Here is a little Valentines Day update for you all. Currently looking at 4 more chapters, please review....
"Faster!" Hanshin yelled at the young man sweeping to attack him. A wooden practice sword cut through the air narrowly missing the taller mans midsection as he backed away. "Better!"
Tenchi circled back about ten paces from his opponent and held the sword in front of him. "Why cant..." Tenchi took a labored breath. "Why cant we use energy weapons, I don't think I can do much to her with this bokuto."
"You rely on the wings too much." Han let his sword hover over his shoulder, waiting for a moment to attack. "All she has to do is overload them, then you will wish you had a wooden sword."
Tenchi braced his feet apart and let the tip of the sword grace the dirt.
"Good posture, did Yosho teach you that?"
"Yep." Tenchi grunted charging Hanshin, whom only stood still. At the last second Tenchi thrust his sword straight at his opponents throat.
In a flash Hanshin's sword struck Tenchi's blade away and Tenchi rolled to the opposite side and behind his view. *This is too easy.* Hanshin thought spinning around to tap his opponent. If Tenchi could be disarmed this easily they didn't have a chance. "Tenchi, you must grip your sword bett..." Hanshin was stopped mid sentence by a small wooden knife pressed to his throat and a hand holding his head from behind.
"Grandpa also taught me that an opponent may have two weapons." Tenchi smiled as Han released his sword.
Tenchi released his grip and removed the dagger from Han's throat.
Hanshin smiled tossing one of the practice swords back to him. "Misaki there may be hope for you yet."
~~~:*:~~~
"Washu?" Ryoko called as she stepped through the entrance of the lab. *Its weird,* She thought. *Everyone seems so relieved now that we know Tokimi is coming.* "Washu?" She called again.
"Over here!"
Ryoko walked over to the genius who continued to type into the computer. "Is that her?" She asked looking at the mass of energy plotted on a map of the universe.
"Yep." Washu grinned. "Big cow isn't she?"
"When?"
"Late tomorrow, maybe early Sunday."
Ryoko sighed. "Didn't give us much warning did she? So what's your plan?"
"Why Ryoko, I'm so flattered you asked." Washu spun around on her cushion. "You, Hanshin, Tenchi and Ayeka fight her. The rest of the family will be up in Yukinojo and Ryo-ohki. I'll keep my link open with you incase we need to pick you up."
Ryoko remained silent. "Mom?"
Washu nearly fell off her cushion. *Did she just call me Mom?* She cleared her throat. "Yes?"
"Why can't I remember?" Ryoko crossed her arms. "I keep trying but I can't remember anything about Hanshin." She felt cold, empty, like part of her was gone.
Washu got up and walked over to another machine. "Tokimi erased all your memories, completely. It's a wonder she didn't destroy your conscious."
"So theirs no way to let me see?"
"You mean what happened back then?"
"Yes." Ryoko nodded.
Washu sighed. "I suppose, I could rig a parallel line up between you and Han."
"And then I could see?"
"Yes, but he must be completely willing to let me do it. There is no way I can select what memories you can see. If he cannot concentrate enough to let you see what you want, all his memories will flood into your mind. You will see everything, all 500,000 years." Washu explained.
"If he agrees, will you do it?"
"Don't you think your time could be better spent?"
"No, I need to see this. I need to see what I'm fighting for."
~~~:*:~~~
"Its good to see you Father." Ayeka greeted and bowed into the vid-phone on board Ryu-oh.
"Ayeka, I didn't expect to hear from you so soon." Azusa smiled as a glint of hope shimmered in his brown eyes. "Things not working out with that Tenchi boy?"
"No, Tenchi and I are happy. How are mother and Funaho?"
"You mothers are away right now, I believe shopping. How is Sasami."
"Good, outside playing with Ryo-ohki." Ayeka looked down away from the view screen. "Father, I need to ask you something. And it is extremely important that you be completely honest with me."
"Yes Ayeka, what is the matter?"
"Ken isshi toumuyo kakuho ikka Jurai tashou."
"The Guild?"
"Yes father, I need to know if that story really happened."
