Chapter 11: Showdown In Torment

Disclaimer: I don't own the Tenchi cast, or any of its characters. I did however create The Ebon Shard, the two universe's, Tenchi and Ryoko's son, Yosho [boy with golden eyes] (Please note I DID NOT create Tenchi or Ryoko), Blackshire, Commander Katiso, and Kenzar. Thank you.

Tenchi Muyo: The Final Saga:?!

Chapter 10: A night of Reunion

THE LEGEND:

The legend of the two Universes' is an ancient one. These days it is told only to calm children with nightmares. You see, in one dimension, called the Universe of Delight, good always triumphs in the end. Things may not be perfect, yet in the end justice and right shall never fail. However, the other universe, The Universe of Torment, is not so fortunate. It is a realm where evil reigns supreme. In the end the evils that roam that plane stand triumphant and those with pure hearts must be prepared, in the end, to die by these monster's hands.

But, that is not the entirety of the legend. For you see, the old legend states that one day a being of purest evil will leave The Universe of Torment, and wage a horrible war with the Universe of Delight. This monster shall be born from love, yet be the bane of all that have love inside themselves. His hate and fury will lay waste entire worlds, and all of time will quake at his passing. If the demon is defeated, then the Universe of Torment will forever be free of its curse. The curse that evil shall always prevail. But if the demon is not stopped, then the Universe of Delight will fall under the same curse as it's parallel, and every living thing in both universes shall know unending pain and suffering for all time.

This is the story of the demon's coming, and how it will affect the people in both worlds. From Torment came a young man who was imprisoned by a black-hearted monster, named Blackshire. After a horrible battle with Tenchi and the girls in the Universe of delight, since Blackshire kidnapped Tenchi's daughter, Mayuka, things have seemed to slow down. This encounter had serious repercussions. Learning that she had a son, Ryoko has left with Yosho to his home realm, abandoning Tenchi and the others.

At this time Tenchi is in Torment, trying to bring back Ryoko, for the final chance to save his daughter. His chances are slim, and currently he is trying to achieve good in a word, where good can never win….

And now part 11 of 26

Chapter 11: Showdown In Torment

Night outside The Masaki House

Universe of Torment:

A cool breeze slowly blows across the lawn in front of the lovely residence of the Masaki's as two figures stare at each other with grim determination.

"Tenchi! What are you doing here?" Ryoko shouted looking at the young man before her with a stunned expression.

"I told you already Ryoko, we need you, and I'm not going to let anything keep you from us." Tenchi snapped in reply. For long moments the two of them merely stared at each other, neither quiet knowing what to say next. Finally the young man held up the bracelet he had clutched in his hand. "Ryoko, this is for you." Stretching out a hand the youthful shrine keeper held out the dimensional warping bracelet he had brought with him.

"What is it?" the lithe former space pirate asked as she accepted his offering. "Don't tell me this is what you call jewelry! This looks like something you'd find in Ayeka's personal collection." Ryoko laughed weakly, "trust me, I know…." As she spoke, the seductive space pirate recalled all the times she had looked through Ayeka's personal jewelry stash while the young princess wasn't around.

"No," Tenchi chuckled weakly, "it's not MY idea of fashion. But it is Washu's. It's a device that will send you home."

Throwing it gently in the air, as if measuring its weight, Ryoko was a bit shocked by his gift. Staring at Tenchi intently, she smiled inwardly. She knew she should be angry that "Now Tenchi dear, I already told you once, I'm…." The silver-haired woman paused mid-sentence, as she noticed a rather odd bulge in the man she loved more than anything's pant's pocket. Coughing into her hand, the former space pirate had to battle hard to suppress a wicked smile. "So tell me Tenchi, is there something in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?"

Looking down quickly, the brown haired youth was quick to notice the bulge in his jeans. "Ah yes, my surprise. I guess I should have tried harder to hide it." His bizarre statement caused the golden-eyed woman to laugh obnoxiously, as she lost her ability to hide her amusement. As always, Tenchi Masaki was slow to catch on, yet when he did, his face became a beet red from embarrassment.

