[Standard Copyright Disclaimer]
Tenchi Muyo! and its associated characters are copyrighted material that
belong to Animation International Company and the Pioneer LDC Corporation.
I don't own any of the characters contained within this story; I didn't
create the situations in which they live; as a matter of fact, all I did
was put words in their mouths.
[A brief note from the Author]
This is my first fanfic ever. I've written fiction before, but never like this. I hope this doesn't offend anyone, especially true Tenchi Muyo fans. I've simply made an attempt to express my love for this series in a creative manner which reflects my thoughts and feelings on love and life. As for the mechanics of this story, it loosely follows the storyline of the first 13 OAV episodes, and sort of picks up somewhere after they leave off. The material that this story follows is sort of based on a relationship I once had, so to all the people I know who were involved in that, I thank you for giving me material. This story is intended to be multi-part. This is the second of four parts I intend to write. Once again, Thanks.
The Dark Heart
A work of fiction, by hellthorne
Part 2: The Falling Leaves of Autumn
"And we crown ourselves again.
There's been no change, since you and I were young.
When we burned ourselves again
In spaceship days,
When you and I were young. When you and I were young"
~Rob Dickson, of The Catherine Wheel, Satellite
****************************************************************************
***
A good-sized circle of leveled tree stumps was all that remained of the forested area surrounding them. The stumps that weren't already charred were on fire, and many of the trees that were not blown down were ablaze, as well. The power unleashed, fueled by his rage, was stunning. It was like electricity was flowing through his body; sparks were nearly flying from his fingertips. The force of the blast was so tremendous that it even startled Katsuhito, who was deep in meditation up in the shrine office. It had all happened so quickly that Ayeka almost didn't get her force field up in time.
Washu was watching from the console in her lab. Her sensors had been tripped when the massive surge of power began forming in and around Tenchi. It was frightening to her, how much power he commanded, and yet, something baffled her and Tenchi as well.
It was an accident. Tenchi tried to understand what had just happened to him. He remembered talking to Ayeka about his feelings at the moment. He was raging. His mind was racing; he was talking to her about how his heart was suffering today, and then he though about space, about pirates, about . her. And then everything around him exploded. He looked at Ayeka, still encased in her shield, and he ran to her.
"Ayeka," he cried out in terror, "are you alright?"
Princess Ayeka was fine. Completely stunned, as was everyone else who witnessed the tremendous explosion, but otherwise unharmed. Tenchi hugged Ayeka tightly as he apologized profusely for what had just happened. He did not know how it had happened, but he knew that he was the source of the trouble. Tenchi sobbed on Ayeka's shoulder as he continually said "I'm sorry" to her, despite her reassurances that all was fine.
"Tenchi, get a hold of yourself," a voice called out from behind them.
Ayeka and Tenchi looked up to find his grandfather and Washu watching them. Katsuhito, Tenchi's grandfather, stood there, frowning at the scene.
"I told you to pull yourself together," Katsuhito said. "Ayeka has already accepted your apology. Now, stand up, and act with some dignity."
Washu turned to Katsuhito and scolded him. "You know better than that, Katsuhito. He's in a fragile state. You've known that for a long time, and yelling at him when he is down certainly isn't going to help," Washu growled. She turned to Tenchi and spoke, with a softer voice.
"Tenchi," she began, "None of us here can even begin to pretend that we understand what you're going through." Washu paused, placed her hands on her hips, and looked up to the sky. "I'll be damned if I can figure out what happened, in all honesty. I stay up nights in my lab, trying to figure out why this happened, or what we can do about it, but." She paused, and looked into Tenchi's eyes, "I just don't understand her. You knew her better than any of us here."
"And I don't have a clue," Tenchi sighed. "I don't know what to do about it, and I can't stand just sitting here doing nothing. I feel helpless."
"Tenchi," Katsuhito began, "sometimes we are not meant to know the path we follow. Sometimes it is best to step back and appreciate the things that are good in our lives, before lamenting that which we cannot control. I know your heart aches. I think that there is an ache in each of us. We mourn with you, for we have lost a friend and sister as well."
Katsuhito walked toward Tenchi, and put a hand on his shoulder. "You are my grandson, and I love you. Your father loves you; we all love you here, and." Katsuhito paused, trying to swallow the knot forming in his throat. "And," he continued, lowering his voice to a whisper, "if I could make her come back, I would. If it would make you happy again, I would do everything in my power." Katsuhito looked up at Ayeka with his sad eyes, and spoke. "Ayeka, please take Tenchi back to the house. Have your sister prepare some tea for him. He needs to calm his nerves." Ayeka nodded, and taking Tenchi's arm, began to lead him back toward the Masaki home. "Come along, Tenchi," she said gently, "Sasami and I are going to take good care of you, I promise. I won't let anything else hurt you today."
Tenchi looked up at the young princess and smiled faintly, before the look of complete sadness once again overtook his face. "Thank you, Ayeka," he said. "You're so good to me, and I'm never able to repay you for all your kindness. I nearly hurt you today, and I'm sorry." He sighed heavily, continuing. "That seems to be my story, hurting those whom I love. All you've done is protect me and comfort me during my hard times, yet. I wasn't there for you during your hard times. I mean, I * was * the cause of your hard times, Ayeka."
"Shush," Ayeka chided gently. "That's all in the past, Tenchi. Besides, you're here for me now, and." she trailed off for a moment, thinking. "You're the best friend I could have ever asked for."
She smiled, as they continued to walk.
"I don't like this at all," Washu calmly stated as she examined the blast crater. "There is something very wrong with this, aside from the obvious fact that Tenchi nearly blew up the house." Katsuhito stood a few feet from her, and as he looked up at the sky, he shook his head in disagreement.
"You're exaggerating a bit," he said. "This could have never come close to destroying the house."
"True, but if he had been a bit angrier, it might have. This was a tiny little slip. Imagine what could happen if he actually tried," Washu countered. The two elders of the Masaki household stood silently, pondering what had just transpired.
"The power of Tsunami is becoming unbalanced," Katsuhito quietly observed.
The child scientist nodded her head in agreement. "I don't think it's all about Jurai, however. There's no evidence of the light-hawk wings here," she said, scratching her head as she continued to examine the blackened earth. "Whatever that was, it came out of Tenchi alright, but there is no clear connection to the power of Tsunami or Jurai, I think. Something about this troubles me greatly."
"You're thinking about the prophecy just like I am, aren't you," Katsuhito asked. "I think that's what it is, but I don't understand it. The legend never explained how the prophecy would unfold, only that it could occur."
"You know what I think," Washu asked as she turned to Katsuhito. "I think that we're dealing with another kind of power. And I fear the results of this force joined with the power of Jurai. I'm afraid of what Tenchi could become. Yes, I am thinking of the prophecy. But do you really believe."
"I supposed that on some level, I've always known," Katsuhito mused. "His goodness of heart, his courage and his strength have always struck me as exceptional, but with the addition of his light hawk wings, I do believe it. Tenchi is the golden Avatar. This dilemma with Ryoko has only served to reassure that feeling."
Washu interjected. "It worries me, as well. With Ryoko in the equation, I'm worried about Tenchi's mental state. He's breaking down, you know, and if he continues, the prophecy may very well be true. How do we protect Tenchi? How do we protect ourselves * from * Tenchi? If the Avatar falls, he would wield more power than even Kagato tried to attain through Tsunami." Washu looked up at Katsuhito. "If Tenchi comes to control both of those powers, and then cracks, no one will be safe. If he falls, there will be no place to hide, and absolutely no way to stop him."
"That is why I think that we must teach Tenchi to master his powers," Katsuhito said solemnly. "It may be our only hope."
Washu looked at him in disbelief. Teaching a boy to control power that could destroy a planet? Maybe even a galaxy? It was absurd.
Tenchi could sense it. The eerie quiet of the sunny afternoon made him suspicious as he walked back to the house from the carrot fields, and when he felt the wind stop blowing, he knew that there was going to be trouble. He thought about running, but the big basket of carrots was sure to slow him down. There was no escape, and he knew it. There was nowhere to hide. He pulled his bokken out of the basket, preparing himself for the onslaught. Ryoko insisted that he carry it with him at all times, ever since they had begun sparring together like she had suggested. It turned out that she was just as peculiar as grandfather was, when it came to training. She never announced when practice would begin. She would just charge at him, and he'd have to be ready for it, or she'd make him pay for it later. Suddenly, he heard rustling from the brush just ahead, and he prepared for the attack he knew was coming. Tenchi brought his bokken up to a guard position; he knew she always attacked first.
"I know what you're up to," he shouted, "and I don't think it's funny, Ryoko. You * promised * that we wouldn't spar while I'm trying to get the fieldwork done. You can't just make promises like that and break them, you know."
Silence. Nothing but silence. Tenchi thought that maybe he was becoming slightly paranoid. After all, it could have been the wind blowing through the tall grass. After five minutes of silence, he put his bokken back into the basket, picked it up, and began to walk towards the house again.
It was harder for Tenchi to sense flying attackers, mainly because he couldn't hear the footsteps. However, since he had grown accustomed to the leaping attacks after so long, he knew when the impact would occur. He immediately tensed right as he heard the familiar "swoosh" noise that his leaping attacker made as she silently charged him.
"Tenchhhhhiiiiiiii," Ryoko shouted as she tackled him from behind. The force of the impact sent him tumbling forward, with Ryoko following as she fell. They hit the ground with a firm thud, carrots spewed out of the basket all over the pathway. Ryoko laughed giddily as she sat on top of Tenchi, grinning at her prey.
Tenchi wore a scowl on his face. They had been sparring all summer, and he still hadn't been able to successfully defend even one of her opening attacks. This wasn't an attack, however, and in a way, was even more embarrassing for Tenchi.
"You know," she whispered as she sat on Tenchi's stomach, bringing her face right up to his, "you're really cute when you're acting paranoid, Tenchi." Ryoko kissed him gently and once again found it pleasing when he didn't try to run away. That was one of the things that had taken some getting used to for her. She was so used to him running that she always kissed him quickly, before he could break away. One of the greatest perks for her, she found, was that Tenchi actually enjoyed, long passionate kisses.
Tenchi exhibited this desire as he looked up at Ryoko's golden, fiery eyes, and sighed contentedly. Then he reached up for her, put his arms around her neck, and drew her close. He kissed her passionately as they lay there on the ground otherwise motionless, neither one wanting to return to the real world. After a while, Ryoko was distracted by more rustling in the grass. She broke off the kiss with Tenchi and looked over where the noise was coming from.
"You can come out now," she shouted, "It's all yours."
Tenchi held a puzzled look on his face as he wondered who was hiding in the grass. Suddenly, Ryo-ohki jumped out from the shadows, and immediately took to the carrots.
"I bribed her to help me distract you," Ryoko grinned. "I knew you'd drop the carrots."
Tenchi just lay there, smiling up at his love. It was one of his most favorite things. The way she was so strong. The way she would hug him so tightly that he would fall over. He absolutely loved her affection, and he couldn't imagine his life without her.
"So, what is it that you want, Ryoko," Tenchi said, smiling. "I hope that you didn't go to all the trouble of costing me a days worth of work, just because you felt like it." He smiled again.
"No silly," she replied. "I just did this because I love you, and I missed you. It's no fun doing chores inside, especially when you're out here." The space pirate grinned widely, as they held onto each other for just a moment.
"I love you, Ryoko," Tenchi finally said, for at least the seventh time today. He made it a point to tell her he loved her as many times as he possibly could during the day. He wanted her to know that he cared, and he wanted to make up for all those months of not being able to tell her.
"She looked down at him. "I love you too, Tenchi, with all my heart." She sighed. "You make me so happy. I never want to spend a day without you." She paused. "Tenchi," she asked. He nodded in response. "Tenchi, promise me that you will never leave me."
"I promise, Ryoko. I promise, with all my heart and soul."
Fate, it seems, is not without a sense of irony.
"What was that, Tenchi," Katsuhito inquired. "I thought I heard you say something."
"Nothing, grandpa. It was nothing at all." Tenchi sulked as he hoped the lesson would end soon. He couldn't take too much more of this meditation and training today. Who really gave a damn about light-hawk wings anymore? There was nothing left worth protecting, he thought. All that he cared about had been torn from him, and all that was left was a bitter shell of his life. He was a shadow of himself, a shell of a man. He could hardly keep up with the chores, and he dragged himself through life as though his pain would go on forever. In a way, it * would * go on forever.
Suddenly, Katsuhito was very agitated with him, and swung the bokken at Tenchi. He could sense what Tenchi was thinking, and it angered him greatly. The training sword sliced through the air, but shattered as it came to a sudden halt. It had slammed into a lighthawk shield. The same kind that Katsuhito himself had used to repel Kagato's attacks.
"There is always something worth protecting," Katsuhito growled, reading Tenchi's mind from the expression on his face. "Only a fool would say otherwise, and your mother and father did not raise you to be stupid!" He grunted, trying to calm himself. "I am glad to see that you are mastering your training, Tenchi." Katsuhito's face was red with frustration. "The light-hawk wings are not easy to become proficient with, yet you have come a long way since we began training again. I thank you for your diligence, but we still have a long way to go."
