The People's Prince

by Damien

Tenchi Masaki has avoided Jurai politics so far, but not much longer.

8. Anything For Love

The People's Prince

By

Damien

Disclaimer: The characters of Tenchi Muyo belong to AIC and Pioneer LDC. They are used without permission.

Story Summary: Aeka meets with Seiryo's sister, the Lady Sakuya Bushi, who informs Aeka of the recent discussions of the Jurai Royal Council, causing Aeka to wonder about Yosho's motives for leaving Jurai. Unknown to Aeka, her mother, Queen Misaki, and First Queen Funaho are speeding to Earth in an attempt to draw her and Tenchi to Jurai. Mihoshi gains Katsuhito's help in securing her date with Tenchi. Odd things begin to affect Mayuka. Aeka and Tenchi share a private moment. Finally, the revived 1st generation tree-ship Funaho appears to take Tenchi and Mihoshi to the annual Galaxy Police Ball.

Part 8:

Anything For Love

There is some violence in this chapter.

Ten minutes ago, after witnessing the death of everyone she knew, Sana felt there wasn't a punishment imaginable or unimaginable that would have been too severe to subject the amoral being "Megami" to for her crimes. At least… that was what Sana had thought ten minutes ago, before the Megami's cloaking field dropped and she was spotted by the three Jebel Clan pirate vessels. Initially, they were going to meet up with the Jebel Katul, but ended up witnessing its destruction instead. At least the Katul's ends had been quick. What Sana was witnessing now was slow torture, happening to what would appear to anyone's eyes as a young teenage girl. Sana was painfully learning that ten minutes can be an eternity.

"Please, stop this," Sana pleaded to anyone who would listen, as Megami was rocked with another barrage, causing another muffled scream from the now fetal Megami. "Surrender to them! I promise they'll stop hurting you."

"Weapon's status: offline, repair time: …one hundred twenty seconds," Megami droned through the words with clenched teeth, clutching the stump that had been her right hand to her midsection. Blood or what looked to be blood, poured from numerous wounds that covered her body. Some of the injuries were minor scratches, bruises or burns; glancing shots off the Megami's hull. Others were more severe in nature, like her twisted and broken left leg; a direct hit to the Megami's propulsion system, her missing right hand; a destroyed weapons array, and her swollen shut and blackened left eye; partial sensors failure. Every blow, every piece of damage inflicted on the ship "Megami" was mirrored on the barely teenage girl who carried the same name.

"Surrender!" Sana screamed, not sure she could stand much more. She too, felt every blow, not able to shield herself from the torrent of emotions that burst forth from Megami with every hit.

//Shame and Determination//

"I am the Megami, proud ship and servant to a great master. I do not surrender… especially to your kind," Megami said with an enormous amount of conviction considering the amount of pain she appeared to be in.

'My kind?'…"Your pride is killing you! Can't you see that?" Sana argued.

Another blast hit the ship's midsection. Megami tightened up into a ball. "Life support damaged… eighty-three seconds for repairs."

"Some great ship this is! You don't have eighty-three seconds! Let me call them! Does your communications system still work?" Sana's desperation was becoming evident in her voice.

"Communications are fully functional. Sensors are partially functional. Weapons, propulsion, and life support: still offline," Megami muttered through the pain.

This was the first good news Sana had heard in sometime. She became excited; perhaps this torture could end soon. "Patch me through to the…"

"No."

"What? I can stop this! They'll listen to me. I was second in command of the Jebel-Katul until you blew it up. I'll…"

"No, I do not… require your assistance," Megami interrupted a second time. Her voice was becoming quieter and Sana could sense a numbing of the emotions coming from the sentient ship. Sana assumed it was a sign that Megami was about to lose consciousness due to the pain. The air in the ship began to grow stale.

"You're just a pompous and stubborn little girl! You better start listening to you elders!"

Megami said nothing in response to the rebuke and calmly closed her eyes. The rise and fall of her chest slowed, but remained erratic.

"Would you rather die then let me help you?"

"I… will… not… perish here. I will perform… my station." Megami said nothing more.

"Stop being so stubborn. It's obvious to anyone with eyes that you are in pain and need help."

//Worry and Sympathy// It was the first time Sana had felt these types of emotions coming from the young girl. It also gave Sana a sense of ease for the first time. Maybe there were shreds of humanity within Megami.

"I… I am… more concerned about what this is doing to the Mistress. I'm unsure if the link was severed."

'The Mistress?' Sana thought with puzzlement and disgust. 'Why worry about her now?'

Outside the ship, the barrage by the three pirate vessels stopped. The damage to the Megami was evident and the mystery ship hadn't once returned fire. Still the captains of the three ships were cautious. They remembered well the false sense of security that had lulled the Katul to its death. Two of the Jebel-Clan pirate vessels remained a safe distance away, while the third approached the Megami with the intention of boarding her. All of the ships kept their weapons aimed at the Megami, prepared to fire a final finishing volley. All of which was witnessed by Sana through the Megami's invisible walls.

'Thank the spirits,' Sana breathed to herself. 'They must want to investigate this ship and its crew to find out who it belongs to and why it destroyed the Katul.' These were things Sana wanted to know as well. "Looks like you're about to be boarded and judging from the looks of you, there is very little you can do about it."

"They will not sully me." It was barely a whisper. Megami's left leg slowly began to straighten.

"Oh! That's right," Sana began sarcastically. "Only the 'Master' is allowed to do that. You being his personal property."

Megami nodded and gradually flexed the fingers on her newly generated right hand. Out in space, the approaching ship stopped its advance, as its forward view screen showed the areas of the Megami that had been damaged regenerating themselves.

Sana was the only one oblivious to the changes occurring, even ignoring the new sense of calm that Megami was feeling, mistaking it for Megami's lucid consciousness. Sana continued her verbal tirade against Megami, while the one ship backed away and the others prepared to renew fire. "…A gift from the Almighty Mistress," she said with derision.

Again, Megami simply nodded. 'Propulsion is at thirty percent. Life support is functional. Weapons… still offline. Running through diagnostic subroutines to determine weapon error,' Megami mouthed the words but said nothing aloud. "I hope she is still well, the Mistress, and that I may join the Master in time to aid him in his trial."

"Don't you ever think of yourself? Look at you? You're no better than a slave! I don't know who or what this 'Mistress' of yours is but if she is the sick person who created you, then she must be one sadistic bitch to brutalize you this way. I can't imagine your 'Master' being any better."

//Extreme Indignation//

Megami's eyes flew open, both glowing a fierce red. Unsteadily, she attempted to stand, faltering back to the ground before succeeding. Sana initially, started over to assist the young girl to her feet, but the look of utter rage on Megami's face and the torrent of anger Megami was directing at her, warned Sana that she would have been a fool to do so. Sana began to back away fearfully, remembering how easily Megami could kill, and what little it took to provoke her to do so. But there was nowhere to run, no place to hide in the open space that was the interior of the Megami.

"How dare you…" Megami spat out the words through her clenched teeth.

Sana's eyes darted around the endless looking room for shelter. There was none. She began to shake with terror. Her only hope was the three pirate vessels that were about to attack.

"How dare you speak of Mistress Masaki that way!" Megami demanded.

All three ships fired every weapon array that they had at the Megami, the closest firing at point blank range. The resulting explosions consumed the whole exterior view of the Megami.

There was only a skeleton crew on shift at this particular department of the Galaxy Police Regional Headquarters. Most of the personnel had been given time off in preparation of the annual ball that would be held the following day. Which was unfortunate, because if they had been on duty, they would have witnessed the extremely rare sight of their commander bursting out of his office in just his underwear and his dress pants about his ankles.

"What is this!" the Chief yelled to the three shocked officers who had been working outside his office. They looked at him with confused expressions. "Well… Do any of you want to answer!"

"Um… What are you referring to, sir?" office assistant asked while she mentally deliberated on whether she should laugh at the sight of him or file a sexual harassment suit.

"This!" he shouted and waddled over to her, shaking the report he held in his hands. The display of him so angry while at the same time wearing only his boxers and hopping around the room with his pants about his ankles proved too much for the usually well-disciplined officers. They broke out into laughter.

"Damn it all!" the Chief shouted furiously, slamming the report to the floor. The officers stopped laughing and stiffened at his tone. "Get me the quarterly reports for pirate activity and commerce for sectors 0411 through 0532 for the past six cycles. And get Captain Topaz in my office, immediately."

"But, Sir, Capt. Topaz is out sick today."

"He isn't half as sick as he is going to be once I'm through with him. You just tell him to get in gear and drag his tail into my office!"

"Yes, Sir!" the three officers said in unison and moved out smartly to complete his orders.

The Chief hopped back into his office and would have slammed the door shut if it didn't open and close automatically. Only the big brass, who tended to have old-fashioned hinged doors, had that option of expressing their anger in such a fashion. He kicked off his dress pants into the far corner of the room and plopped down behind his desk with a thud. He placed his head in his hands and moaned …No ball for him this year. He had just made a major operational security mistake, he shouldn't have gotten so upset over something that "appeared" so trivial, but it was too late to worry about now. Swiveling around in his chair to face his communications window, he placed his hand over the DNA reader and gave the computer his password. The sooner Juraian intelligence learned of this the better.

Looking at her, any reasonable person would quickly come to the conclusion that this was a woman who was living a charmed life. One just had to look at her. She wasn't just beautiful, she was exotically so. She had a figure that looked as though it had been painstakingly designed to the finest detail and her bright exuberant eyes did a poor job of hiding what was obviously an intelligent mind. Yes, she was definitely a woman who could get anything and everything she wanted. You could tell that by the confident way she stood and the forceful way she presented herself when she spoke. All these things were apparent to anyone who has spent as little as five minutes with her. A woman could not be blamed if they became envious and wished to exchange places with her. Who, after all, would not want to live the life of Ryoko Hakubi?

Ryoko Hakubi Masaki for one.

What you could not tell merely by looking at her was the undisputable fact that the majority of her thousands of years of life (something else you couldn't discern with just your eyes) have been crap, complete and utter crap. It had been only relatively recently that Ryoko began to look forward to waking up in the morning. It was okay being Ryoko now… the Ryoko who stood next to Tenchi. Unfortunately for her, it seemed her life was indeed charmed, just not in a good way. Fate was trying to take her Tenchi away.

Looking over at her reason for being constrained and choking in the straight jacket-like adornment of Juraian royalty and seeing the Funaho about to whisk him away, Ryoko recalled the events of the previous evening, when everything in her life imperceptibly began to change again.

The water was not helping.

After her run in with Katsuhito, Ryoko decided to wait for Tenchi's return inside the floating onsen.  This would minimize her chances of blasting Tenchi's grandfather or choking Mihoshi. Two events she was fairly certain wouldn't endear her to Tenchi. But despite the relaxing atmosphere, the gentle sounds of the running water and their soothing warmth, Ryoko could not calm her anger. Sometimes, Yosho had that effect on her… well most of the time.

