The typical disclaimer. As you probably know, this series is a continuation of what may have happened in the OAV series after Episode 13. I have added some new characters to the fold. Two you have met in Episode 1, and I will let you into their characters a bit more this episode. This episode also introduces the last new resident, our old friend Kiyone! Oh, and now for the standard legalese. The Tenchi gang (and Kiyone) are products of AIC/Pioneer LCD, Inc. Tanell is a creation from the Dragonriders of Pern series and also does not belong to me. Karasu, however, is totally my creation. Go Karasu! Tenchi Muyo: Manifest Destiny! Episode 2: Kamikaze Kiyone! Kiyone sat in the cockpit of her old spaceship *Yugami.* She had thought she had seen the last of this ship long ago, but now she was right back where she'd began. Right now she was seething. She had been seething a lot lately. The cause of her seethe was her old partner, Mihoshi, when she'd still been only Detective First Class. She had been so glad when the Marshal had finally decided to promote her to one of the most prestigious positions in Galaxy Police Station Seven, Officer in Charge of High Crimes and Treason. Nothing much ever happened in Treason--the only being ever to make a successful assault on Planet Jurai was the space pirate Ryoko, and she had disappeared more than seven hundred years ago. But she still had plenty to keep her busy in High Crime. And, oh, how she'd flourished in her new position! The lower-ranked Galaxy Police had finally stopped calling her "Mihoshi's baby-sitter" and had finally started to treat her with the respect due to a Policewoman of her talents. Due largely to her efforts, High Crime in Sector Seven of the universe was at an all-time low. There had even been rumors of her being promoted to a position in the General Universe headquarters. But all of Kiyone's hopes had been dashed when she had recieved a personal call from the Marshal, informing her that Mihoshi had been kidnapped by a band of mercenaries after she had killed the most notorious criminal in the universe, Kagato. The Marshal had begged her to travel to the place where his dearest, only granddaughter was being held captive, Planet Earth. What was she to do? He was the Marshal. She had to say yes. So here she was, sitting in the cockpit of *Yugami,* who now belonged to Mihoshi, with her signal bracelet in the "summon" code, which it had been for two days now. Due to the good condition of *Yugami,* Kiyone suspected Mihoshi was simply pulling a prank on her grandfather and was actually fine. (She knew Mihoshi's reputed service record well.) Kiyone gritted her teeth. She would confirm the Marshal's concerns even if she had to do it herself. Mihoshi would not leave Planet Earth alive! Tenchi walked downstairs for breakfast. Hopefully things would be normal this day. Ever since Azusa and his two wives, Misaki and Funaho, had left, Ayeka had been acting strangely. She still fought with Ryoko, but she often spent long periods of time staring out into the sky, holding her hand up to the center of her head ornament. Tenchi didn't know what it was about. Sasami, even, was worried about it, and the fact that Sasami was worried made Tenchi worried. Sasami often seemed the more adult of the two sisters, and when Sasami was worried about it, Tenchi deemed it something worth worrying about. And Karasu wasn't helping things at all. The human sorceress seemed fascinated with Ayeka, and while she did not interfere with Ayeka's musings, did not help them either. "I guess I should count myself lucky that she doesn't run weird experiments on her, like Washu does on me," Tenchi thought. At that thought a pang of fear paralyzed Tenchi's body, but he wasn't sure why. It was just compassion, he told himself. He cared for Ayeka, after all, and he didn't want to see her run through the gamut of experiments that Washu put him through daily. He looked at the living room. There was Ayeka, staring up at the sky, looking confused. "I'll go and talk to her," he decided, and took a step towards the violet-haired princess, uncomfortably aware that he was blushing. "Tenchi! Tenchi!" Mihoshi ran towards him, in her rush tripping over the rug. "Ow . . ." Mihoshi's voice said from the carpet. "Here, Mihoshi, I'll help you up," Tenchi said, and hoisted Mihoshi off the floor. She stumbled over her feet for a few seconds, then regained balance. "Now what is it?" Tenchi asked the Galaxy Police Detective. Mihoshi began to cry. "I can't find Karasu! I wanted to invite her up to *Yugami* today and show her around, but when I woke up this morning, she and her pet dragon were gone! I looked everywhere, even