This is my first fanfic but I know the drill so here's my disclaimer: I do not own Tenchi or any of the other characters in the series, I wish I did but I don't.
This fic is set a few months after the Kagato incident in the Tenchi Universe series, it is my version of what happens in the series after Tenchi kills Kagato and everyone returns to earth. The story centres on the changes in all the characters since the defeat of Kagato.
Changes happen to everyone
The start of a new beginning
Spring had arrived, meaning most of the day for the occupants of the Masaki household were spent doing chores outside. It was the season of harvesting crops as well as being well known for the large amounts of cherry blossoms, which could be seen littering the ground outside the house as more gently tumbled from the trees.
"It's so beautiful, earth reminds me so much of Jurai at times like these." Sasami exclaimed to herself, having caught sight of the scene from the kitchen window as she started adding dirty dishes from lunch into the soapy water in the sink. While watching the falling cherry blossoms, she mentally went through all the events that had occurred during the two years of her stay on earth, from thoughts of the incidents with Dr Clay and Kagato to happier memories such as the time when the other girls participated in the swimsuit competition. Although at the time the reality of their situation was far from perfect, now looking back Sasami couldn't help but smile at how comical it's become having been on the run from Juraian special forces and yet being able to enjoy themselves at the same time. These thoughts clouded her mind along with the reminder that she was on earth and missing Jurai.
Sasami was still deep in thought when a voice interrupted her daydream,
"Um Sasami?" She turned round to see Tenchi leaning against the door frame wearing his usual working attire of a plain white t-shirt and brown jogging bottoms with a willow basket strapped to his back.
"Oh, hello Tenchi! Sorry, I didn't notice you were there, was you saying something?" Sasami asked being somewhat startled by his sudden presence.
Tenchi flashed her a smile and self-consciously scratched his head before responding, "That's alright, I was only wondering if you would like me to bring back a few carrots for tonight's dinner."
"That would be great, thank you," the princess replied cheerily before returning to her previous task, this time discarding her day dream and concentrating on scrubbing the dishes in the sink.
Before Tenchi turned to leave, curiosity took the better of him and he stayed looking at her back and asked "Just out of interest Sasami, you seemed quite distracted, is there something on your mind?"
She hesitated for a moment before answering, "It's nothing really, I was just thinking of everything we've been through in the last two years. For a moment I forgot the reason why I left Jurai to return to earth. Looking at all the pretty blossoms falling from the trees reminds me of how much I miss my home planet." She answered with a hint of sadness while at the same time trying to get rid of an irritating tea stain on the inside of one of the cups.
Hearing the tone of her voice, Tenchi attempted to comfort her "You know Sasami, I'll understand if you decide to leave, we'll all miss you... but if it's what you want..." he said trailing off, not knowing what else to say.
"Thanks Tenchi, and I want to stay, but sometimes I can't help feeling slightly homesick. Thank you for your understanding." She replied still with her back to him only this time her voice seemed happier than before. After hearing this, Tenchi walked up to her and placed a reassuring hand on the princess's shoulder before turning to exit the room. Once he had left, her attention was quickly caught by a loud thud coming from the living area followed by a "Please Ryoko I have a lot of work to do."
"But Tenchiiiiiii..." Came the space pirate's pleading voice. Sasami turned just in time to see Tenchi running out of the house, his face as red as a tomato and in such a hurry that he had to grab his shoes on the way out not bothering to put them on, leaving a stunned Ryoko sitting cross legged on the floor. The space pirate was wearing her blue and yellow striped dress with the tail hanging limply from disappointment. Half shaking her head with a hand to her mouth to suppress her laughter, the young princess turned back once again to the sink this time determined to finish her work so that she could start on preparing dinner.
"Sasami when will dinner be ready?" The princess turned round just in time to see Ryoko float into the kitchen and perch on the edge of a worktop, she had just finished her chores and was feeling peckish having been turned down by Tenchi... again. By now Sasami's eyebrow started to twitch ever so slightly out of irritation, having been interrupted for a second time.
"I'm sorry Ryoko but I still have a few things to finish before I start cooking." The princess said calmly, seeing Ryoko's face drop in a mixture of hunger and boredom, a thought struck her. "Well dinner won't be ready in a while, Ryoko, so why don't you go lend Ayeka a hand at the shrine. I'm sure she'll appreciate you helping her to sweep up those cherry blossoms." Sasami suggested, tilting her head to indicate the growing pale pink and white piles that could be seen gathering on the ground through the kitchen window.
Although the thought of clearing blossoms from the shrine did not strike Ryoko as anything interesting or fun for that matter, it was however something to keep her mind off of her growing hunger and was an alternative to being bored. "Fine, I'll go give PRINCESS PRISSY PANTS a hand but don't think she'll be grateful for it."
