Knight: It appears that my work is appreciated.
::watches a couple of readers walk buy, speaking excitedly of the fic::
Knight: But that may yet change....
::his eyes flash blue and he disappears::
Chapter 2
"This guy is rather interesting. Rather complex too. I wonder if being like that GIVES him a complex," she was saying to herself.
"What are you talking about?" asked Tenchi, lost as usual.
"Scott is projecting disturbing aura patterns," she said, simply. "Patterns that no normal Earthian should have."
"Normal? Aura patterns? What are you talking about?" If Tenchi was lost before, now he was in a labyrinth.
"Whoops. Let me explain," said Washyuu. Suddenly, the lights dimmed. A desk appeared from nowhere and Tenchi was seated in it before he could blink. A podium raised up, and Washyuu walked up to it. She was dressed in her teacher's uniform, as she stood behind the podium and started to speak.
"Aura patterns are energy patterns created by all living things," she began. An image appeared on the screen that hopped from nowhere. It showed a humanoid outline, with strange, shifting glow around it. "This," Washyuu explained, "is a normal Earthian aura. The stronger the pattern," she gestured, and the aura started to grow in brightness and complexity, "the more abilities a being has." She gestured again, and the model was moved to the left half of the screen. On the right half appeared Tenchi in his white battle garb.
"When you're at maximum power, you aura is something like this," she said. All of a sudden, a fierce shifting glow began to emanate from the Tenchi model on-screen. It continued to grow, and grow, and grow until it filled the right half of the screen and beyond. "It is because of this that you have the abilities you do. Of course, there's Tenchiken involved in it somehow, but the fact remains that you are a phenomenally powerful being."
"Aw, shucks," Tenchi said, treating it as if it were a compliment. A pot promptly fell on his head. "Oooow!" he shouted, and got a second pot.
"Now, now, now," Washyuu said. "No talking in class."
"Urrrrgh, sorry," he said.
"Getting back to business here," she said, and gestured again. The left model changed, and this time it was Scott. "I've been trying to get scans on him over the last month. Mostly while he was asleep, and I now know two things for sure." She held up her hand and ticked them off. "One, he is extremely powerful. Two, he is not human."
Tenchi was about to speak, but decided against it. Instead, he raised his hand. Washyuu looked at him and said, "Yes?"
"Uh, professor, what makes you say he isn't human?"
"Because," she said, "he emanates a strange pattern. It's something like the IC fields you have us using." She gestured at the screen. The aura pattern was replaced, and the image of Scott seemed to shimmer like heat waves off of pavement. An image of Washyuu appeared on the right half and blew the Tenchi image off-screen. Then, it faced front and began to shimmer the same way. "That," she said, "is the IC field projection, and Scott is using something similar to fool us into believing he's human." Another gesture from Washyuu, and an explosion on the right side of the screen blew the Washyuu model away. The Tenchi model walked back on with a fake innocent look on its face and resumed its place.
"Professor?" asked Tenchi, raising his hand.
Washyuu looked at him for a second, then nodded.
"Exactly how strong is he supposedly?"
Washu thought for a moment, then said, "It's hard to say for sure, but I am sure that he's not as powerful as you. He might be equal to Yosho, but it's not a for-sure thing. At the same time," here she got a vexed expression, "if you look at it differently, he could be your equal."
"What?" Tenchi burst out. "How could that be? One moment you say he's not, then you say he is. I'm confused...."
"Well," she said, "that's is a reason his patterns disturb me." She pressed a button on her holo-top, and the images disappeared. To replace it, a set of graphed information. It was like a line graph and had several spikes, labeled SCOTT. "This, from a scientific viewpoint, is a reading of Scott's energy patterns." Another button and the graph moved up to the top. Two new graphs appeared. The first new one was labeled TENCHI. It showed some rather interesting patterns, with several spikes. However, the third one was rather strange. Chaotic, random spikes, and then the spikes would disappear and new ones would emerge elsewhere. But it was an organized chaos, and the spikes seemed to follow a definite pattern. A pattern that matched Scott's. "This third set was taken from a Class A criminal that recently escaped from GP headquarters. What amazes me the most though is that Scott seems to emit both patterns. I'm guessing that the first one is to throw people off, because I found this one on him only through one of my more advanced scans."
"Who is it?" asked Tenchi.
She pressed a new button on the holo-top. A name appeared on the third graph.
Tenchi gasped. No, he thought. It can't be. It just can't be!
Washyuu seemed to read his thoughts. "It is."
Tenchi couldn't take it anymore. He bolted from the lab, past a very confused Aeka, heading off to the forest. Aeka stepped into the lab. "What," she asked, "is going on? Where did Tenchi go in such a hurry?" She saw the screen, saw the names, gasped, then ran off after Tenchi.
Washyuu sighed, and looked once more at the name on the third graph.
It was labeled KAIN.
Ryoko, in the meantime, decided to start walking again. She moved out of the way, just as the person jumped. She heard something hit the ground behind her and turned around, just in time to find a strange masked bandit flying up from the ground and punching at her face. She ducked to the left and socked the bandit in the jaw, sending him flying. He landed in a heap on the ground, but was back on his feet in an instant. He ran towards her, this time probing her defenses. She blocked his strikes and intercepted a kick as it nearly made it to her stomach. He pushed up with his caught foot and kicked her in the face with his other foot. This resulted in the bandit freeing himself and twirling to the ground, kneeling. Ryoko meanwhile shook her head a little.
