IMPORTANT NOTE: This fanfic takes place AFTER the movie Tenchi Muyo! in Love 2 (Tenchi Forever). I'm sorry, but you should not read this fic unless you have seen this movie. If you haven't seen the movie, then none of the first chapter will make any sense, and it will seem like everyone is out of character. SEE THE MOVIE, then read the fic.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE: This fic is not by Wedge. But by Wedge's friend ILR. Wedge is just putting this up at fanfiction.net for his friend, ILR.
Ryoko turned to Tenchi and threw her arms around him. She leaned in
close to his ear and whispered. "Hey Tenchiiiii. Did you read that IMPORTANT
NOTE up there?"
"Huh what?" Tenchi was baffled.
"You have to read that note Tenchi, you can't skip it, since it's so important." Ryoko's voice became very stern.
"Oh fine I'll read it..." There was a short pause as Tenchi scanned the lines above (something YOU should have already done!!)
"Did you read it?"
"Yeah, but that doesn't apply to me because I lived it all, of coarse I know all about that."
"Well, some people don't know." Ryoko glares at YOU!
"Well, the REAL fanfic will be starting now, just wanted to make sure you read the IMPORTANT NOTE!"
Tenchi ducked behind a wall of guards and noble men to sneak into
an unoccupied and darkened room in his home. He let out a sigh, "Heh, it sure
has been getting crowded around here..." Tenchi was referring to the almost
violent handshakes and pats on the back he was receiving non-stop from his party
guests.
It seems that the ceremony to turn his home into a Jurain embassy was even more trouble than he thought.
The whole thing really was Washu's idea even though Aeka was taking credit for it, not like she WANTED to take credit for it. But Aeka was desperate for a reason to stay on Earth. Tenchi was definitely not going to try and stop her, he already felt bad enough about denying her love after living together for so long. Even though she reassured him that she was happy for him and Ryoko, he was still a little guilty. Tenchi remembers how it happened.
It had only been a couple days after Tenchi's return to the real
world; things have already returned to normal. Well, not completely normal. His
time spent in Haruna's world definitely had its affect on Ryoko and Aeka. When
he came back they both had changed so much, it was like meeting them for the
fist time all over again.
Ryoko made her way to the top of the hill, she remembered seeing Tenchi headed in this direction earlier. She quietly tracked around the brush until she saw him. He was sitting down faced away; he looked like he was working on something.
"Tenchi." She called to him quietly. Tenchi looked up from his sketchpad to see Ryoko standing beside him.
"Ryoko." He greeted her politely.
"So this is where you went." Ryoko gazed across the reflective pond.
"Did you think I disappeared again?" He jested.
"I'd just go get you, if you did." Her voice was full of confidence.
Tenchi smiled to her, "Thank you." He looked up for a moment to see Ryoko smiling warmly at him. "Huh?"
"I like you better this way." She crouched down and reached over to tug on his cheek.
"Ouch!" Tenchi winced in pain. "What are you doing?"
Ryoko giggled softly at his squirming. "You mad?"
"Huh?" Tenchi was surprised she was asking.
Ryoko stood up again and looked across the scenery. "That's ok, if you are."
"Ryoko...?" Tenchi laughed at this new revelation. "That's stupid. Doesn't sound like you at all." Ryoko thought to herself for a moment. He was right. The old Ryoko wouldn't say that. But in a way, she was glad for that.
Ryoko's train of though broke when she noticed Tenchi's pencil and pad. "Well, well. You're drawing, huh?"
"Yeah, all of a sudden I just felt like drawing. My dad used to draw like this when he was my age."
"Yeah, that's right." She remembered how the young Nobuyuki was about drawing on their trip into the past. He would draw with a passion, like he was trying to create the things and places he drew.
"Drawing makes me feel so nostalgic, somehow." He looked up at Ryoko. "It makes me feel like I once had something really important." Just then there was a gleam in Tenchi's eye, as if he made a startling revelation.
Ryoko smiled warmly down on him. "Tenchi..."
Tenchi stood up beside Ryoko and stared across the pond. A friendly gust of wind blew across them and both Tenchi and Ryoko breathed in the warm air. Tenchi glanced over to Ryoko who seemed to be deep in thought. Tenchi was amazed; Ryoko was a changed person. She was calmer, more restrained, unlike the Ryoko that took almost everything for granted. Did Tenchi really have that big of an affect on Ryoko? Such much of an affect that 6 months away can cause a change of attitude this big? He was definitely curious.
