Family and Friends!

(  )= Mental thoughts

" "= Verbal dialogue

Chapter #5. A New Family Member

In the Onsen

"There has to be a better way to deal with this!"
Nagi was thinking this as she slowly got to know her New family.
Nagi was alone , late after one of Sasami's dinners.
"Boy that was Good Food!" She thought hard to herself of her situation.
It was considerably difficult to know that my greatest rival turns out to be my sister,
and that my mother that I didn't know I had, was alive had tricked me into this situation.
Of course she didn't know I was her daughter till last week. She threw her hands up in frustration.

Nagi was mad, but she really didn't know who to blame.
Ryoko was the easy target, but she knew that she wasn't to blame for this.
Washu, was to blame for how she found out, but not who, or why really.
Mr. Kataro who was the person to blame, was dead, killed in one of Ryoko's many raids directed by Kagato.
She just knew she wasn't ready to face her family.

But the others she could stand, ... and was beginning to like.
The one's she was close to were the GP officers, Kiyone and Mihoshi.
she could talk shop with them and she at least had someone who had an idea what her life was like.

Of the rest, Sasami seem to win a soft spot in the professional bounty hunter's heart.
She was one of the few who could bring out a smile to her face.
Then there was Ryo-Oki, "who was so happy for me to be here".
She chuckled to herself only because Ken-oki was here with her,
spending almost every waking hour following Ryo-Oki around.
But, she seemed to sense that even she did see the kindness in that cabbit's heart.
Wow, I need some air and clear my head of these ...thoughts!
So, she finished her bath, got dressed and went for a walk.

In the Masaki's roof

 It has been a disappointing 3 weeks since Ryoko tried to talk to Nagi, and told her the truth
about me being her mother. Now I seems that she would be just as stubborn as Ryoko
in that she doesn't believe fully that I am her mother,
abetted indirectly through Kataro's manipulations.
But, what I was surprised about , was the fact that instead of leaving,
getting away from me, and her sister Ryoko, she stayed here!
This alone gave me hope for a way to connect with her.
One consolation was that in these 3 weeks she started to
warm up to most of the household, except for Me, and Ryoko!
I have to do something to first get her to relate to Ryoko,
then I can hopefully get her to talk to me!
Well, no problem is too great or impossible for Washu, The Greatest Scientist In the Universe ever!

A walk in the woods

As she walked up a winding trail away from the house. the trail gradually came to a clearing,
at the foot of a cave!
"So this is Ryoko's cave." As she got closer she could see the decorations and the rusty gate
that once held her at the bottom of the cave sister for over 700 years.
Curious about the cave she phase through the gate and floated herself down the secret passage to the base of the cave.
Now Nagi was not as powerful as Ryoko when Ryoko had her jewels,
but Nagi had the ability to synthesize energy from the air or space around her just like Ryoko.

But, here in the depths of the cave, she felt cold, since Ryoko was held there by the roots of Funaho,
Yousho's Tree ship, those roots were still there and started to have the same effect on Nagi.
I have to get out of here, she tried to go back up the steeply angled passageway .
But as she climbed, she lost her strength and her balance.
She slid down to the very spot that Ryoko laid in for so long.
As she struggled to get up she opened her link with her family and telepathically called out for help!

"Washu, Ryoko, I need you help, please!" Nagi called to them via their link.

"Nagi, where are you dear, please tell me where you are?" asked Washu

"In the cave where Ryoko was held, Washu I feel weak, I can't........" She collapsed in a heap!

"Oh gods, Ryoko, Ryoko I need you to meet me at the cave, Please Ryoko," begged Washu.

"What do you want Mom, I'm trying to sleep here!" replied a sleepy Ryoko

"Nagi is in you cave, please she seemed to pass out and I need your help to get her out of there!"

"OK, OK, I'll get Ayeka and Tenchi, we might need their help!" replied a now fully awake Ryoko

"Good idea my Little Ryoko, I'll meet you there." Washu answered as she opened a portal in front of the cave.
 

