*********************DRAFT**************************

The People's Prince
Part 4B:

SECRETS

Disclaimer: The characters of Tenchi Muyo belong to AIC and Pioneer LDC.
They are used without permission.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Yes, Galen was definitely in Heaven. He had always prized his position as
doorman to the Imperial Throne Room. He saw her almost everyday. Greeted
her as she walked through his guarded post. Heard her melodious voice
in reply to his greetings. But never once had he expected a day like
today, a fantasy come true. He could die now. He wanted this feeling, this
sensation to be the last thing his consciousness remembered, etched
forever in his heart.

The bliss.

The rapture.

The pain.

Funaho spun on her heels to face her sister, ignoring a strange moaning
sound. Twice in so many days she had been shocked. First that Mrs. Graham
and now this.

"I think we may have stayed up too late last night. Do you see what I
see?" Funaho asked staring with disbelief evident on her face.

"Maybe," Misaki said looking at the scene unblinking. She didn't want to
say anything more than that-- in case she was delusional.

Funaho stomped in her foot in a rare display of frustration.

"Ooooh..." a distinctively male voice droned.

Entirely too many events were occurring around her that she had no prior
knowledge of. Funaho was not one of those people who liked surprises. She
was absolutely sure Lord Leeber and Lord Seiryo were up to something. Plus
there was Priest Bodan's tirade to consider. Now, seemingly, her husband
had gotten Ryoko into some sort of plot and had smuggled her all the way
from Earth, without her having so much of a clue. Funaho did not like
being out of the loop. In an even rarer display of anger, she ground her
foot into the floor, which was remarkably pliable for some reason.

"Yes, my Queen... harder," a man's voice gasped.

Both Misaki and Funaho were too deep in thought to have heard the cry of
ecstasy. Still looking straight-ahead Misaki sidestepped closer to her
sister, failing to note the slight rise in height.

"B... both... at... at the same time," A near delirious voice said.

"That... that can't be Ryoko. Can it?" Misaki asked, sparing a glance to
look at Funaho, before turning back to the young woman who was just now
coming to a standing position.

Funaho shook her head in response. "Impossible, there is no way that can
be her. Not alone... not here... and not doing that."

The two queens had been so glued to the sight of what looked to be Ryoko
bowing before their husband, that they had failed to notice Director
Yakage of the Science Academy standing a little off to the side. He walked
over to the young woman, noticing Misaki and Funaho as he did so.

"My Queens, I would like to present to your Highnesses, my life's work,
Minagi."

Upon hearing her name spoken by her master, she turned to face whomever it
was he was speaking to. With a slight bow she greeted Queens Funaho and
Misaki.

"First Queen Funaho, Second Queen Misaki, it is an honor to serve you and
the Jurian Empire."

All Funaho could do was nod. Except for a few facial markings, she was the
spitting image of Ryoko. She didn't know why, but Funaho had a very bad
feeling about all of this.

"Ha! I knew it wasn't Ryoko! I *knew* it!" Misaki exclaimed jumping up and
down.

"OH... OH... *YES* *YES*... ooh, I can die now."

Both Queens' attention immediately shot to the floor, or more precisely to
the doorman they were standing on. They had totally forgotten that he had
fainted on their arrival to the throne room. They quickly stepped off his
back.

It would be days before the smile left his face.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

The urge to slap the person in front of her was almost overpowering and if
she had been anywhere else under different circumstances she might have
succumbed to that desire. This, however, was not the time for that, and
Galaxy Police Headquarters was definitely not the place. Besides, as a
journalist, she was used to getting the run around. Susan Graham steeled
her demeanor and glued a smile to her face.

"Are you sure you don't want a ticket to the Galaxy Police Benevolence
Ball? All the proceeds go towards charity and the Grand Marshal himself
will be in attendance this year," the young clerk asked, waving a stack of
tickets at her. He was no where near meeting his quota and the ball was
less than a week away.

"Tempting, but if I don't get this information for my boss, I doubt I'll
have the free time," Sue said with a slight sigh.

"Yeah, I know how *that* is. I don't usually work this desk. My usual beat
is Quadrant Six. You know? Over by the Oni home world? Well, anyway, last
week we get this frantic call from the daughter of the main warlord over
there, but the thing is, I didn't know who she was..."

Selective listening was a skill Susan had learned early in her career as a
journalist. She was going to have to humor this guy in order to get the
information she needed on Detective Mihoshi and what sector of space she
patrolled. She propped her chin on the clerk's desk with a hand and stared
intently into the young officer's eyes, feigning intense interest in his
tale.

"...When her old man found out I told her we had other priorities....
Let's just say, it wasn't pretty. My boss almost tore me a new one," the
officer finished and wiped some sweat off his brow from reliving the
experience.

"That does sound rough... then I guess you can see where I'm coming from."
Susan grinned.

"Sure do. What was that name again?" He asked looking to type it in to his
terminal.

"Mihoshi, Detective-First-Class Mihoshi." Susan's smile widened. 'Finally,
I'm getting somewhere.'