"Ayeka, it is only one sentence that has been transcribed through many different languages over thousands of years." Azusa's voice was shrouded in puzzlement.
"Father, is it true?"
"No one knows, as our heritage it is our place to view it as the truth. But in all honesty the chances are small that it took place in that form. Why the sudden interest in Jurain history Ayeka?"
"One moment father. How many children did Hibiki Jurai have?"
"Ayeka..." Azusa pleaded.
"Father, please this is important."
Jurai's king sighed. "Three, first a son and then two daughters."
"What was the son's name."
"Yoshin, he is your brothers namesake."
Ayeka sighed with relief. *So Kagato is not telling the truth after all.* She knew her people were not capable of such things.
"But I cannot recall his first son's name."
"What?!" She gasped.
"Hibiki had a son before Yoshin, but it is believed he died when he was still an infant." Azusa let his fingers grace his beard in contemplation. "I should remember, Ho.. Hen..."
"Hanshin?"
"Yes, it looks like you haven't been slacking off with your studies after all." Azusa looked into his daughter scared expression. "Ayeka honey you must tell me what is the matter?"
Ayeka was speechless. Her lineage, her people, they were barbarians!
"Ayeka?!?" Azusa's concern was slowly turning to anger.
"Father I must go."
"Ayeka you will not! Tell me what has scared you so? What could make the first crown princess of Jurai afraid?"
"I want nothing to do with Jurai!"
"What?"
Ayeka clenched her fists at her side. "Hanshin is alive, and he was sacrificed to Tokimi by his father as payment for her protection! We used him like payment, he was nothing more than a lamb sent to the slaughter!"
"Ayeka you are not making any sense."
"Father, for the first time in my life I believe I am."
"Ayeka..." Her father's plea was silenced as Ayeka terminated the call. She would not ask for his help. And from this point forward, she was no longer Jurai's Princess.
~~~:*:~~~
*Another day gone.* Hanshin thought as he sat on the roof. If Washu's calculations were correct, Tokimi could be here in as little as twenty-four hours. Han's mind wasn't dwelling as much on Tokimi, as it was the woman he knew was watching him.
"Tell me not to feel weird around you." Ryoko said as she stepped from the shadows into the moonlight on the roof.
Han closed his eyes and smiled. "Don't feel weird around me."
"Very funny." She sat next to him and drew her knees to her chest. She looked out over the lake. "I want to remember."
"Remember what?"
"Us."
"Oh." Han leaned back of his elbows. "Well, if it is any constellation I want you to remember us too."
"Washu has a way." She said no louder than a whisper, face still against her legs.
"Really."
"Yea, she said she could do something with a machine and allow me to live your memories."
"She can do that?"
"I guess." Ryoko let her legs stretch and leaned back. Looking at him. "All you have to do is remember the times we were together."
"Sounds simple enough." He looked into her eyes a moment before looking away. "But there is more than just us. I mean it's hard to condense 2000 years."
"I know, but I want to see that first. Then, maybe after we defeat Tokimi, I can see the rest. That is if you will let me?"
Hanshin looked at her before standing up. "Of course Ryoko."
~~~:*:~~~
"I'm sorry, but can you run that by me one more time Detective Kiyone?" The strong built General Kala asked as he sat behind his desk.
Kiyone sighed looking into the communication screen. "I have very good reason to believe that the Earth is in danger."
"Could you tell me why?"
Kiyone remained standing at perfect attention. "You are no doubt familiar with our past confrontation with Kagato."
"I am."
"And the unrecognized prince of Jurai, Tenchi Misaki?"
"I oversaw the incident Detective, please get to the point."
"There is currently a plot to kill Tenchi Misaki, and we are afraid they will destroy Earth to accomplish it."
"Wait one second, who is trying to kill him. And how would a ship large enough to destroy a planet get there without our noticing it?"
"The Goddess Tokimi." Kiyone winced; she knew how ridiculous this sounded. Gods and other abnormalities that science couldn't explain had been shoved back out of the peoples limelight, placed in a preverbal x-file. "She doesn't require a ship."
"Kiyone, I would understand this absurdity coming from your partners mouth but..."