Tenchi was shaken from his thought when Ryoko said, "Let's go back, I think I can smell sweet potatoes cooking."
"Yeah. Good idea." Tenchi started on his way but stopped as he passed Ryoko. He looked into her golden eyes. He saw something there that he had never seen before. As they gazed into each other warmly Tenchi took her hand in his. "Let's go."
Back at the bottom of the hill, where the rest of the Masaki family had been eating delicious sweet potatoes, Sasami took a small pale of water and doused the fire she used for cooking.
"Aww Sasami, I was still hungry!" Mihoshi cried.
"Sorry Mihoshi, but we didn't have any more potatoes."
Kiyone rolled her eye's at her partner's incredible appetite. "Didn't you eat most of them anyway?"
"I'm sorry Kiyone, but it's been three hours since I ate last and I was really hungry." Kiyone would have a clever quip to this, but she didn't want to upset the peace that had settled in on the scenery.
"Hey look, here comes Ryoko and Tenchi." Washu said.
Tenchi saw the crowd from a distance and waved to them. He then saw Aeka turn and he tensed, realizing he was still holding hands with Ryoko. His mind zipped through all the possible way Aeka could react, and none of them were good. But instead of fights, accusations, and insults, she just smiled and waved back. *Amazing...*
When they arrived with the rest they were disappointed to be informed that all the snacks were gone.
"Well that's ok. I think we can manage until dinner time." Tenchi said.
Aeka turned to Tenchi and looked over him. "I must say Tenchi, you're much more handsome than before."
"Heh, you and Ryoko both. I'll be sure never to grow up then." Tenchi laughed.
"Yeah Aeka, I couldn't agree with you more. His short hair looks much better." Ryoko tousled his hair a bit.
Aeka giggled. Tenchi started to feel a little uncomfortable. Showing this much affection to Ryoko right in front of Aeka made him nervous. He was still worried about the old Aeka. It was almost like a bad habit.
Ryoko felt his tension through his hand and tried to loosen things up. "Well, looks like we all have the afternoon off. How about we all watch TV or something..." Ryoko said, having a sudden loss of ideas.
"That sounds like a great idea." Tenchi said, almost too hastily.
"You two go ahead. I want to help Sasami with some more chores." They both started to make there way down the shrine hill before Aeka stopped them again. "Ryoko, Tenchi, I uh... am happy for you... both."
Just as she said those words a black cloud over Tenchi vanished. "Thank you, Aeka. You don't know how much that means to me."
"And me too." Ryoko added. Both Aeka and Ryoko's thoughts flashed back to the fateful moments on the roof of the office building. The moment when Ryoko needed one last push, in order to save Tenchi. She would have never guessed that Aeka would be the one to tell her to go. They gave their last silent good-byes as nods and Ryoko and Tenchi turned for the house.
After they disappeared over the hill Aeka began to wonder how things came to be. In an odd sense of mind, she was almost glad Haruna had captured Tenchi. She never realized how spoiled she was. Throughout their entire adventure through space, their battle with Kain, and the almost endless antics with Ryoko, Aeka had always known that things would swing her way. In the back of her mind she always knew that Tenchi would fall in love with her over Ryoko.
But that all changed when Haruna came. Having lost contact with her love for so long, it was as if the crown had been knocked from her head. During the last weeks of the search, she was so desperate reunite everyone she didn't care who Tenchi chose. She just wanted everyone to be happy again, like they were before. Knowing that all the pieces to the puzzle were finally coming together made her happy as well.
Aeka found Sasami picking up the last of their earlier meal. "Hello Sasami, What chores would you like to start on today?"
"Oh hi big sis. You know, I don't really feel like working right now..."
*WHAT?!* This was so uncharacteristic, Sasami always took pleasure in doing housework. "Sasami, are you feeling ok? Are you sick?"
"I'm fine Aeka, I just wanted to rest a little." Then suddenly her face lit up, as if she just had a brilliant idea. "Hey Aeka! How about we ask Azaka and Kamedake over for a visit? I know it's only been a little bit since I've seen them but that was so boring, we were working, not playing. C'mon Aeka it'll be fun having them around again."
It was so obvious that she had been mulling over that idea for sometime now, but Aeka played along. "Well I don't see why not. We must get permission from Tenchi and his father first. If he says yes, I'm sure Washu can use her technology to set up communications."
"What do ya guys need me to do?" the little red haired scientists poked her head into the conversation in hearing her own name.
