Wow. It's really been a while, hasn't it? So, I dropped this story after receiving a review that made me think the story was awful. However, I've come to realize that it all depends on personal opinion. I like this story. I've also gotten emails that let me know others like it too. That said, I'm going to continue working on the thing. Over the next while, I'll be replacing old chapters, improving them. And so, we return to the mixed-up, combined world of (sort-of)AU Tenchi.
Chapter Eight
"I grow tired of waiting."
Tokimi's voice was soft. Calm. And Kagato knew that now, more then ever, he must tread carefully, for the goddess's wrath was always greatest when she used that particularly dulcet tone of voice.
"I am sorry, Milady. But the whelp is powerful, and he has powerful friends and protectors. The surest way of destroying him is through craft and guile, waiting for the perfect moment. "
"I know that, fool!" Her quiet growl was more terrifying then a Gurranian tiger-owl's hunting scream. "I have waited for millennia for the chance to punish my sister. The very cosmos wept when she betrayed me, when she broke the very bonds and vows that gave us existence. Do not preach to me about perfect moments."
"Forgive me, Lady."
D3 interrupted. His voice was toneless and unemotional, as always, but the glance he leveled at his mistress's servant, knowing that neither Goddess nor man was looking at him, was filled with dislike and contempt. "The protections you have granted Kagato give him countless advantages over your enemies. They allow him and his minions to walk the corridors of the Imperial compound without fear of security. And-"
"That is simple enough," Tokimi growled.
"Milady," Kagato asked, "surely Tsunami perceives your influence here. How is it that she does not move to protect those we work against?"
"My sister and I are bound by unbreakable oaths not to interfere directly in each other's schemes. Should we do so, the fabric of the very cosmos would be torn asunder. Once I have placed my mark on a mortal, Tsunami may not touch him or her."
"But Tenchi is her avatar. Doesn't that mean you may not-"
"But I'm not." Tokimi smiled her beautiful, cruel smile. "We are a step ahead in this game we play. There are ways around the oaths that my sister, being too pure, would not think of. I am not interfering directly with Masaki at all. You, Kagato, do that for me. Even better, Tsunami is severely limited by the mortal body she inhabits."
"Deity, perhaps much might be gained by ridding yourself of that body?" The goddess and her avatar looked at D3. "The Princess Sasami is but a frail child. It should be a simple matter to destroy her."
"Yes, that would greatly weaken Tsunami. And the emotional upheaval her death will create should produce will be perfect for your minions to work, Kagato." The goddess of death turned away. "See to it."
* * *
Sasami awoke, vague memories of her strange dream dancing around in her skull. Ryoko had been there, with Tenchi. But about Ayeka? The entire dream had been very dark. Menacing. Danger from Tenchi and Ryoko? No, never. The danger was directed at them. There was more, threatening to slip away from her, and she carefully began the mental process that Washu had taught her, of filing away each specific memory, so that she could recall it later.
The princess rubbed her temples wearily. The dreams that Tsunami sent her were so elusive and confusing, sometimes. But without Funaho's pond (for Ayeka had decided to leave the old Juraian tree-ship on Terra, where it was content), they were the only way that the goddess had of communicating with her host. And vague though they might be, Sasami recognized the fact that the dreams often allowed her to be privy to knowledge of the future that no other mortal could be. She simply had to figure out what the exasperating dreams meant.
In frustration, she uttered a short phrase that would prompt most of the Juraian court's ladies to faint in shock, and then glanced around rather guiltily. Because she had not yet reached puberty, with all of its accompanying taboos, Sasami was still free of the flock of maids and chaperones who were a requirement for any unmarried Juraian female. Instead, she was allowed the minimum requirement of two male guards. And that meant that Azaka or Kamidake could well be hiding in some corner, there to protect her. And that, in turn, meant that the use of such language was a very rare, very secret pleasure.
There was a quietly reproachful "mew" at her elbow, and Sasami turned to sweep the cabbit up into a hug. Ryo-oki joyfully nuzzled the princess's neck, making her laugh.
"I wish you could tell me what's going on, Ryo-oki. What's Ryoko up to?"
The cabbit couldn't reply, but she hopped into the adjoining bathing room. When Sasami followed, knuckling her eyes to rid them of sleep, Ryo-oki leapt up to the edge of the tub and nudged a large crystal bottle.
"The water from Funaho's pond! That's a good idea, Ryo-oki. You're so smart." And so saying, the princess touched the nozzle to fill the tub with warm water. She added pine-scented bubbles and three drops of the water from the decanter. When they had returned to Earth to gather their possessions, Sasami had, at Ayeka's advise, brought along some of the water from the pond. They would not bring the tree, her older sister had suggested, but the water itself was touched by Funaho's magic. Perhaps it would help.
It didn't take long for the tub to fill, and Sasami stripped and settled back into the water with a contented sigh. Even if Tsunami decided not to help her, it was still very relaxing.
Ryo-oki's loud mew, however, drew her attention down into the water. The Goddess's exquisite face was reflected there, and she wasn't happy. Although the two could not verbally communicate this way, Tsunami's countenance and gestures were plain. Her luminous eyes were wide and worried, and her hands made a very clear signal.
"Run!!!"
Sasami, apparently, was in some kind of danger.
And, of course, that's when the explosion came.
* * *
"Ryoko!"
At Washu's call, the demoness whirled around in her training room and yelled out the cue to stop the simulation. "What's wrong, Washu?"
"Sasami's rooms, pronto! Every single one of my alarms just went off. Something big's going down! Move your butt, little girl!"
"Moving!" And with a thought, Ryoko was floating in the middle of Sasami's bed chamber, ready for action.