"I'll give you credit for one thing," she said, "You can kick."
"Why, thank you," the bandit responded.
I know that voice, she thought in surprise. Indeed, it was a familiar voice. One she had gotten to know pretty well over the last month. A voice whose owner was confirmed when he lowered his bandanna, revealing the face of Scott Gareth. "What the? What are you doing?"
"Testing a theory that you have taken halfway to fact," said Scott.
"What was that theory?" she asked.
"Simple," he replied. "You aren't human."
Crap! she thought. Out loud she said, "Uh, what makes you say that?"
"Well, for one thing, you use fighting styles that I know didn't come from this Earth," he said calmly. "For another, you're floating about 2 feet off the ground."
Immediately, Ryoko looked down. It was true. She must have instinctually kicked her flight abilities, she realized. She looked up and smiled nervously. "Well," she said nervously, "whaddaya know? Guess this isn't normal, eh?"
"Oh yeah it is. If you are who I think you are, this is about as normal as you get." With that, Scott launched himself at Ryoko, hand extended towards her head.
Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease, she thought, dodging to the right, feeling the hand just graze her cheek. "I think you need to toss some variety into your attacks," she said when he landed, hand clenched in a fist. He instead turned around and smiled at her. Then, he opened his hand, and she gasped. He had snagged her earring!
"Pretty gem," he said. "Wonder what happens when I crush it, eh?"
Ryoko watched has he clenched his fist around it, tighter and tighter, until the gem cracked, then splintered. Well, she thought as the IC field fell away, at least it was one of my artificial ones. She looked at him and was surprised at the look on his face. On it was a mixture of satisfaction, hatred, and fear mixed into a strange expression.
"At last..." he breathed. But before anything else could happen, a forcefield appeared around him. "What the hell?!" he shouted, as he struggled to escape. Instantly, the forcefield was electrified, and lightning shot through his body. He grit his teeth, as he looked around. Azaka and Kamidake floated up and maintained the forcefield, while Aeka walked up from nowhere. She was dressed up in her balloon-limbed, centrally armored battle garb and regarded Scott with a look of utmost contempt, then looked at Ryoko.
"Are you all right?" she asked.
"Yeah, no thanks to you. What in blazes is going on?!" she asked.
"This freak is no human being," she said icily.
"What do you mean he isn't human?" she asked.
At that point, Tenchi stepped forward. "You hid yourself well, Kain," he said. "But the hiding's over. I'll kill you now, once and for all." He noticed Scott shaking. "Well, Kain, how does it feel to be afraid for once?"
"My name," said Scott, "isn't Kain. I am Kyrin. Hear me?!"
"Stop lying, Kain," said Ryoko. She had donned her battle garb, a black and red skin-tight outfit, and had her ki-blade drawn. "You caused Tenchi pain, and any pain he has I have as well." By now, Kyrin was really shaking. "Aw, don't worry," she said in a fakely sweet voice, "I'll only tear you to shreds and leave you to die in subspace...."
But Kyrin wasn't listening. He had his own problems, and they had nothing to do with the forcefield that surrounded him.
I sense it! cried Kain's voice. There is Jurai blood here!
Dammit, not now! Kyrin shouted in his head. Kain was trying to gain control of him again. No, no! he shouted, forcing his will against that of Kain. But this time, Kain would not be contained. Kyrin could feel his shivering growing less, could feel the numbness that came with Kain's physical possession. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! he screamed, but it was too late. Kyrin was gone, for now. Now, Kain stopped shivering. He looked up and smiled an awful, feral smile. "That didn't work last time, freak," he said.
Tenchi paused. Something was wrong. Kyrin had spoken, but not with Kyrin's voice. Then Kyrin looked up and Tenchi could see. Kyrin's eyes had gone from blue-green to deep black. Kyrin gestured and the forcefield disappeared. Azaka and Kamidake squawked as they were tossed in opposing directions. Two gems appeared on the back of his hands. They were black in color, yet glowed with an evil light. In an instant, Tenchi was in battle garb, balloon tan-sleeved with green center armor, the Tenchiken activated and in his hands. Kain seemed to shimmer for an instant, and then he... changed. His hair lengthened into a ponytail, turning a light blue. He was wearing a blue short-sleeve shirt and white loosely fitting pants. He was wearing fingerless orange gloves and his footwear seemed to be a cross between sneakers and boots.
Aeka watched this and recognized the garments. "Tenchi!" she shouted. "Watch out for this one! He's a Dareis!"
"A Dareis? Who are they?" Tenchi shouted.
"I know nothing about that particular weak, pathetic race," said Kain. "Except that I am more then any Dareis, more then any being of any people in the galaxy!"
"Yeah, right," said Ryoko, but inwardly she cursed. A Dareis! A real Dareis! Kain was bad enough on his own, let alone a Dareis!
"Uh, what's the big deal?" asked Tenchi, turning for just an instant.
"I'll show you, pitiful Juraian," said Kain, and the body changed again. This time, the clothing was like Kyrin's natural garb, only now it was armor-like. On top of this, strange markings appeared on his body. Not Juraian battle stripes, but somewhat akin to them. He formed a black energy blade and took a stance. "Well," said Kain. "Let's dance."
