Chapter 137: Birds of a feather

It was only a few hours later that Tenchi found himself watching the sky.

Thinking even if begrudgingly that it was a glorious day.

The unseasonal warmth, more like late spring reminding him of his talk with Lady Ena at the shrine, while high overhead, the object of his current attention floated serenely on extended silvery wings. Almost appearing motionless in place against the sky.

It had struck him as odd how it could be hanging there.

Obviously, there was some trick to the dome still invisibly enclosing the valley which allowed the wind to enter and exit unimpeded.

He reasoned that he was probably over thinking the matter. It Probably wasn't important anyway.

His musings on the matter were interrupted as the bird suddenly dove.

Plunging earthwards with such speed it appeared almost to blur only extending talons at the base of its sweep as Tenchi continued to watch.

Its hapless prey had seconds to consider its misfortune before being wrenched skywards violently enough to instantly snap its spine.

"Excellent!" Azusa exclaimed, proudly observing.

Tenchi however merely found himself nodding. While he certainly didn't share the Emperor's apparent pleasure at the spectacle, he had to admit it was an impressive feat. Particularly in a creature quite literally 'blinder than a bat'.

He continued to observe mutely as 'The Sudain' or 'blind hawk' as the Emperor had named it, continued to climb with its burden. Banking only to level off as it drew near above, releasing when almost directly overhead. Sending its burden spinning earthwards to land all but at their feet.

"Yosho?" Azusa asked softly.

Prompting Tenchi's grandfather to walk briskly past where Azusa stood, towards what was now clearly a

very dead rabbit.

"Wow." Tenchi muttered softly. Believing he would never simply 'adjust' to seeing Katsuhito in such a subservient role. Yet, there his grandfather was, dutifully moving to where the bird had deposited its prey amid the tall grass.

But then knowing what he knew it was perfectly understandable after all.

"One can learn many things from nature young man!" Azusa told him. Perhaps misinterpreting Tenchi's mutterings.

"From the eternal forest we learn how to live in harmony!"

The Emperor extended his right arm as he was speaking. the bulk of it sheathed presently in a heavy leather gauntlet just as he was glancing again skywards.

"Return." Azusa murmured quietly. Diverting Tenchi's own gaze reflexively that direction to see the huge bird wheel almost instantly about in response to the almost whispered command.

Swerving in a long low arc before 'breaking' to land unerringly moments later upon the emperor's extended wrist.

"The animals teach us courage, tenacity and grace!" Azusa continued confidently, while folding his arm into a more braced position while Tenchi gazed again at the majestic bird, able of course to appreciate its beauty.

He found himself particularly marveling at the white iridescence of its plumage and of course its astonishing lack of eyes!

Tenchi however was unable to keep some disdain from coloring his features, hoping to avoid some elaborate lecture if for no other reason it simply struck him a tad disrespectful in Le of all that had transpired.

No doubt, The Emperor knew only too well of all his training under Katsuhito's wing as well.

Tenchi was also unable to avoid feeling some mild disgust at this display of the Sudain's hunting skills.

A feeling only mildly mollified by Azusa's assurance any prey the bird brought down on his behalf would most certainly find its place at table this evening. Even going so far as to state he found 'hunting' for the mere taking of trophy, an act of utter barbarism!

"Grandpa has said many of the same things over the years." Tenchi nodded his elders direction. Straining to keep his voice carefully neutral.

"The study of 'animal tenets' or the ways of nature is fundamental to the classic martial arts..." He continued.

"At least, here on earth." Tenchi added hastily after a moments thought.

Watching as a short distance away where Katsuhito knelt, retrieving the unfortunate rabbit, placing it in a bag. Upon quiet reflection of his statement just now Tenchi couldn't help but speculate how 'earthly' anything of such ancient origin could be. Giving all that he now knew to be true.

"And you do well to abide his teachings." Azusa nodded solemnly.

"Few among even our finest warriors are his equal!"

"Huh," Tenchi dryly remarked. "That almost sounded like respect."

Instantly he mildly grimaced at what had just slipped out of his mouth. He hadn't actually meant to just say it!

The Events of the previous evening had ... Softened? If that was the term, a good deal of the immediate harshness.

Ayeka seemed happy at least and Ryoko looked the picture of positive contentment!

And as far as himself?

The outcome seemed to have solved a great many of the 'issues' floating about.

But that was not to say that he was exactly happy with item 'B', even if it had led to conclusion 'C'. No matter how desperate things at point A might have been.

Perhaps, after the thing with dad this morning, Tenchi supposed he was just feeling a little Punch drunk?

Regardless of reasons however what was done was done.

"Do have a care boy." Azusa said evenly after a second.

"Or what? Old man?" Tenchi responded, his hackles instantly rising to the emperors tone.

Quite frankly he was sick of all the threats, veiled or otherwise!.

"Tenchi!" Katsuhito snapped, with utmost concern.

"Grandpa?" Tenchi glanced angrily that way.

"Back off!" He added emphatically. Feeling only slightly mollified at the look of shock now frozen upon his grandfathers face.

"I'm sorry!" Tenchi continued, refusing however to loose his momentum.

"But I'm tired of playing this game!"

He then turned, looking straight into Azusa's eyes.

"I have done just about everything I have ever been asked!" He added coldly.

"More! And up until now haven't really had a problem!"

He paused long enough to draw then release a breath, attempting to master some of his anger.

