Outtake #2: Ryoko accepts the Gems

To set the scene: This was originally the scene with Ryoko and the gems for the Dying Tree, after her confrontation with Washu. In the end I just wrote it differently J

She had been gone a long time.

Tenchi paced across the deck of Ryo Ohki, pausing every few moments to glance out across space to the zone he knew Washu's laboratory stood. What had been intended as a brief confrontation seemed like it was turning into a long discussion, and try as he might to put it out of his head, the delay in her return worried him.

"Father?"

Nozomi's voice startled him out of his reverie and he glanced up, taking in his companion's features. Ryoko's golden eyes stared back at him and he looked sheepish, offering her a slight smile.

"I'm sorry. I'm off with the fairies." He said ruefully. "I was just thinking about how long it's taking, that's all. I thought she'd be back by now."

"It is taking her a long time." Nozomi nodded her head, coming to join him at the window of the craft. "Do you think she's all right, down there?"

"Who? Washu or Ryoko?" Tenchi raised an eyebrow. "Because the mood in which Ryoko went down there..."

"I meant Ryoko. I meant...I meant Mother." Nozomi dropped her gaze. "I should not have said anything. Tsunami warned me about revealing too much of things while I was here - that it was bad enough I had to come back without warping and twisting the future of the people living here. Now I've let her down in a big way...whatever happens from hereon in, I've changed something I should not have changed."

"Perhaps you didn't." Tenchi offered. He paused, then put a gentle arm around her shoulders. "Listen. This whole thing is confusing for all of us, you know that. But what's finalised and fact to you is still going on for us. The future can change. It will change. Heck, it is changing right now, because in your time, all of this never took place. And that's why Tsunami sent you back. She knew you would make changes. Perhaps this is one of the changes that's necessary. You never know."

"Maybe." Nozomi still looked troubled. "But we have a big battle ahead of us, don't we? Having seen what Kagato is capable of, I can't pretend I'm not afraid to face him."

"That's all right."

Ryoko's voice made them both jump, swinging around as their missing third flickered and blurred into view aboard the ship. Her expression was unreadable, and as Tenchi tried to meet her gaze, she dropped her eyes to the ground, something concealed in her hand.

"I have no intention of making you fight anyone." She continued, turning her gaze on the young girl. "You've done enough, coming here. This is our battle, though. It isn't yours. Tsunami didn't send you here to die in our time."

"If something happens to one of you, I'll never exist anyway." Nozomi protested. "So this is my fight, and I'm going to be a part of it! You can't keep me out of it, Mother! You can't die to protect me this time, because if you die I'll already be dead. Tsunami wanted me to help you and that's why I'm here. I know what's at stake and I'm not a little girl. I'm capable and I'm ready. Just tell me what to do and I'll do it."

Tenchi eyed the girl keenly.

"You know, sometimes you remind me of someone else." He said dryly, his gaze flickering in Ryoko's direction. Ryoko caught the look out of the corner of her eye, and colour flooded her cheeks, shaking her head.

"Don't." She said frankly. "We haven't time for this. We have to stop Kagato. Washu might have lied to me and she might be a royal pain in the rear, but she's right about something. It is down to us to resolve this. You and me, Tenchi. And she didn't say anything about Nozomi."

"I want to help!"

"What did Washu say, exactly?" Tenchi asked, and Ryoko shrugged her shoulders.

"Many things, most of which don't matter right now." She said flatly. "But she did tell me that this whole battle with Kagato was the reason I was born in the first place. The whole thing...every part of my existance was designed for this showdown. So I guess I can't escape from it any more. Whatever will be, will be - it's time I faced him a second time."

She flexed her fingers, glancing at the box in her hand.

"And we'll hope this time the odds are better in my favour." She added.

"What's in that container?" Nozumi looked startled. Tenchi's heart skipped a beat, and he shook his head.

"No, Ryoko." He said quietly. "Those things hurt you, they don't help you. They're dangerous and they could kill you. I won't let you risk your life like that."

"Tenchi, see sense." Ryoko spoke in level tones. "Without the gems I don't stand a chance against Kagato. With them, my odds are pretty iffy, too. But at least we both know that my magic is enhanced when I'm using them. Whatever the consequences are for me, I haven't got much of a choice."

"Tsunami's gems are in that box?" Nozomi's eyes became wide with surprise. "You're going to use them against Kagato?"

"Well, they're not really Tsunami's gems any more." Ryoko said simply. "Kagato meddled with them, so they'd recognise his genetic pattern. Since I'm unfortunate enough to be his next of kin, I guess that makes them mine, now. And so yes. I'm going to use them against Kagato."

Her voice caught slightly at the end of her speech, and Tenchi moved to her side, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"You don't have to do this." He murmured. "It's not like you're going on your own. I'm going to be with you, Ryoko. Between us we might not need the gems."

"And if they're tuned to Kagato, what's to stop him taking them from you?" Nozomi asked. Ryoko shrugged.

"Washu seems to think that when they've bonded with someone, then they'll stay that way." She said. "Kagato never got to properly use the gems. Washu stole them from him when she was studying on Jurai, and then when he took them from...from Kichi when I was a small girl, he lost two of them to Haki. He's never had the complete set together. But I have. The gems recognise me. It's as simple as that."

"They might recognise me also, then." Nozomi remarked. "Since I was born after your fight with Haki...maybe they're attuned to me too, Mother. Maybe I could help you...maybe..."

