Chapter Four

"Kiyone, it's Ryoko."

Tenchi sat back in his seat, watching the flickering screen with a mixture of apprehension and confusion. Up on Yagami's monitor, the pirate's face stared out at him, large as life and almost close enough for him to touch. And yet, there was something else, too. She was a stranger to him in so many ways, her expression uncharacteristically sombre, and her cheeky face pinched and drawn, as if she was concentrating very hard on the message she was sending out. Her golden eyes, usually alive with energy and mischief were dark and guarded, the customary twinkle that betrayed her spirit and zest gone somewhere in their depths.

"We reached Jurai as planned. Tell Sasami that Tenchi has gone to rescue Ayeka." The pirate continued, her tones controlled and muted and lacking in their usual spark. "He left with Azaka and Kamidake not long ago and I've told Kamidake to make sure a beacon is lit from Jurai if all goes according to plan. Then you should be able to dock Yagami, and settle everything up as it should be."

A momentary pause, and Tenchi thought he saw the briefest flicker of regret cross the pirate's face, before it was gone.

"You gotta know that I'm not able to stay on Jurai, so Ryo Ohki and I will be leaving here shortly." She added. "I don't want to complicate your position any and I'm not going to get myself arrested if I can possibly help it - so I hope you'll understand that I won't be coming back to Yagami. It's been fun, but you know that a pirate's life is never simple, and I guess that the party has to end sooner or later. Tell Mihoshi she can have my share of the snacks, okay?"

There was another pause, then,

"Oh...and tell Tenchi that I'm glad he's finally found his destiny and that I wish him well in it." Now there was a definite catch in Ryoko's voice as she struggled to keep her composure, and Tenchi felt his heart clench at the look of sadness flickering in her gaze. "Jurai could not have a better Emperor, and I'm proud to have been a part of making him get there. Just tell him not to forget where he started out, all right? I won't...I can't visit him, so make sure he understands it's not because I don't want to. You know how complicated it is, when you're on the run. Just...explain to him, if you can."

She sighed, then offered a faint smile, a last ditch attempt at levity which did little to improve Tenchi's mood.

"Guess I'll see you around, if you can catch up with me." She said lightly. "It's been a blast, Kiyone. Even though you're on the wrong side of the law, I won't forget you or Mihoshi or any of the adventures we've had in space. Make sure you get your promotion, okay? You deserve it. This is Ryoko, over and out."

The screen went dark, and for a moment silence pervaded the drive room. Tenchi chewed down on his lip, staring at the blank screen as he struggled to put his thoughts into a coherent order. So she had gone back to being a pirate after all. She had left before the Juraian authorities had decided to make good on her arrest warrant...and she believed he would be the next King of Jurai, even though she had not said even a word of it to him during their dangerous flight through space.

Despite himself, he felt empty.

"So here you are, Tenchi."

Washu's voice made him jump and he turned, casting her a sheepish smile as the diminuitive scientist padded across the bridge, settling herself in Mihoshi's empty seat. She cast him a quizzical look, and he dropped his gaze, unable to meet the questions in her piercing green eyes. For a while, neither spoke. Then Washu cocked her head on one side, eying him from head to foot.

"You know, that's awful fancy garb you've got on there to be sitting in Yagami watching videos." She commented off-handedly. "Weren't you supposed to be doing something official today? You sure look like it."

"No...this is just how they expect me to dress now I'm apparently an official Prince of Jurai and in line to the throne." Tenchi glanced down at his attire with a sigh, shrugging his shoulders. "I've spent so much time going to meetings and reviews and hearings with Ayeka already, and everyone is dressed up like this. I have to outdo the lot of them to be taken seriously, and it's not a joke. It takes forever to get ready...appearance is so important to people here."

"Yes, I would say that's true." Washu nodded. "But then, Tenchi, you have to understand how much turmoil this planet has been in. If things appear to be all right, then the people will believe that they are all right. It's a natural recovery technique. You mustn't be too harsh on them for that."

"No, I suppose not." Tenchi acknowledged. "I guess you're right, Washu. It just doesn't come naturally to me. Not right now, anyway."

Washu's gaze flitted to the quiet transmission screen.

"So instead you've stolen aboard Kiyone's ship to watch replays of her intercom recordings?" She asked softly. "That doesn't seem like you, either."

