Tomorrow is Another Day

A/N -  I forgot to say this in the preface. For anyone trying to figure out which Tenchi story-line I'm using, I'm sticking with the original Tenchi Muyo with a dash of Ryo-Oki. If you haven't seen both of these series there may be spoilers and a bit of lost confusion in later chapters. As for the Inyuyasha timeline this takes place after Naraku is defeated and the Jewel is purified.



Again- "blah blah" = talking

blah blah = thoughts (since perspectives change I do try to make it more obvious who is thinking what but if you get confused it will follow the same rules as spoken dialog)



Warnings- Foul Language

Chapter 1 – Starting the Chase.



The spring day had blossomed into a sweet and clear noon when Ryoko finally hovered over Tokyo. The mass of writhing humanity below, a river of people moving from place to place on foot, had no idea that a gleeful alien was staring down at them. Before they had gotten far Ryoko had ordered her ship, the Ryo-Oki, to engage the cloaking drives. It was Galaxy Police law that Earth remain unknowing of the existence of life elsewhere in the galaxy, not that it mattered to Ryoko. But Tenchi would be angry if she did anything to get herself on the news such as zipping over Tokyo only 50 feet above the roof-line like she was now. So she willingly followed the GP laws about revealing her presence.



Ryoko sighed. I can't have Tenchi mad at me when I give him his present. A small cloud passed over throwing the city below into shadow. But what am I going to give him... I still haven't decided and I know I don't have long till that bratty princess figures out something too.



Sighing again the ex-pirate relaxed her grip on the control crystals. They settled out of their frantic sweep and into a moseying exploration of the city. Ryoko continued to try and brain storm as the rush of citizens going about their business below become hypnotic.



People... tons of people... coming... going... all of them moving together and yet separately. It was not usually in Ryoko's nature to space out when she was on a mission involving Tenchi but this flowing ocean of bodies moving slowly yet still passing quickly out of her sight. Ryoko had seen many more people than this before... some of the cities she had attacked while under Kagato's command had been bigger then the entire population of this planet, however she had never had the chance to observe a population of any size milling around on their day to day lives. Usually they were running away screaming, clutching children close... Ryoko retained only a fraction of those memories today but the broad difference in the setting below had her studying it deep in thought when she was suddenly jerked to one side as the ship began a rapid sliding decent.



“MeeeeeeeooooooooWW!” Ryo-oki's wailing cry drowned out Ryoko's first expletive reaction.



“Shit! What hit us?!” Ryoko tried to join her mind to Ryo-oki's in preparation for battle but it failed. What!? The cabbit whose thoughts she could usually read easily was completely focused on one thing... landing... now...



Ryo-Oki, What the hell is going on?



Instead of answering Ryoko's silent demand the ship continued to plunge and Ryoko cursed as she sensed the intent to return to animal form. Damn! At least wait until I'm outside!!



Ryoko was then forcefully ejected. Scowling she fell from the sky and let herself land slowly onto a branch of a tree. What on Earth has gotten into that Cabbit?! Tenchi's going to be mad if anyone saw me pop into existence out of thin air.



Following the path of the small ball of light with her eyes she watched as her deviant friend landed in the middle of a park path not far away. Luckily there were few people around, just a vendor and his customers, and they all concentrating too hard on their own lives to notice an out-worldly light land just 30 feet down the path. The small fuzzy cross-breed hopped without caution straight up to the vendor.



Damn... Ryoko was up and moving. Most people would take Ryo-Oki for a rabbit at a distance but up close was another story. I have to get to her before any of those people notice her. Using her fazing ability to move across the space invisibly as well as instantly she grabbed Ryo-Oki and moved far back into the bushes with her struggling captive.



“Meooow! Meoooow! Meooooooooow! Meooow Meooow!” Trying hard to keep a grip on the squirming cabbit while she kept a look out to make sure no one came to investigate the source of the wailing, Ryoko sent a thought.



What do you think you are doing?! If those humans saw you Tenchi would be mad at both of us for coming to the city alone... And just what drove you to kamekazi dive to the ground in the middle of the city?



“Meow Meow Meow...” Sighing Ryoko tried once again to read the thoughts of her companion. She got a memory impression of something orange and crunchy. Looking back towards where they touched down she saw a family walk by with a small child holding an orange lump on a bamboo skewer. Of all the... You stranded us in the middle of the human populous for deep-fried CARROT ON A STICK!!



“Meow...”



Ryoko's eyes flashed with anger first, then humor. She sighed and looked into the eyes of what she knew was her oldest friend. “Well then” she said aloud with a smile, “Lets go get some with Ayeka's money.”



“MEOW!” The cabbit's delight was only matched by her haste but as she prepared to hop out of Ryoko's arms the demoness held her tight.



“Now hold on... If we are gonna do this we have to do it smart so Tenchi doesn't get mad.” She gave Ryo-Oki a wink. “Just lay in my arms and don't move, Okay?”



“Meow?” Two sets of gold eyes met and came to an understanding.



Ryoko headed back to the vendor on foot. The line had grown a bit so she went the the end and stood. She stayed alert while trying to look smooth. The line moved slowly and soon Ryo-Oki began to fidget. Not chancing a verbal order Ryoko relied on her bond. Settle down. We have to wait in line and if you keep moving people will realize you aren't just a stuffed doll.



The impatient response came over the telepathic link. Meow~ Sighing Ryoko noticed it was time to step forward a bit and that there were only a few more people ahead of them. She took her place while Ryo-Oki continued to emit sad begging meows silently. By the time they were next in line the cabbit was making involuntary twitches as the aroma from the vendor's cart wafted hotly on the small breeze around them.



