Chapter Thirteen

"No!"

Sasami staggered backward, gripping hold of the balcony rail to her room as the images flooded her mind, drowning her in thoughts and feelings and forcing her to her knees. Dimly in the background, she heard someone calling her name, but it was faint and distant and she could not find them in the melee of madness that ran through her head.

"No." She whispered, tears spilling down her cheeks. "No, Tsunami! Don't let him kill them! Don't let him do it! Please, Tsunami! You can't! It can't end like this! You're stronger than that...please! Help them!"

"Sasami, what's happening?" Now the voice was closer, and she felt a hand on her arm as someone pulled her gently to her feet, leading her away from the railing and back towards her bed. She sank down onto the soft covers almost automatically, her eyes big with terror as she watched the battle unfolding mere fields away from the central palace itself. The heavens were dark, split by lightning and the sun was fighting a losing battle to keep shining through, as darkness began to descend over Jurai.

"Sasami?"

She screwed her eyes shut, fighting the pictures away, as someone put an arm around her, sitting down beside her on the bed. She hesitated, then opened her eyes very slowly, as the room blurred before her view. She let out a little gasp, and was aware once more of someone supporting her as she felt her body falling.

"It's all right, Sasami-chan. You're quite safe here."

Now she recognised the voice and she blinked, turning her head to face her companion.

"Washu?" She murmured. "But..."

"Something's happening out there, isn't it?" The scientist looked unusually grave, casting her gaze out across the landscape towards the darkening horizon. "The girl Nozomi's managed to set him free, they're fighting for their lives...am I guessing that whatever it is, it's not good news?"

"Nozomi's dead." Sasami swallowed the lump in her throat, clinging hold of Washu's hand as if scared to be dropped back into the whirl of images. "Tsunami asked it of her and she gave it without question...but maybe it was wrong! Maybe Tsunami was wrong! Kagato has control of Ryoko's mind and Tenchi's trying to fight them both - but I don't know if he can. He can't kill Ryoko, Washu! But Kagato...Kagato wants her to kill him. And she will. Her mind is dead to Tsunami. She's gone."

"What do you mean, gone?" Washu demanded sharply, and Sasami bit her lip.

"Tsunami keeps track of every branch of the Jurai family tree. You know that. It's how I found out you were Ryoko's mother." She whispered. "But right now, she can't find Ryoko. Kagato's cut off every link between them, every sense, every feeling that makes Ryoko who she is. She's a weapon all right, Washu. But not the kind of weapon you wanted. He's controlling her through the gems...I'm scared. I'm scared and Tsunami won't tell me what's going to happen!"

Tears spilled down her cheeks at this and Washu's expression darkened once more, shaking her head slowly.

"What have I created?" She murmured, apprehension in her green eyes. "Those gems...I knew he'd tuned them...but I didn't imagine this. Can she fight it off, Sasami? Do you think she has that strength?"

"I don't know. I told you, Tsunami's lost her completely." Sasami sobbed. "And Tenchi is tired and he doesn't want to fight Ryoko because he loves her, only he...he hasn't got a choice and Kagato's going to make one of them kill the other one and I don't want everyone to die!"

She buried her head in Washu's shoulder, and the scientist hesitated, then hugged her tightly.

"I wish Ayeka were here. She'd know better than me how to comfort you." She said softly. "When Kamadake came to me and said you wanted company through this, I had no idea you'd be able to see what was going on over there. I'm not really cut out for this, you know."

"If Ayeka were here, Tenchi and Ryoko wouldn't have to fight him on their own." Sasami sniffled. "Ayeka's magic is strong too, Washu. She has the Jurai Power. I wish I did, but I don't have it. I only have what Tsunami gives to me."

"You shouldn't dismiss that. It's a healthy slice of magic in itself, even if you got it from a different source than Ayeka." Washu told her gently. "Listen to me, Sasami. Do you believe in this Goddess of yours? You know Tsunami better than anyone. Do you believe she's strong enough to beat Kagato?"

