No Need For Startica

No Need For Startica

Disclaimer: I don't own Tenchi Muyo or any related characters. However, the plot line to this story is MINE! Please don't take it. And the Zero Virus was my idea to, I don't mind if you use it, but please ask first. Thank you!

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No Need For Startica

Part III~The Joy That Follows

Friday, the day of Startica…

Tenchi stood on a limb of a tree near his grandfather's shrine. He was dressed in traditional Juraian garb for the Startica Celebration in a little while.

It was early evening, the sky was turning pink as the sun set below the horizon. The Shinto priest's grandson stuck his hand in his pocket and fumbled around with the box inside.

Flashback~

"Tenchi, I want you to have this." Noboyuki announced proudly, dropping a small box in his son's hand. Tenchi opened it.

"Dad, where did you get this?" The young man asked.

"It was your mother's. She wanted you to have it, so now, I give it to you." The black-haired architect said.

"Dad, I can't take this, you should keep it…"

"Son, your mother wanted you to have it, take it." Noboyuki patted his son on the shoulder and smiled.

"Give it to the one you love." He added.

~End Flashback

Tenchi smiled as he took his hand out of his pocket. To the one I love…He thought as he began to space out. The young shrinekeeper's apprentice sat on the tree limb and began to reflect on the past few months and how drastically everything had changed since that summer day he awakened Ryoko, met Ayeka and Sasami, saved Mihoshi, and fought Kagato, and all of the other events after that.

"Tenchi!" A voice brought him back to the land of the awake. Tenchi shook his head of cobwebs and looked down to see Sasami standing there with Ryo-Ohki perched atop her head. The little green-haired princess wore traditional Juraian robes and flowers in her hair for the Startica Celebration.

"Hello, Sasami!" Tenchi smiled.

"Aren't you coming? We're going to start the fireworks!" Sasami asked. Tenchi smiled.

"Of course! I'll be right there!" The young man said as he climbed down from his place on the tree. Sasami took off down the stairs of the shrine, Ryo-Ohki happily mewing all the way.

A little while later…

The entire Masaki family stood out on the lawn as Noboyuki prepared the fireworks for takeoff. Sasami and Ryo-Ohki (humanoid form) chased each other around the yard happily as they waited for the fireworks to start.

"Tenchi, did you bring the sparklers?" Sasami asked as she continued to run. Tenchi looked about himself and promptly smacked himself on the head, remembering what he had done with the sparklers.

"Oh, stupid me, I left them inside, Sasami. I'll go get them." Tenchi responded as he walked towards the house.

Tenchi fumbled around inside the house, trying to find what he was looking for. "Where did I leave those sparklers?" He asked himself as he walked into the kitchen. The young man made his way around the main floor and walked upstairs.

"I can't imagine why I'd leave them up here, but I might as well check." He said to himself as he checked his room.

Thump

Tenchi raised an eyebrow at the sound of a noise coming from the roof. The young man opened his window and looked up to see a familiar face hanging over the eaves.

"Ryoko?!" Tenchi squeaked, overjoyed and incredibly surprised.

"Looking for something?" The silver haired space pirate asked, waving a box of sparklers in the air.

"But how…?" Tenchi asked as he climbed up onto the roof. Ryoko smiled. Tenchi noticed that Ryoko had some time to prepare, she was wearing a purple kimono and flowers in her hair. Which had been pulled back into a ponytail.

"I'm suddenly feeling in the celebrating mood, that's all." She teased. Tenchi rolled his eyes and smiled.

"Ryoko, I'm so glad you're better, you have no idea as to how much you scared us." Tenchi sighed.

"Well, then, maybe I should get sick more often." Ryoko chuckled. Tenchi smiled.

"Ryoko, have you ever heard the legend of Startica?" Tenchi asked. Ryoko looked at the love of her life and smiled.

"Nope, but I have a feeling your going to tell me."

"Well, Ryoko, I've been told that Startica is a very special holiday for couples. The legend of Startica says that if a girl spends the holiday with a special boy, they were destined to fall in love and marry." Tenchi explained as he drew the small box out of his pocket.

"Tenchi…" Ryoko gasped.

"Will you spend Startica with me?" Tenchi asked, opening the box to reveal a diamond ring. Ryoko stood there, speechless for a moment. Her eyes glistened with tears of joy as the first of the fireworks went off.