"Mihoshi? You know that name sounds familiar. I don't know too many people
'cause I just graduated from the academy three months ago. Hmm, nope, no
one named Mihoshi is registered in the general officer's databank of
personnel records. You sure you have the right name?"

"What do you mean 'No Mihoshi'? That name has to be in there somewhere!"

"Maybe the name is wrong? Do you know her surname?" the officer asked.

"Kuramitsu, Mihoshi Kuramitsu."

"Wow, what a coincidence. I think the Marshal's last name is Kuramitsu
too. Hmm, nope, her name still doesn't appear in the general personnel
roster."

Sue was beginning to lose patience. The Galaxy Police were obviously in
bed with the Royal House. "Look, I *know* that there is a G.P. officer
named Mihoshi Kuramitsu." She narrowed her eyes at the young recruit.  "I
also know, that she is involved...."

"Hey, hey, calm down. I believe you! I told you that I've heard of the
name didn't I? Just because her name doesn't appear in the general roster,
doesn't mean she isn't an officer of the G.P. Thirty-three percent of
Galaxy Police officer's names don't appear in the general roster... Oops,"
He quickly placed his hand over his mouth.

Sue's eyes sparkled, pay dirt. "Oh! Why is that?"

The officer shook his head. He had already said too much. "Ma'am, I am
afraid that I can not release such sensitive information to you. Only the
general personnel roster is open to public review. If you'll excuse me, I
must return to my duties. The exit is to your left."

He was far too late; Sue's interest was peaked now. "You know, I didn't
properly introduce myself. My name is Sue Graham, and I'm a journalist.
I'm doing an expose on police corruption. Is your name spelled with one or
two T's?"

"Oh, come on! I've already screwed up with brass twice already! They're
looking to fire me as it is!"

"It's totally up to you what part you play in my little article. You can
be the unnamed source who helped me break through the web of deceit around
here, or you can be G.P. Officer Swatto, the clerk who lets slip
confidential Galaxy Police information to anyone who walks by."

Officer Swatto banged his head against his desk and cursed the day he
decided to join the G.P. "I get to be the cool cop, right? Braving past
the 'Blue wall of Silence' in order to fight corruption?"

"Absolutely!"

"You think this Mihoshi is dirty then?"

"I aim to find out everything about her."

"What is it you need to know?"

"Why would her name not be listed?"

"She could be working covert ops. You know hiding in the branches of Space
Trees. Those guys aren't listed here. Real secret squirrel kinda stuff."

"Secret Squirrel?"

"Intelligence, a spy. She could be assigned undercover to one of the
unaligned worlds, or even one of the aligned ones without government
approval. She might even be assigned as security to some bigwig. Hey,
maybe she watchin' over that Prince Tenchi guy. Didja see that news
conference by the First Queen the other day? That whacked out reporter had
me rolling. Crown Prince Tenchi, Ha! I think maybe she hit the tree sap a
little hard that morning... um, not that I know anything about that sort
of thing."

"Yeah... Sap," Sue said narrowing her eyes at the officer. 'Jerk.' But he
did hit on the most likely reason Mihoshi was not listed in the general
database. If you found Mihoshi, you found Tenchi. She was *going* to find
*Tenchi*. She walked around the officer's desk and butted him out of the
way with her hip, in order to work the touch pad for his terminal herself.
Swatto started to protest, until he got a face full of Sue's posterior and
became strangely quiet. Susan's fingers glided over the touch sensitive
pad with seasoned skill. Mihoshi was in there somewhere. Susan could feel
it.


PAYROLL

*NOT FOUND*

MEDICAL

*NOT FOUND*

DISCIPLINARY

*NOT FOUND*

PERSONNEL TRANSFERS

*PENDING...

*1 RECORD FOUND*

ACCESS

*TRANSFER TO GALAXY POLICE HEADQUARTERS CANCELED DUE TO OFFICER'S REQUEST.

FURTHER INFORMATION <DELETED>  *

After several more unsuccessful attempts, Sue slammed her fists on the
desk. This was getting her no where. She hadn't learned anything she
hadn't already known and was no closer to finding Mihoshi or the sector
of space she worked.

"AHHH! This so *frustrating*. I'm *so* close." She lowered her head on to
the touchboard.

The Officer regained some composure, sensing an opening. "Y... you know
what you need," he paused to wipe the blood from his nose. "You need to
get away. How 'bout... buying a ticket to the Galaxy Police Benevolence
Ball?"

Sue *glared* at him with malevolence.

"Please... please... I have to sell at least *one* ticket. It's a
requirement of all G.P Officers!"

She sighed and was about to get up to leave when her eyes widened. 'It
can't be that easy? Can it?'

She returned her attention to the terminal, her hands flying over the
touch sensitive pad. She knew she had seen the heading earlier in her
attempts, but she was in denial the whole time.

