Tenchi Muyo: No Need for the Past (part 2 of 4) It was a clear and sunny day at the Masaki residence. "Looks like another beautiful day," said Kamidake from his usual post. "Yes indeed. Beautiful and peaceful," replied Azaka from his post. Peaceful in the way that only applies to wars and the Masaki household. "Lord Tenchi does not need to see your bloodshot eyes first thing in the morning! I demand that you stop entering his room without his permission!" Ayeka yelled to Ryoko who was only a foot away. "Just because you're not willing to show your true feelings towards Tenchi is no reason to be jealous," taunted Ryoko. "Jealous? I'll show you my true feelings!" Ayeka shouted back, forming power logs around Ryoko. But Ryoko was too quick and leapt at Ayeka. The hallway that they were fighting in did not lend them much room, and they both fell over in a big heap. Ryoko pinned Ayeka down with a triumphant cry. "You can never beat me Princess. So why don't you just give up and leave Tenchi to me?" taunted Ryoko again, firmly pinning Ayeka to the ground. "Girls, girls. If you are going to fight please do it outside. I don't want to repair anything today," said Tenchi as he walked out of the bathroom in front of the two. "Oh Tenchi! We weren't fighting. I already won!" replied Ryoko with an innocent smile. "Oh no you haven't!" The second that Ryoko wasn't paying attention to Ayeka was enough for her to raise her force field, effectively pushing Ryoko off of her with a crackle of electricity. "Girls please! Stop fighting," said Tenchi to deaf ears. "At least take it outside." "We'll see about that," shouted Ryoko as she charged Ayeka. She created a large ball of energy and threw it at Ayeka. Ayeka's force field held, but the force of the blast sent her flying down the hall. "You will have to do better than that," grunted Ayeka as she got up. "I said outside!" shouted a distraught Tenchi, hoping that they wouldn't destroy the hallway. "If that's what you want Tenchi," Ryoko said with a smile. She suddenly teleported next to Tenchi, grabbed him and teleported again, leaving a fuming Ayeka standing in the hall. "Ryoko!" screamed Ayeka and she stormed down the stairs and out the front door. Outside, she found Ryoko hugging Tenchi and trying to get a kiss from him. "Come on Tenchi. I know you want to,' pleaded Ryoko. "Ryoko. Leave Lord Tenchi alone. He does not want your mummy lips all over him," screamed Ayeka as she powered up again. "How do you know Princess? Has he ever kissed you?" taunted Ryoko as she powered up as well, letting go of Tenchi. "I am not a woman of loose morals, unlike some monster woman I know. I do not kiss and tell." Ayeka powered up some more, materializing power logs around her. "That's because you have nothing to tell," Ryoko spit back at her. thought Tenchi to himself. Without the girls noticing, he slipped away and headed for the fields. In the middle of the forest, a black portal appeared. Out stepped Hakubi and the portal vanished behind him. Hakubi looked around some more and walked over to a clearing. From that clearing he had a view of the whole valley. Looking downwards he saw a large lake with a house near it. "OK Rye-Ohki, we have to find the others. I think it'll be faster if we split up. I'm going to head to the house while you check out the shrine and fields. Kain is somewhere around here and if you find him, call me." 'Got it,' replied Rye-Ohki with a meow and hopped off his shoulder, towards the forest. "If you see anyone else call me as well." 'No problem, good luck.' With that last thought Rye-Ohki disappeared under the brush. thought Hakubi to himself as he started to walk to the house. Rye-Ohki hopped though the forest, looking at all the big trees. Rye-Ohki hopped towards a tree when a scent caught his attention. Rye-Ohki followed the smell until he came to the edge of the forest. "I wish the girls would stop fighting. It's not solving anything. But if I make a choice between them, who knows what damage I would cause? I just can't decide anyway," said Tenchi to himself as he tilled the fields. A little scratching sound diverted his attention from his thoughts. It sounded like someone was digging. "Ryo-Ohki, how many times do I have to tell you that you can't dig up the carrots until I say their ready?" Tenchi said has he turned towards the digging sound. Rye-Ohki thought to himself as he saw Tenchi turn around towards him. 'Hakubi, I found some one! What should I do? He's coming towards me!' Rye-Ohki practically screamed through the mental link. 'Calm down. Is it Kain?' thought back Hakubi who stopped his walk to the house. 'No it's not Kain, but he seems to be mad at me.' 'Let me see who it is.' Hakubi concentrated on their mental link and began to see through Rye-Ohki's eyes. 