"Tenchi, I'd be honored to spend Startica with you." Ryoko finally said, her voice overcome with emotion. Tenchi took Ryoko's hand and slipped the ring on her finger. The two stared into each other's eyes for a moment as their faces drew closer together and finally kissed. Fireworks went off in the distance as the two lovers kissed atop the Masaki roof.

Back on the ground…

The Masaki family (space travelers included) all sat on the dewy grass as Noboyuki set off firework after firework.

"Boy, Tenchi doesn't know what he's missing." Sasami cooed as she watched each colorful explosion. Ryo-Ohki meowed in agreement.

"Where is he, anyway? He'd better hurry up or he's gonna miss everything!" Mihoshi said in awe by the display in the sky.

Oh my Lord Tenchi, please hurry back and spend Startica with me. Ayeka thought, her cheeks turning red at the thought.

In the house…

Tenchi and Ryoko walked hand in hand down the stairs. Ryoko was as happy as could be with her fiancee beside her. Although, she was feeling weak.

"Ryoko, are you feeling alright?" Tenchi asked, noticing her fatigue.

"Just a little tired, that's all, Tenchi." Ryoko smiled. "So, how are we going to tell them?" The silver-haired space pirate asked. Tenchi sighed.

"I suppose subtly isn't an option." The black haired young man said, considering his options.

"Tomorrow morning, after the festival." Ryoko suggested. Tenchi nodded.

"Good idea. Tomorrow morning then." The young man smiled as the couple opened the door and walked out onto the lawn. Ryo-Ohki, who had been sitting on Sasami's head, turned around.

"Mya Mya!" She exclaimed happily, seeing Ryoko and Tenchi. Sasami turned around to see what her little cabbit friend was mewing about.

"Ryoko! You're all better!" Sasami jumped up from the grass and ran to where Tenchi and Ryoko stood. The rest of the group sitting on the grass turned also.

"Welcome back, Ryoko." Ayeka said, rising from her spot. Washu also stood and walked over to her daughter.

"Ryoko, I'm glad to see your up and kicking. It's not nice to scare your mother like that." The pint-sized genius joked.

"Oh, Tenchi! You got the sparklers!" Sasami exclaimed. "Let's light them!" She added.

A little while later…

All of the Masaki family sat on the lawn, enjoying the rest of the fireworks. Ayeka eyed Ryoko suspiciously as she noticed that her arch-rival had not said five words to Tenchi or to her. The first Princess of Jurai eyes narrowed as Ryoko whispered something in Tenchi's ear and put her head on his shoulder.

Something is definitely going on here, Ryoko would normally be trying to seduce poor Tenchi right now, why isn't she doing anything? Ayeka thought. As another firework went off, Ayeka saw something glint on Ryoko's finger.

Impossible! She could not be… The purple-haired princess looked more closely as another explosion hit the sky.

I can't believe it…Tenchi and Ryoko…Are they engaged? No, it's just my imagination. I must have stayed up too late last night. I shouldn't let my imagination run away like that. Silly me, it's just my imagination. Ayeka shook the cobwebs from her head and continued to enjoy the fireworks until they ran out and the motley crew of space travelers and the Masaki family went inside to sleep.

The next morning, Tenchi awoke bright and early to the sound of birds outside his window. The young man stretched as he happily remembered the night before and all of the events that had taken place.

After he had gotten dressed, he was just about to head out of his door when he heard the sound of dissipating matter from behind him and felt two seductive arms wrap around his shoulders.

"Good morning, Ryoko." Tenchi chuckled.

"Good morning, my Tenchi. So today's the big day, the day when we announce our love for each other." Tenchi sighed as he smiled, realizing how hard it was going to be breaking the news to Ayeka.

"Just let me do all of the talking, okay?" Tenchi compromised. Ryoko kissed him on the cheek.

"Of course."

And with that, the two walked out of Tenchi's room and descended the stairs together.

An uneasy silence had settled over the breakfast table as Tenchi contemplated as to how to tell every one the news. He looked at Ryoko, who winked at him.

With a large gulp and heavy sigh, Tenchi began to speak. "I have some good news!" he blurted.

"Oh, what is it?" Sasami asked excitedly. Ryo-Ohki mewed, wanting to know also. All heads turned and looked at Tenchi.

"I uh, that is to say, um," The young man stuttered, looking for the right words. Ryoko smiled and continued to eat her breakfast as everybody stared at her fiancee.

"Ryoko and I um…" Tenchi continued to stutter.

"Ryoko and you what?" Sasami asked. Tenchi took one last gulp.

