Disclaimer: I do not own Washu, Clay, Tokimi or Kagato; they are copyright to Pioneer the great makers of Tenchi Muyo! All other characters such as the teachers are copyright to me.
Author's Note: Chapter 2 is here! The plot thickens and more suspects are brought out into this mysterious case. Weird meals, weird poetry, weird cloaked figures. It's all here and it's weird!
.Poetry And Emotion.
Kagato slumped down into his chair; he rubbed his neck softly. In a depressing state he opened the top drawer and pulled out his diary. He had written in since he was quite young. He tapped his pen quietly for a moment then began to write.
Today began depressing as i left my parents far behind me. I lost my guide who was supposed to take me to my room. When i heard that all new students were to go to science deck room 23 i rushed there.
It was there i might a young pink haired woman by the name of Washu. She seemed nice to me when i explained i was lost. She even took me to my room. But she's way out of my league.
During Science she helped me a lot with our subject "Masses" She seemed to understand it all so well, when it all seemed to be going well we had IT with Professor "The Demon" Pickering, named by students for his constant cruel behaviour. When we were late he insulted us but Washu shrugged it off! When she laughed at Clay when he was sent out (her room mate/boyfriend i think) she was sent out of the room with him. I peered out of the room when the professor spoke to them in wonder but she seemed to begin weak. I could've sworn i saw a tint of vile green in the professor's eyes!
Clay took her to the Sick Bay but shortly after he returned Washu came storming in and grabbed me. She choked me for no reason. What did i do but like her? I'm confused she constantly said "Make it stop!" and "You!"
I'm so confused; i don't know what to do anymore...
Kagato put away his diary and sat back in his chair. He looked out into the emptiness of Space. Come to think of it he hadn't been feeling well either, he had being sick several times and was very forgetful. But his mom had always said it was just a "condition"
He got up from his chair and stared at the door, contemplating what was the best move.
He marched out of the room and towards the elevator. He typed in Science Deck 34 and closed his eyes as it speeded down.
The doors slid open and he marched on past the students towards room 7. He stopped in front of the door and took a deep breath before plunging forwards.
Washu lay on her bed clutching her head, which seared with a screeching pain. "Clay...Give me the tablets."
Clay smiled and let go of her hand, he moved towards the drawers and pulled out the tablets he had received from Matron, turning back around he saw Kagato standing there.
Kagato lowered his small glasses and threw back his silver hair.
"You!" Clay yelled, running forward. He pushed Kagato into the corner. "What the HELL do you want?" Clay raised his fist and hit Kagato around the jaw; the impact knocked him to the floor in a heap.
Washu coughed hard to get her breath. "Leave him!" She croaked.
Clay looked at Washu and then at Kagato, he spat on him and gave Washu the tablets.
Washu downed two of them and sighed as the pain slowly decreased.
"Why.... What did i do?" Kagato said without looking up at Washu. With the muttered tone he spoke in it was clear he was in tears.
"You want to know what you did? You're in my mind, my thoughts, even my goddamn dreams!" Washu suddenly yelled.
"But I'm not doing anything!"
"I saw you staring directly at her yesterday when she began to feel sick!" Clay jeered.
"So what! I like her! There I said it!" Kagato muttered.
He lowered his head and clutched his aching jaw as Washu thought for a moment. Kagato did tend to look at her a lot.
"I don't know what's happening anymore. All I know is that when I see you is evil, pure evil."
"But I -"
"Get out." Washu said in a much sterner tone.
Kagato got to his feet; his silvery hair covered his eyes as he slumped out. Clay grasped Washu's hand tightly and smiled.
"Don't waste your breath on him. I'll find out what's happening."
"Clay…"
She smiled back at him and slowly kissed him on the cheek. Clay flushed deep red as she pulled back. For the few seconds that her lips touched him he felt light and at peace. Kagato - who was making his way back to his room - was out of his mind.
"If you feel better later maybe we can go to the cafeteria. You haven't had much food."
"Yes…I'd like that very much."
Kagato laid back on his bed and burst into tears once again. He sniffed as he thought about Washu. About her long pink hair, her wonderful smile and then there was her cheeky yet calm personality. Why doesn't she like me? He thought.
Throughout the night he stayed there and at 8pm decided to get something to eat.
He walked out of his room and walked to the elevator. The cafeteria had it's own mini-deck one that wasn't really considered a real deck. Mainly a huge room full of silver chairs and table with a huge counter at the end of the room behind which was the kitchen.