She dipped fully below the water for a good minute before emerging. She ran both hands through her hair, removing her wet locks from in front of her face. When Tenchi got back he would set both Mihoshi and Yosho straight. For once, Ryoko was grateful for Tenchi's shy and prudish nature. She just had to wait. After repeating that thought to herself several times, the warmth of the water and the quiet of her surroundings began to take their effect and she gently closed her eyes.  She was almost fully asleep when she heard someone else enter the baths.

Ryoko opened one eye to identify the newcomer and smiled when she saw who it was. Her rival and oft times coconspirator had finally come home. "So, back from your morning rendezvous with your secret boyfriend?" Ryoko asked teasingly. Ribbing Aeka was just what her mood needed.

If Aeka heard her, she made no sign of it. As if in a daze, she walked towards a small bench and sat down.

'Not going to rise to my barb, eh?' Ryoko thought. "You seem to be in your own little world today. Was he that good in bed?"

Aeka still said nothing and moved robotically through the motions of washing herself.

Ryoko began to get the feeling she was being ignored. "Hey, Aeka! Your father called, he said your real mother was one of the chamber maids he boinged one night he got bored."

Nothing.

"Aeka, Sasami says she's giving up the whole royalty thing and instead is going to work at Hiro's Hentai Haven as a human wash cloth."

Aeka rinsed the soap out of her hair.

"Tenchi says if maybe you had an figure worth his time…"

Still nothing.

Verbal attacks proven ineffective, Ryoko switched tactics. She threw a bar of soap at her. It hit Aeka square in the back of the head, but Aeka acted as though she hadn't felt a thing. Aeka merely picked up the errant bar of soap and placed it with her other cleaning items.

Ryoko quickly became angered again. It was like everyone was conspiring against her today. She glared at Aeka as she stood and began walking towards the rinsing pools to soak. Now that Aeka was getting closer to where Ryoko was sitting, Ryoko could see the expression on Aeka's face. Her eyes had a far off, contemplative look, her cheeks were quite flushed and the sides of her mouth were turned up slightly to form a smallish grin. If Ryoko had to draw a conclusion from Aeka's mannerisms she would have guessed that Aeka had tapped into the sake a little early today. Still that didn't excuse Aeka from ignoring Ryoko's greetings.

Ryoko took the towel that was resting around her shoulders and soaked it in the water, when it was good and heavy she threw it at the supposedly drunken Aeka. Again, Ryoko's aim was true and the towel found its mark, wrapping around Aeka's face. Blinded, Aeka's foot tripped on the handle of a fallen push broom, causing Aeka to stumble forward and land face first into the warm waters of the onsen. Watching the air bubbles from the submerged Aeka rise to the surface renewed the smile on Ryoko's face.

It was several moments before Aeka resurfaced, still looking unfazed despite her little trip and swim, but unlike before, Aeka's behavior didn't anger Ryoko. Instead, Ryoko's smile grew at the sedated look on her friend and rival's face. The former most wanted space pirate burst out in laughter. Oddly enough, this drew Aeka's attention.

"Oh, Ms. Ryoko, when did you arrive at the bath?"

Ryoko looked at her for a moment before erupting in laughter again. "I've been here since you walked in, Princess. The question is where have you been or at least where has your brain been."

Aeka's eyes lingered on Ryoko for a moment, before regaining their far off look. "Really? …I guess my thoughts… were indeed elsewhere." The princess audibly sighed. Her movements again became robotic.

"What the hell happened to you today?"  Ryoko asked amazed at how out of it the princess seemed. Had everyone gone daft today? When she saw Aeka wasn't paying attention, she leaned over and rapt several times on the princess's head. "Hello… Hello… Anyone home?"

"Huh? Wha… What is it, Ryoko?"

Ryoko looked at Aeka strangely. Normally, the princess would be up in arms and force fields by now. Even Ryoko could tell something had happened to upset her non-friend. "What's wrong?"

She laughed. "Is that worry, I hear in your voice?" Aeka asked regaining some of her normal regal tone.

Ryoko looked at her sidelong. "No, it's amazement at how spazed you were acting." Her expression grew neutral. "So what is the reason?"

Absently, Aeka touched her cheek where it met the corner of her mouth. "Nothing…" After a period of silence and with Ryoko looking at her expectantly she added. "…Everything. I had brunch with a childhood acquaintance today."

"That was a big brunch; you were gone most of the day," Ryoko interrupted. "Wait a minute, childhood friend… You mean from Jurai?"

Aeka nodded and continued. "I would not call her a friend exactly. We had many of the same tutors and attended many the same functions." Aeka sighed recalling her and Sakuya's conversation "To avoid confusing you with the more intricate details…"

Ryoko smiled to herself, Aeka was exactly what she needed to pick up her spirits. "A…. gee… duh…. Thanks… duh"

Aeka smiled also. "My long absence from Jurai, in addition to my brother's, has caused some confusion as to whether or not the House of Masaki wishes to remain the Royal House."

Ryoko rolled her eyes at the 'Masaki' part. "Oh… and what did you tell this friend- I mean acquaintance."

Aeka delicately brought her hand up to her face and touched the corner of her mouth and cheek, becoming silent once again. She stood and tightened about herself her towel, which had loosened while she had been soaking in the warm waters of the baths. Without a further word she made her way to the waters edge and climbed out. When she reached the door, she paused and turned back to Ryoko. "What would you say... if told you I was thinking of returning to Jurai for awhile?"

Ryoko didn't even take a second to think about it. "Bye."

The encounter in the baths was Ryoko's latest clue that things were changing around her. It wasn't until dinner that the totality of it all began to sink in.

The normally full Masaki dinner table had a number of empty places. Only five place settings were on the table, and from their placement you could gather that Aeka, Mihoshi, and Katsuhito were not planning to attend.

Ryoko was the first to materialize (literally) at the table after Sasami had set all the dishes in place. Her mood had improved after her conversation with Aeka in the baths; at least it had improved over what it was. In addition, she was glad to see that Yosho would not be at dinner. To be frank, in her bests of moods she only could tolerate Tenchi's grandfather. On the other hand, she missed Mihoshi's presence. She had wanted Tenchi to finally end this nonsense of his taking her to that damned Galaxy Police party.

'Where is Tenchi, anyway?' Ryoko wondered as she watched Washu and Noboyuki take their places at the table. She had looked for him a second time after leaving the baths, but again was unable to find him. "Is Tenchi still not home?" She asked those sitting at the table.

"He came home some time ago," Sasami answered. "He was with Aeka in our room for a while." Sasami's cheeks began to blush and her eyes became wide with stars. "You should have seen him, Ryoko; all dressed up." She sighed and her normal cheery disposition returned. "If he's not still with Aeka, I don't know where he is."

Ryoko stared at Sasami slack jawed, recalling her time with Aeka and how Aeka had acted. Maybe there was more to Aeka's behavior than just her meeting with the Juraian. 'What would you say…' Ryoko recalled Aeka saying. '…If I told you I was thinking of returning to Jurai?' She opened her mouth to ask another question, but Noboyuki beat her to it.

"Dressed up? How so?"

Washu's attention was completely focused on Ryoko. Very little happened in this house that Washu was not aware of and Tenchi waltzing up to Aeka's room looking every bit the crowned prince set off all kinds of bells and whistles. For Washu, it invoked a very personal memory, one that she did not want to relive. Unfortunately, Washu's surveillance equipment failed to capture what happened inside Aeka's room.

While Ryoko waited for Sasami to elaborate further on Noboyuki's question, Tenchi, himself, walked into the room and sat down. "Excuse me, sorry I took so long coming downstairs," Tenchi said rather absently, picking up his utensils. He was just about to place a morsel of food into his mouth when he noticed that everyone except Sasami was looking at him. "Wha… what is it?"

Ryoko studied Tenchi, his eyes, his hands, his movements. She didn't exactly know why, but she was suddenly feeling very afraid. Teleporting out of her seat, she immediately reappeared behind Tenchi. Before he could speak a word of protest or the others could react, she threw her arms around him and vanished.

The moon hung low in the burgeoning night sky. One could easily imagine a frown on the face of the celestial body as it floated droopily over the forest. There were no clouds to mask the man in the moon's melancholy. No stars to pat his slumped shoulders and accompany him through the dark night.

It was a very lonely moon.

Ryoko could sympathize. She materialized with her captive at the mouth of the wood that surrounded the secluded Masaki homestead. Her arms lingered around Tenchi's neck before stiffening for a second and finally letting go.

She did not turn to face him. She said not a word in explanation of her actions. Truth to be told she did not know the reasons behind them herself. Instead she walked forward in a slow and somber manner, her form disappearing down the darkened forest path.

Two options presented themselves to Tenchi. Having spent many a childhood summer exploring the lands and woods surrounding the Masaki shrine, it was very difficult for Tenchi to get lost. Despite having been plucked from the dinner table and placed in the neighboring forest in the dim of the night, Tenchi knew he could find his way home easily. But the thought didn't even enter his mind.

What was wrong with Ryoko? He followed slowly behind her deeper into the forest. Abducting him was normal behavior for her, but this withdrawn and melancholy mood she was showing now was not. He trailed her quietly, wondering what could make a woman like Ryoko act this way. It wasn't the first time he had seen her like this. There was that time he held her aboard that stolen Galaxy Police battleship after Dr. Clay had abducted her. He was amazed at how soft and fragile she felt in his arms at the time, not things that normally came to mind when he thought of Ryoko. There was also, of course, the whole Mayuka episode. That had been a Ryoko he didn't know existed. Ryoko, the worrier…

Ryoko was not one to stay depressed for long. Especially, when it occurred to her that she had little to worry about. There still was this nagging feeling running through her, but she could either let it dampen her spirit or use it to drive her to her goal of Tenchi's heart. She had noticed him follow her into the forest. It was very rare for him to be the one chasing after her, very rare. 'Hmm… chasing?'

Lost in his thoughts he failed to notice Ryoko start to run and disappear into the forest. Now, Tenchi was beginning to worry, as he saw the empty path before him. The trees blocked the light of the moon and it was very difficult to see more than a few meters ahead of him. Noting the previous times Ryoko had behaved like this, he began to run after her. Maybe something bad had happened to her like the Clay incident. Or perhaps it more like the time with Mayuka and she was worried about him or jealous… had she found out about his date with Mihoshi… or what had happened between him and Aeka in her room. He ran after her. "Ryoko! Wait!"

Ryoko heard Tenchi call out to her and she smiled.

Recalling the conversation she and Tenchi had after she had kidnapped him from the dinner table, Ryoko smiled. After a long day of surprises and changes that talk was her one ray of light. She waited until Funaho had vanished into the upper atmosphere before bending down and picking up the cabbit that waited patiently at her side. "Well, Princess, I don't exactly know what you're plans are, but considering that tacky dress you're wearing I can make a pretty good guess."  She hurled Ryo – Ohki into the air, watching her fateful friend expand and morph into her spaceship form. "The only real question left," Ryoko began, turning to face Aeka with her arms crossed against her chest. "Is how are you planning to get there?" She winked at Aeka and disappeared.

Ryo-Ohki hovered mockingly in the air as her mistress watched Aeka on the ship's main monitor. Ryoko knew what Aeka was thinking as far as getting Tenchi used to his new wardrobe. The stakes were much larger than Mihoshi's date with Tenchi. What Ryoko didn't quite understand was how Aeka really expected her to help by flying her to the ball. The smile she saw forming on Aeka's face was about to answer that question.

