=====
RAYANI: Merry, merry Christmas to you all!
MAGARU: Don't mind her. She's a bit dazed from Washu's last experiment. I
think Washu's been doing this on purpose, just to slow the story down.
Okay, here's our disclaimer.
RAYANI: Happy leap year! Moo!
MAGARU: Er, never mind her. We don't own Tenchi and Company, Pioneer and
AIC do. Okay, come on, Rayani, I'll take you to your room...
RAYANI: Room? What's a room? Look! Shiny thing! Haha...!
MAGARU: Yes, shiny thing, that's called a latex glove. Okay, I'll take you
outside for some fresh air, then. Let's go...
=====
Chapter Six: Destiny's Irony
Ryoko and Tenchi were waiting in space, just out of the range of Earth's gravitational pull. "Took you long enough!" Ryoko exclaimed, putting her hand on her hip. Washu sighed.
"You're so impatient, Ryoko." She turned to Kiyone. "Are you going to stay for a while?" the genius inquired, giving Kiyone a pat on the shoulder. Kiyone grinned and shrugged.
"I guess I have no choice. Sorry for the trouble, Tenchi," she said, charging Yagami's thrusters. Tenchi smiled as Ayeka gave Ryoko, who was hugging Tenchi, a disapproving look.
"It's no problem at all, Kiyone. Come on!"
=====
Noboyuki and Yosho were ecstatic about seeing Kiyone again. First, Noboyuki offered Kiyone a bottle of sake, and then asked her if she would like to take a bath. Knowing the perverted Noboyuki, Kiyone refused politely and became rather stiff and formal towards him. Sasami cooked up a wonderful feast, and, since it was such a beautiful summer night, they ate dinner at the far side of the lake, where the woods met the water.
After eating, Tenchi dug up some firecrackers from somewhere and spent quite some time watching Kenny and Sasami amuse themselves with the bright display. After a while, Kenny and Sasami grew weary and fell asleep together, propped up by a big rock. "Don't they look cute together?" Ayeka whispered to Tenchi and Ryoko. Ryoko laughed and grinned as she got up to sit at the edge of the water. Ayeka followed, as she wanted to speak with Ryoko.
"So, princess, how've you been?" Ryoko asked, removing her shoes and lowering her feet into the water. Ayeka laughed quietly.
"As well as you would expect, Ryoko," replied Ayeka, sitting down next to Ryoko. "Barely any time has passed on Jurai. You know how long their year is compared to Earth's." Ryoko nodded.
"Yes..." she murmured vaguely. Both did not speak for a few moments, until Ryoko broke the silence. "Well--I--I missed you...I mean, come on, twenty years is such a long time on Earth." Ayeka laughed.
"I've missed you too, Ryoko." The duo was distracted by a shimmering mass that hovered above the lake's surface in front of them. As a form became distinguishable, Ayeka put a hand to her mouth. "It's Tsunami!"
It indeed WAS Tsunami. She was smiling that calm, regal smile she had. "Yes, Princess Ayeka. It is me." Both Ayeka and Ryoko marveled at Tsunami's beauty and were envious that Sasami would soon become the beautiful person they see before them. "I do not want to be the bearer of bad news, but I am afraid I must." Ryoko's eyes widened. Tenchi and the others had already walked to the water's edge and were listening intently. "I am afraid that Bizen, one of our second-generation trees, has been stolen once again."
"What?" everybody exclaimed simultaneously. Tsunami gave them all a grave nod.
"Yes."
"But why tell US?" Washu asked, perplexed.
"This time, it is much worse. If Yume is not stopped, she will take all of Jurai's energy...and we will be...no more..." The image of Tsunami faded as the goddess staggered to one side, as if dizzy. Tenchi clenched his fists.
"We have to stop it! Or else--unh," he moaned, staggering into the lake. Ayeka shuddered and fell to her knees.
"What's happening...to me?" Ayeka groaned quietly, falling to her hands as Ryoko rescued Tenchi from drowning. Washu was already investigating on her computer, typing faster than the eye could see. After a few moments, she stopped abruptly and gave the group a grave look.
"Your Juraian energy is being drained away and getting concentrated in one are in space." Everyone looked amazed as Noboyuki helped Ayeka up. "But," Washu added with a small smile, "due to the fact that Ryoko's gems have the same quality as Juraian power, you are all getting sustained a little bit. The draining process is being slowed by exactly 21.37 percent."
"Won't it drain Ryoko's power, too?" Yosho asked, trying to collapse onto the ground. Washu couldn't restrain a grin.
"It will not! I said that it has the same quality, but it's not the same power. It gets converted as it reaches your body," Washu explained with a superior look on her face. "We have to stop Yume at all costs. If I know her, then she's probably doing this because of some silly bet or wager."
