Chapter Six

"So this is the planet Jurai, huh?"

As Ryo-Ohki descended carefully onto the huge landing bay that jutted out from the immense royal tree, Nozomi pressed her face to the window, absorbing everything with wide, inquisitive eyes. "Wow...it's amazing. Truly amazing. Father, does your family really come from here? I mean, Great Grandpa was really born here, with all these trees and pretty flowers and everything?"

"Yes, he was." Tenchi grinned, nodding his head. "You'll have to ask him about his time here, sometime. He has a lot of stories, but he takes a bit of poking to get him to spill them. Still, you do have a knack with him that way - I'm sure he'd like to share his history with you, if he thought you were interested."

"Now I've seen it, I really am." Nozomi admitted, as the glittering hull of Sasami's immense ship dropped down gracefully beside them. "And Sasami-sama's ship is the most incredible thing ever. I mean, you're wonderful, Ryo Ohki - don't think I don't mean that. But wow...I guess that's what royal spaceships are like, huh? It's so beautiful - like it's made of crystal somehow."

"Tsunami-fune is a bit different from other royal ships, koneko-chan, but the theory is the same." Washu agreed. "Sasami is blessed with a special craft, but you'll no doubt see some of the other royal trees while we're here. There's a whole forest dedicated to them, and if you ask, I'm sure that someone will show you."

"They really are trees, then? Is every tree on Jurai a spaceship?" Nozomi turned to face her grandmother, looking startled, and Washu laughed, shaking her head.

"No." She replied. "Only the royal family have tree ships. The other trees you see are just that - though many of them are native to Jurai and aren't seen on the Earth at all."

"Are we getting out or are we staying here?" Ryoko demanded at that moment, and Nozomi blushed, looking sheepish.

"Sorry, Mother. I guess I was too busy staring at everything." She said apologetically. "Can we really get off here? It's like a giant tree branch - is it really strong enough to hold us?"

"The royal tree is more than a tree." Ryoko agreed. "But stop asking questions, will you? Ryo Ohki's getting restless and there's no point us all hanging around here."

"We're ready when you are, Ryoko." Tenchi assured her, and Ryoko offered him a rueful grimace, glancing up at the ship's reddish dome.

"All right, Ryo Ohki. You know what to do." She instructed. "Beam us down somewhere convenient, all right? Then you can transform and I'll find out what exactly Sasami has planned for us now we're here."

"It looks like we have a welcome party." Washu observed, as Ryo Ohki's glittering red transport beam conveyed them down onto the ground below. "Although I suppose it would be the height of bad manners not to greet the Empress's sister in some respect, wouldn't it?"

"It;'s funny thinking of Ayeka as Empress, now." Tenchi looked pensive. "Grandpa hasn't said much about his father's death, or whether he regrets the fact he wasn't there at the funeral. He's not discussed it at all, really - but it's odd, that Azusa isn't here any more. Ayeka will be a good Queen, but it makes things seem so serious all of a sudden."

"Well, this is the future she knew she'd have...and the one you turned down." Washu said playfully. "Still no regrets, Tenchi?"

"None." Tenchi assured her. "Though it's nice to visit, from time to time."

"Well, and welcome to Jurai." Sasami greeted them at that moment, a tall, well-featured man at her side and Nozomi eyed him curiously, taking in his unusual attire and his intelligent violet eyes. Thick waves of red hair cascaded down his back in the Juraian fashion, clasped back from his face at intervals, and as he caught her gaze on him he smiled, bowing his head in acknowledgement. Startled and a little embarrassed, Nozomi returned his gesture, and the man's smile broadened.

"Nozomi-chan, this is Kamidake, one of the Knights of Jurai and chosen of Tsunami-kami-sama." Catching sight of the exchange, Sasami was quick to introduce them. "Kamidake, our young Princess, Nozomi Masaki Jurai."

"My pleasure, Nozomi-hime." Kamidake's eyes twinkled, and he spoke in gentle, measured tones. "It's an honour to finally welcome you to Jurai."