When he arrived there were only a few people. Studying for the lessons ahead or hanging out with friends due to boredom. He looked over and his heart sank. He saw clearly enough Washu's large pink hair. She was sat on a table next to Clay and a much older boy he didn't know - Grimshaw to Washu and Clay - Washu burst into laughter as the three of them shared tales. Clay was halfway through telling them how his dog accidentally got flushed out into space through his toilet when he saw Kagato.
"And my mom - Great just what we need!" Clay sighed.
Washu turned around to see Kagato; one seeing her looking he walked over to the counter.
"It's okay. Just leave him." Washu sighed.
"Anyone I should know?" Grimshaw asked while chomping into his sandwich.
Washu and Clay explained their current "avoiding mission" from Kagato to Grimshaw.
"That's strange. I saw a news report today. It seems the Galaxy Police have picked up strange readings coming from this area."
"It's probably Pickering's alien shite!" Clay laughed.
They all laughed together as Kagato watched on from the counter.
"I'll have a pickled space caterpillar sandwich and a bag of deep fried Juraian daisy petals." Kagato said not looking at the woman.
She handed him the oozing green sandwich and the bag of deep fried petals, which were one of the favoured delicacies of the cafeteria among the students.
He picked a table where he could see Washu clearly but not too close to her; Clay would probably punch him again if he came any closer.
"If he comes any closer or even speaks to his I'll punch him again." Clay muttered staring straight at Kagato.
"Chill man. The boy seems harmless to me." Grimshaw said flicking back his long fringe coolly.
Washu looked down at her meal, it looked like raw fish guts.
"Err…Grimshaw what did you order me?" Washu said looking up at him in disgust.
He burst into laughter as Clay grinned, biting his lip as not to laugh like Grimshaw.
"Actually we both ordered it. You have had the honour to try out the new dish first."
"Which is?" Washu asked.
"Raw Squid from the Delta quadrant!"
Washu felt her stomach ooze, he spat out the chunk into a power kitchen towel. (Complimentary at each table) Still she laughed along with them but pushed the plate in the middle insisting she had eaten enough.
Kagato watched from afar and felt left out. Still he had heard and had chuckled. He longed to be with them, as he finished his sandwich and started on the deep fried petals someone sat next to him. A cloaked figure whispered in his ear and then left. It hadn't been so much of a whisper but a deadly sound like a sirens call. He looked at the figure as it walked away and then at Washu who again had burst into laughter as Clay told of the rest of his dog's "Journey to space through the toilet."
Kagato put down the petals, which were unusually delicious and walked over to Washu. Clay glared at him as he spoke to her.
"He calls for you…"
"What…?" Washu said lowering her eyebrows to form a stern look.
"Your father is waiting for you now."
"My…father?"
Washu there and then transfixed in time saw it again, a tint of red glowing deep within Kagato's eyes, a burning flame of terror and anxiety. Washu came out of her trance to see Kagato shaking his head.
"I…"
"If you want sympathy. We ain't buying it creep. Now leave before your jaw gets damaged." Clay jeered.
Kagato stared at them in bewilderment and then at himself. He turned around to see the cloaked figure disappear out of the cafeteria. He raced after him.
"So anyway. There's me talking to my mom and all of a sudden we see my dog pawing the window to come in and -"
Kagato raced after the cloaked figure, dodging his way through swarms of students.
"Hey! Hey you! Wait up!"
The cloaked figure speeded up and made it to the elevator, the glass doors shut as Kagato banged on them desperately. The figure stared at him but not one element of his face could be seen from under his black hood.
Kagato punched the glass again - too feeble to make any marks - And was greeted by Professor Rogers. "You know that glass is unbreakable."
"I don't care."
"Bad day? Well I must be going. Business to take care of! About Washu, I believe you." He smiled.
This small yet cheery comment made Kagato feel a lot better, he watched as the professor took a different elevator and then got on the one the hooded figure took but back to Science Deck 34 room. He breathed heavily with exhaustion. The hooded figure was pretty fast. He opened the door to his room to see a girl sitting on his bed; she looked about Washu's age. She had long brown hair fastened back with a bobble and a strange oval head ornament from which sprouted what looked like authentic orange hair.
"Hello there." She giggled in a small squeaky voice.
Professor Rogers made his way through IT Deck and came to room 50. He peered through the door window. The room was dark and empty. A small smile spread across his face. He checked that no one was watching and crept in. He emerged moments later with a folder bulging with documents. He walked away just in time as the cloaked figure walked up towards the room and went in and did not come out at all.
"H-Hello. Who are you?" Kagato stammered as he eyed her. She was much prettier than Washu, the only thing that he kept staring at were two small green dots next to each other on her forehead.
