A Life Fulfilled
Chapter 12
1 Washu's Lullaby
Washu's heart sank Taro was going to leave. Tenchi had said his parents would call Tenchi's aunt was close enough. Her happiness would disappear, she would stay in her lab, and she would go unnoticed, like always.
" Then…then you should," Washu tried to hide the sorrow in her voice.
" Are you going to be okay?" Tenchi placed a hand on her shoulder.
" Yes, I dealt with it last time," she sighed.
Tenchi was about to leave but Washu had to stop him.
" Tenchi, she said 3:30, it's 8 o'clock!" Washu smiled.
" I misunderstood her, I thought she said 3:30, but it turns out she meant 8:30!"
" Alright, get going. It would be very impolite to make her wait."
Tenchi nodded and ran outside, never stopping to notice the tears falling from Washu's eyes, or Ryoko and Ayeka who were listening to their conversation. Ayeka frowned she knew exactly how Washu felt. Ryoko had already helped the scientist it was her turn to do so.
" Miss Washu?"
The genius wiped the tears from her eyes and looked at the princess before her. The expression of concern that was formed on Princess Ayeka's face told Washu she was in for a long talk. Then it struck her, what had Ryoko told Ayeka? Now she was worried.
" I'm fine Ayeka."
" Miss Washu, I would like to talk to you. Would you like to join me outside?"
Washu nodded and followed Ayeka, stopping to give Taro to Ryoko on the way. Washu turned her head and looked back at her daughter and a smile formed on her face when she saw Ryoko wink at her. The sun had set a while ago and the stars were glistening in the dark scenery they were painted on. The two had a seat on a grassin hill and sat staring at the stars.
" What's this all about Ayeka?" Washu broke the silence.
" Washu, Ryoko and I had a little talk earlier today."
" Yes, I know."
" You see Miss Washu, I wanted to ask you a few questions."
" Like?"
" Miss Washu, you truly love Lord Tenchi?" Ayeka said nervously.
" I thought you figured that one out a while ago! Everyone here is!" Washu fell on her back laughing. " He's one lucky guy!"
" And you are one lucky woman."
Washu sat up, " Wha…what do you mean?"
" Haven't you noticed?"
" Noticed what?!"
" Lord Tenchi is in love with you."
Washu blinked, trying to comprehend what Ayeka said. Tenchi, in love with her? Wasn't he just helping her with Taro? What the heck was going on?!
" M…me?!" Washu couldn't seem to form words.
" Surly you must have noticed Miss Washu! Helping you with Taro, comforting you, just being with you, what other proof do you need?"
" And what about you? I know you don't plan on giving Tenchi up so easily."
" You always discover everything, don't you?" Ayeka laughed.
" Well?"
" I realized something from your daughter, she taught me something no one else could. She told me, through the meaning behind her words, that if I truly love Lord Tenchi, I would be happy if he was happy. You see Washu, Tenchi is happy with you and you are happy with him. I guess Tenchi and I were never meant to be and I told myself to be ready for this moment. If Tenchi did choose someone else, I knew I had to be ready if he didn't choose me. So when I learned about his feelings for you, I wasn't that crushed…hurt. I believe Ryoko feels the same way."
" It's just a shock for me that you would give him up so easily."
" I suppose, but you know if Tenchi doesn't feel the way we think he does, it's back to normal!" Ayeka joked.
" Hey now, let's not be pessimistic!"
" Let us go in and help Ryoko with Taro!" Ayeka stood up, brushing herself off.
" Alright, I just hope Taro's still alive! I'm telling you, Ryoko doesn't have her mother skills yet, those come after killing skills." The two laughed and walked back inside.
Tenchi dashed over to the park, searching frantically for his aunt. He finally spotted her waving to him while sitting on a bench. He pushed his way through the crowd and sat down.
" So Auntie, what did you want to say?"
" Well, I got word from Taro's parents the other night."
" What did they say?"
" Something you won't believe."
Washu and Ayeka found Ryoko, Sasami, and Mihoshi running around the house screaming. When Washu realized Taro was missing and her lab door was open, she made a logical theory, Taro was in there. Before Washu could take a step, a light beam shot out from behind the couch.
