Disclaimer : Most characters in this story are property of AIC and Pioneer. They are in such a situation solely because of my imagination. This story was written purely for fun. This FF is based on the TV Series, with some powers drawn over from the OAV, but with no Light Hawk Wings. This story contains no sex, so please do not expect it. Before I wrote this Fanfic, I have only read 2 Fanfics, Aikan Muyo and To Love & To Hate. Since then I have read some others, and have noted some writers have a tendency to portray some characters inaccurately. I hope I have not fallen into that trap. That's about it, I'm a simple soul at heart... DARKNESS & LIGHT - No Need For Kova By Zyraen Chapter VIII : No Need for a Trump Card Washu mentally heaved a sigh of relief as they emerged into Kiyone’s apartment. "Kiyone, what’s the meaning of this? Do you know he’s a criminal?" She demanded. Kova’s eyes narrowed as he saw Kiyone flinch, her head bowing. "You are in no position to demand anything, professor. Our affairs are none of your concern." "Well, I think…" "…you should tend to her injuries, in your lab." His voice was icy as he stepped over to the wall and rapped sharply on it, conjuring the dimensional door. "As for what’s between you and me, we’ll settle it some other time. What we need now is a way to destroy those things. Do you have the materials to deal with them in your lab?" Washu’s eyes narrowed. "I don’t trust you going into *my* lab." "She will be entering, not me." Turning to Kiyone. "Quickly, get your hurts tended to, before those cyborgs get back." Looking back at Washu. "Teranium?" "Mmmhmm." "That will mean getting Morendium to keep them apart, mixed with…" "Trying to teach your grandmother how to suck eggs, huh?" Washu pointed out caustically. Kova scowled. "Just get on with it." Washu glared at him and led the somewhat embarrassed Kiyone through the door. =========================================================== "Tenchi Masaki!" He tossed a little in his sleep, wondering what he was dreaming of now. He had had a horribly hard time trying to persuade Ryoko not to hug him as he lay in his bed, although they were all alone, and eventually Aeka got attracted by the commotion, which required even more mopping up on his part to prevent a fight. After that he had thought he could get some peace and quiet, but now it seemed otherwise. "Tenchi! Mr Masaki!" The voice became louder and more urgent, and he thought he could feel someone shaking his shoulders. "Wha.." he asked, yawning. "What is it?" His vision cleared and he saw who was by his bedside. "You!" He exclaimed, surprise driving him wide awake in an instant. "What are you doing here!?" Even in the dark, he could make out the battered state of the person before him. "What the…?" "We’re in danger." Kova spoke tersely, as though giving commands under extreme duress. "Get the rest of them up. Keep together and don’t let any of them out of your sight." He paused again. "If you see anyone, get him or her to make up a sentence on the spot. If they sound unlike their usual selves, prepare to attack or be attacked." Tenchi stared at him, eyes still wide open. This simply has to be a dream. "What are you doing!?" Kova growled at him. "They might be here any minute! Get moving and get your people together!" He glanced at Tenchi, noting the absence of any weapon on him. "I don’t know how you beat Kagato, but whatever you used, you’d better get that weapon out now." "Wha…?" The spy’s eye narrowed as he saw Tenchi still a little shell shocked. Mentally cursing the fool for his slow reaction, he clasped his rod, and Tenchi’s eyes opened with fear as a shining blue laser scythe appeared in the hands of the grim faced stranger before him, gleaming coldly in the darkness. A cold sneer on his face, the ex-pirate swung and Tenchi reflexively ducked away under the scythe’s deadly sweep and rolled off his bed. Where did I put that sword? He asked himself frantically. Kova stepped before him around the bed, and swung again. Tenchi threw himself backwards, and the scythe’s edge just missed his nose by a hair’s breadth. Almost instinctively, his right hand opened a drawer and his fingers closed around something inside. Grinning evilly at having cornered Tenchi, Kova sent the scythe arcing in again from the left, so Tenchi would be trapped