Thanks for all the reviews, and as long as I keep getting them I will keep writing this. Currently I am looking at about three more chapters. So review and tell me how you like it. If you are not happy with the parings, all I ask is that you hang with me until the end.
Ryoko telaported into her room the next morning and lay across her bed. She hadn't wanted to walk through the house; too much was on her mind.
"Arg... Why cant anything be simple!" She groaned rubbing her face. "Han..."
Footsteps approached her room. "Ryoko?" She heard Tenchi call tapping on her door. "You in there?"
"Yea, come in Tenchi." Ryoko sat up, normally she would either be flustered, or trying to figure out a way to get him on the bed, but her heart didn't seem in it today.
The young man cracked the door slipping into the simple room and standing near the bed.
"You can sit down if you want." Ryoko tapped her bed and slid over. Tenchi sat, but didn't say a word. *Himm, I should of tried that one before.*
"Ryoko I'm sorry. Ayeka and I ....we..." Tenchi pinched the bridge of his nose. "After you told me you and Ayeka were never going to leave in the carrot field that day. I made a decision to stop hiding my feelings, to let them out and do what I felt like doing, for better or worse. I told Ayeka, and was going to tell you but then Kagato showed up and.... I don't know what happened Ryoko, I... I'm sorry."
Ryoko put her hand on Tenchi's shoulder. "Don't be."
"Hu?" Tenchi looked at her, this was not like her at all.
"When he came back I just retreated from you all. Not to mention turned into a royal bitch." She chuckled. "I'm still pissed you ran to Ayeka for comfort, but I guess I had rather it been her than anyone else."
"So you're okay now."
"Yea." She said thinking into it. "I guess I am."
"Oww!" Tenchi called when he put weight on his hand, trying to move off the bed.
"What?"
"Uhh, Well... I kinda hit Kagato." Tenchi grinned rubbing his hand.
"What... why?"
"He had your blood all over him last night, I thought he had hurt you."
Ryoko looked at him lovingly. "Moron!" She exclaimed popping Tenchi on the back of the head with her hand. "He could have killed you, you know?"
Tenchi rubbed that back of his head. "Yea, he made that point clear when he threw me into the kitchen."
Ryoko laughed. "I don't think you have to worry about him though."
"Why's that?"
"Just trust me, I found out some stuff about him last night."
"He came back?" Nobody had seen hide or hair of him after last night.
"Yea, for a minute, to tell me some stuff."
"Where is he?"
"I don't know, he said he was going to train."
"Oh, I guess that wouldn't be such a bad idea. I should probably go see Grandpa." Tenchi looked at Ryoko. "Don't you think a Goddess coming to destroy the Earth would be important enough to interrupt his meditation?"
Ryoko laughed. "Yes Tenchi, I think it would. But he will probably whack you on the head with a training sword anyway."
Tenchi got up and started to leave, already fearing that Ryoko was right. "Ryoko?" He asked as he opened the door to the hall.
"Yes?"
"You do know I still love you?"
She smiled. "Yes Tenchi."
~~~:*:~~~
The man ran through the woods like a ghost, nothing more than a blur to the naked eye. Narrowly dodging standing trees and leaping the fallen ones he pushed his legs as fast as they could carry him. Still running he planted his foot on the side of a tree trunk, and with a few quick bounds up the surrounding trees was at the top, looking out over the forest.
He took a breath looking out over the forest that had begun to shine full of golds, reds, and a few greens with the changing seasons. *Beautiful.* He thought before forming his energy sword.
Leaping from the treetop, he arched the blade above his head and struck down on the top of a tall cedar. Smelling the satisfying aroma of burning wood, he flew down to the forest floor, cleaving the tree completely in half. His feet barley touched the ground before he released his sword and darted off to the side.
This time flying through the woods, he threw two mid sized energy blasts ahead of him.
He then telaported in mid flight, directly in the path of his blasts. Quicker than the eye could see he formed another sword and deflected the two blasts into the air.
"That should be sufficient for now." Hanshin said wiping the sweat from his face, going at it like that for three hours did provide a little workout after all.
"AHHH..." He yelped as his head nearly exploded. *What the Hell?* He stumbled over and leaned on the nearest tree for support. The pain continued, like thousands of needles it stabbed him to the ground, eventually causing him to black out.
