Welcome again! Looks like some of you actually do like my work! ^_^ Anyway, I don't own the Tenchi Universe or the OAV rights; just a copy of the DVD's. Pioneer/AIC owns all things Copyright to Tenchi (Except Victor and this actual story, but hey.).
Just as a side not, this is still based after Manenatsu No Eve and the Mihoshi Special. Since there aren't a lot of OAV Kiyone references in the Canon, I am making a bit of her personality up on the fly, so bear with me. I am borrowing much of her personality from Universe. If you don't like what I am doing with her, then let me know so I can re-write her personality, ok? On with the Fic!
Illusions of Life: Sins of the PastChapter the Third
The clang of Machinery and the sounds of animals both large and small filled the air. In the midst of this chaos, a small garden bloomed. This garden had many beautiful flowers and plants, with a small stream that ran down the middle of it. Sitting near the picturesque landscape, a small figure floated on a large pillow. Her most notable attribute was an absolutely massive mane of pinkish red hair that fell almost to the floor. Dressed in a black, short-sleeved shirt and some khaki shorts, the diminutive figure is typing away at a shadowy computer that is in front of her.
Washu sighed as she typed into her holo-computer. Now that Kiyone and Mihoshi are in the regenerative vats, they'll heal up just fine, she thought to herself with a yawn. Now where was I? Oh yeah, I nearly have those anti-matter volleyballs ready. This is gonna be great!!!
Suddenly there is a slight beep from her holo-top. Looking at it in surprise, Washu began typing in a few commands. Within moments, she had located who was sending her an encoded message. The diminutive scientist blinked in surprise when she discovered the identity of the transmission. Guardian? I didn't think that computer ever got finished, Washu thought to her self. I don't get it… only people with my genetic code could have gained access to my lab in the Science Academy. So what is it doing out? She shook her head in disbelief. The computer beeped again, forcing Washu to stop her speculations, at least for the moment. Better find out what this is about.
The red headed scientist pressed a key on her holotop and the audio played over a nearby speaker. "Washu. Come in Washu." She was a bit surprised to hear the voice of the bounty hunter, Victor. "I have the coordinates that I needed, but I need a place to send the crew and the ship. Over." Washu smiled a bit.
Well, well, well. Looks like I might be able to find out about Guardian the easy way after all. Grinning ear to ear, Washu opened a channel and began responding to Victor's communication. "All right, I copy that," she said in a good imitation of a cargo shipper. "Relay them to coordinates X5673, Y89032, Z74219. I'll rig a hanger and a cellblock up for them." Before Washu ended the transmission, she said, "One more thing, young pup." There was a pause over the lines of communication. "You have to call me… Little Washu!!"
Washu could almost see the bounty hunter's grin. "That'll be fine Wash...err, Little Washu. Thank ye again."
The little scientist that could began typing furiously at her holo-top. Better get this ready. Looks like today will be better than I had planned!! With a few delicate keystrokes, Washu built a fully functioning copy of a standard issue Galaxy Police detainment facility. You really are a genius!! She began cackling madly, echoes the only reply.
A blue haze slowly lifted from in front of a shocked young man's eyes. As his vision returned, Tenchi Masaki, caretaker-in-training of the Masaki shrine, saw a small, squat building and a landing dock appear before him… and nothing else. Looking around hurriedly, he was a little disturbed to find nothing but a black, swirling, inky darkness.
Tenchi nearly jumped from his skin when he felt hand settle on his shoulder.
"Aaugh!!" He screamed as he spun around. Tenchi immediately relaxed when he saw the grinning bounty hunter standing behind him. Victor started to chuckle as he brought his hand back down to his side.
Well, me boy, yer reflexes haven't dulled much," Victor said as he chuckled. Motioning to small door standing conspicuously next to the building, he began walking in its direction. "Come on lad, let's go and get some rest. Then, it's time to play good cop, bad cop." Victor looked over at Tenchi as the young boy began following him. "Guess who gets to be the good cop, eh?"