That is, of course, if she could find it. The room was filled with dark, billowing smoke. Loud cries from the shut door led her to the quick revelation that all of the entrances were probably blocked; opening any would both waste previous time and reveal the guarded fact that she was back.
"Help!"
The faint cry, accompanied by an agonized mew, sent Ryoko speeding into another room. Sasami was lying, naked, trapped beneath what appeared to be several shelves. Standing over her was a person, his (she assumed from the physique, that it was a male) face hidden by a red mask. The sword he held over her glinted in the smoky light.
"Get away from her!" Ryoko powered up an energy ball and sent it flying at Sasami's attacker. It hit him solidly in the back, knocking him to his side. The sword flew across the room, well out of his reach. She sent a second, slightly weaker, orb of power flying at him -should probably keep this one alive, or Washu will have my head- and she waited with satisfaction for his cry of pain.
Instead, a second figure, this one wearing a black mask, appeared between them. He reached out one hand, and Ryoko's energy ball simply disappeared into it.
"What?!" Shock froze Ryoko momentarily, but not for long. With a war-cry, she summoned an energy blade and flew at this astonishing new enemy. Although she could see nothing behind the dark mask, she sensed that this mysterious adversary was smiling. That, more then anything, chilled her to the bone.
"Ryoko. What a surprise. I only wish I could say that it was a pleasant one."
That voice. Its chilling tone haunted her nightmares. "No," she whispered in horror, freezing mid-flight.
The shock echoed down her bond with Washu, and she could hear her mother's frantic questions. Ryoko? What's wrong? What is it?!
She blocked the scientist out momentarily, unable to handle any sort of distraction. "No. You're dead."
"Hmm. I must have missed the funeral, then. Too bad." The figure looked behind him at the barely conscious man at his feet. "Well, it seems this minion's failed. I never did find another slave quite as . . . capable as you were, Ryoko. I look forward to seeing you again." And with that, he disappeared.
"Kagato!!!" Ryoko wanted to destroy everything in range, simply to exercise the rage inside of her. She wanted to cower away in a corner, whimpering in fear. Instead, she floated over to the still man. Washu, can you get this one to your lab? He's still breathing.
My, my, little girl. You actually followed orders this time. Such an improvement. But the limp form disappeared, presumably to one of the diminutive scientist's holding cells. You might want to give a thought to Sasami. And I want to know what the hell is going on down there. What happened?
"Shit!" I'll tell you later, Washu. I'm not dealing with it right now. The demoness whirled around, searching for the little princess's body. "Sasami? You okay?"
"Ryo . . . ko." The reply was soft, and followed by a series of heavy coughs. "Here."
With a heavy gasp of relief, Ryoko summoned a few balls of energy and tossed them up toward the ceiling. Their dim golden light cut through the black smoke, creating eerie shadows on the walls of the destroyed bathing room. "I'm here, Princess. I'll get you out." It didn't take much effort to lift the shelves away from Sasami's small body, and Ryoko grabbed a towel from where it had fallen to cover her shivering nudity. "How ya doin', kid?"
"All right, I think. It just scared me, and something hit my head," the blue-tressed girl whispered hoarsely.
Ryoko started to reply, but a sudden crash from the next room sent her leaping to her feet, energy blade in hand, ready to protect her friend.
But instead of new enemies, the demoness was met with an enormous shock. Imperial guards, led by Tenchi, rushed into the room, weapons at the ready.
"R . . . Ryoko?" The Emperor-Consort halted in the doorway, and the two stared at each other, frozen. Seconds ticked by in an endless moment, neither able to move or speak.
Ryoko! Snap out of it!
Her mother's mental command broke Ryoko's paralysis, and she teleported away from the battle scene. Away from Him.
"Mama!" Her mistrust overcome by the time by so many emotional shocks, Ryoko appeared in Washu's lab and dove for the comfort of open arms. She clung to the scientist, shuddering at the horror of the nightmare she had faced, and at the pain-filled turmoil to locking gazes with the man she loved.
For a minute, Washu reveled in the sensation of holding her daughter in her arms. But questions needed to be asked. She was no longer so deeply bonded within the demoness's mind that she could automatically see what the other saw, and she needed to know what had happened. She gently pushed Ryoko away and bent to look into her face. "Tell me, little girl. What happened in there?"
Ryoko shook her head and burrowed for another moment. "He's alive, Washu. Tenchi didn't kill him."
"Who?"
"Kagato."
Rocked to her core by the single name, Washu could only hold her daughter to her again and shudder as well.
* * *
Tenchi's heart stopped in his chest when he saw what awaited them in Sasami's room.
It couldn't be.
Ryoko stood poised, her blade held protectively in front of Sasami, battle rage upon her face. The golden light of her energy balls gleamed over her pale skin, the crimson lips and that untameable cyan hair. She was exactly as he remembered.
She was so much more.
He stared into her golden eyes, unable to spill out the words he had held within for so long. If only he could regain control over his body and reach out toward her, at least say her name! Anything to prove to himself that the impossible was real.
But something made her start, and the spell was broken. Before he could move, she closed her eyes and disappeared.
The guards at his back rushed forward to check Sasami. He could dimly hear her reassurances past the roaring in his ears.
Ryoko had returned.
"Let me pass! You can take your security precautions and shove them up your ass! Where is my sister?!" Ayeka's demanding voice shook the remains of his paralysis away from him, and Tenchi turned to face his wife. She took one look at his expression and rushed forward, fearing the worst. "Tenchi? Where's Sasami?"
"She's fine." An unnatural calm had settled over him. "I'm not quite sure what went on here, but it looks like someone managed to get in here and attack her."
"Is she okay?!"
"She looks fine. Ryoko saved her."
Ayeka's eyes widened at his words.
* * *