Note: This story takes place somewhere in the Tenchi TV universe, but I'm not really sure where. I had the fight scene very well planned, but everything else was writen on the fly. What do you think? Acknoledgements: To anybody and everybody who helped me write and proofread this paper. Especially to my Mom, my Dad, and to the guy who made it all possible, God, the Big Guy. Also, to anybody at Pioneer and AIC for makin' the Tenchi series. Disclaimer: These characters are not mine (except for Gen and Jin-oh-ki). They belong to the companies that made Tenchi Muyo!, Pioneer and AIC. So please don't sue me. I'm just writing this for fun. ;-) Enjoy. And please don't take my story, I put a lot of time in to it. ===================================================================== Tenchi Muyo! Another Hunter By: Luke 'Skywalker' Tixier Two surprisingly similar ships hung in space waiting in a deadly face-off. On one side Ryoko and Ryo-oh-ki stood ready, and on the other Gen and Jin-oh-ki were looking for another prize. But in this fight Gen had an advantage: He had Tenchi. * * * * * * * * * * "What do you want and what have you done with Tenchi?!" Ryoko growled. Gen grinned, "Tenchi? Oh, you mean the earthling. I've done nothing to him... yet," he said, "As for what I want, I want you Ryoko, dead or alive." "Like hell," Ryoko hissed. He grinned again, "I thought you'd say something like that. It's been awhile since I've had a good fight. Do you think you can give me one?" "You're damn right I can!" Ryoko glared at him, "RYO-OH-KI FIRE!!!" A barrage of red energy lanced toward Jin-oh-ki, but it never made contact. The shields easily deflected Ryoko's attack. "Is that the best you've got?" asked Gen disappointingly, "Maybe this won't be as much of a fight as I'd hoped." "I'll give you a fight, you bastard!" yelled Ryoko as she turned off the comm. system off. "Ryo-oh-ki full speed ahead." * * * * * * * * * * Gen was taken by surprise at Ryoko's apparent suicide maneuver. < Uh-oh, > he thought, < I didn't think she'd do something like this. > He looked up at the viewscreen to see Ryo-oh-ki racing closer. "Jin-oh-ki, can you open her communication system?" Gen asked. "Raaaaa," confidently replied the ship. "Then do it! Avoid that attack. And get that prisoner up to the bridge." Seconds later, Tenchi materialized next to Gen, just in time to be violently thrown to the floor by Ryo-oh-ki's collision. Gen stumbled, but managed to stay on his feet. He grabbed a bound and dazed Tenchi,and yelled, "Get me communications, NOW!" "Raaaaaa," answered the ship angrily as the image of Ryoko appeared. "Ryoko," Gen said coolly to get her attention. She glanced up at the screen and turned extremely pale. "Tenchiiii...," She gasped, "Ryo-oh-ki cease the attack." "Miyyaaaa," replied the ship, reversed course, and stopped a short distance away. Gen smiled, "Good. I have your attention." "I'll make you pay," Ryoko threatened, "if you hurt Tenchi." "Yes, I'm sure you will." < If I attack, > thought Ryoko, < he'll kill Tenchi. So what do I do? > Trying the only option she could think of, Ryoko growled, "I thought you wanted a fight?" "Yes, and I still do, but just to powerful I the air," Gen smiled. Ryoko smiled at the comment, "Yeah, Ryo-oh-ki and I are pretty unstoppable, I'll admit." Without warning, a tremendously powerful blast rocked Ryo-oh-ki. It fractured and broke many of her exterior crystals, and left her 'dead' in space. "Damn," Ryoko swore, "Where the hell did that come from?" "Miii... yyyyaaaa," struggled the cabbit. "We can't take another shot like that," Ryoko said as she scanned over some read-outs, "Hell, we can't take another hit, period." "Miiiyyyaaaa," Ryo-oh-ki asked exhaustedly. "Well there's only one option left." * * * * * * * * * * Gen looked at the helpless ship and laughed, "Pathetic." "Was it now?" answered a voice. "Huh...?" He said before he was caught in the jaw with a swift punch. Gen reeled backwards as another punch connected with his gut. He fell to his knees, short of breath, and received a stunning kick to his chest. Gen flew across the bridge, and skidded to a halt against a wall, where he lost conscienceness. * * * * * * * * * * Ryoko, who had teleported aboard ( If you hadn't guessed. :-) ), turned away from