'Don't worry, it's only Grandpa. Wow, he looks so young. I'm heading to you right know, keep him there.' Hakubi turned around and ran towards Rye-Ohki, feeling for the direction by heading towards the presence of Rye-Ohki's mind. Tenchi turned around to see a small black and white cabbit next to a half- exposed carrot. As he got closer two purple eyes and a deep blue gem became visible. "You're not Ryo-Ohki!" exclaimed Tenchi stopping in his tracks, not wanting to scare the new cabbit away. "Who are you little guy?" asked Tenchi as he got down on his knees and picked up a carrot. "You want one of these don't you?" said Tenchi and he offered the carrot to the new cabbit. Not afraid anymore, Rye-Ohki hopped up to Tenchi and took a little bite out of the carrot. Rye- Ohki immediately took a big bite out of the carrot and started to purr. "Just like Ryo-Ohki. Can't live without carrots," said Tenchi as he watched the cabbit devour the carrot. "I wonder where you came from? It's not like cabbits are native around here." thought Rye-Ohki to himself as he finished the carrot. All of a sudden, a dark presence caught his attention. He looked up to see a white mask floating behind Tenchi and started the hiss. 'Crap! Hakubi, Kain is here!' 'I'm almost there, hang on!' "What the?" Tenchi backed away from the suddenly mad cabbit, "What did I do?" "Aw, isn't that sweet. A boy feeding a poor woodland creature. Too bad I'm going to have to destroy you!" a booming voice came from behind Tenchi. Tenchi spun around and saw the white face in front of him. He reached for the Tenchi-ken at his belt to realize that he left it in his bag at the edge of the field, only a few feet away. "Who are you? What do you want with me?" demanded Tenchi trying not to look afraid. "It doesn't matter who I am, just that you are going to die." Kain lunged at Tenchi with spears of energy, only to be blasted away at the last second by a large bolt of purple energy. "Kain!" yelled Hakubi as he burst out of the forest onto the field in his Juraian battle armor. Tenchi froze in shock. "Jurai! How did you get here? Not matter, you will just have to die with the rest of them." Kain then sent another blast of energy towards Tenchi's head. Tenchi dodged the blast and ran to his bag to get the Tenchi-ken. "You're not going to get away that easily," laughed Kain as he sent a large ball of energy towards Tenchi's back. Hakubi leapt for his Grandfather and pulled him away from the ball. The energy sailed over their heads, impacting the ground a few feet behind them, leaving a huge crater. Tenchi quickly got up and lunged for his bag and pulled out the Tenchi-ken as Kain readied another attack. But before Tenchi could turn around to face Kain, Hakubi was already attacking. With a purple energy sword in his right hand, he jumped at the white face and brought his sword down. Kain disappeared right before he would have been cut in half and reappeared next to Tenchi. "Will you just DIE already!" yelled Kain and sent another energy attack at Tenchi. This time Tenchi was ready and caught the blast with the Tenchi-ken, but the force of it was enough to throw him back a few yards. "Kain, you are MINE!" yelled Hakubi as he sent a hail of purple energy at Kain while flying towards him at incredible speed. Tenchi looked up from where he landed, and gasped in awe at the fight he saw in front of him. Hakubi was weaving around Kain's attacks, swinging his energy sword with his right hand and shooting beams of purple energy with his left. Hakubi launched another beam of energy at Kain and then threw his sword at him, only to miss by a hair. He quickly brought both his hands together to create a large ball of purple energy. In a blink of an eye, a huge beam of energy shot from his hands towards Kain. Kain vanished again letting the beam pass through where his forehead would have been. The beam continued forward to strike a small hill, leveling it. Kain reappeared above them, twenty feet in the air. "We will meet again Jurai! You can't be everywhere! Ha Ha Ha..." Kain vanished again and the dark presence disappeared with him. "Meow meow meow!" cried Rye-Ohki as he jumped up to Hakubi's shoulder. 