Shield of the Heart

Chapter 3

The battle inside Akumu raged on for longer than any of its dwellers had imagined. The ship's walls were littered with dents and craters made from slamming bodies or misguided weapon swings. Smoke and debris from the cracked walls added to the choking haze that loitered inside the single-unit ship. In its corner, Sasami and Ryo-ohki cringed behind the now greatly broken up spaceship parts. The smoke from the last collision of attacks was starting to clear and the battle ground became visible to them. Xuno was floating at the far right end of the ship, a sinister smile on his face and his dark blade shining with unbreakable hardiness. Ryoko was standing wearily in the middle of the ship, holding her sword shakily before her. She was sweating and gasping fervently and there were cuts and bruises on her face and arms. Her blueish-gray hair was singed and messy.

"Ryoko-onechan! Stop! Don't fight anymore!" Sasami cried as she ran out from behind the spaceship parts and to Ryoko's side. Ryo-ohki meowed fearfully and hopped after her. Sasami tugged franticly at Ryoko's arm. "Please! I don't want you to get hurt anymore!"

"Sasami..." Ryoko began, but she was cut off by a loud booming sound as Xuno shot off the five black beams of energy from his blade. Two of them slammed down right next to Ryoko and Sasami, shattering the tiled floor into numerous pieces that flew up into the dusty air. As Ryoko and Sasami looked up after the pieces had fallen, they saw the bursting power of the third beam heading right towards them. Without a second thought, Ryoko threw herself over Sasami and the beam slammed down hard onto her back.

"Ryoko-onechan..." Sasami wailed as Ryoko tried to stifle a cry of pain. Ryo-ohki gave a soft whimper. Xuno looked down at them skeptically.

"Hmmm...seems I don't have to worry about ohime-chan's well being," he said, "even if she's in the middle of a battle field. She's got protectors wherever she goes!" He threw back his head and his hearty cackles echoed throughout the beaten down ship. He swung his dark blade again and the five black beams shot out once more. Ryoko continued to cover Sasami as three of the beams struck her back viciously.

"Ryoko-onechan! Stop!" Sasami cried despairingly, pulling herself out from under Ryoko. Ryo-ohki looked up at Ryoko and gave a distraught "Mrow." Ryoko tried to stand up, but her steaming, throbbing back seemed to push her down.

"Listen...Sasami...if I don't bring you back safely...Ayeka would never let me hear the end of it..." she said painfully through clenched teeth. As she got to her feet, she tried to smile as Sasami blinked bewilderedly up at her. "...and I think that's a far more worse fate than anything this jerk has to offer!" She flew back up towards Xuno, her sword's bright aura seeming to fade with the loss of its owner's strength. Xuno once again raised his dark blade and griped both of its ends. But instead of holding it horizontally as he did when he shot the beams of energy, he now held it vertically.

"You've still got some life left in you. That's quite remarkable," he said as Ryoko flew steadily towards him, watching his blade cautiously. "But all this sentiment is making me sick..."

The black blade began to crackle, and the gray mist around it swirled.

"...so I'm going to end this fight now!"

A dozen bolts of black lightning suddenly emerged from the blade. As they shot forward, they crashed together and fused into one massive dark comet that streaked towards Ryoko. She tried to teleport away, but she had lost too much energy from the long battle to dodge quickly enough. The comet slammed into her and it continued to move forward until it crashed into the opposite wall. The incredible force from its streak and its crash rumbled the entire ship and innumerable chunks of the floor, walls, and ceiling broke off and hailed down throughout the ship.

"Ryoko-onechan!" Sasami cried as she covered her face from the falling debris. After the comet had disintegrated, a storm of choking smoke blanketed the ship and a long, deep furrow became visible along the direction the comet had streaked. After the smoke started to clear, Sasami saw Ryoko laying at the end of the furrow.

"Ryoko-onechan..." she moaned quietly and ran off along the furrow. Ryo-ohki meowed uncertainly and scooted after her. After what seemed like hours, they finally reached Ryoko. She was laying lifelessly on her side, covered in wounds and small pieces of the fallen debris. Sasami covered her mouth as she gasped. Then, she fell down to her knees and buried her face in Ryoko's shoulder as tears began to roll down her cheeks.

