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
Life to Death, Death to life
Tenchi stood there in silence, only the occasional beep of the heart monitors dared broach the heavy quiet. Laid out on the beds before him rested the two women who meant more to him than anything else in the universe. He watched their slow rhythmic breathing for several long moments before he turned and left the lab. He had to find a way to bring them back.
As he opened the door to the lab he came face to face with Sor-ra-eyu. The tall woman smiled down at him wickedly, "The time has come Tenchi Masaki, now you will see the true power of my master.
"What," Tenchi asked confused, "Sor-ra-eyu what's going on."
"You have found your essence Tenchi Masaki," Sor-ra-eyu said with obvious relish, "Now we shall truly see who is stronger."
Tenchi felt his feet lift off the floor and the world around him seemed to blur, the feeling only lasted a moment before his feet touched solid ground again. Opening his eyes Tenchi surveyed his surroundings. He was standing at the bottom of a wide but shallow crater. The earth was scorched for half a mile in every direction everything was smooth and black and lifeless. Sor-ra-eyu stood several yards away staring at him. Slowly she unbuttoned her long coat and dropped into the dust beside her, it was then Tenchi noticed her holding Matt's katana.
"What's going on Sor-ra-eyu," Tenchi demanded, "Where are we, and why did you bring us here?"
"To show you true power Tenchi Masaki," he wished she would stop using his name with every sentence, "We stand in the place where my master first became aware of his power."
"What," Tenchi exclaimed looking around awe struck, "Matt caused this?"
"Yes, Tenchi Masaki," she smiled cruelly, "This was once his home. He destroyed it in a fit of rage killing his parents, his family, and his friends."
"I don't believe you," Tenchi shouted back, "No one would ever willingly do this to their home and family."
"But he did," Sor-ra-eyu said with a tone of finality, "Now Tenchi Masaki enough idle banter, it is time we got down to business."
Sor-ra-eyu flipped the sword into a ready stance and motioned him forward. Tenchi stood motionless for a moment and then reached into his jacket and drew forth the master key. The blade ignited and hummed in his hand waiting direction from it's owner. Tenchi stood there holding the sword at his side, he was tired of fighting for no good reason. His prior battles with Matt had occurred due to his misunderstanding, no wonder he had lost to the swordsman. His fingers slowly opened and Tenchi-Ken fell to the dust with a clatter the blade dissipating as soon as it left his hand. He looked at Sor-ra-eyu, her features twisted into an evil grin, she straightened when she saw him drop his weapon.
"I won't fight you Sor-ra-eyu," Tenchi stated flatly, "There is no point to it."
"Of course there is point boy," she said angrily, "I must know who is stronger."
"It doesn't matter who is stronger," Tenchi said gaining strength from his words, "Powers like ours should only be used to protect those weaker than us."
"Then do it to protect your precious family," Sor-ra-eyu sneered, "If you cannot defeat me then Matt will never return and only he has the power to awaken the other two."
"I've already defeated you Sor-ra-eyu ," Tenchi said calmly.
"You know nothing child," She spat back, "It was you who took my master's life, I demand satisfaction."
"I'm sorry Sor-ra-eyu , I truly am," Tenchi answered lowering his head, "I am to blame for all this, and if taking my life will set things straight then so be it."
"Your dying on your knees will solve nothing," Sor-ra-eyu answered after several long moments, "But know this I am the personification of Matt's power, not the sword, you must defeat me in battle to release the aspect and revive my lord."
"I can't fight you Sor-ra-eyu ," Tenchi replied shaking his head, "There must be another way."
"No only in my defeat, the defeat of Matt's power, will he be restored," This said in tone of utter finality.
In a blink she returned to her fighting stance and lunged at Tenchi. There was nothing he could do as the blade descended down towards his head, the edge glinted in the harsh sunlight as it swept down. There was a crackle of energy and the sound of Sor-ra-eyu being thrown back. Looking up in amazement Tenchi found himself garbed in the robes of the Light Hawk, before him the three wings circled protecting him.
"What power is this," Sor-ra-eyu whispered in amazement coming back to her feet, Matt's katana slipped through her nerveless fingers to fall onto the rocky crater. This was power, the very air shimmered with Tenchi's essence. The force of it was staggering, yet at the same time it felt some how incomplete. She could only imagine how powerful he would become when he was complete, stronger even than her lord.