"Its true!" Kiyone was shocked by her own outburst. "Tokimi wishes to destroy Tenchi because he controls the only power that can kill her."
"Kiyone, just listen to yourself." Kala waited for her to calm down. "You are asking me to authorize the evacuation of an entire planet on the grounds that 'God' is coming to destroy it?"
"I..."
"Do you know how ridiculous that sounds? Kiyone, half of the universe doesn't even believe in Gods anymore. They are seen as mythology." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Do you have any proof?"
"One of her mind controlled solders was sent as an assassin. He is now helping us."
"So all you have is the word of an assassin?"
Kiyone looked down from the screen. "Yes sir."
"You do realize if I went to the commander with this I would probably be thrown in an insane asylum." Kala looked in his former student's eyes. "You know something you are not telling me aren't you."
"Sir, things are so complicated now I don't know what to tell you."
Kala sighed. "Your request for Galaxy Police support is denied Detective Kiyone." He shuffled some papers on his desk. "But I will be sending the Alpha Fleet on testing maneuvers around Pluto, that's the closest I can get them without the commanders approval."
"Thank you Sir." Kiyone saluted as the communication was terminated. "Whew!" She wiped the sweat from her head. She was lucky she had gotten that much, had she not been the star student when Gen. Kala was still president of the academe she probably wouldn't have.
~~~:*:~~~
"Grandfather?"
"Tenchi," The old man looked up from his tea to see his grandson entering the living room. "Shouldn't you be training with Hanshin. He is quite an accomplished swordsman you know."
"Yea," Tenchi rubbed his sore knuckles. "And not bad at hand-to-hand combat either."
Katsuhito laughed. "Yes, Little Washu told me of your confrontation."
*Man, how does he always know everything?* Tenchi thought taking a seat.
"Something other than Tokimi is bothering you isn't it my boy?"
"Yes, actually two things." Tenchi replied letting his hands nervously fidget.
"And what are they?"
"Ayeka and Ryoko."
"Him." Katsuhito nodded for his grandson to continue and sipped his tea.
"I... I love them both. When I am alone with Ayeka, I think that she is the only person in the world for me. But then when I am just around Ryoko, I can't see anything but her. I want to give then both what they want. When I am around Ayeka, I try to be a gentleman, the prince of Jurai, because I know that makes her happy. And when I'm around Ryoko I just want to hit her with a snowball or something, be just an energetic person. But I can't tell one of them I love them, because it means I have to tell the other I don't."
"Have you thought about Jurain marriages?"
"You mean being with both of them?"
Katsuhito nodded.
"Yes, but I cant. Maybe it would have been different if I grew up on Jurai but." Tenchi sighed. "I just don't think any one of us would be happy."
"Do not worry, I was raised there and could never accept it either." Katsuhito sat down his tea and stood looking out the window. "Tenchi, this must be your decision, only you are in control of your own destiny. You are not the same person you were when you released Ryoko from the cave, your battles with Kagato and Clay have changed you also. And I believe it is safe to assume that the battle with Tokimi will change us all." The old priest pushed his glasses back up on his nose. "All the advice I can give you is this: Be yourself Tenchi and create your own destiny. Do not fear failure, for when you do, that is when we hurt the ones we love."
~~~:*:~~~
"Ready?" Washu asked closing her laptop and walking to the room's door.
"Washu, will you be able to see too?" Ryoko asked. She and Hanshin were sitting across from each other in a completely dark room.
"No, this is between you and him." She smiled. "All you have to do is remember and she will see, I'll keep a watch on your vital signs from outside."
"Thanks." Ryoko watched as Washu left the room, leaving the two alone sitting across from one another.
"What exactly is it you want to see?" Hanshin asked breaking the deafening silence of the sensory deprivation chamber.
Ryoko blushed. She hadn't really thought about it, it was at this point she wondered how 'close' they had actually gotten. "I... don't really know."
"Well you must give me some idea."
"Ok then, when it started."
"When it started?" Han asked.
"Yea, you and me, think you can handle that?"
Hanshin thought for a moment. "Actually I think I can."
"Ok then." Ryoko leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. "Let's see if it was worth all this."
Han took one last look at her, and closed his eyes.
