Declaimer:
As all of you well know, I own neither Neon Genesis Evangelion, nor Tenchi Muyo. Unfortunately, all characters and ideas, I took from either of these animated series, were taken without permission of rightful owners. However, I don't write this story for profit, so please don't sue me.
Author's notes:
Unless you have already realized it, this story is crossover between Neon Genesis Evangelion and Tenchi Muyo. However, unlike most of my others crossovers, this story doesn't include any travel between realities. Instead, some aspects of Neon Genesis Evangelion reality were just included into Tenchi Muyo reality, as if they belonged to it. Some characters from Neon Genesis Evangelion would be included as well, although some parts of their nature, personality and history would be much different.
In Tenchi Muyo reality this story take place right after last Tenchi Muyo TV episode – "No Need For Conclusions", assuming, that everything, which happened in Tenchi Muyo movies, won't happen.
This story would mostly be centered on Ayeka and Shinji. While some others characters from both Neon Genesis Evangelion and Tenchi Muyo would present, they would have mostly background role. However, if this story will have success, I will write sequel for this story, centered on others characters from Neon Genesis Evangelion and Tenchi Muyo. Oh, and no ACC (Author's created characters) would have any role of importance important in this story, for Neon Genesis Evangelion and Tenchi Muyo provided me with enough characters for all roles of importance.
By the way, I believe, that you can enjoy this story, even if you don't know anything about Neon Genesis Evangelion. However, at last some knowledge about Tenchi Muyo is absolutely necessary, otherwise this story wouldn't make any sense to you.
And one last thing, those who read my other stories would probably notice, that writing style of this story is slightly different. If so, then I would like them to inform me, whatever they like this writing style more or less, then my usual writing style.
Dedication:
I dedicate this story to Ultima Bigaroh, one of the best Evangelion fanfiction authors at fanfiction.net, and my favorite reviewer. I want to thank him for all wonderful Evangelion stories, he had written, and for all positive and inspiring reviews, he had given to my stories. In other words, thank you, Ultima Bigaroh!
No Need For DepartureIt was a normal evening, just like many others. Tenchi slowly walked through the forest to his house, tired after long school day. This evening neither Ryoko, nor Ayeka were meeting him, probably because both of them were resting after their morning fight. While their fight were getting less and less violent, their fights still exhausted both young women greatly.
Tenchi learned to value peaceful moments like this one. Since everybody has finally returned to Earth after Tenchi's victory over Kagato, Tenchi's life once again became endless crazy circus, and he liked it! However, once a while, he still liked to have a moment of peace, like this one.
But this moment of peace was short living indeed, for in the next moment, Tenchi heard sudden roar of engines. Tenchi looked up, only to see a bit odd Jurai Battleship, as it swiftly passed above him, heading strait for Masaki house. Tenchi immediately broke into run, for he remembered too well last time, when Jurai Battleship showed itself on Earth. And it was not pleasant memories at all.
Finally after about ten minutes of running, Tenchi arrived to his house. He instantly noted, that fortunately he had arrived just in time. At last house still stood, and all member of his household were still there, well except for Kiyone and Mihoshi, but they were on patrol today, so they weren't going to visit Masaki house today.
Ayeka appeared to be in the middle of conversation with beautiful young women with raven-black hair, who wore uniform of Jurai Officer, and was flanked by two Jurai Troopers. As most people from the Planet Jurai, this officer woman looked youthful, thou she could probably be more then thousand years old. Officer woman also carried a sword in the scabbard at her hip, Tenchi noticed, that this sword looked like normal sword, not like some kind of energy blade like his own Tenchi-ken. At last, if it would be energy blade, then there wouldn't be any need for scabbard. Both Jurai Troopers were armed with standard Jurai Staves.
But it didn't looked like a peaceful conversation. Ayeka appeared to be angry, but Tenchi already knew this her expression, and so he understood, that she was more saddened, then angry. Sasami was driven to the point of tears. Nobuyuki looked terrified, while Katsuhito was more saddened, then terrified. Only Washu and Ryoko managed to remain relatively calm.
"…You joking, right?!" – caught Tenchi last fragment of Ayeka's sentence.
"I am sorry, Your Highness, or should I say now, Your Imperial Majesty, but this is not a joke" – said officer woman, who too looked far from happy – "I saw all these with my own eyes. Your Imperial Majesty, I regret this, but your presence at the Planet Jurai is vital for our victory. So far we haven't won a single battle against this terrible enemy and morale of our troops is extremely low. I believe, that your presence is the only thing, that can turn tide of battle in our favor."