"Thank you Ryoko." Sasami replied softly just as the space pirate teleported out of the kitchen with a sound similar to that of leaves rustling in the wind.
While Sasami once again turned back to face the sink in an attempt to finish washing the dishes, her thoughts went on another wonder as she thought of how much she and the others had changed during the time they had spent together. For instance she noticed that lately Ryoko had been less disputable towards Ayeka and visa versa, it was true that they still had their petty quarrels from time to time but for the most part it seemed that the recent events had somehow brought the both of them to a mutual understanding with each other.
When Sasami finally came out of her thoughts, she looked down at the sink and found it empty with nothing but her hands immersed in the luke warm water. The neat rows of clean crockery and metal eating utensils on the draining rack was evidence that somehow while deep in thought, the young princess had managed to wash all of the dishes and cutlery.
Smiling to herself, relieved that she had finally finished a task with little thought she set about gathering up the necessary equipment and ingredients to prepare dinner.
"Miya, miya!!" Came an all too familiar voice just a few inches away from Sasami's feet. The princess bent down to pick up the furry brown cabbit in both hands. One look at Ryo-oki told her the reason for her friend's venture into the kitchen. Sasami smiled and shook her head before speaking, "Sorry Ryo-oki, I haven't got any carrots at the moment but Tenchi will be back in a couple of hours with a whole basket of them." The cabbit's eyes clouded over with tears at knowing she'll have to wait a lengthy amount of time for her favourite food to arrive before letting out a quiet and sad "Miya."
----
As Ryoko teleported to the top of the shrine steps, she stared at the collecting heaps of blossoms gathering on the stone tiled ground.
God, Ayeka, what have you been doing for the past hour? The space pirate thought in exasperation as she scanned the area for the first princess of Jurai.
Having no luck in locating Ayeka, Ryoko walked towards the edge of the landing and gasped at the beautiful scenery below her. For the first time since the defeat of their latest foe, Ryoko truly took in the appearance of her surroundings.
From the space pirate's vantage point, the view was like looking down at an endless path of puffy white clouds in a baby pink sky. Everything was white and pink with the occasional green speck that was quickly replaced as more cherry blossoms fell from the trees.
Now I see why Sesami enjoys being on earth so much during the autumn, the view from up here resembles the fields on Jurai. Ryoko thought while still staring at the replica of heaven below.
Thinking about Jurai made the space pirate remember her reason for returning to this planet she now called home and why she had left in the first place. Without any intention to do so, Ryoko brought her hand down to her abdomen placing it on the spot where the wound inflicted upon her by their enemy once was. As if on cue, the feelings from that night escaped to the surface of Ryoko's mind. For the past three months, since her return to earth, she had used all of her strength and will to push the feelings of hurt and pain both emotionally and physically from the Kagato incident to the far depths of her mind. Now without warning they return with a vengeance, trying to haunt her just as she thought she was on the verge of recovery.
Ryoko once again felt the pain in her heart as she watched Ayeka talking to Tenchi, they were so close to each other. The space pirate had never been at such a short distance from Tenchi before because every time she had tried he would push her away. The pain doubled in intensity as she saw the princess weep and Tenchi comforting her. Tears were aching to escape but Ryoko refused to shed them.
Just as she thought she could take no more of this torture, the image of Tenchi and Ayeka was quickly replaced by the terrifying face of Kagato. The fear inside of Ryoko increased as realization of where she was struck her.
Please not again!!! She begged mentally as a blast of energy was released from Kagato's palm directing itself at her. The attack was too fast to dodge –just like it had been the first time it happened- as the space pirate felt something similar to an electric shot pierce her abdomen and travel around the rest of her body. The unbearable pain seemed to wrap itself around her gradually pulling her in to its' dark and painful embrace as she tried to fight back but to no avail. She stayed routed to the spot she was standing in, having to endure the agony with no means of escape.
Get a hold of yourself, Ryoko; this is nothing but a memory, it is not happening. She thought in between the floods of pain and torment going through her mind and body.
No matter how hard she tried to reassure herself, the pain would not stop. Instead it increased until Ryoko ceased her struggle for control and let out a deafening scream.
"Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!"
Birds scattered from the trees around the Masaki residence as people living miles away gathered in the streets to discuss the identity of the strange noise they had just heard.
To be continued.
Hope you enjoyed that first chapter, I promise to update as soon as I can. If you haven't guessed yet, I am indeed a Ryoko fan but I'll try to be nice to Ayeka in this fic too. Please review (even if it's to flame me or to criticise my fic). Comments are needed.
P.s. Thanx to Ryan for correcting the spelling of Sasami for me, I was never very good at that. Oh and changed the opening cos realised cherry blossoms don't fall in autumn so thanks to Golden Banana I have corrected it.
