Ryoko walked into the lab and glanced around, not seeing her mother anywhere.
"Mom?" she called into the lab before spotting a door a little ways away and made no hesitation on heading over to it.
"What is it, little Ryoko?" Washu asked curtly. Ryoko spun around to see the midget-woman floating behind her with her chin in her hands.
"I was just wondering if you knew where Tenchi was," she said.
"I'm right here," Tenchi said as he closed the door to the room Ryoko was heading for.
"Um…mom?" she asked as she glanced over her shoulder at the redhead.
"No problem. I'll make sure Ayeka stays in the living room," Washu said as she disappeared, leaving Tenchi and Ryoko in the darkness of the lab to work out this little 'talk' issue.
***
Ayeka let out a squeak as she felt someone grab her from behind as she reached for the lab door and drag her into the living room.
"You stay here," Washu said as she pointed a finger in Ayeka's face.
"Miss Washu! What do you think you're doing, pulling me around like that?" Ayeka whined as she wrinkled her brow at the scientist.
"What do you think you're doing, intending to spy on them like that?" Washu asked, turning the question around a bit and slamming Ayeka with a good point.
"I want to make sure that demon doesn't hurt Tenchi," Ayeka snapped. Washu narrowed her eyes at Ayeka and sat on a floating cushion as it appeared under her and typed at her laptop for a moment. Ayeka then let out another squeak as she was turned into a chibi.
"Call her a demon again and I'll do more than change your appearance, princess," Washu warned as Ayeka raved around the living room in a high-pitched squeak. Washu then returned her to her normal self after a few laughs and watched as the princess smoothed her kimono out.
"I'm sorry, Washu, but she acts like one," Ayeka said. Washu leaned on her arms and floated up so that she could stare Ayeka in the face and narrowed her eyes again.
"Ayeka, you see what I create in that lab. Don't piss me off. Ryoko is not a demon. She is my daughter and insulting her is like spitting in my face. Do you know what I do to people who spit in my face, princess?" Washu asked in a stern voice.
"No I don't, and I don't want to know," Ayeka said.
"Good. The reserve tanks are already packed tight, so there'd be no room for you, but don't think I wouldn't try," Washu said as she floated across the room to keep a vigil over the lab door.
***
"Do you think we'll be interrupted again?" Tenchi asked as he looked towards the door.
"No. Mom won't allow it," she said as she stared at Tenchi with a thoughtful look.
"Ryoko, I'm sorry I always push you away, but you're so…open and it startles me," he said as he nervously scratched the back of his head. Ryoko continued to stare at him before tilting her head.
"So I scare you?" she asked.
"No! It's not like that at all. You just catch me off guard a lot of the time," he said. Ryoko looked down at the floor and let out a sigh before disappearing from sight. Tenchi wrinkled his brow and waited for a moment before hearing the familiar sound of her reappearing behind him. He felt her wrap her arms around his neck in a bear hug and didn't jump like usual, but he did struggle a bit to get away, seeing he couldn't breath.
"See what I mean?" she said gravely as she let him go.
"Ryoko, wait," he wheezed as he held up his hands to stop her.
"What? You knew I was there, but you still push me away. Why?" she asked.
"Because you have to be at least ten times stronger than me, if not more. You're hugs aren't exactly gentle," he said as his breath started to return to him. Ryoko waited for him to regain his composure before tilting her head at him.
"And you want someone who is gentle, right? Someone who has manners? Someone who isn't a demon?" Ryoko asked in an angered tone.
"Ryoko, you're not a demon," Tenchi corrected in a stern voice. Ryoko stared at him and blinked a few times before biting her lower lip.
"Do you mean that?" she asked after a moment. Tenchi let out a sigh and smiled as he saw she was going to listen and cooperate with him.
"Yes, I mean it, Ryoko. You're not a demon and if you want to talk, I'll listen," he said. Ryoko took a deep breath and closed her eyes as she let this idea sting at her thoughts. She then smiled and wrapped her arms around Tenchi and lightly hugged him, hoping that it wasn't too tight. Tenchi smiled and returned her hug and felt her shiver in his arms. He turned his head to see her face and could tell she way crying on his shoulder, so he did his best to calm her tears so they could continue this conversation while they still had their privacy.
***
Mom? Washu heard through the link. She lifted her head from the book she was reading and smiled as she heard her daughter's voice.