"No, Kiyone knows I'm here. She told me to go ahead...while Yagami is still in dock and before they're called back to Headquarters. You know they've been cleared of any misdeeds and from what I understand, they're in line for some kind of promotion for their dedication to duty." Tenchi shook his head. "I just wanted to check something out for myself, that's all. And now I have."

Washu pursed her lips.

"Ryoko's message, huh?" She asked. Tenchi started, staring at his companion in surprise.

"How did you know that?"

"I'm a genius, of course. It's only logical." Washu smiled, revealing a row of perfect white teeth. She folded her arms across her chest, leaning back against her seat as she surveyed him. "And did you find what you were looking for?"

"No." Tenchi shook his head. "When Kiyone told me she'd sent Yagami a closed transmission I was surprised - that she'd send a recorded message and not a live one seemed a bit odd to me. And now I've heard it...it just...something's not right about it. I can't tell what it is, Washu, but I almost don't believe that it's her. All the things she said...about not being able to stop on Jurai, and all of those things - it made sense. But yet...in another way...I guess it didn't. Do you know what I mean, or have I lost you as much as I've lost myself trying to understand this?"

"No, I follow your meaning." Washu inclined her head slightly. "Kiyone had the same impulse on viewing the message, and I have to admit I had my doubts, too. But we didn't say anything then. Mihoshi and Sasami were too excited that you'd made it there safely, and Sasami had such faith in you to beat Kagato that all we really did was watch out for that beacon. When it came, well, we knew everything would be all right."

"But she didn't try and make contact with Yagami again?"

"No." Washu shook her head. "And when Kiyone tried to reach Ryo Ohki's comm channels, all she got was static. It was like Ryoko had deliberately blocked the signal - or Ryo Ohki had. I tried to tweak Yagami's frequency, but it didn't matter what I did. All we got was interference - a snowstorm across the screen and no response."

Tenchi's brows knitted together.

"Can we try and get a signal from Jurai?" He asked. "That would be different, surely? We might actually make contact."

"And explaining to the Council why the Emperor elect wants to use Jurai technology to contact a space pirate might be interesting." Washu said archly. "Not to mention the fact that Ryoko is unlikely to take any transmissions from this planet. She'd know that doing so would mean they - and therefore the Galaxy Police - would have a way to track her movements. She's no fool."

She sighed.

"And besides, I doubt it will do you much good even to try." She admitted. "I don't think Ryoko wants to be contacted. In fact...in fact, I'm almost sure she did things this way for a reason."

"And you know what that reason is, don't you?" Tenchi shot his companion a questioning glance. "Please, Washu. Ryoko is my friend...I want to know what's going on. I want to know why she won't speak to us...to any of us! She was so brave when we flew to Jurai - so strong and determined and she did things I never saw her do before. Even though she didn't want me to go after Ayeka and risk my life against Kagato, she still did everything she could to make sure I got there and the least I can do is thank her. I didn't really have time to do so properly before. We were in a hurry, and...well, she didn't seem to want to hang around. I guess she was afraid of being picked up by the Jurai Military whilst Ryo Ohki was grounded."

"If that's what you believe, I won't do anything to change your mind." Washu said simply. "Ryoko's gone back to being a pirate, Tenchi. That's all there is to it."

"You're lying to me."

"Am I?"

"Yes, you are, and you know it." Tenchi's brows knitted together. "Washu, if you know something that I don't, I want you to tell me. I want the truth and nothing else...I want to know whatever it is that you're keeping from me."

"Do you really?" Washu raised an eyebrow. "You're sure?"

"Yes." Tenchi nodded decidedly. "I'm sure. Whatever it is, Washu...tell me. Did she send another transmission after all? Was there something else she said that Kiyone hasn't given me access too?"

"No...as far as I know Ryoko only sent one transmission to Kiyone and you've probably seen the whole thing. It wasn't all that long." Washu shrugged. She cast him a glance, and a chill touched Tenchi's heart as he saw the gravity enter his companion's green eyes. "Tenchi, your account of your trip to Jurai only consolidates in my mind what I already suspected. You know that Nagi helped you and Ryoko to escape the attention of the Jurai Military, on your trip to fight Kagato?"

"Yes." Tenchi agreed. "Is that it? Do you think Ryoko's been pursued by Nagi?"

"No more than usual." Washu reflected. "But I did overhear a conversation between the two women, before Ryoko left Yagami. And it too confirmed my suspicions. They're none of them good, Tenchi."

