O.K.  here�s the second part of my fic.  I was really busy so I�m sorry this
took so long.  Anyway standard disclaimer applies.  Tenchi and all the related
characters belong to AiC and Pioneer.  I�m not making any money from this so
please don�t sue me.  Hope you like.

Why Me?

Part 2



	The scream seemed to echo in the small bathroom as I stared at my face in the
mirror.  I put one hand up to the glass, while the other pressed at my cheek
in an attempt to somehow try to deny what was shown by my reflection.  Hair
that had once been thin, straight, and light brown was now deep auburn, thick,
and slightly spiky.  My eyes which had been hazel in color before were now a
greenish yellow with a distinct feline pupil and tilt.

	Something else was tingling in the back of my mind, but I couldn�t put my
finger on it.  My scream had done nothing to abate my headache and thinking
only made it worse.  When I brought myself back from briefly trying to figure
out what else seemed wrong, a cyan haired figure suddenly appeared behind me
with a distinctly annoyed expression on her face.

	Gasping in surprise I turned around quickly, forgetting in my startlement,
the trouble that I had moving before.  The abrupt movement was too much for me
to adjust to, and I felt myself begin to fall towards the woman in front of
me.  Hitting the floor was a jarring experience, and did nothing to help my
aching body.  I hastily looked upwards and noticed that the woman seemed to be
floating.

	Finally finding my voice again I managed to croak, "Who are you?"  Or, at
least, that is what I thought I said.  For the floating woman in front of me
looked at me with a confused expression, and if anything seemed to become even
more annoyed.  She began to move towards me and started to talk.

	"Who.......up......late.......hour.......?"

	There seemed to be something wrong with my hearing because although I could
hear everything she said I wasn�t understanding much.  It was like I
understood some of the words, but I couldn�t make out the whole sentence.  As
the woman flew closer I was able to get a better look at the person who had so
startled me.  It was almost like looking into a mirror.  The woman before me
had the full spiky hair and  the cat-like eyes which I had seen in my
reflection just a minute ago.  It was at this time that the household decided
to come rushing in.

*     *     *     *

	Washu was awake in her lab doing tests on the DNA of the strange girl that
had suddenly appeared.  Looking at the clock she saw it was getting close to
four in the morning.  Her eyes were starting to glaze over and tear from
having looked at her computer screens, with the numbers and information they
had been spewing out for the last couple of hours.  The information was
confusing, to say the least.  It seemed that that despite having been in the
girl�s system for almost a day her cellular structure had still not settled
down to a predictable pattern.  With nothing solid to base her studies on, it
would be almost impossible to tangle out her original DNA structure to fix
whatever damage the absorption of the protoplasm caused.  
	
	Perplexing information coupled with the constant shifting of the light on the
screens was giving Washu a headache  that seemed to have settled right behind
her eyes.  Rubbing them, she sighed, "How the hell did this happen?  How was
it possible for that girl to appear in the energy sphere?  It was fool proof,
designed so that even Mihoshi would have a heard time screwing it up."

	Suddenly an idea flashed through the scientist�s mind, "Wait!! How could I
have forgotten to check for energy fluctuations in that time period.  My
recording equipment is sure to have picked up something at that time.  It�s
not everyday that some one just appears in the lab."  Then slightly under her
breath, "Unless of course, you count Mihoshi."

	In response to her revelation two puppets popped up on her shoulders.  The
one on the right exclaiming, "You are the greatest, Washu-chan!"  The other
answering with, "Washu-chan, the greatest scientist in the universe!"

	Laughing to herself, Washu walked over to a terminal and began typing away.
Soon data began to scroll down the screen.  At the end one message flashed
constantly:

 Energy Type:  Unknown
 Probable Source:  Unknown
Cause of Fluctuation:  Unknown

	"What!?!  How is that possible!?  How could something like this elude my
great mind and machines?," screeched Washu in disbelief.  "This can�t be!  I
_must_  find out how she was able to get through my barriers."

	Intent on doing this Washu began to exit her lab, figuring that hopefully by
this time the girl would have awakened.  Her haste and excitement making her
forget the early hour at which she was going to go interrogate the girl.  When
she reached her door Washu thought, "And what better time to badger her with
questions than when she�s off guard.  The girl will be much more likely to
give information when she�s just awake, and alone, rather than after she�s had
time to regain most of her senses.  It won�t matter if she�s asleep either,
it�s high time the girl woke up anyway."

	Washu had just opened the door to exit her inter-dimensional lab when a loud
cry cut through the silence of the night.  The suddenness of the noise caused
her to jump a little and freeze while she calculated where it was coming from.
A few seconds later she came to the conclusion, that from the echo, direction,
and most of all the sound of running feet, that the sound had come from the
upstairs bathroom.  Thus, her analysis concluded,  she hurriedly made her way
up to the room to see what all the commotion was about.  