Yes, little Ryoko? she called.
Don't call me that. Where's Ayeka? she asked. Washu let out a sigh and shook her head before grinning to herself and looking over at the princess. Ayeka was still trying to chew her way through the duct tape over her mouth and was violently struggling with the thick cables wrapped around her wrists and ankles. She had managed to inch her way from in front of the couch to about three feet from where Washu was floating and was red in the face from her travels across the floor.
I'm dealing with it. You're clear Washu said, knowing the reason for Ryoko's question.
Thanks, mom Ryoko said before shutting the link down. Washu watched the princess still squirming around on the floor and smiled before returning to her book.
***
Ryoko smiled as she stared up at the sky but sat up from her lying position on the rocks near the cave. Tenchi looked over at her and smiled before looking back up at the stars as they shown with all their might.
"I'm sorry, Ryoko," he said. Ryoko chuckled and shook her head at him.
"You've been apologizing all night, Tenchi. You don't need to keep doing it," she said as she leaned back on her arms. Tenchi shrugged his shoulders and stared at the back of her head for a long time. They had been chatting in this spot for a while and had watched the sun go down, so guessing from her attitude, she was pleased with the talk they had.
"So, no more death-grip-hugs and you'll pay more attention to me, pretty much," Ryoko said after a short silence.
"You make it sound as if I never paid attention before," he said with a chuckle.
"Because you never have," she said in a soft tone and not returning his chuckle. He sat up and looked over at her, studying the look on her face.
"Ryoko, it's not that I never paid attention to you. It's just that I never knew how you would react to something I said. I hate to say it, but if I was to compliment you the way I do Ayeka, you would squeeze the breath right out of me," he said. She looked over at him and wrinkled her brow before letting out a sigh.
"So you don't like it when I show you that I love you," Ryoko said, more to herself than to Tenchi.
"If you were more gentle about it, I wouldn't mind so much. I would actually enjoy it if you didn't use all your strength," he said as he scratched the back of his head nervously. She looked over at him and smiled sweetly as she heard that her would like her hugs.
"It's a deal then," she said while holding out her hand to him. He raised an eyebrow and looked at her hand before giving her a confused look.
"What's a deal?" he asked.
"If I become more gentle, than you'll compliment me like you do Ayeka," she said. Tenchi smiled at her and chuckled as he stood up.
"Deal," he whispered as he took her hand to help lift her off the stone and gave her a friendly hug instead of a handshake. She felt her cheeks grow red but giggled anyways and pulled back before disappearing. Tenchi chuckled to himself again and waited for her to appear behind him, and sure enough, she did. She appeared and had grabbed him around the waist and hauled him into the air. He let out a shout before realizing what was going on and let her fly him back to the house, seeing it was getting dark and Sasami would have dinner ready soon.
***
Ryoko burst out into laughter as she walked into the living room to see Washu sitting on a floating cushion while reading a book with Ayeka tied up and gagged on the floor at her feet. Washu glanced over at her daughter and peered at her over the top of her glasses.
"This is what you asked for, right?" Washu asked as she closed her book while removing her glasses. Ayeka tried to shout something, but the tape was still firmly set over her lips.
"What was that? I couldn't hear you," Washu said as she leaned down while comically cupping her ear.
"I think she's been here long enough, Washu. Let her go," Tenchi said with a heavy sigh. Washu rolled her eyes and snapped her fingers, causing the restraints to disappear and allowing Ayeka rein over her limbs once again. She then hunkered down as the princess sat on the floor, gently wincing as she attempted to carefully peel the tape from her lips. Washu grinned at her while reaching out and ripping the tape off her lips with one hard yank, causing the princess to scream out in pain.
"Sorry about that. At least I got rid of that god awful mustache you had growing," Washu chuckled before standing up again. Ayeka glared at her before rising to her feet and brushing the dust off her kimono.
"Lord Tenchi, you are well, I presume?" she asked politely as she lightly rubbed the area around her lips to stop the stinging.
"Yes, I am. Why wouldn't I be?" he asked. He glanced over to see Ryoko mocking the princess's stance as comically as she could, causing Tenchi to smile at her. Ayeka turned to see Ryoko making fun of her and growled as her hands formed fists at her sides.
"You must think you're so smart, Ryoko," she said harshly.
