To be a Princess, Day 13 - A Quiet return to home
Mornings all over the universe start just about the same way so at first Tenchi was not sure what planet he was on. However the one thing that was different, his watch showed it should be still dark out but the sun had definitely risen over the horizon. There was also one other difference about this morning that he has also never experienced on Earth; Ryoko lay in the bed with him and curled up against him. On Earth had had woke up many mornings to find her watching him from just a little above him to sleeping in the air above or around him. Never had she actually been in his bed on earth, but then again never on Earth did he tell her he loved her. Now things were much different, just the other day he had asked for her to be his wife.
For some time he held her as she slept and he realized that for the past several morning when he had woke up with her she seemed to sleep in. Holding her his mind started thinking of a number of things, "Grandfather would have my head if he knew home many mornings I have slept in." Thinking of his grandfather also brought other questions, like why did he never mention the gems were keeping him alive and more importantly he was concerned with how much time his grandfather had left. His mother and grandmother died with he was young so he never really understood death other than it kept him from those he loved.
Death now had a familiar sting, as he knew that soon his grandfather would be gone as well. Not just that but he knew that he would be separated from those he cared about as well. He looked over at Ryo-Ohki who slept on a pillow nearby and he mused to himself, "Well we'll at least have a place to live." That place was the house that has been shrunk and contained in the gem on her forehead.
He had hoped that this would be a nice quiet morning, but that reality was shattered when a knock was heard at the door followed by a voice, "Your highness, the Queens are requesting your presence at breakfast." He had lifted his head up at the sound of the knock and now that he knew what was wanted he groaned and dropped his had back against the pillow.
He nudged the sleeping woman against him, "Ryoko?" At her non-committal groan he knew she was still asleep. Chuckling softly he thought of how his old self would react to what he was about to try, but rather than think about that he began moving his hands under the covers and soon had her awake. The one drawback to his plan though was that she would not let him out of bed until he finished what he started.
When the three of them finally made it to breakfast, the Queens admonished them for being over two hours late. The two of them grinned sheepishly and sat down to eat what was remaining while the two queens talked about things. Ryo-Ohki just happily began munching on some food that they had for her, but it was not her beloved carrots. She did not let that bother her though, as she was hungry enough to eat anything.
Tenchi soon got the distinct impression that they were meaning to talk with him and her but they did not seem to allow them a chance to speak as well. But one thing he did pick up on, the galaxy knew they both were here and were not happy about it. "You see Tenchi," Funaho said, "not everyone forgives very easily and for those that remember what happened it is very hard to forget."
"Yes," added Misaki, "they refuse to believe that she was controlled and blame her for everything." She let out an exasperated sigh, "They have even overloaded our COM system with questions and a few brave, well, idiots even left threats."
"But of coarse they did not leave a way for us to find out who they were, right Misaki?"
"Oh yes, and..." Even though they continued Tenchi was not paying close enough attention to even notice.
After Ryo-Ohki finished her food she sat in Misaki's lap and enjoyed the attention that she was receiving completely oblivious to everything else as Ryoko just told her it was nothing to worry about. She knew her friend was worried though as was Tenchi but they both re-assured her that it would be ok.
Tenchi drowned out their voices by his own thoughts. "If they have found us so easily then we are going to have to make this big. But if they remember what she did to Jurai before will they try to face us in combat or try to sneak in and kill us in our sleep?" Many more thoughts plagued his mind and unfortunately with him being so lost in thought he missed the first few times Ryoko squeezed his hand. Well up to the point where he thought bones were about to break. Snapping out of his thoughts he could see the two queens discussing things and Ryoko was sitting beside him squeezing his hand. She was not letting her fear be shown.
Tenchi settled himself quickly then leaned over to Ryoko to whisper into her ear, "Ryoko can you let go for a minute?"
"Huh? Oh." She quickly looked down at his hand and saw that it was turning colors so she released him quickly before any damage was done. Sadness filled her eyes, "I'm sorry." Her voice was low enough for him to hear but no one else.
Kissing her cheek he told her it was ok even though it still hurt, but he knew the pain would go away soon. She just nodded after he said it was ok, the rest he did not think she needed to know just yet. But this constant talking from mostly Misaki went on for the better part of an hour and he wondered if she ever would give them a chance to say anything. Finally a messenger showed up and whispered something to Funaho while Misaki talked.
"Oh dear," she gasped. "Excuse me Tenchi, Ryoko, but something has come up that Misaki and I need to see about."
Tenchi smiled, "That's ok we don't mind." He thought though that this would finally give them a chance to eat alone and in peace as they had booth just been picking at their food for a while.
"Well, we'll see you later then!" Bubbled Misaki as they two queens left, but not before sending in a few guards to make sure that they would be safe. Tenchi could easily tell that several of the guards did not like either of them very much. So even though it was just the two of them eating, they were not alone.
The rest of their breakfast was done in silence as they could not help but feel like the guards were not of the friendly sort, especially to them. And although he wanted to do some looking around he did not feel comfortable under their gazes, so after breakfast they returned to the one haven they had on this world, their room.
"Tenchi?" Her voice sounded timid and weak which surprised him, as she usually did not talk that way unless she was very upset.
