Chapter Four

"There are so many books down here."

Sasami stared up at the wall upon wall of ancient volumes that curled around the walls of the great palace archive, awe and wonder in her eyes as she took them all in. "Naoko-san, how many thousands of years of Juraian history are here, anyway? It's like a whole world of books...you could never read all of these in one life time!"

"Well, Sasami-denka, the palace archive holds a copy of every record ever written." The aging librarian cast her young companion a warm smile, leading the way between two old oaken shelves towards the back wall. "Everything relating to Jurai, from dynastic struggles to legend and myth. Accounts of all your ancestors, no doubt - some great Imperial warriors of Jurai and much much more. But you're right. There are millions of books here. Far too many to count, and certainly too many to read."

"Do you know where everything is down here?" Sasami raised her gaze to the other woman's. "I'm looking for books on the legend of Tsunami-sama. My...my mother was telling me the story and I was interested. Can we find that here?"

"Of course." Naoko nodded her wisened head, taking the princess by the hand and steering her gently around several shelves of dusty volumes. "As you can imagine, many people have put pen to parchment on this particular subject. Whether they be scientists trying to figure out the true origins of the Jurai Power, or devotees of the various cults the goddess has inspired over the ages...well, it's all here. This far wall is devoted to everything on Tsunami-sama...from her real life to the myth she has become."

"Her real life?" Sasami's eyes widened. "Was she a real person then, Naoko-san?"

"Yes, my lady. Many, many milennia into Jurai's past, she was the princess of a very powerful tribe." Naoko's face broke into a gentle smile. "Much like yourself. She was very beautiful, and very well loved. She was credited with many miracles in her lifetime, but it was after her death that most of the magical things happened. The story goes that she descended into the core of the planet, and that by doing so she brought life to the whole of Jurai."

She shrugged her shoulders.

"There are always disbelievers, but nobody has ever yet proven that this account was false." She added. "But I'm probably confusing you, Sasami-denka. I'm sorry...you just wanted to know about the basic story, didn't you?"

"I'd like to know whatever there is to know, please." Sasami said quietly. "I'm very interested in Tsunami-sama. After all, she's ancient family to me, isn't that right? The leaders of her tribe are the ancestors of the Royal House of Jurai?"

"Indeed." Naoko eyed the child fondly. "You have been studying well, Lady Sasami. Your tutors will be most pleased with what you have learnt, when you begin classes again."

"Yes, classes." Sasami frowned. "Father hasn't mentioned that yet, though. Maybe now Ayeka is marrying, he won't bother so much about tutoring. It's so boring. I'd much rather find things out for myself."

"Then this is a good place to start." Naoko told her. "Help yourself to any volume you like, and if it's too high for you to reach, there are steps in the corner. If you have a problem, you know that I'll be around."

She bowed her head.

"I'll leave you to your research, Sasami-denka. Much luck with your hunt for knowledge!"

With that the old woman was gone, and Sasami drew her brows together, scrutinising the shelves above her.

"There are so many." She said with a sigh. "How am I meant to know where to begin?"

Grabbing the ladder Naoko had indicated, she rested it carefully up against one of the tallest bookcases, climbing carefully upwards as she ran an idle finger across the dusty spines of various books. The higher she climbed, the more dust-bound the volumes were, and with a start she realised these were older than the ones towards the ground.

"So this has to be a good place to begin." She mused, scanning her gaze along the shelf. "So long as I can read the writing. Some of the historical stuff my last tutor made me read was full of squiggles and lines that I couldn't make out at all."

At length she reached out a hand, pulling a thick volume down and examining it more clearly. It was bound with red covers, held together by thick black ribbon, and it was thick with dust that sent up a cloud as she turned it over, making her cough. Clutching her burden more tightly under her arm, she descended the ladder, padding across the library to one of the wooden desks set up near the tall narrow windows.

Slowly she opened it up, expecting more dust, but none came. Instead, the pages inside were bright and new, as if they had never been touched.

"Well, that's a good start." She mused aloud, running her finger over the title page. "And I can read it all right. I wonder how old this volume is. I don't think I've seen this style of book before."

She turned over another page, and then another, pausing at an illuminated manuscript that marked the second page. Though the style was old, and the colours had begun to weep into one another a little from age, Sasami realised that it was a sketch of the story Naoko had told her - of Tsunami descending into the planet's core.

