Times of Awakening
Chapter II:
Ryoko frowned at Washu's comment and levataied up to hover above the genius's head. Her golden eyes were darkened with worry and confusion and her mind was scattered over many ideas and thoughts. As she allowed her mind to drift away, she turned her gaze skyward, past the unknown light to Mars, its red glow drawing her attention. She reached one hand up and streched it as if to take the planet from the universe and hold it in her palm.
Washu, seeing this from the corner of her eye, turned her attention to the floating oni. With Ryoko fully absorbed in her own thoughts, it opened up an chance for her to study Ryoko. She smiled as she noticed once again the similarites between her daughter and herself. The eyes, which had feline characteristics; hers emerald green and Ryokos, golden amber. Her study shifted to Ryokos hair. Like Washu's it flowed in a style of spikes down to her mid-back.
Ryoko, feeling someone watching her, turned her face slightly to have her eyes lock with Washu's. Again, the feeling that had held them at lunch came again and this time Ryoko felt what it was: A feeling of a bond was streched between the two of them and it was now growing stronger as the pair spent more time together. She blinked and settled back down onto the ground, her feet making a soft landing.
Washu still stared at her and then broke the connection when the light made a sudden flare and then went out causing both females to address the situation again.
"Hey Washu? Now whadda we do?" Ryoko's voice shattered the uneasy tension that sprung up after the light had faded.
This time Washu also frowned and turned to go back to the house. "Let's go Little Ryoko." Ryoko nodded to Washu's back and walked with her back to the house.
"So, Ayeka, when are you deceideing to return home with your mommy?" questioned Lady Misaki as she set down her tea.
Ayeka set hers down also and sighed heavily. "Mother...I want to stay here."
"Oh? Why?" Miskai cocked her head to one side and Funhao sent a knowing glance towards the direction of Tenchi.
"It's because..." Ayeka paused and hung her head. Tenchi, now curious, tuned back to what the girls were saying and quietly listened. "Father wants me to marry soon, right?" Lady Miskai nodded, unsure of where her eldest was going with this thread of conversation. "Well I want to marry for love and I believe I found someone to fill the place where Yosho's void was." Ayeka slightly angled her face to place it in Tenchi's eyeline.
Tenchi gulped and nervously awaited her next words. Ayeka took in a deep breath and continued.
"Mother, Lady Funaho, I want to break the tratditional custom of engagement." Miskai's eyes brimmed with tears and she let out a large smile. Funaho on the other hand was waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak.
Ayeka took in another breath and stood, crossing over to Tenchi. She came to stop in front of him and knelt down onto her knees; holding a beautiful irisecent purple flower in her right hand. Sasami's eyes grew wide and she gasped.
"Ayeka!" she said in awe.
Ayeka bowed her head for a moment and then looked straight into Tenchis eyes. "Tenchi...I have known you for two years and in that time I have grown to love you." she bit her lip before continuing. Tenchi was now red. "Will you grant me this wish and honor of having you, my Great-Nephew, as my husband and future Emperor of Jurai?" she ended it hopefully and continued to stare at Tenchi.
Tenchi looked around the room at the others who were in there and examine their faces: Lady Funaho wore a mask of calmness, Lady Miskai had the same look Ayeka wore, Sasami was gazing dreamyliy at the flower Ayeka held, Mishosi was just beginning to cry and Yosho just nodded his head. ~It's now or never~ He thought, gingerly taking the flower from her grasp. "I--I accept Lady Ayeka."
"Accept what, Tenchi?" Tenchi's eyes snapped to Ryoko and he inhaled sharply.
Ryoko was puzzled at everyones simulatiously gasps of shock as soon as her question had been heard. She was curious and sent a curious glance to everyone in the room; all of them averted their own gazes...except for Ayeka, her gaze was of joy and victory. ~What did she win?~ Ryoko wondered untill her gaze intercepted Tenchis and she saw the flower he cluchted. Everything fell into place. ~No...~ she stumbled and didn't feel Washu catch her arm.
"Ten...chi?" she whispered sadly, praying she was, for once, mistaken. But his avoidance of her prodding stare made her heart break. Another look towards Ayeka confirmed it and she silently teleported away. Washu looked sadly at the place where her hand hung in mid-air after Ryoko's arm had gone before glancing up to the rest.
Ayeka's grin hadn't changed and Washu scowled at that. Mishoshi looked at her. "Hey Washu? When will we tell Ryoko the good news?" Washu groaned and face-faulted.
Tenchi was staring at the ground when Washu's feet appeared in his eyesight. He raised his head and looked at her.
Washu reached out and patted Tenchi on the shoulder. "Congraulations Lord Tenchi," she turned to face Ayeka, "Lady Ayeka." she bowed repectivly to each of them before walking towards the stairs.
