From: "Trakal" By trakal@map.com Disclaimer: K. Masaki and Pioneer-AIC Created the Tenchi Muyo! phenomenon. Don't sue me! Kain ate my wallet! Note: Tenchi Muyo!: Exile is an OAV-style series which combines aspects of the TV series which aspects of the OAV series. In order to make sense of it, the reader would do to read "Onmitsu No Ai", which the series is a spin-off from. TENCHI MUYO: EXILE ------------------ EPISODE #1: Day of Reckoning... Yukinojo double checked the signal, to make certain it wasn't a residual signal from an old distress beacon or television channel broadcast. Once both of these possibilities were dismissed, the AI set about the twin tasks of pinpointing the location where the signal was emanating from; and determining the identity of the transmitter. The first task was fairly simple. With most of the Galaxy Police gone, there weren't quite so many signals to sift through, so the AI quickly tracked the signal to earth. "Mihoshi." He sighed, somewhat relieved. Mihoshi moaned in her sleep and rolled over, murmuring something about Kiyone being the best. Kiyone flushed a bit when she heard how Mihoshi was moaning and her own name mentioned. Could Mihoshi be in love with her? They had had a lot of adventures together, and come to think of it, wasn't Mihoshi always getting really upset when they were separated or when she tried to leave without her? "Mmmmmmmmm...." Mihoshi moaned, passionately. "Kiyone....." Kiyone's face went beet red. "mmmmmm.... so goooooood..." Kiyone was extremely glad they lived alone. Galaxy Police Detective First Class Mihoshi sat in a comfortable lounge chair and slowly savored the most delicious chocolate cake she had ever eaten. Above her, a sign reading "Happy Birthday, Mihoshi." was suspeneded by Azaka and Kamidake. Two humanoid cabbits, Ryo-ohki and Kenoki, who had also been Mass-Enhanced at some point, were cheerfully Miya-singing "Happy birthday to you." to her and in the corner, Ryoko looked a little too happy. But when Mihoshi saw Trakal tied up with the bows from a few of the presents she'd unwrapped and with one of the party hats stuck on his muzzle like a doctor's mask, she understood and laughed amusedly. "This is such a good cake." she told her partner. "Kiyone, you're the best cook in the whole galaxy..." *** Sasami turned the gyoza over in the frying pan while Tanaka stir-fried a mixture of fresh vegetables in the wok. "Thanks for helping me out, Tanaka." She said. "It's the least I can do." Tanaka smiled. "And I need the practice. Especially if I'm going to be a wife soon." "Wow!" Sasami grinned. "Are you gonna marry Tenchi?" Tanaka she her head. "I'm going to marry Trakal." she replied. "Oh." Sasami sounded disappointed. "You don't think I should marry Trakal?" Tanaka figured the little girl was just worried about him not being human. "I think you should." Sasami giggled. "But my sister and Ryoko are always fighting over Tenchi and well..." "And you thought it would be funny if someone else came along and swiped him out from under them while they weren't looking?" Sasami nodded. Tanaka grinned. "Maybe someone will." She shrugged, adding a dash of mirin and continuing to stir the veggies. "It'd be really funny if it was Mihoshi, don't you think?" Sasami considered this for a moment. "Yeah, I guess so." She replied. Realization dawned on Tanaka's face. "You're in love with Tenchi, aren't you?" Sasami nodded. "I wish I was old enough to marry Tenchi." She sighed. "Well, who knows, by the time Tenchi gets it together maybe you will be old enough." Sasami smiled. The front door slid open and then shut again. "Sasami," Tenchi called to her, "I'm home." For a moment, Sasami imagined herself as Tenchi's wife, fixing a hot meal for her husband, who'd just returned from a hard day at work. At times like this, it took a bit of effort on her part not to walk into the hall and offer her cheek for him to kiss, like she saw housewives do on some of the American TV shows the set picked up thanks to Washu's satellite dish. "Oh, hello Tenchi." Sasami looked around, but saw no sign of her favorite cabbit. "Where's Ryo-ohki?" "I'm afraid there was a small problem." Tenchi sighed. A moment later, Trakal walked in carrying Ryo-Ohki. The cabbit was unharmed, but looked unhappy. That was quite understandable given the little handcuffs around its forepaws. Trakal was reading a list of charges to the kawaii cabbit. "Thirty four counts of carrot theft... tampering with a police investigation by eating said carrots... conspiracy to steal said carrots..." "Trakal!" Tanaka laughed. "Oh come on, dear? Please? For me?" Trakal smiled. "...However.. since my fiancee likes you, I'm dropping all charges." Ryo-Ohki miya'ed happily as Trakal released her from the handcuffs. She hopped into the bushel Trakal had been carrying and quickly devoured three carrots, before Trakal pulled her back out. "And just what, may I ask, do you think you're doing?" He asked her in a stern but calm voice. Ryo-Ohki wriggled out of his grip and hopped away, grabbing a carrot as she went. "Hey! Come back here!" Trakal shouted as he gave chase. Truth was he could've caught her quickly, but he loved the chase, the adrenaline, the exhiliration... Ryo-Ohki darted under Washu's floating onsen, the tiny jewel on her forehead glowing, sending a signal to the irrational bath. As Trakal ran under the drainage spout, the contents of the entire onsen came pouring out on him. Tenchi gulped. Trakal was still fairly new and no one had really gotten used to him. Especially not Tenchi. The girls were easy to adjust to. They had their quirks, but all of them at least looked human... well except Ryo-Ohki, so in their case it was like "oh, you're from another planet? How nice. I'm glad to meet you." But Trakal not only wasn't human, he didn't *look* human. He had an appearance that said "Yeah... I'm an alien. You wanna make something of it?". He'd worn a mask in 1970, but only because he didn't want to mess up the timeline, and because his work as an operative required him to do so. But now, amongst people he knew and trusted, particularly Tanaka, a girl from 1970 who'd fallen in love with him, Trakal rarely wore the mask, reserving it for 'special' occasions. Trakal shook most of the water from his fur, then strolled into the house and into the upstairs bathroom where Ayeka was blowdrying her hair. "I'm commandeering this for official police business." He informed her, firmly, as he unplugged the blowdrier, pried it from her hand, and took it into his room. Ayeka gave a little growl. "Azaka! Kamidake!" The two logs appeared. "Get my dryer back! Now!" Ayeka ordered. They started to leave. "Wait." Ayeka grinned evilly. "I want you to teach that monster a lesson." She told them. *** "Thank you for coming," Mihoshi smiled. "May I take your order?" "I'll have a large everything." A familiar voice replied. "For here." Mihoshi blinked and stared at the man for a long moment, then a look of realization hit her. "Wow! You must really love our food!" "No," the man replied. "I just know how long your reports take." "Reports?" Mihoshi seemed upset. "Oh my! I didn't know we were supposed to fill out reports here! I never filled one out! Oh, please don't fire me sir! I'll get to work on them right away...." "I meant your Galaxy Police reports." the customer replied. Mihoshi laughed. "Oh, Trakal!" She exclaimed, merrily. "I didn't recognize you!" "Trakal's alive?" "Yes." Mihoshi replied. "He's staying with Tenchi. Who...? But the figure had left before Mihoshi could ask who he was. Mihoshi blinked and took the next customer's order. *** The middle aged man spent all night trying to find this Tenchi, but no one in the city seemed to know who he was. He went back to where Mihoshi worked but she'd already gone home and he had no idea where she lived. He stopped in at a cafe and saw a woman slumped over the bar, talking in slurred tones. "I could've been in the SIU." She said, letting everyone hear her. "But my (hic) partner just *had* to come (burp) excuse me... along and screw things up!" She fell over and burped again. The man stepped forward and picked her up. "Come on, Detective." he told her. "Let's get you home." *** Mihoshi went into the kitchen the next morning and found Commander Sarnd sitting at her table, drinking coffee. "Sir!" She saluted. "Detective First Class Mihoshi is ready to serve." "Where's Trakal?" "He's living with Tenchi." "I asked all over town." Sarnd took a sip of his coffee. "Tenchi doesn't live in town." Mihoshi laughed at him. "Oh." Sarnd nodded. "So, where does he live?" Mihoshi told Sarnd where Tenchi's house was. "Thank you, detective." Sarnd replied. *** Yosho noticed the smoke coming from the mountain cabin as he made his way to the Shrine office. He strolled quietly to the cabin and knocked on the door. There was no response so he knocked again. After the third try, he opened the door carefully and peeked in. Trakal was lying on the floor near the bench. His uniform was laid out on the drying rack and his hair was dirty and tangled. Yosho shook Trakal, to wake him. "Hmmmm..." Yosho mused, quietly. "We'd better get you home." He piled Trakal's clothes on top of him, feeling that putting them on him would only add to the heatsickness he was apparently suffering, and then lifted the ailing ex-cop and carried him back to the house. "I found him in the cabin." he told Tanaka as he placed Trakal on the bed. "He's awfully warm." Tanaka replied. She ran to the bathroom and came back with a basin of cold water and a few facecloths. "Do you have any fever medicine?" She asked Yosho. "Just in case?" Yosho shook his head. "I wouldn't." He told her. "We don't know how his species might react. It could kill him." "You're right." Tanaka replied. Sasami walked into Trakal's room and saw Tanaka kneeling by Trakal's futon. Tanaka was stoking Trakal's fur and dabbing his forehead with a cold wet cloth. "Tanaka, it's breakfast time." "I can't come." Tanaka replied. "Trakal's very sick, Sasami." "Oh." Sasami said quietly. Trakal tried to speak, but weak as he was, it just came out as a moan. "Now now, "Tanaka admonished him, "you rest. Don't try to talk." "What's the matter with him?" Sasami asked. "I don't know." Tanaka wept softly. "But I think he's dying." Trakal moaned a sickly little disclaimer which didn't sound particularly convincing. Tanaka stroked his muzzle, gently. "Poor thing Yosho walked in and knelt beside the bed with a towel and some bowls of ice-water. He started to dab some medicine on Trakal's forehead, but Tanaka stopped him. "Please," she told him, "let me. He is my fiance after all." Yosho nodded and handed her the bowls and the towel. Tanaka took them and began to gently apply the medicine. "Come on, honey." she whispered, "please be all right. I don't want you to die. I love you." She bent down and kissed his forehead. "Yosho, his fever's not coming down." "He needs to soak in an icebath for a little while." Washu told them as she walked in. "He's got a bad case of heat sickness. He should've been more careful about remaining near a hot fire for so long." "What do you mean?" Tanaka asked. "He must've fallen asleep in the mountain cabin while trying to get dry." "But how'd he get wet in the first place?" "Oh, that's easy." Sasami told them. "My sister dunked him in the pond for swiping her blowdryer." Tanaka was furious. "I will never forgive her if Trakal dies." "He's not going to die." Washu assured her. "Just get him into the icebath for a while and that should take care of him." "And how do we dry him off?" Tanaka asked. "We could stick him in the microwave." Ryoko suggested as she strolled past the room. "Not funny, Ryoko!" Tanaka called out to her. Sarnd rented a car from a local dealer and headed toward the Masaki Shrine. On the way he thought of what he'd learned from Kiyone and Mihoshi. Trakal was in love. Sarnd frowned. The idea of Trakal being in love was astonishing. The Draalthi had always been emotionally cold, focusing only on his job and scoffing at the idea of any relationships. Now he was in love in spite of these claims. Sarnd was in a bind. If he scolded Trakal for falling in love, he would discourage him from any further relationships, which he definitely did not want to do. On the other hand, Trakal's relationship with the Earth woman did violate the Galaxy Police laws against interfering with Earth's timeline. A Draalthi on Earth could damage the train of future history. He drove on, trying to figure out what to do. He could pretend to get lost. Then he wouldn't have to confront Trakal. But he wanted to see the young Draalthi. To confirm that Mihoshi was, for once, right. That Trakal was in fact alive. Sarnd drove on, trying to formulate a plan of action. He knew that it was the law that Trakal would have to leave Earth. But he didn't want to destroy the Draalthi's newly found happiness. It seemed unfair to him, but there was nothing he could do, short of breaking the law. "It's not fair." He told himself. *** Trakal said exactly the same thing when he woke up in the ice bath. He was freezing, naked and drenched. Washu dumped another bucket of icewater on his head. He winced as the ice cubes hit his muzzle, and growled in displeasure. Washu picked up another bucket of ice and dumped it on him. "CUT THAT OUT!" Trakal shouted angrily at her. Trakal got out of the bath and grabbed a towel which he quickly wrapped around himself. "If that's how you look after being in an ice bath for half an hour, Tanaka's going to be in trouble on your wedding night." Washu told him, sounding rather impressed. "Don't be cute." Trakal retorted, sounding angry to hide his embarrassment. "You know full well that cold temperatures don't affect Draalthi anatomy the same way they affect humans. We retain body heat far longer than humans do." "So that's why you came down with heat sickness." Washu mused. Trakal nodded. Mihoshi ran in. "Trakal! You have a visitor!" "Detective! Do you mind?!" Mihoshi blushed. "Oops. Sorry." "*I* mind." Sarnd growled. "Trakal, what do you think you're doing taking up with this human?" "I'm not a human!" Washu screamed at him. "I am Washu! I'm the greatest genius scientist in all the Universe." "Mihoshi said you were human." "What?" Washu asked. "Excuse me, sir," Trakal told Sarnd. "I'm not marrying her. She was merely taking care of me." "Oh." Sarnd nodded. "Well anyhow, get your uniform on. You're coming home with me." Trakal blinked. "With all respect, sir, I have a life here now. Tanaka and I are going to be married soon." "No." "'No'? What do you mean 'No'?" "I mean you're not going to stay here and you are not going to marry a human. Do you understand?" "No, I don't understand. What I understand is that I love Tanaka and she loves me." "Trakal," Sarnd told him. "A Draalthi on Earth would be damaging to the course of future history." "You don't know that." Trakal replied. "Well, I don't want to take chances." Sarnd replied. "What if he was human?" Washu offered. Sarnd and Trakal both turned. "Human?" Sarnd asked. Washu nodded. "I took a DNA sample when you were out." She told Trakal. "You what?!" Trakal demanded. "Well, naturally being the greatest genius in the universe, I anticipated this, and I know you're afraid of hospitals." "I am not!" Sarnd raised an eyebrow. "So, that's why you never made it to your annual physical." "I was on assignment!" Trakal wailed. "Mmm hmm." Sarnd nodded. "Ahem!" Washu cleared her throat. "Now, as I was saying, I can use your Juraian DNA as a database for your human alter-ego." "Juraian DNA?" Sarnd asked, eyeing Trakal. "Right." Washu didn't explain. "I can take that, and I can increase it gradually from five percent to one hundred percent over a period of five hours. If all goes well, he will appear as a male Juraian, and he will look perfectly human as long as he doesn't get upset." "Well, I think you should tell Tanaka first." Trakal told Washu. "Whatever you say." Washu nodded and Tanaka tumbled out of a subspace fold, landing near the towel-clad Draalthi. Trakal blushed furiously. Tanaka also blushed. "Trakal, what's going on?" Trakal pointed at Washu "Tanaka," Washu explained, "if Trakal remains a Draalthi he will have to return to the Galaxy Police. He'll probably have to stand trial for contaminating the time-line. He could be sentenced to life-imprisonment." "So, what can we do." "Well, Trakal's half-Juraian." Washu explained. "I'm going to raise his Juraian DNA level and lower his Draalthi DNA level until he becomes human. Or at least Juraian. I'll also alter his memory." Washu saw the panic in Tanaka's eyes. "He will remember you." She reassured the girl. "He'll just forget he was a Draalthi and that he worked for the Galaxy Police." "Trakal," Sarnd asked, "you'll be giving up everything. Are you sure that's what you want?" Without a word, Trakal took Sarnd's laser from its holster. Trakal moved the gun behind his head and discharged it before anyone could stop him. "Trakal?!" Sarnd cried out, believing that Trakal had just shot himself. But his panic was unfounded. Trakal remained standing, his head hadn't been splattered all over. Sarnd blinked in confusion, then looked down. The majority of Trakal's ponytail lie there, a scattered mass of hair. "Pretty sure." Trakal replied, removing the hairband from the remnants of his ponytail and handing it to Sarnd. "Trakal...?" Sarnd asked. "You'll need proof." Trakal smiled. "No one is *ever* going to believe this." Sarnd smiled back. He gave Trakal a quick fatherly hug, having been the Draalthi's mentor since his arrival at the Galaxy Police, and having been more like a father to Trakal than anyone. "I'll need more proof than that." He said. He picked up the remains of the ponytail and using the band to tie them together. Then he went outside, got in his car, and drove off. Disclaimer: Tenchi Muyo!