"...I'm...sorry...Ryoko-onechan...you suffered all that...just for me..."

Ryo-ohki gave a mournful "Merrroww" as she approached Ryoko and sadly nuzzled her face. Xuno teleported directly over them and slipped his dark blade back into its sheath.

"Sorry about all this, ohime-chan, but it's over now," he said with phony sympathy. Then, he gave another wicked smile.

"Doesn't it make you feel so special that so many would think nothing of sacrificing themselves to protect you?" he asked, his eyes gleaming. "Yup, they'd all rather get hurt than have you be hurt. Heh, even fight a futile battle if they think you'll be saved. You should feel just like a hime, huh?" His eyes narrowed angrily. "Such senseless compassion is utterly illogical!" he spat.

The whole time Xuno was talking, Sasami didn't look up. It was like he was whipping her conscience with his voice, and she cringed lower and lower as he continued. Her falling tears were soaking Ryoko's shoulder, and the sobs pounding in her chest made her voice shake as she finally spoke.

"It's not fair...why can't I fight like everyone else?" she asked herself. "Washu-onechan...Ayeka-onesama...Tenchi-nichan...Ryoko-onechan...they all got hurt trying to protect because I'm too weak to protect myself!" She was almost yelling at herself now as the tears continued to fall. Ryo-ohki tried to give her a comforting nudge, but she didn't seem to notice. "Every time...every time...I always just cower and watch as everyone sacrifices themselves for me...I never do anything...because I'm too weak and scared to do anything!"

Xuno looked down at her, shaking his head. "Well, I can't stand to hear you wallow in self pity anymore, ohime-chan." He held out his hand and another orb of green light began to form in it. "Time to go back into your cozy little barrier." Sasami looked up, but still not facing Xuno.

"...this is it...no more..." she said quietly as the final tear slipped down her cheek. A faint blueish aura began to surround her.

"...no more depending on others to protect me..."

The aura brightened a bit.

"...from now on, Sasami's going to be able take care of herself..."

The aura suddenly crackled with energy. Xuno tossed the orb at her. Sasami quickly stood up, turned around, and faced him. The orb floated towards her, but as it reached the aura, it ricocheted off and immediately disintegrated.

"What?!" Xuno shouted in shock. Sasami stood as tall as she could. The powerful energy bursting around her dryed her wet cheeks.

"No one else is going to get hurt..." she said sternly. "I'm going to do my share of the protecting!"

The aura suddenly spread out into several rays of light that shot out all around Sasami. She shielded her eyes from the momentary brightness. Then, she gazed upward and gaped in shock. Floating just inches above her head was the mystical spirit of Tsunami. Her long, pure white robe billowed out under her like an elegant gown, and her thin, wispy blue hair followed enchantingly after her.

"Tsunami-chan..." Sasami muttered in surprise. "What are you doing here?" Tsunami smiled down at her.

"I suddenly felt emotions welling up within you, Sasami..." she replied. Her soft, gentle voice was comforting to Sasami. "...emotions like none I've ever felt from you before. Those strong feelings of yours summoned me here." She looked up and Xuno stared down at her in awe. Then, an evil smile crept along his face as he yanked out his dark blade.

"I see...so she's got some Juraian spirit protecting her, huh? No matter. I'll shatter that shield of hers in an instant!" He zoomed down with the dark blade pointing in front of him. Sasami stepped forward bravely and the blueish energy shield around her grew wider. As Xuno crashed down with his blade, the shield repelled the attack and sent him hurtling away. He desperately regained his balance and stared in disbelief at the bright, flashing shield.

"I-Impossible," he stammered, "h-how can she go from being completely defenseless to having one of the strongest protective shields I've ever faced?!" Enraged, he tore back down to Sasami's shield and swung his dark blade against it again and again. But no matter how hard he tried, his weapon could not penetrate it.

"I will break through it! I will!" he screamed angrily as he kept striking over and over. "The most powerful being in the universe can't lose to a child!" Sasami turned to Tsunami.

