Chapter 4: No Need for a Scientific Genius By: UltraOverMind email: aegisrunestone@hotmail.com http://envy.nu/uom/index.html Quiet... Thought Musashi to himself. It had been two days, but Musashi had already recovered from his wounds. Sitting cross-legged on the grass, which was wet from the early morning dew, Musashi could see the first rays of the sun peeking out from behind the mountains. Those rays revealed his clean face. No longer was it stained with blood. His face was young(of course, since he is only twelve), and had a cocky-looking sense to it. Musashi thought. He did this every morning, at about four-thirty AM, Musashi would go outside to practice his fencing technique, although he was already a master at what he did, if he did not train he would get rusty and therefore his skill would dull down like a knife that has never been sharpened. Musashi stood up, he drew out Fusion, one of his small katanas. Fusion was a special sword, it glowed with a sliver aura and had special powers. When Musashi charges Fusion and throws it, when the blade pierces an enemy, an ability can be copied by Fusion. When Fusion returns to Musashi, he learns the technique of the enemy. However if he does it to a different enemy, he loses his previous technique and gains a new one. The process is called Assimilation'. Taking up his fencing pose, Musashi prepares to train. He turns sharply to the right and slashes and does a double-backflip almost immediately. Although he is slow at the moment, eventually he will get faster as he warms-up. Soon, Musashi's movements are literally impossible to follow, his attacks and techniques are flawless. The Sun seems to rise much faster, before Musashi knows it, the Sun is up and by this time, his hosts inside the house will be waking up. "*YAAWWNN!*" Ryoko teleports to the bottom of the stairs, sounding very tired. She stretches and blinks her eyes. "Ugh..." She is wearing a blue and brown striped sweater-dress robe. "Good morning, Ryoko!" Sasami greets her cheerfully. Ryoko just grunts and waves, too tired to talk. "Have you seen Musashi this morning?" Ryoko shakes her head in response. "Oh..I wonder where he is! He should be on the couch recovering!" She says, sounding worried. Ryoko looks at the couch, looks at Sasami and shrugs. "Miya!" Ryo-ohki bats the glass-window, "Miya! Miya!" "What is it, Ryo-ohki?" Sasami asks, "Are you hungry?" Sasami goes to the kitchen but Ryo-ohki doesn't follow. "Huh? Ryo-ohki...what is it?" "Who knows..." Ryoko answers, while yawning, "She has her own way of doing things." Suddenly, Ryoko looks at the stairs, which are creaking, Tenchi is coming down the steps, yawning. "Good morning, Tenchi!" Sasami smiles. Tenchi smiles back in response. "Good morning, Sasami...whoa!" Tenchi is startled by Ryoko appearing right in front of him, grinning. Tenchi felt the familar uncomfortness that he got when Ryoko was around. "Hi, Tenchiiii...." She says, "I missed you!" She grabs a tight hold around his neck and cuddles up to him. She seems to be much more awake now. But Tenchi doesn't seem to welcome her hug. "Uh...but..." He protests, "You saw me last night!" He struggles to break free, but the power of Ryoko's grip was incredible. It was like she had the strength of twenty men, maybe even more than that. Sasami giggles at the sight of his predicament, thinking it to be *cute*. "Yeah," Ryoko agrees, "But one night away from you is an eternity!" She smiles, hoping to attract him. But Tenchi finally finds and weak spot in Ryoko's strength and breaks free, walking down the stairs. Ryoko looks bewildered and disappointed. "That's nice, Ryoko." He replies, looking to the empty couch, "Hey!" Tenchi says, looking startled, "Where is our guest?" Ryoko shrugs, and Sasami's face seems to be flooding with concern. "I don't know..." Sasami answers, "He was here last night...huh?" She notices something outside the house. "Hey! It's Musashi!" She shouts, her voice sounded relived. All awake beings rushed to look. And there he is was, holding up his large sword in both hands, he didn't look tired at all. "Miya!" Ryo-ohki cries happily, she had been annoucing her find for over fifteen minutes now. Ryoko grinned pleasantly. "So that's what she pounding the window for." Ryoko says, Ryo-ohki smiles in a cheerful and prideful response as if to say: 'It was all me! I knew where he was!' "But, whats he doing?" Asked Sasami with an angry yet slightly concerned voice. "He's