=====
Ryoko slept uneasily that night, or rather; she slept very, very little. The pirate was in Washu's lab, holding Tenchi's hand as he slept feverishly, or wiping sweat from Ayeka and Sasami's face. "I understand how Yume's doing this, Washu muttered. "Draining the very spirit of Jurai through Bizen. Jurai runs in their blood, it is their soul, so it cannot be blocked without killing them...Tomorrow, we'll go and fix this..." Ryoko was only half listening to Washu. She recalled the last time Yume stole Bizen, and they were pushed near oblivion if the controlling of the tree wasn't stopped.
Mihoshi and Kiyone had received calls from the Galaxy Police and were charged with the task of staying out of the way. Kiyone suspected that this was from Mihoshi's accident-prone personality and their record with meddling where they shouldn't be. However, they could not just stay out of the way; Tsunami had given them the responsibility of stopping Yume, so they must follow through.
"Ryoko," Tenchi whispered. "I'm so glad that you're here with us. Without you, I probably couldn't do more than lie down." Ryoko smiled and gave Tenchi's shoulder a playful shake.
"That's what I'm here for!" she said cheerily, trying to push away the feeling of darkness and despair. Washu sighed and looked at her clock. Midnight.
"Isn't it ironic," Washu said suddenly, startling Ryoko, "that we achieve our goal of getting Kenny back when we find another problem?" Yosho sat up from his bed and nodded slowly, straightening his glasses.
"Fate isn't without a sense of humor," he remarked, shuddering and lying down again. Rayani appeared out of the shadows with a tray laden with a tea and crackers, without her usual grin.
"That's destiny's irony for you. But," she added with a slight smile, "we have control over our own fates. We'll get to the bottom of this, don't you worry!"
=====
Jakato was eating a piece of chocolate cake when Magaru staggered into the room, a pained look on her face. "Hi, Maggie! Want some cake?" Jakato asked, not noticing her agonized expression. Jakato's face jerked upwards in alarm as Magaru collapsed into the seat next to him. "What's wrong?" he asked urgently. Jakato lifted her chin up so he could look at her properly. Magaru's brown eyes were glistening in a sort of anguished way, unlike any other time he had seen them. Magaru shuddered and whispered.
"I feel--I feel like I'm being emptied--bit by bit--of--energy-" she managed to whisper. "Watch the news--" Magaru ceased talking because of the strain she was putting on herself. Jakato nodded and pushed a button on a keypad under the table. A screen appeared, displaying the Intergalactic News Network, with "Breaking News" scrolling along the top of the screen.
"As reported today and yesterday," the announcer proclaimed gravely, "Juraians all over the universe are slowly weakening due to an unknown cause. The Emperor of Jurai--" A square next to the reporter flashed the Emperor's image "--has also released to the press that the Royal Tree, Bizen, has once again been stolen--" At this point, Jakato shut the screen off and gave Magaru a concerned glance.
"Maggie, are you Juraian?" he asked slowly, trying to steady Magaru's trembling hand. She nodded and closed her hand over Jakato's.
"Yes--I--I am--Juraian," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Jakato bit his lip.
"Okay--um--don't talk. Save your strength. I'll carry you to my room, all right?" He picked up Magaru and carried her through a corridor to his quarters. After switching a light on, he laid Magaru on his bed and covered her with his blanket. "Try to rest. I'll go get some--some tea..." Jakato walked out, muttering absentmindedly to himself.
"Nobody has been so kind to me like this for at least 300 years..." she whispered to herself before drifting off to sleep.
Jakato returned to find Magaru asleep, so he just placed the cup of green tea on his bedside table and sat down at the foot of the bed. He was about to fall asleep when Kagato swept in. "So THIS is where you've been hiding. What's wrong with her?" Kagato asked when he caught sight of Magaru. Jakato was jerked from slumber at the sharp sound of his father's voice.
"Watch the news..." Jakato murmured as he dozed off again. Kagato looked at him curiously and looked to the wall. A screen appeared, but it was a different news network.
"--Confirmed today, Bizen, a Royal Tree of Jurai, has been stolen yet again. Also, Juraians all over the universe are being drained of energy due to an unknown cause. For more information, please tune in to our--" Kagato turned away from the screen, allowing it to fade away, and glanced at Magaru, whose face was beginning to shine from sweat.
"She must be Juraian..." Kagato thought aloud as he walked out of the room.
=====
Tenchi and the others had all taken Yagami and were heading for the area of concentrated energy as fast as the engines would permit. To ensure that nothing fatal would happen to any of the Juraians of the Masaki household, Yosho and Noboyuki came along as well. No one could tell if Kenny was affected; he did look rather fatigued, but it might have been just from his recent ordeal with Kagato. Rayani's mood was heavily affected; she laughed very little and the absence of her cheery grin seemed to allow shadows to appear on her face.
