Changes: Fear

Disclaimer: Tenchi Muyo is copyrighted © 1992-2001 AIC * Pioneer LDC. All images, characters, locations, and anything that is directly derived from Tenchi Muyo is theirs. All rights reserved.

In the previous chapter, Ryoko and Ayeka agreed to never fight each other again (physically). Tenchi came out of his coma and the entire household was overjoyed. That is until, Tenchi attacked them. After a swift and furious battle, Tenchi came to his senses before he could kill anyone. Washu has taken Tenchi into her lab to find out what the problem is.

Changes: Fear

Wires and electrodes covered Tenchi from head to toe. He stared at the blinking moniters and lights all around him while Washu was busily typing away on her computer. Even though he couldn't remember anything, he felt terrible. He had woken up just in time to stop his blade from killing Ryoko. The fear on her face was more than Tenchi could stand. In that moment, she was truly afraid of him. The worst part was seeing all of the damage he had caused before he came back into conciousness. Ayeka alone looked like she might have taken a lot of damage. Tenchi didn't want to believe that he could do such things to the ones he held most dear. He hoped Washu would hurry so he could find some answers to the questions that flooded his mind.

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The living room in the Masaki residence was almost silent. Mihoshi and Kiyone were still feeling the effects of their stun rounds. They would be fine in a couple hours. Ryoko had refused any help. Here advanced healing properties would have her to full capacity in no time. Ayeka sat as still as she could on the couch. Tenchi's attack had left her with a couple bruised ribs. She was begining to regret sending Azaka and Kamidake back to Jurai. She had told her father to assign them to someone who really needed their protection. It was beginning to look like she had overestimated her own powers.

"You alright princess?"

"It just hurts a little bit when I breath. Thank-you Ryoko."

"Anytime princess."

Ryoko sat down on the couch next to Ayeka and pulled her knees into her chest. She stared off into space with a worried look on her face until Ayeka's voice brought her back to her senses.

"Ryoko?"

"Yeah, what is it?"

"Are you alright? You seem worried."

"It's Tenchi."

"Oh, I see."

"I've never seen him like that before. He could have killed any one of us out there with ease. I never knew he was that strong before. I guess I'm just a little shaken up."

"So am I. I just hope the legends aren't true."

"What legends?"

"We should wait and hear from Washu before I say anything further."

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Tenchi examined the scar on his chest. It was about the size of a baseball. It looked like the sun, he wore a similar one on his back. Washu had already explained that saving his life had taken priority over making sure the skin healed properly. His memory was still hazy. All he knew was that he had caught the worst from both Ayeka and Ryoko. He still felt strange; he almost felt stronger than before. He looked across the lab and saw his grandfather. He was conversing with Washu. They were too far away for Tenchi to hear what they were discussing.

"Well, his body has healed perfectly. I just can't figure out for the life of me why he would attack us. I still can't explain how his power levels increased so much. Any ideas Katsuhito?"

"Yes, I just hope that I'm wrong."

"Oh? Care to elaborate?"

"What if the increase of Tenchi's powers couldn't be explained by science. What if it were all part of an ancient prophecy?"

"What prophecy?"

"The Prophecy of Destruction."

"I can't say that I've ever heard of it."

"It is a closely guarded secret of the Jurai royal family. I must consult with Ayeka and the scrolls before I can be certain."

"Fine, what I do with Tenchi in the mean time? Do you wan't me to keep him here?"

"No, I feel that the danger is passed for now. I don't even know if I'm right."

"What if you are?"

"Then we will soon be in for the fight of our lives."

Both Washu and Katsuhito stared at each other in silence. After a moment, they both walked over to Tenchi's bedside. He was staring off into space. He couldn't shake the feelings of guilt that enveloped him. Washu's voice snapped him back to reality, "Tenchi?" Startled, he looked over. There were so many questions that he needed answered, he chose the one that seemed the most obvious, "Wahsu-chan! What happened to me?" Washu chose her words wisely. She decided play dumb.

"I really don't know Tenchi."

"You mean, you don't have any idea?"

"Well, I think that it could have been a defense mechanism. Your mind must've gone into combat mode after your injury. However, you're body was too badly injured to do anything about it. My guess is that your mind was just stuck in a state of self-preservation."

"Is it over?"

"It should be, why don't you go say hello? There are a lot of people eager to see you up there."

"I don't know if I can ever face them after what I did."

"Trust me, I'll explain later. They'll understand."

"Thanks Washu-chan."

"Anytime kid, now run along. I need to speak with your grandfather for a second."

"Sure."

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Tenchi slowly opened the door into the living room. All of the girls were asleep. "Oh man, they must all slept out here waiting," Tenchi thought to himself. He was about to wake up Ayeka, then he realized that he had forgotten to put his shirt back on in Wahsu's lab. He decided that the best thing to do would be to go upstairs and put something on before waking anyone. The creak of the first stair was hardly audible, but it was enough to wake Mihoshi. She looked up sleepily but snapped awake at the sight of Tenchi."

"Hey, Tenchi! You're back!"

