TENCHI MUYO: Spirit of the Radio -------------------------------- Ryoko went on sweeping, smiling. She loved that song and wanted it to be played at her and Tenchi's wedding someday. She daydreamed of that day as she always did, herself at the altar in a flowing white gown at Tenchi's side. Ryoko dumped the sweepings into the trashbin and returned just as the last note finished on the song, annoyed that she'd missed the final chorus. The regular morning DJ cheerfully announced the name of the song and went into his usual inane chatter. Suddenly, however, a different voice, deep and rich, with a slight gruffiness to it that sounded all too familiar to Ryoko cut off the DJ's chatter. <"Case #80812029"> Ryoko dropped the vase she had picked up to dust under and it broken into a dozen fragments. She spun around, trying to find the source of the voice, knowing damned well who it was. Then she remembered, he was dead. She also remembered that that had been Tenchi's favorite vase. "Huh?!" Washuu's eyebrows went up as the radio signal she was monitoring from Tokyo Tower suddenly spiked. She checked her readings, but there was only that singular instance, otherwise, all seemed as normal as ever. -Chapter 2- That Saturday, Tenchi, Ryoko, and Ayeka went to the carrot fields to pull up a fresh crop (most of which would get eaten by Ryo-ohki) while Sasami tended to her chores. Sasami was cutting up the leeks and other vegetables for lunch, hoping that *this* time the others would bring the carrots home in time, when she heard a door open. "Its about time you got here." She scolded. "The stew is getting ruined." She turned to take the carrots, but instead of Tenchi or one of the others, she saw the face of the goddess she'd seen in her dreams. Lady Tokimi laughed, coldly, as she picked Sasami up by the collar. The laughter continued as she vanished with Sasami, leaving behind a message, using an ancient runic script only Washuu would be able to decipher. * * * * * "Whew!" Tenchi wiped his brown. "This is hard work. You two coming along okay?" He looked around and saw that Ryoko and Ayeka had long since dropped their work in favor of their favorite pastime... Fighting. "He's mine I tell you!" Ryoko insisted. "He is not." Ayeka also insisted. "He belongs to me!" "I was already part of his life when you showed up and stuck your ugly little pig nose into our lives." Ryoko argued. *Ugly?!* Ayeka face turned beet-red and she balled her hands up into fists. "What did you just call me?" "Uh.... girls?" They both glared at Tenchi, who wisely decided to back off... * * * * * At the same time, Ryo-ohki had gone into the kitchen back at Tenchi's house to get some carrots. She looked around, but Sasami wasn't around. She sniffed. Something was wrong, but she wasn't sure what. She saw the note and was compelled to pick it up. She hopped toward the wall and waited for a second until the portal to Washuu's lab opened up. Then she slipped inside. * * * * * Ayeka and Ryoko faced each other. This would be it, one of them would win and the other would bow out of Tenchi's life forever. If she didn't, the other would make sure she did. They raised their powers against each other, lightning flashed in their eyes, as they faced each other. "Sasami's gone!!!" This revelation caused Ayeka and Ryoko to spin around, their quarrel suddenly forgotten in light of this new development. "What?!" Ayeka gasped. Washuu caught her breath. "What do you mean she's gone?" Ayeka demanded. "I found this note." Washuu told her. Ayeka grabbed the note. "I can't make this out." She complained. "What does it say? Tell me!" "It says that Lady Tokimi has abducted Princess Sasami and if we want her back, I must meet with her." "So go meet with her. That seems simple enough." Ayeka argued. "Shows what you know." Ryoko snorted. "Lady Tokimi happens to be..." she faltered and turned to Washuu. "Who *is* Lady Tokimi anyhow?" Washuu shrugged. "All I know is she sent Dr. Clay to bring me to her the first time and now she's trying to lure me to her using Sasami." "You *are* going to rescue Sasami aren't you?" Ayeka asked. "Me?" Washuu smiled. "Nope." Ayeka's face fell. "We can't just leave her there!" "She'll be fine." Washuu told her. "You'll see." Ayeka suspected Washuu was teasing her, maybe trying to alleviate some of her tension. Ryoko switched on the radio when they got home, turning it to her normal channel, since Yousho had, again, switched it on her. "Turn that damned radio off." Ayeka said, reaching for the radio. "I'm listening for something." Ryoko told her, slapping her hand away. The two 'women' began to snarl. <*the house of Jurai cooperated with the Galaxy Police in...