Tenchi Muyo Fan Fiction ❯ A Crown of Lies ❯ Mysteries Revealed ( Chapter 5 )

** Disclaimer- The characters used in this prologue are all Pioneer and AIC's except for Matthias, Indigo, Asmodean and Sudorin. He is mine. All rights of Tenchi Muyo TV etc. belong to those companies.**

** I am not receiving any money for this fan fiction. This is written purely for enjoyment of me as well as my readers.**

** This fanfic is based on the Tenchi Muyo TV series and is following the prologue. If you haven't read the prologue yet, read it. Ledzepfan111@hotmail.com. Enjoy.

A Crown of Lies:

Chapter 5- Mysteries Revealed

"It's good to see you again Azaka," Kamidake said as he walked towards the bank of the lake. Princess Aeka was almost finished recovering and the firsts signs of dusk were setting in. Kamidake was clothed in a maroon t-shirt and a pair of tan slacks Washu had cooked up for him. He wore the clothes awkwardly, displaying to all that he was unaccustomed to what Earthlings called 'informal' attire.

Azaka was still wearing the clothes of a Lord Protector. His white cape brandished some blue letters of Ancient Jurai, in turn signifying his position as captain of the knights. The true meaning of the writing on his cape had been long since forgotten, only a tradition among the knighthood of Jurai. He also wore white robes, with blue fabric lining the edge of his clothes, completed with a golden sash. The regal clothing was true to the grace and power of Jurai.

"I trust your journey was aggreable old friend," Kamidake said as he brought up next to the dark blue haired knight. He peered out at the sky, the setting sun mixing all her colors together into a picturesque sunset.

Azaka laughed incredulously. "Kamidake, I haven't had an aggreable journey…" He scratched his beard, deep in thought. "Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever had much luck traveling. Whether partaking in a coup d'etat or nearly getting blasted by a couple of new prototype GP ships fresh off the assembly line."

"GP ships?" Kamidake asked, a little surprise present in his voice.

"The Jurain transport we were coming to Earth in was attacked by a new type of Galaxy Police ship. From what I've seen, they're capable of great stealth as well as being unable to track by radar." Azaka let out a sigh, his dark purple hair shifting as he turned to face Kamidake.

"They made quick work of the transport… Their weapons systems are truly impressive," Azaka explained. Kamidake turned to face his friend, while attempting to conceal the shock on his face.

"But the Galaxy Police are allied with Jurai. Why would they attack their allies? Especially since it was a Transport. It doesn't make sense…" Kamidake clenched his hands in frustration. The Galaxy Police were acting so strange… why would they try and challenge the might of Jurai?

"Kamidake," Azaka said, laying a hand on his friends shoulder, "there's something I have to tell you." Azaka took a deep breath as he stared out upon the sunset, begging the sun to give him the words to make Kamidake understand.

"There was another coup d'etat on Jurai." Kamidake gasped in surprise, his hand clenched to the point where his knuckled began to ache. He lessened his grip as he attempted to calm the raging emotions swelling within him.

"We managed to escape from Jurai-," Azaka started. An anxious Kamidake interrupted him.

"Where is the emperor?" The frown that crossed Azaka's face clued away that the answer would not be good.

"I was just getting to that. In order for us to escape, the defense parameter had to be shut down." Kamidake's gaze fell. "I volunteered myself, but under a direct order from Emperor Azusa, I was forced to remain by his families side."

"Is that so?" Kamidake replied in a downcast voice. His eyes seemed to lose their fervor as he came to realization that his Emperor was doomed. The end of Azusa would mean the end of any stability in the universe.

"Cheer up, Kamidake," Azaka said in a cheerful manner… well at least as cheerful as a battle hardened, emperor-less, far away from home, stressed out, knight of Azusa could sound. "I have a feeling that our emperor will make it."

"They will probably keep him as a means of bargaining," Azaka began. "And plus, Tsunami is watching over him. Without a doubt he is in her good graces."

"What are you getting at Azaka?" Kamidake asked, a little smirk present on his face. It was true that the odds were highly in favor of his emperor being preserved, and he could sense Azaka had even more good news. The way he had said it before, as more of a taunt than an explanation displayed that.

"Behold Azusa-ken," Azaka stated with a smile as he brought his newly acquired sword out of his robes. "I performed the Larienetta before we left… for the first time ever, it has succeeded."

"Praise Tsunami," Kamidake breathed out. He sighed with relief. Their goddess truly had not turned her back on the old royal family and would aid them in their rebellion. "Old friend, it seems to me we actually have a chance."

"Why so confident Kamidake?" Azaka laughed, his own hopes soaring.

"Well we have a goddess on our side, and a powerful new sword. But most of all, we have the infamous Masaki group back together, not to mention some powerful new additions. But perhaps the biggest two things we have on our side is…" He purposely trailed off with the goal of augmenting Azaka's curiosity.

His methods worked as the knight of Azusa let out a laugh. "Don't keep me in the dark Kamidake," he chuckled.

"And… we have a not so indecisive prince, not to mention a little pirate that could give any bad guy a run for their money."

Kamidake laughed at Azaka's lost look. "Little Pirate? Not so Indecisive prince? Kamidake, what in Tsunami are you talking about?"

"Ahh, old friend, it seems that I must inform you of the changes over here as well. Well you remember how Lord Tenchi was shy and embarrassed at the littlest contact with one of the girls." Azaka nodded his head in acknowledgement. "Well there's been just a few, small, insignificant changes in our prince…"

________

Ryoko smiled as her husband began to stir from his slumber. He hadn't been sleeping for more than an hour but her legs were beginning to go numb from the presence of Tenchi's head in her lap. Her mind had been singly focused on the First Crown Princess of Jurai as she watched her husband's chest rise up and down.

