Forever Ryoko
By Starhopper
DISCLAIMER: Nope. Not mine, *sticks out tongue* never have been, never will be.
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Chapter 4: Nagi Gets Involved
Ken-ohki's ears rose as he hopped onto the alien ship, his master following warily.
"What is it," Nagi looked down to the fluffy white cabbit at her boot. "Do you hear something?"
They both looked up as footfalls started in the shadows and became increasingly louder. Withdrawing her whip, Nagi made ready with Ken-ohki hissing, hackles raised in alarm, splayed out on his legs before her.
The footfalls stopped abruptly. Somewhere in the shadows a man's voice echoed through the possible halls. "Put down your weapon my lady, we mean you no harm."
Not about ready to take orders from anyone, the bounty hunter replied, "Who is we?"
The Master stepped out with Odosuoni aside him, hand on her hip. "We are Odosuoni," he gestured to his red haired creation, "and-"
"Stop right there," her pointer went up and she took a step back, forming that triangle on her legs as the Master had foreseen. "I know exactly who you are," the finger went down as went the hood over her head. "Though I don't understand why you are here. Oh well, no matter. I try to stay out of the affairs of Galaxy Police anyway." She cocked a faded blue brow. "What do you want with me?"
"We want nothing of you my dear." The Master turned his head slightly as if to make better eye contact with the cloaked woman. "We are both merely after the same prize, you and I."
"What, adventure, money, personal fulfillment?"
"No," The Master's voice grew dark and uncertain, not to mention slow. "A certain . . . pirate?"
Nagi could feel her eyes widen and jaw open in surprise. Quickly checking herself, she pulled the hood over her head and resumed the part that she had grown to love to play. "And who would that be?" As if she didn't already know.
"I won't tell you until you can say for certain that we may join forces and claim the same prize together." His teeth gleamed in a maniacal grin.
"I would like to know just what I am working for first." Nagi replied coolly, taking a cautious step forward.
"Well, be it so. We understand that you've dedicated your life to find this one. She's very sly and very slick as I'm sure you know. And the only one to escape your capture - very interesting.
"But onto more important things. Ryoko, the space-pirate, is our prize."
"I had taken her for dead," Nagi mumbled to herself, then hung her head in repent. "How very foolish." Her shoulders shook as she laughed off her blunder.
"So then you know just how powerful she is."
"Yes, I do." Her head went up to meet both gazes. "And what of the others?"
"Ah, yes," Feeling her comfort level increase, The Master began to move in. He started to walk around to her, remembering just how dangerous and unpredictable a bounty hunter could be. "Then you know of Washu," A screen suddenly appeared from out of the darkness, carrying the genius' image. "Yosho," Grandfather's visage appeared next to the 2D Washu. "First Princess Aeka," the First Princess, with head bowed in respect faded in next to her distant relative's. "First Class Galaxy Police detectives Kiyone and Mihoshi," the duo appeared, Mihoshi crowding her partner out of the shot, flashing a peace sign that took up the whole frame. "Ryo-ohki," Ken-ohki let out a little meow of approval and gave a longing look to the picture. "Second Princess Sasami," The bright pink eyes of the youngest member of the House of Jurai shone out from under the light blue spray of bangs. "Tenchi,"
"Oh," Nagi commented as the frame of Ryoko's man appeared next to the young Princess. "Yes, I do remember him."
"Good," The Master smiled. "So much the better." He turned back to the existing screens. "Then here's his love and our girl,"
Nagi stared at the Ryoko screen. It was a fairly recent picture, her eyes told it all. The engagement ring she flashed was a simple gold band that which, when held close to her eyes as it was now, reflected their flaxen color. Holding herself back, Nagi nodded and blinked. "Yes, that's Ryoko all right." Allowing a smile to penetrate her lips, Nagi bent her right knee and relaxed a bit. "Though the ring is a surprise."
"That's why we need your help." The Master drew near now, Odosuoni still silhouetted against the contrast of shadow and spotlight. "When we started on this quest, we hadn't taken into account that the most powerful being . . . had a Juraian lover. We could have handled her easily enough, but now Tenchi's powers are increasing in strength each day. Soon they will be most powerful.I have foreseen it."
"So what does this little match for power have to do with me?"
"Everything. You know more about Ryoko than anyone else. If they are allowed to have a bond, that being will complete their powers, making that individual unstoppable."
Nagi stopped him. "A bond . . . don't you mean a child?"