ACCESS BALL TICKET SALES DATABASE

*ACCESSING...*

*READY
  ENTER QUERY*

KURAMITSU, MIHOSHI

'No, it can't be this easy'

*PENDING...*

'It can't!'

*ONE RECORD FOUND*

ACCESS

*ACCESSING*

BALL TICKET SALES:
KURAMITSU, M

#TICKETS SOLD          PURCHASER OF TICKET

                2                      KURAMITSU, M


Susan was in tears. "You know, I think I will buy one of those tickets."

The officer was in tears also. "You will! Thank the stars!" He decided to
press his luck. "Need an escort?"

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

'Why, oh why couldn't the drink list be in Jurian like in every other
place I've been to,' Sakuya lamented with a sigh. "Club 69" was one of
those new trendy bars with an American motif. All the drinks were of
western origin and all the menus were in English. Sakuya, being who she
was, didn't know any other language but Japanese.

"Make up your mind yet, miss?" The bartender asked tapping his fingers on
the bar impatiently.

Sakuya's eyes quickly scanned the menu one last time, looking for the
slightest sign or letter of familiarity. She found none. She decided to
play the odds.

"Yes," she said confidently. 'This is Japan after all,' she thought to
herself. "I would like some tea. Two teas."

The bartender gave her a look that said "finally" and scanned the menu
himself. He didn't remember seeing tea on there before, but then spotted
what he thought she meant. The bartender turned to prepare the order.
"Long Island, right?" he shot over his shoulder to her.

"Um, yeah. Long Island brand tea will be fine," she said quite pleased.
She glanced back towards the booth she was sharing with Tenchi. He was
being needled with questions from a group of young men. She smiled as she
watched him squirm under the barrage. 'The next Emperor of Jurai,' she
thought with a smirk. Although she admitted to herself that she wasn't as
adverse to the idea as she had been before.

"Here you go, two Long Island Iced Teas."

The bartender handed her the two drinks and she made her way back towards
Tenchi. Half way there, she paused and tried to quiet the butterflies in
her stomach. She didn't know why she was so nervous. This wasn't the first
time she'd been sent on a fact-finding mission of this type. "But there is
a lot more at stake here," she said to herself.

*TAP* *TAP*

"Testing... testing... Is this thing on? Hello?"

'I guess that girl is about to sing,' Sakuya thought looking over to the
tall blonde tapping on a microphone with a finger. 'What's it called...
croak something.' She continued to the table and handed Tenchi his drink.
Since several of Tenchi's friends had commandeered her seat across the
table, she sat next to Tenchi instead.

Tenchi felt he could manage, since there wasn't any physical contact, that
is... until a fourth friend returned from the restroom and joined the
group. This forced Sakuya to scoot over further. She seemed intent on
getting as far from the new arrival and as close to Tenchi as she could.
Now his right arm was rather uncomfortably pinned by Sakuya's shoulder. In
addition, his leg was in contact with entirely too much of the female
version.

"Friends of yours, Ten-chi?" she asked leaning into him further.

'I can handle this,' he said to himself. He had been more compromising
positions with Ryoko and Mihoshi, Ryoko on purpose and Mihoshi by
accident. He picked up his tea and downed it in one shot. His head
immediately hit the table. Something in a neglected and very seldom used
portion of Tenchi's brain began to stir. Assessing the current situation
it began to laugh maniacally.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

"My Tenchi?" Ryoko asked astonished.

"Ryoko," Aeka warned.

"Uh huh," Sasami nodded.

"My Tenchi, who blushes during tampon commercials?" she asked leaning
closer to Sasami.

"Ryoko, what do you mean, 'your Tenchi'?" Aeka asked getting angry.

"Yup."

"My Tenchi, who can't even say the word 'nipple'?" she leaned in closer
and was eyeball to eyeball with Sasami now.

"Hahaha, yes, that's what Grandpa said," Sasami answered giggling.

"I don't believe it!" she exclaimed falling back into her seat.

"While I do not agree with Ryoko's use of the possessive in referring to
Lord Tenchi's person, I must agree with the core of her statement. I just
can not picture Lord Tenchi behaving in such a manner," Aeka concluded.
'As nice as that behavior might be directed at the appropriate person,'
she added to herself.

"I'm just telling you what Grandpa said. I don't know if it's true or not,
but... Why would he lie?" Sasami asked.

"To see us jump through hoops and get our panties in bunch, that's why. I
don't know about you, Aeka, but I'm not buyin' into this one," Ryoko said
in a huff.

"Nor am I. For one, Lord Tenchi does not drink, and second, would not do
so to such excess as to become inebriated," Aeka said nodding her head in
complete agreement with the pirate.

"Grandfather said that Tenchi can get a... a..." Sasami tried to remember
his exact words. "...A buzz? A buzz from cheap cough syrup. What's a buzz,
Aeka?"

"Still don't believe it."

"Tenchi would never be so forward with a woman, right?" Aeka turned to
Ryoko trying to hide her concern.

"R... right."

