The One Who Understands by Tim Walsh Chapter 1: Hello, Kiyone Tenchi was hiding in his room again. It had just become too much for him to handle anymore. Ayeka and Ryoko were always fighting over him like he belonged to them. More often than not, he wound up being the rope in a game of tug-o-war between the two women. It had been worse since Mihoshi had shown back up. She had crashed her ship in the lake again, but this time she hadn't been alone. * * * Yagami was slowly disappearing to the bottom of the lake as Mihoshi splashed her way to shore stammering apologies on top of each other. "I'msosorryIspilledcoffeeonthecontrolpaenleandIaccidentlyshutoffYagamis'seng ines andthenallthesirensandtheflashinglightsstartedandIjustcouldn'trememberwhatto do..." Mihoshi wailed as she reached the shore. She saw Tenchi and immediately glomped onto him, causing Ryoko and Ayeka to glomp on as well, each trying to push the others off. Tenchi bore this silently. He knew from experience that anything he said would just prolong the arguments and lead to more damage on the house that he had to repair. He noticed something else moving out in the lake and tried to shift the girls around so he could see. A young woman with long black hair came storming out of the lake, barreling towards Tenchi at full speed. Tenchi cringed, fully expecting that the addition of another girl to the group glomp would send him to the ground. He was pleasantly surprised when she not only didn't join the group, she reached out and grabbed Mihoshi by the collar, yanking her off Tenchi. "Mihoshi..." she began in a threatening tone. "What is it, Kiyone?" Mihoshi asked with an air of innocence. "You just dumped Yagami at the bottom of a lake and we don't have any way of getting down there to get it working again," Kiyone said, glowing faintly blue with anger. "Don't worry, Kiyone," Mihoshi said with the air of the supremely confident. "Washuu- chan will fix it for us. She's a genius. She fixed it for me last time." "Umm, Mihoshi," Tenchi started. "Washuu's not here right now. She said something about a scientific expedition that she was interested in and disappeared." "You mean we're stuck here!" Kiyone exclaimed. "Mihoshi, you're going to pay for this. I promise I'll get you for this. We're stuck here until we can get Yagami out of the lake and we won't be able to do our patrols." "Waaaahh! I'm sorry, Kiyone," Mihoshi started crying. "Umm, Mihoshi-oneesan," Sasami said suddenly, "who's your friend?" "Huh? Oh, this is my partner Kiyone. She's my best friend and the most wonderful partner I've ever had," Mihoshi replied with an empty smile, still hanging by the collar from Kiyone's outstretched hand. "Kiyone, these are my friends. That's Ryoko(she's pretty mean sometimes) and that's Princess Ayeka(she fights with Ryoko a lot), that's Princess Sasami(she's really nice and a really good cook) and that's Tenchi." Mihoshi blushed when she said Tenchi's name. "I'm really sorry about dropping in on you like this," Kiyone said. "It's alright," Tenchi replied. "We're used to Mihoshi dropping in at unusual times. You can stay with us until Washuu gets back." "Thank you. I really don't want to inconvenience you, but this airhead hasn't left us with any other choice. We'd be glad to stay here," Kiyone said apologetically. "I'll go and get two more futons ready for our guests, Tenchi-sama," Ayeka said, disengaging from Tenchi, pulling a complaining Ryoko along with her as she headed back to the house. "I've got to get dinner ready. I have to make enough for eight people now," Sasami said as she bolted after her sister. Kiyone finally let go of Mihoshi, who promptly flopped to the ground and started crying about how her butt hurt. Mihoshi's watch beeped, and she jumped to her feet, dashing inside so that she wouldn't miss her favorite television program. Kiyone stared after her partner despairingly. When would Mihoshi grow up, she asked herself. Tenchi took the sudden moment of peace to assess the new arrival. Like Mihoshi, she was dressed in the uniform of the Galactic Police Force, although Kiyone's uniform had a miniskirt instead of the slacks that Mihoshi habitually wore. Kiyone's long black hair was held back by a red headband. She had a very pretty face and an excellant figure(although Tenchi was getting pretty used to well-proportioned women). She was staring after Mihoshi with a disapproving expression on her face and shaking her head slightly. "So, Kiyone. How long have you been working with Mihoshi?" Tenchi asked, trying to break the ice. "Far too long," Kiyone replied. "We were assigned as partners immediately after our graduation from the Academy and I've had to work with that ditz for the last few years." "Why weren't you with her when she came here before then," Tenchi asked. "I was ungoing a medical evaluation for a transfer I'd put in for," she replied. "But after the excitement that happened out here, the High Commander decided he didn't want Mihoshi out here alone. I was told that she refused to work with anyone but me. Lucky me." "Oh, well come on inside," Tenchi said, turning towards the house. "I'll show you around the house. By the way, watch out for Ayeka and Ryoko. Those two are constantly fighting." * * * There was a light knock at Tenchi's door. Tenchi pushed himself away from his homework and opened the door, surprised to find Kiyone standing