Tenchi had come home more distraught than ever… things must not have gone well. Her heart could not help but go out to the princess. "But Aeka's a lot stronger then me… I don't think I would be able to go on if Tenchi told me he loved another as a lover."

A smirk crossed her face as a plan began to formulate in her mind. "Of course I know that I love Tenchi a million times more than her. I mean, geeze she already had a could be boyfriend waiting on her for every second of the day."

She began to chuckle a little as playing matchmaker began to seem very interesting. "That's it, I Ryoko Masaki hereby declare that I will get that chipmunk and knight together. She needs this… and by the pout he had all dinner last night, he does too."

Ryoko shifted herself as Tenchi began to stir. Slowly one eye opened, and then the other. Remembering where he was and what he had done, he let loose a sigh and sat up.

Ryoko waited patiently for him to start, not wanting to rush him after his experience that morning. He gazed into her eyes, drawing in strength and suddenly looked away too ashamed to face her.

"What is it Tenchi?" she asked with a warm smile trying to brighten his spirits. It failed as he looked down and tried to hide his face behind long black hair.

"I don't deserve you," he stated as his shoulder slumped. "I don't deserve any of this. Not you or Achika… God, look what I did to Aeka. She'll hate me for the rest of my life. I should have chosen earlier. Somehow I should have…"

That slap hurt. Tenchi's hand immediately went up to the red handprint on his face as he looked with astonishment at her. Damn did that slap ever hurt. Not only physically, but the emotional significance hurt even worse.

Ryoko cast an angry glare at him as she retracted her trembling hand. "I never wanted to do that… but…" A few tears filled her eyes. "Tenchi, I know you don't mean to say anything to hurt us but rejecting your worth is the same as rejecting me. It's the same as rejecting Achika. And that hurts…"

Tenchi sharply took in a breath as he realized he had done the one thing he had vowed never to do again. Hurt her… He was rejecting her just like he had when he was a boy.

"Forgive me Tenchi. I didn't want to do that. But I didn't want you to say something you'd hate yourself for. I know you too well." Her face lit into a smile. " And I know you'd hate yourself if you had continued blabbing on. You had no control over Aeka developing feelings for you, just like you had no control over me falling in love with you."

"And how were you supposed to choose earlier when you had no clue who you were in love with?" She took a breath before continuing. "Tenchi, I loved you when you were that scared little boy but, I really don't feel like having to deal with a nosebleed when we do our 'night time training'."

Tenchi recoiled as he realized what he had done. Instead of trying to make the situation better and faced reality he had… "I ran away and became a little boy," he voiced his thoughts vocally. His gaze softened as he looked at her.

"I'm sorry 'Oko," he murmured as a feeling of guilt washed over him. "I never wanted to hurt you."

Ryoko smiled before she tackled him. "Well I'm happy I could help you realize your mistake." She strattled him as her right hand slowly caressed his cheek, the red tint from the slap fading. "And sorry…"

She was cut off as he placed a finger on her lips. "Don't apologize, I should be thanking you," he stated as she began to lower her head towards his.

"Well I know how you can thank me," she purred before her lips locked with his. Time stood still as the lovers became totally oblivious to their surroundings, focused solely on each other and the love they shared.

Ryoko pulled back panting lightly only to fall onto her husbands chest. "Tenchi we just made up didn't we?" she teased as she drew circles on his chest with a finger. Tenchi nodded as she propped herself up so their eyes were locked.

She gave him a mischievous smile as her head lowered again. "Washu installed another bathroom, coded for just our DNA," she told him, bearing a fang. "And I think it's about time for some make up sex."

Tenchi could only nod as she engulfed him in a passionate kiss and teleported them away.

________

Matthias sat deep in the heart of Washu's lab watching as the First Crown Princess of Jurai lay inside one of Washu's healing devices, sleeping peacefully. The table cast a green glow over the princess that illuminated the otherwise dark room.

To say Matthias was angered was to say that Ryoko liked Tenchi; a tad bit of an understatement. That damn commoner had gone much to far. He had broken his princesses heart and inadvertently caused her physical damage that led to her current predicament. The Knight was definitely livid.

Matthias concluded that the man was going to pay as he stood up. Whispering a short farewell to the princess and a promise to return, he sat out in search of the fool that had torn away the happiness of the woman he loved.

________

Ryoko and Tenchi walked out of the bathroom with smiled on their faces as they began to head towards Washu's Lab. Tenchi was filled with confidence after his little dose of 'night time training' and felt ready to right the situation with Aeka. Ryoko grinned at him as she recalled a memory. "Have you ever seen Nagi acting so strange before?" she asked as she began to giggle.

"Nope," Tenchi answered as he began to laugh himself. "Who could have thought that normal for everyone else would be weird for her though?" he continued in between laughs.

Their laughter both stopped quickly as the bounty hunter Nagi walked into the room, eyes wide open and unblinking. She held a look of total shock on her face as she walked up to Ryoko and grabbed her by the collar of her shirt.

Tenchi watched as the purple haired bounty hunter dragged the cyan haired female over to a mirror hanging on the wall. Ryoko sputtered her protests and wiggled to the best of her capabilities, however it proved futile as the purple haired beauty raised the ex space pirate up so that their faces were both reflected in the mirror.

Ryoko groaned as Nagi put her hands on the ex pirates face and then transferred them back to her own. Nagi glancing back and forth between her reflection in the mirror and Ryoko's face, Tenchi and his wife sweat dropping the whole time.

Nagi let out a barely audible, "I don't believe it," before collapsing on to the ground in a faint. Tenchi and Ryoko looked at each other, then at Nagi and shrugged their shoulders in wonder.

Tenchi decided not to question anything else as Indigo walked into the room laughing hysterically and proceeded to pick up the unconscious bounty hunter. He turned to the astonished husband and wife as he slung the bounty hunter over one of his shoulders.