"Maybe it's time you took a break, Katsuhito" A voice called out from the shadows. "I mean, you guys have been at it all day. Besides, it's my turn to teach him."
"I suppose you're right," Katsuhito said, standing up. He looked back at Tenchi. "Remember, Tenchi, when you give up, when you stop dreaming, it's time to die. There is always something worth fighting for." With that, Katsuhito left the shrine office.
Washu emerged from the shadows, and took a seat on the floor in front of Tenchi. She looked into his tired eyes, and grinned ever so slightly.
"Fate, it seems, is not without a sense of irony," she quoted. "He may not have heard you say that, but I did. Tell me something. where did that come from?"
"It's from an American movie I saw once," he replied. "There are a few lines I like from that movie. They seem to fit my life well."
"Really," she responded. "Can you give me another one?"
He paused for a moment, trying to recall all that he had learned from the film, in order to pick out the one gem that held true.
"As a species, human beings define their reality through misery and suffering," he quoted.
Washu pondered the statement for a moment, and then turned back to Tenchi. "I think I understand," she replied. "I understand the quote, and I think I understand you. I know you're tired of thinking damned happy thoughts to get those stupid light-hawk wings to work. I know how it pains you. I know it feels like your memory is betraying you. And I know you feel like giving up." She paused. "I'll tell you why we have to keep on training, Tenchi," she whispered, "but you have to promise not to let your grandfather know that I told you. There will come a day when you will have to save her. We are training you because something even we can't see is just beyond the horizon; it will involve her, and you as well. Something so big, we don't understand it."
With that, Washu got up and walked outside. Tenchi silently followed. As they stood at the top of the Masaki shrine, the sun shone brightly, and it looked to be another peaceful day. Something about the goodness of it all annoyed Tenchi and Washu; they needed something to break up the serenity of the moment.
"Now, concentrate your pain," she told him. "Pick a focal point, choose an angry memory, and unleash your fury. Show me the hell sabre."
Tenchi bunched his brow together, his anger flowing, and within seconds, he shone a brilliant yellow and orange light. He was thinking about all the hurt now. Not about the good times, but rather, all the horrible things he had witnessed.
* Leave me the hell alone! I need my own goddamned space sometimes. *
Tenchi raised his arms over his head, fists clenched together. A large, wide beam of yellow energy erupted forth from his hands, and as he brought them down from above his head in a circular motion, the beam arced through the sky, obliterating everything in its path. Birds, bugs, trees; everything in the way was turned to flaming ashes immediately. As his extended arms leveled in front of him, his anger increased, as the memories became more vivid.
* Stop acting like such a child. I'll talk to you when I have the time, alright? *
The beam widened as his rage broadened as more raw power coursed through his body and powered the hell sabre he had just unleashed, leaving a path of destruction through the Masaki forest area. When he could sustain the thought no longer, the beam faded, leaving flaming debris in its wake. He was tired of thinking. So tired of having to push his mind to the very edge in order to satisfy grandfather and Washu. He hated being their. their guinea pig. He just wanted to go back to sulking, to his depressed little world, where he could seal himself off from everyone else and just cry. That's what he wanted.
Washu took a seat on the steps to the shrine office. She looked up at Tenchi, and then patted the ground next to her, hinting that she wanted him to sit with her. He noticed and complied, wondering what else she had planned to test him on today. He was tired of blowing up rocks, trees and bugs with his anger. He wanted all the burden to just disappear, so he could mourn in the silence of his own heart. More than anything else, he just wanted her to return. Each night, he hoped and prayed that she would come back.
"I know what it does to your mind, Tenchi," Washu stated suddenly, breaking the silence. "I know because I've been there." She sighed, once again, delving into her memories of pain. "I often wonder why my husband allowed himself to be taken from me. Why he took my child, and why he had to play a willing part in destroying me. And when it was all over, I was left with nothing but the contents of my own heart and mind. Somehow, it didn't seem like enough. Like I had been cheated out of everything. He loved me more than any other person I had ever met, and I thought to myself."
"If she loved me that much, and even she could leave me, what does that mean about the rest of the world. If she won't care, does it mean that no one will ever love me the way I want to be loved," Tenchi said, filling in Washu's sentence.
Washu nodded. "What are you thinking about, Tenchi?"
"Everything about her," the crown prince of Jurai replied.
It was movie day. One of the things that Tenchi had learned about Ryoko was that she really loved movies. Living in the country made it harder to experience new movies as frequently as city dwellers did, and seeing the movie previews on TV didn't seem to help much, so Tenchi made an extra effort to make his new love happy at least once a month. Tenchi had proposed movie day as a special day when he and Ryoko could escape to the city to watch movies all day long. Tenchi saved his money all month long, as movies were becoming much more expensive, but it was worth it. He loved the joyful look in Ryoko's eyes as she looked over the many titles of movies that they had the option of seeing. Tenchi always brought enough money so they could watch two or three movies, if Ryoko felt like it. To make the day even more special, Tenchi decided that movie day should be on the 19th day of each month, their anniversary, the night Tenchi finally expressed his feeling for Ryoko. Movie day always ended with dinner at a nice restaurant, ever since Ryoko had learned to improve her table manners.
The first time Tenchi had taken Ryoko to dinner, it was almost a disaster. All the patrons in the restaurant were staring, as Tenchi tried to hide under the table. Ryoko was. a spectacle, to say the least, when it came to eating. 'Garish' didn't even begin to describe her. While Tenchi knew how she ate at home, he just assumed that she was aware of how. peculiar it looked in public. It seemed, however, that Ryoko thought her eating habits were perfectly normal. Her reaction to the staring didn't seem to help Tenchi's plight either.
"What the hell is everybody staring at," the agitated pirate shouted as she noticed the all eyes trained on her. The restaurant patrons all turned away, commenting to each other about the spectacle before them. For Tenchi, it was an utterly mortifying experience. If it weren't for the fact that Ryoko seemed to enjoy the meal so much, Tenchi would have found it a complete loss. The only saving grace was Ryoko, even though she was the problem as well. His heart, however, dictated that he love anything that brought her happiness. And so with that, the restaurant became one of his favorites, and one of his most cherished memories, despite the embarrassment.
For Ryoko, however, the story was a bit different. She was content to let those 'voyeuristic' people go to hell, when she caught sight of Tenchi, her anger faded, and she was suddenly ashamed of herself. Again. She had embarrassed him in public, again. It seemed like she could never get it right. There was always something wrong, and she knew that it was always her fault. Her carefree life in space influenced her behavior, and she was not accustomed to caring about what other people thought or felt about her. After all, most of the galaxy wanted to see her hanging from the gallows for the destruction and mayhem she caused, statute of limitations or not. Tenchi, however, was something different altogether. He actually relished in her company, and even though he tolerated the embarrassment, she knew it was killing him. Ryoko pushed the plate away, put down her chopsticks, and looked down at the floor. She had let him down, again.
They walked out in silence that night, hand in hand. Ryoko was too ashamed to say anything, and Tenchi too confused to know what to do. He looked at her as she walked. She * was * beautiful, even more so this evening. After all, she had dressed up for movie day, and took extra special care to make him happy. The evening was perfect, except for the restaurant, and Tenchi decided not to let it end on a sour note. He stopped in his tracks, pulling on her hand. When she stopped as well, he looked at her sullen face, full of frustration and embarrassment. Tenchi quickly moved to hug her, and kissed her gently on the forehead, as she looked down at the ground. He took his left hand and tried to raise her chin up, so that they would be eye to eye, but she resisted.
"Hey," he whispered gently as she looked up at him. His bright, happy eyes were there again, and she knew that she could not pout forever. His eyes could melt away all of her anger, all her fear and all of the shame. She couldn't help but smile, and he laughed, seeing her happy once again. Then, just to make the moment more special, he leaned in and kissed her lips gently. She closed her eyes and parted her lips, and they soon held each other tightly as they kissed passionately. It was a cold winter night, but the world seemed far away from them. They finally broke their kiss, which seemed to last forever, and continued walking. It wasn't very late in the evening yet, but they were headed home. The bus to get them back to the countryside would stop by in half an hour, so they had some time to kill.
"Hey," he said suddenly. "I know it's cold, but how about some ice cream?" * Ice cream * another one of Ryoko's weaknesses. She agreed immediately, and so the pair walked down the block, toward a small ice cream parlor. They stepped inside, and the place seemed happy. It was one of those American franchises that had opened up in Japan recently, a sign of the changing economic times. The walls were painted a bright pink, with posters of smiling blonde haired, blue eyed children playing on gassy fields while holding ice cream cones. Other pictures featured the weekly ice cream special. In the corner, a small white refrigerator with a glass door held some smiling ice cream cakes, shaped like clowns. A small girl, perhaps a year younger than Tenchi, appeared behind the counter. She wore a pink shirt that matched the interior of the shop, and a white apron, along with a paper hat.
"Welcome. What can I do for you this evening," the girl cheerfully asked. Tenchi already knew what he wanted: just a plain vanilla scoop in a cup. Ryoko, however tried several free samples of the various ice creams before settling on pistachio almond in a cone. It was the tastiest one she tried, and the green hue of the ice cream seemed to attract her attention as well. Tenchi paid for the ice cream, spending most of the leftover money he had for the day. He didn't mind, though. After all, this is what he saved it for. They sat, eating for ten minutes or so, before Tenchi realized that they were definitely going to miss the bus unless they left right then. As they walked down the street, happily chatting along the way. Several old couples passed them, smiling at the cute pair. Ryoko held Tenchi's arm in hers, and they looked very happy together. An old woman even commented about how beautiful the two looked together.
"It looks like you two are truly in love," the happy old woman remarked as she stopped them. "I can see that you two will be together for a long time. What beautiful children you two will have," she exclaimed before walking off. Tenchi and Ryoko smiled, and continued on, making it to the bus stop right on time, only to find the bus had not arrived yet. They sat on the bench, under a street lamp, and Ryoko cuddled up against Tenchi for warmth.
On this particular morning as Tenchi woke excitedly to movie day, and as he did every 19th morning of the month, he thought back to that first happy movie day. He smiled in bed as he felt her warmth pressed up against him. Ryoko slept peacefully next to him, naked, as did he. The sun was shining through the window, and still she slept. They'd had a busy night, as she certainly did her best to wear him out. Tenchi, it seemed, had done a better job of wearing her out, though. Ryoko continued to sleep peacefully as Tenchi slipped out of bed, and covered Ryoko's bare shoulders with the sheets. It was the end of summer now, and the days were still warm. Tenchi quickly dressed himself and slipped out of the room, trying not to wake his girlfriend of six whole months now. He wandered downstairs, where Sasami was busy preparing breakfast for the day, as Ayeka was setting the table.
"Good morning, Sasami," he exclaimed as she glanced over his way. "Good morning, Miss Ayeka," Tenchi smiled as he walked up to the first Juraian princess. He gave her a big, warm hug, as his spirits were especially high that morning. As a matter of fact, Tenchi had become much happier and generally affectionate with everyone in the house as his relationship with Ryoko progressed. Ryoko did not consider Ayeka so much of a threat anymore, and as a result, the two did not fight so much anymore. They still argued from time to time, but for the most part, things were good. Ayeka smiled and hugged Tenchi back. Although it was not the kind of affection she had hoped for, it was still good to feel as though she was loved. In fact, it was Tenchi's big turn around that had convinced her to stay on Earth longer. Ever since he had gotten over the initial euphoric period where the only person who mattered to him was Ryoko, Tenchi had become a much happier person who was infinitely easier to talk to. In fact, for a while, Ayeka really wanted to leave, but hesitated due to the big struggle she put up with her father just to remain on Earth. She was glad that she had decided to stay, as Tenchi was becoming a great friend to her.
Tenchi walked into the kitchen and gave Sasami a hug as she cooked, and looked out the window. "It sure is a nice day today, isn't it," he asked aloud, to no one in particular. "It's gonna be a good day, I can feel it. I hope it stays this nice outside for a while."
Tenchi turned around and walked back to Ayeka, and began helping her to set the table.
"Miss Ayeka," he asked, "are we still on for tomorrow? If the weather stays like this, we should have a good time."
"Absolutely, Lord Tenchi," Ayeka happily giggled. "If we leave extra early, we can probably catch some pretty good ones. But don't forget your camera, like you did last time." The princess laughed, and it made Tenchi happy to see it. He felt so guilty about breaking her heart so many months ago that when he finally came to his senses, he realized that she was getting ready to leave for Jurai. He noticed how painful movie day could be for her, so he proposed a special day for her as well. The day after movie day was usually tiring for Ryoko, so she would get up to eat and then she'd head right back to sleep in Tenchi's room. Tenchi saw this as a golden opportunity to spend time with Ayeka, just to talk and enjoy the day.
