Subject: First Knight 7 Date: Tue, 01 Feb 2000 10:23:40 CST From: "Brian Burke" To: Gensao@geocities.com Standard Disclaimer: Tenchi Muyo! is owned by Pioneer, Misa and Riko created by Brian Burke, Devon Kane created by me, Kenn Sprinkle. First Knight Chapter Seven; Azusa's Folly It has been two months since the wedding of Tenchi and Ryoko. In that time, Devon and Kiyone have also tied the knot. And Devon has announced that he is taking Washu as his second wife following the marriage of Tenchi and Sasami, when the young princess reaches marriagable age. ==-==-== Azusa faced the five before him. He said, "You will go to Earth and kill Tenchi and that pirate bitch he dared to marry into the royal family. Do not worry about his Knight Protector. Devon Kane is fair swordsman, but he is rather indolent. If he interferes kill him as well." One of the men, a burly, sour faced man spoke, "My lord, I Sojun, your Master Assassin pledge that we will carry out your orders. If we fail may our bodies be layed before our Chief in disgrace." Azusa made a gesture for the men to leave his presence. When they had left, Azusa sat in his study and hoped Funaho and Misaki never heard about his attempt on the young couple. If they did, he knew he was in for a world of hurt. ==-==-== Ryoko was feeling a little under the weather again, she rushed out of bed and into the bathroom. Tenchi heard his beloved wife being sick again. He went into the bathroom, he took a damp cloth and wiped her face. Guiding her back to their room, he put her back to bed and went to get Washu. Washu came as soon as she could get dressed. She examined her daughter carefully, she said, "I guess my findings two months ago are now conclusive, you my dear daughter are about two months pregnant." Ryoko was stunned, as was Tenchi who sat down beside her, Ryoko stammered, "Ppregnant." Washu nodded, then hugged them both, she said, "I'll leave it to the two of you to tell the rest of the family." Washu watched as her son-in-law put a comforting arm around his wife, she smiled as Ryoko laid her head on Tenchi's shoulder. She left them alone to sort out the feelings that the announcement had brought up. Ryoko still leaned against her husband, she said, "I know we've talked about having children someday, but in eight months we'll be parents." Tenchi pulled back from his wife, he looked into her feline and smiled, he said, "So we become parents earlier than we planned. Honey, I love you. This child was conceived of our love for one another, so I can never be angry about that. This will make Dad's day, he's still bugging me about making him a grandfather." Ryoko giggled, she said, "I love you Tenchi Masaki, be you a Crown Prince or just an ordinary Earth man." Tenchi pulled his wife close to him once more, he said, "And I love you Ryoko Habuki Masaki, former space pirate and princess of my heart." ==-==-== At breakfast that morning, Ryoko announced to the family that she and Tenchi were expecting their first child. The girls squealed and hugged them both. Devon shook Tenchi's hand and hugged Ryoko. He looked at Kiyone, she smiled and shook her head, "Not yet," she mouthed silently. Devon winked at her, he turned to Tenchi, "Why don't we reschedule out training session for tomorrow. You and Ryoko should go into town and buy some baby items." Tenchi replied, "Thanks Dev, I think that's a good idea." Tenchi and Ryoko went back up to their room, Devon went into the kitchen to find Misa standing at the sink. He saw her shoulders shakingg, he knew what was causing it. Devon walked up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders, he said gently, "I know it's difficult to watch him move in other directions from your timeline, but you're a different person than you were then." Misa turned and looked up at Devon through tear stained eyes, she sniffed a bit. Taking out a handkerchief she wiped her eyes, she said, "I know he's not my Tenchi, but knowing what I know hurts." Devon pulled the young woman into his arms and she began crying again. Kiyone came in and saw Devon comforting Misa, she nodded wisely and left the room. Later Tenchi and Ryoko left for town, after Devon had given her one important item on any pregnant woman's list. A box of crackers, and a piece of advice, "Eat a few crackers and you won't toss your cookies." ==-==-== Midnight came and the house went silent. The excitement of the day had come to an end. Tenchi