Yosho mentioned that he could sense Funaho, his spaceship tree, was losing energy. This caused great distress with Ayeka, as Juraians' lives can be greatly prolonged by being in tune with a Royal Tree. Sasami seemed to be constantly on the verge of tears. "I--I feel Tsunami. She's in darkness-- she's getting weaker. Tenchi, I'm so scared!" Sasami cried, bursting into tears and hugging Tenchi, sobbing into his chest. Tenchi gave her a supporting look and pat her back while Ryoko and Ayeka exchanged worried glances.
Suddenly, there was a bone-jarring crash, throwing everybody to the ground. Kiyone dashed to the cockpit of Yagami and tapped a command into the computer board. Several screens popped up, displaying angles of damage, as one screen displayed stats. Tenchi, with Ryoko supporting him, hobbled in, panting. "Kiyone, what was--oh my god. Why is that ship--it looks--it's Ayeka's mother's ship!" Ryoko burst. Ayeka slowly walked into the cockpit.
"My mother's ship?" the princess muttered weakly. Ayeka's eyes widened as realization struck her. "Oh no! Let them on Yagami, Kiyone! My mother and Mother Funaho might be injured!" Kiyone readily obliged and sent a transport tube into the ship.
Ayeka, Sasami, Tenchi, and Yosho waited, with bated breath, for Kiyone, Washu, and Rayani to return. Mihoshi was getting very tense and nervous, and made use of her adrenaline by shuffling about the ship, wailing. After about half an hour, Kiyone returned, supporting Misaki, and Rayani supporting Funaho. Washu followed, smiling in satisfaction that Misaki and Funaho were uninjured.
"Mother!" Yosho cried at once as he caught sight of her. Funaho gave a feeble smile and nodded thanks to Rayani, who directed her towards the sofa where Yosho and Ayeka were sitting. Misaki still seemed to have enough energy to be her usual self.
"Well, well, well," Misaki said, grinning at Kiyone. "I haven't seen you before." There was a brief silence. 'THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING SUCH GOOD CARE OF MY DAUGHTERS!" Misaki burst suddenly, giving Kiyone a hug that was impossible to escape from. Kiyone, who was practically being strangled, could not say a word of protest. Ayeka sighed in despair as Misaki directed her attention to Rayani, who was trying to offer her a cup of tea.
"We were actually on our way to Earth, you see. We felt that odd draining, so both of us got distracted and lost control of our ship," Funaho explained. "I'm sorry if we damaged your ship in any way." Kiyone, who was rubbing her throat, smiled.
"It's okay. It's no problem at all," she said, waving the apology away.
"Tsunami showed herself to us. Yume is at it again. Even Tsunami is affected by this," Washu remarked as she began running tests on Funaho. The first Queen looked startled.
"Did she?" Funaho asked incredulously. "We must stop Yume...once more." Tenchi, who was daydreaming, was jerked back to reality.
"If she wants another battle, then none of us can win in this state," Tenchi commented, clenching the Tenchiken very tightly. Tenchi smiled at the downcast faces of his friends. "But we'll have to try, right?"
"Right!"
=====
Yume was in a very good mood, even though Kagato didn't pay her. "Hishima, are any Juraians following us?" Hishima looked about the deck and stared into space.
"No, master." Yume clapped her hands gleefully.
"THIS time, Washu, I'll win the wager and get your little boy!" Hishima looked slightly confused.
"Master Yume, why do you need the son of the Jurai Prince?" Yume sighed in despair and pat Hishima on the arm.
"This is a matter of my PRIDE, Hishima. Washu beat me in class, she won our wager to stop Bizen all those years ago, but now, I'll be the one to humiliate her!" She went over and pat the trunk of Bizen. "It was much easier to take this time, wasn't it, Hishima?" Her servant nodded as she turned around. A holo-computer appeared as she tapped a command in. Little tubes attached to what looked like a four-sided pyramid that came out of the deck edge. There was a soft hum as a shield was generated around the deck.
Yume looked to the blue sky and pointed upwards. "Now, we go into space and gather all of Jurai's energy! It is very, VERY useful energy. Stealing Jurai's very soul will have the Prince out of the way and I can have revenge for my humiliation!"
=====
Kenny woke up in Kiyone's bed, his mother snoring gently at the foot of the bed with Tenchi. Getting out quietly so as not to disturb his sleeping parents, he made his way to the table, where there was a pitcher of water. Before he could pour himself a glass, he heard a voice in front of him.
