In the hopes of making NNFS more enjoyable for those people who may have no idea what Tenchi Muyo is, I've redesigned this section with more information that should hopefully fill in the gaps for every reader.

What is "Tenchi Muyo"? - Tenchi Muyo is an animated series that was released in Japan about five years ago and released soon after in the United States. Translated as No Need for Tenchi, the story deals with Tenchi Masaki, a Japanese high school student who one day releases a demoness from a family shrine by accident. The demoness, Ryoko, was sealed in the shrine for 700 years by one of Tenchi's ancesters, Yosho, and takes her frustrations out on Tenchi. Lucky for Tenchi, he stumbled across Yosho's powerful sword in the shrine and was able to defeat Ryoko. Interestingly enough, the ancient sword contains several power gems that Ryoko could really use, so she tries seduction over force to win over Tenchi and the gems. At the same time in space, a royal vessel from the planet Jurai (the home world of the empire that rules the galaxy) approaches Earth containing the two daughters of the Jurai emperor, both of which have been in suspended animation for 700 years. The older princess, Ayeka, is searching for her fiance, Prince Yosho, who disappeared 700 years ealier chasing the space pirate, Ryoko, who attacked the palace. Her fun-loving eight year old sister, Sasami, travels along for unknown reasons.

Ayeka's ship tracks Yosho's trail to Earth, pulling both princesses out of suspended animation when they spot Ryoko. In a fierce battle, Ayeka and Sasami meet Tenchi and realize that he is a descendent of Yosho, who seems to have been dead for centuries. A distraught Ayeka, over the course of months, starts to fall for Tenchi and fights Ryoko on a daily basis for his affections. It should be noted that Tenchi is characterized as a very indecisive fellow, while Ayeka is an extremely haughty and proper princess, and Ryoko likes to act totally uninhibited. There are a number of other off planet chacters who arrive into Tenchi's life one way or another, including Mihoshi (a bubble-headed blonde who happens to be a member of the Galactic Police), her partner Kiyone (who can't stand Mihoshi), Ryoko's mother Washu (literally the Universe's greatest scientific mind), and Ryo-ohki (Ryoko's space ship that can assume the form of a part cat, part rabbit while not in space; known as a cabbit). By the end of the original animated series, Tenchi and Company come to learn that Tenchi's grandfather, the man who helped raise Tenchi after his mother died, is actuially Prince Yosho and that Tenchi is heir to the throne of Jurai. Also, Tenchi, dispite having all these females after him, never chooses preference, though Ayeka and Ryoko are the main contenders for his affection.

The most mysterious character in the series is Princess Sasami. Just eight years old at the start of the series, she's incredibly carefree, bright, and cheery. An excellent cook, she is also totally infatuated with Tenchi as a big-brother figure from day one. The mystery comes from a spirit that inhabits Sasami's small form. The spirit, Tsunami, is the embodiment of the Tree of Light which is the source of power for the Jurai Royal family. When Sasami was a little younger, she was in a terrible accident which left her mortally wounded until Tsunami infused its own spirit into Sasami's. As a result, it is suggested that Sasami will grow up as Tsunami's reincarnation, possessing all the spirit's powers. Since rescueing Sasami, Tsunami adopts the form of what Sasami will look like as an adult ever time she is seen. It should also be noted that the mightiest battleship in the Jurai empire is the ship that contains Tsunami's spirit, and Jurai's advanced technology is heavily influenced by trees and their wood. While Tsunami is the spirit of the Tree of Light, her motivations are secret and may not be totally selfless...

Sometime not long after Tenchi receives all these changes in his life, Yazuha, an agent of the Tree of Darkness, decides to pay back Prince Yosho for an attack when he was a child. Yazuha is one nasty character, and she steals some of Tenchi's DNA, mixing it with her own to create a test-tube offspring named Mayuka, who looks to be about fourteen or so. Mayuka is good at heart, but is controlled by Yazuha and sent to Earth to kill Tenchi. Tenchi and Ryoko defeat Yazuha, but at the cost of Mayuka's life. However, all of Mayuka's DNA makeup is contained in one small gem, which Washu uses to bring her back to life as a newborn infant in her laboratory. Enough general background. If you want more detail, you can check out GenSao's Tenchi Muyo Home Page.