To be a Princess, The Final Battle
Tenchi was surprised when they were able to fly away from Jurai in Ryo-Ohki and nothing happened. He expected at least one ship to fire on them, but it was quiet. They made it to one of the moons and had Ryo-Ohki land on the backside of it to hopefully hide what they were about to do. There they used a device Washu had given them earlier that would cloak them from detection by eye or machine, as long as they stayed still. The being still was not something that Ryo-Ohki or Ryoko was used to, but they knew there was a reason for it so they remained as still as they could, at least until the portal was ready.
Once Washu setup a portal to them the four of them returned to her lab and set about getting ready for the final battle of Ryoko and Ryo-Ohki. They were cautioned though that Jurai had made many improvements to their ships so it might be a tough battle. "Washu, I mean Little Washu," Tenchi corrected himself. "But what about, um… when we fire back?"
"Yea mom, I've kill… killed too many before, I can't… do it again." Ryoko's head was down and her voice was nearly choked out as her mind still seemingly enjoyed tormenting her with those memories. He gathered her in his arms and Ryo-Ohki rubbed her head against her mistress as the cabbit was on her shoulder.
"Well I am not entirely sure that you will be able to get a good hit on them like before. As I said they have changed things. Seems that stunt taught them that they're not as strong as they thought." She paused for a moment and mentally told her daughter, 'It's not your fault, I know it hurts. I can feel it, but it wasn't your fault.'
It took a while but Ryoko finally returned to her normal self as the memories faded for the time being. All of them knew that they had to fight to make this believable but none of them wanted to even accidentally kill someone, even if it was a bunch of stuck up annoying Jurains. However without even one of their ships going down or at least them taking some damage it may cause them to question it too much. Washu began explaining the battle more and more to Ryoko and Ryo-Ohki as Tenchi thought about what this would do to their family.
'Finally they've become friends and now we're splitting them up, maybe permanently. But there's no other way.' His thoughts drifted from the battle plans to his family and friends. He knew that Tsunami would know as she is the one who gave him his powers, but would that mean that Sasami would find out later or more importantly would Ayeka? Silently he hoped that when Ayeka did find out she would not be angry with them. 'Please understand Ayeka, now that everyone knows about us they won't leave us alone.'
During this two-day time that they had to rest and get ready for their last stand Washu took the chateau from Ryo-Ohki and enlarged it, but not on earth. Instead she set it on another planet far from Earth and Jurai. There she setup a place similar to Tenchi's home on Earth. They had a vast field where carrots could grow. There was lake beside the home, with a stream running between the fields. Only two things were missing at the time, one was Ryoko's cave, which she said she could do without and the other was the shrine.
Tenchi had talked to her about the land and the home she was setting up but something did not seem right, "Washu, I mean Little Washu?"
"Yes?" She replied, but not in her usual tone, instead it was much calmer and, it really confused him.
"How did you get the money for all that land? It must of cost a lot."
Quickly she returned to her normal self and began cackling maniacally. "Simple, really." At his confused look she waved her arm behind her motioning towards the lab. "All I did was build a few engines and ships and things for some really rich races and over a few thousand years…"
"I see," he said interrupting her, which seemed to anger her so he apologized profusely.
"Anyway," she said giving him a stern look, "I don't have to worry about funding for my experiments." She began explaining to him many more details than he really cared to know about star drives and other propulsion systems she's created and sold. Many of the races she spoke of as if they were common knowledge, but he's never heard of them before, at least not before now.
When he was able to sneak away, he and Ryoko spent some quiet time together as well as practicing their sword fighting. His performance though was less than stellar as he mind was on the upcoming battle and why they had to leave Earth. Ryoko though was the one to help him on that. "Tenchi, we've got to start over."
"But way out there? Why not stay on Earth?"
"Because, we will live longer than anyone there and besides what would you do there?"
He knew she had him there, what would he do? "I could be an architect or a priest?"
"Oh sure," she snorted, "and how will you explain how you stay so young…"
"What do you mean?"
"Oops," Ryoko had not meant to tell him that just yet, as she had found out from Washu not too long ago herself. "Well, Tenchi, you… Are Juraian and so you will live for…"
"A few hundred years?"
"More like thousands…"
"Oh boy." He sat down heavily as he thought of this, why live that long and did that mean that his father and grandfather would live that long too?
"Tenchi?" She kneeled in front of him worried; "We'll be able to spend a few thousand years together! Or did you not want me for that long?" Fear and doubt began to set into her mind, as he seemed to be depressed at living that long, with her.
As soon as he heard her question he looked up and cupped her chin with his hand, "A few thousand years with you is not what I am worried about." He kissed her lips gently, "I'd love to spend a few million years with you."
"Then what's wrong?"
"What about dad, or grandpa or our kids?"