'Tacky… indeed,' Aeka thought with contempt, her smile growing. Ryoko couldn't see it, but the gem in Aeka's tiara began to glow.

Next to Ryo-Ohki, a large subspace portal opened, out of which slowly and majestically appeared the second-generation tree-ship Ryu-Oh. Ryoko's draw dropped.

For her part, Aeka wished she could see Ryoko's face. "Azaka… Kamidake," Aeka summoned. The two guardians appeared at her side. "We depart for Galaxy Police Headquarters, at once. We must catch up to the Funaho…"

"The Funaho?" Kamidake questioned.

"Yes, the Funaho," Aeka answered, before continuing, "We must catch the Funaho and beat the Ryo-Ohki there at all cost."

"Yes, Ma'am," they chimed. 

Aeka and her guardians disappeared in a shower of light. Immediately after which the Ryu-Oh raced out of Earth's atmosphere, hot on the Funaho's trail.

"What? How? When!" Ryoko shouted aboard her ship. Ryo-Ohki meowed her ignorance to her mistress's question. There was only one answer though, Ryoko knew. 'Washu.' Gritting her teeth, but still smiling, Ryoko mentally commanded Ryo-Ohki. With an ear piercing howl and a sonic boom, the Ryo-Ohki was gone.

Watching from the doorway of the Masaki household, Katsuhito and Noboyuki waved their goodbyes.

"Well, looks like the race is on," Noboyuki commented turning back into the house.

"Perhaps," his father-in-law replied. "Or maybe the race is nearing its end."

If only someone had been looking out a window, maybe they would have caught a glimpse of a ship that had disappeared some seven hundred years ago.  Or maybe they would have seen a ship thought grounded forever, nearly destroyed. And if the saw neither of those, surely they the sight of the ship that had so mercilessly ravaged Jurai all those centuries ago would not have escaped detection. But alas, despite the passage of the Funaho, the Ryu-Oh and the Ryo-Ohki well with in visual range of the twin tree-ships carrying the 1st and 2nd Queens and her escorts, none were seen. Not even the ships' sensors detected them.

Ships passing in the night… Just as their great mother planned.

Funaho paused from her meal and looked about the room as if someone had called her name or remembering something important.

"What is it, Sister?" Misaki asked, noticing.

"I'm not sure. I just felt something strange from my tree."

"Oh, strange weird or strange funny."

"I… I don't know. She was laughing about something. I'll ask"

Misaki sipped from her cup of tea, while she waited for the conversation between woman and tree to finish. When she saw Funaho double-blink and stare at her, she could only guess that the talk had ended. "Well, what did she say? What is so funny?"

Funaho could not erase the puzzled expression from her face. "She said… She said it was a secret."

"I'll ask mine," Misaki decided. It wasn't long before she got an answer.

"And?" Funaho asked.

"She said she wasn't telling either! And I get the distinct impression that she would have stuck her tongue at me, if she had one. Hahaha, she did say that I would like the secret. Now, I'm all excited! I MUST KNOW!"

The two queens giggled for a full minute, before their thoughts returned to more pressing concerns.

The two queens were aboard Funaho's tree-ship, having a final meal and discussing strategy before their arrival at Earth. Funaho hadn't quite figured out the best way to approach the situation. The basic goal and outline of the plan was simple. The goal, of course, was getting Aeka back to Jurai to solidify the House of Masaki's position as the Royal House. This would end the confusion as to the line of succession to the throne, thereby quieting the Royal Council. The ways of doing this were equally simple to discern. Simply ordering her back was a fruitless endeavor, as Azusa had found out on their initial journey to Earth. She would not leave Tenchi's side, duty or no. In fact, if forced to choose between Jurai and Tenchi, there was little doubt in Funaho's mind on what Aeka's choice would be. It would no doubt be a hard and difficult decision, but Funaho would not bet on Jurai winning it. Neither could Funaho argue with her over it since her son had done much the same thing, but he did not even have the excuse that Aeka had.

That prior line of thinking brought something else to the fore in Funaho's mind: what were Yosho's motives in abandoning Jurai. Though she had argued the point before the Council that her son had done no such thing, it was quite clear after her discussion with him that he had no intentions of ever assuming the throne or perhaps even returning to Jurai. What had led him to such a drastic decision?

She sighed, that was an enigma for another time. 'Concentrate on Aeka,' she reminded herself. As stated earlier, the plan of getting Aeka to Jurai was simple and the bait to lure her there was obvious. The only real question was luring the bait there.

"You're thinking too hard," a voice commented, shaking Funaho from her contemplations.

"Huh?"

"You're obsessing over how to get Aeka and Tenchi to Jurai… Don't. I'm telling you, he's fallen for my Aeka's charms by now. We have nothing to worry about. You just need to get him to see that."

'Easy for you to say,' Funaho knew not to say aloud.

They finished the meal in relative silence. Funaho mentally going over what she planned to say to Aeka to convince her to return. Misaki watched her quietly, allowing her sister her contemplations. Misaki's expression was that of utmost confidence with a smidgen of mirth. It wasn't that didn't realize the obstacles and difficulties that lie in their path. It was just she had total confidence in Funaho's persuasive skills and even more confidence in the beauty of her daughter.

Misaki stood up and walked behind the seat of her sister, the First Queen. She placed her hands on Funaho's shoulders and slowly and methodically massaged her muscles. "Relax… Everything is going to be fine…"

Letting out a protracted sigh, Funaho leaned forward in her seat, giving Misaki better access to her shoulders. "That's better," Misaki enthused and slipped her hands into the neckline of Funaho's kimono. As Funaho loosened the front, Misaki removed the kimono from her sister's shoulders, exposing the thin skintight material of Funaho's undergarment and the bare pearl white skin of her neck and upper arms.

Funaho tilted her head back so that she was looking up at Misaki's caring face. "It's your fault I get this way… You're terrible to me," Funaho pouted.

"Aw… You're cute when you frown," Misaki gushed and kissed her sister on the forehead. The sound of something clattering to the ground broke the two from their sisterly moment.

Funaho turned to see a red-faced Lord Remus standing in the doorway. "You forgot to lock the door again, Sister." Funaho said exasperated.

Misaki straightened looking unrepentant. "Why should I lock the doors on my sister's tree ship. If you wanted them locked, you should have locked them," Misaki finished and folded her arms in front of her.

Funaho opened her mouth to rebut Misaki's words, but settled for glaring at her instead. Still keeping narrowed eyes at her sister, Funaho stood and walked over to the frozen man at the door.

"Yes, Lord Remus…"

He just stared blankly at her. Funaho waved her hand in front of his face without any reaction on his part. Perplexed, Funaho placed her left arm around her midriff, using it to support her right elbow as her right arm supported her chin. It was just your classic thinking pose, but it also had the effect of pushing up her breasts and causing her kimono to fall further from her about her shoulders. Misaki thought the whole scene quite funny and silently wondered to herself how long it would take her normally astute sister to determine what it was that had Lord Remus so stunned.

"Hmm…" Misaki began with an air of thoughtfulness. "Perhaps you aren't the best person to speak to Tenchi concerning matters of the heart," she finished with a more than evident smirk.

Funaho spun around to face her sister, her long silken hair gently caressing Lord Remus's face from the tip of his ear to the bottom of his chin. Her kimono fell open even further, finally resting around her elbows and exposing intoxicating amounts of the lily-white skin of Funaho's back. "Now what are you saying? It was your idea in the first place," Funaho said exasperated. "And anyway," Funaho calmed and glanced behind herself to Lord Remus, who still stared blankly at her. "I don't think we should discuss such matters now."

"Oh, he can't hear us," Misaki dismissed Funaho's concerns.

Funaho frowned at her sister and then turned to study Lord Remus. Misaki was most likely correct, considering Remus's apparent mental state. This was just what she needed, her number two man and most trusted assistant becoming ill. He hadn't been like this in the past, why now? "Lord Remus… Lord Remus are you feeling all right?" She placed her hand on his forehead, resulting in his eyes going wide and his body to shudder.

"You think he's sick?" Misaki asked coming up to stand next to her sister and regarded the noble in charge of Jurai's largest governorship.

"It couldn't be more apparent. Honestly, Misaki, I don't know where your head is sometimes."

Misaki laughed.

"It's not funny! Stop laughing. I need Lord Remus where he is and with all his faculties… not comatose!"

The words "I need Lord Remus" reverberated through out Remus's psyche.

"Now, now," Misaki enthused, placing her sister's kimono about her shoulders where it belonged. "Oh, look! It moves."

'She needs me. She needs me! "My Queen…"

"Ah! Lord Remus," Funaho said relieved. "Whatever was the matter? You're not becoming ill, I hope?"

Confidently, Remus shook his head, 'No'. I haven't felt this well in sometime.  I swear to you, Milady that I will forever be at your side."

Watching her sister's reaction, Misaki shook her head:  Funaho completely missed what it was Remus was trying to convey.

Funaho smiled in relief. "I can not tell you how comforting that is to hear. Still perhaps its best you see a doctor concerning these episodes of yours."

He blushed very faintly and Misaki lost her usual pleasant disposition; her guise becoming neutral. "If you wish it, I will do so at once." Lord Remus turned to leave.

"Lord Remus?"

"Yes, Queen Funaho?" he asked pausing in his departure.

"Why did you come here?"

"Oh, yes, I nearly forgot." He came fully back into the room. "The Lady Bushi has arrived, I thought you should know. Also, I will be leaving now for the Galaxy Police Headquarters. In addition to attending the festivities there, some issues have arrived that require my attention."

"Issues? Such as?" Funaho asked.

"I don't have the details, but it was apparently important enough that it could not be discussed over interstellar communications."

"I see…"

"By your leave then, your Majesties," Lord Remus said bowing to the two queens, before leaving the room.

Misaki frowned at him as he left; crushes were fine but anything more…

"What's wrong?"

"Huh," Misaki responded, startled from her thoughts.

"You looked thoughtful, is something the matter?"

"Oh… I was… I was just wondering what Sakuya Bushi was doing here," Misaki lied.

Funaho went to the back of the room and sat down on a couch the length of the wall. "I imagine she will be accompanying Lord Nephrus to the ball."

"No," Misaki clarified. "What I mean is, she did not come with us when we left Jurai. Why is she way out here so close to Earth?"

Funaho answered after a thoughtful pause. "She had left Jurai several weeks ago. She visited a number of planets, before arriving at Earth about five days past. I didn't think her visit was important in and of itself and I think Aeka is capable of dealing with her."

"So, this is where they banished you too?"

Susan, having just stepped from the lift looked up at the voice. Though she didn't recognize the speaker, Susan did recognize the symbol of the news agency she worked for embroidered on her shirtsleeve. It was a service dedicated to providing total coverage of government functions and proceedings no matter how mundane they may be. Most of their broadcasts were a great cure for insomnia as Susan, herself, could testify. Susan scowled at the woman; competition was competition.

"Do I know you?" Susan asked, putting on her well-worn face of cordiality. 