and Ryoko had returned from their shopping trip with a van load of baby treasures, that everyone had oohed and aahed over. Yosho was the one who had sort of put a damper on things, when he said, "We must inform my mother and Aunt Misaki. So you know who is going to find out." Everyone had groaned, but Tenchi went to Washu's lab to call Jurai. Funaho had been pleased, and as usual Misaki was ecstatic. Both women told Tenchi they would break the news to Azusa, and try to keep him under control. Now everyone was asleep, but Devon was stirring. He sat up gently as to not disturb his sleeping wife and lover. He quietly rose from the bed, and went to the open window. He was right, there was a change in the wind. He looked down at the signet ring he wore on his right hand. The stone setting around the Kane family crest was flashing red. The ring he wore had been a gift from Funaho, on their last visit here she had asked to speak to him alone. They had gone for a walk in the woods, she had reached into the folds of her kimono and had pulled out the ring, she said, "Devon, before your father left Jurai, with Yosho, he gave me his family's signet ring as a token of friendship. I am giving it to you now as a rememberence of your heritage." She had given him the ring and walked away. Devon studied the ring, it was beautifully crafted. Made of sterling silver, it had a black onyx stone setting. Inlaid into the stone was a silver sword, on the pommel of the sword sat a majestic eagle. Around the blade was a laurel leaf. He showed it to the family later, then Washu told him she could put a signal device in the ring that would alert him when the proximity sensors that monitored the earth would be activated. That device was now working, he went back to the bed and shook Washu awake. She woke quietly, she saw the flashing signal. She rose quickly and grabbed a robe. She was out the door and down the stairs to her lab entrance. When she punched up the data on the ship approaching Earth, she was startled to see it was a Juraian cruiser. Using cloaked satellite scanner, she noticed the markings it carried was that of the House of Assassins. Running back to the room she shared with Kiyone and Devon she found him dressing in black silk uniform, she said, "Devon, the ship that is here is a Juraian warship. It carries the mark of the House of Assassins." Devon frowned, he said, "They've been sent after Tenchi and Ryoko. They might also try to take Sasami back to Jurai." Devon shook his wife awake, Kiyone awoke quickly. She was startled to see Devon dressed in his ninja garb, he said, "Honey, get dressed quickly. Then I want you to go down to Tenchi and Ryoko's room and tell them there's trouble and that they're to stay put. Stay with them and protect them. Tell Tenchi to stand by in case I need him." Kiyone nodded and slid out of bed into her GP combat uniform. Devon turned to Washu, he said, "Go warn Sasami and Misa, stay with them and Riko." "Right, my love," was the beautiful scientist's reply. When the two women had left, Devon finished his preparations. He tied special bracers around his forearms and calves. He filled secret pockets on his uniform with shuriken stars and spikes. Along with nage teppo smoke bombs. Taking up his sword he tied it across his back. Lastly he put on his mask, first the one piece face mask. Then the seperate hood that covered his forehead. He looped the ends around the front of his neck and tied it securly at the back of his neck. Going to the window, he jumped out and landed silently in the grass. Pausing to listen to the wind, he found the location of one of the assassins. Moving like a ghost, Devon circled around to the man's position. Silently drawing his sword, he crept up behind the man and cut his head off. The man died without making a sound. Having just used the Jurai Power to energize the blade, the wound was completely cauterized. Devon moved on to find the next man, he watched as bush moved against the gentle breeze instead of with it. Drawing a shuriken, Devon let it fly. It struck the assassin in the temple, felling him instantly. Another person was stalking the assassins, Yosho had felt a disturbance in the wind as well. He had removed his disguise and was clad in black Juraian battle garb. He saw Devon exit the house and move into the forest. Yosho found one of the assassins, and challenged him to a duel. The assassin was frightened, for