Little Washu

Tenchi awoke with a start. He did not sleep well again and had not since the night he let Ryoko go. He wondered where she was now and what she was doing. She couldn't be harming people, because he would hear about that. Disasters didn't go unnoticed in Japan. He was finally back home in Tokyo with his father, Nobuyuki, away from the shrine and all its evil portents, its shame.

The morning after his encounter with Ryoko, Tenchi approached Katsuhito about the demon-girl. At first, he was only met with silence. Then after confirming that Tenchi had—indeed—let her go, Katsuhito began by reprimanding him for going against the traditions of his people and then immediately applauded Tenchi for doing so.

"This has needed to be stopped since the beginning. Our original intent was not what we began." he told Tenchi. "It all started when one head of the family decided that he would take the demon on for sport. He purposefully resurrected her, and returned to her her powers, just to strip them away again." Tenchi had been wondering where the tradition came from, and was relieved to find that all of his ancestors were not mere beasts. Still, what had happened. Katsuhito then informed him that this former head of the family—the one credited with the demon ritual—originally forced his young men to go through it. He felt that they needed to have their mettle tested. He was mad. He was wicked.

In subsequent generations, Katsuhito wearily told his grandson, they began to like the ritual. The family had become inbred and as wicked as that now ancient leader of the clan. They lost their touch what was true and important.

The first sign of change came with the arrival of Yosho, Katsuhito's father. Yosho had come from a far away land where their people originally came from. He joined the colony and adopted many of their ways of living. He never spoke of his past. He married and had Katsuhito.

However, while Katsuhito was still very young, the villagers grew restless about Yosho avoiding the one thing they deemed necessary to a young man—the demon ritual. Yosho tried to keep it at bay and talk about raising his family first, but the current leader of the Masaki had fallen ill and the people felt that no one might be able to stand up and lead. They had a feeling about Yosho, but wanted to be sure. They pressured him.

Yosho then flat out refused. It would be the last thing he did. The Masaki rose up against him in full force. Yosho was formidable, unlike any warrior before him and dispatched many as they came in droves. Katsuhito watched with his mother from the shadows. Eventually, the villagers began to make headway with their numbers. They overpowered Yosho and killed him. Katsuhito's father died right before his eyes.

Katsuhito and his mother were adopted into another family and when the time came for Katsuhito to go through the ritual. He did it as well as any before had, but he did it—as he told Tenchi wiping a tear from his eye—with great sadness. Katsuhito could not act as he wished because he needed to be there for his mother. He could not do as Tenchi had done, he was too weak to stop it.

Years later, there were wars with other tribes (some of whom were distantly related to the Masaki) and disease broke out. Katsuhito and his family were the only ones who survived in that area. This was, to his mind, a just end to these particular Masakis. Maybe the heavens knew his heart, because he was spared. In any case, Katsuhito's daughter was Tenchi's mother and it was their blood that ran through his veins.

When asked why he forced Tenchi to fight the demon, Katsuhito merely stated, "I had to see for myself what I had always known. That all of that would truly end with you and that we had raised you well enough to bring about future glory for the Masaki."

"You are the heir to Yosho, a legendary warrior. A man with such great power that it took a clan to defeat him." Katsuhito had said. "I leave everything in your hands, for I am not so young now and may pass. Please, take care of us."

Tenchi was pleased enough with these answers, but was still vexed by his family's past and the fact that it was up to him to bring about a brighter future. Once again, Tenchi felt trapped into a position he had no desire to be in. Who was his grandfather to put such a burden on him? How could he even manage something like that?

Most of all, Tenchi wondered about that demon-girl and where she was. I, at least, may have helped her, he thought. It was strange to Tenchi to be returning to his normal life in Tokyo. He sighed as he got into his school uniform and headed to the train.

