*****
RAYANI: I'm getting kind of tired, so this'll be the very last chapter. Then we can party! Yaaahooooooo! MAGARU: You're TIRED? How can you be tired? RAYANI: Sometimes I wonder if all Juraians are like this...demanding, always yelling...but Tenchi's not like that, so maybe it's just a you thing. MAGARU: Hey! Wait a minute! Why, I ought to-- RAYANI: There you go again. I won't finish this unless you quit yelling. Jakato won't find that very becoming... MAGARU: Hey! Leave me alone...MOM!!! RAYANI: Heh heh heh. Now I know how Washu feels...
*****
Chapter 14 - December Fools
Ryoko sat on a floating pillow, telling Kagato about a tradition on Earth. Washu had allowed Kagato to have the day off because she was working on a "secret" experiment. Ryoko just suspected that she was trying to figure out what she should do with Kagato's green robe. Kagato glanced thoughtfully at a swimming specimen in one of Washu's tanks.
"Really, that is a tradition here?" he asked. Ryoko sniggered and began relaying a thought that had just struck her.
* * * * *
"Come on, Ayeka, why do you always wear a towel when you get in?" Ryoko asked, pouring herself a cup of sake and placing the bottle back in the bucket, which was floating in the water. Ayeka slid into the water, ignoring Ryoko's scolds. Ayeka sniffed and snatched the bottle from Ryoko, pouring herself some.
"Ryoko, that's no way to speak to the Queen of Jurai," Ayeka said airily. They both heard the onsen door open and heard Mihoshi trip into the water. Ryoko gave Ayeka an insolent glare.
"Oh, come on, PRINCESS, you know I could be the queen if Tenchi wanted to be the king." Ayeka ignored her again as telltale sings of drunkenness began appearing on her smooth skin.
"Drinking again, Ayeka?" Mihoshi laughed, unknowingly barging into their conversation yet again. Ryoko was about to yell at Mihoshi, but the Galaxy Policewoman's bracelet began beeping urgently.
"Oh dear. A call? No, this time it's showing that a space pirate is nearby...but Kiyone said that you were cleared, Ryoko." Ryoko shrugged indifferently.
"Probably just Kagato," she murmured. "He's never going to be able to get cleared..." Mihoshi gave her a quizzical look.
"Why's that?" she asked. Ayeka gave her a look of despair.
"Hmmm...maybe it's because he's an ETERNALLY WANTED CRIMINAL, eh, Mihoshi?" Ayeka barked. Mihoshi gazed thoughtfully at the sky, giggling.
"Oh yeah. I guess that's why," giggled Mihoshi. Ayeka looked ready to pound her when a circle of green light appeared in the air before them. It seemed very familiar. Ayeka shrieked.
"Waaaaah! It's Kagato!" Ayeka screeched. It WAS Kagato, donning the robe he hadn't worn for quite some time now. He smiled maliciously.
"Well, it looks like I've finally found you, Ryoko," he said. Ryoko scowled.
"Kagato!" Ryoko said, leaping from the water and changing into her red and black battle suit. Mihoshi and Ayeka yelled.
"Pervert!" they screamed, throwing the empty sake bottles at Kagato. "You didn't even ask before coming in! Haven't you learned anything?" Kagato backed away slightly from the wailing ladies. Ryoko jumped in the air, only to be stopped by green electricity. She yelled in anguish as she plummeted down.
Kagato laughed as he clenched his gloved fist, zapping Ryoko and causing her to writhe in pain on the onsen floor. Ryoko gave an agonized yell as the glass dome of the onsen exploded, and a green light streaked away, leaving Ayeka and Mihoshi all alone. Tenchi, who had been in the fields, jumped in, only to stagger back with his eyes covered.
"What's happening?" he asked, nervously uncovering his eyes. Ayeka shook her head.
"I don't know what's gotten into Kagato. He hurt Ryoko and took her away," she said, her voice trembling. Tenchi clenched his fist.
"Oh no!"