practicing...I guess." Tenchi replies, nodding slowly, not sure what to make of this boy. He looked completely fine, as far as Tenchi was concerned, Musashi didn't seem to be in any sort of pain. "Oh no!" Sasami moans, "He shouldn't be doing that! He needs to rest, or his wounds will come back!" But Suddenly, as if he heard her, Musashi went into an amazing feat of fencing, slashing foreword with his large sword and blackflipping and sticking the sword into the ground, then he fought like he was surrounded, with only his small glowing katana, he quickly fended off all of them. It was almost as if there were an invisible force trying to attack Musashi. But whatever it was, it was losing horribly, like its efforts were that of a stone trying to jump. "He looks fine to me. " Ryoko says, her jaw wide open, along with Tenchi's. Her expression is shared by Tenchi and Sasami. Even Ryo-ohki seemed to be shocked, for her golden, jewel-like, eyes seemed to almost fill her face. "Omigosh..." Tenchi said in amazement, "Whoa...I guess he really is the Greatest Fencer in the Universe.", But Sasami wouldn't have it. She opened the door quickly and stepped outside, she was still a bit surprised at Musashi's great feat, but she still did not want Musashi to act in such a way. After all, he was wounded wasn't he? "Musashi!" She yelled, "You are supposed to be resting! Your wounds need to heal!" Musashi turns around and smiles at her. He picks up his large sword, sheathes it and walks over to Sasami. He looks very confidient, his walk is perfect and it seems as if he had never been wounded at all. "Now..." Musashi says when he reaches the trio of impressed personages, who were still struggling to straighten their faces. "I'm fine Sasami, my wounds are gone now. Trust me, I checked." He adds, noticing her doubtful look. "But..." She protests. Musashi grins and waves his finger at her. "I'm fine!" Musashi insists stubbornly. Sasami just stood there for a second, looking at him, and comtemplating what to do, she thought, sighing deeply. "Alright..." She said, "I'll call you when Breakfast is ready." "Okie dokie." Musashi replied, throwing another wink at her, making Sasami blush again. He turned around and went back his training. Ryoko, grinning, bent over Sasami while Tenchi sat down in the couch to rest. "Looks like someone has a crush..." Ryoko whispered in Sasami's ear, this made Sasami go redder than even her red beads on the ties of her ponytails. Ryoko smiled and nodded at her. "I..." Sasami paused, "I don't know what you're talking about, Ryoko." Sasami walks off to go the kitchen, holding her head high, but Ryoko stops her by grabbing her shoulder. "Oh, come on..." Her eyes gleam a golden radiance, "Don't be shy...I'm sure he likes you too. I mean...he winked at you, twice now." If Sasami's face could get any redder, it would be. "Besides..." Ryoko turns Sasami around to face outside, making her look at Musashi practice. "He is pretty cute too, isn't he?" Sasami felt her cheeks getting heavier. "Oh, stop!" She finally says, "I suppose so..." She answers, hanging her head. "If you need any help attracting him," Ryoko smiles, "Just ask me." Then her smile turns into a grin. Sasami just blushes and walks toward the kitchen. Ryoko turns and notices Tenchi on the couch. Ryoko thinks, devilishly. She teleports next to him on couch, silently. "...Tenchi." Tenchi jumps, looking up to see the cyan-haired, golden-eyed woman grinning wickedly over him. "Whooa!" Then notices Ryoko, "Oh it's you, Ryoko. What is it?" Ryoko wraps her arms around his neck, tightly. Tenchi thinks, "You and me on this couch, now." She says, cocking her brows up and down repeatedly with a malicious grin. "What!?" Tenchi looks scared, he is afraid of what she is suggesting. Ryoko grins, showing fangs in her mouth, shining brightly. Tenchi's fears overtake him."Whoa, wait a second...Sasami's in the kitchen and..." "Oh come on! Have a little fun, *Tenchiiii*..." Ryoko says, and with that, she pushes him on the couch, making him lie down with Ryoko on top of Tenchi. "Oh boy..." She smiles evilly, as Tenchi struggles to break free, but this time, Ryoko would not have any weak link in the chain of her grip. "Miss Ryoko!!" Yells a voice from behind her. Ryoko turns around, It's Ayeka, her red eyes flashing like wild fire flames. "What are you doing with Lord Tenchi!?" She yells as she runs down the stairs. Ryoko gets off Tenchi slowly. She