Here I go, another chapter for you to enjoy. This is the one where the entire plot changes and the conflict finally arises, so who knows. it might even get exciting!!! Remember, I do not own Tenchi.

Author's Note: Thank you for telling me that Sakuya was only a piece in the puzzle of Yugi, but I truly did not know that, so please forgive me! However, the entire rest of the story has been planned on this untruthful fact, and so it will have to stay as is. Sorry!

Tenchi After Tokyo

Chapter Four: An Unexpected Reunion

Ayeka ran through the forest as fast as she could, looking franticly for any sign of Shindoji. She had to find him, and fast!

"Shindoji!! Shindoji, where are you?!"

Ayeka tripped and stumbled over a tree root. She fell face first, and hit the ground with a loud 'thud'. "Uhh! Where are you, Shindoji?" she cried. Her knees were bloody, her dress torn, and her ankle seemed sprained, not to mention she was in the middle of a valley where a horrendously powerful demon was rumored to be occupying. Yes, life was harsh.

Ayeka tried to pull herself to her feet, but the effort was too much on her tired body. She fell back to the ground upon her stomach and just let the tears flow.

"Ayeka? Is that you?" came a soft and reassuring voice. Ayeka looked up to see Shindoji standing over her.

Ayeka rolled over onto her back. "Good, I've finally found you," she said in a faint whisper. Shindoji helped her to her feet and had her sit down on a fallen tree. He ripped off a piece of his navy kimono and tied it around her ripped knees, and then elevating her ankle, he placed her in his lap. Ayeka didn't even have to tell him what was wrong. It was like he just knew.

Ayeka curled up into Shindoji's warm body and turned her head to face him. "We're in danger, Shin. There's a demon here." she began.

Shindoji smiled and held onto Ayeka's hand. "I know," he said calmly. "But we're alright. I promise."

Ayeka looked at him quizzically. "How did you know that?" she asked.

"Your friend, Washu, already told me. The demon isn't here anymore, Ayeka."

"Oh." She just turned over and stared off into space as Shindoji played with her hair. She wanted to believe him, but this time, it was a little harder. She had just seen Washu less than forty minutes ago, and she had said then that the demon was in the valley. What could have made it leave so fast? And Shindoji didn't even know Washu, so how could he have talked to her?

"So, Ayeka," Shindoji mumbled, "how about we go to that girl's sleep chamber. I would like to see it for myself."

"Well, we're pretty close to it now, but I don't know if I can walk."

"That's ok, I'll carry you."

Ayeka didn't know why Shin was so insistent on going to Sakuya's resting place, but didn't see how it could hurt. "Alright. Let's go."

Shindoji picked Ayeka up in his strong arms and lifted her from her spot on the log. "Which way?" he asked happily.

"Over there. Go that way, past those roses." Ayeka continually called out directions for him to follow. Eventually, they reached a small shrine in a hillside.

Shindoji nearly ran into the cave, he was so excited. The walls of the shrine were moldy and damp, the air cold and humid and the floor rocky and jagged. He tripped more than once over the rippled ground beneath him, but caught his balance every time.

The two finally turned the last corner to see Yugi in her container, green glowing light surrounding her body. Shin rushed up to her and spread his hands over the chamber, mumbling quiet thoughts Ayeka could not hear.

'How creepy," Ayeka thought. It seemed almost as if Shindoji had personally known Yugi or Sakuya.

Ayeka slid silently out of Shin's arms. He didn't notice. She fell to the floor and slunk back up against the wall, just wondering what was going on. Nothing was making any sense at all!

Shindoji continually raced around Yugi's body like a hamster on its wheel. He gazed at the chamber with wide eyes, malevolent intent masked behind them. Ayeka was beginning to become frightened, for he just didn't seem to be himself.

"AYEKAAA!!!" a voice echoed from the shrine's entrance. It sounded just like.

"Tenchi!" Ayeka forced herself to her feet, Shin not paying any attention. He had started to chant, and that was more than enough for her. She used all of her strength and limped out of the cave.

Ayeka fell into Tenchi's arms and finally noticed that she was sobbing. Tenchi held her close to him and cradled her like an infant.

"What's wrong?" Kiyone yelled, stumbling out of the forest behind Tenchi. Ryoko, Sasami, and the others followed her.

Washu's dark pink hair was thrown about in the most awkward fashion around herself, the wind taking its toll. "Who is in there now?" she asked Ayeka as if she already knew.

"Shi.Shindo.Shindoji," she finally muttered. Her energy was slowly leaving her again and words were becoming harder to form.

Ryoko stepped forward eagerly. "I'll get him!" she yelled as she flew into the cave. A bright blue wall of flame emanated itself from the entrance, but Ryoko was on the wrong end of it. Shindoji appeared from the rubble, holding a small child's hand.

