DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the Tenchi Muyo characters. I simply write a
story for mere entertainment.
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Heaven & Earth
Chapter 11: The Beginning of the End (Part 2)
Listen to: "In the End" by Linkin Park
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PREVIOUSLY...
Andrew got up and dusted himself off, closing the zipper to his pants. "Hehe,
you don't seem to know who I really am, do you Ryoko?"
"I don't care who you are! We gave you shelter and you dare try and mess with my
daughter? Well, I got news for you pal, you may be Ayeka's son but you have no
right trying to hurt my little girl!"
Andrew laughed once more, "you don't remember at all..." He watched as Ryoko helped her daughter up and teleported them both out of view only to watch her back
in the spot she had been earlier in a fighting stance. "I guess I'll have to
remind you..." He stepped back towards Cherry Star and a light starting coming out
of his body. The sound of crunching bones and the sight of the body rearranging
itself tore Ryoko's insides inside out. Minutes after the disturbing sight and
sounds, a woman of Ryoko's height with long, flowing black hair and red eyes
made itself visible to Mrs. Masaki.
"You..." Ryoko started.
The old body of Andrew, now Aina, had made itself present to it's past lover.
Aina's devilish laugh echoed around them in the tight circle. "Now do you
remember who I am?"
Ryoko pulled out her red light sword and started charging towards Aina. Aina
disappeared and reappeared behind Ryoko with a wide smile. "You aren't even
trying... Whatever happened to the Ryoko I know who tried to destroy Jurai? To
that woman with cyan hair that made me wild and made me want you back in
Kagato's ship? To that woman who was responsible for my bother's death?"
"She's long gone," Ryoko bitterly replied. "I'd like you to meet Mrs. Ryoko
Masaki, a woman that's pissed off and will make sure you died because you tried
to hurt my daughter!"
Aina looked into Ryoko's eyes seeing the anger that ruled inside of them. She
smiled and turned her back to her. "Unless I see that you are more powerful, I
will fight you. Otherwise, this will be a silly little competition between the
two of us... I'll give you one hour to get the rest of your powers otherwise I
will destroy every person you say you cherish so much!"
-----------
--Masaki residence--
Tenchi was looking at his daughter which was shaking uncontrollably, "what's wrong, Sakura?"
Tears ran down from Sakura's red face, she hurried to her grandmother's laboratory without even giving as much as a glance to her father. She burst into the lab pushing the door so hard that the little crab that announced when someone came in fell of its hinges. She ran behind Washu and hugged her sobbing inconsolably.
"What is it?" Washu practically yelled as she tried to free herself from her granddaughter. As she did free herself, she saw how bad Sakura looked and searched in her memory. She gasped as she came across what had happened with Andrew. "That bastard!" she embraced Sakura and gently moved her to one of her notorious machines. "Sit here sweetie. I gotta figure out of he did get through..."
Sakura did, as she was instructed and undressed herself mentally weeping and physically shaking. 'Alright sweetie, can you tell me more of what happened?' she heard Washu say in her head. Sakura's body shook once more and didn't respond to her grandmother's question.
'Damn it! She's in shock, I don't think I'll get anything out of her in this stage,' Washu thought. She went to her holographic computer and started to punch a few keys with her fingers. "Alright, all we have to look at is at your physical patterns. I also need to check your mental patterns, will that be alright, Sakura?"
She didn't move and inch, just blinked and sobbed loudly. Washu sighed and started doing experiments on the daughter of Tenchi Masaki.
--Living Room--
Tenchi looked at the door that led to Washu's lab with a quizzical look. "What the..." His thoughts were interrupted as his wife had appeared in front of him with such rage in her eyes. He had never seen Ryoko this upset*. "What's wrong, honey?" She looked at him like she was about to kill him. He stepped back but stopped as he saw that his wife was now down on both knees crying her eyes out. "What's wrong Ryoko?"
"AYEKA!!!" Ryoko roared.
Seconds later, Kiyone, Mihoshi, Sasami, Maia and Ayeka rushed downstairs.
"Why in heaven are you screaming now, you monster woman?" Ayeka answered, as she was a few feet away from her former rival in love.
