Disclaimer:Tenchi Muyo is not mine. All characters belong to Pioneer and AIC inc. Blah blah blah. In The Beginning Part 2 Tortured Souls Music reverberated off the walls. The sound traveled through all parts of the ship. The huge organ was the only thing that gave Kagoto any solace. And after this humiliation he needed it. His carefully laid planes all for nothing. His greatest triumph turned out to be his greatest defeat. Kagoto was not happy. His music was beautiful in its mastery of play. Unfortunately there was no one else to hear it; except for professor Washu. Within the altered negative dimension that the Soja encompassed was the trophy room of Kagoto. At the back end, made into a center piece was the crystalline stasis tomb of Professor Washu. She was of diminutive size. Appearing to be on the edge of entering puberty though she was almost 20,000 years old. Professor Washu, self proclaimed to be the greatest scientific mind in the entire universe. And many of her pears and colleges agreed. Washu had studied all kinds of sciences from chaos theory to starship drive theory to planetary geology. But she was best known for her study of genetics. It was assumed that she had found the proverbial fountain of youth within her studies. That's why she looked the way she did. Young and never changing though she was older than anybody. Even the long lived jurians. Though the truth be known, she was a beautiful full figured woman when she was in love, with a husband and a little boy. But his noble family betrayed her and forced him to leave her. Since that day she has worn the young diminutive sized form she wears now. But now she was a prisoner. Trapped and entombed. A living death. Only one part of her brain showed any activity. All other areas of her being, from her top knotted red hair to the bottom hem of her green royal science academy coat, were frozen and still. After 2000 years of partnership and study Kagoto made his move. After her greatest achievement, the creation of Ryoko. Kagoto was a colleague and had a fire, like Washu, for genetics. Both where looking to create the perfect being. Though too late she discovered that the reasons where diametrically opposite. Washu needed to fill a space empty for too long after her husband left her with her baby boy. Washu was crushed for 1000s of years before she was able to cope with the idea of creating a new child. One that was all hers, created from her own ovary eggs. One that would live long years as she did and never be susceptible to injury. But Kagoto had other plans for the creation. And after a short period of teaching her new daughter how to cope and live life normally Kagoto took it all away. He tricked and betrayed her. Sealed her up in this tomb. That was nearly 3000 years ago. Though she was not without one outlet to the world. She had designed into Ryoko a telepathic link. So Washu was able to receive thoughts and feelings from her daughter. Not that this was a blessing. Just the opposite. She remembered everything that Kagoto did to Ryoko. He had deadened her emotions through science and psychological torture. Not to mention all the torturous training to make her a killing machine. He erased psychologically any though of self worth other that how powerful and deadly she could be. How many times he inflicted wounds for no reason or even killed her, only to watch her come back from it. But the worst to Washu was that he had erased Ryokos memory of her mother. But now, instead of another bout of pain and suffering to endure from Kagoto via the telepathic link from Ryoko. Her mind was virtually flipping with delight. Mentally she was saying to herself, "Yes, yes, go Ryoko. Run, run, far away from him. So far he cannot find you. Run Ryoko . Fly away my beloved daughter. Fly away and be free." Yosho stood in the apartment of his parents. Azusa sat in his throne-like chair just gazing at his son. Funaho stood by one of the walls not desiring the chair next to her. Misaki was away seeing to her daughters. Yosho thought to himself. He almost felt sorry for Ayeka and Sasami. A slight "Ahhem" of Azusa clearing his throat brought Yosho back under his gaze. Yosho new his father very well. He was a tall strong looking man. As well as a powerful leader. He had the admiration of all the high council as well as the senate of nobility. He was also very careful. In the world of political intrigue and noble power maneuverings one had to be. Even the slightest wrong gesture or word could come back to bit you or even cause you to loose position. Azusa waited taking in Yoshos account of the events that had happened that day as well as a pile of other reports. He sat there unmoving as if waiting for a move so he could counter move. It was one of his many tactics to keep control of a situation. It was also second nature to him. Yosho waited. He had been under this kind of treatment many times in the past. He understood that he was not in any trouble. To an outside observer though Yosho was about to be toasted over the grill. Yosho secretly wished that his father would not be so stiff and formal. That was one of his failings. Not even the 1200 years with his characteristically unroyal emotional second wife could crack his disposition. "Very well Yosho. Azusa finally said. This cannot go unanswered and you appear to be the only candidate able to accomplish this." He stood and took a step toward his son. The look on his face appeared stony, cold and angry. But Yosho knew better. He was worried. "How soon will you leave?" Yosho replied, "My ship was damaged. I have a repair crew working on her. They estimate that she will be done early tomorrow morning. I will leave to pursue the Demon Ryoko as soon as I am able." "Then stay in contact with us. I want frequent updates. And remember , I am expecting an answer to my question." Azusa then offered his hand to Yosho ,who took it, and gave a pat on his shoulder. "Good luck. And may Tsunami go with you, my son." Said Azusa with an edge to his voice that said what his word could not. < I'm proud of you son. I love you. Be careful. > "Thank you father" said Yosho, his voice almost cracking. Azusa almost never displayed any kind of affection. Funaho stepped to his side and took him by the arm. She guided him out of the apartment before speaking. "I am very proud of you Yosho. Who knows what damage could have been done if Ryoko had gotten into the palace." "Thank you mother." They walked arm an arm down the hall towards Yoshos apartment. " What's wrong dear?" Funaho asked. "Oh it's nothing, mother." Funaho not being fooled or brushed away said, "is it