"Lady Washu." Funaho touched her arm, making her pause in her step. She met the womans gaze. "Will she be all right? Ryoko, I mean."
Washu sent a look back towards Tenchi and Ayeka and then back to her. "I...don't know Lady Funaho." She gently removed her hand and stepped away up the stairs. As she got closer to the window where there was access to the roof, she saw a hunched over figure and knew that she had found her daughter. Shaking her head, she opened the window and eased out onto the roof.
"Go away Washu." came the muffled voice from Ryoko. Washu tsked and went to sit a few feet away. She sat and then laid back, folding her arms behind her head.
"Amazing." she murmered softly.
Ryoko pulled her head up and half-glared at her mothers profile. ~It's hard to glare when your worlds gone~ she mused to herself. "What's amazing Washu? And didn't I tell you to go away?"
Washu shrugged off the last part. "The universe, my Little Ryoko." She pointed a hand to the dusty cloud of stars which singified the rest of the milky way. "How it's never-ending and we're just specks in the spiral of life." she ended and rested her arm.
"Point?"
Washu turned her head sideways and viewed Ryoko. "My 'point', Little Ryoko, is that the world didn't end." she sat up and totaly faced her.
Ryoko shook her head in reply. "You mean, your world didn't end Washu."
Washu nodded her head in agreement. "True, my world didn't end...and I hope she doesn't for a very long time." Ryoko sighed and lowered her head back onto her arms. Washu also sighed and then scooted closer, about a foot away now. She again leaned back and then looked back up at the stars.
"Look, there's Orion." she said, pointing towards the starry hunter. "He boasted he could kill any animal that ever graced Earth, so the Gods sent a giant scorpion after him." She tsked. "As all good storys go in the Greacian myths, Orion was killed and rewarded a place in the sky; so was Scorpio and the two chase eachother to this day."
"Where's Scorpio?" asked Ryoko, her head semi resting on her arms. Washu smiled to herself.
"You won't see him until the summer." Washu looked around again and pointed out another one. "There's Gemini." she remarked. Ryoko searched where Washu's finger hovered at but couldn't find the contellation.
"Where, Washu?" she asked.
"Come over here." Ryoko moved closer and again looked to where Washu was pointing. She saw the two stars close together and then the line of stars down one of the sides.
"Is that it?" she asked, pointing. Washu looked and nodded. "What is it?"
"Twins. Castor and Pollux, they loved eachother so much during life that when Pollux went to the Underworld Castor begged Zeus, King of the Gods, to allow him to die also."
"Underworld?"
"In Greacian times, it was where the dead went." Washu explained.
Ryoko shifted to face the diminuative scienctist. "How come you know so much about the Earthan Sky?" Washu shrugged.
"While I wait for my experiments to finish, I'd catch up on ancient myths and legends of Eartharn history." she scanned the sky for others she knew.
"Why didn't you just come out?"
Washu lowered her head and fixed Ryoko with a stare. "Because some people never wanted to be near me." she whispered, getting up she walked back to the window.
"That's not fair Washu." Ryoko's soft reply rang in her ears. "I was raised by a killer who told me my own mother had killed herself when she first saw me." Ryoko shuddered and wrapped her arms around her knees. "He said that he was the only one who would take me in." She bit her lip and shook her head to get rid of visions.
Washu didn't leave, but didn't turn around. Ryoko pressed on. This was something that been eating her. "Every time I killed, Kagato would say my mother was that much more disgusted at me." She laughed bitterly. "You take a young child and drill it into her mind that her mother never loved her, her mother was repulsed by her and all she was worth was to be a killing slave." Ryoko then hesatatied and rested her head sideways, facing Washu. "Then, after the child was released from a prision where she was called a demon, and have a girl, younger than the first ,come up and declare herself her mother." Ryoko returned back to the sky. "What would your reaction be?"
Washu cringed and fell to her knees. Ryoko caught this and floated to hover near her. She placed one hand on the genius's shoulder and smiled sadly. "Thanks, Washu."
"For what?" Washu asked her daughter.
Ryoko knelt and gave her a hug. "For being here." Washu trembled and then lachted back on to Ryoko and held her tightly. Ryoko smiled into her shoulder and, after a while, pulled away and walked past into the house. Washu stayed there, tears forming in her eyes.
A ship hovered around the fringes of the astmosphere and it's white exterior glintened off the sun every so often. "Sir, no signs of trouble." The computer was addressing the chief of the Jurian fleet at the moment. The Commander sighed in relief and waved the computer away.
"Good...then Tnsuami is safe for another day."
Another ship, near the moon, waited in silence as the transmission was broadcasted. The feral grin formed over fangs and the growl sounded off once more. "It's night you should be afraid of Captain."
