hurting you even as we speak and you are too stupid to even notice."
"What do you mean?" Tenchi asked in a calming confusion as he
wiped some clammy sweat from his brow. These light hawk wings were sure more exhausting to
control than before.
"You are a prince of Jurai and yet, being the idiot you are, you
know almost nothing of it's customs," Kagato continued, "Take the blessing of
Claudius for example."
Tenchi gasped in shock as a horrible realisation began to dawn on him.
"Did you really think there was such a thing?" Kagato laughed,
"If you are that ignorant to Jurai customs then I guess you are equally ignorant when
it comes to earth."
Tenchi just stood in a struggling silence, wiping the pouring sweat from
his brow and trying to control his gasping breaths.
"You wouldn't know of Claudius then," Kagato grinned, "A
prince who poisoned his own brother so that he could steal his claim to the throne!"
Tenchi stumbled down onto one knee, grasping at his chest as he felt the
strain of stabbing pains as they cut at his heart. Kagato's true plans were now coming
into the light. He had been poisoned. He had never even stood a chance, he had been doomed
before he had even stepped one foot onto the battlefield.
"Oh, the gleeful irony of it all! Tenchi Masaki, the idiot prince
who can't even understand a clue relating to his own home planet," Kagato's
victorious voice proclaimed, "And while I can't pulverise you in combat I must say
that this is every bit as satisfying. To watch you wither and die because of your own
pathetic incompetence. As I said Tenchi, you are an idiot, but soon you won't even be
that."
Suddenly Ryoko phased back into sight only metres away from them. Tenchi
painfully lurched his head so that he could see his bride. What he saw broke his heart.
Her wedding robes were tattered and bloody and her body was covered with
burns and scratches. He knew they would heal within hours but it still pained him to see
his Ryoko in such pain. Still he could never hate Ayeka for it, she was only doing what
she had to.
As if on cue Ayeka leapt back over the cliff-edge that she had tumbled
down earlier and charged to resume her battle with Ryoko. To be fair it wasn't much of a
battle. Despite having all three gems Ryoko's attempts had been anything but effective.
After all, it is not a tool but the skill of the user than determines the quality of the
work. When Kagato used Ryoko as a tool he had to hack and bypass so many vital elements
that his grasp on her was crude.
Even the restrained Ryoko that Ayeka had fought so many times in the
past had put up a far superior fight. As long as she stayed focused and alert then she
could evade and distract Ryoko long enough for Tenchi to finish. It was this thought that
coursed through her mind, willing her on, encouraging her to fight Ryoko no matter how
much she didn't want to.
She just had to remind herself that she was doing Ryoko a favour by
helping her protect Tenchi. She couldn't let guilt or doubt interfere now. Her
determination had to be unshakeable, her focus had to be absolute.
And then she saw him.
"Tenchi?" she whispered in shock. She felt a deep concern fall
over her mind. Something was wrong, Tenchi was injured. But he had the Light Hawk Wings.
How could this be? It was all her fault, she should never have left him alone, she should
never have . . .
PAIN!
She screamed as a coursing pain cut off her wandering, guilt-ridden
thoughts. She felt all strength flee from her muscles as she collapsed to fall limp on the
ground. But she never did . . .
She forced her sight down to the root of the pain and there it was.
Ryoko's hand had pierced her skin and had been plunged into her middle. It held up her
paralysed body like a tack holding up a sheet of paper. And it hurt, this tack that
pierced her skin, this tragic thorn in her side hurt with a ludicrous intensity, but
something hurt even more than that.
The failure.
It was over now and as her body convulsed in pain her soul wept in woe.
Kagato had won. Her mothers, father, sister, brother, friends, he was going to hurt them
all. Everything she held dear was going to be ravaged by his hand, all because she had
failed them.
Ayeka's body fell like a rock as Ryoko pulled her blood stained hand out
of it. Tenchi felt like crying when he caught sight of it, his beloved wife's wedding
band, the one he had so lovingly gave to her, the same ring that was now smeared, bathed
in Ayeka's blood. The beautiful princess' body lay like a carcass and Ryoko stooped over
it like a vulture, her hand raised ready to deliver the final blow.
"Ryoko no," Tenchi pleaded, his weak voice barely above a
strangled whisper. He knew that she wouldn't hear him though. It was useless. All he could
do was pray that Ayeka would forgive his wife for what would surely follow.
"Ryoko stop."
She stopped.
"Leave her as she is," Kagato continued, "Her wound is
fatal, leave her to bleed away like the wounded animal she is."
The possessed Ryoko jerked back in retreat and lifelessly floated back
to take her place at Kagato's side. He smiled proudly as he observed the scene of carnage
laid out before him.
Tenchi the mighty prince of Jurai, wielder of the unstoppable Light Hawk
Wings, was left gasping his dying breaths in the dirt. He only had minutes more to live.
Then there was Ayeka, loyal and tragic to the end, as she painfully
crawled over to Tenchi, leaving a glistening trail of blood in her wake. If she continued
to waste energy like that then she would live for even less.
His uncaring lips formed a smirk that was full of malicious cunning and
mocking victory. It was over. He had finally won. There would be no more aces plucked from
their shelves because there were no more cards to play. All had now been accounted for.
Or so he thought.
Part Nine - Salvation?
"Ayeka! Tenchi! Ryoko! What's happened?"
"What?" Kagato cried in shock as he turned to face this
surprise voice. It was impossible. There were in the middle of a barren battlefield. Who
could possibly be here?
"Oh, it's you," he sneered as he saw the source, almost
embarrassed that he had been startled by such a minor thing, "Where have you being
stowing away little girl? Why didn't I see you before?"
"Run Sasami!" Ayeka managed to choke out through her pain. She
had no idea how Sasami had suddenly ended up here but now her mind was filled with a
pressing concern for her younger sister. The rest of them may be defeated and dying but
there was no reason for Sasami to die also.
"Yes, listen to your sister little girl," Kagato advised,
"Run for your sorry little life. I'm feeling generous so I'll give you a chance, but
only one."
"No!" Sasami defiantly refused, "I won't leave them here,
they're my family. If they are staying then I'm staying!"
"Fine, have it you're way child," Kagato sneered as he aimed
his gloved palm at the defenceless girl.
"No!" Ayeka screamed in terror as a cutting green bolt shot
from his hand.
He watched it as it soared a path towards her, as it glided like the
wings of death themselves before it forcefully . . . No! It was impossible! How could it
be? There was no way! It made no sense!
Ayeka just smiled, if there was ever a wildcard then this was it.
Despite her excruciating pain, Ayeka couldn't help but smile with delight and a sisterly
pride.
It was the most glorious sight she had ever seen.
End of Chapter Three
Note - Okay, Ryoko fans might not like this too much but I think it
spices up the story a bit. After using the clichéd start of having Kagato return I wasn't
going to cast Ryoko as the damsel in distress and Tenchi as the conquering hero but don't
worry, they'll still be together in the end. Anyways, for those who don't understand the
Claudius reference then read Hamlet (at your own peril).