between the scythe and the wall. Another beam of blue illuminated the darkness between the sweep of the scythe and Tenchi’s body, as the boy steeled himself for the strike and the combat that was to come, but the scythe did not strike his sword. Kova grinned, with his scythe stopping barely a centimetre from Tenchi’s sword’s edge. "Well, you have found your weapon, descendant of Jurai." The energy scythe disappeared, leaving only the silver rod in his hand. "Find the rest, especially Aeka and Sasami. Kiyone and Washu are in the lab, so forget them. And if you lose that sword of yours, I’ll be back for you." Tenchi managed to make out a cold and emotionlessly set face before the stranger vanished out the door of him room. He shivered, despite the light from his sword. That felt like a visit from death. =========================================================== "Is the formula ready?" the door opened slightly. Washu glanced back to make sure he wasn’t in the lab. Kiyone, who was beside her, frowned. "Washu, if Kova says he isn’t going to come in, he isn’t going to." Washu looked up at the detective. She was looking much better, thanks to Washu. "And what do you know about him, Kiyone? In case you forgot, he was a spy." She gave Kiyone a strange look. "Is it possible that the Kiyone I know can be ruled by her heart rather than mind?" Kiyone turned away, feeling a little slighted. Washu peered at the time scale on her computer. "Give me three more minutes, Kashiro." "Very well, professor. Are you feeling better, Kiyone-chan?" "Thank you, Kova-chan. I’m feeling much better now." Kiyone sounded very pleased, and Washu shook her head in disgust as she heard them calling each other that way. The door closed and she returned to tending to Kiyone. "You know, you’re just preparing yourself for a lot of heartache, Kiyone." She mentioned offhandedly as she rubbed some powder onto Kiyone’s burnt back. Kiyone sighed. "I know it will hurt me, Washu. But sometimes you just have to go through fire and blood to get what you really want." "You don’t really want a spy cum space pirate, do you?" Washu’s eyes were cold and her expression skeptical. "You’re a Galaxy Police Officer. The two of you just don’t belong together." The green eyes filled with pain, and doubt. "Washu, I believe that some how, we can make it together. Leave it to me, okay? I’ll manage." She smiled a little. "We’ll manage." "Well, I don’t trust him." "Not even after he saved you?" Kiyone shook her head. "Washu, you’re too fixated on Science." "And you, Kiyone, are too fixated on him." Washu casually pressed several buttons, and Kiyone blinked as she saw a file appear before her. The picture was of Kova, all right, but a very young Kova, who looked like he was only about Tenchi’s age. Two scars marred his face, one across his forehead, another down his left cheek, while his blue eyes seemed cold and calculating. Washu tapped another key, and the strings of incomprehensible sigils changed into rational words, and read as follows. Name :Kova Kashiro Sex : Male Age (as of now) :near 120 yrs old Weapon : Blaster Classification : Class A Space Pirate Wanted for : Treason against the Holy Juraian Empire / Forgery against the Synera Stellar Syndicate / 67 ship raids, suspected of 102 more / 3 cases of attacking armed convoys, all 3 from SSS Background :Citizen of Jurai, master burglar. Suspected often, but never convicted. At about 19 years of age, activities curbed upon appointment as Secretary of Interior Security on Jurai, but may have spied for the SSS during this period. At about 24 years of age, he forged and cashed an SSS cheque worth millions and fled on a career of piracy. Last sighted :40 yrs ago, in the vicinity of the Science Academy. Attempted to attack an SSS convoy. Attacked and pursued by 9 SSS ships and 3 GP ships. Ship destroyed, no body found. "So, how do you like what you see?" Washu, half smirking, turned, and was utterly flabbergasted to see Kiyone smiling serenely to herself. He didn’t lie to me. "Hey, Kiyone, what’s wrong with you?" Washu wrinkled her brow, irritated. "Oh nothing." Kiyone smiled knowingly. "Nothing at all." =========================================================== "Is everyone here?" Tenchi asked, casting his eye around. Mihoshi, Ryoko, Aeka, Sasami, with Ryo-oh-ki on her head, stared