Chapter Two
The Planet Jurai.
Some Years Later
"Planet Jurai is so pretty at this time of the year."
Tenchi Masaki rested his hands on the balcony, gazing out across the landscape at the darkening sky. "No matter how many times I come here, I always see a different side of it. Seasons might be different here from on the Earth, but they're still just as much fun to look at."
He smiled, glancing down to meet the amused crimson eyes of his companion. "You know, Sasami, it's ironic, us being here like this. On the Earth, Seijin No Hi doesn't happen until you're twenty. But here you are...is it really true that, if you wanted to, you could get married now?"
"Yep, although I'm not going to be doing it." Sasami eyed him decidedly, mischief in her expression. "It's been six months since Tsunami took over my body and I know that I'm not ready to be a grown up yet...even if I'm not as scared as I used to be of our connection. I might be thirteen now, Tenchi, but I'm not getting married for at least five years yet. Maybe more. Father's said so - he's made it clear that nobody is allowed to court me until I'm old enough to attend the Holy Council meetings, and that's not for a long time yet. Not until I'm eighteen."
"Your father has a lot of sense." Tenchi said dryly, turning to gaze across the busy, elaborate function room as he did so. "There are probably a lot of ambitious men who'd like to marry Jurai's goddess, you know. And you can't keep that connection a secret forever."
"I know." Sasami looked thoughtful. "But I've promised myself and I've promised Washu that I'm not going to get married unless I'm really in love, Tenchi. I know Ayeka and Takeru got married because Father arranged it, and I know they're friends and really close even despite it...but I want to choose. If I can't choose my destiny, I'm going to at least choose my husband."
"Washu, huh?" Tenchi looked surprised. Sasami nodded.
"She told me she was in love once, but she never got to marry him and he went away. I think he died." She said pensively. "Don't you think it's sad?"
"I didn't know Washu was interested in those things." Tenchi frowned, and Sasami laughed.
"Well, I know a lot of things you don't." She said playfully. "But I think it's meant to be a secret. You won't tell her I told you, will you? Just in case she gets upset."
"I promise." Tenchi nodded. "In truth, I still have difficulty accepting some days that she's a woman instead of a child - I know I should be used to it by now, but it still makes me do a double take, registering the way she looks. I suppose, given that she is an adult woman, it's not totally crazy that she could fall in love. It's just not the kind of thing you associate with Washu, somehow. Weird, huh?"
He eyed her keenly.
"Well, Sasami? Since this is your special festival, you shouldn't be out here hiding from the crowds. Come on, lets go back and mingle. Tomorrow we have to fly home anyway...my college term begins in a short few weeks from now and we can't stay as long as we'd like. Not with all the pressure Earth puts on us these days for this or that or something else."
He held out his hand and daintily the Princess took it, allowing him to lead her back into the centre of the busy ballroom. All around them people in fine robes stood and talked, sipping expensive wines and greeting old acquaintances, and some danced to the austere music being played by a native band in the furthest corner of the hall. It was, he mused, a very grown up kind of party. Sasami seemed to guess his thoughts, because she grinned up at him, squeezing his hand.
"Most of the people here I don't even know." She told him sheepishly. "They're family of Council members or ambassadors or important people who know Uncle and Father and not me at all. But I have to be so polite to them anyway - because I'm a Princess of Jurai, they all think it's important to come to the palace and play a part in this. It's all like a big social game...it's silly, isn't it? Most of them I might never see again, either. But here they are anyhow."
"It is a bit impersonal." Tenchi admitted, leading her across the hall to a seat and sitting down, gesturing for her to join him. "Is that why it was so important for you to have visitors from the Earth as well as ones from Planet Jurai?"
"Well, Uncle will take any opportunity he can get to see you and Lord Yosho." Sasami's eyes twinkled. "And I wanted you and Ryoko and Washu to come, anyway. And of course, you invited your father, too, and here we all are. Although why didn't you bring Yume with you? I thought she was staying with you permanently now."
