Cherry Blossomed Lives
Disclaimer: I don't own Tenchi Muyo or any of the other Tenchi related series. I wish I did man oh do I wish I did.
A/N: I really hope you enjoy this fanfic. I've been working my arse off on the plot so please keep reading and I'll accept flames and whatever else you through at me.
"Love can only hold you captive for so long. So when will it let go of my heart?"
Face down; this is where it leads you - too far.
Buried covered now, you'll find peace - in the earth a ground.
Stop now, there's no point in breathing - it's not allowed.
On the surface, how can you find - reason to move on?
In the far away background of Japans busy streets lies a small and quant shrine. Tall trees gently caress each others limbs as an autumn breeze flows by. Upon the hill lies the shrine, surrounded by trees and yet no leaves lay on the ground. The stone stairs finely swept of all dirt and leaves. The stairs lead down to spacious lawn and then the modern Japanese home. Away from the home a ways away sits many rows of carrot tops sprouting out from the ground. All and all the atmosphere was calming and tranquil.
Flowers stems caress the surrounding grass. Small bird's sing gently flying to one tree to the next exploring the vast forest. The air smelled of nature and sakura blossoms that had began pealing away from the tree branches, and float through the air. The world's chaotic ends seemed to vanish once you can see the environment and harmony. The hectic lives of the occupying persons were almost non existent.
The composed and tranquil area seemed to be too calm. Normally there would be an explosion caused by the fighting that would normally ensue at this time frame. The fights had started to waste, till they had become nonexistent. Ayeka had noticed the changes appearing in Ryoko's altogether attitude.
Until then you can runaway.
Do your best to hide your face.
And oh I know you best;
I know you get what you get - you get what you deserve.
The young and always cheery girl with the vibrant turquoise hair pulled up in ponytails on the side of her head sat outside the house, resting on the deck. Mihoshi was near her reading a magazine with her hair loosely pulled into a ponytail, with locks falling out on the side of her face. Ryo'Ohki was laid out on her belly next to Sasami who was petting her head, giggling as the cabbit's ears flopped around. The three seemed to enjoy the mild temperatures and decided to relax before preparing lunch. Washu as usual was locked up in her laboratory in the small closet; Occupying all of her time on an expansion of inventions. Goggles placed over her eyes as she began mixing two chemicals, waiting for a reaction to occur so she could continue on to the next phase. The genius barely ever escaped the lab, so caught up with her work to notice she was hungry.
Tenchi Masaki the nineteen year old boy stood at the shrine sweeping the remainder of the leaves from the shrine entrance. His eyes had grown smaller and his round face had begun taking more shape. His spiky hair had left, now longer and pulled back by a ribbon; uneven bangs covered part of his eyes from time to time, depending on his angle. The dark brown eyes seemed a little more distant than they had before. The boy was growing into a man and everyone seemed to notice.
It had been a few months since Tenchi's return from Haruna's world. Every time someone tried to ask him what happened, he'd avoid the question. No ones really new what had occurred during his stay with the jealous women of Katsuhito's past. Tenchi never wanted to share, as if in a way he wanted that part back. He returned to his training and schooling ignoring the questions and complaints. Noboyuki didn't know how to approach his son to tell him that it was okay to explain. Everyone let Haruna and that part of her behind them, yet the curiosity still shined through.
Near the shrine in the center of the surrounding forest lies a large Jurian tree; Different from the other trees though settling in with the others nicely. A woman's gentle humming blending in with the melody of the breeze. Leaning against the tree with her back, legs resting comfortably against the large branches bark she continues humming; eyes closed and arms folded against her chest. Cyan hair gently pulled back into a yellow ribbon, bangs gently brushing her forehead and her tresses still lay out. The former space pirate wore a yellow and white plaid empire waist dress. She wore small slippers that lay forgotten on the stepping stones that lead to the tree named Funaho.
Ryoko had been lounging like this for what seemed like hours. Her mind wandered and drifted over every event of the day and unnecessary thoughts. Lately her thoughts always brought her to the same conclusion. She was tired of this place; of the competition and this life that didn't seem to be going anywhere. She loved Tenchi, yet was that enough to keep her here? The ex-space pirate was tired of being shunned by Tenchi and watching Ayeka win what seemed like every battle for his attention. Ryoko couldn't bring herself to leave. Though what would be her reason for leaving; Just her need to escape the never ending love-triangle? Her mind wouldn't travel much further or rather she wouldn't allow it.
Just this morning Tenchi had pushed her aside as she greeted him to help Ayeka out of her room. She held strong and just walked by with some brash comment aimed at Ayeka. She couldn't bear to show her weakness. Not even to Tenchi, mainly because he was the one who always brought that out in her. The pirate was pissed that she allowed someone to get her heart, and unfortunately that person didn't know what to do with it. Ryoko's heart was wearing thin and the cyan haired women didn't know what to do about it anymore.