The rest of the group sprang up at the mention of Tenchi's name. All he could do was smile nervously as the all the girls rushed over. All that is, except Ayeka. She stood back, unsure of what to do. Ryoko wasted no time in latching onto Tenchi's neck. A quick peck on the cheek was enough to make the young man blush. Tenchi couldn't make out a word anyone was saying. He waited for everyone to calm down before speaking.

"I'm fine. Thank you for your concern."

"Tenchi....I..."

"Don't worry about it Ryoko, I know it was an accident."

"You mean you can...forgive me?"

"You and Ayeka."

The princess looked up hopefully at the mention of her name. Tears started to form up in the corners of her eyes as she started to run to Tenchi. Then suddenly she stopped short. Her enthusiasm was lost in a look of terror on her face. Tenchi didn't know what to make of it.

"Ayeka, what's wrong?"

"Lord Tenchi....y-your chest..."

"Oh this don't worry about it, Washu said that it's perfectly normal. Besides, it doesn't look that bad."

"Tenchi.....you don't understand. Sasami! Come here quickly!"

"But Ayeka..."

"Don't argue with me! Yosho come quickly!"

Sasami quietly did as her older sister instructed. Everyone was confused as to Ayeka's behavior. They watched in udder confusion as she held Sasami behind her back and slowly backed towards Washu's door. All the time she kept calling for Yosho (Katsuhito). Tenchi was taken back by the whole scene. He'd never seen Ayeka like this before. She was absolutely terrified. Not that he hadn't seen her scared before; but this time, she was scared of him. Before he could say anything further, the door to Washu's lab burst open. Katsuhito flew out with his energy sword drawn and ready.

"What is it?! Is everyone alright?!"

"Y-Yosho......look at Tenchi"

"I know, I was just about to come and discuss the matter with you."

"The-the legend......is it......true?"

"It was never a legend, it was a prophecy. However, we musn't jump to conclusions. Ayeka, I need you to come with me to study the scrolls."

"But what about Sasami?"

"She's safe here, don't worry."

"Are you sure?"

"I promise."

Tenchi took the momentary lapse in the conversation to ask a question.

"Grandpa, what's going on. Is there something wrong with me."

"That remains to be seen. For now, just try to get some rest."

"You can't hide anything from me, why are you both afraid of me? I'm fine now, at least that's what Washu told me."

"I hope she was right, but we must make sure."

"What was all that about a prophecy?"

"Ayeka and I need to consult before saying anymore. We may be wrong about the whole thing and if that is the case, we don't want to tell you something that isn't true."

Tenchi nodded. With that, Katsuhito and Ayeka walked out of the house and off to the shrine. Tenchi's mood had changed drastically. He was now worried out of his mind. What in the world could make Ayeka react like that. Normally, she would have been the second person to clamp onto him, especially after he was injured. Without a word, he turned and walked upstairs. Perhaps a night of sleep would take care of everything. Nobody followed, not even Ryoko. Slowly they all dispersed. No one knew exactly what to do with themselves. No one save Ryoko.

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Ryoko floated silently through the forest around the shrine. She was determined to find out what scared the bejeezus out of the princess and surprisingly, Yosho. She hid in the bushes. From her vantage point she could see a lone light in the office. After making she was alone, she phased onto the roof. Silently, she phased her head through the ceiling. She could see Ayeka and Katsuhito busily going through dozens of scrolls. Their focus was so great, there was no threat that they would notice Ryoko so she phased through the ceiling completely and found a rafter to watch from. Their silent quest through the jungle of parchment was very unsettling. Finally, it looked as if Ayeka found the scroll they were looking for. She spread it out on the table. Ryoko couldn't make out what it said over the pair's shoulders. However, their body language was not encouraging. Katsuhito kept shaking his head, but Ayeka seemed to be insisting as she pointed to the middle of the scroll. Katsuhito stood up quickly and exited the office. Ayeka was on his heels. They were whispering so Ryoko couldn't make out what was being said. When the feline-eyed pirate could no longer hear their footfalls she floated down and examined the scroll they had left behind. It looked very old. A lot of it was just wisdom, but Ryoko focused on the center where Ayeka had made such a big deal about with Katsuhito. It was indeed a prophecy reading. Slowly, Ryoko studied it. It read:

When the wind blows hard

A single seed shall fall

When the seed grows it will bear fruit

Born of this fruit shall be a powerful warrior

When wind and fire collide the warrior shall fall

Soon after, heaven and earth shall become hell

Four factions will join to fight

The only one that can defeat the evil is one with a firey heart and love unmatched

If the darkness cannot be stopped, it will engulf life itself

Watch carefully for the one that has been branded with the mark of a dying star

He shall be known as The Destoyer

Ryoko gasped, below the prophecy was a small sketch of the brand. It looked exactly like the scars on Tenchi's chest and back. If the prophecy was true, there wasn't much time to waste. They would have to decipher the rest of the prophecy quickly. Ryoko committed the prophecy to memory and then teleported off to Washu's lab. If anyone could make sense of this whole thing, maybe she could.

Well, what do you think so far? Drop me a line. slayerwolf@slayerwolf.com