knows there will be other days. "Mmm..." Ryoko hums, "Mmm...nothing..." Ayeka's face twists. Ryoko thinks, Her thoughts angrily twist in her mind, but Ryoko keeps a straight smile through it all. "I'm not going blind!" She retorts, "You stay off of him...you *demon*!" Ryoko's smile fades, now she's done it, Ryoko wants to rend Ayeka into pieces, but something tells her to revert to words, but before Ryoko can retort, a cocky voice sounds out behind them. "Are you girls fightin' again?" Musashi smirks, he had walked back into the house and had been watching the predictament for a few minutes now, "Now now...I know Tenchi's a great guy, but he ain't anythin' to start nuclear war over." Musashi grins, he is just loving the situation at hand. Ayeka frowns at him. She knew he was trouble. "You stay out of this, Sir Musashi!" Ayeka growls. "Whoa!" Musashi holds up his hands defensively, he puts on an innocent face, his acting almost perfect, "Down, girl! I'm not yer target. You need to calm down Ayeka, or you could hurt somebody." The grin returns and Ayeka flusters. Ryoko smiles, "Oh now I remember you, Musashi!" She points to him, and all attention turned to Ryoko.She was now behind the couch. Another memory piece recoverd. Ryoko thinks, "Oh good," Musashi replies, "You're gettin' yer memory back eh?" Ryoko nods. "Good girl...and bad girl..." Ryoko's face floods with lost of place and confusion. "Wha?" Ryoko looks at Musashi, who nodds. "I saw you with Tenchi..." Musashi smiles, waving a finger at Ryoko, "Bad girl..." Ayeka nods in agreement, her face was now beginning to twist into a grin. "Yes!" She says, "Very bad..." Musashi side-glances Ayeka with his keen, emerald green eyes. "But Ayeka," Musashi interrupts, "You shouldn't get so mad when Ryoko offends you. " Ayeka flusters, "'cuz that's what she wants." Ayeka turns away from him. "Hmph!" Ayeka just decides to ignore Musashi, holding her head high. "Geez." Tenchi says, "What's wrong with her?" "Ah," Musashi replies, "She's just P.O.ed, give her some time ta blow off some steam." But Ryoko had other plans. She flies over next to Tenchi and cocks her brows, grinning evilly again. Tenchi has the same unconfortable feeling smash him like an avil. "Ryoko!" Ayeka's eyes flash brightly. "What?" Ryoko turns to face Ayeka, with an innocent, wide-eyed look, "Don't tell me you're jealous, Ayeka." Ayeka sweatdrops. "No! I'm not jealous!" She retorts, " but your beh-" Musashi interrupts her, waving his hand in the air and smiling. "Sure you're not jealous." Musashi rolling his eyes, he clambers onto the couch and puts his arms behind his head, "We believe you, Ayeka..." The sarcasm is obvious in his voice. Ayeka turns to Musashi her face full of anger. Musashi can only grin gleefully. "Be quiet!" She retorts. "Tut, Tut." Musashi says, "Now we mustn't we such violent words in the house, Sasami is in the kitchen." Ayeka grits her teeth, "You don't wanna be a bad influence on your little sister, do you?" Musashi snickers, trying to hide his glee with his hand. "Musashi!" Tenchi says, shocked, even Ryoko was a bit surprised at Musashi's actions. Ayeka's eyes flashed furiously, her face boiled with steam pouring out her ears. She looked like a bomb ready to explode,"Why, you!!" Her beautiful nature seems to have left her and all thats left is a charging bull. "Sorry, man. Musashi replies to Tenchi, "I have a bad habit of taunting Ayeka. I'm ashamed of it. But I have fun with it anyways. " Musashi snickers some more. Tenchi cannot believe what he is seeing, he'd never thought a swordsman could be so rude. "Stupid brat..." Ayeka says under her breath, Musashi smiles slyly. He chuckles, mindful of the insult Ayeka marked on him.Tenchi looks at him in wonder, but he soon understands why Musashi is amused. "I heard that." Musashi chuckles some more, looking *very* comfortable...maybe a little *too* comfortable. Ayeka grumbles and calms herself slowly. She heads for the stairs looking straight, not daring to look back at the couch where the little devil sat, snickering. The corner of her eye caught Ryoko snickering too. Suddenly, the front door of the house slides in and something, what sounds like a hundred excited school children, maybe more, enters the front room. "I'm back!" cries a cheerful, and overexcited voice. Every head in the living room had turned to look at this newcomer, Sasami had entered the front room to annouce breakfeast, instead she stared