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Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of Tenchi Muyo! They are owned by AIC and Pioneer North America. I did not create them, and their use here is strictly for the enjoyment of myself and anyone who gets bored enough to read this. In other words: Please don't sue my poor ass. Tenchi Muyo! His eyes hurt too much for him to open them. All of his body hurt, for that matter. It was his eyes, though, that hurt the most. They had always given him trouble, ever since Hikage had plucked the firdt pair out of their sockets. He regenerated them, of course. He was a Guradian, one of those chosen to protect. He wondered how long Hikage had known that. Ever since that day, not very long after Yosho left, when Seayo journeyed up ontot he surface of Jurai, careful not to reveal his presence. Hikage was the one to see him for what he was. The Juraian lord cornered him, and captured him. Seayo had been imprisoned for so many weeks that he had lost count. Hikage was amazed, almost envious, of his resilience. "You take pain so incredibly well, Twilight demon," he seered, over and over. That same sentence had haunted him for so long , until the day he finally managed to break free of his prison by exploding into a whirling storn of soul-fire. He thought Hikage had died, then. Hikage was still alive. "Why are you pulling out these memories? Get out of my head." His eyes flashed open, glowing as red as his gem. Shadow Dog looked around, craning his neck. He lay out in nowhere, a black void all around him. He couldn't even begin to comprehend the meaning of the bieng in front of him. "A giant flowating face? You've got to be kidding me." If D3 had possessed a mouth, he would have frowned. His voice seemed to come from the void itself. "Silence, Guardian. You know why you are here. Tsunami has protected your memory well." Shadow spat into the darkness. "You won't find her, god. I serve my mistress. No one else." He screamed as pain wracked his body. Not even Hikage had been able to cause this much pain. His eyes burned. He could feel his blood seep through his pours. "Is that all you are going to do?" The pain stopped. Shadow shakily raised his head, looking around. The Bane of Dragons floated next to him, the sigil of Tokimi burning brightly in it's chest. "If you are going to torture us, it is futile. He won't tell you where she is." "You failed us, beast. You have no right to speak." D3's gaze fell upon the Bane, and the demon screamed as it's body was torn apart. Shadow stared in horror. The demon's muscles stretched and joints popped. Blood spurted intot he void, falling into nothingness. The mutilation increased, and soon the Bane of Dragon's was ripped apart. The pieces of it's body fell. "You bastard!" Shadow screamed at D3. "You killed him! What kind of a god are you? You'r pathe-- AAAHHH!" More pain entered him. "Enough, D3," Shadow knew the voice, although he had never heard it. "But, my Lady..." "I will deal with him. Leave." There was a hesitant moment. "As you wish, my Lady." D3's image dissappeared, and was replaced with a woman in flowing robes. Her head swept back into the blackness. Shadow couldn't help but feel slight awe in her presence. Her eyes reflected... "You are the Guardian of Tsunami. You have served her well, but her time is ended. Tell me where your mistress is, Seayo. It will be merciful if you do." Shadow Dog smiled, and raised an eyebrow. "You remind me of a bird. I hate birds." Lady Tokimi frowned. Her eyes flashed with anger. "Fine. You will break. It is only a matter of time." Shadow felt himself fall. "Tsuanmi..." *** "Father, why have you done all of this?" Yosho raised his hand, the blue light of the sword Tenchiken illuminating the dim room. "Why did you give in to her?" Azusa's face was stone. "My Lady's power is great, Yosho. There is no one who can resist her. She will have her way, in the end." He flew at his son, their swords striking. They pushed against each other, their brows dripping with sweat. "You failed me, Yosho." They pushed off, Azusa flying back, Yosho flipping into the air. His feet landed on the wall, and he pushed off. There was a flash as their swords met, and Yosho landed on the floor. He turned, preparing for another attack. Azusa