No Need for an Assault
As Tenchi flew towards the Jurai household, something caught his eye. "Oh,
no!" It was a huge starship armed to the teeth with blasters. "Ryo-ohki, what the
hell is that?!"
"Miya!!!!!" Ryo-okhi exclaimed in a panicked tone. Tenchi really didn't
need Ryo-ohki to confirm that was Kagato's ship. He didn't think the Navy had
any of those handy. He watched trapped in a horrific trance as the cannons began
to glow with a green light. The ship was going to fire.
Sasami obviously came to the same conclusion as she screamed, "Tenchi!"
Sasami's shrill voice snapped Tenchi out of his trance and he leapt at one of
the floating crystals in a desperate attempt to maneuver out of the destruction's
path.
-Aboard the _Souja_-
Kagato slammed his fist onto the button. All the cannons on the exterior of
the _Souja_ trained their lasers on the small crystalline-shaped Ryo-ohki and fired.
The blasts hit engulfing Ryo-ohki in flames.
Ryoko went completely numb. The event that she had been dreading for
days had happened. Tenchi was dead. The cruel laughter of Kagato faded into the
back of her mind as the past week she had spent with Tenchi replayed over her
mind. Water formed in her eyes and she realized that she was crying. For the first
time she could remember she was crying.
But Ayeka was suffering a much different reaction. Whereas Ryoko had
spent about nine days with Tenchi, Ayeka had spent nine _years_ with Tenchi and
she had lost her sister. Deep inside something snapped within her. Quite literally
Ayeka lost control as something else took supremacy...
Ryoko's head sagged. Tenchi, I've lost you, she thought. An ear-splitting
scream penetrated her thoughts. Ryoko turned her head to see that, not
surprisingly, it came from Ayeka. This scream however was not of pain, but of
anger and hatred. Ryoko's eyes widened as Ayeka began to undergo a subtle
transformation. Her eyes did not quite change color, but they changed. They were
filled with prestige and pride. Suddenly an odd symbol appeared on her forehead.
That symbol... That was on the tree! Ryoko mused. A fiery aura seemed to
radiate from Ayeka and the glass began to crack.
"Kagato," she snapped, her voice full of new confidence and authority.
"You have committed an intolerable act against the Jurai Royal Family. What do
you have to say for yourself?" The glass completely shattered sending the blue
putty all over the polished floor of the _Souja_.
Kagato turned on his heel to face this arrogant teen. "And what do you
know of the Jurai Royal Family?"
"I am Princess Akeya, and you have just commenced in the murder of
Prince Yosho and Princess Tsunami."
Kagato chuckled then broke out into a fit of sinister laughter. "So I was
correct. You three do hold the resurrected spirits of the Jurai Royal Family. How
delightfully ironic."
"Oh my God..." Washu started but she could not finish her statement. Shock
came into her eyes a she stared out into the viewport. No way. This is
impossible.
Kagato turned around to face the screen and exclaimed, "No way!"
The smoke had finally cleared revealing Ryo-ohki to still be intact though
severely damaged.
"The cockpit's still in one piece!" Ryoko exclaimed. It was at this point
Ryoko noticed that Ryo-ohki was getting bigger and bigger. The _Souja_ lurched
as Ryo-ohki crashed into it, the gray spikes clearing Kagato's right cheek by about
two inches.
Tenchi appeared at from one of the spikes farther away from Kagato, Sword
Tenchi in hand.
"Yosho!" Ay- err... Akeya- Akeya ran towards Tenchi and embraced him in
a tight hug causing Tenchi to blush intensely.
"Uhh... Ayeka, I'm glad to see you're all right," Tenchi responded after
regaining his composure. He glanced up at the glass structure to se a grinning
Ryoko. "Good to see you're _both_ alive and well."
Akeya took one step back and examined Tenchi. "You're not Yosho, are
you?"
Tenchi looked into Akeya's eyes and knew something was different. "No
my name's Tenchi."
"And I am not Ayeka. My name is Princess Akeya of Jurai."
"Akeya?! From the legend?!" Tenchi exclaimed.
"There is no time to explain now! I will assist you in your fight against
Kagato."
