Chapter Thirteen

Night.

Tenchi shot a glance across the cockpit of the pirate ship, taking in the expression on his companion's face as she steered her way carefully through the stars and belts of space rock and debris. She had spoken barely a word since they had returned to their craft, armed with Akira's best wishes for a safe journey back to Jurai. Of course, they had headed in the opposite direction, but even the thought that they were now free to begin their trip had not prevented a strange quiet from descending over them.

He sighed, getting slowly to his feet and approaching her.

"Ryoko?"

"I'm concentrating." Her gaze did not flicker away from the glass for one moment, her golden eyes unreadable as she charted their course deftly from one quadrant to the next. Tenchi eyed her keenly for a moment, then he put a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Talk to me." He said softly. Ryoko sighed, shaking her head.

"Nothing to discuss." She said shortly. "And I'm trying to fly this thing. Ryo Ohki is good, but this is a tricky area of space. I need my mind focused on what I'm doing."

"Or you're avoiding discussing what Akira-san said." Tenchi suggested. Ryoko's eyes flickered slightly at this, then she dropped her gaze.

"I don't want to think about any of it, not really." She admitted at length. "I don't know what to think - not any more."

"Maybe he was wrong, you know." Tenchi offered. "I mean, he said his sister was heavily involved in magic and magical properties. Maybe she found a way around it."

"Maybe." Ryoko looked doubtful. "Or maybe not. I don't know. It makes no sense. I just thought everything was clear and suddenly it's blurred again. I was right in the first instance...that this was something I shouldn't have pursued. But I remember it, Tenchi! I remember calling her Mother and her calling me Ryoko-chan. I remember...so clearly. Is that memory a fake? Or...what?"

"I don't think it's a fake." Tenchi slipped his arm around her shoulders, hugging her to him tightly. "Come on. Let Ryo Ohki drive. She knows what she's doing, you keep telling me that. And we're in no hurry. But you're tense as anything and you need a break. Bottling things up is a bad habit of yours - and you said you didn't want to keep secrets from me any more."

"This is hardly a secret." Ryoko laughed hollowly. "You know about as much as I do."

She let out her breath slowly.

"I should have seen Washu's name wrapped up in this." She added. "That she knew my mother, as soon as the Science Academy was mentioned. And more, if she worked for my father, well, she must have known something about me. Who I was. Where I came from. If Akira is right and Kichi adopted me, she must have been aware that it was going on. Don't you think?"

"Perhaps." Tenchi shrugged. "Perhaps not. They worked together, but Kichi left the Academy and Washu didn't. Maybe it's something else, Ryoko."

"Like?" Ryoko raised doubtful amber eyes to his. "Because I'm running out of rational explanations."

"Maybe Kichi just wanted a child that badly that she decided to give up everything she had worked for to do it." Tenchi shrugged his shoulders. "Did you think of that? Maybe she didn't give birth to you, or maybe she found a way to fix her infertility. We don't know that and Akira can claim what he likes. He doesn't know either, because he doesn't know why Kichi left the Academy. But even if she did adopt you, does that make her less your mother?"

"No-o-o, I suppose not." Ryoko pursed her lips.

"So what's the problem?"

"The problem is that Kagato is my biological father." Ryoko said darkly. "And he went to a lot of trouble to shut my mother up."

"Perhaps."

"Makes me wonder, that's all." Ryoko glanced at her hands. "I still want to know what she was looking for...what she told me had gone, before she died. Something in her music box...something...but I don't know what."

"Science Academy files? Disks of some sort? Something like that?"

"Perhaps."

"Well, if she made a significant breakthrough - and Akira did say she was excited about something - then that's possible, isn't it?" Tenchi suggested. "It might have nothing at all to do with you.That might be a complete coincidence."

"I somehow don't think it is." Ryoko let out a heavy sigh. "I wish we'd never gone to Yubisu. I wish I'd never thought to track down the source of that memory...more, I wish I'd never had it back. I've never dwellt on the past in my whole life. Never regretted things. It's not me. But I'm stuck in the past at the moment and it's casting a complete damper on our trip through space."

She swallowed hard, and Tenchi saw tears glittering in the back of her eyes.

"I just wanted to spend some time with you, alone." She whispered. "Was that too much to ask, without all of this?"

"Well, that's simple enough." Tenchi's eyes softened. "Enough asking questions that we don't have answers for. Kichi was your mother and maybe she adopted you, but she was your mother because you remember it. Kagato was a mad, evil man - how his mind worked is probably something we can't figure out. Washu might be twitchy about him coming back, but now we know why she is - she worked for him and he's already come gunning for her once. So that explains that side of it. Everything else..."

He shrugged his shoulders.

"I killed Kagato once." He added. "Souja might not be dead yet, but he is dying. Whatever Washu claims, her discoveries are put into doubt by the fact she's got a personal interest in all of this. So I vote you stop dwelling and worrying about the things that you can't answer or change. What matters is that you and I are here, we're together and there's no Galaxy Police on our tail. All right?"

