Disclaimer: All previous disclaimers from previous chapters apply to this one as well.
AN: Before we begin, this is my first chapter without a beta since chapter three, so keep that in mind. Also Jurain is spoken in this chapter, for your convince and to make this easier on me it's auto translated so any time you see "" "" that's Juraian translated. Since this language will be used a frequently in the upcoming chapters and it is unlikely that Jurai would speak an earth language (Save for the royal family, Funaho is from earth so they would speak her native dialect quiet often.) I will be using this quite often. You will also get to hear (see) Jurain, but only as is required and it will be kept short. Anyway enjoy and tell me what you think.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Happiness, Tears and War
Chapter 8
by Geor-sama
November 25,2002
He plunged the dagger down quick and silent through her chest his hand clamped over her mouth. He saw the eyes snap open as she screamed into his hand, her eyes wide in pain and terror. He had no time to think he had to get out of here quickly. The gas, was dissipated now, Jurains would only be knocked out for a little while with that gas. The noise of the door sliding open, alerted him and he removed his dagger it was covered in royal blood he turned to find the knight standing in the doorway, energy sword at the ready. He absently noted the anger in the knight's eye out shone the blade, so much the better it would cloud the knights judgment. He did wonder idly how the knight managed to be awake now since he should have been asleep for another three hours, he mentally shrugged as the knight started forward and he tossed the dagger perfectly at his chest.
Ukyo's sword moved quickly knocking the dagger to the side as he started to rush forward. The assassin wasn't waiting; instead he grabbed the knight's wrist and robes and fell back planting his feet in the stomach carrying the knight through the air. He let go and rolled onto his upper back pulled his legs in and sprung up he didn't even turn to look at the knight as he took off. Ukyo flew through the air and managed to flip himself and cushion his impact. He fell to the ground in a crouch his eyes locked on his fleeing target. The energy sword disengaged for now, he pursued his prey, hatred etched in every line of his face.
The assassin was already out the door and making his escape down the hallway as he heard the knight come after him, he knew that trick wouldn't have kept the knight down for long. The assassin leaped forward and bounded off the wall and rebounded of the stair wall and landing continued down the stairs taking them two at a time. He didn't even pause as the small rabbit creature stood in his way hair raised and hissing at him. He merely, kicked out knocking it off the stairs. He reached the bottom of the steps and skidded to a halt, his mind already trying to figure out how to get away. He heard the knight's heavy steps as he came down the stairs and now he had a dozen metal drones floating in the air blocking his progress. He was trying to resist shifting but knew it was his only chance, there was a moment and then his form shifted to that of a tall, dark green brute of a half man half lizard. He flicked his strong tail out and swatted the knight who had leaped into the air to the ground. He hissed and started forward knowing these were security droids, He began dodging the energy blasts and reaching out tossing one into the other causing a small explosion.
He leaped forward and burst through the door and landed in the yard and hissed covering his eyes as he found himself bathed in light.
He turned as the doors began to open and entered the forest shifting once more to a lithe figure of a young man. He could hear the people running after him, this was bad. He needed to reach his ship he had missed timed. He shook his head and leaped into the tree branches and moved stealthily from branch to branch.
The assassin stretched out with his senses trying to find them, he found he had one flowing behind him quickly, the other two were no were to be found. He left the branches and landing gracefully started darting between the tress, not disturbing a leaf or blade of grass. One pursuer he could deal with, besides he was close to his ship.
He stopped short as a pair of couple of energy blast from behind; he turned briefly and gulped he saw only the silhouette of a flying woman, her hands covered in orange energy. He spurred himself on at a faster pace; he had to get away.
He once more leaped into the tree branches and started hopping from limb to limb in the direction of his ship. He was forced to take the long way around, he had ran in the wrong direction at the house he realized that now. The blasts were coming more frequently and much more accurately now, and he only had time to adjust for landing as the branch he had been on disappeared from beneath him. He took it in stride and started forward and skidded to a halt. Two men were blocking his path, both had energy swords and neither was happy. He knew one was the knight but the other he had no inkling as to who they were. Not that he had time to consider it much since the knight attacked first, the assassin somehow side stepped the knight's blade and countered with a quick kick to the back of knight's right knee, sending the knight tumbling forward.
The other jumped over his partner and lunged for him. The assassin guessed from the ease and way he held the blade he was way out matched with this one. He held his right hand up shifting his form again and took on that of a well sized man and formed the races defense of a force field as the mans blade reached him. He used the man's momentum to push him down, and he barely cried out as the assassin's feet passed through the force field, kicking him in the gut, and sent him flying backwards. He watched as the man reached down planted a hand on the ground flipped bounded off a tree and landed in crouching stance lightly.
The other moved in his peripheral vision now, he didn't have time to catch his breath, with the two men back on their feet.
He shifted once more into a hulking creature with two large protruding bones from his forearms and held them out in front of him. Both men attacked at the same time. The knight's speed enabled him to reach the assassin first and slash at his mid-section. He merely made a small thrust, hooked his bone blade under the knights, and spun to his right. Ukyo did not let go of his weapon, thus he was propelled around along with the assassin right into the others attack. The assassin retracted his bone blades and produced several small metal balls from a pouch, concussion blasts, he had no way to win this fight, especially with the flying witch closing in. He threw them hard at the ground and as they exploded he took off in a straight-line for his ship. He shifted again back to his lithe form and was moving as quiet as the breeze not that it helped. He soon found energy blasts exploding around him, he leaped one way, dashed another, but he couldn't get away from her. It took him only a moment to realize that he was close to his ship, he put on an extra burst of speed but skidded to a halt. There again were the two men, their blades lit and waiting.
