Tenchi-Muyo! (No Need For Tenchi!, This End Up) is (c) AIC * Pioneer LDC, Inc. Aa! Megami-sama! (Oh My Goddess!) is (c) by Kousuke Fujishima, Kodansha, TBS and KSS Films. Aa! Megami-sama Muyo! (Ah! No Need For My Goddess!) A Tenchi-Muyo! and Aa! Megami-sama! crossover fan fiction By Luna Hinomura http://fly.to/Luna's "Watashi wa anata no ningyou ja nai. Watashi wa anata ja nai mono." ("I am not your puppet. I do not belong to you.") -->Ayanami Rei, _End of Evangelion_ (Megumi Hayashibara) Chapter 9: Demon's Power Staring down at them, Grandpa put an arm around both Ayeka and Washu. "Yes," he said. "I am he." Ayeka reached up a trembling hand and touched his face. "Your handsome face, your youth..." "I know," Grandpa said. "I am half mortal, and that means I will die someday, Ayeka." Washu was silent. "But why?!" Ayeka cried. "Why did you leave us?" "I couldn't bear knowing that I lived amongst immortals, and I would die someday because of my mortal blood. Mother altered her DNA when she married my father, and for that reason, I am not completely of immortal descent. That is why I have no power except when I am holding the Tenchi-ken. The Tenchi-ken is what links me to Jurai. I never meant to deceive you, for I had no idea your heart was so strongly set on me." Ayeka began to sob again, and he hugged her to comfort her. For some reason, Washu only smiled. "Boys. Oh, boys will be boys. When they meet a girl, they forget all about their poor mom. I guess the mom just gets in the way." Grandpa blushed. "You mean *that* was the reason you stayed?" Ayeka said. "I'm sorry, Ayeka. Hey! I've got an idea! Why don't we get married now?" he suggested. "Don't make bad jokes, Yosho," Ayeka said. "No offense, but you're too old now." "Oh, all right, all right," Grandpa agreed. He walked over to me and shoved me in Ayeka's direction. "How 'bout him? He's a young one!" This time, Ayeka blushed and looked down at her feet. I looked down at my feet as well. "Ryoko. I must save her," I said, turning away from Ayeka. "You certainly *don't* have to save her! She's the cause of all your troubles!" Ayeka protested. "Ayeka," Tsunami said, "we have to get Ryoko back no matter what." She walked over to Ayeka. "In less than an hour, Washu has both lost her daughter and regained her son. Can you imagine what it is like? One cannot replace the other." Hanging her head, Ayeka averted her eyes. "Well, then, let's save Ryoko," she reluctantly agreed. "Azaka! Kamidake!" They appeared next to her. "Take care of Yosho while I am gone." "Thank you, Ayeka," Tsunami said, then turned to Yosho. "Will you be coming with us, Yosho?" Grandpa closed his eyes and shook his head. "I don't think so, but there is one thing I must do before you leave. Come, Tenchi. If you wish to save Ryoko, you will have to use the Tenchi-ken. Can you do that?" "Yes." "Then I will give you the sword. Go ahead and take it. It will acknowledge and accept you as its new owner." I nodded, and jogged over to where the Tenchi-ken was still embedded in Funaho's trunk. I grasped the handle, and I could feel the power of Jurai flowing through it, and into me. Slowly, the Tenchi-ken allowed itself to be removed from its position in the tree. "Can you really use that sword? Will you attempt to rescue Ryoko using a sword you can't even handle yet?" Grandpa asked. "Ryoko. I *will* save her," I replied. Grandpa nodded, and accepted my laconic answer. "How on earth will we find Kagato, Tenchi?" Tsunami asked suddenly. I blinked a few times. Apparently, in all the commotion over Yosho being found, I'd forgotten all about that. "Easy," Washu and Kiyone said, then looked at each other. "You go first," Kiyone suggested. Washu nodded, and bent down to pick up Ryo-ohki. "Come on, baby, it's time," she said. "Miaaao!" Ryo-ohki said as Washu threw her high into the air. She began to sprout the same metallic prongs I'd seen when Ayeka had taken me into Funaho. The vision we'd had of Ryo-ohki was now before our very eyes. Ryo-ohki kept growing until she was a massive, brown spaceship. At the center of the ship was the same orb I'd seen before, but it was rotating. The orb pointed straight at me. Suddenly, I felt nauseous. "Uh, it kinda looks