Author's Note: All right, this definitely isn't one of my best works. I'll decide whether it needs renovation due to your comments. And sorry for being so late. School has taken up quite a bit of my time…
Never is a Promise
Chapter 2: Falling Together
Ryoko stared at the ceiling fan with it's grubby blades, one of which was missing. Her eyes traced the dilapidated walls of her apartment and she sighed heavily.
How does one so powerful get reduced to such a life, she had often wondered. Ryoko shook her head wearily and glared at the "Help Wanted" section of the newspaper that sat open in her lap. Various hopeful red circles could be seen across the pages, only to be accompanied by X's of defeat.
The demoness bit the tip of her pen and twisted it between a pair of retired fangs. As a thought occurred to her, Ryoko pulled out a shabby wallet from the back of her jeans. She cursed her luck as she shifted through the remaining dollar bills.
Two small pieces of paper were knocked loose from her wallet and drifted slowly to the ground. Ryoko picked them up and stared fixedly at the first.
It was a picture of her family. All of them together and happy, no less. A watery smiled grew as days gone by began to emerge from her memory.
And then her cold future caught up with her. Grimacing, Ryoko threw the picture aside and told herself they were all much happier without her, anyway.
Bastards…
She stared out the sliding glass door that led out onto a balcony. The view was that of an alley, and a rather dank one at that. But it never seemed to bother Kin. Disapprovingly Ryoko stared down at the one of her chipped nails as thoughts of Kin crossed her mind.
The second piece of paper was given a close examination now. It was a cut out of an aged newspaper. Two pictures adorned the top of the small article. Gritting her teeth in pain, Ryoko shoved it back in her wallet and stood up.
She made her to the small, spartan back bedroom, where she removed her nightshirt. Before it was replaced by a her regular yellow tank-top, though, Ryoko's eyes caught sight of a scar in the mirror. She stopped and stared for a moment at the gash that ran along her shoulder blade.
Of course she could have gotten ridden of it. But that was just it; she couldn't. It was her burden, and reminded her everyday why she stayed on this godforsaken planet.
"I've talked to him on the phone a few times. He always asks if you've come back." Sasami sighed, "I don't think he accepts that you won't come home."
Sasami's words crept into her thoughts as Ryoko finished dressing.
*
Ayeka watched as the blue planet came into view, her heart beating rapidly against her chest. She was positive it was going to emerge from her rib cage any moment…
"Stop. Stop!" she yelled, suddenly very unsure of herself.
"What is it, Milady?" a wooden cylinder, more commonly known as Azaka, asked.
"Would you like to turn around?" offered Kamidake.
"N-no. Continue. I will go and change into my earth clothes. Excuse me," she said, her skirt sweeping across the ground as she turned.
"But Princess, you never wore Earthling clothes before-"
"Of course I didn't. I was not among Earthlings! But I am to be in a city, and I therefore must blend in."
"Yes, Princess Ayeka," the two said in unison and watched her go.
Silence settled around the guardians.
"Do you think the rumor is true?" Azaka asked.
"What rumor?"
"The one about the messenger boy who found Princess Ayeka in the nude."
*
Sasami teetered nervously on the balls of her feet. She whistled an estranged tune that was drowned out by the loud groans of the train. It sped by, dragging various pieces of paper in it's wake.
Suddenly self-conscious of herself, Sasami straightened out the wrinkles in her skirt. She licked the tips of her fingers and flattened down a few stray hairs in one last attempt to prepare herself. Unfortunate for her, the weather had other plans.
A sudden gust of wind pulled at Sasami's umbrella, and would have thrown her into a large mud puddle, had two arms not caught her.
She tilted her head back and found herself staring into a pair of amused eyes.
"Oh, Ryoko-neechan, you're early!" Sasami yelled happily and twisted, till she held Ryoko tightly around the shoulders.
"Yea, figured there's no point in waiting. Where's Washu?" Ryoko asked, looking around expectantly.
