From: "Jason Boaz" Subject: Chapter 5: Making Final Preparations! The Tragic Tale of Kiyoko! Date: Monday, July 15, 2002 5:18 PM An hour later, Tenchi and the others gathered in Washuu's lab to make plans for attacking Kagato and the Souja. When Washuu mentioned the Reverse World, Hotsuma was grief-stricken. Washuu: These are the blueprints of the Souja. It has eight blasters, which have the capability to combine their forces to make a powerful laser. Here, you see the Chapel...where Kagato is mostly stationed in. Inside the ship is a small army of robot heads, all of which can easily be destroyed. The main challenge is to face Kagato himself, as well as his knights. All of them are formidable opponents! The ship has two layers, a top and a bottom...and... (notices Mihoshi fell asleep, and yells at her) WAKE UP, MIHOSHI!! Mihoshi: (wakes up) Sorry. Did I miss something? Washuu: (sweatdrops form) Nevermind...oy. Kiyone: I had a feeling this would happen. (is exasperated) Washuu: Yeah. Anyway, moving right along...the ship has two segments, a top and a bottom. The top is where we'll find Kagato. The bottom, however, is a parallel existence known as the Reverse World. I never knew why, but for some reason, Kagato INSISTED that this segment of the Souja would have the power to make the dead come alive. This bizarre power only works as long as Kagato is alive. As long as a dead person is in the Reverse World, that person's soul can never depart for the spirit world, and will not be able to rest in peace. In other words, the body and soul are still united...and, if the Souja is destroyed, that person's fatal injuries, medical conditions or poisonings will return, and he or she will die again. However, if a person who no longer has a body of his or her own enters the area, and is able to exit into the top layer, they will provided with a temporary body. Not only that, but it's also riddled with traps and danger! Hotsuma: No... Nagi: What's wrong, Hotsuma? Hotsuma: Kiyoko...the events Washuu described...that just might be Kiyoko's fate! Ryoko was outraged because of what Hotsuma had stated. Ryoko: WHAT THE HELL do you mean, Hotsuma?! Nagi: Calm down, Ryoko!! We can't be at each other's throats at a time like this! Ryoko: You're right. (looks at Hotsuma) I think it's time to tell everyone your story, Hotsuma...as well as any details I might've missed. Hotsuma: Alright. I knew I would have to reveal everything, sooner or later, anyway. Kiyone: Alright. Tell us everything. And so, Hotsuma told his tragic tale. Ryoko even lent a hand in the story. Hotsuma: Several years ago, I was assigned a partner...her name was Kiyoko. As Nagi stated, I was once a bounty hunter...one of the best in the universe. Together, Kiyoko and I completed otherwise impossible missions...and captured several dangerous criminals. Over the months, she and I fell in love. Ryoko: It was at that time I partnered with Kagato...because I thought it was a good career move...I was sadly mistaken. Kiyoko was not only Hotsuma's lover...but was also my best friend. Hotsuma: Right. Anyway, one day, we received orders to arrest Kagato from one of our clients. This client knew Ryoko was with him as well. (takes a quick glance at Ayeka) Her orders were to arrest Kagato...and...well...she said she wanted us to deal with "that dumb Ryoko...bang bang, thug thug, squeeze, squeeze, squeeze, squeeze, squeeze, squeeze, squeeze...until she's finished!" Ayeka, who is frustrated, spits out her soda on Ryoko...realizing that Hotsuma was talking about her. Ayeka: (spits out her soda) WHAT?!?!? Ryoko: (face is covered in soda pop) Yuck! (disappears to wash her face, reappears and smirks at Ayeka) Oh, I get it...he was talking about YOU...wasn't he, Princess? Ayeka: (gets bright red) I DON'T KNOW what YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!! Ryoko: Ya know, when Ayeka gets red like that, she's pretty much telling us "It's all true." Ayeka: Shut up, and let Hotsuma continue! Ryoko: Fine. Sasami: There they go again... RyoOhki: Meow meow... KenOhki: Meoooww... Hotsuma: Alright, where was I? Oh yeah! Kiyoko and I felt this job would make us top-notch bounty hunters, who were as good as Nagi...if not better. Kiyoko, however, wanted to get Ryoko alive. Our commanding officer agreed. Ryoko: My turn. At that time, Kagato's acts of violence towards women and children appalled even me! I was so sick of him, RyoOhki and I wanted to dissolve our partnership with him! Sasami: Are you saying you were RyoOhki's previous owner, Ryoko? Ryoko: Yep. Anyway, Kagato felt it was time to terminate our partnership...as well as us! Just when he was about to kill us, Kiyoko and Hotsuma arrived. I was shocked to see she had landed herself a boyfriend! Hotsuma: Yeah...we found Kagato's location, and was able to intercept him in time...then, a battle royale ensued...a battle where all three of us lost. Ryoko: Then...Kagato was prepared to kill both me and Hotsuma...that's when Kiyoko pushed us out of the way and took the slash which was meant for us. I was shocked, and devastated...for my best friend was dying...and there was nothing I could do about it! Hotsuma: She wanted us to carry on the fight without her. After saying her goodbyes...she died. Tenchi was horrified. He never thought Hotsuma would have such a tragic past. Tenchi: Oh man...I...I didn't know. Ever since we first met at the House of the Eternal Pledge, I thought you were just another maniac...I see I was wrong...you were obviously lashing out at us with your own feelings of despair and pain when you said you'd make me and Sakuya suffer a lifetime of eternal agony. Hotsuma: (looks down, and apologizes to Tenchi) Yes...that's it exactly. I'm so sorry, Tenchi. I had no right. Tenchi: It's okay. All is forgiven, Hotsuma. You don't have to live in the past, anymore. We have to live in the here and now, and stop Kagato. Please...continue. Hotsuma: Thank you, Tenchi. Anyway, Ryoko changed into her red-and-black suit, and swore to kill Kagato. RyoOhki changed into a spaceship, and was ready to beam her owner aboard...but before she left...Ryoko told me to take Kiyoko's body out of the area, so she would have a proper burial. As they left...something I could never expect happened. Ryoko: What happened to her body, Hotsuma? Did you try to stop them? Hotsuma: Yes...I tried....but I was hopelessly outmatched. Tetta and Tessei...Kagato's Dark Knights, overpowered me with an energy attack...called the Jurai Needle. They attacked me from behind! Tenchi: Are those the tactics of the knights you talked about, Grandpa? Grandpa: Yes, Tenchi. That is how they operate. They rarely fight fair. Yugi: Wait a second...what is..the Jurai...needle? How come I never heard of it, Hotsuma? Hotsuma: You see, Yugi, this skill wasn't available yet, at your time. They used it on me and knocked me out. Before I was totally unconscious, Kagato said Kiyoko's noble sacrifice merits a punishment worse than death...he then had his knights take her body to the Reverse World. Ryoko: No...Kiyoko....she didn't deserve such a cruel fate! Hotsuma: I'm sorry, Ryoko. I let you down, when you needed me the most. (looks down) Forgive me. Ryoko was...surprisingly more forgiving than anyone thought she'd be. Ryoko: There's nothing to forgive, Hotsuma. The situation was out of your control. There was nothing you could've done to stop it. Ayeka: Ryoko... Kiyone: Why are you being so...apologetic? Ryoko: Because...Kiyoko wouldn't want us fighting amongst ourselves. Anyway, Kagato and I had a fierce space battle near Planet Jurai! The Souja was able to overpower us, and destroyed the main engine. Knowing RyoOhki wouldn't survive the crash, I immediately instituted the emergency reproductive systems, and we crashed landed. Needless to say...the original RyoOhki...was totally destroyed. Sasami was horrified, yet confused. Sasami: NO! Kagato's so cruel! But...if RyoOhki died...why is she here with us now? Ryoko: I'm getting to that. As I had hoped, RyoOhki had recreated herself in an egg. I knew she would hatch soon, but I didn't want her to die again...so I left her in a place where you found her, Sasami. I wanted her to reach her full potential with a loving, caring owner...and that person, Sasami...is you. Sasami: You mean...you're the one who left RyoOhki's egg behind...aren't you? Ryoko: Yep. Her new ability to transform into a mobile suit came from being with you. Now, I'll finish my half of the story, then Hotsuma can finish his. Hotsuma: Agreed. Ryoko: After Sasami found RyoOhki, I bid her farewell, and was wandering the streets when Washuu found me, a few days later. She revealed to me that she hated Kagato as much as I did. Together we built the Mini-Souja, and took the Jurai Light Stone in an attempt to get even with him. But...Ayeka tailed us, then Kiyone and Mihoshi joined in, and as we fought, all of our ships fell to Earth, and here we are. We've become quite the extended family. I have no doubts that we can destroy Kagato if we work together! Kiyone: YEAH! Yosho: Indeed. Hotsuma: Well, it's my turn. I