Stretching her arms outward, curling her back as she straddles the tree limb. Phasing away only to reappear putting back on her tan sandals. She looked back at Funaho with an almost somber look on her face. Pressing her left hands fingertips against the bark gently, trying to find a right in what could only become a wrong if she stayed here. Her index finger began tracing the outline of the bark, the deep groves of the tree and the rough wiggling lines that flow from bottom to top of the tree. She smiled a gentle smile as Funaho gave her fingers a little tickle. Turning toward the shrine she looked back at the tree once more and began walking away.
Hush now, don't say a word - its out in the open,
And tell me how can you deal with all this weight?
Speak now; you must have a secret kept down,
Down where you can keep it - I need you to spill your guts.
Until then you can runaway,
Do your best to hide your face.
And oh I know you best.
Ryoko strolls into the empty onsen with a towel pressed against her waist by her hand. The steaming area felt nice in contrast to the autumn weather outside. Setting the towel aside she slowly gets into the tepid water. Relaxing just as she did outside she loses the battle against her mind as her thoughts wander to Tenchi again.
'What was it like Tenchi, and why won't you tell anyone about it…?' Ryoko thought; this always cam back to her, that one thought unyielding. Could it be that Tenchi wanted to go back and be with Haruna? Could it have been nice having a life with just one person, living for that other person entirely; not living with six females and your dad? Maybe he was falling in love with Haruna. Nothing she though made sense, yet they made complete sense.
It had been only a few months since returning Tenchi to Okayama. Things had returned to the way they were, though Tenchi began avoiding her even more than he had in the beginning. The last time she had been left alone with him was when they were returning home. Ryoko shook her head trying to ignore her own thoughts. Closing her eyes gently she felt thin streaks of tears press against her cheeks. Ryoko didn't try to wipe them away as she began swimming. Feeling the water slither down her back and arms as she pulled one arm out of the water and back in a slow stroke helped clear her mind. Gently flowing with the water and her toes creating ripple tides in the water; she wonders what Sasami might be cooking for lunch.
Slipping out of the water, Ryoko dried herself off and phasing into her dress again. Ryoko giggled to herself remembering when Ayeka slipped and fell into the water. Phasing out Ryoko reappeared in front of the stairs. Looking up the long staircase that leads to the shrine, she took the first step, only to have a flash of Haruna and Tenchi together before her eyes. Ryoko blinked it away and began to take another step up the stairs. Her hear sank as she remembered Tenchi pushing her aside to help Ayeka. Then as she began taking another step and another, images of Ayeka and Tenchi together kept coming with more force than before. Stopping on the landing she panted gently.
Ryoko sighed and got it off her chest as she began up the next set of steps. Haruna showed up through every step, though without Tenchi, helping Ryoko only slightly. Why did it seem like everyone was after the one person she learned to love? Why were the gods above cursing her? Was it because she was Kagato's puppet for so long, was it because she didn't fight back against his power? Ryoko didn't know why this was so hard.
Looking up the rows of stairs before her, she wanted to cry in frustration. Closing her eyes she ran up every step, even skipping a few and running past the landing and up the stairs again. She continued running and forgot that as she reached the top of the stairs, that there were no more stairs. In this event she tripped and fell to her knee scuffing it; getting up quickly and straightening herself out. Rubbing her bruised knee tenderly Ryoko looked up hearing Ayeka's chuckle.
The sight before her didn't help her inner struggle. Tenchi was sitting next to Ayeka eating a small lunch that she guessed Sasami had made. Tenchi along with Ayeka was chuckling at Ryoko. Ayeka's royal as she was couldn't refrain from pointing at the pirate as her other hand covered her mouth with spread fingers. Ryoko couldn't even think of a retaliation comment, because she knew that if she were Ayeka, Tenchi would have flown over to help her.
Ryoko massaged her knee once more, noticing that Tenchi began to get up. He hadn't changed a bit. He seemed to have matured in the beginning, though she didn't see much of him to prove the fact. He walked over to her and smiled. She smiled and rubbed up against his side as she usually did. Tenchi's face went from pleasant to something inside of him was dieing as she touched him. He took her hand and removed it from his chest and placed it aside her body.
"Ryoko, please… Not in front of Ayeka. I thought you would have realized you can't do this."
Ryoko looked down. She couldn't bring herself to look up. She had had enough. Tenchi had finally pushed her to the point of no return. Looking back up to see his face Ryoko frowned. From the expression on his face she knew she was crying. Small droplets began falling on her skin as she looked into his eyes. Tenchi's dark chocolate brown eyes that could engulf your whole soul, Ryoko tried to memorize everything about them. They had consumed her very being.
Ayeka began chuckling again, except the sound was muffled by her Jurian robes. Ryoko closed her eyes and sighed, before phasing away. Tenchi's only reaction was a gentle twitch in his arm. Lowering his head and walking back to Ayeka, he began asking himself what he had just done. Ayeka was oblivious to the change in Tenchi's disposition. Her own frame of mind had changed due to Ryoko's decision not to fight.