"I do, actually," Ryoko said in a spiteful voice before disappearing from sight. Ayeka closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths to calm herself down before turning to Tenchi while taking his arm and leading him towards the kitchen.
"I think you've spent enough time with that monster, Tenchi. I'm surprised she didn't change into some beast and try to eat you," she said as she stuck her nose in the air. She then let out a shout of surprise as she felt herself being dragged back to the couch by the redheaded scientist.
"Washu, wh-"
"How dare you! I should tow you away right now and teach you a lesson on how to hold your tongue!" Washu screamed as she leaned into Ayeka's face as she cut her off.
"Washu, I'm sorry, but I trust Ryoko just about as far as I can throw her on a rainy afternoon. I believe she has an attitude problem, but most of all, I don't see you doing anything about it. I would think that was your job, seeing you claim to be her mother," Ayeka snapped. Washu stared at her with a blank face before standing up straight and letting out a sigh. She then call up her laptop and snorted at the princess before a black hole appeared beneath her on the couch, causing her to fall to some destination Washu had chosen.
"Where did she go? What did you do with her?" Tenchi shouted as he ran over to the couch as if he would find the princess under the cushions.
"No one says that and gets away with it, Tenchi. She hit a little too close to home with that one and that's one thing you never do. Never – never – use Ryoko as a port to insult me," Washu said between clenched teeth before leaving the room and heading for the table.
***
Tenchi kept glancing over at Washu all through dinner and saw that she was really pissed off about what Ayeka had said.
"Where's Ayeka?" Sasami asked after a moment.
"Who knows," Ryoko muttered as she continued eating her meal. Tenchi looked over at her and then back at Washu who was playing with her food.
"She's never missed a meal before," Sasami said as she lowered her head in disappointment.
"Don't worry, Sasami. It's not like she's lost or anything," Washu said as she stood up. She brought her plate into the kitchen and wrapped it for later, seeing she had hardly eaten anything, and left the room. Tenchi excused himself and caught her before she walked into her lab.
"Washu, where is she? What are you going to do?" Tenchi asked. Washu stood there with the door open and remained silent for a moment before looking over at him with a straight face.
"Tenchi, you've heard my story and Ayeka saying that isn't something I want her to repeat," Washu said in a flat voice, causing Tenchi's skin to crawl.
"I haven't heard the whole thing, Washu. I feel you're acting on a part I have yet to hear," Tenchi said in a quiet voice. Washu let out a sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose as she heard the truth in Tenchi's statement. She walked into the lab and left the door open, so Tenchi took this as an invitation and followed her into her 'room' once again. He sat on the bed and folded his hands in his lap as he watched Washu change into her adult form with yet another fancy dress.
"I had put up with the nine months, barely. I was quiet the nasty woman by the end of it and I had also changed my views on a few things…"
**************************************************************************************
The hallways were empty and silent except for the soft sound of burning torches that lit the wide, elaborately furnished walls. No matter where you went, the silence remained. Night had settled long ago and everyone had retired to bed. Everyone except Mikollious and Paradise, that is. They both stood as motionless as statues in the center of the hallway, patiently watching the doors in front of them. They cringed in unison as an ear-piercing scream was heard from behind the closed doors. Washu had gone into labor over three hours ago and was still in there, struggling with the task of baring her child. Mikollious took a deep breath and let it out slowly as he patiently waited for the screams, hoping to hear the cry of a newborn. It had been so long since there was a birth at the castle and it excited him. He loved children and couldn't wait for the pitter-patter of little feet to be heard running around the castle.
"She'll be fine," Paradise said softly as she placed a hand on her husband's shoulder. He placed his hand over hers but kept his gaze locked on the door with a heavy sigh.
"I know," he whispered, still waiting.
***
"Get it out of me!!!!!!!!!" Washu screamed falling back onto the bed with tears running down her face and sweat matting her hair to her skin. A servant walked over to her with a bowl of cold water and a washcloth and began wringing out the extra water from the soft folds of the white fabric before patting it against Washu's already wet skin.
"You're doing fine, Washu" the woman said softly as Washu sobbed into the air, her eyes closed tightly.
"I never asked for this," she whimpered before letting out a low, drawn out scream that started soft and grew in volume.
"I don't want this!!!!!!" she screamed as she sat up from the force she used behind her pushes. The servant that was tending to her with the wet cloth let out a sigh and tried her hardest to continue what she was doing as Washu fell back again, covering her face with her arm.