* * * * *
"Eternal and Most Wanted Criminal Kagato, come out now," Mihoshi said firmly, pointing her gun around and looking about Yosho's tree. "I know you're here. I said come out!" Tenchi sighed.
"This all seems very familiar," he murmured to himself. "Even what Mihoshi is saying seems familiar. Kenny walked up from the shrine direction.
"What seems familiar, Dad?" Kenny asked. Tenchi laughed.
"This is what happened when Kagato first got Ryoko," Tenchi explained. He vaguely looked at Ayeka and Sasami, then jerked into alertness as a circle of green light appeared before them. Kagato floated out, smiling.
"Please excuse my behavior. I appreciate your coming out to welcome me," he said, bowing politely. Ryoko appeared in the air and fell to the ground, unconscious. Kenny and Tenchi both yelled.
"Mom!"
"Ryoko!" Tenchi exclaimed, running over to his wife. Kenny gave Kagato an odd look and stood behind Tenchi, his golden eyes blazing.
"However," Kagato continued, "this one belongs to me. She is, how can I say it delicately, waste product." Tenchi glared at him, cradling Ryoko's head.
"What are you doing? That's exactly what you said twenty years ago!" Tenchi yelled. Kagato seemed as if he didn't hear Tenchi.
"But, she's still agile. I'll bet she's given you some trouble. Princess Ayeka and Princess Sasami. Don't you think it's best we talk someplace private? Someplace where there's no one to bother us?" Kagato asked, floating a bit closer. Washu appeared from behind some bushes, smiling.
"Kagato, what are you doing? Where did you get your robe! I thought I threw into my trash compactor!" Washu remarked. Kagato ignored her also as Tenchi produced his sword. He smiled again.
"Ah, so YOU have the sword," he said. Tenchi gave him a furious look.
"Okay, what's going on? You've known that I have the sword!" Tenchi said.
"But that's the king's property," Kagato continued once more, as if he hadn't heard a word that Tenchi said. "Wave it around like that and you're going to hurt yourself, young man."
Tenchi couldn't take it anymore. He lunged, slashing Kagato's cheek. Kagato smiled indifferently as blood flowed down the right side of his face. "Oh my, oh my. What manners you have. You see, I've only come to invite you to my ship, the Soja." Tenchi growled in anger.
"You haven't got a Soja anymore! It blew up, don't you remember?" Tenchi said. Once again, Kagato seemed as if he hadn't heard. With Ryoko floating at his side, the green light circle appeared and he disappeared into it.
"If you want your precious Ryoko back, come to the Soja. I'll be waiting!" Kagato called as the green light subsided.
Washu put her hand on her hip thoughtfully. "How strange. Let's go see if Rayani or Jakato know anything about this," she said, clapping her hands decisively. Ayeka nodded in agreement as they walked off toward the far side of the lake, where they knew Rayani would be.
Rayani was there, at the edge of the woods, dodging and leaping among the trees, perfecting her fighting technique. Jakato and Magaru were nearby, watching their little baby walk about happily. When Rayani stopped to rest, Ayeka grabbed her shoulder and spun her around. "Okay, you, where's Kagato?" Ayeka yelled in Rayani's face. Rayani gently disengaged Ayeka's hand from her shoulder and gave them all curious looks.
"Why?" she asked. Ayeka pointed at her furiously. Kenny marveled at the fact that Ayeka could yell so much. Not even his mother could keep up for that long. Ryoko would either teleport away or start a fight.
"Because you're married to him and you should know where he is!" bellowed Ayeka. Washu sighed and pulled Ayeka back, putting a silencing hand on the queen's mouth.
"Do you know where he is? We need to talk to him," Washu explained. Rayani laughed and pointed to the house.
"Last time I saw him he was walking into the house with Ryoko. He was wearing that weird robe that I thought you destroyed," Rayani said, grinning. Washu took Rayani's wrist and began pulling her with everyone else as they walked down to the house. Magaru and Jakato, who was holding little Jakaru, followed, curious to see what was going on with their father.