this was Prince Yosho, he could not in all conscience fight this man. But, Yosho did not have that problem, he struck with all his fury. As quickly as the fight began, it was over. Devon found two of the assassins about to enter house, he moved with all the speed his abilities gave him. Sojun turned to face the black clad blur that sprang towards him and his companion. Energy sword met energized sword in a flash of light. Devon sprang back as did Sojun. Devon said, "Who sent you?" Sojun said, "We have been sent by King Azusa to kill the abominations that live in this house. The false heir to the throne and his space pirate bitch wife." Devon growled, "That's all I needed to know." Devon moved forward, his sword whirling in a deadly figure eight. He feinted and drew Sojun out. When the master assassin moved to deflectr a blow, Devon's real move came about as the ninja to was brought around in a reverse slash to the neck. Sojun's head left his body, his face contorted in shock from the death blow. The other assassin made it into the house, but was stopped by Kiyone. She said, "As a GP operative and the wife of Prince Tenchi's First Knight, I command you to leave this house with your life intact." The assassin smirked, "One woman to stop me, a Juraian assassin. Don't be rediculous, out of my way, woman." Kiyone sighed, she raised her blaster and fired. The Assassin leaped out of the way, but it did him little good. For Azaka had arrived, he said, "I will handle this, Lady Kiyone." The assassin said, "You would fight me old man." Before Azaka could reply, Tenchi stepped out of his bedroom, he said, "No assassin, he won't be fighting you. I will." Tenchi was clad in his Juraian battle garb, Tenchi-ken in his hand, blade ignited. He moved forward before the stunned man could move and impaled him on the blade. The man crumpled to floor, "King Azusa was wrong, you are all formidible," he managed to gasp out. He then breathed his last. Devon rushed up the stairs, to find the last assassin dead. Yosho was coming up behind the young ninja, now back in his disguise as Katsuhito. The others had also been aroused by the sounds of combat. Noboyuki was startled to see a dead man lying in the hallway, he said, "But why would Azusa do this." "He thinks he's preserving the royal line," said Devon, "but all he's really doing is causing a rift between himself and the rest of the family." Katsuhito spoke, "I think we should send a message that his assassins failed. Do you have any ideas, Devon?" Devon nodded, he said, "The Koiga Ninjas had a very effective message for this sort of occasion." He sheathed his sword and dragged the body off, before going outside he whispered to Washu. She nodded and returned to her lab. ==-==-== A day later on Jurai, a guard was startled to see a brightly colored package materialize from the Ohki ship that hovered overhead, meowed and shot out of the planet's atmosphere. The guard read the note on the package "To be opened by Emperor Azusa only." Also on the package was a seperate note addressed to the two Emperesses. The guard hefted the package, and found it heavy. But he carried it into the palace, first he dropped the seperate note at Funaho's private chamber. Then took the package to the emperor. Azusa was pleased to get a package, he hoped it would contain the heads of Tenchi and his pirate bitch Ryoko. He unwrapped the package and let out a howl of outrage. Inside the package were the heads of his five assassins. There was also a note. It read "Never underestimate a trained ninja. You lose Your Royal High Nastiness. Signed Devon Kane, First Knight of Crown Prince Tenchi." Azusa sat in his chair looking at the heads of his best assassins, then he heard a voice purr in his ear, "Dear Kingy you've been a bad boy, trying to kill our Tenchi. Now you must pay the pipers." Azusa's howls of pain echoed through the palace as Misaki and Funaho beat the snot out of him. ==-==-== Devon was writing in his journal, "We've heard from Funaho and Misaki on the outcome of Azusa's folly. Beating the snot out of him and abstaining for a year is pretty severe punishment, maybe he'll learn his lesson. But, this is Azusa we're talking about. So now I have to make a decision on whether or not to teach Tenchi the most secret and deadly sword technique of my ninja clan. The Cherry Blossom Technique." to be continued ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com