"No, Princess, this is my fight. Free Ryoko and Little Washu and get ready
to make a hasty departure."
Akeya nodded and made her way back to Ryoko's cage.
Tenchi glared at Kagato. Sword Tenchi suddenly flared up eager for a fight.
Kagato produced his own sword hilt. This one was larger, like the hilt of a
broadsword. Black energy erupted forming a large blade teeming with dark, in
every sense of the word, energy. Running parallel to the blade were two four-inch
long blades, one on each side. Tenchi gripped his sword tightly and gritted his
teeth. This was it. He was well aware of the risks and he was not scared.
"Foolish boy, you don't stand a chance," Kagato sneered.
Tenchi responded with a lunge for Kagato's throat.
Kagato easily parried the blow and the fight commenced. Kagato thrust as
Tenchi parried. Kagato slashed furiously as Tenchi blocked blow after blow.
Akeya dashed up to the glass tube and extended her hand. A surge of energy
surged forward shattering the glass and releasing Ryoko.
Ryoko instinctively made a dash for Tenchi to assist him. Akeya reached
out and grabbed Ryoko's arm. "What are you doing?! Let me go! I got to help
Tenchi!"
Akeya shook her head firmly. "You could not help if I would allow you.
Yos- Tenchi is the only one who can destroy Kagato. Getting in his way would
only get you or him hurt. Got it?"
Ryoko tore her grip from Akeya and stared menacingly into her eyes.
"Listen _Princess_," she said the last word dripping with disgust. "It's my fault
that Tenchi's in trouble. You get my mom and I'll help Tenchi!" She turned and
sprinted towards Tenchi and Kagato, forming an energy sword.
Tenchi raised his sword in defense as Kagato brought his blade down upon
Tenchi's head. Kagato pushed harder causing Tenchi to fall to his knees. He was
using all his energy just trying to hold him. Sweat covered his brow and threatened
to drip into his eyes. The headband he had been wearing was already soaked and it
could not absorb any more.
"Yes, boy by now you must realize that you don't stand a chance," Kagato
taunted. "Your foolish attempts at saving your precious girlfriends are futile. After
I'm through with you I'll easily destroy those girls very easily." Kagato laughed.
"I hope you've said you're good-byes!"
"Hey, Kagato..." Tenchi said.
"Shut up!" Ryoko finished as she leapt at her former slaver. She slashed her
sword down through the air.
Kagato gracefully leapt to the side and Ryoko missed by a fair margin. "You
know I always wondered where I went wrong with you, Ryoko. Risking your own
life for a mere boy that you didn't have enough nerve to kill." Kagato frowned.
"And you have chosen to fight me without your gems. Foolish girl, those gems
were perhaps the only chance you had of ever beating me." With a flick of the
wrist Kagato's sword cleanly rived through Ryoko's own red one.
Ryoko gritted her teeth and quickly formed a new one. She was determined
to bring him down.
She was prepared to attack when Tenchi piped, "Ryoko, you've got to get to
Ryo-ohki. This is my fight."
"But Tenchi, I..."
"Ryoko, go now!" he repeated, more firmly.
Ryoko began to slowly back away when Kagato exclaimed, "No! When you
start something with me you must learn to finish it!" He dashed towards Ryoko
and attacked tumultuously.
She frantically blocked each attack while backing away. She had never seen
him attack like this before. He's right, she thought. Without my gems I can't
even touch him.
Kagato redoubled his efforts and bashed his blade against Ryoko's and
shoved her back. He raised his hand and caused a burst of cold air to blow Ryoko
into one of the walls, her head hitting especially hard. She shook her head of the
stars that had formed and saw Kagato towering above her.
Before he could make a move, Kagato was forced away by an energy blast
from Akeya. "Your reign of terror ends now," she threatened.
A now free Washu stepped from behind her, "You don't stand a chance
against the combined forces of the Royal Crowned Princess of Jurai and the
Greatest Scientific Genius in the Universe."
Kagato stood shrugged, "Yes very prestigious titles you two. But how this?
I am the Villainous Space Pirate Kagato, Enslaver of a Thousand Worlds,
Plunderer of Just as Many, and..." he paused for a moment. "Destroyer of the
Planet Jurai."