in awe at the entity who had arrived. Redish-pink hair was the first thing you saw. It was spikey and in a similar style to Ryoko's, except it was longer. Of course, that may be because this person was short. A girl, she looked to be about the age of twelve. Like Musashi, her eyes were green, but these did not have the cocky and battle-worn glimmer that Musashi's had. You'd think the type of radiance they emitted would show complete hyperness, however the eyes shown more of radiance of high intelligance and knownlegde. She wore the black-gold uniform of the Galactic Science Academy, her smile was all of the innocence of child, yet she had a more 'adultish' air around her. Sasami instantly recgonizes her. "Miss Washu!" Sasami cries happily, suddenly it just downpours on the others(except Ryoko) of who she was. Washu was the greatest genius scientist in the entire universe, she used to be a professor at the Galactic Science Academy. She was a bit crazy, well more like was insane and is slowly recoving. But insane or not, Washu is a genius, she discovered many important ideas behind the Universe, such as for example: teleportation, dimensional warp and uplink, and the secrets behind magic(A force used on a few planets controlled by Wizards who can surprisingly rivial even the best scientists). Washu had been living with Tenchi, Ayeka and Sasami for awhile, then she had left for a convention in Space. Musashi chuckles and turns to Tenchi and whispers, "Say, man...Are you a pimp or somethin'?" Tenchi threw a surprised look at the young fencer, "I mean, come on, ya got all these pretty girls in yer house with ya, soo...." Tenchi shakes his head quickly. "No, I'm not a pimp." He replied quietly, much to the fencer's disappointment, but his face lit up again, grinning evilly. "Then..." Musashi chuckles, "why are they *here*?" Tenchi shoots Musashi an offended look from his brown eyes. Musashi sits there quietly with an inquistive smile on his face. "Come on , now. don't be shy...You can tell another guy." Tenchi twists his face frustratedly. "Well...I...they...well..." He can't think of what to say, everything had happened so fast. And now that he thought about it, he was surrounded by women most of the time considering that his grandfather was hardly around the house and Noboyuki was usually at work during the day. And usually, it was just Tenchi and the girls. Tenchi is surprised by Musashi as the fencer pats him on the back. "It's ok...I'm only jokin' around, pal." He whispers and nods his head kindly, smiling, "I'll ask you later, when the mood around here is a little more serious." Tenchi nods in agreement. While this was going on, Sasami and Washu exchanged greetings. "It's so nice to see you again Miss Washu!" Sasami smiled happily, Ayeka's face was no longer angry, she was also happy to see the great scientist back, even if she was crazy. Ryoko stared in wonder, she felt like she knew this person...someone so close to her, but she couldn't make it out. She thought dispairfully. "How was your 'Universal Scientist Reunion'?" Ayeka asked politely, who had come over to the edge of the couch and sat down, "It went for a long time didn't it?" Washu nodded to her. She put hand on her chin and put on a thoughtful look as if not knowing where to begin. "Well..." She finally said after a few minutes, "It was good...I guess." She added boringly, not like Washu at all to be bored about something, "I mean...it wasn't purely one hundred percent, scientificly enjoyable...but it wasn't bad or horrible! Oh no no." Despite the tone of dissapointment in her voice, she was quite girlish and cheerful sounding. Ayeka's smile was slightly hindered by the dissapointing report, "What was it about the party that dissapointed you?" Ayeka asked holding her hand out, palm up. She cocked her head slightly to the right, her eyes filled with curiousity. Washu turned her head and smiled slightly. "I thought there would be a bunch of smart people there." Confusion become a common in theme of the air in the house. Washu stared at the surprised faces around her, "what I mean is, that they would be smart on *my* standards. All my work! And none of those morons learned it." Her face perked up, "Geez, this is why I stay 'Genius of the Universe', no competetion." Her face suddenly lights up, "But then again, 'it's good being King of the Hill!'" She grins as she gets a face-fault and a collapse from her audience. Washu looks