"That's not what I'm talking about. It's…well here let me show you." Reaching deep into his pocket, the young man quickly revealed his sword, or rather the sword of the Masaki shrine, complete with the Ryoko's gems still embedded in it's handle.

"So that's your surprise, huh?" Ryoko said as her smile faded. "What did you bring that for? Did you think you could take me by force? While I am flattered, Tenchi, I don't think you have what it takes to kidnap someone."

"You always look at the bad side too quickly, Ryoko." The man who had leapt universes proclaimed with a poor attempt at laughter. "Look it's kind of a silly reason, but if you want to know, I'll tell you when we get home, ok?"

It was that simple statement that seemed to end the casual, almost comfortable sounding, conversation, between the two figures. Something about Tenchi's comment caused Ryoko's blood to boil. Perhaps it was the fact he was laughing when he asked her to come home, or it could have been that he had assumed she would do anything he told her instantly. For whatever reason, Ryoko now felt agitated.

"Damn it Tenchi, I don't think I could make it any simpler why I can't come home." The silver-haired woman snapped defensively, but her anger toward Tenchi did not have root in her heart. As she screamed at the brown haired man before her, the space-pirate knew there was only one person she was furious with, herself. Tenchi had made her feel special, like he always did when she was with him, and when she had nowhere else to run, no way to hide from this confrontation, he had asked her to go home.

After failing twice to win her back, it became the brown haired young man's turn to be angry. "Ok, then Ryoko. Tell me why you can't return. I know you say it's to help Yosho, but that excuse is really getting old. So tell me, what is it? Why are you really here?"

"Blackshire," Ryoko said as if the name said everything. "I'm here because of him."

"What are you talking about? Blackshire's dead. How can he be making you stay here?"

The golden-eyed woman simply sighed as she looked at the clear night's sky. "Tenchi, it's hard to explain. You see I was inside Yosho's mind. I can hear his thoughts, just like I can Ryo-Ohki and Washu's. I saw his entire life, and I know all his pains. I can't truly explain it, but I have this feeling if I leave then something bad will happen, and darkness once again claim him. It might seem stupid, but tell me this much, would you want to lose your mother again?"

The silver-haired space pirate's words hit him with tremendous force. Talking about his mother had always been a tender subject for him, and hearing Ryoko use her as a reference stung his young heart severely.

After trying to calm the pain in his heart, the young man looked up at the woman before him once again. "Ryoko," Tenchi sympathetically replied, walking towards her, and closing the gap between them, to place his hands on her shoulders. "I don't know how you became linked to Yosho, but I have talked to him before, and I know he's a good boy. If he is your son, as much as you claim, then he will definitely understand why you have to come back. I know it will hurt him to lose you, believe me I know now more than ever before, but I have this feeling that something bad is about to happen back home, and without you there, none of us are going to be surviving. Please, Ryoko, come home…. "

Standing there, the two parents of children they did not directly bear stared into each other's eyes. After long moments, Tenchi finally looked away, feeling slightly awkward. This time, instead of asking for her answer, the young man merely remained silent. Slowly, Tenchi and Ryoko began to move closer, melting into each other's arms. The tension in the air had been dispersed, replaced by a strangely comfortable silence.

"There was something else I was supposed to tell you." The brown haired youth said, rubbing the small of her back gently as he looked at the clear night's sky. "It's a message from Washu. She said if you come home, she has a present for you."

"Yeah right! That little gnome probably just wants to poke me with some more needles, or strip me down, and scan me." Leaning back, Ryoko grinned viciously, "Of course if YOU wanted to do that Tenchi, it would be completely different." Despite her best efforts at sounding seductive, the silver haired woman's emotions were staring to show. It was clear that the young man was beginning to win her over.

