Tenchi Muyo!: Witch World

Episode 3: The Unspeakable Demon

Excerpt from Sasami's Diary:

Well, last night sure was a terrific mess. The grown-ups held a seance downstairs. Mom told me that the old man who came to visit is Mr. Jurai's father, and that he's an expert in getting ghosts to leave the houses they're haunting by sticking paper to their heads. Except now Ryoko is inside Mrs. Jurai, and she's not showing any sign of wanting to get out. Not from her body, and certainly not from this house. So I guess he's not such an expert, after all.

Mom said Mr. Jurai's father tried to stick a piece of paper to Mrs. Jurai's head all night, but she was too quick and wouldn't let him. Even when Mr. Jurai offered to hold her still. When he tried, she must have hit him in a painful place, because he went home without her, all doubled over with tears rolling down his face. His father went with him, I guess. But Mrs. Jurai stayed. I could hear her banging on Mom and Dad's bedroom door until she got the idea they weren't going to let her in. Things got quiet after that.

Despite not sleeping very much, Tenchi still got up the next morning and got ready for work. As he came down the stairs, a surprisingly wonderful aroma greeted his nostrils.

"Mmm, something smells good," he said cheerfully, as he entered the kitchen.

But his smile quickly departed when he saw Kiyone and Ayeka were both in there already, trying to stare one another down like a couple of territorial alley cats.

"I said I'm fixing breakfast for Tenchi today," said Ayeka through clenched teeth.

"And who decided that?" demanded Kiyone.

"I did. You want to make something of it?"

"Yes! This family doesn't eat eye of newt or toe of frog!"

"Why you little --" Ayeka stopped herself from going any further with that thought when she noticed Tenchi standing there watching the two of them with his mouth agape, " -- precious darling you. Don't you know what an ugly stereotype that is? Some of the best cooks in the world have been witches. Especially the ones in my family."

"Oh? Did they use live bugs for seasoning, too?"

"Of course not," suddenly Ayeka was all smiles as she drifted over to Tenchi to take hold of his arm. "Whatever made you say such a thing?"

Ayeka led Tenchi to his usual place at the table, pulling his chair out for him. "Please sit down, Tenchi, and let a real woman show you what food is supposed to taste like."

"Uh..." was all he said as he obediently sat down.

"Tenchi!" snapped Kiyone. "We're not going to trust this woman! One bite of her food and you'll turn into a mouse, or something. I won't have it!"

"A mouse," mused Ayeka, giving Kiyone a very creepy look. "Imagine what a witch who can transform into a cat could do with one of those."

Tenchi nervously rose up from his seat. "You know, I am running a little late. I think I'll grab something along the way..."

"Good morning, everyone!" said Sasami, who had just arrived with her school backpack and was rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

Kiyone said, "Tenchi, take Sasami with you."

Tenchi nodded. "Are you gonna be..?"

Kiyone smiled. "I'll be fine. While I don't trust her concoctions, Katsuhito said she won't be able to do any hocus-pocus or anything ghostly as long as she has to concentrate on possessing Ayeka."

Tenchi frowned. "Yeah, well, I can't say I have a whole lot of faith in anything that guy says."

vvv

At the neighbor's house, Nobuyuki and his father were already having their own breakfast.

"Nobuyuki, I've been giving our problem some thought, and I, ah...ah...ah-CHOO!!"

"Gee, Dad, it sounds like you might be coming down with something."

"You may be right," said Katsuhito, wiping his nose with a napkin. "I haven't sneezed like that since after that Tokyo construction site job."

"I remember reading about that! That article made you the talk of the town. Although the reporter said those spirits really mopped up the floor with you."

"Well, you know what they say. Bad publicity is still publicity. But as I was saying, I've been giving our problem some thought. I fear I might have to bring my master in on this."

Nobuyuki's eyes widened. "The one who taught you everything you know? I had no idea she was still alive!"

vvv

Once Tenchi and Sasami were safely out of the house, Kiyone picked up the pot containing Ayeka's breakfast surprise, and dumped its contents into the garbage bin. Then she faced Ayeka.

"Look, I don't care what your beef is with me. But I won't stand for any of your nonsense when it comes to my family."

"You should have thought of that when I gave you your chance to leave," said Ayeka. "It's still not too late, you know. Just pack your bags and get out."