"Let me guess," Tenchi said with a smirk, "I get the honors?"
"Oooh, the boy does have a sense of humor. There's hope for him yet!"
Tenchi looked at the bigger man and grinned. He began thinking about a conversation the two had had on the way into Tokyo. Victor had told him what sort of armaments the pirates had, as well as a little bit about their tactics. Then the bounty hunter had gone on to talk about his original target. Apparently, the man was wanted for being some sort of rebel. To Tenchi, though, it did not explain the enormous bounty on the man's head. Thinking about it, Tenchi was a little bit curious as to exactly why this man knew so much about his 'prey', as Victor called it.
"Victor," Tenchi called out as the two walked towards the building, "How did you know so much about the pirates?"
Victor looked over his shoulder. "Once ye fight one pirate, ye've fought them all."
"But what about the bounty your after? What's so special about him?"
The bounty hunter turned to Tenchi, his eyes cloudy, and his expression unreadable. Tenchi swallowed hard at the set of Victor's face, but stood there unmoving under the scrutiny. Finally, after the silence seemed to envelope and smother the duo, Victor spoke.
"Do ye really want to know that, Tenchi?" the grizzled veteran asked. Tenchi swallowed again and nodded. "Fine, I'll tell ye. The bounty I'm after has connections to someone I'm after. I need to have that information, whatever the cost." Victor said in a low growl, with the first real hint of emotion in his voice. He looked away and began walking toward the door again.
Trying to recover from his shock, Tenchi hurried over to the bounty hunter and fell in step alongside him. So this is a personal vendetta, Tenchi thought. Well, maybe we can all help him with this. He seems nice enough anyway. Tenchi stopped his train of thought when he two of them reached the door near the small gray building. Following behind the bounty hunter, he went through the door into the rest of Washu's lab.
The door opened into the garden that was the entrance to Washu's domain. Tenchi stood there while Victor tried to take in everything that he saw. The young priest noted that the bounty hunter was as confused and amazed, as he had been so long ago.
"This is in that small room underneath your stairs?"
Tenchi could only smile at the bewilderment in Victor's voice. "Yes. Washu built it as soon as she decided to move in here." He chuckled when the bounty hunter looked over, questions in his eyes. He held up his hands. "Don't ask me about how it works. I never could sit through Little Washu's lectures on it."
The young swordsman glanced down at the wound in the bounty hunter's side and frowned, noticing that it had bled through the make shift gauze he had applied to it. "We'd better get you to Washu, that wounds not getting any better."
Victor nodded, and the spiky haired youth and the gray-eyed bounty hunter followed the path to the area of Washu's lab devoted to healing.
On arrival, Tenchi noted that Washu was indeed there, floating on her ever-present cushion and typing away idly. As he watched, the diminutive scientist would glance occasionally to the monitors of two large green tubes. It wasn't until they had walked to within a few meters that the would-be priest recognized what was in the Tanks.
Float in a strange liquid, attached to many wires, were the two GP that Tenchi called friend. Neither of them appeared to be conscious as they floated in this strange liquid. With a start, Tenchi realized that neither of his female friends was clothed. He caught movement out of the corner of his eye.
Looking over, Tenchi saw a strange gleam in Victor's eye. Before the young priest could wonder at the bounty hunters strange fascination, the Priderian clutched his side in pain. The tall Victor fell to his knees with a grunt, alerting Washu to their presence.
The red headed scientist spun around on her floating cushion. Her green eyes widened in surprise when she saw she had guests, but narrowed immediately when she saw the injuries to Victor. Hopping down from her perch, Washu walked over to the pair.
"Got yourself in a bit of a pickle have ya?" She said conversationally as she looked over the bounty hunter. "Well, let's get you up on a table and get those wounds looked at." She snapped her fingers, and mechanical arms reached out for the injured Victor. In a few moments, he found himself wearing nothing of what his boxers, lying on medical table.