Ryoko quickly stood up and grabbed Ayeka by the collar of her kimono. "You bitch! It's all your fault!"
Ayeka struggled to free herself from Ryoko's hold, "what are you talking about?"
"You brought that bastard into my home! You're responsible for him trying to rape my baby!"
Gasps were heard from the whole group.
"What!?" Ayeka replied angrily having enough strength to push off her rival.
"Your so called son is really Aina! And she tried to rape Sakura... why would you do this to us? Why would you bring him into our family like nothing was wrong?"
"First of all, what does Andrew have to do with Aina? Secondly, what do you mean he was trying to rape Sakura?"
Ryoko's anger flared and she was about to take a swing at Ayeka but her hand was stopped by Washu's grasp.
"He did get through her, but not far enough. Everybody, Andrew is the reincarnation of Ryoko's worst enemy, Aina. It seems that he found a way to get adopted by you Lady Ayeka. He fooled this family into thinking that he was a regular boy and was planning for some time to hurt my baby. I had readings that something was wrong a few days ago in the cave in which Ryoko was imprisoned--"
"Why in hell didn't you tell us?" Ryoko asked as she tugged on Washu's left arm. "Why did you let this happen?"
Washu sighed, "this is all my fault... but if I'm correct... Tenchi?"
"Hmm?"
"Please give Ryoko her jewels... she has to fight Aina and I don't want any of you to get in her way."
"But, Washu..."
"No! I'm fighting her, I will get revenge on that bitch..."
"But Ryoko..." he looked at his wife and nodded his head. "Alright... are you ready?"
"Always." Ryoko closed her eyes as her husband started praying that the jewels return to her. She felt their energy flow throughout her body.
"Ryoko," Washu started.
Shaking herself out of the trance, she looked at her mother. "What?"
"Take this," she said handing Ryoko a pink pill. "It will allow you to keep your powers at bay and not cause you to turn into that demon you turned into years ago."
Ryoko remembered what that demon had caused. It would have destroyed the Earth of Yosho hadn't sealed her that day, 700 years ago.
--Later in the Onsen--
Sakura had been taking a bath in the place where she had recently learned existed. She was scrubbing her arms while she was sitting on a stool next to the small waterfalls.
"I knew this is where you went," she heard a nasal voice coming from behind her. "What are you doing here, my little one?"
Sakura didn't say anything; she just kept washing herself.
"Still not wanting to talk to anybody?" she got nearer to her granddaughter. "I know that must of felt like hell, but you gotta open up to the rest of the family. We need to know what's going on in your mind."
'I feel dirty,' Washu heard in her head. Apparently, her youngest girl now felt like talking.
"Give me that sponge," Washu said as she was now kneeling behind Sakura. Sakura did as she was asked to. "I need your time to get over this, I know. But you should see how worried your parents are."
Silence.
"It's nice to know that you trust me enough to let me get into your thoughts. Your mother isn't so appreciative when I do that..." she started rubbing down Sakura's back with the sponge. "You know, your mother meant well for you not to learn about the rest of the family... I keep thinking that it would have been for the best if you hadn't gone up to Jurai."
'Did you want me to live a lie?'
"That's not it, Saku... it's just that... well, life was going so well here."
'It isn't so nice when your friends betray you.'
"I know how that feels like, but you can always turn to new friends you know. You've turned out like your mother in some aspects..." she trailed off.
Sakura just bent down to get some water.
"You two always have to go on in adventures just to know more about life. You know, your mother and father might have never been married. He was always too shy," Washu laughed, "it's hard to believe that he changed so much. I guess my little Ryoko has that effect on people. I know she has changed me."
Sakura sighed.
So did Washu, "I only wish that we had never met Kagato..."
'Kagato?'
"Yes. He's the reason why Andrew... I mean, Aina was after you. To hurt Ryoko for having been partly responsible for Kagato's death."
'Who was also responsible?'
"Your father... you know, that boy has quite an amazing power. I've only seen it once but have heard about it a second time when Dr. Clay kidnapped your mother. I think that's when your father realized that he truly loved Ryoko."
'Quite an interesting story...'