They did various things on their day together, but Ayeka's favorite activity was a good old-fashioned nature walk. She and Tenchi would roam the woods and countryside, looking at various flowers in bloom. They had recently started rare bird hunting on their nature walks, thanks to a mail- order guide that Tenchi had purchased for Ayeka. It contained a list of birds that could be found across the Japanese countryside, so on each walk, Tenchi would take his camera, to snap a picture of the newest finds. Ayeka's book was pretty empty; they were actually terrible at the hunt and had only amassed 12 of the hundred or so birds on the list. Even still, it was more about the time spent together that mattered to him.
Tenchi grabbed a plate of food from Sasami and took it to Washu's lab, where he knew she was busy. Sometimes she was too busy to come out and eat, so he took her food into the lab, on occasion. When he walked in, she was not at the console, so he left the plate of hot food on a counter top nearby, and left a note for her. Tenchi always thanked her on his anniversary, just for having created Ryoko. Tenchi really was a happy man.
He walked out of the lab, and returned to the breakfast table, where everyone, except for Ryoko was now assembled. They ate as usual, talking about this and that, before everybody stood to begin their respective days. Tenchi requested an extra plate from Sasami. He took the hot food upstairs to his room, where Ryoko still slept.
Tenchi sat on the edge of the bed, looking at his love, and smiled. He placed the plate on the bed, and began fanning the food, so that the scent would find its way over to Ryoko. "Wake up, sleepy head," he whispered. "Look what I've got for you."
Tenchi sat smiling across the table from Ryoko. The atmosphere in the restaurant was perfect for Tenchi's plans, and the fact that Ryoko enjoyed this new place so much. well, that was the icing on the cake. He had to admit, he hadn't really wanted to venture too far off from what he was accustomed to, and French cuisine certainly wasn't something he was familiar with. Still, he was certainly glad he had picked this place. It was so. perfect.
The whole day had been perfect. They had left the countryside early, as the ride out to Tokyo would take a considerable while longer than the normal ride they took. The wait was well worth it, though, as Tenchi and Ryoko conversed calmly on all matter of things. The two were growing up together, it seemed. Ryoko was beginning to understand why pouncing all over Tenchi was not a good thing, and Tenchi was learning to respect Ryoko's thoughts and feeling in ways he had never considered. As the offspring of the great Washu, Ryoko found that she could easily hold her own in a conversation on various topics. That afternoon they talked about music the whole way. Tenchi loved all types of music, and was very excited about a concert he wanted to see in the late afternoon.
When the bus finally arrived in downtown Tokyo, the two headed off to begin their afternoon of fun. They considered taking in an art museum, but when they passed by a large Cineplex, those thoughts faded from Ryoko's mind. She gazed at the marquee. 21 screens! American movies! Ryoko was hooked, as she quickly grabbed Tenchi's wrist and dragged him toward the box office. Tenchi bought tickets for the two movies Ryoko settled on, and they entered the building.
During the first movie, Ryoko's eyes were glued to the screen. She sighed a contented sigh every once in a while, entranced by the romantic story transpiring. Tenchi wasn't really interested in the movie. For the whole two hours, he stared at Ryoko as she giggled, sighed, and held Tenchi closer while she enjoyed the movie. He didn't even understand the movie anyway. Something about email, a man with curly hair and a woman with blonde hair. He definitely decided that he did not like the movie, but he enjoyed the silent time he spent with Ryoko. The next movie was a lot more interesting to Tenchi. It had lots of car chases, explosions, shooting, guns, blood, guts. A testosterone pumping, adrenaline rush movie about cops and robbers. As Tenchi sat there watching, he occasionally glanced over at Ryoko, who, just as before in the 'chick flick,' was totally enthralled by the action on the screen.
"Her tastes sure are stange," Tenchi commented to himself as he pondered the two movies she had chosen. It reflected a great deal of her charm, he reasoned. She was feminine, graceful and totally sexy as a woman, and he guessed that was why she chose the romantic comedy. Yet she had this toughness about her that made her easy to get along with, and Tenchi further reasoned that influenced the second movie choice.
There they sat, smiling at each other. It was Tokyo's trendiest new restaurant from Europe. Ryoko and Tenchi sat in a dark but cozy little room where they had an amazing amount of privacy, considering the number of people trying to get tables at this new hot spot. Luckily, Tenchi had made reservations a month earlier, when he began carefully planning this special evening. Dinner was fantastic. Tenchi pulled out all the stops for Ryoko this evening, and she thoroughly enjoyed spending the day with him. After the movies that Ryoko picked, the two headed off for a symphony concert in the park that Tenchi suggested. Tenchi enjoyed the concert, as he had never had the opportunity to really see a great world symphony perform. They played several pieces that Tenchi knew, some that he hummed along to, but he loved the most about the concert was the performance of his absolute favorite symphony piece: Smetana's "The Moldau." Tenchi enjoyed the concert immensely, and afterward, he and Ryoko took a walk downtown before they finally made it to the restaurant, where they had enjoyed a great meal. They started with escargot, a light spinach salad, and for the main course, they both ordered the house specialty: duck a l'orange. A slice of Gran Mariner cake topped off the meal, which Ryoko could not stop raving to Tenchi about.
"How did you ever find out about this place, anyway," Ryoko asked. "I've never tried anything like this before. I'm so glad you chose it "
Tenchi smiled. "Actually, I found it on TV," Tenchi replied. "I was watching television one day, and this show about four chefs came on. One of them cooked nothing but French food, even though he's from Japan. They were interviewing him, and he mentioned this restaurant. It looked neat, so I thought we could give it a try."
"Well, I'm glad you did. The food here is delicious, and I love the atmosphere," Ryoko said. "Things couldn't possibly get any better," the pirate smiled, "unless you proposed to me." She grinned.
Tenchi just ginned, letting out a slight nervous laugh, before remembering what he wanted to do. He reached into his pocket, and pulled out the small box he had been carrying around all day. He left the box in his lap, where Ryoko could not see it. Then he looked up at her, and spoke.
"Ryoko. I have something for you, but I need you to close your eyes."
"Ooooooh! Is it a surprise? For me," Ryoko bubbled, excitedly.
"Just close your eyes," Tenchi replied.
"Alright, alright," Ryoko said before closing her eyes, grinning. "This had better not be a trick like last time, Tenchi. I'm warning you."
Tenchi stood up and smiled, remembering the last practical joke he had played on her. He walked around to Ryoko's side of the table, and flipped open the box. He pulled out a small silver chain, and excitedly placed it around Ryoko's neck, and fastened it. The thin silver chain looked elegant on her, he though, as he walked back to his seat. Sitting down, he smiled and told Ryoko to open her eyes.
Ryoko looked down and picked up the necklace with her hand, admiring it for just a moment. It shone brightly, even in the dim light of the restaurant, and it brought a great smile to her face.
"Oh Tenchi," she cried. "It's beautiful. I love it. This is amazing. Nobody's ever given me something this nice before. Tell me Tenchi, how does it look on me?"
Tenchi smiled as he gazed at Ryoko. "It looks gorgeous on you. You look so beautiful right now," he said, admiring her beauty. "Ryoko, I've got something else for you," Tenchi began.
"Wait, Tenchi," Ryoko interrupted. "I've got something for you, too," she said, reaching into the handbag she carried with her. She retrieved a compact disc, placed it face down on the table, and slid it over to Tenchi. "I hope you like it, my love," she said.
Tenchi's eyes lit up when he turned the case over. "Ryoko," he said. "How did you know?" I never mentioned."
"I remember hearing you talk about it with Ayeka, so I just had to get it for you. I hope it's what you want; I'm afraid I don't know that much about this kind of music."
"It's perfect," Tenchi smiled. "I didn't even know they made this sort of thing. I've never seen it anywhere in Japan."
"I had to special order it. They shipped it over from America," Ryoko replied. "I really hope you like it."
"Oh Ryoko, I already love it," Tenchi replied, holding up his newest CD.
The complete Alfred Reed Collection: a three CD set. Tenchi loved Alfred Reed's music ever since he had gone on a field trip last school year to hear a nearby university band play. He really loved the Alfred Reed program they had put on. "Armenian Dances" and "The Hounds of Spring" really sparked Tenchi's interest, but it was "Russian Christmas Music" that had totally hooked Tenchi. The CD in his hands contained "Russian Christmas" and all his other favorites. Tenchi smiled widely.
He looked down, remembered the remaining contents of the black box he held, and looked up at Ryoko. "Now, Ryoko," he said, "I have one last surprise for you." He opened the box again, and placed it in front of Ryoko, who was still admiring her necklace. She was stunned when she looked at the box.
"Oh my God! Tenchi," was all she could say.
Inside the box rested the two gems that were previously held in the hilt of Tenchi-ken.
The day Tenchi had to go back to school, Ryoko cried for hours. It wasn't like her to be so weak, but the strong bond that she and Zero had formed with Tenchi simply tore her to pieces. Tenchi had informed her two weeks ahead of time, so that she could prepare, but it still did her little good. She was shattered, it seemed, even though he would only be gone for a few hours. She begged him to take her with him, but she knew he would say no. Even she realized that it was impossible, and that she'd only get him into trouble if she did go with him. So, after a tearful goodbye, Tenchi kissed Ryoko gently before heading out the front door of the house toward the bus stop. It pained Ryoko too much to follow him to the road, so she stayed behind, retreating to Tenchi's room where she threw herself on the bed, collapsing in tears.
"That certainly was something," Washu commented, sitting at the breakfast table with Sasami, Ayeka and Katsuhito as Ryoko rushed past, up the stairs, and into Tenchi's room. "You'd think he was never coming back, judging by that reaction."
"Love certainly does strange things to people," Katsuhito quietly commented.
"Well, I don't know about the rest of you guys," Sasami added, "but I'm worried about her. She seemed so sad right now. I hope she is going to be okay. It's going to be hard for her to get through the rest of the school term like this."
"She'll get over it," Washu replied. "She can't stay like this forever. It'll get easier on her as the term progresses."
"Don't you think you're being a little hard on her, miss Washu," Ayeka asked as the scientist grinned. "It's easy to make fun of her when you're the one that has to deal with that kind of separation. I for one can understand that sort of pain."
Ayeka sat silently for a moment, thinking back on the horrible day she found out about Tenchi and Ryoko. The day she walked in on them in bed. The thought of it was too much to bear, and so she quickly put it out of her mind. She quickly stood up, and walked into the kitchen. She prepared a plate for Ryoko, and placing it and a cold drink on a tray, made her way up to Tenchi's room, where she knew Ryoko would be sulking.
"Miss Ryoko," Ayeka called out as she knocked on the door, "may I please come in."
"Go away," came the reply. Ayeka thought about turning around and heading back downstairs, but her friendship with Tenchi, her moral sense, and even through it was hard to even say it, her * genuine * friendship with Ryoko told her otherwise. She slid the door open, and entered the room. It was dark, as Ryoko had drawn the shades closed.
"I said leave me alone," Ryoko growled in frustration. She was sitting on the bed, trying to hide her sobbing.
"I'm afraid I can't do that," Ayeka replied calmly. "Not when you're like this. I can't go about my day worried about you. Here, I brought you some breakfast, and I thought we could talk," the princess said as she placed the food in front of Ryoko.
Ryoko sighed. "thank you, Ayeka, but I just can't talk right now."
"I understand," Ayeka replied. She sat close to Ryoko, and leaned over to give her a big hug. She embraced her former rival tightly, trying to console and comfort her in her time of need, the way the princess knew Tenchi would have wanted.
"It's alright, Ryoko," Ayeka continued, gently patting Ryoko's back. "It's okay. You can cry. I know how it hurts, but you need not worry. Tenchi is coming back in the evening, and he'll always be here for you. He'll always come home to you."
"I. I know, Ayeka," the pirate sobbed. "But it's just so hard. I've spent every minute of every day with him for the past six months, and I don't know what to do."
"I know how you feel," Ayeka said, as she released Ryoko. "I understand pain very well, Ryoko. I want to talk to you, so I can help you through this, but I respect your need for privacy, as well. I'm going to go back downstairs and help Sasami clean up. Now, when you feel better, you come downstairs, and we'll have a drink, watch some television, and talk if you'd like. I'll stay here if you want, but I think you probably need some alone time." The princess stood quickly.
"Thank you, Ayeka," Ryoko replied as she looked down at the floor. "Hopefully, I will be downstairs a bit later." She half-heartedly attempted to smile.
Ayeka nodded as she made her way out the door. It certainly looked like it was going to be a long semester.
Around lunchtime, Ryoko wandered out of Tenchi's room and into the hallway. Her eyes were red, and she appeared more frail than ever before. She quietly crept down the stairs and took a seat on the couch in front of the television. It wasn't on, but she stared at the screen anyway, trying to concentrate her thoughts, if just for a moment. Her whole body ached as thought she was sick, and her heart hurt more than she could have ever imagined. She felt depressed and silly at the same time. After all, he was going to come back. It was just a few hours, but then again, she had never been more than 20 feet away from him for the past few months, and it was hard to get used to the feeling of being alone.