~~~:*:~~~
"Ryoko!" Sasami yelled running out of the kitchen and hugging her waist.
Ryoko stumbled off balance as the kid nearly tackled her. "Hey Sasami, what's the matter?" She asked letting her hand pet the little girls' head.
"I was worried about you." She sniffled before her face broke out in a smile. "Come on, I have to show you something." Sasami took Ryoko's hand and practically drug her to the kitchen.
"Hey, ease up Sasami, what's the big deal... HAHAHA!" Ryoko laughed at the sight before her. Kiyone, or what she assumed as Kiyone, was standing by the counter, her entire body covered in a good inch of baking flower. "Let me guess..." Ryoko's words were broken as she covered her mouth trying not to laugh. "Mi...Mihi... HAHAHA!!!
"Yes..." Kiyone scowled from under her white vale. "Mihoshi."
Ryoko continued to laugh as she held the corner of the counter to keep herself standing. "Kiy.., ha ha Kiyone, you don't know how much I needed that."
"Well, I'm glad to be of service," She replied wiping her face clean. "Now if you will excuse me, I need to go to the Onsen."
Sasami and Ryoko both continued to giggle as Kiyone made her way out the door, leaving a trail of white powder in her wake.
"Here Ryoko." Sasami held up a sheet of gingerbread men, all with Cyan spiky hair.
"Sasami..."
"I figured you would be hungry, since you missed supper."
Ryoko looked at the cookie sheet before selecting one. "Thank you."
"Your welcome. I was going to bake some for Kagato, but I couldn't find out how to make them look like him. Besides, he hasn't even come back yet."
"He'll be back. And I'm sure he will like these just fine."
~~~:*:~~~
"Tenchi!"
"Wa... Huh!" Tenchi nearly jumped out of his skin when Washu's voice caught him off guard.
"Tenchi, the intercom."
"Oh yea." Tenchi said aloud stopping his trek to the Shrine as he pressed the tiny crab button on his collar. Washu had suggested they all wear them, incase a certain goddess showed up. "What is it Washu?"
"Its Hanshin, something's going wrong, I need you to go see about him."
"Hanshin?" *Who is that?*
Washu sighed. "Kagato. Don't worry I'll explain later. I show him just on the other side of the ridge to your left."
"Uhh, Washu, don't you think you should send someone else?" Tenchi was still not comfortable around him, especially after last night.
Washu's reply was simple enough. "No."
Tenchi sighed releasing the intercom. "Great, just hope Ryoko was right about him."
~~~:*:~~~
"Kagato."
"Kagato."
Han's eyes cracked open as the voice got nearer. *What happened?* He thought standing and leaning against a tree.
"Kagato."
"Yes! I'm here." He called back and saw Tenchi emerge from the forest growth.
"Oh, are you alright? Washu said something was wrong."
"I am fine, just a headache."
"Oh." Tenchi followed as Kagato began to walk, apparently back to the house. "Kagato, I'm sorry about last night."
"Its okay, I understand what you thought. I probably would have done it myself." He looked Tenchi over. "Are you okay, I didn't break anything did I?"
"No, the paper curtain broke my fall." Tenchi laughed. "But I think I broke my hand on your face."
Hanshin chuckled. "It was a good hit, you really should let Washu look at it."
"I know, its just a sprang. Honestly, I don't like going in there, I'm afraid she will keep trying to get that 'sample', whatever that means."
Hanshin's laughter actually broke the silence of the forest.
"What?"
"Well I suppose I should let you know. There is no sample, Washu just does it to scare you."
"Jeez!"
~~~:*:~~~
"Hanshin?"
"Yea, Han for short. What's so special about that?"
"Its Juraian, more than that, it carries a meaning."
"You lost me there princess." Ryoko said breaking off the head of one of her gingerbread men, or women, and throwing it in her mouth.
"You see, the Jurai royal family has carried names throughout the centuries, and all our names have meaning."
Sasami giggled "Yea, mine stands for 'light child', Ayeka's is 'delicate', and Tenchi means 'heaven and earth'."
"So, what does Hanshin mean?"
"It means Demi-God, a name like that, or anything with a reference to God would only be used for the most important nobles."
"So, you are saying he is Juraian?"