was faster. "Duty. Honor. Do these things mean nothing to you?" Their sowrds clashed, again and again. Yosho would push Azusa backward, and the emporer would do the same to his son. "I never wanted your throne, father." In a swift move, his father was disarmed. The sword flew out of Azusa's hands, clattering to the floor. Yosho held the blade of Tenchiken at his father's throat. "You have gone insane, father. Let me help you. Tokimi is your enemy, not my grandson." Azusa smiled, his eyes glowing. "I am not your father." He vanished, and reappeared next to his sword. He picked it up off of the ground, and teleported behind Yosho. Yosho barely had time to move out of the way, feeling the wind as Azusa's sword lashed out at him. "Your grandson is a danger to me. He tried to take my daughters away, he forced me to place the bounty on him. It's all his fault. It would have been better if he had never been born." Azusa charged. "It's all his fault!" Their swords met. *** She remembered her first lesson: to be afraid of the dark. There is pain in darkness. "Tenchi!" Her voice echoed into the void, but there was no other answer. She couldn't see anyone in the darkness. Even with the power of her gems, she couldn't see. She was alone in the darkness. "Tenchi, please. Washu? Shadow? Anyone? Please, don't leave me here!" Ryoko could feel the darkness closing on her. "Come on, Ryoko, stop it. You can beat this," she thought to herself. She tried to yell out again, her voice weaker. "Tenchi! Washu! Please, help me. Don't leave me in the dark, like this. It's..." "No! Don't you dare say it. You can beat this, come on, Ryoko. You're stronger than this." Ryoko screamed, and shot a blast into the darkness. It flew like a beacon out into the void, until it was nothing. She was in darkness. In nothing. Alone. "Tenchi!" Then, he was there, right in front of her. His face was angry. "Ten... Tenchi, what is it?" "Demon." Ryoko flew backwards. No, this couldn't be Tenchi. "I hate you, you monster. Get out of my life, leave me alone!" Ryoko felt tears fall down her face. She couldn't feel anything else. "No, Tenchi, please..." The sword of the Light Hawk Wings appeared in his hand. "I said go away!" He swung at her. "I hate you, don't you get that? I could never love a demon like you!" Ryoko dogded the sword out of reflex. "N... no. No, this isn't real. You... you can't fool me with this. Tenchi loves me. This isn't Tenchi Masaki. It's just a damn illusion." "Stupid whore," Tenchi growled at her, and swung his sword again. It was stopped as Ryoko's own sword appeared in her hand. "No! I won't let you use him against me! Not him." Ryoko let loose with a blast of energy. It rose from her chest, flowing over the image of Tenchi. The illusion screamed, and disappeared. Ryoko fell to her knees, crying. "No. I won't let you use him. This isn't real. Nothing here can hurt me. Let me out!" Ryoko screamed, and let her power rage. Orange light filled the darkness, and then faded. Ryoko breathed heavily. "No. I can't be afraid. I can't be afraid. There's no pain in the darkness." *** "Awake, Tenchi." Teh voice was sothing. Musical. It was like a song. Tenchi opened his eyes, and looked uupon the beautiful Lady. "Hello, Tenchi Masaki." Tenchi couldn't speak. He had never seen her, but he knew instantly who she was. "Lady Tokimi..." Tenchi's throat struggled for words, but he couldn't force them. The Lady put a hand to his face. "You are the one who holds so much power. How?" Tenchi shook his head, trying to shake off entrancement. "Wha... Where am I? Where's Ryoko, and Shadow?" He looked around. He stood, floated, >was< in darkness. "How did I get here?" "My servant Hikage brought you. I have wanted to meet you for a very long time, Tenchi." He looked at the face of the goddess. It was beautiful. It aroused nothing more than awe, and humbleness in him. "Me? Why have you wanted me?" Tokimi's hand traveled down his neck, feeling his chest. "I can feel it inside you. Your power... Tsunami must have gone to much trouble to change the rules behind my back. You can do so much..." Tenchi shook his head. "What are you talking about? The Light Hawk Wings? So what if I can use them? What is it to you, and why are you talking about Tsunami?" Tokimi smiled. "My, so many questions. Do