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On Wings of Change: Part One
Chapter Four: Wings of Remembrance
"Everybody wake up!" Washu's loud and cheerful voice streamed though everyone's rooms. "Rise and shine, it's nine o' clock and the royal family is waiting on us for breakfast. Come dressed to ride, we're going horseback riding later!"
In her room, Ryouko blearily saw the crisp morning sun streaming though the windows. "Get bent Washu." She mumbled, rolling back over as her hand fished for the edge of the blanket before she pulled the it up around her neck.
"I heard that, little Ryouko, now just because you were out late last night on a date doesn't mean that you get to sleep in all morning!" Washu teased her. Obviously, she had been spying on them last night. With a pang of anxiety, Ryouko suddenly remembered how she had left things with Tenchi the night before. "Now get up before I tell Princess Aeka about your night out." Washu said playfully.
Ryouko reluctantly rolled out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom. She barely heard muffled voices though the wall of which the other side was Kiyone's room. "Mihoshi, get out of my futon!" Kiyone yelled.
'I swear.' Thought Ryouko, chuckling. 'Those two ought to just get it on already.'
Looking in the mirror, the sight of her bloodshot eyes brought her back to reality. She had been awake until three or four in the morning replaying the brief kiss she shared with Tenchi, wondering what was going on between them and thinking about her past. It was a long night indeed. Once she had finally succumbed to sleep, it was restless and ridden with unpleasant dreams.
Turning the shower on, she vowed to try to forget about the night before and try to just have a good time.
* * *
Tenchi was waiting for the girls in the lobby. The night had been equally hard on him. He sat on a rock wall that encased a fountain behind him as he pulled at the bottom of his shirt, adjusting the fit of the vest that Ryouko had bought him. The sound of the running water reverberated in the acoustics of the room. It was meant to be calming, but the nerves of young Masaki Tenchi were about past the point of no return.
He had spent the night sitting on his bed in another attempt to meditate. Instead, he had thought about Ryouko, he thought about their kiss, he thought about Aeka, and of making a choice and the implications of his actions. He thought about his extended family, and how any decision might affect them. However, every train of thought led only to more questions in his confused mind. He had finally fallen asleep, exhausted early that morning. When he dreamt, he dreamt of Ryouko.
Sasami and Aeka were the first to find Tenchi. "Tenchi-oniichan!" Sasami's cheerful voice cried out as the little pig-tailed girl came running around the corner. She was wearing a traditional Jurian horseback riding outfit. It was multi layered like all other Jurian outfits, and the outer jacket was a robe that closed on the left side and ended at mid thigh. The robe was accompanied by a pair of baggy fine linen pants that were tied shut on each leg at the ankle. Sasami's robe was pink and green in color with matching green pants.
Aeka leisurely followed after her, taking small, refined steps despite her joy of seeing Tenchi. She wore the same outfit, except that hers was in shades of light lavender and dark purple. "Lord Tenchi, did you not sleep well? Your eyes look bloodshot." Aeka observed. "That monster woman didn't keep you out until all hours of the night at bars, did she?" She fumed.
Tenchi stammered, fighting down a blush. "No Miss Aeka. I think I'm…just trying to adjust to being on a different planet. That's all."
"Well, Lord Tenchi, the kingdom of Jurai is your home also, and I do hope that you will become more comfortable with your surroundings before too long." Aeka commented. Tenchi nervously chuckled, avoiding comment
"Tenchi-oniichan, I like your vest! Sasami exclaimed, examining the well-tailored fit and how it looked with the half sleeved white shirt and black jeans.
Tenchi turned red and scratched the back of his head, unsure of what to say about it. Thankfully for him, Washu, Kiyone and Mihoshi all piled out of the elevator, pulling the attention away from him.
All three girls were dressed to ride. Washu was wearing a pair of green cargo pants with her yellow and white striped shirt with green hood. Kiyone donned a pair of loose light blue jeans and a tucked in red t-shirt. Mihoshi, still half asleep and hanging on Kiyone's arm wore her pair of khaki cargo pants and pink tank top.
Ryo-ohki hopped off Washu's head and ran to Sasami, happy to see her friend again. She scrambled up to Sasami's shoulder and nuzzled against her cheek. "Ryo-chan!" Sasami giggled happily, nuzzling Ryo-ohki in return. "I've got a whole bowl of carrots set aside for your breakfast!"
"Miyaaaa!" Ryo-ohki happily exclaimed as everyone laughed at their antics.
Ryouko was the last arrive. As soon as the elevator door opened, Tenchi's eyes darted to it, looking to see if she was on it. When the doors parted, Ryouko stepped out wearing a pair of loose, low waist jeans and a short-sleeved lavender blouse that came to her mid-riff. Sasami shouted her name to call her over.
She nervously approached the group, her eyes trained on Tenchi. Tenchi's eyes were trained on Ryouko. And everyone took note of their exchange. 'What is this tension between these two? Surely nothing happened between them…surely.' Aeka asked herself, suspiciously.
"Good morning." Ryouko said to everyone, although she had not yet looked at anyone other than Tenchi. He didn't say anything. He couldn't say anything. He merely nodded his head.
"So Ryouko," Said Washu, her voice sliced the tension as if it were a knife. "Is that one of the new outfits Tenchi bought you yesterday?"
Tenchi face-faulted and Ryouko turned red and was about to start yelling at Washu when Aeka beat her to her goal, eyes ablaze with anger. "M-m-m-m-miss Washu! Are you insinuating that Lord Tenchi bought Ryouko these clothes?!"
"What's it to you, princess?" Ryouko asked, offended. "I don't think Tenchi needs your written approval to do whatever he feels like."
Aeka was outraged. "You put him up to this, you pirate. You somehow tricked or forced Lord Tenchi into buying these clothes for you, you monster!" Ryouko visibly flinched at Aeka's choice of words.
Something snapped inside of Tenchi. His hand formed a fist and he decided to interject, to put this argument to an end. "Lady Aeka, please understand, I did buy Ryouko these clothes. I actually bought her several outfits. You see, because she can't use her powers, and she doesn't have any of her own clothes, I took her to find some yesterday."
Aeka struggled, at a loss of words. Her mouth hung open. Tenchi had never stood between them during an argument before. Ryouko watched in amazement, feeling the same sentiment. He had stood up for her, but it was not quite the answer she had wanted. 'Is that all it was last night? Of course. I was right.'
"And Ryouko bought you that vest, right?" Washu added.