"Angelica…that's my name." She smirked, her eyelashes fluttering as she spoke.
"H-Hi."
"I know what you are."
"What I am…?"
"Your mind is clouded Kagato."
"How do you…know my name?"
"I know all."
"Okay if this is some dumb joke then please stop it now. You're beginning to freak me out."
"I see. You are too naïve to see what is clouded. Then may your life continue the way it is until you do see."
Angelica walked out of the room, still leaving the strong smell of her perfume in the room. It was sort of hazy and made his nose itch. He went into the bathroom and washed his face, staring at it in the mirror he turned over in his head the things she had said.
"Who I am? What a weird girl."
Back at the cafeteria Grimshaw shared a few tales, one Washu found was too funny to keep in her laughter. The "Swimsuit contest." In which he had dressed up as a woman and unbelievably won, his cleverly devised "breast gainers" and "perfect hair" really turned out to be balls of tissue and his grandma's wig. He even had a photo to show them, that he kept in his wallet.
"Treasured memories…" He sniffled.
"So what about you Washu. Any stories? You must have." Clay asked. Slurping his orange juice, one of the only normal things we are used to on the menu.
She thought for a moment then sighed. "None of mine are funny. They're all depressing."
"I could do with loosening up. My stomach's aching from laughing." Grimshaw said.
"Or maybe it was 5 helpings of Martian Fish sandwiches." Clay smirked.
"Yeah that too. Anyway. Your audience awaits you." Grimshaw smirked.
It was now 8:45pm everyone else had eaten and left they were the only ones there apart from the cooks and the servers who were cleaning up.
"Well…My father. He was part of the Galaxy Police's Federal Division. He had a special assignment to track down the infamous criminal Kawasuki. Who I'm sure you've heard of. Anyway I was only little, four to be exact. He left for Jurai and…H-He…hasn't returned since."
Washu lowered her head as Clay and Grimshaw looked at each other now wishing they hadn't asked her.
"I'm sure he'll turn up!"
"Yeah he will! Someday, he'll surprise you!"
"Really think so?" Washu asked looking up at them, wiping her eyes.
"Yeah!"
One of the servers came up to them. "It's 9pm. Closing time now." She smiled, scratching her hair through her hairnet. Her apron was soaked in grease and leftover food and she carried a big black bin with her as she went from table to table wiping the surfaces and binning any remaining rubbish.
They cleared away their things and Grimshaw said goodbye and climbed several staircases then took the elevator to his room. Clay and Washu walked together until they arrived back at their dorm. The heaters had now been activated and their room cleaned. Washu stared at the clock. It was now 9:30. They had walked all the way, wanting to talk for a while and Washu didn't feel her stomach was ready for the elevator after her helping of Raw Squid.
Clay helped her sit down then went into the bathroom for a cool shower while Washu walked over to her bag, remembering the book Professor Roger's had given her. She read the title once again, Advanced Scientific Theories And Methods
She opened the book, which was soft and the pages seemed new. She studied some information on Masses, which was their current subject then read on about dimensions and how they could be joined up to others with a doorway to and back from them. She tried to concentrate but couldn't help but laugh from Clay's strangled shower singing. When he came out still singing into the shower brush with a towel wrapped around his waist she couldn't help but blush and giggle.
"What? Am I that fat?" He smiled flexing his muscles and straightening his wild blonde hair so it covered his eyes - his usual style - he then went back in and after Washu had finished that chapter he walked back out in his nightwear, a pair of navy blue boxer shorts and a black tee shirt. Washu smirked and closed her book. She grabbed her suitcase and pulled out a pair of pink shorts and a white tee shirt. She too went into the bathroom. Being the girl she was she took way longer than Clay. She finally emerged 20 minutes later wearing those clothes. Her hair had being tied up with bangs hanging out in front.
"Looking sharp!" Clay smirked, winking from the top bunk.
She hit him with her pillow and lay down on her bed. They talked for a while, talking about Grimshaw's stories and in particular what he had heard on the news. Taking it more seriously this time.
"But really…I wonder if it has anything to do with Kagato…"
"I wouldn't be surprised if he turned out to be an alien trying to destroy us all."
"I'm serious!"
"Me too." He laughed. "Washu…Washu…?"
He lowered his head down and looked and saw (through his long hair) that she had fallen asleep. She clutched her pillow smiling throughout her dream. Clay sighed and clutched his pillow in the darkness and fell asleep.