there. She'd borrowed some of Ryoko's clothes and was now dressed in a pair of tight shorts and a T-shirt. "Ummm, Tenchi, is it okay if I hide in here until dinner?" Kiyone asked nervously. "Sure, Kiyone," Tenchi replied. "Why, is there something wrong?" "I just can't take the insanity downstairs anymore," she replied. "Ayeka and Ryoko constantly pick on each other, looking for any excuse to blast each other, Mihoshi is always engrossed in her television shows or whining about something and Sasami's always doing something in the kitchen. I'd help, but I've never exactly been very good in the kitchen." "Come on in," Tenchi said as he shut the door behind Kiyone, carefully checking that none of the other girls had seen her come in. He moved back to his desk and sat down again. "I was just working on my homework. If you want something to read, I've got some manga and books you could read." Tenchi pointed to a heavily laden bookshelf. "Thanks," Kiyone replied, wandering over to the bookshelf, pulling a manga off the shelf and flopping down on Tenchi's bed to read it. "Hey, Tenchi," she said, setting the manga down. "Why are you going to school here on Earth? Mihoshi's report said that you're a relative of the Jurian royal family. I'm surprised that that you're not getting tutored in advanced sciences, Galatic law and Jurian history." "Washuu and Ayeka offerred, but I said no," Tenshi replied as he copied out an equation into his notebook. "That kind of knowledge and advanced science isn't really helpful for me here on Earth." "You're going to stay here?" Kiyone asked, surprised. "Ayeka seemed sure that you'd go back to Jurai with her and Ryoko seemd to think that you'd go off into space with her. I'm not sure what Mohoshi thinks, and I'm not sure I want to know." "It's nice to know that they assume they know what I want," Tenchi replied, a touch of bitterness in his tone. "I'm planning on staying here. I may be of Juraian descent, but I was born and raised an Earthling and that's what I intend to stay. I don't mind going out into space sometimes, but Earth is my home and I want to make my life here." "I can respect that," Kiyone said. "A lot of my friends never understood my desire to become a Galaxy Police Officer. All they wanted was to get married. I wanted a career. If I happen to fall in love along the way, that's fine; but my career comes first." "You're probably the only one in this house that would say that, Kiyone," Tenchi said, turning around to look at her on his bed. The way she was lying on the bed, her T-shirt hung open, proving that she was not wearing a bra. Tenchi felt a severe nosebleed threaten, so he quickly turned his gaze out the window, stealing quick glances at her every so often. God, she's cute, he thought. "Everyone else here expects me to do what they want and not have an opinion myself. Ryoko wants me to go off with her and probably continue as a space-pirate. Ayeka wants me to go back to Jurai with her and be a prince. Washuu wants to experiment on me to see where my powers come from and I'm scared to think about what Mihoshi wants from me. No one thinks that I might have dreams of my own." "I guess they think that their love will win you over to their viewpoint," Kiyone said. "I agree with you though. Maybe it's just my fear of being trapped by similar circumstances. I want to follow my own dreams too. Not those lain out for me by others." "This may seem kind of strange," Tenchi said. "But you're the first person to share those sentiments with me. I think this could be the start of a great friendship." "It's not so strange, Tenchi," Kiyone said, smiling a little. "I've had to put up with Mihoshi for years. If anyone can understand your situation, I can. I'm glad you consider me your friend." There was another knock at the door. Ryoko's voice called in, "Tenchiii, dinner's ready." Another voice came through, Ayeka's, "Get away from the door, you bakemono! Tenchi-sama, Sasami has dinner prepared. Ryoko, what are you doing?! You are not going into Tenchi-sama's room!" Tenchi and Kiyone looked at each other, sweat-drops forming as they looked at each other nervously. The One Who Understands by Tim Walsh Chapter 2: Kagato's Legacy Deep space is silent. Not quiet like a winter's night, but silent like death. A ship flew through the void, slowly following the trail left by the ship Sosha when it had passed this way several months before. The ships computer hummed as it computed instructions that had lain dormant until the seath of Sosha and Kagato. A new light formed inside, illuminating a figure at rest. The computer set about its task of awakening its charge. * * * Tenchi had had better days. It had been a week since Mihoshi and Kiyone had dropped in on them and Washuu had yet to return. Ayeka and Ryoko's fighting had reached new levels now that Mihoshi was back and Tenchi's privacy had dropped from next to nothing to less than nothing in the past week. He had accepted the fact that with Ryoko around, there was no chance he would be left alone, but now Mihoshi was wandering around the house and popping up at the most awkward moments. This morning Ryoko had accosted him in the bathroom and Mihoshi had somehow found her way in-despite a locked door. Then Ayeka had knocked the door down when she had heard Tenchi cry out. He had fled the three of them as a fight ensued. Rationally, Tenchi