"Just relax," the woman said in a soft, gentle voice, trying to calm the redhead down.
"I've changed my mind. I didn't ask for this and I don't want this. I don't want it," Washu whimpered as the other servants helped her with the delivery. Washu clamped her eyes shut and gritted her teeth as a flood of agonizing pain washed through her again, causing her to tense her muscles and let out a whimper and whine, unable to find her voice long enough to let out another scream.
"One more," the 'doctor' said. Washu didn't have to be told to push, for the pain had driven her muscles to tense tighter, pushing with everything she had. She slowly sat up from the pain-educed energy and finally found her voice to let out one last scream before collapsing on the bed in a fit of sobs and gasps. The pain started to fade after a moment and she heard the scream of a baby, letting it fill her ears. Her sobs slowed as she heard the crying infant and opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling. She had hoped it would bring her that motherly happiness, but she felt nothing.
That's because I don't want it she thought. She felt a sense of guilt wash over her as she found herself rejecting what she had just suffered to bring into this world. But…she didn't want it and couldn't find it in her to feel happy about this. She lay motionless, regaining her strength but finding it hard as tiredness swept through her. She wanted to sleep and that was it.
"Washu," she heard one of the servants say. She could still hear the crying child and tensed as it drew closer to her. She could see the woman appear next to her, holding the child in her arms, concealing it in blankets but Washu only closed her eyes and turned her head away. The woman gave her a shocked look and glanced at the others as they held the same expression on their faces.
"Washu, look at you're new daughter," the woman said in a soft voice that was full of confusion for Washu's detesting reaction.
"I don't want her," she mumbled as she kept her head turned. The look of surprise deepened as her voice filled their heads. It was surprisingly soft but her reaction was enough to tell them that she really wanted nothing to do with this child.
***
Mikollious smiled and let out a heavy sigh of relief as the sound of a crying child pierced the silence. He looked over at Paradise who was also smiling at Washu's achievement and chuckled happily. They looked over at the door as it slowly crept open, slightly showing the hustling of women on the other side, trying to clean up. The servant bowed to the royalty and took a deep breath before giving them a pained smile.
"What is it? What happened? Is she okay?" Mikollious asked in a flurry. The servant smiled and nodded her head.
"She's fine. The baby's fine. It's a girl. It's just that…" she started but trailed of, looking away.
"It's just what?" he asked in a grave voice, dreading what was about to be told. The woman looked at them again and smiled weakly before lowering her head.
"She wouldn't hold her. She says she doesn't want her," she said in a slow voice. Their faces fell as they heard the news, thinking that wasn't like Washu at all.
"Why?" Paradise eventually asked. The woman merely shrugged her shoulders and looked at the door behind her. She turned back to them and bowed again before disappearing back into the room. The two just watched her leave with slightly shocked looks on their faces and stood in silence for what seemed like hours. Mikollious' expression then changed to one of understanding yet deep disappointment, knowing that the child had been conceived in protest, but it wasn't her fault. Neither the child's nor Washu's. Why would she take her anger out on someone so innocent and blissful? It just didn't seem like something that Washu would do. The door opened after a long wait and the woman smiled as she waved them in. The room was stuffy and the windows were open all the way, letting in the cool night breeze to remove some of the hazy heat. Washu was sitting near one of the windows, looking up at the stars with a distant, yet tired look on her face.
"Washu?" Paradise asked as she sat next to her. Washu lowered her head and stared at her feet as she hugged her knees to her chest. She put a hand on Washu's shoulder and coaxed her to look at her, seeing a look of guilt and pain on her face.
"Why?" she asked softly as she looked over at the servant holding the still whining baby girl, waiting for a signal to walk over.
"Because I don't want her," Washu whispered as she looked back out the window. The stars littered the sky, illuminating the ground below as though it were a full moon out. Washu's face was manifested with wet tears and red skin from crying, reflecting the shine from the stars.
"It's not her fault, nor is it yours," Paradise whispered as she leaned in close, emphasizing her words. Washu looked over at her with a blank expression and let out a sigh.
"I know. I just…don't want her," she repeated with a twist of pain playing across her lips.
"Why? Why can't you love her?"