you really not know the nature of your own power?" "It doesn't seem that you do." "Don't be rude. You are in the presence of a goddess, after all. I am Tsunami's sister. She left me, so long ago. I have been very lonly, Tenchi." She turned her back. "That's going to change. You, Tusnami's child, are the key to that." Tenchi tried to understand all of what she was saying, but there were too many things he didn't know. "I don't care about any of that. Where are my friends? Where's Ryoko? Send us back, right now!" "You poor boy, so confused. I am not your enemy. I am your only salvation." She turned around, looking out into the blackness. "My child lies out there. He had power, like you. He possessed a sword of five blades, and had so much power and love for me, his mother. Then, Tsunami took him from me. She destoryed him." Tenchi listened, more of the story coming to him, and making sense. "But, Tsunami doesn't kill. She saved Sasami's life. How could she--?" Tokimi turned on him, her eyes full of pain. "You know nothing, boy! Tsunami took my son from me. That's all I have thought of, for thirty thousand years. I have thought of nothing else. Now, the time will be at hand." She moved closer, her face beginning to calm. "Please, Tenchi, I need you help." "My... my help?" She nodded. "I need you power. It's the strongest I've ever seen a mortal possess, with the exception of my other sister's child. But I already know she won't help me. There's only you, Tenchi. Only you can help me. It would be so much easier." She moved closer, placing his face in her hands. Tenchi would have moved away if he could. "I can bring my child back. Don't you want to help me, Tenchi? If I bring him back, I will be whole again. Wouldn't you like to help me do that, Tenchi?" Her voice... Tenchi tried to resist it. He didn't like the sound of her offer. There had been something in her voice when she was angry, something that disturbed him... "...Tenchi..." "Please, Tenchi. Join me. Give me access to your power, wilingly, and it will all be fine." Tenchi felt his eyes close. He didn't want to give in, but something in her voice now was entrancing him. "...Tenchi..." "Just give in. There's nothing you can do." He could feel her breath near his face. He felt his resolve giving way. "Tenchi!" Tenchi's eyes flashed open. The voice... "Ryoko!" Tokimi moved away, sneering. "No, release me, now. Let Ryoko go." He felt pain as a force smacked him across the face. "How dare you refuse a goddess! What could Washu's child possess that I could not give you, Tenchi? With my son back, you and he could rule All. Do you understand?" Tenchi looked at her. "I don't care about that. I want Ryoko, and Shadow Dog, right now. Leave us alone. Why are you doing this to us?" Tokimi sighed. "Very well, then. I seems you have made your choice." Tokimi waved her hand, and Tenchi felt his body fall. "You could have done so much, Tenchi." *** His head hurt. First his eyes, now his head. "This is just turning into a great experience, isn't it?" He put a hand to his head, rubbing it as he sat up. It didn't make the pain go away, but he had to do something. He looked around. There was still nothing but more darkness. He could percive deepth, mysterioulsy enough. "It's because of your connection to Darkness," he turned around, unstartled by the voice. Tsunami stood in front of him, smiling. Her body was surrounded in a nimbus of light. "Mistress Tsunami...," Shadow looked up at her in awe. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. "Mistress, what are you doing here? This is Tokimi's realm, you could..." Tsunami shook her head. "Do not worry about me, Seayo. You placed my body in the Chrysalis. This is just a manifestaion. An illusion. Tokimi can not harm me, but I can communicate." Shadow sat up on one knee, bowing infront of her. "Mistress, forgive me. This is my fault. If I had been able to stop Hikage all those years ago, then this wouldn't have come to pass." Tsunami shook her head. "You still haven't learned, Seayo, that Tokimi would have found another way. She is a goddess-- there is little you could have done to stop this from coming to pass. I don't blame you for it, and I don't regret anything that had happened." Shadow Dog looked up at her. "What doyou mean?" "You'r time with