Tenchi and Kain leapt at each other, meeting each other in mid-air. They landed on opposite sides of the ground and turned, facing each other. Tenchi had a long cut along his sword arm. Kain had a deep cut along his chest. They flew at each other, stabbing, slashing, parrying, and dodging. After several minutes of this, though, Kain decided to cheat. He pretended to trip on something. Tenchi, seeing an opening, launched himself overhead in attempt to land and stab Kain straight through. Just as he was about to land, Kain raised his hand and sent a wave of dark energy from his body. Tenchi was hit full on, and was nearly launched into the stratosphere. He would've made it there, except that Kain flew up after him. Stopping at a point just above Tenchi, he extended his palm. He blasted Tenchi full on with darkness, and Tenchi flew fell back to Earth. He created a crater where he landed, and fought to remain conscious. Kain, meanwhile flew downwards toward him. His blade was raised, and he was smiling that awful smile of his. Tenchi tried to move, but he couldn't. His body wasn't responding to his brain at all. He looked up and started wondering what he would say to his mother.
Kain was almost there. Just as he was about to land the killing blow, however, a forcefield sprang up around Tenchi. Kain bounced off of the forcefield and landed off to Tenchi's left. Aeka flew at him, eyes ablaze with unrestrained hatred. She landed several energy punches on him with several of them hitting him, knocking him over. She flew to a tree, sprang off of it, and flew at high speed at the recovering Kain. Kain looked up, saw her flying at him, and moved out of the way just as Aeka reached him. She flew past him and rammed into a really thick tree. Kain ran up to her and slashed deeply into her back. He continued slashing, and Aeka was in so much pain that she couldn't get a forcefield up. Tenchi watched this, and started trying to get up.
"Got... to... get... up...." he said through clenched teeth. I have to get to Aeka! he shouted in his mind. I got to help her! He heard Aeka finally scream under the onslaught.
I will no longer bear the pain of seeing those I care about suffering for my sake. I won't let them die! I've got to help them!! He got out of the crater, but by now he was breathing pretty hard. He was definitely in no shape to take on Kain. But then, just then, he felt something stir inside of him. It was a spark of power. He concentrated and felt a few more. Slowly, he caught them and gathered them together inside himself, and as he gathered more, his symbol started to glow. Hang in there guys, he thought as he gathered more of the sparks. Just a bit longer. Just a bit longer....
Unfortunately, Aeka didn't have a bit longer. The slashes had ripped into her back, crossing it with scars. She didn't have the strength left to scream out in pain, and Kain knew it. Not having those gratifying screams made this a boring activity.
"Just one stab," he said, and aimed his blade for her heart. Just as he was about to land the killing blow, there was a slash of orange. His hands fell off and as he stared at the stumps of his hands, stunned, a blast of orange sent him flying a few meters away. Ryoko flew at him, sword raised, and stabbed at his head. Kain dodged his head, trying to do both this and concentrate on re-growing his hands. He opened up his mouth and spat flames in Ryoko's face, driving her off long enough to reform his hands.
He formed another dark blade and flew at Ryoko, intent on killing her. She ducked his strike, forcing her energy sword between his arms in an attempt at stabbing through his head. Only a split-second dodge to the left saved his head, and even then he had a deep cut that oozed purple blood. Kain swiveled the blade downwards and stabbed. However, Ryoko had teleported.
Reaching out with a special sense, he found where Ryoko would phase in and carried the stab into a backwards strike that barely missed slitting open his stomach. Instead, he felt the blade meet the resistance of flesh and a satisfying hiss of pain. He stepped away and twirled around, hoping to deliver a fatal slash. Instead, he encountered an orange energy blade, and the enraged demoness behind it.
Ryoko knocked Kain's blade back and punched Kain in the gut. Kain doubled over and felt another blow land on his back. He fell to the ground and rolled, dodging Ryoko's sword. He lashed out with his foot, catching Ryoko at the knee joint.
She fell, and he was on her, punching, kicking, kneeing, and basically beating the poor girl to a bloody pulp. He paused to admire his handiwork. Ryoko was scratched, bruised, and he could tell he had snapped a few things in her somewhere. He reared back and prepared to deliver a punch that would've made Ryoko's face a part of the scenery.
Just then, a bar of light swept from nowhere and knocked Kain away by several feet. Kain looked up, dazed, as a figure in white stepped forward. He could feel the power emanated by this being, could feel the power of life that resides in all Juraians. Kain hopped up in a frenzy and went berserk, trying to kill the warrior in white. Three Wings surrounded the warrior, and he grabbed one changing it to a sword. Kain struck at the warrior with everything he knew, but if ever there was a strike that the warrior couldn't block then one of those infernal Wings would block it and proceed to retaliate. Kain could feel it: he was losing. Finally, a stab from the warrior made it through Kain's defenses. Kain felt it puncture his heart, or at least the core of pulsing matter that helped to keep him alive. He screamed, as purple blood spilled out on the ground. He could feel his control on his brother starting to slip. Gauging the odds, he decided discretion was the better part of valor and retreated back to the corners of his host's mind.
Tenchi watched as Kain's eyes changed, and Kyrin resumed control. Kyrin fell over and hit the ground, unconscious. Changing his sword back into a Wing, he manipulated a Wing to Aeka, Ryoko, and Kyrin, wrapping them each in one. Then, he warped to Washyuu's lab.