back at him, half in curiosity, half in fear, at the shining sword in his hand. "Say, what is going on, Tenchi?" Ryoko asked. "Is this some kind of game?" "No, Ryoko." Tenchi looked at five pairs of eyes staring curiously at him, and gulped. "Not at one o’clock in the morning. Someone told me to make sure you all were safe." His brown eyes dilated at the thought. "And he nearly killed me." His hand gripped Tenchi-ken harder. "Who is he?" Aeka asked, running one hand over Anako’s soft fur. The kitten purred as she stroked its tummy. "I have no idea. All I know is, he was the one Sasami and I saw at Kiyone’s side last night." Sasami’s eyes widened. "What was he doing here?" "No idea. Mihoshi, would you know anything about anyone Kiyone knows?" "Erm, well, there was this rather tall chap with whom she was…" Mihoshi’s face reddened. "Who was he?" Ryoko pressed, sounding annoyed. "Huh? Oh, I didn’t see his face." Mihoshi looked around. "Tenchi, where is Kiyone?" "The someone who got us up told me she’s in the lab with Washu." "Oh." Mihoshi turned and made for the door. Tenchi, his expression worried, quickly lunged forward and grabbed her wrist, taking care not to cut anyone with his sword. "You’re not going out." He told her. It was a statement, a command. "He’s out there. And he’s got a really *big* scythe." His voice trembled at the memory. "Don’t worry, Tenchi!" Mihoshi laughed. "If he’s Kiyone’s friend, he’ll be nice to me." She shook her hand, but Tenchi’s grip remained firm. "Let go of me, Tenchi!" "No, Mihoshi." Say, this was strange, he thought. Why the hell am I taking the word of a stranger so seriously? His appearance. The way he wore his wounds like they were nothing, and the way his cold and impassive face looked dead serious at him. Tenchi, still holding on to Mihoshi, stared at his sword. Why did he force me to draw it? "Tenchi…" Sasami tugged at his elbow. He recalled how they had all sat up and stared the moment they saw him and his gleaming blade. Without it, there was no way he could have got them all up and alert so quickly. "Tenchi…" "Yes, Sasami?" He let go of Mihoshi, who had given up struggling in favour of enjoying the feel of his hand holding her wrist. "Where’s your father?" =========================================================== "What the…?" Kova stared as he saw Tenchi all by himself, trying to get Nobuyuki off the couch in the living room, with *no* sword in his hand. "Tenchi?" The boy turned to look at him blankly, not speaking. Kova tensed, then Tenchi suddenly picked Nobuyuki off the couch without any effort, hefted him on his shoulder and made for the door. That man must be Tenchi’s father! The scythe flashed into existence and arced through the darkness, only to strike against a scarlet laser sword. "Huh?" Nobuyuki awoke, his world a blur from not having his specs. "Hey, what’s going on?" Kova leaped back as Ryoko appeared out of thin air at Tenchi’s side. "Tenchi?" He heard her say, confused, yellow eyes going to the scarlet blade. "Get him, Ryoko!" Kova cried. "We must get that man back!" Ryoko paused in indecision. "Who are you?" She asked Kova. The main door to the outside slid open behind them, with Aeka framed in the doorway. Tenchi quickly parried another stroke from Kova, and Ryoko’s eyes widened as he effortlessly threw Nobuyuki to Aeka, who caught him in her arms and turned to go. "Wow, I’m being carried by the princess of Jurai!" Nobuyuki sighed in bliss, staring at the purple cloth before him. "This must be a dream!" "Stop it, Ryoko!" Kova lunged back, his scythe swinging in an arc, as Tenchi, his face grim and set in determination, planted himself between Kova and the Aeka behind him. "I mean her, Aeka!" The blue arc suddenly twisted and its path shifted slightly inwards, and swifter than thought, Kova’s blade scraped the edge of the crimson sword, bypassing the parry. "NOO!" Ryoko screamed as the azure scythe sliced neatly into Tenchi’s right shoulder blade and out under his left arm. As though in a nightmare, she saw Tenchi topple back, his body splitting bloodlessly into two. Her heart stopped, and died. Still stunned from shock, she stared as Kova leaped past the body and towards the closed door. "COME BACK HERE!!!" She screamed, tears flowing out of her eyes, as orange sparks gathered in the air around her. Kova