A storyline following the T.V.series and the first movie. This first part deals with the resurrection of an old foe and Tenchi's decision. Disclaimer: Everything here, except for a few original characters later on in the series belong to AIC and Pioneer LDC. I've been gone for a long time and have blown all my money on booze so please don't sue me. I'm just weak! Author's Note: This is only the beginning of a fairly long series (I like to make things epic), so don't throw it down yet. It won't seem too original in the beginning but will gain more and more of its own flavor as you go through. This first one though was more to get the feel of the characters and to see how closely I could come to capturing the feeling we have whenever we watch Tenchi Muyo! To help I wrote it partially to music from the Tenchi Universe and Tenchi the Movie. This might also add to the experience for you, if you can picture the music in the same way. Shows you what a guy can do when he's forced to lay off the sauce for a few days. Hope you enjoy and be careful. Its a long one. - Masamichi Fujisawa Tenchi Muyo! Legend- Prologue "The Decision" It was a day that began like any other. Tenchi awoke that morning with a sense vigor he hadn't felt in a long time. It was as though his body was subconsciously speaking to him. Telling him that this day would begin a series of events that would change his life forever. After dressing he walked downstairs and wasn't surprised to see Ryoko snoring loudly on the couch where she had passed out an sake the night before. As usual a great mess was left on the coffee table where bottles of sake had tipped over. But for some reason he didn't feel like scolding her this morning. Instead he merely smiled at her warmly before slipping silenlty past her and into the kitchen. As he stepped in he noticed a small breakfast lying out already, compliments of Sasami, and he sat down and began to eat. He began to wonder just how long had it been since all the girls had come to live with him. A couple years ago he was just an ordinary guy heading off to school when Ryoko and Mihoshi had first crashed down to Earth. He remembered how bizarre it had seemed then, when two women from outer space had just showed up on the doorstep. But now... Now he couldn't imagine life without any of them. *Indeed, a never ending carnival*, he thought smiling warmly as he recalled the words Ryoko had spoken to him nearly two years ago. Interrupting his reflections of the past, though, he groaned as he remembered that Grandpa wanted him out at the shrine in a matter of minutes. Stuffing his breakfast down he quickly stepped outside and headed out to the front walkway. As he walked out he wasn't surprised to see Sasami playing outside as she usually woke pretty early in the morning. She was chasing after Ryo-Ohki laughing as little girls do when she stopped and greeted him.,"Oh good morning,Tenchi!" Ryo-Ohki gave her own curt little "meow" in greeting. "Hello Sasami.", Tenchi replied.,"How're you today?" "Great!",Sasami answered with her girlish smile,"Whe're you headed off to this morning?" "Off to practice with grandpa.", Tenchi muttered with obvious unhappiness., "I should be back around lunch time." "Okay Tenchi, I'll see you later!", Sasami waved as Tenchi broke into a sprint for the shrine. Ryo-Ohki meowed in parting as well before the pair went back to their chase. As Tenchi approached the shrine he found his grandfather, Lord Katsuhito Masaki, waiting for him. He was holding two wooden swords and offered one tpTenchi after he had caught his breath after the run. "I see you actually remembered today's lesson, Tenchi.", he greeted with his typical humor. Tenchi smiled sheepishly as he scratched the back of his head embarassed. Katsuhito simply waved to an open area as he ordered,"We'll begin with a round of the usual routines." "Right.", Tenchi agreed. Tenchi then swung into a dazzling display of powerful sword techniques. The irony, he remembered, was that these routines he'd been practicing since he was born were really the sword techniques of the royal family of Jurai. As Tenchi finished with a beautifully executed spiral technique he turned to regard katsuhito with a superior smile. But Katsuhito appeared distracted by something unseeable and Tenchi's expression of superiority quickly changed to one of worry. "What's wrong, grandpa?", Tenchi asked pulling Katsuhito from his trance. "Hmm? What's that?", he turned to face Tenchi as the tension faded