"Oh Washu, can you call Jurai? Please, please, please, please, please, please!"
"Sasami! Where are your manners?" Aeka scolded.
"Sorry..."
"Ok now... hold on a second." Washu's holo computer materialized right before her. "You need me to call Juria? What's the occasion? Who am I calling specifically?"
"Washu, could you please reach Azaka or Kamedake on Jurai for us?"
Washu glanced down at Sasami's pleading eyes. *How can I say no to that face...?* "Well sure I can, I'll call them right away."
"Actually Washu, I would like to hold off on that. We still need to ask for Lord Tenchi's permission... since it is his home."
"Sure thing. Just say the word when you need it." Washu closed her computer and started walking down the hill with Mihoshi and Kiyone, who where too distracted about there next meal than to hear their plans for the new guests.
"Well Sasami, lets get going." Aeka called to her sister.
Sasami beamed at Aeka and walked toward the Masaki home, at the bottom of the hill.
Inside his home, Tenchi sat down with Ryoko on the couch. Ryoko tried to make conversation. "So, what do you plan on doing now?"
"How do you mean?" Tenchi asked curiously.
"I mean about everything. What are you going to do for a living?"
"I never really gave it any thought, you know..."
Ryoko picked up Tenchi's sketchpad from the living room table. "Did you ever consider being an artist?" She started flipping through the pages, at each glance she winced in pain at Tenchi's attempted artwork. "Well... flipping burgers is always fun too."
"Thanks a lot." Tenchi pulled the pad out of Ryoko's hands. "Well, I really enjoy this land, maybe I'll become a priest like grandpa."
"I see."
"Well, how about you?"
"ME?" Ryoko was almost shocked at the question.
"Yeah, aren't you going to work? It seems to boring around here with nothing to do."
"Well, the only thing I was good at I gave up a long time ago. Besides, I won't get bored as long as I get to be with you."
Tenchi smiled warmly into Ryoko's equally glowing gaze. As he drew her face in for a first kiss his heartbeat quickened to the coming moment, but suddenly Sasami appeared out of nowhere and bounced on the couch, right in between Ryoko and Tenchi. "Yeah! I did it!"
"Did what?" Tenchi said, slightly disappointed.
"I won the race to the house!" Her smile then faded. "But I don't think anyone knew that I was racing them..." Tenchi and Ryoko giggled softly.
"Sasami, why on earth did you run from me like that?" Aeka asked bewildered, while walking into the house. Tenchi and Ryoko tried to hide their amusement in wide smiles.
"Aeka, I told you I wanted to race you, didn't you hear me?"
"No, I believe I did not..." Aeka grumbled. She walked into the kitchen to try and hide her red face, but before she entered, she stopped and turned to Sasami. "Sasami, wasn't there something that you wanted to ask Tenchi?"
"Oh yeah!" Sasami's face lit up yet again.
"What is it Sasami?"
"Hey Tenchi, would it be ok if Azaka and Kamedake came over to visit? I mean, if its all right with you, I don't want to impose..."
"Hey Sasami, it's perfectly alright. It would be great to see those guys again."
Sasami whooped in joy and gave Tenchi a big huge. "Oh Tenchi your he greatest!" She then jumped down off the couch and ran into the kitchen. "Did you hear that Aeka? He said yes!"
Just as Sasami exited, Washu entered catching the end of her celebrating march. "Well, it looks like I'll be calling those two old-fogies after all." Washu entered the kitchen to join Sasami and Aeka.
Sasami caught an eye of Washu and quickly rushed up to her. "Oh hi miss Washu. Guess what! Tenchi said yes. Can you call Azaka and Kamedake now? Please?"
"Sure thing kiddo." Washu turned to Aeka and activated her holo computer. "So, how do you want me to handle this Aeka?"
"Well, a standard broadcast will do. I'll give you the frequency for royal messages." Aeka took a pen in hand and jotted down the numbers for Washu.
"Okay-dokay. It'll only be a second." She wasn't kidding too. With lightning fast speed her hands flew over the keyboard with perfect accuracy. 3.52 seconds later, a connection was being made. Washu rotated the screen to face Aeka; she was really looking forward to seeing the old guardians of Jurai.
The screen flickered for a short moment before clearing to reveal a young woman suited in a Jurain uniform. She was absolutely shocked to find the face of the first crown princess looking back at her.
"Oh, Princess Aeka! I had no idea that you were the sender of this transmission... I..."