the bathrooms, but she wasn't there. I went into Washu's lab, and she told me that Karasu was just taking a run like she does every morning and she'd be back soon. That was half an hour ago!" She wailed in despair. Tenchi sighed. He knew Karasu's penchant for exercise well. Every morning at sunup she went outside and ran around his grandfather's property line twice. And Yosho had accumulated a great deal of property since he'd arrived on Earth! "Maybe she just saw something she liked, Mihoshi, and stopped to study it. That can keep her busy for hours. Remember when we went into town to buy groceries. We lost her for an hour before we realized she was in the back lot, looking into a mouse den." He remembered that day too well. Oh well. At least Karasu didn't seem to have any romantic designs on him! In that, she was unique among the women of the Masaki residence. "But what if she tripped and broke a leg, or fell down a mountainside! Earthlings are so fragile, she could be hurt and we wouldn't even know it!" Tenchi tried to comfort Mihoshi. "Karasu is a lot more sturdy than we realize. I'd thought it was impossible to beat Grandpa at swordplay, but Karasu beat the crap out of him the other day." It was true, too. Tenchi had been practicing the routine with Yosho (he had been making great strides lately, too) when Karasu had shown up out of nowhere and challenged Yosho to a duel. Yosho hadn't wanted to at first, but Karasu had made fun of him, saying he just didn't want to fight her because she was a woman, and he was just acting like a misogynist pig. Finally he had acquiesced and told Tenchi to give Karasu his practice sword. Yosho hadn't been shook up by Karasu's teasing at all, but within five minutes Karasu had disarmed him. Tenchi was still trying to piece together what had happened. He thought he knew when Yosho had gone wrong, too. It was in the first thrust. Yosho had started out with the traditional rush that he started every practice session with. Karasu somehow had known that was coming, and easily jumped aside. As to the rest, he still wasn't sure. Karasu had moved so *fast* . . . if Washu hadn't later assured him otherwise, Tenchi would have been sure the sorceress was another alien. Then, realizing the source of the incessant noise that had been annoying him, Tenchi said, "Um, Mihoshi, I think you're wanted on *Yugami.*" "Wow! You're right, Tenchi! I'd better get up there! It's a good thing Washu fixed my skimmer after it crashed the last time! Taking Karasu up for a visit can wait. This is official Galaxy Police business!" Mihoshi took out her cube and disappeared. Sighing with relief, Tenchi looked at where Ayeka was. She was gone. "Ten-chi! Breakfast!" called Sasami. Realizing that that was probably where Ayeka was, Tenchi walked into the kitchen to eat. What he saw made him worried. Karasu wasn't there. And Karasu never missed a meal. "OwowowOWitchitchITCH!" Karasu reached her long lean arms up and scratched her long neck frantically. Tufts of black feathers fell to the forest floor. Karasu looked at herself. Her human clothes lay on a sun-drenched rock. Right now, she was in her true form, and clothes were not needed. She knew what the residents of the Masaki household (well, perhaps with the exception of Washu, who had known her secret from way back in Egypt) would do if they saw her in this body. They'd hunt her as game, or imprison her as a curiosity, or sell her to a science lab. They wouldn't understand that even though she was not humanoid, she was as intelligent as any of them (again, with the possible exception of Washu). Her left killing-claw tapped against the forest floor. Again she reached into her lush feathery coat to remove loose feathers. "Scratch any harder and your talons are going to draw blood." Tanell, her fire-dragonet, spoke up. She was perched on a low tree branch, batlike wings spread out to take advantage of the early summer sun. "Why are you molting at this time of year, anyway? You usually molt in early spring, not summer." "I just walked halfway across the world, remember? Stands to reason that with all the changing ecosystems, my biological clock would be a little off." Karasu was not worried about anyone overhearing Tanell's and hers' conversation. Their words were spoken with the mind only. That was one of the fringe benefits of being a Priestess. "Well, you'd better be careful where you leave those things or the women living here are going to freak," Tanell pointed out. "You have very big feathers, compared to a bird's." "Maybe it's better that they find out," Karasu pondered. "I hate having secrets from Family." She closed her long muzzle full of teeth. One tooth wiggled. It was falling out. Karasu was not concerned. Soon another would replace the fallen one. "It's just that I'm not sure how they would all react to having a bodyshifted dinosaur in the household. I don't want to alienate them. They need me." "Isis keeps secrets from *you.