"And all the world grew up with trees." She read beneath the image. "Blessed of Tsunami-sama, Goddess of Life. Wow. This is deep stuff."

She turned over more of the crisp white pages, reading passages here and there. It was written by hand, the work of an old scribe, and at times the characters were hard to make out, but she persevered. However, the story was little different from the one Naoko had related, and with a sigh she shut the book, getting to her feet and returning to the bookshelf.

This time she took down two volumes - one bound in dark green and the other in black. The first, she found, was an account of the tribes of Jurai that had lived on the planet in the Old Era. Though all the names and battles were interesting, she soon set it aside.

"History is all very well but that's not really what I'm trying to discover." She told herself. "I want to know about the legend Washu mentioned. The idea of her coming back...that story."

She opened the third book, her eyes widening in surprise as she realised the pages were blank. A frown touching her expression, she flicked slowly through the yellowed sheets, peering closely at the paper in case something had faded away with time...but try as she might she could not see anything.

"How weird is that!" She exclaimed. "Why is there an empty book up on this shelf? I don't understand. What has that got to do with Tsunami-sama?"

As she moved to shut the book, something caught her eye on the final sheet, and she paused, pulling it back open and smoothing it open at that page. A crude sketch of a tree decorated the final page, and beneath it was a short block of text written in the ancient hand Sasami found so hard to decipher. She sighed, screwing up her brow in concentration as she tried to make out the words.

"When the darkness comes, so comes the light, and Tsunami-sama will rise to protect those she is sworn to guard for all eternity." She read slowly and haltingly, running her finger under the line. "When Jurai is in crisis, the goddess will awaken and bless one of her descendants with the power to protect all that she holds dear. For Tsunami lies in eternal slumber, entombed in the Heart of the World...but when the World is damaged, so she will rise again. It has been prophesied so through the ages, that Tsunami's chosen one will come."

She sat back, rubbing her eyes.

"Well, that doesn't tell me much more than Washu, and she's not even from Jurai." She said with a sigh. "Looks like someone's handwriting exercise and they got bored so they doodled the tree. That's no good. I'm not finding anything out. I...hey! Wait just a minute!"

She faltered, pressing her finger to the page as she took in the sketch once again. Rough though it was, she had almost missed a minute detail that now stood out more strongly than anything else on the page. On the trunk of the tree, inscribed in the ancient characters of Jurai's old language, was the word 'sami'.

She bit her lip.

"It can't be...I must be reading it wrongly." She whispered. "It must be part of Tsunami's name...her title. It can't be part of my name. Can it?"

"Sasami?"

Her father's voice made her start and she turned almost guiltily, meeting his quizzical gaze with a penitent one of her own.

"Father! Am I late for something I shouldn't be?"

"You didn't come to breakfast, and I was concerned about you." Haru sat down at his daughter's side, casting her a look of confusion. "Naoko told me you were in the library. Why are you here, Sasami-chan? You don't have any lessons to worry about at the moment, you know. We haven't even spoken about that situation now that you're back here full time."

"I know." Sasami reddened. "I'm sorry, Father. I was reading and I lost track of the time."

"Must have been some reading." Haru leant across to pick up the discarded green volume, reading the title with a frown. "Tsunami? Well, now that's a bit of an old subject for you, isn't it?"

"Well, not really." Sasami shook her head. "You see, since I flew on her ship and everything...I guess I wanted to know more."

Haru's expression underwent a change, and the levity faded from his dark claret eyes.

"I see." He said softly. "You know that you were very bad in taking that ship out of docking alone, Sasami-chan. You're not old enough to be flying a ship like that and Kamadake and Azaka should have known better. Even to help your sister...it was a bad thing to do."

"I know, but I had to go after her." Sasami said with a sigh. "And then everything got so involved. Father, are you really cross with me? I'm not as much of a little girl as you think I am now, you know. My adventures on Earth and everywhere else have made sure of that. And I love Ayeka...more than anything. I wanted to help her."

"Yes, I know. And no, I'm not really cross." Haru acknowledged. "I just worry for your safety. I have only two children, Sasami-chan. I don't wish harm to come to either of them."

He frowned.

"Especially since you've spent so much time in the company of space pirates." He added. "It's not good for either of you."

"Father, I'm not going to become a space criminal." Sasami giggled. "I promise I'm not. And I am happy to be back on Jurai, you know that. I missed you and Mother a whole lot, and I didn't like it when Kagato had you all locked away and everyone thought Ayeka and I were rebels. But I had fun in Space. I got to see so many new things...it was exciting. I'd like to travel a whole lot more."