A small floating device began flying around the table, emitting a green light from a small lens. The light moved up and down victor's body, covering him from head to toe. And then the light was gone.
Washu was staring at a small screen next to the bed as the light washed over Victor. Readouts began appearing on the screen and she frowned thoughtfully. Once the scans were completed, she studied them a bit more before smiling and nodding. With a grin she turned to her patient.
"It's a good thing you Priderian's are so rugged," she said with a smile. "I'll need to throw you in a tank for about three hours to fix you as good as new." So saying, she pressed a button on her holotop.
A hole opened in the floor at the based of the table. Suddenly the table itself lifted up from the other end and Victor slid off into the hole with a splash. The hole closed and a large cylinder rose up from the ground. Tenchi saw that Victor was already hooked up like both Mihoshi and Kiyone, although the scarred Priderian's arms were crossed. The look he was giving the diminutive scientist could have boiled blood, but she paid it no heed.
She looked over at Tenchi and smiled. "Why don't you go back to the house and get some food, Tenchi," Washu said as she started to shoo him away. "I'll let you know as soon as…" Both stopped and stared as warning sirens went off from Victor's tube.
Both scientist and farmer watched as the bounty hunter's cylinder cleared to a blue liquid and sank into the floor. A moment later, the one-eyed man was raised back up to floor level, free from the machines and looking as fit as when he arrived!
"How?!" Washu asked in amazement. She ran a quick diagnostic scan from where Victor was standing. "Wow! What have they been feeding you Victor?! You shouldn't be any better off than you were when you went in, but my readings show you to be perfectly fine!"
Victor nodded with a grimace. "I've always healed quick. Now could ye please give me my clothes back?"
"Aww, but I was admiring the view," the red head pouted playfully. "Are you sure I can't run a few more tests on you?" She asked, batting her eyes at him.
"Ah…erm…"Victor hemmed in sudden embarrassment and fear. "Mebbe later?" He asked, more than answered the tiny scientist before him.
Washu shrugged as she climbed back onto her cushion. She looked over her shoulder with a wide grin and said, "I'll hold you to that young pup. Now go get some food, and then you can go play with the pirates that you caught." With the press of a button, Victor found himself fully dressed in his original clothing. He blinked and walked away. Tenchi followed, shaking his head.
"You shouldn't have agreed to that Victor," Tenchi said, a laugh in his voice.
Victor looked sideways at him as they approached the door they out of the lab. "It kinna be that bad lad," he grumbled as he opened the door.
The would-be-priest mere shook his head as they out into the house. "Just wait until you find out what samples she wants…"
Greeting the two weary men was the scent of mouth-watering food. The smell originated in the kitchen, but was heading toward the dining table. Tenchi walked over immediately, Victor not far behind.
They were greeted by the smiling, blue haired Sasami as she set out the dishes for lunch. "Hi Tenchi! Hi Mr. Bounty Hunter! Are you joining us for lunch?"
"Yes we are Sasami."
In little to no time, most of the house was gathered for lunch. As everyone ate, they could not help but glance at the empty places reserved for Kiyone, Mihoshi, and Washu. The two GP had declined lunch, citing acute cases of unconsciousness, and the diminutive scientist begged of after reminding the princess that she needed to monitor the tanks.
Ayeka chose to break the silence. "Lord Tenchi, what did miss Washu say about Mihoshi and Kiyone? Will they be all right?"
"I think so, Ayeka," the young priest replied slowly. "Victor was only in one of the tanks for a few minutes and he was completely healed. I can't imagine they will be in there for that long."
Victor nodded as he at his lunch. "I dinna think they'll recover as quickly as I did, but it won't take too long. Another coupla hours for the green haired detective, and Mihoshi'll be out and about in a day or so."