"I told you! I don't want her. I know it's not her fault, and I'm not blaming her, but I don't want her," Washu said, barely above a whisper yet harsh enough to get her point across as she stared the Queen down with a tear-filled gaze. Paradise straightened out her features and stood up, walking over to the servant and taking the small baby in her arms. She smiled weakly at the newborn and chuckled as she smiled up at her with a yawn. The child then cuddled up to her breast and proceeded to fall asleep in the comfort of her arms as though she believed Paradise to be her mother.
"No, little one. I'm not your mother," she said as she looked over at Washu, who had resumed looking out the window. She walked over and sat next to her, still holding the smiling child.
"Washu, please. I know this wasn't what you had planned, but there's nothing you can do about it. What's done is done. You said you would take her in, but now you won't even look at her," she said quietly. Washu just continued to stare out the window. Paradise looked up at the King as he stood over her, giving Washu a disappointed look. He had to get through to her and if anyone could do it, it would be him.
***
Washu took a deep breath and carefully plucked the small red orb from the center of the table she had been examining it on. She smiled to herself and held the pebble closed to her face, watching as swirls of color ran through it in a glittery show.
"What am I missing?" she whispered to herself, carrying the gem to a tray on the other side of the room. She had been trying relentlessly to find some way of unlocking their power and had accomplished nothing.
Washu? she heard. She hesitated for a moment before placing the gem on the tray and turned around to face the Clav that the King had assigned to her. Putiko. Unlike the link between the royalty and their Clavs, Washu had left that out of her relationship with Putiko. She found no need for it, or him, for that matter. He was completely different compared to Kotuku and she hasn't yet grown accustom to his personality or behavior. Washu had seen Kotuku's memories and had figured out that the link really hadn't been working because of damages, but what had caused those damages? It hadn't been a natural thing, but as though someone had intentionally ruined the connection for some reason. Washu let out a sigh and stared at the Clav for a long time, taking in his appearance and forgetting her thoughts for the time being. His gray fur seemed to fade when he stood in the dark, despite its fairly light shade, and the light blue, thick tiger-stripes where barely visible amongst the dull color. He had bundles of long fur at the base of his 'hands' and feet as well as along his tail, giving it the look of a golden retriever's coat. He had a crown of light blue hair that reached down to his tail and the fur around his face was slightly longer than Kotuku's had been. Unlike Kotuku, Putiko's claws weren't retractable, making his presence known on any surface other than carpet. His clawed feet were larger than Kotuku's and his whole aura seemed more animal-like than human. His hands were deformed into more of a paw than a hand, and his nose and mouth were ever so slightly elongated, like a cat's, but not enough to really notice unless you looked. He was an all around better looking Clav as far as how his instincts matched his appearance, but he was quiet. Sometimes too quiet and that didn't always settle well upon seeing his strong, sleek appearance. Washu forced a smile and turned around to see him looking at the floor behind her and not at her. He never looked at her and respected her enough to keep his gaze diverted.
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt your experiments, but the King wishes to see you he growled and whimpered as he kept his gaze diverted from her. She smiled at him but then looked down, knowing what he wanted to talk about. He had spoken to her numerous times about her daughter. She accepted the fact that she was hers, but she didn't want to take on the responsibility that was never meant to rest on her shoulders. She didn't want her. She hasn't even bothered to name her, seeing no one else would take on that task.
Washu? Putiko growled curiously. Washu looked up at him and he quickly shook his head and looked away, finding himself staring at her thoughtful appearance.
I'm sorry
"Don't' apologize. Lead the way," she said. A floating cushion appeared and Putiko slowly headed for the stairs with her behind him, hearing the soft clicking of his claws on the stone steps. They walked in silence up the stairway, neither one interested in conversation while the clicking of his claws sent short waves of irritation through her veins. Washu watched as Putiko's bushy tail waved back and forth with every step he took and couldn't fathom how he could function with a tail as lengthy his, seeing it was at least five feet long.
Why don't you care for your daughter? he asked after a while of silent walking, breaking Washu's thoughts.
"…"
She cries a lot
"..."
They mention you and she stops crying. She knows who you are. You should take care of her
"Thank you for your input, Putiko, but I do not wish to discuses this," Washu snapped. He stopped and lowered his head for a moment and Washu could feel a slight pang of guilt for what she had said. He did nothing to deserve that treatment.