reported my tragic adventure to my commanding officer. He felt I should be honorably discharged with a hero's farewell. I was forever known as the man who was the closest in an attempt to capture Kagato. I was even given a medal, to commemorate my efforts. As I wandered through space, a then misguided Yugi appeared in front of me...and promised she'd help me if I served her. I agreed, and she gave me the powers I have today. And that is the end of the story. Yugi: Even though I'm no longer your master, Hotsuma, I will keep my word! As the daughter of Kamadake, the Legendary Knight, I will not rest until Kagato's evil is destroyed. Ayeka was shocked to hear what Yugi had called herself. Ayeka: WHAT THE HECK?! Yugi...are you truly Kamadake's daughter? Yugi: Yes, Ayeka. I am. Juraian scientists picked me for an experiment. My father and his friend, Azaka tried to stop them, but were unable to do so. After the experiments, my former friends treated me like a freak. I was so lonely...so I created my own friends. Things got out of hand. So, Empress Hinosei had no choice but to cast me away from Jurai. I've been so lonely ever since...but most of all..I missed my father. And all of this had happened...3500 years ago. As Yugi recalls her story, she remembers what Empress Hinosei said to her, all those years ago, as she was sealed in a tomb, where she had been imprisoned inside of until 3500 years later. Hinosei: Poor little child, it's not your fault. However, your power poses a great danger to us all. I'm so sorry to have to do this to you, but I don't have any other choice. Please forgive me. I hope that one day, you and your father can forgive me for what I've done. Farewell...daughter of Kamadake. Sasami: Yugi...I'm sorry. Yugi: It's okay. Because of you guys, I'm no longer lonely. While I slept...my father and Azaka trained me, as they originally intended to do. Even though they've sealed themselves up until a time of crisis, they are always with me. (looks to the sky) And now, I can finally forgive you, Empress Hinosei. Thank you, and forgive me for all the trouble I caused on Earth. Tenchi: Uuhhh...who are Azaka and Kamadake? Aren't they your guardians, Ayeka? Ayeka: Yes, and no, Tenchi. My guardians were named after two knights. It's one of the legends handed down by Jurai's royal family. Yugi then told her friends the tale of the legendary knights. Yugi: Once, a long, long time ago, there were two knights who fought to protect the King of Jurai. The two knights had great strength hidden within them...such great strength, it is said they could shatter stars. When the battle was over, they put themselves into a deep sleep. The legend has it, that when Jurai's Royal Family is in danger, they shall arise from their sleep, and will fight alongside the current Jurai King. One of those knights was Azaka, and the other, was my father, Kamadake. A time of crisis has come, and in a sense, they have awakened to help us all. They came to me, in my sleep, and trained me. I know everything they know. Now that I'm no longer on the wrong path, I shall carry on their legacy. Sasami: WOW! That was a really cool tale, Yugi! Yugi: Thanks, Sasami. You're a good friend. Tenchi: Come on, guys. Let's get ready. Tenchi Family, Nagi and Hotsuma: Right. Three more hours passed. Washuu made the final preparations for the attack. Tenchi was given a special Juraian battle suit which would protect him from the vacuum of space for an hour. Sasami and Katzuhito chose to stay behind, so they would be able to help them from Earth. Tenchi: Uhhh...this is a nice suit. Why do I need it, Washuu? Washuu: For your survival, Tenchi. If, for some reason you're blown off the ship you'll be riding, this special suit will protect you from the airless vacuum of space for an hour. Hopefully, it'll be long enough for someone to save you. Tenchi: I understand. Thank you. Washuu: No problem, Tenchi. Grandpa: Washuu, Sasami and I will stay here. We'll be able to help you from here. Tenchi: I understand, Grandpa. Thank you. I...gotta go. Wish us luck. (goes outside) Sasami: Good luck, Tenchi. Washuu: (to herself) You'll need all of it to stop Kagato. Who knows? Maybe even the dead might help. I have a bad feeling...it will come to that urgency. The time had come. Tenchi, Ryoko, Ayeka, Kiyone, Mihoshi, Nagi, RyoOhki, KenOhki, Yugi and Hotsuma were prepared to fight Kagato. But, will they succeed in stopping him, and also free Kiyoko in the process? All this and more will be revealed as the story continues. To Be Continued...