Upon arriving at his school, Tenchi was greeted by familiar friends and a familiar setting. He parried questions about his summer by inquiring about his friends' various activities. One of his friends, Amagasaki, made—as usual—a pointed and insensitive joke about Tenchi's dating life. Tenchi—again as usual—slapped Amagasaki in the bad of head and told him to get a life.

Yeah, everything is essentially back to normal only this time I cannot share what happened to me at grandfather's shrine, thought Tenchi.

They all headed to class and were greeted by a new teacher, something not wholly unexpected since they had graduated to another grade. Still, she was unusual by normal 'teacher standards'. First of all, she had striking pink hair cut in an extravagant fashion. In fact, the front of her haircut somewhat resembled a crab. Besides this, she looked exceedingly young. Granted, japanese women age well. This new professor took this fact to new heights. She seemed barely the age of the students.

"Settle down now, class." the new teacher said with a grin. "Have a seat." The class quickly did as told and prepared themselves for her introduction. "My name is Professor Washu, and I am your new physics teacher. I just recently moved here and acquired this position," she stated and then continued, "I must also tell you two important details that may shock you: First, I am the greatest scientific mind in the universe, believe it! Second, you must all call me "Little Washu! As I am obviously to pretty to be called 'miss' or 'misses.'" This, of course, shocked the class. It was terribly informal and made everyone a little uncomfortable—including Tenchi.

She spirited around the room like a sprite and went up to the blackboard. She proceeded to write an immensely complicated equation and promptly said, "This is the most elementary fact about our universe, and it is what you are here to...understand, if you will." Everyone in the classroom just stared. They had never seen half of those symbols before. This class is going to be hell, Tenchi thought.

Seeming as though she had not seen the rush of dead pan faces and went over to her desk. "I don't expect any of you to get it just yet. Let's take baby steps shall we?" She smiled playfully and said, "Let's take role shall we?"

"...Hinata Higa...ah, I see you're there. Ryoko Hakubi?" Washu raised her eyebrows. Could it be, she thought. Washu looked up to see a girl in the corner with yellow eyes and greenish hair. It was her, Washu thought.

At the same time, Tenchi looked back and was shocked to see yellow-eyed girl in the back of class. He had only seen eyes like that once before. You're kidding me, he thought. She showed no recognition of him, and merely raised her hand quietly. The demon-girl, Ryoko was at his school. She was one of his classmates now. How strange it is to be me, Tenchi thought as he sighed and turned back towards the front of the class. This is going to be an interesting day.

The class continued with Professor "Little" Washu giving them far easier problems to work, much to everyone's relief. The period ended without much fanfare and the day was pretty normal for Tenchi, except for catching glimpses of the demon-girl. She consistently paid him no mind and went about her day as if they didn't know each other.

In reality, Ryoko had been watching Tenchi all day, but was coy enough to keep him guessing. She planned to get him alone, but wasn't sure when the best time would be. Perhaps it would be lunch, only time would tell.

Back in her classroom, Washu feverishly typed at a computer that looked like it wasn't there. She needed to make sure that Ryoko was indeed her Ryoko. After all these years of searching she seems to have finally found her baby girl.

Revelations

Tenchi decided that he needed to be alone with his thoughts for lunch. So, he dodged Amagasaki and made his way up to the school roof. It was usually locked; but, years ago, he had found the hidden key and often went up there to be by himself. At heart, Tenchi liked things to be quiet. It was a great treat for him.

As Tenchi began to open his lunch near the edge of the roof, Ryoko's face suddenly popped out of the roof before him. "Boo!" she said. Of course, Tenchi jumped and nearly tossed his sandwich over the roof. "Oh, did I scare you?" Ryoko said coyly. Tenchi shut his eyes, shook his head, and declared, "No, not at all!" When Tenchi had opened his eyes, he noticed that Ryoko was smilingly playfully at him. "Oh, alright. Yes, you startled me. There, are you happy?" Tenchi said as Ryoko made a little squeak and nodded as a response.