"I was wondering when you'd show up," said Washyuu. She watched as, silently, Tenchi placed Aeka and Ryoko on beds for medical treatment.
"Where do you want me to set this one?" he asked.
"Here," replied Washyuu. She pointed at the spot where The Mass had once been, and Kyrin was tossed in. Washyuu tapped a couple buttons on her holo-top, and a forcefield appeared.
Kyrin stirred just long enough to see Tenchi dematerialize from his warrior form back to Tenchi Masaki. "By Tsunami's cleft, this is the worst cosmic joke I've ever seen. Have all my targets been living right under me?" he muttered. Slowly, he began to assess the damage done to him while Washyuu and Tenchi started treating wounds on Aeka and Ryoko. He felt along his wrists where he had been cut and looked down, noticing that the scars were healing rather nicely. He felt a little bit of blood on his face and ran one of his hands along the trail of blood to the cut. He healed it using a small fraction of his power, and then slowly started to get up. He nearly collapsed from a great pain in his chest, but he recovered enough to look around his prison. A small box basically. Nothing more, nothing less. No bed, no breakfast, no bathroom, no nothing. There was empty space where the entrance should've been. Experimentally, he formed an energy ball and tossed it at the entrance. The ball hit a forcefield and shattered.
Washyuu heard something and looked up. She watched as Kyrin experimented a bit, then as he shrugged and sat back against one of the walls.
"Tenchi," she said. Tenchi looked up from what he was doing.
"Yes?"
"Scott seems to exhibit two different aura patterns. Do you think it's possible that-"
"No." The force in Tenchi's tone surprised Washyuu. "That bastard's name is Kyrin. He is related to Kain in some way. He must never, EVER get out."
"Don't worry about that. I've made a few modifications to the forcefield that's keeping him in there. Tsunami herself would have difficulties in escaping from that, I guarantee it."
"I'll take your word for it. I'm gonna go talk to him and see what information I can get from him." With that, he walked over to the cell. "Alright, you. Get up. C'mon, GET UP!"
Kyrin looked up at him and grinned. "What can you possibly do to me if I don't?"
"I could tell Washyuu to make that cell a live torture chamber."
"Yeah, that's the way you snot nosed semi-deity. Get others to do your work for you."
"Do you think I'm afraid of you? Huh?! Do you?!"
"Of course you aren't," said Kyrin with a sardonic grin. "You got a forcefield between yourself and me that I haven't been able to breach yet." He shrugged. "If it weren't there..."
"Why did you come here?" asked Tenchi, trying to remain diplomatic.
"I'm a bounty hunter. I got some targets on this planet. Sounds like reason enough for me to be here, but then you never know do you?"
He's trying to bait me... Tenchi thought. Out loud, he said, "Just out of curiosity, who are your targets?"
"Do you really want to know?" Kyrin asked, serious. Tenchi nodded. "Washyuu," he said, pointing at the scientist. "Ryoko," he said, pointing at the sleeping space pirate. "And last, but not least, you," he pointed at Tenchi has he said this.
"There's no way you're getting them. Or me. Or anyone," said Tenchi with more confidence then he felt. He can't get out... but that means we could be getting some unwelcome arrivals soon. Squaring his shoulders, Tenchi spared Kyrin a look of contempt. "Better get used to seeing this stuff," he said. "Because you're not getting out of here for a looooooong time." With that, he stalked out.
Washyuu watched as Tenchi walked out, and Kyrin shrugged and sat back, looking to be asleep. Washyuu felt that she should walk over to Kyrin and start trying to dig information out of his mind, but thoughts of that were pushed to the back of her mind when she heard one of her patients moan. She looked down to see Aeka slowly start to sit up. "I don't know that you should do that," she said.
Aeka felt has if her back was on fire. "Can I walk?" she asked, trying to get up.
"Eventually," said Washyuu. "You probably could do so now, but I don't recommend it. If you choose to walk anyway, don't over exert yourself."
As if she needed to hear this news, Aeka sat back on her bed tiredly, and sighed.
"I also don't recommend doing that in a regular bed," said Washu. "Luckily, these are anti-grav beds, thought up by yours truly." She winked. "And all those western mattress companies say you'll feel like you're sleeping on air. With these, you actually DO sleep on air!"
Aeka couldn't help but grin at that. And yet, she was troubled. "I've failed..." she muttered.
"What do you mean?" asked Washyuu.
"I should've been able to hold out longer," she said.
"Hey, that was Kain you were dealing with. Remember?" Washu said. "You aren't Achika, you're Aeka. Only Achika and Tenchi were capable of standing toe to toe with Kain."
"But I want to be as strong as Achika was!" Aeka yelled. She regretted it instantly, and fell back on the bed.
"Wanna be as strong as Achika, eh?" shouted a voice.
Aeka grimaced. "Shut up, bounty hunter scum."
"No thanks. I mean, you're not an enemy so I can help you!"
"Why would you help me?" Aeka asked suspiciously.
"Because eventually, I will need to be killed," a calm voice replied.
Aeka's eyes widened. "What do you mean?" she asked, not bothering to hide the suspicion in her voice.
"I really see no reason to tell you."
"Do you wish for death?"