Tenchi felt the power of Light Hawk Wings begin to fade and slowly he sank to his knees spent. He had won, but at what cost? The last thing he saw as darkness over took him was Sor-ra-eyu's smiling face.
"Now he will be mine," the tall woman smirked to herself as she transported the two of them back to Japan, back to her lord and master. Nothing could stand in her way now. The living room was empty when Sor-ra-eyu set her feet down softly on the wooden floor. Reaching out she searched for the essence of the others, in the distance she felt the old man he would be powerless to stop her, The blonde was of no consequence, the younger girl was protected but lacked the strength to oppose her, the strange scientist might be trouble but nothing she couldn't handle.
"Tenchi," exclaimed Sasami as she saw Sor-ra-eyu drop his limp form to the floor nonchalantly. Sor-ra-eyu's head jerked up at the sound and her glare focused on the young princess, of all the rotten luck, now she had to deal with the girl first.
"What happened to Tenchi Sor-ra-eyu ," the pink eyed girl said worriedly running down the stairs to kneel at Tenchi's side. Sasami shook him a couple of times but the Jurian prince failed to respond.
"Wake up Tenchi," she cried tears running down her face, she looked up at the tall woman beseechingly, "Please help Tenchi Sor-ra-eyu, please wake him up."
"He will be fine young princess," Sor-ra-eyu smiled bending down to look Sasami right in the eye, "Let's get him to the couch and you can watch over him while I go get Matt to help."
"You mean Matt's ok now," Sasami asked hopefully.
"Yes princess my master is now whole," Sor-ra-eyu said almost to herself as she deposited Tenchi on the couch. Without another word she turned back to the lab, as she reached for the handle an orange energy foil flashed into existence and barred her path. Washu holding the blade moved to place herself between the tall woman and the door.
"Stop right there Sor-ra-eyu," Washu commanded in low tones, "You have some explaining to do before you see your so called lord."
"Stand aside," Sor-ra-eyu said in deadly tones, "I need no explain my actions to you or anyone else, now all that matters is reviving my master."
"At what cost Sor-ra-eyu," the diminutive scientist demanded, "I've been running tests on Ayeka and Ryoko, what happened to them goes far beyond simple exhaustion."
"You would blame me for their weakness," the tall woman spat, "It is no concern of mine that they were too weak to protect themselves from the backlash of releasing my lords aspects."
"Tell me what you did to them Sor-ra-eyu, " Washu demanded in a low angry voice.
"Nothing that Matt cannot reverse," Sor-ra-eyu said simple, "Now stand aside."
"You have the same powers as Matt you can heal them just as easily," Washu reasoned.
"You know nothing," she spat at the scientist, "Now you will stand aside."
Washu could feel the energy building in the tall woman, it radiated outward in an almost palpable aura. She had not time to brace herself as the wall of force clouted her across the room. She feel to floor in a heap, and as she tried to rise Washu felt the force pressing down on her holding her in place.
"Sor-ra-eyu what are you doing," Sasami cried, "please stop."
The tall regal woman ignored the plea and moved back to the door, but as she reached for it a shot of red energy forced her back. Now what? Sor-ra-eyu turned her head and focused her glare on the blonde GP officer.
"Stop right there," Mihoshi called holding her gun level at the tall woman, "I won't let you harm any members of this household."
"I grow tired of these intrusions," Sor-ra-eyu hissed, "None of you will come between me and my master, I belong to him! And I won't just fade away and let that demon have him!"
Matt gasped, air filled his empty lungs and his heart beat for the first time in many days. He screamed as pain shot through his entire body, blood began to move through his veins once more and seep through his still open wounds. Gritting his teeth the swordsman forced himself to calm down, he could figure this out latter, now he had to heal himself before he died.
Matt reached down into his soul and tried to bring forth the power, nothing happened. No he thought to himself and tried again, still nothing happened. A third time he reached for the familiar power and found nothing. It was gone, all of it. For most of his life he wanted the power gone, even once he gained control of his abilities it set him apart. Now he needed it though, he found some one who understood, he couldn't die now.
"Ryoko," he whispered as his blood began to pool on the table under him. Slowly Matt got his arm under him and tried to roll off the table onto his feet. Instead he fell to the floor with a thud and laid for several long moments before his got his elbows under him and began to crawl forward. Reaching some low wires Matt pulled himself up to his feet wincing in pain as he did. He took a staggering step forward, then another. After what seemed like hours he came to the bed where Ryoko's still form slumbered.