"She is." Tenchi nodded his head. "But someone needed to stay at home and look after the house - odd things are prone to happening in our part of the mountains, and I don't think you realise how much we've been dragged into things since Earth learnt that it had big and powerful neighbours. If there's noone there, they might panic, even if they have heard you're celebrating Seijin No Hi and have called us away for that purpose. After all, Yume is a shape shifter. If the worst thing comes to the worst, she can improvise."
"I see." Sasami looked amused. "Well, I suppose that makes sense. Earth are making you work hard then, huh?"
"Between college and everything else, it's busy and confusing." Tenchi agreed, scratching his head absently as he considered the question. "Of course, Washu is loving every minute of it. Since she offered her services to the International Space Consortium, she's been pulled into directing a lot of Earth's security measures and they all seem to worship the ground she walks on. That kind of thing appeals to Washu, as I'm sure you can guess - she likes being in control, although I almost hate to think what she's installing into these atmospheric sensors as well as simple ship identity scanners. You know how she can be."
"Yes, but she is smart and she does understand Juraian technology." Sasami said comfortably. "Since Father and Ayeka have sent a lot of componants to the Earth to help out, it's only natural that they want someone who knows what she's doing in charge of it. I don't think Washu is as crazy or as dangerous as you're suggesting, Tenchi. She's a little eccentric, sure, but really she's just lonely and likes people to remember she's there. Plus, I guess it isn't easy if you lose your sister and your planet, have your heart broken, have to give up your daughter and then get shut away in a cave for seven hundred years. I think it's good that she wants to help Earth. She could hate it, considering she was imprisoned there for so long."
"Oh, I trust Washu." Tenchi assured her. "I just hope the Earth know what they've let themselves in for. Still, it is good for her to be using her science for positive means. I think blowing up her planet really affected her, although she never talks about it."
He shrugged.
"Either way, her work is going down well with the people in charge." He added. "And since she lengthened the Earth's time axis, Jurai and Earth now spin on the same timeline. Which means that Jurai's componants can be used to secure the Earth, I think...something like that. They're compatible, anyway...and Washu seems to think the Earth is better for the change, although I haven't noticed even a tiny bit of difference."
Sasami laughed.
"I'm glad that it's not going to be so confusing any more, visiting the Earth." She admitted. "And I am still going to do that, Tenchi. Now I've officially come of age, I'm going to make sure I get to fly Tsunami-fune more when I want to. I like visiting planets and besides, I promised Suki we'd make a trip sometime. She's never been far from Jurai, except that one time she visited Seiryo-san when he was at Headquarters. It'd be fun to go flying with a friend again."
"So the Tennan family live to fight another day at court, do they?" Tenchi raised an eyebrow. Sasami nodded.
"Yes. And I'm glad." She agreed. "Tenchi, it's been six whole months now. And well, you can't stay mad at someone forever. Besides, Seiryo hasn't been well for a lot of the time. He's tried to hide it, but Tokimi's magic really hurt him and Suki has noone else to confide in when she's worried, so she talks to me. It's only really in the last month or so he's been fit enough to return to the Council and take his seat there. People don't forget, of course, but I don't think anyone is still cross with him. He made a mistake, that's all - and he and Suki have taken responsibility for Tokimi, so it's not like they've just done nothing since it happened. Seiryo's a different man, Tenchi. I think this really changed him."
She frowned.
"I don't know if Tokimi will ever wake up." She owned. "I've visited with Suki and she always takes flowers and stops to tell her stories. But there's never any response. It's so sad. I wish I knew how to wake her - without her magic, she's not dangerous any more. But even though we touched minds once when I was Tsunami, I haven't been able to do it again. I'm not even sure if her mind is still there. I wish I could help her, Tenchi."
"You can't always help everyone." Tenchi told her gently. "The fact you do as much as you do and as you already have is enough, Sasami-chan. Believe me, you're already very special. You can't fix every problem there is...you have to realise that."