Ryoko offered him a faint smile.

"You're right." She said, new conviction in her voice. "Who cares who my parents were or weren't, anyway? It's not like either of them are still around or interested in my life now. And I'll be damned if I'm going to let it control my life."

"So...?"

"So we're going flying." Ryoko grinned, reaching down to squeeze his hand. "And then we're going to the Earth, where we're going to have some nice peace and quiet and you're going to teach me how to do nice, normal Earth things the proper Earthling way."

"Sounds good to me." A grin spread across Tenchi's face, and he bent to kiss her gently. "So shall we go?"

"You bet." Ryoko's smile was more genuine this time, and she flung her arms around his neck. "Ryo Ohki - full speed ahead!"

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

The stars were bright in the sky this evening.

Sasami pulled her wrap more tightly around her as she stood on her balcony, gazing dreamily up into the heavens. Although it was a warm night, chill winds whipped around her, teasing at her hair and causing it to billow out around her face, long, loose and wild and free from the restraints that befitted a royal princess of Jurai.

"I wish everyone else was here with me." She said sadly, leaning against the wooden railing as she did so. "Ayeka. Ryoko. Tenchi. Mihoshi. Kiyone. Washu. I feel so alone now, and it doesn't matter what Mother says. It isn't the same, being here among family as it was before. I've changed - grown up."

She frowned, shaking her head.

"Do I want to leave Jurai?" She wondered aloud. "No...I don't think so. Not forever. This is my home, and Tsunami would call me back here anyway. But there's something I can't put my finger on. It's strange with them all gone. When I was preparing with Ayeka for her marriage, it was different - but so much seems to have happened since then. I was so happy to be home before...now I feel like a stranger even to myself."

She glanced down at the ground below her, seeing Azaka and Kamadake patrolling the ground outside the palace. As she watched, Kamadake caught her gaze, raising his hand in a salute, and she grinned, waving back at him, somewhat comforted by this acknowledgement of her presence.

She sighed, wandering back into her room and removing her wrap, setting it down beside the bed as she slid beneath the covers.

"Another long night." She mused, burying her head in the soft pillow and closing her eyes. "I don't know why, but I have a feeling that I'm going to dream tonight."

That was her last thought, as sleep dragged her downwards into the darkness, flooding her brain with pictures and taking her beyond her world to one she did not know.

"Tsunami!"

The shriek echoed across the bridge of the ship, and the young woman stumbled, letting out a gasp as a bolt of tremendous energy shook through the whole of the craft. Setting her teeth, she put her hands to the sides of the ship, closing her eyes and focusing all of her self into the vessel, willing every inch of her magic to hold up under the buffeting waves of blackness that threatened to break through.

"Tsunami, where are you?"

The voice called out again, and the young woman steadied herself, a soft glow surrounding her form as she headed resolutely back towards the main control centre of the ship. She was one with her ship now, and, scant comfort though it was, she knew that nothing would break through her protective armour. Out of the glass skylights of the walkway she could see the slender, ghostly wings of the shield that protected them, flexing outwards from the centre of the craft like the spokes of the wheel. Try as he might, the dark waves of energy could not break them down. She could feel his seething malcontent, and yet he knew that he could not touch her.

At least, not yet.

"Tsunami! Tsunami, please! Help me!"

There was desperation in the girl's voice and Tsunami focused her thoughts, pushing open the door of the drive room and heading up to the central trunk of the spaceship's tree. She rested her palm on it briefly, and the tree glinted with waves of soft irridescent light. Then she turned, meeting the hopeless gaze of the young girl that sat on the spaceship's floor, cradling the still form of another in her arms. There was blood on her hands, and as Tsunami drew closer, she realised that not all of the blood belonged to the girl.

A strange look touched her face, and she fought back her own tears. Tsunami-sama she was now and Tsunami-sama did not have time for tears. Not when the whole of the universe might be at stake. And yet, deep within her, Sasami longed to throw herself down onto the floor, crying the tears that were forbidden a Goddess with other things on her mind.

"Tsunami, she isn't breathing!"

The anxiety in the girl's voice brought Tsunami back to herself and she was quickly at her side. Even as she approached, she sensed the stricken woman's life energy flicker to a dull hum, then slowly, beat by beat, it petered out. All at once there was a grim silence, and she bit her lip as Sasami fought to let her emotions run free once more. It was not time...there was not time. She was all that stood between existance and total destruction, and she had to keep her thoughts in line.

"Nozomi." She murmured, and the young woman glanced up, tears glittering in the depths of amber-gold eyes. Gently she shook her head, and Nozomi closed her eyes, tears glistening on her lashes.

"It isn't fair." She whispered. "I never knew her, and now I never will."

"Be strong." Tsunami said softly. "I still have need of you, Nozomi. Great need. You must not give in to your feelings - not now and not yet. We have too much at stake...our world is changing and we have to stem it before it's too late."