*     *    *    *

	As I was staring up at the impossible woman before me several people tried to
run into the room.  The first to come to the door was a young black haired man
looking to be of Asian descent, practically fell over trying to stop before he
ran into some one or something.  I pried my stare from the woman to him.  When
he saw me and then looked at the floating woman he seemed to be confused as to
what was going on.  I could see that he wanted to ask a question, but appeared
very reluctant, and seemed content to continue switching his gaze back and
forth between the other girl and I.  The next to arrive was a small light blue
haired girl, hair was up in a bun, and a small rabbit like creature close at
her heels.  Her reaction when she saw me was of intense curiosity, and barely
contained questions as she looked from the black haired boy to the woman.
Close behind the young girl was a woman with dark purple hair, who immediately
upon seeing the floating woman seemed to fly into a rage.

	"Ryoko......doing.......poor......bakemono!!!"

	"Hime-chan.....nothing......my........stupid.........her!!!!"

	The argument seemed to go on.  My understanding of what was going on was
slowly increasing as I was able to comprehend more and more of the argument.
While those two were busy with their shouting match my head continued to
pound, and I almost didn�t notice the arrival of a small red-headed girl and
two older men.  However, despite the overwhelming uncertainty of what was
happening and knowledge of who these people were I was quite fed up with their
shouting.  The headache which had before had almost dulled to a steady throb,
returned in full force.

	And so with equal force I decided to get rid of the problem.  I lowered my
head, clutched my temples, closed my eyes, and yelled, "URUSAI!!!!!"

	This outburst was sufficient enough to startle the two rivals enough for them
to shut up and glance in my direction.  With a final glance towards each other
which seemed to promise retribution in the future, both turned around and
ignored the other.

	A hand came down on my shoulder and I flinched from it�s unfamiliarity.  This
whole situation seemed strange.  "Where was I?  How did I get here? Who are
these people?"  These thoughts circled in my mind, buzzing around like flies.

	I looked up the arm that belonged to the hand and eventually reached the face
of the red-headed girl, with the faces of the boy and older man crowded in on
either side.  The boy hesitantly started speaking to me, concern etched on his
face.  My confusion must have been apparent because he soon stopped talking
and looked at the girl next to him.  Before he could ask her questions, one of
my own popped out.

	"Where am I?"  I asked.  This was met with slightly confused glances.  It was
obvious they had understood some of what I said, but not all.  I repeated my
question, and this time the older man answered me.

	Speaking slowly and in a way I seemed to understand he said, "You are in my
home.  I am Masaki Yosho, how are you feeling?"

	Happy that I could finally understand some one it completely slipped my mind
to be wary of these strange people.  And so I answered, "My name is
Rose.....and where exactly is your home?"

	This time my question was met with complete understanding.  Yosho sat back,
smiled, and replied, "Why, Japan of course."

	Shocked, my mouth dropped open and then shut with a click.  "How can that be?
How could I have traveled half way around the world? ," I cried.

	The red-head whipped out some sort of hand-held device, and proceeded to
point it towards me.  "Hmmmm......hmmmm......ahhhhhh.......hmmm......," she
said, occasionally typing something on a keypad.  I looked towards her, and in
confusion, asked, "Who are you and what are you doing?"

	"Hmmm.....oh...my name is Washu, didn�t I mention it before?  And this little
device here is checking out your energy signal.  Want to know where exactly
you came from you know."  After making that statement she went back to
working, muttering to herself about something or other.  As she was turning
away I marveled how I just gone from barely understand what the others were
staying, to having absolutely no difficulty at all.

	Some one cleared their throat, and when I looked over I saw it was Yosho.
"Perhaps now would be a good time to introduce ourselves,  seeing that we are
all here."   I looked at him blankly for a second, still deep in thought, then
shook my head slightly to bring myself back to reality and nodded.

	Shifting himself into a more comfortable kneeling position he gestured
towards a younger man with black hair.  "This is my son, Nobiyuki."  Who in
turn answered, "Hello," with a smile on his face.  "The young man next to him
is my grandson, Tenchi."  As he was introduced, with a nervous look on his
face, he bowed slightly.  Turning to his other side Yosho introduced each girl
in turn.  Sasami, the small blue haired girl with the bun.  Ayeka, the purple
haired girl who was Sasami�s older sister, and Ryoko, the woman who had first
appeared in the bathroom.  The first two were very polite, their manners while
being introduced to me were impeccable.  However, Ryoko, just sat cross-legged
in the air, yawned, and waved in my general direction.

	"Uhhh...well....it�s very nice to meet you all."  I said nervously, not quite
certain how to react to this strange, immediate welcome.

	I was just about to comment on why they were being so nice to someone that
they knew nothing about, when Washu suddenly spun around and asked, "Exactly
how are you feeling?  No glossing it over either, I need to know so I can
determine your condition."