"Nozomi...hime?" Nozomi blinked, then, "Gee, am I really a Princess here? I mean, I know that Father is descended from Kings and stuff, but..."

"You are a direct descendant of Azusa-heika, the late Emperor of this planet." Kamidake agreed gravely. "And as daughter of Lord Tenchi, it would be disrespectful to call you anything other than Princess. After all, your father and the Empress are blood cousins, and that makes you also a blood cousin to our Queen. Doesn't it?"

"I suppose it does." Nozomi pinkened. "I didn't think of that...how weird."

"Well, don't think on it too much." Ryoko advised her. "I'd like your head to fit through the door of the palace, and there'll be no royal airs and graces if I have anything to do with it. Understand? After all, Princesses don't get letters home for daydreaming in class, now do they?"

"No, Okaa-san." Now there was no hiding Nozomi's blushes, and Tenchi grinned, holding out his hand to grasp Kamidake's warmly.

"It's good to see you again, Kamidake." He said genially. "And to congratulate you, also, if Sasami's been telling us the truth."

"Congratulate?" Nozomi stared, then realisation dawned in her eyes. "Oh! You're the man Lady Sasami is going to marry!"

Now it was Kamidake's turn to look discomfitted, although he recovered his composure quickly, offering the girl a smile. He nodded, and Sasami linked her arm in his, affection sparkling in her crimson eyes.

"After a long wait, yes." She agreed. "When things are a little less chaotic for my sister, we will be married. And I hope you will all come, because you'll be most welcome, I assure you."

"Where is Lord Tennan?" Washu glanced around them in confusion. "I understood he came with you, and I hoped to ask him for news of my sister."

"Oh, I sent Seiryo on ahead with the palace escort." Sasami dismissed this with a flick of her hand. "He's gone to tell Ayeka we're back, and I didn't think you wanted to be crowded by a lot of palace soldiers when it's Nozomi's first visit and all. Better we welcome you than them - after all, you're not used to a whole lot of attention, are you Nozomi?"

"I guess not." Nozomi looked taken aback. She grinned sheepishly. "I hate being called out in front of the class, when I'm daydreaming...so I guess I'm glad you did it that way, Sasami-sama. It would be intimidating, if there were palace guards all around us."

"Lady Sasami?"

A man's voice came from behind them and Sasami turned, a smile crossing her face as she registered the man's presence.

"Azaka...do you bring word from my sister?"

"Yes, I do." Azaka stepped forward and Nozomi could tell that despite his graying hair, he moved smoothly and cleanly and was at the pique still of physical condition. He paused not far from them, bowing his head to the visitors, and eying Nozomi with an amount of well-mannered curiosity. Then he turned back to Sasami.

"Ayeka-sama would like you to come to her chambers. You, and Lord Tenchi, and Lady Ryoko." He said softly.

"Not Nozomi?" Sasami looked startled. Azaka shook his head.

"No." He replied. "She has some representatives from the Council with her and would rather receive Lady Nozomi when she's better able to welcome her to Jurai. The Councillors are eager to speak with Lord Tenchi upon his arrival, and Ayeka-sama believes Lady Ryoko would wish to accompany him."

"She got that right." Suspicion flitted through Ryoko's amber eyes. "If there's going to be a pow-wow, I'm tagging along."

"Lady Washu, I bring also a message from the Lady Tokimi." Azaka added, casting the scientist a smile. "She's eager to see you, and to exchange news...if you don't mind sparing the time."

"I always have time for Tokimi. Thank you, Azaka. I'll be sure to seek her out right away." Washu returned the grin with a mischievous bow.

"But what about Nozomi?" Sasami asked. "I don't want to abandon the poor girl when she's just arrived here."

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt if she took a look around." Tenchi said thoughtfully. "So long as she was careful, and didn't wander too far."

"It's all right - Ryo Ohki can keep an eye on her...can't you, Ryo Ohki?" Ryoko turned her gaze back towards the spaceship who let out a yowl of assent, her form shimmering and changing as she morphed into her mammal form. She leapt up onto Nozomi's shoulder, rubbing against the girl's ear, and Nozomi grinned, scratching her companion gently under the chin.