"Sorry about the disturbance," the pirate said happily as he turned and began to exit the room. "Well I'll take care of this deadweight so Cheerio folks," he stated as he began to exit the room leaving behind an aura of confusion.

"Tenchi…" Ryoko began.

"Yeah honey…" Tenchi replied with a voice full of disbelief.

"What just happened?" She placed her head in her hands as she groaned. "Forget that, I don't even want to know what that was all about?"

"Why don't we just pretend none of this happened," Tenchi said in a hesitant voice. His face still wore an expression like that of his love; a look of utter and complete confusion.

"Umm…. Yeah," Ryoko agreed as they both continued towards Washu's lab.

________

Aeka began to stir as the numb sensation that had been relieving her of consciousness slowly began to fade. She felt feeling slowly enter her limp limbs yet she still felt too worn out to move. Even after the sleeping she had been doing before, her body still lacked the necessary energy to function well.

Her mind registered two people sitting next to her as she opened her eyes, the room remaining blurry and out of focus. As her pupils adjusted to the light that was illuminating the room, a cyan haired female and black haired male came into focus.

Her heart lashed out in pain as she saw them contently talking to each other as she truly realized she would not be the one that would to sit next to Tenchi and give him comfort. The loss that she had experienced truly sank in as Ryoko leaned her head on Tenchi's shoulder and let out a content sigh. Aeka could feel the tears brimming in her now dull ruby eyes.

She tried with all her heart and soul not to cry but a small whimper sounded out of her clenched mouth nonetheless. Ryoko immediately leaped up from her spot on Tenchi's shoulder and put her head down in shame. This wasn't how she had wanted to start her visit.

"I'll leave, I'm sorry," she said apologetically as she stood up and made her way towards the exit with her eyes downcast. She had been such an idiot to act that way with Tenchi when Aeka's heart had just been broken.

"Stop Ryoko," Aeka murmured as the pirate continued to exit. Aeka shook her head as Ryoko ignored her. "Ryoko I said stop!" the princess yelled successfully stifling her crying.

Ryoko turned around immediately, biting her lip in shame and embarrassment. It looked like no matter what she did to try and spare the princess pain, she would cause it anyway. Just like the problem Tenchi had had…

Her posture immediately changed, her back straightening with confidence as she began back towards the princess. She had told Tenchi to not be the boy that he had been and try to fix the situation, but here she had been resorting to that same behavior.

"Sorry Aeka, I didn't think you'd want to see me," Ryoko said apologetically as she sat back down, her face still showing sympathy.

"I'm not glass you know…" Aeka responded taking a deep breath. "I can get hurt and become stronger from it. And I think the three of us have to settle some things before we complicate anything any farther."

Tenchi gave Aeka a comforting smile as he voiced his agreement. "Aeka, I'm really-"

"Lord Tenchi, that is quite enough!" Aeka reprimanded. "As much as it hurts me to see you two together and know that I lost to Ryoko, you two shouldn't feel sorry. I think I knew that you two were meant to be a long time ago, but I refused to accept it or realize it."

"Aeka," Ryoko said with a smile. This was definitely turning out to be even better than her best-case scenario. "It never should have been a contest between you and me," Ryoko pointed out regretfully.

Aeka let out a sigh. "It would have much easier to be friends."

"And if I hadn't let it become a contest, then…" Tenchi began but was cut off when an annoyed ex pirate and a displeased princess shout out that it wasn't his fault at the same time.

"Geeze Tenchi, get it through your thick head that it wasn't your fault. You try to take every ones pain and force it on yourself," Ryoko reprimanded as she made gestures with her hands. "How many times have I told you that?"

Tenchi shrugged his shoulders accepting his wife's berating meekly. "Your so thick when it comes to this kind of stuff. It's a fact, like I have told you, that you take-" Ryoko was cut off by the sound of her purple haired friend bursting out into pure, genuine, uncontrollable laughter.

Tenchi and Ryoko immediately cut off from their one-sided conversation and blinked with confused expressions on their faces. This drove Aeka to laugh even harder than before and pull Tenchi and Ryoko into her laughter.

"I'm so sorry, but to see you nagging on Tenchi," Aeka managed to get out before bursting into laughter again. Ryoko immediately took defense and made protests as Tenchi and Aeka continued laughing.

"Hey, I don't nag him, chipmunk!"

"Actually, all you do is henpeck me," Tenchi agreed.

Ryoko put on a pout and draped herself on Tenchi. "But Tenchi, you know that I do it because I love you," she said with puppy dog eyes and her finger drawing circles on his chest. Her expression turned to a slit-eyed grimace as she stood back up. "And I do not nag, hen peck or be overly critical about my Tenchi in the slightest."

Aeka's smile was genuine as the laughter she had experienced made her soul feel light. "Thank you Ryoko, Tenchi for coming here," she said. "You've really helped a lot, and I want you to know that I'll be ok."

"It hurts," Aeka began, "but it doesn't hurt as much when I have friends around to help me bear it. And I know that someday it won't hurt." She began to get up testing out her legs before putting full weight on them. Seeing no discomfort she began to walk towards the exit to Washu's lab.

"Your welcome Aeka," Tenchi said as he followed her, making sure that she didn't fall due to her previous injuries.

"Well, if you're all right there princess, I think I'm going to grab Achika. Don't worry we'll tone it down around public for you." Ryoko began to fly ahead of the group. "Only in private so unless you're a voyeur looking to watch some," she said with fangs gleaming, "you won't have to see anything."

"I appreciate the thought, but I am more than capable of walking out of the room if I don't like what I see," Aeka pointed out.