Sasami hesitated for a moment. Then she nodded her head slowly.

"Yes." She agreed. "But she's already fighting him, and Tenchi and Ryoko..."

She faltered, closing her eyes. "Washu, I'm scared. I don't like this! I don't!"

"Nor do I." Washu said grimly. "All the scientific knowhow in the world can't combat a foe like Kagato, I can see that more clearly now than ever before. And I know better than anyone how untrained Ryoko is. I only hope Tenchi can hold his own and tackle Ryoko without hurting her. I doubt he has the strength in him to kill her."

"Or the weakness." Sasami whispered. "It can't be strength, Washu, not if you kill someone you love. And Tenchi does love Ryoko, you know."

"Then maybe Ryoko will kill Tenchi, if she's as dead to everything as you say." Washu rubbed her temples. "I'm sorry, Sasami. I'm not great comfort for you, am I?"

"I'm just glad you're here with me and that I'm not here all by myself." Sasami admitted. "Washu, how strong do you think Tenchi is? Strong enough to defeat Kagato on his own?"

"I thought so, once." Washu bit her lip. "And I thought he'd succeeded, also. We were proven wrong, Sasami, and I'm doubting my judgement a lot at the moment. I've never done that before. Not ever. Not once in all the years I've been alive. But right now..."

She shook her head.

"Right now I'm doubting a lot of things." She murmured. "Including the wisdom of ever bringing Ryoko into this world."

"Tsunami thinks Tenchi is very strong." Sasami sighed, leaning against the scientist. "But how strong - that's what she can't tell, not yet. She's not sure...whether he can find it inside of him, the strength she believes he has. I wish it wasn't all so uncertain, that's all. Tsunami's not as strong as she should be either. Her fight with Kagato has taken a lot out of her and when he attacks Ryoko through the gems, he attacks pieces of Tsunami at the same time. They're parts of her, you know. Parts of Jurai's heart...bits of Tsunami's magic and by weakening Ryoko, he's finding a way into Tsunami. I don't like how this is turning out and I'm not strong enough to do anything about it."

Washu was silent for a moment, considering. Then she nodded.

"Yes, you are." She said thoughtfully. "Sasami, we both know that Tsunami chose you because of all of your family, you have the ability to see good in people and not to judge them based on who they appear to be. Such qualities are supposed to be ones Tsunami shared in her lifetime, also. In some respects, you are her reincarnation - part of her spirit which one day will be joined into one form. At the moment you're two people, but Tsunami chose you because of your belief in people's strengths. Right now, Ryoko and Tenchi need that belief, and so does Tsunami. Remember, Kagato is poisoning Jurai, creating doubts and hate and negative energy across the whole planet. You're positive energy. You have to keep hold of that...it's the best way you can help Tsunami."

"Do you really think so?" Sasami looked doubtful. Washu inclined her head.

"I do." She agreed. "Look at the evidence. You befriended Ryoko, when others would not. You adopted Ryo Ohki as your companion, when others didn't know how to take her."

She looked rueful.

"You've always treated even me like an old friend or family member, even if everyone else thinks I'm mad and liable to get you all killed. You adore your family, despite their shortcomings and despite their occasional lapses in judgement. You love your home, but you're just as happy out in space or entering new worlds, because you're not afraid to meet new people and make new friends. That's a pretty powerful force all in itself. All these things are why Tsunami picked you to bond with. Up till now she's called the shots and she's shown you what to do and how to do it. But it's your life and it's your body. You have to start taking control a little more, that's all. You care about Tenchi and you care about Ryoko. You know them face to face, whereas Tsunami knows them only through a distant web of memories. Focus that thought on them right now. It might help - and either way, it can't hurt."

"You're right." Determination replaced despair in Sasami's eyes and she nodded, putting her hands together as if to pray. "As you said, I can't make anything worse by sending positive thoughts out there, can I? I need to stop doubting Tsunami and to stop doubting Tenchi and Ryoko. I believe they can do this and so did Nozomi - that's why I sent her back here and why she gave everything she had to change the past. So I'll do my best, Washu. And you must too."

