RC: Well, that was fast! I put a chapter up and 11 reviews flow in! All right!
Mayuka: Rain Child's feeling lazy tonight, and therefore is not personally going to thank everyone personally, but she is going to answer a few things!
RC: Umm…yeah. Hey shinji! You already know what's going to happy, so you better not tell! FDG of ST if you don't like tenchi/ayeka, then go read you ONE MILLION ten/ryo fics. Alighthawk, thanks so much for the comment, that means a lot! (HEAR THAT BY-TOR!!! The author you flamed me on is commenting me!) And thanks to everyone else! I have a little treat for ya!!! In my notebook, this chapter is more than twice as long as the other chapters! It is also a partial songfic to Ginny Owens's Someone Searching! AND…you get to see Ayeka again!!!
Mayuka: DISCLAIMER TIME!!!! Rain Child doesn't own anything Tenchi, Someone Searching, or me! She is not someone to go and sue!
RC: on with the story!
/abc/=washu/ryoko/ryo-ohki's mind speak
"talking"
'thinking/indirect quote'
~*~*~*~*~*~
Raindrops
~Chapter 6: Someone Searching
~*~*~*~*~*~
Face lost in the crowd,
Feet wandering empty streets
Voice crying out loud
Heart aching with every beat…
A young woman, with eyes consumed by subtle sorrow, was seen wandering the cold, empty streets through the mist of the rainy city, letting her feet wander aimlessly. For a moment, her eyes sparked as she thought she saw his face, but it quickly disappeared into the small throng of people. She shook her head as if to clear away thoughts, and wandered on. An old man would later say, 'She looked so beautiful, but it seemed her maker forgot to carve happiness into her face.' For her eyes were filled with un-spilling tears, she had been so sure she was supposed to be here.
[chorus:]
Someone, searching,
Searching for someone
Everywhere and endlessly
Wishing, waiting
Could there be someone
Searching for
Someone searching?
Upon landing, Tenchi and the others had docked in an ancient looking city. It reminded him of pictures he had seen, with the land covered in endless mist, a sky of gray. They spilt up in two's: Kiyone and Mihoshi, Ryoko and Washu, Sasami and Katsuhito (and Ryo-ohki tagged along), leaving Tenchi, who didn't seem to care, to go alone, which was probably best.
Soul battered and bruised,
Pride wounded and left for dead
Ears deaf to good news
Eyes tear-drenched in sleepless rain…
[chorus:]
Someone searching
Searching for someone
Everywhere and endlessly
Wishing, waiting
Could there be someone
Searching for
Someone searching?
Washu and Ryoko walked along the wet, gray sidewalks, in uneasy silence. Not really wanting to speak, but feeling hurt from the rejection, Ryoko finally gave into the urge to talk with Washu,
/I guess I should apologize. I mean, we didn't mean to forget you and all, but--/
/I've already forgiven you, Little Ryoko./
/Wash-I mean, Mom, Tenchi doesn't love me. I don't think he really ever did./
As this statement went across the link, Washu and Ryoko both stubbornly held back tears, but for different reasons. For Washu, it was the fact Ryoko had opened up to her, but at the cost of the same pain Washu had experienced: the loss of a love. For Ryoko, it was because she had finally admitted the truth that she had denied, even after Sasami yelled at them: Tenchi didn't love her, or at least, like a wife, but more like a sister. She did love him, she was sure of that, but his love for her in the same way was gone, and that hurt so much more than what she would ever let on to anyone.
/I understand, Little Ryoko. If you remember, I've lost my husband, my son, and Kagato (a/n: They both cringe) took you away from me, my only joy./
/Does it always hurt this much?/
/Yes, but time will eventually reduce it to a sting. There's a way to erase the sting, but I've never encountered it. You'd have to learn to love another, just as much, if not more than, Tenchi./
/Tenchi, he was, my world, my only glimmer of happiness!/
/I'm still here. That is, if you want a mother's love?/
/I don't know, not yet./
Oh I hear the cry,
And I know the pain.
Can it be denied
That everyone has been
And will be someone searching?
Sasami wandered along by Katsuhito, wishing that this could've been prevented. Tsunami too was sad. She knew good would come out of it, for both her (Sasami), and even Ryoko. Whether Tenchi and Ayeka could fix their friendship, or love, she (Tsunami), wouldn't say.
~*~*~*~
Kiyone and Mihoshi walked along the sidewalk, Mihoshi cheerfully chattering on about her favorite show, Space Police Policemen, and Kiyone ignored her, lost in her thoughts. Why would Princess Ayeka want to leave these people behind, even her own sister and brother? It just didn't make sense. Maybe Mihoshi knew, it was worth a shot.
"Hey, Mihoshi? Why did Ayeka leave?"
"And then they—what? Don't you know? Oh yeah, I forgot, you weren't there! Silly me! Well, you see, Ayeka and Ryoko both fell in love with Tenchi, but they both handled it differently. Ayeka was unsure about it, and hid her feelings, or tried to, while Ryoko was always trying to show Tenchi she loved him. When Tenchi admitted his feelings for Ryoko, we were all thrilled they were so happy, and I think, even a little relieved it wasn't Ayeka. She knew that, I think, and she left. Tenchi noticed, and went looking for her, but what happened, we don't know, but it caused Ayeka to really leave."