"There's still so much you need to know about," Washu said, smiling as she continued to help Sakura wash herself and told her about more of the adventures that her family had gone through.
--Cherry Star--
Aina rested her back against Cherry Star impatiently waiting for Ryoko to appear. "When is that wench getting here? It's so boring in this damn planet!"
"Still talk to yourself, do ya?" she heard as Ryoko suddenly reappeared in front of her. "I see you still haven't found a way to make friends." Ryoko laughed, "of course, just who would want to be your friend?"
Aina felt a jolt as she heard Ryoko say that. "Well, why don't you ask your sweet daughter about that? I mean, you didn't give me enough time to really try just how sweet she is..."
Ryoko's anger flared as she heard that. She pulled out her light sword and held it at range blank near her neck. "Why don't you say that again?"
Aina laughed and with a sudden burst of energy sent Ryoko flying back. "Finally, I've been so bored in this horrid planet. What is it that you've been doing all these years here? Just wait for your beloved Tenchi to actually realize that he 'loved' you and fuck your brains out?"
"SHUT UP!" Ryoko said enraged. "You want to fight? I'll make sure to give you a fight!" Ryoko charged towards Aina barely missing her face with her sword.
This caused a slight cut on Aina's left cheek letting a trickle of blood flow down from it. "You bitch!" She pulled out a dark sword that was at least three times bigger than Ryoko's.
The clash from both swords was loud and heavy with both women not allowing the other to take the biggest advantage.
"Aww, Ryoko, you're holding back! And I see that you got your remaining jewels! Why don't you use them at full force?"
Ryoko stopped clashing her sword against Aina's and stepped back. "All right, if that's what you want..." instead of making her sword a few sizes bigger, she built an energy ball and sent it spiraling towards her enemy but Aina quickly stepped out of the way.
"Tsk. Pathetic! Listen, cutie, we both know that you won't get any further if you keep using such low powers! I mean, yeah, I admit that I have been holding my power back, but you're just not fun to fight with like this!"
Ryoko was angered by not being taken seriously (and the fact that she was still angered by what had happened to her daughter) and soon a red aura surrounded her entire entity allowing her light sword to grow and form itself into a light hawk sword. 'I never knew this would happen...'
--Back at the Onsen--
"Oh my..."
Sakura turned around as she felt that her grandmother had seized helping washing her back. "What is it?"
"Your mom... she generated the light hawk sword..."
"But you said that was merely impossible!"
'I know...'
--Masaki Residence--
The rest of the Masaki family sat in their own space in the couches in the living room.
"I am so sorry, Lord Tenchi..." Ayeka started.
"You didn't know that Andrew was really Aina," he answered.
In the midst of all of this, Maia was looking outside.
"What the..." Tenchi said rising up from his seat.
"What's wrong, Tenchi?" Sasami asked startled by Tenchi's sudden movement.
"I feel a strong energy... kind of like the one I get when I have the light hawk wings..."
"How is that possible?" Ayeka asked.
In the spot where Maia was, a weird grin had formed on her face. 'Change when you think the time is right' she smiled and looked back at the group. "Ahem... I'm sorry to not join you in your time of joy, but I have to get going."
"What are you talking about, Maia?" Ayeka asked her.
"You are all so pathetic," she pressed a button on her wristwatch and instantly changed into a person they had never seen. Her spiky black hair covered half of her face and half of the malicious grin that was now flashing at them. "I'd like to introduce myself, my name is Tsukita Takashi. My sister was Reika Takashi whom if I am correct attacked you several years ago."
"Tsukita," Tenchi started, "but I thought you were happily with Niko..."
"That bastard? He only wanted sex out of me! He never forgot about Reika. I knew this from the beginning so I made sure to make a pact with Aina and once Reika was out of the picture, I sent my astral form to Niko to make him think that he was with the real me while I was down here carrying the plan that Aina had created since she knew that Reika was going to be a traitor." She laughed and brushed her hair out of her face revealing a moon-shaped scar on the right side of her face. "You see this scar? You gave it to me princess! How? You did know me as Maia Andra back in Jurai, but you pushed me back. Remember that day, Princess? The day I tried going after you as you were going after Yosho? You forced your guardians on me and they hurt me. You hurt me! And I loved you! It all comes back now. Revenge is as sweet as hell!"*
--Cherry Star--
Ryoko and Aina headed a heated battle. None of them was holding back and apparently they had managed to draw some blood out of each other.
