This is my third story and I hope you like it. As with my other stories, the main character is Hakubi, Tenchi's grandson. If you haven't read my other stories, then here is a brief family tree. Tenchi married Ryoko and Ayeka, and is the Emperor of Jurai sometime in the far future. He has a daughter named Achika with Ayeka and a son named Devon with Ryoko. Devon grew up and married Sasami/Tsunami and their son is Tenchi Hakubi Jurai Masaki II or Hakubi for short. Rye-Ohki is Hakubi's cabbit that Washu made for him. As usual, I do not own these characters, other than the ones I make up for this story. Tenchi and crew belong to Pioneer and AIC. 'Mental link' "Spoken or sounds" Prologue: The Incident (Some time after OAV 13 and a few days after Hakubi/Car had returned to his own time from Tenchi Muyo: No Need for the Past.) "What a beautiful day!" Kamidake told his counterpart. "Yes indeed. Another wonderful day!" Azaka agreed. It was a normal day in the life of a teenager named Tenchi Masaki. The two rivals for his love, Ryoko and Ayeka, fought in the morning as usual, and Tenchi scampered away to the fields to avoid them as usual. But in his rush, he forgot his lunch. Tenchi thought to himself as he peeked through the back door. He tiptoed into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. "Tenchi!" a voice called out. Tenchi jumped a foot in the air. He turned around and saw Sasami standing in the doorway. "I was just about to prepare lunch! If you would just wait a few more minutes." "Oh Sasami, it's just you." Tenchi gave a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat off his forehead. "I'm kind of in a rush, so if you don't mind, I'll have my lunch to go." "Sure Tenchi." Sasami skipped into the kitchen and started to pull a few things out of the refrigerator. "Miss Washu wanted to see you. Why don't you talk to her while I'm making your lunch?" "Good idea Sasami. Just don't tell your sister or Ryoko where I am." "OK Tenchi." Tenchi peeked around the corner to see if anyone was there. When he was sure no one was sleeping on the couch or napping on a beam, he slid along the wall to the staircase and ducked into Washu's lab. "Tenchi! Just the person I wanted," said Washu with an evil smile on her face. "More tests again, Little Washu?" Tenchi was starting to regret coming to the lab. "Exactly, but not on you." This was music to Tenchi's ears. "So what do you need me for?" "Remember Car?" Washu had erased everyone's memories about the true identity of Hakubi. "Of course I remember," Tenchi replied as he walked up to Washu. "He went back to his own time a just a few days ago." There were certain things that Washu could not erase without creating confusion, so she left the whole time traveling royal guardsman bit still intact and created some false memories to fill in the gaps. "And do you remember where he got his time machine?" "He said that you made it and sent him back." "That's right. And here it is!" Washu pressed a button on her computer and spotlights illuminated a large machine in the center of the lab. "And you are going to help me test it!" Washu struck a pose and from out of nowhere trumpets flared. "You aren't going to send me back in time are you?" A large bead of sweat formed on his head just thinking about it. "Of course not, silly boy." Washu typed a few things into her computer and started the machine. "Here, hold this." From a subspace pocket, Washu pulled out a plastic carrot with blinking lights and handed it to Tenchi. "Now go stand on that mark on the floor." Tenchi complied and walked over to a large white 'X' painted on the floor. "What are you going to do?" Tenchi started to sweat some more. He couldn't help feeling like he was standing on the bull's eye. "I just need to test the targeting and scanning sensors on complex organic and inorganic materials. So stay still." Washu's fingers flew over her transparent keyboard, causing some strange noises and lights to emanate form the machine. "Let's see here..." Washu trailed off. "Target is acquired. Subject is a living organism." A picture of Tenchi came up on her screen. She walked up to Tenchi to show him the results. "See, all ready. Just a few more tests and this puppy will be ready to go." Tenchi looked at the screen, not understanding most of what he saw. "Oh, what's this do?" Mihoshi suddenly asked. "Mihoshi! How did you get in here? Don't push that button!" Washu yelled out as she ran to the control panel on the time machine. It was too late. Mesmerized by all the flashing lights and shiny buttons, Mihoshi couldn't resist pushing a few. "Oops!" The machine made louder noises and the lights started to get brighter. "I'm sorry, maybe this will help." Mihoshi pushed a few more buttons in a vain attempt to stop the machine. "Ah! Get away from there! You'll break it!" Washu pushed Mihoshi aside and pushed some buttons of her own. "Washu! What's happening?" The room was getting brighter and for some reason, Tenchi felt himself get lighter. He looked down at his feet and swore he could see right through them. He raised his hands to shield his eyes from the blinding light, just in time to see the plastic carrot he was holding fade away. "Washu!" "I'm sorry Tenchi. The machine is out of control. I'll fix everything. Don't you worry, it'll be all ri-" Washu was cut off as the machine gave off a burst of light. And then there was nothing but blackness and silence. Who Needs Tenchi? (Approximately one year before the incident.) "Approaching colony 0-315," Kamidake noted from is post aboard Ryo-Oh. "Commencing scan," said Azaka at his post. "Scan complete. No sign of Prince Yosho or the space pirates Ryoko and Ryo-Ohki." "Setting course to next possible planet. No need to wake the Princess." Ryo-Oh veered away from the planet and headed out of the system. Leaving colony 0-315, or Earth as the indigenous people called it, never to return. (Ten years after the incident.) "Approaching colony 2-426," Azaka noted from his post. "Receiving a transmission from Jurai," Kamidake called out, "On screen now." Emperor Azusa appeared and looked down at the two guardians. "Azaka, Kamidake, I am ordering you to bring my daughters back home. The space pirate Ryoko has returned and it is no longer safe for you them to be gallivanting about the galaxy. It is about time for her to fulfill her duty as crown princess." In the background, a man with pink hair was smiling behind a fan. "We understand your highness. Changing course now," Azaka replied. At the same moment, a white crystalline ship appeared near colony 0-315. "Any sign of Ryoko?" the female captain asked her ship. "Ciao," came a reply. Apparently the woman understood the strange noise. "Is that so? Contact Kagato immediately." The ship made another noise and a view screen came to life, showing a ship approaching at high speed. "Space Pirate Ryoko, this is detective first class Mihoshi of the Galaxy Police. You are under arrest for multiple counts of murder in the first degree, murder in the second, murder in the third, piracy, assault, assault with a deadly weapon, destruction of public property, destruction of private property, trespassing, armed robbery, breaking and entering, loitering..." "Not another one." The woman cut off communications and spoke to her ship, "Ken-Ohki, get rid of her." The ship did as he was told and opened fire. He scored a direct hit and Mihoshi's ship spiraled downwards towards Earth. "Miss Mihoshi, our weapons and engines have become inoperable and the gravity from the planet is pulling us towards it," reported Yokinojo. "That's bad isn't it?" "Yes!" Yokinojo yelled back. With Mihoshi's incredible luck, she would survive the crash without a scratch, but today her luck ran out. The new Space Pirate Ryoko left nothing to chance. "Ken-Ohki, finish her off." A large laser beam ripped through Yokinojo's hull, setting off multiple explosions, engulfing the little