"No need for any worries ma'am. My business is very casual and no formalities are needed." Aeka reassured her, and then continued. "I wish to speak with Azaka and Kamedake. Can you arrange a comlink?" Aeka glanced away for a moment to shoot a glare at Sasami, who was rudely looking over her shoulder in curiosity.
"Yes your highness, I will call them right away and they will respond as soon as possible."
"Thank you." The image faded for a very short period as the knights were summoned to the nearest comlink station. After a short pause, the two knights were standing before Aeka on the screen.
"Hello Princess Aeka." They said in unison.
"Azaka, Kamedake, its so good to see you two again." Aeka smiled at the comfortable image of there presence.
"I am glad to see you too Aeka, in fact your contacting us couldn't come at a better time." Azaka said. There was urgency imbedded in his voice.
Aeka became distracted by his worry. "Whatever do you mean? What do you need to discuss with me?"
"It's not necessarily something that needs to be discussed, more like something that requires your presence." Kamedake continued.
Aeka became quickly concerned. "What has happened? Please tell me."
"It's nothing to drastic Princess Aeka. It's just that you've been gone from Jurai for so long now... The public is beginning to worry about your well being." Kamedake said.
"Yes, on top of that, there are many high ranking officials that believe the Jurain government is losing stability by having their first Princess gone from the capitol for so long."
It was beginning to make sense to Aeka. "So, the people want a figure head to look up to."
"To be so blunt, yes." Kamedake said with disapproval. "The people of Jurai don't intend such crude forms of leadership, but as a population, they strive for someone to look to. That's just how it is."
Sasami couldn't listen any longer. "We can't go back! Everyone we know lives on earth. All our friends..."
The two knights sympathized for the little princess, but Aeka didn't allow them. "Don't think like that Sasami. Were the leaders of the Jurain Empire and we are at the whim of the people... it's so sad that we must leave this place though." Aeka didn't show it, but frustration was burning through her. After everything they had done to bring peace into their lives, it was all beginning to slip away.
Azaka tried to brainstorm ideas for Aeka. "Well... I think the main concern the public has is that they consider your stay on Earth as a holiday, A ruler constantly on vacation is not a good thing. If you were to somehow serve the government you could remain on Earth and still please the Juraian population."
"Yes, but what could I do from here? Earth is so far away from everything." Aeka didn't have faith that Azaka's idea was going to work.
"But Aeka, I don't want to go back to Jurai. Its so nice here, c'mon Aeka, we can stay can't we?" Sasami was sounding desperate.
Meanwhile, Washu was listening to all of this with a very tuned ear. As soon as Azaka mentioned serving Jurai on Earth, she popped up another laptop and her fingers started to fly, looking for the desired information. After finding what she was looking for, an idea formed in her genius mind. "I know what you can do."
Everyone turned to Washu. "What's that?"
"Aeka can be the head of Earth's first alien embassy!" The little scientist squealed with joy.
"Washu, that could never work. Earth is much to under-developed, both technologically and socially. Putting an embassy here would be a waste of recourses." Aeka was really losing all hope.
"I just pulled up this data about Earth's technological history, it says here that these underdeveloped Earthlings moved from the Industrial Age to the Information Age in under one hundred years." Washu eyes never strayed from the screen.
Aeka couldn't believe it. "That's impossible. No civilization has ever evolved that quickly. The youngest recorded species with an information based economy is 50 million years old (galactic years)"
"Would I lie? Not only that but their rate of technological increase raises exponentially. I think it would be wise to keep an eye on these Earthlings, their technology increases more than their social maturity. Who knows what weapon they may produce and annihilate themselves with..."
Washu's argument was very convincing, and the knights Azaka and Kamedake were more than happy to go along with it. "That settles it then," said Azaka.
"But!" Aeka pleaded while being left out.
"You will remain on Earth until we can process the information and announce what your plan is to the public."
"But!"
Kamedake picked up where he left off. "It will take about two years before we can make appropriate arrangements for the ceremony, most officials will be booked until then."
"BUT!" Aeka didn't know what to say, she felt like she was cheating the system.
"YAY! We get to stay on Earth after all!" Sasami jumped with joy. As Aeka looked onto the simple expression of happiness on her sister's face her worries melted away and it all seemed worth it.
"Yes Sasami, we can stay."