"Give up now, Ryoko. I only want you dead. That's it. If you die, I'll spare your pitiful family."
"Never!" Ryoko growled.
"You know, right about now, I'm pretty sure that Maia has told your family the truth..."
"What truth?" Ryoko asked backing up from the fight.
"That she really is the sister of your beloved friend Reika... she's been working for me all this time. And now, she'll have the pleasure of killing Ayeka and the rest all by her self!"
This angered Ryoko making her fight even harder to try and get to her family...
--Back Home--
Tsukita had already managed to hurt Mihoshi with one of her weaker attacks. Tenchi, seeing that the rest of the family was in danger, had drawn the Tenchi sword with no luck of calling forth the light hawk sword. He charged at Tsuki and drove his sword to her side causing a slight hole in the right side of her stomach.
"You scoundrel! The only way you will defeat either Aina or me is if you call forth your true powers." She was getting ready to throw a death blow to Tenchi but was stopped by an energy blast coming from the door. "You!"
From Sakura's palm, a small trail of smoke rose from where she had sent her blast. "You will not harm my family!" she said now willing most of her energy into one blast, disappeared and reappeared right in front of Tsuki and let her have it making a large whole in her stomach causing her death.
She backed away from the now fallen body of Tsukita and looked at her father. "We have to go help mom!"
"Right!"
--Cherry Star--
It seemed as though Aina had gained the upper hand as Ryoko was fallen in the ground holding her stomach while some blood pored through her hands. "I told you I wanted to you to fight with your true powers!" Aina said in a whining voice.
"Well, we can fight together you hell bitch!" Aina heard from behind her as she saw Tenchi and Sakura. "I've already killed your little friend and I'll be more than happy to kill you!"
Aina laughed, "you've got to be kidding me! How can a brat like you have killed Tsuki? You're just bluffing!"
"She's not... believe me..." Ryoko struggled to say.
Tenchi seeing that Ryoko was on the ground, ran to her side to help her up.
**Flashback**
"The only way that you can defeat her is by all forming the light hawk wings. I'm sure that you can at least form twelve together," Washu told Sakura in the onsen.
"How do we do that?" Sakura asked.
"Just think of the love you have for each other... clear your thoughts and just think of that... it'll all be worth it!"
**End Flashback**
"Right!" Sakura ran to her parents and helped Tenchi pick up Ryoko. "I'm sure we can all form the light hawk wings."
"What?" the beaten Ryoko asked.
"Grandma said that the only way we might be able to beat this monster is by forming the twelve light hawk wings she knows we can form. Just clear your minds and think of how much we love each other."
"If Washu's sure of it and so are you, then I guess it wouldn't hurt to try" Tenchi said.
They all cleared their minds and did exactly as Sakura had instructed them to do. Aina, realizing what was happening, concentrated on gathering all her strength by chanting in an old space language. "Thoa spiritu veng veng. Unire voe guisa energia. Raggiungere, ora!"
The Masaki family had formed the light hawk wings just as Aina had formed a gigantic ball of dark energy. She was also now floating in mid air revealing the true length of the ball which was three times her size.
"You won't get away from this blast!" Aina shouted.
"Try us!" the family said in unison.
"Fine by me!" she yelled back down to the group and releasing the energy.
Tenchi immediately did the same sending a red energy blast. They met half way and struggled to gain ruling space for some time. They all threw their best energy to pushing the energy ball, but failing as the dark energy slashed through the red energy they had gathered. In a few seconds time, the blast hit the ground and ricocheted into Ryoko, Sakura and Tenchi...
TO BE CONTINUED...
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* Think of how mad she looked when she dropped Mayuka in Daughter of Darkness... but worse...
* The betrayals! I'm almost done with this story! YAY!
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Next time: is this the end of our family? Join me in the conclusion of "Heaven & Earth" chapter 12: The Aftermath.
story for mere entertainment.