/No Need For Tenchi is a product of Pioneer/AIC. Tenchi Muyo and the characters within were created by Kajashime Masaki. Note: An uchikake is the over-kimono worn by a Japanese bride. Usually a number of other kimonos are worn beneath it. Note 2: A haori-hakama is the wedding outfit worn by a Japanese groom. Tenchi Muyo: Exile #2: "Farewell, Trakal/Hello, Naoki" The Alteration Chamber looked like an ironmaiden. Fortunately without all the spikes. Trakal stepped in and relaxed as Washu closed the door. A moment later, blue gas filled the chamber. Trakal closed his eyes as consciousness left his body. Outside the chamber, Washu watched theDraalthi vanish, knowing that from that moment on, Trakal would no longer exist. "I hope Naoki's okay." Tanaka sighed as she paced outside Washu's lab. "Naoki?" Tenchi asked. "I thought your fiance was named Trakal." "It is," Tanaka replied. "But now that Washu's making him human..." "Making him human?" Tenchi asked. "His boss showed up." Tanaka explained. "He said that if a Draalthi stayed on Earth, it would upset the timeline." "So she's making him human?" Tenchi wanted to know. "Yes." Tanaka replied. Washu pushed a few buttons and opened the Alteration chamber. The door slid open and the gas that had built up around the chamber's occupant began to dissipate... *** He was semi-conscious, had been like that for some time, suffocating. A hand was holding him up by the throat, squeezing his neck. He was being strangled, but only enough to daze him, not to kill him. He opened his mouth in a soundless, near-breathless, scream. *** He woke up screaming. He sat up, panting, trying to catch his breath. For a few minutes he was disoriented, trying to figure out who and where he was. Where came rather quickly. He was lying on the floor. "But who's floor?" He asked himself. "Am I in a hospital? In someone's house? In my house? Who am I?" "Naoki!" a redhaired woman he recognized but didn't know exclaimed upon seeing him. Naoki? Was that his name? It seemed wrong, but she seemed to expect him to respond to it, so he did. "I'm okay. I must've been..." he searched for the word. "...sleepwalking." he finished. "Its okay." The redhead told him. "Who are you?" "Me? Only the most brilliant mind in the Galaxy." "Oh." Naoki replied. *** "I'm sure he's fine." Tenchi told Tanaka. "I hope so." Tanaka replied, wistfully. Washu's lab door swung open and Washu stepped out. Alone. "Naoki?" Tanaka sounded as if she expectedto hear Washu tell her something had gone horribly wrong, that Trakal had been killed! "He's just getting dressed." Washu explained. "He'll be out in a moment." Tanaka sighed, looking visibly relieved. A moment later, Naoki emerged from Washu's lab. Tanaka gaped. He looked the same as hehad when they'd met, but his eyes were royal blue and his pupils round, no longer slitted. They were stillbeautiful, though, especially under his long, thick lashes. His hair, of course, was shorter than when he'd been in school with her, but it wasn't too short and still looked a bit moppish. He was wearing a blue men's kimono shirt and black cotton pants which matched the belt tied at his waist. "Wow!" Tanaka finally managed, her heart throbbing rapidly. Naoki heard her and focused his gaze on the floor at his feet, fidgetting nervously. "Naoki?" Tanaka noted his sudden shyness and uncertainty. "What's wrong?" "Are... are you my wife?" Naoki asked. Of course! Tanaka realized. Washu had given him partial amnesia to hide his past identity! "Not yet." she smiled. "I'm your fiancee. Tanaka." Naoki let out a sigh of relief. He drew her close and was about to kiss her when Ryo-ohki came running through the hall, with a carrot in her mouth, chased by Mihoshi and Sasami! Naoki didn't see them, however, as he was completely focused on Tanaka. Both girls and the cabbit ran headlong into Naoki, knocking him over. His head hit the floor and he blacked out. A lion trotted up to him and he was sure he was aboutto be eaten. He ran as swiftly as he could along the metallic corridor. The lion gave chase, growling and roaring as it ran. He turned down a side passage. The lion turned down it after him. He couldn't shake the ferocious beast! Another turn! Then another! A third, and... Dead end! The lion turned the third corner and Naoki stared at it as it stalked toward him. Around its neck it wore a medallion with the letters "GP" on it, in a strange design. The lion stopped, looked him in the eye, and told him "Best of luck with your marriage." Naoki fainted. "I think he's coming out of it." Tenchi told the others as Naoki regained consciousness. The young man sat up and ran a hand through hair. "What happened?" He asked. "You got run over by a two girls and a cabbit." Tanaka replied. "Oh. Okay." Naoki shrugged. Ryo-Ohki hopped up to him and eyed him, curiously. "Miya?" She said, hoping he wasn't mad at her. Naoki turned and saw the cabbit. His eyes went wide and he went all kawaii. He picked her up and hugged her. "I didn't fall on you when I fell, did I?" He asked as he nuzzled her and scritched her behind the ear. "Awww... you poor adorable thing..." "Um, Washu?" Ayeka whispered, making sure Naoki could not hear them, "What is going on?" "There wasn't enough Jurai DNA in him to fully transform him so I had to use someone else's." "Who's?" Ayeka asked. "Well, I didn't want to contaminate the specimens I took from Tenchi, so..." Tanaka waited. "...I used one I got from Misaki." Washu finished. Ayeka simply keeled over. A moment later she sprang up. "How did you get a sample of my mother's DNA?" She demanded. "I got it from her hairbrush, of course." Washu grinned. "He's not going to be like this forever, is he?" Tanaka asked, as Naoki stated that she was very cute and hugged her. "Well, he'll go all wide-eyed and such whenever he spotssomething cute, and probably try to hug it, but it won't last forever. It was going to last a little longer, however, because at that very moment, the owner of the DNA that made Naoki go all kawaii at the sight of anything cute was walking up the path to the front door. "I can't wait to see my litle Ayeka and Sasami." She told her sister. Funaho nodded. "Yes. It has been some time since we paid a visit. It will be good to see my son Yosho again." They arrived at the door and Funaho knocked. Tenchi went to the door and opened it. "Yes?" He asked. "Tenchi!" Misaki cried out, as she hugged him. "Oh, Tenchi!It's so good to see you again!" "It's good to see you again, too." Tenchi said, with some difficulty, since Misaki was hugging him so tightly that he could hardly breathe. "Tenchi, who is?" Sasami asked as she came into the hallway. Misaki released Tenchi. "Sasami!!" She cried out as she ran toward her daughter. "Mummy!" Sasami cried out, happily, as she ran toward Misaki. The two embraced and Misaki snuggled Sasami affectionately. "Ayeka and the others are in the living room, if you'd like to join us." Tenchi offered. "That would be very nice, thank you." Funaho said, smilingly. Funaho and Misaki walked into the living room with Tenchi and Sasami. "Little Ayeka!" Misaki cried out. "My mommy!" Ayeka exclaimed. Ryoko almost got her mouth stretched a second time, but quickly remembered the first time and kept it shut. Ayeka and Misaki embraced for several moments, then Misaki spotted Tanaka. "Oh! How pretty!" She exclaimed. Tanaka stood up and bowed. "Thank you, I..." Misaki, of course, rushed over and hugged her tightly. Tanaka shrugged mentally and hugged Misaki back. "Are you my great grandnephew's new girlfriend?" Misaki asked. "No." Tanaka replied. "Actually, I'm a friend of Achika's." "Oh," Misaki released her a moment later, when she spotted Naoki, who'd just come in from grabbing a snack in the kitchen. "Oh, he's so cute!" She exclaimed. Naoki heard her and piku'ed, then his eyes went just as wide and misty as Misaki's. "How adorable!" He exclaimed in reply. Naoki and Misaki embraced each other, very tightly, and nuzzled each other for several minutes before Tanaka cleared her throat loudly. "Just what do you think you're doing, Naoki?" She asked, sternly. Naoki stopped hugging Misaki and embraced Tanaka. "Now now," he told her, "no need to be jealous. I love you more than anyone in the whole world." *** When Funaho and Misaki learned that Tanaka wasengaged to marry Naoki, they insisted on taking her to shop for her wedding kimono. She agreed and the three headed into town. Tanaka came out of the first fitting room wearinga white uchikake and a couple other kimonos under it. Misaski, of course, thought it looked just darling, but Funaho wasn't convinced.Tanaka thought it lacked something. "Naoki's given up a lot more than he'll ever know for me." She told him. "I want my wedding clothes to be fitting for such a groom." The next uchikake was also while, but had a design of silver leaves and flowers embroidered upon it. This was a little more festive, but still not particularly special. The third was a red uchikake with a design of a golden tracing of a pattern of flowers and leaves going up the right side and over the shoulder. Misaki's eyes boggled. "Ooh! Sis'," she told Funaho. "She's so cute!" "I agree." Funaho replied, serenely. "that's a very beautiful uchikake." "I think so, too." Tanaka agreed. They paid for the dress and then made their way to the closest restaurant for lunch. While they waited for their meals, Funaho spoke. "You must love Naoki very much." "I do." Tanaka nodded. "He means worlds to me." "He seems to think very highly of you, too." Funaho agreed. Tanaka nodded. "He loves me." She smiled, thoughtfully. "It...I just get so happy... I almost feel like singing sometime." "What a wonderful idea!" Misaki decided. "Sis," she told Funaho, "after lunch, why don't the two of us take Tanaka to the karaoke club. We could all have lots of fun." "That would be fun." Funaho agreed. In another part of town, Yosho and Nobuyuki were helping Naoki pick out the right haori-hakama for his wedding. Since he had no family, the traditional family crest would be absent. They'd both been grooms before, and knew how the clothes should fit, and though he normally would not have worried too much about how his clothes looked any other time, for his wedding to Tanaka, he'd wanted everything to be perfect. Having selected a very nice ensemble, the three men had made their way to a small restaurant. Naoki couldn't eat very much. He was too nervous about his upcoming marriage to Tanaka. He was hungry, however, so he ordered a plate of seafood gyoza and some weak tea, which was just enough for him. "Is something the matter, Naoki?" Yosho asked. Naoki looked up from toying with one of the dumplings on his plate. "No." He replied. "I'm fine. Why?" "You've hardly touched your food." Yosho pointed out. "Oh." Naoki shrugged. "Do I usually eat more?" "I think so." Nobuyuki shrugged. "I guess I'm just..." "Nervous?" Nobuyuki offered. "Please!" Naoki scoffed. "What would I have to be nervous about?" Nobuyuki didn't look up as he spoke through a mouthful of food. "Oh, I don't know. Being unable to remember your past? Living with a bunch of people you hardly know? Getting married in less than a month? Huh?" He asked as he heard a thud. He looked up to find that Naoki had fainted and had fallen sideways out of his chair. "Hmmm." Yosho mused, as he pondered the situation. Tanaka's voice rang out like perfectly tapped chimes. Each note resonated with her deepest emotions. Her heart beat swiftly as the lyrics sprang from her lips, each one rich with the love she felt for Naoki. Funaho and Misaki listened. "She's quite good, don't you think, sis'?" Funaho asked. "Very good." Misaki agreed. Tanaka's song ended and the machine's electronic scoring system awarded her a score of eighty-nine out of a possible one-hundred. Misaki took her turn next. She sang pretty well as far a sTanaka and Funaho could hear. The machine, however, had another opinion and gave her a sixty-two. Naturally, she tried tostare down the machine, but it wasn't a Juraian machine, and it simply sat there until finally Misaki gave up and sat back down, glaring at the machine every now and then. Funaho took her turn, scoring in the mid seventies. "I can do better!" Misaki declared, grabbing the microphone, paying the required amount, and getting a seventy-one five minutes later. "Let me show you how its done, sis." Funaho laughed, paying her fee, and scoring a seventy-two. The two of them went on and on until their last yen had been spent. They were about to leave when they noticed that Tanaka wasn't there. Tanaka sat quietly in the booth, next to Yosho and Nobuyuki. Naoki was so busy singing, that he hadn't noticed that she was there. There was a dreamy look in her eyes as she watched him. Naoki finished and turned to hand the microphone to Yosho. When he saw Tanaka standing there, he blushed. He had been singing a love-song about how deeply he cared for her and she'd probably heard every word of it. "Sing a duet!" Nobuyuki suggested, cheerfully. "What an excellent idea." Yosho agreed. "My son is right." Funaho said from the door. "You two are engaged, after all. I'd love to hear you two sing together." Naoki shrugged. "I guess we don't have any choice. "I guess not." Tanaka agreed. The two sang together, their voices in perfect harmony. When it was over, they were pleasantly surprised, and slightly embarrassed when they heard the others cheering. "They even blush in perfect unison!" Nobuyuki pointed out. "We're not blushing!" Naoki pointed out, feeling slightly uncomfortable. "We're um..." Tanaka came to the rescue. "We're flushed from singing really hard." She explained. "Yeah! That's it!" Naoki exclaimed. Out of the corner of his mouth, he told her. "Thanks, darling." "I don't think they're buying it." She replied, out of the other corner of her own mouth. "Come on," Funaho finally said. "I think its time we headed home. Sasami probably has dinner ready for us by now." "Great idea." Misaki nodded. "I'm starving." Naoki admitted. "You should be, the way you just picked at your food at lunchtime." "Sounds like our groom-to-be has a case of the jitters." Misaki grinned. "You better believe it!" Nobuyuki chuckled. "Naoki?" Tanaka asked, seeing Naoki standing there looking as white as a sheet. "Hmmm." Yosho mused. "I think we should get him home." Naoki didn't regain consciousness until later that evening. By then, everyone had had supper and most of them had retired to the living room to watch television. Tanaka and Yosho were in Naoki's room, sitting by his bed. Tanaka was holding Naoki's hand as he sat up with a yelp and looked around, hauntedly. "Naoki?" She asked, gently. "What's wrong?" "Bad dream." He told her. "Tanaka..." "Naoki, we're engaged. My first name is..." "Tanaka, I know we're engaged. But how do I know I'm not already married? How do I know someone else isn't out there looking for me right now?" "I can't tell you that, my darling." Tanaka told him. "But I can tell you that we love each other very much.Your heart must be telling you that." "It is." Naoki admitted. "But I feel I felt some type of deep devotion to someone else before I met you. I have to know who that was." Tanaka was in a bind, now. She couldn't tell Naoki about his life as Lt. Trakal of the Galaxy Police. They'd erased his memory for a reason. Even Kiyone and Mihoshi avoided talking about the Galaxy Police when they were around Naoki. But if she didn't tell him, he might postpone the wedding, even call it off, and she couldn't bear the thought of that. "I have to get some sleep." Tanaka said, which was true. The day in the city had exhausted her. Naoki seemed to sense she was avoiding a reply and spoke up as she reached the door. "What aren't you telling me?" He asked. Tanaka looked back at him sadly. "I can't tell you that." She told him. "Please, don't ask me again. I love you, Naoki. That's enough." Naoki was too tired and frightened to argue. Yosho spoke up. "Tanaka, go on to bed. I'll sit up with Naoki for a bit." Tanaka departed and went up to her room. When she got there, she flopped herself down on the bed, and burst into tears. "What's the matter?" Washu asked as she strolled into the room. "Washu!" Tanaka yelped, sitting up. She brushed a tear from her face. "I think Naoki's going to break off the engagement. He remembers his devotion to the Galaxy Police and he thinks its an indication that he's already married to someone else. And I think he thinks I'm trying to hide that from him so he'll marry me." "Hmmm." Washu brought out her holoputer and tapped a few keys. After a quick calculation, she looked up. "Well, I know what the Galaxy Police Commander said, but according to my calculations, the Universe won't end if Naoki gets his memory back." "But Washu..." Tanaka protested. "You promised the Galaxy Police..." "I only made that promise to get old lion-breath off our backs." Washu grinned. *** Naoki covered his ears and shook his head vehemently. "NO!" He screamed at Washu. "No! That's not possible!" "Naoki," Washu tried to soothe him. "you were called Trakal. You were a fearless operative working for the Galaxy Police." "I don't care if I was working for her majesty's secret service!" Naoki blurted out. "I was *NEVER* a giant bat!" "Yes, you were." Washu insisted. "NO!" Naoki denied. "That's not possible! There's no such thing as giant bats!" "Then why have you been dreaming about one?" Naoki eyed her suspiciously. "How do you know what I've been dreaming?" He asked, cautiously. "Those dreams are memories from your past life." Washu explained. "I couldn't erase them because your loyalty to the Galaxy Police was too strong for even me to obliterate entirely." Naoki thought about the memories Washu was claiming were his. They seemed impossible, yet some deep instinct told him they were true. Or was he just going crazy. And if it was true... "If I'm really some kind of alien creature, then I can't marry Tanaka." He realized. A tear ran down his face. "She couldn't possibly want a..a..." "A hideous freak?" Tanaka asked from the doorway where she was standing with Tenchi, Nobuyuki, and Yosho. Naoki looked toward the door, with tears in his eyes. "Good thing I'm not marrying Nobuyuki then." She joked as she stepped forward. "Now, just a minute!" Nobuyuki began to protest. The others keeled over with laughter, knowing the remark was made in good humor. Even Naoki was laughing, though his laughter was more of relief than of anything else. Tanaka took Naoki's hand as she sat on the edge of the bed. "I knew what you really were when you asked me to marry you." "And you said yes?" Naoki blinked. "Yes." Tanaka replied. "But why?" Naoki asked. "Because I love you." Tanaka explained. "Oh." Naoki replied, quietly. He stood up and looked her in the eye. As Naoki and Tanaka gazed at each other, both losing all knowledge of time and space, knowing nothing but the love present in the other's eyes, Washu unlocked the last of Naoki's hidden memories. He remembered the week they'd spent in 1970. His hunt for Kain. Her infatuation with Trakal; an infatuation that had turned into love. The revelation of his true identity to her, and the subsequent kiss she'd responded with. He remembered a walk they took just after they'd arrived in the present with the others. They'd strolled along the pathway together, hand in hand, talking about their future as husband and wife. And she had told him her first name was... "I love you, Makiya." He told her, as the final barrier fell from his heart. Now that he knew who he was, that he had no past relationships, he was free to love her. Tenchi Muyo! Exile #3: Makiya and Naoki Disclaimer: Tenchi Muyo!