This is a fanfic and is for fun, not profit.
The Alchemy of Love
Chapter Three by William Nichols
Ryoko sat somewhat despondent by herself in the Onsen. For all intents and purposes she should be ecstatic over the recent turn of events. A day ago she would have done anything under the sun to have Tenchi say that he cared for her. But that's not what was bothering her. She was overjoyed that he cared for her, the problem was the way he said it.
"I'm not sure if I love either of you past the point of friendship."
There was no malice in his words, nor were they spoken cruelly. It was the honesty intoned in the simple statement that bothered her most.
Ryoko slid down into the soothing waters and let her spiked cyan hair fall flat against her head. "What a mess," she said as she pushed a few of the greenish locks from her eyes.
"I would say," came a familiar voice from behind her.
"What do you want, Mom?" Ryoko asked in a rather gruff tone. She had not intended for the 'mom' to come across the way it did, but Washu cringed slightly at the hidden bitterness in the simple word.
"You said something was bothering you, and that you would tell me," Washu said as she pulled a stool up to the edge of the pool and slipped her bare feet into the warm water. "And I want to know."
"Aren't we the concerned mother?" Ryoko said wryly as she turned her back to Washu.
"Humor me."
"All right," sighed Ryoko as she twisted around so that she could face Washu again. She rested her arms on the Onsen's decking and laid her chin on her wrists. "Tenchi wants to spend more time with me."
"And that's so bad?"
"And Ayeka too."
"I am starting to understand," Washu said in her best motherly voice.
"I'm just afraid, that's all," Ryoko confessed.
"Afraid of what?"
"That Ayeka will outshine me, and Tenchi, Tenchi..." Her voice trailed off into a series of muffled sobs as she buried her face into her arms.
"And you are afraid that Tenchi will not even notice you," Washu finished. Ryoko's silent nod gave credence to her summation. Washu sighed deeply as Ryoko continued to cry. She understood her daughters concern, but deep down she knew they were pointless. But that is not what Ryoko needed right now. Disregarding the fact she was still fully clothed Washu slid off her stool and into the water so that she could comfort her daughter. Ryoko accepted her mother's comfort and cried into shoulder her.
"Don't worry," Washu comforted. "I think this will work out just fine."
"How can you be so confident?" Ryoko asked as she tried to push back her tears.
"Be your self," Washu explained. "Don't try to compete with Ayeka or imitate her. You are Ryoko Hakubi and you are everything that little brat is plus some. Be Ryoko, and go from there." Washu's assessment of Ayeka brought a slight smile to Ryoko's face.
"I thought you liked Ayeka?" she asked in voice that feigned sarcasm.
"I do," admitted Washu. "But I had to say something to snap you out of that funk."
"It worked," Ryoko said, feeling a little more like her old self.
"And I meant what I said," began Washu As she pulled out of the water.
"What part?" Ryoko asked, hoping that it was Washu's assessment of Ayeka.
"Be yourself, and you won't have anything to worry about," Washu finished as she stepped thru a dimension tunnel. Ryoko sat back down into the pleasantly warm water and sighed, this time in relief.
:: Thanks mom,:: she said across their link.
:: Any time :: Washu replied. Ryoko smiled again and decided that she had spent enough in the bath for one day. In a blink she phased from the Onsen to the rafter above the living room. It was still a while off before she and Ayeka was supposed to meet Tenchi at the shrine steps.
***
Tenchi looked up from sweeping the shrine courtyard at the sound of his grandfather's voice. "Tenchi," the old master began, "when you are finished there, please see me in the office." Tenchi nodded as Katsuhito slid the rice paper door close.
'I wonder what he wants,' Tenchi thought as he finished up his chores. After stowing the broom in the tool shed Tenchi made his way to the office. As he climbed the low steps, he paused for a moment. 'Has it really been two years since I managed to get those keys?' he asked himself. In fact it had been, but the way things happen around his house the days seem to have passed all too quickly. Tenchi clapped twice to garner the god's favor and slid the office door open.
