Disclaimer
I am a poor starving artist with no intentions of making money off of this. I own absolutely none of the characters herein, and have created this sheerly for my own enjoyment and the enjoyment of anyone who reads it. Please don't sue me.
This Side Down
Part Seven
No Need for a Vacation
"Hey, Kasumi. Could you pass me the rice?"
Kasumi wordlessly lifted the rice, passed it to Tenchi.
"Uh, thanks."
Kasumi went back to her own meal.
"Hey, you feeling all right, Kasumi?"
"Yes, Tenchi. Thank you for asking." Her voice was little more than a whisper.
"...okay."
Tenchi studied the eldest Tendo sister. Kasumi had taken her impromptu hair cut very poorly. Her hair - what was left of it - was bound in a scarf, and her eyes were downcast. Tenchi couldn't figure it out - why was she taking it so hard? Yes, it was probably a shock - who knows how long she'd worked at that hair, just to lose it all in a single moment. But still...
His train of thought was interrupted by the arrival of Nabiki. In her arms was a small black pig. Tenchi eyed the pig.
"Hey, Nabiki. New pet?"
"Yup." She grinned. "Isn't he cute?" Her voice was matter-of-fact. "I've gotta go to the vet, get him checked out, get his shots up to date and get him licensed. Probably do it during lunch hour."
"Got a name for him?"
"P-Chan." She grinned, wickedly this time. "Mostly because he seems to hate it."
Tenchi rolled his eyes. He opened his mouth to comment further, but was interrupted by the sound of the telephone ringing.
Kasumi stood, moved slowly to the phone. "Tendo dojo, may I help you? Yes, he's here."
Kasumi turned to Tenchi. "For you, Tenchi. It's a lady named Nodoka."
"Huh?" Tenchi scrambled to his feet and took the phone.
"Hi there!"
"Hello, Tenchi!" His stepmother's voice was as cheerful as ever. "I just heard that you were staying at the Tendo-ke, and thought I might call you up."
So much for Grandfather getting me some breathing room. "Uh, well, yes. Dad and I got into Nerima about a week ago."
"And you haven't called me?"
"Well, things have been kinda hectic here, so..."
"I can understand that." She sounded amused. "I assume you have found out about the engagement?"
"Was that your idea?"
"No, it was your father's, and Katsuhito seemed to like the idea. But surely, it can't be that much of a strain on you."
Tenchi groaned.
"But in any event, the reason I called you was to invite you to come and visit me."
"Uhh...visit you? Isn't it my home too?"
"Well, yes, but since you're living at the Tendo-ke now, I think that it would be best for you to think of it as your home. After all, someday, it will be."
"Great."
"But I was thinking more that we could go out to the temple together and visit your grandfather."
"Err...I guess..."
"Tenchi, whatever is the matter? You used to love to go to visit him."
"Well, I'm a little less than happy with him at the moment."
"No surprise. Well, this will give you a chance to air out your problems with him, try to find a compromise."
Yeah, right. "Sure, Nodoka. I would be happy to go."
"I'm so glad. I'll pick you up in an hour."
"Today!? Mom, I have school today!"
CLICK
"Great. Just great." Tenchi sighed and hung up the phone. He moped back to the table and sat down.
"My stepmother has decided that today would be a marvelous day for us to go out to the shrine."
"Really?" Nabiki's eyes lit up. "That would be great! I've wanted to meet your grandfather for the longest time."
"Nabiki, are you nuts? We have school today!"
"Well, my grades are more than good enough to take the hit. You came in halfway through the semester, so you're toast anyway--"
"Hey!"
Kasumi piped up. "I would also like to see the shrine. It's probably very beautiful there."
Tenchi started to worry.
Akane bounced down the stairs. "Hey, what's the ruckus?"
"Tenchi's stepmother is taking us to the shrine." Nabiki grinned. "Pity you have school today."
"So do you, Sis."
"Yes, but my grades are excellent. How are yours?"
Tenchi started to sweat.
"My grades can take it! I can use a day off!"
"You'll just be bored."
"No, I won't! Remember, Katsuhito is the one who taught Tenchi martial arts. Besides, you just want a chance to get him alone so you can get your claws into him!"