"Well, well, well." Kenny looked up nervously and found a blue-haired woman peering into his eyes. She looked remarkably like Sasami. The woman grabbed him and hugged him tightly. "Aw, you're so cute! You must be Tenchi's son!" Misaki giggled. "You're sooooo cute!" Kenny tried getting away, but the woman was remarkably strong. Funaho stirred and opened her eyes, smiling.
"Yes, you look very much like Tenchi," Funaho agreed. Rayani, who was helping Washu with something, grinned when she saw Kenny.
"You're awake! That's good," Rayani laughed. "The Jurai energy crisis isn't affecting you very much." Kenny shrugged.
"Maybe since I'm only 1/4 Juraian. Remember? Mom is a demon-woman, and Dad is 1/2 Juraian," Kenny said as Misaki released him. He massaged his sore shoulders and smiled nervously as Misaki sat down again. Tenchi grunted on the bed and sat up.
"I feel a lot better since last night," Tenchi remarked, getting up and straightening his shirt out. Washu grinned and laughed as she ran her fingers through her pink hair.
"The draining has stopped, permanently, I hope," Washu said cheerfully. Yosho sipped some tea as he watched Ayeka and Sasami make some paper flowers.
"That is good," he said quietly.
The words had barely come from his mouth when Tenchi shuddered and dropped to his knees at the same time Ayeka and Sasami fell forward onto their hands. Yosho's tea seeped into a crack in Yagami's floor as he fell off his chair. Washu bit her lip as she checked her computer again. "I guess not. When I get a hold of Yume, she'll pay for this!"
=====
Magaru began tossing in the bed, her face contorted with pain. Jakato sighed. "It must be painful..." he muttered vaguely. His mind cleared as his father walked in.
"Is she still being drained?" Kagato asked sharply. Jakato nodded groggily. Kagato gave him what looked remarkably like a sympathetic glance and sat Magaru up. Jakato snapped to attention at once and glared at his father.
"What are you doing with her?" Jakato asked warily. Kagato gave him a smug look.
"No need to worry. I have another micromachine to give her. It SHOULD be able to slow the process," Kagato explained, pulling out the same gun he used on Magaru before and placing it on Magaru's right wrist. There was a slight buzz as he injected something into the limp Magaru's wrist. She opened an eye and lifted her arm up.
"What--was that?" Magaru murmured, glancing at Jakato. Kagato laughed softly and swept out of the room. Jakato gave her a joyful smile and pushed her back down so she was no longer sitting up.
"Father gave you that machine thing again. Save your strength; just go back to sleep, okay?" Jakato said, covering her with the blanket. Magaru, too weary to reply, yawned and nodded as she dozed off.
=====
Yume laughed uncontrollably as her machine began draining Bizen. "As all trees are connected to their silly Juraians, and all the Juraians are connected to Tsunami, we're draining everybody through this machine I created!" Yume cackled. Hishima didn't know if he should look joyful or angry at this.
"Master Yume, what is your motive for this?" Hishima asked slowly, sitting at the foot of Bizen. Yume sighed and smiled at her servant.
"Hishima, how many times must I TELL you? We're doing this to get back at Washu," Yume groaned, shaking her finger at Hishima.
"This will not directly affect Washu, Master Yume." Yume giggled malevolently.
"That's what's so excellent about this. She can't do a thing to stop her friends from fading away. If I know Washu, she'll be after us, but she can hope to win a fight without her fool prince," Yume elucidated, summoning her holo-computer and typing something in. Hishima sighed.
What has gotten into Master Yume lately? he thought.
"I know what you're thinking, Hishima," Yume said suddenly, without looking up. "I'll bet you're wondering why I even WANT to do this. First of all, this is so much fun. Second, Washu thinks SHE'S the greatest genius. I am!" Yume pounded her fist on the keyboard.
=====
"Yume is doing this to get back at me, I just know it!" Washu growled. Ryoko gave her a curious look as she pat Tenchi's shoulder.
"Why would she WANT to get back at you?" Ryoko asked. When she looked at her son, she bit her lip. Kenny was sitting on Kiyone's bed, pale and unblinking. "Washu, do you think Kenny is being drained, too?" Washu shrugged.
"He might be. I ran a check on him, but it was only draining ever so slightly. I don't know how he's feeling from this." Washu watched Misaki and Funaho stagger to the couch and collapse next to Tenchi and Ayeka. Washu had this odd feeling that when they finished this dilemma, something totally unexpected was going to happen. Rayani hovered next to Washu and smiled.
"What's on your mind, Washu?" Rayani laughed. Washu grinned and shrugged.
"I don't know. Don't you have the feeling like something unpredictable is going to happen?" Washu asked quietly. Rayani looked out the window thoughtfully.
"You worry too much, Washu, that's what I think. The only unpredictable thing I'd imagine right now is that Kagato is going to join us against Yume. I can't believe him!" Rayani growled. Washu laughed.