The blue haired princess smiled radiantly over at the bounty hunter. "Are you sure Mr. Bounty Hunter?" With his nod, she continued, "Great! I can start preparing their favorite dinner tomorrow. Yay!"
Lunch concluded with no incidents. Which, in and of itself, spoke volumes about the mindset of the entire household. Finally, Victor stood.
"C'mon lad, let's get it over with. I wanna get this done so that I kin relax for a spell." Tenchi nodded, and both returned to Washu's lab.
As the two men left, the unusually quiet Ryoko looked around before cleaning up her orange-eyed charge. "Well, I am taking Mayuka to the Onsen for a bath. See you all later." She rose to depart, but stopped when the lavender haired princess rose as well.
"I don't spend as much time as I'd like with Mayuka, so I think I'll join you," Ayeka said. With a nod from her golden-eyed counterpart, the trio left the house as well.
Sasami looked around. "Ok, Ryo-Ohki! Let's getr this cleaned up, then we can go play!"
"Mi-Yah!"
She felt warm and comfortable. That was the first thing that Detective Kiyone Makibi realized about herself. As her sense of touch slowly returned to her, she also noticed that she was hooked up to some machines. And then it hit her; she was wet and naked.
Kiyone's blue eyes shot open in a panic. For a moment all she could see was a glowing green light. When her eyes had adjusted, she saw that she was floating in some sort of green liquid in a large tank. Looking through the glass, the green haired detective could see someone in a lab coat walking around and checking readings. She could just make out a massive ponytail of long, pinkish-red hair. Kiyone's muscles relaxed when she realized she was in Washu's lab. Deciding to get the scientists attention, she moved her arm through the green liquid and tapped on the glass.
Kiyone watched as Washu's head snapped around immediately at the sound of tapping glass. The diminutive scientist smiled and walked over to the tube Kiyone was floating in. Checking the readouts, Washu nodded her head and looked up to make eye contact with the blue eyed girl.
"Well, Kiyone, looks like you and the bounty hunter heal faster than I thought," Washu said as she waved her hand. Her spectral computer appeared and she began typing. "Took you less time than expected. Good, maybe you can help Tenchi and Victor out with their interrogations." Washu continued typing, but the liquid in the tank slowly cleared until it was only water. "Alright, out you go," and Washu hit a single key on the keyboard.
Kiyone gasped as all of the cables connecting her to machinery vanished in an instant. She looked down as the bottom of the tank opened up and all of the water rushed out. Kiyone closed her eyes and began to pray as she was sucked down along with the water.
And splashed down an instant later. Opening her eyes and taking a deep breath, Kiyone was shocked to find herself in the floating Onsen. She was not as shocked as the occupants, though.
Ryoko, Ayeka, and Mayuka were sitting a few feet from the newest visitor to the Onsen. Mayuka was crying in Ryoko's arms as both of the now soaked young women stared daggers at Kiyone. Mustering up what little pride and self-esteem she had left, Kiyone smiled at them.
"Uh, hey girls. What's up," she said timidly while trying to maintain a smile. Hearing a familiar voice, Mayuka stopped crying.
Ryoko just looked at Kiyone and sighed. "I take it 'Mom' let you out of the tube then?" She said to Kiyone. Ayeka just humphed in Kiyone's direction and went back to bathing.
"Looks that way. She also said that Tenchi and the bounty hunter are questioning the pirates that got caught."
"Yep. Only saw them for a little bit since they came back from Tokyo," Ryoko sad amicably as she washed Mayuka. "I think they're somewhere in Washu's lab. I was gonna go over there after my bath." Ryoko tickled the baby and got a giggle in return. She looked back up at Kiyone. "Wanna come with me?"
Kiyone, meanwhile, had been watching the way that Ryoko was tending to Mayuka. She really is turning out to be the best at raising Mayuka, Kiyone thought to herself, a warm smile on her weary face. I am so happy for her.
After hearing Ryoko's last question, she smiled a bit more and said, "Sure, Ryoko. I want to actually see the creeps that messed with my ship."