Nabiki's eyes narrowed. "And what if he wants my claws into him? As opposed to your meathooks?"
Tenchi started to panic.
Tenchi dropped his backpack at the front door, rifled through it one last time. "Two changes of clothes, some manga, a thermos of hot water...guess I'm set."
He stood up, looked over to where the rest of the bags sat. "Let's see. Nodoka's picking us up in twenty minutes. Kasumi's getting her hair halfway fixed. Akane and Nabiki are taking P-Chan to the vet's - guess we'll have to pick them up. But they're packed and ready to go."
He rummaged through his backpack again, rearranging everything. Suddenly, his hand touched cold metal.
"Hm? What the heck...?"
He sat back, pulled out the sword hilt.
"Wow. I'd managed to completely forget this." He laughed.
"I didn't."
"Huh?" He turned, to see a cyan-haired woman standing behind him.
"Who the heck are you?"
She shivered. "It was cold in there, Tenchi. And you were going to lock me back in there."
"Huh?"
"But you forgot to put the key back in place."
Tenchi stared at her. "Oh, no...Ryoko."
The woman grinned, and a ball of energy began to form in her hand. "I'm free now, and it's time for some revenge!" She threw her hand forward, and the ball of energy exploded towards Tenchi.
Tenchi dodged to the left, and the blast destroyed the door. Tenchi ran down the hall, grabbed a bokuto as he ran. He turned when he reached the family room.
"Come on, you monster!"
"Monster?!" The demon-girl threw another blast. Tenchi parried the blast, gaped at the smoking ruins of his bokuto.
"I am not a monster!" She threw another blast, and Tenchi dived out the family room door, rolling to his feet in the garden.
"Damn! What do I do?" He cudgeled his brain, trying to come up with something - anything - from the old legends his grandfather had told him about this demon.
"Something about 'three gems for power'..."
He started, remembering the hilt. He looked at it--
Of the three gems on the hilt, there were only two present. One was missing from its socket.
"Oh, damn." He looked up to see Ryoko approaching.
"Tenchi..." She smiled, almost seductively. "Now you're gonna pay for locking me up!"
"It wasn't me!" Tenchi babbled. "It was my ancestor Yosho! I didn't do it!"
"Oh, I don't mind." She grinned. "I just want someone to pay. Doesn't matter who." She gathered another ball of energy, threw it at him.
"Crap!" Tenchi turned to dodge, but the shot was too close.
BLAM
"Huh?" Tenchi turned back, to see the hilt floating between the two of them. Ryoko's shot had bounced off of it, dissipating harmlessly.
Tenchi reached out and took the hilt. A glowing blade of energy snapped into existence from the keyons.
Ryoko stepped back. Her hand flexed, and Tenchi noticed the small bead on her wrist. Then Ryoko also held an energy blade, and swung it at him.
Tenchi instinctively parried, then pressed the attack. Ryoko was rapidly driven backward by the force of his attacks. Finally, Tenchi slashed out and chopped off her hand, just below the wrist.
The hand disappeared in a puff of smoke, and the gem bounced along to land at Tenchi's feet.
Tenchi just stood there, not believing his own actions.
Ryoko looked at the stump of her hand, then shrugged.
"Oh well, another defeat. The story of my life."
"I'm sorry, the sword seemed to have a mind of it's own, I didn't mean to hurt you. Sorry!" He bowed to her.
"Oh, it's all right, Tenchi." She smiled, pressed the stump of her wrist to her remaining hand.
The hand reformed intact. She bowed, then faded into the ground.
Tenchi looked back at the house. There were several fires burning inside it, luckily small enough to contain, provided he got at it right now. He grabbed the fire extinguisher, quickly put down the fires.
"Good thing this place has oil heating and an electric stove. If there had been a gas main in the house..."
"My house!"
Tenchi turned to see Tendo-san and his father at the door, bags of sake in hand.
Tendo was a complete wreck, bawling his eyes out. Genma turned to Tenchi.
"What happened here, boy?"
"Demon attacked me." Tenchi shrugged. "I'm not entirely certain why."