'I'm all right. Don't worry,' thought back Hakubi as he petted the cabbit. "It looks like Kain is gone," said Hakubi, walking over to Tenchi who was still sitting on the ground. "Where did you learn to fight like that? And what did he mean by being everywhere?" asked Tenchi as he accepted Hakubi's help getting up. "Oh no! The others," said Hakubi, his voice dropping. "What do you mean the others? Ayeka and Sasami?" asked Tenchi, clearly frustrated at the whole situation. "We have to get to them fast, come on." Hakubi grabbed Tenchi's arm and they all disappeared. They reappeared in front the Masaki house with a surprised cry of, "What the...?" from Tenchi. Tenchi looked around once, understanding that the strange man had teleported them there, and rushed into the house. He burst through the door and found everyone listening to Mihoshi sing with the karaoke. "Tenchi! You back just in time for lunch!" Mihoshi said cheerfully. The rest of the group turned around, looking at the worried Tenchi. "Is there something wrong Tenchi?" asked Ryoko as she materialized next to him. "If it is about the fight this morning, I'm sorry. Ayeka started it anyways." "No it's not about that," said Tenchi quickly, cutting off the reply from Ayeka that would most likely cause another fight. "I was attacked in the fields by some guy named Kain. And this other guy showed up and fought him away. We thought Kain might be coming here, but it looks like he didn't." Ryoko and Ayeka's faces both went pale and then red with anger. "Don't worry, Kain's not here," said Hakubi who was standing behind Tenchi. "And who are you?" asked Ryoko in a threatening tone and teleported next to Hakubi. Hakubi flinched and thought, "My name is ..." Hakubi looked around trying to think of a new name so he won't give away the future. He saw a familiar looking little girl with blue hair standing at the door of the kitchen, wearing an apron with a big carrot on it, and Ryo-Ohki was sitting on her head, "...Car Rote." Ryoko was not impressed and continued to study Hakubi. Faster than the eye can see, she deftly removed Hakubi's wallet from his tunic and hid it in her dress. 'He, he, good one Car!' thought Rye-Ohki, laughing mentally. "And who is this cute little guy?" asked Mihoshi as she tried to get a look at Rye-Ohki who was hiding behind Hakubi's head. She still had the microphone in her hand. "This is Carry-Ohki," said Hakubi, picking up Rye-Ohki. 'How do you like your name?' "Oh what an adorable name!" cried Mihoshi as she dropped the microphone and grabbed the cabbit to hug it. 'Ah! Get it off! Get it off!' thought Rye-Ohki within a stream of meows. 'Don't worry, she's harmless,' Hakubi thought back, laughing. Rye-Ohki meowed in defeat and let Mihoshi pet him. "My name is Tenchi," said Tenchi, bowing, "that is Ryoko next to you and these two are Galaxy Police detectives Mihoshi and Kiyone." Tenchi waved at the pair and Kiyone bowed. Mihoshi was too caught up with Rye-Ohki to notice. "This is Princess Ayeka and Sasami of Jurai." Tenchi motioned to the girls and Hakubi bowed deeply. Hakubi thought to himself. "It is nice to meet you," said Ayeka as she bowed back. "Are you from Jurai? You seem to be wearing Juraian battle armor." "Um, yes I am. I am part of the Elite Juraian Royal Guard. I was sent to capture Kain and he led me here," replied Hakubi, hoping that his story would hold up. "Elite Royal Guard? I never heard of them before," replied Ayeka in a suspicious tone. "We are a secret organization, known only to the Emperor," answered Hakubi starting to sweat. While this conversation was taking place, Sasami had her own conversation with Tsunami. 'I have a funny feeling about this guy. Do you feel it too?' 'Yes I do. It feels as if he is a part of me. As if...' 'As if what?' 'Nothing, I was just thinking about some possibilities. You can trust him, I am sure, he means us no harm.' "Is that so? Known only to the Emperor?" asked Ayeka, getting more suspicious every second. "Yes. That is correct, your Highness. We operate covertly outside of the palace to protect the royal family," answered Hakubi, starting to sweat even more. "Well I believe him!" exclaimed Sasami as she walked up to Hakubi and bowed. "It is nice to meet you. This is Ryo-Ohki," said Sasami and she pointed to the cabbit on her head. "What? How can you be sure?" "Well, he did rescue Tenchi, and Tsunami told me he's OK." "Well I..." stuttered Ayeka, she could not think of anything to say that would counter Tsunami. "It is an honor to meet you Princess Sasami," said Hakubi to Sasami, bowing deeper than before. "Miya!" cried a happy Ryo-Ohki as she jumped off of Sasami's head and hopped to Rye-Ohki who was still being hugged by Mihoshi. "Miya, miya!" (activating Cabbit to English translator.) "Hi. My name is Ryo-Ohki, what is yours?" mewed Ryo-Ohki to a struggling Rye-Ohki. "I'm Rye-Ohki. Can you get her to let me go?" replied Rye-Ohki. "Rye-Ohki? I thought he said your name was Carry-Ohki?" asked a puzzled Ryo-Ohki. "If you knew my name already, why did you ask?" Rye-Ohki snapped back. 'Hey! Be nice. You are based on her you know. And don't tell her anything, else Ryoko may find out,' thought Hakubi to his cabbit. 