"It will be a bond of power, that's all we're concerned about. For about nine months Ryoko will be close to powerless; the child within her consuming some energy as it develops. Tenchi will be weak as well. It will be the perfect time to strike them down. But, if we attack now, they will be strong enough to battle . . . perhaps overcome with four against nine. But out of those, only five will be assisted through powers."
"And if I take out Ryoko, then it's only four against four really. It seems quite fair."
"Good, then you'll do it?"
Nagi turned her head solemnly. "No."
"WHAT?!" Both Odosuoni and her master exclaimed in rage.
"I will not allow anyone else to hunt down Ryoko. That is my job."
"Right, and we're letting you do your job!" The Master's hands went up in frustration. "Just take her out and we'll take care of the rest. I have three very powerful beings of my own, created with the same powers and more so like Ryoko's. They are all ready and willing to die for me."
"Very well, but I want to know just why you need to take out Ryoko and her man. For what purpose do their deaths serve you?"
"Come," finally within a breath of her, The Master reached a hand out, grasped her gloved hand in his and carefully pulled it and its owner over into the shadows, through the screens of characters. "Let us speak in private."
The three departing into the shadows, Ken-ohki was left staring at the Ryo- ohki screen.
"Sow," he mumbled quietly and hopped off after his master.
* * *
The snowy screen cleared to see Ryoko's shining face. With a sigh, the First Princess of Jurai flopped down on her lavish crushed velvet comforter and propped her chin up on a fist. "Miss Ryoko," Aeka began testily. "You know that your calls always come at inopportune moments. Why must you even bother?"
The space pirate glared at her, the golden eyes becoming slits. "Oh, stop being a princess with 'duties' and just be a normal woman for once!" Her hands clasped together and up at her throat, Ryoko begged. "Washu's locked herself up in the lab again, Tenchi's at school, Sasami's at school, Ryo- ohki's acting really strange, Mihoshi and Kiyone are on duty . . . I'M ALL ALONE!"
"You really must be lonely if you're calling me." Aeka shook her head in disbelief and stifled a chuckle.
"Exactly! I'm even calling Miss Royal Pain in the Ass. No offense."
"None taken."
Back on Earth, Ryoko lounged in her old room. She smiled. "Anyway, I just wanted to see how you're fairing back on Jurai."
"I'm doing just fine Miss Ryoko, thank you." Aeka smiled in turn. "But I must say that I still can't believe you and Lord Tenchi didn't start your lives together sooner."
Rolling those golden corneas of hers, the space pirate blew out a long stream of air that ruffled the cyan pseudo bangs. "Same here. But in a way we already are, I mean we've spent every waking and sleeping moment with each other when the other is at home. It's almost as if we've been married for years," her voice went up an octave in her little fashion. "But, we still have a year and a half to go before,"
"Anything can happen?" Aeka supplied with a wink.
"Hey now," Ryoko levitated far and away from the communicator with a warning finger. "I know that you were thinking the exact same things not two years ago, so you can't just go assuming whatever little things that you want to assume. I've been very respectful of Tenchi's wishes and he wishes for our love to be pure when we take our vows." She could feel the heat rise in her cheeks. "And believe me, eighteen months cannot come soon enough."
By now the communicator's sound amplifiers were filled with Aeka's laughter, which was in anything but pity for her friend. "This is just too funny!"
Ryoko turned and stared at the viewing screen. "Well I'm happy to see that you're getting such a kick out of my little predicament!"
"No! It's not that it's just that you, the infamous Ryoko who couldn't wait for a minute, much less an hour to be alone with Tenchi now has to wait a year and a half!"
"Actually, if you must know, it'll be more like four years." Ryoko shook her head, clearing her mind. Raising her hand she blew out an adolescent fireball forming in her palm. "Damn it. I'm getting more excitable these days."
"It comes from getting older my dear," Aeka cackled over the communicator.
"Aeka please," Ryoko pleaded feeling the power tingle and flow from the tips of her fingers. "I'm warning you."
"Warn Miss Washu, she'll be the one to fix the communicator." The First Princess retorted hotly.
"Aeka!" Ryoko raised her hands together, locked elbows and sent the ball flying into Aeka's red face.
On Jurai, Aeka kept on laughing as the screen went dark. "Poor Ryoko, she really does have a fiery temper." Pausing, she ended the silence with a giggle at her clever pun. She then rolled over on her side and from there raised herself off the soft bed and onto the cold floor. Cringing, she proceeded to the luxurious window seat that faced the never- ending grounds of the Palace of Jurai. Below her was the first half of the hedge maze and looking only a little farther she could see the sparkling waters of the secret fountain at the heart of the maze. Farther still, were the forests of trees upon trees upon trees. The very trees that gave her comfort while on earth.
