Tenchi Muyo!: Witch World
Episode 7: The Welcomed and the Unwelcomed
"But Kiyone!" protested Mihoshi, looking quite unhappy.
"I'm sorry," said Kiyone, firmly. "In the first place, I'm already writing a book about my experiences here. If you write an article about us, now, you'll steal my thunder. Secondly, I don't even plan to let anyone publish my story until a long time from now, maybe sometime after Sasami grows up. Telling it to the public right now would turn this house into a circus tent. For the time being, I want us to have as normal a life as we can, given the circumstances. You can understand that, can't you?"
Mihoshi was silent for a good long moment,
Finally, she sighed. "Yes, I do. It's just that a scoop like this doesn't come along very often. This could have gotten me my job back. And gotten me out of your hair at the same time."
"Oh, Mihoshi," Kiyone couldn't help but give her sister an embrace at this point. Not just for her understanding, but to comfort her for thinking...well...the truth. Kiyone wasn't initially thrilled by the idea of having her stay here. But it was one thing to be annoyed by her (and believe that Mihoshi was totally oblivious to being an annoyance), and quite another to hear her admit that she was very well aware of it -- and was unwelcome here because of it.
"Listen," continued Kiyone, looking her sister straight in the eyes. "I know I haven't been the warmest sister to you that I could have...should have been. And for that I apologize. The things that have happened in this house have changed me. Opened my mind. Made me see things in a new way. This world is more strange and wonderful than I could ever have allowed myself to imagine on my own. It taught me, for one thing, that I shouldn't allow my pride to stand in the way of admitting when I'm wrong."
Kiyone dropped her arms to her sides. "Don't ever think that you are 'in my hair.' You are my only sister. And I want you to know that you are always welcome to stay here...for as long as you need."
Mihoshi brightened. "Um...in that case, can I ask a teeny favor?"
"Sure. What?"
"Can I turn on your TV? My favorite show is coming on."
vvv
Ayeka was about to empty the contents of the orange juice carton down the kitchen sink, when her husband stopped her.
"Woah!" said Nobuyuki. "What're you doing? That juice hasn't expired yet!"
"Fine," she told him, allowing him to take the carton from her. "Don't blame me when you start getting hallucinations, too."
"Hallucinations?" repeated Nobuyuki, incredulously. "Like what?"
"When I was outside, just now, sweeping off the walk, I could have sworn that ghost woman marched right up to me and took the broom right out of my hands! And then she flew off on it into the clear blue sky."
"But you know Ryoko can't leave the property lines of her house," said Nobuyuki. "Not without possessing a body, at least."
"That's right. Still want to drink that juice?"
"Hmm," said Katsuhito, before his son could answer. "There may be a better explanation than that for what you saw, Ayeka. I think I will pay our neighbors a little visit. If I learn anything, I'll be sure to come back and tell you before I leave to go back home."
vvv
Mihoshi was watching her favorite TV show, the anime version of Lou Grant. Lou wasabout toaccidentally sit on his boss' little dog, when the door chime of the Masaki residence rang.
"I'll get it!" sang Mihoshi, jumping off of the sofa to open the door.
There stood Katsuhito Jurai, dressed as if he was prepared to go on a trip.
"Oh, hello," he said to her. "I'm here to see Tenchi or Kiyone."
"Well, Tenchi is out back somewhere, I think. But Kiyone is right here by the computer," said Mihoshi. "Kiyone! Someone here to see you!"
"Mr. Jurai," greeted Kiyone, as she came over to stand beside her sister. "Won't you come in?"
"Thank you. I came to pay my respects and apologize for not being able to help you. I'll be going back home this evening. and I also would like to take my leave of my master."
"Washu?" said Kiyone. "She's in the back yard with Tenchi and Sasami. I'll show you the way. Incidentally, this is my sister, Mihoshi Makibi. Mihoshi, this is our neighbor's father, Katsuhito Jurai."
"Hi!" smiled Mihoshi, waving at him.
"A pleasure to meet you," bowed Katsuhito.
When he straightened back up, he looked at Mihoshi in a slightly odd way.