As Washu was making her way to the cave, she saw Tenchi, and Ayeka, carried by Ryoko land in front of the cave.
"Mom, I think that Ayeka and Tenchi should go down there."

"Why, I am her mother & I am too worried about her!" snapped Washu

"But, Mom, I think if they go down and we wait here, we wont be affected by Funahos' roots, and
she will know that the whole Family will care for her. She might be more open to talk to us."

"You know for a pain in the butt daughter, you are getting so grown up on me. (with a smile) Your right!"

Ryoko warily looked at her mother. "Do you really mean that?" (A little puzzled)

Washu went to Ryoko, Put her hand on her cheek, then leaned over and gave her a hug!
This completely floored Ryoko, but a happy smile emerged from the former space pirate.
Observing this, Ayeka and Tenchi smiled, then started down to get Nagi.

Nagi slowly awoke outside the cave with the first one she saw was her mother, Tenchi, and Ayeka.
Ryoko was behind them about 5 feet for fear that if she saw her, Nagi might not be awake enough and
 might react violently to her.

"What happened?" asked a weary Nagi.

"You were affected by the field generated by the Tree ship Funaho that kept Ryoko weak at the bottom of the cave!
Since you have similarly physiology, it had the same effect on you, Little Nagi." said Washu.

"Well that will teach me to try and find out about something about my family." (looking annoyed)
"Thanks anyway." said Nagi

"Well I'd better get you to my lab, there something there that will not allow this to happen again, if you wander into the cave again." replied Washu

"You OK Nagi?" (Ryoko said from behind Ayeka & Tenchi)

"Yeah, I seem to be a little dizzy though." (Her eyes bleary)

Ryoko was now sitting next to Nagi. "Do you need any help, I can teleport us, so Mom can check you out?"

Nagi: "OK" Then she said telepathically, ("I can see how you hate this cave Ryoko.")

Ryoko said "I'll get her to the lab Mom, thanks guys." (to Ayeka and Tenchi)
("Do you want to know More Nagi?")

Nagi replied as they teleport ("Later, just get me to Washu's lab")

At the Lab;

"Well, this shot will get you back you energy, but I want to show you something that can keep you from having this happen again." (opening up a sub-space pocket, Washu produces a small case.)

Nagi asks; "What's that, Washu?"

"Just open it!" replied her mother.

In the case were 3 blue gems. Nagi gasped!

"Their exactly like the ones Ryoko has, except tuned to your specific physiological system.

Nagi said, with Ryoko next to her "Are those for me?! she held up the gems.

"Why? I haven't done anything to help you since I got here!"

"Because you my daughter," (Nagi gives a painful look ), "and I don't want you to be weakened like that ever again."

Nagi shook her head as a sign of thanks and asked; "How do I use them?"

Ryoko answered; "Just wish them to you, they'll come on their own!"

Nagi did as she was told. She did that and the 3 blue gems floated from the case to both of Nagi's wrists,
and the third to her neck
As she felt the power fill her she stumbled, but was  caught by Ryoko.

Ryoko then said, "It will take a few moments but you'll get use to it."

Nag replied "Wow, what a rush!" (getting that familiar  smirk on her face)

Then she looked at her sister and mother. "How do you know I wont turn this new power on you? (Ryoko tensed up)

Washu then answered. "Because I can sense in you a new awareness of who you are!"

Nagi was confused. "Whatta you mean?"

Washu then asked;  "Why were you really in that cave, Nagi?"

Nagi hesitated to reply at first. But then; "Because ..... because I was just curious about
what could have held Ryoko for all those years!" (A little snidely)

Washu then said telepathically; ("I know you didn't mean that")

Nagi then sarcastically answered ("Well thanks Mom, I'll use it wisely").
She then Fazed out of the lab.

Ryoko approached her mom and asked; "Are you sure you did the right thing, Mom?"

Washu replied "Give her some time Ryoko, besides she's more angry at you than me."