"Once in a while, I don't wish for it. Otherwise, I wish I could meet death every day." That comment was enough to even take Washyuu aback.
"Great," she muttered. "Not only is the prisoner a strong sumbitch, he's also suicidal." She looked down at Aeka and smiled reassuringly. "You should probably get some sleep, Princess."
"All right," replied Aeka. Though I have to admit, she thought as she drifted off, the thought of becoming stronger is appealing.
Washyuu walked over to Kyrin's cell. "Why'd you have to show up again?"
"Why'd my employer choose you as a target?"
"In other words, you have no clue," Washyuu said, a note of contempt in her voice.
"You think that my ignorance is worthy of contempt?"
"That and you."
"That doesn't really surprise me. You've tried to forget your experiences with the nobility, but you've still retained a few memories. Especially," here he glared, "of how to be an arrogant bitch."
"Watch what you say here," she said dangerously. "You are no longer in the position to be disrespectful. Your life is almost hanging by a thread."
To her surprise he started laughing. "My life is hanging by a thread? HA! You wish, and I as well!"
"Shut up," Washyuu said in a calmly angry voice. "Just shut up, damn you!"
"What's the matter?" he asked, utter contempt in his voice. "Is the greatest scientist that the known universe has ever seen forsaking the one piece of knowledge that hurts the most?"
"I said, SHUT UP!" With that, Washyuu summoned her holo-top and pressed a button. Instantly, the whole cell emitted an intense light. Kyrin was engulfed in light, and he was nearly killed by the intense energy being force-fed through his body. But he never cried out. When the light was gone, Kyrin was on the floor in a smoking heap. He was alive, but barely.
Washyuu stood there, stunned. She had never lost control like that before. The hand that had pressed the button on the holo-top started to tremble violently. She looked at her hand, then looked at Kyrin. She walked off to attend to her patients. By Tsunami, she thought, why did you have to come back?
Achika had, even as a high school teen, shown signs that she would be one heck of a mother. Kind, caring, gentle; she had seen in his father what no other girl had ever seen. She had also been one of the most powerful warriors of all time. The only one to stand one-on-one with Kain... and survive. Yet, this had cost her greatly. She had handled too much energy in trying to defeat Kain. Doing this made her unnaturally frail, and had taken away the longevity enjoyed by most Juraians. In fact, she had aged faster then most Earthians because of this.
Tenchi remembered the day his father had come to the shrine.
The way the snow fell in large flakes, covering the ground in a blanket of white. It had been Tenchi's first encounter with snow, and he loved it. The way it fell from the sky, when the only thing he'd seen fall from the sky was rain. The way it could be kept separate, and yet clumped together. The way it could touch you for a single instant in time, then disappear. He'd made his very first snowman that day. He'd used a few coals from the holy fire that burned in the shrine. He turned from his handiwork just in time to see his father had walked up the steps with his head downcast. Tenchi had gone up to his father and said, "Why are you sad, father? Today is a happy day!"
"Tenchi..." Noboyuki had seemed a little hesitant. "I'm afraid your mother won't be coming home tonight."
"When will she be back?" Tenchi had said, completely oblivious to what was coming.
Noboyuki sighed, then uttered one word. "Never." And the words of his father had crashed into Tenchi with all the force of a wave against the shore.
Tenchi reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a picture. There was a beautiful face on that picture, with long black hair and deep red eyes.
"Well, mother," he said quietly. "I think we missed a spot when we tried to kill Kain. But don't you worry. We captured him and now we're going to kill him. Eventually. As soon as we can figure out a good way to do so." Tenchi paused. "And yet, I don't know that I could do it. I mean, on the one hand, he was a great friend. At least, his host was. Then they revealed themselves, and I don't know what to think of the whole deal except that Kain must be destroyed." He sighed. "I know what you would do. You'd find a way to destroy Kain, yet leave the host alive. But should we even bother to? After all, even if Kain wasn't there, Kyrin would still be here trying to kill us. It's just so... so... confusing." Tenchi looked up. He could've sworn he'd seen someone else in the room. And in a way, he had.
Ryoko stood there in her astral form, cursing herself. "Look at me," she said, not that Tenchi could hear her. "I'm down in a hospital bed and here Tenchi is, suffering again." She walked over and sat next to him. "Why can't you see me like this anymore?" she asked. "Why can't I ever be there for you when you need someone the most?" She remembered when Tenchi had learned of his mother's death.
What? What is this? Ryoko had only recently gained enough energy to astrally project. And she'd never seen snow before. It was weird to see a solid fall on her, fall through her. It didn't fade away like rain, it gathered in huge clumps.
She heard a sound. It sounded like footsteps. She looked towards it. Aw, it was Tenchi. What a day to watch him play! But... but... what was this? Tenchi wasn't smiling. He had a heartbreakingly sad look on his face.
What the--? What happened? She wondered at this as he finally made it to the shrine. He started up the steps but tripped on the third. Slamming hard to the ground, he finally broke down in tears. This must be serious , thought Ryoko. It takes more then that to make Tenchi cry.
She hopped down next to him and sat down. He just sobbed softly into the stone, and then muttered a single word. "Mother..." The very utterance of this word brought a new wave of tears.
