Crossover Muyo! Part Two: Six months later…
by Setcheti

Crossover Muyo! is a Tenchi Muyo!\Ranma ½\Magic:The Gathering\Men In Black\Dr Who/El Hazard fanfic which begins at the end of Tenchi Muyo! In Love.

It had to end.

Ranma crawled to his feet and contemplated running away from Nerima for the umpteenth time and honor be damned. Akane was walking away from him, not even looking back to see if he was okay-why was he in love with her? She was psychotic and she hated him and nothing he did would ever please her, so why couldn't he just …whir…dump…whir…the whole…whir…mess…

The sight of the glittering white cloud rushing down the street toward Akane wiped every other thought from Ranma's mind except the thought of saving her, and he threw himself forward…

Akane was too angry to notice anything going on around her until something hit her fast and hard from behind and threw her across the street. The hard landing did nothing to improve her temper. "Ranma no baka!" she shrieked, pulling a mallet out of thin air and spinning around. "You…" The hammer dropped toward the ground and vanished as she suddenly forgot how to breathe; Ranma was lying in the street, surrounded by glittering white fragments of various sizes, the larger ones shaped like throwing stars. There was blood everywhere.

How she got to him Akane didn't know; one minute she was frozen in horror on the curb, the next minute she was kneeling next to her fiancé in the street and wondering if she dared to touch him. "Ranma…" she whispered.

"Don't touch him!" Dr. Tofu appeared beside her and pushed her hands away. He was shaking his head. "This is bad, very bad."

"What was it? If this was ice, he would have…" Akane tried to pick up one of the smaller fragments for a closer look and then yelped. "Ow! It cut me!"

"I told you not to touch! Here, let me see." The doctor took her hand and peered at the injury. His expression grew grimmer. "Burned, not cut. They must be using liquid nitrogen…"

"They?!" Akane didn't like the sound of that; it smacked of fiancée trouble. "And who are 'they', and why did they try to kill Ranma? What did he do this time?"

Dr. Tofu dropped her hand with a disgusted expression. "He saved your life," he said coldly. Akane recoiled, but the doctor had returned his attention to Ranma; he was applying pressure to a spurting gash, and she noticed that his hands were protected by heavy gloves. "They are a group practicing the Anything-Goes Martial Arts Snow-Blower Attack," he continued. "And they were not trying to kill Ranma-although from the look of that lump on his head you might have been. I think a power surge must have shifted their machine into high gear, and then the cloud got away from them and went flying down the street."

I was in the street, Akane thought miserably. I was in the street because I had just beat him up and left him lying on the ground-and he saved me anyway. This should be me… The wail of a siren interrupted her self-recrimination. "The ambulance is coming."

"He might just make it, then." Akane gasped, but the doctor barely glanced at her. "It will depend on how much internal damage there is, and how much arsenic his system has already absorbed…"

"Arsenic?" Her fingers brushed his temple; a curl of his unruly hair twined around them. "But isn't that…"

"It's a powdered metal that they use to help shape and harden the larger stars; of course, the fact that it's poisonous adds that extra element of risk to the exercise."

His hair was soft and warm on her fingers, but his skin was cold and clammy. Tears rose to her eyes. "Poison…they're crazy."

The doctor shrugged. "No, just martial artists."

"Not all martial artists act like that!" Akane was offended. "Ranma doesn't act like that!"

"Ranma doesn't because he has nothing to prove…when he's male, that is. When he's female it's a different story." Dr. Tofu snorted. "I'd have no practice at all if most of Nerima wasn't insecure to the point of psychosis-like you, for example. As a matter of fact, I can't think of a time I've seen Ranma professionally that was his own fault…ah, the ambulance."

Ambulance personnel in Nerima move faster than any martial artist-it's a matter of self preservation. Ranma and Dr. Tofu were gone before Akane could open her mouth. She stared down the street after the speeding vehicle, dragged the back of one hand across her eyes, and started walking.

Katsuhito Masaki was giving the shrine its customary morning cleanup when his grandson approached him with something on his mind. He stopped sweeping leaves and waited. "Grandpa, I need to talk to you."

"All right."

The old priest didn't move. Tenchi sighed. "It's important." His grandfather blinked. "And private?"