"Who is going to fix my house?" Tendo was still a wreck.
Tenchi sighed. "The damage is not too extensive, Tendo-san. Will your insurance cover it?"
"Well..." Tendo calmed down. "I suppose it will."
Tenchi grinned. "I'll add to it." He pulled out his wallet, handed Tendo a sizeable amount of yen. "This should help cover the damages."
"Thank you, Tenchi."
Genma's eyes bugged out at the size of the wad of cash Tenchi handed over. "Have you been holding out on your father, boy?"
"Nope. It's the last of my spending money this month." He shrugged. "I'm not gonna hold out on Tendo-san - for whatever reason, the demon attacked me in Tendo's house."
"Oh, but you're willing to hold out on your own father!"
"Yep."
And so it was a rather larger group that stood at the gates as Nodoka pulled up. She got out of the taxi and looked at the small party.
"Why, how nice! Tenchi, you are bringing all three of your girlfriends with you?"
"Mom, they aren't precisely--oof!"
Nabiki removed her elbow from Tenchi's side. "'Girlfriend' works."
Kasumi bowed to Nodoka. "A pleasure to meet you, Saotome-san. Tenchi has told me many good things about you."
"Kasumi, come on, let's get these bags loaded!" Akane was already putting things into the trunk of the taxi. "We're gonna miss the train if we don't hustle!"
Tenchi closed his eyes in pain. Pain only partially caused by Nabiki's elbow.
"Why me?"
"Ah, Tenchi! So good to see you!"
Tenchi couldn't help grinning; he really liked Katsuhito...despite everything the man was currently putting him through. "Hey, Grandpa. How's life treating you?"
"Oh, all the same. Can't find a woman who's young, pretty and willing to tolerate an old coot like me." Katsuhito grinned. "These, I take it, are Tendo Soun's three daughters?"
Kasumi bowed to the elder. Her hair had been cut quite short, making her look...cute. It rather disturbed Tenchi, as Kasumi wasn't the sort of person who should look cute.
"Pleased to meet you, Masaki-san!"
He returned the bow, a glint of mischief in his eye. "So you are Tendo Kasumi, ne? I welcome you to my house. Please, make yourself at home."
He bowed to Nabiki. "Tendo Nabiki, your father has told me of your cleverness and sharp wit. He has said that you are an honour to your house. Please honour my house with your presence."
Tenchi looked at his grandfather oddly.
Katsuhito bowed last to Akane. "Tendo Akane, your name comes to me as that of a warrior without peer. May you leave this place with more knowledge than you arrived with." He chuckled. "But please don't leave right away."
Finally he turned to Tenchi again. "Well, Tenchi. Can't make up your mind, so you brought all three?"
Tenchi blushed.
"Well, never mind." He turned to the three girls. "Of course, if any of you wish to speak with me regarding the engagement, please feel free. Don't hold back."
None of the girls spoke. Akane drew small circles in the dirt with her sneaker.
"Well, for the meantime, I'll install you all in bedrooms." He turned and walked towards the house. "I have four spare rooms. Tenchi, you shall have the one at the end of the hall."
"Ummm...Grandpa, that's Mom's old room..."
"Yes, and I think that she'd be happy knowing that you are there." The six entered the house, walked up the stairs. "She's no doubt proud of the man you've become."
Tenchi felt ten feet tall.
"Kendo practice, first thing in the morning."
Make that ten inches.
"As for you three...Akane, you take Tenchi's old room. Nabiki, this one's yours. Last one to sleep here was a schoolteacher, twenty-six years ago. Kasumi, this one you may use. And Nodoka...I fear I must put you in this room."
Nodoka put her hand on the door and closed her eyes. "It must be fifteen years since I slept in this room."
"You lived here, Mom?"
"Yes, Tenchi. For seven years I lived here. I moved into this house shortly after I met your mother." She smiled sadly. "A tale I don't think I ever told you, about how your mother befriended an outcaste girl..." She shook her head. "I'll tell you later."
"That's a promise."
"Yes. It is."
Tenchi nodded.
Kasumi clapped and bowed her head in prayer.