"I guess, but if that is his real name wouldn't he be a noble Ayeka?" Sasami asked.
"Don't be silly Sasami. The House of Jurai has an extensive history of all its descendants. To my knowledge no one has ever been named Hanshin."
The three girls could hear talking coming towards the front door.
"So Ryoko merged with Clay's robot, Zero?" Hanshin asked as Tenchi opened the door.
"Yep, that's why she has been a little different lately. But Washu said the two personalities have completely merged now."
"Hey, will you two stop talking about me like I'm some bad anime character"
"Sorry Ryoko," Tenchi smiled. ",so you said around nine in the morning?"
"Yes, that will be fine." Hanshin nodded.
"Okay, I'll be up there then." Tenchi left and went to his room.
"So, are you two friends now?" Sasami asked as He sat on the sofa opposite from Ayeka and Ryoko.
"Yes princess, I offered to give him some fighting pointers at the shrine in the morning." Hanshin sat on the couch resting his legs, working out that morning and having a little spar with Tenchi really did his muscles well.
"Good. Come on Ryo-ohki lets go to the lake before sunset."
"Miya!" The cabbit exclaimed knowing a trip to the lake meant a walk by the storage house, and carrots.
"Kagato," Ayeka asked clearing her throat once her sister left. "Ryoko said you have a real name?"
"Yes."
"Hanshin?"
"Yes." He stated again, not looking up.
"May I ask why you have a royal Juraian title?"
"I think it would be best to wait until after Tokimi is defeated."
"I do not." Ayeka was firm, their was no logical reason for him to have such a name.
Hanshin leaned forward and looked Ayeka in the eye. "Ken isshi toumuyo kakuho ikka Jurai tashou."
Ayeka gasped.
"What?" Ryoko leaned upright and looked back and forth between Hanshin's stoic face and Ayeka's shocked expression.
"Its... Its Juraian, It's the first sentence of 'The Guild'."
"The Guild?" Ryoko asked cocking up one eyebrow.
"An ancient Juraian text."
"Well, what does it mean?"
Ayeka was silent. *Could this really be true?*
"Well!" Ryoko asked growing impatient.
"And the child was offered to insure the House of Jurai's future." Ayeka quoted. "You can't be, it's just not possible."
"Will someone please tell me what's going on?"
"Thousands of years ago," Hanshin began. "Several noble families who had been removed from power formed a great pirate guild. The head member was from a planet called Jurai, which had been destroyed by war. Eventually the guild adopted the name of the leader, eventually calling itself The House of Jurai."
"So, the Jurain's started out as pirates?" Ryoko laughed. "Oh this is too perfect!"
"And they began to act as Law and order in the outreaches of space using trees as their ships. Eventually it became the empire I am from." Ayeka paused. "The Guild is the oldest written record of Jurai's history. Are you saying..."
"Yes I am." Han finished.
"You mean you were the child?" Ryoko asked.
"Yes."
"It can't be. I'm sorry but it just can't be, the House would never sacrifice a child." Ayeka defended. Sacrifices to Gods were practiced back then, but not by Jurai, not by her ancestors.
"Sacrifice? To who?"
"Tokimi." Hanshin leaned back.
Both Ayeka and Ryoko were silent.
"Do you honestly think that a little pirate clan could have formed the empire that Jurai now holds on it own? I was the first born of Hibiki Jurai, the leader of the Guild. My parents offered me to Tokimi as a sacrifice when I was still an infant so she would grant her blessing over them."
"How do you know all this? Weren't you still a baby?" Ryoko asked.
"Tokimi let me see it all."
"But why?" Ayeka still couldn't believe this.
"She hoped to install a natural hate for Jurai in me. That way I would hopefully be eager to kill any Juraian noble that used the LightHawk Wings."
Ayeka twisted her kimono in her lap. "Those stories... I never thought they were true." The First Princess of Jurai stood. "Hanshin, as Jurai's Crown Princess I offer our aid in anything you need." She bowed her head. "But as Ayeka I apologize for what was done."
"Save your breath, not even your grandfather was alive back then."
"Well, I must retire." Ayeka said walking to the stairs. "And I need to speak with my mother."
Hanshin and Ryoko sat in silence. He could feel her eyes boring into him, begging him for answers. He rose and walked out the door dodging Sasami who came in with a basket of produce for supper.