"Well then don't say I didn't warn you princess," Ryoko said with mischievous smile. Her face returned to a thoughtful look. "And speaking of Achika, umm… well as you can guess, she's our daughter."

Aeka nodded her head in acceptance. Ryoko actually blushed and scratched her head in the back. Aeka sweat dropped as Ryoko began to stutter a little. 'Someone's been hanging around Tenchi too much,' she though cynically. Though with a glance at Tenchi and a memory of his own changes, she realized that it also worked the other way.

"I swear, your worse than Lord Tenchi," Aeka taunted. "No offense," she added looking at Tenchi apologetically.

"What Ryoko is nervous about asking is that we were wondering if you would be Achika's godmother," Tenchi clarified. Ryoko's face turned beat red as she mumbled her agreement.

Aeka didn't even have to contemplate as she looked at her friend's faces… friends that she dearly loved. "Nothing would make me happier," Aeka said with a firm smile.

Ryoko's eyes lit up immediately as she clasped her hands together in front of her face. "Thanks Aeka!" she immediately said while holding out her hands in two v's. She then made a b-line for the exit of Washu's lab, flew out and teleported away.

"You know what, as weird as this may sound, I think she's grown up finally," Aeka said.

"We all have Aeka," Tenchi laughed.

"It was actually Ryoko's idea to ask you about being Achika's god mother," Tenchi said as they approached the exit at a much slower speed than his love had. Aeka faltered in her stride, obviously surprised. "She made me promise in labor that we would ask you… I wasn't about to disagree with her," Tenchi said with a laugh.

"Though I was in total agreement and am just as happy as she is about it," he added while he opened the door. "Well I'm heading out to the fields," he said as they entered the hallway. "If you want to catch up with Ryoko and Achika, they should be heading out there pretty soon as well."

"I will Tenchi, and I just wanted you to know that I'm happy, none of our friendships have been ruined," Aeka said as she headed towards her room. "Let me just change my clothes and I'll see you later."

"I'm happy too," Tenchi agreed. With a smile he turned around and headed out the door with a heart free of guilt.

Tenchi smiled as he made his way over to the fields he tended. Aeka herself was something else. He really hadn't given her enough credit. She had been willing to listen, understand, and accept and in turn, their friendship had not been damaged.

"Life is great," Tenchi breathed out. He had a gorgeous wife that loved him with all her heart, a mischievous daughter who played Pirates and Galaxy Police with him all the time, a family that had not been torn apart by the changes that occurred…

"Not so great for some," a venomous voice shot out. Tenchi spun around immediately to see the visage of Matthias, the Second sword of Jurai standing behind him. By the look of apathy as well as stress and lack of sleep on the knight's face, it was clearer than daylight that this was not a social call.

"What do you want?" Tenchi asked carefully, keeping himself alert, as he was not sure of Matthias's intent. The red haired knight smiled as he crouched down and answered Tenchi's question without speaking.

______

The surge of Jurain Power was incredible and felt by all. Azaka turned to Kamidake and without hesitation shouted, "Kamidake let's go!"

Ryoko Masaki clutched her daughter tighter while forming an energy sword in her right hand. "Achika, stay close to me," she whispered before they took to flight, heading towards the surge of power.

Queens Funaho and Masaki Jurai glanced at each other before wordlessly exiting the Masaki home at staggering speeds. Noboyuki Masaki catching sight of the Queens, shrugged his shoulders and headed off behind them, though at more of a leisurely walk than a sprint.

Katsuhito Masaki sighed as he grabbed the nearest wooden bokken. "So it has occurred as I have thought," he though idly before taking leave of his shrine home.

Indigo tapped Nagi. Indigo poked Nagi. Indigo sighed at the still unconscious pirate… and proceeded to drop a bucket of ice water over her head. The bounty hunter shot up in surprise, immediately glaring at the space pirate.

"Damn it all, what the hell was that for?" she yelled in annoyance.

"C'mon," he stated and turned from the bounty hunter to head towards the surge of power. He would have succeeded in making it there too, had not the hand of the purple haired crimson-eyed woman not grabbed his foot and pulled him to the ground.

Indigo looked up at Nagi expectantly as the bounty hunter glared at him. "Would you kindly tell me what the hell is going on?" Nagi asked him.

"But I wanna go see the fight," Indigo whined struggling to break free of Nagi's grasp.

"What fight? So help me you pirate, your not going anywhere until you tell me what is going on," Nagi declared, a vein in her head popping out.

"But we're missing all the action right now," Indigo continued to whine, his eyes forming the dreaded puppy dog look.

Nagi put her hands on her head let go of the pirate and followed him, massaging her temples in an attempt to ease the headache that was forming. 'Well I hope it's a good fight at least, or whatever the hell he's talking about.'

Washu looked at the blinking monitor and without a second thought, transported herself and a couple of necessities out to the battlefield that was forming.

Aeka Jurai looked at her sister Sasami who was unpacking with her and back at her clothing. Recognizing the telltale surge of Jurai power her face became pale as she began to run out of her room, happy that Washu had healed her leg.

_______

Tenchi shifted to the left, dodged right, ducked down and jumped away, continuing in dodging the weapon-less attacks of Matthias. "I'll make you pay for breaking her heart," Matthias yelled as Tenchi dodged his fist. Matthias considered himself very talented… and to have Tenchi dodge his attacks continuously began to make himself question his assumptions of Tenchi being a pathetic fighter.

Drunk with anger, all rational resemblances of thought left the sleep deprived Jurain knight. He had like Aeka, seen the kiss between Tenchi and Ryoko and been going over the possibilities of what it had meant. His heart, in a selfish way that ashamed him, had been filled with joy that Tenchi did not apparently seek any sort of romantic relationship with the first crown princess.