"I'm not sure my positive energy counts for anything. I'm too jaded and I've been through too many things." Washu said dryly. "But sure. I guess I can try."

"Remember, it's your daughter fighting out there too." Sasami turned her gaze to the skyline. "She needs all the hope you can give her too, Washu."

"Well, I guess we'll see about that." Washu shrugged her shoulders. "All right. It's not very scientific, but I'll go along with you."

"This isn't about science. You said that yourself." Sasami said firmly, grabbing Washu's hand and holding it tightly between her own. "So if there's any little thing we can do, we must do it. After all, our family is fighting for the freedom of Jurai right now and if there's anything we can do to help them, we've got to try!"

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

Tenchi dropped down behind the wisened trunk of Souja's tree, conscious that Nozomi's still form lay not many metres from where he crouched. She was pale now, he realised, cold and dead to this world, but yet something about her presence there made him renew his hope.

"Nozomi came back here to die for Tsunami's cause, but it doesn't mean that Kagato's won." He muttered, as he ducked the rain of fire Ryoko sent his way. "She's dead in this world, and Tsunami knew that would happen, but if she did, then she must also know that Ryoko and I can beat this man somehow. Sasami said she didn't know the outcome of this battle...but Tsunami isn't Sasami yet. Tsunami-sama, Nozomi believed in you enough to give her life for your cause. I'm not of this planet, not really. But I know you want Jurai's best interests and as it stands, me and this sword are all you've got to fight with. If you can do anything - anything at all - to bring Ryoko out of her trance, then I'd be more than a little bit grateful. I know your magic is under a lot of strain right now, but there must be some way I can beat him. Some way. Any way."

"Believe in yourself, Prince of Jurai." The words flickered into his head, soft and gentle as if spoken on the breeze, and he glanced up, but there was noone there. He bit his lip, taking a step away from Souja's trunk as he raised his sword once more, holding it firm against Ryoko's attack as his mind raced through all the possibilities.

"Believe in yourself." He muttered. "To do what? I've fought this guy before. I've killed him before. It took all of my strength, everything - and it still wasn't enough. Azusa and Grandfather, they say I have more strength in me than they do. Washu's said it too. And Ryoko...Ryoko needs me to find it, but I just don't know where it is!"

"Are you finished playing hide and seek?" Kagato's voice boomed out from behind him and he jumped, dropping his sword with a clatter as he swung around to face the apparition hovering not far from his head.

"I could destroy you right now, you know. One flick of my hand and it would be all over. I can't control you like I can control your friend here, but that doesn't mean I can't kill you. Yosho chose his heir badly. You're no match for me. Not now. You were right - I am a God, and soon all of this world will bow down before me!"

"More likely you'll burn it down trying to make them submit to you!" Tenchi yelled back, holding his hands up to defend himself from Kagato's attack. "This planet belongs to Tsunami! It's her world, and it always has been! You're not a God - you're no better than me or any other human soul who walks this world! You think you are, but you have your limitations, too! You're like a genie trapped in a lamp - you suck energy from Souja instead of creating your own. Tsunami is more powerful than you will ever be, Kagato - and killing Ryoko or me won't make that any less true. Jurai will die before it becomes your world...because you bring darkness, not light and no world can survive without light!"

"We'll just have to see, won't we."

Kagato swung his arm in an arc, and Ryoko dropped down at Tenchi's side, grabbing him and holding him tightly in her grip. He struggled, but her grasp was firm and it was to no avail. He glared up at Kagato, venom in his expression.

"So even now, you'll have her kill me instead of doing it yourself?" He demanded. "And I thought, once, you were a great warrior. Some great warrior if you can't even finish a fight on your own!"