"Are you all right with that, Nozomi-chan?" Sasami asked anxiously. Nozomi nodded.

"Really, I'd like to explore." She agreed. "I...I'm a little bit nervous about meeting the Empress, and Jurai looks so beautiful. If it's all right with you, I'd like to explore just a bit."

"If Ryo Ohki is with her, she'll be fine." Washu said decidedly, and Nozomi saw a flicker of relief in her grandmother's green eyes. "Then we'll see you later, koneko-chan. Don't wander outside the palace boundaries and trust in Ryo Ohki to know where you're going, because she's been here many times before and she knows the place well. One of us will come and find you, as soon as we're done - so don't go too far. All right?"

"I promise." Nozomi said solemnly. "Ryo Ohki and I will be just fine!"

-------

"I guess nothing on this planet changes all that much when we're away."

As they walked through the ornately decorated halls of Jurai's Royal Palace, Ryoko cast a glance around her, a rueful smile touching her lips as she did so. "It's like we never left."

"Perhaps on the surface." Sasami said hesitantly. "But a lot has changed beneath it, Ryoko. Uncle was Emperor for a very long time. One of the longer reigns in recent history, and one of the most stable, too, in many ways. Remember, he pulled Jurai together after the death of Grandfather and in the aftermath of Kain's galactic onslaught. He's still badly missed - there are a lot of open wounds still waiting to be healed."

"That sounded almost Tsunami-like." Tenchi remarked, as Azaka led them through a series of arches towards Ayeka's royal apartments. Sasami blushed, looking self-conscious.

"Sometimes she speaks for me." She admitted. "The line between us gets thinner every day. But it's still true. It isn't just Ayeka and I who miss Uncle."

"It's hard to imagine that it isn't him we're going to see." Tenchi acknowledged. "Somehow I'm still having trouble getting the idea of Ayeka as Empress into my head."

"Well, I doubt that you'll feel that way, when you see her." Sasami assured him. "Whatever she's feeling inside, she puts on a good show for the Council and the representatives from outside our world. Since there are members of the Council with her, I doubt she'll drop her guard even a little bit."

She pursed her lips.

"I wonder if Shigure is among them." She added.

Before either Ryoko or Tenchi could respond, Azaka was ushering them into the Royal Study, and Ryoko found herself standing before the Empress of all Jurai, her fine clothing and the delicate coronet atop her brow indicating the superiority of her status. Grave ruby eyes glanced from one to the other, and her thick, silken hair was bound back from her face with the most ornate of clasps. She gave them a slight smile as her companions rose to their feet, bowing to acknowledge the entrance of the second Princess and her companions.

"Ryoko. Tenchi." She said in soft tones. "Welcome back to Jurai. I trust that you had a pleasant trip?"

"Not bad." Ryoko agreed. "We had a meteor storm to dodge past but otherwise it was plain sailing."

"That's good to know." Ayeka gestured to her councillors that they could resume their seats, and then indicated for her guests to follow suit. "You must be tired. Can I send for some refreshments?"

"I don't think we'll argue with that, if it isn't any trouble." Tenchi sent Ryoko a sidelong grin. "Ayeka, it's good to see you again - both you and Sasami. I wanted to tell you that I was sorry about Great Grandpa. He was always more your family than mine in a lot of ways, so I know you must both miss him."

"Thank you, Tenchi. Yes. We do." Ayeka's beautiful eyes became sad for a moment, then she seemed to regain her composure, shooting him a grateful smile. "But life must go on and so it does. Which brings me to you being here on Jurai. I admit, I was surprised to see you back so quickly. I thought that Sasami might take a little longer to persuade you that a trip here was necessary."

She paused for a moment, then,

"Tell me, is the Lady Nozomi really accompanying you on this visit?"

"Nozomi is here, yes." Ryoko agreed warily, suspicion flickering into her amber eyes as she eyed the Empress carefully. "Though we sent her off to explore with Ryo Ohki, since you didn't want her here right at the moment. Why are you so interested in my daughter, Ayeka? Why the sudden desire to bring her to Jurai?"

