Chapter 9

Now what had she got herself into?

Kiyone ran helter-skelter through the corridors of the Galaxy Police Headquarters, pausing briefly to catch her breath as she reached a crossroads in the tunnelway, and then haring off once more towards the general docking bay, Yagami and safety. Snippets of the conversation she had overheard echoed through her mind, tormenting and teasing at her as she ran.

"God only knows what I'm going to tell Washu." She gasped, her heart pounding fit to burst in her chest as she stumbled, almost falling headlong into the central control room of the regular division. Her tempo broken, she found she could not go any further, and she dropped down into a vacant seat, exhausted and frightened as she struggled to get her breath.

"I wish I'd been able to hear everything, although what I heard is incriminating enough." She muttered, fighting to bring her panicked heart-rate under control. "Seiryo Tennan is involved in something. His father's death, it sounded like...I'm not sure. It...it wasn't clear. And the other thing...witchcraft. What did Lady Suki mean when she said that? I wish they hadn't spoken so quietly. So many gaps and yet none of it bodes well. I have to get back to Yagami. Whatever is going on here, it needs to be stopped."

She drew another ragged breath into her lungs, pulling herself to her feet.

"I can't stay here. Someone might see me and know something's up." She realised. "So much for having the potential for the elite division, Kiyone! You'll give yourself away in a heartbeat if you carry on like this. Get a grip on yourself or it won't just be Mihoshi you freak out this time. Calm down. Rationalise. It's not far to the docking bay...you can make it there, can't you?"

This thought gave her her second wind and, as she thought she heard footsteps along a distant hallway, she threw caution to the wind, fleeing for the safety of her spacecraft with every last ounce of her energy. At length she sank down into the drive room seat of the bulky red police craft, uttering a tired sigh of relief as she realised she had made it to her destination unobserved.

"But I'm not going back and doing it again." She decided. "It was a big enough risk sneaking off ship tonight while Mihoshi was still in the mess hall. Still, at least she's not back yet. That's one thing. What she doesn't know won't hurt her and it's probably better she doesn't know anything about Washu's request. Discretion never has been her strongest suit and besides, after tonight, whatever it is that's going on is obviously bigger than I thought it was. I don't want to put her in danger. She's a lot more prone to getting hurt than I am, thanks to her big mouth."

She sighed, leaning across the dashboard and flicking open the communications channel, waiting impatiently for the connection to Washu's laboratory on the Earth to be confirmed. At last the light flickered from red to green, and she bit her lip, gathering her composure.

"Washu? Are you there?" She murmured.

"Kiyone?" The scientist's voice was faint and crackly, but Kiyone could just about make out her words and relief flooded through her.

"Good. The line isn't great, but it will have to do." She said frankly. "Where are you talking from, anyway? Sounds like you're in the shower."

"Close. I was fixing a dimensional anomaly in the bathroom when I got your signal. I've re-routed it so that I can take it while I'm working." Washu replied. "Why? Kiyone, you sound agitated. Something going on that I should know about?"

"Lots of things, I think." Kiyone groaned, running her fingers through her thick dark hair. "Washu-chan, I think I was wrong about Seiryo Tennan. At least, I'm pretty sure that he's involved in something now...after tonight."

"The real Seiryo? Not a shape-shifter?"

"I'm pretty sure he's really who he says he is, Washu-san, but I guess I can't know for certain." Kiyone admitted. "He had a visit from his sister earlier on. I snuck down to the annexe to see if I could find something out and saw her being ushered into his quarters. It's not common for Juraian nobility to pay social calls on siblings in the force, and she looked really upset and troubled...so I stuck around and eavesdropped on as much of their conversation as I could. The doors are thick, unfortunately, and I didn't hear everything that they said. But it was pretty clear from what I did hear that there's something going on. I think it has something to do with the death of the other guy - their father."

"Interesting." Washu sounded thoughtful. "Are you suggesting that maybe Seiji Tennan wasn't murdered by bandits after all?"