Sasami has been a good thing for both of us. You kept your promise to protect us, and I am thankful for that." Shadow bowed his head again. Tsuanmi bent down, cupping his chin, and forced him to look up. "I... I didn't..." "You haven't failed in your promise to Sasami, yet. Your duty is to do as I ask, Seayo. I am asking you now, please help Tenchi and Ryoko. You need to help them stop Tokimi. Time is growing short." Shadow nodded, and the goddess smiled. She stood. "Thank you, Seayo." "Thank you, Mistress Tsunami." The goddess faded away. Shadow smiled, slightly, and stood up. "Now, how the hell am I going to get out of here?" He heard yelling. Shadow looked up, and say someone coming at him, falling from the darkness. Shadow ran to Tenchi as the young man hit the ground. He knelt beside him, gently shaking his unconcious body. "Tenchi! Come on, Tenchi, wake up." Tenchi coughed, opening his eyes. "Huh? Uh, Shadow...?" He sat up, groaning from the pain. "Ohh, that hurt." Shadow chuckled, and helped Tenchi to his feet. "Welcome to the basement. Where's Ryoko?" Tenchi shook his head. "I don't know. I... felt her, when Tokimi tried to get me to join her in... I sitll don't get what she's trying to do." Shadow nodded. "Niether do I. I do know that you have to stop her, though." Tenchi looked at him. "What do you mean me? Shouldn't it be us?" Shadow shook his head, calmly. "No. This isn't my fight, Tenchi. It belongs to you and Ryoko. Don't ask me how I know. It's just one more thing I don't realy understand." Tenchi nodded. "Then what do we do now?" Shadow shrugged, and looked up. "Well, since we came from up there, we might as well try it." Tenchi nodded. He held out his hands in front him, felling his power rise to the surface. The Light Hawk Wings appeared in front of him, and he and Shadwo were encased in a blue ball of energy. Tenchi felt them rise up into the darkness, speeding towards the top. "Hang on, Ryoko. I'm coming." *** Yosho pushed against his father's sword. His father had never been this skilled, before. I twas the power of Tokimi, driving him on. Yosho could feel his body beginning to tire. How long had they been fighting? Mihoshi and Kiyone had tried to help, but Azusa had knocked them back against the wall. They lay on the floor unconcious. If only he could manage to cut off that damn hand. Lady Funaho looked up, the pain in her head blurring her sight, slightly. She couldn't remember what had happened. Somehow, she knew,Azusa had returned. She lay on the floor of the palace. Her sister was onconicous beside her. Past her was the two Galaxy Police detectives, Mihoshi and Kiyone. What were they doing here? Something had happened. Two people lay against a large door, but she couldn't recognize them. Her vision was clearing, but slowly. She tried to stand, but her legs were weak. She managed to push herself upright, and then wished that she was unconcious again. In front of her, her son and husband fought. The sound of their swords rang throughout the halls. Why had no one come to stop them? Where was everyone? Funaho tried to understand what was going on. Why was her husband doing this? He'd been driven insane. Why? Yosho felt himself slip. The sword Tenchiken fell from his grasp. He and the sword fell to the ground. He grunted in pain, his stamina wearing thin. Azusa stood over him, glaring down as in judgement. This couldn't be real. It was too much like a nightmare. The Emporer of Jurai raised his sword over his head. "Worthless," he sneered. "You were a failure to me, Yosho." Why did those words sound so familiar? "Azusa, no!" The Emporer paused, and turned. His wife, Funaho, lay on the ground, pleading. Her hand was stretched out, hoping that somehow she could reach him, touch him, get him to sto this maddness. "Husband!" Yosho had to take his chance. He reached inside the robes, and used teh last of his strength to push himself up off the ground. His hand shot out, holding a small knife. He grasped his father's left hand, and cut above the wrist. The hand with the sigil of Lady Tokimi ripped off, the knife cutting through bone and muscle. Azusa cried out more from suprise than pain. Yosho trew the hand to the ground, and whatched it burn up in a blue fire. Azusa fell to his knees, his sword clattering to the ground. Yosho