He could see his ship right behind them only a few paces away, but he knew he was out of luck, he only had one option left and he frowned. He didn't have long to frown, since the witch woman came to a halt behind him, and seemed to be waiting. He roared loudly and ignoring the knight pointed at the other man and yelled. "Weakling of a dog, I challenge you."
The man seemed lost, even as the knight lowered his weapon slightly, which was what the assassin wanted; Jurain knights had such a funny code of honor. He heard the other man mutter a confused statement and then the knight turned and began to explain. "He has challenged you, as per ancient Jurain custom this involves honor now." The man looked shocked and confused as he responded. "What? He just tried to kill Sasami...he has no honor."
The assassin smiled thinly this one was smart but not that it mattered, this was only a delay tactic. He smiled as the man cursed and shifting he again took the form of the hulking beast with the large protruding bone blade and began running at full speed across the yard. Virtually one second later the man ran right for him. The assassin obliged his opponent by not altering his course, either. He heard the witch woman mutter a word obviously the man's name, Tenchi, He smiled thinly, so his foe had a name.
The two men passed each other, and a shower of blue sparks filled the air. They stopped, spun around, and lunged. Tenchi-ken speared right for the assassins left thigh. The assassin moved his bone blades counter clockwise to deflect the attack. He pinned Tenchi-ken's blade to the ground and slashed at Tenchi's head.
Tenchi responded by deactivating his weapon and flipped forward over the lower of the assassins bone blades. The assassin's counter attack was to bring the lower blade up towards Tenchi's undefended back. Tenchi sensed the attack and instead of rolling forward he phased forward avoiding the attack and turned as he reactivated Tenchi-ken's blade to parry the first attack. Both men proceeded to trade a seemingly endless series of slashes, thrusts, and parries.
The two's blades momentarily crossed and then pushed away. They regained their balances instantly to charge again. Both men thrust for the other's chest, and the blades parried each other in the process. Tenchi and assassin applied pressure to their parries causing them to move in a clockwise circle. Each blade completed a circle around the other and was less than and inch apart. Both men lunged at the same time. When they stopped, the two of them were only several feet apart.
There was complete silence before the low rumble of ship announced the presence of a Galaxy police cruiser. The assassin slowly turned and looked at his opponent, his stomach and side cut deeply and spoke, "Well Tenchi it appears you are not a weakling dog after all."
Tenchi blinked in confusion as the assassin shifted once more to form he had not worn in a long time.
He was short, much shorter than even Washu in her child form. His hair was long and midnight blue, his face one of cherubic beauty and his eyes clear blue. He smiled thinly and Tenchi realized it wasn't a man, it never had been. It was a woman, really no more than a young girl was. She raised her arm and showed them a small control unit that beeped once as she smiling bit down hard.
Several things happened at once, Ukyo moved at blinding speed at Tenchi, as did Ryoko. The ground rocked from the explosion of the ship debris scattering through the air. Ukyo took the brunt of the explosion shielding the young lord as Ryoko landed and catching them formed a shield as another blast erupted, even bigger creating an even deep crater in the mountain side. Mihoshi's ship lurched from the explosion and the assassin fell to her knees and then slumped to the ground dead, having used a poison hid in a false tooth.
***
Lord Chijiro was pacing the well-furnished and lavishly decorated living room, concern etched in every feature. He was nervous; he paused at the sound of the door opening he found his friend and oldest knight Baiko standing there. The young lord motioned for the knight to enter, He heard the door close and then the quiet padding across the carpet. He turned to face the knight and a smiled
"Thank you for coming so quickly."
The knight bowed his head and Chijiro turned and entered the small den to the right of the room and went behind a small bar. He selected a blue liquid and poured himself a drink and then poured another.
He looked up to see Baiko waiting patiently at the doorway of the den and with a nod the knight entered and took the second drink. Chijiro looked at his glass pensively; watching the blue liquid swirl slightly and then sipping it spoke
"I have a favor to ask of you."
"Yes my lord."
Chijiro looked at his friend and frowned slightly
"We've known each other since we were innocent children, you don't have to call me that when were alone."
The knight shook his head as he answered
"I am a knight you are a lord, I will not call you anything else."
"Baki please, you know me. I do not like my friends referring to me by my title."
The knight ignored the use of the nickname and then sitting his glass down responded
"Fine my lord as you wish. As of now when we are alone I will refer to you as simply Chijr."
The young lord frowned for only a moment before he laughed.
"Thank you my friend. "
Baiko remain silent as the lord cleared his throat
"Now then, before you distracted me, I was asking if you would do me a favor."
Baiko nodded and Chijiro continued
"The emperor has his people watching everything, security has tighten immensely. I know that Aekea has knights with her all the time, and that there are some permanently stationed at the entrance to her room. I want you to do two things for me. One is make sure everybody guarding her and any servants entering her room are completely loyal to her and would not want any harm to come to her. And two, I want you to find two people you trust and have one watch her all the time and the other check her room every time a servant enters and then leaves. As a matter of fact I want him to be in that room the entire time she's not, I want him to make sure nobody has a chance ever."
Baiko bowed his head
"It will be done my lord."
Chijiro didn't even tell the knight too not call him that. Instead he thanked the knight and then watched as Baiko left his room. Taking one last gulp of his drink the young lord left the den and went to bed.
***
Ryoko helped by Tenchi half-carried the knight in. Tenchi looked grimed face and he seemed to be wincing slightly. Ryoko on the other hand was perfectly find just very, very angry. The red haired scientist appeared at the base of the stairs. She cast a silent glance summoned a floating medical bed for the knight. Tenchi carefully laid the knight down and watched as it started towards the closet door, Washu paused behind the floating bed and turning back looked at the young couple. "Sasami...I've stabilized her. She's in her room asleep." Tenchi's face hardened at once, and Ryoko's face, which was already dark with anger, hardened as well her eyes now shining with pure hatred. They both nodded and Washu turning continuing into her lab.