...Happy Valentines Day to all, and to all a good night!
"Faster!" Hanshin yelled at the young man sweeping to attack him. A wooden practice sword cut through the air narrowly missing the taller mans midsection as he backed away. "Better!"
Tenchi circled back about ten paces from his opponent and held the sword in front of him. "Why cant..." Tenchi took a labored breath. "Why cant we use energy weapons, I don't think I can do much to her with this bokuto."
"You rely on the wings too much." Han let his sword hover over his shoulder, waiting for a moment to attack. "All she has to do is overload them, then you will wish you had a wooden sword."
Tenchi braced his feet apart and let the tip of the sword grace the dirt.
"Good posture, did Yosho teach you that?"
"Yep." Tenchi grunted charging Hanshin, whom only stood still. At the last second Tenchi thrust his sword straight at his opponents throat.
In a flash Hanshin's sword struck Tenchi's blade away and Tenchi rolled to the opposite side and behind his view. *This is too easy.* Hanshin thought spinning around to tap his opponent. If Tenchi could be disarmed this easily they didn't have a chance. "Tenchi, you must grip your sword bett..." Hanshin was stopped mid sentence by a small wooden knife pressed to his throat and a hand holding his head from behind.
"Grandpa also taught me that an opponent may have two weapons." Tenchi smiled as Han released his sword.
Tenchi released his grip and removed the dagger from Han's throat.
Hanshin smiled tossing one of the practice swords back to him. "Misaki there may be hope for you yet."
~~~:*:~~~
"Washu?" Ryoko called as she stepped through the entrance of the lab. *Its weird,* She thought. *Everyone seems so relieved now that we know Tokimi is coming.* "Washu?" She called again.
"Over here!"
Ryoko walked over to the genius who continued to type into the computer. "Is that her?" She asked looking at the mass of energy plotted on a map of the universe.
"Yep." Washu grinned. "Big cow isn't she?"
"When?"
"Late tomorrow, maybe early Sunday."
Ryoko sighed. "Didn't give us much warning did she? So what's your plan?"
"Why Ryoko, I'm so flattered you asked." Washu spun around on her cushion. "You, Hanshin, Tenchi and Ayeka fight her. The rest of the family will be up in Yukinojo and Ryo-ohki. I'll keep my link open with you incase we need to pick you up."
Ryoko remained silent. "Mom?"
Washu nearly fell off her cushion. *Did she just call me Mom?* She cleared her throat. "Yes?"
"Why can't I remember?" Ryoko crossed her arms. "I keep trying but I can't remember anything about Hanshin." She felt cold, empty, like part of her was gone.
Washu got up and walked over to another machine. "Tokimi erased all your memories, completely. It's a wonder she didn't destroy your conscious."
"So theirs no way to let me see?"
"You mean what happened back then?"
"Yes." Ryoko nodded.
Washu sighed. "I suppose, I could rig a parallel line up between you and Han."
"And then I could see?"
"Yes, but he must be completely willing to let me do it. There is no way I can select what memories you can see. If he cannot concentrate enough to let you see what you want, all his memories will flood into your mind. You will see everything, all 500,000 years." Washu explained.
"If he agrees, will you do it?"
"Don't you think your time could be better spent?"
"No, I need to see this. I need to see what I'm fighting for."
~~~:*:~~~
"Its good to see you Father." Ayeka greeted and bowed into the vid-phone on board Ryu-oh.
"Ayeka, I didn't expect to hear from you so soon." Azusa smiled as a glint of hope shimmered in his brown eyes. "Things not working out with that Tenchi boy?"
"No, Tenchi and I are happy. How are mother and Funaho?"
"You mothers are away right now, I believe shopping. How is Sasami."
"Good, outside playing with Ryo-ohki." Ayeka looked down away from the view screen. "Father, I need to ask you something. And it is extremely important that you be completely honest with me."
"Yes Ayeka, what is the matter?"
"Ken isshi toumuyo kakuho ikka Jurai tashou."
"The Guild?"
"Yes father, I need to know if that story really happened."
"Ayeka, it is only one sentence that has been transcribed through many different languages over thousands of years." Azusa's voice was shrouded in puzzlement.