	I frowned and tried to think of the best way to describe the aches and pain
in various parts of my body.  Deciding it was too complicated I went with the
general description, and so shrugging, I answered, "My head aches like someone
is trying to break their way out, and I ache all over."  Then adding under my
breath, "The headache which was just starting to go away."

	Washu, intent on inputting her new data, barely glanced in my direction and
said, "What was that?"

	Sighing, and thinking that saying something really wouldn�t change anything,
I answered, "Nothing."

	Nodding, she ignored me yet again.  This was starting to get on my nerves.  I
mean she was getting all sorts of information, of what I didn�t know, but it
concerned me.  And I really wanted to know how I had gone from an ordinary
looking brown haired, brown eyed girl, to one with deep auburn, spiky hair,
and greenish-yellow eyes.

	Deciding I�d had enough I pushed myself up, and began to walk towards the
child-like scientist.  Managing to walk to her without falling over I
congratulated myself and leaned on the wall.  "Ok, now you�ve been taking
readings from me since I arrived.  Now tell me how in _hell_ I ended up
looking like I do now, when before I looked completely different."

	Looking annoyed at being pried from her work, Washu replied, "Well, it seems
you appeared inside an energy sphere in my lab, where I was attempting to
create a clone.  This clone was to be made of a mixture of my and Ryoko�s
genes.  When you entered the sphere the formation of the protoplasm must have
been triggered.  Your presence was an unknown and the parameters of the
experiment must have thought you to be some sort of model, thus the protoplasm
began to adhere and penetrate your skin.  Once inside your blood stream the
protoplasmic cells must have bonded with your own, enough of them so that when
replicated they overwhelmed your original DNA structure.  This new structure
caused your physical appearance to chance because the genes and alleles that
had once coded for those traits were no longer present.  What you look like
now is a result of your changed DNA coding."  Throughout this speech Washu had
become more and more animated.  Her eyes taking on an excited glint.

	Looking around to see the reactions of the others I saw that Ryoko had fallen
asleep, Yosho continued to nod every once in a while, while the two sisters
and Nobiyuki just looked on with confusion.  Washu had also taken this time to
look around, snorting with apparent disgust she went back to her data.
Meanwhile, the more and more I thought about this, understanding began to sink
in.  With this understanding came anger, anger and fear, because I was in a
strange place with people I didn�t know, and a physical transformation I
wanted nothing to do with.  Shaking with anger, I felt a great need to hit
something, do anything to release the rage churning inside of me.  I decided
to follow my instincts and so I punched the wall.

	The resulting cracking sound caused everyone to snap to attention and look at
me....or rather the hole in the wall where my fist was currently placed.  My
eyes wide with shock, I pulled my fist out of the wall and screamed at Washu.

	"BESIDES MY PHYSICAL APPEARANCE, WHAT THE HELL ELSE DID YOUR PROTOPLASM DO TO
ME?"

	Everyone flinched, my scream echoed in the tiled room, and my anger was
sudden compared to my apparent placid feelings before.  My rage outwardly
covered the intense fear I was feeling.  No one normal could put their fist
through a wall.  Being strong is a nice thing.  To have such an excess of it,
was something that, at the moment, I couldn�t deal with.

	In response Washu laughed slightly, and while scratching the back of her
head, she answered, "Well, as I said the clone was going to have traits of
both Ryoko and I.  It appears that your physical transformation also includes
some of the more internal ones.  Your DNA must have absorbed more than I
thought it did."
	
	Hearing this the others developed rather large sweat drops.

	Suddenly I realized something.  Cursing myself for being such an unobservant
fool, I asked yet another question.  "And how exactly am I able to speak
Japanese, because I _know_ that wasn�t one of my former abilities," I asked
through clenched teeth.

	"Oh, well that was probably a result of the information download that
occurred after you had absorbed the protoplasm.  You see, this would have
saved the time of actually having to teach the language from scratch.  I
wanted to have a fully grown life form that would be able to interact
immediately."

	Ryoko seemed about to say something, but before she could make a sound I cut
her off.

	"Anything _else_ you should tell me before it makes itself apparent," I said,
closing my eyes.

	"If it�s any consolation, your headache should disappear soon.  It�s just a
result of all the information that was crammed into your head.  As for the
general aches your feeling, they should disappear once the whole
transformation has completed itself."

	Close to crying now, I asked, "Which will be when?"

	Frowning slightly Washu replied, "I�m not sure.  When I was studying your DNA
before it hadn�t decided to settle on anything, it�s been constantly shifting
since I got it from you when you first arrived.  It is possible that since
you�ve gained super strength, you might also get some of Ryoko�s other
abilities."

	"Can you change me back?  Send me back to where I came from?"