ship. Nothing was left but white-hot, twisted metal. It did not take long before the Soja arrived on scene. "What did you find?" Kagato asked the woman. "We have detected a faint energy source that matches the master key, Master," the woman replied, bowing before Kagato. "I see." Kagato easily found the exact location of the master key and he immediately teleported to it. It was in a cave near a Shinto shrine in the mountains. "There you are," Kagato said out loud as he opened the doors of a little replica of the shrine, exposing the master key. "I've been looking for you for a long time." Kagato reached into the little house and grabbed the sword. A large blue bolt of electricity surged through his body. He yelled out in pain and let go of the sword. "Playing with something that doesn't belong to you?" a voice called from the mouth of the cave. Kagato cursed under his breath and teleported outside. An old man with a wooden sword sat on a rock near the entrance of the cave. "So the Prince shows himself at last." Kagato smiled and approached Yosho. "What are you doing here?" Yosho asked in his characteristic grave manner. "I have come in search of the greatest power in the universe, and I might as well take my Ryoko while I'm here." "The greatest power, bah. There is no such thing." "Are you so sure?" Kagato asked with a laugh. "Your master key is somehow linked to it." "The master key is nothing but a tool," Yosho replied as he stood up. "You have nothing else to find here." "I will take the master key, and my Ryoko. And you are going to give them to me." Kagato created his large, green energy sword and raised it for a strike. "Never!" Yosho lashed out with his boken. Kagato easily dodged the blow and laughed. "You must be crazy to think that you can defeat me with a toy sword!" Faster than the eye could see, Kagato moved behind Yosho and knocked him to the ground. He reached down and lifted Yosho by his throat. "And to think that they said you were the best swordsman in all of Jurai. I don't see how you could have defeated my Ryoko like this." Yosho thought to himself. "Now you will give me the sword." Kagato raised Yosho a few more feet and gave his neck a squeeze. "Never!" was all Yosho could say as he gasped for air. "Then you will die!" In the distance, beams of light shot out of the leaves of Funaho into to the water around it. For a few minutes, light danced over its glassy surface. As suddenly as is started, it died, and a leaf fell. (Far into the future, where the timeline hasn't changed yet.) "Now split yourself in two," Devon said to his son. He, Hakubi, and Rye- Ohki where at the training grounds in the palace, practicing a new technique. "Concentrate. It's just like teleportation remember?" Hakubi concentrated and successfully split himself. He opened his eyes and saw himself stare back at him. He lifted his right arm, and so did his double. they thought to themselves. "Good. Now create a sword." Both Hakubis concentrated and a purple energy sword appeared in their hands. "Not so powerful, we don't want to hurt anyone." The swords turned a lighter shade of purple. "Good. Rye-Ohki, are you ready?" Rye-Ohki mewed a positive and raised his boken. Rye-Ohki was now using a humanoid form of a young adult. It was only a year before when he was still using the child form, and Hakubi had asked Washu why he changed so soon when Ryo-Ohki had stayed as a child for a very long time. She explained that Ryo- Ohki was never meant to have a humanoid form like Rye-Ohki was and since Ryoko never had a childhood, she could not use her memories and experiences as a reference. To Hakubi it didn't really matter whether he was a child or a cabbit. Rye-Ohki would always be a part of him. "Whenever you're ready." Devon created his own energy sword and raised it. The Hakubis faced their opponents and attacked. This technique was still new to Hakubi and he had a hard time thinking straight. He was loosing his match with his father and with Rye-Ohki. Soon they were pushed back to back. Hakubi had a quick mental discussion with himself and they decided on a plan of attack. They waited, and let their opponents move closer. Devon and Rye-Okhi both swung at the same time and the Hakubis disappeared. They both materialized next to his father and struck. Devon managed to block one blow but was hit by the other. In a blink of an eye they were gone and materialized next to Rye- Ohki. Rye-Ohki ducked under the blows and rolled away. 'That's not fair!' Rye-Ohki protested through their mental link. 'Do you know what's even more unfair?' Hakubi thought back. One of him teleported behind Rye-Ohki and swung his sword. Rye-Ohki jumped out of the way only to be caught by the other Hakubi. 'I can read you mind too.' 'That's cheating!' Rye-Ohki turned back into his cabbit form and jumped away from Hakubi. He walked up to Devon and meowed loudly while pointed to Hakubi. "I know, I know. But you where doing pretty good for a while." Rye-Ohki crossed his arms and stuck his tongue out at Hakubi. "Why don't you spar with someone else for now and I'll spar with Ten-chan." Devon motioned to a guard and tossed him a boken. "Now go easy on him," he said to a still pouting Rye- Ohki. Rye-Ohki looked at the guard and gave him a mischievous smile. He changed back to his adult form and picked up his boken where he dropped it. Soon they where fighting. Rye-Ohki clearly had the upper hand. Not only was he stronger than the average Juraian, he also had the memories of all the lessons that Hakubi had learned throughout his life. Devon motioned to a couple more guards and soon Rye-Ohki was fighting four men at the same time. Meanwhile, Devon was fighting with both Hakubis, and winning. "You still need of a lot of practice if you want to beat me like this, but it's not that an important technique to learn." Devon batted one Hakubi away, spun around and knocked the other Hakubi down. "It's getting late. Why don't we stop now." Both Hakubis teleported away, but only one materialized in front of Devon. Rye- Ohki also ended his match with the guards. They bowed to each other and returned to their posts, with a few more bruises. "Whew, I'm going to take bath," said Hakubi as he wiped his face with a towel. 'You should. You stink pretty bad,' Rye-Ohki joked. "Same to you, fur-ball," Hakubi said as he threw his towel at Rye-Ohki's face. Devon looked at the pair and could only wonder what they had said to each other through their link. Sometimes it was a bit unnerving to hear only bits and pieces of a one-sided conversation. He just ignored it as usual and picked up their gear. "Ah, this feels good." Hakubi was relaxing in one of the pools in the royal bathhouse. Sitting next to the edge in his cabbit form, Rye-Ohki was taking the proper cat bath. "Why don't you take a real bath and stop that licking? You're going to get a hairball." 'Cabbits and water don't mix,' Rye-Ohki replied. Hakubi responded by sending a wave of water to the edge, causing Rye-Ohki to jump away from the splashing water. Rye-Ohki gave him a dirty look and Hakubi let out a peel of laughter. The laughter was suddenly cut short when a wave of pain washed over him. He felt as if his whole body was being pulled apart. Hakubi grabbed his stomach and sunk underwater. Rye-Ohki also felt something. His fur stood on end and he shivered as he felt a cold wind blow over him. He heard some splashing in the pool and turned to Hakubi, ready to jump away from another wave. Instead, he saw Hakubi go under. 'Hakubi? Are you all right?' When he received no reply, Rye-Ohki jumped into the pool transforming into his adult form in mid air. He waded over to Hakubi and pulled his head above water. Hakubi coughed out a mouthful of water and gasped for air. 'Thanks,' Hakubi thought back, still gasping for air. 'What was that about?' "I don't know. Maybe I overdid it today in practice. I feel fine now." Hakubi looked at Rye-Ohki who was waist deep in water. "I thought cabbits and water don't mix?" 