'Fine, Car.' Rye-Ohki thought back. "I'm sorry I snapped at you, it's just that I really want to get away from her," mewed Rye-Ohki to Ryo-Ohki, still trying unsuccessfully to escape Mihoshi's grasp. "I'll get you out if you tell me what's going on." "My real name is Rye-Ohki, he is just playing around with you guys, calling me Carry-Ohki. I really can't tell you anything else. His orders." "Alright. Let's go get some carrots!" mewed Ryo-Ohki and she transformed into her humanoid form with a pop. She would not go against Ryoko's orders, and she knew that it would be useless to try to get Rye-Ohki to go against Hakubi's. She went up to Mihoshi and gestured that she wanted to hold Rye-Ohki. Mihoshi gave him to her and Ryo-Ohki quickly turned around and walked back to the kitchen. "Aw. Aren't they cute together? I think Ryo-Ohki likes him," said Mihoshi as she watched them walk away. No one was listening to her. "So who is this Kain guy?" asked Kiyone in a serious tone. "Kain is an A-1 class criminal who escaped his prison in subspace," answered Hakubi, happy to talking about something else. "He thrives where there is no Juraian energy, so he came here to kill the royal family. With the most powerful Juraians out of the way, he can easily take over the universe, if he doesn't destroy it first." "Well Mihoshi and I are late for our patrol. We'll look for this guy when we get to our ship," replied Kiyone. She turned towards her partner and grabbed her wrist. "I came here to get you, so let's go." "It would be best if you do not go anywhere in your starship till Kain is caught," said Hakubi hurriedly, remembering that they had died in a starship accident when Kain had went back in time. "Why not? We are Galaxy Police officers, danger is our job," replied Mihoshi with her usual cheeriness. "Because you'll be killed," Hakubi blurted out. "Don't worry we can handle it." "No you can't. If you leave here, I you will definitely be killed!" "How can you be sure of that?" Kiyone asked, not quite trusting Hakubi. "Because Kain hates the GP as much as he hates Jurai. He will destroy your ship the moment he sees it. You do not stand a chance against him," answered Hakubi, starting to sweat again. "Well OK. We'll just stay here then," Mihoshi replied without a care in the world. "If you think he is that strong, then I guess it would be best if we helped you guard the Royal Family here," said Kiyone, not that convinced, but deciding to play along till she got more information about this Car character. "Thank you for trusting me," said a relieved Hakubi. He felt a tug on the back of his tunic and heard a high-pitched voice say, "You're new around here. Do you want to be my guinea pig?" He turned around and saw nothing. He looked down and found a green eyed, little girl with a lot of red hair. "Ms. Washu! You're so... little," said Hakubi in a puzzled voice. He had never seen Washu in her chan form before. "Of course I am. That is why they call me Little Washu!" said Washu as she struck a pose. "And how do you know who I am? I have never met you." "Um, everyone knows the greatest scientific genius in the universe," replied Hakubi with a big sweat bead forming on his head. "Of course they do!" said Washu triumphantly. "And where did he come from?" Washu pointed at Rye-Ohki, who was eating a carrot in the kitchen with Ryo-Ohki. "Well, um, Ryo-Ohki became so popular when she attacked Jurai, a scientist searched for your old notes and created a copy of her. He owed me a favor, so he is mine now." "Is that so?" asked Washu, "I'm flattered that someone would want to copy my work. I should have copyrighted her." Everyone face faulted. Hakubi was glad that the younger Washu had an even bigger ego that the Washu he knew, it made it that much easier for him to hide the truth. "Lunch is ready everyone," shouted Sasami from the kitchen. "Great, I'm starved," replied Tenchi, "You are welcome to join us of course," he said to Hakubi. "Thank you," Hakubi replied. The whole group walked to the dining room, but Ayeka and Ryoko stayed behind. With his back turned, Washu grabbed a few strands of loose hair from Hakubi. "I don't trust him," Ayeka said to Ryoko. "For once Princess, I agree with you. He's hiding something." Ryoko didn't bother to wait for a reply and teleported to the dining table to take her seat next to Tenchi. Ayeka walked in a second later and took her seat on the other side of Tenchi. Sasami then came in carrying a big tray of food and set it down in the middle of the table. "This looks great Sasami," said Tenchi. "Yes, it certainly is, your Highness," said Hakubi. He knew his mother was a good cook, but she never had any time to cook for them anymore, with her always going off to meet with dignitaries and such. "Thank you. Now lets eat before it gets cold." The group started to eat in peace for once. They were all lost in their thoughts. "How are you going to capture Kain?" Kiyone spoke up. "I really don't know," replied Hakubi a bit embarrassed, as