knew that they wouldn't try and hurt him, but intent and accident aren't mutually exclusive and he'd gotten singed by being near one of their fights more than once. Tenchi shuddered to think of the damage the fight was going to cause to the bathroom and made a mental note to call the plumber again about the repairs they were going to need. Tenchi slipped down the stairs quietly, hoping not to draw the attention of the bickering girls as he went. Sasami had breakfast on the table and Kiyone, Nobiyuki and Katsuhito were already eating. Tenchi sat down at the table and started to eat calmly. He was surprised that he had managed to get through an entire meal without his overly affectionate suitors interrupting him. As he got up, he told his father, "Dad, we're probably going to need to call the plumbers. They're fighting in the bathroom again." Nobuyuki nodded, sighing sadly. He had been so happy to see his son acquire so many beautiful women that were in love with him, but they had caused so much damage to the house that he was amazed it was still standing, despite all the repairs he and Tenchi had done. Very little of the original structure of the house was left. Most of the lower floor was now filled with patched holes. If only they would settle down into a loving relationship with Tenchi. And if only he could get it on videotape. "Well, I'm off to school. Are you coming, Kiyone?" Tenchi asked as he picked up his schoolbag and headed for the door. "Yeah, just let me grab my coat," Kiyone said as she got up from the table. I can't believe that I'm working as a janitor at Tenchi's school, she thought. Well, we need the extra money if we're going to be able to feed everybody. Besides, I won't have to keep this job after Washuu gets back. According to what I know of her, she should be able to get Yagami off the lake's bottom and in top shape in no time. Then I'll be back to patrolling. With Mihoshi. She shuddered at the thought of being alone with Mihoshi all of the time again. Kiyone grabbed her jacket, making sure that her blaster was in the pocket that she had asked Sasami to sew for her. Seeing that it was in place, she pulled it on and followed Tenchi outside. She had been taking the bus with Tenchi to get to the school since he had gotten her the job. He had made sure that she sat next to him, well aware of how his classmates were going to react to a beautiful woman working at their school. They were drooling over her enough to make it hard for her to do her work that she didn't need them complicating her trip to work. It was amazing how close they had become in the last week. She knew that Tenchi had desparately needed a friend, but she hadn't realized how badly she had needed one. All her life she had been completely obsessed with her career, and it had soured her relationships with most of her classmates. Mihoshi was the only one who hadn't been driven away by her obsessive need to be the best. But Mihoshi was Mihoshi, and having her as a friend wasn't much better than having her as an enemy sometimes. There had been the occasional man during her time at the Acadamy and in the years since, but she hadn't had a truly close friend until she met Tenchi. He knew what it was liketo want to follow your dreams, but he hadn't lost sight of needing friends the way she had. He had known that he needed a friend and had been very quick to notice that she had needed one as well. Kiyone had been surprised that she could relate to Tenchi so easily, considering that he was six years her junior and male to boot. Although he was kind of cute. And sweet. Kiyone could see why the other girls had fallen in love with him. Good thing he wasn't her type, otherwise the other girls would have had some serious competition. The ride to school was uneventful. Kiyone and Tenchi said goodbye and went their separate ways. * * * Tenchi had been surprised at how close he and Kiyone had grown over the past week. It was a great relief being around a girl who wasn't set on either getting him in bed or some other romantic situation. Besides, he had a lot in common with Kiyone. She was determined to follow her own dreams, just like he was, she was very skilled at fixing things(she did a great job on the dining room wall after Ryoko got knocked through it. You could barely tell it had ever been damaged) and she even liked soccer, which was one of Tenchi's private passions. What had surprised Tenchi the most was when Kiyone had asked him to find her a temporary job to help pay for food, expenses and repay Tenchi for the clothes he had bought her while she was staying with the Masakis. The others hd never been particularly suited to getting jobs. Tenchi had often shuddered at the thought of what could happen if Ryoko or Ayeka lost their temper at some public place, like a restraunt. They did help out with the household chores, but Kiyone seemed to be stable enough to get a regular job without the risk of massive destruction. So Tenchi had told her about the opening for a janitor at his school. She had shrugged and said that one job was the same as another while she was here and taken it. Tenchi had been prepared for his classmates reaction to Kiyone. He knew that his friends were mostly ruled by their hormones, so he had expected them to be drooling all over Kiyone. After all, she was very pretty. Her long hair always seemed to