"Thank you for helping me, Tsunami-chan," she said.

"I'm not doing anything, Sasami," Tsunami responded kindly. "This is your shield, made with the power of yourself. Because of your strong desire to be able to protect those that would protect you, the Juraian power inside you has been awakened. As long as you hold on to the emotions that you're feeling now, nothing can break this 'shield of your heart.' You are fighting for yourself now."

Sasami stared up at the great blue shield that engulfed her and the dark blade that continued to clash uselessly against it. "My own shield from the feelings in my heart...I-I've never felt so...independent!" Her eyes shone happily for a second. Then, she looked seriously back at Tsunami.

"I know I...don't deserve to ask you this Tsunami-chan, but...you've got amazing healing powers, right?" She blinked up hopefully as Tsunami floated down closer to her. "Could you use your powers to help Ryoko-onechan and Washu-onechan...and everyone else who got hurt because of me..." Tsunami smiled.

"As long as you remain true to your heart, Sasami," she replied, "I'll do anything for you." She drifted down towards Ryoko. Ryo-ohki, who had been watching the whole spectacle, looked up curiously at Tsunami. She continued to watch expectantly as Tsunami gently cupped her hands around Ryoko's face, and floated down so that their foreheads where touching. Then, an incredible, bright, white light began to shine from the two magical marks on Tsunami's forehead. The hopeful, healing, sun-shaped light bore through the bleak ship and greatly illuminated every inch of it. Xuno stopped his futile onslaught and gazed down in wonder at Tsunami. After a few seconds, the light began to dim until it faded completely. As Tsunami floated back up, Ryoko slowly began to stir, and Ryo-ohki meowed joyfully. Then, Tsunami calmly closed her eyes as her being began to teleport away in a beautiful sprinkling of gold and blue light.


The sun was begining to set in the eastern hemisphere of Earth. Back in Okayama, behind the unusually quiet Masaki house, it was tucking its rays within the thick, towering mountains. Tenchi stood with his hand on the glass door, staring up at the lazy orange sky that had a few scattered purplish cloud patches. Ayeka was sitting on a chair behind him, massaging her leg.

"See anything, Tenchi-sama?" she asked. He shook his head.

"If they're not back soon..." He hesitated as he turned around. "...I'll have to use Yukinojo to go after them."

Mihoshi abruptly stood up from the chair beside Ayeka. "But Tenchi-san, you're hurt!" she protested. "Hopefully, HQ will get my message soon..."

"I know, but it's been so long!" Tenchi exclaimed as he began to pace anxiously around the room. "What if Ryoko wasn't able to beat Xuno? What could he have done to her? And Sasami-chan...she must be terrified!"

"You needn't worry," said a soft voice that seemed to resonate throughout the entire room. As Tenchi, Ayeka, and Mihoshi looked around the room, Tsunami materialized before them in sparkles of gold and blue light.

"Tsunami-san!" Tenchi said, staring wide eyed at her.

"Why are you here, Tsunami-sama?" Ayeka asked as she stood up and used the arm of the chair as support. "Is it because of Sasami? Is she all right?"

"Sasami is much more than all right," Tsunami replied. Her voice became kinder as she gazed at the worried faces around her. "Everything will be fine...they'll return very soon." She started to float a little higher and her flowing white robes danced around her. "Sasami wishes that the injuries you recieved while protecting her be healed. So, I'm here on her behalf."

Tsunami headed towards the couch and floated over Washu, cupped her hands around her face, touched foreheads with her, and the miraculous, bright light once again shone from the marks on her forehead. Washu shivered and moaned a bit as the light rained out all around her. After a few moments, it faded away and Tsunami moved over to Ayeka. Ayeka looked at her uncertainly as they touched foreheads and the healing light appeared. As it shone, Ayeka could feel the pain in her leg steadily decrease until it was completely gone. After the light had faded, she stood up and was able to walk perfectly.