Silence filled the house; Ryoko phased away and then reappeared holding a very battered looking ball of fur. Commonly known as Ryo-ohki. Tenchi forced a reassuring smile and started towards the stairs intent on checking Sasami when Ryoko grabbed him by the back of shirt. "Ren' ai you're hurt."
Tenchi looked at her shrugged, not surprised by her use of the word love. "It's not that bad, I've had worse from training with grandfather."
Ryoko's eyes narrowed and her face took on a look a determination. Tenchi kissed her cheek lightly and then slipping from her grasp started up the stairs, every so often wincing. He knew he should have went to see Washu he probably had broken ribs but he was Tenchi, Ukyo needed her full attention, and he was more worried about Sasami than himself.
He reached her door as it slid opened and Kiyone, still dressed in her clothes from the date, exited the room. She nodded and then frowned as she noticed his wincing. She started to say something when he held his hand up and smiled politely at her."How is she?"
Kiyone continued to frown as she answered.
"She's unconscious, and Washu assured me that she's safe. Tenchi I know it's none of my business but shouldn't you be at a hospital or something?"
Tenchi shook his head and forced a laugh, 'women' he thought, 'they get so worried over the littlest things.' He felt Ryoko's presence and frowned, not something he normally did when she was around. This frown came from a wince of pain and from the knowledge that Ryoko was angry with Kiyone about tonight.
She phased in next to him, her arms devoid of Ryo-ohki and her own frown marring her face, she glanced at Kiyone and motioned with her head at the stairs. "You're precious partners downstairs...why don't you go give her a nice warm kiss."
Kiyone's eyes shot daggers at the ex-pirate and she opened her mouth to say something but obviously thought better of it and stormed off down the stairs. Tenchi turned and looked at Ryoko, irritation evident in his features.
Ryoko was not oblivious to this.
"Tenchi, please...I'm...I mean...she...she was mean to your friend...she dishonored you..."
Tenchi sighed losing all of his irritation, the pain, worry, and love for her over balancing. Still the longer he stayed silent the closer she came to tears and the last thing he wanted was to cause her to cry.
"Ryo-Chan I'm not angry...just really tired..."
Ryoko seemed to be relieved at the use of his pet name for her and he smiled reassuringly as he leaned over and kissed her cheek. Before anything could be said he entered the dark room, his Ryoko close behind.
The room was dark, but not so dark that one couldn't see. The room looked as if a small fight had been fought in here, which of course, is exactly what had happened. There on a raised bed, completely with flashing lights and soft beeping of instruments, laid an unconscious Sasami, the upper half of her sleeping gown had been removed replaced by a regular patient gown, underneath that was a meticulously done bandage. If Sasami had been human, and not joined with a goddess then she would be dead by now. But as it set, she was in a coma. It had something to do with a poison on the blade of the dagger.
The reason the room was so bright was because over the bed was a rather thin sheet of shimmering blue energy. It pulsated adjusting to her keeping her in a stable position.
Ryoko laid a hand on Tenchi shoulder gently and stepped up to next to him to speak quietly.
"Washu said she was stable. You should go to bed, or better yet go see Washu."
Tenchi shook his head and took her hand and kissed it lovingly before he spoke. "I have to go tell grandfather. Stay here, watch over her, keep her safe." He saw the look in her eyes and he shook his head leaning forward kissing her cheek. "Don't worry, I'm fine."
Ryoko nodded and stepped away wrapping her arms around herself and watched over the princess, blinking as a lone tear escaped her. She knew Tenchi wasn't telling her the truth, but she would let him be, after all he was Tenchi. She heard the room door slide close and she sighed shifting from foot to foot uncomfortable in the room and wondering since when could Tenchi phase.
***
Katsuhito stopped writing, and silently looked up, straining to hear something. The night was silent, to silent, something was wrong he could feel it in his bones. It seemed as if a small dark shadow was moving around him, but he couldn't pin it down, a dark and even more evil shadow was clouding it.
He rose and quietly strode to the door, he paused, and then sliding it open stepped out into the quiet night air. He stood there a moment and then walked the ancient stone stairs towards his tree Funaho, with a grace and ease that anyone would fine hard to believe in one so old. He glided soundlessly through the forest and then standing at the edge of the lake started across the worn stepping stones. He reached his hand out and touched the trunk causing prism beams to arch down and then bounce back up. The wonder stories that hung from Funaho's branches, moved in the breezes as the world around him became negative. Then suddenly it was over and he smiled gratefully at his tree as he whispered.
"Hmmm....."
He turned and then just as quietly as he had come left. Leaving not a rustling leaf or disturbed animal.
He paused as he saw his grandson, walk past on the weather worn stairs wincing. He frowned and followed him silently and then quietly moved through the forest reaching the shrine and entering his office to await his grandson. He wasn't long in waiting until there was a light knock on the door. "Come in."
The door slid open and Tenchi stepped inside bowing and sliding his shoes off, a wince of pain etching his features as the stood. Katsuhito regarded him for a moment before tossing him a small warm pad.
Tenchi only saw a blur of movement and reacted on reflex's he twisted his body moving with the moment of the object and caught it. He winced ever worse and stumbled, but held the pad. He blinked and looked down at the object in his hand then frowning looked up to his grandfather and spoke letting it drop to the floor. "There's been an assassination attempt...they got Sasami..." Tenchi stopped and stared at his grandfather who merely looked blankly at his grandson. Tenchi started to yell or scream or something but refrained, instead simply settling for speaking softly. "I thought you would like to know."
Katsuhito nodded slightly and Tenchi feeling odd and angry turned rather quickly and wincing slipped his shoes on and slid the door open, a rather loud bang resulting from it hitting the stop blocks.