Kiyone decided to look around the Onsen. It looked as though it late afternoon, so Kiyone figured she was out for most of a day. After completing her perusal of the surroundings, she noted a few people missing.
"Where's Sasami, Ayeka?"
The Amethyst haired princess looked over at Kiyone as she bathed. "I believe that she is playing with Ryo-Ohki, Kiyone. She was worried about you and Mihoshi. She will be glad you asked about her."
Kiyone paled visibly at what Ayeka said. Her hand flew to her mouth. "Oh no!! What happened to Mihoshi?"
Ayeka and Ryoko looked at each other, both of them perplexed at the change that had come over Kiyone. Both were shocked further when Kiyone jumped out of the water, grabbed a towel, and ran out of the Onsen.
Ryoko just shrugged her shoulders as Ayeka shook her head. "What's with her?"
"I really haven't the slightest idea," Ayeka said to the cyan haired girl. "And she seems the most level headed out of all of us…."
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Detective First class Kiyone ran into the room that Mihoshi and she shared. Frantically stumbling through the filthy part of the room that belonged to Mihoshi, she dove headlong into her closet, dressing as fast as she could. In just a few minutes, Kiyone had put on a white shirt with a mid length black and red checkered dress. After running her hands through her damp hair, the blue-eyed detective ran out of her room and down the stairs, headed for Washu's lab.
Stopping her mad rush at the door to the broom closet, Kiyone composed herself and knocked on the door before opening it. Seeing a dark space, she took a deep breath and stepped into Washu's laboratory.
Kiyone walked through the garden that usually appears at the entrance to the pink haired scientist's lab. Looking around, she saw a sign that said "Medical Wing". Sighing in relief, Kiyone walked through the archway the sign was posted on.
The sight that greeted her Kiyone would not soon forget. Washu was standing next to a tall cylinder filled with a glowing green liquid. She was wearing a white lab coat over he usual attire, and was checking the readouts on a screen next to the tube. Kiyone, however, was not looking at Washu. She was staring into the tube.
Floating in the cylinder was Mihoshi. The blonde detective looked mostly whole except for the large gash in her stomach. Even as Kiyone watched, small machines were busy passing some form of energy over the wound. The liquid was solidifying after each pass of the beams, slowly replicating the missing flesh, bone, and blood. A tear trickled down Kiyone's face as she watched her partner ever so slowly returned to the land of the living.
Acting mostly on instinct, Kiyone began stumbling forward as if in a stupor. Washu looked up when Kiyone neared. After seeing the look on Kiyone's face, the diminutive scientist respectfully backed away from the cylinder that held Mihoshi's unconscious form. Kiyone reached out her hand, and placed it as near to Mihoshi's face as she could. Tears she couldn't explain rolled down her cheeks as she gazed at her partner.
Washu took all of this in and hmmmmm'd in though. She shook her head and walked over to Kiyone. Placing a hand on the jade haired detective's shoulder she gently guided Kiyone from the area of the cylinder. After seating Kiyone and pouring her a cup of tea, Washu sat across from her. Gathering her thoughts for a moment, the green-eyed scientist began to speak.
"Don't worry Kiyone, it's better than it looks," Washu said to the dazed detective. "Her injuries were pretty bad, but I have the Regenerator cylinder working non-stop to heal her. She'll be fine." Washu continued to console Kiyone, even as she wondered at the reaction from the blue-eyed young woman.
This can't be a normal reaction. With the way those two bicker, she shouldn't be this broken up. I'll have to look into this. Washu collected her thoughts as Kiyone made to stand up.
When Washu put a restraining hand on Kiyone's arm, the detective looked right at the smaller woman. Kiyone could see Washu shudder as their eyes met. "Where are they holding the pirates, Little Washu? Ryoko said she would be going over there, and I intend to be there for this." Kiyone pulled her arm away and stood with her arms crossed over her chest. "Now where are they?" She growled menacingly.