"There are many answers to that question." Ayeka admitted. "And it might take some time to properly explain all of them. I've arranged for you to eat with me here in the private chamber this evening - so long as you don't have any personal objections to doing so. I suspect that we will have many things to discuss and I would rather be able to do it at leisure."

"If it's no trouble." Tenchi nodded. "But what about Nozomi? She'll feel we've abandoned her, since we said we'd meet her shortly in the palace grounds."

"I can see to Nozomi." Sasami rose to her feet, casting her sister a warm smile. "I'll go and tell her that there's been a change of plan, and I can take the girl under my wing until either you or Washu are able to. I doubt she can have got into much mischief since we arrived, not with Ryo Ohki to keep tabs on her, but she might as well know the situation and I already know the things that you want to talk to Ryoko and Tenchi about, Ayeka."

"Indeed you do." Ryoko saw a faint smile pass between the sisters, and her suspicion increased three-fold. "Very well, Sasami-chan. If you will make sure Lady Nozomi is given all the due respect and deference of a Princess of Jurai, then I shall feel better about spiriting away Ryoko and Tenchi for my own ends."

"I'll go now, then." Sasami's eyes sparkled. "Ryoko, Tenchi, I'll see you both later. It's so great to have you back on Jurai!"

With which parting statement she was gone, and Ryoko turned her gaze back to the Empress, eying her cautiously.

"So what, exactly, is going to take you all night to explain?" She asked suspiciously. Ayeka sighed, folding her hands in her lap.

"I will be straight with you both, now you are here." She said at length. "There are many reasons why I sent Sasami to see you, and now I think it's time to properly explain them to you."


--------


"Everything is so pretty."

Nozomi paused, gazing around at the scenery with wide eyes as she took in the expansive Juraian landscape. "Don't you think so, Ryo Ohki? All this beauty and tranquility. There's nothing like this on the Earth - it's amazing. Trees and green for miles and miles."

The cabbit, who had been curled up carefully on her companion's shoulder preening her thick chocolate fur raised her gaze at this, offering a mew of agreement as she flicked her ears in the morning breeze. Nozomi smiled, reaching up to tickle the creature affectionately under the chin.

"Of course, you've been here before." She teased. "It's probably an old hunting ground for you now - you must be bored listening to me babble on. But I've always wanted to come here, Ryo Ohki. Always. And I've never been able to - not until now. Lady Sasami seems really sweet and I can't wait to meet the rest of her family. Or...well, they're Dad's family too, I suppose. In a way...though it's odd to think of it. Dad as a Prince of this planet - and Great Grandpa too. It's so funny. I can't imagine either one of them as Princes...can you?"

Ryo Ohki snorted, and Nozomi laughed.

"Oh yes, you've seen both of them as princes." She acknowledged. "But you know what I mean. Forgive me, Ryo Ohki. I'm just thinking out loud, that's all."

Ryo Ohki mewed in response, leaping down from her shoulder and into the thick blades of grass that covered the landscape as far as the eyes could see. With a playful squeal, she was off after a butterfly that ventured too close to her nose, and Nozomi shook her head in amusement.

"You never grow up, do you?" She teased. "All right. Play with the butterfly. I'm just going to explore a little further, Ryo-chan. I won't be far away, I promise. I know Mother asked you to keep an eye on me and I won't lose myself. I just want to see what's over that rise...that's all. Okay?"

The cabbit flicked her ears again in agreement, and Nozomi continued the steepening path that lead to the top of the hillock, gazing down in wonder at the scenery below. From her vantage point, she could see clusters of what could be houses, surrounding pure sparkling water-holes and the vibrant green branches of Jurai's symbolic plant grew all around, as if acting as town walls for each individual settlement. As she hovered upwards in the hope of a better view, she could see an impressive stone construction at the far side of the valley, and even from this distance she could make out the ornately carved tree symbol that covered the one wall.