"Princess Aeka!"
Aeka shifted from her comfortable position and leaned forward to see her inquisitor at the door. "Yes, who is it? Azaka? Kamidake?"
"Both, Princess." Azaka replied, and suddenly the two Guardians appeared in her doorway, usually cheery faces now sullen and worrisome.
"May we speak with you a moment?" Kamidake gently approached. "It's of the utmost importance."
"Yes of course," Aeka got up and slipped on a cream, floor-length robe with gold stitchings around the sleeves, neck, and hem. Slipping on the golden curled-toed slippers, she nodded to the two gentlemen awaiting her and closed the door after them.
The halls were barren; the only sounds that dared to echo through the halls were their low voices and footfalls.
Keeping her eyes straight ahead, the First Princess quickened her pace so that she walked abreast with the two guardians. "So, what is this about?"
Azaka bowed his head in respect. "There was an exchange of fire somewhere outside the checkpoint. Three ships were destroyed.including Ryu-oh."
Aeka could feel the beats pounding in her temples, but kept silent until both of the Guardians stopped in mid-stride.
"Princess Aeka? We're sure you are shocked, but a seed was saved in the blast."
She breathed a sigh of relief and thought to inquire just who deserved one million Jurai for keeping her precious Ryu-oh safe and sound. Then, upon stopping, Aeka could feel some Jurai energy surging beneath the apathetic surface.
With a snap of her head in the direction of the elder Guardian, Aeka demanded, "Just who had the gall to destroy a grand Ship of Jurai?"
Azaka bowed respectively and sadly replied, "The report hasn't come through the hyperlinks yet."
"That is why we summoned you." Kamidake chimed in. "The information center should be buzzing by now with the damage reports."
Taking a deep, healing breath, Aeka closed her eyes. Opening them after a long pause, she started walking down the dark hall, determined and renewed, with the Guardians following every step.
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Gomen for the length of this chapter, but the next is even shorter. Erego I've posted that as well. But it would not have made very much sense (aesthetical sense that is) if I had kept the two together.
Any-who, REVIEW now or REVIEW later, whatever you wish! ^_^
By Starhopper
DISCLAIMER: Nope. Not mine, *sticks out tongue* never have been, never will be.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Chapter 4: Nagi Gets Involved
Ken-ohki's ears rose as he hopped onto the alien ship, his master following warily.
"What is it," Nagi looked down to the fluffy white cabbit at her boot. "Do you hear something?"
They both looked up as footfalls started in the shadows and became increasingly louder. Withdrawing her whip, Nagi made ready with Ken-ohki hissing, hackles raised in alarm, splayed out on his legs before her.
The footfalls stopped abruptly. Somewhere in the shadows a man's voice echoed through the possible halls. "Put down your weapon my lady, we mean you no harm."
Not about ready to take orders from anyone, the bounty hunter replied, "Who is we?"
The Master stepped out with Odosuoni aside him, hand on her hip. "We are Odosuoni," he gestured to his red haired creation, "and-"
"Stop right there," her pointer went up and she took a step back, forming that triangle on her legs as the Master had foreseen. "I know exactly who you are," the finger went down as went the hood over her head. "Though I don't understand why you are here. Oh well, no matter. I try to stay out of the affairs of Galaxy Police anyway." She cocked a faded blue brow. "What do you want with me?"
"We want nothing of you my dear." The Master turned his head slightly as if to make better eye contact with the cloaked woman. "We are both merely after the same prize, you and I."
"What, adventure, money, personal fulfillment?"
"No," The Master's voice grew dark and uncertain, not to mention slow. "A certain . . . pirate?"
Nagi could feel her eyes widen and jaw open in surprise. Quickly checking herself, she pulled the hood over her head and resumed the part that she had grown to love to play. "And who would that be?" As if she didn't already know.
"I won't tell you until you can say for certain that we may join forces and claim the same prize together." His teeth gleamed in a maniacal grin.
"I would like to know just what I am working for first." Nagi replied coolly, taking a cautious step forward.
"Well, be it so. We understand that you've dedicated your life to find this one. She's very sly and very slick as I'm sure you know. And the only one to escape your capture - very interesting.
"But onto more important things. Ryoko, the space-pirate, is our prize."
"I had taken her for dead," Nagi mumbled to herself, then hung her head in repent. "How very foolish." Her shoulders shook as she laughed off her blunder.