" What the heck?" Washu walked over to where the blast was fired.
What Washu saw was really funnier than dangerous. Taro was holding her new invention, a super powered laser gun. He had managed to get into her lab and figure out how to work the thing.
" Why don't you give that to me little one?" Washu picked Taro up and took the gun out of his hands, " Ever heard of the saying kids shouldn't use guns?"
" That's not a saying!" Ryoko corrected.
" What did you say?" Washu glared at her daughter.
" Uh...nothing...he, he, he!"
" She stopped the monster!" Mihoshi cheered.
" He's not a monster!" Washu yelled.
" Oh!"
" Washu, you should take your invention back to your lab," Sasami suggested.
The scientist walked into her lab with a smile on her face, she had never seen three people scream in such a manner. Washu hadn't realized she had walked to a part of her lab that she hadn't visited in so many years. Pictures of her past were sealed away in a photo album set down on a table in front of a fireplace. The squeaking of a door caught her attention.
" Ryoko's room," she said just above a whisper.
Washu walked slowly into the room and felt tears fill her eyes when she witnessed the site before her. Ryoko's old bookshelf, her crib, her toys, all the memories were coming back, the memories that were torn to pieces because of Kagato. She sighed and walked over to the crib, a song singing in her heart, a song that she used to sing to her daughter.
Tenchi walked slowly into the house, not knowing how he was going to break the news to Washu. He slowed down even more when he came closer to her lab but realized he had to tell her sooner or later. Tenchi turned the knob and slowly walked in. His ears picked up a sweet sound and he followed it. To his surprise, Tenchi found himself watching Washu, in her adult form, singing to Taro in her arms.
April roses, tiny sparrows
Comets bright and new
All belong together
With the mystery that is you
When I see your little face
I hear a song from long ago
I think you know
The many secrets I've forgotten
Generations through the ages
Joined as one somehow
Leading to the miracle
That I am holding now
From the sky and from the sea
Upon a breeze you came to me
You seem to see
A greater universe than I do
Sleep my baby, sleep my baby
Dream of somewhere far away
Do you remember still
How I hope you always will
Keep the memory of the day
The world was born
When you wake up I'll be waiting
Eager for your smile
You've had quite a journey darling
You should rest a while
When you cry we still rejoice
To hear your voice - oh yes, it's true
My sweet Washu
Please understand how much we love you
Sleep my baby, sleep my baby
Later on perhaps you'll tell
The wondrous things you've seen
More miraculous than dreams
Tell me all about the day
The world was born
Sleep my baby, sleep my baby
Dream of somewhere far away
Do you remember still
How I hope you always will
Keep the memory of the day
The world was born
Washu's placed Taro in the old crib and placed a blanket over him, humming the last verse of her song, " Washu's Lullaby." She was about to revert to her child form when a voice stopped her.
" You have a beautiful voice, Washu."
The scientist was startled and turned around to face the boy who had been spying on her. When she saw Tenchi smiling at her, she couldn't help but smile back and blush slightly.
" Thank you, Tenchi," Washu's gaze fell to the floor.
" Did you make up that entire song by yourself?" Tenchi asked as he walked closer to her.
" Oh...y...yes...I did, it was a long time ago. I wrote this song when Ryoko was little.
" I see your name is included too," Tenchi laughed and placed a hand around her waist.
Washu looked at his had with surprise and then up at him. What was he doing? Is he trying to...no, it couldn't be! Could it?
" Well, nothing really rhymes with Ryoko!" Washu laughed, still a little uneasy.
" Washu," Tenchi's voice became serious, " I talked with my aunt a few minuets ago. She wanted me to tell you something."
Washu led Tenchi to a room where the two could sit down on a couch and talk.
" Well, what did she say?"
" Washu, when Taro first came here he grew very attached to you, he even believed you were his mother."
" I remember that."
" Well, Taro believed you should be the only one who was allowed to take care of him. He refused the care his parents offered and never once called them mother or father."
" What, it can't be?!"
" It's true, and his parents are unable to take care of him. They found him staring at a photo I had given them of all of us. Every night he would stare at the picture and call for you, his mother. They thought if he saw you once again, they would be able to see if you were the one he wanted. Washu, they want you to adopt him."
