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Episode 26 -	Payback
	daidanen / datte watashi wa / otona da mon
	[The grand finale, but I am becoming an adult]
First aired -	23rd September 1997

The final episode begins with a short montage of clips from the previous episode to set up the conclusion of the story.

The Masaki family is reunited by the power of the crystal necklace, and they prepare to face Yugi for the last time. Yugi is shocked, thinking that Sasami, the only person ever to smile at her and to call her a friend, has betrayed her. Sasami insists that she made friends with Yugi because she thought she was a kind person, and asks her to stop her evil plans. Yugi begs Sasami to come back to her, but she turns her down. Rejected, Yugi loses her temper and opens fire on them, but Ayeka protects everyone with her Jurai shield. Yugi retreats to her inner sanctum, and the girls are ready to pursue her. However, Tenchi tells them all that the situation is his responsibility, and that he alone must face Yugi. He gathers the six crystal pieces from the girls and recombines them into their original form, the crystal necklace he inherited from his mother. With the pieces united, the necklace transforms into the gem sword, the ultimate weapon of the Masaki family. The girls wish him luck as he charges up the path leading to Yugi. The girls decide to follow him as backup.

As Tenchi makes his way to the palace's central chamber, Yugi summons huge crystal demons to try and stop him. However, Ryoko smashes the demons to pieces, and Mihoshi and Kiyone fend them off with their pistols. Ayeka protects Tenchi's path with her shield. The closer Tenchi gets, the more of Yugi's castle disappears.

Whilst Tenchi is fighting his way to Yugi, Washu, who has stayed behind with Sasami, remembers her earlier conversation with Katsuhito. Tenchi's grandfather was worried that, when the time comes, Tenchi may not be able to go against his gentle nature and fight Yugi. He is convinced that Tenchi's peaceful approach might, this time, be exactly what is required in this situation. Washu, however, is sceptical, and believes that he may require the gem sword after all.

In the dwindling remains of the crystal palace, the terrified Yugi realises she is losing the battle against Tenchi and the girls. Tenchi finally reaches the gateway to Yugi's inner sanctum. In a desperate attempt to keep him out, Yugi seals the gate with a barrier of crystal, but Ryoko manages to break it down and open the doorway. With the way ahead clear, Ryoko wishes him luck and the girls watch him as he enters the chamber alone.

Inside, Tenchi finds Yugi, frightened and cowering amongst the remnants of her chamber. She yells at him to get away, scared that he has come to imprison her again. She fires at him to drive him away, but he easily deflects the blast with the gem sword. Tenchi rushes at her, ready to end it all. He drops the sword and slaps the hysterical Yugi across the face. Her armour falls away, and Tenchi sets her down gently on the ground. He regards her benignly, and tells her that no matter how lonely she may feel, she need not resort to fighting. He tells her that she could have turned to him and the girls if she wanted company. Yugi tearfully asks if she can be with Sasami again, and Tenchi invites her to come and stay with them all in Okayama. Yugi relents, and seeing the error of her ways, returns the world to normal. She slumps over Tenchi's shoulder, muttering that she is very tired, and they leave the palace peacefully.

Some time later, Tenchi and the girls are back home, together once more. Tenchi reads a letter from his classmates in Tokyo. Sasami pays Yugi a visit, where she sleeps in the cave near the Masaki shrine. Yugi has asked that she be allowed to sleep, living in her own dream world, until she becomes a better person. Ryoko takes advantage of a peaceful moment to have a private chat with Tenchi in the woods. She reminds Tenchi that since Sakuya was Yugi's shadow, Yugi herself might grow up to resemble Sakuya. Ryoko is ready to forgive Tenchi for going off with another woman, provided he gives her a kiss. However, Washu interrupts the tender moment when she pops out of the tree, having been doing more experiments with her inter-dimensional tunnel. Before too long, the rest of the Masaki household appears through the tunnel, and the usual chaos that is Tenchi's life reasserts itself!

In Tokyo, Tenchi's classmates are missing him, and although he was only at the school for a short time, they will remain good friends always.

<< Episode 25 - The End of Time

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