"Will you just tell me what's on your mind?" Tenchi begged. "You're beating around the bush and it doesn't make it any easier."

"You're aware that Ryoko was hurt in the battle with Kagato, at the old Jurai palace, I think."

"Yes." Tenchi nodded. "He knocked her flying. But she was just winded, Washu. Winded and bruised. She was up and about within a few hours...what does that have to do with anything?"

"It was more than simple bruising." Washu shook her head. "Tenchi, Ryoko withdrew to her own quarters and kept people at arm's length. She's a proud woman, and she wouldn't have wanted to ask for help, especially since so much else was at stake at the time. I know she tried to convince you to stay here, and that was because she feared for your safety. She knew what Kagato had done to her, and she didn't want him to do the same thing to you. She was afraid for you - although I doubt she said so in as much detail when she spoke to you."

"She asked me to come away with her. To take a trip." Tenchi remembered. "But you know that I couldn't forsake Ayeka or Grandpa and that I had to do something to help them. I think she understood...she offered to take me and like I said, she did everything she could to help me get there. There's no way she could have been hurt as badly as you're suggesting, Washu. You didn't see her pilot that ship. You didn't see her destroy the Jurai defences or teleport out into deep space to attack them from their core."

"Well, I guess when you love someone, it makes you strong enough to do anything you can for them, even at your own expense." Washu said levelly. "Tenchi, listen to me. Nagi knew it too, and so did Ryoko. Her injury was serious before she even left Yagami. With proper medical care...perhaps it would have been treatable. But although you entrusted Yosho-dono to me, she didn't ask for the same help. I think she believed she could overcome it on her own - and you know, maybe she would have. It's difficult to say. Nagi refused to fight her because she wasn't fit...and told her she was a fool, trying to get to Jurai with an injury that might kill her before she even got there. Ryoko didn't deny it. She knew that taking you to Jurai was little more than suicide."

Colour drained from Tenchi's face and he was in his feet in a moment, grabbing Washu by the arms and staring at her in fear and horror as he absorbed her words.

"What are you saying?" He whispered. "That the reason she didn't come back to Yagami isn't because she's a pirate and didn't want the complication...but because she knew that she was dying, and she didn't want anyone else to know?"

"That's pretty much what I'm saying." Washu nodded her head gravely. "Ryoko left Yagami without ever expecting to return. She gave everything to your trip because it was the last thing she felt she could do for you. You would stay on Jurai with Ayeka - I guess she believed that when you refused to go with her alone, you'd made up your mind to your destiny and she made up her mind to help you reach it before it was too late for her to do anything. Her wound alone might have killed her. I found blood-stained clothes in her room when we reached Jurai, and I'm pretty sure that it wasn't from just a scratch. But what she went through taking you across space would have been the final straw. Even Ryoko's spirit has to have it's limits."

"No..." Tenchi sank back down into Kiyone's chair as a wave of despair flooded through him. He glanced up, meeting Washu's sympathetic gaze with hopeless brown eyes, shaking his head. "No, Washu, it can't be. She can't...she just can't..."

He faltered, then,

"You're saying she killed herself for me, aren't you?" He murmured. "That's what it amounts to. That even though I turned her down, she still..."

He trailed off, unable to finish his sentence, and Washu placed a hand on his arm.

"She was very brave. She did what had to be done and for that reason you were able to set Jurai free from Kagato's oppression." She said quietly. "Heroes appear in the strangest of places, Tenchi. You, in your shrine on planet Earth. And Ryoko, the infamous space pirate. She'll be remembered as a vicious criminal who the police never quite caught up with. But you and I, and Kiyone and everyone else, we'll know the truth. That she sacrificed her existance to save a whole world."

"That doesn't make it any easier to take." Tenchi swallowed hard, as suddenly his whole mouth seemed to be full of cotton wool. "Washu, I never asked her to throw her life away on my account! She should have told me...told someone! Spoken to you - asked for help. I could have found another way to get to Jurai. Somehow...I would have got here. Fought Kagato. Without this. She didn't need to do this!"

"But she wanted to be with you, even if it cost her her life." Washu said matter-of-factly. "She made the choice, Tenchi. Not you. You shouldn't feel to blame for it...it was Ryoko's decision to make."

Tenchi did not reply at first, not wholly trusting himself to speak as his emotions welled up inside of him, running riot around his head as he mentally replayed the video message piece by piece. Her unfamiliar expression, her muted tone and the guarded look in her eyes. Was that why she had been so strange in her manner? Was it the reason she had sent a recorded transmission and not a live feed? He shook his head as if to clear it, biting his lip.