"Trees." She muttered. "Everything is trees. Mother wasn't kidding about that, when she called it a tree-house planet. It really, truly is. And the palace is a tree also - that's so weird. This place is totally out of a science fiction novel - but I like it anyway. The sky is so blue and everything looks so healthy. I can't understand why mother hates it so much. How can you hate somewhere as pretty as this?"

She touched gently down onto the ground, turning to scan her surroundings for Ryo Ohki. The cabbit was curled up on the stump of an old tree, continuing her preening and Nozomi assumed that the butterfly had made good on it's escape, taunting and teasing the hunter before flitting off into the distance, beyond the reach of small furry paws. She smiled.

"Never mind, Ryo-chan. Next time, huh?" She said lightly. "We should probably start walking back, anyway. Mother didn't want us to go too far in our wandering around and they must have finished meeting with the Empress by now. Wow, the Empress. That sounds so weird...to think she's Dad's cousin!"

She shook her head as if to clear it, gazing back towards the crest of the Royal Tree that loomed high on the horizon.

"I can't imagine what it's actually like inside there." She mused. "I know we'll be staying there, so I'll find out soon enough. But to live in a tree - that seems strange to me. I suppose I'll have to get used to it, though, while we're here. I don't want to seem rude."

She beckoned to the cabbit, who bounded off her stump towards her, and together they made their way slowly back towards the impressive natural structure that had housed Jurai's royal family for generations. Already Jurai's sun was climbing high in the sky, marking it out to be a warm, dazzling day, but despite this it did not seem too hot, and Nozomi found that there was no need to remove her jacket or worry about the temperature.

"I wonder if that's another weird Juraian thing, huh, Ryo Ohki?" She mused aloud. "That it's sunny, but not scorching, so noone gets sunburnt?"

Ryo Ohki mewed her agreement, and Nozomi grinned.

"It must be nice, to have that kind of a summer." She reasoned. "When you can do anything and everything and not worry about heatstroke or getting burned."

"Who are you?"

The voice startled her, for she had not realised they had company and, as she turned, she registered that the speaker was only a little older than she was. He was dressed in a similar style to the robes Lady Sasami had worn, but despite the likeness there was nothing feminine or delicate about his attire and Nozomi almost had the impression she was looking on a soldier. His thick, long hair was pulled back from his face at the sides and then into a tail at the back, held there by an ornate silver clasp upon which was engraved another image of a tree. Nozomi frowned, noting that beneath the cape he wore, the shoulders of his outfit were embroidered with golden leaves, and the same emblem was marked out in black across the leather belt around his waist.

He bristled at her confused stare, his eyes narrowing as he returned her gaze.

"I spoke to you." He said softly. "Do you not answer me? Or do you just not know how?"

"I...I beg your pardon." Nozomi flushed red. "I didn't know anyone was out here. We were just taking a walk, and...well, I didn't know anyone else was here."

The young man tensed again at the casual, informal nature of her speech, eying her up and down. Then he frowned.

"What on earth are you dressed as?" He asked, in a tone which was only a little shy of outright disdain. "Are you part of the ground staff? I have never seen anything so ridiculous in all my life."

Despite herself, Nozomi's quick temper bubbled at this unflattering assessment of her appearance, and she glared at him, putting her hands on her hips.

"You don't have to be rude." She retorted. "At least I'm not the one dressed up like a tree-hugging hippy, with pictures of the damn things all over my clothing."

The man visibly flinched at this, genuine outrage flaring in his dark red eyes at her words.

"How dare you speak so disrespectfully about the emblem of this planet!" He exclaimed, his hand hovering for a moment over his belt, and Nozomi could see that a carved wooden hilt lodged there, partly hidden beneath the fabric of his outfit. "Do you have no idea who I am?"

"Aside from rude and an idiot, no." Nozomi said frankly. "But you're really starting to annoy me. I didn't ask you to talk to me, or to tell me what you think of my clothing. And I don't really care who you are - where I come from it's rude to make random comments like that to complete strangers."

"Where I come from, women dress as women and don't dress up like men." The young man shot back, and Nozomi glanced absently down at her jeans, defensiveness in her expression.