fell beside him, both men having their strength drained from them. Funaho rushed over, ripping off part of her royal robes. She tied it around her husband's injured arm, cutting off the bleeding. She laid his head in her lap, his eyes already closing shut. "Sleep well, my husband." She looked at her son. He lay sprawled on the ground, feeling teh wieght of the day press on him. "Yosho?" He looked up, wearily, at his mother. "Mother, forgive me. I..." She shook her head. "You did what was necassary, Yosho. If you hadn't stopped him, there's no telling what he would have done." She looked down. "Where's Tenchi?" Yosho looked at the empty office. Where had they gone? Somehow, he knew the answer. But he feared it. "He's gone to do what he must, also. Him, and Ryoko. It's all up to them, now." *** "Hello, Ryoko. I'm surprised to see you here." That voice sent a shiver down her back. It wasn't possible. He was dead. "I do hope you're suprised to see me." Ryoko turned her head, not wanting to see him. "You're not real, Kagato. I saw you die. You can't fool me with this." He chuckled. "Come, come, Ryoko. You know I'm real. It's foolish of you to even try and resist. Now, get over here." Ryoko growled, and looked at him. He hadn't changed. "You can't control me, anymore. I won't let you." "Such pitiful rage. Do you really think you can resist me? You're just a construct. An artificial demon. There's nothing about you that I can't alter, destroy. You belong to me, Ryoko. You're just a puppet." "I am not your puppet. I am a human being, damn you. You can't control me. No one can control me, order me, or stop me. And I will never let you hurt me again, Kagato. You're dead. Get out of here." He sneered. "You're nothing, Ryoko. Come over, face me! Look at your nightmare. This is the face that will haunt you in the darkness for the rest of your life, everytime you close your eyes." Ryoko's fist slammed across the phantasm's jaw, sending him back into the darkness. "I've faced my nightmare. You can't beat me. I won't let you beat me. I promised Tenchi I would be there for him, adn I'll keep that promise. I swear it. You can't stop me, Tokimi. Do you hear me? Let me out of here, now!" Tenchi could feel himself and Shadow rising, faster. The darkness seemed to stretch on forever, without any sign of end, but he could feel it. They were nearing the roof of the darkness. He could sense the light beyond it. Ryoko was up there. She needed him. Tenchi pushed harder, forcing the darkness to part. He and Shadow dog appeared on a platform. The darkness had disappeared. Tenchi deactivated his Light Hawk Wings, and the blue sphere that was around them faded. They looked around. It was more like a palace. There were other platforms around them, with no discernible to move between them. Light seemed to emenate from the realm itself. Everything but what lay in front of them could be clearly seen. Tenchi looked up. "Ryoko!" Ryoko hung in the air above them suspended. Her eyes flashed open, and she looked around. "Where am I?" "Ryoko, are you all right?" Ryoko looked down below her. Tenchi and Shadow Dog stood on some kind of platform in the middle of space. "Tenchi! I'm fine, but... I can't move." A large form appeared in front of them. Shadow growled at the face of D3. Hikage appeared in front of him, the Juraian nobleman's body surrounded in a sworling aura of power. "You are in the realm of the Lady Tokimi. You should be humbled." D3's voice seemed to come from all around. "You mean your mad goddess? To hell with her, and you. What kind of a goddess would use a servant as twisted as him?" Shadow pointed at Hikage. The man seemed unmoved. "You dare to speak of Lady Tokimi in such a manner? What audacity you mortals have." The large, oval gem in D3's forehead glowed. Shadow fell to his knees, bursts of pain racking his body. "Shadow!" Tenchi ran over to him. The Guardian pushed him back. "No. I... I can... handle this." Tenchi backed away, slowly. Those words echoed his own, once. The young man turned back to D3. "Shwo me Tokimi. Where is she?" The voice came from inside his mind, like a song. "I am right here, Tenchi. Can you not see me, with your soul? I am a goddess, without a form you can truly percieve. Would it please you to take a form you can see?" Tenchi