Ryoko was lost in her own thoughts for a moment, when she was startled back to consciousness by Ayeka.
She had to get away. It felt like her mind was about to explode, like the very logic which held her was world together had suddenly betrayed itself. All reason, all sensibility, all things reasonable were suddenly torn asunder. It was as if the world had been turned upside down, and only she was privy to the damage done. She was so stunned that the tears didn't even flow from her. Shock. it was the shock of the unholy scene she had just witnessed.
Ayeka ran as hard and fast as her legs would carry her. She needed to get out. She needed to clear her mind of the awful sights and sounds she had walked in on. Not only was the demon woman naked, fornicating with Tenchi. HER Tenchi. but worst of all, the dagger to her heart was that he was enjoying it. He was moaning, begging Ryoko for it. Like some perverted, immoral. NO. she couldn't bring herself to think the word. Lord Tenchi was a good man, and it seemed obvious to Ayeka that Ryoko must have been using some sort of trickery.
"Obvious? Obvious," she thought. "Is that really what I believe? Is it really trickery, or is it what I have feared since the day Lord Tenchi yelled at me in the Kitchen?"
Ayeka staggered, falling to her knees, as her legs finally gave out next to the lake. She sat at the water's edge, trying to rationalize what had happened. The flood of raw emotion overtook her, and almost without sound, the first princess of Jurai was in tears. The memories filled her mind, and each one of the tender moments played back like a movie. She was so sure that he would eventually pick her! How could it be that Ryoko had won?
Ayeka sobbed silently as the cool night air sent a chill through her body. Tiny ripples emanated on the lake's surface from where her tears fell. All the pain she had endured; all the waiting, and hoping. The endless nights of wanting. were they all in vain?
She stood up, looking up at the sky, at the moon. As the magnetic pull of the brilliant sphere affects the seas, so too did the moon unbalance Ayeka's emotions. At that moment, with the tears streaming down her face, Ayeka came to a decision. She could not stay here any longer. It was simply too much to bear. She began to step forward, plunging her delicate bare feet into the icy black water. The moon shimmered on the surface of the lake's water, and Ayeka wanted to join the shattered remains of Ryu-Oh, entombed at the deepest part of the lake. She waded into the water, still sobbing, unable to deal with all she had seen that evening. She was nearly up to her neck in the water, and it was freezing. There was no doubt in her mind that if the water did not claim her, the cold would. One could die from exposure to the elements in a matter of minutes, and Ayeka was determined to meet her end. She still could not believe.
"Was all my suffering in vain. Did I sacrifice for nothing," she sobbed aloud, as she tried to carry herself onward into the water.
The next thing she heard was the sound of something plunging into the water, followed by a hand wrapping around her arm. Ayeka turned her head, only to find herself staring into the burning eyes of Ryoko.
"No," Ryoko shouted at her. "It WASN'T for nothing. You DIDN'T waste your time. You're not a failure," Ryoko said as she hoisted the Juraian princess up by her arm.
"Let me go, let me gooooooo," Ayeka shouted, thrashing while Ryoko lifted her out of the water. She began to sob violently. "Haven't you done enough already. You ruined my life today! Now you're out to ruin my death, as well?"
Ryoko's face turned red with anger, and the golden glimmer in her eyes lit up like fire. With her free hand, Ryoko slapped Ayeka squarely across the face.
"Is that what you think, Ayeka? That your time here was a waste? That your life is ruined? Well I've got news for you, little girl," Ryoko growled. "Tenchi is not a waste of your time. Tenchi means everything to me, and I won't let you say that your friendship with him was worthless. Tenchi is my world, and he thinks that you're one of the greatest people he's ever met. I'll be goddamned if you think that you can toss that aside. As much as I hate to say it, none of us could get along without you. You're NOT going to be selfish. Not tonight, princess."
Ryoko floated over the lake, holding the shivering princess by her left arm. Ryoko was shaking too, astonished by the power of her own emotions. All she ever really wanted was for Ayeka to be out of the picture, and yet, when the opportunity presented itself, Ryoko could not even hesitate to rescue Ayeka from herself. Suddenly, Ryoko's heart was filled with sadness.
"Tenchi loves you so much," Ryoko stammered, "That he'd just die without you. He says you're one of his best friends, and because he cares so much about you, that make you more important to me than you'll ever know."
Ryoko glided over the surface of the lake, setting Ayeka down near the water's edge. Ryoko put herself between Ayeka and the lake, so that the princess could not make a successful attempt to dive back in. As Ayeka shivered on the ground, limp from her sorrow, Ryoko looked around frantically. She had to warm Ayeka quickly, or the cold could still prove fatal, being so far from medical attention. Ryoko summoned a glowing ball of her orange energy, and quickly set some of the grass around the lake on fire. She needed something to keep Ayeka warm. Looking over at the sobbing princess, still convulsing on the ground, Ryoko quickly scooped her up into her arms, and held her tightly.
Ryoko sat there for what seemed like an hour, holding Ayeka uncomfortably close. In reality, it was only a matter of minutes, but the urgency of the moment seemed to drag on forever. Ryoko was deep in thought when a sound in the distance broke her concentration. Footsteps. It was Tenchi.
"Ryooookoooo," Tenchi cried out as he rushed toward them on foot. Ryoko called to him from her seat on the ground.
"Tenchi! Quick. get back inside and get Ayeka some dry clothes, a blanket, and something warm to drink. Do it now!"
Tenchi slid to a halt, sensing the panic in Ryoko's voice. He did what she said, realizing what Ryoko already knew. They had to get Ayeka dry before they even attempted to move her, as the shock to her system was serious. He returned immediately with clothing, towels, a blanket and some hot tea. Working quickly, they stripped her of her best kimono, which she had intended on dying in, and toweled her off. Ryoko put the new set of clothes on her as Tenchi wrapped her in a blanket. The three were soon huddled around the fire, trying to generate enough warmth to bring Ayeka out of an almost comatose state. Ayeka came to for a brief moment, opening her eyes, looking into Tenchi and Ryoko's worried eyes as they watched her. Then her world went black. She had passed out from the confusion and the pressure of the moment.
Ryoko had been very brave that morning. She hadn't started to cry until after she had walked Tenchi to the bus stop, and even then, it was only for a brief moment. Ryoko phased back into the Masaki home, her eyes still a bit red from the tears she was trying to conceal. Ayeka and Sasami sat in the TV room, watching the morning news as the reporter went over the past day's events. He blathered on about politics, but Ryoko wasn't paying attention. She was thinking hard about Tenchi, and how she was going to manage getting through the rest of the school term. It had only been three weeks, and it wasn't really getting any easier for her. She had just learned to control her outward emotions a bit better, in an attempt to appease everyone else in the house.
"Ryoko," Ayeka had turned to her, "have you ever considered doing something to pass the time when Tenchi is not around? Don't you have any hobbies that you could take advantage of?"
Ryoko paused and thought for a moment. "I already tried that last week, Ayeka," Ryoko replied, "and trust me, there isn't enough sake around here to keep me from thinking about Tenchi."
"That's not exactly what I had in mind, Ryoko," Ayeka replied. "Is there anything you like to do that doesn't involve Tenchi OR getting drunk?"
It really was a brilliant idea. Ryoko couldn't believe that Ayeka had thought of it, even though in reality, she hadn't. Ryoko loved the feel of open flight in space, and the thrill of the business she had for so long forgotten. At the helm of Ryo-ohki, Ryoko guided the cabbit ship as it sailed through the stars. It was a graceful flight, filled with the freedom of Ryoko's youth. Each day for the past month, after Tenchi was on his way to school, Ryoko took to the skies, exploring all of the space she missed during her days as a ruthless pirate. During the past two weeks, she had brought Sasami and Ayeka on separate flights, just to show them around, and to show off her skill as a cabbit pilot. On each day since Ryoko had re-discovered her old passion for flight, she had returned home just a little bit later from her day out. On one particular day, Ryoko had stayed out so late that she was not able to make it back to Earth in time to greet Tenchi as he hopped off the bus.
He stood at the edge of the road, looking around, surprised not to see Ryoko there waiting for him. He looked around, curious, wondering what was about to happen. Perhaps she was hiding, ready to pounce on him as he walked by. Maybe she was having another one of those days where she just had to drag him into the trees and make love to him right there on the ground. Maybe she was waiting.
But she wasn't. After an hour of sitting there, Tenchi picked himself up off the ground, grabbed his briefcase, and began the solitary walk back to the house. Tenchi was well aware of her adventures in space. The very day that Ayeka mentioned the "hobbies" idea, Ryoko had excitedly explained her plans to Tenchi. Instead of loafing around the house waiting for him to return, she wanted to spend time rediscovering all that she had missed in the last 2,000 years. Tenchi was glad at the time, seeing how happy she was. but now.
"It's not like her to miss me at the bus like that," Tenchi said to Ayeka, as they stood in the kitchen, sipping cold drinks. The expression on Tenchi's face told everything to Ayeka. The sheer worry, the pain, the uneasiness in his eyes was enough to make her cry, but she didn't. He looked out of the kitchen window, gazing up at the sky, hoping that she would return any minute. All he saw were the dying leaves on the tree. The leaves of autumn were falling from the trees. He had no idea how similar they were to him, about to begin their slow decent, floating from the heavens, crashing to the earth below. He turned back to Ayeka.
"I mean, what if she's been hurt? What if she ran into trouble? With all the destruction she caused under Kagato, I'm sure that there's someone out there who would be more than happy to see her dead," Tenchi said.
"I'm quite sure that nothing like that has happened, Tenchi. You just need to relax. I'm pretty sure she is just out there having fun. Maybe she lost track of the time," Ayeka said gently, trying to comfort him.
Ryoko had almost gotten carried away. Ryo-Ohki was roaring past the stars when she spotted it on one of the monitors. There it was. A tiny little helpless cruise ship; filled with passengers, and money. It was the perfect target for an out of practice space pirate. Ryoko brought Ryo-ohki silently along side the large cruise vessel, being careful not to set off any sort of security. The cyan haired space pirate teleported herself onto one of the decks of the craft, and soon made her way to the bridge. Using dark corners as cover, along with her ability to phase through walls, Ryoko was soon standing right behind the captain. The only noise he heard was the sound of an energy sword being brought to life. The captain spun around, and to his terror was met with Ryoko's energy blade. She brought it right up to his neck, and grinned.
"Take me to the ship's vault," was all she said.
Ryoko did not return home until well after midnight. She slipped into the house silently, and tried to run to the bathroom as quickly as she could. She washed her hands and phased into a different outfit before going back out into the house, where she knew Tenchi would be waiting.
He was sitting on a couch in the TV room, head in his hands, and he was crying. Ayeka and Washu were both sitting with him, trying to comfort him as he worried. He leapt to his feet as Ryoko entered the room, running over to her to embrace his true love.
"You had me so worried," he sobbed as he buried his head in her chest. Ryoko put her arms around Tenchi to console him, and that's when he noticed it. Redness underneath her nails. Tenchi took a step back, and looked at Ryoko. When he saw it, he stumbled back farther, falling to the floor. He was shaking filled with horror and fear. He had hoped with all his might that it wasn't so, but it was.
"Blood," was the only thing he could utter.
Spattered on Ryoko's left cheek was fresh blood. The captain's blood.
It was going to be so easy, she thought. She hadn't set foot on this planet in over 700 years, but with the full force of her three gems, and no Katsuhito to stop her, there was no way she could walk away from this one empty handed.. Not like last time. And with her recently developed ability to generate three of her ten lighthawk wings, she knew she was as powerful as Tenchi was, if not more so.
The remains of slaughtered guards laid out a Ryoko's bloody path from her landing site to the center of the capital city. The crippled lay moaning, wailing as they died slowly. She approached the grand gates to the Juraian Royal palace, and nothing could have prepared her for what she saw. She stopped dead in her tracks. Staring straight back at her was a familiar face. It had been so long since she had seen him last, and it amazed her how his appearance had remained the same. And then she noticed his eyes. Instead of the familiar, lovely brown she had lost herself in so many times, she found herself gazing into two golden eyes that seemed like they were on fire. No. They WERE ablaze, she realized as the color of his eyes leapt and changed, like that of a fire.
"Get out of my way. You have no business here. This is between me and Jurai," she said, forming a lighthawk sword. "I'm much more powerful than you are now, Tenchi. Get out of my way, before I have to hurt you."
Tenchi stood his ground, remaining completely still. He did not even blink, as his angry gaze penetrated Ryoko's emotional shell. His lighthawk wings began to form around him, and he reached out, grabbing one and forming his own sword. He positioned himself in a guard position that she had once taught him, holding his sword up. His gaze became even angrier, and the flames in his eyes intensified. Suddenly, his lighthawk sword erupted in flames, and he began to shine a brilliant gold. Ryoko was stunned as Tenchi stood his ground, wielding the power of the lighthawk wings, now unified with the rage of the Kill Rhythm.