everyone face faulted. "I really can't track him down. But since he wants to eliminate the Royal Family, I guess I will stay here and let him come to me." "A good plan. I hope you are strong enough to defeat this Kain," said Grandpa Yosho as he walked into the dining room. "If you plan to stay here, Tenchi will show you a room you can stay in." "Alright Grandpa," said Tenchi and he introduced him to Hakubi. "Elite Royal Guard eh?" Yosho said, "I assume only the Emperor knows about you?" "Yes that is correct," replied Hakubi, knowing that would be near impossible to trick his great grandfather. "Very well. Tenchi will show you to your room after lunch." Yosho turned back to his food and said no more. Hakubi was relieved that Yosho dropped the subject and lunch ended quietly. After the table was cleared, Tenchi led Hakubi to one of the guest rooms. "If you want to use the bath, tell me and I'll show you how to get there," said Tenchi. "I have some work to do, I'll see you at dinner time." "That is fine by me, as long as you carry the Tenchi-ken with you at all times." "Don't worry, I got it." Tenchi turned and walked out the door. Hakubi looked around the nicely furnished room and sat down on the bed. Hakubi thought to himself. "Hey, Tenchi!" Hakubi called out, "Wait for me!" Hakubi jumped off the bed and went after his young grandfather. High on the roof, Ryoko materialized without a sound. After checking that she was alone, she pulled out Hakubi's wallet. She opened the wallet and flipped through it. Ryoko checked all the pockets again for some type of identification. In a pocket she had missed the first time she found a picture instead. It was a picture of the whole family in front of Funaho. Hakubi was only a little boy at the time and was being held by his father. Achika was also in the photo and was hanging onto her father, Tenchi. Ryoko examined the photo more closely. Ryoko crumpled the photo in her hand and teleported off the roof. It was near dinnertime when she finally found Hakubi. He had been out in the fields with Tenchi. Hakubi had just entered his room and started to change when Ryoko phased down through the ceiling. "I have a few questions for you, and you better have some good answers." "Alright, what do you want to know?" asked Hakubi. "Who are you?" asked Ryoko and she showed Hakubi the photo. "What! How did you..." Hakubi checked his pockets for his wallet to no avail. "What is the meaning of this? Who are these people and who is that girl hanging onto to Tenchi?" Asked Ryoko, getting angrier every second. Hakubi thought to himself. "They're, um, friends of the family." Ryoko wasn't impressed. "Is that so? And whose friends would they be? Mine or Tsunami's?" Ryoko asked as she pointed out the adult Sasami. "Um..." "Spit it out!" "Fine," said Hakubi as he thought to himself, "Yes that is Tsunami, or Sasami as you know her. Kain and I are from the future. Kain is a lot more powerful that I let on. So powerful that he can travel through time with ease. He escaped his prison in my time, your future, and attacked the Royal Family. They were too strong for him so he decided to go back in time to kill them before they mastered their powers. I was sent back to stop him by any means necessary. That photo was given to me so I could identify the family when I got here." "From the future?" Ryoko looked at the photo again, everyone did look older. "Tell me more." "I told you everything I know," said Hakubi, starting to sweat again. "You're a horrible liar," said Ryoko, not looking away from the photo. "Isn't it enough that Tenchi trusts me?" "Tenchi's too innocent. He'll trust almost anyone." "What about Tsunami?" "I never really trusted her either. If Kain is as powerful as you make him to be, you better tell me everything." Hakubi shook his head and reached for the photo. Ryoko stood back and point her hands at Hakubi. "Tell me or I will blow you away right where you stand." Hakubi thought of what the consequences would be if he told her. He decided that he didn't like it. "No, we shouldn't be fighting. You should be protecting Tenchi and not watching over me." "I'll protect him once I'm through with you!" Ryoko threw a ball of energy at Hakubi. He caught it with his right hand and threw it back, hitting the photo. In a puff of smoke, the photo disintegrated. "I can't tell you any more. I already put my mission in jeopardy by letting you see that picture," replied Hakubi to a shocked Ryoko. "If I tell you what you want to know, the future will be changed. I can't risk that. I am here to get Kain and that is all. Once Kain is gone, I'll tell you everything. How about that?" Ryoko considered the idea for a moment. "I still don't trust you. You better watch you back." With that, she teleported away before Hakubi could reply. "Is