"You talk far too much for one in your predicament." Kagato's tone held a dangerous edge and he brought his hands together, strange light glowing from his ghostly fingertips as he surveyed them both. "I'm getting bored with your bravado, Prince of Jurai. If you want proof of my power, then proof you shall have. Because I don't see your precious Goddess here to protect you now, do you? She's forsaken you, just when you need her the most. But then, she's fighting a losing battle herself. Jurai will be mine, or it will perish in the process."

A stream of black energy flooded out from his hands at this, and Tenchi closed his eyes, waiting for impact.

It never came.

Cautiously he opened his eyes, at first blinded by the strange whiteness that surrounded him. At first, he half-wondered if this was death, and that the stories his Grandfather had told him about peaceful passing from one plane of existance to another were true. And then, as he registered Ryoko's arms still clutched tightly around him, he realised that it was something else. That deep within him, something was stirring, rearing it's head as it forged through every vessel in his body. Blinking against the light, he managed to focus his sight and he drew a sharp breath into his lungs as he registered the three ghostly blades that spread out before him, protecting both him and Ryoko from the blast of Kagato's magic.

"What is this?" Kagato's shock was plain as he drew back his hands, staring down in disbelief at the sight before him. "What witchcraft have you drawn on me now, Tsunami? This is your doing! You think you can fight me, even now?"

"What...what's going on?" Ryoko's grip around him slackened at that moment and she raised a hand to her head, rubbing her temples as she returned to herself. "Tenchi...what...what the hell are you doing? Where's that coming from? What is it?"

"I don't know." Tenchi admitted, taking her hand and holding it firmly in his. "But it brought you back to yourself. It's some kind of shield. Some kind of...energy."

"I didn't know you had a power like that."

"Nor did I." Tenchi focused his thoughts, determination crossing his face. "But whatever it is, it showed up just at the right moment. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. Don't fuss over me...we've got bigger things to worry about." Ryoko pointed upwards, and Tenchi followed her gaze as Kagato soared above them, letting out a massive barrage of black energy as he struggled to break through the forcefield Tenchi had created. Tenchi narrowed his gaze, holding out his hand and, from where it had fallen on the grass, his sword lifted itself, hovering for a moment, then flying across the field and into his waiting grasp. Ryoko raised an eyebrow.

"Impressive." She said, rubbing her hands together absently. "You sure have some neat party tricks you save for the special occasion, don't you?"

"Believe me, I'm as much in the dark about all of this as you are." Tenchi told her frankly. "I'm not sure how long I can hold the field up, either. Can you give me a hand here? Protecting ourselves is one thing, but it's not going to bring him down."

"I'm with you." Comprehension flickered in Ryoko's eyes and she nodded, red light flaring from her fingertips. "I'll distract him. You go in for the kill. I've never seen that sword of yours flare with so much light before now - whatever it is, I think you should use it, before it burns out."

"Are you sure he won't take control of you again?"

"I'm sure." Ryoko pursed her lips, her eyes mere slits as she surveyed their attacker. "Suddenly I feel like I could fight this battle all over again. Which is probably a good thing...because I have a feeling that's what I'm going to have to do. Only with a different target this time. Him."

With that she teleported out of the white haze of light, and Tenchi focused his energy once more on his blade, biting his lip as it grew and flared beneath his grip. Never had he felt so alive with energy, the ghostly white blades engulfing him in their glow as he faced his opponant, steely determination in his eye.

"Lets see how good a warrior you really are, Kagato." He muttered. "Ready or not, I'm coming to get you!"

"Hey, ugly! Do you really think you can control the mind of a space pirate forever?" Ryoko materialised in the air behind Kagato, shooting bolts of electricity at him as she did so. "I've got news for you. We're very difficult beasts to tame!"

"How dare you think you can turn on me?" Kagato raised his hand to her, but Ryoko swung her sabre, slicing through the drifting particles that made up his arm and causing him to let out a yell of surprise and pain. She stared at him for a moment, then a slight smile touched her face.

"Well, Daddy, looks like I did inherit more from you than you thought." She added. "Thanks for waking up the gems' true power for me. I guess it's true that you can learn a lot from your parents' example."