"I see. All right, come with me."

They entered Katsuhito's room and seated themselves at the small table. Tenchi took a deep breath. "Grandpa, I want to get married." The old man showed no surprise-because he wasn't-and Tenchi kept going. "I've met the girl I want to spend my life with, and…and it's not Ryoko or Ayeka. I mean, I love them both…but not the way I love Kasumi."

"So her name is Kasumi." His grandfather smiled. "A pretty name. Is she the reason you've been running so many 'errands'?" Tenchi nodded, shamefaced, and Katsuhito laughed. "Well, tell me about her. What is her family?"

"Tendo, of the Nerima prefecture clan. They run a martial arts dojo, the School of Indiscriminate Grappling, I think."

"Hmm, that could be a problem."

Tenchi shook his head. "No, Kasumi's youngest sister and her betrothed husband will inherit the dojo." He blushed. "I…well, I had hoped to stay here and…and take over the shrine from you, eventually. And…"

"And?" his grandfather prompted.

"And…" he rubbed the back of his head out of nervous habit. "I…" He looked seriously at his grandfather. "I think Sasami would like her."

"I see." Katsuhito steepled his fingers together, suppressing another smile. "So you think Sasami needs a mother figure in her life?" Tenchi nodded, and the old man echoed the movement. "Well, I agree with you, but what does Kasumi think about it? And does she know…?"

"Yes," Tenchi interrupted. "I've told her…a lot, not everything, but a lot. It didn't even faze her." He smiled, a happy, affectionate smile that told his grandfather more than words could have. "But then, that's the way Kasumi is."

"So you haven't told her you're the crown prince of Jurai, eh?" His grandson blushed harder and ducked his head, and Katsuhito chuckled. "Well, I think was probably a wise decision-it will give us quite an edge in the marriage negotiations. So, shall I contact her father and get the ball rolling?"

"Yes please, Grandfather." Tenchi stood up, bowed, and started to leave. He hesitated at the door and abruptly turned back with a troubled expression. "Azaka? Is it you?"

Katsuhito Masaki sighed. Then he shimmered and vanished, leaving Azaka, legendary knight of Jurai sitting there in his place and looking rather troubled himself. "So you figured it out."

"There is a tree of Jurai growing beside my mother's grave," Tenchi told him, resuming his seat. "I was there this morning, and I felt my grandfather's presence very strongly." He held out his hand to the knight. "I don't understand…but thank you."

Azaka accepted the outstretched hand and clasped it tightly. "It was his idea," he admitted. "He was afraid that you would not recover if…if anything happened to him. Washu arranged everything to his specifications before…" He hung his head, unable to continue.

"So he died while I was in stasis," Tenchi said quietly to himself. "I thought…" He shook himself. "Does my father know?"
The knight shook his head. "No one knows," he whispered. "Just Kamidake and myself, and Washu."

"Then we'll keep it that way," Tenchi said decisively, surprising him. A concerned expression crossed his face. "Do you mind? Until after everything is settled?"

The knight straightened proudly. "It is an honor," he replied. "Your grandfather returned Kamidake and I to life; it is the least we could do. Besides," he shimmered, becoming Katsuhito again, and started to chuckle. "I like being a priest-when it isn't tourist season."

Later, Tenchi headed off to meet Kasumi and Azaka/Katsuhito went to Washu's lab. The crab-shaped bell over her door jangled as he came in, but the little scientist didn't even bother to look up. "Hello, Lord Katsuhito."

"He knows." He saw her shoulders slump and hastened to reassure her. "Apparently Lord Yosho's spirit has taken up residence in the tree we marked the grave with. Lord Tenchi wasn't at all upset, and it is his wish that this continues to be our secret-so I am still Masaki Katsuhito until we find a convenient time for him to pass away."

Washu turned around, relief evident in her face. "Thank god," she said with feeling. "Did he ask…?"

"He would not. However…" Azaka cleared his throat nervously. "He wishes to see your record of…that night. He said he knows you have one, and he will come to view it after dinner."

"I thought that might happen. All right, I'll have it ready." With an effort, she essayed a grin and changed the subject. "So, did he tell you who she was?"