what is going to happen or is what happens after that bothers you." Yosho looked over to her, "Am I that easy to read mother?" "Only because I know you so well. Besides I have had over 2000 years to study human behavior." Yosho smiled as he chuckled. But then got sober. With a sigh he said "Its what comes after. And that dam decision Father has placed upon me and .a lot of things." "Does the cloak of royalty still chaff you? I thought you would have gotten used to it by now." They stopped at Yoshos door and went inside. "Its not that really. It's that I have heard some things and placed together some others. (Sigh) I think that there will be trouble brewing." "In the court of intrigue and political power there is always something brewing. Funaho replied. Right now all intrigue will be put on hold for rebuilding and restructuring." "But you don't understand what I'm getting at." Yosho said and almost regretted it. "Don't I? Do you think that I have not had to go through the same things as you?" Yosho was stopped cold at his mothers' words. He opened his mouth to speak when Funaho spoke first. "Hush now. We will have a nice long mother son talk about it when you get back. But right now we need to get you packed. And you need to get some sleep before takoff." Yosho let it drop and allowed his mother to take charge of the situation. For witch he was grateful; for he needed to compose a message to Ayeka before he left. The drifting gasses and debris made a thick soup. Laced with latent energy and radioactive particles, it made the perfect hiding spot. The Funaho scanned the area for two days before venturing into the proto-star soup. Making sure that the Ryo-Ohki did not just fly though the mass in order to elude its pursuers. The cloud was just off one of the many space lanes going to Juri. Plus it was just out of Juri space proper. And since it was an obvious place for pirates to hide in for an ambush; steps had been made to insure no pirate would be foolish enough to use it. Monitoring satellites had been emplaced and a special sensor net partial blanket had been placed throughout the cloud. But Ryoko had disabled the satellites. This surprised Yosho a little. It did not fallow the demons normal routine. And nothing had moved in the two days he had sat and monitored the cloud. Also it was one of the worst spots to choose to wait out for the heat to go down. Using normal channels Yosho should have reported to the Jurian military and the Galaxy Police of Ryokos whereabouts. But the televised news stations where blacked out of the whole affair. Everything about the assault was being classified. Juri was doing its damnedest to keep the incident quiet. So getting a huge battle fleet or two would certainly cause a stir. Plus it did not sit well with Yosho. Ryoko and Yosho had battled, though neither had won. The demon ran as if it new what was going to happen, not that it was beaten. And to step back and let some else finish for him what he started would shame his honor. So the Funaho ventured into the cloud looking for the Ryo-Ohki. It took several hours before Yosho picked up a faint alter-space echo. Viewing this he was reminded that within the cloud all forms of communication would most likely be blocked. The source would have to be man made and close. Yosho followed the echo to a small planetoid. The planetoid was moonlike but did have an atmosphere. It was light in gravity and he would need a protective barrier and oxygen. Ryoko was leaning on an craggy outcropping of rock patently waiting. Yosho landed and ventured out with said energy barrier and oxygen supply. Walking up to meet the demon it said "Its about time you got here." "I must say, hitching a ride on Ryo-Ohki was clever of you." "So you new that I would come after you." Yosho stated. "I was counting on it. Its not every day I find someone who can give me a challenge and live to tell about it. I new your Jurian pride would not let you let me get away." "I would call it honor." "Whatever, your going to be just as dead anyway." Ryoko summoned her energy and formed her energy blade. Yosho likewise formed his blade from his tenchican, the master key. The combatants flew at each other to meet in the middle with a clash of energy. Ryoko was an expert at flying with or without gravity. Yosho was still subject to gravitational laws but not so much as in their last encounter. Yosho quickly learned that staying on the ground was as much a benefit as it was a hindrance. But with the danger of flying off into the soup without any flying or navigation ability would be very fatal. So he stayed on the ground. Ryoko pushed Yosho hard trying to keep him off balance with multiple attacks from every corner; even from underneath. Yosho countered the demon with every attack. Ryoko upped the ante with power bolts forcing Yosho to use his Jurian power for a shield. Ryoko, thinking to herself, knew that to go into a battle rage would not be a wise choice with such formidable opponent. But it was like her calling card, and it would make such a good feint for her purposes. Ryoko screamed her furry with her downturned brow over her demonic red glowing eyes. The demon smashed down on Yosho nearly knocking him to his knees. With a maelstrom of blows Yosho was knocked back, his feet skidding over the loose ground loosing several feet with each hit. The blades clashed so hard sparks flew from them. Yosho was holding his own but the power of this demon was enormous. He continued to defend meeting the barrage with all the power he could muster, waiting for an opening. He noticed Ryoko had gotten into a rhythm and saw his opportunity. He waited for the series of blows to come around again then ducked a slash and attacked slashing upward. The blow hit Ryoko at the side of the ribcage cutting through at least two ribs. Ryoko stifled a yelp of pain and kicked at Yosho. The demon kicked Yoshos sword arm upward. Yosho did not let go of his tenchican and the blade proceeded to cut up the ribcage and out through the top of the shoulder cutting off the right arm completely. Ryoko stumbled back and fell to her knees. Yosho got to his feet and walked over to Ryoko. "You are beaten, Demon. Time for you to go back to hell" he said raising his tenchican. Ryoko, holding its side closed while blood streamed down its side ,Laughed at Yosho. "Ha Ha HA ha. You fell for it, Sucker!" Then Ryoko fazed away. Yosho was stunned as he looked all around for the demon. He spied the demon and saw the Ryo-Ohki closing on it fast. Yosho ran at the demon intending to finish it off before it got away. As he ran he watched Ryoko stick