"What is going on here?!" – asked Tenchi coming closer. He still didn't understand anything, but felt that something terrible has happened.
"Oh, Lord Tenchi" – said Ayeka, turning in Tenchi, her voice instantly became much calmer – "I fear, that I wouldn't be able to stay here any longer."
"But why?" – asked Tenchi – "Can somebody explain to me what is going on?"
Then officer woman stepped toward Tenchi.
"Greetings" – she said – "I understand, that you are Prince Tenchi from Jurai Royal Family. I am Captain Masato from Katsuragi family. I fear, that I brought terrible news from planet Jurai. Recently, many planets were attacked and destroyed by some kind of mysterious powerful creatures, and now apparently it is Jurai's turn. Due to this critical situation, High Council of the Planet Jurai decided to close their eyes on some traditions, and Crown Princess Ayeka is now acting as Supreme Empress of the Planet Jurai, despite the fact, that legally she couldn't become Supreme Empress of the Planet Jurai until she would find herself a Prince Consort. And I am charged to return Her Imperial Majesty to the Planet Jurai."
"But you don't have to go, Lady Ayeka!" – said Tenchi – "If situation is so terrible, you shouldn't go to the Planet Jurai, it is not safe. We will protect you here, Lady Ayeka!"
Oh, how much Ayeka wanted to say "Yes!". How much she wanted to stay here, surrounded by her friends. Ayeka's heart was telling her to stay here, where she was loved, even if not in the way she wanted, to stay where she was just Lady Ayeka, not Crown Princess of the Planet Jurai or Supreme Empress of the Planet Jurai. However, all Ayeka's mind and training as princess were telling her much different thing: you must return to the Planet Jurai, Supreme Empress Ayeka, now it is you duty as Supreme Empress of the Planet Jurai to be with your people in their darkest hour. And as usually, Ayeka decided to follow her mind, not her heart. It was the right thing to do.
"I am sorry, Lord Tenchi" – said Ayeka after a moment of silence – "But I must go. Unfortunately it seems that my place is with my people, not with you. I am truly sorry."
"Then let us go with you too, Lady Ayeka!" – said Tenchi eagerly.
Once again, Ayeka wanted to say "Yes!" very much. She looked into Tenchi's honest concerned face, into Sasami's tearful face, into Katsuhito's saddened face, into tiny scientist's childish face, into Nobuyuki's terrified face, and even into Ryoko's seemingly uncaring face; and to her great surprise Ayeka realized, that she don't have right to put all these people into danger once again. They cared for her, and she brought them only troubles, drawing them into her conflict with Kagato. And Ayeka decided, that she would never put these people into danger again, even if her life would depend on it, as it was last time.
"I am sorry, Lord Tenchi" – said Ayeka after another moment of silence – "But you must stay here. I will be in no danger, with all Jurai military to protect me, but Sasami would stay here and could be in danger, if our enemy will decide to put end to Jurai Royal Family. I can't split Jurai Military Forces to protect Earth as well, and I would feel better, if I would know that you are watching over her."
"No way!" – cried Sasami – "I will come with you, sister! Don't leave me behind!"
"You can't go with me, Sasami, you know that" – said Ayeka gently – "If something bad will happen with me, Jurai Royal Family must survive. You must be strong, Sasami. But don't worry, when all these will end, I will return to you."
"Promise?" – asked Sasami hopefully.
"Promise" – said Ayeka gently.
"But…" – said Tenchi, but he was given a chance to finish his sentence
"Hay, don't go, Tenchi!" – interrupted him Ryoko – "The princess said herself: she don't need you. Clear and loud. What is the problem? You still have me."
"Thou I hate to admit it" – said Ayeka – "This time I agree with this monstrous woman. You must stay here. And promise me to watch over Sasami."
"Alright, I promise" – said Tenchi still uncertainly.
Suddenly Azaka and Kamidaki appeared from Jurai Battleship, which hovered about hundred feet above the ground, and quickly levitated to the ground.
"Supreme Empress Ayeka" – said Azaka – "We have delivered all your luggage to the Jurai Battleship."
"But I didn't asked you…" – said Ayeka – "But thanks anyway."
"We are ready to accompany you, Supreme Empress Ayeka" – said Kamidaki.
"Thank you" – said Ayeka – "But I want two of you to remain here. Sasami and Lord Tenchi would need your protection more then I would. Don't worry, I will have other guardians, when I will reach Planet Jurai."
"Of course, the true knights" – said Azaka.
