Chapter 11

It was raining on Jurai.

With a heavy sigh, Suki secluded herself in the shelter of the Royal Tree's immense branches, glancing up at the clouded sky with troubled aqua eyes. She knew that the Emperor had decreed the unhappy weather as a sign of mourning and respect for her father's untimely passing, but all it did was serve to bring her mood even lower than it already was.

"Seiryo is gone, father is gone, and I'm forced to conceal things from everybody." She murmured, tears mingling with the raindrops on her cheeks as she reached up to push her thick dark mourning veil out of her eyes. "I've never been so alone...but Seiryo told me that it will all be okay, and I have to have faith in him. That he'll protect me...in a way that Father never did."

"Lady Suki!"

A voice startled her from her reverie and she raised her head, blinking back her tears as she made out the slim figure of the Crown Princess of Jurai crossing the grass towards her. The Princess's thick, silken hair was bound back from her face on account of the rain and, as if in imitation of the day's dull weather, she wore dark clothes, her robes swathed in the black and maroon reserved for court mourning. Something about the formality of Ayeka's garments made Suki's guilt renew itself twofold, and she dropped her gaze, tilting her head in the bow of reverence that was owed to all the royal family of Jurai.

"Ayeka-denka." She murmured. "I'm sorry...I thought there was noone else here."

"The rain is heavy." Ayeka said gently, holding out a gloved hand to her companion who looked startled. "Come with me, please, Suki-kyou. I know you are grieving, but your mother needs you to remain strong and well, for her sake."

"Yes, I know." Reluctantly Suki accepted the Princess's gesture, getting slowly to her feet. "But at the moment it feels like so much is crowding me. Really, Ayeka-denka, I'm sure I would be better off alone."

"Suki-kyou, you already seem quite alone to me." Ayeka eyed her keenly. "Will you walk with me a while? My Uncle has just informed me that your brother has already taken his leave for the Galaxy Police, and I doubt you can burden your mother with your feelings at a time like this."

"No...no." Suki admitted. "Seiryo broke to her the news of Father's passing, and she hasn't said very much about it. But...but you're right. I...haven't been able to face her about it since..."

She faltered, struggling to keep a grip on her emotions and compassion touched the Princess's eyes.

"I know that my husband and your brother have not always been friends." She said softly, putting a gentle hand around the younger girl's shoulders. "But you and I have no enmity for one another. Your father was a member of my Uncle's court, and as such you shouldn't feel you have noone to turn to in your time of need."

"Your Highness is very kind." Suki raised startled eyes to her companion's, almost losing control of her composure once more as she saw the gentle look in the Princess's dark red eyes. "But nothing can bring my father back."

"No, nothing can." Ayeka acknowledged with a sigh. "But your brother seems intent on doing his best - on finding the person who killed him and bringing him to justice."

Suki flinched, biting her lip.

"Or her." She whispered.

"I beg your pardon?" Ayeka looked startled.

"Or her." Suki shrugged. "It...it might have been a woman."

"I suppose it might." Ayeka tilted her head on one side, considering this. "Do you have faith in Seiryo-dono finding his killer?"

"Oh, yes." Suki dropped her gaze, a bitter note entering her tones. "I have every faith in Seiryo. He will do everything he can and more, I know that."

"Then all that can be done is being done." Ayeka squeezed her arm gently. "And you must try not to worry about him. My husband assures me Seiryo-dono can take care of himself...I expect he will do as he intends and then be back at your side before you know it. He hasn't abandoned you. We just all deal with grief and loss in our own ways."

"Yes." Suki looked pensive. "Yes, we do."

She drew a shaky breath into her lungs.

"I thank you for your kindness to me, Ayeka-denka. You show me great honour." She whispered. "But Father's death isn't something I can talk about...not now, and maybe not ever. Please...please excuse me. I must...I can't..."

She faltered, extricating herself from the Princess's concerned grasp, bending her head in another bow.

"Please excuse me." She repeated. "I...I must be alone."

