A Life Fulfilled

Chapter 18

Our Love Will Never Die

" WASHU!"

Tenchi stared in disbelief. Though he couldn't see her face, he knew she was in a great deal of pain. Mikamo's sword had ripped through her and the very end of it was visible through her back. If Washu hadn't sacrificed herself, that very sword would have been plunged into Tenchi instead.

Mikamo slowly removed his sword and watched his wife fall into Tenchi's arms.

" Washu! Open your eyes, WASHU! Please, open your eyes! You can't leave me!" Tenchi let the tears fall as he stared at his love's lifeless face.

" Mom!"

" Mother!"

Ryoko and Mikumo raced to where their mother was, both afraid of what they might see.

" Why? Why did you do that? That attack was meant for me, not you! Why did you jump in the way?" Tenchi cried.

Washu slowly opened her eyes and turned her head toward Tenchi. Blood flew from her mouth as she gasped for air. She reach up and placed a hand on Tenchi's cheek, wiping away the tears.

" I...couldn't....let you...die," she struggled to say. " I...had to save...you."

" Mom, please don't die!" Ryoko place her over Washu's.

The scientist smiled at her daughter, " Sorry, I didn't....mean....to be....such a...terrible mother."

" No! Don't say that! You're a great mother!"

Washu turned back to Tenchi, noticing the others were now behind him, tears in their eyes.

" Sorry I lied."

" Washu, what are talking about?" Tenchi asked as he held on of her hands to his face.

" I told you.....I would stay....forever...with....you."

Tenchi's eyes grew wide.

" But....now....I don't think....I can.....keep that....promise."

" NO!" Tenchi held her tight. " Don't say things like that! I'll find a way; I'll find a way to save you! This is all my fault, if I hadn't been so stupid...if I had only seen what Mikamo was going to do....I could have....I could have prevented this."

" It is all my fault," Mikamo knelt beside his wife and caressed one of her cheeks. " I shouldn't have been so jealous. I should have seen the love you have for this man is far greater than the love you have for me. I wanted to be with you but now my desire to see you might end up killing you."

" It's....alright...your intensions...were....good. Tenchi...there is only...one ...way, but...it would be...too hard for...you...to do...it."

" What is it Washu, tell me! I'll do anything that is required to save you!"

Washu slowly sat up, leaning against Tenchi for support. She stretched her arm out as if trying to reach something. Tenchi's gaze followed her hand and saw she was searching for the Tenchi-Ken. The scientist grabbed it and fell back into Tenchi's lap. She placed Tenchi's hand over the hilt, igniting the sword, and aimed it at herself.

" Miss Washu, what are you going to do with that?" Ayeka's voice sounded with concern and fear.

" Kill me."

" WHAT?!" they all shouted in unison.

" You...have to...kill me," Washu stared into Tenchi's eyes. " It's...the only...way."

" How do you expect getting killing is going to save you? Have you gone insane?" Mikamo nearly shouted.

" If I am to die.....by that sword......Ryoko's gems....they can heal me....."

" I get it," Ryoko stared at her mother. " Your saying that if Tenchi kills you with the Tenchi-Ken, then the gems that are on that sword will be able to heal you?"

Washu nodded her head.

" Can't we just us the gems to heal you now, mother?" Mikumo inquired.

" No....the gems....they react to dieing....energy. If I die....by that sword....the gems will...take in my energy...." Washu was unable to finish and she cringed in pain.

" Then I would command them to give it back with enough energy to heal you completely," Ryoko finished her mother's sentence after hearing the scientist's thoughts.

" No, I can't, I can't kill you! Washu, there has to be some other way!" tears began to fall from Tenchi's eyes once more.

" There's....no other....way.....Tenchi. It....might not.....work.....but....there is....a....chance."

" You mean I might kill you and never see you again?! How can I possibly live with that fact if you die? I killed the love of my life because I tried to save her. I would go insane!" Tenchi cried.

" Better a slight chance than none at all," Mikamo's voice startled Tenchi. " If you won't do it, I will."

" The sword only activates for Royal Family members that are related to Lord Yosho," Ayeka stated. " You cannot activate that sword even if you tried to."

" Then...Tenchi....he has to do it," Sasami sighed; she knew it would be hard for the prince.

The group all stood in silence for a while. Tenchi supported Washu with his life force while he closed his eyes and thought about the way to save her.

' Can I really do this? Can I really bring myself to murder her like that?'

' She said it was the only way!'

' But she also said it might not work!' Tenchi argued with his mind.

' Try it! If you don't, you'll never save her!'

' Try it? You can't just try it! This is something you can never test out first without risking someone's life.'

' What if it does work? What if you didn't kill her when it would have ended up helping her and she died?'

' Alright, I'll do it.'

Tenchi opened his eyes and looked at his love's face. She had her eyes closed tight due to the horrible pain. He saw the blood that was splattered over her mouth and it looked like she was having a tough time breathing. Tenchi knew what to do.

" Would you all please step away?" Tenchi asked sternly.

" Tenchi?" Ryoko already knew what he was doing.

" I am going to kill her."

Hearing this, Mikamo, Mikumo, Ryoko, Ayeka, Sasami, Mihoshi, and Taro began their walk back toward the house. They weren't going to go inside, they were just giving Tenchi some space, like he asked.

Tenchi placed the Tenchi-Ken in his hand and nearly cried when he heard Washu speak.

" Forgive me....Tenchi....for giving you such a terrible burden."

The prince raised the sword above Washu's body......................

And plunged it downward.