Her eyes shot open wide at that thought, "Kids?" Her mind closed off as he went off about how long he thought his father would be around and other things, but all she could think about was the possibility of having a child with him. Many things went through her head of what their son or daughter might look like. 'Maybe a little boy with my hair and his eyes? Or a little girl with his hair and my eyes?' She was suddenly brought back as he called her name softly, apparently he had been calling her name for some time now. "Huh? Oh sorry Tenchi," she looked down rather sheepishly and blushed at the thoughts running through her mind. 'I wonder if I'd make a good mom?'
"Ryoko are you ok?" She could see the worry in his eyes when she looked up at him and it only caused her to blush more.
"Tenchi… um would…" She tried to get her mind focused and suddenly a thought hit her.
'Ask him if Earthlings have blue hair?'
'What?' She concentrated on the voice and realized it was Washu's.
'Ryoko, I heard what you were thinking and what you are talking about. Ask him if Earthlings have blue hair?'
'What does that have to do with anything?'
'Just ask him.'
Ryoko mentally groaned, and she could not believe she was going to do this, but for her mothers sake she decided to ask. "Tenchi, um do Earthlings have blue Hair?"
"Huh?" He looked at her strangely and she repeated the question. He thought about it then ran his fingers through her hair. Ryoko could care less if he answered it, as long as he continued to do this, she had waited for so long for him to touch her even little things like this still sent shivers down her spine. It didn't matter that they had done much more it was still a good feeling whenever he touched her. "I guess you're right." Now it was her turn to look confused. "If we stayed on Earth then you wouldn't be able to go to the city with me, and if any of our kids shared your hair they would be considered strange."
She caught on to what he was saying, and what this meant. On another planet, it would not seem strange what color their hair was, but on Earth some things just were not normal. This also meant that she would not have to hide her powers, though she really wouldn't need to use them as much. For him it also meant a new start. No one there would know who Tenchi was or who Ryoko was; at least he hoped no one would. Even with Washu's assurances over dinner that night that no one there would know them he was still worried.
One thing was known for sure. Tenchi, Ryoko, and Washu would live for a long time away from Earth, their friends and everything that they knew. For Katsuhito and Nobuyuki, it was understood that they would go with them, as would Funaho, Yosho's space tree. But it was unknown exactly how long they would continue to live. His father was going to be with his son as he did not want to be left behind on Earth. Katsuhito was going because now that it was known that he was alive and on Earth he might be called back to Jurai since he would be the heir to the throne again. This served as yet another escape for him, though for this one he was not looking at it as an escape, but rather a new life.
No one but Ryoko, Ryo-Ohki and Washu knew though that the scientist was starting to develop feelings for the priest. The two had spent many nights talking and debating about a great many things. Now she hoped that it could possibly turn into more as she no longer would have to worry about Ayeka having a fit when she found out that he did not truly look like the old man she saw him as. Katsuhito also wondered about his growing feeling for Washu though he kept them covered. When everyone had left him on Earth, he had been able to spend a quiet and peaceful evening with just her and no one else was there to cause an explosion or damage properly or anything else. And he enjoyed it, possibly a little too much.
Nobuyuki was the one that they all verbally worried about. He would go with them and would grow old and eventually die, as he was completely human. And although he would go with them, he would be the first of the Masaki's that would be buried off the planet, at least until he told them that he wanted to be placed beside Achika, his wife on Earth. And so it was decided that at the end of his days he would be buried there beside her. How they would pull that off they did not want to think of just yet, but they knew they had to do it.
The one though that occupied the thoughts of Ryoko and Washu though was Ryo-Ohki. The cabbit was in a bind as to where she wanted to go. She knew that she would miss Ryoko is she left, but she also would miss Sasami. And if she went with them, she would not be able to see Sasami again, which was heartbreaking to her. But if she stayed with Sasami then she would know that Ryoko and Tenchi were still alive and she would not be able to go and see them, which seemed to be just as difficult. Washu had suggested that she could do both which confused her and Ryoko.
"Well I can put you back into your egg and wipe some of your memory so you won't remember that we all survived the battle allowing you to stay with Sasami." Ryo-Ohki and looked at her questionably and through her mental link asked how that would help. "Well then a part of you could stay with Sasami. Remember all those crystals in the lake?"
"Miya." She said out loud, but Washu understood her.
"Well I can copy your memories onto one of them to keep Sasami company so she won't be lonely. That is why you want to stay there right?" She just nodded her head as she was worried about Sasami, but she also would miss her. After Ryoko, Washu and Ryo-Ohki mentally talked over her fears it was finally decided on what to do. Ryo-Ohki just simply did not want to split the family but unfortunately, for Tenchi and Ryoko to be happy then it would have to happen.