'They do when some people can't keep themselves from drowning in the bath! Do you know how long it will take to get my fur dry?' "Not long enough!" Hakubi grabbed Rye-Ohki and dunked him completely underwater. 'That's it! I'm leaving.' Rye-Ohki escaped Hakubi's grasp and got out the pool. He transformed back into his cabbit form and was still soaking wet. He gave himself a good shake and walked to the door, looking like a soggy bunny. "I'm sorry," Hakubi tried to apologize, but couldn't stop laughing, "At least let me help dry you off." Hakubi got out of the pool himself and reached for a towel. He noticed that the ring he wore was glowing. He touched the ring and his Juraian battle armor instantly encased him. He looked himself over and instead of a puffball attached to his chest, there was a small remote control. 'What's going on?' Rye-Ohki asked and hopped back over to Hakubi. "I don't know." Hakubi pulled off the remote and examined it. It was the same one that he had used to open the portal that allowed him to travel back to his own time when he went to stop Kain. A red light was flashing wildly. Hakubi thought to himself. He pointed it towards an open area and pressed the button. Nothing happened. He pressed it again and still nothing happened, but the light still flashed. "I'll go ask Miss Washu about this." He reattached it to his armor and touched his ring again to take off the battle gear. He threw a towel to Rye-Ohki and started to dry the wet animal. Thirty minutes later they emerged from the bathhouse. 'I'm going for a snack. You want anything?' Rye-Ohki asked. "Sure. I'll meet you in the kitchen. I want to talk to Miss Washu first." Rye-Ohki shrugged his little shoulders and scampered off to the kitchen, a little puffier than before. Hakubi headed off in the other direction, to Washu's lab. Hakubi shook his head and dismissed the thought. He continued on his way till he reached the lab door. Like in the Masaki house on Earth, Washu had chosen a closet door as the portal to her lab. Hakubi knocked on the door and waited for a reply. He knocked again when nothing had happened after a minute. Still not getting a reply, he opened the door. To his surprise he found a broom closet. Hakubi closed the door and opened it again. Still a broom closet. He tried again and still, only a broom closet. "Um, excuse me. Are you lost?" A familiar voice asked from behind. Hakubi turned around and standing in front of him was Ayeka flanked by her two guardians Azaka and Kamidake. "Do you know where Miss Washu's lab went, Auntie?" "Washu?" Ayeka gave Hakubi a puzzled look. "I do not believe that I know of a Miss Washu that is staying here in the palace, let alone, any lab of hers." This, of course, surprised Hakubi. "Auntie, are you all right?" Hakubi looked his aunt over and noticed that she was wearing a bit more jewelry than usual and a kimono he had never seen before. This time it was Ayeka who was surprised. "Auntie? Do I know you? Who are your parents?" Hakubi's jaw almost hit the ground. "Are you joking?" The completely baffled look on Ayeka's face told him that she was not. "It's me, Ten-chan. You know, your sister's son?" This struck a nerve. Ayeka's face went red and she started fuming. "How dare you make fun of my family like that. My sister hasn't even been married! Azaka, Kamidake, contain this intruder!" "Whoa! Calm down guys." Azaka and Kamidake floated closer to Hakubi, chanting, "I'm coming to get you," over and over. Azaka tried to engulf Hakubi, but he jumped away. Kamidake tried a less civil approach and opened fire. "Hey! Cut that out." Hakubi dodged the laser blast and backed away. "It's me, Hakubi, remember?" Azaka and Kamidake reply by shooting at him some more. "Guess not." Hakubi turned around and flew down the hall, not wanting to hurt the two guardians. He rounded a corner and teleported down another hall. Just to be safe, Hakubi flew down another hallway. After a few minutes of flying, he sat down in a nearby chair and pondered the latest events. Hakubi looked both ways down the hall to make sure the guardians weren't still coming after him. Hakubi got up and walked towards the throne room, the most logical place Sasami would be at this time. "What news do we have about that Demon Ryoko?" Emperor Azusa asked a man with pink hair as they walked towards the throne room. "She has tried multiple attempts to break through our defenses, but she cannot get through this time, your Highness," the pink haired man replied. "Good. And how is my daughter doing today, Seiryo?" "She is fine sire, exhilarated to be married to the great Seiryo. She just informed me that she had a strange encounter with an equally strange man. No one knows who he is, and he is wandering around the palace. The guards have not been able to locate him." "That is not good. What does he look like?" "Kind of like him!" Seiryo pointed to Hakubi who was walking out of the throne room. Hakubi thought to himself. He heard a commotion and saw Azusa and a strange pink haired man. "Grandfather Azusa! When did you get back from your vacation?" "I am not your grandfather boy!" Azusa spat back. "I have no offspring with the eyes the same as that demon Ryoko." "She is not a demon!" Hakubi yelled back. He never liked his grandfather, and Azusa never like the idea of his daughters marrying people from such low status. "I Seiryo, will protect you from this heathen, Father!" Seiryo stepped in front of Azusa and opened his fan. A spotlight centered in on him and rose petals started to fall from somewhere unknown. "I feel sorry for you who will feel my power." "Who's this idiot?" Hakubi asked. "First you insult my wife, and now you insult me. I was planning to go easy on you, but not anymore." Seiryo closed his fan and struck a pose. "This is too weird." Hakubi turned around and teleported away. "Don't just stand there like a fool, go get him!" Azusa ordered his son- in-law and pushed him down the hall. Hakubi stood in the center of his mother's room. He noticed that the pictures of the whole family were not on her dresser like always. He also noticed that there was not a single carrot shaped cushion in sight. Hakubi walked out of the room and decided where to go next. Hakubi was almost to the garden when he saw Rye-Ohki, still in his cabbit form, walk across the hall crying. "What's wrong Rye-Ohki?" Hakubi quickly walked up to his cabbit and picked him up. 'They threw me out of the kitchen!' Rye-Ohki jumped onto Hakubi's shoulder and told him his story. 'I went down to kitchen to get some carrots and this cook that I have never seen before started chasing me with a big knife. She kept on calling me a rat or something and soon everyone was chasing me. I ran away as fast as I could and now I can't find Ryo-Ohki or Sasami, and I'm still hungry!' "I'm having the same type of day. Let's go find Mom together and see what's going on." Hakubi pulled a carrot out of a subspace pocket and handed it to Rye-Ohki. He grabbed it greedily and started munching. Hakubi thought to himself as he walked the last few yards to the garden. The garden was huge, but Hakubi knew his mother's favorite spot and quickly walked to a grove of trees. Finally his search was over, there in the middle of the grove sat Sasami reading a book. Hakubi was about to call out to her, but was stopped by two guards. "Excuse me, sir, but where are you going?" a guard asked. "I'm going to see the Princess," Hakubi replied. He saw the other guard put his hand up to his ear, obviously listening to someone through an earpiece. He said something quietly and turned his attention to Hakubi. "I'm sorry sir, but the Princess cannot be disturbed right now. If you would please come with us now, we will show you to someplace where you can wait." Both guards crossed their staffs in front of Hakubi, blocking his path. "Sorry, guys. Not