"Kasumi Tendo, of Nerima Prefecture." The old man's grin matched hers. "I'm about to send word of our intentions to her father; would you be willing to act as my negotiator?"

"Of course!" Washu cackled happily and turned back to her computer. "Just let me know when the meeting is, and we'll be ready!"

"I should know this evening. Come up to dinner?"

"Now I will! Ooh, this is going to be so much fun!" She was already absorbed, and Azaka let himself out. He wondered briefly if he should feel sorry for the Tendos.

Nabiki Tendo saw the messenger leave and thought she knew what he had come for; when she heard the sound of wailing downstairs, she was sure of it. A soft, heavy paw thudded against her door, and she opened it fast enough to surprise the panda into dropping his sign. He picked it up with an irritated huff and shook it at her. It read, 'Your father wants you. Bring kleenex.'

"You added that last part, didn't you?" The panda nodded, and performed a passable silent imitation of Soun Tendo in full cry. Nabiki shrugged. "You really should let me rent you out for birthday parties, you know," she commented as she pushed past him. "Sixty-forty is the best offer you're going to get." The panda launched into another pantomime, but she ignored him and headed down the stairs.

Soun lowered the volume when his daughter came in; hysterics just didn't impress Nabiki the way they did his other children. "Did you know anything about this!?" he demanded, shaking a piece of rice parchment in the air. "I thought that Dr. Tofu…"

"Doctor Tofu is an idiot," Nabiki stated flatly. She plucked the message from her father's hand and scanned the contents. "Pretty much what I expected. We should reply immediately to set a date." She sat down across from him and put on her best bored look. "Of course I knew about Tenchi; Kasumi has been seeing him all summer, and she's just obviously in love."

"In love…" Soun wanted to wail again, but he just couldn't do it when Nabiki looked at him like that. He gathered himself together. "So tell me about this young man; what is he like? We'll have to decide if he's good enough for our Kasumi."

Nabiki sighed. "You've seen him, Father; his father is the architect who redesigned our house. Tenchi delivered the revisions for him."

Soun contemplated this, for no reason except to look like he knew what was going on. He did not remember Tenchi at all. "Well," he said finally, "I suppose we'd better set a date, then. When do you think…"

"Wednesday," Nabiki told him without hesitation. She stood up and unnecessarily dusted off her slacks. "That should give me enough time to dig up some bargaining tools without making it look like we're stalling. You'll want him to prove himself in combat, I assume? For the honor of the dojo?"

Soun hadn't thought about it. "Of course!" he said, too loudly. "Ranma can…oh, no he can't. I suppose that Saotome could…"

"Tenchi is not a martial artist," Nabiki broke in. She ignored her father's horrified expression. "I think he uses a sword, though; I'm sure that we can get Kuno to stand in for Ranma. I'll go make the arrangements." And she walked out, calling back over her shoulder, "I'll send for Satsuke to take our reply. You have about half an hour to compose it."

Her father barely heard her. He was muttering over and over again to himself, "Not a martial artist, not a martial artist…."

The tear-spotted reply did a great deal to lighten up the dinner table at the Masaki house after the messenger had left; Nobouke in particular was delighted at the prospect of having Kasumi for a daughter-in-law-he remembered her and her cooking from his single visit to the Tendo dojo-and his enthusiasm was contagious. Satsuke's report to Nabiki, however, had much the opposite effect. "I think arrogant would be an understatement," he told her. "Everyone was perfectly polite and friendly, but they still made me feel like I was having an audience with the royal family. And that little red-haired kid with the dolls gives me the creeps." Nabiki made a note and said nothing. Satsuke continued. "I did what you told me and took a look around. The place is huge; big house, shrine, land, even a little lake-with a big tree growing out in the middle of it, which I thought was weird."

"Did you check it out?"

"Um, I…I couldn't." Nabiki raised an eyebrow. "No, I mean it-I tried. But I couldn't even get close to it. There are some sort of stepping stones that go all the way out to the trunk, too, but when I tried to put my foot on one…I just couldn't."

She was frowning now, not entirely at him. "Did you see anyone? Was there anyone else in the house that might have followed you?"

Satsuke shook his head. "Just the four of them, and I can account for all of their whereabouts: old man went to the shrine, father doing the dishes, the guy and that little kid-Washu, they called her-went off together." Nabiki made another note. "I didn't see anyone else. But I did feel like I was being watched."