"Oh… sorry. I didn't mean to sound so familiar. My name is Sewolles," the middle-aged woman apologized and extended her hand.

Susan accepted the handshake. "Susan Graham," she offered in return.

"I know, I know, you're practically famous or should I say infamous. By the way, what kind of name is Susan Graham? Some of my colleagues were wondering."

Ignoring the question, Susan politely laughed at the barb with an obviously fake grin before she walked to the opposite side of the room and began to check her equipment. Today she carried more than just her usual data pad and voice recorder, and wanted to be sure everything was in working order. Her fake grin turned into a genuine smirk when she thought of finally vindicating herself as a journalist and being the first to interview and photo the mythical Prince Tenchi Masaki. Her smile grew into a soft laugh that gradually increased in volume until it drew the attention of Susan's colleague in the room.

"You seem to be in a good mood for someone covering what has to be one of the most shallowest of news events." Sewolles sat down on a plush couch in the well furnished GP media room and propped her feet up on the satchel she carried her equipment in. "Trust me, I've been chained to this stupid ball piece for the last five years and nothing of note ever happens. The only high point is getting to see that gorgeous head of the Juraian military when he pops his head in for appearance's sake." The woman sighed and continued. "But he never stays long and then it's back to being a dog and pony show for the GP brass." Sewolles closed her eyes, placed her hands behind her head and leaned back in her seat. "Absolutely no one cares or pays attention. The audience is nonexistent." She propped open one eye. "Unless you know something I don't?"

Susan blanched and quickly tried to look neutral again. "Nope, I just know that my editor ordered me here. Guess he didn't think much of my last effort. Ha ha!"

"I thought as much. My boss would have fired me on the spot if I handed him something so fanciful without the hard facts to back it up. Guess some news agencies operate differently then others. Wake me when this thing starts okay?"

Susan ignored the dig at her place of work, as she didn't think much of it either. What was bothering her was the very real possibility that the other reporter might stumble upon Prince Tenchi and Mihoshi before she did. After all, Susan had no idea what Tenchi looked like. Susan eyed the other woman with her peripheral vision. 'Why should someone chance upon the story of a lifetime after I've borne so much work and ridicule?' She began to finger the brooch she wore through the fabric of her shirt.

"By the way," Sewolles began not opening her eyes. "How did you get here? I didn't see you aboard the press shuttle over and only official vessels are being allowed to approach the station with all the dignitaries expected to arrive.

Again Susan whitened in surprise, but quickly smiled. "Family connection," was her reply as a dark colored gem in her brooch began to glow a deep purple and her rival for the scoop of the century vanished in a flash of plasmatic light. "Sleep well… the Tenchi story is all mine."

"Anything?" The captain of the Jebel-Hafit shouted out to the crewmember monitoring the ship's forward sensor arrays.

"Nothing, Sir. That ship must have been totally destroyed by our combined assault."

"Don't be stupid," the captain admonished. "If that were the case, we would at the least see some kind of debris field. Do you see a debris field? Are we picking up any debris on the sensors?"

"Uh… No, Sir," the young woman responded quietly.

"Then stay alert. She's still out there somewhere…"

When the balls of fire and smoke created by the explosions from the three pirate vessels onslaught began to clear, nothing remained in their wake. It was hard to believe that any ship could have survived such a point blank assault, but as the captain of the Jebel-Hafit, the Jebel-Unayzah, and the Jebel-Rudwa realized, if the Megami had been destroyed, there should be some wreckage. There was nothing but empty space. As mysteriously as the ghost ship had appeared before the doomed Jebel-Katul, it seemed to vanish before her sister Jebel clan ships. Or so it appeared to them, but one frightened woman and one enraged entity knew the truth.

~"Please… don't do this…"~

On board the bridge of Jebel-Hafit, two communications windows appeared showing the captains of the other two Jebel clan pirate ships. All three men were trying their best to hide their confusion from each other and their crews.

"Well," the captain of the Jebel-Unayzah began. "Are either of you picking anything up on sensors?"

His answer was silence and the visible beads of sweat forming on his colleagues' brows.

~"We've done nothing to you! Why are you doing this?"~

There was a long period of silence as the three commanders stared at each other and their crews remained diligently alert for signs of the wraith ship.

~"I was the one who insulted your master and mistress! If… if you have to punish someone then punish me." She looked desperately at the three pirate vessels before her. Though each had its shields up and weapons fully armed, she knew by the glowing red eyes of her captor that they hadn't a sliver of a chance at survival. ~

"We know for a fact that the ship can cloak. It could still be in the area," the Hafit captain reminded his colleagues.

"We did a good deal of damage to her in our first attack, perhaps they realized the better part of valor and fled."

"I say we find out," the third captain suggested.

Sana watched helplessly, as the Megami maneuvered closer to the three unprepared ships. They had undoubtedly saved her life, having diverted Megami's attention with their attack. After having insulted both Megami's mistress and master, in a moment of careless anger, Sana knew she had spoken her own death. The look on Megami's face afterward, promised no less than that and a great deal of pain. But the three pirate vessels had saved Sana at the last moment. The three vessels that now had an irate and merciless Megami to deal with.

Having downloaded the Jebel-Katul's databank before destroying her, the Megami easily intercepted and decoded the inter-ship communications of the vessels. With a fascinated horror clear on her face, Sana listened to the proceedings; the three ships trying to position themselves to battle their invisible foe and the Megami inching like a predator closer and closer to her prey. Everything Sana said in an attempt to mollify the sentient ship only seemed to fuel Megami's anger. Sana could only hope the three heavily armed ships would somehow defeat the young teenage entity.

Megami's eyes continued to glow a fierce red, as did the crystalline columns, which were the only visible structures in the otherwise translucent walls of the Megami's interior. The dark ship paused, just a few hundred meters from the lead pirate vessel.

"What will fighting and destroying these ships prove?" Sana asked, her head hanging limply from her defeated shoulders. Trying to reason with the adolescent persona of the Megami one more time, she exerted her empathic senses to their fullest. Sana looked for the slightest opening into Megami's psyche.

//Seething Anger// "Was it not you, who called me unworthy? Wasn't it you who questioned the sanity and compassion of my Mistress? 'Sadistic bitch', those were your words." Megami walked over to where Sana sat slumped on the floor. With a finger placed under Sana's chin, Megami lifted the older looking girl's head. In a quiet, yet powerful voice, Megami looked into Sana's eyes and continued. "I will show you my worth and the greatness and genius of my creator and mistress. It was because of her unbound love for her father that she created me and it is for that love I will do anything for." Megami stood back up, her eyes no longer glowing. //Obsessive Love// "Watch… and know my love for my Lord."

"You don't know what love is, do you?" Sana realized, staring at the young girl.

"It is all I know…"

It was then that the Jebel clan initiated their plan. In an attempt to locate the cloaked Megami, the three pirate ships would fire all their beam cannons at their lowest settings and widest dispersal pattern. Though the greatly weakened shots would do little damage, they would serve in place of the pirate's ships' useless sensors. When one of the arrays registered a hit, every weapon and missile the three ships could muster would be hurled at the point. It was a good plan…

"Fire," the senior of the three captains ordered over the linked communications channels. The Megami being such a large ship, he was certain that if it were still in the area, they would spot it. When the beams cut through the void of space unhindered, all three captains let out sighs of relief.

…A good plan for a ship of this dimension.

Sana jumped to her feet; one of the beams was coming straight for her! Being as the walls, ceilings and floor of the Megami seemed nonexistent, to Sana's perspective, it appeared that she was standing in the middle of space. She attempted to dive out of the way, but was not fast enough for the near speed of light beam. She had just left her feet when the center of the ray hit her in the midriff and engulfed her whole being.

Sana screamed and Megami laughed.

//Mirth//

It was such a drastic change in emotion that Sana actually paused from her death throws to stare at the sadistic girl. Seeing Megami returning her stare, and laughing caused Sana to realize that either Megami was far more a sadist than even she thought or her death wasn't all it was cracked up to be. It was taking an inordinate amount of time considering she was struck full on by a ship destroying beam cannon.

"What?" Sana wondered aloud. Her surprise increased a thousand fold when the nearest Jebel clan ship came so close to the Megami that one of its sensor arrays, which protruded a good forty meters from the hull of the ship, passed straight through the Megami's own hull. "How?"

If Megami had been more experienced a tactician, she might have left that question a mystery for her adversaries to figure out on their own, but there was more to the adolescent image she projected than just looks.  "I told you that they would not touch me. I can shift my mass out of phase with this plane. No one of this dimension may paw me or handle me, save my lord and master." This wasn't entirely true, but Megami's was too proud to think of her better at this point.

Such a mercurial girl! Raging instrument of death one moment, bubbly and giggly the next. "Wow, you really are an amazing ship. I see now that I was completely wrong…"

"Of course you do!" Megami beamed. "No one in this dimension is my equal."

Sana laughed and Megami joined her a moment later.

Outside the Megami, the three pirate ships began to stand down from their battle stations, satisfied in the false knowledge that their initial attack had drove the Megami away. Still they were cautious and inched away from the area to report back to their homeport, weapon's crews on standby. Unfortunately, Megami was indeed a predator and their movement once again garnered the attention of the Goddess.

Slowly, Sana's laughing died down when she noticed the stars moving again. The Megami was heading towards the pirate vessel furthest away, passing stealthily by the two closest vessels. "What are you doing?" Sana asked, worry creeping back into her voice.

Megami's only response to Sana's question was her continued giggling.

"I asked; what are you doing!"

Whether it was Sana's authoritative tone or merely whimsy, Megami answered. "Showing you my worth. Don't be so forgetful." Megami's hand reached forward out into the darkness, making like to grab the receding ship.

"You don't have to do this! I already said that you were amazing."

Megami's hand continued to reach out. Spans of black began to form in space ahead of the ghost ship. The only reason Sana could see them was because they obstructed her view of the pirate ship.

"That can't see you! They can't hurt you! They can't even touch you! You can just walk away!"

//Vanity and Desire// "They think that they have defeated me, driven me away. The Megami does not flee from battle. They will know this."

The captain of the Jebel-Rudawa accepted the glass of ale offered to him by one of his stewards and leaned back into his captain's chair. His mind did not muse on the events of a few moments ago. There would be time for that later, when the clan heads gathered. It was always his belief to offer thanks to the gods for a successful mission or battle as soon as possible or raise their ire. "Well done, lads! A toast to you! We have avenged our brothers and sisters of the Katul.

A cheer rose up from the bridge crew and over the intercom.

"Now lets get back on course. Reset the navigation computer for our original waypoints and engage main engines."

The hum of the main engines powering up filled the engine room and the ship began to accelerate until five black finger-like tendrils of energy surrounded the ship.

The Rudawa came to an abrupt halt; the ship's inertial dampeners failing to compensate for such a great change in acceleration.

"What's wrong with the engines?" the captained yelled, picking himself up off the floor.

A bewildered voice answered back over the intercom. "Nothing as far as I can see. We are at full output."

"Sir! Sensors indicate pressure building on the hull. We are being crushed!"

"What!" the captain shouted.

"It's going to breech!"