/No Need For Tenchi is a product of Pioneer/AIC. Tenchi Muyo and the characters within were created by Kajashime Masaki. Note: An uchikake is the over-kimono worn by a Japanese bride. Usually a number of other kimonos are worn beneath it. Note 2: A haori-hakama is the wedding outfit worn by a Japanese groom. WARNING!!: Spoilers for OAV 13 "Here Comes Jurai" occur in this fanfic! ------------ Naoki Kokomori rose from slumber, yawning and stretching. He took a deep breath and turned to the door of his bedroom where the haori-hakama hung. He stripped off his night clothes and slipped into his wedding clothes. As he dressed, he thought of his bride, Makiya Tanaka. He wondered what her uchikake would look like. She'd be pretty in anything, he told himself. He had just finished dressing when there was a knock on the door. "Yes?" He asked. "My I come in?" Tenchi's voice asked from the hall. "Sure." Naoki smiled as he replied. Tenchi walked in. "Wow!" he said. "You look great." "I'll let you borrow it when you marry Ryoko." Naoki joked. "But, I'm not..." "Why not. You two *are* in love, after all." "Excuse me." Tenchi wandered out of the room. In the hallway, he ran into Yosho. "Tenchi, what is the matter?" Yosho asked. "Naoki thinks I should ask Ryoko to make it a double wedding." Tenchi sighed. "I see. And what do you think...?" "Well.. um... I..." "I see. "Yosho said, resignedly. "Very well. We'll wait for fifteen minutes to give you and Ryoko time to get ready." "I'm *NOT* getting married!" Tenchi told nobody as Yosho made his way to Naoki's room. "Naoki," Yosho asked from the doorway. "You almost ready?" Naoki gulped in cold fear, but replied. "Yes." In another bedroom, Makiya Tanaka was getting dressed. She had five kimonos on, and now Ayeka was helping her into her uchikake. It was a good thing, too, since Makiya could hardly move her arms. She smiled to herself, then sighed as the traditional wig and bridal headdress were set in place. They were heavy, but Naoki was worth the discomfort. "I hope Naoki's okay." She said, as Washu walked in, wearing a very nice outfit she'd selected for the wedding. "What do you think he's doing right now?" "Probably breathing into a paper bag." Washu shrugged. Naoki was breathing into a paper bag. This didn't come as a surprise to anyone else, but it sure as heck was a surprise to him. "I was once," he said, between bouts of anxiety attacks, "The bravest operative the Galaxy Police ever knew. I faced..." another pause, "...some of most dangerous criminals in the Galaxy without flinching." Another pause. "Now, I'm getting married," A very long pause, this one with a lot of rapid breathing into the paper bag. "...and I'm scared to death." he concluded. There was a knock on the door, and the former Galaxy Police Operative nearly jumped a foot straight up. "It's just me." Tenchi told him. "Grandpa sent me make sure you made it to the shrine." "Thank you." Naoki nodded as he stood up and brushed out any wrinkles his clothes may have obtained by sitting down. He left the room and Tenchi followed, ready to offer support should he decide that fainting would be a good idea at some point during the walk to the shrin Naoki and Tenchi made it to the shrine and Naoki took his place at the ceremonial setting. A moment later, Makiya Tanaka appeared in the temple doorway. She looked quite breathtaking in her uchikake. All eyes turned toward her as she made her entrance. Naoki gaz at her from his place at the temple altar and swallowed the lump that formed in his throat. Naoki was trembling as she approached him. None of his experiences working for the Galaxy Police had prepared him for this moment. He could hear his heart pounding as it raced in his chest, feel the adrenaline as his bride drew nearer to him. Ayeka and Ryoko, watching from nearby, were whispering to each other, wagering on if and when Naoki would pass out. Makiya knelt before Naoki and bowed to him in respect. Her own heart was racing just as quickly as she felt his eyes upon her and knew that for that moment she alone commanded the attention of a being who had seen countless things she could only dream of, and even some things she couldn't imagine. He looked down at her, tenderly. Love permeated every part of him, filling his very soul to overflowing. Naoki, who until he'd met Makiya knew close to nothing about even the simplest happiness, was overwhelmed by it and could not hold back the tears of joy that trickled down his face. Sasami was dressed in the robes of a Shinto serving girl. Without a word, she stepped foward with three cups of sake stacked one atop the other and placed them on the altar. She bowed for a moment, in silent prayer, then backed quickly away. Naoki and Tanaka knelt side by side at the altar and Yosho stood over them. Yosho waited a moment, then began the ceremony. "May She Who is the Spirit of the First Tree grant you a lifetime of love in your marriage." He made the first prayer. In reply, as was the custom, Naoki and Makiya took turns drinking a sip from the topmost cup. Because Makiya could barely move her arms, Naoki held the cup for her. After Naoki set the cup down, Yosho made the second prayer: "May She Who is the Spirit of the First Tree grant you prosperity in your marriage." Naoki and Makiya each took a second sip from the topmost cup. Naoki set the cup down and Yosho made the third prayer, the last one for the topmost cup. "May She Who is the Spirit of the First Tree grant you joy in your marriage." Naoki and Makiya each took their final sip from the topmost cup, which Sasami then took away and set upon a nearby tray. Yosho made the fourth prayer. "May She Who is the Spirit of the First Tree keep watch upon your new home." He said, home referring to the home they would be building as husband and wife as well as to any simple structure which might also be called a house. Naoki and Makiya took the first sips from the middle cup. Naoki put the cup back down and Yosho made the fifth prayer. "May She Who is the Spirit of the First Tree grant you safety in your new home." Naoki and Makiya took the second sips from the middle cup. "May She Who is the Spirit of the First Tree grant you the gift of peace in your new home." Yosho made the sixth prayer Naoki and Makiya took the final sips from the middle cup, which Sasami took away and set alongside the first. Yosho began the seventh prayer. "May She Who is the Spirit of the First Tree grant all offspring who issue from this union the gift of good health." Naoki and Makiya took the first sips from the last cup. Then Yosho made the eighth prayer. "May She Who is the Spirit of the First Tree grant all offspring who issue from this union the gift of prosperity." He prayed. Naoki and Makiya took the second sips from the third cup. Then Yosho made the ninth and final prayer. "May She Who is the Spirit of the First Tree grant all offspring who issure from this union the gift of happiness." He concluded. Naoki and Makiya took the final sips from the last cup. Then Naoki handed the cup to Sasami who took it away and placed it alongside the other two. Having handed away the last cup, he rose and turned to Makiya and spoke as she again bowed before him. "As your husband," he recited, as he'd been instructed, "I shall always keep you in my heart and home. I shall keep safe you and all offspring which you bear unto me. I shall be faithful unto you always and shall expect the same from you toward me." And then he bowed before her, sealing the promise he'd made her. Now the ceremony was over and it was time for the reception. Of course there was the traditional cake to be cut, but in order to do that, Makiya had to first change into a western-style dress, which was less restrictive. Once she was in her reception gown, the newlyweds cut the cake, which elicited a cheer from the others present. "Isn't this romantic?" Ryoko asked, leaning on Tenchi. Tenchi gulped. "Um. Ryoko?" "Ryoko! How dare you!" Ayeka challenged. Having gotten past the hurdle of actually getting married, Naoki was no longer in danger of fainting and had pretty much relaxed. He was enjoying the reception with Makiya Tana... he stopped himself. Makiya Kokomori, he made a mental note of her new name. He was about to thank Yosho again for performing the ceremony when he heard Ryoko and Ayeka. He calmly strolled over to them and looked them square in the eye.. "Galaxy Police Law twenty-five, subsection D, Paragraph one of the Intergalactic Arrest Accord states that you have the right to remain silent." he told them. "Please take advantage of it." Without waiting for them to reply, he turned and went back to his place at Makiya's side. Makiya was laughing, pleasantly. Ryoko and Ayeka exchanged looks. "Did he just tell *me* to shut up." Ayeka gasped. "How *dare* he." "It *is* his wedding." Tenchi pointed out. "You keep out of this." Ayeka retorted. "Why don't *you* keep out of it?" Naoki suggested. Ayeka turned a very unflattering shade of purple as she turned toward him. "And just what is *that* supposed to mean?" "Well," Naoki shrugged, as he picked a piece of tempura up from his plate with his chopsticks and took a bite. "from what I've gathered, Ryoko was already here when you arrived and you've been doing everything you could, including baiting her and trying to make her get mad in front of Tenchi, to prevent them from having a relationship." "That isn't true!" Ayeka gasped. "You claim you love Tenchi." Naoki began "I do love him." "But you've never actually got to know him." Naoki pointed out as he continued speaking. "All you've done since you arrived is plot how you're going to get him away from Ryoko." "I..." Ayeka began. But then she realized he was right. She had been so busy working on getting Tenchi, that she had't actually taken time to know him. She fell silent as she contemplated what to do to remedy that. Yosho watched and listened from his place near the buffet that Sasami had laid out. He knew that if they ever found out about the fact that he hadn't really aged, they'd probably lynch him for putting Tenchi through all the trouble he'd gone through. After all if Ayeka knew he was still young, she'd return her affections to him, wouldn't she. He was, after all, the reason she had come to Earth in the first place. Washu noticed his contemplativeness and joined him. "You know there are a couple of things you could do that would solve that problem. One, you could tell them the truth and take you chances." "And two?" Yosho asked. "I could marry Tenchi!" Washu perked up cheerfully. Everyone in earshot facefaulted. The reception continued on until late at night. No one really noticed the time. They were all enjoying themselves quite thoroughly.While the others were busy enjoying the reception, Makiya and Naok i slipped quietly out of the room and went upstairs to where the bedrooms were. They hadn't decide which of thetwo rooms they had previously occupied separately would be the best to sleep in. At the moment, however, her room was closer so they slipped into the room, quietly, and carefully closed the door. For a long while, they simply stood there and stared at each other. Then, Makiya undid her dress and let it fall from her body. It pooled at her feet so that she looked almost like a semi-clad angel standing in a cloud of white silk. As it turned out, Tenchi wasn't the only male in the house who got nosebleeds when he saw a woman in the nude. Makiya shook her head, smiling in amusement, as she got a tissue and wiped the blood off Naoki's face. "You poor thing." she said, gently. She felt his head lean against her hand as she reached over to throw the tissue away. When she looked in his direction, she saw that he had fainted. At least, she thought, he was nice enough to faint onto her futon so she didn't have to drag him over there. She drew the blanket up over him and snuggled up to him under it after going over to the wall and turning off the light. In the darkness, she felt him kiss her... Tenchi and the others retired to their rooms for the evening, one after the other, leaving Washu to tidy up after the party. Of curse, Washu planned to get even as she swept up after the part "But Naoki and Makiya are making love!" Ryoko protested as she followed Tenchi. "Why can't we?" "Because we're not married." Replied Tenchi who was rather oldfashioned about such matters. "Then let's get married and then we can make love." Ryoko pleaded, melodramatically. "Um, I can't tonight." "Why not?" Ryoko whined. "Headache." Tenchi pleaded. "Oh, my poor Tenchi!" Ryoko wailed. She began to drag him in the direction of Washu's lab. Tenchi began to think he'd picked the wrong excuse. "Um... Ryoko?" He began. What could he do. If he admitted he'd lied to her, she might get angry and she would certainly be hurt Ryoko looked at him hopefully. "Yes, Tenchi?" She flirted. "Never mind." Tenchi gulped. Ryoko continued to drag him toward her mother's lab. "Don't trouble Washu." Tenchi told her. "it's just a headache." "Are you sure?" Ryoko asked, her voice filled with genuine concern. "I'll just sleep it off." Tenchi assured her. "It'll be okay by morning." "Maybe I should sleep with you just in case." Ryoko offered. "Um, no thanks!" Tenchi replied, too quickly. He corrected himself. "I mean, I don't want you to lose any sleep." "You're just the *SWEETEST* thing!" Ryoko hugged Tenchi. "Sweet dreams, Tenchi." She said as she finally headed off to her ownbed. Tenchi walked into his bedroom and sat on the futon, letting out a sigh of relief. "I'm glad that's over." He told himself as he laid back with his hands behind his head. From the adjacent room he heard Naoki's and Makiya's voices, sometimes moaning, sometimes speaking, always very soft. Of course, there was no way to know exactlywhat they were doing, but one obvious idea came to Tenchi's mind...the kind of idea that usually gave him nosebleeds. He began to think that Washu's lab might not have been such a bad idea after all. TENCHI MUYO! EXILE #4 ---------------------- Happy Birthday, Tenchi! Sasami was humming to herself, making breakfast, when Tenchi walked into the kitchen. "Good morning." He said, cheerfully when he saw her. "Oh! Good morning, Tenchi." She replied. "Mmmm. That smells delicious." Tenchi praised the young cook. "You sure know how to make good breakfasts, Sasami." Sasami beamed proudly. There was a loud explosion upstairs. "Ryoko!" Ayeka challenged. "How *DARE* you! You give me that camera! NOW!" She chased Ryoko down the upstairs hallway clad only in a towel, which she clutched around herself as she ran. "You've got to catch me first!" Ryoko taunted as she ran down the hall with Nobuyuki's video camera in her hand, firing off a couple blasts at her rival. "Ryoko! I'm warning you." Ayeka returned, returning fire. "Tenchi's going to love this video." Ryoko chuckled. Ayeka went beet red from embarrassment. "Ryoko! You wouldn't!" "Why not?" Ryoko laughed. "Tenchi's already seen you naked in the bath? Remember? Besides, it would be a great birthday present, don't you agree?" Ayeka changed from red to white. Tenchi's birthday?! She couldn't believe she'd never bothered to find out when it was! "You'll have to find him another present!" She told Ryoko. "But Princess!" Ryoko taunted. "Don't you want to give Tenchi the gift of your beauty?" Ayeka blushed for a moment, then regained her senses. "I respect Tenchi!" She huffed at Ryoko. "I treat him like a person, not a piece of meat like you do!" "Then how come *I* remmebered his birthday and *you* didn't?" Ryoko challenged. The two ran down the stairs and into the kitchen. "Tenchi!" Ryoko called. "I have a very nice birthday present for you!" "NO!" Ayeka shrieked. "Ryoko *PLEASE*!?" As they rounded the corner, they ran straight into Mihoshi, who was just coming in from her bath. Her clothes had fallen in the bathwater, so she was in her towel, since she'd left her cube on her dresser. The three of them collided! The camera got busted. Ryoko and Ayeka were both knocked senseless for a moment. Mihoshi's towel came off somehow as she was thrown into the kitchen from the impact of collision and collided with Tenchi. Tenchi got another nosebleed and passed out. "Oh my!" Mihoshi said, still not realizing she was totally naked and leaning over Tenchi, lightly slapping his face. "Tenchi?" She asked. Tenchi opened his eyes, saw Mihoshi naked, and fainted again. "Oh no!" Mihoshi exclaimed. "Tenchi? What's wrong?" Mihoshi went to grab her cube from her pocket and touched her own breast, entirely by chance. She felt her skin, looked down, and turned red with embarrassment. A moment later, she bolted from the kitchen. A few minutes after Mihoshi had fled from the kitchen, Naoki staggered in, looking exhausted. "Any coffee?" he asked. Sasami, who had anticipated his being awakened by Ryoko and Ayeka's fighting, already had a cup ready. She handed it to him. "Thanks." He took a sip of the coffee and leaned on the counter. Tenchi stood up and saw Naoki leaning there. "I'm sorry if all the noise woke you up." He apologized. "I take it Makiya's still sleeping?" Naoki nodded and took another sip of his coffee. He turned to Sasami. "Excellent job on the coffee." "Thank you." Sasami smiled. "Breakfast is almost ready." "I'd better go wake up Makiya." Naoki replied. Makiya walked in, fully dressed, yawning and stretching. She went over to Naoki and the two kissed each other on the lips. "I'm already awake." She told him. Sasami brought her a cup of coffee. "Thank you." She accepted it and took a sip. "Delicious!" she decided. Yosho was sitting in the dining room when Tenchi and the others walked in and sat down for breakfast. "Isn't dad coming down?" "He's in the hallway." Tenchi looked into the hall and saw his father kneeling over the remains of his beloved video camera. He had a pretty good idea how it got broken. "RYOKO!" He hollered, angrily. "This was my father's camera! You had no right to touch it! I want you out of this house right NOW!" "I didn't mean for it to get broken." Ryoko sobbed, her heart breaking. Tenchi took the tears for a sympathy ploy. Ryoko wasn't the most honest person he knew. "It won't work, Ryoko. I want you out of here right now." Naoki went to Ryoko's side. "You're being a little harsh, Tenchi." He told him. "It's just a camera." "My father had that camera for years." Tenchi explained. "He loved it." "I was just making a video," Ryoko sobbed. "And Ayeka started chasing me and then we both bumped into Mihoshi and I just dropped it when we fell. Honest!" "She's telling the truth." Naoki defended her. Tenchi was still angry. The sight of his father in tears was more than he could take. "Why were you making a video anyhow?" He demanded. He was looking for some reason to justify his anger. Her actions, after all, hadn't been malicious. "I..." Ryoko sobbed. "I wanted to give it to your as a birthday present." "Oh." Tenchi's anger was replaced by an equal helping of guilt. He looked at her and saw the tears on her face. "I'm sorry." He told her, lowering his head. Ryoko turned and started to walk away, slowly. There was no happiness in her step. "Where are you going?" "I'm going away like you asked me." Ryoko replied. "Ryoko, I'm sorry I said that. I don't want you to leave." "No, Tenchi." Ryoko shook her head. "It's too late. I'm going. I can't stay here anymore. Every day I wait for you to tell me you love me, and every day you treat my feelings like a joke. I wake up every morning hoping that day will be the day. And every night I go to bed with a broken heart." "That's a laugh." Ayeka said, having recovered from the collision. "How can a heartless monster have a broken heart?" Tenchi turned on Ayeka. Ryoko's words made him think of all the things that had happened since they'd been with him. Each time Ryoko had become destructive, it had been because of Ayeka's taunting. But it had been Ryoko who got yelled it, while Ayeka was treated like an innocent victim. "This is all your fault." He told her. "WHAT?" Ayeka yelped. "It was you who was causing the problem all along." Tench went on, directing his words at Ayeka. Ayeka was aghast. "Tenchi! What are you saying." "Ryoko's been trying her best to make me like her and you've been doing everything you can to make her look like a monster. Ryoko, can you ever forgive me?" Ryoko wasn't there. "Good riddance to bad rubbish." Ayeka scoffed. "Come. Let's have breakfast." "Eat alone." Tenchi told her. "I'm going to look for her." "Tenchi, you're better off without her." "No," Tenchi replied. "I'm not. All my life," he recalled, "whenever I was sad or just needed a friend I would go to the cave. I always felt someone was watching over me there. There was a presence there..." "Tenchi," Ayeka began. Tenchi continued "... It felt like a friend. When my mother died, it comforted me. It was always there when I needed it to be." "I've been your friend, too." Ayeka protested. "No, you haven't." Naoki cut in. "All you've been doing is driving a wedge between Tenchi and Ryoko." "This is none of your business." Ayeka retorted. "But he's right." Tenchi told her. "You've *never* just sat down and talked to me. You've never asked me what I want. How I feel. Your main goal isn't to win me. It's to hurt Ryoko." "Tenchi..." "Seven hundred years ago, your brother, whom you were supposed to marry, left you in pursuit of Ryoko. You lost your chance to marry the man you love because of that incident and now you want to make sure the same thing happens to her." Ayeka blinked. "Tenchi?" "I'm going to look for