A Life Fulfilled
Chapter 9
Family Reunion
Washu stood up slowly and followed Ryoko and Ayeka outside, not knowing what to expect. She had decided to leave Taro with Tenchi so if things did get rough, at least he would be safe. The three stood there in silence, listening to their heartbeats, not knowing where to start.
" Washu, Ayeka and I want to apologize," Ryoko found the courage to say.
" Miss Washu, we want to apologize for the cruel way we acted," Ayeka spoke.
" We completely lost our heads and were unable to control ourselves."
" Ryoko speaks the truth and we are deeply sorry, Miss Washu. If there is any possible way that we can make it up to you, please tell."
" It's alright, I forgive, I understand completely. Besides, the only thing I want is that last sample from Tenchi and neither of you can give that to me!" Washu laughed.
" Oh, I don't know about that..."
" Ryoko!" Ayeka smacked the space pirate on the top of her head.
" It could happen you know, maybe even tonight!" Ryoko said in a perverted tone.
" I'm leaving! Miss Washu, I am deeply sorry for how I acted and I will never do such a thing again," Ayeka said before she disappeared back into the house.
" Ryoko...."
" What is it Washu?"
" Did you really mean that?"
Ryoko walked over to the scientist and saw the tears escape her eyes. Ryoko was confused, what was wrong with Washu? Did she really think Ryoko didn't mean her apology?
" The apology?"
" No Ryoko, when you, Ayeka, and I were in my lab."
~ " You're not my mother! You never have been and never will be!"~
" No Washu, I was just angry, I didn't mean anything thing I said then," Ryoko reassured her mother. " Now let's go inside, I'm sure dinner is almost ready."
Washu nodded her head in approval and followed her daughter back inside. The smell of Sasami's cooking filled the house and both could see the other residence of the Masaki household seated at the table. Washu and Ryoko made their way into the dinning area, nearly starving to death.
" Oh I am starving!" Washu said in a childish voice.
" Me too, I can't wait to eat!" Ryoko agreed.
" Sasami, how much longer do we have to wait?" Ayeka called.
" I'm coming!" Sasami's voice sounded.
" Seems like you three have gotten things straightened out!" Tenchi smiled.
" Yup! Forgiveness is something that occurs frequently when you have a foolish daughter!" Washu laughed.
" Hey!" Ryoko glared at the red head, " I take offense to that!"
" Well you should, it was directed at you, do I have any other daughter?"
" Hmph!"
Tenchi and Ayeka laughed at the scene that was playing before them.
" Lord Tenchi, I want to thank you."
" For what Ayeka?" Tenchi had a confused expression on his face.
" You helped Ryoko and I realize what we had down and how wrong we were. If it hadn't been for you, Lord Tenchi, I doubt Ryoko and I would have had second thoughts."
" Speak for yourself!" Ryoko butted in.
" You know just as well as I do that you would never apologize to Washu unless someone forced you to!" Ayeka snapped.
" Then explain what I just did!"
" You argued with your mother and had a tinny fight, there!"
" I meant the apology you..."
* Ryoko, show some respect would you? *
* Uh, fine Washu! *
* That's my girl! *
" I'm a what Ryoko?"
" A stuck up..."
* Ryoko! *
" Prissy..."
* Why do I even try? *
" Princess!"
" Dinner!" Sasami walked out of the kitchen, Ryoko and Ayeka looked at her with angry expressions on their faces. " What did I do?"
" Nothing Sasami, they're just having a little tiff, that's all!" Washu smiled.
" Can we at least enjoy one meal before you two disturb the peace again?" Tenchi begged.
" Alright, but only for you, Lord Tenchi!"
" Hmph!"
* Ryoko, I think Tenchi wants an answer from you too. *
* I gave him one! *
* Blowing air out of your mouth isn't really classified as an answer. *
* Oh, well. *
* You really are hopeless! *
Dinner carried on as it usually did, peaceful and tiff free. When Ryoko finish, she faded away and Ayeka and Mihoshi helped Sasami clear the table. Washu and Tenchi were feeding Taro until Mihoshi tripped, spilling soup all over Washu, Tenchi, and baby Taro.
" MIHOSHI!" Washu yelled.