Akeya gritted her teeth, "So you're the one who destroyed my home world!
You'll pay Kagato. I swear it."
Kagato spread his arms out, "Come and get me."
Washu and Akeya began their assaults of energy blasts on Kagato causing a
smoke screen to envelop him. Kagato's sinister laughter caused them to stop. "Oh,
stop please that tickles!"
Akeya growled and she produced a sword hilt out of no where. The tube
was about the length of Akeya's forearm. She raised the hilt so it ran vertical and a
long, green, curved energy blade shot out the upper end.
Kagato grinned. "A scimitar, huh? How quaint. I've heard of your
extraordinary skills brandishing it. Let's just see how good you really are."
Akeya began spinning the blade in full circles and rushed Kagato.
Kagato brought his sword to bear and easily countered each blow. "Come
on Princess Akeya, I expected to at least break a sweat against you." Kagato took
the offensive and soon had Akeya on the run. Kagato smirked and swung his
sword in a wide arc and the impact launched the scimitar from her hands and onto
the ground 10 feet away. Akeya faltered and Kagato's arm snapped out faster than
she could react and Kagato seized her neck. He lifted her up a good two feet of the
ground.
Suddenly Washu lurched towards Kagato. Without even turning to her, he
launched another wind attack which sent her careening next to Ryoko.
Slowly Akeya began to black out. The image on her forehead gradually
faded away. Akeya's confident eyes were replaced by Ayeka's confused eyes. As
she became aware of what was happening she struggled violently and managed to
spit out, "Tenchi!"
Tenchi had been watching this whole scene play out, horrified that one of
his friends would get hurt. He had sort of gone into somewhat of a shock-like
trance. Ayeka's plead for help had snapped him out of it. He grabbed his sword
and began to sprint the distance between himself and Kagato.
Kagato caught this moment in the corner of his eye. He threw Ayeka into
the rapidly growing pile of bodies near the wall. Then he turned to greet Tenchi
head on. Kagato was caught off guard by how close the boy was already, but he
stood his ground. He'll slip up eventually, and when he does he'll be mine!
Kagato thought. As Tenchi sliced downwards Kagato saw his chance. With a flick
of the wrist, Kagato caught Sword Tenchi's blade in between one of the four-inch
long spikes and his own blade. With another flick of the wrist, he wrenched the
sword away from Tenchi's grip leaving him totally unarmed. Before Tenchi could
attempt to retrieve his lost weapon, Kagato had his blade pointed at Tenchi's
Adam's apple.
He twitched his head towards the fallen hilt, "Pick it up."
Tenchi slowly bent down and redeemed Sword Tenchi.
"Now throw it far over there," Kagato commanded again, indicating to the
left with his free hand.
Tenchi gulped and reluctantly obeyed, seeing no other way out.
Kagato grinned, "Now stay out of my way as I rid of these women, Masaki."
"What?! No you can't!"
"Don't worry, boy, you'll be joining them soon enough." He grinned as he
directed the tip of his sword to the girls and chuckled. "Now who will be first?
The best friend, Ayeka. Or perhaps the devious Ryoko. Or maybe the traitorous
Washu?" He casually waved his sword back and forth between the three of them
muttering to himself, "Eeny, meeny, miney, moe..."
"How about the evil Kagato!" Tenchi suggested.
Kagato sneered and turned around to face the boy, "How original... what
the-!"
Tenchi had grabbed Akeya's energy scimitar and was now quickly
approaching Kagato. Kagato raised his sword in defense and countered each attack
with growing ease as the surprise wore off. It was apparent that Tenchi had never
used such a weapon before and used his advantage to finish him once and for all.
"You know you heroic types are all the same. You boast about how you're going
to exact revenge against me for the destruction of some thing or another," Kagato
informed between blows. "But in the end they all fail!"
"Oh, yeah? What makes you think that I'm the same way?" Tenchi asked.
"Because, Tenchi Masaki, you are nothing more than a boy. And I will
_not_ be defeated by a mere boy!" Kagato found the hole in Tenchi's defenses and
thrust his sword forward... and straight into Tenchi's gut and out his back.