like a huge eye," I quipped feebly. Then, it felt as if every cell in my body was tingling as Ryo- ohki transported us on board. Once there, Washu opened up a view screen of some sort, and it focused on Kiyone and Mihoshi, who were still standing next to Funaho. "Your turn, Kiyone," Washu said, and Kiyone nodded. She pulled off her left earring, and held it to the sky. "" Kiyone yelled upwards. Another view screen opened up, one that displayed the scenery next to Ryo-ohki. A different space ship materialized along side of her. "That must be the Yagami," Washu said. "In any case, it looks like something the Earth Angel's Agency would give to an Angel." A third view screen opened, and Kiyone's face appeared. "We're ready when you are, Washu," she said. "Let's go, then," Washu replied, and set Ryo-ohki off on a course. * * * * * One half-hour later, our plight had turned up nothing. Neither Ryo-ohki nor Yagami could sense Kagato's ship. Each second felt like an hour; each minute felt like an eternity. Uneasiness hung heavy in the air, and all was silent, save for the occasional rustling of cloth as one or two people shifted uncomfortably in the anticipation of battle. "How much longer?" Ayeka asked. "I don't know," Washu said. "Ryoko must still be unconscious--I can't feel any psionic waves at all from her. I can't sense her at all. What about you?" Ayeka and Tsunami both shook their heads, and I only stared at her blankly. "What do you mean, 'sense'?" I asked. "It's nothing," Washu replied. "Let's just say Kagato's good at hiding his presence." "<>" Tsunami said. Suddenly, I felt as if Kiyone were speaking directly into my mind. <> Kiyone said. <> "<>" Tsunami began, but was interrupted. <> "It's Ryoko!" I cried. "Ryoko! <>" Washu said. <> An eddy appeared in the vacuum of space before us, and Kagato's ship materialized like waves in a pond when the surface is disturbed. <> "Is Kagato speaking to us?" I wondered aloud. "No," Washu said. "Ryoko's sending what she hears directly to us -- she's trying to help us locate her." "Smart daughter you have," Tsunami quipped. "Now's not the time to be joking around," Washu replied. "Watch out! He's using the Souja to fire Energy Bolts at us! Ryo-ohki, take evasive maneuvers!" "Meeeeoooooow!" A lone sweatdrop appeared on my brow. <> I heard Mihoshi and Kiyone screaming, their terror so great that it even crept into the edges of my mind. "Oh, no, the Yagami!" Ayeka cried worriedly, before one of the blasts shook us off our feet. Again and again the blasts pounded us. "Ryo-ohki! Fire back!" Washu yelled. Ryo-ohki obliged. We watched as the blasts flew near Kagato, and I held my breath in hopes of one, just one, hitting him, and giving us a chance to save Ryoko. The shots were all deflected by Souja's Life-Force Energy shield. "Dammit!" cried Washu. "<>" <> "<>" <> This time, Ryoko put in her own two cents. <> <> the conversation broke off gradually. Obviously, Ryoko had lost a lot of Energy, and was unable to hold onto the psionic bond she and her mother shared. "Tenchi?" Tsunami said, turning to me suddenly. "I have been speaking with Lady Tokimi, and we have an idea." "You were talking with your other sister? How?" "Psionically. Please, do not interrupt. In any case, have you ever heard of the Light-Hawk Wings?" "The Light-Hawk Wings? No..." I said, and Washu gasped. "Lady Tokimi wants to use the Light-Hawk Wings? But the three of us must all be together to be able to summon them," she protested. "Not necessarily; the Tenchi-ken is linked to Jurai, after all, and so is Ayeka's crown." "So then...?" "Ayeka and Tenchi must link themselves to Jurai and let Lady Tokimi reach here through the their connection. Then, we can open the Light-Hawk Wings. The Wings can be used for defense as well as attack, so I feel this is our best chance for success." Closing her eyes, Washu considered Tsunami's words. Finally, she came to a decision. "Ok. Let's do it." * * * * * Now, Ayeka and I stood in a separate room inside Ryo-ohki (ugh... that sounds *really* odd...), a place where she was able to concentrate without any distractions. She found a pedestal somewhere, and we placed the sword in the middle of it. "Stand across from me, on