Disclaimer

Tenchi and all associated characters are the property of AIC and Pioneer LDC.  I don't own any rights to them.  Any other characters are property of their respective copyright holders, not me.

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The Great Cabbit Search

Chapter 10

Here We Are Again

Part 2

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The sun had finally disappeared behind the distant peaks, leaving the dim twilight of early evening behind.  Tenchi (male) was still passed out from the shock of learning he was a female in this reality.  He was being tended to by the two Sasami's in an upstairs bedroom.  Kiyone and Mihoshi were seeing to the hiding of Yagami away from any prying eyes, including any Juraians that might be keeping an eye on the two princesses, and Washu, Ryoko and Tenchi (female) had gone up to the shrine to see Katsuhito.

"So, what you're telling me is that a few disgruntled nobles managed to overthrow the Royal Family.  How could this happen?  The Holy Council and the people would never stand for it."  Princess Ayeka (blue hair) and Princess Ayeka (purple hair) were seated in the Masaki family kitchen sipping tea. 

Ayeka (purple hair) sighed before answering.  "The nobles had the support of high-ranking military officers, so there was nothing anyone could do.  If only I had found my brother.  He could have rallied the people and stopped this.  He was much loved."

Ayeka (blue hair) gave her counterpart a strange look, "And if you found Yosho, what then?"

"I don't know.  But our people are miserable under the new regime; I understand it's very repressive."

The other Ayeka sipped her tea thoughtfully, "Then perhaps we can help, yes, perhaps."

*****

Washu and Tenchi walked up the stairs to the shrine while Ryoko floated along behind them.  The scientist was telling the girl about the history of each member of the group, when she got to the part about Ryoko and the cave, the girl got very excited.

"I know that cave, Grandpa keeps it locked so that no one can get hurt inside.  He says it's very dangerous."

"Has he said anything about a demon inside?" asked Ryoko.

"Yeah," Tenchi replied, "but that's just an old legend.  According to Grandpa, one of our ancestors…"

"Yosho!" Ryoko interrupted.

"Yeah, Yosho.  Well anyway, he defeated the demon and locked it in the cave.  But Grandpa says it's just an old legend," she repeated.

"Legends usually have some basis in fact," said Washu cryptically.

They reached the top of the steps and entered the small courtyard of the Masaki shrine.  Tenchi called for her grandfather, "Grandpa, there're some people here to see you."

The door to the shrine office slid open, allowing a bright light into the darkening courtyard.  "What is it now Tenchi?  Is it our visitors…"  Katsuhito saw the three women standing there.  He ducked back into the office, then came charging out, a metal sword glittering in his hand.  "Tenchi!  Run!  Get as far from here as you can, I'll try to keep her busy while you get away!"  He ran at Ryoko, sword at the ready.

Realizing what was going on, Washu held up a hand toward Katsuhito.  She changed into adult form and her symbol glowed briefly.  Katsuhito froze in his tracks.  She walked up to him and gently took the sword from his stiff fingers.  "Boys and their toys," she muttered.  She tossed the blade into a subspace pocket.  "Better get rid of that before someone cuts themselves.  You can have it back when you learn how to act in front of ladies."  She looked over her shoulder at the other two women and gave them a wink.  Turning back to the priest she said, "I'm going to release your mouth so you can speak.  If we can come to an understanding I'll free the rest of your body as well, ok 'Yosho'?"  She touched his lips with her finger.

"Who are… How did you…  Why isn't Ryoko attacking?" he managed to stutter out.

Washu laughed.  "First of all, I am Washu, creator of Ryoko and Ryo-ohki, eldest of the three Juraian Goddesses and the greatest scientific genius in the Universe, not to mention cute!" I have to get me some of those little puppets that other Washu had, they were so cool! she thought.  "And if I were to guess, I'd say that your Ryoko is still trapped in the cave, a situation we're going to have to do something about real soon.  Please, allow me to introduce my daughter, Princess Masaki Ryoko of Jurai.  And as you may have guessed, we're not from around these parts.  Now, if I let you go will you listen to reason?"

"Yes, My Lady," said the old priest.

Washu waved her hand and Katsuhito stumbled forward, suddenly able to move again.  He bowed deeply to Washu and the girls.  "My Lady, ladies.  Please come into the office and make yourselves comfortable," he said.  "I think this is going to be a long story."

*****

Tenchi groaned and opened his eyes.  The first thing he saw was Sasami's smiling face, Ryo-ohki perched atop her head.  Shifting his vision to the other side, he saw the other Sasami with Ay-ohki on her head.  He remembered what had caused him to pass out.

"Is it true?" he asked, "Am I a girl in this reality?"

"Yes Tenchi," his Sasami giggled.  "And you're really cute too."

"Yeah, I noticed," he said, blushing.

Sasami giggled again, "Oh Tenchi.  Are you being a naughty boy again?  And you're a married man; wait until I tell my sister and Ryoko!"

*****

Katsuhito shook his head in disbelief.  "So, in your world Tenchi is a man, and he's married to both Ryoko and my sister?  Amazing.  Tenchi being a male would have solved so many problems here, not that I'm at all disappointed in my granddaughter.  I've read theories about the existence of other realities, and now I have proof.  But do you think it wise to release our Ryoko?  From what you say Kagato will be able to find her again."

Ryoko growled at him and was hushed by her mother.

"She's awake you know, has been for decades," Washu said.  "You programmed that containment unit yourself.  It was set to wake her when it determined she was ready to begin a normal life."