Farther Away:

On the path leading back to the Masaki residence, a young man walks with a little more energy in his step than he had in many years. He is Yosho Masaki, the son of Ryoko and Tenchi Masaki, and he has just come back from his first real date with the woman he has always cherished more than anything else. Imagine, ME, Yosho Masaki, a nobody at school, being the boyfriend of Sakuya Kumashiro, one of the most popular girls at school!

Despite himself, the golden-eyed youth smiled. I wonder if this is what it felt like when dad realized how he felt about mom? Were they ever THIS happy? I can see now why mom was always around dad. If it was my decision I'd never leave Sakuya's side, but I see now that's not really something that's up to me.

Stopping, with the house just in sight, the young man looked ahead in disbelief. Is that…? No it can't be. What would he be doing here? Despite all his efforts, Yosho could not deny what his golden eyes were showing him. There was his mother, or rather the Ryoko who was filling in for here, held in the embrace of Tenchi Masaki. But how is this possible? As his foot crunched the gravel on the path before him, the young man froze.

What am I doing, if it is really Tenchi, then I can't just go barging in there. This isn't between me, him, and mom. Just like I wouldn't have someone coming between Sakuya and me, when we're on a date. Standing frozen like a statue, the young man glared at the two before him. He didn't know why, but for some reason he felt it was important he intervene in this conversation, yet at the same time he also wanted no part of it. If only there was some way I could be closer. But I'd need to be as sneaky as mom to…

A flash of inspiration came over the youngest Masaki, as a victorious smile soon followed. Let's hope this works…. Closing his eyes, Ryoko's son focused on another part of the Masaki estate, one not too far from the embracing couple.

Back at the House:

"I never did finish telling you earlier why I can't leave, and how I became linked to Yosho. You see Tenchi," Ryoko explained. "The day Blackshire attacked us, I had just spoke to Washu. I asked her…." Pausing the youthful looking space pirate appeared almost embarrassed to continue.

"If you were a good mother?" Tenchi said trying to finish her sentence.

Stunned, the demon of the Masaki shrine looked up quickly. "Yes, but how did you…"

"Washu told me that, right after you took off to save Mayuka."

"I see. Did she tell you about the device she made then?" Ryoko asked, feeling angered that Washu would tell everyone about something so private in her life. The young man cast her a confused look, as he shook his head. Feeling slightly better, the seductive woman sighed. "Good. You see, when I was little, Washu had a devise, one that would allow her to amplify our connection, so that she could read my thoughts. But after I grew up, and the whole Kagato thing, there was no need for it. Anyway, with that device I planned on establishing a temporary link with Mayuka. I wanted to see if I was doing a good job caring for her, or if I was just one of the many who were helping out with her."

"Then I guess I don't understand," Tenchi said excitedly. Since from what he had just heard, the former space pirate had just agreed with everything he had been telling her. "After you used that thing, you must have known how much Mayuka loves you, and you should know that she really needs you now."

"I'm not finished!" The silver-haired woman snapped trying to sound annoyed. "Anyway, as I was saying," pausing Ryoko cast Tenchi a venomous look. "I was GIVEN the device, but before I could USE it, Blackshire attacked. I had it on me when I went to fight him. While I was on the ship, I met Yosho, who claimed to be my son. Of course I didn't buy his story at first, but then I remembered Washu had set the thing to only work on those of YOUR bloodline. So I tested it out. It was amazing, I saw everything he had ever seen and done. I experienced all his pain, suffering, as well as his joys. Just when the link was about to end, Blackshire mentally tried to take over Yosho's body, causing a backlash, and establishing our mental bond."

"But how is that possible." Tenchi asked after waiting a few moments.

"How should I know?" The mother of this universe's Yosho declared. "Do I look like Washu, to you?" Leaning back from Tenchi's arms, Ryoko held up a fist to threaten him teasingly. "Well, Tenchi? Do I remind you of my mother?"

"No, of course not…"the brown-haired youth laughed nervously, the golden-eyed woman laughing with him as well.