nodded. "Very well." The form of Tokimi appeared behind D3. "Leave us, D3. Your work is finished here. There is nothing left for you to do. My time is close at hand." "Yes, my Lady." D3 vanished. Shadow stood, the pain leaving with the demi-god. "Ohh, my head. You people are such sadists, you know that?" He snarled at Tokimi. "What are you up to, goddess? Why is Hikage here?" Hikage stepped forward. "Because, my dear Seayo, I am to be blessed by my Lady Tokimi. The child she lost so long ago to your precious Tsunami is about to be reborn in my body. It is a destiny I welcome." Shadow shook his head. "I should've known I wouldn't get a straight answer from you. You're just so damn insane, after all." Hikage's face twisted into a visage of hate. "You mock the power of Lady Tokimi?" Tenchi shouted at him, "We don't give a damn about your Lady, or her son. Let Ryoko go, now." Hikgae looked at him. "Oh, yes, I see. You love that one, don't you? Tell me, what would you do for her? Would you give your life?" He looked at Tenchi's eyes. "Hm, indeed." Hikage turned around, and knelt before the goddess. "My Lady, I am ready to recieve your gift. Please, descend and let your favorite son be reborn." Shadow growled as he changed into his hound form, and leapt at Hikage. Tenchi cired out for him to stop, but Shadow didn't hear him. The hound's gem glowed. Shadow stopped in mid-air as a filed of energy caught him, and sent currents of pain through him. "Not again!" He thought. He howled, and the field threw him back. His body tumbled limply on the floor. "Shadow!" Tenchi's sword formed in his hands, and he charged Hikage. His sword struck the field, and power flashed and crackled in the air. Tenchi pushed at the field, trying to break it. Hikage stood and turned. There was a flash of light in his eyes, and Tenchi was pushed back. The sword vanished as his concentration was lost, and he smashed into the floor. Tokimi looked down on the scene, smiling. This was the best Tsunami could do to stop her? She looked to her side. She could see her sister's image, frowning at her. "What's the matter, sister? So sad to see your precious pets face their final moments? No matter, my son will be reborn. Then all you will know my pain, my grief." "You lost yourself in grief, Tokimi. Your pain has made you strong, but it will also be your undoing." Tokimi gasped, and looked to her other side. It was Washu. She had changed, since she had Tokimi's side. Tokimi bared her teeth. "Washu, you've finally come. After so long I spent looking for you. I'd hoped you would appreciate my plan, even help me. Why have you betrayed me?" Washu shook her head. "You betrayed yourself, Tokimi. You never seemed to understand that lesson." Ryoko looked at the goddess. She couldn't understadn how, but Tokimi seemed to be distracted. Ryoko grinned, knowing that this was her one chance to break free. Her gems glowed as she focused her power into herself. She released it, holding it in an aura around her body. Tokimi's bonds broke, and Ryoko flew towords the platform below her. "Tenchi!" Tokimi looked to the mortals, and cursed. She batted Ryoko aside, cursing her sister's daughter. Ryoko fell to the side, and landed hard into the far end of the platform. "Dammit." "Tokimi, stop this now!" Washu tried to reach her sister. "There is still time. YOu have one chance before we are forced to finish you, Tokimi. Please, don't make us do this." "Who is 'us', Washu? You and Tsuanmi? Your children? How do you expect to stop me? Your own power is gone, given to your daughter, and Tsunami can not affect me in her state. Face it, sister. You are without hope of defeating me." Washu frowned. "You never did understand. Maybe you can't." Tenchi struggled to get to his feet. "Shadow? Shadow, are you oaky?" The hound grunted as it rose, it's soul-fire starting to grow. It barked. Both of them stood, but unable to move further. They struggled, but it was hopeless. Tokimi looked down, and touched Hikage. Hikage smiled, and looked up. A dark column of power fell on him, filling him. He could feel it. The power was filling him, taking over his body. He opened up his soul, welcoming it. "Yes. Make me a channel. A sacrifice. Let you son be reborn, my Lady!" Shadow pushed against whatever force was holding he and