*" "She's the Queen of the Multiverse. She has dispensation." Karasu's bird's golden eyes looked up at the sun. "Uh-oh. I'm late for breakfast. Sasami will be very angry with me." Karasu shimmered and disappeared. A moment later, an Earthling woman, stark naked, with glittering amber eyes, dark brown skin, and black braided hair stood. Her exterior shimmered for a few seconds and solidified covered with a white blouse, jeans, a denim jacket, and of course, Karasu's *tyet.* "C'mon, Tannie! I'll race you!" the woman in disguise cried out to her fire-dragonet, who hurriedly flapped her wings to keep up with her best friend. Mihoshi's skimmer landed on the dock of *Yugami.* Mihoshi realized that it had been almost a year since she had stepped foot in her old ship. Everything had been messy when she'd left. Now everything was neat as could be. Mihoshi walked on to the cockpit, oblivious to the many changes that had taken place in her main spaceship. "MIHOSHI!" The cry was one of anger, but Mihoshi chose not to acknowledge that. She ran forward and hugged the irate Kiyone. "Kiyone! You're here! You're not dead! Oh, it's so good to see you again, Kiyone!" Kiyone pushed Mihoshi off of her and yelled, "Mihoshi! Please remember that you are talking to one of your superiors, a Galaxy Police sub- Chief! It is not proper for you to be acting like this!" Mihoshi cried with joy, "Oh, who cares about being proper in a situation like this? We're together again, Kiyone and Mihoshi! Just like the old days! Oh, wait until everybody has had a chance to meet you! They'll really like you, I know it! And Karasu will be so happy! She'll get to meet my old friend from long ago! I hope you decide to stay, Kiyone! You'll love it so much here!" She completely missed Kiyone curl her lip in loathing. "Mihoshi, wai--" said Kiyone, but she was too late. Mihoshi had already taken out her cube and put in the coordinates for her skimmer. The two of them were soon flying down towards Earth. Tenchi wondered why Karasu was hanging around him. Well, maybe she wasn't. He was deciding whether it was okay for him to ask Ayeka what was the matter. Maybe Karasu was really interested in Ayeka, like usual. She was staring up at the sky again. Tenchi wondered if she was sorry that she had missed her chance to go home with her father. She hadn't seemed to regret it at the time, but maybe she had changed her mind. Something in Tenchi shriveled up at the thought of Ayeka gone. Of course, he had felt the same way when Kagato had captured Ryoko. This was all very strange. "Tenchi? Do you mind if I ask you a question?" Karasu spoke up from the couch, where she had been reading her book. Sometimes Tenchi thought that that was all she did in her free time, except run and beat people in swordplay. "Sure, Miss Karasu," he answered. "What is it?" "Just Karasu, please. When's your birthday?" Tenchi blinked. If he hadn't already seen Karasu do real magic, he'd have thought that an odd request. "December 25th. Hey, that's Christmas Day in your country, isn't it? That's a real coincidence, huh?" "Some might call it that." Karasu wrote something in her book with a pen and continued reading. Tenchi was surprised at Karasu's devotion to that book. He knew that some people treated fantasy and science-fiction series as real life, but Karasu took the cake! "Why did it take you a few seconds to connect your birthday with Christmas, Tenchi? I know the Japanese celebrate it," the woman asked a few minutes later. "Well, you know Grandpa is a Shinto priest, so we never celebrated Christmas in my household. Heh! I guess that would make me a pagan where you come from, huh?" "It would, but I don't care. I'm a pagan myself, actually. 