Wonder why she's so angry at you for?" said Washu

Ryoko answered, "Yeah, I'd like to know too. It must have happened the first year
Kagato started using me as his attack dog.

"Ryoko, I'll research her past and find out just what happened,.
I'll promise you that I'll get to the bottom of this, because..." continued Washu.

Ryoko: ("Oh here it comes...") she mentally sighed!

I am Washu, the best scientific genius in the Universe!"

"Oh Mom!" Ryoko shook her head in defeat.

Washu's Dilemma

I had to find out why Nagi still had a hatred towards Ryoko
All though I had promised one daughter never to put her under duress (OAV Ep.#13-b)
I had to find out why the other hated the first! (The Story of Kain & Abel playing in my head)

I first asked Ryoko to come after breakfast the next day to test her abilities,
so I can compare them to Nagi's new and enhanced abilities now with the new blue gems I had given her.
I then Asked Kiyone, who had previously known Nagi to please come that afternoon for the same reason.
What I didn't tell them was that fact that I was going to force the issue.
I knew I could lose both of them altogether, but I was getting desperate.

First I ran my test on Ryoko, and then as one of my scan actually phased in a
relaxant into her system, she was asleep with in seconds
(Not without an angry thought by Ryoko of me being blown apart, but I knew I had to keep going).
Then I repeated the same process with Nagi, though I had to give her
a higher dose, I didn't want her to blow up my lab before my drug took affect.
Then I put them both in my examination tables
(Yes, I now see how they could have been affected by this, especially Ryoko, "forgive me my little one"!)
When I was ready, I called my holo-pad from sub-space and with a few keystrokes,
I woke both of them up! "I leave it to you to see what happened next!"

Ryoko suddenly woke up. "Where am I?   What?!? Washu Why am I hanging here again?
So help me I'll tear you limb from Limb!
Nagi upon hearing her sister's threats wakes up in the same predicament
"Oh! I am going to kill that red headed dwarf for this!"
They both then see their mother sitting on a floating cushion waiting for them to pay attention.

Washu finally speaks after both of them had stopped their ranting.
"Girls, girls, I have to tell you, you should never talk to your mother that way!"

"Why are you putting me through this again, Ryoko's Eyes filled with raw anger!  "YOU BROKE YOU PROMISE!"
Then she said, "You don't know what a real mother is!" (Damn that Zero, I'm losing control)

Nagi then added; "I would have welcomed being an orphan If I'd known you were my mother!"
then she took a breath and then continued; "How can you say your a mother!
Mothers don't leave their children hanging in midair,  experimenting on them.
Listen now you old Hag, if you don't release me now, I will kill you!"

both girls railed on against Washu while she calmly let their second tirade go on.
She finally spoke after a few minutes:
"I wanted to sit down and have a real discussion with the both of you
individually,  or together, and what have you done since you came here Nagi, ... Nothing.
Ignoring each other and me.
well I have had it with the two of you. Ryoko, Do you think Tenchi and Ayeka have not been hurt
with the treatment you given to Nagi, these last 3 weeks?
They care about you and all 3 of us. They want us all to get along, but your not trying hard enough."
Ryoko looks down to avoid Washu' gaze. Nagi laughs. "And you Nagi, I don't understand
with all the caring people here you can be so mean and heartless.
well you two can hang there until you both stop being soo bull-headed!"
With that I turned and walked away, as shouts of obscene words came from both of them,
crying as I left! (God, that hurt Soo much!)

After about 10 minutes of silence and angry glares at each other, both girls
started to try to get out of their bindings unsuccessfully.

Ryoko then said. "Well, I guess we wait for her to return.

"And, when is that going to be? asked Nagi sarcastically.
"I hope soon. was Ryoko's reply. But, she was worried
("I am going to lose control in front of Nagi? No I can't.  Damn that Washu!")

30 minutes later;

Both girls still hung on the bindings that Washu had left them in.

A Quiet whimpering started to come from Ryoko.

Nagi heard this and said: "What's wrong, I thought a Fearless Space Pirate like you would not be
affected by this sort of trial."

