Chapter Eight
Well, they were finally back on Jurai.
Ryoko leant against Ryo Ohki's controls as the spaceship hovered in an arc, preparing to make her usual kamikaze landing on the expansive shelf, halfway up the side of the Royal Tree. She cast a glance across at her companions, both of whom were lost to the world. She sighed, shaking her head.
"Just where I don't want to be, Ryo Ohki." She said softly. "Back on Jurai, chasing ghosts again. Sometimes I wonder why I put up with it all, don't you? It would be so much easier to just disappear back into space and forget all about Kagato and sentient trees and all of those things. Don't you think so?"
The ship let out a reproachful yowl, and Ryoko glanced at her wrists, taking in the fading scars that still adorned them. She frowned.
"I know. It would be the coward's way out and I'm not a coward." She acknowledged. "So I'm here and I'll see it through. Whatever 'it' turns out to be. But considering how much this planet hates me, they expect a lot of me, don't they? To interrupt my life like this to pull them out of another jam."
"Ryoko?" Tenchi's voice came from across the driveroom as he sat up on his pallet, rubbing his eyes sleepily. "Wow, are we here? I just closed my eyes for one second..."
"And fell into a coma that even a meteor shower didn't seem to jolt you from." Ryoko said dryly, crossing the floor towards him and taking him by the hands, pulling him to his feet. "Well, we're back on Jurai again. Getting a feeling of deja-vu yet? I know I sure am. And I thought I'd be rid of this place for a while. Some hope, huh?"
Tenchi stifled a yawn, stretching.
"I'm stiff." He admitted. "Where's Nozomi? You didn't renege on your promise to be nice to her and toss her out into Deep Space while I was sleeping, did you?"
"No...she's curled up in the corner, over there." Ryoko indicated with a flick of her fingers. "Should we wake her? Or leave her here to sleep?"
"I guess she should come with us." Tenchi pursed his lips. He looked sheepish. "Gee, making all these parental type decisions is stressful, isn't it?"
"Stop messing around." Ryoko sent him a dark look. "We're not here to play Mums and Dads with the girl. Far as it stands, she might not even exist when all of this is over, and if she does, we're sending her back to her time as soon as we can work out how to do it. I'm not sacrificing our alone time again, Tenchi."
"You're so melodramatic sometimes." Tenchi said calmly, crossing the drive room and bending down to shake Nozomi awake. "Nozomi? We're here. Jurai."
"Jurai?" Nozomi sat up, scrambling to her feet as she gazed out across the landscape. "Oh! But it's...it's beautiful."
"Matter of opinion." Ryoko said with a shrug. "Beauty is only skin deep - at least, where this planet is concerned."
"All those trees." Nozomi's expression became dreamy. "All Royal Trees? Tsunami's children?"
"Guess so." Tenchi nodded. "All right. Are we going down there or what?"
"We're going." Ryoko nodded her head, grabbing both Tenchi and Nozomi by the arms and focusing her energy on teleporting them down to the ground below. "Ryo Ohki, stay here. And don't transform, all right? I don't know how long we're staying or what we're going to do - but I want to be ready to leave at a moment's notice. Okay?"
There was an answering mew, and Ryoko cast the crystals a fleeting smile, before flickering out of view and re-materialising on the wood-panelled landing bay below, Nozomi and Tenchi in tow. Nozomi shivered, glancing down at herself.
"I don't like it when someone else shifts my molecules about." She decided. "It's creepy."
"It's also the quickest way down, and if your teleport magic is anything like mine, you can only go where you've already been." Ryoko said briskly. "Don't complain. We're here, which is what you wanted, isn't it?"
"I'm not complaining." Nozomi objected. "And I could have brought myself out of there, you know. I have been here before. Just not in this time."
"Technicalities." Ryoko rolled her eyes.
"You two aren't still arguing, are you?" Tenchi raised an eyebrow. Ryoko sighed.
"No...guess not." She said reluctantly. "All right. So are we going to present ourselves to the Emperor, or are we just going to go looking for Sasami?"
"I think that decision might be made for us." Tenchi raised a hand, and Ryoko followed the line of his gaze, consternation touching her own brow as she recognised Azaka, two palace officials in tow. As the knight hurried up to them, he made a formal bow to Tenchi, holding out his hand.
