Masaki - Chapter 1, Part 7

Shortly after her release in 1995, Washu integrated two dimensional doorways into the Masaki house.  The first, of course, was connected to the old broom closet and led to her personal pocket dimension, which housed her laboratory.  She rigged the other to the bathroom door with a genetic sensor.  For a humanoid male, the doorway remained dormant, giving the entrant only the existing spartan bathroom.  However, for a female, the system awoke and revealed a spacious onsen, luxuriously furnished with plenty of amenities.  Among these were the the beautifully carved fountains in the center of the main pool, the plants distributed throughout the chamber to filter the air and water, the molecular converter system to create sake from the ambient energy of the local compression ratio, and plenty of others.

Nagi was honestly impressed.  She had had the opportunity to stay at high-class hotels on occasion, usually for high profile targets in crime syndicates.  She had to admit that Washu had very fine taste in décor.  The clear, steaming water soothed her aching muscles, caressed her bare skin.  The pleasant scent of the leaves and flowers soothed her lungs and sinuses.  The quiet babble of the water and the smoothly curved sculptures eased her eyes and ears.  The huntress laid back against the edge of the pool, letting her arms and legs relax beneath the surface of the water.

This has got to be the best way to relax, she thought to herself.

After hours of cracking bokkens with Katsuhito, her body needed a long soak to loosen her tension.  Her mind needed to be just empty for a while.  She had no worries, no bounties to chase, no kata to remember, just peace and quiet.

Then, a whooshing noise caught her ear.  She promptly sat up and reached back to her rapier.  Her crimson eyes shot toward the entrance, a fierce glare set firmly on her brow.

There, Ryoko stood holding a traditional wooden bucket of sake bottles and cups, not a shred of clothing to be seen.  The cyan-maned woman raised a brow at her half-sister, considering the weapon in her hand.

"You're jumpy," the former pirate commented.

The purple-haired woman set her sword aside again and slid back into the water.  Her eyes never left Ryoko as the Ryoan woman stepped into the warm water, letting the bucket float at her side.

"Most people knock," the huntress grumbled.

"Never had to before," the elder sister huffed back.

Nagi just huffed and returned to laying back in the water.  Ryoko sighed and shook her head, sitting down on a ledge beneath the surface.  The soothing currents easily met her chest as she too surrendered to the fluid's embrace.  She rested her shoulders on the edge of the deck, her arms outstretched to either side.  Her eyes closed while her head leaned back, a relaxing breath slipping from her lips.

However, both sisters could not completely rest at ease.  Calling their relationship "rocky" would be a gross understatement.  For roughly six years, Nagi had chased Ryoko, swearing to be the one to take her head for her crimes.  At the time, the latter had not known that they were blood kin, let alone the reason for the passionate vendetta.  The former pirate speculated from time to time, but she never really worried about it much.  She had seen plenty of crazy hunters out for "justice" on her tail, but Nagi was far more tenacious, and many times more vicious.

Then came seven months ago, the incident at the reunion of the Jurai royal family.  By this time, Ryoko had been acquitted of all her past piracy charges, thanks to her efforts helping the Galaxy Police and Jurai on several previous occasions.  However, Nagi could not care less, continuing to demand a duel with the former criminal.  Distracted by this old hatred, both were caught off-guard by a new foe.

Enter the master telepath, Jezibel Kimitan.  With her talents at mental probes and mind control, she took the guise of Ryoko's mother, twisting her memories of Tenchi and Ayeka into a seething, angry confusion.  In midst of the lies laid a single truth.  Ken-Ohki confirmed it, showing his memory of a funeral from his perspective upon Nagi's shoulder.  The huntress's own burning words from the gravesite only cemented it.

"Wasn't I anything to you?!  Weren't we, Father and I?!  If you would have stayed, maybe we wouldn't have been...!!"