" Oh, are you two okay?"
" There's THREE of us!"
" I'm so sorry Washu!"
" Is it just me or has the whole day been full of apology?"
" We better get cleaned up. Washu, why don't you bring Taro with you to the onsen?" Tenchi suggested.
Washu agreed and the three walked out of the kitchen; soaking wet. Washu and Tenchi changed and wrapped towels around themselves so not to as revealing as Ryoko. Taro on the other hand was born free! Washu held Taro in her arms and was washing his hair when Tenchi walked in.
" What took so long? I thought you were right behind me?" Washu asked as he sat across from her.
" Oh, I thought I saw something so I went to investigate," Tenchi lied.
" In only a towel? What if had been Ryoko?"
Tenchi hadn't thought of that, oh well, he hadn't gone anywhere. Tenchi had actually been watching Washu and forgot all about going in the water. What was wrong with him, he never used to act this way around Washu.
" Thank Tsunami it wasn't Ryoko!" Tenchi laughed before he dunked his head in the water. " So, you and Ryoko worked things out?"
" Sure did, but it still seems strange."
" What do you mean Washu?"
" I guess I'm not used to her calling me mom, but now we're all together, kinda like a family reunion except this one's permanent."
" I'm glad see you two are getting along."
" And why is that?"
" I just don't like seeing you sad."
Washu smiled and continued to clean off the small boy in her arms, memories of the academy flooded her mind. Mikamo and Mikumo had blinded her vision. The happiest days of her life played before her eyes as Taro slowly turned into the pure blond haired child she used to see everyday. Then horror struck her, the day she was left alone in the world, they day they were taken from her. Tears filled her eyes as she tried her best to hold them back.
" Washu?"
" I can't forget them, their memory, their faces still haunt me. Why won't the pain go away, why can't I be free!"
Tenchi was shocked at what Washu had said, she was still suffering? After so long, after so many years, she still suffered form emotional instability?
' There has to be something to I can do to help her.' Tenchi thought to himself.
Tenchi slowly wrapped his arms around Washu and let her cry on his shoulder.
' When will her suffering end?'
Chapter 9
Family Reunion
Washu stood up slowly and followed Ryoko and Ayeka outside, not knowing what to expect. She had decided to leave Taro with Tenchi so if things did get rough, at least he would be safe. The three stood there in silence, listening to their heartbeats, not knowing where to start.
" Washu, Ayeka and I want to apologize," Ryoko found the courage to say.
" Miss Washu, we want to apologize for the cruel way we acted," Ayeka spoke.
" We completely lost our heads and were unable to control ourselves."
" Ryoko speaks the truth and we are deeply sorry, Miss Washu. If there is any possible way that we can make it up to you, please tell."
" It's alright, I forgive, I understand completely. Besides, the only thing I want is that last sample from Tenchi and neither of you can give that to me!" Washu laughed.
" Oh, I don't know about that..."
" Ryoko!" Ayeka smacked the space pirate on the top of her head.
" It could happen you know, maybe even tonight!" Ryoko said in a perverted tone.
" I'm leaving! Miss Washu, I am deeply sorry for how I acted and I will never do such a thing again," Ayeka said before she disappeared back into the house.
" Ryoko...."
" What is it Washu?"
" Did you really mean that?"
Ryoko walked over to the scientist and saw the tears escape her eyes. Ryoko was confused, what was wrong with Washu? Did she really think Ryoko didn't mean her apology?
" The apology?"
" No Ryoko, when you, Ayeka, and I were in my lab."
~ " You're not my mother! You never have been and never will be!"~
" No Washu, I was just angry, I didn't mean anything thing I said then," Ryoko reassured her mother. " Now let's go inside, I'm sure dinner is almost ready."
Washu nodded her head in approval and followed her daughter back inside. The smell of Sasami's cooking filled the house and both could see the other residence of the Masaki household seated at the table. Washu and Ryoko made their way into the dinning area, nearly starving to death.
" Oh I am starving!" Washu said in a childish voice.
" Me too, I can't wait to eat!" Ryoko agreed.
" Sasami, how much longer do we have to wait?" Ayeka called.
" I'm coming!" Sasami's voice sounded.