"I don't know." Kiyone confessed. "But it sounded to me like Seiryo - or maybe both of them - knew a lot more about it than they've told people. And there was one other thing, as well."

"Go on...although what you've already given me is a lot to be thinking on." Washu responded. "What other thing?"

"Suki Tennan mentioned witchcraft." Kiyone's brow furrowed as she struggled to remember the young girl's phrasing. "I'm not sure exactly what she meant, but she said something like "did you have to trust in witchcraft?' and accused him of dabbling in dark magic."

"Dark magic, huh? The plot thickens." An intrigued note entered Washu's tone. "I don't suppose either of them elaborated?"

"Not that I heard, but like I said, it was difficult to make out everything." Kiyone replied. "And Seiryo-san is a highly trained agent. He'd be very wary of giving away too much about anything even in the privacy of his own quarters and when talking to his own sister. You never know when the walls might have ears."

"Well, tonight they had ears enough, so it seems." Washu laughed. "You're a star, Kiyone. Do you think that, if you poked around a little more, you could dig up any more connections? Anything that might explain exactly what kind of magic Suki Tennan was talking about?"

"I'd rather not, Washu." Kiyone sighed. "Honestly? Tonight scared me. I met him face to face earlier on and well, he's the kind of man you wouldn't want to be caught crossing...if you catch my drift. He could make a lot of trouble for Mihoshi and I if he had any idea that I'd been eavesdropping and I don't want to lose my job."

"I suppose that's fair." Washu agreed, but she sounded disappointed. "Well, if you do happen to hear anything else, Kiyone, get in touch. You know where to find me and I trust your judgement when it comes to finding information."

"If it comes." Kiyone agreed awkwardly. "Goodnight, Washu. Hopefully some of that will make better sense to you than it does to me."

She paused, then flipped the communicator off, leaning back in her seat and closing her eyes.

"Well, my job is done." She murmured. "Thank goodness I don't have to take a risk like that again. I guess I'm not cut out for this elite spying thing after all. It's creepy."

The sound of a bay door made her start, sitting upright in her chair as she registered the fact she had company.

"Mihoshi?" She got to her feet, smoothing down her uniform as she called out her colleague's name, expecting to see the blond haired officer enter the drive room at any moment. "Mihoshi, what time do you call this? I thought you just went down to the mess hall for a snack - you know we are meant to be on night patrol this evening!"

There was no response, and Kiyone frowned, making her way carefully across the drive room to the sliding door and pressing the button to open it. It hissed open and she stepped outside, casting a glance around her for her missing friend.

"Mihoshi?"

Again, there was no reply, and Kiyone bit her lip.

"Mihoshi, this isn't funny." She warned. "I don't want to play hide and seek tonight, all right? You've been long enough and I don't want another tardy on our record because you decided to spend a while too long at the noodle bar!"

Her words echoed around the empty ship, reverberating off the steel walls as they did so, and involuntarily she shivered, suddenly feeling cold. Slowly she turned on her heel, making her way back into the drive room and shutting the door behind her.

"I wish she wouldn't do this." She muttered. "We're already going to be late at this rate."

"Clumsy and late. The regular division really are going to pot these days, aren't they?"

A smooth voice startled her and she let out a gasp, heart in her throat as she raised her eyes to Seiryo Tennan's cool teal ones. At her expression, he offered her a slight smile.

"Kiyone Makibi, isn't that right?" He added. Mutely Kiyone nodded, inwardly wondering if her cheeks were blazing as red as she thought they were, and whether he was able to read her guilt just by looking at her face.

"How did you get in here?" She blurted out at length, and Seiryo laughed, a cold, chilling laugh as he folded his arms across his chest.

"I have ways." He said quietly. "Elite officers are trained to enter and leave premises without being observed. Something which you might have done well to learn, Kiyone Makibi...it's never wise to leave a trace of yourself behind when you go trespassing into other people's quarters."