"Perhaps when you have a ship of your own, rather than one loaned you by my fleet." Haru said cautiously. "After all, you're almost old enough to properly have a tree in your own name, instead of borrowing from family."

Sasami was silent for a moment. Then she raised soft crimson eyes to her father's darker ones.

"I think I already have a tree, Father." She admitted. "I'm not sure I'm totally happy about it, either, but I think that I do."

"Pardon me?" Haru looked bemused.

"Tsunami."

"Sasami, Tsunami is Jurai's tree." Haru shook his head. "She doesn't belong to any one of us. She's the property of all of us."

"I know. But I was reading this." Carefully the young girl picked up the black book, holding it out to him. "Daddy, when I was flying her ship, it was like she spoke to me. And she helped me to save Ryoko's life too, you know. I don't know how, but I know she did it through me. Like somehow she can talk to me where she can't talk to other people."

Colour drained from Haru's face as he read through the prophesy, then shut the book with a snap.

"Someone has been telling you fairy stories." He said abruptly. "That's all. You imagine you healed that pirate woman, but more likely she just came to consciousness after her accident. It was a coincidence, Sasami-chan. Nothing more than that."

"But Father..."

"Don't be so silly, Sasami." Haru shook his head, taking his daughter by the hand. "This is a myth, nothing more. Tsunami is the Tree of Life. She isn't a human spirit trapped beneath the ground. That's just an old story made up by people who didn't understand about Juraian trees."

"Daddy, there have been dreams, too. She's spoken to me in them and told me things that are true." Sasami pulled her hand away. "Things I couldn't have known. Things like Kagato being Ryoko's father, when Ryoko didn't even know it!"

"I won't hear that name from you again, Sasami." Haru's words held a warning note, and Sasami's brows drew together in confusion.

"Which? Kagato or Ryoko?"

"Either. They're both rotten fruit from the same twisted tree and your association with the woman has to stop." Haru said frankly. "If she's the one putting these ideas into your head..."

"No, Father. It's not her. It's Tsunami." Sasami shook her head. "I swear that's the truth. I'm not making it up...I don't tell lies!"

"Oh Sasami, I know you don't." Haru's tones softened. "But you can be mistaken, and what you're telling me - it just isn't possible. You're still a child. Still young. And Tsunami's tree doesn't bond with any one person. It never has."

"Not till now, anyway." An obstinate look flickered in Sasami's eyes. "Daddy, did you read what it said on that page?"

"It's just a fairy story, that's all."

"And on the tree?" Sasami demanded. "Part of my name is written on the tree. Did you notice that?"

"All right, enough of this." Haru said firmly. "You're jumping to wild conclusions and if this is the result of your adventures in space, I think it's high time we grounded you to Planet Jurai until you return to your senses."

"I'm not a little girl any more, Father!" Sasami's eyes became wide with indignation at this. "And I'm telling you what's true. Why don't you believe me? You're my Daddy, you're meant to believe what I tell you!"

"If you're not a little girl, then you're too old for such tales as this." Haru tapped the book. "I think you've spent enough time in here for one day. Come, Sasami. You haven't yet had breakfast, and people will be wondering where you are. Shutting yourself away in here is not like you, and you know it."

"No, it isn't." Sasami's eyes narrowed. "But it was like you, Father, when you were a boy. You used to come into this library, and sit at that table over there. And you used to write and write pages for your tutor because you wanted to get ahead and be the best you could be. You envied Uncle Azusa his claim to the throne because you knew that as his brother you'd be appointed Chief of Security and be excluded from the succession. You knew you would never inherit, because your magic was dormant - dead inside of you, no matter how much you tried to wake it. And yet you still worked so hard to make your family proud, even though Grandfather didn't like you and spent all his time focusing on Uncle Azusa."

Haru's expression became one of shock.

"Who told you those things?" He demanded angrily. "It's not true, Sasami! Your Grandfather..."

"Was a brave man who sacrificed his life defeating the criminal Kain." Sasami interrupted. "I know. He was a martyr and much beloved by his people. But you were glad when he finally died, because Uncle Azusa was always good to you where your father ignored you. You knew that he would never shut you out and make you feel less than worthy of Jurai blood, even though you could not master the Jurai Power in the way that he could!"