There was no explosion. The vacuum of space did not rush in to claim the lives of the crew. The ship that was the Rudawa was simply impacted upon itself, as if in the midst of a black hole, until it ceased to exist in any practical manner.

The other two ships watched helplessly the destruction of their sister ship. One captain, in a fit of rage, fired relentlessly into the five voids of black that had crushed the Rudawa. They disappeared into its depths, having no noticeable effects. Before a second volley could be fired, one of the wings of black lashed out and sliced the pirate vessel in two. It did explode.

The third ship's captain was in no mood to play either hero or martyr. Using the time it took the Megami to destroy the other two vessels, it pushed its engines from their idle to maximum output. It streaked from the area, pushing the engines to dangerous levels.

When a ship appeared in their escape path and the large mass of black gray and blue was brought on screen, a whimper escaped from the captain's mouth. The bridge crew did not notice, caught up in their own fear. This wasn't even a battle. What use was bravado when battling a ghost?

"They were running away! Defeated! They know you won! Let them live," Sana pleaded.

"Why?"

"Why?" Sana parroted, bewildered. "What do you mean, 'Why?' They are living beings. Every living being has a right to live."

"You don't believe that…" Megami retorted.

"I most certainly do!"

Megami paused and the pirate vessel waited for death in any form that it would come. 

"I have gone through your Katuil's databank. You kill living beings all the time: for gain, for food, for sport," Megami began. "A pirate you call yourself."

"There are many who don't do those things. People on that ship…"

"You also kill that which annoys you. That which is beneath you."

"What?"

"Things you consider pest and vermin. Things that vex and bother your existence…"

"People are not insects or vermin…"

Megami smiled an innocent small smile, one that belied the darkness of the thought that was running through her head. "They are to me."

And finally Sana understood. Megami was not human, not even remotely. She gave human life about as much weight as Sana gave an ant. No, Sana didn't go out of her way to slaughter ants, but neither did she shed a tear at their deaths nor did she think twice or regret killing any that bit or annoyed her. Sana was an ant as far as Megami was concerned.

But what of this master of hers she has come to serve. What was he, if not human?

This strategy was risky, as Megami might construe it as an insult, but little choice lay before Sana. "What about your Master? Isn't he from this dimension too? Isn't he humanoid?"

To Sana's surprise, Megami became even more amused at the description. "My lord is as above me as I am above you."

As powerful as Megami appeared to be… her master was even more so? Humanoids were the predominant species, what else could her master be, if not human? How could such a being remain unknown to Sana or anyone else in this galaxy? She shelved those questions for now. "You say you do everything in your master's name?" Sana questioned, forming a plan she prayed would work.

"I would do no such thing. I do not presume to speak for or act on my Master's behalf. I only serve him and follow his desires. What I do now is a demonstration for you, so that those of this dimension may know of his greatness."

At least, Sana now knew why she had been spared, not that the revelation comforted her. "And how do you know your Master would approve of your slaughtering all these people?"

"Why would my Lord care?"

"If you love and honor your lord like you say, you better find out for sure, before you blacken his name any further."

"Blacken his name?" Megami turned from Sana, deep in thought. "How have I blackened his name?" Perhaps she was hastening events best left to their own course. //Worry// "I have delayed here long enough." //Longing// I will present myself to my Master at once and you will see for yourself."

Sana could feel the obsessive compulsive need Megami had for the love and approval of her master. It was like a heavy fog that filled the room. If anyone was to convince her that human life had value, it was going to have to be him. Considering the power that was about to be handed to him, Sana could only hope that Megami's master was a good man, for the galaxy's sake as well as her own.

No death came for the frightened crew of the Hafit. The ghost ship vanished in silence, leaving them to ponder the whimsy of the ship named the "Goddess".

The race was on and by the lengthening distance between the participants the fix was in.

"Damn that first generation ship of Yosho's," Ryoko cursed as the Funaho steadily increased its lead against the Ryo Ohki and the newly revitalized Ryu Oh. The Funaho had been able to catch Ryo Ohki seven hundred years ago when Ryoko had all three of her gems. She hated to admit it, but looking down at her sole gem, she realized there was no way Ryo Ohki was going to catch the Funaho. Ryoko was, however, able to take solace in the fact that neither would Aeka aboard the second generation Ryu Oh.

"Wow, I had no idea that you had a spaceship, Tenchi," Mihoshi said with apparent awe as the two dots of light representing the Ryo Ohki and Ryu- Oh faded further and further.

Tenchi didn't know he had a spaceship either.

"And it's so fast too! Where and when did you get it?" Mihoshi asked astonished at the ship's acceleration.

Tenchi stood in the middle of a circular platform that stood ten meters above the area where Mihoshi was standing. On either side of platform were twin cascades of glistening water that flowed around the trunk of the tree that was the heart and soul of the ship. 'How?' Tenchi thought perplexed.

'How?!' a voice questioned back in his mind. 'You don't remember?' the feminine voice sounded almost hurt.

"Ah?" Tenchi mouthed aloud. "Who?"

'Yosho has given me the name, Funaho.'

Tenchi's eyes widened, recalling the time he had heard the voice earlier. "You're the one I heard at the breakfast table… Funaho… but… how? Why are you talking to me?"

SIGH – 'You don't remember at all do you?'

"Remember what?"

"Huh?" I didn't saying anything, Tenchi," Mihoshi unwittingly responded to the question.

"Oh? Sorry, Mihoshi. I was just thinking out loud."

"Ah, I see… I do that too sometimes. It helps when I get confused." Mihoshi turned back to gazing at the passing stars. They would be reaching the station soon and the butterflies in her stomach were becoming carnivorous.

'The tree bonding ceremony…' Funaho clarified.

'Tree bonding?' Tenchi wondered.

'Yes,' Funaho answered simply.

'I've never participated in such a thing. I think I would remember if I did," Tenchi said, quite sure of his memory.

"Well, you have. Granted the situation at the time was grave and most of the pomp and circumstance had been removed from the ceremony."

"Wait!" Tenchi shouted out, taking the small clue Funaho had given him.

"Wait? What's the matter Tenchi? Did you forget something? Y… you haven't changed your mind about going have you?"

"Huh? Oh… no… um… I mean… I can't wait… to get there… the party I mean."

Mihoshi nodded silently and returned her mind to calming her growing nerves, something Tenchi's outburst had not helped with.

Funaho giggled. 'I take it, you were talking to me?'

'The sword… when Grandpa threw the sword into your trunk… he said that it was mine now.'

'Yes… the Master Key.'

Tenchi's eyes widened. 'It's your key.'

'Yes, when you took ownership of the Master Key, you were taking ownership of me, Funaho. As I have served Crowned Prince Yosho, so shall I serve his heir, Crowned Prince Tenchi.'

'Ah…'

Funaho sensed his trepidation at her words and chuckled. 'Sorry… No take backs. The key is yours now.'

Tenchi decided to switch subjects. 'Aeka said that you had taken root and could no longer fly…'

'I see you've forgotten that night as well. I will show you what you have misplaced and the power that sleeps within you…'

Tenchi stumbled down the moonlit path leading around the glistening lake in front of the Masaki home. The way the bright light of the moon twinkled on the still waters of the lake played havoc with Tenchi's alcohol induced headache. He closed his eyes and let the slender hand that held his own guide him to their destination.

"This way, Tenchi."

Her voice was soothing, warm and… familiar. Unlike the incessantly grating noise of the crickets and other night sounds assaulting his ears, her voice was like a gentle caress. He wasn't sure for how long they walked or for how far. Tenchi merely concentrated on placing one foot before the other without falling over.

"Here we are."

Tenchi felt the woman's hand guide him around to stand in front of something. He hazarded opening his eyes and waited for them to adjust to the dark of his surroundings. When they finally did, Tenchi found himself standing in the middle of the small pond that was now the home of the tree Funaho.

He turned to the woman who had led him from his home to the middle of the woods.

"Tsunami…"

The Juraian goddess smiled warmly at the young man. "Hello, Tenchi," She said simply.

He noted that she still held his hand and began to blush, unsure of what to do or why he was out here. "Umm… What can I do for you?"

"I need your help to restore Funaho."

Tenchi blinked at her confusedly. "My help? W… why would you need my help."

The only answer that Tenchi received for his question was Tsunami's broadening smile. With Tenchi's hand still in her own she placed it onto Funaho's trunk. Tenchi looked at his hand, his palm flat against the trunk of the tree, Tsunami's hand covering the top of it. He was again about to convey his confusion when Tsunami rendered him speechless.

As she had done once before, in far different situation, Tsunami approached the reluctant crowned prince. With her warm pink eyes staring into Tenchi's own dark brown ones; she tilted her head towards his. For what seemed like an all too brief life time her eyes stared into his, her nose brushed against his and her breath caressed his cheek. As the two circles that were her emblems of power began to glow, she gently closed her eyes and spoke in but whispers.

"Do you feel it, Tenchi?"

Oh, he was feeling a great many things: Her words washing over his lips in a shower of hot breath, Her hand pressed against his, Her breast brushing against his chest, causing the heart within it to thrash against it's bony prison.

"Do you feel your power?"

He had to think about that one. He tried to separate the sensations he felt coursing through his body. Some familiar, some not, some caused by the remnants of alcohol and others caused by the nearness of a beautiful woman. Power? He definitely felt very much alive, but his power? No, this was something else. He had felt it often enough before living with Ryoko and the others to recognize it, though he'd be loathe to admit it. He opened his mouth to tell her so when it struck him.

His whole body became rigid and his eyes shut forcefully. Parts of him began to shake spasmodically. His hand against the tree began to tighten into a fist but Tsunami forced it flat once more. With her free hand the goddess placed her arm around the shaking teen's shoulders. His emblem of power resonated brightly with Tsunami's. It was nothing like the last time… the feeling was… orgasmic.

As the feeling began to subside, Tenchi was left with a sense of vigor and awareness that he had only felt three times before. Despite his best attempts to suppress it, what could only be described as a giggle burst from his lips.

Tsunami laughed as well. 'Maybe the alcohol was effecting him,' the goddess thought with mirth. "Close your eyes and see with your mind."

Tenchi did so, not exactly sure what it was he was supposed to be seeing. On the other side of his closed eyes, hundreds of iridescent beams of light began to burst forth from Funaho's leaves, washing the area in their rainbow light. An image began to form in Tenchi's mind.

"I see… I see a ship!"

Tsunami nodded, their foreheads still pressed against the other. "Yes, Tenchi," she affirmed. "That is the Funaho. See her in all her glory, Tenchi. See her beautiful lines and curves, her form and grace."

Tenchi memorized every detail of the elegant capital ship of the Jurai Empire and as he did so the stately tree began to glow a fierce white. The area around the tree began to shake as Tsunami pored her power into the tree and Tenchi's power to transform objects gave it shape.

Pieces of the long destroyed ship, broken and decayed through the centuries once again were given form, were ripped from the surrounding ground.

Tsunami added even more power, a blinding circle of energy surrounded the small pond, carving it from earth and lifting it into the air.

"See, it Tenchi? Give it form… Return to it what was lost, Tenchi."

Increasingly larger pieces of the ship were created and joined in the air surrounding the great tree, until finally, the first generation tree-ship, Funaho, floated majestically in the skies once more.

