Chapter XVI
"No Need for Heroism"
Tenchi slapped his hands over his ears as everyone, except Ryoko and he, stood up and cheered. "What the hell is going on?!" he shouted to Ryoko above the noise.
"I don't know!" she responded. "But whatever it is, it can't be good!"
"Let's get out of here!" he shouted. Ryoko nodded, and they sneaked out of the cafeteria. As they followed the corridor back to the holding area, Ryoko noticed something very strange.
"Tenchi, all the guards are gone," she stated. Tenchi looked around and noticed the same thing. Tenchi gulped. He decided it would be better if he followed Ryoko closer. She was really useful in a fight. Ryoko smiled slightly as Tenchi inched closer. She considered wrapping an arm around his shoulders, but he was so tense that the shock would probably scare him half- to-death.
"I've got it!" a voice suddenly exclaimed. Ryoko nearly jumped out of her skin before she realized the voice belonged to Tenchi.
"You got what?" Ryoko asked, trying to quiet her thumping heart.
"I've figured out what's going on!" Tenchi paused for a moment and his face paled. "And now I think that I wish I hadn't." Ryoko could guess what Tenchi was implying.
"So, if the prisoners are in control now, then where are the guards?" Ryoko wondered. The sound of chanting could be heard from the holding area. Ryoko's acute ears picked up the sound immediately, whereas it took a few moments for Tenchi to recognize what they were saying: "Kill her! Kill her!" Tenchi bolted in the direction of the sound, and Ryoko followed suit.
*************************************************************
Kiyone, struggled to break free from her captors' grip, but there were just too many of them. For the nth time today, she cursed her bad luck. Of all the days for the _Yagami's_ engines to overheat... "Let go of me! I don't even work here!" she shouted. When she was brought to a large room full of ex-prisoners shouting: "Kill her! Kill her!", she knew she was in trouble. When she saw a large, muscular woman with an even larger energy ax in her hand, she redoubled efforts to break free. All her efforts proved futile as she was forced to her knees before the titanic woman.
The woman smiled a twisted smile. She shouted to the others assembled in the room, "It is time to repay the ones who have imprisoned us!" This statement erected a cheer from the mass. The behemoth laid the edge of the energy ax against the back of Kiyone's neck.
Kiyone closed her eyes and prepared herself for her inevitable fate.
The woman raised the ax high into the air.
"No! You can't!" a voice shouted.
Kiyone could have sworn she had heard that voice before. Her eyes snapped open. She couldn't believe her eyes. "Tenchi?"
The familiar cinnamon skinned boy she had just imprisoned was standing within arm's reach, his bold brown eyes glaring menacingly at the executioner. "I won't let you."
"Oh, and what are going to do about it, little man? I could snap you like a twig," the beast boomed.
"You do, and you'll have to answer to me," a voice retorted from behind the woman. Most of the woman concealed the owner of the voice, but Kiyone caught a glimpse of cyan hair and assumed it was Ryoko.
"Bring it on! I'll take on both of you!" the giant boasted.
"Enough! Kaijuu, back off now!" a short girl with blonde hair and crystal blue eyes commanded.
"But Ms. Shii, I-" Kaijuu stuttered. Konoma's eyes flashed a gold color and Kaijuu was thrown back 10 feet and landed on a table.
"Does anyone else dare to question my authority?" she asked almost sweetly. When no reply came she smiled. "Good. Throw all of the authority figures in the cells. Subject them to what we had to go through," she commanded. A group of prisoners promptly did as they were told.
Konoma turned and winked at Tenchi, who blushed. Ryoko leveled a cold glare at the shorter girl. Konoma frowned, "Ms. Hakubi, what's wrong?"
"You stay away from him. Tenchi's mine," Ryoko whispered menacingly.
Konoma tilted her head to the side slightly, her blonde hair spilling around her face, "You own him?"
"No, but let's just say I've got dibs on him, got it?" Ryoko sneered.
Konoma turned to face Tenchi. He had been to busy dodging other prisoners who had their eyes on him to notice their conversation. "Is that what he wants?" she asked.
Ryoko's eyes darted to Tenchi. Of course... it has to be... right? she mused. Ryoko turned to Konoma to snap a retort, but she was gone. She blinked twice. She must have teleportation powers...
Ryoko shrugged and sneaked up behind Tenchi, who had finally managed to free himself from the other girls. She quickly wrapped her arms around his neck, keeping the rest of her body concealed.