Before Ayeka could respond, the young girl had taken to her heels, hurrying across the grass as her tears threatened to overwhelm her. Though she could hear Ayeka calling her name, she did not falter, not stopping until she reached the arched entrance of the Tennan estate and had let herself inside. Then she dropped back against the door, her clothes sodden and dripping as she lost control of her composure, sinking to the floor as her sobs overwhelmed her.

"Tsunami forgive me for what I've done." She whispered. "Seiryo says it will be all right, but how can it ever be all right again? And I know he's keeping something from me...the true reason why he's gone back to the Galaxy Police at such short notice. What will he have to do in order to keep this a secret?"

------

"You are going to behave yourself tonight, aren't you, Ryoko?"

Tenchi cast his companion a quizzical glance as his companion checked her appearance in the mirror, fussing with her hair and then casting him an amused, playful smile.

"I always behave myself." She told him simply. "Only sometimes I behave myself badly. Oh relax, Tenchi!" As Tenchi raised an eyebrow. "I'm on my best behaviour, I swear. I won't play games with any of your college friends. I'll eat nicely, I won't elbow anyone out of the way to get to the bathroom and I won't drink so much sake I pass out on the floor. Okay? I'll be good! You can trust me. I promise."

"Well, I hope so." Tenchi sighed. "After your game with Hiroshi the other day, I wasn't even sure I should invite you to this little get together...after all, everyone else who's going to be there is a student at the university and it's almost a tradition we have, one week before term begins we all get together and exchange stories about our summer. But Hiroshi insisted I ask you to come too."

"I like Hiroshi. He might be an idiot, but he has good manners." Ryoko decided, turning away from the mirror. "Though I should be hurt you didn't invite me off your own bat. We are soulmates, Tenchi. Remember?"

Her eyes twinkled with mischief, and Tenchi sighed, shaking his head.

"Don't start that again." He warned. "Please. Just be yourself tonight, all right? At least, as much as you can be without...you know."

"All right, all right. I get it." Ryoko nodded. "It will be fine. And I won't disgrace you, looking like this. If I do say so myself, I look amazing. In a very Earth-girl way."

She dimpled.

"What do you think?"

"I think you've gone to town, but you do look stunning." Tenchi admitted. "And we should get moving. The club is only a couple of blocks from here, thankfully, so we don't need to get a cab or anything...and Grandpa and Dad know we're likely to stop the night in Osaka, so they won't be worried if we don't turn up. Besides, it will give you a chance to work out where you want to sleep, if we stop here tonight. A real dry run for when term starts - you might decide you'd rather be back in the mountains."

"Or you might decide you'd prefer me to be there." Ryoko pouted. "Stop being a drag, Tenchi, and lighten up. If you can't trust me, after all..."

"I trust you with my life. I told you that." Tenchi shook his head. "I know. I'm sorry. I'll try not to be a nag. But we do need to get going. Hiroshi and the others will wonder where we are."

"Or imagine what we've got up to." A predatorial glint flickered in Ryoko's eyes. "Although chance would be a fine thing."

"Ryoko!"

"What? I'm not joking. It would."

Tenchi rolled his eyes skywards, but he made no further demur, merely unlocking the door of the apartment and ushering his companion out onto the narrow corridor. Soon they were leaving the building completely, Ryoko revelling in the cool night air as they walked the two blocks to the busy and popular club that was often inhabited by local students during term time. It was already busy, and as they made their way through the main entrance, they were hailed by Hiroshi himself.

"There you are!" he exclaimed. "We were starting to wonder if you'd lost your way around the city, Masaki-kun!"

"Not quite. Waiting for Ryoko to finish getting ready, really." Tenchi looked sheepish, and Ryoko smiled.

"Thank you for inviting me." She said, bowing very properly as Hiroshi offered her a smile.

"More than welcome. I mean, whilst you're in town and all." He said amiably. "In truth, I think we're all a bit astounded that Tenchi's actually found himself a girl. He's such a study-bug at the best of times - never seems to have time for women, or that's what he's always claimed. And now here he is with you - well, it's created quite a scandal."