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Heaven & Earth
Chapter 11: The Beginning of the End (Part 2)
Listen to: "In the End" by Linkin Park
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
PREVIOUSLY...
Andrew got up and dusted himself off, closing the zipper to his pants. "Hehe,
you don't seem to know who I really am, do you Ryoko?"
"I don't care who you are! We gave you shelter and you dare try and mess with my
daughter? Well, I got news for you pal, you may be Ayeka's son but you have no
right trying to hurt my little girl!"
Andrew laughed once more, "you don't remember at all..." He watched as Ryoko helped her daughter up and teleported them both out of view only to watch her back
in the spot she had been earlier in a fighting stance. "I guess I'll have to
remind you..." He stepped back towards Cherry Star and a light starting coming out
of his body. The sound of crunching bones and the sight of the body rearranging
itself tore Ryoko's insides inside out. Minutes after the disturbing sight and
sounds, a woman of Ryoko's height with long, flowing black hair and red eyes
made itself visible to Mrs. Masaki.
"You..." Ryoko started.
The old body of Andrew, now Aina, had made itself present to it's past lover.
Aina's devilish laugh echoed around them in the tight circle. "Now do you
remember who I am?"
Ryoko pulled out her red light sword and started charging towards Aina. Aina
disappeared and reappeared behind Ryoko with a wide smile. "You aren't even
trying... Whatever happened to the Ryoko I know who tried to destroy Jurai? To
that woman with cyan hair that made me wild and made me want you back in
Kagato's ship? To that woman who was responsible for my bother's death?"
"She's long gone," Ryoko bitterly replied. "I'd like you to meet Mrs. Ryoko
Masaki, a woman that's pissed off and will make sure you died because you tried
to hurt my daughter!"
Aina looked into Ryoko's eyes seeing the anger that ruled inside of them. She
smiled and turned her back to her. "Unless I see that you are more powerful, I
will fight you. Otherwise, this will be a silly little competition between the
two of us... I'll give you one hour to get the rest of your powers otherwise I
will destroy every person you say you cherish so much!"
-----------
--Masaki residence--
Tenchi was looking at his daughter which was shaking uncontrollably, "what's wrong, Sakura?"
Tears ran down from Sakura's red face, she hurried to her grandmother's laboratory without even giving as much as a glance to her father. She burst into the lab pushing the door so hard that the little crab that announced when someone came in fell of its hinges. She ran behind Washu and hugged her sobbing inconsolably.
"What is it?" Washu practically yelled as she tried to free herself from her granddaughter. As she did free herself, she saw how bad Sakura looked and searched in her memory. She gasped as she came across what had happened with Andrew. "That bastard!" she embraced Sakura and gently moved her to one of her notorious machines. "Sit here sweetie. I gotta figure out of he did get through..."
Sakura did, as she was instructed and undressed herself mentally weeping and physically shaking. 'Alright sweetie, can you tell me more of what happened?' she heard Washu say in her head. Sakura's body shook once more and didn't respond to her grandmother's question.
'Damn it! She's in shock, I don't think I'll get anything out of her in this stage,' Washu thought. She went to her holographic computer and started to punch a few keys with her fingers. "Alright, all we have to look at is at your physical patterns. I also need to check your mental patterns, will that be alright, Sakura?"
She didn't move and inch, just blinked and sobbed loudly. Washu sighed and started doing experiments on the daughter of Tenchi Masaki.
--Living Room--
Tenchi looked at the door that led to Washu's lab with a quizzical look. "What the..." His thoughts were interrupted as his wife had appeared in front of him with such rage in her eyes. He had never seen Ryoko this upset*. "What's wrong, honey?" She looked at him like she was about to kill him. He stepped back but stopped as he saw that his wife was now down on both knees crying her eyes out. "What's wrong Ryoko?"
"AYEKA!!!" Ryoko roared.
Seconds later, Kiyone, Mihoshi, Sasami, Maia and Ayeka rushed downstairs.
"Why in heaven are you screaming now, you monster woman?" Ayeka answered, as she was a few feet away from her former rival in love.