Tenchi looked around the shrine. His grandfather kept it in perfect condition, as always. How he did it was beyond Tenchi. It seemed that Katsuhito had a limitless number of jobs that needed doing about the grounds, so many that even after he set Tenchi to the cleaning of the shrine - a job that took almost three hours to do properly - the old man was still busy almost from dawn to dusk.
Kasumi clapped again, then stepped back from the shrine. She turned and smiled at Tenchi.
"Thank you, Tenchi. This is a beautiful place."
"You're welcome, Kasumi-chan."
She coloured slightly, then turned to point to one of the pictures on the shrine. "Tenchi, who is this?"
It was an extremely old photograph, but the odd thing was the subject...
"Hey...that girl looks just like my girl form..."
Tenchi shivered.
"According to this, she's Masaki Tamura, one of your ancestors."
"I'll have to ask Grandfather about it."
"Good idea." She sighed. "This whole area is beautiful, not just the shrine. The lake..." She turned and stretched a hand out toward the water. "I've never seen a lake so blue. The forest is magnificent. The whole place just...glows."
"Yeah, it is nice. It's even nicer down in the glade." He gestured to a small path to the side. "Down that path is a small glade and pond, and a large tree of some sort. I don't know what kind. Grandfather often goes down there and talks to the tree."
"Talks..."
"I don't know. Maybe it's some sort of priest thing. Something he's not told me yet."
"Why was the shrine built?"
Tenchi smacked himself in the head. "Oh, damn. I almost forgot. Ryoko!"
"Ryoko?"
"The demon that this place is supposed to contain. I sort of accidentally...set her free." He turned and began to run down the stairs.
"Tenchi! Wait up!"
"Grandpa!"
Tenchi ran into the house, looked around.
"Grandpa, where are you?"
"Aaahhhhhhh!"
"Kuso..." Tenchi turned and ran up the stairs.
Akane bolted out of his old room. "There's a girl in my bed!"
Tenchi ran in.
"Why, hello, Tenchi!"
He groaned. "Ryoko."
"Why yes. Who did you expect?" The cyan-haired girl stood up and glided over to Tenchi - literally glided, her feet a few inches above the ground. "Did you miss me?"
"Tenchi, what the heck is going on?"
"I dunno! Ryoko, why were you in Akane's bed?"
"Well, I thought it was your bed. But I guess you've moved."
"What's all the noise in here?" Katsuhito stepped into the bedroom, then did a double take.
"Ryoko!"
"Hello, Yosho! Glad to see you're still around as well!"
Tenchi looked at Katsuhito, puzzled. "Yosho?"
"Well, I guess the picture in the shrine is halfway accurate after all." Katsuhito grinned. "I always thought it looked too much like me..."
Ryoko looked at him oddly. "What do you-"
Katsuhito pinched her lips shut. "Later."
Akane looked deeply disturbed. "Let me get this straight. You're a demoness?"
"Yep. And a very attractive one, too!" She grinned.
"And you thought you were hiding in Tenchi's bed."
"Yep. It was going to be a surprise."
"I bet," Akane growled. She pulled out her mallet and smashed the demoness.
"Ow--"
She then proceeded to pound Tenchi.
"Ow! What did I do?"
She shouldered the mallet. "There's no way I'm gonna let you flirt with a demoness."
"I wasn't--"
Ryoko floated up, a mallet-shaped bruise on her face. "You little..."
WHAM
Ryoko dodged the swing, and Akane's mallet slammed into the floor. The demoness shifted back, then started to gather energy for a blast. Akane readied her mallet for another swing.
Tenchi stepped between the two girls, arms outstretched. "That's enough!"
Both girls paused, destruction held at bay in their hands.
"Akane, get this straight. Thanks to my idiot father, I already have three fiancees. I do not want a fourth. Ryoko, the girls on this property are under my protection. Don't harm them, or I will put you back in the cave."
The two girls glowered at each other, then turned their backs.
"As long as Miss Hothead here keeps her temper - and her mallet - under control, she's safe."
"Fine by me. You keep away from Tenchi, and you'll stay safe."