Ryoko." Tenchi said as he walked off. "Good morning!" A cheerful voice announced. Ayeka turned and saw Washu grinning madly at her. "Washu! What is going on? Tenchi's been acting weird all morning." Realization struck her. "This is all your doing, isn't it!" "Maybe." Washu hedged. "What did you do to my Tenchi?" Ayeka demanded. "I just gave him a birthday present." Washu explained. "What are you talking about?" "For the next twenty four hours," Washu explained, "Tenchi will see things clearly. He won't be swayed by the labels we bear or our reputations. Of course, tomorrow morning, he won't remember a thing that happened today." "Then what good is it?" Ayeka wanted to know. "I just want to see what Tenchi would do if he knew what was really going on." Washu explained. Mihoshi was searching for Ryoko when she heard a sound behind her. Turning and drawing her weapon, she saw Kiyone standing there. "Don't shoot!" Kiyone yelped. Mihoshi hugged her partner instead. "Oh Kiyone! It's just awful! Ryoko took off and..." "We have to go find her." Kiyone said, as her ship, which was hovering silently behind her, fell apart. Kiyone looked at the pieces of the Yagami lying on the lawn, took a moment to regain her composure, and failed utterly. "WASHU!" She hollered at the top of her lungs. Washu grinned to herself from the confines of her subspace laborator. She didn't want anyone but Tenchi to find Ryoko. Of course having him find her too quickly simply wouldn't do. So she clouded his mind a little, making him search the same places over and over, unable to recall if he'd searched there. Makiya brought the laundry outside and began scrubbing it down. She hummed quietly to herself as she did the chore. She was a little sore from the previous night's activities. The lingering pain was a reminder of a pleasant memory, however, and Makiya cherished it almost as much as she had cherished the actual experience. "Let me help." offered Naoki, who'd seen her with the laundry. Without waiting for a reply, he took up the task of hanging the laundry for her. Makiya smiled, gratefully, at her husband. "What's all the ruckus about?" She asked, noticing the flurry of activity with the others. "Ryoko ran away." Naoki replied. He explained everything to her. "Naoki," She told him. "I know you mean well, but you've got to learn to stay out of it." "I didn't cause this." Naoki pointed out. "I know." Makiya said, gently. "You only tried to give some helpful advice. It seems to me like what Tenchi needs isn't more advice, but *less* advice." Naoki sighed. "You're right." He conceded, kissing her hair. "How'd I get such a brilliant wife?" "You married me." Makiya replied, smiling amusedly. At that moment, Washu and Kiyone walked by. The two were discussing what had happened to the Yagami. "Put it back together." Kiyone demanded. "What makes you think *I'm* the one responsible?" Washu asked. "Everything the Galaxy Police makes falls apart." "HEY!" Naoki called out to them in protest. "Easy, dear." Makiya put a hand on his shoulder. Naoki continued. "I'll have you know that I was raised by the Galaxy Police and..." "Didn't you have your mind set on going after Kain with only a gun before we talked you out of it?" Washu asked matter-of-factly. Naoki fell silent and Washu continued on with a smirk of triumph. "So, you were raised by space cops?" Makiya asked. Naoki smiled in amusement. "I don't think I've ever heard them referred as 'space cops' before." he chuckled. 'But, yes I was." "So, your father was a cop?" "My birth father wasn't." Naoki admitted. "I don't know what he did. I was still very young when I lost him and my mother." "What happened?" Makiya wanted to know. Naoki hung the last bit of laundry, then sat down next to his wife. "I've never told this to anyone." He began. "Not even my colleagues. Sarnd knew about it because he was there from the beginning." "If you'd rather not talk about it." Makiya offered. "No." Naoki told her. "I do want to talk about it. Its been gnawing at me for nearly three decades." "Why haven't you talked with anyone before now?" Makiya asked him, caringly. "I've never found anyone I trusted enough before now." He answered her. Makiya put her hand atop his and leaned against him. "Tell me all about it." She said. "When I was still just a small child," Naoki began as he felt the first drops of rain fall on his face. He stopped and stood up. "We'd better move the laundry inside." He suggested, leaping to his feet and rushing to begin taking it down. "it's raining." "The laundry's already wet." Makiya smiled. "What harm could the rain do?" "It could get blown off the clothesline and into the mud." Naoki suggested. "Good point." Makiya quickly joined him. Naoki and Makiya finished bringing the laundry into the house. "Good afternoon, Lieutenant." Kiyone called to Naoki. "Kiyone!" Naoki wailed. "You *know* I'm retired." "I know." Kiyone laughed. "I was just at the new headquarters. Helping the new recruits." "How's Sarnd doing?" "Sarnd?" Kiyone asked. "He's fine." But something in her voice suggested the old Commander was anything but fine. "Kiyone..." "He had a heart attack the day after you retired." Kiyone finally told him. "Why didn't you tell me?!" Naoki yelped. "He asked me not to." Kiyone replied. "He was afraid you'd either feel guilty about leaving the Galaxy Police and think it was your fault, or you'd think he was trying to make you feel guilty and be angry at you." "So, he's alive?" "He's fine." Kiyone replied. "The attack was fairly mild, The doctors have told him that he can't take the strain of being the Commander of the Galaxy Police." "So, he had to retire?" Kiyone nodded. "He wants to see you." "He told you that?" Naoki was confused. It didn't fit. Why would Sarnd want to see him if... "No." Kiyone admitted. "But I could tell that he misses you." "Maybe..." Naoki began. "Excuse me, Naoki?" Tenchi asked. "Have you seen Ryoko?" "Not since this morning." Naoki replied. "Maybe she's in the onsen?" "Thanks. I'll try there." Tenchi called out as he left for the floating onsen. "Tenchi," Washu told him, "wait here. The rain's too heavy for you to look for her." "She could get sick or be hurt." Tenchi protested. "I must find her!" The cloud-darkened sky outside was lit up by a bolt of lightning. "Tenchi" Yosho told him. "Its too dangerous for you to search for her now. You'll have to wait for the storm to pass." Tenchi sighed. They were right. Until the storm passed, he simply could not search for Ryoko. He prayed that she was safe and unhurt. It wasn't until well past midnight when the storm finally subsided. By then, everyone, including Tenchi had gone to bed. Tenchi couldn't sleep. He was worried about Ryoko and Makiya and Naoki were doing a terrific impression of rabbits doing what rabbits do best. After a while, it was clear that they'd finished doing what they were doing and were speaking words of affection to each other. Tenchi thought of all the times Ryoko had tried to seduce him and he wondered, for a moment, if they would've spoken like Naoki and Makiya now were. As he thought about this, he drifted off to sleep. In her room, Ayeka was working herself up over the day's events. "That monster woman ruined Tenchi's birthday." She told Sasami. "She ran off so we'd all pay attention to her instead of Tenchi." "But if she wanted to ruin Tenchi's birthday, why did she want to make a present for him?" Ayeka didn't have an answer for Sasami. But Tsunami did. "Poor Ryoko," Tenchi thought to himself. "She must be cold, lying out there in that cave all a... wait a minute!" He exclaimed to himself. "The cave! That had to be it! Tenchi ran to Ryoko's cave as fast as he could. When he got there he went inside and made his way to where he'd first seen her so long ago. What he saw made his blood turn cold. Ryoko lie on the slab, reverted to the form of a mummy. Tenchi approached the old rotting corpse and took its bony hand in his own. "Ryoko," he said, gently. "Please forgive me. I ..." he swallowed, nervously, then resumed speaking. "I love you." He told her. Kneeling at her side he spoke again. "Ryoko," he asked her, "will you marry me?" The corpse rose, a single tear running down its withered face. Its jaw fell off as it spoke. "Yes." it said. Tenchi hesitated for just a moment, worried that his touch might cause the once beautiful woman's now decayed bones to crumble to dust, then leaned forward and kissed her broken mouth. As he had feared would happen, Ryoko's remains crumbled, falling to his feet in a pile of dust. Tenchi carefully gathered the dust up and placed it in an urn. He'd promised to marry her, and he would do just that. He returned to the house, being careful not to spill Ryoko's remains, and shook his grandfather who was still sound asleep. "I want you to marry me and Ryoko." He said, when Yosho had finally sat up. "Where is Ryoko?" Yosho asked. Tenchi presented the urn. "In here." He said. He related the events in the cave to his grandfather. "I know its an odd request. But, well, I love Ryoko and even though she's . . . gone, I want to marry her." "Tenchi," Yosho said, gently, "I'm sorry. You cannot marry dust." "I promised Ryoko I'd marry her." Tenchi explained. "I won't break that promise. Please, grandfather?" "Very well." Yosho smiled. "Take the remains to the shrine. I shall be there momentarily. "Thank you, Grandfather." Tenchi called back as he hurried to the shrine with Ryoko's remains. Yosho performed his second wedding that week. This time, only the groom could drink the sake, but this did not deter him, nor Tenchi. When the time came for Ryoko to be kissed, Tenchi poured a little of her remains into his hand and lightly touched them with his lips. As he did, he felt a sudden jolt of something not unlike electricity which made him jump back and scatter the dust that had been Ryoko. "Ryoko!" Tenchi cried out in alarm. He bowed his head and began to weep. "Tenchi..." Ryoko's voice replied. Tenchi looked up in surprise. There stood Ryoko, once again a young beautiful woman. She was clad in a white uchikake, a white headdress set upon her head. Tenchi stepped up to his bride and gave her a proper kiss. TENCHI MUYO! EXILE Episode #5 "Jurai Comes Back!" Ryoko smiled at Ayeka as she walked into the dining room and sat beside her rival. Ayeka fumed. She'd been fuming ever since that morning. A morning which she would always count as the worst of her life. "Ryoko," Tenchi called as he walked in and sat beside her, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "I have had ENOUGH!" Ayeka screamed at them as she stormed off to her bedroom. Ayeka fell onto her futon and began to cry. "Oh, Tenchi!" she sobbed. "Why? Why did you have to marry that horrible monster? I cannot bear it." As she wept, she recalled the morning when she'd heard the worst news of her life. It had happened just three and a half months ago. She had been sitting at breakfast, watching Makiya and Naoki, who were still newlyweds at the time, playfully feeding each other and daydreaming of the day when she and Tenchi would do the same. Then Tenchi had walked in carrying Ryoko, who was still dressed in her uchikake, and the dream had shattered into a million fragments. Ayeka staggered to her feet and ran sobbing out of the room. Tenchi set Ryoko down at the table and kissed her. "I'll be right back." He told her. "Take your time." Ryoko told him. She was already his wife so she had nothing to fear from her rival. In fact, she'd decided, if Tenchi wanted to 'go Juraian' as she called it and take Ayeka as his second wife, then he was quite welcome to do so. "Ayeka," Tenchi began. "I" Tenchi was hurled down the hallway by a blast of Jurai energy. "I HATE YOU!" Ayeka screamed at him at the top of her lungs. "HOW COULD YOU MARRY THAT MONSTER-WOMAN?!" Ayeka ran into her bedroom. A moment later, she came out and began throwing things at Tenchi. "Calm down, Ayeka!" Tenchi tried. But it was simply no use and in the end, Tenchi found himself running for his life as Ayeka ran after him, screaming at the top of her lungs. In the end, exhausted and defeated, Ayeka had gone to Yosho and asked the only question she could think of. "How could you marry him to her when you know how much he means to me." "You may still become his wife some day." Yosho had reassured her. "Your father had two wives, did he not?" "Yes." Ayeka had replied, quietly. Her quietness had come from weariness, however, not from acceptance. Now, three and half months later, she still did not accept it. And now there was something else about Ryoko that was troubling her. She could not put her finger on the matter, but it troubled her all the same. "Makiya?" Naoki asked his wife, gently, early that afternoon as they did their daily chores. "Are you okay?" Makiya nodded."I guess its just the hot weather getting to me." "Maybe you should have it checked out." Naoki offered. "This is your first summer in this decade, you might have caught something." Makiya nodded. "You might have a point." She agreed as she passed out. "Makiya!" Naoki cried out. He fell to his knees beside her, and grabbed her wrist. He was quite relieved that she was still alive, but troubled all the same. Why had she passed out like that. Carefully, he picked her up and carried her to the shrine office. "Hmmm," Yosho mused as he studied Makiya carefully. He turned to Naoki. "I think perhaps you had better lie down." "I'm fine." Naoki said. "Or is whatever's troubling Makiya contagious." "I can assure you that Makiya is not contagious." Yosho told Naoki. Naoki nodded. "Then, what's wrong with her?" "Nothing." Yosho replied. "I'm going to lighten up on her chores for the the duration, that should lower the number of fainting spells." "For the duration of what?" Naoki asked. "For the duration of her pregnancy, of course." Yosho replied. "Is this going to take long?" Ryoko demanded as Washu put her through her regular examination. "Shouldn't be too... Ryoko!!" "Wh.. what?!" Ryoko was startled by Washu's sudden yelp. "Ryoko, you're pregnant." Washu gasped. "You mean Tenchi and I...?!" "Well, yeah... or is something going on between you and Nobuyuki we ought to know about?" "MOTHER!" Ryoko cried out in offended alarm. "Just kidding." Washu chuckled. Naoki stared at Yosho. "Did you say 'pregnancy'?" he asked. "Yes. That's right." Yosho replied. Naoki fainted. "Naoki?" Makiya asked. "Is he going to be all right?" She asked Yosho. "You're both going to be just fine." Yosho reassured her. Naoki just stared at the ceiling. "Ryoko is WHAT?!" Tenchi stumbled backward in amazement. A moment later, he slapped his knees and began to laugh. "Oh! I get it." He chuckled. "This is another gag. Right? Like when she told everyone I was Ryo-Ohki's father?" "No," Washu replied in a tone that was perfectly sober, "she really is pregnant." In a perfect imitation of Naoki, Nobuyuki, and a large number of first time fathers before him, Tenchi Masaki fainted. In a wooden spaceship, not far from the shimmering blue sphere which is for some strange reason called "Earth" even though most of its surface is actually water, the Queens of Jurai approached the planet where their children now resided. They'd talked their shared husband into allowing them to go, and had even tried to get him to join them. He had grumpily refused to go with them, stating that as King he had far too much responsibility to go off cavorting around the Galaxy. He'd also added, as an afterthught, that they were quite welcome to go themselves. So they had. "We should be arriving shortly, sister." Funaho told Misaki. "It will be good to see Yosho and my great grandson again." "And I'm looking forward to seeing my little Ayeka and Sasami." Misaki agreed. "Ayeka's not so little anymore." Funaho noted. "In fact, she's becoming quite a woman." "Its hard for me to think of her as anything but my little Ayeka." Misaki replied. Ayeka was having mixed feelings .She had just heard the news that Tenchi and Ryoko were going to have a baby.Her heart ached with anger and sorrow that she was not the one carrying Tenchi's child, but at the same time, she was happy for Tenchi. She walked into the kitchen where Makiya was helping Sasami. "Need a hand?" she asked. "You can set the table, Ayeka." Sasami told her. "You'd better set it for two more." A voice said from the kitchen door. Ayeka spun around and saw Funaho standing there, grinning. "Lady Funaho!" She gasped. "Yes." Funaho nodded. "And your mother is also here." "Eeek!" Ayeka yelped as she ran to meet her mother. "You're looking quite radiant, Makiya." Funaho observed. "I'm expecting a child." Makiya explained. "How wonderful for you!" Funaho exclaimed as she hugged her. "You must be very happy." "I am." Makiya admitted. Naoki wandered into the house with a dazed look on his face. The same dazed look that now hovered over the features of Tenchi Masaki. The two young men converged in the hallway. Each noticed the look on the other's face. "You two?" they asked, almost simultaneously. Ayeka ran into the kitchen. "Mommy! "she cried. All the frustrations of the past few months suddenly poured out of her as she embraced her mother. "Mommy! Tenchi married Ryoko! He broke my heart, mommy. And now he's rubbing it in by becoming a daddy with her." Her tears flowed freely. Misaki's face grew stern and a look of cold anger appeared there. In the hallway, Ryoko heard Ayeka and recalled the way Misaki had tried to split her head apart by pulling on the corners of her mouth. There was no sign of Tenchi or Naoki in the hall .Ryoko's acute sense of hearing heard the thudding of books hitting the floor and smiled to herself asshe realized they must be in the library trying to find some kind of manual on being first time dads. "Your dad has a lot of books on how to become a dad," Naoki told Tenchi, "but so far I can't find a thing on what we're supposed to do when we actually do." "Keep looking," Tenchi told him. "I wonder if my kid will arrest yours someday." Naoki mused. "Ryoko's not like that anymore."' Tenchi told him. "She's calmed down a lot now that she's going to be a mom." "That's true." Naoki admitted. "How about you and Makiya." Tenchi asked. "We're looking forward to our first child." Naoki replied. "I hear your old commander's staying on Earth." Naoki nodded. "I think I'll pay him a visit. later on." "Look, why don't you go now?" Tench ioffered. "Things are pretty quiet here." "Thanks." Naoki replied. He went to his and Makiya's room and got his hat and coat, then went to Makiya. "Where are you going?" "I'm going to pay Sarnd a visit." Naoki replied. "Do you want to come?" "No." Makiya replied. "I'm not feelin gvery well and I'm going to stay home." Naoki nodded. "I'll pick you up someice cream on the way home." "Thank you, Naoki." Makiya embraced him at the door and kissed him. Sarnd clenched his fist as he read the data on the laptop computer the Galaxy Police had let him keep. He didn't like what he was seeing. The patterns were too familiar. Too much like... A knock on the door broke his train of thought. "Just a moment." He called as he put on the mask. He opened the door and saw Naoki standing there. "Naoki," he said, "thank goodness you're here" "What's wrong." "Naoki, I need you to go on assignment." "Sarnd," Naoki reminded him, "you're retired. We both are." "I know." Sarnd replied. "But this is too important. You needn't get involved. Just go and see what the trouble and report back to me with the information. I'll transmit it to the Galaxy Police. I may not be their commander any more, but they can't stop me from being an informant." Naoki nodded. "I'll do what I can to help." He told Sarnd. "I owe it to you after