<><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Queen Misaki and Queen Funaho each circled in opposite directions around
Yakage and his young charge, as if the two were cornered beast that would
strike at them at any moment. Neither Queen took her eyes off Minagi as
they made their way around the pair. Upon reaching the other side, Misaki
ventured forward to get a closer look at Minagi, while Funaho went over to
have a word with their mutual husband.

Queen Misaki observed Minagi with a trained eye. It didn't take the
markings on the side of Minagi's face to tell Misaki she was looking at a
polished warrior. Never breaking eye contact with Minagi, the Head of the
Royal Guard edged slowly forward. Each step she took was measured and
precise as she gauged the strength, weaknesses and skill of her adversary.
She could tell Minagi was making a similar assessment. They stood less
than two meters apart. A minute passed and then two, neither of them
moving, finally an itch caused Minagi to wiggle her nose. Misaki smiled.

While Masaki had been giving Minagi the once over, Funaho stood at the
Emperor's side, whispering into his ear.

"What is this?" she asked pointing to Minagi now in a Misaki death grip.

Azusa looked at her for a moment then back at the scene in front of him.
"I am securing both the Empire's position amongst its rivals and our
position within the Empire. With the Lords decrying the loss of two tree
ships, the loss of communications with Tsunami and our ineffectiveness in
recent conflicts, I thought this a prudent move."

"But..."

He turned to look at her again, his face stern. "Was this not the reason
we visited Earth in the first place? To secure the Ryoko and Ryo-Ohki
technologies for the Empire?"

Funaho had no answer to that, because it was true.

"Why is that strategy any less sound now?" Azusa asked her.

For this, Funaho did have an answer.

"What makes it unsound now is that we now know Washu's feelings on the
matter. Ryoko is not just some project to her. Washu sees Ryoko as her
daughter and I believe she would take this as an affront to both herself
and Ryoko."

"Her daughter?" Azusa looked at her incredulously. All the information he
had obtained from Yakage and other sources concerning Washu while she was
part of the Academy spoke differently. Ryoko was Washu's greatest
scientific achievement and as such was held in great regards by the
diminutive scientist, but daughter? No, Ryoko was a tool, one that was
stolen and used to cause a great deal of damage to Jurai. She *will* make
amends for that damage.

"Yes, her daughter." Funaho moved in front of the throne, gaining Azusa's
full attention. "I believe that was her main reason for not providing us
with the technology."

"From my talks with Yakage, I knew she would be uncooperative. She has a
problem with authority and is uncomfortable around nobility. It is the
reason I funded Yakage's project in the first place. If she felt Ryoko a
person with free will, then why was a means for outside control designed
into her? Don't you see? Now we no longer need her assistance." He offered
his Queen a smile.

He was missing the point. She decided to approach the problem at a
different angle.

"You realize... that this *still* does not address the Empire's main
concern?" Funaho asked.

"Oh?"

"The slow production of our third generation and onward ships. Our main
focus in going to Earth was Ryo Ohki not Ryoko."

"I am aware of that."

"Then are you also aware, that you may be jeopardizing our security on an
unproven project?" Funaho questioned, her expression grim.

Azusa recognized the look; it was one he had learned to listen to. "What
do you mean, 'jeopardize our security'?"

Funaho opened her mouth to answer, when the throne room doors were thrown
open and High Priest Bodan burst into the room. The look on his face was a
mixture of utter disbelief and terror, but it was quickly making its way
to that of unmistakable hatred.

His gaze had been on Minagi ever since he entered the room. His body shook
as he spoke, his voice quiet. "When I heard-- I did not believe. Surely I
thought the person telling me this was mad....

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

"Tenchi, Tenchi are you all right?" Sakuya asked shaking the unconscious
boy's shoulders.

"Taihou wa kaze makase" began to play over the club's sound system.


'I wonder what happened? Perhaps he becomes ill easily and is sickly. This
news will certainly please my brother. The Council is not likely to put
some invalid on the throne. Pity,' she thought with a bit of a frown. She
took a sip from her own drink before her eyes widen in realization. She
quickly spit out what she had drunk, unintentionally spraying one of
Tenchi's companions. He left to dry himself off and then became enamored
by a bronzed blonde at the karaoke machine.

'The *TEA*! He fainted right after drinking it! Perhaps it had been
poisoned." She knew a number of people who wouldn't mind seeing Prince
Tenchi dead. Her own mission could have easily taken a diversionary path
from information gathering to assassination.

Their own mortality was a subject few among the noble class of Jurians
thought about. Death was a foreign concept to them. It was something they
rarely had to deal with on a personal level. It was beneath them. Just as
Sakuya was becoming stricken with the idea of her own death, Tenchi began
to stir.


"It's a POLICE MAGIC!
 If you wanna see me,
 You can whistle whenever you want!"


"Tenchi! Are you all right?" she asked overly excited. If he was okay, she
would be as well.

Tenchi raised his head and looked at Sakuya strangely for a second, as if
trying to determine who she was. Turning away from her, he struck the side
of his head a few times with a fist, then turned to face her again. He
gave her a rogue smile.