Washu was the first awake next morning. The alarm clock rang at 8am, just how she'd set it. Grimshaw who had assured her it would wake them up was right. The sound seemed to bounce of the walls. She turned it off and looked at Clay who was still snoring. After changing into her uniform, doing her hair and even putting on a little makeup she came out of the bathroom just in time to see Clay fall off the top of the bunk onto the velvet rug on the floor. Yet he still remained asleep. As she went over to sort her books she kicked him once or twice half to wake him up and half for touching her bum yesterday in the cafeteria.
"Dirty." She muttered as she kicked him once again in the head for good measure. She giggled, as his head seemed lop-sided. He groaned and stared at the floor.
"If you're not happy us being roommates you could have told me and not thrown me out of bed." He moaned.
"Don't look at me. You're the one that fell out."
"Yeah…Me fall." He muttered as he took a wash in the bathroom. He didn't put his uniform on until much later. When they had to make their way to their first lesson. Clay was struggling with his pants and trying to pack his bag with his science book and pencil-case.
"Well I'm ready." Washu smirked proudly as Clay tripped over his pants.
When he had finally changed into his uniform they rushed out of the door and to the elevator. She checked her schedule for the room number and deck and typed it in. Clay put his arm around her awkwardly. Washu smiled needing some comfort, as her stomach seemed to float.
They walked into the room and were one of the first few there. They greeted the teacher who had a brown stubby beard and was almost bald. He was awfully short and seemed half the size of Washu. Soon the class was packed and he introduced himself as Professor Klinck.
Washu had taken a seat at the back of the class next to Clay. She had originally been at the front but when Kagato sat close she moved.
"In our first topic we will be studying the recent developments of the stars around us. How they live and how they die. The phases after death and so on and so forth." Professor Klinck droned on. His voice was so dull in the first 10 minutes the class was half asleep. When he finished his lecture he slammed a pile of textbooks down on the table, which woke them all up. One girl who Washu had hardly seen snored loudly and woke with a start.
"I need a couple of volunteers." The Professor smirked. He walked around actually looking up at students. "You there - and you. What great volunteers!" He jeered as no one had raised his or her hand. Washu stood up and came to the front the second 'volunteer' was Kagato. Washu pushed passed him and grabbed half of the textbooks and handed them out. Each time she nearly knocked him over when they passed.
"Excellent. You may sit."
Throughout the lesson they read about the birth of stars and then the death of stars. They each took out their pens and in their new books.
"I know what most of you do. You write all neatly on the first page to make a good impression then later in the year you think you can write like cavemen."
"And cave-women." The snoring girl added.
"And women. The point being I want your books to be the best. Keep writing neatly. Now please write the title of Circle Of Life For Stars then write an essay about just that. Whatever you don't finish you will do for homework - Any questions? - Good."
Washu put down her pen after a while and caressed her aching hand. She looked down at her first page and then at Clay's 5 lines. He was humming the same tune he had sung in the shower. He seemed so laid back and didn't care.
"Why aren't you working?" She asked him.
"You heard the old fart. Whatever we don't finish we can do for homework. Our next lesson is on Friday."
"Yeah. We might as well do it now."
"That's 3 days WishyWashy!"
She gave him a small slap, which was more of a feeble hit than anything and continued until the bell finally rang. There was a mad scramble and everyone was glad to get away from the musty smelling classroom that reeked of history.
Science, a subject Washu was looking forward to wasn't much better either. Professor Rogers didn't seem his usual self but distraught and the bags from his eyes seemed they would fall off at any moment. Still it was a fun lesson. They were put into pairs; luckily Washu was with Clay, Kagato with the snoring girl.
They were each given a glass tank containing one "Mass" they each wore safety goggles and protective gloves.
"Now one of you pick the mass up - be careful. If it begins to glare put it straight back in or it'll attack."
"Doesn't look very harmless." Clay sighed picking the small blob up. In his palm he poked it but it remained still staring at him. He poked it again - it twitched. Again and again he poked until its eye widened. Washu straightened her goggles. "Put it back in!" She said frantically.
It glared at them with red angry eyes then began to shoot bits of itself around the room. It wasn't the only one. Several of them had begun spitting parts of themselves all over. Knocking books over, smashing framed pictures and ripping people's clothes. Through the chaos many yelled for help even the professor - ("Be Calm! EEK! Careful- Ouch!")
Washu fought the storm of parts; all the Mass seemed to be acting the same way now. She ducked down and crawled towards the desk. "Send them to another dimension." She yelled at the professor. He looked at her oddly first and then a spark of delight seemed to flash in front of him. He typed a few things into his cybernetic computer and a gate opened - sucking the Masses into it.