"So then you know just how powerful she is."
"Yes, I do." Her head went up to meet both gazes. "And what of the others?"
"Ah, yes," Feeling her comfort level increase, The Master began to move in. He started to walk around to her, remembering just how dangerous and unpredictable a bounty hunter could be. "Then you know of Washu," A screen suddenly appeared from out of the darkness, carrying the genius' image. "Yosho," Grandfather's visage appeared next to the 2D Washu. "First Princess Aeka," the First Princess, with head bowed in respect faded in next to her distant relative's. "First Class Galaxy Police detectives Kiyone and Mihoshi," the duo appeared, Mihoshi crowding her partner out of the shot, flashing a peace sign that took up the whole frame. "Ryo-ohki," Ken-ohki let out a little meow of approval and gave a longing look to the picture. "Second Princess Sasami," The bright pink eyes of the youngest member of the House of Jurai shone out from under the light blue spray of bangs. "Tenchi,"
"Oh," Nagi commented as the frame of Ryoko's man appeared next to the young Princess. "Yes, I do remember him."
"Good," The Master smiled. "So much the better." He turned back to the existing screens. "Then here's his love and our girl,"
Nagi stared at the Ryoko screen. It was a fairly recent picture, her eyes told it all. The engagement ring she flashed was a simple gold band that which, when held close to her eyes as it was now, reflected their flaxen color. Holding herself back, Nagi nodded and blinked. "Yes, that's Ryoko all right." Allowing a smile to penetrate her lips, Nagi bent her right knee and relaxed a bit. "Though the ring is a surprise."
"That's why we need your help." The Master drew near now, Odosuoni still silhouetted against the contrast of shadow and spotlight. "When we started on this quest, we hadn't taken into account that the most powerful being . . . had a Juraian lover. We could have handled her easily enough, but now Tenchi's powers are increasing in strength each day. Soon they will be most powerful.I have foreseen it."
"So what does this little match for power have to do with me?"
"Everything. You know more about Ryoko than anyone else. If they are allowed to have a bond, that being will complete their powers, making that individual unstoppable."
Nagi stopped him. "A bond . . . don't you mean a child?"
"It will be a bond of power, that's all we're concerned about. For about nine months Ryoko will be close to powerless; the child within her consuming some energy as it develops. Tenchi will be weak as well. It will be the perfect time to strike them down. But, if we attack now, they will be strong enough to battle . . . perhaps overcome with four against nine. But out of those, only five will be assisted through powers."
"And if I take out Ryoko, then it's only four against four really. It seems quite fair."
"Good, then you'll do it?"
Nagi turned her head solemnly. "No."
"WHAT?!" Both Odosuoni and her master exclaimed in rage.
"I will not allow anyone else to hunt down Ryoko. That is my job."
"Right, and we're letting you do your job!" The Master's hands went up in frustration. "Just take her out and we'll take care of the rest. I have three very powerful beings of my own, created with the same powers and more so like Ryoko's. They are all ready and willing to die for me."
"Very well, but I want to know just why you need to take out Ryoko and her man. For what purpose do their deaths serve you?"
"Come," finally within a breath of her, The Master reached a hand out, grasped her gloved hand in his and carefully pulled it and its owner over into the shadows, through the screens of characters. "Let us speak in private."
The three departing into the shadows, Ken-ohki was left staring at the Ryo- ohki screen.
"Sow," he mumbled quietly and hopped off after his master.
* * *
The snowy screen cleared to see Ryoko's shining face. With a sigh, the First Princess of Jurai flopped down on her lavish crushed velvet comforter and propped her chin up on a fist. "Miss Ryoko," Aeka began testily. "You know that your calls always come at inopportune moments. Why must you even bother?"
The space pirate glared at her, the golden eyes becoming slits. "Oh, stop being a princess with 'duties' and just be a normal woman for once!" Her hands clasped together and up at her throat, Ryoko begged. "Washu's locked herself up in the lab again, Tenchi's at school, Sasami's at school, Ryo- ohki's acting really strange, Mihoshi and Kiyone are on duty . . . I'M ALL ALONE!"
"You really must be lonely if you're calling me." Aeka shook her head in disbelief and stifled a chuckle.
"Exactly! I'm even calling Miss Royal Pain in the Ass. No offense."
"None taken."
Back on Earth, Ryoko lounged in her old room. She smiled. "Anyway, I just wanted to see how you're fairing back on Jurai."