Chapter 12
1 Washu's Lullaby
Washu's heart sank Taro was going to leave. Tenchi had said his parents would call Tenchi's aunt was close enough. Her happiness would disappear, she would stay in her lab, and she would go unnoticed, like always.
" Then…then you should," Washu tried to hide the sorrow in her voice.
" Are you going to be okay?" Tenchi placed a hand on her shoulder.
" Yes, I dealt with it last time," she sighed.
Tenchi was about to leave but Washu had to stop him.
" Tenchi, she said 3:30, it's 8 o'clock!" Washu smiled.
" I misunderstood her, I thought she said 3:30, but it turns out she meant 8:30!"
" Alright, get going. It would be very impolite to make her wait."
Tenchi nodded and ran outside, never stopping to notice the tears falling from Washu's eyes, or Ryoko and Ayeka who were listening to their conversation. Ayeka frowned she knew exactly how Washu felt. Ryoko had already helped the scientist it was her turn to do so.
" Miss Washu?"
The genius wiped the tears from her eyes and looked at the princess before her. The expression of concern that was formed on Princess Ayeka's face told Washu she was in for a long talk. Then it struck her, what had Ryoko told Ayeka? Now she was worried.
" I'm fine Ayeka."
" Miss Washu, I would like to talk to you. Would you like to join me outside?"
Washu nodded and followed Ayeka, stopping to give Taro to Ryoko on the way. Washu turned her head and looked back at her daughter and a smile formed on her face when she saw Ryoko wink at her. The sun had set a while ago and the stars were glistening in the dark scenery they were painted on. The two had a seat on a grassin hill and sat staring at the stars.
" What's this all about Ayeka?" Washu broke the silence.
" Washu, Ryoko and I had a little talk earlier today."
" Yes, I know."
" You see Miss Washu, I wanted to ask you a few questions."
" Like?"
" Miss Washu, you truly love Lord Tenchi?" Ayeka said nervously.
" I thought you figured that one out a while ago! Everyone here is!" Washu fell on her back laughing. " He's one lucky guy!"
" And you are one lucky woman."
Washu sat up, " Wha…what do you mean?"
" Haven't you noticed?"
" Noticed what?!"
" Lord Tenchi is in love with you."
Washu blinked, trying to comprehend what Ayeka said. Tenchi, in love with her? Wasn't he just helping her with Taro? What the heck was going on?!
" M…me?!" Washu couldn't seem to form words.
" Surly you must have noticed Miss Washu! Helping you with Taro, comforting you, just being with you, what other proof do you need?"
" And what about you? I know you don't plan on giving Tenchi up so easily."
" You always discover everything, don't you?" Ayeka laughed.
" Well?"
" I realized something from your daughter, she taught me something no one else could. She told me, through the meaning behind her words, that if I truly love Lord Tenchi, I would be happy if he was happy. You see Washu, Tenchi is happy with you and you are happy with him. I guess Tenchi and I were never meant to be and I told myself to be ready for this moment. If Tenchi did choose someone else, I knew I had to be ready if he didn't choose me. So when I learned about his feelings for you, I wasn't that crushed…hurt. I believe Ryoko feels the same way."
" It's just a shock for me that you would give him up so easily."
" I suppose, but you know if Tenchi doesn't feel the way we think he does, it's back to normal!" Ayeka joked.
" Hey now, let's not be pessimistic!"
" Let us go in and help Ryoko with Taro!" Ayeka stood up, brushing herself off.
" Alright, I just hope Taro's still alive! I'm telling you, Ryoko doesn't have her mother skills yet, those come after killing skills." The two laughed and walked back inside.
Tenchi dashed over to the park, searching frantically for his aunt. He finally spotted her waving to him while sitting on a bench. He pushed his way through the crowd and sat down.
" So Auntie, what did you want to say?"
" Well, I got word from Taro's parents the other night."
" What did they say?"
" Something you won't believe."
Washu and Ayeka found Ryoko, Sasami, and Mihoshi running around the house screaming. When Washu realized Taro was missing and her lab door was open, she made a logical theory, Taro was in there. Before Washu could take a step, a light beam shot out from behind the couch.