its hand inside it own body cavity and pull something out and crush it. Then discarding it reached inside again. This time when it pulled its head jerked to one side as if its hair was pulled. The demon screamed in pain as it pulled. Yosho was upon it again and the Ryo-Ohki was right above. Red rings surrounded the demon as Yoshos blade descended. But the demon was gone and the blade hit nothing but air. On the Ryo-Ohki Ryoko materialized in front of her chair and collapsed into it. Leaning to the left to keep her innards where they belonged. Her bleeding had stopped though she was still soaked by it. She was pasty white pail too. She could tell the signs of shock setting in. "Oh well, its not the first time I've died." She flipped on the external laud speaker. "Thank you Prince Yosho for your services. As a consequence I will not kill you this time. So long prince." With short unsteady breaths she said "Ok Ryo-Ohki you know what to do," and the ship Ryo-Ohki flew with increasing speed away from the cloud. Yosho had already keyed for Funaho to come pick him up. The battle he noticed took them some distance from his ship. As the ship arrived some kind of energy wave sweaped down upon him buffeting him and his ship. With no apparent damage he was transported onto his ship along with a couple of souvenirs. On what served as a bridge of the Funaho Yosho told the ship "Go after the Ryo-Ohki." The ship responded "Unable to comply." "What ? Why not?" No sensory data on the Ryo-Ohkis heading is at hand." "What do you mean? It was just there." "Wait a minute. What was that last energy wave?" "It was a dispensing wave from the Ryo-Ohki. The Ryo-Ohki is at every quadrant point as far as the sensors can perceive." Yoshos frustration showed upon his face. "Very clever Ryoko. It could take me days to pick up your trail again." "Funaho, move us out of the cloud then begin scanning for the Ryo-Ohki." Yosho moved over to his science station was. The techno sciences was a hobby of his So he did have some devises that most ships did not. Including a small table lab. First he scooped up the metallic rectangle that had been crushed by Ryoko. He placed it in the scanner and waited for the results. Next he took the severed arm of Ryoko and got a tissue sample. He could not help but notice what appeared to be a jewel imbedded into the wrist of the arm. He cut it out of the wrist and set it aside for examination. Yosho became engrossed is his scanning and testing. It became like a puzzle to him that he wanted to solve. It came as a surprise to him when he looked up to notice that several hours had passed. "Did you find anything yet Funaho?" He asked. "No, the Ryo-Ohkis exit vector has not been found." "When you do set in a course to fallow at best possible speed." Yosho turned to a vid recorder and flipped it on. "Personal log. Date 1965.8. I battled Ryoko again in the kariuti proto-star cloud. Apparently it was a setup of sorts. I apparently won but I was meant to win. It appears that Ryoko had a tracker device imbedded into it torso. Also this device had a protection program that was attached directly to the brain. I surmise that the demon could not remove the device itself and therefore needed someone else to inflict a wound so the device could be removed." Yosho stopped to collect his thoughts. "In the battle I took off the entire right arm and shoulder. Enabling Ryoko to remove the device. However in doing so it sacrificed its arm and more. I scanned its genetic makeup to find that it is like no other humanoid known. It is like it has been genetically engineered to be the perfect being. Of course I would rather have the real biological scientists at the academy confirm this hypothesis." "It also sacrificed this." Yosho held up the red jewel inside a stasis field jar to the vid camera. "I cannot tell much from it except that it is some kind of power gem. However even with the apparent ability of regeneration the power in this gem should burn a path right through flesh. But the arm shows nothing like that. It is like the two where meant to work together. But, he said with a sigh, it seems that it is loosing power. In a mater of a few hours it should desolve into nothing even within the stasis field. I am taking all tests and measurements I can while it is still here. I wish I could know why it desolves but I can't. "Next comes two questions. Who is keeping tabs or maybe controlling this powerful creature? And two, who has the ability to create such a creature." "I believe the two questions have the same answer." "Getting some info from the academy and the Galaxy police gave me some possible suspects. The list is long but one name seems to just jump out at me. Kagoto." "He has the genetic background. Plus they are known to work together. In several instances where Ryoko attacks the Soja just happens to be somewhere in the vicinity too." "It is a clever setup, Ryoko gets the badguy fame and Kagoto gets the spoils." "Though this too is only speculation and with the academy saying to the press that the ex-scientist is just a mad man going after old moldy trinkets, does not give credit to my speculation." "But the all-encompassing question is why? Why, create such a powerful creature to rob old manuscripts and raid tombs. And then use it to spread terror and destruction?" "Why then attack the planet of Juri itself? And why is the demon Ryoko willing to sacrifice its power and maybe its life to separate itself from its partner or master?" Yosho turned off the vid recorder and turned to attempt to get some sleep for his troubled mind. Yoshos sleep was disturbed with dreams. He was walking through a battlefield with dead all around him. All of the dead had fine garb of nobility on them instead of armor. "What could have done this?" He asked aloud. "Something with great power" said a voice. Yosho looked down and found the master key in his hand. It seemed like the voice came from it but swords do not talk. Though he new that the master key was more than just a sword, but he could not remember what. He mentally grasped at an answer. All he could come up with something about a goddess a tree and power. He did remember that the master key was carved from a tree. A very special tree, but no more than that. "How do I kill something that has this much power?" "Do you have this much power" He asked the sword in his hand? "No, I do not. But we can still defeat it." Said the sword to him. "How?" "By taking away its power. Absorbing it." Yosho held up the sword to him. He was about to ask how but was interrupted by the sound of a child. He looked away from the