"Still mad about what happened 5,000 years ago?"
"Yes. I hate him!" Rayani said, clenching her fist. "I mean, first he traps you, then sets off all that with Tenchi and Ryoko, then now look. He's bothering us again."
"I don't know. Maybe something unexpected will happen." Washu turned to the window and growled in anger. "I'll get Yume for this!"
=====
Chapter Six: Destiny's Irony
Ryoko and Tenchi were waiting in space, just out of the range of Earth's gravitational pull. "Took you long enough!" Ryoko exclaimed, putting her hand on her hip. Washu sighed.
"You're so impatient, Ryoko." She turned to Kiyone. "Are you going to stay for a while?" the genius inquired, giving Kiyone a pat on the shoulder. Kiyone grinned and shrugged.
"I guess I have no choice. Sorry for the trouble, Tenchi," she said, charging Yagami's thrusters. Tenchi smiled as Ayeka gave Ryoko, who was hugging Tenchi, a disapproving look.
"It's no problem at all, Kiyone. Come on!"
=====
Noboyuki and Yosho were ecstatic about seeing Kiyone again. First, Noboyuki offered Kiyone a bottle of sake, and then asked her if she would like to take a bath. Knowing the perverted Noboyuki, Kiyone refused politely and became rather stiff and formal towards him. Sasami cooked up a wonderful feast, and, since it was such a beautiful summer night, they ate dinner at the far side of the lake, where the woods met the water.
After eating, Tenchi dug up some firecrackers from somewhere and spent quite some time watching Kenny and Sasami amuse themselves with the bright display. After a while, Kenny and Sasami grew weary and fell asleep together, propped up by a big rock. "Don't they look cute together?" Ayeka whispered to Tenchi and Ryoko. Ryoko laughed and grinned as she got up to sit at the edge of the water. Ayeka followed, as she wanted to speak with Ryoko.
"So, princess, how've you been?" Ryoko asked, removing her shoes and lowering her feet into the water. Ayeka laughed quietly.
"As well as you would expect, Ryoko," replied Ayeka, sitting down next to Ryoko. "Barely any time has passed on Jurai. You know how long their year is compared to Earth's." Ryoko nodded.
"Yes..." she murmured vaguely. Both did not speak for a few moments, until Ryoko broke the silence. "Well--I--I missed you...I mean, come on, twenty years is such a long time on Earth." Ayeka laughed.
"I've missed you too, Ryoko." The duo was distracted by a shimmering mass that hovered above the lake's surface in front of them. As a form became distinguishable, Ayeka put a hand to her mouth. "It's Tsunami!"
It indeed WAS Tsunami. She was smiling that calm, regal smile she had. "Yes, Princess Ayeka. It is me." Both Ayeka and Ryoko marveled at Tsunami's beauty and were envious that Sasami would soon become the beautiful person they see before them. "I do not want to be the bearer of bad news, but I am afraid I must." Ryoko's eyes widened. Tenchi and the others had already walked to the water's edge and were listening intently. "I am afraid that Bizen, one of our second-generation trees, has been stolen once again."
"What?" everybody exclaimed simultaneously. Tsunami gave them all a grave nod.
"Yes."
"But why tell US?" Washu asked, perplexed.
"This time, it is much worse. If Yume is not stopped, she will take all of Jurai's energy...and we will be...no more..." The image of Tsunami faded as the goddess staggered to one side, as if dizzy. Tenchi clenched his fists.
"We have to stop it! Or else--unh," he moaned, staggering into the lake. Ayeka shuddered and fell to her knees.
"What's happening...to me?" Ayeka groaned quietly, falling to her hands as Ryoko rescued Tenchi from drowning. Washu was already investigating on her computer, typing faster than the eye could see. After a few moments, she stopped abruptly and gave the group a grave look.
"Your Juraian energy is being drained away and getting concentrated in one are in space." Everyone looked amazed as Noboyuki helped Ayeka up. "But," Washu added with a small smile, "due to the fact that Ryoko's gems have the same quality as Juraian power, you are all getting sustained a little bit. The draining process is being slowed by exactly 21.37 percent."
"Won't it drain Ryoko's power, too?" Yosho asked, trying to collapse onto the ground. Washu couldn't restrain a grin.
"It will not! I said that it has the same quality, but it's not the same power. It gets converted as it reaches your body," Washu explained with a superior look on her face. "We have to stop Yume at all costs. If I know her, then she's probably doing this because of some silly bet or wager."
=====
Ryoko slept uneasily that night, or rather; she slept very, very little. The pirate was in Washu's lab, holding Tenchi's hand as he slept feverishly, or wiping sweat from Ayeka and Sasami's face. "I understand how Yume's doing this, Washu muttered. "Draining the very spirit of Jurai through Bizen. Jurai runs in their blood, it is their soul, so it cannot be blocked without killing them...Tomorrow, we'll go and fix this..." Ryoko was only half listening to Washu. She recalled the last time Yume stole Bizen, and they were pushed near oblivion if the controlling of the tree wasn't stopped.