Haru stared at his daughter, becoming whiter and whiter by the second.

"Enough of your madness!" He exclaimed at last.

"It's not madness." Sasami shook her head. "It's Tsunami's memories. They're very clear, Father. Just like they happened yesterday."

"I said enough!" Haru thundered. "Enough of this! I won't have any more nonsense about Tsunami!"

"But Father..."

"I said no." Haru grabbed her firmly by the shoulders, pulling her to her feet and propelling her out of the library. "You are barred from coming down here again. Do you understand me? I won't have this! I won't!"

Sasami eyed her father in troubled silence, taking in the agitation in his expression.

"You know I'm telling the truth." She said softly. "So why do you keep saying that I'm not?"

"Sasami! I won't warn you again!"

"Fine." Sasami sighed. "In that case, I'll go to my room."

"Yes. You do that. I'll make sure breakfast is sent up to you." Haru seemed to calm slightly at this. "And forget this craziness about Tsunami. It's just a legend, nothing more...and the sooner you realise that, the better!"

--------------------------------------

"So this is it, huh?"

Ryoko ran her fingers along the wall, feeling the indentations beneath their tips. "The place where all the Royal Trees rest. I heard about it, but I've never been here."

"Never?"

Ayeka paused, turning to cast her a surprised look. "Not even when you were my uncle's ward?"

"Your father's maid, more like it." Ryoko curled her lip, shaking her head. "No, Ayeka. As soon as he reasonably could, your Daddy had me confined to servant quarters. He wouldn't have let me anywhere near here...not somewhere so sacred to Jurai royalty. You should realise that."

"Perhaps." Ayeka turned to gaze up at the crowning trees, visible above the high stone walls. "But with your flying and everything else, well..."

"I didn't know it was here." Ryoko shook her head. "And I couldn't invade what I never found. Besides, I've never understood your people and their obsession with trees. Give me Ryo Ohki any day of the week."

"Well, I miss Ryu Oh like a member of my family." Ayeka looked wistful. "Since my last adventure with Haki, I think it's unlikely I'll be making a trip to Earth any time soon, so I must get used to being parted from him permanently. But it's difficult sometimes. To come here, where all the trees of my family stand, and see Ryu Oh's spot empty."

"Can't you bring him home?"

"He's rooted to the old ship." Ayeka shook her head. "The tree that resides near the Masaki shrine will stay on the Earth forever. And if I can't get there to bring back a branch, well, he'll stay on Earth forever. I think the planet can sustain him, but he won't ever be a ship again. The atmosphere and the elements of the planet are wrong. He just wouldn't be able to complete the transformation."

"I see." Ryoko pursed her lips. "I didn't realise it was all so complicated. I just thought it was a big glowing tree that spat out light from time to time."

"You really are a heathen sometimes, you know that?"

"Hey! Blame your father!" Ryoko put her hands on her hips. Ayeka shrugged her shoulders.

"That is neither here nor there." She said dismissively. "Are you coming inside or not? Because I'd rather we weren't seen - even if my uncle has gone sweet on you, I don't think other members of the court will be quite so understanding."

"No, I doubt they would be." Ryoko said ruefully. "I'm right behind you. I hate walking everywhere. It's such a drag."

"Well, with any luck we'll put a stop to that and you can go home." Ayeka said. Her brows knitted together. "If you have one of those. I mean, honestly and truthfully, Ryoko - where do you live?"

"Aside from aboard Ryo Ohki?" Ryoko asked. Ayeka nodded her head.

"Yes. Aside from that."

"Tenchi's house not good enough an answer for you?"

"Before Tenchi's house. You must have had somewhere you went back to when you'd done spoiling and desecrating and doing whatever other things you pirates do - I really dread to think what exactly that entails."

"Not really. Didn't like to be tied down and it's easier to get caught if you have roots." Ryoko glanced up at the trees as they made their way slowly through the grounds. "Maybe that's why I'm not cut out for the whole tree thing. Roots just aren't my specialty."

"And now?" Ayeka questioned.

"Providing I get my magic back, I'm heading to the Earth with Tenchi." A slightly pink tinge touched Ryoko's cheeks. "He asked me to come, so I know I'm welcome."

"I see." Ayeka did not speak again for a few minutes, and they reached their destination in silence.

At the furthest end of the forest of Royal Trees there stood one with a broad trunk, and Ayeka approached it slowly, bowing her head.