around confused. "What?" It seemed the house would fall over as did her audience for the second time. "Jus' as crazy as ever..." Musashi remarked with his hand on the right side of his face, "I guess scientists never change do they, Washu?" Everyone in the room looked at him, surprised, Washu just smiled gleefully, preparing a smart remark for the young warrior. "I guess fencers don't change either, eh, Musashi?" Ayeka's, Tenchi's, Ryoko's, Sasami's and even Ryo-ohki's jaws all dropped...at the same time. "What?" Washu asks again, not really having a single clue about what is going on. Musashi, slightly amused, chuckles to himself. Ayeka finally straightens out, struggling to keep her jaw from falling again. "You..." She said to Musashi, "you...*know* Washu? How?" Ayeka's mouth was wide open, her eyes were inquistive. Musashi slightly smiled a half way smile. "I know a lotta people, Ayeka." He said, "People you probably don't even know. It's like I know everyone in the galaxy." Musashi shrugged mudanely. Ayeka frowned, "Hey I'm not being cocky now, you'll see. Believe me, it'll seem like I know everyone..." Musashi's face seemed serious but Ayeka didn't believe him, not after the way he treated her. "Of course, like me..." Washu grinned cockily, "You just can't not know Musashi! Everybody has know the 'Universe's most skilled Fencer!' Of course, I'm much more famous. I've been around for centuries!" Washu grinned at Musashi who grinned back. "Oh...be quiet..." He taunts, "At least I'm not hiding my real age, *willfully*." Musashi chuckles, even though he recieves a chorus of strange looks and sounds from almost everyone in the room, only Washu knew what he was talking about. "Um...Excuse me?" Ryoko stepped foreword shyly, Washu turns to her, her expression turning to slight shock for a few seconds and then settling into a serious look, one Ryoko could have never imagined in this girl's face. Ryoko could feel all the eyes in the room peering on her. "Well...now." Washu said, looking at Ryoko carefully, "It's been awhile...Ryoko." All eyes went on Washu, startled, shocked and confused. Ryoko's mouth gapped wider than an open prison cell. "Yes, my dear Ryoko...I do know you. But why have you forgotten me?" Ryoko couldn't answer, she didn't understand how this girl knew her. Then it stuck her like lightning, this girl was a scientist. "C...Can..." Ryoko paused, hesitiate to ask, for there was a chance that Washu would not help her, "Can you help me?" She asked slowly, Washu looked to Ryoko with concern. "Help you? What do you mean?" She asked curiously, her eyes blinking. Tenchi answered the question for Ryoko, walking over to Washu. "You see..." He explained, "Ryoko has amnesia..." Washu nods and asks Tenchi to explain all of what happened. So Tenchi spent the next few minutes explaining how Ryoko arrived and also how Musashi arrived as not to arouse the scientists's curiousity. He explained everything, Ryoko arriving at the house, Sasami finding Musashi in the cave. Everything. After Tenchi was done, Washu nodded again. "So...can you help her?" "Well...." Washu begins, only to pause to look at the anixious faces awaited her answer, she waited for a few moments until finally, "In all seriousness...not even I, have been able to find a cure for amnesia." A sigh of dissapointment escaped Ryoko's mouth, "At least...Only type-C amneisa..." Washu's eyes flicker. "But I guess it wouldn't hurt to perform a few tests on Ryoko now would it!?" Suddenly, Washu felt something soft and furry touch her leg. It was Ryo-ohki. She walked up to Washu and cried to her. Washu looked down and smiled, "Hello there, Ryo-ohki...It's been awhile." The group was shocked again, it was almost as if everyone would be electructed to death if this type of surprise kept going on. "You know Ryo-ohki?" Sasami asked in wonder. Washu nodded. "Of course..." Washu grinned, "I made her!" Everything in the room fell on its side. Time for the hospital. "Aren't I SUCH a GENIUS!??" She shouted, smiling widely. Musashi was the only one in the room was not surprised though. Sasami got up and brushed herself off. "Well, Washu," Sasami said, "I think we should wait for Ryoko's tests. I have lunch ready and it's getting cold you know!" Musashi jumped up and dashed for the table at amazing speed, getting to his correct spot and kneeling at the table in under a second. Sasami giggled at the sight of the blue-haired boy excited for her