# 25

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The winds of change blow hard and swift.

"So, you live here all alone, huh?"

"That's right! I take care of the temple all by myself, now. My Grandfather left…. A while ago."

The blonde woman frowned, touching a finger to her lips as she studied the young man before her. "Well, would you be interested in coming with me, then?"

He looked genuinely confused. "Where?"

"To see the world, maybe? Come on, Tenchi. You can't live here alone forever."

"Well… Okay."

Sometimes a balance is upset in the process.

"So you'll train me in your style?"

The wizened old man frowned, studying the boy before him closely. "Well," he hedged hesitantly. "I might. But you're going to have to convince me that you're worthy, before I train you."

A new voice broke the stillness, crying, "Hey! I thought you were going to teach me!"

Grinning the man nodded. "Well, why don't you two have a challenge, to see which of you is worthy?"

And sometimes the balance is simply destroyed completely.

"You fool!" Achika spat, staggering to the earth and glowering at Tenchi. "You were my brother… But the one who comes next is going to be even stronger! Ayeka will destroy you!" With those words, and that statement complete, the woman slumped to the ground, unmoving.

Tenchi winced, knowing that he would be feeling the pain in the morning. "Kagato?" he asked hesitantly. "You okay? Ryouko?"

"Fine," Kagato said, a little shaken from the display.

Ryouko merely grunted, aloof as always, her cape flapping behind her.

"If…. If whoever comes next is stronger, we could be in trouble," Tenchi said quietly. "Ryouko, I need to train. I want you to take care of Yosho for me."

The strange creature was caught off guard, and her eyes widened. "Me?" she asked, shocked. "Why me?"

"I… I think I can trust you," he said hesitantly. "But we need to prepare for this… 'Ayeka'."

And sometimes the wind comes back to destroy even that more completely.

"So you're saying that you're me?" Ryouko asked skeptically of the figure before her.

Washuu turned away, looking upwards. "Yes. And if I perish, so too will you. My time is growing short. If you want to survive, we need to combine, to become one once more," she answered tersely. "Too long have I stayed up here when I should have realized that I cannot reject my evil desires, and I should have accepted them."

The ensuing silence was profound, and the redhead sighed, still looking away. "Well?" she asked, after a few minutes.

"Fine. Let's do this."

And sometimes, it gets even worse.

Spitting, the purple-haired warrior cursed, "Son Tenchi, I am the princess of the Juraiyajin, and I will prove that I'm more powerful than you!"

Tenchi shook his head, sighing. "Ayeka, just drop it. We need the Tree-Gems to summon Tsunami, and fast. We don't have time for this."

Kagato nodded nervously, rubbing at his head and mumbling, "We'd better hurry — the 'Tokimi Games' are starting soon. If we're late, there's no telling what she might do!"

Author's Notes: Dragonball and Dragonball Z are the property of Akira Toriyama. Tenchi Muyo! is the property of Pioneer.

I have no excuses, and right now, I really SHOULD.

Brian Randall

Who actually does feel guilty about this one… But not so guilty he can't still post it.

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Last revision: January 7, 2006