Katsuhito rose and walked to the doorway in time to see his grandson finally stumble and fall to his hands and knees. He stood there impassive as he watched Tenchi begin to stand then fall forward collapsing against the smooth stone of the shrine area.
***
Aekea Jurai, one of the most powerful women in the universe, first crowned princess of the mightiest empire in the Galactic Union, laid on her bed. Her bed curtains open, the covers torn from the bed and in a pile with all the extra pillows at the foot of her bed tossed and turned in her sleep. Her features etched with fear, terror, and oddly pleasure. When she had been younger her mother Misaki would come into her room stroke her face, hush her, and tell her stories about the great families of Jurai's histories. Their legends and discuss in detail their religion and a royal wife's duties to her husband, about the various tools and procedures. Her favorite had involved long leather like tool that on earth would be called a whip and the binding of the husband in cuffs and chains.
But that was then, when she was younger, now none of that would work, after all she knew it all by now. Besides her mother had long since quit coming to comfort her daughter during her dreams, and this one was worse than ever.
She was dreaming the attack on Jurai by Ryoko all over again, only.... only it wasn't really Jurai Ryoko was attacking it was her heart and it wasn't really Ryoko attacking but dark figure that was neither male nor female. And instead of Yosho it was Tenchi, only it wasn't Tenchi, it was Chijiro who was looking at her longing.
It confused her greatly as the images swirled together and she found herself dreaming about her wedding day with Tenchi only it wasn't Tenchi it was Chijiro and her honeymoon with him only it wasn't Tenchi then either but Chijiro.
It grew terrible frustrating to her, she would begin to groan out Tenchi's name in pleasure only to find it was Chijiro's name coming out and then quite suddenly she quit trying to groan Tenchi's name out. Now she was screaming her pleasure at the top of her lungs, her love's name, which echoed through out the honeymoon chambers.
She sat up suddenly, her breasts heaving and her body shaking. Her nightgown damp in areas it shouldn't have been. She took deep calming steadying breathes, intense was the only word she could come up for that, much, much more intense than she had ever experienced. She pulled her legs up and huddled herself against the headboard of her bed, lost in her thoughts and in the feelings and sensations she was experiencing.
She closed her eyes and sat there in the dark, coming down from her high with only a single regret repeating in her mind. Why did it have to be Chijiro she had dreamed about when she experienced that?
***
Sasami stood and turned around, she was alone. She knew this place, with the darkness surrounding her, it was the place of her dreams, the place of her terrors. She could hear a cold laugh and she could see two purple eyes high over head looking down on her in cruel consideration. Those eyes sent shivers up and down her spine. Her dream of Kagato had chilled her, but this, this was a thousand times worse. She suddenly cried out, she could feel a pain in her heart, as if something was trying to rip it out of her. She collapsed against the floor, her blood pooling around her. Only instead of waking up like normal, she remained there, sprawled on the ground, the pain increasing her blood continuing to pool around her.
***
Kiyone sat on her futon quietly staring at her blond haired ditz of a partner sleep almost blissfully. She wasn't sure why she wasn't asleep, maybe it was the adrenaline coursing through her, maybe it was because she kept replaying the evening in her mind and feeling a pang of sadness at her actions, or maybe it was Ryoko's words and the fear that she was right.
She stared hard at her partners smooth and delicate features, how could she want to do that? This blond ditz was the one that made her life a living headache and ruined all her chances at promotion. So how in the world could Kiyone, the woman whom when she was on her home planet chewed up men and spit them out, wants to kiss her like a lover? Because if she was totally honest with herself, there was a small part of her that did want to do just that.
She hated that part of herself, but there was no denying it was there, or the fact that she wouldn't blanch at sharing a bed and everything with Mihoshi. She knew it had to be due to the fact that she hadn't been with a man for three or four years still it was there and she knew that at the first chance Mihoshi offered she would go for it.
Unless...unless she found a way to satisfy herself before then, unless she could find a man that would keep her happy. Maybe Tenchi's friend would do that for her, he was young true, but he did seem mature enough to do the job, both emotional and physically. And he wasn't that bad looking, so maybe, she could convince Tenchi to set up another date for just her and Yuzukaa.
She yawned and smiling moved around and lay out on her bed and stretched out, as soon as her head laid on the small pillow she asleep instantly.
***
Tenchi stirred slightly his sense's slowly focusing, he didn't open his eyes and he kept his breathing slow and easy. It hurt slightly but not as bad as before. The first thing he noted was that was laying in his bed, odd since the last conscious thought was that of passing out on the cool, smooth stone area of the shrine yard. Second was that he could hear soft noses of somebody moving around in the room, he concentrated a little stretching out his sense that were coming back and noted that the cherry perfume of Ryoko was thick in the air. He moved slowly not wishing to surprise her or anything and ran a hand down his side, he was bare chested. He felt a large bandage on his side and he frowned. Not broken ribs then, he wasn't sure what it was but it still hurt to breathe.
Finally he opened his eyes, slowly looking around the room same as before only less organized more confused, and generally it looked like somebody was rearranging or moving. He forced himself up onto his elbows and winced but didn't allow himself to lay back. He watched as Ryoko went through the closet tossing clothes out left and right, in search of something he smiled despite himself and spoke his voice just loud enough for her to hear "Ryo-Chan, why does our room like tornado hit it?"
She turned sharply, she looked worn, tired, and as if she had been crying for several days. She smiled, her first smile since Katsuhito had brought him back, she stood there put her hands together as if praying and then launched herself at him. He blinked as she tackled him, he winced as he fell back against the bed with her on top hugging him tightly and covering his face with kisses.