Why do you hate me? he asked after a long silence, his mutters full of hurt confusion. Washu snapped her head back in surprise at his blunt question, not knowing what to tell him. She searched for the right words, but came out with nothing. Page cannot be displayed.
"It's not that I hate you, Putiko. It's just that…" Washu started but trailed off. Putiko has done nothing but show respect for her so she really didn't know why she didn't treat him better. He was quiet and mannerly, despite his origin of being a ruthless beast that could easily kill any man set before him, but that bothered her sometimes. He always kept a cool head and a certain dignity about himself, and Washu hated to admit it, but despite her feelings of uncertainty about him, she kind of liked him. She honestly didn't know why she disrespected him. He was her servant and he did a good job, despite the rudeness of his mistress.
"I'm sorry, Putiko," she said as she failed to come up with an answer. They continued their journey to the throne room in silence and Washu hopped off her cushion before reaching the doorway. She walked through with her head high, knowing that the King would ram her with questions that she's already answered.
"Washu," he said in a soft, irritated voice, wasting no time beating around the bush. She looked at him but said nothing.
"You need to-"
"I know, your majesty. We've been through this before," Washu said, cutting off his statement before he had finished. He looked up at her and rested his chin on his fisted hand and let out a low sigh.
"I know that you're tired of being bothered with it, but please listen to me."
"Why? You say the same thing over and over. I told you, I don't blame her for what happened nor do I blame myself, but I just don't want her," Washu said.
"Washu…"
"Please, Mikollious. I know you don't approve of this from me, but I don't know what else to do. If I don't want her, why should I take her? Why not give her to someone who will care for her?" Washu asked.
"That's a ridiculous idea, Washu," Mikollious snapped.
"It's called adoption, Mikollious," Washu said as she headed back for the lab without another word and with Putiko in tow.
***
Washu reached the bottom of the stairs and leaned against the wall with her face in her hands. She tried her hardest to keep control her of emotions, but she couldn't help it anymore. Mikollious' constant reminders were starting to try her patience and Putiko always reminding her of how her daughter cried for her wasn't helping either. She fell to her knees and held her shoulders as the cries began, letting the tears roll off her nose and hit the floor. She wanted nothing to do with her. Why couldn't they see that and accept it? Mothers give their children up for adoption for the same reasons. Why couldn't she do that and live her life like it use to be? Why wouldn't they allow her to just…give her away? Washu was so wrapped up in her out-of-character thoughts that she almost failed to hear the same tapping of claws on the floor approach her from behind.
"Why do you follow me around, Putiko?" she asked in a soft voice.
Because I'm yours he said. Washu slightly turned her tear-ridden face in his direction with a look of thought on her face that he could only see half of.
"Because your mine…" she said in a whisper.
I am. I belong to you and I do your bidding he said. Washu turned the rest of the way around, sitting with her knees drawn to her chest and tilted her head thoughtfully at him.
"Putiko, if I asked you to kill Mikollious, would you do it?" Washu asked.
I would have to strongly disagree with your decision to do so, but If you so wished it… he said in a slow voice as he lowered his head at the idea, yet he didn't hesitate in answering her.
"If I asked you to injure yourself to save the life of a child, would you do it?" she tried again. She was actually happy with his answer about killing Mikollious, even though she would never dream of asking that of him.
I would he responded, still with no lag in his growls and whines. Washu stared at his diverted gaze for a long time and smiled weakly.
"Putiko, look at me," she said. He looked up and met her green eyes with deep green eyes of his own. They were a striking sight, seeing they were darker than the rest of his shady appearance, and they held a look of urgency to get things done. Also the fact that they weren't gold absolutely fascinated her. He was quiet and all, but he never sat still for too long and Washu liked how he had obeyed without hesitation. He never looked at her, but when she told him to, he did.
"I want you to do something for me," she said slowly. He kept his eyes on her, but they were anticipating her demand and it showed on his face.
"I want you to go over to that corner," she said, pointing to the back of the room, "and bring me the tray that has a small red gem on it." Putiko immediately headed for where she was pointing and looked around, finding the requested tray and fumbling a bit to get a grasp on it before bringing it to her. She smiled at him thoughtfully and took the tray, placing it on the floor next to her as she examined his look of curiosity and confusion for the deed that seemed to have no purpose, yet…he still obeyed.
"Putiko, do you understand your role in life?" she asked, her head still tilted in curiosity. He looked away and thought for only a second before looking back at her.