"You probably were. What about the house?"

"Big, like I said. Bedrooms on the second floor, Tenchi and his father sleep there. There's a little girl's room up there, too, but it doesn't look like it's been used in a while."

"So where…"

"You won't believe me." She waited, so he prepared himself for disbelief. "Under the stairs, in the storage closet."

Disbelief was not forthcoming; she was thinking it over. "You saw her go in?"

"I saw them both go in, right after dinner; her and Tenchi, together. But here's the really weird part; he was up in his room about an hour or so later, but no one came out of the closet."

"You're sure?" He nodded emphatically and she sighed. "Anything else? Robots? Monsters? Little green men?" He pulled out a photograph. "You've got to be kidding."

"Nope." He handed it to her and watched her face. "If that's a weather balloon, I'll

eat Akane's cooking."

Nabiki started to smile. It wasn't a nice smile, but the roll of yen she tossed at him more than made up for it. "Eat wherever you want," she told him. "And come back tomorrow morning-we've got a lot of work to do before Wednesday."

Wednesday dawned bright and clear, and at the appointed hour the Masaki van rolled up in front of the Tendo dojo. Tenchi climbed out of the driver's seat and straightened his formal clothing, feeling distinctly nervous. He helped Washu and his grandfather out of the van and then followed them through the front gate. A largish panda was waiting for them, holding a sign that read, 'Follow me, please.'

"Thank you, Mr. Saotome," Katsuhito said with a small bow. "Please, lead on."

The panda grunted and attempted a bow of its own, then turned and waddled off into the house. It stopped at a sliding door, which it carefully pulled back with its claws to reveal a man and two young women already seated on the tatami floor. Katsuhito walked past the panda and seated himself, as did Washu and Tenchi. The panda entered behind them, shutting the door and settling itself in a corner.

Soun glared at Genma, who ignored him, and then turned his attention to his guests. "I am Tendo Soun," he stated. "And these are my daughters Nabiki-who will assist me in this-and Kasumi. You are Masaki Katsuhito?"

The old man did not move. Washu spoke up. "This is Lord Katsuhito, also guardian priest of the Masaki shrine," she said. "His grandson, Lord Tenchi, sits beside him. I am Washu, and I will assist Lord Katsuhito in these negotiations." She paused, and injected a trace of sharpness into her voice. "There are two here who have not been introduced, Mr. Tendo."

"Oh! Yes!" Soun tried not to get flustered-Nabiki had told him not to-and finished his introductions. "This," he gestured to the young man standing behind him, "is Kuno Tatewaki, a friend of our house who has agreed to serve as our champion today." Kuno bowed. "The panda," who promptly held up a sign reading, 'We've already met', "is the victim of an unfortunate curse, being in reality the father of my youngest daughter's betrothed husband." He glared at Genma again, and became the recipient of a rude gesture in return. With great effort, Soun maintained his control. "I apologize; he is very difficult to control in his cursed form."

"That is understandable," Katsuhito allowed. He cleared his throat. "At my grandson's request, we have come here to negotiate for the hand of your eldest daughter, Tendo Kasumi. Are you in agreement with this?"

Soun tried to remember what Nabiki had told him to say; failing that, he improvised. "I am…not sure, Lord Katsuhito," he answered. "I am informed that your grandson is ignorant of martial arts. I do not find this acceptable in a son-in-law." Which was true, which was why he had been told not to say it.

The old priest's expression did not change, and Nabiki breathed a silent sigh of relief. Maybe her father hadn't blown it. "Is…Lord Tenchi proficient at any other discipline?" she inserted diplomatically.

"My grandson has been trained from birth in the traditional disciplines of our family line," Katsuhito replied politely. "He is skilled with both staff and sword."

"Then on behalf of the Tendo dojo, I challenge him!" Kuno interrupted loudly, striding forward. "Do you accept?"

Tenchi stood up and bowed politely to his challenger. "I accept," he said calmly, "on the grounds that this will not be a fight to the death."

Kuno and Soun were both taken aback, having never considered that it might be, but the kendoist recovered quickly. "I accept your conditions," he replied. "The practice room next to this one has been prepared for our use. Do you wish time to prepare?"