Ryoko glanced at her date, noticing his red cheeks and she laughed, squeezing his hand.

"Well, it's like I told you before." She said simply. "Tenchi and I were meant to be together. So he was waiting for me. That's all."

"I guess he must've been." Hiroshi acknowledged. "Although he kept the whole thing pretty dark. Come on, both of you. Everyone is over this way, and they're all dying to meet you, Ryoko-san."

"I hope I make a good first impression." Ryoko pretended to look anxious, and Tenchi grimaced at her, as Hiroshi led them though the crowds to a corner where three other young people were stood chatting. Two were young men of Tenchi's age, one with his hair cut short and close to his scalp, the other with his in wild curls across his head. The other was a young woman, petite and with her hair in two thick dark braids. Ryoko eyed her for a moment, deciding with some satisfaction that whatever else she might be, this newcomer was not pretty, and definitely no competition for Tenchi's affections.

"Everyone, she's no illusion." Hiroshi was speaking again, as he drew Ryoko forward, casting her a smile. "May I present Ryoko - Tenchi's girlfriend."

"Ikeda, stop being an animal. You're embarrassing the poor girl." The woman sent Hiroshi a glare, then offered Ryoko a smile. "Hello, Ryoko-san. I'm Sakura Ito and these are Kane Kyoda and Wataru Kamikura. I didn't catch your family name?"

"Hakubi." Ryoko offered another shy smile, then, "Pleased to meet you all."

"All right, stop gawking at her." Tenchi put up his hands. "It's not that weird that I should have a girlfriend, you guys. Is it?"

"Isn't it?" Kane's thick eyebrows disappeared into his curly fringe. "And tell me something weirder? You have to admit, none of us expected you to bring a girl back to school with you this semestre."

"Where are you from, Ryoko?" Sakura asked curiously. "Are you planning on studying in Osaka too?"

"No, not right now." Ryoko shook her head, ignoring the agonised look Tenchi sent her way as she immersed herself fully in her role. She lowered her gaze, shrugging her shoulders. "I really don't know what I'm going to do just yet. I'm a friend of Tenchi's cousin Ayeka, you see - and where I'm from is a long way from Osaka or Kurashiki. Right now I'm just trying to get my bearings in a new place."

A tragic look touched her expression.

"My father passed away not long before I came here." She added softly. "Tenchi has been such great support...but it still makes things so difficult."

"Ryoko, I don't think that's something we want to discuss here." Tenchi said apprehensively, and she turned, sending him an affectionate smile.

"He's always so concerned about me." She added. "I don't know what I'd do without him."

"I'm sorry about your father." Sakura said gently. "But welcome to Osaka. You're always welcome to hang out with us, you know - after all, we wouldn't want to split up lovebirds."

"And with that decided, who's for a drink?" Wataru interjected at that moment. "I'm parched and it's hot as hell under these lights!"

"I'll get them." Tenchi volunteered, and Ryoko felt him grab her firmly by the hand. "Ryoko, could you come with me and help carry?"

"Sure, Tenchi, if that's what you want." Ryoko looked surprised.

"I think it would be best." Tenchi said pointedly. "What does everyone want?"

"So someone's got their panties in a twist." Ryoko muttered, as they headed across the club towards the bar in the corner. "I didn't tell them any lies, you know. And besides, they seem like nice people. Did you really want me to tell them that I was sent to prison for three years and that we actually renewed our acquaintance going to fight some crazy space pirate?"

"No, of course not. But I didn't expect you to mention Kagato." Tenchi grimaced. "Or his death."

"It's a simple protection technique." Ryoko shrugged her shoulders. "Listen. Nobody likes asking questions about someone when they think there's some big tragedy in their past, right? That girl - Sakura - she was asking about where I was from and she struck me as the curious type. They all seem to want to know a whole lot about me - since apparently the idea of you getting a girl is completely crazy to them. So I told them my Dad died. That'll stop them prying. Noone wants awkward silences, after all."