The house was empty when they reached it. Nobody was there, not even Nobuyuki. "Maybe we can find him in your lab, Washu," Tenchi asked hopefully. Washu nodded and led the way, followed by Rayani, who was still smiling.
Everyone gasped when they entered the lab. Inside was not Washu's lab with the complicated tools and machines. It was an exact replica of the bridge of the Soja, complete with the enormous pipe organ and Kagato sitting in front of it, playing his trademark song. Kenny and Jakato looked on in awe. "What is this?" Kenny asked slowly, staring about. "So big..." Washu gazed at Kagato with intense concern.
"Maybe he has lost his memory," Washu thought aloud. Kagato stopped playing and began laughing quietly. Tenchi, who didn't hear Washu, walked up a bit closer.
"Kagato, give Ryoko back!" Tenchi growled in rage. "Do you just want to repeat what happened twenty years ago?" It took Kagato a moment to get his mirth under control, but when he did, he got up and gave them all a stern glare.
"What manners you have, barging in without asking. I--I--" Kagato stopped abruptly and began laughing again. Rayani smiled and walked up to him.
"Kagato, what are you doing?" she asked quietly, grinning. The space pirate stopped laughing and nudged Rayani out of the way as he broke out laughing again. Ryoko appeared next to him and gave him a hit on the head with a fan.
"I always wanted to do that," Ryoko muttered to herself. She hit him again. "You idiot! You weren't supposed to start laughing! Now they all know something's wrong with you!" Kagato rubbed his head and gave her an angry stare.
"So what?" Ryoko hit him again, this time more forcefully. He growled in anger as he wrenched the fan from her hand and tore it apart. "It didn't seem like a very good trick anyways. Did you realize how long it took me to build this place?" Washu cleared her throat loudly and confronted her assistant.
"So, um, this was a trick?" she asked, slightly peeved. Ryoko laughed.
"It was supposed to end with a battle. But Kagato here isn't a very good actor. You zapped me waaaay to hard in the onsen!" Ryoko said. This time it was Washu's turn to hit Ryoko on the head with a fan.
"You're hopeless, aren't you?" Washu sighed. She turned and was about to reprimand Kagato, but he had disappeared from her side. Magaru laughed and pointed towards the far side of the Soja Bridge. She began giggling as Rayani gave Kagato an affectionate hug, practically disappearing in the thick folds of the green robe.
Magaru's giggles settled as Jakato hugged her and picked her up, walking out through the door with Magaru and the little baby in his arms. Ryoko began laughing uncontrollably as Tenchi put the sword back in his jacket pocket.
"We might as well get out of here," Tenchi said, smiling. "It's almost time for dinner!" Kenny and Ryoko nodded with Sasami, but even the little princess sighed as they heard Ayeka's shrill voice pierce the air.
"Hey, you! What a lousy trick to play!" Ayeka shrieked at Kagato, who merely ignored her. When Ayeka found that she could not wangle a response from him, she stormed over and began arguing with Ryoko. "Ryoko, what a stupid thing to do!" Ayeka yelled. She stopped yelling as Kagato's voice floated over.
"Okay, Ryoko, I'll give you one more chance. Go." Ryoko went rigid and clutched her head, moaning in pain. Kenny yelled in fright, jumping away from his twitching mother. Washu's eyes widened as Ryoko straightened up, as if brainwashed. She produced her sword with a dull, flat expression and pointed at Ayeka. The Queen of Jurai shrieked in alarm as she backed away.
"No! Ryoko!" Tenchi said, trying to break Ryoko's trance. Ryoko began laughing as Ayeka backed away.
"Hahahaha! April Fools, you guys!" Ryoko laughed. Washu hit her with the fan again.
"You're the idiot, Ryoko! It's the middle of December! The point of April Fools is to fool the people in April!" Washu sighed in despair. Everyone started laughing at Ryoko's mistake, even Ryoko herself.
Sasami glanced about the bridge of the Soja. "What a year this has been, Ryo-ohki," Sasami whispered to the cabbit. "It has been a very interesting year."