"Mooommm, knock it off." Ryouko said through her teeth. Tenchi sweat dropped, but let the comment slide. Aeka opened her mouth to protest, but couldn't find the words.
Oblivious to the atmosphere, Sasami cheerfully said, "Lets go get breakfast everyone! Mommy, Daddy, and Aunt Funaho are waiting for us!" She led the way as the others followed behind.
* * *
"So I hear that you are all going out for riding lessons today." Funaho said in her calm voice to the group that sat around the massive table.
They were all gathered in a ballroom that was set up for breakfast. A long intricately carved table on top of which sat Jurian and Japanese dishes from some of the planet's finest gourmet chefs. Above the table, a majestic chandelier of age-old crystals sent myriads of light shining in all directions. One wall of the room was open to the outside, showing a peaceful view of a small koi pond with waterfalls and bamboo. A gentle breeze glided though the room from the open wall, allowing in the fresh morning air.
Sasami nodded eagerly and Ryo-ohki sat on the table next to her, munching away at her carrots. "Everyone did want to go riding today, right?" She asked her friends. Everyone agreed with the day's plans.
Emperor Azusa set down his chopsticks. "We have set up reservations for you at the resort's stables. They have some of the finest bred Andalusian horses in the galaxy. The horses were originally imported from an Earth country called Spain if I recall correctly, some 1200 years ago. Our finest trainers will be available at any time during your stay. Aeka, Sasami, I encourage you to ride with your friends, as many of our traditional parades involve the use of horses."
The Emperor then picked up his cup of tea and blew on it, signaling that he was done speaking.
* * *
After breakfast, everyone began the short trek to the stables. Sasami led the way, excitedly telling Ryo-ohki how much fun riding was going to be. Kiyone and Mihoshi walked next to each other in a rare moment of mutual friendship between the two, as Kiyone described her grandfather's farm to Mihoshi and Washu.
Aeka walked between the silent Tenchi and Ryouko, neither of which had said much since Tenchi had ended their argument. Becoming bored with the silence, Ryouko did the only thing she knew how to do to find some excitement. She locked horns with Aeka. "So, will her royal highness be riding a horse today?"
Aeka turned to look at Ryouko. "Unlike some people, my idea of a good time does not entail getting dirty, sweaty, and being around large, dumb animals."
Ryouko was about to throw back a barb about getting dirty and sweaty when Tenchi interrupted. "Actually, Miss Aeka, horses are very intelligent, and they are also very intuitive. You should give them a chance, at least."
The princess considered Tenchi's words as he continued. "You see, when I was young, grandfather used to have a stable at the Masaki shrine. It was just a small old stable with a couple of stalls, and only passing travelers would sometime stop by and keep their horses there over night while the travelers paid their respects and rested at the shrine. In return, Grandpa would sometimes set up lessons for me on their horses. I've seen some horses that can bow and do tricks and follow trails without direction. They were always kind and gentle animals, even to me when I was so small and could have been easily stepped on. They are really very amazing animals."
"I was not aware of that, Lord Tenchi. Perhaps I shall try to have the same outlook." Considered Aeka.
"Tenchi, I don't remember seeing a stable around the shrine." Ryouko said.
Tenchi visibly perked up, pleased that Ryouko was joining the conversation. He craned his neck around Aeka to get a better view of Ryouko. "That's because the stable is pretty far from the house and the shrine. It's closer to where I wait for the bus, but it's at the bottom of the hill, in the valley, and at this point it's in disrepair and covered from sight from the road. I'll…I'll have to show you where it is."
Ryouko simply nodded as they crested the hill and the stable facility came into full view. Acres upon acres of gently rolling hills coursed over the countryside. In the distance, the valleys butted up against the base of the mountains. As far as the eye could see, white horse fence outlined countless pastures and paddocks. Small herds of horses grazed in some of the distant pastures, one herd was gathered at a pond, drinking. A collection of white barns stood in the forefront of the facility and riding rings, other barns, and out buildings dotted the land.
Nearing a small house with many windows, the party was greeted by a young man who looked to be in his mid-twenties. He stood slightly shorter than Tenchi, and had short golden hair and piercing blue eyes. He wore the same Jurian riding outfit that Sasami and Aeka wore. His outfit was colored in blue, gold and white.
"Welcome, Princess Aeka, Princess Sasami, and honored guests. My name is Maehara Kamui. My wife and I are resident trainers at this facility and have been chosen to assist you in learning the ways of the horse." Kamui bowed deeply. He seemed pleasant, friendly, and very kind.
While Kamui spoke, a woman walked out of the house to stand next to him. She had a small frame and stood about five inches shorter than Kamui. Her copper colored hair was tied back in a ponytail and reached down to her waist. Her riding outfit was colored in tan, black, and gold. She bowed briefly and looked at her guests with sharp hazel eyes. "My name is Maehara Nozomi. I hope you enjoy the time you spend with us."
After introductions and a brief history of the stable and the horses, Kamui and Nozomi led the group into the little house for instructions on everything they would need to know about the horses and how to ride before they all ate lunch together.
* * *
After lunch, they all went to one of the many barns. This one had five stalls on either side of a wide aisle. "We have already had your horses tacked up for you so you can ride immediately. Tenchi, being from Earth, you might see the similarity in our tack to that of the English style of riding. If you would like to learn how to tack them up yourselves, we would be glad to show you so that you can come to ride at any time. We also have cabins out near the mountains for overnight riders." Kamui explained.
Sasami eagerly looked around at all the horses. "Which one do I get to ride?" She asked.
"We have paired up horses for you according to your height and experience." Nozomi explained, leading Sasami to a stall with a pony waiting in it. This pony's name is Devoto, and he loves young beginners."
Sasami's eyes sparkled as she looked at the little white pony with brown flecks. His back was level with her shoulders, the perfect size for a rider of her height. Just like she was taught during the instruction, she gently lifted Devoto's reins over his head and led him out of the barn to the riding ring.
Mihoshi was shown to a tan colored horse named Tia. Mihoshi tentatively held her flat palm out to the horse's nose to offer her a treat, which she wetly sucked up with her lips. She giggled at the tickle of her whiskers against her palm before she uneventfully led her out to the ring behind Sasami.
Kiyone was given a taller dark brown horse with a small star under her forelock between her ears. Her name was Jolie. She patted her horse confidently on the neck and hurried to the ring to check on Mihoshi.
Aeka's horse was small and white with brown flecks and was the sister of Sasami's Devoto. Her name was Isabella and she had a very long mane and tail and she held herself very gracefully. Sensing Isabella's calmness, Aeka relaxed as she led her to the ring.