from his face.,"Why'd you stop?" "I finished.", Tenchi explained not letting Katsuhito change the subject. He repeated,"Is there anything wrong?" "Oh nothing.", Katsuhito repied ending the discussion.,"Please repeat the routine." Tenchi groaned miserably as he headed back and began the routines again. He decided that he'd have to worry about Katsuhito's little lapse a little later. * * * Washu yawned loudly as she stared at the translucent computer screen hovering in front of her. Just how long had she stayed up lst night? She tiredly checked the computer's built-in clock and was surprised to see that the night's long hours had ticked away into late morning. "Wow!", she shouted.,"I must've been really working hard last night!" Even as she spoke two tiny Washu puppets labeled A and B popped up on her shoulders and in unison piped out a hearty "Good Morning Washu!" "Spare me guys, I need some food or something to get me going again.", Washu responded groggily.,"This genius is completely exhausted." "Yep, you're a genius Washu!", puppet A cheered. "And a genius needs her rest!", puppet B finished. Washu began laughing maniacally seeming to gain strength from the puppets cheers. But her laughter abruptly broke off as she noticed a small red light blinking subtly at the bottom of the computer screen. She reached over and keyed in on the signal and watched as the screen shifted to show a sector of space. Zooming it she saw a rapidly moving object blazing a towards an unknown destination with two words printed across the top. "What?!", Washu shouted in confusion at the computer., "Anomaly detected?!" "Where's it headed?", she asked out aloud as she keyed in the question. As she recieved the answer she leaned back in her hovering chair in confusion. She finally mouthed,"Jurai?" * * * Meanwhile in the living room Ryoko and Aeka sat on the couch gnawing on crackers while watching T.V. Their attention being firmly focused on the soap opera they were watching. "I got it for you.", a man in the soap opera said to the woman standing in front of him.,"It's the finest, right off the black market." "Oh really...", the woman began timidly. "But in return", the man continued.,"You know what I want." "No I can't! I...", the woman stuttered as she was drawn closer to the man. Ryoko sat up grinning intentlyand Aeka leaned a little forward in her seat. Then, suddenly, the storage room door flew open and Washu burst into the room breathing heavily. She flicked off the T.V. screen and began typing something out on her translucent computer. Suddenly a large bag seemed to appear out of nowhere and several thick cables shot out attaching to the back of the T.V. "Hey, what's the big idea, Washu?!",Ryoko shouted out. "Yeah it was just getting to the best part!", Aeka agreed. "This is a little bit more important than your soap opera!", Washu shouted back. As Washu continued to set up her equipment, Sasami marched in with Kiyone and Mihoshi trailing behind her. "Hey everybody, look!", Sasami shouted happily as she entered.,"Kiyone and Mihoshi have dropped by for lunch and...", she broke off at the sight of all the pulsing and throbbing cables attached to the back of the T.V. "Hey what's going on here?!", Kiyone shouted demanding for some attention. "Look!", Washu said pointing at the T.V. screen as it abruptly flicked back on. But, instead of the soap opera it depicted a large section of space. As Washu tapped a key and it zoomed in on a small part of the sector now showingthe unmistakable elongated hull of a Juraian battleship. "Why its a Juraian ship.", Aeka muttered curiously. "Oh great.", Ryoko remarked virtually dripping with sarcasm.,"Now what's the point to all this?" "I told you to watch!", Washu shouted back angrily. The ship was drifting peacefully when they saw the weapon ports open up and begin firing on an unseen target. Suddenly, an enormous wave of energy engulfed the ship rocking it to the core within its depths. Then, as abruptly as it began the ship shattered like leaves blowing away in the wind. The groups eyes widened and the sudden intake of breath signaled Washu to continue. "And that's not all!", Washu stated as she tapped another key. The view now shifted to view of nearly a dozen Jurai ships lined up in a semi-circle. Their weapons ports were all opening and they all began firing on an unseen enemy. Then, at the edge of the screen, a small long beam of energy shot in nimbly avoiding all the laser fire. Suddenly, it changed direction and