*> "Huh?!" Ayeka turned to the radio. "You heard it, too?" Ryoko asked. "Of course I heard it." Ayeka clipped. "But how would a radio station disc jockey know about the Galaxy Police or the House of Jurai." "I don't think it *is* a disc jockey." Ryoko told Ayeka. "I think our radio is possessed." "WHAT?!!" "Calm down." Mihoshi said from the couch where she'd been napping all day. "Its probably nothing to worry about." She wished they'd stop arguing so she could nap in peace. "The last time we had a monster loose in the house we spent all day repairing the damage!" Ayeka pointed out. "We don't have time to chase one now. We have to find Sasami." "Sasami's gone?" Mihoshi gasped. "EEK!" "How come you didn't hear anything?" Ayeka asked suspiciously. "She was probably sleeping on the job as usual." Ryoko accused. "I'm sorry, Ayeka..." Mihoshi said, in alarm, suddenly burst into fresh tears. That spike again. A little longer this time. A little clearer. And this time, Washuu noticed another factor, a spike in Ryoko's brainwave pattern, as if the source was one familiar to her. "Hmmmm." Washuu decided to ask her daughter about it. Ayeka and Mihoshi were cowering from the radio as if it were possessed while Ryoko made eerie sounds and walking toward them with it. "Ryoko!" Ryoko nearly dropped the radio, but made a mad scramble and caught it. "Whew!" She said, aloud. "That's Tenchi's favorite radio. Can't let it get broken." But there was another reason... * * * * * Sasami sat in a rather nice room looking rather lonely. There was a small basin nearby, filled with water to wash her face in. She went to it and looked in, seeing the comforting reflection of Tsunami looking back up at her. But it was *only* a reflection. The spirit that was Tsunami could not reach her here. "You needn't worry, young one." Lady Tokimi told her. "Your friend, Washuu, will come soon enough." * * * * * The little radio looked out of place hooked up to Washuu's gadgets. "Now, let's see if we...." <*I don't why all of you came to this era....*> "Ah ha!" Washuu exclaimed in triumph. She narrowed down the signal and waited. <*The Space-pirate Ryoko, I presume, serious offender, case #80812029, if I'm not mistaken.*...<>...*hmph, you seem to be getting along well with those detectives first class...> Ryoko listened as it went on. It was the conversation she'd had with the Galaxy Police Operative the night before he had died... well, his half of it at any rate. But why? "Why is this happening?" Ryoko asked, aloud. "Who is that?" Tenchi asked. "A Galaxy Police Operative." Ryoko replied. "Strange creature that was." "Creature?" Tenchi thought. "Not a rat of some kind?" "Yes," Ryoko replied. "Why? Did you see him?" Tenchi remembered the incident at Tokyo Tower. "Yes. Part of him anyhow. Kain killed him at Tokyo Tower." "Aha!" Washuu cried out triumphantly, snapping her fingers. "That's it! When he died at Tokyo Tower, obviously he wasn't finished his work here, so he tried to remain. He must've used the soundwaves at the Tower as an anchor. "So he's been there all this time?" Ayeka asked. "Most definitely." Washuu nodded. "Then why are we only hearing him now?" "Lady Tokimi's proximity must've affected the soundwaves." Washuu concluded. "Her transdimensional energy must be the key. As long as she's where she is now, we should be able to reach him." "Miss Washuu." Ayeka reminded her. "Shouldn't you be trying to rescue Sasami?" "I told you," Washuu reminded her, "*I'm* not going to rescue Sasami." "Then who is, Little Washuu?" Tenchi asked, concern filling his voice. <*...Kain, I'm gonna get you...