"But Lady Washu, the remote has never…  Wait, I'll show you," he went over to the desk and pulled a small device out of the drawer.  "See, it still shows her as asleep."

"Let me see that…" Washu took the device and examined it.  "Ah ha, just as I thought.  When was the last time you checked the power source?  This thing couldn't receive a signal if it was right next to the transmitter."

Ryoko stood up quickly.  "You mean I was trapped down there because he didn't use the pink bunny batteries?  That I should have been released long ago?"  She turned on the priest, an angry glint in her eye.

Washu placed herself between her daughter and Katsuhito.  "Ryoko, calm down.  We don't know if that's the case with you.  And besides, the power cell in this unit is supposed to last for thousands of years.  It must be defective, he had no way of knowing."

"Ayeka is my aunt?  I'm a princess?  There really is a demon?" wondered Tenchi, totally lost in her own little world.

The other three turned to look at her then decided that it wasn't worth the effort to bring her back to reality right now.  She wasn't contributing anything to the conversation anyway.

Washu sat back down and took a sip of tea from the cup Katsuhito had refilled for her.  "Tomorrow we'll have to go down there and free her.  It's too late tonight and one more day isn't going to hurt her that much."

The priest also resumed his seat across the table.  "But Lady Washu, what if she's not ready?  What if she's unreformed?  I understand about your daughter here, but you've already said that the realities don't run exactly alike.  This Ryoko may still be dangerous."

Washu considered what he said for a few seconds.  "We'll have to take that chance.  I can't contact her mentally as long as she's still in containment, so there's no way of knowing her mental state.  But I just can't leave her there.  Even though she's not my true daughter, she's still a relative, so to speak."

"There's a cute, fuzzy little demon in the lake too?" said Tenchi, eyes still glazed over.

Ryoko shook her head.  "You two decide what your gonna do, I'll take Mihoshi junior here back down to the house."  She reached out and gently put her arm around the girl.  Strange, this feels right, like I'm touching my husband, she thought.  In a way, I guess I am…   "Come on honey, let's go."  She teleported the two of them away.

Katsuhito watched them go, then dropped his disguise.  "Lady Washu, if our Ryoko is truly like yours now, I owe you and her a big apology.  Your daughter is a wonderful person."

"That's only because you gave her a second chance.  And for that, I admire you Lord Yosho.  And I regret all that you gave up to stay here and watch over her."

Yosho chuckled, "Oh, it was no chore.  I had other… things to keep me occupied as well."

Washu grinned at him; "You'll have to tell your sister now.  Tenchi knows and she'll let it slip someday."

Yosho stood up and walked to the window.  "I know.  And she'll want me to help her free our parents and reinstate the Royal Family.  I've tried to distance myself from all that for 700 years.  I don't know if I'm ready to jump back in yet."

"Your mother and father are the prisoners of a corrupt regime.  Surely you want to help them?" Washu asked.

He got a faraway look in his eyes.  "I do, yes.  But until you showed up there was no way to get off planet.  The only ship was Ryo-ohki.  She's in the lake and she only listens to Ryoko."

The scientist walked over to him and patted his arm, "Well, we're here now.  And as soon as we get Ryoko out of that damn cave we'll have three ships, or four if Ay-ohki's ready and I think he is."  She chuckled.  "I feel sorry for the Juraian fleet already."

Yosho reached out and touched her on the shoulder.  "Lady Washu, a final question if I may?"

"Yes?" she replied.

"Are you really Tsunami's sister?" the Juraian asked.

Washu stared off into the dark, "In this reality, I don't know.  Probably.  Back in my reality, yes I am."

"Thank you.  You've restored my faith," he sighed.

"But you're a Shinto priest…" Washu said with a mocking voice

Yosho smiled at her.  "I'm also a Juraian, raised in the spirit of Tsunami," he explained. "The coup has outlawed all recognition of Tsunami's divinity.  Fortunately the Royal nursery won't open for them, only for the Royal Family, otherwise Tsunami's Tree would be in danger."

"I'll let you in on a little secret then Yosho," the scientist said in a conspiratorial tone, "Tsunami's here on Earth.  And there may be others we can call on in need as well."

Yosho started for the door, holding out his hand for her to take. "Then what can go wrong?  We have two goddesses on our side."

Washu shook her head, and put her hand in his.  "Plenty can still go wrong, Yosho.  Plenty."

*****

To be continued

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Author's Notes

Ok, how's this story coming along?  Is it as good as "Newlyweds"?  Is it too confusing?  Should I just give up? (Just kidding!)

Well, my Mid Terms are given; I just have to grade them now.  Knowing me, I'll wait until the day before school starts to do it.  What that means though is that I'll have a bit more time to concentrate on this story.  Hopefully it'll show.

Review Reponses

Taelyn – I enjoyed the picture very much.  Thank you.

DennisuD – Well, it really wasn't much of a spoiler…  And the GPs are there, but since the coup on Jurai they no longer have contact with the Juraian Government.

Priest – Thanks.  I'm glad someone else read that fic too.  I don't think the author ever finished it, but the character was used in a Christmas fic by a different author.  That's where I came across her.  (Don't you hate it when an author never finishes a storyline?  I promise to never do that.  Really.)

Agent_86 – Maxwell Smart, eh?  Unfortunately I'm old enough to remember when that series was new.  Anyway, is this fast enough for you?  I can't promise they'll all be out this fast though.

BobR

12/19/2001