"That won't be necessary." Tenchi was resisting the urge to wink at Washu; instead, he smiled reassuringly at Kasumi. "After you, Kuno Tatewaki."

Kuno reflected later that he should have known he was in trouble when his opponent adopted a stance he'd never seen before and waited for him to attack first. Which he did, which in hindsight was also a mistake. Ten minutes after the fight had begun, he found himself staring at a broken bokkon and an on-guard opponent who obviously expected him to do…something. So he did.

Tenchi almost dropped his sword when Kuno dropped to his knees in front of him, presented his broken bokkon in both hands and called him, "Sensei." It took him a minute to figure it out, and then he smiled. "Good fight," he said, and extended his hand.

It was Kuno's turn to be startled; courtesy was the last thing he had expected-especially since he had never received it from anyone else. He accepted the outstretched hand and got to his feet in a daze. "But…you vanquished me!"

Tenchi shrugged. "You're still good," he replied, still smiling. "And I'm not good enough to be your sensei. Grandpa was mine, and he was the greatest swordsman…of his generation. I'm nowhere near as good as he is."

"But…your technique! I must learn…"

"Kuno, there's only one reason why I beat you, and it has nothing to do with technique." Tenchi's smile vanished, and something in his eyes deepened. "" I've had to fight for my life," he said quietly, seriously, "and to protect my family. That…changes you. And it changes the way you fight, the way you think when you fight."

"I sensed you holding back…" Kuno abruptly understood: "…on the grounds that this will not be…" He took a step back and bowed deeply. "Arrigato," he said. "It was…an honor, Lord Tenchi. You are truly a worthy suitor for the gentle Kasumi."

Tenchi bowed back. "It was a pleasure to be matched with so honorable an opponent, Kuno Tatewaki." His smile returned, and he was thanking all the kami that he had seen a bad samurai movie recently, because I think this guy's seen one too many. "Should you have occasion to visit my family's home, one of the knights in our service would gladly instruct you in the 'technique' you desired to learn."

Kuno bowed again.

Soun had watched the fight with an increasingly shocked expression, and had to be restrained by Nabiki from leaping to his feet when Kuno's sword was broken. Tenchi's grandfather and Washu looked unsurprised, and Kasumi sat quietly glowing with pride. The panda, Mr. Saotome, was exercising no such self-control-which more than anything allowed Soun to regain his own. He glared at the panda, at Nabiki, and at Kuno, was ignored by all three of them, and gathered enough of his dignity back up to speak. "So…" he began. He wanted to glare at Tenchi but wasn't sure he should, and when the young man bowed to him he couldn't think of anything else to say. He cleared his throat. "So."

Tenchi resumed his seat across from Kasumi and blushed when she smiled at him. Soun opened his mouth again, but luckily no sound came out. "I believe my father is quite…overcome by the defeat of our champion," Nabiki supplied, nudging him in the ribs. "Perhaps we should start the actual negotiations?" The little girl, Washu, nodded…and waited. Nabiki almost sighed; maybe she'd gotten too used to dealing with idiots. "All right then. The dojo acknowledges the defeat of our champion by Masaki Tenchi. The honor of the dojo is assuaged now that his prowess as a warrior has been proved…"

"More than adequately, I think," Washu responded. "And that is Lord Tenchi, please."

Nabiki nodded absently; it wasn't important Yet. "Very well. My sister has been in charge of our house since the death of our honored mother many years ago. Our house will suffer a greater loss than you can imagine if Kasumi leaves…"

"It will truly be a great loss to you," Washu agreed, hiding a smile. "A sacrifice we would be loath to ask you to make, were it not for the great love Lord Tenchi has for your sister. And as Lord Tenchi is not a martial artist, we would not presume to expect this dojo to stand as dowry…"

Soun found his voice. "This dojo is the dowry of my youngest daughter, due to her betrothal to Saotome Ranma-who is a martial artist." He couldn't quite keep the contempt out of his voice. "I believe, however, that we were discussing Kasumi's bride price, not her dowry."

"I believed it to be the opposite," Katsuhito rumbled politely. "One of us must be mistaken."

"I believe it is you, Masaki-san."