"I'm not dressed like a man." She retorted. "These are girl's jeans and they happen to be my favourites. Can't you tell the difference between male and female clothing? Or is it like your hair - do all the men wear theirs in long fancy ponytails?"

The boy stiffened at this, and Nozomi knew she'd hit a nerve.

"Only serving men cut their hair." He said coldly. "I am trained as a fighter, not as someone's servant."

"Well, either way, your attitude stinks." Nozomi put her hands on her hips. "I always thought soldiers were trained with honour, but I guess I was wrong!"

Ryo Ohki yowled at that moment, and Nozomi cast her a glance of confusion as the cabbit arched her back, eying the newcomer with a mixture of wariness and recognition. Her foe returned the cabbit's appraising glance, then snorted.

"Is that your pet?" He asked softly, the mocking tone still in his voice. "Did you trespass on royal property to exercise your little friend here?"

"I'm not trespassing." Nozomi protested hotly. "Mother and Father brought me here, and..."

"So there are more of you?" The youth's hand tightened around the sword of his blade as he glanced around him. "I'll give you some advice, whoever you are. This is private property. You and your family would do well to remove yourselves - and your creature - from here as soon as possible...because if you don't, the consequences may prove messy for all of you. Nobody enters the royal grounds without express permission from the Queen of Jurai, and I happen to know for a fact that she doesn't invite ragamuffins and tramps into her domain!"

"What are you, some kind of jumped up bodyguard?" Energy flickered from Nozomi's fingers as she launched herself angrily into the air, ignoring Ryo Ohki's warning mews to calm down. "Because you're not that much older than me, boy, and I don't like being threatened. Besides, I'm not trespassing. I was invited here by your precious Queen of Jurai, so there! I can't help it if you're not told every single thing that goes on in the throne room - but my father is her cousin, and..."

"Liar!" The boy exclaimed, cutting across her as he drew his weapon from it's scabbard, the blade glowing and flickering into a solid blue flame. "You push me too far, stranger - I don't fight women, but for you I might make an exception."

"Well, you might have to, because I have no scruples about fighting men." Nozomi snapped back, the glittering energy between her hands glowing and taking shape as she flexed her fingers in his direction. Several shards of bright golden electricity shot out across the green, scorching the grass where they landed and narrowly missing her companion by a few inches. "That was a warning. I'm not a nasty person as a rule and I don't like fighting people if I can help it. But you're rude and obnoxious and I don't like your attitude."

"I don't like yours, either." The boy's eyes glittered with hate. "You come here without permission, you dress like a common man or worse and you lie about being known to the Queen of Jurai. How would you expect me to react? Nobody dares to speak to me in such a fashion - and certainly nobody dares to attack me unless they want to be strung up for high treason!"

Nozomi narrowed her gaze.

"I'm not lying." She said flatly. "My name is Nozomi Masaki and I was invited here by the Empress of Jurai and her sister, Lady Sasami. Ayeka-sama is my father's cousin. I don't know who you are and I don't care - but your manners really stink."

"Nozomi...Masaki?" Despite himself the boy faltered, lowering his blade as he gazed at her in disbelief. "But..."

"Struck you speechless now, have I?" Nozomi lowered herself to the ground, but electricity still glowed around the edges of her fingers. Her companion's eyes became cold.

"I'm tempted not to believe you." He said, his words edged with ice. "No cousin of mine would dare to come to Jurai looking like that. To present herself to the Empress in such a way...it would be the ultimate disgrace, even one from a backward planet like the Earth."

"Cousin?" It was Nozomi's turn to stare, and her companion snorted.

"So you have as much idea of who I am as I did of your identity - which shows your true ignorance, doesn't it?" He said bitterly. "I am Shigure Imada Jurai, and I am the Crown Prince of this planet. Lady Ayeka is my mother."

"Crown...Prince...?" Nozomi's magic flickered out and she frowned. "And you talk about my manners! Is that how they teach Princes to behave, at your court?"