Tenchi back. He wanted to rip out Hikage's throat, if only to shut him up. What the hell was that madman ranting about? Shadow growled as he felt the power entering Hikage. It felt familiar. He knew what that power was. Tenchi could feel it, too. It was Darkness. Shadow changed back to his humaniod form, and looked to Tenchi. "Tenchi, get back. It's only going to get bigger." Both of them turned and ran to the edge of the platform. Hikage could feel it enter him. The power... Finally, the pillar of Darkness disappeared. Tenchi and Shadow moved closer, readying themselves. Hikage looked at them, and they almost jumped back. It was no longer Hikage. "It is good to be back among the living. Mother, I thank you." The man stepped forward. Tenhci and Shadow could feel the power around his body, dark energies that inspired fear among great races millenia ago. "Are you to be the first to fall, after so long? Will you meet your fate here?" Tenchi formed his sword in front of him. "What are you?" The man smiled. "I am like you. I am one born from the blood of the gods. I was blessed by fate to be the ruler of the universe." Tenchi's sowrd disappeared, replaced by the three blades of the Light Hawk Wings. The Wings passed over his body, changing his clothes to his battle suit. The man's eyes widened with suprise. "Only three blades? You shouldn't be ale to do that." Five wings formed around the man. "Nonetheless, you will not be able to defeat me." Shadow growled at him, and the man shifted his gaze. "This is not your fight, Guardian. You should heel, like a good dog." The man squeezed his fist, and Shadow was flited into the air. He froze, unable to move. "Shadow Dog!" Tenchi looked from his friend to the man. The Light Hawk Wings formed in front of him. He grasped one of the blades, and formed it into a sword. "I'm sick of this. Why do you people try to harm everyone I know? My family, my friends. I just want you to leave us alone!" The man's wings twisted into a ball in his hand. He closed it, and a sword formed. "Cease your angst, boy. Are you going to stop me, or move aside?" Tenchi charged the man, his sword raised. Their swords met. They pushed against each other's strength. Tenchi gritted his teeth, and pushed hard. The man's face remained unmoved, like stone. He pushed Tenchi off, and came forward. The man's sword hit against Tenchi's Wings, and was sent back. He flew back, trying to keep his balance. "It's seems I've misjudged you. Come, if you wish to continue." the man rose up into the air. Tenchi leapt at him, and their swords clashed again. "Ryoko. Ryoko, wake up. Please, Ryoko, get up!" Ryoko moaned, rubbing her head. It hurt too much for this damn voice to be in there. "What... who's that?" "Ryoko, you idiot! Get up off your lazy butt!" Ryoko groaned again. "Washu?" She pushed herself off of the ground. "Washu? How?" "There's no time to explain, Ryoko. Just listen." Ryoko opened her eyes. She was still in the same place, but laying on the ground. Shadow seemed to be trapped in the air, like she had been. Where was Tenchi? She looked up. Tenchi was in the air, fighting with... Hikage? No, it wasn't Hikage. Ryoko could see the Darkness around him. This was someone else. "Ryoko, you have to get up. You have to help Tenchi, only defeating Tokimi's son will end this." "Washu, what are talking about? I have all my gems, but I can't--" "Listen to me, Ryoko. Your power and Tenchi's are the same. You are both from the blood of gods. Together you can beat Tokimi, I know it. Please, go." She felt Washu's voice leave her. "Washu? Dammit, what did she mean?" She looked up. Tenchi was surrounded in a sphere of power, his Light Hawk Wings clashing with the other man's dark powers. "Hell with it." She flew up into the air, her power already regaining it's strength. The man, the son of Tokimi, threw his energy at Tenchi. The power hit his Wings, light flashing as the powers pressed against each other. Tenchi felt his Wings begin to weaken. He couldn't hold up mich longer. Ryoko grabbed Tenchi around the waist, pulling him up. The power of Tokimi's son flew into the void. Tenchi looked down, seeing anger cross the man's face. It was the first real emotion he'd shown. "Ryoko?" She stopped, holding on to him. "Ryoko, what you doing?" She smiled. "Trust