the incapacitated heap of a man. She found Tenchi lying on the deck, where Gen had dropped him. "Tenchi? Tenchi are you okay? Your not hurt, are you?" asked Ryoko. Tenchi sluggishly turned toward her, muttering something she couldn't understand. < He's in better condition than I expected, > thought Ryoko, < He just has a few bruises from when he'd been captured, a bloody nose from Ryoko's collision attack, and some ill effects from some sort of sedative that Gen had used. > Ryoko sighed, feeling very relieved. * * * * * * * * * * Gen slowly regained conscienceness and his senses. He shook his head and looked to see where Ryoko had gone since he was still alive. He saw her hunched over the earthling boy he had captured. Ryoko was so engrossed in caring for Tenchi that she never knew Gen was up and walking towards her. "Tragic," he muttered. < She used to be so good in a fight. But now she's so enraptured with this boy that she's let her guard down completely. > He sighed. < What would make her risk her life for him? Oh well, it just makes my job easier. > Gen approached Ryoko stealthily until he was standing only a few feet from her. He drew his arm back, activated his energy- sword, and swung. * * * * * * * * * * The instant Ryoko heard the hum of energy her reflexes kicked in. In one fluid move, she stood up, turned, and activated her own energy-sword. But she wasn't quick enough to avoid the attack. Gen's sword gouged a deep wound in Ryoko's right thigh, instead of separating her at the torso, as Gen had anticipated. Ryoko yelped in pain as she danced back a few steps, using her powers of levitation to keep from collapsing. "You've lost your edge over the years, Ryoko," Gen taunted, "But at least you were quick enough to avoid my attack... somewhat." "Shut up," Ryoko snapped, holding her thigh. "You still have some spirit left. That's good. This might be interesting after all." "I said SHUT UP!!!!" she shouted, and charged Gen, energy-sword raised for attack. But that attack never came. Instead just before she was to strike, she dematerialized, and reappeared directly behind Gen, and swung in the same moment. It was a perfectly planned attack, and would have ended the fight, but Gen was no longer there. He floated about ten feet directly above Ryoko. "Where'd...?" was all she could mutter before heard the hum of energy above her. She looked up and jumped backwards in time to avoid being blow to bits by the yellow energy blot that lanced to towards her. The ship whined in protest as the energy bolts exploded on the deck. Behind Ryoko, several of the ships' crystals rushed forward. Ryoko sidestepped left and right slashing each crystal as the whizzed past. The crystals wobbled forward before they exploded into clouds of smoke. Gen soared through the smoke, ready to fight. He speared for Ryoko's head, who easily dodged it, and answered with an attack of her own. Gen parried the blows and backed away. Ryoko darted after him. Gen hovered just beyond Ryoko's reach, so she fired several blasts of energy at him. Gen ducked and teleported out of the way. Ryoko's bolts exploded against the walls and crystals, causing large plumes of smoke to fill the bridge. * * * * * * * * * * Tenchi began to recover from the effects of the sedative. He leaned against a wall on a bridge, which looked similar to Ryo-oh-ki's. Tenchi could see a red blade and yellow blade clash together and dart apart in a thick cloud of smoke. Finally, something in his head clicked, "Ryoko..." Tenchi tried to stand, but he was still too weak. So he watched helplessly as the battle raged on in front of him. * * * * * * * * * * The combatants had been fighting for over an hour, and were getting tired. Neither opponent was able to gain an advantage. Ryoko back-flipped to avoid Gen's swipe. She grimaced as her wounded leg gave out under her weight. Gen saw his opening. Rushing forward, he brought his sword around and gouged another large wound in Ryoko's left leg. Again she yelped in pain, and fell to her knees. Gen delivered a powerful kick directly to her face, sending Ryoko flying across the room. * * * * * * * * * * Tenchi was still lying against the wall, watching the battle when he saw Ryoko careen out of the smoke. While she hurled through the air, Ryoko lost