Of course, what Tenchi's decision would do to the princess had been the other thought, and the one that made him feel horrible for being happy that Aeka would remain free. She would be heartbroken, and it would all be the fault of Tenchi Masaki.

He had sat outside of Aeka's room the entire night, listening to her soft crying. And with every sob, his heart hated Tenchi more and more. 'If Tenchi does reject her, Tsunami have pity on his soul,' had been the constant thought as Aeka had cried herself to sleep.

And then Tenchi had broken her heart that morning… he had taken her heart threw it down the ground and stepped on it. He had only needed to give his love to her and yet instead he had broken the one thing that Matthias treasured above all others.

And then Tenchi had caused her to be so distressed that she had fell, in the process, injuring herself. It was all these events and thoughts that drove Matthias to attack the one called Tenchi Masaki. The one that had hurt Aeka in a way no other could…

"Tenchi Masaki, you'll pay," Matthias hissed as he prepared for another assault. He did not notice as all the members of the Masaki household save Sasami and Aeka arrived at the battle scene.

"I've obviously underestimated you, but I shall no more," Matthias declared walking over to a tree on which his Jurain staff was leaning. He had entrusted it to Aeka, but for now he would borrow it… at least until Masaki had learned his lesson.

The staff began to glow as he prepared himself to fire energy at Tenchi. He would not kill him, but nothing was preventing him from at least hurting the commoner that had deeply hurt his princess.

Katsuhito watched the battle rage on next to his mothers, as well as the two knights Azaka and Kamidake. "Matthias could never hope to win," the priest said while shaking his head.

Azaka nodded his head in agreement. "Passion is important to fighting, however blind hate and anger serve no purpose other than to get yourself killed," Azaka stated.

Kamidake turned to the group wearing a look of frustration and worry. "Isn't there anything we can do to stop this?" he asked compassionately. His knuckles were white from clenching his hand.

Funaho sighed as she shook her head. "It is all up to Tenchi."

"You shall never hurt another again," Matthias yelled as he released a torrent of Jurai energy at Tenchi. A satisfying grin plastered itself on his face as he saw the green wave of energy approach the commoner.

However, surprise shown over his face as Tenchi took to the air, successfully dodging the attack. Matthias threw down his staff and grabbed his sword hilt, igniting the green blade in his frustration.

"Ryoko watch out," Katsuhito suddenly yelled. "Tenchi look!" He jumped forward clenching his bokken in his hands, and pointed with it at Tenchi's wife and daughter.

Ryoko who had been standing apart from the Jurain group looked to see the wave of energy approach her and her daughter. They stood far behind where Tenchi had previously been however; it also put them directly in the path of the energy.

Suddenly an audible "Oh shit" echoed across the battlefield as Tenchi Masaki teleported in between the blast and his family. Ryoko immediately vanished, reappearing with Achika at the place where Noboyuki, Indigo and Nagi were observing the battle. Tenchi gritted his teeth as he turned to face the blast.

"That is enough," Tenchi yelled, displaying feelings of anger for the first time that fight. A blue shield surrounded him as the blast hit home. He held out his hands and closed his eyes in concentration, as the green energy struggled to break through the barrier. Slowly the blue, dome like shield that protected him began to encircle the Jurain nights attack. A bead of perspiration slowly traced its way down Tenchi's face as the shield that now totally encompassed the blast, slowly shrunk in size eventually imploding and in the process neutralizing the green energy.

"Way to go Tenchi!" Washu suddenly cheered appearing next to Indigo and Nagi and shoving fans into their hands. "Now every body!"

Her two chibi-Washu's scurried out of her hair and onto her shoulders. "Tenchi! Tenchi! Tenchi! Go Tenchi!" Hearing no response from her fellow members of the cheering section she immediately turned around to face them.

Both Indigo and Nagi watched the eccentric genius, as her eyes became slits. In a low menacing voice she growled, "I don't hear you…" A large gun dropped out of a subspace portal above her head and into her hands. Without removing her glare from the bounty hunter and space pirate she turned off the safety with an audible click.

"Now… one… two… three…"

"Go Tenchi!!" the pair yelled frantically as they waved their fans around chaotically.

"Much better," Washu said happily, dropping the gun and grabbing two more fans. The self-proclaimed 'Tenchi cheering section' continued on as Matthias began his charge.

________

'I must get there,' Aeka thought desperately as she continued running. 'I can't be late… I must arrive in time' She looked over to her sister who was trying with all her might to match Aeka's speed. 'Please Sasami, keep it up, we must get there before it's too late,' she pleaded in her mind.

"We're almost there Sasami," Aeka encouraged as she felt the power of Jurain growing closer to her. She could already make out the people standing in the clearing… and more specifically the wave of Jurai power launch towards one of the figures.

"Tsunami…" she stated in sorrow as he pushed herself on. Her heart beat loudly as she saw the figure dodge it however, the energy head towards some of the bystanders. The people became distinguishable, but it left Aeka clueless as to why Matthias would fight Tenchi.

"God damn it, accept your fate. I won't let you hurt anyone again," Matthias shouted loud enough for her to hear. Aeka glanced down at her sister who nodded her head signaling her agreement. With that, Aeka ran as hard as she could towards the battlefield.

'Hurt anyone again… Is he doing this because of me?' she questioned.

"Aeka deserved so much more than a stupid backwater commoner like you, and yet you still…" Matthias stopped talking as he focused on battle.

'He's doing this because of me… He wants to stop Tenchi from hurting me… He… What will this accomplish?' She shook her head as she struggled to make it to Mat and Tenchi. "This… this… this isn't right!" she declared as she drew nearer. She looked down to see Tenchi unarmed as Matthias quickly closed the distance between Tenchi and himself.