"I didn't!" Kiyone's eyes widened with a mixture of surprise and horror and she took a step backwards, feeling the coldness of the door as she fumbled for the button to open it. "Agent Tennan, sir, I don't know why you're here but..."

"No, we both know why I'm here." Seiryo's eyes seemed to flicker with a strange, unearthly light, and he took a step towards her, reaching out a hand and placing it firmly on her shoulder. Instinctively she cringed away from his touch, and his smile froze on his lips.

"We both know that I was visited by my sister this evening." He continued. "Only you weren't invited to the discussion, Detective Makibi. Do you know what the penalties are for spying on the private affairs of a superior officer? Heavy, I'd wager...especially for one with your rather unconventional, chequered history. Wouldn't you agree?"

"I don't know what you mean." Kiyone dropped her gaze, but Seiryo touched his fingers to her chin, gently raising her face to his once more. At his touch, Kiyone felt a slight flicker of energy pass between them and she stared at him in surprise. "Agent Tennan, what are you doing?"

"I'm finding out precisely why you felt it necessary to visit the annexe this evening." Seiryo spoke quietly. "And I want the truth from you, if you please. I'm not a patient man and I don't have time for liars. You'll either tell me of your own free will, or I'll find another way to get it out of you."

He paused, eying her carefully, then,

"Believe me, the first method is a lot less painful than the second." He added. "That's a whole area of Elite training you probably don't want to experience."

Kiyone gathered her wits, searching her brain for a plausible explanation.

"I...I guess I wanted to see you again." She blurted out, saying the first thing that came into her head and inwardly berating herself for it the moment the words had left her lips. "I mean...well..."

She faltered, and Seiryo seemed to hesitate, withdrawing his hand from her shoulder as he regarded her with some surprise.

"You wanted to see me again?" He repeated, a mixture of confusion and scepticism in his tone. "In what sense, see me again?"

Kiyone knew that she could not go any redder, but she swallowed her misgivings, raising her gaze bravely to his.

"Is it so strange to admire an agent who has had as much success as you have?" She asked earnestly, trying her best to make herself look fey and lovesick as she did so. "I've heard so much about you, Agent Tennan, and all of it has been good. When I met you this afternoon, I...I was hoping to see you. Hanging around so that I could...and then you spoke to me and I suppose that..."

She trailed off again, and Seiryo sent her an incredulous look. Then he let out a peal of derisive laughter.

"I see." He said, amused. "You have high aspirations for one with so little training and breeding, Kiyone Makibi. But you have guts, I'll give you that."

He paused, eying her for a moment, then,

"Unfortunately, you're also a very poor liar, and I am a very good agent." He added, the humour dying from his face in an instant. "You weren't there to play the groupie any more than my sister was there to talk about the weather. Enough toying with me, Detective Makibi. Tell me why you came to my quarters tonight, and more, what you overheard between sister and brother."

Kiyone faced him stonily, and anger flickered in Seiryo's expression. He raised his hand, bringing it hard across her cheek and, stunned for a moment by the unexpected shock of pain, Kiyone stumbled back against the wall, staring at him in horror and disbelief.

"Now, if you please, the truth." Seiryo's tones had become dangerously low, and the sinister flare was back in his teal eyes. Suki's words about dark magic flitted through Kiyone's head and she swallowed hard, shaking her head.

"I told you the truth." She whispered.

"I see." Seiryo's eyes narrowed, his hand moving to his belt where his sword was sheathed. "And would you swear on your life that that was the case?"

"I...I..."

"Well? Would you or wouldn't you, Detective?" Seiryo raised an eyebrow, pulling his sword from it's scabbard and holding it aloft as it flickered and flared into a white hot blade. "It's not a hard question."

"What are you going to do with that?" Kiyone eyed the blade fearfully. "Agent Tennan, I don't understand. Really! I did see Suki-kyou coming to visit you, and I was in the annexe when I shouldn't have been. But I didn't go there for any reason other than curiosity. I've heard so much about the Elite division but I've never been into an Agent's quarters before and I suppose...I suppose I remembered what you said about becoming an Elite myself. I wanted to see...I didn't mean to encroach...or overhear."

