TENCHI MUYO: Spirit of the Radio
--------------------------------
<note: the song on the radio that Ryoko is listening to is "The Lonely
Moon" from the Tenchi Muyo OAVs, sung by Ai Orikasa.   Also, Lady Tokimi's
character in this alternate universe has evolved a little differently. She
is seething with anger toward Washuu for having been snubbed and will do
almost anything to avenge herself.)

    Sasami moaned restlessly in her sleep as she dreamed in strange images
of goddesses and rats. The dream had come upon her three times that week
and always it was the same, she was sleeping against something soft and
furry and then would wake to find herself lying upon a dead rodentine figure.
She would scream within the dream and begin to run, finding herself in
darkness. Then, she would run into the arms of a beautiful goddess and she
would feel safe at first. But then the goddess would laugh; always the same
hideous, mirthless laughter. Sasami would become frightened and try to get
away, but the goddess would hold her firmly and would not let go. Finally,
she would break free and run again, towards a spectral image that awaited
her. It was the same rodentine figure as before, only this time she wasn't
afraid of him and she would invariably run toward him. The dream always
ended with the rodentine figure firing an energy blast of some kind, but
Sasami could never tell if it was meant to hit the goddess or herself.
    Ayeka woke Sasami. "What's wrong?"
    "I had that dream again." Sasami replied. "The one about the rat."
    "It's all right, Sasami." Ayeka said.
    But she wasn't so sure...


    Ryoko switched the radio on as she did her morning chores. Some
classical musician was playing the mandolin.
    "Arrgh!" She exclaimed, switching it over to the rock and roll
channel she prefered. She knew perfectly well who'd switched it. "Damned
Youshou." she complained, irritably.

    <o/~...I can feel you circle my heart...o/~>

    Ryoko went on sweeping, smiling. She loved that song and wanted it to
be played at her and Tenchi's wedding someday. She daydreamed of that day
as she always did, herself at the altar in a flowing white gown at
Tenchi's side.

    <o/~...knowing you don't want me to...o/~>

    Ryoko dumped the sweepings into the trashbin and returned just as the
last note finished on the song, annoyed that she'd missed the final chorus.

    The regular morning DJ cheerfully announced the name of the song and
went into his usual inane chatter.
    Suddenly, however, a different voice, deep and rich, with a slight
gruffiness to it that sounded all too familiar to Ryoko cut off the
DJ's chatter.

    <"Case #80812029">

    Ryoko dropped the vase she had picked up to dust under and it broken
into a dozen fragments. She spun around, trying to find the source of the
voice, knowing damned well who it was. Then she remembered, he was dead.
She also remembered that that had been Tenchi's favorite vase.


    "Huh?!" Washuu's eyebrows went up as the radio signal she was monitoring
from Tokyo Tower suddenly spiked. She checked her readings, but there was
only that singular instance, otherwise, all seemed as normal as ever.


                        -Chapter 2-

    That Saturday, Tenchi, Ryoko, and Ayeka went to the carrot fields to
pull up a fresh crop (most of which would get eaten by Ryo-ohki) while
Sasami tended to her chores.
    Sasami was cutting up the leeks and other vegetables for lunch, hoping
that *this* time the others would bring the carrots home in time, when she
heard a door open.
    "Its about time you got here." She scolded. "The stew is getting ruined."
    She turned to take the carrots, but instead of Tenchi or one of the
others, she saw the face of the goddess she'd seen in her dreams.

    Lady Tokimi laughed, coldly, as she picked Sasami up by the collar.
    The laughter continued as she vanished with Sasami, leaving behind a
note in a code which only Washuu would be able to read.

                        * * * * *

    "Whew!" Tenchi wiped his brown. "This is hard work. You two coming
along okay?" He looked around and saw that Ryoko and Ayeka had long since
dropped their work in favor of their favorite pastime...
    Fighting.
    "He's mine I tell you!" Ryoko insisted.
    "He is not." Ayeka also insisted. "He belongs to me!"
    "I was already part of his life when you showed up and stuck your
ugly little pig nose into our lives." Ryoko argued.
    *Ugly?!*
    Ayeka face turned beet-red and she balled her hands up into fists.
    "What did you just call me?"
    "Uh.... girls?"
    They both glared at Tenchi, who wisely decided to back off...

                        * * * * *

    At the same time, Ryo-ohki had gone into the kitchen back at Tenchi's
house to get some carrots. She looked around, but Sasami wasn't around. She
sniffed. Something was wrong, but she wasn't sure what. She saw the note
and was compelled to pick it up. She hopped toward the wall and waited for a
second until the portal to Washuu's lab opened up. Then she slipped inside.

                        * * * * *

    Ayeka and Ryoko faced each other. This would be it, one of them would win
and the other would bow out of Tenchi's life forever. If she didn't, the
other would make sure she did.

    They raised their powers against each other, lightning flashed in their
eyes, they rose up to their full powers and...
    "Sasami's gone!!!"
    Ayeka and Ryoko both turned, forgetting their quarrel.
    "What?!" Ayeka gasped.
    Washuu caught her breath.
    "What do you mean she's gone?" Ayeka demanded.
    "I found this note." Washuu told her.
    Ayeka grabbed the note. "I can't make this out." She complained. "What
does it say? Tell me!"
    "It says that Lady Tokimi has abducted Princess Sasami and if we want
her back, I must meet with her."
    "So go meet with her. That seems simple enough." Ayeka argued.
    "Shows what you know." Ryoko snorted. "Lady Tokimi happens to be..." she
faltered and turned to Washuu. "Who *is* Lady Tokimi anyhow?"
    Washuu shrugged. "All I know is she sent Dr. Clay to bring me to her the
first time and now she's trying to lure me to her using Sasami."
    "You *are* going to rescue Sasami aren't you?" Ayeka asked.
    "Me?" Washuu smiled. "Nope."
    Ayeka's face fell. "We can't just leave her there!"
    "She'll be fine." Washuu told her. "You'll see."
    Ayeka suspected Washuu was teasing her, maybe trying to alleviate some
of her tension.

    Ryoko switched on the radio when they got home.
    "Turn that damned radio off." Ayeka said, reaching for the radio.
    "I'm listening for something." Ryoko told her, slapping her hand away.
    The two 'women' began to snarl.

    <*the house of Jurai cooperated with the Galaxy Police in...*>

Continued to next message

---
 � SLMR 2.1a � "Case number 80812029, if I'm not mistaken." -Operative