Tsunami stepped back from Tenchi and the young man quickly felt the invigoration and power that so infused every pore of his being just moments ago fade into nothing. He collapsed to the ground, his head no longer reeling from the effects of the alcohol, which had been purged by his power, but from the exhausting and draining effects of what he had just accomplished.

The goddess, Tsunami, looked gently down on the resting prince. "Thank you."

'That wasn't a dream?'

'A dream? Do you dream of the Mistress often?'

'No comment'

Sasami finished cleaning up the last of the dishes and wiped her hands dry on a towel before putting it and her apron away. With her final chore done, Sasami exited the kitchen and stood in the middle of the deserted living room. Though the Masaki home was quaint when compared to the palatial rooms she had known as a child on Jurai, the empty and quiet room seemed large and lifeless with everyone gone. Taking a quick note of the time from an antiquated clock that hung on the wall above the room's large screen television with intergalactic reception. The little princess smiled at how well the old and new melded in this house. A skip in her step, Sasami went up the stairs to the room she shared with her older sister to find something appropriate to wear.

As usual, in all the haste and chaos that swirled around her, no one had taken the time or even thought of telling her about Tenchi going to the annual Galaxy Police Ball with Mihoshi. It wasn't hard to guess from there where Ryoko and Aeka had gone after that. Especially considering the time in front of the mirror they spent trying to look just right this morning. If she wanted to follow, she was left to her own devices and what devices she had.

Looking through her wardrobe, she tried to find something suitable for such a momentous occasion as the first appearance public or otherwise of the new crowned prince of planet Jurai. After all, she doubted Tenchi could escape the moniker after today. She may still be little, but she was old enough to understand where Tenchi seemingly did not that going to such a function dressed in such a fashion was going to be Tenchi's coming out, whether he meant it or not.

Remembering the dark colors Tenchi himself was wearing, Sasami decided upon a Juraian style kimono with white sleeves and neckline, a black bodice and gray and gold trim. Looking at herself in the mirror, her attention moved to her twin ponytails. This would be her first appearance in sometime as well, and her very first appearance at an event that was not held on Jurai or chaperoned by her parents. Reaching into her silken blue hair, and undid one of her ornamental bindings, freeing her body-length hair to fall loosely down her back. Perhaps it was time for a change.

It was an hour later that a miniature version of the goddess she would become emerged from the upper floor bedroom. Walking back downstairs and into the living room, Sasami again checked the time. It was late afternoon… by her reckoning, Tenchi and Mihoshi should be nearing Galaxy Police Headquarters with Aeka and Ryoko not too far behind. Sasami, herself, would be a little late, but with her mode of transportation, it would take very little time for her to get there. With that in mind, she decided to see what Washu's plans were.

Today was a rare one on many fronts; one of these oddities was that little Mayuka was going to be watched not by one of the many women of the house but by her grandfather, Noboyuki. That is… once he retrieved her from Washu.

As he left his small work den, his bedroom long having been donated to one of the girls, he spotted an immaculately dressed Sasami heading in the direction of Washu's laboratory door.

"STOP!" Noboyuki shouted, causing the startled Sasami to jump before freezing in place. Noboyuki was pointing at her with wide eyes and a very serious expression on his face.

'Oh no,' Sasami thought with a growing sense of worry. 'He must think I'm too little to go.'

Noboyuki kept her frozen in place with his pointed finger, while he backed into his den again.  He quickly reemerged with camera in hand. Sasami let out a sigh of relief.

"Don't you look like the little lady? Going to go chase after the others?" Noboyuki asked while looking through the viewfinder of his camera.

Sasami posed and nodded her head with enthusiasm. "Yup, I wouldn't miss this for all the world."

"Well," Noboyuki began finishing with the shot. "How do you plan on getting there? You're not old enough to drive, fly or whatever are you? Were you planning on asking Washu?"

Sasami giggled lightly to herself. "No, no, I have my own ship… like my sister's. I was planning on asking Washu if were going too and wanted to ride with me."

"Really?" Noboyuki gasped with amazement. The two were just outside Washu's door inside the stairwell. "I can't imagine someone your age driving a car, but I guess that sort of thing is normal where you girls are from."

Sasami was silent for a moment. "My case is kind of special," she said quickly before entering Washu's lab.

Now standing alone in front of the lab's door, Noboyuki was beginning to think that he had said something wrong. Entering the lab himself, another thought occurred to him. Maybe the reason Tenchi was making such slow progress with the girls was that he had too much of a good thing. After all, it had to be difficult to get close to one of them when the others were always around.

From the conversation he had with his son before Tenchi's evening in Tokyo, Noboyuki got the impression that Tenchi had a particular girl in mind. The logical guess would be Mihoshi, since she was the one he had come home with that night and kissed. AND she was the one he was out with currently. With Aeka and Ryoko playing the role of spoilers, not much was likely to happen on this date. Tenchi wasn't experienced enough to entertain three woman, much less two more if Washu and Sasami were going to tag along as well. Maybe he should try and keep the two of them here.

Noboyuki's slow progress into the lab finally brought him to where Washu was sitting. Her back was to him and all Noboyuki could make out was her voluminous red hair. Sasami was standing next to her, watching with soft envious eyes and her hands clasped to her chest. Noboyuki began thinking of ways to keep Sasami and Washu at home without coming right out and saying that Tenchi and Mihoshi needed time alone. None of the women had taken that idea rather well the last time. Perhaps if he told them that he had to rush back to work and couldn't watch Mayuka as was planned. Yeah, that would work… "Washu, Sasami, could you," Noboyuki started before his brain was rendered inert and for only the second time in his forty some odd years of life, Noboyuki Masaki wished he were a two year old girl.

"Quite the armada out there, huh?" A galaxy police officer in his mid-twenties said in awe of the array of ships docked around the galaxy police spaceport.  And that didn't include the majority of the Juraian ships, most of which lurked nearby in subspace.

The old lieutenant looked up from the girlie mag he was reading. "What?"

"Hey, will you put the smut down! You're on duty."

Grumbling, the older officer stuffed the magazine into his boot. "Yes, Sir. Right away, Sir." He affirmed in mock obedience.

The younger duty officer did not miss his tone. He turned from marveling at the display of ships to correct his subordinate. Just as he did so, a ship not seen for seven hundred years and believed by those who knew her, completely unsalvageable, gracefully approached the station.

"It's your attitude that is constantly causing you to get passed over for promotion. Stand up when a superior officer is talking to you!"

Forcefully standing from his chair, the old veteran assumed a rather relaxed position of attention. He had seen a million of these young hotshots and was a glorious seven days from retirement with full pension. In other words, he couldn't have cared less.

"And another thing," the up and coming officer continued, before being interrupted.

The computer terminal sounded the tone for a ship approaching the station just a moment before said ship's occupants appeared on the view screen, replacing the exterior shot of the ship. The officer turned to address the new arrivals, though his attention and anger remained with his slacking subordinate.

"This is Detective First Class Mihoshi Kuramitsu and Ten… and guest, aboard the Funaho. Waiting docking instructions," Mihoshi greeted.

Recognizing Mihoshi, the officer did even bother checking the ship's registration or transponder codes. He gave a terse reply and resumed debasing the short timer.

Disappearing into subspace, the Funaho would remain a ghost ship a few hours longer, while her human partner and his date joined the rest of the guests of the Galaxy Police Ball.

"Is she asleep?" Sasami asked with a voice that was just a hair above a whisper.

Washu nodded pulling back the sleeping Mayuka from her bear breast. She placed the baby in a floating bassinet and then covered her chest.

"I wish I could do that," Sasami said with envy.

Washu laughed softly. "Well, you have two choices. Wait til your old enough to have a child of your own. Or… be the universe's greatest scientist!"

"Oh yeah," Sasami remembered her reason for coming into the lab. "I was just about to leave, and I was wondering if you were going to the Galaxy Police ball too."

"I wouldn't miss it! Just give me a second to put on something more suitable." She snapped her fingers and was instantly in an old style dress uniform of Royal Science Academy.

As the two left they noticed a motionless Noboyuki standing nearby. Sasami giggled at the sight, fairly certain of the cause, before leaving the lab.

Washu paused snapping her fingers in his face. No reaction whatsoever. Maybe breast-feeding Mayuka was a bit strange, but she didn't know she was going to have an audience. Besides… She just wanted to remember what it felt like.

Just around the corner to the corridor that led to the banquet hall, Lord Remus paused to collect himself and straighten his clothing. His mind and heart were racing, but his face and outward demeanor showed nothing but calm. Deciding he was ready, he turned the corner and walked briskly down the hall. Several loitering police officers outside the hall's large double doors straightened and gave greeting, which he returned with a simple nod as he came past.

At the door, the young galaxy police officer chosen because of his exemplary performance record for the current period stood duty. Upon seeing Lord Remus approach, he snapped to rigid attention and saluted smartly the Juraian Intelligence Liaison and governor.

"On behalf of the men and women of the Galaxy Police, I welcome you to our annual gathering," the young officer said confidently.

Lord Remus's expression was friendly. "Thank you, it is always a pleasure to attend such events. I get the chance to meet many enterprising people at these functions… people such as yourself."

The officer smiled with pride. Though it seemed a menial task, working the door was a great opportunity to network. Just imagine the people he would meet today. "Thank you, Sir. We try our best to serve with honor." The officer swung open the door to the banquet hall.

For the merest of seconds the uncertainty that was consuming Remus's mind showed in his eyes.

'…Serve with honor…'

For a very long time, he had done so for her with out question and his heart was passionately making the argument that he would continue to do so and that he was doing even more so now. Doubt still crept about in his mind; however the prize he sought to gain easily eclipsed any hesitation.  His outward face again in place he stepped into the room.

The banquet hall was huge and pentagonal in shape with a dark gray and black marble floor. At each vertex, there was an exit. Plush carpeting, a deep blue (one of the official colors of the Galaxy Police), lined the way from the doors into the banquet hall. At the apex of the room, the floor inclined gradually to a height of about three meters where it plateaued. On this rise was a long angular shaped table. The table's long sides formed and obtuse V-shape, but with the vertices chopped off. The highly polished table was handcrafted from fine Juraian Oak, a gift from one of Jurai's previous emperors to the Galaxy Police upon its inception. On the table itself were ten place settings made from fine crystal and rare metals.

Directly in front of this area, embossed into the floor was the Galaxy Police crest, after which was an area for dancing. In front of the dance area, was row upon row of small round tables with blue tablecloths. The place settings found here were of a far more modern design and had the mass produced look that their great number suggested.

As Lord Remus entered further into the room, he saw that a great many of the balls attendees had already arrived. Walking along the side of the dance area and nearing his seat at the head of the table, he noticed and unexpected figure, Yakage of the Royal Science Academy sitting alone near the table's end. Yakage had never shown much interest in attending functions such as this in the past, even those held on Jurai. What was he doing here? Putting that oddity for the side for now, Remus looked for more faces in the crowd out of work induced habit. Lord Nephrus and his escort, the Lady Sakuya Bushi with whom Remus had arrived at the station were standing near the table's center speaking with the Galaxy Police's Grand Marshal and one of his top subordinates.