After several minutes of this and several more of her apologizing and checking his bandage, she finally say back holding his hand sitting on the side of the bed and spoke rather hurriedly. Tenchi learned that he had been out for about two weeks, Ukyo had barely came to two days ago. Sasami was still in her state and the emperor and his wives were upset, the attack on Sasami had prompted them to send the best doctors in the Juraian Empire to check on her. Washu was rather irate about it but she was busy trying to figure out how in the hell the assassin had slipped through her security.
Tenchi sat there for several minutes afterwards before struggled to stand up. Ryoko watched and stood quickly to help him but he simply shook his head and waved his hand telling her no. He walked rather stiffly across the room and selected a large oversized blue shirt hanging out of an open dresser drawer. He turned pulling it on and made his way towards the door. Ryoko was beside him but he wouldn't take her arm or let her help him. It was one of those rare times when Tenchi was being the typical male, refusing to show any signs of weakness.
He made his way down the hallway to Sasami's room and opened the door, he strode inside and found the knight, looking as if he had been hit several times by a mule sat crossed legged on the floor looking at the door. They locked eyes and with the barest of movements they inclined their heads in mutual greeting.
Tenchi shifted his attention away from the knight to the little princess, she was pale, and weak looking. Ryoko leaned in close to him and whispered in his ear telling him that Ukyo since waking up hadn't left her room. He nodded mutely and walked forward his bare feet making soft shuffling sounds as he crossed the floor. He stopped beside her bed and looked down studying her face, it seemed to him that whatever was going on in her head was very painful.
He shook his head slowly; he began to reach out but stopped because of the blue energy field over her bed. He studied her face for a little bit longer and then turned looking at Ryoko and sighed. He reached out and took her hand; she smiled slightly squeezing it. He spoke softly and quietly to her. "I love you."
She nodded and squeezed his hand again.
***
Chijiro paced the room, since the note on Aekea's bed he had all but moved into Lord Yosho's old room. He was always at her side, always on hand and always as watchful as a hawk. He wore a frown, as he paced the room. Sasami, nearly assassinated, The knight hurt severely and Prince Tenchi wounded as well.
The assassins were not playing petty games, he could feel it, somebody that knew the Royal families most intimate of secrets and weakness and were exploiting them. But who could it be? Not a knight, no, because none of the knights where smart enough to pull this off. It couldn't be any foreign politicians they didn't have the access that these assassins seem to have. That meant it had to be somebody in the Royal court, not only that but they had to be close to the family. In their inner circle, but who could it be?
He shook his head and sighed turning and pausing in front of a painting. He studied it closely; it was a family portrait of the first official emperor of Jurai and his wife. He wondered idly if he should move his possession from his family's citadel and take over this room. The knock on the door brought him out of his thoughts and slowly made his way across the living room and opened the door, frowning at the figure that stood before him.
They're in the hallway stood ten private knights of this pink haired buffoon's family. Chijiro gritted his teeth, a meal with his father would be better than dealing with this lord.
""Lord Chijiro, I was wondering if I might have a word with you.""
Chijiro reluctantly nodded and moved to the side. ""Of course Lord Seiryo, please come in.""
The pink haired lord nodded and entered the room, looking as if he was the emperor himself. Chijiro was about to slide the door closed when Baiko appeared in the hallway. The young lord motioned for him to come and then slid the door shut.
Chijiro located Seiryo in the den fixing himself a drink. As he poured the rare Skutnik, the clear liquid bubbling as it's poured exposed to the air for the first time, Seiryo looked up and smiled. ""Forgive me, but I didn't think that you would mind.""
Chijiro started to say something rather rude but bit back his response indulging the pink haired lord. ""Of course I don't mind. Now you did say you would like to have a word with me, may I ask which word that would be?""
Seiryo put the top back on the now half empty bottle and lifted his glass sipping it before he spoke. ""Well I had hoped that I could tell you this in private..."" He cast a glance at Baiko who was standing quietly in the corner his hands clasped behind his back before continuing. ""But the word is marriage...more to the point the rumor that you are to marry Princess Aekea.""
Chijiro nodded slightly curious as to what this lord meant. Seiryo sipped a little more of his drink before continuing. ""If it is true then you should know...she is not all that she appears.""
Chijiro raised an eyebrow, but remained silent watching the pink haired lord finished his drink and continued. ""I was to marry her, but she was in love. Can you really believe that she thought such a thing existed? Anyway she was in love with this Masiki fellow, well one look at him and I knew he had to have cast some spell on her. She must be a little unstable what with believing in love and loosing this dirt farmer to a common space pirate whore.""
Chijiro looked at the pink haired lord considering, part of him wanted to rip his throat out, the other, which was the side that needed to be present, decided to enlighten him a little. Chijiro spoke softly and calmly, his voice one of a lord who had great power and knew it. ""Lord Seiryo since we are talking so openly let me clarify a few facts for you. First yes, I can believe that since I am in love with her. Second, he didn't cast a spell on her she was in love. Third this dirt farmer as you called him, is the First Crowned Prince of Jurai next in line for the throne. Fourth the space pirate whore is to be his wife, and will become A princess of Jurai...meaning she will be part of the royal family.""
Seiryo blinked and looked pale at what he had learned and Chijiro continued keeping his voice calm and cool. ""Now if you'll excuse me, I must see to several matters of family...""
Seiryo nodded mutely and set the glass down started towards the door, Chijiro didn't see him out instead he walked over to the counter and lifted the bottle of Skutnik. He heard the door close and then spoke to his knight who he knew was still in the corner. ""It's a shame...this bottle was over seven hundred years old...a very good year...and that buffoon just ruined it. Really, one doesn't just open this and drink, one has to open it and expose it to the air gradually and then once you pour it let it settle.""