The old man glanced at Washu. "Lord Katsuhito believes the opposite," she said, and returned her attention to Nabiki. "Are we to assume that you are unprepared to negotiate at this time?"

"Not at all." Nabiki reached for her laptop. "Although I might ask the same of you. But first let's dispense with these meaningless affectations. I have researched the Masaki family line…" she pulled up the pertinent file and tapped the screen. "And I do not see that you are in any way related to the Emperor-or to anyone else, for that matter. As a matter of fact, Masaki Katsuhito appears to have been a ronin before marrying into the Masaki family-so I believe we can dispense with artificial titles."

The reaction she expected wasn't the one she got; neither Tenchi nor his grandfather so much as blinked, and Washu just smiled. "Yes, you did an excellent job researching the Masaki family line," she approved. "I rather enjoyed watching you. However, as you yourself pointed out, Lord Katsuhito married into the Masaki family and took their name when he inherited the family shrine-yet you question his bloodline in the same breath that you admit you know nothing about him."

"It is true I could not find any information on Masaki Katsuhito before he took that name," Nabiki admitted. "Which I found suspicious in itself. But I also could not find information on you, Miss Washu-according to my sources you did not exist until you began living in the Masaki household's broom closet two years ago. None of the people who frequent your house exist either, apparently; and the method by which some of them arrive…might be a secret you want to keep."

"It keeps itself," Washu replied pleasantly. "If I didn't know better, I might think you have something on your mind besides your sister's future happiness."

"My sister is happy here, taking care of her family," Nabiki said smugly; the horrified look on Kasumi's face contradicted her, but Nabiki didn't notice. "I do not see that an…arrangement such as yours would provide her with much security. Or fidelity, for that matter."

Tenchi's eyes narrowed; Washu gave him a quick, warning look. "We honor your family with an offer of marriage-and receive insult and innuendo in return."

"I am not sure it is we who are being honored. The activities of your 'family'-which seems to be composed mainly of unattached young women-are suspicious to say the least; for example, all of you disappeared for approximately three months last year and reappeared just as suddenly with no explanation. Yet Tenchi's absence from school as well as his father's from work were both excused."

"Of course. That was family business."

"Oh, of course," Nabiki echoed sarcastically. "That would explain why you took your house with you, I suppose-although I don't pretend to understand how you did it. And is 'Lord' Tenchi's love affair with at least two different women also 'family business'? We will not even consider giving my sister to you under these circumstances. I am sorely tempted to expose you all…" Tenchi stood up abruptly, startling everyone. He stalked around the table and sat down beside Kasumi, who had buried her face in her hands, putting his arms around her comfortingly. Nabiki gestured at him impatiently. "Go back to your seat, Tenchi; we aren't done."

He didn't budge, and the look he gave her was decidedly unfriendly. "We are." Kasumi was crying softly into his shoulder. "Washu explained the negotiating game to me, Nabiki," he said acidly. "I was prepared. But that's not the game you're playing, is it? I won't sit by and let you hurt Kasumi for your own selfish reasons."

"The negotiations are over. He can have her," said Soun hoarsely; he was starting to tear up.

"Daddy!"

"I concur, Tendo-san," Kuno said, shifting his position to stand protectively over Tenchi and Kasumi. He, too, glared at Nabiki.

"You don't get to concur!" Nabiki almost shouted. "Daddy, these people are not what they seem. They're all from…"

"Outer space," Katsuhito interrupted gravely. "Except for Tenchi, who was born on the Earth."

Nabiki and her father both facefaulted, and Washu started to laugh in spite of herself. "I'm sorry, Kasumi," she said breathlessly, trying to regain control. "I would never have let it get started if I'd known your sister would go so far. But yes, Tendo-san," she nodded respectfully in his direction. "Lord Katsuhito is a native of the planet Jurai-where he is known as Yosho, the Legendary Warrior."

Nabiki couldn't believe this was happening to her. "Then that mysterious absence…"

"He was compelled to return home briefly last year for political reasons," Washu informed her coolly. "I'm disappointed in you, Nabiki. I knew all about your little operation here in Nerima and I was looking forward to a good fencing match with you, but I didn't expect you to put 'business' before your sister's happiness. You should be ashamed."