Washu was taken to a pony slightly larger than Devoto. His name was El Tande and he was a young pony and had gray dapples and a dark gray mane and tail. Washu happily handed him a treat and walked him out of the barn.
Tenchi and Ryouko were the last to be shown to their horses. The two tentatively stood next to each other, the air between them still a bit awkward.
"You nervous?" Tenchi asked Ryouko, trying to dent the silence.
Ryouko shook her head. "Nah, you?"
Tenchi shook his head also. "Hey, maybe you'll remember how to ride once you get back on a horse again." He suggested. Hopefully.
Excitement shone in Ryouko's smile. "Maybe it will." She agreed, smiling at Tenchi.
Nozomi stuck her head out of a stall. "Hey you two lovebirds, this is Ryouko's horse over here."
Caught off guard, Tenchi began stuttering. "L..l..lovebirds?" He asked.
"Nozomi, stop causing trouble!" Kamui urged.
Ryouko rolled her eyes at Tenchi. "We're um…not together." She explained.
"Could've fooled me." Nozomi said with a smile, showing Ryouko to her horse's stall. When Ryouko stepped into the stall, she gasped. "I gave you a slightly taller horse, Ryouko. I have a feeling that you'll be able to handle her. Her name is Carinna." Nozomi said.
Carinna had a rare striking silver color. She was a prime example of the Andalusian breed with a muscular curved neck, thick chest muscles, a noble head, and powerful hindquarters. She was tall, her back was level to the bridge of Ryouko's nose.
Before she realized what she was saying, Ryouko said, "I always liked the tall horses." She then made a perplexed face. 'Where did that come from?' She wondered with a feeling of déjà vu as she led Carinna to the ring.
Tenchi was the last to walk out of the barn with his horse. The girls watched Tenchi approach, stunned by both him and his steed. Next to him calmly walked a tall, pure white horse, the anthesis of the Andalusian breed. He was every bit as regal as Ryouko's horse, with a similar long mane and tail. His forelock came down past his eyes and he held his head gracefully tucked in to his chest as he walked.
"This is Cetero." He said to the girls. Tenchi looked for all the world like a prince with his white horse of legend, and the girls were clearly captivated.
Kamui then called everyone to his attention as he stood in the middle of the ring with his wife. "I have explained to you the basics of how to control your horse. We will now have a lesson where we will learn control in some of their different paces. Riding is easy, however, getting your horse to understand your desires, predict your next move, and respect you are not so simple. Please mount your horses."
* * *
A good hour of practice had taught them all how to be comfortable asking their horses to walk, stop and turn. They had navigated their horses through slaloms, around cones and over other obstacles that had been set on the ground.
Sasami, Ryo-ohki, Mihoshi, and Washu were having a great time. Kiyone was reliving her childhood, for the first time she was finally relaxed and enjoying herself. Ayeka was still unsure of being on a horse, but was finding it rather enjoyable once she got the hang of it. Ryouko was caught in a state of déjà vu, it was as if she remembered riding, but was unsure if it had been a dream, or reality. Tenchi was riding like he was an old hand, and he tried to give the other girls pointers when he could.
"Okay, shall we trot?" Nozomi asked the group.
"T-t-trot? Is that not faster than this?" Aeka asked.
Ryouko guided Carinna next to Isabella. "Booo!" She shouted in Aeka's ear.
Aeka stifled a shrill scream. "Youuuu, I'll get you for that!" She pointed at Ryouko, who was already walking away laughing.
"Don't you need those hands on your reins Princess?" Ryouko teased. Aeka scrambled to pick her reins back up as Ryouko gently nudged her horse with her legs and settled into the slightly bouncy yet comfortable pace of the trot. Feeling Carinna underneath her, she could tell from a hidden experience that she was posting on the correct diagonal. 'How did I know that?' She wondered as she watched her horse's shoulders while she gently rose out of the saddle and sat back down to the beat of her horse's legs. .
Ryouko was suddenly torn out of her trance by the shrill sound of Aeka screaming.
In a blur, Isabella cantered past Ryouko and her horse. Aeka was holding on for dear life as her horse started to run faster. She was bouncing all over the saddle and couldn't get her horse to stop.
"She's going to fall!" Tenchi shouted from the other side of the ring.
Suddenly Ryouko knew what she had to do. "Aeka, hold on!" Ryouko shouted. She quickly tightened her reins and applied pressure to Carinna's side. Carinna took off immediately and cantered to catch up with Isabella.
"Your reins, Princess Aeka, pick up your reins and pull back!" Nozomi and Kamui shouted at the princess.
Gripped with fear, Aeka wasn't hearing the instructors' plea for action. She only wrapped her hands even tighter underneath the saddle, trying to stabilize her center of gravity on the back of the bolting animal. 'I'm going to fall, I just know it! Lord Tenchi, please help me!' She cried to herself.
As Ryouko began to catch up with the princess, she could see tears flowing down Aeka's porcelain face. "Just a little bit more!" Ryouko urged to Carinna. Soon Carinna was cantering side by side with Isabella. Ryouko stood up in her stirrups and leaned over to grab Aeka's reins. She missed as Isabella turned early into the curve of the riding ring.
Carinna assessed the situation and turned sharply to catch up. She again pulled herself as close to Isabella as she could, matching her stride. Ryouko stood up in her saddle one more time. 'Please let me grab them this time.' She prayed to unknown gods as she reached her arm out to grab Aeka's reins.
Ryouko smiled confidently as she grasped Aeka's reins in her hand. She simultaneously pulled back on both Aeka's and her own, bringing both horses to a gentle stop at the same time.
"Open your eyes, Princess. You're okay." Ryouko said softly to Aeka.
Aeka timidly opened her eyes to see her reins in Ryouko's hands. She tilted her head up to see Ryouko looking down at her. Shivers ran through her body as she began to recover from her ordeal. "Ryouko…" She began.
"You just kicked too hard when you asked your horse to trot. She was just doing what she thought you wanted." Ryouko explained softly.
Tenchi had finally caught up to Ryouko and Aeka, bringing Cetero to a graceful halt right out of mid-canter, almost as if his horse could read his mind. "Miss Aeka, are you ok?" He asked worriedly.
Aeka furiously wiped away her tears, upset that she had lost control of her horse in front of all of her friends. She looked at Ryouko. "Ryouko…thank you." She said, quietly. Ryouko nodded, concern in her eyes.
Aeka bit her pride, upset that Ryouko had saved her. Not that Ryouko wasn't good enough, she had saved her life more than once, and for that, she was thankful to her friend. She was upset that she had to be saved at all.