that a yes?" Hakubi said to the empty room. Down in Washu's lab, a little scientist was working very hard. "Finally! The genetic sequencer has finished its analysis. This guy must have a complicated set of DNA for the computer to take this long," said Washu as she looked at her computer, reading the information streaming across it. "Hmm. Let's see what he's made of. We got a lot of Juraian. That's to be expected. Some Terran. That is interesting. So Yosho and Azusa aren't the only one's to have a fling with an Earthling. And some of Ryoko. What!? Ryoko!?" Washu stopped the stream of data and scrolled back. "That is Ryoko's DNA alright, some of the masses and me." Washu scrolled back some more. "Just as I expected. The Terran portion of his DNA is from Tenchi. That would mean that he has some Juraian royal sequences." Washu scrolled back some more. "Yep there they are. But this sequence is very similar to Ayeka and Sasami. It is too close of a match to be anyone else, but there is something strange in this sequence." Washu highlighted a few lines of code. "I wonder where this came from? Who made you, Car Rote and what are you doing here?" Washu asked herself, pondering the possibilities. "Little Washu, it is time for dinner," said Sasami as she entered the lab. "Ah, just the person I wanted to see. Can you let me talk to Tsunami?" "Well, OK. But make it quick, dinner will get cold." "Alright Sasami. I just want to ask her a few questions," replied Washu. Sasami closed her eyes and the mark on her forehead disappeared, replaced by two glowing dots. "What is it you wanted to ask me Washu?" asked Tsunami speaking through Sasami. "What do you know about this Car Rote?" "Not much. Only that he can be trusted and that is mission must succeed." "Do you know who he is related to?" asked Washu, knowing that Tsunami was hiding something from her. "I have an idea," answered Tsunami, smiling through Sasami. "I think it would be best for all of us if we did not press too much." "Come on, it never hurt gain knowledge." "This time I think knowing too much may be dangerous. I think it would be to our benefit if you deleted all the data you have on this man and forget this ever happened." "It's that important huh?" ask Washu, shaking her head in disbelief. "Yes it is. Now lets go eat the wonderful meal Sasami prepared for us." "Alright. This never happened." Sasami's eyes regained their focus as Tsunami left. "What did you want to talk to Tsunami about, Little Washu?" asked Sasami as she walked to the door. "Oh nothing important. Just wanted to make sure of something," replied Washu as she followed Sasami out to the dining room. Behind her back, she had her fingers crossed, Pretty soon, the whole family had gathered around the dining table. "Dad said he would be working late today, so we don't have to wait for him," Tenchi told Sasami. "Where's Ryoko? I haven't seen her the whole day." "What's wrong with that Tenchi? It was actually a quiet afternoon," said Ayeka sitting down at the table. "Ayeka, we would look for you too if you missed dinner." "Miya," mewed Ryo-Ohki to Tenchi. "Ryo-Ohki doesn't know where she is either. She told her that she needed time to think and wanted to be alone," Hakubi translated through Rye-Ohki. "I guess we can start without her. She will come around when she wants to." They started to eat. Rye-Ohki and Ryo-Ohki were in their cabbit forms and eating from a big bowl of carrots. "So, any luck finding Kain," Tenchi asked Hakubi. "No luck so far. He hasn't shown himself since this morning. I wonder what..." Hakubi did not get to finish his sentence as Ryo-Ohki jumped up with a start and screamed, "Miya!" She jumped off the table and phased though the glass door, meowing wildly. "What's wrong with her?" Sasami asked worriedly as she watched Ryo-Ohki run through the back yard. Before anyone else could comment, Rye-Ohki also jumped up and chased after Ryo-Ohki. 'Ryo-Ohki said that Ryoko is in trouble and needs her help. Most likely Kain.' Rye-Ohki told Hakubi as he also phased through the door after Ryo-Ohki. "Kain!" said Hakubi through clenched teeth as he also got up. "Kain? Where?" asked Tenchi. "They're heading towards the Shrine? Why would she be there?" Hakubi wondered out loud. He then remembered what Ryo-Ohki had said, that Ryoko needed some time to think. "The cave!" He leapt across the table and ran towards the door, shocking the others. He phased through the door himself and teleported away. "Damn it! Where's everyone going?" exclaimed Tenchi, getting up to chase after them. He took a few steps forward and ran into the glass door that none of them had needed to open. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you found this section a bit boring, it's because I couldn't find a better place to cut it.