Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Tenchi characters Pioneer does. Matt is my character however and if you would like to use him please obtain my permission first.
The End of a Journey
Matt slid the folded piece of paper under the pillow with a sigh of regret, he just didn't like ending it like this. Steeling his resolve he rose and moved back to the stairs. Eyes set forward he headed toward the door, he only got a few steps before looking over his shoulder, up to the rafters and her peaceful form. He hated this, but it was the way it had to be, he knew the alternative. He took one last look around the room and closing his eyes reached out to feel the essence of everyone who lived here.
Tenchi, the young man had the makings of a master if only he could learn to be decisive. Ayeka, if she ever opened up to Tenchi the contest would be over, not that it was likely to happen. Mihoshi, he hadn't gotten the chance to get to know her but her bubbly personality was fun to be around. Washu, he shuttered at the memory, the diminutive scientist just had too many secrets to probe. Sasami, the little princess was the most unique of all of them, he wished he could be here when she assumed her true form. Ryoko, If there was anyone that could understand him it was her, he wanted to help her and at the same time she could help him. Alas it was not to be. Dropping another envelope on the table Matt shouldered his backpack and walked out into the starry night.
Ayeka woke with a start, a loud mournful wail shook her from her reeve. A quick glance around the room told her Sasami was already up, not an unusual occurrence. Another sad cry wafted through the house followed the sound of loud sobbing. With yawn and a stretch the princess decided to get dressed and see what all the fuss was about. With practiced ease Ayeka quickly garbed herself in a purple kimono and slid the door open. Another strangled sob moved through the halls as Ayeka reached the stairs, looking down on the scene caused the first princess to stiffen in shock.
Ryoko, in her battle suit, was latched onto Tenchi her head buried in his shoulder crying her heart out. Tenchi was trying his best to console the hysterical pirate without much luck. Ayeka immediately noticed Tenchi was also wearing his battle armor. With a critical Eye Ayeka noticed both were scuffed and dirty, Tenchi also appeared to be cut and bleeding from several long lacerations. The type of cuts made by a katana. With a small cry Ayeka rushed down the stairs and was quickly at Tenchi's side.
"Lord Tenchi your hurt," Ayeak said her voice full of concern, "What happened?"
"I'll be alright Ayeka," Tenchi said weakly, more from emotional drain than his wounds, "Please go check on Sasami, she's really upset." With a nod Ayeka rose, what was going on, the princess thought to herself spotting her younger sister standing out on the deck. When she shut the door behind her Sasami turned around slowly looking at Ayeka with tear filled eyes.
"Sasami, what is going on here," Ayeka asked. In response Sasami threw her hands around Ayeka and began to cry into the front of her kimono. Ayeka let her cry for a moment before pulling her back and repeating her question again.
"It was horrible sister," Sasami began, but before she could finish emotion overtook her and she buried her face against Ayeka once again. At a total loss, Ayeka merely held her younger sibling in confusion. Then she saw him, his eyes burned into her as he approached staggering, his face covered with blood. Matt roughly shoved Sasami away and gripped Ayeka's shoulders painfully. His clothes hung from his muscular frame in tatters, burns and gashes covered him from head to toe, there was a glint of madness in his eyes. His eyes, Ayeka wanted to scream when she felt those eyes burn into her soul, but she couldn't find the breath, he dug deeper until he found the very core of her being, and in that moment Ayeka understood. A smile twitched on the travelers once handsome face as he collapsed on the deck at her feet, a pool of blood spreading out from underneath him. Sasami screamed and fell back horrified crawling back yet unable to take her eye away. Ayeak kneeled down before him and felt his neck for a pulse, it flickered for a moment and then it was gone. The swordsman was dead.
"I don't understand Ayeka," Tenchi said confused, "Why would he give you his memories if he was in love with Ryoko." The couple was seated at the table a pot of tea and two steaming cups in front of them. Tenchi was bandaged around his upper torso due the several vicious cuts he had received in his brutal fight with the Matt. Nearby Ryoko slept on the couch exhaustion finally claiming her.
"He couldn't make it any farther," Ayeka reasoned frowning, "He was hurt to bad, it took the last of his strength to impart his memories to me."
"What's it like," Tenchi couldn't help but ask.
"It's strange, like my mind is being used to store his thoughts," Ayeka said thoughtfully, "I know they're there but other than his memories of his time here I don't know anything more than you do."
"Why did he do it do you think Ayeka," Tenchi continued to question the princess.
"I'm not really sure even he knew," Ayeka said taking a sip of tea, "I suspect he may have done it so we could understand him and possibly make sense of this morning."
"Hmmph," Tenchi snorted, "I don't think anyone could make sense out of what he did, there's no way to justify his actions."
"I wasn't there Tenchi," Ayeka started, "All I know is what Matt saw and felt, and you can't blame some one for defending themselves."