"I know." Sasami kicked her legs idly against the base of her seat. "But it would be nice. Oh well. Maybe one day it will change. I mean, it took Seiryo-san a long time to get over what happened to him and he was only affected for a short time. Maybe it will take a lot longer for Tokimi to come out of her stupor."
"Probably you're right." Tenchi nodded. "In the meantime, I'm glad everything has settled down peacefully on Jurai."
"Me too." Sasami dimpled. "Hey, Tenchi, where do you suppose Ryoko has got to? She and Ayeka were talking when we left them, but Ayeka's with Takeru over there now and I can't see Ryoko anywhere."
"Judging by the speed with which she was knocking back her drinks, I'm almost afraid to find out." Tenchi rolled her eyes, getting to his feet as he scanned the crowd for his missing belle. "Some things never do change, Sasami - I expect she's had a lot to drink and is curled up somewhere, sleeping it off. Or she's had enough and has decided to call it a night. She never really has been into all this Juraian high society and there are a lot of people here still who don't like her on account of her past and her heritage."
"Only rude and silly people." Sasami shrugged dismissively. "Even Uncle acknowledges that Kagato was his nephew, and noone hates him for it. Ryoko was a pirate a long time ago, but it's all over now. And she can't help who her Dad is. Just like I can't help being a Princess of Jurai. You don't choose how you're born. You're just born it."
She frowned.
"Come to think of it, I can't see Washu here, either." She mused. "Where do you suppose everyone's gone to, Tenchi? I know it's late, but not that late, not yet. Do you think they're all abandoning me?"
"No...of course not." Tenchi squeezed her hand. "I know that Washu has gone to see Tokimi. She said she was going to, before we came down here this evening and got introduced to so many people my head started spinning. She wasn't sure she'd have time tomorrow, before we left, and I think she wanted the chance to see her sister alone, when everyone else was occupied here with your party. I think she thought you'd understand...do you?"
"Oh. Yes, I do." Sasami's expression cleared. "Then that's all right. I did tell Washu that I'd make sure she was looked after and stuff, after all."
"Well, in the absence of anyone else, and since I'm above suspicion in your father's eyes where ambitious noblemen are concerned, we should dance." Tenchi suggested, a slightly sheepish expression entering his brown eyes as he did so. "I have two left feet and could trip for Japan, if you ask Ryoko...but you are the centre of attention today, and even Lord Haru can't complain about you dancing with me. After all, I'm family, and he seems to approve of me...for some reason or another."
"He knows I see you like a brother, Tenchi-oniichan." Sasami grinned, squeezing his hand. "He'd have liked me to have had a brother, so he doesn't mind if I spend time with you. I think maybe he thinks you'll chase all the greedy old men away. It's kind of creepy, you know...that people want to marry me already even though I'm only just thirteen."
She grimaced.
"Being a princess sucks." She added succinctly. Tenchi laughed, pulling her to her feet.
"Well, for tonight, you and I both have to play the role of prince and princess." He said resignedly. "We might as well make it look good...then I'll go see if I can find Ryoko and make sure she hasn't blown anything up or kicked off a fight with any of your palace guard. You never know when she's had too much to drink..and well, much as I'm fond of her, I'd rather prevent a scene if I can. Earth really didn't know what they were doing when they asked her to be a liaison between home and Jurai."
"I think it's a good job for Ryoko. She can use her magic and fly through space and people stop thinking she's a monster, if she's helping." Sasami pointed out. Tenchi nodded.
"Yes, but if she gets herself into a brawl, it won't be pretty for the press back home." He responded. "Remember, there are Earth-born envoys on Jurai now, Sasami. Our planets are linked more and more each day...and I'd rather not risk it."
"Okay." Sasami giggled. "We'll dance and then I'll help you find Ryoko. I'd like to sneak out of this stuffy hall anyway - and people are too busy sucking up to one another to notice if I vanish, even if it is my coming of age. I'd much rather come with you, if you'll let me."