"You'll pay for that!" Kagato raised his remaining arm, bolts of energy flaring at the tips of his fingers. "I'll see you dead before the day is out...you are no match for me, Ryoko, gems or otherwise!"

"But Ryoko's not fighting this one on her own!" Tenchi exclaimed, charging at the ghostly form and bringing his blade down hard across the apparition's body. There was a flare in light, as Kagato's torso was split in two, and he let out an agonised scream as the edges of his form began to fray and disperse into the ether.

"That's it! Tenchi, that's it!" Ryoko exclaimed, pushing her hands together and sending a strong flare of red-orange energy at the stricken spirit, engulfing him in a wave of light as Tenchi swung his sword again, bringing it down a second time and splitting his enemy once more across the middle.

"Souja!" He yelled, as elements of the sinister smoke began to drift back towards the tree. "Ryoko, Souja! If he gets back inside that tree..."

"I'm on it!" Ryoko nodded, raising her hands above her head and sending a rapid series of energy bolts down towards the stricken tree. It shimmered for a moment, then burst into a strange black flame. For a few seconds it burned, then the light faded, and as Ryoko sent a second barrage to join the first, the tree crumpled and disintegrated into hot black ash, littering the ground and dusting Nozomi's body gently with it's residue.

"You can't escape this time, Kagato!" Tenchi exclaimed. "Souja is dead! There's no escape! Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide! You can't make a prisoner of your tree any longer, and you can't bring harm to Jurai! I told you you weren't a God! Now let me prove it!"

And he brought his blade down a third time, making final contact with the wave of smoke. There was an eerie cry, the disembodied yell of fury of a defeated spirit. Then, as the darkness faded away, there was a sudden, eerie silence.

For a moment, nothing moved. Then, with a sigh, Ryoko dropped down onto the ground, walking slowly towards the remains of Souja's tree. Without a word, she bent down beside Nozomi's body, brushing the dust and ash off the girl's face.

"Do you think we did it?" Tenchi's sword flickered and died, and as the power rushed out of him, he felt a sudden sense of fatigue flood his senses. He sighed, glancing at the sword, then slipping it back into his belt. "Ryoko? Do you think we got him this time?"

"I sure hope we did." Ryoko's voice was pensive, and as Tenchi came to join her, he cast a glance down at the fallen girl, shaking his head slowly.

"For her sake, or for Jurai's?" He asked gently. Ryoko glanced up at him, then shrugged.

"Either. Both." She admitted. "I don't know how I feel about this whole family thing, Tenchi. But she gave her life for this...so I hope we've at least done what we set out to do."

Almost before she had finished speaking, Nozomi's body began to glow with a soft white light, and Ryoko frowned, settling herself more comfortably at her side as she took the girl's hand in her's.

"Nozomi?" She whispered. "Tenchi, what's happening? What's going on now...is it Kagato?"

"No...I think it's Tsunami." Tenchi dropped down beside her, putting an arm around her shoulders. "If we've beaten Kagato, it means the timeline has changed. If it's changed, then..."

"Then Nozomi wouldn't be here in this time, because Tsunami wouldn't have had to send her here." Ryoko murmured. Tenchi nodded.

"Exactly. Which means...which means we've done it, Ryoko. We've got rid of that monster for ever...Jurai is finally safe."

"Do you think she's all right, wherever she's going to?" Ryoko pursed her lips, as Nozomi's body was engulfed completely in light, then slowly faded away into nothing. Tenchi shrugged.

"Who knows." He admitted. "In some ways that's down to us - and a future that we're not ready to contemplate just at the moment. But either way, Ryoko, we did what we came here to do...and for that at least, we should be grateful."

"I'm just glad it's over." Ryoko admitted, reaching up to rub her temples. "I don't remember a lot of the battle. Did he make me do anything to hurt you, Tenchi?"

"I just about held my own, but you were pretty ferocious." Tenchi admitted, casting her a slight smile. "And I really didn't want to fight you, so that left me sort of handicapped, if you know what I mean."