"Hello, Kanaye-san." She said softly. "Do you remember me?"

The tree's branches glowed with light, sending irridescent strands to the ground and Ayeka's features broke into a smile.

"I know, it's been some time since I was small enough to ride with you." She admitted. "But I haven't forgotten how you were the fastest and the sleekest of ships when my father took you out on display. I've come to ask a favour of you, Kanaye-san. Do you think you can help me?"

Ryoko stood back, folding her arms against her chest as more delicate beams of light flared from the great tree's branches, touching the ground and illuminating the blades of grass around them.

"Is that a yes light or a no light?" She asked at length. "I don't have a clue how you know what he's saying."

She faltered. "It is a he, right?"

"Ryoko!" Ayeka glared at her companion. "Just be quiet, will you? Kanaye-san is an old and distinguished family friend - my father's dear ship - and I won't have you being off-hand about him when you need his help. All right? Either be polite or shut up - one or the other."

"Fine." Ryoko held up her hands in surrender. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean offence. I just don't speak Jurai tree."

"Kanaye-san, my friend here has a slight ailment." Ayeka emphasised the word friend, sending the pirate a dark look. "Aside from her attitude. She seems to have lost her natural magic in a battle with a dangerous space criminal - one who meant me great harm. We wondered if your sap might help her recover her native skills."

There were more beams of light, and Ayeka covered her mouth with her hand, smothering a smile.

"Oh yes. Yes, I know." She said with a nod. "But either way, she does need your help."

"What did he say?" Ryoko looked suspicious. Ayeka shook her head.

"Never you mind." She said, amused. "Just rest assured it was very true."

"Bah." Ryoko glared at her. "You're winding me up. I thought you were going to help me."

"And so I am." Ayeka reached up on her tiptoes, cupping her hand beneath one of Kanaye's branches as something shimmered and glowed from the dark wood. At length she stepped back, holding her hands out to Ryoko, who stared at her, non-plussed.

"What now?" She demanded. Ayeka rolled her eyes.

"Oh, Ryoko. Sometimes I despair of you." She said wearily. "Just hold out your hands...together, like mine are."

"Like this?" Ryoko imitated her companion, and Ayeka nodded her head.

"Just like that." She agreed. "But don't allow any gaps between them. Kanaye-san won't be happy if you waste what he's given you - it's a piece of his life energy as much as it is anything else. You should be grateful he's taken pity on you. Trees have long memories, you know, and my father knows all there is to know about space pirates with the name Ryoko."

"I see." Ryoko frowned, pressing her hands together tightly. "Well, if it works, I'll hug and kiss the damn tree as much as you want, I swear I will."

"I don't think you need go that far." Ayeka responded dryly. Carefully she tilted her hands over Ryoko's, and the pirate watched as a single drop of glinting liquid slid slowly from Ayeka's soft hands to Ryoko's still-scarred ones. For a moment, she just looked at it. Then she glanced up.

"Is that it?"

"You don't need any more than that." Ayeka assured her. "Just drink it already, will you? I've already spent enough time with you this morning, and heaven knows I have enough things to do already without running around after a grounded space pirate."

"Oh well. Here goes." Ryoko shrugged her shoulders, lifting her palms to her lips and tipping the droplet into her mouth. She pulled a graphic face, sticking out her tongue.

"Ew! Ayeka, are you trying to kill me? What's in that?"

"It's tree sap. Not honey." Ayeka said unsympathetically. "Nobody said it would taste nice."

"Bah." Ryoko grimaced again. "It's vile. Truly vile. You feed this to all your patients? Your people are more sadistic than I thought!"

"But has it worked?" Ayeka looked questioning. Ryoko frowned.

"I don't know." She admitted. "Should it work right away? Or...?"

"If you were Juraian in the way Sasami and I are, I'd say yes." Ayeka admitted. "But you're only half Juraian, and we have no idea what your mother was."

She glanced the pirate up and down, then,

"Maybe that's a good thing. But either way, it's hard to tell."

"Thanks." Ryoko sighed.

"That's what you should say to Kanaye-san, don't forget." Ayeka raised an eyebrow. Ryoko rolled her eyes, but obediently shuffled towards the tree. Bowing her head, she imitated Ayeka's earlier movements.

"Thank you, I guess." She mumbled. "And erm, I'm sorry if I offended you."