"Sure, why not?" Tenchi looked rueful. "Just don't tell your father it was Ryoko we were seeking - they already have a dubious enough relationship as it is."
"It's a deal." Sasami's crimson eyes sparkled with amusement. "Then come with me, Lord Tenchi! Let's dance!"
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"Well, my sister. Here we are."
Washu settled herself down at the bedside, slipping one hand into the pale, cool one that lay across the covers and squeezing it gently. "It's been too long, I know, but I won't abandon you again. I'm so busy these days that travelling out to Jurai isn't as easy as it might have been, before. But I'm here now, and we have some time."
She pursed her lips, glancing at her sister's white face, long black lashes curled across her cheeks as Tokimi slept on. Her thick brown hair had been braided and pulled back neatly out of her face and Washu could tell it had been styled with gentle, kind hands, someone having taken the time to add a white silk ribbon to hold the wispy ends together. Her brow was clear, the coronet of Kihaku having long since been removed, but the faint reddish marks of it's connection to her still mottled her skin, a reminder of all she had been through. Washu sighed, biting her lip.
"What would Father say, to see the two of us now." She wondered aloud. "You, who couldn't handle his burden, and me, who refused to try. We both failed him, Tokimi."
She held her free hand up in front of her face, eying the faint crackles and sparks of energy that flickered at their tips. For a moment they burned feebly, and then faded, and she sighed heavily, shaking her head as she lowered the hand to her side.
"Kihaku's gone and so is my magic, for the most part." She said slowly. "But sometimes I still think I feel it, deep down inside of me. If that's the case, Tokimi, you must be able to come out of this, surely? Kihaku might have stolen your soul, but if traces of my magic can exist without Kihaku, surely there must be some of you left, to come back to me and remember things the way they once were?"
"That's an unfamiliar sound."
The voice made Washu start and she turned, surprise crossing her face as she recognised her companion. He smiled at her astonishment, offering her a bow of acknowledgement as he came to stand on the other side of the bed.
"I did think that tonight Tokimi would be alone. Perhaps I underestimated the family bonds among the Kii, Lady Washu."
"Lord Tennan." Washu gathered herself, offering him a slight smile. "No, believe me, they've been lax for long enough. But like you, I thought tonight everyone would be busy with Sasami-hime's celebrations. I didn't realise you weren't attending - are you still so out of favour at court?"
"No, but a busy, stuffy hall full of people is the last place I want to be most nights." Seiryo said simply. "Strangely, visiting Tokimi is the most peaceful respite of all. Suki and I come here a lot, you know - although I think Azusa-heika has told you that we've assumed responsibility for her care in a direct sense now. It seemed only proper that we do so, considering everything - so I like to make sure our instructions are being adhered to properly."
Washu pursed her lips, eying him carefully as she gestured for him to sit down. He did so, meeting her scrutinous gaze with a quizzical one of his own.
"Well, what do you see, Washu-san?" He asked lightly. "I know what you're looking for, because I know what power Tokimi had. What do you see now, when you look at me?"
Washu laughed.
"You may be the only one on Jurai who understands the power for what it is and yet doesn't fear it." She said with a grin. "You're right in your assumptions. But you shouldn't worry about what I see. When I saw you in court that day, you were a man in conflict within yourself. I don't see the same conflict now. You are the same man - you still have ambition beyond your means. But I think you know how to master it better now. Or I'd hope so, considering the situation you put yourself in before."
Seiryo pursed his lips.
"You speak frankly to everyone you meet?" He asked softly. "Or just to Lords and Princes of Jurai?"
"Everyone, pretty much." Washu smiled unrepentantly. "But if you hadn't wanted to know, you wouldn't have asked me the question."
She shrugged her shoulders, sitting back in her seat.
"I'm grateful for what you and your sister are doing for Tokimi, Lord Tennan." She added gently. "It means a lot, especially considering the experience and the memory can't be a good one for you to hang on to."