"My leg is healed! I don't believe it!" she said cheerfully as she walked proudly around the room. Tsunami drifted towards Tenchi and he looked up at her in awe. She touched foreheads with him and the bright light poured out between them. Tenchi felt the lingering hurting in his arm recede until it vanished. Ayeka had been watching them impatiently, a slight jealously gleaming in her eyes.

"Tenchi-sama, is your arm okay now?" she asked. Tenchi raised his arm and waved it around.

"Yeah, it feels great," he said with relief.

"Good. That's enough of this, then," Ayeka said irritably, and immediately yanked him away from Tsunami's touch. Tsunami giggled lightly as she began to ascend. Tenchi looked up gratefully at her.

"Thank you, Tsunami-san," he said.

"I didn't do too much," she replied as she slowly began to fade away into the sprinkles of gold and blue light. "Thank Sasami when she returns. I'm sure she'll be back very soon." And with that said, she disappeared into the glimmering sparkles.


Meanwhile, the turmoil raging inside Akumu was at a standstill. Xuno was hovering above Sasami's radiant blue shield, sweating and wheezing. The pitch black color of his blade was degrading into a dull gray and the energy around it popped out exhaustingly. He raised it above his head and glared down at the shield with utter contempt. Sasami met his gaze without fear.

"I can't lose now," he shouted madly as he lunged at the shield, "not after I've waited eight-hundred years for this! I just won't allow failure!" However, before he could strike, a blast of blazing photon energy came hurling out from behind Sasami and struck him hard, nearly knocking the dark blade out of his grip. As he flinched from the attack, Sasami and Ryo-ohki looked behind them. Ryoko was floating several feet above them, the palms of her hands sparking from the energy she had just launched.

"Ryoko-onechan! You're all right! I'm so glad!" Sasami cried happily. Ryo-ohki meowed loud and enthusiastically. Ryoko grinned down at them.

"Not gonna get rid of me that easily!"

Xuno stared at her in total disbelief, the inevitability of his defeat reluctantly filtering into his mind. For once, the turn of events left him speechless.

"Looks like this is as far as you go," Ryoko said, grasping her photon sword and pointing it at him. "Your power is so depleted now that you couldn't even block that little attack I just used. I'm about to hit you with all I've got, and there's nothing you can do about it! Can't say you don't deserve it, though."

Sasami looked determinedly at the baffled Xuno.

"You see," she said, "no matter how much power you have, it doesn't mean anything if you only use it for yourself. True power isn't used to cause pain in order to get what you want. You'll never know you're real strength, Xuno, because you don't care about anyone."

Ryoko held out her sword and charged full speed towards Xuno, who floated, perplexed, before her. His dark blade hung loosely in his hand. Before he knew what happened, she had driven her sword through his stomach and fountains of thick, slimy, black blood came oozing out.

"...how...could this...have happened...how..." he groaned as his body evaporated into dimming swirls of black energy. The dark blade fell from his hand and disintegrated before it hit the ground. Sasami watched the remains of Xuno fade away, and sighed with relief. With the danger passed, the shield around her flickered a bit until it, too, faded. Ryoko flew back to the ground and Sasami ran to her, with Ryo-ohki hopping along.

"Ryoko-onechan! You did it! You did it!" she exclaimed as she jumped up and thew her arms around Ryoko's neck. Ryo-ohki leaped onto Ryoko's shoulder and nuzzled her affectionately, meowing with joy.

"Hey, don't give me all the credit," Ryoko said as she held Sasami up so that they were face to face. "You've got some pretty keen powers yourself, you know. Ayeka's got nothing on that shield of yours!"

Sasami giggled and blushed slightly.

"Anyway," Ryoko continued, "we wouldn't have been able to beat him without your help, Sasami. You and the 'ol goddess up there, of course." She pointed towards the upper right corner of the ship. Sasami looked and saw Tsunami calmly floating there. She gazed down at them, smiled serenely, and began to disappear. Ryoko, Sasami, and Ryo-ohki watched her until she had completely vanished. Then, the ship suddenly began to shake.

"What's going on?" Sasami asked, as she fearfully clung to Ryoko.