all that you've done for me." "Thank you." Sarnd replied. Tenchi found it difficult to talk with Misaki's fingers in his mouth. "Hey!" Ryoko shouted. "You leave my Tenchi alone! I..." Misaki turned an angry glare toward Ryoko who drew back. "I'm sorry!" Tenchi pleaded, with some difficulty. Ryoko scribbled down something and held it up. "Read this, Tenchi." "Maybe I'll make Ayeka my second wife." Tenchi read. Misaki released him and hugged him. "That's better." she cooed. "Now come here!" She pulled Tenchi close and hugged him tightly. The ships controls were both familiar and alien to Naoki. It had been some time since he'd been at the console of a Galaxy Police vessel and some of the controls had changed in appearance at least. He gritted his teeth and set his mind to his task. A quick trip out a couple light years to see what was there, then home to Makiya, stopping to pick up ice-cream on the way. "You know of any good names?" He asked Sarnd, on the long-range communication link. "I always liked Trakal." Sarnd replied. Naoki smiled. "So do I," he admitted, "but what if its a girl?" Sarnd chuckled. "Well, I... Naoki! " he cried out in alarm as a huge anomaly suddenly exploded into existance, appearing too close for Naoki to turn away from. "Damn," Naoki swore, "there's a planet coming up. Fast! I'm heading right for it!" "PULL UP!" Sarnd shouted. "I can't pull up!" Naoki cried out. But that was pure coincidence. He could not hear Sarnd's panicked shouts. "The anomaly must've shorted out the autopilot. The last thing Sarnd saw on the screen was the image of Naoki's head smashing against the console with incredible force, then it was gone, replaced abruptly nothing but 'snow'. Makiya was playing 'fetch' with Ryo-ohki, completely unaware that she was a widow. She laughed, happily, as the little cabbit hopped after the little ball she was throwing. She couldn't help it. Ryo-ohki was incredibly kawaii, after all. Sarnd sat there, numbly, and stared at the snow on the screen. All he could think was how would he tell Makiya? How could he explain that the father of her unborn child was dead now because Sarnd had wanted to play a hunch? *** A fierce wind blew across the scorched plain, carrying the stench of new death upon it. It howled mournfully, as it caressed the lifeless form that lie, twisted and broken amidst the hunks of twisted and broken steel and fiberglass. After the wind touched the figure, it seemed to fall silent, as if in contemplation, the it rose up again, even louder, almost wailing as if it were a living thing and this cold, lifeless corpse the remains of a being whom it had, for some reason, sought out over the ages. The figure itself was in a condition which might best be described as shattered. The face, once beautiful, was split open from jaw to forehead. His eyes had been jarred free of their sockets by the impact when he'd smashed into the console. One hung there like a grotesque ornament, the other had somehow been torn free and was wedged into a corner of the console's misshapen remains. His torso had been torn open, flesh and muscle ripped away violently to reveal a bloodslicked skeleton; a sight whose gruesomeness was matched only by the sight of the figure's large intestine hanging losely from his broken corpse. In a room which seemed to encompass Time itself, a bearded visage turned his gaze to one both beautiful and terrible. His eyes, blue-green throughout, without hint of pupil or iris, seemed nevertheless concerned. "Are you certain, my lady?" He asked, eyeing her choice with a look of misgiving. Clearly he did not fully trust her. "I am." She nodded, her black eyes glinting. She knew his opinion of her, but such things did not trouble her. She turned to the image of the shattered remains, her expression unchanged by the image, which would've had most people running away screaming . "He will do nicely." "Are you sure you need to revert him back to his original form?" He asked. "Washu seems to have changed him for a purpose." "That does not concern me." She replied. Then she added, cryptically "And, anyhow, I have more of a right to determine his fate than Washu." She turned her attention on the image of Naoki that was before her. She focused her power on the broken man and he rose up into the air, arms dangling down, stretched out face up with his head tilted back. She nodded and fur began to slowly grow on his body even as his many wounds healed and closed up. His face reformed into a familiar chiropteran muzzle, fur forming upon it as well. His shattered eyes fell away and the sockets glowed brilliantly for a moment. When the light had passed, he had a new pair of eyes which were the same as his old eyes. She nodded again, her eyes glistening in satisfaction as he was set down on his feet. "What happened?" he asked. "Trakal." the woman spoke his old name. "My name is Naoki now." He told her as he poked and prodded himself, making sure all was back in working order.. "Its been that since I was made human by..." he paused and studied his hands which were covered by a coat of short coarse fur. He reached up and touched his muzzle. He was a Draalthi again. "What have you done to me?" He demanded. (to be continued in Chapter 6 "Avatar of the Goddess") Tenchi Muyo! Exile #6 "Avatar of the Goddess" ----------------------------------- "NO!!!" Makiya screamed with a voice that was riddled with pain. She fell into Sarnd's arms, sobbing. Her heart broken. "No." she said again, more weakly. She pushed him away and slapped him. "How could you send him on that damned mission!" She screamed. "It's all your fault! YOU KILLED HIM! MURDERER!" She spat in Sarnd's face then turned and ran out of the room. Sarnd watched her go, then lowered his face, not even bothering to wipe the offensive matter from his muzzle. "I'm sorry." he said to the now empty room. Misaki saw her running and stopped her. "Makiya? What's wrong?" she asked. Makiya looked up at Misaki with pain-laden eyes. "He's..." she sobbed. But she could say no more. Misaki had always lived on Jurai, a world were all wounds were mendable and death barely a whisper. She could not comprehend Makiya's grief, but she hugged the griefstricken young mother-to-be anyhow. Funaho walked into the hallway and saw Misaki holding the distraught young woman. "Sis'?" she asked. "I don't know what's wrong." Misaki said, worriedly. She repeated Makiya's words to her sister. 'Something must have happened to Naoki.', Funaho thought to herself. "Makiya," she said, gently taking her hands, "what happened?" "Naoki..." Makiya sobbed. "Why him? WHY?!" Then the floodgates burst open, and Makiya was too incoherent to speak. But her tears spoke volumes, so no words were neccessary. *** "You are familiar with Washu?" Tokimi asked as she smiled coldly down at the confused Draalthi. "Yes." He snarled. "Of course I am. She made me human so I could marry Makiya. Now, I demand you change me back to a human and send me home!" "I just brought you back to life and you repay me with challenges. Make demands upon me in my own dwelling. How very impolite of you." The Draalthi considered this for a moment, then bowed. "You are correct. My apologies. I don't like being confused and vulnerable. It's not a very good position for a Galaxy Police Operative to be in." "You are no longer a Galaxy Police Operative." Tokimi pointed out. "Your new task is of far greater importance." The Draalthi finished examining himself and focused his full attention on Lady Tokimi. "I will *never* betray the Galaxy Police." He vowed. "You task has nothing to do with betraying the Galaxy Police."Tokimi promised. "You are simply to become my avatar." "Your avatar?" The Draalthi asked. "You needn't be afraid." Tokimi reassured him. "The transfiguration will not harm you." The Draalthi looked up at her in anticipation. Tokimi's gem glowed softly for a moment, then the glow coalesced into a narrow beam which connected with the Draalthi's forehead. "Trakal..." Tokimi told him. "Naoki..." He insisted as everything went back around him. Tokimi smiled as she left him on the road between the carrot patch and the Masaki home. For a moment the mark on his forehead glowed brilliantly, then it faded, leaving only a small diamond-shaped patch of white fur. Ryo-Ohki hopped up to the sleeping form in the road and sniffed him, curiously. The figure's ear twitched, and he slowly pulled his head up until he was muzzle to muzzle with Ryo-Ohki. "MIYA!" She miya'ed happily. She hopped quickly down the road to Tenchi, who was approaching, then back to the Draalthi. "Ryo-Ohki?" Tenchi asked. "Miya! Miya! Miya!" Ryo-Ohki hopped toward the Draalthi again. She nosebumped his muzzle and licked him. "Miya! Miya!" Tenchi ran over to see what Ryo-Ohki was so excited about. When he reached her location, he found himself looking down at the Draalthi who was just starting to come to his senses. "Naoki?" He Tenchi asked. "Makiya." Naoki replied. "She's inside. I"ll take you to her." They started back to the house. "Commander Sarnd is here." Tenchi mentioned. "He says you're dead. What happened?" "I'll tell you later." Naoki concluded as they reached the house. Tenchi and Naoki walked in and closed the door. Makiya walked into the hallway. "Tenchi," she began, "dinner is..." Her eyes went wide and her jaw fell open. "NAOKI!" she cried. She ran to him and hugged him, tightly. "My god! I thought you were dead!" Sarnd hurried into the hallway when he heard the Makiya's cry of joy. When he saw his former operative, he was overwhelmed with relief. A moment later, once his initial happiness had abated a little, it dawned on him that something was wrong. "You're a Draalthi." He said, cautiously. "You're not Trakal." "I am so Trakal!" the retired operative protested. "And my name is Nao..." " Trakal was made human a few months ago when he was married." Sarnd cut him off "Nice try, but I'm afraid you should've updated your information before you attempted to take his place. Still, your Draalthi disguise is almost perfect, except for that patch of white fur on your forehead. Trakal didn't have any marks." "Someone named To..." "Yes, he did." Ryoko told him, ignoring the Draalthi. "He had patches around his eyes. I saw them when he and I were fighting on the beach back in 1970." "Must've been Jurai Marks." Washu shrugged. She took out her holoputer, made a few scans with it, then put it away. "Well, he's most definitely Trakal." She finally concluded. "I told you," the Draalthi scoffed. "How's that possible?" Sarnd asked. "He was human when he passed through that anomaly. Did the anomaly change him back?" Washu shook her head. "There are some changes in his physical and astral patterns," she explained. She pulled a device out of subspace and pressed it against the new patch of white fur on Trakal's forehead. "Hmmm." She decided. "I think I'd better run a few more tests." She grabbed Trakal by the ear and began to drag him toward her lab. "I'm glad I'm not the one being tested." Tenchi told no one. "That's what you think!" Washu said as she grabbed Tenchi's ear with her other hand. "Miss Washu..." Tenchi pleaded. "I need a comparison subject." Washu explained. "MOTHER!" Ryoko screamed at her. Washu chuckled as she, Tenchi, and the former operative vanished into her lab. "I can't believe he's alive." Makiya sniffled as she wiped a joyful tear from her face. "I hope Washu doesn't keep him long. I'm going to kiss him all over when he gets out of her lab." "She'd better not try anything with Tenchi." Ryoko grumbled. "Speaking of which," Funaho smiled, "we really need to talk, Ryoko." "Um, we do?" "Yes." Funaho replied. "About how you feel about Tenchi marrying Ayeka." "Oh. Sure. I... Hey! Wait a minute!" Ryoko looked mad. "Tenchi's married to me! If you think I'm going to give him up so that..." "I was thinking you two girls could share Tenchi. He is half-Juraian, after all, so he *could* have *two* wives." Ryoko perked up. "Sounds good to me." She grinned at Ayeka. 'So, Princess, you wanna share?" "Share Tenchi with a monster?!" Ayeka scorned. "Ha! That'll be the day." "Selfish little brat, isn't she?" Ryoko confided to Funaho. "I offer to share, but *noooooo*, she wants everything for herself. She's so spoiled. I really feel sorry for Sasami, having to grow up with her." Sasami made an uncomfortable little "I'd rather not be involved in this" noise as a large bead of sweat dangled in her hair. Sasami wasn't the only one sweating. Despite no longer being a virgin, Tenchi still felt uncomfortable having Washu examine him. He looked over at the Draalthi who, in the interests of modesty, despite also being married, had simply chosen to pass out as soon as he was bound. "Um, don't you think you should do something for him?" "Oh, he's just having a flashback about being strangled by Kain." Washu shrugged. "What?! Washu, he must be terrified! Do something for him!" Tenchi didn't bother to ask Washu how she knew what Trakal was dreaming about. As the number one genius scientist in the Universe, she probably had worked out based on some theory she had regarding psychology. "I am." Washu replied. "I'm letting him get through it on his own so he can get it out of his system. Now open wide, Tenchi." "Aaaah!" Tenchi obeyed. The Draalthi looked up at the white face hovering above him. It was Kain, but it wasn't Kain. Its features were softer somehow, and yet crueler. Its sneer was one of pure hate. But the hate was directed at him as well as the House of Jurai. "You were there," the female voice hissed. "You were there when they murdered my son." Trakal felt a dull prodding at his shoulder and the nightmarish image dissolved, to be replaced by Washu's lab a moment later. "Time to eat." Washu told Trakal as she unbound him and he crumpled to the floor. "Hmmm. That's strange. How do you feel?" "Like a walking corpse." Trakal grumbled. "Now there's a nice image." Tenchi muttered. "Of course you realize all of this is your fault, right?" Trakal asked Tenchi. "What's that supposed to mean?" Tenchi demanded. He wondered why he had been getting so edgy all of a sudden. Screaming Ryoko just before they were married. Snapping at Trakal today. The Draalthi hadn't done anything to him really. But Tenchi found himself on edge for some reason he didn't understand. "Tenchi?" Washu asked in a tone that suggested that his tone bothered her. Tenchi understood and turned to Trakal. He lowered his head. "I'm sorry." he told him. "I understand." Trakal replied. "That dream left me pretty shaken up, too." "What dream?" Tenchi asked. "Well, there was a woman in it..." Tenchi raised an eyebrow. "Tenchi, you have a dirty mind." Trakal remarked as he combed his hair, which was sticking up in places from Washu's static electricity checks on him. "You're the one dreaming about a woman." Tenchi pointed out. "Believe me," Trakal pointed out, "I have no intentions of running off with Kain's mother." "You saw Kain's mother?" "That's whom she claimed to be at least." Trakal nodded. "Then you're not sure." "Almost sure, though." Trakal told Tenchi. He followed Tenchi out to the dining room. "Is there any more gyoza?" Makiya asked, as she worked on her rice. "There sure is." Sasami happily served it to her. "Tokimi wants to see you." Trakal told Washu, out of the blue.. Everyone stared at him. Especially Washu. "Does she?" She asked. She wasn't sure who Tokimi was, though the name was familiar now that she thought about. If she was going to get to the bottom of this mystery, she had to find out who Lady Tokimi was and why she was so desperate to meet her. "Did she say why?" "No." Trakal shrugged. "Maybe she wants to adopt a cabbit from you?" Ryoko rolled her eyes. "Look, there's no danger." Trakal noted. "She can't come here, but she'll be happy to meet you on Tsunami." "Then she's after Tsunami, too." Washu mused. Could this Tokimi be a female Kagato or something equally ominous? "Hmmm." "She didn't seem to be interested in Tsunami." Trakal noted. "How much do you know about this Tokimi?" Washu asked. "Trakal pointed to the white patch on his forehead. "I only know that this was her doing." He admitted. "Oh!" Washu laughed. "Of course. I see. She does weird fur illustrations for bored aliens." Everyone laughed. Except Trakal. "FINE!" he shouted, suddenly, his voice louder and more powerful than it had ever been. "When she comes, *you* can deal with Kain's mother ALONE!" he stood up angrily. So did Yosho. "Sit down." Yosho instructed, quietly. Trakal sat down, seething. "So." Yosho told him. "Tell us about Kain's mother." Trakal glared at Yosho. "I'm not crazy." He started to get up again. Yosho pushed him back down. "Just tell us." "She looks like her son and she's mad at me. That's all I know." Trakal ate a few pieces of gyoza. "How do you know?" Ryoko asked with her mouthful. Marriage hadn't improved her manners. The same could be said for Trakal, who was lickgrooming his muzzle. "I wish the two of you would learn better manners." Ayeka scoffed at them. "Still, I suppose one can't expect too much from monsters." Both 'monsters' glared at Ayeka in a way that suggested that if they had really been monsters, she might end up their next meal. A circle of logs appeared around both Ryoko's and Trakal's heads. "Ayeka." Funaho told her. "Calm down or they'll be no television for you tonight." "What?!" Ayeka yelped. "But my favorite show is on tonight! You can't!" "Ayeka." Funaho said, firmly. "Very well." Ayeka sighed as she relaxed and the logs disappeared. "You still haven't answered Ryoko's question." Yosho pointed out to Trakal. "I saw her in my dream." Trakal replied. "How come you're dreaming about Kain's mom and not your wife?" Ryoko teased. "I didn't ask to dream about Kain's mom." Trakal replied. "She just popped in there." "Strange thing to just pop in there." Ayeka pointed out. "I'll bet she's the one who healed you after that crash Sarnd told us about." "Look, Little Princess, Tokimi..." "You're working for Kain's mother, aren't you?" Ayeka accused out of the blue.. "You probably freed Kain, too." "Ayeka!" Funaho exclaimed. "I did no such thing!" Trakal argued. Something was wrong here, but he couldn't put his finger on it. He was too angry to think straight. "And I won't stand for it! You apologize to me at once." "Why should I apologize to a murderer." Ayeka accused. "Because I said so." Yosho said, glaring at Ayeka. Something in Ayeka's bearing and demeanor changed. She seemed smaller, meeker. She blinked and sat down, looking as if she didn't know how or why she was standing up. After dinner was over and the chores were done, Trakal ignored Ayeka's requests for TV remote. When she tried to change the channel manually, Trakal flipped it back. "What is your problem?" "You didn't apologize." "What are you talking about?" "You accused me of freeing Kain. Said I murdered the Galaxy Police." Ayeka was aghast. "I said no such thing!" "Fine." Trakal threw the remote at her, hitting her in the back of the head with it. "I'm leaving. I don't want to live in the same household as you. First you insult my integrity, then you lie to me." He walked out and slammed the door hard enough to make the house rattle. "Thanks a lot!" Makiya told Ayeka as she followed her husband. Ayeka was genuinely confused. Why was everyone mad at her? "Tenchi?" She asked. "Why don't you just apologize to him?" Tenchi asked. "Because I didn't do anything!" Ayeka screamed in exasperation as she stormed off to bed. Trakal turned to Makiya. "I overreacted again, didn't I?" he asked, now that he'd calmed down a little. She nodded, quietly. "I just get so angry when someone accuses me of hurting the Galaxy Police." "I know." Makiya