" Seems like you three have gotten things straightened out!" Tenchi smiled.
" Yup! Forgiveness is something that occurs frequently when you have a foolish daughter!" Washu laughed.
" Hey!" Ryoko glared at the red head, " I take offense to that!"
" Well you should, it was directed at you, do I have any other daughter?"
" Hmph!"
Tenchi and Ayeka laughed at the scene that was playing before them.
" Lord Tenchi, I want to thank you."
" For what Ayeka?" Tenchi had a confused expression on his face.
" You helped Ryoko and I realize what we had down and how wrong we were. If it hadn't been for you, Lord Tenchi, I doubt Ryoko and I would have had second thoughts."
" Speak for yourself!" Ryoko butted in.
" You know just as well as I do that you would never apologize to Washu unless someone forced you to!" Ayeka snapped.
" Then explain what I just did!"
" You argued with your mother and had a tinny fight, there!"
" I meant the apology you..."
* Ryoko, show some respect would you? *
* Uh, fine Washu! *
* That's my girl! *
" I'm a what Ryoko?"
" A stuck up..."
* Ryoko! *
" Prissy..."
* Why do I even try? *
" Princess!"
" Dinner!" Sasami walked out of the kitchen, Ryoko and Ayeka looked at her with angry expressions on their faces. " What did I do?"
" Nothing Sasami, they're just having a little tiff, that's all!" Washu smiled.
" Can we at least enjoy one meal before you two disturb the peace again?" Tenchi begged.
" Alright, but only for you, Lord Tenchi!"
" Hmph!"
* Ryoko, I think Tenchi wants an answer from you too. *
* I gave him one! *
* Blowing air out of your mouth isn't really classified as an answer. *
* Oh, well. *
* You really are hopeless! *
Dinner carried on as it usually did, peaceful and tiff free. When Ryoko finish, she faded away and Ayeka and Mihoshi helped Sasami clear the table. Washu and Tenchi were feeding Taro until Mihoshi tripped, spilling soup all over Washu, Tenchi, and baby Taro.
" MIHOSHI!" Washu yelled.
" Oh, are you two okay?"
" There's THREE of us!"
" I'm so sorry Washu!"
" Is it just me or has the whole day been full of apology?"
" We better get cleaned up. Washu, why don't you bring Taro with you to the onsen?" Tenchi suggested.
Washu agreed and the three walked out of the kitchen; soaking wet. Washu and Tenchi changed and wrapped towels around themselves so not to as revealing as Ryoko. Taro on the other hand was born free! Washu held Taro in her arms and was washing his hair when Tenchi walked in.
" What took so long? I thought you were right behind me?" Washu asked as he sat across from her.
" Oh, I thought I saw something so I went to investigate," Tenchi lied.
" In only a towel? What if had been Ryoko?"
Tenchi hadn't thought of that, oh well, he hadn't gone anywhere. Tenchi had actually been watching Washu and forgot all about going in the water. What was wrong with him, he never used to act this way around Washu.
" Thank Tsunami it wasn't Ryoko!" Tenchi laughed before he dunked his head in the water. " So, you and Ryoko worked things out?"
" Sure did, but it still seems strange."
" What do you mean Washu?"
" I guess I'm not used to her calling me mom, but now we're all together, kinda like a family reunion except this one's permanent."
" I'm glad see you two are getting along."
" And why is that?"
" I just don't like seeing you sad."
Washu smiled and continued to clean off the small boy in her arms, memories of the academy flooded her mind. Mikamo and Mikumo had blinded her vision. The happiest days of her life played before her eyes as Taro slowly turned into the pure blond haired child she used to see everyday. Then horror struck her, the day she was left alone in the world, they day they were taken from her. Tears filled her eyes as she tried her best to hold them back.
" Washu?"
" I can't forget them, their memory, their faces still haunt me. Why won't the pain go away, why can't I be free!"
Tenchi was shocked at what Washu had said, she was still suffering? After so long, after so many years, she still suffered form emotional instability?
' There has to be something to I can do to help her.' Tenchi thought to himself.
Tenchi slowly wrapped his arms around Washu and let her cry on his shoulder.
' When will her suffering end?'