"Without Xuno's power, there's nothing left to hold this place together!" Ryoko replied as she turned to Ryo-ohki. "It's time to get going now."

Ryo-ohki gave an affirming "Merow!" and leaped out through the now broken window behind them. Once out in space, she transformed back into a spaceship and Ryoko carried Sasami into the central control unit as the last renmants of Akumu crumbled. Once safely inside Ryo-ohki, Ryoko and Sasami watched the chunks of Xuno's spaceship break off and drift aimlessly away.

"Well, we've been gone from home far too long, don't you think?" Ryoko said as she put Sasami down next to her. "Ayeka's probably foaming at the mouth by now. Guess we'd better hurry on back. Everyone's waiting for your carrot cake, Sasami!" She winked and Sasami smiled up at her.

"Okay! I'll get right to it!" she cheered as Ryo-ohki zoomed away from the battered remains of Akumu and back towards the always welcoming Earth.


It was early evening in Okayama and the stars twinkled faintly in the hazy, gray sky. Suddenly, the grounds around the Masaki house vibrated and a hundred ripples formed in the lake as the booming thrust of a spaceship filled the air.

"Look, it's Ryo-ohki! They're back!" Tenchi exclaimed as he pulled open the glass doors and ran out onto the porch, keeping his eyes on the spaceship as it came closer and closer. It stopped once it hovered about five feet from the ground. Ryoko flew out carrying Sasami and Ryo-ohki transfigured back into a cabbit, landing daintily on Ryoko's shoulder. Ryoko landed and put Sasami down. Immediately, Sasami ran to Tenchi and hugged him firmly around the waist.

"Tenchi-nichan!" she cried happily.

"I'm glad you're back, Sasami-chan." he replied, patting her on the head. Ayeka came sprinting out from the house after him, her leg no longer wrapped in bandages.

"Sasami! Sasami!" she repeated almost hysterically as tears hung tentatively in the corners of her eyes.

"One-sama!" Sasami shouted with joy as she let go of Tenchi and ran to Ayeka. Ayeka bent down and Sasami hugged her around the neck.

"Oh, Sasami...I was so worried..." she sobbed quietly.

"I'm fine now, one-sama. Don't worry." Sasami said reassuringly. Then, she heard a whimpering and looked up.

Mihoshi was walking towards her, tears pouring down like waterfalls from her deep-blue eyes. "Oh...Sasami-chan! You're...back! I'm so...glad!" she sobbed.

"Don't cry, Mihoshi-onechan. I'm all right," Sasami said as she hugged the bawling Mihoshi(and got a little drenched in doing so).

"Welcome home, Sasami-chan."

Sasami looked behind Mihoshi and saw Washu standing there, smiling confidently at her.

"Washu-onechan!" Sasami exclaimed as she leaped forward and grabbed Washu in a tight embrace than almost knocked her off balance. "I'm so glad you're all right!"

"Of course, Sasami-chan," she replied cooly. "Can't keep a genius like me down for long." Sasami giggled.

Meanwhile, Ryoko watched as everyone was gathering around the ecstatic Sasami, and sighed.

"Look at that, Ryo-ohki," she said sarcastically to the content little cabbit on her shoulder. "Everyone's so relieved that Sasami's back safely. But what about Ryoko-sama, the one who actually did the rescuing? No one seems to care about my well being." She turned her head away with indifference. However, she quickly looked back when she heard Tenchi's voice in front of her.

"Ryoko, you're not hurt are you? We're all very grateful that you brought Sasami back." He stood before her, smiling sincerely. Ryoko blushed.

"Oh, Tenchi! I was so scared!" she cooed as she playfully swung her arm around his neck and pulled his head close to hers. "But I knew that this was my chance to show you how great I am! Not that you didn't already know, of course! How about a little victory kiss?" She pulled his head up so that their mouths were level, ignoring his frantic protests. But before their lips could meet, Ayeka came up behind Tenchi and heaved him away from Ryoko's grip, startling Ryo-ohki, who quickly jumped down from Ryoko's shoulder.

"What do you think you're doing, Ryoko-san?! Don't force Tenchi-sama to kiss you!" she snapped.