He laughed viciously, a dry and rough cackle. "You're too late!" he sneered.

Then, his body began to morph, and his features suddenly changed. His lovely, soft peach skin melted off to show a horrible, grayish color beneath it. Shindoji's entire form grew to twice its original size, his snout lengthening and his back rounding. Curved talons surfaced from excessively large and hairy hands while ugly brown boils sprang up all over his body. A hideous, hunch-backed figure, Shindoji had changed from a bright eyed, handsome young man to a repulsive ogre-like demon with rather sharp looking fangs.

"Mwuahahahahahahaaa! You cannot stop me!" the demon snickered. The small child beside him hung her head low, staring intently at the ground. Her bright red dress clashed against her narrow gray eyes and long, faded yellow hair. Of course everyone knew who this was; it was Yugi. But why was she awake? And why had Shindoji awakened her?

"Yugi!" Sasami screamed. Yugi looked up, no feeling shown in her cold and expressionless face.

Ryoko pulled herself up from the ground and eyed Shindoji spitefully. "You. you monster!" She bolted up and dashed towards the demon, her fists clenched and an energy bolt prepared for fire in her hand. Mihoshi and Kiyone were right behind her, old galaxy police guns raised and ready. Ryoko jumped into Shindoji and pummeled him with angry blows, delivering incessant attacks with lightning speed. Kiyone reloaded her gun again and again, firing continuously on the evil creature. Mihoshi, however, was an absolute loss, shooting all of her bullets nearly twenty feet above the monster's head.

Ayeka trembled in Tenchi's arms. 'What is happening?' her mind questioned. Memories of the delightful times she had spent with Shindoji the past few days resurfaced and confusion struck her. It had all seemed so real; why had he betrayed her?

Shindoji easily threw Ryoko to the side, his focus turned to Ayeka. Once again, it was almost as if he could read her mind.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly, "but I needed to find Yugi. You were but a mere pawn in my plan, and I have been dishonest towards you. I have my reasons for acting how I have, and so, this is how it has to be!!!" Shindoji let out a terrifying roar and struck out at Kiyone and Mihoshi. The two flew into a nearby tree and slumped silently to the ground.

Suddenly, Menishu ran onto the scene and dived at Shindoji, trying his hardest for the little creature he was to keep the monster away from Ayeka. Since Menishu had known her, Ayeka had only been kind and gentle towards the cabbit, unlike his master, Shin, who had done nothing but abuse and mistreat the animal. No, he couldn't let anything happen to this person that had been so charitable.

Shindoji slung the poor animal away from him, shocked that his own cabbit would attack him.

"Nooooo!" Ayeka cried. She watched Menishu try to bring himself back to his feet, only to fall back to the ground again. It was a terrible thing to see.

"Menishu!" Ayeka charged up an energy beam between her hands. Confusion had left her mind for good this time. The Shindoji she had known wouldn't have done that to his own pet!

Tenchi stood in front of Ayeka and motioned for her to save her strength. He whipped out his sword from the hilt at his side and held it straight in an offensive position in front of him.

"Eeerraaagghhhh!!!" he yelled as he rushed toward Shindoji, determined to protect Ayeka and all the others from this horrible monster.

When Tenchi was within five feet of the demon, it disappeared, as did Yugi. Tenchi stood in the middle of the field before the hill, dumbfounded as to where they had gone to.

An evil cackle released itself from the air and faded off into the distance. Washu looked up from her spot on the grass next to Ayeka. She held her instruments close to her face, studying them rigorously. "The demon's gone," she said calmly. "He's no longer anywhere near us."

Sasami helped Ayeka to her feet and they stumbled over to where Menishu lay.

"He's still breathing," Sasami mumbled, "but he's injured pretty bad. We'll have to take care of him for a while."

Ayeka stroked the cabbit's soft brown and white coat, gritting her teeth at the thought of Shindoji. He had tricked her, just to steal Yugi's body. And then, he nearly killed his own cabbit. The thought sickened her.

"Shindoji, you will pay," she thought aloud, eyes burning with hatred.

Well, there you have it, folks. My fourth chapter is completed! I hope it wasn't too poorly written. After I reread it, I noticed there are a bunch of grammatical errors, but it's the only way I know how to do it and still be able to get my point across. I hope it doesn't take too much away from the story. Anyhoo, thank-you for continuing to read, and your comments are very helpful. Again, I'm so sorry for the whole Sakuya/Yugi thing, but I wish I had known that before. Now I'm going to have to keep it that way because it's just so crucial to the story. Thanx for all your support! Toodles!