" What the heck?" Washu walked over to where the blast was fired.
What Washu saw was really funnier than dangerous. Taro was holding her new invention, a super powered laser gun. He had managed to get into her lab and figure out how to work the thing.
" Why don't you give that to me little one?" Washu picked Taro up and took the gun out of his hands, " Ever heard of the saying kids shouldn't use guns?"
" That's not a saying!" Ryoko corrected.
" What did you say?" Washu glared at her daughter.
" Uh...nothing...he, he, he!"
" She stopped the monster!" Mihoshi cheered.
" He's not a monster!" Washu yelled.
" Oh!"
" Washu, you should take your invention back to your lab," Sasami suggested.
The scientist walked into her lab with a smile on her face, she had never seen three people scream in such a manner. Washu hadn't realized she had walked to a part of her lab that she hadn't visited in so many years. Pictures of her past were sealed away in a photo album set down on a table in front of a fireplace. The squeaking of a door caught her attention.
" Ryoko's room," she said just above a whisper.
Washu walked slowly into the room and felt tears fill her eyes when she witnessed the site before her. Ryoko's old bookshelf, her crib, her toys, all the memories were coming back, the memories that were torn to pieces because of Kagato. She sighed and walked over to the crib, a song singing in her heart, a song that she used to sing to her daughter.
Tenchi walked slowly into the house, not knowing how he was going to break the news to Washu. He slowed down even more when he came closer to her lab but realized he had to tell her sooner or later. Tenchi turned the knob and slowly walked in. His ears picked up a sweet sound and he followed it. To his surprise, Tenchi found himself watching Washu, in her adult form, singing to Taro in her arms.
April roses, tiny sparrows
Comets bright and new
All belong together
With the mystery that is you
When I see your little face
I hear a song from long ago
I think you know
The many secrets I've forgotten
Generations through the ages
Joined as one somehow
Leading to the miracle
That I am holding now
From the sky and from the sea
Upon a breeze you came to me
You seem to see
A greater universe than I do
Sleep my baby, sleep my baby
Dream of somewhere far away
Do you remember still
How I hope you always will
Keep the memory of the day
The world was born
When you wake up I'll be waiting
Eager for your smile
You've had quite a journey darling
You should rest a while
When you cry we still rejoice
To hear your voice - oh yes, it's true
My sweet Washu
Please understand how much we love you
Sleep my baby, sleep my baby
Later on perhaps you'll tell
The wondrous things you've seen
More miraculous than dreams
Tell me all about the day
The world was born
Sleep my baby, sleep my baby
Dream of somewhere far away
Do you remember still
How I hope you always will
Keep the memory of the day
The world was born
Washu's placed Taro in the old crib and placed a blanket over him, humming the last verse of her song, " Washu's Lullaby." She was about to revert to her child form when a voice stopped her.
" You have a beautiful voice, Washu."
The scientist was startled and turned around to face the boy who had been spying on her. When she saw Tenchi smiling at her, she couldn't help but smile back and blush slightly.
" Thank you, Tenchi," Washu's gaze fell to the floor.
" Did you make up that entire song by yourself?" Tenchi asked as he walked closer to her.
" Oh...y...yes...I did, it was a long time ago. I wrote this song when Ryoko was little.
" I see your name is included too," Tenchi laughed and placed a hand around her waist.
Washu looked at his had with surprise and then up at him. What was he doing? Is he trying to...no, it couldn't be! Could it?
" Well, nothing really rhymes with Ryoko!" Washu laughed, still a little uneasy.
" Washu," Tenchi's voice became serious, " I talked with my aunt a few minuets ago. She wanted me to tell you something."
Washu led Tenchi to a room where the two could sit down on a couch and talk.
" Well, what did she say?"
" Washu, when Taro first came here he grew very attached to you, he even believed you were his mother."
" I remember that."
" Well, Taro believed you should be the only one who was allowed to take care of him. He refused the care his parents offered and never once called them mother or father."
" What, it can't be?!"
" It's true, and his parents are unable to take care of him. They found him staring at a photo I had given them of all of us. Every night he would stare at the picture and call for you, his mother. They thought if he saw you once again, they would be able to see if you were the one he wanted. Washu, they want you to adopt him."
