Hi there! Thank you for the reviews! As stated Tenchi Muyo! I do not own, but others in this story are. So lets get it going!
Of Secrets and Lies
Chapter 8
Morning
Jamilah opened her eyes cautiously. The sun was filtering through the paper windows of the tiny office/home behind the shrine in a soft pink. She shifted and was rewarded with a sharp pain, causing her to give a small shout. She was lying flat on her back, staring at the wooden ceiling for a few moments before Katsuhito footsteps were felt more than heard towards her, and she heard a chuckle. His face came into her view, the old man holograph now in placed. She grinned as she tried to lift her hand toward him, swinging it cat like. "Don't take me out coach, I can still beat 'em."
This caused the priest to laugh while avoiding the playful swipes of her hand. "I think you're a couple of hours late for that young lady." The old voice was back again too. She stared up at him, only being able to shift from her neck up.
"Take you long to fix it?" She asked, trying to now to sit up and failing miserably.
"Not long." He replied as he kneeled down to help her. Pacing his hands on her back, the faint scent of the salve still on her skin. "Though I've never had to worry about it not working, so it took most of the knight. But why are you trying to even move?"
She seemed to blush, and instantly wanted to bite his tongue about that last remark.
"Besides the obvious?" She groaned as together they got her sitting upright, "Tomorrow I have a very long day. I'm supposed to meet with Mister Nagan, the person whose hiring me, and I have to pick up Winter Bolt. And probably will have to perform the same day. I have no choice, I've got to be able to move."
She stayed upright for a moment, before she got hr legs under her. Katsuhito placed a spare jacket over her to cover her up. She threaded her arms through the sleeves with his help as she stood up, wincing as her body straitened up. He lead her towards the bathroom, "I think it might be best to not go to the house until you're able to walk and move on your own. Meanwhile, I'll stat on breakfast."
Sasami hurried through the ritual of making breakfast. Usually she was humming and enjoying herself but toady she felt out of sorts. Yesterday's activities had unnerved her, but she hopped that everyone wouldn't mind breakfast being served early. She wanted to go to the shrine and see if Jamilah was okay, she looked so cold and lifeless when grandpa picked her up. Sasami poured some miso soup into a large thermos before heading out. "Everyone BREAKFAST IS READY! MOVE IT BEFORE IT GETS COLD!" she hollered before opening the door and sliding it shut.
Ryoko leapt out of bed, thudding her head against a barrister as Sasami shouted. She got dressed quickly and phased to head out towards the bathroom, she glanced at Tenchi's door and for a brief moment thought to go in and wake him. She walked right passed the door to the bathroom, shutting the door.
Ayeka was also rudely awaken by Sasami's hollering. And she was just as irritated as she too, got dressed. Ayeka opened the door in time to see Ryoko staring at Tenchi's door. She was about to holler at the space pirate, when Ryoko just walked away from it. "Huh?" Ayeka was totally flabbergasted as Ryoko shut the bathroom door soundly behind her. She stared at the door as well, and then remembered why it all felt so surreal. Tenchi had actually hit a woman. Sweet, wonderful, gentle Tenchi had hit a woman and didn't stop. He didn't even looked in his grandfather's direction when he had dragged the poor girl's body from the lake. She had caught the face of Katsuhito when he lifted the American girl up. It was a mask she had seen their father wear when he was terribly angry. But her father had Mother and Mother Funaho to calm and sooth the King of Jurai's rage. Her older brother had no one and for some reason, that made her very sad. She blinked and saw that Tenchi was staring back at her. She was so deep in her thoughts that she didn't even hear Tenchi. She bowed, rather stiffly, "If you'll excuse me, Lord Tenchi, breakfast is getting cold." And with that she straitened up and walked into the bathroom, whose door had simply opened up when Ryoko phased down to the dining area.
Tenchi looked down as to his feet as Ayeka went into the bathroom. He had woken up to the sound of Sasami as well, but was reluctant to even leave his room, but hunger got the better of him and he dressed. He waited for Ayeka to be done, so that he could talk to her. He waited for a few minutes before the door clicked open.
"Ayeka." Tenchi began, noticing that she seemed to have a taken on the mask that years of royalty had learned to take on. "About yesterday. I'm sorry.."
"My Lord Tenchi." Her voice had taken a cold distant edge to it. "It is not I nor anyone else in this household you should be apologizing to." And with that, she walked down the stairs to breakfast. Tenchi didn't know what was worse, his own guilt or the fact that the girls were distant towards him. He went into the bathroom and quietly shut the door.
Sasami clung to the thermos of hot Miso soup, hoping that Katsuhito hadn't made the soup yet. She had added something extra special to the breakfast miso, so that Jamilah would feel better. She got the office and home part of the shrine where she knew they would be and knocked. Katsuhito, who studied the young girl and the thermos in her hands, greeted her. Sasami's mouth went dry for a moment before smiling; "I brought some soup for you too. Um how is she?"