Seiryo pursed his lips.

"And what, exactly, did you overhear?" He asked, an unpleasant tone in his voice. Kiyone scolded herself once more for her careless choice of words, but she shook her head.

"Nothing. Nothing at all, really." She said hastily. "Just that Lady Suki was missing you and that she wanted to go home. That her father's death was troubling her. That's all. Really. I...I swear."

"Do you now?" Seiryo pondered on this for a moment. Then his blade flickered out, and he returned it to his sheath. Kiyone let out a sigh of relief.

"I'm sorry." She added. "I know that you must be upset about your father's death. I mean, it was sudden and...and I didn't mean to intrude."

"Yes, it was sudden." Seiryo agreed absently. "But you're wrong if you think I'm upset about it. The old man and I didn't get along too well, if you want the truth. Having him out of the way would have been wonderful, if it had come about when I wasn't still in office here."

Kiyone stared at him, her eyes becoming big as she digested this.

"But then you don't need me to tell you that." Seiryo shrugged. "You already know that I hated my father and that I'm not here in an attempt to avenge his death. Don't you?"

Kiyone did not respond, and Seiryo smiled.

"Yes, I'm not a fool." He agreed. "And nor are you, Detective Makibi. You know, I've heard such great things about you. Yes, your methods have often been headstrong and unconventional, but I respect that. Rules are only there to restrain the ones who don't have innovation on their side. You've had many successes and I know you're very well thought of among the regular division. See, I do my homework on people when I meet them - and every time I hear your name mentioned, I hear a wealth of positive information. Isn't that nice to know? That you're so well thought of among your colleagues here at the Galaxy Police?"

"Yes, sir." Kiyone eyed her companion warily. "Although I don't know why you're telling me this."

"Well, you see, I know that I'm not dealing with a simple regular police officer when I talk to you." Seiryo shrugged his shoulders. "I'm dealing with someone who's shrewd and calculating - perhaps not as much so as I am, but shrewd enough to conceal their true motives behind lies and quick thinking. I respect that, you know. It shows initiative...something the Galaxy Police are sadly lacking these days."

Kiyone bit her lip, a cold chill touching her heart.

"You're going to kill me, aren't you?" She whispered. Seiryo started, then he laughed, nodding his head.

"See, I knew you were smart." He agreed. "It's not personal, but I'm afraid I have no choice. You see, whether you meant to be there or not, you overheard far more of that conversation than you should have. And you're now a liability. Even if you swear blind to me that you won't share your information with anyone else, I can't take the chance that you're lying or that some fool somewhere might believe you and raise the alarm. You really shouldn't have come to the annexe tonight, Detective Makibi. It's not a place for regular officers after hours."

Kiyone fumbled at her belt for her blaster, raising it and pointing it at her companion.

"I can fight too, you know." She objected. "And do you want to know what I really heard, Agent Tennan? I heard enough to implicate you in the death of your father Seiji, that's what."

"Yes, I thought you might have done." Seiryo's eyes became flinty as he considered. "I didn't kill my father, Kiyone-san...but I probably should have, when I had the chance. As it is..."

"As it is, what?" Kiyone demanded. Seiryo shook his head.

"Details don't matter to dead detectives." He said frankly. He raised his arm, and the police blaster flew from Kiyone's grip into his waiting one. "You shouldn't wave this around. It's dangerous. You might get hurt."

"But..." Kiyone's eyes almost popped out of her head as he tossed the gun aside, advancing on her. As his hands made contact with her arms, she was aware of that faint pulse of energy once more and she struggled against his grip, but he was stronger than her and he had her held fast.

"It's a shame that you won't get to fulfil all that potential your commander believes you have." Seiryo spoke in soft, regretful tones. "But you have to understand that the Tennan family is more important than one curious detective's life when it comes to the big scheme of things. And I must do what I have to do. Good night, Detective Makibi. It was nice to have met you."