slammed right through the first ship in a storm of fiery debris and proceeded, unslowed, to the second ship. They watched in horror as one by one another Jurai ship fell prey to the streak of energy. "What in hell is that?", Ryoko shouted being the first to find the nerve to speak. In response Washu zoomed in on the head of the streak of energy. The screen shifted now showing a nightmare returned with seemingly more energy than ever. An all too familiar twisted white face lined with darkest blackness behind it grinned wickedly on the screen. It's three horrible black eyes magnifying the darkness of its soul. It's expression became even more twisted as its terrible, evil laughter spewed out from its rarely moving mouth. "Oh no!", Aeka cried out. "It can't be!", Kiyone muttered aloud. "But he's dead!", Ryoko shouted trying to deny the truth now shown before her. "I don't know how, but it is.", Washu stated seriously drawing the attention of the whole room.,"Kain." After a brief silence Kiyone began to ask,"But unless he's changed some old habits..." "No!". Aeka muttered in horror as she cupped her hand over her mouth. Ryoko leaped off the couch and phased out through the wall as she shouted, "Tenchi!" "Lord Tenchi!", Aeka shouted getting on her feet and heading for the door. Ryoko flew out to the walkway and past the two Juraian guardians Azaka and Kamidake. Speeding right past them she headed along the path towards the shrine looking for any sign of Tenchi. When she finally found him on his way down from the steps to the shrine , she cried out his name and threw herself around him clutching to his waist, sobbling all the while. Tenchi bent down and placed his hands on her shoulders in an effort to comfort her.,"Ryoko, what's wrong?" "Tenchi.", A voice said drawing his immediate attention away from Ryoko. Standing in the shade of some nearby trees was Washu bearing a grim look on her face. "Huh?", Tenchi responded.," What is it Washu?" * * * Tenchi fell back with a stunned expression splayed all over his face. A deep silence fell over the whole group as the deep, dark reality began to consume them. Finally, when Tenchi felt he was able to speak again he asked.,"Do you think he'll strike at mother again?" "No", Kiyone answered.,"We now know that was his mistake last time." "Huh?", Tenchi asked quite confused."What do you mean?" "Well, you have to remember that we only beat him before with the help of Achika.", Kiyone explained.,"Without her we won't have anywhere near the strength we had to fight him with last time." "You also have to take into consideration that Jurai is weaker in this timeline.", Washu added., "They people capable of wielding the energy needed to make him weak is an old worn-out Yosho and Tenchi who has only begun to learn of his abilities and won't know how to use them to that extent." "So you're saying that this monster is getting even stronger?!", Aeka put in angrily.,"Not even the dimensional cannon could take him out that first time." Another long silence ensued. "That's it then.", Kiyone stated grimly, ending the silence.,"The dimensional cannon is the most powerful weapon in the universe and if that can't stop hom then what can?" Silence fell once more and Tenchi stared weakly at his feet desparately hoping to think up any plan that could end this nightmare. It was then, looking down at himself that he first notced the sword. The magical sword that could transform Jurai's energy into a blade. Slowly, a plan, a meager one, but a plan nonetheless began to form in his mind. "There is one other thing that could stop him.", Tenchi spoke weakly penetrating the silence and draing the attention of the whole group towards him. He slowly rose to his feet now clutching the sword in his hand. "The Jurai power.", he explained, his voice growing stronger as confidence became greater.,"The Jurai power is supposed to be the strongest force in the universe, even stronger then the dimensional cannon, right Aeka?" Suddenly realizing she'd been asked something she turned to look at Tenchi and answered confidently,"Right." "And since it's presence makes Kain weaker...",Tenchi continued., "Then maybe it can be used to hurt him as well." "We've already thought of that.", Washu stated.,"And it's quite possible but neither you nor Yosho can actually generate the energy required." "True.", Tenchi agreed., "But the power of the people of Jurai combined with my own could possibly be strong enough to finish him." "Still highly