Mihoshi and Kiyone had received calls from the Galaxy Police and were charged with the task of staying out of the way. Kiyone suspected that this was from Mihoshi's accident-prone personality and their record with meddling where they shouldn't be. However, they could not just stay out of the way; Tsunami had given them the responsibility of stopping Yume, so they must follow through.
"Ryoko," Tenchi whispered. "I'm so glad that you're here with us. Without you, I probably couldn't do more than lie down." Ryoko smiled and gave Tenchi's shoulder a playful shake.
"That's what I'm here for!" she said cheerily, trying to push away the feeling of darkness and despair. Washu sighed and looked at her clock. Midnight.
"Isn't it ironic," Washu said suddenly, startling Ryoko, "that we achieve our goal of getting Kenny back when we find another problem?" Yosho sat up from his bed and nodded slowly, straightening his glasses.
"Fate isn't without a sense of humor," he remarked, shuddering and lying down again. Rayani appeared out of the shadows with a tray laden with a tea and crackers, without her usual grin.
"That's destiny's irony for you. But," she added with a slight smile, "we have control over our own fates. We'll get to the bottom of this, don't you worry!"
=====
Jakato was eating a piece of chocolate cake when Magaru staggered into the room, a pained look on her face. "Hi, Maggie! Want some cake?" Jakato asked, not noticing her agonized expression. Jakato's face jerked upwards in alarm as Magaru collapsed into the seat next to him. "What's wrong?" he asked urgently. Jakato lifted her chin up so he could look at her properly. Magaru's brown eyes were glistening in a sort of anguished way, unlike any other time he had seen them. Magaru shuddered and whispered.
"I feel--I feel like I'm being emptied--bit by bit--of--energy-" she managed to whisper. "Watch the news--" Magaru ceased talking because of the strain she was putting on herself. Jakato nodded and pushed a button on a keypad under the table. A screen appeared, displaying the Intergalactic News Network, with "Breaking News" scrolling along the top of the screen.
"As reported today and yesterday," the announcer proclaimed gravely, "Juraians all over the universe are slowly weakening due to an unknown cause. The Emperor of Jurai--" A square next to the reporter flashed the Emperor's image "--has also released to the press that the Royal Tree, Bizen, has once again been stolen--" At this point, Jakato shut the screen off and gave Magaru a concerned glance.
"Maggie, are you Juraian?" he asked slowly, trying to steady Magaru's trembling hand. She nodded and closed her hand over Jakato's.
"Yes--I--I am--Juraian," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Jakato bit his lip.
"Okay--um--don't talk. Save your strength. I'll carry you to my room, all right?" He picked up Magaru and carried her through a corridor to his quarters. After switching a light on, he laid Magaru on his bed and covered her with his blanket. "Try to rest. I'll go get some--some tea..." Jakato walked out, muttering absentmindedly to himself.
"Nobody has been so kind to me like this for at least 300 years..." she whispered to herself before drifting off to sleep.
Jakato returned to find Magaru asleep, so he just placed the cup of green tea on his bedside table and sat down at the foot of the bed. He was about to fall asleep when Kagato swept in. "So THIS is where you've been hiding. What's wrong with her?" Kagato asked when he caught sight of Magaru. Jakato was jerked from slumber at the sharp sound of his father's voice.
"Watch the news..." Jakato murmured as he dozed off again. Kagato looked at him curiously and looked to the wall. A screen appeared, but it was a different news network.
"--Confirmed today, Bizen, a Royal Tree of Jurai, has been stolen yet again. Also, Juraians all over the universe are being drained of energy due to an unknown cause. For more information, please tune in to our--" Kagato turned away from the screen, allowing it to fade away, and glanced at Magaru, whose face was beginning to shine from sweat.
"She must be Juraian..." Kagato thought aloud as he walked out of the room.
=====
Tenchi and the others had all taken Yagami and were heading for the area of concentrated energy as fast as the engines would permit. To ensure that nothing fatal would happen to any of the Juraians of the Masaki household, Yosho and Noboyuki came along as well. No one could tell if Kenny was affected; he did look rather fatigued, but it might have been just from his recent ordeal with Kagato. Rayani's mood was heavily affected; she laughed very little and the absence of her cheery grin seemed to allow shadows to appear on her face.