told him. "I mean, she just called me a murderer out of the blue. For no reason." "Trakal, relax." Makiya told him. "Look, why are you following me?" Trakal suddenly demanded. "I'm your wife, Trakal." Makiya told him. "I must've been either drunk or desparate." Trakal shot back. Makiya was stunned. "Trakal! How can you say that? We've been so happy. The baby..." "Get rid of it." Trakal snarled, baring his teeth. Makiya went from stunned to devastated. "I HATE YOU!" She sobbed as she ran back to the house. Trakal stood there, blinking, wondering what had just happened and why Makiya had just yelled that she hated him. He ran after her. "Makiya," he told her. "Wait. What's wrong?" "I'm leaving you." She told him as she packed. He grabbed her wrist, "Makiya, let's talk about this." She slapped him. "Let me go!" She ordered. "We've got nothing to talk about. I thought you loved me. You just prove you don't though. How *dare* you order me to get an abortion." "What are you talking about?" Trakal was horrified. "Makiya. I love you and I love our baby. I would *never* order you to have an abortion." "You said you had to be drunk or desparate to marry me, then you told me to get rid of the baby. Now let me finish packing." "Makiya, I didn't..." But she was no longer listening to him. Trakal lay prone upon his bed with his muzzle buried in the pillow. He was sobbing. His heart had been broken. Why was Makiya saying these things about him? What had happened. He remembered walking with her, discussing his argument with Ayeka, and then she was crying, accusing him of ordering her to get an abortion. He wouldn't have... couldn't have. He shook his head against the pillow. "Everything is turning upside down." Funaho told Yosho as they sat together in the shrine. Mother and son were enjoying a cup of tea and, as was his custom, Yosho had shed his disguise while he was alone with Funaho. "You look so much nicer this way." Funaho smiled. "Of course, the aged look does make you seem more dignified. And ..." The door flew open and Ayeka, uncharacteristically, ran in. "Come quick!" She shouted. "Tenchi needs..." she fell silent when she saw her brother. Not an old man, bent and frail with age, but young and handsome. He was the same as he had been when she had seen him on Jurai. Her lips trembled and her eyes smoldered as she realized that he had been hiding the truth from her. But why would he hide it from her? What reason ... then a reason dawned on her. He didn't want her. She'd loved him all her life and now she knew he'd been lying to her ever since she came to this backwater planet. "If you didn't love me all you had to do was say so." She drew her hand back and slapped Yosho as hard as she could. Then she ran all the way to the house and didn't stop until she was in her room. Yosho finished his tea and went to speak to his younger and beloved sister. He was on the steps of the shrine when Washu stopped him. "Don't go after her." She warned. "I must apologize." He told her. "Lord Katsuhito," Washu warned, "listen to me. If you go after her now, the two of you will get into a terrible fight. I don't know how, yet, but somehow Kain's mother has been getting into our minds, causing us to turn on each other." "Divide and conquer, eh?" Yosho remarked. Washu nodded. "Right now, there's a danger that Ayeka may be under her influence." "But Ayeka has Jurai blood." Yosho pointed out. "How could..." "Even the Jurai cannot defend themselves if they don't know an attack is coming." Washu reminded him. "Tenchi!" Yosho gasped, recalling Ayeka's reason for bursting in on him. "I took care of it." Washu shrugged. Trakal dragged himself out of bed and trudged into the kitchen. There was plenty of food, but he didn't find any of it appealing. He closed the pantry and wandered out of kitchen. In the hall, he ran into Makiya. "Makiya," he tried to speak to her. She didn't reply. "Makiya," he said, again, "I don't recall saying anything like you claimed I did." Makiya walked away. She didn't want to talk to him anymore. She had loved him and he had betrayed that love. She would never forgive him. She hated him now. As much as she'd loved him before. Trakal turned away and walked off in the opposite direction. He had almost made it to the front door when a portal opened up and a hand pulled him through. Makiya walked into the kitchen. At least, that was the room she was aiming for. However, as she crossed the threshold, a portal of light appeared and she was pulled in. Ayeka decided to take a bath and wash herself clean of all the day's events. It had not been a good day and she wanted to forget that it had happened. First the incident with Trakal, then finding out that her brother had been lying to her about his appearance. She wondered if she could envoke Juraian law and declare that the whole day had never happened. She took off her kimono and set them on the bench. As she stepped into the warm waters of the onsen, a portal opened up and she, like the others, was pulled in. They were held down in their chairs by a powerful forcefield. This was fortunate since most of them were in bad moods and various fights seemed in danger of breaking out. Makiya was glaring at Trakal. Trakal was snarling at Ayeka. Ayeka was, in turn, something about Yosho. "What are we doing here?" Trakal demanded, angrily. "Okay, listen up!" Washu announced. "First off, let's fix Makiya and Trakal's relationship." "We don't have one." Makiya told her. "He wanted me to kill our baby." "I never said that!" Trakal protested. "You did so!" "Actually, he didn't." Washu told them. "I'll explain in a moment. Oh, and by the way... Ayeka didn't accuse you, Trakal." "Yes, she did." Trakal argued. "I'll explain in a moment. Ayeka, how did you find out about your brother?" "I ran in on him and aunt Funaho in the shrine." "But you don't normally run in without knocking, do you?" "Tenchi needed help." "What did he need help with?" Washu asked. "I... I don't know." Ayeka told her. "I just had this sudden feeling that Tenchi was in danger. It came out of nowhere." "Like someone else was putting thoughts in your head?" Ayeka nodded. "And that," Washu announced, triumphantly, "brings me to the crux of the matter. Each one of you has been subjected to a form of long-distance mind-control. Forced, against your wills, to say things and act in ways that you normally wouldn't. You each said and done the horrible things you're accused of. But none of you are the ones who actually said it." "I don't understand." Makiya said. "What are you saying, Miss Washu?" "Each of you has been taken over, for a short time, used the way a dummy would be used by a ventriloquist, and then discarded with no memory of the event once the damage was done." "Kain's mother." Trakal realized. "It has to be her." "What about Tokimi?" Ayeka asked. "It's not Tokimi." Another voice said from a mirror. For the first time, now that their focus was no longer on their anger toward each other, they saw Sasami asleep in front of a large mirror. In the reflection, they saw Tsunami standing there in her long Juraian robes. "Tsunami," Washu asked, "what do you know of Tokimi?" "I know that our sister would not harm us, Lady Washu." Tsunami said. "Sister?" Washu asked. "You asked me not to tell you this," Tsunami told Washu, "but now we are faced with a dangerous adversary and we goddesses *must* combine our forces to defeat her." Washu nodded, acceptingly and Tsunami began her tale. "Twenty thousand years ago," she related, in much the same way she has once related the story of her own relationship with Sasami. "That's when it all really began. Back then, there were three young goddesses. Sisters. One, Tsunami, loved the trees and the forests and all things in nature. The other, Tokimi, loved the stars and planets and the pure awesomeness of infinity. The third sister, Washu, loved the pursuit of knowledge. For her, being a goddess was a curse rather than a blessing. For it is difficult for a goddess who knows all instantly to enjoy the pursuit of knowledge." Washu nodded, quietly to herself, as old memories, dormant for years, slowly awakened within her. At the foreground of these were talks she had had with Tsunami about the very problem that Tsunami was now talking about. Tsunami continued the tale: "Washu's decided that she would be much happier if she were less than a goddess." She told them. "But she did not wish to be an ordinary mortal, for if she had no powers, that would limit what knowledge she could acquire. The same might be said for having a normal lifespan. So she spoke with her sisters. And, after much discussion, it was decided that Washu's wish would be granted. Her powers, and her memory were suppressed. She was given an extended mortal lifespan so that she would be able to acquire a great deal of knowledge. She was also given the ability to summon anything she might need through subspace. Then, her sisters set her down upon the steps of the Royal Science Academy, where they knew she would be very happy." "And I was happy." Washu recalled. "Though that happiness was tinged with sorrow. I learned about many things I had never dreamed of. Not only did I learn about science and other scholarly things. I also learned about love, and family. I learned about having hope and dreams. And," a tear fell from her eye, "I learned about having these taken from me." She looked Tsunami in the eye. "Why didn't you tell them who I was?" She asked her. "If they'd known, they wouldn't have taken my family from me." "I'm so sorry, my dear sister." Tsunami told her. "I wanted to tell them. But you wanted to live as a mortal. If I had told them, you would not have been able to. Your husband was a kind soul and he loved you very much. But his family were heartless and greedy. If they'd known you were a goddess, they would've taken advantage of your love for him." "And my son?" Washu asked. "Your son was a wonderful man." Tsunami smiled. A moment later, she frowned. "On the other hand, your grandson..." "I ...had a grandson?" Washu asked. "Yes." Tsunami replied. "You met him. But you had no idea you and he were related." Washu had the suspicion that she didn't want to know who he was, and didn't ask. "Why are you telling me all this now?" She asked instead. "A few days ago," another voice said from the mirror as the silhouette of a woman rose up from the ground, "I sensed a sudden surge of psychic activity from a source that has been dormant for some time." "Kain's mother." Washu realized. Tokimi was now clearly visible, no longer a mere silhouette. "Yes." She told Washu and the others. "It was Kain's mother." "But, if she were Kain's mother, then why didn't you destroy her sooner?" Ayeka asked. "If your son were evil, should I kill you?" Tokimi asked. Ayeka understood and fell silent. "Kain's mother is even more evil than her son." Tokimi admitted. "But up until recently, she had not done anything ." "You could've read her mind." Ayeka pointed out. "Then you would've known." "Yes," Tokimi nodded. "But as long as she did not act upon these feelings, we could do nothing. We cannot execute a being just because we don't like what they're thinking." "But she has acted now." Washu spoke up. "She used her abilities to try to turn us against each other." "Yes." Tokimi replied. "She hates all of you for being involved in her son's death. And not only is she more evil than Kain, she's also five times as powerful." "So, what do we do?" Tenchi asked. "We barely had enough power to destroy Kain. There's no way we can defeat someone five times as powerful." Washu and Tsunami moved over to Tokimi and stood behind her, on either where their silhouettes had stood for so long. "We can defeat her. My sisters and I." Tokimi said, solemnly. "If she were weakened with Jurai blood, we could defeat her." Tenchi and Ayeka both started to speak. Yosho opened his mouth, too. Tokimi shook her head. "The Jurai blood in the three of you is powerful enough to weaken her. But it is also so strong that it would be easily detected. She would never ingest it." "Then, it's hopeless." Tenchi fretted. "No." Tokimi replied. "There's one chance. In his current form, Trakal's Jurai blood is very diluted." "NO!" Makiya exclaimed. "You can't ask him to do this! I won't let you take him from me! I don't care if everyone in the universe dies! You can't take him away!" "Makiya," Trakal said, gently, to her. He kissed her, softly, then looked up at Tokimi. "Tell me what I must do." He said. Makiya's tears flowed freely, now. She regretted all that she'd said in her anger. She couldn't let him go. At least, she couldn't let him go thinking that she hated him. "Trakal," she told him. "My dear husband. I'm so sorry I said all those things earlier." "Do you think I'm sacrificing myself because I think you hate me?" Trakal asked. "No." Makiya told him. "But I don't want you to die thinking I don't love you." "I know you love me." Trakal replied. "And I love you. And our child." Makiya threw her arms around him. She held him as if she had no intentions of ever letting go. Trakal held onto her for a long moment, then gently pushed her away. "Let me look at you." He told her, as he gazed, lovingly, at her. Makiya blushed as Trakal's exotic eyes took in every part of her body. "Tokimi," Ayeka suggested. "Perhaps I should go instead. I don't have a spouse, so I wouldn't be missed." "You'd be missed by your friends and family." Tokimi pointed out. She added, with a smile, "Besides, you're not properly dressed for the occasion." Ayeka realized, suddenly, that she was dressed in only a towel. She had completely forgotten! "Oh!" she exclaimed in embarrassment as her face went red. "You needn't be embarrassed, Ayeka." Yosho told her "You're quite beautiful." "Then why didn't you want me?" "Ayeka," Yosho knew it was safe to tell her now. "I told you once before that I did not wish to return to Jurai. I feared that if you knew I was still as I had been, that you would've wanted us to return to Jurai and live there as man and wife." "We could've lived as man and wife here." Ayeka replied. "We still could," Yosho told her, "if you can forgive me for deceiving you." Ayeka trembled. "Yosho!" She cried out as she threw her arms around him. "But, how can you still love me?" She asked. "I rejected your offer when I thought you were old." "You rejected my proposal," Yosho nodded. "But, you did not reject my love." "Um, excuse me?" a female voice asked meekly. "How did I get here?" "Mihoshi," Trakal told him. He handed Makiya to his former colleague. "look after her for me while I'm gone. Make sure nothing happens to her or our baby." "Roger!" Mihoshi saluted him. "Um, where are you going?" "Probably Hell." Trakal replied. Mihoshi looked a bit disturbed at that. "Don't worry." Trakal reassured her. "I won't forget to send you a postcard." "Oh, okay." Mihoshi smiled, feeling relieved. "Have fun!" Trakal groaned inwardly. Have fun? "Trakal," Tokimi told him, "it's time to go." Trakal nodded and stepped through the portal which suddenly appeared before Tokimi. Makiya tried to run after him, but was restrained by Ryoko, Ayeka, and Yosho. The bitter cold and stench of death assaulted Trakal's heightened senses. He shivered for a moment, then gritted his teeth and snarled. A white face appeared in the darkness. Cold and evil but strangely beautiful. She regarded the Draalthi with wicked amusement, the way a mean-spirited child might regard a butterfly before he pulls off it's wings. Trakal recognized the face. There was no doubt, this was the being he'd been dreaming about. He stepped forward, his fur bristling. "Your son murdered everyone I cared about in the Galaxy Police." He snarled "I won't let you kill my new family." She reached down, lifted him until they were face to face, then gazed into his eyes. Her look was one of pure hate. The impact was very powerful, indeed, but Trakal did not flinch from it. Suddenly there was a sharp pain as a tiny jaw with three rows of razor sharp teeth sank into his muzzle and tore a small patch of flesh and fur from him. Another nip, this one at his shoulder. At first, Trakal thought she was eating him alive. But each of the deadly mouths bit only once. Kain's mother drew them away and smiled at her handiwork. Trakal's fur was soaked with his own blood. Then she sent every one of the tiny mouths back out of her body on their long filaments. Sent them boring into the holes they'd bitten into his flesh. Trakal arched his back in and cried out in agony. A thick mass filled his mouth nearly suffocating him. He struggled to free himself, but it was useless. Finally, he slumped in her grasp. Having stopped fighting, he noticed that she was, indeed, eating him. Eating his life-force to be more exact. The tiny mouths imbedded in him were slowly draining the blood from his veins. But they were doing so with incredible slowness. They allowed his body to make new blood faster than they drained the blood already in him. At this controlled pace, Trakal realized, she could feed off him for the rest of his life. Trakal closed his eyes, and simply hung there in her grip as the mouths continued to drain his blood at their torturously slow pace. For hours, the feeding continued, unabated. Kain's mother smiled at her new food supply, relishing the taste of his blood. "Delicious." She decided. "Enjoying your last meal?" Kain's mother looked up from her feast and saw the three goddesses standing there. "Fools," She scoffed at them. "You should know by now that I am undefeatable! You've tried and failed before. And you will fail again." "Not this time." Washu replied. Kain's mother lashed out with her deadly power. But nothng happened! "What the?!" She snarled in surprise. She tried another attack, but it, too, failed. Kain's mother looked down at Trakal, whom she was still feeding from. In that moment, she realized the truth. "A Draalthi-Juraian hybrid." Washu confirmed. "You've been ingesting Jurai blood for the last few hours. "NO!!!!" Kain's mother screamed as she hurled the former operative's limp body across the plain. As she prepared to purge the tainted blood from her system, the goddesses assaulted her with their incredible power. She let out a final scream as their powers awakened the Juraian cells in the blood she'd been drinking. There was a moment in which her body pulsed, like a giant heart. Then, she exploded! Tokimi retrieved her avatar. Then, she and her sisters returned to Washu's lab. Tokimi laid Trakal's dying body on the floor at Tanaka's feet. "He did well." She told the girl "You should be proud of him." "Please, don't let him die." Makiya wept. "Washu," Tokimi told her sister. "I believe he's your patient." Washu nodded and turned her gaze onto the wounded Draalthi. A soft golden halo enveloped Trakal's entire boy. It throbbed, shifted, and vanished. When it was gone, Trakal's body was fully healed and he was once again, human. "I really wish you'd make up your mind what species I'm supposed to be." He complained. Makiya hugged him warmly, as the others all laughed. TENCHI MUYO! EXILE... EPISODE 7: Yosho and Ayeka Princess Ayeka hummed happily as she brushed her hair and got ready for a date with her brother, Yosho. Now that his true appearance had been revealed, he had seen no need to return to his disguise. He'd started courting her a month later, after taking care of a few details. To avoid too many questions from those in the family not familiar with Jurai, the story was created that Katsuhito had died and that Yosho, who just happened to be named after their legendary ancestor, was Naoki's cousin who'd heard of his marriage and had come to stay for a while. Since