sword and found little Sasami standing close by. "Sasami? What are you doing here? Its not safe here." He walked up to her and saw that she was bleeding from a wound to her head. He knelt down in front of her. She looked frightened as if she did not know where she was. She turned back to Yosho and said in her toddler way, "don't judge her too harshly." She paused as Yosho was shocked but quickly regained his composure. "She did not mean it." Yosho was about to scold Sasami about not understanding grownup affaires when a scream came from ahead of him. He jumped to his feet and ran toward the scream. He saw a giant gangly monster with a wild mop of white hair and in the colors of red and black. It moved away from him and its latest victim. Yosho though it was Ayeka but when he got to her and held her in his arms the face that looked up to him was Funahos. "Mother" he cried. She spoke to him though its sound was like a whisper. "Forgive her." Yosho screamed his anguished pain into the air of the battlefield of death. Yosho startled himself out of the nightmare. He got himself out of bed and grabbed the master key as he went. He waked over to the science table and stood their. He closed his eyes and concentrated. He stood motionless for several minutes till finally he spoke with a memory. " The tenchican can be like an encompassing wave of water or as hard as the hardest steel." Yosho opened his eyes and ignited the master key. "Absorb instead of repel." He concentrated and then move the tip of the blade to the red jewel floating inside the stasis field. Like a magnet the jewel moved to the side of the jar. Then it moved through the glass, without damaging it, and down within the center of the blade to the globe next to the hilt. Then the jewel dissipated and disappeared. Yosho looked at his sword. Detecting no residual stray energy he said "I've got you now demon." Bending down to his knees he began to pray. "Tsunami, blessed goddess. I thank you for your wisdom that you have bestowed upon me. I swear that I will succeed in doing your bidding. I will destroy the Demon Ryoko. I thank you for your other blessings.." Within the other world where the goddess Tsunami dwells the goddess looks up from her water pool. With a long sigh she speaks "Yosho, you misunderstand." "You do not listen to the whole message. You are blinded by hate and anger, fear." "I will have to whisper more into your ear. I hope that I can make you see, before its too late." Ayeka walked down one of the many walkways of the palace grounds. She bowed her head to acknowledge a pair bowing to her as she passed. She turned into another walkway. This walkway lead into the combat training area for the nobility. She walked strait to the dojo and up its stairway. She pulled the chime cord and waited. A servant soon opened the doorway and bowed. "The sensai is expecting you Princess, this way please." She followed the servant who took her into a pleasantly decorated chamber where her sensai waited. "Greetings sensei, I am here as you have asked." "Thank you for coming Princess Ayeka. Please sit. Would you like some tea?" The sensei motioned for the servant to prepare the tea. While the tea and cake were being prepared and served Ayeka took her time to take in the room. She had not been here before. It was a sparsely decorated room but still gave a sense of calm. she thought to herself. When the servant was finished with serving the tea she departed to leave the princess and sensei alone. Taking a sip from his cup the sensei spoke up. "I wanted to take to you princess about your future." "When you first signed up for the self-defense class I was surprised." "Surprised? How so?" Inquired Ayeka. "Even to the nobles who dwell within the palace the talk is always centered around the royal family. Of course you know that your lives are like an open book to all." The sensei sipped some more tea and collected his next words. "It gives insight into the person being talked about so much." "I think that rumor and conjecture hardly qualify as a base for insight into someone's character." Said Ayeka getting her back up. "True; to believe everything you here would be folly. However, at the time for what I knew of you it did surprise me." He paused again then continued. "I was concerned about your honor at the time. I wondered if you would finish the training. Fortunately I was wrong. You have more strength and determination than I gave you credit for." Ayeka smiled at her sensei's admission. "So it was not so much a shock when I learned that you signed up for a second year. However my concerns remained. And I believed that I may have to ask you to leave the training since you where falling behind in the class." Ayeka sighed, "It is true that I found the second year to be much more difficult than the first. But I did do better. I have redoubled my efforts." Holding him hand up to calm Ayeka from getting into hysterical fit as she is known to do he continued. "Yes Princess you have. Ever since the attack from the demon Ryoko, you have trained extra hours and with greater determination. You train like your possessed." "I hope your not planing on challenging Ryoko yourself," he joked. "If it comes to that, I must be prepared." Replied Ayeka with a determined set to her jaw. The sensei sighed and pored himself another cup of tea. Then he looked at the princess. "If you continue to work like you have for the past few months with your final testes you will pass with your fellow students." Ayeka smiled at this. "But I would like to talk to you about next years training." "You have noticed that half the students had dropped by the end of the first year, and only a third of the class remains from the second year. The third year will be even harder." He looked into his cup of tea to gather his thoughts again. "Princess Ayeka, I know how much you admire your fathers prowess and especially Yoshos. But I do not believe that you will be able to follow in their footsteps. It is not within your nature to be like them." "What do you know of me and what I am capable of?" demanded Ayeka with a furrowed brow of anger. The sensei set down his cup on the table and looked strait at Ayeka catching her eye. "I have studied the arts for over 3000 years Princess. And I have seen them come and go. You fight defensively princess. Even your weapons that you chose to train on, the staff and the wipe. They are both more defensive than attack type weapons. "You do not posses the eye of the eagle as we say." Ayeka fought to keep from pouting and looked up from her hands to her sensei. "What about Kuentie the warrior