The smile threw Sakuya. It was the complete opposite of the nervous ones
she had seen from him earlier in the evening. His smile now was all teeth,
and aggression and animal passion and....


"It's a POLICE MAGIC!
 If you wanna see me,
 You can whistle whenever you want!"


"Yeah, I feel fine. Just got a little dizzy for a second there, but I'm
okay now," Tenchi replied freeing his trapped arm and placing it around
Sakuya's shoulders. 'But I don't feel as half as good as you feel.'

Sakuya looked at the arm around her shoulder, then at Tenchi, and finally
down at the table and her drink. Far more disconcerting than Tenchi's
smile was his willingness now to look her in the eyes. All evening long he
had avoided eye contact with her and had become fidgety when she stared at
him. Their roles were completely reversed now. She couldn't look into his
piercing dark brown eyes without turning 'cherry' red. She took a small
sip from her drink, then finished it in a gulp.

"Sakuya."

"Um, yes, Tenchi."

"Could you get me some napkins please."

"Sure, Ten-chi. I need to freshen up anyway," Sakuya replied standing. 'I
could use a cool down too.'


"O.K. POLICE MAGIC! If you wanna see me..."


Tenchi waited for Sakuya to leave and watched her head towards the Ladies'
Restroom before glaring at his friends who were at the table with him.

"Hey, Tenchi! She's hot."

"Yeah, I didn't think you had it in you to pull a girl like that.'

"What was with the head butt of the table?"

Tenchi looked at them all in turn and answered all their questions with
two words.

"Beat it!"

"What?" one of them asked. All of them looked at Tenchi strangely.

"What do you mean 'what'?" Tenchi asked exasperated. "Can't you see I'm
trying to work here?" He accentuated his point by holding up his pinky
finger.

"Tenchi, Tenchi! Teach me how to whistle!" Amagasaki, who had left to
clean himself up and had been listening to the song, shouted running up to
Tenchi.

"What're you talking about?" Tenchi asked confused.

"This is no time for questions! The mother of my children is up there on
stage! AND I DON"T KNOW HOW TO WHISTLE!" He yelled, grabbing Tenchi by the
shoulders and shaking him.

Tenchi looked at the hysterical man with scorn. Placing his arms between
those of his friend, Tenchi broke the grip held on his shoulders.

"Pathetic," Tenchi said putting his two index fingers to his tongue.

His ear-piercing whistle brought the entire club to a stand still, and
caught the singers undivided attention.

"TENCHI!"

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

It was 11pm and Noboyuki Masaki had no idea where his seventeen-year-old
son was.

* YES! *

He sat alone in his son's room, looking out the huge round picture window
at the night sky. Wherever he was, Noboyuki hoped Tenchi was having fun.
Ever since the conversation he and his son had earlier that morning,
Noboyuki had been thinking about his son's situation. He wasn't aware of
all the details of what Tenchi had been through. For instance he knew of
Kagato and his kidnapping of Ryoko and Washu, but the events leading to
their rescue are a mystery to him. The girls were more than willing to
speak of Tenchi's bravery during the affair, but they become quiet during
certain parts of the story. Even after so many months Tenchi still doesn't
speak of that day. Noboyuki had however, put together a fact or two.

He stood and left Tenchi's room, stealthily making his way down the
hallway to Aeka and Sasami's room. He quietly opened the door and looked
inside. Sasami, who had been downstairs with her sister earlier, lay
asleep on her futon, little Mayuka curled up next to her. He gently closed
the door and went down the stairs to check Ryoko's room. Finding it empty,
he continued down the stairs.

Most of the lights were out in the living room and Noboyuki had difficulty
making out the shadowed figures on the couch. He walked a little further
into the room and recognized what he believed to be Ryoko's mane of light
cyan hair.

"Ryoko? It's late. Don't you think you should get some sleep?" Noboyuki
asked the person on the couch.

"Ryoko *is* asleep," Washu's voice answered. "So is Princess Aeka." She
reached over and turned on a light. Noboyuki nearly fell over as Washu
turned to face him.

She gave him a wink and blew him a kiss.

"Like what you see?" Washu asked in a low voice.

Noboyuki nodded dumbly causing Washu to chuckle lightly.

"Nice to see I can get a rise out of some Misaki men."

Noboyuki walked around the couch to see a rather mature looking Washu
stroking the hair of a sleeping Ryoko who's head lay in her lap. Aeka was
also there, resting her head on Washu's shoulder, her eyes gently closed.

"They were waiting up for Tenchi. But..."

"..."

"They had a busy afternoon," Washu offered.

"..."

"I thought everyone else would be asleep now," Washu stated looking at
Noboyuki.

Noboyuki continued to stare openly at her, not moving a muscle and
completely silent.

Washu snapped her fingers at him a few times, but failed to get any
response. Sighing, she began to unloosen the top of her blouse.

That did it.

A column of saliva ran freely from one corner of his mouth...
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Was her luck finally changing?