"Good…Good, quick thinking Miss Washu." He sighed falling back into his chair as the bell rang.
"Well that was a change from boring lessons." Clay smirked, looking at the damage. Kagato looked down at his uniform. It seemed like a bunch of rags. He wasn't the only one. Many people looked like they had been sleeping rough for months.
Next was History, the dullest subject on their schedule taught by the most boring professor, Professor Thorpe. She was a wrinkled old woman with horned rimmed spectacles and a stern face. As she talked she often tapped the board to wake up the class, they'd often copy a name or a date then doze straight back off again. Today's lesson was based on the Great Goblin Rebellion in the Delta Quadrant, which was a tale thousands of years old. She waffled on and on like an old, dull vacuum cleaner.
Towards the end she copied down the homework - design your own goblin, then rushed out with Clay. They rushed to the elevators and to the cafeteria. Sure enough Grimshaw was waiting for them at a table by the far window, halfway through what looked like an apple pie.
"Is that - " Washu started.
"Apple pie. Fresh apples straight from the ripe trees of Jurai!" He said lifting it up just like one of the dumb commercials. She giggled and went over to the counter - she was going to order for herself today.
She picked out the same apple pie, not wanting to risk anything else and sat down with Grimshaw. Clay came to join them with the chef's special, which didn't look any better than the squid she had had last night.
"So, have you heard?" Grimshaw asked excitedly.
"What?" Washu asked.
Grimshaw pointed to a sign on the wall
Sunday 8PM.
Formal Wear Only.
Washu sighed; not the expression Grimshaw was looking forward to.
"What's the matter?"
"I have no formal wear."
"That's okay! I've been to loads of them. You had go up to the head office reception. They have loads of spares. Pretty good too, much better than my brown tux - GACK. So I just go up there every year and pick something better!"
Washu smirked, chomping into her apple pie with delight.
"In that case. I can't wait either!" She jumped up and the two did a cheery dance; attracting attention from all other students. Afterwards they received an applause, even the servers smiled.
Clay couldn't help but feel a little jealous but still he smiled. "Maybe Washu will dance with me." He thought; not paying attention to the food that dripped from his mouth.
Washu hit him softly again on the cheek. "Hello ikkle piggy wiggy! You're dwooling! Hehe!" She giggled as he slurped it in. He scratched his head awkwardly and pushed the empty plate in the middle. He looked around him and then sat up as he saw Kagato on a table with Angelica.
"What the!" Clay gasped.
"What is it?"
"Kagato! With Tokimi? What's she playing at now?"
"Huh?" Washu looked over.
"That's Angelica Tokimi, my friend I told you about."
Tokimi circled her fingers through her hair playfully and smiled into Kagato's eyes.
"Have you figured it out yet?" She whispered sweetly to him
He gazed into her deep blue eyes in disbelief. "Please, tell me. I don't understand."
Then she said it, the phrase that changed his life from that point on, that would in future times corrupt his mind into darkness.
When dark shines dim in emerald green you see the red that is not seen
With that she pushed back her chair and walked out leaving Kagato to ponder.
"Good. She's left, finally come to her senses." Clay muttered, watching Kagato. Washu however didn't feel the same way. It was as if she heard their conversation in some way. She repeated the sentence to herself.
"Why are you babbling poetry - do you feel okay - you've gone green. Your eyes look a little red too." Grimshaw smirked.
Washu looked up at him for a moment, a spark had seemed to flicker in her head but then fizzled out.
"What is it?" Clay asked.
"Never mind." Washu shrugged. "Now tell me another story!" She smirked.
They ate their meals, shared stories and then burped in delight as they walked out. "Err…Grimshaw? One more thing."
"What is it?"
"Does the academy have a library?"
"Sure! Every academy has a library! Right up these stairs and to the right!" He said pointing to a shining silver staircase with a sign hanging in front of it; 'Staircase B'
"You two go on ahead. I'll see you later."
Clay wanted to go with her but Grimshaw shooed him away. As they walked together he shared a few pointers about getting girls - ("You've got to be sensitive! Not crowd them!)
He walked up to a girl and winked pointing his finger at her. "Hey doll face."
"Eww. Getaway you creep." She gasped.
"I'll see you later!"
"That really worked." Clay smirked.
Meanwhile Washu walked up the stairs and opened the library door. She looked around a moment at the unfamiliar surroundings. Chanting what she had heard Tokimi say as not to forget it, she marched over to the poetry section to start the first of many days in the library…
~END CH.2