unlikely.", Kiyone replied grimly."You saw how easily he tore through those ships." Tenchi looked down at the sword and clutched it all the tighter as though to summon the nerve to speak his next words.,"That's why someone will have to come against him face-to-face and take the focus of his attention while all the others ready a strike." "Tenchi, you don't mean...", Aeka spoke up in a shocked tone. "I'm afraid I have no choice, Miss Aeka.", Tenchi answered his visage turning to one of sadness.,"No one else has a chance at holding him off for as long as I can." As Tenchi spoke Ryoko watched sadly, and slowly moved away from the conference unnoticed. When she made it into the shadow she teleported away from the room. "Well, what do you think Washu?", Kiyone turned after Tenchi finished speaking. "Sounds like our only shot.", Washu answered., "If we head out fairly early tomorrow we should be able to make reach Jurai before that monster does. Of course that's assuming he maintains his current speed." "Right then, its settled.", Kiyone finished.,"Tomorrow I'll bring Yagami in and we'll head out for Jurai. Right now, we're going to have to figure out what how we'll go about uniting Jurai against him when we do get there." * * * By the time the planning was finished it had grown dark outside as the day began to come to a close. Ryoko sat in thought out on a tree rooted into a small spring. She sat there with her arms around her knees holding them to her shest. A single tear fell from her eye causing several ripples to shoot out in all directions across the spring. "Oh, so here's where you've been hiding." Ryoko turned to see Tenchi striding across the stone steps leading towards the tree. He walked up and sat down next to her. "We were worried about you.",Tenchi said calmly. Ryoko's eyes watered and she turned away.,"Don't.", she stated cunfusing Tenchi. "Don't what Ryoko?", he asked concerned. "Don't pretend that nothings changing tomorrow.", Ryoko answered., "Don't, because it will." "Hey, don't worry.", Tenchi assured placing his arm around her.. "Everything will be alright, you'll see." She could hold it in no longer. "No it won't!", Ryoko shouted back catchin Tenchi off guard.,"This isn't just one of the many problems we face that we all know everything will come out alright! Tenchi, Kain'll kill you!" "I know.", Tenchi replied softly staring into the crystal depths of the spring below them.,"But what else can I do? "Run, Tenchi!", Ryoko burst back at him.,"We can run away and he'll never be able to hurt you!" "You know I can't do that, Ryoko.", Tenchi argued.,"If I don't go billions of Juraians could die. Besides...", Tenchi's voice grew soft again., "He wants an end to Jurai which means sooner or later I'll have to face him anyway." Ryoko grabbed around his neck and held tightly as the tears she had been suppressing began to rush down her cheeks.,"But I can't bear the thought of losing you, Tenchi! Please don't go! I don't know what I'd do if you never came back.!" "Ryoko I...",Tenchi began though he wasn't quite sure how to respond to Ryoko's sudden outburst. "Please Tenchi!",She half-whispered into his ear.,"I love you." He moved her back off his shoulder in surprise. She had always made her feelings towards him pretty clear. But never before had she ever spoken them so openly before. For the first time when he looked at her all the masks seemed to come off and he saw her, truly, for who she really was. No longer was she the wicked space pirate, the terrible monster that tore up his house every time she got angry. Now she was merely a woman with all the thoughts and emotions that comes with being one. Her beautiful cyan hair flowed gently in the night's breeze and those sad, longing yellow eyes bored deeply into his own. He tried to speak, to say anything that would bring her comfort. But, without really knowing what was happening until it was too late, he pressed his lips to hers in a long passionate kiss. It seemed to last forever. A moment frozen in time and space as all other surroundings seemed to melt away. All other thoughts and worries, hopes and dreams, all of them fell away and reformed into one shared feeling. But as abruptly as it began, Ryoko broke away staring off to the side. "Tenchi I...",Ryoko began as tears started to well up in her eyes once more. "Shhh. don't speak.", he cut in calmly . Again he kissed her with even greater passion then before. Their defenses worn away they fell back together into the darkness. Meanwhile