"I think you're seeing this far too much like a battle negotiation and less like a night out with friends." Tenchi said resignedly. "But I suppose I see your logic. Just don't lay it on too thick, okay? Because I'm not a very good liar, even if you are...and I won't be able to keep track of every lie you've told."

"I'll be careful." Ryoko nodded. "But it's all right. Like I said, they seem nice - if overly interested in your love life."

She grinned.

"Were you really waiting for me, Tenchi-kun?" She murmured, slipping her hand into his. Tenchi frowned.

"Maybe." He acknowledged. "I don't really know. I guess I only really knew for sure how much I'd missed you when I saw you again aboard Yagami. It's all a bit confusing, to tell you the truth."

"Same old Tenchi." Ryoko eyed him affectionately. "Come on. Let's snag the drinks and get back over there. It'll be fun to spend the evening hanging out like any other stunningly pretty earth girl, after all!"

She winked.

"And your friends think I'm hot, that's easy to see." She added. "Which makes it all the more interesting."

"Don't you start flirting with them now." Tenchi warned as they reached the bar, quickly ordering their drinks and dropping a handful of coins and notes onto the smooth surface. "I mean it. That's one game I don't want to have to explain to them."

"Would you be jealous?"

"No, because I know you better than that." Tenchi shook his head. "But they'd be confused, and I don't want that."

"Well, I wasn't going to flirt with them anyway." Ryoko shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not that fickle. It was just an observation."

"One you should maybe keep in your head?" Tenchi suggested. "Here, grab those two glasses, will you? I can about manage the other three."

"Sure." Ryoko nodded, doing as she was bidden and taking a sip out of the nearest one. "Mm. Not bad. I'll have to see how many different drinks I can sample before the night is through."

"I thought you weren't going to get drunk tonight?" Tenchi looked alarmed. Ryoko laughed, shaking her head.

"No, not drunk." She agreed. "But my biology is tougher than yours. It can take a whole lot more alcohol than most people on this planet."

"If you say so." Tenchi pursed his lips. "I've seen you when you've been flat out drunk. Just be careful, okay?"

"Stop saying that. You're starting to sound like my mother...more so than my mother does, in fact." Ryoko grimaced at him, and Tenchi looked sheepish.

"Sorry." He acknowledged. "I know. I said I wouldn't nag. I just want tonight to go off without a hitch, that's all. I want them to like you, Ryoko, and I want you to get along okay with them. I guess I'm a bit strung up about the whole thing."

"Well, don't be." Ryoko told him gently. "Everything's going to be fine. We're all getting on brilliantly so far. What could go wrong?"

Before Tenchi could answer, there was a tremendous explosion from behind them, sending them flying across the floor of the club in the blast. The glasses fell to the floor with a clatter as a second explosion rocked the club and people began to scream, running panicked in all directions as they struggled to escape the falling debris.

"What the hell?" Ryoko picked herself up, turning back to face the source of the damage. "Tenchi, are you all right?"

"I'm fine." Tenchi scrambled to his feet, holding out a hand to pull her up. "But we need to find the others, and make sure they're okay. Something must have exploded in the back somewhere - we need to get the others and get out of here before there are more explosions."

"Something? Like what?" Ryoko frowned.

"Gas, maybe." Tenchi shrugged. "Do you see Ikeda and the rest anywhere?"

"Yes." Ryoko squinted into the crowd, then pointed. "They're coming this way, Tenchi...and so are about a zillion other people. If we're not careful we're going to be stampeded...we need to get out of the escape path."

"You don't have to tell me twice!" Tenchi's grip tightened on her hand as he pulled them out of oncoming stream of panicked patrons. "Maybe we should just follow their lead and get out of here. After all..."

"Tenchi Masaki Jurai!"

A voice boomed out across the club at that moment, stopping a lot of the fleeing people dead in their tracks as the smoke around the back of the club began to clear. As it did so, the night sky became visible through huge, gaping holes in the roof and at the edge of one stood a man, flanked by the shiny facing of what could only be a space ship. At each entrance to the club, armed men and women seemed to materialise from nothing, each of them with impassive expressions on their faces and weapons a mere hand-flick away as they prevented anyone else from leaving.