queen, she was not known for her strength as a blade welder of great prowess but yet she was one of our most famous warriors." "True but she also had an ability that few posses. Much like Yosho who is undefeated and considered by some as legend in his own time." Ayeka sat their dejected, her tea going flat an tasteless. "Take heart Princess all is not lost." He sipped his tea again and made sure that he did have Ayeka attention again. "You are going to be going through you joining with , ahhh. Ryu-oh is it?" Ayeka smiled slightly. It was nearly time for her to go through the ritual of joining with her chosen tree. She had been in preparation of this for nearly a month already. By eating of her leaves and bark and once a week drinking a mixture from her sap. "Yes sensei, I will be going through the ritual the week after next." "And just after your year end tests." Commented the sensei. "Their will be a great many changes when that happens." "Many who go through the tests double up on their training and try to hone them into their combat training. This technique does work and gives them an edge over many of their fellow students, but it also curbs their abilities in other ways." "Princess Ayeka, I suggest to you that you take the year off from combat training and concentrate on your newfound abilities. If you feel that you want to continue your training with us, we may talk about it then." Ayeka's spirit was consoled but she still felt down. She finished her tea and asked for leave. Ayeka was joined outside of the dojo by her guardians Azaka and Kamidaki. She walked down the walkway with her head held high to face once again an uncertain future. Sasami waited patiently outside the joining area. It was the walled off place within the great cavernous room where all the Jurian trees where kept. It is the place where all nobles go when it is time to join with their tree. A caretaker opened the door in front of her and spoke, "Come in Princess Sasami. Your sister is waiting for you." Sasami followed the caretaker to the room where Ayeka was recuperating from her joining. Seeing her sister sitting up along side her bed Sasami gave a happy shout "Ayeka!" and ran to her and embracing her sisters knees. Ayeka smiled at her little sister and patted her on the shoulder. "It is good to see you too Sasami. But where is mother?" "She could not make it. She had a meeting. She said that she will be here to see you at lunch time." Replied Sasami. "I think that I would like to take a walk now." Ayeka said to the caretaker. The caretaker sighed and mover to the rooms corner where rested a staff. She took it over to the princess and helped her to her feet. "Be careful now princess. Do not push yourself too hard. You only regain enough strength to walk yesterday." "I will." said Ayeka. Ayeka moved away from her bed and over to Ryu-oh her tree that shared the room with her. She touched the trunk of the tree gently like a lovers caress. "I will not be long." She said to it. Walking with the staff in hand and holding onto Sasami's hand with the other the two princesses walked among the other jurian trees chatting about this and that joking and generally enjoying each others company. Finally Sasmi asked "What was it like when they joined you?" Ayeka thought back to all the things that had happened in the last several weeks. It was a long procession of things to do to prepare for the joining. It takes a whole month to prepare and then the actual joining is a long ordeal too. Ayeka remembered the shock and the rapturous pain of joining. Ayeka did not know how to describe it. And then there was the problems that she was told about. The preparations have been tested over thousands of years but still where not fail proof. Ayeka joining took longer that it should and she became unstable. The caretakers said that they almost lost her. Such things where rare but still did happen. After the joining Ayeka was uncountious a whole day and bedridden for another two. Ayeka looked down to her sister and replied "I never though of myself as being separated from anything, but joining feels like suddenly being apart of a greater whole." "I wonder if marriage is like this?" Sasami giggled at her sister and her cheeks got pink. Ayeka joined her sisters infectious laugh. The two had walked and now found themselves a the foot of the great sacred tree Tsunami. Sasami looked at her sister who was staring with aww at the great tree. She had seen the changes in her sister from the joining. She looked more vibrant with a happy contented glow like an pregnant expectant mother. She also seemed to be a little off in a dreamy state of mind. Finally Ayeka spoke up to her sister. "I will have many new powers to discover and learn how to use. I think I have found one already." "What's that Ayeka?" "Power. I can see the power within the trees." Ayeka said looking down at her sister. "I can see the power in you too Sasami." She bent down to look more closely at her little sister. Looking at her sister face to face she said "It looks just as bright as the power of Tsunami." Sasami took a sharp intake of breath at the statement, and felt something come over her from within. Her eyes flashed with power as she moved her hand up to her sisters forehead and touched it saying "Forget". Ayeka's knees gave way and she collapsed onto her haunches. Her eyes fluttered and then she blinked them open again. "I'm sorry Ayeka." Said Sasami. "What? What do you mean Sasami? It's not your fault that I fell." She wrapped her arm around her little sister and said. "Theirs nothing to be sorry for Sasami." Getting back to her feet with Sasami's help she said. "I'm getting tired, I think that we should be getting back now." And the two princesses started heading back. Princess Sasami/Tsunami was still a little worried as she thought to herself Time went on and Ayeka did grow strong. Though her discovered powers where not as numerous as she had hoped, but they where powerful. She developed an affinity to the study of power shields and all the nuances and manipulations of them; they where her strongest ability. She also discovered the abilities of power strength, levitation and telekinesis. And some minor power in flying and power bolt. Ayekas abilities seemed to grow almost daily. Her power grew to a level to surpass Yosho with shields and even to match her fathers abilities. When he heard about this Azaka swelled with pride and forgot all about telling her to stop this training that some had though of as unbecoming of a princess. Ayeka's new course of action had not come without a price though. The attack of the