Ryoko quickly stood up and grabbed Ayeka by the collar of her kimono. "You bitch! It's all your fault!"
Ayeka struggled to free herself from Ryoko's hold, "what are you talking about?"
"You brought that bastard into my home! You're responsible for him trying to rape my baby!"
Gasps were heard from the whole group.
"What!?" Ayeka replied angrily having enough strength to push off her rival.
"Your so called son is really Aina! And she tried to rape Sakura... why would you do this to us? Why would you bring him into our family like nothing was wrong?"
"First of all, what does Andrew have to do with Aina? Secondly, what do you mean he was trying to rape Sakura?"
Ryoko's anger flared and she was about to take a swing at Ayeka but her hand was stopped by Washu's grasp.
"He did get through her, but not far enough. Everybody, Andrew is the reincarnation of Ryoko's worst enemy, Aina. It seems that he found a way to get adopted by you Lady Ayeka. He fooled this family into thinking that he was a regular boy and was planning for some time to hurt my baby. I had readings that something was wrong a few days ago in the cave in which Ryoko was imprisoned--"
"Why in hell didn't you tell us?" Ryoko asked as she tugged on Washu's left arm. "Why did you let this happen?"
Washu sighed, "this is all my fault... but if I'm correct... Tenchi?"
"Hmm?"
"Please give Ryoko her jewels... she has to fight Aina and I don't want any of you to get in her way."
"But, Washu..."
"No! I'm fighting her, I will get revenge on that bitch..."
"But Ryoko..." he looked at his wife and nodded his head. "Alright... are you ready?"
"Always." Ryoko closed her eyes as her husband started praying that the jewels return to her. She felt their energy flow throughout her body.
"Ryoko," Washu started.
Shaking herself out of the trance, she looked at her mother. "What?"
"Take this," she said handing Ryoko a pink pill. "It will allow you to keep your powers at bay and not cause you to turn into that demon you turned into years ago."
Ryoko remembered what that demon had caused. It would have destroyed the Earth of Yosho hadn't sealed her that day, 700 years ago.
--Later in the Onsen--
Sakura had been taking a bath in the place where she had recently learned existed. She was scrubbing her arms while she was sitting on a stool next to the small waterfalls.
"I knew this is where you went," she heard a nasal voice coming from behind her. "What are you doing here, my little one?"
Sakura didn't say anything; she just kept washing herself.
"Still not wanting to talk to anybody?" she got nearer to her granddaughter. "I know that must of felt like hell, but you gotta open up to the rest of the family. We need to know what's going on in your mind."
'I feel dirty,' Washu heard in her head. Apparently, her youngest girl now felt like talking.
"Give me that sponge," Washu said as she was now kneeling behind Sakura. Sakura did as she was asked to. "I need your time to get over this, I know. But you should see how worried your parents are."
Silence.
"It's nice to know that you trust me enough to let me get into your thoughts. Your mother isn't so appreciative when I do that..." she started rubbing down Sakura's back with the sponge. "You know, your mother meant well for you not to learn about the rest of the family... I keep thinking that it would have been for the best if you hadn't gone up to Jurai."
'Did you want me to live a lie?'
"That's not it, Saku... it's just that... well, life was going so well here."
'It isn't so nice when your friends betray you.'
"I know how that feels like, but you can always turn to new friends you know. You've turned out like your mother in some aspects..." she trailed off.
Sakura just bent down to get some water.
"You two always have to go on in adventures just to know more about life. You know, your mother and father might have never been married. He was always too shy," Washu laughed, "it's hard to believe that he changed so much. I guess my little Ryoko has that effect on people. I know she has changed me."
Sakura sighed.
So did Washu, "I only wish that we had never met Kagato..."
'Kagato?'
"Yes. He's the reason why Andrew... I mean, Aina was after you. To hurt Ryoko for having been partly responsible for Kagato's death."
'Who was also responsible?'
"Your father... you know, that boy has quite an amazing power. I've only seen it once but have heard about it a second time when Dr. Clay kidnapped your mother. I think that's when your father realized that he truly loved Ryoko."
'Quite an interesting story...'