With that he pushed his hand to her body, and Kiyone felt a surge of hot, pulsing energy rip through her, stealing up through her rib cage and encircling her heart, squeezing it so tightly she felt sure it was going to burst. She struggled to draw air into her lungs, but the whole of her body felt like it was on fire, and the world became a dizzy, spinning place as the tendrils of energy reached out across more and more of her captive form.

"Kiyone?"

As Kiyone felt her grip on consciousness and life fading away from her, she was sure that she heard someone calling her name somewhere in the distance and she struggled to focus on it as she felt herself falling to the floor. She hit the ground with a hard thump, pain still ricocheting through her as she struggled to remember how to breathe and what exactly her body was supposed to do in order to keep alive. Her lungs seemed clogged and heavy, and try as she may she could not force air into them as she felt her whole body beginning to go limp. Somewhere in the swirling mists that made up her glazing vision, she was aware of Seiryo standing over her, an unreadable expression on his face.

"It's done, Tokimi." He said quietly. "And someone comes...I can't be seen here or all your plans will be for nothing."

Kiyone fought hard against the onset of darkness, struggling to comprehend what was happening. As she did so, Seiryo's form seemed to glimmer and then fade completely, until he was no longer in her line of sight.

"Kiyone? Geez, Kiyone, where are you?"

There was that voice again, and Kiyone forced herself to stay conscious. The sound of company lit a tiny spark of hope within her and with an almost superhuman effort she managed at last to gasp in air, fighting for every breath that she dragged into her scorched lungs. Somehow she knew it meant help, although her scrambled thoughts would not allow her to put voice to face and identify her unsuspecting saviour. A few more seconds of Seiryo's touch and she knew she would have been done for. As it was, she hovered between consciousness and death, determined not to let go so easily.

"Kiyone?"

Now the voice was closer, and Kiyone could hear horror in its tones as they entered the drive room. There was the sound of frantic footsteps, then someone was bending over her and she was aware of something gripping her hand.

"Kiyone, what happened to you?" The woman's eyes were big with alarm and somewhere deep in her brain, Kiyone registered who the speaker was.

"Mi...ho...shi?" She gasped.

"Of course. Who else would be here at this time of night?" Mihoshi looked confused. "Did you pass out or fall over or something, Kiyone? You're on the floor - what happened?"

Kiyone closed her eyes, knowing that she was fighting a losing battle against the waves of unconsciousness and when she did not reply, her companion seemed to realise that her situation was more serious than a simple fall.

"Something bad happened, didn't it?" She asked anxiously, and Kiyone felt her friend squeeze her hand. "Oh, Kiyone, did someone come here? Did they attack you? Are you badly hurt?"

"Attacked...by..." Kiyone faltered, and Mihoshi's expression became alarmed.

"Oh no! Kiyone, hang on! Don't go to sleep! I'll help you...somehow! Don't worry! I will...just let me think for a minute. I'm sure I can think of something and you'll be just fine! I promise!"

Kiyone summoned all of her remaining energy, forcing her thoughts into a coherent order as she did so. She drew another ragged gasp into her protesting lungs.

"To Washu." She managed faintly, and then, as a fleeting memory of Seiryo's last words entered her mind, "To...ki...mi."

--------

So Tenchi had left Osaka.

Zero stepped off the busy train at Kurashiki, glancing around the bustling station for any kind of landmark.

"You must not lose track of him, Zero." Clay's words echoed in her head, reminding her all too well of her mission on the Earth. "Or you and I will both answer to Tokimi-sama for your failure. Do not let me down, my creation. Find Tenchi Masaki and obtain the samples which I need. Time grows short. Tokimi-sama loses patience with us both."

She sighed, glancing down at her human hands and for an instant, she hated their illusory nature.

"I'm just another girl, travelling into the mountains." She said softly. "But if only they knew. And if only the Doctor would listen to me. I know there's something badly wrong with my programming and I know that Tokimi did something to me when she got so angry and blasted my circuits. Nothing has been the same since then. I never hesitated in the past. Why am I hesitating now? What is the significance of Tenchi Masaki that I no longer wish to obey my orders?"