just managed to turn around. Aeka stopped to watch, a thin smile on the face, as the spy smashed through the door, hands gripping his weapon tightly, his blue shield laser shield on his forearms protecting him from the immense orange plasma beam that hurled him out past Aeka and Nobuyuki. "Ryoko!?" The space pirate heard Aeka ask from behind her. "He killed Tenchi." She growled softly, tears blurring her vision, then she was speeding out after Kova, a primal force of vengeance. "Did I hear that right?" Mihoshi asked, staring at Tenchi beside her, who shrugged. "What is that!?" Sasami asked, pointing at the metallic humanoid thing that lay between them and the door. Even as they watched, the last bit of it joined up seamlessly, like liquid flowing together. "Destroy that thing!" Kiyone called as she emerged from the lab, her instincts telling her what it was they were staring at, as Washu appeared behind her. Before five astonished pair of eyes, the shape got up and was out the door. =========================================================== "Ryoko, STOP!" Kova cried out, in vain. "Please!" His scythe spun like a staff in his hands, deflecting yet another volley of orange plasma beams. Snarling, Ryoko was deaf to his pleas, her face a sight of savagery intent on avenging her supposedly fallen beloved. Kova spun around as the pirate appeared behind him, laser sword slashing out in a frenzied barrage, and his scythe was a mere blur of light as he defended himself. Aeka smiled as the silver being sped towards her and transformed into Katsuhito. Kiyone burst out of the house under the night sky, followed by Washu and the rest. "Kova-chan!" Kiyone cried out. "Ryoko, please!" The spy begged, one forearm fending off a laser sword, as his other hand parried another, for Ryoko had split into two. "Save my father!" He cried, using Tenchi’s voice. Ryoko stopped, not believing her ears, and her orange blade dematerialised as her hand was halfway down. Kova quickly stepped back and leaped towards the false Aeka and Katsuhito, spinning around in mid-air to attack the cyborg holding Nobuyuki. Aeka tossed a little red ball of energy at Kova, and the explosion sent him flying right back, but he landed on his feet, scythe upright and ready. "What’s going on?" Mihoshi, Sasami, Tenchi and Aeka all asked at the same time. Kiyone did not bother to explain, but charged forward, firing salvos at Katsuhito, whose hand was turning red as he prepared to blast Kova. "We have to get your father back, before they can react and use him as a hostage." "My father? What about grandpa?" Tenchi asked, watching as Kiyone’s golden blasts struck Katsuhito on the head, shoulder and legs. "He’s not your grandpa." Washu said wryly as the four of them, eyes bulging, watched the holes in Katsuhito’s body mend back together. Kiyone dived to one side and jumped, as the red laser beams trailed her path of flight, just skimming over her flesh. Kova, his face set in a shape of grim determination, hurled his scythe in an arc high up into the sky, where it vanished, and ran at the Aeka cyborg. Sasami watched open mouthed, as the spy somersaulted over the crimson energy balls that flew at him, even as Tenchi, Mihoshi and Aeka joined the fray. Kiyone saw Mihoshi and Aeka coming in to assist her, and her enemy’s attention was momentarily diverted. Seizing her chance, she tossed her yo- yo in a curve towards Katsuhito. Aeka jumped before Mihoshi, letting her blue force field absorb the energy blasts, as Kiyone’s yo-yo wrapped around the robot. The green haired detective jerked hard, as the her left hand levelled Kova’s blaster at the cyborg, but to her amazement, her foe’s form just yielded and the parts of it that her yo-yo that were in contact with melted away, so that it was as though she had caught nothing but air. Frustrated, she unleashed several shots, as the yo-yo spun back into her hand, but the enemy just grinned as the yellow blasts tore through him with little effect. The Aeka cyborg, still gripping the by now totally horrified Nobuyuki with one hand, watched as Kova landed before her and Tenchi, sword blazing away, charged in from the side. Ryoko, having realised her beloved Tenchi was still alive, had been galvanised into action and was flying in, orange power crackling about her hands, but she dared