"Forgive me, but something about you seems strangely familiar to me. Have we met before?
"Nope," smiled Mihoshi. "At least I don't think so. Have we?"
"Hmm," Katsuhito rubbed his chin. "Perhaps not."
Kiyone suddenly realized with a start that these two had indeed met before. Mihoshi had written an article about him for the newspaper where she had -- until recently -- been employed as a reporter. Although said article truthfully conveyed the facts of his unsuccessful attempt to rid a
construction site of five prehistoric poltergeists, it also made Katsuhito a national laughing stock at his chosen profession of exorcist.
As Kiyone led him through the house to the back door, she thought it was best to let sleeping dogs lie. But she still wondered, how could it be that they didn't recognize each other? In her sister's case, it could easily be explained away as being due to that lit bit of air that Mihoshi has always carried around in her head. But what was Katsuhito's excuse?
Maybe she hadn't bleached her hair, yet, when she interviewed him, thought Kiyone. Sometimes all it takes is a simple change of hairstyle to throw a man off. Particularly one of Katsuhito's advanced years.
"By the way," she told him as they reached the back door, "please don't sell your contribution short. If you hadn't sent for Washu in such a timely manner, we could have all been killed. So, in that way, we owe you our lives, too."
"You know, when you put it like that, it's true," grinned Katsuhito. "In that case, I'll be sending you a bill for my share of the service."
"Swell," Kiyone gave him a me-and-my-big-mouth look as she opened the door.
"Just kidding!" laughed Katsuhito. "You're too easy a target, Kiyone!"
vvv
Outside, they found Tenchi and Washu sitting on floating cushions, cheering and applauding every time the small pony that Sasami was gleefully riding cleared a small hurdle.
"Are you sure you're not getting tired, Ryo-Ohki?" asked Sasami.
"Are you kidding?" answered the pony. "I'm having the time of my life! I want to try being everything!"
"Kiyone! Katsuhito!" greeted Washu. "Would you like a floating cushion, too? It's no trouble. We're watching Sasami developing her riding skills. You know, she just may have a future in this sort of thing."
"No, thank you, Master," said Katsuhito. "I can't stay long. I'm afraid I must be heading back to my own place, tonight. I came to express my gratitude for what you have done for these fine people, and also to say goodbye."
"So soon?" asked Washu. "I've only just arrived! You and I have still got a lot of catching up to do! Can't you postpone your return just a little longer?"
"I think I have imposed on my son and his wife long enough."
"Hmm," said Washu. "I'll bet your son is thrilled to have his dad around. You're just worried about what she thinks, aren't you? Well, wasn't she the one who initially called you?"
"Yes, that is true. But one who is wise knows better than to overstay one's welcome. Besides, I also have things to attend to at home. But speaking of Ayeka, she said something earlier today that sounded rather strange. She said that Ryoko actually came up to her, took her broom, and flew off into the sky on it. Could this possibly be true?"
"Took my broom, actually. Any broom Ayeka might own just wouldn't be air-worthy. But, yes, Ryoko is no longer a ghost. It's a long story, and one I'd really like to have the time to tell you. So stay a day or two more as a favor to your old master, hmm?"
Katsuhito considered it, then allowed himself a smile. "Very well, then. As a favor to my master."
"Great!" said Washu, pointing at the air in front of Katsuhito and causing a floating cushion to appear with a poof! "Take a load off your feet. How about you, Kiyone?"
"Why not?" said Kiyone. "I could use a break from the computer."
Poof! Another cushion was created for Kiyone.
The little group sat and watched Sasami ride Ryo-Ohki a little while longer, before Sasami pointed to something in the air.
"Look!" she cried. "Is that Ryoko coming back?"
As it came closer, it became plain that it was a witch riding a broom. But as she swooped down beside them for a landing, it also became plain that this was not Ryoko.
The stranger posed before them, standing her broom beside herself with her right hand. She had
magenta-colored hair and amber eyes, and might have been described as being pretty, if not for her unsympathetic gaze and insincere smile.
"Ramia," said Washu, turning pale.