Finding no answer immediately forthcoming, she made her way slowly out of the crowded station complex, aware from the snippets of conversation around her that she wasn't the only traveller from Osaka fleeing to the safety of the mountains. Earthlings were prone to panic, she mused absently, glancing at them in contempt. No wonder this world was such a backward, hopeless place.

"But then, this world has Tenchi." She admitted to herself, stepping outside into the bright sunlight. "And therefore I don't want to leave it - not yet. Space is cold. At least here there are colours and...and sunlight and other things. I never stopped to look at the scenery before. Whatever Tokimi did to me, it opened my eyes in more ways than one. I just wish I could get a grip on it. I'm becoming inefficient and I don't like it."

She paused, leaning up against the wall of the station as she closed her eyes, processing the coordinates that Dr Clay had sent along with his final instruction.

"Be on your guard, Zero." He had warned her. "You must infiltrate his very family in order to complete this mission, and for that you must have no mistakes in your backstory nor your facade. Dangerous people surround Tenchi Masaki, and you would do well to beware of them."

"Washu." Zero frowned, as the file flitted unbidden across her sensors. "I don't understand why Dr Clay and Tokimi-sama fear her, but I know that they do."

Checking to make sure she was unobserved, she blurred her form into nothing, re-materialising at the edge of a peaceful, beautiful mountain valley and for a moment she just stood there, absorbing the landscape around her. Then she got a grip on herself, glancing down instead to the house where she knew her target resided.

"No doubt his pirate will be there too." She muttered, dislike in her tone as she remembered Ryoko. "I thought for sure that by infiltrating Earth's military investigation team I would have taken care of her already, but Dr Clay told me they fled Osaka together, so she is probably with him. Well, she will have to hope that she doesn't get in my way. I am programmed to kill anyone who does, after all - and I would take great pleasure in destroying that one. She is too close to Tenchi. I don't like it - she's more of a risk than this Washu woman Dr Clay warned me about."

She pursed her lips, gazing down at her arms and legs as she carefully considered her best mode of attack.

"Tenchi is gentle, and compassionate." She reasoned thoughtfully, as the edges of her clothing began to shimmer, becoming ragged and torn as she changed her appearance. "If he considers that I've been attacked, he'll be bound to show me sympathy. And he won't turn me away. He did come to save my life once, after all. I don't see why he wouldn't help me again."

She glanced at her arms, watching as the smooth pale skin she had chosen for her Yume disguise became mottled with bruises and she raised a finger to her cheek, tracing an imaginary line from her eye to her jaw as an ugly red scrape began to materialise through her flawless complexion. A slight smile touched her lips as the marks of battle became stronger all across her body, thick red stains patching her clothing. Finally, she pulled the neat band from her hair, observing its disappearance with some amusement as the thick dark waves fell loose and messy around her shoulders.

"A damsel in distress." She murmured, mustering tears in her opaque lilac eyes. "Perfect."

She made her way carefully down the steep mountain path, approaching the house slowly and cautiously as she heard the sound of voices from within. An elder gentleman stood not far from the door, a broom in his hand, but there was little evidence of him doing any actual sweeping, and he cast her a smile as she approached, concern and curiosity flickering in his dark reddish eyes as he surveyed her condition.

"Well, who might you be?" He asked gently, dumping the broom against the wall as he did so. "You look hurt...has something happened to you, my child?"

Zero swallowed hard, pretending to stumble, but the old man was there, grasping her hands in his and pulling her to her feet as he eyed her gently.

"You've come a long way?" He asked. "Tell me what's the matter...do you seek the shrine priest? Or something else?"

"I...I'm a friend of Tenchi's. From Osaka." Zero's voice trembled. "Please...is he here? I...I came to...to see him."