"Father, is it true?"
"No one knows, as our heritage it is our place to view it as the truth. But in all honesty the chances are small that it took place in that form. Why the sudden interest in Jurain history Ayeka?"
"One moment father. How many children did Hibiki Jurai have?"
"Ayeka..." Azusa pleaded.
"Father, please this is important."
Jurai's king sighed. "Three, first a son and then two daughters."
"What was the son's name."
"Yoshin, he is your brothers namesake."
Ayeka sighed with relief. *So Kagato is not telling the truth after all.* She knew her people were not capable of such things.
"But I cannot recall his first son's name."
"What?!" She gasped.
"Hibiki had a son before Yoshin, but it is believed he died when he was still an infant." Azusa let his fingers grace his beard in contemplation. "I should remember, Ho.. Hen..."
"Hanshin?"
"Yes, it looks like you haven't been slacking off with your studies after all." Azusa looked into his daughter scared expression. "Ayeka honey you must tell me what is the matter?"
Ayeka was speechless. Her lineage, her people, they were barbarians!
"Ayeka?!?" Azusa's concern was slowly turning to anger.
"Father I must go."
"Ayeka you will not! Tell me what has scared you so? What could make the first crown princess of Jurai afraid?"
"I want nothing to do with Jurai!"
"What?"
Ayeka clenched her fists at her side. "Hanshin is alive, and he was sacrificed to Tokimi by his father as payment for her protection! We used him like payment, he was nothing more than a lamb sent to the slaughter!"
"Ayeka you are not making any sense."
"Father, for the first time in my life I believe I am."
"Ayeka..." Her father's plea was silenced as Ayeka terminated the call. She would not ask for his help. And from this point forward, she was no longer Jurai's Princess.
~~~:*:~~~
*Another day gone.* Hanshin thought as he sat on the roof. If Washu's calculations were correct, Tokimi could be here in as little as twenty-four hours. Han's mind wasn't dwelling as much on Tokimi, as it was the woman he knew was watching him.
"Tell me not to feel weird around you." Ryoko said as she stepped from the shadows into the moonlight on the roof.
Han closed his eyes and smiled. "Don't feel weird around me."
"Very funny." She sat next to him and drew her knees to her chest. She looked out over the lake. "I want to remember."
"Remember what?"
"Us."
"Oh." Han leaned back of his elbows. "Well, if it is any constellation I want you to remember us too."
"Washu has a way." She said no louder than a whisper, face still against her legs.
"Really."
"Yea, she said she could do something with a machine and allow me to live your memories."
"She can do that?"
"I guess." Ryoko let her legs stretch and leaned back. Looking at him. "All you have to do is remember the times we were together."
"Sounds simple enough." He looked into her eyes a moment before looking away. "But there is more than just us. I mean it's hard to condense 2000 years."
"I know, but I want to see that first. Then, maybe after we defeat Tokimi, I can see the rest. That is if you will let me?"
Hanshin looked at her before standing up. "Of course Ryoko."
~~~:*:~~~
"I'm sorry, but can you run that by me one more time Detective Kiyone?" The strong built General Kala asked as he sat behind his desk.
Kiyone sighed looking into the communication screen. "I have very good reason to believe that the Earth is in danger."
"Could you tell me why?"
Kiyone remained standing at perfect attention. "You are no doubt familiar with our past confrontation with Kagato."
"I am."
"And the unrecognized prince of Jurai, Tenchi Misaki?"
"I oversaw the incident Detective, please get to the point."
"There is currently a plot to kill Tenchi Misaki, and we are afraid they will destroy Earth to accomplish it."
"Wait one second, who is trying to kill him. And how would a ship large enough to destroy a planet get there without our noticing it?"
"The Goddess Tokimi." Kiyone winced; she knew how ridiculous this sounded. Gods and other abnormalities that science couldn't explain had been shoved back out of the peoples limelight, placed in a preverbal x-file. "She doesn't require a ship."
"Kiyone, I would understand this absurdity coming from your partners mouth but..."
"Its true!" Kiyone was shocked by her own outburst. "Tokimi wishes to destroy Tenchi because he controls the only power that can kill her."