Ryoko had always felt alone.  She sometimes had thought of her peers in the pirate guilds as surrogate fathers and brothers, but many of them, at their heart, would only use her to their own ends.  Her father, the dread pirate Ten Akuno, died in a GP raid before she was born.  Her mother was also gone forever.  She did have Ryo-Ohki, but theirs was not the same kind of relationship.  Now, suddenly, she had a sister, a sister who absolutely hated her.  This fact ate at her, cut deeply into her.

Why? she asked herself.  What did I ever do to her?

Those answers were locked inside of Nagi's mind, then under assault from Jezibel's wicked design.  Along with Tenchi and Ayeka, Ryoko stole her half-sister back and returned to Jurai.  There, the purple-haired woman remained unconscious, trapped inside herself by the green-eyed witch.

However, she had a key.  Via her connection to Ryo-Ohki, and Nagi's to Ken-Ohki, Ryoko tapped into her half-sister's nightmare.  Within, she saw, and felt, the undercurrents of the huntress's vendetta.  She saw the Juraian children taunting her, calling her "half-breed" and "cat-fucker".  She saw her ripped from her father's side and placed in an orphanage, slapped by the headmistress for her pride.  Ryoko was taken aback when, even as a girl, Nagi took the hit and glared back icily, red handprint across the black mark on her cheek.

"… Is that the best you have, you old crone, a slap?"

She understood.  They were not that different, the dread pirate's daughter and the captain's illegitimate daughter.  Underneath, Nagi did too.

Since the incident, the pair have had an unspoken accord.  They could tolerate one another and have even lived under the same roof for nearly a month.  However, some attribute this more to their respective lives of late.  Ryoko has been far more involved with her relationship with Tenchi, Nagi her training with Katsuhito and bounty hunting profession.

Laying in the hot pool, Ryoko took a sake bottle and a cup for herself before she pushed the floating bucket toward Nagi.  The huntress glanced up while her counterpart raised her bottle.

"How's it going with the old man?" she asked.  "Is he still a taskmaster?"

The purple-haired woman took a bottle of sake, scoffing to herself.

"Fine."

With a sip of alcohol, Ryoko grimaced and answered, "'Fine'?  That's it?"

"Yes," the younger sibling answered plainly, downing a cup of liquor.

"Nothing more specific, like how sparring or forms were?" the elder asked, pouring another cup.

"No," Nagi answered, sipping her second cup.

The cyan-maned woman poured another cup, rolling her eyes.  "Well, he kicked my ass for two months before he let me use my powers."

Then, she grinned to herself, remembering cracking bokkens with Tenchi, his breath deep and controlled, her heart pounding more from excitement than exertion.  Honestly, she could imagine far more fun ways of spending her time, but she did enjoy watching him figure out her defenses.  When she had learned to read him, it became another way to tease him, giving him an opening and then stealing it away.

"Though, it did have its advantages," she chuckled distantly with another drink.

Nagi glanced aside, irritated.  "No doubt, that was due more to his grandson."

With a smile, Ryoko threw back another shot of liquor and commented, "You're damn right he did."

The huntress downed another drink, listening idly, her thoughts to herself.

"I loved toying with him."  She raised her finger.  "He'd thrust," she said before she curled her finger.  "I'd parry."  She flicked her wrist.  "I'd counter; he'd dodge."  She laughed, "I felt so restricted on the ground then, but…"

She trailed off, thinking of her dances with Tenchi in the clubs recently, how they synchronized and melted into one another's motions.  Her arms curled around her chest, her chin resting on her knuckles, a pleased smile on her lips.

"You are hopeless," Nagi sighed as she tilted another cup of asked against her lips.

"Jealous?" Ryoko inquired, her eyes sliding back to her sister.

A subtle blush appeared on the purple-haired woman's cheeks, while she threw back another shot of liquor.

"Hardly," she replied.

The former pirate took a sake bottle in hand and sipped on it before she glanced down at it thoughtfully.  Balanced between her thumb and forefinger, she tipped it side to side, sloshing its contents inside.  An alcoholic blush of her own rose on her cheeks.

"Are you sure about that?  I mean, that knight seemed to have a thing for you."