"Until you and your goons show up!

And start issuing threats, making demands and generally acting like a pack of assholes! Instead of members of any kind of family I've ever heard of!" He paused long enough to draw a single breath.

"And I'm telling you..." Tenchi continued coldly.

"It ends right here! Right now!"

"Tenchi!" Katsuhito all but shouted.

"Enough!"

"Grandpa..." Tenchi told him without looking. Raising two fingers of his left hand.

"With all due respect..." He added, focusing his full attention again upon Azusa.

"This is between me and him!"

"I would tend to agree." The emperor replied quietly.

Amazingly showing no apparent anger, Or any reaction for that matter.

Katsuhito however looked like he had just received a slap to the face.

Perhaps in a very real way he had.

"I'm guessing you didn't drag us all the way out here?" Tenchi added after a moment during which Azusa just continued to regard him.

"Away from the women and guards just to play with your bird?"

"Hmmm." Azusa finally murmured. Glancing about at the distant Tanzuru, having ordered them to keep their distance.

Flicking then his wrist, serving as signal for the huge Silver bird to again take wing.

"Very well. Young man?" He paused, giving the slightest of bows Tenchi's direction.

"What would you have of me?" he added sardonically.

"First of all," Tenchi began more than slightly surprised.

"Why all the blasted hurry? Rushing in here like that!" He wanted to know.

Pausing a moment then, marshaling his resolve.

"Even with all I have heard and pieced together ... From what I've seen, so far Jurians never take the fast track!"

"An interesting perspective." Azusa answered slowly, obviously amused.

"Quite 'earthly?' If I even understand the term."

Tenchi just continued to stare.

The pattern, Azusa's deliberate careful selection and delivery of words.

Clearly this was the template from which Ayeka patterned her way of speaking.

"Natural I suppose for one unused to the concept of true longevity." The emperor continued.

"But it does set the stage for what I must now tell you."

Azusa waited a notable instance again regarding the lush meadow about them.

Reflecting for a while upon the distant form of the soaring bird high over head. Before turning to face Tenchi fully.

"But as my precious Ena informed you ... I am dying young man." He finished simply.

Punctuating this ultimate of statements with the faintest of smiles.

"What... ?" Katsuhito breathed, letting the word out as a long slow sibilant sound.

"Oh yes." Azusa smiled at Katsuhito as he continued mildly.

"Quite so my son ... Though I'll admit some surprise at your mother not telling you at least!"

The moment in the meadow lengthened, noting but the gentle stirrings of the wind to mark its passaged as Katsuhito regarded the regal figure before him.

"How?" Katsuhito slowly asked at last, his voice little more than a harsh whisper.

"How c-can that be?" He continued, faltering slightly in the attempt while Tenchi stared grimly. Choosing to remain silent. Allowing his grandfather his moment of revelation.

"When Ryoko attacked, all those centuries ago she found us unprepared..." Azusa began quietly.

"Ripe for the kind of small-scaled high-powered assault she had been created specifically to deliver!"

The emperor paused briefly, his face shifting into something which looked like a smile but wasn't. Apparently considering some darkly humorous point.

"At the time of this crisis as you well know." He continued wryly.

"We had only just begun opening true dialog with the league of confederated worlds.

Even in the long aftermath of 'The Kain incident' the fleets of both Jurai and the league were still rebuilding. Still only the palest shadow of what once was."

Azusa then regarded Tenchi directly.

"Three hundred." He added gravely.

"That is the total number of vessels which stood between the worlds of the imperium and the mad destroyer! Most of them, cruisers and corvette class ships.

The rest comprised mostly of salvaged derelicts even some pleasure craft hastily commandeered and pressed into service!"

He paused shrugging.

"The rest you certainly know.

She had us ... Why Ryoko chose to leave however is anyone's guess.

Yet she departed, leaving the Jurian biosphere rent and burning.

With our negotiations and the treaty with the league still in the most timid of infancies.

Less than ten vessels total of the line possessed the new hyper-fold systems."

"One of which was Funaho." Tenchi nodded, understanding.

"Whose main unit had only just reached sufficient maturity for ship conversion two solar years previous." Katsuhito supplied solemnly.

"I could not have been more proud when informed she would be one of the first fitted with the new hyper-fold systems." He continued, favoring the emperor with a mild smile.

"And thus, the only one available during the discord, directly capable of pursuing Ryo-oki!" Azusa resumed.

"With Tsunami mysteriously gone, having inexplicably vanished in wake of sending Ayeka and Sasami away, I suddenly found myself bereft of my eldest son as well!"

"Father..." Katsuhito attempted uncomfortably.

"I remember..." The emperor continued unabated. Only sparing the briefest of glances towards his son.

"Watching from orbit, aboard the Rexsur as beneath me ... Jurai burned."

Azusa again halted, taking a moment to compose.

It was clear to Tenchi that even after all this time the memories evoked pain within the man. Even after all that he had seen and done, it was hard to imagine.

What it could have been like? He couldn't help but wonder.

Watching, helplessly as all that you had ever known or cared about was removed from you in great smoldering waves.

"It seemed for a time, all was lost." Azusa continued after this solemn pause.

"Even our master agrarians stringently recommended the total evacuation of the home world."

"Yet ... with everything else the universe had chosen to take from us..."

Azusa closed his eyes, seeing the scenes of lurid destruction again as he had time innumerable.

When he opened them again his gaze burned with intensity.