Mihoshi couldn't believe it. Tenchi was here the whole time she had been
singing. If she had known, she probably wouldn't have had the nerve to
take the stage. And he had *whistled* at her! Not that a lot of other men
hadn't been doing the same, but Tenchi... Did that mean that he...?  Was
it okay if she...? The more she thought about the situation, the more
excited Mihoshi became. Soon, she couldn't hold her enthusiasm in and
began bouncing about the stage.

"Now's my chance to ask him! Now's my chance to ask him Now's my chance to
ask him," she repeated over and over, perkily jumping around in circles.
Much to the delight of her admirers, who thought it was just some new
dance. The DJ taking his cue played some appropriate music and the crowd
watched every jiggle as if mesmerized.

With the large crowd around the stage, Tenchi couldn't see what all the
commotion was about. Besides, he still had Amagasaki spitting in his face
attempting to whistle.

"Like this?" *Hwwspppth*  "How was that? Do you think that will get her
attention?" he asked hopefully.

Tenchi raised a single eyebrow at his friend. He had to lose these guys if
he was going to get anywhere with Sakuya.

"Oh yeah! No way that doesn't get her attention. She'll be all over you!
Why don't you go try it?" Tenchi said smiling. He patted Amagasaki on the
back and gave him a thumbs up.

Amagasaki clenched both hands into fist and steeled his courage. "All
right! I'm going in," he declared and began to push through the crowd on
his way towards the stage.

'Scratch one,' Tenchi thought to himself.

The time Sakuya spent in the Ladies' Room allowed her to regain some of
her focus. As she made her way back towards the booth she shared with
Tenchi and his friends, Sakuya formulated a plan.

'Alcohol. Maybe he has a problem with it. If I can get him back to my
place and get him drunk, perhaps he will tell me what his intentions are
towards the throne,' she schemed.

Passing the large group around the stage, Sakuya caught a second glimpse
of Mihoshi. Although she hadn't recognized her the first time, seeing
Mihoshi bounce about triggered Sakuya's memory. Before leaving Jurai, she
was briefed about the people she was likely to run into around the Prince.
She watched the Detective First Class for a moment as a large young man
forced his way to the stage, wondering if her appearance here was
coincidence or not. She decided not to risk it and to get Tenchi out of
sight as quickly as possible.

Amagasaki had finally made his way to the front of the small stage, but
his attempts to get the bronze goddess's attention were failing miserably
as she appeared to be in her own little world.

"I'm not a man if I don't say something to her!" Amagasaki declared and
hopped on to the stage. "Excuse me, miss? Excuse me?" He inquired,
attempting to gain her attention by tapping her on the shoulder.

"Now's my chance! Now's my chance! Now's my...." Mihoshi felt someone
holding one of her shoulders and calmed herself down. "Umm... Yes?" she
asked blinking twice at the young man in front of her.

One look into Mihoshi's crystal blue eyes and Amagasaki's courage wilted.
He refused to back down however. The worst that could happen was that he
could embarrass himself and die of a heart attack. Mihoshi was well worth
the risk. He cleared his throat.

"Umm, I just waned to say that I thought your song was great! You really
have a sexy singing voice and..." this was as far as he got before Mihoshi
cut him off.

"I was good? Do you really think so? I was kinda nervous and I've never
sung that song before. I didn't know if it was any good, but then Tenchi
*whistled* at me! And I think maybe he..." she paused finally remembering
why she had gotten so excited. Without another word, she brushed past
Amagasaki, a determined look on her face. The sea of people parted for
her.

Amagasaki watched her go, dumbfounded.

"How does she know Tenchi?" he wondered.

Moments earlier, Sakuya had reached Tenchi only to find he had abandoned
their booth for a smaller table. This one only had two seats, one of which
was empty. His friends still hovered about like carrion.

He stood as she approached still the gentleman, but his legs appeared to
wobble slightly. Now was her chance.

"Are you sure you're feeling all right? You look a little shaky?" she
asked moving closer to him, a look of concern on her face.

Tenchi waved a hand dismissively. " I'm fine. I'm fine."

"I don't know... maybe you should rest. My place is nearby...."

This caused a number of eyebrows to raise.

'Whoa, * relapse *,' Tenchi thought with a grin. What had been at the most
a slight buckle of one of his knees, became almost complete muscle
failure. He put a hand to his head and wobbled back and forth, about to
hit the floor any second.

"N... now that you m... mention it. I do feel a bit... disoriented," he
said groggily and stumbled forward, leaning into Sakuya for support. With
an arm over one of her shoulders and pressing his body into her as much as
he could without toppling the both of them over, he raised his head and
turned up the charm. "Sorry about all the trouble. I'll make it up to you
later."

'No doubt you will, Prince of Jurai,' Sakuya thought with a smile of her
own coming to her face. The smile was short lived however, replaced by
absolute wonder as Sakuya got a close up look at Tenchi's face, especially
the emblems of power on his forehead.