Tenchi quickly turned around and exclaimed, "No! I don't want to ha- !" Then he recognized the golden eyes and cyan. That however did not ease his tension. Great, he worried. She's got that smirk... "H-Hi, Ryoko," he stammered. "How are you?"
Ryoko's smirk widened. He is _so_ fun when he's like this, she thought delightedly. She moved her face closer to his, their noses just barely touching. "I'm just fine, Tenchi. How are you?" she answered.
He gulped, "It's a little hot in here, but other than that I'm fine."
Ryoko smiled and leaned forward, her lips pursed.
Tenchi tried to back away, but something would not let him.
Why do you resist so much, Tenchi? a voice rang through his mind. What's wrong with her? Why do feel you have to struggle every time she tries to kiss you? Don't you think she's beautiful?
Tenchi quickly shoved those thoughts into the back of his head. He placed his hands on Ryoko's shoulders and gently pushed her backwards. She looked into his eyes, a mixture of confusion and hurt displayed. "Please, Ryoko," Tenchi said quietly. "I don't think of you that way. Don't take it personally."
Ryoko closed her eyes and willed herself to release her beloved. She feigned a smile, "No, of course not."
No, Tenchi... it doesn't get more personal that this, she chided inwardly.
-Meanwhile...-
Washu's eyes darted gleefully across the field of stars before her. She's actually flying! Washu mused. She clasped her hand in front of her and said aloud, "I love it when an invention works!" She was sailing through the vast seas of space in the bridge of the newly reconstructed Ryo- ohki. She sighed happily, "Ryoko is going to flip when she sees you again!"
"Miya!" the ship responded in excitement of seeing her mistress again.
"I am equally excited to see Master Tenchi and Mistress Ryoko again," another female voice piped from within a small box laying on the armchair. Inside of the box was Sword Tenchi. Washu had grabbed her as an afterthought. "So how are we going to get them out of this predicament?"
Washu rubbed her chin thoughtfully. She snapped her fingers, "I think..."
"Yes?"
"I think..."
"Yes?!"
"I think..."
"YES?!"
"I think... I don't know..."
Had Sword Tenchi had the ability to move, she would have face- faulted. Washu smirked, "But I'm thinking!"
-Later...-
Tenchi sulked around the empty recreational area his hands shoved in his pockets. He thought about working out some, but he was just not in the mood. He slumped down onto one of the benches and let his mind wander.
So absorbed was he that he did not notice the footsteps approaching.
"Tenshi?" Konoma said, surprised anyone was in the room. She made her way to him and say down. She took a moment to stare at his profile, drinking in his features. He is so handsome, she thought. He looks so kind and gentle. What's he doing in a place like this?
Tenchi finally noticed Konoma's presence. "Oh, hello, Konoma," he greeted.
"What are you doing here all alone?" Konoma asked.
"Oh, nothing much. Just thinking," he responded.
"About how you got into this mess?" Konoma asked.
Tenchi blinked twice and stared at her. "How did you know that?"
"I've seen that look before, on many people's faces," she answered.
"Oh, I thought you might have been a telepath or something," explained Tenchi.
Konoma smiled. "Close enough. I've been here a long time." Konoma stared raptly outward. She shook her head, as if trying to shake memories out of her head. "So... how _did_ you get in this mess?"
Tenchi sighed, "I killed someone."
Konoma laughed softly.
"What?"
"Nothing, Tenshi... it's just you don't seem like a murderer to me," she rationalized.
Tenchi ran his fingers through his coal black hair. "His name was Kagato..." Tenchi started.
"You killed Kagato?!" Konoma shouted.
Tenchi cautiously nodded. Great! She was probably his partner or something!
Konoma leapt at Tenchi and they both sprawled onto the ground. She squeezed him tightly. "I can't believe it! I'm so happy!"
Tenchi gave Konoma a questioning look. She sat up, still on his stomach. "Thank you, Tenshi!"
"What do you mean?"
"Several years back, before I was imprisoned here, a man named Kagato joined a guild of space pirates. He stuck with the pirates for a year or two, gaining influence and resources. With one swoop, he total annihilated the guild and became the most feared space pirate in the Universe. My best friend and I were part of the guild. We fought to save it, but it was futile. He was just too strong. My friend was killed, and I was discovered by Galaxy Police. I was arrested and brought here before I could exact revenge on Kagato for my friend's demise. But you killed him for me! "Thank you, Tenshi!"
With that, she leaped at Tenchi, and they fell over backwards, Konoma's arms wrapped around his neck, their noses just shy of touching. He blushed furiously.