"I'm doing just fine Miss Ryoko, thank you." Aeka smiled in turn. "But I must say that I still can't believe you and Lord Tenchi didn't start your lives together sooner."
Rolling those golden corneas of hers, the space pirate blew out a long stream of air that ruffled the cyan pseudo bangs. "Same here. But in a way we already are, I mean we've spent every waking and sleeping moment with each other when the other is at home. It's almost as if we've been married for years," her voice went up an octave in her little fashion. "But, we still have a year and a half to go before,"
"Anything can happen?" Aeka supplied with a wink.
"Hey now," Ryoko levitated far and away from the communicator with a warning finger. "I know that you were thinking the exact same things not two years ago, so you can't just go assuming whatever little things that you want to assume. I've been very respectful of Tenchi's wishes and he wishes for our love to be pure when we take our vows." She could feel the heat rise in her cheeks. "And believe me, eighteen months cannot come soon enough."
By now the communicator's sound amplifiers were filled with Aeka's laughter, which was in anything but pity for her friend. "This is just too funny!"
Ryoko turned and stared at the viewing screen. "Well I'm happy to see that you're getting such a kick out of my little predicament!"
"No! It's not that it's just that you, the infamous Ryoko who couldn't wait for a minute, much less an hour to be alone with Tenchi now has to wait a year and a half!"
"Actually, if you must know, it'll be more like four years." Ryoko shook her head, clearing her mind. Raising her hand she blew out an adolescent fireball forming in her palm. "Damn it. I'm getting more excitable these days."
"It comes from getting older my dear," Aeka cackled over the communicator.
"Aeka please," Ryoko pleaded feeling the power tingle and flow from the tips of her fingers. "I'm warning you."
"Warn Miss Washu, she'll be the one to fix the communicator." The First Princess retorted hotly.
"Aeka!" Ryoko raised her hands together, locked elbows and sent the ball flying into Aeka's red face.
On Jurai, Aeka kept on laughing as the screen went dark. "Poor Ryoko, she really does have a fiery temper." Pausing, she ended the silence with a giggle at her clever pun. She then rolled over on her side and from there raised herself off the soft bed and onto the cold floor. Cringing, she proceeded to the luxurious window seat that faced the never- ending grounds of the Palace of Jurai. Below her was the first half of the hedge maze and looking only a little farther she could see the sparkling waters of the secret fountain at the heart of the maze. Farther still, were the forests of trees upon trees upon trees. The very trees that gave her comfort while on earth.
"Princess Aeka!"
Aeka shifted from her comfortable position and leaned forward to see her inquisitor at the door. "Yes, who is it? Azaka? Kamidake?"
"Both, Princess." Azaka replied, and suddenly the two Guardians appeared in her doorway, usually cheery faces now sullen and worrisome.
"May we speak with you a moment?" Kamidake gently approached. "It's of the utmost importance."
"Yes of course," Aeka got up and slipped on a cream, floor-length robe with gold stitchings around the sleeves, neck, and hem. Slipping on the golden curled-toed slippers, she nodded to the two gentlemen awaiting her and closed the door after them.
The halls were barren; the only sounds that dared to echo through the halls were their low voices and footfalls.
Keeping her eyes straight ahead, the First Princess quickened her pace so that she walked abreast with the two guardians. "So, what is this about?"
Azaka bowed his head in respect. "There was an exchange of fire somewhere outside the checkpoint. Three ships were destroyed.including Ryu-oh."
Aeka could feel the beats pounding in her temples, but kept silent until both of the Guardians stopped in mid-stride.
"Princess Aeka? We're sure you are shocked, but a seed was saved in the blast."
She breathed a sigh of relief and thought to inquire just who deserved one million Jurai for keeping her precious Ryu-oh safe and sound. Then, upon stopping, Aeka could feel some Jurai energy surging beneath the apathetic surface.
With a snap of her head in the direction of the elder Guardian, Aeka demanded, "Just who had the gall to destroy a grand Ship of Jurai?"
Azaka bowed respectively and sadly replied, "The report hasn't come through the hyperlinks yet."
"That is why we summoned you." Kamidake chimed in. "The information center should be buzzing by now with the damage reports."
Taking a deep, healing breath, Aeka closed her eyes. Opening them after a long pause, she started walking down the dark hall, determined and renewed, with the Guardians following every step.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Gomen for the length of this chapter, but the next is even shorter. Erego I've posted that as well. But it would not have made very much sense (aesthetical sense that is) if I had kept the two together.
Any-who, REVIEW now or REVIEW later, whatever you wish! ^_^