Changes Chapter 5: Heaven has Fallen, a tenchi muyo fanfic

Changes: Heaven has Fallen

In the previous chapter, Tenchi was told of the prophecy from Jurai. Ayeka then gave Tenchi a choice. He could either stay on earth and deal with the problem with the family, or she could contact Jurai and let the emperor decide what should be done. Tenchi took a walk to think it over during which, he engaged in a battle with an unknown warrior. To everyone's surprise, Tenchi refused any help. Now back to the battle....

Changes: Heaven has Fallen

The residents of the Masaki shrine could only watch as Tenchi and an unnamed intruder engaged in deadly combat. The mountains echoed every sword-strike. The warrior clad in black was a bit bigger, but it was clear that Tenchi was the more skilled swordsman. Tenchi was able to block or parry every move he made. However, tenchi-ken had already come dangerously close to the boy's throat and chest a few times. The two blades met again, this time both their masters held their ground. Tenchi's face was determined, his adversary's was simply twisted in rage.

"Who are you? What do you want here?"

"All you need to know is that because of you my life is hell. I'm here to make sure that your heart ceases to beat."

"Listen, why don't we just talk this over and try to figure this out."

"It's too late for that!"

"You can't win. If I win this duel and let you live, do promise to leave this place and never return?"

"Never, I'm not leaving here until you are dead! The only way you'll be rid of me is when my heart beats no more."

"Then I must finish this. You are obviously skilled enough to take on anyone in the house. I can't risk you hurting my family."

With that, Tenchi flung his opponent back. The boy recoiled and thrust his sword at Tenchi's throat. With a swift parry and a spin to the left, Tenchi avoided the attack cleanly. At the same time he brought his sword around. The stranger barely had time to block. He was thrown to the ground, and with a clatter, the boy's sword fell against the rocks twenty feet away. Tenchi leapt in the air. The boy looked up in time, to see Tenchi coming down on him with his tenchi-ken over his head, poised to deal the final blow. The stranger clenched his eyes and held his arms up in front of his face. As a last ditch effort, the boy shouted his plea.

"PLEASE DON'T! FATHER, NO!"

Silence. Nothing came. The warrior slowly opened his eyes. Tenchi-ken's blade was only millimeters from his face. Tenchi as well of the others had a surprised look etched into their features. Glad to be alive the boy broke down and began to cry. Slowly, Tenchi lowered his blade and deactivated tenchi-ken. He began to notice some resemblances to the Masaki lineage. The boy had the same eyes and facial features as Noboyuki and Tenchi. He even seemed to have the same hair style as Tenchi with the exception of the tail in the back. It was also clear that he had learned the basics of Jurian sword-fighting. The other style he used was hard to place but Tenchi was sure that he had seen it somewhere. Noticing the silence, Tenchi spoke.

"Just who in the world are you?"

"What's the matter? You don't recognize your own son?"

"There's no way I could be your father, we're almost the same age."

"I came from the future. I was sent by my mother."

"Who is your mother?"

"Washu told me not to say. I guess she was right about me not being able to beat you also."

"Washu? She sent you?"

Before the boy could reply, Ryoko stepped in. She gave their strange visitor the once-over. Her muscles were tense and her eyes never left him. Ayeka had already retrieved the sword from the rocks. The princess held the weapon in a defensive stance she had learned from her mother.

Ryoko: "Hold on there Tenchi. How do we know he isn't just making this up? Washu's existence isn't exactly a secret. This bum could've heard of her anywhere."

Ayeka: "I would have to agree with Ms. Ryoko. He could just be trying to get us to drop our guard."

Mihoshi: "But he looks just like Tenchi."

Ryoko: "That's not very hard to fake in this universe. We should let Washu look at him. Maybe she can get some answers."

Tenchi: "I guess so. Still I have to ask, what's your name kid?"

Stranger: "I'm Kagi, son of the dark-emperor."

Mihoshi: "I thought you said you were Tenchi's son."

Kagi: "I am."

Everyone was silent. Without a word, he walked past all of them towards the house. The group exchanged glances and followed suit. When they caught up with him at the house, Kiyone, Katsuhito and Washu were already on the porch questioning him.

Katsuhito: "So you say you are Tenchi's son from the future. I must admit that I've heard stranger things in my day."

Kiyone: "Still, I don't think we should trust him. How do we even know that he's telling the truth? I mean, he just tried to kill Tenchi, he could very well be stalling for time."

Washu: "Okay buddy. If you are who you say you are and if I did send you back, prove it."

Kiyone: "How could he possibly prove something like that. DNA can be faked, retinas altered, even skeletal structure can be manipulated..."

Kagi: "I can prove it. Before I left, Washu gave me message to deliver should my first mission fail."