cooking. "I'm *AT* the table." Musashi grinned, one hand gripped his fork and the other holding a knife that, if it were alive, would be gasping for air. "Wow." Said Sasami in amazement, "You must really enjoy my cooking, Musashi." She giggled, Musashi turned and winked at her. "Sasami," He said, "I love yer cooking so much, I would eat it all if I was stuffed!" He nodded to her and cocked her brows, Sasami blushed deeply. "Why," She said, "Thank you, Musashi..." She giggled again, turned and walked over to Washu. "You are always welcome to join us, Washu!" Sasami said, happily, Washu nodded and smiled at the young Princess, got up and walked over to the table, where Musashi was patiently waiting. Ayeka and Tenchi followed suit. "Tenchi," Sasami said, turning to Tenchi while taking off her aporn, dectorated with carrots, "I'm going to get Noboyuki and Grandpa, so have Musashi save me a place." Tenchi nodded, as did Musashi, the young fencer throwing Sasami a wink, making her go red. "Sure, thing." Tenchi replied, as Sasami went outside. "I'll make sure that even your sister doesn't take your place, Sasami!" Musashi yelled after her. "You hear that, Ayeka?" Ayeka rolled her eyes and knelt at the table at her usual spot next to Ryoko. In a few moments, Sasami arrived with Noboyuki and Katsuhito and they began to eat lunch. After lunch, Washu had Ryoko sit down on a chair near the couch, everyone gathered around to look as if it were a specatile, a never before seen act. Something that you'd pay a million yen to see. "Um...How long will it take you to get your stuff ready?" Ryoko asked, Washu walked over to her and sat down on the couch near to Ryoko. "I mean, this must be some sort of advanced technology if you can do tests on me for my amnesia." Washu smiled at her and waved her hands upwards. Two square, transparent panels appeared before the crazed scientist, one above the front edge of the other at a fourty-five degree angle. "About a couple of seconds." Washu replied, she pulled out an iron crown with dimmed lights on it and placed it on Ryoko's head. "This thing here will transfer all your metal functions, capabilities, problems, etc. to my computer!" Ryoko opened her mouth to ask a question but Washu brushed it aside, "Now, now. This won't hurt a bit." Washu grins, giggling slightly. Sitting back down on the couch, Washu begins to tap her fingers across the floating transparent board. Small polgonal shapes in bright colors like red and orange, flashed where Washu's fingers touched. It Ryoko a few seconds to realize that the lower black board was a keyboard and the slanted board was a moniter! The two balck boards made up a paper-thin, highly advanced version of the laptop computer! Images flashed on the screen of Washu's moniter, everyone stared anixiously. Ryoko and the others waited patiently. Finally, the images flickered and Washu stood up. She removed the crown from Ryoko's head. Ryoko looked up at the mysterious woman who seemed so close to Ryoko, yet Ryoko couldn't remember who she was. "Well?" Ryoko finally asked. "I have good news...and bad news..." Washu said, "The good news that you do not have Amnesia Type-B." Ryoko looked at her curiously, "Type-B amnesia is where you have forgotten everything but you think you are someone else, not yourself. Now..." Washu put the crown away and sat back down. She smirked slightly, "The other two types A and C is when you usually remember right away your name and some of basic things you do in life, like walking, talking, etc." "Whats the difference?" Ryoko asked, "They sound exactly the same to me." "The difference is, my dear Ryoko," Washu replied, with a grim smile, "Type-A is curable by medicanes or natural means, but Type-C is not curable by medicanes...I bet you can guess what the bad news is huh?" Ryoko nodded and put her hands in her face. "Don't tell me..." Slight sobs could be heard from her muffled voice, "I have Type-C Amnesia, don't I? That means...I'll never have my memory again!!" She cried out, "Oh...no...noooo..." Washu tried to calm her. "Wait, Ryoko!" Washu smiled, "Don't worry, if you wait, your memory will come back to you. But, I can't do anything to help you recover it." Ryoko nodded. "and for some odd reason, jogging your memory doesn't work very well with some memories with Type-C. " "So, I guess...the best thing..." Ryoko said, "Is to wait until it comes back to me..." Ryoko nodded again, "Well...I'm willing to wait."