demon Ryoko had awoken her to an epiphany of her world. She saw how naive she was and how shallow she and her companions where. Since her change in attitude she had lost many of her so called friends and had become more dependant on Sasami. The little princess Sasami had seemed to take to spending time with Ayeka without encouragement. But the little princess did give worry to her mother and nursemaid. Though she was generally the happy little girl sometimes she seemed lost in though and sad at that or she seemed mad at some unseen advisory. Her nursemaid had caught her talking to her self in the mirror one time as if she where arguing with herself. But she would never talk about it even to he mother or sister whom she was getting very close with. More time passed, and to the long lived Jurians who seldom noticed the passage of decades all seemed to be normal again. All except for two princesses. It was at one of the many state functions that happened throughout the year. Though this one was less formal with wives and children welcome. Ayeka stood near her father and mother though she was not interested in the conversation going on. She was thinking of a few weeks past when she had ordered her Ryu-oh to be placed within a ship frame. It was her first official decision as an adult on her birthday. She had been worrying about Yosho too, lately. Suddenly she was shook out of her train of thought. "Oh, I'm sorry. My mind was preoccupied," she said with an apologetic smile. The official that her father was talking too smiled back; she had forgotten his name already. "I was saying princess that I have my son here with me tonight. He is about your age and I though that you might like his company better than listening g to a couple of statesmen talk business." Ayeka said, "I'm sure that you will introduce me when we see him." She said gracefully not to agree or not. " I know where he is," said second queen Misaki. She pulled Ayeka away and they headed over across the vast chamber. Queen Misaki was practically guiddy. She was such a socialite and she loved these functions. She could barley control her self as she pulled Ayeka alone and stooped at almost every grouping of people and table to talk to someone. What surprised Ayeka was the number of people that she knew the names of. It was like she memorized the hierarchy of the empires governmental offices. Witch was an enormous number considering the empire expanded over thousands of star systems. Ayeka spied a glance of Sasami, with her long double poinytailed hair, peeping around a corner at the assembly. Ayeka though that it was strange to see her. She should be with the other young children of the nobility. Ayeka though over the fact that she had caught Sasami eavesdropping and spying apone several people around the palace. She though to herself Sasami was growing up and had left her toddler years behind. , though Ayeka. But the thought made her sad, though she did not understand why. She did not have time to reflect on this for she was sweped away again by her mother to an other table where sat a collection of three young men. Ayeka new already what her mother intended and gave a mental . But she could not give away such emotions unbecoming of a princess. she though to herself as they started introductions. Ayeka sat in her private bath next to her apartments. It had been a long night but it was an enjoyable one. Ti'lee was the name of the dignitaries son. A young officer newly commissioned to the central command in their communications division. He was nervous at first and a little awkward. But he did settle down after a while and even proved himself to be a good dancer. Ayeka liked him and thought that she would like to see him again. she thought. The thought of Yosho brought her good mood crashing down. . She pulled herself out of the bath before her beautiful delicate skin could start to wrinkle. She dried her hair and got ready for bed. As she sat down in front of her vanity cabinet as she thought back to the party. She did remember now why her mother and father quickly arranged for her to meet Ti'lee. The dignitary, Lord Kalseto had asked about Yosho and his whereabouts. Obviously her father did not want to have Ayeka hear what he had to say about Prince Yosho. And so Ayeka was separated by Misaki. Ayeka was upset about the whole affair. Not only was she maneuvered out of the way but it was done by her own parents and so easily too. Ayeka thought with irritation to herself. The party did do one thing for her, it let her not feel so alone as she did now. She tried to think about the times her and Sasami would sleep together in the same room. It was sorta like a slumber party that she heard the commoners do. But Ayeka did not think that even Sasami could brighten her mood now. Bed time was always the saddest part of the day. As Ayeka finished brushing her long hair and put down her brush, she moved her hand over to the message recorder that sat on her desk and pushed the play button. "Ayeka, dearest". Said the miniature holographic Yosho. "Tomorrow I leave to do battle with the Demon Ryoko. When I return we will be wed..." "Oh Yosho. Where are you?" She said forlornly. Then she got up and went to bed. "I cannot just sit here in the palace and wait forever. I must find out if father is keeping something from me. I must find out what happened to Yosho." Ayeka rolled over and started to drift off to sleep with the beginnings of a plan on her mind. It had been many months of chasing the Demon Ryoko before Yosho had finally found it on a colony world far out in the outer territories. Oh, he had caught up to the Demoness a couple of times but Ryoko and Ryo-Ohki had eluded him the first time. And the second, to Yosho's great surprise Ryoko turned to fight and got a lucky shot in and disabled his Funaho. But instead of finishing him off it turned and ran again. This confused Yosho greatly. He was finding that their was more to this demon than he expected. Now Yosho was on the planets surface. He had discovered Ryoko's area of location but had landed a long distance away in order to avoid detection. He was now stalking through a wooded area outside a rurally populated area. Ryoko was very close somewhere ahead of him. He walked on through the trees and brush looking, listening. After a while he came to a lake within a bowl like depression surrounded by hills covered in woodlands. He did not spy any people but their was a campsite of sorts on the other side of the lake. He knelt down to watch the camp and to think. Ryoko was nagging Yosho greatly. Every source of info on Ryoko was that