With sheer force of will he held himself steady on the railing, looking down at her he smiled sadly. He placed his hand over her heart and reached not into himself but into her. Drawing upon her essence he felt the power stir beneath his hand. He pulled into himself, a soft blue glow radiated from Ryoko and traveled up Matt's arm and into his battered body. His wounds began to close, the burn marks lightened and his skin took on a healthy tone. Once he could stand on his own he removed his hand from Ryoko not wanting to take anymore of her already weakened life force. He flexed his hands looking at them, he felt so strange without his power, he had to discover what had transpired while he was away. He bent down and kissed Ryoko's cheek lightly.
"I'll be back," he promised her. And with that he off running down the corridor towards the exit.
Matt opened the door to the lab and stepped into hell, The living room was scorched and blasted, the windows blown out the furniture broken the thrown about in disarray. He found Tenchi laying under what most have once been the couch, it no more than to touch for Matt to know that his life force had been weakened just like Ryoko and Ayeka. He hauled the young prince from the ruble and laid him on his back, there was nothing Matt could do for him now.
A groan from the corner caught his attention and he rushed over to find Washu huddled there. A quick inspection showed she was unharmed, Matt was unable to tell why the genius was unable to rise.
"Washu, are you ok," Matt asked as she began to open her eyes, "What happened here?"
"M,Matt," she said groggily focusing on him, "Your alive!"
"For the most part yes," he said, "Who did this."
"Sor-ra-eyu," Washu gasped, "She went ballistic when I tried to get her to explain what she had done to Ryoko, Tenchi, and Ayeka. Can you help me up she did something to me and I can't move."
"I'll need your help Washu," Matt answered, "I seem to have lost my powers, I'll have to use your essence to break the hold."
"Do it. We have to stop her," Washu stated simply. Matt reached down and placed it over Washu's heart, when he closed his eyes she felt him reach inside of her and grab onto something she wasn't aware of but as he pulled it out and into himself she cried out in agony. He was ripping out the very fabric of her being and taking it into himself, the sensation lasted only a moment before she fell free of his hand and flat out on the floor.
"Never do that again," Washu breathed sitting up.
"Consider it repayment for that day in your lab," he smiled helping her to her feet. The sounds of battle outside drew both their attention. With out a word Matt ran towards the shattered doors only pausing long enough to scoop his discarded sword.
Out on the deck Mihoshi stood her ground and continued to fire at the evil woman. Most of her shots were absorbed by the wall of crystalline energy protecting Sor-ra-eyu, but the constant barrage kept her from doing much else. Mihoshi rolled to the side as her gun ran out of ammo and Sor-ra-eyu fired a beam of light at her. Dodging the blast the GP officer came to her feet and snapped another power cell into her weapon and fired. The shot burned a hole through Sor-ra-eyu 's shoulder before the tall woman could reactivate her barrier.
Sor-ra-eyu gripped her arm in pain for a moment before raising her hand to unleash another bolt of energy which Mihoshi managed to scramble out of the way of just in time. The blonde was more of a challenge than she thought, she had to end this soon before Matt awakened. With a thought the wound in her shoulder began to close the flesh knitting together, rapidly closing the hole. Sor-ra-eyu reached out with her power and paralyzed Mihoshi the same as she had done to the scientist.
The GP officer went rigid holding her gun steady, ready to fire but unable to pull the trigger. She saw Sor-ra-eyu raise her arm, the glow forming in her palm, the flash as the bolt of deadly energy hurled at her. She heard Sasami scream in terror, but her body wouldn't respond. Then something hit her hard in her midsection knocking her to the side. Mihoshi looked up to see Matt crouched protectively in front of her, his marvelous sword gripped tightly in his right hand.
"This ends now Sor-ra-eyu," Matt called to the tall woman standing straight.
"Lord Matt your alive," Sor-ra-eyu cried happily running towards him, she stopped short as the tip of Matt's blade pointed to her throat.
"Master what is wrong, we're together now," She asked confused, "We can leave her and beging our lives together."
"You will return the life force you have stolen from Ryoko and the others," Matt said steeling himself.
"But I can't exist without their essence," she pleaded, "We can be together, you and me forever, I'm alive now."
"No Sor-ra-eyu it is not to be," Matt said sadly, "You cannot build happiness on death, you must return what you have stolen."