"This is enough…" Tenchi stated calmly as Matthias came even closer. He slowly lifted up his hand into the air and closed his eyes in concentration. Suddenly a blue glowing light streaked across the battlefield from the distance. Matthias cried out as Tenchi lifted up the hilt of the Tenchi-ken and ignited the blade.

In one swift move Matthias was disarmed and on the ground with the blue blade lowered at his neck. "You are fighting with nothing but anger, therefore you will lose," Tenchi stated evenly, though his eyes betrayed his current anger.

"Matthias stop!" Aeka yelled running out onto the battlefield. Tenchi lifted the blade up from the Second Sword of Jurai as Aeka finally made it to where they were standing. She was breathing hard from her run but found enough energy to do one thing…

**SLAP**

"What do you think you're doing? Explain to me how this would help?" Aeka collapsed to her knees as she began to cry. "How could you?"

Matthias stared wide-eyed at the crying princess, a hand on his stinging cheek. Tenchi released a deep breath as the blade of the Tenchi-ken disappeared. After another deep, cleansing breath he opened his eyes, no anger present in his features.

"Matthias, I know that right now you think you are helping and I can understand why you acted the way you did. However by the look of it, you are obviously not thinking clearly," Tenchi stated calmly. Matthias turned his wide-eyed stare to Tenchi who took another deep breath.

"I'm willing to forget about this… However I will not be so forgiving if this happens again. I can tell you haven't had much sleep and are under a lot of stress. But you could have seriously injured my wife or my little girl!"

"Dadddddyyyyyy," A voice whined from the sidelines.

Tenchi smiled as he continued. "You could have hurt my wife and my little pirate." He corrected himself. "If you ever come close to doing that again…" he growled, his happy demeanor instantly becoming harsh.

Matthias gulped seeing the anger in Tenchi's voice. Only then did the realization of what he had truly done sink in. He put his head down in shame as Tenchi continued. "You can stay at my house however I will be talking to you again after you get some rest."

Tenchi sighed and his stone face broke into a smile. Aeka stood up with her back to Matthias and addressed Tenchi. "Lord Tenchi, I would appreciate if you, Ryoko and my goddaughter would walk me home," she stated totally ignoring her personal guard.

"Sure thing princess," Ryoko chimed teleporting in next to the princess and Tenchi. The group walked away with Aeka introducing herself to Achika, a smile on both their faces.

"What just happened?" Matthias asked out loud as he stood up. His face was betraying his confusion as he watched Aeka walk away from the area with most of the rest of the family.

"You just had a run in with Prince Tenchi Masaki, the First Crown Prince of Jurai," Kamidake stated as he and Azaka approached the confused red head.

"Prince?" Mathias exclaimed, his eyes bugging out of his head.

"I wouldn't worry too much," Azaka pointed out. "Lord Tenchi is very forgiving so you really don't have to worry about him throwing you out or anything like that. Though I have never seen him quite so protective… It makes sense though. Little insignificant changes indeed Kamidake," Azaka laughed as he looked to his friend.

Kamidake smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "I think you should be told what exactly is going on, and everything that has happened with this little group," Kamidake said as the three knights began to head into the woods, to explain the circumstances away from the rest of the household.

The Lord Protector of Jurai, Second Sword of Jurai and Azusa's Knight walked away, leaving behind only Nagi, Indigo, and Washu. Indigo's eyes became starry eyed as he turned to the red headed genius. "Washu…" he began.

The genius broke out into her own smile as she replied, "I know."

"Tenchi was so cool!" They both cheered in unison. Nagi sighed rubbing her temples and attempting to relieve yet another headache that was forming.

"But anyways, Washu, I'm going to need your help with something," Indigo stated. "Heck I'll even let you in on what I know before anyone else." The redheaded woman beamed as she teleported Indigo into her lab and vanished.

"Well I guess I'll head back," Nagi sighed. She laughed incredulously as she turned around in the direction of the Masaki home. "Who would've thought that I would actually enjoy being part of Ryoko's little posse?" With the mention of her previous archenemy, Nagi retreated into herself, lost in deep thought.

_________

Matthias was embarrassed. Matthias also felt guilty and like shit from his earlier actions. His head hurt like hell from the worst headache he had ever had and he was desperately craving sleep. In short, Matthias was not having a good day.

And the fact that the recent revelations had turned his world upside down had just a little to do with it…

'Tenchi is my prince… Ryoko is one of my princesses and so is Achika,' Matthias thought to himself. 'Life suddenly became so confusing.' He sat down at a table in the Masaki's dining room with a sigh, his head awhirl in the recent revelations. He sighed cursing himself and hating himself for not only attempting to hurt Tenchi but for betraying Aeka like he had.

'I cannot believe I did that,' he groaned mentally. Washu had dispatched a telegram that came in the form of one of her chibi-Washus, who after thoroughly ingraining the fact that Washu was a genius into it's recipient, had commanded him to report to the Masaki dinner table for further instructions.

And so it was that the entire Masaki family and friends found themselves, save Indigo and Washu. Suddenly the occupants of the room gasped out as the lights cut out, they fell into school desks and Washu and Indigo emerged from the darkness into an area illuminated by spotlights.

"Ahem," Washu coughed, stifling the chatter that was going on around her. "We have all been wondering for a while what has happened in our world which is why I brought you to my lab today. Jurai has been taken over again, apparently holding Emperor Azusa hostage, the Galaxy Police attacked a transport of the Royal Family with new incredibly advanced ships…. Well at least advanced for them-"

"Now Miss Washu, what exactly are you saying?" Kiyone asked jumping up from her chair. "The Galaxy Police are aligned with the Royal Family of Jurai. They wouldn't attack them… Ahhhhh!"

Kiyone screamed as her chair disappeared and she suddenly found herself falling down a large hole. As she continued falling muttering prayers to whoever would listen, a light appeared beneath her. She screamed even louder as she fell out of the ceiling of Washu's lab staring at the hard ground fast approaching. With hope lost she braced herself for the coming contact with the ground.