"Kagato, your invited to dinner. I'm making vegetable fried rice and honey simmered chicken." She said barely peeking out over the basket.
"Sasami I..." Han looked at Ryoko who was still sitting on the couch. She looked like a portrait, more beautiful than he could remember. "Sasami I would love to."
Outside, he looked out over the pond. It was so beautiful, how could Tokimi destroy this?
"Why didn't you tell me that?" Ryoko asked walking up and standing beside him.
"It didn't concern you." He stated.
"You know, you need to drop the self-righteous bit."
"What?"
"Everybody here has been through hell. The sooner you admit that and act like a normal person the better."
"Its hard, I cannot relax in waiting like this."
Ryoko stepped in front of him, tears in her eyes. "Listen, you aren't the only one scared shitless by Tokimi! But everybody goes on with their normal life. Tenchi hoes the carrot field, Kiyone and Mihoshi go out on patrol, Nobuyki goes to work, Sasami cooks, and Ayeka continues to annoy the crap out of me! Why? Because if we stop our day to day lives because we are afraid we will not be alive tomorrow, Tokimi has already won!"
Ryoko sobbed and stepped closer to Hanshin who protectively wrapped his arms around her.
"I just want to stay here. Just live a normal life with the Misaki's, Ayeka and Sasami even." She buried her face against his chest. "Why... why does this always happen to us?"
"I don't know." Hanshin let his head slightly dip catching the fragrance of her hair. "Yoko?"
"Yes."
"We shouldn't be like this." He closed his eyes now, in his mind they were back on the Souja.
"Why?"
"Because..."
"I'm not the Ryoko you used to know?"
"Yes," He paused loosening his arms and allowing her to stand free. "I guess that's the best way to explain it."
"Okay, but you can still walk with me back to the house." Ryoko said pulling his arm to walk beside her. "Oh, and if you tell anybody I broke down out there, you wont get a chance to see Tenchi fight Tokimi."
He laughed. "Your secret is safe with m.... ARRR!!" Hanshin grabbed his head and fell to his knees.
"Han, what's wrong?!?!" Ryoko asked kneeling by his side.
"Tokimi.... she is coming!"
...Please review, eixid.
Ryoko telaported into her room the next morning and lay across her bed. She hadn't wanted to walk through the house; too much was on her mind.
"Arg... Why cant anything be simple!" She groaned rubbing her face. "Han..."
Footsteps approached her room. "Ryoko?" She heard Tenchi call tapping on her door. "You in there?"
"Yea, come in Tenchi." Ryoko sat up, normally she would either be flustered, or trying to figure out a way to get him on the bed, but her heart didn't seem in it today.
The young man cracked the door slipping into the simple room and standing near the bed.
"You can sit down if you want." Ryoko tapped her bed and slid over. Tenchi sat, but didn't say a word. *Himm, I should of tried that one before.*
"Ryoko I'm sorry. Ayeka and I ....we..." Tenchi pinched the bridge of his nose. "After you told me you and Ayeka were never going to leave in the carrot field that day. I made a decision to stop hiding my feelings, to let them out and do what I felt like doing, for better or worse. I told Ayeka, and was going to tell you but then Kagato showed up and.... I don't know what happened Ryoko, I... I'm sorry."
Ryoko put her hand on Tenchi's shoulder. "Don't be."
"Hu?" Tenchi looked at her, this was not like her at all.
"When he came back I just retreated from you all. Not to mention turned into a royal bitch." She chuckled. "I'm still pissed you ran to Ayeka for comfort, but I guess I had rather it been her than anyone else."
"So you're okay now."
"Yea." She said thinking into it. "I guess I am."
"Oww!" Tenchi called when he put weight on his hand, trying to move off the bed.
"What?"
"Uhh, Well... I kinda hit Kagato." Tenchi grinned rubbing his hand.
"What... why?"
"He had your blood all over him last night, I thought he had hurt you."
Ryoko looked at him lovingly. "Moron!" She exclaimed popping Tenchi on the back of the head with her hand. "He could have killed you, you know?"
Tenchi rubbed that back of his head. "Yea, he made that point clear when he threw me into the kitchen."
Ryoko laughed. "I don't think you have to worry about him though."