"Tenchi? Yes." The old man looked thoughtful, then nodded his head. "But you're in no state to be running around the mountain. Please, come sit down. I will fetch Tenchi to you - you clearly need to rest. Perhaps some hot tea would help?"

"No...thank you sir, I couldn't drink anything." Zero shook her head, offering him a faint smile. "Thank you. You must be Tenchi's grandfather, am I right?"

"You're a perceptive girl." The old man smiled, gently escorting her to the wooden summer seats and bowing his head to her mock-formally. "My name is Katsuhito Masaki, and I am the priest of the Masaki shrine. What might your name be?"

"Yume." For a moment Zero faltered, then re-gathered her composure, commanding the tears she had so carefully prepared to spill carelessly down her cheeks. "Oh, thank you for being so kind. I didn't know where else to go! There was trouble in Osaka, like you said, and my father...my father..."

She faltered, lowering her lashes.

"I didn't know who else to go to." She whispered. "Please, I must speak to Tenchi."

"Yume?" At that moment Tenchi's own voice interrupted the conversation and she raised her head, something jolting through her circuits as she took in the alarm and consternation that crossed his face. He hurried to her side, grabbing her by the hand and glancing up at his grandfather. "What in hell happened? Why are you here? What's going on?"

"Your young friend here has been through a very nasty time, so it seems." Katsuhito said quietly. "She has come a long way, Tenchi, so let her rest. There is plenty of time for her to tell her story."

"Tenchi, I'm sorry." Zero eyed him earnestly. "But I didn't know who else I could trust."

"Something happened in Osaka, didn't it?" Tenchi bit his lip, and Zero nodded.

"There was a riot. People have gone crazy." She whispered. "My father...Tenchi...he...they didn't...he's gone."

Fresh tears glittered across her lashes, and Tenchi's grip on her hand tightened.

"Oh Yume, I'm sorry." He murmured. "You must have been so frightened."

"I had to get away from that place. They thought they'd killed me too, but...but they didn't. They just...just knocked me out for a while." Zero warmed to her story, forcing herself to stay focused on the matter in hand. "I'm so tired, Tenchi...I've come such a long way. And I know we barely know one another, but I don't have any other family and I don't want to be in Osaka. Lots of people were coming to the mountains in search of safety and I...I decided to do the same. When I heard that the shrine here was the Masaki shrine, I knew it had to be your family. Or I hoped...I hoped I was right."

"Well, you were." Tenchi told her gently. "Listen, Grandfather is right. You've been through a terrible ordeal and you need to rest. You can stay here as long as you need...can't she, Grandpa?"

This last to Katsuhito, who eyed Zero for a moment, then nodded gravely.

"Perhaps Washu-san would take a look at her injuries." He suggested, and alarm flooded through the droid at this suggestion. She shook her head.

"Really, I'm not badly hurt. Just bruised." She said quickly. "And...and tired. Rest sounds...a good idea. But I don't want to impose. I know you...have your own...own problems at the moment."

She hesitated, then, "Is Ryoko here too?"

"Of course." Tenchi agreed. "Why? Are they still looking for her in Osaka?"

"Yes." Zero nodded her head. "But if she's here, that means she's safe and they won't find her. I'm glad. After all, it wasn't aliens who killed my...my father. It was...other people. Gone mad, all of them."

She bit her lip, eying him from beneath lowered lashes and was gratified to see the genuine compassion in her companion's dark eyes. "You're so kind, Tenchi."

"Well, in a sense I feel like all of this has been my fault." Tenchi admitted. "That guy, whoever he was, he came looking for me. And even if he made a mistake, well, it all began because he knew my name."

"Maybe he was looking for another Tenchi Masaki." Zero suggested. "There are a lot of Masakis in the Osaka phone directory, you know."

"Really?" Tenchi looked surprised. Zero nodded. She blushed.

"After we met, I looked for your number, but I couldn't find which one you were." She admitted. "I'm sorry."