Yosho mentioned that he could sense Funaho, his spaceship tree, was losing energy. This caused great distress with Ayeka, as Juraians' lives can be greatly prolonged by being in tune with a Royal Tree. Sasami seemed to be constantly on the verge of tears. "I--I feel Tsunami. She's in darkness-- she's getting weaker. Tenchi, I'm so scared!" Sasami cried, bursting into tears and hugging Tenchi, sobbing into his chest. Tenchi gave her a supporting look and pat her back while Ryoko and Ayeka exchanged worried glances.
Suddenly, there was a bone-jarring crash, throwing everybody to the ground. Kiyone dashed to the cockpit of Yagami and tapped a command into the computer board. Several screens popped up, displaying angles of damage, as one screen displayed stats. Tenchi, with Ryoko supporting him, hobbled in, panting. "Kiyone, what was--oh my god. Why is that ship--it looks--it's Ayeka's mother's ship!" Ryoko burst. Ayeka slowly walked into the cockpit.
"My mother's ship?" the princess muttered weakly. Ayeka's eyes widened as realization struck her. "Oh no! Let them on Yagami, Kiyone! My mother and Mother Funaho might be injured!" Kiyone readily obliged and sent a transport tube into the ship.
Ayeka, Sasami, Tenchi, and Yosho waited, with bated breath, for Kiyone, Washu, and Rayani to return. Mihoshi was getting very tense and nervous, and made use of her adrenaline by shuffling about the ship, wailing. After about half an hour, Kiyone returned, supporting Misaki, and Rayani supporting Funaho. Washu followed, smiling in satisfaction that Misaki and Funaho were uninjured.
"Mother!" Yosho cried at once as he caught sight of her. Funaho gave a feeble smile and nodded thanks to Rayani, who directed her towards the sofa where Yosho and Ayeka were sitting. Misaki still seemed to have enough energy to be her usual self.
"Well, well, well," Misaki said, grinning at Kiyone. "I haven't seen you before." There was a brief silence. 'THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING SUCH GOOD CARE OF MY DAUGHTERS!" Misaki burst suddenly, giving Kiyone a hug that was impossible to escape from. Kiyone, who was practically being strangled, could not say a word of protest. Ayeka sighed in despair as Misaki directed her attention to Rayani, who was trying to offer her a cup of tea.
"We were actually on our way to Earth, you see. We felt that odd draining, so both of us got distracted and lost control of our ship," Funaho explained. "I'm sorry if we damaged your ship in any way." Kiyone, who was rubbing her throat, smiled.
"It's okay. It's no problem at all," she said, waving the apology away.
"Tsunami showed herself to us. Yume is at it again. Even Tsunami is affected by this," Washu remarked as she began running tests on Funaho. The first Queen looked startled.
"Did she?" Funaho asked incredulously. "We must stop Yume...once more." Tenchi, who was daydreaming, was jerked back to reality.
"If she wants another battle, then none of us can win in this state," Tenchi commented, clenching the Tenchiken very tightly. Tenchi smiled at the downcast faces of his friends. "But we'll have to try, right?"
"Right!"
=====
Yume was in a very good mood, even though Kagato didn't pay her. "Hishima, are any Juraians following us?" Hishima looked about the deck and stared into space.
"No, master." Yume clapped her hands gleefully.
"THIS time, Washu, I'll win the wager and get your little boy!" Hishima looked slightly confused.
"Master Yume, why do you need the son of the Jurai Prince?" Yume sighed in despair and pat Hishima on the arm.
"This is a matter of my PRIDE, Hishima. Washu beat me in class, she won our wager to stop Bizen all those years ago, but now, I'll be the one to humiliate her!" She went over and pat the trunk of Bizen. "It was much easier to take this time, wasn't it, Hishima?" Her servant nodded as she turned around. A holo-computer appeared as she tapped a command in. Little tubes attached to what looked like a four-sided pyramid that came out of the deck edge. There was a soft hum as a shield was generated around the deck.
Yume looked to the blue sky and pointed upwards. "Now, we go into space and gather all of Jurai's energy! It is very, VERY useful energy. Stealing Jurai's very soul will have the Prince out of the way and I can have revenge for my humiliation!"
=====
Kenny woke up in Kiyone's bed, his mother snoring gently at the foot of the bed with Tenchi. Getting out quietly so as not to disturb his sleeping parents, he made his way to the table, where there was a pitcher of water. Before he could pour himself a glass, he heard a voice in front of him.
"Well, well, well." Kenny looked up nervously and found a blue-haired woman peering into his eyes. She looked remarkably like Sasami. The woman grabbed him and hugged him tightly. "Aw, you're so cute! You must be Tenchi's son!" Misaki giggled. "You're sooooo cute!" Kenny tried getting away, but the woman was remarkably strong. Funaho stirred and opened her eyes, smiling.
"Yes, you look very much like Tenchi," Funaho agreed. Rayani, who was helping Washu with something, grinned when she saw Kenny.