today." Hakubi teleported behind the guards and ran up to Sasami. "Mom!" Hakubi cried out as the two guards tackled him from behind, sending Rye-Ohki flying off his shoulder. Sasami looked up and her eyes opened in shock. She stood up and started to back away. "No! Don't you recognize me?" Hakubi threw the two guards off of him and approached his mother again. "It's me. Your son." Sasami froze. Something inside of her told her that she knew this man, that they were connected somehow. But something else told her to run away in fear, to escape this demon that was after her. Hakubi reached out to touch her arm, but was again tackled by the guards. "No! Get off of me!" They had called for backup and there was now a pile of men on top of him. Hakubi had only managed to graze his mother's arm. But that was enough. From where he had touched her, Sasami felt a fire run up her arm and consumed her body. She gasped in surprise as everything went white. Memories of a past life flooded into her. She fell to her knees and clasped her head as images of what should have been flashed before her eyes. She saw herself as a little girl aboard Ryo-Oh talking to a strange boy and woman. Somehow she knew their names were Tenchi and Ryoko. In a flash of light the scene changed to her sitting in a living room, playing with a cute little creature she knew was called Ryo-Ohki. She saw a group of people, including her sister and herself, sitting around a dinner table and enjoying a meal that she had proudly prepared. She felt a happiness that had no equal, and Sasami lost herself in the memory. But suddenly everything went black and a man she knew as Kagato emerged from the darkness. She felt utter terror as she saw this man capture the woman, Ryoko. She saw the boy, Tenchi take the Tenchi-ken from a space tree and fly off to battle, like how her brother Yosho had once done long before. She felt the power of Tsunami and through her, saw the boy defeat Kagato by creating light hawk wings. She saw herself hugging this Tenchi, after she had told everyone about her and Tsunami. She had never told anyone in this life. Again there was happiness and peace. Years flashed by and soon she was at her sister's wedding. It was a gorgeous event and she remembered herself with Ryo-Ohki, celebrating the marriage of Tenchi to Ryoko and Ayeka. Sasami could not believe that the space pirate Ryoko that had inspired so much fear in her life was actually a very close loved-one in another lifetime. Years flashed by again, and she saw the birth of Achika and Devon. The scene focussed on Devon and she saw him grow up before her eyes. She felt the love they shared. She saw their first date, their first kiss. Soon it was their wedding and then the birth of their son Tenchi. She felt proud as she witnessed his first steps, his first flight, and the first time he created the light hawk wings. She saw her child grow to become a strong, handsome young man, the same man that stood before her now. In her mind she reached out to her son, only to have him suddenly taken away by a horrible force called Kain. Again her world was black and tormented. She felt the sorrows of a mother having lost her first born and her world became a desolate wasteland, swirling around a marble statue of her son. She saw herself weeping at the foot of the statue, mourning her tremendous loss. Suddenly the statue cracked and from it burst Ten-chan, alive. On his shoulder sat another cabbit, which had helped change the course of time, and saved her son. Happiness returned and again she was in bliss. Sasami gasped again, still taking in all that she had seen. From within her mind, her voice spoke, "My dear Sasami, the assimilation is now complete. We are now one. And we must set right what has gone wrong. Do not be afraid anymore." "Thank you, Tsunami," Sasami whispered. She opened her eyes and stood up. What met her was a seen of utter chaos. Only a second had past, and Hakubi was throwing guards off of him left and right. Rye-Ohki had transformed to his humanoid form and had picked up a staff that a guard had dropped. With a loud hiss he used it like a baseball bat to knock a few guards off of Hakubi. "Rye-Ohki, don't hurt them!" Hakubi yelled out, still struggling with a few men. More men came and Rye-Ohki jumped right into the middle of them, spinning the staff and knocking the guards down. "Ten-Chan...Rye-Chan..." Sasami said quietly. Hakubi had heard her and look up. "Mom?" Hakubi turned his attention away from the guards for a second, and that was enough for them to knock him down again. "Stop it," Sasami said quietly. No one hear her. "Stop it!" she said louder. The guards had their hands full with Hakubi and Rye-Ohki and did not hear the Princess. "Stop it now!" she yelled at the top of her lungs. Everyone froze and looked at her. Hakubi struggled to stand up, but the guards had firmly pinned him down. Rye-Ohki was facing six other guards with his staff. One stepped closer and Rye-Ohki gave a loud hiss which sent the guard back. "Everyone get out of here! I want to talk to these two alone!" "Are you sure that is wise, your Highness?" a guard spoke up. "Yes, now let him up." The guards let go of Hakubi and he stood up, dusting himself off. "Now get going." The guards filed out of the grove to leave them alone. Rye-Ohki threw the last guard the staff he was using and bared his fangs one more time. When all of them had left, he transformed into a cabbit and hopped to Sasami, jumping into her arms, meowing sadly. "Don't worry. How could I ever forget someone as cute as you?" Sasami told the cabbit, touching noses. "So you know who we are?" Hakubi asked, breaking the moment. "Yes, Tsunami has shown me everything." Rye-Ohki jumped out of her hands, onto her shoulder. "Then can you tell me what in the world is going on?" Hakubi sat down on a bench, finally relaxing. "Something had happened that effected the flow of time. I have two sets of memories starting from my trip with my sister to find our brother." Sasami sat down next to him and held his hand. "From then on, everything is radically different." "Like how?" "For one, we never stopped at planet Earth and we never met Tenchi." "Why didn't you guys stop?" "One memory tells me that we stopped because we detected the life force of Ryoko. I guess we never detected that in my universe so we didn't stop." "So something had happened to Ryoko. Now where getting somewhere." "That could be the reason, but I feel that it is something more than that." "What do you mean?" "The Ryoko you know used her ship Ryo-Ohki to slip by our defenses when I was little. We did not detect her before it was too late because her gems are similar to Juraian power. But the Ryoko today, has a different ship, called Ken-Ohki. She had tried hundreds of times to breach our defenses again, but is unable to. The generals believe it is because we have better sensors and weapons, but the truth is, this Ryoko does not have a power similar to Jurai. This one even looks a little different. People believe that she has been reborn, but from what experiences I had with your Ryoko, I don't believe that is possible. And how did she escape from that cave? My brother did go off to fight her and never returned. Ryoko was also never heard from again, until a time after the universes diverge." "Maybe Grandpa did something different in this universe?" "That may be, but what he did, I do not know." "So Grandpa is the key to this problem." "That is my guess. But you can't do anything until you find Miss Washu." "I have no idea where she is. The door to her lab is gone." "The last sighting of the Soja had been in the Sol system. That was a long time ago, and there have been no more sightings since. If a ship that size exploded, I'm sure we, or the Galaxy Police, would have known. Washu may still be trapped inside." "I understand. It was Grandpa that defeated Kagato and released Washu. And Kagato