TENCHI MUYO THE OUTCAST OF JUARI Part Three: Hero's Venture By Jason Allen (nishiro@hotmail.com) …Discliamer: The characters featured in this fan fic are owned by Pinoneer and AIC. IF you don't know what's going on. Please read the summary first The Tenchi Muyo group have been attacked by whom Washu believes to be Kagato. In the frantic arrival to see if Tenchi and the others that were at home were safe from the attack, Ayeka trips on one of the stair steps of the house and suffers from a small, brain-damaging coma. In her mind, Kagato has contacted her and announces a 'partnership' between a strange Wraith creature and warns her that they are waiting on Jurai. As if to deem Ayeka as a messenger, she awakens, against her wanting, Ayeka is now forced to tell the message… Tenchi, along with the others in a meeting room of Washu's been completely silent in thought. They all had something they wanted to say about the whole matter, but it was like some unseen force was straining them to be quiet. Tenchi can't battle Kagato alone. Kagato is obviously more powerful than before. Yet, so is Tenchi. Could he possibly win again? Ryoko thought. I don't want him to do this again. I can't stand another thought of losing him this time. I still I have so much to tell him. I could stand in the way, but what good would it do? Ayeka pondered the question. We are sure on a stalemate aren't we? Washu thought to herself. We have to fight Kagato, whose power can not be outmatched this time, and we can only use Tenchi. But this time there's no walking away from it is there? I believe that He'll do it again. He's my son, capable of anything. Noboyuki made a face of 100% no doubt. Who's going to take care of us? Sasami said, as if she asked it to the tiny infant Mayuka. I couldn't stand the event if he dies, Mayuka. Sasami closed her eyes, and then, a bright light in her mind emerges. Tsunami had something to tell her… "So… what do we do?" Tenchi asked to no one in particular. "To Juari Tenchi. I think there is no other choice this time." His grandfather said. "Of course. I guess you are right" Tenchi said, hoping there was some other way out of this. "Tenchi this time, no-matter-what. Were going with you." Ryoko said, suggesting Ayeka as well into the picture. "But..." Tenchi protested. "We don't care about that, Tenchi." Ayeka finished, standing by Ryoko. "We'll all help." Washu joined in, enjoying that they now were standing strong to something they had to do. Tenchi made a look as if he couldn't win this one, and was, deep down within his heart, proud that he had the opportunity to fight beside his 'family'. This was when Tenchi realized in a long time, that the group was now formed into a family. A family that was always there through the thick and thin. "I want to thank you all. Not for just showing your bravery now, but for all those other times that you did have the choice of walking off or the choice to stand your ground next to me." Tenchi said with a proud edge to his voice. "Rhi-ow?" Tenchi grinned and picked up the little cabbit. "Yes, and you too Rhyo-Oki. You'll help us get to Juari, won't you?" The little creature 'mi-owwed' it's acknowledgement. Tenchi noticed Sasami not moving, cradling a also motionless Mayuka. He went to awake them, but Washu's arm halted him. "They are with Tsunami now," She said. "Oh." Tenchi then went turned to the rest of the group. "Well, it looks like maybe Tsunami is giving us her blessing. It looks like we are on our way to Juari." * * * * Sasami stepped up boldly to Tsunami, holding Mayuka close to her. "Sasami, you must listen to me." Sasami looked straight into her eyes. "Yes?" "Tenchi is going into battle with Kagato once again. But he is joined with a creature that almost destroyed the secessions of the royal Jurai family." Sasami gasped. She knew full well who that creature was… "Kain, It must be him." Tsunami looked puzzled. "Perhaps. But all the same, you and the others must venture carefully. But in the end, you will not win," Sasami couldn't believe her ears. Could she be telling the truth? Tsunami never gave conclusions, but when she did they were never bad. Was it possible? ", But I have paid dearly to help you in this time. Tell Tenchi that…" * * * * Tenchi was sitting next to a sleeping Ayeka, who was deep in thought. Hoping she would be all right. "Is she okay?" Tenchi turned to the person who was talking to him. It was Ryoko, looking only half concerned. "Washu's painkillers have just knocked her out. All and All, I don't know." "Tenchi," She put a hand on his. "I wanted to tell you that I meant every thing I said back there. I can't speak for her," She nodded in Ayeka's direction. "But it is probably all true for what we said." Tenchi met her eyes in gratefulness. "I know." Ryoko broke the (for the first time) happy silence. "Hey! I would have done it for anyone!" She said, sounding like it was all no big task anyway. Tenchi grinned. Yeah, right. Ayeka would left alone if it was just she and Ryoko on a desert island. "You know, I realized something back there." Tenchi remarked. "What would that be?" Ryoko