shine and her eyes were captivating. They were so full of intelligence and spirit. The girls, of course, either hated her or related to her as a big sister. Nor real surprises there. What had shocked Tenchi was his response to everyone else's feelings about Kiyone. He had really wanted people to like her, but he got really angry when he saw the other guys drooling over her or talking about her and he couldn't figure out why. * * * The ship slowed as it fell into a high orbit around an insignificant blue-white planet. The computers listed this as a planet in the protected Juraian reserve, but that meant nothing compared to the programmed imperatives that propelled the ship. It had passed the debris that was the remains of Sosha hours before, its complex sensors sweeping through the wreclage until it had ascertained the energy signature that had destroyed Kagato and Sosha. The it turned its scanning devices to the surface of the planet below, seeking that peculiar energy pattern. It was surprisingly easy to locate. There seemed to be very very high complexity energy waveforms on the planet below and they were unusually concentrated on a small segment of the land area. Analysis of the transmissions from the planet had revealed the name of the land as Japan and had given a complex language database to the computer. This information was encoded into RNA and fed introvenously into the still sleeping form at the ship's center. Once the information had been accepted, the computer had activated the final awakening procedures. Its master, Kagato, would be avenged. * * * The end of this particular school day was not a pleasant one for Tenchi. He had gotten stuck taking all of the school's trash out to the incinerator and, of course, no one had their trash ready until they were ready to leave. So Tenchi wound up lugging cans full of trash out behind the school building as the last of the students were leaving. He had just gotten the last one back there when he saw Kiyone coming out of the basement, covered in grease and soot, carrying a toolbox. "That is the last time I try and fix that furnace," she said angrily slamming the toolbox on the ground. "Next time it breaks down, I'm telling them to either replace it or go to hell." "That bad, huh," Tanchi asked sympathetically. He had privately suspected that it was the continual breakdowns of the furnace that had led the last janitor to quit, but wisely kept his mouth shut. He continued dumping the trash cans in the incinerator, stacking them inside each other as he emptied them. Kiyone leaned back against the wall of the building. This had been a long day and she would be glad for a long soak in the tub when it was over. She felt a little sleepy and her head started to drop a little. An insistant beeping suddenly made its way into her consciousness. She opened her eyes to see Tenchi staring at her with questioning eyes. Kiyone looked down at her bracelet, the source of the beeping, and pushed a little catch, popping the top open. Her eyes scanned the data display briefly before looking at Tenchi, shock evident in her eyes. Tenchi had just finished emptying the cans when he noticed that Kiyone seemed to be falling asleep against the side of the building, standing up no less. She looked so innocent when her face relaxed like that. It made him smile. Then Tenchi started hearing a strange beeping, which apparently woke Kiyone as well. She looked up from her bracelet, her eyes wide in shock. "Something just entered Earth's atmosphere and is headed straight for us," Kiyone said. "What!" Tenchi exclaimed in shock. It wasn't everyday that something dropped down to Earth unannounced. Every other day maybe, but not everyday. "Where's it going to land?" "Right here," Kiyone replied as a streak of light arced down from the sky towards the school. Tenchi braced himself for an impact explosion, but relaxed after a moment when nothing happened. It slowly dawned on him what had happened. "Something just made a controlled descent, didn't it?" he asked Kiyone. Kiyone nodded. "It's energy signature is strangely familiar. I've seen it somewhere, but I can't place it." "Never mind that," Tenchi said. "Don't you think we should get out of here?" "I'm a Galaxy Police Officer," Kiyone replied. "It's my duty to investigate this. This is a protected planet and no one's supposed to come down hee like that. That descent was completely unshielded. It will have shown up on even the primitive detection equipment that they have these days." Tenchi sighed. Kiyone was determined to check this out and he knew that nothing he could say would dissuade her, but he'd be damned if he let her do this alone. "Come on then, we'd better check this out," Tenchi said. Kiyone smiled thankfully at him, glad he wasn't going to try and talk her out of investigating and glad he was going with her. She felt safer with someone to guard her back. Tenchi picked up his schoolbag from where he'd left it by the door to the school and pulled out the Tenchi-ken. He was glad that he'd started carrying it around constantly since the mess with Kagato. He wasn't sure if he could summon the Light-Hawk Wings without Tsunami's help. "Where is it," he asked Kiyone. "I'm right above you," a soft voice called out. Tenchi looked up to see a man hanging in the air above him. His jaw dropped when he saw who it was. "Kagato..." he whispered.