"But I…"

"Enough," Soun said sharply, cutting her off. Nabiki started; she hadn't heard that confident, authoritative voice since her mother died. "Lord Katsuhito, I would be interested to know your lineage."

The old man nodded. "Certainly. I am a lineal descendant of the Emperor of Jurai."

Soun looked very thoughtful. "And that would make Lord Tenchi…?"

"The Crown Prince of Planet Jurai," Washu filled in. There were gasps from Nabiki and Kasumi, but their father did not look surprised. Tenchi whispered something in Kasumi's ear, and she beamed so fondly on him that he blushed bright red. Washu chuckled. "That's just too cute."

Nabiki gathered herself back together. "How do we know you're telling the truth?" she asked sourly. "You could be making it all up; we have no way to check."

She might as well have dropped a bomb on the table. "Nabiki!" Soun roared.

"It is all right," Katsuhito reassured him. "She is young; she does not understand. Washu?"

"She's younger than I am," Nabiki muttered petulantly.

"Actually, I'm almost eight hundred years old," Washu said with a grin. "You shouldn't judge by appearances. Now, for the proof." She raised her hands into the air and started to type, which made her subspace keyboard partially visible, and a screen appeared in the center of the table. If Nabiki could have fainted, she would have. "Will past reports from the Universal News Archive suffice?" she asked. Soun nodded, and the screen began to display news blurbs from the events of the preceding year.

He called a halt after the fifth one. "I was already convinced-but I am certain of my decision now. Now, about Kasumi's dowry…"

"I don't believe that is necessary, Tendo-san," Katsuhito told him.

"I think it is, Lord Katsuhito." Nabiki groaned, and he shot her a sharp look. "Quiet, Nabiki. You have dishonored our family enough for one day."

"I would have to agree with you there," Washu said wryly. "But before we start discussing exchanges of money or property, I have a suggestion to offer that might serve us all better in the long run. Tendo-san, forgive me for mentioning this, but my research indicated that your dojo is not exactly a paying proposition at this time-and that your family is mostly supported by Nabiki's blackmail activities. No, you don't need to say anything! Suffice it to say that we know you are not able to provide a dowry for Kasumi just as we are not able to pay a bride price…but we may be able to barter our way around that. "

Soun looked wary. "And just what would you wish us to barter?"

"Your silence." Washu did not smile. "As your daughter discovered, our household is composed almost entirely of aliens from other worlds, many of whom are from the Jurai royal family. The political implications of this knowledge are obvious. And in return for your help in guarding our 'family secret', as it were, we are prepared to offer you an end to your future son-in-law's curse."

"You can do that?" Soun was dumbfounded. "But…but we've tried everything!"

"Yes, I'm sure you have; but I'm the greatest scientific genius in the universe! Of course, I'll want to test my theory first." She glanced over her shoulder at Genma, who was busy writing on a sign. "This one's a freebie," she informed everyone. She punched out a particular sequence on the keyboard and a small shower of light fell through the panda and disappeared. He was holding up a sign with a question mark on it when she threw the hot water on him.

And everyone sat and stared at the wet panda. "It worked!" Washu squealed. Genma squealed, too, but not happily. He raced out of the room, and the sounds of his frustration filtered back through the open door. Washu shook her head. "Hmm, I may have to help you find a zoo for him; his behavior might regress to match his form."

"That would be nothing new," Soun muttered under his breath. Aloud he said, "You would do our family a great service, Miss Washu, and I will gladly accept it as my daughter's bride-price. But as to the other matter…keeping the secret you speak of will be a matter of family honor once they are married. And Kasumi does have a dowry of sorts, one which may be valuable to you in the future. Am I right in assuming that Lord Tenchi is not ready to assume the throne at this time?"

"That would be correct," Katsuhito admitted. "For now, my grandson prefers to remain on Earth."

"Exactly. But should he change his mind…"

"…or have it changed for him," Washu said under her breath.

"…his marriage to a commoner might become…a political embarrassment?"

Tenchi was starting to look worried. "I don't care about that."

"Not at the moment," Soun answered diplomatically. "But the situation may change, as well as your outlook regarding it."

The young man flushed angrily. "I would never…"

"Tenchi!"

