Tenchi Muyo! Witch World
Episode 10: The Triple Agent
The Masakis and the Jurais sat around the table at the Masaki house that afternoon, enjoying the wonderful meal that Washu and Tsunami had prepared. Tenchi and Kiyone watched Sasami interacting with "Miss Chihiro" on their wrist TV, while they ate, despite Tenchi being very tired from missing a whole night's sleep -- and still going to work that day. Nobuyuki was flirting with Mihoshi, as Ayeka watched them through narrowed eyes. Washu talked about old times and new with both Katsuhito and Tsunami.
But one person could only grumble about the feast, since she was even denied the wonderful aroma it must have had.
"Why can't I come out of this thing to just have a little taste?" demanded Ryoko's disembodied voice.
"No reason," answered Washu with her mouth full. "Unless you count the possibility of Ramia, or someone else suddenly turning up here at that exact moment to take you in. Wanna risk it?"
Ryoko was silent for a bit. Then, "Not to spoil anybody's appetite, or anything, but what am I supposed to do for a toilet in here? Whiskey is something you can only rent for a little while, you know."
That remark did have a slowing down effect on the speed at which everyone was enjoying the food.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Ryoko," apologized Tsunami. "I should have told you that I already thought of that. All you need to do is use the built-in magic word."
"Okay, so what is it, already?"
"Pi-pi-pu-pu," smiled Tsunami. "I thought that would be easy to remember."
Ryoko was silent again. Even through the interdimensional haze, she could see the others trying valiantly to keep their faces straight.
They could hear her clear her throat. And they could hear the sound of her retreating footsteps. And because they could still hear her use the magic word (albeit softened by distance, and mumbled), they all burst out in uncontrollable laughter.
Presently, there came a pecking on the front door. Washu told everyone to remain seated while she answered it.
"Rumiya!" said Washu. "We had begun to wonder where ya'd gone off to. Come on in and join us at the table. We've got all kinds of traditional dishes waiting for you. How long has it been since you've had really good flurp, eh?"
"Too long," admitted the bird, hopping inside and taking a whiff of the air. "Mmm! Sorry about being late. I bumped into an old...friend...on the way back, and she just wanted to talk and talk and not take 'no' for answer. Frankly, I count myself lucky that I was able to slip away from her at all."
"I know whatcha mean," said Washu, winking at him. "Don'tcha just hate people like that? Was it anybody we might know?"
"Gosh, I sure hope not," said the bird, hoping that Washu would let the matter drop at that, and flapping over to land on a special perch beside Tsunami. She shared what was on her plate with him.
Everyone resumed happily chatting and eating. Inside her pocket universe, after Ryoko had made use of it, she had reversed the magic word and made the little restroom disappear. All she could do now was sadly watch everyone else have a good time.
Why is it I always somehow end up getting punished for just having a little fun? she asked herself.
"Isn't Ryoko here?" Rumiya suddenly asked.
"Actually, no," answered Washu. "We thought it would be a good idea for her to lay low until Sunday."
"But where could she possibly hide from the Council for four whole days?" asked the bird. "Won't they be looking everywhere?"
"I imagine so," said Washu. "The trick is to be in the one place they may not think to look, in the meantime. I'm gonna tell ya, but this information is not to leave this room, understand, Rumiya? It's got to stay our little secret."
"Of course," agreed the bird. "My beak is sealed."
"That's good enough for me," smiled Washu. "We put her in a special crater on the far side of the moon. The place is such a boring dump, nobody ever goes there. What better place to avoid a worldwide witch
hunt, eh?"
"Wow," said the bird. "I agree. That's actually pretty clever."
"Just remember," said Washu, winking at him once more. "Mum's the word."
"Got it," said the bird, winking back.
"Rumiya!" called Tenchi. "Ryo-Ohki says she's ready for you to come pick her up!"
"Okay!" answered the bird.
"Let me get the door for ya," said Washu, snapping her fingers to do just that.
Washu reclosed the door with a snap after the bird flew out on his next assignment.
Then she asked Tsunami, "Do you think he's even aware that he's a triple agent?"
Tsunami shook her head. "I don't think he knows he's even a double agent. And that's how it should be. Rumiya would never willingly work for Ramia ever again. And he doesn't deserve to have any memories of serving her unwillingly. It's not his fault."
"Agreed," said Washu. "But you must admit that, for now, he makes quite a handy little courier of disinformation. Once Ramia gets this little nugget, something tells me that a lot of witches are
soon gonna be brooming their way to the moon. And they are gonna be awfully angry at somebody when they have to come back empty-handed."