"On the contrary, it helps to keep me in line." Seiryo said ruefully. "It was Suki's idea in the beginning - I'm coming to realise that most of the sensible ideas do come from her, when I bother to listen. I wasn't sure to begin with, but in the end she talked me around to her point of view. So long as we took care of Tokimi, I couldn't forget. And if I don't forget, I can't repeat the same mistakes again. She sees it as her new mission to school and retrain me, I think - events six months ago shocked her, and probably with good reason. In any case my family probably won't survive a second social onslaught. For the sake of appearances as well as my sanity, it's as well to keep Tokimi close."
He spread his hands.
"Besides, Washu-san, I know you protected my sister in court." He added softly. "Sasami-hime spoke to her, and Suki's since spoken to me, so I understand things I didn't understand that day. I know the droid Zero lied because you asked her to, and I know that you knew much more than you told the Emperor, when you took the stand. Since I didn't get a chance to say thank you to you then, I'll do so now. But you protected my sister, and I'd like to think that the Tennan family still have enough honour to reciprocate in kind. Tokimi will be well cared for, as long as she needs to be. You helped Suki, and I will do the same for your sister, whatever that may mean."
"Perhaps there is something to be said about the gentlemen of Azusa's court after all." Washu's eyes danced with amusement. "I appreciate that, Seiryo-dono. And you have my word that the information you're referring to will never leave my lips. Your secret - her secret - is safe and will remain so. I'm not in the business of digging up the past more than I can help. Believe me, I have more of it than I care to remember, and most of it is better off left in the dust."
Seiryo was silent for a moment, glancing at Tokimi. Then,
"Was that Kii, that you spoke to her in when I came?" He asked. Washu nodded, looking self-conscious.
"Yes." She admitted. "It means noone can eavesdrop on the things I want to say. I've never been good at sharing my soul, so it makes it easier, somehow. Whether she can hear me or not, Lord Tennan, I still want to try. And though it's been centuries since we last spoke, it's something that binds us both together. Noone speaks Kii now. Not any more. Only Tokimi and I are left. In a way it seems strange to form those words, after so long speaking other people's languages. But with her it seems the right thing to do. After all, I don't want her to remember what she was six months ago. I want her to remember who she was when she was still just my little sister."
"It's a strange sound." Seiryo acknowledged. He shrugged. "Maybe you should consider sharing your tongue. It would be a shame if it died out, considering all that your planet went through at Juraian hands."
"Feeling guilt for the actions of your ancestor now, Seiryo-dono?" Washu raised an eyebrow. "You needn't. His deeds aren't yours, after all. And you've paid for yours enough."
"Some would not say so." A pained look flitted across Seiryo's face, and Washu shook her head.
"Those are the people who don't understand how horrific Tokimi's magic really was." She said softly. "I do, and I know that nothing Azusa could do to you would have been worse than what you've had to face since Tokimi was defeated. Kihaku's magic was old and savage and ran deep into the core of any being who wielded it. Getting past that must have taken some courage and determination. Lesser men would have fallen, Seiryo-dono. That tells me that maybe your ambition isn't a failing. It's just been badly misplaced."
"You are the strangest creature I've ever met." Seiryo eyed her thoughtfully for a moment. "But it's nice to speak to someone in such candid terms about something which I will spend the rest of my life living down. It's safe to say I learnt more about myself than I did about anything else...unfortunately it turned out to be a very public lesson, and one which could have cost my poor mother her life from the shock, if things had become more serious. As it is, even now Suki and I have shielded her from the worst. She knows I was in some trouble, but that it was all resolved, and nothing came of it."
"How is the Lady Kaede?" Washu's expression softened. "I understand from Sasami-chan that her disease has no cure."
Seiryo shook his head, and Washu saw a faint glimmer of real pain touch his teal eyes. It was gone in a moment, however, and he spread his hands.