	The rest of the group, which had been talking among themselves before,
stopped and began to listen to what Washu was saying.  This was something they
could understand, something they really wanted to know the answers to.

	Looking at me with sympathy she said, "Your DNA structure has changed so
much, and become so set that it would be extremely difficult.  I�d have to
repeat the same procedure that caused you to change."  In response I frowned,
that was _not_  something I wanted to go through again anytime soon, however,
if it would work.....  

	Before I could say anything Washu continued, "That procedure  _would_  work,
however, I�d also need your original DNA structure.  Which because of your
change, is impossible."

	Hearing this I was devastated.  My thoughts at the moment went along the
lines of, "When I get back how in hell am I going to explain my newly changed
experience.  If I told them what happened no one would believe me.....
Scratch that, they�d have to recognize me first, and then they�d have to be
convinced that I was who I said I was."

	My shoulders slumped, this was not going the way I had hoped.  "What about my
other question?"

	Washu�s eyes lit up, her interest and excitement apparent.  Seeing this I was
filled with hope, I began to sit up straighter, my anticipation showing
plainly on my face.  "Your arrival was _quite_ interesting.  According to my
scans the energy used to transport you here is completely unknown, and your
point of origin couldn�t be extrapolated.  This is something I could have a
great time studying.  It seems to be a great challenge to the greatest
scientist in the universe."

	When her statement was done, and I began to slump down, realizing that
finding my way home was hopeless for the moment, two small puppets seemed to
pop up from no where on her shoulders.  As I watched one said, "You are the
greatest, Washu-chan."  That one finished and the other began to speak.
"Washu-chan, the greatest scientist in the universe."  The puppets then
proceeded to lean back out of sight.  Eyes wide, I watched this is disbelief.
I decided to ignore this bit of strangeness for the moment and concentrate on
my problem.  Maybe later I would ask about the strange puppets.  I looked up
again and saw that Washu seemed to be very excited about her new pet project,
somehow I couldn�t bring myself to be as enthusiastic.

	I was just going to ask if there was anything that could be done to find
whatever energy signal was needed when the small girl, Sasami, piped up.
"Washu-chan.....exactly _why_  were you making a clone?"

	Now this was a question that had yet again, didn�t think to ask.  I could see
the interest in the answer to the query in everyone�s faces.  It seemed that
the group simultaneously leaned toward Washu in anticipation of an answer.

	It seemed that the scientist was slightly startled at the question.  "Didn�t
I mention it when I was explaining before?"  At the negative head movements
her audience made, she blinked.  "Oh, it must have slipped my mind."
Shrugging, she began to enthusiastically explain.

	"Well you see, I figured my darling daughter over there," she said as she
gestured to Ryoko, who immediately made a face, "needed someone to talk to.
You know the whole sibling experience.  I wanted my daughter to have all the
advantages you know."  Winking, Washu continued to explain, "How else could I
make a fully grown life able to keep up with this household without using
Ryoko�s and my genes?  You wouldn�t want to leave the poor girl helpless now
would you?  Especially with the little spats and pranks that Ayeka and Ryoko
have all the time.  I had also hoped that having a sibling would make Ryoko
have a bit more respect for me.  After all I _am_ her mother."

	This statement is met with complete disbelief.  I myself couldn�t figure out
how this small girl could be Ryoko�s mother, while the others seemed to have
trouble accepting that Washu had made a partial clone, just so her daughter
could have a sibling.  Ryoko, I saw, seemed to be having trouble controlling
her rage.  She alternately glared at me and Washu.  The look in her eyes made
me intensely uncomfortable.  The last thing I wanted was to get on such an
intensely powerful person�s bad side.

	Still talking, Washu then explained, "Of course I made my traits more
apparent, because after all, I am just so cute.  Besides, I didn�t want a
Ryoko look-alike, that would make it impossible to tell them apart.  Seeing as
how you are partially my creation, please call me �Mom�."  She emphasized this
by pointing to her cheeks and smiling.  Hearing this statement I sat there
gaping, the others had similar expressions on their faces.  Yosho on the other
hand seemed to be taking this all quite well.  I couldn�t figure out why he
wasn�t as stunned as the rest of us.

	I felt like crying.  I really did.  This had to be a bad dream, that was it.
It�s just a dream and when I wake up, I�ll be back in my room in my bed.  Thus
decided, I got up, which distracted the others from staring at Washu.  I
stumbled out of the bathroom to the room where I had woken up.  My intent to
just get into the bed and go to sleep so I would hurry and wake up in the real
world.  

	"Your balance should return soon.  Your body just has to regain it�s center
of gravity."  Washu called after me.  Turning around I saw a smug look on her
face.  Already having enough of the craziness I continued walking down the
hall.  Making it to the room, I lay down, covered myself, and fell asleep to
the sound of shouting down the hall.