At just that moment, the air shimmered next to Washu as Ryoko appeared.
"What's up, Washu?" Ryoko queried as she surveyed the surroundings. "What's got you so nervou……Oh!" She exclaimed when she turned met Kiyone's hardened stare. Ryoko looked closely and saw the tear streaks running down Kiyone's face. I didn't think anything could make Kiyone cry… she thought to herself.
It seems that unusual bursts of anger aren't the only strong emotion Mihoshi elicits from Kiyone, Daughter. Washu said telepathically. I expected Kiyone to be concerned, but you should have seen her initial reaction. Ryoko just mentally grumbled while she concentrated on Kiyone's voice.
"Can you take us to the pirates, Ryoko?" Kiyone asked in a cold voice.
Ryoko looked over at her mother and saw Washu nod her head slightly. "Well, I guess, if you really want to…"
Yes I do."
Ryoko looked from Kiyone to Washu, and then to the cylinder before returning her gaze to Kiyone. Shrugging her shoulders a bit she put a hand on the teal-haired girls shoulder.
"You ready?" Ryoko asked. Seeing a nod from Kiyone, she waved at Washu. "See ya later…." And with her last words echoing in the breeze, the two women faded from sight.
Washu looked over at the Cylinder that held Mihoshi and sighed.
"I really don't want to be in the pirates shoes right now," She said to herself. With a shrug of her shoulders Washu waved a hand and brought her holotop into existence. "Might as well add this new data into the system. Maybe then I can figure out what is going on with Kiyone."
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In a squat gray building in some dimensional fold of Washu's lab, three humanoids sat bound to chairs. Across from the pirates, who sat fuming in the bleak room, stood Tenchi and the bounty hunter. Tenchi sighed in resignation as he looked in the direction of the Pirates.
"We aren't going to get anywhere with them, Victor," Tenchi said in defeat. "I am just not good enough at this 'Good cop, Bad cop,' stuff to be any real help. Maybe we should go and get some of the others; I'm sure Washu or Ryoko would be able to help."
Victor crossed his arms in response. "Yeah Tenchi, why don't you go and get Ryoko." Tenchi nodded in the bounty hunter's direction and headed out of the building.
Tenchi shut the door behind him as he exited the building. Looking around, he was vaguely surprised to see Ryoko and Kiyone phase into view a few feet in front of him.
"Oh!" Ryoko exclaimed. "Tenchi! How'd you know we'd be here?"
Tenchi just shrugged his shoulders as he looked at the Cyan-haired girl. "I didn't. I came out here to go and get you guys, actually. Victor thought you might be able to help, and I wanted to check on Kiyone and Mihoshi." Looking at Kiyone, Tenchi inadvertently shuddered at her hard and empty stare.
The young teal haired woman walks past Tenchi and grabs the handle of the door. The door refuses to move, no matter how hard Kiyone pulls on it.
"Tenchi, did you lock the door?" Ryoko asked in an uncertain voice.
"Ummm…No."
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As Tenchi walked out the door, Victor began grinning. About damn time, he thought to himself. Now I can find out what I want, my way. Moving quickly to the door, Victor turned the latch and a low 'click' ensued. He turned to the three pirates.
"I tried to be nice. Now you will talk…."
End, Chapter the Third
Well there you have it. The third chapter comes to a close, and I still haven't done much, eh? Hopefully chapter 4 will be a bit longer than this one. Please feel free to comment below. If ye don't like how I am handling the characters, let me know so I can correct myself. I do realize this is kinda serious and angst like, maybe squeaking in to drama, but after Chapter 4 there'll be a some lighthearted events. And many thanks go out to everyone that has reviewed me so far, Especially SSJ4 Broli (whose Tenchi/DBZ Crossover is excellent) and Empress Galaxia. The two of them have helped inspire things in the upcoming chapters. Well, until later! ^_^