came to Earth because Grandpa released Grandma. When was the Soja last seen?" "A few years after the split in our universes. Oh no!" Sasami stood up, suddenly remembering something. "What is it?" "Funaho. Funaho had died." "What? Now?" Hakubi also stood up. "No. In the past, around the time the Soja was seen near Earth. I was not assimilated with Tsunami then so I could not have known then." "What does this mean?" Hakubi knew that Funaho was his great- grandfather's space tree and had taken root near the Masaki shrine. "Something has happened to Yosho. You must go to Earth and find out what happened. Something happened on Earth that changed everything." "Sasami! Sasami, where are you?" a voice called out from somewhere in the gardens. "It's Seiryo. You better leave before he sees you." "You mean that pink haired guy? We've met." Seiryo walked into the grove followed by a platoon of guards. "Sasami! Get away from that barbarian!" "Oh jeez, not again," Hakubi muttered. "Can I hit him? Please let me hit him," Hakubi begged his mother. "No, that would make my sister angry. Even though she doesn't like him, he is still her husband." "No way? You got to be kidding me?" Hakubi could not believe that his aunt would ever marry a fool like him. "I guess things are a lot different than I thought." "Yes they are. Get out of here and head to Earth. I will stall them as long as I can." Hakubi hugged his mom and walked to an open area. "Where do you think you are going, you ruffian?" Seiryo yelled after him. "Rye-Ohki, let's go." Rye-Ohki gave Sasami a little kiss on the cheek and jumped away. He hopped to the clearing and jumped high into the air. In a second he transformed into a ship. "Be careful. Don't trust anyone, people have changed." Sasami called out. "I will be." Hakubi teleported into Rye-Ohki and they lifted off. "Come back here you demon!" Seiryo yelled at the rising ship. "Seiryo, shut up!" Sasami yelled back over the roar of Rye-Ohki's engines. "What did you say?" Seiryo was shocked. She had never spoken like this to him before. "You heard me. I said shut up. And the rest of you guards, go back to your posts," Sasami ordered and she pointed out of the garden. Some of the guards started to move, but others stayed still. "These guards are going nowhere. They are under my command." Seiryo pointed out. "I said move it!" Sasami gave the guards a glare that would burn through steel and this time, all of them left. "What?" Seiryo looked around at all his guards leaving. "How dare you. I'm going to tell you father about this little happening," threatened Seiryo. "Go ahead. I'll be glad when you leave. Your whiney voice is giving me a headache." Sasami felt like a whole new person. It was as if something had blossomed inside of her, giving her the determination and courage to let nothing stand in her way. For once Seiryo was speechless and he stormed out of the garden. "Is there anyone following us?" Hakubi asked his ship. They had left Jurai and where making their way out of the main system. 'No one. All Juraian vessels are moving away to let us pass.' Hakubi thought to himself. "Then let's get to Earth as fast as we can." Rye-Ohki mewed an affirmative and they rocketed off. "Sir, the space trees are not responding to our commands," a very flustered captain reported to the Emperor. "What? What is going on up there?" Azusa had summoned Sasami after Seiryo had told him what happened. "They will not follow the order to attack or pursue the unknown vessel. They keep on saying something like they 'Will not attack their mother's son,' or something to that effect." Sasami hid a smile and silently thanked her space trees. "What did that man say to you?" Azusa asked his daughter. "Oh nothing important. Just that he was lost and needed directions." "Seiryo said he saw him hug you. Now what was going on?" Azusa had also noticed a change in his daughter. She would never hide anything from him before, and had always obeyed Seiryo. "He was just happy that I could give him the right directions. Now if you excuse me, I need to talk to my sister." To the shock of everyone, Sasami turned and walked away. Sasami thought to herself and stifled a giggle. "What is world is happening?" Azusa asked out loud after his daughter had left without being excused. "Apparently, that barbarian had done something to our sweet Sasami and converted her to a delinquent," Seiryo answered. "Seiryo, shut up," was Azusa's reply. Hakubi and Rye-Ohki had left the main system of Jurai and were halfway to Earth, when Rye-Ohki detected a battle. 'Hakubi, there are some people fighting not to far from here. One of them is a cabbit!' "Are you sure?" Hakubi asked. 'Positive. The energy signature definitely matches a cabbit ship.' "Is it Ryo-Ohki?" 'No it's not. It must be Ken-Ohki!' Rye-Ohki displayed some data on the energy readings he was detecting. 'I'm getting part of their communications, audio only.' There was some static, before Hakubi could clearly hear what was being said. "...bitch! You killed her and I'm going to take you in if it's the last thing I do!" "That isn't..." Hakubi was interrupted by another transmission. "I'd like to see you try. You Galaxy Police are no match for the great space pirate Ryoko!" 'That is Kiyone! I'm sure it is.' Rye-Ohki mewed in excitement. "Then let's get over there fast!" Kiyone had been tracking Ryoko for years. She had finally caught up with her, and now she was going to arrest her or die trying. The Yagami opened fire. Ken-Ohki's shield easily deflected the barrage and he returned fire. Kiyone tried to dodge the attack, but her left engine was destroyed. "Damnit!" Kiyone yelled in the cockpit of the Yagami. She franticly pushed buttons and transferred more power to the remaining engine. She flipped a switch and fired every missile she had at Ken-Ohki. Again, to no affect. Ken-Ohki fired again and scored multiple direct hits. Kiyone looked at her display and saw her shield power dip dangerously low. She looked out the window and saw Ken-Ohki powering up for another shot. "I'm sorry Mihoshi, I failed," Kiyone said out loud and braced for the inevitable end. Ken-Ohki fired and Kiyone closed her eyes as all the viewports flared white. Kiyone felt nothing, literally, nothing. She opened her eyes saw something she would have never expected. In front of the Yagami was another crystalline ship. This one was jet black with a blue dome in the center. Three light hawk wings had shielded it from Ken-Ohki's attack. "Kiyone! Get out of here and I'll handle this 'Ryoko'," a strange person told her on the view screen. "Who are you? And you are interfering with Galaxy Police business," Kiyone replied. "Always the policewoman." Hakubi smiled at Kiyone, glad that she was at least somewhat the same. "It doesn't matter who I am, just get out of here. I need to talk with this space pirate." Kiyone started to protest, but was cut off by multiple alarms going off in her cockpit. Kiyone frantically pressed buttons and flipped switches, trying to keep her ship form falling apart. "Whoever you are, thanks for the assist, and I'll be back for you Ryoko." Kiyone turned the ship around and headed to the nearest Galaxy Police base for repairs. Ken-Ohki fired at her, trying to keep her from getting away, but Rye-Ohki stayed in between them, shielding Kiyone. When Kiyone was well away from the battle, Rye-Ohki's view screen came to life. "Who the hell are you?" the space pirate asked. She had the same color hair as Ryoko, but her eye's where red instead of yellow. "I should ask the same to you. You are definitely not Ryoko," Hakubi replied. "And how would you know?" the pirate asked, slightly amused. "I have my ways. Now who are you?" "Aren't we a feisty one," The pirate laughed and smiled. "OK I'll play your game. I'll tell you who I am, if you tell me who you are and where you got that ship." "Deal. You go first." "My name is Nagi. Ever since that fool Ryoko got stuck in that cave, I've taken her place. Now who are you?" "My name is Tenchi Hakubi Masaki." Hakubi left out the Jurai part purposely. "And what about your ship?" "This is Rye-Ohki." Rye-Ohki hissed after being introduced. "He was a gift from the greatest genius scientist in the universe. Where did you get your ship?" "He was given to me be another scientist as well." Nagi smiled again. "And now that you know who I am, I'm going to have to kill you." She cut communications and opened fire. Rye-Ohki's light hawk wings absorbed the fire and he returned it. Ken- Ohki shields held on, barely. 