"Princess, are you alright?" Nozomi called out to her as she jogged up next to the three riders, slightly out of breath.
Aeka composed herself. Her tears had stopped, the quiver in her lower lip had disappeared. She continued to look at Ryouko as she said, "I am fine, Miss Nozomi. I believe I applied too much pressure when asking my horse to trot. I am however, not feeling well, and wish to retire to the stable."
Relieved that the crown princess was uninjured and not upset at either her or the horse, Nozomi said, "Surely Princess Aeka. Allow me to lead you back to the barn." Ryouko handed Aeka's reins to Nozomi.
"Do you think she'll be okay?" Ryouko asked Tenchi as Nozomi led Aeka away.
He nodded, sure of himself as he watched Aeka go into the stable. "I think she'll be just fine."
"Tenchi! Ryouko!" Kamui called from the center of the ring where he had asked the others to stop while Ryouko caught Aeka's horse. "I see that you two have already learned to canter. Very impressive! Would you like to try again?"
"Kamui, may I canter with them? I think I can handle it." Kiyone asked eagerly. Kamui nodded and Kiyone brought Jolie to stand with Carinna and Cetero.
Tenchi took the lead. He gently nudged Cetero behind the girth with his outside leg and his horse took off from a dead stop into a slow, collected canter. Cetero collected his head into his chest and picked his legs up high and slow, his mane and tail flowing back in the wind.
Ryouko followed directly behind after an equally perfect take off. She felt at home in the slow rocking motion of the canter. It was like a cross between being in a rocking chair and floating on a wave. The slightest inkling of a previous memory of riding in her childhood sat in the corner of her mind. Her sense of déjà vu was overwhelming.
Kiyone followed behind Tenchi and Ryouko, a wide smile across her face. It had been years since she had felt so free, so happy, and she cherished the wind in her face and the feel of the horse underneath her body.
After several times around the ring, Kamui asked them all to stop. "Tenchi, Ryouko, this lesson is almost over, and I am amazed at your skill. Ryouko, Washu tells me-"
"That's Little Washu." Washu interrupted.
Kamui sweatdropped but continued. "…Little Washu tells me that you have ridden before. You must have been a wonderful rider. Tenchi, I understand that you have experience as well, and you and Cetero truly work as one whole. As do you and Carinna, Ryouko. I would like to see you two gallop your horses. Would you like to?"
Tenchi's eyes lit up and he looked at Ryouko. "Of course! Ryouko?"
Ryouko took the challenge. "Let's go!" She exclaimed.
Tenchi and Ryouko led their horses to the fence side by side and looked down the long straight away. Tenchi patted Cetero hard on the side of his neck in anticipation. Cetero could sense Tenchi's desire and stomped his foot, ready to run. Ryouko was eager, but still distracted by the jumble of would be memories and thoughts in her mind.
"Are you ready?" Tenchi asked her.
Once Ryouko looked into his eyes and saw the excitement and happiness that shone there, she felt her soul warm. If she could have stayed in his gaze forever, she would have welcomed it. 'I don't know that I've ever seen him this happy.' She pondered.
As though they were reacting to a stoplight turning green, Cetero and Carinna took off at the same instant. Powerful legs pushed off from a dead stop to a spirited sprint. Their rippling muscles flexed throughout their bodies, their hooves pounded the earth underneath them and their manes and tails flew in the wind they created. Tenchi and Ryouko instinctively stood up in their stirrups, their bodies leaned forward, fingers intertwined in their horse's manes. The two horses sprinted next to each other, matching each other's strides.
Tenchi stole the briefest glance at Ryouko on top of her silver steed. She seemed akin to a goddess. Her spiky cyan locks blown behind her, her eyes slightly lidded from the wind, her tense body bent over her horse's neck. But her eyes… 'She's concentrating on something.' He realized as he wondered what it could be.
Ryouko felt it. The speed and power of the animal between her legs, the wind blowing through her hair, the sun beating down on her as the landscape passed by in a blur. It was right there, she could almost feel it, touch it, be it.
"Something just needs to trigger your memory to remember your childhood." Tenchi's voice from only days ago echoed in her mind as something deep inside her snapped.
Her fingers slowly released their grip in Carinna's mane as a flood of memories filled Ryouko's mind. Years of horseback riding lessons, years of her mother proudly watching her accept blue ribbons, years of friendships of both humans and horses. It was so much remembrance to take in, and horseback riding was only the beginning of the childhood memories she was beginning to remember.
"Ryouko, watch out!" Tenchi's urgent voice cut through her visions as she realized she was no longer holding on and was slipping back from her saddle. She reached her arms out and thrust her fingers back into Carinna's mane before centering her body on the galloping animal again.
"Race you, Tenchi!" She shouted to him, gently asking her horse for a little more.
Carinna pulled out in front of Cetero, who took the challenge and redoubled his efforts. Sasami, Mihoshi, Kiyone, Washu, and Kamui all watched in admiration as the horses and their riders sprinted toward them. The two horses suddenly came to a perfect stop next to each other in the center of the ring. Exerted from the effort, their nostrils flared outwards as they took in big gulps of air to refresh their lungs.
"Tenchi, Tenchi! It was just like you told me, I remember now!" Ryouko exclaimed, almost out of breath from her revelation and the wind in her lungs. Tenchi's confused expression prompted her to continue. "I remember riding when I was a kid! I'm remembering all of my childhood memories! It's all coming back to me!"
Without a second thought, Tenchi leaned down, bridging the gap between their horses and threw his arms around Ryouko. "I'm so happy for you Ryouko." He said into her hair.
Washu smiled a soft smile at her daughter as Ryouko flung her arms around Tenchi's shoulders in return, still gasping for air into his shoulder.
* * *
From the hallway of the stable, Aeka dropped the cup of water she had been holding as she looked at the scene of Ryouko and Tenchi in each other's arms, laughing and carrying on together.
'L…Lord Tenchi…Ryouko…why?' She asked herself. 'Lord Tenchi, I've never seen him so happy. And Ryouko, she has changed so much. Please tell me that I have not lost Tenchi's heart. Please.'
Aeka banished her uneasiness and became determined to get to the bottom of whatever it was that was going on. 'No. Now is not a time for uncertainty. I will win heart.' She assured herself. 'I must act quickly.'
* * *
End chapter 4
All "Tenchi Muyo" references are copyrighted by Pioneer and AIC. This is an amateur non-commercial story, which is not produced, approved of, or sponsored by the holders of the trademarks/copyrights from which this work is derived. The views expressed herein are solely those of the author.