"It depends who we're called upon to address." Shigure's eyes glittered with animosity and derision. "I have heard of you, Nozomi Masaki Jurai. I know that the Council wanted to bring you here, and see you for themselves. They think you are special, because you were fathered by Lord Tenchi and you are descended from Azusa-heika's line. But I'm not stupid and I don't think that way. I'm not blind to your other roots, either. Your mother was a bastard-born space pirate and your grandfather a traitorous despot who slaughtered his friends and quite probably his own family in his quest to steal the throne. In my eyes, you're no true Princess of Jurai. And you will treat me with some respect, now you know who I am. Masaki or not, you are subject of Jurai while on this soil - and I am your Crown Prince."

Nozomi pulled a graphic face in his direction.

"That's what I think of your Crown Prince." She snapped back. "And don't you speak like that about my mother. You don't even know her and it's not nice to insult people you don't know. If you were in my class at school, I'd have melted your shoes to the floor for that...so be glad you're not. I don't let anyone badmouth my family, so you can shut up now."

"And if I don't?"

"Then I'll blast you across the hillside. I can, you know, and I don't care if you are a Prince." Nozomi flexed her fingers once again. "I have very strong magic and I'm not scared to use it...even on you."

"You have demon magic." Shigure shot back. "Inherited from a bastard pirate who spent time in jail for being the universe's worst kind of criminal!"

"And you have a little bit of wood that lights up when you touch it." Nozomi retorted. "You can't pretend to me that toy of yours is anything near my father's sword, and you wave it around like an inadequate grade-schooler. Maybe you think you're a soldier, because you're a Prince of Jurai, but with that puny little thing, only the mice would be running scared."

"Why you..."

"Nozomi...Shigure!" Sasami's voice interrupted the heated conflict at that moment and as the Princess approached them, Shigure seemed to remember that he still clutched his sword in his hand. He lowered it reluctantly, sliding it back into his belt, but the look of poison he sent Nozomi's way was no less venomous for his apparent submission.

Sasami cast them both a smile, then bent to scoop Ryo Ohki up into her hands.

"Well, Ryo-chan, how do you like being back on Jurai?" She murmured. "We must make time to talk later, mustn't we? It's been far too long since we've really had a chance."

The cabbit gave a yowl of pleasure, disappearing into her long, thick hair and Sasami laughed. Somehow the sound of her merriment broke up the tense atmosphere, leaving Nozomi feeling a little bemused by the sudden change. Shigure's expression became sullen as his aunt greeted him, but he bowed his head to her in deference to her status, and she seemed not to notice the reluctance with which he greeted her.

"So the two of you have met."

Sasami glanced from one to the other, casting Nozomi a wink. "You didn't waste time, Nozomi-chan. What do you think of our planet, so far? Now you've had a chance to see a little bit of it."

"It's very beautiful." Nozomi admitted. "But there are so many trees, Sasami-sama. I really don't know how you fit them all in."

"But the tree is the sacred symbol of Jurai." Sasami explained gently. "The image of Tsunami-kami-sama, Jurai's goddess and the keeper of the Tree of Life. Tsunami takes many forms, but the one that most people associate her with is the one that Shigure wears on his belt - the crest associated with the royal house of Jurai. Tsunami's tree is legend in itself, and is said to be the provider and supporter of all life on Jurai, no matter how small or insignificant."

"I see." Nozomi looked thoughtful, her spat with the prince forgotten for a moment as she contemplated this. "I didn't realise it was so complicated. So all the trees are sacred? Even the ones who aren't royal ships?"

"Yes." Sasami nodded. "Cutting down a tree on Jurai is a great sin indeed. Only those who have died or been felled by nature in some way are allowed to be taken down. Trees are sentient, just like you and me -and you wouldn't cut down a person, now would you?"

"I guess not." Nozomi blushed, looking rueful as she remembered her threat to Shigure only moments before.

"Aunt Sasami is Tsunami-kami-sama's chosen one." Shigure said quietly, sending her a pointed gaze as she did so. "One day she will be bonded with the Goddess completely, and they will be one person again."

"Is that true, Sasami-sama?" Nozomi stared at her, and Sasami laughed, nodding her head.