"I can't believe you would take his side," Tenchi shouted in disbelief
"I'm not," Ayeka said calmly, "Besides he made up for it in the end."
"That isn't good enough," whispered Tenchi looking at the couch and Ryoko's slumbering form.
Upstairs Sasami was also asleep, but it was restless, in her dreams she relived the battle. Coming done that morning to start breakfast she noticed the note on the table first. Picking it up she read it in shock, her startled gasp woke up Ryoko.
"What's up Sasami," Ryoko said phasing next to little princess looking over her shoulder at the note.
"He's gone Ryoko," Sasami said sadly relinquishing the letter. Ryoko snatched it out of her hand and scanned it quickly, Sasami would never forget the look on her face. Her features went slack and Ryoko dropped the letter forgotten to the floor, as tears began to fill her eyes the former pirate faded from view. In shock Sasami stood there alone for a moment staring at the empty room before she ran up the stairs to get help. At the top of the stairs she collided with Tenchi who had been on his way to the fields.
"What's the big hurry Sasami," Tenchi said holding her shoulders to steady her.
"Tenchi you have to go help Ryoko," Sasami said in a jumble, "Matt left and she went after him, I think."
"Hold on a minute Sasami," Tenchi had said, "Why do I need to help, Ryoko can take care of herself and I really don't want to see Matt again, good riddance."
"Tenchi," The little princess admonished, "How could you."
Dragging Tenchi down the stairs she scooped up the discarded letter and shoved into his face. Upon reading the note the blood drained from Tenchi's face. In moments Tenchi was out the door and running hard. Sasami had chased after him but o her shorter legs she soon lost sight of him. She had stopped to look around trying to figure out where Tenchi had gone when she heard the first sounds of combat in the distance. She turned and ran as fast as her young legs would carry her towards the battle.
As the sounds grew closer she stumbled and fell, tears in her eyes the little princess picked herself up and pushed through the foliage and onto the road where the battle was being fought. What she saw horrified her. Ryoko battered and covered in blood was laying by the wayside still and unmoving her battle uniform slashed in dozen places by long vicious strokes. The clash of steal followed by the crackle of energy took her eyes away from Ryoko and she fixed on the two combatants.
Tenchi was decked out in his Jurian combat armor the Tenchi-ken clutched tightly in his hand, his face a mask of rage and determination. A few yards away stood the battered traveler. His shirt was torn in several places and he showed numerous burn and scuff marks, the telltale signs of Ryoko's energy blasts. He still held his katana, but blood ran down his face creating a hideous visage out of his once handsome face. Yet he stood resolutely facing Tenchi, and when Tenchi came at him in a rush the swordsman raised his blade to meet the rush. The two came together with a crash as the swords connected. Matt heaved Tenchi away and slashed at the Jurian prince as he jumped back opening a shallow wound across Tenchi's mid drift. Tenchi fell back and clasped a hand to his wound, he looked up just in time to block the rushing swordsman.
Sasami wanted to scream for this to stop but the brutality of the battle stole her voice. Matt came at Tenchi with a barrage of lightning quick attacks that Tenchi did his best to fend off but by the time he finally countered Tenchi was bleeding form two more long but shallow cuts. Although wounded from his previous fight with Ryoko Matt didn't let it affect his technique. Again the two warriors clashed and now Tenchi scored a hit, opening a deep gash on Matt's thigh as he ducked under a cut. Matt returned the blow by smashing the hilt of his sword into Tenchis head and knocked his oppent sprawling. But that last wound told, seriously impeding his movement.
Tenchi came back to his feet and shook away the flashing behind his eyes and threw himself at the swordsman once more. In massive pain the wounded swordsman dropped to his knees as he blocked Tenchi's overhead swing. Gritting his teeth Matt came back to his feet in a rush throwing Tenchi off balance. His blade high, Tenchi couldn't hope to block as he felt the crackling blade deepen his previous wound. Around came the devious swordsman behind Tenchi opening another long cut across his back, his Jurian armor saving him from a fatal stroke, but still the crackling blade cut through drawing blood. Tenchi spun slashing, catching Matt with his sword down low. Tenhi-ken sang along the traveler's muscled chest opening a long thin cut. Back came the blue energy blade thirsty for more, but instead it met the lightning wrapped katana. Tenchi felt his sword go high in a circular parry. At the high point of the block Matt slammed his knee into Tenchi wounded stomach doubling him over. With a vicous slash he took Tenchi-ken from it's owners hand. And with a brutal backhand he left Tenchi on his back. coming up on his elbows Tenchi saw the point of Matt's katana a scant inch from his face, his own sword several feet away.
"Enough of this," Matt snarled, "Don't make me kill you."
"Tenchi," Sasami cried, "No!"