"What do you mean?" Ryoko retorted. "The kiss is my prize for bringing Sasami back! Tenchi said so himself!"

"Uh, that's not exactly what I said..." Tenchi muttered nervously, sweatdropping.

"Oh, no! They're at it again," Mihoshi said.

Washu sighed. "Like two children fighting over their favorite toy..."

"All right, Ryoko-san," Ayeka said, the irritation in her voice slowly fading away. "I must admit that I'm very grateful to you for risking your life to bring Sasami back safely." She backed away and gave a small bow.

"Jeez, why do all princesses have to be so embarrassingly formal?" Ryoko asked nonchalantly. Before Ayeka could get mad at that comment, Sasami spoke up.

"Why don't we all go back inside and I'll start on my carrot cake," she said.

"Yay! Finally! I'm starved!" Ryoko cheered as she flew back into the house through the glass doors.

"Yeah, me too!" Mihoshi exclaimed, following after Ryoko.

"Sasami, are you sure you're not too tired? Maybe we should have the cake tomorrow?" Ayeka suggested.

"I'm fine, don't worry," Sasami replied cheerfully as Ryo-ohki leaped onto her head and gave a happy "Merow." "Everyone went through so much today just for me so I want to give them all a treat!"

"We all appreciate it, Sasami-chan," Tenchi said kindly as he and Ayeka headed back into the house.

"Sasami-chan," Washu called jovially as she followed after them, "we're all very pround of you, and I'm sure Tsunami is too. See? It's not so bad being assimilated with an ancient Juraian spirit, huh?"

"You're right!" Sasami replied.

When she and Ryo-ohki were alone on the porch, she walked along the tiny dock that hung over the lake and gazed down into the still, azure water. As soon as she did, Tsunami's radiant reflection appeared, smiling contently. Sasami smiled back.

"We all thank you, Tsunami-chan," she said. Then, she looked at Ryo-ohki. "Well, Ryo-chan, let's get that carrot cake going!" Ryo-ohki meowed approvingly. And with that, the two headed back into the once again, brimming with liveliness Masaki house, as a dark blue blanket of sky rose up over the distant purple mountains.

Epilogue

(A fleet of about two hundred Galaxy Police battle ships are hovering anxiously amidst the ruins of Akumu. The Cheif of the Galaxy Police scans the ruins ferverishly through a window inside the largest ship. Suddenly, the ship's computer beep interrupts him).

Computer: Incoming report from First Class Detective Mihoshi.

Chief: (rushing breathlessly over to the message screen) Display immediately!

(Mihoshi appears on the screen)

Chief: (shouting hysterically) Mihoshi! Our entire fleet has managed to find the remains of Xuno's spaceship, but where is he?! We're ready to attack and apprehend him at all costs, but we can't find him anywhere! Where is he?!

Mihoshi: (fidgeting nervously) Um...about that, Chief...umm...Xuno's kind of...ummm...

Chief: (shouting louder) What are you trying to say, Mihoshi?!

Mihoshi: (with a nervous laugh) Xuno's...kind of...um...dead...so, uh, I guess we don't need the fleet after all, hehe...

Chief: (stares dumbfounded at the screen) Are you trying to tell me that I had to pratically slit my wrists in order to get the Marshall to lend me control of the entire, two-hundred ship fleet, sign an agreement with the king of Jurai so that the fleet was allowed to battle in his jurisdiction, get all of the ships and detectives together, gather all of the weapons, armor, and ammunition that we could afford, all because we thought we were facing one of the most powerful criminals in the universe....AND HE'S ALREADY DEAD?!

Mihoshi: (backs away sweatdropping and still laughing nervously) Umm...yeah...well, I guess it was all for nothing, huh? Hehe...well, I better be going now...umm...say "hi" to the fleet for me...uh, well bye! (logs off of the message screen)

Chief: (yelling franticly at the blank screen) Wait, Mihoshi!!! Come back here!!!!! I'm not going to be the one to pay for this!!!! Mihoshi!!!! Mihoshi!!!! MIHOSHI!!!!!!!!!!!

The End