A Thousand Mile Journey. Chapter Four: Jishin, kaminari, kaji, oyaji.* The walk towards the Masaki Shrine was a long one from the bus stop, but the stranger did not mind. He was very strong for his age and his backpack, with the strapped on red umbrella, felt light after all those years of carrying them. His bandana, with a computer looking pattern of black squares on the yellow background, kept his longish hair out of his calm eyes. His yellow shirt, black pants and boots were dirty and worn from his many travels. He stopped to check his map and nodded. "Maybe here I can cure myself of this curse." The planet that floated above the table was a green and blue jewel, a delight to the eyes. "That was the planet of Inno. The people of the planet were advanced even when compared to the planet of Jurai. They had come to the very limit of our reality, just about to break through to the plane of pure thought and energy." Tally tapped the code keys on the memory stick and the picture changed. The planet was encircled by wave after wave of massive ships. Even as Washu, Mihoshi and Sasami watched, the ships started to bombard the planet, turning its colors of life to the nothingness of death. "Was that would the Goddess did to your planet?" asked Washu, as the ships started to withdraw, leaving behind the burnt remains of the destroyed planet. "No," replied Tally, forcing himself to look at the picture, "We were the attackers. Our race use to work for the Goddess." Sasami looked at Tally in shock and Mihoshi could only say, "Oh my." The planet Jurai was a lovely and beautiful one. Even within the throne room of the King there was a sense of peace and harmony. All seemed calm and gently, but for the brooding face of the King himself. His fists raked the arms of his throne and he hissed, "Repeat that?" Lady Funaho, Inspector General of Information, held up a message crystal and said, "The report from Earth suggests that Tenchi and our daughters have a guest. A guest who has not gone through proper channels to get permission for the visit to the Earth. Excuse me, colonial planet 0-315." The King opened his eyes and stated, "I fear that the visitor might not have ANY business with our daughters, but might be there to have dealings with Washu. I want a fleet sent at once to bring that uninvited guest here!" "No," replied Lady Funaho and held up a hand towards her husband before he could explode in rage. "As a member of the Supreme Council and as your wife, I most point out how that would be a waste of a large number of our best ships. Also, Washu DID promise me NOT to make any more ships like Ryo-Ohki and I trust her." Lady Misaki, who had been holding back, now stepped forward, "She is right. Maybe I should send a small ship of the Royal Bodyguard? The council could not refuse you sending one. Not if the request came from a worried father." The King nodded, "Do it." He grinned and added, "Make them the strongest men you have!" Both wives bowed and left the King's chambers. First Fleet Commander Tally gaped about Washu's subspace laboratory, while Washu pushed up a chair next to her floating cushion. "The complex is made up of about two dozen planets by now. I like to add on. All are linked by portals. Now sit down, we have to talk." Tally more fell into the chair then sat and stared at Washu. "This is huge. Bigger than our nurseries. Bigger than our space factories or armed tracking stations." Tally gestured hopeless with his hands, "You must have the power equal to the Goddess herself." "Her name is Lady Tokimi," Washu remarked as she slipped onto the cushion and folded her legs under herself. "I know of her." "So Dr. Clay WAS trying to bring you to her!" exclaimed Tally. "How did you know about that?" "Listen, please." Tally leaned forward and continued, "You are the factor. The Goddess has claimed and conquered many planes of existence, I know. At one time my people helped her." "Yes, before you say anything else," said Washu, holding up her hands to stop Tally's raving, "Explain how you are now NOT her servants." Tally sighed and said, "We were her servants, yes, for millions of years. We became as greedy and as twisted as the dark force we obeyed. Soon, we even started to believe we were as powerful. We turned on her. Our race had been changed by millions of years of war and hate. Greed ruled us and it made us believe in our own power above all else." Tally's eyes, those dark orbs that had seen so much in the past few years, started to water. "I have seen the history records. I have seen the home galaxy, the galaxy she gave us, become nothing but a graveyard. The mother planet is nothing but a relic, a piece of dirt held in a chamber of the Regent-Lord. That is all that remains of our once great empire." "Well, it looks like you paid for the sins of your fathers." "Yes," Tally said, through grinding teeth. "Now we wish just to stop her. To defeat her. And we believe you can help us. Our fleets have failed us, our weapons have failed us, even our wealth has failed us. Yet she has not taken this universe and we believe you are the reason!" "One of them," answered Washu. "One?" Tenchi stood up from sweeping the sidewalk in front of the shrine office when a strange boy reached the top of the stairs. The boy spotted Tenchi and came over, holding out a map. "Excuse me miss, is this the Masaki Shrine?" Tenchi nodded, "Oh yes. Can I help you?" The boy shook his head and replied, "No. I mean, I have just come to pray." Tenchi nodded, "If you need to see the priest I can get him. By the way, my name is Tenchi Masaki." The boy bowed slightly. "How nice to meet you. My name is Ryoga Hibiki." Ryoga stood up and thought, 'Tenchi? What a weird name for a girl.' "Follow me," said Tenchi, as she started to walk to the office. "Do you plan to visit the shrine just for today?" "If I can. I plan to stay a few days," replied Ryoga as he adjusted his backpack. "I can always camp out in the woods. I am use to roaming about all of Japan." "Well, the woods are kind of dangerous. We have an empty room, I am sure my father won't mind." Tenchi smiled and thought to herself, 'I don't think he'll want to run into Ryoko or Princess Ayeka out in the forest. He looks like he could use a real bed.' "Thanks," said Ryoga as he followed the girl up the steps and waited as she knocked. 