"No, you have no business here, Ryoko" he spoke, plainly, despite the look of rage in his eyes.
[A brief note from the Author]
This is my first fanfic ever. I've written fiction before, but never like this. I hope this doesn't offend anyone, especially true Tenchi Muyo fans. I've simply made an attempt to express my love for this series in a creative manner which reflects my thoughts and feelings on love and life. As for the mechanics of this story, it loosely follows the storyline of the first 13 OAV episodes, and sort of picks up somewhere after they leave off. The material that this story follows is sort of based on a relationship I once had, so to all the people I know who were involved in that, I thank you for giving me material. This story is intended to be multi-part. This is the second of four parts I intend to write. Once again, Thanks.
The Dark Heart
A work of fiction, by hellthorne
Part 2: The Falling Leaves of Autumn
"And we crown ourselves again.
There's been no change, since you and I were young.
When we burned ourselves again
In spaceship days,
When you and I were young. When you and I were young"
~Rob Dickson, of The Catherine Wheel, Satellite
****************************************************************************
***
A good-sized circle of leveled tree stumps was all that remained of the forested area surrounding them. The stumps that weren't already charred were on fire, and many of the trees that were not blown down were ablaze, as well. The power unleashed, fueled by his rage, was stunning. It was like electricity was flowing through his body; sparks were nearly flying from his fingertips. The force of the blast was so tremendous that it even startled Katsuhito, who was deep in meditation up in the shrine office. It had all happened so quickly that Ayeka almost didn't get her force field up in time.
Washu was watching from the console in her lab. Her sensors had been tripped when the massive surge of power began forming in and around Tenchi. It was frightening to her, how much power he commanded, and yet, something baffled her and Tenchi as well.
It was an accident. Tenchi tried to understand what had just happened to him. He remembered talking to Ayeka about his feelings at the moment. He was raging. His mind was racing; he was talking to her about how his heart was suffering today, and then he though about space, about pirates, about . her. And then everything around him exploded. He looked at Ayeka, still encased in her shield, and he ran to her.
"Ayeka," he cried out in terror, "are you alright?"
Princess Ayeka was fine. Completely stunned, as was everyone else who witnessed the tremendous explosion, but otherwise unharmed. Tenchi hugged Ayeka tightly as he apologized profusely for what had just happened. He did not know how it had happened, but he knew that he was the source of the trouble. Tenchi sobbed on Ayeka's shoulder as he continually said "I'm sorry" to her, despite her reassurances that all was fine.
"Tenchi, get a hold of yourself," a voice called out from behind them.
Ayeka and Tenchi looked up to find his grandfather and Washu watching them. Katsuhito, Tenchi's grandfather, stood there, frowning at the scene.
"I told you to pull yourself together," Katsuhito said. "Ayeka has already accepted your apology. Now, stand up, and act with some dignity."
Washu turned to Katsuhito and scolded him. "You know better than that, Katsuhito. He's in a fragile state. You've known that for a long time, and yelling at him when he is down certainly isn't going to help," Washu growled. She turned to Tenchi and spoke, with a softer voice.
"Tenchi," she began, "None of us here can even begin to pretend that we understand what you're going through." Washu paused, placed her hands on her hips, and looked up to the sky. "I'll be damned if I can figure out what happened, in all honesty. I stay up nights in my lab, trying to figure out why this happened, or what we can do about it, but." She paused, and looked into Tenchi's eyes, "I just don't understand her. You knew her better than any of us here."
"And I don't have a clue," Tenchi sighed. "I don't know what to do about it, and I can't stand just sitting here doing nothing. I feel helpless."
"Tenchi," Katsuhito began, "sometimes we are not meant to know the path we follow. Sometimes it is best to step back and appreciate the things that are good in our lives, before lamenting that which we cannot control. I know your heart aches. I think that there is an ache in each of us. We mourn with you, for we have lost a friend and sister as well."
Katsuhito walked toward Tenchi, and put a hand on his shoulder. "You are my grandson, and I love you. Your father loves you; we all love you here, and." Katsuhito paused, trying to swallow the knot forming in his throat. "And," he continued, lowering his voice to a whisper, "if I could make her come back, I would. If it would make you happy again, I would do everything in my power." Katsuhito looked up at Ayeka with his sad eyes, and spoke. "Ayeka, please take Tenchi back to the house. Have your sister prepare some tea for him. He needs to calm his nerves." Ayeka nodded, and taking Tenchi's arm, began to lead him back toward the Masaki home. "Come along, Tenchi," she said gently, "Sasami and I are going to take good care of you, I promise. I won't let anything else hurt you today."
Tenchi looked up at the young princess and smiled faintly, before the look of complete sadness once again overtook his face. "Thank you, Ayeka," he said. "You're so good to me, and I'm never able to repay you for all your kindness. I nearly hurt you today, and I'm sorry." He sighed heavily, continuing. "That seems to be my story, hurting those whom I love. All you've done is protect me and comfort me during my hard times, yet. I wasn't there for you during your hard times. I mean, I * was * the cause of your hard times, Ayeka."
"Shush," Ayeka chided gently. "That's all in the past, Tenchi. Besides, you're here for me now, and." she trailed off for a moment, thinking. "You're the best friend I could have ever asked for."
She smiled, as they continued to walk.
"I don't like this at all," Washu calmly stated as she examined the blast crater. "There is something very wrong with this, aside from the obvious fact that Tenchi nearly blew up the house." Katsuhito stood a few feet from her, and as he looked up at the sky, he shook his head in disagreement.
"You're exaggerating a bit," he said. "This could have never come close to destroying the house."
"True, but if he had been a bit angrier, it might have. This was a tiny little slip. Imagine what could happen if he actually tried," Washu countered. The two elders of the Masaki household stood silently, pondering what had just transpired.
"The power of Tsunami is becoming unbalanced," Katsuhito quietly observed.
The child scientist nodded her head in agreement. "I don't think it's all about Jurai, however. There's no evidence of the light-hawk wings here," she said, scratching her head as she continued to examine the blackened earth. "Whatever that was, it came out of Tenchi alright, but there is no clear connection to the power of Tsunami or Jurai, I think. Something about this troubles me greatly."
"You're thinking about the prophecy just like I am, aren't you," Katsuhito asked. "I think that's what it is, but I don't understand it. The legend never explained how the prophecy would unfold, only that it could occur."
"You know what I think," Washu asked as she turned to Katsuhito. "I think that we're dealing with another kind of power. And I fear the results of this force joined with the power of Jurai. I'm afraid of what Tenchi could become. Yes, I am thinking of the prophecy. But do you really believe."
"I supposed that on some level, I've always known," Katsuhito mused. "His goodness of heart, his courage and his strength have always struck me as exceptional, but with the addition of his light hawk wings, I do believe it. Tenchi is the golden Avatar. This dilemma with Ryoko has only served to reassure that feeling."
Washu interjected. "It worries me, as well. With Ryoko in the equation, I'm worried about Tenchi's mental state. He's breaking down, you know, and if he continues, the prophecy may very well be true. How do we protect Tenchi? How do we protect ourselves * from * Tenchi? If the Avatar falls, he would wield more power than even Kagato tried to attain through Tsunami." Washu looked up at Katsuhito. "If Tenchi comes to control both of those powers, and then cracks, no one will be safe. If he falls, there will be no place to hide, and absolutely no way to stop him."
"That is why I think that we must teach Tenchi to master his powers," Katsuhito said solemnly. "It may be our only hope."
Washu looked at him in disbelief. Teaching a boy to control power that could destroy a planet? Maybe even a galaxy? It was absurd.
Tenchi could sense it. The eerie quiet of the sunny afternoon made him suspicious as he walked back to the house from the carrot fields, and when he felt the wind stop blowing, he knew that there was going to be trouble. He thought about running, but the big basket of carrots was sure to slow him down. There was no escape, and he knew it. There was nowhere to hide. He pulled his bokken out of the basket, preparing himself for the onslaught. Ryoko insisted that he carry it with him at all times, ever since they had begun sparring together like she had suggested. It turned out that she was just as peculiar as grandfather was, when it came to training. She never announced when practice would begin. She would just charge at him, and he'd have to be ready for it, or she'd make him pay for it later. Suddenly, he heard rustling from the brush just ahead, and he prepared for the attack he knew was coming. Tenchi brought his bokken up to a guard position; he knew she always attacked first.
"I know what you're up to," he shouted, "and I don't think it's funny, Ryoko. You * promised * that we wouldn't spar while I'm trying to get the fieldwork done. You can't just make promises like that and break them, you know."
Silence. Nothing but silence. Tenchi thought that maybe he was becoming slightly paranoid. After all, it could have been the wind blowing through the tall grass. After five minutes of silence, he put his bokken back into the basket, picked it up, and began to walk towards the house again.
It was harder for Tenchi to sense flying attackers, mainly because he couldn't hear the footsteps. However, since he had grown accustomed to the leaping attacks after so long, he knew when the impact would occur. He immediately tensed right as he heard the familiar "swoosh" noise that his leaping attacker made as she silently charged him.
"Tenchhhhhiiiiiiii," Ryoko shouted as she tackled him from behind. The force of the impact sent him tumbling forward, with Ryoko following as she fell. They hit the ground with a firm thud, carrots spewed out of the basket all over the pathway. Ryoko laughed giddily as she sat on top of Tenchi, grinning at her prey.
Tenchi wore a scowl on his face. They had been sparring all summer, and he still hadn't been able to successfully defend even one of her opening attacks. This wasn't an attack, however, and in a way, was even more embarrassing for Tenchi.
"You know," she whispered as she sat on Tenchi's stomach, bringing her face right up to his, "you're really cute when you're acting paranoid, Tenchi." Ryoko kissed him gently and once again found it pleasing when he didn't try to run away. That was one of the things that had taken some getting used to for her. She was so used to him running that she always kissed him quickly, before he could break away. One of the greatest perks for her, she found, was that Tenchi actually enjoyed, long passionate kisses.
Tenchi exhibited this desire as he looked up at Ryoko's golden, fiery eyes, and sighed contentedly. Then he reached up for her, put his arms around her neck, and drew her close. He kissed her passionately as they lay there on the ground otherwise motionless, neither one wanting to return to the real world. After a while, Ryoko was distracted by more rustling in the grass. She broke off the kiss with Tenchi and looked over where the noise was coming from.
"You can come out now," she shouted, "It's all yours."
Tenchi held a puzzled look on his face as he wondered who was hiding in the grass. Suddenly, Ryo-ohki jumped out from the shadows, and immediately took to the carrots.
"I bribed her to help me distract you," Ryoko grinned. "I knew you'd drop the carrots."
Tenchi just lay there, smiling up at his love. It was one of his most favorite things. The way she was so strong. The way she would hug him so tightly that he would fall over. He absolutely loved her affection, and he couldn't imagine his life without her.
"So, what is it that you want, Ryoko," Tenchi said, smiling. "I hope that you didn't go to all the trouble of costing me a days worth of work, just because you felt like it." He smiled again.
"No silly," she replied. "I just did this because I love you, and I missed you. It's no fun doing chores inside, especially when you're out here." The space pirate grinned widely, as they held onto each other for just a moment.
"I love you, Ryoko," Tenchi finally said, for at least the seventh time today. He made it a point to tell her he loved her as many times as he possibly could during the day. He wanted her to know that he cared, and he wanted to make up for all those months of not being able to tell her.
"She looked down at him. "I love you too, Tenchi, with all my heart." She sighed. "You make me so happy. I never want to spend a day without you." She paused. "Tenchi," she asked. He nodded in response. "Tenchi, promise me that you will never leave me."
"I promise, Ryoko. I promise, with all my heart and soul."
Fate, it seems, is not without a sense of irony.
"What was that, Tenchi," Katsuhito inquired. "I thought I heard you say something."
"Nothing, grandpa. It was nothing at all." Tenchi sulked as he hoped the lesson would end soon. He couldn't take too much more of this meditation and training today. Who really gave a damn about light-hawk wings anymore? There was nothing left worth protecting, he thought. All that he cared about had been torn from him, and all that was left was a bitter shell of his life. He was a shadow of himself, a shell of a man. He could hardly keep up with the chores, and he dragged himself through life as though his pain would go on forever. In a way, it * would * go on forever.
Suddenly, Katsuhito was very agitated with him, and swung the bokken at Tenchi. He could sense what Tenchi was thinking, and it angered him greatly. The training sword sliced through the air, but shattered as it came to a sudden halt. It had slammed into a lighthawk shield. The same kind that Katsuhito himself had used to repel Kagato's attacks.
"There is always something worth protecting," Katsuhito growled, reading Tenchi's mind from the expression on his face. "Only a fool would say otherwise, and your mother and father did not raise you to be stupid!" He grunted, trying to calm himself. "I am glad to see that you are mastering your training, Tenchi." Katsuhito's face was red with frustration. "The light-hawk wings are not easy to become proficient with, yet you have come a long way since we began training again. I thank you for your diligence, but we still have a long way to go."