"I'm glad that you two are happy," said Ryoko's voice. "While I'm stuck in here watching all of you eat...and slowly drowning in a puddle of my own drool, I might add."
"...Think she's suffered enough?" asked Washu.
"Yes, I believe it should suffice," smiled Tsunami. She snapped her fingers, causing a platter wrapped in cellophane to float out of the kitchen, right on to her waiting palms. "We wrapped a little care package just for you, Ryoko. You didn't really believe that we'd forget about you, did you?"
"I'd be lying if I said the thought hadn't crossed my mind, once or twice."
Chuckling, Tsunami sent the package to Ryoko.
vvv
The Jurais thanked their hosts for a lovely evening. Once back at their own house, Ayeka checked the mailbox, finding several envelopes waiting in it. She was sorting through them in her hands as she, her husband and father-in law entered the living room.
"This one's for you," she said, handing an important-looking envelope to her husband.
Nobuyuki looked it over. "For me? All I ever get are the bills. And this sure doesn't look like one of those."
"Not true," contradicted Ayeka. "What about those girl's comics you keep on getting in the mail?"
"Well, I have to order those, don't I? It's not the same as maybe getting a letter from someone who just wants to know how I'm doing, or just say hello."
"The rest of this is junk," said Ayeka, tossing the other letters out without bothering to open them.
She continued. "I don't know what possible interest a grown man could have in such mush, anyway."
"Mush, it may be. But I caught you reading them on more than one occasion," Nobuyuki said, grinningly pointing to his wife. "You can't deny that."
Ayeka sighed. "I might as well read them. When people in the neighborhood see those things sticking out of our mailbox, they're just naturally going to assume they are really meant for me, anyway. And since they don't ask about it, I don't get any opportunity to deny it."
"Is it my fault that society can't let go of the idea that only women can appreciate a great mushy story?"
Ayeka ignored that. "So are you going to open that, or not?"
"I'm a little afraid to," said Nobuyuki. "Frankly, it looks like something from the government. So it can't be good news."
"Can't you at least pretend that you have a spine?" Ayeka tried to snatch it from him, in order to open it, herself, but he manged to dodge her grasp.
"Okay, okay, hold your horses! I can do this." Nobuyuki slid a pinky inside one corner of the envelope, and carefully began to rip it open. Once open, he slowly slid one hand in and pulled the document out.
He quietly read it, his moving lips testifying to that.
"Well?" asked Ayeka.
"I was right. It's not good news."
"Spit it out already!"
"I've been called for jury duty."
"Is that all?"
"Here. Read who it's from," He handed it to her.
The letterhead proclaimed The Champions of Humanity.
vvv
Tenchi called it an early night. He really needed to catch up on his sleep. While Mihoshi washed the dishes, Ryo-Ohki was snoozing on the sofa, next to Washu, who was perusing a clipboard full of notes that Tsunami had given her. Kiyone and Tsunami were upstairs preparing a room for Tsunami and Washu to stay in. Ryoko was still inside the pocket universe, seated on a floating cushion, and occasionally conversing with her mother on what they would likely be facing in court on Sunday.
As Kiyone and Tsunami came downstairs to join Washu and let her know that the room was ready, Mihoshi was also entering the living room, having dried her hands.
This was when the doorchime sounded.
Who could that be at this hour? wondered Kiyone.
Washu must have been thinking the same thing. "Better let me answer it, Kiyone. If it's some troublemaker, just let me handle it, okay?"
When Washu opened the door, there was a man standing there. A devastatingly handsome man, who was sharply dressed, with an air about him that said I'm just so cool.
Washu's expression was one of complete and utter shock. The man smiled warmly at her, took her into his arms, and dipped her backwards in one of the most passionate kisses that the others in the room had ever had the pleasure of observing. And Washu didn't seem like she was minding it at all.
When he finally released her, she seemed a little flushed and dizzy.
"Yup," she finally said, fanning herself with a hand. "No doubt about it. It's you, all right. Nobody else in the world knows how to kiss like that. Hey! Tsunami! Guess who's here?"
"I see," smiled Tsunami, moving to stand beside Washu.
"Tsunami," the man took both of her hands in his and kissed them, too. "If only my lawyer were here, as well. Then this would have been a perfect reunion."
Mihoshi and Kiyone glanced at one another, not knowing what to make of this guy. But, at least, nothing about him seemed threatening in the slightest. In fact, he seemed supernaturally charming.
When Washu found her tongue again, she said, "Oh! Ladies! Uh, allow me to introduce you to Ginji Kobayashi. He's my ex-husband. And Ryoko's father."
TO BE CONTINUED (Only three more episodes left!)