"There's still so much you need to know about," Washu said, smiling as she continued to help Sakura wash herself and told her about more of the adventures that her family had gone through.
--Cherry Star--
Aina rested her back against Cherry Star impatiently waiting for Ryoko to appear. "When is that wench getting here? It's so boring in this damn planet!"
"Still talk to yourself, do ya?" she heard as Ryoko suddenly reappeared in front of her. "I see you still haven't found a way to make friends." Ryoko laughed, "of course, just who would want to be your friend?"
Aina felt a jolt as she heard Ryoko say that. "Well, why don't you ask your sweet daughter about that? I mean, you didn't give me enough time to really try just how sweet she is..."
Ryoko's anger flared as she heard that. She pulled out her light sword and held it at range blank near her neck. "Why don't you say that again?"
Aina laughed and with a sudden burst of energy sent Ryoko flying back. "Finally, I've been so bored in this horrid planet. What is it that you've been doing all these years here? Just wait for your beloved Tenchi to actually realize that he 'loved' you and fuck your brains out?"
"SHUT UP!" Ryoko said enraged. "You want to fight? I'll make sure to give you a fight!" Ryoko charged towards Aina barely missing her face with her sword.
This caused a slight cut on Aina's left cheek letting a trickle of blood flow down from it. "You bitch!" She pulled out a dark sword that was at least three times bigger than Ryoko's.
The clash from both swords was loud and heavy with both women not allowing the other to take the biggest advantage.
"Aww, Ryoko, you're holding back! And I see that you got your remaining jewels! Why don't you use them at full force?"
Ryoko stopped clashing her sword against Aina's and stepped back. "All right, if that's what you want..." instead of making her sword a few sizes bigger, she built an energy ball and sent it spiraling towards her enemy but Aina quickly stepped out of the way.
"Tsk. Pathetic! Listen, cutie, we both know that you won't get any further if you keep using such low powers! I mean, yeah, I admit that I have been holding my power back, but you're just not fun to fight with like this!"
Ryoko was angered by not being taken seriously (and the fact that she was still angered by what had happened to her daughter) and soon a red aura surrounded her entire entity allowing her light sword to grow and form itself into a light hawk sword. 'I never knew this would happen...'
--Back at the Onsen--
"Oh my..."
Sakura turned around as she felt that her grandmother had seized helping washing her back. "What is it?"
"Your mom... she generated the light hawk sword..."
"But you said that was merely impossible!"
'I know...'
--Masaki Residence--
The rest of the Masaki family sat in their own space in the couches in the living room.
"I am so sorry, Lord Tenchi..." Ayeka started.
"You didn't know that Andrew was really Aina," he answered.
In the midst of all of this, Maia was looking outside.
"What the..." Tenchi said rising up from his seat.
"What's wrong, Tenchi?" Sasami asked startled by Tenchi's sudden movement.
"I feel a strong energy... kind of like the one I get when I have the light hawk wings..."
"How is that possible?" Ayeka asked.
In the spot where Maia was, a weird grin had formed on her face. 'Change when you think the time is right' she smiled and looked back at the group. "Ahem... I'm sorry to not join you in your time of joy, but I have to get going."
"What are you talking about, Maia?" Ayeka asked her.
"You are all so pathetic," she pressed a button on her wristwatch and instantly changed into a person they had never seen. Her spiky black hair covered half of her face and half of the malicious grin that was now flashing at them. "I'd like to introduce myself, my name is Tsukita Takashi. My sister was Reika Takashi whom if I am correct attacked you several years ago."
"Tsukita," Tenchi started, "but I thought you were happily with Niko..."
"That bastard? He only wanted sex out of me! He never forgot about Reika. I knew this from the beginning so I made sure to make a pact with Aina and once Reika was out of the picture, I sent my astral form to Niko to make him think that he was with the real me while I was down here carrying the plan that Aina had created since she knew that Reika was going to be a traitor." She laughed and brushed her hair out of her face revealing a moon-shaped scar on the right side of her face. "You see this scar? You gave it to me princess! How? You did know me as Maia Andra back in Jurai, but you pushed me back. Remember that day, Princess? The day I tried going after you as you were going after Yosho? You forced your guardians on me and they hurt me. You hurt me! And I loved you! It all comes back now. Revenge is as sweet as hell!"*
--Cherry Star--
Ryoko and Aina headed a heated battle. None of them was holding back and apparently they had managed to draw some blood out of each other.