Seconds went by and still no splat occurred providing a very pleasant mystery for the GP. Curiosity slowly got the best of the teal tressed woman and she opened an eye to reveal the rest of the occupants of Washu's lab with sweat drops, save the genius herself. Kiyone bit her lower lip and felt the air underneath her muttering nervously to herself.

"What is going on here?"

**GURGLE**

"Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" Kiyone made as many frantic motions to break free of her invisible prison as she could yet they proved to no avail. Her motions caused her body to shift putting her in visibility of her savior, which only served to put her into another bit of hysteria.

Mihoshi looked at Washu with awe. "Miss Washu, I didn't know that you knew Kiyone was afraid of crabs. I know she told me that she got scared when you wore clothes with crabs, but how did you know?"

Washu snickered to herself as she gazed upon the scene in front of her. Kiyone was suspended above the ground, wailing and flailing her limbs about as she was held in the air by a purple glow that was emanating from the red crab underneath her that was roughly the size of Ryo-ohki.

"Alright, you can let go of your telepathic hold of her now," the genius giggled as the crab scurried towards her and Kiyone landed on the ground with a loud thump. Immediately the GP officer was backing away from the crab as fast as she could. "G-g-g-get that thing away from me!"

"Ahh well, Kiyone it seems to me you've met Mr. Cuddles," Washu beamed as she looked around for the said crab. A sweat drop appeared on everyone as they found where the crab had disappeared to.

"Oh you are just so Kawaii," Masaki cooed as she cuddled Mr. Cuddles.

Funaho put a hand on her head and sighed. "And only my dear sister could find that thing cute." She shook her head and turned her attention to Washu who was clearing her throat again.

"Wow, Kawaiii," exclaimed Achika from her fathers lap.

"I stand corrected," Funaho admitted, a warm smile gently appearing on her face.

"Now why don't you start off explaining with this," Ryoko said as soon as Funaho finished, standing up and pulling out the sword hilt Indigo had given her earlier. "Indigo, I've had about as much of this as I can handle so I suggest you start explaining before we have any more misunderstandings."

"For once I agree," Nagi added. "This total lack of knowledge is driving me nuts." She pulled out her whip and held her sword out menacingly. "So start talking, before I really get mad. What is Malkita?"

"Now, now, pretty ladies," Indigo stuttered in terror. A satisfying smirk was exchange between Ryoko and Nagi as Indigo began to talk. "So you want to know what Malkita is? Well allow me to narrate for you just what it is…"

________

Malkita is not an item, artifact nor treasure. Nor is it a person. The name is one that has been whispered across the edges of the universe. It is a rumor plaguing some, leading them to pursue something they can never find. Malkita is an echo of….

What do you mean cut out this mysterious crap? I thought it was adding flavor to it all. Wait… Ryoko put down the hilt. No don't form a blade, please calm down…

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, Tenchi help me. Nagi please do something… wait not that, not the whip. That doesn't mean bring out the sword too…. Wait no not again. Ryoko I said not to form a blade!

Okay! I'll get right to the point! Better? **Gulp** I'll keep that in mind girls… err I mean beautiful ladies… Wait no I am not hitting on your wife. No I don't want to be Achika's bokken practice dummy! Please listen; I don't have any interest in your wife at all.

Gah!!! I am not saying your ugly. Wait put that sword down… pleaseeeeeeeeeee stop. If I die, you won't ever learn about Malkita.

What do you mean you don't want to know? I have three seconds to grab your interest? Ryoko isn't that a little short? What do you mean times up?

Gahhh!!!!!! Simply put, Malkita is the most Xenophobic planet in existence.

….

….

That grabbed your attention didn't it? Ok, I'll continue.

As you can probably guess, I am a Malkitan. I was born inside the Malkitan Empire and was sent outside into this universe on a mission that I will talk about later on. First I better give you some background information I guess.

As far as our historical records go, at one time, Malkita and Jurai were allies. What do you mean this can't be true Aeka? Please just listen and ask questions later.

This was eons ago when both planets were young and technology was very limited, however thanks to the goddesses of the Malkitans and Jurains, Tokimi and Tsunami, we were able to make contact with each other through tree ships.

Anyways, our civilizations coexisted until darkness took hold of the universe. And so it was that the Jurains and Malkitans fought together against the evil. Our records our skewed from that point but the one thing that is for certain: the relationship between Malkita and Jurai was totally and utterly destroyed.

Species that has once been so similar, the Malkitan and Jurain people are so close together in the gene pool that they could breed with each other as easy as if it were two Jurains or two Malkitans. Hell, according to the books the Malkitan and Jurain Royal families had kindred powers rooted from their goddesses who are rumored to be sisters.

Anyways, Tokimi sensing the upcoming and inevitable conflict took certain actions to preserve the peace between the two planets. And so it was that the planet of Malkita became the lost planet of Malkita.

However her actions were not without their repercussions. The planet, which was directly rooted to her life force much as Jurai with Tsunami, began to whither away and dies. Slowly and surely Malkita died and would have become a wasteland if it weren't for our most famous scientist in history.

The said scientist developed an alternate means to protect the planet of people and was hailed a hero because of it. However even this new means of protection could not leave the planet totally invulnerable.

Most forgot about Jurai, I being an exception because my mother is a historian. But despite the memory being lost, Malkita has remained a xenophobic planet. We haven't had outsiders inside Malkita since Tokimi prevented the conflict between Jurai and Malkita.

But Malkita remains almost feverishly isolationist in some areas, which in turn led to many people becoming dissatisfied with the government. A while ago there was an attempted coup d'etat, which in the end was put down. However not without it's costs.