"Oh," was all Kiyone could manage. She'd noticed tension between Ryoko and Tenchi, but it all came together now. As they walked on, Kiyone hoped this would all turn out all right.
Love standing alone,
Hands scarred by the nails of hate.
Hope suffering long,
Faith urging that it's not too late…The young woman continued on, her feet leading her on a winding path through the rainy city. She had an odd feeling she needed to be there, and she followed it.
~*~
When Tenchi saw her, standing alone, his sinking hope suddenly began to flare up. He called out her name, his heart and soul urging him that it wasn't too late.
~*~
The woman looked at her hands, with faint scars about the palms, caused by the crash four years ago, one that nearly destroyed her ship. She looked up. She could have sworn she'd heard someone calling her. Looking about, she saw the caller. It was him.
Someone searchingSearching for someone
Everywhere and endlessly
Loving, longing
Always there's someone
Searching for someone
Someone searching…
Someone searching…
Someone searching…
Ayeka was frozen to the spot as he raced towards her. Tears streamed down his cheeks, and she noticed a few dripping down her face as well. She wanted to run away, and run towards him, and scream in frustration all at once. But it was too late now.
Tenchi raced towards her, all thoughts gone. It had to be her; it just had to be! His eyes stung; the tears had come. Ayeka was crying to, frozen to the spot, unsure of how to react.
Ayeka hadn't cried in five years, five years today, actually. The day she left. Ever since that day, tears never had come; her eyes might brim, but never spill over. Why, she didn't know. Closing her eyes, she was stunned to notice how the gentle breeze suddenly seemed a gale. Then she fell into someone's arms, being held tight. The only one to ever do that had been Yosho, that time he found her after she had been beaten. Maybe it was him, but that didn't seem right. She did the only thing she could think to do: cry into the person's arms, praying to Tsunami it was Tenchi, and that he had come back for her, like any other girl's fantasy, I suppose.
Tenchi wasn't sure what had come over him. He had found himself holding Ayeka, crying, but in his arms. She had hesitated, and then burst into yet more tears, sobbing harder, soaking his shirt, but what did her care, he'd finally found her! All felt right. As the sobbing slowly calmed, she looked up, a few tears still riveting down her pale, beautiful face…
~*~*~*~*~*~ (a/n: End songfic section of the chapter!)
As she found no more tears to cry, Ayeka calmed. Looking up, she found it was Tenchi, his face full of concern, and something else she'd never seen before in his eyes. The moment vanished as they realized what an awkward situation they had been caught in. They quietly stood up, blushing profusely. It seemed people had decided to pay them no notice, to their immense relief, but they wouldn't be left alone for long. It seemed the others had been close by, for they must have heard Tenchi, and were running towards them now. Sasami broke free from Katsuhito's grip, and raced over to her beloved sister Ayeka, tears flying out quickly. Ayeka had spilt her tears, her face showed it too, but she still pulled her sister into a tight embrace. Pulling away, Ayeka teased, her voice a little broken,
"Why, Sasami, I do believe you've grown up. I don't suppose I'll be able to call you "little" anymore."
And true it was. Sasami was now as tall as Ayeka. Sasami grinned, her eyes still brimming with tears of joy. Ayeka now walked up to Katsuhito, or Yosho to her, and hugged him too, whispering,
"I missed you."
"I as well, my dear sister."
Walking up to Washu, she smiled politely,
"Hello Miss-I mean, Little Washu."
"Hey Ayeka."
"Hi Mihoshi."
"AYEKA!!! WE'RE SO GLAD YOU'RE BACK!" Mihoshi cried out as Kiyone fidgeted nervously.
"-And, Miss…"
"Kiyone, Your Highness."
"Miss Kiyone. And please, just Ayeka."
"Of course, Prin-Ayeka."
Grinning, Ayeka came to Ryoko.
"Ryoko."
"Princess. Ah, what the hell! We're all glad to have you back! Things just aren't the same!"
They both grinned, and Ayeka spoke quietly to them all,
"I don't think the street is the best place for a reunion, no? If you don't mind a little walking, we could go to my house?"
They all agreed to this—they didn't like the stares they had begun to receive. The group walked along companionably as Ayeka shared a little about her new life, and they all added in bits and pieces from theirs,
"I'm still not entirely sure why I chose this planet. I guess it just felt right. Lluvia is very quiet and peaceful outside Lenarion, the city we were just in. It's made up mostly of villages dotted here and there. The technology isn't much farther along than Earth, but with the added convenience of them knowing about tree-ships and other planets and such. It's very beautiful here, and peaceful, if you know where to look. Lluvia is really quite a nice place to live, but it's nothing like the majesty of Jurai, or the simple beauty of Earth."
"We've been pretty bored the past five years, at least until Tenchi here decided to go look for you," Ryoko teased, as Ayeka's face tinged ever so slightly pink.