"You're awake! That's good," Rayani laughed. "The Jurai energy crisis isn't affecting you very much." Kenny shrugged.
"Maybe since I'm only 1/4 Juraian. Remember? Mom is a demon-woman, and Dad is 1/2 Juraian," Kenny said as Misaki released him. He massaged his sore shoulders and smiled nervously as Misaki sat down again. Tenchi grunted on the bed and sat up.
"I feel a lot better since last night," Tenchi remarked, getting up and straightening his shirt out. Washu grinned and laughed as she ran her fingers through her pink hair.
"The draining has stopped, permanently, I hope," Washu said cheerfully. Yosho sipped some tea as he watched Ayeka and Sasami make some paper flowers.
"That is good," he said quietly.
The words had barely come from his mouth when Tenchi shuddered and dropped to his knees at the same time Ayeka and Sasami fell forward onto their hands. Yosho's tea seeped into a crack in Yagami's floor as he fell off his chair. Washu bit her lip as she checked her computer again. "I guess not. When I get a hold of Yume, she'll pay for this!"
=====
Magaru began tossing in the bed, her face contorted with pain. Jakato sighed. "It must be painful..." he muttered vaguely. His mind cleared as his father walked in.
"Is she still being drained?" Kagato asked sharply. Jakato nodded groggily. Kagato gave him what looked remarkably like a sympathetic glance and sat Magaru up. Jakato snapped to attention at once and glared at his father.
"What are you doing with her?" Jakato asked warily. Kagato gave him a smug look.
"No need to worry. I have another micromachine to give her. It SHOULD be able to slow the process," Kagato explained, pulling out the same gun he used on Magaru before and placing it on Magaru's right wrist. There was a slight buzz as he injected something into the limp Magaru's wrist. She opened an eye and lifted her arm up.
"What--was that?" Magaru murmured, glancing at Jakato. Kagato laughed softly and swept out of the room. Jakato gave her a joyful smile and pushed her back down so she was no longer sitting up.
"Father gave you that machine thing again. Save your strength; just go back to sleep, okay?" Jakato said, covering her with the blanket. Magaru, too weary to reply, yawned and nodded as she dozed off.
=====
Yume laughed uncontrollably as her machine began draining Bizen. "As all trees are connected to their silly Juraians, and all the Juraians are connected to Tsunami, we're draining everybody through this machine I created!" Yume cackled. Hishima didn't know if he should look joyful or angry at this.
"Master Yume, what is your motive for this?" Hishima asked slowly, sitting at the foot of Bizen. Yume sighed and smiled at her servant.
"Hishima, how many times must I TELL you? We're doing this to get back at Washu," Yume groaned, shaking her finger at Hishima.
"This will not directly affect Washu, Master Yume." Yume giggled malevolently.
"That's what's so excellent about this. She can't do a thing to stop her friends from fading away. If I know Washu, she'll be after us, but she can hope to win a fight without her fool prince," Yume elucidated, summoning her holo-computer and typing something in. Hishima sighed.
What has gotten into Master Yume lately? he thought.
"I know what you're thinking, Hishima," Yume said suddenly, without looking up. "I'll bet you're wondering why I even WANT to do this. First of all, this is so much fun. Second, Washu thinks SHE'S the greatest genius. I am!" Yume pounded her fist on the keyboard.
=====
"Yume is doing this to get back at me, I just know it!" Washu growled. Ryoko gave her a curious look as she pat Tenchi's shoulder.
"Why would she WANT to get back at you?" Ryoko asked. When she looked at her son, she bit her lip. Kenny was sitting on Kiyone's bed, pale and unblinking. "Washu, do you think Kenny is being drained, too?" Washu shrugged.
"He might be. I ran a check on him, but it was only draining ever so slightly. I don't know how he's feeling from this." Washu watched Misaki and Funaho stagger to the couch and collapse next to Tenchi and Ayeka. Washu had this odd feeling that when they finished this dilemma, something totally unexpected was going to happen. Rayani hovered next to Washu and smiled.
"What's on your mind, Washu?" Rayani laughed. Washu grinned and shrugged.
"I don't know. Don't you have the feeling like something unpredictable is going to happen?" Washu asked quietly. Rayani looked out the window thoughtfully.
"You worry too much, Washu, that's what I think. The only unpredictable thing I'd imagine right now is that Kagato is going to join us against Yume. I can't believe him!" Rayani growled. Washu laughed.
"Still mad about what happened 5,000 years ago?"
"Yes. I hate him!" Rayani said, clenching her fist. "I mean, first he traps you, then sets off all that with Tenchi and Ryoko, then now look. He's bothering us again."
"I don't know. Maybe something unexpected will happen." Washu turned to the window and growled in anger. "I'll get Yume for this!"