"Kiyone, just listen to yourself." Kala waited for her to calm down. "You are asking me to authorize the evacuation of an entire planet on the grounds that 'God' is coming to destroy it?"
"I..."
"Do you know how ridiculous that sounds? Kiyone, half of the universe doesn't even believe in Gods anymore. They are seen as mythology." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Do you have any proof?"
"One of her mind controlled solders was sent as an assassin. He is now helping us."
"So all you have is the word of an assassin?"
Kiyone looked down from the screen. "Yes sir."
"You do realize if I went to the commander with this I would probably be thrown in an insane asylum." Kala looked in his former student's eyes. "You know something you are not telling me aren't you."
"Sir, things are so complicated now I don't know what to tell you."
Kala sighed. "Your request for Galaxy Police support is denied Detective Kiyone." He shuffled some papers on his desk. "But I will be sending the Alpha Fleet on testing maneuvers around Pluto, that's the closest I can get them without the commanders approval."
"Thank you Sir." Kiyone saluted as the communication was terminated. "Whew!" She wiped the sweat from her head. She was lucky she had gotten that much, had she not been the star student when Gen. Kala was still president of the academe she probably wouldn't have.
~~~:*:~~~
"Grandfather?"
"Tenchi," The old man looked up from his tea to see his grandson entering the living room. "Shouldn't you be training with Hanshin. He is quite an accomplished swordsman you know."
"Yea," Tenchi rubbed his sore knuckles. "And not bad at hand-to-hand combat either."
Katsuhito laughed. "Yes, Little Washu told me of your confrontation."
*Man, how does he always know everything?* Tenchi thought taking a seat.
"Something other than Tokimi is bothering you isn't it my boy?"
"Yes, actually two things." Tenchi replied letting his hands nervously fidget.
"And what are they?"
"Ayeka and Ryoko."
"Him." Katsuhito nodded for his grandson to continue and sipped his tea.
"I... I love them both. When I am alone with Ayeka, I think that she is the only person in the world for me. But then when I am just around Ryoko, I can't see anything but her. I want to give then both what they want. When I am around Ayeka, I try to be a gentleman, the prince of Jurai, because I know that makes her happy. And when I'm around Ryoko I just want to hit her with a snowball or something, be just an energetic person. But I can't tell one of them I love them, because it means I have to tell the other I don't."
"Have you thought about Jurain marriages?"
"You mean being with both of them?"
Katsuhito nodded.
"Yes, but I cant. Maybe it would have been different if I grew up on Jurai but." Tenchi sighed. "I just don't think any one of us would be happy."
"Do not worry, I was raised there and could never accept it either." Katsuhito sat down his tea and stood looking out the window. "Tenchi, this must be your decision, only you are in control of your own destiny. You are not the same person you were when you released Ryoko from the cave, your battles with Kagato and Clay have changed you also. And I believe it is safe to assume that the battle with Tokimi will change us all." The old priest pushed his glasses back up on his nose. "All the advice I can give you is this: Be yourself Tenchi and create your own destiny. Do not fear failure, for when you do, that is when we hurt the ones we love."
~~~:*:~~~
"Ready?" Washu asked closing her laptop and walking to the room's door.
"Washu, will you be able to see too?" Ryoko asked. She and Hanshin were sitting across from each other in a completely dark room.
"No, this is between you and him." She smiled. "All you have to do is remember and she will see, I'll keep a watch on your vital signs from outside."
"Thanks." Ryoko watched as Washu left the room, leaving the two alone sitting across from one another.
"What exactly is it you want to see?" Hanshin asked breaking the deafening silence of the sensory deprivation chamber.
Ryoko blushed. She hadn't really thought about it, it was at this point she wondered how 'close' they had actually gotten. "I... don't really know."
"Well you must give me some idea."
"Ok then, when it started."
"When it started?" Han asked.
"Yea, you and me, think you can handle that?"
Hanshin thought for a moment. "Actually I think I can."
"Ok then." Ryoko leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. "Let's see if it was worth all this."
Han took one last look at her, and closed his eyes.
...Happy Valentines Day to all, and to all a good night!