The young couple ahead of them walked away laughing, each with a carrot stick in hand. The vendor turned he gaze to her as she approached the cart. “Five carrots please.” The vendor gave her a questioning look.



“Tat'll be a 'undred an' ninedy yen each makin' fer nine 'undred an fifdy yen all.” Ryoko got out Ayeka's purse and started the long task of counting out the money. She put Ryo-Oki down with a silent command to stay motionless as she grabbed out bills and laid out an amount on the cart before grabbing the bag and opening her arms to let Ryo-Oki discretely into her embrace. She then walked away contending with an overly excited cabbit and thinking of how she was going to shop on foot in a thriving metropolis she failed to notice the commotion she behind her.

 *    *    *

Still with the vendor a near riot had started the moment the lady pulled out those huge wads of cash. Only the air of invulnerability that seemed to be around her stayed off the greedier observers. When she laid a relatively small pile of it on the cart the vendor had to act quickly to avoid having it tipped over and his money snatched.



Unbelievable... Tat lady jus' 'anded ova' a fortune... Momma, I'm goin' to Florida!

 *    *    *



“Meow... ”



“Shut it!”



Ryoko had begun to lose her patience with the city long before she lost her bearings in the forever shifting crowd. The mass of people moving to the heartbeat of the city pressed against the demoness and her distressed cabbit. “You just had to land in a random park in the middle of Tokyo city,“ Ryoko sighed with agitation. I have absolutely no idea where the gift shops are in this area of town and I can't fly up to get a good look or Tenchi will get mad at me... “now we have to find a private place before I can look around or you can eat your carrots.” Fuzz tipped ears drooped as the cabbit whimpered and smelled her prized carrots cooling.



Ryoko sighed again as she moved within the throng of city goers in search of a private place to eat and regain her sense of direction.



*    *    *

(half an hour earlier)



Instantly Kagome realized she had been foolish. Bushes and branches whipped her as she sped down the side of the stair case. This was probably not the best idea... but I have to get there and fast. The Shikon no Tama absolutely CAN'T be back in Tokyo... can it? Kagome winced as the bike's front tire ran over a large rock and then slammed down onto the path and stuck in the soft dirt. Inertia pushed the body of the bike forward pitching Kagome into the air.



A wail filled the air as Kagome saw the ground rising up to end her flight. Closing her eyes against the impact the young priestess was surprised when she imagined she heard her name being called moments before she hit.



“Keh... “ The ground grunted as she hit it. When she open her eyes the world was washed out in a single color. That's odd, the world is red. A few strands of silver hair slid into view, and it smells like Ji-chan's shampoo... Kagome closed her eyes and tried to think but was interrupted when the ground shifted and grunted again.



“Keh... you alright?..” As she opened her eyes a familiar face faded into recognition, streaked with dirt and filled with concern.



“Inuyasha... ?” Kagome looked up into the face of the one she loved, surprised at the honest feelings reflected in it at such moments. She blinked and tried to collect her thoughts away from how handsome Inuyasha looked when he wasn't trying to hide how he felt about her. She blinked again and looked away from his face.



Her bike was still stuck in the pit above her on the hill, but she was sitting about 30 feet downhill and cushioned in Inuyasha's lap. Blushing she tried to stand but was restrained by arms around her. As the “ground” caught it's breath it decided to speak... er, growl.



“Dammit Kagome! Just what the Hell were you thinking!?” Inuyasha's eyes were guarded now but nothing could hide his anger.



Kagome sighed. ...and there goes that tender moment...



“You would have split your stupid head open if I hadn't been here to catch you... ” Inuyasha's eyebrows knit together as he struggled with his anger and concern, he looked away trying to collect himself.



Kagome knew he was working hard to reign in his temper. I better let him know about the jewel quickly before he loses it.



“It's back, Inuyasha.” The seriousness in her voice got his attention and he looked down at her again. She looked into his eyes. “The jewel is here in Tokyo.” Looking at her bike she continued. “I felt it just as I was about to cross through the well and it's moving closer.”



Silence reigned for several moments while her statement sunk in.



“Are you sure?” She glanced up again. His face was for once as unreadable as stone as he returned her glance eye-to-eye. When she nodded she was quickly jostled into a piggy-back position. She looked at his face again and found it set with determination.



“I'm sure, but there's something odd about it. It's much stronger than in the past... “ She saw his eyebrows go up, then they returned as his face set into a smug smirk.



“It's stronger? Keh! We'll see about that... where is it?”



She concentrated on her sense of the jewel and was surprised that it had changed direction. As she focused she realized something. I can't believe how fast it's moving... What on earth can move like that? Even Kouga would be left far behind. She frowned as it changed direction again moving wildly. I don't think even a fighter jet could change directions like that... Her concentration was broken as the hanyou beneath her stood up.



“Well? Which way?” Having forgot his anger in the shock, he was radiating impatience and eagerness. Sighing Kagome opened her eyes.



“It's moving around like crazy. I don't think we can catch it if it keeps changing directions at that speed,” She pointed to the east. “but it's mostly staying in that direction.” The answer before she was jolted by his leap down the hill was a single syllable.

“Keh.”



To be continued...

 

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A/N - Well despite my interest in most things, the price of cabbit-prone Japanese street food is not something I know. If it's that unbelievable, pretend okay?



Because everything has to be “ON A STEECK!” Lol if you don't get it, it's okay. Jeff Dunham is not for all.