"Give up now, Ryoko. I only want you dead. That's it. If you die, I'll spare your pitiful family."
"Never!" Ryoko growled.
"You know, right about now, I'm pretty sure that Maia has told your family the truth..."
"What truth?" Ryoko asked backing up from the fight.
"That she really is the sister of your beloved friend Reika... she's been working for me all this time. And now, she'll have the pleasure of killing Ayeka and the rest all by her self!"
This angered Ryoko making her fight even harder to try and get to her family...
--Back Home--
Tsukita had already managed to hurt Mihoshi with one of her weaker attacks. Tenchi, seeing that the rest of the family was in danger, had drawn the Tenchi sword with no luck of calling forth the light hawk sword. He charged at Tsuki and drove his sword to her side causing a slight hole in the right side of her stomach.
"You scoundrel! The only way you will defeat either Aina or me is if you call forth your true powers." She was getting ready to throw a death blow to Tenchi but was stopped by an energy blast coming from the door. "You!"
From Sakura's palm, a small trail of smoke rose from where she had sent her blast. "You will not harm my family!" she said now willing most of her energy into one blast, disappeared and reappeared right in front of Tsuki and let her have it making a large whole in her stomach causing her death.
She backed away from the now fallen body of Tsukita and looked at her father. "We have to go help mom!"
"Right!"
--Cherry Star--
It seemed as though Aina had gained the upper hand as Ryoko was fallen in the ground holding her stomach while some blood pored through her hands. "I told you I wanted to you to fight with your true powers!" Aina said in a whining voice.
"Well, we can fight together you hell bitch!" Aina heard from behind her as she saw Tenchi and Sakura. "I've already killed your little friend and I'll be more than happy to kill you!"
Aina laughed, "you've got to be kidding me! How can a brat like you have killed Tsuki? You're just bluffing!"
"She's not... believe me..." Ryoko struggled to say.
Tenchi seeing that Ryoko was on the ground, ran to her side to help her up.
**Flashback**
"The only way that you can defeat her is by all forming the light hawk wings. I'm sure that you can at least form twelve together," Washu told Sakura in the onsen.
"How do we do that?" Sakura asked.
"Just think of the love you have for each other... clear your thoughts and just think of that... it'll all be worth it!"
**End Flashback**
"Right!" Sakura ran to her parents and helped Tenchi pick up Ryoko. "I'm sure we can all form the light hawk wings."
"What?" the beaten Ryoko asked.
"Grandma said that the only way we might be able to beat this monster is by forming the twelve light hawk wings she knows we can form. Just clear your minds and think of how much we love each other."
"If Washu's sure of it and so are you, then I guess it wouldn't hurt to try" Tenchi said.
They all cleared their minds and did exactly as Sakura had instructed them to do. Aina, realizing what was happening, concentrated on gathering all her strength by chanting in an old space language. "Thoa spiritu veng veng. Unire voe guisa energia. Raggiungere, ora!"
The Masaki family had formed the light hawk wings just as Aina had formed a gigantic ball of dark energy. She was also now floating in mid air revealing the true length of the ball which was three times her size.
"You won't get away from this blast!" Aina shouted.
"Try us!" the family said in unison.
"Fine by me!" she yelled back down to the group and releasing the energy.
Tenchi immediately did the same sending a red energy blast. They met half way and struggled to gain ruling space for some time. They all threw their best energy to pushing the energy ball, but failing as the dark energy slashed through the red energy they had gathered. In a few seconds time, the blast hit the ground and ricocheted into Ryoko, Sakura and Tenchi...
TO BE CONTINUED...
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* Think of how mad she looked when she dropped Mayuka in Daughter of Darkness... but worse...
* The betrayals! I'm almost done with this story! YAY!
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Next time: is this the end of our family? Join me in the conclusion of "Heaven & Earth" chapter 12: The Aftermath.