'Tsunami-sama!' she thought in disbelief, they were very dim and the
lights were rather low in the club, so she hadn't noticed before-- But
there was no mistaking the three triangles on Tenchi's forehead.

"Is there something on my face?" Tenchi asked.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Queen Misaki stormed down the hallway towards her waiting ship. Queen
Funaho was hard pressed to keep up, although truth to be told she didn't
want to get too close to her raging sister.

"You know... he wasn't really aiming for you," Funaho offered.

Misaki glared at her sister and quickened her pace. Funaho sighed and
picked up a slight jog.

<><><><><><>

"When I heard-- I did not believe. Surely I thought the person telling me
this was mad...."

All talk in the throne room ceased. The only sound that could be heard
were Bodan's determined footsteps...

...and Minagi gagging for breath, still in Minagi's bear hug.

Bodan, High Priest to the Royal Council, slowly advanced towards what was
to him, evil incarnate.

"Madness... I told him. What purpose could be served by imitating the
'Devil'? How could a copy of the creature, who sought to destroy all that
Jurai holds dear, be entrusted by the Emperor of Holy Jurai! HOW CAN
THAT... THAT THING SERVE THE WILL OF TSUNAMI! *IT IS MADNESS*"

The twin bracelets on his wrists glowed a brilliant white as he summoned
all the power he could from his tree. The power coalesced into a sphere of
pure energy between his hands, which he thrusted forward at Minagi. His
rage blinding him to the fact that Queen Misaki was holding Minagi at the
time.

Minagi gasped for air despite not needing to breathe, under the relentless
crushing force of Misaki's arms. It was only out of the corner of her eye
that she spotted the ball of energy race towards her. Finding the strength
 to break Misaki's hold, she pushed the Queen away from her and to safety.
Although she could have quite easily teleported out of harms way, doing so
would have placed the First Queen and the Emperor in danger. Instead she
brought out her sword and twisting its base formed a huge shield, which
absorbed the attack.

Bodan was undaunted despite seeing what was his strongest attack repelled
with such ease. He was no swordsman, and he held no misconceptions, but
still he clenched both fists and formed a silver colored blade. If it
would take his martyrdom for the Emperor to see the folly of the path he
was treading, so be it.

"For the glory of Tsunami," he said in a reverent whisper and rushed
forward.

Minagi smirked at what was obviously an untrained suicidal old man. She
readied her sword, prepared to kill him in a single stroke.

Before they could come within a two meters of one another, the Emperor
rose from his throne.

"ENOUGH!" Azusa commanded. "Priest Bodan, You are mistaken, this is
neither Ryoko nor the 'Devil', merely a tool through which we will
strengthen the Kingdom. It is completely under my direct control. Is this
not correct, Director Yakage?" he asked turning to scientist.

"It is as you say my Lord," Yakage replied with a bow, his face
expressionless.

Funaho had watched Yakage the whole time. 'You are a brilliant scientist,
but a poor liar, Director Yakage. What is Minagi to you?'

Disgusted Bodan stormed out of the room.

Misaki picked herself off of the floor. Her face was flush and her eyes,
blood red with anger. Controlling her emotions was not something she did
easily and it was taking all that control to keep her from incinerating
Bodan where he stood. She quickly turned to her husband an unasked
question in her eyes.

He raised a hand, "Let it go for now."

She turned away from him incensed and purposefully walked out the throne
room.

Emperor Azusa sighed knowing exactly how upset Misaki was, but there
wasn't anything he could do about Bodan's actions at this juncture in
time.
He gave a pleading look to Funaho.

She gave him a wan smile. "I will explain it to her."

"Thank you."

<><><><><><><><><>

Once again catching up to her sister near the entry of the spaceport,
Funaho started to explain Azusa's position to Misaki, but Misaki cut her
off.

"I know, I know. I'm not stupid," Misaki said, her head canted to the
floor and fists clenched in anger.

"I never said you were," Funaho said somewhat hurt.

Misaki straightened. "I know that Priest Bodan is a powerful member of the
Council and a great number of Jurians follow his religious teachings. With
the Council fragmented the way it is, we can't afford a public fight,
right?"

"Yes, Azusa understands how you feel. He feels the same way, but there is
just so much he can do right now. Besides, it's not so much Bodan the
people have faith in, but Tsunami. If all goes well we should be able to
force his ouster. The people's love for Aeka and Sasami rivals that of
anyone on the Council, we just need to get them back here. For that, we
need to talk to Tenchi."

Misaki's mood brightened noticeably at the mention of her daughters. She
clapped her hands together in anticipation. "Oh! I can't wait to see
little Aeka and little Sasami! I'm sure we have nothing at all to worry
about. With my little Aeka's sparkling eyes, sexy figure and charming
laugh, I am absolutely positive Tenchi is under her beck and call."

They both prepared to transport to their waiting ship.

"I hope you're right."

"And if not, we'll go with Sasami."