asked. "That all of you are my family. It's been like that ever since you guys arrived here. I never realized until now. I don't know why I didn't realize it until now." Ryoko sat next to Tenchi and put her arm over his shoulder. She finally realized that this motion was not of affectionate love, but for once, a friend. "Maybe because we all fight over you all the time!" Ryoko said, as if she wasn't involved. (She was joking, of course). Tenchi grinned. There was no way he was going to laugh during this time of huge serious matter. She did speak the truth, though. "I guess so." He said slightly with a smile. Deep down within the fears of him failing in the future, Tenchi felt for once, amiss all the danger, he felt good. Was it because he wouldn't die alone? No, Could it be that he finally fell for Ryoko? No. It was because they were there. And the feelings were not for Ryoko, but for everyone. "Tenchi." Yosho said, waving for His grandson's attention. "Could we talk, Tenchi?" His grandfather asked. "Sure." Tenchi and Yosho walked into the hall of the sub space lab. "We are heading for Jurai tomorrow, but there is something I must tell you something." "Yeah, Grandfather?" Yosho started to whisper, he didn't want anyone else to listen in. "You know the cost of you loosing will cost all of our lives." Tenchi turned cold, but it was true. "Yes. I understand that." Tenchi managed. "I'm afraid I can not assist you this time like I did before. That cost some of my life energy and my strength. I'm sorry." Tenchi was truly shocked. Oh no. Why hadn't he told me this before? That means Kagato has now wounded not only my grandfather, he turned it on me. Damn it! Tenchi dismissed those thoughts for now. "I put my best effort into it. The others might join in on this one. But deep down, this is my fight." "I understand." Yosho said. There was again, another silence. There were no further words to say. Tenchi didn't want to make good byes, but it was uncalled for only by the judgement of his reasoning. Then, as if to destroy the silence, Sasami ran yelling through the hallway. "Tenchi!" "What's up Sasami?" Tenchi noted the huge smile on Sasami's face. What had gotten her so happy and worked up, was anyone's clue. But Tenchi knew that it all had to do with Tsunami. "Tsunami told me to deliver a message." With that, Sasami pulled out a letter. Tenchi opened the letter. He started to unfold the letter and he read the letter aloud. Dear Tenchi, I have witnessed and felt the emotions of fear in you. It distresses me dearly to see you like this. But, among all this I have very good news in assistance of battling Kagato one last time… I am bringing someone who has been locked only in your past. That is all I can tell you, I am sorry, But this person will be with you very, very soon. -Tsunami "I wonder who she means, and why she was so mysterious." Tenchi said, pondering the note. He looked back to his grandfather, who was also in a look of thought. Then Yosho thought of something. "Perhaps Kagato has been able to probe Tsunami's thoughts or actions. I can't say for sure." "Hmm, perhaps you are right grandfather. I guess we can no longer contact Tsunami as much as we can to her until she does the final action to help us." Tenchi thought about that. Even now, Kagato might be powerful enough to destroy Tsunami. Tenchi hoped Tsunami would be okay, because if she were to be killed, Tenchi looked over to Sasami. Then Sasami would die as well. For that matter Tenchi could only hope for the best. * * * "I think they are catching on." Kagato said, while Tsunami gave bad looks to him as he appeared in her realm. She opened her mouth to speak, but was cut short of Kagato. "Oh, don't worry. I won't bother you any longer." Tsunami kept her firm, angry face locked onto Kagato's. "I guess I'm lucky that I have the strength to keep you away from me." She said, not wavering in her voice at all. She knew full well that it wouldn't last long. She hoped Tenchi would destroy him before his chance at Tsunami came. "But, oh that won't last long, Will it?" Kagato asked, knowing the answer. Tsunami looked away from Kagato in disgust. "I believe you know full well who's going to win this time." Kagato said into the open air. Tsunami grew even more angered, she turned to face Kagato and with the angriest voice in the world, she said: "Kagato, I know your past. I know all of it. You were fooled by the powers of darkness and when the royal brotherhood of the Juari found out, they vanquished you. You destroyed them, yes, but you forget one thing that marks you, just like a permanent scar, something that might be your downfall." "And what would that be?" Kagato said, bitter now that she dug deep into his past. "You will always be the Outcast of Juari." With that, Kagato vanished in rage. TO BE CONTINUED Well, we are edging ever so close to the conclusion of THE OUTCAST OF JUARI. I hope you are wondering who will 'return' to this fan fiction line. Well, I can't tell you, in my fan-fiction, it's illegal to spoil things ^_^ and a final note to fan fiction writers: CONTINUE WHAT YOU DO BEST!