Wanderer in the Mists

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Tenchi characters Pioneer does. I do however claim rights over all original characters herein and expressly ask anyone wishing to use them to obtain my permission first.

Foreword; This story takes place after Midnight on the Last Perfect Day and assumes that you have read said story.

The red curtains to the bay window were thrown wide to allow in the light of the half moon and twinkling stars of the warm Jurian night. Spread out before them was the landscape of the palace dotted in the lights of man against the darkness and bathed in the silver purity of a moon not yet realized. Yet as spectacular as the view was it was wasted on the couple seated on the couch before that massive piece of glass. Their eyes were only for the other. Gold stared into Sapphire and each seemed to want to be fused into the other to create the most perfect of jewelry. And while this goal seemed impossible their lips meant with just such an intent. Soon his arms circled her slender waist as her delicate seeming fingers snaked their way through his brown blonde hair. Her lips parted to allow in his moist tongue as she gently pulled him down on top of her. When his hand reached into her flimsy robe, gliding across her smooth flesh until he found what he sought she breathed his name as he buried his face into her neck. An instant latter she tightened her grip on his hair as the waves of pleasure engulfed her senses.

Tenchi awoke with a start as the vivid dream faded away and reality took center stage. He placed a hand to his chest trying to slow his rapid breathing and thumping heart. Slowly he regained control by taking several deep breaths to slow his breathing and shook his head vigorously trying to clear away the dull images imprinted on his brain. With a flourish he threw away his sodden sheets and only then realized he was covered in a cold sheen of sweat. With another steadying breath he groggily pulled his protesting body to it's feet. Shaking away the last vestige of his nightmare Tenchi groped about blindly for a moment in the dull half light of his curtained bedroom before opening the window to let in the early morning sun.

It was Sunday morning and the sight of the sun coming up over the smooth waters of the lake was a warming sight to the troubled young man standing on the deck of his former home. Tenchi knew it was wrong but he really couldn't think of this place as his home anymore. Too much had changed even if the landscape hadn't. Without the two princesses and the little cabbit the house seemed as empty as his heart. Worse though was the silence, it was too quite these days with only three people living there along with two who were there on occasion, himself included. But the biggest cause of the silence was the lack of one loudmouth pirate and her constant noise. Tenchi frowned at that thought before turning around to go back inside. He didn't want to think about Ryoko right then, not after another one of those dreams.

The smell of breakfast being cooked greeted him as Tenchi yawned his way down the stairs. Washu must be up and cooking, the unrecognized crown prince thought to himself as he crossed the empty living room. Most likely his father was still abed enjoying the rare chance to sleep in, while his grandfather was probably already up at the shrine starting his days work. Not that Tenchi ever really understood what it was that took up so much of his Grandfathers time. He let his thoughts wander away as he reached for the sliding door that led into the kitchen of the Masaki home.

"Good morning Tenchi," Washu called out over her shoulder as her hands busily worked over the pots and pans arranged neatly on the stove.

"Good morning to you too Little Washu," Tenchi greeted allowing her the indulgence with her name. After all she was the one making breakfast. Tenchi still found the sight as odd as the first time he had seen four years earlier. He had to give the diminutive scientist credit, she was an excellent cook. It wasn't up to Sasami's level, but it put his own skills to shame and tasted a whole lot better than the processed garbage he ate on campus during the week.

"Did you sleep well Tenchi," the red head asked tasting the miso soup from a small saucer.

"Not really," Tenchi said letting his shoulders slump, "I had one of those dreams again."

"I'm sorry Tenchi," Washu said turning around to face him for the first time since he walked in the room, "Do you want to try the field dampener again?"

"No, that's alright," he answered to her concerned green eyes. The first time he had had one of those dreams Washu built a machine she said would keep him from dreaming. The invention was in the form of four poles each topped with a small dish that pointed down at an angle. When placed at the four corners of his bed they created a field wherein the subject was unable to dream. However using the device left Tenchi feeling drained and weak for several days after. Washu had done an analysis to try to find the cause of his lethargy but as of yet had no answers. So Tenchi was left with his nightmares of Ryoko and her passions with another man.