"Sit," Katsuhito offered as he swept a hand towards the opposite side of the low table. Actually it was not so much an offer as it was a kind command. Tenchi sank to his knees silently and waited for the aged prince to speak. "I understand you have taken a step towards finding your true feelings."
"I have," Tenchi answered calmly.
"You know the old cliché about the first step of the journey, don't you my son?" Tenchi nodded as Katsuhito continued. "In many ways it is true. It took a great deal of nerve to say what you did, but I feel that the hardest part of your journey will lay at its end."
"What do you mean grandpa?" Tenchi asked somewhat befuddled.
"Are you prepared to make a definitive choice?" Katsuhito inquired of his grandson. "Are you prepared to break one of these young ladies hearts?"
Tenchi ran a hand through his jet-black hair and played with the long plait at the back of his neck. "That's why I am doing this," he admitted. "I need to know where my feelings lay. I do not; no I will not be coerced into choosing one or the other until I know where my heart is, and where their heart is. If I don't do this, there will always be that doubt of 'what if?' And I cannot live with that. And I hope the girls understand this."
Katsuhito smiled at his grandson's words. The young man before him was wiser than he gave him credit for being. "You will make a fine prince one day," he glowed.
"I don't think I'm cut out for that," Tenchi said for thousandth time since he found out the truth about his ancestry. Katsuhito just laughed to himself. He knew full well that Tenchi got edgy every time he brought the subject up, but it had almost become a running joke of his.
"You'll do fine," complimented Katsuhito. "It's about time for your afternoon engagement, so I will give you the rest of the evening off."
"Thanks grandpa," Tenchi began.
"But be here an hour early in the morning," added Katsuhito as Tenchi was about halfway thru the door.
'There's always a catch,' Tenchi thought as he checked his watch. He had just enough time for a quick shower before he had to meet the girls, for what he reckoned was their first official date. "I just hope they don't get too competitive," he almost like a prayer.
****
"Ayeka!" whined Sasami from outside their bedroom. It had been two hours since her elder sister had barricaded herself in the bedroom to get ready for her date with Tenchi.
"I'm still getting ready!" came Ayeka's disembodied voice.
"For over two hours?" Sasami asked. "It's just a walk in the woods," she added under her breath.
"It is more than a walk in the woods!" exclaimed Ayeka as she threw the door open. Sasami had been leaning back against the door and nearly fell on her backside when Ayeka made her unexpected re-entry to the world of the living. "It is the first step to winning my true love," the star struck princess as she clasped her hands to her chest.
"Well if you don't hurry they will leave without you," Sasami admonished as she regained her balance. Ayeka looked at her chronometer and nearly fell over.
"Oh my!" she squeaked as she past Sasami in a purple and blue bur. After a moment passed by Sasami sighed and slid down the wall.
"If it's going to be like this I don't know if I can take it!" the exasperated little princess sighed as Ryo-ohki hopped into her lap.
"Miya?" the cabbit asked.
"You said it," laughed Sasami as she rubbed the little fur ball's head.
*******
"Come on," said Tenchi as he checked his watch again. Every second that passed was another second his stomach kept doing somersaults on him. It's not that he did not want to do this, or that he was thinking of backing out. It's just that he was nervous as a china shop owner who had just seen a Brahma bull pass by.
Finally his nerves were eased when he heard the familiar chime of Ryoko's teleportation and the click of Ayeka's heel coming up the shrine steps.
"Hello Tenchi," Ryoko announced
"Lord Tenchi," came Ayeka's preamble. Tenchi turned to face his would be suitors and smiled.
"Ladies" he began, offering each an arm, which they gladly accepted. Fears put aside, Tenchi began what he hoped would be the start of a peaceful evening.
To be continued.
I know I'm a stinker for ending it here, but the next chapter will be out in the near future, that and I have to get out chapter twenty-four of Odyssey, which is really heating up for those of you out there who have not checked it out. As always let me know what you think in the review box and have fun reading!
William Nichols