'That ship is too powerful. We must leave,' Ken-Ohki mewed to Nagi. "I don't believe it. How in the world did he get an '-Ohki' that has light hawk wings?" Nagi held onto the sides of her chair as her ship rocked. 'It doesn't matter, we must leave.' Rye-Ohki fired again and this time broke through the shields. The force of his blasts sheared off two downward pointing spires. Ken-Ohki screamed in pain, and Nagi decided it was time to leave. 'Should we go after them?' Rye-Ohki asked as Ken-Ohki flew off in the opposite direction of Earth. "No, we need to get to Earth. I have a feeling that someone will be there waiting for us," Hakubi replied. They resumed their course and sped away. "Damn you Masaki! I'll get you for this!" Nagi yelled at the other ship as she flew away. A few minutes had pasted since they left Nagi, and Rye-Ohki was wondering about a few things. 'Who do you think made Ken-Ohki?' "The only people I know of that knew how to create cabbits are Washu and Kagato. And since Nagi knew where Ryoko was imprisoned, I'm guessing Kagato." 'Then won't she go tell Kagato about us?' Rye-Ohki's crystals floated up and down anxiously. "I hope so." Rye-Ohki thought about it for a few seconds and soon saw what Hakubi was going for. 'If she tells Kagato, then he'll start looking for us with the Soja. Then we can get Washu!' "That's right. With all those hints I gave Nagi, he'll definitely be curious about us." 'Great. Then we don't have to look for him.' They continued on their way without any more distractions. "What do you have to say for yourself?" Kagato and Nagi had met at a predetermined rendezvous point not far from where she had fought Hakubi. And Kagato was not pleased when he saw the damage to Ken-Ohki. "I gave you a ship more powerful than the feared Ryo-Ohki and yet you still manage to get it almost completely destroyed." "I'm sorry, Master." Nagi kneeled before Kagato and bowed her head. "We ran into another ship that is even more powerful." "Explain." "It was the same design as the Ryo-Ohki, but has a blue dome instead of red. It also has the ability to create the Juraian light hawk wings." "Impressive." In the back of his mind, Kagato felt that something wasn't right. "And who was the pilot?" "A man who calls himself Tenchi Hakubi Masaki." "Tenchi Hakubi? Are you sure?" Kagato thought to himself. "Yes. Do you know this man?" "It's not important. Did he make that ship himself?" Kagato asked his servant, no longer angry. "He said that the greatest scientist in the universe gave it to him." "The greatest genius scientist in the universe?" "Yes, that was it." Kagato dismissed Nagi and teleported back to his organ in the Soja. He played a few notes and decided to check on something. He teleported to the reverse side of his ship and walked up to the crystal where is organ should have stood. "Still there, Washu?" Kagato asked the little scientist trapped inside. He tapped on the crystal and made sure the seal was still secure. "You seem to have an admirer. Someone has taken your name and your self-proclaimed title. And whoever this scientist is deserves it, if he can create a ship like your Ryo-Ohki with light hawk wings." Kagato laughed out loud and teleported back to the real side of the Soja. "Nagi, we will be heading to Juraian colony 0-315. Prepare to leave in one hour," Kagato ordered through a communicator. "Yes, Master," Nagi replied. 'There's Earth!' Rye-Ohki mewed happily. "OK, set us down near the lake, but make it quiet," Hakubi replied. Rye- Ohki flew through the atmosphere and hovered gently above the lake. 'Where'd the house go?' Where the Masaski residence should have stood was nothing but a grassy field. "I don't know. You better transform to a cabbit before someone sees you." Hakubi teleported himself outside and Rye-Ohki soon joined him as a cabbit. Together, they walked to where the house should have been. 'Hakubi, come here. I found something!' Hakubi ran over to his cabbit and saw that he was sitting on top of a door. He picked up one end and pushed the door upright. When it was completely vertical, it stopped moving, as if it was locked into that position. "It's the lab door!" It was a little dirty, but Hakubi could definitely tell that it was the closet door that Washu used in their old house. He opened the door and looked through. He saw the other side of the field. He closed it and tried again, still, no lab. Frustrated, Hakubi slammed the door shut. "The lab is here. I know it." Hakubi pushed against the door trying to knock it down, but it wouldn't budge. "There is definitely something here. We need to find Washu." Hakubi walked around the empty field, trying to find any other clues. After a few minutes, he gave up. "Rye-Ohki, let's go up to shrine. We still need to find out what happened to great-grandpa." 'You go ahead. I want to look around here some more.' Rye-Ohki hopped to the edge of the lake and looked over its water. "Suit yourself." Hakubi turned and started to walk to the long staircase that led to the shrine. Rye-Ohki thought to himself as he look at the lake. A couple thousand steps later, Hakubi made it to the shrine. It was as he always remembered it. He walked around the grounds and everything was pretty much the same. He was lost in his thoughts and did not hear the man walk up behind him. "Excuse me, can I help you?" Hakubi turned around and saw an old man that bore a striking resemblance to his grandfather. "Ten...Tenchi?" Hakubi stuttered. "No, my name is Taro. Was there someone here you were looking for?" Taro asked. "Um, yes. I looking for a priest," it took him a second the remember the name, "I think his name was Katsuhito." Hakubi had always known his great- grandfather as Yosho, and rarely heard the name Katsuhito. "I'm terribly sorry. He died a long time ago. I have taken over his duties as head priest of this shrine." Hakubi did not know how to react. "Are you a friend of the family?" Taro asked in a caring voice. "In a way, yes. How did he die?" "The police said the it looked like someone tried to rob him near a cave nearby and strangled him to death." "I see. Do you know where I can find his son-in-law or grandson?" "Again I am sorry. Ever since he lost his son and wife, and then his father-in-law, Noboyuki moved away to Tokyo. We have never heard from him since. I sorry to have to tell you all this bad news." "When did his son die?" This was not a homecoming Hakubi had expected. "When he was very little, before his mother. They say she died from grief." "Thank you for your time." Hakubi walked towards the stairs and started down the mountain. He looked over the valley and saw the dead husk of Funaho still sitting in the center of its lake. He sighed and continued down the steps and went to get Rye-Ohki. He walked up to shore of the lake and saw him standing on the water, over the center of the lake. "Rye-Ohki, what are you doing?" Hakubi called out. 'She's here! I know it!' Rye-Ohki thought back excitedly. "Who's here?" Hakubi flew to the center of the lake and looked down. He could barely make out a few sharp objects deep in the mud. 'Ryo-Ohki is still at the bottom the lake!' Rye-Ohki hopped up and down in excitement, still not breaking the surface of the water. "If Ryo-Ohki is still here, then Ryoko is most likely still here." Hakubi reached down and picked up the cabbit. "Come on, we got something to do." 