Suddenly the effulgence on Sasami face died. "Oh… well… we're going to see her. But first we have to wait for somebody."
"Oh? And who might this 'somebody' be?" Ryoko asked suspiciously, her arms resting on her hips.
"Don't worry, Ryoko-neechan. It's nothing to be worried about." Ryoko raised an eyebrow skeptically and plopped down on a nearby bench, ignoring that fact that the wood was soggy in the wet weather. Dark spots of rain dappled her clothes. For a few moments, no one spoke. Only the whistles of a distant train could be heard.
"Didn't you have somebody to bring?" Sasami asked at last, causing Ryoko to jump up. Frantically she began searching for something.
"Shit." Sasami heard her mumble as Ryoko began pushing her way through the crowds.
*
Ayeka was now sure she was quite lost. She wrinkled her nose disapprovingly at the unsanitary smells of the city, as she tried to hail down passersby and ask for directions. They did nothing more than ignore her, as though she had common blood!
In short, the day was not going as Ayeka had hoped. And to make matters worse, the occasional unexpected air-vent blew up her white skirt, causing her to blush furiously.
The princess glanced uncertainly at the crinkled map that had been twisted nervously throughout her journey. She was sure that there had to be a train station around here somewhere.
"You take chicken!?" an old woman in a food stand shoved a live chicken in Ayeka's face, causing her to start. The woman waved the chicken in the air shouting curses as the princess fled.
After much jostling and being carried along with the crowds, Ayeka finally gave in. She leaned against a building, defeated.
How am I to make my way through this barbaric mass of confusion! I swear, if these insolent Earthling knew who I was-
Her thoughts were interrupted by a gentle tugging on her long skirts. Ayeka peered around her to find a little redheaded boy looking up at her curiously.
"You smell strong," he said innocently.
"W-why thank you…" Ayeka said, a sweat-drop appearing. "Where's your mommy, little child?" she crouched down till she was eye to eye with him.
The little boy shook his wild matted spikes, the golden eyes never wavering. "I 'dunno. Your hair is funny," he said proudly.
"Listen here, you little brat! I've had horrid day, and now I'm lost in this wretched maze of inconsiderate-"
"Hey you! How dare you call my kid a brat!?" a hoarse voice yelled from somewhere in the bustling masses. She turned, to find a woman running towards her with an accusing finger raised. Ayeka held her breath as the identity of the angry woman hit her like cold steel.
"Listen, you bitch, if you hurt my kid I swear to god I'll kick your ass!" Ryoko yelled, pressing her face against Ayeka's. "And don't think I won't," she spat.
It was now apparent that Ryoko did not recognize Ayeka, and for good reasons, too. This only made a wry grin creep across the Princess's cruel expression.
"Oh? Kill me, will you? I'm afraid that the first to die, demon woman, will be you."
Ryoko, still close, scanned Ayeka's magenta irises for a hint of fear. For a few seconds she was startled at this Earthling's bravery. The real shock came when she recognized the icy glare.
*
"Can I buy you a drink?"
A tall blonde turned, surprised to see a man leaning over the bar and looking at her expectantly at her.
"That's so nice!" she bubbled.
"It's your money you're wasting," sighed a little pink-haired woman on the other side of her. The mass of pink spikes seemed to take up half the bar in their entirety. She downed a shot as the barman walked cautiously over to her.
"You seem a bit young, little lady. I don't wanna get in trouble for serving a minor," he chuckled.
Washu glared. "Fine. C'mon Mihoshi, we're going."
"But we just got here-"
"Now," Washu hopped down from the barstool and pulled Mihoshi by the sleeve, dragging her out the door.
"Where are we going now?" Mihoshi asked as the two stumbled out onto the cold street. Washu pulled her coat around herself tighter and watched as her breath froze in the air.
"That's why I hate these big cities. They're all so empty."
"What 'dya mean? This place is… full!" Mihoshi giggled, happy to have found a word to describe Tokyo.