Baiko nodded and Chijiro continued. ""There's a ship carrying Medical personnel to earth. Make sure that everyone is who they say they are. This Ukyo and Lord Tenchi are unfortunately in no position to keep Sasami safe. Both are severely wounded.""
He sensed Baiko nodding and he added as an after thought. ""Send this to Lady Ryoko and a note expressing my regards."" He sat the bottle down and lifted a smaller green one covered in dust. He carried it over to the knight and handed it to him. He paused once more. ""Once your done with that, see to the packing of my personal items, I believe I shall be moving here for the time being.""
Baiko bowed his head, holding the bottle his lord gave him and left the room to see to all that his lord had asked of him.
***
Aekea sat quietly at the table eating a very reserved meal with her mothers, and father. This was the first meal she had without the presence of Chijiro. He had become...not bothersome exactly, but more like...suffocating. And since her dream she didn't feel comfortable in the same room with him, because as much as she didn't want to admit it she seemed to genuinely have feelings for him. She was confused, because these feelings were competing with her remaining feelings for Tenchi.
It wouldn't be so bad if he didn't do small things for her, to cheer her up. Quiet strolls and small gifts thoughtful little reminders that he was thinking of her. Things that only Tenchi had ever done for her and even then they had been rare, she couldn't blame him since he did have a war for his love going on.
Chijiro it seemed, was quiet intent on her, she had checked to see if this was a calculated move on his part or if this was as he said. She soon learned three things about her intended.
One was that he was considered by the other noble families (Notably the females) to be a highly sought after suitor. Which meant he knew what she felt to an extent. Second was the fact that he had desired to be her suitor and went out of his way to make it so, despite his fathers heated advice. He had shunned a foreign princess, a rather beautiful woman and the power that would come from that for his chance to marry Aekea. Third and finally, he was secretly checking on her and keeping a close watch on her. She only knew this because Funaho's sources were giving her information.
The door opened on the small room and a knight entered. He bowed and Azusa looked up from his meal along with the others and he frowned motioning the knight forward.
The knight walked briskly over and stood beside the Emperor and spoke so softly and quietly that no one but the emperor could hear him. Azusa nodded listening and then cursed silently as he rose and made his way out of the room followed by the knight.
Aekea sat there confused like her Mothers, They were just about to resume their meals when Azusa entered once more and reseated himself a frown no permanently fixed to his mouth. Funaho started to say something but he merely held his hand up cutting her off and spoke.
"That was Washu, Tenchi and that bumbling knight are awake and moving about. She was just calling to keep us up to date."
Funaho and Masaki nodded returning to their meal; Aekea pushed her food around and then spoke softly. "Father, I would like to go back to earth, to see Sasami. I feel terrible being so far away from her while she's like this."
The meal fell silent as Azusa looked up, his eyes narrowed slightly as he responded. "Absolutely not. You can't go back, especially now with the situation."
Funaho spoke up drawing attention to herself. "I must agree with Aekea, as her family we should be there. At the very least let Masiki and Aekea return to be with her."
Masiki, who looked tired and whose eyes were red from an almost constant stream of tears spoke her voice trembling. "My...my Sasami needs me..."
Azusa looked uncomfortable at this development and reached over rubbing his now nearly sobbing wife's back. He glanced at his daughter whose face had the look of one determined and his other wife who shared his daughters look. He sat there rubbing Masiki's back as she began to break down considering and then spoke slowly, making sure he was clear. "All right, Masiki and Aekea may go. But only...and I mean only if they take along Chijiro and go in our best battle cruiser. It may not be the most comfortable or elegant but it is by far the safest."
Aekea blinked in surprise and Masiki doubled her sobbing half in relief and half in despair. Funaho nodded and rose quietly crossing over to Masiki and gently and quietly helped her to stand and whispering soft comforting words guided her out of the room taking roughly half the knights present with her.
Aekea sat there and then spoke quietly. "When?"
Azusa looked at her and sighed before answering. "As soon as I can arrange it."
Aekea nodded and almost asked why they couldn't go on the medical ship but stopped herself as her father rose and left quietly looking grim. She had no doubts that he was going to do his best to comfort his wife. She absently pushed at her meal, it was cold now and it didn't look very enticing especially since she now had a new war of emotions inside her. She was going back to earth; she would see Tenchi and Ryoko. She wasn't sure she could deal with that and to make matters worse Chijiro was to come along. To many emotions were racing through her, she couldn't think now, she quietly rose and leaving her meal and the room taking her knights with her.
***
Chijiro walked quietly out of the palace, he had given his knight the slip for now. He was walking through the royal garden, it was bathed in the pale darkness of the twin silver moons of Jurai. The soft nose of the insect life playing in the background. He loved this garden it brought back such wonderful memories. He strolled quietly, his hands clasped behind his back. His clothes were not the ones expected of a noble, they were lose and comfortable a simple pair of pants and a common blue Juraian shirt.
Normally he would have snuck out and then went into the capitol but tonight he just felt like a stroll. Besides he had more than enough information to turn over in his mind and the noise of the capitol while normally pleasant and a relief was not what he need right now.
He was pushing himself to figure out who was behind this plot; he was also pushing himself to not over lavish his attentions on Aekea. He knew she needed time, it was hard for him to accept but he did his best. He loved her and that was all he could, give her time and pray to Tsunami that she eventually loved him back.
He looked around suddenly he had been so caught up in his thoughts and feelings that he had wandered to a part of the garden he had never been in. Actually when he checked the maps later he'd realize that he was no longer in the royal garden but in the open field for the Juraian citizens. He took in all he saw with a half smile, it was a hill, that slopped down into a valley were a small stream was.
He noted absently that there were small fires along the banks and he wondered if this wasn't what he often heard about in the Capitol City. Young Jurain couples going out of the city and their parent's watchful eyes to have quiet personal time together. He could tell by the space between fires that it was probably just that, with it being so dark and the hill being high up he couldn't see any of them.