me, Tenchi. I told you I'd be right beside you, keeping you from stealing the fun." Tenchi couldn't help but smile back. "Come on, let's get rid of this guy and go home." "Son of Tsuanmi, do you really think you can defeat me?" Tokimi's son flew up after them. His wings glowed, dark energy gathering around them. "I am unbeatable." Ryoko growled at him. "Shutup, you jerk!" She and Tenchi charged. Tenchi could feel his Light Hakw Wings forming in front of them, but there was something different. They were growing stronger. He could feel Ryoko's power strengthening them. They collided, their wings stopping them. The powers pressed hard against each other. Tokimi's son screamed with rage. He could not be defeated, he was the son of a god. How was this happening? Light flodded everything, and there was no sound. Tokimi screamed as she felt her son die. "No. No, Tsuanmi, you can not do this to me again, not again." Washu shook her head. "You were already dead, Sister. You had lost yourself to the darkness in your own grief. Please, be at rest, now. There is nothing more for you to do." Tokimi could not scream as she was erased from existence. *** Tenchi opened his eyes. Ryoko's arms were wrapped around him, her eyes closed. "Ryoko? Ryoko?" She opened her eyes. "Tenchi!" She hugged him, squeezing tighter. Tenchi gasped. "Ryoko, I... can't... breathe." She loosened her grip, but didn't let go. "It's over. Finally, it's over." They looked as a moan came from nearby. Shadow lay on the floor of the platform, his body smoking. "Ow. I really hate that goddess." Washu appeared next to him, in her adult form. She kicked the Guardian in the side. "Come on, get up. I know you're not that hurt." Shadow clutched his side, and whimpered. "Could you please not yell?" He stood, his knees still shaking. "Wahsu?" She looked at Tenchi and Ryoko. "Washu, what happened? Where's Tokimi?" Tenchi asked her. She smiled, knowingly. "Tokimi's gone, Tenchi. She won't bother anyone, ever again. In order to ressurect her son, she had to link their fates together. It was her undoing. Becuase you resisted her, she was unable to fully protect herself." She seemed sad for a moment, and then smiled again. "Well, let's just go home. I'm exhausted." Ryoko looked around. "How the hell do we do that?" "Teleport us back to Jurai, you idiot. I know you can do it." *** Ryoko sat on the roof, looking up into the night sky. She scratched Ryo-ohki under the chin. The cabbit purred, and jumped over to the edge of the roof. "Ryoko," Tenchi climbed up onto the roof. "Dinner's almost ready." He walked up and sat down next to her. "Ryoko?" She continued to look up at the sky. Tenchi shrugged, and looked up with her. "It's still so hard to believe. I'd always just thought of her as a perverted little demon. I never imagined she'd turn out to be a goddess." "You're angry?" She shook her head. "No, just finding it hard to believe. I wonder why that doesn't make me angry." Tenchi smiled. "Don't worry about it. It's over, anyway." He put his arm around her, and she rested her head on his shoulder. "You know, we really should go in, now. Sasami will get upset if we don't come and eat." "Ah, I'm not hungry, anyway. Sasami will understand," Ryoko chuckled, and nuzzled his neck. "You kids are so sweet!" Ryoko and Tenchi jumped, and looked over their shoulders. Washu stood on the very edge of the roof, balancing herself as she walked along it. She was in her adult form, just as she had been after Tokimi was defeated. She hadn't used her chan form since. "What do you want?" Ryoko asked her, annoyed. Washu shook her head. "I guess I should expect something like that. I just came up here to see what was taking you so long. Sasami's getting upset. You'd better get down there, or she'll send Shadow up here to drag you back, next." Ryoko grinned. "Yea, yea. Tell her we'll be down in a second." Washu nodded. "Good enough." She walked over to the ladder, and started to climb down. "Little Washu?" She stopped and looked back at Tenchi. She shook her head, "No, Tenchi. Just Washu." She climbed down, and went downstairs to eat dinner. Ryoko's voice echoed in her head. "Washu... thanks." "For what?" "Don't make me say it. Just accept it." "Fine. I can do that."
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