I live to serve, Washu
"And who do you serve?"
You he replied simply. Washu stared at him for a long time as she let all this filter her mind. He had obeyed her and answered all her questions without a moment's hesitation or without any inquisition as to why she asked these things of him.
"You have a strong sense of obedience, Putiko."
Like I said before, that is my purpose. To serve you
"Then do what I ask. Go back to Mikollious and tell him I said I refuse to care for her. She is not a responsibility that I deserve, need, or want," Washu said flatly as she stood up, wiping her eyes as Putiko slowly walked past her to the stairs. He stopped and turned his head, looking at her feet with a confused look on his face. Washu glanced over at him and wrinkled her brow at his hesitation. The first he has shown since she'd known him.
Washu, I know how you feel about your daughter, but she's still your daughter. She's as much you as she is her father. She knows you. She cries for you. It's not her fault. You should care for her like the mother you are he said softly before running up the stairs and out of sight before Washu could respond. She stared after him with wide eyes and twisted lips. His words echoed through her head, bringing more tears to her eyes as she thought about each statement, one by one.
…She's as much you as she is her father…
Her father. Gray hair, gold eyes. The more Washu thought about it, the more it confused her. Gray hair, gold eyes. Gray hair, gold eyes. The descriptions ran through her head over and over and they matched Kotuku's almost perfectly, so who's to say he didn't go see Tashacca and then venture into her quarters afterwards. She had no doubt in her mind that it had been a Clav. The torment of her pregnancy was enough to convince her of the demon that had grown in her for those seemingly long nine months. Washu then shook her head and dismissed the thoughts, seeing it was pointless to burden herself with them. It was in the past and as Patience had said, what's done is done.
…She knows you. She cries for you…
Every child knows its mother. It's instinct. She knows that Washu was her mother, is her mother, but that doesn't mean anything. Not to Washu. Or at least that's what she was leading herself to believe.
…You should care for her like the mother you are…
The mother she was. She had no excuse for that. She was her mother. She couldn't deny that, and she didn't. She had carried her for nine months, and bore her like a mother normally bares a child. It's not her fault. It's not her fault and it wasn't Washu's either. Washu took a deep breath as the tears fell and thought about this for a long time, still staring at the empty stairwell in front of her. Her daughter was alone except for the servants that took care of her. She had no mother to raise her. Not one that had taken any part of her upbringing so far, at least. Washu felt the wall of pride and dignity that was holding back her motherly instincts crumble to the floor, causing her body to shake with new sobs and wails of guilt and remorse. She had been fooling herself into believing she didn't care. How could she have thought like that? How could she have been so…heartless? She was a mother. She had a child that needed her and she had ignored her. Pushed her away with everything she had. The words everyone had told her were finally sinking in, causing Washu's guilt to eat at her. She doesn't even know what she looks like. Washu hugged her shoulders tightly as her sobs washed through her and wasn't modest about letting her cries echo around her, forcing her to her feet and up the stairs without the aid of her floating cushion.
***
The room was dark and the light that burned from the candles and torches only reached out in thin quantities like wisps of broken spider's silk. Washu saw the crib in the corner to her right, the servants sleeping in cots lined up against the wall to her left, and the room was silent except for the occasional snort or grunt from the dreaming women. Washu quietly walked over to the crib, taking one step after another with an agonizingly slow speed. She was scared to see this child. She was scared of this child. She was worried that she would see a beast in the blankets of silk and linen. She stopped about five feet from the crib and took a deep breath as she heard a whine from the baby, who most likely knew she was there. She remained motionless for a few seconds before continuing her journey to see her daughter. She stopped at the crib but didn't look down right away, but instead at the evolving humans that held a small child at the top. The Clav. A race that wasn't human, but wasn't beast. Protectorates of this kingdom and its people. She looked at the side of the crib and stared at the story it told, knowing that this truly was her daughter. She slept in a crib with a story telling how her own mother had helped create the universe that she now lived in. She ran her hand over the outline of spiked hair of her goddess form and smiled weakly, seeing what she had created. No machines, no computers, no tests. Whether she really truly accepted this child as her daughter or not, she would still be her daughter. Everything in this universe was her child, in a way and she was their mother. She was a mother to even the Clav that spilt the blood of many at the King's command, even if she had no memories of aiding in their creation, just like she had no memories of this child's creation. She held her breath and parted the curtains and peered in at the sleeping baby. Washu then felt a stabbing pain through her heart as she saw what she had done. The baby wrinkled her small features and yawned as she opened her tiny eyes, looking up at Washu with a sleepy look as the spider webs of light filtered through upon her young face. Washu stared at her, unable to move for what seemed like hours as the child whined, reaching her arms up to the one she knew as her mother. No fur. No claws. No growls. Only the baby talk of a normal human. Silent tears fell from Washu's sparkling green eyes as she stared at the little girl. She was a demon. She was human. She was her daughter. She slowly reached in and gently picked her up from the blankets, cradling her in her arms. She yawned and Washu could see two small fangs protruding from you young, pink gums and swallowed hard.