Mother? What is a mother? Ryoko couldn't understand the concept of having a mother. She also couldn't understand why the word brought such an ache to her heart. Watching Tenchi sob brokenly, she wanted to reach out to him. But she couldn't. All she could really do was rest her hand on his head and try to offer what comfort she could.
Now, though, he couldn't see her. He couldn't see how much she loved him.
But now, Ryoko was confused as well. She loved Tenchi. But she had also developed feelings for the person Kyrin had been before he revealed himself. They both had a place in her heart, but she wasn't sure which parts. And then to reveal that Kyrin was associated with Kain! And Kain, through Kyrin, had tried to kill not only Tenchi, but Aeka and herself as well. But is it truly Kyrin's fault? she wondered. I mean, he might be a host of Kain, but does that make Kyrin himself an enemy?
Kagato Hagare, a bright-eyed brilliant student of paranormal engineering, typed in a couple of commands on one of the consoles and watched the readout. "Sensei Washyuu!" he called, and she strode over. He studied the readout carefully, then spoke. "Sensei, are you sure that we should include some of these abilities?"
"She's going to be fighting against one of the greatest warriors that our civilization knows of," Washyuu replied. "We need to give her every edge we can."
"But, Sensei, she's going to have a child's mind! She won't know what to do with such abilities, what if she goes berserk?"
"That's nothing to worry about," she replied. "She's been programmed with an intellect matrix, so she'll learn fairly quickly."
"But what about these control gems?" Kagato pressed. "If someone were to gain control of her through one of these, it could spell disaster!"
"That's why she's been linked to me specifically. If someone tries to interfere, I can cut them off almost instantly."
"Yes, but..." Further argument was staved off. There was a great excitement from the culture tank.
"Well, well, well," Washyuu said thoughtfully. "The Mass are in quite a stir."
"Energy levels rising!" reported one technician. The Mass were starting to collide together at a phenomenal rate.
Attention all staff came a voice into the minds of the work crew. Energy levels approaching critical. Evacuate the immediate area and fall back behind barriers. Repeat... but a repeat wasn't necessary. The work crews were already dashing away from the culture tank.
Washyuu stood there amidst the organized chaos of her surroundings. She directed a couple of stray workers to the shielding areas, then ducked behind one herself. And not too soon either. The machines, working on programmed algorithms, were able to control the explosion of energy and orange light. The ground shook, the powers of the barriers straining against those of the transformation that was taking place. Washyuu heard the techs praying, swearing, muttering, or sobbing.
Finally, all was silent. Tentatively, Washyuu stepped out from behind the barrier.
A young lady was standing in front of the culture tank, naked but not shivering. She had wild cyan colored hair, and her golden eyes looked all over her surroundings. She breathed, first through her nose, then her mouth, revealing sharp eyeteeth. Three small, topaz-colored, spherically shaped gems were placed on her wrists and her neck. However, the acts of standing and breathing seemed to drain her strength, for soon she sank to the floor, curling into a fetal position.
Washyuu reached out through the mind link towards this creature. At first, nothing. But soon, she felt a chaos of emotions. Amongst the more predominant emotions were fear and confusion. Gesturing to one of the techs, which handed her a towel, she stepped forward tentatively. Step by careful step, she finally reached the new being. The being, sensing her, looked up. She couldn't speak, but the emotions coming through the link said it all: Who are you?
Washyuu smiled softly as she knelt down beside the new being. She wrapped the towel around the being and kissed her on the forehead. She responded with a warm, reassuring feeling.
The construct finally calmed somewhat, and sent a coherent thought. Who... are you?
I'm what you'd call a 'mother' Washyuu said through the link.
What is a mother? she asked.
I hope to help you find out, replied Washyuu. And right at that point, she couldn't feel more pride.
With that, Washyuu woke up. She wiped a tear from her eye, then slowly got out of bed. I tried so hard, she thought as she started to get her clothes on. I tried so hard.
***
"You said you could help me?"
Kyrin looked up from the corner he was sitting in. Seeing Aeka there, he slouched a little, just to see her reaction. Seeing none, he replied, "Yeah, I think I could."
"Well, all right then. I'd like to know how to fight."
"That was apparent the first time you said that."
"Oh." She fidgeted for an instant, then continued. "But I want to learn to fight well enough to be able to match Yosho in combat."
Kyrin couldn't help but laugh a little at that. "Lady, if you're gonna fight as good as he did, then you need at least a millennia of training. And, as you can see," he held up his hands helplessly, "I'm not in the position to do that."
"Then why am I wasting my time with you?" asked Aeka in an almost rhetorical fashion.
She turned around and was about to walk away when she heard Kyrin say "Feh. Snobby pain. You come to me, asking for help, and then walk away without hearing what I can do to help."
"But you yourself said you weren't in a position to help me!"
"I can't give you full training, but I can still help."
"How?"
"By telling you how to be more efficient in your energy usage, for instance."
"Now what's wrong with how I manage my energy?" Aeka asked, turning around to face him.
"Remember the last time we fought?" asked Kyrin. "I beat you very easily. You should have been able to hold out longer, except for two things. 1
"Are you saying I'm fat?!" Aeka demanded.
"No, I'm saying you're out of shape. If you continue at this rate, you're going to lose your life on the battlefield and it'll be all your fault because you ate too much ramen!"
Oh well, she thought to herself, that just gives me more of a chance to be with Tenchi.