"Ryoko-and-I-are-engaged!" Tenchi spit out his sentence finally. The soft clang of chopsticks hitting the table were heard from the end on which Ayeka was sitting. Noboyuki was the first to speak.

"CONGRATULATIONS, TENCHI!" Tenchi's father bellowed, slapping his son on the back. All of the girls (excepting Ayeka) gave their congratulations to Tenchi and Ryoko. After the commotion settled, Ayeka stood and walked over to Ryoko.

"Congratulations, Ryoko. I don't know how you did it, but I hope you and Tenchi enjoy your life together." Ayeka said, slightly chuckling.

"Ayeka…thank you." Ryoko smiled at her once arch-rival, knowing that this was not the time for teasing.

"In honor of your marriage, Lord Tenchi, I would like to arrange a Juraian wedding, since you are the heir to the royal family." The purple-haired princess announced.

"Ayeka, are you sure? I mean…" Tenchi began.

"I want to, Tenchi. Please, allow me to." Ayeka interrupted. Tenchi paused for a moment.

"Thank you, Ayeka." Tenchi said, finally.

Two hours later-The Onsen…

Ryoko found herself in utopia as she soaked in the warm water of the Onsen and drank her saki.

Tenchi and I are getting MARRIED! Finally, the dream I've had for the longest time is about to come true! The silver-haired space pirate slouched deeper into the water as a very relaxed feeling came over her body. Then another thought entered her mind.

But what about Ayeka? I know this must be ripping her up inside, how am I going to talk to her from now on? What is she now anyway? My aunt-in-law? No, that sounds too weird. As if on cue, the sound of the door sliding open was heard and Ayeka walked into the Onsen.

"Oh, hello, Ryoko, I won't disturb you, I'll come back later…" Ayeka began, but before she could turn to leave, Ryoko teleported over to her.

"Ayeka, come on and have a drink with me and we can talk things over." Ryoko suggested. The princess sighed.

"Talk about what things?" She asked as the two walked over to the bath.

"Like why you want to throw this wedding even though it'll tear you up inside." Ryoko hit the nail on the head and got right to the point. Ayeka flinched at the word "wedding".

"And why are you so curious to know?" The princess snapped back.

"I don't want to go through this with hard feelings, Ayeka. I know I teased you in the past and did some really awful things, but I'm sorry and I want you to know that." Ryoko explained. Ayeka sighed as the two sat in the water.

"Preparing this wedding will be my sort of 'goodbye' to Tenchi, Ryoko." Ayeka explained. Ryoko, who was taking a gulp of saki, choked and sputtered.

"What do you mean by that?" The silver haired space pirate demanded after spewing the alcoholic liquid from her mouth.

"After the wedding, I will not stay on Earth. My father wishes me to Jurai. I have a duty to the throne, and I must fulfill it." Ayeka explained, her voice becoming slightly emotional.

"Ayeka!" Ryoko protested.

"It has always been my intention to return to Jurai, Ryoko. I will leave, and there's not a thing you can do to stop me." Ayeka blurted.

"I won't try to stop you, but Ayeka, please reconsider this. Tenchi would want you to stay and…"

"Not a word of this is to be spoken to the others, Ryoko. I would rather not have a large send off, I do not wish to be broken-hearted on my return home. Of all of the things I've asked of you Ryoko, please honor this wish above any other." Ayeka's eyes began to overflow with tears and her voice heavy with emotion. Ryoko thought for a moment.

"If that's the way you want it, Ayeka." Ryoko sighed, feeling incredible pity for the Juraian princess.

"It is, Ryoko. Thank you for understanding." Ayeka said as she rose from the water to leave.

"Ayeka, before you go, I have something to give you." Ryoko spoke up just as Ayeka was about to leave.

"I was messing around with Noboyuki's camera one day and I took this picture of you and Tenchi together. I was going to throw it away, but I figured I'd give it to you someday." Ryoko said as she went over to the platform that held her clothes and searched her pockets. Finally, she found what she was searching for and pulled it out.

"Here," The silver haired space pirate said as she teleported over and handed the picture to Ayeka.

"Thank you," Ayeka said as she took the picture and examined it. "I shall treasure it always."

And at that moment, Ryoko and Ayeka felt as though they were friends for the first time in forever. All past instances forgotten, and each knew that their little "friendly competition" was over and that it was time to move on and finally, they could be friends.

Next Time: What happens after the marriage? Does Ayeka actually leave? Why am I asking all of these questions…I hope you know, because I sure don't!!! Anywho, Find out the answers to the first two questions in Chapter Four: For The Precious Memories