Ryoko returned the smile, getting to her feet and holding out a hand to pull him up.

"Well, it's all sort of a blur." She murmured. "But when I woke up, there was all this white light around me and I wondered...I almost wondered if it were heaven. And then I realised it was coming from you...you really don't know how you did it?"

"No." Tenchi shook his head. "But it's something to ask Grandpa about. Or Sasami. She might know the answer. Maybe it was Tsunami's doing. I did ask her for help, when you were going at me like a crazy woman. Perhaps she did intercede. Who knows? Either way, I feel exhausted now. I guess it's not something I'll be doing again - at least, not for a while. But I never imagined I could erect a forcefield like that...and without the sword even in my hand, too."

"Washu said your power hadn't been fully awakened yet, and I guess this is what she meant." Ryoko linked arms in his. "Either way, I'm glad you were fighting on my side. I wouldn't have wanted to face down that blade, and I'm pretty game for most things when it comes to a battle situation."

"Well, I'm just glad he couldn't maintain control of you at the end." Tenchi admitted. "I might have cut him down, but it was a team effort, Ryoko. And you saw to Souja, so you cut off his escape. We do make a good team, don't we?"

"We do." Ryoko acknowledged. She frowned, holding up her arms. "That's odd."

"What is?"

"My gems. They're gone."

"Gone? Gone where?" Tenchi glanced at her, realising that she spoke the truth, and the final red stone had gone from his companion's brow. "Did you drop them? Maybe that's how Kagato lost control of you. He was doing it through the gems, you know."

"No...I don't think I did." Ryoko pursed her lips. "Tenchi, I've never been able to control their magic, and they hurt me because of it. But...after I came to, when you were protecting us...I didn't feel that way. It was like...like somehow you did something to me and to them. You broke Kagato's spell, but it was more than that. I can't explain it - but nothing seemed to hurt any more. It wasn't a struggle. It was like it came...naturally."

"You think the gems have bonded with you completely, then?" Tenchi asked softly. Ryoko rubbed her wrist absently, nodding her head.

"They couldn't before, because their magic was more than I could handle." She replied. "And because Kagato had messed with them, of course, so it meant he had a direct route into them. That's why their energy felt so negative, I guess. They really were tuned to him."

She shrugged.

"Whatever you did, it neutralised that hold over them." She added. "I don't feel...different. I feel just like myself. But I was stronger just then, when we faced him down and beat him. I hurt him. And I destroyed Souja with barely any effort at all. So yes. I think that's what happened. They became part of me...somehow. And so I could use them to beat him."

"Perhaps that's another round of questions to ask Washu?"

"If I'm speaking to Washu." Ryoko pulled a face. "I'm not sure if I am, yet."

"At the end of the day, Ryoko, she is your mother."

"Or my creator."

"Well, maybe." Tenchi shrugged. "But you know, I've thought at times that she was kind of fond of you."

"Really?" Ryoko arched an eyebrow. "Which times were those? I must have blinked and missed them."

Tenchi laughed.

"Come on, let's go back to the palace." He said softly. "Rest up and share our news with everyone. I'm beat and I'm sure you are too - and even if you don't want to speak to Washu, I want to talk to Sasami about those blades that protected us from Kagato's magic."

"All right." Ryoko sighed, looping her hand in his. "So I'll take us the quick route. But Tenchi? When they've done poking and prodding at us, can we go to the Earth? Please?"

"I promised you that." Tenchi nodded his head. "So for sure. But there's no hurry, Ryoko. Not now Kagato is destroyed, after all. Everything is back to how it should be!"

Ryoko bit her lip, turning to glance across the ground to the flattened section of earth where Nozomi's body had lain. She shook her head.

"Not quite everything." She murmured. "But I guess you're right. Time will tell."

She gripped him more tightly.

"And right now, we're going somewhere where there's a nice warm bath waiting for me. I have to wash evil dead guy out of my hair!"