As Tenchi flew towards the Jurai household, something caught his eye. "Oh,
no!" It was a huge starship armed to the teeth with blasters. "Ryo-ohki, what the
hell is that?!"
"Miya!!!!!" Ryo-okhi exclaimed in a panicked tone. Tenchi really didn't
need Ryo-ohki to confirm that was Kagato's ship. He didn't think the Navy had
any of those handy. He watched trapped in a horrific trance as the cannons began
to glow with a green light. The ship was going to fire.
Sasami obviously came to the same conclusion as she screamed, "Tenchi!"
Sasami's shrill voice snapped Tenchi out of his trance and he leapt at one of
the floating crystals in a desperate attempt to maneuver out of the destruction's
path.
-Aboard the _Souja_-
Kagato slammed his fist onto the button. All the cannons on the exterior of
the _Souja_ trained their lasers on the small crystalline-shaped Ryo-ohki and fired.
The blasts hit engulfing Ryo-ohki in flames.
Ryoko went completely numb. The event that she had been dreading for
days had happened. Tenchi was dead. The cruel laughter of Kagato faded into the
back of her mind as the past week she had spent with Tenchi replayed over her
mind. Water formed in her eyes and she realized that she was crying. For the first
time she could remember she was crying.
But Ayeka was suffering a much different reaction. Whereas Ryoko had
spent about nine days with Tenchi, Ayeka had spent nine _years_ with Tenchi and
she had lost her sister. Deep inside something snapped within her. Quite literally
Ayeka lost control as something else took supremacy...
Ryoko's head sagged. Tenchi, I've lost you, she thought. An ear-splitting
scream penetrated her thoughts. Ryoko turned her head to see that, not
surprisingly, it came from Ayeka. This scream however was not of pain, but of
anger and hatred. Ryoko's eyes widened as Ayeka began to undergo a subtle
transformation. Her eyes did not quite change color, but they changed. They were
filled with prestige and pride. Suddenly an odd symbol appeared on her forehead.
That symbol... That was on the tree! Ryoko mused. A fiery aura seemed to
radiate from Ayeka and the glass began to crack.
"Kagato," she snapped, her voice full of new confidence and authority.
"You have committed an intolerable act against the Jurai Royal Family. What do
you have to say for yourself?" The glass completely shattered sending the blue
putty all over the polished floor of the _Souja_.
Kagato turned on his heel to face this arrogant teen. "And what do you
know of the Jurai Royal Family?"
"I am Princess Akeya, and you have just commenced in the murder of
Prince Yosho and Princess Tsunami."
Kagato chuckled then broke out into a fit of sinister laughter. "So I was
correct. You three do hold the resurrected spirits of the Jurai Royal Family. How
delightfully ironic."
"Oh my God..." Washu started but she could not finish her statement. Shock
came into her eyes a she stared out into the viewport. No way. This is
impossible.
Kagato turned around to face the screen and exclaimed, "No way!"
The smoke had finally cleared revealing Ryo-ohki to still be intact though
severely damaged.
"The cockpit's still in one piece!" Ryoko exclaimed. It was at this point
Ryoko noticed that Ryo-ohki was getting bigger and bigger. The _Souja_ lurched
as Ryo-ohki crashed into it, the gray spikes clearing Kagato's right cheek by about
two inches.
Tenchi appeared at from one of the spikes farther away from Kagato, Sword
Tenchi in hand.
"Yosho!" Ay- err... Akeya- Akeya ran towards Tenchi and embraced him in
a tight hug causing Tenchi to blush intensely.
"Uhh... Ayeka, I'm glad to see you're all right," Tenchi responded after
regaining his composure. He glanced up at the glass structure to se a grinning
Ryoko. "Good to see you're _both_ alive and well."
Akeya took one step back and examined Tenchi. "You're not Yosho, are
you?"
Tenchi looked into Akeya's eyes and knew something was different. "No
my name's Tenchi."
"And I am not Ayeka. My name is Princess Akeya of Jurai."
"Akeya?! From the legend?!" Tenchi exclaimed.
"There is no time to explain now! I will assist you in your fight against
Kagato."