not fire with Nobuyuki so close by. Kova lunged in, using the edge of his laser shield as though his forearms were blades, but a scarlet energy whip materialised in the things’ free hand, lashed at his form, and he was forced to raise an arm in defence, as the cyborg side stepped the other lunge. Tenchi’s sword sliced through the air from the side of the cyborg, but grinning slightly, the false Aeka brought Nobuyuki in his way, and his sword halted in mid air, just an inch from his father’s forehead. Cursing in anger, Tenchi parried as the whip lashed out at him, watching as Kova sliced half of the fake Aeka’s throat with his laser shield, only to see it mend back. The purple eyes widened as Ryoko shot in, orange sword in one hand, an incandescent wreath of force in her other hand. I cannot hold, the creature thought. The Aeka quickly tossed her whip down on the ground as Ryoko drew near. "Watch out!" Kova cried, forearms up, as the thing exploded into a crimson eruption. Oh no, Tenchi thought as his vision lighted up. "Tenchi!" Ryoko just managed to seize him and the two vanished away as the blast smashed into where they had just occupied. Kiyone watched, stunned with fear, as Kova sailed through the air. He somehow still landed on his feet, his teeth gritting against each other, but as he made to move forward, he collapsed to his knees. The false Aeka landed safely back on the ground, holding her miraculously unscathed hostage, smiling in amusement as Kova bowed before her. She watched as everyone turned towards at her, ignoring the Katsuhito cyborg. Mihoshi and Kiyone aimed their three blasters at her, Washu raised a hand, Aeka prepared to charge with her blue forcefield. "One wrong move, and he dies." One white hand went around Nobuyuki’s throat and everyone froze before the metallic, soulless voice’s pronouncement, as the other cyborg relaxed. Kova, tilting his head slightly up, grinned. A blue streak descended from the night sky, faster than thought. The cyborg’s eyes widened in shock as the scythe, falling like a shooting star, split the robot down the middle and into two, before streaking towards Kova. The hand holding Nobuyuki’s throat loosened, and Tenchi and the Katsuhito cyborg simultaneously raced to Nobuyuki. The cyborg’s hand closed around Nobuyuki waist, as Tenchi, shouting in a rage, lashed out. Green sparks flashed out as azure struck scarlet, then a rapid succession of blasts forced Tenchi to parry the lasers, as the false Katsuhito leaped up and made off towards the shrine. "Get my father back!" Tenchi shouted, and Ryoko and Aeka quickly complied. The Katsuhito dodged an orange beam, and Azaka and Kamadake (the logs) appeared beside him. The guardians hesitated for a moment, seeing Tenchi’s grandfather and father was between them, and the cyborg quickly struck Kamadake down with slash, and leaped over the fallen log into the forest by the side of the stairs leading to the Masaki shrine. Kova stood up, seeming to have fed off the energy that his scythe provided, as the scythe faded back into a silver rod. Watching the spot where the enemy made off, he sprinted after the thing. "I’ll go after them, you take care of Tenchi." Ryoko flashed out of existence as Aeka hesitated. Behind them, Washu quickly stepped towards the fallen android that was rapidly joining back together, her hand holding a chemical spray. "Washu!" Sasami screamed. Several salvos of crimson streamed from forest at Washu. Cursing, Washu’s shield materialised, her angry eyes watching in muted frustration through the flashes on her shield as the cyborg formed up before her. Washu swore vehemently as the silvery cyborg got up and gave her a cheerful grin, before moving out after the other one. Mihoshi and Kiyone blasted it, but it quickly sent a crimson ball of energy in their direction, and the two officers jumped out of the way of the blast, giving it a chance to make good its escape. =========================================================== The Katsuhito cyborg’s blasts stopped as Ryoko materialised beside him. The space pirate flew on him in a rage, but the robot calmly parried her blow. Ryoko feinted and stabbed, forgetting the robots were impervious to such attacks, and watched as her sword struck through the thing’s chest. Fortunately, she managed to teleport away before her own