"I have been thinking about you," said Ryoko rather shyly, "Everything about my life changed the night we met." This slightly embarrassed Tenchi, but he was not altogether unpleased. In fact, he had been worried about her ever since he let her go. He deduced from their current situation that she had, at least, kept any possible mayhem she could cause to a bare minimum. He had not heard anything anyway. In response he said, "Yeah, I have wondered about you since I left you. What have you been up to?"

Ryoko was elated that Tenchi was concerned, but was not about to let that on. "What's it to you, Masaki?" she retorted. Not put off in the least, Tenchi waited quietly. After a few moments, Ryoko theatrically sighed and said, "Alright, alright. I'll let you know."

She chose to keep the fact of her sleeping on Tenchi's roof initially to herself and instead started at when she arrived in Tokyo the next day. "I flew to Tokyo the morning after we fought and decided that I was hungry. I went into an old man's shop and, knowing I didn't have any money, attempted to rob him. I usually have a rule about harming innocents, but I had no choice, you know? Anyway, as I was trying to sneak out with a couple days worth of food, the old man who owned the place accosted me." Tenchi interjected, "Wait, what do you mean you flew?" Ryoko merely looked at him and said, "I can fly, dummy. Don't you know that? How closely did you listen to the stories you demented family no doubt told about me? Anyway, that isn't the point! Pay attention!"

Tenchi nodded again and Ryoko continued, "The man asked me why such a beautiful young lady was committing such a crime. I didn't respond initially and in that time he took account of my clothes, the tattered rags I wore when I fought you."

"Apparently, this concerned him and he told me that he could give me more permanent living quarters and food if I just didn't rob him now. I was skeptical at first, but felt like I had nothing to lose and it was unlikely that I couldn't overpower the old man if I could."

"He took me home to meet his wife and they gave me a place to stay. It seems that they had always wanted a child, but couldn't bear children. They saw me as an opportunity to do some child rearing. They washed me up and fed me. Then they pulled some strings and arranged for me to attend school. I think they are hoping I can keep up..."

"Anyway, that is about it. Humans outside of your family are quite lovely it seems. I couldn't rightfully refuse their help and decided to come to school. However, I didn't realize that you went here; that, my friend, can be considered a bonus." She refused to go any further with that statement, and Tenchi wondered what that would mean in the end. He hoped perhaps she was on her way to forgiving him and his family (and possibly humanity) because she had not tried to kill him on the spot. Though he didn't show it, he was certainly intrigued by the, now he realized, green haired beauty and wanted to understand her more.

He thought a moment and then asked, "So, where does this leave us? You know, you being here and all?" Ryoko sighed a little and shrugged. Who knew? It would certainly be interesting though.

They chatted a while, small talk really. Each was too afraid to probe too deeply. It was rather awkward at times, their relationship was—after all—complicated. The lunch period was short and they both went inside and went their separate ways.

The school day went pretty normally after that and Tenchi was about to head home when, Ryoko suddenly appeared again just as everyone had left the building. Ryoko and Tenchi found themselves alone in the entry hallway of the school.

She immediately hugged Tenchi from behind and intimately whispered in his ear, "Care to take me home, Tenchi?" Tenchi burned with embarrassment and took an appraisal of his surroundings. There was no one there it seemed. He sighed a little and said, "Aren't we being a little forward, Ryoko? What's the big idea?" That was the sort of gesture one got from one's girlfriend, not from the former monster that your family had imprisoned.

Ryoko made herself to answer, but was interrupted by someone clearing their throat quietly behind them. Ryoko rounded on this new person and found herself face to face with Ms. Washu who had a small smile on her face. Realizing that it was merely a teacher, Ryoko rolled her eyes a bit and made to move Tenchi to the, ironically, privacy of the outdoors. "Hold on a minute there, little Ryoko." said Washu in a small voice.