"No, Princess, this is my fight. Free Ryoko and Little Washu and get ready
to make a hasty departure."
Akeya nodded and made her way back to Ryoko's cage.
Tenchi glared at Kagato. Sword Tenchi suddenly flared up eager for a fight.
Kagato produced his own sword hilt. This one was larger, like the hilt of a
broadsword. Black energy erupted forming a large blade teeming with dark, in
every sense of the word, energy. Running parallel to the blade were two four-inch
long blades, one on each side. Tenchi gripped his sword tightly and gritted his
teeth. This was it. He was well aware of the risks and he was not scared.
"Foolish boy, you don't stand a chance," Kagato sneered.
Tenchi responded with a lunge for Kagato's throat.
Kagato easily parried the blow and the fight commenced. Kagato thrust as
Tenchi parried. Kagato slashed furiously as Tenchi blocked blow after blow.
Akeya dashed up to the glass tube and extended her hand. A surge of energy
surged forward shattering the glass and releasing Ryoko.
Ryoko instinctively made a dash for Tenchi to assist him. Akeya reached
out and grabbed Ryoko's arm. "What are you doing?! Let me go! I got to help
Tenchi!"
Akeya shook her head firmly. "You could not help if I would allow you.
Yos- Tenchi is the only one who can destroy Kagato. Getting in his way would
only get you or him hurt. Got it?"
Ryoko tore her grip from Akeya and stared menacingly into her eyes.
"Listen _Princess_," she said the last word dripping with disgust. "It's my fault
that Tenchi's in trouble. You get my mom and I'll help Tenchi!" She turned and
sprinted towards Tenchi and Kagato, forming an energy sword.
Tenchi raised his sword in defense as Kagato brought his blade down upon
Tenchi's head. Kagato pushed harder causing Tenchi to fall to his knees. He was
using all his energy just trying to hold him. Sweat covered his brow and threatened
to drip into his eyes. The headband he had been wearing was already soaked and it
could not absorb any more.
"Yes, boy by now you must realize that you don't stand a chance," Kagato
taunted. "Your foolish attempts at saving your precious girlfriends are futile. After
I'm through with you I'll easily destroy those girls very easily." Kagato laughed.
"I hope you've said you're good-byes!"
"Hey, Kagato..." Tenchi said.
"Shut up!" Ryoko finished as she leapt at her former slaver. She slashed her
sword down through the air.
Kagato gracefully leapt to the side and Ryoko missed by a fair margin. "You
know I always wondered where I went wrong with you, Ryoko. Risking your own
life for a mere boy that you didn't have enough nerve to kill." Kagato frowned.
"And you have chosen to fight me without your gems. Foolish girl, those gems
were perhaps the only chance you had of ever beating me." With a flick of the
wrist Kagato's sword cleanly rived through Ryoko's own red one.
Ryoko gritted her teeth and quickly formed a new one. She was determined
to bring him down.
She was prepared to attack when Tenchi piped, "Ryoko, you've got to get to
Ryo-ohki. This is my fight."
"But Tenchi, I..."
"Ryoko, go now!" he repeated, more firmly.
Ryoko began to slowly back away when Kagato exclaimed, "No! When you
start something with me you must learn to finish it!" He dashed towards Ryoko
and attacked tumultuously.
She frantically blocked each attack while backing away. She had never seen
him attack like this before. He's right, she thought. Without my gems I can't
even touch him.
Kagato redoubled his efforts and bashed his blade against Ryoko's and
shoved her back. He raised his hand and caused a burst of cold air to blow Ryoko
into one of the walls, her head hitting especially hard. She shook her head of the
stars that had formed and saw Kagato towering above her.
Before he could make a move, Kagato was forced away by an energy blast
from Akeya. "Your reign of terror ends now," she threatened.
A now free Washu stepped from behind her, "You don't stand a chance
against the combined forces of the Royal Crowned Princess of Jurai and the
Greatest Scientific Genius in the Universe."
Kagato stood shrugged, "Yes very prestigious titles you two. But how this?
I am the Villainous Space Pirate Kagato, Enslaver of a Thousand Worlds,
Plunderer of Just as Many, and..." he paused for a moment. "Destroyer of the
Planet Jurai."