"We understand, Supreme Empress Ayeka" – said Kamidaki.
"We bid you farewell" – said both Azaka and Kamidaki in union.
"What, are you going to depart right now, Lady Ayeka?" – asked Tenchi – "Without even a farewell party?"
"I am sorry, Lord Tenchi" – said Ayeka – "But I must depart without hesitation. I also would like to stay here even a bit long longer, but I can't."
Then Ayeka bid farewell to everybody and ordered Misato to depart. Immediately dark blue energy globe engulfed Ayeka, Misato and two Jurai Troopers and swiftly moved to the Jurai Battleship. As the globe was gone inside Jurai Battleship, Jurai Battleship started to rise, at first slowly, then faster and faster. Soon Jurai Battleship became just a small spot in the clear red evening sky, and then it was gone.
Some while later most of Masaki family returned into house. Only Katsuhito and Nobuyuki remained outside, still looking sky, which has already started to darken.
"At last she has finally started to act like true princess, not like some spoiled child" – said Katsuhito sadly.
"Yeah, kids grow fast, don't they?" – said Nobuyuki.
"Yes, but sometimes I wish, that they wouldn't have to grow so fast" – said Katsuhito – "She is only a six hundred twenty one year old, after all."
"Yeah, barely a child" – smiled Nobuyuki – "And still, she is a bit older then Tenchi was, when you sent him to fight Kagato. I think, that you should give her at last a chance, don't you agree?"
"You may be right" – said Katsuhito – "But still I worry about her. I fear, that this mysterious enemy isn't only thing that threatens her. Planet Jurai isn't any longer bastion of knowledge, law and holiness, as it once was. As most of the ancient empires, Jurai now fall into its dark times. People no longer rule the Planet Jurai. Corruption is the new Emperor of the Planet Jurai, and Ambition is his Empress. I fear, that some ambitious people would try to use this war and youthfulness of the new empress to further their own quest for power. I can only hope, that recent incident with Kagato taught her something."
Meanwhile, in a place far away…
Middle-aged man in ceremonial dark purple clothes of Jurai Lord activated communication screen in front of him. Another middle-aged man in ceremonial clothes of Jurai Lord appeared at the screen, but this one's clothes were blood red. The man on the screen also wore golden mask with ornament of seven eyes, two of which included hole for seeing. The golden mask completely covered face of the man on the screen.
"So, have you explained my plan to the rest of the council" – asked Jurai Lord in ceremonial dark purple clothes a bit impatiently – "How did they reacted?"
"They have found your plan brilliant" – said Jurai Lord in ceremonial blood red clothes – "Some of them say, that we should prepare a place for you in the Veiled Council. However, I personally have some disbelief, that your plan would work."
"Don't worry, everything is already prepared." – said Jurai Lord in ceremonial dark purple clothes – "Now we need only to find suitable person to pilot EVA."
"It wouldn't be easy, would it?" – asked Jurai Lord in ceremonial blood red clothes – "To fulfill your plan, the EVA pilot will need not only enough Jurai Power to pilot this thing, but enough Jurai Power to serve as channel for Jurai Power of all seven of us. If pilot's Jurai Power would not be sufficient to bear such strain, then whole plan would fail. And probably we won't have a second chance."
"Don't worry" – said Jurai Lord in ceremonial dark purple clothes – "I was informed that Crown Princess of the Planet Jurai herself is going to return to Jurai. Her Jurai Power would without doubt be sufficient to serve as channel for Jurai Power of all seven of us. I am sure, that I can make her to pilot EVA."
"To sacrifice Crown Princess of the Planet Jurai, no even Supreme Empress of the Planet Jurai just to fulfill your plan!" – laughed Jurai Lord in ceremonial blood red clothes – "How it is in your style! You know that it is very unlikely, that she will survive manifestation of Jurai Power of all seven of us."
"She is expendable" – said Jurai Lord in ceremonial dark purple clothes – "And after all, there are other members of Jurai Royal Family. And if all of them will gone, then there are other families, in whose veins blood of Jurai Royal Family runs strong."
"Yes, Ikari family for example" – laughed Jurai Lord in ceremonial blood red clothes once again – "Very well, if your plan will succeed, I will support your promotion into the Veiled Council. However, if your plan will fail, you understand, that none of us will survive for long enough to regret about it. You understand, that there will no way back then."
And after that, image of the Jurai Lord in ceremonial blood red clothes was gone.
"I understand it" – muttered Jurai Lord in ceremonial dark purple clothes – "But we don't have any more time."