Soun held up his hand. "No, no, Lord Katsuhito-the depth of your grandson's feeling for my daughter pleases me more than you can imagine. But Lord Tenchi misunderstands me. My point is, a king must often be subservient to the wishes of his subjects, regardless of his own desires."

Katsuhito nodded his agreement, and Washu nudged him sharply; his grandson had gone as white as a sheet. The old man sighed. "I am sorry, Tenchi, but that is correct. Were your succession to become necessary…they could demand it."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Katsuhito just shook his head; Tenchi was horrified. "I can't marry Kasumi now…knowing that that might happen to her! It wouldn't be right for me to marry anyone under those conditions!"

Soun actually smiled at him. "You are honorable, aren't you?" he observed, pleased. "But you need have no fears about marrying my daughter, Lord Tenchi…because she has a birthright of her own, at least the equal of yours."

"WHAT!?" It was Nabiki's turn to be horrified. "Father, what are you talking about? You aren't related to anyone important!"

"No." Her father looked smug again. "But Kasumi's mother was."

"Our mother?" Kasumi finally spoke, her gentle voice puzzled. "But Father, Mother wasn't…"

He shook his head. "No."

"But you said…"

"My dear Kasumi," Soun said gently. "I'm afraid I've been guilty of keeping a great secret from you-from everyone, in fact. My wife Naru was not your mother." Kasumi's eyes got very large. "She raised you from an infant and loved you like you were her very own, and for her sake I tried to forget that it was otherwise. But I could not."

"I said that your birthright was at least the equal of Lord Tenchi's. It is." He looked at his hands, his thoughts far away. "I was wandering in the woods one day, trying to lose myself, hoping that if I could my past would not catch up with me, when I found myself beside a peaceful lake surrounded by graceful trees. I sat beneath the nearest and just looked, letting the tranquility of the place ease my burdens. And then she was there beside me, and I knew from that moment that I would never love anyone else as I loved her. Her name was Yanagi, and she felt as I did. And we remained together for a single happy year, the happiest of my life." He fumbled with his clothing, pulling out a small wooden image. "I carved this myself, to remember her by."

Kasumi took the statue with trembling hands. Tenchi steadied them with his own. "Kasumi…she looks like you! Such gentle eyes…"

Dejavu, Washu mouthed at Katsuhito. The old man smiled. A good omen, he replied in kind.

Kuno looked over Tenchi's shoulder, studying the image. "Your love must have been very great," he said respectfully. "You carved her as a goddess."

"I carved her as she was," was Soun's quiet reply as he retrieved the statue. Everyone stared at him and he sighed. "The price we paid for our love was high; she died the day Kasumi was born." He caressed the carving gently, sadly. "We had no regrets…but how I miss you, my Yanagi-kami."

"My mother was…the Willow Goddess?" Kasumi whispered. Her father nodded gravely. "Oh no…" And she hid her face in her hands again.

"Kasumi," Tenchi said gently. She just shook her head. He sighed. "I know how you feel, Kasumi; I felt the same way when I found out…who I was. But it will be all right, I promise."

"No it won't…I'm not even human!"

His sudden laugh startled her. Two fingers lifted her chin, forcing her to look up into a pair of amused brown eyes. "Neither am I," Tenchi said, smiling. "I even proved it to you, remember? But you wanted to marry me anyway."

"Proved it to you…" Nabiki couldn't believe her ears. "And Father said I disgraced us? You knew all along and didn't say anything!"

Kasumi blinked at her from the shelter of Tenchi's arms. "You didn't ask me." Tenchi smothered a giggle in her dark hair. "But I'm sure Tenchi could show you now, couldn't you, Tenchi-chan?"

"Of course, Kasumi." Tenchi stood up, pulling a curiously carved wooden sword hilt out of his belt. "With your permission, Tendo-san?"

Soun nodded. "Where's the blade?" Nabiki asked snidely. "Or is this a magic sword?"

"As a matter of fact…" Tenchi extended his arm. Four feet of glowing blue light shot out of the hilt to form a sleek and deadly-looking blade, and Nabiki almost fell over backwards. Smiling, he retracted the power and tucked the hilt back in his belt. "It is."

End of Part Two On to Part Three!

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