"We wait." He said simply. "And we hope to have her for as long as we can. There's nothing else to be done, Washu-sama. But she's comfortable, and both Suki and I are nearby, when she needs us to be. It's not as bad as it could be...all things being equal."
His lip curled slightly.
"After all, Father might still be here to dishonour her." He added bitterly. Washu raised an eyebrow, and Seiryo shrugged his shoulders.
"You know enough already for me to be candid in return." He said unrepentantly. "I had no love for my father and I have no regrets that he's gone. Regardless of the consequences, the world is a better place without him and so is the Tennan family."
"Sometimes I have the same thought about my father, also." Washu said pensively. "It's not always possible to love your family, even when they're blood to you."
She eyed him thoughtfully.
"I knew Senichi Tennan once, you know." She added. "And you remind me of him, more than I expected you to."
"Senichi? Really?" Seiryo looked taken aback. "You really are so old as that?"
"Yes, Seiryo-dono, I really am." Washu was amused. "Although he was a very old man, when I knew him. He granted me safe passage from Kihaku, when the planet was in uproar and I realised there was nothing else to do but leave. He wasn't tolerant towards my people, but he took me aboard his ship because I spoke Juraian, and it impressed him. I had to work for my place, but he did at least offer me refuge when I needed it. For all the wounds he and his settlers inflicted on my people, he still helped me when I needed help. Like you, he wasn't a bad man. His ambition just overruled his other instincts, that's all. When I saw you first, I saw the parallel. I'm glad to see you've moved the other way."
Seiryo looked thoughtful for a moment. Then he shrugged.
"That's Suki's influence." He admitted at length. "But in truth, Washu-san, I'm still haunted by Detective Makibi and what happened aboard the Yagami. It was a step too far...some things never go away."
"No, some things never do." Washu acknowledged with a sad smile. "But we learn from them and we grow. I'm glad things ended up this way, Lord Tennan. And that we met here tonight, even if neither of us expected to see the other."
"Likewise." Seiryo eyed her keenly. "I'm sure Tokimi's glad you're here, also. Wherever she is, she must be inside there somewhere."
"I hope so." Washu admitted. "But if she is, I don't know how to reach her any more than any of your Juraian medics can. Kihaku's magic is too old for the effects to be treated with modern Juraian techniques. And sadly I never took the time to learn the things Father wanted me to, so I don't know whether Kii techniques would have worked any better. We just have to wait and see, I guess. Wait and hope she comes out of it on her own."
"Well, if and when she does, Suki and I will make sure she's safe...that she has somewhere to call home." Seiryo promised. Washu nodded.
"Tell me, Seiryo-dono, why are you really here tonight?" She asked. "Even if Tokimi's room is peaceful, I don't understand why you'd avoid a celebration of such status and rank when you're working so hard to re-establish the Tennan name."
"Suki is there. As Sasami-hime's friend, she has more place there than I do." Seiryo looked rueful. "But if I'm honest, I still have limits and I keep to them to avoid shaming myself further. I'm too tired to socialise tonight, Washu-san. I'm drained and my head aches. I've Treasury responsibilities on the Council, and I have my own estate now to govern and run. They're big responsibilities and more important than showing my face at tonight's get together. So many people will be there anyway, they probably won't even notice I'm not. Sometimes I just need peace and quiet. Tokimi's room is generally the best place to go for that - as I told you, it's a respite."
"So even now, Kihaku's magic takes its toll." Sympathy flickered in Washu's eyes, and Seiryo shrugged.
"You take a gamble, you accept the losses." He said simply. "It improves. But I've worked hard to maintain a strong and resolute front since I returned to the Council. I don't want to stumble or be forced to withdraw in a way that will suggest I'm not up to my job. I have pride, Washu-san. And I do know my place."
Washu chuckled.
"Spoken like a true Lord of Jurai." She teased. "Oh yes, you'll be all right, Seiryo-dono. It might take time, but you will."