Aeka had watched the whole scene finding herself unable to intervene. She had stopped Ryoko before but this time was different. She wasn't forcing him and Aeka knew that this time Tenchi had chosen. She stayed until she could bare it no longer before she ran back to the house with a broken heart. * * * Tenchi awoke in his bed the next morning, though this time he was not alone. Ryoko's warm body was pressed up next to his, sound asleep. He looked down at her and couldn't help but smile. Here she looked so peaceful and innocent, despite her usual sneaky and mischievous ways. She looked so happy there, that he began to realize how much he had come to love her. His smile then shifted to a frown as he realized that their true first day together would probably be their last. Washu did say that they could possiblydestroy Kain before he hurt Tenchi too badly, but he knew the truth. When he goes to face off against Kain he probably won't come back. Tenchi looked down at Ryoko again. He decided it was best if he didn't awaken her and it would be better for her if he was there when she woke up. He returned her warm embrace letting her know that he was there. Even if it was only for a day, he was there. * * * After a quick breakfast Tenchi headed outside. The Galaxy Police ship, Yagami, had already landed and was now having supplies loaded on board. Kiyone and Washu were over-seeing final preparation before lift while Mihoshi was walking about handling most of the grunt work. Sasami and Ryoko were standing side-by-side staring up at the hull of the ship. Somewhat further away Aeka was standing alone and looking quite forlorn. Tenchi considered which of them he'd meet with first and decided that it would be best if he talked to Aeka alone later on. He began heading over to meet with Ryoko and Sasami when a great crash turned his attention in a new direction. Standing over by the lake were Kiyone and Mihoshi and what looked like a box of supplies dumped into it. "Moving supplies onto the ship can't be that difficult!", Kiyone shouted at Mihoshi. "I'm sorry, Kiyone, I'm just so clumsy.", Mihoshi whined in apology. Sasami ran off to get a look and Tenchi breathed a sigh of relief so he could be alone with Ryoko. Tenchi awkwardly walked over to her trying to think of anything he could say to be of some comfort. "How're you holding up?", he asked slowly with concern. "Stop worrying about me and start worrying about yourself.", she answered simply.,"I'll be fine." Tenchi began to think of something else to say when he heard Kiyone shout out.,"All right everybody, we've made our final checks and it's time to lift. All aboard." With one last look and a smile Ryoko headed away and boarded the ship. One by one the others began filing onboard leaving Tenchi and Aeka being the last. He stopped her right before she stepped on and turned her around to face him. But all the words he prapared to say became lost as he stared into that sad visage. She knew what had happened but for some reason never bothered to say anything. "Miss Aeka, I...", Tenchi began. But he fell silent as abruptly she smiled and simply asked.,"Well, are you coming?" Tenchi smiled back and followed her on board. Yes she knew what had happened but she'd come through it all alright. With the last burden off his back Tenchi began to prepare himself for his fight with Kain. * * * Don't you hate it when we say, "To Be Continued..." * * * Preview of the next way too long Fic: "Tenchi!", he heard Ryoko cry out to him in pain. But Ryoko's screams of defiance were soon drowned out by Tenchi's own cries of agony. As Kain laughed maniacally his form seemed to be slowly devouring Tenchi's body in the envelope of the blackest power he had created around him. With a final shout there was a bright flash and then silence. * * * Whew! Boy did that take way too long to write! But I had to do something. Usually at about this time I'd have passed out on alcohol. Anyways I hope you all enjoyed the prologue for Tenchi Muyo! Legend. I'll try to divide the next ones up a little more so I don't have to type as long and you won't have to read as long. Oh, special note to GenSao if you've read this, I'm sorry I had Tenchi choose Ryoko since I know that you'd rather see Aeka. But don't worry. If these Tenchi Muyo! Legend Fics go well I promise to write up one where Aeka wins. I could've made this Fic a lemon but I know how easily you kids get stimulated. So sorry for the break there. I'll see you all next time!