arm got lopped off - that certainly wasn’t as dispensable as the robot’s. "Damn, what will it take to bring this thing down!?" Ryoko pondered as an orange glow lit up her hand. Katsuhito smiled a sagely smile, and brought Nobuyuki up before him, before bounding away as Ryoko hesitated. "Don’t you dare get away!" She ground her teeth and prepared to give chase, but a continual barrage of scarlet beams forced her to duck and weave among the trees. Kova ran past her, his forearms deflecting the beams from him, as he vanished into the trees, and the laser blasts stopped rather abruptly, leaving the night cold and blue again. =========================================================== Katsuhito, or Yosho, took slow, even steps, his eyes searching carefully among the trees. He had been aroused from his usually restful evening by sounds of explosions and fighting from the house below, and was rather curious as to the red laser beams that had shot into the sky. Trusting to his instincts that it was no laughing matter, he had taken up his bokken and gone for a walk. He raised his eyebrow as he saw a running figure. It was a rather young man, about twenty five at most, with blue hair and dressed in ragged blue pants and jacket. On his shoulders he recognised his son-in-law. Katsuhito shook his head. Young people nowadays, so delinquent. Imagine catching someone as hentai as Nobuyuki. Not to mention arousing everyone in the process, and making a mess of an otherwise peaceful evening. Kova spun around, Nobuyuki on his shoulders. His chill blue eyes attempted to pierce the trees and the shadows they cast on the ground, but he saw no one. Katsuhito shook his head. Quite a handsome chap. Too bad he’s on the wrong side of the law. Kova prepared to run. He could hear sounds of pursuit, but they might not find him yet. It was because something told him there was a strong foe, nearby. Katsuhito stepped out from behind a tree. "Excuse me, young man, could you return me my son-in-law?" Kova turned around slowly, the fear showing plain on his face, but it was not pale. His blue eyes gleamed in the dark like stones, as he regarded the frail old man behind him, who was looking calmly at him with a vague smile on his face. "My son-in-law, please?" Katsuhito yawned a little as he leaned on a tree, his bokken flicking idly up and down in the air. Kova stared at him, wide eyed. I can’t run away. Kova slowly took Nobuyuki off his shoulder and presented him with both hands to Katsuhito. The former prince extended both his arms, leaving his bokken by the tree, to receive him like a prize. Two stabs of red lasers shot from the hands under Nobuyuki towards Katsuhito. Katsuhito gently caught Nobuyuki, and stepped away. That’s funny, Kova thought to himself as he saw his red laser sword flicker out of existence. I could have sworn I blocked his bokken. His eyes still staring in shock, Kova gently toppled down, split into two at the waist. The tree which Katsuhito had leaned on creaked a little, for its trunk had two gaping holes, and landed on top of Kova with a rustling crash. Katsuhito shook his head, and stared at the bokken handle in his hand. He looked at a tree about two metres beside him, where its wooden blade of the bokken had cut almost halfway into. Young people nowadays. Thinking their new fangled weapons could help them. All that did was make me lose a bokken. Shaking his head at how heavy the unconscious Nobuyuki was, he made for his shrine. =========================================================== "Stick together and stay here." Kiyone told Mihoshi, Sasami, Tenchi and Aeka. "Don’t let them split us up." "My father’s up there!" Tenchi almost shouted at her. "Relax, Kova and Ryoko can get him back." Kiyone told him. "Who knows what confusion they might wreak there in the forest?" The image of Ryoko and Kova battling earlier returned to Tenchi’s mind. "They’ll come back anyway." Washu commented. "Why would they?" Tenchi asked, his face skeptical. "They’ve got my dad." "Who would want him?" Washu asked, letting out her irritation by squeezing her chemical spray hard. Not that it would break, it was made out of elastic material. "Other than you, I mean?" "Then what do they want?" Aeka asked, unsure whether or not. Washu just lightly tapped her own chest. "You?" Mihoshi asked. Washu