"In a sense, yes." She agreed. "Tsunami and I are one and the same thing - but we have not yet completed our unification process. But Shigure is right. One day, I will be Tsunami-kami-sama in human form...just as she was so many milennia into Jurai's past."

"Wow." Nozomi stared. "I didn't know you were a real live goddess."

"You don't seem to know anything." Shigure muttered. "Including how to treat the Royal Family with any due respect."

"My Father taught me to be respectful to those who are respectful to me." Nozomi snapped. "And my Mother taught me to blast the hell out of anyone who wasn't. Guess which category you fit into, Prince Shigure."

"Oh, so you've already had a chance to get to know each other a little, I see." Sasami looked amused at the sparring, clasping her hands together as she eyed them playfully. "That's good - you've broken the ice at least."

"But why is she here, Aunt Sasami?" Shigure demanded. "Because the council whined at mother about their so called prodigal princess?"

"Not really." Sasami looked pensive, slipping one hand into Nozomi's and the other into Shigure's as she began to lead the way back towards the palace. "The truth is, Shigure, Nozomi-chan is a direct lineal descendant of the first Jurai Emperor, just like you are. And she is the great, great grandaughter of Uncle Azusa, hence the council's interest in her. You know that much though, don't you, Nozomi? That your father is descended from great Kings of this planet?"

"Yes." Nozomi agreed. "But I didn't realise there was another reason for me coming here. I thought we were just visiting family. That at long last I was going to see Jurai...is it more than that?"

"I'm afraid you've been misled, and it's partly my fault." Sasami looked apologetic. "But the business is a little delicate and I didn't know how you might react if we discussed it on the Earth. Similarly, Shigure, I know that your mother and father haven't mentioned this to you in as many words, either. But I believe Takeru-san has talked to you about Jurai's power in recent weeks - hasn't he?"

"Nagged me, more like it." Shigure groaned. "Yes, Aunt. He has."

"Good."

Sasami eyed Nozomi for a moment, then,

"Of course, you do both realise that, things being as they are, if anything were to happen to Ayeka, the future of Jurai's throne may be in doubt." She added softly. "Since it's not entirely clear where the crown should fall next."

"That's crazy! I'm Mother's heir!" Shigure protested. "I'm her son - you can't get any more direct than that!"

"Did your father also explain to you the connection between the crown and the Jurai Power, oi-chan?" Sasami asked gently. Shigure frowned, and Nozomi saw a look of consternation enter his dark red eyes.

"Yes." He admitted. "But it's a matter of time, surely? I mean, you said yourself - I have the magic. I just haven't quite, well, woken it up yet. It can take time...it's not like I'm not doing my best."

"I know." Sasami soothed. "But the fact of the matter is, Shigure, you are not the only living claimant to the Jurai throne. There are many others who could inherit after your mother dies. I could, although I have foresworn the throne and any claim to it because of my link to Tsunami. Nozomi's father Tenchi could, also - but he has already refused it once, and I doubt he'd be persuaded to change his mind. Besides, Tsunami would rather keep him away from the crown if she can - he has certain gifts which are not bestowed on Emperors, and not given to those in positions of potentially abusive power."

She paused, and Nozomi frowned.

"I've never really seen father use his magic." She admitted. "Is he very powerful, Lady Sasami?"

"If he wants to be, yes." Sasami agreed. "Certainly more powerful than my sister Ayeka, should he so choose. But he's a peaceful man, Lord Tenchi. And a quiet one, also. So he chose not to inherit the crown of Jurai."

"So far it's all leading back to me, Aunt." Shigure said impatiently. "And what has any of this got to do with that creature, there?"

He jerked his head in Nozomi's direction, and she poked her tongue out at him in return. Sasami let out a low chuckle.

"The fact of the matter is, Shigure-chan, that at the moment, Nozomi has a better claim to Jurai's throne than you do." She said simply. "She has Jurai's power and she's woken it. You haven't. That essentially puts her above you in the succession...until you wake your magic, there's every possibility that Nozomi could be crowned heiress of Jurai."