"What is with you and Tenchi, anyway?" asked Kyrin, and that was when Aeka realized that she had vocalized her thoughts.
"Tenchi" Aeka said proudly, "is a descendant of the Juraian royalty. Someday, he and I are going to be married, no matter what Ryoko has to say."
Kyrin moaned. "A descendant of the Jurai Nobility? No wonder we don't get along."
"What's wrong with that?" she asked.
"You're part of the Nobility, so you tell me."
Aeka narrowed her eyes. "What do you have against us?"
"Did you ever try to map Juraian politics?" Kyrin asked. Aeka shook her head no. "Jurai Royalty, Nobility, politics. They're all the same word for a bunch of petty squabbling racist men and women who feel that they are above every other being in this galaxy."
"That is a lie!" Aeka shouted. "We may be a little callous in our treatment of other races at times, but we never take them for granted!"
"Like you take Tenchi for granted?" Kyrin asked quietly.
"How dare you even suggest that?" she said in a haughty fashion.
"Well, I haven't been watching very long" he said, "But I can see that it's like a war between you and Ryoko, with Tenchi as the prize."
"I don't think of him like that!" she exclaimed.
"Oh you don't, do you? All right, let me ask you something. If you truly love him, have you made it clear to him?"
"Of course I have."
"I'm not referring to fighting Ryoko, or routinely blowing up the house. I'm asking you if you've set aside a little time and said, in any way you choose to say it, 'I love you'?"
"Well."
"Furthermore, " he continued, "have you even thought to ask what his feelings on the subject are? What he thinks? Who he loves? For all you know, he doesn't care for you at all. What you are doing," here he paused for breath, "is doing what all of the Juraian Nobility has done throughout their entire history – taken for granted the allegiance and affection of others."
Aeka had no good answer for that. Looking over the past year, she realized that she had, in fact, taken Tenchi for granted. "Well, that doesn't matter. I love him for who he is, not for his blood," she said, trying to shift the argument away from that subject.
"Well, you might be the paragon of tolerance and virtue, but the rest of your 'pure' blooded friends don't think that way. Your father's a prime example of that."
"What do you know about my father?" she said.
"I know that he is an extreme racist who hates non-Juraians," he said, as if it were common knowledge.
"That is a bloody lie! My father is the one that decreed that we be more tolerant of the other races, he is the one who decreed that royalty marry outside of our race!" She said this in a triumphant manner, expecting Kyrin to fall silent.
To Aeka's surprise, Kyrin laughed. "Oh, your stupidity is truly amazing. Has it never occurred to you that the reason he allowed this was that the gene pool was stagnating?"
"How is that true?" she asked.
"Oh come on. If you're as high profile in the royalty as I think you are, then you know about the rising sterility rate amongst the royalty, since they insisted on marrying other royals. The Emperor believed that the only way to conquer this was to diversify the gene pool. Besides," here he smirked, "two wives means he has more fun."
"You're even more wrong," Aeka said. Her voice could've frozen the sun. As it was, the temperature in the room did drop a few degrees. "He was acting out of concern for his people, and in the end it paid off, because he was able to have a heir."
"Yeah, but Yosho is no longer considered the legitimate heir to the throne. Tenchi is now the closest thing to a successor, but it won't be given to him because he's only 1/4 Juraian. Of course Tenchi could rule well! Of course he has all the good qualities people could ask for in a king! None of it would matter to them because they only care about keeping their blood blue!" He stared up at her balefully. "Of course, the whole lot of 'em would disown you as a member of the royal family if they could remain pure."
Aeka stood there, trembling in rage. Never had anyone spoken to her like that. NEVER. "You," she grated out through clenched teeth, "shall regret this. I guarantee it." With that, she stalked out, passed a very surprised Sasami, and out the door, in the general direction of the shrine. I don't need his help anyway, she thought angrily. I can just speak with my brother about it.
Kyrin in the meantime sighed and wondered what would be for dinner.
Ryoko had been less and less present around the house recently. She spent more time at the caves, seeming to think things over, but it was never clear as to what she was thinking over.
Mihoshi and Kiyone, in the meantime, had had to leave for the month for their annual sweep of the system. Without them to talk to, all that was left for her to do was try to work and remain cheerful.
Tenchi had proven to be a good friend, but whenever asked about that Kyrin person, he became a bit tight lipped. Which was why she had decided to serve him lunch. Everyone had tried to keep her out, saying that she didn't want to see him. They were wrong; she did want to see him and nothing was going to stop her. She walked in with a tray modestly portioned with food. Kyrin was sitting there quietly, and he looked up when she entered. He smiled at her and he said, "Hello there, kind one."
Blushing at the compliment, she set the tray down as close to the forcefield as she dared. He tried to reach for it, but the forcefield caught his hand and wouldn't let him through. Nervously, Sasami stepped to the tray and edged it forward with her foot. Kyrin looked up and could see the fear in Sasami's eyes.
"It's alright," he said. "I don't bite, if that's what they've been telling you."
"It's just that when Aeka walked out of here last, she seemed like she was gonna cry," Sasami said. "And, well, I was afraid that you'd be mean."