***** MAGARU: That was kind of stupid. RAYANI: Thanks...I really APPRECIATE your sympathy. WASHU: Yes! It's finally over! RAYANI: I know! Now I can spend my time doing more important things. MAGARU: What's more important than finishing the story, may I ask? KAGATO: Spending more time with me, that's what. MAGARU: Hmm...that wouldn't be first on my list of priorities. RAYANI: I wanna have a party! You know how much time I've spent on this? Let's see...working from dawn till midnight, only stopping for dinner... WASHU: You liar. I see you at breakfast AND lunch! MAGARU: You looked like you enjoyed this chapter, Kagato. KAGATO: Yes, I did, in fact. WASHU: Why? KAGATO: I'd forgotten how if feels to make you all angry. It's a wonderful feeling, like you've all the power in the universe. I rather enjoyed it when I got to blast Ryoko again...muwahahahahaha! WASHU: Well, YOU were the one who was trying to gather all that power twenty years ago. KAGATO: Hmm. Your point, professor? MAGARU: Let's leave those two to argue, shall we? RAYANI: Hee hee hee. All right. Okay, I declare this story officially closed! No more. That's all. Got it, Mihoshi? MIHOSHI: What? No more? KIYONE: Come on Mihoshi, we've got a call. By the way, what did Kagato do twenty years ago? Was it when he had Ayeka and Sasami arrested with Ryoko? When we were all criminals? MAGARU: No, not that one. Ask Tenchi to tell you the story sometime. Well, finally, we're done! WASHU DOLL A: You forgot the disclaimer, Washu! WASHU DOLL B: You're going to say the disclaimer, right, Washu? WASHU: Oh, yeah! These characters don't belong to Rayani, or Magaru, or even the greatest genius scientist in the universe, me!! They belong to Pioneer, AIC, Hitoshi Okuda, whatever. Not ours. Okay, got it?
Thanks for reading!
Magaru Sakari Kuzuma --- Magaru_Sakari@yahoo.com Rayani Kitsumuri --- pikazitu@masakishrine.com
RAYANI: I'm getting kind of tired, so this'll be the very last chapter. Then we can party! Yaaahooooooo! MAGARU: You're TIRED? How can you be tired? RAYANI: Sometimes I wonder if all Juraians are like this...demanding, always yelling...but Tenchi's not like that, so maybe it's just a you thing. MAGARU: Hey! Wait a minute! Why, I ought to-- RAYANI: There you go again. I won't finish this unless you quit yelling. Jakato won't find that very becoming... MAGARU: Hey! Leave me alone...MOM!!! RAYANI: Heh heh heh. Now I know how Washu feels...
*****
Chapter 14 - December Fools
Ryoko sat on a floating pillow, telling Kagato about a tradition on Earth. Washu had allowed Kagato to have the day off because she was working on a "secret" experiment. Ryoko just suspected that she was trying to figure out what she should do with Kagato's green robe. Kagato glanced thoughtfully at a swimming specimen in one of Washu's tanks.
"Really, that is a tradition here?" he asked. Ryoko sniggered and began relaying a thought that had just struck her.
* * * * *
"Come on, Ayeka, why do you always wear a towel when you get in?" Ryoko asked, pouring herself a cup of sake and placing the bottle back in the bucket, which was floating in the water. Ayeka slid into the water, ignoring Ryoko's scolds. Ayeka sniffed and snatched the bottle from Ryoko, pouring herself some.
"Ryoko, that's no way to speak to the Queen of Jurai," Ayeka said airily. They both heard the onsen door open and heard Mihoshi trip into the water. Ryoko gave Ayeka an insolent glare.
"Oh, come on, PRINCESS, you know I could be the queen if Tenchi wanted to be the king." Ayeka ignored her again as telltale sings of drunkenness began appearing on her smooth skin.
"Drinking again, Ayeka?" Mihoshi laughed, unknowingly barging into their conversation yet again. Ryoko was about to yell at Mihoshi, but the Galaxy Policewoman's bracelet began beeping urgently.