Ryoko was about to make an ill advised retort when Tenchi said, "Come on, Ryoko. She is one of our professors. Let's show some respect, huh?" At this, Ryoko sighed and whispered in Tenchi's ear, "We still have some things to talk about, Masaki. Don't you forget it."

Tenchi faced Miss Washu and said, "Please forgive Ryoko, little Washu. She seems to be a tad bullish at times." He bowed deeply to show his respect.

Washu looked at him with some interest and then replied, "Thank you, Mr. Masaki." She continued, "Now, Ryoko Hakubi, I have some urgent business to discuss with you. How is it that you came to be on this planet?" Ryoko's eyes widened as Washu then stated, "Yes, I know that you are not a human, Ryoko. Surprised, aren't you?"

"Wh- What are you getting at lady!" Ryoko said in a brazen tone that she realized she hadn't made in years. How could this strange lady know that she wasn't human? Ryoko looked quite human and there were plenty of human girls who spent their time coloring her hair. Just what is Washu after, Ryoko thought.

Ryoko felt her muscles steeling for a fight. For whatever reason, this encounter was putting her on edge. If it came down to it, Ryoko would fight for her life. She had done a lot of things while under control of that man, so long ago. However, Ryoko was not interested in her past coming to haunt her again. She wanted to leave all that behind in the cave, and perhaps explore something new with Tenchi.

Tenchi sensed that something was amiss, but could not say what. He tensed himself as well, though he was not nearly as freaked out as Ryoko was. Tenchi wondered what she was thinking. He could tell that she was afraid and put off by this encounter.

Washu decided that it was best to keep going. "Ryoko, this is going to be hard to hear; but, I know that you are not a human girl because I am not a human girl either. In fact, we're related. We come from the same world. The only world that even the Jurai Royal Family held as equal to themselves," she said

"Ryoko, I am...your mother. I am your mother, Ryoko, and I have been looking for you so very long." Washu said while a silent tear suddenly started to run down her face.

Bald shock flitted across Ryoko's face before she put on her tough persona again. My mother, Ryoko thought, how could that be? It just did not make any sense. She hadn't seen her mother for so many years due to her kidnapping by that doctor and due to her imprisonment at the Masaki Shrine. Her mother? She could hardly remember the woman. In any case, Washu had to at least be an alien. She knows about the Jurai Royal family.

"What are you talking about, lady," Ryoko demanded, "How can YOU be my mother! I haven't seen my MOTHER for well over 3000 years!" Ryoko started to stalk forward as she said these things and continued, "Who are you to come in here and claim to be someone I can hardly remember! What could you possibly know about me! About anything! Who are you, really! 'Cause I ain't buying it!" Ryoko raised her fist, Tenchi started to move forward to stop her, and Washu merely stood there.

Wild energy popped from Ryoko's fist as she reared back to strike Washu. The dimmed hallway crackled with red-orange light and lit up Washu's tear stained face. Tenchi was running now to stop Ryoko, but without his sword—and with Ryoko's head start—he was not going to get there in time.

Ryoko's fist swung through the air and hit! A doll, a doll in the likeness of Washu and with a bow on top of it. The doll flew backwards in the hall and hit the wall at the very end.

Ryoko was stooped over from the weight of her enraged blow and surprise at Washu's quickness.

Washu was safely sitting on top of some lockers, well out of harms way. Her green eyes glinted in the dimmed light as she said, "Now that we have gotten that out of the way, allow me to prove it to you Ryoko. First of all, my last name is Hakubi, just like yours. Secondly, I know about the birthmark on your right inner thigh. It is a small mole just a few inches from your knee. Most importantly, I know that you were taken from me by Dr. Clay many years ago."

The mention of Dr. Clay's name got Ryoko's attention at once. It was a name she wished to forget, but the knowledge of it could not have come to just any one. There had to be some truth in what Washu was saying. She knew of a birthmark that only those intimate with Ryoko would know and she knew the doctor. That wicked, wicked man. Ryoko shivered just remembering how things were with Dr. Clay and how it ended with her being imprisoned by the Masakis. She was such a danger then, a horror. It was no wonder the first Masaki locked her up. That did not give them a right to have made sport of her though, Ryoko thought furiously.