"Why's that?"
"Just trust me, I found out some stuff about him last night."
"He came back?" Nobody had seen hide or hair of him after last night.
"Yea, for a minute, to tell me some stuff."
"Where is he?"
"I don't know, he said he was going to train."
"Oh, I guess that wouldn't be such a bad idea. I should probably go see Grandpa." Tenchi looked at Ryoko. "Don't you think a Goddess coming to destroy the Earth would be important enough to interrupt his meditation?"
Ryoko laughed. "Yes Tenchi, I think it would. But he will probably whack you on the head with a training sword anyway."
Tenchi got up and started to leave, already fearing that Ryoko was right. "Ryoko?" He asked as he opened the door to the hall.
"Yes?"
"You do know I still love you?"
She smiled. "Yes Tenchi."
~~~:*:~~~
The man ran through the woods like a ghost, nothing more than a blur to the naked eye. Narrowly dodging standing trees and leaping the fallen ones he pushed his legs as fast as they could carry him. Still running he planted his foot on the side of a tree trunk, and with a few quick bounds up the surrounding trees was at the top, looking out over the forest.
He took a breath looking out over the forest that had begun to shine full of golds, reds, and a few greens with the changing seasons. *Beautiful.* He thought before forming his energy sword.
Leaping from the treetop, he arched the blade above his head and struck down on the top of a tall cedar. Smelling the satisfying aroma of burning wood, he flew down to the forest floor, cleaving the tree completely in half. His feet barley touched the ground before he released his sword and darted off to the side.
This time flying through the woods, he threw two mid sized energy blasts ahead of him.
He then telaported in mid flight, directly in the path of his blasts. Quicker than the eye could see he formed another sword and deflected the two blasts into the air.
"That should be sufficient for now." Hanshin said wiping the sweat from his face, going at it like that for three hours did provide a little workout after all.
"AHHH..." He yelped as his head nearly exploded. *What the Hell?* He stumbled over and leaned on the nearest tree for support. The pain continued, like thousands of needles it stabbed him to the ground, eventually causing him to black out.
~~~:*:~~~
"Ryoko!" Sasami yelled running out of the kitchen and hugging her waist.
Ryoko stumbled off balance as the kid nearly tackled her. "Hey Sasami, what's the matter?" She asked letting her hand pet the little girls' head.
"I was worried about you." She sniffled before her face broke out in a smile. "Come on, I have to show you something." Sasami took Ryoko's hand and practically drug her to the kitchen.
"Hey, ease up Sasami, what's the big deal... HAHAHA!" Ryoko laughed at the sight before her. Kiyone, or what she assumed as Kiyone, was standing by the counter, her entire body covered in a good inch of baking flower. "Let me guess..." Ryoko's words were broken as she covered her mouth trying not to laugh. "Mi...Mihi... HAHAHA!!!
"Yes..." Kiyone scowled from under her white vale. "Mihoshi."
Ryoko continued to laugh as she held the corner of the counter to keep herself standing. "Kiy.., ha ha Kiyone, you don't know how much I needed that."
"Well, I'm glad to be of service," She replied wiping her face clean. "Now if you will excuse me, I need to go to the Onsen."
Sasami and Ryoko both continued to giggle as Kiyone made her way out the door, leaving a trail of white powder in her wake.
"Here Ryoko." Sasami held up a sheet of gingerbread men, all with Cyan spiky hair.
"Sasami..."
"I figured you would be hungry, since you missed supper."
Ryoko looked at the cookie sheet before selecting one. "Thank you."
"Your welcome. I was going to bake some for Kagato, but I couldn't find out how to make them look like him. Besides, he hasn't even come back yet."
"He'll be back. And I'm sure he will like these just fine."
~~~:*:~~~
"Tenchi!"
"Wa... Huh!" Tenchi nearly jumped out of his skin when Washu's voice caught him off guard.
"Tenchi, the intercom."
"Oh yea." Tenchi said aloud stopping his trek to the Shrine as he pressed the tiny crab button on his collar. Washu had suggested they all wear them, incase a certain goddess showed up. "What is it Washu?"
"Its Hanshin, something's going wrong, I need you to go see about him."
"Hanshin?" *Who is that?*
Washu sighed. "Kagato. Don't worry I'll explain later. I show him just on the other side of the ridge to your left."