Washu made preparations for them that now not only included a clever ruse but also a diversion that should ensure the success of their plan. That diversion would also serve as a way to help Sasami and Ayeka deal with their loss. The only problem though was the Jurai Tree's. They know when someone dies that is connected to them. So, Washu would have to quickly come up with a way to keep Yosho's tree alive, but disconnected from the other trees. Her answer on how to do this surprisingly came from the space tree herself. She knew that without one of Ryoko's gems or another of the Royal tree's nearby she would die eventually as would Katsuhito so she came up with a plan that was relayed to Katsuhito and eventually Washu.
Her plan would involve him actually suffering a heart attack sending the signal that he was dying so naturally she would too. Then it would be possible once it was accepted to revive them and use one of the gems to sustain their lives away from the other trees. To say Washu was speechless would be an understatement. For over a minute she stared at Katsuhito after he had finished explaining it without saying a word or moving. "Washu, are you alright?"
She finally blinked and began speaking, but it was not what everyone expected her to say. "What are you crazy!" She shrieked. "You're asking me to kill you! If anything goes wrong, you'd be dead… for real! No coming back! You'd be dead, get it Dead!"
"But it's not a problem for the Greatest Scientific Genius in the Universe right?"
"Are you insane!" Everyone had thought that she would enjoy the challenge, but something was wrong, not only did she just brush off her favorite title but also she still did not want to do it.
He smiled at her softly and asked everyone to leave him with Washu for a minute, and hesitantly they did leave. Tenchi was worried as well about this as he knew that he would loose his father eventually, but he didn't want to loose everyone in one day! "Washu," Katsuhito said softly, "This had to be done. Otherwise, the other trees will know that Funaho is still alive and so might he. That is why Ayeka never gave up her search before, because the trees knew that we were still alive."
"But you might Die!" She nearly begged, which surprised him.
"I have lived long enough, if I do then I will be happy. Beside I am dying slowly as it is."
"But what about me!" He quirked his eyebrows at that, he had developed feelings for her, but he had not tried to make more out of them than just feelings of friendship, but her statement practically hit him over the head with the thought that she felt more than friendship. "I can't loose you, especially like that! No one's ever…" her voice suddenly cracked and her child form was giving way to her adult form. In her eyes, he could read sadness and fear, and it was the fear that took his attention. Looking carefully at her he could tell she was scared of him dying, but from what reason? Did she truly feel something for him or was it the thought of someone dying because of one of her experiments.
As he looked into her eyes he became suddenly aware of tears falling from them and her shoulders were shaking. Without even thinking of his actions which was different for even him, he pulled her into a hug as she cried harder. This seemingly simple act explained more to him than any amount of words. She was scared of loosing him, and ever since Ryoko was given her three gems, he had been loosing his strength.
"Mom," The voice got the sudden attention of both of them, but neither moved away from the other. "After the fight he can have them all back, I won't need them."
Although this brought a smile to Washu, not only that her daughter had called her mom, but she was willing to help her and even give up some of her power for her ex rival! This brought a flood of emotions from Washu that she had kept in check for a long time. Katsuhito looked rather stunned over the whole situation. They were wanting him to stay alive, for even longer than he wanted to, but for no other reason than to be with Washu. A smile suddenly formed on his face as he thought about what Ryoko was willing to give up for her mother, and for him.
"That is fine Ryoko, though I had expected to live for only a short time longer I guess I will be needed to teach then how to sword fight."
She looked at him strangely while Washu just gasped and pulled away enough to see his face, his smiling face. That smile seemed to warm her heart. Before she could speak though Ryoko spoke up, "Um, who?"
"Well my great-grandchildren of coarse, Tenchi is good, but he would be too soft on them." Ryoko's face instantly went red, not with anger but from blushing as she had before when Tenchi mentioned kids. Washu though did something unexpected even for her. She threw her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his lips. Tenchi came in at that moment and seeing what was going on her pulled Ryoko away from them for their last few moments of peace. In a few short moments, they would be back in space battling for their lives. Taking the opportunity Tenchi pulled his wife into a tender kiss as well.
And this is how Ryo-Ohki found Ryoko and Washu both kissing someone when the time came for them all to die. She was curious about the emotions she felt from them both, but that curiosity would have to be pushed aside for later as a large fleet of nearly a million ships and battleships have converged on the spot Tenchi had told them to. Slowly she made her way to the portal with Tenchi and Ryoko to go back to the moon, and fight. However first Washu pulled her aside and sent the other two out first.
Stepping through the portal from Washu's lab, they stepped onto the bridge of the Ryo-Ohki. "I thought mom was gonna run a test on her."
"I guess it was a fast test." He replied shrugging his shoulders.
"Ok, Ryo-Ohki! Let's go!" Ryoko called and the ship took off from the surface, but the acceleration was different that what Ryoko remembered. She shrugged it off as they were moving into position in front of the ships. As the view screen came up the two of them looked at the host of ships and Tenchi whistled.