"Tenchi-dono! This is a surprise! We had thought you'd left Jurai for good!"
"Some hope, with the relatives he has." Ryoko muttered. Azaka offered her a smile, repeating his bow.
"Ryoko-san also. Did the Emperor's envoys reach you so quickly, then?"
"Emperor's envoys?" Ryoko frowned, casting a suspicious glance in Nozomi's direction. "What envoys? Nozomi, do you know anything about this?"
"You know full well that I don't." Nozomi shook her head.
"Azaka, you're going to have to explain in a little more detail." Tenchi said ruefully. "We came here of our own accord. Nozomi here is...a friend of a friend. She came to us with news that Jurai is in serious trouble and that our help might be needed. Are you saying that Azusa-heika sent people to the Earth to find us for the same reason?"
"I believe so." Azaka agreed. "Perhaps it would be best if you came with me now, to see him. The Emperor is at his private quarters, but he has been very preoccupied of late. I know he would welcome your company."
"Then I guess we're going to hang out at the Emperor's private pad." Ryoko rolled her eyes skywards. "It just gets better and better."
"What about me?" Nozomi looked apprehensive. Tenchi frowned.
"For now, I guess you'd better wait here, with Ryo Ohki." he suggested. "Azusa won't be expecting you, and explaining who you are might take more time than we have."
"I suppose so." Nozomi frowned, glancing up at the big blackish grey spaceship. "All right. But don't be too long, okay? Someone might think I'm here to cause trouble and arrest me."
"If I have my way, we won't be at all long." Ryoko assured her. "Ryo Ohki, keep tabs on her, will you? Make sure she doesn't wander off and get herself lost. I want to get to the bottom of this envoy business, and I don't need to be worrying about our lost stray in the meantime."
"I already told you, I'm not a kid." Nozomi frowned. Ryoko shrugged.
"Depends whose perspective you're looking at it from." She said simply. "Just stay here, okay? We'll be back soon."
She turned back to Azaka, offering him a guarded smile.
"Guess we're going where you lead." She continued. "So lead on."
The Emperor was in his personal study as Azaka led the way through the corridors, pausing outside an oak-panelled door and knocking sharply on the wood three times. It opened to reveal another official, a young man who saluted Azaka sharply, taking in Tenchi and Ryoko with wide eyes.
"Hitaro-san, tell Azusa-heika that Tenchi-dono and Ryoko-san are here." Azaka instructed him. The young man nodded, saluting again and disappearing back behind the door. Ryoko raised an eyebrow.
"Chinese whispers?" She asked. Azaka nodded his head.
"Security is not always this tight." He said apologetically. "Normally, the Emperor's magic is enough to keep him safe. But...things have been rather unusual of late."
At that moment, Hitaro re-appeared, bowing almost reverently in Tenchi's direction, then saluting the knight once again.
"Azusa-heika would like to see Tenchi-dono and Ryoko-san as soon as possible." He gabbled, offering Tenchi another bow as he did so. "Please, if you would come this way, honoured Lord Tenchi. He is waiting you in his study."
"Yes, honoured Lord Tenchi, let's do as he says." Mischief sparkled in Ryoko's eyes and she nudged Tenchi, who looked discomfitted at the attention. "After you, my Prince."
"Put a lid on it, will you?" Tenchi flushed red at her teasing. "I told you, they all act weird around me when they know I'm Yosho's grandson. It freaks me out more than a little."
"It is amusing though." Ryoko reflected, as they stepped through the oaken door, following the young and zealous soldier through the passageway to the Emperor's private study. "How they treat you like a God among men, just because you're descended from Azusa's line."
She gestured around her.
"Just think, Tenchi. All of this could have been yours. Are you sure you have no regrets?"
"What do you think?" Tenchi raised an eyebrow. "It's a gilded cage, Ryoko. Knowing Ayeka and Sasami taught me that much at the very least. No, I don't regret turning down the chance to be next in line for the throne. All the pampering and bowing in the world couldn't replace freedom of choice."
"We agree." Ryoko acknowledged. "I'd have hated it too, Tenchi."
She sent him a teasing glance.