"Full, yes. Full of hate and lying and social status and crime. I prefer Okayama. It's peaceful."
"But Washu they only threw us out! That's not so bad…"
"It's not just that," Washu sighed and plopped torpidly down on a curb. She curled her knees up to her chest, hugging them tightly as she rested her chin on them. "Why did I even come here, I wonder."
Mihoshi sat down next to the little genius, thinking about this. Washu hadn't been the same since Ryoko left. Something inside her was gone, lost when her daughter was. "We came to see Tenchi, remember?" Mihoshi said helpfully.
"Yea, but we don't even know if Ryoko and Ayeka will tolerate each other long enough to spend time with us again… like a family." She said with passion. "Have you ever had a real family, Mihoshi?"
Mihoshi thought about this with an index finger placed on her chin as she stared up at the gray sky. "Well, you guys I suppose."
Washu sunk further into her knees. "I want a family."
*
"You!" Ryoko hissed, just as Sasami emerged from the crowds, huffing in an effort to keep up with Ryoko.
"Don't cause trouble, Ryoko. I've only been with you for five minutes!" Sasami yelled, slightly put off at the long run. "Now what was that all abou-" she stopped, taking in the stranger that stood with Ryoko.
She was tall, almost as tall as Ryoko, and looking extremely disgruntled. Her face and features were rounded out. Long blue curls fell around her shoulders, accented with a bright pair of soft pink eyes. "Sasami?" the stranger asked, looking her up and down.
"Ayeka-Neechan!" Sasami rushed to her wayworn sister, embracing her. Ryoko stepped back, looking at the two. She waited until they had finished their reunion before scoffing and turning away. The little red-haired boy walked sheepishly towards her and hung on her belt-loops.
"Your hair…" Sasami mouthed, brushing it away from Ayeka's face. "It looks like mine and Mothers'."
"I-I… will explain when we're out of this hectic place," Ayeka said sheepishly "It's good to see you, Sasami," she added, ignoring Ryoko.
Glaring over her shoulder, the demoness shoved her hands into her pockets and started off.
A hand reached from the sea of people and grabbed her shoulder, forcing Ryoko to stop.
"Please, Ryoko. It's been long enough." Ryoko swiveled around, to find Sasami extending a pleading arm. She pulled it back reproachfully as Ryoko glared.
"Just what is she doing here?" her voice was filled with venom.
"I happen to be here to see my sister!" Ayeka screeched, clenching her fists.
"Good. Have fun. I'm gone."
"No! Ryoko, wait!" Sasami dashed in front of the demoness and blocked her from leaving with two spread arms. "You don't want to do this, do you?" she whispered.
Ryoko stared at her for a few moments before shaking her head. "No," she said under her breath. "No, I don't." Sasami smiled as Ryoko turned back to Ayeka.
"All right, Princess. I'll do this for Sasami. Plus, I'm not gonna let you ruin my vacation."
"Fine with me," Ayeka turned up her nose, but not before glancing at the little boy that still held tightly to Ryoko. Sasami followed her gaze and finally set eyes on the child who always seemed to be underfoot.
"Ryoko?" she gasped. "W-who…" Sasami trailed off, staring at the boy as if he had a third eye.
"Never seen a kid before?" Ryoko snarled, suddenly very embarrassed at the guffaws she was receiving. "Let's get out of here. I'll explain," she said calmly.
*
"Tenchi?" Izumi slid the bedroom door open, only to find their futon had been deserted. She stared at it for a few minutes, tears welling in her eyes.
"What'd you want?" Tenchi's head popped out of the bathroom door, a toothbrush clenched between his jaws. Izumi jumped in surprise.
Izumi stared at him for a moment. She had expected him to leave. She always expected him to leave…
"N-nothing. I'm being paranoid," she shook off her fears and closed the door, leaving a very confused Tenchi.
* * *
Author's Note: You all jumped to the conclusion that Ryoko had a boyfriend, didn't you? You'll learn about the boy's father soon enough. Please give comments/suggestions!