She's as much her father as she is me Washu reminded herself, knowing that there were going to be some resemblances of him, as well as her. Actually, a lot of hers. Her small nose and high cheeks looked like Washu's and her bright eyes held the same look of knowledge that Washu's held, only on a child's scale. Washu slowly swayed her back and forth as she walked to the window and leaned against the wall, staring at her daughter's illuminated face. The pale light washed over her small features and glimmered in her young, cat-like eyes. They were the most vibrant gold she had ever seen, like two suns that shone their innocents out into the world, untainted by hate or cruelty yet…Washu had abandoned her in her first few weeks of life. Her shock of cyan hair was spiked like Washu's and was soft to the touch. Washu ran her fingers gently through the locks of hair on her daughter's head and smiled weakly. The baby giggled at her and reached up for her face with plump, yet tiny hands and fingers that had no claws or talons, but rounded fingernails and skin. Washu chuckle at her and wrinkled her face in relief as she felt the guilt lift from her spirits, being replaced by a love that she had buried and had chosen to ignore.
"Hi, baby," she whispered as she brought her finger over, letting the little one grab hold of it in her tight grasp. Washu played with her for a few moments before the little girl let out a loud yawn, cuddling up in the protective arms of her mother.
"Washu?" someone said from the now open doorway. She didn't look up, but continued to stare at the sleeping child. No. Not just a child. Her daughter. She kept reminding herself of that. She sensed someone sitting next to her and looked over with a smile to see Paradise with a smile on her face. Mikollious stood over her and all the servants were staring from their cots, creating a silent audience. She had a room full of eyes on her but she didn't care. They knew without her saying a word. She could see the gray and blue fur of Putiko standing in the doorway, smiling at her with a warm, friendly smile.
"What are you going to name her?" Paradise asked, still staring at her with a pleased smile, glad with her new decision to be the mother she was. Washu took a deep breath and thought about it a moment before letting her breath out slowly.
"Ryo. Demon, or more specifically, spirit. Part of her harbors a demon's spirit and form...just like her father. Ko. Call. She can call or summon the power of that demon, when she wants to. Ryo and ko. Demon and call. Ryoko. Demon caller. It fits her," Washu mumbled as she smiled at the sleeping, cyan haired baby.
"Ryoko. I like it," Mikollious said, receiving a nod from everyone in the room, including Putiko. Washu looked at him and stood up, walking over and standing in front of him with Ryoko still in her arms. He looked up at her with his brilliant green eyes and smiled as Washu knelt down, smiling at him with a soft look.
"How did you do it?" she asked. He tilted his head and regarded her with innocent confusion. Innocent. She never thought she would see that look on a Clav's face, but there it was. Bright and true.
Do what? he asked.
"How did you reach me?" she asked in a whisper, still holding Ryoko close to her, as though someone was going to steal her away after she just took her under her wing. Putiko smiled and shrugged his massive shoulders slightly and looked down at the sleeping child.
I didn't do anything. I just told you what you already knew he said as softly as he could. Washu smiled widely and a single tear fell down her face as she lifted his head and gingerly kissed him on the forehead before pulling back and chuckling inwardly to herself at his slightly dazed look.
"Thank you," she whispered before standing up and walking back over to the crib, placing Ryoko in its blankets to spend the rest of the night, knowing that her mother was with her.
"Sleep soundly…my little Ryoko"
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I hope you're enjoying it so far. Don't get upset with me if Washu seems out of character. It's only a fanfiction, after all. I'm drawing a blank as to what to write, so I'll leave you with that. R&R