Tenchi remembered when Aeka told him her plan. He was quite startled, but he wasn't going to stop her, after all, this is what she wanted and Tenchi wasn't in the right position to say no. But when he first heard Aeka mention the ceremony is when he started to worry. He knew Jurain ceremonies were an important part of their culture, but he didn't know that they would be so brutal. Why did she have to invite every single military leader in the entire Jurain fleet? They all wanted to meat the man who beat Kagato. They would all pat him on the back, shake hands with him, see how many pushes up he can do...
Tenchi finally looked around the room he had ducked his way into. It was Aeka's bedroom! "Whoops, I shouldn't be in here..."
"Oh I don't mind Tenchi." Aeka's voice came out from the darkness.
"Aeka? I am so sorry. I guess I was just so desperate to get away from the party I didn't see where I was going."
"To tell you the truth, that's why I came in here too."
"Heh, I didn't know Jurai parties where something you would have to train for." Tenchi chuckled.
"Yes, we are serious partiers." Aeka laughed a little at the remark.
"How long will this last?"
"It should be over soon, how much Sake do we have left?"
"Not much."
"Yep, should be ending any time now." They both let out a small laugh again.
"Well miss 'lady of the hour' are you ready to brave the fronts again?"
"Not yet, I think I'll wait a little longer before making another appearance... once party members start to leave would be a good time."
"Okay. You know where I'll be." Tenchi opened the door just a crack before he heard a shout come from across the room.
"TENHI?! PRINCE TENCHI?! How is the 'man of Jurai'?" A hand shot through and literately dragged Tenchi out of the room.
"Good luck!" Aeka called to him as he left.
*You'll need it...*
Tenchi lay passed out on the couch. Ryoko was lying across him, also passed out. Sasami was fast asleep in her bed. Aeka was nodding off in the kitchen, completely exhausted. Everyone in the house was dead tired from the surprisingly intense party last night. Everyone fell victim to the ceremony except Nobuyuki, who had worked extra late just to avoid the occasion.
The bright and cheerful Nobuyuki entered the room and started trying to wake everyone up. "HEY, HEY, HEY EVERYON!! Is that anyway to go about running Earth's first embassy?" Nobody answered. "C'mon Tenchi, you can't lazy about the whole day!"
Tenchi pulled a pillow up over his head.
"It's a beautiful morning! You had better get up or nothing will get done." Nobuyuki's voice beamed with cheerfulness.
Nobuyuki noticed Sasami at the top of the stairs, still in her nightgown.
"SASAMI! Just the person I need. I'm starving, I haven't had breakfast yet and I'm almost late for work."
"I can't cook today, I'm to tired..."
"Oh please Sasami! I need food in order to operate!"
"I need rest in order to cook."
Nobuyuki shrugged his shoulders and walked into the kitchen in an attempt to whip something to eat for himself. He found Princess Aeka sleeping at the table.
"Aeka... Aeka... are you awake?" Nobuyuki poked her side.
"Huh what? Oh yes I'm awake."
"Wow, all of you guys really did get whipped out last night eh?"
"Yes..." Aeka groaned in the realization of her state of mind. "My fist real position in the Jurai Empire and I already need a vacation..."
"Why don't you go on one then? Did I hear you right when you said that the embassy won't become official for another 3 months?"
A light bulb went off in Aeka head. *THAT'S RIGHT!!* Strength began to return to her as she stood up. "We are going to go on a vacation!!"
"Did I hear someone say vacation?" Ryoko beckoned from the living room. She soon teleported in with a half-asleep Tenchi. "Did you catch that Tenchi? Were going to take a vacation! It'll be so fun!"
"Boy, you sure do have selective energy reserves." Tenchi grumbled.
"Hey, I use em when I want to..."
Aeka was also getting excited about the idea. "Yeah, this is definitely going to be fun. I think it's been much too long since our last one."
"Alright it's settled, we're all going on a vacation to relax and have fun. But where?" Ryoko asked.
"How about some place off planet? We haven't been in space in a long time, and with my new job I don't think I'll being going out very often." Aeka tried to reason.
"Space? Well... I guess that's okay..." Ryoko voice faltered a bit but Aeka didn't notice. Tenchi did though.
"What's wrong with space Ryoko? Didn't you used to live there?" Tenchi inquired.
"No, no, nothing important. A resort in space will be much more fun than one on Earth, we should go there." Ryoko reassured.
As Tenchi gathered everyone to tell the good news to the rest of the house members, Aeka began planning the specifics of the vacation. Meanwhile, Ryoko slipped out the back and wondered about her return to space.
Written by ILR Send all comments, questions, and
complaints to omniguy2000@hotmail.com