*> Washuu nodded toward the disembodied voice. "Him." * * * * * Princess Sasami sat alone in her luxurious prison and cried to herself. "Please," she said to the empty room. "I want to go home. I want my sister! Ayeka! Ayeka! Ayeka!" But Tokimi's attention was elsewhere, and no one else was paying her any attention. * * * * * "Him?!" Ryoko shook her head. "No way am I working with the Galaxy Police." "Why not?" Washuu asked, cheerfully. "You are in love with him after all." Despite her sister's predicament, Ayeka found a giggle escaping her. She primly covered her mouth (she *was*, after all, a Princess), and quickly controlled her giggling. "I am *not*!" Ryoko denied vehemently. "Perhaps the lady doth protest too much?" a voice asked from the corner. Everyone turned and was rather surprised to see a handsome young man standing there. His hair was long and dark and tied in two warrior's locks in front. He was fair of face and his eyes were the collar of royal teardrops. Although he looked much different, Tenchi recognized him and gaped. Ayeka fainted. It was Ryoko who managed to find her voice first. "Yousho." "But... but you're young!" Tenchi found his voice shortly after. Ayeka sat up. "My brother! Once we rescue Sasami..." "No, Ayeka," Yousho said, sadly. "If I married you, I would have to fight you for the throne and I will not permit such a thing to happen. Once Sasami is safely home, I shall go back appearing old. And you shall tell no one of this." "But..." Ayeka began. "Promise me." Yousho said sternly. Ayeka nodded, a tear falling from her eye as fate once again stole a chance at happiness from her grasp. In another dimension, someone long dead was slowly becoming conscious again. His awareness increasing with each passing hour. He tried opening his eyes and found he could not. He felt a moment of panic and stuffed it back down. He'd been in worse situations. He'd barely survived when Kagato had attacked his homeworld. He'd suffered a fractured ribcage after a battle with some of Dr.Clay's androids, and Kain had... The consciousness paused his train of thought. It was ridiculous! If Kain had done something like that, he'd have to be dead. As if from a radio he could hear voices: "I am *not* in love with that rat!" "Yes, she is." The conscioness blinked. Was Ryoko in love with him?. Truth be told, he admired her, she had a zest for life he so rarely saw in pirates these days. Most of them were in it for the money, but Ryoko had truly enjoyed the craft, taking a perverse pride in her work. He would've smiled if he had had a body to smile with. Where was his body anyhow? He vaguely remembered someone strangling him. Had he been killed? If so, why hadn't he moved on? This surely wasn't Heaven, and bad as it was, he was certain it wasn't Hell. "There's something I don't understand," Ayeka said, her tears now dried and her composure back to normal, "why have you revealed yourself if you do not intend to stay young?" "The house of Jurai must make an all-out attack on Tokimi's fortress to hide Onmitsu's* entry." Yousho explained. "We must appear to be trying to gain entry ourselves so that all Tokimi's defenses will be directed at us. I will lead the main attack. Tenchi, you and Ryoko will make a run on the fortress. I want Tokimi to think your run is what we're shielding her from seeing." "I want to fight at your side." Ayeka told her brother. "Please?" "Ayeka," Yousho said, "You must fight at Tenchi's side." "But..." But Yousho was already on his way to Tokimi's fortress. (*note: Onmitsu is the Japanese word for Operative and is a title rather than a name.) Tenchi, Ayeka, and Ryoko followed in Ryo-ohki while Washuu remained in her lab, carefully configuring the radio signal to transmit it to Tokimi's fortress. One wrong move and she could lose Onmitsu forever. She had to be extremely careful. As she made her calculations, she thought of Ryoko's unadmitted love for Onmitsu, as the group had taken to calling him. She'd see to it the two of them had some time alone so they could explore their love. For now, however, she would work on her calculations to bring his soul back into this world. -CHAPTER 3- Lady Tokimi walked toward the luxurious prison were Sasami was being held. What was keeping Washuu? Surely she knew Sasami was at her fortress. A sound like a distant explosion caught her ear and she returned to her throne room to deal with her unwanted guest. "FIRE!" Ryoko shouted, gleefully. Ryo-ohki fired another volley at Tokimi's fortress. Nearby, Yousho battled Tokimi's robotic sentries with Tenchi-ken, making quick work of them. Tokimi simply sent out replacements to deal with the Juraian nuisance. "Oh no." Ayeka worried. Ryoko laughed as Ryo-ohki fired yet another round. Sasami gazed at the silent image of Tsunami, her loneliness growing. The door to her cell swung open. Every door in Tokimi's fortress from the outer door to Sasami's cell suddenly swung open. Yousho ran in, followed by Ryoko and Ayeka. Tenchi remained on Ryo-ohki, at Washuu's