"Maybe it's time you took a break, Katsuhito" A voice called out from the shadows. "I mean, you guys have been at it all day. Besides, it's my turn to teach him."
"I suppose you're right," Katsuhito said, standing up. He looked back at Tenchi. "Remember, Tenchi, when you give up, when you stop dreaming, it's time to die. There is always something worth fighting for." With that, Katsuhito left the shrine office.
Washu emerged from the shadows, and took a seat on the floor in front of Tenchi. She looked into his tired eyes, and grinned ever so slightly.
"Fate, it seems, is not without a sense of irony," she quoted. "He may not have heard you say that, but I did. Tell me something. where did that come from?"
"It's from an American movie I saw once," he replied. "There are a few lines I like from that movie. They seem to fit my life well."
"Really," she responded. "Can you give me another one?"
He paused for a moment, trying to recall all that he had learned from the film, in order to pick out the one gem that held true.
"As a species, human beings define their reality through misery and suffering," he quoted.
Washu pondered the statement for a moment, and then turned back to Tenchi. "I think I understand," she replied. "I understand the quote, and I think I understand you. I know you're tired of thinking damned happy thoughts to get those stupid light-hawk wings to work. I know how it pains you. I know it feels like your memory is betraying you. And I know you feel like giving up." She paused. "I'll tell you why we have to keep on training, Tenchi," she whispered, "but you have to promise not to let your grandfather know that I told you. There will come a day when you will have to save her. We are training you because something even we can't see is just beyond the horizon; it will involve her, and you as well. Something so big, we don't understand it."
With that, Washu got up and walked outside. Tenchi silently followed. As they stood at the top of the Masaki shrine, the sun shone brightly, and it looked to be another peaceful day. Something about the goodness of it all annoyed Tenchi and Washu; they needed something to break up the serenity of the moment.
"Now, concentrate your pain," she told him. "Pick a focal point, choose an angry memory, and unleash your fury. Show me the hell sabre."
Tenchi bunched his brow together, his anger flowing, and within seconds, he shone a brilliant yellow and orange light. He was thinking about all the hurt now. Not about the good times, but rather, all the horrible things he had witnessed.
* Leave me the hell alone! I need my own goddamned space sometimes. *
Tenchi raised his arms over his head, fists clenched together. A large, wide beam of yellow energy erupted forth from his hands, and as he brought them down from above his head in a circular motion, the beam arced through the sky, obliterating everything in its path. Birds, bugs, trees; everything in the way was turned to flaming ashes immediately. As his extended arms leveled in front of him, his anger increased, as the memories became more vivid.
* Stop acting like such a child. I'll talk to you when I have the time, alright? *
The beam widened as his rage broadened as more raw power coursed through his body and powered the hell sabre he had just unleashed, leaving a path of destruction through the Masaki forest area. When he could sustain the thought no longer, the beam faded, leaving flaming debris in its wake. He was tired of thinking. So tired of having to push his mind to the very edge in order to satisfy grandfather and Washu. He hated being their. their guinea pig. He just wanted to go back to sulking, to his depressed little world, where he could seal himself off from everyone else and just cry. That's what he wanted.
Washu took a seat on the steps to the shrine office. She looked up at Tenchi, and then patted the ground next to her, hinting that she wanted him to sit with her. He noticed and complied, wondering what else she had planned to test him on today. He was tired of blowing up rocks, trees and bugs with his anger. He wanted all the burden to just disappear, so he could mourn in the silence of his own heart. More than anything else, he just wanted her to return. Each night, he hoped and prayed that she would come back.
"I know what it does to your mind, Tenchi," Washu stated suddenly, breaking the silence. "I know because I've been there." She sighed, once again, delving into her memories of pain. "I often wonder why my husband allowed himself to be taken from me. Why he took my child, and why he had to play a willing part in destroying me. And when it was all over, I was left with nothing but the contents of my own heart and mind. Somehow, it didn't seem like enough. Like I had been cheated out of everything. He loved me more than any other person I had ever met, and I thought to myself."
"If she loved me that much, and even she could leave me, what does that mean about the rest of the world. If she won't care, does it mean that no one will ever love me the way I want to be loved," Tenchi said, filling in Washu's sentence.
Washu nodded. "What are you thinking about, Tenchi?"
"Everything about her," the crown prince of Jurai replied.
It was movie day. One of the things that Tenchi had learned about Ryoko was that she really loved movies. Living in the country made it harder to experience new movies as frequently as city dwellers did, and seeing the movie previews on TV didn't seem to help much, so Tenchi made an extra effort to make his new love happy at least once a month. Tenchi had proposed movie day as a special day when he and Ryoko could escape to the city to watch movies all day long. Tenchi saved his money all month long, as movies were becoming much more expensive, but it was worth it. He loved the joyful look in Ryoko's eyes as she looked over the many titles of movies that they had the option of seeing. Tenchi always brought enough money so they could watch two or three movies, if Ryoko felt like it. To make the day even more special, Tenchi decided that movie day should be on the 19th day of each month, their anniversary, the night Tenchi finally expressed his feeling for Ryoko. Movie day always ended with dinner at a nice restaurant, ever since Ryoko had learned to improve her table manners.
The first time Tenchi had taken Ryoko to dinner, it was almost a disaster. All the patrons in the restaurant were staring, as Tenchi tried to hide under the table. Ryoko was. a spectacle, to say the least, when it came to eating. 'Garish' didn't even begin to describe her. While Tenchi knew how she ate at home, he just assumed that she was aware of how. peculiar it looked in public. It seemed, however, that Ryoko thought her eating habits were perfectly normal. Her reaction to the staring didn't seem to help Tenchi's plight either.
"What the hell is everybody staring at," the agitated pirate shouted as she noticed the all eyes trained on her. The restaurant patrons all turned away, commenting to each other about the spectacle before them. For Tenchi, it was an utterly mortifying experience. If it weren't for the fact that Ryoko seemed to enjoy the meal so much, Tenchi would have found it a complete loss. The only saving grace was Ryoko, even though she was the problem as well. His heart, however, dictated that he love anything that brought her happiness. And so with that, the restaurant became one of his favorites, and one of his most cherished memories, despite the embarrassment.
For Ryoko, however, the story was a bit different. She was content to let those 'voyeuristic' people go to hell, when she caught sight of Tenchi, her anger faded, and she was suddenly ashamed of herself. Again. She had embarrassed him in public, again. It seemed like she could never get it right. There was always something wrong, and she knew that it was always her fault. Her carefree life in space influenced her behavior, and she was not accustomed to caring about what other people thought or felt about her. After all, most of the galaxy wanted to see her hanging from the gallows for the destruction and mayhem she caused, statute of limitations or not. Tenchi, however, was something different altogether. He actually relished in her company, and even though he tolerated the embarrassment, she knew it was killing him. Ryoko pushed the plate away, put down her chopsticks, and looked down at the floor. She had let him down, again.
They walked out in silence that night, hand in hand. Ryoko was too ashamed to say anything, and Tenchi too confused to know what to do. He looked at her as she walked. She * was * beautiful, even more so this evening. After all, she had dressed up for movie day, and took extra special care to make him happy. The evening was perfect, except for the restaurant, and Tenchi decided not to let it end on a sour note. He stopped in his tracks, pulling on her hand. When she stopped as well, he looked at her sullen face, full of frustration and embarrassment. Tenchi quickly moved to hug her, and kissed her gently on the forehead, as she looked down at the ground. He took his left hand and tried to raise her chin up, so that they would be eye to eye, but she resisted.
"Hey," he whispered gently as she looked up at him. His bright, happy eyes were there again, and she knew that she could not pout forever. His eyes could melt away all of her anger, all her fear and all of the shame. She couldn't help but smile, and he laughed, seeing her happy once again. Then, just to make the moment more special, he leaned in and kissed her lips gently. She closed her eyes and parted her lips, and they soon held each other tightly as they kissed passionately. It was a cold winter night, but the world seemed far away from them. They finally broke their kiss, which seemed to last forever, and continued walking. It wasn't very late in the evening yet, but they were headed home. The bus to get them back to the countryside would stop by in half an hour, so they had some time to kill.
"Hey," he said suddenly. "I know it's cold, but how about some ice cream?" * Ice cream * another one of Ryoko's weaknesses. She agreed immediately, and so the pair walked down the block, toward a small ice cream parlor. They stepped inside, and the place seemed happy. It was one of those American franchises that had opened up in Japan recently, a sign of the changing economic times. The walls were painted a bright pink, with posters of smiling blonde haired, blue eyed children playing on gassy fields while holding ice cream cones. Other pictures featured the weekly ice cream special. In the corner, a small white refrigerator with a glass door held some smiling ice cream cakes, shaped like clowns. A small girl, perhaps a year younger than Tenchi, appeared behind the counter. She wore a pink shirt that matched the interior of the shop, and a white apron, along with a paper hat.
"Welcome. What can I do for you this evening," the girl cheerfully asked. Tenchi already knew what he wanted: just a plain vanilla scoop in a cup. Ryoko, however tried several free samples of the various ice creams before settling on pistachio almond in a cone. It was the tastiest one she tried, and the green hue of the ice cream seemed to attract her attention as well. Tenchi paid for the ice cream, spending most of the leftover money he had for the day. He didn't mind, though. After all, this is what he saved it for. They sat, eating for ten minutes or so, before Tenchi realized that they were definitely going to miss the bus unless they left right then. As they walked down the street, happily chatting along the way. Several old couples passed them, smiling at the cute pair. Ryoko held Tenchi's arm in hers, and they looked very happy together. An old woman even commented about how beautiful the two looked together.
"It looks like you two are truly in love," the happy old woman remarked as she stopped them. "I can see that you two will be together for a long time. What beautiful children you two will have," she exclaimed before walking off. Tenchi and Ryoko smiled, and continued on, making it to the bus stop right on time, only to find the bus had not arrived yet. They sat on the bench, under a street lamp, and Ryoko cuddled up against Tenchi for warmth.
On this particular morning as Tenchi woke excitedly to movie day, and as he did every 19th morning of the month, he thought back to that first happy movie day. He smiled in bed as he felt her warmth pressed up against him. Ryoko slept peacefully next to him, naked, as did he. The sun was shining through the window, and still she slept. They'd had a busy night, as she certainly did her best to wear him out. Tenchi, it seemed, had done a better job of wearing her out, though. Ryoko continued to sleep peacefully as Tenchi slipped out of bed, and covered Ryoko's bare shoulders with the sheets. It was the end of summer now, and the days were still warm. Tenchi quickly dressed himself and slipped out of the room, trying not to wake his girlfriend of six whole months now. He wandered downstairs, where Sasami was busy preparing breakfast for the day, as Ayeka was setting the table.
"Good morning, Sasami," he exclaimed as she glanced over his way. "Good morning, Miss Ayeka," Tenchi smiled as he walked up to the first Juraian princess. He gave her a big, warm hug, as his spirits were especially high that morning. As a matter of fact, Tenchi had become much happier and generally affectionate with everyone in the house as his relationship with Ryoko progressed. Ryoko did not consider Ayeka so much of a threat anymore, and as a result, the two did not fight so much anymore. They still argued from time to time, but for the most part, things were good. Ayeka smiled and hugged Tenchi back. Although it was not the kind of affection she had hoped for, it was still good to feel as though she was loved. In fact, it was Tenchi's big turn around that had convinced her to stay on Earth longer. Ever since he had gotten over the initial euphoric period where the only person who mattered to him was Ryoko, Tenchi had become a much happier person who was infinitely easier to talk to. In fact, for a while, Ayeka really wanted to leave, but hesitated due to the big struggle she put up with her father just to remain on Earth. She was glad that she had decided to stay, as Tenchi was becoming a great friend to her.
Tenchi walked into the kitchen and gave Sasami a hug as she cooked, and looked out the window. "It sure is a nice day today, isn't it," he asked aloud, to no one in particular. "It's gonna be a good day, I can feel it. I hope it stays this nice outside for a while."
Tenchi turned around and walked back to Ayeka, and began helping her to set the table.
"Miss Ayeka," he asked, "are we still on for tomorrow? If the weather stays like this, we should have a good time."
"Absolutely, Lord Tenchi," Ayeka happily giggled. "If we leave extra early, we can probably catch some pretty good ones. But don't forget your camera, like you did last time." The princess laughed, and it made Tenchi happy to see it. He felt so guilty about breaking her heart so many months ago that when he finally came to his senses, he realized that she was getting ready to leave for Jurai. He noticed how painful movie day could be for her, so he proposed a special day for her as well. The day after movie day was usually tiring for Ryoko, so she would get up to eat and then she'd head right back to sleep in Tenchi's room. Tenchi saw this as a golden opportunity to spend time with Ayeka, just to talk and enjoy the day.