"No I want to stay here with you Master," She cried tears streaming down her cheeks, I did this for you."
"This is my fault," Matt said shaking his head in shame, "I should never have brought you into this world."
"But you would have died my lord," Sor-ra-eyu cried desperately, "What are their live compared to yours?"
"Everything," Matt answered simply.
"I won't, don't I have a right at happiness too," Sor-ra-eyu pleaded, "I did everything to save you."
"You are a lie Sor-ra-eyu," Matt replied, "I'm sorry to have caused you so much pain, and I will have to answer for that. But now you must return what you took from Ryoko, Tenchi and Ayeka. They are real and so is their love. Ours is a lie and as such cannot exist."
"But I truly love you," Sor-ra-eyu sobbed, "I am your image of perfection, how can you snub me."
"Yes Sor-ra-eyu that is all you are an image," Matt lowered his sword, "Perfection doesn't exist, and the woman I love would never do something like this."
"You would give me up for her," Sor-ra-eyu screamed looking into his eyes, "She doesn't even love you, she still loves that stupid boy!"
"It doesn't matter," Matt whispered, "I love Ryoko, not you. If you truly love me then you will give her back."
"No," she yelled, "I won't let her have you, you belong to me, you created me! If I can't have you then no one will!"
She launched herself at the swordsman, wrapping her hands around his throat. Caught off guard Matt fell to the ground under her weight, his sword knocked from his grip. Matt gripped her wrists trying to break the hold but she was stronger than he was. Washu ran to help but was repulsed by a barrier of pure energy, knocking her back and keeping her away from the struggling pair. Matt put his forearm on the side of Sor-ra-eyu's neck and pushed driving her off balance. Sor-ra-eyu rolled and came to her feet as Matt rocked back on his shoulders and leaped into a ready stance. They both locked eyes, Matt's features locked in determination, Sor-ra-eyu had a look of pure rage plastered across her beautiful face.
"You are powerless Matt," she sneered, "There is no way you can defeat me."
"I'm not afraid to die Sor-ra-eyu, are you?" Matt asked walking towards her.
The air shimmered around the swordsman as he approached the creature he once thought of as his perfect woman. Matt drew the power to him, it returned to it's master in rush. Matt felt it coursing through him. Having been without it had showed him how strong he truly was. He didn't need the power to be whole, Ryoko had shown him that. Now though it was needed, he had to use it to set things right.
Sor-ra-eyu growled like a caged animal as he approached, she lashed out at him with her stolen essence but it did nothing as he continued steadily forward. Matt looked into her eyes, mirror images of his own, and reached into her soul. He found Tenchi's essence and freed it, Sor-ra-eyu howled in pain as the life force was pulled from her. In the house Tenchi sat up shaking off the dazed feeling looking around at the destruction. Sor-ra-eyu tried to fight back as Matt gripped onto Ayeka's life force but she couldn't stop him as he freed it and sent it back to it's owner. Deep in the lab Ayeka's eyes snapped open and she flung her covers off and stood next to the bed. It was then she noticed Ryoko lying there unmoving, she approached the bed with a hand over her heart.
"Please don't be dead," the princess whispered to the dark room.
Out side Matt continued his battle with Sor-ra-eyu, she fought him desperately trying to hold onto Ryoko's essence. She refused to let it go, Matt pulled with all his considerable strength but somehow she held on to it. With a burst of power Sor-ra-eyu flung Matt away from her.
"I won't let her have you," she screamed.
"I'm sorry Sor-ra-eyu ," Matt said coming close to her again. Tears stained his cheeks, as his hair glimmered in the afternoon sun. As he approached her wrapped his arms around Sor-ra-eyu in a loving embrace. She cried into his shoulder for a few moments before looking up into his eyes.
"I love you," she whispered as she brought her face up to his.
"I know," he answered as their lips met.
Matt felt Ryoko's life force enter him then as Sor-ra-eyu faded away. Gradually she disappeared until Matt was left holding nothing but empty air. He looked up at the sky then and smiled a sad smile.
"I love you too," he whispered.
Authors note
Well it's drawing to a close, but worry not there are at least two more chapters in this story and I'm already getting ideas for the next. So what do you think, please continue to R&R it makes my day. In the next chapter Matt will finally explain this mess to everyone and Washu will reveal her findings. Thanks every one for your great reviews. Till next time
Smack54