Konoma smiled and closed her eyes. She pursed up her lips and leaned forward. Her lips had nearly brushed up against Tenchi, when something pulled her off of him. She turned to face her assailant and was not surprised to find that it was Ryoko.
Ryoko leveled a glare at the petite figure. "You're really starting to grind on my nerves, little girl," she stated with a snarl. Ryoko cast her enemy to the side like she was a rag doll. Konoma stopped herself in midair.
She smiled coldly. "What's the matter, Ryoko? Does it hurt you to know that I stand so much more of a chance with Tenchi than you do?"
Ryoko quickly turned around, her eyes seeming to flash with an inner light. "What did you say?!"
Konoma's smiled widened. "Did you notice that he didn't shove me away?"
Ryoko's blood came to a boil. "Shut up, you!" Her orange energy sword came into existence and she slashed at Konoma's throat. Konoma brought her own energy sword to bear, though hers was blue and shaped more like a broadsword. The two blades clashed, the excess energy producing a crackling noise. Konoma pushed, but Ryoko kept her footing and remained rock steady. Ryoko smirked as Konoma strained futilely to overcome her foe. Ryoko suddenly took the offensive, and forced Konoma, who had worse footing because she was floating, backwards into a corner.
"What's the matter, Konoma?" Ryoko gloated, arrogance thick in her voice. "Surely, you're not thinking of giving up so soon."
Konoma sneered. Her golden hair whipped around her as she threw Ryoko back with an unseen force. Ryoko slid back several feet and immediately dodged a cerulean stream of energy aimed for her abdomen. She faintly heard Tenchi's voice in the background, but that did not matter. She was locked in battle with her enemy. Intertwined into a twisted ballet of fire and ice. All that existed was her target, all that mattered was her destruction.
She lunged at her enemy sword outstretched, and Konoma did the same. Ryoko grinned as she realized that her longer arms would strike Konoma first. Victory was hers.
Suddenly, there was something in between her and her target. Ryoko realized what it was a second too late and watched in horror as her weapon stabbed through the obstacle. Konoma's blade appeared a moment and a half, it also protruding from the barrier.
The world snapped back into focus for Ryoko. With a shriek, her weapon dissolved into nothing. Tears streamed from her eyes, as the reality dawned on her. She took a couple steps backward and glared at the two holes.
Tenchi fell to his knees, then collapsed onto the floor.
"No Need for Heroism"
Tenchi slapped his hands over his ears as everyone, except Ryoko and he, stood up and cheered. "What the hell is going on?!" he shouted to Ryoko above the noise.
"I don't know!" she responded. "But whatever it is, it can't be good!"
"Let's get out of here!" he shouted. Ryoko nodded, and they sneaked out of the cafeteria. As they followed the corridor back to the holding area, Ryoko noticed something very strange.
"Tenchi, all the guards are gone," she stated. Tenchi looked around and noticed the same thing. Tenchi gulped. He decided it would be better if he followed Ryoko closer. She was really useful in a fight. Ryoko smiled slightly as Tenchi inched closer. She considered wrapping an arm around his shoulders, but he was so tense that the shock would probably scare him half- to-death.
"I've got it!" a voice suddenly exclaimed. Ryoko nearly jumped out of her skin before she realized the voice belonged to Tenchi.
"You got what?" Ryoko asked, trying to quiet her thumping heart.
"I've figured out what's going on!" Tenchi paused for a moment and his face paled. "And now I think that I wish I hadn't." Ryoko could guess what Tenchi was implying.
"So, if the prisoners are in control now, then where are the guards?" Ryoko wondered. The sound of chanting could be heard from the holding area. Ryoko's acute ears picked up the sound immediately, whereas it took a few moments for Tenchi to recognize what they were saying: "Kill her! Kill her!" Tenchi bolted in the direction of the sound, and Ryoko followed suit.
*************************************************************
Kiyone, struggled to break free from her captors' grip, but there were just too many of them. For the nth time today, she cursed her bad luck. Of all the days for the _Yagami's_ engines to overheat... "Let go of me! I don't even work here!" she shouted. When she was brought to a large room full of ex-prisoners shouting: "Kill her! Kill her!", she knew she was in trouble. When she saw a large, muscular woman with an even larger energy ax in her hand, she redoubled efforts to break free. All her efforts proved futile as she was forced to her knees before the titanic woman.
The woman smiled a twisted smile. She shouted to the others assembled in the room, "It is time to repay the ones who have imprisoned us!" This statement erected a cheer from the mass. The behemoth laid the edge of the energy ax against the back of Kiyone's neck.
Kiyone closed her eyes and prepared herself for her inevitable fate.