Billions of miles away, Aeka shivered in her sleep.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

A column of saliva ran freely from one corner of his mouth and his right
eye began to twitch.

Washu narrowed her eyes seductively and brought two slender fingers to her
mouth. Slowly she slipped them through her full lips and into her mouth
then after a second or two, the crevice between her breasts. Despite his
years, it was almost enough to give Noboyuki a nosebleed.

"Here ya' go," Washu said brightly, handing him the picture she had
retrieved. "Just don't do anything obscene with it, okay?"

'Why did she give it to me then?' Noboyuki wondered to himself looking at
the picture. It was of adult Washu in her nurse's outfit. It even had a
caption: "Now you give me an injection." He put the picture in his shirt
pocket.

"Maybe I should give this to Tenchi instead," Noboyuki asked sitting down
in a nearby chair.

"Who do you think took the picture?" Washu asked, raising an eyebrow.

Noboyuki looked at her in abject shock.

"I'm kidding."

"Oh, I guess you would be. I mean if Tenchi saw you like this..." He
pointed to Washu.

"He already has. Several times in fact. Tenchi hasn't told you about me?
About my past?"

Noboyuki shook his head and Washu smiled to herself and began stroking
Ryoko's hair again. Seeing that Washu wasn't about to volunteer any
information, he decided to probe further.

"So... What is with the new look, uh... little? Washu?"

"Washu is fine, and it isn't a new look. This is me. The real me."

"And the other?"

"This," she said becoming her younger self. The change in her height
caused Aeka's head to fall from Washu's shoulder and nearly hit Ryoko, but
it missed. Washu now had Ryoko on one side of her lap and Aeka on the
other. Breathing a sigh of relief for not having wakened the girls, she
smiled and continued. "This is me also, the true me."

"The 'real' you and the 'true' you?" Noboyuki asked puzzled.

"It's a long story and it's kinda personal," Washu finished, once again
changing to adult form and returning her attention to the two girls she
held in her lap.

'But she could tell Tenchi,' Noboyuki realized to himself.

"Do you mind if I turn off the light? I think it's bothering Aeka," Washu
asked looking at the princess toss and turn slightly.

"Uh, go ahead. I think I'll head up to Tenchi's room to sleep a bit."

Washu nodded and turned off the lamp. The room once again became dark and
silent.

Noboyuki stood and spared one last look at Washu and the two sleeping
girls. 'This is a new twist and Tenchi already knew about it," he said to
himself. With his head lowered in thought, Noboyuki somberly headed in the
direction of the stairs. Upon reaching a point just behind the couch where
Washu sat, he paused, his mind struggling with something.

"Washu?" he asked.

Silence answered him. He thought again about what it was he wanted to say
and decided to press on. There was so much happening in his son life that
he knew so little about.

"Washu," he said again, his voice solemn. "I know this may sound rude...
but just how old are you?"

"You're right. It does sound rude, very. Don't you know a woman's age and
past are best kept secret."

It took several moments for Noboyuki to think of a response, but finding
out about Washu's adult form had made him realize something. Washu, Ryoko,
Aeka, and Mihoshi: he knew next to nothing about any of them. Nothing.

"Washu, I think I have a right to know. As his fath...."

Washu spun around on the couch to face Noboyuki, nearly knocking both Aeka
and Ryoko to the floor in the process. Her face was a mask of fury, but
when she opened her mouth to speak, no words came.

At first Noboyuki thought she was too offended to speak, but then he
noticed her stare. It was not directed at him, but something behind him.
Before he could turn to see what, she spoke.

"I take it that Tenchi has not come home yet?"

Noboyuki turned to see a woman he had never seen before, yet looked very
familiar, cradling baby Mayuka to her chest. Again he was rendered
speechless.

"Tsunami," Washu said finding her voice.

Noboyuki looked back at Washu, and then at Tsunami. "You... you look just
like Sasami," he said in amazement.

"I am Sasami."

Correction:

Washu, Ryoko, Aeka, Mihoshi * and * Sasami: Noboyuki knew absolutely
nothing about any of them.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

A Multidimensional Plane

A young girl in her preteens sits in absolute darkness, when she feels
a presence enter her mind.

"You know why you were created?"

The girl stands and answers. "Yes Mistress, to serve Master Tenchi. To see
that no harm comes to him, I am to protect him by any means necessary."

"Then go, the time has come."

"Yes, my Mistress."

The presence leaves, and the young girl begins to due a number of
stretches and warm up exercises. She's been waiting for millennia.

"And it's about time!"

<><><><><><><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

C&C Public, Private, Flames, Sabot rounds humbly appreciated.

I realize things may seem a bit boring so far.
The next part should be out a lot sooner than this one was.

Putting On Heirs (Remix Version) should be out soon as well.

Damien
damien_searight@msn.com
ICQ: 24113246

"Wait! Wait!" Megami shouted frantically and clutched Tenchi fearfully.
"Does that mean we can't have sex anymore!"

Ryoko and Aeka fainted dead away.

The Megami
The People's Prince Part 5