"Good enough." Tenchi left the room, started down the stairs. "If anyone needs me, I'll be in the hot spring."
"Hey, Tenchi."
Tenchi looked up to see Nabiki, wearing a robe and carrying P-Chan, approaching the hot spring. "Oh, hi, Nabiki."
"Something the matter? A certain demoness causing you some grief?"
"Well, as a matter of fact...yes."
"Hm. Which one, Ryoko or Akane?"
"That's hardly fair, Nabiki."
She shrugged and set down the pig. She gave him a nudge. "Go on...have some fun."
The pig wandered off.
"Are you sure that's wise?"
"Hm? Oh, yeah. P-Chan's a clever pig. Just has a bit of trouble finding his way around."
"Maybe he's got the Hibiki Directional Curse."
"Huh?"
"A joke, a joke." Tenchi chuckled.
"Oh." She shrugged, and removed her robe.
"Ack!" Tenchi dived for the bottom.
Nabiki laughed. "Don't worry!" She slipped into the water until she was immersed up to her neck. "Is this better?"
"Uh, thanks." Tenchi sat back up.
"Honestly! You've grown up in a shrine with a hot spring, and you react this poorly to someone coming to soak?"
"Let's just say that most of the time, they're not potential wives. Or at least, not my potential wife."
"Gotcha. Sorry."
"Oh, I guess it's all right. I mean, Akane walked in on me in the bath."
"True." She giggled. "So the only one left to see is Kasumi."
"Right. And then I can make an informed decision." He chuckled, then sighed. "If only it were that easy."
"Hey, Tenchi..." She slid closer to him, took his hand. "If it's any help, you can be sure that at least neither Akane nor myself would refuse you."
"Yeah, but what right do I have to trap you in a marriage? Where's your choice in this?"
"Simple." She leaned closer to him, till their faces were merely inches away.
"Ack!"
She placed a hand on his cheek, leaned closer still to his face. "I would choose--"
"Hello, you two!"
"Kuso..." Nabiki slid back quickly. "Hi, Kasumi-Oneechan. Perfect timing." The last was muttered under her breath.
"I'm sorry, did I interrupt anything?" She let her robe drop to the ground and stepped into the spring.
Nabiki chuckled. "There you go, Tenchi. Now you can make an informed decision."
"Nabiki, what on earth are you talking about. Ara...Tenchi, why are you blushing?"
Tenchi collapsed onto the futon that used to belong to his parents.
There was a knocking on the door. He sat up. "Come in!"
Nodoka stepped into his room and shut the door behind her.
"Hi, Mom."
She smiled, shook her head softly. "You so often call me that..."
"Gomen..."
"No, I guess it's all right." She crossed the room and sat at the foot of the futon. "Your mother died when you were so young, and then Katsuhito asked me to marry Genma..."
"He asked you?!"
"Yes." She looked down. "I was an outcaste, thrown out of my father's home. I came here, looking just for a place to stay until I could get my feet back under me. Your grandfather told me I could stay here as long as I wished, and even train in Kendo under him, in exchange for two things. The first, that I befriend his daughter." She smiled. "Not that that was hard. Your mother was so easy to get along with. But she was always somewhat weak. And, she was saddled with an idiot for a husband. She seemed to love him, but I still don't see why."
"You mean Dad, right?"
"Yes." She nodded. "The other thing Katsuhito asked was that at some time in the future, he would ask a great service of me, to save his family's line. And when your mother died, he called that favour due."
"Oh, man. So you had to marry this guy you didn't even like, let alone love, just because you needed a place to stay?"
"Well...it was also the fact that for the last six months of her life, I was helping Achika take care of you. And to tell the truth, it was not a marriage without love. Because I already loved you, Tenchi."
Tenchi smiled at her. "Obasama, I'm happy you decided to listen to him. You've always been there when I needed you. And I love you, too."
Nodoka reached out and hugged him tightly.
Out behind the temple was a small glade, containing a pool of water and a massive tree.
From the tree's many branches, tiny rays of light sprung forth into the ground.
A massive beam of blue light stabbed upward, sending its message out to the heavens.
The demon has risen again, and the hero has returned...