Destination Jurai

Tenchi nearly fell over as he left the inter-dimensional laboratory and walked back into the house. Tenchi lost his balance because his father Nobuyuki, apparently lost in thought, did not notice the pink door with the crab chime, conspicuous though it was, and walked headlong into his only born child.

Both Nobuyuki and Tenchi yelped in alarm and steadied themselves opposite each other on the hallway walls.

"Oh, Tenchi! My apologies, I just was not looking where I was going. I've got a lot on my mind toni..." Nobuyuki said whilst slowly trailing off as he took in the site of the rather large door leading to the laboratory. "What in the world is this door doing in our hallway!?" he cried.

Tenchi paused and considered just how to answer the question his father had posed. How detailed should he be? Would Nobuyuki readily comprehend what was being told to him?

In the end, Tenchi threw caution to the wind and laid out, in broad strokes, just what had transpired.

When he had finished, his father did not speak for some time. Then, with a resigned sigh, Nobuyuki said to Tenchi, "I guess it was a matter of time until we had a conversation of this sort."

When Tenchi looked surprised, Nobuyuki added, rather abashedly, "Oh, yeah. I have always known about our alien heritage. I say our heritage because I am actually a Juraian myself. Well, I am three-quarters Juraian. Your mother was full-blooded."

"Actually, I am part of one of the branch families-the Amaki. So, I too am royal, I just have no lineage tying me to the Juraian throne."

"Honestly," and here Nobuyuki let out a short laugh, "your grandfather would be better able to explain all of this to you. With you going out into space, it only makes sense that the next part of your education begin. You see, you are about the age that we reveal our extra-terrestrial heritage to our youth."

As his father was expounding upon all this-hereto unknown-information, Tenchi found himself dumbfounded. The first thought that came to his mind was whether or not this was actually his father. Tenchi had always known Nobuyuki to be a bungling sort of father figure, with some questionable habits, and an otherwise ordinary earthling. Now, that entire image of his father was shattered. This fact was highlighted by the fact that his father was speaking in a more formal manner than usual. He was being serious, a rare occurrence within itself.

It took some time for Tenchi to find his speech, leading Nobuyuki to feel anxious, prompting him to get up to start pacing the hall way, a move that resulted in a near immediate stumble and face plant. Tenchi, having just begun to speak, snorted with laughter as he tried to get out what he wanted to say. At least that, he thought, was normal. It put him more at ease.

Once his laughter had subsided, though his father was still blushing in shame, Tenchi said, "That...was a surprise. So, you are saying that nothing I said to you was something you could readily understand, father?"

Nobuyuki nodded with a slight smile. "One day, my dear Tenchi, I will let you know just how much your old man knows and may even let you know about my Galaxy Police days!"

Tenchi's eyes widened again as Nobuyuki continued, "Sadly, this is an adventure that I cannot go on. I have too much to take care of here in Tokyo. I cannot just disappear. I will, however, let the school know that you are "ill" and will not be at school for a long while. It'll keep all this space travel business under wraps. Be sure to look up your sister, Tennyo!"

"Sister!? What?!" Tenchi exclaimed.

Nobuyuki looked a bit abashed as he said, "Oh, that is right. You would not know that you have a sister. Allow me to clear that up for you."

"You do realize that everyone that you are now involved with are much older than they look, right?" Tenchi nodded. "Well," Nobuyuki continued, "Tennyo is quite a few years older than you as there was a long separation time for me and your mother. It was around 40 years or so. When you were born, Tennyo posed as a college student, since her apparent age-on Earth-was about 20."

"What's more, Tennyo is a near spitting image of your mother. As a baby, you could not really tell, but Tennyo was able to stand in for your mother from time to time. That came in really handy for date nights."

"Anyway, we could not let you know that she was your sister and it worked out that, after both your mother's death and her college schooling, Tennyo went back out into space. I actually have not heard from her in a long while, but I am fairly sure she is in a nearby solar system. You should meet her! She will love the fact that she can behave as a sister to you, now!"

There was another pregnant, and rather awkward, pause in the conversation. Today had been filled with far too many revelations. Tenchi's head was beginning to hurt and he was fairly sure he could feel the Earth spinning beneath him. He had never felt so disconnected from his home.

As if sensing his son's thoughts, Nobuyuki grasped Tenchi's shoulders, looking him in the eye with kindness and said, "I know this is a lot Tench, and we are dropping this all on you faster than you would like. I apologize for adding to your troubles, but you were going to be told eventually. Just take some time and let it sink in. It'll do you good. I'm still your father, that has not changed, I am just even older than you thought." Upon saying this Nobuyuki headed back to the door. "I think, I will go have a drink and silently celebrate your coming of age. I am sure you will make me proud. Ittekimasu yo!" With that, Tenchi's father left the house and the motley crew to their task.