THE JOB, Chapter 9: School Daze.

DISCLAIMER: Tenchi Muyou! is copyright AIC/Pioneer, LDC. I claim no rights to it. However, all events in this story are entirely of my own imagination. Please don't change them. Feel free to distribute this story as widely as desired.

FOREWORD: I know it'll seem like I've jumped forward and left some details out of the story. Don't worry. I'll fill in the blank spots as we go.

AUTHOR: Dreamr

LAST REVISION: 30 December 2002

EMAIL: TrueDreamr@Hotmail.com

BEGIN.

The two original Guardians of Jurai bowed before the First Princess as she reached the end of the gang-plank of the currier ship she had just arrived on.

"Welcome home, Princess."

"Welcome back to Jurai, Highness."

Aeka was very pleased to see Azaka and Kamidake had followed the instructions she had sent ahead to meet her at the spaceport on her arrival.

"Thank you very much. How are affairs on Jurai?"

Kamidake was quite pleased to report there were no urgent affairs awaiting the Princess' disposition.

"Things seem quite quiet, actually."

"Well, I hope you have enjoyed your respite. But I'm afraid that is about to change." Aeka turned her attention specifically towards Azaka. "Azaka, I have a special assignment for you."

"I am at your disposal, Princess."

Reaching into the sleeve of her robe, Aeka removed a sealed envelope.

"I wish for you to conduct a private investigation. Other than Kamidake, no one is to know of this."

"It shall be as you say, Highness."

"Good. Within this envelope you will find a hair sample." She held the indicated paper item out to Azaka. "I wish to know who the parents are of the individual this hair belongs to. Report back to me before the day is out."

"Yes, Highness."

"You may go."

Azaka politely bowed to the First Princess, and then left to carry out his assignment.

"Kamidake, there will be a full council meeting tomorrow morning at precisely eight o'clock. Any who are not able to attend personally, will participate via video conference. Each member will brief me on the state of affairs in their respective departments."

"Yes, Princess. Will there be anything else?"

"No. You may go."

Kamidake bowed also, and followed Azaka to complete his own assignment. Aeka stood silent for a moment, contemplating her response, should the result of Azaka's research come out in an embarassing fashion.

"I'll find the truth of it. Mark my words, Ryoko. I will."

Kamidake entered the third genetics laboratory of the Department of Scientific Research. Besides the typical assortments of scientific research aparattus, he saw Azaka's grey-haired head peering over the shoulder of one of the researchers. They were the only persons within the lab. Kamidake quickly made his way to join his associate, who immediately noticed his presence.

"You're done, already?"

"I delegated the task to the Chief of Staff. He can reach the ministers more efficiently than I."

"I see. Then it doesn't have anything to do with this test?"

"Well, I have to admit I am curious."

The mousy-looking, male researcher suddenly broke into their conversation.

"Warm-up is complete. We're ready when you are."

"Very well." Azaka pulled the envelope from his coat and promptly tore the top off the envelope. His fingers swept around the inside, then came out with a long strand of cyan-colored hair about half a meter long.

"You know, this hair looks very familiar."

The researcher reached out and snatched the hair from Azaka's hand and dropped it into a circular opening in the side of the test device.

"Sure does. I'd bet a months pay that hair belongs to the Space Pirate Ryoko. I've personally analyzed twenty six hairs just like that one." He slipped the lid shut and then pressed a blinking red button on the control panel, which turned solid red, indicating the device was running.

"Here we go. Shouldn't take but a minute or two, depending on how long it takes to search through the database for a match."

The red light soon turned yellow.

"Analysis complete. Now it's looking for a match."

Exactly thirteen seconds later the light began to blink green, and Ryoko's face popped up on the display, along with her pertinent biological information.

"Told you."

"So it is." Azaka agreed. "As for her parentage?"

"Too easy. A mitochondrial pattern search will yield her biological mother's identity with almost absolute certainty." The researcher assured them as he hit the button again. It turned solid once more, indicating the search would take a moment. A few seconds passed, and the light began to blink blue. An unfamiliar woman's face appeared.

"Mother, deceased several years ago from acute drug overdose."

Another tap caused the light to go solid once more. The search continued for almost a minute, until finally, the computerized light suddenly winked out and a picture of a man with very pale-blue hair appeared. Jaws dropped.

"Oh, dear."

"I don't think the princess is going to be pleased."

As Ryoko led the way to the exit of the newest baseball stadium on planet Caladan, Tenchi could not help feeling relieved.

"Wow, Ryoko! I had no idea you were so knowledgeable about baseball."

With a broad smile, the young woman immediately latched on to his arm, pleased he had offered something close to a compliment.

"For a moment, I thought you were actually going to interfere with the game."

"Well, if that ref hadn't been such an idiot, it would've been a better game. But still, yelling at the refs is half the fun!"

Tenchi smiled and shook his head as they squeezed through the main exit along with thousands of others who had decided to see the game, tonight.

"I don't know if I agree with that. But, you really do know a lot about it. Did you used to play?"

"Ah... it was a long time ago."

"Couldn't have been that long ago."

"Mmm... a few years."

"Oh. Little league, then."

"Uhn-uh. Middle school."

"Middle school? Hmm. It's kind of hard to imagine you as a school-girl."

Ryoko looked him straight in the eye.

"You don't believe me?"

"Sure I do. It's just... well, you're the great and powerful space-pirate Ryoko."

Ryoko smiled.