For a moment there was silence, as frightened gazes turned to the intruder, and as Ryoko squinted at him through the drifting smoke she frowned.

"Galaxy Police." She muttered under her breath. "I'll bet this is Jurai calling, Tenchi - a favour for Great Grandpa again, no doubt."

"If it is, we'll be having words." Tenchi said grimly. "I thought he knew my cover on Earth was that I'm just like everyone else. Having a madman in a spaceship bawl out my name in front of hundreds of frightened people is not a great way to go about contacting me."

"Tenchi...Masaki...Jurai!" The voice echoed out around the hall once again, as the man put his hand to his belt, pulling something from it and holding it aloft. For a moment it flickered, then flared into a white sabre, and the stranger stepped forward, becoming more clearly visible with each step he took along the rampart of his drifting spaceship.

"I know you're here." He continued. "I am Agent Seiryo Tennan of the Galaxy Police Elite Force. I have been sent to find you. You would be wise not to resist me."

"Tennan?" Tenchi cast Ryoko a questioning glance. "Do we know that name?"

"No, we don't." Ryoko replied darkly. "But I don't make a habit of learning the name of every space cop that tried to track me down. I leave that to Kiyone and Mihoshi to worry about, and just keep well out of their way."

"Are you a coward, Prince of Jurai?" The voice became derisive, and the man held his sabre aloft. "Come forth and show yourself."

"Tenchi, what the hell is going on?" Hiroshi's voice hissed from somewhere behind them, and Ryoko bit her lip, casting a glance back into the crowd, most of whom were transfixed where they stood by the events unfolding before them. In the furthermost corner, someone was hastily dialling numbers on a mobile phone, one eye flitting fearfully from time to time to where the intruder stood, and the pirate knew that before long the club would be alive with local law enforcement as well as galactic ones. She winced inwardly as she realised what kind of a bloodbath such an encounter could become.

"I think he means business." She muttered, squeezing Tenchi's hand. "Better find out what exactly he wants...before this gets out of hand."

"Yeah, right." Tenchi nodded his head. He hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward into the beam of the overhead lights, holding up his hands in a gesture of peace.

"I am Tenchi Masaki." He said quietly. "What do you want with me?"

"I'm sure you know perfectly well." Seiryo's eyes narrowed to mere slits. "My superiors wish to speak to you on a matter of some urgency. It cannot wait. You must come with me immediately."

"Come with you? Come with you where?" Tenchi frowned. "I think you must have me confused with someone else, sir. I'm just a college student...what could your superiors want with me? I don't even know who you are...or what this Galaxy Police is you're talking about."

"You must think me a fool." Seiryo shook his head impatiently. "Come with me now, Tenchi Masaki, or be taken by force!"

"I've told you, you've got the wrong person." Tenchi shook his head.

Seiryo frowned, and for a moment there was silence. Then he frowned. With a sweep of his blade, he sliced through the bar which held the lights aloft, sending them crashing to the ground and narrowly avoiding a number of scared people who shrieked and dove for cover beneath a nearby table.

"Seiryo Tennan does not make mistakes." He said, his tones dangerously low. "You have had your warning. If you will not come of your own accord, I will be forced to arrest you!"

He flicked his fingers and two of the four armed officers guarding the exits stepped forward, drawing their weapons as their commander advanced slowly though the ranks of frightened patrons, approaching Tenchi slowly with menacing, determined steps. He stopped a few feet away, holding his blade before him.

"They say you're quite the soldier, Tenchi Masaki." He spoke softly, eying his prey up carefully as he did so. "But I'd like to see it for myself. Earth-born scum such as you are nothing compared to the blood and training of the Galaxy Police Elite. Do you think you can resist me?"

"Tenchi, no!" Ryoko could bear it no more, darting out from the crowd and putting herself bodily between Tenchi and the advancing officer. "Go away, whoever you are! You don't have authority here and you know it as well as I do!"