Remus could see by the barely concealed look of boredom on Sakuya's face that Nephrus was not long for this party. If Nephrus had one obvious weakness, Sakuya Bushi was it and apparently there wasn't enough entertainment and opportunity, (E/O as Sakuya would put it) here at the ball to keep her attention.

"Lord Nephrus, Marshal," Remus greeted approaching the group.

"Ah! …One of the few competent men on the council. Lord Remus, fashionably late and as grim as ever."

"Good evening to you, Lord Remus," added the Marshal.

"Lady Sakuya," Remus began turning to Nephrus's companion. "You continue to surpass my recollections of your beauty each time I see you," he said kissing the hand she offered.

"All you gentlemen in Juraian intelligence are such flatters," Sakuya stated with a chuckle. "I never know when one of you is being truthful or cunning. Still, it is nice to hear. When I become First Queen, I hope you will continue to serve with such relish in your duties.

The Marshal and the other GP officer seemed surprised by Sakuya's words. To most it was believed that with Prince Yosho missing, Princess Aeka would become First Queen and whomever she married from the other noble houses, would be Emperor. Hearing otherwise from someone of Sakuya's station raised eyebrows, but those who've been around Sakuya long enough knew her to joke about being the next First Queen.

Although to Sakuya, it was no joke.

Nephrus laughed out loud at both Sakuya's brashness, which he found refreshing and the reaction it caused. He placed his arm around her slim waist. "Now, now, you have to watch what you say in mixed company."

Sakuya would have none of it. "Such nonsense, it's not as if the right of succession is some government secret." Sakuya moved to the Marshal's side and stood on her toes to whisper in his ear. "I'll be next Queen, I guarantee it. Who will be my Emperor is the question." The Marshal looked at her with a raised eyebrow, to which Sakuya just winked. She then returned to Nephrus's side and placed her hand on his chest as she spoke to him. "Let's mingle with some of the junior officers. You never know who might become the next Grand Marshal."

"Indeed… indeed… the future is what you make of it," Nephrus was heard saying as the pair walked off.

"Interesting woman," the Marshal said as he and Remus watched the couple disappear into the crowd. "In some ways, she reminds me of my granddaughter."

"Oh?" Remus mouthed with surprise. "This would be… Mihoshi, or some other granddaughter?" Remus didn't quite see the connection.

"Haha… Yes, I mean my Granddaughter, Mihoshi. Like Sakuya, she says what's on her mind and never gives up going after her dreams." The Marshal checked his timepiece and scanned the crowd. "She should be here by now."

"Well," Remus began jokingly. "If what I hear of your Granddaughter is true, I'm sure we will not miss her entrance."

The Marshal looked at Remus grimly for a moment, before laughing. "Too true, and if what her mother tells me is true…" The Marshal leaned over. "She's bringing her beau with her," the Marshal said in confidence with a wink. "My daughter doesn't seem to know much about him. I can't wait to meet him."

Though, at times, the duty was tedious, with long stretches of time with nothing but a large empty corridor for company, not for a second did the officer regret his assignment. He had already met Lord Remus, whose titles included Vice Head of Juraian Intelligence, Governor of Jurai's largest protectorate, and Chief Juraian Liaison to the Galaxy Police. He also was introduced to Lord Nephrus, Commander of the Juraian Military answerable only to the Jurai Royal Council. A position many viewed as a stepping-stone to the emperorship.  With him had been the eldest daughter of the House of Bushi, the Lady Sakuya. Though not the leader of her house, her brother, Seiryo, held that position, it was she many contributed to be the real force in the powerful noble family.

"Let's see… I've also met the Vice Admiral of Operations and the Grand Marshal, himself! Not bad for four hours of duty. Oh?" the young officer was startled from his self-congratulations by footsteps coming his way. He looked up with an air of confidence and in the perfect position of attention… until he saw who it was or rather whom it wasn't.

"Humph, just a Detective First-Class," He could meet one of those any workday. He attempted to see past the tall blonde to the man who was accompanying her, but unfortunately, he could not get a good look. The two paused in the middle of the hallway as if unsure they wanted to continue further. The officer tapped his foot impatiently, he didn't have time to waste on Detective First-Classes and he couldn't imagine anyone relevant serving as an escort to such a mid-rank officer.

Surprisingly, despite being just outside the large twin doors to the banquet hall, not a sound could be heard of the great number of people gathered on the other side. The hallway was completely silent, save for the impatient foot tapping of a young officer, who had the privileged duty of acting as doorman and greeter to the varied guests and dignitaries as they arrived. The quiet was so complete that Tenchi could hear the sound of his heart beating in a nervous panic.

What was he doing here? Being on a date was cause enough for anxiety to strike Tenchi, but doing so dressed as a prince of a planet he knew little about, and surrounded by aliens he didn't know had Tenchi near a nervous collapse. He visibly swallowed the pool of saliva that had collected in his mouth and closed his eyes in an attempt to will his heart to slow down. He had just about succeeded when he felt a clammy hand grab hold of his own.

Mihoshi paused just a meter or two in front of the large double doors. Her courage had been slowly leaving her ever since it became likely that Tenchi would escort her and now that the moment was here that courage was utterly gone. Her two loves were about to meet officially for the first time and the young woman found that her feet wouldn't move.

In most instances, Tenchi Masaki was not what one would call a lady's man. There, however, existed occasions in which Tenchi forgoes his normal behavior pattern, such as his hearing Mihoshi's emotional sigh…

A woman in pain, mental, physical or otherwise was not something Tenchi Masaki just stood by and watched. His own nervousness be damned.

A startled gasp escaped Mihoshi's lips and she looked down with a wide-eyed expression when she felt Tenchi squeeze her hand. "Shall we," she heard Tenchi say. Silently, she nodded in reply and the two of them stepped forward together.

"Well, it's about time," the honor guard at the door began to mutter before he got a closer look at the couple before him. He quickly closed his mouth. Though the female officer was indeed just a Detective First-Class, she was also Mihoshi Kuramitsu, Detective First-Class… as in granddaughter of the Grand Marshal Kuramitsu, Mihoshi. He wasn't sure how close the two were, but it was in his best interest to make a good impression. Maybe he should ask her out?

He may have taken that route if not for the man who was escorting her. This man was a complete and total shock to the system and the officer's attention focused on him absolutely.

Following the happenings of the Jurai royal class was a passionate hobby of his. To be perfectly honest, he was an avid, if not rabid, Sasami-file. A fact which few of his friends and colleagues knew, because if anyone perchance did see some of the memorabilia he had of little Sasami in his quarters, he wouldn't be a GP officer for long. In any case, he was fairly confident that he knew, most of the names, if not faces of the members of the noble ruling families. In fact, he had brushed up with a quick review of the Who's Who of Jurai's Nobles before coming to work, but he had never seen this face before.

He would have dismissed the unfamiliar face as just some unimportant third cousin, twice removed or some other far-flung relation to one of the noble houses or a lesser family if not the manner of his dress. The design and color scheme were unmistakably that of Joure' de Qwuor, who as anyone who follows these things knows, designs clothing exclusively for the Royal House of Masaki. Only a highborn member of the house would be wearing such arraignments. But how could such a person remain totally unknown all this time. He was obviously subscribing to the wrong news services; perhaps it was time to give Masaki Beat a try?

Mihoshi reluctantly let go of Tenchi's hand and retrieved her and Tenchi's ticket from the inner breast pocket of her dress uniform. She handed the tickets over to her fellow officer at the door. Immediately afterward, she began thinking of reasons to grab hold of Tenchi's hand again.

Openly staring at Tenchi, the officer numbly took the tickets from the Detective First-Class. He spared just a moment's glance down at the card in his hand in hopes of learning the unknown noble's name. He was out of luck though.

'Detective First-Class Mihoshi Kuramitsu and Guest'

"May we go in?" Tenchi asked, jolting the officer back to the mystery in front of him.

"Huh? Oh… Yes… yes, of course, you may enter, Sir. Welcome to the Galaxy Police Benevolence Ball. I hope you have an enjoyable time, Lord?"

Tenchi waved his hand and shook his head. "My name is Tenchi, just Tenchi." When Tenchi lowered his hand, Mihoshi drew up her courage and grasped it once again.

"Let's go, Tenchi. I'll introduce you to my Grandfather." And with that Mihoshi dragged Tenchi inside the ballroom.

'Tenchi,' wondered the officer as his gaze followed the couple inside. "Where have I heard that name before?" He scratched his head. He just couldn't place it. "Wow, what a day. Wonder who else'll show?"

The Ryo-Ohki streaked to halt as it reached the huge Galaxy Police Headquarters complex. The Ryu-Oh was just seconds behind as Aeka's ship pulled up along side Ryoko's. It wasn't long before the shift of officers working the operations center of the Galaxy Police station pulled the images of both vessels onto their viewing screens. The Ryo-Ohki was identified immediately.

Although the warrants for her arrest had been expunged from her record with the Galaxy Police due to the statute of limitations of her crimes expiring, in addition to being forgiven the monetary damages she caused on Jurai, did not mean Ryoko had free passage through out the galaxy. And it certainly didn't mean she could show up unannounced at the Galaxy Police HQ station while dignitaries and high-ranking officials from across the systems were present, as the flotilla of patrol ships that began to surround the Ryo-Ohki would testify.

Ryoko looked at a view screen full of Galaxy Police ships all surrounding her and the Ryo-Ohki. She growled with growing anger, a feeling that only increased when a final view screen popped up a few inches in front of her face.

"Oh oho oh, looks like your reputation precedes you, Ryoko," Aeka's voice goaded. "I'll let Lord Tenchi know that you were delayed. Ohohoho!"

Ryoko's eyes narrowed dangerously. Nothing or no one was going to keep her from Tenchi's side.

Finally! Susan's great moment had arrived, now she just had to corner it. Although Susan had no idea what Prince Tenchi looked like, Juraian royalty usually weren't that hard to spot. In addition, she was able to retrieve a photo of Officer Mihoshi from an old news story. Turns out Detective First Class Mihoshi had come by her own bit of notoriety. 

They were probably just plant stories, Susan figured. No one that destructive would be given escort duty to the illegitimate Jurai prince. Her photo should be real enough though. Susan glanced at it again and then scanned the crowded room. Not a sign of her or a Juraian noble of note, save for Lords Nephrus and Remus. The ball was well underway and they weren't here! Why weren't they here! Susan's fist clenched into claws and her eyes darted about the room in search of her prey.

"Excuse me, Miss. Would you like to dan…"

"Khaaaa," Susan hissed at the interrupter, scaring off her third would be dance partner of the evening. For a third time, Susan considered abandoning her observation post near the front of the room. Her current location gave her a clean view of the dignitaries' table where Lord Nephrus and Lord Remus were sitting and watching the festivities. She also noted that the Grand Marshall was also seated at that table. The fact that he was Mihoshi's Grandfather had cemented Susan's beliefs in a conspiracy between the Galaxy Police and the Juraian nobility.

It was beginning to occur to her that such a bright spotlight might not be the place to find a bastard prince. But if that were the case, why would they come here at all? Maybe that's why they weren't here.