The woman raised the ax high into the air.
"No! You can't!" a voice shouted.
Kiyone could have sworn she had heard that voice before. Her eyes snapped open. She couldn't believe her eyes. "Tenchi?"
The familiar cinnamon skinned boy she had just imprisoned was standing within arm's reach, his bold brown eyes glaring menacingly at the executioner. "I won't let you."
"Oh, and what are going to do about it, little man? I could snap you like a twig," the beast boomed.
"You do, and you'll have to answer to me," a voice retorted from behind the woman. Most of the woman concealed the owner of the voice, but Kiyone caught a glimpse of cyan hair and assumed it was Ryoko.
"Bring it on! I'll take on both of you!" the giant boasted.
"Enough! Kaijuu, back off now!" a short girl with blonde hair and crystal blue eyes commanded.
"But Ms. Shii, I-" Kaijuu stuttered. Konoma's eyes flashed a gold color and Kaijuu was thrown back 10 feet and landed on a table.
"Does anyone else dare to question my authority?" she asked almost sweetly. When no reply came she smiled. "Good. Throw all of the authority figures in the cells. Subject them to what we had to go through," she commanded. A group of prisoners promptly did as they were told.
Konoma turned and winked at Tenchi, who blushed. Ryoko leveled a cold glare at the shorter girl. Konoma frowned, "Ms. Hakubi, what's wrong?"
"You stay away from him. Tenchi's mine," Ryoko whispered menacingly.
Konoma tilted her head to the side slightly, her blonde hair spilling around her face, "You own him?"
"No, but let's just say I've got dibs on him, got it?" Ryoko sneered.
Konoma turned to face Tenchi. He had been to busy dodging other prisoners who had their eyes on him to notice their conversation. "Is that what he wants?" she asked.
Ryoko's eyes darted to Tenchi. Of course... it has to be... right? she mused. Ryoko turned to Konoma to snap a retort, but she was gone. She blinked twice. She must have teleportation powers...
Ryoko shrugged and sneaked up behind Tenchi, who had finally managed to free himself from the other girls. She quickly wrapped her arms around his neck, keeping the rest of her body concealed.
Tenchi quickly turned around and exclaimed, "No! I don't want to ha- !" Then he recognized the golden eyes and cyan. That however did not ease his tension. Great, he worried. She's got that smirk... "H-Hi, Ryoko," he stammered. "How are you?"
Ryoko's smirk widened. He is _so_ fun when he's like this, she thought delightedly. She moved her face closer to his, their noses just barely touching. "I'm just fine, Tenchi. How are you?" she answered.
He gulped, "It's a little hot in here, but other than that I'm fine."
Ryoko smiled and leaned forward, her lips pursed.
Tenchi tried to back away, but something would not let him.
Why do you resist so much, Tenchi? a voice rang through his mind. What's wrong with her? Why do feel you have to struggle every time she tries to kiss you? Don't you think she's beautiful?
Tenchi quickly shoved those thoughts into the back of his head. He placed his hands on Ryoko's shoulders and gently pushed her backwards. She looked into his eyes, a mixture of confusion and hurt displayed. "Please, Ryoko," Tenchi said quietly. "I don't think of you that way. Don't take it personally."
Ryoko closed her eyes and willed herself to release her beloved. She feigned a smile, "No, of course not."
No, Tenchi... it doesn't get more personal that this, she chided inwardly.
-Meanwhile...-
Washu's eyes darted gleefully across the field of stars before her. She's actually flying! Washu mused. She clasped her hand in front of her and said aloud, "I love it when an invention works!" She was sailing through the vast seas of space in the bridge of the newly reconstructed Ryo- ohki. She sighed happily, "Ryoko is going to flip when she sees you again!"
"Miya!" the ship responded in excitement of seeing her mistress again.
"I am equally excited to see Master Tenchi and Mistress Ryoko again," another female voice piped from within a small box laying on the armchair. Inside of the box was Sword Tenchi. Washu had grabbed her as an afterthought. "So how are we going to get them out of this predicament?"
Washu rubbed her chin thoughtfully. She snapped her fingers, "I think..."
"Yes?"
"I think..."
"Yes?!"
"I think..."
"YES?!"
"I think... I don't know..."
Had Sword Tenchi had the ability to move, she would have face- faulted. Washu smirked, "But I'm thinking!"
-Later...-
Tenchi sulked around the empty recreational area his hands shoved in his pockets. He thought about working out some, but he was just not in the mood. He slumped down onto one of the benches and let his mind wander.