Washu: "Let's hear it."

Kagi: "Okay. Little Washu, Heaven has Fallen."

Washu's eyes immediately shot open. The scientist looked at everyone around with bewildered eyes. The truth hit her dead on.

Washu: "He's telling the truth. He really is Tenchi's son."

Tenchi: What! All he said was..."

Washu: "What he just said was a code I created for myself should I ever need to verify information from the future."

Ryoko: "So what does it mean?"

Washu: "Exactly what it sounds like. If I sent him with that code, the future is a very dark place indeed."

Ayeka: "Maybe it would be best if you just tell us what has happened."

Kagi: "I don't know. Mother told me not to say anything. I was supposed to beat Tenchi, remember? I never planned on really meeting you all."

Ryoko: "Enough games, if we're going to help you, we need some info."

Kagi: "Ms. Washu, is it alright? You told me in the future that anything I say could have adverse effects."

Washu: "It's alright. I noticed that device on your belt. Is that a time shield?"

Kagi: "Yes, should anything change, I need to retain my memory. That's why you gave this to me Ms. Washu."

Washu: "Then please tell us what you can. History is already changing maybe we can survive this after all."

Kagi took a moment to consider everything that Washu had said. He didn't know if he should trust the Washu he knew or the one standing before him. However, he was always willing to take a chance. Any future had to better than the one he knew. So he nodded his agreement and began to tell his sad tale.

Kagi: "Very well. I suppose I can't make things any worse than they already are. I have come here from twenty years in your future. In my time, life is a privilege that is rewarded only to the strong. All my life, the emperor has been in control. He's not the same Tenchi sitting here today. The Tenchi I know is ruthless. Entire systems have been wiped out by his armies. I only know what my mother and her friends have told me all my life. They said Tenchi had just disappeared one day. There was something about an accident that they think might have triggered everything. My mother told me that he went out for a walk to make a decision of some kind. He never came back. She said that he returned a month later. However, he didn't return as himself; he returned as he emperor. There was a brief battle. Mother and everyone else were able to escape on the Yagami. Jurai was the next stop on his campaign. He laid claim to the throne and defeated the emperor in single combat. The his wives were imprisoned almost immediately. That's when all hell broke out. One by one, systems fell to his power. The galaxy police were able to hold their own against his forces. However, whenever he showed up at a battle, it was all over. For about ten years, the fighting was fairly even. Rebel forces in the systems along with the remaining GP forces were able to mount credible offensive and defensive maneuvers against the New Jurian Empire. My mother and her friends are the head council for this coalition against the evil. That's how I came to be. About four years into the war, mother was granted an audience with the emperor to discuss terms of peace. She thought she could break through to him despite the warnings of my aunts. There was a glimmer of hope. I was conceived during that visit. However, there was no peace agreement. My mother was used, he played her so he could find the remaining rebel forces in six sectors. When he got what he needed he tried to kill her. She escaped, barely. Nine months later, I was born. Ever since I could remember, my mother and my aunts have been training me. Grandpa Yosho taught me until the emperor struck him down in a battle. I lost two of my aunts shortly after in a space battle. I've been told all my life that I'm the one that would end the war. Six years ago in my time, the main rebel force was crushed. We had tried to take the palace on Jurai. My dear father fought me in a duel. I couldn't even touch him. That's when he gave me this scar. My family and I barely escaped. Ryoko lost an arm in that battle. Ayeka was scarred badly, now she wears a mask over half of her face to hide the burns. Sasami got away with just a scar across her back to show for it. I can't tell you which one mother is you understand. Washu had gone into hiding. She was afraid that if she was ever captured, her technology could be stolen or she could be used as leverage against us. She just contacted us recently to tell us about this plan. One by one starting with me; we go back in time to kill Tenchi before he could gain his awful power. We could only send one person at a time to avoid detection by Imperial forces. If everything goes as, Ryoko should be following me in a day or so. I'm sure they've figured out that something went wrong by now."

Tenchi: "I don't believe this. How could I....."

Ryoko: "That's not you! Not yet anyway. We still have time to change all of this."

Ayeka: "Yes, Ryoko's right! Tenchi is still here. That means that time has already begun to shift."

Washu: "Kagi, tell me something. Did I make that sword for you?"

Kagi: "Yes, there was only enough metal to make one sword. Otherwise you said you would have covered all of our ships in it. So far, it's been the only thing that could stand up to the Wings of Darkness.

Ryoko: "Wings of Darkness. Are those like the Lighthawk Wings?"

Kagi: "They are the Lighthawk Wings, they've just been corrupted. Their power is awesome, so far, there hasn't been an armada that could stand up to them."

Katsuhito: "This is most disturbing. However, now that we know how things are going to happen, we should do something about it. Right Tenchi?"