He smiled sitting down against a tree and looked up at the sky. He let his eyes trace the familiar constellations of Concidius a great warrior from Jurain history, Aoife a beautiful but tragic empress, who loved a commoner and thus was killed by the other nobles. Niamh a warrior empress who after death Tsunami charged with taking care of other warriors and escorting them into death and finally Finnmac often considered to be the greatest of Jurain emperors.
He sat there for several hours before he heard a nose he looked around to find a young man standing there dressed like the average Juraian. His hair, which was combination of blond and brown, was short but rather unkempt and his blue eyes shinned with tiredness as well as intelligence. He was holding a bottle of rather cheap Jurain alcohol and he was looking at Chijiro curiously. They stared at each other before the strange boy spoke. ""I'm Geikan.""
Chijiro nodded slightly. ""I'm Chijr."" He had almost said Chijiro but he had caught himself. Geikan plopped down next to him against the tree and spoke offering him the drink. ""So yours go off to get ready to head back?"" Chijiro took the bottle and without pause drank it shaking his head. ""Nah, not to night. I just came out to think.""
Geikan laughed and took the bottle back drinking from it. ""Nothing wrong with that. What sorta things were ya thinking about?""
Chijiro slipped easily into the role of the average teenage Jurain. ""This and that. My ol' man works in the royal palace...been thinking about things that's been going on.""
Geikan nodded handing him back the bottle. "Well I haven't been thinking about things like that."
Chijiro drank the cheap drink he had never tasted it before; it was bitter and had a slight harsh after taste. ""Well what have ya been thinking about?""
Geikan shrugged looking up at the stars. ""Things almost time for me to go out and find a job.""
Chijiro looked over at his new found acquaintance and handed him the bottle back. ""I see. Have any ideas?""
Geikan nodded and proceeded for the next few minutes to tell him all the things he would like to try a hand at. One being a Knight, so that he might have a chance to be near his girl. This caught the Juraian lord's attention but he remained quiet.
Geikan slowly laid out his thoughts on the royalty as well. He loved them like the rest of the people, but they were not making it easy on the people to find jobs. He was fond of Aekea, but the rumors of her marrying some lord bothered him, saying that ""Knowing her father, this buffoon will be worse than Seiryo."" Chijiro had to laugh at that.
Their conversation was cut short when Geikan's girl approached she was dressed like any other Juraian teenager. Her long hair, which was split between blond and red pulled back into twin ponytails, her face pretty. Chijiro saw her face and rose quickly in recognition, Baiko's sister. She recognized him and then looked at her boyfriend who was acting casual, she knelt and hurriedly whispered in his ear. He rose quickly trying to look less like a teenage and more like a loyal subject.
Chijiro smiled but sighed so much for quiet time. He looked at the two and spoke quickly so as to ease their nervousness. ""Relax, I'm not going to go blab about this. Although Asile your brother would be furious.""
She looked horrified at that thought and Chijiro continued. ""Geikan, if you really want a job in the palace find a knight name Baiko and tell him I sent you. He will bring you to me and I'll see what I can do.""
Geikan nodded shocked and Chijiro bid them goodnight and turned to head back t to the palace and then stopped, a small on his he turned back to the two and spoke to Asile ""Oh and tell your brother Baiko hi."" He grinned at the rather horrified and surprised face of Geikan and turned back continuing his tripe back to the palace through the garden. It had been nice for a few moments to take his mind off his troubles and get in contact with the Jurain people, something few nobles did.
***
The Jurai capitol was a magnificent place it took up half the main landmass of Jurai and the palace itself, along with it's garden sat close to it. High over head was an invisible barrier over this landmass that controlled the weather. It was not uncommon for the capitol city to be raining while the palace and its land was dry.
That was why even though the private hovercraft, sleek and black had its retractable roof up, because while the driver was driving through the rain even if it was raining nowhere else. He muttered under his breath the old hover road was over grown and twisted and turned. He couldn't understand why they had to have this secret meeting tonight, he would rather be at home in bed warm and safe with his wife. He narrowed his eyes as he saw the large and dark villa, there was a flash of lightning. He sighed, as he turned his eyes from the villa and to the road.
It took only a few more minutes, with only the nearly silent thrum of the engine, before the hovercraft came to a halt before the Villa. It looked more imposing than before.
The door opened with a hiss of air and he exited the vehicle, his outer trench robe pulled tight around him. His head was tilted down so that his face would be dry, the door closed behind him as he started up the stone steps to the large, heavy wooden door. It held a brass knocker of a tree He didn't knock instead he opened the door and entered the entrance hall.
The black and white checkered marble floor shone slightly, he pulled his wet outer trench robe off and hung it with the five others. He looked about the entrance hallway once more noting the small alcove just off from the hallway, which lead to a showcase room.
His eyes cast a quick glance at the stair way, it connects the ground floor to the first. It was built to an impressive cantilever design, with no visible support. At the foot of the stairs sat a large globe of Jurai, He turned and started down long well decorated hallway to the left. He passed the small dining room, and then the state dining room, he was still grumbling, his hard boots clicking against the marble floor.
He stopped before a set of heavy soundproof double doors, separating the room from the rest of the villa. He brushed his short wet black hair back and sighed straightening his blue white robes before he pushed the doors open.
The room was asymmetrical, requiring that the Corinthian style columns at one end to support the wall above. A boat-shaped table sat in the center of the room, two large windows at the far end, framing a fireplace.
The five men in the room, feel silent looking towards the doors, they each were dressed like him. He ignored them and walked to the far end of the table past the other twenty two chairs and sat down quietly. Folding his hands and laying them on the table, looking at the silver on the table and the gold sword that rested against the window. The windows were made of a glass three inches thick- a precaution taken to insure against spies by the second High Minister, who had been overly paranoid.