face-faulted. "No! Not me, Mihoshi! The Tachyon Blaster!" There was silence. "I hope they’re all right." Sasami murmured. =========================================================== Katsuhito arched an eyebrow as he heard movement in the plants around him, but otherwise he remained totally unaffected. The person watching him from the trees blinked in puzzlement. Why is the cyborg holding Tenchi's father with both hands, looking so calm, and strolling along as though he were taking a walk in the park? Uncertainty took hold of him. Perhaps, he would have to make sure first… A silver blur arced out of the trees. Katsuhito, not looking up, caught it, and tossed it back, as it seethed with electricity upon being held by someone other than its owner. Supple fingers snatched it out the air as Kova stepped into the sight. "Surrender him, old man." The spy ordered. Katsuhito shook his head slowly. "You again? One would think you’d learn." He gently set his son-in-law down. Pity my bokken’s broken, he thought. Kova hesitated at his gentle actions, and Katsuhito peered at him curiously. "If there’s nothing I can do for you, I’ll be wishing you a good night." Kova stopped, puzzled. This person was clearly not a cyborg, but if he was aiding them, he could not afford to let him go. Better safe than sorry. Katsuhito saw a blur before him, and quickly sidestepped. Not bad, he’s learnt to move much faster now. Pretty great improvement in such a short time. Kova opened his mouth in shock as he tripped over Katsuhito’s foot. Rolling as he fell, he just managed to scoop up Nobuyuki, and stand on his feet. Katsuhito watched, half amused at the shining scythe Kova held menacingly between him and Katsuhito. "Stay back, old man!" He warned. "My, that’s a very nice scythe you got there!" He smiled genially. "Reminds me of my sword…" Kova fell back, his jaw smarting. His solar plexus, jaw, forearms, chest and knee caps had all been struck at, but he had managed to avoid or block them all, except the second strike. He held his scythe up again, his hand a little unsteady, as he carried Nobuyuki in the other. "Impressive." Katsuhito nodded his approval, for the edges of both his sleeves had been cut off by the scythe’s deadly sweep. "Maybe I’ll train you like I teach my grandson." He rolled back his sleeves… Sensing danger, the old man ducked and rolled away as three orange plasma beams shot from behind over where he had been standing. Kova quickly raised his free forearm, and his scythe, deflecting the three blasts, as Ryoko flew in, her face a grim mask of anger, her orange laser sword in hand. She looked at Kova, surprised that he was still alive. "Whoever you are, bring Tenchi’s father back. As for you…" Her hands seethed with energy as she stared at Katsuhito, teeth bared. What a very strange evening, Katsuhito thought to himself, as he effortlessly darted in and out between Ryoko’s laser beams, trying to keep in sight of his son-in-law and the young abductor who was bounding away. =========================================================== Kova walked out of the base of the forest, holding Nobuyuki in his arms. "Well done, Kova-chan," Kiyone smiled as he emerged from the shadows. He gave a cold smirk, then a scarlet laser sword was held before Nobuyuki’s throat. "Kova-chan?" Kiyone eyes dilated, her voice going cold, as Tenchi, his anger showing plainly on his face, stopped the advancing Aeka. Mihoshi looked at Kova curiously, "What’s going on?" "Give me the Tachyon Blaster," the metallic voice announced. Washu’s eyes narrowed, her hand squeezing the chemical spray hard. "Not in…" Someone lay a hand on her shoulder and her pink eyes met Tenchi’s. Anger and rage burned within the brown eyes, but at the same time they pleaded and begged with her. "Please, Washu…" his voice was low, serious, and beseeching. Washu turned from him and stared at the smirking cyborg, her eyes blazing in anger. "All right, you bastard, you win." Slowly she removed the Tachyon Blaster from within the folds of her dress and took a reluctant step towards the thing. Kova drew back a step, his sword pressing closer to Nobuyuki. "I don’t trust you," he stared at Washu, then at Sasami. "You, little girl, bring it to me!" "Don’t listen, Sasami!" Aeka ordered. "Do it or he dies!" Sasami looked hesitantly at Washu, then Tenchi. "Sasami, I’m sorry." Tenchi shook his head, his sword hanging down limply by his side. The little princess remained silent. Looking at Washu, she gingerly reached out a hand. Sighing in defeat, Washu passed the Blaster to Sasami. The princess moved over, as the Kova cyborg slowly brought Nobuyuki up onto his shoulder, his sword still taking care to hover near his throat, so he had the other hand free. =========================================================== In the meantime, Kova, still fleeing from the old man that pursued him, apparently unhampered by Ryoko’s blasts, pieced together some things. ‘You again?’ ‘…my sword…’ ‘…teach my grandson…’ It all fitted in so well… "You’re Yosho!" He cried, spinning around. "So?" Katsuhito deftly somersaulted, half twisted, and ducked another series of Ryoko’s blasts. "Ryoko! Stop it! He’s Tenchi’s grandfather!" Ryoko’s eyes widened in surprise as she took in Kova’s pronouncement. "I’m sorry, great one!" He hastily put Nobuyuki on the ground. "Take care of him, please! And sorry!" They were already almost on the level of shrine. "What’s going on!?" Ryoko alighted, staring at Katsuhito. Katsuhito ignored her and picked Nobuyuki up, walking back to the shrine. She mentally slapped herself on the forehead. I should have known. It’s just like Yosho to act so unworried. =========================================================== Sasami went over, and placed the weapon in his outstretched and open hand. The creature raised the gun, triumphantly. "Let’s test this thing." He smiled evilly, his finger holding the trigger, as Sasami’s eyes widened in fear. Washu tried, and managed to, stop herself from grinning - her Stasis Discharger was ready for any such attempt. Instead however, the hand pulsed red for a moment, and then he grinned. "Object analysis complete. Purpose, to emit Tachyon stream capable of mass destruction, with adjustable setting." "My father…?" Tenchi asked, worried. "Oh yes, this human. We have no use for him, I’m afraid." He set Nobuyuki down, one hand holding the blaster, the other still keeping his sword point close to his throat. "So you may have him back." Tenchi’s eyes brightened hopefully. "His body, I mean." Grinning, the cyborg thrust his blade into Nobuyuki’s throat. "DAD!" Tenchi screamed, his voice the utter embodiment of horror and loss. Laughing maniacally, Kova kicked the body over to Tenchi, and back flipped away. Yellow lasers and pink blasts split the air as Kiyone, Mihoshi and Washu attacked while Aeka charged at the murderer. The scarlet laser sword lashed out, knocking the tiny guardians out of the air, and laser blasts shot back at Aeka’s shield. "Dad…" Tenchi whispered brokenly, cradling Nobuyuki, with a gaping red hole in his throat. Sasami, her eyes tearful, knelt by him, trying not to see the dead body. "Tenchi, I…" Her eyes widened in fear as Nobuyuki’s eyes sprang open. Tenchi felt a vicious kick in his stomach and he sailed back into the air, as Nobuyuki grabbed the stunned Sasami around the waist. The princess gasped in fear as before her astonished face Nobuyuki’s throat mended back. "YOU!" Tenchi shouted in anger and shock as he got up, stomach hurting, and Washu, Mihoshi and Kiyone turned around, but not attacking for fear of striking Sasami. "Farewell, humans." The robot smirked. "Stellar, Solar, take us up!" Kiyone, Mihoshi and Washu watched helpless, as a silver light from the heavens enveloped Nobuyuki and the struggling Sasami under his arms. Aeka opened her eyes in shock as a beam of white descended from the night sky and sucked the Kova cyborg upwards in mid leap, so that she just skimmed by under. The thing grinned at her as her blue force field just missed it, and vanished skywards. === End of Chapter === NOTES: Kova is in a way, an SIed character. Pls include him in your comments, whether I have portrayed him as a person, as a friend or foe, as one of the gang, and most importantly, as a human being. I have some pictures of him, not too good pencil drawings, if you wish to take a look pls mail me. I hope you have enjoyed this Fanfic as much as I have typing it. If there are any more grammar errors, I beg your forgiveness, as my sole proofreader is myself. This is my first FF, so go ahead and mail me at zyraen@yahoo.com with comments, especially on character portrayal, realism.