'Stay here and tell me if anyone is coming.' Hakubi ordered. 'Got it.' Rye-Ohki jumped up to a nearby tree and found a good perch to sit on. It was now well into the night, and it was time for Hakubi to put his plan into action. He walked up the mouth of the cave and examined the ancient gate. Hakubi thought to himself. Unlike his grandfather before him, a locked gate did nothing to keep him out. He simply phased through the gate and walked deeper into the cave. He came to a small room and against the wall sat a small replica of the shrine. The doors were open, and a wooden object could be seen inside. Hakubi reached into the little house and gave the sword hilt a strong tug. It freely came out, along with the rest of a sword. Hakubi pulled off the scabbard and examined the rusty blade. Hakubi shrugged his shoulders and ignited the Tenchi-ken. The blue blade flared to life, disintegrating the false, steel one. Hakubi looked around and saw a conveniently placed rock near the center of the room. We walked up to it and cleanly split it in half. Ever since his grandfather had his first child, the whole family had a little training in using the master key. He examined the sword more closely and noticed that there were three small red gems placed in the pommel. Suddenly the room started to shake and the wall behind Hakubi started to move. Dead vines fell of the stone wall as it split open. Hakubi smiled and looked through the new door. He saw a long, steep tunnel going down and a light at the end. Hakubi jumped through the door and floated down the tunnel. Hakubi had never seen where his grandmother had been imprisoned, and was impressed at the sight before him. He was in a large domed room that had a little pool of water in a depression in the center. A light glowed from the center, filling the room with an eerie atmosphere. Hakubi walked to the edge of the pool, and something stirred. In the center a skeleton figure stood up. "Ryoko?" Hakubi asked, not quite sure that this mummy was his grandma. The figure didn't answer and looked at him with glowing yellow eyes. Balls of light filled the room and started to circle the figure. The room got brighter and the skeleton started to fill out. Soon Hakubi could tell it was a woman, and turned away when he noticed that she was naked. "Ryoko, is that you?" This time he was answered with a moan. Hakubi turned back around and saw his grandmother. Ryoko had fully been restored, and fully clothed. She reached up to her face and tore off the mask that she had been wearing. She slowly looked down at the Tenchi-ken that Hakubi was holding and whispered, "Yosho!" "Ryoko, are your all right?" Hakubi asked, still not quite sure what to do. Ryoko answered by forming a large ball of energy. "Ryoko?" The ball became larger, and larger. Hakubi backed away, to the bottom the tunnel. "Ryoko, what are you doing?" Before he could react, the ball exploded. The blast was so powerful that he was pushed all the way up the tunnel and into the outer room "Wow!" was all Hakubi could say before Ryoko attacked again. Hakubi teleported away just before the orange energy sword would have cut him in half. Ryoko fought like a wild animal. Swinging at anything in her way, shooting everywhere. It took a lot of effort for Hakubi to stay one step ahead of her. "Ryoko, stop this! I'm not you enemy," Hakubi yelled out, dodging another energy blast. "All heirs of Yosho are my enemies!" Ryoko yelled back. She created another, larger energy ball and threw it Hakubi. This one he could not dodge and was again blown out of the room. He flew through the iron gate with a crash and landed in the dirt outside. 'Hakubi!' Rye-Ohki jumped out the tree and did a summersault in the air, transforming to his humanoid form in the process. The instant he touched the ground, Ryoko had teleported outside and attacked again. "Out of the way!" Ryoko yelled and tried to kick Rye-Ohki aside. Rye-Ohki jumped out of the way of her foot with a meow of surprise. "Rye-Ohki, stay back," Hakubi coughed, and spit out a mouthful of dirt. "Yosho will pay for what he did. And since he is not here, I'm going to start with you!" She flew towards him, ready to slice him in two. Hakubi teleported away again, and Ryoko's sword dug deeply in to the ground. He materialized a few feet away and again, tried to reason with his grandmother. "What about Tenchi?" This caught Ryoko by surprise and she stopped. "What about him?" She still had her sword in her hand and twitched angrily. "Are you going to kill him too? He is Yosho's grandson." "You lie!" Ryoko charged, and again, Hakubi teleported away. "Think about it. He is named after this, you know." Hakubi held out the Tenchi-ken for Ryoko to see. He dropped it to the ground and put his foot over it. "Now I'm unarmed. I just wanted to talk." Ryoko thought about it for a few seconds and extinguished her sword. "Make it fast," she muttered, still a little angry. "I need you tell me everything you know about Tenchi." "Why should I do that?" "Because something has happened to him, and I need to know what. At least you still remember him." "Why should I care if something happened to him?" Ryoko had calmed down a little and was standing on the ground instead of floating like before. "Because I know he is important to you, and he is important to me too." Hakubi hoped that he was saying the right things. He had no idea how this Ryoko would react. "Humph, what do you know?" Ryoko retorted. "Look, all I want to know is when was the last time you saw him." Hakubi was starting to loose his cool, he could only stand so much when someone had been trying to kill him. "Fine, whatever. The last time I saw him was when a long time ago. He would sit in front of my cave with his mother and play. One day they left and never returned." "And he was still a baby? You never saw him when he was older?" Hakubi asked hopefully. "That little bit of information was a freebie. Anything else will cost you." "Always thinking about yourself aren't you. Well fine, have it your way." Hakubi angrily picked up the Tenchi-ken and closed his eyes. The three gems glowed for a second and disappeared. They reappeared on Ryoko. Ryoko felt a surge of power and smiled. "Silly boy, that was a stupid thing to do. And it will be your last!" Ryoko charged again. Fed up with the whole situation, Hakubi did not bother to get out of the way. When she was about to cut his head off, he teleported behind her and pinned her arms back. At the speed of thought, he teleported them both above the lake. "I've had enough of this. You need to cool down." Hakubi spun his grandmother around and threw her into the lake. Ryoko screamed in rage and burst out of the water. She shot straight up, ready to punish her foe. But Hakubi was no longer there. Ryoko quickly looked around and saw him standing near the edge of the lake, looking at the field. His back was turned towards her and she silently flew at him. Hakubi did not turn around as Ryoko gave a war cry and struck. Her sword connected with Hakubi's force field. She pressed harder and her energy sword bent under the pressure, but did not penetrate the shield. Hakubi sighed, still not turning around. "I released you because Tenchi didn't, and I felt sorry for you. Yet you still try to attack me. I tried to reason with you, but I can see that it was pointless. Why don't you just take Ryo-Ohki and leave? You have all your gems. Go raise hell for all I care. I can take care of Kagato myself, and fix this screwed up universe. Then everything will be back to normal and we could all laugh at this like it was a bad joke." With that, Hakubi teleported away, leaving Ryoko speechless. Out of the woods, Rye-Ohki appeared from under a bush in his cabbit form. He arrived just in time to see Hakubi teleport away and he meowed in despair. He hopped up to Ryoko and looked at her. "What do you want?" Ryoko asked, looking at the little creature at her feet. Rye-Ohki turned his head and looked to where Hakubi had teleported, into the forest. He looked back at Ryoko and then back to the forest. He gave Ryoko a final, exasperated sigh and hopped off, back to the forest. "Little pest," Ryoko mumbled to herself. Rye-Ohki found Hakubi sitting on a fallen tree, with his head in his hands. 