So absorbed was he that he did not notice the footsteps approaching.
"Tenshi?" Konoma said, surprised anyone was in the room. She made her way to him and say down. She took a moment to stare at his profile, drinking in his features. He is so handsome, she thought. He looks so kind and gentle. What's he doing in a place like this?
Tenchi finally noticed Konoma's presence. "Oh, hello, Konoma," he greeted.
"What are you doing here all alone?" Konoma asked.
"Oh, nothing much. Just thinking," he responded.
"About how you got into this mess?" Konoma asked.
Tenchi blinked twice and stared at her. "How did you know that?"
"I've seen that look before, on many people's faces," she answered.
"Oh, I thought you might have been a telepath or something," explained Tenchi.
Konoma smiled. "Close enough. I've been here a long time." Konoma stared raptly outward. She shook her head, as if trying to shake memories out of her head. "So... how _did_ you get in this mess?"
Tenchi sighed, "I killed someone."
Konoma laughed softly.
"What?"
"Nothing, Tenshi... it's just you don't seem like a murderer to me," she rationalized.
Tenchi ran his fingers through his coal black hair. "His name was Kagato..." Tenchi started.
"You killed Kagato?!" Konoma shouted.
Tenchi cautiously nodded. Great! She was probably his partner or something!
Konoma leapt at Tenchi and they both sprawled onto the ground. She squeezed him tightly. "I can't believe it! I'm so happy!"
Tenchi gave Konoma a questioning look. She sat up, still on his stomach. "Thank you, Tenshi!"
"What do you mean?"
"Several years back, before I was imprisoned here, a man named Kagato joined a guild of space pirates. He stuck with the pirates for a year or two, gaining influence and resources. With one swoop, he total annihilated the guild and became the most feared space pirate in the Universe. My best friend and I were part of the guild. We fought to save it, but it was futile. He was just too strong. My friend was killed, and I was discovered by Galaxy Police. I was arrested and brought here before I could exact revenge on Kagato for my friend's demise. But you killed him for me! "Thank you, Tenshi!"
With that, she leaped at Tenchi, and they fell over backwards, Konoma's arms wrapped around his neck, their noses just shy of touching. He blushed furiously.
Konoma smiled and closed her eyes. She pursed up her lips and leaned forward. Her lips had nearly brushed up against Tenchi, when something pulled her off of him. She turned to face her assailant and was not surprised to find that it was Ryoko.
Ryoko leveled a glare at the petite figure. "You're really starting to grind on my nerves, little girl," she stated with a snarl. Ryoko cast her enemy to the side like she was a rag doll. Konoma stopped herself in midair.
She smiled coldly. "What's the matter, Ryoko? Does it hurt you to know that I stand so much more of a chance with Tenchi than you do?"
Ryoko quickly turned around, her eyes seeming to flash with an inner light. "What did you say?!"
Konoma's smiled widened. "Did you notice that he didn't shove me away?"
Ryoko's blood came to a boil. "Shut up, you!" Her orange energy sword came into existence and she slashed at Konoma's throat. Konoma brought her own energy sword to bear, though hers was blue and shaped more like a broadsword. The two blades clashed, the excess energy producing a crackling noise. Konoma pushed, but Ryoko kept her footing and remained rock steady. Ryoko smirked as Konoma strained futilely to overcome her foe. Ryoko suddenly took the offensive, and forced Konoma, who had worse footing because she was floating, backwards into a corner.
"What's the matter, Konoma?" Ryoko gloated, arrogance thick in her voice. "Surely, you're not thinking of giving up so soon."
Konoma sneered. Her golden hair whipped around her as she threw Ryoko back with an unseen force. Ryoko slid back several feet and immediately dodged a cerulean stream of energy aimed for her abdomen. She faintly heard Tenchi's voice in the background, but that did not matter. She was locked in battle with her enemy. Intertwined into a twisted ballet of fire and ice. All that existed was her target, all that mattered was her destruction.
She lunged at her enemy sword outstretched, and Konoma did the same. Ryoko grinned as she realized that her longer arms would strike Konoma first. Victory was hers.
Suddenly, there was something in between her and her target. Ryoko realized what it was a second too late and watched in horror as her weapon stabbed through the obstacle. Konoma's blade appeared a moment and a half, it also protruding from the barrier.
The world snapped back into focus for Ryoko. With a shriek, her weapon dissolved into nothing. Tears streamed from her eyes, as the reality dawned on her. She took a couple steps backward and glared at the two holes.
Tenchi fell to his knees, then collapsed onto the floor.