"Why should I? This is my home, bought and paid for."

"It was mine long before you were born."

"I'm afraid those ownership rights expired when you did. Sorry, but that's just how it is."

"You know, there really was nothing wrong with the breakfast I prepared. It's been so long since I last had real taste buds, that I just couldn't resist trying some of your modern food. So I decided to repay you with some of my old-style cooking. Sure, I'll admit I did toy with the idea of putting a little love potion in Tenchi's chow. But I didn't. So, not only do you trespass on my property in spite of my warning, you also deliberately insult the only friendly gesture I try to make to you. You're damn lucky I happen to like Sasami, because the only thing keeping me from doing something really nasty to you is the image I get of her crying over what happened to her mommy. But just keep pushing me, and I might just reach a point where I stop caring about that."

Kiyone figured it was time to try another tack. "Ryoko, why are you haunting this place, anyway? How come you never went to your happy hunting ground, or whatever you call it, like all the other spirits?"

Ayeka's features hardened. "Because I can't, okay? Don't you think I would have moved on, if I could? I'm different, so let's leave it at that."

"Then why fight the exorcist, instead of letting him help you?"

"Help me? All he really wants to do is bump me off for a price! He's nothing more than a spiritual hitman. And you hired him to do it. Well, you know what? Two can play at that little game."

"Look," said Kiyone. "I'm a writer by profession. I know a lot of good people who do reference work for me. I'm sure if I asked them, they could hunt up anything that was ever written about ghosts in your situation. Once we figure out what's holding you to this place..."

"Save it, sister," grinned Ayeka. "I've got a body now. So nothing is holding me here."

As if to illustrate the point, Ayeka went over to the front door, opened it, and slammed it shut after herself.

vvv

Nobuyuki happened to push a curtain aside to take a peek at what was going on next door..

"Dad! It's Ayeka!. She's leaving the house. Do you suppose that the ghost released her?"

"Hmm," grunted Katsuhito noncommittally. He was far more interested in the soap opera he was currently watching on the TV. "Then maybe you should go to her and find out."

"Right," nodded Nobuyuki, quickly dashing outside. He even forgot to close the door behind himself.

Katsuhito picked up the TV remote and punched up the volume a little more.

"Popoko, oh, Popoko..." said the TV.

vvv

"Ayeka!" cried Nobuyuki, running towards her. "Are you all right, now?"

"Get in the car and start it up," was all she said to him.

"Uh, okay. But what for?"

"We're going shopping. I need some special items."

vvv

Later that afternoon, after school let out, Sasami happily walked with her friend Misao until they had to part ways to each continue on to their own individual homes.

"See ya tomorrow!" Sasami waved to her friend, enthusiastically, until she was out of sight.

As Sasami approached home, she could see Ayeka moving around on the front lawn.

What's she doing in our front yard? she wondered.

When she was close enough to see, Sasami marveled at the neighbor woman's antics.

Ayeka had some strange-looking odds and ends scattered all around her. At the moment,

she was pushing a gadget that was making white powder lines all over the yard.

Now at the edge of the lawn, herself, Sasami could see that those lines formed a giant five-pointed

star.

"Watcha doin'?" asked Sasami.

"What's it look like I'm doing?" said Ayeka. "I'm drawing a pentagram."

"What for?"

"For conjuring demons, what else?"

Sasami was awed. "Wow! Can I help?"

That surprised Ayeka. But she recovered quickly. "Sure. Why not?"

"But I can only help you for a little while 'cause I've got a lot of homework to do."

"Fine. There's a bunch of candles in that bag by the tree, and a pile of candle holders next to that. Take each candle, put it in a holder, and put each holder at each of the different points of the pentagram. Got it?'

"Got it," Sasami immediately got to work.

vvv

"I'm home!" announced Sasami later, reclosing the front door once she was inside.

"You're a little late, Sasami," said Kiyone, preoccupied with her computer. "Where have you been?"

"I was helping Mrs. Jurai and Ryoko with their pentagram."

"Oh. That's nice. Got any homework?"

"Yes," sighed Sasami.

"Then hop to it."

Kiyone continued to compose her tome after her daughter went upstairs.

Some more time went by, then her husband came home from work.