no one outside the immediate family knew Naoki had been a Draalthi named Trakal, this story had worked out very well. Ayeka fixed her kimono. "Ayeka," Yosho called, "are you ready?" "I'll be right there!" She called as she hurried down the stairs. Yosho was dressed in Western-style clothes. A pair of slacks and a nicely pressed dark blue button-down shirt. He smiled as Ayeka joined him. "You look very nice." He told her. "You think so?" Ayeka blushed. "Mmm hmmm." Yosho nodded. He extended his arm, gallantly. "Shall we?" "Of course." Ayeka smiled up at him as she took his arm and allowed him to guide her to the door. "You kids don't stay out too late!" Nobuyuki called out, enjoying himself immensely. Yosho shot his son a warning look, but Ayeka's giggled erased any annoyance he might have been feeling and he returned his attention to her. "Dad," Tenchi asked, after the Juraian Prince and Princess had departed. "Don't you think you're going a little overboard?" "But, Tenchi!" Nobuyuki whined, "I'm having so much fun!" "Yeah!" Ryoko scolded her husband. "Let dad have some fun!" "I really like you, Ryoko." Nobuyuki told his daughter-in-law. "I can't wait to see my first grandchild." "Miya!" Ryo-Ohki chimed up, taking on her humanoid child form and climbing up into Nobuyuki's arms. "I'm sorry," Nobuyuki winked. "I mean my *second* grandchild." "She's *NOT* my child!" Tenchi wailed as he ran off. He could not believe his father was still running that stupid joke into the ground. As tough a time as he was having, Tenchi wasn't having anywhere near as much trouble as Naoki. Washu and Tokimi were arguing over what species he should be and changing him back and forth at an annoying rate. "He *must* be human," Washu's argument went. "Yosho is posing as he cousin." "He is the *last* Draalthi!" Tokimi debated. "He must remain a Draalthi!" This just kept on going on unabated. "Human!" Washu made him human. "Draalthi!" Tokimi made him a Draalthi. "Human!" "Draalthi" "Human!" "Draalthi!" "Human!" Naoki had had enough... "TSUNAMI!!!" he called out as he collapsed. Washu and Tokimi blinked at each other for a moment. "Now look what you've done to him!" Washu exclaimed. "Me?!" Tokimi returned, somewhat taken aback by her sister's tone. "You're the one who changed his original species." "So he wouldn't end up in a freakshow. You think the people here will accept him as a Draalthi." "His wife did." "She loves him. Tokimi, there are people out there who would shoot him for being the wrong *color* never mind *SPECIES*!" "There is a solution." Washu and Tokimi turned and saw Tsunami kneeling over Naoki, comforting him. "Huh?" The both asked. "The Masses." Tsunami explained. "Oh!" Washu smacked her forehead. "I can't believe I'm so stupid! A Masses infusion would solve the whole problem! Tsunami, you're a genius!" "I get it from my sister." Tsunami smiled. Washu walked over to the repaired tank where the Masses dwelled. This was a new batch she'd discovered a few weeks earlier. As she made her way across the lab with her sisters, they passed a jade crystal in which slept a human girl. The girl, about nineteen years old, was quite pretty. Her hair fell down over her shoulders in a straight line. Her head was bowed forward in slumber. She seemed a simple innocent girl, and indeed she was. "Washu..." Tokimi's voice carried a tone of concern. "I can't." Washu shook her head, and fell silent. She would say nothing more about it. Naoki picked up his head and looked at the girl in silence. As he wondered why she was being kept in stasis, the added senses he'd been given as Tokimi's avatar came into play and he sensed, within her body, something evil. He bared his teeth, even though he was currently human, and growled at the sensation. He had the feeling that what he was sensing was vaguely familiar, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. "Naoki," Washu told him. "I'm going to give you a Mass infusion." Naoki blinked, uncertainly, at her. "That means, " Washu explained, "that I'm going to combine your DNA with the Masses. You'll be able to take on any form you wish." Naoki blinked again. "You're not getting this, are you?" Washu asked. Naoki shook his head with a light-tipped smile. Washu was about to explain further when Mihoshi walked in. Washu wished she knew how the hell Mihoshi kept doing that. She saw Mihoshi heading in the direction of the stasis controls and quickly steered her away from them. "So, what did you want, Mihoshi?" "Ummm... Oh yeah... its time for lunch." "Oh! Good!" Washu smiled. "Naoki, you ready?" "Yeah. I'm starving." Naoki smiled back. As they left, Mihoshi dropped something which quietly bounced into the corner near the stasis machine. Wordlessly, she retrieved it, not noticing when her sleeve hit the switch, flipping it to the off position. She rejoined the others and they all went to the main house for lunch. "This food is delicious." Tenchi praised. "Thank you, Tenchi." Sasami replied. "You're awfully quiet today." Naoki told his wife. Makiya nodded. "I'm just thinking about how grateful I am that you're here safe and sound." Tenchi nodded in agreement. "We're all grateful, Naoki. You're very brave, but you really shouldn't risk your life for us." "Force of habit." Naoki shrugged, taking a bite of his food. "Good job, Sasami." Sasami beamed, proudly. The girl blinked as she woke from her twenty-six year slumber and looked around Washu's lab. She rubbed her eyes and blinked again, making sure she was awake. "Where am I?" She asked, looking down at herself. Last thing she remembered was being in the elevator at Tokyo Tower. Something had blown a foul smelling wind at her and the others and they had collapsed. She shivered, her entire body affected by the intense cold in her abdomen, and tried to find an exit. Trakal was in Draalthi form trying to ward off the chill he was himself feeling at that moment. Without success. "Would someone turn up the heat?" he asked. "No way!" Ryoko exclaimed. "Put a coat on." "Trakal?" Makiya asked. "Are you sick? Maybe you've got a fever?" "The thermostat is broken and Ryoko's just being difficult." "I am *NOT*!" Ryoko exclaimed. "The thermostat is fine, Trakal." Tenchi told him. "I just checked it." "Then why am I so cold?" "Maybe your wife's right?" Tenchi suggested. "Maybe so." Trakal gave in, too troubled to fight about it. "But," he added, determined to get in the last word, "your wife is still a pain in the ass." "How's your tempura?" Yosho asked, taking a bite of his own meal. "It's delicious." Ayeka replied, after swallowing what she'd been chewing. "And your gyoza?" "Also delicious." Yosho finished it and sat back, watching her with interest as she finished. "Of course, having a nice view to enjoy while dining makes a meal even better." Ayeka blushed. "There's a theatre not far from here." Yosho told his sister as he gazed at her with the intensity of a man in love. "Would you care to go see a movie?" "I'd love to." Ayeka, who'd never been to a movie, replied. "The theatre plays what they call Old Classic movies." Yosho explained. "They're playing an old classic from the United States called "The Maltese Falcon." Ayeka nodded and gazed, demurely at him over the rim of her glass. Yosho summoned the waiter as soon as Ayeka was finished and the two paid for their meals, politely declining a dessert offer on the grounds that they'd soon be having some snacks at the movies, and departed from the restaurant. While Sam Spade chatted with a woman who kept changing her name along with the rest of her story, another detective was apologizing to her former commander. "Oh my!" She spluttered nervously, swept up the broken dish, trembling "I ... I'm very sorry. I'll pay for it, I..." "That's not neccessary." Sarnd replied. "Kiyone, it was my fault. I should've waited until you were sitting down before ..." 'Before proposing to me?" Kiyone smiled. "Commander..." "I suspect you're going to decline my offer?" Sarnd's voice had a note of disappointment in it." Kiyone nodded, sadly. "I'm sorry." She told him. "I know you're retired, but I can't stop thinking about you as my superior officer. And you're old enough to be my father." "I understand." Sarnd replied. "To be honest I knew it was a long shot before I asked." "Then why did you?" "I love you." Sarnd shrugged as he took a sip of coffee. "Just rest," Makiya told Trakal, who was lying in their bed with all the blanets wrapped around him. She kissed his forehead and shook her head. "You're not feverish." she said. She was puzzled by this, but also relieved. She turned off the lights so he could get some sleep, and he yelped in alarm, which was quite surprising considering what he used to do for a living. "How is he?" Washu asked. "He doesn't seem to have a fever." Makiya replied. "Perhaps you'd better look at him?" Washu nodded and entered the room. "That was a lot of fun." Ayeka told Yosho as they left the movie. "We should tell Trakal and Makiya about it." "Trakal would love Sam Spade." Yosho smiled. "They're not that much different." "No, I guess they're not." Ayeka smiled, thoughtfully. "That woman kind of reminded me of Ryoko." "Aren't you two over all that yet? I mean, she got what she wanted, you got what you wanted." "Did I?" Ayeka wondered, aloud. "She got a husband. I don't." "There's no reason you can't..." "Marry Tenchi?" Ayeka asked. "Share him with that hussy?" "I was going to suggest you marry me, actually." Yosho replied. "But if you'd rather have Tenchi, I guess I can help you to..." "You want to...?" Ayeka had a look of shock on her face that was extremely comical. "If you'll still have me..." Yosho offered. "I know I don't deserve you after all that I put you through, but..." "Yes." Ayeka managed to say, once she remembered how her mouth worked. Yosho smiled at her and Ayeka felt a sensation of warmth spreading out from her heart and infecting every part of her from her toes to her face where it appeared as a demure blush. "I can't wait to tell the others." Ayeka told him. "They'll be so excited." The others were already excited. But for another reason. Makiya had gone to get Trakal a glass of water, and had returned to find him in a coma. She'd immediately gone to find Washu, only to find Washu in a crisis of her own. Another girl from 1970 had somehow been freed from stasis and was somewhere in the area. "So?" Makiya asked. She didn't see how another girl from her class would pose a problem. "So," Washu replied. "she's carrying the reincarnation of Kain inside her. I've managed to make a few alterations, but that's no guarantee he won't be just as dangerous as before." "Do you think this is the reason Trakal is so sick?" "My guess is that that is the reason." Washu nodded. "We have to find her." Makiya pointed out. "Wrong!" Washu stuck up a finger (no, not *that* one) *I* have to find her. You're staying here with Trakal." Makiya sighed and turned her attention to her stricken husband. She wanted to help Washu cure him, not just stand idly by and watch. "He's my husband, Washu..." she began. Washu tapped Makiya's belly with a blackboard pointer. "And that's his child." she interrupted. Makiya nodded. "You're right." She bent carefully and kissed Trakal's muzzle (he was still a Draalthi for the moment), enjoying the softness of fur against her lips. "Found her." Washu announced triumphantly. "Where?" Makiya blinked. How could Washu have found the girl so fast? "Over there." Washu pointed at the doorway. Makiya looked up and saw her classmate standing there, or rather leaning there. She looked to be in pain and Makiya and Washu realized she was in labor! "Isn't she a bit early?" Makiya asked. "I suspect Kain's impatient to be reincarnated." "You mean he's conscious of what he's doing?" Washu nodded. "I can only hope he's not conscious of what I was doing." She replied as she manuevered the girl onto a nearby futon and prepped her for delivery. The impact of Kain's impending delivery was so powerful that it forced Trakal's body back into consciousness. Trakal, who's Jurai blood and past connection with Kain had left him a semi- psychic bond with Kain, sat up and joined Washu at the girl's bedside. "I see you're awake." Washu grinned at him. "Feel better?" "No." Trakal was on edge. He summoned an energy sword, prepared for anything. Washu turned a moment later, holding a large egg in her hand. 'So, that's how Kain's species are born.' Trakal thought to himself. Kain's consciousness wasn't sure what was going on. He'd heard the screams of the young woman he'd implanted his clone into, heard her giving birth. But he was still in darkness, and still in her small, hard womb. Hard? He realized he was inside an egg. He didn't know all that much about the people of Earth, but he did know that they didn't hatch out of eggs. Something was very wrong here. He would get to the bottom of the matter. But first he had to be reborn. He pushed at the egg's inner shell until at last he forced his way back into the universe. Makiya and Washu watched the egg in morbid fascination, keeping a respectful distance from it and also keeping a safe distance from Trakal. Trakal himself was keeping a close eye on the egg. There was a great deal at stake, the safety of the world, and more importantly, the well- being of his wife and the child in her womb. The egg broke into pieces as Kain forced his newborn body into world with all the force he could muster. Trakal stared at him in stunned silence, a bemused look upon his face. Kain looked up at Trakal, prepared to launch into a litany of threats and barbs about the Galaxy Police. He opened his mouth to speak, but all that came out was: "Miya!" Lt. Trakal Operative of the Galaxy Police SIU From: "Trakal" Newsgroups: rec.arts.anime.creative Subject: [Fanfic][Tenchi] Tenchi Muyo! Exile #8 "Yosho and Ayeka" X-Moderation-Queue-Date: 26 Apr 1998 03:12:23 -0400 Organization: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA Sender: root@solaris.cc.vt.edu Originator: anime-creative@solaris.cc.vt.edu In-reply-to: <6ht2b3$9ob@dragon.cs.ubc.ca> MIME-Version: 1.0 Followup-To: rec.arts.anime.fandom Approved: ranma@TASS.org TENCHI MUYO! EXILE... EPISODE 7: Yosho and Ayeka Princess Ayeka hummed happily as she brushed her hair and got ready for a date with her brother, Yosho. Now that his true appearance had been revealed, he had seen no need to return to his disguise. He'd started courting her a month later, after taking care of a few details. To avoid too many questions from those in the family not familiar with Jurai, the story was created that Katsuhito had died and that Yosho, who just happened to be named after their legendary ancestor, was Naoki's cousin who'd heard of his marriage and had come to stay for a while. Since no one outside the immediate family knew Naoki had been a Draalthi named Trakal, this story had worked out very well. Ayeka fixed her kimono. "Ayeka," Yosho called, "are you ready?" "I'll be right there!" She called as she hurried down the stairs.  Yosho was dressed in Western-style clothes. A pair of slacks and a nicely pressed dark blue button-down shirt. He smiled as Ayeka joined him. "You look very nice." He told her. "You think so?" Ayeka blushed. "Mmm hmmm." Yosho nodded. He extended his arm, gallantly. "Shall we?" "Of course." Ayeka smiled up at him as she took his arm and allowed him to guide her to the door. "You kids don't stay out too late!" Nobuyuki called out, enjoying himself immensely. Yosho shot his son a warning look, but Ayeka's giggled erased any annoyance he might have been feeling and he returned his attention to her. "Dad," Tenchi asked, after the Juraian Prince and Princess had departed. "Don't you think you're going a little overboard?" "But, Tenchi!" Nobuyuki whined, "I'm having so much fun!" "Yeah!" Ryoko scolded her husband. "Let dad have some fun!" "I really like you, Ryoko." Nobuyuki told his daughter-in-law. "I can't wait to see my first grandchild." "Miya!" Ryo-Ohki chimed up, taking on her humanoid child form and climbing up into Nobuyuki's arms. "I'm sorry," Nobuyuki winked. "I mean my *second* grandchild." "She's *NOT* my child!" Tenchi wailed as he ran off. He could not believe his father was still running that stupid joke into the ground. As tough a time as he was having, Tenchi wasn't having anywhere near as much trouble as Naoki. Washu and Tokimi were arguing over what species he should be and changing him back and forth at an annoying rate. "He *must* be human," Washu's argument went. "Yosho is posing as he cousin." "He is the *last* Draalthi!" Tokimi debated. "He must remain a Draalthi!" This just kept on going on unabated. "Human!" Washu made him human. "Draalthi!" Tokimi made him a Draalthi. "Human!" "Draalthi" "Human!" "Draalthi!" "Human!" Naoki had had enough... "TSUNAMI!!!" he called out as he collapsed. Washu and Tokimi blinked at each other for a moment. "Now look what you've done to him!" Washu exclaimed. "Me?!" Tokimi returned, somewhat taken aback by her sister's tone. "You're the one who changed his original species." "So he wouldn't end up in a freakshow. You think the people here will accept him as a Draalthi." "His wife did." "She loves him. Tokimi, there are people out there who would shoot him for being the wrong *color* never mind *SPECIES*!" "There is a solution." Washu and Tokimi turned and saw Tsunami kneeling over Naoki, comforting him. "Huh?" The both asked. "The Masses." Tsunami explained. "Oh!" Washu smacked her forehead. "I can't believe I'm so stupid! A Masses infusion would solve the whole problem! Tsunami, you're a genius!" "I get it from my sister." Tsunami smiled. Washu walked over to the repaired tank where the Masses dwelled. This was a new batch she'd discovered a few weeks earlier. As she made her way across the lab with her sisters, they passed a jade crystal in which slept a human girl. The girl, about nineteen years old, was quite pretty. Her hair fell down over her shoulders in a straight line. Her head was bowed forward in slumber. She seemed a simple innocent girl, and indeed she was. "Washu..." Tokimi's voice carried a tone of concern. "I can't." Washu shook her head, and fell silent. She would say nothing more about it. Naoki picked up his head and looked at the girl in silence. As he wondered why she was being kept in stasis, the added senses he'd been given as Tokimi's avatar came into play and he sensed, within her body, something evil. He bared his teeth, even though he was currently human, and growled at the sensation. He had the feeling that what he was sensing was vaguely familiar, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. "Naoki," Washu told him. "I'm going to give you a Mass infusion." Naoki blinked, uncertainly, at her. "That means, " Washu explained, "that I'm going to combine your DNA with the Masses. You'll be able to take on any form you wish." Naoki blinked again. "You're not getting this, are you?" Washu asked. Naoki shook his head with a light-tipped smile. Washu was about to explain further when Mihoshi walked in. Washu wished she knew how the hell Mihoshi kept doing that. She saw Mihoshi heading in the direction of the stasis controls and quickly steered her away from them. "So, what did you want, Mihoshi?" "Ummm... Oh yeah... its time for lunch." "Oh! Good!" Washu smiled. "Naoki, you ready?" "Yeah. I'm starving." Naoki smiled back. As they left, Mihoshi dropped something which quietly bounced into the corner near the stasis machine. Wordlessly, she retrieved it, not noticing when her sleeve hit the switch, flipping it to the off position. She rejoined the others and they all went to the main house for lunch. "This food is delicious." Tenchi praised. "Thank you, Tenchi." Sasami replied. "You're awfully quiet today." Naoki told his wife. Makiya nodded. "I'm just thinking about how grateful I am that you're here safe and sound." Tenchi nodded in agreement. "We're all grateful, Naoki. You're very brave, but you really shouldn't risk your life for us." "Force of habit." Naoki shrugged, taking a bite of his food. "Good job, Sasami." Sasami beamed, proudly. The girl blinked as she woke from her twenty-six year slumber and looked around Washu's lab. She rubbed her eyes and blinked again, making sure she was awake. "Where am I?" She asked, looking down at herself. Last thing she remembered was being in the elevator at Tokyo Tower. Something had blown a foul smelling wind at her and the others and they had collapsed. She shivered, her entire body affected by the intense cold in her abdomen, and tried to find an exit. Trakal was in Draalthi form trying to ward off the chill he was himself feeling at that moment. Without success. "Would someone turn up the heat?" he asked. "No way!" Ryoko exclaimed. "Put a coat on." "Trakal?" Makiya asked. "Are you sick? Maybe you've got a fever?" "The thermostat is broken and Ryoko's just being difficult." "I am *NOT*!" Ryoko exclaimed. "The thermostat is fine, Trakal." Tenchi told him. "I just checked it." "Then why am I so cold?" "Maybe your wife's right?" Tenchi suggested. "Maybe so." Trakal gave in, too troubled to fight about it. "But," he added, determined to get in the last word, "your wife is still a pain in the ass." "How's your tempura?" Yosho asked, taking a bite of his own meal. "It's delicious." Ayeka replied, after swallowing what she'd been chewing. "And your gyoza?" "Also delicious." Yosho finished it and sat back, watching her with interest as she finished. "Of course, having a nice view to enjoy while dining makes a meal even better." Ayeka blushed. "There's a theatre not far from here." Yosho told his sister as he gazed at her with the intensity of a man in love. "Would you care to go see a movie?" "I'd love to." Ayeka, who'd never been to a movie, replied. "The theatre plays what they call Old Classic movies." Yosho explained. "They're playing an old classic from the United States called "The Maltese Falcon." Ayeka nodded and gazed, demurely at him over the rim of her glass. Yosho summoned the waiter as soon as Ayeka was finished and the two paid for their meals, politely declining a dessert offer on the grounds that they'd soon be having some snacks at the movies, and departed from the restaurant. While Sam Spade chatted with a woman who kept changing her name along with the rest of her story, another detective was apologizing to her former commander. "Oh my!" She spluttered nervously, swept up the broken dish, trembling "I ... I'm very sorry. I'll pay for it, I..." "That's not neccessary." Sarnd replied. "Kiyone, it was my fault. I should've waited until you were sitting down before ..." 