Tenchi: "Well I guess so..that is..I...Please don't kill me Grandpa!"

Katsuhito: "Foolish boy.........I meant, you should now be on guard."

Tenchi: "Oh, right. I knew that."

Washu: "Actually Katsuhito, we can no longer rely on what Kagi has told us. The moment he showed in our world, the entire timeline shifted. There's no telling how many things have changed."

Mihoshi: "Everyone! Is there anything to eat, I'm getting hungry."

Sasami: "sighI suppose I should start lunch. It's been a long day so far."

Ayeka: "You're right. I'm sure Kagi is tired of answering questions."

Kagi: "What! Haven't you all been listening?! Something is going to happen that will bring great pain to everyone in the universe. Now all you can think about is lunch?"

Ryoko: "Well, you don't know how or when this is going to happen. So how are we supposed to do anything about it? Besides, we always have lunch this time of day. We can't very well save the future on an empty stomach. Isn't that right Tenchi? Tenchi?"

Tenchi: "Huh? Oh yeah. Right. You all go on ahead, I need to speak with Kagi, alone."

Kiyone: "Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean, he could still be on a mission if you know what I mean."

Katsuhito: "There's no need to worry, Tenchi is a superior fighter. No offense Kagi."

Kagi: "None taken. I know when I'm beat."

As the rest of the household went inside, Tenchi and Kagi took a walk to the shrine. There was something about the long set of stairs that made conversation a little easier. Maybe it was the quiet, or the scenery. Either way, both of them had a lot on their minds. Tenchi took Kagi to one of his favorite trees to sit in and think. There was an awkward silence as the both of them sat on a limb trying to think of something to talk about. Kagi took the initiative.

Kagi: "Father?"

Tenchi: "Could you not call me that? It makes me nervous."

Kagi: "Right, sorry. Anyway, Tenchi?"

Tenchi: "Yeah?"

Kagi: "I've been meaning to ask you something since I got here. Do you love any of them?"

Tenchi: "Well, sure. I love all of them. Why?"

Kagi: "Oh I was just wondering if their had ever been any love between you and my mother. Before...it happened."

Tenchi: "I see. This must be hard for you. I mean, from what I've heard, all I've done is cause you misery and sorrow."

Kagi: "But that's not who you really are, I can tell. I always wondered what mother and the others saw in you. You should know that even all the things that happened, they never lost hope. Mother most of all. I never believed that you could actually be a decent guy."

Tenchi: "Thanks, I guess. I can't help but ask, who is your mother?"

Kagi: "Sorry, that's one thing I won't tell. Washu said it would ruin the surprise for you."

Tenchi: "That sounds like her."

Kagi: "Tell me about it one time....Hey what's that smell?"

Tenchi: "Oh that's just Sasami's cooking. I thought you would have tasted it by now. After all, you grew up with it."

Kagi: "Actually, in my time Sasami is a general. Cooking is probably the last thing on her mind. I never even knew she could cook. I've been raised on rations most of my life."

Tenchi: "Then this should be a real treat for you. I don't think I've ever known anyone that could cook like she could. Let's go check it out."

Kagi: "Sounds good to me.....dad."

Tenchi: "Oh man, I don't think I'll ever get used to that."

Kagi: "laughs Just messing with ya. Hey Tenchi."

Tenchi: "What is it?"

Kagi: "I was just thinking, if everything is going according to plan, the Ryoko from my time should arrive tomorrow. What are you going to do? I think she's going to be a lot more motivated than I was. I don't think she is the same Ryoko you know anymore."

Tenchi: "Don't worry, I've always been able to calm her down. Some things just don't change. If that doesn't work, maybe she'll have a heart-to-heart with herself."

Kagi: "You mean all hell is going to break loose."

Tenchi: "More than likely. But there's not really anything we can do until we get another sign. I just hope I can be ready and stop it before it takes control of me. Now let's get going before your mother starts to worry."

Kagi: "How did you know that.......Man, you almost had me. Don't do that again."

Tenchi just laughed as the two headed down the stairs back to the warm house near the lake. Neither one of them had any idea that they were being watched from the darkness. A shadowy figure in a dark cloak was crouched behind a rock nearby. As it stood, the light revealed a tall woman. Her long black hair was tied back. She idly twirled a dagger in her hand as she watched the two descend. Her thoughts were silent behind her smile, "I never counted on this. It should be no matter. They can't be around him all the time. Once I harness his power, there will be nobody to stand in my way. Soon, Jurian, I will have my vengeance." She slipped away into the brush without a sound. No one was the wiser as the house below bustled with food and laughter (and the occasional insult). Tomorrow would bring a new day with an uncertain future for the young prince and his newfound family.