'I can't believe my luck. I'll enjoy real home cooked meals. What a nice girl.' "Are you OK?" probed Tenchi. "Sure, I'm OK. Just tired." "OK," said Tenchi, before turning to the door as it slid open. "Grandfather. This is Ryoga Hibiki. He has come to visit the shrine and I wondered if he can stay in Ryoko's old room for a while?" Katsuhito smiled, "Of course Tenchi." He turned to Ryoga and said, "Welcome. I'm Katsuhito Masaki. I hope you find what you are searching for here at the shrine." Within hyperspace was the spaceship Too-Kay, a Jurai ship of the Royal Body Guard. Like most Jurai ships it looked like something designed by Odin or Loki from Viking myths, with a curved hull made out of wood and pointed ornaments that looked like giant oars. Of course, the oars and other structures held advanced equipment in the form of sensors and weapons, but from the outside the Too-Kay looked like some kid's idea of a magical boat out of fantasy than real warship traveling through the upper levels of reality. Inside the ship, within the command bridge, Captain Kuria went over the mission with his Troop Commander. "Commander Rain," said the Captain as he glanced about the bridge. "Once we exit hyperspace, we should be right over the house. I will beam you and twenty of your best men down to the planet. Your job is to capture the alien WITHOUT getting into a fight. We don't wish to harm anyone nor do we wish to upset the princesses." "Yes, sir," replied the Commander, "I understand fully. Should I arm them with anything besides the staffs?" The Captain laughed. "No. They won't put up a fight, not with the Too-Kay's guns right over their heads!" Ryoga clapped his hands and started to pray. 'Please, kami, cure me of my curse. Cure me of the pig within and help me win Akane.' Ryoga remembered all the times he had almost been caught as a pig by Akane. All the times, after falling into cold water and turning into a small black pig, that Akane had found him. Luckily, Akane never linked him to the pig and Ranma has yet to give him away. 'Even if Ranma is an enemy to all women, he has yet to dishonor me by giving away my terrible secret.' "Oh please great ones," asked Ryoga, "help me. Give me back my normal life." The shrine seemed silent, as if the kami were listening, but not yet willing to respond. Tally shook his head in shock. "I understand now." First Fleet Commander Tally leaned back and stared at Washu. "I doubt it," said Washu as she played with a strand of her hair, "I have only given you about half the story, but I bet you can put the rest of it together." Tally nodded, "So it is all linked together. The gems, the trees and even Tenchi." Washu smiled, "More then just linked, if you understand." "Of course," replied Tally. Tenchi was about to enter the house, when she noticed Ryoga approaching from the coming down the hillside, from the steps, his umbrella over his left shoulder. "Hello!" she said, "Ready for dinner? Princess...I mean Sasami made a lovely meal. We even have another guest who will be joining us." Ryoga almost seemed to be crying as he said, "Oh yes, thank you. I am sure the meal will be a delight to the tongue." Before Tenchi could reply, the sky seemed to thunder and a black hole seemed to form right over the lake. Both Tenchi and Ryoga stared up at this twirling storm of nothingness, as a Jurai ship slowly slipped down out of it, causing the lake to become rough and stormy, waves exploding outwards from the force of the ship's appearance. "What is that?" shouted Ryoga, almost dropping his umbrella. "Trouble," answered Tenchi, wishing she had her sword. As the ship seemed to become still, the hole above it disappeared. Suddenly there was a board beam of yellow light, which shoot down to the shore between the house and the lake. Onto the walkways that Tenchi's father had built appeared twenty-one men, all in Jurai military uniforms and holding staffs. One of the men, an officer from the looks, stepped forward and glared at the two surprised humans. "I am commander Rain and I have come for the uninvited guest who dares to visit this place without permission from the King of Jurai." "Hey!" shouted Tenchi, stepping forward herself in anger, "Who we have as guests is NONE of the King's business!" Commander Rain seemed to almost snarl, "How dare you insult the King! Who are you? You're not part of this household! Get them both!" As the first ten formed up into a line and lifted their staffs, there was a whirring noise. Suddenly Ryoga's open umbrella appeared as it went down the line, riding on its handle, plowing a tiny scar in the ground as it pasted the ten guards. It took them a few seconds to realize their staffs, with built-in stunners, had been sawed in two by the umbrella's spinning edge. The umbrella, like a hawk, flew in a large arch to return to its owner. It came to rest in Ryoga's right hand. "How dare you," Ryoga said quietly, "how dare you attack somebody weaker then you." "Well, then we'll attack you!" shouted Rain. "CHARGE!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------- Tenchi Muyo! and related characters is a creation of and still owned by AIC and Pioneer. Ryoga is a character created and owned by Rumiko Takahashi for her Ranma 1/2 series. I hope I don't upset any Ranma 1/2 fans by using him in this Tenchi story. The Haven characters, plus a few of the Jurai were made for the story. *Earthquakes, thunderbolts, fires, fathers.