Startled the swordsman turned from his opponent to where the young girl was on her knees near Ryoko's curled form. Walking away from Tenchi he headed towards Sasami sword still in hand. At seeing the blood covered blade Sasami stumbled back horrified, but as he approached Matt's attention was focused only on Ryoko. He dropped the bloody weapon as he neared her, it fell to the dust with a clatter as he knelt before her. Sasami saw a single tear wash down his left cheek, the right lost in the blood that covered most of his face.
"I'm sorry," was all Matt said as he brushed Ryoko's hair back from her dirty face. He looked up at the terrified Sasami and smiled, his teeth white against the blood that masked his face, "Don't cry, I promise it will be alright." With that he rolled Ryoko gently onto her back and folded her hands over her heart. Then he placed his hands over hers' and closed his eyes his face relaxed but his muscles tensed.
"Leave her alone," Tenchi cried trying to rise, but Matt ignored him as he fell deeper into his trance.
What Sasami saw next would stay with her for the rest of her life. A soft blue glow enveloped teh traveler and his many wounds began to close, but before his wounds began to truly mend he grit his teeth and shoved downward. Sasami watched as the blue light was transferred to Ryoko. The pirate shuddered and cried out in pain but Matt held her down his arms bulging to keep her restrained.
"Hold on Ryoko," Matt said through clenched teeth, "I won't let you die." The light grew brighter and flared, as Ryoko settled down the glow dimmed but remained. Sasami gasped in astonishment when she noticed Ryoko's many wounds begin to mend. In moments the cuts closed and Ryoko's white flesh took on the healthy tones of a normal person. Through out the process Matt kept his eyes squeezed shut and teeth clenched as he accepted the brutal pain into his already wounded body. When it was over he sank back weakly on his knees and opened his eyes to see if he had succeeded.
Ryoko opened her eyes slowly, her hand coming to her face. She groaned as she sat and looked around. The first thing she saw was Matt's smile, she gasped in horror at seeing him in such a bloody mess. Sasami looked on as Matt fell into Ryoko's arms. She heard Ryoko's strangled scream as she clutched the swordsman to her in desperation. The princess felt tears running down her face at the sight, with a strangled sob she rushed towards Tenchi.
"Sasami," from the darkness of her mind she heard the voice, "Sasami wake up, your having a nightmare." Sasami snapped her eyes open and sat up quickly. It took her a moment to notice the hand on her shoulder, slowly she turned toward the speaker, two worried green eyes looked back in concern.
"It's ok Sasami you were having a nightmare," Washu spoke in soothing tones.
"Washu, I had the most horrible dream," Sasami said the tears building in her pink eyes, "Ryoko was hurt real bad and tehn Tenchi was almost killed by Matt. But then Matt healed Ryoko, she came back, but Matt died instead."
"I'm so sorry Sasami but that wasn't a dream," Washu said sadly, "You were dreaming about what happened this morning." Washu held the young princess as she started to cry, slowly the tears subsided and Sasami pulled back and dried her eyes.
"Ohh little Washu, are Ryoko and Tenchi alright," Sasami snuffled.
"They're fine," Washu said smiling, "Ryoko is fully recovered and Tenchi will heal up just fine, his armor took most of the punishment."
"I'm so glad," Sasami said "But what about Matt is he okay too?"
"No Sasami I'm afraid he's not, "Washu said noticing Sasami beginning to tear up again, "His wounds were just too many."
"But he healed Ryoko," Sasami protested trying to hold back the tears, "Why couldn't he heal himself."
"I don't know Sasami," Washu said looking away, "But I think he used up too much of his strength to heal Ryoko, I'm not sure though I never got the chance to understand all his abilities."
"Why did he do it Washu," Sasami asked, "Why would he try to hurt Tenchi and Ryoko?"
"I wish I knew Sasami," Washu frowned, "But your sister does, why don't we go downstairs and talk to her."
"Ok," the little princess agreed drying her eyes. Together the two headed down stairs, at the top of the stairs they saw Ayeka sitting by herself at the table a cup of tea in front of her. She was looking away from them towards the entry hall. It was then Sasami heard Tenchi's voice from the front door.
"Please come in miss," came his voice, "I'm sorry to be teh one to have to tell you this but..."
"I know," came an unfamiliar female voice, "I came to find him."
Authors note
Sorry for the long pause between updates but it took me a while to figure out where I wanted to go with this story. I had originally planned on about 8 chapters but I felt the need to expand on certain scenes, this is going to turn out to be a long fic. Remember the intro to chapter one well I'm leading up to that but it's going to take several more chapters to get there, hopefully I'll get a the next few up faster than this one. So what do you think? Will Ayeka get a new understanding for Matt, Can Ryoko overcome her grief, and who in teh heck is this new woman? All these questions and more to be answered in the next chapter titled The Beginning of a Quest.