"Thought Ryoko has had no lack of someone to fight with," Washu added, as Ryoko turned pink too.
"Umm…well, the Galaxy Police haven't had any problems in the area there."
"Lucky for you, Mihoshi. I have to deal with smugglers all the time, not to mention the other criminals."
"Ooh! That must be so exciting Kiyone!"
"Not really."
"Oh." Mihoshi's spirits weren't dampened though, and she immediately started off again about Space Police Policemen, as the others gave pitying glances toward Kiyone.
They arrived not long after (but not soon enough Kiyone commented) at Ayeka's home. The houses in the village bore a similarity to those Tenchi had seen in pictures of European villages, only without the thatched roofing. Ayeka's was a two-story, with the same basic design as the others. Outside, there was a garden and a flower garden, with a wild array of flowers Tenchi had never seen before. A small barn was off to the side, perfect for storing gardening tools. Entering the house, Tenchi wondered what could possibly happen next.
~*~*~*~
Ayeka's house was beautiful, but not something anyone had expected. There were the basics: a kitchen, three bathrooms, several bedrooms, a living room, and a dining room. There was also a small library, an onsen, and one room off to the side, the door locked shut. Everything was decorated simply, illuminating serenity. Somehow, a little sorrow and loneliness seemed to have snuck in. It especially liked to sit in Ayeka's eyes. If anyone else noticed, Tenchi didn't know, for like him, they said nothing.
After showing them around, they headed for the living room. Tenchi noticed Ayeka had brought along with her a few CD's, though they were all American. One of them caught his eye in particular. It had a black and white, up-close, photo of a girl's face, eyes closed. In pale, tiny American letters, it was titled, "Without Condition." He decided to ask about that one later; Ayeka was talking about what had happened,
"Well, after I first left Japan, I decided I didn't want to leave Earth completely, not just yet. I decided a little stop in America might be nice, and I stayed there for six months."
'So that's why she owns those CD's.' Tenchi concluded.
"…After that, I decided I was ready to leave for good, so I wandered from planet to planet, until I came upon this one. I know it seems as if it's forever clouded in mist, but if you wait for a day or so, you'll see why I decided to stay."
(Rainchild: Now in reality, Ayeka had been attacked after leaving the solar system, and had barely escaped to Lluvia. She had been mesmerized by its beauty, and decided to stay, especially after she nearly lost her ship.)
"…and I've been here ever since. Don't get me wrong; I have a few friends. They're coming by tomorrow to visit. Anyways, what have you all been up to since I left? Have you and Ryoko gotten married, Tenchi? Sasami, have you been doing your lessons with Washu?"
"Yes, Ayeka, don't worry, I'm still doing them," Sasami assured her. As she looked around, it became evident that they wanted her to tell the rest.
"Tenchi and Ryoko, well, you see, they…"
~*~Ayeka's POV~*~
Just smile, and act like you're over him. It's been five years, they'll believe you. Pretend it's another public affair. Pretend you're happy. You have friends here too, remember? They'll stand by me, I may still love Tenchi, but is he the same Tenchi I love? Why is Sasami putting it off? It's not like I don't already know…
"Well…they…how do I put this? They've been fighting since you left, and well, they cancelled their engagement, and we came to see you."
WHAT!? No, dear Goddess, this can't be happening! They were supposed to be happy; I was ready for the blow! Does this mean Tenchi loves me? No, it can't! Just say, 'I'm sorry.' Pretend it's just a chat. They never noticed before, when I was acting, will they now?
~*~Regular POV~*~
"I'm…sorry. I never imagined…that you two…" She trailed off as Ryoko and Tenchi nodded understandingly.
There were more attempts at conversation, but slowly, one by one, they all left; it was late, and they were tired. Tenchi and Ayeka sat, quietly, nervous. Tenchi broke the ice, asking,
"That CD, Without Condition, can you play a song off it?"
"Sure, Lord Tenchi."
She pulled it out, and put it in the CD player, turning the volume low. 1…2…3…4…5…6…7…8…9. She stopped skipping songs, and a sad, sweet melody filled the room. (rain child: it's the same one as the song in the songfic part) When the song ended, Tenchi only truly remember one verse; it reminded him so perfectly of Ayeka in a way, (rainchild: and my favorite verse!)
Love standing alone,
Hands scarred by the nails of hate.
Hope suffering long,
Faith urging that it's not too late.
The words only formed one picture in his mind—Ayeka crying, as she left, five years ago…
"Thanks. Could I borrow it?"
"That's fine Lord Tenchi, just please don't play it too loud. You don't want to wake anyone up do you?"
As Tenchi shook his head, she smiled softly, and headed upstairs to her bedroom, stifling a yawn. The song sang softly over the house throughout the still, silent, night…
Someone searchingSearching for someone
Everywhere and endlessly
Loving, longing
Always there's someone searching for
Someone searching…
~*~*~*~*~*~
Rain Child: Well, that's a wrap! I'm so pleased that this story is such a hit! I'll be updating when I hit the 50 mark, okay? I really love hearing from you, unless you're flaming! I do want constructive criticism too, okay?
~The Rain Child