"I won't believe it." He muttered. "She's not dead, Washu. She can't be. When we said goodbye, she was on her feet...she'd landed Ryo Ohki and she was all right. She was..."

He faltered.

"Pretending?" He asked hesitantly. Washu shrugged her shoulders.

"I don't know." She said plainly. "And I can only tell you what I believe. Ryoko's injury was serious before she left here and your trip would have made it worse. If she survived it, then it would be a miracle indeed. But where can a space pirate on the run go to get medical help in this universe? Ryoko would rather die than go to prison. Perhaps that's what she decided to do, in the end."

She spread her hands.

"Besides, she was right about something." She added. "You do have a future here on Jurai, and a destiny here if you choose to take it. Things change and adventures end. People move on and seperate...sometimes forever. It's how life works. If you're going to take the weight of this planet on your shoulders, you're going to have to learn that sometime. You're not a boy any more, Tenchi. You're a man, and this adventure has just proved it. Jurai needs a strong emperor - someone who doesn't buckle under pressure, emotional or physical. You've proven yourself on the latter account...can you master the former?"

"I don't know." Tenchi admitted. "I guess...I guess I need some time."

He reached across Yagami's dashboard, absently keying in the combination to replay the message. Ryoko's face flashed up on the screen once more, and he hit the pause, staring up at her familiar golden eyes as he did so. He sighed.

"I didn't ask you to die for me." He murmured. "All those words...all those arguments we had...all the times I thought you were selfish or pushy or just playing games. But now...now I just don't know. Did you really love me that much, that your own life was less important to you in the end than what I wanted to do? And how can I stay here, knowing that coming to Jurai is the reason you're not with us all right now?"

"I can see you need some time alone." Washu got to her feet, pausing for a second to put her hand on his shoulder. "Tenchi, I'm sorry to have brought this to you. But you said you wanted the truth, and I don't believe in giving people false hope when the odds are not so high. It's not absolutely for sure that Ryoko is dead. But the odds that she isn't are very low indeed. Considering all the data...I think you should find a way to say goodbye to her. She wanted this future for you, after all. Died for it, most probably. The least you can do is find out your place in it, before you make any long term decisions."

Tenchi did not reply, only barely aware of the scientist's footsteps as she left the drive room, door sliding shut behind her. For a long time he gazed up at Ryoko's face, lost in thought. Then, with a heavy heart, he began to replay the message, noting for the first time things he hadn't seen before. Were those faint lines of pain drawn across her brow? Was she paler than usual - her fair skin almost ghostly in contrast to the darkness of Ryo Ohki's drive room? Could Washu be right?

"Are you really lost, Ryoko?" He whispered. "Am I really never going to see you again?"

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

They were running out of places to look.

Nagi glanced down at Ken Ohki's digital space map, her brow furrowed in concentration as she carefully plotted their route across space so far. Many sectors had already been blacked out as unsuccessful, and as she stared at the remainder, she felt frustration well up inside of her. With a curse, she banged her hand down on Ken Ohki's control panel, causing the ship to let out a yowl of protest.

"I'm fed up with this." Nagi folded her arms across her chest, her eyes narrowing as she considered the remaining sectors. "I don't understand it, Ken Ohki. We've been to every single one of Ryoko's usual haunts. We've circled the Earth and back again - we've even ventured down there but the whole place is deserted and there's no sign of her having returned there to hide out. We've scouted the outer reaches of Jurai space and we've been to every single space station in the cosmos. Where else is there to hide?"

Ken Ohki mewed contemplatively, a flicker of light crossing his amber crystals as he considered his mistress's words. Nagi sighed.

"It's just driving me crazy." She said softly. "Yet again she's skipped out on her obligation. I didn't think that Ryoko was a coward - she never backed down from a fight before she fell on the Earth and let that man Tenchi turn her head. She was soft the last time we fought and I almost had her - the entire combat was almost disappointing, even though in the end she rallied herself enough to triumph. And now..."

She paused, glancing up at the monitors that flashed over her head. "Now we're hunting her down again without any guarantee that we're even going to find her. How many places are there that someone like Ryoko can go undetected? I know every lowlife hangout and every underworld bar in this universe. I've a better sweep of criminal activity than the Galaxy Police - that's why they've left us unchallenged as long as they have. I get the job done. But Ryoko? Damn her. How does she manage to elude me so easily!"