Nagi's eyes turned to the full sake cup in her hand, seeing a translucent reflection of herself.  Absently, her fingers rested against her cheek and lightly traced the black claw imprinted there.  It had always been there since she was born, every time she looked into a mirror.  It signified her mixed heritage, spawned by the differential of the two powers she carried.  Many days in her childhood, she loathed it.

"No, he didn't," she answered coldly, and quietly.  "Don't mistake chivalry for affection."

Ryoko drank from her sake bottle directly, before she smirked with a chuckle.

"Come off it, sis.  He was interested in you, and it wasn't just his job talking."

The huntress glanced to her half-sister, irritated, the redness on her face a bit brighter.

"He is sworn to protect Jurai's royal family, and my father is a descendent of the first king.  His only interest in my wellbeing was due to his oath."

The cyan-maned woman rose a brow.

"Seriously?" she replied, her voice flat.  "You seriously think that's it?  Did you even talk to him afterward?"

"No," Nagi responded, a heated irritation in her voice.

"Why the hell not?  He took a hit from that bitch for you," she said, taking another shot of sake, "both of us really.  You owed him at least 'thanks for saving my ass'."

The younger sibling's eyes narrowed into a glare with her answer.

"I repaid him by helping you and your friends eliminate her."

"God, you're a moron," Ryoko blurted out, rolling her eyes.  "Did you even pay attention to the guy?  On Jurai, the old man told everyone to rest up, and what does the red knight do?  He checks on you.  When Jezibel caught you, guess who was the first to volunteer to get you, after me."

Nagi's fingers gripped along her forearms, her protests louder.

"He failed to protect a descendent of the king, like the others that fell that day.  He felt it his obligation."

"Let me tell you why that's bullshit," the cyan-maned sister added, tossing her empty bottle into the floating bucket.  "I've had guys try to play me before, and I bet you have too.  Players don't keep coming back after you slap them away like you did."

A scowl twisted on Nagi's lips, her nails gripping into her skin.

"When the bitch came," Ryoko argued, "who came and helped you learn to use that precious key of yours?  Who did Sasami send to look after you when your powers went crazy?"

"Obligation, Ryoko.  Tsunami sent him."

"Uh huh.  Someone who's assigned to protect you doesn't say what he did the way he did.  Keep in mind.  I was there too, both when Jezibel went down and when the bitch came after you."

Nagi gnashed her teeth, closing her eyes, pushing down her temper.  However, the liquor had already done its job, removing many of her inhibitions, such as her vow to be peaceful.

"Think about it, sis," Ryoko continued, raising her hands from the water, palm up.  "Look at the two Juraian knights."  She raises her left.  "The guy in blue is a little older, a little wiser, and knows how to get shit done.  He fights like hell…"

She then swapped the elevations of her hands, nodding to Nagi.

"… but not like his partner.  When they showed up, I swear that redheaded guy was going to rush the bitch.  You could hear it in his voice and see it in his face."

Then, she looked over to her sister, seeing the scowl and the tension in her body.

"What?  It's true.  Besides, he's pretty hot.  I'm surprised you haven't even said 'hello' to the man, let alone jump him."

At that, Nagi stood up from the water, swinging her arm broadly before her bare form.

"Shut your mouth, Ryoko," she barked.  "You don't have any idea what you're talking about."

"Oh, I think I do," the former pirate laughed as she leered over at her sister.  "You need to get laid, sis."

As she started to raise another cup of sake to her lips, Nagi slapped her hand aside, knocking the cup away.  Surprised, Ryoko looked back up at the seething huntress standing over her.

"Hey, I was going to drink that!"

"You've had more than enough," Nagi retorted, raising an accusing finger to the cyan-maned woman.  "I'm not like you, Ryoko.  I don't need a man between my legs to define myself."

Ryoko's brows furrowed.  "Whoa, where'd that come from?"

"Don't pretend.  You drape yourself all over the Masaki boy."