Chapter II:
Ryoko frowned at Washu's comment and levataied up to hover above the genius's head. Her golden eyes were darkened with worry and confusion and her mind was scattered over many ideas and thoughts. As she allowed her mind to drift away, she turned her gaze skyward, past the unknown light to Mars, its red glow drawing her attention. She reached one hand up and streched it as if to take the planet from the universe and hold it in her palm.
Washu, seeing this from the corner of her eye, turned her attention to the floating oni. With Ryoko fully absorbed in her own thoughts, it opened up an chance for her to study Ryoko. She smiled as she noticed once again the similarites between her daughter and herself. The eyes, which had feline characteristics; hers emerald green and Ryokos, golden amber. Her study shifted to Ryokos hair. Like Washu's it flowed in a style of spikes down to her mid-back.
Ryoko, feeling someone watching her, turned her face slightly to have her eyes lock with Washu's. Again, the feeling that had held them at lunch came again and this time Ryoko felt what it was: A feeling of a bond was streched between the two of them and it was now growing stronger as the pair spent more time together. She blinked and settled back down onto the ground, her feet making a soft landing.
Washu still stared at her and then broke the connection when the light made a sudden flare and then went out causing both females to address the situation again.
"Hey Washu? Now whadda we do?" Ryoko's voice shattered the uneasy tension that sprung up after the light had faded.
This time Washu also frowned and turned to go back to the house. "Let's go Little Ryoko." Ryoko nodded to Washu's back and walked with her back to the house.
"So, Ayeka, when are you deceideing to return home with your mommy?" questioned Lady Misaki as she set down her tea.
Ayeka set hers down also and sighed heavily. "Mother...I want to stay here."
"Oh? Why?" Miskai cocked her head to one side and Funhao sent a knowing glance towards the direction of Tenchi.
"It's because..." Ayeka paused and hung her head. Tenchi, now curious, tuned back to what the girls were saying and quietly listened. "Father wants me to marry soon, right?" Lady Miskai nodded, unsure of where her eldest was going with this thread of conversation. "Well I want to marry for love and I believe I found someone to fill the place where Yosho's void was." Ayeka slightly angled her face to place it in Tenchi's eyeline.
Tenchi gulped and nervously awaited her next words. Ayeka took in a deep breath and continued.
"Mother, Lady Funaho, I want to break the tratditional custom of engagement." Miskai's eyes brimmed with tears and she let out a large smile. Funaho on the other hand was waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak.
Ayeka took in another breath and stood, crossing over to Tenchi. She came to stop in front of him and knelt down onto her knees; holding a beautiful irisecent purple flower in her right hand. Sasami's eyes grew wide and she gasped.
"Ayeka!" she said in awe.
Ayeka bowed her head for a moment and then looked straight into Tenchis eyes. "Tenchi...I have known you for two years and in that time I have grown to love you." she bit her lip before continuing. Tenchi was now red. "Will you grant me this wish and honor of having you, my Great-Nephew, as my husband and future Emperor of Jurai?" she ended it hopefully and continued to stare at Tenchi.
Tenchi looked around the room at the others who were in there and examine their faces: Lady Funaho wore a mask of calmness, Lady Miskai had the same look Ayeka wore, Sasami was gazing dreamyliy at the flower Ayeka held, Mishosi was just beginning to cry and Yosho just nodded his head. ~It's now or never~ He thought, gingerly taking the flower from her grasp. "I--I accept Lady Ayeka."
"Accept what, Tenchi?" Tenchi's eyes snapped to Ryoko and he inhaled sharply.
Ryoko was puzzled at everyones simulatiously gasps of shock as soon as her question had been heard. She was curious and sent a curious glance to everyone in the room; all of them averted their own gazes...except for Ayeka, her gaze was of joy and victory. ~What did she win?~ Ryoko wondered untill her gaze intercepted Tenchis and she saw the flower he cluchted. Everything fell into place. ~No...~ she stumbled and didn't feel Washu catch her arm.
"Ten...chi?" she whispered sadly, praying she was, for once, mistaken. But his avoidance of her prodding stare made her heart break. Another look towards Ayeka confirmed it and she silently teleported away. Washu looked sadly at the place where her hand hung in mid-air after Ryoko's arm had gone before glancing up to the rest.
Ayeka's grin hadn't changed and Washu scowled at that. Mishoshi looked at her. "Hey Washu? When will we tell Ryoko the good news?" Washu groaned and face-faulted.
Tenchi was staring at the ground when Washu's feet appeared in his eyesight. He raised his head and looked at her.
Washu reached out and patted Tenchi on the shoulder. "Congraulations Lord Tenchi," she turned to face Ayeka, "Lady Ayeka." she bowed repectivly to each of them before walking towards the stairs.