I know you get what you get - until then you can runaway.
Do your best to hide your face.
And oh I know you best.
I know you get what you get you - get what you deserve.
Sasami and Mihoshi sat at the table arranging everything for dinner. Sasami was pouting due to Ryoko's absence at lunchtime. Everyone knew that no matter what happened, a fight or whatever, Ryoko would be there for food. Washu said she would be back though. Ryo'Ohki on the other hand was almost depressed. The cabbit had been given two carrots and the spaceship had yet to eat them. Ayeka seemed not to care and everyone new the reasoning for that.
"Ayeka, can you get Washu now?" The young girl asked as Tenchi walked through the front door and began removing his shoes. Tenchi smiled at Sasami, as his feet slid into the pale blue slippers designated for his feet.
Ayeka nodded and traveled to the closet door to retrieve Washu, her violet hair flowing behind her. Moments later she returned with the perturbed genius walking behind her. Everyone had sat down and begun eating only to halt when Sasami noticed Ryoko was still not there.
"Washu, where is Ryoko you said she'd come back…?" The girl whined her eyes glazing over with a thin sheen of tears. Tenchi looked up and the guilt he felt was being masked by his own curiosity.
"Washu can't you just call her. I don't see why we should wait. She'll try and eat everything when she does come." Ayeka snorted almost poking her chopsticks in Ryoko's sitting spot.
"Well I guess I could…" Washu's voice piped. Her face then changed from annoyance to a strange face. Everyone began leaning toward her to see if she was getting anything. Tenchi, Sasami and Ayeka began to think the worst as Washu's eyebrows moved closer to each other in aggravation.
"I can't contact Ryoko… I'm not getting any of her indicators."
Speak now you must have a secret kept down,
Down where you can keep it - I need you to spill your guts.
Sasami and Mihoshi called Ryoko's name as they wandered around outfit holding a small lantern. Ryo'Ohki meowed loudly also calling for her master. Ayeka and Tenchi had gone towards the shrine and Ryoko's cave, and Washu had retreated in her cave to look for her whereabouts. Sasami sniffled gently as she called Ryoko again, holding her scarf to her neck as a strong wind crashed upon the three. Mihoshi was waving the flashlight all around thinking that maybe a monster took Ryoko.
Sasami wouldn't hope the worst she couldn't. Ryoko was fine, and she was back the house waiting for them. The girl smiled to herself at the thought and began calling Ryoko's name once more, being joined by Mihoshi and Ryo'Ohki.
Until then you can runaway,
Do your best to hide your face.
Tenchi and Ayeka had searched in the cave, and now they were searching around the stairway. Ayeka was cursing Ryoko mentally, for having her out here. Tenchi didn't seem to mind and that bothered her. In fact Tenchi seemed to be searching like a mad man. His eyes never stayed in one place, they were always on the move looking for that noticeable cyan hair. His whole being seemed to be pushed aside looking for his rock. Ayeka didn't like this, and she hopped the Ryoko had a good reason and wasn't just pulling a prank. The gentle breeze from earlier had grown harsh with a stinging chill touching the skin.
Ryoko's sudden disappearing act seemed to be getting to Tenchi. Ayeka was just hoping that Tenchi's serious need to find Ryoko wasn't dealing with his whole heart and being. Ayeka didn't want to go through that again.
And oh I know you best.
I know you get what you get - until then you can runaway.
Do your best to hide your face.
Washu sat on her floating pink pillow in front of her computer. Her eyes unwillingly tearing up as she rapidly began typing on the transparent keys. This was her third time repeating this act and she was beginning to get tired of it. All contact with Ryoko was seemingly impossible. It was as if she just vanished, or left Earth. Leaving Earth would be impossible since the only form of transportation would have been Ryo'Ohki but the cabbit is still here. Washu the greatest genius in the universe was at a loss.
She had tried everything. Using the power from the gems in the master sword to search for similar power functions. She had even used all other forms of the Jurian DNA that might have been coded with her humanoid power cells. Everything seemed effortless. Out of all pf her attempts everything was coming up with the same conclusion. Ryoko had simply vanished from site and with Washu becoming so upset and blinded by sadness the genius was at a loss.
"Ryoko's gone. I can't find her. Whe-where did my daughter go…?"
Washu's hands clenched together and begin to shake as tears began falling onto her transparent keyboard. Leaning her head forward onto her hands she began sobbing and her cries started hitching in her throat.
And oh I know you best,
I know you get what you get and all you get what you,
You get what you get, you get what you,
You get what you get, you get what you deserve.
Cartel – 'Runaway'
Chapter One – End
A / N: I've been away for so long. I wanted to come back with a bang I guess. So here it is. Sorry that this chapter isn't as long as I would have liked. I'm seriously running the midnight oil and writing this. More to come immediately; I promise.