Tenchi-Muyo (OAV): Tenchi's Cousin (japanese note: 'Itoko no Tenchi') This Fan Fiction is written in Pioneer's Tenchi Muyo OAV universe. All characters, cabbits, starships, etc. are property of their creators: please don't sue! I have no money anyway! A few notes before I begin: -I have borrowed several concepts here: so credits where credits is due! -from the Tenchi TV series and several Tenchi 'fics, the idea that Juraians and Juraian partbreeds have long lifespans and generally don't get seriously ill. -from the fanfic Dance of Shiva (Found on the Fan Fiction page at http://www.anipike.com), the idea that Yousho had several daughters: Achika, who became Tenchi's mother and died of indeterminate causes before the OAV's; Meylia, who married a Richard Stingray and is estranged from the main Masaki family; and new for my 'fic, Kaori, who is the mother of my main character, Kenji Masaki. -from the TV series and the fanfic Surprises All Around, that those posessing Jurai blood can make use of similar abilities to those of Yousho and Juraian Kagato in the last volume of that series.('Hadoken'ish energy blasts, forcefields, etc.) -this 'fic is written after OAV #13 but before the movie Manatsu No Eve / Daughter of Darkness. I'm assuming there are a couple of years of unused history in there (it was several years between the OAV's and movie) that I'm making use of. I am _not_ using the TV series' plotlines. Also, I am writing this in theatrical format, so here are some guidelines. TENCHI : bold, underlined text means that this person is speaking. This is modified in one of several ways: (O.S.) Off Screen. The character is speaking aloud, but is not visible to the reader/viewer at the time. (V.O.) Voice Over. Used mostly for thought or the occasional inaudible communication (telepathy, magical message, etc.), this means that the comments are heard by the reader/viewer but not spoken. (Narr) Narration. This is usually a line from the speaker at some point in the plot after the discussed events are over. STUNNED (etc.) Bold text, usually placed just below the 'speaker name' and immediately before the affected text, tells how the speaker sounds when he says the next lines. This remains in force until either the character stops speaking (i.e. someone else has their lines) or a second bold 'direction' modifies it. Bold text appearing in the middle of lines can also be actions taken by the speaker during or between his lines. Text that is not preceded by a character name is descriptive: telling of the setting, actions of characters, etc. Here's an example: RYOKO Hah! It's mine! I have the last dumpling! AYEKA (O.S.) ANGRY Ryoko! Give that back, you vulgar monster woman! AYEKA runs on screen, which pans back from RYOKO to show the front yard of the Masaki household. TENCHI is on the front porch, looking out with a despairing expression at the two women. TENCHI (V.O.) I wonder if having another boy my age around here would help at all.SHAKES HEAD Probably not - Ryoko and Ayeka are enemies anyway, and they, Sasami, and Mihoshi all have crushes on me. SIGHS Can life get much wierder? YOUSHO (Narr) If I had been near my grandson and heard him say that, I would have reminded him that Providence tends to answer such questions when they are asked. BEAT For another member of my bloodline on Earth was about to make his presence felt. We were soon to welcome... The POV retreats skyward as various detonations echo in the Masaki yard. A bus is just pulling up to the stop nearest the road to the house, and a YOUNG MAN gets out carrying a bag. More detail cannot be seen: the POV is too high. Words flash across the screen: "TENCHI'S COUSIN" Cut to a scene in the woods near the Masaki shrine. SASAMI is wandering through the trees towards a clearing. A THUG in ripped clothes and with a chain wrapped around his chest steps out from behind the bushes. SASAMI shrieks. THUG SMUGLY Now I got a meal ticket! Anyone ownin' this much land has gotta be loaded, so I'll jus' take you an' trade you for some money. The THUG advances on SASAMI, who backs into a tree. As we get a clearer view of the THUG, it is obvious that he is a *huge* negro and has a distinctive mohawk (Either bearing a resemblance to or actually being BIRDIE from Street Fighter Alpha II.) BIRDIE suddenly leaps forward, and SASAMI frantically scrambles out of the way. SASAMI SCREAMS HELP! TENCHI! RYOKO! AYEKA! BIRDIE CHUCKLES Ah don't think so. They ain't gonna hear ya from here, girl. Unknown to BIRDIE, RYO-OHKI (in cabbit form) has seen this exchange from where she was hiding, following SASAMI.She runs for the Masaki house, broadcasting her distress over her link to RYOKO and WASHU. YOUNG MAN'S VOICE (O.S.) ANGRY But someone *else* might. BIRDIE spins around. SASAMI also looks at the newcomer, and the POV shifts to her view as it pans around to reveal the YOUNG MAN standing off to the left of BIRDIE at the edge of the clearing. BIRDIE whips his chain off his waist and swings it, intending to knock out this nuisance. Ducking under the swing, the YOUNG MAN races to SASAMI and scoops her up, jogging toward the road. YOUNG MAN Do you live at the house up there? POINTS UP THE HILL SASAMI Y-yes. YOUNG MAN Good. You run up there and get the people to call the police, OK? He sets SASAMI down