The King and Queen at that time were assassinated and the only remnants of the Royal Family were their two daughters. My grandfather was a guard to the two girls during this time, and fearing for their safety, worked in conjunction with the famous scientist to help smuggle the princesses out of Malkita.

The scientist provided means to ensure that the two girls would survive including providing them the chance to be happy while always remain close to each other. As the girls were sent to a planet in the Jurai Empire, my grandfather was killed leaving a few notes before he died.

The scientist was never heard from again although it is expected that she went after the two princesses to help them. However as things became settled after years of fighting, I was given the task to seek out the girls. My father was an advisor to the king and queen in addition to being one of the selected lines of knights to the Malkitan Royal Family.

Me staying true to my line as knights and guards of the royal family became the last hope to bring Malkita out of the darkness it had entered. Tokimi has had to regain protection of the planet since the machines we had been using before were destroyed in the coup and cannot be fixed, however more important than that, Malkita's government was dangerously close to collapse with the absence of the ruling family.

I can only imagine how bad it is now. And so that's why I have been scouring the stars in search of the two princesses. I was given a locket with the estimated appearance of the appearance of the princesses as well as the sword created by Tokimi herself wielded by the royal family, the Shin-ken, the sword of the heart.

And the only hint left by my grandfather was that the two princess' favorite game as children was Space Pirates and Bounty Hunters…

________

"And this is the locket," Indigo said throwing the said jewelry to Ryoko. The ex space pirate bit her lip in nervousness, trying to ignore what her gut instinct was telling her. Tenchi put his hand on her lap from the desk next to her and gave her a supporting look.

With a final breath she opened the locket, gazing upon two pictures. On the left side stood a woman with cyan hair, and gold feline eyes with a drop dead gorgeous figure. She inhaled sharply as she realized that the woman she was staring at was indeed herself.

Tentatively she shifted her eyes to the woman in the right side of the circular locket. "Nagi… you're… you're… you're…" she said tiredly as her eyes rolled back and she collapsed into her seat in a faint.

"They really are sisters," Indigo pointed out as the room looked upon the unconscious mother. "They even had the same response to it. Well their you have it… my mission has been completed. My years of playing space pirate in the hopes of running across you two are finally over.

"I am Successful, the man. I took on that mission and kicked it's ass. I'm reliable when it comes to high stress stuff. That's right, they call me old reliable…"

"Will you just shut up already," the room shouted.

"What did I do now?" The space pirate whined as he pulled into a guarded position, scared by the room's outburst.

Kiyone looked up from her desk massaging the headache that was forming and sighed with a sweat drop forming on her head. "Great, a crab and an annoying space pirate… Kiyone, you've definitely hit the low point. At least Ryoko and Aeka aren't arguing."

The cyan haired mother moaned as she was brought back to consciousness, gazing around the room in confusion. Suddenly remembering her predicament, she cringed as Aeka began to laugh over her head.

"Ryoko is this the first time I've seen you faint?" she taunted regaining her old fire.

Ryoko groaned as she teleported out of her desk and onto the floor beneath her. "Just what I need when I wake up, an annoying chipmunk's voice."

"What was that demon?"

"It's what it sounded like princess!"

"Well at least I have the decency to not fall asleep while I'm entertaining guests."

"Aeka you can't be serious… Well then catch this you over primped, annoying sniveling!" The rest of her words became inaudible as she chucked an energy blast at the princess who in turn created a force field and deflected.

"Bring it on pirate!" Aeka matched, tiny logs appearing throughout the lab.

Quietly the occupants of the Tenchi house filed out of the room, letting the two friends have fun with the fights they enjoyed so much. Five minutes later, the lab door opened to reveal, two charred happily smiling women who immediately collapsed onto the ground face first.

"Well princess, it looks like you've learned some new moves. I guess I can't go easy on you next time," Ryoko mumbled into the floor.

"Well did you two have fun," Tenchi asked, interrupting his wife. The two mumbled a very garbled yes from their places on the floor, their faces still talking into the carpet.

Washu elbowed Kiyone, in the ribs eliciting a groan from the GP who was busy rubbing her temples. "The more things change, the more they stay the same, eh Kiyone?"

Kiyone braved a smile as the genius began to cackle only increasing the size of her monstrous headache. "Well at least things can't get worse," Kiyone breathed out in relief… just as the house began to shake.

Immediately Washu summoned her laptop and a holo-screen that appeared in front of the group. She cried out in frustration as she saw one of the Galaxy Police prototype ships lay another bombing run near the house.

"Shit, we're under attack," the genius managed to get out before the explosions drowned out her voice.

________

Authors Many Notes:

People, stop the constant prayers. Yes I know that in the book of Revelations in the bible it says, "The Sun turned dark, the seas boiled, the dead rose from their grave and Led updated Crown," but don't take that seriously, it's just a little prank by Mr.Cuddles and Washu.

Seriously, I am happy to finally update and it seems that as soon as I started writing the chapter, all the questions about me updating began. And seeing as I can't use ff.net being down as an excuse anmore, well I buckled down and finished the chapter. To quell any fears right now: "I will not abandon this fanfic!" I believe in finishing something when you start it. Now that summers here, I have much more time to write so hopefully we won't have another 5 month school being hectic related hiatus.

Simply put to speak in philosophical terms, every once in a while you run across a story that truly has a soul. That has been my goal in all I write, to give my work a soul that sparks emotions and transcends pencil and paper… err monitor screen.

So I hope you all enjoy this and that I have given a little life to this story… or soul if you will. So thanks to Pops (Lighthawk), Will (Thundergod) and Javi for the work with this story. Especially to Lighthawk for helping me with Mr.Cuddles.

Hope you enjoyed. I love reviews and emails so drop me a line at Ledzepfan111@hotmail.com. Peace,

-Led