"Oh dear. A call? No, this time it's showing that a space pirate is nearby...but Kiyone said that you were cleared, Ryoko." Ryoko shrugged indifferently.
"Probably just Kagato," she murmured. "He's never going to be able to get cleared..." Mihoshi gave her a quizzical look.
"Why's that?" she asked. Ayeka gave her a look of despair.
"Hmmm...maybe it's because he's an ETERNALLY WANTED CRIMINAL, eh, Mihoshi?" Ayeka barked. Mihoshi gazed thoughtfully at the sky, giggling.
"Oh yeah. I guess that's why," giggled Mihoshi. Ayeka looked ready to pound her when a circle of green light appeared in the air before them. It seemed very familiar. Ayeka shrieked.
"Waaaaah! It's Kagato!" Ayeka screeched. It WAS Kagato, donning the robe he hadn't worn for quite some time now. He smiled maliciously.
"Well, it looks like I've finally found you, Ryoko," he said. Ryoko scowled.
"Kagato!" Ryoko said, leaping from the water and changing into her red and black battle suit. Mihoshi and Ayeka yelled.
"Pervert!" they screamed, throwing the empty sake bottles at Kagato. "You didn't even ask before coming in! Haven't you learned anything?" Kagato backed away slightly from the wailing ladies. Ryoko jumped in the air, only to be stopped by green electricity. She yelled in anguish as she plummeted down.
Kagato laughed as he clenched his gloved fist, zapping Ryoko and causing her to writhe in pain on the onsen floor. Ryoko gave an agonized yell as the glass dome of the onsen exploded, and a green light streaked away, leaving Ayeka and Mihoshi all alone. Tenchi, who had been in the fields, jumped in, only to stagger back with his eyes covered.
"What's happening?" he asked, nervously uncovering his eyes. Ayeka shook her head.
"I don't know what's gotten into Kagato. He hurt Ryoko and took her away," she said, her voice trembling. Tenchi clenched his fist.
"Oh no!"
* * * * *
"Eternal and Most Wanted Criminal Kagato, come out now," Mihoshi said firmly, pointing her gun around and looking about Yosho's tree. "I know you're here. I said come out!" Tenchi sighed.
"This all seems very familiar," he murmured to himself. "Even what Mihoshi is saying seems familiar. Kenny walked up from the shrine direction.
"What seems familiar, Dad?" Kenny asked. Tenchi laughed.
"This is what happened when Kagato first got Ryoko," Tenchi explained. He vaguely looked at Ayeka and Sasami, then jerked into alertness as a circle of green light appeared before them. Kagato floated out, smiling.
"Please excuse my behavior. I appreciate your coming out to welcome me," he said, bowing politely. Ryoko appeared in the air and fell to the ground, unconscious. Kenny and Tenchi both yelled.
"Mom!"
"Ryoko!" Tenchi exclaimed, running over to his wife. Kenny gave Kagato an odd look and stood behind Tenchi, his golden eyes blazing.
"However," Kagato continued, "this one belongs to me. She is, how can I say it delicately, waste product." Tenchi glared at him, cradling Ryoko's head.
"What are you doing? That's exactly what you said twenty years ago!" Tenchi yelled. Kagato seemed as if he didn't hear Tenchi.
"But, she's still agile. I'll bet she's given you some trouble. Princess Ayeka and Princess Sasami. Don't you think it's best we talk someplace private? Someplace where there's no one to bother us?" Kagato asked, floating a bit closer. Washu appeared from behind some bushes, smiling.
"Kagato, what are you doing? Where did you get your robe! I thought I threw into my trash compactor!" Washu remarked. Kagato ignored her also as Tenchi produced his sword. He smiled again.
"Ah, so YOU have the sword," he said. Tenchi gave him a furious look.
"Okay, what's going on? You've known that I have the sword!" Tenchi said.
"But that's the king's property," Kagato continued once more, as if he hadn't heard a word that Tenchi said. "Wave it around like that and you're going to hurt yourself, young man."