at the side of the road and turns to face the woods where BIRDIE is making a lot of noise pressing through the brush. SASAMI gives the YOUNG MAN a look as she backs away. SASAMI Why are you helping me? YOUNG MAN KEEPS LOOKING AT WOODS Because if you live up there, you either are my family or you're a friend of my family. I used to play here, when I was younger, with my cousin Tenchi. TURNS HEAD, GRINS AT SASAMI My name's Kenji, by the way. Kenji Masaki. BIRDIE finally bulls his way out of the woods at that point, and SASAMI bolts for the house. KENJI cracks his knuckles and takes up a Wu Shu stance (like Chun Li.) KENJI All-right-let's-fight! Cut to an overview of the Masaki residence, as SASAMI runs to TENCHI, RYOKO, and AYEKA, and babbles and waves her hands a lot. RYOKO gets the gist quickly and morphs into her fighting gear, visibly furious. Seconds later, AYEKA does likewise while TENCHI pulls out the Tenchi-ken. The three friends charge down the hill, but just as they're about to turn the last corner, a HUGE flash of light erupts and BIRDIE comes flying over the trees. He SLAMS into the ground right in front of the three. RYOKO SURPRISED Huh, guess he didn't need our help after all. If anyone needs me, I'll be sunbathing on the back roof like usual. RYOKO teleports away, and AYEKA does a quick doubletake before returning her Jurai Battle Armour to its ring form. TENCHI pockets the Tenchi-ken and bends over to study a large scorch mark on BIRDIE's chest. He's just straightening up when KENJI comes running around the bend, skidding to a halt in a ready stance. KENJI ANGRY All right, still want some more?! SEES SCENE, SHEEPISH Oops, guess not. TRYING TO BE CHEERY, FORCED LAUGH Tenchi-kun! TENCHI STUNNED Cousin Kenji!?! Some time later, the entire Tenchi crew is assembled in the living room, listening to KENJI's story. Ryoko is notably absent, as no one bothered to get her down from the roof. YOUSHO I see. I had heard of the accident that took the lives of my daughter and her husband, but I had not heard news of you. I assumed you had found a good foster home. KENJI No. I couldn't take it at the orphanage, ever since I figured out I was different. AYEKA SUDDEN INTEREST Different in what way, Kenji-sama? KENJI UNCOMFORTABLE I _really_ wish you wouldn't use '-sama' with me - I'm no noble, by blood or attitude. SHAKES HEAD Anyway, well... you saw the end of the fight, right? TENCHI Not exactly. We were just coming around the trees when there was this big flash of light and the thug came flying over with this scorch mark on his chest. KENJI Oh. Well... (A flashback ensues as KENJI describes the fight. BIRDIE gets in a headbutt and a two-fisted punch, but KENJI counters with a rapid series of kicks to vital spots - Those familiar with Street Fighter II will recognize the Lightning Kick of Chun Li. BIRDIE roars in rage and whips his chain across, snagging KENJI by the wrist and whipping him into the ground several times. BIRDIE then leans over the still form of KENJI and says something that we can't hear. Up till now the flashback has been silent. Sound erupts as KENJI, still on his back, whips his hands back into a cupped position by his right hip and whips them forward to just below BIRDIE's chest.) KENJI (flashback) HAAWWWWW.... **KIKOSHO!!** (In time with this cry, a five-foot sphere of blue energy [the same shade as the Tenchiken's blade] erupts from KENJI's hands and blows BIRDIE over the trees. KENJI rolls to his feet and kicks into a run after his foe...) KENJI ...and that's where you came in. Anyhow, back at the orphanage I made my hand glow when I got really mad. The other kids noticed, and they called me a freak and never had anything nice to say, especially after I hit one of them while I was glowing and nearly broke his arm.I'd heard rumours of the underground fight circuit, so I ran away at fourteen and made money off of fights. I got badly trashed by a lady who I will remember fondly for the rest of my days: a chinese Wu Shu master called Chun Li. She sort of took me under her wing and trained me. She says I can call forth the power of my 'chi' - battle spirit, I guess you could call it - better than any one else she knows. She taught me that move you saw - the Kikosho. I made a fair amount of cash, but when I parted ways with Chun-sensei, I needed... family. So I came back to the shrine, hoping to rent a room for a while or something. TO YOUSHO Grandfather Katsuhito, is it OK? Can I stay here for a while? I'll pay for my room and board, and I'll work around the house, but I really _need_ to be with family for a while. Please? YOUSHO IN 'OLD GRAMPS' VOICE All right, very well. I think it's a splendid idea! How about you, son? NOBIYUKI I agree. You can set up in the attic rooms, since all the other rooms are taken at the moment. KENJI WRYLY I noticed. You'll have to introduce me. EVERYONE FIDGETS, KENJI LOOKS AT RAFTERS Oh, which of the guests sleeps in the roof nook? After jump training with Chun Li, *I* could get up there, but... TRAILS OFF, STARING AT STAIRS (All others in the room spin to look at the stairs, where RYOKO is walking - normally - down to the main floor.) RYOKO PUZZLED What? I'm being norm.. careful! So who's our new guest? He looks kinda familiar... KENJI PALE, SHOCKED G..Ghosty Lady!!