"Uhh, Washu, don't you think you should send someone else?" Tenchi was still not comfortable around him, especially after last night.
Washu's reply was simple enough. "No."
Tenchi sighed releasing the intercom. "Great, just hope Ryoko was right about him."
~~~:*:~~~
"Kagato."
"Kagato."
Han's eyes cracked open as the voice got nearer. *What happened?* He thought standing and leaning against a tree.
"Kagato."
"Yes! I'm here." He called back and saw Tenchi emerge from the forest growth.
"Oh, are you alright? Washu said something was wrong."
"I am fine, just a headache."
"Oh." Tenchi followed as Kagato began to walk, apparently back to the house. "Kagato, I'm sorry about last night."
"Its okay, I understand what you thought. I probably would have done it myself." He looked Tenchi over. "Are you okay, I didn't break anything did I?"
"No, the paper curtain broke my fall." Tenchi laughed. "But I think I broke my hand on your face."
Hanshin chuckled. "It was a good hit, you really should let Washu look at it."
"I know, its just a sprang. Honestly, I don't like going in there, I'm afraid she will keep trying to get that 'sample', whatever that means."
Hanshin's laughter actually broke the silence of the forest.
"What?"
"Well I suppose I should let you know. There is no sample, Washu just does it to scare you."
"Jeez!"
~~~:*:~~~
"Hanshin?"
"Yea, Han for short. What's so special about that?"
"Its Juraian, more than that, it carries a meaning."
"You lost me there princess." Ryoko said breaking off the head of one of her gingerbread men, or women, and throwing it in her mouth.
"You see, the Jurai royal family has carried names throughout the centuries, and all our names have meaning."
Sasami giggled "Yea, mine stands for 'light child', Ayeka's is 'delicate', and Tenchi means 'heaven and earth'."
"So, what does Hanshin mean?"
"It means Demi-God, a name like that, or anything with a reference to God would only be used for the most important nobles."
"So, you are saying he is Juraian?"
"I guess, but if that is his real name wouldn't he be a noble Ayeka?" Sasami asked.
"Don't be silly Sasami. The House of Jurai has an extensive history of all its descendants. To my knowledge no one has ever been named Hanshin."
The three girls could hear talking coming towards the front door.
"So Ryoko merged with Clay's robot, Zero?" Hanshin asked as Tenchi opened the door.
"Yep, that's why she has been a little different lately. But Washu said the two personalities have completely merged now."
"Hey, will you two stop talking about me like I'm some bad anime character"
"Sorry Ryoko," Tenchi smiled. ",so you said around nine in the morning?"
"Yes, that will be fine." Hanshin nodded.
"Okay, I'll be up there then." Tenchi left and went to his room.
"So, are you two friends now?" Sasami asked as He sat on the sofa opposite from Ayeka and Ryoko.
"Yes princess, I offered to give him some fighting pointers at the shrine in the morning." Hanshin sat on the couch resting his legs, working out that morning and having a little spar with Tenchi really did his muscles well.
"Good. Come on Ryo-ohki lets go to the lake before sunset."
"Miya!" The cabbit exclaimed knowing a trip to the lake meant a walk by the storage house, and carrots.
"Kagato," Ayeka asked clearing her throat once her sister left. "Ryoko said you have a real name?"
"Yes."
"Hanshin?"
"Yes." He stated again, not looking up.
"May I ask why you have a royal Juraian title?"
"I think it would be best to wait until after Tokimi is defeated."
"I do not." Ayeka was firm, their was no logical reason for him to have such a name.
Hanshin leaned forward and looked Ayeka in the eye. "Ken isshi toumuyo kakuho ikka Jurai tashou."
Ayeka gasped.
"What?" Ryoko leaned upright and looked back and forth between Hanshin's stoic face and Ayeka's shocked expression.
"Its... Its Juraian, It's the first sentence of 'The Guild'."
"The Guild?" Ryoko asked cocking up one eyebrow.
"An ancient Juraian text."
"Well, what does it mean?"
Ayeka was silent. *Could this really be true?*
"Well!" Ryoko asked growing impatient.
"And the child was offered to insure the House of Jurai's future." Ayeka quoted. "You can't be, it's just not possible."