On Wings of Change: Part One
Chapter Four: Wings of Remembrance
"Everybody wake up!" Washu's loud and cheerful voice streamed though everyone's rooms. "Rise and shine, it's nine o' clock and the royal family is waiting on us for breakfast. Come dressed to ride, we're going horseback riding later!"
In her room, Ryouko blearily saw the crisp morning sun streaming though the windows. "Get bent Washu." She mumbled, rolling back over as her hand fished for the edge of the blanket before she pulled the it up around her neck.
"I heard that, little Ryouko, now just because you were out late last night on a date doesn't mean that you get to sleep in all morning!" Washu teased her. Obviously, she had been spying on them last night. With a pang of anxiety, Ryouko suddenly remembered how she had left things with Tenchi the night before. "Now get up before I tell Princess Aeka about your night out." Washu said playfully.
Ryouko reluctantly rolled out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom. She barely heard muffled voices though the wall of which the other side was Kiyone's room. "Mihoshi, get out of my futon!" Kiyone yelled.
'I swear.' Thought Ryouko, chuckling. 'Those two ought to just get it on already.'
Looking in the mirror, the sight of her bloodshot eyes brought her back to reality. She had been awake until three or four in the morning replaying the brief kiss she shared with Tenchi, wondering what was going on between them and thinking about her past. It was a long night indeed. Once she had finally succumbed to sleep, it was restless and ridden with unpleasant dreams.
Turning the shower on, she vowed to try to forget about the night before and try to just have a good time.
* * *
Tenchi was waiting for the girls in the lobby. The night had been equally hard on him. He sat on a rock wall that encased a fountain behind him as he pulled at the bottom of his shirt, adjusting the fit of the vest that Ryouko had bought him. The sound of the running water reverberated in the acoustics of the room. It was meant to be calming, but the nerves of young Masaki Tenchi were about past the point of no return.
He had spent the night sitting on his bed in another attempt to meditate. Instead, he had thought about Ryouko, he thought about their kiss, he thought about Aeka, and of making a choice and the implications of his actions. He thought about his extended family, and how any decision might affect them. However, every train of thought led only to more questions in his confused mind. He had finally fallen asleep, exhausted early that morning. When he dreamt, he dreamt of Ryouko.
Sasami and Aeka were the first to find Tenchi. "Tenchi-oniichan!" Sasami's cheerful voice cried out as the little pig-tailed girl came running around the corner. She was wearing a traditional Jurian horseback riding outfit. It was multi layered like all other Jurian outfits, and the outer jacket was a robe that closed on the left side and ended at mid thigh. The robe was accompanied by a pair of baggy fine linen pants that were tied shut on each leg at the ankle. Sasami's robe was pink and green in color with matching green pants.
Aeka leisurely followed after her, taking small, refined steps despite her joy of seeing Tenchi. She wore the same outfit, except that hers was in shades of light lavender and dark purple. "Lord Tenchi, did you not sleep well? Your eyes look bloodshot." Aeka observed. "That monster woman didn't keep you out until all hours of the night at bars, did she?" She fumed.
Tenchi stammered, fighting down a blush. "No Miss Aeka. I think I'm…just trying to adjust to being on a different planet. That's all."
"Well, Lord Tenchi, the kingdom of Jurai is your home also, and I do hope that you will become more comfortable with your surroundings before too long." Aeka commented. Tenchi nervously chuckled, avoiding comment
"Tenchi-oniichan, I like your vest! Sasami exclaimed, examining the well-tailored fit and how it looked with the half sleeved white shirt and black jeans.
Tenchi turned red and scratched the back of his head, unsure of what to say about it. Thankfully for him, Washu, Kiyone and Mihoshi all piled out of the elevator, pulling the attention away from him.
All three girls were dressed to ride. Washu was wearing a pair of green cargo pants with her yellow and white striped shirt with green hood. Kiyone donned a pair of loose light blue jeans and a tucked in red t-shirt. Mihoshi, still half asleep and hanging on Kiyone's arm wore her pair of khaki cargo pants and pink tank top.
Ryo-ohki hopped off Washu's head and ran to Sasami, happy to see her friend again. She scrambled up to Sasami's shoulder and nuzzled against her cheek. "Ryo-chan!" Sasami giggled happily, nuzzling Ryo-ohki in return. "I've got a whole bowl of carrots set aside for your breakfast!"
"Miyaaaa!" Ryo-ohki happily exclaimed as everyone laughed at their antics.
Ryouko was the last arrive. As soon as the elevator door opened, Tenchi's eyes darted to it, looking to see if she was on it. When the doors parted, Ryouko stepped out wearing a pair of loose, low waist jeans and a short-sleeved lavender blouse that came to her mid-riff. Sasami shouted her name to call her over.
She nervously approached the group, her eyes trained on Tenchi. Tenchi's eyes were trained on Ryouko. And everyone took note of their exchange. 'What is this tension between these two? Surely nothing happened between them…surely.' Aeka asked herself, suspiciously.
"Good morning." Ryouko said to everyone, although she had not yet looked at anyone other than Tenchi. He didn't say anything. He couldn't say anything. He merely nodded his head.
"So Ryouko," Said Washu, her voice sliced the tension as if it were a knife. "Is that one of the new outfits Tenchi bought you yesterday?"
Tenchi face-faulted and Ryouko turned red and was about to start yelling at Washu when Aeka beat her to her goal, eyes ablaze with anger. "M-m-m-m-miss Washu! Are you insinuating that Lord Tenchi bought Ryouko these clothes?!"
"What's it to you, princess?" Ryouko asked, offended. "I don't think Tenchi needs your written approval to do whatever he feels like."
Aeka was outraged. "You put him up to this, you pirate. You somehow tricked or forced Lord Tenchi into buying these clothes for you, you monster!" Ryouko visibly flinched at Aeka's choice of words.
Something snapped inside of Tenchi. His hand formed a fist and he decided to interject, to put this argument to an end. "Lady Aeka, please understand, I did buy Ryouko these clothes. I actually bought her several outfits. You see, because she can't use her powers, and she doesn't have any of her own clothes, I took her to find some yesterday."
Aeka struggled, at a loss of words. Her mouth hung open. Tenchi had never stood between them during an argument before. Ryouko watched in amazement, feeling the same sentiment. He had stood up for her, but it was not quite the answer she had wanted. 'Is that all it was last night? Of course. I was right.'