Tenchi couldn't take it anymore. He lunged, slashing Kagato's cheek. Kagato smiled indifferently as blood flowed down the right side of his face. "Oh my, oh my. What manners you have. You see, I've only come to invite you to my ship, the Soja." Tenchi growled in anger.
"You haven't got a Soja anymore! It blew up, don't you remember?" Tenchi said. Once again, Kagato seemed as if he hadn't heard. With Ryoko floating at his side, the green light circle appeared and he disappeared into it.
"If you want your precious Ryoko back, come to the Soja. I'll be waiting!" Kagato called as the green light subsided.
Washu put her hand on her hip thoughtfully. "How strange. Let's go see if Rayani or Jakato know anything about this," she said, clapping her hands decisively. Ayeka nodded in agreement as they walked off toward the far side of the lake, where they knew Rayani would be.
Rayani was there, at the edge of the woods, dodging and leaping among the trees, perfecting her fighting technique. Jakato and Magaru were nearby, watching their little baby walk about happily. When Rayani stopped to rest, Ayeka grabbed her shoulder and spun her around. "Okay, you, where's Kagato?" Ayeka yelled in Rayani's face. Rayani gently disengaged Ayeka's hand from her shoulder and gave them all curious looks.
"Why?" she asked. Ayeka pointed at her furiously. Kenny marveled at the fact that Ayeka could yell so much. Not even his mother could keep up for that long. Ryoko would either teleport away or start a fight.
"Because you're married to him and you should know where he is!" bellowed Ayeka. Washu sighed and pulled Ayeka back, putting a silencing hand on the queen's mouth.
"Do you know where he is? We need to talk to him," Washu explained. Rayani laughed and pointed to the house.
"Last time I saw him he was walking into the house with Ryoko. He was wearing that weird robe that I thought you destroyed," Rayani said, grinning. Washu took Rayani's wrist and began pulling her with everyone else as they walked down to the house. Magaru and Jakato, who was holding little Jakaru, followed, curious to see what was going on with their father.
The house was empty when they reached it. Nobody was there, not even Nobuyuki. "Maybe we can find him in your lab, Washu," Tenchi asked hopefully. Washu nodded and led the way, followed by Rayani, who was still smiling.
Everyone gasped when they entered the lab. Inside was not Washu's lab with the complicated tools and machines. It was an exact replica of the bridge of the Soja, complete with the enormous pipe organ and Kagato sitting in front of it, playing his trademark song. Kenny and Jakato looked on in awe. "What is this?" Kenny asked slowly, staring about. "So big..." Washu gazed at Kagato with intense concern.
"Maybe he has lost his memory," Washu thought aloud. Kagato stopped playing and began laughing quietly. Tenchi, who didn't hear Washu, walked up a bit closer.
"Kagato, give Ryoko back!" Tenchi growled in rage. "Do you just want to repeat what happened twenty years ago?" It took Kagato a moment to get his mirth under control, but when he did, he got up and gave them all a stern glare.
"What manners you have, barging in without asking. I--I--" Kagato stopped abruptly and began laughing again. Rayani smiled and walked up to him.
"Kagato, what are you doing?" she asked quietly, grinning. The space pirate stopped laughing and nudged Rayani out of the way as he broke out laughing again. Ryoko appeared next to him and gave him a hit on the head with a fan.
"I always wanted to do that," Ryoko muttered to herself. She hit him again. "You idiot! You weren't supposed to start laughing! Now they all know something's wrong with you!" Kagato rubbed his head and gave her an angry stare.
"So what?" Ryoko hit him again, this time more forcefully. He growled in anger as he wrenched the fan from her hand and tore it apart. "It didn't seem like a very good trick anyways. Did you realize how long it took me to build this place?" Washu cleared her throat loudly and confronted her assistant.
"So, um, this was a trick?" she asked, slightly peeved. Ryoko laughed.
"It was supposed to end with a battle. But Kagato here isn't a very good actor. You zapped me waaaay to hard in the onsen!" Ryoko said. This time it was Washu's turn to hit Ryoko on the head with a fan.