Ken Ohki's crystals hovered and danced around the controls, and Nagi's expression darkened. She shook her head.

"No, Ken Ohki. Don't be so silly." She said impatiently. "If someone had got to her before we did, then we'd have heard. Nobody would keep the arrest of someone as high profile as Ryoko a secret. No, she's out there somewhere. But where? That's the question!"

She leant back over the space map, tracing their route so far with a frown.

"Well, I guess we've no option but to head back towards space zone 534 and head on from there, out towards the edges of chartered space and into black hole country." She said at length. "Not that I think even Ryoko is stupid enough to obliterate herself in the death throes of a supernova. But she might think she can fight the gravity and escape somehow to a place we haven't been to yet. It's worth a shot, at the very least."

Ken Ohki did not respond, and Nagi pursed her lips.

"Are you afraid?" She asked softly.

The ship let up another yowl of protest, firing up his engines and obediently setting his course for the space zone Nagi had mentioned. The bounty hunter smiled.

"Good. That's what I thought." She said approvingly. "Full speed ahead, Ken Ohki and...what are you doing?" As the ship suddenly veered around in a circle, heading back at speed in the direction from which they had just come. "Ken Ohki! Stop it! Listen to me! Ken Ohki, where are you going?"

Ken Ohki let up a cry of triumph, increasing his speed as his crystals glowed with new energy. An image flashed up on his monitor and Nagi's brows knitted together, disbelief flickering in her blood-red eyes.

"Ryo Ohki?" She whispered, putting a finger to the screen in bewilderment. "But...Ken Ohki, how...?"

Ken Ohki set up another shriek, and this time there was an answering howl from the pirate ship. And yet, although they were drawing closer with every second, Nagi was conscious that Ryo Ohki was making no attempt to evade their approach. She looked thoughtful.

"Well, maybe I misjudged her." She mused. "Maybe she has come ready to fight, after all. It's almost as if she's been on our tail, Ken Ohki - no wonder we haven't found her if she's been following us across space. Establish comm links with Ryo Ohki immediately! I want to speak to her captain, face to face!"

Ken Ohki yowled his agreement, flickering up his communication screen as he attempted to make direct contact with the other ship. There was a mournful yowl from Ryo Ohki at his attempt, and Nagi frowned as the entire monitor was filled with interference, a dizzy snowstorm that danced across the screen in separate blips of light.

"Enough of this!" She exclaimed. "She's scrambled her comm channels, that's all! Ken Ohki, break through her block! We're not playing pirate games with her now!"

Ken Ohki mewed, his crystals hovering closer together as he increased his attempt to make communication. He sent up a bevy of calls to the other ship, who responded with one melancholy miaow in return. Then, as if someone had flicked a switch, the snowstorm cleared and Nagi saw for the first time the inside of the pirate ship.

It was empty.

Nagi frowned.

"Ryoko?" She murmured. "What kind of mischief is this! Ken Ohki, take us closer - but have your lasers armed, just in case it's a trap!"

Ken Ohki protested at this, and Nagi frowned.

"I don't have time for your lovesick nonsense right now, Ken Ohki." She said warningly. "Do as I tell you. We'll only fire at her if she fires at us, so be ready. All right?"

Ken Ohki mewed softly, flickering his lasers into life but holding their beam as they pulled alongside the other craft.

"Ryoko, answer me." Nagi stared up at the blank screen. "Where are you? Ryoko!"

At this, Ryo Ohki jerked herself forward, bringing her jagged frame almost close enough for boarding. Nagi frowned.

"Ryo Ohki? What's going on? Ryoko, what are you doing?"

Ken Ohki emitted a mournful whimper, and Nagi stared up at his golden dome, confusion in her gaze.

"What are you saying?" She whispered. "Ryo Ohki said what? She asked you...what?"

Ken Ohki sent another psychic impulse across their telepathic bond and Nagi's eyes darkened.

"I see." She said softly. "So Ryo Ohki wants us to board her, does she? Why would she want us to do that? And where is Ryoko? Is this some kind of a trap? Ken Ohki, what else has she told you?"

Ken Ohki did not respond, and Nagi bit her lip.

"Very well." She said at length, her grip tightening on the whip that hung at her belt. "But I'm warning you, Ryoko - if this is one of your pirate tricks, well, you'll be sure to pay for it!"