Ryoko quietly replied. "Nagi, I have changed since you last chased me around the
Universe" (tears slowly forming in her eyes). "Damn that Zero, I can't seem to
Control my emotions anymore, and at that she started crying!

Nagi Couldn't believe her eyes, her worse arch rival known for her fearlessness and gaul, whimpering!
She had never imagined Ryoko being as human as the victims she had killed.

Through the tears, Ryoko asked Nagi, "Why did you want me dead?"

Nagi tensed up. "I lost the love of my life, Hiro Watanabe when you attacked SpralexVI.
He and I were partners in the Galaxy police. We were going to be married!!

Ryoko, through tearstained eyes said:
"That was one of the first Worlds Kagato made me attack.
I'm so sorry, I didn't know you were there, or that you were with the Galaxy police?
She continued crying, which slowly was getting to Nagi.

Nagi yelled at her! "I was until you killed Hiro!" (she took a heavy breath and continued.) "That's why I became a bounty hunter, so I could skirt the law that could have protected you and gave me my chance to kill you!"

Ryoko then said; "Oh God I now remember, Spralex VI was Kagato's home planet. He wanted it destroyed
because he didn't want anyone from his lineage to challenge him when he took over the Universe!
At least that's what he told me in my mindless state!"

Nagi was ... confused? "What mindless state??"

Ryoko cleared her throat an d continued,
"You can confirm this with the others. I had no control over what I did."
She sniffed, then said:
"Kagato had this mind control device in me. (Sniff) And the worse thing was I had
a ring side seat to the destruction, and murder that I was forced to do, and I
couldn't do a thing!"
She then started really crying, getting worse & worse each minute!

Nagi turned to Ryoko: "You mean that you had no control over your actions at SpralexVI,
none at All?" questioned Nagi.

Ryoko: (sobbing) "None, None at all, all those planets, all those people,
even children, I  keep seeing their terrified faces in my mind I just can't,
AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!"

Nagi started to see some images in her mind, realizing there from Ryoko's
memory. Washu is also seeing those images, the same one's she has seen for the 5000 years
she was trapped on Kagato's Ship.

Nagi yelled; "Snap out of it Ryoko! Ryoko, RYOKO!!"

Now Ryoko started having convulsions, and Nagi opened her mind link to her
distraught sister to help stop this attack and reassure her!
("listen to me Ryoko, I can understand now what you must feel about this,
and I now see I was wrong, as wrong as our mother for hanging us here to get us to
talk!") (Washu was crying in the next room, hearing all that was going on in her mind too.)
"Nagi I need you to see what I see, I need you to forgive me I need you to forgive me, PLEASE!!"

At that Nagi saw more of what Ryoko was seeing, all those horrible and deadly images her sister was reliving.
This was making Nagi more and more angry, but not at Ryoko, no not even at her mother Washu,
but at Kagato.
That rat-bastard, and what he put Ryoko through, then she thought what she put her
through!
Finally she started to feel some guilt in blaming Ryoko!
Washu Then mentally said: "Don't blame yourself for feeling guilty, you are just as much a
victim of Kagato,
as those people, as is Ryoko and I are!"
Nagi then felt her mother Washu in the next room,
she was also overcome by the images, helpless to release them.
Nagi then became enraged and started to power up. Eventually she broke her bonds,
she rushed to Ryoko, broke her bonds & with her in her arms, floated down to
the floor cradling her whaling sister trying to calm her down with
telepathic thoughts, ("I'm here Ryoko, I forgive you I see you had no way to stop yourself.")
Please calm down , please!
Ryoko then opened her link fully; "Help, Tenchi help me!"
She repeated this telepathically, as Nagi held her. Tenchi, Ayeka and Washu heard her.
Tenchi and Ayeka who were pre-warned of what Washu was doing ran to Washu's
door and tried to get in without success.
Washu thought, ("God I know I went too far now, I have to help!")
She crawled up to Nagi, who put a hand out ready to fire!
"Listen Nagi I know I blew it here, but I have something that will help Ryoko, if you let me help her!"
Nagi, took a minute to access her mother's intent, she linked with her to
know she was telling the truth, and she was ... too her amazement!