"Just imagine, though, if you had accepted, and had wanted me to be your consort." She said wickedly. "Can you imagine the faces of the court, if you were to wed the wicked space pirate and make a lady of her? Nobody bows to me in any way, except Azaka and Kamadake, because they are proper gentlemen, not just snivelling toadies. But seriously, Tenchi, just picture it. Me, Empress of Jurai. Can you, even? It would be a scream."
"It would certainly be something." Tenchi's lips twitched into a smile. "Though I thought you weren't exactly ready for marriage, Ryoko-chan. What's to say we wouldn't have ended up doing what Grandfather did with Lady Haruna and flee the planet completely in a wave of scandal and outrage?"
"That does seem a little more my style, I have to admit." Ryoko acknowledged. She sighed, shrugging her shoulders. "Oh well. We'll never know, anyway. It's an academic question."
"It is." Tenchi nodded. "Hey, we've stopped!" As he glanced up ahead, noticing that Hitaro had disappeared through another door, this one more ornate than the one before. At length he re-emerged, offering Tenchi another of the over-zealous bows.
"Lord Tenchi, Azusa-heika will see you and Ryoko-san now." he said, his tone bordering on reverence. "If you'll just step through the door, he's awaiting you in his personal study."
"Yes, of course." Tenchi nodded his head, and Ryoko felt his hand slip into hers, leading her towards the ajar door before she could make any kind of comment to the guard. She cast him a wounded look, pouting.
"Hey!"
"We're not here to play games with the palace staff." Tenchi reminded her. "Come on."
"I'm coming, I'm coming." Ryoko sighed. "Though what kind of impression you're going to give your Great Grandpa if he sees you holding hands with a space pirate in his study I don't know."
"Right now, I don't really care about that." Tenchi responded, and Ryoko felt the grip on her hand tighten slightly. "But I do want to know why he was sending envoys to the Earth after us. Don't you?"
The levity faded from Ryoko's eyes and she nodded her head.
"Yes, I do." She agreed. "All right. I'm with you."
"Tenchi. Ryoko-san."
The Emperor was seated behind his desk as they entered, going through a pile of official looking documents, but at their approach he pushed them aside, getting to his feet. "I have to admit, I didn't expect you so soon. Nor did I anticipate you would come to me so willingly. I'm glad though that you did. It is a matter of great importance that I should speak to you - both of you, as it turns out."
"We came under our own speed. We didn't meet any of your envoys, so I guess we had already left by the time they would have reached the Earth." Tenchi bowed his head slightly, and the Emperor indicated for them both to take seats. "Why were you summoning us to Jurai, Azusa-heika? We've barely been away from it, all things considered."
"It was actually Ryoko-san who I wanted to bring here." Azusa admitted, and Ryoko frowned, meeting the Emperor's gaze with a confused one of her own.
"Me?" She asked softly. "Why me? What on earth would you want me on Jurai for? Your brother more than made it clear that he wanted rid of me as soon as possible. Don't tell me he had a change of heart?"
"Haru is not comfortable with this situation, I admit." Azusa pursed his lips. "But he realises, as I do, that we must employ every strategy that we can."
"This is to do with Kagato, isn't it?" Tenchi demanded. Azusa inclined his head slightly.
"As you say." He agreed. "Washu-san's scientific data and Sasami-chan's dreams cannot be ignored any longer. It seems that his spirit is living inside of Souja...precisely how, we don't know. Only that it is so. And Sasami-chan's dreams have taken a disturbing turn for the worse - so much so that we feel we must act now. Tsunami has spoken to her people and it's up to us to listen - in truth, we need all the help that we can get."
"And for this, you sent for me?" Ryoko raised an eyebrow. "Me, Azusa-heika? A space pirate? Okay, a damn strong space pirate, and I won't pretend I wasn't good at what I did. But are you completely crazy? You, with your all powerful Jurai magic going on, sent for me in order to destroy Kagato? What, exactly, is in the Jurai water supply these days? My magic isn't even half the strength yours is, you must know that!"
"Azusa-heika, what is it exactly you're asking Ryoko to do?" Tenchi put in quietly. "Because she is right. We've all seen how powerful Kagato was, before all of this began. Now, well, who knows how much stronger he's become whilst living off Souja's life force? Do you really expect Ryoko to just throw her life away in a futile attempt to beat him?"