He placed an arm around her protectively, "Yes?"
"What do we do?" Her question could have been about many things but he somehow picked up on what she meant as his mind was on that too.
"I don't know, if we go anywhere those guards will follow us, and Kinata said that if we were to be together that we should double our guards and pray they are loyal." He hung is head sighing heavily as this was not helping his or her moods. "I think we need to go elsewhere and talk though." Tenchi had a strange feeling that they were either being watched or listened to. She nodded and opened the closet door that now led to Washu's lab.
After stepping in his vision took a moment to adjust to the light change so he called out, "Little Washu?"
"Ah Tenchi! Just the person I want to see." She rubbed her hands together and he instantly was reminded of those old horror movies with the mad scientists. Getting control of his thoughts he realized she was wanting them to follow her, so he and Ryoko followed her to her latest toy.
When they three of them saw Washu's new toy they were reminded of Ryo-Ohki as it looked just like her, but more menacing. They looked at the scientist quizzically, "What? If they want to face my daughter then they will be expecting Ryo-Ohki right? Well they will get their chance to face her, but this baby's loaded and it promises to be a fierce fight."
"And the end?"
"Glad ya brought that up Tenchi! Everywhere I could I packed this baby so it will be the biggest bang you've ever seen!" She began to cackle madly then added, "Actually it will be the biggest that you have ever been in!"
Ryoko shook her head at her mothers' insanity, but hated to admit it but she was right. "What about Ayeka and Sasami?"
"Huh? Oh they left yesterday, and should arrive on Jurai in less than two days."
Tenchi was to say the least surprised, "Two days! It took us much longer to get there!"
In her normal way Washu laughed and called up a diagram of the planet Earth, Jurai and Alterlan. "You see Tenchi you two went over here first then over here so you had a longer distance to go than say Ayeka who has to go from here to Jurai. Also, when you left here Ryo-Ohki was not in a big rush so it took longer. Ayeka is going at a speed of..."
"Ok, ok I get it, shorter distance and she is moving faster," he told the scientist who had an annoyed look at being interrupted. "Well in that case she should have met up with Kinata then and he is taking them back to Jurai."
"Kinata? Who's that?" This was the first time that Tenchi or Ryoko had seen confusion on the Scientist's face.
"Oh he is a Jurai captain that Ryoko thinks is perfect for her."
Tenchi excused himself so that he could go talk to his grandfather about his plans while Ryoko talked about that captain. Again he felt the sting of jealously as she talked about him and he wished she talked about him like that. He pushed that idea out of his head as Ryoko has said she loved only him and she was going to be marrying him, so he had no need to worry about it... he hoped.
Stepping out of the lab and back into his old house he felt a sense of nostalgia wash over him and he expected to be tackled by five alien girls, but that did not happen. Ryoko, Ryo-Ohki and Washu were in the Lab, and Ayeka, Sasami and Mihoshi were on the way to Jurai. He exited the now quiet house and made his way to his grandfathers' shrine, as according to what Washu had said before Katsuhito may not be around much longer.
Arriving at the top he made his way across the open area to the office, and there he stood for a few moments wondering what was he going to say. However he did not have to wait long as the door slid open and his grandfather stood there. "Ah, Tenchi. I was wondering when you would return, but I expected the girls to be with you."
"Well Ryoko is with Washu in her lab, and we are here for only a short while."
"Oh?"
"I have asked Ryoko to marry me, and to make sure she would be safe on Jurai I gave her back all of her gems."
"I know about the gems, but are you sure it is wise to marry her? And what about Ayeka?"
I have told Lady's Funaho and Misaki that I intend to marry Ryoko, but not Ayeka."
"Might I ask why?"
"I, I just d not feel the same about her as I do Ryoko."
"Is that the reason for all the trouble on Jurai? My tree Funaho told me of problems arising there."
Tenchi hung his head, "Yes it is. Hardly anyone there will accept her and we have had several chasing us so far."
"I see."
"It is for that reason that we have asked Washu to help us die."
"So you will die so that you can be together?" At his grandsons nod Katsuhito thought carefully about it. "Who will know about it?"
"As few as possible. I don't think Ayeka should know about it." He continued at his grandfathers' look, "If she knows then she will want to be included."
"Is that so bad?"
"Not at all but it is not fair to ask her to give up Jurai when she and I will not be more than family."
"I see, so rather than allow her to know the truth you will just let her think you are dead?"
He shifted uncomfortably under the piercing gaze, but then told him, "But you did the same? Why did you not tell her who you were?"
This caught him off guard and he had to think hard for an answer, but his thinking had been the same as his grandsons. "Tenchi, in a way your idea is better than mine. I just disappeared which left her to search for me. I hope that she does not think after you are gone to convince me to return."
"She will be with Kinata and hopefully she will turn her attention to him." Tenchi then told his grandfather about meeting the captain, and they both thought that Ryoko had been right about him.
The two talked and spared for some time before Ryoko showed up to take him back to Jurai. He asked his grandfather to talk to his dad about their plan and then he returned to the lab and to Jurai with Ryoko and Ryo-Ohki. He did promise to be back for dinner to talk to his father about his as well. No to mention that dinner with his family promised to be more fun that dinner with the emperor.