The priest shook his head, "Not to well. I'm afraid she's still asleep and I don't know when she'll be awake or even accepting visitors. However I'll take the soup in and wait until she's better." He noticed the tears about to form in her eyes, "Now, now Sasami. We must think positive and I'm sure she'll thank you for the miso when she's able to wake up." Sasami took on a brave face and smiled, "Alright then! I'll tell everyone to think positive!"
Sasami was about to run down the shrine steps when the priest's voice followed after her.
"Tell Tenchi he doesn't have any chores today, nor is there any sword practice."
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Katsuhito hid he grin very well. He decided for Jamilah to play on their sympathies for a while. He turned into his house to finish up the breakfast he prepared.
Jamilah sighed blissfully as she slid into the hot bath. It had been a seriously royal pain to undo the bandaging in order to bathe and then set up the tub but it was well worth it. The hot water seeped into her skin, relaxed her muscles oh she just fall asleep right here in the tub. This was just what the doctor ordered. She sighed loudly as she flexed her back side to side and moved her shoulders. After awhile, the water-cooled and her stomach demanded food. She slowly got up and grabbed a towel. She found her clothing, dry and waiting for her. She shuffled them on with a little pain and walked around to find that breakfast was already set. She sat down as Katsuhito did the same. There were individual bowls all set since there was just the two of them. They ate in silence for a while before talking about various things, about how she got to be in Japan and what it was like in the states. When breakfast was done, she helped clean up. "Sasami came here earlier today. She brought in the miso soup."
"That was real sweet of her." Jamilah placed the dished way after she dried them.
"I think she was more hoping that se would be able to see you herself." Katsuhito ventured further. "But I think it even does Tenchi a bit of good to worry."
Jamilah could only shake her head. "Tenchi has enough to be worried about." She winced as she stretched out to place the bowls further back.
** ** ** * *** * *
"What? No chores?" Tenchi looked shocked at Sasami who could only nod. He thought he would have gotten double, heck, quadruple the chores for what he did. Not that he didn't deserve it mind you.
"Yeah and he also said not to bother coming to practice too." Sasami finished eating. Ryoko and Ayeka were actually on opposite sides of the table, not even a growl was heard at the table.
"Grandpa must be really mad at me." Tenchi wondered out loud as his father up and left for work.
"No" Nobuyuki replied as he shut the door, "Just disappointed."
Those words made Tenchi feel even worse as he went out towards the lake, leaving a half eaten breakfast behind. He studied the water; it seemed so calm and serene. He really wanted to apologize to her, to let her know that it was his entire fault and make it up to her in someway. His feet seemed to wander him off towards somewhere while he thought. It was late afternoon before he came across one of the fields nearby the carrot patches. It had various late spring and early summer flowers all over the place. He smiled, he might get into trouble by the other girls, but then again he never had seriously hurt them.
** ** * * * * * * * * * * * *
Jamilah sighed as she leaned back. She felt a bit stiff but other than she could move without much problems. She had just done a few stretching exercises earlier in the afternoon before deciding to sit down. The shrine was beautiful, and the sunset was beginning to border on spectacular. The wind went over her bare arms, the promise of a warm night whispering to her senses. The priest had long since gone back to working in his office and she was left alone to just be with her thoughts.
Tenchi went around the back and saw her, leaning back on her hands, her eyes closed as he setting sun tainted her skin pink. He suddenly felt very shy and terribly embarrassed of himself. The setting sun couldn't hide the horrible bruises up her arms, and he knew that there were more under her clothing. He had reread all the letters, and he found the point where Corbin ended and where she began, and read between her lines. She wasn't some girl with hope of only marriage. She had another place she wanted to be, she was a mystery that wanted to stay a mystery and that gave him the strength to walk towards her. He slowly placed the wild flowers under her face, and saw take in a deep breath. She opened her eyes, a fascinating mix of greens and blues seeing him. He felt the heat rise to his face.
"Tenchi." Her voice didn't sound angry, just hurt. She watched him as the blush slowly faded as she took the bouquet of wild flowers from his hands.
"I-I'm sorry, Jamilah." He stammered out. "I had no right to be angry at you. I shouldn't have taken all my problems out on you I'm sorry I didn't stop hitting you, I'm sorry that I didn't save you from the lake, I'm sorry.."
He felt a hand on his shoulder and it squeezed. He looked at her, and she smiled, the setting sun making her hair take on deep reds and her skin gold. "I'm sorry y too. For not being as honest as I could be. And I'll forgive you if you'll forgive me."
He had the unerring urge to hug her, but she distanced herself and took his hand in hers. "Forgiven." He said.
Katsuhito, once known as Yosho, watched in silence at the sight before him. Jamilah had not bore any malice towards his grandson and that was rare, unrequited friendship.."
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Okay I know it GOT CORNEY! But don't worry; things are still in the mix!! See ya!