"You're hopeless, aren't you?" Washu sighed. She turned and was about to reprimand Kagato, but he had disappeared from her side. Magaru laughed and pointed towards the far side of the Soja Bridge. She began giggling as Rayani gave Kagato an affectionate hug, practically disappearing in the thick folds of the green robe.
Magaru's giggles settled as Jakato hugged her and picked her up, walking out through the door with Magaru and the little baby in his arms. Ryoko began laughing uncontrollably as Tenchi put the sword back in his jacket pocket.
"We might as well get out of here," Tenchi said, smiling. "It's almost time for dinner!" Kenny and Ryoko nodded with Sasami, but even the little princess sighed as they heard Ayeka's shrill voice pierce the air.
"Hey, you! What a lousy trick to play!" Ayeka shrieked at Kagato, who merely ignored her. When Ayeka found that she could not wangle a response from him, she stormed over and began arguing with Ryoko. "Ryoko, what a stupid thing to do!" Ayeka yelled. She stopped yelling as Kagato's voice floated over.
"Okay, Ryoko, I'll give you one more chance. Go." Ryoko went rigid and clutched her head, moaning in pain. Kenny yelled in fright, jumping away from his twitching mother. Washu's eyes widened as Ryoko straightened up, as if brainwashed. She produced her sword with a dull, flat expression and pointed at Ayeka. The Queen of Jurai shrieked in alarm as she backed away.
"No! Ryoko!" Tenchi said, trying to break Ryoko's trance. Ryoko began laughing as Ayeka backed away.
"Hahahaha! April Fools, you guys!" Ryoko laughed. Washu hit her with the fan again.
"You're the idiot, Ryoko! It's the middle of December! The point of April Fools is to fool the people in April!" Washu sighed in despair. Everyone started laughing at Ryoko's mistake, even Ryoko herself.
Sasami glanced about the bridge of the Soja. "What a year this has been, Ryo-ohki," Sasami whispered to the cabbit. "It has been a very interesting year."
***** MAGARU: That was kind of stupid. RAYANI: Thanks...I really APPRECIATE your sympathy. WASHU: Yes! It's finally over! RAYANI: I know! Now I can spend my time doing more important things. MAGARU: What's more important than finishing the story, may I ask? KAGATO: Spending more time with me, that's what. MAGARU: Hmm...that wouldn't be first on my list of priorities. RAYANI: I wanna have a party! You know how much time I've spent on this? Let's see...working from dawn till midnight, only stopping for dinner... WASHU: You liar. I see you at breakfast AND lunch! MAGARU: You looked like you enjoyed this chapter, Kagato. KAGATO: Yes, I did, in fact. WASHU: Why? KAGATO: I'd forgotten how if feels to make you all angry. It's a wonderful feeling, like you've all the power in the universe. I rather enjoyed it when I got to blast Ryoko again...muwahahahahaha! WASHU: Well, YOU were the one who was trying to gather all that power twenty years ago. KAGATO: Hmm. Your point, professor? MAGARU: Let's leave those two to argue, shall we? RAYANI: Hee hee hee. All right. Okay, I declare this story officially closed! No more. That's all. Got it, Mihoshi? MIHOSHI: What? No more? KIYONE: Come on Mihoshi, we've got a call. By the way, what did Kagato do twenty years ago? Was it when he had Ayeka and Sasami arrested with Ryoko? When we were all criminals? MAGARU: No, not that one. Ask Tenchi to tell you the story sometime. Well, finally, we're done! WASHU DOLL A: You forgot the disclaimer, Washu! WASHU DOLL B: You're going to say the disclaimer, right, Washu? WASHU: Oh, yeah! These characters don't belong to Rayani, or Magaru, or even the greatest genius scientist in the universe, me!! They belong to Pioneer, AIC, Hitoshi Okuda, whatever. Not ours. Okay, got it?
Thanks for reading!
Magaru Sakari Kuzuma --- Magaru_Sakari@yahoo.com Rayani Kitsumuri --- pikazitu@masakishrine.com