"Truth and cruelty go hand in hand. I regret it, but that's the way of things." Again, he tried to reach for the food, but the forcefield stopped him again. Sasami slid the food past the forcefield with her foot and stood back. With a "Arigato!", Kyrin tore into the food. He'd been practicing his skills a bit harder lately, and he was becoming hungrier as of late. He looked up at Sasami, watched as she smiled nervously. That was when he noticed the triangle symbols on her forehead. But that wasn't supposed to be there, those were supposed to be circles. The only being he had heard of to ever carry triangles had been Tsunami. But that was impossible! Tsunami was a revered goddess! Not an 8 year old Juraian princess. But the way she looked... that same blue hair, same pink eyes as described in the legends.... Naw, he thought. She couldn't be! Could she?
For my sake, I hope she isn't.
Fine time for you to show up again. If it makes you afraid, I hope she IS the goddess Tsunami! Deciding to try to ease the tension between himself and Sasami, he spoke. "You're a pretty good cook."
Blushing at the compliment, she muttered off a muffled, "Arigato."
"You see?" he said. "I've spoken nothing but truth to everyone here. It just depends on how you take it."
It was true, Sasami thought to herself. Kyrin wasn't such a bad guy after all. Feeling safer, she sat down in front of the cell and studied Kyrin curiously. "You know what?" she asked Kyrin. He looked up from what was left of lunch, acknowledging her. "Washyuu told me that you're a bounty hunter. She also told me that you're after her, Ryoko, and Tenchi." She paused to let this sink in, then continued. "I can see why they'd keep you locked up, but I don't understand why everyone hates you."
"That," Kyrin said, "is one of my darkest secrets. It is one that I try not to tell anyone. But... if you wish to hear it, I don't see the harm in telling."
"I appreciate it."
"Okay: I am periodically possessed by my younger brother."
"That is scary, but they seem more scared then they should be."
"Well, you knew my younger brother, so I think you'd be afraid as well."
"Who was your younger brother?"
"He was Talus Powerseeker. But you knew him by the name he now calls himself: Kain."
"Kain possesses you?!"
"Yep. And if your memories are similar to the others, then you probably hate him too..."
"Oh. I see...."
"So... why are you nice to me?"
"Well, a person's a person, regardless of their past," she replied.
"Wow. I wish the others were like you."
Just then, Ryoko walked in. She had been looking for Washyuu originally, to ask for a bit of a tweak on her astral form, when she saw Sasami talking to the prisoner. "Sasami!" she shouted. Sasami looked up from the conversation she was having with Kyrin. "Get back!" she shouted at her running forward.
"Now, just a second--," Sasami said, but she was swept up in Ryoko's arms and at Washyuu's location in an instant.
"He didn't do anything to you, did he?" Ryoko asked, checking her over. "WASHYUU! GET OVER HERE!"
Washyuu walked over calmly. "What's up?" When she was filled in on the situation, she proceeded to perform an examination on Sasami using scanners and feeding the information into her holo-top. When she was done, she examined the results. Sasami was nervous from the sudden examination, but she was fine otherwise. But it was her experience that a simple physiological check wouldn't do, considering the prisoner. So Washyuu asked how Sasami felt.
"I feel fine! Really, I do!" she said, slightly annoyed. "You know," she said, "I think you guys should listen to his story! I mean, he's pretty cool once you get to know him."
"What lies has he told you?" Ryoko asked with a ferocity in her voice. Why did that semi-possessed dead beat have to speak to Sasami of all people? To say that she was furious was an understatement.
"What do you mean lies?!" Sasami cried out. "I mean, I asked why everyone's so afraid of him, and he told me, and I think you're being a little mean to him over this whole thing!"
"Keep an eye on her," Ryoko said and stormed back to the cell which Kyrin was located in. Sasami watched her go and sighed.
"I don't understand," she said. "I mean, he's really not so bad when you get to know him, and he didn't say anything bad to me."
"Well, we know him a bit better then you do," Washyuu replied. And I know him better then anyone.
"But..." Sasami tried to argue the point ,and would've, except that an explosion rocked the lab.
"What the--?" Washyuu cried out. They ran to the scene of the explosion and were not completely surprised by what they saw. Ryoko was floating there, arm extended. The forcefield was sizzling from the electrical blasts Ryoko was tossing at it. Kyrin, meanwhile, was standing in his cell with a calm look on his face.
"You've been enough trouble! Spreading rumors, brainwashing Sasami, and now telling me that lie about why I am!"
"I never lie," said Kyrin. "You've been deceived by Washyuu more then anything. If you're gonna zap anything, it should be her."
"Look," Ryoko said, "I may be dangerous, but there's no way I'm gonna believe that I was made to kill!" Washyuu gasped. This is going to complicate things, she thought to herself.
"You weren't made to kill everyone, just one someone."
"And who was that?"
"Me."
"In that case, I'm glad! Washyuu, get the forcefield down!" exclaimed Ryoko. Looking down, she saw Washyuu trembling in rage. "I don't blame you for bein' pissed, 'cuz so am I! If he said a lie like that, I'd...."
Washu looked up at her daughter, sighed resignedly, and said, "A Dareis never lies, even you know that. He's right. You were made to kill."
***
Knight: Think what you may, but I have not demonized the characters anymore then they had the potential to be.
Tenchi Muyo! and related paraphernalia are all copyrighted to Kajishima Masaki and Pioneer Animation.
If any reader recognizes an idea that is his/her own, all credit goes to you.
You may contact me at: KnightOfCyril@aol.com