"And Ryouko bought you that vest, right?" Washu added.
"Mooommm, knock it off." Ryouko said through her teeth. Tenchi sweat dropped, but let the comment slide. Aeka opened her mouth to protest, but couldn't find the words.
Oblivious to the atmosphere, Sasami cheerfully said, "Lets go get breakfast everyone! Mommy, Daddy, and Aunt Funaho are waiting for us!" She led the way as the others followed behind.
* * *
"So I hear that you are all going out for riding lessons today." Funaho said in her calm voice to the group that sat around the massive table.
They were all gathered in a ballroom that was set up for breakfast. A long intricately carved table on top of which sat Jurian and Japanese dishes from some of the planet's finest gourmet chefs. Above the table, a majestic chandelier of age-old crystals sent myriads of light shining in all directions. One wall of the room was open to the outside, showing a peaceful view of a small koi pond with waterfalls and bamboo. A gentle breeze glided though the room from the open wall, allowing in the fresh morning air.
Sasami nodded eagerly and Ryo-ohki sat on the table next to her, munching away at her carrots. "Everyone did want to go riding today, right?" She asked her friends. Everyone agreed with the day's plans.
Emperor Azusa set down his chopsticks. "We have set up reservations for you at the resort's stables. They have some of the finest bred Andalusian horses in the galaxy. The horses were originally imported from an Earth country called Spain if I recall correctly, some 1200 years ago. Our finest trainers will be available at any time during your stay. Aeka, Sasami, I encourage you to ride with your friends, as many of our traditional parades involve the use of horses."
The Emperor then picked up his cup of tea and blew on it, signaling that he was done speaking.
* * *
After breakfast, everyone began the short trek to the stables. Sasami led the way, excitedly telling Ryo-ohki how much fun riding was going to be. Kiyone and Mihoshi walked next to each other in a rare moment of mutual friendship between the two, as Kiyone described her grandfather's farm to Mihoshi and Washu.
Aeka walked between the silent Tenchi and Ryouko, neither of which had said much since Tenchi had ended their argument. Becoming bored with the silence, Ryouko did the only thing she knew how to do to find some excitement. She locked horns with Aeka. "So, will her royal highness be riding a horse today?"
Aeka turned to look at Ryouko. "Unlike some people, my idea of a good time does not entail getting dirty, sweaty, and being around large, dumb animals."
Ryouko was about to throw back a barb about getting dirty and sweaty when Tenchi interrupted. "Actually, Miss Aeka, horses are very intelligent, and they are also very intuitive. You should give them a chance, at least."
The princess considered Tenchi's words as he continued. "You see, when I was young, grandfather used to have a stable at the Masaki shrine. It was just a small old stable with a couple of stalls, and only passing travelers would sometime stop by and keep their horses there over night while the travelers paid their respects and rested at the shrine. In return, Grandpa would sometimes set up lessons for me on their horses. I've seen some horses that can bow and do tricks and follow trails without direction. They were always kind and gentle animals, even to me when I was so small and could have been easily stepped on. They are really very amazing animals."
"I was not aware of that, Lord Tenchi. Perhaps I shall try to have the same outlook." Considered Aeka.
"Tenchi, I don't remember seeing a stable around the shrine." Ryouko said.
Tenchi visibly perked up, pleased that Ryouko was joining the conversation. He craned his neck around Aeka to get a better view of Ryouko. "That's because the stable is pretty far from the house and the shrine. It's closer to where I wait for the bus, but it's at the bottom of the hill, in the valley, and at this point it's in disrepair and covered from sight from the road. I'll…I'll have to show you where it is."
Ryouko simply nodded as they crested the hill and the stable facility came into full view. Acres upon acres of gently rolling hills coursed over the countryside. In the distance, the valleys butted up against the base of the mountains. As far as the eye could see, white horse fence outlined countless pastures and paddocks. Small herds of horses grazed in some of the distant pastures, one herd was gathered at a pond, drinking. A collection of white barns stood in the forefront of the facility and riding rings, other barns, and out buildings dotted the land.
Nearing a small house with many windows, the party was greeted by a young man who looked to be in his mid-twenties. He stood slightly shorter than Tenchi, and had short golden hair and piercing blue eyes. He wore the same Jurian riding outfit that Sasami and Aeka wore. His outfit was colored in blue, gold and white.
"Welcome, Princess Aeka, Princess Sasami, and honored guests. My name is Maehara Kamui. My wife and I are resident trainers at this facility and have been chosen to assist you in learning the ways of the horse." Kamui bowed deeply. He seemed pleasant, friendly, and very kind.
While Kamui spoke, a woman walked out of the house to stand next to him. She had a small frame and stood about five inches shorter than Kamui. Her copper colored hair was tied back in a ponytail and reached down to her waist. Her riding outfit was colored in tan, black, and gold. She bowed briefly and looked at her guests with sharp hazel eyes. "My name is Maehara Nozomi. I hope you enjoy the time you spend with us."
After introductions and a brief history of the stable and the horses, Kamui and Nozomi led the group into the little house for instructions on everything they would need to know about the horses and how to ride before they all ate lunch together.
* * *
After lunch, they all went to one of the many barns. This one had five stalls on either side of a wide aisle. "We have already had your horses tacked up for you so you can ride immediately. Tenchi, being from Earth, you might see the similarity in our tack to that of the English style of riding. If you would like to learn how to tack them up yourselves, we would be glad to show you so that you can come to ride at any time. We also have cabins out near the mountains for overnight riders." Kamui explained.
Sasami eagerly looked around at all the horses. "Which one do I get to ride?" She asked.
"We have paired up horses for you according to your height and experience." Nozomi explained, leading Sasami to a stall with a pony waiting in it. This pony's name is Devoto, and he loves young beginners."
Sasami's eyes sparkled as she looked at the little white pony with brown flecks. His back was level with her shoulders, the perfect size for a rider of her height. Just like she was taught during the instruction, she gently lifted Devoto's reins over his head and led him out of the barn to the riding ring.
Mihoshi was shown to a tan colored horse named Tia. Mihoshi tentatively held her flat palm out to the horse's nose to offer her a treat, which she wetly sucked up with her lips. She giggled at the tickle of her whiskers against her palm before she uneventfully led her out to the ring behind Sasami.
Kiyone was given a taller dark brown horse with a small star under her forelock between her ears. Her name was Jolie. She patted her horse confidently on the neck and hurried to the ring to check on Mihoshi.