"Well breakfast will be ready soon," Washu said turning back to her work, leaving Tenchi to sort out his thoughts for himself, "Why don't you go up to the shrine and get your Grandfather."

"Sure little Washu," Tenchi said monotonously biting the inside of his cheek and wondering.

Tenchi was pulling on his jacket as he stepped out into the brisk morning when he noticed the man coming up the path. A light mist had settled into the mountain valley overnight so it was hard to make out who it was coming up the path. They rarely had visitors this far up into the mountains and none ever came unannounced. Unless they were falling out of the sky that was. Tenchi didn't recall his grandfather saying anything about anyone coming to see the shrine today which instantly roused his suspicions. After all the last person to walk up that road unannounced and uninvited had been the weapons master Matthew Aaron Carson. Frowning with suspicion Tenchi trotted across the wooden bridge to meet the stranger before he made it to the house.

The stranger came to a stop before the bridge when he saw Tenchi coming towards him. Tenchi pulled to a stop several feet from the old man standing before him. Not recognizing the man but feeling a familiar aura about the stranger Tenchi gave him the once over. The old man appeared to be in his late sixties with age spots on his hands and temples where his slat and pepper hair receded slightly from his smooth forehead. He wore comfortable looking walking shoes along with tan slacks where his slid his hands into the pockets. His white shirt was unbuttoned at the collar and a brown leather jacket was thrown over his shoulders to ward off the chill of the mountain morning. His grey eyes were as hard as flint chips as he took in Tenchi's appearance. The little man stood a full inch shorter than Tenchi but the aura of danger about him gave the old man presence. Even when he smiled up affably at Tenchi the steel refused to leave his eyes, as if he were looking for an nuance of weakness in the young man standing before him. Uncomfortable with the scrutiny Tenchi greeted the odd man awkwardly.

"Good morning sir what can I do for you," Tenchi managed to get out scratching his head.

"What is your name young man," The old man's voice sound like the crack of a whip.

"Ummm, Tenchi sir," Tenchi said growing more uncomfortable by the moment under the gaze of those steely eyes, "Have you come to see the shrine, we don't get many visitors way out here."

"Don't make presumptions young man," snapped the little man, "I am here for my own business."

"Excuse me sir for being presumptuous," Tenchi bowed slightly, "It's just a little odd to have someone coming out here the early."

"I understand young man," the old man said somewhat apologetically, "This trip has left my nerves a bit frayed. It has been a long time since I left my home and I had hoped this would be the end of my journey."

"May I ask sir why it is that you are here." Tenchi did his best not to anger the old man again.

"Ahh, forgive me young man, the long walk has made me forget my manners, My name is Ryu Tsutargi," the old man gave Tenchi a slight bow while Tenchi pondered over the name. He knew he had heard it somewhere before. Before it clicked thought the smaller man spoke again, "In answer to your question Tenchi I am looking for something that has been lost."

"Lost sir," Tenchi asked perplexed, still trying to place the old man's name, "What is it you have lost?"

"My student," Ryu Tsutargi answered simply.

And then confirmation clicked in Tenchi's mind. This was Ryu Tsutargi, master to Matthew Aaron Carson. This little old man was the unlikely keeper of an art so deadly and feared he had been exiled from Japan over fifty years ago. Now Tenchi knew why this man's aura seemed so familiar, he was a weapons master. Teacher to the man who had stolen everything from Tenchi and left him with only ashes.

Suddenly Tenchi knew this was not going to be a good day.

Author's Note

I LIVE! Ok with that out of the way I'd like to say that I am back and hopefully I can finish up this epic of mine. I'm coming back with this story first because it is the easiest for me write and it is the next one in the chronology of the Dreams Continuum. It was kind of disheartening to come back after so long and see the bad reviews my stories have gotten recently. In answer to them all I can say is please wait until I'm done, I am going somewhere with all this. Anyways I'm happy to be back online and writing again so expect to see updates to Dream Lost again in the near future also. It's good to be back and I'm looking forward to reviews, please keep 'em coming.