What You Wish For
Chap. 2
"What price victory?"
As soon as she saw the djinn, she ignited her sword, and shifted behind him. With a quick swipe, she cut straight through his neck. He turned to face her and crossed his arms with a chagrined look on his face. She bellowed with rage, and raised her blade high. Then she struck again, clear through him from top to bottom. Quickly she turned her blade and cut sideways through his middle. He had been quartered, but simply rematerialized, filling back in the gaps left by her sword. He looked into her eyes and asked, "Is that what I get for granting your wish?"
She quickly backed away looking perplexed and extinguishing her sword. "What?" She replied.
"That was your first wish. Although that is the first time anyone in any dimension has ever asked for that. I take it, it was not all in was cracked up to be?" He cajoled.
"Like I said before," she replied, "you are not funny. You're humor is so dry; are you British or something?"
A quizzical look crossed his face and he replied, "Strange, you are not the first being from this planet to ask that. Anyway do you have your second wish in mind?"
Ryoko curled her hand into a fist turning it upside down and striking it against her head saying, "Only I would get the prissy princess and the smart mouthed djinn."
Carsius watched her placidly and sweat dropped. So she straightened up and putting her curled hand under her chin began to think.
To herself, "I always wanted a mom, and I have one now. Even though she's no picnic. I wanted a family, and I guess I have one of those too. Money and jewels are only fun to steal, so wishing for them would be no fun. Tenchi would know…" And her face lit up.
"Well." Grumbled Carsius.
"Alright. I got it!" She said. "I wish I had Tenchi to myself, without Aeka interfering."
Once again she didn't even blink, and there was darkness. But this time when she opened her eyes there was light coming in through a window. Tenchi was standing next to the bed in a towel smiling at her. She quickly looked around and realized this was Tenchi's room. "C'mon sleepyhead, we need to go get a bath." He said looking at her. She sat up and realized that all that covered her was a sheet, and her heart leapt for joy. She smiled broadly and watching her he smiled back. He threw a towel at her and said, "C'mon. After the workout you gave me last night, I need to get to the onsen."
She jumped out of the bed, and started hopping about with her hands clasped under her chin. It reminded Tenchi of when he had found her wearing his mother's kimono, and told her she was beautiful. His smile deepened. Then realizing she was naked, he gawked and mumbled, "If I weren't so tired I'd never make it out of that bed."
Her head whipped around and she stopped turning a light blush. Tenchi regaining his composure told her, "I'm going to the onsen." She quickly grabbed her towel and wrapping it about her said, "Wait for me lover boy."
She caught up with him as he reached the door, bumping into him. He partly stumbled into the hall and bumped into Sasami. "Oh, I'm sorry Sasamichan. I didn't see you." He said.
Sasami blinked and smiled saying, "That's alright Tenchi-neechan. Have you seen Aeka, she's not in our room?"
"No," said Tenchi, "I didn't figure I would after the way someone was gloating last night, 'Are you ready for bed? Are you ready for bed?'" Tenchi said doing his best cyan haired pirate imitation.
Ryoko only looking slightly taken aback replied, "Well I can't help it if I am a sore winner. Besides, the only thing worse is a sore loser."
Tenchi said lowly, while drawing his hand down his face. "Ryoko."
"Well, I'm going to take a bath." Said Sasami.
"So are we." Exclaimed Tenchi. "Maybe she is already in there." He added.
They all three proceeded down the hallway to the onsen. As they reached the door a sharp snapping sound caught their attention. Turning, they saw a red haired genius in a green towel, with her hand outstretched above her. "Well," exclaimed Washuu, "the family that bathes together, stays together, I've always said." Everyone groans and sweat drops. "Hey girlie, you two positively glow." Continued Washuu. Sidling conspiratorially next to Ryoko, Washuu whispered too loudly, "Your not wearing him out to much are you. I've still got a sample to collect from him, and you know how my hand cramps when it is overworked."
Steam floats from Ryoko's ears as she yells, "Washuu!" Tenchi and Sasami sweat drop again blushing.
"Just kidding, just kidding." Replies Washuu.
Tenchi looks at Sasami and suggests, "Why don't you go in first and see if Aeka is in there and decent? I'm sure being embarrassed would not improve her mood."
"Sure we will." Replies Washuu, while she pushes Sasami through the door.
As the door closes, Tenchi turns to Ryoko, and pleads, "Now be on your best behavior. I know you're bigger than this."
Ryoko smiles and gives him her best, "who me", look? When suddenly they hear someone screaming, "Oooooonnnnneeessssaaaaammmmmmaaa!" As it starts again, Ryoko grabs the doorknob and yanks the door open. They both go running into the onsen, only to see Sasami screaming at the top of her lungs. Washuu is standing in the onsen over Aeka. Only it looks like Washuu's hair is running around them and across the pool to the outlet. That is until their eyes take in Aeka's pale cold look, and the long cuts on her outstretched wrists. Washuu hand is at Aeka's neck, and as she turns she shakes her head and looks down.
Tenchi, believing that once again he is responsible for the death of a woman in his life that he loves, falls to the floor crying while curling into a fetal position. His mind can't take the guilt and retreats into itself.
Washuu looking up at her daughter with venom says, "You couldn't leave well enough alone, could you? You had to rub her face in it didn't you?"
Meanwhile, Sasami collapses on Ryoko's other side from the hyperventilation her screams have caused.
Ryoko reaches up with her hands, clawing at her face. She realizes her wish has come true, and that Aeka will no longer interfere. She sinks to her knees crying and clawing harder at her face. "No, no, no, no, no, this is not what I wanted." She half sobs half moans, "This is not what I wished for." Almost at a whisper, "I wish this had never happened!"
Once again without even a blink, she is back on the rooftop in the sunshine. But she cannot escape the cold she feels inside. "I've got to know." She says to herself. She shifts down into the living room. As she alights in the floor in the living room she sees no one. She hears a sound to her left and turns to look in the kitchen. Sweeping while humming to herself is the cutest princess in the universe, Sasami. "I'll never let that happen." She admonishes to herself. "I'll never let that happen." She repeats as she shifts out to the shrine gate. She decides to wait for Tenchi, because she needs to talk to him.
Back behind the hound, at the edge of the woods, under the trees, a djinn named Carsius grimaces. " That one didn't know what she wanted. She was also too immature to accept the price of her victory. I don't understand why she didn't wish her friend back to life? Only one prospect left. I cannot fail my lady." And so saying he vanished.