it was a ruthless killer and cause of mass destruction. But since this chase began Ryoko had displayed nothing but a desire to flee and stay ahead of him. Their had been a few incidences where Ryoko did visit world city centers. One resident galaxy police officer actually believed that they had run the demon off their world. But instead of a temple or museum or bank Ryoko attacked a grocery mart. Granted their was a lot of collateral damage to other structures but the market was the objective. Not to mention several other opportunities to attack ships and rich worlds but it did not. It was completely contradictory to the demons reputation. It was more like chasing a common thug. Granted a thug with a fast ship and enough power to scour a planet but still a thug. "What is going on with you Ryoko" Yosho mused to himself. Yosho was there thinking for only a minute when his attention was directed to the lake. From the depths of the lake came a vision of beauty that broke the surface of the lake. Water spilled down its nude lithe feminine form and its long hair sparkled from the reflected sun that highlighted the vision from behind. Yoshos mouth went dry and he had to swallow. He was caught off guard and stunned by the beautiful vision; till he saw the gleam of red light coming from the eyes. "Ryoko" he whispered to himself as he hunkered down to hide himself more within the brush. Ryoko pulled up from the water a large fishlike creature in her hand and took to the air and headed for the campsite. Yosho chassend himself for his surprise and lack of emotional control. "Dam you Yosho, it could have had you in an instant. You must be more careful." Yosho move silently and stelthfully around the lake heading for the campsite of Ryokos. Yosho feared that Ryoko would rather flee again rather than accept a direct challenge. So in thinking this he planed on surprising the demon. Yosho could see clearly the campsite. He was nearly in position and ready. He could see that Ryoko was again dressed and cooking the fish over the campfire. Surprisingly to Yosho he saw a small furry creature nearby munching contentedly on some green foliage. Yosho was slightly taken aback for he never though that a demon of such destructive power and a killer of thousands would have a pet. He was about to jump out of the brush to confront Ryoko when he heard a noise from his right. It was a humanoid boy child. He was running trough the woods and he started calling "Ryoko, Ryoko!" Yosho jumped from his concealment and ran after the boy who now was ahead of him. "Boy stop! Stay away from that demon!" The boy was startled and stopped to look at Yosho. Ryoko, looking over her shoulder saw the boy and smiled when Yosho jump out of the brush. With intake of suprise she teleported right between the boy and Yosho. Yosho stopped up short and ignited the master key as Ryoko appeared in front of him. The two warriors faced off of one another; blades ignited. "Estabon get out of here" said Ryoko to the child. The boy was stunned and open mouthed with shock. "Yes, this is no place for you. Run and I'll handle this demon." Said Yosho. Yosho was intent on Ryoko as he faced it down. It was a kind of a showdown with the two combatant watching eachother. Each one looking to the eyes to see the slightest movement for action. To Yoshos surprise Ryokos eyes where different from when they had last set face to face. They where now visible with yellowish-amber irises and the red glow of power was dimmer. It glowed only out from the retina's and circled the irises. Plus he noticed the slight upturn of the brow when called a demon, as if it was hurt from the accusation. The boy found his voice and said "No. Ryoko is not a demon. And who do you think you are." "I am prince Yosho and Ryoko must pay for the crimes and murders it has done." "What? Ryoko tell him. Your not a demon you're a forest nymph like you said, right?" said estabon with a worried look on his face. With a sigh Ryoko spoke with a gentle voice. "Estabon, I'm sorry. I let you think that I was a nymph like you first though. I did not correct you cause I wanted to be something else for a while. I wanted to escape my past. I am really a space pirate. The most hated and feared." "Is that what all this was about? Said Yosho. "You just wanted to do the biggest job of you illustrious carrier and then try to escape? Turn over a new leaf and start a new life? Ha, don't make me laugh. There is no place you can run to. No place that you will not be hunted and hated. And you especially cannot run from yourself Ryoko." "Well prince, replyed Ryoko, it certainly seems like there is no requirement t for brains in the royal family." At this point Ryoko struck lightning quick but Yosho parried the blow and came back with a counter swing and a quick jab that Ryoko as well parried. And the fight stared in ernest. As they fought Yosho watched as Ryokos power built and formed on its face with the claws of power. The combatants parried and jabbed dodged and spun in a dance of death. Estabon looked on the combatants with a horror stricken red face. He began to get very upset and cry as he shouted, "stop it! Stop it, both of you!" "Ryoko! I don't care if you're a space pirate or a demon, your my friend! Please stop!" At that moment Ryoko tried a double attack with a single handed swing with its laser sword and a electric power ball attack. Yosho put up his power shield just in time to deflect the attacks that dispersed over it. Estabons hair was blown back when this happened and the air began to crackle with energy. Wisely he retreated at a run to put some distance from the combatants. It seemed that this put some ease to Ryoko as well, noted Yosho, for it began to attack with even more powerful energy attack than before. The two combatants dance alone the valley floor and along the lake shore. Their energy dispersions felled trees and ignited brush as they fought on. The power the two combatants used was creating great destruction to the land around them. But they continued to battle around the fires and rents in the earth and felled trees and other obstacles. After many months and expense from various underground contacts Kagato had finally gotten the materials for his ship the Soja. In order to get it back to full operation. He was touring his ship thinking on what to do next. He contemplated on trying to recreate the Ryoko matrix. But he discard that. It would not have the power the last one did plus he detested the thought of retraining another. And Professor Washu would not reveal anything to him anyway since her notes where all in her perfect