"I have every authority here." Seiryo halted in his advance, eying her with obvious dislike. "Whoever told you otherwise was sorely mistaken. The Elite Force of the Galaxy Police go wherever it is necessary to apprehend...lawbreakers."

He paused, and if looks could have killed, Ryoko would have been laid out cold on the nightclub floor.

"The Space Pirate Ryoko, I presume. How charming to finally meet the most disgusting criminal ever to grace the universe." He said, every word a drop of ice falling from his lips. "Now step aside. My business is not with you."

"Ryoko, do as he says." From behind her, Ryoko could hear Tenchi calling to her, anxious and apprehensive. "You can't fight the Galaxy Police - you know what could happen if you did!"

"Not until he tells us what he wants with you." Ryoko folded her arms. "I never said I was going to fight him. But nobody is taking you anywhere without a damn good reason. I don't care how Elite they are."

"I am under orders to take Tenchi Masaki Jurai - either by force or by his own concession - and convey him to my superiors for questioning about a top secret matter." Seiryo spoke icily. "It's not the kind of information that we pass around the gutter criminals of the underworld. Galaxy Police business is Galaxy Police business. You are Pirate scum and I owe you no explanation whatsoever."

He raised his sword.

"Now get out of my way, or I will be forced to take you too." He added. "Interfering in my duty would be a breach of your pardon, Space Pirate Ryoko."

For a moment, nothing in the club moved. Then Ryoko felt Tenchi's hand on her shoulder.

"Do as he says." He murmured. "Please. I'll be all right. I promise."

Ryoko sent him a pained look, but he nodded his head.

"Really." He assured her. "Trust me. Step back."

Reluctantly Ryoko did as she was bidden, and Seiryo's expression broke into an amused smile.

"So you do have some sense." He observed. "I wondered."

"If you can't tell her what you want with me, Seiryo-san, you can tell me face to face." Tenchi drew himself up to his full height, meeting his challenger's gaze with a determined one of his own. "Who sent you to find me? And on what errand?"

"My superiors will disclose all to you when we reach our destination." Seiryo's eyes flickered dangerously. "That is all I am at liberty to reveal."

"Then I am not able to go with you." Tenchi said matter-of-factly. "If you can't give me a reason, I'm not willing to cooperate."

"I see." Seiryo looked thoughtful. "Then on your head be the consequences."

He turned to his accompanying officers, a nasty glint in his malachite eyes.

"Raze the place to the ground." he said softly.

In an instant, the uniformed figures stationed around the venue began to open fire, creating new panic among the stupified earthlings trapped within the club, and sending many of them diving for cover. Screams and yells came from all corners as bullets glanced off the shiny bar surface, skidding grooves in the smooth wood as they narrowly missed hitting flesh and bone, and exploding into balls of eerie fire as they ground to a halt. The stupor that had seemed to hold the terrified public rooted to the spot suddenly seemed broken as smoke and flame began to flicker up from every corner and amid wild screams chaos ensued once more, each person desperate to reach the exit before the blaze reached the alcohol behind the bar and turned into a raging inferno. In the commotion, Seiryo raised his own sabre, charging at Tenchi with a steely look on his face and Tenchi, taken completely off-guard stumbled backwards over someone else's leg, tumbling to the floor as the officer advanced.

"Tenchi!"

As Tenchi raised his hands to shield himself from Seiryo's weapon, Ryoko charged back between the two men, light flickering across her own palms as she did so.

"I told you once, leave him alone!"

"And I told you already what happens to pirates who break their terms of parole." Seiryo eyed her in distaste. "Step aside, Ryoko. I have my orders."

"I'm not afraid of the Galaxy Police." Ryoko said quietly. "So if you want him, you'll have to go through me first."

Seiryo sighed.

"If you insist on making it difficult." He said wearily. "I suppose I must accomodate you."

He raised his free hand again, sending signals to his companions.

"Kill any Earthling who tries to make an escape." He said, his tones dangerously low. "And kill any who show support for Tenchi Masaki. You know what orders we have been given. Apprehend Masaki-dono at all costs. We must not fail."