They did various things on their day together, but Ayeka's favorite activity was a good old-fashioned nature walk. She and Tenchi would roam the woods and countryside, looking at various flowers in bloom. They had recently started rare bird hunting on their nature walks, thanks to a mail- order guide that Tenchi had purchased for Ayeka. It contained a list of birds that could be found across the Japanese countryside, so on each walk, Tenchi would take his camera, to snap a picture of the newest finds. Ayeka's book was pretty empty; they were actually terrible at the hunt and had only amassed 12 of the hundred or so birds on the list. Even still, it was more about the time spent together that mattered to him.
Tenchi grabbed a plate of food from Sasami and took it to Washu's lab, where he knew she was busy. Sometimes she was too busy to come out and eat, so he took her food into the lab, on occasion. When he walked in, she was not at the console, so he left the plate of hot food on a counter top nearby, and left a note for her. Tenchi always thanked her on his anniversary, just for having created Ryoko. Tenchi really was a happy man.
He walked out of the lab, and returned to the breakfast table, where everyone, except for Ryoko was now assembled. They ate as usual, talking about this and that, before everybody stood to begin their respective days. Tenchi requested an extra plate from Sasami. He took the hot food upstairs to his room, where Ryoko still slept.
Tenchi sat on the edge of the bed, looking at his love, and smiled. He placed the plate on the bed, and began fanning the food, so that the scent would find its way over to Ryoko. "Wake up, sleepy head," he whispered. "Look what I've got for you."
Tenchi sat smiling across the table from Ryoko. The atmosphere in the restaurant was perfect for Tenchi's plans, and the fact that Ryoko enjoyed this new place so much. well, that was the icing on the cake. He had to admit, he hadn't really wanted to venture too far off from what he was accustomed to, and French cuisine certainly wasn't something he was familiar with. Still, he was certainly glad he had picked this place. It was so. perfect.
The whole day had been perfect. They had left the countryside early, as the ride out to Tokyo would take a considerable while longer than the normal ride they took. The wait was well worth it, though, as Tenchi and Ryoko conversed calmly on all matter of things. The two were growing up together, it seemed. Ryoko was beginning to understand why pouncing all over Tenchi was not a good thing, and Tenchi was learning to respect Ryoko's thoughts and feeling in ways he had never considered. As the offspring of the great Washu, Ryoko found that she could easily hold her own in a conversation on various topics. That afternoon they talked about music the whole way. Tenchi loved all types of music, and was very excited about a concert he wanted to see in the late afternoon.
When the bus finally arrived in downtown Tokyo, the two headed off to begin their afternoon of fun. They considered taking in an art museum, but when they passed by a large Cineplex, those thoughts faded from Ryoko's mind. She gazed at the marquee. 21 screens! American movies! Ryoko was hooked, as she quickly grabbed Tenchi's wrist and dragged him toward the box office. Tenchi bought tickets for the two movies Ryoko settled on, and they entered the building.
During the first movie, Ryoko's eyes were glued to the screen. She sighed a contented sigh every once in a while, entranced by the romantic story transpiring. Tenchi wasn't really interested in the movie. For the whole two hours, he stared at Ryoko as she giggled, sighed, and held Tenchi closer while she enjoyed the movie. He didn't even understand the movie anyway. Something about email, a man with curly hair and a woman with blonde hair. He definitely decided that he did not like the movie, but he enjoyed the silent time he spent with Ryoko. The next movie was a lot more interesting to Tenchi. It had lots of car chases, explosions, shooting, guns, blood, guts. A testosterone pumping, adrenaline rush movie about cops and robbers. As Tenchi sat there watching, he occasionally glanced over at Ryoko, who, just as before in the 'chick flick,' was totally enthralled by the action on the screen.
"Her tastes sure are stange," Tenchi commented to himself as he pondered the two movies she had chosen. It reflected a great deal of her charm, he reasoned. She was feminine, graceful and totally sexy as a woman, and he guessed that was why she chose the romantic comedy. Yet she had this toughness about her that made her easy to get along with, and Tenchi further reasoned that influenced the second movie choice.
There they sat, smiling at each other. It was Tokyo's trendiest new restaurant from Europe. Ryoko and Tenchi sat in a dark but cozy little room where they had an amazing amount of privacy, considering the number of people trying to get tables at this new hot spot. Luckily, Tenchi had made reservations a month earlier, when he began carefully planning this special evening. Dinner was fantastic. Tenchi pulled out all the stops for Ryoko this evening, and she thoroughly enjoyed spending the day with him. After the movies that Ryoko picked, the two headed off for a symphony concert in the park that Tenchi suggested. Tenchi enjoyed the concert, as he had never had the opportunity to really see a great world symphony perform. They played several pieces that Tenchi knew, some that he hummed along to, but he loved the most about the concert was the performance of his absolute favorite symphony piece: Smetana's "The Moldau." Tenchi enjoyed the concert immensely, and afterward, he and Ryoko took a walk downtown before they finally made it to the restaurant, where they had enjoyed a great meal. They started with escargot, a light spinach salad, and for the main course, they both ordered the house specialty: duck a l'orange. A slice of Gran Mariner cake topped off the meal, which Ryoko could not stop raving to Tenchi about.
"How did you ever find out about this place, anyway," Ryoko asked. "I've never tried anything like this before. I'm so glad you chose it "
Tenchi smiled. "Actually, I found it on TV," Tenchi replied. "I was watching television one day, and this show about four chefs came on. One of them cooked nothing but French food, even though he's from Japan. They were interviewing him, and he mentioned this restaurant. It looked neat, so I thought we could give it a try."
"Well, I'm glad you did. The food here is delicious, and I love the atmosphere," Ryoko said. "Things couldn't possibly get any better," the pirate smiled, "unless you proposed to me." She grinned.
Tenchi just ginned, letting out a slight nervous laugh, before remembering what he wanted to do. He reached into his pocket, and pulled out the small box he had been carrying around all day. He left the box in his lap, where Ryoko could not see it. Then he looked up at her, and spoke.
"Ryoko. I have something for you, but I need you to close your eyes."
"Ooooooh! Is it a surprise? For me," Ryoko bubbled, excitedly.
"Just close your eyes," Tenchi replied.
"Alright, alright," Ryoko said before closing her eyes, grinning. "This had better not be a trick like last time, Tenchi. I'm warning you."
Tenchi stood up and smiled, remembering the last practical joke he had played on her. He walked around to Ryoko's side of the table, and flipped open the box. He pulled out a small silver chain, and excitedly placed it around Ryoko's neck, and fastened it. The thin silver chain looked elegant on her, he though, as he walked back to his seat. Sitting down, he smiled and told Ryoko to open her eyes.
Ryoko looked down and picked up the necklace with her hand, admiring it for just a moment. It shone brightly, even in the dim light of the restaurant, and it brought a great smile to her face.
"Oh Tenchi," she cried. "It's beautiful. I love it. This is amazing. Nobody's ever given me something this nice before. Tell me Tenchi, how does it look on me?"
Tenchi smiled as he gazed at Ryoko. "It looks gorgeous on you. You look so beautiful right now," he said, admiring her beauty. "Ryoko, I've got something else for you," Tenchi began.
"Wait, Tenchi," Ryoko interrupted. "I've got something for you, too," she said, reaching into the handbag she carried with her. She retrieved a compact disc, placed it face down on the table, and slid it over to Tenchi. "I hope you like it, my love," she said.
Tenchi's eyes lit up when he turned the case over. "Ryoko," he said. "How did you know?" I never mentioned."
"I remember hearing you talk about it with Ayeka, so I just had to get it for you. I hope it's what you want; I'm afraid I don't know that much about this kind of music."
"It's perfect," Tenchi smiled. "I didn't even know they made this sort of thing. I've never seen it anywhere in Japan."
"I had to special order it. They shipped it over from America," Ryoko replied. "I really hope you like it."
"Oh Ryoko, I already love it," Tenchi replied, holding up his newest CD.
The complete Alfred Reed Collection: a three CD set. Tenchi loved Alfred Reed's music ever since he had gone on a field trip last school year to hear a nearby university band play. He really loved the Alfred Reed program they had put on. "Armenian Dances" and "The Hounds of Spring" really sparked Tenchi's interest, but it was "Russian Christmas Music" that had totally hooked Tenchi. The CD in his hands contained "Russian Christmas" and all his other favorites. Tenchi smiled widely.
He looked down, remembered the remaining contents of the black box he held, and looked up at Ryoko. "Now, Ryoko," he said, "I have one last surprise for you." He opened the box again, and placed it in front of Ryoko, who was still admiring her necklace. She was stunned when she looked at the box.
"Oh my God! Tenchi," was all she could say.
Inside the box rested the two gems that were previously held in the hilt of Tenchi-ken.
The day Tenchi had to go back to school, Ryoko cried for hours. It wasn't like her to be so weak, but the strong bond that she and Zero had formed with Tenchi simply tore her to pieces. Tenchi had informed her two weeks ahead of time, so that she could prepare, but it still did her little good. She was shattered, it seemed, even though he would only be gone for a few hours. She begged him to take her with him, but she knew he would say no. Even she realized that it was impossible, and that she'd only get him into trouble if she did go with him. So, after a tearful goodbye, Tenchi kissed Ryoko gently before heading out the front door of the house toward the bus stop. It pained Ryoko too much to follow him to the road, so she stayed behind, retreating to Tenchi's room where she threw herself on the bed, collapsing in tears.
"That certainly was something," Washu commented, sitting at the breakfast table with Sasami, Ayeka and Katsuhito as Ryoko rushed past, up the stairs, and into Tenchi's room. "You'd think he was never coming back, judging by that reaction."
"Love certainly does strange things to people," Katsuhito quietly commented.
"Well, I don't know about the rest of you guys," Sasami added, "but I'm worried about her. She seemed so sad right now. I hope she is going to be okay. It's going to be hard for her to get through the rest of the school term like this."
"She'll get over it," Washu replied. "She can't stay like this forever. It'll get easier on her as the term progresses."
"Don't you think you're being a little hard on her, miss Washu," Ayeka asked as the scientist grinned. "It's easy to make fun of her when you're the one that has to deal with that kind of separation. I for one can understand that sort of pain."
Ayeka sat silently for a moment, thinking back on the horrible day she found out about Tenchi and Ryoko. The day she walked in on them in bed. The thought of it was too much to bear, and so she quickly put it out of her mind. She quickly stood up, and walked into the kitchen. She prepared a plate for Ryoko, and placing it and a cold drink on a tray, made her way up to Tenchi's room, where she knew Ryoko would be sulking.
"Miss Ryoko," Ayeka called out as she knocked on the door, "may I please come in."
"Go away," came the reply. Ayeka thought about turning around and heading back downstairs, but her friendship with Tenchi, her moral sense, and even through it was hard to even say it, her * genuine * friendship with Ryoko told her otherwise. She slid the door open, and entered the room. It was dark, as Ryoko had drawn the shades closed.
"I said leave me alone," Ryoko growled in frustration. She was sitting on the bed, trying to hide her sobbing.
"I'm afraid I can't do that," Ayeka replied calmly. "Not when you're like this. I can't go about my day worried about you. Here, I brought you some breakfast, and I thought we could talk," the princess said as she placed the food in front of Ryoko.
Ryoko sighed. "thank you, Ayeka, but I just can't talk right now."
"I understand," Ayeka replied. She sat close to Ryoko, and leaned over to give her a big hug. She embraced her former rival tightly, trying to console and comfort her in her time of need, the way the princess knew Tenchi would have wanted.
"It's alright, Ryoko," Ayeka continued, gently patting Ryoko's back. "It's okay. You can cry. I know how it hurts, but you need not worry. Tenchi is coming back in the evening, and he'll always be here for you. He'll always come home to you."
"I. I know, Ayeka," the pirate sobbed. "But it's just so hard. I've spent every minute of every day with him for the past six months, and I don't know what to do."
"I know how you feel," Ayeka said, as she released Ryoko. "I understand pain very well, Ryoko. I want to talk to you, so I can help you through this, but I respect your need for privacy, as well. I'm going to go back downstairs and help Sasami clean up. Now, when you feel better, you come downstairs, and we'll have a drink, watch some television, and talk if you'd like. I'll stay here if you want, but I think you probably need some alone time." The princess stood quickly.
"Thank you, Ayeka," Ryoko replied as she looked down at the floor. "Hopefully, I will be downstairs a bit later." She half-heartedly attempted to smile.
Ayeka nodded as she made her way out the door. It certainly looked like it was going to be a long semester.
Around lunchtime, Ryoko wandered out of Tenchi's room and into the hallway. Her eyes were red, and she appeared more frail than ever before. She quietly crept down the stairs and took a seat on the couch in front of the television. It wasn't on, but she stared at the screen anyway, trying to concentrate her thoughts, if just for a moment. Her whole body ached as thought she was sick, and her heart hurt more than she could have ever imagined. She felt depressed and silly at the same time. After all, he was going to come back. It was just a few hours, but then again, she had never been more than 20 feet away from him for the past few months, and it was hard to get used to the feeling of being alone.