'Priestess of Isis,' remember? It's not exactly an orthodox religion. Now why don't you go talk to Ayeka like you want to?" Wondering how Karasu knew that, then berating himself for forgetting she was a sorceress, Tenchi took a step towards Ayeka, but was interrupted by Yosho entering. "Hello, Grandpa," he said. "What's up?" Yosho said, "I just came back from blessing a farmer's home not too far away from here. He keeps cattle and one of the culls was killed by a wild animal last night. He saw a footprint of the animal and swears it was some sort of demon. The rain had washed out the footprint by the time I'd got there but I blessed his farm anyway." He looked up at Karasu deep in her book. "Hello, Karasu." "Hello, Yosho," Karasu said cordially. "Nice practice we had the other day. Maybe we'll repeat it sometime. I don't want to get rusty." That was another strange thing about Karasu. Tenchi had been apprehensive about telling her that the other women staying in the Masaki residence were aliens, but when he had tried to explain it to her, Karasu had surprised him by telling him she already knew everything. Karasu looked up. "Well, it's time for me to teach Sasami that new recipe I've promised her," she said. "Goodbye, Tenchi, Yosho." She jumped lithely up from the couch and walked into the kitchen. "That woman," Yosho said, "is not normal." Kiyone materialized from the depths of the lake. She started to take off her red headband to dry her face with, then thought better of it. Her facial deformity must be hidden at all times, along with the two on her wrists. Her mother had drilled that into her from childhood. A few seconds later, Mihoshi materialized. "I know, wet. Yuck, huh? But it is a perfect place to hide the skimmer!" Kiyone gritted her teeth and slowly counted to ten. Twice. "Mihoshi, why are you all right! My information straight from *your grandfather* was that you were taken prisoner on this planet, not a welcome visitor at a guest house!" "Grandfather Kyoshin told you that?" asked Mihoshi. "Really?" "Yes," said Kiyone. "He told you that I was a prisoner?" "Yes," repeated Kiyone. "A prisoner on *Earth?*" "YES!!" Kiyone screamed. "HE TOLD ME ALL THAT! SO WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE??!" "Oh, Kiyone, what an imagination you have!" said Mihoshi. "Ever since I was dropped out of sub-space onto an onsen near Tenchi's house, I've been living here in between patrols! I reported that to the Chief! You must have gotten the report!" Kiyone shook her head. None of this was making any sense! Why would the Marshal lie to her? Oh, well. It didn't matter anyway. Kiyone reached down in what had become a reflex action over the years and drew her gun on Mihoshi. "Reach for yours and you're dead. Not that it matters," she added. Tenchi looked up from talking with his grandfather. Karasu was stepping out onto the porch. "I think I'll get some night air. I love summer nights, don't you?" Yosho got up and started to follow Karasu out. "Why are you following her, Grandpa?" Tenchi asked. "Because a young woman is holding a gun on Mihoshi," he answered. Tenchi scrambled to follow, only to be detained by Ryoko, who materialized in midair next to her. "Where are you going, Tenchi?" she asked him. "Somebody has a gun on Mihoshi," Tenchi answered. "Hah. Good riddance, I say," sneered Ryoko, but when she saw Tenchi step out onto the porch, she followed. "This will be so sweet," Kiyone said. "Do you know how long I was held back, being your partner? Do you, Mihoshi? And all the taunting and ridicule? 'Oh, there goes Mihoshi's baby-sitter' someone would say whenever I walked by at headquarters. And then finally it was over, I was promoted, and I finally began to get some respect . . . And then I got called back to drag you home! Mihoshi's baby-sitter all over again! Well, no more." "Kiyone, I think you're making a mistake," Mihoshi said. "I'm here because I want to be! Really!" "I had my orders," growled Kiyone. "My orders said to rescue you. Well, *no more.*" "Wait just a damn second!" Kiyone was shaken out of her stupor by a contralto-voiced call from the left. She looked and saw a number of spectators watching her. One of them was an old man. She felt her cheeks flush as he looked back at her. No matter. She turned back to Mihoshi. A woman, as tall as Mihoshi but slimmer, was standing in front of her with arms spread out. Evidently she intended to protect her. "Excuse me, young woman, " the woman said, her amber irises focusing on Kiyone's dark blue, "You don't want to do this. I don't think you've thought this through very well." "Who are you?" asked Kiyone, dazed by the woman's glare. She hadn't even heard the woman approach. And she'd only turned for a few seconds. Where was this woman from? "I am Karasu," said the woman. "And you may want to listen to me. Kiyone, your being held back so long to be Mihoshi's partner was not an act of derision. It was a compliment, an acknowledgement to your skill." "You're not making any sense!" Kiyone shouted. Then, to her surprise, the old man walked over and stood besides Karasu. "Madam, Karasu is right. I have no idea how she came by the knowledge, but she is right. Listen. I know how incompetent a detective Mihoshi is. Now think of how much more incompetent she must have been before you came along! Mihoshi's grandfather must have