"So I am. But, what says a space pirate can't go to school?"

"Well, wouldn't it be kind of hard to go to school if you were wanted for piracy?"

"Maybe I wasn't a pirate, yet."

"So you were a normal person at some point!"

Tenchi immediately regretted his outburst when he saw a miriad of emotions fly across Ryoko's features.

"I'm sorry."

The young woman looked off through the crowd.

"Is that what you want, a normal girl?"

Unable to speak for fear of further hurting Ryoko's feelings, Tenchi tried to just let the subject drop. But Ryoko had other ideas.

"Fine. Let me show you something."

Ryoko suddenly lurched into the air, dragging Tenchi along for the ride. They flew through the late afternoon air for what seemed like a long time, until Ryoko finally dove for a large brick building complex. It was getting close to evening, and there was no one about. Looking around, Tenchi noticed several small athletic fields arrayed to one side of the multi-level building before Ryoko touched-down right in front of what appeared to be the main entrance.

"Is this were you went to school?"

"Come on." Ryoko pulled Tenchi behind her, ignoring his question.

Tenchi nearly balked when Ryoko phased right through the front doors, pulling him along with her. Once they were inside the dimly lit hallway, she headed in a specific direction. They soon arrived in front of a large trophy case.

"Here. Were you thinking of something more like this?"

Following Ryoko's gaze, Tenchi looked through the glass doors of the case. Inside there were various trophies and plaques denoting the school's accomplishments. In the very center was an enormous multi-tiered trophy. On the base, a small plaque indicated the trophy was for winning First Place in the Continental Middle School Baseball Championship. On the vertical backboard at the trophy's first level was a picture of a rather small girls' baseball team. Right in the front of the team was a familiar-looking cyan-haired girl. Ryoko's expression of confidence was unmistakable. Widening his examination, Tenchi found several pictures of her and her teammates. There was one award for League's Most Valuable Player of the Year, featuring Ryoko's stats, which were positively God-like.

"Ryoko...

"I can't believe they kept it."

Tenchi looked at Ryoko and saw that she was also looking into the display case.

"Of course they kept it! These are wonderful accomplishments."

Ryoko closed her eyes as she scoffed at the display.

"They're junk."

"Why do you say that?" Tenchi asked as he continued to examine the awards.

"Because, when you get out in the real world, all of it counts for exactly zilch. No one gives a rat's ass if I ever won a championship or MVP. They only remember the bad things. And even when things are starting to look okay, somebody has to screw it up. Lately, things have been too quiet for my taste."

From behind them, a woman's matronly voice began to speak.

"I had hoped that someone who has faced as much adversity and prejudice as you, would have a better understanding of what it means to be alive."

Ryoko simply continued to stare at the artifacts within the case. As he had not heard anyone approach, Tenchi spun around in surprise, thinking that they were in trouble for sneaking in after school hours.

"I'm sorry for sneaking in!" Tenchi's hands began to whip around in front of him as he was prone to do when he thought he might be in trouble. "Uh, Ryoko wanted me to see something. So I... sort of... came along. Um..." He quickly fell to tradition, bowing deeply. "I'm sorry."

The dark-haired woman, who's professional dress and demeanor indicated she was probably a teacher at the school who was working late, seemed impressed by Tenchi's manner.

"Well. What a polite young man. Miss Ryoko, aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?"

Without turning around, Ryoko performed a very quick introduction.

"Tenchi, Miss Ayumi. Miss Ayumi, Tenchi."

Tenchi bowed again.

"Pleased to meet you."

Miss Ayumi smiled and returned the gesture.

"My. You are very polite! Such a rarity these days!"

"Ah, well, my grandfather was always a stickler for the little things."

"As well he should be. I would expect no less from the Jurai Royal Family."

Tenchi's eyes widened.

"How...?"

Miss Ayumi giggled a bit.

"Your faces were all over the news for two weeks, after that the coup attempt. I have to say, Ryoko really threw the psychologists and profilers for a loop with that one. They don't know what to think of her, now."

Much to his chagrin, Tenchi found himself agreeing with her assessment of Ryoko's mental state. Ryoko just sighed.

"Are they still living around here?"

"They?" Miss Ayumi seemed puzzled for a moment. "Oh, you must mean your foster parents."

Tenchi's ears perked-up at that.

"Foster-parents?"

"Is that why you ran away? Because you thought Mr. Harada was going to lose his job? Well, he didn't. In fact, he's a full partner, now. Very well respected. He and Mrs. Haruda still live in the same house, if you want to visit them. I know they would be very excited to see you."

"Forget it. I was... just wondering, that's all."

"Of course. I understand." Miss Ayumi winked at Tenchi and smiled, indicating she knew Ryoko was lying through her teeth.

Tenchi just scratched at the back of his head.

"Uh, I'm afraid I don't."

Miss Ayumi replied with a quizical look.

"Don't tell me Ryoko hasn't told you anything about herself."

This seemed to finally knock Ryoko from her deep reverie.

"Damn right, I haven't. And neither are you."

Grasping Tenchi's arm, Ryoko began dragging him towards the front doors.

"Come on, Tenchi. This place is too boring for me."

"But..."

Tenchi turned as far around as he could and waved.

"It was nice meeting you!"

With a cheerful smile, Miss Ayumi waved back.

END.

AFTERWORD: More of the same, next time. I used the name Miss Ayumi from Project A-ko. She seemed like a good teacher-type to use.