There were so many emotions rushing through Ryoko that she felt almost faint. She remembered vaguely being taken from her mother while very young. I had to be around 200 when that happened, Ryoko recalled. She felt weak as she remembered a flash of color that matched Washu's hair. The color had pleasant associations for Ryoko and, despite her weakness, she was starting to make sense of thing. Could it be, she thought. Ryoko's eyes began to glisten.

Tenchi, for his part, was still in shocked from Washu's proclamation and Ryoko's subsequent attack. He was not sure how to process any of this, but knew that someone had to be trained or perhaps an alien to dodge Ryoko that easily. Washu, it seems, was no slouch.

Washu watched Ryoko intently, while her eyes glistened in the relative darkness. Ryoko was just as fiery as she remembered, though maybe a bit more angry than when she last saw her. Washu sighed a bit, despite all the troubles her daughter had gone through, she felt that Ryoko was very strong and still in good condition. Things could be mended, now that they were reunited.

To Ryoko, Washu said, "Do you believe me, now?" Ryoko turned and looked at Washu. In response Ryoko said, "What could it possibly matter if I do?"

Washu winced a little as though struck a blow. Ryoko's words hit Washu right in her heart. She had, after all, felt directly responsible for Ryoko's kidnapping and all that came from that. Washu desperately wanted to mend all this, and hoped that she would be given that chance. More could be explained and understood between them. Things could get back to like they were in the first 200 years, and even better than that. Washu firmly believed all this with all her heart. It was all she had held on to, and all that kept her going all these years. This first step was painful, but it could be endured.

Immediately trying to build a bridge between her and her daughter, Washu said, "Look, I know you cannot be happy with me. After I allowed you to be kidnapped, your whole life changed. I am so sorry for that, and I hope that you can see that. I just need to you know that I have looked for you all over the universe since you were kidnapped. I followed Clay when he left this galaxy and followed him back. I have no idea where he is now, but my search eventually lead me here. I have found you, Ryoko."

Ryoko was not moved and still filled with a feeling that mixed pain, anger, hope, and desire all into one terrible ailment. She found that she could not move. This was all, quite simply, impossible. So impossible, that she still couldn't quite let herself believe it. After all, what would it mean, really? Ryoko's yellow eyes showed a little mist, but she would not give into this. She had been through too much. She was not going to make this easy for Washu. Choosing not to answer, Ryoko shrugged with a rather indifferent aire.

Washu was not going to give up so easily. "Where are you staying, Ryoko? Allow me to accompany you and I can explain more." She waited intently, not taking her eyes of her daughter.

Tenchi, for his part, was at a lost of what to do or say. He was, however, fairly sure that he was witnessing some of the more far-reaching impacts that his decision about Ryoko. How curious, he thought, who would have thought I would have such a strange first day of school and that it would culminate in this.

Ryoko was still standing—attempting to look indifferent, but failing miserably. Try as she might, she could not simply dismiss this woman, assuming she was who she claimed to be. Against her will, Washu's voice and the color of her hair were bringing forth some of her earliest memories. They were not really detailed, but she could see the back of a pink haired woman's head and hear a voice that sounded just like Washu.

As if sensing what her daughter was thinking, Washu then said, "Is something about me beginning to trouble you? Are you remembering, even if just a little?"

Instead of answering, Ryoko spouted tersely, "I'm going home. Come if you wish." To Tenchi she said, "I would appreciate it if you came, whether or not this lady does." Sensing some of Tenchi's trepidation she added, "I promise to be good. It's just that, I kind of like you or whatever. I want to get to know you."

At this, Tenchi nodded—indicating his decision was in the affirmative. Then all of them left out the school's front door into what was quickly becoming night.