"I guess we made a lot of enemies?" Fear crept into both of them as they had not expected to fight so many, maybe a few hundred to a thousand, but there were over a million ships out there against them! "Ryoko, maybe my idea wasn't so good after all."
She looked at him and laughed, but it did not hide her own fear. "It's a little late for that don't ya think?"
He took a gulp of air and called out to them, "This is Tenchi Masaki, crown prince of Jurai. This is your only warning. We have no desire to kill so many, but we will fight to the death. Any ship that wished to be spared may leave now. Any that remain and engage us in battle understand that this will not be considered an act of aggression against the Jurai Empire."
"You've been practicing that haven't you." She said while grinning at him.
He offered his own weak grin before nodding. He then asked, "Are any of them moving away?"
She looked back at he display and swore before commanding Ryo-Ohki to move, "Get us moving Ryo-Ohki!" Just after the ship had moved from it's last spot hundreds of energy weapons converged on that spot. "I don't think they took you seriously." He shrugged and soon Ryo-Ohki was weaving between weapons fire and returning fire when she could, unfortunately just avoiding the sheer number of blasts kept her from getting a good shot in at one of the ships.
Ryo-Ohki could not dodge every shot from every angel and she began to take hits, most were minor, but a few from the larger ships began to take their toll on the cabbit ship. "Come on Ryo-Ohki!" Tenchi said holding one of the control crystals. Ryoko was giving command both mentally and verbally, but it was apparent that she was tiring too. Tenchi had not counted on this, it wasn't supposed to go this way! How could they come up with so many ships so fast? How could he expect to pull of their stunt the way they had planned it with so many against them? Slowly he began seeing just how futile his plan had been, and the fear of death came closer to him. This time it was real, it was not a ruse or a clever plot, but he was now scared for his life and hers.
A sudden explosion jolted him into action, Ryo-Ohki had taken a near direct hit and was slowed, she was in pain and it was showing in everything she did. Standing up he extended his hands and in front of the ship the Light Hawk Wing expanded outward blocking several more direct hits. Ryoko looked at him and she could see him starting to sweat as the number of hits multiplied against his shield. Having the Light Hawk Wing's in front of the ship however slowed Ryo-Ohki down even further, though it gave her some cover. One of the larger ships, she guessed a capital ship was firing it's main gun at them over and over. With each, one Tenchi could feel the reverberations of the impact through his arms and keeping up his concentration was becoming difficult.
They suddenly heard Ayeka's frantic voice, "Tenchi, Ryoko! You have to get out of there! Kinata is coming. He'll show up behind you so you can escape. Please, don't die on me."
"Now what?" Ryoko asked trying to come up with an idea, as with the Light Hawk Wing's in front of them Ryo-Ohki could not return fire as it provided too good of a two-way barrier.
"I'm… not sure…" he said struggling to keep up the shield when the ship was rocked by and explosion from behind.
Several of the ships had maneuvered around the shield which was now blocking them from retreating or meeting up with Kinata even if they wanted to. And with the ship slowed and all forward attacks defended against it left the back wide open, which they were exploiting. Repeatedly the ship was rocked as the ship took multiple direct hits. These were not as strong as the main ships, but they were not easily shrugged off either. The ship could be heard crying out in pain as the damage increased.
"Tenchi!" Ryoko cried out, "They've moved around us!" He looked at the display quickly and saw that the fleet had moved around completely enveloping them. Several of the larger ships that had been firing at them from the front ad moved and had taken up positions around them.
He stared at the screen, his face draining of blood. He could not protect them against so many, and not from so many positions. Doubt entered his mind and the wings dropped just as all of them fired on their position. Ryoko hugged him tightly while crying. Six large blasts nearly the size of Ryo-Ohki herself converged on them from six different angles. There was no running or hiding anymore nothing could be done.
As things slowed to a crawl for them, Tenchi and Ryoko shared one last kiss before the world around them exploded and the three of them were no more. Ayeka stood on the bridge of Kinata's ship trembling. "Tenchi? Ryoko? Tenchi? Ryoko?" Over and over she called their names as a sinking feeling crept into her. She's had this feeling only once before and that was when she had thought Kagato had killed him. Later she had found out that he was dead and revived by Tsunami, but it did not help her at that moment, and neither did it help her now.
She continued to call out to her friends as Kinata bowed his head. Sasami clung to his leg crying over her lost friends. Tsunami had told her before that she had rescued him once, and she could not do it again. Not only had he asked her to not interfere but also there was nothing left to revive. She could not sense their presence anywhere in that area of space. One thing she did sense which would help Sasami was a small life form floating in the void of space. That life form happened to be Ryo-Ohki, reborn as she was before, still in her egg.