"But..." Nozomi faltered, then seemed to rally herself. Gently she laid the still body of the woman down on the floor of the control room, gently touching her cheek, then getting to her feet. After a moment of hesitation, she rinsed her fingers in the glittering pools that surrounded the tree's base, her hands glowing as she touched the ship's strange water. At length she met her companion's gaze, and Tsunami nodded her head.

"That's right." She agreed. "I know it's hard, Nozomi. Harder still for you to bear. But we must. If we're to have any chance at all..."

She trailed off, her gaze flickering over the still form.

"She made that choice for you, and you must accept it." She added. "She wanted you to live and there's no better gift she could have given you. Trust in that. Hold on to it. It may be all you have of her, but it's something very precious nonetheless."

Despite herself, however, Tsunami felt the flickering of Sasami's heart inside of her, the bitter tears suppressed for a good friend's sacrifice. Another, she realised, like so many others, snuffed out like a candle flame. She sighed, turning back to the glass as she gauged their progress against the dark world outside.

"He grows stronger and I cannot stop him." She admitted at length. "I can just about keep this ship alive and safe, Nozomi, but I don't have the strength to defeat him."

"I thought you were supposed to protect Jurai." Nozomi's words were accusing. "What kind of Goddess are you if you can't do that? Why have so many people believed in you for so long if you aren't able to deliver?"

"It was too soon. I was forced into this form too soon." Tsunami glanced down at her hands. "Sasami wasn't ready. I wasn't ready. We're incomplete, Nozomi - and between us our magic is divided and weakened. But there was no other option - this was the only way I could see to do anything. It wasn't enough...it can't be. He's too strong now."

"So what do we do?" Nozomi asked hopelessly. "Sit and wait for him to break down your defences? To kill us both?"

Before Tsunami could respond, there was a terrific explosion from outside the craft and the ship rocketed backwards, righting itself with some difficulty as Nozomi stumbled, almost falling headlong. She ran to the window, but Tsunami was there before her, touching the glass with an ice-pale finger. Rocks of various different sizes and shapes drifted past the spaceship, along with bits of tree, building and other debris. Where their world had once stood, there was only black, empty space, and despite herself, Tsunami's tears fell.

"Jurai." She whispered. "How much I failed you."

Nozomi bit her lip.

"So it's over." She said flatly. "Our world is dead and so are we, more or less? More victims of this wave of evil that you're meant to be able to stop. Tsunami, what hope does anyone in the universe have if you can't stop this creature from overwhelming planets? First the Earth. Now Jurai...what else is going to die before he's sated?"

Tsunami turned, seeing her as if for the first time.

"Nozomi." She whispered. "Oh, of course..."

"Tsunami-sama?" Nozomi looked confused. "What's wrong? Why are you looking at me that way?"

Tsunami's expression became a determined frown.

"There is only one way to save our world - your world - from this." She said quietly. "A long time ago - before you were even a thought in your mother's head, I tried to prevent this. Kagato's spirit slept then, before he became strong and capable of engulfing entire worlds. But I failed then and I failed now. I did not push hard enough. A decision was made that cost the whole universe dear. It was my fault, Nozomi, but I am not the one who felt the blame."

She paused, then her gaze fell on the motionless form that still lay between them.

"That's why she made the choice she did...for me to preserve you and not her." She whispered. "But I should have made her understand when there was still time to change this. And so I must do it now, Nozomi. Through you, since you're the only hope I have left for any of it. The only way to prevent this is to make sure this world never comes to exist. That Kagato is stopped before he can become what he is now."

"It's a nice thought, but it's not possible to change what's already happened." Nozomi sighed. "Is it?"

"It's the only choice we have." Tsunami admitted. "But be aware of what I am asking of you, Nozomi. If we successfully alter the past, this world will not come to be. And the world to which I will send you is not a world in which you yet exist. Changing the past may mean you never come to exist. Do you understand me? If your father was a knight of Kagato and Kagato is defeated before the rising cults have a chance to get a foothold, you may never be born."

"You're asking me to potentially sacrifice my existance to save all the people who died on Earth and on Jurai." Nozomi spoke in level tones, and Tsunami saw both determination and fire flickering in her amber eyes. "Why do you even have to ask? This isn't a world, it's barely an existance. The planet I know is dead, the people I love are dead - all but you, Tsunami, and you are weakening under his pressure. All this life has to offer me is death. Why is going back and trying to change things any more a sacrifice?"

Despite herself, Tsunami felt a flare of hope inside of her, and she clung hold of it, knowing that it was Sasami who forged the emotion through her heart.

"You are your mother's daughter." She observed wistfully. Nozomi's expression became one of surprise, then she smiled. For a moment her gaze flickered over the silent body. Then she bowed her head.

"I hope so." She said quietly, holding out her hands."Send me back, Tsunami. Do whatever you have to do. I'm ready to take the risk."