After a short time, the golden-eyed mom spoke again. "So now you know why I can't go back. If I go back with you, Yosho might give into his dark side again, and think of all the things that will happen then? What if he becomes something worse than before? You don't know what it's like to be enslaved by evil, pure evil, Tenchi. But I spent most of my life in that state, and I will not let that be Yosho's fate."

"But Ryoko, what about Yuzuha?" The saddened young man proclaimed. "She's a very dangerous threat, and--" Tenchi' words were cut short as Ryoko placed one lithe finger upon his lips.

"You took care of her last time. You and Ayeka, that is." Turning her head away, the woman, who remained in Tenchi's embrace, shook her head. "Besides, what could I do anyway? I don't have any of my gems. Last time I at least had one, and it didn't do us any good, and as you've probably noticed by now I gave my only gem back to you already."

"You never let me finish earlier, Ryoko." Tenchi stated moving his head so he could speak again. "The reason I brought the Tenchi-ken was so I could tell you that I want you to have your gems back, all three of them."

"So, I'm to believe that you trust me that much, huh?" The silver-haired woman declared. "You're saying that after all I've done, you're willing to not only let me come back, but you'll let me have my gems back."

"It's never been a matter of trust." Then under his breath, "well maybe in the beginning, after all you DID try to kill me." Shaking his head sharply, Tenchi looked at Ryoko with a grim determination. "I just thought if you had all your gems back, you might not feel like staying on Earth."

"Why would you think such a thing?"

"I don't know, I guess I'm just a paranoid kind of person." Tenchi laughed, moving one hand to the back of his head nervously. "Look, I'll tell you what Ryoko. Why don't I go get us some soft drinks, and we can talk about it some more. We still have nearly an hour before the auto return kicks in, and anyone wearing these devices is sent to our universe."

"Trying to get me drunk, eh? Well I can see you've definitely gotten more ambitious. You know, dear I think I have a solution to your problem."

"What?"

"Why don't you go back, and bring Mayuka here? Then we can all live together like a family!"

"I can't do that, Ryoko." Tenchi said with a sad tone. "Just think what that would do to the others? I mean it would definitely tear dad and grandpa's hearts to pieces, for me to leave them with Mayuka. Not to mention the other girls."

"So bring them along. I mean their all grown ups. I don't think they would mind, it would be like old times."

"I don't think they would like that. This isn't their home, it's not yours either, Ryoko. What would Kiyone and Mihoshi do? They couldn't go back to the Galaxy Police, they'd be treated like monsters, just like Ayeka and Sasami would be if they went back to Jurai."

"And the universe is bad enough without TWO Washu's," Ryoko said in a miserable jesting tone. "I guess I can see your point. I was just trying to make everyone happy."

"What if you and Yosho came back with me?" Tenchi said excitedly. "We could go back, then Washu could bring him to our world."

The silver-haired woman merely shook her head. "No. I don't think that would work. Like you said, he has a life here, a girlfriend even. He would be miserable there."

Pushing away from the brown-haired youth, Ryoko sighed. "I don't know what to do, but I'll make you a deal, Tenchi. I promise I'll think about it. If I decide to go home with you, I'll see you there. But if I don't, then this is goodbye."

"Alright then, Ryoko…." Tenchi finally said rubbing his eyes. "I'm going to go inside. While I'm here I might as well see what the inside of the house looks like." When he looked up, the young man then realized Ryoko was gone.

Not too far away:

Yosho leaned his head back against the wall of the house. His heart felt as if it was about to explode. Mayuka's must still be in trouble, and did I hear Tenchi say Yuzuha is after them? Swallowing hard, the young man rubbed his face. And mom won't go back because of me, or should I say because of Blackshire. Well that's it! I've had enough of this. Once and for all I'm going to put an end to this. I know what mother wants, what she TRULY needs, possibly even better than she does. It's time I intervened. This has gone on long enough. Ryoko's been made to suffer for far too long.