'Before proposing to me?" Kiyone smiled. "Commander..." "I suspect you're going to decline my offer?" Sarnd's voice had a note of disappointment in it." Kiyone nodded, sadly. "I'm sorry." She told him. "I know you're retired, but I can't stop thinking about you as my superior officer. And you're old enough to be my father." "I understand." Sarnd replied. "To be honest I knew it was a long shot before I asked." "Then why did you?" "I love you." Sarnd shrugged as he took a sip of coffee. "Just rest," Makiya told Trakal, who was lying in their bed with all the blanets wrapped around him. She kissed his forehead and shook her head. "You're not feverish." she said. She was puzzled by this, but also relieved. She turned off the lights so he could get some sleep, and he yelped in alarm, which was quite surprising considering what he used to do for a living. "How is he?" Washu asked. "He doesn't seem to have a fever." Makiya replied. "Perhaps you'd better look at him?" Washu nodded and entered the room. "That was a lot of fun." Ayeka told Yosho as they left the movie. "We should tell Trakal and Makiya about it." "Trakal would love Sam Spade." Yosho smiled. "They're not that much different." "No, I guess they're not." Ayeka smiled, thoughtfully. "That woman kind of reminded me of Ryoko." "Aren't you two over all that yet? I mean, she got what she wanted, you got what you wanted." "Did I?" Ayeka wondered, aloud. "She got a husband. I don't." "There's no reason you can't..." "Marry Tenchi?" Ayeka asked. "Share him with that hussy?" "I was going to suggest you marry me, actually." Yosho replied. "But if you'd rather have Tenchi, I guess I can help you to..." "You want to...?" Ayeka had a look of shock on her face that was extremely comical. "If you'll still have me..." Yosho offered. "I know I don't deserve you after all that I put you through, but..." "Yes." Ayeka managed to say, once she remembered how her mouth worked. Yosho smiled at her and Ayeka felt a sensation of warmth spreading out from her heart and infecting every part of her from her toes to her face where it appeared as a demure blush. "I can't wait to tell the others." Ayeka told him. "They'll be so excited." The others were already excited. But for another reason. Makiya had gone to get Trakal a glass of water, and had returned to find him in a coma. She'd immediately gone to find Washu, only to find Washu in a crisis of her own. Another girl from 1970 had somehow been freed from stasis and was somewhere in the area. "So?" Makiya asked. She didn't see how another girl from her class would pose a problem. "So," Washu replied. "she's carrying the reincarnation of Kain inside her. I've managed to make a few alterations, but that's no guarantee he won't be just as dangerous as before." "Do you think this is the reason Trakal is so sick?" "My guess is that that is the reason." Washu nodded. "We have to find her." Makiya pointed out. "Wrong!" Washu stuck up a finger (no, not *that* one) *I* have to find her. You're staying here with Trakal." Makiya sighed and turned her attention to her stricken husband. She wanted to help Washu cure him, not just stand idly by and watch. "He's my husband, Washu..." she began. Washu tapped Makiya's belly with a blackboard pointer. "And that's his child." she interrupted. Makiya nodded. "You're right." She bent carefully and kissed Trakal's muzzle (he was still a Draalthi for the moment), enjoying the softness of fur against her lips. "Found her." Washu announced triumphantly. "Where?" Makiya blinked. How could Washu have found the girl so fast? "Over there." Washu pointed at the doorway. Makiya looked up and saw her classmate standing there, or rather leaning there. She looked to be in pain and Makiya and Washu realized she was in labor! "Isn't she a bit early?" Makiya asked. "I suspect Kain's impatient to be reincarnated." "You mean he's conscious of what he's doing?" Washu nodded. "I can only hope he's not conscious of what I was doing." She replied as she manuevered the girl onto a nearby futon and prepped her for delivery. The impact of Kain's impending delivery was so powerful that it forced Trakal's body back into consciousness. Trakal, who's Jurai blood and past connection with Kain had left him a semi- psychic bond with Kain, sat up and joined Washu at the girl's bedside. "I see you're awake." Washu grinned at him. "Feel better?" "No." Trakal was on edge. He summoned an energy sword, prepared for anything. Washu turned a moment later, holding a large egg in her hand. 'So, that's how Kain's species are born.' Trakal thought to himself. Kain's consciousness wasn't sure what was going on. He'd heard the screams of the young woman he'd implanted his clone into, heard her giving birth. But he was still in darkness, and still in her small, hard womb. Hard? He realized he was inside an egg. He didn't know all that much about the people of Earth, but he did know that they didn't hatch out of eggs. Something was very wrong here. He would get to the bottom of the matter. But first he had to be reborn. He pushed at the egg's inner shell until at last he forced his way back into the universe. Makiya and Washu watched the egg in morbid fascination, keeping a respectful distance from it and also keeping a safe distance from Trakal. Trakal himself was keeping a close eye on the egg. There was a great deal at stake, the safety of the world, and more importantly, the well- being of his wife and the child in her womb. The egg broke into pieces as Kain forced his newborn body into world with all the force he could muster. Trakal stared at him in stunned silence, a bemused look upon his face. Kain looked up at Trakal, prepared to launch into a litany of threats and barbs about the Galaxy Police. He opened his mouth to speak, but all that came out was: "Miya!" Lt. Trakal Operative of the Galaxy Police SIU From: "Trakal" Subject: [Tenchi][FanFic] Tenchi Muyo! Exile #9: Three Small Visitors Tenchi Muyo! Exile #9: Three Small Visitors ---------------------- "How can I not be worried about it?" Trakal shouted at Mihoshi who flinched back in nervous surprise. "Kain-Ohki is out there somewhere." "He hasn't caused any problems so far." Kiyone pointed out, coming to Mihoshi's rescue out of either friendship or a masochistic streak on her part, she wasn't sure which. "That could be just because at the moment he believes he's too small to do any significant damage." Trakal pointed out. "It's been five months at least." Mihoshi said, counting on her fingers. "Would you three shut up?" Ryoko shouted at them. "I'm trying to watch this movie." The Pirates of Penzance was showing on some satellite channel again. "You've already seen in two hundred times." Trakal reminded her. **cough cough** "You talked during every one." Ryoko pointed out. "Just making you pay for your crimes." Trakal told her. "Ahem..." "Statute of limitations is out, you know." Ryoko reminded him. "Well, there's still a matter of you destroying that park bench back in 1970, assaulting a galaxy police officer, namely me, interfering with a police investigation..." "AHEM!!" "My aren't we picky!" Ryoko taunted. "I owe everything to the Galaxy Police and the Jurai and you, I would like to point out, are a pain in the ass to both of them." "May I remind you that since I am married to Tenchi, I am a member of the House of Jurai." Ryoko pointed out, poking Trakal's chest with her fingertip. Something struck the top of Trakal's head and made him spin around, bringing himself into a defensive mode. Washu was standing there with a long bamboo stick in her hand. Trakal couldn't figure out how she was lifting it. "I hate to interrupt this cheerful converation, Trakal," she told him, "but Makiya just went into labor." "Where is..." Trakal began. Washu had anticipated this question and replied, "She's in the Shrine." before he had finished asking it. "Thanks!" Trakal called over his shoulder as he ran toward the temple. As he ran, Trakal used the transforming abilities given him by the Masses to change into his human appearance. He was a little concerned that his 'natural' appearance might be a little disconcerting for the infants about to be born, and it was a fairly hot day, being mid August and all. He arrived, threw open the door and rushed inside, coming to a sudden halt and panting, out of breath, at the side of the mat where Makiya lie, also panting, in labor. Washu was already there, patting Makiya's head witha damp rag. Naoki stared at her in amazement. "Washu!!" He wailed. Washu chuckled momentarily, then moved to the midwife's position to catch the babies while Naoki supported her back and kept her comfortable. Ryoko gritted her teeth and asked, for the nth time "When is Tenchi going to be here? He should've been home by now." Tenchi had taken a part time job in order to deal with any added expenses that might occur now that he was about to become a dad. "Oh, he's working late." Mihoshi told her casually. "He called an hour ago to say that he was going to be tied up this evening because he and his boss were doing inventory together." "He WHAT?!" Ryoko demanded, leaping to her feet. She stumbled suddenly and then fell to her knees with a shriek of pain. "What's the matter, Ryoko?" Mihoshi asked. "Nothing. Everything's fine." Ryoko replied in a cheerfully sarcastic tone. "Oh, okay." Mihoshi went back to watching TV. A moment later, one of Ryoko's blasts flew by her head. "What the?!" "MHOSHI, YOU IDIOT!" Ryoko shouted at her. "I'M IN LABOR!!" Mihoshi looked at the empty room... ...then back at the laboring Ryoko... ...then she panicked. Makiya bore down once more, crying out in pain as her first child made its way into the world. Naoki stroked her hair as Washu caught the baby. "It's a boy." She told the new parents. Makiya smiled briefly up at Naoki, who was beaming with pride. "Hey," she panted, "What are you looking so proud for? I did all the *hard* work." Naoki kissed her brow and smiled at her. Washu held the newborn upside down. She gave it a tiny swat to start it breathing and crying, then set it down momentarily on a number of towels on the mat so that she could concentrate on helping Makiya deliver the second child. ***** "Umm... okay... hold on just a second Ryoko... I know it's in my handbook somewhere." Ryoko would've wrung Mihoshi's neck if she wasn't too busy panting. "Ummm.... just a moment, Ryoko... I know the instructions are here somewhere... Um... where's my handbook." Mihoshi began twisting her cube. ***** "Just once more, honey... one more push." Naoki coached, excitedly, the joy of his son's first cry adding to the excitement of the impending birth of the second twin. Makiya bore down one final time and delivered her second child. "It's a girl." Washu told them. Washu cleaned off the second baby, then she picked up both infants and presented them to their parents. "I love you." Naoki told Makiya as he bent down to kiss her and the two babies. "I love you..." Makiya sighed as she drifted off to sleep. *** "Hold on, Ryoko!" Mihoshi called to her as she kept trying to find her manual. She twisted the cube again, and again. More and more items came out. Some large, some small. None of them an instruction manual. "I'll be just a minute." She said, cheerful. "Where IS IT?!" She cried out in frustration. A moment later. "Oh! I've found it!" She looked around. "Ryoko? Ryoko?!" "Under here." Mihoshi quickly move the pile of stuffed animals off of Ryoko. By the time she uncovered the pretty pirate, Ryoko was giving her an irritated look and holding a baby boy in her arms. Tenchi walked up to the gate of with Ryo-Ohki who was miya'ing happily with a few carrots strapped to her back. Tenchi was carrying the rest in a basket which he dropped when he saw Ryoko standing there, holding a new baby. She'd recovered quickly, which really didn't surprise Tenchi all that much. Tenchi ran over to Ryoko and their baby, forgetting the carrots, which Ryo-Ohki was only too happy to clean up for him. "Ryoko." Tenchi said, holding his arms out. Ryoko handed Tenchi the baby and kissed him, happily. "He needs a name, Tenchi." She told him. "I wanted to wait until you got home to pick one." Tenchi smiled and kissed her back. "I'm glad." he told her. "Thank you, Ryoko." They went to the back porch and sat down together. In the distance, Tenchi could hear another baby crying. "It sounds like Makiya had her twins. I wonder why I only hear one, though." "She's probably feeding the other." Ryoko shrugged. The baby in Tenchi's arms started to cry. "Speaking of which..." Tenchi hedged. Ryoko openned her kimono and took the infant to her breast while Tenchi watched her with pure adoration. "So, any ideas?" "Well, my grandfather named me." Tenchi suggested. "Perhaps we should let dad name our child?" "He'll probably end up with the name which is the Japanese equivalent of Peeping Tom," Ryoko remarked, grinning. "He will *not*!" Tenchi exclaimed. "Dad's not *that* bad!" "Tanteiko's finally sleeping." Naoki told Makiya. "That's a relief." Makiya replied. "I was worried that she would wake up Mitsuku. I'd just got him to sleep, too." She looked over at Washu, who wore a contemplative look on her face. "Little Washu?" "I'm a grandmother." Washu smiled. "Oh!" Makiya smiled. "Washu, why didn't you tell us. Go ahead and see your grandchild. We'll be fine." Washu grinned and vanished. "Well," Nobuyuki hedged as he looked down at his sleeping grandson. "let me see. Your ancestor Yosho was a samurai prince, and ...." he hedged a bit, then smiled. "Eureka!" He shouted. "I am *NOT* naming my child Eureka." Ryoko said, disdainfully. "No..." Nobuyuki explained. "I meant I've thought of one. "Well, what is it?" Tenchi asked. "The perfect name for a child of royal blood." Nobuyuki told them. "Mikado." "They're all so cute!" Mihoshi said, when everyone was in the house and all three babies were together in the living room a week later. Makiya had recovered from childbirth and was holding her and Naoki's daughter while Naoki held their son. All of them were tired from having kept up with the needs of the three babies all day long, but they managed to remain somewhat cheerful. "Hey!" Nobuyuki called. "Everyone come outside. I want to get a picture of everyone in front of the house. Everyone groaned, weakly, more from exhaustion than exasperation, and followed him out onto the lawn. "Okay, everyone, smile!" Nobuyuki called out cheerful. Everyone smiled weakly, except the three babies who weren't in the mood for pictures. Naoki and Makiya held onto their babies and tried to soothe them and Tenchi tried to calm little Mikado. "Just like his mother," Ayeka observed, "loud and whiny." "You're the whiny one, Little Princess." Ryoko snubbed back. "Besides, I'm the one who married Tenchi." "Why you..." Ayeka began. Yosho cleared his throat and Ayeka turned to him. He smiled at her, warmly, and she gazed into the eyes of the man who had now been her husband for close to two months. He himself had performed the ceremony and it had been very private, just the two of them, Washu, and Tokimi. "Well," Ayeka raised her nose up. "At least my husband is cuter than yours." "You're joking, right?" Ryoko laughed. "Everyone knows Tenchi is much cuter than Yosho." "No way!" Ayeka scoffed. "Yosho is far more cute than Tenchi ever was." "Ahem." Makiya cleared her throat. "There's really no need for you two to fight." "She's right." Tenchi told Ryoko. "You're married to me now, and Ayeka's married to Yosho as she has always wanted. Everyone got what they originally wanted so you should both be happy." "Exactly." Makiya nodded. Ryoko and Ayeka nodded, resignedly. Makiya was right. "Besides," Makiya slipped in, "Naoki's obviously the cutest boy here." Ryoko and Ayeka exchanged a pair of open-mouthed glances. "NAOKI?!" They blurted out, looking at the boy in question as if it was all his fault. Naoki swallowed, nervously, sensing that he was in trouble again. "Um, now... take it easy, girls." He said, in a timid sounding voice that was complete opposed to the powerful tone he had used as a Galaxy Police SIU Operative. "Um... look I had nothing to do with her saying that. I..." A moment later, Naoki was treading water in the middle of the pond and blinking in confusion as to exactly how he'd gotten there. "At least I'm in human form." He thought to himself, relieved that he wouldn't have to dry off a coat of fur this time. He swam to shore, squeezed the water from his hair, and returned to the others in dripping wet clothes. "Hand me your cube." He told Mihoshi. Mihoshi handed her Galaxy Police hypercube to him and he expertly twisted it a few times. A moment later, Ayeka and Ryoko found themselves in the pond where Naoki had been. Naoki handed Mihoshi's cube back to her and smiled.