the other side," she said, and I willingly obeyed. "Now, pray for Lady Tokimi to come." Holding her palms towards the Tenchi-ken, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. I followed suit. My body began to feel very strange, like the sensation when you think someone is watching you. I was compelled to open my eyes and glance around, but another jolt from Kagato's ship, the Souja, kept me silent. The sudden tingling of my hands startled me, and I was forced to resist against the need to open my eyes. Instead, I concentrated harder. My palms began to feel warm, and I knew Lady Tokimi had reached us. "You can open your eyes now; the connection has been made," Ayeka said, and when I opened my eyes, I noticed her hands were glowing, a similar glow to the one her crown emanated. My hands were glowing as well. <> I heard Kagato say. <> "What?" Ayeka gasped suddenly. "Is there something wrong?" I managed to ask, trying not to lose concentration. "I can sense a gathering of Life-Force Energy in the Souja... Kagato's putting his own Energy into it!" "Well, what does that mean?" "Brace yourself!" I barely had any time before another blast from the Souja tore through Ryo-ohki, and ripped her into shreds. Ayeka and I were separated in all the pandemonium, and I could feel myself sinking into darkness. "Tsunami..." I whispered, before it came over me like a thick, black, smothering blanket. That was the last thing I remembered. * * * * * Suddenly, Tsunami broke off her concentration and a scream escaped from her lips. She doubled over in pain, clutching at her temples. Her trembling hands tore at her exquisite hair, and she felt as if her whole essence was being pulled apart. "Tsunami! What's wrong?" Washu cried, losing her own control over her own third of the Light-Hawk Wings. Her sister was unable to answer, and only writhed in pain on the floor of Ryo-ohki. <> Kiyone warned. "No! Ryo-ohki!!" Washu cried. An instant before the blast reached them, Washu felt herself being transferred aboard Yagami. Once again, the blast tore through Ryo-ohki, but this one completely disintegrated her. "Is everyone all right?" Kiyone asked. "Wh-where's Lord Tenchi?" Ayeka stuttered in disbelief. "H-he was o-only standing less than three f-feet away from me..." "He's not here. Neither is Tsunami," Washu observed. "Ryo-ohki, too..." Covering her mouth, Ayeka stifled the shriek of anguish that threatened to escape her throat. "T-Tenchi? N-no... It can't be... *He* can't be... And Tsunami...? Oh, no..." The scream that she refused to let come finally escaped her, and she released it through her entire being. "<>" * * * * * The psionic cry reached both the Souja and Kagato; even Ryoko as well. While Kagato merely chuckled evilly, Ryoko heard Ayeka's cry, and knew that only one thing could have made her scream in that way. She understood. When Ayeka's cry reached her ears, she gave her own bellow in return. With a blast of her remaining Life-Force Energy, she escaped Kagato, wishing to investigate the rubble the battle had left behind. Nothing remained. No Ryo-ohki. No Tenchi. Tears streamed down her face as she looked at the dust floating around the vacuum of space. The blast had taken out both of them; both her beloveds. She and her sister, Ryo-ohki, had been together ever since they'd both been born. Even though they weren't literal sisters, it seemed so at times. They'd even escaped Kagato together when he had possessed her before. Now, she could no longer sense Ryo-ohki's presence. And that could only mean one thing. On top of that, there was the loss of Tenchi, as well. The only boy she'd ever given her heart to, a boy whom she'd watched grow from a tiny baby to the big-hearted teen he was now, or used to be. It was too much for her. The pain in her heart turned to hatred, hatred for Kagato, and the desire for retribution. The vendetta she held with Kagato escalated in her heart, and she promised herself to fight to the death against him, until her loss was paid in full: blood for blood. Cold tears sprung from her eyes, and she allowed them to flow, unheeded, down her cheeks. "I swear you will pay, Kagato..." she vowed, before teleporting aboard Yagami. End of Chapter 9