Rising to his feet, as if a call to battle had been sounded. Concentration hard on his room, Yosho smiled wickedly. I need to get something from my room, and then I'll see to this problem. But then I'm going to do the impossible. Something no one else has ever been able to do before….

Earth:

Washu's Lab:

"Washu!" Kiyone screamed as she ran into the red-haired woman's super lab. "We've got a problem!"

Turning from her work the confused scientist was quick to note that the green-haired woman was not coming into the lab alone. Instead, Ayeka, Sasami, and Mihoshi followed her closely. What really unnerved the youthful looking woman was that in her arms, the first class detective clutched a small wrapped bundle.

"What's going on here," demanded the now intrigued super-genius as she leapt from her seat.

Sasami was the first of the approaching woman to speak, however she spoke with such passion, and speed, that the small scientist couldn't get any useful information out of her story. "Well, you see Washu, Tenchi just told us about Mayuka, and Ryoko, and we were all going back to bed, when we heard Mayuka crying and making some really gross noises and then…"

"SASAMI!" Ayeka snapped, having no patience at the moment for her sister's hysteria. Sadly, the first princess of Jurai was not in a much better position to tell Mayuka's tale. "What Sasami is trying to say is Mayuka is very sick. She's been puking almost constantly. OOOH! I just know that this whole thing is that monster woman's fault. I wager she probably poisoned the poor girl…" one quick glance from Washu instantly silenced the purple-haired woman's slurs. The older sister merely laughed weakly, "of course it was all unintentional…."

"All that aside…" Washu growled. "I think I can see what's going on here, but to be sure, I need to do a scan of Mayuka. Kiyone, if you please." Pointing to a platform beside her, the miniature scientist summoned her ethereal keyboard, and quickly began to enter in various bits of data.

After carefully examining the incoming data, the red haired scientist sighed. "I thought this might happen." Turning in her seat Washu looked at everyone assembled. Swallowing, she prepared to deliver her findings to those before her. Yet as she gazed from the bubble brained Mihoshi to the innocent Sasami, the small genius lost her nerve. "It's really very simple," she stammered, finding it hard to form a simple sentence.

"Is Mayuka gonna be alright, Washu?" Mihoshi asked, her hands clenched into a praying posture as her blue eyes glimmered in the dim light of the lab.

Inhaling deeply, the 20,000-year-old inventor nodded. "Of course she is. She just ate too much. You know Ryoko, she tends to over-eat, and she tried to over feed Mayuka. Nothing to worry about."

A look of relief came over everyone, except Ayeka, who continued to look at Washu with a penetrating gaze.

"Well that's a relief." Exclaimed Mihoshi as she stretched her arms and yawned. "I was really worried there for a while, but then again I guess if I ate like Ryoko, then I'd probably get sick like Mayuka did, too. Hey, Kiyone, do you think Ryoko gets sick from eating so much? I mean you've seen how much she eats, have you ever seen someone eat that much? I don't think I know anyone else who can eat as much as-"

"MIHOSHI!" Kiyone snapped, saying the next few words one at a time. "Would you please shut up! I don't know how Ryoko stays in shape, maybe you should go to the Universe of Torment and ask her!"

"Oh, I could never do that, Kiyone. I couldn't leave you behind!"

I know, that's why my life is in constant turmoil…. the green haired detective thought sadly. "Now if you're through babbling let's take Mayuka back to her room, and get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a long day."

"You don't need to worry about taking her back. I'll do it later," the emerald-eyed scientist blurted deflecting Mihoshi's arms. Washu quickly noted that Kiyone and Ayeka both took extreme interest in her reaction. "That is… I want to run some more tests on her. To make sure she's not going to get any more indigestion. No need to worry."

Nodding Kiyone yawned. "Alright then, Mihoshi, let's go. I'm tired, and I know Washu doesn't want to you to bother her." Turning from the others, with Mihoshi complaining in tow, the green-haired detective couldn't help but feel that something wasn't right about this situation. I can't shake this feeling that Washu is hiding something from us. Of course, if she is, there isn't anything I can do about it. I'll just have to wait, and be ready. This time, I won't be caught off guard like I was with Yosho.