hold of her sword. Which embedded itself into Ryoko's right side, as she slammed into a wall. A small gurgle came from Ryoko as she slid down the wall leaving behind a trail of blood. "Noooo!!" screamed Tenchi. He heaved himself to his feet, only to collapses onto his face. He glanced up and saw Gen had his sword to Ryoko's throat. Summoning all his strength, Tenchi lunged up and charged forward. "Ryoko!" Gen turned and launched several bolts at Tenchi they exploded right in front of Tenchi and sent him flying. "Nooo," bawled Ryoko as she saw Tenchi thrown bodily in to the air. Despite all her pain, Ryoko lunged forward at Gen only to be thrown to the ground with a well executed hip-toss. And again Gen had his sword at her throat. "You're not going to escape that easy," he said. Ryoko tried to back away but received a backhand slap for her efforts. She glared at him but didn't have the energy or the strength to make any sort of attack. Ryoko heard Tenchi's voice, "No, Ryoko." It sounded incredibly strained. She glanced towards him. Blood ran from his nose and mouth. She looked around, desperately looking for a way to escape. She tried to slide left and right but her sword prevented her from doing so, nor could she back away. < No escape this time. > Ryoko thought sadly. She looked at Tenchi, his eyes full of despair because he couldn't save her. Gen drew his sword back. "Goodbye, Tenchi," she whispered. Ryoko closed her eyes and cried. Ryoko waited for death to come. She waited < I wish we could have been together, Tenchi. > and waited < Good bye, my love. > but nothing came. Surprised, Ryoko looked up. She saw Gen with his arm raised, but there was a blade at his throat. Over his shoulder she could see Tenchi's face, full of determination. Ryoko gave a weak smile, while her heart soared. < I will get to be with Tenchi. > "I can't let you do that," he said sternly to Gen. "Why not?" Gen asked scornfully. "Because I love her." Ryoko nearly dropped dead at those words. < Did I hear him right? * I don't care. * He SAID he ....... loves.... me. > "And how are you going to stop me?" smirked Gen. Tenchi waved his sword in front of Gen's face. Using this opportunity, Gen teleported behind Tenchi. "What..?" Gen raked his sword across Tenchi's back. "Aaaaaarrrrrrrgggggg!!" Tenchi screamed, and collapsed into Ryoko's arms. "Nooooo!!" yelled Ryoko. As he collapsed so did her dreams of being with Tenchi. She cradled the boy that just said he loved her. The boy she'd loved since the day they'd met. Ryoko was filled with total despair. Gen laughed, "So that's the power of love. Didn't do him or you any good, did it?" Ryoko glared up at him, her despair turned to pure rage. Her whole body shook violently. She teleported Tenchi aboard Ryo-oh-ki, and placed him in the command chair. "Ryo-oh-ki get Tenchi to Washu." She looked back down at Tenchi...... and kissed him. Ryoko held the kiss not wanting it to end. No matter how long she held the kiss, it would have been to short for Ryoko. She broke the kiss and straightened up. A single tear fell onto Tenchi's cheek before Ryoko teleported back aboard Jin-oh-ki. * * * * * * * * * * Gen was waiting on the bridge when Ryoko appeared. "It's about time. Did you really love him that much? That's not like you," he taunted. "I'll show you how much I loved him!!!" * * * * * * * * * * Despite Gen's valiant efforts, the battle didn't last very long. In the end there wasn't much left of Gen or his ship. * * * * * * * * * * Ryoko floated through space towards Earth, thinking about Tenchi, hoping (and praying) that he would survive. Of course, she could have teleported directly to the Misaki house, but she was afraid that Tenchi might be dead. And now that he had admitted he loved her, it would have been worse to lose him now.< Don't die, Tenchi. Please don't die. > Ryoko thought before she teleported home. THE END ========================================================================= That's the end of this story. This is my first fanfic of any kind. So what did you think? Please send your comments to GAThrawn81@aol.com. I'm considering writing a prequel to this story, to give more background, and maybe a sequel (I'm not sure. That's not really my type of writing). Feel free to recommend any ideas.