Kanaye's beams flickered over her, and then were gone, and the tree stood silent and still once more. Ayeka nodded.

"That's it." She said simply. "Let's go."

"I'm still not sure I feel any different." Ryoko owned, as they made their way slowly back towards the main gate. "Except that I've had laced alcohol on dirt cheap space stations that tasted better than that stuff. I'm going to be tasting this for weeks."

"Stop moaning. We tried." Ayeka told her firmly. "And now you're going to have to look after yourself. Father and Takeru-san will be wondering where I've got to, and since I am the one about to get married, I suppose I should make an appearance at all of their gatherings beforehand. Keep out of trouble, Ryoko. And don't tell Father we've been here if you can help it. It's probably not a good thing to have to explain to him days before I get married."

"I don't speak to your father if I can help it." Ryoko assured her. "Bye, Ayeka. Have fun getting primped."

She paused, then,

"And even if it doesn't work - I guess, thank you." She added. "At least you were more use than Washu."

"Why doesn't that surprise me." Ayeka said with a rueful smile. "Very well. No doubt I shall see you later."

"No doubt." Ryoko echoed, watching the Princess walk sedately back towards the palace. She sighed, glancing down at her hands.

"Eww." She murmured. "What a taste. Oh well. I've probably experienced worse."

She turned, heading in the opposite direction from the palace, kicking idly at the ground as she walked. It was a bright day indeed, but then, she mused, it rarely was anything else on this planet. For a moment she paused, enjoying the serenity that flooded her senses. Birds every colour of the rainbow sang as they flew in an arc over her head, and water rippled by in the many streams and rivers that were the planet's main transportation network. Across the banks of the water, houses of all sizes had sprung up over the ages, and for the first time Ryoko saw a strange kind of beauty in this oddball planet.

"But that's probably because I'm doped on tree juice." She decided wryly. "God knows what it does to the senses. Maybe that's why everyone on this rock is so in love with the place...it would sure explain a lot."

A prickle at the back of her senses told her that she was not alone, and she turned, casting her gaze across the landscape. There was noone immediately visible, however, and she frowned, shaking her head.

"Imagining things." She muttered. "But I could have sworn..."

She trailed off, trying to focus on the vague sensation twitching at the back of her brain. From above her there was a rustle, and then a yowl of joy as something small and furry descended at speed towards her, clinging hold of her clothing and almost knocking her flat to the ground. A flare of joy echoed in her own brain, and her frown deepened as she reached up to pluck Ryo Ohki off her shoulder. Something about the cabbit's expression made her look twice, and she she stared deep into the amber eyes, trying to make sense of what she saw.

"Where have you been hiding, you little monkey?" She demanded. "I've been looking for you all over the place. Off with Sasami again?"

Ryo Ohki looked indignant, pawing at her hand, and Ryoko's eyes widened as realisation sank in.

"Ryo Ohki!" She whispered. "But...I can feel you again! You're there! Inside my head!"

Ryo Ohki mewed, struggling out of her grip and back up onto her shoulder, curling herself up against her mistress's neck and beginning to wash herself thoroughly. A smile touched Ryoko's lips.

"You have no idea how much I've missed you. It's impossible to find a tiny cabbit in a place like this without a search party." She said affectionately. "Were you trying to reach me too? Poor kid. Guess I scared you, huh?"

Ryo Ohki paused in her cleaning, rubbing up against Ryoko's ear with a soft purr of contentment. Ryoko laughed.

"Yes, I know. It's good to have you back too." She agreed. "And if I can speak to you again, that means that Ayeka was right. Kanaye's sap has helped me. Even if all it's done is brought back my contact with you, Ryo Ohki, we can still leave this blessed planet now. We can take Tenchi to the Earth and we can have a whole new adventure together. That's good enough for me, at least to begin with. And maybe the other things will come back too, huh?"

Ryo Ohki mewed her agreement, resuming her wash and Ryoko reached up a hand to scratch the small creature under the chin.

"Lets not do that again, huh?" She murmured. "I guess I get how Ayeka feels about Ryu Oh, what with being ripped away from you like that. Oh, but who knows? Maybe we'll bring her a branch from her tree one of these days. I mean, we are going that way...right, Ryo Ohki? It's not like it'd be a huge detour to make. And I am taking Tenchi with me...the least I can do is give her a bit of twig. After all, I know which I'd rather have out of the deal!"