"Lady Washu." Funaho touched her arm, making her pause in her step. She met the womans gaze. "Will she be all right? Ryoko, I mean."
Washu sent a look back towards Tenchi and Ayeka and then back to her. "I...don't know Lady Funaho." She gently removed her hand and stepped away up the stairs. As she got closer to the window where there was access to the roof, she saw a hunched over figure and knew that she had found her daughter. Shaking her head, she opened the window and eased out onto the roof.
"Go away Washu." came the muffled voice from Ryoko. Washu tsked and went to sit a few feet away. She sat and then laid back, folding her arms behind her head.
"Amazing." she murmered softly.
Ryoko pulled her head up and half-glared at her mothers profile. ~It's hard to glare when your worlds gone~ she mused to herself. "What's amazing Washu? And didn't I tell you to go away?"
Washu shrugged off the last part. "The universe, my Little Ryoko." She pointed a hand to the dusty cloud of stars which singified the rest of the milky way. "How it's never-ending and we're just specks in the spiral of life." she ended and rested her arm.
"Point?"
Washu turned her head sideways and viewed Ryoko. "My 'point', Little Ryoko, is that the world didn't end." she sat up and totaly faced her.
Ryoko shook her head in reply. "You mean, your world didn't end Washu."
Washu nodded her head in agreement. "True, my world didn't end...and I hope she doesn't for a very long time." Ryoko sighed and lowered her head back onto her arms. Washu also sighed and then scooted closer, about a foot away now. She again leaned back and then looked back up at the stars.
"Look, there's Orion." she said, pointing towards the starry hunter. "He boasted he could kill any animal that ever graced Earth, so the Gods sent a giant scorpion after him." She tsked. "As all good storys go in the Greacian myths, Orion was killed and rewarded a place in the sky; so was Scorpio and the two chase eachother to this day."
"Where's Scorpio?" asked Ryoko, her head semi resting on her arms. Washu smiled to herself.
"You won't see him until the summer." Washu looked around again and pointed out another one. "There's Gemini." she remarked. Ryoko searched where Washu's finger hovered at but couldn't find the contellation.
"Where, Washu?" she asked.
"Come over here." Ryoko moved closer and again looked to where Washu was pointing. She saw the two stars close together and then the line of stars down one of the sides.
"Is that it?" she asked, pointing. Washu looked and nodded. "What is it?"
"Twins. Castor and Pollux, they loved eachother so much during life that when Pollux went to the Underworld Castor begged Zeus, King of the Gods, to allow him to die also."
"Underworld?"
"In Greacian times, it was where the dead went." Washu explained.
Ryoko shifted to face the diminuative scienctist. "How come you know so much about the Earthan Sky?" Washu shrugged.
"While I wait for my experiments to finish, I'd catch up on ancient myths and legends of Eartharn history." she scanned the sky for others she knew.
"Why didn't you just come out?"
Washu lowered her head and fixed Ryoko with a stare. "Because some people never wanted to be near me." she whispered, getting up she walked back to the window.
"That's not fair Washu." Ryoko's soft reply rang in her ears. "I was raised by a killer who told me my own mother had killed herself when she first saw me." Ryoko shuddered and wrapped her arms around her knees. "He said that he was the only one who would take me in." She bit her lip and shook her head to get rid of visions.
Washu didn't leave, but didn't turn around. Ryoko pressed on. This was something that been eating her. "Every time I killed, Kagato would say my mother was that much more disgusted at me." She laughed bitterly. "You take a young child and drill it into her mind that her mother never loved her, her mother was repulsed by her and all she was worth was to be a killing slave." Ryoko then hesatatied and rested her head sideways, facing Washu. "Then, after the child was released from a prision where she was called a demon, and have a girl, younger than the first ,come up and declare herself her mother." Ryoko returned back to the sky. "What would your reaction be?"
Washu cringed and fell to her knees. Ryoko caught this and floated to hover near her. She placed one hand on the genius's shoulder and smiled sadly. "Thanks, Washu."
"For what?" Washu asked her daughter.
Ryoko knelt and gave her a hug. "For being here." Washu trembled and then lachted back on to Ryoko and held her tightly. Ryoko smiled into her shoulder and, after a while, pulled away and walked past into the house. Washu stayed there, tears forming in her eyes.
A ship hovered around the fringes of the astmosphere and it's white exterior glintened off the sun every so often. "Sir, no signs of trouble." The computer was addressing the chief of the Jurian fleet at the moment. The Commander sighed in relief and waved the computer away.
"Good...then Tnsuami is safe for another day."
Another ship, near the moon, waited in silence as the transmission was broadcasted. The feral grin formed over fangs and the growl sounded off once more. "It's night you should be afraid of Captain."