suggestion. Tokimi jammed the sonic energy that was causing the doors to open and smiled with satisfaction as they closed again, leaving Sasami, Yousho, Ryoko, and Ayeka trapped in one of the corridors of Tokimi's fortress. Onmitsu regained consciousness and composed himself, like a man who'd been punched in the stomach. Washuu raised the energy that was stabilizing Onmitsu's radio frequency six points, to counter Tokimi's jamming signal. She was so engrossed in her task that she didn't see Mihoshi walk in. "Whatcha doing?!" Mihoshi squeaked curiously. "Whaaa!" Washuu yelped, turning around, her hand accidentally twisting the control button and spiking the sonic energy to maximum power. "Oh no!" She tried to recover the signal, but it was gone. And now Tenchi and the others were trapped in Tokimi's fortress. Ayeka hugged Sasami close. They were trapped in this corridor, but at least they were together. Ryoko hurled energy bolts at the doors, but Tokimi's shield held fast. Then, slowly, the air began to drain from the chamber. "Please, don't yell at me anymore." Mihoshi begged. "I can't recall Onmitsu now!" Washuu hollered at her. "He was our only hope of getting them out and I've lost him because of you!" Mihoshi wailed. The doors to Tokimi's fortress opened up again and Ryoko, and the others made their way to the exit, running as fast as they could. They encountered no obstacles. Had Tokimi simply gotten bored and given up? Then, at the main entrance, they saw their worst nightmare. "Kagato." Ayeka gasped. "That can't be him." Ryoko reasoned. "It's not." A familiar voice said from behind them. Ryoko and the others turned and saw Onmitsu standing there. He was nude and only had one arm. Ayeka blushed and Ryoko smiled. Yousho took off his coat and helped Onmitsu put it on. "That image of Kagato is only an illusion." Onmitsu said as Yousho finished tying the coat. "Thank you." Onmitsu replied, feeling a bit less awkward. "You're welcome." Yousho replied. "An illusion?" Tenchi asked. "Yes." Onmitsu said, bravely stepping forward. "It's not real. It is not Kagato." Kagato began to laugh and his voice changed, became more sinister, then his body changed until they were face to face with... "KAIN!" Ayeka screamed. Onmitsu clenched his one fist gritted his sharp teeth. "It's not real," he reminded himself, as a flashback of his own gruesome demise threatened to overwhelm him. "That is *not* KAIN." The memory repeated itself, over and over in his mind, the horrific scene playing out around him in vivid hallucination. "NO!!!" He screamed. Ryoko grabbed his arm. "Onmitsu," she said, gently, "don't give into it. You're hallucinating, you have to snap out of it." Onmitsu howled in agony as Kain ripped out his right eye. "Onmitsu." Ryoko repeated. Onmitsu heard Ryoko's voice. He remembered seeing her in class, on the beach and in Tokimi's fortress. He remembered he was already dead, that somehow he'd been resurrected and was now helping Ryoko, and her friends get past ... "You're nothing but an illusion!" Onmitsu howled at the image of Kain who suddenly dwindled down to a small and petty man. "Dr. Clay." Ryoko remembered, giving the man a swift kick in the crotch. Dr. Clay doubled over and Ryoko, Onmitsu, Tenchi, Ayeka, Yousho, and Sasami ran up the ramp and onto Ryo-ohki. Onmitsu leaned in the corner, in pain, his body flickering. It was clear that whatever energy had resurrected him was diminishing. "Onmitsu," Ryoko said, putting her arms around him and trying to anchor him there. Onmitsu put his arm around Ryoko. "I love you." He told her, gently. Ryoko didn't question, there was no time for questions now. Only for answers. "I love you." She told him. He kissed her, softly, on the lips, then nuzzled her, affectionately. Ryoko closed her eyes and sighed dreamily. Onmitsu flickered once more, then vanished. Ryoko sank down onto the floor, and cried into her hands. -EPILOGUE- Tenchi, Ayeka, Sasami, Ryoko, Mihoshi and Ryo-ohki sat in Tenchi's living room watching television. A news report came up and everyone scattered, finding more interesting diversions. Sasami went to make dinner, with Mihoshi's help, Ayeka and Tenchi were entertained by a now-massed Ryo-ohki, and Ryoko went to answer the doorbell that had been ringing for the past half-hour. Ryoko threw open the door and was greeted by the site of Onmitsu, holding a bouquet of flowers which was so large she could barely see him through it.