"Hello, Washu," said Ramia. "It has been a while, hasn't it? I'll bet you know why I'm here, don't you? Come on, admit it."
"The only thing that would send you out on a lovely day like this," said Washu, "would have to be
business from the Council of Elders, now, wouldn't it?"
"Bingo!" said Ramia. "I'm here to arrest you. But if you came along quietly, that would hardly be any fun. Please tell me that you're going to resist, hmm?"
"If this is a proper arrest," said Washu, "I do have the right to know what I'm being charged with, you know."
"As if you didn't already know," Ramia sighed. "Very well. You are charged with the blatant and willful disregard of the Council's ruling in the case of the humans' execution of your daughter. There was a blood oath signed between our two races that prevented a war from happening over
this matter. We agreed to allow the sacrifice of Ryoko for the greater good. You agreed to not interfere."
"Then there's no problem," said Washu. "Ryoko was executed. I did not interfere."
"Oh, but, somehow, you did," contradicted Ramia. "Ryoko is alive. She has recently been spotted in a pub in Ireland, known only to leprechauns. One of them recognized her and reported her to us."
"Did you catch her?" asked Washu.
Ramia frowned. "For the time being, she has given us the slip."
"Well, there you go then," said Washu. "Simple case of mistaken identity, I'd say. You know, my daughter was a very pretty girl. A lot of witches would give their dragon's teeth to have her looks. Maybe somebody used a doppelganger spell to make herself look like Ryoko, just to turn a few heads. After all, it's not like the real Ryoko would be in any position to object."
"So, you are saying she is still here? Haunting this house?" sneered Ramia.
Washu gave a knowing look to Ryo-Ohki, who was still in pony form with Sasami on her back. The both of them were behind Ramia's back, and, therefore, outside of her peripheral vision.
The pony nodded to Washu, allowing Sasami to slide off her back. Then the pony began to transform...
"Where else would I be?" asked Ryoko's voice.
Ramia turned to behold a transparent Ryoko standing beside Sasami.
"Ryoko? I see. So you still are dead," said Ramia. "Well, my face is certainly red. This whole thing has been one ghastly misunderstanding, hasn't it?"
Suddenly, Ramia thrust a finger at the specter, unleashing a torrent of magical energy which enveloped it, causing it to scream in Ryoko's voice, before it became Ryo-Ohki's scream. The magic had shrunken her back down to her furry little true form, before she flopped over onto the grass, unconscious.
Ramia's eyes flared back at Washu. "I don't know whether to laugh at your stupidity, or punish you for insulting my intelligence! So I think I'll do both!"
"Ryo-Ohki!" cried Sasami, about to scoop the little demon up in her arms. But she never got the chance.
Ramia laughingly threw a bolt of magic at Sasami, causing her to implode into nothingness.
"SASAMI!!" screamed Kiyone and Tenchi, on their feet, and bolting toward the spot that their daughter had been standing only a moment ago.
"What have you done to her?!" demanded Kiyone.
"Don't worry," smiled Ramia. "She is safe, for the time being. But she is in a place from which only I can retrieve her. So I guess you better pray that nothing happens to me in the meantime, eh?"
Turning her attention back to Washu, she said. "Consider the child your bail bond, Washu. Don't even think of trying to skip town. You have one week to assemble your defense, so be prepared to plead your case before the Council when I come back to fetch you. I needn't remind you what the consequences will be in the event that you are found guilty, do I?"
With that, Ramia put her broom between her legs, and laughingly flew away.
vvv
It was late when Washu's broom returned home with Ryoko draped over it like wet laundry. Somehow, the green top hat with the picture of a shamrock on it, managed to stay on her head for the entire trip back. From her right hand dangled a jug of whiskey. She fell off of the broom, landing on the grass of the Masaki front lawn, then she used the broom to pull herself up onto her shaky legs.
She stumbled into the living room and blinked at all of the people gathered in there.
"Wush goin' on here? Thish looksh like a foonin...fyoonineral. Wush up with all the long fay-shish? Cheer up! Ish my re-birthday!"
Ryoko took another swig from her jug, then fell face down onto the carpet.
TO BE CONTINUED