Skipping over to the now sleeping Mayuka, Sasami gently patted the little girls head. "Sleep tight, Noodles. I'll see you tomorrow." Spinning in her slippers, like a ballerina, the young Jurain made her way toward the doorway. "Are you coming, Ayeka?"

"I'll be along in a moment, Sasami. You go ahead without me. I need to speak with Miss Washu." The red-eyed woman declared, never taking her eyes from Washu and Mayuka.

Shrugging, the small princess continued on her way, and in a few moments, the sound of the door closing echoed in the quiet expanse of Washu's lab.

"She's gone," Washu, declared turning back to her work. "So what is it you wanted?"

"You know what I want. I want the truth." Ayeka said in her most demanding royal fashion.

"Uh huh."

"Miss Washu! I know that story you told Kiyone, Mihoshi, and Sasami was merely mish-mash. Now I demand you tell me what is wrong with Mayuka!"

"First of all, its LITTLE Washu," the diminutive scientist said trying to lighten the mood, but when she glanced into Ayeka's eyes she saw not only fury, but a deep hurting as well. Nowhere in Ayeka's red royal eye was there even a hint of amusement. "Second, you're right. Mayuka isn't merely having a case of indigestion. She's dying. Her body isn't strong enough to digest the formula. There is only one thing that can save her now, and that's my special formula."

"So why don't you give it to her?" Ayeka shrieked grabbing Washu by the shoulders, shaking her wildly. "Do you want her to die!"

"Just the opposite," the emerald-eyed woman replied calmly. "I want her to live, but the unless Mayuka takes this in as she would normal food, it won't work. Now tell me, who are the two people who can get her to eat?"

Releasing the small woman's shoulder's Ayeka bowed her head, hiding her eyes beneath a flow of purple hair. "Lord Tenchi, and Ryoko…."

"Right, and do you see either of them here?" Washu asked not enjoying this conversation.

"No, so then what do we do?"

"We wait, Tenchi is trying to bring back Ryoko. I forgot to tell him, but one bracelet will return earlier than the other. I don't remember which one, but the sooner he comes home, the better. Because if someone isn't here to feed Mayuka soon, then she's out of hope.

Universe of Torment

Washu's Lab:

"I always did love the way you two acted around each other, little Ryoko." Washu declared as she watched the entire event unfold on her holo screen eating a bowl of popcorn. Beside her sat the med tube which contained her cyan-haired daughter, who floated weightlessly in the pod beside her.

"I think it's because I always know how each fight, or scene, was gonna end, and so did you and Tenchi. But what makes it funny is you two kids always acted like you had no clue what was going on." Leaning towards the unconscious woman, Washu grinned. "You know, I'll bet if you woke up right now, you could win this Tenchi over as yours. You could go back with him. I don't think your double would mind. After all that would mean she could stay here," Washu laughed, realizing how insane her idea sounded.

Tenchi…. A voice echoed in the red-haired scientist's brain. It had the sound of someone who had been suffering, and who was finally coming home.

"Huh?" Washu said in a shocked tone. "Did you just say something, Ryoko?" Instantly, calling up her ethereal laptop, the diminutive scientist checked her daughter's stats. Interesting. When I mentioned that Tenchi was here, her vital signs seemed to initiate again. Tonight is definitely becoming verrrrry interesting….

Next Time: All right boys and girls, this is it. Ryoko's final answer. What is Yosho going to do? Things have been rushing to this point for the last 11 chapters, and now FINALLY after all this time, it's going to be over. No more wondering for what's going to happen. The final fate of Mayuka, Ryoko (both Torment's and Delight's), Yosho, Tenchi, and everyone else is decided next time in Chapter 12: The Decision

For some of you, I merely wish to say one thing. Sorry….