recall memory. Especially if he told her that her precious daughter was dead, he scoffed in his mind. Perhaps he could look up an old colleague; Yackage. Maybe he could make a copy of his matrix. Assuming that it was worthy of the predecessor. And then within the thrown room / bridge of his ship. Way over in a corner hidden behind a pillar Kagoto saw something that did not belong their. He levitated it up to his hand and smiled when he recognized what it was. It was the control box that he used to control the stubbornly willful Ryoko matrix. It was damaged but only a little for it still worked and it was active. "Well, well what have we here? And it is still receiving. So, my pet is still alive. I wonder where it has gotten off to now?" He took the device to his shop for repairs and down loaded the months of data. To his irritation it appeared that Ryoko was running away. "Oh how I hate to have to retrieve my property. I see I need to work on this piece of trash again on obedience and these pathetic thoughts of freedom." "I will just place a command override in the download stream and put a buster feedback link into the signal and then all I need do is wait for it to come crawling back." Kagoto chucked at himself for him genius in creating the command override system in the matrix. Powered and connected via the power gems within Ryoko. Yosho was using a lot of power. He was going to start draining his resevers soon. He stepped away from combating Ryoko and said, "you have given me a merry chase across the galaxy. But I have always wondered why. Why have you always run from me Ryoko? I'm staring to get the feeling that your afraid of me." "What?!" "Dream on Yosho, I'm not afraid of nothing!" Replied Ryoko. "Oh but you are. You are afraid of something. Or some one." "Shut up and fight!" Shouted Ryoko and attacked Yosho with a series of fierce blows; knocking Yosho back. Yosho put up a power shield and was pushed back with each blow from Ryoko. And in the midst of the demons furious attack its eyes flashed an brilliant red. When the blows stopped Yosho looked up at his advisary. Ryoko was levitating in front of him stiff and still with the whole of its eyes shining out with red power, and its lower lip began to tremble. Then it blew into a furious rage shouting, "NOOoo I wont go back! You can't make me!" Ryoko attacked Yosho again with redoubled furry. Yosho let go the power of the master key putting all his energy into his power shield. He shouted back at the screaming demoness. "Ryoko! What is it? Who is it? Who do you fear?!" Ryokos blows where so powerful that Yosho lost a good ten feet per blow. Plus Ryoko was putting all effort into each blow giving grunts of effort each time. Yosho new that he was loosing. His power was draining quickly with each blow. But in the birage of attacks Ryoko answered. "I.Will.Not..GO.Back.TO. You.KA.GO.TO!!!" Yosho noticed too late that Ryoko had backed him into a trio of trees where he could not escape from. As Ryoko continued its birage it pointed up with one hand and fired electric lasers bolts at the trees above. Yosho could only protect himself one side and Ryoko wait to the last moment to teleport out. Yosho was hit several times with pieces of wood branch and log. Through double blurred vision Yosho saw Ryoko hurl its pet into the air and watched with amazement as it expanded and formed into the space ship Ryo-Ohki. It was a shock and amazing to see but it pailed in comparison to what he saw before. In the midst of Ryokos furious attack it did not wear the face of an enraged fierce demon. Instead to Yosho shocked amazement the face of evil that Yosho had come to hate was crying. Under the evil gaze of the power red eyes where tears streaming down it face. And the face was a mask of horror and fear. Yosho keyed for Funaho and then ignited the master key to cut himself out of the tangle of tree limbs. Once untangled he was met by the boy Estabon. "Ryoko got away." He said with a smile. He then sobered with Yosho looking at him. "Umm.Princess Yosho, Sir. Ryoko really is not so bad." "Yes, replied Yosho, I am beginning to realize that." "My moma says that I have a gift. That I can see into other peoples hearts, and see who they really are." "Is that so?" Said Yosho. "Yes, I can see that your not so mean. Your just clouded with hate for what Ryoko has done. You're a nice man but you are saddened and troubled. I bet you got a lot of pride and dignity, and honor." "Is that so? Maybe you do have something of a gift. And what of Ryoko?" Asked Yosho. "She is kinda gruff, but that is just a fence she puts up. She has a dark and sad past so she has a lot of defenses that she uses. She is more like me in a way. I mean she is like a kid like me. Its hard to explain. I know she is an adult and has those superpowers but she only used them around me for having fun. Please Princess Yosho, don't judge her too harshly." Funaho finally arrived and Yosho turned to Estabon one last time. "I must stop her still Estabon. She is too powerful to let loose while others have the power to control her. Farewell Estabon." The Funaho brought Yosho abord and took off after Ryo-Ohki and Ryoko. Estabon smiled and waved as Yosho left. He had a feeling that something had changed in Yosho. Something for the better. Yosho stood at the center of his ship and contemplated to himself. < So. Kagoto is or was controlling Ryoko. And for all of her power she is still within a childlike state of mind. I have witnessed this as well as confirmed by Estabon. This speaks of mental torture perhaps.> Yosho sighed again and bowed his head massaging the bridge of his nose between the eyes with his fingers. And then he began a little prayer. "Oh Tsunami, give me strength to see this through. I no longer feel righteous in this cause." The Funaho raced along in Ryo-Ohki's wake trying to catch up to her as the Ryo- Ohki headed toward the boundary waters. The boundary waters, a strip of space and star systems that skirt along the edge of the Jurian empire. Where only geologists, explorers, separationests and pirates dwell. And beyond that the expanse of what is left of the unexplored galaxy. End of part II Writers note: Well this took longer than I thought. I would like an opinion of how to end this. I first thought to end it with the death of Ryoko but then I thought of a more happy ending at some point after Ryokos resurrection. I do hope that you are enjoying this. Next time we will see more intrigue and the escape of Ayeka and Sasami. And the climax of the Yosho/Ryoko battle and what happens after. Also we will explore Yoshos time on earth.