"Will someone please tell me what's going on?"
"Thousands of years ago," Hanshin began. "Several noble families who had been removed from power formed a great pirate guild. The head member was from a planet called Jurai, which had been destroyed by war. Eventually the guild adopted the name of the leader, eventually calling itself The House of Jurai."
"So, the Jurain's started out as pirates?" Ryoko laughed. "Oh this is too perfect!"
"And they began to act as Law and order in the outreaches of space using trees as their ships. Eventually it became the empire I am from." Ayeka paused. "The Guild is the oldest written record of Jurai's history. Are you saying..."
"Yes I am." Han finished.
"You mean you were the child?" Ryoko asked.
"Yes."
"It can't be. I'm sorry but it just can't be, the House would never sacrifice a child." Ayeka defended. Sacrifices to Gods were practiced back then, but not by Jurai, not by her ancestors.
"Sacrifice? To who?"
"Tokimi." Hanshin leaned back.
Both Ayeka and Ryoko were silent.
"Do you honestly think that a little pirate clan could have formed the empire that Jurai now holds on it own? I was the first born of Hibiki Jurai, the leader of the Guild. My parents offered me to Tokimi as a sacrifice when I was still an infant so she would grant her blessing over them."
"How do you know all this? Weren't you still a baby?" Ryoko asked.
"Tokimi let me see it all."
"But why?" Ayeka still couldn't believe this.
"She hoped to install a natural hate for Jurai in me. That way I would hopefully be eager to kill any Juraian noble that used the LightHawk Wings."
Ayeka twisted her kimono in her lap. "Those stories... I never thought they were true." The First Princess of Jurai stood. "Hanshin, as Jurai's Crown Princess I offer our aid in anything you need." She bowed her head. "But as Ayeka I apologize for what was done."
"Save your breath, not even your grandfather was alive back then."
"Well, I must retire." Ayeka said walking to the stairs. "And I need to speak with my mother."
Hanshin and Ryoko sat in silence. He could feel her eyes boring into him, begging him for answers. He rose and walked out the door dodging Sasami who came in with a basket of produce for supper.
"Kagato, your invited to dinner. I'm making vegetable fried rice and honey simmered chicken." She said barely peeking out over the basket.
"Sasami I..." Han looked at Ryoko who was still sitting on the couch. She looked like a portrait, more beautiful than he could remember. "Sasami I would love to."
Outside, he looked out over the pond. It was so beautiful, how could Tokimi destroy this?
"Why didn't you tell me that?" Ryoko asked walking up and standing beside him.
"It didn't concern you." He stated.
"You know, you need to drop the self-righteous bit."
"What?"
"Everybody here has been through hell. The sooner you admit that and act like a normal person the better."
"Its hard, I cannot relax in waiting like this."
Ryoko stepped in front of him, tears in her eyes. "Listen, you aren't the only one scared shitless by Tokimi! But everybody goes on with their normal life. Tenchi hoes the carrot field, Kiyone and Mihoshi go out on patrol, Nobuyki goes to work, Sasami cooks, and Ayeka continues to annoy the crap out of me! Why? Because if we stop our day to day lives because we are afraid we will not be alive tomorrow, Tokimi has already won!"
Ryoko sobbed and stepped closer to Hanshin who protectively wrapped his arms around her.
"I just want to stay here. Just live a normal life with the Misaki's, Ayeka and Sasami even." She buried her face against his chest. "Why... why does this always happen to us?"
"I don't know." Hanshin let his head slightly dip catching the fragrance of her hair. "Yoko?"
"Yes."
"We shouldn't be like this." He closed his eyes now, in his mind they were back on the Souja.
"Why?"
"Because..."
"I'm not the Ryoko you used to know?"
"Yes," He paused loosening his arms and allowing her to stand free. "I guess that's the best way to explain it."
"Okay, but you can still walk with me back to the house." Ryoko said pulling his arm to walk beside her. "Oh, and if you tell anybody I broke down out there, you wont get a chance to see Tenchi fight Tokimi."
He laughed. "Your secret is safe with m.... ARRR!!" Hanshin grabbed his head and fell to his knees.
"Han, what's wrong?!?!" Ryoko asked kneeling by his side.
"Tokimi.... she is coming!"
...Please review, eixid.