"I am holding my Former arch rival, now my sister, who does need help.
But, I also have a mother who is a genius in everything but her own family!
I could blast her to pieces," she thought, "but Ryoko needs help!"
("OK, but No tricks, I am keeping the link open!")
"I promise to you and to my little Ryoko that I will never pull this type of stunt again! Deal?"
asked Washu? With a unison thought, Ayeka, Tenchi, and Nagi said "OK!"
telepathically!

As she administered the sedative, she allowed to door to open to her lab,
letting Tenchi & Ayeka in!
Washu, I told you I didn't approve of this, yet you did it" Ayeka angrily yelled.
"When I comes to my daughters I can lose my perspective , I won't do this
again without consulting you and Tenchi.
"I'm so sorry," and they both telepathically accepted her apology.

Washu mentally berated herself. "I tried too hard to make Ryoko face her demons, I should have
thought it out better," She then began to cry for herself, and for her daughters!
As Tenchi held Washu,  Nagi said, "I know he kept you locked up in that
crystal, so this once I will forgive you for putting me and Ryoko through this,
BUT, when she regains her strength, We three will have a long talk, understand!"
Washu nodded yes ("At last, she wants to talk now") as she was helped up by
Tenchi , while Nagi and Ayeka help lift Ryoko up Tenchi then took her upstairs
in his arms and he took her to his room. Ayeka, and Nagi followed, as Washu
explained to the rest of the family what happened as she sat weakly on the coach!

Tenchi's bedroom:

As Ryoko was covered up in Tenchi's bed, Ayeka, Tenchi, and Nagi talked
briefly;
Ayeka: Lord Tenchi, I would want to stay and be here for her, I just don't
want her to wake up without us here to help her through this!
Tenchi was about to agree, when Nagi said, "Listen Tenchi I must be here
also", Before either one had time to talk" I have found a new sister who
opened up to me, and I have forgiven her for killing my Hiro, she just was a
puppet of the Bastard Kagato, I really wish he were alive, because I'd tear
his heart out!"
With that Tenchi answered; " I would be honored to have my future sister
in-law with us so when she does awaken, we will all be there to comfort and help her!"
He then hugged Nagi, Who was resistant at first, but then she hugged him back.
He then pulled 2 futon mats out of the closet and while he laid on one, Nagi was on the other, and
Ayeka laid next to Ryoko on Tenchi's bed, telepathically they linked so when Ryoko awoke,
they could all tell her that they were all here for her!

Fresh Air

As the others all went to bed, Washu, went out to the patio to breath in some night air
and to calm down from the failure that had been her attempt to help her daughters.
One was unconscious, while the other was angry at her attempt to help!
Oh, Gods, why can't I ever think straight when I comes to my family!
She Then did something very uncharacteristic, she climbed to the
roof and slept on the spot where Ryoko always liked laying down.
Just as she falls asleep, a warning signal wakes her up.
She calls her holo-pad from sub-space, and types in a few key strokes
Then her eyes widen!
 

In orbit around the moon

A screen shows Washu on the patio, visibly shaken!  It can't be, but it's
there, in synchronous orbit behind the moon, the Souja!!
"Well, well I see that there's a trouble in paradise" states a lone man seated
in front of the monitor who then made his way to some controls on a wall panel
and started a sequence that would put into effect an experiment that would
cause a reality to vanish, and put the Masaki clan in great danger!
I Kendo, will have my revenge against you Washu, and I will enjoy every minute
as your friends and family will be die horribly before you own eyes!

Well, Some dramatics here, and how will Washu get out of this with out some burnt feathers,
or body parts for that matter,  But first, we will see that events started by Kendo,
will have Devastating effects for a whole universe, as well as  one Lonely man and his daughter.
Next Episode: Chapter 6: Of Sorrow & Hope!