Aeka's horse was small and white with brown flecks and was the sister of Sasami's Devoto. Her name was Isabella and she had a very long mane and tail and she held herself very gracefully. Sensing Isabella's calmness, Aeka relaxed as she led her to the ring.
Washu was taken to a pony slightly larger than Devoto. His name was El Tande and he was a young pony and had gray dapples and a dark gray mane and tail. Washu happily handed him a treat and walked him out of the barn.
Tenchi and Ryouko were the last to be shown to their horses. The two tentatively stood next to each other, the air between them still a bit awkward.
"You nervous?" Tenchi asked Ryouko, trying to dent the silence.
Ryouko shook her head. "Nah, you?"
Tenchi shook his head also. "Hey, maybe you'll remember how to ride once you get back on a horse again." He suggested. Hopefully.
Excitement shone in Ryouko's smile. "Maybe it will." She agreed, smiling at Tenchi.
Nozomi stuck her head out of a stall. "Hey you two lovebirds, this is Ryouko's horse over here."
Caught off guard, Tenchi began stuttering. "L..l..lovebirds?" He asked.
"Nozomi, stop causing trouble!" Kamui urged.
Ryouko rolled her eyes at Tenchi. "We're um…not together." She explained.
"Could've fooled me." Nozomi said with a smile, showing Ryouko to her horse's stall. When Ryouko stepped into the stall, she gasped. "I gave you a slightly taller horse, Ryouko. I have a feeling that you'll be able to handle her. Her name is Carinna." Nozomi said.
Carinna had a rare striking silver color. She was a prime example of the Andalusian breed with a muscular curved neck, thick chest muscles, a noble head, and powerful hindquarters. She was tall, her back was level to the bridge of Ryouko's nose.
Before she realized what she was saying, Ryouko said, "I always liked the tall horses." She then made a perplexed face. 'Where did that come from?' She wondered with a feeling of déjà vu as she led Carinna to the ring.
Tenchi was the last to walk out of the barn with his horse. The girls watched Tenchi approach, stunned by both him and his steed. Next to him calmly walked a tall, pure white horse, the anthesis of the Andalusian breed. He was every bit as regal as Ryouko's horse, with a similar long mane and tail. His forelock came down past his eyes and he held his head gracefully tucked in to his chest as he walked.
"This is Cetero." He said to the girls. Tenchi looked for all the world like a prince with his white horse of legend, and the girls were clearly captivated.
Kamui then called everyone to his attention as he stood in the middle of the ring with his wife. "I have explained to you the basics of how to control your horse. We will now have a lesson where we will learn control in some of their different paces. Riding is easy, however, getting your horse to understand your desires, predict your next move, and respect you are not so simple. Please mount your horses."
* * *
A good hour of practice had taught them all how to be comfortable asking their horses to walk, stop and turn. They had navigated their horses through slaloms, around cones and over other obstacles that had been set on the ground.
Sasami, Ryo-ohki, Mihoshi, and Washu were having a great time. Kiyone was reliving her childhood, for the first time she was finally relaxed and enjoying herself. Ayeka was still unsure of being on a horse, but was finding it rather enjoyable once she got the hang of it. Ryouko was caught in a state of déjà vu, it was as if she remembered riding, but was unsure if it had been a dream, or reality. Tenchi was riding like he was an old hand, and he tried to give the other girls pointers when he could.
"Okay, shall we trot?" Nozomi asked the group.
"T-t-trot? Is that not faster than this?" Aeka asked.
Ryouko guided Carinna next to Isabella. "Booo!" She shouted in Aeka's ear.
Aeka stifled a shrill scream. "Youuuu, I'll get you for that!" She pointed at Ryouko, who was already walking away laughing.
"Don't you need those hands on your reins Princess?" Ryouko teased. Aeka scrambled to pick her reins back up as Ryouko gently nudged her horse with her legs and settled into the slightly bouncy yet comfortable pace of the trot. Feeling Carinna underneath her, she could tell from a hidden experience that she was posting on the correct diagonal. 'How did I know that?' She wondered as she watched her horse's shoulders while she gently rose out of the saddle and sat back down to the beat of her horse's legs. .
Ryouko was suddenly torn out of her trance by the shrill sound of Aeka screaming.
In a blur, Isabella cantered past Ryouko and her horse. Aeka was holding on for dear life as her horse started to run faster. She was bouncing all over the saddle and couldn't get her horse to stop.
"She's going to fall!" Tenchi shouted from the other side of the ring.
Suddenly Ryouko knew what she had to do. "Aeka, hold on!" Ryouko shouted. She quickly tightened her reins and applied pressure to Carinna's side. Carinna took off immediately and cantered to catch up with Isabella.
"Your reins, Princess Aeka, pick up your reins and pull back!" Nozomi and Kamui shouted at the princess.
Gripped with fear, Aeka wasn't hearing the instructors' plea for action. She only wrapped her hands even tighter underneath the saddle, trying to stabilize her center of gravity on the back of the bolting animal. 'I'm going to fall, I just know it! Lord Tenchi, please help me!' She cried to herself.
As Ryouko began to catch up with the princess, she could see tears flowing down Aeka's porcelain face. "Just a little bit more!" Ryouko urged to Carinna. Soon Carinna was cantering side by side with Isabella. Ryouko stood up in her stirrups and leaned over to grab Aeka's reins. She missed as Isabella turned early into the curve of the riding ring.
Carinna assessed the situation and turned sharply to catch up. She again pulled herself as close to Isabella as she could, matching her stride. Ryouko stood up in her saddle one more time. 'Please let me grab them this time.' She prayed to unknown gods as she reached her arm out to grab Aeka's reins.
Ryouko smiled confidently as she grasped Aeka's reins in her hand. She simultaneously pulled back on both Aeka's and her own, bringing both horses to a gentle stop at the same time.
"Open your eyes, Princess. You're okay." Ryouko said softly to Aeka.
Aeka timidly opened her eyes to see her reins in Ryouko's hands. She tilted her head up to see Ryouko looking down at her. Shivers ran through her body as she began to recover from her ordeal. "Ryouko…" She began.
"You just kicked too hard when you asked your horse to trot. She was just doing what she thought you wanted." Ryouko explained softly.
Tenchi had finally caught up to Ryouko and Aeka, bringing Cetero to a graceful halt right out of mid-canter, almost as if his horse could read his mind. "Miss Aeka, are you ok?" He asked worriedly.
Aeka furiously wiped away her tears, upset that she had lost control of her horse in front of all of her friends. She looked at Ryouko. "Ryouko…thank you." She said, quietly. Ryouko nodded, concern in her eyes.