'Are you OK, Hakubi?' Rye-Ohki carefully asked and hopped in front of his friend. "What was I thinking? This has to be the dumbest things I've ever done!" Hakubi answered. 'Come on, don't be so hard on yourself. I remember you doing plenty of stupider things.' Rye-Ohki smiled, hoping that his joke would cheer him up. Hakubi gave him a dirty look and Rye-Ohki tried again. 'You would be grumpy too if you were forced to sleep for almost 800 years!' "That may be. But she's just plain mean. I don't see how Grandpa ever tamed her." Rye-Ohki jumped onto Hakubi's knee. 'But she never had a chance to meet Grandpa remember? You can't blame her; she doesn't know how to react. She's been under Kagato's control her whole life.' "You're right, Rye-Ohki. That Kagato's a bastard isn't he?" Hakubi petted his cabbit and thought about his next move. "That's an understatement," Ryoko spoke up from behind them. "What do you want now, my wallet?" Hakubi replied, not bothering to get up. "You never told me who you are." Ryoko floated in front of Hakubi and sat down on a tree stump. "What do you care?" Hakubi didn't even want to look at her. Rye-Ohki gave him a little slap and yelled, 'She is trying to be nice, you idiot!' "I'm sorry, I've had a bad day. My name is Hakubi Masaki." Hakubi stood up and bowed respectfully. "I see," was all Ryoko said. "Why did you come and find me? I thought you would be glad to be free and leave." "Did you mean what you said?" "About what?" "About feeling sorry for me because Tenchi didn't release me sooner." Ryoko bit her lower lip, not really wanting to know. "Yes, of course. Grand, er, Tenchi was supposed to release you a long time ago. But something happened to him and it never happened." "How do you know that?" Hakubi sat back down and tried to explain what he thought had happened. "Two years ago, a very powerful creature named Kain, went back in time and killed my family. To protect me from the changes in history that would occur, I wore a special armor that shielded me from any time and space changes." Hakubi paused, to see if Ryoko understood what he had said so far. She nodded and he continued. "This armor kept me firmly rooted in my time-line. I went back and stopped Kain from killing my family and everything was back to normal. But something has happened recently that changed time again. Because I still wear this armor, I still remember what was supposed to happen. So far, we have traced the distortion back to earth and to Tenchi. That is why I wanted to know what you remembered about him." "OK." Ryoko still did not understand completely what was going on, but it was a start. "What does this have to do with Kagato?" "Nothing really. He's just holding someone that I need in order to clean this mess up." "I see." Ryoko nibbled her lip and finally asked the question that she really wanted. "Are you related to Tenchi at all?" Hakubi smiled. "Yes I am. He's my grandfather." "And what's happened to me in your world? Not like I really care or anything," she added quickly. Hakubi knew what she was thinking about. "Tenchi released you and fell in love with you, and later married you." Hakubi thought to himself. Ryoko beamed with joy. "So he did see me and he did remember about me! Oh, how I so wanted to be release just so I could play with him!" Hakubi blushed at Ryoko's reaction. "And that means," Ryoko paused, "that I'm your grandmother!" Ryoko acted as if she hadn't tried to kill him just a few minutes ago. "What side am I?" Ryoko asked excitedly. "My father is your son." Ryoko was as giddy as a little girl. "And who'd he marry? A great pirate like his mother?" "Um, the Princess of Jurai," Hakubi told her quietly. "What? My son married that stuck-up bitch Ayeka?" Ryoko was giddy no longer. "No, no. My mother is Sasami, the other princess." "How the hell did that happen?" "Let me start at the beginning." Hakubi started as far back as he knew. He told her a very brief version about how Tenchi released her and how Ayeka and Sasami came to live with them. He even told her about Washu, Kiyone and Mihoshi. Ryoko snorted at the thought of having a mother, but listened nonetheless. "That life sounds so much better than what I have right now," Ryoko commented after Hakubi had finished. "That's why I need to find Miss Washu and figure out a way to fix this world." "I'll help. I have to get my revenge on Kagato anyways." Ryoko clenched her fist and cracked her knuckles. During their long conversation, Rye-Ohki had slipped away unnoticed. "Hey, where's your pet?" Ryoko suddenly asked. Hakubi made a quick mental check and found Rye-Ohki. "He's at the lake again." "Why's that? I thought cats didn't like water?" Ryoko stood up and stretched her stiff muscles. "He's in love with Ryo-Ohki. He won't admit it to himself, but I know it." Hakubi smiled at the thought of the two cabbits going out on a date. "That's weird. A cat thingy that's in love with a ship." Ryoko started to walk back to the lake and Hakubi got up as well and followed her. "Oh yeah, I guess I forgot to tell you. Rye-Ohki is also a ship like Ryo- Ohki. Ryo-Ohki was damaged beyond repair during the fight with Ayeka's Ryo-Oh and when she regenerated, you choose to have her take the form of a cabbit. (According to the Tenchi Encyclopedia released by Pioneer with the OAV DVD Ultimate Edition, Ryoko chose to model her new Ryo-Ohki after the little cat that Tenchi had saved just before the OAV's started. It was this cat that was lying on the porch, in front of the shrine office, in the very beginning of OAV 1.) A half cat, half rabbit that can transform into a ship. Later on, she gained the ability to transform into a humanoid, and Rye-Ohki was modeled after her, so he can do the same." "So they where more or less, made for each other?" Ryoko joked. "Well, he's the only guy cabbit she knows, and she's the only girl cabbit he knows." Hakubi shrugged his shoulders and made a mental note to talk to Washu about this situation later. They got back to the lake, and Rye-Ohki was sitting at the edge, staring at the center. He heard them coming and meowed. 'Why does Ryoko keep Ryo-Ohki in the lake? Why won't she let her come out and play?' 'Because this Ryo-Ohki can't transform into a cabbit yet. She's only a ship that meows,' Hakubi answered and picked up his cabbit. Rye-Ohki took another look at the lake and climbed up to Hakubi's shoulder. 'That stinks.' 'Once we find Miss Washu, we can set everything back to the way it was, and you can see Ryo-Ohki again.' Ryo-Ohki meowed in agreement and yawned. "It's late. We should find some shelter and get some sleep," Hakubi told Ryoko after he yawned as well. "I've been asleep for hundreds of years. I'm not going to bed anytime soon." Ryoko hovered a foot off the ground and took a deep breath of fresh air. "Fine. I'll be in the forest." Hakubi flew off to the treetops, in search of a good-sized branch that he could sleep on. When he found what he was looking for, he landed and settled down for another uncomfortable night in the forest. Rye-Ohki didn't mind, and was soon fast asleep. Hakubi and Rye-Ohki woke up with a start. Ryoko was hovering just a few inches in front of them. Hakubi was about to say something, but Ryoko quickly put her hand over his mouth. "Someone's here," she whispered. Hakubi nodded and Ryoko let go of his mouth. He peeked over the edge of the branch and looked around the forest floor. He soon found their visitor. "Masaki! I know you're here. Why don't you come out and play?" Nagi yelled up to the treetops.