wanted Mihoshi to have an informal trainer in the arts of being a detective. And he would have wanted only the best for his only granddaughter. So he chose you because--" "I am the best," Kiyone said. "I've always known it." "Yes," the old man said. "Now, please, put your gun down." Kiyone slowly put her gun back in its holster. "But why would the Marshal lie to me?" she asked. "Good question," said the Earthling Karasu. "But let's leave it for some other time. I'm famished. Sasami should be finished with dinner now. Let's eat! When Kiyone did not follow, she said, "Well? You're invited too, you know. C'mon in. Sasami's the best humanoid cook I know!" "What have I gotten myself into?" Kiyone asked herself. Then, sighing, she went in to eat. She was hungry. After dinner, Washu and Karasu had their daily chat. "Hmm," Washu said. "So the gang's finally all here, eh?" "I *think* so," replied Karasu. "I have a feeling that someone is missing somehow. But that doesn't matter for now. It doesn't seem like anyone is going to show up soon. I'm just glad I'm not the last one to get here!" She looked up at Washu's lab. "I like what you've done with the place, by the way." "Thank you!" said Washu. "Any ideas on what's wrong with Ayeka?" "I still agree with the theory we came up with but I'm having trouble getting her head ornament off. Tenchi's always hanging around her. It makes me wonder." "Not me," said Washu. "I'm sure." "So, Ayeka *and* Ryoko--?" "And Tsunami. You're forgetting about Tsunami. Well, I suppose that's excusable. She's only a widdle biddy girl right now." Washu laughed. "But the prophecy says *'Three* goddesses--' Oh. I see. That would make sense, wouldn't it?" Karasu had a troubled look on her face. "You find anything out new?" Washu asked Karasu. "Two things. First of all, Tenchi's birthday is the same as Horus's." "December 25th? Really? Well, that only proves his identity. I already know what he *is.*" Washu sipped her tea. She had finally gotten Karasu to sample the green tea on the promise that it had no drugs of any kind in it, including caffeine. Everyone else was confused by Karasu's refusal to drink tea or cola, but Washu wasn't. She knew a Priestess needed a clear mind to work magic. They never took any drug voluntarily, not even the good ones, like sedatives. "What's the other thing?" "Kiyone is for Yosho." Karasu snickered. "Welll. That is interesting. It'll be fun to see how she reacts. *We* know the truth, too. That'll make it even funnier!" They laughed, and started to talk about little things. Washu and Karasu were old friends, but they hadn't seen each other in a long while. It was good to renew a friendship, even if it was for work. Sasami ran into the living room and shook Ayeka, who was still staring out at the sky. "Ayeka, what's the matter? You've been like this all week!" Ayeka stared up at Sasami, and suddenly Sasami saw the universe scattered through her eyes. "Nothing, Sasami. Nothing's the matter. You see, I am quite fine." She stood up slowly. "Hah! Little girl princess is sorry she didn't go home with Daddy, is that it? Well, that can be easily remedied. I can have Ryo'oki fly you home easily." "Ryoko, stay out of this!" Ayeka flared. "Whether I want or do not want to go home is not your business." "I think you're just scared to admit you can't make it on your own. You go crawling back to Daddy just like the good little girl you are now." "I don't want to go home!" Ayeka seemed surprised at uttering that statement. Seeing that things were returning to normal now, Sasami stepped outside to explore, ignoring Ayeka and Ryoko yelling at each other inside. Ryo'oki jumped through the door and followed her. "Catch me, Ryo'oki!" she said, laughing. They ran into the forest, Sasami laughing. Then she tripped. "Meow?" Ryo'oki changed into her little-girl form and tried to help Sasami up. "Meow, meow!" "Thanks, Ryo'oki. Hey, what are these?" Sasami could clearly make out a bunch of feathers lying on the ground. "Feathers! Look at the size of them! They must have come from a really big bird." She searched with Ryo'oki, finding many of the feathers. Then Sasami found a real treasure. "Wow! Look at this, Ryo'oki! It's a wingfeather and . . . wow! A tooth!" She smiled. "I didn't know birds on this planet had teeth, did you?" She paused, listening to some unknown call. "It's time to come back in now, okay. But we'll keep these feathers. They'll be our secret!" "Meow, meow!" agreed Ryo'oki. Sasami and Ryo'oki carried in their treasure, not knowing they were old feathers discarded by Karasu earlier in the day. Sasami looked at her reflection at the lake. Tsunami seemed to be smiling at her.