Aeka bit her pride, upset that Ryouko had saved her. Not that Ryouko wasn't good enough, she had saved her life more than once, and for that, she was thankful to her friend. She was upset that she had to be saved at all.
"Princess, are you alright?" Nozomi called out to her as she jogged up next to the three riders, slightly out of breath.
Aeka composed herself. Her tears had stopped, the quiver in her lower lip had disappeared. She continued to look at Ryouko as she said, "I am fine, Miss Nozomi. I believe I applied too much pressure when asking my horse to trot. I am however, not feeling well, and wish to retire to the stable."
Relieved that the crown princess was uninjured and not upset at either her or the horse, Nozomi said, "Surely Princess Aeka. Allow me to lead you back to the barn." Ryouko handed Aeka's reins to Nozomi.
"Do you think she'll be okay?" Ryouko asked Tenchi as Nozomi led Aeka away.
He nodded, sure of himself as he watched Aeka go into the stable. "I think she'll be just fine."
"Tenchi! Ryouko!" Kamui called from the center of the ring where he had asked the others to stop while Ryouko caught Aeka's horse. "I see that you two have already learned to canter. Very impressive! Would you like to try again?"
"Kamui, may I canter with them? I think I can handle it." Kiyone asked eagerly. Kamui nodded and Kiyone brought Jolie to stand with Carinna and Cetero.
Tenchi took the lead. He gently nudged Cetero behind the girth with his outside leg and his horse took off from a dead stop into a slow, collected canter. Cetero collected his head into his chest and picked his legs up high and slow, his mane and tail flowing back in the wind.
Ryouko followed directly behind after an equally perfect take off. She felt at home in the slow rocking motion of the canter. It was like a cross between being in a rocking chair and floating on a wave. The slightest inkling of a previous memory of riding in her childhood sat in the corner of her mind. Her sense of déjà vu was overwhelming.
Kiyone followed behind Tenchi and Ryouko, a wide smile across her face. It had been years since she had felt so free, so happy, and she cherished the wind in her face and the feel of the horse underneath her body.
After several times around the ring, Kamui asked them all to stop. "Tenchi, Ryouko, this lesson is almost over, and I am amazed at your skill. Ryouko, Washu tells me-"
"That's Little Washu." Washu interrupted.
Kamui sweatdropped but continued. "…Little Washu tells me that you have ridden before. You must have been a wonderful rider. Tenchi, I understand that you have experience as well, and you and Cetero truly work as one whole. As do you and Carinna, Ryouko. I would like to see you two gallop your horses. Would you like to?"
Tenchi's eyes lit up and he looked at Ryouko. "Of course! Ryouko?"
Ryouko took the challenge. "Let's go!" She exclaimed.
Tenchi and Ryouko led their horses to the fence side by side and looked down the long straight away. Tenchi patted Cetero hard on the side of his neck in anticipation. Cetero could sense Tenchi's desire and stomped his foot, ready to run. Ryouko was eager, but still distracted by the jumble of would be memories and thoughts in her mind.
"Are you ready?" Tenchi asked her.
Once Ryouko looked into his eyes and saw the excitement and happiness that shone there, she felt her soul warm. If she could have stayed in his gaze forever, she would have welcomed it. 'I don't know that I've ever seen him this happy.' She pondered.
As though they were reacting to a stoplight turning green, Cetero and Carinna took off at the same instant. Powerful legs pushed off from a dead stop to a spirited sprint. Their rippling muscles flexed throughout their bodies, their hooves pounded the earth underneath them and their manes and tails flew in the wind they created. Tenchi and Ryouko instinctively stood up in their stirrups, their bodies leaned forward, fingers intertwined in their horse's manes. The two horses sprinted next to each other, matching each other's strides.
Tenchi stole the briefest glance at Ryouko on top of her silver steed. She seemed akin to a goddess. Her spiky cyan locks blown behind her, her eyes slightly lidded from the wind, her tense body bent over her horse's neck. But her eyes… 'She's concentrating on something.' He realized as he wondered what it could be.
Ryouko felt it. The speed and power of the animal between her legs, the wind blowing through her hair, the sun beating down on her as the landscape passed by in a blur. It was right there, she could almost feel it, touch it, be it.
"Something just needs to trigger your memory to remember your childhood." Tenchi's voice from only days ago echoed in her mind as something deep inside her snapped.
Her fingers slowly released their grip in Carinna's mane as a flood of memories filled Ryouko's mind. Years of horseback riding lessons, years of her mother proudly watching her accept blue ribbons, years of friendships of both humans and horses. It was so much remembrance to take in, and horseback riding was only the beginning of the childhood memories she was beginning to remember.
"Ryouko, watch out!" Tenchi's urgent voice cut through her visions as she realized she was no longer holding on and was slipping back from her saddle. She reached her arms out and thrust her fingers back into Carinna's mane before centering her body on the galloping animal again.
"Race you, Tenchi!" She shouted to him, gently asking her horse for a little more.
Carinna pulled out in front of Cetero, who took the challenge and redoubled his efforts. Sasami, Mihoshi, Kiyone, Washu, and Kamui all watched in admiration as the horses and their riders sprinted toward them. The two horses suddenly came to a perfect stop next to each other in the center of the ring. Exerted from the effort, their nostrils flared outwards as they took in big gulps of air to refresh their lungs.
"Tenchi, Tenchi! It was just like you told me, I remember now!" Ryouko exclaimed, almost out of breath from her revelation and the wind in her lungs. Tenchi's confused expression prompted her to continue. "I remember riding when I was a kid! I'm remembering all of my childhood memories! It's all coming back to me!"
Without a second thought, Tenchi leaned down, bridging the gap between their horses and threw his arms around Ryouko. "I'm so happy for you Ryouko." He said into her hair.
Washu smiled a soft smile at her daughter as Ryouko flung her arms around Tenchi's shoulders in return, still gasping for air into his shoulder.
* * *
From the hallway of the stable, Aeka dropped the cup of water she had been holding as she looked at the scene of Ryouko and Tenchi in each other's arms, laughing and carrying on together.
'L…Lord Tenchi…Ryouko…why?' She asked herself. 'Lord Tenchi, I've never seen him so happy. And Ryouko, she has changed so much. Please tell me that I have not lost Tenchi's heart. Please.'
Aeka banished her uneasiness and became determined to get to the bottom of whatever it was that was going on. 'No. Now is not a time for uncertainty. I will win heart.' She assured herself. 'I must act quickly.'
* * *
End chapter 4