"Now, wait a sec," Ryoko answered, standing from the water.  "Tenchi and I haven't slept together yet."

A sneer crossed Nagi's lips as she answered, "Let me tell you why that is bullshit.  You've lived with him for three years, and with your 'colorful' record, I'm surprised that the princess stayed here as long as she did."

The amber eyes ignited as the former criminal shook her head slowly.

"Don't."

"When did she find out?" the huntress asked, leaning closer, a devilish smile on her lips.  "When she was possessed, how much of that was really her?"

Ryoko's hand connected hard against Nagi's cheek, her handprint bright red over the claw-mark.

"That wasn't Ayeka!" she screamed back.

The crimson eyes slid back as the hairband key glowed a deep violet, the gem a brilliant scarlet.  Fury burned in her gaze as her hand slapped each of her sister's cheeks quick succession.  Anger flared in the cyan-maned woman while her fingers gathered into fists, the gem in her bracelet shining brightly.  As their feline eyes met, the old rivalry renewed itself, the years of conflict resurrected.

Nagi leapt from the water to the tile, taking her sword in hand.  Ryoko darted up from the water, her scarlet power welling in her palms.  The huntress stood, her sword ready.  Her prey closed her hand around her red light, forging her own blades.  As one, the two flew at one another, swinging their weapons to strike.  Their edges connected, sparking a ruby brilliance around them as the blades ground together.

Outside, Sasami was scaling the stairs, her towels and clothes folded in her arms.  However, her rosy eyes widened at the bright light shining from around the bathroom door.  Rumbles and explosions were heard from the other side for a moment.  Then, the door blew off its hinges and flew at the Juraian princess, followed by a burst of red.

With a shriek, she raised her arms before her, dropping her linens.  A spherical shell appeared about her, deflecting the door aside, as well as the scarlet blast that followed.  Dumbfounded, she blinked at the effect, the reaction of emerald and ruby in front of her.

Behind her, Tenchi and Nobuyuki rushed partway up the stairs and halted at the scene before them.

"Sasami!" they called out together.

Soon, the scarlet burst faded away, leaving a smoking cinder that was the second floor hallway.  The bathroom door was now embedded into the nearby wall, its hinges hanging limply with the screws and parts of the frame still attached.

Sasami's breath heaved from her chest as she slipped down to her hands and knees, the excitement still rushing through her.  The shield construct vanished, letting the smoke flow past her.  Tenchi came to her side, setting a kind arm around her shoulders.

"You're okay, Sasami," he said.  "It's alright."

She nodded while they looked up toward the former bathroom doorway.  There, they could see easily into the women's onsen.  The beautiful statues stood broken and scarred by sword strikes, scorched and blackened from energy blasts.  The plants hung low, splintered or burnt from the exchange.  The water was all but gone, evaporated from the climactic blast that had taken the door.

Tenchi helped Sasami back to her feet and walked with her inside, looking at the devastation.

"What happened?" Tenchi asked.

"I don't know," Sasami answered, shaking her head.  "I was just… coming up for a bath.  There was a red flash and then…"

She was cut off as the two reached the edge of the pool.  At the bottom of the basin sat Ryoko and Nagi, each leaning against one of the sidewalls.  The siblings were likewise scorched and scuffed from their combative action, though they were unconscious of it now.

Tenchi sighed and rested his face in his hands while Sasami grinned wryly at the two of them.

"It figures," Tenchi commented.

"Yeah," Sasami agreed, "it does, doesn't it?"

She glanced back to Nobuyuki, who stood at the entrance to the hallway.  His eyes were glazed, his body stiff and rigid from the sight.  Sweat beaded in Sasami's hair while Tenchi ran his hand over his scalp.

"At least Washu's not here," he commented, right before a familiar voice caught his ear.

"What the hell happened here?!"

Tenchi and Sasami spun back around to see Washu standing in the doorway, positively livid.  Sweat then beaded on both their foreheads as they pointed into the pool at Ryoko and Nagi.

"So much for that," Sasami added.

"Right," Tenchi concurred.