"Right now you have nothing to be sorry for, and my phone number is the least of your problems." Gently Tenchi hauled her to her feet, leading her into the house proper. "Let's get you inside and cleaned up, all right? Even if you're not badly hurt, getting Washu to look at you isn't a bad idea. She saved Grandfather's life once, you know - her medical knowledge is pretty good, all told. And if you were knocked out, you might have a concussion."

He looked embarrassed.

"Besides, I can't help you to wash." He added. "Our bathroom is a...little bit different from the average bathroom, and I don't think Ryoko would take it very well if I volunteered to come inside with you."

A pang shot through Zero's sensors, and she frowned.

"I see." She murmured. "You really love her, don't you?"

"Yes, I do." Tenchi looked surprised. "Wherever she came from and whatever she can do...we've been through a lot together."

"And this Washu? Who is she?"

"Ryoko's mother." Tenchi smiled. "She's a touch eccentric, but she does know her science. You can trust her to help, Yume. Believe me. She seems sharp on first acquaintance, but she's quite soft deep down."

"I should probably take offence at that."

A fresh voice joined the conversation at that moment, making both Tenchi and his companion jump, and the young Prince of Jurai turned, sheepishness crossing his expression as he surveyed the speaker. Zero frowned, taking in the appearance of the newcomer with a mixture of confusion and dismay.

"Sorry, Washu-chan. I didn't mean you to hear that." Tenchi said ruefully. "But I am glad you're around. Do you have a minute?"

The newcomer turned sharp green eyes on Tenchi's companion, curiosity burning in their depths. She nodded.

"I always have time for you, Tenchi." She agreed amiably. "What's going on? Who's this?"

"You're Ryoko's mother?" Zero demanded, the words out before she could call them back. Washu laughed.

"In a manner of speaking." She agreed. "Why? Don't you think I look old enough to have a grown daughter like Ryoko running around causing mayhem and havoc?"

"You look...like a child." Zero faltered, berating her lack of composure around the diminuitive scientist, who eyed her keenly, nodding her head.

"Yes, but appearances can be deceptive." She said softly. "I didn't catch your name?"

"Washu, this is Yume. She's a friend of mine from Osaka." Tenchi hastened to explain, and Zero struggled to regain her composure. Had Washu been referring to her own appearance? Or to that of the girl who was now invading their home under false pretences? Suddenly she realised that whoever and whatever Washu was, Tokimi and Clay had been right. She was, potentially, a danger...although in what sense she could not yet work out. Something about the woman's presence confused her senses, eluding logical explanation, and she frowned, forcing her concentration back to the matter at hand. Clay had warned her to be careful, after all. She would just have to make sure she did not slip up.

"And that's why she's here." Tenchi concluded. Washu cocked her head on one side, casting Zero a smile.

"I'm sorry about your father." She said quietly. "And I'm not surprised that Tenchi-kun has let you stay here while you work out what you're going to do next. If you come with me, I'll take a look at you and make sure you're not worse hurt than you think you are. I'm sure that there are some of Ayeka's things here from their last visit - we can surely find her something better to wear than those clothes. They're ruined, and I wouldn't wish any of Ryoko's wardrobe on the poor girl."

"Ayeka?" Zero looked startled, then cursed herself inwardly for revealing her surprise. Washu smiled, producing a row of perfect white teeth.

"Tenchi's cousin." She agreed. "Will you come with me, Yume-san? I'm sure you want to wash...and Tenchi has to go explain to the rest of the household why we suddenly have another houseguest."

A meaningful look passed between scientist and student at this point, and Tenchi looked troubled.

"Yes, I guess so." He agreed. "All right, Washu-chan. I'll leave Yume in your capable hands."

He flashed Zero a smile, squeezing her hand reassuringly.

"You're in safe hands now." He assured her. "Trust in Washu. She knows what she's doing and she will help you."

Zero turned her gaze from his to his red-haired companion, and a feeling of trepidation curled up inside of her as the scientist offered her a disarming smile.

"It's nice to know someone has faith in my methods." Washu said lightly. "All right, Yume...this way."