"I, uh, just had the strangest talk with Ayeka, just now," said Tenchi, hanging his coat in the closet..

"Oh?" said Kiyone, still focusing on her monitor. "Is she still possessed by Ryoko?"

"Yeah, it seems like it."

"So what did she say to you?"

"Well, she's got this weird-looking thingamajig set up in front of the house. She says that at sunset, she's going to summon an unspeakable demon that is going to exorcise us from the house."

"What?" Kiyone said that more incredulously than out of any concern. "She is going to exorcise us? What a laugh. Ghosts do not exorcise people."

Tenchi shrugged. "She seemed pretty serious to me. Said she was gonna show us how it's done."

Kiyone saved her file with a sigh and got up. "Well, we might as well have our dinner now, so we can enjoy the show later."

vvv

By the time the sun had set, the Masaki family had eaten well, and had brought their chairs outside so that they could sit comfortably in order to witness the summoning. The Jurai men also came over, bringing with them some sake to drink while they waited for it to start.

Ayeka lit the candles at all five points,.then took her place next to a podium with a microphone. She was now wearing a gaudy robe with a pattern of crescent moons and stars all over it. She addressed the pentagram with both arms up in the air, and in her right hand she held a dagger. The wind kicked up as she spoke.

"I call upon the dark forces of the universe to hear my plea!" she began. "Bring forth the one whose name dare not be spoken aloud! The one who has caused mountains to crumble to dust, and rivers to run red with blood! The despicable creature from the disgusting depths of slime who shows no mercy to enemies! The foul monster whose might stops armies of giants dead in their tracks! Whose very breath can poison a herd of elephants! The grotesque beast whose hideousness not only stops clocks, but also convinces speeding freight trains to take dirt roads! Come with your insatiable hunger for human flesh! And your unquenchable thirst for human blood! Come to me and aid me in smiting these intruders!"

Next, she stepped down from the podium to enter the pentagram. She cut open her left palm with the dagger and let the blood drip onto the grass.

At the sound of thunder rumbling overhead, she quickly retreated behind the podium. Her laughter actually sounded like a witch's cackling.

"Boy," noted Tenchi, "she really is full of rage."

"Told ya," said Katsuhito.

A bolt of lightning crashed into the heart of the pentagram. Soon, the ground began to undulate, as if giant earthworms were struggling for dominance underneath it. Then a multitude of flaming tentacles burst through to the surface, swaying to an unholy dance. The tentacles tossed something small straight up into the air before they pulled themselves back into the ground, which resealed itself nicely back into a normal unbroken lawn, none the worse for wear.

The small object came back down to lightly plop onto Sasami's lap.

"Mi-ya?" it asked her.

"Wow!" said Sasami. "Ryoko's demon is so cute!"

"Miyaaa!" agreed the little furry demon.

Ayeka was so stunned by this development, she fell over.

Ryoko's spirit rose up from Ayeka's body, turning to look at her in disgust. "I mighta known your blood would do something like that. Thanks for nothing, princess."

While Ryoko floated back into the house, Nobuyuki and Katsuhito rushed over to Ayeka to help her to her feet. When her eyes were clearly able to see Katsuhito's face, she suddenly punched him in it with her good hand..

"That's the last time I go along with one of your bright ideas!" she yelled at him.

vvv

As the multicolored curtain descends down to the stage, the guardians take their places to the left and right of it.

Azaka: "Hi, there! Remember us?"

Kamidake: "We're here to give you a friendly reminder."

Azaka: "That's right! The last time we spoke to you, we told you to enjoy the show."

Kamidake: "And that you wouldn't have to pay us until it was over."

Azaka: "Well, that show has been over for quite some time."

Kamidake: "And, well, how shall we put this delicately?"

Azaka: "We still have not received any payment from you."

Kamidake: "Now, maybe you think we somehow get money from your cable bill, or video rental or purchase. That is simply not the case."

Azaka: "Or maybe you thought we weren't being serious. Nothing could be further from the truth."

Kamidake: "We don't look kindly on deadbeats."

Azaka: "So make that check out to 'Tenchi Universe' and send it to us via transdimensional post."

Kamidake: "Do it right now, before you forget."

Azaka: "Otherwise, we'll have to come to your dimension. And that could get messy."

The guardians take a bow.

TO BE CONTINUED