"Hello, my name's…"

"I'm a lesbian." The count now stood at four.  'No, he had to be here. I won't accept anything else.' With that thought in mind, Susan began to systematically make her way through the crowd.

He heard her laughter two full minutes before she rounded the corner at full sprint. With the great lengths of her kimono bunched up in her hands, the First Princess of the Royal House of Masaki covered the hundred-meter length of the hallway in ten seconds, her knees rising high into the air. She slid to a halt just before she would have been forced to knock the doorman over and peered back down the hall that she had come from.

Aeka saw that Ryoko had been unable to follow and pumped her fist in the air triumphantly. 'Now to join Tenchi!' Aeka thought with a smile and began straightening the wrinkles out of her dress. When she finished, Aeka looked up at the attendant at the door expectantly. While she may not have had an invitation, she was still a princess and princesses' didn't need invitations.

While he may not have been able to place the last noble to arrive at his post, this one he easily placed, but it was no less of a shock. The First Princess not seen publicly in the last seven hundred years was standing in front of him. His eyes were already widened in surprise, but as a thought occurred to him, they grew even larger and his mouth gaped. 'Perhaps SHE was here as well!'

After three whole minutes waiting patiently for the door's attendant to allow her by or at the very least say something, Aeka grew indignant. After all, each moment wasted here was another moment Ryoko had to catch up. Even worse, it was more time Mihoshi had alone with Tenchi. Before her stay on Earth, Aeka would have taken a delay such as this as a personal slight against her, but just as Ryoko's time on the small planet had mellowed her so it had done for Aeka. Fixing her smile to her face once more and placing her hands and forearms into the folds of her kimono, Aeka spoke with only a slight edge to her voice. "If you would be so kind as to open the door… I have some friends waiting for me on the other side."

He blushed embarrassed and was about to announce her arrival into the hall when Aeka stopped him.

"Shhh, I do not wish to make a scene," Aeka hissed.

Without saying a word, he opened the double doors allowing Aeka to step inside. But just as she did so, he found the courage to ask the question that had clouded his mind to all else. "Your Highness, if I may wish you a pleasant evening. You do us a great honor this night."

Aeka's smile became genuine in place of the faux one she had earlier. She nodded and took another step towards the other guests.

"Ah… any chance your sister accompanied you?"

"No, she has not." And with that Aeka disappeared into the crowd.

As the double doors closed behind her, the young officer who had been so steadfast in his duty up to this point, sank to his knees in disappointment.

No Sasami?!

Sakuya picked at her food as the dull conversation at the royal table became a toneless droning in her ears. She tried to keep a veneer of pleasantry and interest, but it was becoming increasingly difficult.

"Something wrong, my love?" Nephrus asked noticing the glazed look beginning to dominate his companion's face.

Sakuya leaned closed to him and whispered into his ear. "This place is boring. I want to go."

Nephrus frowned; displeasing Sakuya was not something he wanted to do. "We'll leave in a little while; its important for our future that I make a showing at functions like these. It may not seem like it, but there are important contacts for me here. "Sakuya sighed in answer and he continued trying to placate her. "Soon, the throne will be mine and you will be my first and only queen. I will need no other," he smiled and squeezed her hand beneath the table.

Sakuya's frown disappeared and she smiled at Nephrus while nodding her acceptance of his words. The moment his attention turned from her however, her smile disappeared and a frown reappeared with a vengeance. Words only carried one so far with Sakuya.

Talk of being crowned emperor and naming her his sole empress sounded nice, but so far that was all it was… talk. Nephrus was the leading candidate on Sakuya's scorecard, although Ryu Oh's return complicated things. Nephrus was still favored, but it wasn't the sure thing it once had been. The marriage of Yosho to Aeka with the second-generation tree-ship, Ryu Oh, and the Royal House behind them about equaled Nephrus, his first-generation ship and the network of influence he had achieved. It was with that thought that Sakuya's eyes stared to wander the room, for what exactly she wasn't sure.

Nephrus was still talking to some Galaxy Police nobody. Lord Remus was speaking to the Marshal, who wasn't paying much attention. He seemed to be searching the crowd for someone. Professor Yakage was observing the crowd and writing incessantly on his stylus pad as if in the middle of some experiment. It would be interesting to read those observations of his. Her gaze then wandered over the sea of nobodies that filled the room. It was all so mundane.

She was about to demand that Nephrus take her home when she spotted something out of the corner of her eye. Nephrus and the others were to engrossed in their own conversations to notice, but there was a small commotion going on near the room's entrance. After all, it wasn't everyday that the First Princess shows up to a public service party. Sakuya's eyes were alight with intrigue now. What was so important at this affair that it would bring Aeka out of her self imposed exile?

Sakuya could tell that Aeka was not at all comfortable with the attention she was receiving, but Aeka had to have expected that. Sakuya also noted that the princess was looking about the room as if searching for someone in particular. From her raised vantage point, Sakuya tried to discern whom it could be.

Imagine everyone else at the table surprise when Sakuya practically leapt from her seat.

"Hello! Hello? Anybody home?" the two quieted, waiting for an answer, but only silence greeted them.

"Oh don't tell me, no one is home?" Misaki complained and tried peering through the door's keyhole. When that proved fruitless she tried the windows.

"Perhaps we should try the shrine. At the very least we wait there until the others return." The First Queen turned and took several steps towards her son's shrine before she realized her sister wasn't following. "Misaki? Sister?"

Misaki's entire frame shook as she stood in front of the closed Masaki door. Her head was canted toward the ground and her palms were planted flat against the door, both arms rigid straight.

Worriedly, Funaho came up to her sister and placed a hand on Misaki's quaking shoulder. "What is it? What's the matter?"

Misaki mouthed a word Funaho couldn't here.

"What?"

"cute…" The word was almost lost in the harshness of Misaki's breathing which burst from her lungs in spurts.

"Cute?" Funaho asked to make sure.

Her sister nodded her head. Her hands slid down the face of the door and stopped upon the handle. She gripped the knob in both hands. "…Cute… too cute." She began to pull and jerk wildly at the door. When it wouldn't give immediately she began to bang against it loudly with both fists and then she rammed it with her shoulder.

Funaho shook her head. Obviously, her sister's obsession with all things cuddly had gripped her once again, although she was rarely this… fanatical about it. What could be that cute?

Despite Washu's reinforcements and improvements to the house, the door began to splinter under Misaki's assault, but it wasn't happening enough for the Second Queen. She took a step back, raised a glowing palm to the door. It shattered into pieces no bigger than broken pencils. Before all the remnants had hit the ground, Misaki was through what was left of the door. Funaho followed wondering who or what could have her sister in such frenzy. She didn't act this crazed even around Ryo Ohki.

Misaki paused in the middle of the living room before dashing to the stairwell that housed the entrance of Washu's lab. All the while she repeated the word "cute" over and over again. She looked at the door, placing her right palm against it before she did an about face. "Not here," she said with a determined voice. Then like a bloodhound she began to search for the cuteness's trail.

"Misaki," began in a reproachful voice.

Misaki held up a hand, silencing her sister. "It's mine!" she said with such intensity that it frightened Funaho.

Funaho took a step back from her sister. 'What could possibly have crazed you so?' she wondered. She placed a hand to her exasperated forehead, when out of the corner of her eye she spotted it lying near the foot of the stairwell. Her eyes widened in understanding and dread. She quickly glanced toward Misaki who was looking in the opposite direction, before she dashed toward the stairs as fast as her legs and powers would allow.

This, of course, drew Misaki's attention. She blinked several times at her sister's action. It was so unlike Funaho that it actually snapped Misaki out of her craze, until she too spotted the baby's bottle lying near the bottom step. Her eyes burned.

Noboyuki sighed as he soaked in the tub with his granddaughter. He never did figure out how to get up to the floating onsen and neither the girls nor Tenchi were about to tell him. His thoughts drifted from one thing to another before settling on how his plans to keep Sasami and Washu at home and out of Tenchi's hair were so easily derailed. The sight of a bare breast shouldn't distract him so. Maybe it was time to…

"RUN!" A voice Noboyuki had never heard before shouted nearing the closed door of the upper stairs bathroom. "RUN!"

Alarmed that strangers were inside his home, Noboyuki quickly exited the tub clutching a sleeping Mayuka to his chest protectively. His eyes scrambled around the room for a means to protect himself and his granddaughter. Just then the door was thrust open and thrown off its rails.  A beautiful woman with ravened hair stood in its place, but Noboyuki didn't notice her looks. He looked at her with anger and apprehension.

"For the love of the Goddess, run before she gets here," the woman demanded.

"And just where am I supposed to run to?" Noboyuki retorted, gesturing to near windowless room and there was no way he and Mayuka would fit out the small rectangular window over the tub. "Who the hell are you anyway?"

"No time for questions," the woman responded as she wheeled around to face someone in the hallway.  "No… Misaki, NO!" Funaho drew her arm across her chest and formed a purple energy sword.

Misaki took slow, determined steps toward her sister, the First Queen. She too formed an energy sword of brilliant blue and then she formed a second one with her other hand. "Move," she mouthed quiet yet forcefully.

Noboyuki watched stunned as the two strange women stood off. "Who were these people?"

"Space Pirate Ryoko! This space has been designated a no fly zone for all vessels. Leave this sector of space immediately!"

Ryoko clenched and unclenched her fists. She more than anything wanted to get to Tenchi, every second she was here was a second Aeka had to get Tenchi used to his "new clothes." The most expedient course would be to obliterate these obstacles, but that wasn't even an option and Ryoko knew it. With great difficulty she reined in her emotions and tried giving… gasp… diplomacy a try.

The crews manning the various vessels surrounding the Ryo-Ohki were ready for about anything. Many were too young to have first hand experience in dealing with the demon Ryoko, when she and Ryo-Ohki last roamed the galaxy, but all had read her case file, all had been run through the simulations. All were prepared for the tactics and maneuvers Ryoko and Ryo-Ohki had used in every encounter previous. They were ready for everything… everything but that dress.

The Ryoko that appeared on the view screens of the Galaxy Police patrol ships was not the one the young officers and crews were prepared for. Oh no…

"Hey, fellas, I'm just here for the Ball, as you can see. I'd show you my invitation… but," she acted as if she were searching her person for something, causing many a male eye to focus on her hand crafted body. "I can't seemed to find it," she finished with a giggle.

The crews saw her lips move, but their attentions were on the way her chest moved when she laughed. The female crewmembers looked on at their male colleagues in disgust, so much for professionalism. "And who exactly invited you? If you give us their name, we will contact them. If what you say is true, we will let you pass," proclaimed the captain of the patrol ship Quest, which had the good fortune today of having a woman captain.

"Gladly," Ryoko beamed. She was about to give them Mihoshi and Tenchi's names when fate once again sought to darken her day. Suddenly the patrols ships surrounding the Ryo-Ohki were systematically crushed, impacting upon themselves until there was nothing left of them on Ryo-Ohki's sensors. "Wha- what's going on Ryo-Ohki?!" Ryoko demanded in confusion. The cabbit didn't know either. Until, out of nowhere, a black gray and blue ship shimmered into existence. 

People's Prince Part IX:

Shades of Gray