"I already told you no!" Ryoko cut across her, sending the girl a most un-maternal glare. "You're not going to touch these crystals - do you understand me? They're mine to use and that's the end of it."

"But..."

"But nothing." Ryoko shook her head. "Maybe you are my daughter, maybe you aren't. I don't know, yet. That future, it hasn't happened and it may never happen, if we change things the way we all know we have to. But either way, you don't want this poison in your bloodstream. And if you are kin of mine, I'm not going to let you anywhere near it."

She pointed to the floor, kicking at the trap door that led to Ryo Ohki's hold. "I want you out of the room, Nozomi. If I'm going to open this box, I don't want any risk that the gems will get confused. Your own magic is strong, and I'm not going to chance it."

"I'm not going anywhere!" Nozomi protested. "I'm part of this just as much as you are!"

"Out!" Ryoko exclaimed. "I mean it, Nozomi! If you want to help you'll do as I say and stop questioning my judgement! I know what these things are capable of, and I know what I'm doing. Just do as you're told, will you already? I don't have energy to waste fighting with you."

Tenchi glanced between Ryoko and Nozomi, seeing identical looks of obstinacy in their gold eyes. Then Nozomi sighed, dropping her gaze.

"All right." She said reluctantly. "But I'm not keeping out of the fight with Kagato, Okaa-san. So don't expect me to stand back and let you both get killed."

With that she dropped through the floor to the hold below, leaving Tenchi and Ryoko alone.

For a moment there was silence between them, then Tenchi raised his gaze to his companion.

"Was that really necessary?"

"Tenchi, I don't know who she is." Ryoko said quietly. "But either way, I'm not sending her into battle with a madman. Washu might be willing to throw me out as cannon fodder, but I'm not going to be the same way. Enough people already died because of Kagato. Nozomi isn't going to be another one."

She glanced at the capsule in her hand, then sank down into the pilot's seat, turning it over and running her finger along the base.

"I wish you wouldn't open that." Tenchi looked troubled. "You know what they can do, Ryoko. You said it yourself. They might kill you - and where would Nozomi be then, huh? You can't protect her from not existing, she was right about that."

"Right now my focus is on Kagato, and we'll worry about what comes next if there is a next for us." Ryoko said darkly. "Whatever you say, you know I haven't got any other option. Stop making it harder."

Tenchi held out his hand for the capsule, taking it and glancing at it.

"So much power trapped inside something so small." He said softly. Ryoko nodded.

"Size isn't everything, I guess that's what they say." She agreed. She closed her eyes, as if giving herself a mental pep talk. Then she glanced at him, gesturing towards the capsule.

"All right." She said quietly. "Open it."

"Are you sure?" Tenchi eyed her keenly, noting the slight tremble in her hands as she held out her arms, palms up to receive the gems. "Ryoko...are you scared?"

"What do you think?" Ryoko snapped. "I've died because of these things once and I don't really have happy memories of the experience. Just get it over with already, will you? Before I lose my nerve completely!"

Tenchi hesitated for a moment. Then, very carefully, he released the catch on the capsule. It gave a soft click, and a dim flare of reddish light began to creep out from around the edges. As he lifted the lid up fully, the three crystals hovered and shone, sparkling with a strange, eerie glow. Ryoko closed her eyes, holding her wrists higher as the stones began to gravitate towards her. As they made contact with her skin, Ryoko let out a shriek, and Tenchi fought the impulse to touch her, unsure as to whether his hands would cause her more pain. Another heart-wrenching shriek echoed out across the vessel, and Ryo Ohki let out a mournful yowl in sympathy. Then, the brightness of the red light faded, and all was quiet once more.

Tenchi tossed the empty capsule to the floor, crouching at Ryoko's side. Her eyes remained closed, her brow creased in intense concentration, and beads of perspiration formed on her brow as she fought to take control of the gems' sinister power. Shivers ran through her body and despite himself, Tenchi could not hold back any longer. He slid his arm gingerly around her, holding her tightly in his arms. She let out a faint whimper, and he ran a gentle finger down her cheek.

"Ryoko?" He whispered softly. "Can you hear me?"

"Tenchi..."

The word was faint and barely coherent, but it gave Tenchi hope and he clung to it.

"Ryoko, you know what you have to do." He whispered. "You have to control your fear of these things or it will control you first, you know that. You are strong enough to manage these jewels, because you've done it before. And you're one of the bravest people I've ever met. You've fought harder battles than any man I know and still come out the other side. I believe in you, so don't stop believing in yourself. They're strong, I know that. But you have to take control. Like you did aboard Karasu, remember? This battle is just as important...if not more. There's just as much at stake."

Ryoko's eyes flickered open, and she glanced up at him through strange, almost fevered eyes.

"I want to kill him." She whispered. "That's what we have to do, Tenchi. Find Kagato and kill him. All of this is his fault! I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for him and his stupid greed!"

A shudder wracked through her body and she gripped hold of his arm tightly, making him wince involuntarily.

"I can master this." She muttered. "The last time, I was already acclimatised to two gems when the third one hit me. This time it's so much stronger...I wasn't expecting it to be so hard."

"It's not harder than you can manage, Ryoko-chan." Tenchi told her gently. "We both know that."

"Well, Washu said that if you can feel pain, you're still alive." Ryoko drew a shaky breath of air into her lungs, glancing down at her wrists as she did so. "Take it from me, Tenchi. I'm definitely alive. And that being the case..."

She faltered, then struggled to her feet.

"We have a Juraian traitor to track down and deal with."