Ryoko was lost in her own thoughts for a moment, when she was startled back to consciousness by Ayeka.
She had to get away. It felt like her mind was about to explode, like the very logic which held her was world together had suddenly betrayed itself. All reason, all sensibility, all things reasonable were suddenly torn asunder. It was as if the world had been turned upside down, and only she was privy to the damage done. She was so stunned that the tears didn't even flow from her. Shock. it was the shock of the unholy scene she had just witnessed.
Ayeka ran as hard and fast as her legs would carry her. She needed to get out. She needed to clear her mind of the awful sights and sounds she had walked in on. Not only was the demon woman naked, fornicating with Tenchi. HER Tenchi. but worst of all, the dagger to her heart was that he was enjoying it. He was moaning, begging Ryoko for it. Like some perverted, immoral. NO. she couldn't bring herself to think the word. Lord Tenchi was a good man, and it seemed obvious to Ayeka that Ryoko must have been using some sort of trickery.
"Obvious? Obvious," she thought. "Is that really what I believe? Is it really trickery, or is it what I have feared since the day Lord Tenchi yelled at me in the Kitchen?"
Ayeka staggered, falling to her knees, as her legs finally gave out next to the lake. She sat at the water's edge, trying to rationalize what had happened. The flood of raw emotion overtook her, and almost without sound, the first princess of Jurai was in tears. The memories filled her mind, and each one of the tender moments played back like a movie. She was so sure that he would eventually pick her! How could it be that Ryoko had won?
Ayeka sobbed silently as the cool night air sent a chill through her body. Tiny ripples emanated on the lake's surface from where her tears fell. All the pain she had endured; all the waiting, and hoping. The endless nights of wanting. were they all in vain?
She stood up, looking up at the sky, at the moon. As the magnetic pull of the brilliant sphere affects the seas, so too did the moon unbalance Ayeka's emotions. At that moment, with the tears streaming down her face, Ayeka came to a decision. She could not stay here any longer. It was simply too much to bear. She began to step forward, plunging her delicate bare feet into the icy black water. The moon shimmered on the surface of the lake's water, and Ayeka wanted to join the shattered remains of Ryu-Oh, entombed at the deepest part of the lake. She waded into the water, still sobbing, unable to deal with all she had seen that evening. She was nearly up to her neck in the water, and it was freezing. There was no doubt in her mind that if the water did not claim her, the cold would. One could die from exposure to the elements in a matter of minutes, and Ayeka was determined to meet her end. She still could not believe.
"Was all my suffering in vain. Did I sacrifice for nothing," she sobbed aloud, as she tried to carry herself onward into the water.
The next thing she heard was the sound of something plunging into the water, followed by a hand wrapping around her arm. Ayeka turned her head, only to find herself staring into the burning eyes of Ryoko.
"No," Ryoko shouted at her. "It WASN'T for nothing. You DIDN'T waste your time. You're not a failure," Ryoko said as she hoisted the Juraian princess up by her arm.
"Let me go, let me gooooooo," Ayeka shouted, thrashing while Ryoko lifted her out of the water. She began to sob violently. "Haven't you done enough already. You ruined my life today! Now you're out to ruin my death, as well?"
Ryoko's face turned red with anger, and the golden glimmer in her eyes lit up like fire. With her free hand, Ryoko slapped Ayeka squarely across the face.
"Is that what you think, Ayeka? That your time here was a waste? That your life is ruined? Well I've got news for you, little girl," Ryoko growled. "Tenchi is not a waste of your time. Tenchi means everything to me, and I won't let you say that your friendship with him was worthless. Tenchi is my world, and he thinks that you're one of the greatest people he's ever met. I'll be goddamned if you think that you can toss that aside. As much as I hate to say it, none of us could get along without you. You're NOT going to be selfish. Not tonight, princess."
Ryoko floated over the lake, holding the shivering princess by her left arm. Ryoko was shaking too, astonished by the power of her own emotions. All she ever really wanted was for Ayeka to be out of the picture, and yet, when the opportunity presented itself, Ryoko could not even hesitate to rescue Ayeka from herself. Suddenly, Ryoko's heart was filled with sadness.
"Tenchi loves you so much," Ryoko stammered, "That he'd just die without you. He says you're one of his best friends, and because he cares so much about you, that make you more important to me than you'll ever know."
Ryoko glided over the surface of the lake, setting Ayeka down near the water's edge. Ryoko put herself between Ayeka and the lake, so that the princess could not make a successful attempt to dive back in. As Ayeka shivered on the ground, limp from her sorrow, Ryoko looked around frantically. She had to warm Ayeka quickly, or the cold could still prove fatal, being so far from medical attention. Ryoko summoned a glowing ball of her orange energy, and quickly set some of the grass around the lake on fire. She needed something to keep Ayeka warm. Looking over at the sobbing princess, still convulsing on the ground, Ryoko quickly scooped her up into her arms, and held her tightly.
Ryoko sat there for what seemed like an hour, holding Ayeka uncomfortably close. In reality, it was only a matter of minutes, but the urgency of the moment seemed to drag on forever. Ryoko was deep in thought when a sound in the distance broke her concentration. Footsteps. It was Tenchi.
"Ryooookoooo," Tenchi cried out as he rushed toward them on foot. Ryoko called to him from her seat on the ground.
"Tenchi! Quick. get back inside and get Ayeka some dry clothes, a blanket, and something warm to drink. Do it now!"
Tenchi slid to a halt, sensing the panic in Ryoko's voice. He did what she said, realizing what Ryoko already knew. They had to get Ayeka dry before they even attempted to move her, as the shock to her system was serious. He returned immediately with clothing, towels, a blanket and some hot tea. Working quickly, they stripped her of her best kimono, which she had intended on dying in, and toweled her off. Ryoko put the new set of clothes on her as Tenchi wrapped her in a blanket. The three were soon huddled around the fire, trying to generate enough warmth to bring Ayeka out of an almost comatose state. Ayeka came to for a brief moment, opening her eyes, looking into Tenchi and Ryoko's worried eyes as they watched her. Then her world went black. She had passed out from the confusion and the pressure of the moment.
Ryoko had been very brave that morning. She hadn't started to cry until after she had walked Tenchi to the bus stop, and even then, it was only for a brief moment. Ryoko phased back into the Masaki home, her eyes still a bit red from the tears she was trying to conceal. Ayeka and Sasami sat in the TV room, watching the morning news as the reporter went over the past day's events. He blathered on about politics, but Ryoko wasn't paying attention. She was thinking hard about Tenchi, and how she was going to manage getting through the rest of the school term. It had only been three weeks, and it wasn't really getting any easier for her. She had just learned to control her outward emotions a bit better, in an attempt to appease everyone else in the house.
"Ryoko," Ayeka had turned to her, "have you ever considered doing something to pass the time when Tenchi is not around? Don't you have any hobbies that you could take advantage of?"
Ryoko paused and thought for a moment. "I already tried that last week, Ayeka," Ryoko replied, "and trust me, there isn't enough sake around here to keep me from thinking about Tenchi."
"That's not exactly what I had in mind, Ryoko," Ayeka replied. "Is there anything you like to do that doesn't involve Tenchi OR getting drunk?"
It really was a brilliant idea. Ryoko couldn't believe that Ayeka had thought of it, even though in reality, she hadn't. Ryoko loved the feel of open flight in space, and the thrill of the business she had for so long forgotten. At the helm of Ryo-ohki, Ryoko guided the cabbit ship as it sailed through the stars. It was a graceful flight, filled with the freedom of Ryoko's youth. Each day for the past month, after Tenchi was on his way to school, Ryoko took to the skies, exploring all of the space she missed during her days as a ruthless pirate. During the past two weeks, she had brought Sasami and Ayeka on separate flights, just to show them around, and to show off her skill as a cabbit pilot. On each day since Ryoko had re-discovered her old passion for flight, she had returned home just a little bit later from her day out. On one particular day, Ryoko had stayed out so late that she was not able to make it back to Earth in time to greet Tenchi as he hopped off the bus.
He stood at the edge of the road, looking around, surprised not to see Ryoko there waiting for him. He looked around, curious, wondering what was about to happen. Perhaps she was hiding, ready to pounce on him as he walked by. Maybe she was having another one of those days where she just had to drag him into the trees and make love to him right there on the ground. Maybe she was waiting.
But she wasn't. After an hour of sitting there, Tenchi picked himself up off the ground, grabbed his briefcase, and began the solitary walk back to the house. Tenchi was well aware of her adventures in space. The very day that Ayeka mentioned the "hobbies" idea, Ryoko had excitedly explained her plans to Tenchi. Instead of loafing around the house waiting for him to return, she wanted to spend time rediscovering all that she had missed in the last 2,000 years. Tenchi was glad at the time, seeing how happy she was. but now.
"It's not like her to miss me at the bus like that," Tenchi said to Ayeka, as they stood in the kitchen, sipping cold drinks. The expression on Tenchi's face told everything to Ayeka. The sheer worry, the pain, the uneasiness in his eyes was enough to make her cry, but she didn't. He looked out of the kitchen window, gazing up at the sky, hoping that she would return any minute. All he saw were the dying leaves on the tree. The leaves of autumn were falling from the trees. He had no idea how similar they were to him, about to begin their slow decent, floating from the heavens, crashing to the earth below. He turned back to Ayeka.
"I mean, what if she's been hurt? What if she ran into trouble? With all the destruction she caused under Kagato, I'm sure that there's someone out there who would be more than happy to see her dead," Tenchi said.
"I'm quite sure that nothing like that has happened, Tenchi. You just need to relax. I'm pretty sure she is just out there having fun. Maybe she lost track of the time," Ayeka said gently, trying to comfort him.
Ryoko had almost gotten carried away. Ryo-Ohki was roaring past the stars when she spotted it on one of the monitors. There it was. A tiny little helpless cruise ship; filled with passengers, and money. It was the perfect target for an out of practice space pirate. Ryoko brought Ryo-ohki silently along side the large cruise vessel, being careful not to set off any sort of security. The cyan haired space pirate teleported herself onto one of the decks of the craft, and soon made her way to the bridge. Using dark corners as cover, along with her ability to phase through walls, Ryoko was soon standing right behind the captain. The only noise he heard was the sound of an energy sword being brought to life. The captain spun around, and to his terror was met with Ryoko's energy blade. She brought it right up to his neck, and grinned.
"Take me to the ship's vault," was all she said.
Ryoko did not return home until well after midnight. She slipped into the house silently, and tried to run to the bathroom as quickly as she could. She washed her hands and phased into a different outfit before going back out into the house, where she knew Tenchi would be waiting.
He was sitting on a couch in the TV room, head in his hands, and he was crying. Ayeka and Washu were both sitting with him, trying to comfort him as he worried. He leapt to his feet as Ryoko entered the room, running over to her to embrace his true love.
"You had me so worried," he sobbed as he buried his head in her chest. Ryoko put her arms around Tenchi to console him, and that's when he noticed it. Redness underneath her nails. Tenchi took a step back, and looked at Ryoko. When he saw it, he stumbled back farther, falling to the floor. He was shaking filled with horror and fear. He had hoped with all his might that it wasn't so, but it was.
"Blood," was the only thing he could utter.
Spattered on Ryoko's left cheek was fresh blood. The captain's blood.
It was going to be so easy, she thought. She hadn't set foot on this planet in over 700 years, but with the full force of her three gems, and no Katsuhito to stop her, there was no way she could walk away from this one empty handed.. Not like last time. And with her recently developed ability to generate three of her ten lighthawk wings, she knew she was as powerful as Tenchi was, if not more so.
The remains of slaughtered guards laid out a Ryoko's bloody path from her landing site to the center of the capital city. The crippled lay moaning, wailing as they died slowly. She approached the grand gates to the Juraian Royal palace, and nothing could have prepared her for what she saw. She stopped dead in her tracks. Staring straight back at her was a familiar face. It had been so long since she had seen him last, and it amazed her how his appearance had remained the same. And then she noticed his eyes. Instead of the familiar, lovely brown she had lost herself in so many times, she found herself gazing into two golden eyes that seemed like they were on fire. No. They WERE ablaze, she realized as the color of his eyes leapt and changed, like that of a fire.
"Get out of my way. You have no business here. This is between me and Jurai," she said, forming a lighthawk sword. "I'm much more powerful than you are now, Tenchi. Get out of my way, before I have to hurt you."
Tenchi stood his ground, remaining completely still. He did not even blink, as his angry gaze penetrated Ryoko's emotional shell. His lighthawk wings began to form around him, and he reached out, grabbing one and forming his own sword. He positioned himself in a guard position that she had once taught him, holding his sword up. His gaze became even angrier, and the flames in his eyes intensified. Suddenly, his lighthawk sword erupted in flames, and he began to shine a brilliant gold. Ryoko was stunned as Tenchi stood his ground, wielding the power of the lighthawk wings, now unified with the rage of the Kill Rhythm.
"No, you have no business here, Ryoko" he spoke, plainly, despite the look of rage in his eyes.