He turned a slightly jaded eye to the high and old shelves of books. The collection of books were donated by the other members the Holy Council of Planet Jurai.
He shifted his attention as the room fell quiet, he saw the reason why. It was a rather tall man, with long lavender hair and a dark tan. His eyes were a light blue, and his face had the beginnings of a days growth of hair. His robes where pure white and his look was of pure authority. He spoke slowly and quietly, barely moving his lips yet they all heard every word he uttered. ""My fellow ministers of the Holy Council. Welcome we have much to discuss.""
The man leaned against the table his hands resting on the top as he looked around at the gathered members and spoke never once raising his voice. ""As we know, Princess Aekea has returned and since her return assassination attempts have been increasing...on all members of nobility and on the holy council. Recently they have managed to wound Sasami and her knight.""
There was a slight murmur that ran through the room, this was short lived as the man continued. ""According to my sources, Prince Yosho's grandson, Prince Tenchi has been wounded as well. But all of this is mute and besides the point, what is our concern is very soon, Prince Tenchi shall take a wife, it is the nature of his wife that we must concern ourselves with.""
A man with short blond hair spoke. ""Meikan, who is this woman that has caused you such concern?""
The man called Meikan looked at the man and spoke slowly. ""Ilite, this woman is the eternally most wanted space pirate, Ryoko.""
There was a gasp of surprise from the gathered members and they all shook their heads muttering in disbelief.
Finally the man with short black hair who had until now been quiet spoke. His voice matched that of Meikan's. ""She can not be allowed to marry Prince Tenchi. We can not have the demon who nearly destroyed this very empire, in line to sit on its throne.""
There were murmur of consent but Ilite spoke again ""But Tralu, Meikan her status has expired. The Galaxy Police have expunged her records.""
Meikan nodded slightly. ""True, but we are the Holy Council of Jurai. She is still wanted by this council. While we can not deal with her through more...suitable means...we shall not by any means let this woman who was responsible for tens of thousands of Juraian deaths, not counting those of non-Jurains go.""
There was silence as the High Minister looked around the room. ""No one is to discuss this with any other council members. Tralu, make sure that your on the ship headed to the planet 0135, Ilite make sure that we start the wheels turning on our most trusted shadows."" He paused and looked at the remaining members. ""and the rest of you. Prepare our defense against the emperor. Undoubtedly, Prince Tenchi will not like having his future wife dealt with. And I don't doubt that he will realize that this is not the regular assassination.""
The room fell silent once more, before the five higher ministers of Jurai's holy council rose and left the room to start their various tasks.
________________________________________________________________________
Silver : Nope, she lives, but well I think where she's at is much worse than death don't you?
pogo: Glad to hear that you think this is an interesting fic I got going. Hope to see you review this chapter, the next one will be sometime after Christmas.
Black-Dragon: Sorry to keep you waiting, but I had to go back and rewrite the entire thing and I'm going to have to rewrite what I have of chapter 9. I'm glad to hear that you think this is a pretty good story and that you can't wait to read what happens next.
Burning Ember: I do my best, unfortunately since I lost my beta I will be very occupied with doing the job for myself.
Couplekeeper: Tell you a secret to get the most out of this story, get on for three hours, then you can read it all online and not have to save so much of it. For your curious mind, since you say I have 187 pages, which btw I'm not near the end of this story yet, I have exactly 100400 words as of chapter 7 and normally my chapters are cut back to keep them under the thirty page mark. The shortest I have is 25 pages I think the longest is roughly 40...this one is going to round at a mere 21. Don't feel terrible just yet, just wait until I'm done.
Jerrod ERaziel: Thank you, thank you. I'm glad that you think this is a damn good chapter. I just hope that the character development stays true to form in this Chapter and that the plot gets even more intense.
I only write what seems to come natural, that's why they seem to have such a great emotional base and that's also why they mesh so well. As a knight, Ukyo doesn't have to worry about in insurance, its covered by the royal family and life without a bit of danger is boring.
Well, you've seen what hell this assassin caught, now just wait.
13ittersweet: Your very welcome, I do my best. How'd you guess that I was aiming for hooking those two up? Hmm...I make it a point to always leave the women satisfied and wanting more. I'm a Nekoshipper, so of course I'm a big T/R fan as well.
Dennisud: Now then, thanks for clearing my name of plagiarism.
Alighthawk: You really think I should have named it the mating game? I'll admit it, I am fond of Ukyo and like I said before he doesn't have to its all in the royal package of being a knight.
As for your comments about my fallen angel chapter two...What's the matter with those names? I think there very good pet names.
Thank you, hopefully the show will get even better now. Out of curiosity any ideas what I should have called this one?
AN:
Well happy holidays my loyal and dear fans. I Hope you enjoyed this chapter and the new little thing I'm doing. Let me know what you think and Happy holidays.
I present you with a question, consider it as you relax this holiday season. Would you prefer that my chapters continue to be as long as they are, twenty plus pages, or would you prefer that I shorten them?
By shortening them, I would be able to increase the pace of which they are produced and they won't take as long for you people to read. But a draw back to this is it would increase the number of chapters.
I am placing it in your hands my fans, tell me your decision and how much I should cut the chapters back to.
Well this is the last chapter of HTW until after Christmas, so I hope it holds you till then. I think I did rather well flying solo once more, I will miss and still am deeply appreciative of my former Beta Blev.
Praise will be framed and mounted, helpful criticism will be appreciated and flames will be placed in the fireplace to keep me warm since I forgot to pay the heating bill.
Happy Holidays,
Geor-sama
A Nekoshipper