Akeya gritted her teeth, "So you're the one who destroyed my home world!
You'll pay Kagato. I swear it."
Kagato spread his arms out, "Come and get me."
Washu and Akeya began their assaults of energy blasts on Kagato causing a
smoke screen to envelop him. Kagato's sinister laughter caused them to stop. "Oh,
stop please that tickles!"
Akeya growled and she produced a sword hilt out of no where. The tube
was about the length of Akeya's forearm. She raised the hilt so it ran vertical and a
long, green, curved energy blade shot out the upper end.
Kagato grinned. "A scimitar, huh? How quaint. I've heard of your
extraordinary skills brandishing it. Let's just see how good you really are."
Akeya began spinning the blade in full circles and rushed Kagato.
Kagato brought his sword to bear and easily countered each blow. "Come
on Princess Akeya, I expected to at least break a sweat against you." Kagato took
the offensive and soon had Akeya on the run. Kagato smirked and swung his
sword in a wide arc and the impact launched the scimitar from her hands and onto
the ground 10 feet away. Akeya faltered and Kagato's arm snapped out faster than
she could react and Kagato seized her neck. He lifted her up a good two feet of the
ground.
Suddenly Washu lurched towards Kagato. Without even turning to her, he
launched another wind attack which sent her careening next to Ryoko.
Slowly Akeya began to black out. The image on her forehead gradually
faded away. Akeya's confident eyes were replaced by Ayeka's confused eyes. As
she became aware of what was happening she struggled violently and managed to
spit out, "Tenchi!"
Tenchi had been watching this whole scene play out, horrified that one of
his friends would get hurt. He had sort of gone into somewhat of a shock-like
trance. Ayeka's plead for help had snapped him out of it. He grabbed his sword
and began to sprint the distance between himself and Kagato.
Kagato caught this moment in the corner of his eye. He threw Ayeka into
the rapidly growing pile of bodies near the wall. Then he turned to greet Tenchi
head on. Kagato was caught off guard by how close the boy was already, but he
stood his ground. He'll slip up eventually, and when he does he'll be mine!
Kagato thought. As Tenchi sliced downwards Kagato saw his chance. With a flick
of the wrist, Kagato caught Sword Tenchi's blade in between one of the four-inch
long spikes and his own blade. With another flick of the wrist, he wrenched the
sword away from Tenchi's grip leaving him totally unarmed. Before Tenchi could
attempt to retrieve his lost weapon, Kagato had his blade pointed at Tenchi's
Adam's apple.
He twitched his head towards the fallen hilt, "Pick it up."
Tenchi slowly bent down and redeemed Sword Tenchi.
"Now throw it far over there," Kagato commanded again, indicating to the
left with his free hand.
Tenchi gulped and reluctantly obeyed, seeing no other way out.
Kagato grinned, "Now stay out of my way as I rid of these women, Masaki."
"What?! No you can't!"
"Don't worry, boy, you'll be joining them soon enough." He grinned as he
directed the tip of his sword to the girls and chuckled. "Now who will be first?
The best friend, Ayeka. Or perhaps the devious Ryoko. Or maybe the traitorous
Washu?" He casually waved his sword back and forth between the three of them
muttering to himself, "Eeny, meeny, miney, moe..."
"How about the evil Kagato!" Tenchi suggested.
Kagato sneered and turned around to face the boy, "How original... what
the-!"
Tenchi had grabbed Akeya's energy scimitar and was now quickly
approaching Kagato. Kagato raised his sword in defense and countered each attack
with growing ease as the surprise wore off. It was apparent that Tenchi had never
used such a weapon before and used his advantage to finish him once and for all.
"You know you heroic types are all the same. You boast about how you're going
to exact revenge against me for the destruction of some thing or another," Kagato
informed between blows. "But in the end they all fail!"
"Oh, yeah? What makes you think that I'm the same way?" Tenchi asked.
"Because, Tenchi Masaki, you are nothing more than a boy. And I will
_not_ be defeated by a mere boy!" Kagato found the hole in Tenchi's defenses and
thrust his sword forward... and straight into Tenchi's gut and out his back.