"I'm hoping that no lives will be thrown away." Azusa looked haunted. "But no, Tenchi. You see, I have had Washu-san studying ancient Juraian documents and scrolls, hunting for any and all clues to this disaster that approaches us. One thing stands out very clearly. Kagato's spirit must be raised by someone of his blood. That being the case, we felt the need to send for you immediately."
"Washu's here?" Confusion flickered in Ryoko's eyes. "But we ditched her at her space station!"
"Yes, and I sent my men to go and retrieve her." Azusa's expression became one of guilt. "I admit, I didn't give her much choice in the matter. But she has worked hard since then, I will give her credit for that. And, risky and uncertain as it seems, she has devised a possible strategy - one that has only a slim chance of success, but better than anything else we have managed to discover."
"Let me get this straight." Ryoko said slowly. "You...want me...to go and wake up that demon Prince somehow? What are you saying? That you want him to come and wreak havoc and vengeance on all of Jurai? You have to be kidding me! It's suicide - for me and for you! I won't do it! You have to be joking!"
"Washu-san believes that if we were to wake Kagato before he was fully restored, then he might not be so strong as he is in Sasami's visions of the future." Azusa continued levelly. "Like I said, it's a slim hope. But at present, it's all that we have. That, Ryoko-san, and you. If you'll help us."
"You and your people have some nerve, calling on me to fix your problems when most of your court won't even look me in the eye." Ryoko bristled. "I'm just some common space pirate - a dirty, nasty criminal to most of them. And yet, when you're in trouble, who is it you come crying to? Me. Ryoko. I'm good enough to die for you, but not good enough to be treated like anyone else. You must think I'm really stupid, Azusa. That I'd throw my life away for a planet who hates my guts."
"It runs deeper within you than that." Azusa eyed her gravely. "Much deeper. It's the core of your very existance, in fact...your destiny, one might say."
"Her destiny?" Tenchi stared. "What is all this destiny talk, anyway?"
"It's Washu and her harebrained ideas again." Ryoko said bitterly. "It has to be. Another one of her games. Nozomi too, no doubt. I bet that it's all part of the same thing. Bring Ryoko to Jurai, convince her that she's got no choice and then throw her to the lions to be ripped apart like meat. Tenchi, we should leave. Right here, right now. This isn't our fight...we don't have to get any more involved than we are already."
She stood to leave, but Azusa raised his hand, and the door behind them shut fast, the lock clicking across into place. He shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Ryoko-chan." He said softly. "But it is not the done thing to walk out on an Emperor of Jurai. Especially when he is speaking to you. I told you once about your manners. You'd do well to take heed."
"And you'd do well to remember that doors don't usually keep me inside a room for long." Ryoko retorted. "Or do you want to make me your prisoner, too? You've got Washu penned up here doing your dirty work for you, and now me, too? Is that the idea?"
"Not at all." Azusa shook his head. "Ryoko, listen to me. You might not like to hear it, but it's the truth all the same. You were born to battle Kagato, and either emerge victorious or die in the attempt. That is your destiny - your entire reason for being. If you doubt me, speak to Washu-san. Ask her about Kichi-san and the manner of your birth. You'll find she has answers she's never bothered to tell you - answers she kept from everyone, till my brother plyed her with truth serum."
"I don't really care about Washu's answers." Ryoko said flatly. "She has a nasty habit of twisting things. Even if Haru-dono did dope her up with the serum, it would take more than that to make her tell the straight truth for a change."
"It took three heavy doses to break her down." Azusa admitted, regret flickering in the depths of his eyes.
"Three doses?" Tenchi stared. "What did you do to her? Is she all right?"
"Yes, she's recovered admirably." Azusa agreed. "Bad tempered about it, but that's only to be expected, considering the depths of Haru's interrogation."
"And what, exactly, did she tell you that makes you think I'm the key to Kagato's door?" Ryoko narrowed her gaze, putting her hands on her hips. "She must have said something, to suddenly make you interested in having me on this planet."
"A good many things." Azusa agreed sadly. "But most of all, Ryoko, how you came to be born. You see, Washu-san is the one who gave you life. If anyone knows your true destiny, well, it would be her."
"Wait a minute." Ryoko held up her hands. "Are you trying to say that Washu is...?"
"Yes, Ryoko-chan." Azusa nodded his head slowly. "Washu-san is your mother."